THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 07, 2019

Monetary Board seen keeping rates unchanged »Story on B1 ++

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•• 5 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 118 28

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

House set to subpoena Budget chief over snub THE House appropriations panel will ISSUE A SUBPOENA AGAINST "UDGET 3ECRETARY "ENJAMIN $IOKNO FOR FAILING TO SHOW UP IN PUBLIC INQUIRIES INTO THE BUDGET MESS FOR THE kFTH TIME g;4HERE= ARE MATTERS THAT HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED PARTICULARLY BY THE "UDGET SECRETARY ) THEREFORE MOVE THAT A SUBPOENA BE ISSUED FOR HIM TO APPEAR AT THE NEXT HEARING u ,EYTE RD

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Trusted since 1898

Congress fails to pass budget bill

BY BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

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AWMAKERS missed their self-imposed Wednesd ay d e a d l i n e to approve the much-delayed 2019 national budget bill.

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Trump uses his pulpit to overcome his demons First word HE WHOLE world K N O W S NOW WHY 53 (OUSE 3PEAKER .ANCY Pelosi tried obstinately to disinvite 0RESIDENT 4RUMP FROM DELIVERING THE 3TATE OF THE 5NION 3/45 ADDRESS AT THE 53 #APITOL ³MakabentaA4

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OBSERVER YEN MAKABENTA

Jurisprudentia – Juris-scientia

H E prudence of T H E L AW ‡ THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT gJURISPRUDENCEu IS )N ANSWER TO THE SELF RAISED QUESTION WHETHER PRUDENCE CONCERNS ITSELF WITH PARTICULARS !QUINAS SAYS IN THE 3UMMA 4HEOLOGICA

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

4HE BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TASKED TO RECONCILE THE CONlICTING House and Senate versions of THE MEASURE FAILED TO WRAP UP DELIBERATIONS Congress is supposed to go ON A BREAK BEGINNING TODAY

4HURSDAY AHEAD OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN BUT THE 3ENATE MIGHT EXtend its session until Friday, February

TO RATIFY THE 0 TRILLION NATIONAL BUDGET 3ENATE 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE 3OTTO RD SAID ON 7EDNESDAY Sotto called for a caucus to listen TO 3EN ,OREN ,EGARDA S REPORT ON THE RESULT OF THE BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE S DELIBERATION ON THE 'ENERAL !PPROPRIATIONS "ILL '!"

SECURITY CHECK Soldiers stop motorists at a checkpoint in North Cotabato during the holding of the second plebiscite on the inclusion of several villages and municipalities in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Bangsamoro.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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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

‘Sawadjaan acting IS emir in PH’ (!4)" (AJAN 3AWADJAAN A COMMANDER OF THE !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP IS BELIEVED TO BE THE gACTING EMIRu OF THE )SLAMIC 3TATE )3 IN THE 0HILIPPINES ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE 5NITED 3TATES $EPARTMENT OF $EFENSE $O$

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What’s inside ‘NO’ VOTES LEAD IN LANAO DEL NORTE NewsA2

ELECTION SURVEYS: SCIENCE OR SÉANCE?

PACERS THUMP LAKERS IN JAMES MOST LOPSIDED LOSS

INQUIRER, A HYPOCRITICAL NEWSPAPER Ramon TulfoA5

SportsC1

Antonio ContrerasA4

ONE-OF-A-KIND MENU TO ENJOY ON V-DAY

LifestyleD1

DBM staff: P75-B Public Works insertion came from our office $%30)4% THE ABSENCE OF "UDGET 3ECRETARY "ENJAMIN $IOKNO FROM CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET MESS SOME OFkCIALS OF THE $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS $07( ON 7EDNESDAY CONkRMED THAT THE CONTROVERSIAL 0 BILLION INSERTION IN THE $07( S BUDGET INDEED CAME FROM THE $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT $"- g4HE 0 BILLION IS NOT PART OF THE $07( BUDGETwTHE 0 BILLION CAME FROM THE $"- u -ILAGROS -ANAYSAY DIVISION CHIEF OF PROGRAMMING OF THE $07(

SAID DURING THE kFTH PUBLIC INQUIRY OF THE

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HAPPY DETAINEE

’Kenneth Dong’ (left) grins after he was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday for the importation of P6.4 billion worth of shabu. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

Hailing diplomacy, Trump announces new summit with Kim WASHINGTON, D.C.: US President Donald Trump, boasting of a new style of diplomacy aimed at ending PERPETUAL CONlICTS ANNOUNCED 4UESDAY THAT HIS SECOND SUMMIT WITH .ORTH +OREA WOULD TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH IN 6IETNAM AND REPORTED HEADWAY IN TALKS WITH !FGHANISTAN S 4ALIBAN $ELIVERING HIS ANNUAL 3TATE OF THE 5NION ADDRESS to Congress after being politically battered by a parTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 4RUMP HAILED THE FRUITS OF HIS OUTREACH TO .ORTH +OREA AND SEIZED ON THE

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News

˜ The Manila Times

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THURSDAY February 7, 2019

‘ 2 N D B A N G S A M O R O P L E B I S C I T E P E A C E F U L’

‘No’ votes lead in Lanao del Norte M

BY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

ARAWI CITY: The “No” vote led THE EARLY UNOFkCIAL CANVASS OF THE Bangsamoro referendum results by the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) in six towns of Lanao del Norte, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

4HE EARLY .AMFREL TALLY WAS AS FOLLOWS "ALOI 9ES m .O m -UNAY 9ES m .O m .UNUNGAN 9ES m .O m 0ANTAR 9ES m .O m 4AGOLOAN 9ES m .O m 4ANGCAL 9ES m .O m

7EDNESDAY S PLEBISCITE WHICH CAME TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VOTE FOR THE RATIkCATION THE "ANGSAMORO /RGANIC ,AW "/, FOR A NEW -USLIM AUTONOMOUS REGION WAS FOR THE INCLUSION OF SEVERAL VILLAGES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN .ORTH #OTABATO AND ,ANAO DEL .ORTE IN THE

Duterte honors six soldiers with Order of Lapu-Lapu 3)8 SOLDIERS POSTHUMOUSLY RECEIVED THE /RDER OF ,APU ,APU WITH THE RANK OF +ALASAG SHIELD FROM 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE )N A STATEMENT 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO ON 7EDNESDAY SAID $UTERTE HAD A PRIVATE MEETING ON -ONDAY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE kVE SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED IN AN ENCOUNTER WITH MEMBERS OF THE !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP IN 3ULU LAST &EBRUARY AND A SOLDIER WHO WAS ALSO KILLED IN twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu, on *ANUARY 4HE MEETING TOOK PLACE AT -Atina Enclaves in Davao City, acCORDING TO 0ANELO g4HE 0RESIDENT CONDOLED WITH THE BEREAVED FAMILIES AND HONORED THE FALLEN SOLDIERS FOR THEIR HEROISM BY AWARDING THEM THE /RDER OF ,APU ,APU RANK OF +ALASAG u HE SAID 4HE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE 0RESIDENT ASSURED THE FAMILIES OF ASSISTANCE THROUGH HOUSING LIVELIHOOD EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL AID AMONG OTHERS 4HE TWIN SUICIDE BOMBINGS THAT ROCKED THE MORNING -ASS AT THE /UR ,ADY OF -OUNT #ARMEL #ATHEDRAL IN *OLO LEFT PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS INJURED )T WAS BELIEVED THAT THE !BU

3AYYAF 'ROUP WERE BEHIND THE EXPLOSIONS WHICH WAS CARRIED OUT

BY FOREIGN SUICIDE BOMBERS $UTERTE CREATED THE /RDER OF ,APU ,APU THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF %XECUTIVE /RDER ON !PRIL LAST YEAR !CCORDING TO THE MEASURE

THE +ALASAG -EDAL IS GIVEN TO THOSE OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR PARTICIpation in an activity pursuant to A CAMPAIGN OR ADVOCACY OF THE 0RESIDENT )N $UTERTE EARLIER OFFERED MEMBERS OF THE !BU 3AYYAF THE SAME /RDER OF ,APU ,APU (E ALSO OFFERED TO HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH THE GROUP WHICH IS LISTED AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY THE 5NITED 3TATES 3TATE $EPARTMENT *OINING THE 0RESIDENT DURING HIS VISIT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE soldiers were Defense Secretary $ELFIN ,ORENZANA !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES #HIEF OF 3TAFF "ENJAMIN -ADRIGAL *R 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE #HIEF /SCAR !LBAYALDE AND 0HILIPPINE !RMY #OMMANDING 'ENERAL -ACAIROG !LBERTO RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

"ANGSAMORO !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO "!2-- 4HE VOTE PROCEEDED SMOOTHLY AND WITHOUT ANY UNTOWARD INCIDENT ACCORDING TO THE #OMMISSION %LECTIONS #OMELEC #OMELEC SPOKESMAN *AMES *IMENEZ SAID ON 7EDNESDAY DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA in plebiscite areas were completed EARLY AND ALL PRECINCTS IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND .ORTH #OTABATO WERE REPORTED OPENED AT A M g7E HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH TEACHERS 7E RECEIVED NO REPORT ABOUT TEACHERS WHO FAILED TO REPORT FOR THEIR ELECTION DUTIES u HE SAID *IMENEZ SAID THEY WERE CLOSELY MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF VOT-

ING CITING PERSISTENT gRUMORSu OF ARMED MEN ALLEGEDLY -),& FIGHTERS g7E ARE TRYING TO VERIFY THE RUMORS BUT FOR THE MEANTIME THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS THE 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE AND THE !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES WERE ON TOP OF THE SITUATION AND WERE TAKING STEPS TO SECURE THE VOTING PLACES u HE ADDED -AJ !RVIN %NCINAS SPOKESMAN OF THE !RMY S TH )NFANTRY $IVISION SAID THE ONLY ELECTION RELATED incident recorded, a minor one, WAS IN .ORTH #OTABATO AT A M WHEN AUTHORITIES ARRESTED -OKAMAD 3AWAN +UTOK

WHO WAS CARRYING A HOMEMADE REVOLVER

WITH NINE LIVE AMMUNITION % N C I N A S S A I D + U T O K W A S NABBED INSIDE ONE OF THE POLLING PRECINCTS OF !LEOSAN TOWN IN .ORTH #OTABATO +UTOK IS A MEMBER OF THE -),& S "ANGSAMORO )SLAMIC !RMED &ORCES ")!& UNDER (ADJI "AYAN !BDULRAHMAN OF THE TH "ASE #OMMAND )N ,ANAO DEL .ORTE THE MILITARY SAID THAT THE REFERENDUM TURNED OUT WELL EVEN AFTER THE TWO EXPLOSIONS THAT OCCURRED IN ,ALA AND +AUSWAGAN TOWNS *IMENEZ ALSO SAID THERE WERE HEAVY RAINS IN SOME PART OF ,ANAO DEL .ORTE BUT VOTING STILL PROCEEDED

2 ‘persons of interest’ eyed in Lanao del Norte blasts 4(% 0(),)00).% .ATIONAL 0OLICE 0.0 IS PURSUING TWO gPERSONS OF INTERESTu BEHIND THE BOMBINGS IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE THAT OCCURRED ON THE EVE OF THE SECOND PLEBISCITE OF THE "ANGSAMORO /RGANIC ,AW g4HE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING ALTHOUGH ;THE ,ANAO DEL .ORTE PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR= SAID THEY HAVE TWO PERSONS OF INTEREST IN THE BOMBING INCIDENTS u 0.0 #HIEF /SCAR !LBAYALDE said in a television interview 7EDNESDAY NOON (E SAID 4UESDAY S BOMB AT-

TACKS IN +AUSWAGAN AND ,ALA T OW N S W H I C H M A D E U S E O F improvised explosive devices, COULD HAVE BEEN MEANT TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS .O CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED BASED ON THE 0.0 S LATEST REPORT 4HE 0.0 CHIEF FLEW TO ,ANAO DEL .ORTE ON 7EDNESDAY TO MONITOR THE SECURITY FORCES DEPLOYED FOR THE PLEBISCITE !LBAYALDE SAID CHECKPOINT OPERATIONS were set up in different areas in ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND #OTABATO TO THWART ATTACKS

Sayyaf member killed -EANWHILE OPERATIVES OF THE 0.0 #RIMINAL )NVESTIGATION AND $ETECTION 'ROUP 0.0 #)$' AND 3PECIAL !CTION &ORCE KILLED AN !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP MEMBER IN A MANHUNT OPERATION IN *OLO 3ULU 7EDNESDAY MORNING !LEX (ABBIBONDIN ALIAS !MAH !LEX WAS KILLED BY OPERATIVES IN 3ITIO "ARRIO -ILITAR AT ABOUT A M (E WAS THE SUBJECT OF A WARRANT OF ARREST FOR MURDER ISSUED BY "RANCH OF THE 2EGIONAL 4RIAL #OURT IN *OLO

,EGARDA AND 2EP 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R CHAIRMAN OF THE (OUSE #OMMITTEE ON !PPROPRIATIONS

WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET 7EDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO IRON OUT CONlICTING PROVISIONS IN THE '!" VERSIONS OF THE 3ENATE AND THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES g7E WILL PLAY IT BY EAR THEREAFTER REGARDING WHAT WAS AGREED UPON !ND WHETHER WE WILL APPROVE WHAT THEY HAD AGREED UPON u 3OTTO SAID IN A CHANCE INTERVIEW g4HE IMPORTANT THING WAS -ALACAÄANG REQUESTED ;THE IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THE = BUDGET 7E MIGHT EXTEND ;SESSION= UNTIL &RIDAY BECAUSE ;WE CANNOT= kNISH ;IT= TODAY u HE ADDED !NDAYA SAID THE (OUSE CONTINGENT TO THE BICAMERAL PANEL WAS READY TO APPROVE THE BUDGET DESPITE QUESTIONS OVER ALLEGED ANOMALOUS PRACTICES AT THE $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT $"- g4HE (OUSE ;CONTINGENT= IS READY TO RATIFY THE PROPOSED BUDGET AT THIS POINT IN TIME BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE COURTESY TO THE 3ENATE AND WAIT FOR THEM FOR INFORMATION ON THE MATTER 7E HAVE DONE OUR WORK ALREADY u !NDAYA SAID

‘No intention to preempt’ !LSO ON 7EDNESDAY 3EN 0ANkLO ,ACSON DISMISSED THE ALLEGATION

from Executive Secretary Salvador -EDIALDEA THAT HE WANTED TO PREEMPT 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE S ACTION ON REPORTED gPORK FUNDSu IN THE BUDGET

,ACSON HAD PROPOSED THAT $UTERTE EXERCISE HIS LINE ITEM VETO POWER OVER THE '!" TO REMOVE PORK g)T WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO PREEMPT THE 0RESIDENT AND ) RECOGNIZE HIS SOLE POWER UNDER THE #ONSTITUTION TO @LINE ITEM VETO BOTH APPROPRIATIONS AND tariff bills submitted by Congress FOR HIS APPROVAL u ,ACSON SAID IN A TEXT MESSAGE g#ALL IT PASSION EXASPERATION

FRUSTRATION EVEN DESPERATION ) LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ENSURE THAT THE &ILIPINO TAXPAYERS HARD EARNED MONEY WILL NOT lOW INTO THE DEEP POCKETS OF THE CORRUPT FEW u HE ADDED ,ACSON ON 4UESDAY TWEETED g-R 0RESIDENT YOU HAVE DISplayed your strong political will ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 4HIS TIME

use your line-item veto power over THE APPROPRIATIONS MEASURE

BY REMOVING ALL THE @PORK INSERTED

BY LAWMAKERS WHO ARE INCORRIGIBLY INSATIABLE AND SIMPLY @BEYOND REDEMPTION u !NDAYA BACKED ,ACSON S CALL g) AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CALL FOR THE 0RESIDENT TO USE HIS LINE item veto power to remove all PORK BARREL INSERTIONS IN THE NATIONAL BUDGET u !NDAYA SAID ,ACSON PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED THAT EACH CONGRESSMAN GOT 0 MILLION WORTH OF ALLOCATIONS UNDER THE $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS BUDGET

COUNTERING ALLEGATIONS THAT HE

HIMSELF INTRODUCED 0 BILLION OF HIS OWN INSERTIONS IN THE BUDGET WITH GLEE JALEA

!UTHORITIES CONkSCATED THE SUSPECT S CALIBER MAGNUM kREARM !MAH !LEX WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT EVADED A FIREFIGHT WITH THE 0HILIPPINE !RMY IN 0ATIKUL ON &EBRUARY 4HE GROUP WHICH CONSISTED OF OVER MEMBERS AND WAS LED BY (ATIB (AKAN 3AWADJAAN BATTLED WITH THE TH 3COUT 2ANGER "ATTALION &IGHTING CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THREE MEMBERS INCLUDING A FOREIGN TERRORIST THE MILITARY SAID &IVE SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THE CLASH ROY D.R. NARRA

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DBM staff

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Congress fails to pass budget bill

Estimates of voter turnout RANGED FROM PERCENT TO PERCENT g3O WE DON T KNOW YET IF THE turnout would be good or not,” *IMENEZ SAID -ALACAÄANG ON 7EDNESDAY ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT SECURITY measures were in place to ensure THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AFTER TWO EXPLOSIONS HIT ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND ANOTHER ROCKED -AGUINDANAO ON THE EVE OF THE PLEBISCITE 4WO WEEKS AGO MAJORITY OF VOTERS FROM THE !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE "/, WITH WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL, DEMPSEY REYES AND CATHERINE S. VALENTE

LRT INSPECTION

National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Eleazar, Light Rail Manila Corp. President Juan Felipe Alfonso, and Center for Public Safety Management Director Noel Baroceros lead the inspection of safety arrangments in LRT-1 Central Station in Manila on Wednesday.

PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

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‘Sawadjaan 4HE REPORT ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE AROUND TO )3 TERRORISTS IN -INDANAO g4HIS QUARTER 53 )NDO 0ACOM )NDO 0ACIkC #OMMAND REPORTED THAT IT HAD NO UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF AN )3)3 ;0HILIPPINES= EMIR BUT it still believed Hatib Sawadjaan, AN !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP !3' SUB UNIT COMMANDER WAS THE ACTING EMIR u THE REPORT SAID USING ANOTHER ACRONYM FOR )3 )3)3 STANDS FOR )SLAMIC 3TATE IN )RAQ AND 3YRIA 4HE 53 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAID THE 53 )NDO 0ACOM HAD REPORTED THAT THE )3 #ORE OR THOSE WHO ARE BASED IN )RAQ AND 3YRIA HAD NOT CLARIkED THEIR CLEAR RELATIONS WITH 3AWADJAAN WHO IS BASED IN 3ULU 4HERE ARE TWO GROUPS LED BY THE !BU 3AYYAF ONE UNDER 3AWADJAAN AND THE OTHER UNDER 2ADULAN 3AHIRON 4HE 53 GOVERNMENT HAS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN )3 #ORE AND )3 0HILIPPINES )T HOWEVER SAID THE CONCLUSION OF THE kVE MONTH LONG SIEGE IN -ARAWI WHICH LEFT ABOUT

PERSONS DEAD HAD gFRACTUREDu THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE )3 #ORE AND THE )3 0HILIPPINES 4HE STATEMENT JIVED WITH THAT OF $EFENSE 3ECRETARY $ELkN ,ORENZANA WHO SAID THERE WERE AROUND FOREIGN TERRORISTS IN -INDANAO ACCOMPANYING GROUPS THAT HAVE

ALIGNED THEMSELVES WITH THE )3

INCLUDING THE !BU 3AYYAF UNDER 3AWADJAAN S SUPERVISION AND THE "ANGSAMORO )SLAMIC &REEDOM &IGHTERS UNDER !BU 4ORAYPE -OST OF THE FOREIGN EXTREMISTS CAME FROM )NDONESIA AND -ALAYSIA ACCORDING TO 7ASHINGTON

WHICH DID NOT IDENTIFY THE HOME countries of foreigners aiding 0HILIPPINE BASED TERRORISTS ,ORENZANA AND )NTERIOR 3ECRETARY %DUARDO !ÄO HAD CONkRMED THERE WERE TERRORISTS WHO CAME FROM 0AKISTAN %GYPT 9EMEN -OROCCO AND EVEN 3INGAPORE !ÄO CONkRMED THAT 3AWADJAAN WAS THE )3 gEMIRu IN THE 0HILIPPINES (E SAID EVEN IF !BU $AR OR /WAYDA "ENITO -AROHOMBSAR HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE gEMIRu REPLACING )SNILON (APILON FOR )3 3OUTHEAST !SIA 3AWADJAAN IS THE BELIEVED LEADER OF THE )3 IN THE country, luring foreign terrorists TO SOUTHERN 0HILIPPINES !T THE SAME TIME THE $O$ REPORT SAID THE !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES !&0 LACKED CAPABILIties in collecting information on TARGETS INCLUDING TERRORISTS 4HE REPORT OF THE $O$ S ,EAD )NSPECTOR 'ENERAL FOR THE /PERATION 0ACIkC %AGLE IN THE 0HILIPPINES NOTED THAT THE 0HILIPPINE MILITARY gLACKSu ASSETS FOR INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE )32 )T ADDED THAT THE !RMED &ORCES DOES NOT HAVE A g0RODUCTION %Xploitation and Dissemination cell” THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING )32 INFORMATION AND gPROVIDING IT TO A DECISION MAKING ENTITY u

4HE 0HILIPPINE MILITARY IT SAID

ALSO gSUFFERS FROM AN INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMu BY USING LIMITED )32 ASSETS IN LIVE TRACKING ACTIVE OPERATIONS 4HE $O$ GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM THE 53 3PECIAL /PERATIONS #OMMAND 0ACIkC 533/#0!#

WHICH ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE 0HILIPPINE MILITARY STILL gRELIES HEAVILYu ON THE 53 $EFENSE DEPARTMENT AND ITS CONTRACTORS )32 capabilities in identifying locaTIONS OF ACTIVITIES OF THE ENEMY 4O ATTAIN THE gEND TO ENDu CAPABILITY REQUIRING THE 0HILIPPINE MILITARY S *OINT 3PECIAL /PERATIONS 'ROUP *3/' TO HAVE A gTACTICAL LEVEL )32 PLATFORM AN ESTABLISHED !ERIAL 2ECONNAISSANCE 5NIT A *OINT )NTELLIGENCE #OMPONENTu TO ASSIST WITH INTELLIGENCE COLLABORATION AND ANALYSIS IS NEEDED )N -ARCH LAST YEAR THE 0HILIPPINE !IR &ORCE RECEIVED SIX 3CAN%AGLE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES FROM THE 53 THAT CAN BE USED FOR )32 OPERATIONS 4HE $O$ INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID THE 533/#0!# IS PROVIDING THE 0HILIPPINE MILITARY AN INTELLIGENCE TRAINING PACKAGE

ANALYST NOTEBOOK SOFTWARE MULTIPLE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE systems, tactical command posts AND OTHER EQUIPMENT &OR THIS YEAR THE $O$ INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID THE 53 )NDO Pacom was planning to spend MILLION OR 0 BILLION ON CONTRACTED )32 AND MILLION OR 0 MILLION ON 53 !RMY )32 SUPPORT FOR THE 0HILIPPINES DEMPSEY REYES

House appropriations panel into allegedly anomalous allocations OF THE $"- $URING THE HEARING LED BY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R SOME $07( REPRESENTATIVES SAID THEY WERE ASKED TO REPORT TO THE $"- OFFICE BY 5NDERSECRETARY -INA 0ANGANDAMAN IN *ULY TO FORMAT A $"- TEMPLATE

WHICH INCLUDED A LIST OF PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND THEIR corresponding amounts to be INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR Pangandaman was allegedly ORDERED BY %LLEN 4UMANG $"- DIVISION CHIEF IN CHARGE OF $07( PROJECTS TO FORMAT THE TEMPLATE 'ERARD ,ONGORIA AND &ROILAN -ABINI $07( STAFF MEMBERS

SAID THEY WERE GIVEN A lASH DRIVE CONTAINING THE BUDGET TEMPLATE AND WERE BOTH TASKED TO COORDINATE WITH EACH OTHER TO COME UP WITH AN INPUT THAT WOULD BE READABLE BY THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE $"- ONCE ACCESSED "UT THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS OUTSIDE THE KNOWLEDGE OF $07( 3ECRETARY -ARK 6ILLAR THEY ADDED $URING $ECEMBER S 1UESTION (OUR AT THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES $IOKNO HIMSELF ADMITTED THAT THEY ADDED 0 BILLION TO THE BUDGET OF THE $07( AFTER THEY APPROVED THE kRST TRANCHE OF SOME 0 BILLION AND ANOTHER 0 BILLION IN PROJECTS 4HIS ADDITION EQUATES TO A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 0 BILLION APPROVED FROM THE INITIALLY PROPOSED 0 BILLION BY THE $07( $IOKNO HAD DEFENDED THAT THE inserted amount, initially pegged AT 0 BILLION COULD NOT BE CALLED AN gINSERTIONu AS IT WAS PART OF THE 0RESIDENT S BUDGET !NDAYA

HOWEVER CLAIMED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE DID NOT HAVE AN IDEA WHERE THE AMOUNT CAME FROM "UT $IOKNO S ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN THE 0 BILLION INSERTION IN THE $07( BUDGET ALSO STEMS FROM HIS CONNECTION TO HIS IN LAWS

WHO OWN A PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION kRM IN 3ORSOGON THAT ALLEGEDLY CORNERED MULTI BILLION CONTRACTS !BOUT 0 BILLION WORTH OF BUDGETARY SAVINGS FOR ALONE WAS UNCOVERED UNDER THE DISPOSAL OF THE $"- 3OME 0 BILLION WORTH OF IDLE FUNDS WERE ALSO DISCOVERED UNDER THE SMALL OFkCES OF THE $"- AND THE $EPARTMENT OF 4RADE AND )NDUSTRY AS A RESULT OF $IOKNO S ALLEGED REVISION OF PROCUREMENT RULES FOR BIG TICKET INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS GLEE JALEA

News

˜ The Manila Times

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THURSDAY February 7, 2019

A3

CA gives nod to AĂąo, Bautista T

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

HE bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday c o n f i r m e d t he a p p o i n t m e n t o f Rolando Joselito Bautista as Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary and Eduardo AĂąo as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

2EP 2ONALDO :AMORA VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE #! S LABOR EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE PANEL

THREW HIS SUPPORT BEHIND "AUTISTA

CALLING HIM A PROFESSIONAL #! MEMBERS ALSO GAVE THEIR NOD TO !Ă„O S APPOINTMENT AFTER THE LATTER ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS ON THE COUNTRY S PEACE AND ORDER SITUATION 4HE PANEL ALSO CONFIRMED THE APPOINTMENTS OF RANKING !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES

GENERAL lAG AND SENIOR OFkCERS LED BY TWO LIEUTENANT GENERALS ,IKEWISE IT GAVE ITS NOD TO THE APPOINTMENTS OF SIX $EPARTMENT OF &OREIGN !FFAIRS O F F I C I A L S ‡ ! M A D O 3 E V I L L A "AGATSING *R AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE 2EPUBLIC OF )NDIA -OE !LBANO 7ONG AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE 2EPUBLIC OF +OREA .OEL %UGENE 3ERVIGON

AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 0HILIPPINES TO THE !SSOCIATION OF 3OUTHEAST !SIAN .ATIONS IN *AKARTA )NDONESIA -A 4ERESITA $AZA AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE 2EPUBLIC OF #HILE #HRISTOPHER -ONTERO AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO "RUNEI $ARUSSALAM AND *EAN !LIA 9ASIN 2OBLES AS

&OREIGN 3ERVICE /FFICER 4HE APPOINTMENT OF !ILEEN ,OURDES !BELLA ,IZADA AS COMMISSIONER OF THE #IVIL 3ERVICE #OMMISSION WAS ALSO APPROVED #ONFIRMED AS LIEUTENANT GENERALS WERE 2ONNIE %VANGELISTA AND -ACAIROG !LBERTO WHILE THE MAJOR GENERALS WERE 3AMUEL 'OTICO &ELIPE "EJAR %RWIN "ERNARD .ERI 2AMIRO -ANUEL 2EY 0ABLO ,ORENZO "YRON #ALIMAG *ESUS 3ARSAGATAND *OSE &AUSTINO *R

Anne Curtis, Daphne OseĂąa named Unicef ambassadors 4(% 5NITED .ATIONS )NTERNATIONAL #HILDREN S %MERGENCY &UND 5NICEF HAS APPOINTED ACTRESS !NNE #URTIS AND 46 HOST AND PRODUCER $APHNE /SEĂ„A 0AEZ AS ITS AMBASSADORS 5NICEF WILL FORMALLY ANNOUNCE THEIR APPOINTMENT ON 4HURSDAY IN #UBAO 1UEZON #ITY )N HER BLOG 0AEZ A MOTHER OF THREE SAID HER WORK WITH 5NICEF AS SPECIAL ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN TOOK

HER AROUND THE COUNTRY gTO BRING OUT STORIES ON HEALTH BREASTFEEDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN u g4HIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME

AS A MOTHER TO SEE THAT EVERY CHILD IS PROTECTED u SHE SAID 5NICEF SAID THE TWO WOMEN WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK IN PUSHING CHILDREN S RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT JAIME R. PILAPIL

Bicam OKs expanded sex harassment bill A BICAMERAL conference committee on Wednesday formally passed the reconciled version of the proposed Safe Spaces Act, which will impose heftier penalties for “any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person� in public spaces.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the bill’s sponsor and author, said the country was is a step closer to “a landmark victory in the fight against gender-based harassment.� “We are one step closer to enacting a long-sought and long-overdue law that will better protect Filipinos, especially women and LGBT persons, from bigotry and hatred we see rampant in our streets, schools and even workplaces today,� Hontiveros said.

She said the measure would penalize “catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic

and sexist slurs, sexual comments and suggestions, public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping, or any advances, whether verbal or physical, that are unwanted and threaten one’s sense of personal space and physical safety.�

The measure expands the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 to penalize acts of sexual harassment committed “between peers and those committed to a superior officer by a subordinate, or to a teacher by a student, or to a trainer by a trainee.� “This measure will plug gaps in the existing law so that persons at work, school or elsewhere can be confident that they will enjoy protection from all sorts of abusers and harassers — no matter who they are,�

Hontiveros said.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

ON SIN TAX

Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao consults Sen. Jose Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito during the hearing on a bill that will increase taxes on alcohol products. The departments of Health and Trade and Industry backed the measure, saying if it becomes a law, the government would collect an additional P32.3 billion in revenues. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

DENGVAXIA MESS

House panels to file raps vs Aquino, Abad, Garin 47/ COMMITTEES OF THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES WILL FILE CHARGES AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT "ENIGNO g.OYNOYu !QUINO RD

FORMER (EALTH SECRETARY *ANETTE 'ARIN AND FORMER "UDGET SECRETARY &LORENCIO !BAD IN CONNECTION WITH THE $ENGVAXIA MESS 4HE COMMITTEES ON (EALTH AND 'OOD 'OVERNMENT AND 0UBLIC !CCOUNTABILITY APPROVED A JOINT COMMITTEE REPORT SEEKING TO CHARGE THE THREE PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR COLLUDING TO PURCHASE $ENGVAXIA VACCINES 4HE THREE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIOLATION OF 3ECTION E OF 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE g!NTI 'RAFT AND #ORRUPT 0RACTICES !CTu FOR ALLEGEDLY gGIVING ANY PRIVATE PARTY ANY UNWARRANTED BENEFITS ADVANTAGE OR PREFERENCE IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS THROUGH MANIFEST PARTIALITY EVIDENT BAD FAITH OR GROSS INEXCUSABLE NEGLIGENCE u !QUINO APPROVED THE USE OF 0 BILLION

FROM THE -ISCELLANEOUS 0ERSONNEL "ENEFITS &UND SAVINGS TO PURCHASE THE DENGUE VACCINES FOR THE .ATIONAL #APITAL 2EGION 2EGION AND 2EGION ! !BAD MADE THE REQUEST TO USE THE SAVINGS 'ARIN ON THE OTHER HAND BACKED THE USE OF THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE VACCINES

EVEN IF NO CERTIFICATION HAD BEEN ISSUED TO VALIDATE THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE FOR A MASSIVE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM 4HE THREE WILL ALSO FACE CHARGES OF TECHNICAL MALVERSATION FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING !RTICLE OF THE 2EVISED 0ENAL #ODE g4HE USE OF @SAVINGS FROM APPROPRIATIONS FOR OTHER PROJECTS OR PROCUREMENTS FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO APPROPRIATION FROM #ONGRESS FALLS WITHIN THE OFFENSE PUNISHED UNDER !RTICLE OF THE 2EVISED 0ENAL #ODE u THE REPORT READ #HARGES WERE ALSO RECOMMENDED AGAINST

OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS NAMELY *OYCE $UCUSIN 2OSALIND 6IANZON -ARIO "AQUILOD

*ULIS ,ECCIONES %STRELLA 0AJE 6ILLAR +ENNETH (ARTIGAN 'O ,YNDON ,EE 3UY AND MEMBERS OF THE 0HILIPPINE #HILDREN S -EDICAL #ENTER "IDS AND !WARDS #OMMITTEE !QUINO 'ARIN AND !BAD WERE ALREADY CHARGED WITH GRAFT PLUNDER AND MALVERSATION BEFORE THE /FFICE OF THE /MBUDSMAN FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE $ENGVAXIA CONTROVERSY 4HE GOVERNMENT STOPPED THE DENGUE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM IN AFTER &RENCH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY 3ANOFI 0ASTEUR

THE MAKER OF $ENGVAXIA ADMITTED THAT CHILDREN WHO NEVER HAD DENGUE MIGHT DEVELOP SEVERE DENGUE IF GIVEN THE VACCINE 4HE $EPARTMENT OF (EALTH REPORTED THAT

CHILDREN WERE INOCULATED WITH $ENGVAXIA

GLEE JALEA

NBI captures Kenneth Dong &5')4)6% #HINESE &ILIPINO BUSINESSMAN $ONG 9I 3HE ALIAS +ENNETH $ONG THE ALLEGED MIDDLEMAN IN THE SMUGGLING OF 0 BILLION WORTH OF SHABU AT THE "UREAU OF #USTOMS "O# IN WAS ARRESTED IN -UNTINLUPA #ITY ON -ONDAY

BUT HIS CAPTURE WAS ANNOUNCED ON 7EDNESDAY BY THE .ATIONAL "UREAU OF )NVESTIGATION .")

4HE .") PRESENTED $ONG TO THE MEDIA YESTERDAY $ONG SAID HE WAS VISITING A FRIEND IN +ATARUNGAN 6ILLAGE WHEN .") AGENTS POUNCED ON HIM ON -ONDAY NIGHT (E ADMITTED HIDING FROM AUTHORITIES AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST +ATARUNGAN 6ILLAGE WAS FORMERLY PART OF THE .EW "ILIBID 0RISON ."0 )T WAS DECLARED A SITE OF THE $EPARTMENT OF *USTICE HOUSING PROJECT BY

VIRTUE OF 0ROCLAMATION AND IN AND .") SPOKESMAN &ERDINAND ,AVIN SAID THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WHERE $ONG WAS ARRESTED WOULD BE CHARGED ,EVIN SAID $ONG WAS PRESENTED TO *UDGE 2EINELDA %STACIO -ONTESA OF THE -ANILA 2EGIONAL 4RIAL #OURT "RANCH WHO ISSUED THE WARRANT OF ARREST $ONG WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATION OF 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE g#OMPREHENSIVE $ANGEROUS $RUGS !CT OF u AN UNBAILABLE OFFENSE #USTOMS BROKER -ARK 2UBEN 4AGUBA ND WHO FACILITATED THE RELEASE OF THE ILLEGAL SHIPMENT AND %IRENE -AE 4ATAD THE DUMMY CONSIGNEE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED 4HE SHABU SHIPMENT HIDDEN IN kVE METAL CYLINDERS ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY IN -AY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Psychological incapacity must be proven Dear PAO, I have been separated from my wife because of irreconcilable differences. I discovered during our cohabitation that she had a sexual relationship with her co-worker. My friend Fidel told me that he knew somebody who can conduct psychological examination on my wife, and his TESTIMONY WILL BE SUFkCIENT IF ) intend to declare my marriage void. I met the person Fidel was referring to. I told him that I do not know the whereabouts of my wife, so it is impossible for him to personally evaluate my wife. He claimed, however, that the information I can give IS SUFkCIENT FOR HIM TO CONDUCT such evaluation. Is this true?

Abelardo

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA

!RTICLE &AMILY #ODE OF THE 0HILIPPINES WHEREAS PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY IS A GROUND FOR DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE

WHICH IS IN CONSONANCE WITH THE PROVISION OF !RTICLE OF THE &AMILY #ODE OF THE 0HILIPPINES 0SYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY WAS FURTHER EXPLAINED IN THE CASE OF 3INGSON VS 3INGSON '2

*AN

WHERE THE 3UPREME #OURT THROUGH !SSOCIATE *USTICE -ARIANO DEL #ASTILLO STATED g0SYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY AS A GROUND TO NULLIFY A MARRIAGE UNDER !RTICLE OF THE &AMILY Dear Abelardo, #ODE SHOULD REFER TO NO LESS THAN 3EXUAL INkDELITY OR PERVERSION A MENTAL ‡ NOT MERELY PHYSICAL ‡ IS A GROUND FOR LEGAL SEPARATION INCAPACITY THAT CAUSES A PARTY TO BE

TRULY INCOGNITIVE OF THE BASIC MARITAL COVENANTS THAT CONCOMITANTLY MUST BE ASSUMED AND DISCHARGED BY THE PARTIES TO THE MARRIAGE WHICH AS SO EXPRESSED IN !RTICLE OF THE &AMILY #ODE AMONG OTHERS INCLUDE THEIR MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO LIVE TOGETHER OBSERVE LOVE RESPECT AND kDELITY AND RENDER HELP AND SUPPORT 4HERE IS HARDLY ANY DOUBT THAT THE INTENDMENT OF THE LAW HAS BEEN TO CONkNE THE MEANING OF @PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY TO THE MOST SERIOUS CASES OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATIVE OF AN UTTER INSENSITIVITY OR INABILITY TO GIVE MEANING AND SIGNIkCANCE TO THE MARRIAGE )N 3ANTOS VS #!

3ANTOS , THE #OURT kRST DECLARED THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY MUST BE CHARACTERIZED BY A gravity I E

IT MUST BE GRAVE AND SERIOUS SUCH THAT THE PARTY WOULD BE INCAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT THE ORDINARY DUTIES REQUIRED IN A MARRIAGE B juridical antecedence I E IT MUST BE

ROOTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE PARTY ANTEDATING THE MARRIAGE ALTHOUGH THE OVERT MANIFESTATIONS MAY EMERGE ONLY AFTER THE MARRIAGE AND C incurability I E IT MUST BE INCURABLE OR EVEN IF IT WERE OTHERWISE THE CURE WOULD BE BEYOND THE MEANS OF THE PARTY INVOLVED 4HE #OURT LAID DOWN MORE DEkNITIVE GUIDELINES IN THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF !RTICLE OF THE &AMILY #ODE IN 2EPUBLIC OF THE 0HILIPPINES VS #!, X X X ;ALSO KNOWN AS THE -OLINA GUIDELINES= 4HESE GUIDELINES INCORPORATE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS THAT THE #OURT ESTABLISHED IN 3ANTOS u %MPHASIS SUPPLIED 4HE PSYCHOLOGIST S EVALUATION ALONE MAY NOT BE SUFkCIENT TO ARRIVE AT A CONCLUSION THAT YOUR WIFE IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY INCAPACITATED TO COMPLY WITH THE ESSENTIAL MARITAL OBLIGATIONS 0LEASE BE GUIDED BY THE DECISION IN THE CASE OF 2EPUBLIC OF THE 0HILIPPINES VS 4IONGLICO '2 *AN

WHERE

THE 3UPREME #OURT THROUGH !SSOCIATE *USTICE .OEL 4IJAM STATED g4HE SAME COULD BE SAID IN THIS CASE WHERE THE VARIOUS TESTS CONDUCTED BY $R !RELLANO CAN MOST CERTAINLY BE CONCLUSIVE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISPOSITION OF +ATRINA BUT CANNOT BE SAID TO BE INDICATIVE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF ,AWRENCE 4HERE WAS SIMPLY NO OTHER BASIS FOR $R !RELLANO TO CONCLUDE THAT ,AWRENCE WAS PSYCHOLOGICALLY INCAPACITATED TO PERFORM HIS ESSENTIAL MARITAL OBLIGATIONS APART FROM +ATRINA S SELF SERVING STATEMENTS To make conclusions and generalizations on a spouse’s psychological condition based on the information fed by only one side, as in the case at bar, is, to the Court’s mind, not different from admitting hearsay evidence as proof of the truthfulness of the content of such evidence� %MPHASIS SUPPLIED

!PPLYING THE ABOVE QUOTED DECISION IN YOUR SITUATION A MERE EVALUATION OF THE EXPERT WITNESS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF YOUR WIFE WHICH IS BASED ALONE ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED IS NOT SUFkCIENT TO PROVE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY OF YOUR WIFE TO COMPLY WITH THE ESSENTIAL MARITAL OBLIGATIONS 0SYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY MUST BE PROVEN BY THE TOTALITY OF PIECES OF EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THE COURSE OF THE HEARING 7E HOPE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUERIES 4HIS ADVICE IS BASED SOLELY ON THE FACTS YOU HAVE NARRATED AND OUR APPRECIATION OF THE SAME /UR OPINION MAY VARY WHEN OTHER FACTS ARE CHANGED OR ELABORATED %DITOR S NOTE $EAR 0!/ IS A DAILY COLUMN OF THE 0UBLIC !TTORNEY S /FkCE 1UESTIONS FOR CHIEF !COSTA MAY BE SENT TO DEARPAO MANILATIMES NET

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l GSIS must seek ways to fund optional early retirement

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HE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has “expressed its reservations� over the lowering of the optional retirement age for government employees from 60 years to 56. Rather than resisting the popular meaSURE THE WORKER FUNDED INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT BENEkTS FUND MUST kND WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED CHANGE House Bill (HB) 8683 was passed by the House of Representatives in December and is now awaiting action by the Senate, where a counterpart measure is expected to be eventually approved. HB 8683 lowers the optional retirement age for government workers from the 60 years originally provided for in the GSIS Act of 1997. The mandatory retirement age remains at 65 years.

In a statement circulated at the end of last week, GSIS President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas said that under the proposed change, the effective life of the fund would be reduced by 12 years and depleted in 2039, instead of 2051. “Our main concern on the lowering of retirement age for government employees stems from the results of our actuarial STUDY THAT IT WILL REDUCE THE kNANCIAL LIFE OF THE SOCIAL INSURance fund by 12 years,� Aranas said. “With a shorter actuarial life, GSIS will ultimately be forced to effect possible adjustMENTS SUCH AS PUTTING INTO PLAY A MIX OF BENEkT DECREASES OR an increase in premium contribution, or even both in order to mitigate the risk of being underfunded.�

The reason for this, Aranas explained, is that the lower retirement age would mean a shorter period of member contribution to the fund, while at the same time, the period of time RETIRED MEMBERS COULD DRAW BENEkTS WOULD BE INCREASED In addition, according to Aranas, the proposal would increase the burden on current paying members due to longer life expectancy, although he did not explain exactly how this would happen.

With all due respect to Mr. Aranas, offering an optional retirement age to government workers — who must, in any case, have been employed and active contributors to the GSIS fund for 15 years in order to COLLECT RETIREMENT BENEkTS ‡ IS A CONSIDERATE MEASURE

but one that most GSIS members do not take advantage of, as the bill’s sponsors in the House noted.

Most government workers stay on until the mandatory RETIREMENT AGE OF IN FACT THAT WAS THE JUSTIkCATION FOR a congressional proposal back in 2013 to lower the mandatory age from 65 to 55. The tendency of government employees to stay in their jobs until obliged to retire was limiting opportunities for new workers and was slowing the adoption of new technologies due to older peoples’ “inability to adapt,� the measure argued.

That proposal failed, but it does illustrate that reducing the optional retirement age by a few years would most likely not have the severe impact on the GSIS fund that Aranas fears, actuarial studies notwithstanding. Those numbers-driven scenarios do not always account for human behavior, and in the case of government employees, it seems clear that their preference is to work as long as they are able. All lowering the optional retirement age does is provide a well-deserved opportunity for those who wish to retire early, or more importantly, are compelled to do so due to health or family concerns.

Even if the lower optional retirement age does put presSURE ON THE '3)3 FUND S kNANCIAL STABILITY THE ONLY ACCEPTable response of the GSIS is to appropriately manage the situation. Given a 20-year head start on any potential crisis, A VAST POOL OF kNANCIAL RESOURCES AND WITH A SMALL ARMY OF investment experts at its disposal, the GSIS certainly should BE ABLE TO kND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE FUND S PERFORMANCE ~

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 118

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

Election surveys: Science or sĂŠance?

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HIS is now the season of election surveys and once again people are asking if it is indeed possible for the opinion of millions of voters to be validly revealed by a survey that asked only 1,800 individuals. Is there a science behind surveys, or is this just like the Delphian oracle, or some kind of a glorified sĂŠance where survey takers act like spiritualists receiving information from the dead?

At the outset, it must be emphasized that there is a science behind surveys, but it should also not be denied that this science can be undermined when surveys are gamed and weaponized as a political tool.

The reliability of surveys rests on the existence of what is referred to

ON THE CONTRARY ANTONIO CONTRERAS as a properly randomized sample.

This is the key why 1,800 respondents would be enough to measure the opinion of the entire voting population. A random sample ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen as part of the sample.

Sampling may be too abstract for a layperson to understand. The best way to appreciate it is to know that product quality control is done by randomly checking only a sample of products, whether it be light bulbs or soft drinks or vehicles.

Not every bottle of milk must be opened to check for quality. Only a sample of bottles need to be examined and tested, as long as they are chosen randomly, and without manifest bias.

This then begs the question that unlike products that are somewhat much alike, since they are all milk, or light bulbs, or cars, applying the principle on people may be problematic considering that human beings are more diverse. However, this doubt can be dispelled by the fact that if the sample is truly randomly SELECTED IT WILL THEN RElECT THE DIVERsity of the entire population, and its composition will truly represent the various classes and categories. There are also ways of randomization that can further enhance representative-

ness of the entire population, such as drawing the sample proportional to the distribution of some predetermined social variable, such as gender or social class, whichever is DEEMED APPROPRIATE AND SIGNIkCANT to the issue for which the survey is being conducted.

Ideally, a sample is usually drawn by choosing randomly from a list. Unfortunately, in the case of election surveys, we are talking of a population by the millions. This is where the task becomes challenging.

In situations where mobile phone penetration is high, the sample can be drawn by generating random phone numbers. Here, the manner of conducting the survey

ÂłContrerasA5

Q MAKABENTA FROM A1

Trump uses his pulpit to overcome his demons She knew that Trump could skillfully use the address to rally the American people behind his administration, and to attack the Democrats’ relentless opposition to his policy agenda.

The SOTU is both an event and a pulpit. Of all presidential addresses, it is the most watched on live TV, it is the most heavily attended. And it is the most analyzed not only in America, but also in foreign capitals.

It is also a pulpit from which the US president, like the Pope, speaks with the majesty and power of his OFkCE AND EXPRESSES HIS THINKING on burning issues of the times.

It was Theodore Roosevelt who kRST SPOKE OF THE PRESIDENCY AS a ‘bully pulpit,� from where the president took his case to the people on vital issues.

In a historical note, William Safire wrote: “The image of the White House as a pulpit with the whole nation as congregation –linked with the zesty adjective ‘bully,’ meaning firstrate or admirable — has been frequently used ever since. It has special pertinence in the seemingly endless analysis of active presidents, or those who take the largest possible view of their office and powers, versus them more restrained presidents.�

76 percent approve of SOTU When used effectively by a president, the SOTU can be the means to turn a time of unpopularity and trial around. It can clear the road overnight for legislative proposals that have been stalled in Congress by the opposition.

Immediately after Tuesday’s SOTU, pollsters went to work to assess the comparative success or failure of the address.

Within hours after sign-off, CBS News and CNN released the results of instant polls taken immediately after the address.

Both polls found that 70 to 76 percent of those who watched the broadcast from the capitol approved of the speech. The CBS poll said 72 percent approved of Trump’s immigration proposals, while the CNN poll showed 76 percent approval with 59 percent “very positive.�

The respected presidential speechwriter (to two past US presidents) and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, tweeted an admiring review of the address. She said: “This has been a deeply adept speech in terms of policy. He cut to the muscle on legal and illegal immigration, on abortion and infanticide, on foreign wars. His vow on socialism will be remembered.�

This suggests a sea change in public perception of Trump and his job performance. All throughout January and just last week, he appeared to be tottering over his pounding in the November midterm elections and the debacle over the government shutdown for 35 days.

A new tone in leadership Trump used the SOTU to strike a new tone in his leadership. He spoke of conciliation, compromise and cooperation with his Democratic opponents in Congress.

To the nation, he spoke of a new initiative to ignite the American imagination to blaze new trails in science, research and industry.

Just as Bill Clinton in 1999 called for “civility,� even after the House had impeached him, so Trump invited Congress to work together with him in building the future.

Some said Trump righted his presidency with the speech, and set the next two years of his administration.

On the economy, Trump deservedly claimed as achievements the good numbers on jobs and

growth. Wages are growing at a pace not seen in years. The wage gap suffered by minority workers is closing. The poverty rate is beginning to come down.

Finally, he spoke persuasively about the moral and security crisis posed by illegal immigration and the lack of funding for a southern border wall.

With the address, it may be that Trump will hurdle Democratic opposition to funding his wall.

Pelosi is unlikely to ever say again that a wall is “immoral.�

17-year-old war.

On North Korea, where previous administrations stood by as the communist nation developed its nuclear weapons program, top State Department officials say THAT +IM *ONG 5N HAS FOR THE kRST time, agreed to the “dismantlement and destruction of North Korea’s plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities.�

Towards the close of his address, Trump announced that he will be meeting with the North Korean leader on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam.

Foreign policy On NATO, Trump managed to get achievements allies to do something that previous presidents couldn’t do — get them As impressive as the economic to boost their defense spending. achievements were, the major Then there’s Trump’s progress strides Trump made with his on China — another festering foreign policy even Trump’s problem that experts failed to harshest critics now acknowledge resolve. As a result of his willseveral big wins in foreign policy. ingness to risk an all-out trade This is a far cry from the earlier war, there’s a growing bipartisan verdict that Trump was a "know- consensus in Congress. nothing" on foreign policy.

On Russia, some say that Shortly before the November Trump has arguably been tougher 2016 elections, a group of 50 top on Russia than his predecessors.

Republican foreign policy experts Listed as notable pluses are signed an unprecedented letter agreeing to send lethal weapons forcefully denouncing Trump. to Ukraine — which Obama “From a foreign policy perspec- refused to do; sanctions on RusTIVE $ONALD 4RUMP IS NOT QUALIkED sian oligarchs, and aggressively to be president and commander- pushing US energy exports. in-chief,� the letter stated.

That does not include yet Trump’s Now, two years into the Trump swift defeat of IS, which came after presidency, Trump is getting years of Obama telling the country results that past foreign policy that victory would be elusive. experts could only dream about.

Trump has made mistakes. And The list of Trump victories is the world is still full of dangers. redoubtable: But it should be clear by now On Venezuela, which had been that Trump’s aggressive and descending into socialist chaos abrasive manner is working on throughout Obama’s years in of- the foreign stage in ways that his kCE ONE OF THE kRST THINGS 4RUMP critics did not expect.

DID WHEN TAKING OFkCE WAS TO IMThe policy experts who warned pose sanctions. Now, Venezuela that Trump “would put at risk US is on the cusp of shedding social- national security and well-being� ist dictator Nicolas Maduro. are looking more foolish and On Afghanistan, Trump has wrong. Trump has every right to announced a major breakthrough use his bully pulpit to tell them so. in talks with the Taliban. It is the best chance yet of ending the yenmakabenta@yahoo.com

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

T

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Inquirer, a hypocritical newspaper

HE Philippine Daily Inquirer, in its editorial last Saturday, January 2, called senatorial candidate Jiggy Manicad names: traitor, betrayer, double-dealer, Judas, quisling, sellout, defector, rat, snitch and talebearer.

All because Manicad, who used to be a reporter and news anchor of GMA 7, said during a television interview that the troubles that news website Rappler is confronting were “isolated� instances and could be traced to violations of the constitutional ban on foreign ownership of media.

C’mon, guys, Manicad was just expressing his opinion and he should be respected for that!

The Inquirer, which prides itself on its “balanced new and fearless views� slogan, is not a saint in upholding press freedom.

Well, that broadsheet was a strong advocate of press freedom during the time of the late Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, but has become just another so-so newspaper with Joey Nolasco as its executive editor and Raul Palabrica, a mediocre lawyer, as its legal counsel.

Palabrica, a nonentity as a journalist, is chairman of the paper’s editorial council.

It was Palabrica who ordered me suspended — when I was still its columnist — for one month because I criticized the Inquir-

IN MY LINE OF SIGHT RAMON T. TULFO er and its editors for being biased against President Digong.

My suspension stemmed from my remarks in my Oct. 17, 2017 “On Target� column that some editors were “deliberately or unwittingly being used by the CIA (US Central Intelligence Agency) to destabilize the Duterte administration.�

Despite a spirited defense made by associate editor and columnist John Nery, a member of the editorial council, that my opinion should be respected, the decision to suspend my column was made.

I tried to appeal my suspension in an exchange of text messages with Palabrica, to no avail.

The following is the exchange of communication between myself and that lawyer on my suspension: Tulfo: “Raul, I can’t wait until Monday to explain why I wrote that some editors could be involved in the destabilization effort. The operative words: ‘are deliberately or unwittingly being used by the CIA.’ There are some reports that some media outlets are being used by the CIA to destabilize governments. Now, if you don’t know that you must have been born yesterday. I was

expounding an opinion and you should never, ever question that.

Columnists are opinion writers.

Even if I had a source that some of our editors are involved in the destabilization plot why should I reveal (his identity) to you?

Please, please don’t question my opinion! As Voltaire said, ‘I may not agree with what he says, but I will defend to the death his right to say it’.�

Palabrica: ‘If this is your reply to the memo, please email it as a formal reply. The proceedings of the Editorial Council are all recorded. I will forward your reply to the members of the Editorial Council so they can decide on whether or not your explanation is acceptable. The council is a collegial body and I am only one of four members.�

Tulfo: “Was the decision not to publish my columns in the Inquirer and Bandera (Inquirer’s sister publication, a tabloid) a decision of the Editorial Council, or yours alone? Seems like you’re running the whole show.

Remember, you are only our legal counsel, not our boss.

Palabrica: “It was a decision of the Editorial Council.�

Tulfo: “Oh, I see! It took the Editorial Council that long to decide on my fate. The editors pointed to you as the one who ordered to withhold publication

of my columns.�

Palabrica: “The editors you supposedly talked to do not know the decision process of the council. It consists of Joey Nolasco, Abel Ulanday and John Nery as members. Our meetings and decisions are minuted and we follow the majority rule. I cannot and do not act unilaterally. The members will not allow themselves to be dominated by one person.�

Tulfo: “I leave it to your discreTION TO SUSPEND ME INDEkNITELY Why are you so onion-skinned?

Long before you joined the Inquirer almost all the columnists ganged up on me on my stand on the Hubert Webb case. They implied that I was paid by the Webbs, but I took everything in stride. Can’t you take what you dish out? You just withheld publication of my column without telling me the reason. The problem with you, blokes, is that you think highly of yourself that when a subordinate fails to reply to your memo you consider it a challenge to your authority. Raul, just because you hold a position of authority you have power over me. You should remember that when you were still in law school I was already a columnist.�

P.S.: The deal between the Prietos and Ramon Ang to buy the Inquirer did not push through because of Palabrica.

Q AQUINO FROM A1

Jurisprudentia – Juris-scientia "Now actions are in singular matters: and so it is necessary for the prudent man to know both the universal principles of reason, and the singulars about which actions are concerned.� Prudence is principally concerned with the singular, the instant, the diachronic, the event, the occasion. It is, in popular terms, knowing the right thing to do at the right time, in the right place, under the right circumstances. In the Philippines, of course, “jurisprudence� has generally been taken to mean the construal of the law by the Supreme Court that then becomes mandatory authority in regard to the application of the law so construed.

While Aquinas does recognize that there is such a thing as “political prudence� — that part of prudence that goes into the management of the affairs of state (including “judicial prudence�), prudence simpliciter — or properly so-called — has to do with the affairs of the individual. It is a matter of practical, rather than theoretical knowledge. And thus is introduced the seeming paradox when one refers to the “science of jurisprudence.�

How can that which is concerned principally with the individual and with actions in practical reason be a matter of science?

Aristotle thought of science as an “organized body of knowledge� — and by “organized� he had in mind what today we would recognize as coming close to an axiomatic system. One started with universal principles which were accepted, principally because of their self-evidence or the intuitive grasp of their truth, and then, be deduc-

tion, proceeded to draw out the ENTAILMENTS 4HE DEkNING ELEMENT of science was therefore the logical rigor by which conclusions were drawn. Understood this way, the LAW LENDS ITSELF TO SCIENTIkC TREATment, not only in the sense that the provisions of law are applied in logical fashion to individual cases, but that other propositions of law — corollaries — can be drawn from antecedent legal provisions. Because, for example, the &AMILY #ODE DEkNES MARRIAGE IN terms of a stable union between man and woman, it follows therefrom that no matter how intimate the relation between two men may be and no matter that they may call themselves “husband� and “wife,� the union of two persons of the same sex cannot be marriage. It is by this same method of “science� that the Supreme Court has arrived at the conclusion — from constitutional premises on religious education, the service of religious ministers and others — that it is “benevolent neutrality� rather than a “wall of separation� that best characterizes relations between Church and State under the Constitution.

Clearly then jurisprudentia calls on and demands juris-scientia — the science of the law. A series of commands, no matter that in Hart’s and Kelsen’s schemes they may be layers of primary and secondary commands, would never constitute a science. But when one methodically examines why the hearsay rule can exclude otherwise useful evidence, and why the exceptions are reasonable,

then one will have to argue in an organized manner from promises engendered not only by law but also by a careful observation of human experience. Because he who makes the utterance is not in court to be questioned about the utterance, and because all that one hears is a second rendition of the utterance, the rules exclude hearsay. The reason frequently taught in law schools and evidence classes that hearsay testimony is excluded because there is no cross-examination of the origin of the declaration does not go far enough. Scientia juris will make it clear that the exclusion of hearsay evidence has to do with our epistemological notions of truth, certitude, memory and forgetting — not to say anything of prevaricating, which brings in an ethical dimension.

Whether the will of the parties is a good enough reason for the binding character of contracts is no idle question — not in an era when persons deal with each other many times without knowing, much less seeing each other, and where media of exchange and platforms of offer and acceptance take us quite a distance from what the Civil Code originally contemplated. Then one will have to inquire into the ethics of agreements and consent, as well as revisit the illocutionary force of language and the often unwritten but nonetheless binding norms that make this force possible.

In the Regulae (The Rules) of Ulpian, one reads the following: “Justitia est constans et perpetua voluntas jus suum cuique tribuendi. Juris praecepta sunt haec: honeste vivere,

alterum non laedere, suum cuique tribuere. Juris prudentia est divinarum atque humanarum rerun notitia, justi atque injusti scientia.�

Justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to whosoever what is due him. The precepts of the law are: to live honestly, to defraud none, and to render another his due. The prudence of the law is the knowledge of the divine and the human, the science of the just AND UNJUST !ND IN ONE DEkNITION

you have three key terms together: jus (juris) - the law; juris prudentia - the prudence of the law; scientia - science. Obviously, the law is a fecund source of scholarship, a vast kELD FOR ACADEMIC EXPLORATION AND IS DEkNITELY SOME DISCIPLINE OTHER than asking a court to adjudicate in favor of a landowner, or to plead for the acquittal of a felon, or, by signing, impressing a seal and making entries into a register, to cause a private document to become public.

Thus, there was a difference in Roman law between the “jurisconsult� — the person learned in the law — and the “forensic orator� — he who perorated before the courts in defense of a cause. And while it is the modern forensic orators who often hog the limelight, the frontiers of the science of the law broaden because of the tomes, the classroom lectures, the debates and disputations of the “scientists� of the law, those for whom the prudentia of the law is thought through into juris scientia. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Opinion

A5

Agropolis

“M

ANY Filipinos suffer from lack of food or poor diets despite rising food availability because of inadequate access to food due to high poverty and low income‌� (World Food Program). Worsening climate conditions contribute to surges in food prices as agricultural lands are devastated, and farmers are forced to salvage any marketable produce they have. This year, the United Nations ranked the Philippines as the 13th most populous country in the world. These data offer a snapshot of how our country is faring — it is one of the fastest urbanizing countries and because of high food prices, many Filipino do not have enough means or are barely meeting the most basic of needs — proper nutrition. As urban populations grow, so does the demand for sustainable and resilient food supply systems.

Instead of solely relying on rural regions to supply food for the city, an agropolis makes a city self-sustaining because it integrates agricultural farms into the urban setting. Derived from “agros,� meaning farm, and “polis,� meaning city, an agropolis places the food source in the city itself or in nearby cities or towns.

In other countries, the agropolitan approach is applied as urban farming. Argentina is known for its estancias or ranches that feature orchards, gardens and barns for livestock. Bordeaux’s famous vineyards made France the best producer of wine in the world. Elsewhere, urban rooftops are sprouting everywhere, most especially in the busiest cities. The world’s largest is a 7.5-hectare rooftop greenhouse in Chicago that produces fresh vegetables equivalent to the yield of a 20-hectare farm.

In New York, urban agriculture has been taking over in backyards, rooftops and community gardens as many residents are experiencing its countless benefits. By 2020, the city of Paris aims to cover its roofs and walls with 99 hectares of vegetation, one-third of which is dedicated to urban farming. Even though Singapore is the greenest city in Asia, most of its fresh vegetables and fruits are imported from neighboring countries, so the country is raising its efforts in promoting sustainable urban farming to increase their food resiliency.

In order for agropolitan development and a productive industry to thrive, land use plans and policies of local governments must be favorable to balancing developMENT AND NATURE AND kNANCIAL resources and expertise must be invested in human capital and technology. There are manifold BENEkTS TO CULTIVATING AN AGROPOlis. It can counteract the effects of urbanization such as hunger and poverty by empowering lowincome households to establish livelihoods through urban farming. Families can eat healthier by growing their own nutritious vegETABLES AND MAKE A PROkT FROM IT By directly selling through market stalls and food stands, they can save by spending less on operational costs such as transport, storage and packaging. As a result, selling healthy food will be cheaper.

FELINO A. PALAFOX, JR. In designing affordable housing, Palafox Architecture and Palafox Associates have incorporated green walls where households can plant crops such as eggplant, tomato, cucumber, talbos ng kamote and ampalaya, among others. Carbon emissions can be reduced because fresh produce no longer need to be transported at an average of 2,000 kilometers from provincial farms to markets. In this connection, the presence of farms in the metropolis can help neutralize price surges and shortages of fresh produce during natural calamities in the provinces. Developing urban food systems provides green spaces that offer relief from pollution, urban heat and other deteriorating conditions of the urban environment. In Metro Manila, there are so many vacant and idle lots. Why not convert these places to healthy and productive community or neighborhood gardens? Through these spaces, the community’s capacity to sustain its residents is enhanced, children and adults are educated about the importance of sustainable and local agriculture, jobs are created, and community building is strengthened.

For areas surrounding the city, agri-tourism or farm tourism can be further promoted. According to the Department of Tourism, the integration of farming and tourism champions small farmers because it paves the way for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development. Through agri-tourism, small farmers are not excluded out of the supply chain, environment-friendly agriculture is practiced, more jobs and business opportunities are generated, and growth centers are created outside the city — encouraging rural folk to stay in their hometowns instead of going to big cities to look for, ironically, greener pastures. The leisure farm concept is an example of farm tourism that incorporates farming with residential development. In Taiwan, more and more farm-resorts are attracting tourists. There, visitors can choose and buy from a wide array of agricultural products, experience farm-to-table dining, relax and stay at farms or nearby hotels, and learn about sustainable organic farming.

Here in the Philippines, Palafox Associates was involved in the master planning of leisure farms like The Leisure Farms in Lemery, Batangas; Ponderosa Leisure Farms in Silang, Cavite; and Tierra Maria Estates in Lipa, Batangas, among others.

The vision behind these places is to create agri-tourism communities that serve as getaways for the urban-weary who want to relax and recuperate by immersing in farming activities.

The effects of urbanization are complex and evolving. In order to revive our cities and replenish our dwindling resources, I believe rapid growth must be aided by agropolitan development, which can help us to resiliently, sustainably and equitably adapt.

Q CONTERAS FROM A4

Election surveys: Science or sĂŠance? will then be not face to face, but by phone by simply dialing the randomly chosen numbers. Appropriate replacement methods are employed in anticipation of unanswered calls, or people refusing to participate in the survey.

However, this may not produce a reliable and representative sample when applied in the Philippines, since it effectively excludes people without mobile phones. This then violates the principle of randomization where every member of the population must have an equal and fair chance of being chosen.

In the end, the usual practice in the Philippines is to adopt a stratified random sampling, where the unit being sampled are individual voters drawn from randomized locations such as cities/municipalities, barangays,

households and voting precincts.

Here, the sampled 1,800 voters are distributed proportionally to the different regions, after which the sampling points in each region are drawn by randomly choosing first the sample municipalities/cities, then randomly drawing from each municipality/ city the sample barangays, then randomly drawing from each barangay either the sample household, or the sample precincts.

If the lowest sampling unit is a sample precinct, it is just a matter of drawing randomly from the registered voter’s list of that precinct. Ideally, this is the best method that can approximate perfect randomization since if done properly, this ensures that every voter has an equal chance of being drawn as a sample con-

sidering that all geographical units, from municipalities/cities to barangays to precincts were all given equal chance to be chosen, and that the number of samples per region is proportional to the voting population of that region.

However, when the lowest sampling unit is a household, then some bias might enter the process in the identification of who in the household to interview. If the method chosen is the head of the household, then certainly this violates the basic principle of a truly random sample since it now then effectively eliminates other members from being part of the sample.

One other method is simply to consider the first person who answers the door who is also an eligible voter. While this is an

improvement, it nevertheless has a bias against people who may be working, or who are regularly away from home.

One method that is also used that can magnify the bias, and therefore undermine the reliability and validity of the survey, is when the lowest sampling unit is drawn not from a voters list from a randomly chosen precinct in a sampled barangay, but a house THAT IS IDENTIkED NOT BY RANDOMization, but spatially from a landMARK LIKE A lAGPOLE OR A BARANGAY center in the sample barangay. In this method, the surveyor, using some heuristic guide, would draw the sample respondent relative to the landmark, by setting a distance and a direction, and then drawing the sample household FROM THAT kXED LOCATION RELATIVE

to the landmark. This can be the kRST INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A QUALIkED voter who answers the door, or the head of the household of the house located in that spot. This method is extremely problematic considering the bias it holds in favor of those living near landmarks, even as it carries with it the inherent structural biases that are associated when the individuals are not drawn from a voters list. $ISSATISkED SUPPORTERS OF CANdidates have accused surveys of being biased, and of being designed only to condition the minds of people to create a bandwagon effect, or of being blatant partisan strategies to manipulate voter preferences. It is therefore incumbent upon survey organizations like SWS, Pulse Asia and PUBLiCUS, among others, to also

help in educating the public about the science of surveys. And they can do this by being transparent, and by publishing in detail every time they release a survey the location of their samples. It is not enough to simply publish the number of respondents from the four geographical locations of NCR, balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. In addition, they should also indicate the detailed methodology of how they eventually chose their sampled respondents. It is only through these that they can dispel the doubts of the voters, and make them realize that they are scientists communicating the results of a statistically reliable AND VALID SCIENTIkC EXERCISE AND not spiritualists who communicate the results of their sĂŠance with the dead and the imagined.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

End of an era of two pioneering entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia

A

S many returned from work after the customary long December holiday break, the business community in Southeast Asia had to mourn not one but two of the most well-known businessmen within a one-week period in January this year. Henry Sy Sr. of the Philippines and Eka Tjipta Widjaja of Indonesia both passed on peacefully in their 90s within a week of each other.

The business success stories of Henry Sy and Eka Tjipta Widjaja are inspirational for many

HARVARD VERITAS

TAN CHIN HWEE would-be entrepreneurs. Both came from China’s Fujian province when they were teenagers and despite being poor and operating as the minority race, built up amazing businesses that redekNE THE MEANING OF gCONGLOMERate� in Southeast Asia. Both also did not start well with seemingly

bad timing. For example, Henry 3Y OPENED THE kRST 3- DEPARTment store in 1972; that was the same year the dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

Of course, the perseverance of both gentlemen was well-known and legendary. As a former professional investor, I had the privilege to see firsthand how these two business families conducted their affairs. Pablo Picasso’s quote of “Action is the foundational key to all success� came to mind as both entrepreneurs were so ambitious

and so driven that there were many times I thought to myself I am glad I am only an outside investor and not their staff or their children.

Indeed, Henry Sy once said: “Don’t be afraid to think big, start small and move fast. If you don’t do that, others will just be ahead of you.�

Leveraging off the macrogrowth trajectory of Southeast Asia, both their businesses boomed into conglomerates over the decades and the family wealth of both blossomed. Based on the 2018 Forbes World’s Bil-

lionaires list, Sy has an estimated net worth of $20 billion or over three times larger than the fortune of the next richest tycoon from the Philippines. Eka Widjaja himself was listed as the fourth richest person in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. (Although the Widjaya family has its fair share of detractors over how they have been expanding their empire, the fact is undeniable that the conglomerate has grown and reached many parts of the archipelago today.)

Clear photographs and faded memories

P

LEASE allow me to begin with a portion of Dennis Yost’s lyrics of “Traces of Love�: “Faded photographs, covered now with lines and creases Tickets torn in half, memories in bits and pieces Traces of love, long ago, that didn’t work out right Traces of love.� *** Camera bugs like me tend to be poetic about the essence of capturing images. Some will claim that photography is about fantasy, and some will say that it is about a recorded reality.

Most will also say that it is about experiencing emotion from the time of unboxing a camera, the urge to tie our shoelaces and the desire to sprint somewhere, look around and take those maiden shots.

It is inevitable to be drawn into an ocean of ideas, measuring photographic values relating to human nature in correlation with its objects.

Then we are trapped in a unique world of charm and connectivity to the awesome power of depiction.

Psychologists would say that there is reason to believe that there is a connection between human memory and the photographs we take. Simply put, a photo is a dimensional information visual about the past light that we can perceive in present time. Hence, memories are the effects of our past experiences on our present self. Photographs can be a repository of a collection of memories that when viewed, can always activate partial or total recall.

Of course we all end up saying that every image has a story to tell, and that it should not be ignored in the

There could be two types of PHOTOGRAPHS 4HE kRST IS THE REsult of the sworn duty to record a particular event, and the second, a photo that can foster a change in the viewer’s mood that can cause process. To photojournalists, it is both a reaction for "deeper meaning." a powerful tool and a weapon. UnravThey are also the collection of things eling a situation through the lens can that help people keep their memories AROUSE A VARIANT OF lASHY INTERPRETATION alive and the things that help us to rethat far exceeds pages of written descrip- member the past. Yes, they are memotion or a mouthful of narratives. ries that will help you relive that day. *** A picture brings back memories of the Taking a good photograph is both day it was taken and everything about simple and complex. A combination it — faces, places and events. of good lighting conditions, a capti*** vating subject sprinkled with a dash Photography is memory and of creativity seems to be a good start. memory is photography. It is a What makes it a little more complex recollection of everything retained is when you confront your target audi- in the mind. However, our minds ENCE ONLY TO kND OUT THAT DIFFERENT make the decision on what to repeople see photographs in different member and what to forget. Some ways. While a photograph is a dynamic are gifted with “photographic WEAPON THAT CAN INlUENCE PEOPLE THE memories� but most of us aren’t. downside is some photographers workClarity of the relationship between ing for newspapers use it to control or that which we remember and that exploit vulnerable people. which really happened is not even clear.

And we end up with the perception We can say that photographs that we do not always know the truth are more perfect memories. Phobehind a captured image. In addition, tographs testify to something that people with different ideologies in- we remember of something that we terpret images in their own way and don’t want to forget. The mind will sometimes may not understand the not easily let us do that but photomeaning well. Some will use it to grab graphs will. Photographs, thus, are attention by manipulating images not just manufactured memories, to cause anger, shock or uncertainty. they are also expressions of our de*** sire to hold on to something.

What then is a photograph?

As such expressions, they can abA variation of another saying, I solutely take on a life of their own, can safely say that a picture is worth a essentially becoming something of an thousand memories. I would even dare interpretation that is completely differsay that some photos can actually be ent. A photograph remains just that, similar to some art pieces and can cause a photograph. Societies have a need a reaction to a much deeper meaning. for iconic photographs, individuals

MIRRORLESS

ROLLY G. REYES

don’t. But in both cases, there is a need to use photographs as a way to shape identity. Memories define identity, and photographs help us have a more active role in that process.

Then we are surprised to notice that any person can possess the controversy of character duality. We remember, and we experience. Taking a photo is comparable to a person who has a more vivid memory but less of the experience, while not taking a photo is more similar to a second person who had more of the experience but a faded memory. The problem arises when the experience is all but wiped out by the constant need for pictures instead of living the moment.

Taking pictures seems to place our cognitive effort more into the photograph and not our personal memory. With all the gadgets on hand, taking and reviewing pictures may help memory, but may also eventually replace memory. *** In the present digital world where everybody owns a camera or a smartphone, we lose the experience of any event as we focus more on the documentation rather than live the moments. Taking a photo can lead to worse recollection. In some ways it’s almost as if the act of taking a pictures allows you not to remember.

Thus, we end up with clear photographs and faded memories. As I grow older, I am tempted to advise my friends to put down their cameras. Experience your life by remembering your experiences. *** Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.

CO M M E N TA R Y

Russian foreign ministry statement on developments in Venezuela

T

HE events in Venezuela have reached a dangerous point.

Failing to remove Nicolas Maduro, including physically, the extremist opponents of the legitimate government of Venezuela have opted for a highly confrontational scenario. The United States and several other countries in the region have recognized the opposition leader who has sworn himself in as Venezuela’s interim president. This can only deepen the social divide in Venezuela, aggravate street protests, dramatically destabilize the Venezuelan political community and further ESCALATE THE CONlICT 4HE DELIBERate and obviously well orches-

trated creation of dual power and an alternative decision-making center in Venezuela is a direct path towards chaos and erosion of Venezuelan statehood. Several people have already died. We firmly condemn those who are pushing Venezuelan society into the abyss of violent civil discord.

We regard Washington’s unceremonious actions as yet another demonstration of its total disregard for the norms and principles of international law and an attempt to pose as the self-imposed master of another nation’s future. The United States is clearly trying to apply a tried and tested regime change scenario in Venezuela.

We are especially alarmed by the signals we have received from some capitals on the possibility of foreign military interference. We warn that such opportunism can have catastrophic consequences.

We urge the sober-minded Venezuelan politicians standing in opposition to Nicolas Maduro’s legitimate government not to become pawns in other players’ chess game.

We believe that political activity is only acceptable if it is pursued within the constitutional framework and in strict compliance with the national legislation. Of course, the people must be able to freely express their opinions, including through rallies, but only if they do

so peacefully in a manner that will not provoke violence or, worse still, endanger public safety.

Venezuelans alone have the right to determine their future.

Any destructive foreign interference, especially amid the current tensions, is completely unacceptable. Incitement has nothing in common with a democratic process; it is a direct path towards lawlessness and violence.

It is a mission of the international community to help promote understanding between the political opposition forces in Venezuela that respect national interests. We are ready to cooperate with all countries that share these views.

CO M M E N TA R Y

Intelligence chiefs are right report who was particularly unhappy.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered a public tongue-lashing OTHING described in the intel- to his intelligence chiefs. On Twitter, ligence community’s annual the president declared the intelligence Worldwide Threat Assessment present- community assessment “extremely ed to Congress on January 29 should be passive and naive when it comes to the surprising. The 42-page report declared dangers of Iran.� He insisted, “They are North Korea is “unlikely to give up all wrong!� He claimed Iran’s behavior of its nuclear weapons and production is “MUCH different� since he came capabilities.� Iran continues to make INTO OFkCE AND THAT HE HAD CAUSED THAT trouble in the Middle East but “is not change. “Perhaps Intelligence should currently undertaking the key nuclear go back to school!� he jibed.

On North Korea, Trump proweapons-development activities� needed to build a nuclear weapon. claimed, “North Korea relationship Russia and China are both challeng- is best it has ever been with US,� and ing the liberal democratic model long that once again he had changed everyadvanced by the United States. The thing from the previous administraIslamic State commands thousands tion. “I look forward to seeing Kim OF kGHTERS IN )RAQ AND 3YRIA AND WITH Jong Un shortly,� he said. “Progress eight branches and more than a dozen being made — big difference!� As networks, it will keep attacking. Cli- for the Islamic State, Trump insisted: mate hazards are intensifying. These “When I became president, ISIS was out of control in Syria and running ARE SOBER kNDINGS But there was one recipient of the rampant. Since then tremendous EDITORIAL REPRINTED FROM THE PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD

N

progress made, especially over last kVE WEEKS #ALIPHATE WILL SOON BE DEstroyed, unthinkable two years ago.�

On the facts, there’s not much question: The intelligence community is right, and Trump is wrong. Iran’s behavior has not changed. As in the last year of the Obama administration, Iran continues to pursue hegemony over Syria and Lebanon by violent means while — as UN inspectors have conkRMED ‡ KEEPING ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM on ice. North Korea struck accords with both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations that went far beyond that so far reached between Trump and Kim, who has not stopped North Korea’s production of missiles and warheads. And so on.

Aside from Trump’s by-now-familiar prevarications, it is breathtaking to see him so at odds with the intelligence community. Intelligence collection and analysis are at the critical intersection of ground truth and policy, the place

where reality is presented for decisions, and the president is the most important decider. Plenty of lessons from recent history, from the Vietnam War to the September 11 attacks, offer caution about the dangers—even in the best of times—of a disconnect or error in this process. Trump’s declarations suggest it is near breakdown.

Will overseas adversaries be emboldened by the sight of a president who feels compelled to publicly disparage his own intelligence community of 17 agencies and more than 100,000 people? Daniel Coats, the director of national intelligence, and Gina Haspel, the CIA director, deserve credit for not ducking the responsibility to brief Congress and the nation forthrightly on the threats they see, even though they must have known Trump was likely to disagree. They did leave one serious threat off their list: that of a president mired in his own delusions who refuses to hear the truth. CREATORS.COM

Given our Veritas column is for Harvard alumnus, allow me to end my observations with a Harvard quote from Henry Sy: “I’m just a college graduate but I always think out of the box, because Harvard theory may not always be the best THEORY 9OU VE GOT TO kND BETTER ways than Harvard (formula).�

Rest in peace.

Tan Chin Hwee is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School and is a regional CEO of a major global Fortune 500 company.

As treaties collapse, can we still prevent a nuclear arms race?

BYÂ CHRISTINE MUTTONEN, JACQUELINE CABASSO AND ALYN WARE BASEL, Switzerland (IPS): The United States last week officially announced it is walking away from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, an agreement made between the US and the Soviet Union in 1987 to eliminate a whole class of nuclear weapons that had been deployed in Europe and had put the continent on a trip-wire to nuclear war.

This follows US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement which currently prevents Iran from building or acquiring nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile the START treaty, which limits the number of US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, is set to expire soon, with no renewal in sight.

Russia and the US appear to be intentionally reversing the arms control agendas of the early post-Cold War era, and are instead enhancing and expanding their nuclear arsenals. Other nuclear-armed states are following close behind.

This goes against public opinion, which is overwhelmingly opposed to a nuclear arms race, and to nuclear saber-rattling and threats, whether open or veiled, from Presidents Putin and Trump. Despite this, it’s extremely difficult for civil society to directly influence Russian or US nuclear policy.

That points to a deficit of democracy in both countries. It also points up the need for direct actions that parliaments, cities and citizens can take to stop the assault on arms control treaties and prevent a new nuclear arms race.

To that end, mayors, parliamentarians and representatives of civil society organizations from 40 countries—mostly Europe and North America, including the mayors of 18 US cities—sent a joint appeal to Presidents Trump and Putin, calling on them to preserve the INF Treaty and resolve nuclear-weapons and security related conflicts through dialogue rather than through military provocation.

Will it change their minds? Not likely. But the appeal was also sent to the leaders of US congressional and Russian parliamentary committees in charge of armed forces (defense) and foreign relations.

It calls on them to refuse to authorize or allocate funding for nuclear weapons systems which the INF treaty bans, for example ground-based intermediate range nuclear missiles, or weapons systems which could provide similar capability and be similarly destabilizing, such as air or sea launched nuclear-armed cruise missiles.

This could be the key to preserving the arms control measures of the INF treaty even if it collapses. If the relevant committees refuse to authorize funds for these nuclear weapons systems, it makes it next to impossible for them to be developed.

The appeal also outlines a commitment by the endorsing mayors and parliamentarians to build support from cities and parliaments in nucleararmed and allied states (which includes NATO countries) for nuclear risk reduction measures such as “no first use� policies.

Resolutions reflecting these calls have already been introduced in the US Senate and House of Representatives, for example the Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2018 (S.3667), and the No First-Use Act introduced last week by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Adam Smith, chairman of the House armed services committee.

Similar resolutions have been adopted by the California State Assembly and at least three US cities, and more are pending in eight other US state assemblies.

This power-from-below approach — taking concerted action on nuclear riskreduction and disarmament in federal, state and city legislatures — is just beginning.

It’s analogous to actions by over 700 US governors and mayors who committed to implementing the Paris climate accord, despite the Trump administration withdrawing from it. In both cases, state and municipal officials have power to influence the global outcome.

In the US, action on nuclear disarmament by city governments is being advanced by the US section of Mayors for Peace, a global network of over 7,000 cities, and the US Conference of Mayors (USCM), a network of over 1,400 major US cities.

It has repeatedly urged Washington to show leadership in preventing nuclear war. For example, in June 2018 USCM unanimously adopted a resolution submitted by Frank Cownie, mayor of Des Moines, Iowa and vice president of Mayors for Peace, with 25 co-sponsors, calling on the US administration and Congress to reduce nuclear tension with Russia, reaffirm the INF, adopt “no first use� and redirect nuclear weapons funding to meet human needs and protect the environment.

In Europe, cooperation between parliaments to advance nuclear risk-reduction, arms control and disarmament measures are advancing through the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA).

The parliaments of all European countries are part of it, along with the US, Canada, Russia and all former Soviet countries. A vital forum for dialogue between legislators from Russia and the West, the OSCE PA has succeeded in building consensus to support nuclear risk reduction including “no first use.�

Parliamentarians/legislators, cities and civil society activists can also slow the nuclear arms race by working to cut nuclear weapons budgets and to end investments in the nuclear weapons industry.

Corporations that make nuclear weapons and their delivery systems have a vested interest in stoking the nuclear arms race, so they lobby governments accordingly.

But parliaments, state governments and cities can influence their behavior by divesting from them, analogous to the way some major cities are divesting from fossil fuel companies to fight climate change.

So far, only a handful of cities and non-nuclear governments have divested from nuclear manufacturers, but in 2017 the United Nations adopted a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which could lead to a wider global divestment movement.

So, it may not be all up to Trump and Putin. There are powerful levers parliaments, cities and civil society can use to stop the unraveling of the arms control regime and prevent an arms race, and increasingly, they will use them.

As US President Dwight Eisenhower said, “People want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.�

Christine Muttonen is a former Austrian parliamentarian who served as the president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly from 2016-2017. Jacqueline Cabasso is the executive director of Western States Legal Foundation and the North America coordinator for Mayors for Peace. Alyn Ware is global coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and disarmament program director for the World Future Council.

Regions

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

3 Maute ‘remnants’ killed in Lanao Norte COMBINED forces of the military and police killed three remnants of the Islamic State (IS)linked Maute group in Lanao del Norte early on Thursday.

Maj. Ronald Suscano, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry $IVISION IDENTIkED ONE OF THE slain suspects as a certain Omar Daiser, while the two others were unidentified, during an operation at around 2:30 a.m. in Barangay Lumba Punud, Pantar, Lanao del Norte.

Quoting Brig. Gen. William Alunday, Joint Task Group Lanao del Norte commander, Suscano said Daiser was a fugitive who escaped from Marawi City Jail and joined the Maute group.

He has a standing warrant of arrest for robbery with homicide issued by the Marawi City Regional Trial Court and was known to be an illegal drug pusher and user. He was also A gFOLLOWERu OF FORMER -ARAWI mayor Solitario Ali. Suscano said Daiser and the two other terrorists were shot dead afTER gRESISTING ARRESTu AND kGHTING IT out with responding military and police personnel.

Troops also recovered four M16 ARMALITE RIlES AN - GRENADE LAUNCHER ONE &!, ASSAULT RIlE AND one Pietro beretta 9mm pistol with markings as property of the Philippine National Police.

DEMPSEY REYES

Cagayan PNP releases footage on killing of NDFP consultant AUTHORITIES in Cagayan Valley released to media the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage on the killing of National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ (NDFP) peace consultant Randy Malayao.

The footage was taken from two angles, one inside the bus and the other outside.

It was taken at the Victory Liner bus terminal in Quezon City at about 9 p.m. on January 29, showing Malayao boarding an Isabela-bound bus.

It was also shown in the video that a man approached the bus, took a picture of the vehicle and left.

Five hours later, at about 2 a.m. on January 30, the bus had a stopover at a terminal in Aritao, Nueva Viscaya. In another footage, TWO UNIDENTIkED MEN WERE SHOWN smoking outside the bus during the stopover.

At about 2:21 a.m., a man wearing a cap and jacket boarded the bus and approached Malayao.

Two gunshots were heard, after WHICH THE SUSPECT WAS SEEN lEEING the scene.

Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) police

A7

Quarantine rules tightened to prevent entry of diseases

Z

BY AL JACINTO

AMBOANGA CITY: The Department of Agriculture imposed strict quarantine measures to prevent the entry of animal and plant diseases, especially the African swine fever that now threatens the hog industry and the Panama disease or Fusarium wilt that infects banana plants in the country.

Agriculture Secretary Manny PiĂąol said they would seize fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, meat products and plants entering the country without the necessary permits as part of the strict implementation of quarantine

rules or protocols. “Please don’t bring in the above-mentioned products withOUT kRST SECURING THE NEEDED SANITARY PERMITS u HE SAID PiĂąol said the complacency OF QUARANTINE OFkCERS IN THE PAST

resulted in the entry of the African swine fever and Panama disease in the country. “Let me just remind you of the implications if we become complacent or if we accommodate requests for exemptions. As the name suggests, the disease originated from another country. How do you think it got here? That is a result of complacency of quaranTINE OFkCERS u HE SAID “I know a lot are disappointed, but I hope you will understand the DANGERS YOUR ACTS COULD INlICT ON Philippine agriculture. Right now, there is the African swine fever that threatens the country’s hog industry and we have to institute strict

QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS u HE SAID

adding, “The Philippine banana industry now is facing a serious problem because of Fusarium or 0ANAMA $ISEASE u Last month, the Agriculture department banned the importation of pork and its products from eight countries affected by the African swine flu, based on the call from some hog industry stakeholders.

Frozen, processed and cooked pork from China, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine were prevented from entering the country in the wake the African swine flu threat.

director, said they were checking on the identities of the men in the CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, Victory Liner, in a statement said they adhered to the security requirements laid out by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and assured passengers that their safety is the company’s concern. “We denounce the dastardly killing of NDF consultant Madayao, who is known in the community as a peacemaker. Like the rest of the nation, we want the truth to come OUT u THE BUS COMPANY SAID It also assured that it would be coordinating with police. “We are constantly assisting the Philippine National Police in its investigation of the case. We assure our riding public that Victory Liner is doing everything possible to further improve our facilities. We adhere by the security guidelines set by the LTFRB, we wait for our regulators to further instruct us on what initiatives are necessary to UNDERTAKE MOVING FORWARD u THE company added.

FRANCIS EARL CUETO

Ombudsman reverses order vs Ecija mayor SANTO DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija: THE OFkCE OF the Ombudsman ordered the reinstatement of the mayor of this town after it found erroneous claims in the complaint against her.

The graft court on June 19, 2018 ordered Mayor Imee Llado de Guzman dismissed for alleged violation of anti-graft laws and grave misconDUCT kLED BY 6ICE -AYOR 'REGAND Andres, who then replaced de Guzman on August 2.

But the dismissal order was FOUND gERRONEOUSu AND THE CLAIM OF Andres’ camp fake.

In a seven-page resolution, the /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN gREVERSED and set aside, and a new one is issued dismissing these cases because of inSUFkCIENT AND LEGAL MATTERS TO SUPPORT AGAINST DE 'UZMAN u Andres, however, said the Ombudsman’s joint resolution order was “unauthenticated and with CLERICAL ERRORS u AND EVEN THE ORIGINAL envelope, stamp and seal and receiving slip were suspected to be fake. “It’s very erroneous so we are GOING TO kLE QUERIES AT THE /MBUDSMAN u HE SAID $E 'UZMAN EARLIER kLED TWO SEParate motions for reconsideration with the ombudsman for reversal

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

of her case and asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to issue a temporary restraining order on her dismissal.

The CA resolution, dated NovemBER SAID A DISMISSAL WAS kNAL and executory. “Whether fake or not, still the order will be unenforceable because the case has just attained finality with entry of judgment from the CA and whoever will implement the order will be held LIABLE u !NDRES SAID The recent resolution created an impasse and a tense atmosphere between the camps of the reinstated mayor and the vice mayor. $URING THE lAG RAISING CEREMONY on Monday, the 69th Infantry Brigade based in Guimba, Nueva Ecija sent at least 15 troops and town police personnel, supported by a grader that blocked the entry and exit points at the municipal hall compound to preempt any untoward incident, but this did not happen.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Renato Bernardino said they have yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman’s new order.

CELSO M. CAJUCOM

Nationinbriefs FIRE RAZES 200 HOUSES IN CEBU, 5 INJURED AT least 200 houses were razed, while five people were injured by a fire in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita in Cebu City on Thursday afternoon. Chief Insp. Noel Nelson Ababon, Cebu City Fire marshall, said they received the fire alarm at 1:15 p.m. that was raised to a general alarm at 2:22 p.m. Firefighters placed the fire under control at 3:07 p.m. Ababon said billows of smoke originated from the second floor of the house of Ronron Sarmiento.

The five who sustained burns, injuries and lacerations on their bodies were identified as Worky Cerelles, 40; Wendell Tacoloy, 31; Ricmar Ando, 33; Vincent Amahan, 30; and Jommel Milan, 14. Ababon said damage to property was estimated at P3 million and the cause of fire was under investigation. RHEA RUTH ROSELL

TOWN OFFICIAL, 2 MINORS SLAIN IN NORTH COTABATO, KUDARAT COTABATO CITY: Unidentified gunman killed the municipal council secretary of President Roxas, North Cotabato, while two minors were shot dead inside an internet shop in Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday. Chief Insp. Rolly Oranza, President Roxas town police chief, identified the victim as Robert Herbilla, 43, Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) secretary. He

THANK YOU Officials of Barangay Dadiangas South in General Santos City give former special assistant to the President and aspiring

senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go with a Certificate of Recognition to thank him for the assistance he extended to fire victims in the village last month. Go led the launching of the Malasakit Center at the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City, which is the 22nd one in operation in the country. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Bong Go to prioritize healthcare service ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR: “I will make quality medical services throughout the country my priority,� said former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go during his visit on Tuesday to fire victims in Zamboanga del Sur.  The fire in Barangay Kawit, Pagadian City, razed 110 houses, with about 180 families, and left six injured. Damage to property was placed at P1.2 million.  Go and his supporters visited the fire victims sheltered at the barangay (village) covered court and distributed grocery items, food packs, blankets, mats and cash assistance as well as shoes and school uniforms so that affected students can immediately

go back to their classes. He said he would contact his friends in various government agencies so that victims of the fire would be given additional aid, and would coordinate with the National Housing Authority for them to have the chance to avail of reasonably priced housing.   Go, who is running for the Senate in the midterm elections, spoke about his desire to address issues on healthcare service delivery in the country.  “There is lack of hospital beds in many areas in the country so that patients are already outside the wards,� he said, adding that he would help these hospitals acquire more beds so they could accommodate more patients.  Go also said, “With the

was at home watching TV at about 8 p.m. when four men on two separate motorbikes arrived and one barged inside the house and opened fire at Herbilla. Police said Herbilla was arrested last December for possession of illegal drugs, but he denied he was into illegal drugs. He was out on bail. Meanwhile, in Tacurong City, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old out-ofschool boys were shot dead inside an internet shop by a lone assassin, while his companion waited outside on a motorcycle. Police Supt. Joefel Sioson, Tacurong City chief of police, said the victims were playing online games at about 7 p.m. in Barangay San Pablo when the gunman came and shot them. The police withheld the identities of the victims being minors. A slug for caliber .45 pistol was found in the area. Since Martial Law was declared in Mindanao, Tacurong City had been implementing curfew for minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Curfew for adults starts at 11 p.m., the police chief said.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

NEGROS ARMED GROUP DISBANDED, MEMBERS NABBED BACOLOD CITY:Â A private armed group operating in Negros Occidental was believed disbanded after five of its members suspects in the killing of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade leader in 2017 were arrested on Tuesday in the hinterland town of Salvador Benedicto. Nabbed by virtue of arrest warrants for murder in Barangay Bagong Silang, Salvador Benedicto were Armando Remotigue and Antonio Baluran, also in the sub-barangay (villages) of Humayan and Estiwitis were

help of local officials and national government agencies, we will put up a Malasakit center to serve indigent patients in Zamboanga del Sur.  “There are now 22 Malasakit centers nationwide and the government plans to put up more,� he said.   The Malasakit Center, a program of the Duterte administration, is a one-stop shop where satellite offices of the Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Social Work and Community Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and other relevant government agencies are housed together in one location to ease the process for patients applying for quick medical and financial assistance.  Go, who was integral in

setting up the Malasakit Center program when he served as the President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide, said he wants to push a law that would put more Malasakit Centers in various provincial and urban areas of the country.  “As long as you are a Filipino, you are qualified to receive assistance from the Malasakit Center,â€? the former SAP said.  Go’s legislative agenda includes programs for agriculture, housing, improved health service delivery, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, senior citizen concerns and the creation of a Department of overseas Filipino workers. Â

Bernie Bantilan and Joel Condes. Another suspect Jolito Tanoco was arrested in Sitio Magtulukod, Barangay Bago on the same day. Chief Insp. Edison Garcia, Negros Occidental Police Office spokesman, said the five were members of the Bacordo Group and linked to the killing of Charlie Boli-boli, a leader of the defunct Alex Boncayao Brigade on July 8, 2017. EUGENE Y. ADIONG

DILG HOLDS CONVERGENCE, DISASTER RESILIENCE DIALOGUE IN TARLAC TARLAC CITY: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted a Provincial Convergence and Disaster Resilience Dialogue with local government units (LGUs) in Tarlac to upgrade the required efforts on disaster preparedness and mitigation. “We have to empower and strengthen our (respective) Listo Teams because we have no hold of natural calamities but we can mitigate the effects and our goal is to have zero casualty,� DILG Provincial Director Belina Herman said. Each team is composed of the local chief executive, local disaster risk reduction and management officer, chief of police, fire marshall, DILG officer, local planning and development coordinator and local social welfare and development officer. Operation Listo was launched by DILG in 2014 and has three components — Listong Pamahalaang Lokal which pertains to LGU disaster protocols and standards; Listong Pamayanan or community preparedness; and Listong Pamilyang Pilipino or household preparedness.

JERRY M. HERNANDEZ

A8

News

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net Q SUBPOENA FROM A1

House

NO SWIMMING A notice warns the public from swimming in Manila Bay. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

Manila’s Baywalk closed to tourists, swimmers THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHUT DOWN THE "AYWALK ALONG 2OXAS "OULEVARD TO PREVENT THE SURGE OF SIGHTSEERS AND SWIMMERS AS THE REHABILITATION OF -ANILA "AY CONTINUES 4HE MOVE WAS DONE AS AN YEAR old girl lies in critical condition after almost drowning and swallowing a LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM THE BAY Environment Undersecretary

"ENNY !NTIPORDA SAID THE ENTIRE STRETCH OF "AYWALK FROM THE 53 %MBASSY NEAR 2IZAL 0ARK TO THE #ULTURAL #ENTER OF THE 0HILIPPINES

JUST PAST THE -ANILA 9ATCH #LUB

WAS FENCED OFF g)T WILL BE RENOVATED TO BECOME WORLD CLASS u !NTIPORDA SAID /RANGE PLASTIC BARRIERS WERE USED TO SEAL OFF THE TWO KILOMETER SEASIDE

PROMENADE THAT OVERLOOKS -ANILA "AY AND ADDITIONAL WARNING SIGNS AGAINST SWIMMING WERE ALSO PUT UP 4HE -ANILA 0UBLIC )NFORMATION OFkCE SAID THEY WOULD PUT UP MORE WARNING SIGNAGES TO WARN THE PUBLIC NOT TO SWIM IN BAY AT THE MOMENT 4HE PARENTS OF THE YOUNG GIRL WHO ALMOST DROWNED SOUGHT kNANCIAL HELP AS SHE REMAINED AT THE )NTENSIVE

#ARE 5NIT OF A HOSPITAL 4HE VICTIM WENT FOR A SWIM AT THE BAY ON -ONDAY (ER MOTHER -ARIVIC -ADILLAS SAID SHE AND HER CHILD WENT TO THE -ANILA BAY ON 3UNDAY BUT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT HER CHILD WENT BACK ON -ONDAY 4HE BAY S CLEANUP WHICH EXPERTS SAID COULD TAKE YEARS IS ESTIMATED TO COST 0 BILLION

DoJ files cyberlibel charges vs Rappler T

BY JOMAR CANLAS

HE Department of Justice (DoJ) has kLED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST NEWS website-turned-blog Rappler for publishing a malicious story against a trader at the height of an impeachment case against former chief justice Renato Corona.

2APPLER WAS INDICTED FOR THE crime of cyberlibel over an article IT PUBLISHED ABOUT BUSINESSMAN 7ILFREDO +ENG )N AN EIGHT PAGE RESOLUTION THE Justice department found probable CAUSE AGAINST -ARIA 2ESSA 2APPLER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND THE MEDIA OUTkT S FORMER REPORTER 2EYNALDO 3ANTOS *R FOR VIOLATING 3ECTION C OF 2EPUBLIC !CT 2!

THE #YBERCRIME 0REVENTION !CT OF #LEARED IN THE CASE WERE 2APPLER DIRECTORS -ANUEL !YALA .ICO *OSE .OLLEDO 'LENDA 'LORIA *AMES "ITANGA &ELICIA !TIENZA AND $AN !LBER DE 0ADUA g4HE OTHER RESPONDENTS MAY NOT BE INDICTED THERE BEING NO SHOWING OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE or supervision or control over RESPONDENT 3ANTOS u THE *USTICE DEPARTMENT SAID 4HE RULING WAS SIGNED BY 3ENIOR

!SSISTANT 3TATE 0ROSECUTOR %DWIN $AYOG AND !SSISTANT 3TATE 0ROSECUTORS &LORENCIO DE LA #RUZ *R AND *EANETTE $ACPANO )T WAS ALSO APPROVED BY !CTING 0ROSECUTOR 'ENERAL 2ICHARD &ADULLON 4HE COMPLAINT WAS FILED BY +ENG BEFORE THE $O* IN CONNECTION WITH THE -AY

online article written by Santos TITLED g#* 5SING 356S OF #ONTROVERSIAL "USINESSMAN u )T WAS STATED THERE THAT #ORONA WAS USING A #HEVROLET 3UBURBAN WHICH WAS ALLEGEDLY REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF +ENG 4HE BUSINESSMAN WAS DESCRIBED as a person allegedly involved in HUMAN TRAFkCKING DRUG SMUGGLING AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES g4HE PUBLICATION COMPLAINED OF IMPUTES TO COMPLAINANT +ENG THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES )T IS CLEARLY DEFAMATORY u THE DOCUMENT READ 4HE *USTICE DEPARTMENT SAID

THERE WAS MALICE COMMITTED BY 2APPLER TO MALIGN THE NAME OF +ENG 5NDER !RTICLE OF THE 2EVISED 0ENAL #ODE THE $O* POINTED OUT THAT gEVERY DEFAMATORY imputation is presumed to be malicious, even if it be true, if NO GOOD INTENTION AND JUSTIkABLE MOTIVE FOR MAKING IT IS SHOWN u ACCORDING TO THE kNDINGS 4HE TRADER HAD ATTEMPTED TO ASK 2APPLER TO TAKE DOWN THE ARTICLE

WHICH HE FOUND WAS UPDATED AND REVISED ON &EB

2APPLER COUNTERED THAT IT COULD NOT BE CHARGED WITH THE CRIME SINCE 2! WAS NOT YET IN EFFECT WHEN THE ARTICLE WAS kRST PUBLISHED "UT THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT BITE THE defense of Rappler, saying it believesDTHAT A CRIME WAS REALLY COMMITTED g7HILE WE AGREE WITH RESPONDENTS THAT THE kRST PUBLICATION OF THE ARTICLE ON -AY IS NOT COVERED BY THE #YBERCRIME !CT OF

CONSIDERING THAT THE LAW WAS promulgated only in September

WE CANNOT SHARE THE SAME VIEW WITH RESPECT TO THE &EB PUBLICATION u IT SAID 4HE *USTICE DEPARTMENT IN .Ovember last year indicted Rappler for tax evasion in connection WITH THE 0 MILLION TAX EVASION COMPLAINT kLED BY "UREAU OF )NTERNAL 2EVENUE

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FOR ONLY 0 PER PLAY g!S YOU ALL KNOW OUR REVENUE COMES FROM THE HARD EARNED MONEY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO FALL in line daily in lotto and Small 4OWN ,OTTERY 34, OUTLETS TO BUY THEIR TICKETS 3O THEY MUST

BE INFORMED WHERE THEIR MONEY GOES AND HOW 0#3/ SPENT THEIR MONEY u SAID "ALUTAN g4HE PLAYING PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE WON THE MILLION JACKPOT PRIZE

BUT THEIR 0 MAY HAVE SAVED AND STRETCHED THE LIVES OF DIALYSIS OR CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENTS WHO ARE BENEFICIARIES OF 0#3/ UNDER THE )NDIVIDUAL -EDICAL !SSISTANCE 0ROGRAM )-!0 u HE ADDED /F THE ALMOST 0 BILLION REVENUE GENERATED BY 0#3/ IN

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)T FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO INDICT 2APPLER gFOR WILLFUL ATTEMPT to evade or defeat tax and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information under Sections AND OF THE 4AX #ODE u 4HE 3ECURITIES AND %XCHANGE #OMMISSION 3%# HAD REVOKED THE CERTIkCATE OF INCORPORATION OF 2APPLER )NC AND 2APPLER (OLDINGS #ORP FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING THE #ONSTITUTION AND FOREIGN EQUITY RESTRICTIONS IN MASS MEDIA WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERCENT &ILIPINO OWNED 4HE 3%# RULING STATED THAT 2APPLER HAD VIOLATED THE &OREIGN %QUITY 2ESTRICTIONS IN -ASS -EDIA ENSHRINED IN THE #ONSTITUTION AND ENFORCEABLE THROUGH THE -ASS -EDIA ,AW THE !NTI $UMMY ,AW AND THE &OREIGN )NVESTMENT !CT !RTICLE 3ECTION OF THE #ONSTITUTION STATES g4HE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF MASS MEDIA SHALL BE LIMITED TO CITIZENS OF THE 0HILIPPINES OR TO CORPORAtions, cooperatives or associations, WHOLLY OWNED AND MANAGED BY SUCH CITIZENS u 2APPLER ISSUED OVER MILLION 0HILIPPINE $EPOSITARY 2ECEIPTS

COVERING SHARES OF 2APPLER )NC SOLD TO 53 BASED /MIDYAR .ETWORK &UND ,,# 4HE INVESTMENT INVOLVED OVER MILLION

Q DIPLOMACY FROM A1

Hailing DRAMA OF THE NATIONALLY BROADCAST SPEECH TO REVEAL HIS LONG PLANNED SECOND MEETING WITH #HAIRMAN +IM *ONG 5N 4RUMP SAID HE WOULD MEET THE elusive young leader on February AND IN 6IETNAM ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT SPECIFY THE VENUE g/UR HOSTAGES HAVE COME HOME NUCLEAR TESTING HAS STOPPED AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MISSILE LAUNCH IN MONTHS u 4RUMP TOLD LAWMAKERS ASSEMBLED IN THE (OUSE CHAMBER g)F ) HAD NOT BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 5NITED 3TATES WE WOULD RIGHT NOW IN MY OPINION BE IN A MAJOR WAR WITH .ORTH +OREA -UCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE BUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH +IM *ONG 5N IS A GOOD ONE u HE SAID 4RUMP MET +IM IN *UNE IN 3INGAPORE ‡ THE kRST EVER SUMMIT BETWEEN LEADERS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NEVER FORMALLY ENDED THE TO +OREAN 7AR ‡ MONTHS AFTER THE 53 LEADER

4HOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENT WORKers and volunteers collected tons OF GARBAGE DURING THE LAUNCH OF ITS REHABILITATION LAST MONTH !NTIPOLO #ITY -AYOR #ASIMIRO gJun� 9NARES RD ORDERED THE ENVIRONMENT AND CITY DISASTER OFkCES TO CLEAN CREEKS CANALS AND RIVERS THAT LEAD TO THE -ANILA "AY FRANCIS EARL CUETO

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BY THE $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT $"- g) DON T KNOW WHERE ;$IOKNO= GETS THAT THICK FACIAL FACADE u !NDAYA NOTED REITERATING THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPOSE THE budget irregularities under DioKNO EVEN AFTER THE LATTER gCHOSE SILENCE OVER TRANSPARENCY u 4HE !NDAYA COMMITTEE PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO ISSUE A SHOW CAUSE ORDER AGAINST $IOKNO FOR HIS CONSECUTIVE ABSENCES IN THE PUBLIC INQUIRIES HELD BY THE (OUSE !ROUND 0 BILLION WORTH OF BUDGETARY SAVINGS FOR ALONE WAS UNCOVERED UNDER THE $"- 4HE COMMITTEE ALSO PREVIOUSLY NOTED THAT IT WILL kLE CHARGES OF TECHNICAL MALVERSATION AGAINST THE "UDGET SECRETARY AFTER IT UNCOVERED LAST WEEK A 0 BILLION WORTH OF IDLE FUNDS UNDER SMALL OFkCES OF THE $"- AND THE $EPARTMENT OF 4RADE AND )NDUSTRY GLEE JALEA

FOR QCPC

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (middle) hands 300 body-worn handcuffs to QCPD Superintendent Joselito Esquivel, Jr. (right) during the blessing and ceremonial turnover ceremony held at the Quezon City Hall on Wednesday. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Bong Go seeks peace, progress for new year FORMER special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong�

Go has two wishes for Filipinos this year: peace and progress.

Go on Tuesday greeted Chinese-Filipinos during the celebration of Chinese New Year. “Sa pagpasok ng Lunar New Year, kasama ninyo ako na nananalangin na sana ay makamtan na natin ang matagal na nating minimithing kapayapaan at pag-unlad para na rin maiangat natin ang kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan (With the advent of the Lunar New Year, I join you in praying that we will finally have peace and progress so that the lives of our people would be uplifted),� he said.

Go, who is seeking a Senate seat in this year’s midterm election, is optimistic that his wishes will come true, citing the initiatives being pushed by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Ad’yan po yung ‘Build, Build, Build’

program para magpatayo ng mga kailangang infrastructure sa pag-unlad ng ating bayan at kabuhayan. Sa kabilang banda, bukas po ay itutuloy ang ikalawang yugto ng plebisito para sa ratification ng Bangsamoro Organic Law na inaasahan nating magdadala ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao (There’s the Build, Build, Build program under which construction projects will be constructed, and the second plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law that we hope would bring peace in Mindanao),� Go said.

Go has vowed to support the programs of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly the campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

His legislative agenda includes programs for health, agriculture, education, housing, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, and improved benefits for senior citizens.

WAS THREATENING TO OBLITERATE .ORTH +OREA OVER ITS NUCLEAR AND MISSILE TESTS 3INCE THE SUMMIT 4RUMP HAS MUSED THAT HE AND +IM HAVE FALLEN gIN LOVEu AND ARE READY TO MAKE HISTORY ALTHOUGH CRITICS SAY THAT .ORTH +OREA S PROMISES REMAIN VAGUE 4HE TWO LEADERS IN 6IETNAM WILL NEED TO WORK OUT THE MEANING OF .ORTH +OREA S PROMISE IN 3INGAPORE OF gDENUCLEARIZATION u WITH +IM ENVISAGING AN END TO ALL WEAPONS IN THE PENINSULA RATHER THAN QUICKLY GIVING UP THE ARSENAL BUILT FOR DECADES BY THE TOTALITARIAN DYNASTY 4HE 53 SPECIAL ENVOY ON .ORTH +OREA 3TEPHEN "IEGUN HEADS 7EDNESDAY FOR TALKS IN 0YONGYANG ON PREPARING THE SUMMIT "IEGUN LAST WEEK PROMISED THAT THE 5NITED 3TATES WOULD TAKE kRST STEPS TO SUPPORT .ORTH +OREA S badly needed economic developMENT IF IT MOVES FORWARD 3EN ,INDSEY 'RAHAM A CLOSE 4RUMP ALLY TOLD &OX .EWS AFTER THE ADDRESS THAT +IM HAD SOUGHT NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS AN gINSURANCE policy� and was responding to 4RUMP BECAUSE gHE S SCARED u

)F 4RUMP OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE OF gLIFE WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT IS SAFE AND SECURE HE LL TAKE IT u 'RAHAM SAID 4RUMP IN A SPEECH FOCUSED on domestic priorities including HIS TOUGH LINE ON IMMIGRATION

CAST HIMSELF AS A REALIST IN THE WORLD SAYING HE WAS PURSUING gA FOREIGN POLICY THAT PUTS !MERICA S INTERESTS kRST u g'REAT NATIONS DO NOT FIGHT endless wars,� Trump said, after HIS CONTROVERSIAL ORDERS TO PULL all US troops out of Syria and HALF OF THE STRONG FORCE IN !FGHANISTAN )N CONTRAST TO 4RUMP S FREQUENT instincts to stay out of foreign CONlICTS HE HAS INTERVENED IN THE CRISIS IN 6ENEZUELA WHERE HE HAS RECOGNIZED OPPOSITION LEADER *UAN 'UAIDO AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT )N HIS ADDRESS 4RUMP LINKED 6ENEZUELA TO 53 POLITICS AS HE TRIED TO EQUATE LIBERAL OPPONENTS AT HOME WITH 6ENEZUELAN 0RESIDENT .ICOLAS -ADURO WHOSE LEFTIST regime presides over a crumbling ECONOMY THAT HAS SENT MILLIONS lEEING TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AFP

PSEi 8,058.45 DOWN 0.14%

P52.23 TO $1

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2019 A S I A N S TO C K S: S h a n g h a i ( c l o s e d )

What’s inside ORIGINAL PROPONENT STATUS EYED FOR AIRPORT PROPOSALS BusinessB2

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RFM EXPECTS 2018 PROFIT TO HIT P1.1B

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MANILA WATER SIGNS P1.5-B TANUAN WATER PROJECT DEAL Corporate NewsB3

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TOYOTA CUTS FULL-YEAR PROFIT FORECAST

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Business Times Singapore (closed)

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V Jakarta 1.02%

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

M

ONETARY authorities will likely keep key interest rates unchanged today, February 7, BUT COULD START EASING LATER THIS YEAR IF INlATION continues to slow, analysts from ING Bank Manila and Moody’s Analytics said. g4HE "30 "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS IS STILL WIDELY EXPECTED TO KEEP

Hong Kong (closed)

POLICY RATES UNCHANGED AND AWAIT MORE DATA POINTS TO VALIDATE THEIR INlATION

PATH u ).' "ANK -ANILA SENIOR ECONOMIST .ICHOLAS !NTONIO -APA TOLD The -ANILA 4IMES -APA MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER THE 0HILIPPINE 3TATISTICS !UTHORITY REPORTED THAT INlATION EASED ANEW TO PERCENT LAST MONTH FROM PERCENT IN $ECEMBER DUE TO SLOWER FOOD AND NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TOBACCO AND transport price increases.

4HE "30 S POLICYMAKING -ONETARY

V Bangkok 0.34%

"OARD HIKED KEY INTEREST RATES FIVE CONSECUTIVE TIMES LAST YEAR OR A TOTAL OF BASIS POINTS TO TEMPER RISING INlATION THAT PEAKED AT AN ABOVE TARGET PERCENT IN 3EPTEMBER AND /CTOBER %CONOMIC MANAGERS ARE CONkDENT that consumer price growth will further EASE IN THE NEAR TERM AND SETTLE AT PERCENT THIS YEAR AND PERCENT IN

WITHIN THE CENTRAL BANK S

CONTRABAND Police Superintendent Raymund Liguden, CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit chief, shows to the media on Wednesday, some 100 pairs of fake Philippine National Police rubber shoes seized during an entrapment operation in Quezon City. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

0HILSTOCKS &INANCIAL )NC research associate Piper Chaucer Tan attributed gains earlier on 7EDNESDAY TO NEWS THAT INlATION CONTINUED TO SLOW IN *ANUARY

which spurred hopes THAT "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS "30 INTEREST RATES WOULD BE KEPT STEADY WHEN THE -ONETARY "OARD MEETS TODAY &EBRUARY The Philippine Statistics AuthorITY ANNOUNCED ON 4UESDAY THAT consumer price growth eased to a MONTH LOW LAST MONTH TO PERCENT FROM $ECEMBER S PERCENT )T FELL WITHIN THE "30 S

ROUGH TRADE BEN KRITZ LION FOR THE SPACE AGENCY S kRST YEARS OF OPERATION $/34 HAS SPENT ABOUT 0 BILLION on space-related projects since

DE LA 0ENA ADDED 4HE MOST visible results of those efforts are the three microsatellites – called $IWATA $IWATA AND -AYA – that have been developed and launched with the help of the Japanese.

Convincing the public of the NECESSITY OF HAVING A SPACE PROGRAM IS A TOUGH SELL FOR ANY government. The golden age of SPACE EXPLORATION m THE S space race between the US and the Soviet Union – is most often PORTRAYED NOW AT LEAST FROM THE !MERICAN POINT OF VIEW AS A UNITED NATIONAL AMBITION BUT IN REALITY THE 53 SPACE PROGRAM WAS DOGGED BY PUBLIC SKEPTICISM

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last month ordered a provisional safeguard duty of P8.40 per 40-kilogram bag — almost 4 percent of the average retail price of P220 per bag — in response to surging imports said to be hurting the local industry.

The department claimed that cement imports had ballooned to over 3 million metric tons in 2017 from just 3,556 MT in 2013, while the share of imports rose to 15 percent from only 0.02 percent during the same period.

Mantaring said the imports were probably

ÂłMTF B4

ÂłAsia B4

prompted by supply shortages given the government’s infrastructure drive. “The local players are selling all they can. In fact, ubos ang production nila (their entire output has been consumed) ‌ I don’t see that there’s a problem for the local manufacturers because they are selling all that they produced,â€? Mantaring added.

Cement demand over the last three years (2015-2017) amounted to 78.88 million MT but the local cement

ÂłSafeguard B4

Learning cloud-based, electronic invoicing from our neighbors MORE TO I FOLLOW (MTF) EUNEY MARIE MATA-PEREZ

N response to the thrust of the Asia-Oceana Tax Consultants’ Association (AOTCA) to have more exchange of information among its members in the Asia-PaCIkC REGION THE 4AX !CCOUNTANCY

Peso ‘one of the more stable in Asia’ – DoF

Association Union of Republic of Chinese Taipei (TAAUCT) held a regional tax conference last Jan.

IN 4AIPEI #ITY AND INVITED AOTCA members to speak at the

Cement safeguard ‘counter-intuitive’ IMPOSING a safeguard duty on cement imports may not be the best thing to do while pushing a massive public infrastructure program, the chief of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said. “I don’t quite personally understand. Because if you’re trying to encourage construction, in the ‘Build Build Build’ [program], it will really be counter-intuitive to increase the price of cement,� MAP President Rizalina Mantaring told The Manila Times.

The Trade department

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THE Finance department on Wednesday touted the peso’s stability amid continued global uncertainties and analysts’ forecasts of a further weakening this year. “The Philippine peso continues to be one of the more stable Asian currencies despite the uncertainties in the world market brought about by the normalization of Fed monetary policy, Brexit, volatile fuel prices and US-China trade war,� the department said in an economic bulletin.

The currency, it added, continues to move in tandem with Asian counterparts and is one of the least volatile — tied in third with the South Korean won — in the world’s fastest-growing region.

The peso was also said to be the seventh among the Asian currencies that posted the biggest appreciation last month, gaining 0.73 to P52.17:$1 from P52.56:$1. On average, 12 Asian currencies appreciated by 0.79 percent.

The peso depreciated by 5.4 percent last year, ranking fourth among 12 Asian currencies in a region where the average depreciation was said to be 3.03 percent.

The currency ended 2018 at P52.58 versus the greenback, down sharply from its 2017 close of P49.93:$1.

On Wednesday, the peso closed at P52.23:$1, up 18 centavos from Monday.

Financial markets were closed on Tuesday in celebration of Chinese New Year.

The Finance department’s optimism comes as analysts have projected a further weakening to as much as $55 to the dollar this year.

The most pessimistic outlook came from Standard Chartered Bank analysts who projected the unit to close 2019 at P55 to a dollar. “The PHP (Philippine peso) faces medium-term challenges including twin deficits, still-elevated inflation and low real rates,� Standard Chartered bank

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PH Space Agency is an excellent idea

T is one of those pieces of news THAT ONE DESPERATELY WISHES would have gotten more attenTION THAN IT HAS EVEN IF IT APPEARS A LITTLE OUTLANDISH AT kRST GLANCE )N $ECEMBER A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A 0HILIPPINE 3PACE !GENCY WAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED

BY THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES A counterpart measure is now AWAITING ACTION BY THE 3ENATE (OUSE "ILL WHICH WAS ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY PASSED

will create a Philippine Space !GENCY 0HIL3! UNDER THE $Epartment of Science and TechnolOGY $/34 gTHAT WILL ADDRESS all national issues and activities related to space science and TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS u 4HE bill calls for the formulation of a national space use and developMENT STRATEGY AND EARMARKS HECTARES OF LAND WITHIN THE "ASES Conversion and Development !UTHORITY ZONE IN #LARK FOR THE NEW AGENCY S HEADQUARTERS )N A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK

$/34 3ECRETARY &ORTUNATO DE LA Pena said his department had PROPOSED A BUDGET OF 0 BIL-

Seoul (closed)

B2

Monetary Board seen keeping rates unchanged

Inflation news tagged as PSEi touches 8,200 4(% STOCK MARKET TOUCHED A MONTH HIGH ON 7EDNESDAY BUT LAST MINUTE PROkT TAKING DRAGGED IT DOWN AS THE DAY ENDED The bellwether Philippine Stock %XCHANGE INDEX 03%I ROSE TO AS HIGH AS DURING INTRADAY TRADING A LEVEL LAST HIT IN -ARCH LAST YEAR BUT THEN SUCCUMBED in the afternoon to close at the DAY S LOW OF ‡ DOWN POINTS OR PERCENT FROM -ONDAY 4HE BROADER !LL 3HARES ON THE OTHER HAND INCHED UP BY PERCENT OR POINTS TO kNISH AT

&INANCIAL MARKETS WERE CLOSED ON 4UESDAY IN CELEBRATION OF #HInese New Year.

MANAGEMENT ACTION

www.manilatimes.net

W

CURRENCY RATE

B1

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Original proponent status I eyed for airport proposals T

BY LISBET K. ESMAEL

HE Department of Transportation (DoTr) hopes to soon award original proponent status (OPS) to three conglomerates looking to develop regional airports.

Unsolicited proposals were reCEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM !BOITIZ %QUITY 6ENTURES )NC 6ILLAR 'ROUP AND 5DENNA )NFRASTRUCTURE Corp. to develop and operate the ,AGUINDINGAN !IRPORT )LOILO )NTERNATIONAL !IRPORT AND "ACOLOD 3ILAY !IRPORT RESPECTIVELY $O4R 5NDERSECRE-

TARY FOR !VIATION -ANUEL 4AMAYO SAID g7E HOPE TO ISSUE /03 UPON APPROVAL OF THE BOARD u HE SAID AFTER AN EVENT LAST WEEK 4AMAYO SAID A board meeting would be held on &EBRUARY 4AMAYO SAID !BOITIZ %QUITY 6ENTURES Inc. had offered to develop and operate

Laguindingan Airport which is located IN -ISAMIS /RIENTAL AND ACCOMMODATES AROUND MILLION FLYERS EVERY YEAR )N 3EPTEMBER ITS UNIT !BOITIZ )NFA#APITAL )NC !)# ACHIEVED A MAJOR leap for its unsolicited proposal for the NEW "OHOL AIRPORT AFTER THE GOVERNMENT granted it the OPS. -EANWHILE 4AMAYO ALSO SAID THE 6ILLAR 'ROUP WAS EYEING TO OPERATE AND expand the Iloilo International Airport in #ABANATUAN )LOILO WHICH OFFERS CAPACITY OF MILLION PASSENGER AND TONS OF CARGO ANNUALLY (OWEVER THE 6ILLAR 'ROUP S PROPOSAL STILL LACKS PERTINENT DOCUMENTS TO PROCEED HE SAID

Another proposal came from Davao-based businessman Dennis 5Y 4AMAYO SAID %YEING TO FURTHER BOOST HIS PORTFOLIO 5Y S 5DENNA Infrastructure Corp. offered to lead THE MAINTENANCE OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF "ACOLOD 3ILAY !IRPORT /NCE THE $O4R GRANTED THE /03

the private companies still need to undergo Swiss challenge where other groups can contest their proposals.

The government has been pushing for the development of more AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DECONGEST -ETRO -ANILA S .INOY !QUINO International Airport (NAIA).

Pandemic ignorance

T’S ELECTION SEASON AGAIN A test on the collective wisdom of Philippine populace or the SUPREMACY OF NATIONAL IGNORANCE 4IME AND AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN how the former trumps over reaSON LOGIC AND GOOD JUDGEMENT -ANY POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSmen take advantage of our naTION S COGNITIVE DEkCIENCIES TO THE POINT THEY WANT OUR POPULACE TO REMAIN AS THEY ARE Take a look at these alarming signs: 4HE &ILIPINO PEOPLE ARE THE THIRD gMOST IGNORANTu REGARDING THEIR NATION S KEY ISSUES ACCORDing to The Perils of Perception STUDY WHICH SURVEYED CITIZENS FROM NATIONS ON DIVERSE ISSUES CONCERNING THEIR COUNTRY such as murder and suicide RATES TEENAGE PREGNANCY HEALTH ISSUES RELIGION AMONG OTHERS )GNORANCE THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR EVIDENCE IS A HINDRANCE TO CRITICAL THINKING WHICH IS THE OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION of an issue to form a judgment OR CONCLUSION ) VE WRITTEN MANY treatises about the decline of CRITICAL THINKING AMONG &ILIPINOS DUE TO THE ROTE MEMORIZATION PEDAGOGY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM 4HREE IN &ILIPINOS BELIEVE US will defend the Philippines in case of an invasion from ANOTHER COUNTRY BASED ON A 3OCIAL 7EATHER 3TATION 373 SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 7HAT IS ALARMING IS THAT ONLY PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED gSTRONGLY DON T BELIEVEu IN THIS CASE WHICH MEANS THE REST ARE TOTALLY OBLIVIous of the real issues. ! +ANTAR 4.3 RESEARCH IN SHOWS THAT &ILIPINOS ARE AMONG the world’s most accepting and TRUSTING OF THE CONTENT THEY SEE on social media. About six in EVERY CONNECTED &ILIPINO CONSUMERS PERCENT PERCEIVE THE CONTENT THEY SEE ON &ACEBOOK

)NSTAGRAM AND 4WITTER AS RELIABLE 'LOBALLY ONLY PERCENT TRUST THE INFORMATION THEY SEE ON these channels.

National ignorance means a gullible populace. It’s aggravated

BY CERTAIN &ILIPINO IDIOSYNCRASIES

to wit: The Philippines ranked third AMONG THOSE MOST CONFIDENT

according to The Perils of PerCEPTION STUDY 4HIS IRONY IS EXPLAINED BY A BEHAVIORAL ANOMALY CALLED $UNNINGm+RUger effect – the more ignorant A PERSON IS THE MORE CONkDENT he or she is. This is dangerous as CONkDENCE BEHIND IGNORANCE WILL DENY THE PERSON TO ADMIT HE OR she knows less.

The Philippines is ranked the kFTH MOST EMOTIONAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THE kRST IN !SIA ACCORDING TO 'ALLUP S 'LOBAL %MOTIONS 2EPORT AND WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP kVE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS 3TUDIES reveal that the lower the critical THINKING SKILL THE MORE EMOtional a person is.

The Philippines ranked as the THIRD HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE 'ALLUP )NTERNATIONAL 2EPORT 4HE TOP THREE FACTORS THAT MAKE &ILIPINOS HAPPY ARE FAMILY HEALTH

AND RELIGION BASED ON A STUDY OF THE .ATIONAL 3TATISTICAL #OORDINATION "OARD )GNORANCE MAY LEAD TO HAPPINESS BASED ON SOCIAL SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES HENCE THE FAMOUS QUOTE g)GNORANCE IS BLISSu 7E ALWAYS APPLAUD THE &ILIPINO S HIGH LEVEL of happiness because it helps us ADAPT TO HARDSHIPS IN LIFE BUT WE MAY BE WRONGLY CELEBRATING THIS

Q RATES FROM B1

Monetary percent target. g)F INlATION CONTINUES TO TREND lower and edge back within target BY -ARCH THE "30 MAY BE AFFORDED SOME LEEWAY TO CUT POLICY RATES BY THE -AY POLICY MEETING TO GIVE THE ECONOMY A MUCH NEEDED break after slamming hard on the BRAKES IN BY HIKING BPS u -APA SAID +EY INTEREST RATES COULD BY

MANAGEMENT ACTION

REYNALDO LUGTU, JR. QUALITY AS IT MAY BE STEMMING from ignorance.

The Philippines again topped the list of countries that spend TIME USING SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A &ILIPINO SPENDING AN AVERAGE OF hours and 12 minutes on social MEDIA EVERY DAY ACCORDING TO THE 'LOBAL $IGITAL 2EPORT "UT widespread use of social media and smartphones results in the DECLINE OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILL

BASED ON THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY PSYCHOLOGIST 0ATRICIA 'REENkELD of UCLA. 0OVERTY REMAINS HIGH IN THE COUNTRY WHICH STOOD AT PERCENT IN AND THE PACE OF POVERTY REDUCTION HAS BEEN SLOW DESPITE THE GENERALLY GOOD ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE SAID THE 7ORLD "ANK IN ITS ON POVERTY IN THE 0HILIPPINES 4HERE S A LINK BETWEEN POVERTY AND A QUANTIkABLE DEPRECIATION IN COGNITIVE ABILITY ACCORDING TO A 0RINCETON 5NIVERSITY STUDY .OW COMBINING IGNORANCE

HAPPINESS CONFIDENCE BEING EMOTIONAL RABID USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND POVERTY IS A DEADLY COCKTAIL RESULTING IN SHALLOWNESS AND EASY CONTENTMENT HENCE

MANY POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMEN CAPITALIZE ON THESE !S AN EXAMPLE IT S COMMON TO SEE A POLITICIAN ESPECIALLY CROOKED ONES KNEELING DOWN IN CHURCH AND PRAYING WHILE ALL CAMERAS ARE FOCUSED &ILIPINOS GET POSITIVELY AFFECTED BY THE SIGHT OF this religious gesture. Politicians also resort to dancing and singing in their campaigns to entertain THE PUBLIC -ANY OF THEM PATRONIZE THE POOR BY SUPPORTING DOLE OUTS BIRTHDAY GIFTS AND OTHER small amenities to appease them FROM THEIR WRETCHED POVERTY Social media is flooded with FALSE PROPAGANDA SINCE &ILIPINOS BELIEVE WHAT THEY READ ANYWAY These are all common moves in THE 0HILIPPINE POLITICAL PLAYBOOK – keep the constituents poor and IGNORANT AND ENTERTAIN THEM TO SATISFY THEIR SHALLOWNESS AND TAKE advantage of their ignorance.

Another is how mindless comEDY kLMS GET TOP REVENUES FROM the patronage of the unknowing MASSES -OVIE AND 46 SHOW PRODUCERS RESORT TO GIVING WHAT &ILIpino consumers want for comMERCIAL VIABILITY S SAKE WHICH further pushes them down the QUICKSAND OF IGNORANCE Pandemic ignorance is the root CAUSE OF THE SEEMINGLY PERENNIAL POOR STATE OF OUR COUNTRY 4HE FORCE TO MAINTAIN IF NOT

MAKE &ILIPINOS MORE IGNORANT AND POOR IS HUMONGOUS /NLY AN INCORRUPTIBLE AND VISIONARY government leadership with the HELP OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN OVERHAUL OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND ADVANCE &ILIPINOS COGNITIVE abilities.

"UT THEN AGAIN OUR FUTURE LEADERS ARE VOTED BY THE SAME ignorant electorate. The current government needs to step up and change our course.

4HE AUTHOR IS 0RESIDENT #%/ OF (UNGRY 7ORKHORSE #ONSULTING

a digital and culture transformaTION FIRM AND #O &OUNDER OF #AUCUS )NC (E TEACHES STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN THE -"! 0ROGRAM OF $E ,A 3ALLE 5NIVERSITY 4HE AUTHOR MAY BE EMAILED AT REY LUGTU HUNGRYWORKHORSE COM TRIMMED BASIS POINTS AT THE -AY MEETING HE ADDED -OODY S !NALYTICS ECONOMIST +ATRINA %LL MEANWHILE ALSO BELIEVES THAT POLICY RATES COULD remain unchanged this month. ! SUSTAINED COOLING IN INlATION

SHE ADDED gINCREASES THE ODDS THAT the central bank will start reversing EARLIER MONETARY TIGHTENING IN THE kRST HALF OF u g7E THINK THE CENTRAL BANK WILL KEEP RATES STEADY AT ITS &EBRUARY MEETING AND ATTACH A PERCENT chance that easing will occur in the kRST HALF OF u %LL SAID

Corporate News RFM expects 2018 profit to hit P1.1B R ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

FM Corp. sees its net income in full-year 2018 hitting P1.1 billion, or a 6-percent increase from the P1.04 billion posted the year before.

year’s growth. “We are very positive on the continued growth of our topline and bottomline this 2019, especially as we head into election season and as we continue to see brisk

In a disclosure on Wednesday, RFM President Jose Ma. Concepcion 3rd named the listed food manufacturer’s ice cream, pasta, SAUCES MILK lOUR AND MIXES BUSInesses as the primary drivers of last

B3

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

economic activity and moderating INlATION u #ONCEPCION SAID He added that he also expected consumer spending to improve.

In the statement, RFM declared P280 million in cash dividends — equivalent to P0.0805 per share — to stockholders as of Feb. 14, 2019 and payable on March 13.

The dividends, Concepcion said, WERE gTHE kRST OF TWO TRANCHES TO pay out the 50-percent yearly cash dividend policy, based on recurRING NET INCOME u

“The company’s cash position is also expected to improve further as much of the major capital expenditures to expand capacity have been COMPLETED IN u 2&- SAID 4HE kRM ALSO TOLD THE 0HILIPPINE Stock Exchange that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had approved its planned merger with three of its subsidiaries.

Earlier this month, the commission allowed all the assets and liabilities of Cabuyao Logistics Industrial Corp., Interbake Commis-

sary Corp. and Invest Asia Corp. to be transferred to and absorbed by RFM, the surviving entity after the merger.

The company expects the merger TO gINCREASE EFkCIENCY IN OVERALL operations and lesser administraTIVE EXPENSES u The SEC’s approval follows the one given by RFM’s board of directors during its regular meeting on July 25, 2018 and by the kRM S STOCKHOLDERS DURING A SPECIAL meeting on September 7.

Incorporated in 1957 as Re-

public Flour Mills Inc., RFM has SINCE DIVERSIkED INTO POULTRY AND livestock production and certain areas of food manufacturing.

4HESE INCLUDE lOUR BASED PRODucts, margarine, milk and juices, canned and processed meat, ice cream, and bottled mineral water.

Its brands include Selecta for ice cream, Fiesta and Royal for pasta, and White King mixes and Selecta Milk.

RFM shares remained at P4.80 on Wednesday.

Manila Water inks P1.5-B AC Energy-Phinma deal approval seen by mid-2019 Tanauan water project deal A CONSORTIUM between Manila Water Co. Inc. and subsidiary Manila Water Philippine Ventures has signed a P1.5-billion agreement with the water district of Tanauan City in Batangas province to improve the water supply and sanitation services there.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ayala-led water concessionaire said the 25-year deal involved designing, building, funding and managing the city’s water-related facilities.

According to Virgilio Rivera Jr., Manila Water Philippine Ventures president and chief executive officer, the partnership aims to assist the water district in increasing service coverage by delivering as much as 27.5 million liters of water daily by 2043 to the 48 villages it serves.

Manuel Lascano, a member of the water district board, said reliable skills and competencies, and sufficient capitalization, were needed because of several developments in the city and the growing requirements for reliable water supply and sanitation services.

He hoped the partnership would serve as an example of a successful joint venture for

water projects in Batangas and nearby provinces.

Manila Water, through Manila Water Philippine Ventures, operates in areas outside the east zone of Metro Manila. These include various cities and towns in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Laguna and Cebu; Boracay island in Aklan province;, and Davao and Zamboanga cities.

Incorporated on Jan. 6, 1997, Manila Water was a joint venture between Ayala Corp., United 5TILITIES 0ACIkC (OLDINGS "6 AND Mitsubishi Corp. until it became a Ayala subsidiary in 2010.

Under the concession agreement it signed with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System on Feb. 21, 1997, Manila Water exclusively provides water and used-water services in the National Capital Region’s east zone.

This covers the cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan and Taguig City; Pateros town; most parts of Quezon City and portions of Manila; and Rizal province.

Manila Water shares jumped by 25 centavos or 0.92 percent to close at P27.50 apiece on Wednesday.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Index

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

8058.45

-11.03

Ĺş

All Shares

4893.48

0.94

Ÿ

Financials

1853.18

13.62

Ÿ

Industrial

11799.38

63.93

Ÿ

Holding Firms

7931.1

-98.92

Ĺş

Services

1620.51

12.05

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8739.3

118.36

Ÿ

Property

4001.55

19.27

Ÿ

AC Energy Inc. expects to secure by mid-2019 regulatory approval for its acquisition of a 51.48-percent stake in Phinma Energy Corp. for P3.42 billion, which it first disclosed in January.

Eric Francia, president and chief executive officer of the power arm of listed Ayala Corp., told reporters on Monday that his company was looking at “May, June [or] July in‌getting the PCC (Philippine Competition Commission) or regulatory approvalâ€? and making a “mandatory tender offer, which typically takes 90 days.â€?

All parties expect to sign the definitive documents “within the next few days� and will lodge their application for

ALL SHARES

chasing the stake through a secondary share sale, and that it would buy about 2.632 billion Phinma Energy primary shares at par value.

It explained that this stake — aimed at increasing its presence in the power sector — was made up of 1,283,422,198 shares worth P1.7 billion representing Phinma Corp.’s 26.25-percent interest in Phinma Energy; and the 24.23-percent interest of Philippine Investment Management (Phinma) Inc., the former’s parent.

The transaction is yet to be approved not only by the PCC, but also the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the

creditors of the three Phinma firms.

AC Energy has more than $1 billion of invested and committed equity in renewable and thermal energy in the country and arund the region. It aims to exceed 5 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity by 2025.

Phinma Energy is into generating and supplying electricity; renewable energy; and resource exploration and development. It has an attributable generation capacity of 472 megawatts (MW).

Shares of AC Energy dropped P8.50 or 0.91 percent to end at P927 each, while those of Phinma Energy shed 2 centavos or 1.49 percent to close at P1.36 apiece on Wednesday.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Finalized Clark airport O&M contract released THE International Finance Corp. )&# HAS RELEASED THE kNALIZED AGREEments between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the North Luzon Airport Consortium on running Clark International Airport in Pampanga province.

In a statement on Wednesday, the World Bank Group member said the concession on the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Central Luzon air hub for 25 years followed “the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) public-private partnership 000 CONCLUDED IN u “This project demonstrates IFC’s

willingness to test and try out new PPP models in support of the government’s goal to deliver crucial infrastructure that is key to sustaining THE COUNTRY S GROWTH MOMENTUM u )&# $IRECTOR FOR %AST !SIA AND 0ACIkC Vivek Pathak said in the statement. “The handover of the airport to a globally recognized operator will also help ensure quality service deLIVERY AND BOOST TRAFkC CONNECTIVITY to the northern provinces of the country—as well as to the region AND THE REST OF THE WORLD u HE ADDED g!S THE kRST HYBRID 000 AIRPORT awarded through a transparent and COMPETITIVE TENDER WE ARE CONkDENT

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Stock indices as of February 6, 2019

PSEi

PCC approval afterward, he said.

The anti-trust body is mandated by Republic Act 10667, or the Philippine Competition Act of 2015, to review mergers and acquisitions that meet the P1-billion threshold to ensure that these deals would not harm the interest of consumers.

Anti-trust regulators normally take between 60 and 90 days to decide on such transactions, according to Francia.

The deal is dependent the outcome of the tender offer, which the AC Energy chief said his firm would wait for “before we determine our specific strategies or decisions.�

In its disclosure last month, the Ayala-led power unit said it was pur-

MINING AND OIL

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

that Clark Airport will soon be able to welcome more passengers with HIGHER QUALITY SERVICE u "#$! 0RESIdent Vince Dizon said. “IFC’s advice has been instrumental in structuring these transactions, which have become a model for hybrid PPPs in the 0HILIPPINES u HE ADDED IFC served as BCDA’s lead advisor, offering expertise in rendering the EPC and O&M contracts for the concession.

Under the concession deal, the consortium — made up of Changi Airport of Singapore, Filinvest Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Phil-

Security Name Ayala Land, Inc. Ayala Corporation Jollibee Foods Corporation SM Prime Holdings, Inc. BDO Unibank, Inc. SM Investments Corporation Abacore Capital Holdings, Inc. Universal Robina Corporation Bank of the Philippine Islands Premiere Horizon Alliance Corporation Megawide Construction Corp.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company ISM Communications Corporation PLDT Inc. Wilcon Depot, Inc. Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Greenergy Holdings Incorporated International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Bloomberry Resorts Corporation

Last Price 45 927 322 38.5 139.8 980 0.84 149.1 93 1.26 18.58 82.5 6.74 1290 14.6 88.4 63.55 3.04 111 11.52

Chg 0.15 -8.5 7 0 1.3 -17 0.09 -1.9 1.6 -0.07 0.26 -1.4 0.51 -10 0.4 -0.7 -2.45 0.05 2.4 0.14

ippine Airport Ground Support Solutions — will build and manage a new, 100,000-square-meter terminal at the airport that can serve an estimated 8 million passengers annually, compared with the current 2 million.

This terminal’s construction is expected to decongest the country’s main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and generate more jobs and increase development in Central Luzon, which the IFC sees as A gGROWING ECONOMIC CENTER u The BCDA awarded the O&M contract to the consortium in December. TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

%Chg 0.33% -0.91% 2.22% 0.00% 0.94% -1.71% 12.00% -1.26% 1.75% -5.26% 1.42% -1.67% 8.19% -0.77% 2.82% -0.79% -3.71% 1.67% 2.21% 1.23%

Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Volume 10,605,900 418,580 1,051,450 8,189,100 2,141,740 270,280 303,521,000 1,616,090 2,473,730 170,270,000 11,455,300 2,520,180 28,772,100 116,440 9,170,000 1,463,930 1,894,320 38,700,000 966,700 8,532,800

Value 477,188,220 394,650,505 337,316,792 318,774,510 303,005,043 269,859,470 262,540,520 243,534,737 230,113,494 220,471,130 213,025,636 209,782,115 194,755,504 152,402,325 132,983,092 131,530,769 125,299,830 119,451,930 107,229,542 98,335,102

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 Jan 22, 2019 Jan 21, 2019 Jan 18, 2019 Jan 17, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 Jan 15, 2019 Jan 14, 2019 Jan 11, 2019 Jan 10, 2019 Jan 09, 2019 Jan 08, 2019 Jan 07, 2019 Jan 04, 2019 Jan 03, 2019 Jan 02, 2019 Dec 28, 2018 Dec 27, 2018 Dec 26, 2018 Dec 21, 2018 Dec 20, 2018

Open 8,091.45 8,131.55 8,038.65 7,999.41 8,038.77 8,086.93 8,071.12 8,075.66 8,000.65 7,941.05 8,023.84 8,055.48 7,932.11 7,866.42 7,983.46 8,009.08 7,886.40 7,965.44 7,931.87 7,775.21 7,820.26 7,800.88 7,657.18 7,507.48 7,496.57 7,497.16 7,465.04 7,436.73 7,536.87 7,514.07

High 8,213.71 8,148.88 8,165.66 8,099.23 8,046.95 8,087.39 8,143.61 8,116.23 8,068.48 7,989.65 8,029.80 8,067.08 8,057.57 7,937.98 7,990.65 8,027.92 8,024.14 7,965.44 7,992.33 7,919.67 7,826.08 7,900.70 7,801.50 7,680.60 7,540.26 7,507.29 7,514.33 7,453.22 7,548.13 7,584.44

Low 8,058.45 8,068.74 8,038.65 7,999.41 7,912.16 8,014.94 8,042.20 8,038.94 8,000.65 7,901.64 7,979.14 7,964.06 7,919.50 7,865.13 7,848.70 7,976.43 7,818.95 7,855.69 7,898.63 7,765.91 7,702.12 7,787.66 7,657.18 7,490.28 7,465.76 7,466.02 7,447.22 7,378.88 7,452.24 7,498.19

Close 8,058.45 8,069.48 8,144.16 8,007.48 7,979.95 8,050.82 8,053.92 8,053.20 8,064.90 7,989.65 8,008.67 8,007.46 8,047.12 7,927.20 7,864.70 8,013.42 8,024.14 7,904.09 7,985.23 7,919.67 7,702.12 7,787.66 7,761.11 7,680.60 7,489.20 7,466.02 7,482.66 7,450.01 7,479.71 7,563.41

CLOSE

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Abacore Capital Holdings, Inc. Swift Foods, Inc. - Convertible Preferred Millennium Global Holdings, Inc. Boulevard Holdings, Inc. )RUXP 3DFLÂżF ,QF Central Azucarera De Tarlac Island Information and Technology, Inc. ISM Communications Corporation United Paragon Mining Corporation Roxas And Company, Inc. Ever-Gotesco Resources & Holdings, Inc. Apollo Global Capital, Inc. Italpinas Development Corporation Macay Holdings, Inc. Imperial Resources, Inc. Synergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc. Swift Foods, Inc. Nickel Asia Corporation Premium Leisure Corp.

TKC Metals Corporation

Volume 303,521,000 1,000 53,900,000 157,320,000 28,320,000 43,300 79,820,000 28,772,100 59,000,000 3,479,000 6,880,000 41,000,000 1,388,000 9,900 10,000 80 20,780,000 7,384,000 38,940,000 2,500,000

Value 262,540,520 2,000 11,790,400 10,200,370 8,139,510 760,418 10,939,400 194,755,504 462,000 7,278,910 977,610 1,714,800 6,818,110 97,380 19,360 37,080 2,858,970 20,021,500 39,415,790 2,500,530

Last Price 0.84 2 0.203 0.066 0.25 18.5 0.135 6.74 0.008 2.17 0.14 0.044 4.98 10.2 1.99 465 0.137 2.76 1.01 1.02

Chg 0.09 0.2 0.019 0.006 0.022 1.56 0.011 0.51 0.0006 0.16 0.01 0.003 0.33 0.6 0.11 25 0.007 0.14 0.05 0.05

%Chg 12.00% 11.11% 10.33% 10.00% 9.65% 9.21% 8.87% 8.19% 8.11% 7.96% 7.69% 7.32% 7.10% 6.25% 5.85% 5.68% 5.38% 5.34% 5.21% 5.15%

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Zeus Holdings, Inc. Nihao Mineral Resources International, Inc. Asiabest Group International Inc. Geograce Resources Philippines, Inc. Asian Terminals, Inc. Cyber Bay Corporation Berjaya Philippines, Inc. Premiere Horizon Alliance Corporation Chemical Industries of the Philippines Phinma Petroleum and Geothermal, Inc. Lmg Chemicals Corporation Petron Corp. Perpetual Preferred “2� - Subseries “2B�

JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Anglo Philippine Holdings Corporation Vulcan Industrial & Mining Da Vinci Capital Holdings, Inc. Philippine Estates Corporation Holcim Philippines, Inc. Xurpas Inc. Victorias Milling Company, Inc.

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

Volume 150,900,000 4,272,000 1,053,800 72,940,000 4,500 7,860,000 4,250,000 170,270,000 1,650 232,000 117,000 1,100 1,894,320 149,000 2,669,000 21,300 2,490,000 5,420,100 20,173,000 25,000

Value 55,299,600 5,091,510 32,191,955 25,807,200 63,706 3,304,200 14,101,870 220,471,130 217,101 856,790 512,170 1,100,000 125,299,830 122,580 3,861,100 130,009 1,203,750 53,474,598 35,817,990 62,420

Last Price 0.335 1.13 28 0.3 14.2 0.41 3.19 1.26 138 3.67 4.36 1000 63.55 0.8 1.44 6.1 0.475 9.8 1.71 2.61

Chg -0.135 -0.15 -3.1 -0.025 -1.08 -0.03 -0.2 -0.07 -7 -0.18 -0.18 -40 -2.45 -0.03 -0.05 -0.2 -0.015 -0.3 -0.05 -0.07

%Chg -28.72% -11.72% -9.97% -7.69% -7.07% -6.82% -5.90% -5.26% -4.83% -4.68% -3.96% -3.85% -3.71% -3.61% -3.36% -3.17% -3.06% -2.97% -2.84% -2.61%

Foreign Business Toyota cuts full-year profit forecast T B4

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

OKYO: Japanese car giant Toyota slashed its FULL YEAR NET PROkT FORECAST 7EDNESDAY AFTER SAYING ITS NINE MONTH kGURE HAD TUMBLED nearly 30 percent as it was hit by investment losses.

THE FULL YEAR TO -ARCH It projected operating profit AT TRILLION YEN AND SALES AT A RECORD BILLION YEN FOR THE CURRENT kSCAL YEAR

TRILLION YEN IT PROJECTED THREE months ago.

The new forecast represents a PERCENT PLUNGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR Shares in the carmaker fell one PERCENT ON THE NEWS REVERSING GAINS EARLIER IN THE DAY AS THE RESULTS WERE worse than even the most pessimisTIC ANALYST HAD FEARED .ET PROkTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS TO $ECEMBER CAME TO TRILLION

YEN DOWN PERCENT FROM THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR 4OYOTA S BOTTOM LINE WAS HIT BY LOSSES OF MORE THAN BILLION YEN ON ITS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

AS THE STOCK MARKET FELL IN THE kNAL MONTHS OF LAST YEAR g4HE APPRAISAL LOSS APpeared to be a major factor that SQUEEZED 4OYOTA S PROFIT u SAID 3ATORU 4AKADA AN ANALYST AT 4)7

A 4OKYO BASED RESEARCH AND CONSULTING kRM /PERATING PROkT ROSE PERCENT TO TRILLION YEN ON SALES OF TRILLION YEN AN INCREASE OF PERCENT 4OYOTA LEFT ITS FORECASTS OF OPERATING PROkT AND SALES UNCHANGED FOR

'ABRIEL *OSE 0EREZ IN A SEPARATE COMMENT SAID INVESTORS THEN CHOSE TO TAKE PROkTS AHEAD OF THE -ONETARY "OARD MEETING g;4HE= MARKET SHOULD BE WAITING PERCENT PROJECTION AND THE ON THE RESULTS OF THE "30 S MEETING percent forecast range in a -ANILA ON THE POLICY RATE %XPECTATIONS ARE Times poll of ANALYSTS. ALREADY POINTING TO THE CENTRAL BANK P2P Trade Online sales associate TO KEEP STILL HOWEVER u HE SAID

4HE 03%I MOVED IN LINE WITH regional counterparts that cheered OVERNIGHT GAINS ON 7ALL 3TREET 4OKYO INCHED UP BY PERCENT

3HANGHAI JUMPED PERCENT AND (ONG +ONG GREW PERCENT 3EOUL AND 3INGAPORE ON THE OTHER HAND

ENDED DOWN PERCENT AND PERCENT RESPECTIVELY

"ACK IN -ANILA MOST SECTORAL results ended in the green except FOR HOLDING kRMS WHICH DROPPED PERCENT -ORE THAN BILLION SHARES VALUED AT 0 BILLION CHANGED HANDS 7INNERS LED LOSERS TO

WHILE ISSUES WERE UNCHANGED ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Q ASIA FROM B1

weaken to P54 per dollar given pressure from a widening trade deficit.

Fitch Solutions also expects the peso to weaken to P54.12:$1 by year-

eand due to the country’s trade and current account deficits and still-high inflation.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

4HE kRM S SENIOR MANAGING OFkCER -ASAYOSHI 3HIRAYANAGI ALSO TOLD REPORTERS THERE WAS NO WAY to avoid a negative impact in the EVENT OF A NO DEAL "REXIT ‡ DAYS after fellow Japanese carmarker Nissan announced a cut in producTION IN "RITAIN 4HE MAKER OF THE #AMRY SEDAN AND 0RIUS HYBRID NOW EXPECTS ANNUAL NET PROkT OF TRILLION YEN BILLION INSTEAD OF THE

Q PSEi FROM B1

Inflation

Peso one

analysts said as they forecast a 2019 close of P55 to the dollar.

First Metro Investment Corp., meanwhile, expects the currency to

Q KRITZ FROM B1

PH Space throughout the entire decade it took to LAND A MAN ON THE MOON /NLY ONCE m IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE *ULY !POLLO MISSION m DID ANY PUBLIC OPINION POLL SHOW A MAJORITY OF !MERICANS SUPPORTING the vast expenditures for space exploraTION AND EVEN THEN ONLY ABOUT PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED FELT IT WAS JUSTIkED &OR MOST OF THE SPACE RACE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORT HOVERED AROUND PERCENT WITH A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CITING ISSUES SUCH AS NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION AND ANTI POVERTY PROGRAMS AS BEING MORE WORTHY of government funding.

4HAT IS AN UNDERSTANDABLE REACTION AND ONE THAT CERTAINLY WILL BE EXPECTED FROM THE PUBLIC IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL )T SEEMS

MORE THAN A LITTLE DUBIOUS IN A COUNTRY WHERE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION LIVES ON LESS THAN A DAY THE TRANSPORTATION and communications infrastructure is at LEAST YEARS OUT OF DATE AND PEOPLE STILL DIE BY THE THOUSANDS OF PREVENTABLE DISEASES LIKE MEASLES AND DENGUE FEVER THAT FUNDING SPACE FARING ASPIRATIONS IS REALLY the best use of the government budget. It is PRECISELY BECAUSE THE 0HILIPPINES IS IN THE STATE IT IS HOWEVER THAT MAKES THE CREATION OF 0HIL3! A WORTHY GOAL &IRST THERE ARE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY 4HE 0HILIPPINES three small satellites are used for highRESOLUTION IMAGERY WHICH IN TURN IS USEFUL FOR LAND USE AND CLIMATE MONITORING AND MAPPING AND NAVIGATION )F SLIGHTLY MORE SOPHISTICATED SATELLITES CAN BE DEVELOPED

weather monitoring and communications become possible. The Philippines needs THESE CAPABILITIES AND UNTIL NOW HAS DONE

‘Continued uncertainty’ 2EGARDING "RITAIN S EXIT FROM THE %5 3HIRAYANAGI SAID g7E CANnot avoid the (negative) impact no matter how much we prepare BEFOREHAND IF "RITAIN LEAVES THE %5 WITH NO DEAL u (E SAID THE kRM gWILL MONITOR THE SITUATION HOPING THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN u ADDING IT WAS NOT AT the moment considering produc-

WHAT EVERY OTHER COUNTRY OF SIMILAR ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL CAPACITY DOES WHICH is to outsource most of the work. Developing a native program keeps at least some OF THE COUNTRY S TALENT AND KNOWLEDGE AT HOME SAVING MONEY AND GAINING AN EVEN bigger dividend in competence that can be TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY 3ECOND THERE IS THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SPACE TECHNOLOGY PRESENTS FOR THE 0HILIPPINES 4HE ERA OF MONOLITHIC PUBLICLY FUNDED SPACE AGENCIES THAT DO EVERYTHING FROM CONCEPT TO LAUNCH HAS LARGELY PASSED INSTEAD AGENCIES LIKE .!3!

2OSCOSMOS

AND %3! NOW SERVE MORE OFTEN AS FACILITATORS FOR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE EFFORTS (AVING EVEN A MODEST TECHNICAL POLICY AND REGULATORY COORDINATING AGENCY ACTUALLY MAKES the Philippines an attractive investment DESTINATION FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE LAUNCH VEHICLE BUSINESS 4HE COUNTRY HAS A POOL OF YOUNG TECHNICAL TALENT AND IS IN A GOOD location for space launches WITH -INDANAO LYING JUST A FEW DEGREES FROM THE %QUATOR

tion changes. /N 3UNDAY .ISSAN ANNOUNCED it was cancelling plans to build its 8 4RAIL 356 AT ITS PLANT IN NORTHEAST %NGLAND DESPITE "REXIT ASSURANCES from the government. .ISSAN %UROPE #HAIRMAN 'IANLUCA DE &ICCHY SAID AT THE TIME that while the decision had been TAKEN gFOR BUSINESS REASONSu gTHE CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE UK’s future relationship with the %5 IS NOT HELPING COMPANIES LIKE OURS TO PLAN FOR THE FUTUREu Regarding the auto sector in genERAL 4)7 S 4AKADA SAID 53 0RESIdent Donald Trump’s trade battles WERE CONTINUING TO gSHADOW THE *APANESE AUTO INDUSTRYu

g)MMEDIATE FEARS OF EXTRA TARIFFS on Japanese auto exports have BEEN PUT OFF FOR NOW BUT THEY MAY revive depending upon Japan-US TRADE TALKS THE ANALYST SAID g*APANESE CARMAKERS ARE ALSO bracing for the impact of the US#HINA TRADE DISPUTE u HE SAID &ELLOW *APANESE AUTOMAKER (ONDA LAST WEEK LOGGED A NET PROkT FALL OF PERCENT FOR THE nine months to December but REVISED UP ITS FULL YEAR FORECASTS THANKS TO STRONG MOTORCYCLE SALES Nissan is to announce results NEXT WEEK THE kRST SINCE ITS FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE #ARLOS 'HOSN WAS ARRESTED ON .OVEMBER FOR kNANCIAL MISCONDUCT AFP

Q SAFEGUARD FROM B1

take effect this Saturday, February 9, and will be effective for 200 days.

The Tariff Commission is currently studying the matter with a view of possibly extending it to three or four years.

Mantaring said the MAP was also studying the issue, saying: “We’re looking at the impact of it (the safeguard duty on cement) a little bit more.�

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

Cement firms only produced 73.12 million MT, government data showed.

The trade department has said that the safeguard duty would prod local manufacturers to expand capacity to meet cement demand.

The provisional safeguard is scheduled to

&INALLY THERE ARE THE LONGER TERM BENEkTS OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE THAT PURsuing space aspirations can provide. As a SOCIETY THE 0HILIPPINES IS FRANKLY NOT GOOD AT DOING THINGS ON A NATIONAL SCALE AND HAS until now shown no inclination to learn DESPITE HISTORY BEING RIFE WITH EXAMPLES OF HOW A "IG %FFORT CAN BROADLY BENEkT A SOCIETY !MERICA S !POLLO 0ROGRAM FOR EXAMPLE DESPITE NOT BEING QUITE THE PUBLIC DARLING POPULAR HISTORY MAKES IT OUT TO BE WAS THE GREATEST ENGINEERING PROJECT IN HISTORY DWARkNG THE EFFORTS PUT INTO SUCH ICONS AS THE 'REAT 0YRAMIDS OR THE 'REAT 7ALL OF #HINA /VER A PERIOD OF ABOUT YEARS THE COORDINATED FOCUS ON GETTING A MAN ONTO THE -OON INVOLVED SMALL AND LARGE INDUSTRIES IN EVERY STATE AND DIRECTLY EMPLOYED ABOUT ENGINEERS 4HE 53 AND INDEED THE ENTIRE WORLD YEARS later would not be what it is without the RACE TO THE -OON The competence the Philippines could gain from pursuing even a modest largescale initiative – something on the order OF )NDIA S EVENTUALLY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO

Q MTF FROM B1

Learning CONFERENCE -S 3HEK 7ING -AN OF THE 4AX )NSTITUTE OF (ONG +ONG SPOKE ON THE "ASE %ROSION AND 0ROkT 3HIFTING "%03 DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL ECONOMY TAXATION WHILE ) INTRODUCED !/4#! TO AROUND CONFERENCE participants.

TAAUCT officers also brought us TO THE OFkCE OF THE .ATIONAL 4AXATION "UREAU OF THE .ORTHERN !REA OF 4AIWAN .4" .ORTHERN !REA IN 4AOYUAN #ITY

KILOMETERS FROM 4AIPEI #ITY AND INTRODUCED US TO $IRECTOR 'ENERAL 7ANG (SUI #HUNG AND OTHER OFkCERS OF THE AREA WHO GENEROUSLY HOSTED OUR PARTY AND SERVED US WITH THE WONDERFUL Taiwan oolong tea and delicious fruits.

After showing us an exhibit of TaiWAN S VINTAGE INVOICES WHICH THEY CALL gfapiaou THE OFkCERS OF THE .4" Northern Area showed us a PowerPoint presentation on Taiwan’s Uniform )NVOICE 3YSTEM AND #LOUD )NVOICE Outcome through a platform provided

BY THE GOVERNMENT AND WHICH COULD BE ACCESSED EVEN BY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS 7E LEARNED THAT SINCE THEY ADOPTED THE SYSTEM COMPLIANCE AND COLLECTION SIGNIkCANTLY INCREASED )T was interesting to learn of their promoTION ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE A LOTTERY program available to all participants.

China has also been moving towards MAKING E INVOICING MANDATORY FOR several core service-based industries to increase compliance and reduce THE COST OF INVOICING 2ECENTLY IT HAS APPROVED THE USE OF THE 7E#HAT PLATFORM THROUGH A BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY APPROVED BY THE TAX AUTHORITIES

to issue e-invoices to customers in THE #ITY OF 3HENZHEN THE PILOT CITY for launching blockchain electronic invoices or fapiao nationwide. The use of blockchain ensures that each in-

develop a home-grown satellite launch vehicle – is almost incalculable. The BENEkTS WILL COME NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF technical know-how that could be apPLIED TO OTHER INDUSTRIES BUT IN SOCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL TERMS AS WELL m REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN COMPLEX CROSS DISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT IN COORDINATing multiple industries and business SECTORS AND IN ALIGNING EDUCATION WITH THE COUNTRY S OWN KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS RATHER THAN THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYERS Launching PhilSA and making it a goING CONCERN SHOULDN T NECESSARILY TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE DAY TO DAY PRIORITIES OF TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FED HOUSED

EDUCATED AND EMPLOYED BUT IT SHOULD BE GIVEN IMPORTANCE )T CAN AFTER ALL HELP TO FOCUS THOSE OTHER EFFORTS AND FOR WHAT IT S WORTH BRAGGING RIGHTS AS A LEGITIMATE space-faring nation are not at all a bad THING EITHER AND SOMETHING ONLY A FEW other countries can claim.

%MAIL BEN KRITZ MANILATIMES NET

VOICE CAN BE TRACED BACK INFORMATION CANNOT BE TAMPERED WITH AND DATA cannot be lost and the whole process can be monitored in real time. (https:// TECHNODE COM SHENZHEN blockchain-invoice) 2EPUBLIC !CT .O OR THE 4AX Reform for Acceleration and IncluSION 4RAIN ,AW HAS ALSO MANDATED the use of electronic invoicing within kVE YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THE law and upon the establishment of a SYSTEM CAPABLE OF STORING AND PROCESSING REQUIRED DATA FOR LARGE TAXPAYERS

TAXPAYERS ENGAGED IN E COMMERCE AND those engaged in the export of goods AND SERVICES 4AX #ODE SEC AS AMENDED 4HE SAME TAXPAYERS SHALL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ELECTRONICALLY REPORT THEIR SALES DATA TO THE "UREAU OF )NTERNAL 2EVENUE ")2 THROUGH ELECTRONIC POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS 4AX #ODE SEC !

AS AMENDED 4HESE ARE DEkNITELY AIMED AT ENABLING THE ")2 to get the correct sales and revenues INFORMATION DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY 4HE USE OF E INVOICES HOWEVER

SHOULD BE AIMED NOT JUST FOR THE ")2 OR the government to be able to get data FROM THE TAXPAYERS SWIFTLY AND EFkCIENTLY )T SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE COUNTERPART BENEkT OF GIVING TAXPAYERS THE EASE IN CLAIMING TAX REFUNDS AMONG OTHERS 7HEN DATA OF TRANSACTIONS ARE REPORTED ONLINE OR AVAILABLE IN A CLOUD PLATFORM

VERIkCATION OF TRANSACTIONS FOR REFUND PURPOSES CAN BE DONE BY CHECKING OR MATCHING INFORMATION STORED THEREIN

WITHOUT EVEN THE NEED FOR TAXPAYERS TO submit the actual invoices themselves.

This is what happened in India’s 'OODS AND 3ERVICES 4AX '34 REFUND processes. In its effort to ease the compliance burden of businesses under THE '34 SYSTEM )NDIA IS JUST REQUIRING THE SUBMISSION OF '34 RETURNS FOR CLAIMING INCOME TAX CREDIT )4# UNDER THE '34 4HIS REPLACED PREVIOUS RULES REQUIRING businesses to submit all purchase invoice RELATING TO INPUTS INPUT SERVICES AND

CAPITAL GOODS FOR PROCESSING OF CLAIMS

SEE INDIABRIEkNG COM 3EPTEMBER

4HEIR TAX AUTHORITIES CAN VERY WELL VERIFY THE TRANSACTIONS SUBJECT OF THE '34 through the electronic platform estabLISHED AND USED BY TAXPAYERS 7E LEARNED THAT WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM '34 REFUNDS IN )NDIA CAN BE GRANTED IN DAYS 4HE government also becomes liable for INTEREST IF THERE ARE DELAYS IN GRANTING refunds. (No wonder India made giant LEAPS IN THE 7ORLD "ANK EASE IN DOING business score card).

4HESE DEVELOPMENTS IN )NDIA #HINA and Taipei are enviable and would MAKE OUR TAX AUTHORITIES DROOL 4HEY are anchored on a good platform or TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH TAX authorities can use. Records show that WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY COLLECTION EFkCIENCY IS GREATLY IMPROVED !LSO

IMPROVEMENT IN TAXPAYER S SERVICE AND reduction in compliance costs are natuRAL CONSEQUENCES -ORE IMPORTANTLY

issuance or use of fake or fraudulent invoices is prevented. )N PASSING THE 42!). ,AW OUR LEGISLATORS PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME VISION (OWEVER UNLESS AND UNTIL THE ")2 WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THE REQUIRED PLATFORM SYSTEM OR TECHNOLOGY CAPABLE OF STORING AND PROCESSING REQUIRED DATA FOR TAXPAYERS IT WILL BE DIFkCULT FOR US to achieve such a vision.

%UNEY -ARIE * -ATA 0EREZ IS A #0! ,AWYER AND THE -ANAGING 0ARTNER OF -ATA 0EREZ 4AMAYO &RANCISCO -4& #OUNSEL 3HE IS A CORPORATE - !

AND TAX LAWYER 3HE IS THE 0RESIDENT of the Asia-Oceana Tax Consultants’ Association. This article is for general INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT A SUBstitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. )F YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT REGARDING THIS ARTICLE YOU MAY EMAIL the author at info@mtfcounsel.com OR VISIT -4& #OUNSEL S WEBSITE AT WWW mtfcounsel.com

Green Industries DoST introduces hybrid electric road train in Cauayan City C

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

EDITOR: Conrad M. CariĂąo

B5

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

AUAYAN CITY, Isabela: The city government here has received a hybrid electric road train (HERT) composed of four air-conditioned interlinked cabins that can accommodate 40 passengers each or a maximum of 200 passengers.

Chosen by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for the launching of its vehicle innovation, the city of Cauayan, in collaboration with the DoST, is aiming to be the science hub in Northern Luzon by promoting science and technology programs and projects through partnerships and cooperation.

DoST Secretary Fortunato Dela PeĂąa said the HERT was designed

and fabricated by the DoST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).

Dela PeĂąa led the presentation and turn over of the HERT to the city government here. He said the HERT was among the solutions picked by experts for the country’s mass transport system in the coming years. “Unlike the conventional railway systems, the hybrid electric

Q The Hybrid Electric Road Train that will be deployed in Cauayan City in Isabela were developed by the Department of Science and Technology. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ROAD TRAIN IS MORE ENERGY EFkCIENT since there is no need for alternating current running through suspended cables,� dela Peùa said.

He said the vehicle would be able to transport more commuters, especially during rush hours because of

the HERT’s larger passenger capacity “It is the agency’s task to bring innovations for public convenience and that we are expecting to see these hybrid electric road train in the streets when these vehicles are fully commercialized,â€? Dela PeĂąa said.

Robert Dizon, MIRDC executive director, said the deployment of HERT in this city would hopefully create awareness among commuters and locals that their technology for innovative transport exists, and would be accepted by them.

Mayor Bernard Fasutino Dy said that being the host for the launching of the DoST’s new vehicle innovation, the city government and Isabela State University-Cauayan will fully support the agency’s endeavors in promoting technologies for public convenience.

Metro Pacific shores up Balayan Bay ecosystem Haribon members visit the birds of UP Diliman AS part of its corporate social responsibility, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) Foundation, through its Shore It Up program, recently received a donation of 40 eco-reef modules that will be installed in Balayan Bay, one of the country’s top scuba diving destinations.

Since 2016, MPIC Foundation has been nurturing a Coral Restoration Field Laboratory in Barangay Solo in Mabini, Batangas, to help restore the marine ecosystem of the area. In the past two years, it has laid 12 modules that have provided valuable data to help in the proliferation of aquatic life in the locality.

4HE %CO -ER ARTIkCIAL REEF UNITS MPIC Foundation deploys are made from marine concrete that has better larval attachment, higher survival rates of coral recruits, and wider niche range for higher species diversity, beyond any OTHER COMMERCIAL ARTIkCIAL REEF The units serve as an underwater work station for volunteer divers TO STUDY THE lUID DYNAMICS CORAL growth potential at Eco-Mer units per depth, and other scientific diving related to monitoring and coral restoration for Mabini.

MPIC Vice President for Corporate Communications and MPIC Foundation President Melody del Rosario said Shore It Up started in 2009 as a coastal cleanup movement in the Anilao dive spot. It has been expended into a comprehensive marine biodiversity conservation program that covers underwater cleanups, mangrove propagation, giant clam REARRANGEMENT ARTIkCIAL REEF RESTO-

Q In photo prior to the underwater deployment of the eco-reef modules are Eco-Mer and Divers Institute of Technology consultant William McGilton, Metro Pacific Investment Corp. Foundation President Melody Del Rosario, and marine ecology expert Prof. Avigdor Abelson from the Tel Aviv University in Israel. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ration and community livelihood projects.

She added that coral restoration is one way of responding to the effects of climate change, and help work on solutions for sustainable use of the sea as a source of food and livelihood.

Shore It Up has been held in key coastal areas such as Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Subic Bay Freeport Zone; Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Del Carmen in Siargao Island; Panglao and Pamilacan Islands in Bohol; Surigao

City; Medina, Misamis Oriental; and Cordova, Cebu.

For the past 10 years, it has mustered over 85,000 volunteers from THE -ETRO 0ACIkC GROUP OF COMPAnies, national government agencies, local government units, law enforcement agencies, the academe, civil society groups, and dive industry stakeholders. A good number of these volunteers are recruits in the Junior Environmental Scouts, an environmental education initiative for school children.

To sustain its environmental undertakings, the foundation helped

establish Mangrove Propagation and Information Centers in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, which can be located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan and Del Carmen, Siargao Island, and Cordova. Cebu.

4HE -ETRO 0ACIkC PROGRAM IS A recipient of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ Anvil Award of Merit for sustained environmental program for the environment from 2011 to 2016, as well as the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in the Corporate Governance Asia Award for 2017 and 2018.

THE Haribon Membership program recently conducted an urban birdwatching activity at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City to raise awareness on various urban birds and their habitats, and to promote the protection and conservation of the remaining green spaces in Metro Manila. Led by Haribon biologist J. Kahlil Panopio, the foundation’s members were taught how to observe and identify different bird species found in the area and to practice their birding skills. According to the foundation, urban birding helps us understand that green spaces matter to provide urban birds with safe habitats.   Urban birds are a common group of birds that are plenty and easy to find.

The maya can be frequently seen perched on roofs and window panes, the zebra dove on school grounds and parks, or the yellow-vented bulbul outside workplaces. Unfortunately, they are also the most neglected group of birds, according to

the Urban Habitats journal. Bird enthusiasts travel to popular birdwatching spots to see rare birds but the bountiful and precious birdlife outside our own doorsteps are often taken for granted. “Ultimately, cities that are fit for birds are surely going to be fit for us as well. We monitor them to show us if our metropolis are healthy enough for all life,� said Haribon. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, Metro Manila is home to many urban bird species, and serves as a resting place for thousands of migratory birds.

Haribon advocates on keeping common birds common through its Birds in the City campaign conducted year-round in UP Diliman and the La Mesa Ecopark.  To join Haribon’s eco-learning sessions and conservation activities, e-mail membership@haribon.org.ph to become a member today.

QUEENIE DIANE MALABANAN

Q Haribon members take part in a birdwatching activity held recently at University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City. Inset shown a Brown Shrike spotted in UP Diliman. HARIBON PHOTO

Let our love for water continue to flow (First of two parts)

tions in the Philippines handling issues on water, one major piece .OTE 4HIS kRST PART IS A COLLABORATION of the puzzle keeps being left out: with Karmina Alejandro-Catangcatang. Who will implement all these Karmina is a public relations profes- programs? And are they prepared sional with more than eight years of for the challenges ahead of them? experience in the utilities sector. She is one of the founders of the Philippine PH water sector’s Young Water Professionals and currently human resource gap its public relations director. Academically, Karmina’s background is in public Five years ago, the International administration and communication Water Association released a report research, with particular focus on water, on the resource gaps in the water, sanitation and environmental issues. sanitation and health (WASH) sectors of 15 developing countries, inWater is so basic a right that cluding the Philippines. The report most of us don’t even stop to think primarily focused on gaps in terms about where it comes from and of the human capital necessary to how we get it. That is, until our achieve universal access to water and services are interrupted for one sanitation. At the time, the report reason or another, and we start to concluded that some 82,600 addirant about it on social media. tional water and sanitation technical But this isn’t what’s true for the 9 kELD PERSONNEL AND PARA TECHNICIANS million Filipinos who are forced to would be necessary for the Philiprely on unimproved, unsafe and un- pines to achieve said targets. sustainable water sources, according The report further noted that to the estimates of Water.org. Every while many funding organizations, day, these people usually have to governments and even service protravel, transport and treat water by viders focused on infrastructure, themselves, at the risk of their and technological innovations, and their families’ health and safety. institutional reform, these just were While there are efforts and not complemented by the size, commany, some say too many, institu- petencies and enabling environment

tions of the water industry banded together to establish what is now the Philippine Young Water Professional (PYWP, pronounced as pipe). Headed by Christian “Yang�

Villa and Kris Catangcatang, PYWP made a mission out of building a for the human resource base suppos- community where diverse young edly implementing and operating water professionals come together to learn, share and work together.

WASH programs and facilities.

Aside from contributing to poIf you think about it, a career in sitioning the water industry as an water is a reliable choice because industry of choice, one of the foreeveryone and everything alive would most issues that they encountered always need clean and safe water, and and still hope to address is the lack of would always be producing liquid opportunities for capacity building waste that must be properly disposed for young water professionals in the of. But water and sanitation just aren’t Philippines.

Technical training and considered sexy professions. even skills development seminars are Take used water for instance. It’s often expensive and inaccessible for a challenge even just to explain to young professionals in general.

And people that their excreta don’t just MAGICALLY DISAPPEAR ONCE lUSHED ,ET institutions, especially those located alone, telling a young person in search in water-stressed areas, rarely have the of a career that he or she could be the capacity to expose these professionals to such opportunities. one doing the excreta cleaning!

This is why PYWP started with However, these are the types of jobs propagating information on free that need doing to meet basic needs webinars on technical topics such as and to support further development. hydraulic modelling, nature-based solutions, and lowering carbon footRipples of change prints through the International Water This is why, in 2016, six young Association (IWA) in order to capacpeople working in different sec- itate young professionals and expose

ALL ABOUT CHOICES LUDWIG O. FEDERIGAN

challenged participants to explore what they, too, could contribute to the attainment of the SDGs. It was inspiring to see that even in an international specialist conFERENCES SUCH AS %FkCIENT THE youth are provided ample opportunities to discuss issues relevant for their further development.

To a global stage It was technologist and entrepreAt the start of 2019, just last neur Julian Rotich who said: “Talmonth, PYWP was able to elevate ent is universal, but opportunity the discussion to an internation- is not.� It is heartwarming to note AL LEVEL BY LEADING THE kRST EVER that there are several young people Emerging Water Leaders Forum in who are taking on the responsibilSoutheast Asia as a session during ity of creating more opportunities THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED %FkCIENT for their peers, even in a sector as 2019. Attended by some 50 local technical as water and sanitation. and international young water xxxxxx professionals, the Emerging Water Leaders Forum sought to equip participants with skills relevant for I will be the resource speaker about “Why Acting on Climate today’s challenges.

The session featured discussions Change Really Matters� on Saturon how to maximize opportunities day, February 9, at the Far Eastern for networking and collaboration, University-Institute of Technology; as discussed by IWA Specialist and about “Climate Change and 'ROUP /FkCER ,ISA !NDREWS !S THE Environmental Issues� on Wednesco-founder and executive director day, February 13, during the 40th of the Young Environmental Fo- National Convention of the Philiprum, I showcased inspirational case pine Association of Water Districts studies of youth-led initiatives from at the SMX Convention Center, all over the Philippines, as well as Mall of Asia Complex.

them to international best practices in the industry. In 2018, PYWP also started conducting round table disCUSSIONS AND kELDWORK TO ENJOIN AND to promote the interconnectedness of issues in water and the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

B6

Classified Ads

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City MAMURIC TELEVISION NETWORK STATION Petitioner/Assignor MAMURIC7 TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORTION. Petitioner/Assignee BMC CASE NO. 2019-018 x----------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner/Assignor, MAMURIC TELEVISION NETWORK STATION, and Petitioner/ Assignee, MAMURIC7 T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S CORPORTION, both duly authorized and existing under and by virtue of Philippines Laws, as well as the relative laws pertinent thereto, requests for Petition for the Approval of Deed of Assignment of Cable Television Systems (CATV) in the Municipalities of SOLANO, VILLAVERDE, BAYOMBONG and QUEZON, Province of NUEVA VIZCAYA, with Provisional Authority (PA) under NTC Case No. 91-166; 96-137;99-145 and 2000-069.

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MARCH 04, 2019, (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the Legal Branch, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, National Telecommunications Commission, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City, wherein applicant shall present its compliance with the Commission’s jurisdictional requirements, as well as its evidences, if warranted.

However, should the hearing date be declared a holiday or non-working day due to force majeure, the said hearing shall be held on the NEXT regular working day.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City

RELIANCE CATV & ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES (ROLANDO R. OLOG) Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-020 x----------------------------------------------x

RELIANCE CATV & ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES (ROLANDO R. OLOG) Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-021 x----------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant, RELIANCE CATV & ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES (ROLANDO R. OLOG), is a sole proprietorship duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws registered with the Department of Trade and Industry XQGHU &HUWL¿FDWH 1R and pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 436 and Executive Order No. 205, request for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI Authority (CA) to install, operate and maintain a Cable Television (CATV) System in the MUNICIPALITY OF ALLEN, NORTHERN SAMAR.

Applicant, RELIANCE CATV & ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES (ROLANDO R. OLOG), is a sole proprietorship duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws registered with the Department of Trade and Industry XQGHU &HUWL¿FDWH 1R and pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 436 and Executive Order No. 205, request for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI Authority (CA) to install, operate and maintain a Cable Television (CATV) System in the MUNICIPALITY OF SALCEDO, EASTERN SAMAR.

Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA SHQGLQJ ¿QDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI the application.

Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA SHQGLQJ ¿QDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI the application.

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MARCH 04, 2019, (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the Legal Branch, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, National Telecommunications Commission, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City, wherein applicant shall present its compliance with the Commission’s jurisdictional requirements, as well as its evidences, if warranted.

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MARCH 04, 2019, (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the Legal Branch, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, National Telecommunications Commission, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City, wherein applicant shall present its compliance with the Commission’s jurisdictional requirements, as well as its evidences, if warranted.

However, should the hearing date be declared a holiday or non-working day due to force majeure, the said hearing shall be held on the NEXT regular working day.

However, should the hearing date be declared a holiday or non-working day due to force majeure, the said hearing shall be held on the NEXT regular working day.

$W OHDVW ¿IWHHQ GD\V EHIRUH WKH date of hearing, applicant shall have published the Notice of Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and have served copies of the Notice of Hearing and the application including all annexes attached therewith to all affected parties by registered mail or through personal delivery, as furnished by the Commission.

$W OHDVW ¿IWHHQ GD\V EHIRUH WKH date of hearing, applicant shall have published the Notice of Hearing once in one (1) newspaper of general circulation and have served copies of the Notice of Hearing and the application including all annexes attached therewith to all affected parties by registered mail or through personal delivery, as furnished by the Commission.

$W OHDVW ¿IWHHQ GD\V EHIRUH WKH date of hearing, applicant shall have published the Notice of Hearing once in one (1) newspaper of general circulation and have served copies of the Notice of Hearing and the application including all annexes attached therewith to all affected parties by registered mail or through personal delivery, as furnished by the Commission.

Any party opposed to the granting of the application is hereby directed to appear at the scheduled hearing and PXVW ¿OH LWV YHUL¿HG RSSRVLWLRQ RQ RU before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any DIIHFWHG SDUW\ WR ¿OH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

Any party opposed to the granting of the application is hereby directed to appear at the scheduled hearing and PXVW ¿OH LWV YHUL¿HG RSSRVLWLRQ RQ RU before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any DIIHFWHG SDUW\ WR ¿OH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

Any party opposed to the granting of the application is hereby directed to appear at the scheduled hearing and PXVW ¿OH LWV YHUL¿HG RSSRVLWLRQ RQ RU before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any DIIHFWHG SDUW\ WR ¿OH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 30th day of JANUARY 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 30th day of JANUARY 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 30th day of JANUARY 2019.

(SGD.) ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat

(SGD.) ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat

(SGD.) ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat

MT - Feb. 7, 2019

MT - Feb. 7, 2019

MT - Feb. 7, 2019

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR SOCIALIZED & ECONOMIC HOUSING SITES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE APPROACH (CIA) The National Housing Authority (NHA) is soliciting proposals through the Design and Build Scheme from Developers/Contractors for the Land Development and construction of Housing Units of the following sites, to wit: Project

Location

1. Vista Alegre Homes 2. Loakan Heights 3. Woodstowne 4. Adelaide Homes

Talisay City, Negros Occidental Fort Gregorio Del Pillar, Baguio City Rosario, La Union Island of Samal, Davao del Norte

No. of Units 740 512 760 1,000

The project proposals will be evaluated based on NHA’s Memorandum Circular No. 2015-0015 dated 29 December 2015 (Guidelines for Site Selection, Site Suitability and Site Planning of NHA Housing Development Projects) under the New AFP/PNP Housing Program. ,QWHUHVWHG SDUWLHV PD\ VXEPLW WKHLU /HWWHUV RI ,QWHQW DQG VSHFL¿F SURSRVDOV addressed to:

D &HUWL¿HG 7UXH &RS\ RI 7LWOH V E &HUWL¿HG 7UXH &RS\ RI 7D[ 'HFODUDWLRQ V c. Lot Plan duly signed by a Geodetic Engineer d. Vicinity Map highlighting current use and development of adjacent properties within 3-km radius e. Topographic Map duly signed by a Geodetic Engineer I &HUWL¿FDWH RI VLWH LQVSHFWLRQ LVVXHG E\ WKH 1+$ 2SHUDWLQJ 8QLWV

MARCELINO P. ESCALADA, JR. General Manager MT - Feb. 7, 2019

PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1308

Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of SHICHI ELECTRO + WORKS CORP. shortening the term of its existence up to May 2, 2018 thereby dissolving the said corporation on the said date has been approved by the Board of Directors and Stockholders.

All persons having claims against said corporation are requested to present the same at 2nd Floor, 5 Axis Bldg., B3A – L1A Pulo – Diezmo Road, Brgy. Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna for immediate settlement.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that EMPIRE EAST LAND HOLDINGS, INC. (Owner/ 'HYHORSHU KDV ¿OHG ZLWK WKLV Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of units at KASARA URBAN RESORT RESIDENCES (TOWER 3 AND 5) located at Eagle St., Brgy.

8JRQJ 3DVLJ &LW\ VSHFL¿FDOO\ described as Lots 5-E-3, 5-E-4, 5-E-10, and 5-E-11, all of (LRA) Psd-12834; and covered by TCT No. 011-2012002224, with total area of 18,812.00 square meters.

INVITATION TO BID RENOVATION OF LEVELS 4 AND 5, CORE G, GSIS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AND SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION OF VARIOUS FURNITURE, FIXTURE AND EQUIPMENT 1.

This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

Nathaniel R. Jose 3UHVLGHQW 2I¿FHU

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), through the GSIS Corporate Operating Budget for CY 2019, intends to apply the sum of Fourty Eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php48,800,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Renovation of Levels 4 and 5, Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building and Supply, Delivery and Installation of Various Furniture, Fixture and Equipment.

Lot No. 1 2

MT - Feb. 7, 11 & 18, 2019

Description Renovation of Levels 4 and 5, Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building Supply, Delivery and Installation of Various Furniture, Fixture and Equipment

NOTICE

The project was issued Development Permit No. 12-05 RQ 0D\ &HUWL¿FDWH of Registration No. 24657 dated 01 April 2013, and License to Sell No. 26905 on 01 April 2013 for Towers 1 and 2.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon

Notice is hereby given that PUEBLO DE ORO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ZLWK RI¿FH DGGUHVV at 17/ F Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an expanding developer of economic and low-cost housing project (La Aldea Fernandina 2) with a capacity of 1,108 economic and low-cost units on a Non Pioneer status with project site at Brgy. Del Carmen, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith EH LVVXHG DIWHU ¿YH GD\V IURP the last day of publication.

Any person with valid objections on the abovePHQWLRQHG SURMHFW PD\ ¿OH KLV KHU REMHFWLRQ LQ ZULWLQJ under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, NOV 09, 2018

MARY ANN E. RAGANIT 2I¿FHU LQ &KDUJH Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2I¿FHU ,Q &KDUJH

MT – Feb. 7, 2019

M.T. February 07 & 14, 2019

The GSIS now invites bids for the Renovation of Levels 4 and 5, Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building and Supply, Delivery and Installation of Various Furniture, Fixture and Equipment. Completion of the Works is required within two hundred (200) calendar days for Lot 1 and ninety (90) calendar days for Lot 2 from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders for Lot 1 should have completed a contract similar to the Project. Bidders for Lot 2 should have completed, within the past three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. If bidders intend to bid for both Lots, bidders must comply only with the requirement on the Single Largest Completed Contract for Lot 1 considering that renovation work is the the primary scope of the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

%LGGLQJ ZLOO EH FRQGXFWHG WKURXJK RSHQ FRPSHWLWLYH ELGGLQJ SURFHGXUHV XVLQJ QRQ GLVFUHWLRQDU\ ³SDVV IDLO´ FULWHULRQ DV VSHFL¿HG LQ WKH 5HYLVHG ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 5XOHV DQG 5HJXODWLRQV ,55 RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 5$

RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV WKH ³*RYHUQPHQW 3URFXUHPHQW 5HIRUP $FW ´ For Lot 1, bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or RUJDQL]DWLRQV ZLWK DW OHDVW VHYHQW\ ¿YH SHUFHQW LQWHUHVW RU RXWVWDQGLQJ FDSLWDO VWRFN EHORQJLQJ WR FLWL]HQV of the Philippines.

For Lot 2, bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least VL[W\ SHUFHQW LQWHUHVW RU RXWVWDQGLQJ FDSLWDO VWRFN EHORQJLQJ WR FLWL]HQV RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG WR FLWL]HQV corporations or associations of a foreign country where the laws or regulations of said country grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

If bidders intend to bid for both Lots, bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, DQG SDUWQHUVKLSV RU RUJDQL]DWLRQV ZLWK DW OHDVW VHYHQW\ ¿YH SHUFHQW LQWHUHVW RU RXWVWDQGLQJ FDSLWDO VWRFN belonging to citizens of the Philippines considering that renovation work is the the primary scope of the Project.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the GSIS Bids and Awards Committee (GBAC) Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday to Friday excluding holidays.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on 07 February 2019, from 8:00AM to 3:00PM from the abovementioned address and upon payment of the fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount provided below:

GBAC Secretariat, Level 2 Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building, Financial Center, Pasay City

Lot No. 1 2 1 and 2

6.

Cost of Bidding Documents Php25,000.00 Php10,000.00 Php25,000.00

The GSIS Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 14 February 2019, 10:00AM at the following address: GBAC Conference Room, Level 2 Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building, Financial Center, Pasay City The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to prospective bidders.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR CHANGE OF ENTRY (CHANGE OF NATIONALITY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DEATH OF DIONG BI CHU AS APPEARING IN THE RECORDS OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS OFFICE

7.

MARGARET C. KUA, PATRICK C. CHANG JR., MARJORIE DIONG, MADELINE D. GO, MELINDA C. DIONG, ET AL., Petitioners, - versus –

Bids must be submitted to the address below and must be duly received by the GBAC Secretariat or other authorized GSIS personnel on or before 27 February 2019, 9:30AM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

GBAC Secretariat, Level 2 Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building, Financial Center, Pasay City Bid opening shall be on 27 February 2019, 10:00AM at the address stated in Item No. 6. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the said activity. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Spec. Proc. Case No. 13087-SJ

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES represented by the OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF SAN JUAN CITY, Respondents. x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER ,Q D YHUL¿HG DPHQGHG SHWLWLRQ WKH SHWLWLRQHUV DVN WKH &RXUW WR UHQGHU MXGJPHQW GLUHFWLQJ WKH /RFDO &LYLO 5HJLVWUDU RI 6DQ -XDQ &LW\ WR UHFWLI\ WKH HQWU\ LQ WKH GHDWK FHUWL¿FDWH RI 'LRQJ %L &KX SHUWDLQLQJ WR KLV FLWL]HQVKLS IURP ³)LOLSLQR´ WR ³&KLQHVH ´ )LQGLQJ WKH SHWLWLRQ VXI¿FLHQW LQ IRUP DQG VXEVWDQFH OHW LW EH VHW IRU KHDULQJ RQ )HEUXDU\ WR VWDUW DW LQ WKH PRUQLQJ at which time and date any interested party may enter his/her appearance within Fifteen (15) days from notice to the petitioner and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this order be published once a week for Three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila, including San Juan City at the expense and lookout of the petitioner. /HW WKH QRWLFH RI KHDULQJ EH SRVWHG LQ WKH EXOOHWLQ ERDUGV RI WKLV &RXUW WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH &OHUN RI &RXUW 57& 3DVLJ &LW\ DQG WKH City Hall, San Juan City, at least Twenty (20) days before the date of hearing, likewise, at the expense and lookout of the petitioners.

Finally, let copy of the amended petition be furnished by the petitioners the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of San Juan City, the Local Civil Registrar of San Juan City, the Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority, to serve as notice to them of the institution of the petition.

SO ORDERED. Issued on 11 December 2018 at San Juan City, M.M. Philippines.

(SGD.) FRANK E. LOBRIGO Acting Presiding Judge Republic of the Philippines Regional Trial Court National Capital Judicial Region Branch 160, Pasig City (San Juan City Station) IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR CHANGE OF ENTRY (CHANGE OF NATIONALITY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DEATH OF DIONG BU CHU AS APPEARING IN THE RECORDS OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS OFFICE MARGARET C. KUA, PATRICK C. CHANG JR., MARJORIE DIONG, MADELINE D. GO, MELINDA C. DIONG, MATTHEW C. DIONG, CANDIDA C. CUAZON and SALLY C. DEE Petitioners, - versus –

Spec. Proc. Case No. 13087

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES represented by the OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF SAN JUAN CITY, Respondents. x------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF HEARING To: Atty. Patricia Faith R. Lacuensta 17th Floor, Robinsons Equitable Tower, 4 ADB Avenue corner P. Poveda Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

ABC Php42,500,000.00 Php6,300,000.00 Php48,800,000.00

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the GSIS website (www.gsis.gov.ph/opportunities/gbac), provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Republic of the Philippines Regional Trial Court National Capital Judicial Region Branch 160, Pasig City (San Juan City Station)

ABC Php42,500,000.00 Php6,300,000.00

Bids received in excess of the ABC per Lot shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Margaret C. Kua Block 1, Lot 10, Richwood Square, Easter Road, Guisad, Baguio City

Patrick C. Chang 29 Concorde St., Concorde Village, Tambo, Parañaque City

Marjorie Diong 1627 Cypress St., Dasmariñas Village, Makati City

Madeline D. Go 278-B Guevarra Street, San Juan City

Melinda C. Diong 1627 Cypress St., Dasmariñas Village, Makati City

Matthew C. Diong 1627 Cypress St., Dasmariñas Village, Makati City

Candida C. Cuazon LPL Mansion, 122 Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City

Sally C. Dee 2389-J Tejeron Street, Sta. Ana, Manila

Local Civil Registry of San Juan City San Juan City Hall

2I¿FH RI WKH 6ROLFLWRU *HQHUDO No. 134 Amorsolo St., Legazpi Village, Makati City

2I¿FH RI WKH &LW\ 3URVHFXWRU RI 6DQ -XDQ &LW\

Civil Registrar General of Philippine Statistics Authority c/o PSA Legal Service 4th Floor PSA-TAM Bldg.

East Avenue, Quezon City Please take notice that the hearing on the amended petition is set on 21 February 2019 at 8:30 a.m.

Witness the Hon. Frank E. Lobrigo, Acting Presiding Judge of this Court this 04 January 2019 at San Juan City, Metro Manila.

(SGD.) EUNICE G. SALVADOR OIC-Branch Clerk of Court

',5(&7 WKDW D FRS\ RI WKH 'HDWK &HUWL¿FDWH DV GXO\ FRUUHFWHG EH IXUQLVKHG WR WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH &LYLO 5HJLVWUDU *HQHUDO RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQH 6WDWLVWLFV 2I¿FH Other reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for.

Pasig City for San Juan City, 12 September 2018.

BELLO VALDEZ CALUYA & FERNANDEZ JGLAW Counsel for the Respondents 17th Floor, Robinsons Equitable Tower, 4 ADB Avenue corner P. Poveda Drive, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City Tel. No. 8159071 2I¿FH 0RELOH 1RV E-mail: info@jglawph.com

Project Proposals must have a Pre-Feasibility Study and same will be DFFHSWHG RQ RU EHIRUH )HEUXDU\ XQWLO SP DW WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH General Manager (OGM).

The NHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive formalities of any defects and accept the offer considered most advantageous to the Government.

w w w.manilatimes.net

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HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital 5HJLRQ )LHOG 2I¿FH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

The General Manager National Housing Authority Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City The Terms of Reference (TOR) LV DYDLODEOH DW WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH FRQFHUQHG NPIT for AFP/PNP Housing Program. The proposal shall include the following:

˜ The Manila Times

By:

7KH *6,6 ZDUQV WKH SXEOLF ELGGHUV RI XQVFUXSXORXV LQGLYLGXDOV DQG JURXSV SRVLQJ DV RI¿FHUV HPSOR\HHV RI WKH *6,6 VROLFLWLQJ PRQH\ JLIWV IDYRUV RU EHQH¿WV IRU DOOHJHG DLG IRU ZKDWHYHU SXUSRVH DO NOT GIVE anything to these unscrupulous individuals and groups. The GSIS thus enjoins the cooperation of the public/bidders to report these individuals/groups to the GSIS Bids and Awards Committee and GBAC Secretariat.

9.

The GSIS reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10.

For further information, please refer to:

GBAC Secretariat GSIS Bids and Awards Committee Level 2 Core G, GSIS Headquarters, Financial Center, Pasay City Tel Nos. : (02)976-4961/ 976-4945 / Fax No. : (02)859-0373 GBAC_Secretariat@gsis.gov.ph / www.gsis.gov.ph igned Original) ASVP EDUARDO V. FERNANDEZ Chairperson GBAC for Infrastructure and Information Technology MT - Feb. 7, 2019

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(SGD.) GREGORIO GERRY F. FERNANDEZ IBP Life No. 569637/12.17.02/Makati City PTR No. 3920888/01.15.18/Pasig City Roll No. 36697 MCLE Compliance No. V-0013933/02.12.16 (SGD.) PATRICIA FAITH R. LACUESTA IBP No. 042561/16 May 2018/Quezon City PTR No. 4608454/04 July 2018/Pasig City New Lawyer (Admitted to the Bar last 07 June 2018) Roll of Attorneys No. 71798 MT - Feb. 7, 14 & 19, 2019

World Stop revenge, investigations – Trump W ˜ The Manila Times

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ASHINGTON, D.C.: Face to face with emboldened Democrats, President Donald Trump called on Washington to cast aside “revenge, resistance and retribution� and end “ridiculous partisan investigations� in a State of the Union address delivered at a vulnerable moment for his presidency.

Trump appealed on Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) for bipartisanship but refused to yield on the hard-line immigration policies that have infuriated Democrats and forced the recent government shutdown. He renewed his call for a border wall and cast illegal immigration as a threat to Americans’ safety and economic security.

Trump accepted no blame for his role in cultivating the rancorous atmosphere in the nation’s capital, and he didn’t outline a clear path for collaborating with Democrats who are eager to block his agenda. Their opposition was on vivid display as Democratic congresswomen in the audience formed a sea of white in a nod to early 20th-century suffragettes.

Trump is staring down a twoyear stretch that will determine whether he is re-elected or leaves OFkCE IN DEFEAT (IS SPEECH SOUGHT to shore up Republican support that had eroded slightly during the recent government shutdown and previewed a fresh defense against Democrats as they ready a round of investigations into every aspect of his administration. “If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation,� he declared.

Lawmakers in the cavernous House chamber sat largely silent.

Looming over the president’s address was a fast-approaching February 15 deadline to fund the

government and avoid another shutdown. Democrats have refused to acquiesce to his demands for a border wall, and Republicans are increasingly unwilling to shut down the government to help HIM FULkLL HIS SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN pledge. Nor does the GOP support the president’s plan to declare a national emergency if Congress won’t fund the wall.

Wary of publicly highlighting those intraparty divisions, Trump made no mention of an emergency declaration in his remarks. He did offer a lengthy defense of his call for a border wall, declaring: “I will build it.� But he delivered no ultimatums about what it would take for him to sign legislation to keep the government open. “I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country,� he said, painting a dark and foreboding picture of the risks posed to Americans by illegal immigration.

The 72-year-old Trump harkened back to moments of American greatness, celebrating the moon landing as astronaut Buzz Aldrin looked on from the audience and heralding the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. He led the House chamber in singing happy birthday to a Holocaust survivor sitting with kRST LADY -ELANIA 4RUMP “Together, we represent the most extraordinary nation in all

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

of history. What will we do with this moment? How will we be remembered?� Trump said.

The president ticked through a litany of issues with crossover appeal, including boosting infrastructure, lowering prescription drug costs and combating childhood cancer. But he also appealed to his political base, both with his harsh rhetoric on immigration and a call for Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the “lateterm abortion of children.�

Trump devoted much of his speech to foreign policy, another area where Republicans have increasingly distanced themselves from the White House. He announced details of a second meeting with North Korea’s Kim *ONG 5N OUTLINING A &EB summit in Vietnam.

4RUMP AND +IM S kRST SUMMIT garnered only a vaguely worded commitment by the North to denuclearize. But the president said his outreach to Pyongyang had MADE THE 53 SAFER “If I had not been elected president OF THE 5NITED 3TATES WE WOULD RIGHT now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea,� he said.

As he condemned political turmoil in Venezuela, Trump declared that “America will never be a socialist country� — a remark that may also have been targeted at high-profile Democrats who identify as socialists.

The president was surrounded by symbols of his emboldened political opposition. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was praised by Democrats for her hard-line negotiating during the shutdown, sat behind Trump as he spoke. And several senators running for president were also in the audience, including Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey.

APPEAL ON CAPITOL HILL

President Donald Trump (center) delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi watch. AP PHOTO Another Democratic star, Stacey Abrams, delivered the party’s response to Trump. Abrams narrowly lost her bid in November TO BECOME !MERICA S kRST BLACK female governor, and party leaders are aggressively recruiting her to RUN FOR 5 3 3ENATE FROM 'EORGIA Speaking from Atlanta, Abrams calls the shutdown a political stunt THAT gDEkED EVERY TENET OF FAIRNESS and abandoned not just our people, but our values.�

Trump’s address amounted to an opening argument for his re-election campaign. Polls show he has work to do, with his approval rating falling to just 34 percent after the shutdown, according to a recent survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

One bright spot for the president has been the economy, which has added jobs for 100 straight months.

Pope admits priests, bishops sexually abused nuns ABOARD PAPAL PLANE: Pope Francis admitted on Tuesday that Catholic priests and bishops had sexually abused nuns, the latest scandal to rock the church. “There are some priests and also bishops who have done it,� the pontiff said in response to a journalist’s question on the abuse of nuns, speaking on the return lIGHT FROM HIS TRIP TO THE 5NITED Arab Emirates.

The papal admission followed a rare outcry last week from the Vatican’s women’s magazine over the sexual abuse of nuns, leaving them feeling forced to have abortions or raise children not recognized by their priest fathers.

The issue hit the headlines last year after a nun accused an Indian bishop of repeatedly raping her in a case that triggered rare dissent with-

in the country’s Catholic Church.

Francis said the problem could be found “anywhere� but was prevalent in “some new congregations and in some regions.� “I think it’s still going on, because it’s not something that just goes away like that. On the contrary,� he added.

He said the Church has “suspended several clerics� and the Vatican has been “working [on the issue] for a long time.�

‘Must do more’ “I don’t want to hear it said that the Church has not got this problem, because it has. “Must we do more? Yes! Do we want to? Yes!� he said.

He said it was a cultural problem, the roots of which lie in

“seeing women as second class.�

The February issue of “Women Church World�, a supplement distributed with the Vatican’s Osservatore Romano newspaper, warned that nuns have been silent over abuse for decades for fear of retaliation.

It said the Vatican received reports of priests abusing nuns in Africa in the 1990s. “If the Church continues to close its eyes to the scandal — made even worse by the fact that abuse of women brings about procreation and is therefore at the origin of forced abortions and children who aren’t recognized by priests — the oppression of women in the Church will never change,� editor ,UCETTA 3CARAFkA WROTE In the Indian case, Bishop Franco Mulakkal was arrested on Sep-

tember 21 in the southern state of Kerala on suspicion of raping the nun in question 13 times between 2014 and 2016.

Pope Francis suspended him the day before his arrest, appointing another bishop in his place. Mulakkal, 53, who headed the diocese of Jalandhar in the northern state of Punjab, has denied the allegations.

4HE NUN kRST SPOKE OUT IN *UNE but police only started formal questioning in September, as fury over the case mounted.

Five nuns — in a rare public show of dissent within the Indian Church — and dozens of supporters staged days of protests. &AILURE BY #HURCH OFkCIALS TO take action on sexual abuse allegations has been one of the biggest scandals to hit Roman Catholicism globally in recent years.

AFP

Actor Liam Neeson denies racism accusation WASHINGTON, D.C.: Hollywood star Liam Neeson insisted on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) he was “not racist� after confessing that he once set out to attack a random black man after a friend of his told him she had been raped. “I’m not a racist,� Neeson said on ABC News, while admitting he had felt a “primal urge to lash out� about 40 years ago after hearing from his close friend that she had been attacked by a black man.

The 66-year-old star of “Schindler’s List� triggered an international backlash by sharing his story in an interview with British newspaper The Independent this week.

In damage limitation mode on ABC’s “Good Morning America,� the Northern Irish actor expanded on the incident, which he said left him shocked at himself. “I went out deliberately into black areas in the city, looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence,� Neeson recalled. g) DID IT FOUR MAYBE FOUR OR kVE

times until I caught myself and it really shocked me, this primal urge.�

While he says no violence ultimately occurred, Neeson said he

Q Liam Neeson. AFP PHOTO sought help from a Catholic priest, spoke to friends, and walked for hours to rid himself of the episode.

But he also insisted race was not the driving factor behind his actions. “If she had said an Irish or a Scot or a Brit or a Lithuanian, I know it would have had the same effect,� he told ABC. “I was trying to show honor and stand up for my dear friend in this terrible medieval fashion.�

By way of explanation, he pointed to his experience growing up in Northern Ireland, at the time locked in a deadly cycle of sectarian violence pitting Catholics against Protestants. .EESON kRST REVEALED THE INCI-

dent to The Independent in an interview to promote his new thriller “Cold Pursuit,� about a father seeking revenge after his son is murdered by a drug gang.

In the bombshell interview, he spoke of “hoping some black bastard would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know?

So that I could... kill him.�

Neeson’s acting career has SPANNED kVE DECADES AND INCLUDED A STAR TURN IN THE HIT g4AKENu‡ about a former CIA agent trying to track down his kidnapped daughter.

With his own revelations now threatening to derail his career, Neeson pleaded for his story to be taken as part of a broader, honest debate on race relations. “We all pretend we’re all politically correct,� he said. “Sometimes you scratch the surface and discover this racism and bigotry, and it’s there.�

‘Deserves a medal’ Many of the reactions were unequivocally damning.

Charles Blow, an African American columnist for The New York Times, asked on Twitter if a black actor could

B7

have got away with the same thing: “Could Will Smith confess to stalking the streets of Los Angeles for a whole week searching for random white men to kill and get a pass?�

Kovie Biakolo, an African American editor at the BuzzFeed news site, noted a similarity between Neeson’s desire for violent confrontation with a black man and George Zimmerman’s killing of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, in Florida in 2012. “Today is Trayvon’s birthday and I had a thought: What’s the distance between Liam Neeson and George Zimmerman? It gave me pause,� she wrote on Twitter.

Some voices praised Neeson for his candor, however.

Former England footballer John Barnes, who suffered racist abuse during his career, said the actor “deserves a medal� for speaking honestly.

Barnes, who is black, told Sky News that Neeson responded in the way he did because “this is what society has shown him, that black people do, Muslims do — this is what society has wrongly shown him. This is what the media have wrongly portrayed to him.� AFP

“The only thing that can stop it,� he said, “are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations� — an apparent swipe at the special counsel investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign, as well as the upcoming congressional investigations.

The diverse Democratic caucus, which includes a bevy of women, sat silently for much of Trump’s speech.

But they leapt to their feet when he noted there are “more women in the workforce than ever before.�

The increase is due to population growth — and not something Trump can credit to any of his policies.

The president also defended his deCISIONS TO WITHDRAW 5 3 TROOPS FROM Syria and Afghanistan over the oppoSITION FROM NATIONAL SECURITY OFkCIALS and many Republican lawmakers. “Great nations do not fight endless wars,� he said, adding THAT THE 5 3 IS WORKING WITH ALLIES

to “destroy the remnants� of the Islamic State group and that he has “accelerated� efforts to reach a settlement in Afghanistan.

IS militants have lost territory since Trump’s surprise announcement in December that he was PULLING 5 3 FORCES OUT BUT MILitary officials warn the fighters could regroup within six months to a year of the Americans leaving.

Several leading GOP lawmakers have sharply criticized his plans to withdraw from Syria, as well as from Afghanistan.

Trump’s guests for the speech included Alice Marie Johnson, a woman whose life sentence for drug offenses was commuted by the president, and Joshua Trump, a sixth-grade student from Wilmington, Delaware, who has been bullied over his last name. They sat with Mrs. Trump during the address. AP

Worldinbriefs AUSTRALIA CANCELS RESIDENCY OF POLITICALLY CONNECTED CHINESE BILLIONAIRE SYDNEY: A prominent Chinese billionaire political donor has been stripped of his Australian residency and barred from returning to the country after scrutiny of his Communist Party ties, media reported on Wednesday. Huang Xiangmo was reportedly left stranded outside of Australia after Home Affairs cancelled his permanent residency and rejected his application for citizenship. The prominent property developer has donated millions to Australia’s two main political parties and been photographed with key figures including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition leader Bill Shorten. But he has come under scrutiny for alleged links to the United Front Work Department — a Communist Party-linked body accused of neutralizing opposition and buying political influence around the world. Asked about Huang’s case, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not comment on such “sensitive matters,� but added “the government has always acted consistent with the advice that we’ve received and that’s what has happened on this occasion.� The Home Office declined Agence France-Presse’s request for comment on the case.

VENEZUELA’S MILITARY BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID SHIPMENT CARACAS: Venezuelan military officers blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment, as opposition leader Juan Guaido stepped up his challenge to President Nicolas Maduro’s authority. Earlier Tuesday the opposition-dominated National Assembly had warned the armed forces, which make up much of Maduro’s power base, not to cross a “red line� by blocking aid. Guaido, who proclaimed himself acting president on January 23 claims that up to 300,000 people face death if the aid is not delivered. Maduro, though, said humanitarian aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion, insisting that “no one will enter, not one invading soldier.�

Venezuelan military officers used a tanker truck and huge shipping container to block access to the Tienditas bridge, which links Cucuta, Colombia to Urena, Venezuela. Franklyn Duarte, an opposition lawmaker from the border state of Tachira, told Agence France-Presse that troops from the armed forces were blocking the crossing.

BANGLADESH PROTESTS TO MYANMAR OVER NEW ARRIVALS FROM TROUBLED STATE DHAKA: Bangladesh has protested to Myanmar over a new influx of refugees fleeing troubled Rakhine state after clashes between security forces and an insurgent group, an official said on Wednesday. Bangladesh’s foreign ministr y summoned Myanmar’s ambassador late Tuesday to protest over the arrivals from Rakhine. The new arrivals are from Rakhine Buddhist and other tribal groups, a senior foreign ministr y official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity, without giving a figure. The official said that the number is increasing and that some people are already waiting on the border. He added that they already asked Myanmar “to take effective and urgent steps so that violence is stopped.� A Bangladesh border guard official said the refugees had crossed in a remote hill area of Bandarban district in the southeast of the countr y.

Bangladesh is already struggling to cope with the 740,000 Rohingya Muslims who arrived after August 2017 adding to 300,000 who had fled earlier violence in Rakhine.

AFP

TTHURSDAY H U RSDAY FBERUARY 7, 20199

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Mayor Sara, Limjoco induct Davao Chamber officers, trustees

D

AVAO City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco led the induction of the new batch of OFkCERS AND TRUSTEES OF THE $AVAO #ITY Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCII) at the Marco Polo Hotel, IN $AVAO #ITY ON *AN Duterte and Limjoco shared

words of wisdom when they addressed top local businessmen at the 51st Annual Installation of OfkCERS AND "OARD OF 4RUSTEES OF THE $AVAO #HAMBER FOR Present during the induction, front row, from left are Past President Robert Quinto, Past President Capt. Ronald Go, Past President Manuel Orig, Honorary Life Chair-

man Sebastian Angliongto, Past 0RESIDENT *OJI )LAGAN "IAN 0RESIDENT Limjoco, Past President Delia Ladao, 0AST 0RESIDENT 3OFRONIO *UCUTAN "ACK ROW FROM LEFT ARE 0AST 0RESIDENT AND 4RUSTEE -A ,OURDES -ONTEVERDE #ORPORATE 3ECRETARY *ENNIFER $UMLAO 0AST 0RESIDENT AND 60 FOR PROFESSIONAL AND 3ERVICE Ventures Antonio dela Cruz, VP

FOR TRADE AND COMMERCE "ERNARD "ENEDICTO 0RESIDENT !RTURO -ILAN

-AYOR 3ARA $UTERTE %60 *OHN #ARLO 4RIA 60 FOR )NDUSTRY "ELINDA 4ORRES #ORPORATE 4REASURER -ARILOU !MPUAN 0AST 0RESIDENT AND 4RUSTEE "ONIFACIO 4AN 4RUSTEE *ENNIFER 3AZON 4RUSTEE !L "ALAGOT 0AST 0RESIDENT AND 4RUSTEE 3IMEON -ARFORI ND AND 4RUSTEE 2ODGER 6ELASCO

Go Negosyo, DOTr support digital ride-sharing, logistics platforms

Tagaytay Highlands marks 25 Years of shaping a mountain resort haven

Q Tagaytay Highlands’ Horizon Terraces offers a residential mix of Asiancontemporary garden villas and suites on a 3.2-hectare community. !3 IT CELEBRATES ITS TH YEAR ANNI- 'OLF #OURSE BOTH ENVELOPED BY THE VERSARY 4AGAYTAY (IGHLANDS REMI- BREATHTAKING 4AAL ,AKE AND 6OLCANO NISCES HOW THIS FAVORITE WEEKEND )T CONTINUES TO WIDEN ITS ALREADY EXGETAWAY EVOLVED INTO AN EXCLUSIVE TENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF THEMED RESIDENCES LIFESTYLE AT THE PEAK AND WHY IT CON- WITH DEVELOPMENT FIRSTS‡.ORTH TINUES TO BE THE FAVORITE LEISURE DES- American log cabin communities, TINATION OF THE COUNTRY S AFlUENT Woodlands & Woodlands Point, &ROM A VISION OF A LEISURE MOUN- blend perfectly with surrounding tall tain community outside the metro, PINE TREES AND A ROLLING TERRAIN GIVING 4AGAYTAY (IGHLANDS kRST BEGAN AS AN THE (IGHLANDS ITS UNIQUE TRADEMARK OF EXCLUSIVE GOLF CLUB PAVING THE WAY IDYLLIC MOUNTAIN RESORT LIVING FOR A WORLD CLASS LIFESTYLE IN THE S 4AGAYTAY (IGHLANDS IS THE PRE4ODAY IT IS NOW HOME TO !SIA S MOST MIER MOUNTAIN RESORT DEVELOPEXCITING GOLF COURSES THE HOLE MENT OF THE 3- 'ROUP IN 4AGAYTAY Highlands Golf Course and the &OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CHAMPIONSHIP HOLE -IDLANDS www.tagaytayhighlands.com.

PhilHealth assures health coverage of Universal Health Care Act

Q Leading the discussion, 2nd from left: Transport Undersecretary Mark Richmond de Leon, Joey Concepcion, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Assistant Secretary Edgar Galavant with representatives from Angkas, Grab, Lalamove and Quad X. ). A BID TO DIGITIZE TRANSPORT SERVICES 5NDERSECRETARY -ARK 2ICHMOND DE platforms. He added that the digital GROUP THAT WILL RESOLVE ISSUES SURROUNDIN THE COUNTRY 0RESIDENTIAL !DVISER FOR ,EON ,4/ #HIEF !SSISTANT 3ECRETARY MARKETPLACE FOR SHARING ECONOMY ing the sector affected by the current %NTREPRENEURSHIP *OEY #ONCEPCION %DGAR 'ALAVANT AND ,4&2" #HAIR- will create opportunities for micro policy, laws and judicial decision. has gathered motorcycle ride-sharing man Martin Delgra 3rd, where the and small entrepreneurs.

4HE TASK FORCE FORMED IS A CLEAR INDIand logistics digital platforms such as POSITION OF THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES -EANWHILE 4UGADE AGREES BY CATION THAT GOVERNMENT IS CONGENIAL TO !NGKAS 'RAB ,ALAMOVE AND 1UAD 8 TO INVOLVED WERE DISCUSSED saying, “digitalization is not only WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY CONCERNED discuss issues concerning the platforms.

"ELIEVING THAT DIGITALIZATION IS A pro-poor but pro-all. Digitaliza- AND OPENNESS TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE Presiding the meeting were De- game-changer in creating prosper- TION IS A GREAT EQUALIZER u sector which Concepcion has been PARTMENT OF 4RANSPORTATION $/4R ity for all Filipinos, Concepcion #ONCEPCION COMMENDED 4UGADE S PUSHING ACTIVELY SINCE HE ASSUMED THE 3ECRETARY !RTHUR 4UGADE $/4R EXTENDS HIS SUPPORT TO ALL ONLINE ACTION OF FORMING A TECHNICAL WORKING ADVISER ROLE TO THE 0RESIDENT

Sharp PH inks contract with Red Sports for ‘Fun Run for every Juan’ SHARP Philippines Corp. (SPC) recently signed a contract with 2%$ 3PORTS FOR THEIR kRST EVER Fun 2UN &OR %VERY *UAN 4HIS IS A FAMILY ORIENTED EVENT WHICH AIMS to promote family and friendship THROUGH A FUN kLLED FESTIVE ENVIRONMENT %XPECT THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS WILL GATHER AT &ILINVEST Grounds Alabang, Muntinlupa City on Mar. 17.

4HE EVENT PROMOTES HEALTHY lifestyle and welcoming relationship among the Filipino people through combination of sports AND FAIR LIKE ATMOSPHERE )N FACT

THE EVENT WILL BE AN ANNUAL GATHERing of Filipino families.

Meanwhile, this is part of ‘We ,OVE 0HILIPPINES CAMPAIGN WHICH EMPOWERS ITS &ILIPINO WORKFORCE

CLUDE ALL &ILIPINOS IN THE .ATIONAL Health Insurance Program, and grant them immediate eligibility TO CLAIM THE BENEkTS WHEN NEEDED &ERRER REVEALED THAT OVER million Filipinos are currently COVERED BY 0HIL(EALTH 7ITH 5(#

THE REMAINING SIX MILLION OF THE population will soon be included AND PROVIDED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE 4HE STATE AGENCY ALSO DECLARED THAT SOON AFTER THE 5(# LAW S )22 IS COMPLETED ALL MILLION &ILIPINOS CAN EXPECT A BETTER LEVEL OF COVERAGE AND IMPROVED SERVICES FROM 0HIL(EALTH AND FROM THE COUNTRY S entire health sector in general.

QC Council urges increase on QCPD allowance 15%:/. #ITY #OUNCIL RECENTLY passed a resolution urging the QueZON #ITY GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE grant of allowance to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) personnel. #ITY 2ESOLUTION INtroduced by Councilors Precious (IPOLITO #ASTELO *OSE -ARIO $ON DE ,EON AND 2ANULFO ,UDOVICA AIMS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIkCANT ROLE OF THE police force in maintaining peace and order in the city, considering its EXPOSURE TO HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENTS

g4HE EFkCIENCY AND HARD WORK OF the police force should be appreciated AND REWARDED BY GRANTING BENEkTS

in the form of allowance or honorarium, and also to address the rising ECONOMIC COST OF LIVING AND STANDARDS of the personnel of the Quezon City 0OLICE $ISTRICT u THE RESOLUTION READS 4HE CITY GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE THE funds for the allowance increase of 1#0$ FROM ANY AVAILABLE FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXISTING POLICIES

rules and regulations.

BGC rolls out February promos

Q SPC President Kazuo Kito and SPC PR and Advertising Manager Amor Golifardo, RED Sports co-founder Alexandra Faith Garcia and RED Entertainment Founder Richie de Quiña during the contract signing. by entrusting them to offer innoVATIVE LOCALLY MADE PRODUCTS FOR EVERY &ILIPINO HOUSEHOLD !S PART OF THE EVENT RUNNERS WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL HUGE DIS-

counts in selected Sharp prodUCTS DURING THE EVENT -OREOVER

EXCITING PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS await all participants. %XPECT ALSO MIND BOGGLING DIS-

counts through the planned 1 Day 2ED 4AG 3ALE FROM 3HARP For more details, email cziannica.balcos@spc.sharp-world.com and redsportsph@gmail.com.

Caltex bags silver at the 54th Anvil Awards #!,4%8 MARKETED BY #HEVRON Philippines Inc. (CPI), bagged ITS SECOND 3ILVER AWARD FOR ITS SOCIAL GOOD CAMPAIGN #ALTEX Fuel Your School (FYS), at the TH !NVIL !WARDS ORGANIZED BY the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP). g7E ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT the program was noticed yet AGAIN BY 0230 AND THE !NVIL Awards. We are humbled by the continued success of the FYS IN HELPING 34%- SCHOOLS AND students in more areas of the country, and this award is the ICING ON THE CAKE u #0) S 0OLICY

'OVERNMENT AND 0UBLIC !FFAIRS -ANAGER 2AISSA "AUTISTA SAID FYS, with the support of brandED MARKETER .ORTHERN 3TAR %NERGY Corp., was able to raise P3 million FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS of the highest-need public high

0(),)00).% (EALTH )NSURANCE #ORP (PhilHealth) acting President Roy FerRER ASSURED ALL &ILIPINOS WOULD RECEIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES WITHOUT HEAVY kNANCIAL BURDEN DUE TO COSTLY TREATments, when President Rodrigo Roa $UTERTE SIGNS THE 5NIVERSAL (EALTH Care (UHC) bill into law. g7E ARE ON THE VERGE OF A NEW era not just for the health sector but for the entire country. It is only a matter of time that real AND PROFOUND CHANGES WILL TAKE place that will surely be felt by our COUNTRYMEN u &ERRER SAID 4HE 0HIL(EALTH CHIEF SAID THAT the UHC aims to automatically in-

"/.)&!#)/ 'LOBAL #ITY IS MAKING THIS LOVE MONTH EXTRA SPECIAL WITH TONS OF ACTIVITIES PROMOS )NSTAGRAM worthy spots, and occasions to enjoy good food, great music, and the company of friends and family.

4HIS 6ALENTINE S SEASON GIVE THE GIFT of hugs at the larger-than-life bears installation made of a thousand red ROSES TO BE PUT UP ALONG TH !VENUE

"ONIFACIO (IGH 3TREET BEGINNING &EB 4AKE A SELkE SHOWING YOUR BEST HUG and post it on Instagram with the HASHTAGS Û"'#(5'3 AND Û),/6%"HS and get a chance to win a dinner DATE FOR TWO AT 7OLFGANG S 3TEAKHOUSE /NE "ONIFACIO (IGH 3TREET AND "ONIFACIO (IGH 3TREET #INEMA TICKETS

-OREOVER CELEBRATE LOVE AND LOCAL MUSIC WITH A FREE CONCERT AT "ONIFAcio High Street Amphitheater and let the Elements Music Camp Artists, "EN "EN ,EANNE .AARA 2EESE Lansangan, Kat Agarrado, and more SERENADE YOU ON &EB !BOUT 6)0 SEATS WITH MEET AND GREET PASSES WILL BE GIVEN AWAY IN EXCHANGE FOR SINGLE OR ACCUMULATED PURCHASE RECEIPTS WORTH 0

OBTAINED FROM &EB TO AT ANY "ONIFACIO (IGH 3TREET /NE 0ARKADE

4WO 0ARKADE #ENTRAL 3QUARE AND /NE "ONIFACIO (IGH 3TREET ESTABLISHMENT &OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT faceBOOK COM BONIFACIOGLOBALCITYPH and FACEBOOK COM "ONI(IGH3TREET

Seafood dining: Seascape Village is more affordable than you think

Q Joel Gaviola (2nd, R), CPI Policy, Government, and Public Affairs assistant manager, and Daisy Palor (2nd L), American Chamber of Commerce Foundation project manager, receive their third Anvil Award for the fuel-todonate campaign Fuel Your School. schools in Region I and the Cordil- chase robotics apparatus, LED lab equipment and other teaching LERA !DMINISTRATIVE 2EGION #!2 PROJECTORS SMART 46S LAPTOPS TOOLS TO HELP MAKE LEARNING MORE 4HE FUND WAS USED TO PUR- tablets, calculators, microscopes, INTERACTIVE AND INTERESTING

SEASCAPE 6ILLAGE A DINING COMPLEX WITH RESTAURANTS AND A WET MARKET

BOASTS OF HAVING THE MOST DIVERSE and freshest seafood supply in the METRO‡ONE THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE and reasonably priced. g-OST PEOPLE THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE WE OFFER PREMIUM EXPERIENCE DINING HERE IS ALREADY EXPENSIVE !CTUALLY WHAT 3EASCAPE 6ILLAGE OFFERS IS THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY FOR ALL THE GUESTS 7E HAVE a wide array of restaurants to choose FROM THAT WILL kT EVERYONE S PALATE AND BUDGET u SAID #HRISTINE 3UNTAY 3EASCAPE 6ILLAGE MARKETING AND EVENTS HEAD 7HILE GIVING GUESTS AN AUTHENTIC SEAFOOD MARKET EXPERIENCE m COMPLETE

WITH TANKS FULL OF LIVE SEAFOOD AND THE TRADITIONAL HAGGLING FOR LOWER PRICES m 3EASCAPE 6ILLAGE HAS EVOLVED THIS EXPERIENCE INTO SOMETHING BETTER 4HE DINING DESTINATION INSIDE THE ##0 #OMPLEX has beefed up measures to ensure the SECURITY OF ITS GUESTS WIDE PARKING SPACES AND VALET SERVICE FOR CONVENIENCE AND AN EXCITING MIX OF RESTAURANTS

Sports

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TTHURSDAY FFEBRUARY 7, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Pacers thump Lakers in James’ most lopsided loss L OS ANGELES: LeBron James joined a select group of NBA players to score 32,000 career points but nevertheless endured the most lopsided defeat of his career Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) as the Indiana Pacers routed the Los Angeles Lakers 136-94.

"OJAN "OGDANOVIC SCORED POINTS FOR THE Pacers, who tied a franchise record with 19 three-pointers.

James, playing his second game since suffering a groin injury in a Christmas Day win over Golden State, led the Lakers with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

On a night of few Lakers highlights, head coach Luke Walton was pleased to see a driving dunk from the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player. “It was good to see LeBron take off and go dunk one and kind of trust his body,� Walton said, although otherwise there was little POSITIVE TO kND IN A GAME THAT SAW ,AKERS turnovers lead to 33 Pacers points. “Bottom line, we have to be better,� said Walton, who said he didn’t know if some of the Lakers players had been adversely affected by trade talk swirling around the team.

Reports this week indicated the Lakers had offered as many as six players in a bid to land New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis by the Thursday transfer deadline.

Fans in Indianapolis rubbed in the rumors, yelling “LeBron’s going to trade you� at Lakers guard Brandon Ingram as he went to the free throw line. “That’s just fans being fans,� James said. “If you let that bother you, you’re in the wrong sport.�

However, he admitted that the trade talk could be tough on younger players. “They’ve just never been a part of it and they’re hearing it every single day,� he said.

James, still working his way back after a

GAME ABSENCE SAID HE FELT gALRIGHTu IF NOT 100 percent. “I’m on my way to being myself again,�

SAID *AMES WHO CONNECTED ON SEVEN OF SHOTS FROM THE kELD AND BECAME THE kFTH PLAYER IN ."! HISTORY TO PASS POINTS for his career.

That milestone notwithstanding, James endured the most lopsided defeat of his career, HAVING TWICE BEFORE LOST BY POINTS

Clippers rally The Los Angeles Clippers rallied in Charlotte, WHERE FORWARD 4OBIAS (ARRIS DRAINED A lOATER in the lane with 4.3 seconds remaining to give THE #LIPPERS A VICTORY OVER THE (ORNETS 4HE #LIPPERS HAD TRAILED IN THE THIRD quarter but rallied behind 34 points from Harris and 31 from Lou Williams.

All-Star point guard Kemba Walker led #HARLOTTE WITH POINTS AND NINE ASSISTS BUT it was Marvin Williams who took the Hornets’ LAST GASP ATTEMPT ‡ kRING UP AN AIR BALL AS time expired.

In Oklahoma City, Paul George scored a game-high 39 points and Russell Westbrook notched his seventh straight triple-double ‡ HIS TH OF THE SEASON ‡ WITH POINTS

REBOUNDS AND ASSISTS AS THE 4HUNDER DOWNED THE /RLANDO -AGIC The Toronto Raptors, chasing the MilWAUKEE "UCKS FOR kRST PLACE IN THE %ASTERN #ONFERENCE OVERCAME THE ERS IN Philadelphia. *OEL %MBIID SCORED OF HIS GAME HIGH

Lakers end Davis talks over ‘outrageous’ demands – report LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers have withdrawn from negotiations with the New Orleans Pelicans over Anthony Davis after complaining of “outrageous� trade requests, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

The Times said the Lakers had “pulled out� of talks with the Pelicans aimed at acquiring Davis after offering multiple players and draft picks for the All-Star.

Davis, who announced his desire to leave New Orleans earlier this month, is reportedly keen to join the Lakers and form a partnership with LeBron James.

However, the Times, citing a person with knowledge of the negotiations, reported Tuesday that the Lakers had now ended discussions after growing increasingly frustrated with the Pelicans.

The report said that Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson informed Pelicans general manager Dell Demps that the organization had made its best and final offer and would not add anything else.

That offer is reported to have included Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as well as two first round draft picks.

However the Pelicans had requested between six and eight draft picks.

“They wanted more and more and more,� the Times quoted one source familiar with the negotiations as saying. “There was no more to give... the more they wanted the more it because outrageous and unrealistic.�

Davis, a 25-year-old forward who helped the United States capture 2012 London Olympic gold is the most prized player up for grabs as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaches.

Rich Paul, Davis’s agent and James’s agent, revealed the Davis trade demand a week ago, leading to a $50,000 fine for Davis from the NBA but forcing the Pelicans’ hand, lest he play out his contract next year and leave without any compensation.

ESPN reported Monday that Davis has given the Pelicans a list with a “handful� of clubs where he would sign a long-term deal after a trade, saying it includes Milwaukee and does not include Boston.

The Lakers, Milwaukee, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are on the list, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Bringing Davis to the Lakers to play alongside James would give the team another major two-man combination in their history of success with such duos as Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West.

AFP

MIGHTY SPORTS PH SWEEP ELIMINATION RD MIGHTY Sports Philippines swept the elimination round of the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship after slipping past Al Wahda Sports Club of Syria, 85-81, on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Manila) at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club in United Arab Emirates.

The Filipino ball club, with the win, seized the top spot in Group B. Mighty Sports is taking a rest today (Thursday) before going up against the other group’s LOWEST SEEDED TEAM IN THE kNAL EIGHT PBA import Justin Brownlee performed as EXPECTED kRING A GAME HIGH POINTS BUILT ON A OF kELD GOAL SHOOTING 4HE FOOT American forward also notched a booming triple in Mighty’s late rally.

Filipino-American wingman Roosevelt !DAMS ADDED MARKERS HIGHLIGHTED BY FOUR treys to go with seven boards and two steals while American big man Randolph Morris chipped in 19 points.

It was the Mighty trio who carried the Charles Tiu-mentored team as former NBA STALWART ,AMAR /DOM STILL STRUGGLED TO kND HIS GROOVE /DOM WAS SCORELESS IN MINUTES of playtime.

-IGHTY TRAILED BEHIND AFTER !L 7AHda’s ex-Memphis Grizzlies standout Jordan Adam’s converted a jumper midway through the fourth quarter.

Brownlee buried a clutch three pointer to GIVE THE 0HILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVE A LEAD WITH REMAINING IN THE GAME Fil-Am playmaker Jason Brickman hit a basket and Adams drained a triple to cap -IGHTY S kERY RUN FOR AN CUSHION WITH SECONDS LEFT EVENTUALLY SEALING the sweep.

The Filipino squad previously prevailed OVER !MERICAN 5NIVERSITY IN $UBAI

5!% NATIONAL TEAM AND (OMENETMEN "EIRUT "ASKETBALL #LUB OF ,EBANON JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Q Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (No. 23) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (No. 33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis on Wednesday. AP PHOTO

points in the fourth quarter to help the 3IXERS CUT A POINT DEkCIT TO SEVEN POINTS WITH LEFT TO PLAY BUT 0HILAdelphia would get no closer.

Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors WITH POINTS 3ERGE )BAKA AND +YLE ,OWRY SCORED POINTS EACH ,OWRY returning after missing a game with a sore back.

Lowry appeared unaffected by a report that the Raptors had offered him

to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a trade package for Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.

Amid other reports suggesting the Grizzlies are poised to ship Gasol to the Hornets the Spanish center didn’t play for Memphis as they hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves. #ONLEY SCORED POINTS AND HANDED out nine assists for Memphis and Jaren *ACKSON ADDED IN THE 'RIZZLIES SEC-

ond straight win. +ARL !NTHONY 4OWNS SCORED points and pulled down 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves, his two free THROWS WITH SECONDS LEFT KNOTTING THE SCORE AT Conley then missed a three-pointer, but Minnesota’s Josh Okogie was called for a loose-ball foul on Justin Holiday who converted two free-throws to seal the win.

AFP

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Sports

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Legal battle looms between PSL, former officials

T

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

HE Philippine Superliga (PSL), through its vice-president Dr. Adrian Paolo ,AUREL kLED A CASE AGAINST FORMER 03, PRESIDENT 2AMON g4ATSu 3UZARA AND FORMER 03, DIRECTOR OF kNANCE $ONALDO #ARINGAL IN THE /FkCE OF THE #ITY 0ROSECUTOR IN 4AGUIG LATE LAST YEAR FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MILLIONS OF PESOS FROM THE LEAGUE S COFFERS The case was preceded by a news conference on July 20, 2018, wherein the PSL, via Laurel, anNOUNCED THAT THEY kLED A QUALIkED theft complaint against Suzara and Caringal in the National Bureau of

Investigation (NBI).

Laurel did not divulge the exact amount of missing funds, only saying that it amounted to millions.

But a case document filed in Taguig on December 12, 2018

AMOGUIS SISTERS SHINE IN BATANG PINOY SWIM TILT

Q Liaa Margarette Amoguis displays her winning form during the girls’ 12-under 200m individual medley of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg swimming competition at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.

received by The Manila Times alleged that Suzara and Caringal made unauthorized withdrawals from the league’s bank accounts amounting to P6,762,946. “ T h e w i t h d r awa l s o f t h e aforementioned amount are unauthorized and were not disclosed to the board of directors of the corporation,� said Laurel in the complaint.

Suzara withdrew nine checks for a cash advance amounting to P762,946 from December 2015 to May 2016, states the document.

Laurel said in the filed complaint that Caringal allegedly withdrew 4 million pesos on October 14, 2016. Three days later, Caringal

took another two million pesocheck. His purpose for withdrawal was not stated.

4HE TWO FORMER OFkCIALS gUNauthorized withdrawals� were discovered when the league hired an external auditor recommended by chairman Philip Ella Juico after Caringal failed to submit a COMPLETE kNANCIAL REPORT FOR and 2016. “In the course of the audit, it WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE kNANCIAL records presented by respondent Caringal to the board on SEVERAL OCCASIONS DID NOT RElECT the aforementioned check withdrawals/disbursements from the account of the corporation,� the complaint reads.

Laurel also alleged that Suzara and Caringal wanted an external auditor that they can “control or dictate upon.� “Later on, respondents Suzara and Caringal privately approached me and tried to convince me to actively push for the hiring of my recommended external auditor. They told me that they needed an external auditor that can be ‘controlled’ or dictated upon. “Notwithstanding their request, I denied pushing for the hiring of my recommended external auditor because not just I felt it was against what the board agreed upon, but it was also unethical and illegal,� he narrated in the document.

Laurel said the PSL tried to solve the problem internally by sending letters to Suzara and Caringal demanding for explanation but the two did not reply.

Laurel also said that Suzara and Caringal have stopped attending board meetings since January 2018. Caringal resigned on the

DAVAO DEL NORTE: Sisters Liaa Margarette and Lorah Micah Amoguis of Davao City dominated the start of the Batang Pinoy qualifying leg swimming competition at the Aquatic Center of the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City here on Wednesday.

Liaa, who will be turning 12 on March 20, bagged two gold medals while her elder sister Lorah won one gold and a silver medal.

Liaa posted a time record of 2:39.00 to top the girls’ 12-and-under 200-meter long course individual medley.

Saira Janelle Pabellon of North Cotabato finished second with 2:42.07 and Calythea Lumag of Butuan third with 2:55.60.

She also won the girls’ 12-and-under 100-meter butterfly event after besting Pabellon, again, with a time of 1:11.02.

Pabellon finished with 1:14.30 followed

by Mary Maika Montecillo of Dipolog City with 1:18.47. “I’m kind of scared of her (Pabellon) but I’m really happy that I beat her,� said Liaa, who won six gold and a silver in the last Davao Regional Athletic Association meet. “I have been swimming for six years. My dream is to beat the Palaro record.�

Lora Micah, for her part, notched 2:35.06 to rule the girls’ 13-15 long course individual medley.

She bested Jie Angela Mikael Talosig of North Cotabato (2:36.58) and Juliana Marie Villanueva of Davao (2:38.73).

same month while Suzara left his post four months later.

The Manila Times tried to reach Suzara and Caringal for comments but the two were unavailable.

Meanwhile, Suzara and Caringal vehemently denied the accusations in a joint statement released on THE DAY THE kRST CASE WAS kLED IN the NBI. “In the past several months, we have been subjected to malicious attacks by some personalities in the league who have been spreading unfounded lies about us,� the statement reads. “It is unfortunate that instead of confronting us with their baseless allegations in our board meetings so we could have responded to these, these personalities, for reasons only known to themselves, have chosen to malign us and crucify us publicly.�

Suzara is currently working with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee as executive director of planning and coordination.

Lorah Micah bagged a silver medal with 33.97 seconds losing to Gene Heart Quiambao with 33.69 seconds in the girls’ 13-15 50-meter backstroke. “We support each other in competition and in training,� said Lorah, 13, whose father Lowel and mother Cynthia are both physicians. “We motivate each other to perform better every time we compete.�

Lora Micah is Grade 7 and Liaa Grade 6 at the Abbas /RCHARD 3CHOOL 4HEY ALREADY QUALIkED FOR THE "ATANG Pinoy National Finals in October that will be held either in Tagbiliran City, Bohol or Ormoc City, Leyte.

Other gold medalists tankers from Davao were Pietro Dominic Requiza (boys’ 12-and-under 50 LC meter backstroke), Alissa Ysabelle Lazarraga (girls’ 13-15 M ,# BUTTERlY AND *ULIANA -ARIE 6ILLANUEVA GIRLS 15-and-under 800 LC meter freestyle).

Davao City, North Cotabato and Davao del Norte BOTH HAVE kVE GOLD MEDALS EACH AFTER THE kRST DAY OF swimming competition.

In other events, 15-year-old archer John Carlo LoRENO BAGGED kVE GOLD MEDALS FOR +ORONADAL #ITY AFTER winning the cadet boys 30-meter, 40m, 50m, 60m and single FITA events.

Precious Micah Basadre dominated the cadet girls 30m, 40m, 50m and single FITA. Her younger brother Jeremiah Adrian won the cub boys 20m, 30m, 50m and single FITA gold events.

Cagayan De Oro City dominated cadet boys taekwondo with three gold medals courtesy of Lee Young Hwan (welterweight), Carlos Pizana (heavyweight) and 6ON 8EDRIC &ALLER kNWEIGHT *IN +IER #ARLOS "UICO MIDDLEWEIGHT AND #ARL !Ndrew Cagas (lightweight) captured two gold medals for Butuan City, while Davao City received two gold medals courtesy of John Louis Zaballero (bantamweight) and Arnold Alesna (featherweight).

JOSEF T. RAMOS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Clark is SEA Games main hub #ONCLUSION

BY EDDIE G. ALINEA FOR the first time in the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games, competitions’ main hub will not be in Metro Manila but in the former United States military camp Clark Air Base in Tarlac, which has been transformed into a New City.

The New Clark City, along with the old Clark Global City, has, in fact, cornered 40 percent of the 523 events in 56 sports scheduled to be contested in the two-week conclave from November 30 to December 11 this year.

Must sports athletics and aquatics (swimming, diving, water polo) are bunched together in the newly built arenas in New Clark City — the still being constructed 20,000-seat seat sports complex in Capas, Tarlac, complete with the 2,000-seat natatorium.

The Clark cluster will be the venues for 21 sports in all, thus, relegating Metro Manila to secondary hub with 19 sports (30 percent) to be contested in the area. The Subic and BLT (Batangas, La Union, Tagaytay) clusters will host 14 and four sports, respectively.

As a consolation, the Big City has been awarded three sports closest to the Filipinos’ heart and, therefore, most popular — basketball, boxing and cue sports. The Philippines, thus far, is the only Asian country to

have finished third in he world men’s basketball championship and fifth in the Olympic Games.

Boxing has produced for the country a pair of Hall of Famers in the person of Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde and a future first ballot HoF candidate in eight division champion Manny Pacquiao, while billiards such world-beaters Efren “Bata� Reye and Francisco “Django� Bustamante, to mention a few.

Bowling which gifted the country three World Cup champions — Paeng Nepomuceno, Bong Coo and Lita dela Rosa — and an Olympic gold medal winner in Ariane Cerdeùa will also be played in Manila.

Other events to be played in Metro Manila are rowing, squash, netball, taekwondo, floorball, indoor hockey, kick boxing, men’s football, soft tennis, tennis, ice hockey, ice skating-figure skating, gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic and aerobic) badminton, wushu, fencing and new event E-Sports.

Indoor volleyball will be contested a the Smart Araneta/ Alonte Sport Complex in Binan in Laguna, new port polo at the Miguel Romero Sports Club in Calatagan in Batangas, cycling (BMX, road race, MTB) and skateboarding in Tagaytay City, under water hockey at Vermosa Sports Complex in Bacoor in Cavite, women’s fooball at Biùan Sports Complex/ University of Makati and surfing in San Juan, La Union.

Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines and executive director of the Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) announced that the Games’ governing body has been operational in full throttle since January this year with a working force of 250 personnel that may ye increase as needs arise. “Except for some minor wheeling and dealing, the number of sports and events have been completed,� Carrasco said. “There may still be some changes in venues, but those are minor, too.� “New venues are still being built and those being refurbished are in near completion,� he assured. “All refurbishing jobs, by the way, are being done by the Department pf Public Works.�

The four or five venues bei n g r e n ova t e d i n S u b i c a r e all done. I still can’t say that there’s nothing to worry about in our preparations. What we’re assure of is that we’re doing everything under the present circumstances to make our hosting a success and make the some 11,000 to 12,000 athletes, coaches, trainers and officials happy in their stay in the country,� Carrasco vowed.

Including delegation officials and other expected guests, Carrasco said, no less than 17,000 visitors will gather in the country to celebrate the 30th edition of the biennial conclave.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

World No. 2 Koepka sees better Slam odds with PGA in May N EW YORK: World number two Brooks Koepka likes the PGA Championship moving from August to May, saying four major tournaments in as many months brings a better chance at a Grand Slam. g)F ) CAN GET ON A NICE RUN

YOU CAN RATTLE OFF ALL THE MAJORS

WHICH WOULD BE NICE u +OEPKA said Tuesday.

4HE 0'! OF !MERICA BROUGHT THE 28-year-old American, a three-time MAJOR CHAMPION TO "ETHPAGE "LACK AHEAD OF THE ST 0'! #HAMPIONSHIP WITH +OEPKA DEFEND HIS CROWN AT THE SUBURBAN .EW 9ORK PUBLIC course on May 16-19.

“I’m super excited,” Koepka SAID g.EW 9ORK FANS ARE A LOT OF

FUN AND ANY TIME YOU CAN PLAY IN FRONT OF THEM AND YOU RE DOING WELL THAT S AN ADDED BONUS ) KNOW THE GOLF COURSE AND ) M excited to play it.”

4HE EVENT SHIFTS FROM !UGUST FOR THE FIRST TIME MOVING TO SECOND IN THE CALENDAR ORDER OF MAJOR TOURNAMENTS FROM LAST )T FOLLOWS THE -ASTERS IN !PRIL AND precedes the US Open in June and British Open in July. +OEPKA WHO WON HIS SECOND

consecutive US Open title last year at nearby Shinnecock, likes the move. g)T S DEkNITELY A LOT DIFFERENT BUT I think it’s a good change,” Koepka SAID g) LIKE THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING IS SO CONGESTED OR FEELS THAT WAY

FROM THE 0LAYERS #HAMPIONSHIP IN -ARCH TO BASICALLY WHEN THE Open is done.

“You’ve seen guys get hot and they GO FOR FOUR MONTHS WHERE THEY JUST PLAY SOME INCREDIBLE GOLF AND HOPEFULLY ) CAN SET MYSELF UP TO DO THAT u Koepka recalled the electric kNAL ROUND ATMOSPHERE LAST YEAR AT "ELLERIVE WHEN HE DENIED A LATE CHARGE BY TIME MAJOR WINNER Tiger Woods that had spectators AT A FEVER PITCH g.OW THAT 4IGER IS BACK OBVI-

OUSLY THAT S GOING TO BRING A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE A DIFFERENT SENSE u Koepka said.

“Any time you’re seen like that IN A GREAT SPORTING TOWN WITH 4IGER Woods on his almost march to HISTORY TO COME BACK AND WIN

I’ve never seen anything like that ON THE GOLF COURSE )T WAS PROBABLY the coolest experience I’ve had as A GOLFER WITH FANS u 7HILE HE WILL BE DEFENDING ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT COURSE +OEPKA is counting on good memories to boost his chances at another MAJOR BACK TO BACK FEAT WHICH HASN T BEEN MANAGED AT THE 0'! #HAMPIONSHIP SINCE 7OODS WON in 2006 at Medinah and 2007 at Southern Hills.

HOLDER WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD A TEAM OF UNDER RIDERS BUT PULLED OUT IN THE LAST MINUTE AFTER HIS SPONSORS DECIDED NOT TO PUSH THROUGH WITH their planned participation. g)T WILL BE TOUGH FOR SURE BUT ) STILL FEEL ) STILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COMpete against the best,” said Barnachea in Filipino.

"ARNACHEA WILL REPRESENT A 4EAM &RANZIA SQUAD THAT IS COMPOSED OF !LVIN -ANDI +ENTZ +ENTZ +ROG $ENNIS 'ABALDON 2YAN 4UGAWIN AND !LLAN "ENITO WITH "ENIS #AW AS MANAGER “We have an energetic team and WE RE OPTIMISTIC OF OUR CHANCES u he said. !SIDE FROM 4EAM &RANZIA THE HOST 0HILIPPINES WILL kELD IN A COMPETITIVE GROUP OF RIDERS SPEARHEADED BY #ONTINENTAL TEAMS 'O FOR 'OLD AND

%LEVEN #LIQQ 4HE OTHER 0( SQUADS ARE "IKE 8TREME

Army Bicycology and Team Tarlac.

Foreign teams seeing action in THIS 5#) SANCTIONED kVE STAGE RACE

WHICH STAKES QUALIFYING POINTS TO THE 2020 Tokyo Olympics, are TerengGANU -ATRIX .EX #YCLING 4EAM

+ORAIL 4EAM +OREA #USTOM #YCLING )NDONESIA #AMBODIA #YCLING 0'.

2OAD #YCLING AND 3RI ,ANKA .AVY #YCLING 4EAM 4HE EVENT IS PRESENTED BY ,"#

POWERED BY -60 3PORTS &OUNDAtion and supported by Versa 2-Way 2ADIO *UAN -OVEMENT 0ARTYLIST *OEL 0 ,ONGARES &OUNDATION 3TANDARD )NSURANCE "IKE 8TREME 'REEN 0LANET

0ROLITE #ELESTE #YCLES -AYNILAD

1 3PORTS "OY +ANIN -EGA 7ORLD

&ESTIVE 7ALK 3EDA !TRIA AND ,"#

g)T S A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN YOU STEP FOOT ON THE GROUNDS AND YOU RE DEFENDING u +OEPKA SAID g!LL THOSE MEMORIES FROM THE YEAR BEFORE KIND OF COME BACK IN AND ) THINK IT S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU GO

&OUNDATION AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE $EPARTMENT OF 4OURISM $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND .ATURAL 2ESOURCES )LOILO #ITY AND THE 0ROVINCE OF 'UIMARAS 4HE RACE OPENS WITH THE KIlometer Iloilo-Iloilo Stage One on &EB AND WILL PROCEED WITH THE KM 'UIMARAS 'UIMARAS 3TAGE 4WO THE NEXT DAY 4HE CAVALCADE WILL THEN GO BACK TO )LOILO FOR THE KM )LOILO 2OXAS #ITY 3TAGE 4HREE ON &EB FOLLOWED by the 146.9km Roxas-Roxas Stage Four on February 11. )T WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE KM 2OXAS !NTIQUE 3TAGE &IVE ON &EBRUary 12.

4HE AWARDING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN THE ISLAND PARADISE OF "ORACAY the same day.

Defending champ Booker up against Curry brothers; Dirk in 3-point contest LOS ANGELES: $EFENDING CHAMPION $EVIN "OOKER WILL GO UP AGAINST #URRY BROTHERS 3TEPHEN AND 3ETH AS WELL AS ."! VETERAN $IRK .OWITZKI IN THE !LL 3TAR WEEKEND THREE point contest later this month, the LEAGUE SAID 4UESDAY 7EDNESDAY IN -ANILA 0HOENIX 3UNS STAR "OOKER WON LAST YEAR S THREE POINT CONTEST WITH A RECORD POINT kNAL ROUND (E DEFENDS HIS TITLE IN A kELD OF SHARP SHOOTERS THAT WILL INCLUDE 'OLDEN 3TATE 7ARRIORS STAR 3TEPHEN #URRY AND HIS BROTHER 3ETH WHO PLAYS FOR THE 0ORTLAND 4RAIL "LAZERS and is shooting an NBA-high 48.5 PERCENT FROM THREE POINT RANGE this season.

4HE THREE POINT CONTEST WILL BE ON All-Star Saturday on February 16, ON THE EVE OF THE !LL 3TAR GAME IN #HARLOTTE .ORTH #AROLINA )T WILL BE A HOMECOMING FOR THE #URRY BROTHERS WHOSE FATHER

$ELL PLAYED SEASONS FOR THE #HARLOTTE (ORNETS 3TEPHEN #URRY WILL BE APPEARING in his sixth three-point contest. He WON IT IN BUT SKIPPED THE EVENT THE PAST TWO YEARS He has also been voted a starter FOR THE !LL 3TAR 'AME 4HE kELD INCLUDES ."! !LL 3TARS $AMIAN ,ILLARD OF THE 0ORTLAND 4RAIL "LAZERS AS WELL ALONG WITH +HRIS -IDDLETON OF THE -ILWAUKEE "UCKS AND +EMBA 7ALKER OF THE #HARLOTTE (ORNETS AS WELL AS $ANNY 'REEN OF THE 4ORONTO 2APTORS *OE (ARRIS OF the Brooklyn Nets and Buddy Hield

Q Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (No. 30) talks with his brother Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry on December 27, 2018 after an NBA basketball game in Oakland, California. AP PHOTO OF THE 3ACRAMENTO +INGS "RIDGES !TLANTA (AWKS FORWARD .EW 9ORK +NICKS GUARD $ENNIS 3MITH In other All-Star Saturday action, CENTER *OHN #OLLINS /KLAHOMA #ITY *R WILL SHOWCASE THEIR AERIAL ARTISTRY #HARLOTTE (ORNETS FORWARD -ILES 4HUNDER GUARD (AMIDOU $IALLO AND IN THE 3LAM $UNK CONTEST AFP

Osaka out of Qatar Open with back injury DOHA: 7ORLD .O AND TWO TIME 'RAND 3LAM WINNER .AOMI /SAKA HAS PULLED OUT OF NEXT WEEK S 1ATAR /PEN BECAUSE OF A BACK INJURY TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS SAID ON 4UESDAY .O MORE DETAILS WERE GIVEN ABOUT THE INJURY BUT /SAKA

ALSO WITHDREW FROM THE (ONG +ONG /PEN LAST /CTO-

BER BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH HER BACK g) AM SORRY TO HAVE WITHDRAW FROM $OHA THIS YEAR AS ) WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING AND SEEING MY FANS THERE u SAID /SAKA WHO WON THE !USTRALIAN /PEN LAST month, in the statement. g) WISH EVERYONE A GREAT WEEK AND

hope to see everyone next year.”

(ER WITHDRAWAL WILL COME AS A BLOW TO ORGANISERS IN $OHA WHO ALSO announced on Tuesday that her place AS TOP SEED IN THE 1ATAR /PEN WILL BE TAKEN BY THE WOMAN SHE RECENTLY REPLACED AS WORLD NUMBER ONE 2Omania’s Simona Halep.

C3

Q Brooks Koepka AFP PHOTO

Japanese Osaka is currently the US Open and Australian Open champion.

3HE BEAT #ZECH STAR 0ETRA +VITOVA LAST YEAR S 1ATAR /PEN WINNER IN three sets in Melbourne to claim her SECOND 'RAND 3LAM AFTER UPSETTING 3ERENA 7ILLIAMS AT &LUSHING -EADOWS FOR HER kRST ONE AFP

TO SHOW UP AND REALLY GIVE A GOOD DEFENSE OF YOUR TITLE g9OU ALWAYS TRY TO COME BACK and make sure you’re in a good SPOT TO DEFEND YOUR TITLE AND THAT S WHAT ) M HOPING TO DO u AFP

Another golden era for welter, middle weights

LBC RONDA PILIPINAS ROLLS OFF FRIDAY

FOUR FORMER CHAMPIONS INCLUDING TWO TIME WINNER 3ANTY "ARNACHEA OF 4EAM &RANZIA WILL SPEARHEAD THE COUNTRY S CAMPAIGN WHEN THE ,"# 2ONDA 0ILIPINAS UNFURLS &RIDAY AT THE #ITY (EALTH /FkCE IN )LOILO #ITY 4HE YEAR OLD "ARNACHEA WHO WON THE kRST EDITION IN AND REPEATED IN WILL TRY TO DEFY FATHER TIME AND LEAD THE CHARGE FOR THE &ILIPINOS ALONGSIDE FELLOW 2ONDA WINNERS 2ONALD /RANZA AND *AN 0AUL -ORALES OF .AVY 3TANDARD )NSURANCE AND )RISH 6ALENZUELA OF %LEVEN #LIQQ /RANZA IS THE REIGNING CHAMPION

-ORALES WON IT TWICE IN AND WHILE 6ALENZUELA TOPPED THE race in 2012.

-ARK 'ALEDO THE TITLE

Sports

(First of two parts) T WAS DURING THE S WHEN BOXING FANS WITnessed the golden eras IN THE WELTERWEIGHT POUNDS AND MIDDLEWEIGHT POUNDS DIVISIONS WITH 3UGAR Ray Leonard, Thomas (EARNS 7ILFREDO "ENITEZ

2OBERTO $URAN AND -ARVIN (AGLER HOGGING THE LIMELIGHT 4HE kVE (ALL OF &AMERS HAD DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH ,EONARD AN /LYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST (EARNS THE u FREAK WHO WAS A 'OLDEN 'LOVES CHAMPION $URAN THE BRAWLER FROM 0ANAMA

"ENITEZ THE YOUNGEST TO WIN A WORLD TITLE AT AND (AGLER WHO still holds the highest knockout percentage among undisputed MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS 4HE kRST kGHT SIGNALING THAT GOLDEN ERA WAS THE WORLD WELTERWEIGHT TITLE kGHT BETWEEN ,EONARD AND "ENITEZ IN .OVEMBER 4HE ERA SOMEHOW ENDED IN AFTER ,EONARD BEAT (AGLER FOR THE UNDISPUTED MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE 7HILE (EARNS REMAINED COMPETITIVE UNTIL THE NEW MILLENIUM THE REST OF THEM SLOWLY FADED FROM THE kGHT GAME !BOUT YEARS HAS PASSED SINCE ,EONARD FOUGHT "ENITEZ TO WIN THE WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CROWN AND THE CURRENT CROP OF kGHTERS IN THE WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISIONS CAN CREATE THEIR OWN GOLDEN ERA IF THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO MIX IT UP And there are more protagonists this time, including our very OWN -ANNY 0ACQUIAO 4HE REST OF THE PROTAGONISTS ARE UNDEFEATED +EITH 4HURMAN

-IKEY 'ARCIA %RROL 3PENCE *R AND 4ERENCE #RAWFORD AND STILL DANGEROUS 3HAWN 0ORTER AND $ANNY 'ARCIA WHO BOTH HAVE TWO DEFEATS 4HEN THERE S &LOYD -AYWEATHER *R 3AUL !LVAREZ AND 'ENNADY 'OLOVKIN $ARKHORSE -ARCOS -AIDANA CAN ALSO enter the picture.

3TRANGELY WHILE THE JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT POUND DIVISION IS ALSO STACKED WITH TALENT IT STILL LOOKS MORE OF A gBASTARDu DIVISION BECAUSE IT IS DEVOID OF A RICH HISTORY THAT THE WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISIONS HAVE !LSO THAT DIVISION IS OFTEN TIMES TREATED AS A STEPPING STONE BY WELTERWEIGHTS WHO WANT TO MAKE IT BIG IN MIDDLEWEIGHT WHICH HAS AN ENVIOUS HISTORY 4HE JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION POUNDS IS ALSO TREATED

BY GOOD kGHTERS FROM THE LOWER WEIGHTS LIKE LIGHTWEIGHT POUNDS WHO SEE MORE GLAMOUR AT WELTERWEIGHT ,OOK AT THE CURRENT TOP kGHTERS AT JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT AND YOU MAY END UP ASKING gWHO ARE THESE GUYS u 4HERE WERE SOME kGHTS BETWEEN THE TOP DOGS FROM WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT THAT MAY HAVE SIGNALLED THE START OF ANOTHER GOLDEN ERA IN THOSE DIVISIONS LIKE THE TWO kGHTS BETWEEN !LVAREZ AND 'OLOVKIN IN 3EPTEMBER AND 3EPTEMBER

AND 4HURMAN $ANNY 'ARCIA IN -ARCH "UT FROM WHERE ) STAND THE REAL SIGNAL FOR THE START OF ANOTHER GOLDEN ERA UNFOLDING IN WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISIONS IS THE MARQUEE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN 3PENCE AND -IKEY 'ARCIA ON -ARCH 4HE kGHT REMINDS ME OF THE kRST kGHT BETWEEN $URAN AND ,EONARD IN *UNE AS ,EONARD LIKE 3PENCE HAD A SIZE ADVANTAGE AGAINST $URAN !LSO -IKEY 'ARCIA IS LITERALLY POLE VAULTING FROM LIGHTWEIGHT TO WELTERWEIGHT LIKE WHAT $URAN DID WHEN HE CHALLENGED ,EONARD )T LOOKS LIKE THE JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION HAS NO APPEAL TO -IKEY 'ARCIA EVEN IF HE ANNEXED THE 7ORLD "OXING #OUNCIL TITLE IN THE DIVISION IN -ARCH LAST YEAR BY DECISIONING 3ERGEY ,IPINETS -IKEY 'ARCIA NEVER FOUGHT AT JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT AGAIN 4HIS EARLY JUST LIKE $URAN ,EONARD THE BOXING WORLD IS DEBATING ON WHO WOULD WIN THE kGHT 'ARCIA IS A FOUR DIVISION CHAMPION WHILE 3PENCE IS THE )NTERNATIONAL "OXING &EDERATION WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION "OTH ARE AMATEUR STANDOUTS BUT 3PENCE accomplished more in the non-pro ranks, representing the US in the Olympics.

3PENCE S CURRENT RECORD IS WITH KNOCKOUTS AND -IKEY 'ARCIA S IS WITH +/S 4HE LABEL gELITE kGHTERu APPLIES MORE TO -IKEY 'ARCIA AT THIS POINT SINCE HE HAS WON TITLES IN FOUR DIVISIONS AND TOOK ON BIGGER NAMES IN THE kGHT GAME "UT -IKEY 'ARCIA HAS YET TO FACE A TOP WELTERWEIGHT OR EVEN A LEGITIMATE POUNDER !T ALMOST u 3PENCE TOWERS OVER -IKEY 'ARCIA WHO IS u !LSO 3PENCE HAS A FOUR INCH REACH ADVANTAGE 7HILE 3PENCE VS 'ARCIA HAS BEEN INKED THERE IS SOME TENSION FERMENTING BETWEEN 4HURMAN AND 0ACQUIAO WITH THE 53 BASED kGHTER SAYING HE IS READY TO FACE THE &ILIPINO RIGHT HERE IN -ANILA )T LOOKS LIKE THIS POTENTIAL GOLDEN ERA IN THE WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISIONS LOOKS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE 0ACQUIAO AND -AYWEATHER THE TOP BOXERS OF THEIR ERA ARE STILL IN THE MIXÜ

I

Football Dortmund crashes out of German Cup on penalties

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THURSDAY February 7, 2019

B

ERLIN: Flu-hit Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund crashed out of the German Cup on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), losing a penalty shoot-out at home to Werder Bremen following a 3-3 draw after extra time.

Goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka was Bremen’s hero in the shoot-out as he saved Dortmund’s opening attempts from Paco Alcacer and Maximilian Philipp as Bremen won the last-16 tie 4-2 on penalties. )T kNISHED OVER MINUTES after Dortmund captain Marco 2EUS RIlED HOME A DIRECT FREE KICK to cancel out an early goal by Bremen’s Milot Rashica.

The game exploded into life with four goals in extra time as Bremen twice equalized, through substitutes Claudio Pizarro and Martin Harnik, to force penalties after Chelsea-bound Christian Pulisic and Achraf Hakimi had scored for Dortmund. “It’s a bitter defeat,� admitted Dortmund striker Mario Goetze. “We shouldn’t have conceded two equalizers in extra time and then to lose on penalties is really tough.�

Peru veteran Pizarro, who turns 41 in October, was delighted with his 56th German Cup goal.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Mourinho avoids jail but fined for tax mess

Q Bremen’s Davy Klaassen (left) and Dortmund’s Axel Witsel vie for the ball during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) last 16 football match in Dortmund, Germany.

AFP PHOTO

“That will have done us good - we deserved to go through,� beamed the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich striker.

Flu meant Dortmund were without England winger Jadon Sancho and defender Lukasz Piszczek, as well as first-choice goalkeeper Roman Burki and his back-up, Swiss international Marwin Hitz.

Leverkusen also knocked out It meant third-choice keeper Eric Oelschlaegel made his Dortmund debut against Bremen, the club he left last June after six years.

The 23-year-old was beaten afTER JUST kVE MINUTES WHEN 2ASHICA stabbed home a Max Kruse free kick to stun the sell-out crowd of 80,500.

Dortmund equalized just before the half-time break when 2EUS kRED HOME A SUPERB DIRECT

free kick for his 17th goal of the season.

Both sides had chances late in the second half as Oelschlaegel made a superb one-handed save from a Kruse free kick.

Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney then hit the crossbar with the 90 minutes up.

Pulisic looked to have settled the matter by netting just before THE END OF THE kRST PERIOD OF EXTRA time after dribbling through the away defense.

Bremen came back with Pizarro knocking the ball home at the second attempt in a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-2 on 108 minutes.

Dortmund regained the lead

when defender Achraf Hakimi kNISHED OFF A MOVE HE STARTED ON 113 minutes, but Harnik leveled the score in the 119th minute before Pavlenka’s heroics in the shoot-out.

Bayern Munich face Hertha Berlin away on Wednesday having lost their last two games at the Olympic Stadium -- crashing 2-0 in the Bundesliga last September and losing May’s German Cup final 3-1 to EinAFP tracht Frankfurt.

Messi back in training but won't play vs Real BARCELONA: Lionel Messi was named in Barcelona’s squad on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) ahead of THEIR #OPA DEL 2EY SEMIkNAL AGAINST Real Madrid but coach Ernesto Valverde insists he will not take any RISKS WITH HIS CAPTAIN S kTNESS Messi returned to training on 4UESDAY BEFORE THE kRST LEG AT THE Camp Nou on Wednesday, despite feeling discomfort in his thigh during Barca’s draw with Valencia on Sunday.

The Argentinean missed training on Monday but was back with the squad on Tuesday evening. During the 15 minutes open to the media, a smiling Messi was seen doing some light jogging and taking part in a relaxed keep-ball session.

Shortly before training, Valverde had said in a press conference: “I have not seen him yet and I don’t have an answer. “There is a training session and we will see how he is, whether he can do it and whether he is in the right condition. g4HEN WE WILL DECIDE )F HE IS kT

he will play and if he is not, he will not play.�

Q Lionel Messi AFP PHOTO

Valverde added: “It is true that sometimes we have had doubts with players and we have waited until the last moment, and it’s the same with Messi.�

Barcelona face a testing period OF kXTURES INCLUDING THREE #LASICOS in the next month. The next two will come back-to-back, with the second leg of the Copa del Rey scheduled for February 27 before A ,A ,IGA kXTURE ON -ARCH BOTH at the Santiago Bernabeu.

There will also be two Champions League matches against Lyon to negotiate, as well as tricky league trips to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.

Valverde indicated he would be CAUTIOUS WITH -ESSI S kTNESS g) AM not very supportive of taking risks when there are so many games ahead,� Valverde said. “If the league ended tomorrow, it would be a different question. “But risking the fitness of any player — Messi or anyone else — I’m not really in favour of it because they inevitably play with some fear, and games like tomorrow cannot be played with fear.�

AFP

MADRID: Ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has avoided jail for tax fraud as part of a deal with Spanish prosecutors revealed on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) but will pay a fine of close to two million euros.

The 56-year-old is accused of committing tax fraud in 2011 and 2012 when he coached Spanish giants Real Madrid.

According to the agreement seen by AFP, Mourinho accepted a one-year jail sentence immediately commuted to a fine of 182,500 euros.

The Portuguese coach will also have to pay an additional penalty of 1.98 million euros ($2.3 million).

Mourinho already paid 1.14 million euros in 2015 as an administrative penalty and the deal stipulates that prosecutors won’t oppose that this amount be deduced from the overall fine.

The agreement still has to be validated by a judge.

Mourinho, sacked by Manchester United in December following a string of disappointing performances, is the latest high-profile football figure to be judged over his tax affairs in Spain.

Spanish prosecutors accuse Mourinho, who coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, of failing to declare income of 1.6 million euros in 2011 and 1.7 million euros in 2012.

The grounds for the case, as with a series of others involving football stars based in Spain, is how income from Mourinho’s image rights was managed and declared.

Prosecutors believe by ceding his image rights to a series of companies based in tax havens, Mourinho committed fraud by not declaring the income those companies made from the rights.

Cristiano Ronaldo, now of Juventus, was also found guilty of tax fraud when at Real Madrid.

He was accused of having avoided paying millions in taxes due on his image rights between 2011 and 2014.

He too avoided jail but was ordered by a Spanish court last month to pay more than 3.5 million euros, part of a broader 18.8-million-euro payout agreed between his lawyers and Spain’s taxman.

Ronaldo received a two-year jail sentence immediately commuted to a fine of 365,000 euros and another penalty of 3.2 million euros, according to the sentence.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, once Ronaldo’s big La Liga rival, paid a two-million-euro fine in 2016 in his own tax wrangle and received a 21-month jail term.

AFP

FIFA-Qatar WC delivery project launched Q Stephan Shrock of Ceres Negros FC slips past Htoo Khant Lwin of Yangon United FC during their 2019 AFC Champions League preliminary round match at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CERES NEGROS FC

Ceres Negros bows out of AFC tilt CERES Negros FC suffered an early exit in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League preliminary round after losing 1-2 to Yangon United FC of Myanmar on Tuesday night at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

Veteran midfielder Stephan Shrock spurred Ceres Negros’ fightback from a goal down but it went for naught as Yangon United rode on substitute striker Kaung Htet Soe’s second half goal to escape with the stunning win.

Despite the defeat, the two-time Philippine champion club still has a chance to redeem itself in the 2019 AFC Cup. The Yellow Busmen were relegated to Group G of the second-

tier club tourney where they will tackle Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam, Shan United of Myanmar and either Persija Jakarta or Bhayangkara of Indonesia. #ERES BECAME THE kRST &ILIPINO club to win the AFC Cup Asean zone title two years ago before SETTLING FOR A RUNNER UP kNISH last season.

Head coach Risto Vidakovic’s squad failed to replicate its Cinderella run in last year’s ChamPIONS ,EAGUE QUALIkERS WHEN IT almost entered the main stage.

The Burmese titlist, meanwhile, advanced to the second playoff round where it will take on Chiangrai United of Thailand. #ERED FACED AN EARLY DEkCIT AS Yangon’s Brazillian midfielder Vinicius Miller hit the opening

goal with a sneaky indirect free kick in the 28th minute.

Shrock pushed the Busmen to a deadlock near the halftime break after the Azkals captain rifled home Martin Steuble’s cross.

The visiting Lions reclaimed the lead when Maun Maung Lwin’s deflected pass fell in front of Kaung, who scored past goalkeeper Roland Muller in the 58th.

OJ Porteria and Spanish forward Bienvenido MaraĂąon had chances to equalize the game only to miss NARROWLY ALLOWING 9ANGON TO lY home with a victory.

Ceres will begin its AFC Cup campaign against another Burmese squad in Shan United on February 26 at the Panaad pitch.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

LAUSANNE: The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar and global football chiefs FIFA announced on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) a joint venture for planning and delivery in the run up to the tournament.

Hassan al-Thawadi, head of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, explained that after nine years of work alone, FIFA’s extensive tournament experience was now needed. “The formation of this new joint venture comes at a strategically important time on Qatar’s World Cup project,� he said. “As we shift our focus from delivering stadiums, training pitches and the transportation required for 2022, to fan and player experience and event operations,� he explained.

Thawadi said Qatar was determined to “ensure that the kRST &)&! 7ORLD #UP IN THE !RAB world is one of the best ever�.

Another member of the Qatar 2022 delivery team, Nasser al-Khater, said the joint venture’s aim was to collectively develop the best possible operational plans for 2022. AFP

TTHURSDAY H U R S DAY FFEBRUARY EBRUARY 7,, 2019

Lifestyle

D1

www.manilatimes.net

Q Chilean Q Chil SSeabass b Q Vanilla Ice Cream Panna Cotta

Q Sweet Corn Veloute

Q Purple Yam Soup

Q Salmon Fritters

One-of-a-kind menu to enjoy on V-Day

BY IZA IGLESIAS

N

OW that festive and colorful Chinese New Year celebrations around town have been had, it’s now time to cozy up, love and be loved with Valentine’s exactly a week away. And what better way to mark this day of hearts than with a sumptuous meal amid a very romantic setting. For no matter how modern the world has become, a classic candlelit Valentine’s dinner will never ever get old.

A perfect place place to do so if

The Manila Times Lifestyle may suggest is Discovery Suites’ 22 Prime in the heart of Ortigas’ central business district. With its one-of-a-kind menu for Valentine’s Day, this year’s line-up especially is sure to impress the girl of your dreams, whether or not you’ve put a ring on it already, gentlemen.

4HE MULTI AWARDED lAGSHIP REStaurant is cooking up a perfect match of two disctinct four-course menu sets dubbed “The Perfect Match: His and Her.� The idea is that a couple can choose who gets what, with sharing always a good idea.

For starter, there is Salmon Fritters with lemon garlic aioli, smashed avocado, petite greens, as there is Sous Vide Octopus with arugula, quinoa, dehydrated olives, sesame dressing.

For the soup, Sweet Corn VeloutĂŠ with grilled corn, chipotle

foam, pop corn and Purple Yam Soup with purple potato, Parmesan cheese meringue.

Main course is Oven Braised USDA Short Ribs with truffle sauce, white bean puree, yellow cherry tomato, turnips and Chilean Sea Bass with fava beans puree, vegetable brunoise, clam sauce.

To top off the sumptuous meal is the dessert of Vanilla Ice Cream Panna Cotta with red wine poached pear, apple crumble and Red Velvet Cheesecake with dehydrated coconut and vanilla tuile.

22 Prime’s four-course Valentine’s Duo Menu is available from February 11 to 17 for only P2,500 nett per person, while the four-course Valentine’s Duo Package is available only on February 14 for P6,500 nett for two and comes with a hand bouquet and two glasses of wine.

Option to enjoy Tagaytay breeze On the other hand, for those who want to get away from the city crowd and enjoy a quaint, romantic dinner, there is the Restaurant Verbena located at Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay.

While enjoying the magical view of Taal Volcano and Lake, feast on the His and Her four-course set menu which features fresh Kale Caesar Salad and Sous Vide Octopus. Tagaytay’s cool weather perfectly goes with a hot bowl of Smoked Tomato Soup and Clam Chowder. Main courses are Roasted MahiMahi and Chicken Supreme, topped with a slice of Naked Cake for dessert. This special four-course set menu is available for lunch and dinner from February 10 to 14 at P1,745+ for two.

More Valentine’s Day offerings On February 13 and 15, famous psychologist Dr. Margie Holmes gives an intimate speaking engagement session revisiting her book, “Life, Love, Lust,� tackling subjects about relationships, intimacy, and anything in between for couples and singles alike.

Guests can also enjoy cocktails, delectable food, and an intimate yet lively discussion. Tickets to “V-Day Special: An Intimate Night with Margie Holmes� are available

at P1,000 nett per person, inclusive of food and cocktails.

Special perk: guests who book Discovery Suites’ Valentine’s Room Package get automatic access for two pax to the event.

Meanwhile, Discovery Suites is also offering Valentine’s Room Package with a special rate of P6,550 nett which includes an overnight accommodation in a one-bedroom suite, breakfast buffet for two at Restaurant 5, a special Valentine’s turndown, and two tickets to “V-Day Special: An Intimate Night with Margie Holmes.�

Plus, as the hotel turns 19 on February 14, a celebration with long-time fruitful relationships with guests and patrons offer pairing stays with lavish giveaways and delicious offerings.

Until April 30, all guests checking-in at Discovery Suites get a chance to win a three-day, two-night stay in a Garden Suite at Club Paradise Palawan, and an Overnight Stay in a Premier Suite at Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay.

For every night booked at Discovery Suites within the promo period, GUESTS GET ONE RAFlE ENTRY !NNOUNCEment of winners is on May 2 through ITS OFkCIAL &ACEBOOK PAGE Moreover, Discovery Suites launches the 19th Anniversary Experience, featuring its spacious, homey two-bedroom Suites paired with a hefty Tomahawk Dinner for four at 22 Prime. This deal is available until December 19 for only P19,000.

Q Oven Braised USDA Short Ribs

Q Chicken Supreme

Q Mahi Mahi

Q Red Velvet Cheesecake

Authentic Chinese lauriat at Marco Polo’s Lung Hin CHINESE New Year celebrations continue at Marco Polo Ortigas’ renowned Lun Hing Cantonese restaurant with dishes especially curated for the Year of the Earth Pig. Chinese Executive Chef Terry Lai designed a menu similar to the Chinese lauriat to be enjoyed by families and large group of friends for the season.

Lauriat or “lao diat� means “special occasion,� thus the large and grand meal where guests are served small portions of a 10- to 15-course meal.

Suckling Pig Cold Cuts Combination, Steamed Live Garoupa with Minced Garlic in Supreme Soy Sauce, Hong Kong Roasted Chicken, and Macau-Style Seafood Fried Rice are just some of the dishes Chef Lai crafted for a kNE CELEBRATION Also available is the Classic Salmon Yusheng Prosperity Toss dish. Yusheng means “raw fish,� of which strips of these are put together with shredded vegetables and topped with peanuts, sesame seeds, deep-

fried flour crisps and drizzled with plum sauce.

Usually served as the appeTIZER OR kRST PART OF THE LAURIAT

Yusheng symbolizes good luck for the new year. In fact, when it is served, a greeting of gong xi fa cai meaning “congratulations for your wealth� or wan shi ru yi meaning “may all your wishes BE FULkLLEDu ARE SAID WHILE THE dish is being put on the table.

And of course for dessert — which is also great at any time of the day — comes in the form OF ,UNG (IN S TWO lAVOR CHOICES of their nian gao or tikoy. The glutinous rice cake is popular at this time of the year because it symbolizes raising oneself on a higher level in the coming year.

Available in the gold bar and classic round variant, Lung Hin’s TIKOY COMES IN TWO lAVORS ‡ THE favorite brown sugar and a little extra sweetness with the orange flavor — best enjoyed when cooked the conventional way of pan-frying it with egg to make the outside crispy but the inside still remains soft and sweet.

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Q Crispy Roasted Hong Kong Chicken

Q Steamed Live Garoupa with Minced Garlic in Supreme Soy Sauce

Q Prosperity Toss with Salmon Yu Sheng

Q Suckling Pig Cold Cut Combination

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Funtimes

w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

D2

˜ The Manila Times

Answer to trivia test © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Answers 1. 10 percent of your assets or $200 2. Many 3. Suva 4. Capcaicin 5. Deoxyribonucleic Acid 6. The numerator 7. Renaissance 8. Rights retained by the states 9. AB negative (less than 1 percent) 10. George Gershwin

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (02/07/19). Participate with a powerful team this year. Strengthen support structures. Expect the unexpected at your house. Summer energizes and invigorates you before a peaceful pause to review plans.

Purposeful inspiration this winter illuminates healthy changes. Contribute for a shared passion.

1. GAMES: How much do you have to pay if you land on the “Income Tax” space in Monopoly?

2. LANGUAGE: What does the Greek prefix “poly” mean in English?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of the island of Fiji?

4. FOOD & DRINK: What is the substance in chili peppers that makes the tongue burn?

5. SCIENCE: What does the acronym DNA stand for?

6. MATH: What is the top number of a fraction called?

7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What was the Secret Service code word for first lady Michelle Obama?

8. LAW: What is the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution about?

9. ANATOMY: What is the rarest blood type in human beings?

10. MUSIC: The film “Rhapsody in Blue” was about the life of which composer?

BY NANCY BLACK L I B R A (S E P T. 23-O C T. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Dive into physical action with gusto. Practice your routines to grow stronger. Slow down to go over the new stuff, until you’re comfortable with the tempo.

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

S C O R P I O (O C T. 23-N O V. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re especially lucky in love. Talk is cheap; back up your promises with clear action. Impress someone you care about by providing excellence. Get creative.

A R I E S (M A R C H 21-A P R I L 19) -- Today is a 6 -- It’s a good time to learn a new game. Make profitable plans. Consider long-term savings and compound interest. Align talk into action with thoughtful coordination.

S A G I T TA R I U S (N O V. 22-D E C. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Energize a domestic project. Long-term improvements are easier than you thought. Get family on board for a positive change.

A little elbow grease makes big impact.

TA U R U S (A P R I L 20-M AY 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Friends help you make an important connection. Community participation amplifies your energy. Coordinate who will do what, and get into action for a shared cause.

C A P R I C O R N (D E C. 22-J A N. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re especially clever with words and communication. Prepare your message, and set it up to reach a wide audience. Write, edit and publish.

G E M I N I (M AY 21-J U N E 20) -- Today is an 8 -- A professional vision seems within reach. It’s time to back up talk with action. Team coordination prepares a well-oiled push.

Friends and family can help.

A Q U A R I U S (J A N. 20-F E B. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Full speed ahead with a profitable venture. Your past work speaks well for you. Use the right equipment for the job. Prioritize long-lasting quality.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Embark on a trip or exploration. Check reservations and go. Travel with someone whose company you enjoy. Expand your horizons. Seize the day.

P I S C E S (F E B. 19-M A R C H 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Good news comes from far away. A brilliant discovery or headline changes your options. Take bold steps to realize a personal dream. Push ahead.

L E O (J U LY 23-A U G. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Study growth strategies for your shared money. How can you generate rising value? Discuss it with your partner. Determine your best options, and take action.

V I R G O (A U G. 23-S E P T. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep an open mind and heart. A collaborative opportunity is worth pursuing. Keep long-term goals in mind. Strengthen your partnership with active participation.

» SUDOKU

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

Today, we look back at an old front page of The Manila Times, the oldest national daily that was founded on October 11, 1898. (Note: This image was adjusted to fit the page.)

TTHURSDAY H UURSDAY R S DAYY FEBRU FEBRUARY UARYY 77,, 2019

Entertainment www.manilatimes.net

D4

Westlife is really back!

E

XACTLY this month and a year ago, Music Geek interviewed then solo artist and Westlife lead vocalist Shane Filan via email before he went to Manila for his mall showcases and asked the burning question fans had been clamoring for: “Is there a possibility of a Westlife reunion soon?�

His reply as published in the February 28, 2018 issue of The Manila Times Entertainment was, “It could happen in the future as we are all still great friends.�

Later that year in October, Westlife members Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan (still without Bryan McFadden though) OFkCIALLY ANNOUNCED THEIR REUNION AND RETURN to music to a frenzy of media coverage and social media activity. They said then their “Twenty Tour� would kick off in May 2019 in the UK and Ireland.

And as Westlife fans around the world rejoiced, a bigger surprise greeted them on January 10 as the UK’s top selling album group of THE ST CENTURY RELEASED THEIR kRST NEW SINGLE in eight years! Titled “Hello My Love,� it went straight to No. 1 on iTunes Philippines proving their continued popularity in the country. The OFkCIAL VIDEO ALSO ATTRACTED OVER M VIEWS ON Vevo just three days from its release. ‘Hello My Love’ is written and produced by superstar hitmakers Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac,

and is a soaring solid gold pop anthem featuring the band’s trademark stunning vocals and harmonies. The song is set to return Westlife to their rightful place as the kings of pop.

The band further signed a new record deal with Virgin EMI (released here in the Philippines by MCA Music), with a new album to follow later this year. For now, the group is getting ready for their 20th anniversary tour, which will kick off IN "ELFAST ON -AY AND END IN $UBLIN ON *ULY !ND BY THE WAY THE BAND SOLD AN INCREDIBLE 400,000 tickets in just 48 hours of sales.

4HE BOYS OF 7ESTLIFE HAVE SOLD OVER MILlion records worldwide, and are the only band TO HAVE THEIR kRST SEVEN SINGLES ENTER THE 5+ chart at No.1. They also have the most singles of any artist to debut at No.1 in the UK. Overall the band has had an incredible 14 No.1 singles, behind only Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Total kGURES INDICATE THEY VE HAD .O ALBUMS WORLDWIDE AND AS A LIVE ACT SOLD MILLION concert tickets worldwide.

Still talking numbers, after hitting 10 million streams across all platforms and charting on iTunes, Westlife released a beautiful acoustic verSION OF (ELLO -Y ,OVE ON *ANUARY #HECK IT OUT BECAUSE THE BOYBAND FEVER IS DEkNITELY BACK

MUSIC GEEK MUS MARK BONIFACIO

SARAH GERONIMO REPRESENTS PH IN HISTORIC UAE PAPAL VISIT. After Pope Francis’ first-ever visit and Holy Mass in the Arabian Peninsula, the Philippines’ Sarah Geronimo made the historic event all the more memorable for Filipinos living in the United Arab Emirates with a surprise performance. The 30-year-old rendered spiritual and inspirational songs before a 135,000-strong crowd at Zayed Sports City Stadium. Her repertoire included among others Andrea Bocelli’s “The Prayer,� and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror� and “Heal the World,� in a mini-concert of sorts after the Pontiff’s mass. Geronimo — who donned two beautiful gowns for the show from the highly successful Dubai-based fashion designer Furne One — first performed at a papal event during the late Pope and now St. John Paul 2nd’s visit to the Philippines in 1995. PHOTO FROM TWITTER.COM/YUGENPR

&OLLOW THE AUTHOR N )NSTAGRAM MARKBONIFACIO

Q The boys of Westlife have sold over 55 million records worldwide, and are the only band to have their first seven singles enter the UK chart at No.1.

Âťliveinconcert Brazilian love BRAZIL’S cool Sergio Mendes will hearts and groove ablaze with his back-to-back concert “Sergio Mendes: A Valentine’s Day Concertâ€? happening on February 14 and 15 at The Tent at Solaire.

The Brazilian superstar will be the first international artist to grace the resort’s newest venue as it draws in and stages grander events.

Mendes’ influence in the music industry spans five decades and counting. He is best known as the artist responsible for the rise of Brazilian music in the international scene. He began his world journey with performances in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and not long after, in the US. His “Brasil 66� hit a milestone for being the first album to be sung entirely in Portuguese that reached the Top 5 of the famous Billboard magazine with “Mas Que Nada� as its flag bearer single.

Adapting to the changing music landscape, he has expanded his reach by venturing into other genres to mix into his and collaborating with new-age artists.

Sergio has worked with Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, and John Legend among many others, and extended his expertise for the successful animated film “Rio� and its sequel.

Tickets to his concert are available at TicketWorld.

Q Sergio Mendes

AS part of its 40th anniversary celebration, Ovation Productions will mount a post-Valentine’s concert on February 22 with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Josh Groban who is currently on his international “Bridges Tour� concert series.

No less than the Philippines’ own Tony Award-

winner and Broadway royalty Lea Salonga will share the stage with Groban at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The unmistakable voice behind global hit “You Raise Me Up� brings his internationally recognized one-night-only show to the Philippines, backed by the magnificent ABS-CBN Orchestra, Josh’s own five-man band, and the Ateneo Choir. This latest tour kicked off in the United States last October, marking Groban’s first tour since his sold-out “Stages Tour� in 2016.

Josh Groban’s brand new album “Bridges� was released in September 2018 to critical acclaim, featuring the singles “River,� “Granted,� and “Symphony� and duets with such notable artists as Andrea Bocelli and Sarah McLachlan.

Bridges Tour Live in Manila is extra special as the artist will perform songs off this record, a captivating duet or two with Salonga, and his greatest hits.

The Manila Times is a media partner of the concert.

Tickets now available via at all SM Tickets outlets.

Q Josh Groban

Q Lea Salonga

Post Valentine’s with Groban

Campus Press

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net EDITOR: Marishelle R. Medina marishelle.medina@manilatimes.net

A SECTION FOR THE STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

E1

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7 , 2019

760K registered for kindergarten, grades 1, 7 and 11 for SY 2019-2020 – DepEd

A

total of 760,530 incoming kindergarten, and grades 1, 7 and 11 had preregistered in public schools across the country for School Year 2019 to 2020 as of January 28, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

Based on data cited on to DepEd’s media release posted on its website on January 29, the region with the most number of learners who had their information already encoded already in the Early Registration Module of the Learner Information System (LIS) was Region 4-A or Calabarzon, with 215,363 or 28.31 percent.

Calabarzon consists of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

It was followed by the National

Capital Region (Metro Manila) with 127,285 preregistered learners or 16.73 percent; Region 8 with 69,257 or 9.10 percent; and Region 10 with 64,972 or 8.54 percent in the top 5.

Incoming grade 1 pupils outnumbered the other levels, with 339,537 learners or 44.64 percent.

Preregistered kindergarten pupils numbered 192,640 or 25.32 percent; grade 7, 165,092 or 21.70 percent; and grade 11, 63,261 or 8.31 percent.

The early registration started

last January 26 and will end on Feb. 22, 2019. It aims to provide the Education department with pertinent data to anticipate the INlUX OF STUDENTS IN THE INCOMing school year and to ready the resources needed.

In its media release, DepEd said the huge turnout was due to the more organized early registration compared to the previous years as a result of the strengthened information dissemination and the issuance of DepEd Order 3, series 2018 or the “Basic Education Enrollment Policy.�

DepEd Order 3, the agency said, UNIkED THE POLICIES ON ENROLLMENT and clarified the requirements, minimizing the common questions of parents/guardians on pre-registering their children, speCIkCALLY ON THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR

kindergarten and grade 1.

The teachers, DepEd said, also readily assisted the parents/guardians and the learners at easily accessible preregistration areas within the schools. g)T S JUST THE kRST DAY WE HAVE an entire month to go but we’re already seeing that this year is DIFFERENT GIVEN THE EFkCIENCY OF our teachers and key school personnel in immediately resolving the minor challenges encountered. This difference is also seen in how we strongly emphasize inclusivity in the early registration process as schools highlight the various inclusive education programs that they offer, particularly Special Education and the Alternative Learning System,�

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

DepEd further attributed the orderly implementation of the early registration to the active involvement of all stakeholders: THE 3CHOOLS $IVISION /FkCES AND schools that had mobilized their respective communities and local government units in an advocacy drive through motorcades, and strategically placed posters and banners; the Central Regional, AND $IVISION /FkCES AND SCHOOLS that had harnessed the power of social media in spreading proper information to guide parents/ guardians and learners; media, education partners, and other external stakeholders that had INTENSIkED THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE activity.

After the month-long activity, the agency will conduct an indepth review of the entire early

registration process to identify the effective practices, major challenges and the respective solutions to further strengthen the implementation.

4HE EARLY REGISTRATION WAS kRST conducted in 2008, primarily aimed at high school students, in compliance with DepEd Order 62, s. 2008 (Early Registration for Incoming First Year High School Students for School Year 20092010).

In 2011, the initiative was extended to kindergarten and elementary under DepEd Order 2, s.

2011 (Declaring Jan. 29, 2011 as Early Registration Day for School Year 2011-2012 to Achieve the Millennium Development Goal in Education), and was strengthened, following the issuance of DepEd Order 3, series 2018.

Taiwan teen delegates pay diplomatic visit to Philippines

BY MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY MOST teenagers travel overseas to represent their home countries in an international competition, but there are also some who travel as diplomats to represent their countries in the international affairs arena.

A group of 12 teen delegates from Taiwan arrived in the Philippines on January 29 for a four-day cultural and diplomatic mission in the country.

Dubbed the Taiwan Teenage Diplomatic Envoy, the delegation — led by Minister of Home Assignment Calvin Ke-Ming Yen — was set to visit academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and friendship organizations, among others, during their stay in the country to “expand their vision and elevate their personal goals.�

Particularly, the delegates visited the Philippine Science High School, University of the Philippines (UP) Asian Center, World Vision Philippines, Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong City Hall, First Global Conglomerates and the Senate of the Philippines.

The delegation’s visit was in line with Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, “which focuses on building closer ties with countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as with Australia and New Zealand,�

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

spokesman Andrew Lee said in a statement.

Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy was a key initiative in Taiwan leader’s Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, MOFA said.

On its 17th year, the Teen Diplomatic Envoy program was also an opportunity for local students with ambitions of becoming career diplomats and an important cultivation platform, Lee added.

Taiwan Ambassador to the Philippines Michael Hsu welcomed the delegation who arrived with OFkCIALS FROM 4AIWAN S -/&!

AS well as their respective teachers. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked together with the Ministry of Education for heading this program to help the young people, especially the talented youths in Taiwan, get to know the world and the international affairs,� said Ambassador Hsu. “I believe only until you go overseas you’ll see what’s happening in the world.�

Since the inception of the Teen Diplomatic Envoy project in 2002, THIS WAS THE kRST TIME THE ENVOYS visited the Philippines, according to Hsu, who extended his gratitude to the 2019 delegation.

In addition, Philippines and Vietnam were the chosen countries to visit due to Taiwan’s close ties with the two countries, according to Lee, who hoped the teen del-

egates would further diplomatic exchanges during their stay.

Youth ambassadors pursue diplomatic goals

Upon their arrival in the country, three representatives from the delegation shared with The Manila Times some of their personal planned diplomatic and cultural exchanges with the Philippines.

A major fan of basketball, student Derek hoped to play a round of basketball with Filipino locals. “I’m a big fan of basketball and I notice that Philippines actually share the same kind of passion,� he explained. “Taiwan doesn’t have its own professional basketball league so when I came to the Philippines I really want to feel the atmosphere of having our own basketball league.�

On the other hand, food lover and humanitarian enthusiast Dana has set her goals in knowing more of the objectives of World Vision, a global humanitarian organization devoted to improving the lives of families and communities to overcome poverty. Back in Taiwan, Dana has been helping out in raising funds and rendering humanitarian services. Recently, Dana shared that she and her school donated funds to World Vision.

Meanwhile, Justin looked for-

ward to learning more about the Philippine educational system as he shared his experiences during their visit to Vietnam. “We had some exchanges with the local students and also we went to an NGO called Operation Smiles and we learned a lot about what the NGO does and also we exchanged how Vietnam school system is and how the students study and all the things,� he said. “I’m really fascinated with students so I’m really looking forward to interacting with the students.�

Q Minister Calvin Ke-Ming Yen (center) with the 12 teen delegates who make up the 2019 Teenage Diplomatic Envoys to the Philippines

2019 teenage diplomatic envoys

The 12 students who comprised the 2019 delegation came from three different schools from the three major regions in Taiwan, Minister Yen said. “In the last three or five years, we had more in the northern part of Taiwan,� the minister recounted. “We’re happy that we can have students from different areas.�

For this year, over 100 schools across Taiwan participated in the “Teen Diplomatic Envoy� competition where only three schools were given the opportunity to be part of the delegation. The three schools were Ching Cheng High School (central Taiwan), Taoyuan Municipal Wu-Ling Senior High

Q Teen delegates (from left) Justin, Dana, Ruby and Derek from Taiwan arrive in the Philippines on January 29 with eight other students for a fourday cultural and diplomatic mission in the country School (northern Taiwan) and Deguang Catholic High School (southern Taiwan). “The competition started around 3EPTEMBER TO /CTOBER ‡ THE kRST

round. Then we will choose each part of Taiwan about eight teams, then we have 24 teams then the kNAL ROUND &INAL ROUND IS LATE November or early December,�

1,562 SJ students complete anti-drug course A total of 1,562 students from seven of the eight public schools in San Juan City (SJ) will graduate from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program on Feb. 21, 2019.

The city police said 1,562 student from grades 5 and 6 would be given certificates of completion for undergoing a 24-week extensive course that aimed to fully elaborate to students the bad effects of illegal substance consumption to one’s health as well its effects on their family, friends and neighbors.

Of the graduating students, 740 are grade 6 while 822 are grade 5 pupils.

San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez and

Vice Mayor Janella Estrada will be giving the graduating students their certificates of completion.

San Juan City police chief Senior Supt.

Dindo Reyes said he hoped the DARE program would be implemented all over the country so the youth would realize the very bad effects of drug use. “It’s very effective regarding the bad effects of illegal substance and how to avoid it by our youth, especially our young students,� Chief Insp. Virgilio Timajo, Eastern Police District media bureau chief, told The Manila Times.

The primary goal of the program is to teach effective peer resistance and strengthen the refusal skills of Filipino youth, so they can say “no� to trying and using drugs.

This would enable them to grow into healthy, self-reliant and confident individuals without having to depend on harmful substances, drugs, tobacco and similar substances, Timajo said.

The program was introduced in 2016 to different schools across the country in support of the government’s drug campaign.

Every officer of the program, who teaches grade school students about the

effects of drug use, undergo a 10-day livein training where they are provided lessons on classroom management, teaching strategies, communication skills, adolescent development, drug information, and thorough instruction on DARE’s 10 lessons.

Through the Station Community Affairs and Development Unit, in coordination with the teachers and parents, officers of the program get involved in the 24-week program wherein they teach children the skills needed to recognize and resist the pressure to experiment with illegal drugs.

ED VELASCO

SPEECH THERAPY SERVICES AT DLSUMC

MISS PHILIPPINES-GLOBE 2018

Rosene Bernardo, an alumna of the Lyceum of the Philippines University General Trias (GenTri) campus, pays a courtesy call to GenTri Mayor Antonio Ferrer. The Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service major in Diplomatic Relation graduate (Class 2015) was crowned last December 2018 at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Cubao, Quezon City. She also won the national costume, swimsuit and talent competitions. She will compete for Miss Globe in September 2019 in China.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA

PHOTO FROM DLSHI.EDU.PH

De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC ) is now offering Speech Therapy Services to all adult persons with disability problems on: Speech (voice, articulation, fluency), language (comprehension, reasoning, expression, narratives, social skills), and swallowing disorders. Aside from speech therapy, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers physical therapy, occupational therapy andelectomyography- nerve conduction velocity procedure.

For further concerns, please call the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of DLSUMC at (046) 481-8000 (Cavite line)/ 988-3100 (Manila line) local 1044.

Campus Press

E2

The ËœManila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

The thorny choice between ‘whether it is’ and ‘whether it be’

S

HOULD the second sentence of the statement below use the conditional “whether it is� or “whether it be�?

“As a matter of fact, ESP (English FOR 3PECIkC 0URPOSES COMBINES subject matter and English language teaching. Such a combination is highly motivating because students are able to apply what they learn in their English classes TO THEIR MAIN kELD OF STUDY whether it (is, be) accounting, business management, economics, computer science, or tourism.�

This intriguing question was raised by Iran-based reader Farhad H. sometime ago and offhand, I said that the choice between “whether it is� and “whether it be� for that conditional was slippery, for it can get us bogged down figuring out whether it’s in the

indicative or subjunctive mood.

I, therefore, advised her that the best choice — but not the only choice — is to use elliptical construction for that conditional clause, as follows: “Such a combination is highly motivating because students are able to apply what they learn in their English CLASSES TO THEIR MAIN kELD OF STUDY

whether accounting, business management, economics, computer science, or tourism.�

Elliptical construction omits one or more words that are anyway obvious from the context — in this case, “it is� or “it be� — without changing the sense of the entire clause; instead, the excision makes it

ENGLISH PLAIN AND SIMPLE

JOSE A. CARILLO more readable and better-sounding.

If that elliptical construction isn’t resorted to, however, there would indeed be a need to determine whether that clause is in the indicative or subjunctive mood.

Recall now that the indicative conveys the idea that an act or condition is (1) an objective fact, (2) an opinion, or (3) the subject of a question. Statements in this mood seek to give the impression that the speaker is talking about real-world situations in a straightforward, truthful manner. As we know, verbs in this mood take

THEIR NORMAL INlECTIONS IN ALL THE tenses and obey the subject-verb agreement rule.

In contrast, the subjunctive is used to convey (1) possibility (2) desire or wishful attitude, (3) insistence on a particular action, (4) doubt about a certain outcome, (5) an unreal situation or an idea contrary to fact, or (6) a request or suggestion. The subjunctive form of the verb is used when the outcome of the action isn’t being asserted as a certainty but only being supposed, being assumed, or being doubted.

Recall that in present-tense subjunctive constructions, the linking verb “be� exhibits deviant behavior — not changing form at all no matter what person or number is taken by the subject. This explains why “be� rather than “is� is used in such subjunctive statements as “Be

CvSU admin grants proposals to empower students

BY CARL JOSHUA A. ROQUE

that as it may� and “The university will also support the Church in its future actions should the bill be passed by Congress.�

4O kGURE OUT WHETHER THAT SUBordinating clause in the statement in question here is in the indicative or subjunctive, we need to ask this question: Are the conditions in the clause introduced by “whether� being asserted as objective choices or alternatives or as hoped for or doubtful outcomes?

By inspection, those conditions ‡ THE ENUMERATED MAIN kELDS OF study — are clearly objective choices or alternatives in a real-world situation, not hoped for or doubtful outcomes. That modifying clause is therefore in the indicative mood, and the correct form of the linking verb for it is the indicative “is.�

That sentence should then read as follows:

“Such a combination is highly motivating because students are able to apply what they learn in their English classes to their main field of study, whether it is accounting, business management, economics, computer science, or tourism.�

But, then again, as I suggested at the very outset, it’s preferable to use elliptical construction — dropping the words “it is� — to simplify things and make that statement more readable and better-sounding.

(Next: “Nor� doesn’t always need “neither� to function)

Visit Jose Carillo’s English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com, and on Facebook, https://www. facebook.com/jacarillo. Follow me at Twitter.com @J8Carillo. E-mail: j8carillo@yahoo.com.

Anti-Bullying Forum 2019 at La Consolacion College Pasig

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY/THE MANILA TIMES COLLEGE INTERN STUDENT organizations at Cavite State University (CvSU) main campus managed to convince their president Hernando Robles to grant proposals that will empower students in recognition of their rights to quality education and freedom of expression.

Leaders of student organizations CvSU KILOS NA, (CKN) Kabataan party-list (CPL) and the CvSU Central Student Government (CSG) presented to Robles, during a dialog on January 23, the Students’ Agenda and List of General Demands (SAGD).

The collective efforts of all the student organizations paid off as the university president agreed to most of those listed in the SAGD. Among these were: On the right to organize: All fraternities and sororities in CvSU are now recognized and allowed to conduct their activities and social

services inside the campus.

On the use of school facilities: The university administration will no longer collect rental from students and organizations for the use of facilities in the campus.

On dress code, hair dye and haircut policy: Dress code, hair dye and haircut policy will be temporarily lifted, pending amendments and approval by the academic council. Meanwhile, students are allowed to crossdress and have any hairstyle without being prohibited from entering the campus ground.

On student organization tambayan: The administration promised that once the request is approved, the administration wouldwork with CKN, KPL and CSG in establishing a student center for the organizations.

On freedom to assemble: The students are allowed to freely

conduct any assembly inside the university. It was also emphasized that any harassment from the state force must be reported immediately to the administration.

On “Garbage In, Garbage Out policy: The policy will still be practiced in the university, but rest assured that the administration will bring back the trash bins. Each building will be provided with trash bin for proper segregation of trash.

However, on-the-job-training FEES AND COURSE SPECIkC FEES WILL still be collected by the university.

CKN and KBL said the victories attained in the public dialogue with President Robles was attributed to the united action of the students.

Prior to the January 23 dialog, student leaders Jane Sandigan (CKN), Jhon Dilag (KPL), and Karl Adrales (CSG) had a preliminary

meeting with the university president on January 14.

They discussed various topics such as student fees, adding fee, petition fee, medical fee, on-thejob training fee and Commission on Higher Education Iskolar ng Bayan Scholarship in view of the national government’s free college education program.

The student leaders emphasized that Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act� should be strictly implemented in CvSU. After the dialogue, Robles agreed to the request to temporarily lift the charges and promised to release needed funds, including the immediate release of scholarships grants to students.

On January 21, the university presiDENT OFkCIALLY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM of agreement with the student organizations on the issues they agreed on.

SHS students lead coastal clean-up in Occidental Mindoro MORE than 300 students of Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) participated in a two-day cleanup of Aroma Beach in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

The Humanities and Social Sciences (Humss) Grade 12 students gathered at 6:00 a.m. to clean areas of the western coast of

Mindoro on January 18 and 25.

Teacher Aike QuiĂąones said the coastal clean-up aimed to raise awareness on what was happening to the environment. “This activity was done not just a part of students’ culminating activity subject, but this is a rare opportunity that will contribute positive effect to the

surroundings, of course, to people,� Quiùones said.

San Jose youth leader Alfhonsa Calosor said the activity encouraged people to help save the environment by cleaning-up the garbage washed up on shore, and promoted recycling option as a solution to pollution. She also reminded her fellow youths to be

Q Senior high school students of the Occidental Mindoro State College troop Aroma Beach in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro clean areas of the western coast of Mindoro on January 18 and 25 as part of their culminating activity.

PHOTO BY LUCKY ANGELA WATSON, OMSC

responsible in throwing trash.

Calosor said that their culminating activity as a subject was more challenging than having immersion, because they got the CHANCE TO BE EXPOSED TO kELDwork which was related to course they were into. “For me, honestly, it (coastal clean-up) can mold our socialization because in this kind of activity, we encounter different faces and situations that our country is experiencing today.

In [an] immersion, it seems like we just watch and observe. In an activity like coastal cleanup, however, we are already practicing it,� she said.

Aroma Beach is a place where different occasions, activities and family gatherings are held especially during weekends and holidays. A lot of trash, mostly plastics which is hazardous to marine life and other form of animal, can be seen in the area, likely left by visitors.

MIKHAELA ADARLO

KWF offers P600,000 for language research THE Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) is offering a P600,000 grant to scholars and researchers who can submit proposed works on ethnic languages in line with its “Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya: Itanghal ang Katutubong Wika Mo�project.

The grant is open to individual or group researchers, including institutions, that are interested in studying the country’s ethnic languages.

In a statement, KWF and National Commission on Culture and the Arts Chairman Virgilio Almario said the grant was the biggest his AGENCY WOULD BE GIVING TO QUALIkED RESEARCHERS “Inilalaan ng KWF ang malaking porsiyento ng pondo ng ahensiya para sa mga programa sa pagpapasigla at pagdodokumento ng iba’t-

ibang katutubong wika ng Filipinas. Pagtupad ito ng KWF sa tungkuling pangalagaan ang lahat ng mga katutubong wika (The KWF has alloted a large percentage of its funds for programs to invigorate and document the different native languages of the Philippines. This is in FULkLLMENT OF THE +7& S DUTY TO SAFEGUARD ALL native languages),� he said.

Researchers are required to use ethnography as method of their documentation with the different aspects of language and culture, such as religion, health, livelihood, community, family, governance, education and literature.

The project, which started in 2015 with the ASSISTANCE OF THE OFkCE OF 3EN ,OREN ,EGARDA

aims to gather and publish comprehensive and timely studies about the Philippines’ ethnic

languages.

The KWF is targeting to document 30 ethnic languages this year, in addition to the 40 previously documented since the project’s inception.

The call comes as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared 2019 as International Year of Indigenous Languages.

JERRY M. HERNANDEZ Last day of submission of proposed research is on February 15. Applications may be sent to kwf.ssg@gmail.com or to the Lupon sa Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya, KWF, 2/F Watson Bldg., 1610 J.P. Laurel St., 1005 San Miguel, Manila.

For other details and forms, visit www.kwf.gov. ph or contact Jay-mar Luza of the KWF’s Sangay ng Salita at Gramatika at (02) 243-9855.

SOME 400 students are expected to attend La Consolacion College Pasig’s (LCCP) Anti-Bullying Forum 2019 at its campus in Mercedes Anevue, Pasig City on Feb. 11, 2019.

The forum aims to inform the students on why bullying is hapPENING AND HOW TO kGHT IT IN CONsonance with Republic Act 10627 or the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.�

Former senator and governor of Laguna Jose Lina Jr. will discuss RA 10627, while award-winning entrepreneur Robert Laurel Yupangco and Polytechnic University of the Philippines alumna and cum laude Ma. Hazel Bartolay will SPEAK ABOUT HOW TO kGHT BULLYING The forum will be moderated by The Manila Times business writer,

entrepreneur and parent-Teachers Council-LCCP President Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas.

LCCP Guidance Councilor Letmi De la China said the college’s Bullying Prevention Program adapts three different approaches: 1) awareness-communication; 2) early intervention and prevention; and (3) remediation-violation. “We hope that through this campaign, we will be able to impart the students on how to stop bullying and how to protect and save them from bullies,� De la China said.

The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Sept. 6, 2013.

The law requires all elementary and secondary schools in the country to adopt an anti-bullying policy.

Faith Colleges organizes Asean convergence secondary schools summit

SECONDARY schools from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are set to meet from Feb. 21 to 23, 2019 at Lima Park (OTEL IN "ATANGAS FOR THE kRST !SSOciation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Convergence Secondary Schools Summit (#AC3S) organized by Faith Colleges.

The three-day summit aims to bring together secondary schools across the Asean region to collaborate and build a regional mindset, as it seeks to make Asean relatable and tangible to the youth.

Asean consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The summit supported by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and embassies of Asean member states in the country.

Faith Colleges, an institution of higher learning and research in the Philippines, has been active in promoting Asean awareness through its different activities. In 2007, it represented the Philippines to the summit.

Providing support to the summit are Diwa Learning Systems, Bato Balani Foundation, and other organizations and corporations.

Among the schools attending are SMP Negeri 6 Makassar of Indonesia, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Guar Perahu of -ALAYSIA 2AFlES )NSTITUTION OF Singapore; and for the Philippines, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, Miriam College Quezon City and Nuvali campuses, Nord Anglia International School, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Faith Catholic School, and Fidelis Senior High School.

Set to give talks at the Summit are Director Aian Caringal of the DFA, Jeroen Schedler of Passage to Asean, Clarissa Delgado of Teach for the Philippines, Jam Acuzar of Bellas Artes Projects and Ruel Amparo of Cropital.

To know more about #AC3S, please visit www.firstasia.edu. ph or send an email to inquiries@ firstasia.edu.ph or call (63 43)

The ËœManila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Campus Press

E3

Calabarzon is 7-peat NSPC champion R

BY MARK CRUZET THE MANILA TIMES COLLEGE

EGION 4-A Calabarzon once again bagged the overall championship in the recently concluded National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) held last Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, 2019 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The Department of Education (DepEd) congratulated Calabarzon and other top regions for their excellent performances, and reminded all the young writers to “always seek the truth.�

It was the seventh consecutive victory for Calabarzon, which consists of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, which earned a total score of 226 from the individual and group contests both in English and Filipino medium and in elementary and secondary levels.

Central Luzon Region maintained its spot as the second best performing region with 129 points for this year’s NSPC. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region (NCR) garnered total points of 101 to land in third place. Bicol and Ilocos Regions placed fourth AND kFTH RESPECTIVELY Dubbed as the “Olympics of campus journalism,� NSPC is organized annually by DepEd in pursuant to Republic Act 7079 or the “Campus Journalism Act of 1991.� This year’s event was anchored on the theme, “Fostering 21st Century Skills and Character-based Education through Campus Journalism.� $EP%D #ENTRAL /FkCE $IRECTOR Jocelyn Andaya said 4,960 delegates from 17 regions in the country attended the annual national competition.

Campus journalists competed in nine different individual categories: news, editorial, column, feature, sports, science and health writing, photojournalism, edito-

rial cartooning, and copyreading and headline-writing.

Other contestants competed in group categories which consisted of radio and television scriptwriting and broadcasting, collaborative desktop and online publishing.

The school paper contest awarded the best news, features, editorial, science and technology, and sports sections, as well as the best layout and page design, and the overall best school papers.

4HE kRST EVER NATIONAL SEARCH FOR most outstanding campus journalists and school paper advisers per region was also conducted in a separate awarding ceremony.

4HE TOP kVE MOST OUTSTANDING student journalists and advisers who got the highest combined points from their journalism achievements and panel interview WERE ALSO RECOGNIZED !LL THE kNALists and winners received plaques, CERTIkCATES AND CULTURAL gDOLLSu AS recognition.

The award is the highest distinction given to campus journalists and school paper advisers, who demonstrated exemplary performance in campus journalism and campus press leadership.

Prior to this year NSPC, DepEd #ENTRAL /FkCE EXCLUDED THE SCHOOL paper contests for the computation of the overall ranking. Inspite of this exclusion, Calabarzon still managed to secure the crown with its #Lagab7labCALABARZON. Jeniffer Lopez, former Education Program supervisor (EPS) in-charge of English, Campus

Q Delegates of Region 4-A Calabarzon receive their awards as the overall champion for the seventh consecutive year in the 2019 National Schools Press Conference (NPC) last Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, 2019 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. (inset) Education Secretary Leonor Briones reminds all young journalists to ‘always seek the truth’ in her keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the 2019 NPC. PHOTOS BY MARLON SAMSON BRIAN AND LANCE FRANCISCO, JOURKNOWS Journalism and Special Program in Foreign Languages of Region 4-A, said that one of the major factors of Calabarzon continuous streaks in journalism was their excellent leadership. “Ours (journalism program) came from a very strategic taken from an analyzed data with the aim of beating our last performance and be the standard. You know very well by heart our mantra and those were pursued with commitment,� Lopez said.

When asked if Calarbazon would still be able to defend the championship for next year NSPC, she emphasized that it was not easy to break their foundation of excellency. “Hindi basta-basta matitibag ang pundasyon. Nasa lider lahat yan, pero kung hindi magiging maayos ang liderato, in two to three years, maaring makuha ito,� the former EPS said.

Region4-A is holding on to its mantra that “[if] someone tries to be outstanding, Calabarzon will become their standard.�

During the awarding and closING CEREMONIES THE OFkCIAL BANNER OF THE .30# WAS OFkCIALLY TURNED over to the Cagayan Valley Region, the host of the NSPC next year.

COUSIN GOALS

BY ANGELA CLARINO, SAINTS JOHN AND PAUL COLLEGES AND MARK CRUZET, THE MANILA TIMES COLLEGE COMPETING in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) is a huge leap for a young journalist, however, meeting a relative — whom you have not seen before — through this competition is likely to give a feeling of triumph.

In the middle of the event, !ZUNTA -AE AND HER kRST COUSIN

Neika Beyonce Gaviola, delegates from two different regions, decidED TO MEET EACH OTHER FOR THE kRST time. Azunta Mae was a feature writer from Region 4-B (Mimaropa), while Neika Beyonce competed under the category of editorial writing, representing Region 8.

After their victory in the Regional Schools Press Conference, the mothers of the two agreed to set a meet-up for the two young journalists in Lingayen, Pangasinan, which was the venue of the 2019 NSPC. Halfway through the interview with the JourKnows team, it was discovered that they both came from “broken families� after their

fathers — who are actually brothers — left them.

Azunta was two years old when his father left, while Neika was six.

When asked if they were ready to meet their fathers anytime soon, sadness and longing were evident in their faces. “In a way, he’s still our father so despite what he

Q Neika Beyonce (left) and Azunta Mae Gaviola, first cousins, meet for the first time at the 2019 National Schools Press Conference in Lingayen, Pangasinan. PHOTO BY MARK CRUZET/ TMTC

did, we’re still biologically connected,� Neika said after admtting that her relationship with her father was not doing well.

As Azunta was sharing her story to the team, she could not help but be emotional. Her tears were proof of how much she longs for her father, who she hasn’t seen for 16 years already. If she will be given the

chance to talk with her father, she would like to know the reasons behind his decisions.

Despite their fathers’ mistakes, they still served as inspirations for the two during the competition. Though they were unable to win in their respective categories, Neika and Azunta said their encounter was already a dream come true.

THE STREETS OF BINONDO THROUGH THE LENS OF TODAY’S TOP SMARTPHONES

UP student wins smartphone shoot-off

AN undergraduate student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman emerged as winner of the Argomall Smartphone Shoot-off, which was meant to highlight the rich culture of Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, through digital photography.

Jedo de la PeĂąa 2nd’s black and white shot of a fruit vendor handing over a change to one of his patrons won the eyes of judges for “closely capturing the essence of trust and authenticity.â€?

In its media release, gadget-centric e-commerce platform Argomall said that, as with its “advocacy of putting trust and genuine SERVICE kRST AMONG ITS CUSTOMERS

the exchange between the vendor and the woman radiates warmth and trust.�

De la Peùa’s competition were Finn Kyle Macorol, a student of Far Eastern University Manila; and Shaira Kristine Venzon and Gianina Mei Yumul, alumni of UP Baguio.

All are photography enthusiasts who have not won any major awards in photography.

The Argomall Smartphone Shoot-off was timed for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, SPECIkCALLY AT "INONDO BEING THE epicenter of festivities.

The four participants were handed various smartphones for the shoot-off, which were carefully chosen based on camera specs and features. De la PeĂąa got his hands on a Nokia 7 Plus, while Macorol got a Vivo 11. Venzon, a project coordinator for a post-production company, was given the Asus Zenfone 5Z. Meanwhile, digital project manager Yumul took the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

It wasn’t the usual smartphone

shoot-off, however. The contestants needed to make sure their pictures were not only clear and creative, but were in line with the special theme, “Trust and Authenticity in the Chinese New Year.� “In this day of fake news and rampant misinformation, it’s more important than ever to be able to trust and rely on people, things, services and everything else without having doubts,� Argomall said.

From 9 a.m., the participants scoured the streets of Binondo for two hours to get the perfect photo moment. While photographers usually carry sophisticated DSLRs on photo walks, the smartphones, offered by Argomall in their platform, held their own in terms of quality.

The contestants were impressed by how the smartphones performed, but they were also intrigued by the rich culture of Binondo. The setting allowed them to observe the daily, unscripted lives of people from all walks of LIFE 4HEY ALSO GOT TO SEE kRST HAND the religious traditions and how individuals showed their trust in a higher being, as well as towards other people.

All four photography enthusiasts were allowed to use their respective smartphones’ editing tools to enhance the photos and experience the full photography experience using a phone. They were also required to upload at least 15 photos on social media, but must choose one as their OFkCIAL ENTRY 4HEY WERE JUDGED based on four criteria: Human Interest (35%), adherence to theme (25%), composition (20%) and creativity (20%).

After the photo walk, the participants rested and had lunch together with the Argomall team lead by chief Argonaut Karel Holub AND CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFkCER Amiel Mendoza. Photographer and artist Arthur Tselishchev, who also served as guest judge, gave encouragement and revealed tips and tricks to the participants. And just as the contestants had a hard time trying to balance getting a great photo and telling a story in line with the theme, the judges also had a hard time choosing among the entries.

With his win, Jedo took home P5,000 worth of Argomall gift vouchers, tons of other stuff and a brand-new mobile phone. Shaira, Nina and Kyle also received P3,000 worth of Argomall gift vouchers and goodies. “Argomall is looking at making this a regular event to teach more young people how to use their smartphones and other tech to show others the rich culture of the Philippines, and of course, to also encourage them to explore digital photography,� Holub said.

Q Jedo de la PeĂąa 2nd’s photo wins him the Argomall Smartphone Shootoff for ‘closely capturing the essence of trust and authenticity.’

Q Photo by Gianina Mei Yumul of Chinese charms

Q Photo by Shaira Kristine Venzon of fortune cats

Campus Press

E4

The ˜Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

THURSDAY February 7, 2019

Full list: Winners of the 2019 Campus Press Awards

BY LIESELLE ROY, MARK CRUZET, ZACARIAN SARAO AND FRANZELLE YASAY

T

THE MANILA TIMES COLLEGE

he LaSallian, THE OFkCIAL STUDENT publication and English language newspaper of De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila, and Ang Kalasag, THE OFkCIAL student organ of the Virgen delas Flores High School, were adjudged the Best Newspaper in the college and high school (HS) levels, respectively, of the 2019 Campus Press Awards given by The Manila Times College (TMT) and The Manila Times (TMT).

The Campus Press Awards aims to recognize the works of student journalists, as well as inspire them to continue developing their interest in journalism, as the Times believes that good journalists are assets to the country.

On its second year, the Campus Press Awards honored 36 out of 504 entries who won in the college or HS level, English or Filipino category, at the Savoy Hotel Manila last January 31.

The Campus Press Awards also awarded DLSU with “The We Find Ways Best Story on Innovation” for its story “Behind a research — Intensive university; DLSU in World University Rankings.” The special award is given by BDO, with the winning students going home with P20,000, while the winning school with P10,000 in cash.

Two sets of criteria were used for judging. For written works, the criteria were newsworthiness, level of difficulty, grammar, style, flair and composition structures. For visual works, the criteria also included style, visual appeal, flair and composition structure.

The members of the Board of Judges were educators, practitioners, or both: Dr. Rudy Brul, Dr. Bayani Santos and Prof. Danny Estavillo, TMTC professors; Tita Valderama, TMTC training coordinator; Arnold Belleza, TMT executive editor; Felife Salvosa 2nd, TMT managing editor and University of Santo Tomas Journalism program coordinator; Lynette Luna, TMT national editor and TMTC professor; Lea Manto-Beltran, TMT supplements editor; Alvin Dacanay, assistant business editor; Perry Mallari and Emil Noguera, TMT sports editor and assistant sports editor, respectively; Marishelle Medina, TMT Campus Press editor and UST journalism faculty;

Cielo Cancel, TMT deskman; Rene Dilan and Russel Palma, TMT chief photographer and photographer, respectively; and Peter Baga, TMT chief layout artist.

The Campus Press Awards this year was also made possible with support from co-presentors Oppo and BDO; sponsors Globe, McDonald’s Philippines and Travel Book; and partners Ayala Foundation, Chef Tony’s and Universal Robina Corporation, as well as Savoy Hotel and RizGolf — makers of the official trophy.

Below is the complete list of winners of the annual literary competition: Best News Paper (College): The LaSallian De La Salle University Manila Best News Paper (HS): Ang Kalasag Virgen delas Flores High School BDO Special Award: “The We Find Ways Best Story on Innovation”: “Behind a research — Intensive university: DLSU in World University Rankings” DLSU Manila Best Magazine (College): Malate Literary Folio DLSU Manila Best Magazine (HS): Scribble Siena College of Taytay Best Website (College): The Varsitarian, UST Best Website (HS): Winston, the voice of BSM British School Manila Best News Story (English, College): “Deliver us from evil — within: Philippine bishops to up-

Q Winners of the college level of the 2019 Campus Press Awards celebrate their victory with Dante Francis ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd, president and CEO of The Manila Times and dean of The Manila Times College (third from left, back row) at the Savoy Hotel in Pasay City. Also in photo are (from left, third row) Tita Valderama, TMTC training coordinator; Manuel Mogato, TMTC professor and 2018 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting; Neri TenorIo, TMT publishereditor; Blanca Mercado, TMT chief operating officer; and Felipe Salvosa 2nd, TMT managing editor. At the back is Arnold Belleza, TMT executive editor.

PHOTO BY MIA MACATIAG/THE MANILA TIMES COLLEGE

date guidelines on protection of minors” The Varsitarian Witness team: Beatriz Avegayle S. Timbang, Christian de Lano M. Deiparine, Eugene Dominic V. Aboy OP and Josell Czarina S. de la cruz The Varsitarian , University of Santo Tomas (UST) Best News Story (Filipino, College): “Pagtanaw sa tatlong siglo ng edukasyong Lasalyano” Juan Miguel Canja, Lucille Piel Dalomias and Honey Pearl Fernandez DLSU Best High School News Story (English, HS): “Disquilibrium” Lance Arevada Rizal National High School Best High School News Story (Filipino, HS): “Lupang Hinarang” Rowena E. Napoles Sibagat National High School of Home Industries Best Editorial Story (English, College): “Award to ‘Mocha’ a libel The Varsitarian , UST The Best Column (English, College): “CSC, Pope Francis abetting divorce in the Philippines Christian de Lano M. Delparine The Varsitarian , UST Best Column (English, HS): “Useless Death” Dan Panganiban Trece Martires City National High School

Best Column (Filipino, HS): “Ibalik sa kamay ng kabataan ang magandang bukas” Ruzzel Baticon Virgen Delas Flores High School Best Feature Story (English, College): “In times of war, who can you trust to save you” RJ Junsay and Allaine Rose M. Emnacen University of San Agustin Iloilo Best Feature Story (English, HS): “An Angle of Depression” Alyssa Seanne M. Plata and Gabriel Angelo M. Villa Philippine Science High School Calabarzon Best Feature Story (Filipino, HS) “Silang mga nag sisikap para sa pangarap” Syrie V. Tena Virgen Delas Flores High School Best Literary Work (English, College): “Rebuild” Karren Cartier C. Esmael Emilio Aguinaldo College Best Literary Work (Filipino, College): “ Opo , Sir! 0, Pusher! Officer!”

Cristopher C. Cogal University of Rizal System Best Literary Work (English, HS): “Born of the Earth” Katherine Anne del Rosario and Elaissa Bautista La Estrella Verde De La Salle University-Dasmariñas

Q Katherine Anne del Rosario (left) and Elaissa Bautista from De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Senior High School’s La Estrella Verde bagged the Best Literary Piece (English category) award at the 2019 Campus Press Awards for their entry, ‘Born of the Earth.’

PHOTO FROM DLSUD.EDU.PH

Q Student journalists from the University of Santo Tomas’ The Varsitarian pose for a picture with their moderator Felipe Salvosa 2nd (left), also The Manila Times managing editor, during the Campus Press Awards. The Varsitarian won Best Website, Best News Story in English, Best Editorial in English, and Best Column in English. PHOTO FROM VARSITARIAN.NET Best Literary Story (Filipino, HS): “ Ang Lalake sa Septic Tank ” Nicko Matta Columban College-Barreto Best Sports Story (English, College): “Bloodline” Earl Elijah Almazora Saint Michael’s College Laguna Best Sports Story (English, College): “Dawn of the underdogs: Azkals take on Asia” Westin Louie Perez, Beatrice del Rosario and Erinne Ong DLSU Manila Best Sports Story (English, HS): “Abogaa and Castor, Singers of Tune of Death” Kazzandra Baysa Malabon National High School Best Sports Story (Filipino, HS): “ PCSHS namayagpag sa Cluster meet ”

CJ Santos Pasig City Science High School Best Sports Story (Filipino, HS): “ Alabat, bumandera sa track and field event sa CDAM ‘18 ” Cris Aniel Cabangon Alabat Island National High School Best Editorial Cartoon (College): University of Rizal System Best Editorial Cartoon (HS): School of Saint Anthony Best Photography (College): “Fight for quality, nationwide rally” Rafael Zaballero DLSU Manila Best Photography (HS): “Public bath in a huge sewer system” Rommel Villadolid Ignacio Villamor High School Best Layout and Design (HS): The Sapientia at Virtus School of Saint Anthony