The Manila Times | February 10, 2019

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Php20.00

MICKELSON GRABS SHARE OF LEAD AT RAINY PEBBLE BEACH

COMEDIAN BENTONG DIES AT 55

Golf Times F1

News A8

‘NOW AND FOREVER’

»

Sunday Times imes Magazine G1

The Sunday Times

•• SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 1211 7 36

BOOTS ANSON ROA AND KING RODRIGO

FEBRUARY 10, 0 2019

Why is there widespread, even intense, belief in the existence of God, or gods?

SUNDAY READ RIGOBERTO D. TIGLAO

I

N THIS ERA OF RATIONALITY AND SCIENTIkC THINKING WHICH EMERGED ONLY IN THE LAST YEARS OF MAN S YEAR HISTORY IT IS IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT ASTONISHING THAT MOST OF HUMANITY STILL BELIEVE IN AN INVISIBLE 'OD OR GODS !NOMALIES ATTRIBUTED TO (IM THUNDER AS 4HOR THROWING HIS

Trusted since 1898

R w w w.manilatimes.net

Palace vows thorough review of 2019 budget

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

M

ALACAÑANG on Saturday gave assurances it would METICULOUSLY REVIEW THE 0 TRILLION RATIkED budget to ensure compliance with the Constitution amid allegations of questionable allocations.

g7E ASSURE THE NATION THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE ENROLLED 'ENERAL !PPROPRIATIONS "ILL WILL THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE SAME TO ENSURE THAT ALL ITEMS COMPLY WITH THE #ONSTITUTION AND THE LAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY REDOUND TO THE BENEkT OF THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE u 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0AN-

ELO SAID #ONGRESS RATIkED THE BUDGET ON &RIDAY AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY BECAUSE OF CLAIMS THAT gHUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF PESOSu IN gPORKu ALLOCATIONS WERE INSERTED 4HE BUDGET BILL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE 0RESIDENT FOR APPROVAL

³Budget A2

³Sunday Read A4

Turn that loathsome pork into dialysis machines SUNDAY STORIES MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

I

N the many passionate and learned deliberations of the 8th Congress THE kRST AFTER -ARTIAL ,AW ONE WORTH REMEMBERING WAS THE MATH THE EQUIVALENCIES PRESENTED BY THE FORMER SENATOR

"ERT 2OMULO ON WHAT COULD THE COUNTRY GAIN SHOULD THE FOREIGN CREDITORS AGREE TO

³Ronquillo A5 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

HOT BLOOMS

Bouquets are displayed at the flower market in Sampaloc, Manila several days before Valentine’s Day. The cost of flowers had started to shoot up and prices are expected to more than double as the frenetic observance of love day starts. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

RAPPERS, WOMEN AIM BIG AT GRAMMYS Sotto: President vetoed bill seeking stronger coco body

LOS ANGELES: -USIC S BIGGEST STARS WILL GATHER IN ,OS !NGELES ON 3UNDAY FOR THE 'RAMMY !WARDS

AND THIS YEAR OBSERVERS ARE HOPING THE HIP HOP AND WOMEN ARTISTS LEADING THE PACK WILL GET THEIR DUE 4HE INDUSTRY S ANNUAL GALA DRAWS EYE ROLLS EVERY YEAR FROM CRITICS WHO SAY THE WINNERS ARE TOO WHITE AND TOO MALE BUT FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR black hip-hop artists dominated the nominations across THE BOARD 2APPER +ENDRICK ,AMAR ‡ WHO WON A 0ULITZER 0RIZE FOR HIS ALBUM g$!-. u BUT NOT A 'RAMMY FOR !LBUM OF THE 9EAR ‡ EARNED EIGHT NOMINATIONS

WHILE #ANADIAN RAPPER $RAKE SNAGGED SEVEN Women artists scored nods in all of the top categories after beING LARGELY SNUBBED A YEAR AGO

WITH RAPPER #ARDI " POP DIVA ,ADY 'AGA POP FUTURIST *ANELLE -ONAE AND FOLK ROCKER "RANDI #ARLILE AMONG THE FRONTRUNNERS )N THE "EST .EW !RTIST CATEGORY SIX OF THE EIGHT NOMINEES ARE WOMEN "UT SKEPTICISM LINGERS THAT NODS WILL ACTUALLY TRANSLATE INTO WINS AFTER RAP MOGUL *AY : LEFT empty-handed last year despite EIGHT NOMINATIONS 4HAT SHOW SPARKED A MAJOR BACKLASH ‡ EVEN RETRO FUNK STAR "RUNO -ARS S SURPRISE SWEEP IN THE TOP CATEGORIES WAS DIVISIVE

³Grammys A2

3%.!4% 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE 3OTTO RD ON 3ATURDAY CONFIRMED THAT 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE HAS VETOED AN ENROLLED BILL SEEKING TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE 0HILIPPINE #OCONUT !UTHORITY 0#!

3OTTO SAID HE RECEIVED ON &RIDAY THE VETO MESSAGE OF THE 0RESIDENT ON CONSOLIDATED ENROLLED 3ENATE "ILL 3" AND (OUSE "ILL TITLED g!N !CT TO &URTHER 3TRENGTHEN THE 0HILIPPINE #OCONUT !UTHORITY u g7HILE ) RECOGNIZE THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL IS TO ADOPT NECESSARY MEASURES TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS BESETTING THE

COCONUT INDUSTRY PROTECT THE SOCIO ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF COCONUT FARMERS AND ENSURE THAT THE BENEkTS DUE OUR COCONUT FARMERS ARE CONSOLIDATED AND THEIR DELIVERY EXPEDITED THE PRESENT FORMULATION OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE MEASURE REGRETTABLY LACKS VITAL SAFEGUARDS TO AVOID THE REPETITION OF PAINFUL MISTAKES IN THE PAST u $UTERTE SAID g4HE POWERS GIVEN TO THE 0HILIPPINE #OCONUT !UTHORITY UNDER THE PROPOSED MEASURE READ TOGETHER WITH THE PROPOSED #OCONUT &ARMERS AND )NDUSTRY $EVELOPMENT

³Coco A2

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News

˜ The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Murad disowns list of BTA nominees

BY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

M

ARAWI CITY: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has disowned a list that circulated on social media of its alleged NOMINEES TO THE "ANGSAMORO 4RANSITION !UTHORITY "4!

THE BODY THAT WILL SERVE AS INTERIM GOVERNMENT IN THE INCOMING "ANGSAMORO Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao "!2-- UNTIL ITS kRST ELECTIONS IN -),& #HAIRMAN !L (AJ -URAD Ebrahim told reporters in Camp $ARAPANAN 3ULTAN +UDARAT -AGUINDANAO THAT THE LIST WAS gNOT OFkCIALu AND ASKED NETIZENS TO DELETE IT FROM THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO AVOID SOWING CONFUSION He said it did not emanate from THE -),& AND NO ONE WAS GIVEN CONSENT TO DO SO NOR WAS SUCH AN ACT NECESSARY IN THE kRST PLACE

4HE PURPORTED LIST INCLUDED %BRAHIM 'HAZALI *AAFAR -OHAGHER )QBAL AND !BDULLAH -ACAPAAR AKA #OMMANDER "RAVO -AJORITY IN THE LIST ARE LIKE -URAD -AGUINDANAONS INCLUDING 'HAZALI AND -OHAGHER AND kELD COMMANDERS -URAD SAID ALL SECTORS WOULD BE FAIRLY REPRESENTED IN THE "4!

With the ratification of the

" A N G S A M O R O / R G A N I C , A W "/, CREATING THE "!2--

0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE IS EXPECTED TO NAME APPOINTEES TO THE "4!

MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE -),& MEMBERS 4HE LAW STATES THAT THE -),& WILL LEAD THE "4!

BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS MEMBERS TO COME FROM ITS RIVAL THE -ORO .ATIONAL ,IBERATION &RONT -.,& AS WELL AS FROM THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE REGION 4HE -.,& MEMBERS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE "4! ARE TO COME FROM THE BREAKAWAY FACTION NOW HEADED BY 9USOP *IKIRI NOT FROM THE ORIGINAL -.,& UNDER 0ROF .UR -ISUARI *IKIRI S FACTION SAT IN THE "ANGSAMORO 4RANSITION #OMMISSION "4# that drafted the Bangsamoro Basic ,AW "", AND ENACTED INTO LAW BY #ONGRESS AS "/,

!SIDE FROM THE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE 0RESIDENT THE INCUMBENT ELECTED OFkCIALS OF THE OUTGOING !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO WILL ALSO SIT IN THE TRANSITION BODY UNTIL THEIR TERMS EXPIRE ON *UNE

4HE "/, WAS ANCHORED ON THE kNAL PEACE DEAL SIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE -),& IN AFTER FOUR DECADES OF CONlICT THAT LEFT MORE THAN PEOPLE DEAD -EANWHILE -URAD SAID HE ACCEPTED THE PLEBISCITE RESULT IN ,ANAO DEL .ORTE WHERE THE g.Ou VOTE WON DISALLOWING THE PROVINCE S SIX TOWNS FROM JOINING THE NEW "ANGSAMORO REGION g!S LONG AS THE PLEBISCITE WAS CONDUCTED IN FAIR AND HONEST MANNER WE ARE READY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER IS THE RESULT )F OTHERWISE WE WILL SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE LEGALLY u HE SAID

ALBAY VISIT

President Rodrigo Duterte introduces his former top aide, Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong” Go and former presidential assistant Francis Tolentino (second from right) during the Peace and Order Summit for Barangay Officials in Legazpi City, Albay. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Q GRAMMYS FROM A1

RAPPERS, WOMEN AIM AS IT WAS SEEN AS SOMEWHAT OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MORE GROUNDBREAKING WORK ON OFFER )N RESPONSE THE 2ECORDING !CADEMY WHICH ORGANIZES THE GALA CREATED A DIVERSITY TASK FORCE AND EXPANDED THE FOUR TOP CATEGORIES FROM kVE NOMINEES TO EIGHT g4HE INDUSTRY AND THE 2ECORDING !CADEMY DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS u -URRAY &ORMAN WHO STUDIES POP MUSIC AT "OSTON S .ORTHEASTERN 5NIVERSITY TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE

‘It has to start with us’ !S THE GALA APPROACHED CONTROVERSY WAS BREWING WITH A SLATE OF SUPERSTARS DECLINING TO PERFORM AT THE 3TAPLES #ENTER $RAKE ,AMAR AND #HILDISH 'AMBINO HAVE ALL REPORTEDLY TURNED DOWN OFFERS TO PERFORM

WHILE !RIANA 'RANDE WITHDREW FROM THE SHOW OVER CREATIVE DIFFERENCE WITH ORGANIZERS %VEN 'RAMMYS PRODUCER +EN %HRLICH HAS ADMITTED THE gPROB-

LEMu OVER HIP HOP ARTISTS WHO FEEL UNDERVALUED BY THE !CADEMY

WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN

MUSIC PROFESSIONALS ,AMAR ONCE AGAIN HAS A CHANCE TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS !LBUM OF THE 9EAR AWARD AFTER THREE PRIOR LOSSES THIS TIME FOR MASTERMINDING THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE BLOCKBUSTER SUPERHERO kLM g"LACK 0ANTHER u 4HE LEAD SONG OFF THE SOUNDTRACK g!LL THE 3TARS u WHICH HE PERFORMED WITH 2 " SINGER 3:! IS IN THE RUNNING FOR BOTH 2ECORD OF THE 9EAR WHICH HONORS BEST OVERALL SONG AND 3ONG OF THE 9EAR WHICH AWARDS SONGWRITING $RAKE WHO HAS SPARRED WITH THE 2ECORDING !CADEMY IN PAST YEARS NABBED NOMINATIONS ACROSS THE TOP CATEGORIES FOR HIS ALBUM g3CORPIONu AND INESCAPABLE HIT g'OD S 0LAN u 7OMEN SNAGGED FIVE OF THE EIGHT !LBUM OF THE 9EAR NOMINATIONS #ARDI " #ARLILE -ONAE 2 " PRODIGY ( % 2 AND COUNTRY STAR +ACEY -USGRAVES

ARE IN THE RUNNING ,ADY 'AGA BOASTS kVE NOMINATIONS INCLUDING FOR BOTH 2ECORD AND 3ONG OF THE 9EAR FOR HER HEART POUNDING HIT g3HALLOW u WHICH SHE PERFORMED IN THE kLM g! 3TAR )S "ORNu WITH CO STAR "RADLEY #OOPER #ARLILE THIS YEAR S MOST NOMINATED WOMAN SAID WOMEN MUST PROMOTE EACH OTHER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE g7E CAN BLAME MEN AND WE CAN BLAME THE INDUSTRY AND WE CAN BLAME COMMERCE BUT IT HAS TO START WITH US u THE YEAR OLD told 6ARIETY

‘Racialized categories’ $ESPITE RAP S STRONG NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS MOST EXPERTS ARE NOT EXPECTING A QUICK REVOLUTION SAYING SUCCESSFUL BLACK ARTISTS HAVE LONG BEEN RESTRICTED TO WINS IN CATEGORIES LIKE "EST 2AP !LBUM g)T S NOT SO MUCH THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE INVISIBLE OR NOT INNOVATING IT S ABOUT THOSE INNOVATIONS BEING CONTAINED TO RACIALIZED CATEGORIES u SAID 'UTHRIE 2AMSEY

A MUSICOLOGIST AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF 0ENNSYLVANIA

!FTER LAST YEAR S SHUTOUT *AY : DISSED THE !CADEMY IN g!0%3

4u HIS TRACK WITH WIFE "EYONCE VYING ON 3UNDAY FOR "EST -USIC 6IDEO

ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER BOUNDARY PUSHING BLACK NOMINEES "UT FOR OTHERS PART OF RAP S appeal is that it remains nonCONFORMIST g3O MUCH OF RAP MUSIC HISTORY HAS BEEN ABOUT RESISTANCE AND COUNTERCULTURE A WIN ALSO MEANS THE APPROVAL OF MAINSTREAM CULTURE u SAID !KIL (OUSTON A HIP HOP SCHOLAR AT /HIO 5NIVERSITY g)N A WAY THEN YOU LOSE THAT OUTSIDER EDGE u 3UNDAY S CEREMONY HOSTED BY SONGSTRESS !LICIA +EYS WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES BY 'AGA #ARDI "

#ARLILE AND -ONAE g2EPRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING u #ARLILE TOLD !&0 AT A PRE 'RAMMY GALA HONORING COUNTRY LEGEND $OLLY 0ARTON g)F THERE S A LITTLE GIRL WAITING UP LATE TO SEE ME SING ON THE 'RAMMYS THEN ) M HAPPY ) M HERE u ! TRIBUTE TO THE LATE !RETHA &RANKLIN IS ALSO PLANNED 4HE 'RAMMYS GALA WILL AIR 3 U N D AY F R O M P M '-4 -ONDAY AFP

Q BUDGET FROM A1

Palace vows thorough review #ABINET 3ECRETARY +ARLO !LEXEI .OGRALES ALSO ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WOULD BE FREE FROM gPORK BARREL u (E SAID 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE WOULD CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZE gEACH AND EVERY ITEMu TO REMOVE POSSIBLE gPORK u g%VERYTHING ;SHOULD BE= LEGAL BECAUSE THE LAST WE WOULD WANT TO DO IS TO QUESTION IT IN THE 3UPREME #OURT 7E WANT THIS BUDGET CLEAN AND WE WANT THIS BUDGET IMPLEMENTED ;BECAUSE= WE ALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THE BUDGET IS IN BOOSTING OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TRANSLATING THAT TO PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT WILL REDOUND TO THE BENEkT OF OUR CITIZENS u HE SAID !SKED WHY $UTERTE WAS SILENT ABOUT THE PORK INSERTIONS IN HIS SPEECHES

.OGRALES SAID $UTERTE WOULD WAIT FOR THE kNAL VERSION OF THE PASSED BUDGET BEFORE COMMENTING g)T S BETTER IF WE SEE THE kNAL VERSION THEN WE WILL SCRUTINIZE IT u HE ADDED g4HEY WILL LOOK INTO IT ONE BY ONE EVERY LINE EVERY PAGE EVERY ITEM u .OGRALES SAID 0ANELO SAID THE 0ALACE WAS pleased that the Senate and the (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES HAD reconciled their differences and PASSED THE BUDGET MEASURE g)NDEED THERE IS NO OBSTACLE WE CANNOT HURDLE IF WE PUT OUR HEARTS TO IT WITH ONLY THE INTEREST OF THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE IN MIND u HE SAID ADDING THAT THE NATIONAL BUDGET WAS gESSENTIAL IN BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR NATION AND FOR OUR PEOPLE u 4HE MEASURE HE ADDED ALSO gLAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT u g/UR KEY BUDGET PRIORITIES

WHICH INCLUDE INTENSIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT EXPANDING PROGRAMS ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION ENHANCING SOCIAL SERVICES AND BUILDING A MORE SECURE AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR COUNTRYMEN WILL PUSH FURTHER OUR MOMENTUM IN FULkLLING THE 0RESIDENT S PROMISE OF GENUINE AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR OUR PEOPLE u 0ANELO SAID 4HE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING ON A REENACTED BUDGET SINCE the start of 2019 after Congress EARLIER FAILED TO PASS THE NEW BUDGET IN $ECEMBER 4HE TWO CHAMBERS WERE LOCKED IN DEBATES ABOUT ALLEGED IRREGULAR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS IN THE PROPOSED OUTLAY FOR

Accountability !LSO ON 3ATURDAY 2EP 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R SAID THE (OUSE WOULD ENSURE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT IN LINE WITH THE LAW 4HE LAWMAKER SAID IN A STATEMENT ISSUED ON 3ATURDAY &EBRUARY THAT WITH THE BICAMERAL RATIkCATION OF THE PROPOSED 0 TRILLION NATIONAL BUDGET FOR THE (OUSE gWILL NOW

SHIFT MODE FROM BUDGET AUTHORIZATION TO BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY u g7E HAVE DONE OUR DUTY IN APPROVING THE NATIONAL BUDGET #ONGRESS HOWEVER WILL CONTINUE EXERCISING ITS OVERSIGHT FUNCTION TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS ALLOCATED TO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ARE SPENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND THE EXISTING RULES u !NDAYA WHO HEADS THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SAID g(INDI NAGTATAPOS ANG TRABAHO ng Kongreso sa pagpasa nG BUDGET 3ISIGURUHIN NAMIN NA BAWAT SENTIMONG IBINABAYAD NA BUWIS ng mamamayan ay nagagasta ayon sa tinakda ng batas at desisyon NG +ORTE 3UPREMA 4HE JOB OF #ONGRESS DOES NOT END WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE BUDGET BILL 7E WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CENT PAID BY TAXPAYERS ARE SPENT IN LINE WITH WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES AND THE 3UPREME #OURT DECISION u HE SAID !NDAYA HAD ADMITTED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET CONTAINED gPORK u g7HAT THE 3UPREME #OURT SAID IS THERE SHOULD BE NO POST ENACTMENT INVOLVEMENT OF #ONGRESS %VERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE BUDGET

WHERE IT SHOULD GO HOW MUCH

SHOULD BE INDICATED IN THE BUDGET u HE SAID ON &RIDAY &EBRUARY (E CLARIkED THAT A BASELINE kGURE OF 0 MILLION FOR APPROPRIATIONS OF EACH REPRESENTATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED BUT IT WAS ADJUSTED ACCORDING TO THE NEED OF THE LAWMAKER S DISTRICT (OUSE 3PEAKER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO SAID THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR WAS gPERHAPS THE MOST CLOSELY SCRUTINIZEDu IN THE LAST YEARS g"OTH THE (OUSE AND THE 3ENATE SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR PASSING THE BUDGET IN A PROCESS CHARACTERIZED BY HARD WORK AND COLLECTIVE WISDOM 4HE TWO BODIES WORKED INDEPENDENTLY IN SCRUTINIZING THE BUDGET SO IN THE END IT IS A JOINT ACHIEVEMENT u !RROYO SAID

Probe continues !NDAYA HOWEVER SAID THAT THE (OUSE WOULD CONTINUE HOLDING HEARINGS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 0 BILLION ALLEGED BUDGET gINSERTION u 4HE 3ENATE ON *ANUARY REMOVED THE 0 BILLION FROM THE BUDGET OF THE $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS $07( "UDGET 3ECRETARY "ENJAMIN $IOKNO HAD SAID THAT THE ADDITIONAL 0 BILLION WAS NOT AN gINSERTIONu BUT AN ADJUSTMENT g)N THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL AGAIN SUBPOENA TOP OFFICIALS OF THE $"- $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT AND $07( TO PIN DOWN THE REAL MASTERMINDS BEHIND THE 0 BILLION INSERTION in the preparation of the 2019 .ATIONAL %XPENDITURE 0ROGRAM u !NDAYA SAID IN A STATEMENT (E SAID LAWMAKERS WOULD SCRUTINIZE THE 0 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ALLEGEDLY gINSERTED u WITH REINA C. TOLENTINO

Q COCO FROM A1

Sotto: President vetoed bill !CT UNDERMINE RELEVANT REGULATIONS AND SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED PRECISELY TO AVOID ABUSES ) AM CERTAIN THAT NEITHER #ONGRESS NOR THE EXECUTIVE CAN BEAR TO SEE OUR COCONUT FARMERS BEING EXPOSED TO INJURY BY THE VERY LEGISLATION THAT WAS intended for their benefit and PROTECTION ESPECIALLY IF SUCH INJURY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

BY THE INSTITUTION OF NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS u THE 0RESIDENT SAID (E POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE enrolled bill is in the common legISLATIVE AGENDA OF THE ,EGISLATIVE %XECUTIVE $EVELOPMENT !DVISORY #OUNCIL ,EDAC THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL DO NOT RElECT THE ULTI-

MATE GOAL OF ACCELERATING THE FULL UTILIZATION OF COCONUT LEVY ASSETS AND FUNDS FOR THE BENEkT OF THE MARGINALIZED COCONUT FARMERS AND THE COCONUT INDUSTRY 3" OR THE PROPOSED g3TRENGTHENED 0HILIPPINE #OCONUT !UTHORITY ,AW u WAS PREPARED JOINTLY

BY THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AND THE COMMITTEE ON kNANCE IN SUBSTITUTION OF 3" WITH 3EN #YNTHIA 6ILLAR AS AUTHOR 4HE MEASURE SEEKS TO AMEND 0RESIDENTIAL $ECREE OR THE REVISED #OCONUT )NDUSTRY #ODE AS AMENDED AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR IT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF !RTICLE OF THE #ONSTITUTION JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Report corrupt officials, Bong Go prods public CHRISTOPHER Lawrence “Bong�

Go, President Rodrigo Duterte’s former top aide, urged the public TO REPORT CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFkcials to stop their illegal activities. “Kung may kilala kayong trapo o tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno, i-report ninyo agad siya sa Truth and Justice Coalition para di na makapagnakaw pa,� Go said, stressing that the Duterte administration does not tolerate corrupt practices.

The Truth and Justice Coalition under the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission (PACC) headed by Commissioner Greco Belgica was formed to assist authorities in probing suspected CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS The coalition helps authorities IN CONDUCTING FACT kNDING INQUIries, lifestyle checks, and other investigative processes. “The president will not tolerate any form of corruption.

Kailangan ang kooperasyon ng lahat pati ordinaryong mamamayan para po masiguradong walang magnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan (Everybody, even ordinary citizens, should help ensure that no one will steal from the state’s coffers),� he added.

4HE COALITION HAS kLED A NUMBER of complaints against officials

News Mariano blamed for land conversion delays

suspected to be involved in questionable activities that misuse government funds. “Walang pinipili o pinapanigan ang Truth and Justice Coalition na grupo ni Greco Belgica dahil tanging layunin nito ay ang tumulong sa pamahalaan sa pagsugpo sa mga kurakot sa gobyerno (The Truth and Justice Coalition is not partial to anyone because it aims to help the government eradicate corruption),� Go said.

He said public cooperation was vital in the campaign against corruption. “Huwag kayong matakot. Isumbong ninyo agad ang mga kurakot na opisyal na kilala ninyo nang matanggal sila sa puwesto at makulong agad (Don’t be scared. Report CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS SO THAT they will be removed from their post and jailed),� Go added.

Go, who is seeking a Senate seat in the elections in May this year, is a staunch supporter of the GOVERNMENT S kGHT AGAINST DRUGS

crime and corruption.

If he wins, Go pledges to push bills that will boost agriculture, housing, improved health service delivery, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, baRANGAY WELFARE AND MORE BENEkTS for senior citizens, among others.

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has blamed former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano for the backlog and delays in the conversion of land.

Duterte cleared Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones of any accountability.

Duterte, who has complained of the tedious process for land use conversion cases, blew his top and stormed out of a Cabinet meeting last week over a case that has been pending for two years at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). “Meron balita diyan nag-walkout ako. Kasi may mga dumating sa aking reklamo. Sabi, pending diyan sa conversion sa DAR. Hindi

kasalanan; bago lang ito si Castriciones eh. ‘Yung si Mariano. Two years na (There was news about my walkout because a complaint reached my desk. It has been pending in the DAR for two years. It was not the fault of Castriciones; he is new. It was Mariano),� the President said in his speech during the peace and order summit for barangay VILLAGE OFkCIALS IN ,Egazpi City, Albay on Friday night.

Mariano was one of several leftists appointed by Duterte in 2016.

The Commission on Appoint-

ments, however, rejected his appointment as DAR chief in 2017.

Duterte said the red tape involving land use conversion cases frustrated him since it was an opportunity for corruption.

He said requirements for land conversion included several clearances from the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, other agencies and concerned local government units. “Clearance, clearance, clearance, about 30 clearances. There is always a table there for corruption,� the President said. “This country can hardly move if there is no law and order.

Second, this country will be lost if graft and corruption will continue,� he added. )N A PRESS BRIEkNG ON &RIDAY

A3

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said the DAR committed to resolve land use conversion requests as fast as possible, but the agency also relayed concerns about the process of GETTING CERTIkCATIONS FROM OTHER government agencies.

He said the DAR and several other government agencies would craft a memorandum that would shorten the application period from two to three years to 30 days. “Several agencies are now working hand in hand to streamline the process involved in land conversion. The DAR reported to the Cabinet that there is an urgent need to streamline the current process for land conversion to address pending applications and to fast-track the approval and/or disapproval of new applications,�

Nograles said.

Duterte slams human rights groups PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has slammed human rights groups for being silent on the death of Ashley Abad, a medical student who died of drug overdose in Cebu last month.

In a speech during the Peace and Order Summit for barangay VILLAGE OFkCIALS IN ,EGAZPI #ITY

Albay on Friday night, Duterte revealed that he met with the parents of Abad but did not give details about the meeting.

He, however, lashed out at human rights groups critical of his drug war, saying they only look after the rights of drug offenders but ignore those who fall victim to the illegal substance. “ Kaganda ng bata , 19 years old, medical student. Ang human rights wala akong narinig sa mga p***** i**** ‘yan (She was a beautiful 19-year-old medical student. Yet I did not hear anything from the human rights advocates),� he said.

Police investigators are looking into the death of Abad, who was allegedly given the party drug ecstasy during a concert on the eve of the Sinulog Festival.

She was said to have collapsed in the middle of the event and was attended to by medical personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

She passed away at the hospital on Sunday afternoon.

The President noted that Abad’s death proved his point that the drug scourge must be

eliminated because it destroys the youth. “ Kaya sabi ko, pumasok kayo diyan papatayin ko talaga kayo.

Nakikinig ang human rights, judges. Kung wala na ako sa opisina, go ahead make my day. ‘ Yung mga galit na pinatay, pinatay ko daw, puntahan mo ako sa bahay (That’s why I said when you enter the drug trade, I will really kill you. The human rights (advocates) and judges are listening. When I’m done with being president then go ahead and make my day.

Those who say that I killed somebody come to my house),�

Duterte said. “I boasted that I can end the illegal drugs trade in six months.

I really thought I could do it,� the President said. “How can I solve it in six months, my enemies are the B u r e a u o f C u s t o m s, p o l i c e generals. They’re all in [Ninoy Aquino International Airport].

My enemy is my own government,� he added.

Human rights watchdogs had claimed that most of the fatalities in the government’s anti-narcotic drive were extrajudicial killings committed by the police, something the Duterte administration has vehemently denied.

Authorities have said those slain in legitimate police operations had put up violent resisTANCE AND THAT OFkCERS HAD SHOT them in self-defense.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

BALLOT PRINTING STARTS Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez checks a ballot that will be used for the elections in May. The National Printing Office started printing ballots on Saturday.

PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA

Russia celebrates Diplomats’ Day TO honor diplomats and to recognize the importance of international relations, Russia will observe Diplomats’ Day on February 10.

The Russian embassy in Manila said the date is closely associated WITH THE HISTORY OF 2USSIA S kRST foreign affairs agency — the Ambassadorial Department (Posolsky Prikaz). On Feb. 10, 1549, the Ambassadorial Department, estabLISHED BY #ZAR )VAN TH WAS kRST MENTIONED IN OFkCIAL CHRONICLES It added that the “Agreement on Peace and Love� between Russia and Byzantine Empire was signed in 860, and the envoys of Russian principalities were frequent guests in the states of the Medieval Europe.

But in 1500s, after the creation of a strong united Russian State, the necessity of a special diplo-

matic department to implement foreign policy became vital. In 1549 the diplomatic service was MADE INTO AN OFkCE OF THE 3TATE and received a special status.

The Ambassadorial Department was transformed into the Collegium of Foreign affairs in 1718-1720

by Emperor Peter the Great.

This marked the emergence of the Russian Empire. Diplomats serving within the Collegium laid down the fundamental principles and methods of the Russian diplomacy.

In 1802, the modern form of foreign policy management — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — was created by a manifesto of Emperor Alexander 1.

In 1914, Russia had a wide network of diplomatic and consular representations all over the world.

Claim for damages vs motor vehicle owner Dear PAO, My 14-year-old daughter was caught in a vehicular accident with a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old kid. I found out that the registered owner of the motorcycle is our neighbor named Ricky. My daughter will undergo a series of serious operations. I am wondering if I can demand for the payment of hospital bills from the owner of said motorcycle. Will the owner of said vehicle be liable for all our expenses?

Nimfa Dear Nimfa, Yes, you may demand for payment of damages. Based on the above circumstance, it is certain that Ricky is the registered owner of the vehicle which caused injury

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA to your daughter and it is on the basis of this fact that Ricky is primarily and directly liable for your daughter’s accident for damages.

While it is a well-settled rule that a person will generally be held liable only for tortious act committed by himself and not by another, as this is clearly provided in Article 2176 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. “Article 2176. Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for the damage done. Such

fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties, is called a quasi-delict and is governed by the provisions of this Chapter.�

(Emphasis supplied) However, there are instances which specify persons liable for acts committed by another. In the case of FEB Leasing and Finance Corporation vs. Spouses Sergio P. Baylon (GR 181398, June 29, 2011), penned by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the Supreme Court explained: “(W)ith respect to the public and third persons, the registered owner of a motor vehicle is directly and primarily responsible for the consequences of its operation regardless of who the actual vehicle owner might be. It is a well-established rule that the

registered owner of the vehicle is liable for quasi-delicts resulting from its use. xxx. The compulsory motor vehicle registration underscores the importance of registering the vehicle in the name of the actual owner.�

Thus, applying the foregoing in your situation, you may claim for damages against the registered owner of the motor vehicle for the injuries suffered by your daughter.

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

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s OfkCE 1UESTIONS FOR #HIEF !COSTA MAY be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

The embassy said Russian diplomacy made crucial contributions to the strengthening of the antiHitler coalition during World War 2 and establishment of the United Nations organization. “Today, Russian diplomacy plays a significant role within the UN, OSCE (Organization for Security and Coopeation in Europe), APEC !SIA 0ACIkC %CONOMIC #OOPERATION

and other many world and regional forums, promotes ties of friendship and cooperation with other states,� the Russian embassy said. “A diplomat of our times is completely different from the one of the past centuries. But the best traditions are followed by the Russian diplomats till today: enlightened patriotism, high professional culture, deep understanding of national interests, the ability to match diplomatic

activities to actual possibilities and resources of the country. As they did hundreds of years ago, diplomats still have the same requirements by today: a wide political range of vision, the ability to work with people, knowledge of foreign languages,� it added. “Modern diplomacy has become by far diverse, dynamic, open, pragmatic, flexible, multi-vector and balanced. It requires deeper knowlEDGE IN VARIOUS kELDS SUCH AS ENVIronmental issues, climate change, kGHTING TERRORISM AND MANY OTHERS While its method evolves towards multi-vector net-working, the chief task remains the same — securing favorable external conditions for the national development. This goal can be achieved only through a genuine partnership with both the West and the East.�

De Lima being treated humanely – PNP THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has maintained that detained Sen. Leila de Lima is being treated in a humane manner at the police Custodial Center, disputing the claims of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that the lawmaker was being accorded unfair treatment.

Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo, PNP Human Rights Affairs head, said de Lima was satisfied with the setup of her custodial facility and the treatment she had been receivING FROM CUSTODIAL OFkCERS “After our thorough inspection on Senator de Lima’s custodial facility, we can say that Atty. de Guia’s allegation and pronouncements against PNP is defamatory in nature. It was all false and malicious accusations,� he said, referring to CHR spokesman Jacque-

line Ann de Guia who claimed that the senator was being escorted excessively whenever she faced the media WHILE OTHER HIGH PROkLE DETAINEES were being treated fairly.

De Lima is currently detained in a 20.9 square meters (sqm) cell, Siervo said.

This, he said, is larger than the United Nations recommended measurement standard of 4.7 sqm to 5.4 sqm per detainee.

Siervo said de Lima has a mini library, mini garden area and space for physical exercises.

De Lima also has a personal staff who cater to her personal necessities inside the facility, he added.

The lawmaker has been detained since February 2017 over drug trafkCKING CHARGES ROY D.R. NARRA

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Opinion

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l Bullying the chief public attorney

F

ILIPINO politicians are notorious for riding on nearly every issue to gain media mileage. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has shown no compunction doing just that in calling for the resignation of Persida Rueda Acosta, the chief public attorney, amid the current measles outbreak in the country.

The reader might not be able to follow the logic behind the self-proclaimed “progressive� senator’s resignation call.

Hontiveros’ argument runs like this: Acosta’s well-publicized kLING OF CASES AGAINST FORMER AND INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS OVER THE BOTCHED $ENGVAXIA ANTI DENGUE MASS IMMUnization program has “eroded� public trust in vaccinations.

This, the senator claimed, was the reason parents had stopped getting measles shots for their children. Thus, Acosta should be blamed for the measles epidemic feared to be spreading across the regions. Acosta should, therefore, quit, the argument goes. $ISCLOSURE !COSTA THE HEAD OF THE 0UBLIC !TTORNEY S /FkCE (PAO), writes a daily legal advice column for The Manila Times. She holds no sway, however, on this paper’s editorial policy, much less in the writing of this editorial.

Hontiveros should be called out for her shameless politicking, and even bullying, of a fellow female public servant simply for taking the cudgels for poor litigants.

The senator accuses Acosta of “lies, negligence and hyperpartisanship,� strong words that could very well apply to the senator herself when she incorrectly chose to assign blame for the measles outbreak on the PAO chief. !COSTA MAY BE FAULTED FOR kLING COURT CASES LINKING DENGUE VIrus deaths to the Dengvaxia vaccine, but she is not, by any stretch of imagination, responsible for sparking a spike in measles cases.

Hontiveros has no proof that Acosta’s actions took away public confidence in the efficacy of vaccines. Acosta is no anti-vaxxer like Jenny McCarthy in the United States, who actively campaigns against vaccines; there is no record anywhere of Acosta telling parents to stop immunization for their children.

(OW ABOUT OTHER VACCINES LIKE THOSE AGAINST INlUENZA OR smallpox? Have immunizations gone down as well because of Acosta’s antics? Hontiveros didn’t say.

This could only be because it is Hontiveros, who is being hyper-partisan by engaging in propaganda to shift attention away from the liability of the administration of former president Benigno Aquino 3rd, her political patron, who authorized the Dengvaxia mass immunization program despite the fact that clinical trials had yet to be concluded.

The public should not forget the original and bigger sin — the previous administration’s negligence and incompetence that raised the risk on the health of thousands of Dengvaxia recipiENTS WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHOTS IN THE kRST PLACE As the public now knows, Dengvaxia has been found to be effective only on those with prior history of dengue infection, but could pose some risks if administered on those who had yet to be infected. There is, in fact, a strong case to be made here that the Dengvaxia mess that happened under Janet Garin as health secretary precisely undermined public CONkDENCE IN VACCINES NOT THE MEDIA FRENZY THAT FOLLOWED Hontiveros insults the people’s intelligence by implying that they could not distinguish between the Dengvaxia and measles vaccines. She further insults the public by not assigning blame on the Department of Health for the measles outbreak. It’s puzzling why the senator did not engage in that other thing Filipino politicians are notorious for: calling for “investigations or probes in aid of legislation.�

Rather than bully Acosta, Hontiveros should be investigatING HEALTH OFkCIALS FOR THEIR POOR EXECUTION OF THE MEASLES VACcination program and failure to stem the measles outbreak.

While she’s at it, she should run after her political allies who bungled the Dengvaxia program, namely Aquino and Garin, with the same zeal and energy that she’s expending on Acosta.

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

The Sunday Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 121

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 www.manilatimes.net • e-mail newsdesk@manilatimes.net 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.

I

Duterte’s taunts expose Catholics’ ignorance

F President Rodrigo Duterte warned that a persistent fever was nothing to worry about, few people would believe him, since everyone knows from experience and science that rising body temperature indicates possible illness.

Plus, doctors would tell anyone who asked that Duterte was probably kidding, and people would dismiss the remark, the President being no physician himself.

So, why is it that when he told Catholics to stop going to Mass, Church leaders worried that the faithful would actually follow his urging? Don’t Filipino Catholics know that Sunday Mass is mandated by God Himself in the Third Commandment, and the

FAITH HEALER RICARDO SALUDO Catechism of the Catholic Church actually states: “Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin� (CCC, par. 2181)?

Well, judging from the widespread failure to attend Mass, many Filipino Catholics, probably tens of millions of them, seem ignorant of that part of the Catechism, and maybe even the commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy�

(Exodus 20:8). So, anyone saying that Mass is optional or dumb, whether he lives in MalacaĂąang or Payatas, might actually be listened to by baptized believers.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) acknowledged this very problem of the faithful lacking knowledge of the faith in its pastoral statement after the CBCP plenary conference in late January, the kRST OF TWO THIS YEAR 4HE PRELATES statement said: “When people do not understand our essential doctrines as Roman Catholic Christians, we have also ourselves to blame. It could also mean we have failed in our preaching. Perhaps we have

not been effective enough in our catechesis about the faith.�

The CBCP cited preparations for the 500th anniversary of Christianity’s arrival in the country in 1521 as “a perfect opportunity to embark on a renewed integral evangelization in word and witness.�

Actually, that half-millennium jubilee might also be a rebuke.

Plainly, if after centuries of Christianity, Filipino Catholics still don’t know basic tenets such as why it was loving, not stupid, for God to create the universe, even if sin is inevitable in an imperfect world, it is an immense failure of the Church, especially its preachers.

ÂłSaludoA5

Q SUNDAY READ FROM A1

Why is there widespread, even intense, belief in the existence of God, or gods? hammer) or to his purported representatives (Christian faith healers) in the past have been exposed by science as either explainable by laws of nature or as hoaxes.

One could claim cavalierly that belief in God persists because God does exist. But that goes along the same line of thinking as that which claims Santa Claus does exist as he appears every December without fail.

Three major reasons for such belief have been advanced: One is fear of death, as a Deity — in all religions in all cultures — offers an eternal life of pleasure and happiness after death, as long as one pays obeisance to Him (or Her).

A second reason is that such belief makes a miserable life bearable. World Bank data shows that half of the world today, or 3 billion humans, are poor, their lives a total misery. For many of these, only a belief in a hungerfree afterlife awarded to the faithful believers of a merciful, generous God of bounty makes their lives tolerable.

This explains why, according to the Gallup polls, the importance of religion for people diminishes in developed egalitarian nations such as the Scandinavian countries, while such need for religion is extremely important to the poorest places like Bangladesh and Somalia.

Afterlife Even the rich, of course, lust for an afterlife, perhaps wondering, what is the use of having billions of pesos on earth if, one way or another, they can’t take their wealth with them when they die? Many of them talk about the afterlife in the twilight of their years as simply migrating to a different, better place, their visas secured by donating to their favorite Church.

A third reason is that the ruling classes, for thousands of years, have made sure that their subjects believed the religions they professed, which is the only factor, other than

sheer military strength, that allowed them to rule. Kings or queens were not just rulers; they were God’s representatives on earth.

Just a few centuries ago, either you believed in Christianity or Islam — depending on where you lived — or you were burned at the stake, or beheaded, or deported.

Subjects internalized these imposed beliefs, the easiest way to live their lives in peace. Indeed, the largest religions on earth — Christianity, Islam, Hinduism — were state religions of the most powerful empires on earth.

But these reasons fall short of explaining the intense belief of even the most intelligent people in the existence of God. “Ineffable� – too great to be expressed in words – has been the widespread descdription of their purported experience that God exists, that they have seen Jesus himself with his crown of thorns and bloody body. I know even former Marxists become “bornagain� Christians, defying all their INTELLECTUAL TRAINING IN SCIENTIkC

rational thinking.

to relive the experience of “oneness,� which is one’s state of mind in the womb.

Supreme Goddess

Nearly all pre-historic religions worshiped a Supreme Goddess or a Mother Earth, instead of a Male Deity. It was only after patriarchal societies, especially those that needed war gods, became the dominant form of human organization did a male Supreme God emerge, a mechanism for denying matriarchy. Even so, the Goddess “higher power� (the mother), as has always been lurking around most religions: the Egyptian Isis, a mechanism for survival. the Hebrew Astarte, the Hindu Whatey writes: “Even if she [the mother] cannot Saraswati and Kali.

C’mon, no amount of scholasbe immediately seen, heard, tasted, or felt, the mother still exists. Even if tic contortions can deny the fact she takes what seems an eternity to that Christianity’s Mother Mary respond to the infant’s cries, she still is really a goddess, even a more exists. This knowledge would give sympathetic one than Jesus or the an infant separated from its mother Father Almighty. Even some biblithe persistence to keep crying for her, cal scholars claim that it was Mary even if hunger and exhaustion would Magdalene and not Peter nor Paul otherwise compel silence and rest to WHO LED THE kRST *ESUS MOVEMENTS conserve energy. This hardwired, inAn infant’s belief in the existence nate sense of certainty of the mother’s of the unseen mother who would EXISTENCE IS

BY DEkNITION CERTAINTY IN save him from hunger was a survival the absence of evidence. The infant mechanism that helped humanity Illusion is certain because certainty confers a survive as a species. The hard-wiring in the brain that evolution created One explanation for such deep re- survival advantage.�

In times of stress (“there are no for this mechanism was transformed ligious experience that has become a breakthrough of sorts among atheists in foxholes,� the saying into a belief in an invisible god.

Nothing really wrong with that, students of religion has been the goes), this hard-wiring in the brain book, The Illusion of God’s Pres- is activated, giving the person an un- if the belief that God exists helps ence: The Biological Origins of shakeable belief that a higher power a man living in misery or hunger Spiritual Longing, by a renowned he cannot see cares for him and will survive, or if it makes life a bit neuroscientist, John Wathey, who save him. No wonder many people more bearable. got his Ph.D. at the University of report their return to the “Lord� after The tragedy of humanity is that learning they or a loved one had a belief in God has been used to make California in San Diego.

Presenting mountains of in- malignant, fatal cancer. up the core of organized religions, Whatey’s thesis does explain a which helped exploitative and even formation on neuroscience and evolutionary ethology, Wathey’s lot of things. ruthless ruling classes to oppress Every human being in whatever most of humanity. Worse, religion THESIS CAN BE SIMPLIkED AS FOLLOWS A man’s experience with a “god� is culture and era spent some nine has become an excuse for waging a remnant — he even locates the months in a mother’s womb and wars that kill millions of men. precise area of the brain where then was cared for by a mother this is lodged — of his time as a for at least a year. So every single Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ fetus in and as an infant thrown culture in every era believed in a gmail.com out from, the mother’s womb, Deity. I suspect that the smaller Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao during which evolution had mystic cults in most religions were Twitter: @bobitiglao hard-wired him to believe on a simply espousing mental exercises Archives at: www.rigobertotiglao.com

Opinion

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

A5

Q RONQUILLO FROM A1

Turn that loathsome pork into dialysis machines either of these two things: a foreign debt condonation or better repayment terms through rock-bottom interest payments.

From the money saved, so many public hospitals and barrio health centers would be built. So many public classrooms would be constructed. So much money could be diverted into the education and health systems of the country, said the good senator. Of course that was the Congress that always talked of really lifting the “human capital.� That was the Congress that passed the Free High School Act, the PhilHealth Law and the Senior Citizens Act, the trifecta that represented the State’s social contract with the governed.

The influence of the foreign creditors was dominating then and even the cousins of Senator Romulo scoffed at the idea. The false idea of “good behavior� from borrowers, never mind that

much of the borrowed money lined the pockets of the Marcoses and their cronies, was too deeply entrenched. The orthodoxy on debt policy still carried the day.

Nothing was done.

Yet, that episode planted the seminal seed of the national discussion on the need to make the most out of every peso in the national expenditure program. Because, as Romulo argued, every peso in the national budget spent for the public good was a peso well spent.

So, on the recent proposal for a presidential veto on every identikED PORK IN THE 0 TRILLION PLUS national budget for 2019, here is another possibility. Why not realign the pork items into better use? The pork can’t remain in the official budget because that is both unconstitutional and immoral. Why not re-purpose that pork into noble and practical expenditure items?

Were the P75 billion reportedly

Q SALUDO FROM A4

Duterte’s taunts So, you think you know the faith How lacking are Filipinos in faith knowledge? Let’s have a quick survey. Which of the following statements is true, ACCORDING TO OFkCIAL 6ATICAN DOCTRINE 1) There are three Persons in one God: the Father, the 3ON AND THE "LESSED 6IRGIN 2) The original sin committed by Adam and Eve was lying to God. 3) God gave the Ten Commandments to Abraham on Mount Sinai.

4HERE ARE NO ANGELS AND DEVILS THESE ARE JUST kCTIONAL beings in the Bible.

5) After the birth of Jesus, His mother Mary had other children with St. Joseph.

6) Jesus is human, but Christ is divine.

7) In the Bible, God inspired only the Gospels.

8) The Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a dear friend of Christ.

9) The Mass commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with His Apostles.

10) Mortal sin is a grave offense committed with full knowledge and seen by others.

11) There is no hell, because God is merciful and forgives all sins.

12) At the end of time, souls of good people will come back to life and enter Paradise.

Every one of those statements violates Church doctrines.

And if most, if not all believers who are asked about these statements think any of them is doctrinally correct, that’s exactly the problem with Filipino Catholics.

Why have so many Catholics missed basic truths about the faith? Part of it is the lack of Catholic instruction, especially for the majority of Filipinos who go to public schools. There’s also a dearth of faith information in mass and social media, flooded with entertainment, sports, news, chatter and ads.

A third reason for faith ignorance is, perhaps, the Church’s focus on its social mission, especially in the last half-century, giving less attention to doctrinal matters. Thus, most Mass homilies cover Church preaching on concern of the poor and the oppressed, admonitions against corruption and violence, and even the obligation to vote wisely.

But when was the last time one heard a priest at Mass talk about hypostatic union, the dogma that Jesus Christ is both God and man, or the Immaculate Conception, by which Mary, not Jesus, was conceived without original sin?

Instructing the ignorant Whatever the reasons for widespread ignorance of the faith, the task is clear: Everyone in the Church must perform one spiritual work of mercy: Instructing the ignorant. And such evangelization imparts knowledge crucial to salvation — surely, at least as important as reading, writing, arithmetic and making a living.

What should the Church do to better school the faithful on the faith? For starters, inject catechism in Mass homilies.

For instance, in expounding on today’s Sunday Gospel reading about the call of Simon Peter to apostleship, the HOMILIST CAN EXPLAIN ONE OF THE FOUR DEkNING MARKS OF the Catholic Church: it is Apostolic, with its doctrines, Sacraments, liturgy, basic structure, and other fundamental elements handed down by Christ’s chosen Apostles.

The second reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians also demonstrates the direct link between Jesus and His Apostles and disciples, to whom He appeared after His Resurrection. And the epistle also recounts basic beliefs in the Apostles’ Creed recited at every Sunday Mass, showing that these doctrines were held by Christians from the time of the Apostles.

Along with Sunday mass, family and community should be harnessed for preaching. Prayers like the Rosary and novenas are promoted and practiced widely, but what about catechetical and biblical study?

And since people spend much time on entertainment AND SOCIAL MEDIA WHY NOT HAVE MORE MOVIES 46 AND RADIO shows, and web pages with engaging material on the faith?

If the Church did all that, next time someone attacks the faith, the faithful will just chuckle at the public display of ignorance.

More important: With faith knowledge, Christians can follow more closely the saving instructions Jesus Christ handed down to us through His Church. Amen.

inserted into the P3.7 trillion national budget by “Insertion Czar� aka Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, realigned into funding for dialysis machines (and the initial liquid mix needed for the cleansing process called dialyzate), what would be the immediate impact?

Here is a partial list: — Tens of thousands of lives saved — Tens of thousands of families saved from economic collapse due to the high cost — and the frequency — of the dialysis procedure — An improved national health care system I am, of course, understating the impact of having an overwhelming presence of dialysis machines, particularly in poor and low-income rural and urban areas. Plus, the EXTRA FUNDS FOR THE CLEANSING lUID According to data, one of our countrymen develops chronic renal failure every hour. About 120 of 1 million Filipinos need

a twice-a-week or a thrice-a-week dialysis procedure to rid the blood of waste, salt and sugar. Kidney TRANSPLANTS ARE LIMITED kRST FOR the costs and second, for the lack of experts in the area. Dialyzing is the way to go. I have seen too many next of kin die due to kidney failure and the cost, the whole process, is heart-breaking.

Also factor this in: the armies of diabetics about to enter that scary territory of kidney failure.

The data alone makes a very compelling case, for one thing. Instead of a presidential veto on the pork-related items, why not take the option of realigning the billions of pesos in pork-related items into expenditure for public good, with dialysis machines as a priority.

The formulation is simple enough — turn pork in the national budget into dialysis machines.

And that would deliver a national relief so overwhelming.

It is easy to see the point of just realigning the pork items into expenditures for the public good under an environment of extreme transparency.

The P3.7 trillion-plus proposed budget for the year came up after a solid revenue projection. Most of that will come from taxes, backed up by borrowed money, sourced in moderation, and repayment of which will be manageable.

All national budgets are framed with strains and exigencies and emergencies factored in. Fiscal stability was and is the end-all and beall. Nothing to fear if the pork items are used for more important and priority items, such as dialysis machines for every barrio, if possible.

After the dialysis machines, what? This is the easy part.

Our public research universities are starved of funds. The reality is this: our public research universities do not really lack the academic stars and research-

ers to shine in the Asian tertiary education and research firmament. I personally know of some kids with doctorates from elite universities in the United States and with offers to teach there.

But they have turned down the offers to teach at the elite US schools so that they could teach at our University of the Philippines and the other local public research universities, even at starvation pay.

What our public research universities lack is money for serious research and development work, money for the labs and money to fund the long and tedious research work. Rigor does not come cheap, IT NEEDS kNANCIAL SUPPORT Then we build technology hubs to supplant the grassy knolls that pass off as technology hubs. But that is one topic that should be discussed deeply. We will go into that in future columns.

At the 4th National Convention for the Rank and File employees of the Public Attorney’s Office Feb. 6, 2019, The Tent City, Manila Hotel

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SPEECH OF CABINET SECRETARY KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES

ANK and File employees of PAO, our dear Public Attorneys — defenders of the country’s poor and the marginalized in society — magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Una sa lahat, ang aking pasasalamat sa pagkakahirang bilang isa sa pinarangalan ngayong araw na ito na inyong “ika-apat na National Convention.� But while I am grateful for the honor and privilege of this recognition, I believe it must be stressed that those who truly deserve to be awarded every day are the underpaid, overworked, and often underappreciated Rank and File employees who have chosen to use their education, their skills, and their knowledge of the law to defend those who cannot defend themselves.

Palakpakan po natin ang ating mga rank-and-file employees ng PAO. Maraming salamat po sa serbisyo publiko.

It was President Ramon Magsaysay Sr. who said that “he who has less in life should have more in law.�

Higit na kaalaman. Higit na pagkakataon na maipagtanggol ang sarili. Higit na lingap at alalay ng pamahalaan upang pantay na maiharap ang sarili sa anumang usapin ng batas at katarungan.

Yet, getting more in law will never be just a matter of the government providing the poor access to legal representation and counsel. In a larger, more developmental sense, it is about creating a government that elevates the welfare, condition, and aspirations for the future of the poor in our midst. A policy environment that gravitates toward laws and POLICIES THAT GIVE THE POOR A kGHTING chance not only in law, but more importantly, in life.

The Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022 of the Duterte Administration envisions a future where “every Filipino enjoys a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay.�

A life that is stable, comfortable and secure for every citizen.

And this is achievable if we are able to lay down the foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society and a globallycompetitive knowledge economy by 2022.

That is why of the over 500 bills I have authored in Congress, a considerable number of them are dedicated to introducing reforms in sectors that need the support of government the most.

An example is House Bill 01352 in 2016, which seeks to “protect the welfare of informal workers in all economic units in private and public by transitioning them to formal employment and providing support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises toward decent and productive employment.�

Another is House Bill 00732, the goals of which are to protect the rights of internally displaced persons and to penalize acts of arbitrary displacement. To help give our country’s youth a better chance to pursue their dreams, I likewise co-authored the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition for the students enrolled in our state universities and college.

Today in my new role as Cabinet Secretary, I work hand-in-hand with my colleagues in the Cabinet fo ensure that the programs, policies and plans of the Duterte administration serve the interests of the poor and powerless. These include efforts to promote the welfare of land reform beneficiaries, farmers, rebel returnees and the victims of natural disasters, as well as prioritizing food security and water security particularly the marginalized sectors.

Trinabaho natin ang mga batas at programa na ito kasi marami sa mga kababayan natin kailangan ng kakampi sa iba’t-ibang sangay ng gobyerno. Kailangan nila ng kakampi sa lehislatura, kakampi sa ehekutibo, at kakampi sa hudi-

katura . This applies when it comes to our criminal justice system; the needy require someone to stand by them, and that is the role that PAOs play.

It was also President Magsaysay who said that “the little man is fundamentally entitled to a little bit more food in his stomach, a little more cloth on his back, and a little more roof over his head.�

I believe that the less fortunate among our people are entitled to a little bit more than that. In our age, the little man should get a little bit more of information, of education, of a chance to prove his worth as a stakeholder in nation-building.

The little man should be able to lift himself up in our time, to be bigger and better than he used to be. Big enough to be able to defend himself.

This, I believe, is the essence of governance — that the governed, ultimately, would be able to look after themselves. To feed themselves and their family. To know and enjoy their inalienable rights as citizens of the land. To be able to dream and act on those dreams.

To be able to tell themselves: “We are not small anymore. Therefore, we will matter to our country and make a difference for those left behind, like we were before�.

Sa ganito pong diwa, tinutulungan ng Public Attorneys Office ang pinakamaliliit sa atin.

Hindi lamang pagtatanggol, kundi pagbibigay-lakas. The PAO, in making itself available to the displaced, abused, and marginalized, is in fact, not only defending the defenseless — it is empowering the weak and telling them: “Your government is here with you, and will always be with you to lift you up until you can stand on your own two feet. And when that time comes, try and give back to your country — to your family, to your community, to society.�

Alam ko po na hindi biro ang araw-araw na trabaho bilang mga

tagapagtanggol ng bayan. Bilang mga empleyado ng PAO, alam kong malayo at mahirap ang pinagdadaanan ninyong lahat para maging ganap na tagapagtanggol. Namuhunan tayo ng pera, pagod, puyat, pawis at dugo.

Katulad naming mga abogado noong kami ay mga law students pa , we spent nights pouring over tons of books and legal documents.

More sleepless nights preparing for the Bar exams. Tapos pagpasa mo ng Bar, ganun uli, pero imbes na readings, pleadings; imbes na magbasa ng sangkatutak na kaso, kailangan maghanda para sa sangkatutak na kaso; imbes na maghanda para mag recite sa prof, kailangan maghanda para humarap sa huwes. Kayong mga empleyado ng PAO, para na rin kayong mga abogado.

At the end of each tiring day, you probably ask yourself, “why am I doing this?�

Allow me to answer that for you.

Nandidito kayo dahil natutunan n'yo sa magulang nyo magpahalaga sa mga bagay ng higit sa katumbas ng salapi o gantimpala. Natutunan n'yo sa mga paaralan nyo na walang hihigit pang pag-ibig kundi sa pag-ibig mo sa bayan. At natutunan n'yo kay Kristo na mahalin ang kapwa, tulad ng pagmamahal mo sa sarili.

Naniniwala ba kayo na nandidito tayo sa mga dahilang higit pa sa sukat ng salapi at kayamanan?

Na kasaysayan at tadhana ang nagtakda nang ating paghaharap at pag-iisa sa sa araw na ito?

Nandidito ka‌ nandidito tayo ... sa pamahalaan ‌ sa paglilingkodpubliko dahil nauunawaan natin na kung wala tayo, wala nang iba.

Kung hindi ikaw, wala na. Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?

Brave and tireless men and women of the Public Attorneys Office, I salute you and thank you all for the service you render the Filipino nation; Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay po kayong lahat!

Transforming economies, states and societies – building evidence for achieving SDGS Wider publications have had similar transformative effects on successive HELSINKI, Finland: Following on from generations of social scientists.

In a world where there are inFinn Tarp, my predecessor, is a daunting prospect, but I look for- creasing asymmetries of knowledge ward to working with my colleagues creation and sharing between the at Unu-Wider and with our many Global North and South, Unu-Wider partners to build on the achieve- is ideally placed to use the power of its global network to address the ments of the past 10 years. ) WAS kRST ACQUAINTED WITH 5NU pressing questions in development.

The three interconnected transforWider as a graduate student in the United States in the late 1980s. I mations I am delighted to take the came across several of the institutes helm at Unu-Wider, an institution publications which became classics which has been associated with IN THE kELD OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOM- some of the most advanced thinking ics, including Hunger and Public in development economics.

Unu-Wider has combined outAction by Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, and 6ARIETIES OF 3TABILIZATION standing research with sustained policy engagement on some of the Experience by Lance Taylor.

These publications had a pro- most pressing concerns affecting found impact on my own thinking, the living standards of the world’s and since then many other Unu- poorest people.

BYÂ KUNAL SEN

multiple dimensions of wellbeing necessary to achieve the SustainOver the past 33 years, and most able Development Goals (SDGs). recently under the leadership of my This involves transformation in predecessor, Finn Tarp, in the last 10 three different dimensions: econoYEARS 5NU 7IDER HAS SIGNIkCANTLY mies, polities, societies. The new advanced our understanding of the work program will address these causes of poverty and inequality, dimensions of transformation, climate change, the roots of gen- which will become the thematic der inequality, and the challenges foci of Unu-Wider’s research in of structural transformation for the coming years: Transforming low-income countries necessary to Economies, Transforming States, achieve the SDGs and Transforming Societies.

In the new year, we launched our Transforming Economies — the new work program for 2019–23. kRST THEMATIC FOCUS OF 5NU 7IDER S This will be the most ambitious new work program — is at the core work programme that Unu-Wider of any meaningful development has undertaken so far. I believe the strategy and set of policies. challenge of development is ultiLarge-scale changes in the strucmately a question of transforma- ture of economic activity and emtion — how to bring about broad- ployment opportunities must take based sustained improvement in ³IPSA6

Wider impact

A6

Opinion

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Challenging forecast of a wealthy Philippines M MY SAY Y article last week, “The Philippines 50 years hence,� drew the attention of somebody who has been avidly following this column. He is Vicente L. Domingo, who, aside from being a member of the Agriculture Board of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), also heads a large farmers’ cooperative, Kapisanan ng Magsasaka, Mangingisda at Manggagawa ng Pilipinas Inc. (Kammmpi).

Fondly called Sonny by friends and associates, he proclaims having started taking an interest in my writings after reading the series of articles on my concept of KOMUN (readers may search the archives for THE LAST QUARTER OF (E kNDS the spirit of self-help underlying the KOMUN quite in harmony with just that reason-for-being of Kammmpi. By now, he has made available to KOMUN the men and resources of Kammmpi for the implementation of the former’s undertakings, the priority being the establishment of KOMUN stores in strategic areas to provide the people with a concrete view of how the self-help style of KOMUN works.

Certainly KOMUN aspires for just that state of the country in which it is ranked among the world’s most powerful economies. Both Sonny and I recognize that KOMUN will not attain its vision for the people without the Philippines, being, indeed, among the most powerful economies of the world.

KOMUN has been conceived to supplant the disastrous, bloody armed struggle that has been waged by rebel armies across the archipelago over the past half century. How KOMUN intends to carry out this vision is concerned with tactics and strategies that are better kept under wraps — as all war plans should be.

At any rate, if KOMUN is the

MAURO GIA SAMONTE people-friendly mode of struggle for attaining liberation of the working class, then the Philippines’ ranking 50 years hence among the wealthiest and most powerful economies of the world should be a KOMUN handiwork.

One thing I admire about Ka Sonny is his bullheadedness. Once he sets his mind to something, he makes sure he gets it. For instance, he recognizes, as I preach, that initial adherents to the idea of KOMUN will come from the most marginalized sector of society. The urban poor? No, poorer still than the urban social dregs. Then who?

The dwellers in the hinterlands, they whose lack of skill to survive in the concrete jungles of cities and municipalities relegates them to the foothills and mountains where only they can eke out a living from tilling the land.

For two septuagenarians, treading mountain ledges or forging streams on foot could be very tiresome, if not truly health-damaging. So, Ka Sonny made do with his meager resources to acquire a second-hand four-wheel-drive van to make our frequent sorties to the hinterlands of Rizal, where we intend to showcase the operation of KOMUN, a little comfortable.

If, as Mao Zedong illustrated it, one single foolish old man showed the way for removing the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism in China, all the more can, not one, but two, foolish old Don Quixotes bring that phenomenon about in the Philippines.

“The key lies in agriculture,� says Ka Sonny. “The people must be liberated from the basic want of their stomach before they can turn their attention to developing industry — the hallmark of an advance, powerful economy.�

Ka Sonny is saddened by the fact — from his standpoint – that the government doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the plight of the farmers. “Do you know that the Department of Agriculture allots P1.5 million for irrigating one hectare of palay land? But how much palay is harvested from that hectare?

Some 45 to 50 cavans. You spend P1.5 million to harvest 50 cavans of rice? Crazy. Kammmpi has a technology for irrigating that same hectare for much less but for a yield that is more than double.

Just you wait for KOMUN to get the necessary support for getting that technology rolling the country over. Only then can we say that the Philippines is at least on the road to becoming among the wealthiest and most powerful economies in the world 50 years hence.�

Ka Sonny’s method, from his words, is very simple.

He says, “ Kammmpi enrolls farmers, like in a university, which he calls UNIEARTH (University of the Earth), because they will be trained in soil conservation and environmental production, including character and values formation since they are mostly just Grade 6 graduates.�

Ka Sonny adds, “Given necessary FUNDS ) INTEND TO BUY A GASIkER power plant to convert agro-forest waste to energy that will be pollution free, and at the same time invest in a modern rice mill complex for value adding. It will also be inclusive, where the farmers will own the farmers’ corporation

that will be organized to provide professional management to the 1,000-hectare module.�

According to Ka Sonny, for purposes of planting palay, 1,000 hectares are really no big deal. “It is just planting 10 hectares a day with the same protocol.

When the plants are mature they will also be harvesting 10 hectares (of palay) a day and henceforth, will be planting and harvesting 10 hectares a day.�

The Kammmpi head considers it unfortunate that the failure of the government to provide fund support for the group’s Get Smart Farm program at least one per region can cause the country to head toward a direction quite opposite that which was projected for it, as delineated in my past column.

He complains, “Kammmpi doesn’t get government support at all because we are not a business enterprise of oligarchs that generates billions of pesos for their own private pocketing. This is a sad commentary but this is the TRUTH )F THIS PROJECT WILL NOT kND A funder or investor, since it is just an integrated farming system using the success stories of the governMENT IN MAKING AVAILABLE CERTIkED seeds, mechanizing farms and improving post harvest facilities, then surely there will be no additional rice production, andthus, famine will be upon this country. Mind YOU DURING THE LAST kVE YEARS WE had a 20 percent shortfall in rice production.�

Ultimately Ka Sonny warns, “We will then be no different from the African states that now have continuing civil wars, not really for leadership control but actually for food control. President Duterte may then leave a legacy unique to a tropical country. We will have a hungry country.�

Q IPS FROM A5

Transforming economies, states, & societies place if absolute poverty is to be reduced alongside addressing economic and social inequalities.

Economic transformation is also essential in delivering higher levels of income and increasing market activity. These are critically needed to improve the mobilization of domestic resources and establish an enlarged tax base THAT CAN kNANCE THE INVESTMENTS needed to achieve the SDGs. But for meaningful economic transformation to take place, there needs to be a political transformation as well. This is why Transforming States will be the second thematic focus of Unu-Wider’s work program.

Capable and effective states are needed to work with the private sector to achieve higher rates of economic growth, but also to bring about a shift to more environmentally sustainable production.

At the same time, the state has a key role to play in providing necessary public goods and in shaping the transformation of societies in ways that yield greater empowerment — through proac-

tive policies to help reduce marginalization of the poor and to achieve greater gender equality.

Accountable states that are responsive to the needs of their citizens are an essential factor in national development. The challenge is to build capable AND LEGITIMATE STATES IN DIFkCULT contexts, especially in fragile and CONlICT AFFECTED ENVIRONMENTS The third thematic focus of the new work programme is Transforming Societies. Economic and political transformation needs to be accompanied by social transformation, such that every citizen can live in a socially inclusive and egalitarian society.

Increasing the capacities, reSOURCES AND CONkDENCE OF INDIviduals and their communities is a means to end poverty and to contain and reduce not only gender inequality, but other social inequalities as well.

This is now a pressing concern in many societies, especially when high inequality destabilizes political systems, increases state fragility, and hinders the trans-

formation of economies.

The actions of both state and non-state actors (such as non-governmental organizations and community groups) matter in bringing about social transformation. The challenge for us is to understand the conditions under which such actions are possible, and when they can become transformative.

How will we get there?

These three themes are at the very center of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Much of our work will include mobilizing policy research, evidence, and action around selected goals of the 2030 Agenda as well as responding to the Agenda’s "call for increased support for strengthening data collection and capacity-building in Member States."

With the three transformations in mind we will start the work WITH LAUNCHING SIX lAGSHIP PROJects in 2019 — on informality, women’s work, social mobility, building capable states, structural

transformation, and extractives.

As always, we welcome the Unu-Wider network to engage with us in thinking through and taking action for a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

How can this be practically done?

Keep an eye on calls for papers and research proposals coming out throughout the year, apply for visiting scholaror PhD fellowhip in order to visit and work with us.

Right now we have an open call for papers for the next Wider development conference, being held 11-13 September 2019 in Bangkok, in partnership with Unescap. The theme of the conference is Transforming Economies — for Better Jobs.

We welcome submissions of proposals from you and I hope to meet many of you in Bangkok — it is your active participation in UnuWider’s development conferences that have made these events the successes that they are.

IPS

Kunal Sen is Director, UN University, World Institute for Development Economics Research (Unu-Wider)

US strikes back at Russia in cyberspace warfare WASHINGTON, DC: With little public fanfare, US Cyber Command, the military’s new center for combating electronic attacks against the United States, has launched operations to deter and disrupt Russians who have been meddling with the US political system.

Like other US cyberwar activities, this effort against Russia is cloaked in secrecy. But it appears to involve, in part, a warning to suspected Russian hackers that echoes a menacing phrase that’s a staple of many fictional crime and spy thrillers: “We know where you live.�

Beginning last fall, before the midterm elections, Cyber Command began directly contacting Russians who were linked to operations, such as those with the Internet Research Agency, which allegedly helped coordinate Moscow’s campaign to subvert the 2016 presidential election. The apparent aim was to put people on notice that their covers had been blown, and that their ability to work and travel freely might be affected.

53 OFkCIALS BELIEVE THAT THE DISruption effort has frazzled some of the Russian targets and may have deterred some interference during the midterms. The operation was first reported by The New York Times on October 23, and additional details have emerged from public and private sources. /NE UNLIKELY PUBLIC CONkRMAtion came from Yevgeny Zubarev, the director of the St. Petersburgbased Federal News Agency and one of the apparent Russian targets. Justice Department prosecutors have alleged that Zubarev’s information website, known by its Russian acronym FAN, was part of the same covert-action network as the Internet Research Agency. “The United States Cyber Command writes to me to say that what I am doing is wrong, that their job IS TO kGHT TROLLS u :UBAREV TOLD THE Daily Beast in December. “We are defending the motherland on the information fronts.� But he denied he was part of any “troll farm.�

A catalogue of potential Russian operatives, who might be targets of similar Cyber Command warnings, came in an indictment unsealed in October describing how a Russian bookkeeper’s role in managing a “conspiracy ... to sow division and discord in the US political system.�

A dozen fronts for this alleged political-interference operation, including FAN, are cited in the indictment, along with 14 companies that maintained bank accounts to finance operations.

Prosecutors alleged that the bookkeeper prepared “hundreds of kNANCIAL VOUCHERS BUDGETS AND payment requests,� and the indictMENT LISTED PRECISE kGURES FROM A series of monthly budgets from February 2017 to June 2018.

This was the covert world’s version of a “gotcha.� The implication was that US intelligence had the names, dates, web addresses and

WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

DAVID IGNATIUS other details of anyone touched by the bookkeeper’s electronic connections. Some of these operatives and contractors may have been among those pinged by Cyber Command. The message, in part, was that their ability to operate in secrete had vanished.

This tactic of outing Russian cyber operatives may have a “deterrent effect,� argues Thomas Rid, a Johns Hopkins professor and author of the forthcoming book, Active Measures: A History of Disinformation. He explained in an interview: “We know from history that when intelligence OFkCERS WHO HAVE PRIZED SECRECY their entire careers are exposed, it is a punch in the gut.�

Cyber Command’s doctrine in more aggressively targeting Russian manipulation was outlined by Gen. Paul Nakasone, its commander, in the current issue of Joint Force Quarterly. He said that past efforts to combat adversaries who penetrated US networks or internet sites “have not worked,� and that the US instead needed to take the offensive and “persistently engage� these adversaries through what he called “defending forward.�

Nakasone’s new doctrine moves the US closer to Russia’s view that cyberspace is part of a continuum of warfare, which can be dialed up or down, rather than a binary on-off switch.

In combating Russian information operations last year, Cyber Command and the NSA are said to have furnished information they had obtained about Russian trolling and passed it to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, which then warned socialmedia platforms and other organizations to counter the threats.

Facebook, Twitter and other companies have recently announced steps to curtail foreign manipulation through fake accounts, but they’ve said little about how they obtained their evidence.

We’ve repeated so often that a new age of warfare is dawning, with cyber and other forms of HIGH TECH CONlICT THAT IT S EASY to miss the importance of this INlECTION POINT ! FOREIGN ADVERsary conspired to undermine the American political system. The US has responded, after initial uncertainty, by taking its cyber defense into the heart of the adversary’s networks of covert manipulation.

Now that the battle has been joined, the world will be living in a contested information space, indefinitely.

(C) 2019, WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

David Ignatius can be reached via Twitter: @IgnatiusPost.

FOCUS

Trump’s World Bank pick echoes calls for reform from other critics WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the World "ANK IS A kREBRAND CRITIC OF THE WORLD S largest anti-poverty lender — an institution he has called wasteful, corrupt and overly generous to China.

Those criticisms are similar to those expressed by others in the development community. But that does not mean they have found a new ally in David Malpass, the SENIOR 53 4REASURY OFkCIAL WHO HAS pledged to reform the bank.

Nancy Pelosi, the newly reinstalled Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, says Trump’s choice threatens to “undermine the institution’s mission.�

And Liberia’s former minister of public works W. Gyude Moore tweeted that “an incorrigible arSONIST WILL NOW BE OUR kRE CHIEF u Still Malpass’s many criticisms of the Washington-based lender echo familiar refrains.

Many activists have long called

for reforms at the World Bank, citing a litany of alleged human rights failures and scandals, and saying projects all too often left the world’s poorest even worse off, harmed the environment or entrenched the power of oligarchies and despots.

Those critics might well have nodded their heads in accord in 2017 when Malpass said international financial institutions such as the World Bank “spend a lot of money�

BUT ARE gNOT VERY EFkCIENT u “They are often corrupt in their lending practices and they don’t GET THE BENEkT TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE in the countries,� he said in congressional testimony.

However, when pressed for examples, he cited situations in Venezuela and South Africa, countries that do not have programs with the World Bank.

Internal audits and outside reports have tied World Bank funds

to forced labor in Uzbekistan, death squads in Honduras and a Chadian oil pipeline that enriched the undemocratic local government all while child mortality rose, to name just a few examples.

So is Malpass a kindred spirit?

Analysts and activists say probably not.

David Pred, head of Inclusive Development International, which has accused the World "ANK OF BACK DOOR kNANCING FOR COAL kRED ENERGY IN !SIA THAT IS likely to spur global warming, questioned Trump’s choice. “While some of Malpass’s past critiques of the World Bank may be valid, the former chief economist of a financial institution whose recklessness helped blow up the global economy in 2008 is one of the last people we can count on to make the bank more accountable,� he told AFP. Malpass served as chief econ-

omist at the former investment bank Bear Stearns, whose collapse marked the start of the global financial crisis.

‘Fundamentally opposed’?

Malpass is not viewed simply as a critic.

Moore, the former Liberian minister, told AFP that Malpass’ opposition to lending to China could be incompatible with the bank’s business model.

Returns from those loans provide helps to fund for assistance to low-income countries, many of which are now concentrated in Africa, he said. “He’s never put forth an alternative about how the bank is going to grow its reserves,� Moore said. “To have a person who is fundamentally opposed to the way the bank does business raises questions for me and is alarming.�

The bank did not respond to Malpass’s criticism in 2017 but it touts the precipitous drop in extreme global poverty — which it says fell to 10 percent from 36 percent between 1990 and 2015 — as evidence of its success.

The global lender also routinely blacklists corrupt companies and says it scrutinizes projects for corruption risk.

Malpass told reporters last week that the bank had changed since his 2017 testimony. “There were criticisms that I had that were addressed in the reform package� of 2018, he said, adding that he wanted to focus on the bank’s “core mission� of poverty eradication.

The bank’s board will accept nominations for through midMarch, but under an unwritten rule Washington has anointed World Bank’s president since its creation following World War 2 — a practice

that faces mounting opposition.

Elana Berger, executive director of the Bank Information Center, which scrutinizes World Bank lending, also is dubious about Malpass, despite sharing some of his concerns. “I agree that the World Bank frequently falls short of achieving its mission because its projects are very often not well targeted� towards the goal of poverty reduction, she told AFP. But it was unclear whether Malpass shares the bank’s goals.

In accepting Trump’s nomination last week, Malpass hailed the bank’s new Saudi-supported Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, spearheaded by the president’s daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump.

Berger said that $1 billion fund represented “a drop in the bucket� compared to the billions the bank spends in a given year.

AFP

˜ The Sunday Times

Regions Japan grants $10M housing project for Marawi rehab

w w w.manilatimes.net

Ozamis drug group member busted with P47M shabu A MEMBER of the Ozamis drug group and A NEWLY IDENTIkED COURIER WAS ARRESTED WITH P47.6 million worth of shabu during a buybust in Mandaue City, Cebu on Friday.

Suspect Charlie Fortuna, 24, who did not resist arrest, claimed he did not have any other job so he resorted to the illegal drugs trade. He insisted that he was only a drug courier.

Senior Supt. Remus Medina, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said Fortuna, of Barangay Inayagan, Naga City, south Cebu sold a medium pack of shabu for P50,000 to a poseur buyer at about 9 p.m. at Cebu’s Plaza Independencia.

The undercover police then told Fortuna he wanted to buy more shabu, so he brought the poseur buyer to a two-story house in Vista Montana Subdivision in Barangay Casili, Mandaue City.

Found inside the house were three packs of shabu placed in an icebox and four more packs near the stairs for a total of 7 kilos estimated at P47.6 million.

Medina told The Manila Times the house where more shabu packs were found was owned by Fortuna’s aunt who was also a member of the Ozamis drug group. But the police did not identify the aunt.

Police said Fortuna was an illegal drugs courier all over Cebu and it was his second time to sell big volume of the illegal substance. “He already sold a kilo of shabu before but we do not know yet to whom or where,�

Medina added.

The suspect, who has been under surveillance for about two months, reportedly gets his supply of shabu from Manila.

After his arrest, Fortuna told the police that a certain inmate at the Mandaue City Jail facilitated the entry of shabu from Manila to the cities of Cebu and Mandaue through the roll-on/roll off (RORO) vessels.

RHEA RUTH ROSELL

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

BY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

M

ARAWI CITY: The Japanese government extended $10-million grant to fund a major housing development for the rehabilitation of the Islamic city of Marawi after the 2017 siege.

The program, “Rebuilding Marawi Through Community-Driven Shelter and Livelihood� was launched recently and would be implemented by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) with the Social Housing and Finance Corp. (SHFC).

Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, SHFC president, said the project would be funded through a grant of 1.1 billion Japanese yen or about $10 million. SHFC will provide P248 million as counterpart for land acquisition and site development.

He added that they have already completed the workshop for the Marawi home partners and were awaiting the release of funds for its implementation.

The project launch was held at Barangay Dulay Proper in Marawi, which

included a ceremonial groundbreaking and capsule-laying. Guests included the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda and his secretaries, Mayor Majul Gandamra, UN Habitat Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo, Cabling, Japan International Cooperation Agency Philippines Chief Rep. Yoshio Wada and his executive staff, Task Force Bangon Marawi Manager Asst.

Secretary Felix Castro Jr., as well as local leaders of Marawi City.

Some 1,500 families in Barangay Dulay, selected from among the displaced residents from the three-meter easement of Agus River and Lanao Lake, are the BENEkCIARIES OF THE HOUSING PROJECT The innovative feature of the project, according to Rollo, is the direct in-

volvement of the home partners in the planning and construction of 1,500 houses. It is an adaptation of similar projects implemented by UN Habitat in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Mongolia, where a concept called “People’s Process� is integrated into a structural framework that places people’s needs and their rights at the heart of urban development.

People’s Process, Rollo added, is a globally recognized approach that emphasizes involvement of stakeholders in decision making and project implementation.

Among the project’s expected output are the 1,500 permanent core shelters, 10 community infrastructures, livelihood support for 4,000 families, community and capacity development support, sustained peace and development, and geographic information system-based maps of tenurial rights of partner communities.

Homeowners will not pay any amortization for 99 years, after which the units will be reverted back to government.

Rollo said the funds would be given di-

3 SLAIN, 19 NABBED IN BULACAN DRUG WAR

P500K SHABU SEIZED IN MINDORO SOME P500,000 worth of shabu was seized from a man at the transport terminal in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday. Senior Insp. Hope Balasuit of Drug Enforcement Unit identified the suspect as Dondon Dela Cruz, 42, of Purok Malvar, Barangay Pagasa of San Jose. Balasuit said Dela Cruz was accosted by the team led by Chief Supt. Julian Olonan of San Jose Police Office at the Grand Terminal in Barangay San Roque who yielded three sachets concealed inside a mini speaker upon his arrival from Manila.Seized were 93.887 grams of shabu with estimated P500,000 street value. Dela Cruz was tested positive for drugs.

NIKKI DELOS REYES

3 HVT PUSHERS NABBED IN KALINGA SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union: Three high-value targets for illegal drug pushing were arrested in a buybust at Purok 7, Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga on Wednesday. Supt. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. identified the suspects as Annabel Alverio Estrada, Marlon Cabilec Olimos and Jackielou Castillo Macabenta, all from Paliparan 3, DasmariĂąas City, Cavite who were arrested after weeks of surveillance. Seized from the suspects were more than 65 grams of shabu placed in a big plastic sachet and three medium size sachets of undetermined amount, buy-bust money and three cellphones. The suspects are undergoing investigation at the Tabuk City police station.

WILLIAM JUN GARCIA

RECTLY TO THE BENEkCIARY FAMILIES WHILE 5.

Habitat would manage the entire project. “We also have our own construction and technical men who will assist during implementation but the families have the option to hire workers for their respective homes,� Rollo added.

The Marawi city government lauded the project as one with the highest impact and, so far, one of the most innovative housing programs introduced in this part of Mindanao.

It also has a livelihood component unlike most housing projects introduced after the Marawi Siege. Cabling said home partners had already undergone a workshop on house construction planning, design and implementation as well as in livelihood.

Aside from providing funds for house construction, the home partner will also be given funds for livelihood assistance to empower partner families so they can sustain their stay in the Dulay Program.

This program is independent from the grand plan to rebuild Marawi, Cabling added.

Dengvaxia scare blamed for NCotabato measles cases

Regional DrugWatch Three suspected drug pushers were killed, while 13 others were arrested in a series of buy-busts conducted by the Bulacan Police on Thursday and Friday. Bulacan Police Director Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, identified the slain suspects as Loreto Consumo, 31, of Bambang, Bocaue; Johnson Milliama; and Narciso Calizon, 48, of Barangay Sta. Catalina Bata, San Ildefonso town who is included in the drug watchlist of the town police. Supt.

Orlando Castil Jr., City of San Jose del Monte Police chief, said that after transacting with a poseur buyer in Area F, Barangay San Pedro, Milliama sensed that he was dealing with undercover agents and shot the operatives as he tried to escape, triggering a firefight. Recovered at the crime scene were four sachets of shabu, an improvised handgun loaded with bullets and buy-bust money. In San Ildefonso, Calizon was killed after a drug deal in Barangay Mataas na Parang at dawn on Thursday. His unidentified companion escaped. In Sta. Maria town, suspect Consumo was also killed in a buy-bust. Meanwhile, 19 other drug suspects were arrested in separation operations in Malolos City, and the towns of Baliwag, San Rafael, Calumpit, Pulilan, San Miguel and Bocaue. Confiscated in various operations were 50 small sachets of shabu, buy-bust money and one motorcycle. FREDERICK SILVERIO

A7

JOB FAIR Â

Thousands of job applicants, mostly employees of Korean shipmaking firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines who are at risk of losing their jobs, flock to the jobs caravan at the Subic Bay Freeport gym. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

Displaced Hanjin workers dominate job fair SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: The government on Saturday offered jobs to workers afFECTED BY THE kNANCIAL PROBLEMS BESETting Hanjin shipyard as well as other unemployed workers in Olongapo and Zambales with the hosting of the Build Build Build = Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan at the Subic Gym here.

The one-day event offered about 30,000 jobs targeting mostly former workers at the Hanjin Heavy Industries Philippines shipyard who are likely to LOSE THEIR JOBS OVER kNANCIAL DIFkCULTIES due to the bankruptcy of the Koreanowned shipyard operator.

About 100 employers involved in the government’s infrastructure program

and companies inside the freeport were on hand to process job applications.

About 3,000 workers of Hanjin are AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR JOBS AFTER THE kRM kLED LAST MONTH FOR CORPORATE REHABILItation citing slow downs in the global shipping industry.

Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the job fair was strategically held outside Metro Manila to reemploy the former shipyard workers and complement the manpower requirements of the Build Build Build program of the government in Central Luzon. “Jobseekers in the area especially those who have been affected by the unfortunate circumstance experienced

Nationinbriefs SHELLFISH BACK IN BATAAN MARKETS SAMAL, Bataan: Green mussels or tahong were back in Bataan markets on Saturday after the shellfish ban was lifted on Thursday. “Now it’s already okay, there is no more red tide in Bataan,� Clarissa Boyo, tahong seller in a makeshift stall here, said. One gallon of tahong and talaba (oyster) costs P100 each. She said oysters would be available this Sunday.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued the shellfish advisory on Thursday declaring the coastal waters in the towns of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay and Mariveles and the City of Balanga were free from the red tide toxin. Samples gathered from the area for three consecutive weeks were found negative from paralytic shellfish poison. BFAR issued a ban on the gathering, marketing and eating of shellfish due to the presence of red tide on Nov. 24, 2018. ERNIE B. ESCONDE  Â

NPD COP ARRESTED FOR INDISCRIMINATE FIRING BALAGTAS, Bulacan: Â An active police officer assigned at the Northern Police District (NPD) was arrested for indiscriminately

BY (ANJIN ARE WELCOME TO kLL AVAILABLE POSITIONS SUCH AS CARPENTERS PIPEkTTERS

steel man, welders, scaffolder, electrician, painters and laborers,� Villar said.

Similarly, Vivencio Dizon, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO, said the jobs caravan is a testament to the government’s promise of creating more employment opportunities through the Build Build Build program. “We hope the jobs caravan provides a fresh start to the displaced workers of Hanjin. These skilled workers will help ensure the success of the government’s infrastructure program,� he said.

PATRICK ROXAS

firing his gun here on Friday. Chief Insp. Restituto Granil, Balagtas chief of police, identified the arrested as Police Officer 1 Arwin Bornel who is detailed at the Valenzuela City Police Station. A resident of Northville 6 in Balagtas reported that Bornel, who was also a resident of the subdivision, was firing his hand gun for unknown reason. Balagtas police arrested Bornel and confiscated his Taurus .45 caliber pistol and two magazines loaded with bullets. He is facing charges for illegal discharge of firearm, alarm and scandal and violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.  FREDERICK SILVERIO

3 MINORS DIE IN DAVAO ORIENTAL FIRE DAVAO Oriental: Three minors died after the house they were temporarily sleeping in was hit by fire on Friday night in Barangay Central of Mati, Davao Oriental. Fire Senior Insp. Christian Cena, fire marshal of Mati, identified the victims as Amely Pearl, 10; Alicia Cenise, 8 and Kirsh Heris, 3, all surnamed Halipa. Cena said the children were trapped in a house when the fire broke out at about 11:30 p.m. The children were left at a neighbor’s house while their grandmother and two other children were in another house. The grandmother the kids’ mother was out working as massage therapist when the fire broke out. Cena said

COTABATO CITY: The refusal of parents to have their children vaccinated in the wake of the Dengvaxia scare last year was blamed for the occurrence of 19 cases of measles since January in North Cotabato and South Cotabato.

North Cotabato Provincial Health OfkCER %VA 2ABAYA ON 3ATURDAY SAID ALL THE 13 patients were now safe and recovering although they remained in government hospitals or in private facilities.

Rabaya admitted many children, aged nine months old and above, have not been given vaccines after parents refused to bring their children to health facilities over the Dengvaxia scare.

She urged the parents of these children to bring them to the nearest health station as soon as possible to prevent getting the virus from other patients in the community.

The Integrated Provincial Health OfkCE IN .ORTH #OTABATO WILL SOON START A “house to house� drive to ensure that all the children are immunized against the measles virus.

Meanwhile, six cases of measles were reported in Polomolo, South Cotabao.

The youngest patient was nine months old and the oldest was 24 YEARS OLD BUT HEALTH OFkCIALS SAID THEIR conditions were improving.

0OLOMOLOK (EALTH /FkCER 6ENCER Graciano also appealed to parents of children, nine months old and above, to bring them to village health stations for the needed immunization.

No measles cases in the other towns of South Cotabato were reported.

The Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in the National Capital Region and the nearest provinces and urged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

the grandmother was able to bring her two grandchildren, who were staying with her, out to safety. But she failed to rescue her three grandchildren as thick smoke prevented her to go back. No other casualties were reported. The Provincial Information Office of Davao Oriental reported that at least 25 houses were destroyed and about 50 families or 135 individuals were affected. The Bureau of Fire Protection was still verifying the cause of fire as of press time.

FRANCIS EARL CUETO

CHAINSAW OPERATOR NABBED WITH GRENADE LAUNCHERS, GRENADES COTABATO CITY: A chainsaw operator was arrested in Sto. Nino, South Cotabato with high-powered firearms that included grenade launchers and rifle grenades, although he admitted that the firearms were merely “for self-defense.� Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, Police Regional Office-12 director, said Romeo Desinio, 41, did not resist arrest when operatives served the search warrant in his home before dawn on Saturday. Police found two M-79 grenade launchers, a 12-gauge shotgun and 12 rifle grenades (40mm) at Desinio’s home.

The suspect admitted he owned the grenade launcher, which he would bring when he and his companions go to the forest to cut trees.

The firearms, he added, were for his self-defense only.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

News Court junks graft case vs Echiverri A8

˜ The Manila Times

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

BY REINA C. TOLENTINO

T

HE Sandiganbayan’s Second Division THREW OUT THE GRAFT CASE kLED AGAINST FORMER #ALOOCAN #ITY MAYOR %NRICO %CHIVERRI AND two others in connection with the construction IN OF A DRAINAGE SYSTEM PROJECT ALLEGEDLY without authorization of the Sangguniang 0ANLUNGSOD CITY COUNCIL In a 17-page resolution promulgated on February 7, the Sandiganbayan said it found no evidence to show that Echiverri was motivated by evident bad faith

in entering into the contract with EV&E Construction (EVEC) for the infrastructure project. )T ALSO DISMISSED THE FALSIkCATION case against former city accountant

w w w.manilatimes.net

Edna Centeno and former budget OFkCER *ESUSA 'ARCIA OVER THE ALleged award of the contract for the improvement of the drainage system in Pleasant Subdivision in Kaybiga, Barangay 165. “With the prosecution having failed to discharge its burden of establishing accused Echiverri, 'ARCIA AND #ENTENO S GUILT BEYOND reasonable doubt, this court is constrained, as is its bounden duty when reasonable doubt persists, to grant this Demurrer to Evidence,� the court said.

A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss claims challenging

the sufficiency of the evidence presented by the prosecution during trial. !SSOCIATE *USTICE ,ORIFEL 0Ahimna penned the resolution, which was concurred in by AssociATE *USTICE /SCAR (ERRERA *R WHO LEADS THE 3ANDIGANBAYAN S 3ECOND $IVISION AND BY !SSOCIATE *USTICE Michael Frederick Musngi.

The court said the evidence presented by the prosecution showed that the city council had given its approval on the implementation of the project “It bears stressing that the funds used to implement the project

were duly set aside and for which ordinances were enacted to earmark money therefor, and the contract with EVEC was duly authorized by validly enacted ordinances AND EVEN CONkRMED AND RATIkED IN Resolution 1980,� it said.

The court also found no manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence in the awarding of the contract as, it said, the project was completed and properly accepted by the local government and has since been serving its purpose.

4HE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN filed the complaints before the

anti-graft court in 2017.

4HE /MBUDSMAN ALLEGED THAT #ENTENO AND 'ARCIA gCONSPIRING with one another,� made false statements in a narration of facts by certifying in an Allotment and /BLIGATION 3LIP ON THE EXISTENCE OF appropriation for, and obligation of allotment, for the project.

In its resolution, the court said THE CITY COUNCIL HAD CLARIkED IN Resolution 1980 s. 2012 that the LIST OF SPECIkC PROJECTS FUNDED OUT OF THE ,AND "ANK OF THE 0HILIPpines loan was merely inadvertently not included in the documents submitted to it.

Skyway 3 construction to worsen traffic jams

FOR A CLEANER BAY

Volunteers clean a portion of the Manila Bay on Saturday, days after authorities put up notices banning swimming in the polluted bay. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

4(% construction of the Skyway Stage 3 that WOULD BEGIN THIS MONTH WOULD WORSEN TRAFkC jams in Balintawak, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) warned on Saturday.

It said the rail project would also trigger HEAVY VEHICULAR TRAFkC AT THE .ORTH ,UZON %XPRESSWAY .,%8 --$! 'ENERAL -ANAGER *OSE !RTURO 'ARCIA *R APPEALED FOR PATIENCE AS THE AGENCY AND .,%8 #ORP BARED A MAJOR TRAFkC REROUTING plan to allow San Miguel Corporation-led Citra Centra Expressway Corp. (CCEC) to proceed with its construction. “We are appealing for the patience and understanding of the public, but we are also assuring them that [the] teams involved with the project will exert all efforts to minimize travel delays despite the ongoing construction,�

'ARCIA SAID The Skyway Stage 3 elevated road project WILL CONNECT THE 3OUTHERN ,UZON %XPRESSWAY 3,%8 AND .,%8 FROM "UENDIA IN -AKATI City to Bagong Barrio in Caloocan City, crossing the EDSA Balintawak Interchange or Cloverleaf.

The CCEC intends to complete the project in December this year. g4HE .,%8 #ORPORATION IS EXTENDING ITS SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT AIMED AT SOLVING TRAFkC CONgestion in Metro Manila as it is also one with THE GOVERNMENT IN IMPROVING THE COUNTRY S transport and logistics industry,� Raul Ignacio, .,%8 #ORPORATION CHIEF OPERATING OFkCER SAID CCEC said construction work would be CONDUCTED ON A KILOMETER STRETCH OF .,%8 Balintawak, which is expected to affect traf-

kC IN "ALINTAWAK #LOVERLEAF #AMACHILE AND Bagong Barrio, including the east and west service roads.

Rerouting Starting February 9 at 11 p.m., motorists using THE .,%8 GOING TO 1UEZON #ITY WERE ADVISED to use the Smart Connect Interchange heading to Mindanao Avenue. At the Mindanao intersection, they were told to turn right going to Quezon City.

-EANWHILE VEHICLES FROM 1UIRINO (IGHWAY bound for EDSA via Camachile were advised to head to Camachile Flyover, turn right towards West Service Road then turn right at EDSA. 0UBLIC UTILITY JEEPNEYS 05*S SHOULD TAKE A U-turn at Biglang Awa, turn right at Cloverleaf to A. Bonifacio (to Blumentritt) or take the SOUTHEAST LOOP TO RETURN TO .OVALICHES !S TRUCKS FROM 1UIRINO (IGHWAY GOING TO !

Bonifacio will not be allowed at Camachile, truck drivers should head towards Mindanao Avenue THEN TURN LEFT AT .,%8 -INDANAO ENTRY GOING TO 3MART #ONNECT )NTERCHANGE TOWARDS .,%8 southbound. The same scheme goes for trucks from Congressional to A. Bonifacio/Port Area.

Private cars and vans from EDSA MuĂąoz to Port Area should head to Monumento crossING "ALINTAWAK #LOVERLEAF TURN LEFT AT $E *ESUS Street, head straight to C3, and from there turn right to Port Area.

4HE --$! AND .,%8 #ORP IN COORDINAtion with CCEC and local government units, would deploy traffic patrol officers, install DIRECTIONAL TRAFkC SIGNS AND PROVIDE REAL TIME TRAFkC UPDATES TO EASE TRAFkC CONGESTION NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

Comedian Bentong dies at 55 0/05,!2 television actor and comedian Bentong, born Domingo Vusotros Brotamante *R DIED AT THE &AIRVIEW 'ENERAL (OSPITAL ON 3ATURDAY (E WAS .EWS OF HIS PASSING WAS CONkRMED BY HIS son-in-law Arvin Vincent Anierdes through a Facebook post.

The statement read, “Rest in Peace Papa Bentong hindi ko akalain na heto na ang ating huling pagsasama naten alam ko kasama mo na ang Panginoon ngayon kaya panatag narin ang loob ko. Maraming maraming salamat Papa sa pag aaruga sa Pamilya naten. Maraming salamat din dahil napakarami mo napasayang tao. Mahal na mahal ka namin Pa.�

Bentong, who was earlier diagnosed with diabetes, had a cardiac arrest early Saturday.

(E WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL BUT WAS DECLARED dead on arrival.

Starting out his entertainment career as a PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ON !"3 #".

"ENTONG GOT HIS kLM ROLE AS (ILARY S DRIVER ON g(OME !LONG DA 2ILES DA -OVIE u (IS OTHER NOTABLE kLMS INCLUDE g*OLOGS u WHERE HE PLAYED *UANITO AND g3HAKE 2ATTLE 2OLL 86 u AS -ACOY Since then, he had made numerous cameo

kLM APPEARANCES BUT HE WAS BEST KNOWN AS THE FUNNY PARTNER OF 7ILLIE 2EVILLAME IN THE LATTER S noontime shows.

"ENTONG S MOST RECENT MAIN ROLE WAS AS -ANG *ULES "ERNARDO IN g,UV 5 u WHICH RAN FROM TO (E ALSO MADE AN APPEARance in an episode of “Wagas� in 2016, where his love story with wife Cecille Bernal was reenacted along with side commentaries from the couple.

NIKA ROQUE Q Domingo Vusotros Brotamante Jr. aka Bentong

2019 budget pro-health- JV SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Saturday described the P3.757-trillion 2019 budget as “pro-health� because the P16.8 billion budget for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) was restored.

The fund was earlier slashed from the proposed appropriation for the Department of Health (DoH) for this year. “I’m happy for our people because of the return of the HFEP and HRHD funds. The more than P16-billion HFEP budget will be used for the improvement, upgrade, and expansion of government hospitals and health facilities, some are nearing completion already, and for their equipment. Another P7 billion for Human Resource for Health Development para ‘yun sa suweldo (for the salaries) and augmentation of health workers, nurses, midwives and doctors,� said Ejercito, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee.

He said the health facilities would ensure the smooth implementation of the government’s universal health care program. It would also bring down to an affordable level expenses on health services, including but not limited to check-ups and selected laboratory procedures.

The HFEP and the HRHD programs aim to ensure the wide delivery of quality, affordable and accessible health

services to Filipinos.

Ejercito clarified that the budget approved for HFEP is not “pork,� saying it was a legal institutional insertion.

Earlier, Ejercito described the zero-budget for HFEP for 2019 as anti-poor and a great disservice to the Filipino people. “Why should we penalize the people? Kung may pagkukulang man sa implementation, kung mabagal ang absorptive capacity (ng DoH), hindi naman dapat taumbayan ang mag-suffer (If there were lapses in its implementation, if the absorptive capacity of the DoH is slow, the people should not suffer),� he said.

The senator also expressed fear that the implementation of the Universal Health Care measure, which he authored and sponsored and is now pending the signature of President Duterte for it to become a law, would be derailed if the HFEP would be not implemented.

Meanwhile, Ejercito appealed to parents to have their children vaccinated against measles.

He said the Dengvaxia issue might have caused confusion and even fear among people from patronizing other proven vaccines that could prevent children from getting contagious diseases.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Business Times

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019 Editor: Edwin P. Sallan Email: edwin.sallan@manilatimes.net

B1

$ VROXWLRQ WR Ă€QGLQJ WKDW HOXVLYH ÂśVWUDWHJ\ EUHDNWKURXJK¡ FranklinCovey’s Chris McChesney is bringing his innovative ‘4 Disciplines’ system to Manila

BY BEN KRITZ

E

VERYBODY understands what a goal is, and agrees that goals are important to the success of any organization. Almost every organization has more than one goal, and assumes, probably correctly, that achieving its GOALS WILL DEkNE ITS SUCCESS The formula that “strategy leads to achieving objectives� is not at all a mystery, so why do so many ORGANIZATIONS kND IT CHALLENGING to translate strategy into execution?

Execution is the focus of The 4 Disciplines of Execution (Free Press, 2012) by FranklinCovey’s Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling.

The central problem, as the book explains, is that while many executives certainly understand the meaning and importance of “focus,� few actually know how to execute it effectively. “There are always more ideas than there is capacity to execute,� said lead author McChesney. In most organizations, McChesney explained, “We promote intelligent, ambitious people, and these people always want to do more, not less. But EXECUTION REALLY REQUIRES THE DIScipline of restraint when it comes to how much you can actually do, and how much the organization can actually handle.�

McChesney, who is FranklinCovey’s Global Practice Leader of Execution, will be in Manila on February 27 to conduct “The Power of Creating a Winnable Game,� a one-day strategy execution workshop on the “4DX� system designed for organizational leaders and executives. Venue of the seminar is the New World Hotel in Makati City.

Struggling against “the whirlwind�

Another big reason effective execuTION SEEMS SO DIFkCULT -C#HESNEY continued, is that “the ‘day job’ of maintaining an operation sucks so much energy from everyone, that doing anything new — even though on paper, or philosophically, the new thing is so important — it never feels in the moment as urgent as the day job.�

In the book, the day-to-day urgency that

exerts such a “gravitational pull� on people in the organization, as McChesney described it in our interview, is referred to as “the whirlwind.� The book shares a comment from a senior executive that will surely feel familiar to many leaders: “We don’t have dragons swooping down and knocking us off our priorities.

What we have are gnats. Every day we have gnats getting in our eyes, and when we look back over the last six months, we haven’t accomplished any of the things we said we were going to.�

What is your organization’s WIG? That kind of experience is exactly what 4DX is designed to solve.

The book is careful to explain that the four disciplines are a set of principles, not practices; they are meant to work together as a sort of “operating system� with which the organization can run any program to achieve its “Wildly Important Goals� or WIGs: Fo c u s o n t he W i l d l y Important — A WIG, as the book defines it, is something that most would recognize as “a step up� for the organization, or “taking things to the next level� — a goal that expands the

capabilities of the organization beyond its present competencies. “You use the disciplines on an area where you need a breakthrough and you’re stuck,�

McChesney explained. A WIG in that sense “is the one part of the strategy that is really important, and [the organization] is just not good at it,� he added.

Act on the Lead Measures — “Lead measures ARE QUITE DIFFERENT IN THAT they are the measures of the most high-impact things your team must do to reach the goal,� the book explains.

What they are actually measuring are changes in behavior that, if successful, are reflected in various ways, including improvements in the lagging measures (such as financial performance) that most companies use to QUANTIFY THEIR SUCCESS Use a Scorecard — “If you’re not keeping score, you’re just practicing,�

McChesney writes in The 4 Disciplines of Execution.

Because the principles are concerned with organizational behavior, not only does the scorecard serve the practical purpose of measuring progress, it serves as a motivational tool. “The 4 Disciplines is a very involvementoriented process,� McChesney said.

And because it is, the team itself can develop its own scorecard. As the book points out, “People play differently when they are keeping score. It’s not about you keeping score for them.�

Create a Cadence of Accountability — The book reveals a shocking statistic drawn from the extensive research

conducted by McChesney and his FranklinCovey colleagues: “A staggering 81 percent of the people surveyed said they were not held accountable for regular progress.�

This is an area where the scorecard is vital: It encourages team members to create their own commitments, and thus they become primarily accountable to themselves, or their close-in group, which makes accountability a key part of the organization’s culture.

McChesney, who has been with FranklinCovey for more than 20 years, spent over 10 years researching thousands of case studies with his team to develop The 4 Disciplines of Execution. The book

QUICKLY REACHED NUMBER ON The New York Times’ bestseller list for business books, and since its introduction in 2012, its principles have been implemented by some of the world’s biggest companies. Over 2,000 Marriott hotels use the 4DX system, according to McChesney, AND HAVE TRACKED MORE THAN kVE million individual commitments to date. Other notable adopters of the 4DX system include Carnival Cruise Lines, the Hilton group in its European and EMEA markets, and in this part of the world, the Bank of Indonesia and Transport for NSW, the public transportation system for the city of Sydney, Australia and the surrounding area.

Q Author, speaker and thought leader Chris McChesney and photo above of the bestselling book he co-authors, The 4 Disciplines of Execution PHOTO FROM FRANKLINCOVEY WEBSITE

GrabBae brings Valentines’ heart’s day kilig to Manila and Cebu WITH the success of the GrabBae promo for the past two years, many girls got the chance to be serenaded by cute drivers for Valentine’s Day, the transport shared-services company has decided not only to bring it back but to also bring it several notches higher.

Grab Philippines President Brian Cu announces, “GrabBae was a big hit in 2018, as we were able to engage our customers more while providing a good source of happiness and kilig for many of our users. It is for this reason that we have decided to bring this initiative back and expand it even more in Metro Manila to integrate our kilig initiative to our other services such as GrabCar, GrabShare, GrabFood, and GrabExpress, and introduce GrabBae to Metro Cebu this year.�

Kilig through traffic This year, Fifty GrabBaes will spread kilig for everyone from February 12-14. In Cebu, 20 charming GrabBaes will capture the hearts of Cebuanos with their kilig-inducing personality and talent. Sending someone a GrabBae surprise is easy. Grab consumers simply need to redeem GrabBae promo codes worth 143 points on the GrabReward’s catalogue up to February 14.

Thirty Kilig cars — GrabCars that are specially designed with colorful and charming skin— are out to bring their own brand of romance to their passengers in Metro Manila. On February 14, random lucky passengers who will match with the drivers of the Kilig cars will be treated to a free ride and P200 worth of GrabCar, GrabFood and GrabExpress promo codes.

To bring more kilig to passengers, GrabCar driverspartners are also encouraged to join the special KaGrab In-Car Valentine’s Design Contest that challenged them to decorate the interiors of their vehicles.

GrabRewards is also joining the Valentine’s party with

discounts coupons and freebies from SM Cinema, Mrs. Fields Cookies and Toblerone. For only 1,430 GrabRewards points, Grab consumers can redeem a P250-discount coupon for SM Cinemas from February 8 to 10, a free Mrs. Fields cookie from February 8 to 14, and free Toblerone 100mg at any 7-Eleven store from February 8 to 14.

Online to offline experiences Through initiatives like these, Grab wants to bring customer engagement and experiences to more than safe rides and reliable delivery services. “These initiatives are reflections of our vision of bringing our a-game to the next level. Our goal is to bring consumers closer to what matters to them through better daily services and rewarding experiences. Expanding our kilig initiative for the love season this year beyond the usual GrabBae to include our daily essential services shows our commitment to our users to going beyond what is expected of our services and create cities where people experience services better every day,� Cu says.

He believes that bringing services beyond the ordinary is always good for business. “It creates a culture of trust and loyalty from users, thereby increasing the frequency of their usage of our services. Grab has successfully transitioned from being a transport platform that aimed to change the way people move to a very reliable everyday super app that addresses the daily essentially needs of Filipinos.�

Grab Philippines’ goal is to not just provide their services to more users, Cu adds. “We want to make them more rewarding and reliable through innovations and a clear knowledge about our local market. Grab, as the leading online-to-offline platform in Southeast Asia, continues to improve our processes and technology, while putting high value in local context, to serve our customers better every day.�

MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN

L

New BIR forms under Train

AST year, we discussed Revenue Regulations (RR) 8-2018, which implements the income tax provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10963, or the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion� (Train) Law. RR 8-2018 implements the new income tax rates for individual citizens, resident aliens and non-resident aliens, among others, and amends most of the income tax provisions of Title II of the Tax Code, SPECIkCALLY THE RULES ON THE TAXATION OF individuals. However, even if RR 8-2018 was published in the BIR website last Feb. 22, 2018, the new income tax rules became effective on Jan. 1, 2018, the date of effectivity of the Train Law. Of particular interest are the provisions relating to the option for individual taxpayers to avail of the 8 percent tax on gross sales or receipts. Individuals earning income purely from self-employment and/or practice of profession whose gross sales/receipts do not exceed the valueadded tax (VAT) threshold of P3,000,000 shall have the option to avail of: – The new graduated income tax rates; OR – An 8 percent tax on gross sales or receipts in excess of P250,000 in lieu of the graduated income tax rates and the percentage tax under Section 116 of the Tax Code.

With the intention of providing clearer guidelines on how taxpayers may avail of the 8 percent tax rate option, the BIR issued

Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 23-2018 dated May 21, 2018. It would be worthwhile to take another look at the salient provisions of RMO 23-2018: The RMO provides for CRITERIA WHICH SHOULD BE SATISkED TO QUALIFY and avail of the 8 percent tax rate option: Those who can avail are individuals earning from self-employment and/or practice of profession; Taxpayer’s gross sales/receipts do not exceed the VAT threshold of P3,000,000; Taxpayer should be registered and subject only to percentage tax OR exempt from VAT or from other percentage taxes; 4AXPAYER MUST HAVE SIGNIkED HIS INTENtion to choose the 8 percent tax rate opTION UNDER THE NECESSARY QUARTERLY ANNUAL INCOME TAX RETURNS kNANCIAL STATEMENTS need not be attached); To be able to be continuously covered by the 8 percent tax rate option, one should signify his intention every taxable year; 4AXPAYERS WHO ARE QUALIkED AND HAVE AVAILED OF THE OPTION ARE REQUIRED TO maintain books of accounts and issue corresponding receipts/invoices.

The challenge with trying to avail of the 8 percent tax rate option, especially last year, was that the BIR had not provided for appropriate BIR forms that would take into consideration the stringent criteria under RMO 23-2018. However,

THE FINE PRINT

RON ARRIESGADO

just recently, the BIR issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 17-2019, dated Jan. 23, 2019, which provides for the new BIR Form No. 1701A — annual income tax return for individuals earning income from business/profession, SPECIkCALLY THOSE Under the graduated income tax rates with the “Optional Standard Deduction�

(OSD) as mode of deductions; OR Those who opted to avail of the 8 perCENT lAT INCOME TAX RATE Under RR 8-2018, in computing for gross income, taxpayers are allowed either itemized deductions or an OSD. For individual taxpayers, the OSD shall be 40 percent of gross sales/receipts, while corporations may elect an OSD not exceeding 40 percent of its gross income. Note that no deductions shall be allowed to individual taxpayers earning compensation income arising from personal services rendered under an employer-employee relationship, and those WHO AVAIL OF THE PERCENT lAT INCOME TAX rate option.

Ron Arriesgado is a tax lawyer, a transfer pricing specialist, and is a Partner at the ,-! ,AW /FkCES IN -AKATI #ITY (E HAS managed and resolved taxation issues of local and multinational entities; resolved various tax assessment cases issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue; and provided clients with the proper tax strategies to cancel or substantially lower tax assessments, among others.

B2

Business Times

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

STARTUP SPOTLIGHT

When digital referrals increase quality hires

BY CORA LLAMAS

S

INCE 2000, jobsites have come and gone, with only a few of the more popular brands remaining to reign, and an equally rare number attempting to disrupt the system to yield more high-quality hires.

RecruitDay is one of those breaking the mold by merging the real-time communication platform of social media and the traditional referral system WHERE THE MOST QUALIkED CANDIDATES are referred by their ex-colleagues, friends and other associates who had known them for a long time.

The Manila-based firm, which is supported by venture capital Future Now Ventures, is leveraging on its human — and not software or AI — Scouts who actively look for candiDATES WHO kT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE jobs that companies have posted on the RecruitDay site. In a sense, the site is capitalizing on a casual trend that is already prevalent among Filipinos, who on average each have 600 followers on Facebook alone.

RecruitDay Scouts are motivated to make referrals because of the company’s cash rewards. They come from a wide range of demographics, including full-time employees, freelancers, workat-home parents and single business proprietors. To date, 40 percent of all their referrals have actually been hired by the recruiting companies. The process is a bit faster than norm; average time from screening to signing takes ABOUT A MONTH ALTHOUGH THE QUICKEST hire took only two weeks.

Joel Garcia, the CEO and founder of RecruitDay, names the one aspect that makes the RecruitDay Scouts effective: “Ex-colleagues are the best candidates to refer since you know how they work, what their skills and strengths are. The fact that you’ve worked with them in the past makes it easy to know if a job IS kT FOR THEM OR NOT u He adds that the other factors that the hiring employer looks at are the candidate’s experience and skills in so

far as they are relevant to the tasks of the job he is applying for. Interestingly, CERTIkCATIONS CAN CONkRM OR VALIDATE A CANDIDATE S SKILL LEVEL IN ONE kELD E G IT software development; however, while education or degree indicates the applicant’s specialization, the recruiter does not necessarily regard IT AS A MAIN REQUIREMENT To date, the top jobs that Scouts HAVE BEEN kLLING ARE CUSTOMER SERVICE representatives; outbound sales representatives; software developers; acCOUNTANTS SALES AND BACK OFkCE JOBS The top three employment sectors that get a lot of referrals are IT, accounting, AND kNANCE AND CLERICAL AND ADMINistrative. One possible reason for this is that many of these referring agents are professionals who have AN AVERAGE OF kVE YEARS EXPERIENCE in disciplines like IT, accounting, HR, administration, business process outsourcing (BPO), sales and marketing.

The candidates who do get hired do stay with their companies for almost the same length of time. The recurring image of the job-hopping millennial is given a different perspective

by RecruitDay’s data. Garcia says, “For BPO’s the turnover is relatively fast which averages FROM ONE YEAR TO AT MOST kVE years. Other industries have a comparatively better average tenure owing to the nature of the business. Employees usually stay at an average of 3 to 5 years.�

Next on the platform is the development of an app that will allow the Scouts to keep on making their referrals

while mobile. It can certainly come in handy considering that many of them have spread beyond the National C a p i t a l Re g i o n .

Scouts have b e e n g r ow ing from as far as Ilocos Norte to South Cotabato.

With the QUALITY OF hires a constant contentious issue among hiring managers, Garcia says what his solution offers is something

UNIQUE g4HIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGIcally systematized candidate sourcing process is a new channel that supplements existing legacy sourcing chanNELS OF COMPANIES )T kLLS THE GAP OF non-employee referral programs by not just limiting this to applicants since the Scouts base are not necessarily applicants of our partner companies. It strengthens the external candidate reach of our partner companies via our Scouts which are spread out across the Philippines. “ For more information, click on recruitday.com.

Q RecruitDay CEO and founder Joel Garcia

ODERN Monetary Theory, or MMT, is the academic argument created to justify the “progressive� ideology of big government and massive public spending. It is a buzzword that IS APPEARING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY in the news, and might even start to pop up here as the wrangling over the national budget drags on and the midterm elections approach.

Thus, a brief explanation is probably helpful. Explaining MMT in a simple way is actually exceedingly DIFkCULT AS IT IS LIKE MOST OTHER ECOnomic theories a post hoc application of science to largely sentiment-driven behavior. Despite being called “modern,� MMT is not really a new idea, but RATHER A MODIkED FORM OF CHARTALISM

which has been around since the early 1900s. Its current popularity is due to the work of Stephanie Kelton, an economics professor at Stony Brook University in the US, who has served as an economic adviser to left-wing senator Bernie Sanders and other progressive politicians.

Chartalism — since I’ve introduced another theoretical term in spite of my best efforts not to — is a theory of money that states money is a creation of the government to control economic activity. Its opposite is “metallism� (the term coined by the same German economist that thought up the term chartalism), which states that money is a medium of exchange naturally resulting from the barter system.

In the real world, modern monetary systems have characteristics explained by both theories, which is part of the reason why MMT is (probably) ultimately an economic dead-end. Cynicism aside, there are aspects of MMT that are not completely unreasonable, which, apart from its being the latest economic fad, is a good reason to have a basic understanding of what it means.

The key to MMT is government’s

ROUGH TRADE BEN KRITZ creation of money in the literal sense. Because the government can print money, MMT states, it cannot technically ever be considered in debt, if those debts are denominated in the currency it controls. Therefore, the only constraints on government spending are political intentions — the government does not spend money just because it doesn’t want TO ‡ OR INlATION CAUSED BY FULL EMployment, which is explained below.

In order to explain how the “if the government needs more money it can just make more� idea works, MMT separates the economy into two basic parts, a government side and a PUBLIC SIDE )N THIS MODEL A DEkCIT on one side represents an asset on the other, and taxes are not used to fund government expenditures, but rather to simply balance its books. Instead, it funds expenditures in excess of its revenues by simply creating new money, which usually takes the form of government bonds.

To illustrate, here’s a simple example. Suppose that in a year, the government collects P2 trillion in revenues, but spends P3 trillion, half of it for ordinary expenses, and half of it for productive things such as new roads, education and so on. The GOVERNMENT NOW HAS A DEkCIT OF 0 trillion, and in order to cover it and pay for those excess expenditures, it creates new money by issuing bonds.

It’s only “debt� in our crude, simpleminded, conventional way of thinking about economics because it’s money

O

NLY a miFAMILIES IN nority of ultra-high net BUSINESS worth (UHNW) PROF. ENRIQUE families retain their wealth poSORIANO sition over time.

Out of a hundred families in the Forbes list in 1999, 64 percent of those occupying the top spot lost their positions in less than a decade. Of course, there were many external, often unpredictable upheavals that toppled businesses out of the list starting with the tech BUBBLE IN AND FOLLOWED BY THE GLOBAL kNANCIAL MELTDOWN IN "UT A SIGNIkCANT PERCENTAGE OF family owned businesses were literally impaired as a result of these internal events: –Illness/incapacity/death of key family shareholder(s) m 3EPARATION AND IN LAW CONlICT – Dispersed ownership – Lack of skills among family members.

Who is at fault? Without a doubt, the problem lies on the procrastinating founders and leaders who are notoriously poor in pursuing a formal transition plan.

In a recent study made by top executive search and SUCCESSION kRM )#/. #ONSULTING A FOUNDER S DEATH and disability represents the single biggest reason why many well-established businesses do not last one and two generations!

Let me present two shocking cases of internal conlICT ONE INVOLVING THE ,OTTE GROUP WHERE TWO MALE siblings slugged it out for control of the business with stunning lawsuits after lawsuits that included their 93-year old father/founder.

The other case is the Hyatt Hotels group where brothers and cousins and an uncle hurled ugly accusations against one another, setting off an explosion of publicity where a daughter accused her family of looting her trust funds in a way that was “so heinous, obnoxious and offensive as to constitute a fraud.�

A fight for control of the $96B empire

The dangerous appeal of MMT

M

‘The kids are assholes’

that will be created (from the government’s point of view) at some future TIME TO THE PUBLIC SIDE OF THE EQUATION

it represents new assets.

At the end of the year, the government needs to balance the books. It has transferred P1 trillion in assets (future money) to the public side in exchange for funds (present money) to complete its expenditures, but since that money has been spent, it still has an accounting DEkCIT OF 0 TRILLION 4HEREFORE IT LEVIES P1 trillion in taxes on the public side.

However, since extracting a huge amount of additional taxes is unpalatable to most people (even the most tax-happy progressives), it can resort to the alternative of raising the amount banks are REQUIRED TO KEEP IN RESERVE DEPOSITS AT THE central bank. This transfers assets back to the control of the government and brings it account back to a neutral state.

In the meantime, the combination of what the government has spent on value-adding investments — those new roads and schools and other tangible things — and the public side investMENTS kNANCED FROM ITS ISSUANCE OF 0 trillion of “new money� have increased assets on the public side; the economy has grown. Thus, it can take a bit more in taxes at the start of the next year for new expenditures, because the public side has grown richer. And the government has to take more in taxes, because each peso is worth relatively less than it was BEFORE DUE TO THE INlATION CAUSED BY THE previous year’s issuance of new money.

As long as that is the only cause of INlATION HOWEVER IT CAN BE CONTROLLED by mopping up the excess money with non-value adding expenditures — social support programs such as cash dole-outs, free health care and so on.

In order for the government to be able to do that, a certain part of the population has to remain unproductive, that is, unemployed and not creating new wealth. If there is full employment,

THEN INlATION BECOMES DRIVEN BY DEmand (everyone has money that they want to spend) and outraces government’s ability to control it. Therefore, the ideal balance according to MMT is an unemployment rate that is just slightly higher than the prevailing inlATION RATE 4HAT WAY GOVERNMENT CAN continuously increase spending (and INCREASE DEkCITS TO KEEP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IN EQUILIBRIUM That, in a simplistic nutshell, is how MMT — a simplistic economic theory — is supposed to work. So long as the government doesn’t incur any debts in any currency other than its own, and so long as it doesn’t allow everyone to BECOME EMPLOYED DEkCITS ARE IRRELevant and the government can spend as freely as it likes. As Professor Kelton HERSELF EXPLAINED IT g$EkCITS ARE SELF kNANCING u 4HEREFORE IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE ECONOMIC GROWTH DEkCITS SHOULD actually constantly increase.

Sound crazy? Well, yes it is‌except that much of what MMT embraces is already part of contemporary monetary policy. The theory may be simplistic, AND IT MAY BE INSUFkCIENTLY GROUNDED in real-world economic behavior, but it is essentially just a bigger version of the way economies are managed at the sovereign level now. That’s what makes it so dangerous; it’s not so alien a concept that it repels less “progressiveâ€? policymakers, and it explains away PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT kSCAL INSTABILITY in a comforting way.

The global economy and its monetary system is in a tenuous state and probably headed for a catastrophic collapse at some point in the future because of the way it is managed now, and MMT proposes to solve the problem by doing exactly the same thing, but doing it even more aggressively.

So much for “progressive� solutions.

ben.kritz@manilatimes.net

Shin Kyuk Ho was born in the southern Korean city of Ulsan in 1922 and founded Lotte in 1948.

The business grew from selling chewing gum in post-war Japan to becoming a major confectionery AND DIVERSIkED MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION WITH overseas branches.

The bulk of its business is in Korea, where it HAS AFkLIATES IN AREAS RANGING FROM DEPARTMENT stores to amusements parks and hotels, with an estimated annual turnover of $96 billion. Before THE SIBLING CONlICT ,OTTE GROUP WAS 3OUTH +OREA S kFTH LARGEST CONGLOMERATE 4HE CONlICT STARTED WHEN THE FOUNDER 3HIN +YUK ho and eldest son Dong-joo visited the Lotte headQUARTERS AND SACKED SIX BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDING youngest son Dong-bin. With his back against the wall, Dong-bin called an emergency board meeting, reinstated the terminated board members while declaring the ouster of his father and relegating him to honorary chairman.

Having lost his board seat at the family-controlled conglomerate’s lodgings and duty-free sales unit HoTEL ,OTTE #O THE THEN YEAR OLD FOUNDER kLED LEGAL action against his youngest son. He has since retired, but as I write this piece, the two sons are still locked IN A kERCE DISPUTE OVER CONTROL OF THE GROUP 3INCE THE CONlICT ERUPTED GROWTH HAS BEEN ERRATIC AND THEIR planned $4.5 B IPO of a hotel unit has been shelved.

Patriarch’s death led to the split of the $30 billion wealth In a Vanity Fair article, writer Suzanna Andrews described the mood during the funeral of Jay Pritzker, where all 52 living members were all seated together, “in life, they say with sadness now, nothing was more important to him or gave him more joy than his family.

It was Tom, the eldest son to whom Jay had passed the torch that controlled the family’s empire — including its crown jewel, the Hyatt Hotels Corp. and the family’s web of more than 200 privately held companies and vast tracts of real estate. In his eulogy, Tom told the crowd, “my father believed a man’s only immortality comes from the values he instilled in his children.�

That day during Jay’s funeral would be the last time that the three sons were seen together. The death of their father led to a battle where one group of cousins turned on the other, pitting brothers against sisters, cousins against cousins and where lawsuits and accusations ended in a public battle that led to the company eventually splitting up.

One of Jay’s close friends reacted, “as far as I’m concerned, the kids are assholes. Jay agonized on how he was going to leave the family business, and he would probably be spinning, spinning, with embarrassment in his grave if he knew how these children have handled it.�

Indisputably, the death of the leader triggered a tumultuous 10-year effort to divide the wealth resulting to the family members going their separate ways.

0ROF %NRIQUE 3ORIANO IS A 7ORLD "ANK )&# 'OVERnance Consultant, Senior Advisor of Post and Powell Singapore and the Executive Director of Wong + "ERNSTEIN A RESEARCH AND CONSULTING kRM IN !SIA THAT serves family businesses and family foundations.

He was formerly Chair of the Marketing Cluster at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Manila, and is currently a visiting Senior Fellow of the IPMI International School, Jakarta.

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Business Times

B3

ON THE RISE

Real estate, real deal In only five years of operation, a consultancy firm run and peopled by millennials already boasts P30 billion worth of portfolio and various notable big-ticket projects under its wing

BY YUGEL LOSORATAÂ

B

REAKING from the clutches of traditional approach is a recipe for success in the business community, especially for a company run and manpowered by no-nonsense millennials.

Home-grown and fast-growing property brokerage and consultanCY kRM 0RIME 0HILIPPINES IS NOW COUNTED AS THE COUNTRY S lAG CARRIER IN THE kELD OF COMMERCIAL REAL estate, thanks to its commitment to taking on “newer perspectives and better insights� in producing results. Behind that commitment is, as described by insiders, a team of diverse minds, hearts and talents driven by passion for real estate and trust of multiple clients. “Gone are the days for traditional REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY kRMS u SAYS Jet Yu, the company founder and CEO who spearheaded what is acKNOWLEDGED AS THE kRST TECH POWERED PROPERTY ADVISORY kRM IN THE COUNTRY With a key purpose of challenging tradition by creating better

real estate solutions, the company empowered itself through experTISE IN SALES AND LEASING OF OFkCE

retail and industrial spaces, along with real estate documentation, research and advisory. “To improve productivity, technology is at the core of its every real estate service,� Yu says of his brainchild, declaring that for just kVE YEARS IT HAS DEVELOPED BOLDLY through the use of a system called Prime Core. It is one equipped with cognitive commuting capabilities and the latest features accepted globally.

By numbers, Prime Philippines, EYEING TO INlUENCE INDUSTRY STANdards through innvovative solutions, has managed to reach heights almost unimaginable in relatively

Q Prime Philippines CEO Jet Yu

short span, having transacted over P30 billion worth of real estate deals and completed over 200 research projects. Talking about efficiency manpower, those big stats were delivered by employing 100 full-time employees, mostly millennials. This effective brigade of young professionals is responsible for having served clients numbering to more than 4,000.

Yu, a well-cited millennial himself, notes, “The real estate business has evolved rapidly in the past ten years

driven by the millennial market and technological advancements.�

3MALL WONDER WHEN 0RIME S kFTH anniversary celebration attended by top real estate developers, businessmen, architects, and high-profile clients took place at Conrad Manila last December, the theme was appropriately motioned as being “Twice the Impact.� He reveals plans to bring his company public by 2021.

0RIME 0HILIPPINES HAS OFkCES IN -Anila and Davao, with an international

OFkCE IN 3HANGHAI 4HAT IS VALUABLE AS it looks ahead to developing a hub to strengthen trust among Chinese and Filipino companies in the next years. “Our company commits to bridging cultural differences between Philippine and Chinese economies and kNDING THE RIGHT #HINESE COMPANIES to work with,� Yu explains.

Jet the City Enabler, who seated as judge during last year’s TV-aired Final Pitch Season 2, expresses desire to invest in startups Rank Up, Qwikwire, and EGcellent Life Solutions. He who

is very much into proptech (property technology) did invest in a number of start-up companies, including ones in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Jet Yu and his company’s employees are truly millennials for real.

This February 19, Prime Philippines will stage CoffeeBreak@GreatWork (Business Campus) in Quezon City, an exclusive event to launch its major research publications for the company’s valued stakeholders and discuss the latest trends and what to look out for in current Philippine real estate.

Cyberpark offers BPO-friendly corporate headquarters

BY MA. GLAIZA LEE WHEN it comes to business, location is one of the driving factor for success. A good location can affect many aspects of how a business operates.

Aside from the total operation cost, it can ignite competition, determine the state and local taxes, and help in employee retention or attrition. )N THE 0HILIPPINES THE OFkCE SPACE market continues to maintain its growth trajectory. With several ofkCE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS SLATED for completion this year, the industry will be able to satisfy the high demand from business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and offshore gaming sector, as well as TRADITIONAL OFkCES Among the different economic sectors in the Philippines, the BPO INDUSTRY DEMANDED THE LARGEST OFkCE space supply in 2018. They occupied estimated 290,000 square meters, a big chunk out of the 1.16 million SQM TOTAL OFkCE SPACE DEMAND IN Metro Manila.

At the heart of Quezon City, the Araneta Center Cyberpark has served THIS HUGE DEMAND #ERTIkED BY THE Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) to give locators tax breaks and other government perks to spur their growth, the multi-billion peso IT park is home to several BPO companies, including as Accenture, AIG, TeleTech, Regus, Sterling, Stellar,

Genesys and 24/7 In Touch.

Recently, Alorica Inc. has joined the Araneta business community.

A global leader in customer experience solutions whose continued expansion in Asia can be seen in the projected 28,000 jobs the company will create in 2019, and the opening of new contact centers in Japan and the Philippines, the company established its local OFkCE IN #YBERPARK THE SECOND high-tech tower to be opened in the new IT Park. !DDING TO THE OFkCE SPACE SUPPLY are the Cyberpark 1 Tower and the Cyberpark 3 Tower (expected to be completed in 2020). Each tower has LEVELS OF OFkCE SPACE TWO lOORS of retail shops and three levels of parking, the towers answer the needs of companies for top-of-the-line FACILITIES LARGE OFkCE lOOR PLATES

and relaxing leisure and lifestyle offering that boost performance and productivity.

One of the bustling hubs for the BPO community, the Araneta Center is one of the keys to the BPO expansion in Quezon City. Aside from its enviable location at the heart of Metro Manila, the Center is a multimodal transport hub that offers a thriving community espousing a live, work and play mantra.

A report from Leechiu Property Consultant, however, showed that THE TOTAL OFkCE SUPPLY IN THE METRO

was 18 percent lower than the takeup in the previous year, and about 40 percent lower than in 2016. The report attributed this discrepancy FROM THE LACK OF OFkCE SPACES ACCREDited by PEZA. Insiders predicted a DEkCIT IN OFkCE SUPPLY BY WITH central business districts having low vacancy rates.

In Metro Manila, the average vacancy rate is currently at 6 percent.

In recent years, the BPO industry has become more and more discerning when it comes to business locations. Most outsourcing ofkCES AVOID CONGESTED BUSIness areas, which are often PLAGUED BY TRAFkC WOES AND CRAMPED lOOR SPACES 7ITH employees putting premium on convenience when commuting to work, BPO busiNESSES ARE CHALLENGED TO kND a good location.

This is one of the reasons Araneta Center becomes one of the coveted business addresses. Convenience for both e m p l oye r s a n d employee is the Araneta Center’s biggest offering.

Just a short walk

away, the Gateway Tower is connected to the Gateway Mall, giving commuters access to the LRT-2 along Aurora Boulevard, and MRT-3 along EDSA via Farmers Plaza.

The mixed-used commercial district is a master-planned com-

munity that caters to all aspect of living. The multi-faceted Araneta Center offers the live, work and play experience to both company executives and employees. Manhattan Garden City, a modern residential complex, has risen within the Center that will have 18 towers upon its completion.

Aside from having the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum and New Frontier Theater that hold about 300 shows a year combined, it also has approximately 2,000 shopping and dining options in three existing malls, with the muchawaited Gateway Mall 2 expected be completed by

2019. In addition, Novotel Manila Araneta Center and the soon-torise Ibis Styles Hotel offer nearly a thousand hotel rooms, and MICE — m e e t - ings, incentives, conferences exhibitions — ready venues from ballrooms, function rooms, and outdoor venues.

Q Araneta Center’s Cyberpark

5 ways to tidy up your Facebook, ala Marie Kondo A

T this point, organization guru and World smiling champion Marie Kondo has undoubtedly been one of the most visible person on social media, thanks to her popular Netflix series “Tidying Up.�

But while her KonMari method has inspired millions to collect their stuff, hold them close to their hearts, and ask, “Does this spark joy?� before throwing the rejected lot into the flaming dumpster fire; there is another space that they should be decluttering too: their Facebook feed.

Since Marie Kondo doesn’t have time for your sh*t on Facebook, let me, a social media savant and World resting bitch face champion, guide you through the joy of tidying up your damn accounts.

Say sayonara to your social media struggles and konnichi wa to the KonMari school of tidying up your digital life.

The ritual Let’s start with a short ritual:

rainy season? Groundbreaking.

Constantly jumping into whatever mundane trend just to change YOUR PROkLE PICTURE TO YET ANOTHER THIRST TRAP SELkE 2IVETING While I don’t mind seeing thirst JOSEPH HOLANDES UBALDE traps every once so often, but too much of something is bad Take a comfortable seat. Open enough. I wrote in the past how your Facebook account. Look at we portray ourselves in our social YOUR PROkLE PICTURE FOR MIN- media accounts is how the world utes. Blink if you must. Then ask views us in the digital sphere. yourself: “Does this spark joy? Also, future employers now scan /R SPREAD A WILDkRE OF RIDICULE applicants’ social media accounts. or hate?�

Good luck coming into that inBreathe deeply and close your terview all dressed up when your eyes. Imagine your mom or dad future workmates have already looking at that picture with you. seen you in much, much less.

Ask yourself, “How long can they keep their eyebrows raised like Books (Or media that?� Contact the Guinness Book you share) of World Records.

Like books that we read and share Clothes to friends, articles, photos and videos that we pass along on FaceJust as clothes clutter your cabi- book can change a person’s life. nets, photos of those without it So don’t share misinformation are now clogging most people’s or manufactured truths so brafeeds. zenly online! Stop clogging the Topless beach photo during the news feed with worthless junk

THE DIGITAL NOMAD

(although memes and humorous posts are still forgivable).

How many friends have I seen sharing posts of pimple popping or pictures of themselves with their open wounds or scars? We don’t need to see that! STOP. You don’t spark joy Virginia, you spark condemnation and deserve much vitriol.

Paper (Or those who are ‘Epal’) If you like to always meddle in other people’s affairs or assert your superiority by trying to show how much more you know than the others, then you are what we call in the vernacular as “Epal� or “ma-papel.�

What pleasure do you get from this? Well, this election season, we are bound to see a deluge of politicos who are like those annoying distant Tita of yours who always makes it a point to be in every aspect of your breathing space.

As a general rule, don’t be too epal on Facebook, because no

one, and I mean NO ONE, appreciates that. That attitude is best thrown, in a ball, inside a trash bin.

‘Komono’ (or Komon sense) “ Komono � in Japanese means little things like trinkets or whatnots. For this social media tidying up activity, Komono is just short for “Komon Sense,� which a lot of people think very little of.

You already know how offensive it is to your friend if you post a picture of you and her ex after bumping into a party, so why ‘d you still do it? Komono Sense.

You were warned how those personal messages about bomb threats in malls carry little truth unless they are coming from ofkCIAL SOURCES SO WHY THE NEED to still share them everywhere?

Komono Sense. You get my drift?

Sentimental items Okay, this one hits closer to home

for me. Ever since my big break up last September, I haven’t mustered the strength to delete photos of me and the ex. And every time Facebook unearths these photos with their “Memories� feature, I have to admit, my heart gets crushed a little bit.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’ll take the lead in deleting those photos. Sentimental items are only good if they elicit a heart throb not a heart ache.

So there, are you ready to KonMari your Facebook accounts? Hope you do and let’s make sure we spark joy in each others’ lives.

Joseph Ubalde is a digital content expert and social media strategist who has worked for various local and global companies. “The Digital Nomad� is the first and only column dedicated to social media in the Philippines. If you have comments or want to connect with him, send an email to markjubalde@gmail.com.

B4

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Business Times

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Q Predator League PUBG champion team Arkangel members, Mark Christian Dedal, Dan Noya, Christian Estrella and Kirk Robin Amable, with Predator Ambassador Alodia Gosiengfiao (center).

Predator League PUBG Finals attract best gamers across the globe O VER P200,000 in cash prizes and the chance to represent the country in one of the most prestigious PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) competitions IN 0AN !SIA 0ACIkC WERE AT STAKE IN THE 0REDATOR ,EAGUE 05"' Philippine Finals last January 26 at the High Grounds Café and January 27 at Glorietta Activity Center.

A total of 16 top teams from all over the Philippines — Team No Future, Miraculum, TNC, ArkAngel, Anonymous Ilonggos, Nirvana, Vulture Gaming, Mistah, DPT, AdMiral, Ronin, 5peaks, Patriots, Vortexfarm, NCGC Vortex, and Bosons — competed for the Philippine championship title.

The team with the highest score — ArkAngel — won as determined by a pointing system with a total of 12 actionpacked rounds. ArkAngel will represent the Philippines at the Predator League Finals 2019 in Thailand on February 15 to 17, 2019 for a chance to get a slice of the $400,000 pool prize.

With the addition of PUBG on its second

how exceptional our homegrown gam- The reimagined gaming chair lets the ers are, not only in DOTA2 but also in gamer live inside the game as it vibrates PUBG,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Predator in synchronization with sound the games Philippines sales and marketing director. produce.

The chair is adjustable and includes To also give the public of what an ultimate gaming experience feels like, the Predator an ergonomic seat design, footrest, and a cabin that reclines up to 140 degrees. The Thronos Gaming Chair overhead brace supports three 27-inch was also revealed gaming monitors and a space for a Predyear, Predator League is one the biggest during the comator gaming PC. Integrated with a eSports tournaments worldwide. Only the petition.

Predator PC and triple Predator The mabest of the best teams from 13 participating monitors plus gadgets, the COUNTRIES WILL kGHT FOR THE 0REDATOR 3HIELD jestic PredPredator Thronos is really more and prove to be the greatest e-sports team ator Throthan a gaming chair — it’s a nos’ steel in the region. gamer’s wild, ultimate cave.

Predator has the most complete line s t r u c t u r e Predator Thronos is customizable of gaming devices ranging from laptops, is 1.5-medepending on the gamer’s preference. desktops, and monitors with the latest tech- ter tall. Its Its CPU is interchangeable from POS-610 nologies, enhancing the eSports community’s m o t o r i z e d RGB, PO9-500 RGB to the best option P09gaming experience — truly the best gaming cockpit for ad900 RGB and its monitor from Nitro justing your monitor in the market.

XV272U P, Nitro XV273K P to the “Predator’s support for this tourna- screen setmuch-raved Predator XB273K. ment reinforces the brand’s commitment up comes Predator offers three packages to the gaming industry in the Philippines i n d u a l Q Predator Thronos with suggested retail prices (SRP) and in the region. We are very happy to tone black with starting at P699,999. share the opportunity to show the world blue-white accents. Gaming Chair.

FINAL STANDING (12 OF 12 ROUNDS)

CHAMPION: ArkAngel (168 points) – Mark Christian Dedal, Christian Estrella, Dan Noya, and Kirk Robin Amable 1ST RUNNER UP: Vortex Farm (128 points) – Mark Chin, Mark Nerosa, Christian Prajes, and Kanakann Namia 2ND RUNNER UP: NCGC Vortex (103 points) – Jessie Jude Aparece, Jellicoe Piloto, Resmark Wating, and Christopher John Canete 3RD RUNNER UP: Team No Future (82 points) – Andrei Catangay, Yves Navarro, Karl Baliuag, and John Carlo Panlilio 5th Ronin (75 points); 6th Bosons (74 points); 7th Patriots (71 points); 8th 5PEAKS (68 points); 9th Miraculum (59 points); 10th A Ilongos (46 points); 11th Mistah (46 points); 12th TNC (42 points); 13th Nirvana (41 points); 14th Vulture Gaming (35 points); 15th AdMiral (35 points); 16th DPT (21 points).

Samsung Galaxy S10: What we know so far

T

HE Samsung Galaxy S10 is expected to debut late this month. Post-unpacked event, it will most likely be available by mid-March.

For Galaxy fans, the forthcoming flagship device is more than just another chance to upgrade.

This is a milestone device celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Samsung Galaxy franchise.

M a j o r i m p r ove ments are also anticipated since its S9 predecessor did not do as well in sales compared to previous generations from the Galaxy catalogue.

According to Tom’s Guide, the S10 will arrive in four variants. But more importantly, there is a possibility that the S10 may be 5G-capable. “There will seemingly be four variants of the Galaxy S10 at a multitude of sizes, ranging from 5.8 inches for the S10 Lite, to as large as 6.4 or 6.7 inches for the S10 Plus. The cheapest could have a flat display, while the largest and most expensive may support 5G and carry a total of six cameras across the front and rear. There will be an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor in some of these models, a nearly bezel-free display with a hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera and as many as four cameras on the rear for superior phototaking abilities in any condition.”

Last year, 5G talks and news dominated the tech industry. The 5th generation of mobile connectivity will manage to achieve over 10Gbps that will allow millions of devices simultaneously connected connected, downloading of one movie in 10 seconds or less Car2Car connections, and basically making Smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT) a reality.

Last year, PLDT and Smart fired up a couple of 5G sites in Makati and Clark.

5G is in the Philippines. All we need now are 5G capable devices, mobile phones included, to experience the lat-

est in mobile connectivity. Here’s where Samsung S10 — if the South Korean tech giant makes it 5G ready — hopes to beat every other smartphone company to the 5G finish line.

Apart from the anniversary smartphones, bendy handsets are also anticipated. Tom’s Guide added, “The S10 and its larger sibling, the Galaxy Note 10, likely won’t be the only premium phones Samsung introduces next year. At its developer conference in November, Samsung finally unveiled the foldable phone it’s been working on for so long, nicknamed by insiders as the Galaxy F. While the Galaxy F was shown briefly, in a boxy case and under very protective lighting, many expect the final product to debut sometime in 2019.”

Specs-wise, “Samsung employs both its own Exynos and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors in its phones, and uses one or the other depending on the requirements of each region’s carriers. Snapdragon-powered Galaxy devices typically only launch in North America — so it should come as little surprise that the Snapdragon 855, 1UALCOMM S NEW lAGSHIP CHIPSET THAT WILL reach most premium Android devices this year, will be featured in at least U.S.-bound versions of the S10. Meanwhile, the Exynos 9820 will be featured in the international variants. RAM will likely vary between the models, starting in the neighborhood of 6GB for the S10 Lite and potentially ranging as high as 12GB for the top-of-the-line, oft-rumored 5G model.”

At the end of the day, the S10 is for fans who deliberately skipped S9 and Note9 to save up for the 10th anniversary phone.

TAP, SWIPE, SCROLL KAYE VILLAGOMEZ

The author is a former broadsheet entertainment and lifestyle reporter and section editor for an entertainment magazine before crossing over to corporate and marketing public relations.

Sunday Business & I.T.

C1 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Editor: Jing Garcia

Tablets can help provide better customer service T

ECH SOLUTIONS kRM :EBRA 4ECHNOLOGIES HAS REVEALED THE RESULTS OF ITS TH ANNUAL 'LOBAL 3HOPPER 3TUDY

WHICH SHOWS THAT TWO THIRDS PERCENT OF SURVEYED ASSOCIATES BELIEVED THAT IF THEY WERE EQUIPPED WITH TABLETS

THEY COULD PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND IMPROVE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE In the Philippines, shopping malls have become a one-stop shop for everything including food, entertainment, healthcare AND EVEN GOVERNMENT OFkCES (OWEVER

due to the high smartphone penetration and social media usage, e-commerce segment projects strong growth potential.

Online sales make up less than 2 per-

cent of the total retail sales compared to around 10 percent in the developed world, according to the Philippine Retailers Association. &IFTY kVE PERCENT OF SURVEYED RETAIL STORE associates agreed that their company was understaffed, and nearly one-half (49 percent) felt overworked. Store associates

cited frustration with their inability to assist customers as 42 percent found they had little time to help shoppers because of pressure to get other tasks completed.

Another 28 percent claimed that it was DIFkCULT TO GET INFORMATION TO HELP SHOPpers. Most surveyed retail decision-makers (83 percent) and store associates (74 percent) concurred that shoppers could have a better experience with technologyequipped sales associates.

Meanwhile, only 13 percent of surveyed shoppers completely trusted retailers to protect their personal data, the lowest level of trust among 10 different industries.

Seventy-three percent of surveyed shopPERS PREFERED lEXIBILITY TO CONTROL HOW

PH takes the global lead in time spent online, on social media F

ILIPINOS are using the internet 10 hours a

though Facebook is still the dominant social platform day. The global average is at 2 hours and 16 in terms of membership, the former falls behind minutes. Brazil comes in second with 9 hours and YouTube in terms of visitors per week.

29 minutes, while Thailand is Staying up-to-date with current third at 9 hours and 11 minutes. events and keeping in touch with Digital growth shows no sign of friends are the most mentioned slowing down. We continue to reasons (40 percent) for using social embrace the internet and social It is no wonder that the ComNOEMI media. media despite controversy around mission on Elections (Comelec) set LARDIZABAL-DADO new rules for social media posts and misinformation, disinformation, privacy, hacking, and other negaonline ads during the campaign peTIVE ASPECTS OF ONLINE LIFE &ORTY kVE PERCENT OF THE riod for the May 13, 2019, national and local elections. world’s population are now social media users. This Section 6 of Comelec Resolution 10488 says lawful growth fuels social media use. That’s 3.5 billion election propaganda will now include “social media people. According to the 2019 Global Digital Re- posts, whether original or reposted from some source, port, conducted by Hootsuite and We Are Social, which may either be incidental to the poster’s advocathe Philippines ranks number one in spending the cies of social issues or which may have, for its primary most time on social media at 4 hours and 12 min- purpose, the endorsement of a candidate only.� Paid utes. The time spent on the internet was 10 hours INlUENCERS SUPPORTERS AND EVEN gTROLLSu MUST SUBMIT and 2 minutes a day. This is an increase from last reports on payments for services like creating online year’s 9 hours and 29 minutes daily. posts whether for or against a candidate. Majority The key stats in the Philippines are: of the voting population is online getting campaign - 76 million Filipinos with a median age of 25 materials from websites and social media platforms. years old are active social media users which is 71 “It’s not about content itself. We don’t have concerns PERCENT PENETRATION 4HE SAME kGURE APPLIES TO over what is in the post, but the cost of the material internet users. This is a 13 percent increase from posted,� said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

January 2018 to January 2019.

With the upsurge in social media users, neti- The number of Internet users in the Philip- zens must be discerning. Every social media user pines varies: Internet World Stats (67 million); NEEDS TO IDENTIFY THEIR CONkRMATION BIAS SO ONE International Telecommunication Union (59.56 is not easily manipulated by misinformation or million); World Bank (59.56 million); CIA World disinformation. Facebook removed 220 pages, 73 Factbook (56.96 million). accounts, and 29 Instagram accounts because of - Advertising audience in Facebook is 75 million. “inauthentic behavior� in its platform. In October - Mobile social media users are at 72 million or 2018, Facebook removed 95 pages and 35 accounts.

67 percent penetration. The global average is Many sleeper accounts with suspicious activity is 42 percent. increasing after the takedown of these accounts - 90 percent of internet users are engaged with or by Facebook. Content of sleeper accounts have contributed to social media. “hugot,� religious, meme, quotations and social - Fixed internet speed grew from 15.19 Mbps average videos. Out of the blue, their timeline contains to 19.03 Mbps. The global average is 54.33 Mbps. posts outside their usual niche such as propaganda - Mobile speed increased from 13.45 Mbps to memes or campaign materials. Some misinforma15.05 Mbps. Global average is 25.08 Mbps. tion is also being distributed in closed or ephemeral - Average number of social media accounts per spaces, like Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp internet user is 10.4. Top social media platforms groups, SnapChat or Instagram Stories. are Facebook, YouTube, Facebook Messenger, The best approach to verifying information is to Instagram, Twitter, Skype, LinkedIn, Viber, Pinter- conduct your own research, ask advice from trusted est, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Reddit, WeChat, Tum- sources, and then make up your own mind. Review the blr, Twitch and Line. tips found in my Dec. 2, 2018 column on “Misinforma- Over 50 percent of the 76 million Filipino inter- TION A WORD OF SELF RElECTION u )F MOST &ILIPINOS SPEND net users, use mobile messengers, watch videos on 10 hours daily on the internet, each one of us can take a mobile, play games on mobile, use mobile banking few minutes doing our own research. Hopefully, more and map services.

Filipinos will use research time out of the 4 hours and - E-commerce is gaining ground with 70 percent 12 minutes on social media. Let’s show the world that of internet users purchasing a product or service time spent online and on social media is not wasted in online whether laptop or through a mobile device. the misinformation ecosystem.

The Global Web Index’s Social Media Flagship report provides more insights on the world of social You can download the Global Web Index 2019 digital media. They included the Philippines in the Third trends here https://www.globalwebindex.com/reQuarter 2018 wave of research across 44 countries, ports/trends-19 and the Global Digital 2019 overview which had a global sample size of 113,932. Even https://wearesocial.com/global-digital-report-2019

LET’S TALK #SOCIAL

their personal information would be used. “Our study reveals shopper expectations are on the rise,� said Jeff Schmitz, senior VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFkCER at Zebra Technologies. “While retailers ARE ADDRESSING FULkLLMENT CHALLENGES THEY also need to provide a more trusted, personalized shopping experience that gives customers what they want, when, where, and how they want it.�

4HE STUDY ALSO IDENTIkED DIVERGING EXpectations on the impact of automation between retailers and store associates.

Nearly 80 percent of retail decision makers — compared to 49 percent of store associates — agreed that staff checkout areas were becoming less necessary due to new

technologies that could automate checkout.

Also, more than one-half of retail decision makers (52 percent) were converting point-of-sale (POS) space to self-checkout, and 62 percent were transforming it for online order pickup.

More than one-half of shoppers (51 percent) believed they were better connected with their smartphones than store associates. Retailers are investing in edge technologies to combat this gap. Nearly 60 percent of retailers plan to increase their spending on handheld mobile computers by more than 6 percent, and more than 1 in 5 retailers (21 percent) plan to spend greater than 10 percent on rugged tablets over the next three years.

More sophisticated cybersecurity breaching tactics in PH for 2019 GLOBAL cybersecurity solutions provider Trend Micro shared its 2019 predictions report that highlights the trends and tactics cybercriminals are most likely to employ in 2019.

The report, “Mapping the Future: Dealing with Pervasive and Persistent Threats,� highlights the growing threats faced by consumers and organizations that are exacerbated by the increasingly connected world.

The report warns that attackers will increase in the effectiveness of proven attack methods, by adding more sophisticated elements to take advantage of the changing technology landscape. “Cybercriminals will continue to follow a winning formula — exploit existing flaws, social engineering and stolen credentials — to drive profits,� said Ian Felipe, country manager, Trend Micro Philippines. “As both corporate attacks surface and unknown cyber threats increase, it’s more important than ever for organizations to put more resources behind cybersecurity education to help protect against these growing attacks.�

E-celeb accounts will be abused The role of social engineering in successful attacks against businesses and individuals is predicted to increase throughout the year. It is expected that cybercriminals will compromise famous YouTubers and other “online-famous� personalities’ social media accounts, including Instagram and Twitter, by taking over their accounts via targeted phishing attacks.

These will shine a light on account security in mainstream media, but not before millions of users following these accounts have been affected by whatever payload the attackers have in store for them.

Filipinos spend an average of 3 hours and 57 minutes a day on social media sites. Among their activities are following celebrities and reading their updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Rise of extortion cases Sextortion, or the process forcibly demanding money or sexual favors by threatening to publish a victim’s recorded sexual activity, is a growing epidemic in the Philippines, with the country being seen as one of the crime’s biggest breeding ground. Even if there is no guarantee that a blackmailer will come through, the highly personal nature of this kind of attacks will make the victim seriously consider fulfilling the attacker’s demands, whether that means money or sexual favors.

As sextortion, in particular, becomes more widespread, this kind of attacks will affect, and perhaps even claim, more lives in 2019.

Fake news will continue The 2018 Pulse Asia Research shared that 9 out of 10 Filipinos who surfed the internet to access their social media accounts were aware of fake news.

Despite this awareness, the side of technology that allows fake news propagators to sway public sentiment and present itself as legitimate news has become even more powerful, which leads to governments expressing interest in regulating social media platforms.

House Bill 5021 in particular, or the proposed “Social Media Regulation Act of 2017,� aims for social media accounts to be subjected to

utmost identity verification to confirm authenticity.

TrendMicro believes that this year, the improvements social media has made to fight fake news will not be enough to keep up with the deluge of cyberpropaganda.

This proves to be alarming as the same survey showed that half of Filipinos who use the internet for social media have changed their views on government and politics based on what they see online.

More cloud-related software vulnerabilities Trend Micro also predicts attackers will leverage on proven technological methods against the growing cloud adoption.

According to Cloud Readiness Index 2018, the Philippines was among the countries lagging behind in cloud infrastructure and yet to mature in terms of cloud adoption. It is generally perceived that transitioning to the cloud makes users more prone to security breaches and attacks.

Vulnerabilities found in cloud infrastructure, such as containers, and weak cloud security measures will allow greater exploitation of accounts for cryptocurrency mining, leading to more damaging breaches due to misconfigured systems.

Attacks will be using AI-powered techniques Attackers will also implement emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to better anticipate movements of top-level executives. They can use AI to determine when and where corporate executives are expected to be in the future, such as the hotels their companies typically book them in, the restaurants they pick for meetings, and other preferences that can help narrow down their next likely locations.

This will lead to more convincing targeted phishing messages, which can be critical to BEC attacks. Additionally, it is likely that BEC attacks will target more employees who report to C-level executives, resulting in continued global losses.

The threat landscape promises a lot of challenges for almost all sectors of the internet-usingpublic in 2019 even as faster internet, for better or worse, looms on the horizon. But the available tools and technologies should empower users and enterprises into positioning themselves more securely in the fight against cybercriminals and other emerging threat actors.

A deep understanding of these issues is a step in the right direction.

C2

Sunday Business & I.T.

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Where’s sustainable people’s participation in the battle for Manila Bay? T TECH SPACE

R E L AT I O N S H I P A N D DAT I N G I N T H E D I G I TA L AG E

Can we trust someone using just our phones?

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HE MOBILE PHONE HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM BEING JUST A TEXT AND CALL DEVICE )T IS NOW A FULL lEDGED COMMUNICATION POWERHOUSE THAT HAS BECOME AN EXTENSION OF OURSELVES A few decades ago, not being able to answer your phone meant probably not hearing it ringing or having low battery. Nowadays, not getting back to someone means you probably ignored that person on purpose.

Before smartphones But it wasn’t always like this. Two decades ago, back in the ancient times that is 1999, mobile phones were reserved for either the businessman, the ultra-rich, or the ultra-geek. While it has started to be more of a common sight thanks to the then-industry leader Nokia (right??), it was still mostly seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. “Back then, communicating remotely was still an abstract concept, something that seems like we don’t really need,� said Karel Holub, chief Argonaut of Argomall, a Filipino online retailer platform that sells over 500 authentic and genuine phones from dozens of brands. “So even though the mobile phone is actually a momentous invention, it didn’t affect how we went about with our daily lives, at least not yet at the time.�

Dating back then, consequently, was still done by way of the good, old “I’ll pick you up at 7:00 p.m. and let’s go to the movies�. There were no Facetime, WhatsApp, or FB Messenger to replace our conversations. We actually needed to plan ahead and just had to talk to our partner the entire time.

Imagine that.

Going digital The advent of the new millennium, however, saw a momentous shift. In just a few, short years, the mobile phone graduated from a “nice-to-have� to “can’t-livewithout.� The way we used mobile phones started changing as well as the texting craze took over. We courted through text, we got into relationships through text, and we even broke up through text (calls were still expensive at the time.)

While mobile phones are plenty useful already in and of itself, the truly seismic change came when it evolved into what we now call AS THE SMARTPHONE 7ITH INkNITELY more features, it transformed the smartphone into a full-fledged communication tool.

“After a seemingly slow start, the way smartphones changed our lives was nothing short of incredible. It literally changed how humans acted in just a few short years,� said Holub, who also has more than 20 years of professional experience in the mobile phone industry.

This seismic shift allowed us to be more in touch with our loved ones. Now, we can talk to our family members abroad whenever we want, work remotely, and of course, be much closer to our partner than ever before through video calls. It’s like we’re always with them, right?

Well, not quite. See, along with the countless innovations came the new cultural problems. Digital communication allowed people to skip the face-to-face meetings, which meant that certain nuances of human communication such as the slightest change in facial expressions are a lot harder to see and feel, which made trust and authenticity a huge issue. How can you trust someone you’re talking to if you’re not physically with them?

Smartphone ‘rules’ It starts off with realizing that digital messaging and chatting cannot replace actual, physical communication. While we can meet people

through Tinder, Grindr and other apps, we cannot sustain relationships without ever actually being with your partner. Digital communication is a tool to augment our communication efforts, not the main platform.

If we have managed to build trust with our partners in the physical world, then we would NEED TO AGREE ON SPECIkC GUIDElines in the digital world as well.

Does your girlfriend like using lots of emojis or is she more of a full sentence than a period type of girl? Does she like video calls or just voice calls? Every relationship is different, so talk it out with your partner and agree on your “smartphone rules�.

Also, make sure that the smartphones you’re both using are authentic and reliable. The last thing you need is your knock-off phone dying on you during a call. Only buy authentic phones in trusted online retailers like argomall.com, which offers an invoice, Philippine WARRANTY AND AN OFkCIAL RECEIPT FOR all purchases.

While there are quite a few challenges when it comes to building trust and authenticity in the age of digital communication, it is no doubt one of humankind’s greatest innovations. And if used properly, it can also take your relationship to even greater heights. Just always remember to charge your phone.

HE rehabilitation of the famed Manila Bay, dubbed the “Battle for Manila Bay,� has begun in earnest. Some 5,000 government workers and private volunteers participated in the inaugural kick-off of the weekly clean-up drive.

Tons of trash were reportedly collected during the initial clean-up effort.

In the latest round of planning for the future, environmental experts are calling for legislative action such as law on Manila Bay rehabilitation and policy on water discharge to the Bay. As usual, stiffer penalties on industrial and commercial polluters, the relocation of illegal settlers and strict implementation of zoning regulations are on the table.

The Department of Information Technology (DICT) is weighing in by providing the tools such as sensors and CCTVs to help win today’s most celebrated battle for the environment. In his speech at the launching ceremonies of the clean-up drive, acting ICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said the sensors would be used in monitoring the coliform level of the water to make the Bay “swimmable� again.

The CCTV cameras will be installed to catch litterers.

Connectivity is at the heart of DICT’s contribution to the cause so information can reach the command and control center of the proper authorities.

The President has allocated a total of P47B for the seven-year period of that project that will cover rehabilitation, restoration and conservation. While the Ccity of Manila is at the forefront of this massive initiative, parallel rehabilitation activities will be undertaken in some parts of Metro Manila as well AS IN SPECIkC TOWNS OF "ULACAN

Bataan and Pampanga.

The project does not stop at removing garbage from the bay. The City of Manila Phase 1 calls for the clean-up of esteros, reduction of coliform level and the start of relocation of hundreds of thousands of informal setters.

Phase 2 will entail the rehabilitation of old sewage lines and construction of sewage

TONY MAGHIRANG treatment facilities by concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water. The third phase is for sustained law enforcement and monitoring, continuing education and information campaign and completion of infrastructures in earlier stages of the project.

Curiously, the term organized community participation is nowhere to be found in the news releases nor on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) website and its attached agencies.

Why quibble? One, it’s because community organizing is a proven weapon to win the hearts and minds of stakeholders to sustain victory through the succeeding generations. Two, DENR, the lead agency of the Manila Bay rehabilitation project, has the experience in community participation with the various successes in its agro-forestry and aquatic resources development program over the years.

As it is, the Manila Bay project looks spearheaded by the usual triumvirate of local government intervention, the iron HAND OF THE LAW AND THE kNANcial might of big business. The few times the human factor is mentioned refer to the removal of informal settlers from the scene and their typically problematic transfer aka dumping in other areas. In this regard, a number of municipalities in Rizal province have been heard to be crafting local legislation to stop national government agencies from designating them as relocation sites.

The adoption of technology in environmental programs is well and good. Let’s not just miss the opportunity to also gather the affected communities around the undertaking and strengthen their participation in AN INCLUSIVE kGHT FOR A CLEANER

better environment.

Apple releases update for FaceTime bug Amazon Web Services launches AWS Hackdays 2019 APPLE has released an iPhone update TO kX A SOFTWARE lAW THAT ALLOWED people to eavesdrop on others while using FaceTime.

The bug enabled interlopers to turn an iPhone into a live microphone while using Group FaceTime.

Callers were able to activate another person’s microphone remotely even before the person has accepted or rejected the call.

Apple turned off the group-chat feature last week, after a 14-year-old boy in Tucson, Arizona, discovERED THE lAW 4HE TEENAGER 'RANT Thompson, and his mother said they unsuccessfully tried to contact the company about the problem for more than a week. Apple has been criticized for the delay in responding and has promised to improve procedures.

The FaceTime repair is included in the latest version of Apple’s iOS 12 system, which became available to install Thursday.

A l though t h e

FaceTime bug has now been addressed, its emergence is particularly embarrassing for Apple. The bug exposed Apple customers to potential surveillance at a time that CEO Tim Cook has been repeatedly declaring that personal privacy is a “fundamental human right.�

Cook also has publicly skewered Facebook and Google, two companies that collect personal

information to sell advertising, for not doing enough to protect people’s privacy.

Apple credited Thompson for discovering the FaceTime bug as part of its software update, nearly a week after thanking him for reporting the BUG IN THE kRST PLACE !S OFTEN OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE lAG software flaws, Thompson will be rewarded for his sleuthing. Apple plans to contribute to Thompson’s college fund in addition to paying a bounty to him and his family for reporting the bug. The company, which has $245 billion in cash, isn’t disclosing the amounts.

Michele Thompson, Grant’s mother, told The Associated Press in a text that the family intends to use all of the Apple money help cover his college expenses.

AP

AMAZON.COM-owned Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) has launched its annual education and hackathon event dubbed AWS Hackdays 2019: Hack for Good, with the goal of empowering a community of Southeast Asian developers to drive positive change using AWS’s technologies.

The hackathon will be conducted online across six Southeast Asian countries, inclu ding the Philippines. Participants are invited to create solutions around four topics: HealthTech, AgriTech, Smart City and FinTech. At the hackdays, builders in the region will showcase their innovation, and demonstrate skills in either artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics or modern applications. Participants will have access to AWS services such as Amazon Sagemaker to build, train and deploy ML mo dels; Amazon Polly to build speech-enabled applications; and Amazon Lex to build chatbots, as well as AWS IOT services, AWS data analytics, and modern applications such as serverless technologies, microservices and continuous integration and continuous deliver (CI/CD).  By tapping into AWS technologies, they are encouraged to create cloud-based solutions that can contribute to positive social and economic results across the region, and inspire the next generation of developers. “Advancements in cloud technology have allowed developers around the world to design and develop solutions that were previously unimaginable, said Nick Walton, managing director for Asean, AWS. “At AWS, we hope to enable members of the developer

community to harness the power of technology to drive positive impact for a better world. AWS Hackdays 2019: Hack for Good will provide Southeast Asian builders with access to tools and services on the broadest and deepest platform, and enable them to  develop forward-thinking solutions to real world issues that can help improve the way organizations do business, or the way we live.�

For the first time ever, the AWS Hackdays 2019: Hack for Good will include an online component, where participants can submit their entries to aws.agorize. com/en in an online hackathon.

Five teams in each country will earn the opportunity to participate in the national Demo Days, where they will pitch their final projects to a panel consisting of AWS and other expert judges in the startup/ innovation space.

The deadline for submitting the deliverables for the online hackathon in the Philippines is on March 10, 2019. Each winning national team will represent their country, and compete in the AWS Hackdays 2019 Grand Finale in Singapore on April 10, 2019.

Entries will be judged on originality and creativity, feasibility and potential impact, and how well the proposed application integrates with AWS services. The winning team of the AWS Hackdays 2019 Grand Finale in Singapore will receive a paid trip (including airfare, accommodation, and re:Invent tickets) to AWS re:Invent 2019 in Las Vegas, the world’s leading learning conference for the global cloud community.

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Twitter’ng with diplomacy and its apps P

OTUS is probably the most popular of the world’s leaders for using tech as a way to directly communicate with his constituents. He has also used the platform for foreign diplomacy, tweeting about the North Korean supreme leader as “rocket man.� In the end, however, forging a sincere partnership with the dictator was a turnaround scenario for the most powerful man in the world.

Diplomacy today is more transparent, leveled on public SCRUTINY AND IS INlUENCED BY public opinion. In the Philippines for example, public opinion is swayed by the masSIVE lOODING OF FAKE NEWS AND trolling. With Mocha Uson gone for example, the effect OF &ACEBOOK AS AN INlUENCER is much lesser.

Twitter since 2012 has beCOME THE UNOFkCIAL TOOL FOR diplomacy for many leaders.

So much so that a social phenomena called “Twiplomacy� or “hashtag diplomacy,� has developed from the use of social network and microblogging websites.

Donald Trump is not the first on Twitter. Former US President Barack Obama is the kRST HEAD OF STATE TO ESTABLISH a Twitter account, purposely for the 2008 presidential campaign. Up until 2016, he was also the most followed head of state, according to Twitter. The social media platform listed him as user number 813,286 on March 5, 2007.

Wikipedia says that other heads of state who are on Twitter and actively used Twiplomacy include Mexican and President Enrique PeĂąa Nieto Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has @CanadianPM, following his predecessor Stephen Harper who joined Twitter in 2007.

But it is POTUS Trump who has used the platform extremely actively, tweeting directly many times a day since his election in November 2016. His active engagement with Twitter diplomacy has changed American foreign policies. When he ranted that he has a “bigger button and it works,� to Kim Jong Un, North Korea began to open up to the West, without heavy penalties and sanctions.

Trump who considered Kim as petty and called him names later after a heated and humorous exchange of Tweets actually opened up a door to a conversation. After meeting him, Trump considered him “sincere� and a “great leader.�

So much was the shift that when Trump’s decided two summits with Kim in Singapore and then in Vietnam, he surely realized that the historic situation was actually ironic.

But surreally successful. Korea before the DMZ was America’s biggest war cesspool, even more than Vietnam because it was the trigger for the Cold War and this generation’s most ENDURING CONlICT Now world leaders know and make use of Twitter’s rapid expansion, as POTUS is using it successfully. A 2013 study by the website Twiplomacy found that 153 of the 193 countries represented at the United Nations had established government Twitter accounts. The result is nearly 150 million followers.

And now heads of state and their diplomats conduct diplomatic outreach and public diplomacy on Twitter. As this

APP’TIGHT DERIQ BERNARD is happening, the diversity in diplomatic communications happens on the platform. Things from invitations to events, to calls for bilateral cooperation, to innovating to get the public into a discussion, and even town halls utilize Twitter. And in very undiplomatic terms, diplomats also use terse language to push or jab both of friends and enemies of the state. But based on Twitter reports, there are more friendly and casual posts than kERY SPEECH Pope Francis is one head of state who joined Twitter for a different reason. According to THE 0APAL /FkCE HIS MESSAGES on Twitter actually come from him and not from a social meDIA OFkCE .ATURALLY SOME OF THE tweets of @Pontifex are biblical passages and feasts of saints, BUT OVERALL IT RElECTS THE STYLE of diplomacy of the Pontiff. He is seen as never confrontational, but the truth is he is a straight shooter especially on matters of morals and social justice.

For example today, in his ofkCIAL VISIT TO THE 5NITED !RAB Emirates, he said the country “belongs to the “surprises� of God. So let us praise Him and His providence, and pray that the seeds sown may bring forth fruits of peace..� which connects the Catholic church with the mood and manner of Islam. The hashtag of his visit is simple. #ApostolicJourney #UAE. Aside from Twitter, let me suggest a few apps I believe diplomats can use.

Google Earth. (free, iTunes, Android, Windows) Google Earth has developed from a geographer’s and cartographer’s delight to a powerful tool for learning the Earth and for diplomats knowing to differentiate between many countries in Africa, to what are the actual coordinates between Kenya and Kazakhstan.

Press Reader. (free, iOS, Android, Windows, mobile and desktop). Newspapers and magazines still make the world. Even if there are many online site and versions of the big publications, there are also 160 countries and almost the same number of languages, keeping up on foreign press coverage is important.

Press Reader has over 2,000 fullcontent papers.

PlaneFinder. (free, iOS, Android, Windows, mobile and desktop, $4.45 with important additional fun features) This TRUSTED lIGHT TRACKER HAS BEEN around since 2009. Not only does it find and follow live lIGHTS WORLDWIDE ON A MAP AND check real-time airport status information. It also has fun stuff like PlaneFinder AR. It works by POINTING YOUR CAMERA VIEWkNDER at planes in the sky to see where they are going (included in paid Plane Finder app). This is a real crowd pleaser!

WhatsApp. (free, iOS, Android, Windows, mobile and desktop).

The very platform is a diplomacy platform. The app is found in institutions like the UN and at EU headquarters. When a large numbers of diplomats needing to communicate rapidly and secretly, the encryption and speed of WhatsApp are put into good use.

An internal report at the UK’s &OREIGN /FkCE REPORTS THAT MANY British diplomats use WhatsApp to discuss sensitive issues.

Facebook. Change the world?

It has its lion’s share. Enough said.

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Sunday Business & I.T.

C3

GADGET REVIEW

Sony A7RIII: Top-notch digital performance S ONY’S A7R III is the best and the most accessible full-frame camera that is available in the consumer market today. Being the third generation of Sony’s A7 professional mirrorless cameras, this professional level camera is smaller and lightweight compared to similarly spec’ed (and priced) high-end DSLRs.

frame unlike other DSLRs which usually detects only at the center of the frame. Everything just works and the pictures look great.

This camera’s high ISO performance is also amazing as it can still take sharp images in moments that you will need to crank up that ISO. The A7R III has Sony’s high performance 35mm full-frame sensor for this

Quick specifications Full model name: S o n y A l p h a ILCE-A7R III Resolution:42.40 Megapixels Sensor size:35mm (35.9mm x 24.0mm) Kit Lens:n/a 6IEWkNDER %6& ,#$ Native ISO:100 - 32,000 Extended ISO:50 - 102,400 Shutter:1/8000 - 30 sec Dimensions:5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.

(127 x 96 x 74 mm) Weight:23.2 oz (657 g) includes batteries We tested the Sony A7R III with the provided Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS full frame lens (not included in the box) and once everything was set up, the camera was super easy to shoot. The EVF is clear and bright regardless of external light conditions.

The A7R III’s hybrid autofocus makes life easier for photographers, so that they’ll never have to manually set focus again. The

For video, the Sony A7R III can shoot 1080p up to 120fps and 4K at either 24 or 30fps. Even though it isn’t a camcorder, the A7R III shoots impressive videos.

When shooting at 4K, it actually records in a slightly higher resolution than 4K video with it’s 35mm sensor then compressing it into standard 4K giving you that high pixel density video to work on.

The camera has many features that we have not taken advantage of in this quick review, but for the professional photographer, this mirrorless system will be a joy to work with because it is a top notch system, and it should be! Priced at around $3,199 (around P166,640 at $1:P52.08; without lens and before taxes) it really packs a punch for the seasoned photographer’s arsenal.

The good - Over the top image quality - Good electronic viewfinder (EVF) which allows you to shoot comfortably in any light condition - Top-notch performance - Full-frame sensor AF is really quick even when you’re photographing moving people in events, etc. It can also detect faces within the full

The bad mirrorless camera, which means that the large sensor captures more light information resulting in high quality images.

4K video is only up to 30fps.

Though to most people, they only shoot 4K in 24fps, others might need 4K 60fps video.

Noctua introduces new thermal compounds NOCTUA recently introduced NT-H2, the further improved second generation of its award-winning hybrid thermal compound.

Combining the iconic NT-H1’s proven features, superb ease of use and renowned long-term STABILITY WITH A NOVEL kNE TUNED FORMULA OF microparticles for even better thermal performance, NT-H2 is an enthusiast-grade paste for the highest demands. At the same time, Noctua also presented a new, large 10-gram (g) pack of NT-H1 as well as NA-SCW1, a set of 20 cleaning wipes that are ideal for removing thermal comPOUND IN A QUICK CLEAN AND EFkCIENT MANNER “First introduced in 2007 and shipped with our premium-quality CPU coolers for more than 10 years, our NT-H1 thermal compound has proven its excellent performance in countless tests and reviews,� said Roland Mossig, chief executive, Noctua. “It’s chosen again and again by overclockers and hardware enthusiasts

AROUND THE GLOBE NOT ONLY FOR ITS EFkCIENCY but also for its ease of application and cleaning. Today, we’re proud to present the new, second-generation NT-H2 that provides even better performance!�

Further improving the award-winning NT( .4 ( USES A NEW kNE TUNED MIXTURE OF metal oxide microparticles for even lower thermal resistance and reduced bond-line thickness at typical mounting pressures. This allows it to achieve an even better performance in most application scenarios. In Noctua’s standardised internal testing at various platforms and heat loads, up to 2 degree Celsius lower temperatures were attained.

Just like NT-H1, NT-H2 does not require a break-in period and due to its excellent longterm stability, it can be used on the CPU for up to 5 years. Both pastes are electrically nonconductive and non-corroding, so there is no

risk of short circuits and they’re safe to use with all types of heatsink.

NT-H2 will come in standard 3.5g and extralarge 10g packages that include three (3.5g) and 10g NA-CW1 cleaning wipes for easy cleaning.

Pre-moistened with a custom detergent mixture, these wipes are ideal for cleaning CPUs, GPUs and the contact surface of heatsinks in a QUICK AND EFkCIENT MANNER &OR ENTHUSIAST USERS who take off and install their coolers frequently, the NA-CW1 wipes are also available separately in a set of 20 (NA-SCW1).

In addition to the new NT-H2 and NA-SCW1 cleaning wipes, Noctua also introduced a new 10g package of NT-H1. While, so far, the popular paste has only been available in a 3.5g package, the new 10g version is ideal for power users or for large processors such as AMD’s Threadripper (TR4) or Intel’s LGA3647 that require higher volumes of thermal compound.

Spotify takes big jump into the podcasting game SPOTIFY is making a bigger bet on podcasts as it looks to bring a Netflix-like model of original programs to the audio world. The musicstreaming pioneer gobbled up two podcasting companies, Gimlet and Anchor, on Wednesday.

Although streaming is becoming an increasingly popular way to listen to music, Spotify and other services such as Pandora have struggled to make money because of the royalties and other fees that they have to pay recording labels, songwriters and performers.

The acquisitions are about “expanding our mission from just being about music to being about all of audio and being the world’s leading audio platform,� CEO Daniel Ek said in an interview on CNBC on Wednesday.

The company didn’t disclose terms, but The Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the transactions as saying Anchor, a podcast production and hosting platform, was valued at more than $150 million and Gimlet at more than $200 million. Gimlet produces high-end podcasts and was co-founded by Alex Blumberg, a veteran of the NPR radio show “This American Life.�

Spotify, which is based in Stockholm and went public in April 2018, charges $10 a month for its “premium� ad-free music service.

It also offers a free ad-supported service.

Apple has become Spotify’s primary rival since the tech giant launched its own music streaming

service in 2015. But although it HAS BEEN OUTGUNNED kNANCIALLY

Spotify has been able to stay a step ahead of Apple in terms of subscribers. It counted 96 million subscribers in the fourth quarter, up 36 percent from a year ago.

Meanwhile, Apple’s musicstreaming service has more than 50 million subscribers, according to CEO Tim Cook. Pandora, YouTube, IHeartRadio, Google, Amazon and others also offer music streaming and podcasts.

Spotify is seeking ways to beCOME SUSTAINABLY PROkTABLE 4HE company reported a surprise FOURTH QUARTER PROkT ON 7EDNESday, boosted by a strong holiday

season and a promotion with Google Home. But it forecast a loss for 2019 even as it continues to invest in original content.

Spotify has already produced some original podcasts, including one series with comedian Amy Schumer and another with rapper and broadcaster Joe Budden.

Spotify is hoping to emulate .ETlIX WHICH HAS POURED BILLIONS into developing original shows and movies. So far, that strategy has produced some hits such as the series “Stranger Things� and the thriller “Bird Box.�

The podcast industry is much smaller but growing. Podcasts broke into the mainstream with

the success of “Serial,� a 2014 investigative journalism series about a murder that became a cultural phenomenon, yielding not just tens of millions of downloads, but eventually also a new trial for the convicted killer.

An estimated 73 million people tune in to some form of podcast on a monthly basis, according to Edison Research. They’re particularly popular with the coveted “millennial� demographic.

The deals are expected to close IN THE kRST QUARTER !ND %K SAID the company is not done with acquisitions. Spotify plans to spend $400 million to $500 million on acquisitions in 2019.

AP

World Thai king bans sister from running for PM B The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

ANGKOK: Thailand’s chaotic politics took two astonishing turns Friday when the sister of the king made a historic bid to become prime minister, only to have him shut down her effort as “inappropriate� because it violated tradition and the constitution, both of which keep the monarchy from getting involved in politics.

The royal order from King Maha Vajiralongkorn was read on national television late Friday night, effectively scuttling the move by his older sister, Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, to become a candidate for the prime minister’s OFkCE AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS scheduled for March 24.

It was the latest event to roil Thailand, which has been buffeted by coups, political comebacks and street violence for more than a decade.

Ubolratana’s registration as a candidate was a stunning move, not only because it would have broken a taboo on a senior royal RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFkCE BUT ALSO because it would have allied her with the Thai Raksa Chart Party, considered by many royalists to be unsympathetic to the monarchy.

It is one of several parties linked to the political machine of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecommunications billionaire who roared to power in 2001 with populist policies that made him practically unbeatable. The army eventually ousted him from the prime min-

ISTER S OFkCE IN A COUP The turnaround in Ubolratana’s fortunes was also seen as startling because the siblings are thought to be close, and it was considered unthinkable that Ubolratana would make her move without her brother’s permission. What actually had happened behind the scenes is unlikely to become public, as the Thai royal family’s private affairs are almost never leaked.

Vajiralongkorn tried to soften the blow by acknowledging that his 67-year-old sister has already relinquished her formal royal titles, and he praised her for conducting charity work and otherwise earning the love of her family and the Thai people.

But his order stressed that Thailand’s constitution insists that the king and those around him stay above politics, and the principles of democratic government also put politics off-limits. “Even though she relinquished her title according to royal laws ... she still retains her status and position as a member of the Chakri dynasty,� the king’s order said.

ROYAL BAN

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has issued a decree stating that no member of the royal family should be involved in politics, quashing a bid by his older sister to run for prime minister in next month’s elections. AP PHOTO “Bringing high-ranking royal family members to be involved in the political system, in any way, is an act that is against the ancient royal protocol and national custom and culture, and is seen as a highly inappropriate act,� the statement added.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, the preferred candidate of the military, is considered to be indelibly loyal to the monarchy. He led the 2014 military coup that ousted Thailand’s last elected government, which had been backed by Thaksin.

Prayuth had been considered the front-runner for the March election because changes in the constitution and election rules implemented by his government MAKE IT DIFkCULT FOR POLITICAL PARties without military backing to capture the prime minister’s post.

Thailand also has a draconian lese majeste law which punishes defamation of the immediate royal family with up to 15 years in prison. While it does not technically apply to Ubolratana, who lost her highest royal titles when she married an American more than four decades ago, its scope has been widened in recent years to almost anything that sullies the royal institution, making criticism of the princess highly problematical.

Before the king’s statement, Ubolratana had issued a statement on Instagram saying she has “no special privileges above the Thai people under the constitution.� “This act of mine, I have done out of sincerity and intention to SACRIkCE IN THIS REQUEST TO LEAD THE country to prosperity,� she said.

Parliament has had members

who were distant relatives of the monarch. Ubolratana falls into a gray area, since she is commonly called a princess and treated as such, despite losing the royal designations after her marriage.

Hours after she was registered as a candidate, a political party SUPPORTING 0RAYUTH kLED AN OBjection with the Election Commission, arguing that the action broke rules banning the use of the royal institution as part of a political campaign. Several other complaints followed, mostly from conservative royalists, exposing a possible vulnerability in her plans.

5BOLRATANA IS THE kRST BORN OF FOUR children of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, with the current king the second-born.

She was virtually disowned by her father in 1972 when she married American Peter Jensen, who was a fellow student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They settled in the United States where they had three children. They later divorced, and she moved back permanently to Thailand in 2001.

Since then she has thrown herself into charity work, especially her “To Be No. 1� foundation to kGHT YOUTH DRUG ABUSE 3HE ALSO frequently promotes Thai tourism and movies at international forums. In general, like most of the royal family, she publicly kept herself aloof from Thailand’s recent political turmoil.

For most of Bhumibol’s reign from 1946 to his death in 2016, the

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revered and humble monarch was a stabilizing force in Thai politics. But the election of Thaksin in 2001 was transformative for Thailand.

His populist policies delivered unmatchable electoral majorities, but he was resented by the traditional ruling class, including royalists and the military. Violent street protests and two military coups have marked the years since.

Thaksin went in exile in 2008 to avoid serving jail time on a corruption conviction he insists was politically motivated.

His well-funded political machine returned his allies to power twice, and his maneuvering was seen as the key element in arranging for Ubolratana’s selection by a 4HAKSIN AFkLIATED PARTY Most political observers agree that Thaksin aggressively pursued good relations with the current king and friendship with the princess herself. These links were formed as royalists and others loyal to Bhumibol accused Thaksin of showing disrespect for the throne, and even of harboring secret republican tendencies.

When Vajiralongkorn ascended to the throne, conventional wisdom saw him as tightening his grip on power by allying himself closely with the military.

The surprise move by his sister into politics assumed to be with the king’s approval raised questions about whether the long-lasting partnership of the palace with the army is in jeopardy.

AP

US-China trade talks resume in mid-Feb

CLEANSING

Hindu holy women of the Juna Akhara sect participate in rituals believed to rid them of all ties in this life at Sangam, the confluence of three sacred rivers the Yamuna, the Ganges and the mythical Saraswati, during the Kumbh Mela or the Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India. AP PHOTO

WASHINGTON, D.C.: US officials will be in Beijing February 14-15 for the third round of talks aimed at heading off an escalation of the ongoing trade war with China, the White House announced Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Negotiators are working towards an agreement before the 90-day tariff truce expires March 1, after which the US is set to more than double punitive duties on $200 billion in Chinese goods.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will lead the delegation, which also includes David Malpass, who President Donald Trump has nominated to be president of the World Bank, according to the statement.

However, strident White House China critic Peter Navarro was not listed as part of the US team.

While officials seemed optimistic after talks last week in Washington, more

recent comments have jarred financial markets, amplifying concerns about how the dispute will impact global growth.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he did not expect to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline for the two economic superpowers to reach a deal.

Trump had said final resolution of the trade dispute would depend on the meeting with Xi “in the near future,� but told reporters it had not yet been arranged.

And top White House economist Larry Kudlow said Thursday that while Trump was “optimistic� about prospects for a deal, there remained a “sizeable distance� separating the two sides.

Washington is demanding far-reaching changes from China to address unfair practices it says are deeply unfair, including theft of American intellectual property and the massive Chinese trade surplus. AFP

Bangladesh blocks 30 Malaysian ex-PM faces 3 counts of money laundering Rohingya from Malaysia TEKNAF, Bangladesh: Bangladesh security forces stopped 30 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia by BOAT OFkCIALS SAID &RIDAY AS FEARS RISE that calmer seas may tempt those living in squalid camps to make the journey to Southeast Asia.

4WO SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFkCKers were detained in the operation

by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces in Cox’s Bazar district LATE 4HURSDAY THE OFkCIALS SAID !BOUT 2OHINGYA lED Myanmar for Bangladesh following a military clampdown in August

2017. They joined about 300,000 of the Muslim minority already in the country where they are largely conkNED TO CAMPS WHICH HAVE STRAINED Bangladesh’s resources to the limit.

The 17 women, six children and seven men were detained on a beach near the coastal town of Teknaf, which borders Myanmar’s violence-wracked Rakine state, the BGB said.

It is the third time since November that Rohingya have been intercepted while attempting to reach the more prosperous and Muslim-majority Malaysia by boat.

AFP

FORMER Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been re-charged with three counts of money laundering days before he is set to face trial for his involvement in the scandal-plagued 1MDB state fund, according to chargesheets seen by the Data Protection Authority.

The Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund is the subject of a sweeping international investigation spanning at least half a dozen countries due to suspicions that billions of dollars were misappropriated by HIGH RANKING -ALAYSIAN OFkCIALS The three charges against Najib stem from receiving illegal proceeds totalling 47 million Malaysian ringgit

($11.4 million) from SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary, paid into three of his AmPrivate Banking accounts on July 8, 2014, according to local media outlet Malaysiakini.

Najib pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read out to him at Sessions Court in Putrajaya yesterday.

The court allowed a personal bond for Najib on all three charges. Najib had been slapped with the same charges at the High Court on January 28.

However, the High Court had granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, following an application by Attorney General Tommy Thomas during Najib’s appeal proceedings on Thursday.

4HOMAS HAD kLED THE APPLICATION on grounds that the prosecution did not wish to proceed with the charges against Najib before the High Court, and would therefore SEEK TO kLE THE CHARGES BEFORE THE Sessions Court instead. The latest counts pile added pressure on the embattled ex-premier, who faces a slew of 42 charges in total when he is due to appear in court on Tuesday.

Najib, alongside his wife Rosmah, has emerged as one of the central figures in the 1MDB investigation, which was re-opened by the Pakatan Harapan government shortly after it toppled him and his party in a surprise victo-

ry in the 2018 general elections.

The US Department of Justice suspects more than $4.5 billion have gone missing from 1MDB, with nearly $681 million being siphoned to Najib’s private bank accounts.

In June 2018, raids by Malaysian police on private residences linked to Najib turned up bundles of cash, hundreds of luxury handbags and expensive watches and jewellery.

Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying he “did not RECEIVE ANY BENEkTS OR STEAL MONey from 1MDB or any party� in a Facebook post in June, and that the transaction was merely a political gift from a Saudi royal. GULF TIMES

Worldinbriefs 120 GUESTS SNOWBOUND IN LODGE FREED

CINDY MCCAIN APOLOGIZES FOR RACIAL BIAS

LOS ANGELES: More than 120 visitors and staff who were snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort for five days have been freed, authorities said Friday (Saturday in Manila). Up to 7 feet (2 meters) of snow trapped the guests and staff at Montecito Sequoia Lodge in Sequoia National Forest starting Sunday following a storm, US Forest Service spokesman Alicia Embrey said. Crews had to travel by snowmobile to get to the lodge in the mountains east of Fresno on Wednesday morning, when they ensured everyone was safe. They returned Thursday with additional supplies, she said. Heavy equipment and crews then cleared more than 20 fallen trees and 8 miles (13 kilometers) of deep snow on the road leading to the lodge to allow guests and staff to finally leave the property on Thursday night.

AP

15 DEAD IN ISTANBUL BUILDING COLLAPSE

PHOENIX: Cindy McCain has apologized after she claimed she stopped a case of human trafficking at the Phoenix airport when she reported a toddler with a woman of a different ethnicity and “something didn’t click.� Police said they investigated, but there was no evidence of a crime. The incident draws attention to the suspicion that parents, relatives, nannies and others face when they travel with children who don’t look like them. That it was McCain, who adopted a daughter from Bangladesh and is recognized globally as an advocate for ending human trafficking, illustrates the challenge of being vigilant without triggering concerns about racial bias. “There’s a huge danger in trusting your gut when it comes to race and all kinds of identity dimensions,� said Andrew Grant-Thomas, who co-founded an organization called Embrace Race along with his wife. It reminded Grant-Thomas, who is African American, of the intimidating stares he would get while babysitting his godson, who appears white.

AP

ISTANBUL: Turkish emergency services on Friday (Saturday in Manila) recovered four more bodies from the rubble of an eight-story building that crashed down in Istanbul, bringing the death toll to 15. One man said he lost nine members of his extended family. Earlier in the day, rescuers pulled a 16-year-old boy out alive from under the rubble two days after the collapse, raising the number of people who have been rescued to 14. Friends and relatives waited near the wreckage for news of their missing loved ones as emergency teams, aided by sniffer dogs, worked around the clock to reach possible survivors. Nedim Alemdar said 14 relatives were living in three separate apartments in the building that collapsed in the Kartal district on the Asian side of the city. The building had been the family’s home for 25 years, he said. “We have nine losses. My elder brother, our siblings, our children are all gone,� Alemdar, 43, told The Associated Press. “This is beyond imagination.�

AP

A PRESS release issued on February 7 by Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated that it sent a diplomatic note to Cambodia’s MOFA via the Malaysian Embassy, requesting the release of 47 Malaysians presently detained in Poipet. Last December, the police in Banteay Meanchey province arrested 55 foreigners for their alleged involvement in running illegal online gambling operations in Poipet. Eight of them were Chinese nationals; the remaining 47 were Malaysian nationals. The Malaysian statement confirmed that the 47 Malaysians have been in custody in Poipet since Dec. 11, 2018 and that notification of the arrests was given verbally by the police on December 28.

KHMER TIMES

MALAYSIA SEEKS RELEASE OF DETAINEES IN CAMBODIA

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World

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Trump, Kim summit to be held in Hanoi W

ASHINGTON, D. C.: President Donald Trump said Friday (Saturday in Manila) that he will hold his second summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Hanoi and predicted that the authoritarian country would someday become “a great Economic Powerhouse� under Kim’s leadership.

In a pair of tweets, Trump praised Kim and said his representatives had just left North Korea after a “productive meeting� on the February 27-28 summit.

Trump added, “I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim and advancing the cause of peace!�

The president had previously announced Vietnam as the summit

location, but the city hadn’t been IDENTIkED )T WILL BE THE PAIR S SECOND SUMMIT THE kRST COMING LAST June in Singapore. Kim pledged then to work toward the “complete denuclearization� of the Korean Peninsula, without providing a clear timetable or roadmap.

While in Asia, Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for North Korea, is thought to have discussed specific disarmament steps that Pyongyang could promise at the Vietnam summit and what corresponding measures the United States is willing to take.

In announcing the location of

their second meeting, Trump showered praise on Kim, whom he used to derisively call “Little Rocket Man.� Months after their Singapore summit, Trump said that Kim had written him “beautiful letters� and that the two “fell in love.� “North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, will become a great Economic Powerhouse. He may surprise some but he won’t surprise me, because I have gotten to know him & fully understand how capable he is. North Korea will become a different kind of Rocket — an Economic one!�

Trump tweeted Friday.

AP

TRIBUTE

Yellow flowers are placed in front of the portrait of Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes on Friday (Saturday in Manila). FC Nantes football club announced on Friday that it would freeze the #9 jersey as a tribute to the Cardiff City and former Nantes footballer who died in a plane crash in the English Channel on Jan. 21, 2019. AFP PHOTO

Storm lashes Sydney, thousands without power SYDNEY: Thousands of Sydney homes were without power Saturday after severe storms hit Australia’s largest city, causing transport holdUPS INUNDATING VEHICLES WITH lOODWATER AND delaying a national football match.

Heavy rains and lightning storms lashed parts of Sydney late Friday, with close to 60 millimeters (nearly two and a half inches) of rain falling in some areas.

In Sydney’s west, which experienced some lASH lOODING ONE SUBURB SAW NEARLY MILlimeters fall in a short downpour lasting just 30 minutes. “It was a slow-moving storm with that warm humid air moving along the coast... that allowed for that increase of moisture,� Byron Doyle from the New South Wales Bureau of meteorology told AFP. )MAGES OF CARS SUBMERGED IN lOODWATERS ON MAIN ROADS BROKEN TRAFkC LIGHTS AND FALLEN TREES

circulated on social media.

Energy companies reported that more than 40,000 customers were affected by power outages at the peak of the storm overnight, with more than 5,000 still without power early Saturday.

Emergency services fielded over 1,000 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE INCLUDING NINE lOOD rescues in the Sydney area.

4HE RESCUES WERE gALL FOR VEHICLES IN lOOD water,� a New South Wales state emergency services spokesperson told AFP. Flights were delayed at Sydney’s airport, while the storm caused havoc on some of the city’s train lines.

The start of a national Australian rules football women’s match was delayed twice, pushed back 45 minutes as heavy rain and lightning pummelled the oval.

Several light towers then went out mid-match

during the live television broadcast, temporarily stopping the game during a reported blackout.

The Sydney storm comes as recovery efforts CONTINUE IN !USTRALIA S lOOD RAVAGED NORTHeastern state of Queensland, which over the past week has seen record-breaking rainfall, forcing hundreds of evacuations and thousands of requests for help.

Extreme heatwaves during the southern hemisphere summer have also led to temperature records being broken in some towns.

Eastern inland areas have been experiencING A SEVERE DROUGHT WHILE kREkGHTERS IN THE country’s southern states have been recently BATTLING BUSHkRES High temperatures are not unusual in the Australian summer, but climate change has pushed up land and sea temperatures and led to MORE EXTREMELY HOT DAYS AND SEVERE kRE SEASONS

scientists say.

AFP

Democrats push deal vs greenhouse gas emissions RISING Democratic star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey have laid out the objectives of a Green New Deal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years, setting a high bar for Democrats who plan to make climate change a central issue in the 2020 presidential race.

The resolution is the first formal attempt by lawmakers to define the scale of legislation to create large-scale government-led investments in clean energy and infrastructure to transform the US economy. “The Green New Deal fully tackles the existential threat posed by climate change by presenting a comprehensive, 10-year plan that is as big as the problem it hopes to solve while creating a new era of shared prosperity,� according to a summary of the resolution released by the lawmakers yesterday.

Ocasio-Cortez has said that she will immediately begin to work on legislation that would “fully flesh out the projects involved in the Green New Deal.�

Republicans have already criticized the initiative, waving

ECOLOGISTS

Democrat Sen. Ed Markey speaks as Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other congressional Democrats push green politics at a news conference in front of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. GULF TIMES off any kind of proposal as heavy-handed.

The Trump administration does not believe action on climate change is necessary and is focused on increasing production of oil, gas and coal on federal and private land.

Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado, said at a climate change hearing in the House natural resources committee on Wednesday that the policy was akin to a “Soviet

five-year plan�.

The non-binding resolution outlines several goals for the United States to meet in 10 years, including meeting 100 percent of power demand from zero-emissions energy sources.

It also calls for new projects to modernise US transportation infrastructure, de-carbonise the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, make buildings and homes more energy efficient, and increase land preservation.

The Green New Deal also aims to create an economic safety net for “frontline� communities that will be a f f e c t e d by a r a d i c a l s h i f t away f r o m f o s s i l f u e l u s e. “We ... need to be sure that workers currently employed in fossil fuel industries have higher wages and better jobs available to them to be able to make this transition, and a federal jobs guarantee ensures that no worker is left behind,� according to a summary of the plan.

The Green New Deal was put into the media spotlight by a youth coalition called the Sunrise Movement and Ocasio-Cortez, 29, the youngest woman to serve in Congress.

Markey, a veteran lawmaker from Massachusetts, introduced sweeping climate change legislation a decade ago, which passed in the House but stopped short in the Senate.

At least a half dozen Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls have said they would adopt Green New Deal policies, without offering specifics.

GULF TIMES

UN: No politics, just aid to Venezuelans THE situation for ordinary Venezuelans is increasingly critical but the United Nations remains committed to providing humanitarian support, based on “need, and need ALONE u SAID A SENIOR AID OFkCIAL ON Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the UN aid coordinating branch, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), underlined that it was observing developments at Venezuela’s border with Colombia, where an aid convoy arrived on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido refused to rule out the possibility of authorizing United States intervention to help force President Nicolas Maduro from power and alleviate a humanitarian crisis.

National Assembly leader Guaido told AFP he would do “everything that is necessary... to save human lives,� acknowledging that US intervention is “a very controversial subject.�

On the situation at the border, the UN is monitoring that situation closely, said Jens Laerke from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the ideal scenario is that humanitarian aid is provided, independent of any political or other considerations than the pure humanitarian, and that is based on need and need alone.

At the border, the World Food Program (WFP) confirmed that needs are at “crisisâ€?-like levels inside Venezuela, where Guiado declared himself interim President last month, amid deepening economic and political uncertainty. “How can we know if people are starving or not? Just stay at the border with Colombia, and look who is coming into Colombia,â€? said WFP senior spokesman HervĂŠ Verhoosel. He said 1.2 million people had come, “starving, in Colombia with no money, no food, no medicine‌Yes of course there’s a crisis in the country.â€?

WFP has been providing emergency food assistance at the Colombian border since early 2018.

From April to December last

year, the agency provided emergency food assistance to 290,000 people in the country’s border departments of Arauca, La Guajira, Norte de Santander and Nariùo.

Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees and host communities have been assisted, Mr Verhoosel explained, adding that the lOW OF MIGRANTS INTO #OLOMBIA IS expected to rise.

Several resident UN agencies work inside Venezuela including United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Pan-American Health Organization, UNAIDS, the UN refugee agency, UN Population Fund and the UN Development Program.

In a bid to help 3.6 million Venezuelans including 2 million children, OCHA has appealed for nearly $110 million.

The UN has already helped local institutions by providing medical kits for women and children, and aid teams are also delivering 100,000 treatments for severe acute malnutrition. Six temporary shelters have also been set up in the western border states to house 1,600 people and offer them protection and information, as well as family kits containing food and clothing. “Since November, UN agencies have been scaling up existing activities inside Venezuela to meet urgent health, nutrition and protection needs,� Laerke said. “This highly prioritized plan requires $109.5 million. Up to now we only $49.1 million received against that plan.� !LSO IN 'ENEVA CONkRMED THAT it is continuing to work with the authorities through the Pan-American Health Organization, notably to prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases.

In 2018, around 50 tons of medicines and supplies were delivered to Venezuela by PAHO, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said.

3INCE MEASLES WAS kRST REPORTed in July 2017, there have been

CONkRMED CASES INCLUDING 76 deaths as of December 2018.

UN NEWS WITH AFP

7 jihadists get life term for killing 60 in Tunisia TUNIS:Â A Tunisian court has sentenced seven jihadists to life in prison over attacks at a museum and on a beach in 2015 that killed 60 people, many of them tourists, prosecutors said Saturday.

Dozens of defendants faced two separate trials over the closely linked shootings, which occurred just months apart in Tunis and Sousse, but many were acquitted.

Three were given life sentences FOR HOMICIDE OVER THE kRST ATTACK IN March 2015 at the capital’s Bardo museum, in which two gunmen killed 21 foreign tourists and a Tunisian security guard.

Four received the same term for the shooting rampage at a Sousse tourist

resort in June that year, which killed 38 people, mostly British tourists.

Other defendants were sentenced to between six and 16 years, said PROSECUTION SPOKESMAN 3OkENE 3LITI on Saturday.

Prosecutors said afterwards that they planned to launch appeals in both cases.

The court heard that the two attacks, both claimed by the Islamic State group (IS), were closely linked.

Several defendants pointed to the fugitive Chamseddine Sandi as mastermind of both.

Victims’ family members in France and Belgium watched the Sousse attack hearing via a live video feed.

AFP

Rats overrun LA city hall LOS ANGELES: ,OS !NGELES OFkCIALS are ripping out carpets, setting traps and fumigating as they battle a rat infestation at City Hall that one attorney says left her battling a bout of typhus.

The historic building, located in the downtown area, has apparently been overrun with rodents after a nearby structure was demolished last year.

City council members and staff SAY THE RATS ARE HAVING A kELD day in the 91-year-old building, nesting in potted plants, gnawing at carpets and leaving droppings ON SEVERAL lOORS Elizabeth Greenwood, a city attorney, believes she contracted typhus last November after working in a building connected to City Hall. “It was terrifying, I thought I was GOING TO DIE AND COULDN T kGURE out what was wrong with me,� she told the local CBS station.

The rat problem has gotten so bad that city council president

Herb Wesson this week submitted a motion calling for a probe into “the scope of vermin and pest control issues� in the building and adjacent structures. “Employees shouldn’t have to come to work worried about rodents,� Wesson told the Los Angeles Times. “I intend to do whatever it is we need� to solve the issue.

He said the problem of vermin AND lEAS IN THE RUGS OF HIS FOURTH lOOR OFkCE HAD GOTTEN SO BAD THAT he removed his staff from the art-deco building during the endof-year holidays and ripped out all the carpeting.

He is now asking the city to consider taking out all the rugs in the 27-story building, a popular kLMING LOCATION USED IN NUMEROUS movies including “Chinatown�

AND g, ! #ONkDENTIAL u Questioned by AFP, the Los Angeles mayor’s office said it was concerned about the rodent issue and was seeking to eradicate the critters.

AFP

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.)

SSUNDAY U N DAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Public Square

D4 Public Square appears on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

Go supports Go Negosyo towards MSME development Founder President of Philippine Christian College visits Princess Amirah Shine Magdalangal

Q Go Negosyo held the first Mentor Me On Wheels in franchising on January 29 at the SM Megamall Event Center. Joining the event are Johnlu Koa (French Baker), Henry Lim Bon Liong (SL Agritech), Eric Caeg (AFFI), Joyce Co-Yu (AFFI), P.A. Joey Concepcion, former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Samie Lim (PFA), Richard Sanz (PFA), Amb. Philippe Lhuillier, Jorge Wieneke (AFFI), and Jean Henri Lhuillier (Cebuana Lhuillier).

F

ORMER Special Assistant to the President Bong Go pledged support to Go Negosyo’s goal of MSME Development.

In Go Negosyo’s Mentor Me On Wheels, which happened last Jan. 29 in SM Megamall, Go commits to helping micro entrepreneurs scale up through facilitating ease of doing business.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said, “The President’s mandate is to support inclusivity most especially the growth of micro and small entrepreneurs. Bong

Go is one of the reasons why our programs on entrepreneurship for the past three years has been supported by President Duterte.

Basically the private sector and the government partnering together in helping our MSMEs in the Philippines is in the President’s heart towards the success of all. Bong Go serves as an instrument in bringing prioritizing and highlight inclusive growth for entrepreneurs.�

Concepcion was joined by Amb. Philippe Lhuillier, Philippine Ambassador to Spain; Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of

Cebuana Lhuillier; Henry Lim Bon Liong, CEO of SL Agritech Corp.; Johnlu Koa, founder of French Baker and more than 100 franchise owners such as Samie Lim, PFA chairman emeritus; Dr. Alan Escalona, PFA chairman and CEO of Fruit Magic; Richard Sanz, president of PFA and president of Bibingkinitan; Joyce Co Yu, president of AFFI and Owner of Trueblends Tea and Coffee; Eric Caeg, AFFI chairman, president and CEO of RAP Training and Marketing Services; and Jorge Wieneke, vice president of AFFI and president and

CEO of Tokyo Tempura.

This Mentor Me On Wheels is a free 1-on-1 mentoring session for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. In this special session, Go Negosyo partnered with two of the biggest franchising organizations in the country—Philippine Franchise Association and Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. Apart from this, 120 franchise owners from PFA and AFFI joined the mentoring session on franchising and shared knowledge to more than 600 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and franchisees.

Arroyo visits Muntinlupa resettlement site residents HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left) visits residents of Southville 3, NHA Poblacion, Muntinlupa City for a consultation meeting on Feb. 7.

Resettlement site residents discuss their concerns for the development of the area. Arroyo is joined by Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (right) who vowed his support in putting up projects in the site. Also joining the program is Congressman Ruffy Biazon (not in the photo).

PAG-IBIG Fund released P75.31 billion in home loans in 2018, besting its previous record of releasing P65.13 billion in home loans in 2017.

4HIS AMOUNT kNANCED THE ACQUIsition and construction of 90,375 homes for Pag-IBIG members, 12 perCENT HIGHER THAN THE HOMES kNANCED IN /F THESE

OR PERCENT WERE FOR SOCIALIZED HOUSING units given to minimum-wage and low-income earners. “Pag-IBIG Fund’s performance in 2018 stands out as the best year so far. When we achieve recordbreaking disbursements in home loans, we are happy because these signify our members’ satisfaction with our programs as we help more members with their housing needs.

Pag-IBIG Fund remains as one of the key institutions in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s drive to provide social

%CO -ER ARTIkCIAL REEF UNITS ARE made of marine concrete which has better larval attachment, higher survival rates of coral recruits and wider niche range for higher species diversity, beyond any other commercial artificial reefs. The laboratory serves as an underwater work station for volunteer divers TO STUDY THE lUID DYNAMICS STUDY coral growth potential at Eco-MER UNITS PER DEPTH AND OTHER SCIENTIkC diving related to monitoring and coral restoration for Mabini.

4HE ARTIkCIAL CORAL REEFS UNDERGO MONITORING AND SCIENTIkC ACtivities to help enrich the ecosytem of Anilao’s dive spots by setting up marine sanctuaries.

Q In photo, prior to the underwater deployment of the eco-reef modules, are Eco-Mer and Divers Institute of Technology consultant William McGilton, MPIC Foundation President Melody Del Rosario, and Prof. Avigdor (AV) Abelson, marine ecology expert from the Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Manila Bay Rehabilitation program gets support from Calabarzon THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) massive plan to rehabilitate the Manila Bay found thousands of supporters in different places sharing the same goal—to clean up the polluted Manila Bay. In full support of DENR’s Manila Bay Rehabilitation program, OFkCIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF -'" IV Calabarzon, together with members of the Eastern Rizal Miners Association (ERMA) and Rizal Quarry Academy Inc. trooped to Angono to put up a trash-trap curtain to address the source of rubbish that contributes to the pollution of Manila Bay.

Spearheaded by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Calabarzon Region, the 50-meter trashtrap curtain captures trash before IT lOWS DOWNSTREAM “Manila Bay pollutants come from different sources, and aside from the cleanup of its coastline, WE BELIEVE IT IS CRUCIAL TO DIRECTLY kX the source of pollution, which are in various areas all over the country,� said MGB IV Calabarzon Regional Director Samuel Paragas.�

The Manila Bay Rehabilitation program was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte with an allocated BUDGET OF 0 BILLION THAT WILL include cleanup activities, relocation

of illegal settlers as well as apprehension of establishments that violate

the Philippine Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.

PCSO Peryahan ng Bayan contract has expired ON !PR

0#3/ EXECUTED A Deed of Authority (DoA) in favor of Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation (Globaltech) to operate Peryahan ng Bayan on an experimental test run basis. However, the DoA was not renewed by PCSO and said contract expired on Mar. 31, 2016.

In the decision by the Court of ApPEALS DATED *AN

BOTH PETITIONS kLED BY 0#3/ AND 'LOBALTECH were dismissed and both parties were directed to submit their issues before

in gratitude to thank Princess Sunshine Amirah Magdangal on the food packages and construction materials she distributed to the people of Bicol that was hard hit by the recent typhoon most specially those in Albay.

SKIFI has more than 3 million members nationwide and many of them are from Bicol region.

Pag-IBIG Fund releases record-breaking P75.3B in home loans in 2018, up by 16%

Anilao dive spot receives coral restoration lab AS part of its corporate social responsibility, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) Foundation through its Shore It Up program, recently received a DONATION OF ECO REEF MODules which 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 Brgy.

Solo in Mabini, Batangas to help restore the marine ecosystem of the area. In the past two years, it has laid 12 modules which has provided valuable data to help IN THE lOURISHING OF AQUATIC LIFE in the barangay.

DOCTOR Hernando “Nards� Bruce, Ph.D., Ed., founder president of Philippine Christian College (left), of Albay, District 1 visited Princess Amirah Shine Magdangal (right) of Sulong Katutubo International Foundation, Inc. (SKIFI), AT HER OFkCE TH &LR #ABRERA "LDG

Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

"RUCE COULD HARDLY kND THE WORDS

arbitration pursuant to the Arbitration Clause of the expired DoA. The Peryahan ng Bayan involves the conduct of Peryahan games namely, “Hulog Holen,� “Throw Coins,� and “Gulong ng Swertres�

by PCSO representatives. Prior to the expiration of the DoA, the Peryahan ng Bayan was conducted in Quezon City, Pangasinan, /RIENTAL -INDORO -ARINDUQUE

Palawan, Rizal, Catanduanes, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol,

Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato and Zambonga del Sur. More than two years after the expiration of the DoA, Globaltech continues to operate Peryahan ng Bayan without the knowledge, supervision and control of PCSO. It has not remitted any single centavo on its continued operation and has deprived the government and those seeking assistance from PCSO the funds to be used for medical, health-

related and charity services.

PCSO will continue to obey and follow the directive of the President to initiate and assist law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute persons and entities engaged in illegal gambling activities pursuant to Executive Order No. 13, Series 2017 and Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for Other Purposes).

services to more Filipinos,� said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who heads both the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

Home loan releases in 2018 BREACHED FOR THE kRST TIME THE 0 billion mark and grew 16 percent over the previous year, marking the third consecutive year for Pag-IBIG Fund to achieve double-digit growth in its home loan releases. “It took us 36 years for our home loan releases to reach the P50 billion level in 2016, and just one year to P60 billion in 2017. We replicated our success and worked harder than ever in 2018 to bring our home loans to P75.31 billion and help shelter more Pag-IBIG members,� said Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive /FkCER !CMAD 2IZALDY -OTI

LWUA is now ISO-certified THE Local Water Utilities AdministraTION ,75! IS NOW )3/ CERTIkED The Certification and Scope of Registration for LWUA’s ISO 9001:2015—which is the latest STANDARD THAT APPLIES TO QUALITY management system—was granted last December by AJA Registrars, THE THIRD PARTY AUDITING kRM THAT CONDUCTED THE CERTIkCATION PROCESS The scope, which covers public administration of water rate fees (initial and adjustment) review and approval for all water districts, was registered to last for three years or until December 2021. According to ,75! #HIEF *ECI ,APUS THE CERTIkCAtion is a testament that the agency is keeping up with the times in terms of delivering the best and most efkCIENT PUBLIC SERVICE

“This is the fruit of labor of the men and women of LWUA,� Lapus said. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all for making this mark of excellence a reality for our organization.� This is another milestone that follows after THE CELEBRATION OF THE AGENCY S TH year of service to the country.

ISO, which stands for International Organization for Standardization, is the world’s largest developer of voluntary international standards. It is composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.

Meanwhile, the ISO 9001:2015 is the latest version of this standard—which IS INTERNATIONALLYACCEPTED FOR A QUALITY management system. Organizations THAT ARE )3/ CERTIkED MEAN THEY ARE able to provide effective customer and regulatory services.

Barangay Mariana Hall to be utilized for free livelihood trainings, seminars AS part of the city government’s commitment to alleviate poverty, the Quezon City Council passed a resolution allowing a facility in Barangay Mariana to be utilized for free livelihood trainings and seminars.

City Resolution 7632-2018, introDUCED BY #OUNCILOR 2AQUEL -ALANGEN

authorizes Mayor Herbert Bautista to enter into a tripartite memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Lion’s President League of the Philippines (LPLP) and Barangay Mariana allowing the former to conduct livelihood trainings and seminars for the

residents at the newly built two-storey training center of the barangay. “The LPLP has made its representations with Barangay Mariana and the Quezon City Government to allow it to continue its advocacy of providing free livelihood and skills training at the Barangay Mariana Training Center,� the resolution reads.

The facility was recently constructed by the city government as per reQUEST OF "ARANGAY -ARIANA FOR A VENUE to conduct free livelihood, skills and education trainings for its residents and the general public.

Sports

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Davis wins over Pelicans fans irked by trade request

www.manilatimes.net

L

OS ANGELES: Anthony Davis scored 32 points to turn jeers to cheers on Friday (Saturday in Manila), leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 122-117 NBA victory over -INNESOTA IN HIS kRST GAME SINCE ASKING to be traded.

The Pelicans didn’t ship out their superstar by Thursday’s trade deadline, and with the kNGER INJURY THAT HAD SIDELINED him healed he was back in the Pelicans starting lineup.

Boos from the home fans greeted his pre-game introduction, and continued whenever he touched the ball in the early going.

Davis shook off the awkwardness, scoring 10 QUICK POINTS AND kNISHing the first half with 24. He grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots in 25 minutes on the court. “It just feels good to be back on the floor playing the game that I love,� Davis said. “I’m going to be here the rest of the year. My job is to play basketball and

Q New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (No. 23) dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans on Saturday.

AP PHOTO

that’s all I want to do.�

He sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Timberwolves made a late push, closing the gap to 114112 on a dunk from Karl-Anthony Towns with 39 seconds left.

4OWNS kNISHED WITH POINTS FOR Minnesota, but Jrue Holiday, Kenrich Williams and Julius Randle got the job done in the waning seconds.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said the decision not to send Davis back into the game when things got close was to do with his lack of recent playing time. g) WAS NOT GOING HAVE HIM kRST game back, play 38-40 minutes,�

Gentry said. “That’s why he didn’t go back in the game.�

In a battle of the Western ConFERENCE S kRST AND WORST REIGNING champions and West leaders Golden State out-scored the Phoenix Suns 35-22 in the fourth quarter on the way to a 117-107 victory. !LL kVE 7ARRIORS STARTERS SCORED IN

DOUBLE kGURES LED BY POINTS FROM guard Klay Thompson.

But a far from crisp performance saw the Warriors cough up 18 turnovers. Stephen Curry missed 10 of HIS kRST SHOTS BEFORE kNDING HIS groove to score 20 points.

Forward Draymond Green was ejected between the third and fourth quarters for arguing with officials, and the lowly Suns led 94-88 with 8:35 to play.

The Warriors responded with a 13-0 scoring run to regain control.

Eastern Conference leaders Milwaukee notched their sixth straight win in convincing style, 122-107 over the Mavericks in Dallas.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the Bucks, who out-scored the Mavs 80-26 in the paint and scored 29 points off of 14 Dallas turnovers.

Harris shines in 76ers debut Philadelphia’s JJ Redick scored a season-high 34 points and Jimmy Butler added 22 as the new-look 76ers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-110.

Tobias Harris scored 14 points and PULLED DOWN EIGHT REBOUNDS IN HIS kRST game for the 76ers, who acquired him at the trade deadline along with Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott from the

PHOENIX, ROS EYE EARLY QF ENTRY UNDEFEATED Phoenix and red-hot Rain or Shine are both aiming for an early quarterfinal entry when they clash at 4:30 p.m. today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Fuel Masters shoot for their sixth consecutive win after surviving Northern Luzon Expressway, 83-82, in the endgame on Friday.

Phoenix coach Louie Alas is expecting a deadlier and wiser Rain or Shine that beat Northport, 107-100, on Friday. “It is going to be tighter. Rain or Shine has already beat half of the heavyweights in this conference so it is a major concern for us,� said Alas.

JC Intal is out for a second straight game because of a fractured left hand, which is estimated to heal in six weeks. “We have to make sure not to forget our identity, which is defense.

We’re winning because of our defense,� added Alas.

Matthew Wright posted 17 points, six ASSISTS kVE REBOUNDS AND TWO STEALS IN Phoenix’s hard-earned win over NLEX. Rain or Shine, currently No. 2 with 5-1 win-loss record, wants a share of the top spot with Phoenix. “We know every game is important.

At least if we pull off a win against Phoenix, we’ll be ahead by half a game or take the lead but we do not know who will step up among them,� said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

James Yap and Beau Belga are expected to deliver anew for Rain or Shine. “We have to trust each other and prepare. We just have to watch out

Q Jason Perkins of Phoenix (No. 3) fakes against NLEX’s Paul Asi Taulava as Jay-R Quiùahan (No. 37), Larry Fonacier (No. 12), Ron Dennison look on during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

for their defense. It’s going to be a tough game. Whoever has a deeper bench will win,� he added.

In the 6:45 p.m. game, defending

champion San Miguel Beer (4-3 winloss record) aims for back-to-back wins when it faces Magnolia (0-1).

The Beermen are coming off a

93-79 win over Blackwater behind June Mar Fajardo’s 20 points, 21 reBOUNDS kVE ASSISTS AND FOUR BLOCKS performance.

The Hotshots, meanwhile, are keen to bounce back from their 75-80 loss to TNT KaTropa in their opening game.

JOSEF T. RAMOS

Mighty Sports Philippines bows to Al Riyadi Beirut MIGHT Y Sports Philippines lost 84-89 to Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon in the semifinals of the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al Ahli Club in United Arab Emirates on Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila).

The Charles Tiu-coached Filipino ball club fought valiantly, reducing a 24-point deficit to four

points but eventually ran out of steam in the closing minutes.

Mighty Sports’ five-game unbeaten run was halted by the same Al Riyadi squad that beat them, 95-100, in 2017.

It was the Philippines' best finish in the Dubai tilt though, eclipsing its one-win in five outings record two years ago.

PBA resident import Justin

Brownlee led Mighty with 24 points on top of four rebounds and as many assists. The 6-foot-7 American forward also ignited the team’s fourth quarter comeback.

American big man Randolph Morris chipped in 21 points, eight boards and two blocks while Filipino-American wingman Jeremiah Gray added 17 markers, five rebounds, a dime and a steal.

UTP gives tennis big boost SUSTAINING the momentum it gained from its successful campaign last year, THE 5NIkED 4ENNIS 0HILIPPINES 540 has lined up a record 70 junior, 14 senior and seven Open tournaments this year as part of its commitment to produce world-class Filipino players as well as further developing the sport in all levels.

The busy schedule also includes a trainers’ Open and 12 UTP Tennis Challenge Series.

“Getting these Filipino athletes out there to compete with other worldclass tennis players has been our lifelong dream. I’m glad that we have gained traction since we’ve rolled out UTP’s programs two years ago and so WE WILL CONTINUE TO FULkLL OUR MISSION to discover fresh talents and improve the quality of our tennis players from the professional level down to the grassroots level by providing them with proper

E1

training and international exposure,� said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and founder of UTP, which includes Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, Babolat, HEAD, Chris’ Sports, Dunlop, Toby’s Sports, Wilson, Decathlon, Mr. Freeze and Madison Galleries.

The Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop age groupers recently kicked off their respective circuits at the Meralco 4ENNIS #LUB IN 0ASIG AND AT THE !CTIkT

Mighty was lagging behind, 42-66, as Al Riyadi scored from beyond the arc with impunity in the third frame.

Led by Brownlee, the Filipino squad closed the gap, 72-76, on Morris’ strong drive to the hoop with 7:54 left in the game, much to the delight of the Filipino fans in attendance.

But Al Riyadi’s guard Wael Arakji and forward Dominic Johnson hit cold Sports Center in Valenzuela, respectively.

Both tournaments drew more than 250 local junior, pro, and senior players led by top juniors John David Velez, Sebastien Lhuillier, Joewyn Pascua, Macie Carlos, Bliss Bayking, and Anna De Myer.

UTP will soon announce the cutoff period for selection of the 2019 UTP National Juniors Tennis through social media. Last year, UTP formed several teams that played in Malaysia and Indonesia and were successful in producing winners in the ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) and ITF (International Tennis Federation) tournaments

baskets to nullify Mighty’s late rally.

Arakji tallied a team-high 23 points even as Johnson chalked 20 markers, powering the Lebanese powerhouse club to the finals.

Mighty is battling Homenetmen Beirut Basketball Club for the third-placer plum at press time.

Mighty beat Homenetmen, 96-89, in their elimination round tussle on Monday. JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA with the Eala siblings Alex and Miko REACHING THE kNALS New initiatives and programs are also under way, including the introduction of an online tournament registration in the second quarter of the year and staging of more level-based tournaments for club players such as the UTP Tennis Challenge series.

The UTP will also send players to this year’s WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Future Stars event in China WITH $UNLOP PROVIDING THE OFkCIAL ball of all Palawan Pawnshop and Cebuana Lhuillier tournaments.

Los Angeles Clippers.

Joel Embiid shrugged off a stomach virus to score 15 with 12 rebounds for the Sixers.

In a fourth quarter that saw six lead changes, Harris’s floater gave Philadelphia a 105-103 lead with 3:56 to play. He pulled down a rebound to set up a layup by Embiid. Butler then grabbed a steal and was fouled, making two free throws to stretch the lead before Ben Simmons’ dunk pushed the advantage to 111-105. “It was a great game, I feel amazing,� Harris said of his Sixers debut. “You couldn’t ask for any better.�

The Nuggets, who shared the Western Conference lead with the Golden State Warriors last weekend, lost their third straight, despite Nikola Jokic’s triple-double of 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

In Washington, the Wizards spoiled the return from injury of Cleveland star Kevin Love, downing the Cavaliers 119-106.

Love, who missed 50 games after surgery on his left foot, played six minutes and 29 seconds before he was subbed out, scoring four points with one rebound and one assist.

Bobby Portis led the Wizards with POINTS OFF THE BENCH IN HIS kRST game since arriving in Washington Thursday via a trade that sent Otto Porter to Chicago.

AFP

Felipe shines in LBC Ronda Pilipinas Stage Two MARCELO FELIPE of 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines edged El Joshua Cariùo of Navy-Standard Insurance to rule Stage Two even as Matrix Powertag Japan’s Francisco Mancebo Perez kept the solo general classification lead in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 that went around the whole of Guimaras n Saturday.

Felipe, who will turn 29 today, outsprinted Cariùo in a mad dash to the finish as the two clocked identical times of two hours, 40 minutes and 19 seconds to claim the latter’s very first Ronda stage victory.

Go for Gold’s Jonel Carcueva checked in at third to complete the Filipinos’ domination of the stage although Mancebo, a Tour de France veteran who made his presence felt with a dominating Stage One triumph the day before, and his Matrix squad successfully protected the symbolic LBC red leader’s jersey.

The 42-year-old Mancebo intelligently stayed with his closest pursuers Ronald Oranza, the reigning Ronda king, and Jan Paul Morales, a two-time winner here, of of Navy-Standard Insurance and Dominic Perez of 7Eleven in the peloton to stay on top with an aggregate clocking of 7:47:298.

Oranza was at No. 2 (3:52 behind), Perez at No. 3 (4:01) and Morales at No. 4 with (4:45).

Rounding up the top 10 were Matrix’s Junya Sano (4:53), Korail Team Korea’s Joo Daeyeong (4:58), 7Eleven’s Irish Valenzuela (5:20), Army Bicycology’s Mark Julius Bordeos (5:20), and 7Eleven’s Rustom Lim (5:28).

Felipe’s stage triumph catapulted him straight to the top 10 and 6:26 off the pace.

The stage triumph was made extra special by the fact that all three podium finishers were Filipinos. “It makes me happy that three Filipinos finished in the top three,� said Felipe in Filipino.

Like in the individual race, there was no changes in the team event as Matrix kept its stranglehold of the lead with a total clocking of 23:34:13, followed by 7Eleven (2:47 behind) and Navy-Standard Insurance (3:31).

The race, which is presented by LBC, powered by MVP Sports Foundation and supported by Versa 2-Way Radio, Juan Movement Partylist, Joel P Longares Foundation, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, Green Planet, Prolite, Celeste Cycles, Maynilad, 3Q Sports, Boy Kanin, Mega World, Festive Walk, Seda Atria and LBC Foundation and in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Iloilo City and the Province of Guimaras, will resume today with the 179.4-km Iloilo-Roxas Stage Three.

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SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Nascar

˜ The Sunday Times w w w.manilatimes.net

NASCAR tries to end slide with push for more exciting racing

C

HARLOTTE, N.C.: The reset button for NASCAR was triggered as soon as Joey Logano wrapped up last year’s championship celebration.

There was massive work to be done to stop the stock-car series from a spiral to THE BOTTOM AND THE kX IS NOTHING SHORT of a radical reboot.

The critical change is the introduction of an overhauled rules package designed to make the racing watchable again. And it comes under new leadership at the top.

Jim France replaced his nephew as chairman of NASCAR in August after Brian France took a leave of absence following his arrest for driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone. Jim France is now listed as chairman and CEO, has routinely represented the family at NASCAR events and is addressing NAS#!2 S kVE YEAR FREEFALL IN NEARLY all meaningful categories.

The downturn happened during Brian France’s reign, and fans essentially exiled him over his extreme changes to the championship format and his detached — often absent — style of leadership.

Jim France has been at every event since taking over and NASCAR at last is showing a sense of urgency IN ATTEMPTING TO kX ITS MESS g)T IS A BUSINESS BUT HIS kRST LOVE

is racing,� said Hall of Fame owner Rick Hendrick, who added Jim France and his niece, Lesa France Kennedy, have been accessible to teams and have voiced their commitment to motorsports. “I wish he had stepped out years ago.�

France is overseeing the most collaborative atmosphere in NASCAR history. All stakeholders — the sanctioning body, teams, drivers, track operators and television partners — have brainstormed improvements and ideas to stop the plunge in attendance and television ratings. The solution is a new rules package aimed at markedly improving the on-track product.

The new package uses aerodynamic ducts and a tapered spacer to reduce engine horsepower — in simplest turns, it should slow the cars and bunch them closer together to increase passing attempts and improve the overall competitiveness. It will debut in the second race of the season, at

Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The old package permitted a handful of teams to move so far ahead of the competition it took too long for anyone to catch them, the racing suffered and fans stopped watching. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. combined to win 20 of 36 races last season, though the “Big Three� lost to Logano in the championSHIP kNALE The new package is controversial because it is supposed to level THE PLAYING kELD AND ELITE DRIVERS believe it will diminish the advantage their talent has given them.

An early version of the package was used in last year’s All-Star race and fan feedback seemed genuinely enthusiastic until drivers raised enough complaints about it to muddle expectations. Until the rules were tested last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, few dared to predict what the racing will look like this season.

NASCAR pushed forward and the new rules are here with major implications. The health of the sport is riding on the belief that, if nothing else, the racing will be better, more drivers will win, more teams will succeed, and fans, of course, will give it a chance.

Making the racing more entertaining is critical in getting fans to pay attention again. “On the optimism scale of a 1 to

10, I’m a 15,� said Marcus Smith, who as CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. last year pushed hard for the rules package and also altered his track last season to create the hybrid oval-road course “Roval� that created some buzz during last year’s playoffs. “The racing is the most important part of NASCAR and the quality of racing is similar to the quality of a show, a movie or the quality of a story in a book,� he said. “If it’s exciting, you want to watch it, you want to be there. This package is going to be more exciting and I believe it will have a huge positive impact on the sport.�

NASCAR will continue to emphasize its rising young talent, led

by Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones and Kyle Larson, all playoff drivers last season. Elliott was voted NASCAR’s mostpopular driver, an award won a record 16 times by his Hall of Fame father, Bill Elliott.

Even so, the spotlight still centers on NASCAR’s aging stars, who are adamant they can still win championships.

Leading the veteran charge is seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in a new-look No. 48 team. Johnson and Chad Knaus, the only crew chief he’d had in his Cup career, split at the end of last season and longtime sponsor Lowe’s left NASCAR.

*OHNSON SUFFERED THROUGH THE kRST winless season of his career last year but is certain he can still win a record eighth championship. “There is a lot of ‘new’ to it, there’s no way around that,� JohnSON SAID g)T DEkNITELY IS A NEW challenge and I welcome it. I’m just excited to get this fresh start and see where it takes us.�

Truex, a year removed from his Cup title, moved to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2019 because his titlewinning team closed. He replaced Mexican driver Daniel Suarez, the ONLY NON !MERICAN IN THE kELD

and Suarez was signed last month

by Stewart-Haas Racing.

Kurt Busch vacated that seat and replaced Jamie McMurray at Chip Ganassi Racing, and McMurray’s career will come to a close after the Daytona 500. He and AJ Allmendinger are among the many drivers moving into television work, opening opportunities for lesser-known drivers.

Logano, who used two victories in the last four races of 2018 to become the unlikely champion, is a kRM BELIEVER THAT .!3#!2 IS MAKing moves to stop its downturn. “Our sport is not in the dumps, that’s not the case at all,� Logano said. “I think there’s a lot of upside, a lot of great things we are doing, and when it comes to motorsports in America there is none better than NASCAR.�

AP

Q Kevin Harvick (No. 4) leads the field for the green flag start during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on November 11, 2018 in Avondale, Arizona.

AP PHOTO

NASCAR Truck, ARCA Racing series create stock car double header MADISON: Gateway Motorsports Park has been chosen as one of three facilities nationwide to host a new challenge for NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series drivers during the 2019 season.

The Triple Truck Challenge will feature races on three consecutive weekends, June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway, June 15 at Iowa Speedway and June 22 when the Gander Truck Series 200 takes place at Gateway.

In addition to the winners share of the purse, the winning driver will receive a $50,000 bonus. Should one driver win all three races in the challenge, they will receive a check for $500,000. The series is for NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series drivers. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers cannot participate. “We worked closely with series general manager Ben Kennedy and his team, bouncing ideas off each another, on how we can make our races even more exciting in the early development stages of the Triple Truck Challenge,� said Gateway Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. “To see this program come together shows the willingness of NASCAR to work with the tracks for the benefit of both the teams and the fans.�

The Gander Truck Series 200 is just one of two major races to be held at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 22. In addition to the truck race, the track be site of the ARCA Racing Series

by Menards 150. “�We are proud to partner with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards to create the ultimate Saturday night stock car doubleheader,�

Blair said.

TNS

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Friends of the Marques (Part 1) E are fortunate to be at a time when our Philippine motoring industry is deemed globally important based on the number of cars sold each year. We have one of the fastest and most resilient markets that only saw a drop last year after consistently moving up by leaps and bounds.

So why is this important to our motor sport community? It is because the car manufacturers and importers are now looking into our beloved sport to promote their vehicles. There is no other venue that can show the performance and durability of their products better than racing and rallying.

We believe in the slogan, “What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday.�

I believe in this before and it is still very relevant today. We understand that it is not only motor sports that help sell cars but also the great partnership between individuals and brands that help push them to the public.

Let us give credit to some of our friends that had been given due recognition by the different car marques and see how this synergy is able to help form a bond between them.

TURBO TIMES

W

Motor Sports Yamaha launches 2019 YGP racing season T

torcycle’s superior German engineering and design. BMW AG recognized that the owners worldwide were a major force in pushing the brand to other prospective customers and thus became their best brand ambassadors.

Because of this, BMW AG created the BMW International Clubs Council that recognized the different BMW clubs and their achievements worldwide. The clubs are subdivided by regions, namely Europe, America, Africa, !USTRALIA AND !SIA 0ACIkC %ACH BMW club is independent of the operations of BMW distributors.

The BMW Group and BMW International Clubs Council had come up with the “Friend of the Marque� award which were given to selected few and outstanding individuals for their exceptional hard work and full commitment to BMW every year.

HE country’s longest running onemake bike racing series, the Yamaha GP Championship, was launched on Friday with one of the brand’s biggest stars in MotoGP, Maverick “Top Gunâ€? ViĂąales, as special guest.

ViĂąales was a big challenger FOR THE -OTO'0 CHAMpionship and finished fourth behind Yamaha teammate and the much-loved Valentino Rossi, who came in at third overall. The 9AMAHA -OTO'0 TEAM kNISHED third overall in the MotoGP team standings last year.

For the Philippine Yamaha GP Championship, the onemake Yamaha 150 Undergone Championship is expected to be centerpiece as it has been popular among local bike racing fans.

,EADING THE COMPETITIVE kELD for this year’s one-make Yamaha series are Yamaha Team Pilipinas members Masato Fernando and McKinley Kyle Paz. Fernando is THE 9'0 #HAMPION WHILE Paz showed great potential ascending to the top last year.

Fernando and Paz will compete against other talented rid-

E3

ers among them John Emerson Inguito of 4S1M Yamaha Team and Burnok Mangosong of Rhean Marketing, who finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s competition.

The YGP race dates will be announced soon and can be followed via the Yamaha Racing Philippines website.

BMWCCP BMW’s Edwin Reyes BMW has always been associated as being the ultimate driving machine and a very desirable European brand globally. It is no wonder that BMW has become one of the most sought after premium automobile and motorcycle manufacturers in the world today.

Last December 2017, the German automaker awarded the prestigious “BMW Friend of the Marque� recognition to a Filipino — Edwin D. Reyes. This title and recogniTION IS THE kRST EVER TO BE GIVEN TO an Asian in South East Asia and it shows how Filipinos really love their BMW cars.

We are very proud that our Time Speed Distance competitor Edwin was able to get this prestigious award and how the title was won is a very good story indeed.

BMW history The Bavarian Motor Works started back in 1916 as an aircraft engine manufacturer in Munich, Germany.

It became a motorcycle and automobile engine manufacturing kRM IN THE S AND BY THE company expanded into building automobiles. Today, BMW has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium automobiles and motorcycles.

BMW’s entry into the Philippine market came in 1993 and delighted THE BRAND S AkCIONADOS AND ENTHUsiasts. In 2017, San Miguel Corp took a majority stake in Asian Carmakers Corporation, the local BMW distributor, and is now pushing to become the number one luxury brand in the market.

Friend of the Marque The success of BMW was not only due to the car’s and mo-

Locally, the BMW Car Club of the Philippines (BMWCCP) is THE ONLY OFkCIAL CAR CLUB OF "-7 in the country recognized by the BMW International Council.

Established in 2001, BMWCCP is under the Asian umbrella of the BMW Clubs Community. Edwin Reyes became its president for 6 years, from 2010-2015.

Reyes, who is also the President and CEO of his company Linea Fiori Incorporated and LFI Photoworks, instituted program of activities that brought the BMW Marque closer to the hearts and minds of the Filipinos. They organized yearly car shows dedicated to BMW cars and had a lot of club fun runs and track days.

Their activities not only catered to the enthusiasts but also involved Community Service Related projects to help the Filipino people.

BMWCCP partnered and gave support to the Philippine Red Cross, The Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund Philippines. “When we have the capacity to do more for the improvement of others, we should do all we can,� explained BMW award winner Reyes. “We should always be a positive inspiration, a ray of light and a symbol of hope.�

Under his tutelage, the prestigious 2016 BMW International Club of the Year Award given to BMWCCP. With these numerous accolades, the latest recognition of taking the BMW Friend of the Marque is really very much deserved for all his hard work and accomplishments. Edwin Reyes is truly another gentleman that we are proud to call a Filipino!

We will have more great guys like Edwin in our future parts and give them the due recognition they deserve! Godspeed to all!

Q Masato Fernando practices with his Yamaha race bike. Fernando will defend his title in this year’s Yamaha GP Championship. MASATO FERNANDO'S FACEBOOK PHOTO

Danilo Petrucci fastest in Sepang test SEPANG, Malaysia: Danilo Petrucci topped the timesheets in Malaysia on Friday, emerging as the fastestever MotoGP rider at the Sepang circuit and enabling Italian manufacturer Ducati to dominate the kNAL DAY OF TESTING In dry but blistering hot conditions, Petrucci — who has replaced Jorge Lorenzo in the Ducati team — topped the timesheets to SET A STUNNING EARLY IN THE kNAL THREE DAY TEST 4HAT OBLITERATES THE UNOFkCIAL ALL TIME LAP RECORD OF SET by the three-time world champion ,ORENZO DURING THE PRE season testing.

But Petrucci quickly downplayed his sizzling performance, saying the unusual dry track conditions contributed to his awesome performance. “I did a very good lap time but the [track and weather] conditions was good,� he told reporters.

Petrucci also said it was going to be tough to secure a podium

kNISH IN THE SEASON “I think we are okay to be in THE TOP kVE ) DON T KNOW IF IT IS enough for the podium,� he said.

Petrucci’s closest challenger was Italian rookie Francesco Bagnaia also on a Ducati who was 0.063-second slower.

Bagnaia’s teammate Jack Miller OF !USTRALIA RODE HIS $UCATI TO kNISH THIRD WITH Another Ducati rider Italian Andrea Dovizioso was fourth, 0.299-second behind his teammate and quickest rider Petrucci, making it an all Ducati top four.

MotoGP riders from Honda, Ducati, Yamaha, KTM, Aprilia and Suzuki are at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit.

Lorenzo is the only 2019 race rider absent, due to a recent wrist injury,

and will ride for Honda this season alongside compatriot Marc Marquez after switching from Ducati.

Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales who was quickest on on Thursday, SLIPPED TO kFTH AT LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow, making his return on a MotoGP bike after a major ankle injury HALTED HIS CAMPAIGN kNished sixth.

Va l e n t i n o Ro s s i , i n h i s 24th year of motorcycle grand prix racing, was 10th while world champion Marc Marquez who is recovering from a shoulder

surgery sat at 11th.

Marquez told reporters that INlAMMATION IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER forced him to ride easy on Friday. “Of course I would like to ride more and more fast but my physical condition is far from 100 percent,� he said at the end of test.

After the Sepang testing, the MotoGP riders head to Qatar for the final three-day test from February 23 at Losail International Circuit.

The season starts in Qatar on March 10. Sepang will host the penultimate race of 2019 on November 3.

AFP

DUCATI TEAM’S ITALIAN RIDER Danilo Petrucci takes a corner during the 2019 MotoGP pre-season testing at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on Friday. AFP PHOTO

Azerbaijan renews Formula 1 contract

Q Germany driver Sebastian Vettel steers his Ferrari during the first free practice session at the Baku Formula One city circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 27, 2018. AP PHOTO

BAKU, Azerbaijan: Baku renewed its contract Tuesday to host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix through 2023, prolonging the stay of a circuit which initially struggled for acceptance in Formula One but has since become a fan favorite.

Baku’s current deal was to expire next year but race organizers and F1 management signed the threeyear extension, though an extension to 2025 had been possible under the old contract. “I think that was a timeframe that made sense to both of us. We are at a period where we believe we are making exciting changes,�

Formula One Group executive chairman and CEO Chase Carey said, adding that a future longterm extension is possible. “Certainly our hope is we have an agreement which goes well beYOND THE NEXT kVE YEARS BUT AS WE GET TO THAT WE LL kGURE OUT HOW DO

WE kND THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THE long term, at that point in time.�

The Azerbaijan street circuit was widely considered an unlikely F1 HOST WHEN IT HELD ITS kRST RACE IN 2016 but has won popularity with fans after some unpredictable races.

That included an unexpected thirdPLACE kNISH FOR ,ANCE 3TROLL IN AND LAST YEAR S kERCE BATTLE BETWEEN Red Bull teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, who eventually crashed into one another.

Azerbaijani organizers said the new deal was more favorable after attempts to seek a reduction in the fee they pay to host the race. “We can already say that the new contract has been fairly sigNIkCANTLY CHANGED IN RELATION TO the old one,� said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s minister of youth and sports.

That includes extra opportunities for the hosts to sell sponsorship.

“It’s a commercial secret, but all this will bring us good, weighty dividends which we can see and feel,� Rahimov said.

Relations between Azerbaijani OFkCIALS AND & OWNER ,IBERTY -Edia haven’t always been smooth.

After Liberty took over the sport in 2017, it said it wanted to focus on what it saw as glamorous cities like Miami or Las Vegas, rather than markets like Azerbaijan with little racing tradition. However, IT HAS SINCE CONkRMED A RACE IN Vietnam starting next year, while work is still ongoing on a deal with Miami after it failed to make the 2019 schedule.

The Azerbaijan deal is F1’s first renewal this year and follows new deals for Belgium, Germany, China, Japan and Singapore over the last two years. This year’s Azerbaijan GP IS SCHEDULED FOR !PRIL AP

Sports Davao City rules BPinoy Mindanao leg E4

˜ The Manila Times

SUNDAY February 10, 2018

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

T

AGUM CITY: Aaron Gumban dominated athletics as Davao City emerged as overall champion for the second straight year of the Batang Pinoy Mindanao qualifying leg on Saturday here.

Gumban, 14, representing Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, won two more gold for a total of four gold medals in the multi-sporting competition for athletes 15-year-old below.

He posted a time record of 4:37.90 to win the boys’ 13-15 1,500-meter run, defeating

Charlie Ong of General Santos City (4:47.37) and Rey Mark Watin of Panabo City (4:51.28).

Gumban teamed up with Frits Gian Anasco, Dominic Jhon Gorre and Jomel Mosquiter to rule the 4x400-meter relay boys’ 13-15 with a time record of 3:59.99. Finishing second and

third, respectively, were General Santos City (4:03.71) and Pagadian City (4:06.68). “I’m planning to compete in the Palarong Pambansa in Davao City in April. I will prepare hard for that,� said Gumban, the son of an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai, in Filipino. Gumban also won the 5,000-m and 2,000-m steeplechase events.

Gumban’s teammates Gorre (400-m run AND M AND -OSQUITER HIGH JUMP and 110-m hurdles) also grabbed two gold medals each, as Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte COLLECTED A TOTAL OF EIGHT GOLD kVE SILVER AND six bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Davao City retained the overall championship with a total of 57 gold, 39 silver and 58 bronze medals for a total of 153

medals. Davao City bagged 17 gold medals in swimming alone courtesy of Liaa Amoguis WHO WON kVE GOLD AND A SILVER Davao City also got six gold medals from athletics. The city’s bet Bea Burbe won the 100-m run, 4x400-m girls’ relay and 200-m run. “I didn’t expect to win three gold medals IN MY kRST "ATANG 0INOY -Y OPPONENTS WERE also fast,� said Burbe of Kalinan High School. “I dedicate these three gold medals to my trainer, my parents and to Davao City.�

Davao City also won gold medals in arnis (4), taekwondo (3), futsal (4), basketball (1) and baseball (1).

Davao City’s basketball team beat Cagayan De Oro, 91-59, while its baseball team pre-

Whittaker meets Gastelum, Adesanya takes on Silva at UFC 234 ISRAEL ADESANYA can already imagine fighting Robert Whittaker for the UFC middleweight title later this year in a huge stadium full of roaring Australian fans.

To make the dream happen, these two AusTRALASIAN kGHTERS MUST GET PAST TWO MAJOR OBstacles at UFC 234 in Melbourne this weekend.

Before Whittaker (20-4) defends his belt against American contender Kelvin Gastelum (15-3) in the main event, Adesanya (15-0) gets THE BIGGEST kGHT OF HIS LIFE AGAINST !NDERSON 3ILVA (34-8), the Brazilian mixed martial arts trailblazer.

Four of the world’s best 185-pounders will be showcased atop the card at Rod Laver !RENA BUT TWO ARE kGHTING CLOSER TO HOME Adesanya was born in Nigeria before moving to New Zealand as a teenager, and Whittaker is a New Zealand-born Australian.

Although Adesanya is 17 months older than Whittaker, he is considered one of the UFC’s most tantalizing title contenders, WITH A SPECTACULAR kGHTING STYLE THAT REMINDS many of the 43-year-old Silva in his prime.

Even after Silva’s recent losing streak and doping problems, Adesanya is grateful for the opportunity to go up against a giant. “I saw the odds this week, and I was like, ‘Man, y’all must have forgot,’� Adesanya said. “You don’t know that man over there, Anderson Silva. I think a lot of you new fans weren’t around during his reign. What it felt like. You might have come around the Rousey era or the McGregor era, but you don’t realize who this guy is. He brought me into this game. This guy inspired me to believe a skinny black guy CAN JUST COME IN HERE AND BEAT EVERYONE UP “He brought me into this game, and for me, it’ll be an honor to take him out of the game.�

UFC President Dana White confirmed earlier in the week that the winner of Silva’s showdown with Adesanya will get the next

title shot against the winner of Whittaker’s bout with Gastelum. That means Silva is ONE WIN AWAY FROM IMPROBABLY kGHTING TO reclaim the belt he held from 2006 to 2013, WINNING STRAIGHT kGHTS IN THE PROCESS Silva hasn’t fought in two years since a victory over Derek Brunson in early 2017 ENDED HIS kVE kGHT WINLESS STREAK 4HE 3PIder served a one-year doping ban during his TIME OUT OF THE CAGE BUT HE WANTS TO kGHT ON despite the worries of his family. “He’s a great talent,� Silva said of Adesanya. “He has a great future in this sport, so I’m very LUCKY TO COME HERE AND kGHT )T S A GOOD CHALLENGE for me, but I believe it’s a big challenge for Israel.�

5&# TAKES PLACE 3UNDAY AFTERNOON TO kT into the Saturday night pay-per-view window in the U.S., but the famed tennis stadium still sold out in minutes after the announcement OF THE TWO BIG MIDDLEWEIGHT kGHTS The main event is a compelling challenge for the soft-spoken, hard-hitting Whittaker, who claimed the interim middleweight belt nearly two years ago and was promoted to full champion after Georges St. Pierre beat Michael Bisping and vacated the belt.

7HITTAKER IS THE kRST !USTRALIAN CHAMPION IN 5&# HISTORY AND HE IS kGHTING IN -ELBOURNE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST OVER THREE YEARS "UT HE HAS FOUGHT JUST ONCE SINCE winning his interim title, struggling with a KNEE INJURY AND A STAPH INFECTION With his health woes behind him, Whittaker has a chance to assert himself as one of the UFC’s top pound-for-pound stars with A VICTORY OVER 'ASTELUM WHO HAS LOST JUST once in six bouts over the past three years. “Kelvin is the biggest hurdle in my way, and he’s a true test,� Whittaker said. “He’s going to be a true test of my character and my abilities. I look forward to learning something from it and growing.�

72nd PAL Interclub returns to Cebu

Q Robert Whittaker reacts after his middleweight mixed martial arts title bout against Yoel Romero at UFC 225 in Chicago on June 10, 2018. AP PHOTO Gastelum, who spent time around Whittaker last year as coaches on the UFC’s long-running reality competition show, knows he’ll be the under-

VAILED OVER 3OUTH #OTABATO

IN THE kNALS #AGAYAN $E /RO #$/ kNISHED SECOND OVERall with 33 gold, 23 silver and 42 bronze medals.

CDO won four gold medals in boxing courTESY OF ,ADY *ANE 0AYLA JUNIOR GIRLS PINWEIGHT

!NGELOU ,OFRANCO JUNIOR BOYS PINWEIGHT

*HASLI *OHN )LUDAR JUNIOR BOYS LIGHT lYWEIGHT AND 2HEIN *HON 'IDOR JUNIOR BOYS lYWEIGHT 'ENERAL 3ANTOS #ITY kNISHED THIRD WITH 27-33-31 followed by host Davao del Norte with 24-25-24.

Koronadal City garnered 22 gold, 12 silVER AND NINE BRONZE MEDALS FOR kFTH PLACE Koronadal City archer John Carlo Loreno emerge as the leg’s most bemedalled athlete after winning seven gold medals.

dog among oddsmakers and the Australian fans. “People didn’t like me for my entire career,�

Gastelum said. “This isn’t a surprise to me.� AP

THE Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub golf team championships return to Cebu City late this month with Manila Southwoods and Canlubang defending their regular and seniors crowns, respectively.

Four courses will be used in the two-week long event with the 33rd edition of the seniors tournament kicking off on February 27 at Alta Vista Golf Club and at Club Filipino de Cebu.

Last year, Canlubang held off Luisita to regain the seniors crown in Bacolod City.

Canlubang collected 573 points to beat Luisita by eight.

Del Monte Golf Club was a poor third with 549 points.

The other division champions last year were Cebu Country Club in Founders, Alta Vista in Aviator, Rancho Palos Verdes in Sportswriters and South Bay of Los Angeles in Friendship.

Senior teams are expected to fly in on February 24 for the three-day practice rounds.

The seniors event adopts the Molave scoring system which awards 3 points for par. An even-par score is worth 54 points.

Each team is allowed to field as many as four players per round with the top three scores to count. Each player is limited to two rounds of play.

The 72nd PAL Men’s Interclub, on the other hand, fires off on March 6 at the Cebu Country Club and the Mactan Island Golf Club.

Manila Southwoods overwhelmed the field last year with a record 551 points, 41 points ahead of Luisita. Canlubang placed third with 502 and Del Monte fourth with 469.

Regular teams can field five players per round with the top four scores counting.

The PAL scoring system will be used. A par is worth 2 points which translates to 36 points for players who matched par.

The new golf rules will take effect, according to tournament director Henry Arabelo. “Hopefully, the new rules will speed up play,� Arabelo said.

Nearly 200 teams are expected to take part in the twin events. These include squads from the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Paralympics lifts Family mourns Sala after body in Channel wreckage identified Russia doping suspension

BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom: Footballer Emiliano Sala’s family grieved on Friday after British authoriTIES FORMALLY IDENTIkED HIS BODY AS THE ONE RECOVered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel more than two weeks ago.

“We can now begin to mourn our son and our brother,� the Argentine Cardiff City striker’s family said in a statement. “We would like to thank you for all of your signs of affection and support in the most painful time of our life. g4O SEE EVERYONE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO JOIN US

in the search has been a precious help to us,� the family said.

Argentine footballing idols Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta also paid tribute to Sala, 28.

The Premier League player’s former French club, Nantes, said it was withdrawing THE JERSEY WITH 3ALA S .O ON IT AND ALL ,IGUE 1 and 2 matches in France this weekend will be preceded by a minute of applause for him.

The light aircraft was carrying Sala from Nantes to his new team when it disappeared near the British island of Guernsey, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson, who has not been found.

4HE PLAYER S BODY WAS kRST SPOTTED BY British rescuers using a remotely operated underwater vehicle on Sunday close to where the plane vanished from radar on January 21.

Investigators recovered the body on Wednesday and transported it to the Isle of Portland in southern England. From there it was taken to Bournemouth where it was FORMALLY IDENTIkED LATER Investigators said they were abandoning plans also to lift the plane wreckage out of the water because of bad weather.

‘Rest in peace, warrior’ Sala’s disappearance sparked an outpourING OF GRIEF AND A lOOD OF CASH TO SUPPORT A PRIVATE HUNT FOR THE PLANE WHEN THE OFkCIAL search was initially called off. “I am very sorry about this sad news.

Many of us kept a glimmer of hope for you, Emiliano,� footballing superstar Maradona said on Instagram, after the IDENTIkCATION OF THE BODY “What sadness, this is the worst news.

Rest in peace warrior,� tweeted retired Argentine football star Batistuta.

The country’s President Mauricio Macri also offered his condolences to Sala’s family following the “painful news�. “We are with you,� he added.

The small Argentine town of Progreso, where the footballer lived for most of his

childhood, was also in mourning. “Since we found out, it’s all anyone can talk about,� said local restaurant owner Oscar Heymo, a friend of Sala’s father Horacio. “He was very much loved and admired by all.�

Cardiff City on Twitter expressed their “heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano�. “He and David will forever remain in our thoughts,� they said.

Crowdfunded search The plane, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, vanished from radar around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Guernsey.

The discovery of two seat cushions on the French coast last week revealed that the plane had broken apart.

Initial search operations were suspended in the days after it went missing but a crowdfunding effort supported by thousands of donations, including from football stars such as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, helped launch a private search.

Without the fundraising effort “I don’t think anybody would have searched for the plane,� shipwreck hunter David Mearns, who was hired by the family, told AFP. The plane wreckage was spotted by a ship hired by the family. Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) then co-ordinated the recovery.

The AAIB said that extensive video footage captured of the sunken wreckage is expected to “provide valuable evidence for our safety investigation�.

It said it intended to publish an interim report on the accident later this month.

Sala was the most expensive signing in Cardiff’s history.

Nantes have consulted lawyers to explore legal options to ensure Cardiff pay the transfer fee for Sala, a source close to the French club said on Wednesday. !CCORDING TO THE SOURCE THE kRST INSTALLment of the 17-million-euro ($19.3 million) deal has yet to be paid, despite the transfer BEING kNALIZED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AFP

BONN: The International Paralympic Committee said Friday (Saturday in Manila) it will reinstate Russia next month, lifting a suspension imposed more than two years ago over a doping scandal.

The IPC will lift the ban by March 15, providing the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) adheres to strict conditions. “In August 2016 the IPC suspended the RPC because it was necessary and proportionate to the situation we faced and essential to ensure clean sport,� IPC president Andrew Parsons said. “Twenty-nine months later it is the IPC governing board’s firm belief that keeping the RPC suspended is no longer necessary and proportionate to the situation we now face in Russia.�

A year ago, the International Olympic Committee ended its ban on Russian athletes competing at future summer and winter Olympics, so the re-admittance of the Paralympic team is the latest step in Russia’s gradual rehabilitation in the Olympic movement.

The IPC said in a statement the Russian Paralympic Committee had met the necessary criteria for reinstatement -- which must be maintained — after implementing a“robust�testing programme under the guidance of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and launched an anti-doping education programme for athletes and coaches.

Stanislav Pozdniakov, chairman of the RPC, hailed the news as a “very important step�but noted that“there is still much work to be done to implement the instructions of the International Paralympic Committee�.

A Kremlin spokesman said Russia was “absolutely thrilled for our Paralympic athletes�. “(President Vladimir) Putin has always shown them full and unconditional support,� spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “We hope the constructive and transparent work will allow the Russian sports authorities to turn the page in their relations with international bodies.�

Russia’s Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said the RPC “worked for two and a half years for its rehabilitation, and we did a tremendous job�.

Russia was kicked out of the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as both editions in 2018, in the wake of the bombshell 2016 McLaren report, by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, which alleged the country was operating a state-backed doping programme.

However, some able-bodied Russian athletes, with clean records, were allowed to compete under a neutral banner at the Olympics.

Track and field’s governing body has maintained its ban on Russia competing as a team, although last month it cleared 42 Russian athletes to return to competition, albeit under a neutral banner. AFP

Glasgow to host first combined world cycling championships PARIS: Glasgow will host all 13 of cycling’s world championships in 2023, the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) president David Lappartient announced on Friday (Saturday in Manila). “This historic and innovative competition will be held over two weeks in August 2023� Lappartient said at an announcement at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The competitions for rainbow jerseys in road, track, mountain biking and BMX have taken place on an annual basis but it will change from 2023. “From 2023, the UCI Cycling World Championships will be held every four years, in each preSummer Olympic year,� the UCI said in a statement “Over several weeks, the host city and/or region will

become the true cycling capital of the world,� it added.

Scotland is yet to organise a road or track world championships but it was the home of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was a joint-host of last year’s first European Sports Championships where cycling competitions took place meaning new venues will be built.

AFP

Golf

F 1 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019

www.manilatimes.net Q Phil Mickelson of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Saturday in Pebble Beach, California. AFP PHOTO

AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM SCORES LEADING completed scores during Saturday’s rain-halted second round of the US PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament played at the Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula courses (USA unless stated):

Ten under 133 - Phil Mickelson (SH) 65-68, Scott Langley (SH) 64-69, Paul Casey (ENG) (MP) 69-64 134 - Lucas Glover (PB) 68-66

Seven under 136 - Jonas Blixt (SWE) (SH) 67-69, Branden Grace (RSA) (MP) 67-69, Matt Every (SH) 65-71, Brian Gay (SH) 64-72, Kevin Kisner (SH) 65-71 137 - Scott Stallings (PB) 67-70, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) (PB) 69-68

Six under 137 - Talor Gooch (SH) 68-69, Curtis Luck (AUS) (SH) 70-67, Ernie Els (RSA) (SH) 69-68, Kim Si-woo (KOR) (MP) 66-71 138 - Fabian Gomez (ARG) (PB) 67-71 AFP

Mickelson grabs share of lead at rainy Pebble Beach S

AN FRANCISCO: Phil Mickelson, chasing a 50th career victory, grabbed a share of the lead on Friday (Saturday in Manila) in the rain-hit second round of the PGA Tour Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 48-year old American, OWNER OF kVE MAJOR TITLES ADDED A four-under par 68 at Spyglass Hills course, one of three host courses, to his opening 65 at Monterey Peninsula to move to 10-under par.

He was in the clubhouse on 10-under alongside fellow Americans Lucas Glover (66), Scott Langley (69) and England’s Paul

Casey (64).

Four-time major-winner Jordan Spieth, the 2017 Pebble Beach champion, was at 10-under through 16 holes at Spyglass when play was suspended for the day due to heavy rain.

Spieth was among 44 players who were to recommence their rounds early on Saturday.

Mickelson, a four-time winner of the event, teed off on 10 and raced to six-under par for his round WITH SIX BIRDIES IN HIS kRST HOLES But he dropped three shots in succession at six, seven and eight — his 15th, 16th and 17th holes of the day — before closing with a birdie. “It was nice to birdie the last, but ) HATE kNISHING THE ROUND OFF LIKE that and making three bogeys after having a pretty good round going in,� he said. “I guess to make one on the last — that was a long, tough hard hole that’s usually a driver, eight

or 9-iron, and I had to whistle a 4-iron in after a good drive. “It was just a little bit more difkCULT CONDITIONS TODAY SO ) M ALSO lucky to get done now and get the round,� Mickelson added. “Guys unfortunately are still out there playing in some tough stuff.�

Mickelson — who won the tournament in 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2012 — has 49 wins around the world, including 43 on the PGA Tour. The most recent was his success last in the WGC Mexico Championship.

Casey, 41 and chasing a third PGA Tour triumph, cut a swath

Kim Kaufman leads LPGA’s Vic Open by 2 strokes HEADS, Australia: BARWON HEADS Kim Kaufman moved to the top of the leaderboard at the LPGA’s Vic Open after a 7-under 66 gave her a two-stroke lead after two rounds.

The American had a 36-hole total of 13-under on Friday, two better than Japan’s Haru Nomura. Australian Su Oh was another stroke behind in third.

Kaufman was diagnosed with glandular fever in 2018, but is back to full fitness for the 2019 season. “The last time I was in the final group on a Sunday was at the 2017 Tour Championship,� she said. “It’s just nice to be back. It was a long year

McDowell glad to be back after wrist injury SAN FRANCISCO: Graeme McDowell, who won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, was delighted to be competing at the Northern California course this week after a left wrist injury slowed his start to the year.

The 39-year-old from Northern Ireland added a one-under par 70 at the Monterey Peninsula course to Thursday’s four-under 68 at Pebble Beach to be just outside the leading 20 in the US PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 4HURSDAY S kRST ROUND MARKED the first time McDowell had played 18 holes since the thirdlast day of 2018.

He first thought his sore left wrist was just a minor pre-season

Q Kim Kaufman of the US tees off during the second round of the Vic Open golf tournament at the 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads near Melbourne on Friday. AFP PHOTO

last year, but you just have to keep working hard and believing in yourself.�

Overnight leader Felicity

Johnson of England was seven strokes behind after a 2-over 74.

In the men’s event being

VIC OPEN SCORES LEADING scores Thursday on day one of the joint European Tour and LPGA Tour-sanctioned Vic Open in Geelong, where the men’s and women’s tournaments are played side-by-side (par-72; AUS unless stated):

ris, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Pike, Michael Sim, Peter Lonard, Michael Hoey (NIR), David Drysdale (SCO)

Men

65 - Felicity Johnson (ENG) 66 - Anne-Catherine Tanguay (CAN), Kim Kaufman (USA) 67 - Su Oh, Manon De Roey (BEL), Haru Nomura (JPN) 68 - Jane Park (USA), Marissa Steen (USA), Olivia Cowan (GER), Alison Lee (USA), Karis Davidson, Yae Eun Hong (KOR), Charlotte Thomas (ENG) 69 - Peiyun Chien (TPE), Teresa Lu (TPE), Alena Sharp (CAN), Suzuka Yamaguchi (JPN), Prima Thammaraks (THA), Charlotte Thompson (ENG), Mariajo Uribe (COL) Hannah Green, Celine Boutier (FRA), Stephanie Kyriacou, Lauren Stephenson (USA) AFP

62 - Nick Flanagan 64 - James Anstiss (NZL), Kurt Kitayama (USA), Hugo Leon (CHI), James Nitties, Callum Shinkwin (ENG), Jason Scrivener 65 - Lucas Herbert, Wade Ormsby, Peter Cooke, Matthew Griffin, Andre Lautee, Anton Karlsson (SWE) 66- Adam Bland, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL), Nick Cullen, Ryan Fox (NZL), Yuta Ikeda (JPN), Matt Jager, Andrew Johnston (ENG), Kim Koivu (FIN), Michael Long, Stuart Manley (WAL), Jason Nor-

THROUGH THE kELD JUMPING NEARLY “And then there was a second 30 spots thanks to his score of 64 one and then a third one which at Monterey Peninsula. means, and I had to think for a minute, because you get one long ‘Great round’ blast, you’re done. “But the three blasts means it’s bad The Phoenix-based Brit teed off at CONDITIONS BUT YOU CAN kNISH THE HOLE the 10th and produced four bird- AND ) M LIKE WE CAN kNISH THE HOLE ies and an eagle in a six-hole span. I’ve never been so happy. I went from He made one more birdie coming upset to happy in an instant.� home and completed his round Speith, seeking a first victory moments before the siren sounded since his 2017 British Open trito halt play. umph, ignited his round with “I played a great round of golf kVE BIRDIES IN HIS kRST SEVEN HOLES and I’m so happy to get done,� he at Spyglass. He then posted nine said. “We were on the last hole and straight pars before his day was I heard that horn go. halted at his 17th hole.

AFP

Women

played concurrently with the women’s tournament, first-round leader Nick Flanagan shot a 4-under 68 and was tied for the second-round lead with fellow Australian Jason Scrivener.

The men and women are teeing off in alternate groups over two courses at the 13th Beach Golf Links.

The Beach course is being played as a par-72 for both men and women; the Creek is par-72 for men and 73 for women. Both courses will be used for the first two rounds of the tournament.

The Women’s Australian Open, also sanctioned by the LPGA, will be played next week at The Grange in Adelaide. The men’s European Tour is co-sanctioning the Perth International in Western Australia.

AP

strain, but when the pain continued he arranged for a scan that revealed a bruised lunate bone. “I had the scan right before I was due to go to Palm Springs and they told me not to play, so I took that week off and tried to play again right before Torrey Pines and they didn’t like it, so I pulled out right before Torrey,� said McDowell, who lost his PGA Tour card at the end of last season and is now relying on sponsor invitations. “I was starting to get very frustrated. “It was not the start to a new season I wanted but like I say, I am just extremely happy to be on the golf course and excited to hit some good looking shots, as well.� AFP

Q Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland walks on the 14th hole during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course on Saturday in Pebble Beach, California. AFP PHOTO

F2

Golf

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Bad rules, bad temper, rough start to golf this year

Q Sergio Garcia of Spain plays a shot on the 14th hole during round three of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament on January 26, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP PHOTO

P

BY DOUG FERGUSON

EBBLE BEACH, Calif.: Golf barely made it out of January when it was hit with what must feel like a twoshot penalty.

Odds are the negative attention on the new set of modern rules will have subsided before those four glorious days in April during the Masters — unless, of course, the next MAN IN A GREEN JACKET MAKES HIS kNAL

PUTT WITH THE lAGSTICK IN THE CUP As for Sergio Garcia?

-ORE BAD LUCK (IS LATEST AND most serious tantrum — damaging greens out of frustration at the Saudi International — comes in a year

when the PGA Championship is held at Bethpage Black, where ruthless galleries can make even the fans AT THE 0HOENIX /PEN BLUSH Any discussion, confusion and consternation over the new rules — particularly caddies standing behind their players — will pass soon ENOUGH %XPECT SOME CLARIkCATION as early as Wednesday on when and where a caddie can stand, no matter THE PART OF THE GOLF COURSE 'ARCIA WON T GET OFF SO EASILY The Spaniard took out his anger

on a bunker during the second ROUND IN 3AUDI !RABIA 4HAT S NOTHing new for Garcia, but video of it got even more attention because it was all anyone had to show in lieu OF THE REAL CRIME 4HE NEXT MORNING

without any camera crews following his group, Garcia went after the GREENS 4HAT LED THE %UROPEAN 4OUR to disqualify him for “serious misCONDUCTu COVERED IN 2ULE According to the digital newsletter “Morning Read,� players behind Garcia noticed “clearly intentional� damage on at least two greens that would affect play for the rest of the GROUPS *AVIER %RVITI IS THE CADDIE FOR Renato Paratore, who was playing with Garcia, and he watched it all UNFOLD (E TOLD THE NEWSLETTER g7E are used to the passion because we are Latin, but I had the feeling that HIS ANGER LEVEL WAS TOO OUT OF HAND u 'ARCIA APOLOGIZED IN A %UROPEAN Tour statement announcing his disQUALIkCATION (E LATER TOLD *UAN ,UIS Guillen, a Spanish reporter working for Morning Read, “Sometimes you lose your head and later you realize WHAT YOU HAVE DONE u %UROPEAN 4OUR CHIEF +EITH 0ELLEY did not sound as though Garcia would face more punishment when he told The Scotsman: “The incident IS OVER 7E HAVE DEALT WITH IT 3ERGIO HAS APOLOGIZED AND WE MOVE ON u Suspending him seems appropri-

ATE 4HEN AGAIN 'ARCIA kGURES TO BE punished even more by playing, for he will be reminded of his actions the rest of the year, maybe the rest of HIS CAREER DEPENDING ON THE GALLERY In some corners, an equal volume OF OUTRAGE WAS RESERVED FOR THE kRST BIG lAP OVER THE NEW RULES ,I (AOTONG OF #HINA WAS DOCKED two shots in Dubai when his caddie was walking away as Li was stepping INTO HIS kNAL PUTT ON THE LAST HOLE )T didn’t look like the caddie was lining him up, and the penalty appeared harsh because it took him from a tie FOR THIRD TO A TIE FOR TH Golf can be cruel, and Rickie Fowler could attest to that watching his ball roll into the water in 0HOENIX In Li’s case, the rule was applied ACCORDING TO THE BOOK Five days later at the Phoenix Open, Denny McCarthy was penalized two shots when his caddie was standing behind him for a wedge over water to the green as McCarthy was making caSUAL SWINGS 4HE CADDIE MOVED AWAY McCarthy backed off, lined himself up AND HIT THE SHOT By the strict wording of the rule, HE WAS PENALIZED The difference in the two cases is that a player can avoid penalty if he restarts his pre-shot routine on the PUTTING GREEN ,I 4HAT DOESN T APPLY to other areas of the course (McCar-

THY %VEN UNDER THE OLD RULES THE PUTTING GREEN WAS TREATED DIFFERENTLY The problem is that more videos surfaced of similar cases that week IN 0HOENIX AND OFkCIALS HAD TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK 4HEY CONSULTED WITH the USGA and R&A and decided to RESCIND THE PENALTY UNTIL THEY kGURE OUT HOW TO ADMINISTER THE RULE EVENLY %VEN WHEN TRYING TO SIMPLIFY THE RULES IT CAN GET COMPLICATED !ND golf — especially its rules — is an EASY TARGET FOR CRITICISM So is the USGA, which became the target on social media of PGA Tour PLAYERS LOOKING TO ASSESS BLAME 9ES

the USGA and R&A set the rules for GOLF WORLDWIDE )N THIS CASE HOWEVER

top rules experts from the PGA Tour, %UROPEAN 4OUR ,0'! 4OUR AND OTHERS had a seat at the table in the biggest OVERHAUL OF RULES IN GOLF HISTORY )T IS NOT A gSTUPID RULE u 4HAT WAS a popular phrase after the McCarthy RULING 2EMEMBER THIS NEW RULE WAS a product of years of criticism that caddies were lining up their players MOSTLY ON THE ,0'! 4OUR 4HE problem was not the rule, but writING IT TO MAKE SENSE No one should have expected them to get everything right after such a masSIVE PROJECT 4HE KEY IS TO kX MISTAKES WHEN THEY ARISE 4HE PLAYERS CAN DO THEIR PART TOO AND IT S REALLY SIMPLE (AVE THEIR CADDIE STAND SOMEWHERE ELSE AP

Rory McIlroy launches program for fans who love to play golf

BY DOUG FERGUSON PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.: Rory McIlroy can’t imagine what his life would be like without golf, and now he wants to cultivate his joy of the game with as many people as possible through a partnership with NBC Sports Group.

McIlroy on Tuesday launched “GolfPass,� a direct-to-consumer subscription program that will deliver more than just exclusive content from the four-time major champion. The idea is to get customers more involved by using the vast resources at NBC Sports Group with tee times, instruction, its video library, travel and shopping. “Whenever I started to talk to guys with Golf Channel to do a partnership to try to make people’s experience in golf better, I was all for it,� McIlroy said before a media blitz in New York. “I’ve had nothing but good times and good experiences playing this game.�

GolfPass costs $9.99 a month or $99 a year, and there are plans to make it available in the U.K., Ireland and Australia.

The membership is built around five pillars — play, learn, watch, travel and shop.

One of the immediate perks for members is a free round of golf each month at any of the 7,000 golf courses in 26 countries that are part of the “GolfNow� program at Golf Channel. Those courses include Royal Portrush, Pasatiempo Golf Club in California and the TPC Deere Run. Members will have access to more than 4,000 on-demand instruction videos involving elite coaches and players, a video library at Golf Channel that ranges from David Feherty’s golf shows to competitions that NBC originally broadcast, along with deals for travel through “Golf Advisor� and discounts in equipment and apparel through TaylorMade, which is a GolfPass partner. “We’re creating a product that’s going to make it easier and more fun to play the game,� said Mike McCarley, president of golf for NBC Sports.

McCarley said the discussions began two years ago when McIlroy’s management team had a technologybased idea, and before long officials figured out how to interconnect Golf Channel properties like GolfNow (a tee time service), Revolution Golf (video instruction) and Golf Advisor, which involves rating golf courses and travel destinations.

What impressed McCarley was how the 29-year-old from Northern Ireland made

GOLF NOTES a connection between this product aimed at consumers and Arnold Palmer’s vision of starting Golf Channel in 1995. “To try to carry forward what Arnold started 25 years ago, bring it into the 21st century with GolfPass ... you can never fill shoes that big, but to try to carry the torch in some way is a great honor,� McIlroy said. “It’s about me trying to give something back to a game that has given me so much.�

Palmer left indelible memories with McIlroy when he first played at Bay Hill in 2015 as No. 1 in the world. McIlroy approached The King’s table at lunch, and Palmer asked if there was anything he needed. McIlroy replied, “Mr. Palmer, thanks to you, I have everything I could ever need in my life.� According to those at the table, Palmer began to get tears in his eyes.

McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year.

It’s the second time in two months that a prominent player began a direct-toconsumer product. Tiger Woods signed a deal with Discovery’s “GolfTV� for exclusive access to Woods and original content.

McIlroy is doing a docuseries called “My Roots� on his rise in golf, and he plans to co-host a podcast with Carson Daly. But it’s not all Rory all the time.

Other content includes players, analysts and celebrities discussing how they play some of the toughest holes in golf, along with other athletes talking about their daily routines. “I’ll be on there a lot,� McIlroy said. “It

will be hard to miss me.�

Mickelson at 50 Two milestones are within reach for Phil Mickelson, who began the year with a runner-up finish at the Desert Classic and a missed cut in the Phoenix Open.

Mickelson is a little more than $11.2 million away from joining Tiger Woods as the only players to crack $100 million in career PGA Tour earnings. Mickelson, who turns 49 this summer, made roughly that much in his last three seasons, and he has remained remarkably injury free for nearly his entire career.

The big one is 50 — not his age, but the number of PGA Tour victories. Only seven players have done that.

Mickelson all but guaranteed he would reach 50 after he won the Mexico Championship last year to end a drought of nearly five years. It was his 43rd career victory. But he had only one top10 finish the rest of the season, and that has brought a dose of reality to him. “I’ve got to be honest in my assessment of winning seven more times,� he said last week. “It’s certainly my goal and something I’m striving for and yet I know it’s not going to be easy. So I don’t have the same 100 percent ‘I’m going to do this thing.’ I’m a little more realistic because I really thought I was going to pick off two or three more at the end of the year and I played terrible.�

But he says he had a good offseason, picked up more speed and with

Q Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament on the North Course on January 25, at Torrey Pines in San Diego. AP PHOTO improved putting, “it’s hopefully going to lead to a special year.�

Amateur invitations Four women from the top 11 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings have accepted invitations to play in the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration.

That typically was an easy decision, but that was before the creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which will be held the same week (April 4-7). The 30 women who make the cut will play the final round at Augusta National on the Saturday before the Masters.

Frida Kinhult of Sweden (No. 2 in the amateur ranking), Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand (No. 3), Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland (No. 6) and American teenager Rachel Heck (No. 11) chose the ANA Inspiration. A final spot has

been reserved for the winner of the ANA Junior Inspiration, to be played the week before. “I am so excited, and I can’t wait to get to Rancho Mirage,� the 17-year-old Heck said. “This major has so much history, and I am honored to be following in the footsteps of my role models who played in ANA Inspiration on amateur invites.�

The Augusta National Women’s Amateur has six of the top 10 in the amateur ranking, including top-ranked Jennifer Kupcho.

Divots Patrick Reed is the fourth American to receive lifetime honorary membership on the European Tour. The others were Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The last American to get the honor was Nicklaus in 2014, nine years after he stopped playing professionally. ... Jordan Spieth fell to No. 21

in the world ranking, his first time out of the top 20 since the end of his first year as a professional in 2013. ... Gary Nicklaus, the 50-year-old son of Jack Nicklaus, received a sponsor exemption to make his PGA Tour Champions debut this week at the Oasis Championship in South Florida.

Stat of the week Rickie Fowler (74) is the first player this season to win a PGA Tour event with a final round over par. That happened twice last season — Webb Simpson at The Players Championship (73) and Tiger Woods at the Tour Championship (71).

Final word “I really don’t want to have to go and win tournaments that way.� — Rickie Fowler, after making a double bogey and triple bogey in the final round of his two-shot victory in the Phoenix Open.

AP

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

Golf

F3

Q Clint Eastwood chips the ball to the 18th green during the celebrity challenge event of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament on Thursday in Pebble Beach, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Pebble Beach only a US Open preview of the scenery P

BY DOUG FERGUSON

EBBLE BEACH, Calif.: Only four American courses have hosted a PGA Tour event and a major championship in the same year, a concept that USGA chief executive Mike Davis does not consider to be ideal.

One big exception is Pebble Beach. “I think this is great,� Davis said Wednesday as he walked down the 16th fairway. “Because this is nothing like it will be June.�

The views won’t change, and they were as spectacular as ever on the eve of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, with turquoise waves crashing against rocks and sending eruptions of white spray against the back drop of Pebble’s small greens.

But this is not a week for any

scouting reports.

Heavy rain over the weekend, with wind so strong it knocked over a corporate tent left of the sixth fairway, has saturated Pebble Beach so much that the turf sunk ever so slightly with every step on the fairway. Davis Love III didn’t see where his shot landed on the 10th green because it was plugged, only the top half of the ball showing.

No, this isn’t a sneak preview of the U.S. Open. It’s not a complete waste of time, either.

Tommy Fleetwood of England is making his debut in the tournament, and he was so enamored being on the Monterey Peninsula that he quite happily played through the chill and a few hail stones during a practice round Tuesday. Pebble has such a reputation that Fleetwood compared it with St. Andrews, not because of the course, but because of the iconic nature. “It’s just one of those few places in the world that has like an aura and an atmosphere about it and you feel very lucky to be playing golf this week,� he said.

He only picture what it will be like when Pebble hosts the US Open for the sixth time in June. “It’s nowhere near what it’s probably going to be like,� Fleetwood said. “There’s so many guys that have played the PGA Tour for a long time will have been here.

They know it. They feel comfort-

ABLE &OR ME THIS IS THE kRST TIME

so any advantage I would have had just turning up in June is much more positive and good for me.�

Torrey Pines also hosted a PGA Tour and US Open in the same year in 2008 (Tiger Woods won them both), and that will happen again in two years. The other courses were Riviera (LA Open and PGA Championship in 1995) and Pinehurst No. 2 (North & South and PGA Championship in 1936).

Changes already have started at Pebble, with fairway lines moved in the way it will be in June.

That much was obvious on No. 8, which has a white, knee-high rock on the hill leading up to the fairway as an alignment aid.

The rock is not there this week, because any shot over it would wind up in the rough, not the fairway. “The fairways taken in is what you notice immediately,� Jordan

Spieth said. “The rough is actually lower than it has been in past years for this tournament right now. But the fairway lines ... like our yardage books look different from last year to this year. They have started to take them in already, and you’re starting to see the fairways that we’re going to see for the U.S. Open. It just will play wider given how soft it is. The ball is not rolling.�

Spieth won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am two years ago and is back in his regular group, with country singer Jake Owen as his amateur partner alongside twotime Pebble champion Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky.

Johnson is coming off a victory last week in the Saudi International and only arrived from his home in Florida on Wednesday morning. Masters champion Patrick Reed also was in Saudi Arabia and will be playing in his usual

group alongside Phil Mickelson.

The sky cleared Wednesday and it should be reasonable for at least a few days across Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula, with more rain expected Friday and into parts of the weekend.

For some players, Pebble is beautiful in any weather. “When you’re here ... it’s kind of like a holy golf ground if you will,�

Tony Finau said. “And it’s never not a thrill to play Pebble Beach.�

With so much rain over the last few days, and the forecast for the weekend, players will likely be able to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the short grass. That’s not unusual for this tournament. It might be unusual for Davis and few others on the USGA executive committee.

The U.S. Open never uses lift, clean and place — another example that while it’s the same course, this isn’t the US Open.

AP

PGA Tour rescinds McCarthy’s penalty from new rule

Q The entrance to Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla., is shown on February 2, where President Donald Trump played a round of golf with golfers Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. AP PHOTO

Trump on golf course with Nicklaus, Woods JUPITER, Fla.: President Donald Trump played golf on February 2, in Florida with two of the game’s greatest champions, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Trump arrived at his private club in sunny Jupiter after he escaped the bitter cold and snow in Washington a day earlier. He later tweeted a photo of him standing next to them on a tee box and said it was a “great morning.�

4HE WEEKEND TRIP IS 4RUMP S kRST to his Florida home and properties since Thanksgiving. The president had limited his travel during the record 35-day partial federal shutdown that ended last week.

Both Nicklaus and Woods are among Trump’s regular golf part-

ners. Nicklaus also designed the Jupiter club’s 18-hole course. .ICKLAUS AND 7OODS ARE DEkNED by their major championships.

Nicklaus holds the professional record with 18 while Woods has been stuck on 14 for the past 10 years.

Saturday’s pairing was believed TO BE THE kRST TIME .ICKLAUS AND Woods have played together since 2002 at a Monday night exhibition called “Battle at Bighorn� in California. Nicklaus and Woods were teammates in a match against Lee Trevino and Sergio Garcia.

The last time Nicklaus and Woods played together in an official event was the 2000 PGA Championship.

AP

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.: PGA Tour players AND CADDIES HAVE SPENT THE kRST part of the season sorting out golf’s new rules.

The confusion continued at the Phoenix Open.

Among the new rules, caddies are no longer allowed to stand behind players as they line up shots not on the green. In Friday’s second round, Denny McCarthy was initially assessed a two-shot penalty after his caddie briefly stood behind him to discuss a shot at No. 15. McCarthy did not address the ball and backed off to line up his shot after his caddie stepped away.

The PGA Tour, with support of the USGA, reversed the penalty Saturday following a review of the interaction, changing McCarthy’s 67 to a 65. He was 8 under after a third-round 71. “If he was in there deliberately looking at where I’m lining up and I’m setting up to the ball and not

backing away, yeah, I could see how that’s a two-shot penalty,�

McCarthy said. “But in no way, shape or form did I think what I did was a penalty.

A similar situation with Justin Thomas and his caddie in the second round also was deemed not to be a penalty.

The USGA said in a statement the rule will be enforced similarly going forward. “We saw the v i d e o m a n y, many times and we just felt like we needed to look at it a little more with the interpretation,�

PGA Tour rules official Slugger White said. “It’s a new rule. We

agree with the rule, it’s just the INTERPRETATION IS A LITTLE DIFkCULT now.�

The R&A and USGA overhauled the rules of golf for 2019 in an attempt to make them easier to understand.

The most comprehensive change to the RULES SINCE THE kRST SET WAS published in 1744 dropped the number of rules from TO AND g4HE /FkCIAL Guide to the Rules of Golf� replaced about 1,300 examples in the Decisions book.

Among

the changes were switching penalty drops from

shoulder height to knee-high length, no penalties if a golf ball accidentally moves on the green or if a club touches the ground in a hazard. There’s also no penalty if the ball hits a flagstick that is n o t being tended on the green.

Players and caddies are still trying to figure o u t what they can and can’t do, including the rule preventing caddies from standing behind a player lining up a shot. “It’s kind of stupid,� said Rickie Fowler, the 54-hole leader at the Phoenix Open. “You’re talking about growing the game and making things play faster, but that’s not growing the game. You’re giving a two-shot penalty for doing nothing and not getting any sort of advantage.�

AP

Q Justin Thomas hits from the second fairway during the third round of the Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament on February 2, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

AP PHOTO

F4

Golf

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

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

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

The Great British Golf Tournament opens February 22 THE Great British Golf TournaMENT WILL TEE OFF ON &EBRUARY AT the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

Hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the one-day tournament will see golf enthusiasts from the top companies in the country competing against representatives from the British Embassy.

The tournament, featuring men’s and ladies’ divisions, is now on its seventh year.

The entry fee of P4,500 for club members and P5,500 for

non-members is inclusive of green fee, caddie fee, and dinner buffet. Meanwhile, guests who want to join the dinner must PAY 0

Shotgun tee off begins at P M The event is backed by Bonifacio High Street, Seda BGC, Conrad Manila, Towelite, Carlo Rossi, Raffa, Britpart, Pru Life UK, and 1 (2 3OLUTIONS For registration and sponsorship, contact Yvette and Keenah at LOCAL OR OR EMAIL at events@britcham.org.ph.

Q Overall team lowest gross champion King Stehmeier (left, holding trophy) and Mark Anthony Dy with Cebu Country Club Inc., board of director president Bob Gothong, Bb. Cebu Charity 2018 Tracy Maureen Perez, golf chairman Bobby Booth and, house chairman Ruben Almendras

Q Overall net team champion Andrew CaĂąete (left, holding trophy) and Dominic Gotiong

Q Nissan Terra Hole-in-One Winner Charles Ong (in green) CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Q Overall seniors team champion Johnny Hinggo (left, holding trophy) and Rodolfo Tiu with BOD treasurer Jiji Gullas and vice president Joe Soberano

Q Nissan Terra Hole-in-One winner Charlie Gaite (holding a Nissan replica key)

Alta Vista to hold TwoMan Best Ball tilt THE Alta Vista Golf and Country Club will host a Two-Man Best Ball tournament on February 16 in Cebu City.

Registration fee for club members is P1,000 and P3,000 for guests.

The member and guest tournament, under a best ball format, features four divisions namely A, B, C and Seniors’.

Handicap of players for the month of February will be used.

Competitors who will ace any par-3 holes will get a prize of P40,000 cash or a Skygo motorcycle.

Special prizes will also be awarded for nearest to the pin, most accurate drive and longest putt feats.

Top finishers will receive trophies.

Dy-Stehmeier duo rules Coral Tee Invitational Stellar cast braces for tough RVP Cup duel

BY JEAN RUSSEL V.

clared overall net team champion in the four-day tournament.

Finishing second was the team THE tandem of Mark Anthony Dy of Jang Hyung Chul and Benjie and King Stehmeier emerged as Hortelano with a 159 followed the back-to-back overall low gross by Clark Gothong and Adry Samchampion during the 38th Coral SWON WITH A In the seniors division, Rodolfo Tee Invitational on January 31 to February 3 at the Cebu Country Tiu and Johnny Hinggo posted a 159 to snare the overall seniors Club in Cebu City. $Y kNISHED WITH A AND A team championship crown.

Tiu and Hinggo won via countwhile Stehmeier had a 35 and a 30 back by age against John Cheu and for a combined 134.

The duo of Dominic Gotiong David Cheu after the two pairs AND !NDREW #AĂ„ETE WITH A kNAL both scored 159.

Jack Huang and George Cheu SCORE OF AGGREGATE WAS DE-

DAVID

kNISHED THIRD WITH A IN THE seniors division.

Individual low net champion 0ATRICIO 'O kNISHED WITH ROUNDS OF FOR A TOTAL SHARING the top honors with low gross champ Eric Deen who finished WITH A Meanwhile, Jonji Chiongbian and Leonard Lu were the top scorERS ON THE kRST DAY IN THE REGULAR division while Henry Gocuan and Lito Laurel bested their rivals in the seniors class.

Jacinto Limyutian and Alberto Solis topped the second day of ac-

TION WITH AN IN THE REGULAR SIDE while Henry Chin Uy and Stewart 'O SIZZLED WITH A COMBINED TO top the seniors division.

Two players were cited for their hole-in-one performances.

Charlemagne Yared Gaite aced CCC’s hole No. 13 using his No. )RON (ONMA "ERES )3 &ORGED and Titleist Pro-V1 No. 3 ball on &EBRUARY Meanwhile, Charles Vincent Ong holed-out No. 3 with his 4AYLOR-ADE )RON .O P 4UNG Steen Forged using a Titleist ProV1X No. 55 ball during the last day

5th G&W-TBV Golf Cup takes off Feb 18 THE 5th G&W-TBV Golf Cup will tee off on February 18 at the Ayala Greenfield Golf and Leisure Club in Calamba, Laguna.

G&W Clubshares Incorporated organizes the annual tournament that will be held in honor of the late Tony B. Villaruel.

Listing is ongoing with tournament fee of P3,500 for nonCLUB MEMBERS AND 0 FOR members, inclusive of giveaways, lunch, and raffle entry.

Organizers will limit the field to the first 100 registrants.

The caddie fee and golf cart use are on player’ account.

Meanwhile, the P50,000 hole-in-one prize will be raffled off in the event no player accomplished the feat.

Proceeds of the charity tournament will go to the Cancer Warriors Foundation.

For tickets, sponsorships, and packages, contact Cathy 'REGORIO AT OR 403-9585.

14th Pomelo Tee rolls off May 1 in Davao City THE TH 0OMELO 4EE WILL kRE OFF on May 1 to4 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Mandug-Indangan, Buhangin, Davao City.

The four-day annual memberguest tournament is expected to DRAW MORE THAN ENTRIES The event aims to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Pomelo Tee Foundation Incorporated among them college scholarship for selected workers and caddies’ dependent. Part of the proceeds will also be used to provide educational equipment and other

learning materials to Mandug High School and Indangan High School.

Entry fee is P6,000, inclusive of two-day, one mulligan per nine holes.

The tournament’s team and individual categories will follow a 36-hole stroke play under THE MODIkED 3TABLEFORD SCORING system.

For registration, contact RanCHO 0ALOS AT

OR

AIDRIC Chan, Carl Corpus and Sean Ramos banner the men’s kELD WHILE .ICOLE !BELAR 3OPHIA Chabon and Missy Legaspi head the ladies side in the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf ChampiONSHIP SET TO UNFOLD &EB AT the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna.

Multi-titled Rupert Zaragosa, Don Petil, Pierre Ticzon, Paolo Wong, Kristoffer Arevalo, Leandro Bagtas, Weiyu Gao, David Guangco, Josh Jorge and siblings Jolo and Jonas Magcalayo are also in the fold, all eager to slug it out with the best for coveted crown in the annual championship held in honor of the late National Golf Association of the Philippines president and long-time golf patron Rod V Feliciano.

Firming up the early 49-player men’s roster in the four-day event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and Cangolf and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour are Koreans Lee Sang Min, Rho Hyun Ho, Kim Tae Soo, Jung Jae Hyun and Kim Sang Jin. ! kERCE DUEL IS ALSO SEEN IN THE ladies division with Sunshine Baraquiel, Sophia Blanco, Laia

Barro, Samantha Dizon, Jona Magcalayo, Laurea Duque, Junia Gabasa, Kayla Nocum, Rianne Malixi, Rafaela Singson, Arnie Taguines and Eagle Ace Superal with Koreans Baek Yeun Jae, Kang Da Yun, Kim Seo Yun and Kwon Tae Yon boosting the cast.

For details, call NGAP at teleFAX OR EMAIL NGAP HANDICAP YAHOO COM OR AT #ANGOLF AT OR VISIT WWW NGAPONLINE net or www.facebook.com/ngap/ circuit. Practice round is set on -ONDAY &EB Also on tap is the Special Division for boys and girls serving as part of NGAP’s grassroots program, featuring the likes of Joshua de Guzman, Shinichi Suzuki, Dylan Castillo, Kim Tae Won and Zach Villaroman along with Mikhaela Constantino, Sophia Abarcas, Jeong Yeah Eun, Kwon Min Seo, Jody Castillo and Precious Zaragosa.

Korean Kim Joo Hyung and Harmie Constantino ran away with the crowns in their respective divisions last year with the former moving up to the pros since and the latter, a many-time national team mainstay, on a golf scholarship abroad.

AIM Higher Golf Tournament takes off February 11 THE Asian Institute of ManageMENT !)- !LUMNI /RGANIZAtion will stage a golf tournament on February 11 at the Ayala 'REENkELD 'OLF AND ,EISURE #LUB in Calamba, Laguna.

Titled “AIM Higher Golf Tournament,� the event is open to the public with an entry fee of P4,000, inclusive of shared cart use, green fee, giveaway, lunch,

AND RAFlE ENTRY Registration begins at 6 a.m. to be followed by shotgun tee off at 8 a.m.

At stake in the tournament is a brand new Vespa motorcycle and a Mirage GLX. For ticket reservation and sponsorship, contact Jaika CorPUZ AT LOCAL OR 4ERE %SPIRITU AT LOCAL

The Sunday Times

Inspiration.

Celebrity.

Style.

February 10, 2019 Volume 118 | No. 78

BOOTS ANSON ROA AND KING RODRIGO

‘Now and forever’ •

LITERARY LIFE

FILIPINO CHAMPIONS

ARTS AWAKE

‘In the Blood’

An Anvil for SM Foundation

Ani ng Sining begins

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Literary Life SUNDAY February 10, 2019

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SHORT STORY

In the Blood

BY JOSEPH ANTHONY MONTECILLO

T

HE street cats screech to signal Miguel’s arrival home half an hour past midnight.

Not his latest appearance, but still unacceptable.

My younger son Paulo sits next to me on the living room sofa, poring over a science textbook with half-shut eyes. It had been a busy day for him. Once he came home from school, he dashed to the garage to do the laundry. On a normal night, the ten-year-old boy gets to sleep at ten on the dot.

But Paulo knows that none of us can go to bed without saying our nightly rosary.

Sixteen-year-old Miguel lumbers into the house, dragging his FEET ON THE lOOR (E STANDS AS A mix of halves. His schoolbag hangs half-open from one shoulder, half the buttons on his school polo are undone, and a dark bruise has started blossoming on the left side of his face. He keeps his eyes down, avoiding me and his brother. “Where have you been?â€? I ask. “Out,â€? he says, trudging past me into the kitchen. He spares Paulo a glance and slams the younger boy’s textbook shut. “Weirdo.â€? “Miguel! Do not disturb your brother. It’s your fault we’re up this late anyway!â€? “I told you not to wait.â€? “You’ve been drinking again, haven’t you?â€? I can smell the alcohol from across the room. “I told YOU NOT TO DRINK AND kGHTĂœu “I’m going to bed.â€? Miguel starts climbing the stairs, his footsteps heavy against the old wood. “Paulo,â€? I say in a low voice. “Get the lash.â€?

Paulo stands and walks into the kitchen. He comes back with a detached electrical cord in his hands. It used to be the wire on

our old TV set. I ripped it out myself when Miguel spent more time watching cartoons than doing his homework. Paulo hands it to me. “Upstairs,� I tell Paulo. The boy tucks his textbook under his arm and starts climbing the stairs. I follow him. Paulo always moves light on his feet, his steps whispering against the wood. The door to the single bedroom waits at the top of the stairs. Paulo tries opening the DOOR AND kNDS IT LOCKED He looks back to me, two steps behind him on the stairs. “Go on, anak,� I tell him.

Paulo knocks on the door. “Kuya?� “What do you want?� comes Miguel’s voice through the door. “Kuya, I’m sleepy. Can we just pray now?� “You’re helping her.� “Kuya, she’s still downstairs.

Kuya, just let me in, please?� Paulo knocks lightly on the door.

The door opens a crack. It’s enough. I rush forward, forcing the door open the rest of the way through. The wood slams into Miguel’s face, knocking him back.

I push my way into the room, striking down with the cord. Its prongs catch Miguel on the top of the head, and he puts his hands UP TO DElECT THE BLOW I lash away at Miguel until I know for sure that he isn’t going to move from his spot. He shudders down on the ground, curled up in a ball. I suck in a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in my skull and the shaking of my hands.

Paulo steps his way around his brother’s quivering body and sits on the bed. He opens his textbook and reads. The exhaustion is gone from his face. “Where were you?� I ask Miguel, measuring out each word before it

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

comes out. “Down the street,� he says through ragged breaths. “Drinking?�

He curls up tighter, hiding his face. “Yes.� g$ID YOU GET INTO A kGHT u “Yes.� “Why?� “Dad.�

I kick him then, right in the gut. “You do not say that word.�

I let out a long breath and whip him with the cord one last time. The prongs strike him on the cheek, opening up a wound beneath his eye. He hisses in pain, touching the tender bruise on one side of his face and the cut on the other. The tears refuse to fall from his eyes. “You’ll sleep in the closet tonight.� “No, Mama,� he says.

I kneel down beside my son. I smell the cheap beer on him, the stench of a sweaty brawl lingering underneath that. I can almost hear the hot blood of the boy’s father rushing through his pounding heart. “Paulo,� I say.

The boy shuts his textbook. He stands next to his brother’s head. “Yes, Mama?� “Sleep in the closet for your brother.�

Paulo hesitates, not moving from where he stands. I shoot him a look and he starts walking toward the closet in the back of the room. He opens the door to it, revealing the empty tight space inside. We haven’t kept clothes in there for years. Instead, it was just four walls of dark wood with peeling paint and scratch marks. “Wait,� says Miguel.

Paulo stops, looking back at his brother on the ground.

“I’ll do it,� says Miguel.

He crawls into the closet. His GROWING FRAME kLLS UP THE SPACE AS he tries to cram himself in.

I reach into my bedside drawer and pull out one of the three rosaries inside. I offer the rosary to Miguel. He doesn’t take it. He just looks out at the room as if to memorize it before it disappears. I drape the rosary on his arm. “Pray, anak.�

I shut the doors on him. Paulo stands next to me with the padlock and chain. Together, we lock the cabinet doors shut. The padlock snaps into place. Inside, Miguel starts crying. *** Sometimes, when the house gets quiet and both the boys are at school, I remember Adrian. When his face appears in my mind, I recite every prayer I know to try to bury it again. There are the days that through every novena, every decade on the rosary, his face lingers to watch me from the grave. Instead of the harsh, sadistic face that the public knew, Adrian Cabaero only had smiles for me in my memory.

Despite not being a handsome man, Adrian was easy on the eyes. Nothing about him stood out. He decorated any room he entered like a soothing wallpaper.

At nights, lying next to him, I dreamed the we might disappear into each other.

All those nights by his side and I never smelled another woman’s perfume or blood on him.

I remember Adrian was taking a shower once and left the door unlocked. I came in to get some pills from the medicine cabinet when I saw him in the shower, hand wrapped around his privates, abusing himself.

and saved in either .doc or .rtf format. Each short story and creative nonfiction piece should be between ten (10) and twenty (20) pages (double-spaced), while each poem should be limited to only one (1) page (single-spaced).

Works littered with glaring grammatical and typographical errors will not be considered. Send your works to the literary editor, Alvin I. Dacanay, at literarylife[at]

“I’m sorry,� he said.

I prayed a rosary for his chastity and for our marriage that night. “I love you more than anything,� he SAID ONCE ) D kNISHED I believed him then.

Now, I wonder what he thought of as he touched himself. Did he think about me spread out beneath him, ready for the taking? Maybe he imagined a hooker he’d found off the street. Then the long drive into the night until he found somewhere quiet and empty. He’d THINK OF USING THEM kRST BEFORE wrapping his hands around their throats. Perhaps, he thought of their eyes, growing wide with terROR THEIR LIPS GASPING FOR A kNAL breath. Did he climax the moment they went still in his hands? /R DID THE kNAL RELIEF COME ONCE he dumped the body on some highway?

I should have known to make him stop. To sit him down and pray with him until the Lord took away his weakness. Teach him the way my mother had taught me.

When I felt the warmth between my legs grow, I used to kneel and pray until it went away. My knees would be bruised and red by the end, but my mind would clear.

When Miguel was twelve, I caught him abusing himself in the bathroom when he forgot to lock the door. That night, I lashed him so hard his back bled through his shirt. I let him sleep the night away in the closet, hands tied behind his back with the lash so that Satan couldn’t tempt him in the dark.

Adrian loved being a father, though. He spent all the time he could spare in the house with -IGUEL )N THE kRST YEAR HE D JUST sit by Miguel’s crib, watching the boy. If I wasn’t tired, I’d sit next to them and say the rosary. Miguel

wouldn’t wake and Adrian stayed quiet. Neither of them made a sound.

As Miguel grew, he’d seek out Adrian whenever I scolded him.

They would disappear together, talking to each other in hushed tones until the boy’s tears dried. I resented how easily Adrian took to Miguel where I always struggled to get on the same page as our son.

Too much of his father’s blood in him. “I don’t know how to talk to that boy,� I said, realizing even his name made me ache. g9OU LL kGURE IT OUT u SAID !DRIan. All he ever said on the matter.

When I told him that I was pregnant again, he held me tight and smiled. *** I undo the padlock and pull the chains from around the closet’s door handles. The stench from within has started to seep out into the bedroom. When I open the closet, the sharp smell of urine rushes out. I was used to it. Miguel HAD DONE THE SAME THING THE kRST time I’d put him in the closet for saying a bad word at the age of eight.

Miguel sits on the ground, knees up to his chin, a half-drying PUDDLE kLLING UP HALF OF THE SPACE “You’re going to clean this up before you go to school.�

Miguel nods. “If you’re not home early tonight, you’re going to stay in here for a day without meals.�

Miguel looks up at me. The bruise on his face had darkened overnight. He turns away when I DON T lINCH FROM HIS GAZE ) CROUCH down and run a hand through his hair. He hisses at my touch. “Did you pray, anak?�

ÂłBloodG3

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

Filipino Champions The Sunday Times

SUNDAY February 10, 2019 T I TA M E L O D Y ‘ B E T H ’ C R U Z

'Til we dance again I

NEVER quite understood the term "life of the THE THOUGHT party" until I met JUNKIE Tita Melody “Beth�

CARLA BIANCA Cruz in 2011.

RAVANES-HIGHAM My mom and I first encountered Tita Melody — as we fondly called her — and her brother Tito Jeff at a Zumba Dance Class in our small village mall. My mom and I were ridiculously self-conscious of dancing in the middle of a crowded mall but Tita Melody danced like no one was watching and, somehow, her energy encouraged everyone to do the same.

I remember her being so kind and welcoming — she DEkNITELY WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS AND SOON BECAME A kXTURE IN OUR LIVES For years, my mom spent three days a week with the amazing duo — Tito Jeff and Tita Melody — and the rest of their dance group. Tita Melody was literally the life of the party and I have never met anyone who entered the room with such presence. Her arrival would literally transform a room — she was like Tinkerbell, spreading fairy dust wherever she went.

3OON 4ITA -ELODY BECAME MORE THAN JUST A DANCE buddy to my mom — she, along with Tito Jeff, became a part of my family. Mom and Tita Melody would share mini-dates right before Zumba classes and celebrate birthdays and Christmases with their own dance family.

Personally, I encountered Tita Melody during a time in my life when I was quite unsure of myself. But being enveloped in Tita Melody’s hug also meant being enveloped by her inspiring and encouraging nature.

She was a bright, big ball of positive energy and it spilled onto everyone she knew. She never scrimped on uplifting words and always had something nice to say to everyone she encountered.

Tita Melody was also a wonderful mother to her three BOYS /MAR 2ODJUN AND 2AYVER 3HE WAS FEROCIOUS IN HER love for them and was always beaming with pride when she shared stories about her boys — whether in person or through her Facebook account.

Those three boys were the center of her life and it showed; she loved her boys with her entire being and was proud to call them her sons.

Her dedication to her brother, Tito Jeff, was also inspiring. She was one who gave her all to everyone SHE LOVED AND SHE WAS NOT AFRAID TO kGHT FOR THEM 3HE was a person who you wanted on your side because she was loyal to the very core. You knew that if Tita Melody pledged her love and friendship to you, she would be on your side forever.

3HE ALSO LOVED TO LAUGH ‡ HER LAUGHTER COULD kLL UP an entire room, and boy did she love taking photos. She absolutely adored taking photos with her family and FRIENDS AND OFTEN FORCED MY MOM TO JOIN HER IN THEIR many photos together.

4ODAY MY MOM LOOKS BACK ON THOSE PHOTOS WITH JOY

her way to remember a dear friend.

When I heard of her passing, the news hit me hard.

How could someone with such life and love leave so quickly? In the years that I have known her, I have never seen Tita Melody weak or sad and so to know that she has passed on truly left a dent in my heart.

3HE WAS SO LOVING AND SO JOYFUL SOMEONE ) COULD never forget.

My thoughts instantly went to her three sons whom she loved dearly. Her sons were so dedicated to her that MY FAMILY AND ) HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED JUST HOW MUCH they have loved and adored her.

We, as her friends, have been left devasted with the news but I can only imagine what her children are going through.

I hope, as they read this, that they are reminded of how truly Tita Melody loved and appreciated them. /MAR 2ODJUN AND 2AYVER ) HOPE YOU KNOW HOW much you have made your mother happy and how well you have taken care of her. My heart breaks for you and what you are going through but I whisper a prayer and encourage you in one of the saddest moments of your lives. This is what your mom has did to many — she poured her light so willingly to those who needed it.

Thank you for that light, Tita Melody. Your love for life, your laughter, your voice and your dance moves will never be forgotten. The life you have lived will continue to inspire my own and when I think of you, I will remember how important it is to dance like no one IS WATCHING AND TO LOVE FULLY JUST AS YOU HAVE Until we dance again, Tita Melody. Thank you for your light.

www.carlabiancaravanes.com

Tita Melody with her sons.

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SM Foundation receives Anvil for PR excellence

(From left) Mikey de Quiros, PRSP secretary; Ana Pista, PRSP Director; Abigail Arcangel, communications manager, SMIC; Neny Regino, press liaison, SM Foundation; Juris Soliman, head of the School Building Program, SM Foundation; Carmen Linda Atayde, executive director for Education, SM Foundation; Koleen Davila-Palaganas, VP for Sustainability, SMIC; Ramon Macapagal, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, SMIC; Ricky Maulion Jr., Sustainability Data manager, SMIC; and Andres Saracho, chairman, 54th Anvil Awards, PRSP.

F

OR its Annual Report, SM Foundation was presented with an Anvil by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) under the Public Relations Tools category during the organization’s 54th Anvil Awards held on January 30 at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Resorts World Manila.

The award was given based on the Annual Report’s of printing, photos, visuals and other design elements, #ONTENT RELEVANCE MESSAGING INFORMATION SUFkCIENCY layout, readability, and originality); and Impact (how it suitability to target publics, and excellence of writing and ACHIEVED ITS 02 OBJECTIVE AND ENGAGED THE TARGET PUBLICS editing); Concept Design and Creative Execution (quality &UNCTIONING AS THE SOCIO CIVIC ARM OF 3- 'ROUP 3-

Foundation was founded by Henry Sy Sr. who served as chairman of the board until his demise on January 19. As envisioned by “Tatang,� SM Foundation pursues advocacies in education, religion, health and wellness, outreach and livelihood programs with the guiding philosophy of “People Helping People� for a better future.

Presented annually by the PRSP, the Anvil is the symbol of Excellence in Public Relations. It is awarded to outstanding public relations programs, tools and, now, practitioners after careful screening by select PR profesSIONALS AND JUDGING BY A DISTINGUISHED MULTI SECTORAL JURY

Q BLOOD FROM G2

In the Blood “Yes.� “That’s good,� I say, lightly caressing his cheek beneath the cut the lash had given him. “I prayed that you would die.�

I shut the closet doors, doing up the chains again. Downstairs, Paulo sits at the kitchen table already dressed in his school uniform. I hand him a banana from the fridge for breakfast. “Where’s Kuya?� “Praying.�

Paulo crosses himself and shuts his eyes for a quick prayer before peeling the banana. That’s my boy. Miguel might be Adrian’s son through and through, but without a doubt, Paulo is mine. He has my eyes, my soft features, the quiet and steady faith that would lead him through life.

Once he’s done eating, I follow Paulo out of the house to see him off to school. He opens the front gate to see a kLTHY CAT LOUNGING ON THE CONCRETE 0AULO REACHES FOR IT

and I slap him lightly on the shoulder. I shoo away the cat, kicking in its direction until it scurries away. “I told you not to play with those dirty things.� “Sorry, Mommy.� g4HAT S kNE ) JUST DON T WANT YOU TO COME BACK WITH anymore scratches, okay?� Paulo often came home with fur clinging to his shorts and fresh claw marks on his legs. I make him shower twice whenever he does. We can’t afford for either of the boys to get sick. “Yes, Mommy.� “Okay. Don’t forget to bring the laundry in from the garage later.� “Yes, Mommy.�

I give him a peck on the cheek as he leaves to go to the school only a few blocks down from our house. That’s my boy. *** When I was six months pregnant with Paulo, the police came to my house at midnight to tell me that Adrian was dead. The police had pulled over his car for suspicion of soliciting prostitutes. Adrian had tried running from the car, a fresh corpse still lying inside.

They shot him dead when he wouldn’t stand down.

That stung more than it should have. The way Adrian held me in his arms until I thought I could disappear in his embrace should have only been mine.

I had given him children, made him as happy as the day his father died. Those smiles of his had been for me. Not for any of his whores in life or death.

Paulo kicked inside of me as I listened to the police tell me about the man I thought I knew. I placed my hand on my swollen belly, trying to soothe the baby. Calm down, I wanted to tell him, you wouldn’t want this world.

Miguel wandered down from his room upstairs. “Mommy?� “Anak, go back upstairs. Wait there.� “Where’s Daddy?�

Miguel didn’t say anything when I told him. He JUST NODDED HIS HEAD AND LOOKED DOWN AT THE lOOR ) COULD ALREADY SEE THE HINTS OF THE STERN JAWLINE that had been passed down generations from father TO SON ) PRAYED THAT THE JAWLINE AND THE FURROWED brow were the only things Adrian had left our son.

-IGUEL JUST SAT THERE LOOKING AT NOTHING AT ALL ) THINK he hated me for ruining his father.

I woke up one night when Miguel was twelve to see him standing over me with a knife. He held the knife high, ready to pierce me in the heart. Tears streamed down his face as he sucked in sharp breaths. I felt the prayers evaporate from my lips until all I felt was cold. His eyes bulged, his whole body tensed and straining. I waited for the end. “Kuya?�

Paulo sat up next to me, watching with wide eyes.

Miguel dropped the knife. He ran into the closet and shut the door in on himself. I lay still in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to calm down. My heart pounded in my ears, and sweat had broken out over my brow.

I felt like one of Adrian’s whores. Used and scared, waiting for death. The thought of it settled in my belly

like a dead fetus. “Mommy?� asked Paulo.

I held Paulo close and kissed his head.

I embraced the sickness in my stomach. I nurtured it into something only a mother could muster. I turned the goosebumps on my skin and the churning in my gut into love. With that love, I would pray harder and punish harder. If Miguel hated me, I WOULD GIVE HIM A LOVE THAT PURGED AND PURIkED *** With Paulo out, the house closes in on itself and I can breathe. On the blessed days I can avoid the thought of Adrian, the house doesn’t seem cramped so much as it feels cozy. A tiny little hole for me to disappear in for a FEW HOURS ) kND PEACE IN THE EMPTINESS OF THE HOUSE Miguel had his own little hole in the world upstairs. A QUIET PLACE TO kND 'OD ) PRAYED THAT (E WOULD DELIVER my son from the blood of his father.

3AVE MY SON 'OD ) DO WHAT ) CAN AS A MOTHER BUT only You can show him true grace.

I can hear my own heartbeat — steady and lively. It TAKES A MOMENT FOR ME TO REALIZE THAT IT S JUST -IGUEL upstairs, pounding against the walls.

The phone rings beneath the stairs. “Hello?� I answer. “Hello, is this Mrs. Cabaero?� The voice on the phone belonged to a younger woman. Probably somewhere in her mid-twenties. Far too chirpy and full of energy.

My heartbeat starts matching Miguel’s beating against the closet upstairs. “Yes, who’s this?� “Hello po, ma’am! My name is Edna Cruz. I’m part of the faculty at St. Leonard’s. If you have the time, I’d like to talk to you about your son.� “Miguel is sick right now.� “I’m sorry po but —�

A loud splintering comes from upstairs — the crunching sound of breaking wood. I drop the phone receiver. I step out from beneath the stairs and start climbing toward the noise. Only halfway up do I realize that I don’t have the lash with me.

The door bursts open and Miguel storms out. “Where do you think you’re going?� I scream. I take a couple of steps back, but Miguel keeps charging down the stairs. He drives a shoulder into me, sending me tumbling down the steps, the hard wood biting into my spine and neck until I land at the bottom of the steps. Miguel rushes past me, rushing toward the door, but I grab him

BY THE ANKLE TO SEND HIM CRASHING FACE kRST INTO THE lOOR “You can’t leave!� I yell.

Miguel turns over and pulls my hand free from his leg.

He stands as I claw at him. He shoves me back down to THE lOOR MY HEAD KNOCKING INTO THE BOTTOM STEP ,IGHTS burn into my eyes and my body goes limp beneath me.

Warm blood starts dripping down the side of my head.

Miguel’s still standing over me, watching me. I look up, trying to see his face through the blindING SHAPES kLLING MY EYES !S MY VISION STARTS TO clear, I see him panting and looking down at me. “Don’t leave me,� I tell him.

He drops something on the ground before turning and rushing out the door. His rosary. My body shuts down JUST AS ) HEAR THE FRONT GATE SWING OPEN AND THE DARKNESS of my failure washes over me. *** “Mommy?�

Paulo’s voice calls to me through the shadows.

It slices through the nothingness, pulling me back into consciousness. I open my eyes to see him still in his school uniform kneeling beside me. “I’m here, baby,� I say.

I sit up with a groan. My back aches from the fall down the steps. I touch the wound on the side of MY HEAD -Y HAND COMES BACK CAKED ONLY IN lAKING dried blood. My head still aches, a dull throb radiating through it. The bleeding had stopped though. At the very least, I could spare myself hospital expenses. “What happened?� asks Paulo. “Your brother. Help me up.�

Paulo gives me a hand and does what he can

to pull me back onto my feet. I lean against the stair railing to steady myself. “Mommy?� g'O anak ) HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE kRST u “Okay.�

I take deep, slow breaths to numb the pain. I limp over to the phone, the receiver still dangling over the lOOR ) PLACE THE RECEIVER BACK IN ITS CRADLE AND THE PHONE immediately starts to ring. I let out a sigh and pick it up. “Hello?� I ask. “Yes, hello, Mrs. Cabaero?� The same chirpy voice from this afternoon. The teacher —what was her name again? “Yes, this is me.� “Sorry to disturb you po. This is Edna Cruz again from St. Leonard’s, but I think we got disconnected earlier.� “I have a lot to do right now.� “Ma’am, sorry po, but I really need to talk to you urgently about your son.� “Miguel is —� “Ma’am, you are the mother of Paulo Cabaero?�

I can feel the house close in around me. The walls push in against my skin, and the old sickening in my stomach starts up. “Yes, I am.� “We’ve been having certain problems with Paulo’s behavior that we feel require your attention.� “What problems? What are you talking about?�

The aches in my body grow, settling in once again after being driven out by the darkness of unconsciousness. I taste bile rising in my throat. g%ARLIER TODAY 0AULO WAS MISSING FROM HIS kRST class after recess —� “Missing?� g7ELL ONE OF OUR JANITORS FOUND HIM BEHIND THE FOURTH grade classrooms with a stray cat.� “I told him not to play with the animals. I’m sorry, I’ll tell him again.� “Mrs. Cabaero, we found your son holding down the cat and choking it.�

The image of it comes faster than expected. My little boy crouched down on the ground, his hands wrapped around the throat of a stray. I double over and retch on THE lOOR ) HAVEN T EATEN ALL DAY SO NOTHING COMES UP I dry heave again, trying to lose the tightening feeling in my stomach but only air and spit come out. My stomach keeps turning, trying to force its way out of MOUTH UNTIL ) M EMPTY OF ALL lESH AND MEAT I slam down the phone.

Paulo’s school bag sits on the living room sofa.

I pull out the science textbook from inside. The pages remain mostly clean, only black text on cheap brown paper. Paulo’s handwriting appears only on a few pages in blue ink. On those pages, he circles diagrams of the human body. He underlines paragraphs about anatomy — both human and animal.

I toss the science book across the room.

Outside, a cat shrieks. It sounds closer than it should be. Has it always been so near? I step out the front door and look toward the garage and its shadows. The clothes are all still up, blocking what little sunlight shines through.

I push past the dried clothes. Toward the end of the garage, I hear breathing. Calm steady breaths mixed in with something worse and animal. I shove my way past the last drying dress. Paulo huddles in the corner of the garage against the cement block walls. In his lap, the same patchy stray cat from earlier in the day.

Around the cat’s throat: a length of electrical wire pulled from an old TV set. The cat’s mouth opens and shuts in silent agony as it gasps for air. Paulo looks up at me and releases his grip.

The cat rushes away, running and running until it’s out of sight. “Mommy?� asks Paulo.

He stands up and looks up at me. I stare into his face, seeing too much of my own in his features. I knew for sure that my blood ran through him.

My boy.

Paulo stares back at me, but I can tell he’s not looking at anything at all. ) SEARCH FOR 'OD IN MY SON S EYES AND kND NOTHING Q

Cover Story The Sunday Times

G4

SUNDAY February 10, 2019

BOOTS ANSON ROA AND KING RODRIGO

‘Now and forever’

BY TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA

“I

T will be our 60th ‘month-sar y on June 14,” quipped lawyer King Rodrigo as he jovially joined his celebrity wife, the respected actress Boots Anson Roa, for a catch-up with her longtime showbiz friends.

“Actually, he’ll be turning 80 on our kFTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY &IVE YEARS ALREADY CAN YOU BELIEVE IT u 2OA SMILED AS SHE SHIFTED HER GAZE FROM +ING TO THEIR TABLE OF WELL WISHERS 4HE COUPLE HAD ACTUALLY INVITED THIS HANDFUL OF FRIENDS INCLUDING The 3UNDAY 4IMES -AGAZINE TO A POOLSIDE LUNCH AT #LUB &ILIPINO IN 'REENHILLS

3AN *UAN FOR A BELATED CELEBRATION OF "OOTS BIRTHDAY 3HE TURNED ON *ANU ARY AND AFTER SPENDING IT QUIETLY WITH HER HUSBAND AT THEIR REST HOUSE IN #ANYON 7OODS 4AGAYTAY SHE DECIDED TO HOLD THIS GATHERING FOR AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT g) WISH WE COULD GIVE YOU A SENSA TIONAL HEADLINER LIKE @7E ARE HAVING A BABY BUT THAT WOULD WARRANT A MIRACLE AND THAT WOULD BE THE ULTI MATE @FAKE NEWS u LAUGHED THE VET ERAN ACTRESS AND DEVOTED VANGUARD OF SHOWBIZ WORKERS g"UT LIKE ) WROTE ON MY INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU FOR TODAY S SIMPLE LUNCH ) VE GOT A LITTLE PROJECT UP MY SLEEVE ) D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT u $AYS BEFORE THIS LUNCHEON ON #HI NESE .EW 9EAR S %VE "OOTS SENT AN EMAIL THAT WENT g4HEY SAY THAT FOR A WOMAN TO LIVE A FULL LIFE SHE HAS TO GIVE BIRTH PLANT A TREE AND WRITE A BOOK g4HANKS TO MY LATE HUSBAND 0ETE

) HAVE FOUR CHILDREN g4HANKS TO MY HUSBAND !TTY +ING 2O DRIGO ) JUST PLANTED AN ATIS TREE LAST WEEK ON OUR LITTLE PATCH GARDEN IN 4AGAYTAY g4HANKS AGAIN TO +ING ) CAN NOW WRITE A BOOK FOR PUBLICATION ON MY TH BIRTHDAY ON *ANUARY u 3HE JOYFULLY ENDED g!ND WE HAVE BLESSINGS ENOUGH THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND OUR CLOSEST FRIENDS IN MEDIA OUR JOYFUL UNION OUR FAMILY

OUR WORK ENDEAVORS AND ADVOCACIES

SENIOR MOMENTS AS WELL AS PLANS FOR THE YEARS AHEAD THAT 'OD WILL GRANT US u "EFORE ASKING THE WELL LOVED SEP TUAGENARIAN WHAT KIND OF BOOK SHE PLANS TO PUBLISH THE UNANIMOUS REQUEST WAS FOR "OOTS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW SHE AND +ING QUIETLY CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY ESPECIALLY SINCE ALL THIS TIME SAT SIDE BY SIDE

THEY NEVER SEEMED TO LET GO OF EACH OTHER S HAND g7E ORIGINALLY HAD PLANS TO GO TO THE ;#ANYON 7OODS= CLUB HOUSE FOR

The Sunday Times

magazine TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA Editor

PHOTO BY ROGER RAÑADA DINNER BUT YOUNG AS WE ARE u SHE PAUSED FOR A GIGGLE gNEITHER OF US HAD THE ENERGY TO GET DRESSED AND GO OUT AFTER +ING WATERED THE PLANTS AND ) PLANTED MY TREE IN THE GARDEN u #LOSE ENOUGH TO 6ALENTINE S THE 2ODRIGOS APPARENTLY HAD THE PERFECT DINNER DATE AT HOME g7E ATE WHAT ) FOUND IN THE KITCHEN SARDINES GARLIC tuyo, RICE AND SOME FRUITS !ND THEN +ING GOT OUT A BOTTLE OF BRANDY AND WE MADE A TOAST )T WAS A SIMPLE AND QUIET DINNER ) PLAYED A #$ OF 3PANISH SELECTIONS ON PIANO AND WE DANCED u "OOTS ALMOST SHYLY TRAILED OFF STILL NOT USED TO TALKING ABOUT HER LOVE LIFE SINCE SHE STEPPED INTO THE EN TERTAINMENT SCENE IN THE S g!ND HOW DID THE SPECIAL EVENING END u THE PERSISTENT AND SLIGHTLY NAUGHTY HUDDLE OF FRIENDS PURSUED

TO WHICH THE MORE PLAYFUL +ING RE PLIED g7ELL ) ASKED HER @)S THIS THE NIGHT !ND THEN SHE REPLIED @0AGOD TAYO @DI BA ;!REN T WE TIRED = AND ) SAID @/+ APIRÜ 3O HIGH kVED AND SAID GOODNIGHT "UT MIND YOU AT our age, apir MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU THINKÜu THE HAPPY HUBBY WINKED AND LAUGHED HEARTILY g"UT REALLY MAKING LOVE IS JUST ONE WAY OF EXPRESSING LOVE THAT S WHY WE NEVER LET GO OF EACH OTHER S HANDS u HE

COVER PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM ATTY. AND MRS. RODRIGO BY NICE PRINT PHOTOGRAPHY

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

~

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

True love five years counting — and onto forever. The veteran actress and the noted lawyer on their wedding day on June 14, 2014 (left) are as sweet and in love as ever before (above).

ADDED MORE SERIOUSLY AND VERY VERY SWEETLY 7ITH THE COZY COUPLE kNALLY DONE GIVING IN TO THE WELL MEANING ALBEIT NOSY BUNCH "OOTS WAS READY TO TALK ABOUT THE kNAL ITEM SHE HAD MENTIONED IN HER INVITATION CUM BUCKET LIST TO gLIVE A FULL LIFE u g+ING ALWAYS ASKS ME WHAT GIFT ) WANT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS BUT AS EARLY AS FOUR MONTHS AGO ) TOLD HIM ALREADY @$O NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR #HRISTMAS OR FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND FOR THE WHOLE OF Ü $O NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR ALL THE OCCASIONS -AG IPON KA LANG

Cover Story The Sunday Times

SUNDAY February 10, 2019 NG PERA KASI IKAW ANG MAG PA PUBLISH ng LIBRO KO ;7HAT YOU DO IS TO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE YOU LL BE THE ONE TO PUBLISH MY BOOK=Ăœu SHE RECALLED HER PUNCHLINE "OOTS WAS SERIOUS OF COURSE FURTHER REVEALING SHE HAD BEEN PLANNING TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY FOR A DECADE NOW g4HE IDEA CAME UP WAY BACK IN ON THE SUGGESTION OF 'ARY 6ALENCIANO S FATHER 6IC 6ALENCIANO u SHE RELATED g9OU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT 'ARY S DAD HAS TO DO WITH THE STORY LEAST OF ALL WITH ME BUT HE S ACTUALLY MY FATHER S kRST COUSIN (E WAS ALSO A NOTED PHO TOGRAPHER AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW SO HE WORKED ON A LAYOUT WITH HIS PICTURES OF ME ALREADY u 4R UE ENOUGH "OOTS ASSISTANT CAME OVER TO THE TABLE TO OPEN UP A SCRAPBOOK OF SORTS WHICH HAD PHOTO GRAPHS OF THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG "OOTS FROM HER EARLIEST MOVIES g5NFORTUNATELY BECAUSE ) KEPT PUTTING IT OFF LIKE YOU DO WHEN YOU GET BUSY 4ITO 6IC HAD GOTTEN SICK AND PASSED ON "EFORE HE DIED THOUGH ) PROMISED HIM THAT ) WOULD DO IT AND YEARS LATER ) kNALLY AMĂœ !ND ) M HOPING TO LAUNCH IT JUST ONE MORE YEAR FROM NOW ON MY TH BIRTHDAY u 3URE TO BE AN INTERESTING AND IN SPIRING MEMOIR WHAT WITH "OOTS STORIED CAREER AS AN ACTRESS NEWS PER SONALITY EDUCATOR FOREIGN SERVICE AP POINTEE SHOWBIZ STALWART AND MOVIE WORKERS ADVOCATE ;SEE SIDEBAR= AND OF COURSE AS A DAUGHTER SISTER FRIEND

WIFE MOTHER GRANDMOTHER AND A gYOUNG WIFEu ANEW TODAY THE REVERED PERSONALITY SIMPLY WANTS TO CALL HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY g"OOTS /N u g) M ALSO THINKING OF A SUBHEAD

MAYBE @/UTPOURINGS ‡ BODY MIND AND SPIRIT BUT THEN ) M VERY OPEN TO SUGGES TIONS THAT S ALSO WHY ) THOUGHT OF ASKING YOU GUYS WHAT YOU THINK u SHE CHUCKLED !S SHOWBIZ ANGLES GO THE UNANI MOUS SUGGESTION WAS TO INCLUDE AN EXPLOSIVE CHAPTER IN WHICH SHE CAN CLEAR UP THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSY SHE ENCOUNTERED IN HER CAREER ‡ IF THERE WAS ONE AT ALL 2EMEMBER THIS IS THE EVER DIGNIkED "OOTS !NSON 2OA g"ELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE WAS ONE u SHE EXCLAIMED g"ACK IN ) WAS ASKED TO BE %RAP S ACTOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT *OSEPH %STRADA LEADING LADY FOR ANOTHER MOVIE ) TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE ) WAS ACTUALLY PREGNANT WITH MY YOUNGEST CHILD WITH 0ETE ;2OA HER kRST HUSBAND= BUT OUR DIRECTOR TOLD ME THE ROLE WAS REALLY MEANT FOR A PREGNANT WIFE AND THEY WOULD PROMOTE IT AS SUCH 9OU KNOW @4HE kRST MOVIE TO STAR A PREGNANT ACTRESS u )T SO HAPPENED TOO THAT "OOTS GAVE BIRTH TO HER SON "ENJAMIN ON /CTOBER

COINCIDENTALLY THE OPENING DAY OF HER MOVIE WITH %STRADA g!ND GUESS WHAT THE TITLE OF THE MOVIE WAS @4ATAY .A 3I %RAPĂœ So EVERYONE NATURALLY THOUGHT %RAP WAS "ENJ S DADĂœu SHE LAUGHED OUT LOUD ! GOOD FRIEND OF %STRADA S TO THIS DAY "OOTS REMINDED EVERYONE HOW THE FAMED LADIES MAN HAD ALWAYS DECLARED THAT OF ALL HIS MOVIE PART NERS “Si "OOTS LANG ANG HINDI KO NILIGAWAN u ADDING HOW INTIMI DATED HE WAS BY THE INTELLIGENT !S SUMPTIONISTA &INALLY ASKED HOW MANY CHAP TERS SHE WILL DEVOTE TO HER +ING

SHE REPLIED g) WAS ACTUALLY THINK ING TO START OFF TALKING ABOUT MY PRESENT WITH HIM IN THE FIRST CHAP TER THEN GO ON TO LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE AND FINALLY END THE BOOK WITH HIM TOO ‡ BECAUSE HE IS MY NOW AND FOREVER u

A vision on her wedding day just before waking down the aisle to forever.

G5

Boots’ bio BOOTS ANSON ROA – RODRIGO has maximized her potentials Premiere Productions, Inc. In July 1998, she was appointed chairman through education, media and public service. A product of the and President of Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13).

University of the Philippines Speech and Drama Department, She has been actively involved in public service since the ‘70s she has pursued various courses in developmental programs, — as host/moderator of GMA-7’s public service show “KapwaKo, journalism, public and media relations and film and television Mahal Ko;� as director for Dare (Anti-Drug for the Rehabilitaproduction locally and in the US (Georgetown University), Nethertion of the Disabled; UP-PGH Medical Foundation; Philiplands (Hilversum Television), France and Italy. pine National Red Cross and the Organ Transplant Upon the demise in 2007 of her husband, Foundation. She was a commissioner of the broadcaster Pete Roa, she established Prime Philippine Commission on Population.

(Pete Roa Integrated Media Endeavors) She is the president and trustee Foundation, Inc., with continuing broadcast of the 45-year-old Mowelfund and education, rehabilitation of Mowelfund governor of the Film Academy of (Movie Workers Welfare Foundation) the Philippines. She has served stroke patients and the propagation of as chairman of the Cinema devotion to St. Pio as its main thrust.

Committee of the National Most notable in her employment Commission for Culture and history is being Press AttachĂŠ/Cultural the Arts and vice-chairman of Officer/Special Assistant to the Ambasthe Kapisanan ng mgaBrodsador at the Philippine Embassy in kasters sa Pilipinas (KBP Metro Washington DC in the ‘80s. After her Manila Chapter). She also served posting at the embassy, she worked as commissioner for communications as marketing and operations officer of the Unesco. She has further served in for the Citizens Bank of Washington the board of the YMCA (Makati). and took up banking at the American She is presently a director of the Jesuit ComInstitute of Banking in Washington munication Foundation; The Communication DC. She also did part time work as head Foundation for Asia, and executive committee concierge for the Hyatt Regency in of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Arlington and as subscriptions agent at The actress and educator has represented our the Kennedy Center. As an educator, she was country in various capacities abroad including the a lecturer/trainer in Philippine language, Culture International Program for the Development of Comand History at the Georgetown University’s Center munication (IPDC) at the Unesco headquarters in for Immigration Studies.

Paris; and as part of the 10-man panel of speakers in Upon repatriation in 1993, she continued the International Congress on Communications Jubiher multi-media work in the Philippines. She lee of Journalism in Castelgandolfo, Rome in 2000. In was assistant professor for Mass CommunicaAt 74 years old, Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo October 2001, she was the country’s representative to tion subjects at the Ateneo de Manila, UP and has achieved great deal in her personal the Beijing Film Festival, and in 2007, hosted the 50th La Salle from 2002 to 2013. She continues life and career but still has more to give. anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel to conduct workshops and seminars on mass and the Philippines in Tel-Aviv. In July of 2008, she communications – related subjects as well as on participated in the Paris Film Festival as a resource person on filmmaking. value formation and management.

Of course she has further reaped a litany of awards from Famas to Aliw Through her almost 50 years in theater, radio, television, advertising and and the Film Acadamey of the Philippines, The Outstanding Women in film, she has been involved in management positions and as performing artist the Nation’s Service (Towns) Award, the Gintong Ina Award, and one for multimedia production companies. In 1996, she became vice president of of the Top 100 Centennial Filipinas in 2000, among others.

King’s poems for his queen WHO says old school doesn’t work in the new millennium? It did for King Rodrigo when, after siblings on both his side and Boots Anson Roa’s set them up, he began courting her with a collection of love poems. She said yes of course and they wed on June 14, 2014.

Each one so beautiful and touching, the siblings-in-law, who were so

right to bring this widower and widow together [read: salt of the earth], surprised the happy couple with printed compilations of the poems, which served as their giveaway on their wedding day.

[Pages printed with permission from King and Boots Rodrigo]

The prominent lawyer is a ‘nonshowbiz personality’ as they say but had a top actor and politician for a dad.

More about (the) King DISTINGUISHED lawyer Francisco “King�

Rodrigo, Jr. is the son of the late revered senator Soc Rodrigo, who is credited as the very first showbiz personality to successfully and effectively crossover to public service.

Atty. King, as he is often called, completed his Bachelor of Science in 1960 at the Ateneo de Manila University before earning his Bachelor of Laws four years later at the same Jesuit-run educational institution.

He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1965 and in the New York Bar, 1980.

His career saw him as an Associate at DF Castro and Associates (1965 to 1968); partner at Rodrigo Law Office (1968 to 1979), Capulong, Rodrigo and Cruz (1981 to 1982); staff attorney at the Housing Litigation Bureau for the City of New York (1986 to 1988); partner at Quisumbing Torres and Evangelista (associated with Baker and McKenzie, 1988 to 1998); and presently partner at Rodrigo, Berenguer and Guno since 1998.

He specializes in litigation, property development, mergers and acquisition, administrative law, family law and special projects.

He was married to his childhood sweetheart Olga until she passed away in 2005, with whom he has five children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Turning 80 years old on June 14, his birthday coincides with his and wife Boots Anson Roa’s fifth wedding anniversary.

Fun Times The Sunday Times

G6

»horoscope

THE SUNDAY CROSSWORD

Setting the Clocks Back

By Merl Reagle February 10, 2019

...Time changes everything This puzzle is part of Merl's best-of series 1 7 10 14 17 18 20

22 23 25 26 28 29 30 31 34 35 37 38 40 44 46

50 52 56 57 58 59 61 62 64 65 67 68 70 71 74 75 81 82 84 85 86 87 88

ACROSS Antiseptic surgery pioneer Highest Satiric comic Mort “Nova” nosh Watcher over Odysseus Japanese beer brand ___ University, where you “learn without getting out of your car”?

Charlemagne’s granddad, Charles ___ Glass-breaking soprano?

See 39 Down Unfavorable Daisy ___ Coventry conversationstarter Sn The Jolly Green Giant?

N.Y.’s summer hours Jack who played the leader of Bacteria in The Great Dictator Mighty midgets Big bldg. on campus Piece of eight?

Per With 93 Across, what the absent-minded bird-fancier ended up doing?

Ladder step Mild oath Unskilled laborers, contemptuously Home: abbr.

Felix the Cat creator Messmer Prince’s place Atlantic assn.

Plato’s plaza Canoe propeller Short, dumb person?

Big Red, for one It means “heat” Bet you can’t eat just one A Finger Lake Name made of music notes Exercise, Godzillastyle?

Thermal or plain paper transmission Errol’s Captain Blood co-star Seattle forecast More than coincidence Baby’s stage Critical-care rm.

Majorette, at times

91 92 93 96 98 99 100 104 107 109 113 114 116 117 118 119 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132

Eat like rats Sharpen See 46 Across Nonfat They’re behind most spectacles Simple promise Believers in Thor Special interest group Can. province Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, for example?

Before, of yore One of the Bears Rivière content Pantry contents Greek letters Tiny kingdom’s coat-of-arms symbols?

Ad promotions German statesman (and theme of this puzzle) Tender or sir follower 1972 Jack Lemmon film set in Italy Cookie-selling org.

Chest protectors McKinnon’s show: abbr.

More in need of a rug

DOWN 1 Like a ___ the slaughter 2 Where Firenze is 3 Your lottery winnings after taxes?

4 French bean?

5 Benz additive 6 Abernathy or Richardson 7 Part of USNR: abbr.

8 Face ___ (be accountable) 9 Walker of whiskey fame 10 Porcine scene 11 Impressed utterances 12 Royal-address letters, or the Spruce Goose builder’s initials 13 Like tabloid details 14 Ooh continuation 15 And nobody else 16 Linebackers and safeties, on a chalkboard 18 In reference to 19 ___-Croatian 21 Sonny of ring fame 24 Meadow 27 Anatomical entrances 31 Word associated with time or wine

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

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

17

18

22

23

25

26

30

58

69

47

39

48

76

62

79

100

86 92

126 130

32 Pinafore prelude 33 ___ the wall (capture decisively) 34 Competitive asset 36 Baritone role in Otello 39 Civil War side 41 Grillework as seen in your rear-view window?

42 Parking-garage floor 43 Bones 45 Start of a Confucius saying 47 Simple flute 48 Suit ___ (fit perfectly) 49 Indians and oranges 50 Mandrake, for one 51 Dugway’s state 53 Needlefish 54 Converted boxer 55 “Bones” preceder 60 Got romantic 63 Firing mechanism?

65 Fuses ore 66 Ginsburg’s field 69 Bat stat

96

71 72 73 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 86 89 90 94 95 97 101 102 103 105 106 108 110

97

101 102 103

104 113

117

118

123

124 125

127

128

131

132

Misrepresents Actor James Bar in the hub Three-note chord Strumpet Brook ___ U.S. Pat. Off. Caterer’s coffeemaker Spy org.

Dentist’s request Billy Ray Cyrus word Baltimore’s partner Jot Jilted Tennis event The (one) over there, old-style Dutch airline Fact-finding mission, briefly Bridges End of lunch?

Acton, Ellis, or Currer Bell Polite OK Fat cat in India N.T. book

105 106

112

116 120 121 122

111 112 114 115 118 119

73

81

91

109 110 111

114 115 119

72

80

85 90

99

63

71 78

95

107 108

43

67

94

98

42

49

61

77

89

41

57

84 88

40

56

70

83

93

129

55 60

75

16

34

66

74

15

new terrain. Collaboration sparks and kindles over three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. Work together for a common cause. A partnership arises in conversation.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Save up for a rainy day. Communication raises your physical performance, with Mercury in Pisces. Balance work, play and health. Get expert advice and coaching.

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

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Collaboration flows with ease today and tomorrow. It’s easier to express your heart, with Mercury in Pisces for three weeks. Kindle up a fine romance.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Clean, sort and organize over three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces.

Plan and coordinate. Listen to your dreams. Cash flow increases today and tomorrow.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Focus on physical performance, vitality and well-being. Discuss domestic possibilities with family and housemates over three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. Settle into your nest together.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re a rising star. Your social life booms, with Mercury in Pisces.

Friends share valuable connections, solutions and advice.

Your team wins through communication.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Prioritize love. Your curiosity and intellect get aroused. The next three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces, amplify high-powered communications and learning. Share with your networks.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Conclude arrangements today and tomorrow. Career opportunities arise through networking over the next three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces. Market, promote and connect.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Clean, sort and organize at home. Communication and networking get lucrative, with Mercury in Pisces. Profitable ideas abound. Collaborate to generate win-win deals.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Your team is especially hot through tomorrow. Travel and discovery beckon. Over about three weeks, with Mercury in Pisces, study cultural arts, puzzles and mysteries.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Write, record and share your creativity. Network and share resources. You’re exceptionally brilliant over the next several weeks, with Mercury in your sign.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Focus on career advancement for a few days. With Mercury in Pisces, strategize to grow shared investments with your partner.

Coordination pays off.

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

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Today’s Birthday (02/10/19). Grow stronger together this year. Care for yourself to care for others.

Adapt to household changes. Summer inspiration energizes your performance, before a restful planning phase. Envision a new personal dream this winter, before work changes redirect your energy. Friends are your power source.

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SUNDAY February 10, 2019

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SUDOKU

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.

E D O

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Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

Arts Awake SUNDAY February 10, 2019

The Sunday Times

G7

‘E TO NA! MUSI K AL NAPO!’ IS BACK!

Jukebox musical brings ‘70s nostalgia on stage

T

BY NIKA ROQUE

HE younger generation may know APO Hiking Society through the modern remakes of their hits.

But what if their classic songs become the backbone of a story that is set back in time but still holds true today?

That amount of nostalgia and intrigue is exactly what 9Works Theatrical and Globe Live had in mind when they created the blockbuster “Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!�

The musical — which had its premier run in August 2018 — features the original songs written by the legendary trio of Danny Javier, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garovillo but given a new twist.

Written and directed by Robbie Guevara, the restaging of the show opened on February 2 and will run until March 17 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater. And while this year’s edition features new cast members and alternates, Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! is once again expected to see sold-out nights.

According to theater fans, given that jukebox musicals rely on songs that are already hits, the plot and writing comes next in giving a cohesive and

memorable show.

Set in the 1970s during Martial Law, Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! follows a group of friends in college who work hard to win a singing and songwriting competition amidst troubled relationships, insecurities, and self-discovery, all while hurrying home to make it on time for curfew.

Right from the opening song “Blue Jeans,� the show stays true to tell a story that keeps the audience’s attention on stage. Because intense political and coming-of-age themes are still relevant today, Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! allows all generations to relate and understand one another.

-XVW OLNH LWV ÀUVW UXQ D PL[ RI ERWK OPM and theater fans were in the audience. Millennials would bring their parents to the show to relive the colorful 70s era. Parents, meanwhile, take their millennial kids to learn history

Jobim Javier — son of original APO member Danny Javier — makes his theater debut in this musical.

through music.

Arguably, the musical is a hit for both generations because it mixes serious theme with comedic elements.

Now, if that cannot convince people to go and catch Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!, maybe the legendary APO Hiking Society members’ approval will do the trick. “Quite honestly, I was not prepared to see what I saw. I was more than surprised and delighted. I was ecstatic!� Jim Paredes proudly expressed in a statement.

The curtain riser sees a group of college friends trying out for a songwriting competition under intense coming-of-age moments, not to mention Martial Law.

From the outfits to the language, ‘Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!’ screams the ‘70s.

Says APO's Jim Paredes of the production, 'Quite honestly, I was not prepared to see what I saw. I was more than surprised and delighted. I was ecstatic!' CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Artists' profiles at student film screenings IN line with the national celebration of February as the Arts Month, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) presents a VHOHFWLRQ RI ÀOPV RQ VHYHUDO DUWLVWV¡ lives and their corresponding works.

Discover the secret behind the universality and timelessness of Norwegian painter and symbolist Edvard 0XQFK¡V FUHDWLRQV YLD Ă€YH VKRUW Ă€OPV entitled “Glimpses of Edvard Munch’s Life,â€? “1863-1944,â€? “Faces,â€? “A Self Portrait,â€? and “Post Mortem.â€?

Slated for February 15 and 16, these are brief clips about the revered expresVLRQLVW¡V SUROLÀF FDUHHU ZKLFK VSDQQHG for over 62 years, and produced more than 40,000 astounding works of art.

Learn about the phenomenal success of Margaret Keane’s painting in “Big Eyes,�

A different take on Coching’s komiks

‘Edvard Munch: 5 Short Films’

on February 22 and 23. The story also narrates her association with her husband, Walter Keane, one of the most successful painters of the 1950s and the early 1960s, who was hurled to international fame while taking credit for his wife’s pieces.

The screenings are free and open to the public.

Showing dates are on Fridays and Saturdays, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at 7KH /RRS WK Ă RRU '/6 &6% 6FKRRO RI Design and Arts Campus. For inquiries and reservation, call 230-5100 local 3897.

MCAD is located at the School of Design and Arts Campus of DLS-CSB, Dominga Street, Malate, Manila.

Learn about the phenomenal success of Margaret Keane's paintings in ‘Big Eyes.’

THE Cultural Center of the Phi l ippi nes (CCP) is proud to take part i n the centen n ia l celebration of National Artist for Visual Arts Francisco Coching via the exhibition, “ Nasaan Ka Na , Mara-Bini: Tracing Liberation and Empowerment i n t he St o r i e s of F.V. Coching’s Rebel Daughters.�

The exhibi t op e n e d o n t he late artist’s 100th birthday, on Janua r y 2 9, a n d m ay be viewed for free by the public until April 7 at the CCP’s Pasilyo Vicente Manansala.

The exhibition is presented in c o op e r at i o n w i t h t h e C o c h i n g Family and independent curator Alice Sarmiento. “A r ich va r iety of cha racter s and stor ies r uns th rough Coching’s work, granting the reader a look into Coching’s ideas of where women belonged when it came to the ever yday st r uggle s he portrayed in his komiks. While often possessing stereotypically feminine t ra it s — sof t ne s s , c ompa s sion , empathy — Coching’s female characters are also allowed agency and even militancy in choosing their battles,� Sarmiento noted. “By asking ‘Nasaan ka na, Marabini?’ in light not only of Coching’s women, but of the rebel daughters of today, can we possibly trace an

Detail from F.V. Coching’s ‘Mara-bini,’ 1941.

arc from Mara-bini’s first appearance as a potential pop culture icon in 1941, to the leaders of contemporary feminist movements? Declarations of ‘The future is female!’ as well as hashtags like #BabaeAko and #IamEveryWoman can definitely find a safe space within the f rame s Coch i n g d rew, i n wh ich women lifted men up with little effort, commanded armies, and most importantly, led movements.�

Nasaan Ka Na, Mara-Bini will also be a part of the CCP’s Women’s Month celebration in March, and its upcoming Performatura Festival in April.

Exhibit viewing hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m,. and until 10 p.m. on days with evening performances at the CCP Main Theater.

Arts Awake The Sunday Times

G8

February 10, 201 2019 S SUNDAY U AY

Month-long 'Ani ng 6LQLQJ LV RIĂ€FLDOO\ RSHQ Visayas hosts opening ceremony for the first time

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BY ARLO CUSTODIO

S the country’s leading government agency for arts and culture, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is currently celebrating National Arts Month (NAM) with a multi-venue series of events that kicked off on February 1 via a grand opening ceremony in the Visayas.

Dubbed “Ani ng Sining: Philippine Arts Festival,� the month-long event is under the auspices of the agency’s Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), led

by Commissioner Teddy Co. +HOG IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH RXWVLGH 0HWUR Manila, NAM propitiously began in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Touted as the Home of Historical and Natural Treasures, the host locality under the leadership of Mayor Nicholas Yulo, collaborated with NCCA for a whole day of creative activities like workshops on Baybayin, calligraphy,

photography, and upcycling art, spoken word poetry and dance alongside features on Arts in public spaces.

The city’s famed heritage house, Balay ni Tan Juan Museum, hosted an exhibit featuring the works of artists from the Visayas region.

The launching ceremony with the theme “Paghabol: Weaving Arts in the Visayas� was held at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center with a performance by singer and National Arts Ambassador for Music

KZ Tandingan. It segued into “Sayaw Pinoy� with a number of notable dancers and dance groups from all over the archipelago joining the celebration.

On February 3, NAM kicked off in the National Capital Region (NCR) with festivities at the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila followed by the Sayaw Pinoy 2019 launch at the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park. $WWHQGHG E\ 1&&$ RIĂ€FLDOV OHG E\ executive director Rico Pableo Jr, and deputy executive director Marichu Tellano, the NCR opening was made more exciting by the performances of Ice Seguerra, who is also National Literature Month Ambassador; Noel Cabangon, who rendered a special song as tribute to Pinoy rock icon Pepe Smith, who recently passed away; and the cast of “Rak of Aegis,â€? which will make a comeback on stage soon.

Sayaw Pinoy sails around the country LAUNCHED on February 3 at the Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park, Sayaw Pinoy 2019 saw a successful concert through the collaboration of various profession and upcoming dance troupes and companies from around the country.

These festive came at the heels of the National Arts Month’s grand launch in Bago City, Negros Occidental, and organized as a shared project of the NCCA and Bago City, led by Shirley Halili-Cruz.

Ever y Su nday of Febr ua r y, Sayaw Pinoy will be the highlight of “Concert at the Park� at the Luneta Open Air Auditorium.

Meanwhile, the traveling compotent of the concert series kicked off at SM North EDSA on February 9; and will resume today, February 11 and tomorrow in Bataan; February 14 and 15 in General

Santos City and Koronadal City; February 20 to 22 in Pagadian City, Ozamis City and Tangub City; February 21 in University of the East and Mariano Marcos National High School; February 22 in Zamboanga City; February 23 in SM Iloilo and Centris EDSA; February 25 to 27 in Bantayan, Talisay City and SM Cebu Seaside; and March 1 in Siena College and St. Pedro Poveda.

The dance tour brings together different dance forms such as classical ballet, folk dance, contemporary and modern dance as the country’s top dance companies perform with the local dance troupes of host cities and municipalities.

The National Committee on Dance has been organizing Sayaw Pinoy since 2009, nurturing young and upcoming dance

National Arts Ambassador for Music KZ Tandingan performs the ‘Ani ng Sining’ theme song at the opening of NAM. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NCCA

In the Rizal Park segment, Sayaw Pinoy mounted a dance concert that saw collaboration among different dance troupes and companies both professional and upcoming groups from all over the country.

The opening ceremony in Luzon happens tomorrow, February 11, in the municipality of Bagac, Bataan with activities that encompass participation by the public. Along with the NAM organizing committee, Bellas Artes Projects, a QRQ SURĂ€W DQG QRQ FROOHFWLQJ LQVWLWXWLRQ that supports and engages with art, has lined up activities such as mural paintings in collaboration with Guhit Pinas along Gov. J.J. Linao National Road where the Philippine-Japan Friendship Tower is situated.

A showcase of the mural paintings and parade organized by the Department of Education, follows the official opening with the theme “Ani, Pag-aari� set at the Bagac municipal grounds, graced by Mayor Louise Gabriel del Rosario and Governor Albert Garcia.

The Mindanao opening happens on February 15 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Seven constituents of the Arts

Multi-awarded artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz is founder of Sayaw Pinoy.

groups, and providing them opportunities to perform around the country and overseas.

The phrase “ani ng siningâ€? emphasizes the richness of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers. As such, the wide array of events and activities OLQHG XS Ă€WWLQJO\ FHOHEUDWH WKLV ERXQWLIXO harvest of Philippine arts, while aiming to inspire the nation to appreciate and immerse in the diversity of cultural expressions, insights and creativity. &RPSULVHG RI WKH Ă DJVKLS SURMHFWV of SCA’s seven national committees — Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Dramatic Arts and Visual Arts — Ani ng Sining showcases Filipino artistry in different venues all over the country.

The plethora of activities via exhibits, workshops, shows, concerts, lectures, tours and other formats will then ensue through the rest of February.

Architecture and Allied Arts

The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by Rogelio Caringal, presents “Loob at Labas: Talakayan at Pagpaparangya,� an exhibit and forum which travels around the country to enhance appreciation and awareness on Philippine architecture from February 22 to March 21.

Cinema

Over the years, Cinema Rehiyon, under the auspices of the National Committee on Cinema headed by Co, has been held in different parts of the country. On its 11th year, Cinema Rehiyon Film Festival, a non-competition ÀOP IHVWLYDO ZKLFK KLJKOLJKWV VRPH RI the best works in the regions, happens on February 23 until March 1 at the Foundation University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

The festival has been raising awareness on the efforts on and progress of

filmmaking in the different regions, DQG SURYLGLQJ SODWIRUP IRU WKHVH ÀOPV most of which in local languages and showing culturally-rooted narratives, to be exhibited and appreciated by a wider audience.

Dance

Headed by Shirley Halili-Cruz, the National Committee on Dance once again sure to amaze the public with the month-long traveling dance concert series Sayaw Pinoy in different parts of the country.

The longest-running dance event and the most attended of NAM events, Sayaw Pinoy showcases the colorful tradition of dances and movements in the country as well as a venue to reach out to the grassroots to discover new talents and connect to more Filipino dance artists.

Dramatic Arts

The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Rossana Palm, gathers and documents the pioneers and key theater practitioners in the regions via “Tampokâ€? — a convergence of performances, workshops and discussions held from February 27 to March 1 in Malabon (NCR); February 26 to March 1 at the University of the Philippines Los BaĂąos, Laguna (Luzon); February 28 to March 2 in Bohol (Visayas); and March 2 to 4 in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental (Mindanao).

Literary Arts

The National Committee on Literary Arts, headed by Hope Yu, spearheads “NAMnamin,� an intersection of literature and writing about food — on February 25 to 27at The Orchid Gardens, San Fernando, Pampanga, with a food trip on February 27 in Angeles City.

Music

The National Committee on Music, he ade d by Mau r ic i a B or r ome o, stages “Musicapu luan: Music of the Philippine Islands,� a music festival with performances, lectures and workshops that celebrate local musics held in different venues — Baguio City on February 8; Catbalogan City, Samar, on February 1 and 8; and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on February 23.

Visual Arts

The National Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Edgar Talusan Fernandez, mounted the Philippine Visual Arts Festival in Manila from February 4 to 7. It included workshops, art talks, exhibits and numerous activities highlighting the works of visual artists around the country.

Ani ng Dangal

As tradition now for several years, the National Arts Month celebration closes with Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremonies in recognition of artists who have earned international awards and accolades during the past year with NCCA Chairman National Artist Virgilio Almario handing the mementos to the honorees.

‘Tampok’ is a regional convergence that gathers and documents the works of pioneers and key theater practitioners.