THE MANILA TIMES | MAY 10, 2019

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Monetary Board trims interest rates by 25 bps ÂťStory on B1 ++

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•• 6 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 209 32

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

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Trusted since 1898

Budget row blamed as PH growth slows First quarter’s 5.6% result lowest in 4 years

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

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Q Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia PHOTO BY J.GERARD SEGUIA

HILIPPINE ECONOMIC GROWTH HIT A FOUR YEAR LOW IN THE kRST QUARTER SLOWING TO PERCENT FROM PERCENT THREE MONTHS EARLIER AND THE PERCENT POSTED A YEAR AGO AS #ONGRESS FAILURE TO PASS THE BUDGET WEIGHED ON STATE SPENDING ÂłBlamedA2

Bikoy video: Trillanes, the writer; Yellow Otso, the producer

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DON’T have the slightest doubt that the vile video “Bikoy� was the work of Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, his hideous swan song. If it had gained traction, he would have boasted authorship, and would have claimed that it was he who convinced “Bikoy� to make the allegations against President Duterte and his family.

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ÂłTiglaoA5 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

SEEING STARS

President Rodrigo Duterte and partner Honeylet Avancena pose with senatorial aspirant Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, Robin Padilla, Richard Gomez and Phillip Salvador during the special thanksgiving dinner prepared by the Palace for celebrities who supported Duterte during the 2016 elections. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Story on A3

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DUTERTE WARNS MAYOR:

What’s inside POPE CHANGES CHURCH LAW, MAKES REPORTING SEX ABUSE OBLIGATORY NewsA8 BELMONTE GETS INC NOD NewsA8 A WEDDING PROPOSAL AT THE ‘HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH’

WARRIORS HOLD OFF ROCKETS, DURANT SUFFERS RIGHT LEG SportsC1 INJURY

LET VOTERS CHOOSE FREELY

FILIPINOS should be allowed to vote freely in next week’s midterm elections, President Rodrigo Duterte said amid reports of increased violence and harassment.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Bohol on Wednesday night, Duterte said he visited nearby Negros Occidental, which has been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections following the

Comelec to test voter identification machines NEWLY-ACQUIRED voter registra- 2022 national elections, a CommisTION VERIkCATION MACHINES 626-S SION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC OFkCIAL would be pilot-tested in select areas said on Thursday. ON -ONDAY IN PREPARATION FOR THE ÂłTestA2

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Olympic medalist denies involvement in ouster plot

in the United States for containing a possibly cancerous substance. The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines (FDA) is currently

SPORTS heroine Hidilyn Diaz, who was recently added to a list of personalities said to be plotting against President Rodrigo Duterte, said claims that she was involved in the alleged destabilization plot were a fabrication as she expressed fears about her and her family’s safety. “Noong unang nakarating sa akin ang balita na nadawit ang pangalan ko, natawa lang ako (When I first

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FDA eyeing immediate hypertension drug recall PHILIPPINE regulators are considering an immediate recall of an anti-hypertension drug, Losartan Potassium + Hydrochlorothiazide, which is being pulled out of shelves

killings of a reelectionist councilor and the brother of a vice mayor. The President said he had met with a Negros Occidental mayor suspected

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News

˜ The Manila Times FRIDAY May 10, 2019

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Unaccredited Namfrel to continue poll watch T BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

HE National Movement for Free %LECTIONS .AMFREL WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES AS POLL WATCHDOG NEXT WEEK EVEN AS IT HAD REJECTED ITS ACCREDITATION AS CITIZEN S ARM OF THE #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC

Namfrel National Chairman Gus Lagman on Thursday said they did not need an accreditation and could still effectively monitor the election process through their nationwide net-

work of volunteers. Lagman, in a radio interview, said they returned the accreditation because the ComeLEC REFUSED .AMFREL S REQUEST that it be allowed access to

election data coming from the Comelec server. The election data, he explained, would provide them the needed information to better monitor the counting in every precinct and determine if there were irregularities in the voting process. Earlier, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the commission remained open to a possible discussion with Namrel. He added that he could not say for sure if the en banc would be willing to compromise or return the accreditation. “We are open to any possible

discussion with Namfrel, but we will not force them if they don’t want to return [as the Comelec citizen’s arm],� Jimenez said. He said there was no actual REJECTION OF .AMFREL S REQUEST only that the commission had not come up yet with a resolution on the matter. “There was no rejection,� Jimenez pointed out. He also explained that the Comelec as guardian of the elections could not just simply provide such sensitive election data information to Namfrel for security reasons.

floodwaters along United Nation Avenue in Manila on Wednesday when a sudden downpour flooded parts of the city. PHOTO BY RENE DILAN

Budget row blamed The result — the lowest since the 5.1-percent recorded in the kRST QUARTER OF ‡ COULD HAVE been higher compared to the end of last year had the government not been forced to operate on a reenacted budget, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement. “As we have forewarned repeatedly, the reenacted budget would sharply slow the pace of our economic growth. We estimate that we should have grown by as much AS PERCENT THIS kRST QUARTER IF we were operating under the 2019 kSCAL PROGRAM u HE ADDED Ahead of next week’s midterm elections where Filipinos will pick a new set of lawmakers, Pernia expressed hope that those in the legislature “will be sensitive to what has happened because we warned several times of the problem with this budget reenactment.�

Budget delay The House of Representatives approved the P3.757-trillion 2019 national budget late in November last year, leaving the Senate with little time to pass a counterpart measure before the Christmas and New Year holidays. A reconciled version approved by both chambers in February was further held up after the Senate claimed that the House had

made post-bicameral conference committee insertions, and the row was only settled last month after President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed QUESTIONED ALLOCATIONS While the government had P10 billion more to spend under the 2018 budget, it could only use the funds for projects outlined in last year’s outlay, which meant that programmed spending for 2019, including pay hikes for government workers and funding for infrastructure projects, were off the table. The budget impasse, along with AN ONGOING %L .IĂ„O AND THE 53 China trade war, forced economic managers to lower this year’s growth target to 6.0-7.0 percent from 7.0 to 8.0 percent, and some analysts have said that the full-year result could fall to as low as 5.0 percent from 2018’s 6.3 percent. “To reach the full-year growth target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent, the economy will need to expand by an average of 6.1 percent over the NEXT THREE QUARTERS u 0ERNIA NOTED “This is still achievable given the current performance of the private sector and if the government sector is able to jump start and speed up the implementation of its new programs and projects,â€? he added.

Comelec also to blame The National Economic and De-

velopment Authority chief also faulted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for failing to act SWIFTLY ON A REQUEST TO LIFT AN ELECtion spending ban for key government projects. “Comelec has not been helpful either because we submitted a list of projects for exemption as early as February 18 but they only RESPONDED TO US -ARCH WHICH is the start of the ban,� Pernia said. “These kinds of inaction or delays on the part of other sectors of government are not going to be helpful. That’s why we are saying the whole of government, the whole of citizenry is needed for a better performance of the economy and poverty reduction,� he added. Initiatives that were “severely hampered,� Pernia claimed, included the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND THE Department of Education’s school building repair work. He called on the Budget department to immediately issue the REQUISITE CIRCULAR TO IMPLEMENT the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which would allow disbursements to be made, and also pushed for a rethink of the cash-based budgeting system where funds will be released only for items programmed for the current year. “If the payment period and budget validity are not extended, government agencies may decide to forgo implementing

IN a break with tradition, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes has urged the Catholic faithful to vote for Senate candidates from the opposition or Otso Diretso and two others in the -AY MIDTERM ELECTIONS The bishop, who has been critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, defended his choice, saying if the President’s bets win, “our democracy is in danger.â€? “So, we in the Church must vote for 10 candidates who dare to oppose Duterte,â€? he added. He asked the Catholic flock to VOTE FOR -AGDALO PARTY LIST 2EP 'ARY Alejano, human rights lawyer Jose -ANUEL g#HELu $IOKNO CIVIC LEADER Samira Gutoc, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo g2OMYu -ACALINTAL FORMER SENATOR -ANUEL g-ARu 2OXAS ND FORMER deputy speaker Lorenzo “Erinâ€? TaĂ„ADA FORMER "AYAN -UNA LAWMAKER Neri Colmenares, and reelectionist senators Paulo Benigno “Bamâ€? !QUINO TH AND -ARY 'RACE 0OE Bastes warned that there would no checks and balances if the administration candidates won. g4HE ELECTIONS ON -AY ;WILL BE= very dangerous if the candidates of Duterte win,â€? he said. “If the Senate becomes like the House of Representatives [that] simply follow[s] the will of Duterte, there is no more opposition and Duterte will become a dictator. Even the Supreme Court has become subservient to Duterte,â€? the Sorsogon bishop added. He asked the faithful to pray that the electorate would be guided in “their choice of senatorial candidates to save the country

from dictatorship.â€? ,UIS !NTONIO #ARDINAL 4AGLE -Anila archbishop, has also urged priests IN THE -ANILA ARCHDIOCESE TO ENDORSE the voting criteria of the lay group 0EOPLE S #HOICE -OVEMENT 0#- TO THEIR lOCK )N EARLY -ARCH ABOUT LAY LEADERS FROM INTERFAITH BASED GROUP 0#- endorsed 10 Senate aspirants, eight of whom were from the opposition. The leaders of various Catholic, Protestant and evangelical groups in a selection convention factored in the candidates’ integrity, competence, and faithfulness to God, public service and the law. They also factored in the candidates’ opposition to federalism. The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, the lay arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, ADOPTED THE 0#- S LIST -ANILA !UXILIARY !RCHBISHOP "RODerick Pabillo also urged the faithful to CONSIDER THE 0#- S LIST &OR THE kRST TIME A GROUP OF bishops, priests and lay persons from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente declared support for THE 0#- S CHOICES FOR SENATORS IN -ONDAY S POLLS IN AN EFFORT TO ELECT an independent Senate. The Church People for an Independent Senate threw its support beHIND !QUINO 0OE (ILBAY $IOKNO 'UTOC 4AĂ„ADA #OLMENARES LABOR leader Leody de Guzman, former SENATOR 3ERGIO g3ERGEu /SMEĂ„A RD AND INCUMBENT 3EN -ARIA ,OURDES Nancy Binay. Last year, Duterte called the Christians’ God “stupid,â€? a comment he got heavily criticized for. CATHERINE A. MODESTO

Q FREELY FROM A1

THAT KILLED 6ICE -AYOR %LLA 'ARCIA 9ULO S BROTHER -ARK 'ARCIA AND NEPHEW COUNCILOR -ICHAEL 'ARcia. Yulo survived the attack. In another development, Duterte also signed Proclamation DECLARING -ONDAY -AY as a special nonworking holiday. g4HERE IS A NEED TO DECLARE -ONDAY -AY A SPECIAL ;NONworking] holiday to enable the people to properly exercise the right to vote,� the proclamation states. The Energy department wants the break extended to Tuesday, saying it would help prevent power interruptions. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, said on Tuesday the Energy department had AFkRMED THAT THE COUNTRY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY FOR -ONday’s polls. Panelo also said all agencies concerned were ready for the -AY ELECTIONS WHEN &ILIPINOS WOULD VOTE FOR LOCAL OFkCIALS FROM the municipal to the provincial level, all seats at the House of Representatives, and 12 seats, or half, of the Senate. RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

LET VOTERS

WET WEDNESDAY A stranded commuter wades though

Q BLAMED FROM A1

Bishop endorses Otso Diretso bets

new programs and projects that are expected to take longer than seven months to complete, inclusive of the procurement process,� he noted.

‘Decent result’ Finance Secretary Carlos DominGUEZ RD CALLED THE kRST QUARTER S 5.6 percent a “decent expansion� and said growth would likely pick up for the rest of the year. “Economic growth is expected TO kNISH STRONGER OVER THE !PRIL to June period and for the rest of 2019 as the government puts Build Build Build on the fast lane following the passage of the 2019 GAA and domestic consumption PICKS UP AMID COOLING INlATION u Dominguez said. Pernia said an expected pickup in private construction, easing INlATION AND A RECENT 3TANDARD & Poor’s credit rating upgrade would help drive growth for the rest of the year. g)F WE ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY IMPLEment the reforms that reduce the cost of doing business, then the uptick in private construction may happen even sooner,� he added, pointing to proposed changes to the Foreign Investments Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, among others. “Fortunately, foreign investments will also be encouraged with our country’s international credit rating upgrade to BBB+, historically the highest for the country.�

of ordering the murders and “confronted him.â€? He did not identify the local politician, but said he issued a warning that the law should be obeyed. “[Y]ou just be careful, allow everybody to vote freely; this is a democracy. This is an exercise of the right of the people to choose their leader,â€? Duterte said. Referring to his time as a mayor IN -INDANO HE SAID g-Y EXPERIence is that it is really a hot activity for all, but we don’t kill our opposition or have them ambushed. That’s insane.â€? “You follow the law and there will be no problems. And I issued that warning because he was my supporter‌ I really do not know... After talking to him a few hours ago‌ I made a commitment that the Armed Forces and police must be neutral, even me.â€? Previous reports have identikED THE MAYOR AS -OISES 0ADILLA CHIEF -AGDALENO 0EĂ„A WHO HAS denied masterminding an ambush

Q TEST FROM A1

Comelec The tests, Comelec Education and Information Division (EID) chief Frances Arabe said, would determine the machines’ functionality and security, among others. !RABE EXPLAINED THE 626-S WOULD do away with the manual process of VERIkCATION USING PRINTED COPIES OF COMPUTERIZED VOTERS LISTS #6,S The machine will identify the VOTER VIA kNGERPRINT AND WILL ALSO show whether he or she is registered for a particular precinct. “The Comelec plans to use it (the machine) during the next presidential elections if it is prov-

Q DENIES FROM A1

Olympic medalist denies involvement in ouster plot heard the news that my name was included, I just laughed),� said Diaz, who ended the Philippines’ Olympic medal drought by winning the silver medal in weightlifting in the 2016 Rio Olympics, in a video posted on Facebook. “Akala ko biro. Pero nang nakapag-isip ako, may takot na rin ako. Hindi dahil sa totoo ang

balita, kundi dahil sa seguridad ko at ng pamilya ko (I thought it was just a joke. But when I thought about it, I became afraid. It’s not about if the news is true but because of my security and that of my family),� she said. /N 7EDNESDAY -ALACAÄANG released new diagrams detailing an alleged ouster plot against

Duterte. The inclusion of Diaz, along with former volleyball star AND NOW 46 HOST 'RETCHEN (O has been ridiculed by netizens and even legislators. Diaz, who is a sergeant in the Philippine Air Force, declared: “[A] lam ko kung ano ang totoo sa isyung ito — na wala akong kinalaman dito (I know what is true in this issue — I

have nothing to do with this).� “Focused po ako sa goal at dream ko sa Olympics para sa pamilya ko, sa mga mahal ko sa buhay at para sa ating bansa (I am focused on my goal and Olympic dream for my family, loved ones and our country),� she added. g-Y ONLY DREAM IS TO WIN MEDals for our country.�

The Zamboanga native said she and other national athletes needed the support of fellow Filipinos, not false accusations and fabricated stories. “ Hindi paninira, hindi pagbibintang, hindi gawa-gawang kuwento, hindi kasinungalingan ang kailangan ko po mula sa ating kababayan (False accusations,

en effective and efficient,� she added. 4HE PILOT TESTING OF 626-S WOULD LENGTHEN -ONDAY S VOTING process, but in the long run this would facilitate the elections by DOING AWAY WITH #6,S !RABE SAID Comelec spokesman James *IMENEZ HAS SAID THE 626-S WOULD BE USED IN ALL PRECINCTS IN -ANILA AND 1UEZON #ITY AND IN SPECIkC MUNICIpalities in Pangasinan, Cavite, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur and the BangsamORO 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO 4HE 626- PROJECT WAS BIDDED out in September last year, and the winning bidder supplied a total of 32,067 machines. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

fabricated stories and lies are not what I need from my fellow Filipinos),â€? she said. “Ang kailangan ko po ay suporta, suporta hindi lang para sa akin kundi sa iba pang mga Pilipinong atleta. Ang binubuhat ko ay hindi lang bakal, kundi ang dangal ng mga Pilipino (What I need is support, support not only for me but also for all Filipino athletes. I’m not just lifting iron but also the pride of the Filipinos).â€? JOSEF T. RAMOSÂ

News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Sotto, Lacson eye stiffer penalties for perjury SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd on Thursday said he would push for the imposition of stiffer penalties for the crime of perjury, particularly on those who give false testimony in congressional hearings, by amending the Revised Penal Code when the 18th Congress opens in July. Sotto made this commitment following a series of false testimonies given during congressional hearings. This included the “black propagandaâ€? of Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy,â€? who claimed that members of the Duterte family and close allies of President Rodrigo Duterte were involved in the illegal drugs trade. Like Sotto, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Public Order And Illegal Drugs Committee, also wants to increase the penalty for perjury from one month and one day to six months, and from12 years to 20 years. Lacson said government officials or employees convicted of perjury would also be meted a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office. The current provision on perjury was “toothless,â€? Sotto said. Lacson expressed hopes that his bill that seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code that was refiled in the 17th Congress would be heard in committee hearings in the 18th Congress.  â€˜â€™Dapat ho talaga palakasin natin. ‘Yan ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang dapat i-file namin sa 18th Congress,

palakasin natin ‘yang penalties ng perjury para naman matakot ‘yung gumawa nung ika, kung tawagin nga natin, e, fake news or ibig sabihin, e, bigla na lang nagsisinungaling. May isa pang bagay d’yan palagay ko, aside from that, ‘yung Witness Protection Program (WPP) i-review natin, i-revise nating mabuti. Parang gustong abusuhin, e (There is a pressing need to increase the penalty. We will file a bill in the 18th Congress that increases the penalty to put fear into the hearts of perjurers or ‘fake news’ makers. There is also a need to review the WPP. Some of those in the WPP later recant their testimonies),� Sotto said. Because the penalty on perjury was very light, he said those threatened by government only sneer or laugh at the one-month detention period. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

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PH, US, India, Japan ships sail in SCSÂ F

Q Sen. Panfilo Lacson

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

BY DEMPSEY REYES

OR the first time, the navies of the Philippines, the United States, India and Japan sailed through the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) on their way to Singapore to join the second phase of the joint exercises of Southeast Asian nations.

Capt. Roy Vincent Trinidad, commander of the Philippine contingent for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) joint drills, said six ships of the Philippines, US, India and Japan transited the contested waters coming from Busan, 3OUTH +OREA WHERE THE kRST PHASE of the drills was held. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Andres

Bonifacio (PS-17) sailed alongside Japan’s JS Izumo (DDH-183) and JS Murasame (DD-101), India’s INS Kolkata (D63) and Shakti (A57), AND THE 53 0ACIkC &LEET VESSEL USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). “This combined transit exercise aim[s] to deepen the partnership and foster mutual understanding between participant countries,� Trinidad said

in a statement on Thursday. “As with other naval exercises, this activity is expected to validate the decades of friendship, partnership and cooperative engagement that has been long established and observed between the Philippines, US, Japan and India,� he added. Trinidad said the maritime cooperative activity held at the South China Sea would also give Manila an opportunity to learn from “like-minded� navies. Capt. Jonathan Zata, Navy spokesman, said when the exercises in Busan was concluded on May 2, the contingents from the four nations sailed to the South China Sea where the ships would stay for a week. The joint activity includes pub-

lication exercises, communication exercises and other combat maneuvers. Commander Andrew Klug, commanding officer of USS William P. Lawrence, said Washington was “really excited� to take part in the multilateral event. The Indian Navy, through its OFkCIAL STATEMENT SAID THE GROUP sail at the South China Sea aimed to enhance maritime cooperation, synergizing maritime engagements, sharing best practices and standardizing operating procedures. Rear Adm. Hiroshi Egawa, comMANDER OF THE *-3$& %SCORT &LOTILLA Division One, said Tokyo was glad to be part of the historic activity and looked forward to more engagements with its partners in the region.

Duterte throws party for ‘stars’ THE downpour that drenched Metro Manila on Tuesday did not dampen the celebration and dinner thrown by President Rodrigo Duterte for celebrities from show business. Alex and Toni Gonzaga, Robin Padilla, Ai Ai delas Alas, Ruffa Gutierrez and “actor-on-leaveâ€? John Lloyd Cruz dined with the President and partner Honeylet AvanceĂąa in what Communications Secretary Martin Andanar described as a “thanksgivingâ€? gathering. “[It was a] thanksgiving [dinner] for [celebrities] who supported [the President] in 2016,â€? Andanar said in a text message to The Manila Times. Rounding up the who’s who of

showbiz people were director Paul Soriano (Toni’s husband), Padilla’s wife Mariel Rodriguez, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, former Tourism Promotions Board chief Cesar Montano, former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Arnell Ignacio, Aiko Melendez, Phillip 3ALVADOR &REDDIE !GUILAR "AYANI Agbayani, Jimmy Bondoc, and Eddie Gutierrez and wife Annabelle Rama. &ILM $EVELOPMENT #OUNCIL OF THE 0HILIPPINES &$#0 #HAIRman Liza Diùo and her partner, former National Youth Commission chief Ice Seguerra, Dulce, Vhong Navarro, April Boy Regino, Jed Madela and Gretchen Ho were also present. IZA IGLESIAS

THE PRESIDENT’S MEN

President Rodrigo Duterte holds a command conference with military and police officials in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental. Joining the President was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo AĂąo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Back Bong Go, Robin Padilla urges Bicol voters ACTOR Robin Padilla urged his fellow Bicolanos to rally behind Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go, saying the Senate candidate is sincere in his desire to uplift the LIVES OF &ILIPINOS Padilla represented Go at a campaign rally in Buhi, Camarines on Tuesday. “Hindi po ako binabayaran dito. Maski piso. Pumunta ako dito dahil sa pagmamahal ko sa Bicol. Tulungan ninyo si Bong Go dahil kilala ko siya at tapat ang hangarin niyang iaangat ang buhay ng mga Bikolano (I was not paid to come here. I am here because I

love Bicol. Help Bong Go because I know him and he really wants to help Bicolanos),� he said. “Ibinigay ko na ang buhay ko sa kanya. Naniniwala ako sa kanya (I already gave my life to him. I believe in him),� he added. Robin’s father, Roy Padilla Sr., a kLM DIRECTOR AND POLITICIAN SERVED as governor, vice governor and assemblyman of Camarines Norte. He said Go’s advocacy was in line with his own aspirations to SEE &ILIPINOS LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY The actor visited remote upland villages that are rarely visited by politicians.

“Nandito ako para dalhin ang magandang balita na hindi kayo pababayaan ni Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte (I am here to bring the news that President Duterte will not forsake you),� he said. “Si Bong Go po ang tulay niyo kay Pangulong Duterte na ipaglalaban ang inyong kapakanan (Bong Go is your bridge to the President),� Padilla added. He said Duterte and Go showed their concern to the region when they visited and extended help in Bicol after it was devastated by typhoon Usman. “Ako po ay hindi pulitiko. Wala

akong pinapanigan dito kundi ang interes ng Bicol. Napakadami na programa ng administrasyon na ito para sa Bicol at tayo po ang makikinabang (I am not a politician. I am only for the interest of Bicol. The Duterte administration has several projects that will benEkTS US ALL u 0ADILLA SAID Among these projects are the P175.3-billion Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul project that will connect Manila, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Batangas; and the Quezon-Bicol Expressway from Pagbilao, Quezon TO 3AN &ERNANDO #AMARINES 3UR

2-day liquor ban to start on May 12 A 48-hour liquor ban will be implemented from May 12 to May 13 to prevent violent incidents or crime that may be committed BY PEOPLE UNDER THE INlUENCE OF alcohol. Col. Bernard Banac, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, said the liquor ban would start at 12:01 a.m. on May 12 to 11:59 p.m. on May 13. The ban includes drinking and selling alcohol in stores. “In this period, we strictly forbid the selling of beverages that

can intoxicate people in order for us to have peaceful elections,� Banac said. As of May 9, 5,316 people have been arrested in 656,377 operations conducted by various law enforcement agencies for crimes related to the elections. Those arrested include 42 police OFkCERS SOLDIERS AND GOVERNMENT AND ELECTED OFkCIALS The PNP has deployed 149,843 POLICE OFkCERS TO PROVIDE SECURITY in 75,486 voting centers nationwide. ROY D.R. NARRA

was within her hereditary rights in selling her pro indiviso share in Lot 2798. However, because the property had not been partitioned in accordance with the Rules of Court, no particular portion of the property could BE IDENTIkED AS YET AND DELINeated as the object of the sale. Thus, interpreting Article 493 of the Civil Code providing that an alienation of a co-owned property ‘shall be limited to the portion which may be alloted to (the seller) in the division upon the termination of the co-ownership,’ the Court said: “...Pursuant to this law, a co-owner has the right to alienate his pro-indiviso share in the coowned property even without the consent of the other co-owners. x� Applying the above-cited deci-

sion in your situation, your aunt validly sold to you her proportionate share of the farmland. Thus, your brother’s claim that she cannot sell her share without the consent of your father is without legal basis. You and your brother may divide equally the proportionate share (5,000 square meters) of your father. This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

Co-ownership of land Dear PAO, My father and his sister Jean inherited a one-hectare farmland from their parents. My father died in 2002 and my Aunt Jean died single in 2003. In 2000, Aunt Jean sold her share to me. In 2004, I occupied an area of almost 5,000 square meters and built a building on it. My only brother communicated to me his desire to divide the land equally between us. I told him that we could not equally divide the whole hectare because Aunt Jean sold her share to me. I presented to my brother the deed of absolute sale that Aunt Jean and I signed, but he insisted on his claim and said that the sale was invalid because our father did not give his consent to the sale. Is my brother correct? Jeacille

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA Dear Jeacille, In the absence of partition or division between your father and your aunt, a co-ownership exists on the farmland that they inherited from their parents. This is in consonance with Article 484 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines, which states that “there is co-ownership whenever the ownership of an undivided thing or right belongs to different persons.� Correlative thereto, Article 493 of the same code states: Each co-owner shall have the full ownership of his part

and of the fruits and benefits pertaining thereto, and he may therefore alienate, assign or mortgage it, and even substitute another person in its enjoyment, except when personal rights are involved. But the effect of alienation or the mortgage, with respect to the co-owners, shall be limited to the portion, which may be allotted to him in the division upon termination of the co-ownership.� Thus, your aunt may validly sell her proportionate share of 5,000 square meters. In the case of Tabasondra, et al. vs Constantino, et al. (GR 196403, Dec. 7, 2016), the Supreme Court through Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin stated: “x. Under a co-ownership, the ownership of an undivided thing or right belongs to different persons.

Each co-owner of property which is held pro indiviso exercises his rights over the whole property and may use and enjoy the same with no other limitation than that he shall not injure the interest of his co-owners. The underlying rationale is that until a division is made, the respective share of each co-owner cannot be determined and every co-owner exercises, together with his co-participants, joint ownership over the pro indiviso property, in addition to his use and enjoyment of the same. “Although the right of a heir over the property of the decedent is inchoate as long as the estate has not been fully settled and partitioned, the law allows a co-owner to exercise rights of ownership over such inchoate right. x: “In the instant case, Laurencia

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

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Opinion

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

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E d i to r i a l In protesting too much, Namfrel could face unwanted review

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FTER declining its accreditation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the citizens’ arm in Monday’s elections, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) is going around town explaining why it did so. Namfrel is surely within its right to refuse the Comelec accreditation. The Comelec, in turn, has full authority TO GRANT OR REJECT THE .AMFREL CONDITION AS IT SEES kT What is puzzling is why Namfrel wants to stir much public interest and publicity about its move to decline accreditation in the balloting. As we understand the dealings between Comelec and Namfrel, their expected agreement fell through when Namfrel made a request to be granted open acIf this tiff worsens, cess data, and the Comelec turned it down. the matter could In its manifestation wander into areas kLED BEFORE THE #OMElec and in a public that may be statement, Namfrel unpleasant for both says it declined the acNamfrel and the creditation because “in its view it is now time Comelec. TO TEST THE VERIkABILITY of the separately provided precinct counts against subsequent transmissions and aggregations.� Namfrel dismissed suggestions that it has plans of doing something questionable with its request for open election data. Explaining its position, it said election data is voluminous and is usually presented in the aggregate. “The UNDERLYING DATA OR BASIS SUCH AS RETURNS CERTIkCATES OF canvass, transmission logs, tracking of data movements are not visible and, in any case, are not expressed in a manner that is readable by an ordinary voter.� It proposes a website that would present the data relatable to the public; this would then produce transparency and provide additional credibility for the elections. The poll body, for its part, appears to have sound reasons in refusing to grant Namfrel access to the main server data. Other groups would protest, why should Namfrel be given preferential treatment? The Comelec, as the constitutional body that governs matters concerning the elections, has the authority to approve or disapprove such request. Namfrel is only requesting accommodation, and must accept the decision without letting it imperil its mission as a citizens’ election watchdog. If this tiff worsens, the matter could wander into areas that may be unpleasant for both Namfrel and the Comelec. It might lead to a situation in which some quarters would kND IT NECESSARY TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF .AMFREL AND its far-from-spotless record. For sure, it would not want to be asked about the sources of its funding. Namfrel claims online that it only began operations as an election watchdog in the 1986 snap election. The earlier history of the election watchdog is many times more colorful.

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FRIDAY May 10, 2019

The Manila Times

My Senate list; on foreign grants and funds

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O my list of 14 Senate candidates I respectfully and humbly recommend to vote for, may I add Nancy Binay among those to be considered to be picked on Monday. Fourteen din, gaya po ng listahan ni Brother Mike Velarde. I am firm though on MATH GRAD, Macalintal, Aquino, TaĂąada, Hilbay, Gutoc, Roxas, Alejano and Diokno, sure to “fiscalize,â€? a quaint Filipinism. For the last four seats, COPPAB, Colmenares, OsmeĂąa, Poe, Pimentel, Alunan, Binay. Like Brother Mike, I do have more than a baker’s dozen. My final four would depend on how I may see him or her as for a truly independent Senate, not for anyone who will simply ask Digong, “from what floor, Sir,â€? if asked to jump to a conclusion from some high-rise. Voices, not echoes, we need in a vibrant democracy. I also would like to see a sense of work ethic, approximating Manong Ernie Maceda and me. We were never late, much less absent, in our time. The people should have first claim on a senator’s time, energy and attention in the chamber, a small deliberative body, whose 24 members should toil, not for self, but country. We cannot underrate anyone’s capacity for work, change and growth. Comparisons may be odious, but let us look at our 19871992 Senate; there, I initially had an inferiority complex,

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 209

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL S. MALLARI, Sports Editor DINO RAY V. DIRECTO 3RD, Motoring Editor CONRAD M. CARIĂ‘O, Special Sections Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY, Assistant Business Editor MARIO F. FETALINO, Assistant Business Editor REMIA B. EUGENIO, Deskman (Regions) MARISHELLE R. MEDINA, Deskman JOMAR CANLAS, Chief of Reporters RENE H. DILAN, Chief Photographer DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO BLANCA C. MERCADO, #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

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ERDI’s “Requiem� is mammoth and monumental music. It has been called an operatic concert for being a symphony with major roles for a chorus and soloists. A requiem in the Catholic Church (Verdi was said to be an agnostic) is a Catholic funeral mass; for those of other faiths or none, it is a memorial for the departed. In both it expresses sorrow and grief for the departed and faith that on the day of judgment, God will show mercy to the departed. Verdi’s “Requiem� was initially to be a tribute and memorial to an Italian composer, Giaochino Rossini, who died in Paris in 1868. Verdi as a fellow Italian composer, conceived the idea and recruited a number of other Italian composers to write parts. He himself composed what would be the climax, “ Libera Me � (Liberate Me). The project did not materialize, and Verdi went on to other things. But in 1873, Alessandro Manzoni, a friend, a poet and novelist, died, and Verdi was moved to go back to his idea of composing a requiem. This time he composed it by himself, requiring a large orchestra, chorus and dramatic arias. For the arias he had four

T.G.I.F. RENE SAGUISAG recalling that Diokno, EstradaKalaw, Laurel, Pelaez, Marcos, Manglapus, Mitra, Puyat, Recto, Rodrigo, Salonga, Sumulong, Taùada, Tolentino, Ziga, et al . cross-fertilized ideas in corruscating edifying debates. In my time though, Salonga (Harvard, Yale), presided. Others attended Central Universidad de Madrid (one), Cornell (one), Harvard (seven), Michigan (one), and Wellesley and Sorbonne (one). We got our degrees through toil and hard work. Much beloved Amang Rodriguez did not have such credentials but is credited for being a hardworking focused Senate Prez for a decade, in the service of our people. Ka Blas Ople didn’t have much formal schooling but excelled and shone through reading and writing. Who will be the new Amangs and Ka Blases? I wouldn’t like to sound elitist and the 2019 Senate after next week can also demonstrate a splendid work ethic, as everyone in the 1987-1992 Senate did. All of us took well-studied differing positions, on the military bases issue, for instance. Accepting foreign funding and help, without more, I

won’t take against anyone, if used to better oneself to serve the cause of truth and our people. For the record, I have been a beneficiary of the Ford Foundation (full scholarship at Harvard Law), Fulbright (travel grant, privileged to be labeled a Fulbright Pioneer by the US Embassy), Asia Foundation (travel grant), maybe the National Endowment for Democracy (trip to Indonesia early this millennium but I was also there pre-EDSA ‘86, courtesy of another donor). I have also forgotten the donor and am not certain as to pre-EDSA ‘86 Indonesia, but if my fading memory is true, I there detected a strong nationalist anti-China sentiment even then). I got help from a foreign religious group I saved from being prosecuted and expelled from here in 19971998, thanks to Acting Justice Secretary Bebot Bello, a fellow activist, who understood religious freedom as a basic human and constitutional right. Named in 1982 as human rights grantee of the State Department in its International Visitors Program, MABINI voted 13-2 for me to accept the grant. I was outvoted, with only Joey Lina voting no with me. Our non-voting honorary chair, Tanny TaĂąada, also objected, but MABINI observed the majoritarian principle. A Catholic Foundation sponsored me a for a year (1968-

1969) in Berkeley on a nondegree program, enabling me to read cover-to-cover the Jerusalem Bible, all 11 volumes of the Durants’ Story of Civilization , the Anatomy of a Revolution by Crane Brinton, etc. Religion team teachers John T. Noonan, Jr. and David Daube guided, but never leaned on, me, aside from giving me “that rarest commodity in American academic life: leisure‌the chance to read and reflect without the pressure of any immediate commitment to being, or pretending to be, useful,â€? per Lon L. Fuller, my Harvard jurisprudence teacher. Anyway, no one could have convinced me not to vote No! on the bases in September 1991. Not one donor tried to strong-arm me on my views. They just let me alone, by and large. Our conversations were always amiable and constructive, even if contrasting. Who among the senatorial candidates would ape Manong Ernie and me, never late, much less absent? Yes, the people had first crack on our limited time, energy and attention. Hard diligent government workers. Other qualifications are secondary. But, we do have to arrest the decay and deterioration of our values, institutions and processes which would be exacerbated with an obsequious Senate. An echo chamber we don’t need. Among the good senators

ÂłSaguisagA5

Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ in 2019 which is a plea for liberation from eternal death, an affirmation that God is in the universe and can be merciful to sinners. Verdi’s “Requiem� is a much acclaimed, challenging and demanding musical composition soloists — soprano, mezzo so- that now has become memoraprano, tenor and bass and a ble aside from its intrinsic merdouble choir (could be up to 150 its, for a dark historical event, persons). He also wanted eight the Holocaust of World War 2 trumpets (four offstage), tuba, when millions of Jewish people lUTES OBOES CLARINETS BASSOONS were persecuted and killed in brass, horns, trombones. Nazi Europe. Man’s inhumanity The work has vigorous mo- to man represented by the conments, sublime interludes and centration camps and gas chamdrama. Its first performance bers of the Holocaust took place, was conducted by Verdi himself in many places around Europe. on May 22, 1874, the first an- Theresienstadt, also known as niversary of Manzoni’s death in Terezin, which is in the north of Milan. It has become famous Prague, Czechoslovakia, was one not as liturgy (at 85 to 90 of them. There Jewish prisoners minutes too long for a church performed the “Requiem� in a service) but as a major musical dank and dark basement of the event played more in concert camp. They started out as 150 halls than in churches. A very led by a Romanian-born condramatic part is the “ Dies Irae � ductor, Rafael Schachter, who (Days of Wrath) which evokes was also a prisoner. He had one the sheer terror of the Last Judg- score and a broken-down piano ment. It is the major part of the and used a pencil on whatever “Requiem� though other parts paper he could find to copy the are memorable and beautiful in score for the participants. They other keys. But the “ Dies Irae � are said to have performed it 16 comes back in this piece in times before being taken out one many different directions with by one to Auschwitz, where the bass drums blasting away. The gas chambers were, to die. last highlight is “ Libera Me � In an ironic twist, when the

AMBIENT VOICES

MA. ISABEL ONGPIN

International Red Cross, insisted on visiting Terezin, and the Nazi propaganda had to show that the prisoners were well treated, they were asked to perform Verdi’s “Requiem.� This was done and it was like all its other perforMANCES IN 4EREZIN A DEkANCE OF man’s cruelty to man, a way of saying what could not be said in the face of the circumstances prevailing, and a plea to the Creator in the face of impending death for mercy and liberation. These events in the Terezin camp where all or most of the performers of the Verdi Requiem, including Rafael Schachter, were eventually sent to their deaths, is now an indelible memory to the Jewish race as well as to all humanity who ponder the darkness of the Holocaust. The command performance for the International Red Cross at Terezin was on May 2, 1944. It is now memorialized by performances on the same day by Jewish communities the world over. I attended a performance of the Verdi Requiem on May 2, 2019 at the Maltz Cultural Center in Cleveland, Ohio, this year. Appropriately it was performed in a former synagogue. Maybe it now belongs also to church as well as concert hall.

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FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Bikoy video: Trillanes, the writer; Yellow Otso, the producer It is a hilarious twist though that one ex-convict and swindler Peter Joemel Advincula got into the Integrated Bar of the Philippines headquarters to hold a press conference to announce that he was “Bikoy.� The guy is as insane as he is a sweet-talker, who was able to convince the usual activist nuns to take him in as they had taken in another fraudster a few years back, the crying man Jun Lozada of the NBN-ZTE fiction, who has since been convicted for graft by the Sandiganbayan. Advincula is the equivalent of a “photo-bomber� in this episode. I suspect he approached Otso Diretso’s Jose Manuel Diokno and fooled him into believing that he was Bikoy. He told Diokno he feared for his life, and wanted to go out into the open. He convinced the Otso Diretso basement-dweller candidate into arranging his press conference at the IBP’s offices, where Diokno is an officer and has an office. Advincula thought he had a golden opportunity to make some money. As Sen. Vicente Sotto has disclosed, he made similar allegations of involvement in the illegal drug syndicates in 2016 against President Aquino 3rd AND HIS OFkCIALS (E COULD JUST have changed the names in his template back in 2016.

Nut Who knows what’s going on in the mind of a nut? Maybe he thought the Yellows would reward him for his performance that would dent Duterte’s integrity, and therefore of his candidates in the last remaining days

before election. Trillanes’ Bikoy black-propaganda operation was compartmentalized, or on a need-toknow basis. Diokno believed the nutty Advincula. The Bikoy video has all of Trillanes’ fingerprints, his propaganda DNA. In the past three years, Trillanes and only Trillanes has been obsessed with two allegations against Duterte and his camp. First is that Duterte has fat bank accounts, amassed through graft and bribes from drug syndicates. Remember that even in the election campaign for 2016, he dared Duterte to sign a waiver for the bank to disclose his accounts? Second is that for some inexplicable reason, he seems to be obsessed in his allegations that Paolo Duterte and Christopher “Bong� Go have dragon tattoos on their backs that prove their membership in the Chinese drug syndicate called The Triad. He has been the only nut to have pursued such a preposterous allegation.

And these are the same main two things claimed in the Bikoy video. Trillanes innovatively but hilariously merges the bankaccount thing with the dragon tattoos. Bikoy claimed that the dragon tattoos have secret codes that contain the bank account details of Go and Paolo. You certainly have to credit Trillanes for imagination: That a tattoo contains one’s bank details is something only the highest paid screenwriters in Hollywood could think of. That would be better than SIM-like CARDS IMPLANTED JUST BENEATH the skin, the futuristic means for storing your financial and credit-card details. Why doesn’t anyone dare Trillanes to bare his back to show he doesn’t have a dragon tattoo? There is another feature in the Bikoy video that has Trillanes’ DNA. This involves the phenomenon known among literary scholars that even the most fantastical works of fiction are based on an author’s actual milieu, or something that he has done research on.

B-movie

'Game of Thrones'

Some crime B-movie that he saw on that Chinese criminal gang has probably etched the idea in his mind. The strangeness of Trillanes’ obsession is that it is not the Chinese triad, but the Japanese Yakuza that is known to have dragon tattoos all over the bodies of its members. Does this bungling coup plotter have such a foggy mind that he can’t even distinguish the Chinese from the Japanese? It is only Trillanes who has been obsessed with these two things.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was based on British upper-class boarding schools. The “Game of Thrones� drew inspiration — even for its characters — from the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century among rival clans (“Houses�) vying for the English throne vacated after the mad king Henry 6th’s death. The setting of the allegations in Bikoy’s video is not Manila, not Davao, but Albay — Trillanes’ home province.

The bank where Duterte is supposed to keep his stash is not in Davao, not even in Cebu, but in the Rural Bank of Guinobatan, 10 minutes away from Trillanes’ Ligao hometown. The politicians Bikoy alleged had links to drug lords were all Bicol politicians, among them Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Gonzalez, former Camarines Sur Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte, and Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua. $ID 4RILLANES JUST WANT TO GET back at his province-mates who hadn’t helped him win in the elections, and do not bow to him? Bikoy alleged that Misibis Bay Resort in Albay was a shabu laboratory that its owners operated. Probably Trillanes couldn’t get free accommodations there? The producer of this video could be none other than the Yellows, particularly its Otso Diretso candidates. Other than the fact that several of them JUMPED WITH JOY WHEN IT WAS released and frenetically called for an investigation of its allegations, the website which was first distributed it MetroBalita had campaign ads for the group, especially for Romy Macalintal, Leni Robredo’s lawyer. Such a despicable gang to have spread such lies, and distracting the country from the burning issues the nation must confront. And they dare to ask Filipinos to vote for them, claiming to be honest?

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ gmail.com Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Book orders: www.rigobertotiglao.com/debunked

Monitoring the AES

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N December 2018, Namfrel petitioned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for accreditation as a “citizen’s arm,� SPECIkCALLY REQUESTING PERMISSION on three items: 1) to be allowed to monitor Comelec’s implementation of the automated election system (AES); 2) to have access to data that would allow them to observe Comelec’s “random manual audit� (RMA) of the automated vote-counting; and 3) to allow them access to complete election data for posting in Namfrel’s Open Election Data website. Item 1: The monitoring of Comelec’s AES implementation does not really need accreditation from this government agency, as any citizen is free, anyway, to monitor the implementation of the AES. Nonetheless, Namfrel thought it better to include that in the petition, so its volunteers’ presence inside the precincts WOULD BECOME OFkCIAL AND WOULD carry some authority. Item 2: Access to data for use during the observation of the RMA would allow Namfrel to conduct its functions effectively. Without that access to data, it would be difficult for Namfrel to verify if the random manual audit is being performed properly and that the RMA data being used are truly from those in the official database. Item 3: Namfrel plans to publish on its website the complete

NGOs are apparently being given such access. !ND .AMFREL IS NOT JUST ANY LET’S newbie NGO. It started its FACE IT! volunteer work as early as the 1984 Batasan elections. In fact, it is recognized as the first and most-experienced election election data. That would give NGO in the world. Dozens of the public not only information other countries have copied about the results, but also data what Namfrel started, in terms that they might need for their of citizens’ poll watching and own analysis. This request is organizing parallel counts. therefore necessary, so that the What we therefore find difdata published in its website is ficult to understand is why always the most current version. Comelec seems to want to make In the interest of transparency, things difficult for Namfrel. Our I would like to disclose that I am OBJECTIVES ARE PARALLEL TO OR THE the current Namfrel chairman. same as that of, the commisMore than four months af- SION S 4HOSE OBJECTIVES ARE gACter the petition was submitted, curate and credible elections.� Comelec finally responded by We were hoping that they would granting Namfrel 1) access to data appreciate the fact that it is also that would allow it to perform an our intention to help make the RMA; and 2) access to the 27th official Comelec results more copy of the election returns (ER). credible to the voting public, 4HE kRST ONE IS OF COURSE WEL- even as we also watch out for come as it granted Namfrel the defects — and possible rigging second of the three requested of the results — in the system items. On the other hand, the and its implementation. 27th copy (printed copy) of the Many articles have been written ER that it is willing to provide, is by those of us in the IT commualmost useless as it would mean NITY MANY MEETINGS OFkCIAL AS HAVING TO kRST ENCODE ITS CONTENTS well as casual ones, have been before any analysis could be held among us, about how reliDONE 7HY NOT JUST GIVE .AMFREL able, how credible, the results are, access to the contents of the when vote-counting is automated. transparency server that will be All these doubts and appreheninstalled at the Pope Pius Center? sions would have been unnecesIt would hardly be any bother to sary had Comelec not automated the Comelec. And after all, other the vote-counting at the precincts.

GUS LAGMAN

The truth is that many countries have already discarded automated vote-counting because the process is not transparent and is not observable by the voters. What would it have cost us had we counted the votes manually? Maybe 12 to 24 hours more work at the precincts. But it would have saved us billions of pesos in less expensive EQUIPMENT JUST ORDINARY 0#S and laptops) that can be bought from out of the shelves of local vendors. And then, because these are equipment that could be sold, even at a huge discount, to the likes of the Department of Education after each election, some cost recovery would be possible. Or, they could simply be donated to this government department for use by the teachers and/or students. To be sure, automation could already be employed while the votes are being counted manually. Or, at least, immediately after. That way, transmission of the results, from precincts to canvassing points, can be done electronically and the three levels of canvassing could be fully automated. I sincerely wish the commission would seriously consider this alternative system for future elections, because it is truly a much better solution, in many ways, than the present one. It would be such a pity if it is not given a chance to prove itself.

Opinion

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The 21st century teacher Part 1 – The Industrial Age and Knowledge Age

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HY is it that today, we speak and write about 21st century education, 21st century learners, 21st century teaching, 21st century knowledge and skills? Why do we preface these terms we speak and write about with “21st century"? The previous century wasn’t referred to WHEN SIMILAR TOPICS WERE THE SUBJECT of written or oral discourse. What’s so different with the 21st century? When is the 21st century? We learn that the 21st century is “the current century of the Anno Domini era or Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on Jan. 1, 2001 and will end on December 31, 2100 (that is 81 years from this year 2019). It is THE kRST century of the 3rd millennium.� <https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/21st_century> 20th century education. In the 1990s, our teachers were the stars of the classroom. They dished out knowledge which we learners had to memorize. They dictated their lectures to us students or gave us carbon copies. Our examinations in all subJECTS DID NOT GO BEYOND THE PRINTED page. Schools that could afford it, relECTED gSTANDARDSu IN THE NUMBER OF books in their school libraries, tables AND CHAIRS WHICH WERE OF MAGNIkCENT woodcraft. A website described 20th century education as providing “a teacher-centered classroom with compartmentalized curriculum and students working independently to memorize facts.� Teachers served as “fountain of knowledge� as the “sage on the stage.� “Students sat at desks in neat rows.� Upper grades students “moved from classroom to classroom at the sounding of a bell.� The 20th century being the Age of Industrialization, education, too, as did the rest of the world, had to depend “on standardized products.� <https:// www.calvary.edu/comparison-20th21st-century-education/> 21st century education. Early FORMS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY kLLED in the gaps in knowledge at the twilight of the 20th century — a PRELUDE TO MAJOR CHANGES IN DIFFERent spheres of life. Soon surfaced “big changes in knowledge — in how people see knowledge and how they use it.� That period, now widely known “as the beginning of the Knowledge Age, distinguishes it from the Industrial Age.� Maturing digital technology came into our lives, and everything, including ourselves, changed, so too, our learners. <http://www.shiftingthinking.org/?page_id=58> Our classrooms are also undergoing change. No need for students to sit in neat rows. Rather, they gather in groups as teams, communicating and collaborating not limited only with seatmates but with students of similar interests — whom they may not even know personally, but in virtual settings. Digital media have made global reach possible. Answers to assignMENTS ARE NO LONGER CONkNED IN one textbook; the web unceasingly provides information both genuine and rubbish. Here is where learners have to discriminate between what is right and proper from what may be bogus. Learners have to cultivate a critical mind — nurture their ability to analyze and evaluate and develop “media astuteness.� Teachers have to innovate forms of assessments — the reason why rubrics have become common assessment tools in our schools today.

FLASHBACKS/ INSIGHTS TERESITA TANHUECOTUMAPON What does 21st century knowledge mean? The meaning of knowledge, too, has changed and keeps changing. Instead of the “stuff� we draw from print which we teachers assign learners to memorize, we teach them knowledge as an anchor for action. Knowledge in the 21st century is something like “a form of energy, as a system of NETWORKS AND lOWS ‡ SOMETHING that does things, or makes things happen. Knowledge in this KnowlEDGE !GE IS DEkNED ‡ AND VALUED — not for what it is, but for what it can do. It is produced, not by individual experts, but by �‘collectivizing intelligence’ — groups of people with complementary expertise colLABORATE FOR SPECIkC PURPOSES u 4HIS considered, how does this affect education? Today’s learners come from Generation Z and Generation Alpha. They’re growing up together with unprecedented technology available in their pockets, bedrooms, classrooms. We, who may have succeeded learning the proper use of digital technology, feel our way as digital migrants. Our learners, however, as digital natives are at home with the different forms of gadgets that can draw information anytime, anywhere with ease. <https://thinkstrategicforschools. com/education-21st-century/> But they should learn to discriminate the genuine from trash. Four skills for the 21st century. Given that knowledge from the printed page is not merely to be digested but should be an energy that spurs one to creation, what skills should constitute the core of competencies our 21st century learners need to enable them to maximize the PRACTICAL AS WELL AS SCIENTIkC USE of knowledge? “Critical thinking, digital literacy, problem-solving and collaboration� are the skills that education experts fervently advocate for schools to teach to help students thrive in today’s world.� <https://www.britishcouncil.ph/teach/courses/core-skillsg> However, these four themes are not distinct from one another. Their value lies in our students’ ability to integrate their use across all curricula. These four competencies “should be part of every lesson in the same way as literacy and numeracy. They are more popularly referred to as THE ST CENTURY S FOUR #S 7E DEkNE each as — critical thinking — which is about “analyzing information and critiquing claims.� Communication is “understanding things well enough to share them clearly with other people.� Creativity is about “thinking through information in new ways, making new connections and coming up with innovative solutions to problems.� Collaboration is about “teamwork and the collective genius of a group that is more than the sum of its parts.�<https:// thinkstrategicforschools.com/education-21st-century/> Just as we wish our students to develop these four Cs, we, too, have to improve on them ourselves. We can’t give what we ourselves don’t have.

Next week: 21st century teacher characteristics Email: ttumapon@liceo.edu.ph

Q SAGUISAG FROM A4

My Senate list; on foreign grants and funds now is certainly Ping Lacson. But, if he pooh-poohs the latest ongoing distribution of $1,500 each to a qualified human rights victim and thinks the aging, ailing rights beneficiaries deserve more, which they certainly do, he should craft a law to supplement what RA 10368 gave. This month certain victims are getting another $1,500 from class suit specialist Bob Swift, on top of two prior distributions. The beneficiaries, by and large, spent no money or effort to collect. The effort was wholly financed by

"OB S FIRM WHICH JUST TOLD THEM there is money to spend for sustenance, including medicines. A Pennsylvania article titled g3WIFT JUSTICEu RECOUNTS THAT three decades later, Bob’s firstever human rights class action lawsuit remains the poignant gold standard. Bob remembers one deposition that needed to be postponed after the court reporter broke down while transcribing a witness’ account of the salvaging of her four children. By the early 1980s, he was following our anti-Macoy move-

ment, punctuated by Ninoy’s 1983 salvaging. In 1986, the Marcoses fled to Hawaii. “That gave me the idea to put together a case to obtain compensation for all the victims, from a guy who was supposedly one of the richest people in the world, a multibillionaire, who had now come to the US,� he recalled. So, he came and conferred with the likes of JoeMari Velez. One problem: never before had a former president of a foreign country been brought to trial in the 53 4O ESTABLISH JURISDICTION "OB

unearthed the Alien Tort Statute, PASSED BY THE 53 S kRST #ONGRESS in 1789. It gave aliens the right to sue in US courts for violations of international human rights. How? “The concept was to have a single trial using the concept of command responsibility — that he’s responsible for the abuses at the hands of his troops,� Bob said. Fair warning to the world. Bob remembers the handwritten sign an old woman raised as she sat outside a remote rural barangay . It read “Thank you, Mr. Swift.�

) JOIN HER "OB FOLLOWS THE Quaker faith, for whom finding JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS BECAME AN all-consuming quest for him, fierce resistance from our and the American governments, notwithstanding. Bob deserves gratitude — the MOST BEAUTIFUL lOWER IN THE GARDEN of the heart — and support, I submit, not baseless criticism. He is doing what we should be doing. Stay as sweet as you are, Bob. And the Prez should not stay as insensitive and uncaring about human rights as he nears June 30, time

for a midcourse correction, beginning with his profanity. Good people change others, better ones change the system, the best change themselves. I am not for his ouster but for his transformation, not transMOGRIkCATION And thank you, too, and goodbye, Karina Constantino David. Even before Ninoy was salvaged, you and Becky Demetillo, fearless patriots, comprised a splendid presence with your inspirational duets as Inang Laya in anti-fascist gatherings.

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Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

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Fears of new jihadist ‘academies’ as Iraqi jails fill up BY ALI CHOUKEIR BAGHDAD: As Iraq tries thousands of locals and foreigners accused of joining the Islamic State group, experts warn its jails could once again become “academies� for jihadists. Prison was a pivotal moment for many prominent jihadists — not least of them Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, IS’s Iraqi supremo who remains at large despite the collapse of his “caliphate� in March. Baghdadi was held in Camp Bucca, a sprawling US-run complex in the southern Iraqi desert, where he is thought to have essentially “come of age� as a jihadist leader. “For many members of such groups, prison was one of multiple ‘stages’ of jihad,� said Hisham al-Hashemi, an expert in Iraqi jihadist movements. They ran their own religious studies courses and even planned attacks on civilians or ordered assassinations of security forces from within the prison walls. “The cells become the equivalent of academies — even if there’s just one prisoner with extremist thoughts, he can recruit the rest,�

Hashemi told AFP. Iraq has already condemned hundreds of its own nationals as well as scores of foreigners to life in prison for joining IS. It has begun trial proceedings for another 900 Iraqis recently repatriated from neighboring Syria and has offered to try foreigners stuck in legal limbo there, too.

‘Breeding grounds’ But its prison system is the subject of kERCE CRITICISM Advocacy groups accuse security forces of using circumstantial evidence to detain people on terrorism charges, extracting confessions under torture and keeping suspects in overcrowded cells with no access to lawyers. Cells built to hold around 20 detainees are often packed with 50, a source working in the jails told AFP, and prisoners are often caught smuggling phones or passing on information during family visits, especially to their wives. Those arrested for petty crimes are often held with hardened jihadists, which has facilitated recruitment in the past, said security

in recent years, including the Abu Ghraib complex that became infamous for prisoner abuse during the US-led occupation. Others were rocked by riots and prison breaks that allowed detainees accused of “terrorism� to escape. .OW WITH MORE REPATRIATED kGHTers expected to arrive in the coming months, observers fear an alreadySTRAINED SYSTEM WILL BE lOODED “The prisons that are being USED DEkNITELY ARE INSUFkCIENT IN capacity to hold potentially, thousands of extra people that will be transferred,� warned Belkis Wille of Human Rights Watch. HRW has called on the internationQ Displaced men from Hawija face a wall ahead of being screened by security officers for al community to help Iraq improve association with ISIS in Dibis, Iraq on Oct. 3, 2017. Iraqi courts have sentenced hundreds to its judicial processes and revamp its life in prison for membership in ISIS. BRAM JANSSEN/AP jails — but Iraq, Wille said, may have Hussein’s toppling by US-led something else in mind. analyst Fadel Abu Raghif. “The authorities are very con“Most of those detained were Is- forces in 2003, insurgent groups scious, and do not want something lamic jurists and thinkers. They’re able seized on the feeling of marginali- No repeat of Bucca like Abu Ghraib or Bucca to hapto argue, provide evidence, brainwash sation among the country’s Sunnis as fodder for recruitment. and persuade people,� he told AFP. Iraq’s government has declined to pen again,� she told AFP. More than 15 years later, observers PROVIDE kGURES ON DETENTION CENTERS “It is a part of the reason why so Those recruited in jail are typically not religiously orthodox to begin fear that same perception of persecu- or prisoners, including how many are many of the suspects are getting the with, but have instead been drawn by tion is back. facing terrorism-related charges, al- death penalty or life [in] prison. I think The Soufan Center, a New York- though some studies estimate 20,000 the intention is that these people would “rhetoric playing on a narrative of opbased think tank, said Iraq “sup- are being held for purported IS links. not come out of prison, so you would pression,� Abu Raghif added. In the aftermath of Saddam pressed, but never actually addressed� Some facilities have shut down not have the same dynamic.� AFP

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US sanctions on Iranian oil risk stoking OPEC tensions LONDON: Washington is counting on Middle East allies to help prevent its sanctions on Iran’s oil exports from sending oil prices skyrocketing, but analysts warn that this could further destabilise the already precarious balance within OPEC. The US reimposed sanctions on Iran — including its crude exports — following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal one year ago from a multinational accord under which Tehran had drastically scaled back its nuclear activities. Trump has since repeatedly urged the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost oil supplies to keep a lid on prices. However, while OPEC may now need to compensate for the loss of output from Iran, a founding member of the cartel, such a move could spell disaster for the organization. “If [OPEC kingpin] Saudi Arabia is helping the US out, it’s like Saudi Arabia attacking Iran indirectly,� said Bjarne Schieldrop, an analyst at Swedish bank SEB. Tensions will likely be high at the next OPEC meeting at the end of June in Vienna.

‘Could be end of OPEC' “It could be the end of OPEC as we know it, who knows,� Schieldrop told AFP. Iran, OPEC’s most influential member behind Saudi Arabia, traditionally favors lower collective output to boost crude prices and protect precious revenues. Ahead of Trump reimposing the sanctions in November, Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC member the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sought to compensate for an anticipated sharp drop in Iranian crude. However Trump also gave six-month exemptions for eight countries — China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey — to continue purchasing Iranian crude. As a result, OPEC oil output rose in the fourth quarter of 2018 — without any real need to do so — taking Saudi Arabia by surprise and leading to prices dropping.

Embarrassed Saudis “The Saudis have been burned by last year’s surprise decision to issue waivers — when OPEC core members such as the UAE and Saudi had already been boosting output to pre-empt the impact of Iran sanctions on the market,� said analyst Riccardo Fabiani at research consultancy Energy Aspects. “That situation embarrassed them.� To combat falling prices, OPEC members agreed with allies including Russia in December to trim production. This resulted in prices rising steadily at the start of the year, until they were sent hurtling to six-months highs when the US announced on April 22 that the waivers would end on May 2. Riyadh is now expected to wait until the dust settles before altering output again. “This time, the Saudis and the UAE will wait to see the effects of the end of the waivers on the market before gradually increasing production,� said Fabiani. “Their reaction will be much more cautious,� he concluded.

US emboldened Washington’s Middle East strategy has, meanwhile, been emboldened by a surge in its own domestic shale oil output. “The dramatic change is the fact the US are independent of oil imports,� Schieldrop said. “The implication is that US can more or less do what it wants in the Middle East.� However, Fabiani was quick to point out that US oil supplies were not sufficient to offset Iran’s sanctions-hit crude. “The US alone cannot simply replace lost Iranian volumes, particularly in a context of OPEC production cuts,� he told AFP. “Second, there is a quality mismatch. Additional US crude tends to be light and sweet; Iranian crude is heavy and sour. They are not like for like, from a refiner’s point of view.� Heavy and sour crude is more expensive to refine than light and sweet crude. AFP

the grievances of its Sunni communities. The deployment of the mostly-Shiite Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units in Sunni-majority areas recaptured from IS “has fuelled sectarian resentment among local populations,� the Center wrote this month. That anger could pave the way for a repeat of the mid2000s: “As happened before with Camp Bucca, these detention centers are becoming breeding grounds for radicalisation.�

A CALL FOR A CLEAN, ORDERLY AND HONEST ELECTION CALLING all citizens to go out and vote wisely with a clean conscience for the future of our children and our children’s children. Do not even subject yourselves to any votebuying or cheating, as our vote should be held sacred. We call on Comelec to preserve the integrity of the election and hold a peaceful, orderly and credible election, reflection of the true will of the people. Always remember honor, social justice, deep love of God and country, integrity, good governance, to name a few, included in the 16 moral values and virtues which are enshrined in the Preamble of our Constitution.

Let us consider the following characteristics of leaders we want to elect: “Leadership is first and foremost about character, one who is in power but not subordinate to it, one who has control of money but is not lured by it, one whose position open all doors but prefers the simplicity of lifestyle, and one who is followed by many but takes the heart of a servant. “ Grant us, Almighty Father, the perfect expression of the people’s will in this election. Let no one dare to falsely substitute it, the true voice of the people, that is also Yours. At the end of the campaign, give our candidates the humility and magnanimity of spirit to accept the true outcome, whether it goes for or against them, so that defeat be glorified by grace, and victory be tempered with modesty. For victory is not theirs to take, but Yours to give. All these we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Christopher L. Carrion Founder & Chairman Spirit of EDSA Foundation Inc.

From ‘Total exoneration!’ to ‘Impeach now!’ – the Mueller report and dueling fact perceptions ty of vaccines. This has serious implications for American democracy. As political scientists, we wonder: How can a community decide the direction they should go, if they cannot even agree on where they are? Can people holding dueling facts be brought HE Mueller report was supposed into some semblance of consensus? 4O kGURE THAT OUT IT IS IMPORTANT to settle, once and for all, the controversy over whether the Trump to determine where such divergent team colluded with Russians or ob- BELIEFS COME FROM IN THE kRST PLACE This is the perspective we began structed justice. with: If dueling fact perceptions Clearly it has not. Reactions to the report have are driven by misinformation from ranged from “total exoneration!� politicians and pundits, then one would expect things to get better to “impeach now!� Shouldn’t nearly 700 hundred by making sure that people have pages of details, after almost two access to correct information — via years of waiting, have helped the fact-checking, for example. We envisioned the dueling facts nation to achieve a consensus over phenomenon as being primarily what happened? tribal, driven by cheerleading on each Well, no. As the German philosopher Goethe side for their partisan “teams.� We assaid in the early 1800s, “Each sees sumed, like most other scholars, that individuals are simply led astray by what is present in their heart.� Since 2013 — long before Donald their team’s coaches (party leaders), Trump was even a candidate — we star players (media pundits) or fellow have been studying the “dueling fans (social media feeds). But it turns out that the roots of facts� phenomenon: the tendency for Red and Blue America to perceive such divergent views go much deeper. We found that voters see the world reality in starkly different ways. Based on that work, we expected in ways that reinforce their values and the report to settle next to nothing. identities, irrespective of whether they 4HE CONlICTING FACTUAL ASSERTIONS have ever watched Fox News or MSthat have emerged since the report’s NBC, and regardless of whether they release highlight just how easy it have a Facebook account. For example, according to our is for citizens to believe what they want, regardless of what Robert data from five years of national Mueller, William Barr or anyone else surveys from 2013 to 2017, the most important predictor of whether has to say about it. a person views racism as highly PREVALENT AND INlUENTIAL IS NOT HER Dueling facts in PARTISAN IDENTIkCATION )T IS NOT HER American democracy general ideological outlook. It is not Our research has led us to several the amount or type of media that conclusions about the future of po- she consumes. It is not even her own race. It is the degree to which she litical discourse in the US 4HE kRST IS THAT DUELING FACT PERCEP- prioritizes compassion as a public tions are rampant, and they are more virtue, relative to other things like entrenched than most people realize. rugged individualism. Some examples of this include CONlICTING PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE Facts rooted in values e x i s t e n c e o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e, the strength of the economy, Values not only shape what people the consequences of racism, the ori- see, but they also structure what gins of sexual orientation, the utility PEOPLE LOOK FOR IN THE kRST PLACE 7E of minimum wage increases or gun call this “intuitive epistemology.� Those who care about opprescontrol, the crime rate and the safeBY DAVID C. BARKER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS  MORGAN MARIETTA UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

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sion look for oppression, so they find it. Those who care about security look for threats to it, and they find them. In other words, people do not end up with the same answers because they do not begin with the same questions. For example, the perception that vaccines cause autism — against all available empirical evidence — is now shared equally by Democrats and Republicans. Partisanship cannot account for this dueling fact perception. But when we looked at the role of core values and their associated questions, we found the strongest predictor. If someone we surveyed ranked this question highly, “Does it appear that people are committing indecent acts or degrading something sacred?� they were by far the most likely to believe that vaccines are dangerous. Partisan identity, on the other hand, has no relationship at all with those beliefs. Because the starting points for different groups of citizens are deeply polarized, so are their ending points. And the starting points are often values rather than parties. The stronger those commitments to their values are, the stronger the effects. Those with extreme value commitments are much more certain than others that their perceptions are correct.

higher levels of education are more, not less, divided. And the higher the level of training, the more tightly values and perceptions intertwine. Education provides the tools to MORE EFkCIENTLY MATCH THEIR PREferred values to their perceived facts. Based on this evidence, we conclude that dueling fact perceptions (or what some have labeled “alternative facts�) are probably here to stay, and worsen.

Mueller’s muddle

We suspect that the Mueller report would have been rejected by roughly half the country, even if its concluSIONS HAD BEEN DEkNITIVE But with key phrases like “Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,� the report’s indeCISIVENESS REINFORCES HOW DIFkCULT it can be to really know the “truth� about a lot of things. If a respected prosecutor like 2OBERT -UELLER CAN T OFFER A kRM conclusion after two years of document dumps and interviews, what are the rest of us to do? As with so many other things, people will go with their guts, using their heads to feel better about the choices they have already made. Our conclusions are much more DEkNITIVE THAN -UELLER S 7E SEE CLEAR What next? evidence of collusion and obstruction. 0ERHAPS THE MOST DISAPPOINTING kND- Collusion between values and facts. ing from our studies — at least from Obstruction of the capacity to observe our point of view — is that there are and accept legitimate evidence. So for the past couple of weeks, NO KNOWN kXES TO THIS PROBLEM &ACT CHECKING TENDS TO FALL lAT 4HE the chorus of “I told you so!� has voters who need to hear corrections rung out from the country’s Blue rarely read fact-checks. And for those coastlines and from every Red mile who might stumble across them, of heartland in-between. reports from distant and distrusted And with that, the US continues experts are no match for closely held to inch ever closer to a public square VALUES AND DEkNING IDENTITIES in which consensus perceptions are Education is the another possible unavailable and facts are irrelevant. ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP) means of encouraging consensus perceptions, but it actually makes This article is republished from things worse. Rather than training people how The Conversation under a Creative to think more reasonably, college Commons license. The Conversaand graduate school merely sharpen tion is an independent and nonthe lenses graduates use to perceive PROkT SOURCE OF NEWS ANALYSIS AND reality. In our data, those with commentary from academic experts.

Regions ‘No backpack’ in Davao Kalinga politicians woo City on Election Day voters with foodstuff

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

DAVAO CITY: The city government of Davao will again strictly implement the “No Backpack� policy during the mid-term elections on Monday. The implementation of the policy aims to tighten security measures in the city as thousands of voters are expected at the polling precincts to cast their votes, the TOP OFkCIALS OF $AVAO #ITY 0OLICE Office (DCPO) and Task Force Davao (TF-Davao) said during a media conference on Wednesday. Col. Consolito Yecla, commander of TF-Davao, said the “No Backpack� policy was not new in the city, adding that the city government also implemented it after the deadly cathedral bombing in Jolo, Sulu last January 27. Authorities also regulated the

bringing of backpacks in the city, as a security measure during important events, Yecla said. “It is because we are not only concerned about the election process but we are also focusing on the threat of terrorism,� he added. DCPO chief Police Col. Alexander Tagum called for understanding from the constituents of Davao City when the policy is implemented on Monday. “As much as possible, it is better if they can do away with bringing backpacks to lessen the burden of the security forces,� Tagum said. He added that the DCPO would DEPLOY ONE TEAM OF POLICE OFkCERS in every voting area that would ensure safety and security protocols during the elections on Monday. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

DENR shuts down Bataan open dumpsite  THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the closure of an open dumpsite in Limay, Bataan found to be illegally operating since 2015.  Environment Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management Benny Antiporda said they already issued a cease and desist order against the municipal government of Limay, and summoned Mayor Lilvir Roque, Vice Mayor Robert Arvin Roque and the town councilors to explain the persistent operations of the illegal dumpsite.  â€œIt is like a Smokey Mountain in the making. We already closed the area to stop the operations and I doubt that they will be permitted by the MGB ( Mines and Geosciences Bureau) to operate even after they rehabilitate the area. But definitely the rehabilitation must start now,â€? Antiporda told The Manila Times.  He noted that establishment and

maintenance of an open dumpsite was strictly prohibited under Republic Act 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.�  The DENR feared that various types of wastes from the open dumpsite located in Barangay San Francisco de Asis in Limay would reach the nearby body of waters, noting several connecting creeks and rivers in the area.  Antiporda said Limay entered into a memorandum of agreement with Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. based in Pampanga for the disposal of its wastes after the dumpsite was closed three years ago.  “We learned they have coordinated with Metro Clark, but it was only for a year. What we expected was that they would transfer their wastes to Clark, but unfortunately they resumed operations in the supposed-to-be closed dumpsite in Limay as it is illegal,� Antiporda added. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

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BY ESTANISLAO ALBANO JR.

ABUK CITY: Several residents of this city have taken to social media their experiences, slamming the practice of local politicians to court voters with foodstuff, including rice, culled chicken and groceries, kitchenware and other small household items. Retired Episcopal prime bishop Renato Abibico shared on his Facebook post on May 6 photos of himself holding two small plastic bags with caption informing he just received “some soap, salt, sugar, noodles, vinegar and soy sauce.� In another post, Abibico chided the candidates for their very low regard for voters as manifested in the little and cheap groceries they try to buy votes with. “How to beat vote-buying? Get what they give and vote according to the dictate of your conscience. There is no truth in the ‘butot’ threat. They will not know if you will vote for them or not. Let’s teach this vote-buying politicians a lesson,� he urged voters in one post. The butot belief is the main reason politicians in Kalinga prefer foodstuff as means to buy votes because, according to the loose interpretation of the belief, a voter who received and ate food given by a politician in exchange for his vote, but did not actually vote for the candidate, would be AFlICTED WITH THE BUTOT AN INCURable and mysterious swelling of the stomach. When asked to comment on

the interpretation, Rev. Luis Aoas, a Kalinga cultural master, said the butot belief was alien to the practice of vote-buying. He explained the butot is supposed to happen when someone suspected of killing or harming another person who denies the charge is challenged to eat in the house of the victim and he accepts the dare in an attempt to clear his name. “If he is guilty of the crime, butot will ensue, otherwise, no harm will befall him,�Aoas said. Ordinarily, he added, the butot was believed to occur when someone perjures himself in a sapata, an indigenous ceremony whereby people accused or suspected of crimes insist on their innocence under pain of supernatural punishment in the event of guilt. But Aoas said the sapata, which he described as an elaborate ceremony, was not being done in vote-buying. On April 30, Episcopal priest Claudio Bagano posted a collage of footstuff and kitchen items, expressing his disappointment with the candidate whom he did not name, telling him he just lost his family’s votes and respect.

Q Social media users ‘Petra Baguiwen’ and ‘Wanfred Cosmiano’ posted one of the photos on their Facebook walls. Baguiwen wishes the flow of goods happens during calamities. “If these candidates show their disrespect to voters by engaging in vote-buying, how can we expect them to respect the populace whom they are supposed to serve after [the)] elections? Vote-buying is the foundation of structured and massive corruption in government, therefore, only those who do not buy votes if any are worthy to be regarded as honorable,� he told The Manila Times. A former politician said apart from the butot bogey, local politicians, who resort to buying votes with goods, bank on the misguided and shallow sense of gratitude of voters who are swayed by the acts of politicians of remembering them. He added the practice of giving goods to households dates back to the 2004 and 2007 elections when politicians also gave utensils and chairs to organizations and groups, but not to individuals and families. But unlike the previous elections, per household vote-buying was not blatant because the politicians and their followers identify beforehand the noncommitted

voters and those most likely to be bought. “Politicians and their people are no longer practicing due diligence, thus this indiscriminate manner of bringing goods to households. They insult the professionals and the principled voters,� he added. He said vote-buying practice was rampant in the locality because the Commission on Elections and other concerned government agencies did not intervene even with the reported vote-buying. Meanwhile, City Election OfkCER !NNIVEST (ANGDAAN SAID PEOple should document the giving of the goods and those involved in the act and to stand as witness to the incident. She explained the printing of the candidate’s name on the cover of the FOOD ITEMS DID NOT SUFkCE AS EVIDENCE In many cases, the distribution of goods is done at night with the bags or items left at the doors of the targeted households with the candidate is printed on any of THE ITEMS OR A CAMPAIGN LEAlET placed inside.

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News

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

POPE MAKES REPORTING SEX ABUSE OBLIGATORY VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Thursday passed a measure to oblige those who know about sex abuse in the Catholic Church to report it to their superiors, following a global clerical pedophilia scandal. Every diocese in the world will now be obliged to have a system for the reporting of abuse, under a new law published by the Vatican — but the requirement will not apply to secrets revealed to priests in the confessional. It is time to learn from the “bitter lessons of the past,� Francis said in the text of the legal decree.

It follows a series of clerical assault cases in countries ranging from Australia to Chile, Germany and the US. The “Motu Proprio,� a legal document issued under the pope’s personal authority, declares that anyone who has knowledge of abuse, or suspects it, is “obliged to report [it] promptly� to the Church, using “easily accessible systems.� “Though this obligation was formerly left up to individual consciences, it now becomes a universally established legal precept� within the Church, said Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Vatican’s

communications department. The law only applies within the Church and has no force to oblige individuals to report abuse to civil authorities. Under the new measure, every diocese AROUND THE WORLD IS OBLIGED BY *UNE to create a system for the reporting of sexual abuse by clerics, the use of child pornography and cover-ups of abuse.

Confessions still secret The document focuses particularly on the sexual or psychological abuse of children and vulnerable adults, but also targets

sexual abuse and violence resulting from an abuse of authority — such as the exploitation of nuns by priests. Pope Francis admitted publicly in February that priests have used nuns as “sexual slaves� — and may still be doing so. Victims’ groups have long called for Francis to put in place concrete measures to tackle clerical child abuse, including IMMEDIATELY kRING ANY CLERIC FOUND GUILTY of even a single act of abuse, or of covering it up. They also want all abusers or suspected abusers to be reported to police, and any ABUSE RELATED kLES HANDED OVER TO THEM

Some have called for priests who hear of abuse during confessions to be forced to report it. The new law stops short of that. Catholics believe that within the confessional the penitent is talking to God, and everything in the confession is secret. A priest who reveals such secrets is automatically expelled from the Church. The new law follows a historic Vatican summit on child sexual abuse by priests in February, which saw much self-recrimination by the Church and horror stories from abuse survivors. AFP

Belmonte gets INC nod BY JAIME R. PILAPIL

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HE Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) threw its support behind Quezon City mayoral candidate Josefina “Joy� Belmonte, boosting her chance of winning in the elections on May 13. “I was informed on Monday that INC [would] support me and the majority of the candidates in my slate. This is very, very good news for us, and of course, for Quezon

City because we are committed TO OUR PROMISE OF GIVING SELlESS TOP NOTCH SERVICE THAT WILL BENEkT the city’s residents,� Belmonte, WHO IS ON HER kNAL TERM AS VICE

mayor, said. Thanking INC leader Eduardo Manalo, Belmonte said the INC’s support was an honor as its main temple and office are in Quezon City. When asked why she thinks the INC gave her the endorsement over other mayoral candidates, Belmonte said that she “believes the support of majority of the people of Quezon City is with her.� “We are overwhelmed by the support we have been receiving

across all groups in Quezon City, and I think INC shares our vision of wanting the city to keep developing to bring more progress down to the people,� she said. Belmonte attributed the endorsement to her clean track record and successful programs implemented as vice mayor. “I personally will not take this for granted. If elected, I will make sure that my platform for inclusive development is felt by all. We will improve and eradi-

cate corruption in city services. We will implement the projects THAT DIRECTLY BENEkT THE POOR AND marginalized. Of course, we will also make sure tuloy-tuloy ang pag-unlad ng lungsod alinsunod po sa islogan natin na ‘Kasama Ka Sa Pag-unlad’ (that the city’s progress continues in line with our slogan),� she said. Belmonte added that the endorsement was proof that voters were receptive of her platform despite the black propaganda

against her. In the recent survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. from May 4 to 8, 2019 with 8,000 registered voters, Belmonte widened her lead over her primary opponents, Rep. Vincent “Bingbong� Crisologo and Ismael “Chuck� Mathay 3rd. Belmonte remains the top choice for mayor with 65 percent over Crisologo, who got 30 percent, and Mathay, who received 3 percent.

QC prosecutor upholds libel raps vs Ces Drilon

Q A man points to a photo of a child, one of dozens of alleged Dengvaxia victims, during a news briefing in Manila. Photo by DJ Diosina

Dengvaxia victims’ kin want Fadullon out THE families of the Dengvaxia victims have asked Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon to inhibit himself from the case for alleged bias. The motion for inhibition was kLED BEFORE THE $EPARTMENT OF *UStice through the Public Attorney’s /FkCE 0!/ Fadullon denied the accusation, saying he never had any interaction with any of the parties in the case. g$EkNITELY THERE IS NO TRUTH TO the accusations. It is absurd as it is

incredible, as I have never had any interaction with any of the parties in the Dengvaxia cases. While on occasion I subscribed complaints for the private complainants at the request of the PAO, I have never talked to any of the respondents in these cases,� he said. Fadullon pointed out that the different panels of prosecutors tasked to do the preliminary investigation of the case were given wide discretion to rule on the case. He added that while he commis-

erates with the families for their loss, “they should exercise caution and prudence before making baseless accusations.� “If the private complainants or the PAO have any iota of proof that I received any bribe, they should come forward with their evidence. If it were really true that bribes were indeed paid, why would we indict the respondents just the same? I challenge the complainants and the PAO to substantiate their accusations, as I reserve the

JV: I need miracle to win SEN. *OSEPH 6ICTOR g*6u %JERCITO ON Thursday admitted that he would need a miracle to win in the May 13 midterm polls. The senator is among 62 Senate bets vying for 12 Senate seats. One of the candidates is Ejercito’s half-brother, *OSE g*INGGOYu %STRADA “I would need a miracle to win a seat back. I believe miracles do happen,� Ejercito said on Twitter. In a media forum, Ejercito said, “The sibling rivalry issue has been unfair to me.� “Instead of my performance, instead of my legislative accomplishments to be highlighted during the campaign, it was overshadowed [by this sibling rivalry issue],� he said. “Last year, when my brother said he want[ed] to run [for the Senate], I know already that the chances of winning [would] be affected. Maghahati at maghahati kami ng boto e. Hindi ginagawa ‘yun kahit konsehal,

kahit governor, kahit board member. (We’re going to split the votes among us. That is not done by those running as councilor, governor, or even board member),� Ejercito said. “May mako- confuse pa. [May] handicap pa ako : Gamit ko Ejercito, hindi Estrada, which is a brand name. So, sumagi sa isipan ko ‘yan (Some will be confused. I have a handicap: I use Ejercito, not Estrada, which is a brand name. So, it crossed my mind [to withdraw]),� the senator said. Ejercito said he pursued his reelection bid in order to continue his advocacies for improved healthcare program, low-cost housing and modern transportation system. “I decided to fight it off. I could survive without politics but I don’t want to put to waste what I had started. I have to make sure that these will be implemented. properly. I’ll just take the risk,� he added. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

RIGHT TO kLE CHARGES AGAINST THEM if this frivolous charges prove untrue,� the prosecutor said. The families of the victims hit &ADULLON FOR APPROVING THE kLING of an amended information for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for the death of Aejay "AUTISTA AND *ANSYN !RT "ATAAN They said they were apprehensive “that the same fate of Bataan and Bautista may befell on the CASES THEY kLED FOR THE DEATHS OF their children.� JOMAR CANLAS

Q RECALL FROM A1

FDA eyeing monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Market Authorization Holder (MAH) for the recall PENDING CONkRMATION OF THE SAFETY RISK &$! $IRECTOR General Nela Charade Puno said in a statement. Losartan Potassium + Hydrochlorothiazide is prescribed to hypertension patients whose blood pressure cannot be controlled on either losartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone, Puno noted. He warned the public anew against using the drug, particularly if manufactured by Lek Pharmaceuticals dd, ,JUBLJANA OF 3LOVENIA ,OT *" IS BEING VOLUNTARILY recalled by pharmaceutical company Sandoz Inc. “For everyone’s protection, I am calling on the public to report the sale or distribution of the subject drug product despite the issuance of this advisory. Kindly email us via report@fda.gov.ph,� Puno said. The active pharmaceutical ingredient, losartan, was manufactured by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. in Linhai, China. It was found to contain trace amount of the impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine, WHICH THE 7ORLD (EALTH /RGANIZATION HAS CLASSIkED as a “probable human carcinogen.� CATHERINE MODESTO

THE Quezon City (QC) ProsecuTOR S /FkCE HAS GIVEN THE GO SIGNAL FOR THE kLING OF LIBEL COMPLAINTS against Cecilia OreĂąa Drilon, Marie Milagros Lozano and Venancio Borromeo of ABS-CBN network as it granted anchor Gretchen Fullido’s motion for reconsideration. In separate resolutions dated April 29, Chief Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano found probable cause to charge Drilon, Lozano and Borromeo with libel. The prosecutor said the three “acted in bad faithâ€? when they issued libelous statements during the network’s internal investigation of the sexual harassment complaint filed by Fullido against former news executive Cheryl Favila and news segment producer Maricar Asprec. The network executives were summoned to testify before the ABS-CBN Ad Hoc Investigating Committee. Fullido, according to her lawYER -ARVIN !CERON kLED THE LIBEL complaints against Drilon, Lozano and Borromeo for allegedly besmirching her reputation when they testified that she claimed sexual harassment in 2017 “to leverage her employment status with ABS-CBN.â€? “Fullido in her Complaint AfkDAVIT ALSO SAID $RILON RESORTED to victim-shaming and imputed statements that Fullido deserved to be harassed, since Fullido allegedly was willing to wear a bikini with AN INlATABLE POOL WITH BUBBLES TO shove up the ratings of ‘TV Patrol,’ a leading daily news program,â€? Aceron said. In March, the QC ProsecuTOR S OFkCE JUNKED THE LIBEL CASES PROMPTING &ULLIDO S CAMP TO kLE A motion for reconsideration.

In the April resolution, the prosecutor said Drilon’s claim that she witnessed Fullido “laugh off� and disregard side comments from male TV Patrol anchors on the complainant’s “body, manner of dress or behavior,� was an act of malice. “Respondent acted with malice when the imputation contained in her Affidavit appears to be absolutely discreditable tending to impeach the virtue and reputation of complainant. Respondent went beyond board and what is relevant on the case when she linked the act complained of to an alleged incident where complainant have many times received inappropriate comments from other members of TV Patrol, which in her opinion also constituted acts of sexual harassment. Respondent went farther when she said that complainant was willing to wear a bikini on television for TV Patrol’s ratings. It can be deduced from the words of respondent that she jumped into a conclusion or assumption that Complainant could easily ignore such unpleasant acts, as if she welcomed the same,� the resolution stated. !CERON CONkRMED TO The Manila Times that they received a copy of the resolutions. “Yes, we received the resolutions reversing the dismissal yesterday by registered mail. We have forwarded them to Gretchen already,� he said, adding that they would SOON RELEASE AN OFkCIAL STATEMENT The Manila Times reached out to Drilon and Lozano through their social media accounts, but did not get a reply. CHRISTINA ALPAD

MMDA sees traffic jams on election weekend THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday warned motorists to PREPARE FOR MONSTROUS TRAFkC JAMS DURING THE kNAL STRETCH OF POLITICAL campaigning on Friday, two days before the May 13 elections. MMDA Command Center chief Edison “Bong� Nebrija said several roads in Metro Manila would be closed because of the holding of miting de avance OR kNAL CAMPAIGN of various politicians. “The problem is the miting de avance. If they close inner roads, TRAFkC WILL SPILL OVER TO OUR MAJOR thoroughfares,� he told reporters. The MMDA announced that the

number coding scheme for provincial buses would be suspended on Friday and Tuesday to ensure that there would be enough buses to transport those who will vote in the provinces. So far, Quezon City was the only city to coordinate campaign activities in the run-up to election day. Nebrija urged other cities to do the same. “If we could not plan ahead with their motorcades and they would conduct it all at the same time, it would be a problem. We need to plan and manage main thoroughfares,� he said. NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

P52.30 TO $1

PSEi 7,755.62 DOWN 2.16%

www.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 1 . 4 8 %

What’s inside SALARY LOAN ACQUISITION UP 10.7% IN 2018 – SSS BusinessB2

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DOTR TO ENDORSE NAIA PROPOSAL

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SAN MIGUEL PROFIT FALLS TO P12.8 IN JAN-MARCH

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

CHINA WARNS IT ‘WON’T CAPITULATE’

Business Times

ÂťForeign BusinessB4

W S i n g a p o re 0 . 4 3 %

W Seoul 3.04%

W To k yo 0 . 9 3 %

W Jakarta 1.14%

PWC’S NEEDLES IN A HAYSTACK

W H o n g Ko n g 2 . 3 9 %

B2

W

CURRENCY RATE

B1

W B a n g ko k 0 . 4 4 %

Monetary Board trims interest rates by 25 bps BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

M

ONETARY authorities on Thursday slashed interest rates by 25 basis POINTS BPS ‡ THE kRST TIME SINCE A SERIES OF RATE HIKES LAST YEAR ‡ ON EXPECTATIONS THAT INlATION WOULD REMAIN MANAGEABLE

$URING A BRIEkNG AT THE "ANGKO 3ENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) headquarters in Manila, the central bank’s Monetary Board reduced overnight borrowing, lending and deposit rates to 4.5 percent, 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively. In a speech, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the board’s decision to cut rates were

gBASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT THAT THE INlATION OUTlook continues to be manageable, with easing price pressures owing to the decline in food prices amid improved supply conditions.� According to him, the policymaking body considered the impact of the 2019 national budget impasse on near-term economic

ÂłRates B4

DoF: Train PSEi falls 2.16% on Jan-March GDP Who are insiders and who are not? revenues T beat 2018 target THE Department of Finance (DoF) reported on Thursday that revenues generated from tax reforms surpassed its target by 8.1 percent in 2018. In a statement, the Finance department said revenues from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Act reached P68.4 billion last year, higher than its P63.3-billion full-year goal, citing a report from its Strategy,

ÂłRevenues B4

THE stock market experienced a bloodbath on Thursday as investors were discouraged after the country’s gross domestic product '$0 GROWTH DATA FOR THE kRST quarter showed that it slowed to its lowest in four years. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by 2.16 percent or 171.07 points to close at 7,755.62. The wider

All Shares, meanwhile, declined by 1.42 percent or 69.13 points to end at 4,807.85. “The market’s slide was primarily due to the slowdown in GDP growth,� Philstocks Financial Inc. research associate Japhet Louis Tantiangco said. The Philippine Statistics Authority announced on Thursday that the country’s economic growth

in January to March slowed to a 16-quarter low of 5.6 percent from 6.5 percent in the same period last year and 6.3 percent in the last quarter of 2018. The PSA attributed the drop to the delay in the passage of the 2019 national budget, which forced the government to operate on a reenacted budget from January to

ÂłGDP B2

Boosting Philippine startups MORE TO FOLLOW (MTF) T SAMANTHA POBLACION

HE Philippine startup community awaits with bated breath for the approval of the Innovative Startup Bill. According to a senate press release in May 2018, the bill will provide support to innovative

and tech startups, which pertain to businesses that provide unique and relevant solutions to pressing problems, such as transportation, financing, agriculture and

ÂłMTF B4

HE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) announced the disposal by Dakila B. Fonacier of one PSE common share in a “statement OF CHANGES IN BENEkCIAL OWNERship of securities� dated May 4, 2019. On the same day, it issued a nominal PSE common share each to Roberto Cecilio O. Lim and Edgardo G. Lacson in connection with their election to the PERSON BOARD )T CLASSIkED ,IM as the board’s independent director while Lacson represents nonbroker-other market participants. A public ownership report (POR) as of March 31, 2019 showed PSE had 85,099,815 issued shares. Minus 100,006

treasury common shares, it reported 84,999,809 outstanding common shares. San Miguel Corporation Retirement Plan is one of PSE’s four principal stockholders, according to the POR. It directly owned 7,552,200 million PSE common shares, or 8.89 percent. The three others were Premier Capital

ÂłPerez B4

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Salary loan acquisition A up 10.7% in 2018 – SSS T BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

HE NUMBER OF 3OCIAL 3ECURITY 3YSTEM 333 MEMBERS WHO RECEIVED THEIR SALARY LOANS FROM THE STATE RUN PENSION FUND WENT UP TO MILLION IN SSS President and Chief ExecuTIVE /FkCER !URORA )GNACIO SAID ON Thursday total loan acquisition increased by 10.7 percent from 1.625 million member-borrowers in 2017. Of the P30.5 billion worth of salary loans released last year, more than 166,000 or 9.22 percent of the 1.8 million loan releases were through the Union Bank of the Philippines’ (UBP) Quick #ARD 4HE kGURE IS ALMOST TRIPLE

of the 55,835 recorded in 2017. “We are glad that we are able to help more of our members on THEIR kNANCIAL NEEDS IN THE FORM OF salary loans,� Ignacio said. “Over the years, we have seen that more members opt to receive their salary loan proceeds through electronic means since they do not have to wait for their checks to be DELIVERED TO THEIR HOUSES OR OFkCES and go personally to the bank to encash the check. We have decided

to further expand the program of salary loans through UBP Quick Cards by allowing more kiosks in additional branches nationwide,� he added. At present, the SSS is offering services of its UBP Quick Cards kiosks to four of its 10 additional branches--Cubao, San Francisco Del Monte, Marikina, and Binondo. Branches offering the program since 2015 are Diliman, Makati-Gil Puyat, Pasig Shaw, Makati-Ayala, Kalookan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Alabang, Bacoor, Biùan, Dagupan, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. The UBP is authorized to provide efficient and convenient mode for the release of salary

loan proceeds of the memberborrowers. It can be performed either through direct crediting to SSS member-borrower’s UBP Quick Card, which is an ATM card linked to UBP savings account, or if readily available, through an existing UBP Checking or Savings Account. “With the continuous increase of members availing of the SSS BENEkTS AND LOAN PROGRAMS WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOP EFkCIENT and convenient options to better serve our members. But we would like to remind our members that these are loans that should be paid religiously and on time to avoid penalties and possible deDUCTIONS IN THEIR kNAL CLAIM LIKE retirement,� Ignacio said.

DoTr to endorse NAIA proposal week� for further evaluation. The group is composed of the COUNTRY S CONGLOMERATE GIANTS !# Infrastructure Holdings, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). The consortium submitted its detailed proposal on April 30, just in time for the deadline set by the DoTr. Tugade said the DoTr found

no “issues� with the group’s proPOSAL (OWEVER THE OFkCIAL SAID HE couldn’t say if the same would be the case with NEDA. Once the NEDA approves the group’s proposal, it would face a Swiss challenge, where other groups can challenge the proposal and the consortium can match. Tugade warned in March that if the consortium failed to work on its detailed offer, he would “stop talking with them.� The consortium earlier said it

would shell out around P102 billion to expand NAIA’s capacity, install people mover to connect the terminals, and increase the NUMBER OF lIGHTS The country’s main air hub was designed to accommodate 31 million passengers, but in 2017 it catered to 42 million passengers. 4HE kGURE IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO around 47 million passengers by 2020, and to 52 million passengers by 2022. LISBET K. ESMAEL

it [was] in,â€? Tantiango said. P2P Trade Online sales associate Gabriel Jose Perez also pointed to the lower GDP as having dragged the index. mid-April. “Another alarming issue to “While it was already expected watch out for‌should be how US by many that GDP growth would markets move tonight, more so DECLINE FROM kRST QUARTER LAST YEAR S that Dow futures are already down 6.5 percent‌it came as a surprise by 240 points [as] of this writing,â€? that growth came down to the level Perez said.

In the US, the Dow Jones was the sole gainer, up 0.01 percent. S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down 0.16 percent and 0.26 percent, respectively. In the region, Tokyo fell 0.93 percent, Shanghai declined 1.48 percent, Hong Kong plunged 2.39 percent, Seoul dived 3.04 percent, Jakarta lost 1.14 percent, Singapore slipped 0.43 percent

and Bangkok dipped 0.36 percent. In Manila, all sectoral results kNISHED IN THE RED WITH THE knancials index down the most by 2.81 percent. More than 663 million issues were traded valued at P9.15 billion. Losers led winners, 109 to 88, while 43 issues were unchanged. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

A HEADWAY could develop for the NAIA consortium when the Department of Transportation (DOTr) endorses its proposal to upgrade the country’s main hub to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) next week. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier this week said the proposal of the so-called super consortium to rehabilitate and develop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be forwarded to the NEDA “until next

Q GDP FROM B1

PSEi falls

Sense-making a new strategic planning approach

FINEX FILES

BENEL LAGUA

All managers are HR managers T

HE Human Resource Department, important as it is, has an unfortunate reputation of being ignored or at worst being disparaged by other members of the organization. People not in the HR Department expect more from HR. HR is viewed as an overhead cost, not as an earner. When the company delivers on its bottom line, it is always because of the good work of frontliners without mention of how HR made its contribution. But when some people problem arises, it is because HR did not do its job well, even if the problem may lie elsewhere. The situation gets aggravated when people in higher levels of the organization have poor appreciation of the HR function. In truth, the HR function actually starts from the topmost level in the organization. If the top acts more like a bully than a counselor, HR gets the brunt of the blame. If the line supervisors fail in reigning in their people, it becomes an HR problem because it involves functional human resources. In reality, all managers in the organization are HR managers as they get involved in activities such as training, selecting, evaluating and supervising employees. Line managers have the ultimate responsibility for achieving the organization’s goals. They also

ÂłFinex B4

I

T’S the start of the strategic planning season. Senior management teams of organizations travel offsite to focus on this long exercise to plan for the following year as well as for the next three years. They usually employ the services of a consultant or the corporate planning group to go through the traditional linear steps of identifying the broad mission, vision and/or values statements, conducting a situational analysis involving external and internal assessments, establishing broad goals in accordance with the mission and results of the assessments, identifying strategies to achieve those goal, developing specific action plans (objectives, schedules, responsibilities and resources) to achieve each of the goals. A permanent component of the corporate planner’s linear process is external analysis involving Porter’s Five Forces – intensity of competition, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of suppliers, and bargaining power of customers. The wisdom derived from this analysis is multifold, such as strategies to reduce the threat of new entrants and substitutes, or reducing the bargaining power of suppliers and customers, and reduce the intensity of competition. !NOTHER PERMANENT kXTURE IN CORporate planning is SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) which is used to derive multiple strategic options, such as strategies that use the company’s strengths to capitalize on opportunities in the macroenvironment. While these tools are useful in thinking through the various components of the business, its linear nature fails to unearth strategies to better compete and serve customers. This is why there’s increasing corporate mortality, heralded by

to how we structure the unknown so as to be able to act in it. It involves coming up with a plausible undermap—of a shifting REYNALDO standing—a world; testing this map with others LUGTU JR. through data collection, action, and CONVERSATION AND THEN REkNING OR the demise of corporate giants such abandoning, the map depending as Nokia, Toys R’ Us, Sears, among on how credible it is. Sense-making enables leaders to have a better others. “The S&P 500 death rate is risingâ€?, grasp of what is going on in their CLSA investment strategist Damian environments, thus facilitating Kestel said in 2017. “A period of rela- other leadership activities such as tive stability is ending. An increasing visioning, relating, and inventing’. It number of corporate leaders will involves three major steps - explore LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR kRM S FUTURE u the wider system, create a map of This has never been as true as it is that system, and act in the system now. The length of time large-cap to learn from it. Explore the wider system. The key stocks have spent in the benchmark index has been declining, from 33 to this step is to work with others years on average in 1985 to 20 years to observe what is going on, may as of 1990. This will get even smaller it be using external consultants or in the future, shrinking to 14 years involving other leaders in the organization. Many local organizations by 2026, according to forecasts. These large organizations are conduct leadership summits, where well-staffed by corporate planning they invite experts from different wizards from Ivy League schools, kELDS THAT PROVIDE DIFFERENT PERSPECbut still they were unable to respond tives of the world. This should be to the fast-changing environment. supplemented with different data Then what is the reason for all of types and data sources to validate and expand the perspectives. It’s these? The world has never been as com- also important to remove prior plex as it is now. The 4th Industrial biases from interfering with your Revolution is bringing forth unprec- perceptions, by utilizing external edented changes brought about by facilitators to help de-bias the views TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN ARTIkCIAL of leaders. intelligence, big data, and quantum Create a map or story of the situcomputing, among others. ation. Sense-making can be likened But with the complexities in the to cartography. The key is to create macroenvironment, the traditional maps and frames that adequately approach to strategic planning, represent the current situation that which is linear or sequential in an organization is facing. Maps and nature, is oftentimes not applicable. frameworks give leaders snapshots Hence, a new approach to strategic of the current and future scenarios, planning is requisite to account for enabling them to better process data the chaos that’s happening all over. and information. Examples are the Enter sense-making. transformation maps put together According to Prof. Deborah An- by the World Economic Forum, a cona of the MIT Sloan School of dynamic knowledge tool to underManagement, sense-making ‘refers ÂłManagement B4

MANAGEMENT ACTION

Creating value through M&A

S global competition increases, companies buy other companies. Owners demand more top-line growth as a way to increase shareholder value. Some owners believe that acquisition transforms their business – it can give competitive advantage through new value preposition and focused business strategy. Yet over two-thirds of all mergers and acquisitions (M&A) fail to produce the projected synergies and financial numbers. Why is that? On behalf of PwC, Mergermarket and Casa Business School surveyed early this year 600 global senior corporate executives from across industries and geographies. They asked executives about their experiences with value creation through M&A. Here are the highlights OF THE kNDINGS Ninety-two percent of acquirers said they had a value creation plan in place for their last deal, but only 61 percent of buyers believed their last acquisition created value. Furthermore, 53 percent underperformed vis-à -vis their industry peers, on average, over the 24 months following completion of their last deal based on Total Shareholder Return (TSR). From a seller’s perspective, 42 percent of divestors likewise said their last sales generated value, relative to the value that business would have created had it not been sold. Around 13 percent said their last diVESTMENT GENERATED SIGNIkCANT value, and 35 percent said their last deal actually lost value. Additionally, 57 percent of divestors underperformed vis-à -vis their industry peers, on average, over the 24 months following the completion of their last deal, based on TSR. Thirty-four percent of acquirers said value creation was a priority on Day One (deal closing) in their last deal but 66 percent of dealmakers say value creation should have been a priority right from the start. Simply put, some acquirers focus on integrating the hard tangible assets E G kNANCIAL ACCOUNTING AND operations systems) to achieve value. But they neglect the soft but equally important intangible assets (e.g. people and culture). Problems might also stem from acquirers’ inability to create synergy, paying too high a premium, selecting inappropriate targets, and ineffective integration processes. A careful selection of targets and effectively implemented acquisitions can achieve synergy and create value. For example, the difference in sizes between the acquiring company and the TARGET COMPANY INlUENCES VALUE creation. If the target company is much smaller than the acquiring company, it is unlikely to affect value creation. However, if the target company has capabilities complementary to those held by the acquiring company, an opportunity for synergy creation exists. But as the difference narrows and value creation grows, integration often becomes a problem. It leads to value loss, even if the two companies are of similar size. While gaining competitive advantage through M&A is a business strategy for growth, continued success depends on how acquirers understand the importance of deal selection, deal management and governance, and post-deal integration. Let’s look at these three considerations that emerged FROM RECENT RESEARCH 3TAY TRUE TO STRATEGIC INTENT Organizations should approach deals as part of a clear strategic vision and align deal activity to long-term objectives for the business. While 86 percent of buyers said their latest ACQUISITIONS CREATED SIGNIkCANT value, they also said it was part

of a broader portfolio review rather than mere opportunity. Thus, bringing a more strategic lens to M&A planning and execution means understanding where the business needs to strengthen to deliver on its ambitions. "E CLEAR ON ALL ELEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE VALUE CRE ATION PLAN WHICH IS NOT A CHECKLIST BUT A BLUEPRINT Make sure that a thorough and effective process for conducting the deal exists with the necessary diligence and attention in the value creation planning process across all areas of the business. Consider how each of these value creation processes supports the business model, synergy delivery, operating model and technology plans. &OR ACQUISITIONS WITH SIGNIkCANT value lost relative to purchase PRICE PERCENT DID NOT HAVE an integration strategy in place at signing, and 63 percent did not have a technology plan in place at signing. 0RIORITIZE CULTURE AT THE HEART OF THE DEAL Talent management and human capital affect how businesses can deliver value. Eighty-two percent of COMPANIES SAID SIGNIkCANT VALue was destroyed in their latest acquisition and they lost more than 10 percent of employees after the transaction. Businesses must invest time and resources in the process to succeed. For instance, over two-thirds of companies that said their latest deal subsequently created SIGNIkCANT VALUE RELATIVE TO THE purchase price also had an integration strategy in place during signing. The ability to bring cultures together should be a key factor in deciding whether the deal goes ahead, or not. *** Value creation depends on how the process from merger preparation to post-merger integration is managed. This process includes robust strategy, thorough assessment of whether the deal is worth pursuing, and a clear M&A methodology. Acquirers should include their value creation plan together with their experience in the art of deal-making and cultural issues, which might hamper the realization of value in their long-term strategy. A successful M&A process uses THESE BEST PRACTICES THOROUGH evaluation of the target companies’ strategic interest and of the potential synergies; resource and cultural management; and solid communication strategy that help facilitate change management and achieve ideal balance and raise value creation. As M&A deals in the Philippines are expected to accelerate in 2019 based on the relatively robust economic outlook, investors are once again challenged to carefully assess how they will manage their acquisitions. It is crucial to develop a strategy that prioritizes value at every stage of the deal, start early, and be thorough in considering every opportunity. They should make sure that deal mechanics add value, key talents remain engaged in integration, and a clear strategy is in place. *** Cheryl Dineros-De Guzman is a Deals and Corporate Finance Executive Director of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of the PwC network. For more information, please email markets@ph.pwc.com. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

PLDT income down 3% to P6.7B in Q1 PLDT Inc. said on Thursday its reported net income decreased by 3 percent to P6.7 billion in THE kRST QUARTER OF FROM 0 BILLION A YEAR AGO EVEN AS its core income rose by 6 percent TO 0 BILLION IN THE PERIOD FROM 0 BILLION IN )N A BRIEkNG THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANT ATTRIBUTED THE reduced net income to lower GAINS IN THE VALUATION OF ITS INVESTMENT IN 2OCKET )NTERNET AND THE IMPROVED CORE INCOME TO ITS STRONG CONSOLIDATED SERVICES REVENUES 4HESE REVENUES GREW BY PERcent to P38 billion in January TO -ARCH FROM 0 BILLION IN ON THE BACK OF ROBUST GROWTH FROM ITS WIRELESS INDIVIDUAL HOME AND ENTERPRISE UNITS WHOSE REVENUES ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION 4HANKS TO THE IMPROVED EARNINGS 0,$4 #HAIRMAN -ANUEL 0ANGILINAN SAID HIS COMPANY WAS ON TRACK TO MEET ITS GUIDANCE OF 0 BILLION CORE INCOME INCREASE FOR THE year. It added that capital expenditures would remain AT 0 BILLION NOTING THAT adjustments could be made BASED ON ITS &IFTH 'ENERATION ' INVESTMENTS #ONSOLIDATED EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST TAXES DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXCLUDING MANPOWER RIGHTSIZING PROGRAM COST AND NEW ACCOUNTING POLICY IMPACT GAINED PERCENT TO 0 BILLION COMPARED WITH 0 BILLION LAST YEAR DUE TO IMPROVED SERVICES AND LOWER CASH OPERATING EXPENSES PLDT also reported that its DATA AND BROADBAND SERVICE REVENUES SURGED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE QUARTER 2EVENUES OF THE COMPANY S WIRELESS UNIT MEANWHILE GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION

Corporate News San Miguel profit falls to P12.8B in Jan-March

DUE TO INCREASING DATA USAGE and subscriber base. Its prepaid SEGMENT ACCOUNTED FOR PERCENT OF THESE REVENUES WHILE its subscriber base added 3.4 MILLION USERS TO END THE QUARTER with 63.4 million subscribers. The disruption in installation AND REPAIR SERVICES PROMPTED BY ISSUES ON OUTSOURCING SERVICES FACED BY 0,$4 LAST YEAR CAUSED ITS HOME SEGMENT TO GROW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION g . E T S U B S C R I B E R G R OW T H stalled in the last two months OF AND SOFTENED REVENUE GROWTH IN 1 u THE TELCO said. %ARNINGS OF ITS ENTERPRISE BUSINESS UNIT GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION THE BULK OF WHICH ‡ 0 BILLION ‡ WAS CONTRIBUTED BY kXED LINE SERVICES DEMAND FOR WHICH WAS FUELED BY RISING NEED FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY )N THE FIRST QUARTER 0,$4 expanded by 6 percent the COVERAGE OF ITS kXED LINE kBER POWERED BROADBAND NETWORK TO 6.7 million homes. )TS WIRELESS SUBSIDIARY 3MART #OMMUNICATIONS INCREASED ITS LONG TERM EVOLUTION ,4% BASE STATIONS BY IN THE SAME PERIOD BRINGING THE TOTAL TO !SKED ABOUT CYBERSECURITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING ITS #HInese partner Huawei TechnoloGIES #O ,TD 0ANGILINAN SAID 0,$4 WAS WORKING WITH THE SMARTPHONE PROVIDER TO ADDRESS them. “We want to be able to secure COOPERATION SO THAT WE CAN ADOPT RELEVANT CYBERSECURITY MEASURESwFOR THE WELFARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS u HE ADDED 0,$4 SHARES ADDED 0 OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 each on Thursday. TYRONE C. PIAD

S

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

AN Miguel Corp. (SMC) reported on Thursday that its net income decreased by 18 PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE kRST QUARTER of the year from P15.6 billion in the same period in 2018, attributing it to the lower earnings of its fuel and food businesses. )N A STATEMENT THE LISTED CONGLOMERATE SAID ITS FUEL BUSINESS SAW THE SALES VOLUME OF ITS 0HILIPPINE OPERATIONS REDUCED BY PERCENT AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR !CCELERATION AND )NCLUSION !CT IN *ANUARY !S A RESULT OIL SUBSIDIARY 0ETRON #ORP S NET INCOME FELL BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION year-on-year. )T ALSO SAID ITS FOOD BUSINESS WAS AFFECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT S

LIFTING OF SPECIAL SAFEGUARD DUTIES AGAINST IMPORT SURGES LEADING TO AN INDUSTRY WIDE OVERSUPPLY AND A SIGNIkCANT DECLINE IN POULTRY PRICES 4HIS RESULTED IN 3AN -IGUEL &OOD AND "EVERAGE )NC S 3-&" NET INCOME TO GROW BY ONLY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR DESPITE ITS NET SALES RISING BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION 4WO 3-&" UNITS 'INEBRA 3AN -IGUEL )NC AND 3AN -IGUEL "REWERY )NC SAW THEIR kRST QUARTER NET

INCOME INCREASE BY PERCENT AND PERCENT TO 0 MILLION AND 0 BILLION FROM 0 MILLION AND 0 BILLION LAST YEAR RESPECTIVELY )N CONTRAST 3AN -IGUEL 0URE &OODS )NC S NET PROFIT DECLINED BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 billion year-on-year. “The slowdown in these businesses is temporary. We are not TAKING THEM LIGHTLY AND WE RE SEEING CLEAR SIGNS OF RECOVERY u 3-# 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER 2AMON !NG SAID g7E ANTICIPATE HIGHER CONSUMER SPENDING FROM AN IMPROVING ECONOMY PRIMARILY THE EASING OF INlATION 4HE ELECTION SEASON ALSO USUALLY BRINGS US GOOD RESULTS 7E VE IMPLEMENTED A GOOD NUMBER OF MEASURES TO RECOVER LOST GROUND AND FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR COMPETITIVE POSItions in industries where we are IN u HE ADDED

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,755.62

-171.07

Ĺş

All Shares

4,807.85

-69.13

Ĺş

Financials

1,718.56

-49.74

Ĺş

Industrial

11,504.40

-150.61

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,414.27

-205.95

Ĺş

Services

1,606.32

-7.41

Ĺş

Mining and Oil

7,466.08

-104

Ĺş

Property

4,118.74

-56.01

Ĺş

A 0 MILLION kNE AND 0 MILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A new water-supply source. /PERATING EXPENSES SURGED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION BOLSTERED BY HIGHER COSTS AND EXPENSES OF WHICH THE PENALTY WAS A MAJOR DRIVER /UTSIDE THE COUNTRY WASTERWATER PROCESSING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE PROVIDER -ANILA 7ATER 0HILIPPINE 6ENTURES )NC S -706 EARNINGS GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION led by its business-to-business arm %STATE 7ATER WHICH THE PARENT SAID gREALIZED NOTABLE GAINS IN ITS CUSTOMER BASE THROUGH THE TAKEOVER OF NEW ESTATES AND KEY ACCOUNTS u %STATE 7ATER S NET INCOME ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION IN THE QUARTER FROM THE YEAR AGO LEVEL )N CONTRAST OTHER UNITS INCLUDING #LARK

4(% WATER SHORTAGE THAT STRUCK PARTS OF -ETRO -ANILA AND 2IZAL PROVINCE IN -ARCH DROVE -ANILA 7ATER #O )NC S CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME TO DIP TO 0 BILLION IN THE kRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR )N A DISCLOSURE ON 4HURSDAY THE Ayala-led utility company said the AMOUNT WAS A PERCENT DECLINE FROM 0 BILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD IN ATTRIBUTING IT TO THE gIMPACT OF THE WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGEu WITHIN ITS COVERAGE AREA %XCLUDING THE SHORTAGE S IMPACT CORE NET INCOME GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE QUARTER 2EVENUES CLIMBED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN *ANUARY TO -ARCH FROM 0 BILLION IN DRIVEN BY THE HIGHER TARIFF IN ITS -ANILA CONCESSION AND IMPROVED TOPLINE GROWTH OF ITS businesses outside the metropolis.

4HIS WAS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY THE ONE TIME BILL RELIEF AIMED AT ALLEVIATING THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE SHORTAGE THAT AMOUNTED TO ABOUT 0 MILLION 4HE SHORTAGE THAT STARTED ON -ARCH HIT MILLION HOUSEHOLDS COVERED BY -ANILA 7ATER S CONCESSION AREA FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO COMmercial and industrial establishments. $ESPITE ALLOCATING MILLION LITERS PER DAY -,$ FROM !NGAT $AM THE LISTED WATER kRM HAD TO TAP ITS RESERVES FROM THE ,A -ESA $AM TO MAKE UP FOR THE SUPPLY DEkCIT AS DEMAND ROSE TO ABOUT -,$ 4HE -ETROPOLITAN 7ATERWORKS AND 3EWERAGE 3YSTEM -733 had slapped Manila Water with a 0 BILLION PENALTY FOR VIOLATING A PROVISION IN ITS CONCESSION AGREEMENT 4HE PENALTY IS MADE UP OF

HOLDING FIRMS

Businessinbriefs

SERVICES

RAZON-LED International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) saw its attributable net income in the first quarter surge by 77 percent to $72.4 million from $40.9 million in the same period last year on the back of strong port operations. In a disclosure on Thursday, the listed port operator said its gross revenues climbed by 18 percent to $383.8 million in January to March from $325.4 million in the same period last year. It also said consolidated volume grew by 7 percent to 2.47 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 2.32 million TEUs last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization stood at $222.5 million, a 25-percent increase from $177.5 million in 2018. ICTSI’s shares lost P4 or 2.06 percent to close at P131 apiece on Thursday. LISBET K. ESMAEL

Stock indices as of May 9, 2019

PSEi

ALL SHARES

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

MINING AND OIL

PROPERTY

PILIPINAS SHELL PROFIT FLAT AMID HIGHER TAXES PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. registered flat earnings in the first three months of the year on the back of higher fuel excise taxes. In a disclosure on Thursday, the oil company reported a net income of P2.3 billion, which it said reflected “an improvement from prior year performance amid higher excise taxes and depressed regional refining margins.� Total volumes increased by 2 percent during the period. The strong performance of its marketing businesses and operational efficiency enabled Pilipinas Shell to surpass challenges and changes. The company maintained its return on average capital employed at 15 percent, while gearing remained low at 25 percent. Meanwhile, cash from operations before changes in working capital rose by JORDEENE B. LAGARE 16 percent.

MAX’S MAINTAINS CAPEX AT P600M

INDEX HISTORY Date May 9, 2019 May 8, 2019 May 7, 2019 May 6, 2019 May 3, 2019 May 02, 2019 Apr 30, 2019 Apr 29, 2019 Apr 26, 2019 Apr 25, 2019 Apr 24, 2019 Apr 23, 2019 Apr 22, 2019 Apr 17, 2019 Apr 16, 2019 Apr 15, 2019 Apr 12, 2019 Apr 11, 2019 Apr 10, 2019 Apr 8, 2019 Apr 5, 2019 Apr 4, 2019 Apr 3, 2019 Apr 2, 2019 Apr 1, 2019 Mar 29, 2019 Mar 28, 2019 Mar 27, 2019 Mar 26, 2019 Mar 25, 2019

Open 7,858 7,903 7,872 7,973 8,004 7,953 7,892 7,861 7,893 7,848 7,799 7,827 7,840 7,833 7,800 7,888 7,971 7,991 7,976 7,879 7,866 7,893 7,880 7,854 7,923 7,891 7,898 7,916 7,875 7,994

High 7,864 7,927 7,922 7,974 8,078 8,041 7,953 7,897 7,900 7,894 7,847 7,835 7,859 7,861 7,860 7,915 7,980 8,000 8,009 7,955 7,887 7,898 7,895 7,894 7,924 7,921 7,898 7,916 7,911 7,994

Low 7,756 7,755 7,861 7,851 7,968 7,947 7,889 7,846 7,840 7,832 7,799 7,770 7,818 7,824 7,799 7,788 7,881 7,956 7,953 7,879 7,866 7,836 7,861 7,854 7,810 7,887 7,856 7,841 7,869 7,808

Close 7,756 7,927 7,911 7,862 7,968 8,002 7,953 7,897 7,868 7,894 7,847 7,819 7,832 7,835 7,826 7,788 7,881 7,956 8,009 7,916 7,873 7,854 7,895 7,879 7,840 7,921 7,876 7,861 7,907 7,863

/THER 3-# SUBSIDIARIES ALSO RECORDED EARNINGS GROWTH 3-# 'LOBAL 0OWER (OLDINGS #ORP S PROkT SOARED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION 3AN -IGUEL 9AMAMURA 0ACKAGING #ORP REGISTERED A PERCENT JUMP IN REVENUES TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION AND 3-# )NFRASTRUCture posted an 8-percent increase IN REVENUES TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR .ET INCOME FROM THE LAST TWO WERE NOT disclosed. g7E RE OFF TO A GOOD START IN TERMS OF OUR VOLUME AND REVENUE PERFORMANCE /UR BUSINESSES ARE PERFORMING STRONGLY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES AND WE ARE CONkDENT THAT AS IT WAS IN THE PAST WE WILL OVERCOME THE IMPACT OF THESE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACED u !NG SAID 3-# SHARES ROSE BY 0 OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 each on Thursday.

Manila Water earnings dive 27% on water crisis

ICTSI INCOME SOARS 77% TO $72.4M Index

B3

CLOSE

HIGH

MAX’S Group Inc. repoted on Thursday that it would keep its capital expenditure (capex) this year at P600 million. During a news briefing on the sidelines of the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Quezon City on Thursday, Max’s Group Chief Finance Officer Dave Fuentebella said Max’s would be spending the same amount as last year’s, to be used mostly to establish 80 new stores, covering both domestic and international areas. The company last year pivoted to growing its franchise-owned stores than its company-owned ones to unlock efficiency, particularly in labor management, and expand its store network to 1,000 by 2020. Franchised stores were targeted to grow by 70 percent versus company-owned ones by 2022. Franchised stores are currently at 60 percent, while 40 percent are companyowned. Max’s shares slid by 12 centavos or 0.82 percent to P14.48 apiece on Thursday.ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

GT CAPITAL EYES SINGLE-DIGIT PROFIT GROWTH GT Capital Holdings Inc. expects a turnaround for this year and grow its net income by “single digits� on expectations of a strong property business and a recovery in the automotive industry. “We are trying to shoot single digits,� GT Capital President and Chief Executive Officer Carmelo Ma. Luz Bautista said on the sidelines of

7ATER #ORP ,AGUNA !!! 7ATER #ORP AND "ORACAY )SLAND 7ATER #O POSTED LOWER EARNINGS BECAUSE OF A SLOWDOWN IN DEMAND AND HIGHER OPERATING COSTS -ANILA 7ATER !SIA 0ACIFIC 0TE ,TD -7!0 WHICH HOLDS -ANILA 7ATER S INVESTMENTS IN THE REGION MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS EARNINGS TO 0 MILLION WITH THE FULL RECOGNITION OF ITS ACQUISITION OF %AST 7ATER in Thailand and additional income FROM -7!0 S INDUSTRIAL PARK WATER SUPPLY OPERATIONS AT 04 3ARANA 4IRTA 5NGARAN IN )NDONESIA )TS OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES IN 6IETNAM 4HU $UC 7ATER AND +ENH $ONG 7ATER POSTED LOWER INCOME CONTRIbutions due to reduced demand. -ANILA 7ATER SHARES SHED CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO END AT 0 APIECE ON 4HURSDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

the conglomerate’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Makati City on Wednesday. “We are expecting a pick-up in property because the property momentum is strong, so we were hoping there will be a difference in the property side,â€? he added. GT Capital saw its consolidated net income last year drop by 5.6 percent to P13.4 billion from P14.2 billion in 2017, weighed by its automotive business. Core net profit declined by 9 percent to P13.7 billion from P15 billion year-on-year. Bautista also said the company was also seeing early signs of recovery in the automotive business. The conglomerate operates the segment under subsidiaries Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and Toyota Manila Bay Corp. Likewise, the company expanded its presence in the automotive sector through its foray into the auctioning of second-hand vehicles in partnership with Japan-based Japan Bike Auction Co. Ltd. (JBA Co. Ltd). ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

FIRST GEN SETS $250-M CAPEX LOPEZ-led First Gen Corp. will be spending up to $250 million in capital expenditures (capex) for 2019, with a significant amount to be earmarked for its unit Energy Development Corp. (EDC). In a press briefing on Wednesday, First Gen Executive Vice President Richard Tantoco said the company needs the amount to work on a project for its Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal plant in Bicol region. “For consolidated, it’s about $220 to $230 [million], bulk of that will be with EDC, it’s about $150 [million] then the rest would be with gas,� said Emmanuel Singson, First Gen’s senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. The $150-million for EDC will be used for its project and improvement of its power plants, according to Tantoco, who is also EDC’s president and chief operating officer. “Some of it will be for projects, and then some of it will be for things that we’ll do in the power plant like cooling tower upgrades,� he said. “We’re just finalizing control system integration for Tongonan [geothermal power plant], so that Tongonan can sell ancillary [services],� he added. Ancillary services are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the grid code. JORDEENE B. LAGARE

PHILEX MINING Q1 PROFIT DOWN 32% PHILEX Mining Corp. saw a 32-percent drop in net income attributable to equity holders of the parent to P206 million in the first quarter of 2019 from P302 million a year ago due to lower metal output. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Philex said core net income reached P111.58 million, down 67.7 percent from P345.97 million in the same period in 2018. Net revenues fell by 31.78 percent to P1.476 billion from P2.165 billion a year ago. During the first quarter, Padcal mine milled 1.832 million tons from January to March, 16.6 percent lower than the 2.197 million tons in the same period last year. Gold output decreased to 10,493 ounces from 17,947 ounces while copper output reached 5.727 million pounds compared to 7.073 million pounds in the previous year. The mining company said metal production was affected by unscheduled maintenance of some mining equipment and forest fire incidents around the mine camp that caused power outages and the immediate deployment of operations personnel to aid in fire suppression. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

B4

Foreign Business

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

China warns it ‘won’t capitulate’ as US trade talks loom WASHINGTON, D.C.: China rejected US accusations of backtracking in trade talks and warned it would not “capitulate to any pressure� as the two sides head into make-or-break negotiations on Thursday. After months of seemingly collegial talks, Chinese trade envoy Liu He returns to the bargaining table in the US capital

under a tense atmosphere after US negotiators accused Beijing of reneging on previously agreed commitments. The United States has raised the stakes with plans to increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods from 10 to 25 percent on Friday, prompting Beijing to vow to hit back with “necessary countermeasures�.

“The US has assigned a lot of labels, such as backtracking, going back on one’s word, and so on. Lots of promises have been foisted on China,� Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters in Beijing. “The Chinese side has kept its promises and this has never changed,� he added, without specifying what

measures Beijing would take but warning that it “has already prepared for all possible situations.� “China will not capitulate to any pressure, and we have the determination and ability to defend our own interests,� Gao said. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that Liu still wanted to

“make a deal�, but the US leader boasted about tariffs that were “not good for China�. “By the way, do you see the tariffs we’re doing? Because they broke the deal! They broke the deal!� Trump said at a rally in Florida on Wednesday. “So they are flying in -- the vice premier tomorrow is flying in. Good

meeting, the Philippine Statistics Authority announced that the country’s economic growth in January to March slowed to a four-year low of 5.6 percent, compared with 6.5 percent in THE kRST QUARTER OF AND percent in the last three months of 2018. Guinigundo also cited lower domestic liquidity growth and world GDP, as well as the decrease in Meralco rates in May, as considerations for the revised forecast.

Factors considered for the higher 2020 outlook were the increase in Dubai crude oil prices and the latest adjustment in jeepney fares. “[R]isks to the inflation outlook remain broadly balanced for 2019 amid risks of a prolonged El NiĂąo episode and higher-thanexpected increases in global oil prices,â€? Diokno said. “For 2020, the risks continue to lean toward the downside as weaker global economic activity

could temper commodity price pressures,� he added.

LOW IN ;THE kRST QUARTER= UNDERshooting expectations,� Holmes explained. Further loosening seen “While some of this was due to temporary factors, we still think In an e-mailed comment, Capital growth this year will be weaker Economics Emerging Asia Econo- than last year’s 6.2 percent,� he mist Alex Holmes said he expected said. more rate cuts this year. Holmes also said exports were “[The] reason we expect more likely to struggle due to slowcuts is that growth is likely to con- ing global growth, and that the TINUE TO UNDERWHELM '$0 kGURES lagged impact of last year’s rate released today (Thursday) show hikes would continue to weigh that growth dropped to a four-year on activity.

Q MANAGEMENT FROM B2

industry, including levels of investment in various factors. We also employ the Business Model Canvas to map an organization’s current and future activities that deliver value to its customers. These maps, along with others, are extremely powerful visuals and tools to help leaders frame their competitive environment. Act to change the system to learn from it. Using the same methods of mapping and framing, leaders create their own environments of the future by trying new ideas and

perspectives. For example, in the Business Model Canvas, leaders can visually experiment on implementing new sources of revenue, such as subscription service, and how it impacts the other components in operations, marketing, and cost structure. Sense-making using these steps, when done in a comprehensive and de-biased way, proves to be a powerful approach for leaders to better understand how they will respond to the changes in the environment, and formulate

Venture Corp., 6,673,204 PSE common shares; Banco de Oro for PLDT Retirement Fund, 6,673,200 PSE common shares; and Government Service Insurance System, 6,673,201 PSE common shares. Unlike San Miguel, Premier, BDO and GSIS indirectly held PSE common shares. On May 8, 2019, PSE opened trading at P181, hit a high of P183, dropped to a session’s low of P179 and closed at P183.

Rachelle C. Blanch, promoted to vice president effective April 1, 2011; and Argel G. Astudillo, who was hired effective Dec. 1, 2010. As PSE president and CEO in 2018, Monzon, Refran and Blanch were paid P47,469,092 of which P33,775,855 was their salary and the remainingP13,893,236 their bonus. For 2019, PSE, according to the DIS, HAD A LOW ESTIMATE OF THE kVE MAN group’s highest paid executives. Under “other compensation,� the CEO and four most highly compensated executives� would be paid P24.380 million. It listed only three, namely Monzon, Refran and Blanch.

Pays and perks

AEV insiders’ trades

Benel D. Lagua is Executive Vice President at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He is an active FINEX member and a long time advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs. The views expressed herein are his own and does not NECESSARILY RElECT THE OPINION OF HIS OFkCE AS WELL AS &).%8

)N A DEkNITIVE INFORMATION STATEment (DIS) in connection with PSE’s annual stockholders’ meeting on -AY THE kVE HIGHEST PAID executives were paid P35,412,195 in 2017. The exchange divided the amount into salary of P25,389,353 and bonus of P10,022,841. In the same year, it paid the 15-man board P20,415,785. The same DIS listed PSE’s chief executive office and four most HIGHLY COMPENSATED OFkCERS AS FOLLOWS (ANS " 3ICAT PRESIDENT AND CEO, Jan. 12, 2011 to May 5, 2017; Ramon S. Monzon, president and CEO from May 5, 2018 to present; Roel A. Refran, promoted effective June 1, 2012 to senior vice president;

Gabriel T. Manalac is senior vice president and group treasurer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV). On May 6, he reported his acquisition of 28,704 AEV common shares at P52.65 each, which are lodged with PCD Nominee Corp. The acquisition increased the number of AEV common shares he owns to 171,369, or 0.003 percent. Also on May 6, 2019, Lourdes Y. Tanate, AEV vice president and group audit head, bought 3,472 AEV common shares at P52.65 each. The acquisition increased the number of AEV common shares she owns to 15,784. David Jude Sta. Ana, senior vice president and chief external affairs

OFkCER OF !BOITIZ %QUITY BOUGHT AND lodged with PCD Nominee 18,519 AEV common shares at P52.65 each. This increased the number of AEV common shares he owns to 29,156 or 0.001 percent. Susan V. Valdez, senior vice presiDENT AND CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFkCER of Aboitiz Equity, bought 37,037 AEV common shares on May 6, 2019. The acquisition, which she lodged with PCD Nominee, increased her holdings to 806,963 AEV common shares, or 0.0143 percent. Ricardo F. Lacson, vice presidentDATA PRIVACY OFkCER OF !BOITIZ %QUITY increased the number of AEV common shares he owns to 120,486, or 0.002 percent, after buying 4,167 AEV common shares, which he lodged with PCD Nominee. Manuel Alberto R. Colayco is AEV kRST VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF LEGAL OFkCER CORPORATE SECRETARY COMPLIANCE OFkCER /N -AY HE INcreased his ownership to 64,717 AEV common shares, or 0.001 percent, after his acquisition of additional 19,630 AEV common shares. Aboitiz Equity opened the session on May 8, 2019 at P52, peaked at P53.05, fell to a low of P50.80 and closed trading at the stock’s high of P53.05. Should the Securities and ExCHANGE #OMMISSION DEkNE FOR THE public who may be deemed insiders and who are not? Just asking.

should be at least 15% of its total operational cost or is a licensee or owner of a patent or registered software. The business entity must not have a gross annual revenue exceeding P50,000,000. Interestingly enough, and perhaps as foresight, the bill extends the availability of incentives to support service providers whose core business function, which in the case of corporations, are indicated in their articles of incorporation, involves the targeted or exclusive provision of goods and services to innovative startups. To streamline the incentives and BENEkTS TO INNOVATIVE STARTUPS AND support service providers, the bill establishes the Innovative Startup Development Program which shall be managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and/or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Among the notable incentives provided by the bill is a P10 billion Innovative Startup Venture Fund THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY QUALIkED startups to jumpstart innovative business ventures. The fund will be managed by the Department of

Science and Technology. The cornerstone of the bill might be the promise of easing the registration process for new businesses. As determined by professionals engaged in providing services to local and foreign ventures, the complex and sometimes contradictory regulatory processes in the Philippines have always been a deterrent to clients who seek to establish businesses in the country. The bill grants waiver of fees in the application and processing of permits and CERTIkCATES REQUIRED FOR BUSINESS registration and operation of the enterprise with the appropriate registering agency or, in the case of A QUALIkED ENTITY THAT PAYS THE SAID fees, the bill grants a refund from the national government agency equivalent to the sum of fees and taxes levied by local government units and national government. The bill also provides for expedited processing of permits and CERTIkCATES AND THEIR CORRESPONDing requisite documents required for the registration and operation of the innovative startup or support service provider. Innovative startups and support service providers shall be en-

TITLED TO BENEkTS FOR PARTICIPATING in local and international startup events chargeable to available funds of the host agency (i.e. DOST, DTI or DICT). These benEkTS INCLUDE AMONG OTHERS fully subsidized round trip airfare/s and tax exempt allowances for the representatives. In addition to the following economic incentives, the bill also creates an Innovative Startup Visa, henceforth referred to as the ‘Visa’. 4HE 6ISA SHALL HAVE AN INITIAL kVE year validity and may be renewed or extended with a three-year validity. Bearers of the Visa shall be exempt from securing an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by the Department of Labor and Employment. The suspension or revocation of the Visa shall likeWISE TERMINATE THE BENEkT OF THE exemption from securing the AEP. The bicameral version, however, might not have a robust tax incentive feature, as originally intended. !MONG THE REPORTED CONlICTING provisions between the House and Senate bills are the tax exemption on “income tax arising from the operation of the enterprise� and “value-added tax for the sale

would settle within the 2.0-to-4.0 percent target range for 2019 and 2020. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the board also activity, but took the view that TRIMMED ITS INlATION FORECAST TO prospects for domestic demand 2.9 percent from 3 percent for this REMAINED kRM TO BE SUPPORTED BY year, but raised it to 3.1 percent a projected recovery in household from 3 percent for 2020. spending and the continued imFactors for the 2019 downgrade plementation of the government’s WERE THE LOWER MONTHLY INlATION infrastructure program. rate and the gross domestic prodThe latest baseline forecast, UCT '$0 IN THE kRST QUARTER HE SAID INDICATED THAT INlATION Prior to the Monetary Board

Q RATES FROM B1

Monetary

Q FINEX FROM B2

All managers have the right to direct the work of subordinates. HR’s role is assistorial. They assist line managers in areas such as choosing, recruiting, training and compensating people. In a broader context, managing people is every manager’s business. Successful organizations combine the experience of line managers with the specialization of the HR team. Only then can the potential of employee talents be actualized to its fullest. The HR Department is top management’s partner. Their mandate is to deliver and cascade the overall direction provided by top management. The HR function is a critical and crucial component of the organizational support. It includes aspects related to leadership development. HR will be more productive if companies will work with them on a collaborative model where the job of people development is not left as an HR Department responsibility but is embraced as the function of all leaders in the organization. The best companies hold HR in high regard because it is the best source for identifying, attracting, retaining and motivating people to be successful. If the message from the top is unkind and distrustful of the HR function, think carefully about the overall organizational climate. One big challenge of HR practitioners is that they are caught in the middle. People come to HR, for example, to ask for promotional prospects when it may be likely that the company’s top brass has DECIDED IT WILL kLL UP THE POSITION externally. HR could come across as unhelpful when its was simply implementing a company policy. In a number of cases, people will look to HR for help in the

Q MTF FROM B1

Boosting healthcare. The bill was ratified by the House of Representatives in January this year, following the bicameral conference committee report which combined provisions from House Bill 8862 and Senate Bill 1532. This article discusses the Senate version of the bill. According to THE BILL TO BE A QUALIkED gINNOVAtive startup� which can access the incentives provided by the bill, the entity must be a registered business in the Philippines operating for no longer than 60 months from the commencement of its business operation whose core business function involves product, process, or business model innovation. 4HE BILL QUALIkED THAT THE INNOVAtive product, process, or business model must be the primary source of revenue of the business entity and the business entity must not be a mere end user of the innovative product, process, or business model. The cost of the business entity for research and development

midst of a superior-subordinate CONlICT FOR COUNSELING /N THE other hand, managers or executives will ask HR to solve the people problem. HR is the counselor of one side, and the policemen of the other side; an employee advocate on one side and the implementor of company policy on the other. Hassan Choughari said, “The hardest challenge being HR is that sometimes you have to be the lawyer, the judge and the hangman.� HR managers must acknowledge that their job is to build their credibility within the organization. HR is valued when people inside HR are valued. And the way to do it is by helping people resolve issues when possible and by being honest and transparent when it is not possible. HR must create good processes and systems that will benefit employees in the long run. They have to demonstrate the right competence, skill sets and will to produce positive results for people. Since HR is ultimately a people function, they have to put effort so that employees’ trust is gained. HR must be perceived as allies of employees, not their enemy. There are a lot of great people in HR. But to make these specialists work, they should be empowered to do their function. After all, the HR Department will assist in ENSURING THE EFFECTIVE AND EFkCIENT use of the human capital of the kRM TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF THE organization. When all managers accept their part of the HR function, employee commitment and performance are enhanced.

Sense stand the issues and forces driving transformational change across economies, industries, global issues and the Forum’s system initiatives. These are great alternatives to the traditional PESTEL analysis. In our strategic planning workshops, we also employ various frameworks that map the competitive landscape of an organization’s

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Who are

esdperez@gmail.com and lease of goods, properties or services arising in the course of trade or business of the enterprise or percentage tax,� both carried in the Senate version. The assumption here is that the bill must be “consistent with the TRABAHO(Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities) bill. For purposes of implementation, DOST, DTI, DICT and other host agencies shall have the roles and responsibilities to develop the necessary department policies and guidelines for the implementation of the program This article will be updated upon the passing of the said bill into law.

Samantha L. Poblacion is a Senior Associate of Mata-Perez, Tamayo & Francisco (MTF Counsel). She is a corporate, deal, and litigation lawyer. The contents of the above article are intended for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. If you have any question or comment regarding this article, you may email the author at info@mtfcounsel. com or visit MTF Counsel’s website at www.mtfcounsel.com.

man. But they broke the deal. They can’t do that. So they’ll be paying if we don’t make the deal.� The sudden rupture has roiled global stock markets this week and unnerved exporters caught off guard after negotiators on both sides had previously touted progress in the negotiations. AFP

innovative strategies to capitalize on opportunities.

The author is President & CEO of Hungry Workhorse Consulting, a digital and culture transformation firm. He is the Chairman of the Information and Communications Technology Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines. He teaches strategic management in the MBA Program of De La Salle University. The author may be emailed at rey.lugtu@hungryworkhorse.com

Q REVENUES FROM B1

DoF: Train Economics and Results Group (SERG), led by Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua. “The SERG report explained that the largest gains were seen in tobacco excise, auto excise and documentary stamp tax collections. PIT collections were also higher than expected, due to better compliance and an increase in the number of registered taxpayers,� it added. “Taken together, these highest gainers contributed around P51.5 billion of the P68.4 billion of additional revenue from Train.� Implemented in January 2018, Train, formally known as Republic Act 10963, raised excise taxes on select items, including fuel and cars, in exchange for lower personal income tax rates. It is the kRST PACKAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT S Comprehensive Tax Reform Program. Auto excise taxes exceeded their target by P6.2 billion, partially because of higher purchasing power for vehicles. Documentary taxes superseded theirs by P4.7 billion due to “higher transactions value AND BETTER COLLECTION EFkCIENCY u “Accounting for VAT from additional spending, estimated at P24.6 billion, which was due to additional take-home pay as a result of lower personal income taxes, Train revenue has far exceeded its target, providing additional public resources for infrastructure and human capital development programs,� the DoF said. Taxpayers took home P111.7 billion in personal income-tax reductions last year after Train was implemented. Under this law, those with taxable income of P250,000 and below are exempted from paying such taxes. Previously, the Finance department projected that Train’s implementation delivered a combined P12 billion a month in additional income to the country’s individual taxpayers, most of them compensation earners, and in unconditional cash transfers to the poorest households and senior pensioners. “[T]he notable increase in retail sales — in malls, restaurants and other dining places — after the law took effect in January 2018 indicates the higher purchasing power of consumers, as Train put more money into the pockets of 99 percent of Filipino income taxpayers,� Finance Assistant Secretary Joselito Lambino 2nd said. JORDEENE B. LAGARE

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Cambodia bids for OIC membership PRIME Minister Hun Sen has revealed that Cambodia is attempting to become an observer state in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in order to enhance human resources training and open new economic opportunities. The potential move was revealed by Hun Sen during a Tuesday Ramadan dinner with an OIC delegation and more than 400 Muslims at the Koh Pich Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh. “We really want to become an OIC observer,â€? he said during a speech, adding that he would appoint Senior Minister Othsman Hassan as special envoy to lobby the OIC secretary general. A few days ago, I advised him to write a letter to a [sponsor] country [‌] and he will be my special envoy to that country to lobby our OIC observer member-

ship,� Hun Sen said. Hun Sen said he hoped that OIC member states could help the Kingdom by purchasing local products, providing scholarships to religion students and providing jobs for migrant workers. “We want those countries to buy rice and other goods from Cambodia,� he said. “His Excellency secretary general of the OIC, please inform those member countries to help Cambodia by purchasing Cambodian products.� In a prior statement, OIC Secretary General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen expressed gratitude to Hun Sen for hosting annual Ramadan celebrations. “We look forward to continuing the close and friendly relation with the Kingdom of Cambodia,� Yousef said. GLOBAL TIMES

World Taiwan inaugurates submarine factory K

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

AOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan broke ground Thursday on a shipyard to produce submarines to counter China’s growing military threat. The self-governing island’s President Tsai Ing-wen presided over a ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, saying submarines were an effective way to deter a foe from surrounding the island by sea. “We must have concept and thinking of asymmetric warfare,� Tsai said, referring to the military concept where a smaller opponent can hold off a larger one using specialized strategies and tactics. China, which claims Taiwan as

its territory to be annexed for force if necessary, operates a growing navy that boasts some 75 submarines, including latest generation homebuilt vessels. Taiwan operates just four aged submarines, but pressure from China has prevented it from buying more abroad. Plans call for the shipyard to produce eight diesel CRAFT WITH THE kRST DUE FOR COMpletion in 2025. Taiwan relies on the US for much of its defense needs, but

the US now only produces nuclear-powered submarines. Holland’s decision to sell Taiwan two Zwaardvis Class submarines 30 years ago resulted in a major diplomatic rift with Beijing and, under Chinese pressure, they would not sell more, Tsai said. “Therefore, building them indigenously is our only way.� she said. Despite Chinese pressure, more THAN A DOZEN FOREIGN kRMS HAVE reportedly expressed strong interest in taking part in the submarine projects under the Kaohsiung-based Taiwan Shipbuilding Corp. Tsai has made reviving Taiwan’s indigenous armaments industry a priority for her administration.

B5

3INCE 4SAI TOOK OFkCE IN China has stepped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan in hopes of compelling it to endorse its contention that the island is a part of China, known as the One-China Principle. That has included sending ships to nearby waters and military aircraft to circle the island, with warplanes this year crossing the center line of the Taiwan Strait for THE kRST TIME IN YEARS Surveys show large majorities of Taiwanese reject Beijing’s deMANDS FOR POLITICAL UNIkCATION between the sides, preferring to maintain their current defacto independent status. AP

SKorea, US, Japan hold trilateral talks

YOUR HIGHNESS Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn (left) is accompanied by Queen Suthida (right) as he presides the annual royal ploughing ceremony near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. AFP PHOTO

Malaysia hit for failure to repeal repressive laws PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Malaysia’s government faced criticism on Thursday for failing to repeal repressive laws and backtracking on promises to improve human rights a year after sweeping to power with a reformist agenda. A ramshackle coalition headed by veteran politician Mahathir Mohamad stormed to a shock election victory on May 9 last year, toppling

a corruption-plagued regime that had led the country since independence from Britain in 1957. The Pact of Hope alliance had pledged to do away with repressive laws, such as the colonial-era sedition act, which critics say was used to target political dissent, and legislation that allowed for INDEkNITE DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL

But the laws are still in place, and authorities have also backed away from a post-election pledge to abolish the death penalty. In addition, the government did a “U-turn� on a plan to join the International Criminal Court after protests from opposition politicians and a powerful Islamic ruler. “The government should recognise

that further delays in ending abusive systems and laws will only mean further harm for the Malaysian people,� said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “Prime Minister Mahathir has put HIS kNGER UP TO CHECK PREVAILING POLITical winds rather than standing up for human rights principles,� he added. Mahathir — who was criticized

FOR BEING AUTHORITARIAN DURING A kRST STINT IN OFkCE FROM TO ‡ defended the failure to move faster, suggesting rights reforms did not enjoy broad support in the country. “This is a democratic country, when people have different ideas, we have to respect their ideas,� the 93-year-old told a press conference. AFP

17 hurt in Bangladesh plane runway skid in Myanmar YANGON, Myanmar: A plane operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines skidded off the runway while landing on Wednesday evening at Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport, injuring at least 17 people including A PILOT AN AIRLINE OFkCIAL SAID Biman spokesman Shakil Meraj said the accident occurred when the Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 aircraft was landing in bad weather AFTER A lIGHT FROM "ANGLADESH S capital, Dhaka. Flight BG060 was carrying 33 people, including two pilots and two lIGHT ATTENDANTS HE SAID ADDING THAT the condition of the four injured people was not life-threatening. Photos of the plane showed it lying partly on the wet runway and partly on the grass. Its fuselage appeared to be broken in at least two spots. Meraj said he was unaware of news reports that about 15 people had been hospitalized, but he could CONkRM THERE WERE NO FATALITIES The Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star quoted Bangladesh’s ambassador in Yangon

Q Officials inspect a Biman Bangladesh airlines passenger plane after it slid off a runway at Yangon International airport in Myanmar. Seventeen people were injured as the plane slid off a runway while landing. AFP PHOTO as saying: “All are injured more or less but no one was in critical state. However, 15 of the injured are hospitalized.�

Meraj said the airline was send- body is treated properly in case of ING A SPECIAL lIGHT TO BRING BACK any injuries,� he said. the passengers and crew. Asked if passengers could de“We want to ensure that every- cide to stay in Yangon, he replied,

“We can’t force anybody, but what we want to ensure is that everybody is okay, and they can return with our team.� AP

MILITARY officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan on Thursday held trilateral security talks in Seoul to discuss the Korean Peninsula issues, according to local media reports citing South Korean defense ministry. The 11th round of Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) opened in the morning at the headquarters of South Korea’s defense ministry in Seoul. The annual security dialogue was launched in 2008 to discuss regional security issues. During the dialogue, the three sides discussed ways to cooperate in the denuclearization of and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, regional security situations and the trilateral defense cooperation. The meeting was attended by South Korean Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Chung Suk-hwan, US Assistant SecreTARY OF $EFENSE FOR )NDO 0ACIkC Security Affairs Randall Schriver and Director General for Defense Policy of Japan Takeshi Ishikawa. GLOBAL TIMES

Widodo vows slimmer govt JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo pledged on Thursday to slim the government during his second term and cut red tape hampering investment to achieve an ambitious growth target in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy by 2045. The President won an April 17 election based on sample counts of votes by private pollsters, but official results are not due until May 22. “The slimmer our organization, the faster we can run, the more flexibly we can decide on policies,â€? Widodo said, vowing to axe government agencies that do not contribute to growth. He was speaking to hundreds of regional leaders at the launch of Vision Indonesia 2045, a roadmap to become the world’s fifth-biggest economy, with gross domestic product of US$7.3 trillion, by the 100th anniversary of independence. Widodo said he would also focus on adding infrastructure and improve human resources, in a speech that voiced frustration at Indonesia’s tortuous bureaucracy. Despite his efforts since coming to power in 2014 to ease the path to starting a business, investors still found it difficult to enter some sectors, he added. For example, Widodo said, his administration had cut to 58 from 259 the permits required for power plant investments, but that was still too many and he wanted the figure cut to five. “Five years ago investors came in droves, but only a few were hatched, because we couldn’t help them execute,â€? he said. AFP

B6

World

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Harry, Meghan name son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor LONDON: Tired but beaming, new parents Meghan and Prince Harry presented their two-day-old son to the world as he slumbered on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) and also revealed his name: Archie. The royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since their marriage not quite a year ago, said the full name of the child born seventh in line to the British throne is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The baby slept peacefully through his carefully orchestrated media moment. His mother, making her first public appearance since giving birth early Monday, called Archie “a dream� who “has the sweetest temperament.� “He’s really calm,� Meghan said. Harry quipped: “I wonder who he gets that from.� Harry and Meghan did not choose an aristocratic title for their son. He is not a prince, but could have been given the title “Lord� before his first name. Instead he will be known for now as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.�

The surname, used by some members of the royal family, was created to recognize the lineage of both Queen Elizabeth 2nd and her husband, Prince Philip. Unlike many senior royals, Archie only has one middle name. Prince Harry’s full name is Henry Charles Albert David. The couple did not disclose why they chose his first and middle names — though the meaning of Harrison, “son of Harry,� is probably a clue. Many in Britain had expected a more traditional royal name, with bookmakers taking many bets on Alexander, Arthur and James. The latest member of the royal family is the eight great grandson of the 93-year-old Queen Elizabeth 2nd. Archie Harrison became the first royal son born to an African-American parent in the more than 800-year history of the British monarchy. The boy also became the first royal member to have a Hollywood blood, owing it to his mother. AP

FAMOUS BABY

Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (second from left), and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (right), show their newborn son, Archie Harrison MountbattenWindsor, to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth 2nd and Prince Philip at the Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London. AFP PHOTO

US Congress holds Barr in contempt W

ASHINGTON, D.C.: The House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats’ extraordinary legal battle with the Trump administration over access to special counsel Robert Mueller’s TrumpRussia report. The vote capped a day of ever-deepening dispute between congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump, who for THE kRST TIME INVOKED THE PRINCIPLE

of executive privilege, claiming the right to block lawmakers from the full report on Mueller’s probe of Russian interference to help Trump in the 2016 election.

Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York declared the action by Trump’s Justice Department a clear new sign of the 0RESIDENT S gBLANKET DEkANCEu OF Congress’ constitutional rights to conduct oversight. “We did not relish doing this, but we have no choice,� Nadler said after the vote. The White House’s blockade, he said, “is an attack on the ability of the American people to know what the executive branch is doing.� He said, “This cannot be.� But Justice Department spokesman Kerri Kupec said it was disappointing that members of Con-

gress “have chosen to engage in such inappropriate political theatrics.� Barr made “extraordinary efforts� to provide Congress and the public with information about Mueller’s work, she said. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said neither the White House nor Barr “will comply with Chairman Nadler’s unlawful and reckless demands.� Late Wednesday the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee issued his own subpoena to the Justice Department for the full Mueller report, as the confrontaTION INTENSIkES

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, whose committee had previously requested the documents, said he had “no choice,� but to compel the department’s compliance. He warned that if it continues to “ignore or rejects our requests,� the panel could take legal action. Kupec declined to comment. Though the White House initially hesitated on invoking privilege, Trump told his staff and political advisers in recent weeks to refuse to cooperate with Democrats, believing the party’s goal was simply to damage him politically going into his reelection campaign. The coming legal battle could stretch

Pence slams court rulings against Trump’s various policies WASHINGTON, D.C.: Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that the Trump administration intends to challenge the right of federal district courts to issue rulings blocking nationwide policies, arguing that such injunctions were obstructing President Donald Trump’s agenda on immigration, health care and other issues. In a speech at the Federalist Society conference in Washington,

Pence argued that nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges “prevent the executive branch from acting, compromising our national security by obstructing the lawful ability of the president to stop threats to the homeland where he sees them.� He said the administration would seek opportunities to put this question before the Supreme Court “to ensure that decisions affecting every American are

made either by those elected to represent the American people or by the highest court in the land.� Top administration officials have often complained about the proliferation of nationwide injunctions since Trump became president, so the idea of pushing back is not new. Indeed, the administration has asked the Supreme Court to deal with nationwide injunctions in the past, including in the travel

ban case. But the court never addressed the nationwide extent of the injunction against the ban issued by lower courts because the justices upheld the ban in its entirety. For the Supreme Court to issue A DEkNITIVE RULING ON NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS IT WOULD kRST HAVE TO rule against the administration on the underlying merits of the case before it. Only at that point could the court consider whether

a lower court order should apply nationwide or only to the people who are challenging an administration policy. A nationwide injunction has the effect of stopping “a federal policy everywhere,� the administration told the Supreme Court in the travel ban case. The more common practice is for a judge to issue an order that gives only the people who sued what they want. AP

Montenegro convicts pro-Russian politicians of coup-plotting PODGORICA, Montenegro: A Montenegro court on Thursday handed jail sentences to 14 people, including two opposition politicians over an alleged plot to overthrow the government with Russian help in 2016. Pro-Russian opposition leaders Andrija Mandic and Milan +NEZEVIC WERE GIVEN kVE YEARS IN prison for being part of a “crimi-

nal organisation� whose aim was to “prevent Montenegro from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),� judge Suzana Mugosa said. Two Russian men, who prosecuTORS SAID WERE INTELLIGENCE OFkCERS were handed the heaviest sentences of 12 and 15 years in absentia. Several Serbians were also con-

victed, including a former police general and anti-NATO activist. Moscow has denied any involvement in the plot that was allegedly planned on the day of parliamentary elections in October 2016. Ahead of the verdict, the opposition Democratic Front warned that a conviction of its leaders would risk “irremediably desta-

Worldinbriefs

bilising Montenegro�. Since the trial opened a year and a half ago, the pro-Russian opposition has decried it as a “staged political trial� and government-backed “witch hunt� aimed at destroying their political camp. Their coalition was the main opposition force against current President and former prime min-

ister Milo Djukanovic at the time. “Without this so-called coup d’etat, the regime would certainly be in opposition today,� opposition leader Mandic said at the trial’s close in March. He accused Djukanovic of taking advantage of a “wave of anti-Russian hysteria to attack� his opponents. AFP

the predatory, sharp-toothed fish during an LA food festival. Martinez was featured in the third season of the Netflix show “Chef’s Table.� AP

CALIFORNIA TO BAN PESTICIDES

MOURNING FOR 60 BLAST VICTIMS SET IN NIGER

LOS Angeles: America’s most productive agricultural state moved on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to ban a controversial pesticide widely used to control a range of insects, but blamed for harming brain development in babies. The move cheered by environmentalists would outlaw chlorpyrifos after scientists deemed it a toxic air contaminant and discovered it to be more dangerous than previously thought. California Environmental Secretary Jared Blumenfeld said it’s the first time the state has sought to ban a pesticide and the move was overdue. “This pesticide is a neurotoxin, and it was first put on the market in 1965,� Blumenfeld said. “So it’s been on the shelf a long time, and it’s past its sell-by date.� AP

NIAMEY: Niger would observe three days of mourning for 60 people who were killed in a tanker truck explosion near the international airport in the capital Niamey, the government said. The days will pay tribute “to the memory of the victims of the tragic accident� that occurred early Monday as crowds had gathered around the overturned truck to collect spilt fuel, according to an interior ministry statement read out on state television. Earlier, security official Hamani Adamou Abdoul-Aziz told state television the toll from the explosion would likely rise because several people sustained severe, life-threatening burns. AFP

FLORIDA ALLOWS MORE ARMED TEACHERS TALLAHASSEE, Fla.: More Florida teachers will be eligible to carry guns in the classroom under a bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that immediately implements recommendations from a commission formed after a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland. DeSantis signed the bill in private and didn’t issue a statement afterward. But he previously made it clear he supports the changes made to the law enacted after a rifle-toting former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 people in February 2018. “We did a lot for public safety,� DeSantis said immediately after the legislative session ended Saturday. AP

CHEF WITH 40 PIRANHAS STOPPED AT AIRPORT LOS Angeles: A famous South American chef says he was stopped as he brought 40 piranhas in a duffel bag through Los Angeles (LA) International Airport. Virgilio Martinez, chef-owner of Central restaurant in Peru, tells the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that he hoped to serve

9 KILLED IN TALIBAN ATTACK IN KABUL KABUL: Humanitarian groups were reeling on Thursday from yet another attack targeting aid workers in Afghanistan, as officials confirmed nine people had been killed in a Taliban attack in Kabul a day earlier. Wednesday’s attack outside Counterpart International, a non profit group working with marginalized people in Afghanistan, began with an immense blast from a car bomb in a busy commercial area in central Kabul. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the death toll had risen to nine, including five members of the Afghan security forces, a guard at Counterpoint and three civilians. AFP

UN CHIEF LEADS MARKING OF ILO’S 100TH YEAR UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday took part in a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Together with ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and Swiss officials, Guterres said during the ceremony that the ILO’s contribution to the rights of working people around the world is “absolutely remarkableâ€?. â€œThere are many things that today are considered natural, but that in 1919 did not exist at all. And, it is thanks to this institutionalized social dialogue at the global level that we have been able to make remarkable progress,â€? said Guterres. GLOBAL TIMES

to 2020, and the White House is aiming to tie up congressional probes until Election Day. Executive privilege is the President’s power to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to PROTECT THE CONkDENTIALITY OF THE /VAL /FkCE DECISION MAKING PROCESS The President’s decision was weeks in the making, the next inevitable escalation between the White House and Congress over a number of probes. The White House has rejected all efforts to probe Trump’s business dealings or tax returns as well as the West Wing’s security clearance procedure. AP

Guaido’s deputy arrested in Venezuela CARACAS: Venezuelan intelligence agents arrested on Wednesday a senior leader of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, in the latest action against lawmakers who joined a failed uprising against President Nicolas Maduro last month. Edgar Zambrano is deputy to National Assembly speaker Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the country’s leader by more than 50 states, and who organized the April 30 revolt. “We warn the people of Venezuela and the international community: the regime has kidnapped the first vice president� of the National Assembly, said Guaido, who heads the body and has been in a power struggle with Maduro since declaring himself acting president in January. “They are trying to destroy the power representing all Venezuelans, but they will not achieve it,� Guaido said. The United States and several Latin American states criticized Zambrano’s arrest. On the Twitter account of its nowclosed embassy in Caracas, Washington called the detention “illegal and inexcusable.� It warned of “consequences� if he was not immediately released. Early Thursday US President Donald Trump — whose country was among the first to back Guaido — said he was “discussing the terrible abuses by Maduro.� Trump did not mention Zambrano, but said the US would stand with the people of Venezuela “for however long it takes!� Along with the US, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Peru protested his arrest. Venezuela, aside from North Korea and Iran, is one of America’s biggest concerns at present. US thought it already solved the issue in Venezuela when the country’s former president, Hugo Chavez, died of cancer almost a decade ago. AFP

B7

˜ The Manila Times

w w w. m a n i l a t i m e s . n e t

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Q DANIEL M. MORAN FROM B8

Kindred spirits in the kitchen quiring Amici, even while admitting that HE NEEDED HELP TO MAKE !MICI lY -ORAN recalls: “We got into the Italian restaurant business not knowing much about Italian food, so we searched for consultants in Italy. We found a chef from Florence named Francesco Mansani, who taught us the basics of Italian food and gave us suggestions on how to improve. I told Paolo to start working with Francesco so he could learn from his expertise.� Through their new partner, Paolo was able to apprentice with different chefs in Italy. “This entailed very long hours,� the young man says. “We would start at 10 a.m. to prepare for lunch, take a short break, then start preparing for dinner, ending around midnight. This was the daily routine.� He earned his apron stripes working for Ristorante Maga Mago in Florence, Drogheria Franci in Montalcino and Osteria Mercede in Palermo. The lessons he learned there, Paolo enthusiastically brought to Amici. Nevertheless, he remembered to leave room FOR lEXIBILITY (E SAYS g)N THE BEGINNING I just wanted to replicate for the Amici menu the things I learned in Italy. But I realized I had to adjust a bit. So, I decided I could use the Italian base, but make it MORE lAVORFUL BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE Filipino consumers look for.� The company that Danny Moran set up 12 years ago has now evolved into an organization with a workforce consisting of over 300 employees. He honors a debt of gratitude to the Salesians and his favorite sport, football, by contributing to the Tuloy sa Don Bosco program, which tries TO IMPART TO STREET CHILDREN THE BENEkTS OF the game. He also established the Henry V. Moran Foundation, named after his father, which sponsors poor kids so they can learn the game and eventually join international football competitions.

I wanted to replicate for the Amici menu the things I learned in Italy. But I had to adjust. I used the Italian base, but made it more flavorful because that’s what Filipinos look for – Paolo Moran NOTES FOR SUCCESS

Mistakes were made and lessons were learned. The experience just added more food for thought along the way for each family member to digest.

Q Replicating success. The Morans earned their stripes from building their earlier business, Red Ribbon, into a successful and popular venture. They applied the same winning formula to Amici, which they acquired after selling Red Ribbon to Jollibee.

Right values 4IMING AND PROVIDENCE MAY HAVE kGURED SIGNIkCANTLY IN !MICI S EXPANSION BUT THE bigger and more meaningful story is the role the Morans’ spiritual ethic has played in its continuing success. From conversing with Moran, one senses that his vision IS NOT JUST ABOUT RAKING IN PROkTS BUT also creating a workplace that treasures long-held values such as respect and close family ties. “Family� is a recurring theme in Amici operations and culture, and its patriarch EXPRESSES DELIGHT THAT THREE OF HIS kVE children — two remain in the US pursuing their own dreams — joined the business out of their own volition. In the same way that the older Morans are proud of their offsprings’ contribution to the company, the younger Morans openly admire their parents’ industry and determination. Daughter Pammy says: “I learned from them the importance of un-

FOOD AND FAMILY FOREVER

(From the top, clockwise) ‘Want some of our yummy Cara Mia ice cream,’ Philip, Tessie, Danny, Paolo and Pammy Moran ask the market, knowing the answer; the chef and his dad with team members and their hard-working brick oven; Moran and his sizeable brood in New Zealand; and Moran wearing the number 8 jersey as a member of the U/Tex Football Club

Q Knowing the customers. A keen understanding of their clientele has enabled the Morans to design a menu that marries Italian cuisine and the nuances of the FIlipino taste. Filipinos, they’ve learned, prefer their food to be flavorful and their desserts not too sweet.

derstanding every aspect of the business. We have to live and breathe the business so as to understand how best to serve our customers.� Philip recounts conversing on one occasion with a former employee, who said the reason people were loyal to his parents was “because they are nice people.� A simple yet powerful approbation.

The Morans are hardest on themselves, especially when it concerns ensuring that the new selections rolling out from their brick oven and numerous stoves will please and exceed diners’ expectations. But overall, they are each other’s biggest supporters and fans. This strong bond that father Danny has instilled in his team has led Amici to an enviable spot in the mar-

ketplace and frequent mention in popular food blogs. In a highly volatile industry where the shelf life of concept restaurants averages about 18 months at most, the Morans have shown where dining’s true pleasure lies — preparing and sharing good and honest food with people that matter most to you.

Q Compassion for people. The Morans have built a business that places their employees at the heart of their operations. The company culture is such that it keeps staff constantly interested and motivated, and instills in them the right values. Q Family matters. Family members, who work together, learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and understand their weaknesses.

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The Manila Times FRIDAY May 10, 2019

DANIEL M. MORAN

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PAOLO M. MORAN

President Amici Foodservice Ventures Inc.

Executive Chef Amici Foodservice Ventures Inc.

Kindred spirits in the kitchen A man and his family cook up a successful venture BY ARIEL IAN B. CLARITO Photos by Hermes Singson PERHAPS, it was fate that Daniel M. Moran’s search for a new business venture in 2006 brought him faceto-face with the Salesian priests. He planned at the meeting to make an offer for the gelato (Italian-style ice cream) operations of Amici di Don Bosco (Friends of Don Bosco), the brainchild of Fr. Gianluigi Colombo that had been initially intended as a canteen serving tasty Italian food to students and employees of Don Bosco Makati. Thanks to word of mouth, the simple venue gained a cult following among foodie circles. Moran was a staunch Amici fan.

We got into the Italian restaurant business not knowing much about Italian food, so we searched for consultants in Italy. We found a chef from Florence who taught us the basics – Danny Moran

GOOD FOOD, GOOD TABLE

Divine providence In that initial encounter with the Salesians, Moran WAS ASKED TWO INTRIGUING QUESTIONS 4HE kRST CAME from Fr. Rocky Evangelista who queried: “Are you the same Danny Moran that used to play football?� In the 1970s, Moran was a member of the Philippine national football team and had the opportunity to play against footballers who were Salesian priests. This helped break the ice in the negotiations and established a camaraderie between them. The second question was like a football screamer that came out of nowhere. “Would you like to purchase the entire business?� Moran had earned enough of the trust of the Salesian priests, who realized that Amici was providentially intended for someone who HAD IN HIS HEART THE BEST INTENTIONS FOR THE lEDGLING enterprise. Moran currently sits as president and CEO of Amici Foodservice Ventures Inc. Born in Manila to a family OF kVE BOYS AND TWO GIRLS HE SPENT HIS GRADE SCHOOL and high school years at La Salle Greenhills, going on to graduate with a mathematics degree from De La Salle University in 1977 where he was also team captain of the football varsity team. He began his career as a systems analyst/programmer for Hooven Philippines before becoming the sales and marketing manager of IBM Philippines.

1994

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The year Italian Salesian priest Fr. Gianluigi Colombo opened Amici di Don Bosco as the school canteen, serving affordable Italian dishes and gelato. The Moran family bought it from the Salesians in 2007.

Flavors of gelato from Cara Mia, Amici’s line of cakes and frozen desserts. Pistachio is the runaway best-seller in the ice cream gallery, while Ube cake is the most requested take out.

Sporting future

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Pizzas are produced daily by Amici’s eight restaurants. Tutta Carne, followed by Quattro Formaggi, are best-sellers.

Moran kids are involved in Amici Foodservice Ventures Inc. Philip is COO and general manager; Paolo is executive chef; and Pammy is marketing and social media manager. Two other siblings live in the US.

Boxed delights Even with his busy corporate career, Moran found time to work in an enterprise on the side with his wife Tessie Mercado Moran, whose passion for baking translated to delectable cakes and pastries that were a big hit among family and friends. “My son Patrick and I would prepare the boxes and tie them up with red ribbons,� recalls Moran of their business’ early days. His spouse adds: “We just wanted to be able to serve refrigerated cakes to people we knew in the Quezon City area. Before long, the orders became overwhelming that we had to already put up a store.� 4HIS LED TO THE kRST 2ED 2IBBON "AKESHOP IN 4IMOG that Tessie launched with her sister Marlo and their mother Amalia in 1979. Moran served as president and CEO of Red Ribbon, which grew to 20 branches in the US and over 100 doors all over the Philippines until Jollibee showed interest and moved to purchase the business in 2005. The success of Red Ribbon provided Moran the

Gelato and more Danny Moran was at first only hoping to buy the gelato operations of the Salesians. To his surprise, they also offered him the Italian food section of the business.

BLUEPRINT FOR HIS FUTURE VENTURE (AVING LEARNED kRSThand the goods it took to steer a ship across rough seas to calmer waters and eventually to safe harbor, he was well armed to navigate his way around the restaurant industry with another enterprise. From the lone branch along Pasong Tamo, Amici has expanded across Metro Manila and established itself as one of the go-to places for authentic Italian CUISINE THAT SATISkES THE NUANCES OF &ILIPINO TASTE buds. The company boasts of over 300 employees spread across its eight restaurants and 20 cafes/ stand-alone kiosks of Cara Mia in Metro Manila and Pampanga. Cara Mia is the brand the Morans created for their mouth-watering dessert selection of gelato, gelato cakes and traditional cakes. -ORAN S BUSINESS ACUMEN IS RElECTED IN HIS ELDEST son, Amici General Manager Philip, whose job it is

to oversee the operations of Amici and build a bridge connecting the business and the market. Philip shares an interesting insight saying: “Filipinos like their food to be malasa (tasty), but their desserts just light and not too sweet.� His mother’s kitchen prowess appears to have been passed on to his brother Paolo. It is from his creative mind and expert hands that Amici’s array of exquisite offerings emanate. While managing to remain faithful to Italian cuisine, he has found a way to marry it with the Pinoy’s particular palate preferences. The involvement of the Moran kids in the business — younger sister Pammy handles marketing and social media responsibilities — has added a fresh perspective and dynamism to the operations. Philip observes: “The breakthrough for us was when we stopped trying to be copycat versions of other

The Morans are not just concerned with making a profit. They help street children through sports such as football through the Henry V. Moran Foundation.

Say a little prayer Amici employee across the country start out their day, saying the “Amici prayer.“ They follow this up with the recitation of the company’s mission and vision.

restaurants and we stuck with what we wanted to do, what we wanted to serve and who we wanted to be.�

Learning flexibility But ultimately, it’s Paolo who provides the spice that lAVORS !MICI S UN MENĂ? A PREZZO kSSO (set menu) and draws the crowds. Despite majoring in interdisciplinary studies at Ateneo de Manila University, he followed his enduring penchant for cooking and baking, putting in a stint with Burger King after graduating in 2006. “I wanted to go to culinary school, but they required a more extensive kitchen experience. As the family had opened a Filipino restaurant in Los Angeles, called Jeepney, I decided to work there.â€? About this time, his father was in the process of ac-

ÂłDaniel M. Moran B7

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Lucas hat trick takes Tottenham to Champions League final

Warriors hold off Rockets, Durant suffers right leg injury L

OS ANGELES: Golden State pulled out a 104-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) as the Warriors survived the loss of superstar Kevin Durant to grab a 3-2 lead in their second round NBA playoff series. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson nailed clutch three pointers late in the fourth quarter for the Warriors but the buzz after the game was not about the win but rather the health of Durant. The Warriors said he had suffered a right calf strain but Durant is expected to undergo an MRI scan to Thursday to determine the full extent of the damage. Warriors coach Steve Kerr sounded cautiously optimistic -- hoping for the best but also preparing for something worse if it does turn out to be more serious like a ruptured Achilles. “We are all disappointed for him. Excited about the win but concern for Kevin. He had been on this incredible playoff run. I am proud of the guys and the way they pulled out this win and we will see about Kevin tomorrow,� said Kerr. Durant’s injury occurred inno-

cently enough after he hit a jumper from the right side with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. He took a step forward then grimaced in pain and looked down at his lower right leg. “He’s done a lot for us. We got to have his back -- that is what tonight was about,� said Warriors Stephen Curry. Thompson finished with 27 points, Curry 25 and Durant 22 for the Warriors, who continued a run of home wins by the teams in the series. James Harden was the game’s leading scorer with 31 points for the Rockets, who were outshot BY THE 7ARRIORS FROM THE kELD percent to 42 percent.

‘It’s amazing’ Elsewhere, Milwaukee became the kRST TEAM TO REACH THE ."! S kNAL

four as the top-seeded Bucks beat the visiting Boston Celtics with a 116-91 series-clinching victory. The Bucks used balanced scoring and a stingy defense to eliminate the fourth-seeded Celtics IN kVE GAMES AVENGING A SEVEN GAME kRST ROUND LOSS TO "OSTON last season. “It’s amazing. It was a team effort,� said Antetokounmpo. “We did not mess around with the game. We did our job. We defended. We moved the ball. That’s how we were able to close the game.� The Celtics had reached the NBA semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers each of the last two seasons. It marks the first time since 1983 that the Bucks have won a playoff series against the Celtics, WHO WON THE kRST GAME IN THIS year’s series before dropping four consecutive contests. Milwaukee advances to the %ASTERN #ONFERENCE kNALS WHERE they will have the home-court advantage over the winner of the other East second round series between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers. They meet in game six in Phila-

d e l phia on Thursd a y , with the secondseeded Raptors holding a 3-2 lead. Greek giant Giannis Antetokounmpo has had no trouble in this series delivering big points for the Bucks, who will be making THEIR kRST APPEARANCE IN THE kNAL four since 2001. Antetokounmpo led seven players in double figures with 20 points and also tallied eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Khris Middleton (19 points), Eric Bledsoe (18), George Hill (16), Nikola Mirotic (10) and Ersan Ilyasova (10) also scored in DOUBLE kGURES FOR THE "UCKS WHO shot 44.7 percent overall. Milwaukee also outscored the

Q Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, drives the ball against Houston Rockets’ James Harden during the second half of Game 5 of a secondround NBA basketball playoff series on Thursday, in Oakland, Calif. AP PHOTO Celtics 45-21 from beyond the arc. Guard Malcolm Brogdon, returning from a heel injury that had sidelined him since March 15, scored 10 points in 17 minutes. Milwaukee has dominated games by throwing a blanket over Boston’s Kyrie Irving, who shot one-for-seven from three-point range on Wednesday.

He was six-of-21 overall and kNISHED WITH JUST ONE ASSIST Irving also shot eight-for-22 and seven-for-22 in the Celtics’ two home losses on Friday and Monday. Irving may have played his kNAL GAME WITH THE #ELTICS AS HE can become a free agent in the off season. AFP

Reinvigorated Beermen plan to pull away in Game 5 Lue, Lakers end talks on coaching job DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer will shoot for a pivotal 3-2 lead against Magnolia in Game 5 of the best-of-seven finals of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at 7 p.m. tonight at the Araneta Coliseum. Fajardo, fresh from receiving his sixth straight Best Player of the Conference plum in the Philippine Cup and eighth overall, led San Miguel Beer to a 114-98 Game 4 victory, tying THE SERIES TO &AJARDO kNISHED WITH 31 points and 14 boards. San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria is hoping to sustain the team’s energy heading to Game 5. “Next game is a very important game in a best of three series. We displayed a different kind of energy the last time and we’re hoping we sustain it,� said Austria. “But I’m expecting next game will be a different game for us because they (Magnolia) want to bounce back hard. It could be the turning point of the series. Teams that won Game 5 have a 60 percent chance of winning the title.� The other Beermen who scored IN DOUBLE kGURES IN 'AME WERE Terrence Romeo (18), Chris Ross (15), Christian Standhardinger (13), Arwind Santos (12) and Alex Cabagnot (11). 4HOUGH IT WOULD BE GOOD TO kNISH the series before election day, Austria

Q June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer attempts to score against Rafi Reavis of Magnolia while Mark Barroca (No. 14) and Chris Ross (No. 6) look on during Game 4 of the bestof-seven finals of Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

said they’re taking things one game AT A TIME g7E ARE HOPING TO kNISH that if we will be fortunate [enough]. But you can never know what will happen in the next two games. One game at a time because Magnolia is a tough team to beat.� Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said that Fajardo’s presence over-

whelmed them in the last game. “June Mar (Fajardo) dominated the game. That’s the story of the game. We need to do a good job next time on June Mar at the post. I think he is ALMOST PERCENT IN THE kELD 7E need to adjust and we need to be more aggressive. It’s just a matter of defensive mindset,�said Victolero.

He added that so much lies in Game 5. “What is positive here is the series is tied and the Friday’s game is a pivotal game. We need to prepare hard for that.� Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca contributed 22 points each for the Hotshots in Game 4. JOSEF T. RAMOS

LOS ANGELES: Negotiations between the Los Angeles Lakers and Tyronn Lue for the club’s head coaching vacancy have collapsed, the Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Lue had been in talks with the Lakers for several days about the possibility of replacing the departed Luke Walton. However the Times cited a person with knowledge of the negotiations on Wednesday as saying that the two sides had broken off discussions after failing to reach agreement on several stumbling blocks. The Times said Lue and the Lakers were unable to agree on the make-up of the coaching staff. Lue was also seeking a five-year contract while the Lakers were only prepared to offer a three-year deal worth $18 million. Lue and Philadelphia as-

sistant Monty Williams had both been interviewed twice for the position but Williams moved on after being hired by the Phoenix Suns. Lue was seen as the clear front-runner for the job due to his close links to Lakers star LeBron James. James won an NBA championship with Cleveland under Lue’s guidance in 2016. Lue, 42, also had a history with the Lakers, where he was a reserve point guard on the 2000 and 2001 championshipwinning teams. The Lakers have been in turmoil since a disappointing first season with James on the roster saw them miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season. The faded NBA powerhouse was then rocked by the shock departure of president of basketball operations Magic Johnson on April 9 in a move that stunned the NBA. Walton parted company with the team three days later. AFP

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˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

SBP wants Gilas J to hone skills in Russia S BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

AMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio said that the SBP is negotiating with Russian Basketball Federation Commissioner Andrei Kirilenko to arrange at least two tune up games for Gilas Pilipinas as part of the Philippine national basketball team’s preparation for the World Cup. “I’m in touch with Andrei Kirilenko. He wants us to go to Russia. Initially, it was a one game trip but we want it to expand to two games. It’s really toward the later part of August,� Panlilio told reporters on Wednesday night after the SBP’s news conference at the Araneta Coliseum. The tune-up games will be held likely in Khabarovsk. “That’s something we’re trying to finalize with Andrei Kirinlenko,� added Panlilio. Russia is considered one of the powerhouse basketball teams in Europe currently ranked No. 12 by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Panlilio said that he’s also looking for possible tune-up games against Spain in early August prior to the planned Russia camp. “We have actually gotten many invites but we’re also looking at Spain as a potential [tune-up opponent].� He added that national coach Yeng Guiao plans to conduct daily practices by August that will make way for his assessment

of the team. Panlilio believes that winning two games and making it to the top 16 in the FIBA World Cup on August 31 to September 15 in China is “doable� provided the national team prepares properly. “If we prepare well, that’s doable. If we can make it to the Top 16, that’s a great achievement,� said Panlilio. The SBP is also working to make Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers eligible to play for Gilas alongside naturalized player Andray Blatche. The Philippines is will be playing in Bracket D with Italy, Serbia and Angola. Meanwhile, the SBP has unveiled its new logo as well as that of Gilas Pilipinas. The SBP has also made public the appointment of the fol-

lowing officers: Tab Baldwin (program director for Gilas Pilipinas Youth), Jong Uichico (SBP Academy, Coaches and Tournament head) and Rebo Saguisag (Referees and Table Officials program director). The Philippine national basketball teams will now be officially called Gilas Pilipinas men’s and Gilas Pilipinas women’s

(formerly known as Perlas). Batang Gilas will be now k n ow n a s G i l a s P i l i p i n a s Youth and the 3x3 team as Gilas Pilipinas 3x3.

Q Team Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche grabs a rebound during a game against Qatar in the FIBA Asian qualifiers at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club in Doha, Qatar. FIBA.COM PHOTO

Marinero cruises past Metropac-San Beda MARINERONG Pilipino beat Metropac-San Beda, 88-85, in overtime on Thursday in the 2019 PBA D-League playoff race at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Forwards Art Aquino and Larry Rodriguez led their team with 16 points each. Santi Santillan also posted a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, including

the huge trey that gave the Skippers an 84-79 advantage with 1:09 remaining. Jhonard Clarito shone in the EXTRA PERIOD NOTCHING kVE OF HIS POINTS IN THE kNAL kVE MINutes. Fellow newcomers Gab Banal had 10, while Mike Ayonayon scored seven. Clint Doliguez helped Metropac-San Beda close in within

three and even forced a stop with 14.5 seconds left. James Canlas, though, flubbed the trey that could have sent the game to a second overtime as the time expired. Marinerong Pilipino improved to 4-4 in the Foundation Group. It needs to hurdle Perpetual in its final elimination game on Tuesday, and for FEU to lose to CEU on May 23

to secure the final playoff seat. Metropac-San Beda’s loss sent it down to 6-3 and gifted leaders CEU and Valencia City Bukidnon-SSCR the top two seeds which comes with twice-to-beat advantages in the playoffs. Canlas fired 22 points for the Movers, while Doliguez racked 16 points and six rebounds in the defeat.

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Ancajas not ‘sitting pretty’

UST a few days after his onesided drubbing of Japanese challenger Ryuichi Funai, IBF junior bantamweight (115 lbs.) king Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy’ Ancajas is already pondering on his next appearance in the squared circle. If plans do not miscarry, Ancajas is planning to return to the ring in September to defend his belt for the eighth time opposite unbeaten Australian Andrew Moloney. One thing about Ancajas, the word “idle� is not in his vocabulary. He won the IBF title in September 2016 and promptly made three successful defenses in 2017. Last year, Ancajas chalked up three more triumphant defenses to bring his total to six, a number that is quite impressive for somebody who has been on the throne for just two years. However, there were occasions, particularly in his last two defenses before Funai, when Ancajas looked a bit weary. He went the full 12-round distance against countryman Jonas Sultan in May 2018, although it should be emphasized that Sultan offered an unconventional style that WAS QUITE DIFkCULT TO DISSECT "UT FOUR months later, Ancajas barely escaped defeat with a split-draw against Mexican Alejandro Barrios. Ancajas complained of cramps in the Barrios kGHT AND NOT A FEW SUGGESTED A MOVE up to the bantamweight (118 lbs.) division was overdue. To his credit, Ancajas dismissed his pedestrian performance against Sultan and Barrios as plain aberration and worked on addressing the perceived chinks in his armor. For THE &UNAI kGHT !NCAJAS TRAINED AT the Philippine Marine base camp and even incorporated Marine drills into his regimen. To monitor his weight, Ancajas tapped the services of nutritionist Jeaneth Aro. “Maganda po ang training namin, lalo na sa weight niya,� Ancajas’ chief trainer, Joven Jimenez, told this writer. “Yung nakaraan kasi kulang yung training namin at putol-putol. At maganda din ang programa ng nutritionist namin.� Ancajas’ excellent training camp parlayed into a return to vintage form against Funai. While known for his killer left straight, Ancajas’ right hand also hugged the spotlight as he mercilessly battered the Japanese for six rounds. While Funai kept his gloves close to his chin, Jimenez noticed a lAW THAT WAS EXPLOITED BY !NCAJAS repeated use of his right hand. “Nakita po namin na nakababa ‘yung kaliwang kamay ni Funai pag-

BOXER SHORTS ED C. TOLENTINO katapos n’ya sumuntok kaya sinanay namin ng husto ‘yung right hook ni Jerwin,� said Jimenez. The fight was called off at the start of the seventh round after the ringside physician advised referee Edward Collantes to stop the carnage. Under California boxing rules, the RESULT WENT DOWN AS AN OFkCIAL TH round knockout win for Ancajas. Ancajas raised his record to 31-1, 2 draws with 21 knockouts. 4HE WIN WAS !NCAJAS kRST STOPpage victory since September 2018, when he stopped Israel Gonzalez. A rejuvenated Ancajas has no plans to sit on his laurels as he is already looking forward to his next defense against Moloney. Nicknamed “The Monster,� Moloney has a record of 19-0 with 12 knockouts. The 28-year-old Maloney, A kVE YEAR PRO HAS STOPPED A NUMBER of Filipino boxers (Jonathan Ligas, Raymond Tabugon, and Jether Oliva, to name a few). Two months ago, Maloney knocked out Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez in eight rounds in a WBA Title Elimination match. Moloney is in a position to demand a shot at the WBA junior bantamweight crown held by Briton Khalid Yafai, but the latter is booked to defend his crown on June 1. Moloney, whose twin brother Jason kGHTS AT BANTAMWEIGHT MIGHT JUST focus on Ancajas’ IBF crown. Ancajas is looking to extend his stay in the junior bantamweight class. The best matchup for Jerwin is EASILY A UNIkCATION SHOWDOWN WITH WBC counterpart Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico. Estrada, 39-3 with 26 knockouts, recently captured the WBC plum by outclassing Thai puncher Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Estrada is just as skilled as Ancajas and DEkNITELY POSES A THREAT But there’s one problem in making Estrada-Ancajas. “Yung kay Estrada mahirap gawin kasi naka pirma siya sa DAZN (the subscription video streaming service dedicated to sports, MORE LIKE THE @.ETlIX OF BOXING u said Jimenez. Ancajas inked in late A TWO YEAR SIX kGHT DEAL WITH Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions. The politics in boxing aside, Ancajas is ready to take on all comers. One thing about ‘Pretty Boy,’ he cannot wait to rearrange the face of the next usurper to his throne.

NADAL ON THE UP AGAIN, FERRER ENDS CAREER IN MADRID MADRID: Rafael Nadal believes he is finding his rhythm again after beginning his bid for a sixth Madrid Open title on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) by beating Canadian teenager Felix AugerAliassime in straight sets. The victory also came hours before Nadal’s fellow Spaniard David Ferrer played the final match of his career, losing 6-4, 6-1 to Alexander Zverev in his last tournament before retirement. Nadal has endured a turbulent few weeks after slipping to surprise defeats in both Monte Carlo and Barcelona last month before then being hit by a stomach bug on Sunday. But there was never much sign of an upset in the Spanish capital, where the world number two opened up with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. “Right now every victory is important for me because it gives me the option to play again the next day,� Nadal said. “Two weeks ago maybe playing again was not a chance to improve because I didn’t feel like that in training. “Now I am feeling better in matches and I think every one gives me the chance to get better.� Nadal has not arrived in Madrid without winning in either Monte Carlo or Barcelona since 2015 and, after also pulling out of Indian Wells due to a knee injury in March, concern was growing ahead of the French Open later this month. The 32-year-old, who will be chasing his 18th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, will now face another young talent in America’s Frances Tiafoe, with either Stan Wawrinka or Kei Nishikori waiting in the quarter-finals. “After Indian Wells, I had a big mental drop,� Nadal said. “I had to stop for two weeks and mentally I dropped.

“I struggled a lot to get fit and recover that energy, which I now feel again.� Ferrer bowed out after losing to Zverev, calling time on a distinguished career that included 27 ATP titles and a highest ranking of number three in the world. Renowned for his never-say-die attitude, the 37-year-old reached the French Open final in 2014, as well as five more Grand Slam semi-finals. “I couldn’t have given more to this sport,� said Ferrer, who left his bandana on the ‘T’ of the service box. “I don’t know what my legacy will be but I always fought until the last point. Maybe it will be that.� Nishikori and Wawrinka will meet in the third round on Thursday after Nishikori took just over two hours to win 7-5, 7-5 against Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien and Wawrinka defeated Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4. The Swiss has won his last two matches against Nishikori, including a three-set victory in Rotterdam in February, when he went on to reach his first final since undergoing knee surgery in 2017.

Osaka in control Juan Martin del Potro lost 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to Serbia’s Laslo Djere in his first match since February as the Argentine continues to work his way back from a knee injury. Nishikori’s compatriot and world number one Naomi Osaka is through to the quarterfinals of the women’s tournament for the first time after she eased past Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3. Osaka pulled out of the semi-finals

Q Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime during their ATP Madrid Open tennis match at the Caja Magica in Madrid on Thursday. AFP PHOTO

in Stuttgart last month with an abdominal injury but has said she is no longer feeling discomfort during matches. “I feel fine, so that’s great,� Osaka said. “I’m at a really good place right now. I feel like I’m having fun playing tennis again which is always a good thing for me. I always play well if I have that mentality.� In the last eight, the two-time major champion will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic who beat Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Kozlova 6-0, 6-2. A potential semi-final foe for Osaka is world number three Simona Halep, who annihilated Slovakian Viktoria Kuzmova 6-0, 6-0 in 44 minutes. Number two seed Petra Kvitova saw off France’s Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3 and will now face the Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens. AFP

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Relaxed Koepka finetunes PGA prep at Byron Nelson L OS ANGELES: Brooks Koepka puts THE kNISHING TOUCHES ON HIS 0'! #HAMPIONSHIP PREPARATIONS ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA WHEN HE TEES OFF IN THE !4 4 "YRON .ELSON WITH ONE EYE ON NEXT WEEK S SECOND MAJOR OF

Koepka, who will defend his PGA Championship crown at Bethpage Black, has not played an event since a second place kNISH BEHIND 4IGER 7OODS AT LAST month’s Masters in Augusta. While many of golf’s elite are taking this week off, Koepka is using the tournament at Trinity

Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas TO kNE TUNE HIS GAME AFTER NEARLY a month off. The 29-year-old said he is not bothered by his performance this week, but will be looking for signs that the fundamentals of his game are in working order ahead of the PGA Cham-

pionship. “You don’t need to play that great,� Koepka said. “I try to get some rhythm. I like building a little bit of rhythm, finding YOUR GAME kGURING OUT HOW TO score, to manage your game. It’s just something that has always worked for me. “I’m not so concerned with the little things, you know, like making bogey from a hundred yards or maybe not getting up and down, going for par-5s, not getting up and down. Mainly just how am I hitting it?� World No. 3 Koepka will tee off in Texas as a heavy favorite,

with the next highest ranked player in THE kELD 0ATRICK 2EED the world number 19, and Marc Leishman, ranked 22. Koepka meanwhile said he had few regrets about his Augusta near-miss, blaming MISTAKES ON THE kNAL round for his loss. “I thought I played reasonably well. I was pretty happy with how I played. But obviously I made a lot of mistakes. I made two double-bo-

Pagunsan-Chan wrests lead with 70 REY Pagunsan forged an early solid partnership with reigning national junior champion Aidric Chan as they combined for a two-under 70 to grab a twostroke lead over siblings Daniella and Lanz Uy, Tonton Asistio and Judson Eustaquio, and Art Arbole and Joel Yamyamin at the start of the Delimondo National Pro-Am at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas on Thursday. Pagunsan and Chan launched their drive on No. 16 in the first of two shotgun starts and overcame a double bogey on the 18th on a wild drive with three pairs of back-to-back birdies against another double bogey to seize early control with the dreaded Splendido wind hardly felt in morning play. Two pairs threatened to dominate the afternoon group with strong starts but the Enrico Gallardo-JR Bagtas and Michael Bibat-Louie Aguinaldo tandems blew a pair of early three-under cards with shaky finishes, enabling the Southwoods duo of Pagunsan and Chan to stay ahead of the 107-team field in the P2.7 million event sponsored by Delimondo. Starting off on No. 1, Gallardo and Bagtas birdied three of the first 10 holes but double bogeyed the par-3 12th, bogeyed the next and dropped strokes on 16th and 17th for a 74. Bibat and Aguinaldo made quite an impression with three birdies in their first five holes from No. 2. But they bogeyed the seventh and spent the rest of the day groping for shots while trying to salvage at least pars,

to no avail. They bogeyed Nos. 11, 12 and 16 and dropped two strokes on the par-4 18th and limped with a 75 instead. Those foldups allowed Pagunsan and Chan to regain the lead with the veteran campaigner anchoring their strong start on superb putting, including a 25-footer on No. 10 and another 10-foot putt on the next. “I never putted this well but also drew solid support from my partner,� said Pagunsan of his 18-year-old teammate, who is coming into the event brimming with confidence following a victory in the National Junior Open at Sherwood recently. While Pagunsan flaunted his superb touch on the unpredictable surface, sinking all but one of their six birdies, Chan provided the shots that set up a number of birdie opportunities – on Nos. 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10. They, however, stumbled with one more double bogey on No. 6. “We didn’t have problems on the greens. We just hope to sustain our form or get better in the next two days,� said Chan, who knocked in a 10-foot putt for birdie on No. 11. The sister-brother tandem of Daniella and Lanz birdied their opening hole on No. 7 then added another feat on No. 10, but stumbled at the finish, ending up with back-to-back bogeys from No. 4. They missed joining the Pagunsan-Chan pair at the helm and slipped to second at 72 with the tested tandem of Asistio and Eustaquio, who mixed

two birdies against the same number of bogeys for a pair of 36s that nevertheless put the long-time buddies on track to reclaim the crown they won in 2017. Arbole and Yamyamin birdied the 10th in one of the late flights to force a threeway at second with 70 in the event put up by ICTSI also held to showcase the skills and talent of the country’s leading amateurs and those gearing up for the pro ranks. But a host of other teams stood just a shot, two or three behind, guaranteeing a spirited battle in the last 36 holes of the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. They include the pairs of Anthony Fernando-Nolan Enriquez, Joseph Suarez-Paqo Barro,Jelbert Gamolo-Coby Rolida, and Artemio Murakami-Takuya Kawamura, who all turned in 73s, and Ira Alido-Angelito Romero, Charles Hong-Masaichi Otake, Dino Villanueva-Sunshine Zhang, Cookie La’O-Mariel Tee, Marcos Pastor-Nicole Abelar, Marvi Monsalve-Laia Barro, and Richard Abaring-Juan Karloz Alba.

tive chairman and president Chris Kermode seeking a return to that job now that Gimelstob is no longer on the decision-making board that oversees the men’s tennis circuit. Roger Federer said Sunday that Kermode “maybe should be put back into ... the mix.� Gimelstob is an ex-player, coach and TV commentator who pleaded no contest last month and was sentenced to three years of probation, 60 days of community service and a year’s

geys. It’s tough to win if you’re going to do that, especially at Augusta,� he said. “Second place isn’t much fun but you move on. I think Tiger made it look closer than it actuALLY WAS WITH THE kNAL score.� Koepka added that Woods’ return to championshipwinning form after

missing most of 2016 and 2017 with injury had been welcomed across the sport. “I think everybody in my generation, my age grew up watching him. That’s pretty much the whole reason we’re all playing. Everybody that’s probably 30, 32 and younger, that’s all we did was watch him and it was exciting,� Koepka said. “I would say 99 percent of the people that show up when he’s playing are there to see him. So, it’s been good for the sport. It’s good to see him back playing well. It’s good for everybody.� AFP

Harrington to reduce Ryder Cup wild cards statement issued Wednesday. “It is a theme that will be prevalent across my captaincy and I think you can see that in the overALL QUALIkCATION PROCESS FOR THE 2020 team,� the Irishman added. “Having said that, I am pleased that the (European Tour) tournament committee agreed to the change of wild card numbers. “I have spoken to a number of people regarding the ninth player automatically qualifying for the team and in my experience, a player is more comfortable WHEN HE HAS QUALIkED HENCE MY reasoning behind this change,� the three-time major winner explained. “I am also delighted to be starting and ending the process at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. “It is one of our most prestigious events, played at an iconic venue and the home of the European Tour itself, and will help give a real narrative to the QUALIkCATION RACE u HE SAID AFP

UTP forms national juniors tennis team

Q Rey Pagunsan PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA

worth of anger management classes. Prosecutors said the 42-year-old American attacked Randall Kaplan as they trick-or-treated with their kids in Los Angeles on Halloween in 2017. Kermode’s departure at the end of 2019 was announced in March after a vote by the ATP board. Djokovic called Gimelstob’s resignation, announced last week in a Facebook post, “a wise decision,� adding, “the whole case was just posing so much pressure and obstacles

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Q Brooks Koepka of USA plays a shot during practice prior to the start of the AT&T Byron Nelson on Thursday in Irving, Texas. AFP PHOTO

LONDON: European captain Padraig Harrington has decided to cut his wild card selections from four to three for next year’s Ryder Cup in the United States. Nine of Harrington’s players will qualify automatically for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits as a result of points earned on the European Tour -- a process that will start with the 2019 PGA Championship at Wentworth, SOUTHWEST OF ,ONDON AND kNISH AT THE EDITION OF THE lAGship tournament. Harrington will then select three wild cards to complete his team for Europe’s defence of the team golf trophy they won in commanding style in Paris last year. “I have said on many occasions that one of the reasons for recent European success in the Ryder Cup is continuity,� Harrington explained in a tour

Djokovic sounds open to Gimelstob regaining role MADRID: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic sounds open to the idea of Justin Gimelstob’s eventual return to an INlUENTIAL ROLE IN TENNIS FOLLOWING his recent resignation from the ATP board of directors. Speaking Monday at the Madrid Open, Djokovic said Gimelstob did the right thing by stepping down after being sentenced in a US court for attacking a former friend. Djokovic also said he would be OK with soon-to-leave ATP execu-

Sports

for the tour, in general.� “It’s unfortunate, because I think he has been probably the biggest asset that players had in the last 10plus years that he’s been on the tour, representing players,� Djokovic said. “But at the same time, these are kind of unfortunate circumstances, and he needs to go back and deal with that — deal with that case and try to kND THE RIGHT BALANCE AND THE RIGHT state of mind — before he eventually tries to come back.� AFP

IN a bid to continue developing FRESH &ILIPINO TENNIS TALENTS 5NIkED Tennis Philippines (UTP) is forming the 2019 UTP National Juniors Tennis Team, which will represent the country in International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) tournaments. “We are helping our top junior players compete in international competitions to further hone their skills as they are the future of Philippine tennis. We hope that this year’s team will be equally successful as last year’s batch,� UTP President Jean Henri Lhuillier said. The cut-off period for the ITF and ATF tournaments is from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. The top two players of the Boys and Girls 18 and 16 Under category will be selected for an ITF tournament while the top two players of the Boys and Girls 14 and Under category will be sent to an ATF tournament. UTP is also doing a similar search for representatives to the WTA Future

Stars Girls 14 and 16 Under category through the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls Tennis Challenge. The top 8 ranked girls in both categories from January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019 will play in a round robin competition this September and the champions will be sent to the WTA Future Stars tournament in its new host country in Shenzhen, China. Last year, UTP formed several teams that played in Malaysia and Indonesia and were successful in producing winners with the Eala siblings Alex and Miko reaching THE kNALS OF THE !'3 )4& IN )NDOnesia. In the Sarawak 13th ATF 14 and under series, Johndy Velez won the Boy’s Singles, Rupert Tortal and Brent Cortes won the Boy’s Doubles and Alexa Milliam won both the Girl’s Singles and Doubles titles. UTP’s campaign is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop and is supported by Chris Sports, Toby’s Sports, HEAD, Babolat, Mr. Freeze, Unilab, Navegar, STI, and Madison Galleries.

First wave of Tokyo 2020 Olympic tickets up for grabs TOKYO: The first tickets for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics went on sale on Thursday, with Japanese residents able to enter a lottery to watch the sport of their choice. Tickets for the 33 sports range from the cheapest general tickets at 2,500 yen ($23) to an eye-watering 300,000 yen ($2,730) for the best seats at the opening ceremony. Those lucky enough to score the best

seats for the showcase men’s 100m final will pay 130,000 yen ($1,200). But half of all tickets will be priced at 8,000 yen ($73) or less and special tickets priced at 2,020 yen ($18) are available for families resident in Japan with children, senior citizens, and people with impairments. Prices for domestic residents are “about the same as London 2012 but a little higher

than the 2016 Rio Games,� Yuko Hayakawa, senior 2020 marketing official, told AFP. The lottery — only for residents of Japan during an initial period — runs until May 28, with successful applicants notified on June 20 and payment due a fortnight later. The website saw high demand upon opening with a queue system in place even though tickets are not sold on a first-come

first-served basis and everyone entering the lottery by May 28 having an equal chance of scooping tickets. Overseas applicants will be able to snap up tickets from June 15 via special “Authorised Ticket Resellers� in each country. Organisers have not offered a precise number of tickets available as various stadium configurations are still being finalised with just less than 450 days to

go until the opening ceremony. But they said it would be roughly the same as the 7.8 million tickets they estimated when bidding for the right to host the Games. Of these tickets, an estimated 70-80 percent would be allotted to Japanese residents with the rest going to overseas fans. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will run from July 24 to August 9.

Tickets for the Paralympics will become available this summer. Fans wishing to start planning their applications can access the website at https://ticket.tokyo2020. org/?culture=en-us. Boxing tickets are not available as the IOC has frozen preparations for the competition amid a spat with the governing body AIBA. AFP

Football Lucas hat trick takes Tottenham to Champions League final A

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˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

MSTERDAM: An emotional Mauricio Pochettino called his Tottenham Hotspur players “super-heroes� after they reached the Champions League kNAL FOR THE kRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY AS a Lucas Moura hat-trick saw them come back from the dead to beat Ajax on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) and leave the Dutch side heartbroken. Ajax’s improbable European run seemed set to go on all the way to THE kNAL AS THEY LED ON AGGREgate deep in stoppage time in the SECOND LEG OF THE SEMI kNAL AT THE Johan Cruyff Arena. That was when the ball broke to Lucas in the box and the Brazilian sent a low shot beyond Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to seal their comeback, making it 3-2 to them on the night, 3-3 on aggregate, and taking Pochettino’s men through on away goals. They will now face fellow comeback kings Liverpool in Madrid ON *UNE THE FIRST ALL %NGLISH showpiece since 2008. “It is one of the most important nights in my life,� said Pochettino, who was in tears at full-time. “The most important thing is to congratulate my players. They did a great job.� “I have said before that they

are heroes. I think they are superheroes now. To have brought the CLUB TO THE kNAL OF THE #HAMPIONS League is very close to a miracle.� For Lucas there was similar emotion, the player rejected by Paris Saint-Germain as they made way for Neymar stepping up in the ongoing absence of Tottenham’s talisman Harry Kane. “Football gives us moments like this that we cannot imagine,� said Lucas. “We need to enjoy it. Look at me — it’s the best moment in my life, my career.� The Ajax players slumped to the turf as his deciding goal went in, their fans stunned as they fell short OF A kRST kNAL SINCE ,EADING AFTER THE kRST LEG the thrilling Dutch side appeared to have killed the tie after captain Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech

SCORED IN THE kRST HALF HERE That left Tottenham needing a comeback to match that of Liverpool against Barcelona the previous night, but in an even shorter amount of time. ! QUICKkRE brace by Lucas early in the second half gave them something to cling to, before he struck the decisive blow. Erik ten Hag’s team, who had already eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus, were applauded by their devastated fans at full-time and must now somehow lift themselves to try to complete a Dutch league and Cup double. They will take some time to get over falling short of what may be a once-in-a-generation chance to get BACK TO THE kNAL OF THIS COMPETITION Ajax did go on here, starting brilliantly on the night despite the blow of losing Brazilian winger David Neres to injury just before kick-off, with Kasper Dolberg takAFP ing his place.

KANE HOPES TO BE FIT FOR MSTERDAM: Harry Kane says he is on COURSE TO BE kT FOR 4OTTENHAM S Champions League final clash with Liverpool after the England captain joined his team’s celebrations following their astonishing victory over Ajax. Kane is recovering from an ankle ligament injury, but he was watching from the stands in the Johan Cruyff Arena as Tottenham recovered from 2-0 down to win IN THE SEMI kNAL SECOND LEG on Wednesday. The incredible comeback sent Tottenham through to their first Champions League final AND +ANE IS CONkDENT HE WILL BE ready to feature when Mauricio Pochettino’s men face Liverpool IN -ADRID ON *UNE “We’ll see. So far so good, so if it carries on as it should I would hope to be. There’s still a few weeks to go,� Kane told BT Sport. “Rehab is going well. I start straight line running this week, which is why I was OK to run on at the end. “We beat Man City and Ajax so I have to start training even harder to prove myself to the gaffer.� Kane has been sidelined since sustaining his latest ankle injury in a challenge on Manchester City’s Fabian Delph in the quarTERkNAL kRST LEG ON !PRIL B u t Po c h e t t i n o d i d n o t want to comment when asked ABOUT +ANE S kTNESS WITH THE LAST question of his post-match press conference, throwing his arms in the air as he left the room.

Tottenham’s Premier League form has dipped without their leading scorer, although they should still secure a top-four finish in their last domestic game of the season against Everton on Sunday. Pochettino’s team has reserved their best performances without Kane for the Champions League, much to the delight of the YEAR OLD K a n e, who has 24 goals t h i s

season, sprinted on the pitch at full-time in Amsterdam, hugging Pochettino and embracing his teammates as they cavorted in front of the jubilant Tottenham fans high in the stands. 2EVEALING 4OTTENHAM S kGHTBACK was inspired by strong words at half time, Kane said: “It was amazing. It was a dis-

Q Tottenham’s Brazilian forward Lucas vies with Ajax’s Dutch defender Daley Blind (right) during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg football match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. AFP PHOTO

SPURS Sarri fears Chelsea ban APPOINTING kRST HALF AND WE let them play. I went into the dressing room at half-time and we knew it wasn’t good enough. g7E SAID WE HAD MINutes to give everything. When Lucas Moura scored the two you thought we would get another but then Jan Vertonghen hit the crossbar and we thought it might not be our day.â€? AFP

Q Harry Kane  AFP PHOTO

will ruin title hopes LONDON: Maurizio Sarri said Chelsea has no chance of competing with Manchester City and Liverpool next season unless their twowindow transfer ban is overturned. Chelsea was hit with the ban for breaches of the international transfer rules on minors and FIFA threw out their appeal against the decision on Wednesday. 4HE "LUES WILL TAKE THEIR kGHT against the transfer embargo to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but it was the worst possible news for Sarri ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semikNAL SECOND LEG AGAINST %INTRACHT Frankfurt. Having booked a place in next season’s Champions League after SECURING A TOP FOUR kNISH IN THE Premier League, Chelsea are bidDING TO WIN THE kRST TROPHY OF 3ARri’s reign in the Europa League. They are favored to reach the kNAL AFTER DRAWING IN &RANKFURT IN THE kRST LEG LAST WEEK But Sarri is concerned that a potentially uplifting end to his troubled first season would be erased if Chelsea are unable to sign the players he believes are needed TO kGHT #ITY AND ,IVERPOOL IN THE Premier League. g)T S VERY DIFkCULT TO COVER THE gap at the moment; we need to work, probably we need to do something from the market,� said Sarri, whose third-placed team are 24 points behind leaders City. “So it’s not easy, because the

Blatter aims to sue FIFA, Infantino – report GENEVA: Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter plans to sue world football’s governing body and his successor for allegedly spreading “false informationâ€? and damaging his reputation, according to a news report published on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). “I will take legal actions against Gianni Infantino and FIFA,â€? Blatter told Swiss news magazine Weltwoche. “I’ve had it. Enough is enough,â€? he said. The 83-year-old former president was suspended from FIFA in AMID A GIGANTIC CORRUPTION scandal that rocked world football to its core. But he claimed in Wednesday’s interview that statements issued

by FIFA regarding alleged payments he had received contained false information. “The information and the different statements issued by FIFA regarding my income are untrue and have therefore been detrimental to my reputation,� he said. He alleged that FIFA had spread “fake information and a deceitful representation� of the facts. Among other things, he challenged ALLEGATIONS THAT FOLLOWING THE World Cup in Brazil he had received a BONUS OF MILLION 3WISS FRANCS MILLION MILLION EUROS “Information that I received this bonus is false,� he said. He also charged that false allegations had been made about his pension, and lamented

that FIFA had failed to hand BACK HIS BELONGINGS CONkSCATED after his suspension, including a valuable watch collection and personal documents. Blatter, whose is serving a sixyear ban from world football, also INSISTED THAT A MILLION PAYMENT HE AUTHORIZED IN TO -ICHEL Platini, former head of UEFA and his one-time heir apparent, had been handled correctly. And he questioned the channels through which the payment had come to prosecutors’ attention four years later, saying he suspected Infantino. “The way my successor has treated me is incomprehensible, given that he took over a very profitable organization,� he said. AFP

Q Sepp Blatter AFP PHOTO

level of the top two is very, very high. As we can see in Europe, so it’s not easy. “Of course, we have to work and we have to try. In my opinion we can reduce the gap. “I think that we have to buy only one, two players, otherwise it’s very DIFkCULT TO IMPROVE IMMEDIATELY “I think we are a very good team, so we need only one, two players, no more.� &)&! CONkRMED IT HAS gPARTIALLY upheld� Chelsea’s appeal, but only in allowing the club to sign %UROPEAN PLAYERS AGED UNDER 4HE BAN ON SIGNING OVER S remains in place, leaving Chelsea unable to make changes to Sarri’s squad unless they win the CAS appeal. With Real Madrid expected to make a move for Blues star Eden Hazard, who is out of contract next year, Sarri could be forced to sell a player he would prefer to keep rather than risk losing him for nothing when his deal expires. That would further weaken his options, but the Italian remains intent on staying with Chelsea next term. The former Napoli manager insists he would be able to survive without new signings at Chelsea next season, despite the obvious impact on his team’s development. Asked if he would be ready to promote youth talents to the senior squad, Sarri said: “I like to play with young players, so for me AFP it’s not a big problem.

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

Lifestyle

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w w w.manilatimes.net Q Go back in time to China’s ancient civilization at the Window on China Theme Park.

An abundance of charming, exciting theme parks in Taiwan

A

MUSEMENT and theme parks indeed provide carefree fun, adventure and memories to last a lifetime. For young and old, theme parks are a destination that will transport them to an entirely different place with endless opportunities to live out a charmed and exciting life even for a few hours. In Taiwan, there are amusement SCALE OF ONE TWENTY kFTH OF THE parks of various sizes, and whether original structure. big or small, each one features Some of these places include its own prominent theme and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, unique charms to attract different Churches of Rome, and The guests. These include the Window Great Wall which are all scaled on China Theme Park, a family down for visitors to feel like a amusement park; the Leofoo Vil- giant and create an impression lage Theme Park, an animal para- of traveling around the world in dise; the Lihpao Resort, a holiday a short amount of time without waterpark; and the E-DA World, a the need of going abroad. ol European-style technolQ Leofoo Village Theme ogy park. Park is the only open wildlife theme park in Taiwan with Window on thousands of animals from China Theme nearly 70 species.

Park

This park is located in n Taoyuan and contains more than a hundred immersive miniature models of the different structures all over the world. Every brick and plant of each building is made based on a

Lihpao Resort

Leofoo Village Theme Park

wild beast zone is just like taking a trip to Africa.

Meanwhile, Leofoo Village, which is down south to Hsinchu County, was originally established as a wildlife park before it was reestablished as a compound amuseMENT PARK 4HERE ARE kVE THEMED areas set up inside including the Central Magic Fountain, Arabian Kingdom, African Safari, South 0ACIkC AND THE 7ILD 7EST Among them, the wild safarithemed area of the African Safari is the one-and-only open wildlife park in Taiwan that accommodates thousands of animals of nearly 70 species. A rich and perfect layout was planned to create the so-called paradise for wild aniMALS 6ISITING THE SITES OF lAMINGO bird park, herbivore zone, and the

DA World

Instagram-worthy ideas to make the most of your Sapporo experience UNDENIABLY one of Japan’s national treasures, Sapporo is an enchanting place just outside Hokkaido. Beyond the Winter Festival which is a must to go to, there are also other things to discover — their stunning landmarks scattered all throughout the region, authentic Japanese curry, and the wellknown Sapporo Beer. Definitely an Instagrammable place worthy of checking off your bucket list. If you’re planning a trip there this Spring, Philippine Airlines shared the following shot list with The Manila Times to post from the hottest picturesque spots in Japan’s hidden wonder.

‘The by-the-lake look.’ Once you get back down from the summit, you can take a relaxing walk along the coastline of Lake Toya or follow the trails leading to the other vantage points of the island.

‘The neat shot.’ See how Nikka Whisky is made by visiting its distillery. Observe age-old traditions performed by skilled craftsmen as they create the perfect whisky. So grab yourself a glass, pour yourself some Yoichi Single Malt, and smile! ‘The time traveler.’ A piece of history frozen in time, explore Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura’s Edo period temples and houses. Try to spot the samurais, ninjas, and geishas scattered throughout the village.

‘The cable car cutie.’ Go up Mt. Usu in the most scenic way possible. Ride a cable car to the volcano’s summit and enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Toya, Toya Caldera, and the Usu Volcano Global Geopark.

World has become a must-visit technology park when traveling to Taiwan because of its awesome and thrilling games.

Q This amazing cluster of pseudo-classic buildings inside E-DA World transports guests to a grand Grecian kingdom.

‘The sweet tooth.’ Discover the European architecture inspired landmark, Shiroi Koibito, tucked away in the heart of the city. It’s a chocolate park as well, so try making your own Shiroi Koibito cookies.

gree full spherical panorama has been put up to allow players to be more wrapped up in the experience with four types of virtual reality games available. With the ever-changing systematic game designs and settings, visitors can immerse themselves in the situation and conduct i n t e r a c t i o n s. E - DA

Located in southern Taiwan, E-DA on the other hand is the kRST THEME PARK FEATURING ANCIENT Greek background in Taiwan. The true-to-life pseudoclassic buildings inside give Q Lihpao Resort in Taichung is renowned the impression of being for its ‘Sky Dream’ Ferris wheel which goes surrounded by an ancient as high as the 88th floor of Taipei 101. Greek kingdom. A new VR station was also added last year in E-DA World, which is an innovative travel element covering an area of a thousand square meters has been built. Unlike regular entertainment facilities, the 720-de-

Finally, Lihpao Resort in Taichung is a holiday, double-themed park comprising an amusement park, a waterpark, and the Fullon Hotel. This vacation resort, particularly suitable for a family trip, is renowned for its “Sky Dream� airconditioned Ferris wheel which reaches up to an altitude of 384 meTERS EQUIVALENT TO THE TH lOOR OF Taipei 101. Sitting inside the cabin, one can appreciate the marvelous, panoramic landscape at a glance. Other amusement parks known for their distinguishing features and worth visiting as well are the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, which has become a wonderful place to go for cherry blossom viewing during the recent years apart from its indigenous characteristics; the Janfusun Fancyworld, which is a joyous wonderland themed on native fairy tales and fantasy; and the Farglory Ocean Park in Hualien, an amazing spot to visit which is a themed on ocean and marine life. For more information to enjoy the wonderful travel experiences and amusement parks in Taiwan, visit www.themepark.net.tw.

D2

Funtimes

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (05/10/19). Shared money grows this year. Expand boundaries through disciplined research and planning. Write, publish and share your message this summer, before travel or education presents a new direction. Your exploration hits gold next winter, inspiring new chapters in your story. You’re building something valuable together.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- News travels fast through the grapevine. Connect with friends, colleagues and teammates without stirring up a controversy. Adapt to changes in real time. Listen and learn.

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 a 7 -- A professional challenge presents a surprise. Have patience with communication breakdowns or bad news. Make repairs. Wait for developments. Discover a silver lining.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Unexpected news could distract you from fun and romance. Stay forgiving with miscommunications. Ignore rumors or gossip. Go for substance over symbolism. Prioritize love.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Travel, research and educational pursuits take a surprising twist. Anticipate and adapt to changes. It could get chaotic. Check the traffic before choosing your route.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 7 -- An unscheduled domestic situation requires your attention. Communication makes a difference. Stay patient with misunderstandings. Flexibility helps. Clean a mess. Listen and learn.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Unexpected circumstances could affect your shared finances. Negotiate a bargain, and get terms in writing. Misunderstandings could easily spark. Avoid antagonizing anyone. Take care of business.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Surprising news could change things. Keep digging to uncover the truth. Don’t react without thinking. Disagree respectfully. Keep an open mind, and wait for developments.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Share support with your partner. Collaborate for common gain. It’s not a good time to gamble. Avoid controversy, and clarify misunderstandings immediately.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Estimate costs and expenses to refine the budget. Today and tomorrow favor making money. Confirm intuition with hard data. Be prepared to move quickly.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 6 -- An obstacle could hinder your progress toward a physical goal. Clear the path with care, and watch your step. All may not be as appearing.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- It may take extra energy to navigate a personal challenge. New developments could change the situation. Don’t believe everything you hear. Withhold judgment, and wait. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Look back for insight on the road ahead. Adapt to an unexpected transition or change. Release a preconception. Finish old business. Prepare for what’s ahead.

» SUDOKU

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.) NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats. Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

Today, we look back at an old front page of The Manila Times, the oldest national daily that was founded on October 11, 1898. (Note: This image was adjusted to fit the page.)

FFRIDAY R I DAY MAY 10, 2019

Entertainment

D4 Q The 'Unang Hirit' and 'Eat Bulaga' host is now engaged.

www.manilatimes.net

Luane Dy’s got a ring on it! L

Carlo Gonzales pulls off Disneyland proposal to TV host girlfriend

OVELY, bubbly Luane Dy — this columnist’s partner on TV’s “Unang (IRITu ‡ IS OFkCIALLY TAKEN 3HE JUST GOT engaged to her boyfriend of eight years, GMA .ETWORK ACTOR #ARLO 'ONZALES AND THE COUPLE COULDN T BE HAPPIER

The proposal took place at the “happiest place on earth,� Disneyland in Anaheim, California with the park’s WORLD FAMOUS kREWORKS as their backdrop. “I didn’t have an inkling that Carlo was proposing that night,� Luane EXCLAIMED WHEN 3HOWBUZZ kNALLY caught up with her. “Wala talaga, as in zero. I was the one who packed his things when we were leaving for the States and walang ring or any sign that he’d be proposing. osing. ‘Yun pala it was with Tita Baby, aby, his mom. Nasa kanya lahat and his whole family knew about his plan.� The choice of Disneyland as the venue of the proposal wass because it is Luane’ss favorite place. “Kahit hit

saan ako magpunta, ta, basta may Disneyland, d, hindi pwedeng hindi ako pupunta. I really enjoy joy

it whether it be in Hong ong Kong or Japan. ‘Yung ng sa LA, it was my first time there. Kaya pala sumama mama sa amin ang buong family amily ni Carlo pati Mom andd Dad

SHOWBUZZ LHAR SANTIAGO niya because nakaplano na nga.� That happy night, Luane was JUST HAVING FUN WATCHING THE kREworks and eating corn on a cob. “Carlo kept on telling me to stop eating na and itapon ko na

daw yung corn pero ayoko kasi ang sarap nu’n di’ba?� she giggled. “Finally, sinunod ko siya and when WE WERE WATCHING THE kREWORKS HE told me that Disneyland is very memorable to him because he’d go there every year since he was a kid. Tapos sabi niya, I want to make it more memorable and I didn’t get what he meant.� Suddenly, Carlo went down on his knee and Luane thought it was a joke! “Kasi naman we always joked whenever a couple gets engaged, tayo na rin nga. Pero joke lang

“Pati level ng kilig iba rin,� she giggled again. “Mas malamb-

ing siya ngayon, mas mahalaga siya‌ Minsan nga naiisip ko, may kasalanan n kaya ito sa ‘kin?â€?â€? she laughed out loud. ud. Indeed, their eight years together have passed the testt of time, even with rough patches along the way.

“A l a m m o ‘yan, Kuya Lhar, ar, while there

talaga. Kaya nu’ng biglang lumu- were more goodd luhod siya MY kRST REACTION WAS times than bad,, parang, ‘Weh! Seryoso?’ But when those bad timess he took out the ring I said to myself, ‘Shocks, totoo na nga!’ It was funny because he said to me nu’ng parang hindi ako

naniniwa naniniwala, ‘Ayaw mo?’"

Asked what she felt that very mo moment, Luane replied, “I could couldn’t believe that it was it na ta talaga. Parang, ‘Is this really happening? Before I knew it, i I said yes, and sinuot na niy niya sa akin yung engagement ring, and we hugged. I was rreally so happy!� It only was after the proposal that Luane learned posa her own mom was privy to the plan. Carlo had already talked to her to ask for tal Q She said yes. Amid the permission to propose and pe fireworks at Disneyland got the green light. go California, the actor went Now officially endown on his knee and ggaged, Luane says she asked TV's bubbly Luane aand Carlo are on a Dy to marry him. whole new level of happiness.

were really major trials. Angg

dami naming pinagdaanan

that there was one point in the relationship that I really Q Actor Carlo Gonzales proposed to Luane Dy at the 'happiest place on earth.' gave up. But in the end, love still prevailed.� As soon as she got back from the US, Luane resumed her hosting chores for “Eat Bulaga." Her co-hosts Pauleen Luna Sotto and Ruby Rodriguez couldn’t hold back their excitement and asked to hear the story as soon as she stepped into the studio. The same thing happened too at the set of “Unang Hirit� last Monday with everyone just happy for Q (Above and below) 'Kaya pala sumama sa amin ang buong family Luane and Carlo! ni Carlo pati Mom and Dad niya because nakaplano na nga yung Congratulations you two! proposal,' shared Dy.

Q A whole new level of happiness for showbiz' latest husband-and-wife-to-be.

Âťcheers!

'Shock and awe' release schedule from Disney and Fox Films NEW YORK: Now armed with the upcoming releases of next three and a half years, though it’s yet to map out 20th Century Fox, the Walt Disney Co. set forth a shockits post-Endgame cinematic universe. and-awe release schedule spanning the next eight years, Disney also dated three untitled Star Wars films to including the yet-again-postponed “Avatar� sequels, a new arrive in theaters in 2022, 2024 and 2026. The company batch of “Star Wars� releases and Steven Spielberg’s “West hasn’t revealed details of those projects. “Star Wars: The Side Story� adaptation. Last Jedi� director Rian Johnson is Since Disney’s $71.3 billion developing a new trilogy for the acquisition of Fox was comspace saga. pleted in March, the studio hadn’t budged on the listed That means that Disney, which this December will release dates of a number of Fox releases, even as it was release “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,� is set to rule increasingly apparent to the industry that high-profile the next nine Christmas box office seasons with either an upcoming films were sure Avatar or a Star Wars to be delayed under the movie, except for one. Disney shake-up. For the lone exception, But the most notable December 2020, the delay announced Tuesday company has dated was a familiar one: The long Steven Spielberg’s wait for more Avatar films West Side Story (Dec. will go on a little longer. 18) and “Cruella� (Dec. James Cameron’s long-de23), a Cruella De Vil layed “Avatar 2� will now open origin story starring in theaters on December 17, Emma Stone. 2021, instead of its most recent Q Spanning the next eight years, the movie releases As expected, a date of December 18, 2020 — will include long-awaited 'Avatar' sequels. number of upcom-

Âťglobalspotlight

PRE-BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

Veteran broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez threw a small pre-birthday celebration for her husband, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas (the couple seated center) at their home in the Aranetas’ residential compound early this week. Roxas, who has been campaigning to regain a Senate seat, is turning 62 on election day, May 13, which left TV’s popular “Rated K� host no other choice but to organize a mini-party in advance. “Hindi naman puwedeng mag -party sa araw na yon di’ba,� Sanchez quipped beside her happy husband, both of them glowing from the joys of parenthood. Begging off from campaign and election talk, the birthday celebrant told The Manila Times Entertainment he feels “inspired and reenergized� at this new chapter in their married life, with the arrival of now famous twin babies Pepe and Pilar. Sanchez on the other hand detailed how this “miracle,� as she describes first-time motherhood in her 50s, has amazed and changed her in ways she never imagined. Lifestyle, Entertainment and The Sunday Times Magazine editor Tessa MauricioArriola (rightmost, seated) writes all about “Mommy Korina� on the cover of this weekend’s issue. Surrounding the Roxases above are select Entertainment editors and columnists from the country’s top broadsheets and tabloids.

which itself followed numerous already scrapped release dates. The subsequent Avatar sequels have moved to 2023, 2025 and 2027, respectively. Cameron’s original Avatar came out in 2009. Disney’s “Avengers: Endgame� is currently approaching the film’s $2.8 billion box-office record with $2.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales after less than two weeks of release. Disney previously dated eight Marvel movies over the

ing Fox films were delayed. James Grey’s science-fiction tale “Ad Astra,� with Brad Pitt, has been pushed from May 24 to September 20. “The New Mutants,� an “X-Men� movie, was pushed from this summer to April next year. The X-Men spinoff “Gambit� has been removed entirely. The YA adaptation “Artemis Fowl� moved from this August to next May. AP

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Special Feature

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

BY MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY

S

HE is the light of the home, bringing joy and color to the dull dark walls of every corner. She is your number one fan, when even though you didn’t clinch that kRST PLACE TROPHY WOULD STAND BESIDE YOU and encourage you to try again. She is your kRST BEST FRIEND WHOM YOU VE SHARED YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH 3HE IS THE EPITOME OF GRACE AND BEAUTY 3HE IS ONE OF A KIND For most people, if not all, the very first special woman in their lives is their mother, who has taken a 24/7 noble job of taking care of the family, carelessly giving 110 percent of her time and energy to nurture every member with barely enough time to spend for herself. Every mom is different, but one thing is for sure: she’s the woman who has given unwavering love and support to help you become the person that you are today. This Mother’s Day, slated on May 12, treat your supermom extra special with the following tips, gifts and activities The Manila Times has dedicated to the queens of our lives.

Hail to the ‘Queen’

A classic home-cooked meal

Make the most important woman of our lives feel extra special on her day

Give mom a break and cook meals for her on Mother’s Day. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, let mom indulge in a scrumptious meal already cooked just for her by none other than her husband and children. Beat mom to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients needed for the meal, which can range from classic Filipino cuisine to fancy Italian dishes. Lack the cooking skills mom is best known for? Worry not as plenty of recipes are available online, and for special measure, involve the rest of your siblings — and dad, too — in home cooking. Dine as a whole family, and when everyone’s full, prevent mom from touching even the smallest plate of dirty dishes.

Take over household chores Moms often wake up extra early to prepare everybody else’s breakfast and lunch packs for work or school, juggling their lives with family, career and community all while caring for the home. On Mother’s Day, initiate taking over her chores — do the dishes, sweep the floor, take out the trash, basically anything you can do to lessen, or at best finish, her work load at home. Allow her to relax the rest of the day with a peaceful mind knowing that the house is in a perfectly clean state.

A new family portrait Mothers are often, if not always, the first person to gather the family for a group picture, whether it may be on a special occasion, an ordinary day at the mall or dining at a fancy restaurant when all the food is served. The point is, mothers are avid fans of photo-ops, even though the outcome isn’t exactly what she had expected. Gift her the real family portrait she has always hoped to hang on the living room wall. Gather the family in their best outfits and head to a professional photo studio to have your pictures taken and framed. Alternatively, a cozy home setting isn’t a bad idea as well. Grab a friend who’s good with cameras and set up a mini studio right at the comfort of your own home. Moms would be appreciative of the outcome and the effort put behind it.

Treat her to a pamper date Nothing says “extra� than by taking your mom on a pamper date she absolutely deserves. They may not say it often, but time flies by so quickly that any amount of time you dedicate to her would be highly appreciated. Start your date by watching her favorite drama series or her favorite movie with a bowl of popcorn as you lounge in the living room with her. By afternoon, take her to the mall for a little shopping spree, even if it’s just window shopping at her favorite stores or to newly-opened shops. When her feet begin to sore, you can never go wrong with relaxing spa treatment to calm her body. A manicure-pedicure session at a nail salon is also a plus. End your day with a dinner date at her favorite restaurant without her worrying on who will be paying the bill.

Make a personalized gift When everything looks like the exact same thing, make mom a personalized item to make her stand out from the rest. Instead of buying a ready-made gift, intentionally opt to shop at a store that personalizes gift items. Hand-written letters filled with your words of admiration for all of the things she has done for you is an absolute go-to. Embroider her name on a piece of clothing or engrave it on to jewelry for a personal touch. Collage pictures of her through the years to highlight her transformation from a dalagang (girl) Filipina to the wonderful mom she is now. Make a video presentation for her with heartwarming messages coming from the people she loves most, especially from family and friends she hasn’t seen or talked to in a while. Bring home a bouquet of flowers for her, beautifully arranged in her favorite blooms of color and placed in an equally beautiful vase she can display forever.

Start a new family tradition If there is no existing family tradition for Mother’s Day, this is the perfect opportunity to start one. Try to do one or more of the ideas listed above, and if you already have one, try incorporating more. Gather the family and brainstorm ideas — that has her approval — to start a family tradition worth doing every year. No matter how simple the celebration is, she will always be thankful for it — and that’s what makes mother great.

MOTHER’S DAY 2019

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FRIDAY May 10, 2019

Special Feature

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LUXURY

Date with Moms

Unforgettable moments, classy gifts, lavish meal, everything special for the first woman in our lives

F

OR those who are still thinking of how @Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar TO PAMPER THE SPECIAL WOMAN IN THEIR LIVES HERE S A LIST OF PERFECT PLACES AND deals in the metro that will surely make their SPECIAL DAY UNFORGETTABLE

@Crimson Hotel

@Century Park Hotel

Century Park Hotel (CPH), one of the premier hotels in Manila, is treating moms to a free lunch or dinner buffet as well as a complimentary cake. On May 12, enjoy a Mother’s Day Special by getting one free buffet lunch or dinner for every three paying guests at CafÊ in the Park. A complimentary cake also awaits moms for a minimum consumption of P1,200 net at the Atrium Lounge. Incidentally, CPH is also rewarding responsible voters on May 13, 2019. The hotel is giving voters a free slice of cake or a choice of 1 local beer for a minimum purchase of P350 net per person. To avail the promo, simply provide a proof of voting. For more information, visit www.centurypark.com

Las Casas Quezon City, in partnership of its in-house Spanish restaurant Las Casas Manila by Margarita Fores, dedicates a special lunch and dinner buffet spread exclusive on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, surprise mom at Las Casas Bataan. Family and friends may choose from Mother’s Day Specials titled Pagmamahal, Pagmamalasakit and Pag-aaruga — all inclusive of buffet dinner and dining credits for all food and beverage offers. The treat includes Las Casas signature massage, access to batis-inspired pool and beach front, and tramvia ride to its Mother’s Day Specials. Take advantage of this exclusive offer from May 1 to 30. For more information, visit WWW LASCASASkLIPINAS COM

@Marco Polo Hotel

Treat Mom with everything that she deserves and celebrate her day with a line-up of delicate dining experiences and pampering staycation packages at Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila. On May 12, indulge in a Sunday brunch buffet spread at CafÊ Eight kLLED WITH MOM CENTRIC DISHES WHILE ENJOYING BOTTOMLESS MOM MOSAS As an additional treat, all mothers get to bring home a limited edition Crimson tote bag. Moms eat for free if accompanied by at least four paying guests. After the sumptuous brunch at CafÊ Eight, take Mom to a baking class with Crimson Hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef Ben Bourgeois. Chef Ben WILL HOLD A FREE BAKING CLASS FOR THE kRST MOTHERS WHO DINED AT #AFŸ Eight’s Sunday Brunch on May 12. He will teach the participants how to MAKE A #HOCOLATE 3OUFlŸ AND HOMEMADE 2ASPBERRY 3ORBET 4HE SESSION will start at 2:30 p.m. in the private dining room. For more information, visit http://www.crimsonhotel.com/manila/

@Novotel Manila

@Conrad Manila

Conrad Manila celebrates all hard-working and loving Moms this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 11 and 12, with indulgent dining and wellness highlights. Inspired by recipes from moms all over the world, Brasserie on 3 indulges with a lavish buffet dining experience featuring sustainable and fresh ingredients. As an added treat, Mom dines free in every GROUP OF kVE PAYING ADULTS AND GETS TO BRING HOME A SPECIAL GIFT FROM the “Living Kitchen.� Meanwhile, China Blue by Jereme Leung’s Executive Chinese Chef Eng Yew Khor works the wok into the hearts of moms all around with a regal SET MENU kT FOR AN EMPRESS -OTHER S $AY THEMED CAKES AND CONFECTIONS add a touch of sweetness to the month of May at Bru Coffee Bar. Pamper the special lady of the house with an invigorating, 90-minute wellness experience featuring world-class ESPA products at Conrad Spa Manila. Designed to re-energize and revitalize, the journey begins with a one-hour bespoke massage followed by a 30-minute facial. The treatment is ideal for all Moms who wear different hats be it at home OR AT THE OFkCE 4O MAKE THE DAY EVEN MORE SPECIAL -OM WILL RECEIVE A special gift from Conrad Spa. For more information, visit www.conradhotels.com

Book a stay from May 11 to 12 and enjoy a special package with lunch or dinner buffet at Cucina during the stay with two full-paying adults and she will get to dine for free, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two adults AND TWO KIDS AGED SIX YEARS OLD AND BELOW AND ACCESS TO THE kTNESS center and swimming pool. For every two full-paying adult diners at Cucina, mom dines in the restaurant for free. This is available on lunch and dinner buffets. Enjoy delectable, authentic Cantonese cuisine at Lung Hin. A special set menu is available for the whole family to enjoy on May 12. An afternoon tea time while enjoying the stunning view of the Metro is even sweeter with delectable and tasty bites, paired with a mean cup of tea. Enjoy a complimentary Baby RosĂŠ from May 6 to 19, a perfect bottle to enjoy with the queen of the house. Treat mom to a 90-minute massage featuring a full-body aromatherapy massage; head, neck and shoulder massage; and a peppermint foot scrub available at Flow Spa. For more information, visit www.marcopolohotels.com.

@New World Makati Hotel

@Diamond Hotel

Book a city getaway at Diamond Hotel from May 10 to 13, and let Mom take a breather or enjoy family fun. $ELUXE 2OOM ACCOMMODATION WITH A FREE FOOT RElEX TO PROVIDE -OM the rejuvenation she deserves . Amp up the weekend vacation with buffet BREAKFAST FOR AT #ORNICHE FREE WIk CONNECTION PERCENT DISCOUNT IN all dining outlets (except in-room service, minibar and alcoholic beverages), 20 percent off on massage and laundry, access to the Health Club & Spa and swimming pool, and weekend shuttle service to Robinsons Place Manila, Intramuros and SM Mall of Asia. Book your stay today at www.diamondhotel.com with the promo code MOMS19 and mark your calendars now. !T 9URAKUEN ADD lAIR TO YOUR -OTHER S $AY DINING EXPERIENCE WITH AN AUTHENTIC *APANESE LUNCH OR DINNER MADE NOTEWORTHY BY ITS lAVORS and stylish presentation. To make the occasion twice as special, all Mothers dining on May 12, 2019 will receive a complimentary slice of cake and a framed photo as mementos to remember their special day. For more information, visit onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.

On May 12, celebrate Mother’s Day at Food Exchange Manila with a sumptuous brunch and a round of mocktail or sparkling juice for free. Plus, express your creative bond with your mom at the cupcake decorating station prepared by our world class patisserie team. Don’t forget to dress up for a free special family portrait by photographer Stela Antic of We Love Babies PH. Extend your celebration for the whole month of May with a family staycation. Stay overnight in a Superior Room with free buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids below 15 years old. Mom also gets an hour massage at the Asean Spa Service Awardee, InBalance Spa and a pampering treat of either manicure or brow grooming at Gateway Mall. For more information, visit facebook.com/NovotelManilaAranetaCenter.

@New World Manila Bay Hotel

Surprise her with a relaxing stay in a stylish room, inclusive of CafÊ 1228’s famous breakfast buffet for two and complimentary products and services from Belo Medical Group when you book its Mother’s Day weekend package available in all weekends of May. Dine at CafÊ 1228 on May 10 to 12 enjoy a lavish buffet spread and FREE lOWING BUBBLY COCKTAILS SELECTED WINES RED AND WHITE SANGRIAS local beers and tea mocktails for lunch or dinner inclusive of a complimentary glass of champagne as welcome drink for mothers, nail polish treatment and Belo Essentials gift bag. For more information, visit https://manila.newworldhotels.com/en/ rooms-suites/

Treat mom for a staycation in one of the guest rooms of New World Manila Bay Hotel for her ultimate relaxation. Book the Fit for a Queen room package for a superior room including buffet breakfast for two and special turn down amenities. Moms are also entitled to a 50 percent discount on lunch and dinner at Market CafĂŠ. At Li Li, enjoy a sumptuous Yum Cha selection for the whole family to FEAST ON ,I ,I ALSO OFFERS LUNCH AND DINNER SET MENUS kLLED WITH CLASSIC and signature items. All dining specials for moms are available on May 12. For more information, visit manilabay.newworldhotels.com.

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Special Feature

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

ANNA JARVIS

Mother of Mother’s Day Getting to know the woman who conceived Mother’s Day

M

OMMY, mama, nanay, inang, mamita — EVERYONE HAS A SPECIAL WAY OF CALLING THEIR mothers and celebrating Mother’s Day makes MOMS FEEL EXTRA SPECIAL Across the globe, various celebrations are held to honor motherhood, but its origins are far less exciting, let alone started on a happy note. The official establishment and modern-day observation can be traced to the early 1990s in the United States, where a woman named Anna Jarvis honored her MOTHER BY FULkLLING HER DREAM OF HAVING A special day for mothers. According the history-based cable television network History.com, Anna Jarvis was the daughter of social activist Ann Reeves Jarvis, who was said to be responsible for the idea of Mothers’ Day in the 19th century. Following her mother’s death in 1905, the YOUNGER *ARVIS PAVED THE WAY TO THE OFkCIAL creation of the Mother’s Day celebration we KNOW TODAY ‡ HONORING THE SACRIkCES MOTHers had made not only for their children but to humanity as well. On May 10, 1908, Jarvis arranged what IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE kRST CELEBRATION OF Mother’s Day at the St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, after gainING kNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM A 0HILADELPHIAN retail merchant John Wanamaker. Consequently, the celebration also garnered thousands of people who attended a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s stores in Philadelphia. !FTER THE SUCCESS OF HER kRST CELEBRATION *ARVIS THEN SOUGHT TO OFkCIALLY ADD THE HOLiday to the national calendar of the US by organizing a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians to urge the adoption of a special day to honor motherhood. By 1912, numerous US towns, states and churches have adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday and Jarvis, to further promote her cause, established the Mother’s Day International Association. Her humble movement came to fruition when then US President Woodrow Wilson SIGNED A PROCLAMATION THAT OFkCIALLY ESTABlishes the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day in 1914. Various companies showered their supPORT FOR HER MOVEMENT PARTICULARLY THE lOral industry, where white carnations became a must-have item to wear on Mother’s Day, quickly selling out in the US. Soon after the boom of the industry, it began practicing the wearing of red and BRIGHT lOWERS IN HONOR OF LIVING MOTHERS WHILE WHITE lOWERS BECAME COMMEMORATIVE in honor of the deceased. Jarvis’ idea of a Mother’s Day celebration involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and attending worship services as a family. But soon after it became a national holiday, private companies began capitalizing it. 6ARIOUS BUSINESSES INCLUDING lORAL SHOPS and card companies, started to commercialIZE THE HOLIDAY TO GAIN MORE PROkT ‡ OFFERing special products and services that were only available on the said holiday. Around 1920, she reportedly urged the PUBLIC TO STOP BUYING lOWERS GREETINGS CARDS

and other commercialized products as gifts for their mothers. Likewise, she shunned her former commercial supporters for what they had done. But it wasn’t only businesses who capitalized the occasion, several accounts also recorded charities using Mother’s Day for fundraising activities. Jarvis spent her later years in restoring her idea of Mother’s Day. In one of her last public appearances, she was seen going door-to-door in a neighborhood, asking for signatures to petition the revocation of the holiday. Throughout her life and her movement, Anna Jarvis did not become a mother herself as she did not bore any children; rather, she spent her years campaigning reforms for mothers. She died in 1948, buried next to her mother at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Early known pioneers Giving gifts on Mother’s Day did not always begin that way. In early years, Mother’s Day was seen as an anti-war movement that proMOTED GLOBAL PEACE AND UNIkCATION In the mid-19th century, Ann Reeves Jarvis’ agenda for Mother’s Day heavily involved social services that were primarily carried out by mothers. She was a mother of 11 children, where only four of her children survived until adulthood — including Anna Jarvis. Years before the Civil War of the US, the ELDER *ARVIS WAS A NOTABLE kGURE IN STARTING the “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs� at local churches in West Virginia that taught women how to properly care for their children. When the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861, Jarvis’ clubs became a unifying force in the region. The clubs and these women took a neutral stand in the war and nursed both Union and Confederate soldiers back to health. After the war, she organized the “Mother’s Friendship Day,� bringing together Union and Confederate soldiers as well as friends and neighbors of different political beliefs to promote reconciliation. Apart from the Jarvises, there was another pioneer who promoted global peace. In 1870, American poet and author Julia Ward Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,� which aimed to unify all mothers to promote world peace after many parts of the world suffered the horrors of the wars happening at the time — the American Civil War and Europe’s Franco-Prussian War SPECIkCALLY Three years later, she campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day� to be celebrated every June 2. Looking back, mothers have not only played a role on nurturing their children and family. On a bigger scale, they’ve also contributed to the development of their communities by maintaining peace and unity among everyone. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY

Q American poet and author Julie Ward Howe also pioneered the early-known idea of Mother’s Day.

Q The Mother of Mother’s Day Anna Jarvis. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

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EDITORS AND DESKMEN Competencies • Excellent command of written and spoken English • Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline (e.g. political science or economics with journalism experience) • Experience in editing news, analytical reports and columns • Strong news judgment and familiarity with local issues, as well as an understanding of relevant world affairs • $ELOLW\ WR ZULWH DQG HGLW ZLWK ÀDLU DQG VSHHG WR PHHW WLJKW GHDGOLQHV • )DPLOLDU ZLWK 0LFURVRIW 2I¿FH VRFLDO PHGLD DQG VHDUFK HQJLQHV • Ability to lead and organize a team well • Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization REPORTERS Competencies • Excellent command of written and spoken English • Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline • Ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts in government and the private sector as source of information and analysis • Ability to identify the angle of news from a raft of available information or seek out information to build a solid news story • Familiarity with local issues and an understanding of relevant world affairs • $ VHQVH RI VSHHG DQG DFFXUDF\ LQ ZULWLQJ DQG ¿OOLQJ UHDO WLPH VWRULHV WR the news desk to meet tight deadlines • Knows Microsoft Office, social media and search engines • A good team player, but is able to work independently within the perimeters of a given assignment • Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization Interested applicants, please send a full resume, specifying your subject of expertise, with links to samples of online work or appropriate attachments. Please email your resumé at: hrd@manilatimes.net RU \RX PD\ DSSO\ SHUVRQDOO\ DW ) 6LWLR Grande Bldg., 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila (Formerly TRB Bldg.), or you may call Irish de Guzman at 524-5664 local 122.

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FRIDAY May 10, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

w w w.manilatimes.net

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY May 10, 2019

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