THE MANILA TIMES | MARCH 11, 2019

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MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019

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Trusted since 1898

Balutan seeks impartial probe

Q Former PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan

BY RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

F

ETHIOPAN PLANE CRASHES, 157 DEAD

ORMER Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan demanded a “full and impartialâ€? probe of the allegations against him. ÂłSeeksA2

Iloilo oligarchs defy Duterte and Congress

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,/),/ C i t y, once the B A S T I O N of the now fastDWINDLING 9ELLOW FORCES IS BECOMING a test site of whether a reformist state can end the monopoly of once-powerful oligarchic families.

Congress last month passed a nearly UNANIMOUS UNPRECEDENTED BILL TO GIVE THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION FRANCHISE IN THE CITY TO A NEW kRM -ORE %LECTRIC 0OWER #ORP -/2% ÂłTiglaoA5

RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

FINLAND’S PRIDE

A team from Finland shows off during the 10th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition in Pampanga on Sunday.

Eleven countries are competing, including the Philippines. The contest will end on March 30. PHOTO BY GERARD SEGUIA

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What’s inside DUTERTE VOWS P30-B FERTILIZER FUND NewsA2 THE SHIFT OF THE PHILIPPINE PESO REGIME

Dan SteinbockA4

Duterte blasts ‘stupid priests’ 02%3)$%.4 2ODRIGO $UTERTE ONCE again slammed the Catholic faith and its teachings, this time focusing on the men of the cloth, calling them stupid. )N A SPEECH DURING THE DISTRIBUTION

OF CERTIkCATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARDS g)T S BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID )S THERE IN .EGROS /CCIDENTAL ON &RIDAY $UTERTE an intelligent priest? They are all stupid. said there were no intelligent priests )F THEY AREN T STUPID THEY WOULDN T ENBECAUSE IF THEY WERE SMART THEY WOULD TER THE PRIESTHOOD 9OU ARE A MAN BUT not have entered the priesthood. ÂłBlastsA2

Brace for water interruptions, public warned

Comedian Chokoleit succumbs to heart attack

BY IZA IGLESIAS

THE falling levels in dams may lead to water SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS OFkCIALS WARNED ON 3UNday as the La Mesa dam, which supplies water to Metro Manila, was a whisker away from reaching critical level.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical

#/-%$ #/-%$)!.

Chokoleit passed away SHORTLY SHORTLY AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE AT THE !BRA +AWAY +AWAYAN &ESTIVAL ON 3ATURDAY NIGHT (E was 46.

44HE SAD NEWS WAS CONkRMED BY tra training and talent management 3TA 3TAR -AGIC The statement read, “Chokoleit w was performing in an out-of-town SH SHOW IN !BRA AND EXPERIENCED D DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING AFTER HIS p performance.�

Chokoleit — Jonathan Aguilar

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IS MISS UNIVERSE HEADED TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE?

EntertainmentD1

BISHOFTU, Ethiopia: An Ethiopian !IRLINES "OEING CRASHED 3UNday morning en route from Addis !BABA TO .AIROBI KILLING ALL passengers and eight crew on BOARD STATE MEDIA REPORTED AS !Frican leaders offered condolences. g7E HEREBY CONkRM THAT OUR scheduled flight ET 302 from !DDIS !BABA TO .AIROBI WAS involved in accident today,� the airline said in a statement, later CONkRMING A REPORT BY %THIOPIA S &!.! "ROADCASTING #ORP THAT there were no survivors. g)T IS BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE PASSENGERS AND EIGHT CREW ON BOARD THE lIGHT u IT SAID The airline has not provided INFORMATION ON PASSENGERS NATIONALITIES BUT THERE ARE REPORTS people from 33 countries were ON BOARD 4HE CRASH CAME ON THE EVE OF A MAJOR ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 5NITED .ATIONS %NVIRONMENT 0ROGRAM OPENING IN .AIROBI

IRVING SCORES 30 AS CELTICS PLAYOFF PUSH GAINS TRACTION

SportsC1

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

Q Chokoleit

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A2

News

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY March 11, 2019

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Duterte vows P30-B fertilizer fund P

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has given assurances that the government is willing to give the Department of Agriculture (DA) at least P30 billion for the National Fertilizer Support Program to boost crop production and increase food productivity, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said.

0IĂ„OL SAID $UTERTE DURING THE DISTRIBUTION OF #ERTIkCATES OF ,AND /WNERSHIP !WARD #,/! TO SOME BENEkCIARIES IN 3AGAY #ITY .EGROS /CCIDENTAL ON -ARCH

gREPEATEDLYu INSTRUCTED THE $! TO provide farmers much-needed supPORT IN TERMS OF SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS g'IVE THEM SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS These are what they ask for wherEVER ) GO u HE QUOTED THE 0RESIDENT as saying. g7HEN ) INFORMED HIM THAT THE program would involve around P30

BILLION WHICH COULD BE ROLLED OVER EVERY YEAR 0RESIDENT $UTERTE SAID HE WILL INSTRUCT &INANCE 3ECRETARY #ARLOS $OMINGUEZ RD TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS u THE $! CHIEF SAID IN A STATEMENT 4HE $! PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE program this year once the funds were released. g4HE .ATIONAL &ERTILIZER 3UPPORT Program, when implemented, is EXPECTED TO BOOST THE PRODUCTION of rice and corn in the country BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORtant needs of farmers is the ample

SUPPLY OF FERTILIZER FOR THEIR FARMS u PiĂąol said.

Under the program, through g2OLL /VER ,OANING 3CHEME u ALL FARMERS WILL BE GIVEN SIX TO EIGHT BAGS OF FERTILIZER EACH 4EODORO -ENDOZA AN AGRICULture economist from the University of the Philippines-Los BaĂąos, said THE 0 BILLION FUND WOULD BE A gBIG HELPu TO THE FARMERS g)T S CERTAINLY A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT ) WONDER HOW THE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS ALL THE PROVINCES

WILL BE CONDUCTED 4HE $! TECHnicians must ensure there is soil analysis on the technical aspect so THEY COULD PROVIDE FERTILIZER RECommendations for the farmers,�

-ENDOZA TOLD The Manila Times in a phone interview.

(E URGED THE $! TO PROVIDE market support for farmers. g4HERE WILL BE NO POINT INCREASING THE FARMERS YIELD IF THEIR PRODUCE WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE INTENDED MARKETS OR BUYERS AT JUSTIkABLE PRICES u -ENDOZA SAID

CO M E L E C TO C I T I Z E N S:

Q SEEKS FROM A1

Don’t take down illegal poll posters

Balutan seeks impartial probe

THE Commission on Elections #OMELEC HAS WARNED CONCERNED CITIZENS AGAINST TAKING DOWN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN MATERIALS ALL BY themselves for safety reasons. g) DON T RECOMMEND TAKING down these [illegal campaign] maTERIALS YOURSELF SAFETY kRST u #OMELEC SPOKESMAN *AMES *IMENEZ SAID over the weekend.

(E EXPLAINED THAT SUPPORTERS of a particular candidate who violated election campaign material rules might attack or harm them. *IMENEZ SAID ONE COULD HELP EITHER BY PROPERLY REPORTING THE violations to the Comelec hotline OR BY FURNISHING A PICTURE OF THE VIOLATORS THROUGH THE POLL BODY S social media account.

He pointed out that the rule on campaign materials was at present APPLICABLE ONLY TO NATIONAL CANDIdates or to senators and party-list ORGANIZATIONS

!S FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES *IMENEZ said, the Comelec could only impose its rules starting on March

WHEN THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR LOCAL BETS BEGINS

g(OWEVER WE ADVISE THE --$!

-ETROPOLITAN -ANILA $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY THE ,'5S LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND OTHER agencies that they can take down these [illegal campaign materials of local candidates] if they impact on their respective jurisdictions, LIKE ROAD SAFETY FOR --$! AND LOCAL ORDINACES FOR ,'53 AMONG others,� he added.

4HE DAY CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES STARTED &EBRUARY WHILE THE DAY CAMPAIGN period for local candidates will START -ARCH $URING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD

posters and printed materials are LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF X FEET

WHICH MEANS THAT ANY SIZE ABOVE that is in violation of campaign RULES PUNISHABLE AMONG OTHER THINGS

BY DISQUALIkCATION Campaign materials can only BE POSTED IN DESIGNATED CAMPAIGN AREAS WHICH WILL BE DEkNED BY THE LOCAL ELECTION OFkCER BASED ON GUIDELINES THAT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE #OMELEC CENTRAL OFkCE WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Q BLASTS FROM A1

YOU $O YOU KNOW WHY )T S BECAUSE he is a man,� the President said. “God gave him a penis. What will they do with that? Will they slap it against the door every morning?

God was the one who made a mistake there, not us,� he added. $UTERTE SAID HE gDOES NOT understand the religion of these fools,� adding that God created paradise and Adam and “it would HAVE SUFFICED ALREADYu BECAUSE there was a man.

But, he said, God created a woman, Eve, with a vagina and “it was all over.� g&RANKLY SPEAKING ) M NOT JOKING WITH YOU @2IGHT )F HE DIDN T create a woman — what for?� $UTERTE ASKED He said the story of Adam and Eve was not the real story of how EARTH CAME TO BE g4HAT S NOT 'OD S HANDIWORK 4HAT S NOT THE REAL STORY OF HOW EARTH CAME TO BE 7OULD YOU DO THAT And from then on, everyone who WILL BE BORN INTO THIS WORLD WILL BE BORN WITH THE ORIGINAL SIN $AMN )T WAS JUST !DAM AND %VE WHO HAD SEX THERE 3O WHY ARE WE ALL BORN WITH THE ORIGINAL SIN 7HAT DID ) DO WRONG u $UTERTE ASKED He urged the Catholic faithful NOT TO BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL BECAUSE #HURCH LEADERS MERELY use it to scare the people. $UTERTE HAD SLAMMED THE #ATHOlic faith multiple times in the past. ' A B R I E L A 7O M E N S 0A R T Y slammed the President for urging women to stay away from priests. g'ABRIELA HAS NEVER CEASED TO MAKE PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE ACCOUNTABLE WHETHER THEY COME from the ranks of the Church, police and military personnel or GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS ‡ INCLUDING THE 0RESIDENT HIMSELF u SAID 'ABRIela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas in a statement.

4HE TWO NOTED THAT $UTERTE

WHOM THEY DESCRIBED AS A gSELF CONFESSED WOMANIZER AND SERIAL MISOGYNIST u WOULD BE THE LAST person to give advice on how WOMEN CAN RESIST ABUSE RALPH U. VILLANUEVA WITH GLEE JALEA

Duterte YOU CHOSE TO BE A PRIEST 9OU KEEP ON LOOKING AT ALL THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN THAT YOU CAN T COURT -Y 'OD u $UTERTE SAID IN THE "ISAYA language. )N HIS SPEECHES HE REGULARLY claims that priests pray for him to die. $UTERTE SAID IF PRIESTS WANT TO CRITICIZE HIM THE PLACE IS NOT BEhind the pulpit. g)F YOU ARE A PRIEST AND YOU WANT TO ATTACK ME DON T DO IT IN THE PULPIT BECAUSE THIS IS THE SPOKESMAN

THE TABLE OF THE CHURCH 3TEP AWAY from it,� he added. g3O THE PRIESTS SHOULDN T OVERSTEP THEIR BOUNDARIES 9OU KNOW that they started it first. Tell them that there is a separation OF #HURCH AND 3TATE 4HE SONS OF B

S ATTACK ME IN THE PULPIT using religion,� the President said. )F PRIESTS DIE ACCORDING TO HIM

HE WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT WHO killed them. )N THE PAST HE ASKED PEOPLE TO HIT AND KILL PRIESTS BECAUSE THEY receive donations given to them during offertories. g4HAT S YOUR PROBLEM BECAUSE you started the idiotic narrative of ‡ ABOUT SOMEBODY DYING WISHING ME TO DIE 4HAT S THE PROBLEM u $UTERTE SAID g4HEY RE VERY QUICK TO SAY

g$UTERTE IF A PRIEST DIESwu 9OU STARTED IT kRST ) DON T CARE ABOUT WHO WANTS TO KILL YOU 4HAT S YOUR PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU STARTED THE IDIOTIC NARRATIVE OF ‡ ABOUT SOMEBODY DYING WISHING ME TO DIE u he added. )N THE SAME SPEECH IN .EGROS /CCIDENTAL THE 0RESIDENT SAID women should not go near priests AS HE ONCE AGAIN RAISED DOUBT ABOUT THE "IBLE S CREATION STORY He added that women should refrain from going near priests BECAUSE THEY WILL SMELL THE SCENT OF THEIR BODY “And if he corners you in the CHURCH YOU RE DEAD HE WILL COURT

DESPERATE TIMES

Residents of barangay Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City get water from a fire hydrant on Sunday as their taps remained dry because of the water service interruption implemented by water concessionaires. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Q WATER FROM A1

Brace for water interruptions AND !STRONOMICAL 3ERVICES !DMINISTRATION 0AGASA RECORDED ,A -ESA S WATER LEVEL AT METERS yesterday, only 0.02 meters away FROM REACHING THE METER CRITICAL LOW LEVEL SET BY CONCESSIONAIRE Manila Water Co. “Based on daily deduction, [it IS= ALMOST EXPECTED THAT ;THE WATER LEVEL WILL REACH BELOW METERS= u Pagasa hydrologist Jayson Bausa told The Manila Times.

With the current low levels, Bausa said, water service interruptions WERE EXPECTED BECAUSE OF LOWER water pressure and conservation measures of the concessionaire. g4HE IMPACT MAY BE ;THAT= they may have interruptions in THE WATER DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE OF limitations of water in La Mesa dam,� he added.

Manila Water has started implementing water interruptions since

last week to address the falling water levels of the dam. g)N LIGHT OF 0AGASA S RECENT %L .IÄO ADVISORY AND ITS THREAT TO -ETRO -ANILA S DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY -ANILA 7ATER WILL BE implementing operational adjustments that may affect water service across the entire East Zone,� it said in an advisory on Thursday.

Bausa said Angat dam in BuLACAN WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPLY PERCENT OF ,A -ESA DAM S RESERVES “Tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman ang pag-supply NYA NG TUBIG HANGGA@T may stored water (Angat dam will continue to supply La Mesa dam AS LONG AS IT HAS STORED WATER u he added. !NGAT DAM IS ALSO EXPERIENCing declining water levels with A METER WATER RESERVE ON 3UNDAY STILL METERS FROM

reaching critical level.

Without sustained rainfall, Bausa said, it might take two to THREE MONTHS BEFORE !NGAT DAM reaches a critical low water level.

He, however, added that he was optimistic that with the rainy season coming in on May to June, normal water levels might still prevail. “3IGURO YUNG Angat dam kung BABABA SANA YUNG CONSUMPTION

BAKA UMABOT SYA NG TAG ULAN kung may tag-ulan na ng -AY )F CONSUMPTION IS REDUCED MAYBE it can last until the rainy season, IF THE RAINY SEASON STARTS IN -AY u Bausa said. !NGAT DAM LOCATED IN .ORZAgaray town in Bulacan, serves as the main water supplier of Metro Manila.

DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ WITH FRANCIS CUETO

Q CHOKOLEIT FROM A1

Comedian Chokoleit succumbs Garcia in real life — was rushed TO THE !BRA 0ROVINCIAL (OSPITAL AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE $R 2OSAURO 3EARES SAID THE COMEDIAN suffered from pulmonary edema and heart attack. )N A &ACEBOOK POST EARLY 3UNDAY

Carl Guevarra, actor and vocalist OF THE BAND 4HE *UANS SHARED THAT Chokoleit struggled through the entire performance where he sang and did stand-up comedy. g4HE AMBULANCE RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL BUT NOW WE WERE informed he didnt make it and passed away. We are all in shock.

0RAYERS TO ALL HIS LOVED ONES 2)0 u Guevarra wrote.

4HE VOCALIST AS WELL AS THE !BRA Provincial government, posted a series of video footage from the COMEDIAN S PERFORMANCE Chokoleit appeared in numerOUS SHOWS ON !"3 #". BUT GAINED popularity in his role as Pearly

3HELL IN THE TELEVISION SERIES g-Arina� in 2004.

Tributes pour in 4RIBUTES POURED IN ONLINE FROM his friends in the entertainment industry immediately after the NEWS BROKE OUT “Thank you Lord for giving me a chance to meet Chokoleit and BECOME HIS FRIEND u TWEETED )T S 3HOWTIME HOST 6ICE 'ANDA g) M sad that we lost him. But happy THAT HE LL BE IN A MUCH PEACEFUL and happier place now with you.

4HANKS FOR EVERYTHING #HOKIE ) love you!!! Rest well my friend.� “Rest in Peace Chokoleit,� said 46 PERSONALITY !MY 0EREZ #ASTILLO on Twitter. “My heart goes out to your family and friends during this DIFkCULT TIME u g3O SAD TO HEAR ABOUT #HOKOLEIT u TWEETED SINGER ACTOR /GIE

Alcasid. “Prayers of grace for his LOVED ONES 2)0 DEAR FRIEND u g2)0 #HOKOLEIT 'ARCIA 9OU VE ALWAYS BEEN SO NICE TO ME -AY you rest in peace,� tweeted actress 3UNSHINE #RUZ !BRA 'OV *OY "ERNOS HONORED THE LATE COMEDIAN IN A &ACEBOOK post for his professionalism. “His demise sadden[ed] our hearts and we are indeed very grateful as he shared his final moment up on stage sharing his artistry, giving our fellow !BRENIANS NOT ONLY LAUGHTER BUT a sense of hope and love, and GRACING OUR CELEBRATION WITH UTmost level of professionalism,� she wrote. “Hats off to your great performance, friendship and love EXTENDED TO THE WHOLE PEOPLE OF !BRA !GAIN WE EXTEND OUR prayers, thanks and love to our dear friend Chokoleit.�

WITH ARIC JOHN SY CUA

Balutan said an impartial investigation should commence if there are indeed allegations of corruption leveled against him. g)F THERE ARE ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION ) BEG FOR A FULL AND impartial investigations� he said in a statement.

0#3/ DEPUTY SPOKESMAN &LORANTE 3OLMERIN ALSO CALLED ON "ALUTAN S ACCUSERS TO PROVE THEIR allegations. “Those accusing him [of corruption] should really prove it. He will answer those, later,� he said. g7HAT S IMPORTANT HERE IS HE has a clear conscience. Whatever they sling unto him, they should prove it. As he said, he is open to an investigation, ANYTIME ANYWHERE u 3OLMERIN told The Manila Times in a phone interview. “These are merely serious allegations, allegations of serious corruption. Mr. Balutan said he is open to a full investigation to ferret out the truth so the truth will come out,� he said.

3OMERIN ADDED THAT "ALUTAN WAS DEEPLY HURT BY THE ALLEGAtions thrown against him. “Kasi [in his] entire military career wala siyang mga ganung BAHID (His name was never tainted in his entire military CAREER u THE SPOKESMAN SAID 3OMERIN MAINTAINED THAT "ALutan resigned. g(E RESIGNED (E EXPRESSED his desire to resign from office. .IRERESPETO NI general Balutan YUNG SINABI NG MalacaĂąang (General Balutan respects what -ALACAĂ„ANG SAID BUT AS FAR AS HE IS CONCERNED HE EXPRESSED his desire to resign from his post sa harapan mismo ni (in FRONT OF %3 %XECUTIVE 3ECRETARY 3ALVADOR -EDIALDEA u HE told The Times. )N A STATEMENT "ALUTAN HAD said he would quit his post if he were asked to do something that he could not “stomach.â€? g) TOLD ALL 0#3/ EMPLOYEES WHEN ) ASSUMED AS '- IN THAT IF SOMEBODY FROM THE /FkCE of the President, Congress asks [or] orders me to do something WHICH ) CANNOT STOMACH ) WILL resign,â€? he added. g;$UTERTE= RETIRED ME EARLY from the Marines to help him RUN HIS ADMINISTRATION )N SILENCE ) DID AND ) EXCELLED ) DID not ask for anything from the President in return. The rest was history,â€? Balutan said.

MalacaĂąang last week said "ALUTAN WAS SACKED BY THE 0RESIdent over “seriousâ€? allegations of corruption that were not EXPOUNDED )N THE PAST "ALUTAN WAS ACCUSED BY 0#3/ BOARD MEMBER 3ANDRA #AM OF SPENDING 0 million for a Christmas party in a kVE STAR HOTEL IN $ECEMBER Balutan had denied it, saying THE PARTY HAD A BUDGET OF ONLY P6 million. )N &EBRUARY LAST YEAR $UTERTE cleared Balutan and asked Cam TO BEFRIEND THE 0#3/ GENERAL manager.

News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

A3

STAND VS LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Duterte names 37 new prosecutors

‘President on right track’ S

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte had appointed 37 new prosecutors, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

The new appointees will lead in the preliminary investigation and preliminary inquest of criminal cases.

The highest-ranking officials appointed include Quezon City Chief Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano, who served the Department of Justice as state prosecutor.

The other appointees include Herbert Calvin Abugan (assistant state prosecutor), Raymund Oliver Almonte (deputy city prosecutor), Reynold Bulwayan Alunday (deputy city prosecutor), Katrina Monserrat Aznar, (assistant City prosecutor), and Nur Jaypha BacaramanAsum (associate provincial prosecutor).

BY BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

ENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte was “on the right track� with his decision to abandon his support for the legalization of medical marijuana.

The President on Friday said he would not allow the legalization of medical marijuana, saying people would only abuse it. “Maybe some other time. Some other President. I do not intend to legalize it. Ayaw ko (I don’t want to legalize it),� Duterte said.

Q Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd

“I’m glad. He is on the right track,� Sotto said upon learning of the President’s stance.

The Senate president earlier said there was no need to pass a law allowing the use of medical marijuana since it was already allowed under

Republic Act 9165 (RA) or the g#OMPREHENSIVE $ANGEROUS Drugs Act.�

He noted that the Food and Drug Administration Law provides access to drugs and medicines that were not registered in the Philippines for compassionate use, but it was the attending physician’s responsibility to apply for the substance permit from the FDA. “I’ve been saying this repeatedly, there is no need to pass a law since it is allowed already. I am the author of RA 9165. That’s in the law already,� Sotto said. “They just don’t know the law.

Hindi bawal. Anong ile-legalize

mo? Hindi naman bawal (It’s not prohibited. What are you going to legalize? It’s not unlawful),� he added.

Duterte’s latest statement was contrary to his earlier stance on the issue in 2016.

Last year, the President stirred controversy when he admitted that he sometimes takes the substance to stay awake.

House Bill 6517 or the “PhilIPPINE #OMPASSIONATE -EDICAL #ANNABIS !CT u WHICH SEEKS to legalize medical marijuana f o r m e d i c i n a l p u r p o s e s, i s pending before the House of Representatives.

DoLE vows speedy crafting of IRR for maternity leave law THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has assured working mothers that it would speed up the crafting of the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of the Expanded Maternity Leave Act of 2018.

The new law, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed on February 20, grants a 105-day paid maternity leave for female workers in the gov-

JOMAR CANLAS

Enrile eyes worldclass ‘kapeng barako’ FORMER Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile batted for the improvement of the kapeng barako or Batangas coffee to enable the country to compete with well-known brands worldwide.

Enrile, who is seeking another term at the Senate, said boosting the country’s coffee industry can generate jobs. “With the demand for coffee continuing to soar all over the world, the Philippines must make its local brands, such as kapeng barako, better to compete with international brands,â€? he said on Sunday. “If we open up the local coffee industry to more investments, we can make our coffee truly world-class.â€? “Higher demand for our coffee will, in turn, create MORE JOBS AND MORE PROkTS for BatangueĂąos and other Filipinos,â€? Enrile added.

The former senator also called for the improvement of the Batangas port.

He noted that Batangas needs a world-class port that could serve the province’s diverse industries and tourists. “We need to improve the Batangas port. It is the gateway of many world-class

MONDAY March 11, 2019

ernment and private sector, regardless of their civil status or legitimacy of the child.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd disclosed over the weekend that the IRR would be out before the allowable maximum 90-day period to craft one. “We have 90 days to craft the IRR but we don’t intend to maximize it, instead we hope to come up with it in 45 to 60 days. This is one of

our priority legislations that is why we are geared up in crafting the IRR to facilitate its implementation,�

Bello said.

He added that the law is also a victory for the labor sector in upholding the rights of women, as well as for employers as enHANCED BENEkTS RESULT IN HIGHER productivity. “Providing workers with enhanced paid leaves is one of the

best strategies to help them manage a healthy work-life balance, which translates to their higher productivity at work,� Bello said. !SIDE FROM $O,% THE #IVIL 3ERVICE #OMMISSION AND 3OCIAL Security System were also tasked to craft the IRR for the effective implementation of the law.

Female workers can start availing of the Expanded Maternity Leave 15 days after the publica-

tion of its IRR in a newspaper of general circulation.

Under the law, seven days of the 105 days of maternity leave may be transferred to fathers.

Single mothers also have the option to extend their leave by 15 days.

It also gives working mothers an option to extend their leave for 30 days without pay.

WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Bong Go pledges to promote welfare of IPs

products being made in Batangas and also a destination and stopover of many tourist vessels,� Enrile said during a campaign sortie in the province.

He said products like glycerine; ball pens such as -ONTBLANC #ROSS "IC AND Pentel; and art supplies like Staedtler Mars and Faber #ASTELL ARE MADE IN "ATANGAS and are shipped out of the country through the port.

Batangas is also the gateway of tourists going to Mindoro, Boracay and Romblon.

Enrile, who is running under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party, wooed BatangueĂąo voters in a whirlwind motorcade and meetings with provincial leaders in Balayan, Lian and Nasugbu towns.

Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita and his daughter, Rep. Eileen Ermita Buhain of Batangas’ 1st district, hosted a breakfast at their Balayan residence for Enrile.

From Balayan, Enrile went to Lian and Nasugbu towns where residents and tourists greeted him with shouts of “Gusto ko Happy ka (I want you to be happy),� his trademark campaign slogan.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

SENATE CANDIDATE #HRISTOPHER Lawrence “Bong� Go has vowed to promote the welfare and interest of indigenous peoples (IPs) to prevent them from being marginalized.

Speaking at the Indigenous 0EOPLE S #ONFERENCE HELD AT THE "ALANGHAI (OTEL AND #ONVENTION #ENTER AT $OONGAN

"UTUAN #ITY ON 3ATURDAY

Go pledged to continue the programs started

by President Rodrigo Duterte that seek to uplift the lives of the people. “Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong D u t e r t e kundi ang kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo [The President and I only have the people’s

Q Christopher Lawrence ‘Bing’ Go

welfare at heart because we love you],� Go assured the IPs who attended the event.

Among the groups represented in the conference were the Ata, Maguindanao, Tausug, Sama, Marmaao Iranum, Ovo-Manuvo, Kagan, Matigsalog tribes, as well as the Bagobo-Tagabawa and Bagobo-Klata tribes of Mindanao.

In appreciation of Go’s concern for their welfare, lumad leaders held a ceremonial prayer for the success of Go and the Duterte administration, which had initiated SEVERAL PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEkT OF the lumad.

In February last year, Duterte ordered the National Housing Authority to establish a housing program for the IPs in Mindanao, to be built in their respective ancestral domains.

The Department of Agriculture launched the “Bantay Kagubatan,� meant to develop ancestral domains into food production areas.

Under the program, farming families and tribes will engage in tree farming with intercrops of cacao, coffee, abaca or black pepper.

Go said if he wins in the midterm elections, the lumad would BENEkT FROM HIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

which include better health services and the establishment of MORE -ALASAKIT #ENTERS WHERE poor patients can seek help from various government agencies under one roof. “Gusto ko pong isabatas ito pagdating ng panahon. Para po sa lahat ng Pilipino iyan (I want the SETTING UP OF -ALASAKIT #ENTERS TO BE COME LAW 4HIS IS FOR THE BENEkT of all Filipinos),�Go said.

He assured members of various tribes that he would continue to serve them with the kind of genuine service the Duterte administration is known for. “Ang bisyo ko po ay magserbisyo sa kapwa kong Pilipino (Serving the people is my vice),� Go said.

New law gives PWD access to medical, health services REPUBLIC Act (RA) 11228 “will guarantee� that persons with disability (PWDs) “have equitable access to medical and healthcare services,� La Union 2nd District Rep. Sandra Eriguel said in a statement on Sunday.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 11228 into law on February 22 and it will take effect after 15 days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Under the new law, all PWD “shall be

automatically covered under� the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). “This new law will guarantee that PWD have equitable access to medical and healthcare services,� Eriguel said.

RA 11228, a consolidation of House Bill 8014 and Senate Bill 1391, amended RA 7277 (the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability) and provides mandatory Philhealth

coverage for PWD. Eriguel, the chaiman of the House Committee on Social Services, which conducted deliberations on the bill, said the national government shall pay PhilHealth premium contributions for PWD under the new law. “However, the premium contributions of PWD members in the formal economy would be shared equally by their employers and the national government,� she added.

RA 11228 provides that the funds needed for the law’s implementation will be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth earmarked from the proceeds of RA 10351, the law that restructured the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products.

It also provides that PhilHealth “shall develop exclusive packages for PWDs that will address their specific health and development needs.�

REINA C. TOLENTINO

The barangay and the Kasambahay Law Dear PAO, I’m increasingly agitated with the seemingly annoying involvement of our barangay (village) in my employment arrangement with our house helpers. It seems like OUR BARANGAY kNDS A WAY TO INtrude into my arrangement with my house helpers. This started when our barangay made an information drive that included giving of sample employment contracts to house helpers for the supposed implementation of the Kasambahay Law. After this, several barangay representatives went around in our neighborhood to request copies of our contract with our house helpers, and obtain details of their employment with us.

As a result, our house helpers began asking many ques-

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA tions about their employment, which irritated me. Even some of my neighbors told me that their house helpers even frequented our barangay to ask questions about their employment contract and supposed rights. I feel like our barangay’s active presence led to our house helpers asking more from us, and questioning our employment arrangement with them.

Because of this, I would like to know the real legal extent of the role and functions of the

barangay in accordance with the Kasambahay Law to know if they can justify their meddling in our arrangement with our house helpers. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Desmond Dear Desmond, While you may feel that the actions of your barangay are intrusive, the law expressly sets the role and functions of your barangay in relation to the Kasambahay Law. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 10361 (Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay) SPECIkES THE FUNCTIONS of the barangay in the implementation of the said law. Based on your narration, it appears that the actions of your barangay were in accordance with its mandate.

You mentioned that your ba-

rangay conducted an information drive, and gave sample of employment contracts for house helpers. This activity is in line with the directive in the IRR of RA 10361 that instructs the barangay to provide the public free copies of a standard employment contract for the employment of a kasambahay. (Sec. 6, Ibid.)

The employers of a kasambahay are required by law to furnish copies of executed employment contracts to the barangay, where the employer resides. (Sec. 7, Id.) There is also nothing wrong with house helpers going to the barangay to ask questions about their contract and rights. The Kasambahay Law expressly allows house helpers and employers to request a barangay official to read, and explain the contents

of the contract to both parties.

(Sec. 5, Id.) In addition to this, the barangay is mandated to designate a kasambahay registration desk to accommodate continuous registration in line with the task of maintaining an updated kasambahay masterlist which will then be submitted and be made available to other concerned government agencies (Sections 3 and 4, Rule IX). This mandate validates the action of your barangay in obtaining details of their employment for purposes of maintaining an updated masterlist of house helpers employed in your barangay.

The barangay also plays a crucial role in the protection of abused house helpers. The IRR provides that the barangay may report and receive reports of any act of abuse

committed against a house helper (Sections 3 & 4, Rule X). The barangay is also mandated to coordinate with local social workers in the rescue of an abused house helper (Sections 1 & 5, Rule X).

Thus, the actions of your barangay are legal as it is merely doing its mandate in accordance with the Kasambahay Law. We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

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

A4

Opinion

MONDAY March 11, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l The NGO connection to the insurgency and European duplicity

T

HERE are growing signs that the government and the armed forces are fully determined to defeat and terminate the 50-year-old communist insurgency in the country. )NSTEAD OF JUST kGHTING THE INSURGENTS ON THE BATTLEkELD OR singing wistfully about peace, the government is now moving into the serious business of cutting off funding, domestic and foreign, for the insurgency.

The latest evidence of the new strategy is startling and revealing. ,AST MONTH THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH A DELEGATION OFkCIALLY called the attention of the European Union and the government of Belgium to their unfriendly practice of providing funding to the communist insurgency through non-government organizations (NGOs) that are based in the country.

4HIS IS THE kRST TIME IN MEMORY THAT THE SURREPTITIOUS AND menacing role of NGOs in the insurgency has so plainly been exposed and denounced by our government. For years, we have been lulled by the thought that the NGOs are benign and a positive force in society.

Now, the nation and the media are learning the facts of the NGO connection to the persistent and unrelenting communist insurgency.

The Philippine delegation, which included Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., the AFP deputy chief of staff for civil-military OPERATIONS PRESENTED TO THE %5 AND "ELGIAN OFkCIALS A REPORT on how seven NGOS have been receiving funding from EU and Belgium, and how the funds were bring used to radicalize the Filipino youth and assist in the recruitment of NPA members for the insurgency.

4HE DELEGATION ASKED %5 AND "ELGIAN OFkCIALS TO STOP GIVING monetary aid to the NGOs and sever all connection to the communist insurgency in the country.

General Parlade told the media that Belgium is programmed TO RELEASE MILLION EUROS A YEAR FOR kVE YEARS TO SEVEN .'/S based in the Philippines.

The EU for its part gave an initial 621,000 euros to the groups. ! SECOND TRANCHE OF kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE AMOUNTING TO MILlion euros will follow.

We wish General Parlade had been quick to name the NGOs and explain who they are. That would have provided more perspective to this disturbing revelation.

Parlade said Belgium and other European countries have been funding all groups connected to the CPP. The general said that both the EU and Belgium have committed to investigate the matter. “The Philippine government will provide them the necessary DOCUMENTATION OFkCIAL REPORTS EVIDENCE OR CITE WHATEVER ADministrative actions are being taken by the government,� he said. $URING THE MEETINGS OFkCIALS OF THE %5 AND "RUSSELS DECLARED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE SEEN AS kNANCIERS OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION )N *ANUARY THIS YEAR THE %5 REAFkRMED THAT THE #00 NPA are in their list of terrorist organizations. /NE %5 OFkCIAL QUIPPED THAT THE #00 .0! SHOULD REALIZE that “communism all over the world is dead.�

It is important now for the nation to look at the larger picture here.

It is not just European blindness and duplicity that are at issue here. The issue is even more the blindness and soft headedness of Philippine society about the communist movement and its fronts and supporters, in the interest of providing democratic space.

In October last year, the AFP claimed that 17 universities in Metro Manila were places for active recruitment by the CPP in the capital. The number grows exponentially when you survey the whole country.

AFP Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez says the communists have ALSO INkLTRATED THE LABOR SECTOR Communist radicalization has spread so widely and burrowed so deep that cutting off the funding and uprooting the insurgency will require sustained and aggressive action by government and the whole society.

It has been wisely observed by one strategy expert that the MILITARY IS EFFECTIVE IN kGHTING AND WINNING WARS "UT IT IS NOT as adept in the termination of war.

~

MONDAY March 11, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 149

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

The shift of the Philippine peso regime )N THE !QUINO ERA THE FOCUS WAS ON kNANCIAL lOWS WHICH RESTED ON A STRONG PESO )N THE $UTERTE ERA IT IS ON THE HUGE INVESTMENT drive, which can live with a weaker currency. The peso’s political economy is shifting.

R

ECENTLY, international media have released contradictory peso reports. But the phenomenon is not new. For instance, Bloomberg’s Ditas Lopez kRST ATTRIBUTED THE PESO S DECLINE to Duterte two months before the actual election (April 27, 2016).

Yet, after the election, the peso rose for weeks, beating forecasts so that by late August 2016 even Bloomberg had to admit that the currency had completed the “best performance in Asia this month.�

That performance was mainly the net effect of a Duterte reassessment by the markets. Most MEDIA HAD VILIkED HIM AS A THREAT (social media was a different story). But as Duterte launched his infrastructure agenda, observers realized that the country was not facing a “populist threat,� but a huge investment drive.

Yet, historically, infrastructure drives favor weaker currencies; a fact that got lost in the translation. Instead, much of the media, including Lopez, continued to lament that “Duterte’s peso rout runs counter to the booming Philippine economy� (Sept. 29, 2016).

The assumption was that a thriving economy must go hand in hand with a strong peso and that if this is not the case, then the economy cannot really be booming.

Perhaps that’s why Bloomberg later declared that “Asia’s ugly duckling of the year Is the Philippine peso� (March 2, 2017). Unfortunately, the facts told a different story: the peso erased the year’s loss as funds snapped up local stocks only a month later.

That did not convince Lopez who now reported that the peso is seen as “Asia’s worst performing currency next year� (December 22, 2017). Once again, the peso

FIGURE 1: IN THE AQUINO ERA, FINANCIAL FLOWS RULED; IN THE DUTERTE ERA, INVESTMENT COUNTS* * CAPITAL FLOWS (IN BILLIONS OF US DOLLARS, + = INFLOW)

DAN STEINBOCK was seen amid another “rout�

(June 20, 2018).

The same story prevailed in early 2019, when Bloomberg reported that the “peso faces new threat as Duterte gears up for poll� (Jan. 7, 2019). With the US dollar at P53, Lopez saw the peso among Asia’s biggest losers this year. Yet, it was followed by a very different piece, which was not authored by Lopez, but David Finnerty, Bloomberg’s foreign-exchange strategist who reported that the “peso surprises to become Asia’s best currency�

(March 3, 2019). By then, the peso had strengthened to 52. Yet, only hours later, Lopez, together with Siefrid Alegado, reported that “peso slumps as Philippines makes surprise Central Bank pick� (March 4, 2019). In this view, the peso had plunged the “most since 2013,� although the exchange rate was P52.20.

As the peso has varied around 0.2 percent to 0.9 percent in the past two months, it may be prudent to ask whether such variation merits characterizations as “Asia’s biggest loser� or “Asia’s best currency.� Short-term fluctuations and ideological preferences of “strong� or “weak� peso seldom disclose long-term trends.

In reality, the underlying longer-term forces behind the shortTERM PESO lUCTUATIONS SEEM TO BE structural. What we are witnessing is a shift from one Philippine peso regime to another.

Source: Data from IMF (September 2018) October but is now around $56 (although a US-Sino trade compromise could fuel prices again).

7HEN INlATION EXCEEDED THE Here’s the great difference between the Aquino and Duterte govern- Philippine central bank’s (BSP) ments: In the Aquino era, the early target range, rate hikes followed, promises to change the foreign belatedly. In the early Duterte direct investment (FDI) legislation era, interest rate had been cut PACED AN INCREASE OF CAPITAL lOWS IN from 4 percent to 3 percent, the early 2010s. But since the Aquino which prevailed until early 2018, government failed to change the FDI even as the peso weakened from LEGISLATION THESE lOWS REPRESENTED P47 to P50 to the dollar in 2017 mainly portfolio and other invest- and to P52 by early 2018. It was ments, which eventually reversed only when the rate hikes hit into significant outflows. In the ALMOST PERCENT THAT INlATION Duterte era, early optimism and declined and the peso strengthpromises to bring in more FDI have ened to P52 (Figure 2). paced a dramatic increase of capital flows, which could be sustained What’s ahead? until early 2020s (Figure 1).

7HEN INlATION REACHED AN IN- Overheating is expected to weaktolerable high of 6.7 percent last en in 2019. Thanks to governfall, it was boosted by a price effect ment measures to promote food associated with tax reforms, rising supplies, inflation eased to 4 oil prices and a failure to manage percent in February. Higher real rice prices. The slowing interna- yields are supporting the peso tional economy penalized crude government bonds, despite the oil, which exceeded $75 in early ÂłSteinbockA5

Toward the new peso political economy

Influx of Chinese workers in PH: Good for real estate, bad for labor

T

(% INlUX OF #HINESE WORKERS into the Philippines may have robbed Filipinos of jobs but it has also been bringing money into the real estate market. Therefore, what’s good for real estate is bad for the domestic labor sector.

What’s more worrisome is the admission by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3 rd that the government has been losing at least P3 billion a month in tax revenues from these Chinese working in the offshore gaming business who don’t pay personal income taxes.

The entry of Chinese workers noticeably increased in the last two years, particularly in Manila, Pasay and Makati where they work in online gaming and construction projects obtained by Chinese contractors.

At the 9th Business Forum or-

and pays in cash. That’s one good problem the Philippines is experiencing,� Lobien told the forum attended by business executives.

But the mass entry of Chinese workers has raised the alarm, primarily because they deprive ganized by The Manila Times last Filipinos of the chance to be Wednesday, property consultant gainfully employed.

Sheila Lobien said real estate, And because thousands of buoyed by rentals from offshore them have entered the country online gaming and business pro- illegally, they don’t pay taxes on cess outsourcing entities, has be- their incomes. come the second biggest revenue “It is so unfair that Filipinos source next to OFW remittances. doing the same kind of work pay In online gaming, she said, the tax. Why should foreigners not pay Chinese market has been taking tax? That’s the law‌ All I want is ENTIRE BUILDINGS NOT JUST lOORS fairness,â€? Dominguez said when and paying in cash. She noted that interviewed by reporters on the rental rates have been increasing. sidelines of the Times forum held “If you go the MOA (Mall of at Makati’s Dusit Thani Hotel.

Asia) area, it’s like you’re in Hong The Senate committee on Kong or China. One Chinese labor, chaired by Sen. Joel Vilcomes in, rents the whole building lanueva, recommended last No-

TEA TIME

TITA C. VALDERAMA

vember after a preliminary probe on the mass entry of Chinese workers, that the government should conduct a rigid screening of the foreigners to make sure that they comply with the laws and that they don’t take away jobs from locals.

According to reports, at least 200,000 Chinese have flocked to Manila since 2016. Many of them are employed by online gaming companies that cater to Chinese players.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, during his visit to Manila last week, warned the Philippine government against allowing the surge of foreigners, “because that might disturb the political equations in the country.�

Mahathir canceled several of Malaysia’s major rail and pipeline projects with China because of “unfair infrastructure deals.�

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY March 11, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Iloilo oligarchs defy Duterte and Congress Legislators refused to extend for another 25 years the franchise of Panay Electric Co. (PECO), the 95-year-old monopoly.

The company is owned by the Iloilo-based old Spanish Cacho clan and First Holdings Corp., a company of the Yellow oligarchic Lopez clan. A powergeneration subsidiary of First Holdings also had supplied several years back a huge chunk of PECO’s electricity that it distributes to retail consumers.

President Duterte without any hesitation signed the bill into law last February 14. The law’s implicit, but obvious conclusion: PECO after 95 years as the city’s electricity-distribution monopoly, has become, as most monopolies inevitably do, inefficient; it is time to give the franchise to a more efficient, well-financed firm.

One would think that PECO would bow down to the will and judgment of the state, as even the opposition, notably the senator from Iloilo Franklin Drilon, didn’t attempt to block the bill.

Monopoly rent One would expect that since the basic reason for their profits—monopoly rent authorized by the state—has vanished, PECO’s owners would start negotiating with MORE to get as much as they can from selling their electricity-distribution assets. After all, what’s the use of PECO’s power poles and lines if it cannot use them anymore for distributing electricity. After all, the law gave PECO a very reasonable two-year period to turn over its monopoly to MORE. But no, PECO’s Cacho and Lopez owners—the former apparently a secretive elite as its chairman and president have shunned media interviews and photos—are dig-

ging in, and have tried to block the implementation of the state’s will, in the manner many unscrupulous businessmen (and politicians) do in our modern history to block reforms: By filing a case in the country’s notoriously slow, hardly incorruptible justice system.

Sources in Iloilo City claim that the Lopezes have told the business elite there that it would “fight tooth and nail Razon’s takeover� of the electricity distribution firm. This defiant stance, which has emboldened the Cachos, is both due to emotional and business reasons.

Emotional in that the Lopezes believe they have been and will always be the “rulers� of their Iloilo City hometown, and that PECO is a family jewel. For the clan, PECO is the source of sigNIkCANT PROkTS WHICH AMOUNTED to P1 billion from 1996 to 2017.

ABS-CBN A news article—which appeared only in ABS-CBN News, owned by the Lopezes who do not hesitate to use the broadcast network as a weapon—reported: “PECO challenged before a Mandaluyong City court certain provisions of the franchise to operate a power firm in Iloilo granted to its rival MORE Electric and Power Corp owned by billionaire Enrique Razon.

PECO said the provisions amounted to a ‘takeover’ of its assets and asked the court to stop the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission from implementing the law that granted MORE its franchise.�

The report, quite obviously biased for PECO, was misleading in that the law’s Section 10 authorized such a “takeover� – through the qualified right of the power of ‘eminent domain’ – is allowed only after “expro-

priation have been instituted and just compensation paid.�

PECO’s suit in the court, as reported by ABS-CBN, however, made the false claim that MORE, “a shell company without any assets‌, in the blink of an eye becomes the new owner of an entire distribution systemâ€? ( emphasis mine ).

the Supreme Court, which has the sole authority to rule on the constitutionality of laws. With the Court’s huge backlog of cases, its decision on this matter would take years, and Razon is not known to be so patient to wait for such things beyond his control.

Third richest

The Philippine Daily Inquirer , surprisingly for its largely antiadministration posture, recently carried a report that was critical of PECO, titled “Iloilo power firm refuses to turn over assets to another distributor.�

It quoted at length an irate Senator Drilon, who had been a close friend of the Cachos: “Drilon called on the owners of PECO to allow the negotiation for the sale of their assets after two power interruptions hit the city on Monday amid the holding of two major events. “Drilon was apparently irked by the brownout that affected the opening of the Museum of Philippine Economic History at the former Elizalde Building and the performance of the Philippine Madrigal Singers at the St. Anne Parish Church in Molo District. ‘I would like to appeal to the Cacho family to give Ilonggos a chance and consider the welfare of the city by allowing a smooth turnover and negotiate for the viable transfer of (their) assets,’ Drilon told reporters.

He said sufficient and efficient power is essential in the development of the city. Drilon blamed PECO’s purported lack of capital investments to avert the power interruptions.�

MORE is owned primarily by the 59-year-old billionaire Enrique Razon, who the US-based Forbes magazine recently identified as the country’s third richest tycoon, after Manuel Villar (No. 1) and John Gokongwei (No. 2). Razon’s empire had been built on building and running modern container ports in Manila, Subic, Batangas and General Santos City, as well as in Poland and Brazil – a business that requires engineering expertise.

Based on the ABS-CBN report, PECO implicitly claimed in its petition that MORE’s franchise involved a case of corruption as it was “allegedly given ‘favorable treatment’, and this violated the constitutional principle of ‘equal protection’.�

According to the ABS-CBN report, “PECO urged the court to issue a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent MORE’s takeover of its assets.�

This move is significant, in that if the court issues a restraining order, MORE will have to stop everything that it has to do for the takeover of electricity distribution in Iloilo, which could frighten away its bankers.

More significant is PECO’s petition to the court to declare the law’s section requiring it to sell its assets to MORE as unconstitutional. That petition is TELEGRAPHING THE OLIGARCH kRM S game plan to raise the issue to

Drilon irked

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ gmail.com Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Archives at: www.rigobertotiglao.com

Q STEINBOCK FROM A4

The shift of the Philippine peso regime BSP projection that the current account deficit (CAD) could widen to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2019. In the past, the quota system failed to keep rice prices in control; now the new import tariff system should stabilize it. The slowdown of electronic exports, which account for more than half of Philippine exports, is associated with the US trade wars.

One reason for the contradictory peso projections by the media is that they misjudged the succession outcome at BSP. After the premature death of BSP governor Nestor Espenilla, the potential candidate list

by Bloomberg’s Lopez and Alegado featured some 10 insiders, privatesector executives and wild cards – but not the eventual next chief of the bank. In a shrewd move, Duterte named his budget secretary Benjamin Diokno as BSP’s new chief.

In the government, Diokno had pursued an expansionary fiscal policy to finance infrastructure investments, along with Duterte’s kNANCIAL CHIEF #ARLOS $OMINGUEZ 3rd. In the coming months, Diokno might lean towards an interestrate cut, but only as long as it can BE JUSTIkED WITH EASING INlATION Some observers feel uncomfortable with the current account DEkCIT 9ET THE WIDENING #!$ IS the effect of the infrastructure drive, which requires imports that support infrastructure expansion. Yet, despite the CAD, the peso proved to be Asia’s bestperforming currency in February, when it was fueled by a record $2.9 billion of remittances in December. Also, foreign investment into Philippine stocks and bonds RECORDED A NET INlOW OF million in January, quadruple the

FIGURE 2: HOW RATE HIKES SUBDUED THE PESO IN LATE 2018

level of the previous year.

Most currencies in emerging markets have depreciated with the US Fed’s rate hikes. But as US expansion may have peaked, the Fed seems less hawkish. Yet, peso outperformance may not persist, thanks to the extremely challenging international environment.

4HE $UTERTE kSCAL EXPANSION HAS potential to continue well into the

early 2020s – as long as international headwinds can be kept at bay.

Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see http:// www.differencegroup.net/

Opinion

A5

San Fernando’s hit list C RESURGENCE

E N T R A L V i s aya s Po l i c e Regional (PRO-7) Director Debold Sinas has assured the Cebuano public that a hit list circulating in Facebook is not from his office. It is most likely that it is a fake news and a hoax.

We suspected that naging favorite pastime na ito nang mga tao sa San Fernando, Police Brigadier General Sinas was quoted as saying by Cebu Daily News.

This is the second hit list containing names of public ofkCIALS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF 3AN Fernando, located approximately 38 kilometers south of Cebu City.

A rather ordinary town except that three of its 10 municipal councilors have been murdered this year and one was murdered last year; the vice mayor and one councilor have not attended sessions for some time.

San Fernando Vice Mayor Fralz Sabalones is the brother of confessed Cebu drug lord Franz Sabalones. The latter presented himself to the then Police Director General Bato de la Rosa in 2016. No case has been filed against him, according to PRO-7 Director Sinas ( Sun Star Cebu , Feb. 25, 2019) even if the Court of Appeals two years ago issued a freeze order on Sabalones’ assets, including P76 million in deposits in three bank accounts, six lots, a beach resort in San Fernando, six sports utility vehicles and a 6.4-hectare poultry farm ( Cebu Daily News , March 10, 2017).

Franz Sabalones’ whereabouts are unknown. Recently, the police raided a house allegedly owned by Sabalones in the town of Minglanilla and confiscated several firearms, including high-powered ones.

Sabalones’ live-in partner, however, was not arrested despite being found living in the house.

The police claim that Sabalones has revived his drug business and is behind the ‘flooding’ of Cebu with drugs ( Sun Star Cebu , Feb. 25, 2019).

One of the councilors who was killed was Ricardo Reluya, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils, and the husband and running mate of Mayor Lakambini Reluya. He was killed on January 22 in a brutal ambush in Talisay City that also killed Allan Bayot and Ricky Monterona, driver and San Fernando investment officer, respectively. Mayor Lakambini and her two bodyguards survived the attack.

Mayor Reluya is seeking reelection against Ruben Feliciano, a businessman from Zamboanga City whose international port project in San Fernando has caused bitter animosity between the two.

Feliciano’s running mate is Reluya’s longtime political foe, former mayor Antonio Canoy.

Feliciano reportedly decided to seek the mayorship after Reluya stopped his ambitious, multibillion-peso seaport project.

MARIT STINUSCABUGON Ricardo Reluya, shortly before he was killed, accused Feliciano of being behind what has come to be known as the first drugs hit list that circulated in social media earlier this year. Majority of those in the list have been murdered. Feliciano denied this but after the February 23 assassination of San Fernando Councilor Alfonso Donaire IV in Zamboanga del Sur, he (Feliciano) told Sun Star Cebu that those involved in illegal drugs will eventually receive [sic] the full force of the law. He said that he had warned Donaire and others: I told them to withdraw their candidacy or die. I will destroy them. I will kill them (Sun Star Cebu, February 24).

It is of course disturbing to hear a wealthy businessman who is running for mayor, and whose opponent recently figured in a violent ambush that killed three of her companions, make such threats. Because it is impossible to dismiss them as empty threats, whether or not Mr. Feliciano is responsible or not for the two hit lists. Too many officials from San Fernando have been assassinated to brush this aside as just a favorite pastime of the people of San Fernando, as Police PRO-7 Director Sinas suggested.

Franz Sabalones’ evil business of drugs was protected by policemen and politicians, of that there is no doubt. Many of these personalities have been killed in the past few years, the perpetrators and masterminds remaining unidentified until now. Some local media sources even claim that Ricardo Reluya HAD BEEN TAGGED AS BEING nvolved with Sabalones and that he was liquidated by the SAME EATH SQUAD THAT HAS KILLED other government officials and individuals suspected of having been directly or indirectly involved in, or protecting, the drug business. The police were pressured to produce suspects in the Reluya ambush but they could be fall guys. Who had motive and opportunity to stage all these attacks, and literally got away with murder?

On March 3, the police seized 28 kilograms of shabu. But this was out of a 40-kg delivery from the New Bilibid Prison that arrived in two batches in December and January, a delivery that the police reportedly knew about. This doesn’t make any sense. All these drugs after almost three years of the bloody war on drugs. And from New Bilibid Prison. And other drugs are allegedly supplied by a missing drug lord whose assets were supposedly frozen more than two years ago.

FOCUS

Brexit stirs haunting memories in bomb-scarred Irish town MONAGHAN, Ireland: The prospect of a disorderly Brexit has brought back haunting memories in the small Irish border town of Monaghan, where the church spire still stands askew from a massive bomb blast 45 years ago. “I’ve seen so many people die,� said shopkeeper Macartan Kieran, 66. “Death and pain and anguish, it’s no way to go. It’s no way to go.�

If Britain crashes out of the European Union on March 29, townspeople fear the return of the “bad old days� when paramilitary violence was part of daily life.

A no-deal Brexit could lead to the return of border controls along the Irish frontier between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.

The same checkpoints bred public resentment and became a target for attacks during three DECADES OF CONlICT THAT ENDED

with a peace deal in 1998.

Kieran is a lifelong resident of Monaghan, one of four sites targeted by bombings on May 17, 1974, in which a total of 33 people and an unborn child were killed.

It was the bloodiest day of the CONlICT KNOWN AS g4HE 4ROUBLES u One of the loyalist car bombs gutted the main street of Monaghan—claiming seven lives in the rural market town seven kilometers from the border with Northern Ireland.

Kieran’s shop windows were blown out by that blast. He rushed to the scene and saw the bodies of people he knew. “The fear about a border coming back is that it’s going to bring back unrest. It always brings up that stuff you don’t want coming back,� he said, standing before a modest glass and stone memorial to the dead. “No, no, we don’t need to go

back to that...�

His voice trailed off – visibly shaken by his memories. )N THE BUSTLING OFkCES OF LOCAL newspaper the Northern Standard, veteran reporter Michael Fisher leafed through a stack of recent editions boasting of local business developments.

The front pages are a stark contrast to the musty copy of the 1974 edition following the bombing. “Sad Seventeenth of May� was the big headline accompanied by photos of the shattered wrecked CAR A RUINED PUB A FRANTIC kREkGHTER DOUSING THE lAMES “I never saw anything as bad as what happened on that particular day,� Fisher said. “People here in Monaghan hope they’ve moved on considerably from those dark days,� he said, but added that “Brexit has put a whole question mark over the issue now.�

AFP

Q A memorial to the Monaghan bombings is pictured in the town center of the Irish border town of Monaghan.

The prospect of a disorderly Brexit has brought back haunting memories in the small Irish border town of Monaghan, where the church spire still stands askew from a massive bomb blast 45 years ago. AFP PHOTO

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Opinion

M

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY March 11, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

Caregivers: ‘We need you, but we do not want you’

ONEY can delay the aging process. Rich nations have a longer life span for the elderly.

Yet, to paraphrase the Beatles’ song, “Can’t Buy Me Love,� the UK, US, Japan, China, Canada might as well be singing, “Can’t buy me care.�

Globally, healthcare and aging-related jobs could grow by 50 million to 85 million by 2030, according to McKinsey, a US-based worldwide manageMENT CONSULTING kRM HEADQUARtered in New York with 27,000 employees worldwide.

In October 2010, The US-based Population Reference Bureau issued a report illustrating the decline of elderly support ratio—the number of working-age people ages 15 to 64 divided by the number of people 65 or older—in many countries, particularly in developed countries.

Even China, now second only to the United States in terms of economic might, has more than 185 million residents aged 60 years and older. The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study of 2011 reported that “32 percent of elderly Chinese DEkNED AS YEARS AND OLDER reported poor health, 38 percent REPORTED DIFkCULTY WITH DAILY LIVing, 40 percent showed symptoms of depression, and 23 percent lived below the poverty line.�

China’s One-Child policy did not help the demographic debacle. And China’s millennials started living and enjoying life,

MIGRANT MATTERS

CRISPIN R. ARANDA eschewing the tradition that children and grandchildren have the duty to take care of the elderly.

The previous second runner-up as an economic powerhouse to the US, Japan, has around 2.7 million people suffering from dementia.

And the number is set to rise to around 7.3 million by 2025, according to Japan’s health ministry; THE OFkCIAL ESTIMATE IS THAT ONE IN kVE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF WILL have dementia by 2025.

Japan lacks domestic caregivers. The lure of money, lifestyle, live-in-the-moment attitude (as AMONG #HINESE MILLENNIALS keep the elderly parents and grandparents homebound to take care of themselves.

All these rich countries in the world starving for attention, care and immigrant workers.

With an ageing population clashing with the need for immiGRANT WORKERS THE kVE COUNTRIES with permanent migration programs are walking on immigration policy eggshells.

Canada, the only country in THE WORLD WITH AN OFkCIAL CAREgiver program providing legal residency pathway, eliminated the Live-in-Caregiver Program ,#0 IN AND INCORPORATED

it into the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

The LCP was designed to enable Canadians to recruit foreign nationals to provide childcare or home support for seniors or people with disabilities. The ,#0 WAS UNIQUE WITHIN THE TFWP because it offered a direct pathway to permanent residence.

Individuals with two years of work experience on an LCP work permit could apply to transition to permanent residence.

The UK has the longest and most tedious pathways for caregivers and low-to-semi-skilled workers to obtain permanent or long-term residency.

Ironically, Brexit may have opened the door a little bit. When THE 5+ kNALLY BREAKS OFF FROM THE European Union (not a matter OF IF BUT WHEN DEAL OR NO DEAL

workers from the poorer members of the EU will be competing with non-European nationals. That should be good news for Filipino workers and caregivers.

The operative word is “should.�

Caregivers – nannies, cleaners, cooks and those providing care for the employer and their family – belong to the domestic workers $7 CATEGORY THAT A QUALIkED UK sponsor may recruit from overseas (non-EU nation and 3WITZERLAND "UT WHAT MAKES DW work in the UK unattractive is not only the short period of time allowed for employment, family members may not be

dependents on the work visa.

Instead, each family must apply on his or her own merits, In 2005, there were only 732 domestic workers/caregivers deployed to the UK, based on POEA statistics. Five years later, of 9,293 caregivers employed overseas, only 10 were deployed in the UK. In the same year, Taiwan and Israel remained the two most popular destinations for caregivers, taking in 6,194 and 1,456, respectively. Canada came in third with 1,452 admissions. That year, caregivers shied away from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; only 72 were deployed, according to 0/%! OFkCIAL STATISTICS Officially, only 1 caregiver made it to Singapore (a tradiTIONAL DESTINATION AND NONE IN Hong Kong. “Really!�

The numbers may be hidden in the 28,602 domestic workers.

Demonstrated demographic need A labor projection model by Human Resources for Health predicts that, “by 2030, global demand for health workers will rise to 80 milLION DOUBLE THE CURRENT stock of health workers, while the supply of health workers is expected to reach 65 million over the same period, resulting in a worldwide net shortage of 15 million health workers.�

The same report concludes that “growth in the demand for health workers will be highest among upper middle-income countries, driven by economic and popula-

Millions of Venezuelans in need of protection

Q “Humanitarian aid now. We need it,â€? read a banner during a massive demonstration in Caracas on Feb. 12, demanding that international aid blocked at the border of neighboring countries be allowed into the country. The demonstrations were held in 50 towns and cities around the country, in support of Juan GuaidĂł as acting president and demanding that President NicolĂĄs Maduro step down. IPS Venezuela is $6 per month, many are unable to afford basic goods. “During Nicolas Maduro’s UNITED NATIONS: The international community must extend protec- presidency, the government has tion for Venezuelans in light of a failed to address the crisis while growing humanitarian crisis with making heavy-handed efforts to deny and conceal its severity,â€? no end in sight.

Human Rights Watch has urged Human Rights Watch said.

Among those efforts is the governments in the Americas to provide temporary protection to Maduro government’s move to THE MILLIONS OF 6ENEZUELANS lEE- impose an aid blockade. The ing a severe humanitarian crisis. government even ordered the “The humanitarian crisis in Ven- borders with Brazil closed, claimezuela is a classic case of the need ing that Venezuelans were “not for blanket temporary protection,� beggars� and do not need aid.

As a result of the escalating said Human Rights Watch refugee situation, the number of asylum rights director Bill Frelick. “This is not the time to be de- applications by Venezuelans has porting Venezuelans,� he added. INCREASED SIGNIkCANTLY According to the UN Refugee According to the United Nations, more than three million !GENCY 5.(#2 OVER

people have fled Venezuela in asylum claims were made by Venerecent years, representing 10 per- zuelans around the world, nearly 60 cent of the country’s population. percent of them during 2018 alone.

Between July and September The exodus is largely due to the severe shortages of medicine 2018, Venezuelans were the leadand food, leaving millions of ing nationality seeking asylum Venezuelans in distressing and in the US as they represented 30 of all asylum applications in the worsening living conditions.

According to the Pharmaceuti- three-month period.

However, despite the crippling cal Federation of Venezuela, the country is experiencing an 85 humanitarian situation, the US continues to deport people back percent shortage of medicine.

The ongoing economic crisis to the South American nation.

Immigration and Customs Enhas also impacted access. )N INlATION IN THE 3OUTH forcement reportedly deported 336 American nation was at a stag- people to Venezuela in 2018, a 35 gering 1.69 million percent. The percent increase from the previous International Monetary Fund year. Meanwhile, the US has not re )-& ESTIMATES THE RATE TO REACH settled a single Venezuelan refugee.

Human Rights Watch urged the 10 million percent in 2019. !S THE OFkCIAL MINIMUM WAGE IN US to provide Temporary ProtectBYÂ THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE

ED 3TATUS 403 TO 6ENEZUELANS due to the deteriorating conditions in their home country.

TPS allows foreign-born individuals to remain in the US until conditions, caused by natural disasters or war, improve back home.

Approximately 300,000 people have received those protections.

Though the current administration has made several attempts to end TPS, a buck has blocked the most recent efforts and extended TPS for people from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador. g3OME 6ENEZUELANS WILL QUALify for asylum based on a wellfounded fear of being persecuted if returned,� Frelick said. “Temporary Protected Status is the best available way to offer protection for people who DO NOT QUALIFY AS REFUGEES OR are not seeking asylum but who nevertheless should not be sent back to their country because of generally unsafe conditions there,� he added.

A group of 24 senators, including Chuck Schumer and Marco Rubio, also asked President Donald Trump to designate Venezuela for TPS. “Venezuela clearly meets the standard for TPS as it is obviously too dangerous for Venezuelan nationals to return‌granting TPS to Venezuela is a concrete measure your administration can immediately take to alleviate the suffering of innocent Venezuelan civilians and to demonstrate our nation’s commitment to

supporting a safe democratic transition in Venezuela so that individuals can safely return home soon,� they wrote in a letter.

Human Rights Watch also urged Venezuela’s neighbours to grant region-wide temporary protection, providing Venezuelans LEGAL STATUS FOR A kXED PERIOD Colombia is among those which have opened their doors, now hosting over 1 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, the highest proportion in the region.

The Colombian government has developed programs to support fleeing migrants, such as a border mobility card which allows people to move between the two countries as well as a special work permit which provides Venezuelans temporary residence and work for two years.

The response has been starkly different in Brazil where tensions have escalated, leading to riots against refugee camps. In one case, riots forced over 1,000 VenezuELANS TO lEE BACK OVER THE BORDER In 2015, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called refugees “scum of the earth.�

Though the country is continuing to accept arrivals at the border, it is uncertain for how much longer.

UNHCR stressed the urgency of international support, appealing for $738 million to support 2.2 million Venezuelans and 500,000 people in host communities across 16 countries. IPS

tion growth and aging,� which SHOULD LOGICALLY RESULT IN kERCE competition for skilled health workers, even as low-income AND PERPETUALLY gDEVELOPINGu countries like the Philippines will produce a steady and continuous supply of eligible healthcare workers, including caregivers and personal support workers.

In the US, the demand for home care workers—one of the country’s fastest growing occupations—is expected to increase dramatically in coming years, with an additional million workers needed by 2026 as the number Americans aged 85 more than doubles as percentage or total population, from 1.8 percent in 2010 to 4.5 percent in 2050.

Yet, the immigration policies of the developed countries virtually remain impenetrable or extremely DIFkCULT TO ACCESS AS DEMONSTRATED by the current US policy of “America First� backed up by trade unions and advocacy groups, So, while there would be at least 300 million more people aged 65 years and older by 2030 in the US – as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each year – virtually no Americans are going into the caregiving jobs. Nobody would take care of the elderly – grandparents and senior citizens – at home.

Sixty percent of US parents with children under age 18 now work, with women accounting for at least 40 percent of the workforce.

It may not be palatable but

these Americans and other parents in developed countries are the “sandwich generation,� caught between taking care of their parents and children.

Despite the demand, American workers are not taking a bite of the caregiving tasks, because there are other jobs that pay more, and Americans do not need visas or work permits to pursue other employment with better pay.

The pay for a foreign caregiver is higher than what most Filipino caregivers could receive working the same occupation in the Middle East, Hong Kong or Taiwan.

And the working conditions, not to mention respect for human rights, is mandated by law, so one does not have to lose a head to kGURE THE POPULARITY OF WORKING in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the UK. But the current immigration and immigrant-admission landscape is not hospitable to foreign workers in these countries.

Local labor policies swaying TO THE POLITICAL WINDS REQUIRE employers and applicants to go through the recruitment needle.

Predictable and understandable even if the numbers do not add up: there is a shortage of willing and able foreign workers to take care of the increasing number of elderly populations.

To sum up, developed countries are caught in a dilemma when it comes to foreign caregivers: “We need you, but we do not want you.�

FOCUS

US Spanish speakers decry ‘second-class’ treatment under Trump NEW YORK: When Donald Trump took office, one of his first acts was to remove the White House’s Spanishlanguage web page.

More than two years later, as the US president battles with Congress over funding for a border wall to stem the tide of immigrants from Central America, disturbing incidents linked to the use of Spanish are on the rise.

In May, a New York lawyer went off on employees in a Manhattan store who were speaking Spanish, threatening to call immigration authorities.

That same month, two American women were arrested by border patrol agents for speaking Spanish to each other.

The acts of intolerance are evidence of the country’s increasing political polarization, even though the language is more and more commonplace in American life.

More than 41 million people living in the United States claim Spanish as their mother tongue. Hispanics are now the country’s main minority group, at 17 percent of the population, according to the Pew Research Center.

Worryingly, a study from the center published in October, revealed that about 40 percent of Latinos said they had been harassed over the last 12 months because of their background, including speaking Spanish in public.

Since Trump was elected in November 2016, “we are seeing more employees calling saying, ‘Hey, I’ve been told to speak English only’,� says Christopher Ho, a lawyer for Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco.

The association provides legal assistance to workers and a toll-free number where Latinos can file complaints about language-based discrimination.

Harassment On social media, it’s not hard to find examples of people behaving badly when faced with Spanish speakers.

In June, 24-year-old Julio Cesar Ovalle—who was born in Los Angeles and is American but grew up in Mexico—was walking in San Antonio when he was arrested by a border patrol agent.

Ovalle did not have ID on him, and never really learned to speak good English. He was quickly accused of being in the United States illegally, and was deported the next day, despite his efforts to explain his situation. “It was an injustice and racism, all because I don’t understand or speak English well,� Ovalle said—in Spanish—to the San Antonio Express-News.

In October, a Guatemalan family was harassed in a restaurant in

Lovettsville, Virginia.

One woman, after asking to see their passports, used an expletive multiple times in telling them to “go back� home. “The Trump administration and its rhetoric has clearly emboldened some of the worst impulses� at US Customs and Border Protection, said Cody Wofsy, a lawyer at the powerful American Civil Liberties Union.

The organization is representing the two women who were arrested in Montana and have since filed a complaint against border patrol “There’s no official language in the US. People are within their right to speak any language they want, and hundreds and hundreds of languages are spoken in the US,� Wofsy said.

Cleaning ladies, gardeners, nannies Spanish has always been present in the United States, notably in the West, where territory that is now part of six different states was sold to the US by Mexico in the mid-19th century.

While some families have given up the use of Spanish over the years, it remains a dynamic force thanks to the constant stream of immigrants arriving in the United States and the country’s proximity to Latin America.

For Marta Mateo, director of the Observatory of the Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures in the United States, based at Harvard University, this is more than language-based discrimination.

She wants to talk about social discrimination against migrants, with Trump’s populist speeches adding fuel to the fire. “The biggest immigrant group is Hispanic, so their language is attacked,� she says, explaining what she believes to be the thought process.

Mateo spoke of the ubiquity of the language and the numerous services provided in the language which, since the 1970s, dethroned French as the language most commonly studied in schools. “Maybe these aggressive incidents against Spanish are simply more visible today,� she offers.

Maria Carreira, a Spanish professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, also believes the incidents amount to social discrimination.

Despite being everywhere in American society, Spanish is still often considered a second-class language, as opposed to French or Italian, she says. “Spanish is associated with ‘swarthy, dark-skinned’ people,� she says. “It’s seen as the language of cleaning ladies, gardeners and nannies.� AFP

Regions

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

CVisayas drug group member busted in Cebu ANTI-NARCOTICS operatives arrested a member of a big drug group in Central Visayas who yielded about P1.7 million worth of shabu, while his cohort escaped in a buy bust in Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City on Saturday.

0OLICE IDENTIkED THE SUSPECTS AS Jerimel Dela Torre, 26, of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City and his cohort, Jerome Dayonton.

3UPT 'LENN -AYAM OFkCER IN charge of the Drug Enforcement Group in Central Visayas, said an UNDERCOVER POLICE OFkCER WAS ABLE to buy a medium pack of shabu for P50,000 from Dela Torre during the buy-bust.

But Dayonton, who was with Dela Torre during the sting, ran

away and escaped.

Police seized two more large packs of shabu from Dela Torre’s pocket, which he was about to DELIVER TO AN UNIDENTIkED BUYER Mayam said they were checking whether Dela Torre was linked to 2AYVEN 'ONZA A NEWLY IDENTIkED drug dealer who was arrested in a buy-bust also in Barangay Duljo Fatima on Friday, with more than P31 million worth of shabu.

Dela Torre admitted his involvement in the illegal drug trade as his source of income. He has been renting the house on C. Padilla Street, Sitio Padul 1, Barangay Duljo Fatima for about six months and has been transferring from one place to another.

RHEA RUTH ROSELL

MONDAY March 11, 2019

A7

‘IPs most vulnerable to Red propaganda’ B

BY ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

UTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte: The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Mindanao is the sector most vulnerable to the propaganda of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army .0!

ACCORDING TO A TOP MILITARY OFkCIAL Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom),

said this in a statement sent to the media over the weekend.

Santos said the IPs were con-

sidered major stakeholders in the peace and development in eastern Mindanao, but they continue to be defenseless and exposed to the INlUENCE OF THE #00 AND .0!

This was manifested, he added, in the large number or percentage of IPs in the ranks of NPA combatants. “We shall continue to implement our peace and development PROGRAM WITH CULTURE AND CONlICT sensitivity. We will be the bridge of the IPs in their development

as a tribe, people and community,� Santos said.

In the same statement, EastMinCom spokesman Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey said Santos repreSENTED $EFENSE 3ECRETARY $ELkN Lorenzana during the 17th founding anniversary celebration of the Sovereign Tribal Council for Peace and Development (STCPD) held in Butuan City on Friday, March 8.

STCPD is a conglomeration of 39 tribal groups and communities in Mindanao, Balagtey added.

Go pushes for localized peace talks with Reds Justice sought for slain NEcija priest VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occidental: Senate aspirant Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go was warmly welcomed on Friday by people in the “Sugarbowl of the Philippines.�

While on his visit, Go told his audience that he was pushing for the holding of peace talks at the local level, especially in areas with pockets of communist insurgency, such as Negros Occidental. “Localized peace talks are the answer because insurgency is rooted in local conditions as well and you are the ones who understand best the culture and needs of your locality,� said Go. He had earlier encouraged the communist rebels to take advantage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer for the resumption of peace negotiations, but at the local level.

Residents from various cities AND TOWNS OF THE PROVINCE kLLED the 10,000-capacity Victorias City Gym to welcome Go and other Senate candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), who were in the province to rally support for their party.

Go gave details about his legislative agenda if elected to the Senate. Foremost among these, he said, was the improvement of the delivery of health services in the country through the institutionalization of the Malasakit Center. “We now have 27 Malasakit Centers nantionwide. The center IN "ACOLOD #ITY WAS ONE OF THE kRST established, the one here in Victorias City was the third,� Go added. “I would want to sponsor legislation that would mandate the creation of Malasakit Centers so that even after the present administration and even when we are no longer in government service, the program will continue,� Go said.

A program of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea,

RIGHT CHOICE President Rodrigo Duterte tells the crowd that former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go is a right choice for the Senate when he introduced him during a political rally in Victorias, Negros Occidental.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO a Malasakit Center makes it more convenient and economical for needy patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance from the government.

It puts together in one room all relevant government agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE AND THE 0HILIPpine Health Insurance Corp.

Right choice In the same rally, President Rodrigo Duterte told Negrenses that supporting Go is the right choice, as he vouched for his honesty and being a hard worker. “I tell you, you won’t go wrong

with him,� Duterte said, as he vouched anew for the integrity of his former top aide.

He shared that during his term as Davao mayor and even into the presidency, he had entrusted Go in handling various responsibilities. In over two decades of serving him, he said, Go made sure all the resources were properly distributed or spent for intended purposes to help the people.

Meanwhile, Go appealed to his supporters to take down all his campaign materials and tarpaulin in places the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had not authorized.

Go told his supporters from Silay City that while they were

free to express support for his senatorial bid, “we must do this in accordance with the law; we have to follow the rules and regulations of the Comelec.�

In December, Go commended Silay City for its implementation of laws and ordinance even if it resulted in the removal of a tarpaulin bearing his name at the city plaza.

Go said he had no idea who displayed the tarpaulin, but later learned that Mayor Mark Golez moved it to his private property to express his support.

He urged his supporters to refrain from putting up campaign materials in support of his candidacy, and instead use the funds to buy construction materials and RELIEF GOODS TO HELP kRE VICTIMS

Subic firm delivers high-speed patrol boats to PNP SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: A Filipino-owned company that produces patrol boats recently delivered 21 highspeed tactical watercraft (HSTW) for deployment this year by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mindanao.

Safehull Marine Technologies Inc., based in the Subic Global Industrial Park, built the 40foot long HSTWs that the PNP commissioned for its use when patrolling the country’s exclusive

economic zone, in law enforcement and maintenance of peace and order, as well as for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Each boat is equipped with three outboard motors, which could reach a top speed of 45 knots and operate approximately 200 miles from shore, and in slight to moderate sea conditions.

Safehull Marine is a whollyowned subsidiary of the Manila-

Nationinbriefs EL NIĂ‘O DESTROYS P3-M CROPS IN ZAMBOANGA CITY ZAMBOANGA CITY: Close to P3 million worth of palay (unmilled rice), corn and other vegetables have been destroyed by the El NiĂąo phenomenon since it began last December in various barangay (villages) of this highly urbanized city, an Agriculture officer said. City Agriculturist Menchie Sanchez said hardest hit by the drought were the palay farmers in the villages of Ayala, Cabaluay, Culianan, Gapuli,Talabaan, Licomo and Limaong. The vast corn fields were also seriously damaged in the villages of Lamisahan,Vitali, Manicahan and Sibulao, as well as vegetable farmers in the villages Salaan, Bungiao, Manicahan, Cabaluay and Tagasilay. To mitigate the damage to crops, the local government allocated more than P3 million for the purchase of alternative crops to be distributed to farmers in affected areas, Sanchez said. Sanchez added that they would also purchase other seedlings like mongo, okra and stringbeans, which are highly resistant to the scorching heat of the sun.

ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

based Propmech Corp., which is engaged in the fabrication of ships and ship components, ship repair, and engineering services for design and installation of parts and modules. “Thirty percent of the boats built in Subic were for clients in the defense industry, including the United States military,� Safehull OFkCIALS SAID The Propmech and Safehull joint venture also built three

NINE months after the murder of Fr. Richmond Nilo in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanutuan said it was still seeking justice.

In a pastoral letter dated March 8, but shared through a Facebook post on Saturday, Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud commemorated the “dreadful killing� of Nilo, saying he prayed that perpetrators of the priest’s killing be brought to justice.

Nilo was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while preparing to celebrate Mass in a village chapel on June 10, 2018.

Two months earlier, Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura from Gattaran town, Cagayan was also shot dead.

In December 2017, Fr. Marcelito Paez of Jaen town, Nueva Ecija was gunned down by unidentified gunman.

The letter was ordered to be read in all Sunday Masses in parishes under the Cabanatuan diocese.

On the first Sunday of the 40-day Lenten Season, Bancud also called on the faithful to offer prayers “for the reformation of the criminals, including those who have contributed to violence in society.� “May our communities remain vigilant to ensure the dignity of every person and peace in the

society,� Bancud said.

The prelate also renewed the call of the Church for the faithful to reject, in the strongest terms, any form violence as a tool to solve the problem of criminality in the country. “Let’s promote and defend human dignity and the right to life because this is the most important basic human right that needs to be protected and taken care of,� he said.

Bancud insisted that human rights are the “foundation of a civilized, free and peaceful society.�

The spokesmen of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on February 28 were quoted as saying that the total number of drug suspects killed since President Rodrigo Duterte started his war on drugs in July 2016 had reached 5,176.

Bancud also appealed to law enforcers, lawmakers, civil servants, clergy, religious and lay leaders under his diocese to strive to fulfill their sworn duty to secure the people and never tire of doing good.

He then urged the Church to continue providing pastoral care to those whom the killings had traumatized and all the victims of brutality.

CATHERINE A. MODESTO

multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC), which were delivered to the Philippine Navy in 2009, 2012 and 2017, a 15-meter landing craft vehicle personnel for the Philippine Navy, as well as 136 units of 50-horsepower rubber boats for the PNP. This year, it is scheduled to build another MPAC unit that the 0HILIPPINE .AVY IS OUTkTTING WITH short-range surface-to-surface missile.

PATRICK ROXAS

NEGROS CITY VET DENIES USING GAS CHAMBER FOR STRAY DOGS BACOLOD CITY: The City Veterinarian of Sagay City, Negros Occidental denied claims on social media that stray dogs were being killed using a gas chamber. “It’s not true. My office is open for those who want to know our process,�

Dr. Baltazar Delorino said in a statement sent to local media. He said the chamber was already part of the building and had been there before the construction of the Veterinary Office, adding that the place is being utilized as stockroom for office supplies and other materials. The city veterinarian stressed that the use of carbon monoxide poisoning is prohibited under the amended Republic Act 8485 or the “Animal Welfare Law.� A post on Facebook claimed that stray dogs in the northern city were killed through a gas chamber. Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported six rabies-related deaths in the province during the first quarter of 2019. PHO rabies nurse coordinator Rafael Marmolejo 3rd said the three deaths were reported in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town; Barangay Ilijan, Bago City; and Barangay Batang, Himamaylan City in January. The three other deaths in February were reported in Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City; Barangay Bulata, Cauayan; and in Sagay City. Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said they

have recorded 33 confirmed cases of canine rabies infection in 2018, which is 33 percent higher compared to the cases recorded in 2017. A Rabies Control Action was launched last month as part of pro-active campaign against rabies.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

20 MOST WANTED IN CARAGA NABBED BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte: Two top most wanted persons and 18 others were arrested by the Philippine National Police in the Caraga Region (PNP-Caraga) in an intensified manhunt operations conducted recently. PNP-Caraga Director Chief Supt.

Gilberto Cruz said relentless efforts of various police stations in the region led to the success of the intensified manhunt operations. He also encouraged the public to continue its support to the Caraga police to strengthen peace and security in the communities.

Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office arrested nine wanted persons, including Joel Dalubatan, 25, of Barangay San Isidro Malimono, Surigao del Norte, who was considered top 8 most wanted in Malimono facing frustrated homicide case; and Edgar Rosillo of Socorro town, top 3 most wanted for violation of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines.

Butuan City Police Office also arrested eight wanted persons, as well as Agusan del Norte provincial police office nabbed suspects with arrest warrants for various cases.

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

News DILG exec rejects reclamation projects A8

˜ The Manila Times

MONDAY March 11, 2019

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

U

NDERSECRETARY Epimaco Densing Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government opposed proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay and EXPRESSED HIS WILLINGNESS TO RESIGN TO kGHT THE implementation of these projects.

Densing said reclamation projects would displace thousands of informal settlers and destroy properties. “Ako po sa personal, ayaw ko po

ng reclamation. Wala pa po ako sa gobyerno, nilalabanan ko na ang reclamation sa -ANILA "AY At bumulong si Sec. [Eduardo] AĂąo sa akin, ayoko rin ng reclamation

w w w.manilatimes.net

) AM AGAINST RECLAMATION %VEN before I entered the government, ) WAS kGHTING THE -ANILA "AY REClamation. And Sec. AĂąo, [the DILG secretary], whispered to me that HE S ALSO AGAINST THE PROJECTS u Densing said in a news forum on Sunday.

According to the Philippine Reclamation Authority, there are 19 projects lined up, four of which were approved by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

These are the tourism hubs Manila Waterfront City and Horizon -ANILA OF THE * "ROS #ONSTRUCTION

Corp., Manila Solar City of the Manila Goldcoast Development Corp., and City of Pearl of the UAA Kinming Group Development Corp.

The Manila Solar City project, a 148-hectare tourism and commercial hub, which was approved

by Estrada in 2012, is already in the engineering stage, according to the Philippine Reclamation Authority. “Napakasimple ng explanation ‘dyan, pag baso ng tubig nilagyan mo ng ice, tataas ang tubig 4HE explanation there is so simple. If you put ice on a glass of water,

THE WATER WOULD OVERlOW 4HERE WILL BE lOODING IN -ETRO -ANILA 4HAT S A MILLION PERCENT SURE u Densing said.

(E CITED THE lOODING OF 2OXAS "OULEVARD IN -ANILA LAST YEAR

where a sea of garbage washed up.

He warned that thousands of people would be displaced if these reclamation projects were implemented. “ Pwede ako ma g-resign, labanan ko yung RECLAMATION ) CAN resign. I will fight the reclamaTION u HE SAID Densing expressed

CONkDENCE THAT 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO Duterte would reject the reclamation projects. “Tingnan po natin anong mangyayari po ‘dyan, nasa Pangulo na ang huling pagdedesisyon. Pero knowing the President, simple lamang po siya, pag ang isang proyekto di nakabubuti sa taong bayan, wala nang isip isip yan, @.O u ,ET S SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN 4HE 0RESIDENT HAS THE kNAL SAY "UT KNOWING HIM HE S SIMPLE )F a project does not promote common good, without thinking, he WOULD SAY NO u HE SAID

NCRPO nabs 800K ordinance violators MORE than 800,000 ordinance violators have been arrested by the Philippine National Police since June last year, Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the National Capital ReGION 0OLICE /FkCE .#20/ SAID on Sunday.

Eleazar said that from June 13, 2018 to March 9, 2019, at least 800,000 were arrested for various violations.

Most of those arrested violated the smoking ban.

Police from all over Metro Manila rounded up 191,917 violators of the smoking ban or 23.70 percent of the total.

Minors violating curfew hours accounted for 6.2 percent of the total or 48,763, while 42,740 individuals were arrested for

going half-naked or topless in public places. Those rounded up for drinking in public places accounted for 4.68 percent or 37,890 violators.

The rest, or 488,575, were apprehended for violating various city ordinances.

There are five police districts under the NCRPO: the Quezon City Police District, Manila Police District, Eastern Police District, Southern Police District and the Northern Police District. /F THE kVE DISTRICTS THE 1#0$ had the biggest haul of violators — 473,352. It was followed by the EPD, which made 153,594 arrests; NPD with 73,156; MPD with 62,607; and SPD with 47,176.

DEMPSEY REYES

BAY BATH

A man and his daughter cool off by taking a bath in Manila Bay on Sunday. Authorities had warned that the bay remains unfit for swimming despite the regular clean-up drive launched by various groups.

PHOTO BY ROGER RANADA

Filipinos warned vs recruitment scams Asean gains China’s T WO r e c r u i t m e n t e x p e r t s warned Filipino workers to avoid recruitment schemes online as these were illegal and could be human trafficking schemes.

Recruitment and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani cited a social media post offering jobs in Poland called “ Filipinosur Marbella u THAT allegedly needs bricklayers, til-

ers, plumbers, welders, cooks and barbers.

Geslani said applicant were asked to pay a placement fee of P300,000 to be paid in three INSTALLMENTS WITH THE kRST PAYment of P100,000 to be remitted via Western Union. “Recruiting directly via online system and asking for payment of fees through remittance company are almost

sure signs that the perpetrator IS A SCAMMER u 'ESLANI SAID Elsa Villa, president of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc., advised Filipino workers to check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration if a recruitment agency is licensed or not.

Poland is offering jobs to Filipinos who are willing

to work in manufacturing, fishing and meat processing, information technology, and driving heavy vehicles.

Villa said several jobs being offered do not require experience as employers would train the recruits. Also, applicants do not need to be highly skilled and will be assigned to manufacturing companies.

BENJIE L. VERGARA

Cancer, heart disease top killers of women WHILE the world celebrates the accomplishments of women this month, the observance of the International Women’s Month also serves as the perfect time to remind women of the health issues that haunt htem.

Recent data from the PhilipPINE 3TATISTICS !UTHORITY 03! and the Department of Health $/( REVEALED THAT CANCER remain the top cause of death among women in the Philippines. Heart disease came second, followed by pneumonia.

"REAST CANCER ACCOUNTS FOR percent of all cancer diagnosis, and about 30 percent of cancer cases among women. Doctors estimate that three out of 100 Filipino women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

In February 2017, the Philippine Obstetrical and Gyneco-

logical Society released data showing that the Philippines had the highest prevalence of breast cancer among 197 countries.

There is no known cause of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why a woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause.

What is known so far is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, doctors advice women to lessen alcohol intake, avoid smoking, maintain a physical lifestyle, breastfeed their children, reduce hormone therapy, and avoid exposure to radiation and pollution.

Early detection is key to keeping women alive and healthy.

-AMMOGRAPHY A SIMPLE 8

ray examination of the breast, detects breast tumors long before THEY CAN BE FELT BY THE kNGERS Experts advise that women take a screen test to verify risk at an early stage, especially for those women 40 years-old and above.

appropriate weight.

In addition, one should manage other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

"EING STRESSED ALSO CONTRIBUTES to the development of the disease.

Ischemic heart diseases

Pneumonia

Also known as coronary heart failure, this silent disease occurs in persons who have a strong build-up of plaque in their coronary arteries, preventing blood from reaching the coronary arteries. It gets worse over time and can cause angina, heart attacks, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

The best way to prevent this disease is to live a healthy lifestyle — working out, eating a balanced meal, avoiding cigarette smoke, and maintaining one’s

An infection that causes the lungs to fill up with fluid and pus, pneumonia is highly contagious.

One can be affected, especially those with a weak immune system, through contact or droplets.

Washing hands and covering one’s mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing can help can help curb the spread of the disease.

Getting pneumonia vaccination every five years is highly advised as well.

PNA

Q CRASHES FROM A1

a massive crater at the crash site, with belongings and airplane parts scattered widely.

Rescue crews were retrieving human remains from the wreckage.

Police and troops were on the scene, as well as a crash investigation team from Ethiopia’s civil aviation agency.

In the Kenyan capital, family members, friends, and colleagues of passengers were frantically waiting for news at Jomo Kenyatta )NTERNATIONAL !IRPORT *+)! g) AM STILL HOPING THAT ALL IS kNE

because I have been waiting for my sister since morning and we have NOT BEEN TOLD ANYTHING u 0ETER Kimani told AFP in the arrivals lounge over an hour after the plane was scheduled to land at 10:25 am local time.

His sister is a nurse who he said

had gone to Congo. “She travels a LOT ON MISSIONS u “We are still expecting our loved one from Addis... we have just received news that there is a plane that has crashed. We can only hope THAT SHE IS NOT ON THAT lIGHT u

Ethiopan State-owned Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, said the plane had taken off at 8:38 a.m.

'-4 FROM "OLE )NTERNATIONAL !IRPORT AND gLOST CONTACTu SIX MINUTES LATER NEAR "ISHOFTU

A TOWN SOME KILOMETERS MILES SOUTHEAST OF !DDIS !BABA by road.

The weather in the capital, according to an AFP reporter, was CLEAR WHEN THE BRAND NEW "OEING plane, delivered to Ethiopia last year, plane took off.

4HE "OEING CAME DOWN NEAR the village of Tulu Fara outside "ISHOFTU An AFP reporter said there was

“I was shocked, but shortly after, my son contacted me and told me he is still in Addis and did not BOARD THAT lIGHT HE IS WAITING FOR the second one which has been DELAYED u +HALID TOLD !&0 “I am waiting for my colleague, ) JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST u ADDED Hoping for the best Hannah, a Chinese national.

African Union commission chief Among those waiting, Khalid Ali Moussa Faki Mahamat said he Abdulrahman received happy had learnt of the crash “with utter news about his son, who works shock and immense sadness. in Dubai. “Our prayers are with the fami“I arrived here shortly after 10 lies of the passengers [and] crew as a.m. and as I waited, a security per- authorities search for survivors. I son approached me and asked me also express our full solidarity with WHICH lIGHT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ) the Govt [and] people of Ethioanswered him quickly because I PIA u HE SAID ON 4WITTER wanted him to direct me to the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy arrivals, so I told him Ethiopia, !HMED S OFkCE TWEETED IT gWOULD and then he said: ‘Sorry, that one like to express its deepest condoHAS CRASHED u lences to the families of those that

support on RCEP BEIJING: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has been assured of China’s support in realizing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Deputy Representative of International Trade Negotiations Wang Shouwen said.

In a news conference over the weekend, Wang said China sees Asean’s free trade agreement (FTA) with its six FTA partners as a vital development towards boosting trade in the region.

RCEP is composed of the 10 Asean member states — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — and its six partners namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. “The government of China attaches great importance to those negotiations, and have shown that China is actively promoting and in full support of the two negotiations,� said Wang. “We are in great support of the centrality of Asean,

and Asean countries made great efforts in conducting such negotiations to have attached the great importance on that,� he added.

Initiated by Asean, the 16 RCEP participating countries began negotiations for an FTA in 2012.

RCEP is envisioned to be the world’s largest free trade pact, accounting 48 percent of the world’s total market and 30 percent of global gross domestic product and trade.

During the second RCEP Leaders’ Summit in Singapore last year, heads of states urged their trade ministers to conclude the negotiations this year.

Part of the final stage of discussions this year is China’s hosting of technical negotiation in July, Wang said.

He added that hundreds of delegates were expected to visit China in July for the RCEP technical negotiation. “The target of the 16 members is to achieve comprehensive, high quality, mutually beneficial, and more than just a free trade agreement,� Wang said.

PNA

HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES u Kenya’s President Uhuru KeNYATTA SAID HE WAS gSADDENEDu BY the news, adding: “My prayers go to all the families and associates of THOSE ON BOARD u Mahboub Maalim, executive secretary of the IGAD East African bloc, said the region and the world were in mourning. g) CANNOT SEEM TO kND WORDS comforting enough to the families and friends of those who might HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS TRAGEDY u he said in a statement.

For its part, the plane’s maker, 53 GIANT COMPANY "OEING SAID IT WAS gAWAREu OF THE ACCIDENT gAND IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION u Ethiopian Airlines said it would send staff to the accident scene to “do everything possible to assist THE EMERGENCY SERVICES u

It would also set up a passenger information centre and a dedicated telephone number for family and friends of people who MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE lIGHT WHILE Kenya’s transport minister said OFkCIALS WOULD MEET AND COUNCIL loved ones waiting at JKIA. 4HE "OEING -!8 IS THE same type of plane as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed last October, 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

The last major accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines passenGER PLANE WAS A "OEING that exploded after taking off from Lebanon in 2010, killing 83 passengers and seven crew. !CCORDING TO REPORTS "OEING delivered the plane to Ethiopian Airlines last November.

AFP

What’s inside GOVT COMMITTED TO RAISE FDIS, INFRA SPENDING – DOF BusinessB2

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NEDA TO STUDY SUGAR LIBERALIZATION

ÂťBusinessB2

HOLCIM SHARES GAIN ON RENEWED SALE TALK

ÂťStock WatchB3

DMCI RAMPS UP CAPEX, TO SPEND P31B THIS YEAR

ÂťCorporate NewsB4

PLDT CHIEF HOPEFUL OF VOYAGER TURNAROUND Corporate NewsB4

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BREXIT DEAL RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT

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www.manilatimes.net

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

M

ONETARY authorities will likely move to relax policy beginning May via interest rate cuts that will total 100 basis points this year, a banking giant said. “We now expect Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to respond with policy rate cuts starting in May 2019, partially REVERSING LAST YEAR S HIKES u 3TANDARD Chartered Bank said in a report released late last week.

The adjustments will be spread over the May, June and August meetings of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board, it added.

Last year, monetary authorities raised KEY INTEREST RATES kVE CONSECUTIVE TIMES

OR A TOTAL OF BPS AFTER INlATION breached the 2.0-4.0 percent target starting March.

Consumer price growth peaked at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September-October but has eased since then, prompting the Monetary Board to pause from further tightening in December and February.

Inflation finally returned to the 2.0-4.0 percent government target last month, slowing to 3.8 percent, and

some analysts expect the BSP to resume adjusting policy as early as this month given remarks from the new central bank chief.

3TANDARD #HARTERED EXPECTS INlATION to fall below 2 percent in the third quarter due to a high base and the fading of one-off boosts from tax reforms and poor weather.

The bank revised its average inlATION FORECAST FOR THIS YEAR TO percent, down from the previous 3.5 PERCENT AND SAID THAT gLOWER INlATION is likely to further tighten alreadyTIGHT MONETARY CONDITIONS u Taking these into consideration, Standard Chartered expects monETARY AUTHORITIES ‡ COMFORTED BY inflation prints showing further easING IN -ARCH AND !PRIL ‡ TO CUT RATES

by 25 bps in May. “We forecast a 50-bps cut in June AND A BPS CUT IN !UGUST AS INlATION CONTINUES TO DECLINE u IT ADDED Newly installed BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno last week said policy rate cuts were possible given slowing INlATION BUT ADDED THAT MORE DATA WAS needed before they pulled the trigger. g'IVEN THE DECELERATING INlATION in the Philipines, there’s an opportuNITY FOR MONETARY EASINGw u HE TOLD reporters.

He stressed, however, that policy decisions would remain data dependent, “so we will look at those data and make A DECISION BASED ON THAT u The Monetary Board is scheduled to meet on March 21 for its second policy meeting this year.

WAIT FOR IT

A picture taken on March 8, 2019 in Ville-Dommange near Reims, northeastern France, shows two bottles of Infinite Eight brand’s champagne bearing rose patterns that appear when the bottle is at the right temperature. The Infinite Eight champagne is destined for the Japanese market and is set to be also launched in France in April. AFP PHOTO

Rangebound trading seen; global fears cited by 0.59 percent or 28.74 points TO kNISH AT

US President Donald Trump’s comments that he would not sign a trade pact unless it was a “very GOOD DEALu ALONG WITH THE RELEASE of weak US employment data, also weighed on markets.

Wall Street fell on Friday, down kVE DAYS IN A ROW IN ITS WORST WEEK of 2019 so far.

Fresh US data releases this week, including retail sales and INlATION COULD INlUENCE INVEStor decisions and markets are also expected to be watching the outcome of another Brexit vote this Tuesday.

Mangun, however, said that good news on the domestic front could help sentiment. g)F INlATION STAYS BELOW PERcent in the coming months, we may see the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) cut interest rates which will be a major catalyst for

ÂłFears B2

Ownership profiles

I

N a general information sheet (GIS) as of June 14, 2018, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said it paid the company’s 15-peson board P72.39 million as “the total annual compensation of directors DURING THE PRECEDING kSCAL YEAR u 3INCE THE kLING WAS kLED IN

SMC was, apparently, referring to 2017.

In 2017, SMC reported in a preliminary information statement (PIS) that it paid “all other OFkCERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP UNNAMED 0 MILLIONu )T divided the amount into salary, P220.6 million; bonus, P115.5 MILLION AND gOTHERSu 0 million.

Just how much of these amounts went to SMC’s 15 directors, the following is a series of computations: P72.39 million divided by P385.3 million equals 18.788 percent of total compensation in 2017; and P72.39 divided by P220.6 million salary equals 32.815 percent.

Since SMC paid the board P72.39, which overshot the P53.2 MILLION OF THE gOTHERSu A COMputation showed P72.39 million would be equal to 136.071 percent of P53.2-million.

All these amounts that SMC directors received included what the company said were “reasonable per diem of P50,000 and P20,000 for each board and committee meeting attended,

B2

Rate cuts to start May – Standard Chartered

S H A R E S O U T LO O K F O R T H E W E E K :

THE stock market could trade sideways given renewed worries over a US-China trade deal and the global economy.

In a market comment, Eagle Equities Inc. research head Christopher Mangun said he expected the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) to trade between 7,600 to 7,900 if value turnover remained thin. “This may be attributed to the fact that the general investor sentiment is cautious ‌ over concerns on the US-China trade deal and worries over the slowdown in GLOBAL GROWTH u HE SAID News that Chinese exports had plunged by over 20 percent in February and the European Central Bank’s move to slash growth and INlATION FORECASTS SPARKED A GLOBAL rout last week.

On Friday, the bellwether PSEi dropped by 1.07 percent or 84.68 points to close at 7,797.11, while the broader All Shares declined

DELOITTE. ON THE DOT

W

MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019

Business Times

B1

respectively.

Section 10 of SMC’s amended by-laws also provides that “the board of directors shall receive no more than two percent of the NET PROkTS OBTAINED DURING THE year after deducting therefrom general expenses, remuneration TO OFkCERS AND EMPLOYEES DEPREciation on buildings, machineries, transportation units, furniture AND OTHER PROPERTIES u

Sorianos’ Anscor A general information sheet (GIS) for 2017 listed A. Soriano Corp.

(ANS) having authorized capital stock (ACS) of 3,464,310,958 common shares. Of the ACS, 11,204 Filipinos and 21 foreigners subscribed and paid for their subscription to 2.5 billion ANS common shares.

Anscor Consolidated Corp. was – and still is – the ANS’s top Filipino stockholder with 902.172 million common shares, or 36.09 percent of 2.5 billion outstanding ANS common shares. Universal Robina Corp. (URC), one of the

ÂłPerez B2

PCC rejects industry-based thresholds China: No COMPETITION authorities are not KEEN ON SETTING INDUSTRY SPECIkC compulsory merger and acquisiTION - ! NOTIkCATION THRESHolds. “The very simple reason is THESE kRMS INDUSTRIES ARE VERY dynamic. Firms involved are also covering several industries, sevERAL CONGLOMERATES u 0HILIPPINE Competition Commission (PCC) Chairman Arsenio Balisacan told reporters last week.

As the ultimate parent entity will likely be handling varied businesses, “ anong industry ang pi-pickup-in mo as the represen-

tation ‌ (So which industry will you choose to represent the ultimate parent) It opens you to all kinds of potential discretionary ;ACTIONS= u HE EXPLAINED Other industries, the PCC chief added, are too small to be considered as a relevant market.

A legislator last year urged the antitrust watchdog to substantially increase its M&A review thresholds and also consider setting industry-specific limits. At that time, Balisacan said the PCC would be looking into the benchmarking proposal.

Under the Philippine Com-

petition Act, the PCC should be NOTIkED ABOUT - ! DEALS THAT COULD HAVE A SIGNIkCANT MARKET impact.

Last month, the “size of transACTIONu AND gSIZE OF PARTYu ‡ THE latter referring to the revenues/ assets of the ultimate parent of at LEAST ONE OF THE kRMS INVOLVED ‡ limits were raised to P2.2 billion and P5.6 billion, respectively, from P2 billion and P5 billion.

The adjustments, which took into account the country’s economic growth, were the second since the law took effect in 2016.

TYRONE C. PIAD

renminbi devaluation BEIJING: China has gone to great lengths to support its currency and would not devalue the renminbi to spur exports or combat trade frictions, the governor of the central bank said Sunday.

Speaking at the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary session, Yi Gang said Washington and Beijing had discussed exchange rates in recent trade talks and reached a consensus on many gCRUCIALu ISSUES

ÂłDevaluation B4

Timeframe for new rules extended SUBSIDIARY and quasibanks have been given more time to comply with new liquidity rules under the Basel III Framework, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said late last week.

In a statement, the BSP said its policymaking Monetary Board had approved the extension of the observation period for liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and net stable funding ratio (NSFR) compliance by subsidiary banks/quasi-banks (QBs) of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) to end-December 2019, with the effectivity date of

both ratios set for January 1 next year. “This is to give covered banks/QBs sufficient time to build up their liquidity position given the combined impact of these liquidity measures,� the central bank said.

The previous observation period deadline was December 31, 2018 and the rules should have taken effect January 1 this year.

During the extended observation period, subsidiary banks/QBs are required to comply with a 70 percent LCR and NSFR floor.  “Covered subsidiary

banks/QBs that are unable to meet the 100 percent LCR and NSFR minimum requirement for two consecutive weeks during the observation period are expected to adopt a liquidity build-up plan even if their said ratios meet the 70 percent floor,� the BSP said.

The Monetary Board also approved enhancements to LCR and minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) guidelines “in response to feedback received as a result of the BSP’s continuing dialogue with the banking industry.“   MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

China-based bank opens Manila office CHINA’S largest lender in terms of assets recently started its operations in the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced last week, Operations of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s (ICBC) representative office started last January 14, the BSP said in a February 27 circular that was just posted on its website.

ÂłOffice B2

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 11, 2019

Govt committed to raise H FDI, infra spending – DoF T

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

HE Department of Finance (DoF) said it remains committed to the major economic policies of the Duterte administration, particularly on increasing foreign direct investments (FDI) and government spending.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd revealed the government even surpassed its infrastructure and capital spending target while sustaining efforts to ease economic restriction in the country to attract more FDI. “We are very keenly aware of the negative effects of our very restrictive policies with regards to foreign investments in the PhilipPINES u $OMINGUEZ POINTED OUT during the recently concluded The Manila Times 9th Business Forum in Makati last week.

He recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte has been very vocal about opening up the economy since the beginning of his administration.

“And we have done it in all the administrative ways we are allowed to do by our Constitution.

We are opening up as much as we CAN ADMINISTRATIVELY u HE ADDED Latest available data showed that net FDI reached $9.06 billion IN THE kRST MONTHS OF LAST YEAR Duterte signed in October last year Executive Order (EO) 65 or the 11th Regular Foreign InvestMENT .EGATIVE ,IST WHICH RElECTS amendments to existing laws. These include reciprocity provisions in certain laws on professions, such as pharmacy and forestry; limitations on foreign participation in investment areas or activities provided in new laws; and exclusions from limitations on foreign participa-

tion in some investment areas or ACTIVITIES IDENTIkED THAT DO NOT NEED legislative action.

With the issuance of EO 65, these areas now allow 100-percent foreign participation: internet businesses; teaching at higher education levels, provided the subject being taught is not a professional subject; training centers engaged in developing short-term, high level skills; adjustment, lending and financing companies and investment houses; and wellness centers.

At the UP Women Lawyers Circle Business Conference in Taguig City last week, Dominguez said the Duterte government exceeded its infrastructure and CAPITAL SPENDING TARGET FOR THE kRST 10 quarters of its administration.

At P1.64 trillion or equivalent to 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), infrastructure and other capital outlays spendING FOR THE kRST QUARTERS OF THE current administration exceeded the P1.63 trillion programmed

for the said period.

Compared this with the economic investment of the Aquino administration, he added that the previous administration spent only about P1.57 trillion in infrastructure and other capital outlays in all its six years. “This is just 78 percent of their programmed spending of 2.01 trillion pesos for their entire term and is equivalent to only 2.3 percent of '$0 u HE POINTED OUT Dominguez said the administration’s aggressive spending on infrastructure demonstrates that the lead agencies in the Build, Build, Build program are moving faster than expected. “The old problem of absorptive CAPACITY HAS BEEN SOLVED u $OMINguez also remarked.

He said the Duterte administration expects to invest over P8 trillion for its infrastructure program by the end of its term by 2022. “This represents major pump PRIMING FOR THE ECONOMY u THE #ABINET OFkCIAL STRESSED

Tennis gear NEDA to study sugar liberalization maker, other firms to locate in Phividec TWO foreign companies are seen to establish operations in the 3,000-hectare estate of the Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA) in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao.

PIA Administrator and Chief %XECUTIVE /FkCER &RANKLIN 1UIjano said last week that one of the largest tennis ball manufacTURING kRMS IN THE WORLD WAS locating in their property.

Quijano was referring to Head, an international manufacturer of sports items and gears for tennis, skiing, snowboarding, squash, racquetball, snorkeling and more. It currently has operations in Canada, Denmark, Croatia, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, Portugal and United Kingdom. It plans to occupy 4 to 5 hectares of PIA land and produce 10 million balls per year.

Meanwhile, a Chinese firm is also eyeing to build an integrated steel manufacturing facility on a 300-400 hectare lot within the Mindanao economic zone. “This is something to be proud of because not in our history have we produced inTEGRATED ;STEEL= u 1UIJANO SAID In case the Chinese firm backs out, Quijano said other steel makers could take its place as the Philippines is beCOMING AN gATTRACTIVEu INVESTment destination. Quijano said *APANESE kRMS WERE INTERESTED to invest in electronics business in the country.

He said Head and the Chinese company had signed memorandums of understanding with PIA. Both are currently in the technical phase, which involves planning for the plant blueprint. Quijano hopes construction of both plants will start in 2020.

The latest plant constructed in the economic zone is owned

by Gardenia Philippines, which opened its facility last week.

With more locators occupying the economic zone, Quijano expects revenues to increase in 4-5 years because of the jobs that would be generated.

PIA is an economic zone covering 13 barangays in the municipalities of Tagaloan and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental.

TYRONE C. PIAD

AMID mounting complaints over the planned liberalization of sugar imports, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it would carefully study the effects on the domestic industry.

In an interview last week, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said they had already received petition papers opposing the plan even as the government had yet to initiate a study to assess the impact of sugar liberalization. “We have just received so many petitions coming from the sugar industry. The [contention of the petitions] is that it [liberalization] will lead to the death of the sugar industry and impoverish the sugar FARMERS u %DILLON SAID She did not disclose who submitted petitions but said they came mostly from sugar industry stakeholders in Western Visayas.

In Negros Occidental, Sen. Juan

Miguel Zubiri said on Saturday it will be impossible for local sugar to compete with imported ones if the government liberalizes the sugar industry.

The government lacks support for the country’s sugar planters, hampering greater productivity, while farmers abroad are providED WITH EFkCIENT AID IN TERMS OF mechanization and production, Zubiri said in an interview. He SAID THE INlUX OF IMPORTED SUGAR will kill the livelihood of at least 5 million Filipinos directly and indirectly involved in the sugar industry. “If we import sugar particularly FORM 4HAILAND AND "RAZIL ‡ COUNtries which utilize their sugar as a

BY PRODUCT ‡ DEkNITELY THE SUGAR farmers cannot compete. It’s impossible. If the prices of sugar will be down to P1,000 per 50-kilogram to be more competitive with the international markets, [our SUGAR FARMERS WILL JUST= SURRENDER u

Zubiri said.

He said the country’s economic MANAGERS SHOULD INSTEAD kND A measure to address the high prices of sugar in the market due to alLEGED PROkTEERING OF SOME PLAYERS in the industry.

"UT %DILLON SAID g4HE kRST THING we need to do is undertake a study.

We don’t know when exactly but I think that is something we are RECOMMENDING THIS YEAR u Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier said the plan to liberalize the sugar industry aimed to bring down prices. He said part of relaxing the rules would involve allowing users to import directly to avoid high intermediation costs. “There are a lot of industries using sugar. They are complaining that the price of [local produce] is high. If we allow imports, it will compete and bring down the local PRICES u HE SAID ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Opportunities (Trabaho) measure are passed.

If approved, the Trabaho BILL ‡ WHICH SEEKS TO LOWER corporate income taxes and THE EQUITIES MARKET u -ANGUN SAID line brokerage firm 2tradeasia. streamline incentives granted #ONSUMER PRICE GROWTH kNALLY com also said the PSEi could trade TO INVESTORS ‡ WOULD BE THE returned to the 2.0-4.0 percent gWITHIN THE RANGE FOR NOWu UNTIL second major tax reform aptarget band in February, easing to after the May elections. proved under the Duterte ad3.8 percent, and investors will be Investors, it noted, will be look- ministration following 2017’s looking for clues as to the outcome ing forward to the reopening of Tax Reform for Acceleration and of a Monetary Board meeting next Congress and whether or not bills Inclusion (Train) law. week. such as the Tax Reform for AtANGELICA BALLESTEROS In a separate comment, on- tracting Better and High-Quality AND AFP

Q FEARS FROM B1

Rangebound trading

505.804 million ANS common shares, or 20.232 percent, for foreigners.

May 31, 2019, PAL Holdings listed Trustmark with 10,033,776,103 common shares, or 86.42 percent of 11,610,223,979 outstanding common shares.

Tan’s PAL Holdings company’s minority stockholders, In a footnote to the ownership had 64.606 million ANS common As the two principal stockholders in PAL Holdings’ information shares, or 2.56 percent. of PAL Holdings Inc., Trustmark statement, the company disURC belongs to the group of Holdings Corp. and All Nippon closed that “Trustmark Holdings companies either owned or con- Airways (ANA) Holdings Inc. Corporation (THC) is 60 percent trolled by businessman John Go- owned 10.034 billion PAL com- owned by Buona Sorte Holdings, kongwei Jr. and his family. mon shares, or 86.42 percent, as Inc. (BSHI) and 40 percent by In addition to direct ANS hold- of Feb. 28, 2019. Individually, they Horizon Global Investments, ings, a public ownership report directly held 8.931 billion PAL LTD. (HGIL). BSHI is a domestic (POR) listed Anscor Consoli- common shares, or 76.92 percent, company while HGIL is a British dated also as an indirect holder and 1.103 billion PAL common Virgin Island (BVI) company. of 385.836 million ANS common shares, or 9.5 percent.

The right to vote or direct the shares, for a total ANS ownership Cosmic Holdings Corp., an voting or disposition of the corof 1.288 billion ANS common AFkLIATE DIRECTLY OWNED poration’s shares held by THC shares, or 51.52 percent. million PAL common shares, or is lodged in the latter’s board of As of Jan. 31, 2019, an informa- 3.25 percent. PAL Holdings’ nine directors, the members of which tion statement showed Anscor directors were direct holders of are Dr. Lucio C. Tan, Mrs. CarConsolidated with 1.288 billion 3,150 PAL common shares. men K. Tan, and Messrs. Lucio ANS common shares, or 51.538 Allof these were culled from K. Tan, Jr., Michael G. Tan and percent. Anscor, the unit, said in an PAL’s public ownership report Joseph T. Chua. Dr. Lucio C. Tan explanatory note that Anscor Con- (POR), which listed Trustmark and is expected to be given the proxy solidated ANS holdings “includes !.! AS PRINCIPAL OR SIGNIkCANT TO VOTE THE SHARES OF 4(# u 386,269,843 shares lodged with stockholders.

Doesn’t PAL stand for Philip0#$ .OMINEE #ORP &ILIPINO u The same POR listed the public pine Airlines, the carrier which PCD Nominee acts as record as holders of 1.199 billion PAL belongs to the group of companies STOCKHOLDER FOR BENEkCIAL OWNERS common shares, or 10.33 percent. owned by businessman Lucio C. As of January 2019, it held 124.05 In an information statement in Tan? Just asking. million ANS common shares, or connection with the company’s 4.962 percent, for Filipinos, and annual stockholders’ meeting on esdperez@gmail.com

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Ownership

A CFO’s legacy

AV E y o u g i v e n a n y thought to the legacy you want to leave behind? It’s a heavy matter to consider, especially if you genuinely want to leave this world a better place than when you found it. But spending some time reflecting on it may be a helpful way to map out what you want to achieve now and in the near future.

In its quarterly survey of the chief financial officers (CFOs) of some of the largest and most influential companies in the US, Deloitte asked financial leaders to think about their own legacies – what they want to leave behind for their organizations, their teams, and themselves. Their responses reflect the changing and growing demands on CFOs and the important role they play as partners to chief financial officers (CEOs).

Even if they are not aware of it, CFOs are always adding to their legacies. The decisions they make, the projects they choose to prioritize, the targets they set for their teams all contribute to what they will leave behind once their tenure ends.

Company legacy Based on Deloitte’s survey, most CFOs want their company legacy to be about having a positive impact on performance and exercising a strong influence on the company’s future success. It’s a legacy intertwined with the CEO’s own legacy, which is why newly installed CFOs would do well to consider what their CEOs would want to leave behind so they can align their own goals. After all, one of the CFO’s more important roles is to help the CEO achieve his or her targets and aspirations.

Finance team legacy When it comes to their teams, finance chiefs realize that talent and talent development are key components of their legacies. Survey respondents talked about wanting to leave behind a finance team stacked with very strong talent and consequential partner to the business. Getting there means providing value-added analytical insights that can support managerial decision-making.

Because much is expected of finance professionals, CFOs are now being seen not only as nurturers of talent but also as exporters – that is, they train their staff members with an eye to the future and a keen understanding of the business, and then station them throughout the organization.

Personal legacy Finally, Deloitte asked CFOs what personal legacy they

DELOITTE. ON THE DOT

IMELDA TAPAY-LAPRES want to leave behind. Responses tended to fall into these three general goals: leave the company better than they found it; be known as a strong leader; and be known for acting with integrity.

CFOs want to be known for driving value across the organization. They want to be remembered as authentic leaders who advanced not only the company, but the people in it as well. And they want to be seen as professionals who consistently upheld the highest ethical standards.

It can be overwhelming to think about turning these hopes and aspirations into reality. One way CFOs can better manage these goals is to think in terms of a five-year plan. CFO tenures are typically short – one study pegs it at an average of 5.7 years at Fortune 500 companies – so it’s practical to commit to what needs to get done and what can get done within that time frame.

Another way finance leaders can build the foundation for their legacy is to prioritize their more ambitious goals.

CFOs are often remembered for landmark projects, such as digital transformation or talent transformation. To leave a lasting legacy, CFOs can narrow down their goals to what will move the needle.

Finally, CFOs should always keep in mind that their goals are inextricably tied to the CEO’s goals. So it helps to periodically ask, ‘How does my CEO want to be remembered?’ If the CEO’s goals change, the CFO may need to adjust as well.

While it isn’t an easy exercise to do, perhaps it’s a good time to think about the legacy you want to leave behind.

Whether you’re at the start of your career or nearing retirement, spending some time seriously considering the impact you want to make – and you want to be remembered for – in the professional space is a good way to evaluate what you have achieved so far and to plan for the goals you have yet to accomplish.

The author is a Partner with the Business Process Solutions division of Navarro Amper & Co., the local member firm of Deloitte Southeast Asia Ltd. – a member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited – comprising Deloitte practices operating in Brunei, Cambodia, Guam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Q OFFICE FROM B1

China-based bank opens Manila office It noted the Monetary Board granted ICBC a commercial banking license on February 9 last year and that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd.-Manila Branch was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2018. A Certificate of Authority to Operate was issued by the Bangko Sentral on November 7 the same year.

The ICBC Manila branch was launched on November 21 last year, which according to the bank extended its business network in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ICBC is among the 12 foreign banks allowed to open local operations in the Philippines since

Republic Act 10641 became law in 2014.

RA 10641 lifted the prevailing equity limit of 60 percent for foreign partners and allowed 100 percent ownership of the voting shares in an existing domestic bank.

The other foreign banks given the green light were Taiwan’s Chang Hwa Bank Commercial Bank Ltd., Cathay United Bank, Yuanta Commercial Bank, First Commercial Bank and Hua Nan Commercial Bank Ltd.; South Korea’s Woori Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and Shinhan Bank; Singapore’s United Overseas Bank Ltd.; Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.; and Malaysia’s CIMB Bank Berhad.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Stock Watch Holcim shares gain on renewed sale talk ˜ The Manila Times

B3

MONDAY March 11, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

30-DAY STOCK PERFORMANCE

HIGH

LOW

AVERAGE

CLOSE

S

HARES of Holcim Philippines Inc. grew by 4 percent week-on-week after news reports of a takeover OFFER FROM A RIVAL kRM A newspaper report on Tuesday claimed that Ramon Ang’s Eagle Cement Corp. had submitted a bid for Holcim Philippines. The kRM DENIED THIS BUT ITS SHARE PRICE still jumped to as high as P10.20 from Monday’s P9.61 before closing P9.53 each. It grew further to P9.75 on Wednesday but dipped to P9.61 on Thursday and to P9.57 on Friday.

In its disclosure denying Eagle’s reported offer, Holcim said: “The Company is not a party to and is not aware of any negotiations and/or discussions for a possible transaction between any of its shareholders and Mr. Ramon Ang’s Eagle Cement.�

Holcim’s shares had spiked in January on news of a potential sale and Bloomberg then reported that Eagle Cement and Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. could submit offers.

On a year-to-date basis, Holcim’s share price is up by 28.4 percent and only 8 percent lower than its 52-week high of P10.50.

Timson Securities Inc. trader Jervin de Celis said he expected a sale — said to be part of Swiss parent LafargeHolcim’s asset divestment efforts — could boost THE 0HILIPPINE kRM S SHARES TO AS much as P14 each.

Despite lower net profit last year, de Celis said he remained positive on the firm given the government’s imposition of duties

on cement imports.

The Trade department has ordered a provisional safeguard tariff worth P8.40 per 40-kilogram bag — or almost 4 percent of the average retail price of P220 per bag — in response to surging imports said to be hurting the local cement industry. “I think the recent measures employed by the government to protect local cement producers will reap benefits for Holcim and its competitors in the industry especially now that there is still a big room for growth in the infrastructure sector as well as the property industry,� de Celis said.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research associate Japhet Louis Tantiangco, meanwhile, said that the local cement industry in general was being challenged by tight market competition due to the entry of overseas players. “For Holcim in particular, another headwind lies in the high costs of production which is eating up its margins,� Tantiangco noted. “That’s one of the things that they have to address through MORE EFkCIENT PRODUCTION MEAsures to make a turnaround this year,� he added.

Holcim saw net income slip by 7.4 percent to P2.5 billion last year from P2.7 billion in 2017.

Fourth-quarter profit, however, more than doubled to P804

30-day high: P10.50 30-day low: P6.22

Market capitalization: P61,875,630,790.96 Outstanding shares: 6,452,099,144

Date

Close

Mar 08, 2019 Mar 07, 2019 Mar 06, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019 Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019

9.57 9.59 9.75 9.53 9.61 9.19 9.32 9.44 9.48 9.43 9.5 9.5 9.45 9.5 9.38

Date Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 08, 2019 Feb 07, 2019 Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019

Close 9.14 9.21 9.53 9.68 9.51 9.42 9.8 10.1 9.35 8.57 8.19 8 7.3 6.34 6.32

*amounts in peso

PROFITABILITY Date

Q Holcim Philippines’ recently upgraded production facility in La Union.

PHOTO FROM HOLCIM

million from P389 million a year earlier.

Holcim Philippines last month announced that it was hiking production capacity by another 1.8 million metric tons (MT)

following the completion of improvements to its La Union plant.

4HE kRM HAS SAID IT WANTS TO RAISE output to 13 million MT by 2020 from the current 10 million MT. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Mar. 4, 2019 Mar. 5, 2019 Mar. 6, 2019 Mar. 7, 2019 Mar. 8, 2019

P/E ratio 24.64 24.43 25 24.59 24.54

P/E Price to growth (%) book ratio 2.4515 2.4311 2.33 2.4872 2.4464 2.4413

2015 2016 2017 Net income 6,847 2,689 2,545 Earnings per share 1.06 0.42 0.39 Book value per share 4.07 3.46 3.92 *Net Income (loss) in 000 000

*amounts in peso

THIRD QUARTER REPORT NET LOSS P804,585,000

TOTAL ASSETS P47,196,241,000

TOTAL LIABILITIES P21,923,080,000

TOTAL EQUITY

FINANCIAL CONDITION Year

Total Assets

2016 2017 2018

33,765 35,587 47,196

Total Liabilities 7,508 13,232 21,923

FINANCIAL RATIOS

Shareholders’ Equity 26,257 22,354 25,273

Year 2016 2017 2018

Return on Assets (%) 20.28 7.56 5.39

P25,273,161

FINANCIAL RATIOS

Return on Debt to Common Equity (%) Equity ratio ratio 26.08 0.2859 1.3772 12.03 0.5919 0.8143 10.07 0.8674 0.7308

Return on Assets 1.70% Return on Equity 3.18% Debt to Ety Ratio 0.8674 Common Ratio 0.7308

*amounts in million pesos

TOP ACTIVE STOCKS HOLDING FIRMS

Index

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,797.11

-84.68

Ĺş

All Shares

4,817.22

-28.74

Ĺş

Financials

1,760.86

-17.5

Ĺş

Industrial

11,580.39

-55.91

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,798.76

-111.88

Ĺş

Services

1,550.64

-0.59

Ĺş

Mining and Oil

8,139.15

-1.53

Ĺş

Property

3,945.68

-36.29

Ĺş

SERVICES

Stock indices as of March 8, 2019

ALL SHARES

PSEi

MINING AND OIL

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

Security Name International Container Terminal Services, Inc. 8990 Holdings, Inc. Ayala Land, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Wilcon Depot, Inc. Jollibee Foods Corp.

Philippine National Bank Ayala Corp.

San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. PLDT Inc. GT Capital Holdings, Inc. San Miguel Corp.

BDO Unibank, Inc. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Bank of the Philippine Islands SM Investments Corp.

Megaworld Corp.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Aboitiz Power Corp.

Last Price 114.00 11.90 43.00 67.00 15.20 317.60 59.90 939.50 106.40 1,075.00 993.00 174.10 133.00 78.15 12.14 86.30 940.00 5.45 38.10 34.00

Chg %Chg 0.00 0% -0.10 -0.83% -0.40 -0.92% -0.80 -1.18% 0.18 1.20% -2.40 -0.75% 6.00 11.13% -8.50 -0.90% 1.40 1.33% 0.00 0% -5.00 -0.50% -2.70 -1.53% -0.50 -0.37% -1.65 -2.07% 0.02 0.17% -1.90 -2.15% -29.00 -2.99% 0.04 0.74% -0.55 -1.42% -0.75 -2.16%

ź ź ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź ź ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ ź ź

Volume 3,787,420 35,495,700 7,222,600 3,678,710 12,704,400 566,000 2,750,800 155,940 1,342,190 119,850 113,540 640,090 835,860 1,358,650 8,065,600 1,129,670 99,050 15,609,400 2,164,300 2,368,600

Value 430,021,825.00 422,404,482.00 312,952,235.00 249,836,248.50 194,117,818.00 179,773,418.00 158,481,974.50 146,322,135.00 143,932,630.00 129,021,280.00 112,868,870.00 112,241,718.00 111,143,108.00 106,799,483.50 98,671,858.00 97,978,053.50 94,027,010.00 84,553,756.00 83,073,710.00 81,448,225.00

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Mar 08, 2019 Mar 07, 2019 Mar 06, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019 Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 08, 2019 Feb 07, 2019 Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31 , 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019

Open 7,868.50 7,806.50 7,674.56 7,700.38 7,631.90 7,711.70 7,919.99 7,962.10 7,996.15 7,940.29 7,946.66 7,849.08 7,923.36 7,924.60 7,965.17 7,960.19 8,040.34 8,076.60 8,088.34 8,091.70 8,093.17 8,091.45 8,131.55 8,038.65 7,999.41 8,038.77 8,086.93 8,071.12 8,075.66

High 7,884.46 7,881.79 7,821.34 7,734.71 7,698.44 7,754.45 7,919.99 7,972.69 7,996.15 7,962.13 7,946.66 7,944.59 7,938.79 7,964.05 7,999.84 7,996.21 8,040.43 8,083.53 8,105.58 8,096.47 8,127.08 8,213.71 8,148.88 8,165.66 8,099.23 8,046.95 8,087.39 8,143.61 8,116.23

Low 7,797.11 7,795.21 7,674.56 7,667.14 7,595.92 7,587.99 7,705.49 7,877.63 7,945.03 7,894.56 7,892.58 7,848.47 7,830.63 7,910.58 7,908.89 7,920.62 7,889.46 7,984.42 8,061.54 8,035.84 8,087.73 8,058.45 8,068.74 8,038.65 7,999.41 7,912.16 8,014.94 8,042.20 8,038.94

Close 7,797.11 7,881.79 7,821.34 7,670.62 7,675.47 7,641.77 7,705.49 7,889.12 7,988.16 7,962.13 7,931.30 7,939.24 7,833.75 7,910.58 7,908.89 7,991.25 7,920.24 8,009.92 8,061.54 8,070.89 8,100.30 8,058.45 8,069.48 8,144.16 8,007.48 7,979.95 8,050.82 8,053.92 8,053.20

CLOSE

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

Security Name Philippine Bank of Communications Philippine National Bank Paxys, Inc. Jolliville Holdings Corp.

Araneta Properties, Inc. Dizon Copper Silver Mines, Inc. Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. Atok-Big Wedge Co., Inc. “A�

United Paragon Mining Corp.

Berjaya Philippines, Inc. TKC Metals Corp.

Vulcan Industrial & Mining )RUXP 3DFLÂżF ,QF City & Land Developers, Inc. Cityland Development Corp.

PTFC Redevelopment Corp.

Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. Da Vinci Capital Holdings, Inc. Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc.

Volume 2,600 2,750,800 1,000 500 20,000 1,200 5,436,000 13,700 1,000,000 1,443,000 118,000 8,013,000 230,000 269,000 61,000 1,500 1,582,700 1,000 1,048,000 2,264,000

Value Last Price Chg 57,855.00 22.9 2.4 158,481,974.50 59.9 6 3,440.00 3.44 0.31 2,930.00 5.86 0.36 37,430.00 1.96 0.11 9,671.00 8.17 0.41 15,684,180.00 2.98 0.14 183,154.00 13.7 0.54 7,800.00 0.0078 0.0003 4,297,110.00 2.91 0.11 123,850.00 1.06 0.04 10,927,560.00 1.37 0.05 56,880.00 0.249 0.009 240,030.00 0.9 0.03 56,940.00 0.94 0.03 67,760.00 46.4 1.4 20,571,586.00 13.06 0.38 6,240.00 6.24 0.18 1,504,480.00 1.46 0.04 6,667,950.00 3.01 0.08

%Chg 11.71% 11.13% 9.90% 6.55% 5.95% 5.28% 4.93% 4.10% 4.00% 3.93% 3.92% 3.79% 3.75% 3.45% 3.30% 3.11% 3.00% 2.97% 2.82% 2.73%

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

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

Security Name Lodestar Investment Holdings Corp.

Central Azucarera De Tarlac Jackstones, Inc. Bright Kindle Resources & Investments Inc. Concepcion Industrial Corp.

LBC Express Holdings, Inc. Philippine Estates Corp.

Boulevard Holdings, Inc. Abacore Capital Holdings, Inc. Manulife Financial Corp.

Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc. Benguet Corporation “B�

SM Investments Corp.

Filipino Fund, Inc. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. Liberty Flour Mills, Inc. Roxas Holdings, Inc. PXP Energy Corp.

Nickel Asia Corp.

Prime Orion Philippines, Inc.

*amounts in peso except for volume, %chg

Volume 495,000 1,600 11,000 41,000 200 22,300 1,340,000 532,300,000 15,479,000 250 10,390,000 400,000 99,050 2,500 13,391,000 510 20,000 1,237,800 3,208,000 1,668,000

Value 278,390.00 25,292.00 34,650.00 55,550.00 8,195.00 340,322.00 611,950.00 39,348,030.00 11,731,980.00 195,850.00 27,328,390.00 465,320.00 94,027,010.00 20,000.00 18,193,860.00 26,260.50 54,180.00 18,486,878.00 8,793,130.00 4,816,210.00

Last Price 0.56 15.8 3.15 1.35 40.95 15.24 0.455 0.071 0.75 770 2.59 1.16 940 8 1.36 51.5 2.72 14.8 2.73 2.87

Chg -0.04 -0.98 -0.17 -0.07 -2.05 -0.7 -0.02 -0.003 -0.03 -30 -0.09 -0.04 -29 -0.24 -0.04 -1.5 -0.07 -0.38 -0.07 -0.09

% Chg -6.67% -5.84% -5.12% -4.93% -4.77% -4.39% -4.21% -4.05% -3.85% -3.75% -3.36% -3.33% -2.99% -2.91% -2.86% -2.83% -2.51% -2.50% -2.50% -3.04%

Corporate News PLDT chief hopeful DMCI ramps up capex, of Voyager turnaround to spend P31B this year D B4

˜ The Manila Times

MONDAY March 11, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY ANGELICA I. BALLESTEROS

IVERSIFIED conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc. plans to hike its capital expenditures (capex) this year by 15 percent to P31 billion.

4HIS YEAR S SPENDING ‡ UP FROM 0 BILLION LAST YEAR ‡ EXCLUDES outlays for unit Maynilad Water Services Inc, DMCI Holdings Chief &INANCE /FkCER (ERBERT #ONSUNJI SAID IN A BRIEkNG LAST WEEK

The bulk or P18 billion will go to property arm DMCI Homes, P10 billion will be for Semirara Mining and Power Corp., P1.3 billion for DMCI Power Corp. and the rest for other businesses.

Semirara Executive Vice President Cristina Gotianun said P2.7 billion would be used for mining and power and another P2.7 for the coal business. The rest will be used to purchase needed equipment.

DMCI Power President Nestor Dadivas, meanwhile, said the firm would inaugurate the 15-megawatt Masbate Power Plant this year and would bid to supply Ticao island in Masbate, Siargao island in Surigao

del Norte and also Occidental Mindoro.

DMCI Holdings recently rePORTED THAT CONSOLIDATED NET PROkT in 2018 dipped by 2 percent to P14.5 billion, weighed by lower contributions from Semirara, even as consolidated revenues rose by 3 percent to P83 billion.

Shares of DMCI fell by 4 centavos or 0.34 percent to P11.56 apiece on Friday amid a 1.07 decline for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.

PLDT Inc. is hoping for a 2019 turnaround for Voyager Innovations but admits the financial technology unit will have to “build up scaleâ€? before it turns a profit. “Let’s push it as hard as we can and determine after ‘x’ months, 2020 or latest 2021 ‌ [if] there [is] a light at the end of the tunnel,â€? PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters last week.

Voyager, which is into digital marketing, e-cash payments through PayMaya, and e-commerce, embraced Chinese internet services provider Tencent Holdings Ltd. and US-based global investment firm KKR as new investors last November.

PLDT in December announced the completion of a $215-million fundraising goal for the digital unit. Â

Pangilinan said that PayMaya was a bright spot even as Voyager grew its losses to P3 billion last year from the P1.2 billion posted in 2017. “I think we’re seeing signs of, at least in the PayMaya business ‌ growing in both subcount (subscriber count) and users, and value throughput to their system ... we anticipate it to continue to grow each month of this year ...,â€? he said.

The group is aiming for 20 million PayMaya users by 2020.

Asked if PLDT had a plan to dispose of some of its shares in Voyager, Pangilinan replied “not this year�. The telco remains Voyager’s biggest shareholder despite the Tencent-KKR infusion.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

Part of Calax to open in July – MPT South Early groundbreaking eyed METRO Pacific Tollways South Corp. (MPT South), a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is aiming to open the first 10-kilometer portion of the CaviteLaguna Expressway (Calax) by late July. Construction of the Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road segment is expected to be done by June, MPT South President Roberto Bontia told reporters late last month. “We’re targeting to open

by July of this year. That’s the plan, to operate it by end of July,� he told reporters at the sidelines of an event last February 28. DM Consunji, Inc. is in charge of the construction of the Laguna portion while Leighton, a unit of Australia-based CIMIC Group Ltd., was tapped for the Cavite end. The Cavite side has seen delays caused by right-ofway issues but Bontia said construction of section

Q DEVALUATION FROM B1

China: No renminbi US President Donald Trump has long accused Beijing of manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage and Washington has been seeking assurances on the exchange rate in the ongoing trade talks between the two nations. “Let me stress here that we will never use the exchange rate for the

purpose of competition, nor will we use the exchange rate to increase China’s exports or as a tool in hanDLING TRADE FRICTIONS u SAID 9I “We have committed not to do THIS u 9I TOLD REPORTERS He noted the US Treasury Department had declined many times to label China a currency manipu-

three could start by the “second or third week of March.�

For sections two and one, he said they expected to receive right of way by June. The P35.4-billion infrastructure project involves the construction of a 44.6-kilometer, 4-lane toll road from the Cavite Expressway in Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway Mamplasan Interchange in Biùan, Laguna.

Target completion is set for 2021, Bontia said.

lator in its semi-annual report on international exchange rates.

Beijing and Washington have been locked in a bruising trade war since last year, imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, which has left global markets reeling. “The two sides reached consensus on many crucial and important ISSUES u 9I SAID WITHOUT SPECIFYING which issues.

China’s banking regulator told reporters earlier this week that the

for Batangas LNG project A PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. and CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd. joint venture could start work on its proposed liquekED NATURAL GAS ,.' FACILITY IN "ATANGAS IN the next two months. “Sana bago mag-May 13 makapag-groundbreaking kami (I hope we can break ground on THE ,.' FACILITY BEFORE -AY u SAID 2EUBEN ,ISTA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC), referring to the upcoming mid-term elections.

Lista told reporters that the group was “being ENCOURAGEDu TO DO SO FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF a memorandum of understanding (MoU) be-

two sides would reach a consensus on the exchange rate and indicated it would not be a sticking point in the way of a larger trade agreement. “China’s efforts and achievements in maintaining the basic stability of the renminbi exchange rate at a reasonable and balanced level are recognised by the whole WORLD u 9I SAID In the past three or four years the exchange rate had been under market pressure to depreciate, Yi said, adding that Beijing had used up $1

tween Phoenix Petroleum, CNOOC G&P and PNOC last February 28.

The non-binding accord calls on the three kRMS TO EXPLORE AND DISCUSS BUSINESS OPPORtunities and cooperation in relation to equity investments in Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc. Lista said PNOC’s stake in the LNG project HAD YET TO BE kRMED UP “Wala pa (nothing at the moment) but we are quantifying our franchise, our name and other THINGS u HE SAID REFERRING TO THE THE USE OF THE STATE kRM S PIPELINE AND FRANCHISE AS WELL AS BANKED GAS FROM THE -ALAMPAYA GAS kELD OFF 0ALAWAN JORDEENE B. LAGARE

trillion of China’s foreign currency reserves to stabilise the currency.

4HERE HAVE BEEN CONlICTING COMments from Washington and Beijing on the progress of negotiations.

Beijing is hopeful about its next round of trade talks with the US, China’s vice minister for commerce Wang Shouwen said Saturday, after revealing that top negotiators had tried to hammer out a deal over a lunch of burgers and eggplant chicken in a recent round of talks.

Donald Trump on Friday said he remains optimistic but will not sign a pact unless it is a “very good DEALu AND A TOP ECONOMIC ADVISOR said the US president could walk away from a bad deal.

The two sides were thought to be readying for a Trump-Xi meeting at the end of March, but the US ambassador to China said Friday that the two countries were not yet ready to bring together the two leaders for a summit and deal signing.

AFP

Foreign Business

Brexit deal returns to parliament

L

ONDON: British MPs will on Tuesday vote again on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, making the historic decision whether to back her plan or risk a chaotic exit from the EU in less than three weeks time.

Two months ago, the House of Commons rejected the withdrawal agreement by a huge majority, and sent May back to renegotiate.

EU leaders have rejected her demands, however, and talks between British and %5 OFkCIALS HAVE FAILED TO SECURE A BREAKthrough.

If they fail to approve a deal and if no extension is negotiated, Britain would have to leave the European Union after 46 years of membership on March 29, causing huge disruption on both sides. $ISCUSSIONS AT OFkCIAL LEVEL CONTINUED this weekend on some kind of legal guarantees that might persuade MPs to back the deal. May is poised to make a last-minute visit herself if needed.

But few expect any major concessions before Tuesday’s vote, and the prime minister instead has sought to remind MPs of the stakes involved.

She warned in a speech Friday that rejecting her deal again would create a gMOMENT OF CRISISu “Back it and the UK will leave the European Union. Reject it and no one knows WHAT WILL HAPPEN u SHE SAID “We may not leave the EU for many months. We may leave without the protections that the deal provides. We may NEVER LEAVE AT ALL u A threatened cabinet revolt over the risks of a no-deal Brexit forced May to agree that, if her deal is defeated again, MPs will be able to vote on both a “no

DEALu OPTION OR A DELAY TO "REXIT THIS WEEK 3PEAKING IN 'RIMSBY A .ORTH 3EA kSHing port that voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, May asked Brussels for gONE MORE PUSHu TO GET AN AGREEMENT “The decisions that the European Union makes over the next few days will have a big impact on the outcome of the VOTE u SHE SAID Their talks are focused on the so-called backstop, an arrangement in the Brexit deal intended to keep open the Irish border.

It would keep Britain in the EU’s customs union and parts of its single market UNTIL AND UNLESS ANOTHER WAY ‡ SUCH AS A TRADE DEAL ‡ IS FOUND TO AVOID FRONTIER checks.

Many MPs fear a trap to keep them tied to EU rules, but Brussels has rejected calls for a time limit or unilateral way out of the arrangement.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier repeated on Friday that the bloc could

OFFER A LEGALLY BINDING STATEMENT CONkRMing the backstop was only meant to be temporary.

May’s deal was rejected by a majority of 230 votes in January, and although a few MPs have come onside, there is no sign yet of a major shift in opinion.

The main opposition Labour party still opposes the deal, even while May has been wooing individual MPs with promises of protection for workers’ rights and new funds for poor towns.

If the deal is rejected on Tuesday, MPs ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE AGAINST A gNO DEALu exit on Wednesday, paving the way for a vote on delaying Brexit on Thursday.

May is offering the possibility of a “short, LIMITEDu DELAY BUT IS HERSELF OPPOSED WARNing that eventually MPs will have to make a decision about Britain’s future.

Any delay would have to be approved by the other 27 EU leaders, who are next meeting at a Brussels summit on March ‡ A WEEK BEFORE "REXIT DAY AFP

New York’s iconic Chrysler Building to sell for $150M NEW YORK: The owners of the Chrysler Building have reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City building for gA LITTLE MORE THAN MILLION u 4HE Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The sale price of the tower in midtown Manhattan, considered an Art Deco masterpiece, marks a signifiCANT LOSS FOR %MIRATI INVESTMENT kRM Mubadala, which paid $800 million for a 90 percent stake in 2008.

Real estate group Tishman Speyer, which had bought the building outright for a reported $210-250 million in 1997, retained a 10 percent stake.

The Journal reported that the building’s owners do not own the ground beneath it and pay annual rent that went up from $7.75 million to $32 million in 2018 and was set to increase

again to $41 million in 2028.

Citing brokers, the newspaper said those fees “have eaten away at much if NOT ALL OF THE BUILDING S REVENUE u The building also has some 400,000 square feet (37,160 square meters) of space that is either vacant or will become so in the coming years, the Journal said.

The Chrysler Building, which opened in 1930, stands 1,046 feet (319 meters) tall. It was the world’s tallest building, but only for 11 months, after which it was dethroned by the Empire State Building, also in Manhattan.

The building was a personal project for Walter Chrysler, the founder of the car manufacturer that bears his name, but remained separate from the auto business.

AFP

Q This file photo taken on April 11, 2018, shows The Chrysler building in New York City. The owners of the Chrysler Building have reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City building for “a little more than $150 million,� The Wall Street Journal reported on March 9, 2019. AFP PHOTO

Philadelphia says no to totally cashless future NEW YORK: With an increasing number of US businesses no longer accepting cash, Philadelphia — the City of Brotherly Love — is taking a stand to protect the so-called “unbanked� and will force merchants to accept greenbacks.

It will be the first major US city to outright reject a trend that has seen more and more retail outlets, especially restaurants, move to only accept payments via credit or debit cards and mobile phones.

Consumers and businesses who support digital payments say they are faster and more practical, but opponents say such practices exclude the “unbanked� — those without bank accounts or credit cards.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney recently signed into law an amendment to the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance prohibiting stores and restaurants from refusing to accept cash, calling it “unlawful discrimination.�

The measure will go into effect on July 1.

Despite the cashless trend, the United States remains far behind other countries in terms of digital payment technology. In China, paying by smartphone is widely used.

According to data published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, 32 percent of all consumer transactions were made with cash in 2015, down from 40 percent in 2012.

According to a study by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 6.5 percent of American households were “unbanked� in 2017 — a figure that has steadily declined since 2011, but which still accounts for nearly eight million households.

Beyond the action taken in Philadelphia, state lawmakers in New Jersey passed a bill in February that would make it illegal to run a cashless store, but Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has not yet signed it.

In New York and San Francisco, initiatives are working their way through legislative channels, but no city council votes are scheduled for now.

Lawmakers in Washington and Chicago have passed similar legislation, but they have not yet been ratified.

That makes Massachusetts the only US state so far which has a law on the books forcing all merchants to accept cash.

But the measure, adopted more than 40 years ago, has not been applied in practice.

Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen, which no longer accepts cash in any of its restaurants, declined to comment when asked by AFP how it would implement the measure passed in Philadelphia.

AFP

World

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 11, 2019

B5

NKorea holds legislative polls

P

YONGYANG: North Koreans went to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can only be one winner.

,EADER +IM *ONG 5N S RULING 7ORKERS 0ARTY HAS AN IRON GRIP ON THE $EMOCRATIC 0EOPLE S 2EPUBLIC OF +OREA AS THE ISOLATED NUCLEAR ARMED COUNTRY IS OFkCIALLY KNOWN "UT EVERY FIVE YEARS IT HOLDS AN ELECTION FOR THE RUBBER STAMP LEGISLATURE KNOWN AS THE 3UPREME 0EOPLE S !SSEMBLY !ND IN KEEPING WITH ONE OF 0YONGYANG S MOST ENDURING SLOGANS ‡ g3INGLE MINDED UNITYu ‡ THERE IS ONLY ONE APPROVED NAME ON EACH OF THE BALLOT PAPERS 6OTERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

CROSS IT OUT BEFORE CASTING THEIR BALLOT

BUT IN PRACTICE THAT IS UNKNOWN 4URNOUT LAST TIME WAS PERCENT ACCORDING TO THE OFkCIAL +#.! NEWS AGENCY ‡ ONLY THOSE WHO WERE ABROAD OR gWORKING IN OCEANSu DID NOT TAKE PART !ND THE VOTE WAS PERCENT IN FAVOUR OF THE NAMED CANDIDATES g7E REGARD ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY AS ONE FAMILY SO WE WILL UNITE WITH ONE MIND AND WE WILL VOTE FOR THE AGREED CANDIDATE u 3OCIALIST 7OMEN S 5NION OFkCIAL 3ONG 9ANG 2AN

TOLD !&0 AHEAD OF THIS YEAR S POLL

/RDINARY .ORTH +OREANS ALWAYS EXPRESS TOTAL SUPPORT FOR THE AUTHORITIES WHEN SPEAKING TO FOREIGN MEDIA g/UR SYSTEM IS THE BEST u 3ONG SAID WHEN ASKED HER OPINION OF ELECTIONS THAT HAVE SEVERAL NAMES ON THE BALLOT PAPER g7E ACKNOWLEDGE NO ONE BUT THE 3UPREME ,EADER u SHE ADDED REFERRING TO +IM *ONG 5N g!ND WE WILL HOLD THE RESPECTED -ARSHAL IN HIGH ESTEEM FOREVER u 7ITH A TOTAL ABSENCE OF ELECTORAL COMPETITION ANALYSTS SAY THE VOTE IS HELD LARGELY AS A POLITICAL RITE TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITIES TO CLAIM A MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE )T WAS THE RESULT OF gESTABLISHED INSTITUTIONAL INERTIA AND A NEED TO LEGITIMISE THE GOVERNMENT BY SIMU-

LATING DEMOCRATIC PROCEDUREu SAID !NDREI ,ANKOV OF +OREA 2ISK 'ROUP 3OVIET STYLE COMMUNIST STATES HAD A LONG TRADITION OF HOLDING GENERAL ELECTIONS HE SAID EVEN IF THE RULING PARTY IGNORED ITS OWN RULES ABOUT HOLDING REGULAR CONGRESSES ‡ SOMETHING THE .ORTH SKIPPED FOR MORE THAN YEARS g.ORTH +OREA IS JUST EMULATING ALL OTHER COMMUNIST STATES u HE SAID g4HE EARLY COMMUNISTS SINCERELY BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE PRODUCING A DEMOCRACY THE WORLD HAD NEVER SEEN 3O THEY NEEDED ELECTIONS AND IT BECAME A VERY IMPORTANT PART

OF SELF LEGITIMIZATION u 4HE LAST SIGNIkCANT GOVERNMENT OF A MAJOR COUNTRY TO DISPENSE WITH ELECTIONS ALTOGETHER WAS .AZI 'ERMANY HE POINTED OUT 4HE .ORTH IS DIVIDED INTO CONSTITUENCIES FOR THE VOTE ‡ THERE WERE AT THE LAST ELECTION IN

WHEN +IM STOOD IN -OUNT 0AEKTU

A DORMANT VOLCANO ON THE BORDER WITH #HINA REVERED AS THE SPIRITUAL BIRTHPLACE OF THE +OREAN PEOPLE (E RECEIVED A PERCENT TURNOUT AND PERCENT IN FAVOUR

ACCORDING TO +#.!

3OME OF THE SEATS ARE ALLOCATED TO TWO MINOR PARTIES THE +OREAN 3OCIAL $EMOCRATIC 0ARTY AND THE #HONDOIST #HONGDU 0ARTY

WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS IN A TH CENTURY +OREAN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT 4HEY ARE BOTH IN A FORMAL ALLIANCE WITH THE RULING PARTY AND ANALYSTS AND DIPLOMATS SAY THEY EXIST LARGELY ON PAPER WITH ONLY SMALL CENTRAL OFkCES MAINTAINED FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES %VEN SO PARTICIPATION IN THE POLL LIKE OTHER gOBLIGATORY RITUALSu IN THE .ORTH DID REINFORCE LOYALTY TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL UNITY ,ANKOV SAID gBECAUSE HUMANS LOVE SYMBOLISMu )N AN ARTICLE HEADLINED g3UPERIOR %LECTION 3YSTEM OF $02+ u +#.! SAID THE VOTE WAS AN IMPORTANT OCCASION gDISPLAYING THE SOLIDITY AND INVINCIBILITY OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM IN WHICH THE LEADER THE PARTY AND THE MASSES FORM A HARMONIOUS WHOLE u AFP

Merkel successor wants climate pact BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s anointed successor outlined her vision for Europe, a German paper reported Saturday (Sunday in Manila), aligning with recent French proposals on security but disagreeing on key social issues.

Christian Democratic Union of Germany Party chief Annegret KrampKarrenbauer, the likely future conservative candidate for the chancellery, sets out her vision in an article to be published in the Sunday newspaper Welt an Sonntag . The paper released extracts on Saturday.

Her response to recent proposals from French President Emmanuel Macron includes a call for a banking common market and a pan-European climate pact. “Our Europe must become stronger� said the politician, often known simply as AKK, as European figures grapple with rising protectionist and nationalist forces.

Her comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron set out his ideas for Europe’s future, in an opinion piece published by several top European newspapers Monday.

He called for reform of its passportfree Schengen area and the creation of a new agency “for the protection of democracies� against cyber-attacks and fake news.

Macron also renewed his argument for greater security cooperation and stressed the need for a common asylum policy to deal with the migrant crisis. “Never since the Second World War has Europe been so necessary. And yet never has Europe been in such a danger,�

Macron said, in what many see as the start of his campaign for May’s European Parliament elections.

AKK broadly aligned with the French leader on security, agreeing with his view that Europe should share a common border force.

AFP

Worldinbrief 30 HURT AS PLANE HITS TURBULENCE NEW YORK: A Turkish Airlines passenger jet traveling from Istanbul to New York hit severe turbulence Saturday as it approached its destination, with 30 people suffering injuries before it landed safely, officials said. The injured were taken from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to local hospitals, mainly for treatment of bumps, cuts and bruises. One flight attendant suffered a broken leg, according to Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the area’s airports, bus terminals, bridges and tunnels. The Boeing 777 — which had 326 passengers and 21 crew on board — was over the Atlantic Ocean, about 45 minutes from landing, when it struck the turbulence, Coleman told AFP. Airport operations were not disrupted as a result of the incident, he added. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

AFP

US SUFFERS OVERPOPULATION OF WILD HORSES CHEYENNE, Wyoming: If you ever wished to gaze at a stomping, snorting, neighing panorama of Western heritage from your living room window, now could be your chance. A classic image of the American West — wild horses stampeding across the landscape — not only has endured through the years but has multiplied past the point of range damage. Through May 3, the US government is seeking more private pastures for an overpopulation of wild horses. Many consider rounding up wild horses to live out their lives on private pastures a reasonable approach to a tricky problem. Wild horses, after all, not only have romantic value, they are protected by federal law. Just keep in mind a few of the dozens of requirements for getting paid by the government to provide wild horses a home. “It’s not like you can do this in your backyard, or even a five-acre (two-hectare) plot,� said Debbie Collins, outreach specialist for the US Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program in Norman, Oklahoma.

AP

BEIJING TO COMPLETE NEW AIRPORT IN JUNE BEIJING Daxing International Airport, a transportation hub that connects to the subway and highspeed railway, would start operations before September 30, according to the country’s top civil aviation official. Feng Zhenglin, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said all work was expected to be completed by June 30. A member of the National Committee of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Feng told media on the sidelines of the annual session that the Daxing airport had carried out flight inspections and finished 19 days ahead of schedule, ensuring that aircraft control facilities were ready for operation. Meanwhile, a notice posted on the administration’s website on Wednesday said applications by airlines to open 10 international routes departing from the new airport have passed their preliminary assessments. If there are no complications, the new routes — to destinations including Cairo, Moscow and Busan — will soon be formally approved by the administration.

GLOBAL TIMES

SHROVETIDE

Spectators watch the burning of a twenty-meter-high structure built of wood pallets representing the Bastille fortress, the symbol of the 1789 French Revolution, as Russians celebrate Maslenitsa — the eastern Slavic Shrovetide — in the village of Nikola-Lenivets, Kaluga region, some 220 kilometers (140 miles) outside Moscow on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). AFP PHOTO

9 policemen killed in Myanmar attack Latinos ‘secondclass citizens’

YANGON: .INE POLICE OFkCERS WERE KILLED IN A MILITANT ATTACK IN -YANMAR S WESTERN 2AKHINE STATE POLICE SAID ON 3UNDAY AS TENSIONS RATCHET UP IN A STATE RIVEN BY ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS CONlICT ! BLOODY MILITARY CRACKDOWN IN FORCED SOME

2OHINGYA -USLIMS OVER THE BORDER INTO "ANGLADESH IN VIOLENCE 5NITED .ATION INVESTIGATORS HAVE SAID WARRANTS THE PROSECUTION OF TOP GENERALS FOR GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY "UT THE ARMED FORCES ARE NOW WAGING A WAR AGAINST A MILITANT GROUP CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE STATE S ETHNIC 2AKHINE "UDDHISTS

A POPULATION THAT ALSO STANDS ACCUSED OF AIDING SOLDIERS IN THEIR EXPULSION OF THE 2OHINGYA 4HE !RAKAN !RMY !! HAS IN RECENT MONTHS MOUNTED SEVERAL ATTACKS ON SECURITY FORCES AND OFkCIALS IN ITS STRUGGLE FOR MORE AUTONOMY AND RIGHTS FOR 2AKHINE PEOPLE 4HE LATEST ATTACK OCCURRED LATE 3ATURDAY TOOK PLACE IN 9OETAYOKE 6ILLAGE JUST AN HOUR NORTH OF 2AKHINE STATE S CAPITAL 3ITTWE g.INE POLICE WERE KILLED ONE WAS INJURED AND ANOTHER ONE IS MISSING u A SENIOR POLICE OFkCER TOLD !&0 NOT WANTING TO BE NAMED ! LEAKED POLICE REPORT SAID WEAPONS WERE ALSO TAKEN FROM THE

POLICE STATION .O GROUP HAS YET CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY AND THE !! COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY BE REACHED FOR COMMENT ! LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR CONkRMED INVESTIGATIONS WERE UNDER WAY .ORTHERN 2AKHINE STATE IS INACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE OF CAREFULLY GOVERNMENT CHAPERONED TRIPS AND INFORMATION IS DIFkCULT TO VERIFY INDEPENDENTLY "UT SWATHES OF THE STATE S NORTH ARE ONCE AGAIN ENGULFED IN CONlICT 4HE MILITARY HAS BROUGHT IN THOUSANDS OF REINFORCEMENTS AND IS BOMBARDING !! POSITIONS WITH HEAVY ARTILLERY AFP

China to build giant panda ark park /&&)#)!,3 FROM .ORTHWEST #HINA S 'ANSU 0ROVINCE VOWED TO ACCELERATE THEIR PLAN TO BUILD A GIANT PANDA NATIONAL PARK TO PROTECT PANDAS AND OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMALS !CCORDING TO A 'ANSU REGIONAL GOVERNMENT WORK PLAN IN OBTAINED BY THE 'LOBAL 4IMES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE STRENGTHENING ITS ANTI POLLUTION CAMPAIGN AND ACCELERATE ITS PLAN TO BUILD A GIANT PANDA NATIONAL PARK 4HE LOCAL FORESTRY BUREAU SAID IT HAD FORMED A SPECIAL t e a m TO SURVEY THE P A R K S BOUNDARY AND promISED TO CONTROL human ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK

4HE TEAM IS ACCELERATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GIANT PANDA RESCUE CENTER AND A PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER AND WILL INSTALL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN THE WILD AND A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE PANDA S HABITAT 'ANSU IS ONE OF THE THREE NATURAL HABITATS OF GIANT PANDAS

WITH THE NUMBER OF GIANT PANDAS REACHING 4HE GIANT PANDA HABITAT AREA IS

HECTARES AND THEIR POTENTIAL HABITAT AREA COULD COVER

HECTARES INVOLVING TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN FOUR COUNTIES 4HE GIANT PANDA NATIONAL PARK WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN ,ONG-

NAN A CITY IN SOUTHEAST 'ANSU THAT BORDERS 3ICHUAN 0ROVINCE ON ITS SOUTH AND 3HAANXI 0ROVINCE ON ITS EAST !ROUND GIANT PANDAS ARE LIVING IN THE AREA 4HE GIANT PANDA NATIONAL PARK IS PART OF #HINA S BLUEPRINT TO CONSTRUCT PILOT NATIONAL PARKS !NOTHER 1ILIAN -OUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK IN 'ANSU WAS INAUGURATED IN 4HE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE .ORTHEAST #HINA TIGER AND LEOPARD NATIONAL PARK WAS COMPLETED A PLAN FOR THE THREE RIVER SOURCE NATIONAL PARK WAS APPROVED AND THE PROPOSAL FOR THE (AINAN TROPICAL RAINFOREST NATIONAL PARK HAD BEEN SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL THE 8INHUA .EWS !GENCY REPORTED IN *ANUARY GLOBAL TIMES

WOMEN DETAINED IN STADIUM ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AROUND 400 Cambodians, mostly women, gathered at the Olympic Stadium on Friday to celebrate International Women’s Day that is themed “Promotion of Gender Equity and Social Protection for Human Resource Development.� They planned to file petitions at various government bureaus, but were contained in the stadium by security personnel. The women from over 10 organizations and unions attempted to leave the stadium to go to the Council of Ministers, the ministries of Women’s Affairs, of Labour, of Justice, of the Interior, and of Foreign Affairs, and the National Committee for Counter Trafficking and file their petitions requesting the resolve of certain issues. Security guards shut the gates, locking them in. This caused a bit of a commotion, but no violence. After an hour the gate was opened through the intervention of Mean Chanyada and Kert Chhae, both are city deputy governors and acted on behalf of the ministries.

KHMER TIMES

DEFIANT

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters during a government rally in Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Demonstrators danced and waved flags on what organizers labeled a ‘day of anti-imperialism’ in a show of defiance toward the United States, which has imposed oil sanctions on Venezuela in an attempt to oust the President. AP PHOTO

NEW YORK: When Donald Trump TOOK OFkCE ONE OF HIS kRST ACTS WAS TO REMOVE THE 7HITE (OUSE S 3PANISH LANGUAGE WEB PAGE -ORE THAN TWO YEARS LATER AS THE 53 0RESIDENT BATTLES WITH #ONGRESS OVER FUNDING FOR A BORDER WALL TO STEM THE TIDE OF IMMIGRANTS FROM #ENTRAL !MERICA

DISTURBING INCIDENTS LINKED TO THE USE OF 3PANISH ARE ON THE RISE )N -AY A .EW 9ORK LAWYER WENT OFF ON EMPLOYEES IN A -ANHATTAN STORE WHO WERE SPEAKING 3PANISH

THREATENING TO CALL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES 4HAT SAME MONTH TWO !MERICAN WOMEN WERE ARRESTED BY BORDER PATROL AGENTS FOR SPEAKING 3PANISH TO EACH OTHER 4HE ACTS OF INTOLERANCE ARE EVIDENCE OF THE COUNTRY S INCREASING POLITICAL POLARIZATION EVEN THOUGH THE LANGUAGE IS MORE AND MORE COMMONPLACE IN !MERICAN LIFE -ORE THAN MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE 53 CLAIM 3PANISH AS THEIR MOTHER TONGUE (ISPANICS ARE NOW THE COUNTRY S MAIN MINORITY GROUP AT PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE 0EW 2ESEARCH #ENTER 7ORRYINGLY A STUDY FROM THE CENTER PUBLISHED IN /CTOBER REVEALED THAT ABOUT PERCENT OF ,ATINOS SAID THEY HAD BEEN HARASSED OVER THE LAST MONTHS BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND INCLUDING SPEAKING 3PANISH IN PUBLIC 3INCE 4RUMP WAS ELECTED IN .OVEMBER gWE ARE SEEING MORE EMPLOYEES CALLING SAYING @(EY ) VE BEEN TOLD TO SPEAK %NGLISH ONLY u SAYS #HRISTOPHER (O A LAWYER FOR ,EGAL !ID AT 7ORK IN 3AN &RANCISCO 4HE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS AND A TOLL FREE NUMBER WHERE ,ATINOS CAN kLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LANGUAGE BASED DISCRIMINATION /N SOCIAL MEDIA IT S NOT HARD TO kND EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY WHEN FACED WITH 3PANISH SPEAKERS

AFP

B6

Classified Ads

MONDAY March 11, 2019

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Third Judicial Region BRANCH 72 2ORQJDSR &LW\

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8. 7R GDWH WKH 'HIHQGDQW FRQWLQXH WR HYDGH KLV REOLJDWLRQ WR UHWXUQ WKH DPRXQWV GHPDQGHG DQG KDV rendered himself evasive and beyond contact. Moreover, there is information that he has already absconded and may already be overseas, much to the defraudation and prejudice of the Plaintiff.

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION GROUNDS FOR ATTACHMENT

TO: MR. SHOJI WATANABE

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The issuance of a preliminary attachment for whatever real or personal property / assets of Defendant LV LQGLVSHQVDEOH LI WKH ULJKWV RI WKH 3ODLQWLII LV WR EH SURWHFWHG 3HUWLQHQWO\ JLYHQ SUHYLRXV LQIRUPDWLRQ 0U :DWDQDEH DSSHDUV WR KDYH SURSHUW\ RU ULJKWV RYHU SURSHUWLHV ORFDWHG DW 1R /DURVFD 6W 6XQVHW (VWDWH 6XEGLYLVLRQ $QJHOHV &LW\ DQG RU RYHU WKH SURSHUW\ ORFDWHG DW 1R $ 'DUWHU 7HUU 1HZ :HVW .DOD\DDQ 6XELF %D\ )UHHSRUW =RQH and such other personal or real property such as but not limited to the following:

GREETINGS: <RX DUH KHUHE\ UHTXLUHG WR ÂżOH ZLWK WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH 5HJLRQDO 7ULDO &RXUW %UDQFK 2ORQJDSR &LW\ ZLWKLQ VL[W\ GD\V DIWHU WKH SXEOLFDWLRQ RI WKH VXPPRQV \RXU $QVZHU WR WKH &RPSODLQW ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV &RXUW 1RYHPEHU ZKLFK LQ VXEVWDQFH LV TXRWHG KHUHLQ EHORZ WR ZLW

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a. 5HDO SURSHUW\ RU JURZLQJ FURSV WKHUHRQ RU DQ\ LQWHUHVW WKHUHLQ VWDQGLQJ XSRQ WKH UHFRUG RI WKH UHJLVWU\ RI GHHGV RI WKH SURYLQFH LQ WKH QDPH RI WKH SDUW\ DJDLQVW ZKRP DWWDFKPHQW LV LVVXHG RU QRW DSSHDULQJ DW DOO XSRQ VXFK UHFRUGV RU EHORQJLQJ WR WKH SDUW\ DJDLQVW ZKRP DWWDFKPHQW LV LVVXHG DQG KHOG E\ DQ\ RWKHU SHUVRQ RU VWDQGLQJ RQ WKH UHFRUGV RI WKH UHJLVWU\ RI GHHGV LQ WKH QDPH RI DQ\ RWKHU SHUVRQ E\ ÂżOLQJ ZLWK WKH UHJLVWU\ RI GHHGV D FRS\ RI WKH RUGHU WRJHWKHU ZLWK D GHVFULSWLRQ RI WKH SURSHUW\ DWWDFKHG DQG D QRWLFH WKDW LW LV DWWDFKHG RU WKDW VXFK UHDO SURSHUW\ DQG DQ\ LQWHUHVW WKHUHLQ KHOG E\ RU VWDQGLQJ LQ WKH QDPH RI VXFK RWKHU SHUVRQ DUH DWWDFKHG DQG E\ OHDYLQJ D FRS\ RI VXFK RUGHU GHVFULSWLRQ DQG QRWLFH ZLWK WKH RFFXSDQW RI WKH SURSHUW\ LI DQ\ RU ZLWK VXFK RWKHU SHUVRQ or his agent if found within the province. Where the property has been brought under the operation RI HLWKHU WKH /DQG 5HJLVWUDWLRQ $FW RU WKH 3URSHUW\ 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 'HFUHH WKH QRWLFH VKDOO FRQWDLQ D UHIHUHQFH WR WKH QXPEHU RI WKH FHUWLÂżFDWH RI WLWOH WKH YROXPH DQG SDJH LQ WKH UHJLVWUDWLRQ ERRN ZKHUH WKH FHUWLÂżFDWH LV UHJLVWHUHG DQG WKH UHJLVWHUHG RZQHU RU RZQHUV WKHUHRI 7KH UHJLVWUDU RI GHHGV PXVW LQGH[ DWWDFKPHQWV ÂżOHG XQGHU WKLV VHFWLRQ LQ WKH QDPHV RI WKH DSSOLFDQW WKH DGYHUVH SDUW\ RU WKH person by whom the property is held or in whose name it stands in the records. If the attachment is QRW FODLPHG RQ WKH HQWLUH DUHD RI WKH ODQG FRYHUHG E\ WKH FHUWLÂżFDWH RI WLWOH D GHVFULSWLRQ VXIÂżFLHQWO\ DFFXUDWH IRU WKH LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ RI WKH ODQG RU LQWHUHVW WR EH DIIHFWHG VKDOO EH LQFOXGHG LQ WKH UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI VXFK DWWDFKPHQW

The PLAINTIFF may be served with the processes of the Honorable Court through the undersigned counsel at VMJ Building 2196, Room 205, E.B.B., Olongapo City, Philippines.

b. 3HUVRQDO SURSHUW\ FDSDEOH RI PDQXDO GHOLYHU\ E\ WDNLQJ DQG VDIHO\ NHHSLQJ LW LQ KLV FXVWRG\ DIWHU issuing the corresponding receipt therefor.

2. 7KH 'HIHQGDQW 05 6+2-, :$7$1$%( >³'()(1'$17´@ LV D -DSDQHVH FLWL]HQ RI OHJDO DJH PDUULHG and ZLWK ODVW NQRZQ DGGUHVV DW 1R /DURVFD 6W 6XQVHW (VWDWH 6XEGLYLVLRQ $QJHOHV &LW\ +RZHYHU KLV DGGUHVV RI UHFRUG ZLWK WKH FRPSDQ\ LV DW No. 75A Darter Terr, New West Kalayaan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

c. 6WRFNV RU VKDUHV RU DQ LQWHUHVW LQ VWRFNV RU VKDUHV RI DQ\ FRUSRUDWLRQ RU FRPSDQ\ E\ OHDYLQJ ZLWK WKH SUHVLGHQW RU PDQDJLQJ DJHQW WKHUHRI D FRS\ RI WKH ZULW DQG D QRWLFH VWDWLQJ WKDW WKH VWRFN RU LQWHUHVW RI WKH SDUW\ DJDLQVW ZKRP WKH DWWDFKPHQW LV LVVXHG LV DWWDFKHG LQ SXUVXDQFH RI VXFK ZULW

â&#x20AC;&#x153;COMES NOW THE PLAINTIFF ANIMO JWS CORPORATION as represented by itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; General Manager *HPPD % %DUR\ [â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; PLAINTIFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;] WR WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW PRVW UHVSHFWIXOO\ VXEPLWWLQJ WKDW A. THE PARTIES 1. The Plaintiff is a juridical entity organized and existing under Philippine laws with Amended Articles of ,QFRUSRUDWLRQ UHJLVWHUHG ZLWK WKH 6HFXULWLHV DQG ([FKDQJH &RPPLVVLRQ DQG ZLWK FDSDFLW\ WR VXH DQG EH VXHG ,W KROGV LWV EXVLQHVV DW LWV SULQFLSDO RIÂżFH DGGUHVV DW 3RFR D 3RFR &RQGR7HO &RUQHU 'HZH\ $YHQXH &HQWUDO %XVLQHVV 'LVWULFW 6XELF %D\ )UHHSRUW =RQH 3KLOLSSLQHV 7KH 3ODLQWLII LV UHSUHVHQWHG E\ LWV &RUSRUDWH *HQHUDO 0DQDJHU ZLWK DXWKRULW\ HYLGHQFHG E\ D &RUSRUDWH 6HFUHWDU\ÂśV &HUWLÂżFDWLRQ $11(; Âł$´ FRS\ RI WKH 6(& &HUWLÂżFDWH RI ,QFRUSRUDWLRQ RI 3ODLQWLII HQWLW\

d. 'HEWV DQG FUHGLWV LQFOXGLQJ EDQN GHSRVLWV ÂżQDQFLDO LQWHUHVW UR\DOWLHV FRPPLVVLRQV DQG RWKHU SHUVRQDO SURSHUW\ QRW FDSDEOH RI PDQXDO GHOLYHU\ E\ OHDYLQJ ZLWK WKH SHUVRQ RZLQJ VXFK GHEWV RU KDYLQJ LQ KLV SRVVHVVLRQ RU XQGHU KLV FRQWURO VXFK FUHGLWV RU RWKHU SHUVRQDO SURSHUW\ RU ZLWK KLV DJHQW D FRS\ RI WKH ZULW DQG QRWLFH WKDW WKH GHEWV RZLQJ E\ KLP WR WKH SDUW\ DJDLQVW ZKRP DWWDFKPHQW LV LVVXHG DQG WKH FUHGLWV DQG RWKHU SHUVRQDO SURSHUW\ LQ KLV SRVVHVVLRQ RU XQGHU KLV FRQWURO EHORQJLQJ WR VDLG SDUW\ DUH DWWDFKHG LQ SXUVXDQFH RI VXFK ZULW

B. CAUSES OF ACTION The present case is a complaint for collection of sum of money arising from a Memorandum of Agreement >02$@ GDWHG 'HFHPEHU DQG ZLWK QRWDULDO GDWH RI -DQXDU\ DIWHU WKH\ DJDLQ DSSHDUHG EHIRUH WKH QRWDU\ SXEOLF WR FRQÂżUP WKHLU GXO\ VLJQHG 02$

e. The interest of the party against whom attachment is issued in property belonging to the estate RI WKH GHFHGHQW ZKHWKHU DV KHLU OHJDWHH RU GHYLVHH E\ VHUYLQJ WKH H[HFXWRU RU DGPLQLVWUDWRU RU other personal representative of the decedent with a copy of the writ and notice that said interest is DWWDFKHG $ FRS\ RI VDLG ZULW RI DWWDFKPHQW DQG RI VDLG QRWLFH VKDOO DOVR EH ÂżOHG LQ WKH RIÂżFH RI WKH FOHUN RI WKH FRXUW LQ ZKLFK VDLG HVWDWH LV EHLQJ VHWWOHG DQG VHUYHG XSRQ WKH KHLU OHJDWHH RU GHYLVHH concerned.

4. 8QGHU WKH 02$ 'HIHQGDQW ZDV WR SD\ WKH 3ODLQWLII WKH IXOO DPRXQW RI TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FOURTEEN AND 26/100 UNITED STATES DOLLARS 8 '

8QGHU WKH 02$ 'HIHQGDQW PDGH WKH FDWHJRULFDO ZDUUDQWLHV WR WKH HIIHFW WKDW a. In :KHUHDV FODXVH QR 02$ GDWHG 'HFHPEHU it was warranted by Defendant that he KDG WKH FUHGLW VROYHQF\ DQG SRZHU WR IDLWKIXOO\ KRQRU KLV REOLJDWLRQ b. In Item Âľ$Âś SDU VXESDU 02$ GDWHG 'HFHPEHU Defendant committed to repay the HDUOLHU VWDWHG DPRXQW ZLWKRXW QHHG RI IXUWKHU GHPDQG RU MXGLFLDO LQWHUYHQWLRQ DQG c In :KHUHDV FODXVH QR 02$ GDWHG 'HFHPEHU 'HIHQGDQW XQGHUWRRN WKDW KH ZLOO IXOÂżOO KLV obligation to preserve his honor and integrity as he claimed to have a deep sense of responsibility.

10. Thus WKH SURSHUWLHV VRXJKW WR EH DWWDFKHG DV DQ\ RI WKH IRUJRLQJ PD\ FRYHU DW OHDVW D SRUWLRQ RI RU WKH HQWLUHW\ RI KLV REOLJDWLRQV 7KXV LWV DWWDFKPHQW LV DOVR SUD\HG IRU FRQVLGHULQJ WKDW

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 38%/,& 127,&( LV KHUHE\ JLYHQ WR DOO SHUVRQV LQ WKH IROORZLQJ %DUDQJD\V ZONE

BARANGAY $

Sec. 1. Grounds upon which attachment may issue. - At the commencement of the action or at any time before HQWU\ RI MXGJPHQW D SODLQWLII RU DQ\ SURSHU SDUW\ PD\ KDYH WKH SURSHUW\ RI WKH DGYHUVH SDUW\ DWWDFKHG DV VHFXULW\ for the satisfaction of any judgment that may be recovered in the following cases:

ANNEX â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; copy of the Memorandum of Agreement between Plaintiff and Defendant.

D ,Q DQ DFWLRQ IRU WKH UHFRYHU\ RI D VSHFLÂżHG DPRXQW RI PRQH\ RU GDPDJHV other than moral and H[HPSODU\ RQ D FDXVH RI DFWLRQ arising from law, contract TXDVL FRQWUDFW GHOLFW RU TXDVL GHOLFW against a party who is about to depart from the Philippines with intent to defraud his creditors; E In an action for money or property embezzled or fraudulently misapplied or converted to his own use E\ D SXEOLF RIÂżFHU RU DQ RIÂżFHU RI D FRUSRUDWLRQ RU DQ DWWRUQH\ IDFWRU EURNHU DJHQW RU FOHUN LQ WKH FRXUVH RI KLV HPSOR\PHQW DV VXFK RU E\ DQ\ RWKHU SHUVRQ LQ D ÂżGXFLDU\ FDSDFLW\ RU IRU D ZLOOIXO YLRODWLRQ RI GXW\ F ln an action to recover the possession of property unjustly or fraudulently taken, detained or FRQYHUWHG ZKHQ WKH SURSHUW\ RU DQ\ SDUW WKHUHRI KDV EHHQ FRQFHDOHG UHPRYHG RU GLVSRVHG RI WR SUHYHQW LWV EHLQJ IRXQG RU WDNHQ E\ WKH DSSOLFDQW RU DQ DXWKRUL]HG SHUVRQ G In an action against a party who has been guilty of a fraud in contracting the debt or incurring the obligation upon which the action is brought, or in the performance thereof; H OQ DQ DFWLRQ DJDLQVW D SDUW\ ZKR KDV UHPRYHG RU GLVSRVHG RI KLV SURSHUW\ RU LV DERXW WR GR VR ZLWK LQWHQW WR GHIUDXG KLV FUHGLWRUV RU I ,Q DQ DFWLRQ DJDLQVW D SDUW\ ZKR GRHV QRW UHVLGH DQG LV QRW IRXQG LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV RU RQ ZKRP summons may be served by publication.

6WULSSHG WR LWV EDUHVW HVVHQWLDO WKH XOWLPDWH IDFWV DUH DV IROORZV a. Despite WKH ODSVH RI PRUH WKDQ ÂżYH \HDUV FRXQWHG IURP WKH WLPH RI VLJQLQJ RI WKH 02$ DQG the ODSVH RI PRUH WKDQ ÂżYH \HDUV FRXQWHG IURP WKH WLPH RI QRWDUL]DWLRQ RI WKH 02$ WKH 'HIHQGDQW has not paid a single cent of his indebtedness.

E 'HVSLWH YHUEDO UHPLQGHUV DQG HYHQWXDOO\ GHPDQGV 'HIHQGDQW KDV UHPDLQHG QRQ FRPSOLDQW ZLWK KLV FRQWUDFWXDO REOLJDWLRQ PXFK WR WKH SUHMXGLFH RI WKH &RPSDQ\ F *LYHQ WKH ODSVH RI PRUH WKDQ VXEVWDQWLDO WLPH 3ODLQWLII ZDV FRQVWUDLQHG WR VHQG D )LQDO 'HPDQG /HWWHU WR KLV ODVW NQRZQ DGGUHVV ZKHUHE\ KH ZDV JLYHQ WKH IROORZLQJ QRWLFH DQG GHPDQG MR. SHOJI WATANABE 1R /DURVFD 6WUHHW 6XQVHW (VWDWH 6XEGLYLVLRQ $QJHOHV &LW\ 3DPSDQJD 3RFR D 3RFR &RQGRWHO

,I SUD\HU IRU ZULW RI DWWDFKPHQW LV LQFOXGHG LQ D &RPSODLQW YHULÂżFDWLRQ LQ WKH &RPSODLQW LV VXIÂżFLHQW separate DIÂżGDYLW LV QRW QHFHVVDU\

RE: FINAL NOTICE OF REPEATED DEFAULT IN OBLIGATION; DEMAND FINAL DEMAND TO PAY LONG OVERDUE OBLIGATION; DEMAND TO COORDINATE WITH LAW OFFICE OR ANIMO TO ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE.

6HF $IÂżGDYLW DQG ERQG UHTXLUHG $Q RUGHU RI DWWDFKPHQW VKDOO EH JUDQWHG RQO\ ZKHQ LW DSSHDUV E\ WKH DIÂżGDYLW RI WKH DSSOLFDQW RU VRPH RWKHU SHUVRQ ZKR SHUVRQDOO\ NQRZV WKH IDFWV WKDW D VXIÂżFLHQW FDXVH RI DFWLRQ H[LVWV WKDW WKH FDVH LV RQH RI WKRVH PHQWLRQHG LQ VHFWLRQ KHUHRI WKDW WKHUH LV QR RWKHU VXIÂżFLHQW VHFXULW\ IRU WKH FODLP VRXJKW WR EH HQIRUFHG E\ WKH DFWLRQ DQG WKDW WKH DPRXQW GXH WR WKH DSSOLFDQW RU WKH YDOXH RI WKH SURSHUW\ WKH SRVVHVVLRQ RI ZKLFK KH LV HQWLWOHG WR UHFRYHU LV DV PXFK DV WKH VXP IRU ZKLFK WKH RUGHU LV JUDQWHG DERYH DOO OHJDO FRXQWHUFODLPV 7KH DIÂżGDYLW DQG WKH ERQG UHTXLUHG E\ WKH QH[W VXFFHHGLQJ VHFWLRQ PXVW EH GXO\ ÂżOHG with the court before the order issues.

Dear MR. WATANABE: On behalf of ANIMO JWS CORPORATION [â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ANIMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;], this constitutes your NOTICE OF REPEATED DEFAULT IN OBLIGATION. It also serves as a FINAL DEMAND TO PAY YOUR LONG OVERDUE OBLIGATION in the total amount of 7:2 +81'5(' 6(9(17< ),9( 7+286$1' 6(9(1 +81'5(' 1,1( $1' 81,7(' 67$7(6 '2//$56 8 ' YOU ARE DEMANDED TO FULLY PAY THE SAME WITHIN A 121 (;7(1'$%/( 3(5,2' 2) 21 25 %()25( 30 RI $8*867

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E 1RWDEO\ WKH IRUHJRLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV VSHFLÂżFDOO\ DV WR WKH FODLP IRU D VSHFLÂżF DPRXQW RI GDPDJHV WKH IUDXG DQG PLVUHSUHVHQWDWLRQ PDGH E\ 'HIHQGDQW DV WR KLV FUHGLW VROYHQF\ DQG ZDUUDQW\ WR SD\ KLV REOLJDWLRQV IRU IXQGV KH LPSURSHUO\ DQG LOOHJDOO\ DSSURSULDWHG WRQ KLV RZQ XVH DQG EHQHÂżW ZLWKRXW MXVWLÂżFDWLRQ KLV FRQWLQXRXV HYDVLRQ RI REOLJDWLRQ DQG WKH UHFHQW LQIRUPDWLRQ KH LV DERXW WR OHDYH RU KDV DFWXDOO\ OHIW WKH FRXQWU\ DPRQJ RWKHUV DV VKDOO EH SURYHQ LQ WKH FRXUVH RI WULDO

$V \RX YHU\ ZHOO NQRZ WKH GHPDQGHG DPRXQW UHSUHVHQWV WKH DPRXQW ZKLFK \RX RZH WR WKH &RUSRUDWLRQ SXUVXDQW WR WKH 0HPRUDQGXP RI $JUHHPHQW ³02$´ GDWHG 'HFHPEHU WRJHWKHU ZLWK DFFXPXODWHG LQWHUHVW FRPSXWHG DV RI $XJXVW ZKLFK LV VWLOO XQSDLG DV RI WKH GDWH RI WKLV ZULWLQJ ,QLWLDOO\ \RX UHVRUWHG WR UHTXHVWV IRU PRUH WLPH ZKLFK ZHUH JUDQWHG VROHO\ RXW RI KXPDQLWDULDQ FRQVLGHUDWLRQ EXW ZLWKRXW ZDLYHU RI ULJKW FDXVHV RI DFWLRQ ZKLFK DOUHDG\ DFFUXHG 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ \RX HYHQWXDOO\ UHVRUWHG WR HYDVLRQ DQG KDYH rendered yourself to be beyond contact.

F ,W LV FOHDU WKDW DOO UHTXLVLWHV IRU LVVXDQFH RI ZULW RI DWWDFKPHQW REWDLQ DV WKH 3ODLQWLII YLD UHSUHVHQWDWLYH $77(676 WKDW YL] D VXIÂżFLHQW FDXVH RI DFWLRQ H[LVWV IRU 3ODLQWLII XQGHU WKH SUHVHQW OHJDO DFWLRQ WKH SUHVHQW FDVH LV RQH RI WKRVH PHQWLRQHG LQ 6HF D RI 5XOH WKHUH LV QR RWKHU VXIÂżFLHQW VHFXULW\ IRU WKH FODLP VRXJKW WR EH HQIRUFHG E\ WKH 3ODLQWLIIÂśV DFWLRQ DQG the amount due to the Plaintiff as applicant for attachment or the value of the property of which she is entitled to recover is as much as the sum for which the order is granted above all legal FRXQWHUFODLPV 3ODLQWLII VKDOO SRVW WKH UHTXLUHG ERQG DV PD\ EH LQVWUXFWHG E\ WKH +RQRUDEOH &RXUW DQG VKDOO FRPSO\ ZLWK DQ\ RWKHU UHTXLUHPHQW LPSRVHG E\ WKH +RQRUDEOH &RXUW

$V \RX YHU\ ZHOO NQRZ DOVR \RX FRQYH\HG SULRU ZDUUDQWLHV DQG UHSUHVHQWDWLRQV DV WR \RXU â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;credit, solvency and power to faithfully honorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;1 your obligation without need of further demand or judicial intervention2 as you represented yourself to desire preservation of your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;honor and integrityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;deep sense of responsibilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;3.

It bears emphasis that ANIMO was enticed to oblige in the MOA solely by reason of your aforementioned SULRU ZDUUDQWLHV DQG UHSUHVHQWDWLRQV ZLWK WKH ÂżVFDO SURYLVLRQV PHUHO\ VHUYLQJ DV ORJLFDO OHJDO DQG HFRQRPLF FRQVHTXHQFHV RI WKH LQVWUXPHQW ,W LV WKHUHIRUH \RXU EUHDFK RI WKH JRRG IDLWK WUXVW UHSRVHG LQ \RX E\ $1,02 which underscores the gravity of your default.

11. Plaintiff reserves the right to pursue other legal action viable under the circumstances including any other cause of action independent of the present case.

<HW WR GDWH DQG FOHDUO\ ZLWKRXW DQ\ VHQVH RI DFFRXQWDELOLW\ \RX KDYH FRQWLQXRXVO\ HYDGHG DQG GHIDXOWHG LQ \RXU REOLJDWLRQ GHVSLWH \RXU FOHDU DFFRXQWDELOLW\ UHODWLQJ WR ZKDW \RX YHU\ ZHOO NQRZ WR EH \RXU ORQJ RYHUGXH OLTXLGDWHG DQG GHPDQGDEOH REOLJDWLRQ You are thus given this FINAL DEMAND TO PAY YOUR LONG OVERDUE OBLIGATION in the total amount of TWO +81'5(' 6(9(17< ),9( 7+286$1' 6(9(1 +81'5(' 1,1( $1' 81,7(' 67$7(6 '2//$56 8 ' . YOU ARE DEMANDED TO FULLY PAY THE SAME WITHIN A NON(;7(1'$%/( 3(5,2' 2) 21 25 %()25( 30 RI $8*867

PRAYER :+(5()25( SUHPLVHV FRQVLGHUHG LW LV PRVW UHVSHFWIXOO\ SUD\HG RI WKH +RQRUDEOH &RXUW WKDW MXGJPHQW EH UHQGHUHG DJDLQVW WKH 'HIHQGDQW ZLWK LVVXDQFH RI D GHFLVLRQ RUGHU WR WKH HIIHFW WKDW 'HIHQGDQW EH PDGH WR pay Plaintiff the following: 1. $FWXDO GDPDJHV YL] a. 7:2 +81'5(' 6(9(17< 6(9(1 7+286$1' 7+5(( +81'5(' ),)7((1 $1' UNITED STATES DOLLARS 8 ' WITH THE STIPULATED INTEREST AS OF 129(0%(5 SOXV OHJDO LQWHUHVW

)DLOXUH WR FRPSO\ ZLWK RU UHIXVDO WR UHFHLYH RU HYDVLRQ RI WKLV OHWWHU VKDOO EH GHHPHG DQ XQMXVWLÂżHG intransigence and refusal. Be advised that, at this juncture, the undersigned shall not hesitate to coordinate ZLWK ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÂżFHV in the event you continue to unjustly refuse to pay -which shall also precipitate- the ÂżOLQJ RI WKH QHFHVVDU\ &5,0,1$/ DQG RU &,9,/ FDVH ZLWK FRVWV GDPDJHV FKDUJHDEOH DJDLQVW \RX WR HQVXUH full enforcement of ANIMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legitimate rights.

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%H sternly warned that most your preferential attention and prompt compliance is strictly obliged .

ANNEX â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? and series - copy of the Demand Letter sent to Defendant.

F &RVWV RI VXLW DV PD\ EH SURYHQ LQ WKH FRXUVH RI WKH WULDO

d. As a siJQ RI JRRG IDLWK DQRWKHU GHPDQG ZDV DJDLQ VHQW WR 'HIHQGDQW WR KLV ODVW NQRZQ DGGUHVV DQG WR KLV RIÂżFLDO DGGUHVV RI UHFRUG ZLWK WKH FRPSDQ\ %XW VWLOO WR QR DYDLO

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ANNEX â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;? and series - copy of another Demand Letter again sent to Defendant.

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WARNING TO THE PUBLIC The Manila Times is warning the public that certain individuals posing as our employees have been threatening to publish articles against some companies.

Anyone who receives a call from these extortionists should report the matter to the police.

The Manila Times DOES NOT ask for money to stop news articles from being published. This paper does not condone any form of blackmail.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 11, 2019

Public Square

B7

QC OKs new bank account for Novaliches Red Cross expands mass vaccination drive to Central Luzon a measure to curb the conDistrict Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indigent patients AStinuous increase of measles INDIGENT patients of Quezon Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Novaliches District Hospital (NDH) may expect faster assistance with the approval of a new bank account for its Malasakit Center.

2ECENTLY SELECTED BY THE /FkCE of the President for the implementation of the Malasakit Center program, the NDH is tasked TO PROVIDE kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO indigent clients for their medication and hospitalization.

As a Quezon City government hospital, the Quezon City Council, through City Resolution 76882010 introduced by Councilor Godofredo Liban II, authorizes

the NDH to open a different bank account for its Malasakit Center.

The new bank account shall serve as the Malasakit Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depository bank where its funds donated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), and Philippine Charity 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE 0#3/ SHALL be deposited and disbursed.

The new Malasakit Center bank account shall hasten the delivery of medical services to indigent patients, the QC government said.

Mercado Hospital in Batangas opens new operating room complex THE Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) opens a new Operating Room Complex, offering more comprehensive and leading edge surgical services for faster and better healing to its patients in Batangas and the Calabarzon area. DMMC is the parent hospital of the QualiMed Health Network, owned and operated by the Mercado General Hospital, Inc. in partnership with Ayala Land, Inc. DMMC started in Tanauan City as a 12-bed lying-in clinic in 1957. Six decades later, DMMC is now a level 3 tertiary hospital complete with 127 patient beds, 8 critical care beds, 3 Acute Stroke Unit beds, and 4 Infusion Therapy treatment bays. DMMC is one of THE kRST HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTRY TO be recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). â&#x20AC;&#x153;DMMC, more known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mercado,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; has long been a household name in Batangas communities.

For decades, Mercado has served

as a familiar landmark to buses, jeepneys, and other transport vehicles plying the highways. However, the high awareness of our hospital did not cause us to be complacent of our services. Through the decades, we have continually improved our facilities and capabilities to be of better service to our patients,â&#x20AC;? says Arlene Ledesma, GROUP CHIEF OPERATING OFkCER OF THE QualiMed Health Network. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For a mature hospital like DMMC, it is critical to be dynamic and able to respond to the healthcare needs of the communities we serve. Facility expansions, improvement of services in terms of technology systems and coverage, and the growth of doctors and hospital teams in terms of expertise and medical specialties, are essential factors that make a homegrown hospital like DMMC to stay relevant and responsive to our patients,â&#x20AC;? says Dr. Alma Panganiban-Andal, chief operatING OFkCER OF $--#

The 7-Eleven Tour road cycling event is back FRESH from the successful staging of 7-Eleven Trail 2019, the premiere mountain biking event in the country, 7-Eleven is now embarking on another road cycling event with 7-Eleven Tour 2019.

After seven years, 7-Eleven is following up the successful Tour 700 with the 7-Eleven Tour 2019.

The event, which takes place on April 7 at Clark Global City in Mabalacat, Pampanga, promises to gather professional and weekend road bike enthusiasts for a grueling road race challenge.

The Tour 700: Bayani ng Barangay debuted on May 2012 not just to celebrate the opening of 7-Elevenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 700th store but also to create a sporting event that will bring the best riders together in a single day race, while also providing a challenging opportunity for newbie cyclists.

Held at the Clark Field Parade Grounds, it attracted close to 3,500

cases in the country, the Philippine Red Cross has begun to vaccinate children in Olongapo City.

The latest mass vaccination drive CARRIES MORE SIGNIkCANCE AS IT ALSO commences PRCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communitybased measles control program in Central Luzon, in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH) and local health units.

PRC, under the leadership of Chairman Richard Gordon, has been working closely with DoH to counter the immunization gap in the Philippines.

DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III lauded PRCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in addressing the measles crisis in the country, which includes the installation of measles care units in overcrowded hospitals and conducting mass vaccination drives in vulnerable communities.

Over 140 children received vacCINE SHOTS ON THE kRST TWO DAYS of the immunization program in Olongapo. Hot meals were also served to 300 parents and children who participated in the effort.

PRC brought the vaccination drive closer to communities as

Q Chairman Richard Gordon during the measles vaccination program in Olongapo City.

10 vaccination stations were set up in four barangays in Olongapo namely Brgy. Asinan, Brgy.

East Tapinac, Brgy. Pag-asa, and Brgy. New Kalalake.

In total, PRC has vaccinated 6,299 children in Manila (3,014), Antipolo (1,036), Marikina (964),

Cebu (455), Lapu-Lapu (589), Baguio (94), and Olongapo (81).

PRC has also installed measles care unit in six hospitals namely San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Amang Rodriguez

Memorial Medical Center in Marikina, Cainta Municipal Hospital in Rizal, and Rizal Provincial Hospital System â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Antipolo Annex.

As of February 28, the measles care units have catered to 1,503 patients, including 101 individuals who are currently admitted.

DoH donates dental van for Muntinlupa LOCAL government officials inspect a dental van donated by the Deparment of Health (DoH), through the initiative of Congressman Ruffy Biazon (center), given to Muntinlupa City Health Office on March 5.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (left) expressed his thanks to the agency and said the van will improve delivery of health services for MuntinlupeĂąos. Also shown in the photo, from left: CHO Assistant Head Dr. Juancho Bunyi, CHO Chief Dr. Teresa Tuliao, and CHO Dental Department Head Dr. Elsa Olea.

BPI Foundation and DTI-PTTC sign agreement to empower MSMEs

Q During the contract signing, from left: BPI Foundation Associate Director Tessa Calalang, BPI Foundation Executive Director Maricris San Diego, Philippine Trade Training Center Executive Director III Nestor Palabyab, and Philippine Trade Training Center Planning and Programming Division Chief Fe Avila. participants, competing in either the 40km or the 100km categories.

This year, 7-Eleven Tour 2019 will be comprised of two categories, 48KM and 106KM. The courses will start at Clark Global City and will take the participants to SCTEX heading to Subic and back. Prizes await winners in the various age group categories for both the 106KM and 48KM races.

For more information, visit https://tour711.com/ and register until March 24.

The coloring specialist THE newly opened C Salon Manila, a go-to place for men and women who want to look good and feel good, stands by being â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Coloring Specialist.â&#x20AC;?

It offers color services by Schwarzkopf and Milbon, international brands whose products are used by the finest salons all over the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have roots color, regular full color and organic color, highlights with two or three colors, streaks, lowlights and Balayage,â&#x20AC;? says C Salonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head stylist and make up artist Jomar Flores, Hair Asia CompetiQ CSALON endorser Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez, tionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 Champion in daughter of actress Almira Muhlach and former Ladies Creative Color and PBA star Bong Alvarez.

Haircut and Most Outbeams former actor, matinee idol standing in Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative and politician Jose Mari GonzaColor Hair Cutting and Blowdry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best news is all our clients les, president of C Salon.

C Salon will expand and franare entitled to free membership where they enjoy huge perks such chise soon, but for now, look as 30 percent discounts on selected for this hidden gem at the level hair coloring and treatments, 3, Beauty and Wellness Zone of plus surprises on their birthdays,â&#x20AC;? Robinsons Galleria.

BPI Foundation, the social innovation arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and Department of Trade and Industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC)

recently sealed a partnership for Show Me Teach Me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MSEs (SMTM) AT THE 044# /FkCE IN 0ASAY #ITY Show Me, Teach Me is a capacity building program for micro, small,

medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) with the objective of enabling THEM WITH BASIC kNANCIAL MANagement, product development, and marketing management capa-

bilities. This 2019, the direction of SMTM is to integrate digitalization modules for MSMEs, alongside with the usual basic business workshops and enablement sessions.

Hamilo Coast launches Freia showroom at Pico de Loro Cove HAMILO Coast, SM Primeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainable beach resort township in Nasugbu, Batangas, formally opens its showroom at Pico de Loro Cove, highlighting its latest leisure residential project, Freia.

Freia is a premier beachfront condo development that offers stunning sea and mountain views in Pico de Loro Cove.

The showroom features two model units, one of which was exquisitely designed by Budji+Royalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a two-bedroom unit with views of the West Philippine Sea. For more information, visit www.hamilocoast.com.

Q The ceremonial ribbon cutting was led by SM Prime Executive Vice President Shirley Ong (center), together with other SMPHI and Costa del Hamilo, Inc. executives and project consultants, (from left to right) AVP/Marketing Mabe De Goitia, VP/Project Development Imee Francisco, AVP JM Garcia, Crearisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Arch. Mike Espiritu, Budji+Royalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roslu Kaufmann, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club General Manager Maggie Garcia, GF & Partnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Arch. Arlie Cruz, and SAVP/Sales & Projects Alexis Ortiga.

Keep your homes termite-free TERMITES may be small in size, but these little pests can cause some big and serious damages to your home. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why it is important to think ahead and make sure that your precious abode is protected from the hazards of termite infestation, which could ruin its structural integrity. Worse, termites can damage not only wood but also your prized possessions like clothes, money bills, important documents, and even electrical wiringsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which can even cause fire. Prevent termite infestation in your house with Jardine

Distribution, Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (JDI) Total Termite Solution.

To protect your prized wooden furniture and other wooden structures against termites, the tried, tested, and trusted Solignum is your best ally. Aside from working against termites, the Superbrand-recognized Solignum has insecticidal and fungicidal properties that can also work against fungi and woodborers.

To prevent subterranean termites from entering your home, use Soilguardâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an odorless water-based soil termiticide that creates a termite-lethal bar-

Q Protect your precious abode from termites right from the start of construction with JDIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Total Termite Solution, Solignum and Soilguard.

For more information, visit rier that prevents termites from www.jardinedistribution.com. entering the structure.

MONDAY M O NDAY MARCH 11,, 2019

Public Square

B8 Public Square appears on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

Reyes Tacandong & Co. signs first-time MoU with Oxford Business Group T

HE wide-ranging implications of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) 2 package for both national and international companies will be among the many topics analysed in a forthcoming report on the Philippines by the global research and consultancy kRM /XFORD "USINESS 'ROUP /"' The Report: The Philippines 2019 will look in detail at what the changes to the current tax regime will mean for FOREIGN kRMS LOCATED IN THE COUNTRY S Special Economic Zones, where key INCENTIVES ARE SET TO BE WITHDRAWN )T will also consider the positive impact that the move to reduce the rate of income tax paid by enterprises by onethird to 20 percent is expected to have, ESPECIALLY ON SMALLER SCALE ENTITIES /THER ASPECTS OF THE REFORMS COVERED INCLUDE THE COUNTRY S PLANS TO digitalize the tax administration, as part of broader efforts to make the SYSTEM MORE EFkCIENT EFFECTIVE AND

Q During the signing, from left: Michelle Mendoza-Cruz, parntner; Joel Tan-Torres, partner, Tax Services; Protacio Tacandong, chief operating officer; Charlotte Van Camp, country director; Polina Virr, regional manager; and Alejandro Jalon, editorial manager.

DATA DRIVEN /"' S REPORT WILL SHINE of understanding (MoU) with COYu 4ACANDONG SAID g7E ARE PLEASED a spotlight on the upcoming e-In- /"' FOR ITS FORTHCOMING PUBLICA- to have signed a Memorandum of voicing and eSales reporting require- TION 5NDER THE -O5 THE PROFES- 5NDERSTANDING WITH /"' AND SHARE ments, which were introduced under SIONAL SERVICES kRM WILL HELP /"' our expertise in the area of taxation, the Train Package 1 and represent a to research and produce the Tax especially with the recent tax developMAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR THE "UREAU OF chapter of The Report: The Philip- MENTS ARISING 4HIS STRATEGIC PARTNERInternal Revenue in terms of meeting pines 2019, while contributing ship between our organizations will ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE 'ROUP provide our stakeholders the most THESE AND OTHER GOALS Commenting after the signing, relevant information on the ongoing 2EYES 4ACANDONG #O HAS #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER 0ROTACIO g#OSIGNED A kRST TIME MEMORANDUM 0HILIPPINE TAX REFORM AND LEGISLATION

LandBank Head Office is first in the country to earn LEED v4 Gold Rating THE ,AND"ANK 0LAZA IN -ALATE

Manila was recently conferred with the Leadership in Energy and EnviRONMENTAL $ESIGN ,%%$ V 'OLD #ERTIkCATION 4HIS MAKES THE BANK THE kRST IN THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE THE LATEST VERSION OF THE CERTIkCATION UNDER THE g"UILDING /PERATIONS AND -AINTENANCE "/ - %XISTING "UILDINGSu CLASSIkCATION ,AND"ANK IS ALSO THE kRST GOVernment-owned and-controlled corporation with a facility awarded AN ,%%$ CERTIkCATION FOR %XISTING "UILDINGS WHILE ITS HEAD OFFICE REMAINS ONE OF THE COUNTRY S TOP seven pioneering projects that have BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CERTIkED $ESIGNED BY THE 53 'REEN "UILDING #OUNCIL 53'"# ,%%$ IS THE MOST widely used green building rating sys-

.%7 7ORLD -AKATI (OTEL IS pleased to announce the appointment of its new resident MANAGER -IGUEL -ELO Melo joined the hotel in July AS THE $IRECTOR OF &OOD AND "EVERAGE AND WAS NAMED EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER FOR & " LATER IN )N HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

he has handled several hotels in Asia and Europe, and restaurants IN 3INGAPORE AND (ONG +ONG He has been part of the Rosewood Hotel and Resorts group for MORE THAN FOUR YEARS A family man, he decided to relocate to the Philippines together with his wife, Elaine, and two chilDREN (E SAID THIS WAS THE LONGEST HE HAS STAYED IN ONE COUNTRY g) MOVE A LOT BUT THIS WAS THE only time my daughter got to celebrate her birthday twice in one COUNTRY u HE SAID g) LOVE IT HERE u .OW TAKING OVER A BIGGER gFAMILY u HE SAID HE IS LOOKING forward to take care of the hotel LIKE HIS OWN CHILD g.EW 7ORLD -AKATI (OTEL IS

FAMILY ) CAN SAY ) AM VERY EXCITED to enter this new chapter in my career and to continue to grow and develop with the group in the COMING YEARS u HE SAID As the resident manager, Melo will be responsible for the day-today operation of the hotel towards ensuring compliance to company QUALITY SERVICE PRODUCT AND kRE life safety standards, driving revenue opportunities and maximizING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LEVELS

Celebrate the superwoman in you at Sheraton Manila this Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Month

Q LandBank Executive Vice President Julio Climaco Jr. receives the LEED v4 Gold Certificate for the LandBank Plaza from Ecosolutions President and CEO Engr. Felipe Agustin (2nd from right). They are joined by (from right) LandBank Vice President for Facilities and Procurement Services Dina Melanie Madrid, Accredited Professional of LEED for BO+M Arch. Kristina Samantha Pobre, Ecosolutions LEED Green Associate Arch. John Paul Efe, LandBank Facilities Management Department Head Ramil Remillano and Architect Christine Joy Laroza. tem to assess environmental compli- tent in incorporating environmental of our continuing commitment to ance in terms of sustainability, energy management practices in all aspects implement green practices and to conservation, water reduction, air of our operations, services, and deci- lower our environmental impact,â&#x20AC;?

QUALITY AND MATERIALS AND RESOURCES SIONS 4HIS ,%%$ V 'OLD #ERTIkCA- SAID ,AND"ANK %XECUTIVE 6ICE 0RESIg,AND"ANK HAS REMAINED CONSIS- tion is thus a welcome recognition DENT *ULIO #LIMACO *R

RCBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Digital Banking Group wins Silver Anvil for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Debit Debatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign 2#"# S $IGITAL "ANKING 'ROUP WON a Silver Anvil award for Debit DeBATES A PIONEERING kNANCIAL LITERACY campaign that aimed to shift the payment behavior of the millennial market from cash-based transactions TO DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS The campaign became one of 2#"# S MOST ENGAGING AND WELL RECEIVED DIGITAL CONTENT OF Through a series of short online VIDEOS 2#"# HIGHLIGHTED THE CONVE- Q During the awarding ceremony, from left: Norman Agatep, APR, vice president â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Externals, Public Relations nience and security one can get when Society of the Philippines; Jeri Antonnette Martinez, head of Marketing- Digital Banking Group; Margarita Lopez, USING 2#"# -Y$EBIT -ASTERCARD VER- FSVP- Digital Banking Group head; Candice Chee, asst. manager, Strategic Initiatives, GTM manager; and Ana Pista, SUS CASH IN A WITTY AND RELATABLE WAY Public Relations Society of the Philippines director.

Ultimately, the campaign deliv- Debit Debates campaign was able to THREE TIMES BY THE END OF THE YEAR new cardholders by the end of January ERED IMPRESSIVE BUSINESS RESULTS 4HE increase debit card usage for purchases 4HERE WAS A PERCENT INCREASE IN FROM THE LAST QUARTER OF

Ayala wins at 2018 Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards AYALA #ORPORATION HAS WON !SIA S "EST )NTEGRATED 2EPORT g(IGHLY Commendedâ&#x20AC;?) at the 4th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA), 3OUTHEAST !SIA S HIGHEST RECOGNITION FOR CORPORATE REPORTING 4HE AWARDING TOOK PLACE IN 3INGAPORE ON -ARCH g3USTAINABILITY REPORTING HAS BEcome an important tool for investors and stakeholders to assess a compaNY S FULL VALUE (IGH QUALITY REPORTING and disclosure allows organizations to communicate how they manage their economic, environmental, social and governance impacts, risks and opportunities to create value in the short, medium and long term,â&#x20AC;? ex-

New World Makati Hotel names new resident manager

plained Rajesh Chhabara, managing DIRECTOR AT #327ORKS )NTERNATIONAL AND THE CREATOR OF THE !WARDS g!YALA #ORPORATION S WINNING REPORT DEMONSTRATES THE COMPANY S LEADERSHIP in sustainability reporting and a deep sense of commitment to transparency, DISCLOSURE AND VALUE CREATION u 4HE !YALA GROUP S kRST )NTEGRATED 2EPORT IS THE kRST OF ITS KIND IN THE 0HILIPPINES )T SHOWS HOW !YALA USES ITS DIFFERENT CAPITALSÂ&#x2021;kNANcial, manufactured, intellectual, human, social, and naturalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to create business strategies that would BENEkT NOT JUST THE COMPANY BUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT IT SERVES 4HE

Q Ayala Chief Sustainability Officer Jose Teodoro Limcaoco report details Ayala expansion from its core businesses in real estate, telecommunications, banking, and water, to more transformative businesses in healthcare, education,

Q Audrey Chong, Ayala International H.E. Scott Wightman, British High Commissioner to Singapore infrastructure, industrial technology, and energy that would serve broader markets and create shared VALUE FOR ALL ITS STAKEHOLDERS

3(%2!4/. Manila, the newly opened hotel, joins the movement for a balanced world with no gender bias as they throw special treats EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN &ROM -ARCH TO WOMEN DINing at their S Kitchen restaurant get a movie pass to the much anticipated #APTAIN -ARVEL kLM THAT kTTINGLY STARS A WOMAN SUPERHERO &IRST FEMALE guests at their lunch buffet are eligible FOR THAT MOVIE PASS AT 2ESORTS 7ORLD -ANILA S .EWPORT #INEMA UNTIL THE #APTAIN -ARVEL IS UP AND SHOWING 'ET TO SATISFY THOSE APPETITES FROM THE widespread buffet and pleasures from THE EXCITING MOVIE TREAT "EGINNING -ARCH SPECIAL COCKtails are available at The Lounge INSPIRED BY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES Premium cognac Hennessy and vodKA "ELVEDERE ARE USED FOR THESE MIXES Sheraton Manila is all about cel-

ebrating womanhood, from having A &ILIPINA GENERAL MANAGER TO THIS special offer that raises awareness on THE ESSENCE OF BEING A FEMALE 4HIS IS the best time for an all-girl reunion, DATE OR NIGHT OUT !S FOR THE MEN TIME to show your appreciation to all your moms, sisters, wives or girlfriends by DRIVING THEM OVER TO 3HERATON &OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW SHERATONMANILA COM

Changing the way we look at cutting trees 02/$5#%23 !SSOCIATION 070! aims to dispel these myths and in the process educate the public about the importance of sustainABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT Sustainable forest management refers to environmental preservation and management that is sustainable, socially acceptable, and economically VIABLE )T IS THE KEY TO MAXIMIZING THE BENEkTS OF TREE CUTTING WHILE KEEPING the negatives down to a minimum and helps ensure that the well-being of the environment is preserved for FUTURE GENERATIONS Cutting down trees has always been viewed negatively by most people because of irresponsible logging, an issue that continues to worsen the problem of deforestation and magNIFY THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE This in turn has led to an increasingly propagated negative public percep-

tion about cutting trees and the entire wood industry, a large part of which is ANCHORED ON MISCONCEPTIONS Aside from helping debunk logGING MISCONCEPTIONS THE 070! HAS also been working to institutionalize sustainable forest management to help address the growing need for wood and other by-products while ENSURING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE g4HROUGH SUSTAINABLE FORest management, people gain a better understanding of how to protect our forests,â&#x20AC;? Charlie Liu, CHAIRMAN OF 070! SAID g

Hotel Jen launches art fair

The Pebble at Acqua Private Residences )-!').% LIVING IN AN URBAN OASIS IN a tropical, rainforest-infused setting while being a few steps away from ALL THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE CITY 4HAT S Acqua Private Residences, a six-tower community by the historic Pasig River at a point where Makati and MandaLUYONG CITIES MEET !T THE CORE OF THIS award-winning development of top property developer Century Properties is an impressive central amenity CALLED 4HE 0EBBLE !CQUA S FOUR STOREY waterfront clubhouse and the visual FOCAL POINT OF THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT The Pebble is a gleaming white,

modern interpretation of a smooth river stone with a large cutout in front providing an almost windowLIKE VISTA )T FEATURES THREE ICONIC WATERFALLS THAT SEEMINGLY lOW INTO THE MIGHTY RIVER BELOW The Pebble houses the state-of-theART TOTAL HEALTH WELLNESS AND kTNESS center, a 25-meter glass lap pool with jacuzzi, cafĂŠ and juice bar, locker rooms, function rooms, expansive LOBBY KIDS WALL CLIMBING AND PLAY AREA SOPHISTICATED MOVIE ROOM KIDS PLAYROOM AND A MINI LIBRARY /UTSIDE THE 0EBBLE IS 4HE %DEN

a relaxing garden that spans the 6th level podium of all Acqua towers with lush tropical greens, koi ponds, waterways and mini playground for KIDS 4HERE IS A BASKETBALL COURT FOR enthusiasts and an outdoor lagoon pool and kiddie pool with waterfalls for families who simply wish to relax AND BASK IN THE LOVELY SUNSHINE Acqua Private Residences sits on a Q Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rendition of the Acqua HECTARE PRIME PROPERTY IN #ORO- Private Residences with The Pebble NADO 3TREET "RGY (ULO -ANDALUYONG in front of the six-tower masterplan #ITY )T IS ACCESSIBLE VIA THE -AKATI more information, visit HTTP WWW -ANDALUYONG "RIDGE MAKING IT ACCES- ACQUA COM PH and HTTPS WWW SIBLE TO -AKATI S TOP ATTRACTIONS &OR CENTURY PROPERTIES COM

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Young Talent Programme 2018 winNERS ,IU ,ING !RYA 7IRAWAN AND *IA 1I ,IM AT THE HOTEL S #LUB ,OUNGE

TH lOOR ON -ARCH

MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Irving scores 30 as Celtics playoff push gains traction L OS ANGELES: Kyrie Irving scored 30 points as the Boston Celtics overcame LeBron Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 80th career triple-double with a 120107 victory over the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris each scored 16 points for Boston, who are gaining traction in their post All-Star break playoff push.

Gordon Hayward added 15 points as the Celtics won their third consecutive game on a fourgame California road trip that concludes Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Celticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; latest match-up with their storied rivals didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really live up to the history -- the Lakers are struggling mightily and appear to have given up on any chance of making it to the NBA postseason.

Irving, who missed Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory over the Sacramento Kings with a bruised thigh, nailed a series of clutch shots down the stretch. He also tallied seven rebounds and seven assists.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am just having fun. We are competing at a very high level and holding ourselves to a high standard and it starts with me,â&#x20AC;? said Irving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is another step for us in the road trip.â&#x20AC;?

Irving and James are former teammates, winning an NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

James can only dream of similar success with his current team, WHICH HAS NOW LOST kVE STRAIGHT /N 3ATURDAY HE kNISHED WITH points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, leading a rag-tag Lakers crew that was missing three starters.

Moe Wagner scored a careerHIGH POINTS IN HIS kRST START for Los Angeles and Johnathan Williams added a career-best 18 points for the Lakers, who have LOST NINE OF 2AJON 2ONDO kN-

ished with four points.

James played just 27 minutes, more than six minutes less than rookie Wagner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is challenging, but I kind of I knew what I was getting into,â&#x20AC;?

James said after the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to be out five weeks at a crucial point in the season and also didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect the other brain of the team, Rajon Rondo, to BE OUT kVE AND A HALF WEEKS 7E BOTH got hurt at the same time and it was

C1

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Sports

Messi, Suarez lead Barca to Rayo victory C4

Q Los Angeles Lakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; LeBron James, center, passes the ball as he is doubleteamed by Boston Celticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jaylen Brown, left, and Al Horford during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday in Los Angeles. AP PHOTO

a hit on our team.â&#x20AC;?

The Lakers played Saturday without Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma after receiving more disheartening injury news before the contest.

Ingram was ruled out for the season with a blood clot in his upper body.

Ball is likely out for the rest of the season with a sprained ankle.

Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reduced minutes gave credence to pre-game speculation

that coach Luke Walton may be limiting his playing time for the remainder of the season.

It appears the Lakers are looking to the offseason and some Laker fans feel the team has already given up. Earlier this week, rapper Snoop Dogg announced he was selling his season tickets for $5.

Towns hurt Elsewhere, Minnesota franchise

player Karl-Anthony Towns had 40 points and 16 rebounds before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury as the Timberwolves beat the WashingTON 7IZARDS IN OVERTIME Minnesota outscored the Wizards 14-9 in overtime to earn their kFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY AT HOME Derrick Rose scored 29 points, including a clutch basket that gave THE 4IMBERWOLVES A LEAD with 58 seconds left.

AFP

Lakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ingram expected to miss remainder of NBA season LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram is expected to miss the remainder of the NBA season because of a right shoulder injury, the team announced Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Ingram, who has missed two games,

underwent more tests on the injury from the Lakers medical staff on Friday and doctors discovered a blood clot that formed deep in a vein in his right arm.

The 21-year-old American, selected second overall by the Lakers in the 2016 NBA draft, has averaged 18.3 points, 5.1

rebounds and 3.0 assists in 52 games this season as a teammate of four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James.

At 30-35, the Lakers are level with Minnesota for 10th place in the Western Conference but 6.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth and

final West playoff berth with 17 games remaining in the regular season.

Ingram served a four-game suspension early in the season for an October on-court fight against Houston and missed seven games in December with a sprained left ankle.

AFP

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Sports

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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MONDAY March 11, 2019

Lady Tams slip past Adamson, extend win streak to 3

Unnoticed PH softball, baseball feats OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

EDDIE G. ALINEA

F

AR Eastern University (FEU) escaped Adamson University, 25-18, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-8, to remain unbeaten in three games in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lady Tamaraws bucked a fourth set meltdown en route to joining De La Salle University and University of Sto. Tomas that are holding similar 4-2 records at No. 3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just told my players to get back (after that fourth set),â&#x20AC;? said FEU head coach George Pascua. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I reminded them to stick to our objective and double their effort.â&#x20AC;?

Veteran hitter Heather Anne Guino-o notched a career-high 20 points anchored on 17 kills and three service aces. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It (career-high) was not on my mind.

I was just thinking of how I can help the team,â&#x20AC;? said Guino-o.

Rookie spiker Lycha Ebon chipped in 17 points while third-year blocker Celine Domingo added 14 markers for FEU. Third-year libero Ria Duremdes shone on defense with her 44 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.

With the win-loss tally at one set apiece, FEU raced to a 19-10 lead on France Ronquilloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s down the line spike.

The Lady Falcons fought hard to foil the Lady Tamarawsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; charge to forge a deciding kFTH FRAME FEU took an early 8-3 advantage but Joy Dacoron scored three straight points to push Adamson within 6-8.

The Lady Tamaraws regrouped and

closed out the game with a 7-2 run capped

by Domingoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block.

Team skipper Eli Soyud led Adamson with 14 points while Joy Dacoron and Bern Flora had 13 and 11 markers, respectively.

The Lady Falcons fell to a joint sixth with National University on an identical 1-4 slate.

In the main game at press time, Ateneo De Manila University (3-1) and University of the Philippines (3-1) are clashing for the solo lead.

Earlier in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side, leading team FEU posted its sixth straight win after sweeping Adamson, 25-18, 25-23, 25-23.

Richard Solis and Jude Garcia powered the Tamaraw Spikers with 12 points apiece while John Paul Bugaoan chipped in 11 markers.

Paolo Pablico had 12 points and George Labang Jr. had 11 markers for the No. 3 Falcons, who plummeted to their second consecutive defeat after a three-win start.

Gian Carlo Glorioso shone as Ateneo took down bottom-dweller UP, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-13, for a share of third.

Glorioso exploded with 20 points built on 13 attacks and six blocks, propelling the Blue Spikers to their third triumph against two losses while sending the -AROON 3PIKERS TO THEIR kFTH LOSS IN AS many outings.

P

Q FEU captain Jerrili Malabanan whacks the ball through the defenses of Joy Dacoron and Mary Jane Igao during the Season 81 UAAP womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ&#x2018;ADA

Tan-Rodriguez, Abdilla-Lopez shine in Puerto Galera BEA TAN and Dij Rodriguez and Ranran Abdilla and Jessie Lopez copped the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s titles in the BVR on Tour Amazing Puerto Galera Dreamwave Open on Sunday at the Dreamwave White Beach in Puerto Galera.

Representing Team Amazing Puerto Galera, Tan and Rodriguez bagged their debut title as partners with a masterful 21-15, 21-14 conquest of Team XentroMallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Derie Rosales and MJ Ebro.

Abdilla and Lopez, also of Team Amazing

Puerto Galera, notched a 21-17, 21-14 win Team XentroMallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KR Guzman and Krung Arbasto, for a perfect campaign.

Finishing with a 4-0 record, Tan and Rodriguez overpowered Team Dreamwaveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roma Joy and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-12, 21-13, earlier in the day.

Tan and Rodriguez dominated the final with well-placed shots at the net, defense and service.

Tan previously won the Puerto Galera championship with Charo Soriano last year.

Rosales and Ebro, who are members of University of Santo Tomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; deep beach volleyball pool, topped the Doromal sisters, 21-16, 21-15, to make it to the championship game.

Abdilla and Lopez scored a 21-18, 21-15 victory over Team Dreamwaveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto to arrange a title duel with Guzman and Arbasto.

Playing under brutal noontime heat, Guzman and Arbasto bested Jade Becaldo and Fort Llores,

21-13, 21-18.

Play stopped in the second set of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s championship match, as Guzman felt discomfort in his body when the Abdilla-Lopez pair was leading, 15-12. The game was eventually resumed, as Guzman tried to put up a valiant fight but faltered.

The second leg of the beach volleyball circuit will be held at Santa Fe, Bantayan Island in Cebu on March 23 to 24.

UAAP WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOFTBALL

UP stops Adamsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning streak at seven UNIVERSITY of the Philippines claimed the biggest victim in the defending champion and erstwhile undefeated Adamson University on Saturday that rocked the UAAP

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Lady Maroons stymied the Lady Falcons, who looked to have risen on the wrong

side of their beds, to measly two hits in a 3-0 shutout in the process cutting their victimsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; six-game winning run besides strengthening their chances of advancing into the next spelled doom on Adamsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid to keep its immaculate record intact.

Ateneo, still winless at the start of the day, only needed a three-hit, one run salvo at the bottom of the third inning in dealing University of the East its seventh defeat in nine outings.

4HAT kNALLY MOVED THE ,ADY Eagles into the win column following an eight-game losing start.

An outhit La Salle, not to be outdone, completed what turned out a bleak moment for the big guns by eking out a close 6-5 triumph over erstwhile second-running National University in what set the tone for a day of reversals.

Despite that initial setback, the Lady Falcons remained at the top of the seven-team standing with

round with an improved 5-4 win-loss slate.

A two-run explosion, ignited by UP third BASE GIRL *ULIET /MUL IN THE kFTH INNING AND a solo homerun by Omul herself in the sixth their superior 7-win, 1-loss card.

The shake up in the standing occurred from the second to seventh places with the La Salle softbelles, now at 6-3, assuming second and dropping Lady Bulldogs, 5-3, to third.

The Lady Maroons climbed from sixth to fourth at 5-4, followed by the idle Tigresses, 4-4, the Lady Warriors, 2-7, and the Lady Eagles remaining at the bottom at 1-8.

The four squads with the best win-loss slate after the two-round eliminations advance to THE SEMIkNALS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, you simply canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em all,â&#x20AC;? Adamson coach Ana Santiago said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang ganda ng simula namin sa umpisa pa lang ng tournament, ngayon biglang nawala ang palo.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good, ngayong kaaga pa lang nangyari ito and not on the stage where we need to win. Tutulog-tulog ang mga bata, siguro kailangang pukpukin sa ensayo para magising,â&#x20AC;? Santiago, who is seeking for a 10th title in nine years, said. EDDIE G. ALINEA

Metropac-San Beda U, CEU dispute early group lead METROPAC-SAN BEDA University and Centro Escolar University (CEU) clash for the early group leadership in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA DLeague) today at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Movers and the Scorpions collide at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. tussle between Valencia City Bukidnon-San Sebastian College and SMDC-National University (NU).

Metropac-San Beda, CEU and Valencia City-San Sebastian are sharing the top spot of the 10-team Foundation Group with identical 2-0 records.

Multi-titled D-League tactician Boyet Fernandez wants his second-stringers to continue their aggressiveness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The guys coming off the bench are stepping up and proving that they are capable of playing. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really our focus right now,â&#x20AC;? said Fernandez.

Fernandez will lean on holdovers AC Soberano, Calvin Oftana and Evan Nelle while hoping to get contributions from Prince Etrata and Peter Alfaro off the bench.

Metropac-San Beda is coming off a 94-70

beating of Wangs Basketball on February 28.

Up against the National Collegiate Athletic Association three-peat seeking CEU, head coach Derrick Pumaren demands an A-game from his Scorpions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are a tough team. Hopefully, we come out, show up and step up to the challenge. This will be a good gauge for us,â&#x20AC;? said Pumaren, whose team recently ruled the National Capital Region Athletic Association.

Pumaren will bank on Senegalese center Malick Diouf and veterans Rich Guinitaran, Tyron Chan and Keanu Caballero as the Scorpions seek to follow-up their 90-65 romp over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. Meanwhile, Valencia City-San Sebastian is also on a hunt for a third win against the winless SMDC-NU (0-2).

The Golden Harvest trounced heavyweight Marinerong Pilipino and Cha DaoFar Eastern University in its first two games while the Bulldogs have had a losing start against the same teams.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

OOR softball and baseball, two team sports, outside of basketball, which Filipinos have been lording it over our neighbors in the region at least in the lowly Southeast Asian Games.

While Filipino dribblers have won all SEA Games gold medals since the country was admitted in the SEAG Federation ranks in 1977, except once in 1989, our Philippine Blu Girls have brought home the championship trophy from all nine Games editions with womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball in the calendar of events.

Yes, the Blu Girls took the titles unbeaten in 1979 in Indonesia, 1981 in Manila, 1987 in Indonesia, 1997, 2001 in Malaysia, 1991 in Manila, 1997 in Indonesia, 2005 in the Philippines, 2007 in Thailand, 2011 in Indonesia and 2015 in Singapore.

And they, too, are expected to dominate in this 2019 staging of the Games the country is hosting this coming August to September.

Based on the only records available, baseball was contested in the SEA Games editions of 2005 2007 and 2011 with the Filipino ballplayers emerging winners in 2005 and 2011.

If memory serves this OUTSIDER right, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national pastime was also played two or three more times in the BIENNIAL MEET AMONG THE kNEST ATHLETES in the Southeast Asian region.

Incidentally, except also for basketball, softball and baseball are the only two other team sports that gifted this poor country and its downtrodden people a PAIR OF BRONZE MEDAL kNISHES IN THE WORLD championships.

The Blu Girls, in fact, came four years ahead of our basketball team in handing the Philippines that precious software when the squad headed by left-handed PITCHER *ULITA 4AYO kNISHED THIRD IN THE World Championship held 1970 in Osaka, Japan.

Our basketeers, led by Carlos â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Differenceâ&#x20AC;? Loyzaga, duplicated the feat in 1954 during their own world tourney in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Tayo, playing out of softball-player-rich San Miguel, Bulacan was later adjudged the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;best left-handedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pitcher in the world, while â&#x20AC;&#x153;King Caloyâ&#x20AC;? Loyzaga, a product of street leagues in Sampaloc in Manila, was named member of the world mythical selection.

Also four years later in 1954, Tayo and the Blu Girls ended up fourth in the same world tilt held in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The Blu Boys, led by another legend Filomeno â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boyâ&#x20AC;? Codinera, wound up fourth in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of the worlds in 1968 in Oklahoma, USA, where the former Sugar Baron belted out seven doubles in a single game placing his name and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Still two years earlier in 1966, Codinera, again headed a national baseball team that stashed away with the bronze medal IN THE kRST 7ORLD !MATEUR #HAMPIONSHIP held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Now, why am I relaying to you our dear The Manila Times readers all these?

One day, while strolling around Harrison Plaza, I chanced upon a member of the Blu Girls, who I asked when the opening of the UAAP baseball and softball tournaments will be. She told me: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aba, nagsimula na, Sir. Second round na nga ng both tournaments today eh.â&#x20AC;?

So, I went straight to the vintage Rizal Memorial ballpark and saw defending womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball champion Adamson sweep the opening round of the tworound eliminations.

I wrote the story and came back the following day to cover the baseball games only to be greeted by teasing comments by a handful fans of the two sports: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang liit naman ng istorya mo, nasa ibaba pa ng sports page. Bakit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung ibang sports, ang laki ng mga istorya, dalawa at minsan tatlo pa sa isang page. Eh ang softball at baseball nananalo naman ng medalya sa international competitions halos ayaw ilabas.â&#x20AC;&#x153; Stunned by the question, I just smiled and shrugged everything off saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;At least ang The Manila Times kinokober at inilalabas ang istorya nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;yo. Just wait till THE SEMIkNAL ROUND mabibigyan din kayo na ng malaki-laking ispasyo.â&#x20AC;?

Of course I know the answers to their queries, but I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t betray what the real reasons why, to many, Philippine sports is dying.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 11, 2019

Sports

Fitzpatrick grabs lead, McIlroy charges in PGA Bay Hill showdown

M

IAMI: Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Matthew Fitzpatrick kRED A BOGEY FREE kVE UNDER PAR Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to seize a ONE STROKE LEAD OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION 2ORY -C)LROY AFTER THE THIRD ROUND OF THE 53 0'! !RNOLD 0ALMER )NVITATIONAL Fitzpatrick, a 24-year-old seekING HIS kRST 53 0'! TITLE AFTER kVE European Tour triumphs, stood on nine-under 207 for 54 holes at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.

Four-time major winner McIlroy, who would complete the career Grand Slam by winning NEXT MONTH S -ASTERS kRED A to join pal Fitzpatrick in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kNAL PAIRING â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a fun day,â&#x20AC;? Fitzpatrick said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become good friends with him. He has got a ton of fans over here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put myself in a good position. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to it.â&#x20AC;?

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aaron Baddeley, Eng-

landâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Matt Wallace and American Kevin Kisner shared third on 209 but McIlroy, who began the day seven adrift, said plenty of rivals are within reach of the title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so bunched,â&#x20AC;? McIlroy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still say the 2- and UNDERS STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO win the tournament.â&#x20AC;?

World number 44 Fitzpatrick, never better than a share of sevENTH IN A 53 0'! EVENT OPENED with a nine-foot birdie, added a three-footer to birdie the par-5 fourth, began the back nine with a 10-foot birdie putt and added two more at the par-4 TH FROM FEET PLUS A TAP IN

at the par-5 16th. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just played really smart,â&#x20AC;? said Fitzpatrick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been driving it pretty solid all week. Did the same today. Hit a lot of greens. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to play smart and stick to your shots and hit the greens. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting harder out there.â&#x20AC;?

Northern Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s McIlroy BIRDIED FOUR OF THE kRST SIX HOLES and three of the last our holes while taking his lone bogey at the par-4 eighth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just been trying to play high cuts into every single pin I can look at. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only way I feel like I can stop the ball near the pin,â&#x20AC;?

McIlroy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew the key for me today was to hit fairways. The greens are so pure. Whenever you start them on line they have a good chance.â&#x20AC;?

Sixth-ranked McIlroy put his APPROACH TO kVE FEET AND MADE BIRDIE AT THE PAR SECOND THEN sank an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-4 third.

After a three-putt par at the PAR kFTH -C)LROY SANK A FOOT BIRDIE PUTT AT THE kFTH AND THEN blasted from a greenside bunker inches from the cup on the way to a birdie at the par-5 sixth.

He escaped nine with a par after â&#x20AC;&#x153;probably the worst mud ball Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had... it was good to get away with a four there.â&#x20AC;?

-C)LROY S FEROCIOUS kNISH SAW him sink short tap-in birdies at 15 and the par-5 16th then sink A NINE FOOT PAR PUTT AT THE PAR 17th and drop a birdie putt from the same distance at 18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was nice for that one to go in to cap off a really good round,â&#x20AC;?

McIlroy said.

Friday leaders fade McIlroy has not won since taking last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crown at Bay Hill, his 14th career PGA victory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This golf course has played much tougher from the beginning

C3

Q Matthew Fitzpatrick of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard at the Bay Hill Club on Sunday in Orlando, Florida. AFP PHOTO

compared to previous years,â&#x20AC;? McIlroy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The course is going to get tougher as it goes along. g4HE GREENS ARE GETTING SO kRM and so fast out there, anything above the hole youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have trouble getting it to stop.â&#x20AC;?

McIlroy won major titles at the 53 /PEN THE AND

PGA Championship and the 2014 British Open.

Second-round co-leaders +EEGAN "RADLEY OF THE 5NITED States and Tommy Fleetwood of England faded, Bradley firing 75 to finish three back and Fleetwood shooting 76 to stand four adrift.

AFP

Mendez, Kahlefeldt seek Alveo IRONMAN repeat Pinays, Thais brace for MEXICAN Mauricio Mendez and Radka Kahlefeldt of the Czech Republic gear up for a tougher, challenging face-off with the very best in long-distance triathlon races as they go for back-to-back in the !LVEO )2/.-!. $AVAO PRESENTED

by Petron on March 24.

The duo bested a crack roster of rivals in contrasting fashions to rule the inaugural staging of the event at Azuela Cove LAST YEAR WITH -ENDEZ

AND +AHLEFELDT completing a â&#x20AC;&#x153;doubleâ&#x20AC;? by ruling the !SIA 0ACIkC #HAMPIONSHIP IN #EBU LAST August.

That should make them the marked bets in the upcoming 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run even organized and conducted by Sunrise Events, Inc., which HAD LURED CLOSE TO ENTRIES FROM countries with Mendez out to better his MARK OF IN COME FROM BEHIND manner and Kahlefeldt seeking to imPROVE HER WINNING TIME CLINCHED in wire-to-wire fashion.

They include 16 pro triathletes clashing not only for top honors but also for World Championship berths with noted Aussies Tim Reed, Sam Betten and Tim Van Berkel, Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Markus Rolli, Frenchman Antony Costes and Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eric Watson joining the title hunt.

Out to foil Kahlefeldtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title-retention drive are veteran Phl campaigners Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Dimity Lee Duke of Australia with Guamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manami Iijima, who topped the Subic 5150 late last year.

The event, featuring individual and relay competitions, has also drawn camPAIGNERS FROM 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES

Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, 5KRAINE )NDIA -ALAYSIA 1ATAR THE 53

Belgium, Spain, Italy, New Caledonia, Singapore; South Africa, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Korean, Norway, Thailand, Switzerland, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Guam, Mexico, Panama and Taiwan.

3%) FOUNDER 7ILFRED 5YTENGSU HAS guaranteed another successful staging of the event with Davao emerging as the new triathlon destination with the all-out SUPPORT OF THE CITY OFkCIALS For details, visit the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at

LPGT Southwoods duel THE countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top guns and a host of Thai aces gear up for another fierce showdown as action in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour resumes Tuesday with the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship at the Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.

Princess Superal, Pauline del Rosario, Cyna Rodriguez and Chihiro Ikeda set out against the likes of multi-titled LPGT winner Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Supakchaya Pattaranakruean, Saraporn Chamchoi and Chonlada Chayanun in what promises to be a slambang chase for top honors in the 54-hole championship serving as the sixth leg of LPGTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018-19 circuit put up by ICTSI. They actually all saw action in last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Country Club Ladies Invitational ruled by world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park with amateur Yuka Saso humbling the local and foreign pros by taking up the challenge to the fancied Korean in all three days and eventually taking runner-up honors.

Superal, the reigning LPGT Order of Merit champion, was the best-placed at fourth behind Saso and LPGA campaigner Dottie Ardina with the diminutive former US Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Junior champion hard-

Experiencing football as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant to be 0ART E were also given access to the press conference area, mixed zone, and media working area of Allianz Arena, which was for me truly impressive.

After the match, our entourage was also given an exclusive post-match interview in a separate room, with its top-notch players, Thomas Mueller and Joshua Kimmich. +IMMICH WAS THE kRST ONE TO ENTER THE room, and gamely replied to the questions of the media, which involved one of them asking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many female fans would like to know, are you keeping your moustache?â&#x20AC;?

To which he replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, they would have to wait, you think they like it or not? If they like it, then it is perfect for themâ&#x20AC;ŚI will keep it.â&#x20AC;?

He was also asked by a Korean reporter about his 2018 World Cup experience, while playing for Germany, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who was the MOST DIFkCULT PLAYER YOU PLAYED AGAINST during the match against Korea? And what was your memory of the match?â&#x20AC;?

He replies, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember the game (laughs). It was a tough game, we had to win, but unfortunately, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

They played strongly, they defended well, and they had quick players for the counter-attack, and I think they scored the first goal after corner, I think we made a mistake, then they scored. It was a tough game.â&#x20AC;?

Thomas Mueller was the next one to be asked a round of questions by our group.

Mueller turned out to be both charming and charismatic, and had a natural COMEDIC lAIR (E WAS ASKED BY ONE REporter about his viral video, in which he was dancing with a horse, he then asked

W

Q Mauricio Mendez (left) and Radka Kahlefeldt hope to anchor their respective title-retention bids in the closing run stage the way they did the first time out.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS WWW IRONMAN COM DAVAO Other SEI-organized and produced events this year are the Sun Life 5150 Cebu ON !PRIL THE #ENTURY )RONMAN Subic on June 2, the Penongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5150 Davao on July 7, the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 0HILIPPINES ON !UG THE "LACK !Rrow Express 5150 Subic on Oct. 27 and the Sun Life Cycle PH in November.

5SHERING IN THE SECOND !LVEO )2/.MAN is the Sun Life Bike Course Ride Out, the IronKids, the IronGirl, and the )RONMAN $AVAO %XPO AT THE 4ENT ON March 17.

Backers of the event are title sponsor Alveo, an AyalaLand company, presentor Petron, venue hosts Lungsod ng Dabaw, Azuela Cove and the Enderun Tent, bike course partners Davao del Norte, Panabo, 4AGUM AND #ARMEN OFkCIAL COURIER AND logistics partner 2Go Express, official SWIM CAP 492 OFkCIAL ENERGY GEL '5

OFkCIAL NUTRITION 6ITARGO OFkCIAL EYEWEAR Rudy Project, and Aboitiz Power, Davao Light, Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salon, Davao Metro Shuttle, Prudential Guarantee, and media partners ONE Sports on Cignal, the Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTri.com and Finisher Pix.

Cliff Diving World Series comes to PH THE 11th season of Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will come to the Miniloc )SLAND IN %L .IDO 0ALAWAN FOR THE kRST TIME ON !PRIL Seven-time menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s champion Gary Hunt OF THE 5NITED +INGDOM AND THREE TIME REIGNING WOMEN S TITLIST 2HIANNAN )FlAND of Australia lead the cast of 24 professional cliff divers from 18 countries that will vie for supremacy in the annual tournament.

Cliff diving is a demanding sport that requires concentration, physical control and diving skills from heights of up to 27 meters (88 feet) at speeds of 85 km/h.

International judges will score each diver based on their take-off, position in

pressed to dish out a better, stronger performance to get a crack at another crown.

Focus will also be on young Korean Hwang Min Jeong, who edged Superal by one to win the Splendido Ladies Classic last January to mark her pro debut in style. But Hwang will be as much tested as the rest of the 46-player field all primed up for battle in scorching heat at the bunkerladen par-72 layout.

Eleven amateurs are also in the fold, including Sofia Chabon, Eagle Ace Superal, Mafy Singson, Laurea Duque, Sam Dizon, Sunshine Baraquiel and Junia Gabasa.

Other pros seeing action in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed

by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. are Malaysian siblings Aishah, Shahira and Ezrina Che Omar, Japanese Ayaka Morimitsu and Natsuki Kishikawa, Koreans Lee Jeong Hwa, Hyun Ji Rho and Choeun Bang, Taiwanese Hsien Wen Huang and Hsuan Ping Chang, Tatiana Wijaya of Indonesia and Lisa Kang of the US.

the air and entry in the water.

Round 1 and 2 of the competition will be held in the Small Lagoon, which boasts of towering limestone rocks and corals.

-ORE DIFkCULT OPTIONAL DIVES CAN BE performed in the Big Lagoon featuring pointed limestone cliffs.

With El Nido included in the El NidoTaytay Managed Resource Protected Area, Red Bull has partnered with Clean Cliffs Project to conduct educational and cleanup workshops in the island. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The grant to hold the event in a national park is not merely to draw more tourists, but to show the world our efforts to protect and preserve this paradise from

the threats of mass tourism,â&#x20AC;? said Carolyn Esmenda, protected area superintendent of the Department of Environment and National Resources-MIMAROPA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I personally think the event can help convey to the world the need to protect paradises like ours through responsible tourism,â&#x20AC;? added Esmenda.

After the El Nido stop, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will head to Dublin, Ireland on May 12, Polignano a Mare, Italy on June 2, SĂŁo Miguel, Azores, Portugal on June 22, Beirut, Lebanon on July 14, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 24 and Bilbao, Spain on September 14.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

the same reporter to join him in front for a demo, as he taught him his dance moves. And he ends by saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We only need music, then You Tube, then boom.â&#x20AC;?

Mueller continues, g&ROM MY NATURE ) TRY TO kND SOME WORDS

some expressions which can provoke a little bit, and make you laugh, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to be funny, but I try to be happy everyday.â&#x20AC;?

A Malaysian reporter also asked him about his former coach at Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth academy, Lim Teong Kim, also from Malaysia. Mueller said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was my coach two (2) years in the youth academy. He was THE kRST COACH FROM WHOM ) HEARD TACTICS from, the basics of professional football - I learned from him. Maybe for example, the overlap moveâ&#x20AC;ŚHe was a very clever guy, I liked him a lot.â&#x20AC;?

He was also asked about Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chances in the Champions League, and his football skills, to which, he says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In my opinion, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that special, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just that I try to be clever, to make clever runs, maybe make the run more often than the opponent, maybe it is football intelligence, combined with good reactions, and some technical skills.â&#x20AC;?

And when asked if he felt like living his dream, having grown up in the Munich area, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think for the last 10 years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played for this team, and maybe for THE kRST MOMENT IT FELT LIKE LIVING THE dream. But after you get more and more experience, you feel comfortable and a little bit normal to live this life, and everyday to have this kind of pressure. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that special anymore, but to be out in the pitch and win every game, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I like more.â&#x20AC;?

SHE'S GOT GAME

CHARMAINE CRUZ

Football Messi, Suarez lead Barca to Rayo M C4

MONDAY March 11, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Q Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (second left) vies for the ball with Rayo Vallecanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spanish midfielder Santi Comesana during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. AFP PHOTO

!$2)$ ,I !$2)$ ,IONEL L-ESSI I AND D ,,UIS I 33UAREZ might have been rested but instead both played and scored as Barcelona came FROM BEHIND TO BEAT 2AYO 6ALLECANO ON 3ATURDAY 3UNDAY IN -ANILA AHEAD OF THEIR CRUNCH Champions League second leg against Lyon.

Raul de Tomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scintillating strike gave struggling Rayo a surprise lead at the Camp Nou but Messi converted a penalty and 3UAREZ kNISHED A BRILLIANT PASSING MOVE TO SEAL A WIN AFTER Gerard Pique had headed in an equaliser.

When Barca kicked off, Atletico Madrid had just completed their own 1-0 victory over Leganes, although Diego Simeone was more cautious, resting Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Saul Niguez, with Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip to Juventus in mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is normal when there is an important game on Tuesday,â&#x20AC;? said Simeone, who substituted Griezmann at half-time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was not injured, he had just given all that he had to give.â&#x20AC;?

There was always a risk that La Ligaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top two might take their eye off the ball, given Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last 16-tie with Lyon hangs in the balance after a goalless draw in

France, while Atletico hold a 2-0 lead over Juve but can expect an onslaught in Turin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a crucial match on Wednesday,â&#x20AC;? Ernesto Valverde said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know the importance it has for many reasons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because of the opponent, the competition and because we have seen what has happened to other big teams already.â&#x20AC;?

Yet both avoided slip-ups to leave Real Madrid even further adrift in La Liga before they play away at Real Valladolid on Sunday.

Barca stay seven points clear of Atletico and, temporarily at least, move 15 ahead of Real.

Even with a two-goal cushion FOR THE kNAL EIGHT MINUTES %RNESTO Valverde kept Messi and Suarez on until the end, which may have surprised some, given he was accused of exhausting key players last season at the expense of success in Europe.

Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance was his

RD FOR "ARCELONA IN ,A ,IGA

moving him ahead of Andres Iniesta and behind only Xavi Hernandez, on 505, in the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time list.

3AMUEL 5MTITI STARTED HIS SECond match in three months after recovering from a knee injury. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little by little he is reaching his level,â&#x20AC;? said Valverde.

Entirely forgettable But Philippe Coutinho was underwhelming again, despite being picked ahead of Ousmane Dembele.

He poked an early chance wide after a Messi cross and De Tomas put Rayo in front soon after, driving at Pique before unleashing a sizzling shot past Marc-Andre ter

Stegen.

Pique headed one Messi freekick wide and then another in at the near post, nipping in front of Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski to nod in his sixth goal of the season.

Dembele came on for Arthur Melo at half-time and Coutinho dropped deeper, but it was rightback Nelson Semedo that earned the penalty, after a foul from Jordi Amat. Messi made no mistake.

Rayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief, and energy, melted away and Barcaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third was their

best of the night. Suarez freed Dembele down the right and he found Suarez again with a pullback. Instead of shooting, Suarez bounced the ball off Ivan Rakitic IN THE AREA BEFORE kNALLY TAPPING home.

4HERE WAS NOTHING AS FREE lOWing at the Wanda Metropolitano where perhaps the greatest show of creativity came from Leganes, whose players wore shirts with the name of their mothers on their backs to celebrate International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day on Friday.

4HE kRST HALF WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY forgettable but despite the absence of attacking punch, Griezmann came off at half-time for Thomas Lemar, with no visible sign of an injury.

Griezmann would have taken the penalty soon after, won by Angel Correa with some quick feet in the area, which lured Kenneth Omeruo into a clumsy challenge.

Saul stepped up and missed, but tucked in the rebound after Andriy Lunin could only push the ball back into his path.

AFP

Piatek â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kung fuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal rescues Milan at Chievo Sterling hat trick takes City four clear MILAN: Krzysztof Piatek struck again to rescue a 2-1 win for AC Milan at bottom club Chievo on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), keeping their Champions League PUSH kRMLY ON TRACK BUT THE 0OLish striker was accused of scoring with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kung fuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kick.

Piatek joined Milan from Genoa in January and has now scored eight goals in nine matches, as the club notched up a fifth straight league win to remain unbeaten since before Christmas.

Returning from injury, Lucas Biglia opened with a curling free KICK AFTER MINUTES IN 6ERONA )T was just his second goal for Milan AND kRST SINCE &EBRUARY LAST YEAR Finnish midfielder Perparim Hetemaj got his head to the end of Leris cross to pull the hosts level four minutes before the break.

But once again Piatek proved crucial, scoring the winner after 57 minutes in controversial circumstances.

4HE YEAR OLD MET 3AMU #AStillejoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s header amid a goalmouth scramble, during which the Pole looked to have struck a Chievo player while attempting an overhead kick.

A VAR review confirmed the goal to the fury of Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want excuses but in the last six matches all the VAR decisions have gone against us,â&#x20AC;? said Di Carlo, whose side have won just one of 27 games played. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Piatekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move on (Fabio) Depaoli wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t football, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kung fu. g9OU CAN WRITE THE HEADLINE

Q Chievoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senegalese defender El Hadji Assane Diousse (right) tackles AC Milanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek during the Italian Serie A football match Chievo Verona vs AC Milan on Sunday at the Marcantonio-Bentegodi stadium in Verona.

AFP PHOTO

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chievo beaten by a kung fu kick.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Piatek joins Juventus star Cristiano 2ONALDO AND 3AMPDORIA S &ABIO 1UAgliarella on top of the Serie A scorersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chart with 19 goals this season.

Milan consolidate third posiTION TO MOVE kVE POINTS BEHIND second-placed Napoli who travel to Sassuolo on Sunday.

Champions Juventus pulled 19 points clear at the top on Friday with Moise Kean scoring a brace IN A WIN OVER LOWLY 5DINESE Inter Milan, are fourth, four points behind Milan, before hosting SPAL on Sunday.

The Milan teams will go headto-head next weekend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We started off well, controlled the game but we then conceded a

goal and then lost the compass for a moment,â&#x20AC;? said Milan assistant coach Luigi Riccio. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fortunately Krzysztof Piatek got the winner and sorted things out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know the difficulties involved in a derby and wanted to get to that game with this kind of standing. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the right road and want to continue like this.â&#x20AC;?

for the derby, it would be an added bonus for us,â&#x20AC;? said Riccio. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These things happen, Gattuso spoke to the referee afterwards and IT S ALL SORTED OUT !LL CLARIkED u 2OMA IN kFTH THREE POINTS OFF the Champions League places begin life under new coach Claudio Ranieri at home against Empoli on Monday.

Czech midfielder Juraj Kucka Gattuso sees red scored the only goal as Parma ended mid-table rivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Genoaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s However, coach Gennaro Gattuso six-game unbeaten run. was sent to the stands for arguKucka broke through after 78 ing on the sidelines with Chievo minutes against his former club midfielder Riccardo Meggiorini on a rebound after Brazilian goalIN THE kRST HALF AND NOW RISKS A keeper parried his header. suspension for the derby.

Parma overtake Genoa to move â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope Gattuso will be there two places up to 11th position. AFP

Bayern tunes up for Liverpool with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;feel-goodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal spree BERLIN: Bayern Munich warmedup for Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Champions League showdown against Liverpool with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;feel-goodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal spree to seize control of the Bundesliga after a 6-0 battering of Wolfsburg. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a perfect day - it feels GOOD AND IS GOOD FOR SELF CONkDENCE ) THINK WE CAN DEkNITELY win,â&#x20AC;? said goal-scorer Joshua Kimmich with an eye on Liverpool.

This was a polished display from "AYERN IN THEIR kNAL MATCH BEFORE hosting Jurgen Kloppâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Liverpool in the last 16, return leg following A GOALLESS DRAW AT !NkELD Bayern ran riot in Munich as Robert Lewandowski led the way with two goals as Serge Gnabry, James Rodriguez and Kimmich also netted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am very pleased,â&#x20AC;? said head coach Niko Kovac with Bayern back on top of the Bundesliga for the first time since September on goal difference ahead of

Borussia Dortmund. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At no time were we in trouble, we could have scored more and now we are leaders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which is where we want to stay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have another important game on Wednesday, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we want to focus on and win, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see what the future brings.â&#x20AC;?

Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future looks bleak at the Allianz Arena as Lewandowski, who loves scoring against Wolfsburg and now has 20 goals in 17 games against them, netted twice in Munich. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleased with how we played today, that was a good game for the Champions League,â&#x20AC;? said the Polish hotshot, who became the Bundesligaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-scoring foreigner with 197 goals.

Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attack hit top gear with Rodriguez and Mueller, who had a point to prove after being dumped

by Germany, on song.

Rodriguez called the shots in at-

TACKING MIDkELD AND SCORED THEIR third with a brilliant strike.

Mueller gave a classy reply after being told by Germany head coach Joachim Loew on Tuesday, along with Bayern teammates Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels, that his international career is over.

2IBERY AND MIDkELDER ,EON 'ORETZKA BOTH CAME ON FOR THE kNAL MINUTES TO PROVE THEIR kTNESS after injury.

French winger Kingsley Coman, always a threat on the left wing, could also feature against Liverpool after a hamstring injury. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very positive and believe Point to prove that he can play,â&#x20AC;? said Kovac. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to wait for training Mueller set up Gnabry for Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tomorrow (Sunday) Monday and opening goal and then scored with Tuesday.

A CONkDENT BACK HEEL WHILE BOTH â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have four days, which Boateng and Hummels let nothing we want to make good use of.â&#x20AC;? past at centre-back.

Bayern are bidding to reach the â&#x20AC;&#x153;You saw the performance the quarterfinals of the Champions three delivered,â&#x20AC;? added Kovac.

League for the eight season in a row. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was very good and what â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were a little sluggish in we expect from them, I was sure THE kRST MINUTES BUT SCORED of it. some nice goals, prepared well â&#x20AC;&#x153;The way they turned it into for Wednesday and fuelled our positive energy today speaks for SELF CONkDENCE u SAID DIRECTOR OF them, as players and as people.â&#x20AC;? sport Hasan Salihamidzic Kovac will have plenty of opâ&#x20AC;&#x153;I am glad that we can take this tions as veteran winger Franck momentum with us.â&#x20AC;?

AFP

LONDON: Raheem Sterlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rapid secondhalf hat-trick moved Manchester City four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Watford as Tottenhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hopes of a top-four finish faltered again in a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The Saintsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spirited second-half comeback ensured they remain two points above the relegation zone despite Cardiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2-0 win over West Ham, while victory for Brighton and Newcastle also boosted their survival hopes.

City and Sterling had fortune on their side to end Watfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resistence after a goalless first-half.

A minute into the second period Sterling was initially flagged offside as Daryl Janmaatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempted clearance ricocheted off the England winger and into the net.

However, after a long discussion with his assistant, referee Paul Tierney awarded the goal because Janmaatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention meant Sterling was onside. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first goal will be debated. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like this situation but it is what it is. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry if it was offside but we deserved to win,â&#x20AC;? said City boss Pep Guardiola. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Next season, hopefully, we will have VAR and it will be clear.â&#x20AC;?

There was no doubt when Sterling rounded off a fine team move involving David Silva and Riyad Mahrez four minutes later.

Sterling then completed his hat-trick with some neat footwork from Silvaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pass before Watford substitute Gerard Deulofeu pulled a goal back just 22 seconds after coming on.

Spurs on the slide Tottenham reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in midweek, but are now in grave danger of missing out on that competition completely next season.

Mauricio Pochettinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side remain in third but their lead over Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea is a precarious one with all three chasers in action on Sunday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The second-half we did not take it seriously. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to criticise too much but when you lose a game that was under control after 45 minutes, should be 3-0, 4-0 and finishes in 2-1 defeat, it is difficult to accept,â&#x20AC;? said Pochettino, who was serving the

first of a two-game touchline ban. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you lose the momentum after 45 minutes, that is about mentality, that is about being strong and keeping the right. For us, we lost the momentum and gave them relief.â&#x20AC;?

Dele Alli made his return after seven weeks out with a hamstring injury and the England midfielder teed up Harry Kane to score his 200th career goal on 26 minutes.

However, Spursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wastefulness in failing to add to their lead came back to cost them as Ralph Hassenhuettlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men improved markedly after the break and secured a vital three points in their attempt to beat the drop.

Fresh from scoring his first professional goal away to Manchester United last weekend, right-back Yan Valery levelled from Stuart Armstrongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross.

James Ward-Prowse then completed the comeback with a stunning free-kick curled into the top corner to leave Hugo Lloris helpless. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The manager told us to be a bit more aggressive, we sat off them a little in the first half. The second half epitomised everything he has done for us so far,â&#x20AC;? said Ward-Prowse.

Newcastle remain six points above the relegation zone and moved up to 13th after coming from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2.

Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double in the final 25 minutes earned the Magpies a deserved victory after Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison put the visitors in front.

Brendan Rodgers secured his first win as Leicester boss thanks to Jamie Vardyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double to beat Fulham, who are now 13 points adrift of safety, 3-1.

Vardyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first goal was his 100th for the Foxes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showed over the last couple of years that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a world-class striker,â&#x20AC;? said Rodgers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just really glad that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s here. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a brilliant focal point for the team.â&#x20AC;?

Huddersfield also look dead and buried as Bournemouth cruised to their first away win since October with a 2-0 victory at the John Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stadium thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser.

Cardiff, though, gave themselves hope as early goals in each half from Junior Hoilett and Victor Camarasa gave the Welsh side a precious three points over a hugely disappointing West Ham. Brighton also secured a much-needed win to move level on points with rivals Crystal Palace, five above the drop zone, as Anthony Knockaertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunning strike 16 minutes from time earned a 2-1 win.

AFP

Q Manchester Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s English midfielder Raheem Sterling scores his second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Watford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on Sunday.

AFP PHOTO

MONDAY M O N DAY MARC MARCH C H 11, 2019

Entertainment

D1

Long live â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Batâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

www.manilatimes.net

PIA WURTZBACH

Is Miss Universe headed to the Marvel Universe?

A

FTER her interview with Captain Marvel "RIE ,ARSON Â&#x2021; NOW UP ON -ARVEL S OFkCIAL &ACEBOOK PAGE Â&#x2021; IT LOOKS LIKE -ISS 5NIVERSE 0IA 7URTZBACH IMBIBED THE SUPERHERO AURA WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE RED CARPET PREMIERE OF THIS MONTH S BIGGEST SUPERHERO MOVIE

She turned every head at the Mall of Asia Imax Theatre with a feisty hairdo, denim dress and killer white boots. She was both proud and giddy to share her one-on-one with Brie and their conversation on women empowerment, which our Miss U n i ve r s e b e lieves left a pretty good impression on Captain Marvel herself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really kilig because after I did the interview with her, she was already saying goodbye to everyone.

She was about to leave but she came back to me and she shook my hand and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thank you for everything that you do.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sobrang kinilig ako. I really feel like I met a superhero!â&#x20AC;?

Pia then hinted she might be working with Marvel and Disney again for an upcoming project.

Without giving away anything more though, she simply said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fingers crossed, matutuloy pa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung isang pinaplano namin! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always going to be a dream for me to one day play a superhero, so tingnan natin.â&#x20AC;?

NNN Cory Quirino is back in the pageant scene.

A second wind has indeed blown her way with the opportunity to

hone beautiful Filipinas. After winNING THE COUNTRY ITS kRST -ISS 7ORLD via Megan Young when she held the beauty pageant franchise, Quirino told In the Know she accepted an offer to be co-owner and president of Mutya ng Pilipinas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Been there and done that, and now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time once more,â&#x20AC;? she quipped.

It will be remembered that the wellness icon handled the Miss World Philippines franchise from 2011 until 2016 when Catriona Gray competed for the crown in Washington DC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really needed a break and three years is enough so now I am ready to go back,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Quirino has officially taken over Hemily Escudero-Tamayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency in the organization since the latter took her final bow in January, which means Tita Cory will now oversee the 51st edition of Mutya, onwards.

According to the beauty queen maker, her new stint will see her

IN THE KNOW MJ MARFORI

Âťglobalspotlight

Q After interviewing Brie Larson, aka Captain Marvel for the movie series' Facebook page, Pia Wurtzbach said she might be working with Marvel and Disney again. knack of discovering possible candidates from the provinces by going out there herself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kami ang pupunta sa kanila. There are so many beautiful Filipinas all over the country and we have more room for them in this competition.â&#x20AC;?

Asked why she feels revved up to head a pageant again, she easily replied that it is her passion to see Filipinas succeed even after competing for a title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tied up with Ogie Alcasidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent agency and we will give Mutya ng Pilipinas candidates the whole package. Hindi sa beauty pageant ang ending ng kanilang career. It will only be the beginning.â&#x20AC;?

NNN Until next week, ta-ta!

BURBANK, California: To mark the 80th anniversary of Batman, DC unveiled plans for a global commemoration of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greatest Detective. Kicking off at SXSW, the multifaceted campaign for DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Caped Crusader will feature exclusive celebrations, special theatrical engagements, the milestone release of Detective Comics #1000, live events and first-ever Batman brand partnerships.

As fans join together under the campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tagline of #LongLiveTheBat, DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s timeless character will be honored through Batman Day in September when the Bat-Signal lights up in major cities AP PHOTO worldwide.

First appearing as socialite turned crime-fighter Bruce Wayne in Detective Comics #27 on March 30, 1939, the Dark Knight has stood as a symbol of determination, bravery and justice to generations of fans for 80 years.

He has influenced every area of modern entertainment, appearing in countless comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, multiple television series, video games, theme parks and experiences, toys, collectibles, apparel and lifestyle products, as well as blockbuster animated and live-action films.

There have been Batman trading cards, board games and newspaper cartoon strips, and the U.S. Postal Service has even honored Batman with his own postage stamps. Batman is a multi-billion dollar icon who continues to reign as the most popular single Super Hero ever created.

To commemorate this milestone, custom artwork was created that pays homage to Batmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy in all forms of media. The Batman profile pencil design is by beloved longtime DC artist JosĂŠ Luis GarcĂ­a-LĂłpez, and digital paint design is by Admira Wijaya. This graphic will be featured throughout the celebration.

DC will honor #LongLiveTheBat throughout 2019, including Batmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th anniversary on March 30 and Batman Day on September 21. As part of this yearlong celebration, there are many ways fans can participate.

Paying homage to the Super Heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80-year publishing history, DC will present two commemorative books: including the landmark collectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue of DETECTIVE COMICS #1000, on sale at comics shops March 27, and a special hardcover release, DETECTIVE COMICS: 80 YEARS OF BATMAN THE DELUXE EDITION, available March 19.

Experience Batman: SXSW in Austin, Texas, will kick off the global celebration with multiple fan experiences, photo opportunities, limited-edition merchandise and Instagrammable mural by a local artist.

SXSW will also set the stage for an incredible moment when more than 1.5 million bats fly into the night over Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Congress Bridge on March 15.

DC will celebrate Batmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th anniversary with panels at major conventions, including a dedicated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy Birthday, Batman!â&#x20AC;? panel at WonderCon in Anaheim on the actual anniversary, March 30.

AP

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in store for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;GoTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fans in 8th and final season

BY IZA IGLESIAS ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S been more than a year since HBO wrapped up the seventh season of the highly successful epic fantasy drama series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;? (GoT). To imagine how fans all over the world are at the edge of their seats counting down the days to the eighth season that will premiere in April, it may be helpful and very interesting to know that since GoT aired Season 7 on n July 16, 2017, viewership has gone beyond 30 million per episode, sode, counting besides TV the new platforms HBO Now and HBO Go apps.

Recognition-wise, the show most recently received 22 nominations at the 70th h Primetime Emmy Awards last st year and winning Outstanding ing Drama Series, while cast memember Peter Dinklage took home me the Outstanding Supporting Actor tor in a Drama Series plum. &OR THOSE THINKING OF kNALLY NALLY watching Game of Throness â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if any are left â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is for your infornformation that GoT is adapted from George R. R. Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantasy ntasy d series novel, A Song of Ice and Fire. 4HE kRST BOOK IS TITLED A

second story arc focuses on the last descendant of the realmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deposed ruling dynasty, who has been exiled and plotting a return to the throne. The third story arc follows the Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Watch, a longstanding brotherhood charged with defending the realm against the ancient threats of the fierce peoples and legendary creatures that lie far north of The Wall, with an impending winter threating the realm.

CASES MORE SO THAN kLM 7HAT theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing is monumentalâ&#x20AC;?.

Co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, on the other hand, spoke about the end of the series, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the beginning weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to tell a 70-hour movie.

It will turn out to be a 73-hour movie, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stayed relatively the same of having the beginning, middle and now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming to the end. It would have been really tough if we lost any core cast members along the way, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve kept everyone and we GET TO kNISH IT THE WAY WE WANT TO u It has also been revealed that one episode this year will revolve around a huge battle at Winterfell between some of our favorite characters and the Q Kit Harington as Jon Snow and Emilia Clarke Army of as Daenerys Targaryen. the Dead, in what c o n c l u d e d i n sons, Season 8 will be may be the July 2018. All based on an outline of LONGEST kGHT cast members THE TWO kNAL PRESENTs c e n e e ve r whose characters ly-unpublished novQ Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister. committed survive the events of Season els in George R.R. TO kLM 7 are expected to return for Season Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Song â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we 8, some of them include main of Ice and Fire se- Q Peter Dinklage as have asked characters Peter Dinklage as Lord ries , The Winds Tyrion Lannister. the production 7HAT TO EXPECT Hand Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj of Winter and A Dream team and crew to After seven fascinating years, Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lan- of Spring "UT UNLIKE THE kRST SIX do this year truly has never HBO released the official full nister, Lena Headey as Queen seasons that each had ten episodes been done in television or in a trailer of the highly-anticipated Cersei Lannister, Emilia Clarke and the seventh that had seven movie,â&#x20AC;? co-executive producer EIGHTH AND kNAL SEASON OF 'AME OF as Queen Daenerys Targaryen, Kit episodes, the eighth season will Bryan Cogman told EntertainThrones on March 6. The last sea- Harington as Jon Snow/Aegon have only six episodes. ment Weekly. son will debut in Asia same time as Targaryen, Sophie Turner as Lady In an interview with Entertaing4HIS kNAL FACE OFF BETWEEN THE the US on April 15 exclusively on Sansa Stark, and Maisie Williams ment Weekly, HBO programming Army of the Dead and the army HBO GO and HBO with new epi- as Arya Stark. president Casey Bloys stated that sodes premiering every Monday.

The major exception, however, INSTEAD OF THE SERIES kNALE BEING of the living is completely unprecedented and relentless and a It is presumed to end on May 19. is Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand), a feature film, the final season mixture of genres even within the Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what The Manila Times WHO CONkRMED HER ROLE HAS ENDED would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;six one-hour moviesâ&#x20AC;? battle. There are sequences built knows about Season 8 so far: even if Ellariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exact fate is some- on television. He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The within sequences built within Season 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s filming officially what ambiguous. show has proven that TV is every sequences. David and Dan [wrote] began on October 23, 2017, and Like the sixth and seventh sea- bit as impressive and in many

Âťtvlandia'slatest

Game of Thrones.

3ET ON THE kCTIONAL CONTINENTS of Westeros and Essos, the show Â&#x2021; WHICH kRST PREMIERED IN IN April 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has multiple plots and a large ensemble cast, all folLOWING THREE STORY ARCS 4HE kRST arc is about the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, and follows A WEB OF ALLIANCES AND CONlICTS among the noble dynasties, either vying to claim the throne OR kGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE 4HE

an amazing puzzle and Miguel came in and took it apart and put it together again. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been exhausting but I think it will blow everybody away.â&#x20AC;?

According to some theories, it seems fair to assume season eight will largely concern itself with the final battle between the living and the dead, as well as Cerseiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempts to doublecross her new allies Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.

Radiotimes.com wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems likely that Cersei will recruit legendary mercenary army The Golden Company, a group who appeared in an unused storyline from George RR Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novels and who were referenced multiple times in season seven.

Marc Rissman has reportedly been cast as the leader of The Golden Company, Harry Strickland.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also seems likely the new episodes will explore Jonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true identity as the rightful King of Westeros, as well as Theon Greyjoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Alfie Allen) attempts to rescue his sister Yara (Gemma Whelan) from the clutches of his evil uncle Euron (Pilou Asbaek),â&#x20AC;? it added.

Other rumors from filming include an epic battle inside the Throne Room of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing, the death of several major characters and a shock execution that may leave audiences gasping.

Indeed, a new Game of Thrones season means one thing: social media pages are about to BE lOODED Â&#x2021; ONCE AGAIN Â&#x2021; WITH phrases and memes that some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand. So why not get in on the excitement while thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still time catch up on previous seasons before GoT takes over HBO on April 15.

D2

Funtimes

MONDAY March 11, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/11/19). Take your career to new heights this year. Connect and network for mutual benefit. Love enchants you anew this summer, inspiring resolution of a team challenge.

Winter brings shared victory that sparks a romantic or creative reboot. Share love, talents and resources for common growth.

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

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Compute expenses and make sure bills are paid before spending on nonessentials. Discipline and experience make the difference. Advance to the next level.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- You know what you want; go for it! Make powerful requests. Help coordinate the action.

Acknowledge supporters graciously. Dreams come true with leadership and commitment.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Peaceful productivity suits your mood. Organize and make plans behind closed doors. Plot your course toward realizing a dream. Visualize getting what you want.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Offer encouragement and a positive vision. Your team is especially hot! Set long-range goals, and share possibilities. Invite participation, and find solutions together.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- A career opportunity comes into focus. This could be a lucky break. Major obstacles are in the past. Listen to your dreams. Blend positive impact with fun.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Travel and action flow more freely. Pay attention to what’s going on. The news can affect your itinerary or route. Make a long-distance connection.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Invest in the highest quality you can afford. Make plans for long-term growth. Collaborate with someone who shares your interests. Resist the temptation to spend frivolously.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Work quickly and carefully with your partner. Coordinate your response. Avoid provoking jealousies. Provide a stabilizing influence. A rush job could preempt scheduled programming.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Find ways to increase the efficiency of your routine movements. Physical energy can surge when inspired by a dream. Balance action with peace and stillness.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Emotions could surge with a loved one. Address an uncomfortable situation head on. Get advice and make your own decisions, sensitive to another’s needs. Relax together.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Things get busy at home. Make household repairs and upgrades to reduce the impact of a potential breakdown. Keep your patience, humor and cool.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Catch up on the QHZV .HHS \RXU ¿QJHU RQ WKH SXOVH RI FXUUHQW HYHQWV ZLWK \RXU QHWworks. Share updates and interesting information. Get your message out.

(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

» SUDOKU

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.

3/11/19

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Expats&Diplomats

MONDAY March 11, 2019

D3

Ceramic art collaboration between Israel and PH THE Embassy of Israel will mount an event entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Common Ground: A ceramic art collaboration between Israel and the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;? featuring clay as a symbolic medium to bind relationships and establish cultural ties between the two countries.

This unique collaboration, which will be held on March 25 to 29 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Fine Arts, will bring Israeli ceramic and interdisciplinary artist, Roy Maayan to the Philippines.

On his upcoming visit, Maayan is looking forward to sharing Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture through his craft and learning more about the culture and tradition of the

Philippines as well.

Maayan will be bringing on his lecture-demonstration a mold of a popular Israeli symbol Matka (a racquet for their national beach sport Matkot) which will be used as a base for combining Israeli and Philippine popular symbols, objects, or texts.

Ma. Rita GudiĂąo, MFA of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts (UPCFA) will collaborate with Maayan on this project which aims to foster Philippine cultural development in ceramic art.

This cultural collaboration between Israeli and Filipino artists will include a lecture+ master class.

Q Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino.

Japan turns over high-speed boats to Philippine Coast Guard J APANESE Ambassador Koji Haneda has turned over two 12-meter class highspeed boats to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on February 27. Present at the ceremony was Admiral Elson Hermogino, 0#' #OMMANDANT AND OTHER OFkCIALS

Q To further strengthen the ties between Iran and the Philippines, the Persian calligraphy tableau and an accompanying exhibit was presented at the NCCA office in Intramuros, Manila.

Q NCCA Executive Director Rico Pableo Jr., Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Mohammad Tanhaei, National Artist for Literature and NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario, Vice President of the Friendship Society of Iranian Filipino Women Inc. and the President of Iran Calligraphers-Manila Tandis Taghavi, and Iran Cultural Counsellor Mohammad Jafari Malak.

NCCA presents Persian calligraphy tableau

BY NIKA ROQUE TO further strengthen ties between Iran and the Philippines, a Persian calligraphy tableau was presented as a gift to the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and received on behalf of the agency by NCCA Chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understand that this beautiful artwork will somehow help us to understand better the culture of the Iranian people,â&#x20AC;? NCCA Executive Directot Rico Pableo Jr. said in his opening remarks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To celebrate this pleasure of bringing your artwork here, presenting how important and great your culture is and artistic in the Persian world â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you made history in our own place. We hope that this will continue to be presented not only in THIS OFkCE BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNtry to make the people understand the Iranian people and the culture of Islam,â&#x20AC;? he added.

To help start a conversation of diplomatic ties through the arts, the tableau was created by Tandis Taghavi, vice president of the Friendship Society of Iranian Filipino Women Inc. and the president of Iran Calligraphers-Manila.

Apart from the tableau, other calligraphy works were also presented at the NCCA lobby through an exhibit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wholeheartedly appreciate Rico Pableo and his collaboration with my husband, the Iranian cultural counselor Mohammad Jafari Malak for making this day possible,â&#x20AC;? expressed Taghavi, during her remarks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This beautiful day brings closer together the two great nations of Iran and the Philippines. I would

like to share that my husband and two daughters really love the kindhearted people of this nation. The time spent in this beautiful land composed of religion and art have already developed and grown in the past years with the Lord and support of our ambassador. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Calligraphy is so famous in Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art. Iran has a rich culture and civilization but you also think of the rich palettes, architecture, and also calligraphy because they are [bonded] so tight together,â&#x20AC;?

Taghavi told The Manila Times in an interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Persian calligraphy is different from other Asian calligraphy because we use bamboo to write with ink and paper.â&#x20AC;?

The ink and paper used in Persian calligraphy are also made from natural products and are usually handmade. Carbon and Arabic gums are the common ingredients to make ink, with the addition of the skin of fruits or nuts for color. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With natural sources, the quality will be better and will last until the next generation,â&#x20AC;? she explained.

Part of the calligraphy piece are the gold borders as an extra design. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The design is so important and they go together. There are tiny patterns in the border of the artwork.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important to search for common things between a human family, which is also important in my religion,â&#x20AC;? she further noted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since my husband is the cultural counselor, we are always migrating from one country to another. Because of his mission and whatever country we migrate to, I am looking for the similarities between my culture and the other country,â&#x20AC;? she ended, explaining her hopes for the calligraphy exhibit.

The high-speed boats are equipped with three 300 horsepower engines and can travel at a maximum speed of 50 knots or 92 kilometers per hour.

The high-speed boats are part of the 13 high-speed boats package, which were provided upon the re-

quest of President Rodrigo Duterte.

These are equipped with three 300 horsepower engines and can travel

at a maximum speed of 50 knots or 92 kilometers per hour.

In his speech, Ambassador Haneda stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;I trust that our strong cooperation will remain a steady force that will propel maritime security forward in the entire Philippines.â&#x20AC;?

Referring to Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long time cooperation with the PCG, he continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had the privilege

TO ATTEND THE VERY kRST BILATERAL conference between the two coast GUARDS IN WHEN ) WAS kRST posted here in the Philippines as a young diplomat.â&#x20AC;?

PCG Commandant Admiral Hermogino expressed his gratitude, stating that Japan has been the number one benefactor for the PCG and that he is proud of the PCGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership with Japan.

Metro Manila judges undergo US training on financial crimes THE US Embassy in the Philippines, through the US Department OF *USTICE /FkCE OF /VERSEAS 0ROSecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), partnered with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) to train 24 Metro -ANILA JUDGES ON kNANCIAL CRIMES and money laundering from February 26 to 27 in Makati City.

US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Judge Michael Mills taught the Manilabased judges about traditional and emerging methods of money laundering. Judge Mills, who visited the Philippines for this training, drew on extensive experience with kNANCIAL CRIMES AND MONEY LAUNdering from his twelve years in the -ISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE AND kVE YEARS on the Mississippi Supreme Court. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is not enough to penalize criminals by imprisonment alone,â&#x20AC;? said Judge Mills. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Money derived out of the criminal transactions should be seized.â&#x20AC;?

Q US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Judge Michael Mills (front row, third from right) and US Embassy Resident Legal Adviser David Bragdon (front row, third from left) with presenters, organizers, and participants at the training on financial crimes and money laundering.

During the training, US Embassy in the Philippines Resident Legal Advisor David Bragdon discussed international fraud schemes and asset management, drawing on his experience as an Assistant US Attorney in North Carolina, where he handled numerous criminal cases, including public corruption, investment FRAUD AND OTHER kNANCIAL CRIMES Philippine experts, including Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. and Sandigan-

bayan Associate Justice Geraldine &AITH %CONG PRESENTED ON kNANCIAL laws, securities fraud, scams, Ponzi schemes, investigative techniques, and inter-agency cooperation.

OPDAT and PHILJA have partNERED TO CONDUCT kNANCIAL CRIMES trainings for judges around the Philippines over the last four years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is important for judges to know the procedures involved in handling money laundering cases,â&#x20AC;? explained Bruselas, who

trained the judges on rules of proCEDURE FOR kNANCIAL CRIMES On the last day of training, judges participated in a tabletop exercise, examining cases on civil forfeiture, money laundering, and fraud. US and Philippine experts then provided feedback on the presentations.

One participant said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The seminar is very relevant because criminals are becoming high tech. We as judges should be equipped to handle these types of cases.â&#x20AC;?

Embassies of Austria, Sweden partner with local agency for Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Summit THE month of March marks the annual Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Month celebration. As part of a series of events to formally kick things off, SPARK! and the Office of the Vice President, in partnership with the Embassies of Austria and Sweden, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the University of the Philippines Center for Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), brought together powerful women and their allies in the fight for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment and gender equality.

The event which occurred on March

8 at SM Aura Samsung Hall, raised the level of discourse on womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Summit 2019, with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Advancing the Rights and Representation of Filipino Women.â&#x20AC;?

The Summit highlighted key issues with three panel discussions: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Towards a World Without Violence: Ending Violence Against Womenâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Breaking Barriers: Advancing Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Empowermentâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magnifying Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Voices and Participation: Creating an Equal World.â&#x20AC;?

A call to challenge barriers hindering their collective progress, it provided a platform to collectively reflect on remarkable achievements made toward womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment and gender equality despite persistent discrimination in communities and workplaces. It also offered an opportunity to discuss innovative solutions to enhance menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meaningful engagement to achieve gender equality.

Ambassador Harald Fries of Sweden opened the Summit and welcomed host and keynote speaker, Vice President Leni

Robredo, on behalf of all partners, for her keynote speech. Ambassador Bita Rasoulian of Austria joined the third panel with Senator Risa Hontiveros, focusing on womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment in male-dominated fields. UNFPA Country Representative Iori Kato rounded up the discussions with his closing remarks.

Other notable panelists include Kat Alano of Empower for the panel discussion on VAW; Dr. Nathalie Africa-Verceles of Upcwgs, and Filipina designer Zarah Juan for the panel discussion on womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic empowerment.

BUSINESS LEADERS MEET WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES Select leaders of the business community, together with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, paid a courtesy visit to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua to discuss the details of the Boao Forum Asia to be held on April 22 and 23 in the Philippines.

Photo shows (from left) Philippine chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco, Dr. William Co, PCCI director-in-charge for Agriculture committee; Dr. Francis Chua, PCCI chairman emeritus and director for International Affairs; president of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Domimgo Yap; Carlos Chan, Chairman, OishiI; Ambassador Jinhua, Speaker Arroyo with husband Miguel Arroyo; Congressman Federico Sandoval 2nd of Malabon, Congressman Frederick Siao of Iligan; and Teresita Coson Sy, Vice President, SM Investment Corporation and Philippine representative to ASEAN Business Advisory Council.

MONDAY M O N D AY M MARCH A RCH 11, 2019

Lifestyle

D4

www.manilatimes.net

H I LT O N M A N I L A

Century-old legacy comes to Manila A

BY CHRISTINA ALPAD

GATHERING of top government ofkCIALS FOREIGN DIGNITARIES AND SOCIETYfS WHO S WHO CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING Â&#x2021; A GRAND WELCOME FOR SOMEONE VERY IMPORTANT

That clear evening in late February, however, saw not a person but the world famous Hilton Manila in the spotlight.

The grand launch marked the Hilton brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s formal entry into

the Philippine market and highlighted the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovations through its 100-year history and the warm and genuine hospitality that Hilton is known for.

Hilton Manila is located within

Resorts World Manila (RWM), an integrated entertainment and tourism resort just across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The event opened with rousing welcome remarks from RWMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER 3TEPHEN Reilly, followed by an inspiring speech by Hilton Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Manager Simon McGrath who talked about Hiltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich history, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hilton Effectâ&#x20AC;? or the positive impact of the brand on its guests and communities where it operates

Q Hilton Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commercial Director Joanne Gomez, RWM Chief Operating Officer Stephen Reilly, Hilton Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Manager Simon McGrath, Alliance Global Group, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tan, RWM President and CEO Kingson Sian, Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr.

Q Resorts World's Sian, Pasay City Mayor Calixto, and Ambassador Kim.

Q Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin Tan

Q Gomez, Kim, McGrath and Hilton Manila Director for Sales Mae Alvero.

Q Philippine R&B Princess Kyla serenades the crowd.

Q Resorts World Manila COO Stephen Reilly welcomes guests to the special evening.

worldwide, and its return to the country through its invaluable partnership with Resorts World Manila.

In a ceremonial opening activity, McGrath, Reilly, Alliance Global Group, Inc. CEO Kevin Tan, and RWM President and CEO Kingson Sian lit the Hilton Manila beacon using a â&#x20AC;&#x153;digital keyâ&#x20AC;? simulation.

Guests of honor US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Department of Tourism

Q Hilton Manila Grand Launch host Bianca Valerio

Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto joined them.

(ILTON -ANILA IS THE kRST HOTEL in the Philippines to have the Digital Key or keyless entry â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an innovative feature that can be accessed exclusively via the Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hiltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global guest-loyalty program for its world-class brands â&#x20AC;&#x201D; comprises more than 5,300 properties in 106 countries and territories. Members get access to INSTANT BENEkTS SUCH AS EXCLUSIVE member discounts, free standard Wi-Fi and access to the Digital Key. Hilton Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culinary

team prepared a feast featuring the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature offerings at its various restaurants â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kusina, Madison and Hua Tingâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Brasserie Chinoise.

It was a visual spectacle as a YELLOWkN TUNA FROM :AMBOANGA City was expertly carved during the program to showcase Hilton Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kusina, which primarily offers local cuisine with a highlight on seafood. The restaurant also offers international dishes.

R&B princess Kyla was the featured artist who sang a medley of songs. An after-party followed at the Vega Pool Club with music from House Manila.

Q Tan, Gomez, Mayor Calixto, and Sian.

Standing room only at Agile Zamoraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday L

OVELY and ever-bubbly Agile Zamora was on top of the world when she celebrated her birthday at the Whisky Room of the Peak of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Agile invited only a select group of friends close to her and her husband, Lights King Wopsy Zamora, due to the limited space.

An array of cocktail bites and of COURSE OVERlOWING WINES AND SPIRITS were enjoyed by her guests led by Secretary Sal Panelo, Panama Ambassador Rolando Guevara, gorgeous consuls Helen Ong and Fortune Ledesma, Annabelle Rama, Ito Curata, Bob Miller, Noel and Eileen Gonzales, Agileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend Connie Haw, and a few others from her best-dressed group. Being

the party queen herself, she missed the dancing this year as the affair was standing room only.

Celebrating in the year of the pig, Agile gave away stuffed piggy toys.

As in all of her parties, photo taking was the order of the day. She made sure all her guests were photographed with their stuffed toys for POSTERITY 7EARING A 2ANDY /RTIZ OUTkT color of the year, she hopped from one corner of the room to the other â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making sure the guests had enough to eat and drink. Top honcho of the Grand Hyatt, Hans Hauri, was also around to make sure everything was in order.

To Agile, may you continue to enjoy life to the fullest with your family and friends.

Happy birthday and more to come!

HI! SOCIETY BECKY GARCIA

Q Birthday girl Agile Zamora, Panama Ambassador Rolando Alvarado Guevara, Honorary Consul General of Monaco Fortune Ledesma.

Q Carolyn Tan and Joy Rustia

Q Agile with husband Wopsy Zamora

Q Bob Miller and Ito Curata

Q Tina Cuevas and Ofelia Wadle

Q Annabelle Rama and Nini Licaros.

Q Junjun Ablaza, Mayenne Carmona, Ariel Arce, Tina and Rupert Jacinto.

Q Rene and Ann Puno, Junjun Ablaza, Eileen and Noel Gonzales.

Q (Standing) Cris Badiola, Linda Ley, (seated) Secretary Sal Panelo, Olivia Limpe Aw and Duday Tuazon.