THE MANILA TIMES | APRIL 12, 2019

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Trusted since 1898

DND: Military ready to defend territory BY DEMPSEY REYES

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HE DEPARTMENT of National Defense (DND) on Thursday assured the public that the military was ready to defend Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) with all resources at its disposal.

Poe, Palace bets lead Senate race – Pulse Asia

“We are ready if we are called upon,� DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong told reporters. !NDOLONG HOWEVER CLARIkED THAT BEING READY did not mean the Armed Forces of the Philippines was preparing to clash with foreign invaders. “When you say ready, it means a lot of things and one of the meanings is ready to clash. But that

SEN. Mary Grace Poe continued to lead the Senate race, according to a Pulse Asia survey released on Thursday, even as administration bets inched their way into the winning circle. Poe, who also topped the February survey, was still No. 1, with 72.6 percent saying they would vote for her, according to the pollster. Sen. Cynthia Villar of the Nacionalista Party also maintained her second place

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COOPERATION Filipino and American soldiers conduct an

exercise during the 2019 Balikatan exercises at the Naval Education Training Compound in Zambales on Thursday. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

Before Rappler, there was PCIJ: A foreignfunded media weapon of the Yellows

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OME to think of it, the Yellows most probably used the misnamed Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) as its template for Rappler, and improved on it by having daily new reportage and by spending millions of pesos for technology to expand its internet reach. ÂłTiglaoA5

RIG RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

Senators hit US lawmakers for ‘interference’ SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd and Senators Gregorio HonaSAN ND AND 0ANkLO ,ACSON HAVE kLED A RESOLUTION REBUKING SOME members of the US Congress for interfering with the Philippine judicial process. 4HEY kLED 3ENATE 2ESOLUTION

What’s inside 38 PINOYS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV EVERY DAY

NewsA2

ARE PHILIPPINE CEOs FOLLOWING DUTERTE’S PIVOT TOWARD CHINA?

ERHAN BALABAN General Manager Turkish Airlines Philippines

Patrick CookeA6

Bridge Between Cultures

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Both resolutions condemned the Philippine government for THE DETENTION OF 3EN ,EILA DE ,IMA AND CALLED FOR HER IMMEDIate release. US Senate Resolution 142 also called for the dropping of charges against Rappler Chief /PERATING /FkCER -ARIA 2ESSA

,ACSON TURNED TO 4WITTER TO stress his point: “Don’t interfere with our judicial system. We’re not your vassal. Ours is a sovereign state, equal in stature to that of the USA.� g3EN DE ,IMA AND -S 2ESSA

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New human species discovered in Cagayan A NEW human species called Homo luzonesis has been discovered by a team led by University of the Philippines associate professor Armand Salvador Mijares from fossils excavated in Callao Cave in PeĂąablanca, Cagayan. Mijares and his international multidisciplinary team found fossils of bones and teeth of at least three individuals excavated separately in

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PISTONS ROUT KNICKS TO CLAIM LAST PLAYOFF TICKET

(SR) 1037 condemning the lawmakers for introducing House Resolution 233 and Senate Resolution 142 for “being an affront to the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines and an undue interference in its judicial process.�

REACH US AT:

VILMA SANTOS MOURNS MOM’S LOSS

EntertainmentD1

E-mail: newsdesk@ manilatimes.net Tel. Nos.: 524-5664 to 67 Address: 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

HE’S SORRY

Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde confronts Renato Payupan Llenes, suspect in the murder of Christine Lee Silawan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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News

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY April 12, 2019

38 Pinoys diagnosed with HIV every day

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BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

HE number of people infected with THE HUMAN IMMUNODEkCIENCY VIRUS (HIV) daily had grown to 38 from 32 in 2018 and two in 2009, according to the Department of Health (DoH). HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines data from the Health department’s epidemiology bureau showed that there are A TOTAL OF NEWLY CONkRMED HIV-positive individuals, with 59 reported deaths for February 2019 alone, 968 of whom are males. /F THE TOTAL kGURE EIGHT ARE OVERseas Filipino workers and all were

infected through sexual contact. 4HIS kGURE IS HIGHER THAN THE reported in February 2018. Of the February 2019 reported cases, at least 153 cases or 13 had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV infection or AIDS. AIDS refers to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is the most severe phase

of the HIV infection. Sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission. Transmission among the newly diagnosed is most common with males who have sex with males. This is followed by those who have sex with both males and female, and those who engage in male-to-female sexual activity. Other modes of transmission include needle-sharing among drug users and mother-to-child transmission. Almost a third (32 percent) of the new cases came from Metro Manila; 17 percent from CalabarZON #AVITE ,AGUNA "ATANGAS Rizal and Quezon); 12 percent FROM #ENTRAL ,UZON PERCENT

from Central Visayas; and 7 percent from Western Visayas. Bicol Region accounted for 4 percent of the new cases, while 3 percent came from Davao Region; 2 percent each from Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Ilocos Region, Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Cagayan Valley; and 1 percent from Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos). Cordillera Administrative Region and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao had less than 1 percent. Since January 1984, there had been a total of 64,291 HIV cases, with 7,447 AIDS cases and 3,135 deaths.

Q SPECIES FROM A1

New human 2007, 2011 and 2015. 4HE FOSSILS WERE IDENTIkED TO BE TO 67,000 years old, which makes them the earliest human remains to be discovered in the Philippines. Mijares said Homo luzonesis’ combination of primitive features resembling Australopithecus and more modern ones closer to Homo sapiens makes it distinct from other Homo species. The groundbreaking discovery was published by "RITISH SCIENTIkC JOURNAL Nature on Wednesday, which comes as a formal announcement and recognition of the new human species. Mijares said Homo luzonesis was the fourth human species to be discovered in Asia along with the Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, and (OMO lORESIENSIS “Very few people could identify and present a new species, very rare. There are only four species in Asia and we have one of them,� he said. “Before the discovery of this new species, we [the Philippines] were always in the periphery of human evolution debate. We are now one of the regional centers for human evolutionary research,� Mijares said.

DIVINE DELA CRUZ

NEW FILIPINO BONES

University of the Philippines Archeological Studies Program Associate Professor Dr. Armand Salvador Mijares shows hominid fossils and teeth from at least three individuals discovered in an excavation site inside Callao Cave in Cagayan. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

NAPSPhil all set for general assembly THE National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines (NAPSPhil) is all set for its General Assembly on April 13, 2019 at the Ynares Center. The general assembly aims to raise issues regarding the rights of teachers, including the disparity of salary between private and public school teachers and massive migration of private school teachers to public schools. It also aims to discuss the control of the Department of Education (DepEd) over the private institutions instead of

supervision, inconsistent implementation of national or regional DepEd orders or memos, and the creation of the Bureau of Private Education that will oversee the need of the private schools. NAPSPhil recognizes the need to prioritize the budget for education for the benefit of teachers in the Philippines with the help of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers for Private Education Law (Gastpe). Some provisions, especially the Teacher’s Salary Subsidy Fund, however,

are not being upheld, according to NAPSPhil. With the upcoming increase of salaries for teachers in public schools, teachers in private schools are expected to shift to the public school system. Speakers include a private schools advocate, lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada, and reelectionist Sen. Paolo “Bam� Aquino 4th, who filed and sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 2057 or the “Teachers Compensation and Support Act of 2018.� SB 2057 aims to enhance the compensation support system for all

teachers in basic education institutions as well as creating a fund for teachers. Also expected to attend are Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano, Senate candidates Luther Meniano, who is pushing for a House bill that will create a Private School’s Commission, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, who has supported the salary increase for private school teachers, and the national executive director of the Private Education Assistance Committee, Prof. Rhodora Angela Ferrer.

Q LEAD FROM A1

Poe, Palace bets lead ranking after 63.7 percent of the respondents said they would vote for her. Although only the top 12 candidates will clinch Senate seats in the May 13 midterm elections, the survey named 16 bets who have a statistical chance of winning. Ten of 16 candidates who have a “statistical chanceâ€? are from administration backed-regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago. Candidates of the ruling Partido Demokratiko 0ILIPINOm,AKAS NG "AYAN PARTY GRABBED SPOTS WITH #HRISTOPHER ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O AT THE THIRD TO kFTH SPOT Go, a newcomer in the Senate race, tied with Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonnyâ€? Angara in the third spot, with voter preference of 58.5 percent and 55.7 percent, respectively. Completing the top half of the list of probable winners are Taguig City Rep. Pilar Juliana “Piaâ€? Cayetano (52.5 percent), former senator Manuel g,ITOu ,APID PERCENT 5NITED .ATIONALIST !LLIANCE S BET 3EN -ARIA ,OURDES .ANCY "INAY (45.5 percent) and former police chief Ronald “Batoâ€? dela Rosa (44.8 percent). Those who also have a statistical chance of making it to the winners’ circle are former senator Ramon “Bongâ€? Revilla Jr. (40.9 percent), Ilocos Norte Gov. Maria Imelda Josefa “Imeeâ€? Marcos (39 percent), former MalacaĂąang political adviser Francis Tolentino (35.7 percent), former senator Jose “Jinggoyâ€? Estrada (35.2). Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bamâ€? Aquino 4th (33.8 percent), Sen. Aquilino “Kokoâ€? Pimentel 3rd (33.6 percent), former senator Sergio “Sergeâ€? OsmeĂąa 3rd (33 percent) and former Interior secretary Manuel “Marâ€? Roxas 2nd (31.3 percent). )T WAS THE kRST TIME FOR 4OLENTINO RANKED TH to 16th) and Estrada (10th to 16th) to join the “Magic 12.â€?

He and Aquino are the only two opposition Otso Diretso Senate candidates who showed a chance of winning, based on the survey. The remaining six opposition bets lagged behind. Meanwhile, Pulse Asia said 1.7 percent of registered voters refused to identify their preferred Senate candidates for the midterm elections, 1.4 percent said they are not going to vote for any of the candidates, while 1 percent still did not know who they would elect to the Senate in May. Respondents were asked to pick 12 personalities they would vote for if the polls were held during the survey period. The pollster noted that fewer than half or only 42 percent of the respondents had a complete Senate slate, with a few weeks left in the campaign season. Most of the respondents voted for only nine or 10 bets. Sought for comment, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte’s high PUBLIC SATISFACTION RATING INlUENCED THE WINNING chances of the administration’s bets. “Most likely, if they believe in the President, the voters will also believe those candidates that he is endorsing),â€? he said. Go thanked Filipinos for their continued trust and support, saying the latest survey inspired him to do more in serving the people. The poll was conducted from March 23 to 27, using face-to-face interviews among 1,800 Filipino adults nationwide. Its error margin was placed at Âą2.3 percent at the 95 percent CONkDENCE LEVEL For the geographic areas, subnational estimates’ error margins were: Âą6.5 percent for MetRO -ANILA • PERCENT FOR THE REST OF ,UZON AND Âą5.3 percent for each of Visayas and Mindanao.

CATHERINE S.VALENTE

SOLGEN: ‘PH COURTS MUST AFFIRM US RULING’

US lawyer to get $4M; rights victims, $1,500 THE ruling of the United States Court ordering the release of comPENSATION TO -ARTIAL ,AW VICTIMS cannot be implemented immediately and must await the go-signal of Philippine courts. This was the position of the Philippine government after a US court ruled that thousands of human rights victims should receive $1,500 each starting the month of May. 4HE /FkCE OF THE 3OLICITOR 'ENeral (OSG) cited decisions of the Philippine Supreme Court that a US ruling could not be immediately implemented, citing the case of Republic of the Philippines vs Pimentel that held that cases against the Marcos family must kRST BE DECIDED BY THE 3ANDIGANbayan anti-graft court. US lawyer Robert Swift, legal COUNSEL OF THE -ARTIAL ,AW VICTIMS THAT WON A BILLION CLASS SUIT kLED in Hawaii, has stated that Judge Katherine Polk Failla of New York had ordered the release of $13.75 million to the victims of martial law. 4HE /3' CLARIkED THAT IN !UGUST 2018, a proposed settlement agreement was presented to the claimants. However, the OSG found the agreement to be grossly disadvantageous to the government and not in accord with existing Philippine laws and jurisprudence. Aside from this, the suggested “settlement requires for the Republic to grant immunity to Vilma Bautista, and to cause the dismissal of the Republic’s claims to the paintings in the Sandiganbayan. The Republic cannot comply with said requisites.� “The Republic cannot grant criminal immunity to Vilma Bautista as

she is a principal defendant in Civil Case No. 07 currently pending before the Sandiganbayan.� “Neither can the Republic dismiss its claims against the paintings in the forfeiture proceedings instituted before the Sandiganbayan, where the Republic has relentlessly prosecuted the recovery of all ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, including the subject paintings, since 1991.� “While the Republic fully recognizes that the human rights VIOLATION VICTIMS STAND TO BENEkT from this recent development, the government maintains its position that the proper venue for their claims are the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board or in the probate proceedings where the Marcos estate is being settled. This procedure was recognized in the rulings of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and United States Department of Justice amicus brief before the United States Supreme Court.� The OSG slammed Swift. “It appears that Swift’s determination to assert his clients’ claims wherever and whenever he deems possible is driven, not by the purely noble aim to seek justice and retribution for the human rights victims, but by the hefty attorney’s fees he stands to receive. In the interpleader action alone, he has sought an unaccounted $4.125 million in attorney’s fees to be deducted from the alleged settlement fund of $13.75 million — the remaining amount to be divided amongst the 6,500 human rights victims who shall receive a measly $1,500 each.� JOMAR CANLAS

Q DEFEND FROM A1

THE #HINESE TO LEAVE AS SIGNIkED BY DIPLOMATIC PROTESTS kLED BY -ANILA with Beijing. “[W]e are kind in the sense that we are courteous to them but with respect to sovereignty issue, that is another topic. We have to assert our sovereignty,� he added. “It’s non-negotiable,� Panelo said. Panelo said the issue might be raised by the Philippines during a bilateral meeting between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in China later this month. Assistant Prof. Dennis Coronacion, chairman of the Department of Political Science of the University of Santo Tomas, told The Manila Times the change of the government’s tone was “surprising.� “I am glad that the President has realized the serious flaw in his appeasement policy. He must have realized it from the actions of Indonesia and Malaysia, that confronting China does not lead to war,� Coronacion said. “I am also happy that the PresiDENT HAS kNALLY STOOD UP FOR OUR sovereignty,� he added.

DND is not the context, and our mandate will remain that we will defend our sovereignty and territory,â€? he said. “That is what we are going to do, whatever we have on hand,â€? he added. Andolong made the statement following reports of massive Chinese presence near Philippine-occupied islands in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Kalayaan (Spratly) island group. This has led to a marked shift in tone of the Duterte government on China’s actions in the disputed waters. ,AST WEEK 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO Duterte, who had pursued closer economic ties with China, told Beijing to “back offâ€? Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, over reports that 600 Chinese vessels were in the island, the biggest of all Philippine-occupied islands in the Kalayaan group. MalacaĂąang on Wednesday also called on China to stay away from +OTA ,OIATA )SLAND

Negotiations preferred

US presence

On Thursday, a spokesman from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reasserted China’s claim to the island chain that includes Pag-asa, and said they had “consistently advocated the settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations with countries directly involved.â€? The spokesman added that China-Philippine relations had “undergone transformation, consolidation, improvement and entered comprehensive strategic cooperative relations.â€? China has been reserved in its comments regarding Manila’s recent uptick in assertiveness over the Pag-asa Island, saying it was working with the Philippines and looking into the reports regarding Chinese ships. In 2016, the Philippines won an arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea dispute, but Beijing refuses to recognize the ruling of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. MalacaĂąang also on Thursday said the Philippines’ sovereignty was “non-negotiable.â€? Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government had asked

As Duterte has adopted a friendlier stance with China, the US has moved to shore up its ties with Manila and assert its presence in the South China Sea. A US warship laden with hi-tech fighter planes took center stage at the Balikatan war games in the Philippines Thursday, brandishing military might as fresh tensions bubble in the contentious West Philippine Sea. The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, with at least 10 F-35B stealth jets on deck, stood guard as amphibious tanks rolled onto a Philippine beach located a short sail from islands also claimed by China. “We can’t disclose the official movements of the USS Wasp for security reasons, but they have been operating in the South China Sea region... as part of the exercise,� US SPOKESMAN 3ECOND ,T 4ORI 3HARPE told reporters. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged in March to come to the Philippines’ defense in case of an “armed attack� in the sea, a clear assurance Philippines leaders had long sought. WITH AFP AND RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

April 12, 2019

FRIDAY

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Opinion

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l CONSTITUTION:

No third term for senators

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EFORE the matter becomes a disruptive issue, subject to contention and endless argument, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be WELL ADVISED TO DECLARE WITH kNALITY THE MEANING OF the constitutional provision on election to the Senate. The provision in article VI, Section 4, reads: g4HE TERM OF OFkCE OF THE SENATORS SHALL BE SIX YEARS AND shall commence, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June following their election. “No senator shall serve for more than two conSECUTIVE TERMS 6OLUNTARY RENUNCIATION OF THE OFkCE for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption to the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.� 4HE NATION NEEDS A DEkNITIVE CLARIkCATION OF THIS PROvision because there are some individuals who, after having already served two full terms in the Senate, seek election and want to serve another term in the chamber. 4HE CLARIkCATION MUST BE MADE NOW BECAUSE THE Comelec, by failing to make a statement on this matter earlier, has unwittingly encouraged unworthy candidates to press on with their candidacies in spite of the odds against them. These candidates have confused the electorate in no small way by their posters, and their ads NOW APPEAR ALONGSIDE THOSE OF THE QUALIkED CANDIDATES If the situation is allowed to continue until election day, the nation could face an unpleasant and compliCATED SITUATION WHERE A PATENTLY UNQUALIkED CANDIDATE WINS THE VOTERS NOD AND TRIGGERS A DECLARATION OF FAILURE in the balloting. His or her election could thereafter be legally challenged by rival candidates who had been UNLAWFULLY DENIED BEING VOTED INTO OFkCE To resolve this conundrum before it transpires, it is best for the Comelec and the nation to go back to the meaning of the constitutional provision. The provision means what is stated in the Constitution and not what certain candidates and their backers want it to mean. One thing clear is that a full term in the Senate is six years, nothing more. Secondly it means that no person normally qualikED TO STAND FOR ELECTION IS LAWFULLY ALLOWED TO SERVE as senator for more than two terms, which means no extension of term into 12 years is allowed. )T ALSO MEANS THAT CANDIDATES WHO ARE DISQUALIkED under this provision should be stricken off the ballot by the election body, so that voters are not misled or confused at the polling booth. It does not take much cogitation for our people to realize why these unscrupulous persons are so insistent on returning to the Senate. They seek to regain the inordinate salaries and perks of senators and the chance to partake of the obscene and runaway senatorial “pork barrel.� We do not want to be the one to catalog the names of those presenting themselves to the electorate under false pretenses. This task belongs properly to the Comelec. It is ITS MANDATE AND DUTY TO WEED OUT DISQUALIkED AND unworthy candidates from the pack, and separate them from the candidates who truly deserve to be VOTED INTO OFkCE This matter should not be reduced to just a passing mention by the Comelec spokesman during his TV news appearances. Rather, it merits a clear and judicious statement by the Comelec commissioners, speaking as one body and as our sole election authority. ~

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 181

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

P399,379 and no more for Digong?

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WAS told that when a US publishing company proposed to PUBLISH 0RESIDENT #ORY S MEMOIRS for a fat fee, she was properly advised, in my view, that the Constitution forbids her from receiving “during her tenure any other emolument from the government or any other source.â€? (1987 Const., Art. VI, Sec. 6.) She backed off. “Any other sourceâ€? has a plain meaning, to me anyway. Same wording in Art. VII, Sec. 8 of the 1973 Constitution. Dura lex, sed lex. The law is harsh but so it is written. The 1935 Constitution referred only to public money, Art. VII, Sec. 9. President Duterte has to settle for his monthly salary of P399,739, the Constitution interdicting receiving additional income from “any other source.â€? ) DON T KNOW IF THE REPORTS ARE correct that the rise in assets is due to sources other than his salary (which he says would not SUFkCE FOR HIS TWO FAMILIES I am incredulous that he and his mouthpieces do not seem to know or care either that under Sec. 13 of Art. VII of the 1987 Constitution, he may not, “during [his] tenure, directly or indirectly, practice any other profession, participate in any business,‌â€? Even indirectly. And appearances, perceptions do matter. “The President sent me‌â€? Ang lakas po nang “arriveâ€? o dating. Tapos na po boksing. It is the Palace which should clarify, not ask one to sue it.

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T.G.I.F. RENE SAGUISAG President Jimmy Carter, whose interference on human rights — which are universal, knowing no boundaries — we, human rights advocates, welcomed and cheered, put his peanut farm business in a blind trust, during his incumbency; it went south. Here, any law kRM OR BUSINESS OPENLY ADVERTISING a direct magical Duterte connection can only go north. .OT A LEVEL PLAYING kELD ) FEAR

Delicadeza It is amazing that Digong “described AS zGARBAGE THE EFFORTS TO QUESTION HIM AND HIS FAMILY S BUSINESSES INCLUDING HIS LAW OFkCE u (E HAS A LAW OFkCE /R HE MISSPOKE /R WAS misquoted? Did Presidents Marcos, Macapagal, Roxas, OsmeĂąa, Laurel AND 1UEZON HAVE LAW OFkCES DURING their presidencies? (At a lower level, I liquidated my practice when I was in government from 1986 to 1992, as Cory Aquino Jr., settling for a take-home P14,612.50 a month as senator, even less in the Cabinet; my wife supported the family with her good income from Mondragon, and our children did not have to walk around shirtless and barefooted, unable to go to school.

And I became Super-Takusa as her Star Boarder, utterly unable even to provide the family a home.) No matter that the Constitution and the statutes may be shoehorned by an amiable judiciary, there is the matter of delicadeza. Do we have today a young Municipal Judge Elo Santiago of Makati of 1981-1982 who acquitted Anding Roces, or a young Regional Trial Court Judge Joselito de la Rosa of Calamba of 1983? $EkANT ON PRINCIPLE (OW INDEpendent was our judiciary then? In mid-1983, what gave a mere presidential assistant the right to lecture Lito on a pending case (People v. Hurtada, Crim. Case No. 194-83-C, 4th JR-RTC-37, Calamba, Laguna) and scare him with dire disciplinary measures for deciding in a way that displeased the Palace. Could there be anything more contemptuous? ,IVING WITH ONE S MOTHER IS NOT A defense for not complying with the REQUIREMENT TO kLE ONE S 3!, UNDER RA 3019, and SALN, under RA 6713. Both should be complied with, but absolutely no one bothers with the former IN OUR SCOFlAW SOCIETY not even Digong or the Solicitor General. I have seen their SALNs which do not mention “the amounts and sources of [their] income, the amounts of [their] personal and family expenses and the amount of income taxes paid for the next preceding calendar year,� required in Sec. 7 of RA

3019 of Sen. Turing Tolentino, hammered on by the Solicitor General in going after Chief Justice Meilou Sereno, a martyr for judicial independence. Digong cannot forever hide behind admirable and heroic .ANAY 3OLING S SKIRT YeT HE GROWLS g/UR LAW kRMS and what happened to our business PARTNERSHIP IT S NOT YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS &OR AS LONG AS IT S NOT THE PEOPLE S MONEY u "UT what about said Sec. 7? And the Macoy and Cory Constitutions say “from any other source,� not only from the people. It is questionable whether “whatever his family earned outside OF POLITICS WAS NOBODY S BUSINESS u &ROM WHERE ) SIT IT IS EVERYBODY S business. Our Prez talks too much. We simply cannot have another some-are-smarter-than-others situation of Marcosian abusive acquisitive appetites. If not a question of law, which may be read to favor him, if judicially tested, there is prudence or self-restraint. 'Di po magandang tingnan. He has to answer to his people now, and to history, later.

Midterm course corrections Then Digong defames the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism for the exposĂŠ: “Pera-pera lang lang. Binabayaran yan kung ganoon kalalaki.â€? No fair to Malou

ÂłSaguisagA5

What’s in Baguio? More of the same

HAT is happening in Baguio City, the poster city for development beyond its carrying capacity, lack of water and no end in SIGHT TRAFkC CLOGGED STREETS AND no zoning regulations that are implemented and in fact, cannot even be deciphered for the helter-skelter construction that goes on? More of the same, and this time the best example is at #2 Outlook Drive, just off the Baguio Country Club Golf Course and not far from Mansion House in a supposedly R-3 zone. R is for residential but at #2 Outlook Drive a humongous 10-story building is rising. Said to be a hotel. Said to be owned by a certain Wilson Ancheng through a Golden Crown Company and City Lights Properties Development Inc. This developer is also responsible for Newton Plaza Hotel over at Navy Road, a high-rise in what used to be a residential zone. I wonder if the area has in fact been designated as commercial, changed from R to C for commercial. To developers like Mr. Ancheng it does not seem to matter. Meanwhile, neighbors of #2 Outlook Drive are up in arms. First, because the sidewalk has been taken over by the construction as though it was their property line. Second, because waste construction materials are merely thrown into the next empty lot turning it into a dump. Third, because construction seems to be all

though she must. She should ask her superiors to help her out. Meanwhile, the DENR Baguio OFkCE HAS INFORMED THE NEIGHBORhood regarding the lack of ECC for this project and has communicated the same to the developer. of 24 hours long and noisy. One This is a violation, and a notice of complaint was made because of violation with a directive for stoppage of construction was issued on noise at 2:15 a.m. Upon further investigation by April 3, 2019. But the construction the upset and burdened neigh- has not stopped and is going on borhood, it was revealed that this until the wee hours of the night. The DENR Baguio City office project has a building permit but no environmental compliance through its regional director Maria CERTIkCATE "UILDING PERMITS SHOULD Victoria V. Abrera, aside from issuing not be given without an ECC, so a cease-and-desist order, has schedhow come the City Building and uled a technical conference with the Architecture Officer, engineer proponent (Mr. Wilson Ancheng, Nazita BaĂąez, issued the project that is you!) for April 12, 2019. Will a building permit? She has been he show up or send some minion? requested to explain in a March 4HE kNE IS ONLY 0 FOR SUCH A 1, 2019 letter to her by the local violation. With the capital resources council of Barangay Lualhati (the he seems to have, this should be a barangay where #2 Outlook Drive drop in the bucket or will not lighten is). But despite the 15-day period his apparently stuffed wallet. The isin which she should have by law sue is, should the P50,000 be what replied, she has not. Barangay lifts the cease-and-desist order? What Lualhati has made clear that it about sidewalk encroachment, noise HAS ISSUED NO BARANGAY CERTIkCA- pollution and zoning violation? tion for excavation (it has been The DENR has categorically done), that the construction has stated that the construction at #2 encroached on the sidewalk, and Outlook Drive at Barangay Lualthat there are complaints of viola- hati in Baguio is located within tion of the Silent Night Ordinance. the Lower Agno Watershed ForI do not think that engineer BaĂąez est Resource Reserve, a declared is the decision-maker in this case protected area under the National DESPITE HER OFkCE S RESPONSIBILITY Integrated Protected Areas System So, naturally, she cannot reply (Nipas) Act. Is this to be ignored

AMBIENT VOICES

MA. ISABEL ONGPIN

OR PAPERED OVER WITH A SMALL kNE Furthermore, being on an R-3 residential area, high-rises are only allowed for use as multiple family dwellings, not commercial buildings. A hotel would be commercial without any doubt. So, why is there a hotel in an R-3 residential area? The answer to all these questions are with the Baguio City local government which over the decades WITH WHATEVER SET OF OFkCIALS MANY of them overstaying, have allowed zoning violations, ignored carrying capacity, disregarded the character and environmental legacy that is Baguio, a character and legacy that its residents and all Filipinos want conserved. Unfortunately, with developers like Mr. Wilson Ancheng who has turned Navy Road, once a quiet residential area into a commercial zone with his multi-storied Newton Plaza Hotel, there is another once quiet neighborhood entirely changed and not for the better. And he is now about to do the same to Outlook Drive. So far, except for the DENR "AGUIO OFkCE AND "ARANGAY ,UALHATI OFkCIALS THE /UTLOOK $RIVE neighborhood seems to be talking to deaf ears in Baguio. It may be time to bring this further up the government structure, or take to the judicial process if regulatory agencies ignore the clear violations of this developer.

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Opinion

A5

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Before Rappler, there was PCIJ: A foreign-funded media weapon of the Yellows While both viewed themselves as God’s gift to Philippine journalism, with PCIJ indeed producing to its credit about two dozen good investigative reports in its 29 years of existence, it has since degenerated into a tool of the Yellow forces and, recently, of US foreign policy. This is not my opinion but the indisputable conclusion from facts, which anyone can verify by simply going to the PCIJ website and poring over its articles since 1999. There is no PCIJ article critical of the second Yellow regime of Fidel Ramos posted in its website. But it produced dozens of articles against Ramos’ successor Joseph Estrada, especially on his wealth, so that its executive editor then boasted that it was PCIJ that brought that presidency down just as the Washington Post’s Wood-Bernstein duo toppled the Nixon administration. (In our case though, I was told, ‘Deep Throat’ was the top intelligence man of Fidel Ramos, who allegedly went all out to topple Estrada who was then going to prosecute him for the corrupt Amari deal.)

Vociferousness Right after the Yellows broke away from President Gloria Arroyo’s administration, PCIJ, with the same intensity as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, posted scores of articles vehemently critical of her, her family and her administration. The articles’ vociferousness was such that it was as if it expected to repeat its alleged feat with Estrada. Many of the articles bordered on tabloid sensationalism. An article titled “Shame and Scandal in the Family,� simply listed the allegations raised by the Yellows against the Arroyo family, all of which — despite the Benigno Aquino administration’s efforts in six years to pin them down on these accusations — have been proven false.

Q Balanced investigations? The anti-Arroyo articles were a mockery of investigative journalism. These simply cited some data and spun them as conclusive of Arroyo’s corruption such as the articles titled “Arroyo’s mysteriOUS MILLIONS ug/BSCURE kRMS BAG DPWH deals,� and “Mike Arroyo claim stalls land reform in Negros.� But not only that. PCIJ ran puffpieces on anti-Arroyo personalities, such as Jim Paredes (titled “We should awaken memory�), or had them write articles in its site, such as those by Vicente Romano and Chito Gascon. Even communist demagogue Jose Maria Sison wrote a lengthy article in its defunct magazine, titled “A Stronger Revolution.� PCIJ together with the Philippine Daily Inquirer during the Arroyo administration was the tandem that was the Yellow’s propaganda weapon. Even months after Arroyo stepped down from power, the PCIJ was still producing articles hounding not just Arroyo but even her children.

And during President Aquino 3rd�s regime, how many articles were there that were critical of him? Not a single one.

P-Noy There was a seemingly critical article titled “The Wealth of PNoy,� which reported that his wealth had grown nearly three times, or from only P15 million as of December 2009 to P55 million as of December 2010. But the article turned out to only preempt criticism on the astonishing increase in Aquino’s wealth after a year in power. It claimed that the increase was “likely� due to inheritance from his mother’s estate. The PCIJ in fact did not conceal its admiration for Aquino, as in its September 2016 article titled “P-NOY’S POVERTY CHALLENGE: Bold blows vs corruption, cautious steps vs poverty� (caps in original): “Aquino 3rd became the Phil-

Q SAGUISAG FROM A4

and marched in front of the Chinese Consulate (why no upgrade to an Embassy?) on Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia, another senator) for years, before proceeding to the US Embassy (not a mere Consulate, which it has in Cebu). Digong may well say: “There go my people, I will follow them, for I am their leaderâ€? — attributed to Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin. In early 1983, Ka Celing MuĂąozPalma exhorted that we should work together “so that we may not incur the ire of posterity that we remained silent and indifferent at a time when our national survival was on the brink of collapse.â€? Today, our national values, institutions and processes are. On Aug. 8, 1982, Macoy, 66 (not 67, I have a copy of his birth CERTIkCATE SHOWING THAT HE WAS BORN in 1916, not 1917, another gross FALSIkCATION BLURTED gPagsisipain natin ang mga lintik in iyan ,â€? sounding malo, not mellow. Digong’s role model. Here’s hoping that by midterm, Digong will mellow and follow the people, for he is their leader, on the West Philippine Sea dispute. And stop receiving income from sources other than his salary. A blind trust should meet the intent of the Constitution. Who will dare kGHT THE 0RESIDENT IN BUSINESS AND law practice? But, “[w]e must never forget that it is a Constitution we are expounding,â€? boomed Chief Justice John Marshall. And when will Palace Spokesman Sal Fun-nelo stop speaking or misspeaking or vouching for China in the midst of an increasingly inane and arguably insane campaign period? Also trying to be funny is Bong Go, yielding to cries of “take it off! take it off! “ unwittingly putting Polong Duterte on the griddle. Bong says “[i]t is Polong’s right not to show his tattoo.â€? ConkRMING THAT totoo po palang may tattoo si Polong na may karapatan namang huwag ilantad.

ippines’ 15th president on June 30, 2010, triggering a contagion of hopefulness among Filipinos. He wooed and won votes with a slogan that was simple, yet catchy — �Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.� Without corruption, there’d be no poverty. The second Aquino presidency has spread a virus of hope that finds sole parallel in the tide of goodwill that Filipinos bestowed on his late mother and democracy icon Corazon ‘Cory’ C. Aquino after the 1986 EDSA People Power revolt.� Did the PCIJ investigate how Aquino’s Transportation department made daily commute a hell for Filipinos because of its corrupt handling of the MRT 3? No. That department’s corruption in handing over its maintenance to Yellow cronies? No. The Interior department’s overpriced purchase of 300 Indian-made utility vehicles that broke down after three months, with no parts available? No.

Whither ye goest, SHS graduates?

P399,379 Mangahas, et al. (Full disclosure: Malou was my client when she was a Camp Crame detainee. Told that her case had been dismissed and her release ordered, she didn’t really thank me, but like Digong or a drunken sailor blurted: “PI!� At the time, she was with Ka Bert Olalia, Doris Baffrey, Tony Nieva, et al.) Malou was among the brave souls who stood at the ramparts of a battered alternative press under siege. Along with Joe Burgos (whose We Forum WE kRST HEARD of in 1977 from Gerry Roxas, in the home of Eva Estrada-Kalaw; and Reuben Canoy, Amante Bigornia, Dick Pascual, et al.) and many, many others Ceres that Doyo honors in her latest book (Press Under Siege). A number of them were aided by FLAG, of course, and MABINI, our lawyers’ group, which counts me as among the remaining few, cane-carrying, wobbling relics TODAY /LD kRE GONE WITH BUT A FEW sparks and smoldering embers, if that, remaining. No sense in rattling the bones of a skeleton from which all semblance of life may have long departed.(?) Mga yumao o laos na po yata kami talaga. #ERES INCLUDES IN HER MAGNIkcent book intrepid Arlene Babst and Ninez Cacho-Olivares, among the first to visit me as a candidate Batang City Jail member, when I was detained in Quezon City for calling Macoy a “super-subversive.� When my ever-loving Dulce came, after work, to visit, the guards scratched their heads as Arlene and Ninez got in on the pretext that one was my wife or kulasisi. As we approach the second half of Digong’s term, he should really step back and make midterm course corrections to arrest the deterioration in our values, institutions and processes. Again, I do not want him to fail as his failure is also yours and mine. It warms the heart that he now joins us on the West Philippine Sea dispute, for which we have demoed

hasn’t been rehabilitated; and that ADMINISTRATION S CASES kLED AGAINST Did it report Aquino’s total incom- Rappler’s CEO for tax evasion are petence in preparing the Eastern all about suppression of the press. Visayas region for the Yolanda Its most notorious, or hilarious, super-typhoon that led to the hor- “investigationâ€? was its “exclusiveâ€? RIkC DROWNING OF THOUSANDS AND publication of former Davao City the area’s rehabilitation after the police Arthur LascaĂąas’ alleged didisaster? Not a word. ary relating the “bloody exploits of The loss of Scarborough Shoal Duterte’s Davao Death Squad.â€? The because of Aquino and his For- diary was so obviously fake, with its eign Affairs secretary Albert del terms like political Waterloo and Rosario’s bungling? The mas- “The Divine Trapâ€? (the title of a sacre of 47 elite police troops 2014 novel by a Belgian banker) so in Mamasapano in Mindanao? beyond the police sergeant’s bank The Aquino administration’s of knowledge. PCIJ was simply “midnightâ€? purchase of P3 bil- used by Antonio Trillanes 4th in his lion worth of the Dengvaxia anti- project then to get the International dengue vaccine that turned out Court of Justice to try Duterte for to be defective that it has led to human rights violations. the deaths of about 150 children? PCIJ shares with Rappler anHow Aquino funneled billions of other feature: It has relied on pesos to his home province and foreign funding, mostly from to other Liberal Party bastions in US entities. In Rappler’ case, the the scheme called the Disburse- Securities and Exchange Comment Acceleration Program? mission ruled this as in violation The absence of any article on of the Constitution’s ban on any these crimes of the Aquino ad- foreign participation in media. ministration is enough proof that It was the Asia Foundation the PCIJ had become a tool, an that funded PCIJ in its early effective one, of the Yellow Cult. years. For the years 2015 to 2016, Not only that, the PCIJ was the Washington-based National even a part of the propaganda Endowment for Democracy, an against Ombudsman Mercedi- entity said to be a conduit for tas Gutierrez and Chief Justice the Central Intelligence Agency’s Renato Corona, whom Aquino propaganda activities, gave it strived — successfully — to re- $106,000. (NED has also been move in his agenda to control all funding two media entities critibranches of government. Toward cal of Duterte: Vera Files, $70,000, the May 2016 elections, the PCIJ and the Center for Media Freedom focused on that other Aquino and Responsibility, $278,000. ) target: Jejomar Binay. I have asked PCIJ’s executive director, citing my right to Freedom Hibernation of Information, to furnish me with a report on how much funding From its six-years hibernation in “in- from foreign entities it has received vestigatingâ€? government corruption so far, including details. I hope it during the Aquino regime, the PCIJ adheres to the same transparency energetically devoted its resources in principles it has been demanding portraying Duterte’s as the “presidency OF GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS bathed in blood,â€? as its former executive director titled her article. Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ Its propaganda thrusts in its gmail.com 50 or so articles are exactly those Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao of the Yellows’: that Duterte’s Twitter: @bobitiglao anti-drug war killed thousands Book orders: www.rigobertotiof innocents; that Marawi City glao.com/debunked

Incompetence

Part 3 – The tech-voc track

R

ESEARCH studies have inVESTIGATED WHAT FACTORS INlUence Philippine SHS students to choose enrolling in the academic rather than in the tech-voc, or in other tracks. Aside from those studies conducted by professionals, a number of such studies, which are available in the web, are capstones of graduating SHS students. What is and how different is the tech-voc track from the academic track? The academic track. The academic track in the two-yearold SHS in the Philippine K-12 system is to transition SHS graduates to enroll in a chosen baccalaureate in one of four academic strands. The curriculum of each strand is compatible to the baccalaureate degree curriculum a student would wish to pursue which can be one of the following — accountancy, business and management (ABM) or humanities and social sciences (HUMSS), or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), or general academic strand (GAS). Subjects in each of the four strands were extracted from related collegelevel courses; hence, the specific strand, as it were, offers the basic subjects for the chosen baccalaureate. Characteristic of the K-12 system, these strands represent a spiral progression, a “seamless� study program from basic education to collegiate level. In fact, a research paper, having been required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) in college, is also a required capstone in SHS. Given all these connections, SHS graduates are considered to have college readiness for the baccalaureate program they planned to pursue. Earlier version of the techvoc track. Few people may know that as early as Grade 7 in the

FLASHBACKS/ INSIGHTS TERESITA TANHUECOTUMAPON K-12 system, students are already trained to join the workforce. For this purpose, the DepEd has reestablished “a tech-voc unit under the Bureau of Secondary Education.â€? <http://k12philip pines.com/what-is-k-12s-technical-vocational-livelihoodtrack/> With the establishment of the CHEd in 1994, the Technical-Vocational Bureau in the then Ministry of Education was abolished. That was the period the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) was constituted. Tesda, the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the Philippines, was created by virtue of RA 7796, otherwise known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994.â€? This law integrated the functions of the former National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), the Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (BTVE-DECS) and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLe). <https://www.tesda. gov.ph/about/tesda/11> The establishment of CHEd, Tesda and the reconstituted DepEd may be considered as the legacy of the late senator Edgardo Angara, former University of the Philippines president who after his tenure at UP became a senator of the republic. Assisting him was the late congressman Salvador Escudero, former dean, of the College of Veterinary Science-UP Los BaĂąos and one-

time director/minister of food and agriculture. Angara and Escudero chaired the education committees in their their respective legislative chambers. (I have meaningful memories of them, borne from our monthly meetings with Kapitan Lucio Tan, whose Foundation for Standard Education (FUSE) they helped found, and I, a member to date.) The tech-vocational livelihood (TVL) track.This track deals primarily with techvoc skills which are “requirements for the Certificate of Competency (COC) and National Certifications (NC) needed for employment in electronics, agriculture, or trading.� It has four strands, namely: Agri-Fishery Arts designed to equip students with the theoretical and handson application of skills related to agriculture and fisheries. Students learn various topics that they can use in livestock such as animal production, crop production, landscaping, food processing, and fisheries. <https:// blog.edukas yon.ph/.../hereseverything-you-should-knowabout-the-tvl-track/>. A second is Home Economics (HE), designed to provide students essential knowledge in livelihood skills needed for employment or in starting their own businesses, whether as fashion designer, chef, or entrepreneur. Students encounter interesting topics in the curriculum such as “beauty and wellness, cooking, fashion designing, tourism, hospitality, and handicrafts.� The third is Industrial Arts (IA) crafted for students interested in “honing their technical skills in plumbing, welding, repair and installation, automotive, electronics, carpentry, and construction.� The fourth is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which deals with “various tools for communication and in-

formation dissemination,� with topics like “software and hardware installation, computer programming and servicing, contact center services, and graphics.� https://blog.edukasyon.ph/.../ heres-everything-you-shouldknow-about-the-tvl-track/ TVL transitioning skills. Besides content and content-related skills, students in the TVL track, are honed in:1) communication skills – to communicate well with both company clients as well as to one’s co-workers; 2) critical thinking – the ability to ANALYZE EVALUATE FACTS AND kGURES to enable one to make smart personal or job-related decisions,� considered important in transitioning to college or to the labor market; 3) body coordination – the “ability to maintain body coordination especially with the eye and hands when performing hands-on, labor-intensive tasks.� To illustrate, one needs to have hand-eye coordination or visual acuity, that is, using the eyes to direct muscles towards a TASK SUCH AS kTTING TWO MOVING slabs together. “The vision system coordinates input and sends signals to muscles to make one’s hands move. Hand-eye movement needs several things to happen at once to be successful.� <https:// study.com/academy /blesson/ what-is-hand-eye-coordinationdefinition-skills-development. html> 4) tool-savvy – the ability to use “modern and conventional equipment� needed in one’s chosen career; 5) troubleshooting skills – the “ability to easily identify the source of a problem and come up with effective soluTIONS u AND kNALLY safety – the ability to “observe safety measures in one’s workplace at all times.�

Next week: SHS immersion for business or for work Email: ttumapon@liceo.edu.ph

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Are Philippine CEOs following Duterte’s pivot toward China?

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S the Duterte administration ramps up efforts to secure Chinese backing for its ambitious infrastructure agenda, the results of the Oxford Business Group’s latest regional CEO survey suggest Philippine executives are yet to be convinced by the great call of China. Just 13 percent of Philippine CEOs who participated in our OBG in Asean Business Barometer; they cited a slowdown in Chinese demand as the top external factor likely to impact the domestic economy in the short to medium term, against 30 percent who opted for COMMODITY PRICE lUCTUATIONS AND 24 percent who chose trade protectionism. The results in this category made the Philippines something of a regional outlier in our survey of over 400 business leaders across four countries, with Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar being the other participants. Indeed, the only other country where a decline in Chinese demand was not the main external concern was Indonesia, where marginally more executives chose trade protectionism. While it may appear odd on the surface that Philippine executives seem relatively indifferent about declining demand from their heavyweight neighbor as it attempts a seismic economic shift towards consumption-led growth, there are several reasons why they are likely to have more prominent external concerns. First, the Philippines is a consumption-driven economy itself, which is much less dependent on exports than some of its Asean peers. Exports

conditions and relatively low pay SEEN AS TWO SIGNIkCANT FACTORS THAT ARE DRIVING QUALIkED ENGINEERS AND construction workers overseas or BY PATRICK COOKE into other professions. REGIONAL EDITOR FOR ASIA In other key sectors, many OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP young, educated Filipinos still seek opportunities in more deof goods and services equate to up business in the Philippines, veloped economies abroad, causaround 31 percent of GDP in with over 200,000 Chinese citizens ing a dearth of quality midlevel the Philippines, compared to 68 applying for work permits in 2018 managers. While they still make percent in Thailand, where survey alone, almost all of them operating A taxing issue A SIGNIkCANT CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR participants were most concerned in offshore gaming. I won’t enter homeland through remittances, about a slowdown in China. the argument on whether this is On a question related to the tax envithey are not here to raise the level In terms of external demand for positive for social cohesion, but ronment, the Philippines was again of performance in Philippine corPhilippine goods and services, the the economic impact is certainly the main outlier: just 23 percent of porations. Poor performance from country runs its largest bilateral trade being felt across several key sec- Manila-based executives described middle managers naturally has a DEkCIT WITH #HINA WHEREAS IT MAIN- tors, notably real estate, tourism their domestic tax framework as comnegative trickle-down effect across petitive on a global scale, against 59 tains a trade surplus with the US. and hospitality. a company, as junior workers lack This helps to explain why Philippine Meanwhile, the fact that a plu- percent who chose negative responses. direction and guidance. CEOs were more concerned about rality of Philippine executives was This was in stark contrast to the In the long term, one of the trade protectionism than Chinese most concerned about commodity perception of Thai business leaders, main solutions lies in education. demand, particularly those from PRICES RElECTS THE PROBLEMS RELATED 61 percent of whom described their For example, in China at least 40 EXPORT ORIENTED kRMS WHICH MUST TO HIGH INlATION THAT AROSE LAST YEAR domestic tax regime as competitive percent of university graduates be observing the protectionist poli- when the survey was conducted. or very competitive. now study a degree in science, techPhilippine CEOs responded at cies of the Trump administration )NDEED HIGH INlATION WAS ONE OF nology, engineering or mathematwith trepidation. The Philippines the biggest economic stories of a time of tremendous disruption ics – the so-called STEM subjects IS A BENEkCIARY OF THE 53 'ENERAL- 2018, averaging 5.2 percent for the in the tax framework, with the Brain drain concerns that are seen as vital for jobseekized Scheme of Preferences (GSP), year, which far exceeds the central government forging ahead with a which allows certain manufactured bank’s target range of 2-4 percent. comprehensive tax reform agenda Another factor that could prevent ers and innovators in emerging goods to enter the US tariff-free. Last When we look at commodity prices, designed to raise revenues for its the country from reaching its full industries. In the Philippines, this year the Trump administration an- the Philippines suffered from the Build, Build, Build infrastructure POTENTIAL IS THE SIGNIkCANT SKILLS kGURE WAS AROUND PERCENT IN nounced it was reviewing the GSP rise in oil prices through most of drive and the expansion of social gaps in key areas of the economy. the 2015/2016 academic year. So, status of Indonesia and Thailand, the year, which pushed up the services, such as universal health- When asked which skills are most while the Duterte administration and it is perhaps understandable import bill and placed pressure on care. While these are worthy aims, needed in the domestic workforce, has made commendable efforts in that such moves raise concern in the the peso. The price of agricultural critics have — perhaps unfairly 31 percent of Philippine CEOs expanding access to education, it is Philippines too. commodities such as rice also rose — linked the tax reforms effected chose engineering while 20 per- important that there continues to be an emphasis on ensuring that a On the other hand, it is reason- considerably due to a catalogue of at the start of 2018 to the subse- cent chose leadership. Everyone from President Duterte SUFkCIENT NUMBER OF GRADUATES ARE able to expect that Philippine supply-side issues. However, the oil QUENT SPIKE IN INlATION /THERS CEOs might have been more price is expected to be more stable are concerned that the proposed to trade union leaders seems to leaving university with skills that concerned about how Chinese this year, with oil analysts frequently rationalization of investment agree that the Philippines needs are actually in demand in a rapidly investors are driving demand in trimming their forecasts on the back incentives in economic zones to more engineers and skilled con- evolving economy. the domestic economy. In recent of booming US shale output and offset the reduction in the corpo- struction workers to meet rising YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INlUX OF slowing economic growth in major rate income tax rate will make the demand from the Build, Build, The author can be reached at pcooke@ #HINESE WORKERS AND kRMS SETTING markets. Furthermore, the recently country less appealing for foreign Build pipeline, with poor working oxfordbusinessgroup.com.

Contributed exclusively to The Manila Times

SIGNED 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION ,AW TO LIBERalize rice imports is already helping to lower rice prices following the publication of the implementing rules and regulations. Therefore, we would expect Philippine CEOs to BE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT INlATION and — by extension — commodity prices in 2019.

direct investment. It is interesting to note that although Philippine CEOs were the most negative in the region, sentiment has actually improved since we published our last Asean survey one year ago, when over 73 percent gave negative responses. This suggests that executives may be slowly warming to the tax reform agenda. After all, the PhilIPPINES IS NOT GOING TO FULkL ITS considerable economic potential without broadening the tax base and improving revenue mobilization in a fair and transparent manner. If the Philippines is to ensure that fast-paced economic growth is also balanced, inclusive and sustainable, it will naturally require higher tax revenues that can be channelled into improving infrastructure across the country and expanding access to quality education and health care.

US-China spat does not signal new cold war BY LI AIXIN AND BAI YUNYI Global Times Editor's Note: LOT of people have been saying that China and the US are in a new Cold War — it’s nonsense, claimed Odd Arne Westad (Westad), professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Over the past year, the escalated confrontation between the two countries has been continuously termed by quite a few observers and media outlets as the prelude to Cold War 2.0. Even though the two sides are now edging closer to a trade deal, there are few signs of a letup in tensions. What is the nature of the competition or rivalry between China and the US? Where is such competition headed? As an expert on the Cold War, Westad shared his insights in an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT).

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GT: What do you think is the biggest difference between current China-US relations and US-Soviet Union relations during the Cold War? Westad: There are two very big differences. The world is becoming more multipolar. It has many different powers that are rising at the same time. The US is probably solidifying its position, but is not as predominant as it has been before. So instead of bipolar competition between the US and Soviet Union, we now have a number of different countries that are rising at the same time. The other big difference is that there is much less emphasis on competing ideologies. There are lots of differences between the US and China. But they both work, broadly speaking, within the same economic system on a global scale. That was not the case for the Soviet Union and the US. The Soviet Union wanted to destroy the economic system of the time and replace it with another economic system. That made some of the confrontations grow more intense. GT: Where do you think is the current China-US competition headed? Some say is it hard for major powers to escape the Thucydides’ Trap. Westad: In most historical periods, there have been rivalries between great powers. It’s quite normal. The question is how do they compete and what is the outcome. The US and China have a number of issues where they disagree, and they have a number of issues where they agree. So the point is to try to build on the issues of relative agreement to see if we could develop that further, while at the same time prevent disagreements from becoming so strong so as to lead to conflict between the two sides. At the moment, the US-China relationship really needs some kind of

Q Odd Arne Westad LI AIXIN/ GLOBAL TIMES breakthrough. I am hoping that a trade agreement could be a starting point. It will be a significant step forward, better than what we have now. But it’s not enough to hold the two countries together. I think they need something more tangible, more specific in terms of international affairs, something that is more strategic. I’m still very hopeful that some kind of resolution to the North Korea nuclear issue can be a basis for that solution. But you can also put it differently. If there is no solution to that problem, I’m very worried that it could be one of those issues that would drive the US and China further apart. So (North) Korea at the moment in this region is the key, the big key that could unlock a lot of other things. GT: The US is cracking down on China’s tech giant Huawei, which is considered by a number of international media outlets as a 'high-tech cold war.' What is your take? Westad: It has nothing to do with a cold war. It is about other kinds of great power rivalries. The situation reminds me much more about the relationship between the US and Japan when Japan was becoming a global power in the 1970s and 1980s. For geopolitical reasons, the US and Japan are allies. So Americans had to be a bit more careful with how they dealt with Japanese companies as they grew. But they still had a very confrontational attitude toward Japan, particularly Japanese companies, because Americans believed Japanese companies used their technological progress unwarrantedly to get advantages in markets and technology. This is what’s happening now between the US and China. It’s much more similar to that than any kind of cold war. This is about economic advantage within the same system. GT: You said that the current international system is more like the late '19th century system', in which many powers are competing for influence. Could you please elaborate on what the “19th century systemâ€?

will look like in the 21st century? Westad: To me, what is significant here is that it will be multipolar. There will be many different powers that interact. These powers may be connected to alliances, but in reality, they will be independent of each other. This is now happening on a global scale that is much wider than was the case in the late 19th century. But it seems to me to have some of the same systemic qualities to it. To understand how the future will develop, one key issue is regionalism. Regions, on a broad scale, like South America, South Asia or East Asia are going to be incredibly difficult to handle because they are going to go with their own directions. They will be different from what you’ve seen in the past when there was one predominant power, the US. In the National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends Report released in 2017, a report about what US intelligence community thinks the world will look like in 20 years time, they said they are pretty sure that within that time period, one or more nuclear weapons would be used. It’s a possible conclusion. It’s also quite possible that the use of a nuclear weapon would not be between the US and China, but could easily be between India and Pakistan or some other regional situation like that. It is very reminiscent of the late 19th century, when there were regions of instability becoming really difficult for the bigger powers to handle. So, I think in order to avoid conflict between the US and China, it’s very important to start talking about those kinds of issues now, not because the US and China can resolve them, but because they need to know what the thinking is on the other side.

very driven in terms of its economic development, while Britain and France and the US were liberal countries that had different preoccupations in terms of domestic politics and economy. There were differences, but not on a massive scale. Germany had institutions that were actually moving very strongly in the democratic direction. In some areas, Germany was perhaps even ahead of Britain when it came to social policy and social institutions, but still that ideological divide could be constructed. I see some of the same things happening now between the US and China. I think it’s wrong on both sides. In the US, a lot of people start to say China is a threat because it is ideologically different. My view to this would be, there are very significant differences. But I knew China when it was much more authoritarian than what it is now. I first came to Beijing 40 years ago. And if the US and China could cooperate then, why not now? From the Chinese perspective, some people are saying there is something unique about the Chinese model of development, which Americans and Westerners dislike. There is a fear here in some circles that the US is about to undo China’s government. The term that is often used is “color revolutions.â€? That is completely far-fetched, particularly now. Donald Trump could not care less about how China is governed. But even if a Democrat were to be elected, who would put more emphasis on this, I think everyone I know in the US realizes that the opportunities for the US to influence what kind of government China has is close to zero. No one actually believes that that [the Chinese government] would change.Â

GT: Can you predict the nature of the competition or rivalry in the 21st century? Westad: I think it is going to be rivalry with elements of partnership. At least as long as the idea of a joint global economic system is in place, and people benefit from working with each other in an integrated economic system. The important thing is to avoid this — there is an ideological divide between the US and China, which tells leaders on both sides that there has to be a conflict between the two. That’s when things get dangerous. It’s not necessarily in a cold war sense, but more of a 1914 WW1 sense. In 1912, no one predicted a war between Germany and France, Germany and Britain, but they knew there was a lot of rivalry. In the summer of 1914, when this went from being a rivalry to being a cataclysmic war, the image of the other side was very much influenced by a sort of quite vague idea of ideological differences — Germany was centralized, authoritarian,

GT: You said “powers may be connected to alliances, but in reality, they will be independent of each other.â€? In that case, how will US alliance system, a product of the Cold War, develop in this era? Westad: I think we are already in a period of tremendous change on this. The kind of alliance system that US had during the Cold War is already disappearing. The future is happening now. The former framework will probably stay in place. But in reality, the ability to reach political agreement and cooperation will be so much more narrow between the US and EU and between US and Japan. In both cases, the room for cooperation is narrowing, unless there is some kind of global crisis that will push them together again, which could happen. But even though that happens, it would be a different form of alliances. It will be more like the alliances of the late 19th century that were oriented not toward common goals, but toward shared interests. The Cold War system has outlived

itself. It was useful for the Cold War, perhaps even in the post-Cold War era to some extent, because it kept some degree of stability in place. But it doesn’t fit this era where much of the emphasis is on economic competition, not only between the US and China, but also between the US and Germany or France or Japan. There are some interests in common and there are some interests that are not in common. Reason No.2. It has to do with domestic change in the US. During the Cold War and the period immediately after the Cold War, the US was systemic power, so it integrated everywhere. It put itself at the center of economic development and didn’t always emphasize its own economic interest in a narrow sense. This is what dominant powers do. Now as other countries have become stronger and the US relatively weaker internationally, a lot of Americans are concluding that this is not good for the US. The US has to look after its own interest first and foremost. GT: Do you think the multilateral framework, established after the WWII, will be shattered against this backdrop?  Westad: This is a very difficult question to answer. I think that depends very much on China. China has a really significant interest, not in everything in terms of that framework, but in a lot of it. There was very little that China doesn’t like about this. China wants perhaps a little bit more influence in global financial and monetary institutions. That’s very understandable because of China’s position. But on a lot of other things, from reform of the UN Security Council to the idea of how the WTO works, China wants things to stay the way they are now. That’s really interesting, particularly for those who are saying that China will be a kind of revisionist power. I am sure China is not a revisionist power. I just wish sometimes Chinese leaders can say that a little more clearly. In your newspaper, for instance, there is a lot of talk about China having found its own model of development, which is different from Western model of development. In some areas, it is, but in other areas, it’s very very similar. The current international system it lives within was built by the West. Sometimes powers can be very different in their starting point, and take over the whole system, change it a bit in terms of how it is presented. But keep the basic format intact. That’s what happened when ancient Rome took over part of Greece. The best example is a course from China, the Ming Dynasty-Qing Dynasty transition. By then people thought barbarians came and they were gonna destroy everything. What did they create? A world that looks remarkably

like the world they had replaced. GT: Where do you think is the current geopolitical landscape of East Asia, including Korean Peninsula and South China Sea headed? What impact will the current China-US conflicts and the not-so-optimistic prospects of their relationship have on East Asia’s geopolitical pattern? Westad: I am worried about what is going to happen in this region. If the US and China are going to drive toward conflict, it will be an issue connected to the East Asian region, not bilateral relationship between the US and China. No one is going to go to war over trade differences, even cyberattacks. Sometimes historians think that concrete obstacles can have major consequences if the great powers stumbled into a conflict, like the WW1. Korea is very much like that. I think there is still a real risk of war on the Korean Peninsula. It could happen very fast and could happen to some extent by misperceptions and misunderstandings. I do think that’s the most dangerous situation in the region. I often had this question asked now in Beijing — What should China do? Even though it’s true that China does not dominate North Korea the way many Americans think, China still needs to do more to make sure that there is a continuity of the process we saw after the last summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. As my friend Graham Allison likes to say, China’s strategic setting is really difficult. It’s not like the US where its neighbors are Canada and Mexico. Here we see Vietnam and Japan and Korea. It’s not easy to handle that. But China has to start somewhere, it has to attempt to twist things in a more positive direction for itself. I think the starting point has to be the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Part of the key on this issue is the Chinese relationship with South Korea. Under the current administration in South Korea, China has an opportunity to work with the friendliest government in South Korea toward China that you will ever gonna get. I can guarantee you that. There has been no major Chinese initiative at all since the Moon administration came into power, to transform the relationship with South Korea. That’s a mistake. A lot of people now in South Korea are saying, Chinese are interacting with us more and more directly. Is it because they’re afraid that that could loosen Chinese connections with North Korea? From a Chinese strategic point of view, that’s very bad. Ten years ago, young South Koreans were looking at China as a very important partner in the future. But it’s not the case now. China needs to become more active in its own region. Instead of sitting around and just looking at what the American or Japanese are doing. GLOBAL TIMES

Regions

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

4 killed in Sulu, Basilan clashes

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Fighting erupted on Thursday between the pro-Islamic 3TATE )3 !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP !3' and Philippine Army soldiers in Sulu, killing a bandit and wounding two soldiers, while an Army soldier and two government militias were also killed in Basilan, one of five provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region in SOUTHERN 0HILIPPINES OFkCIALS SAID on Thursday. The clash in Sulu erupted in Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul town, after SOLDIERS RAN INTO A GROUP OF !3' LEADER 2ADULAN 3AHIRON 4HE kGHTING LASTED for 40 minutes. “The encounter resulted in one enemy killed and slight wounding of two soldiers. Engaged troops are on HOT PURSUIT OF THE lEEING ENEMY u A military statement said. Earlier this week, soldiers also clashed in Barangay Bangkal with !3' TERRORISTS KILLING TWO BANDITS including Barak Ingog, who was among behind two suicide attacks by an Indone sian IS couple on a #ATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IN *OLO IN *ANUARY this year that killed 27 and wounded 77 people, mostly civilians and soldiers. The other slain gunman, Nasser Sawadjaan, was a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Hajan Sawadajaan. Troops have mounted massive operations in Sulu since early this year as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s ORDER TO DESTROY THE !3' The operations had resulted in the recovery of two Indonesians and a

-ALAYSIAN kSHER HELD BY THE GROUP on Simisa Island off Sulu. But two of the hostages, Malaysian Jari Abdullah, died in hospital IN :AMBOANGA #ITY FROM A GUNSHOT wound, and Hariadin drowned while ESCAPING THE kGHTING BETWEEN TROOPS and the bandits. Meanwhile, an Army soldier and two government militias were killed IN AN AMBUSH BY !3' BANDITS IN "Arangay Upper Benembengan in Sumisip, Basilan on Wednesday. /FkCIALS DID NOT RELEASE THE NAMES OF the casualties, but said the victims were travelling on two motorcycles when ATTACKED BY THE UNIDENTIkED GUNMEN The ambush happened as the US warned its citizens not to travel to the restive region because of persistent threats of terrorism. The Philippine military previously claimed that Basilan was now peaceful after the surrender of dozens of militants over the last two years, but sporadic attacks against security forces and civilians still continue. Basilan, about 29 nautical miles SOUTH OF :AMBOANGA #ITY IS A MAJOR STRONGHOLD OF THE !3' BEING THE place where the terrorist group was founded by its chief and Islamic preacher Ustadz Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani in the 1990s. Janjalani was eventually killed by a POLICE OFkCER IN A kREkGHT IN $ECEMber 1998, but the group continued its terror campaign in the South, embracing the violent campaigns of IS in an effort to establish a caliphate in Mindanao. AL JACINTO

BY FREDERICK SILVERIO AND RAFFY AYENG

T

(% -ETRO 0ACIkC 4OLLWAYS #ORP -04# has stepped up its service capacity to provide travel convenience to over 300,000 motorists expected to pass the expressways DURING THE (OLY 7EEK WITH ENHANCED TRAFkC MANAGEMENT PLANS 4HE -04# THE HOLDING COMPANY OF .ORTH ,UZON %XPRESSWAY .,%X 3UBIC #LARK 4ARLAC %XPRESSWAY 3#4%X AND #AVITE %XPRESSWAY #AVITEX ANNOUNCED THIS DURING the launch of “2019 Safe Trip Mo 3AGOT +Ou 3-3+ IN 1UEZON #ITY on Thursday. Similarly, the Department of Transportation (DoTr), the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) launched the Rights of Sea Passengers at the Port of Batangas on Thursday to ensure safe sea travel. .,%X 6ICE 0RESIDENT FOR 4ECHNOLOGY 'LENN #AMPOS SAID MOTORISTS through SMSK-Motorist Assistance Program, could anticipate comfort AND SAFE TRAVEL IN ALL THESE EXPRESSWAYS WITH ENHANCED TRAFkC MANAGEment and toll collection services

to manage the 10 percent surge in TRAFkC DURING THE (OLY 7EEK THAT would provide more convenient travel to the public. About 700 booth tellers and patrol OFkCERS WOULD BE DEPLOYED AT .,%X 3#4%X TOLL PLAZAS Luigi Bautista, president and GENERAL ANAGER OF .,%X #ORP SAID additional patrol and incident response teams would be deployed to critical areas for quick assistance to motorists. .,%X 3#4%X TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TEAMS WOULD HAVE EXTENDED duty hours from April 15 to 22 to closely monitor and manage the EXPECTED HIGH VOLUME OF VEHICLES IN the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Tar lac, San Miguel and Tipo toll plazas. Bautista said that during peak periods on April 17 to 22, the toll plazas

Q Former special assistant to the President and Senate aspirant Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go responds to the cheering people of Compostela Valley at the Monkayo Municipal Gym during a campaign rally of Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates for the Senate. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO chinery, and heavy duty boats for kSHERS AS WELL AS OTHER NEEDS FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD u 'O ADDED The main sources of income of THE PEOPLE IN #OMPOSTELA 6ALLEY ARE agricultural products such as rice, coconut, cacao, coffee, papaya, mango, pineapple, durian and banana. 3OME RESIDENTS HAVE kSHPONDS AND CULTURE THEIR OWN kSH LIKE tilapia and bangus MILKkSH %ARLIER 'O CALLED FOR AN EXPANDED irrigation system to enable more FARMERS TO BENEkT FROM THE &REE )Rrigation Law that President Rodrigo $UTERTE HAD SIGNED IN FULkLLMENT OF his campaign promise. Noting that more children of farmers and fishers were leaving THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR TO kND OTHER work, he batted for increased incentives, such as scholarship and free training on best practices in farmING AND kSHERIES TO ENSURE A TRAINED work force in the agricultural sector. 'O SAID IMPROVED GOVERNMENT support for the agriculture sector would help improve the lot of the workers in the sector, particularly with additional economic and livelihood opportunities spurred by infrastructure projects and peace

initiatives of the Duterte administration in Mindanao. During his visit to the province IN *ULY LAST YEAR 'O BARED VARIOUS infrastructure projects for Mindanao already in the pipeline, including the long-awaited Mindanao Railway project, which will shorten travel time from Tagum #ITY IN $AVAO DEL .ORTE TO $IGOS #ITY IN $AVAO DEL 3UR FROM THE CURrent three hours to just one hour and thirty minutes. Other big ticket projects for Mindanao include the P5.4billion Malitubog-Maridagao )RRIGATION PROJECT IN .ORTH #OTAbato, the P98 billion Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network and the P21-billion Improving 'ROWTH 3ECTORS IN -INDANAO Road Sector Project. The improved peace situation in Mindanao brought about by THE RATIkCATION OF THE "ANGSAMORO /RGANIC ,AW IS ALSO EXPECTED TO push the pace of development in the region. The former SAP and now Senate HOPEFUL EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO THE people of the province for their continued support for the President, like

other Mindanaoans, as he vowed to support the programs and policies of the administration. )N ADDITION TO AGRICULTURE 'O IS also pushing for improved delivery of health services in the country, particularly in providing better facilities for public health institutions, as well as for a law that would allow the ESTABLISHMENT OF -ALASAKIT #ENTERS in more provinces and key urban centers of the country. A program of the Duterte adMINISTRATION BASED ON 'O S IDEA THE -ALASAKIT #ENTER MAKES IT EASier and faster for indigent patients TO SECURE MEDICAL AND kNANCIAL assistance from the government by bringing together in one room representatives of agencies concerned — Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and $EVELOPMENT 0HILIPPINE #HARITY Sweepstakes Office and PhilipPINE (EALTH )NSURANCE #ORP OR PhilHealth. “It’s a one-stop shop. No major REQUIREMENTS 9OU ARE QUALIkED AS A &ILIPINO AND THERE IS EXPRESS lane for senior citizens and persons with disability,� he said of the -ALASAKIT #ENTER

Safeguard on food safety Dear PAO, Is there a rule regarding food safety that would tell us what to do in case one part of a particular batch of goods is found spoiled? Luna

DEAR PAO

Dear Luna, Pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10611 or the “Food Safety Act of 2013,� it is a mandated principle under the said law’s Rule 5(d) that: “Rule 5 (d) Where unsafe food, is part of a batch, lot or consignment of food of the same class or description, it shall be presumed

that all food in that batch, lot or consignment is also unsafe [‌]â€? (Emphasis and designation of the parties supplied) Hence, the same rule also provides for the mechanism of recall under Rule 14b of the same law which says: “Rule 14b.1 FBOs (food business operators) shall immediately report to the FSRA (food safety

PERSIDA ACOSTA

A7

Roads, ports all set for Holy Week

Go pushes trainings for farmers, fishers

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley: Former special assistant to the President (SAP) #HRISTOPHER ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O has pushed for agri-entrepreneurship training and mentorship for SMALL FARMERS AND kSHERFOLK TO PROvide them with additional income and uplift their living condition. 'O MADE THE COMMITMENT AT THE campaign rally of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago at the Monkayo MuniciPAL 'YM HERE ON 7EDNESDAY AS HE thanked the people of the province for the huge turnout to welcome their ticket. The former top aide, who has identified agriculture and food security as one of his legislative agenda priorities, said improved government support for small farmERS AND kSHERFOLK WOULD GO A LONG way toward improving their lives and strengthening the country’s food security. “Bigyan natin ng ayuda ang ating mga magsasaka tulad ng murang abono, pesticide, binhi at makinarya at ang ating mga mangingisda ng maayos na bangka at iba pang gamit sa kanilang hanapbuhay (Let’s give assistance to our farmers like cheap fertilizer, pesticide, seeds and ma-

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

regulatory agencies) products that are not safe or not in compliance with food safety requirements. They shall also report any incident that indicated that the said product has caused or contributed to the death, serious illness or serious injury to a consumer or any person. The same shall be withdrawn from the market, in accordance with their respective product recall program, and disposed according to the procedures prescribed by the Department of Agriculture and/or the Department of Health.� The batch of contaminated goods may, therefore, be recalled

or withdrawn from the market, subject to further disposal, in accordance with the rules determined by the mentioned agencies. This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

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

would increase toll collections points to 50 percent. .,%8 0ROJECT -ANAGEMENT 6ICE 0RESIDENT .EMESIO #ASTILLO ANnounced that ongoing road works at THE .,%X 3#4%X AND #AVITEX WOULD be suspended starting this Friday until April 22 unless safety repairs are required. One of the improvements this YEAR WOULD BENEkT THE PROVINCE OF "ULACAN WITH ROAD NETWORK EXPANSION PROJECT ALONG .,%X CONNECTING

to national roads. During the launching of the Rights of Sea Passengers at the Port of Batangas, the DoTr, PPA and Marina reiterated passengers’ right to information, to refund, right to revalidation of tickets, to amenities, to compensation and to comparable transport. DoTr Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez said ship owners and operators should be mindful of the penalties if they commit breach of the passengers’ rights.

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News

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

HOUSE BILL SEEKS TO EXPAND PATERNITY LEAVE A measure that seeks to allow women to share their maternity leave benefits with their child’s father has been filed before the House of Representatives. House Bill 9081 or the proposed “Co-Parenting Act of 2019,� was filed by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Ronald Ang after President Rodrigo Duterte approved Republic Act (RA) 11210 or the “Expanded Maternity Leave� law that grants mothers 105 days of maternity leave. “This bill seeks to establish

a shared parental leave where the maternity leave benefits can be shared to the child’s father which will enable the latter to give more time to care for his child and aid in his wife’s recovery. The additional leave that can be enjoyed by the husband is crucial in case the mother experiences sudden and unpredictable complications that would render her incapable of taking care of the new born during the said period,� Ang said in the bill’s explanatory

note. “Mas magiging maganda ‘yung simula nu’ng bata kung magkasama silang nag-aalaga ganun talaga ngayon modern na ‘yung concept natin shared responsibility na (The child will have a better start if both parents will take care of him together, it’s shared responsibility),� he said. Ang expressed hope that his measure would be tackled by the 18th Congress. Under the bill, female work-

ers in government and private sector may opt to allocate up to 60 days of their maternity benefits to the child’s father. The shared period of leave shall be in addition to the seven days paternity leave granted under the law. “Shared parental leave shall be granted to all workers in every instance of pregnancy or miscarriage, regardless of frequency. Provided, That in case of miscarriage, the female worker, at her option, can only

allocate to the child’s father a period of thirty (30) days of maternity leave, for purposes of enabling him to effectively lend support to his female partner/spouse in the latter’s period of recovery,�the bill said. The bill covered workers in the government service, regardless of employment status, in national government agencies, local government units, government-owned and -controlled corporations, or state universi-

ties and colleges; and workers in the private sector, regardless of employment status. Ang said childbirth complications sometimes happen in the postpartum period or six weeks after delivery. “Thus, apart from the need to improve healthcare services and programs in the country, it is also necessary to increase husband’s participation in aiding his wife during and after delivery,� he said. REINA C. TOLENTINO

Killer of Cebu teen says sorry T

BY RHEA RUTH ROSELL

H E “ M o m o C h a l l e n g e, � w h i c h provokes violent behavior, was one of the videos from where the selfconfessed killer of Christine Lee Silawan learned techniques that he applied in peeling off the teen’s face. Renato Llenes, 43, of Sitio Tigcahon, Barangay Bankal in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu admitted killing Silawan in an extrajudicial confession with the assistance of private lawyer Manuel Degollacion and a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office on Tuesday. He was presented to media on Thursday at the Po-

lice Regional Office in Central Visayas. Murder charges are being prepared against him. Llenes was arrested for illegal possession of firearms in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday. Seized from him was a loaded caliber .45 pistol. Police also found a pair of scissors and

a bloodstained shirt. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Llenes was seen on a series of closed-circuit television footage where Silawan was last seen. Degollacion said Llenes did not reveal where he threw the peeled -off face of Silawan. The lawyer said Llenes narrated how he got close with Silawan. “They were friends as of November last year through Facebook. They actually met on March that day. [Llenes said] they had a relationship on Facebook because ‘CJ Diaz’ was very handsome,� Degollacion

said. CJ Diaz was another name Llenes used on Facebook. Albayalde said Llenes admitted to the crime because he was haunted by his conscience. Llenes confessed that he killed Silawan on March 10 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. using a pair of scissors. He admitted to being obsessed with Silawan, and that they quarreled because the girl told him that she was no longer a virgin. Albayalde said Llenes confessed that he stabbed Silawan several times because he was under the influence of illegal drugs. The PNP chief added that

Llenes peeled off Silawan’s face so that she would not be identified. Llenes said he learned the peeling trick when he watched the Momo Challenge video. “He was haunted by his conscience and pitied the innocent boy arrested by NBI-7 (National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas) and the victim, Christine. He went into hiding, moving from Mandaue City to Cebu City Cathedral every day,� the PNP chief said. Llenes, however, denied raping Silawan. “I stabbed her,� he said in Visayan. “I am asking for forgiveness. I felt guilty. I was under the influence of drugs, and

I was afraid because my head has a bounty.� Llenes said he wanted the suspect arrested by the NBI released because he was innocent. Albayalde said he believes that Llenes was telling the truth because he was consistent. He said Llenes would be subjected to a neuro-test. “Not an ordinary criminal can ever do that. He admitted that he was high [on] illegal drugs at the time.� Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said the P100,000-reward money the Regional Advisory Council raised would be given to the person who identified Llenes.

SET dismisses poll protest vs de Lima GOVT TO HIRE 13K NURSES – JV THE Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has dismissed the electoral protest filed in 2016 by defeated Senate candidate Francis Tolentino against Sen. Leila de Lima. De Lima edged out Tolentino by over 1.33 million votes, taking the 12th Senate slot. In its resolution dated February 21, the SET granted Tolentino’s motion withdrawing his electoral protest against de Lima. It also granted de Lima’s motion to make public the results of the recount proceedings covering 319,228 ballots from 654 clustered precincts.Â

 The SET said the results of the initial determination of the concluded revision of pilot precincts did not show any proof of irregularities or fraud that purportedly led to the defeat of Tolentino. “The results negated his allegations that pre-loaded SD (secure digital) cards were used or that his votes were not counted,â€? the tribunal said. Tolentino had said that he“voluntarilyâ€? withdrew his electoral protest against de Lima so that he could focus on his campaign.He is again seeking a Senate seat in the May 13 midterm polls. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Thursday said the government is set to hire over 13,000 nurses this year since the P3.7 trillion national budget for 2019 allotted enough funds to beef up the nursing workforce in public hospitals. The reelectionist senator, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said there were currently 3,627 government nurses. Under the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), over P7 billion had been allotted FOR THE SALARIES AND OTHER kNANCIAL BENEkTS OF public nurses. The amount also allows the hiring of additional 13,578 nurses under the Human Resources for Health (HRH) program of the Department of Health (DoH). “This year, the national budget allows for the hiring of 13,578 more nurses for deployment in different DoH-retained hospitals, local gov-

ernment unit hospitals, rural health units and barangay (village) health stations,� Ejercito said. “With the current 3,627 [nurses], there would be 17,205 nurses in hospitals run by the government,� he added. Ejercito, principal sponsor of the Universal Health Care Law, had pushed for the P7 billion budget for HRH during the Senate deliberation on the DoH budget. “It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. First, the additional nurses will improve medical services in government-run hospitals, and, second, 13,578 jobless nurses will be given gainful employments,� he said. Ejercito had also restored in the 2019 GAB the P15-billion funds for the DoH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program that were scrapped by the Department of Budget and Management. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Farmers hit by drought seek cash aid FARMERS and fishermen hit hard by El NiĂąo are seeking cash assistance from the government. Their leaders Emmanuel Rosario, Roberto Aleroza and Ireneo Cerilla narrated their sad plight in a news conference on Thursday in Quezon City. They said farmers are seeking assistance under a “Cash-for-Workâ€? program,â€? similar to the program implemented in 2016. El NiĂąo, which started in March, is expected to ease off in July. “For every harvest time, we are losing about P12,000 due to El NiĂąo,â€? said Rosario. Aleroza of Akbayan party-list said of the 53 provinces affected by El NiĂąo, only six have been placed under a state of calamity.

Rosario, of the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan, pegged agriculture losses at P5 billion in the first quarter of 2019. “It seems the Duterte administration failed to prepare for this drought phenomenon. It was only last March 30 when the President activated the El NiĂąo Task Force although as early as August last year we already knew that it is coming,â€? Aleroza said. Cerilla, one of the leaders of the Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka, said the cash-for-work program should be implemented until El NiĂąo has dissipated. He said farmers could be hired to prePARE LANDS FOR FUTURE FARMING kX IRRIGATION COASTAL CLEANUP AND kSHING GROUND MAINTEJAIME R. PILAPIL nance.

Q ‘INTERFERENCE’ FROM A1

Senators hit US lawmakers are but incidental to the intent of this resolution. They are entitled to fair justice and judgment by the courts handling their cases. But what we need to point out is that supremacism has no place in a civilized world regardless of race, color and status in wealth and power,� Lacson said. Reacting to SR 1037, Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa� Hontiveros, in a text message, said, “We should not confuse international solidarity with foreign intervention.� “We, in the Philippines, believe in due process, freedom of the press. I think, we should be open to that,� she said. Her statement irked Sotto. “Solidarity my foot! Did they do that for former SP (Senate President Juan Ponce) Enrile and Senators [Ramon] Revilla Jr. and [Jinggoy] Estrada?� g/KEY THEN ,ET S kLE A RESOLUTION TELLING THE US to allow all immigrants into their country. That’s solidarity,� he added. Enrile, Revilla and Estrada were detained

on charges of plunder and graft. All three are seeking another term at the Senate. SR 1037 read: “[I]t is submitted that the said Resolutions are highly inappropriate and unbefitting, considering that the Philippines is no longer a vassal or a colony of the United States of America, but a sovereign state and a member of the family of nations governed by its own municipal laws and the generally accepted principles of international law.� House Resolution 233, filed on March 14, was authored by Representatives Karen Lorraine Jacqueline Speier, James Patrick McGovern, Hank Calvin Johnson, Jr., Jamin Ben Raskin of Maryland, Bradley James Sherman, and Lloyd Alton Dogget 2nd. -EANWHILE 53 3ENATE 2ESOLUTION kLED on April 4, was signed by US Senators Edward John Markey, Marco Rubio, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Marsha Blackburn, and Christopher Andres Coons. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

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What’s inside BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE – FINEX FILES BusinessB2 PH STILL AT BOTTOM OF BMI’S Q1 MINING INDEX BusinessB2 CEBU LANDMASTERS SEES P2.6-B INCOME IN 2019 Corporate NewsB3

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ABS-CBN 2018 PROFIT DIPS 39.6% TO P1.9B

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MIDDLE-CLASS SQUEEZE HURTS MILLENNIALS THE MOST – OECD Foreign BusinessB7

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CHINA’S MARCH CONSUMER, PRODUCER PRICES INCREASE Foreign BusinessB7

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V Seoul 0.49%

V To k yo 0 . 1 1 %

W Jakarta 1.50%

PWC’S NEEDLES IN A HAYSTACK

W H o n g Ko n g 0 . 9 3 %

B2

W

FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2019

Business Times

CURRENCY RATE

B1

W B a n g ko k 0 . 1 8 %

Razon: ICTSI in talks with Hanjin creditors BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

I

NTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) remains interested in taking over Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Philippines, WITH THE 2AZON LED kRM LOOKING TO WIN THE BANKRUPT SHIPBUILDER S CREDITORS OVER

“We’re making presentations to the banks; the banks own it now,� ICTSI Chairman Enrique Razon Jr. told reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the port operator’s annual stockholders’ meeting. He said the firm was crafting a MASTERPLAN TO BE PRESENTED TO THE kVE Philippine banks — Rizal Commercial

Banking Corp. (RCBC), BDO Unibank Inc., Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank), and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) — owed some $412 million by Hanjin. If the takeover is successful, Razon reiterated plans to turn the Subic-based shipyard into a multipurpose facility,

but also stressed they could still abandon the bid. “The [only] problem is the road isn’t really good. Mabuti ang shipbuilding because nandun lang sila sa (shipbuilding is good because of the location) but for other things, the road is a problem,� he noted. “If it doesn’t work for us, we’re not gonna do this.� Razon said in February that he was keen on acquiring Hanjin after the LATTER kLED FOR BANKRUPTCY AT THE START of the year. In a television interview, he said the shipyard operations could continue, albeit at a smaller scale, with the rest of facility turned into an industrial

complex with container port facilities, A LIQUEkED NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT AND dry bulk/agricutural support handling services. Also on Thursday, Razon said he was also cautiously optimistic for 2019 amid an expected shipments slowdown due to the US-China trade war. ICTSI has allotted $380 million this year for expansion, with the bulk for to be used for Philippine operations. “We are optimistic in our terminals. We have to build ourselves so that we can handle bigger ships in our terminals,� Razon said. ICTSI shares closed down by P1.30 to P132 each amid the Philippine Stock Exchange index’s 0.23-percent dip.

IMF: Rising debt makes economy more vulnerable Duterte’s popularity positive for fiscal reforms WASHINGTON, D.C.: Rising corporate and government debt levels and the sharp increase in more risky lending could leave the global economy vulnerable to another severe downturn, the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). While the concerns “aren’t all setting off alarm bells just yet,â€? governments will face challenges in balancing the need to tighten up oversight of the financial sector, at a time when the global economy is slowing, said Tobias Adrian, head of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department. The IMF’s semi-annual Global Financial Stability Report found vulnerabilities are on the rise across advanced and emerging mar-

T

ket economies, which could worsen if economies slow or if interest rates rise sharply, he said. Adrian urged governments to take protective steps now and “resist the call to roll back reforms.� “There is no room for complacency,� he told reporters. “The intensification of trade tensions and the threat of a disordered Brexit have dented the investor confidence.� The buildup of debt is apparent for governments and corporations, in advanced and developing nations, according to the report. “In the United

ÂłDebt B5

Terminated deal

HE disclosure was in the form of a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the Philippine Dealing System Corp. (PDSC). It was dated March 29, 2019 and the letter’s recipients were Vicente Graciano P. Felizmenio, director of the SEC’s market and securities regulation department; Janet Encarnacion, head of PSE’s disclosure department and Joseph B. Evangelista, head, of PSE’s issuer compliance and disclosure department. The letter, the contents of which are self-explanatory, reads as follows: “This refers to the Subscription Agreement dated 26 October 2018 as amended on 26 December 2018 (the “Agreement�) between PXP Energy Corporation (PXP) and Dennison Holdings Corp. (Dennison), under the terms of which PXP agreed to issue and Dennison agreed to subscribe to 340 million common shares of the Company for the total aggregate amount of Php4.029 billion or a Subscription Price of PhP11.85 per share, subject to other terms and conditions as provided for in the Agreement. In relation to the subscription of Dennison to the PXP shares, PXP, through a Preferential Rights Agreement dated 26 October 2018, was granted certain Preferential Rights to the prospective shares of Dennison’s affiliate, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (the “Company� or Phoenix), in Tanglawan Philippine

Q IMFÂ Chief EconomistGita Gopinath attends the IMF World Bank Spring Meetings at International Monetary Fund Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on April 10, 2019. AFP PHOTO

LNG, Inc. We would like to disclose that on 29 March 2019, the PXP and Dennison mutually agreed to terminate the Share Subscription Agreement effective 29 March 2019 (the “Effective Date�). As such, PXP also relinquished any and all Preferential Rights granted under the Preferential rights Agreement among the Company, PXP, and Dennison following the termination of the Share Subscription Agreement. Thank you and warm regards. Very truly yours, Atty. Socorro Ermac Cabreros Corporate Secretary�

Top executives Domingo T. Uy is chairman of Phoenix Petroleum’s 11-person board while Dennis Uy, who is one of the regular directors, is president and chief executive OFkCER As a listed company, Phoenix has 1,403,304,232 outstanding common shares and 20 million outstanding preferred shares. Of Phoenix’s more than 1.403 billion outstanding common shares, Phoenix Petroleum Holdings Inc. owns 588,945,630 common shares, which represent 41.97 percent.

ÂłPerez B7

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s continued popularity could boost his fiscal reform agenda, Japan’s Nomura Securities Ltd. said, especially if his allies end up winning seats in Congress next month. In a commentary on Thursday, Nomura economist Euben Paracuelles noted that Duterte’s +66% net satisfaction rating based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey was the highest since he took office in 2016. “The first quarter marks the third straight quarter in which President Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity has increased after hitting a low in mid2018‌,â€? he said. “This implies a rising likelihood of his allies retaining a strong majority in Congress, which, in turn, should support the fiscal reform agenda during the second half of his six-year term,â€? he added. Approval of Duterte’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) has stalled following the passage of the Tax Reform

for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Act in late 2019. Implemented at the start of 2018, the law — which raised taxes on fuel, cars and other items in exchange for lower personal income tax rates — has been blamed for causing above-target inflation. This subsequently soured legislators’ enthusiasm, particularly in the Senate, for other CTRP packages that remain pending in Congress and could have to be refiled after a new set of lawmakers takes office in July. Still to be approved are: • Package 1B, which seeks to reform the Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge; • Package 2, which calls for the reduction of corporate income tax reduction and streamlining of fiscal incentives, that has already been passed by the House of Representatives as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill;

ÂłReforms B5

Govt contract reviews could affect investments MALACAĂ‘ANG’S push to review allegedly “onerousâ€? contracts could affect investor interest in the Philippines, the chairman of one OF OF THE TARGETED kRMS CLAIMED on Thursday. “Yes,â€? Maynilad Water Services Inc. Chairman Manuel Pangilinan replied when asked by reporters if President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to review all government contracts

represented a “predicament for future investments.� He did not elaborate. Duterte last week told all goverment agencies to review contracts with private firms and foreign investors, a decision said to have been prompted by a massive water shortage blamed on Maynilad competitor Manila Water Co. Inc. Maynilad is currently embroiled

in arbitration against the government over tariff adjustments and Pangilinan earlier this week said they were willing to drop the case. MalacaĂąang, however, has remained combative, with Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo warning that criminal cases could BE kLED IF -AYNILAD S CONCESSION deal was found to be detrimental to consumers.

PH trade deficit hits $2.79B in Feb THE country’s trade deficit increased to $2.79 billion in February from the $2.54 billion recorded a year earlier as imports continued to outpace exports, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. &EBRUARY S kGURE HOWEVER WAS lower compared to the $3.76-bilLION DEkCIT IN *ANUARY The PSA said inbound shipments grew by 2.6 percent to $7.97 billion year on year while exports contracted 0.9 percent to $5.18 billion. Electronic products remained the country’s top export with earnings amounting to $2.92 billion, up by 0.8 percent. However, lower sales of metal components, gold, machinery and transport equipment, other manufactured goods, ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships weighed on overall exports growth. The increase in imports, meanwhile, was traced to transport equipment, cereals and cereal preparations, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials,

other food and live animals, and telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery. Total external trade in goods amounted to $13.14 billion, up by 1.2 percent from $12.99 billion a year ago. HSBC Global Research economist Noelan Arbis said the narrower trade balance could also be attributed to a national government budget impasse. “The delayed budget has forced the Duterte administration to spend on a reenacted 2018 budget, which prevents it from embarking on new infrastructure programs. This has led to a decline in capital goods and raw material imports, which have been the biggest drivERS OF THE 0HILIPPINE TRADE DEkCIT in recent years,� he said in a statement. “We are likely to see a narrower TRADE DEkCIT FOR THE REMAINDER OF ( kRST HALF AS A BAN on new government spending remains in effect until the midterm elections on May 13,� Arbis added. This will also likely to lead to a

NARROWER CURRENT ACCOUNT DEkCIT for 2019, which HSBC expects to decline to 2.2 percent of GDP from 2.4 percent in 2018. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa, meanwhile, said the US-China trade war would also have an effect on Philippine exports. “The ongoing trade war means that the Philippine export sector will need to continue to build on sector-changing reforms to help boost productivity, by enhancing supply chains and increasing standards while hoping that a weaker currency can buy them some time TO STAY AlOAT UNTIL THE TRUE EXPORT renaissance,� Mapa said in a separate statement. “Until then, our fundamental VIEW OF TRADE DEkCITS WILL CONTINUE to exert a deprecation bias on the PHP (Philippine peso) but with the slowdown in capital goods and RAW MATERIAL IMPORTS TRADE DEkCITS may not be as pronounced and current account gaps will likely improve in the coming months,� he added.

ÂłDeficit B5

The arbitration case was triggered after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) rejected Maynilad’s request for tariff increases for 20132017. Singapore’s high court has sided WITH THE WATER kRM ORDERING THE government to pay P3.42 billion for the overdue tariff hike.

ÂłInvestments B5

Spending for infra, capital up in Jan-Feb STATE spending for infrastructure and capital outlays climbed to P118.4 billion in the first two months of the year, the Budget department said on Thursday. In a report, the department said January-to-February spending, which grew 26.3 percent from the P93.8 billion recorded a year earlier, was “mainly due to payment of prior years’ accounts payables for completed infrastructure projects of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways).� The January-February figure put total national government spending at P490.70 trillion for the period, P31.8 billion higher compared to the same period last year. It was, however, P43.7 billion less than the estimated P534.4 billion,

ÂłCapital B5

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

PH still at bottom of BMI’s Q1 mining index T BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

HE Philippines continues to languish AT THE BOTTOM OF THE "USINESS -ONITOR )NTERNATIONAL "-) 2ESEARCH S !SIA -INING 2ISK 2EWARD )NDEX FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF DUE TO POLICY UNCERTAINTY seen to hit against growth and investments IN THE COUNTRY S MINING INDUSTRY IN THE coming years.

In a report released on Thursday, the Fitch Group unit said the Philippines is a regional laggard, scoring 42.6 out of 100 in the index it created to track mining risk and rewards. The average for Asian counties is 55.1. Along with Myanmar, which scored 45.5, the Philippines would “continue to underperform,� in the Asia region, the Fitch group said. “[These] two countries are characterised by

weak mining reserves, poor regulatory framework, corruption and increasing resource nationalism,� it added. The BMI said rampant income inequality, corruption and political uncertainty, increasing resource nationalism would also hurt the local mining industry in the coming years. “[D]espite the replacement of anti-mining Environmental Minister Gina Lopez with more accommodating Roy

Cimatu in 2017, government regulations on the basis of environmental protection and general policy uncertainty will continue to plague the mining industry in the coming years,� BMI said. Industry and political problems loomed the local mining industry since the term of President Benigno Aquiono 3rd who signed the Executive Order 79 in 2012 that banned nationwide the grant of mining permits until a new mining revenue-shairng scheme is legislated. In her f i r s t m e m o r a n d u m o r d e r, Lopez also ordered a freeze on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for both metallic and nonmettalic mines. Last month, the Department of Finance (DoF) proposed that all existing taxes and fees on the mining industry and a

royalty of 5 percent on gross output paid to the government on all mining operations shall be retained for all mining operations. Re ve n u e s f r o m t h e r oy alty for mining operations, whether large-scale or small; metallic or non-metallic minerals extraction; or located inside or outside of mineral reservations, was seen to bring in an estimated P7.2 billion in incremental revenues. Meanwhile, the BMI report showed that Australia topped the index, which scored 76.5, on the back of positive business environment, rich mineral deposits and supportive infrastructure. It was followed by Mongolia, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Completing the list are Japan, Thailand, South Korea, China, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Microinsurance sustains growth in 2018 THE Philippine microinsurance sector continued to expand last year as premium production grew by 14.4 percent, the Insurance Commission (IC) reported on Thursday. Based on preliminary data, the regulator said the sector’s premium production rose to P8.14 billion in 2018 from P7.11 billion in 2017. “The mutual benefit associations (MBAs) sector continues to be the frontrunner in terms of number of premium production and number of lives covered, while

the non-life and life insurance sectors posted significant growth in the area of microinsurance,� Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said in a statement. The non-life sector posted a significant increase in premium production of P998.97 million last year, up by 25.7 percent from P794.19 million in 2017. The life insurance sector’s premiums, on the other hand, rose by 6.6 percent to P2.58 billion in 2018 from P2.42 billion in 2017. In terms of contribu-

tion, the MBA sector recorded P4.56 billion , up by 16.9 percent from the P3.90 billion in 2017. Funa said the microinsurance sector also increased the number of individuals covered by 18.7 percent to 38.89 million in 2018 from 32.74 million the previous year. The life insurance sector had the highest increase in the number of lives covered by microinsurance with 11.85 million last year from 9.10 million in 2017. On the other hand, the MBA sector covered

a total of 22.75 million individuals in 2018, up by 17.6 percent from 19.33 million the previous year. Meanwhile, the individuals covered by non-life insurance sector dipped by 0.46 percent to 4.29 million last year from 4.31 million in 2017. Funa said the latest data “only proves that microinsurance in our country continues to grow and is an effective and affordable financial product for the protection of the properties and lives of our countrymen.�  MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Do we question enough our own decision-making? B

USINESS leaders spend enormous amount of time assessing strategy, allocating resources, and implementing decisions to gain advantage in the marketplace. Regardless of all of the talent, process, technology, time and capital brought to bear, the most important resource perhaps remains to be the process itself. Have we really looked at how we decide and whether our decision-making process handicaps us because we are unaware that it does? The duo of Daniel Kahneman (economist and psychologist) and Amos Tversky (mathematical psychologist) did ground breaking work in the field of behavioral economics that led to the former winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2002. In their collaboration, the academic team identified several cognitive biases that affect how people decide in their everyday lives. Whether business leaders are aware or not, these biases influence how they make choices. Eliminating these biases may lead to more effective decision-making.

Biases that affect decision-making Three types of cognitive biases, among others, might frequently impact decision-making. First, affinity bias affects leaders in that they might be more favorably inclined towards placing more value on the input of people most similar to themselves. Unwittingly, the seasoned executive may weigh the input of subordinates closest to him in terms of background and experience, even if there are other team members with direct and deeper domain knowledge. Affinity bias may frequently creep into hiring. The savvy

leader should be aware of this and may take measures to bring together a diverse team to neutralize it. The confirmation bias is another decision-making pothole into which many intelligent and capable leaders fall. Professional knowledge workers, like consultants, may fall into the trap of seeking only information and analysis that confirm their preconception. The data points that do not confirm the analysis get ignored, and the rigor of the work might become questionable. The astute leader actually challenges his own analysis, and invites others to do the same to ensure that different angles of analysis, along with the corresponding solutions, have been considered. The hindsight bias also influences leaders and decision makers who have known all along how things will turn out. When significant industry developments and disruptions occur, the survivors tend to look back at what happened, and make the connections to convince themselves that they have known what would happen. This is usually not the case at all. Regardless, in the aftermath, many “experts� would always emerge.“I saw it all the way!� they’d say. The self-aware leader, aware of hindsight bias, takes care to examine the disruption and its effects. Moreover, he acknowledges with blunt intellectual honesty what information has really been available at the time decisions have been made

ÂłNeedles B5

Trade department eyes 6-8% growth in 2019 halal exports

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is eyeing to grow its revenue from halal exports by 6 to 8 percent this year as more products, mainly food and beverages, are getting halal CERTIkCATION Last year, revenues from indicative halal product exports reached $560 million, 90 percent of which accounted for food and non-alcoholic beverages, while the rest were cosmetics, personal care and pharmaceutical products, among others. The target growth translates to about $594 million to $605 million revenues for 2019. Local halal products are exported to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brunei and more. In a press briefing on Thursday, Trade Undersecretary for Trade Promotions Group Abdulgani Macatoman said they aim to certify as halal at least 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) every year to boost the participation of the Philippines in the $3.2-billion global halal market and make the country a “respectable player.�

The government halal CERTIkED 3-%S last year. Macatoman said there are 11 million Muslim Filipinos, including halal enthusiasts for the local halal market. On the other hand, there are 2 billion Muslims around the globe, 1.4 billion of them are in Asia. Meanwhile, there are nine halal-certifying bodies, three of them are accredited by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, the DTI said. The rest are still getting accreditation, the DTI explained. Over a thousand PRODUCTS ARE CERTIkED AS halal, it added. In February, the Philippines joined the Gulfood in Dubai along with other 25 participating exhibitors. It generated $83 million revenues, up from $80 million last year. The country also participated in the Malaysia International Showcase in April, growing its revenues by 10 percent to $11 million at present. The DTI will be hosting its second National Halal Industry Conference in Clark, Pampanga on May 2 to 3 to boost awareness on halal CERTIkCATION FOR FOOD PRODUCTS AND tourism facilities. TYRONE C. PIAD

Bullying in the workplace

E

D O’Leary, Banking Exchange contributing editor, wrote a piece last year on “Why Bullying Matters�. He observed that in his many years in banking in staff, line and executive positions, he has observed a fair amount of bullying. “The presence or absence of strength of character and intestinal fortitude are on display when bullies are at their offending worst.� He cited statistics from a poll of 7,740 adults sponsored by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) where 37 percent reported bullying behavior, 45 percent reported stress related symptoms and 62 percent of employers ignored the problem. Bullies were bosses 72 percent of the time and 40 percent of the targets remained silent about their treatment. In the end, nearly two thirds of victims leave their employment. In the local scene, we are very much ex-

posed to schoolyard bullying, given the recent situation in an exclusive school. But are aware of bullying in the BENEL we workplace? The WBI deLAGUA kNES WORKPLACE BULLYING AS the repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators. It is an abusive conduct that is threatening, humiliating and intimidating characterized by either work interference or verbal abuse and insults. Bullying is symptomatic of careless and thoughtless behaviors. Bullies treat their subordinates, peers and customers in often disrespectful, irresponsible and uncaring ways. Bullies can infest a negative culture and be damaging to the organization. Morale in any organization depends on the healthy relationship among peers and more

FINEX FILES

ÂłFinex B5

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

“Production cost increased by 0 MILLION OR PERCENT 4HE movement was attributable to [the] separation costs of closing down certain regional stations of the comPANY u !"3 #". EXPLAINED “Other additional costs were liCENSES FEES FOR SPORTS PROGRAMS WHICH INCREASED BY 0 MILLION AND kLM RIGHTS AMORTIZATION WHICH INCREASED BY 0 MILLION AS A RESULT OF PROGRAM RIGHTS ACQUISITIONS u IT SAID %ARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST TAXES DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION dipped by 16 percent to P8.05 billion in 2018 from P9.62 billion a year earlier. 4OTAL CONSOLIDATED ASSETS STOOD AT 0 BILLION PERCENT HIGHER than 2017’s P75.1 billion. !"3 #". SHARES REMAINED lAT TO CLOSE AT 0 EACH ON 4HURSDAY LISBET K. ESMAEL

PBB earnings up 34% to P858M 0(),)00).% "USINESS "ANK 0"" REPORTED ON 4HURSDAY THAT ITS NET PROkT INCREASED TO 0 MILLION LAST YEAR WHICH ITS CHIEF PARTLY ATtributed to a strong balance sheet. )N A DISCLOSURE THE LISTED lender said the amount was a 34-percent jump from P640.1 million in 2017. “PBB’s continued efforts to FORTIFY ITS BALANCE SHEET WHILE MANAGING ITS COSTS AND EXPENSES WERE THE KEY FACTORS THAT ALLOWED THE BANK TO GENERATE PROkTABILITY despite challenges brought about by inflation and rising funding COSTS u 0"" 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER 2OLAND !VANTE said in the statement. )NTEREST INCOME EXPANDED BY percent to P5.5 billion last year FROM 0 BILLION IN WHILE core income grew by 60 percent to P1.6 billion from P1 billion. PBB’s total loans and receiv-

ables ended at P75.5 billion as of END $ECEMBER )TS TOTAL RESOURCES reached P94.7 billion in 2018. /N THE FUNDING SIDE TOTAL DEposits increased to P77.3 billion at yearend. Low-cost funds grew by PERCENT WHILE TIME DEPOSITS reached P46.4 billion. “A good anticipation of the CHANGING MARKET DEVELOPMENTS and factors enabled PBB to adjust THE BANK S BALANCE SHEET AND IMPROVE ITS PROCESS lOW EARNING HIGHER FEE BASED INCOME THIS YEAR u Avante said. g-AINTAINING A GOOD ASSET QUALity is always a focus and with the continued management of the BANK S LOAN PORTFOLIO 0"" S ASSET BASE GREW TO 0 BILLION u HE added. Shares of PBB dropped by 8 centavos or 0.58 percent to close at 0 APIECE ON 4HURSDAY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

C

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

EBU Landmasters Inc. (CLI) expects its consolidated net income this year to grow by 20 percent to P2.6 billion AFTER ITS PROkT REACHED 0 BILLION )N A DISCLOSURE ON 4HURSDAY THE listed property developer said last YEAR S kGURE WAS A PERCENT INcrease from P1.26 billion in 2017. 4HE #EBU BASED COMPANY ATtributed the growth to strong SALES FROM ITS PROJECTS -ESA4IERRA 'ARDEN 2ESIDENCES IN $AVAO #ITY AND -ESA6IRRE 'ARDEN 2ESIDENCES in Negros Occidental province’s "ACOLOD #ITY AND -IVESA 'ARDEN 2ESIDENCES 0HASE #ASA -IRA South and Latitude Corporate #ENTER ALL IN #EBU #ITY Consolidated revenues increased by 72 percent to P6.76

Index

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,990.05

-18.48

Ĺş

All Shares

4,899.49

-10.39

Ĺş

Financials

1,751.61

9.13

Ÿ

Industrial

11,883.40

-70.24

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,788.42

-85.48

Ĺş

Services

1,629.29

-1.69

Ĺş

Mining and Oil

7,765.77

86.38

Ÿ

Property

4,171.58

32.49

Ÿ

PHILSEVEN Corp., the operator of convenience store chain 7-Eleven in the Philippines, saw its net income rise by 16.2 percent to P1.5 billion last year from P1.32 billion in 2017 on the back of strong systemwide sales growth. PhilSeven told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday that systemwide sales grew by 22.9 percent to P46.1 billion in 2018 from P37.53 billion a year earlier. It attributed the growth to an 8.8-percent increase in same-store sales and higher number of operating stores. Republic Act 10963, or the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Act,� strengthened the purchas-

SERVICES

Stock indices as of April 11, 2019

ALL SHARES

billion in 2018 from P3.94 billion a year earlier. Of the latest AMOUNT THE COMPANY S 'ARDEN brand accounted for 45 percent; economic housing brand Casa -IRA PERCENT HIGH END BRAND 0REMIER -ASTERS PERCENT AND OTHER BRANDS PERCENT Cebu Landmasters aims to grow its consolidated revenues this year by 25 percent to P8.4 billion from new projects under the 38 0ARK !VENUE -ESA4IERRA 'ARDEN 2ESIDENCES -ESA6IRRE 'ARDEN 2ESIDENCES AND 6ELMIRO 5PTOWN brands.

"ASED ON LOCATION ABOUT percent of revenues this year came from Cebu operations; 12 PERCENT FROM $AVAO PERCENT from Cagayan de Oro City; and THE REST FROM NEW EXPANSION SITES IN "ACOLOD AND $UMAGUETE #ITY IN Negros Oriental province. Cebu Landmasters also targets to hit P12.5 billion in reservation sales this year as it is scheduled to launch P25 billion worth of real estate sales. On the recurring income portFOLIO LEASING REVENUES CLIMBED by 26 percent year-on-year to P57.48 million from P45.65 MILLION PERCENT OF WHICH was attributed to the increase in THE TOTAL LEASABLE AREA OF square meters. Cebu Landmasters is scheduled TO OPEN ITS kRST HOTEL THE room Citadines Cebu City in Base Line Center in the second half of

)T WILL BE MANAGED BY 4HE Ascott Limited of CapitaLand. 4HE kRM S TOTAL HOTEL ROOM PORTfolio stands at 950 rooms. “We are strongly positioned to SUSTAIN OUR GROWTH IN THIS REGION u Cebu Landmasters President and #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER *OSE 3Oberano 3rd said. g4HERE IS A LARGE UNDERSERVED DEMAND AND #,) WILL CAPITALIZE on its homegrown leadership and diverse product offerings in order to successfully cater to this GROWING 6IS-IN 6ISAYAS AND -INDANAO MARKET u HE ADDED 4HE COMPANY EXPECTS TO GROW REVENUE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EXpansion areas such as Cagayan de /RO $AVAO AND "OHOL PROVINCE in 2019. Cebu Landmasters shares dipped by 4 centavos or 0.95 percent to close at P4.15 apiece ON 4HURSDAY

Strong sales growth lifts PhilSeven profit to P1.5B

HOLDING FIRMS

PSEi

B3

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

ABS-CBN 2018 profit dips 39.6% to P1.9B LOWER advertising revenues and higher operating costs caused listed ABS-CBN Corp.’s net income to drop to P1.9 billion last year. )N A REGULATORY kLING ON 4HURSDAY the Lopez-led media conglomerate said the amount was a 39.6-percent decline from P3.16 million in 2017. Consolidated revenues slid by 1.4 percent to P40.13 billion in 2018 from P40.69 billion the year before on the 3.4-percent decrease IN ADVERTISING REVENUES TO 0 billion from P21.09 billion. Revenues from consumer sales inched up to P19.74 billion from S 0 BILLION BUOYED BY A 26-percent increase in the ABS-CBN 46PLUS BOXES SOLD YEAR ON YEAR )T sold 2.5 million units in 2018. #OSTS AND EXPENSES IN THE PERIOD increased by 3.7 percent to P37.93 billion from P36.57 billion in 2017.

Corporate News Cebu Landmasters sees P2.6-B income in 2019

MINING AND OIL

ing power of customers, it said. The first package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, Train raised the excise tax on certain products, including sugar-sweetened beverages, in exchange for reduced personal income taxes. It was implemented at the start of 2018. Despite the increased excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, which prompted higher selling prices, PhilSeven said it did not experience a significant decline in sales volume. Operating income grew by 19.3 percent to P1.18 billion last year from P993.7 million in 2017. For the fourth quarter alone, Phil-

seven’s net profit jumped by 18.9 percent to P796.4 million from P669.6 million year-on-year. Systemwide sales climbed by 25.6 percent to P13 billion from P10.35 billion in October to December 2017. “Though inflation, especially from things we don’t sell, like rice and fuel, dampened growth in the third quarter, the fourth quarter saw growth return strongly when inflation was brought under control,� PhilSeven President Jose Victor Paterno said. PhilSeven ended 2018 with 2,550 stores, an 11-percent increase from 2,285 in 2017. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

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

Security Name Ayala Land, Inc. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Universal Robina Corporation Bank of the Philippine Islands Ayala Corporation Megawide Construction Corp. PLDT Inc. DMCI Holdings, Inc. Alliance Global Group, Inc. Cebu Air, Inc. BDO Unibank, Inc. Jollibee Foods Corporation PXP Energy Corporation Bloomberry Resorts Corporation GT Capital Holdings, Inc. 0HWUR 3DFLÂżF ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ Manila Water Company, Inc. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc.

Last Price 46.75 78.3 132 157.7 83.55 917 21.3 1,165.00 12.22 15.78 88.1 131.9 320.8 8 12.78 882.5 4.69 23.5 39.75 2.01

Chg 1.4 -0.2 -1.3 -1.9 1.3 -7 0.2 0 0.12 -0.54 3.1 1 -1.2 0.26 -0.08 -17.5 -0.01 -0.35 -0.2 -0.05

%Chg 3.09% -0.25% -0.98% -1.19% 1.58% -0.76% 0.95% 0% 0.99% -3.31% 3.65% 0.76% -0.37% 3.36% -0.62% -1.94% -0.21% -1.47% -0.50% -2.43%

Volume 13,848,800.00 3,492,700.00 1,225,710.00 880,560.00 1,575,660.00 94,970.00 4,011,200.00 50,640.00 4,509,300.00 3,336,400.00 595,880.00 386,550.00 147,470.00 5,834,700 3,400,800 48,450 8,771,000 1,692,500 998,400 17,557,000

Value(P) 637,249,370.00 272,352,036.00 161,880,675.00 139,197,017.00 131,357,319.00 87,114,900.00 84,331,445.00 58,966,985.00 54,858,888.00 53,018,448.00 52,048,418.00 50,912,154.00 47,416,670.00 45,794,038.00 43,471,256.00 43,159,835.00 41,174,030.00 40,026,490.00 39,576,765.00 35,362,260.00

Volume Value Last Price 224,100.00 10,094,555.00 49.5 5,210,000.00 1,384,200.00 0.27 584,000.00 337,600.00 0.58 730,000.00 140,580.00 0.2 2,333,000.00 4,237,600.00 1.84 1,233,000.00 1,596,500.00 1.32 595,880.00 52,048,418.00 88.1 5,834,700.00 45,794,038.00 8 13,848,800.00 637,249,370.00 46.75 5,024,000.00 13,849,100.00 2.78

Chg %Chg 4.5 10.00% 0.015 5.88% 0.03 5.45% 0.01 5.26% 0.08 4.55% 0.05 3.94% 3.1 3.65% 0.26 3.36% 1.4 3.09% 0.08 2.96%

Ÿ ź ź ź Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź ź ź ź ź

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

INDEX HISTORY Date Apr 11, 2019 Apr 10, 2019 Apr 8, 2019 Apr 5, 2019 Apr 4, 2019 Apr 03, 2019 Apr 02, 2019 Apr 01, 2019 Mar 29, 2019 Mar 28, 2019 Mar 27, 2019 Mar 26, 2019 Mar 25, 2019 Mar 22, 2019 Mar 21, 2019 Mar 20, 2019 Mar 19, 2019 Mar 18, 2019 Mar 15, 2019 Mar 14, 2019 Mar 13, 2019 Mar 12, 2019 Mar 11, 2019 Mar 8, 2019 Mar 7, 2019 Mar 6, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019

Open 7,991 7,976 7,879 7,866 7,893 7,880 7,854 7,923 7,891 7,898 7,916 7,875 7,994 7,957 7,876 7,848 7,864 7,795 7,748 7,742 7,726 7,728 7,815 7,869 7,807 7,675 7,700 7,632 7,712 7,920

High 8,000 8,009 7,955 7,887 7,898 7,895 7,894 7,924 7,921 7,898 7,916 7,911 7,994 8,032 7,955 7,876 7,879 7,873 7,798 7,764 7,766 7,774 7,824 7,884 7,882 7,821 7,735 7,698 7,754 7,920

Low 7,971 7,953 7,879 7,866 7,836 7,861 7,854 7,810 7,887 7,856 7,841 7,869 7,808 7,951 7,869 7,824 7,843 7,761 7,702 7,719 7,725 7,728 7,709 7,797 7,795 7,675 7,667 7,596 7,588 7,705

Close 7,990 8,009 7,916 7,873 7,854 7,895 7,879 7,840 7,921 7,876 7,861 7,907 7,863 8,013 7,955 7,858 7,843 7,873 7,798 7,750 7,766 7,748 7,709 7,797 7,882 7,821 7,671 7,675 7,642 7,705

CLOSE

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Concepcion Industrial Corporation Geograce Resources Philippines, Inc. Mabuhay Holdings Corporation Millennium Global Holdings, Inc. Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc. Apex Mining Company, Inc. “A� Cebu Air, Inc. PXP Energy Corporation Ayala Land, Inc. Greenergy Holdings Incorporated Megawide Construction Corporation Perpetual Preferred Shares Wilcon Depot, Inc. Apollo Global Capital, Inc. Philweb Corporation Semirara Mining and Power Corporation Premiere Horizon Alliance Corporation PHINMA Energy Corporation Jackstones, Inc. Bank of the Philippine Islands San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc.

20.00

2,054.00

989,000.00 15,329,392.00 15,200,000.00 628,200.00 1,644,000.00 4,838,050.00 374,500.00 8,486,400.00 15,973,000.00 16,736,530.00 11,107,000.00 17,920,870.00 77,000.00 232,760.00 1,575,660.00 131,357,319.00 120,930.00 13,006,791.00

102.7

2.7

2.70%

15.8 0.042 2.93 22.8 1.04 1.63 3.09 83.55 107.6

0.4 0.001 0.06 0.45 0.02 0.03 0.05 1.3 1.6

2.60% 2.44% 2.09% 2.01% 1.96% 1.88% 1.64% 1.58% 1.51%

*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 Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company “Bâ€? Benguet Corporation “Aâ€? Philippine Racing Club, Inc. PTFC Redevelopment Corporation The Philodrill Corporation Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation iPeople, inc. Manila Jockey Club, Inc. Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. “Aâ€? )RUXP 3DFLÂżF ,QF TKC Metals Corporation Philippine Estates Corporation Nihao Mineral Resources International, Inc. SFA Semicon Philippines Corporation Alliance Global Group, Inc. Primex Corporation COL Financial Group, Inc. Zeus Holdings, Inc. PH Resorts Group Holdings, Inc. DFNN, Inc.

*amounts in peso except for volume, %chg

Volume Value Last Price 480,000 53,760.00 0.112 10,000 12,900.00 1.29 12,000 91,211.00 7.6 4,670 211,262.00 48 100,000 1,100.00 0.011 1,474,500 10,784,347.00 6.4 4,000 44,000.00 11 20,000 90,090.00 4.5 4,000 6,720.00 1.68 650,000 150,300.00 0.232 292,000 297,190.00 1.02 970,000 462,000.00 0.47 111,000 111,400.00 1 74,000 95,100.00 1.27 3,336,400 53,018,448.00 15.78 322,000 826,960.00 2.52 1,300 24,368.00 18.56 4,640,000 1,716,250.00 0.365 16,000 72,230.00 4.53 89,400 582,000.00 6.5

Chg %Chg -0.017 -13.18% -0.16 -11.03% -0.88 -10.38% -5.45 -10.20% -0.001 -8.33% -0.55 -7.91% -0.8 -6.78% -0.31 -6.44% -0.1 -5.62% -0.012 -4.92% -0.05 -4.67% -0.02 -4.08% -0.04 -3.85% -0.05 -3.79% -0.54 -3.31% -0.08 -3.08% -0.58 -3.03% -0.01 -2.67% -0.12 -2.58% -0.17 -2.55%

B4

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Business Times

Q REFORMS FROM B1

Duterte’s • Package 2 Plus, which proposes additional excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products as well as increase the government’s share from mining. • Package 3, which covers reforms in Q INVESTMENTS FROM B1

Govt “[I]t’s stipulated in the contractual arrangement, that was the right given to us under the

Q DEBT FROM B1

IMF: Rising States, the ratio of corporate debt to GDP is at record-high levels. In several European countries, banks are overloaded with government bonds,� Adrian said. The stock of lower-rated bonds — ranked BBB — have quadrupled over the past decade, while the amount of more risky debt, known as “speculative grade,� has doubled, according to the IMF report.

Credit quality ‘deteriorating’ Investors could get spooked quickly if there is a sharperthan-expected economic slowdown, if central banks like the Federal Reserve decide to start raising rates again, or if there is a renewed flare up of trade tensions or a no-deal Brexit which could push the British economy into recession and further slow growth in Europe, the report said. Fabio Natalucci, Adrian’s

Q CAPITAL FROM B1

Spending which could be due to delays in the approval of the 2019 budget. The government has been operating on last year’s P3.767-trillion budget since the start of the year. This means agencies can only spend for items detailed in the 2018 outlay and cannot embark on programs and projects supposed to be implemented this year. The Budget department, however, remains optimistic as the

Q NEEDLES FROM B2

Q FINEX FROM B2

Do we question enough (or when they haven’t been made), and assesses whether it has really been possible to have acted differently.

Overcoming cognitive biases There are other cognitive biases besides these three, and all of them conspire to impair the judgment and independence of thought – both are so important to effective leadership and decisionmaking.The first step to address these biases might be to develop an awareness of such biases, and come up with ways to combat their insidious influence. One does not have to develop this self-awareness by reading dry academic papers in behavioral economics or cognitive psychology. Two recent books provide a helpful peek into how business leaders recognize their own biases, and how they have overcome them. The Undoing Project chronicles the collaboration between Kahneman and Tversky, and how they identified these cognitive biases. However, the chapter on the General Manager of the Houston Rockets, and how he has sought to eliminate bias in evaluating NBA talent, is richly illuminating on how far one can go in rooting out systemic decisionmaking handicaps. He even succeeded in eliminating racial bias (among others) from evaluating basketball talent. Astroball, the history of how the Houston Astros won the 2017 baseball

World Series, provides fertile material in showing how an organization moves from antiquated decision-making models to new processes backed by technology, leavened by human judgment. From losing more than 100 games each season from 2011 to 2013, the Astros achieved a dramatic turnaround in four seasons, winning 103 games and the World Series in four years. These two books are case studies on how to eliminate cognitive bias, in the applied laboratory of the real world, with verifiable results.The main takeaway one can get from them involves having the growth mindset to question our own decision-making process, and see how we might get better at eliminating our biases and making better quality decisions. They say that one of the hardest things to do is to see yourself in the mirror and take a deep dive into your own shortcomings. It’s tough because we don’t like looking at our mistakes. However, from there is where the real value and growth springs. *** Raoul Villegas is a Deals and Corporate Finance Executive Director of Isla Lipana & Co.,the Philippine member firm of the PwC network. For more information, please email markets@ ph.pwc.com. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.

Bullying in the workplace

B5

property valuation; • Package 4, which proposes the rationalization of capital income tax, that has also been approved by the House. Lawmakers are currently on a break for the May mid-term elections. Sessions are scheduled to resume May 20 and 17th Congress will wrap up its business on June 7. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO contract. We’re just exercising it,â€? Pangilinan stressed on Thursday. “It did not happen during this government but in the previous government. And guess what? They just ignored us,â€? he added. LISBET K. ESMAEL

deputy, said there also are “signs of deteriorating credit quality and a deterioration is underwriting standards.� So while debtors likely could withstand a moderate slowdown of the economy “without substantial problems,� a more severe slowing or sharper rise in interest rates would create more stress because of the high debt levels, he said. Adrian said while governments have focused on shoring up oversight of banks to head off risky behavior, little attention has been paid to the corporate sector. And in China, “authorities face a difficult trade-off between supporting near-term growth, countering adverse external shocks, and containing leverage through regulatory tightening,� the report said. The IMF urged countries to take proactive steps, including limiting the amount of risky credit, boosting bank reserves and lowering government debt in the euro area, while China should continue to crack down on “shadow banking� by nonbank lenders. AFP national budget is expected to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte next week. “This will hopefully minimize the impact of the delays in the approval of the 2019 budget,� it said. With this, the department said “agencies can already proceed with the award of contracts and start implementing new activities with the effectivity of the 2019 GAA (General Appropriations Act), and undertake catch-up measures to meet their respective targets for the year.� MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

They demand unattainable results and delve into areas inconsequential to the goals at hand. They assault processes and compromise internal control mechanisms. They are adept at issuing unfair criticisms and blame others for failure, while grabbing credit for successes. They have no concern for the mental and physical well being of the victims. They not only put a pejorative mark to the concept of tough bosses, in the long run they are dysfunctional to the organization’s health. If we are leaders or managers in our own right, we should probably ask ourselves if we are being appropriately tough, and not crossing the line towards bullying. Also, should we not counsel our colleagues who are treading the line towards bullying? We have to be professional enough to pinpoint these areas of abuse. Vigilance is necessary to root out bullying tendencies.

importantly between supervisors and subordinates. Most studies of organizational behavior show that productivity performance and well being of the staff are compromised by bullying bosses. Although some romantics have painted the notion of overbearing and control-freak bosses getting good results, researches have not validated this claim. Over time, abusive management styles are counter productive. Bullies at work practice psychological violence. Tough bosses are not necessarily bullies if they treat people equitably. Bullies are relentless and can be unreasonable, targeting few people or groups. What is clear is the lack of empathy, a seeming insensitivity to how others feel. It is often more about dominance and control. The BULLY IS A FAULT kNDER BLAME DRIVEN RATHER than solution oriented. Unfortunately, bullying per se is not illegal unless the target comes from a status-protected group (due to ethnicity,

gender, race, age, etc.). For this reason, it is not easy to combat it in any organization. The damage to organizational culture and morale is not easily detected, but it is creeping and can lead to unintended negative consequences. At the end of the day, one bully in an organization can produce a lot of havoc. Undetected and undeterred, the bullies can undo all the good work going on. And if the bullies happen to be in sensitive positions, imagine the overall chilling effect it can have all over the organization. I’ve worked for tough bosses who are honest, trustworthy, strict but fair. They set high goals and expect a lot from the team. But they are clearly engaged with the team in accomplishing desired goals. Their genuine concern for company goals is unquestioned. They are good role models as leaders for performance oriented organizations. But I’ve also seen bullies who are unfair, irrational, thrive on power and manipulative.

Q DEFICIT FROM B1

trative order was expected to be released later this month to institutionalize measures that will address concerns over high shipping fees and congestion at the Port of Manila and the Manila International dialogues with the UK, Hungary, and Container Port. “While these are positive developments, #ZECH 2EPUBLIC u .%$! OFkCER IN CHARGE further actions such as the optimization of Adoracion M. Navarro said in a statement. the use of the country’s other major ports “For the recovery in exports perforin Batangas and Subic, and streamlining the mance, facilitating easier movement of BOC’s processes are still necessary,� she added. goods is crucial,� she added. ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES 4HE .%$! OFkCIAL SAID A JOINT ADMINIS-

PH trade deficit hits $2.79B The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), meanwhile, said the government remained committed to improving relations with trading partners. “In its effort to strengthen bilateral economic relations, the Department of Trade and Industry recently concluded

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

B6

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Foreign Business ˜ The Manila Times

www.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

B7

Middle-class squeeze hurts millennials the most – OECD

P

ARIS: The middle class is getting squeezed and it is the millennial generation above all that is bearing the brunt, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said, urging action to help households struggling with the rising cost of eduction and housing as incomes stagnate.

“Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky WATERS u THE /%#$ S SECRETARY general Angel Gurria was quoted in a statement as saying at Wednesday’s New York launch of the report. 4HE /%#$ FOUND THAT WITH each successive generation, fewer and fewer are making it into the middle class, which is defined AS HAVING BETWEEN AND percent of the median national income. If 70 percent of the baby boomers born after World War WERE PART OF THE MIDDLE CLASS in their twenties, for millenniALS ‡ THOSE AGED ‡ IT HAS fallen to 60 percent. A strong and prosperous middle class has long been viewed by economists as crucial for a successful economy and a cohesive society. In addition to sustaining consumption, the middle class drives much of the investment in education, health and housing. Its tax contributions are also key in supporting social protection systems. But the report, titled Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class, found that middle class incomes have barely grown, in both relative and absolute terms in most OF THE /%#$ COUNTRIES Meanwhile, the cost of essential parts of the middle-class

lifestyle have increased faster THAN INlATION House prices have been growing three times faster than household median income over the last two decades, the report found. And middle income households are plagued by over-indebtedness more than both low-income and high-income households, with ONE IN kVE SPENDING MORE THAN they are earning. Furthermore, they are at considerable risk of losing their livelihood to automation. The report found one in six middle-income workers are in jobs that are at high risk of autoMATION COMPARED TO ONE IN kVE low-income and one in ten highincome workers. 4HE /%#$ WHICH GROUPS the world’s weathiest countries, urged governments take a range of measures to support the middle class, in particular by tackling cost of living issues such as affordable housing and tax relief for home buyers. It said boosting vocational education and training systems is needed to cope with changes in the labour markets and social insurance, and collective bargaining should be expanded to non-traditional workers, such as those working part-time or in temporary jobs, or are selfemployed. AFP

China’s March consumer, producer prices increase

Fed members divided on interest rate action WASHINGTON, D.C.: Federal Reserve (Fed) members are split between optimism and caution, with some saying an interest rate hike may be still appropriate later this year but others believing they should stand pat, or even cut rates, according to the minutes of last month’s policy meeting Wednesday. Rather than providing a clear course, policymakers signaled their path could “shift in either directionâ€? — raising the possibility of a rate cut — though some central bankers felt raising rates “modestlyâ€? later in 2019 could be appropriate if the US economy continues its current expansion. The Fed has not cut the benchmark lending rate in more than a decade, when it slashed rates to zero during the global financial crisis, but increased it four times last year,

the final time in December, before abruptly and clearly calling a pause to any more hikes. Amid a global economic slowdown and President Donald Trump’s seemingly non-stop trade confrontations with other major economies, the mix of views showed policymakers see the economy as healthy but liable to be knocked off course. The Fed’s caution came amid signs of a US slowdown in the first quarter, due especially to sagging consumption, as well as fears of “significant negative effectsâ€? from trade tensions and international developments such as Brexit. They also cited “disappointingâ€? news on global growth and the fact that the US economy had gotten less of a boost from fiscal stimulus than they had previously anticipated.

Q PEREZ FROM B1

HIGHEST PAID EXECUTIVES 4HE kVE man group was to have been paid 0 MILLION BY $EC 4HE TOTAL INCLUDED SALARY 0 million and bonus, P4.074 million. Aside from Uy, the four other well-paid executives were Henry Albert Fadullon, chief operating OFkCER -A #ONCEPCION DE #LARO CHIEF kNANCE OFkCER !LLAN 2AYMOND Zorilla, vice president-external affairs, business development and SECURITY AND 7ILLIAM !ZARCON 60 business development for terminal and depots. g!LL OTHER OFkCERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP UNNAMEDu WERE TO HAVE BEEN PAID 0 MILLION BY $EC Compensation 4HE AMOUNT WAS DIVIDED INTO SALARY 0 MILLION AND !S PRESIDENT AND #%/ $ENNIS 5Y BONUS 0 MILLION IS AMONG 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM S kVE )N 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM

Terminated Phoenix’s computation did not INCLUDE MILLION PREFERRED SHARES Phoenix’s other stockholders inCLUDED %3 #ONSULTANCY 'ROUP )NC MILLION OR PERCENT 4OP $IRECT )NVESTMENTS ,IMITED MILLION OR PERCENT AND 5DENNA #ORP MILLION OR PERCENT 0#$ .OMINEE #ORP HOLDS MILLION 0HOENIX COMMON SHARES AND MILLION Phoenix common shares as record stockholder for Filipinos and foreigners, respectively. ! PUBLIC OWNERSHIP REPORT 0/2 AS OF $EC LISTED THREE principal stockholders with combined ownership of 1.071 billion

COMMON SHARES OR PERCENT These were Phoenix Petroleum (OLDINGS %3 #ONSULTANCY AND 4O $IRECT )NVESTMENTS WITH COMBINED holdings of 1.071 billion common SHARES OR PERCENT 4HE AFkLIATES AS THE SAME 0/2 described three other stockholders IN THE 0/2 DIRECTLY HELD million Phoenix common shares, OR PERCENT Minus all these and others such as those held by Phoenix’s executives, the company credited with OWNERSHIP OF MILLION COMMON SHARES OR PERCENT its public stockholders.

Some policymakers also pointed to the changes in the so-called yield curve — which measures the spread between short- and longer-term Treasury bond rates — saying it “could portend economic weakening.â€? While noting that inflation remained tame, Fed officials pointed to the high level of indebtedness among US corporations as an economic hazard. But most believed weakness in consumer spending — a central driver of the US economy — would not last “beyond the first quarter.â€? Trump recently called on the central bank to cut rates, continuing his unabated jawboning of the central bank, which he has attacked as “crazyâ€? and a threat to the US economy. After raising rates four times in

2018, the Fed last month slashed its forecast for the number of rate increases expected this year to zero. The pause has cheered markets and the International Monetary Fund this week cited it as one reason global economic growth may show resilience into 2020. Inflation has remained tame, even amid record low unemployment, but economists say it could ignite if American wages begin to accelerate. Wall Street was largely unmoved by the news, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average eking out a small gain. The central bank’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is due to hold its next two-day meeting on April 30 and May 1. AFP PAID THE SAME kVE PERSON GROUP 0 MILLION DIVIDED INTO SALARY 0 MILLION AND BONUS 0 MILLION )T PAID gALL OTHER OFkCERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP UNNAMEDu SALARY OF 0 MILLION AND BONUS OF 0 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 0 MILLION )N THE SAME FIVE PERSON GROUP RECEIVED 0 MILLION DIVIDED INTO SALARY 0 MILLION AND BONUS 0 MILLION g!LL OTHER OFkCERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP UNNAMEDu WERE PAID SALARY OF 0 MILLION AND BONUS OF 0 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 0 MILLION

Due Diligencer’s take As has been written, the contents of the disclosure made by Phoenix

BEIJING: &ACTORY AND CONSUMER INlAtion in China picked up in March, indicating some much-needed stability in the world’s number two economy though analysts warned it is not yet out of the woods. Beijing has struggled to get prices to pick up in recent months, with both measures staying stubbornly low as the global growth cools leading to weak demand while the US trade war drags on. But on Thursday data showed the consumer price index (CPI) — a key MEASURE OF RETAIL INlATION ‡ ROSE percent on-year last month, sharply up from 1.5 percent in February. The gain came on the back of a jump in the price of meat including beef and lamb, with pork also soaring owing to an outbreak of African swine lU IN #HINA THAT HAS LED TO THE CULLing of a million pigs. Fresh fruit and vegetable prices also jumped. The producer price index (PPI) — an important barometer of domestic

demand — climbed 0.4 percent, from a 0.1 percent in February and snapping seven months of falling. The CPI and PPI readings were in line with forecasts in a Bloomberg survey but economists remain sceptical about the outlook. There is “no turnaround in underLYING INlATION YET u SAID *ULIAN %VANS 0RITCHARD OF #APITAL %CONOMICS “Higher food and oil prices pushed up headline inflation last month but broader price pressures remain SUBDUED u SAID %VANS 0RITCHARD ATtributing the rise in factory gate prices to rising raw material costs such as oil. Growth in China dropped to 6.6 percent last year, its lowest almost three decades and the government last month said it was aiming for expansion of BETWEEN SIX AND PERCENT IN “Continued economic weakness is likely to keep a lid on broadER PRICE PRESSURES u SAID %VANS Pritchard. AFP

Petroleum were self-explanatory. However, some details could HAVE BEEN gLOSTu AS THE LETTER WAS BEING POSTED ON THE 03% website. When Phoenix Petroleum mentioned “Preferential 2IGHTS u IT SHOULD HAVE EXplained what it meant by the two-word-phrase. Why should the public care about preferential rights? However, Phoenix’s public stockholders may be interested in knowing what the company meant by preferential rights. The public investors who are not Phoenix’s stockholders may be interested in learning what the company means when it tackles the words in its letter. Being keen observers of daily

trading taking place in the stock market, public investors know fully well that as outsiders, they are keen about listed stocks and when listed firms distribute dividends, either in cash or in STOCK /THERWISE THEY REMAIN AS outsiders and simple observers of day-to-day trading session. "Y THE WAY gPUBLIC INVESTORSu AND gPUBLIC STOCKHOLDERSu ARE also self-explanatory. While the former refers to the general public at large, the latter means they are already owners of either a few or some common shares issued by listed companies. Need I explain more what preferential rights could be all ABOUT *UST ASKING

esdperez@gmail.com

B8

Classified Ads

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 1DWLRQDO &DSLWDO -XGLFLDO 5HJLRQ BRANCH 214 Mandaluyong City

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of TIMEBOUND TRADING INC. shortening the term of its existence up to June 30, 2019 thereby dissolving the said corporation on said date have been approved by the Board of Directors and stockholders.

LONILA Q. MASANGCAY, Petitioner, - versus -

CIVIL CASE NO. R-MND-18-02840-CV

JERRY H. MASANGCAY Respondent. x----------------------------------x

DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE

For:

Any incorrect advertisement published in The Manila Times Classified Ads must be brought to our attention on the same day the advertisement came out. We will not be held liable for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

All persons having claims against said corporation are requested to present the same at 21 Bayani Road, AFPOVAI, Taguig, Metro Manila for immediate settlement. This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

ORDER

CHRISTOPHERNSAM S. SALVADOR Corporate Secretary

A petition for declaration of nullity of marriage was filed by LEONILA Q. MASANGCAY (PETITIONER) against JERRY H. MASANGCAY (RESPONDENT) on 17 December 2018.

MT – Mar. 29, Apr. 5 & 12, 2019

PETITIONER prays that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered declaring his marriage with RESPONDENT null and void ab initio on the ground that QR PDUULDJH FHUHPRQ\ DQG WKH VROHPQL]LQJ RI¿FHU KDV QR DXWKRULW\ WR VROHPQL]H marriage under Article 80 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. PETITIONER further prays for such other reliefs just and equitable under the circumstances. To support her claim, PETITIONER cites, among others, the following allegations: (1) PETITIONER is of legal age, married and is a resident of No. 26 (formerly no. 34), Pag-Asa Street, Mandaluyong City;1 (2) PETITIONER and RESPONDENT were PDUULHG RQ 0DUFK LQ D FLYLO ZHGGLQJ RI¿FLDWHG E\ +RQ (UQHVWR 6 'RPLQJR Municipal Mayor, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila;2 (3) PETITIONER’S marriage with respondent is sham, fake and void ab initio on the ground that there was no marriage ceremony and the person who solemnized the marriage, by the name Seseng Enriquez, an employee of the City Hall of Mandaluyong City, was not a person authorized to solemnize marriages; (4) That a marriage license no. 5515025 was secured in behalf of the PETITIONER and RESPONDENT, by one Rodrigo R. Vicencio, Jr., the parties’ principal sponsor from the Local Civil Registrar of Makati City, where neither the PETITIONER nor the RESPONDENT was a resident thereof; (5) That on 10 March 1980, the day the marriage license was secured, PETITIONER DQG 5(6321'(17 ZHUH EURXJKW E\ VDLG 0U 9LFHQFLR WR WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH 0D\RU Ernesto Domingo of Mandaluyong City where a person by the name of Seseng Enriquez was introduced to them by Mr. Vicente, who told them that he would arrange the documents of their marriage; (6) PETITIONER and RESPONDENT knew that Seseng Enriquez was not Mayor Domingo himself and therefore was not authorized to solemnize marriage although they believed that the delivery to them of the marriage FRQWUDFW ZLWK WKH VLJQDWXUH RQ WRS RI WKH QDPH (UQHVWR 'RPLQJR ZDV VXI¿FLHQW (7) That no marriage ceremony took place as they were never asked, among others, if WKH\ FDPH WR WKH 0D\RUœV 2I¿FH YROXQWDULO\ WR EH PDUULHG DQG LI WKH\ DFFHSW HDFK RWKHU as husband and wife and to their chagrin, which they kept to themselves, the reticent 6HVHQJ (QULTXH] PHUHO\ HTXLSSHG WKDW DIWHU WKH ¿OOLQJ XS DQG VLJQLQJ RI WKH PDUULDJH FRQWUDFW E\ WKH PD\RU WKHQ WKH\ VKDOO EH FRQVLGHUHG RI¿FLDOO\ PDUULHG (8) PETITIONER and RESPONDENT never saw Mayor Domingo on the day they were supposed to be married with Seseng Enriquez leaving the room and thereafter coming back with the alleged signature of Mayor Domingo already in the marriage contract, which they signed together with their sponsors with the witness-sponsor Leonita M. Vicencio EHLQJ UHSUHVHQWHG E\ 5RVDOLWD 5 %LD]RQ ZKR DOVR DI¿[HG KHU VLJQDWXUH WKHUHLQ (9) 7KDW 5RVDOLWD 5 %LD]RQ FRQ¿UPHG WKH SUDFWLFH RI 6HVHQJ (QULTXH] RI DWWHQGLQJ DQG DGPLQLVWHULQJ PDUULDJHV VXSSRVHG WR EH SHUIRUPHG DW WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH 0D\RU DQG ZKRP VKH LGHQWL¿HG DV PHUH VSRUWœV FRRUGLQDWRU LQ WKH 2I¿FH RI 0D\RU 'RPLQJR (10) That out of short-lived union of the parties, a son was born by the name of Francis Jerome Q. Masangcay, now 38 years;3 (11) That PETITIONER and RESPONDENT is under conjugal property regime, but never acquired any real property during their coverture; and (12) That under Article 80 of the Civil Code that governed the marriage of PETITIONER and RESPONDENT, any marriage solemnized by person not legally authorized to perform marriage is void from the beginning. WHEREFORE ¿QGLQJ WKH SHWLWLRQ WR EH VXI¿FLHQW LQ IRUP DQG VXEVWDQFH DQG pursuant to Supreme Court A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC in rel. to Sec. 15, Rule 14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, let SUMMONS be served by publication upon RESPONDENT JERRY H. MASANGCAY in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines DFFUHGLWHG E\ WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH ([HFXWLYH -XGJH RI 5HJLRQDO 7ULDO &RXUW 0DQGDOX\RQJ City once a week for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS and a copy of the summons and this Order be sent to RESPONDENT by registered mail to his last known address at the expense of the PETITIONER.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 106 QUEZON CITY

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

PETITION FOR SOLE PARENTAL AUTHORITY AND CUSTODY OVER MINOR NIA IMANI DENIEGE ABEJERO MC CONNELL WITH PRAYER FOR CHILD SUPPORT, ALETA AQUINO ABEJERO, Petitioner. YHUVXV

NOTICE

6S 3URF 5 4=1 63

DUDLEY GEORGE MC CONNELL, Respondent. x---------------------------------------------x ORDER OF SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION ,Q D YHUL¿HG 3HWLWLRQ IRU 6ROH 3DUHQWDO $XWKRULW\ DQG &XVWRG\ 2YHU Minor Nia Imani Deniege Abejero Mc Connell with Prayer for Child 6XSSRUW ¿OHG RQ )HEUXDU\ SHWLWLRQHU SUD\V WKDW DIWHU GXH KHDULQJ judgment be rendered declaring her to have sole parental authority and custody over the said minor child. 2Q -DQXDU\ SHWLWLRQHU ¿OHG D ³0RWLRQ WR 6HUYH 6XPPRQV by Publication,� on February 18, 2019, the court issued an Order granting the same. NOW, THEREFORE, respondent DUDLEY GEORGE MC CONNELL whose fast known address is at 996 Nong, 201 Shi 11 Hao Hongquiao Rd., Shanghai LV KHUHE\ VXPPRQHG DQG UHTXLUHG WR ¿OH with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 106, Quezon City, National Capital Judicial Region, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Quezon City, his answer to the petition in the instant case within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last date of publication of this summons. He is reminded of the provision of the IBP-OCA Memorandum on Policy Guidelines dated March 12, 2002 WR REVHUYH UHVWUDLQW LQ ¿OLQJ D PRWLRQ WR GLVPLVV DQG LQVWHDG DOLHJH WKH grounds thereof as defenses in the answer if he fails to answer within WKH WLPH ¿[HG WKH WKH SODLQWLIIV PD\ EH JUDQWHG WKH UXOLQJ SUD\HG IRU LQ the complaint/petition.

5(6321'(17 LV GLUHFWHG WR ÂżOH KLV $QVZHU WR WKH 3HWLWLRQ ZLWKLQ 7+,57< DAYS from the last issue of publication.

Let this Order be published once a week for two (2) consecutive ZHHNV LQ WKH ³7KH 0DQLOD 7LPHV ´ D QHZVSDSHU RI QDWLRQDO FLUFXODWLRQ pursuant to P.D. No. 1079, at the expense of the petitioner.

Finally, PETITIONER is DIRECTED TO SUBMIT proof of service by publication E\ VXEPLWWLQJ DIÂżGDYLW RI SXEOLFDWLRQ WRJHWKHU ZLWK FRS\ RI WKH SXEOLFDWLRQ DQG DQ DIÂżGDYLW VKRZLQJ WKH GHSRVLW RI D FRS\ RI WKH VXPPRQV DQG WKH 2UGHU IRU SXEOLFDWLRQ LQ WKH SRVW RIÂżFH SRVWDJH SUHSDLG GLUHFWHG WR WKH 5(6321'(17 E\ UHJLVWHUHG PDLO to his last known address, in STRICT COMPLIANCE with the Rules on service of summons by publication.

Likewise, let a copy of the summons as well as a copy of the petition EH GHSRVLWHG LQ WKH 3RVW 2IÂżFH SRVWDJH SUH SDLG DQG VHQW E\ UHJLVWHUHG mail to the respondent at his last known address also at the expense of the petitioner. Petitioner is enjoined to submit to this court proof of compliance herewith.

SO ORDERED.

Notice is hereby given that DOUBLE “Râ€? REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION & RAFELI REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, (owners) and RAFELI REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, GHYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units of ZAMORA SKY TOWER located at 42491 Zamora Street, Brgy. 96, Zone 11, Pasay City, described as Lot 23-A & 22-D, (LRC) 3VG XQGHU 7UDQVIHU &HUWLÂżFDWH of Title No. 003-2018000360 with a total area of 536 square meters. The foregoing project is utilizing the Participation Through Investment/ Incentivized Compliance, by depositing the required amount of P 639,028.56 in a Trust Account No. 001-03-005657 under Escrow Agreement executed on April 04, 2019 between the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Rafeli Realty and Development Corporation, and Asia United Bank, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884. All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication. Quezon City, Metro Manila, APR. 08, 2019 (SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. April 12 & 19, 2019

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital 5HJLRQ )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City NOTICE Notice is hereby given that AVIDA LAND CORPORATION (owner/ GHYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board for the sale of units at AVIDA TOWERS ASTREA SOUTH TOWER 2 located at Quirino Highway, Brgy. Pasong, Fairview, 4XH]RQ &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ described as Lot 2, LRA PCS-33825 covered by TCT No. 004-2014004019 having a total area of 21,102 square meters. All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ HYLGHQFH thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP the last day of publication. Quezon City, Metro Manila, APR. 04, 2019 (SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. April 12 & 19, 2019

SO ORDERED.

Mandaluyong City. 08 March 2019.

Quezon City, March 4, 2019. (SGD.) ANGELENE MARY W. QUIMPO-SALE Judge

(SGD.) IMELDA L. PORTES-SAULOG Presiding Judge

MT – April 5 & 12, 2019

MT – March 29, April 5 & 12, 2019

NOTICE OF DECREASE IN CAPITAL STOCK NOTICE is hereby given that on July 27, 2017, majority of the members of the Board of Directors and stockholders representing at least 2/3 of the outstanding capital stock of SHOPWISE, INC. WKH ³&RUSRUDWLRQ´ KDYH DSSURYHG WKH decrease of authorized capital stock FROM Philippine Pesos: One Billion Six Hundred Fifty Two Million Four Hundred Twenty Three Thousand Five Hundred (PhP1,652,423,500) divided into One Million Four Hundred Seventy One Thousand (1,471,000) Common Shares with par value of Philippine Pesos: One Hundred (PhP100.00) per share and Two Million Six Hundred Forty One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Four (2,641,524) Preferred Shares with par value of Philippine Pesos: Six Hundred Twenty Five (PhP625.00) per share TO Philippine Pesos: Five Hundred Thirty Million Three Thousand Five Hundred (PhP530,003,500) divided into One Million Four Hundred Seventy One Thousand (1,471,000) Common Shares with par value of Philippine Pesos: One Hundred (PhP100.00) per share and Eight Hundred Forty Five Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Two (845,652) Preferred Shares with par value of Philippine Pesos: Six Hundred Twenty Five (PhP625.00) per share. This will serve as notice to all concerned of the decrease in authorized capital stock of the aforesaid Corporation. (Sgd.) Jeffrey N. Ong Corporate Secretary

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph

MT – Apr. 12, 2019

25 March 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

'HSDUWPHQW RI 3XEOLF :RUNV DQG +LJKZD\V REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City 1104 Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph

Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 25 March 2019 regarding the Sun Prepaid Giga Video and Video Plus Offers Promo. ,Q OLQH ZLWK WKH WKUXVW RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR ORZHU WHOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV VHUYLFH UDWHV IRU WKH EHQHÂżW RI WKH Filipino consumers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), the Commission hereby approves Sun Prepaid Giga Video and Video Plus Offers Promo from 01 April 2019 until 30 June 2019. The approval is subject to the condition that DMPI shall publish the mechanics in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation. Should SMART decide not to extend the promo, it shall seek approval of the Commission within ten (10) days prior to the date of discontinuance and notice to the public shall be SXEOLVKHG LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ DW OHDVW ÂżYH GD\V SULRU WR WKH GDWH RI GLVFRQWLQXDQFH 7KH notice should be posted in all business centers of SMART. The promo offers the following: 1. GIGA VIDEO Promo

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PHP 399 30 days

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PHP 499 30 days

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6 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV 8 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

Availment via USSD USSD (*121#)

SMS $FFHVV Registration Code Keyword GIGA399 247

USSD (*121#)

08 March 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, 1226 Makati City Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 07 March 2019 regarding the FREE ROAM CHAT 10MB PROMO. ,Q OLQH ZLWK WKH WKUXVW RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR ORZHU WHOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV VHUYLFH UDWHV IRU WKH EHQH¿W RI WKH Filipino consumers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), the Commission hereby approves the SMART )5(( 52$0 &+$7 0% 35202 IURP 0DUFK WR -XQH . This approval is subject to the condition that SMART shall publish the mechanics in a newspaper of general circulation at least three (3) days prior to implementation. Should SMART decide not to extend the promo, it shall seek approval of the Commission within ten (10) days prior to the date of discontinuance and notice to the public shall be SXEOLVKHG LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ DW OHDVW ¿YH GD\V SULRU WR WKH GDWH RI GLVFRQWLQXDQFH 7KH notice should be posted in all business centers of SMART. The promo offers Smart prepaid subscribers free 10MB chat access to 5 popular chat messaging apps – Viber, Telegram, WeChat, Line, and WhatsApp while roaming abroad in over 100 countries.

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• • GIGA • VIDEO+449/ PHP 449 30 days • GIGA VIDEO PLUS 449 • GIGA • VIDEO+549/ • PHP 549 30 days GIGA VIDEO • PLUS 549 • • GIGA • VIDEO+649/ PHP 649 30 days • GIGA VIDEO PLUS 649

Unlitext to all Networks Unlicall to TNT/Smart/Sun 1 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV Unlitext to All Networks Unlicall to TNT/Smart/Sun 2 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV Unlitext to All Networks Unlicall to TNT/Smart/Sun 4 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV Unlitext to All Networks Unlicall to TNT/Smart/Sun 6 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV Unlitext to All Networks Unlicall to TNT/Smart/Sun 8 GB 1.0GB/Day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV

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Usage 5. The Open Access Data allocation may be used to access any site and app. The Video Access Data allocation may be used to access Youtube, iFlix, iWant, NBA League Pass, Cignal TV and will refresh every 12 midnight as long as the offer availed is not expired or fully consumed. 6. Concurrent availment of GIGA VIDEO and GIGA VIDEO+ is allowed, following the longest validity. Example: If GIGA VIDEO 399 and GIGA VIDEO 499 were registered simultaneously, promo validity will be valid for 30 days. 7. The Video Access Data allocation will not stack up if two GIGA VIDEO/GIGA VIDEO+ packages, respectively, were availed concurrently within their validity date. Example: If GIGA VIDEO 399 and GIGA VIDEO 499 were registered simultaneously, the additional data dedicated for Video Access would still be 1GB/day. 8. Once the Open Access Data allocation is fully consumed, the subscriber must re-load his/her Smart Prepaid, TNT, or Sun account with any Data offer to continue using mobile data. 9. SMS may be sent to any local mobile network. Others 10. P1.00 maintaining balance is not required to avail and use the offers. $OO LQYDOLG VFHQDULRV LH ,QVXIÂżFLHQW EDODQFH LQYDOLG QXPEHUV HWF ZLOO WULJJHU DQ 606 QRWLÂżFDWLRQ WR WKH subscriber and shall be charged prevailing rates. 12. Offer is not available to roaming and international subscribers. 13. All complaints or questions that may arise from these offers shall be attended to by the following hotline number: Sun: (02) 395-8000 or 200 The promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only. Subject further, to the condition that SMART shall comply with the applicable NTC Memorandum Circulars and Orders, as follows: Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections. Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Order No. 03-06-2009, Service Performance Standards for the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service.

This Bid Bulletin No. 09 is issued to amend provisions in the Bidding Documents (BDs) for the above stated Contract, as follows: Current Provision of BDs LQFOXGLQJ 3UHYLRXV $PHQGPHQWV

Amended Provision of BDs under this BID Bulletin

6FKHGXOH RI 'URSSLQJ RI %LGV April 12, 2019 (10 A.M.)

6FKHGXOH RI 'URSSLQJ RI %LGV On or before April 23, 2019 (10:00 A.M.)

6FKHGXOH RI 2SHQLQJ RI %LGV April 12, 2019 (10:00 A.M.)

6FKHGXOH RI 2SHQLQJ RI %LGV April 23, 2019 (10:00 A.M.) * NOTE: Adjustment of Program of Works (POW) are still on Process.

MT – Apr. 12, 2019

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City 1104 Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph 25 March 2019

MT – Apr. 12, 2019

For guidance and information of all concerned. RAY S. CADAVEDO Chief, Construction Section BAC Vice Chairperson

MT – Apr. 12, 2019

MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 25 March 2019 regarding 6XQ 5HYHUVH %XQGOLQJ 3URJUDP 6HUYLFH The service offers the following: 5HTXLUHG 3XUFKDVH Sun Prepaid Reverse Bundle SIM Card

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The maximum speed is up to 42Mbps for broadband and non-broadband connections. Minimum speed for broadband connection is 256 kbps and 48 kbps for non-broadband connection. Network reliability is 80%. The actual speed experience will depend on the device used, network signal detected, FXUUHQW VXEVFULEHU WUDI¿F SUHYDLOLQJ HQYLURQPHQWDO FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKH JHRJUDSK\ RI WKH DUHD ZKHUH WKH subscriber is located. The mechanics of the service are as follows: 1. The service is exclusive to new Sun Prepaid subscribers who received a free Sun Pepaid LTE Ready SIM upon purchase of an LTE Smartphone. Other SIM types will not qualify for this offer. 2. Promo is available via SIM conversion only. 3. In order to receive a FREE SIM card, a subscriber must purchase a LTE Smartphone from participating outlets/distributors. 4. To register, subscriber to text BD200 or BD300 and send it to 247 8SRQ VXFFHVVIXO UHJLVWUDWLRQ VXEVFULEHU ZLOO UHFHLYH DQ 606 QRWL¿FDWLRQ DQG VKDOO WKHQ EH FUHGLWHG the corresponding package. 6. P1.00 maintaining balance is not required to use the package. $OO LQYDOLG VFHQDULRV L H LQVXI¿FLHQW EDODQFH LQYDOLG % QXPEHU HWF ZLOO WULJJHU DQ 606 QRWL¿FDWLRQ to the subscriber and existing charging rules apply. Deduct from free SMS then to airtime. 8. The service is not available to roaming and internationals subscribers. 9. All complaints or requests that may arise from this service shall be attended by hotline number: (02) 395-8000 or 200 (toll-free from Sun mobile number). The service is intended for peer to peer and non-commercial use only. Please be informed that the request for approval of 6XQ 5HYHUVH %XQGOLQJ 3URJUDP 6HUYLFH VWDUWLQJ 0DUFK is hereby granted. The approval is subject to the condition that Smart shall publish the mechanics of the service in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation. Subject further, to the condition that SMART shall comply with the applicable NTC Memorandum Circulars and Orders, as follows: • • • •

WARNING TO THE PUBLIC

FREE 2 GB open access data

Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections. Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Order No. 03-06-2009, Service Performance Standards for the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service.

Very truly yours,

Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner

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,QFOXVLRQV 10MB chat access to viber, telegram, whatsapp, wechat and line

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(SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner

MT – Apr. 12, 2019

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.

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The Manila Times FRIDAY April 12, 2019

B 9

ERHAN BALABAN General Manager Turkish Airlines Philippines

Bridge Between Cultures

An expat manager shares with Filipinos the Turkish adventure BY MARGIE T. LOGARTA Photos by Hermes Singson IF there is anyone Pinoys should consult if they are thinking of an adventure in Turkey, it is certainly Erhan Balaban. Balaban is Turkish Airlines Philippines’ general manager, a post he has occupied since October 2014. 4URKISH !IRLINES AIRLINE CODE 4+ LAUNCHED DIRECT lIGHTS to Manila from Istanbul Ataturk Airport on March 30, 2015, starting with three frequencies a week that was bumped up to daily frequencies from February 2016.

European carrier According to TK top executives, the company launched their Philippine operations “with the mission of becoming [the] Filipinos’ preferred leading European carrier.� The fabled trade entrepot, one should remember, holds the distinction of straddling the continents of Europe and Asia. Its capital Istanbul even boasts of a “European side� and an “Asian side.� 4HE 0HILIPPINES IS "ALABAN S kRST ASSIGNMENT AS GENeral manager. Previously, he was stationed in TK’s Tokyo OFkCE AS COMMERCIAL MANAGER FROM !PRIL TO /CTOBER 2014 before heading for Manila. And before that, he was TK’s marketing specialist for the Americas and North Europe regions from November 2012 to September BASED IN THE 4URKISH !IRLINES HEAD OFkCE Growing up in coastal Ephesus, Balaban had an uncle who predicted he would be a pilot, an idea that appealed to him. After graduating with a degree in public administration from Canakkale University in Turkey, he went on to study labor economics under the Economic and Managerial Sciences Faculty at Anadolu University, also in Turkey. He got his MBA degree in 2011 at the University of Wales, Cardiff Institute, UK .OR FORGETTING HIS DREAM OF lYING "ALABAN APPLIED AT 4URKISH !IRLINES BUT UPON kNDING THERE WAS AN OPENing in the sales and marketing department, opted for another way into the travel industry. “I like traveling,� says the tall and lanky executive. “I like being in touch with people and learning about other countries and their cultures.�

New challenges "ALABAN DEkNITELY HAD HIS WORK LAID OUT FOR HIM IN building TK’s brand in the Philippines. First of all, he HAD TO SET UP ITS PHYSICAL OFkCE IN -AKATI #ITY (E RECALLS “It was a totally new challenge for me. I had to organize everything: commercial, operations, sales and marketing, accounting and cargo among others. “Every country has its own unique way of doing things. One needs to understand how it works and then adapt. Otherwise, you won’t be successful.� Besides the local staff, there are four other Turkish nationals — one in sales operations and one in account-

New air hub On April 6, Turkish Airlines (TK) moved its operations to the new Istanbul Airport, which launched in October last year, coinciding with Turkey’s 95th Independence Day.

Every country has its own unique way of doing things. One needs to understand how this works and then adapt HOW TIME FLIES

Unique uniforms To match the “Great Move,� TK asked Italian couturier Ettore Bilotta to design new employee uniforms, inspired by classic elements of Turkish design and culture.

Tourist magnet Turkey is popular with Catholic visitors eager to visit places such as Ephesus, where the Virgin Mary is said to have lived out her later years and St. Paul established his base. ing and two at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the station manager and cargo manager — who help ensure 4+ RUNS SMOOTHLY g%VERYTHING YOU SEE IN THIS OFkCE AND at the airport,� Balaban declares, was built with “team support and government cooperation.� He adds: “Those factors really helped me a lot.� Their efforts, together with travel partners and tour operators around the country, Balaban believes, have boosted impressively TK’s instant awareness among Filipinos. “Word-of-mouth, social media and being present in events have made TK now very visible here.� Travelers, both experienced and neophyte, are certain to find Turkey fascinating..Says Balaban: “Our rich history, culture and amazing tourist destinations will surely attract Filipino travelers.� Besides Istanbul and Ankara, another popular visitor magnet, especially for Catholics, is Ephesus, which the Apostle-Missionary Paul made his base while moving around Asia Minor and where he also wrote his popular Letter to the Corinthians series. The Virgin Mary, it is said, lived in Ephesus in a house the Apostle John had built for her. Cappadoccia is another must-see with its surreal rock valleys and whimsical pinnacles combining to make lunar landscapes as well as churches and communities nestles in numerous caves. Other wonders include

1933 Turkish Airlines (TK) starts out with a fleet of five, including one 10-seat Tupolev ANT-9.

3-30-15 Flights between Istanbul and Manila were launched with three frequencies weekly that were bumped up to daily flights in 2016.

330+

307

The number of aircraft TK now boasts of, with Airbus A350s and Boeing Dreamliners coming on stream soon.

Destinations in 124 countries served by TK, include Lusaka, Zambia, Banjul, Gambia, Marrakech, Morocco and Sharjah, UAE.

Canakkale to explore the ruins of Homer’s Troy and Pamukkale for its thermal-rich mineral water cascading down graceful travertine terraces.

Mega airport Continuing this role as an international hub, the Turkish government has ploughed billions of euros into THE NEW MEGA )STANBUL !IRPORT THAT SOFT OPENED ITS kRST phase on October 29 last year, dovetailing with the 95th Foundation Day of the Turkish Republic. Once completed it will boast four phases with six runways, able to serve up to 200 million passengers annually AND HOST MORE THAN AIRLINES AND lIGHTS TO OVER 350 global destinations. /N !PRIL 4URKISH !IRLINES MIGRATED ALL ITS lIGHTS to the new building from the old Ataturk Airport in a MASSIVE EXERCISE DUBBED AS THE g'REAT -OVE u - LKER !YCŽ THE AIRLINE S CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND THE EXECUtive committee, commented on the eve of the operation: “The biggest move of aviation history will take place. The combined size of the equipment we are going to transfer would cover 33 football pitches. “After this Great Move, which will be watched by the entire world, we will wake up to a new morning. It will be a morning, with the sun shining on Turkish aviation WITH THE lIGHTS OPERATED AT )STANBUL !IRPORT ) CONVEY

my hopes that it will bring a great fortune to both our country and company.� During the Great Move, equipment weighing approximately 47,300 tons was hauled to Istanbul Airport from the old Atatßrk Airport. From aircraft towing apparatus, weighing 44 tons, to extremely sensitive materials to over 10 thousand pieces of equipment EQUAL TO FREIGHT OF kVE THOUSAND TRUCKING RIGS 4HE distance covered by the trucking rigs, carrying this load during the 45 hours was calculated to be at 400,000 kilometers. This could be compared to circling the Earth 10 times. Over 1,800 personnel helped bring the seismic shift to a successful conclusion. To complement the move, a new uniform for the airline was designed by Milan-based Italian couturier Ettore Bilotta, inspired by classic elements of Turkish design and culture found in glassware, ceramics and calligraphy with a contemporary twist. The concept of glOW DETAILu FOUND IN THE NEW DESIGN UNDERPINS THE EFfortless and dynamic energy coursing through Istanbul, Turkey’s most dynamic city. International aviation’s latest futuristic gateway — Istanbul Airport — officially opened on April 6. It is expected to provide more comfort for transit passengers and minimum waiting time. It has been given the airport code IST, formerly that of Ataturk

ÂłErhan Balaban B7

B10

˜ The Manila Times

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

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Q ERHAN BALABAN FROM B8

Bridge Between Cultures Airport, which now carries the airport code ISL and will be hosting cargo and VIP passenger flights.

We believe the food we serve is our unique point. We have chefs on the ground and in the air, who make sure meals are served in the best possible way

307 destinations 4+ FOUNDED IN STARTED OUT WITH A lEET OF kVE AIRCRAFT TWO kVE SEAT #URTISS +INGbirds, two four-seat Junkers F13s and one SEAT 4UPOLEV !.4 4ODAY THAT kGURE has ballooned to more than 330 aircraft for passenger and cargo purposes. Anytime soon, the state-of-the-art Airbus A350s and Dreamliners — the Boeing B-787 — will BE COMING ONBOARD TO EXPAND THE lIGHT network. Currently, Boeing B777s, featuring Business class and Economy class, are utilized on the 12-hour Istanbul-Manila route. According to Balaban, it is likely the Dreamliner will be introduced on to the Manila service by year end. #OMMERCIALLY 4+ lIES TO DESTINAtions in 124 countries. The latest to join the route network are African cities, Lusaka, Zambia, Banjul, Gambia, Marrakech, Morocco and Sharjah, UAE, with Bali, Indonesia in July, and Mexico City and Cancun in Mexico in August. Luxor, Egypt and Rovaniemi, Finland are in the pipeline for September and December, respectively.

Ultimate service The “passenger experience� is what TK employees, particularly those on the frontlines, are dedicated to upholding. Through the years, top management has invested heavily in a wide range of software and hardware to create ultimate customer satisfaction. Says Balaban: “We’re always there to assist our customers; we constantly communicating WITH THEM &ROM THE kRST POINT OF ENGAGEment to the final point, we believe our service is good.� One source of pride for the airline is its catering operations. “We believe the food we serve is a point of differentiation for us. We have chefs on the ground who prepare the meals, and we also have chefs in the air who make sure these are served to the customers in the best way possible,� Balaban reports. After four and a half years in the Philippines, Balaban is well adjusted, and has picked up a few Pilipino words like “kaunti� (little), when asked if he knows some of the language and “po� HONORIkC TERM WHICH he makes sure to include when thanking people. The best practice, he offers for good management “is to listen and keep communication lines always open.� Balaban, who, whenever he is free, enjoys long drives out of town while listening to music, adds: “Good relations with the staff are important. They shouldn’t be hesitant to approach you. They should feel comfortable enough to share things with you. You need to be a friend to them. “That also goes for your partner agencies. “And a smile goes a long way in getting things done here.�

WHY FLY TURKISH AIRLINES (TK)? Erhan Balaban counts and explains the ways.

Q The ‘passenger experience’ is what TK employees, particularly those on the frontlines, are dedicated to upholding. Q Over the years, top management has invested heavily in a wide range of software and hardware to create ultimate customer satisfaction. Q TK staff are always there to assist our customers, constantly communicating with them From the first point of engagement to the final point, seamless service is their goal. Q The food served onboard, TK executives believe, makes them different from the competition. They have chefs on the ground preparing the meals, as well as chefs in the air making sure these are served to the customers in the best way possible.

FLYING HIGH Turkish Airlines tries to create the ultimate customer experience with (clockwise) the new state-of-the-art mega-Istanbul Airport expected to take up to 200 million passengers yearly, and luxe pampering and catering onboard, including the attentions of a five-star chef

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

B11

Report: Italian mafia conquering Europe INTERNATIONAL anti-mafia stings may have increased in recent months, but Italian organised crime groups constitute a social and economic “cancer� that the world seems to underestimate, experts say. The most high-profile recent operation saw 90 mobsters from THE #ALABRIAN @.DRANGHETA MAkA arrested in December in six different countries, in raids involving HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFkCERS While the notorious Sicilian Cosa Nostra is well-known to be present in Australia, Canada and the US, other )TALIAN MAkAS HAVE BEEN GLOBALISING too — with European Union countries among their top destinations. The three main groups — Cosa Nostra, the Neapolitan Camorra and the ‘Ndrangheta — were “among the most threatening in Europe� because of the global reach of their criminal operations, according to Europol. Their power lies in their control and exploitation of territory and community, including installing allies in administrative positions even in places far from the territories they control, the European police agency said. )TALIAN MAkA HUNTING EXPERT #RIStiano Tomassi cited cases of entire neighbourhoods in European cities, which are under the control of organised crime groups and are having the life strangled out of them.

“Why does it seem like nothing’s going on in those areas? Because THE MAkA IS IN CONTROL BUT IT IS NOT a healthy control, it is like a cancer that progresses. “And where there is a cancer there is no more life,� Tomassi told AFP. “Petty crime no longer exists, but neither does the healthy economy. It’s true that weeds no longer grow, but grass doesn’t grow either,� said Tomassi, a police colonel and organISED CRIME ANALYST WITH ANTI MAkA investigative authority Divezione )NVESTIGATIVA !NTIMAkA $)! The powerful Italian mafias make their money in large-scale DRUG TRAFkCKING AND MONEY LAUNdering, as well as currency and goods counterfeiting, and the TRAFkCKING OF TOXIC WASTE They wreak heavy damage on local and national economies, according to the latest DIA report: 4HEY gPOLLUTE kNANCIAL AND CREDIT channels, disrupt competition and THE MARKETS AND PROMOTE BLACK market activities and tax evasion.� In places suffering an economic CRISIS ‡ SUCH AS %UROPE ‡ THE MAkA INkLTRATES EVEN MORE EASILY FOR gWHOever brings in new money can initially be seen as a resource,� says Tomassi, referring to the mob’s “almost unlimITEDu kNANCIAL MEANS AFP

Worldinbriefs ARMY OVERTHROWS SUDAN PRESIDENT CAIRO: Sudan’s armed forces were to deliver an “important statement� and asked the nation to “wait for it� on Thursday, state TV reported, as two senior officials said the military had forced long-time President Omar al-Bashir to step down. The circumstances of al-Bashir’s apparent ouster and his current whereabouts remained unclear, however. State TV said an army statement was imminent amid swirling reports of a coup to replace the president of 30 years following mass street protests against his rule. The announcement raised expectations it was a sign al-Bashir was relinquishing power or was being removed by the military. The two officials, who hold high positions in the government and the military, said the army was now in talks about forming a transitional government. AP

US VP PENCE RIDICULOUS, RACIST — MADURO CARACAS: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is lambasting US Vice President (VP) Mike Pence’s remarks at the United Nations (UN) Security Council as both “ridiculous� and “racist.� In a televised address early Wednesday evening, Maduro said Pence’s comments show US leaders “think they are superior to Venezuelans.� He added that on Pence’s face he could see “the hate, the racism� harbored toward Venezuela. Pence urged the United Nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president and revoke the credentials of Samuel Moncada, who is the UN ambassador for Maduro’s government. Pence told Moncada at a Security Council meeting: “With all due respect Mr. Ambassador, you shouldn’t be here.� AP

AUSSIE ELECTIONS TO FOCUS ON REFUGEES CANBERRA, Australia: Australia’s prime minister on Thursday called a May 18 election that will be fought on issues including climate change, asylum seekers and economic management. “We live in the best country in the world,� Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters after advising the governor general to authorize the election. “But to secure your future, the road ahead depends on a strong economy. And that’s why there is so much at stake at this election,� he added. Morrison’s conservative coalition is seeking a third three-year term, but Morrison is the third prime minister to lead a divided government in that time and only took the helm in late August. AP

1 KILLED, 17 HURT IN CAROLINA EXPLOSION DURHAM, N.C.: A leaking gas line exploded Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in a Durham shopping district, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others as firefighters were evacuating people from buildings near the rupture, authorities said. The blast reverberated across the North Carolina city — turning one building to rubble, shattering windows blocks away and filling the air with acrid smoke. The owner of a coffee shop at the site of the blast was identified Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) as the person who died. Jim Rogalski, 58, was working in his office across the street from the destroyed building when the explosion blew out the windows. At least four people working in cubicles by the windows suffered deep cuts, bloody head wounds and other injuries, he said. AP

EX-PRIEST FOUND GUILTY OF SEX ABUSE SANTA FE, New Mexico: A US jury found a former Roman Catholic priest who was captured in Morocco guilty Wednesday of sexually abusing an altar boy at a veterans’ cemetery and Air Force base in New Mexico in the early 1990s. The jury reached the verdict against 81-year-old Arthur Perrault following a trial in Santa Fe in which several men testified that they had been abused by him as children in his car, a church rectory and other locations. The victim at the center of the case said Perrault took him on excursions to amusement parks and the military base in Albuquerque and had touched him inappropriately as many as 100 times starting when he was 10. The abuse ended in 1992, the same year Perrault vanished from the state as an attorney prepared to file two lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, alleging Perrault had sexually assaulted seven children. AP

CAMBODIA ARRESTS 50 IN DRUG DEN RAID POLICE raided a nightclub in Phnom Penh’s Chamkar Mon district on Wednesday and arrested about 50 people, including Chinese citizens in connection with drug crimes. The police officers raided a nightclub on street 360 corner of street 63 in Boeng Keng Kang I commune, according to a police officer. “Police officers arrested about 50 people, including Chinese nationals, but most of them are suspected of being involved with drug crime,� he said. Phnom Penh police chief Lt. Gen. Sar Thet could not be reached for comment. KHMER TIMES

MALI OPERATION

French soldiers set up camp on the road from Gossi and Hombori ahead of the start of the French Barkhane Force operation in Mali’s Gourma region. Mali was a former colony of France that gained independence in 1960. AFP PHOTO

Brexit set October 31 L

ONDON: European leaders agreed with Britain on Thursday to delay Brexit by up to six months, saving the continent from what could have been a chaotic no-deal departure at the end of the week.

The deal struck during late night talks in Brussels means that, if London remains in the European Union %5 AFTER -AY "RITISH VOTERS will have to take part in European ELECTIONS ‡ OR CRASH OUT ON *UNE Prime Minister Theresa May said she would now keep working to get her withdrawal agreement approved by parliament to ensure an orderly split, saying her goal was to leave “as soon as possible�. She will address the House of

Commons on Thursday before HER OFkCIALS MEET FOR FURTHER TALKS with the main opposition Labor PARTY TO TRY TO kND A WAY THROUGH the political deadlock. The other 27 EU leaders met without May over dinner to thrash out what European Council presiDENT $ONALD 4USK CALLED gA lEXIBLE EXTENSION UNTIL /CTOBERu BEfore she returned to seal the deal. Tusk had proposed a year-long delay, but said: “It’s still enough

TO kND THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION Please do not waste this time.� He suggested May’s government now had time to ratify the deal agreed with EU leaders in November, to rethink its approach or to stop the entire Brexit process. The summit conclusions say Britain must hold European elections set for May 23 or if “the United Kingdom fails to live up to this obligation, the withdrawal WILL TAKE PLACE ON *UNE u Britain has already started planning for the polls, but May told reporters that she hoped she could still get her deal agreed by May 22 and avoid taking part. “The EU have agreed that the extension can be terminated when

the Withdrawal Agreement has BEEN RATIkED u SHE SAID The summit was more tense than expected, with France’s President Emmanuel Macron the strongest voice opposing a long extension as the talks stretched from early evening to early Thursday morning. With backing from Belgium, Austria and some smaller EU states, he pushed to limit the delay to only few weeks and demanded guarantees that London would not interfere in EU business during that time. But most leaders backed the longer plan, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the French had to settle a review of the delay at a pre-planned EU summit ON *UNE AND AP

Netanyahu wins, to form new government JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival conceded defeat Wednesday, promising to wage a robust battle from the opposition after the ruling Likud party and its nationalist allies won a solid majority in parliamentary elections. Netanyahu appeared poised for a historic fifth term as prime minister, with nearly all the ballots counted from Tuesday’s vote. Official final results were expected Thursday. With 97.4 percent of the votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud and the rival Blue and White were deadlocked with a projected 35 seats apiece in the 120-seat parliament. But Likud and its traditional political allies were in command of a 65-55 majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. A couple of small parties were still teetering on the electoral threshold and fighting for survival, so the final makeup of the next parliament could still change slightly. Blue and White, led by former military chief of staff Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, a former Netanyahu Cabinet minister, got about 26 percent of the vote — a shade less than Netanyahu’s Likud. Lapid, the party’s No. 2 leader, said Blue and White would “show the people of Israel what a real alternative looks like.� “We did not win in this round. I respect the voters, and I respect their decision, but I look around and see the ultimate tool for victory in the next round,� Lapid said at a news conference alongside Gantz and two other former military chiefs who led Blue and White. The outcome affirmed Israel’s continued tilt to the right and further dimmed hopes of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also will give Netanyahu an important boost as he braces for the possibility of criminal charges in a series of corruption scandals. US President Donald Trump called Netanyahu to congratulate him, saying that with the victory, “I think we’ll see some pretty good action in terms of peace.� “Look, everyone said — and I never made it a promise — but everybody said you can’t have peace in the Middle East with Israel and the Palestinians,� Trump said. “And I think we have, now, a better chance with Bibi having won.� AP

REVOLUTION TICKET

View of lottery tickets depicting Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata in Mexico City. April 10 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of revolutionary Zapata, who was ambushed and killed in 1919 in Morelos, Mexico. AFP PHOTO

Stricter NZ new gun laws start WELLINGTON, New Zealand: New Zealand’s governor general on Thursday formally signed into effect sweeping gun laws outlawing military style weapons, less than a month after a man used such guns to kill 50 people and wound dozens at two mosques in Christchurch. Gov. Gen. Patsy Reddy signed the bill as police said a gun buyback program would be announced to collect the now-banned weapons. The weapons will be illegal starting at midnight, but police said a brief amnesty program would be in effect until details of the buyback were announced. g&OR PEOPLE WHO kND THEMSELVES NOW IN POSSESSION OF A PROHIBITED kREARM WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOTIFY US u Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Clement said. g4HE COLLECTION OF kREARMS WILL OCCUR AT A LATER STAGE g He added that “for now, there is an amnesty in place and we ask people to please notify us.� Anyone who retains such a weapon now faces a PENALTY OF UP TO kVE YEARS IN PRISON %XEMPTIONS ALLOW heirloom weapons held by collectors or weapons used

for professional pest control. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed BY A kNAL VOTE OF TO LEGISLATION BANNING THE weapons after an accelerated process of debate and public submission. “The Government acted quickly to change New :EALAND S kREARMS LAWS AND 0OLICE IS NOW RESPONSIBLE for implementing and enforcing these new laws,� Clement said. Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, was charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder. The royal commission set up to investigate issues surrounding the massacre is examining how he obtained a gun license in New Zealand and purchased weapons and ammunition. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke emotionally DURING THE BILL S kNAL READING OF THE TRAUMATIC INJURIES SUFFERED BY VICTIMS OF THE -ARCH ATTACK WHOM SHE visited in Christchurch Hospital after the shootings. AP

WikiLeaks founder Assange arrested LONDON: Police in London said they have arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorean EMBASSY ON A COURT WARRANT DATING BACK TO In a statement Thursday, police said Assange has been taken into “custody at a central London police station where he will remain, before being presented before Westminster Magistrates’ Court as soon as is possible.� !SSANGE HASN T LEFT THE EMBASSY SINCE !UGUST for fear that if he steps off Ecuador’s diplomatic soil he will be arrested and extradited to the US for publishING THOUSANDS OF CLASSIkED MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC cables through WikiLeaks. ,ONDON WAS NOT THE kRST TO RUN AFTER !SSANGE SINCE AS EARLY AS .OVEMBER 3WEDEN ISSUED AN INTERNA-

tional arrest warrant for Assange. He had been questioned there months earlier over allegations of sexual assault and rape.[7] Assange denied the allegations, and said that he would be extradited from Sweden to the United States because of his role in publishing secret American documents. Assange surrendered to UK police on December 7, BUT WAS RELEASED ON BAIL WITHIN DAYS Having been unsuccessful in his challenge to the extradition proceedings, he breached his bail and absconded. He was granted asylum by Ecuador in !UGUST AND HAS REMAINED IN THE EMBASSY OF Ecuador in London since then. Assange has held %CUADORIAN CITIZENSHIP LAST $ECEMBER AP

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World

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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India’s 6-week election starts N

EW Delhi: Polls opened Thursday in the first phase of India’s sixweek general elections, seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A festive spirit prevailed as men and women in colorful clothes made their way to heavily guarded voting stations in large numbers. In the world’s largest democratic EXERCISE VOTERS IN )NDIAN STATES and two Union Territories are casting ballots on Thursday, the kRST DAY OF A SEVEN PHASE ELECTION staggered over six weeks in the COUNTRY OF BILLION PEOPLE Modi supporters say the tea SELLER S SON FROM 'UJARAT STATE HAD improved the nation’s standing. But critics say his party’s Hindu nationalism had aggravated religious tensions in India. Thursday’s voting is important for the BJP as it had won only 32 OF SEATS IN THE PREVIOUS elections. It is seeking to improve its tally this time. Voting also began for two parliamentary seats in the Indian-controlled portion of disputed Kashmir amid tight security and

a boycott call by Muslim separatists, who say the polls were an illegitimate exercise. Armed police and paramilitary soldiers in riot gears guarded polling stations and nearby roads. Shops, businesses and most schools were closed on Thursday in response to a strike called by separatist leaders, who challenge India’s sovereignty over Kashmir and seek right to self-determination for the entire territory as demanded by United Nations resolutions. In the northern Baramulla area, many people said they came out to vote only against Modi’s BJP, calling it an “anti-Muslim� and “anti-Kashmiri� party. They opposed the BJP’s election manifesto, which promised to scrap decades-old special rights for the Kashmiris under India’s Constitution. The special status prevents outsiders from buying property in the territory. AP

READY TO VOTE

Indian voters stand in a queue to cast their vote at a polling station during the start of India’s general elections in Kawaal village near Muzaffarrnagar in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. AFP PHOTO

SKorea legalizes abortion, says 66-year law ‘antiquated’ SEOUL: South Korea’s constitutional court on Thursday ordered the country’s decades-old abortion ban to be lifted in a landmark ruling over a law that campaigners say puts women at risk. South Korea remains one of the few industrialized nations that criminalizes abortion, except for instances of rape, incest and when the mother’s health is at risk.

But the nine-member bench RULED BY TO THAT THE STATute aimed at protecting lives and traditional values “goes against the constitution� and ordered the law to be revised by the end of next year. “The abortion ban limits women’s rights to pursue their own destinies, and violates their rights to health by limiting their access to safe and timely procedures,�

the court said in a statement. “Embryos completely depend on the mother’s body for their survival and development, so it cannot be concluded that they are separate, independent living beings entitled to rights to life.� Hugging and celebrating, hundreds of women — including teenagers and females with disabilities — cheered wildly in front of the Constitutional Court in

CENTRAL 3EOUL WHERE THE OFkCIAL ruling was announced. “Women deserve to be happy as much as we want to be today,� activist Bae "OK JU TOLD !&0 “Today’s decision was made because countless women ceaselessly fought for their rights for so many years. We deserve the world’s attention and we deserve its recognition,� Bae added. Under the ban, those who

underwent the procedure could FACE UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL AND A kNE while doctors are given a two-year prison term. 4HE LAW HAD BEEN WIDELY lOUTED ANTIQUATED AND RARELY RESULTed in prosecutions, but activists had claimed it left women facing being unable to pay for terminations, unsafe procedures and social ostracisation. AFP

ELEPHANT MAN A man rides on a painted elephant during a parade to celebrate the Buddhist New Year, locally known as Songkran, in Ayutthaya, Thailand. AFP PHOTO

NKorea to fight sanctions imposed by US, UN SEOUL: .ORTH +OREAN LEADER +IM *ONG 5N HAS STRUCK A DEkANT NOTE OVER HIS FAILED SUMMIT WITH 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP IN (ANOI AND INSISTED 0YONGYANG WOULD OVERCOME THE EFFECT of sanctions, state media reported Thursday. 4HE REMARKS WERE +IM S kRST OFkCIAL COMMENT ON THE .ORTH S POSITION SINCE TALKS ON DENUCLEARIZATION WITH 7ASHINGTON BROKE DOWN IN 6IETNAM IN &EBRUARY IN PART OVER 0YONGYANG S demands for immediate sanctions relief. 4RUMP IS SET TO HOST 3OUTH +OREAN 0RESIDENT -OON *AE IN AT THE 7HITE (OUSE LATER ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA SEEKING TO REKINDLE DIALOGUE WITH THE .ORTH +IM TOLD TOP OFkCIALS OF THE RULING 7ORKERS 0ARTY ON 7EDNESDAY TO PUSH AHEAD WITH gSELF RELIANCEu TO UNDERMINE THE SANCTIONS THE +OREAN #ENTRAL .EWS !GENCY +#.! SAID (E SAID DEVELOPING THE SOCIALIST ECONOMY WOULD gDEAL A TELLING BLOW TO THE HOSTILE FORCES WHO GO WITH BLOODSHOT EYES MISCALCULATING THAT SANCTIONS CAN BRING THE $02+ $EMOCRATIC 0EOPLE S 2EPUBLIC OF +OREA TO ITS KNEES u THE REPORT SAID Kim made no mention of nuclear weapons, nor did he criticise his US counterpart, according to KCNA. 4RUMP AND +IM HELD THEIR kRST LANDMARK SUMMIT IN 3INGAPORE LAST *UNE WHERE THE PAIR SIGNED A VAGUELY WORDED AGREEMENT ON THE gDENUCLEARISATION OF THE +OREAN PENINSULAu "UT THE FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT AT THEIR SECOND SUMMIT IN (ANOI ‡ WHICH BROKE UP WITHOUT EVEN A JOINT STATEMENT ‡ HAS RAISED QUESTIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF THE WIDER PROCESS Both sides expressed willingness to talk further and Trump has repeatedly said since that he maintains good relations with his North Korean counterpart, boasting he had blocked new sanctions planned for Pyongyang. AFP

Pakistan takes diplomats, intl media to Indian strike site ISLAMABAD: 0AKISTAN HAS ESCORTED A GROUP OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS TO THE SITE OF an Indian air strike to show that, contrary to Delhi’s claims, no infrastructure was damaged, the military spokesman said. 4HE VISITING GROUP WHICH -AJ 'EN !SIF 'HAFOOR SAID WAS MOSTLY BASED IN $ELHI WAS shown observing a crater in Balakot in video published via Twitter late Wednesday, on the eve of India’s massive election. The group saw the “ground realities� of the strike site, Ghafoor said in a caption accompanying the tweet. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has campaigned hard on what he claims is the sucCESS OF THE &EBRUARY STRIKE )NDIAN OFkCIALS HAVE CLAIMED UP TO MILITANTS WERE KILLED Pakistan has denied from the start that there was any damage or casualties, with Modi’s counterpart Imran Khan framing it as an election ploy.

7ITH THE kRST PHASE OF POLLS IN )NDIA S MASSIVE ELECTION OPENING 4HURSDAY -ODI HAS styled himself as India’s chowkidar WATCHMAN AND ANYONE EVEN QUESTIONING THE ACTION against Pakistan is given short shrift. But independent reporting by multiple local and international outlets, who have visited the SITE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MAJOR TERRORIST TRAINING CAMP ‡ OR OF ANY INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE AT ALL !N !&0 REPORTER WHO VISITED JUST HOURS AFTER THE STRIKE WAS CARRIED OUT SAW DAMAGE ONLY to trees and one mud hut. Local residents have said no one was killed. The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab said that open-source satellite imagery indicated “only impacts in the wooded area, with no damage being visible to the surrounding structures.� The strike was in retaliation to a suicide bombing in Indian-held Kashmir on February THAT WAS CLAIMED BY A 0AKISTAN BASED MILITANT GROUP AFP

China seizes 144 kilos of heroin BEIJING: Chinese police have seized a haul of methamphetamine and heroin concealed in a truckload of bananas. State media reported Thursday that THE DRUG SHIPMENT WEIGHING KILOGRAMS POUNDS WAS SEIZED in the city of Tongren in the southern province of Guizhou after a tipoff. The shipment was believed to have originated in Myanmar and crossed the border into China’s Yunnan province on Saturday. One suspect was arrested in the seizure, which took place Saturday. Yunnan borders the infamous “Golden Triangle� drug producing region where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet. The United Nations’ anti-drug agency said last month that production of methamphetamine was skyrocketing in Southeast Asia, with prices dropping and usage expanding. China prosecutes drug crimes HARSHLY BUT REMAINS A MAJOR MARKET due partly to rising incomes. AP

Beijing: No military action in Venezuela A CHINESE envoy said that China opposes military intervention in Venezuela. “China opposes the interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs by external forces, opposes military intervention in Venezuela and opposes the use of the so-called humanitarian issue to achieve political aims,� Ma Zhaoxu, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council. History had proven repeatedly that unilateral sanctions would only further complicate situations and affect people’s everyday life. It would not help resolve problems, nor wo u l d i t b r i n g p e a c e t o a country, he said. “On the one hand, we hear a lot of talk about care for the well being of Venezuelans. On the other hand, we are seeing increasingly tighter sanctions on the country. They are contradictory and the motive is dubious,� said Ma. GLOBAL TIMES

Sports

C1 FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

BOXER SHORTS ED TOLENTINO

Marvelous lament

F

ROM 1980 to 1987, “Marvelous� Marvin Hagler was the sole, undisputed king of the middleweight (160 lbs.) division. He did not share the crown with three other claimants or with any socalled interim, regular or super champion. These days, Hagler cannot help but shake his head at the proliferation of so many titles and champions in the sport. In a recent interview with the foreign press, Hagler was quoted as saying: “Now they have so much they throw them (titles) away like candy. It was a long, hard road in my day. You have to kill me to take it (the title). Most champions these days, they come and go, they confuse the public, who do not know who the real champion is. Right now, they think Mike Tyson is the champion.� Hagler’s lament is shared by boxing fans around the world. These days, the term “world champion� has been prostituted, what with so many title claimants to a single throne. Pro boxing currently has 17 different weight divisions and there are four champions in each weight class, representing the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF. The WBA alone has this corkscrewed policy where a “regular� champion is promoted to “super champion� after he posts a number of successful defenses or unifies the crown by defeating a champion from another organization. The WBA then vacates the regular belt and crowns yet another champion, consequently creating two WBA champions (regular and super) for just one division. In addition to the regular champion, there is also the “interim� champion, the latter being in the mold of a “caretaker� titlist; one who holds the belt while the regular champion is not in a position to defend the crown. The interim champ is really no better than the No.1 contender. There is also the slew of regional belts, i.e., Latino, Oriental, European, Oceana, Youth, Silver, and Commonwealth. One study revealed that there an estimated 6,000 belts in the sport. These do not even include commemorative belts like the WBC’s Diamond and Emerald crowns which basically serve no purpose other than to promote the WBC. With so many titles, it is no surprise that, as Hagler puts it, it is so easy for a boxer to win a crown and throw it away like candy. If there is only one belt available, a boxer will work doubly hard to challenge for it. Once he wins it, he will value the crown and defend it to the bitter end because what he holds is the real, undisputed version. As set by the National Sporting Club of London in the early 1900s, pro boxing originally only had eight divisions: flyweight (112 lbs.), bantamweight (118 lbs.), featherweight (126 lbs.), lightweight (135 lbs.), welterweight (147 lbs,), middleweight (160 lbs.), light heavyweight (175 lbs.) and heavyweight (weight unlimited). It was so easy to name the champions back then because there was only one boxing organization (the National Boxing Association, later the World Boxing Association) running the show. Yes, only one world champion for each weight class for a total of eight champs. Beginning in the 1960s, however, more boxing organizations sprouted. First came the WBC, followed by the IBF and WBO. To aggravate the situation, the organizations started creating “junior� weight classes. The reason behind the creation of these “junior� divisions is money: an opportunity for the organization to collect more sanctioning fees. Truth be told, the minimumweight division (105 lbs.) DIVISION AND THE JUNIOR lYWEIGHT CLASS (108 lbs.) should already be lumped WITH THE lYWEIGHT DIVISION LBS There is also really no need for the junior bantamweight division (115 lbs.) because only six pounds separate the flyweights (112 lbs.) from the bantamweights (118 lbs.). The same argument can be made with the junior featherweight division (122 lbs.) considering that the bantamweights (118 lbs.) are just 8 pounds lighter than the featherweights (126 lbs.). Pro boxing just has too many championships and too many champions. It is a ludicrous system that is hurting the sport. These days, anybody can claim to be a “world� champion. Pro boxing remains unregulated and each organization has its own set of rules and rankings that are mostly political. Like Hagler, fans yearn for the day when the sport will only have one, undisputed champion per weight class. In such a scenario, when Michael "UFFER INTRODUCES THE kGHTER IN THE corner as “the heavyweight champion of the world,� you can take his statement to the bank knowing that there is nobody else making a similar claim.

Q Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (No. 0) fouls New York Knicks guard Kadeem Allen, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP PHOTO

Pistons rout Knicks to claim last playoff ticket N

EW YORK: The Detroit Pistons clinched the final ticket to the NBA playoffs Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), SEALING THEIR kRST POSTSEASON BERTH SINCE WITH A DEFEAT OF THE .EW 9ORK +NICKS With Eastern Conference rivals the Charlotte Hornets losing to the Orlando Magic elsewhere in 7EDNESDAY S kNAL ROUND OF REGULAR season games, the Pistons would have advanced regardless of their result against the Knicks. But the result against the team with the worst record in the NBA this season was never in doubt as Detroit moved into the lead before pulling away for a comfortable win. Luke Kennard scored 27 points off the bench for Detroit, while

starters Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson delivered 20-point displays to lead the Pistons into the postseason. Drummond finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds while Jackson had 21 points and seven assists. Detroit’s reward for claiming the EIGHTH AND kNAL SEED IN THE %ASTERN #ONFERENCE IS A kRST ROUND PLAYOFF duel with the Milwaukee Bucks. The result also represented vindication of sorts for head coach Dwane Casey, y who has led the Pistons back

TO THE POSTSEASON IN HIS kRST YEAR #ASEY WHO WAS HARSHLY kRED BY the Toronto Raptors last year despite a 59-win season, said his Detroit rebuilding plan was ahead of schedule. “We’re still in the growth process,� Casey said afterwards. “We’re AHEAD OF THE CURVE 4HIS IS THE kRST step for us, for our young guys to experience the playoffs and to understand what it takes to get there and hopefully make some noise. g)T S A GREAT kRST STEP FOR OUR ORganisation and our fans. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we were,� he added

Hornets stung by Magic In Charlotte meanwhile, Kemba Walker exploded for 43 points in p p

vain as the Hornets slender playoff chances ended with a defeat to Orlando. Walker’s superb display was backed with 22 points from Jeremy Lamb and 18 points from Miles Bridges. The Magic however ran out 122-114 winners with Terrence Ross scoring 35 points from the bench in 29 minutes. Ross’s points tally included a red-hot spell from three-point distance, with the 28-year-old small forward making six of 10 attempts from three-point range. Aaron Gordon added 27 points while D.J. Augustin (18) and Evan Fournier (14) also cracked double digits. Seventh-seeded Orlando will face the second-ranked Toronto Raptors

Q Anthony Davis (left) and LeBron James AFP PHOTO

ROS GEARS UP VS MARAUDING MAGNOLIA Rain n or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia is prepping up his wards for a gritty battle against Magnolia who displayed an impressive journey to the semis from a 0-3 start in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The second seed Elasto Painters will face the No. 6 Hotshots IN 'AME OF THEIR BEST OF SEVEN SEMIkNALS SERIES AT P M AT the Araneta Coliseum. “Not that surprised because they just won a championship,� Garcia said on Magnolia’s impressive rise. The Hotshots won the Governors’ Cup against Alaska last December 19 in Antipolo City. “Basically I told the players we matched up well against Magnolia and every game is different. We know their strength so we just have to lessen the turnovers because of their pressure defense. I hope we will not be rattled by that.� Rain or Shine, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, eliminated No. 7 Northport, 91-85, at the start of the QUARTERkNALS PLAYOFF BEHIND %D $AQUIOAG AND 2EY .AMBATAC WHO kNISHED WITH A COMBINED POINTS Garcia stressed that they play differently compared to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. “They did a good job against Ginebra but we’re a different team because we allow everybody to shoot. They had a slow start but they came back right now and they’re playing just like how they won a championship,� said Garcia. “Magnolia’s strength is its consistency in defense. We just have to counter that. Anyone who wins the kRST GAME WILL GET THE UPPER HAND RIGHT AWAY u Magnolia will be riding on the momentum of their three straight wins in the elimination round. The Hotshots showed grit by bouncing back from their Game 1 loss before winning back-to-back games in THEIR BEST OF THREE QUARTERkNALS SERIES TO ENTER THE SEMIS Former Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee notched 25 points in Magnolia’s 85-72 win over Ginebra in the DO OR DIE 'AME OF THE QUARTERkNALS ON 7EDNESDAY “It was all about our grit and will that carried us past Ginebra. Now it is the start of another tough series versus the No. 2 team, and we need to be more determined, have that consistent effort, defensive mindset and the desire to win,� said coach Chito Victolero. JOSEF T. RAMOS

Q Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga fires a jumper against Moala Tautuaa of Northport at the start of the quarterfinal playoff of Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

in the opening round of the playoffs. In New York, Dwyane Wade SIGNED OFF FROM THE ."! WITH A kFTH career triple-double as the alreadyeliminated Miami Heat closed their season with a 113-94 loss to the playoff-bound Brooklyn Nets. Wade, who had been given a gala SEND OFF ON 4UESDAY IN HIS kNAL HOME APPEARANCE IN -IAMI kNished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the defeat. There was a double-digit farewell for another NBA icon in San Antonio, where Dallas Mavericks German VETERAN $IRK .OWITZKI kNISHED WITH 20 points and 10 rebounds. T h e M ave r i c k s, w h o f i n ished outside the playoff places, were beaten 105-94 by the Spurs, the seventh seeds from the Western Conference. AFP

Davis unfazed by Lakers drama after Magic exit LOS ANGELES: New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis said Magic Johnson’s shock departure had not changed his vview of the Los Angeles Lakers as he mulls his options for next season. Davis was at the center of one of this season’s most acrimonious NBA soap operas after submitting a trade request in January with the Lakers believed to be his preferred destination. The move stalled however after negotiations between the Lakers front office, led by JJohnson, and the Pelicans collapsed. Johnson on Tuesday stunned the Lakers by resigning as president of basketball operations, plunging the iconic franchise into a new crisis after another disappointing season. However Davis told reporters on Wednesday in an end-of-season intervview that the chaos at the Lakers had not affected his opinion about the team. “I have no idea what’s going on over there,� Davis said.“What’s going on with the Lakers -- I got a lot of other stuff to worry about.� Asked if Johnson’s resignation had changed the way he thinks about the team, Davis replied: “No. They’re a great organization. Just like 29 other organizations. I have nothing to do with that.� Davis meanwhile gave little away

about his plans for the future, even raising the unlikely possibility that he may yet remain in New Orleans next season. “I’m under contract still,� Davis said. “I have a year left. Obviously it’s a possibility it could happen. I don’t have ill will towards anybody. I know that it’s a possibility that next year I could be here as well. So I can’t be mad if I’m here next year.� Davis said he was waiting to see who the Pelicans chose as general manager following the firing of Dell Demps in February. “Seeing what happens,� Davis said. “Seeing who the Pelicans make their GM and having a conversation with that person about the future. “My time here has always been great. I love playing here. It’s something that I will definitely hold in my heart forever, but the next step is waiting on the Pelicans to fill the GM job.� Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry meanwhile said the saga surrounding Davis and the Lakers this season had been the most “toxic�episode he had witnessed. “Never this toxic, no,�Gentry said.“Not that affected two teams. And two guys. One losthisjob,andtheotheroneresignedfrom his job. So no, in 31 years I hadn’t had anything that would equal this kind of fallout.� AFP

C2

Sports

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q Joshua Pacio (red short) fires a kick against Japanese Yosuke Saruta during their first encounter in January in Jakarta, Indonesia. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO

Pacio seeks to snatch title from Saruta J BY JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID

OSHUA “THE PASSION� PACIO is out to reclaim the ONE strawweight title from Yosuke Saruta in the co-main event of ONE: Roots of Honor tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Pacio lost the crown to Saruta via SPLIT DECISION DURING THEIR kRST ENcounter in Jakarta in January. g) WASN T AT MY BEST IN THAT kRST kGHT so I want to go out there and prove THAT ) CAN DO MUCH BETTER u SAID 0ACIO g(E S A GREAT kGHTER AND ) HAVE SO much respect for him. But I have the hopes and dreams of an entire country ON MY SHOULDERS AND ) CAN T LET THE FANS down. I’m coming to regain the belt. )T S GOING TO BE A WAR THIS &RIDAY u ADDED THE YEAR OLD 4EAM ,AKAY kGHTER Saruta knew well that it would be HARDER TO kGHT 0ACIO IN FRONT OF THE

latter’s countrymen. “I know Joshua Pacio has a lot of FANS HERE AND ) RESPECT HIM AS A MARtial artist. All I can say is that we will both bring our best into the cage this Friday night. It’s going to be an excitING kGHT u SAID THE YEAR OLD kGHTER 9OSHITAKA g.OBITAu .AITO ALSO DEFEATED 0ACIO IN A TITLE MATCH IN The Filipino is holding a mixed MARTIAL ARTS RECORD OF WINS AND THREE LOSSES AGAINST 3ARUTA S -EANWHILE /.% FEATHERWEIGHT World Champion Martin “The Situ!SIANu .GUYEN WILL DEFEND HIS TITLE

in the main event against former featherweight kingpin Narantungalag Jadambaa of Mongolia. “Challenging the legend JadamBAA HIMSELF IT S SUCH AN HONOR ) LL bring a hundred percent into the CAGE AND 'OD WILLING ) LL WALK OUT OF THE ARENA STILL A CHAMPION uSAID .GUYEN WHO HOLDS AN RECORD AGAINST *ADAMBAA S g4HIS IS NOT ABOUT AGE THIS IS ABOUT PASsion. I respect Martin Nguyen for what he has done for our sport and it is an honor TO FACE HIM u *ADAMBAA SAID OF HIS RIVAL "ROTHERS %DWARD AND %RIC +ELLY OF the Philippines will see action in the under card featherweight matches. %DWARD WILL FACE 3UNG *ONG ,EE OF 3OUTH +OREA WHILE %RIC WILL TAKE ON +WON 7ON )L ALSO OF 3OUTH +OREA !NOTHER &ILIPINO kGHTER 2AMON 'ONZALES WILL FACE !KIHIRO &UJISAWA of Japan in the curtain raiser. /THER FEATURED MATCHES ARE "I .GUYEN VS $WI !NI 2ETNO 7ULAN --! WOMEN S ATOMWEIGHT ,ERD-

sila Phuket Top Team vs Momotaro 3UPER 3ERIES MUAY THAI lYWEIGHT .IKO 3OE VS %KO 2ONI 3APUTRA --! lYWEIGHT !MHAD 1AIS *ASOOR VS 8IE "IN --! BANTAMWEIGHT AND 3AEMAPETCH &AIRTEX VS /GNJEN 4OPIC 3Uper Series muay thai bantamweight). The featured under card bouts

ANCAJAS DERIVES INSPIRATION FROM MARINES

are Luis Santos vs James Nakashima --! WELTERWEIGHT )BRAHIM %L Bouni vs Andrei Stoica (Super Series KICKBOXING LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ,EANDRO )SSA VS &U #HANG 8IN --! CATCH WEIGHT AND 4ATSUMITSU 7ADA VS 'USTAVO "ALART lYWEIGHT WORLD 'RAND 0RIX QUARTERkNAL

Q Jerwin Ancajas (right) TOP RANK PROMOTIONS PHOTO

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is getting inspiration from the Philippine Marines as he trains for his seventh title-defense against Japanese Ryuichi Funai on May 4 at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. Ancajas, 27, moved his training camp from the Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite to the Gregorio Lim Marine Base in Ternate, Cavite three weeks ago. “The Marines told me to train here to inspire them but what happened was the opposite—their daily hard training inspires and motivates me,� Ancajas told The Manila Times. “They run every morning then do more drills in the afternoon. In comparison, I only train for two hours. I was very motivated with what I saw to train harder,�added Ancajas, who borrowed routines from the Marines among the obstacles training, running, swimming and even net and spear fishing. Ancajas (30-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 20 knockouts) displayed superb condition after ten rounds of sparring against different partners. He is due to fly to California on April 23. “I’m 90 percent ready for the fight,� concluded Ancajas, who is coming from a split draw decision against Mexican Alejandro Santiago Barrios last September 28 in Oakland, California. JOSEF T. RAMOS

Letran hands UST first loss in 2019 D-League PETRON-Letran handed Ironcon-UST its first defeat, 114-101, in the 2019 PBA D-League on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Alvin Pasaol took charge in the final 3:12 as he scored eight of the Knights’ final 16 points. He finished with 27 points and eight rebounds. Jerrick Balanza contributed a seasonhigh 34 points, to go with his nine rebounds, and two steals as Petron-Letran got back to its winning ways after suffering an 83-64 loss to Cignal-Ateneo last week. Jeremiah Taladua came off the bench with 13 points and four rebounds, King Caralipio added 11 points, four boards, and two assists, and Renato Ular got himself a double-double with his 11 points and 11 rebounds. Petron-Letran improved to 4-2 in the Aspirants Group, as UST fell to 4-1. Beninese forward Soulemane Chabi Yo paced the Growling Tigers with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the defeat. Brent Paraiso had his best outing to date with 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Marvin Lee notched 15 points and 10 boards.

Go pays homage to soldier athletes &/2-%2 Special Assistant to the PresiDENT #HRISTOPHER ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O PAID TRIBUTE TO THE &ILIPINO ATHLETES WHO besides carrying the country’s colors in GLOBAL SPORTING ARENAS SACRIkCED THEIR LIVES TOO IN THE kELD OF COMBAT Speaking on the eve of the country’s celebration of the !RAW NG +AGITINGAN ON -ONDAY THE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE 'O OFFERED GOOD INSPIRING WORDS ON THE FALLEN ATHLETES SOLDIERS WHO ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS PERISHED DURING THE WAR EVEN as he called on the present-day athletes to emulate their heroic deeds. g4OMORROW 4UESDAY !PRIL THE ENTIRE nation will be commemorating one of the most important days in our history and that is the commemoration of Bataan Day when many of our countrymen fought for freedom AND DEMOCRACY AND DIED IN THE PROCESS u 'O told this writer in an interview on Monday DURING A QUARTERkNAL ROUND DOUBLEHEADER OF the PBA Philippine Cup at the smart Araneta Coliseum. “And among those who laid their lives were mga kababayan nating na sa kabila ng pagiging atleta ay pinili ring maging sundalo at makipaglaban sa mga mananakop para ipangtanggol ang ating bayan u 'O SAID “And I’m happy and honored to note that said heroics had been duplicated by our COUNTRYMEN NOT ONLY IN THE kELD OF SPORTS BUT IN THE BATTLEkELD AS WELL g HE SAID IN REFERENCE TO &ILIPINO ATHLETES WHO NOT ONLY DISTINguished themselves in athletic campaigns in THE DIFFERENT SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BUT in the battle against those who tried to violate their right to live in a free society. 'O WAS REFERRING TO THE SPORTS MILITARY HEROES NINE OF WHOM ARE /LYMPIANS INcluding swimming double silver-medalist 4EOkLO 9LDEFONSO AND ANOTHER THIRD PLACE kNISHER IN TRACK AND kELD -IGUEL 7HITE !LSO IN THE LIST OF /LYMPIC VETERANS WERE *ACINTO g*UMPING *ACKu #IRIA #RUZ AND !MADOR /BORDO IN BASKETBALL ,T .EMESIO DE 'UZMAN ALSO IN TRACK AND kELD ,T /TONIEL 'ONZAGA IN SHOOTING ,T 3IMPLICIO DE #ASTRO IN BOXING AND ,T %NRIQUE *URADO AND !BDURAMAN !LI BOTH IN SWIMMING 9LDEFONSO 0HILIPPINE 3COUT FROM 0IDDIG )LOCOS .ORTE WHO IS TO BE REMEMBERED as the only Filipino to bring home a pair OF /LYMPIC BRONZE MEDALS BOTH IN THE

Q Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go

FILE PHOTO METER BREASTSTROKE A FEAT HE DID IN IN !MSTERDAM AND IN ,OS !NGELES DIED IN THE INFAMOUS g$EATH -ARCHu from Mariveles in Bataan to the Capas Concentration Camp in Tarlac. 7HITE FROM ,EGASPI #ITY IN "ICOL WAS ALSO A BRONZE MEDALIST IN THE METER HURDLES DURING THE /LYMPIC 'AMES IN "ERLIN THE SAME YEAR #IRIA #RUZ ALONG WITH ANOTHER BASKETBALL /LYMPIAN !MADOR /BORDO HELPED THE 0HILIPPINE TEAM TO A kFTH PLACE kNISH WHICH UP TO NOW REMAINS THE HIGHEST BY ANY !SIAN NATION IN THE QUADRENNIAL CONCLAVE POPULARLY KNOWN TOO AS g4HE 'REATEST 3PORTS 3HOW ON %ARTH u #IRIA #RUZ WAS EXECUTED BY THE CONQUERING Japanese forces while performing underGROUND WORKS IN "AYOMBONG .UEVA 6IZCAYA 'O ASSURED THAT WHEN ELECTED AS MEMBER OF THE 5PPER #HAMBER HE WILL kLE A BILL DESignating special day in a year in commemoration of the Filipino athlete-soldiers heroics. “Dapat ay magkaroon na tayo ng isang araw man lamang sa isang taon para gunitain ng ating mga kabayanihan ng ating mga atletang sundalo at matularan ng ating mg kabataan u 'O SAID /F THE ATHLETE WHO ALSO SERVED AS SOLDIERS CARRIED THE COUNTRY S COLORS IN MANY INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS IN TRACK AND kELD IN SWIMMING NINE IN BASEBALL kVE IN BASKETBALL THREE IN BOXING TWO IN FOOTBALL TWO

TENNIS ONE EACH IN WRESTLING AND SHOOTING Yldefono was among the recipients of THE g,IFETIME !CHIEVEMENT !WARDu FROM THE 3PORTS #OMMUNICATORS /RGANIZATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES 3#//0 DURING THE TH !NNIVERSARY OF THE 0HILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN THE /LYMPIC 'AMES -AJORITY OF THE HONOREES WERE EITHER MEMBERS OF 0HILIPPINE 3COUTS THE 53!&&% OR UNDERGROUND GUERILLA UNITS 4HREE HAD JUST BEEN HONORED AS g-OST /UTSTANDING &ILIPINO !THLETES OF (ALF ! #ENTURYu m 9LDEFONSO HIMSELF #IRIA #RUZ AND 6IRGILIO ,OBREGAT IN FOOTBALL "ESIDES 7HITE AND $E 'UZMAN OTHER &ILIPINO RUNNERS THROWERS AND JUMPERS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF WAR WERE -IGUEL 3UGECO 3GT $OMING %SPANOL ,T *OSE !NTONIO -AYOR %MILIO "UCOY 7ENCESLAO "ANSALE %LISEO 2AZO #IVICO 'RANADO -AXIMINO 0ASAPORTE !LBINO "ANGAYAN $ELkN $ANGUILAN ,T #ONSTANTINO !LAMBRA -OISES ,UCAS &ELIZARDO #ASIA &RANCISCO $ANAO "ARTOLOME "ARABAD !LEJO !LVAREZ AND 3IMON 3ANTOS 3WIMMERS 2OSENDO !GUINALDO 0OLICARPIO 4OLENTINO $ONATO #ABADING -IGUEL "ARTOLASO 5LKA -ANGONA *AKARA !NGKANG "ERNARDINO 4UGBO AND -AURICIO 'UIDOTE PERISHED TOO AS soldiers-athletes like Yldofonso and Ali. "ASEBALL PLAYERS WHO REPRESENTED THE COUNTRY IN MANY INTERNATIONAL MEETS INCLUDING THE &AR %ASTERN /LYMPIC 'AMES WERE 3GT !QUILINO *ACOB #PL 0ABALO #HU 3GT 'ERVACIO %STORBA !TILANO 2IVERA #ASIMIRO &RANCISCO 2AMON /NCINIAN 4ORIBIO /NCINIAN 2EGINO "ERTULFO AND #IPRIANO 0LATON /THER NON /LYMPIC ATHLETES WHO DIED wearing military uniforms were Carlos #ANILLAS !LBERT -URROW AND 2OBERT +EESY in basketball; Francisco Zarcal and Martin 2OXAS IN BOXING *OSE -IRANDA IN FOOTBALL and Concepcion Santos-Cepeda and Juan Ladaw Jr. in tennis. ! COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE MEASURING X INCHES AND CAST IN BRONZE CONTAINING their names was attached and unveiled on *ULY IN THE WALL AT THE "ASKETBALL #OLISEUM FACADE INSIDE THE 2IZAL -EMORIAL 3PORTS #OMPLEX BY THEN 0HILIPPINE !MATEUR !THLETIC &EDERATION PRESIDENT *ORGE 6ARGAS 4WO YEARS AGO THE 0HILIPPINE 3PORTS Commission transferred the commemorative PLAQUE OUTSIDE OF THE 2IZAL -EMORIAL 3PORTS Complex tennis courts. EDDIE G. ALINEA

The Manila Times

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FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Sports

C3

Q Tiger Woods hits out of the bunker on the second hole during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament on Thursday in Augusta, Ga. AP PHOTO

Augusta’s longer fifth offers new top threat at Masters

A

UGUSTA United States: Superstar UGUSTA, Tiger Woods, top-ranked Justin Rose and oddsmaker favorite Rory McIlroy MADE kNAL PREPARATIONS 7EDNESDAY ON THE EVE OF THE RD -ASTERS WHERE !UGUSTA .ATIONAL S REVAMPED kFTH HOLE IS CAUSING CONCERN Tension mounted around the FAMED GOLF CLUB AS THE kELD OF PLAYED THEIR kNAL PRACTICE ROUNDS BEFORE THE YEAR S kRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT begins Thursday morning. “If I’m at a venue too long, sometimes I’m like a cat on a hot tin roof,� world number one Justin Rose said. “By Wednesday I want to get started.� Third-ranked McIlroy, a four-time MAJOR CHAMPION CAN COMPLETE A career Grand Slam by winning his kRST GREEN JACKET THIS WEEK 7OODS A TIME MAJOR CHAMPION SEEKING HIS kFTH -ASTERS TRIUMPH AND

kRST MAJOR WIN SINCE THE 53 Open, is the highest-ranked player TO WIN THE -ASTERS AT TH 2OSE THE 53 /PEN WINNER AND twice a Masters runner-up, has never MISSED A CUT IN STARTS AT !UGUSTA National but sees every year as a new challenge under the Georgia pines. “It’s a new body of work,� Rose said. “The golf course doesn’t know how I’ve DONE HERE ) VE GOT TO STEP UP ON THE kRST TEE on Thursday and build something new.� !UGUSTA .ATIONAL HAS ALREADY BUILT SOMETHING NEW AT THE PAR kFTH HOLE BY MOVING BACK THE TEE YARDS SHIFTING THE

4:5 9) #(!.' stole the thunder from felLOW AMATEUR 9UKA 3ASO UNLEASHING A SCORCHING FRONTSIDE WINDUP TO SHOOT A SIX UNDER AND WREST A ONE STROKE LEAD OVER THE &IL *APANESE AND 4HAI PRO !RPICHAYA 9UBOL IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE )#43) -ANILA 'OLF ,ADIES #LASSIC AT THE -ANILA 'OLF #LUB ON 4HURSDAY 5NABLE TO GET GOING WITH SHAKY PUTTING IN A START 7EDNESDAY #HANG finally put it all together, including her irons and short game, in another sweltering but windy day, birdying four OF THE LAST SIX HOLES AT THE FRONT HIGHLIGHTED BY THREE STRAIGHT FROM .O “Very good. My putting, irons and SHORT GAME WERE IN PLACE u SAID #HANG WHO USED JUST PUTTS SEVEN LESS THAN what she did in the previous round, to MOVE HOLES AWAY FROM SNARING THE CROWN WITH A IN THE EVENT serving as the seventh leg of the seventh SEASON OF THE ,ADIES 0HILIPPINE 'OLF 4OUR “The course has lots of slopes and you HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL TO AVOID GETTING INTO TROUBLE u ADDED THE YEAR OLD Junior World veteran after churning out A PERSONAL BEST CARD ON A PAR LAYOUT

g) SHOT TWICE IN 4AIWAN BUT THIS ONE IS LIKE A BECAUSE THE COURSE IS PAR u In contrast, Saso struggled on the surface COMING OFF A kERY WINDUP THAT SPIKED HIS LEAD GRABBING ENDING UP WITH PUTTS marred by a three-putt miscue on No. 14. 3HE SETTLED FOR A TO SLIP TO SECOND AT WITH 9UBOL WHO MISSED JOINING #HANG AT THE HELM WITH A BOGEY ON THE NINTH FOR A "UT 3ASO AND 9UBOL ARE EXPECTED TO BRING OUT THE BEST m OR THE WORST m FROM #HANG AS THEY SLUG IT OUT IN THE kNAL GROUP AT A M WITH THE REIGNING !SIAN 'AMES GOLD MEDALIST HOPING TO UNCORK ANOTHER STRONG kNISH THAT HAS ANCHORED HER EXPLOITS IN THE PAST INCLUDING IN THE 0HILIPPINE ,ADIES !MATEUR /PEN HERE AT -'# LAST &EBRUARY g) PLAYED GOOD AND ENJOYED MY GAME That’s it,� said Saso, who however didn’t bother to predict what score she would NEED TO REIGN AGAIN AT -'# AND RECORD HER THIRD CROWN ON THE ,0'4 “I’m not concerned on what score to shoot BUT WILL JUST PLAY AND ENJOY MY GAME u SHE SAID Japanese Mina Nakayama likewise TAMED THE FRONTSIDE WITH A FOR A AS SHE PRESSED HER BID AT JUST THREE STROKES

bunkers and rebuilding the green to offer a tough new pin placement. g.UMBER kVE IS PROBABLY GOING TO PLAY the toughest hole now for sure,� Rose said. Now the hole plays 495 yards and delivers a shotmaking challenge similar to that envisioned by designers of THE YEAR OLD LAYOUT “We believe this change maintains the original shot philosophy of Bobby *ONES AND !LISTER -AC+ENZIE u SAID !Ugusta National chairman Fred Ridley. )N ADDITION TO MOVING THE kFTH TEE across what had been a neighboring ROAD THE CLUB REBUILT THE TH GREEN -- in each case making the changes appear part of the natural landscape. g)T S JUST AMAZING u 7OODS SAID “Over all the years I’ve been here, every time they make a change, it SEEMS LIKE IT HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS )T JUST LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE .UMBER kVE IS NO EXCEPTION AND LOOKS IMMACULATE u McIlroy and reigning British Open

champion Francesco Molinari of Italy both see the second shot at the fourth being a 4-iron now after being A IRON IN PAST YEARS “Because they moved the bunkers back as well, the tee shot is pretty much the same,� Molinari said. “The second shot is considerably longer. I think it’s going to be around a threeclub difference. “But yeah, it will look very similar to how it was. It will be hard for people watching on TV to notice the difference.� McIlroy likes that more players must HIT DRIVERS OFF THE kFTH TEE AND RISK THE bunkers, to avoid a tricky approach. g) THINK kVE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD change,� he said. “I’ve always felt like the front nine here plays a shot harder than the back nine, and now it probably plays about a shot and a half harder BECAUSE OF THE ADDED LENGTH ON kVE u !ND 7OODS ISSUED A CAUTIONARY note about the shifted sands. “The bunkers, they are still deep. I

OFF #HANG HEADING TO THE kNAL ROUND OF THE EVENT SPONSORED BY )#43) AND CO SANCTIONED BY THE ,0'! OF 4AIWAN 4,0'! and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. The rest could be too far behind with .ORITOMO OF *APAN 4HAI 0IMPADSORN 3ANGKAGARO AND 4AIWAN S (SUAN #HEN 9UI POOLING IDENTICAL S ALTHOUGH anything can happen in a pressure-packed kNALE UNDER SUCH HOT WINDY CONDITIONS "ABE ,IU THE TOP RANKED PLAYER FROM THE crack Taiwan side, also battled back with a TO GAIN SOLO EIGHTH AT EVEN WHILE local ace Pauline del Rosario blew a birdiebirdie start at the back with a rollercoaster game, ending up with three more birdies BUT FUMBLING WITH SIX BOGEYS 3HE WOUND UP WITH A AND FELL TO JOINT NINTH AT WITH 4HAI #HOMMAPAT 0ONGTHANARAK AND #HING ,ING #HANG OF 4AIWAN

BY ROGER NICANDRO

COURTESY OF FRANK CHRISTIAN STUDIOS

A corner to rival Amen? Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson compares the corner holes FOUR kVE AND SIX TO ITS MORE FAMOUS BACK NINE COUSIN !MEN #ORNER g4HE STRETCH OF FOUR kVE AND SIX HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DIFkCULT STRETCH YOU TRY to get through in par,� he said. “Guys that are playing well will be able to make par there much easier and pick up a quarter or half a stroke on the field.� !MEN #ORNER S OPENING TH HOLE HAD THREE TIME MAJOR WINNER *ORDAN 3PIETH S VOTE AS !UGUSTA .ATIONAL S toughest hole -- until this week. “I would have said 11 is the toughest hole on the course -- prior to the new numBER kVE u 3PIETH SAID g)T S REALLY HARD u AFP

Taiwanese amateur knocks Saso off at MGC helm Princess Superal checked her skid with TWO BIRDIES IN THE LAST SIX AT THE FRONT BUT THE REIGNING ,ADIES 0HILIPPINE 'OLF 4OUR /RDER OF -ERIT CHAMPION COULD ONLY TURN IN A AND LAY WAY BEHIND AT NINE STROKES off the leader, with fellow pre-tournament FAVORITE 9UPAPORN +AWINPAKORN .EMITTRA *UNTANAKET OF 4HAILAND AND *APANESE 7AKANA +INJO Fifty-one players, including Japanese !YA )SHIKAWA -AYUMI #HINZEI AND -IMORI 3HIII AND 4HAIS 7AD 0HAEWCHIMPLEE AND 0ANNAPA 0OLNAMIN MADE IT TO THE kNAL ROUND AFTER THE CUTOFF AT "UT THE LIKES OF FORMER THREE TIME ,0'4 //- WINNER #YNA 2ODRIGUEZ AND 3YMETRA 4OUR VETERAN -IA 0ICCIO ALONG WITH 4HAIS 3ARAPORN #HAMCHOI AND #HAKANSIM +HAMBORN MISSED THE CUT BY ONE

The greatest amateur golfer of all time was a lawyer

Q Bobby Jones PHOTO

think they are unplayable,� he said. “To get the ball to the green, you need to stay out of those bunkers.�

(Part 2) LIKE all great athletes, Jones was unassuming. His modesty shines through in these words which he wrote about his greatest golfing achievement, the Grand Slam: “In my mind today the accomplishment of the Grand Slam assumes more importance as an example of the value of perseverance in the abstract than as a monument to skill in the playing of a game. I am certain that in those moments when the success of the project was most in doubt, the decisive factor in each case had been my ability, summoned from somewhere, to keep control of myself and to keep trying as hard as I could, even when there was no clear indication of the direction in which hope of victory might lie.� Golfing lawyers can easily empathize with Bobby Jones. For Jones was a lawyer. After studying mechanical engineering in Georgia Tech, he obtained a degree in literature at Harvard. He then took up law in Emory University but took the state bar examinations in

the middle of his second year in law school. He passed. He stopped schooling after that to engage in law practice. He actively practiced law as a partner in the venerable Atlanta law firm of Alston and Bird (founded 1893). Up to now, there is a conference room in the said firm deservedly named after him. It is perhaps due to his academic background that Bobby Jones was one of the most perceptive writers ever on the subject of golf. His technical mastery of the game, rich tournament experience and keen analytical mind combined well with his exceptional command of the English language to produce some of the best written materials on the game. In his book “Bobby Jones on Golf,� now regarded as a classic, he outlined some of his timeless thoughts on the golf swing. You can easily admire the elegance of his prose. “The great fault in the average golfer’s conception of his stroke is that he considers the shaft of the club a means of transmitting actual physical force to the ball, whereas it is in reality merely the means of imparting velocity to the club head. We

Q The writer Roger Nicandro, is a senior partner at the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De los Angeles Law Offices

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO would all do better could we only realize that the length of a drive depends not upon the brute force applied but upon the speed of the club head. It is a matter of velocity rather than of physical effort of the kind that bends crowbars and lifts heavy weights. I like to think of a golf club as a weight attached to my hands by an imponderable medium, to which a string is a close approximation, and I like to feel that I am throwing it at the ball with much the same motion I should use in cracking a whip. By the simile, I mean to convey the idea of a supple and lightning quick action of the wrists in striking – a sort of flailing action.� “In my conception of the stroke, it is always the left arm that should be the guiding member. In the

Q Tzu-Yi Chang CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

case of nearly all good players, it is the left arm that starts and controls the direction of the stroke until it comes time to hit. For this reason, a firm grip of the left hand is the proper means of maintaining the relation between hands and club head. As the left arm remains practically straight throughout the backswing, any tightening of the forearm and wrists caused by the firmer grip will cause less damage there than in the right arm, which on the way back should be relaxed and following easily as the left directs. The right wrist and arm are the primary means of supplying speed and imparting force culminating at the ball. They should therefore remain relaxed throughout the stroke. Let us simply say that the left arm must keep the swing on track; the right hand must be responsible for timing and touch. Those who reverse this order, maintaining a firm grip with the right hand, a flabby hold with the left – and this is not at all uncommon among beginners who are accustomed to playing right-handed games – these will lift the club to the shoulder instead of swinging it back. None will obtain a sufficient turn of the hips and shoulders, and the position at the top of the swing, with both arms bent, will be wholly lacking in poise. The impression is that such a player, if he hits the ball at all, will do so only because of the kindness of fortune.�

Sytiongsa, Pila forge title clash in MVPSF reg’l HARVEY SYTIONGSA hacked out a shock reversal over top seed Jacob Rolida then edged Masaichi Otake in an extended duel to seal a title duel with third seed Rolando Pila in the fourth MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championships at Cebu Country Club on Thursday. The eighth-ranked Sytiongsa pulled through in a roller-coaster clash with Rolida in morning quarterfinals, winning two of the last three holes for a 2-up victory. The CCC bet then survived a late meltdown in an afternoon clash with Otake to snatch a victory on the 19th hole and barge into the finals of the serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines. Sytiongsa actually went 2-up against Otake with two holes to play in regulation but bogeyed them, enabling the latter to extend the match. But the former recovered and toughened up in the playoff, scoring a par while the latter ended up with a bogey as Sytiongsa sealed a final clash with his fellow club bet. Pila, a caddie at CCC, dominated Martin Mendoza in the quarters and came away with a 3&2 win then used his familiarity with the tight layout to outfox the fancied Chan at the backside in their semis clash, coming up with clutch birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to carve out a 2-up triumph. Sytiongsa and Pila dispute the crown in a marathon 36-hole finale with top seed Junia Gabasa and No. 2 Pamela Mariano likewise clashing for the ladies crown, also over 36 holes, in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific and hosted by CCC. Gabasa routed Ashley Llena, 9&8, in the semis while Mariano blasted Marie Suelo, 8&6, in the quarters then held off Grace Quintanilla, 1-up, to earn a crack at the crown. Chan and Otake tangle for third place over 18 holes with Llena and Quintanilla also disputing the bronze in ladies play of the event which also features the Mid-Amateur Open division.

Thais take charge in PGT Asia elims RATCHAPOL JANTAVARAtamedLuisita’sbacksidewitha32andwenton to fire a 67 and seize control halfway through the Philippine GolfTour Asia third season QualifyingTournament inTarlacWednesday. Jantavara birdied three of the first four holes at the back then holed out with another birdie to jump from middle of the pack to the top of the heap with a 141 after a 35-32 that more than made up for a shaky 74 Tuesday. CompatriotWongsakorn Choowong likewise sizzled at the back with three birdies in the last seven holes to shoot a 69 and move to second at 142 in a tie with erstwhile leader Marcos Pastor, who slowed down with a 75 after opening with a 67. Aussie Fidel Concepcion shot a 70 while local bet Kris Etter turned in a 73 for joint fourth at 143 while six players – Aussie Weston Lane (76), Thai KittirojChantharothai(74),LukeTrocadoof SouthAfrica(75),RohanKathuriaofIndia(76),KoreanMoonSeungRyul (79)andTaricCanoftheUS(79)madethe65-plustiescutat155. But they will have a lot of catching up to do in the last 36 holes of the elims with only the top 40 and ties to gain Category 6 berths for the new PGT Asia season kicking off next week, also at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course. Others boosting their bids are Thai Puk Pradittan (71), American Pete Vilairatana (71), Japan’s Issei Mori (72) and Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang (75), who all assembled 144s, while another stroke back at 145 were Korean Cho Phil Kyu (71), Sebastian Hansson of Sweden (72), Japanese Ryui Hashimoto (73), Singapore’s Deng Shan Koh (73) andThaiTawan Phongpun (74). The other Filipino bidders in the hunt are Anthony Fernando and Enrico Gallardo, who carded 71 and 73, respectively, for 146s, Omar Dungca (72-148), Nico Evangelista (75-149), Santiago Cabo (76-149), Cookie La’O (74-150), GJ Katigbak 77-150), Jet Mathay (75-151), Robert Pactolerin (75-151), Darren Saqui (76-151), Orlan Sumcad (78-151), Richnell Albano (74-152), Joseph Suarez (76-152) and Kuresh Samanodi (79-152).

C4

Sports

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

Football

The Manila Times ˜

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Shaw own goal hands Barca control of Man Utd tie

Q Manchester United’s Paul Pogba (left) vies with Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet during the UEFA Champions league first leg quarterfinal football match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

M

ANCHESTER, UK: Manchester United have another monumental task on their hands in the Champions League after Luke Shaw’s own goal gave "ARCELONA A QUARTERkNAL kRST LEG LEAD AT /LD Trafford on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Shaw turned Luis Suarez’s header into his own net after just 12 minutes and despite being far from their best, Barca comfortably held out TO EDGE TOWARDS A kRST #HAMPIONS ,EAGUE SEMI kNAL IN FOUR YEARS United produced one of the EuROPEAN #UP S kNEST EVER COMEBACKS FROM A kRST LEG DEFEAT AT HOME TO Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16. However, on the ground where manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comPLETED ANOTHER FAMOUS kGHT BACK TO

win the competition as a player in 1999, United must repeat the trick at the Camp Nou in six days’ time. Much has been made of Suarez’s Champions League goal drought on the road and while the Uruguayan has STILL NOT OFkCIALLY NETTED AN AWAY GOAL IN the competition since September 2015, he had a huge hand in Barca’s winner. Lionel Messi drifted in behind the United defense and his cross hung up to the back post was headed goalWARDS BY 3UAREZ THE BALL lICKING OFF

AFP PHOTO Shaw on its way past David de Gea. The early goal should have settled the Spanish champions into their stride as their dominance of possession touched close to 90 percent in the opening stages. Yet, they offered United plenty of encouragement with Sergio Busquets in particular off the pace. Marcus Rashford shrugged off an ankle injury to start and provided by a distance United’s biggest threat. A free kick from the England inTERNATIONAL lEW JUST WIDE INSIDE THE

kRST kVE MINUTES AND HE SENT ANOTHER dipping effort from range just over Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s crossbar. United defender Chris Smalling had said “bring it on� at the prospect of facing Messi on the eve of the game.

Messi roughed up And he left the Argentine bloodied from the nose as he careered into an aerial challenge on the half-hour mark. Messi was quickly back on his feet

and into the heart of the action, but it was Philippe Coutinho who came closest to extending Barca’s advantage before the break with a thunderous low shot that De Gea did brilliantly to repel with his feet. Moments later United could easily have been on level terms, but the hosts’ best chance of the half fell to the wrong man as Rashford picked out Diogo Dalot only for the Portuguese to completely miscue his header across goal. Rashford, though, also failed to make

proper contact with his big chance early in the second-half when Ter Stegen could only punch a cross into his path. 3UAREZ kRED INTO THE SIDE NETTING before De Gea used his feet to good effect once more to deny Jordi Alba. !NTHONY -ARTIAL HAD ONE kNAL BIG opportunity to send United to Catalonia next week on level terms, but a heavy touch allowed the faultless Gerard Pique to intervene and condemn the Red Devils to a fourth defeat in their last six home Champions League games. AFP

FIFA to study Chelsea’s appeal against transfer ban LAUSANNE: World football’s governing body FIFA will on Thursday (Friday in Manila) study an appeal by Chelsea against a ban that currently means the Premier League giants will be unable to recruit new players this summer or in the January 2020 transfer window. The Blues were banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows after being found guilty in February of breaching regulations relating to the recruitment of minors. Chelsea denied any wrongdoing and subsequently lodged an appeal with FIFA, which will be examined Thursday, although a decision could take weeks.

Chelsea were left “astonishedâ€? by the FIFA Appeal Committee’s decision not to suspend its sanction pending completion of the appeal process. The goal, according to a source, is to deliver the decision “before the opening of the summer transfer windowâ€? to allow the club possible recourse to the Court of Arbitration for Sport should the appeal go against it. Chelsea will eagerly await the FIFA decision, notably because under the ban the club would be unable to sign a replacement for Belgium striker Eden Hazard, who is being touted as a possible ÂŁ100 million (116 million euros, $131 million) transfer target for Real Madrid. AFP

Ronaldo gives Juventus edge against impressive Ajax AMSTERDAM: MSTERDAM: Cristiano Ronaldo was again hailed by Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri after scoring with his side’s only shot on target to earn a 1-1 draw away to an EXCELLENT !JAX IN THE kRST LEG OF THEIR #HAMPIONS ,EAGUE QUARTERkNAL IN !MSTERDAM ON Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). On his return from a thigh injury, Ronaldo subdued the 50,000 home fans in the Johan Cruyff Arena when he headed Juventus in front on the stroke of half time to take his record goal tally in the competition to 125. However, Brazilian winger David Neres conjured a stunning equalizer almost immediately after half time to give Ajax a draw that was the very least they deserved. Despite that, it is Juventus -- for whom substitute Douglas Costa struck a post late on -- who hold the upper hand heading into next Tuesday’s return in Turin, with the winners of this tie facing Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur in the last four. “Ronaldo showed that he is on a different level. His timing and movement are different to everyone else’s, there’s nothing you can do about it,â€? said Allegri. Ro n a l d o h a d n o t played for his club since scoring a hat trick to dump out Atletico Madrid in the last 16, and his goal here saved the visitors in the FACE OF ANOTHER kNE !JAX PERFORMANCE Ronaldo won the trophy in the last three seasons with Real Madrid, but a fearless Ajax ended the Spanish side’s European hegemony in the previous round after a thrilling 4-1 victory in Spain. This result allows them to maintain hope turn, even if ahead of the rethey might feel they should have won here. The Ajax coach, Erik ten Hag,

added: “It is not the result you hope for, but it is a result. Last time we lost 2-1 to Madrid at home so we are still in it.� Ten Hag’s brilliant young side is likely to be broken up at the end of this campaign, so this may be the Amsterdam club’s best chance IN A LONG TIME TO WIN A kFTH %UROPEAN #UP Frenkie de Jong is leaving for Barcelona, and the 21-year-old’s eagerness to get on the ball and start moves here underlined why the Catalans were prepared to pay an initial 75 million euros ($84.5 million) in January to secure his signature. However, it was the Moroccan international, Hakim Ziyech, who was the MOST PROMINENT GOING FORWARD IN THE kRST half—one curling effort in the 18th minute was heading for the top corner before being tipped over by Wojciech Szczesny. Donny van de Beek then put a great chance agonizingly wide after being teed up by Dusan Tadic, while Juventus only displayed their attacking threat in patches. Ronaldo was largely quiet, but he was afforded too much time and space by the Ajax defence as he opened the scoring right on halftime. He collected a Rodrigo Bentancur pass, spread the play to Joao Cancelo and then ran unhindered in a straight line into the box to head home his compatriot’s cross. It was his 25th goal of the season -- he has now scored six Champions League goals at the Johan Cruyff Arena, as many as ex-Ajax star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Neres robbed Cancelo by the left touchline just inside the Juventus half and advanced before curling a shot beyond Szczesny and into the far corner. Exerted home pressure followed, although Costa nearly delivered a late sucker punch as he hit the woodwork at the other end. Ajax are still right in the tie, but left-back .ICOLAS 4AGLIAkCO WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE return after being booked here. AFP

Q Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League first leg quarterfinal football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Juventus FC at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam.

AFP PHOTO

FFRIDAY R I DAY APRIL 12, 2019

Entertainment

D1 Q Although back on the campaign trail, Lipa Rep. and seasoned actress Vilma Santos tells the author she is stil grieving the loss of her mother.

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‘It’s still not easy to accept that mama is gone’ – Vilma S

HE STILL lASHES THAT SUNSHINY SMILE BUT DEEP INSIDE THERE IS HEAVINESS IN ,IPA 2EPRESENTATIVE AND 3TAR FOR !LL 3EASONS 6ILMA 3ANTOS 2ECTO S HEART (ER MOM -ILAGROS 4UAZON 3ANTOS LOVINGLY CALLED -AMA 3ANTOS IN SHOWBIZ CIRCLES PASSED AWAY ON !PRIL AT AGE “I thought I’d be ready to accept it when this time eventuality comes pero hindi pa rin pala,� Vilma admitted as she took time off the campaign trail to attend to the details of the wake and funeral. “Mama had Alzheimer’s for 10 years. Two months ago, she was admitted to the hospital. Then over the last month she got weaker. When tubes were attached to her, ‘yun ang ayoko. Ang hirap tingnan. We somehow knew that the inevitable was coming. “She’s lived a full life; she was 93. But when she died, iba pa rin yung lungkot.� Mama Santos was one of the most loved moms in Philippine showbiz. When Vilma was a teen star, she would always go with Vi to her showbiz commitments. Mama had to stop working so she could take care of all of Vi’s needs. Everyone in showbiz, from the

SHOWBUZZ LHAR SANTIAGO producers to the press, knew Mama Santos. She was a kind and compassionate person with a ready smile for everyone. She knew the members of the press by name and she was really a mama to everyone. Besides her good natured ways, Mama was also famous for her cooking. “When it comes to cooking, magaling talaga si Mama. That’s actually one of the things that I missed when she couldn’t cook anymore. I know, Lhar, you remember because you’d come to our house noon sa Magallanes. When people came to our house, hindi ka aalis ng gutom. Mama would always have food na ready para sa lahat. Alam mo ‘yan, Lhar,� Vi told Showbuzz.

Heaving a sigh Vi said again, “Nakangiti lang ako pero deep inside, the pain is there. You can never say

talaga na ready ka to lose a loved

one. I’m just grateful that I have my siblings. Nandito si Ate (Emilyn), si Sonny Boy, si Tess at si Winnie. We draw strength from each other.� Now that Mama Santos’ remains have been laid to rest, Vilma is back on the campaign trail, going from barangay to barangay in Lipa to support her in her bid for a second term to Congress. And while it’s been 21 years since Vilma went into public service, she doesn’t seem to get tired. “As long as I can see the needs of my constituents, I will not stop. The more needs I see, the more I’m inspired to work hard for them. Ganu’n pala pag public servant ka, after accomplishing one thing for the people, may makikita ka ulit. The people become your inspiration,� she ended. NNN There’s no turning back for Sanya Lopez. When she decided to embrace a more daring and sexy image, she prepared herself for roles that would challenge her capacity in hot and steamy roles. Previously asked how far she would go, she replied she couldn’t say. But now, it seems like the project that will put her new image

as well as her acting chops to the test has arrived via the new soap “Dahil Sa Pag-ibig.� “I was told during our story conference that in this series, I’ll be required to show more skin. Sexy talaga siya. I will have love scenes with my two leading men, Benjamin Alves and Pancho Magno,� Sanya shared. She will not be alone in the sexy department though since the series will also star Reina Hispano Americana Wyn Wyn Marquez.

She added that their competition on screen will be very physical. “Hindi lang sa pagiging sexy but may mga CATkGHTS din kami

na talagang matindi. Walang magpapatalo. We are both empowered woman here kaya palaban kami pareho. In my case, I am not the

type of wife who will just cry in a corner. Hindi ako magpapaapi. Si Wyn, palaban din kaya magkatapat

talaga kami.�

Even if they’ll be the worst enemies in the soap, off cam, Sanya and Wyn are very good friends. “We became friends when we worked together in Encantadia and then sa ibang guestings so we’re very comfortable with each other.

Kahit siguro magkasakitan sa mga CATkGHT walang problema. Tatawanan lang namin,� Sanya added.

Q Sanya Lopez “When I learned that Wyn Wyn would be in the series, I actually thought we’d be doing something about pageants like what GMA did in a past soap. And then I was briefed on the story na talagang may labanang magaganap between me and Wyn, I got nervous. Siyempre, she’s a beauty queen at talagang sexy.�

Outside work, Sanya admitted her new image has resulted in many admirers, including actors. “Actually, I cannot say if they’re already making moves. Alam n’yo naman ako, NBSB, no boyfriend since birth, so I don’t really know if a guy is trying to get my attention. “I’m not in a hurry naman to have a boyfriend. I am so focused on my career and I really don’t want to miss the opportunities I’m getting. I know that time will come the right man for me will be there already. When he comes, mahirap

namang pigilan ‘yun.�

The taping for Dahil Sa Pag-ibig has started this week but by TuesDAY 3ANYA WILL lY TO *APAN WITH HER BROTHER *AK 2OBERTO AND HIS girlfriend Barbie Forteza. “Matagal na po ‘tong naka schedule. I’m very excited because THIS WILL BE MY kRST TIME IN *APAN We will go to Osaka and Tokyo and I can’t wait to try eating the AUTHENTIC RAMEN AND OTHER *APAnese food. I also want to see their temples. We’ll be there for only five days and we have to come back because we all have so much work. Ako, sa Dahil Sa Pag-ibig at si Kuya and Barbie naman, may taping na ng Kara Mia. At least, kahit sandali lang, we’ll be able to have a vacation.â€? NNN SHORTS... “TODA One I Loveâ€? had its last taping day on Wednesday. The rom-com will air until next week to have its complete run. The show was actually intended to be a short one because it’s part of GMA’s campaign for clean and honest elections. The cast, however, led by Kylie Padilla and Ruru Madrid are sad that they’re parting ways since they’ve become a family on the set. ‌ Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo have started shooting for their movie “Hello, Love, Goodbyeâ€? in Hong Kong. According to Alden, many Filipinos will identify with his character in the movie as an OFW.

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Funtimes

FRIDAY April 12, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (04/12/19). Try new flavors, ideas and scenery this year. Professional success requires doing your homework diligently. Good fortune follows solid work. Summer domestic blossoming leads to a professional plot twist. Reach a career pinnacle next winter, before attention shifts to home and family. Learn and grow. 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 6 -- Domestic breakdowns could require your attention. Beautify the situation. Keep communicating. Choose what is best for your family. Use your charm to soothe ruffled feathers. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Put your heart into creative projects. Self-discipline pays off. You can see what wasn’t working. Collaborate with talented editors. Keep practicing your art. Express your view.

BY NANCY BLACK laboration. Play your part. Call if you’ll be late. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- A professional challenge has your attention. File papers and monitor inventories, budgets and accounts. Go for clarity. Get support when needed. Don’t take things personally. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- An outing can be fun and valuable. Have patience with obstacles and barriers along the road. Avoid extravagance or distractions. Accept a gift. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Collaborate for a financial goal. Confront tough questions. Spend carefully. Respect age and authority. Work to increase profits. Sell or give away excess stuff. Practice frugality. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Love helps you stay on the right path. Collaborate to resolve a challenge. A breakdown is temporary. Two heads are better than one. Support each other.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Financial challenges could arise. Avoid a conflict of interests. Stay in communication with your crew, partners and vendors. Make deals and bargains. Every bit helps.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep a physical objective in mind. Make an investment in your health and wellness. Anticipate resistance. Slow to avoid accidents. Use gentle finesse rather than force.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Imagine yourself winning. Make practical plans for a personal project. Obstacles could seem daunting. Get rid of excess baggage. Study the situation. Stay focused.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Indulge your own passions and enthusiasms without overspending or overindulging. Stay out of someone else’s argument. Relax and enjoy fun with family and your sweetheart.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Relax and observe. Watch for a change. Review and revise plans, budgets and longterm objectives. Recycle and reuse resources to new purpose. Enjoy peaceful moments. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Friends can help you make a distant connection. Do the homework for a possible team col-

» SUDOKU

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @lindablack. For more astrological interpretations visit Linda Black Horoscopes and www.nancyblack.com) NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

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

PAGE FROM THE PAST

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

FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2019

Lifestyle

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Q Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery in Angono houses the masterpieces of painter and sculptor Perdigon Vocalan.

Q Aling Kika’s Food Products in Cainta is a nondescript shop located along Bonifacio Avenue that is a must-visit for bibingka lovers.

Q Lutong Pugon is a two-year-old secluded garden restaurant and art studio of artist Jun Tiongco.

Q Kawayan Farm Restaurant, a quaint little eatery serving Filipino fare situated inside a bamboo farm in Pililia.

Q Crescent Moon CafĂŠ and Studio Pottery in Antipolo is home to creative, all-natural recipes and stoneware ceramics.

Rizal province beckons with hidden art and culinary gems BY IZA IGLESIAS

L

ESS than an hour drive from the shadows of skyscrapers, irritating SMOG AND WOEFUL TRAFkC IS A VAST TRACT of land that is home to natural wonders, TALENT AND lAVORS THAT ARE SURE TO ENVIGOrate the senses. A destination named after the national hero, the province of Rizal deserves the honor for it is a testament of the greatness of the Filipino with its rich history, endless works of art and gastronomic offerings passed down from generations.

Only 16 kilometers east of Manila, the 116-year-old province in the Calabarzon region has no shortage of visual and culinary gems from art galleries, scenic mountain ranges, scrumptious local fare and historical stops. In an event organized by the San Miguel Pure Foods Culinary Center (SMPFCC), media guests including The Manila Times were brought to choice spots in Cainta, Antipolo, Binangonan, Angono, Pillila and Tanay that showcase the rich history and contemporary identity of the province’s food and art scene. “Rizal has become a favorite weekend destination for many because of its proximity to Metro Manila. This tour aims to put the spotlight on some of the most unique culinary, art, and historical stops in the province. We want to remind people that they DON T NECESSARILY HAVE TO lY OR GO TO the usual road-trip destinations, to sample new experiences. Just an hour’s ride or so east of Metro Manila are many things to discover,� San Miguel Pure Foods Culinary Services Manager Chef Llena TanArcena said in an interview. “To merge food and art has to be very compelling to spark interest in people. The trend now is destination dining, but the younger ones lean toward overseas travel. What we promote in these tours is food tourism, for the discovery of what’s in here kRST AND WHAT S LOCAL THEN YOU CAN compare what we have and what’s in there when you visit another country,� she further explained.

Cainta A nondescript shop located along Bonifacio Avenue that is a mustvisit for bibingka lovers is Aling Kika’s Food Products. However, this is not the usual yellow bibingka Filipinos usually savor after Simbang Gabi during Christmas time. Aling Kika’s bibingka is actually rice cake topped with latik. Apparently, this is how bibingka is made in these parts, and Aling Kika’s tops everyone in town. Before opening her shop in 1976, Francisca Legazpi-Cruz or Aling Kika started out by selling only a single bilao of bibingka every day to passersby in their home. Eventually, demand grew so strong that she was able to save enough to open her own store. Today, her kakanin shop has become one of the most recognized stores in Cainta with people lining up from morning to evening for spe-

cial bibingka, sapin-sapin, cassava cake, kutsinta and kalamay ube. Aling Kika passed away in October 2008 at the age of 92, but her sons Benjamin “Batotoy� and Arthur, and grandson Jun, keep the tradition of quality kakanin alive.

Antipolo

and learn about pre-historic art. The 63-meter-wide petroglyphs in the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs Site were discovered accidentally by National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong� FranCISCO DURING A kELD TRIP WITH "OY 3COUTS IN 4HE kGURAL carvings were found to date back to the third millennium BC or during the late Neolithic period. Today the Angono-Binangonan

Crescent Moon CafĂŠ and Studio Pottery began as a small stoneware ceramics studio and home for artist and ceramist Lanelle Abueva-Fernando, her late husband lawyer Bey Fernando, and their two daughters. Q The historic Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs Site. The niece of the National Artist for Sculpture Na- Petroglyphs Site is considered as the poleon Abueva and daughter of oldest known work of art in the Philformer University of the Philippines ippines and was declared a National (UP) President Jose Abueva, she Cultural Treasure by the National Muentertained guests and friends with seum of the Philippines in 1973. It is her ceramics while her husband also included in the World Inventory spent the weekends in the kitchen of Rock Art under the endorsement of the United Nations Educational, to pursue his passion for cooking. In 1997, the couple decided to 3CIENTIkC AND #ULTURAL /RGANIZATION put up their restaurant and pot- (Unesco), International Centre for the tery studio, and chose the name Study of Preservation and Restoration Crescent Moon, as it was the name of Cultural Property (Iccrom) and the of their daughters’ make-believe International Council on Monuments restaurant, inspired by the quilted and Sites (Icomos). crescent moon that hung in their bedroom. Their daughter Majalya Angono now manages the restaurant. “The restaurant has been up for Often referred to as the “Art Capi21 years, eight years after I started my tal of the Philippines,â€? Angono is studio in 1989. The idea originated the hometown of Botong Franwhen my two daughters were small, cisco. Walls along DoĂąa Aurora they’d play bahay-bahayan, and Street where he lived are adorned restaurant-restaurant. So they kept by paintings of the National Artist calling us to eat in their imaginary done by muralist Charlie Anorico. Declared as National Artist in restaurant, and when we asked what’s the name of their restaurant, and 1973, Francisco’s contribution was THE kRST THING THEY SAW WAS QUILTED the revival of the forgotten art of crescent moon in their room, so we mural painting. In the history of became inspired from that. It became VISUAL ARTS "OTONG INlUENCED A NEW breed of modernist artists of his time a reality,â€? Abueva-Fernando shared. “It’s a combination of restaurant and veered away from Romanticism. Botong was a graduate of the UP and art space. We make all the ceramics that people use for dining — from Diliman College of Fine Arts and the the plates to the bowls. We supply HIS kRST IMPORTANT MURAL WAS g several hotels, restaurants, resorts and Years of Philippine History.â€? Last homes with stoneware pieces too. February, the National Museum Aside from that, we also host a lot of opened one of Botong’s murals to the public titled, “Filipino art workshops here,â€? she added. Struggles through History.â€? Today his home serves as a Binangonan studio and museum and is mainThe Province of Rizal is also known tained and managed by his grandas the home of the oldest art in the son Carlos “Totongâ€? Francisco country — proof that people don’t 2nd, also an artist who is into need to go to faraway places to know Abstract Expressionism.

“This studio of my grandfather is open to the public since right after he was declared National Artist in 1973. Ang pagkakaalam ko,

include a bed and breakfast since their property also offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. Patrons of Lutong Pugon can also tour the small studio containing the works of Tiongco or have their portraits sketched in 20 minutes by Jun’s resident artists for a nominal fee.

ang sabi ng lola sa tatay namin ay huwag tatanggalin ang studio niya. Galawin na ang bahay, huwag lang ang studio niya because this is for

the people. So anyone who wants to look at the studio, puwedeng pumasok for free. Lumaki na ako na maraming pumapasok dito. Ninety percent original studio ito. This used to be a garden in the 1950s. Dinugtong lang niya just to get a bigger space sa studio. But 10 years ago, ni-renovate ang bahay dahil hindi na kayang i-maintain yung original na design nito. Pinatibay lang ang

pundasyon at ibinalik sa dati ang lahat,� recalled Botong’s grandson.

Meanwhile, not too far away from Botong’s museum is Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery which started out as a painting studio of the late Perdigon Vocalan, an Angono-grown painter and sculptor. 0ERDIGON WAS ONE OF kVE CHILDREN OF A kSHERMAN AND A HIGH school teacher. When he was in

Food tourism at its best Q Lanelle Abueva Fernando, owner of Crescent Moon CafÊ. On October 1982 he opened Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery. Balaw Balaw, or shrimp paste mixed with gruel and angkak, a food coloring that makes the dish pinkish, is a bahay kubo-inspired structure that is now known for local Rizal fare and exotic dishes. It also houses Pedrigon’s masterpieces.

Pililla A quaint little eatery serving Filipino fare situated inside a bamboo farm in Pililia is the Kawayan Farm Restaurant. Owned by Veronica Olitin, the farm is home to various species of bamboo and is the only supplier of the Dendrocalamus asper species or giant bamboo in the whole of Laguna de Bay. Bamboo shoots or labong only grow for two months in a year so all labong harvested are preserved in jars made by San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation.

Indeed, there is food and art to be discovered in any municipality of Rizal province. “Local food tourism is really the ultimate experience — discovering local, authentic dishes, which you DON T SEE IN kNE DINING RESTAURANTS BUT WILL kND IT IN THE PROVINCE 2IZAL is beautiful because it’s just a few kilometers from the metropolis. It’s easy for families to travel to, doesn’t require much money to enjoy the spots and offerings and the places have very good ambience. You can enjoy their art in their place while savoring the food,� Tan-Arcenas said. The San Miguel executive forecasts that Rizal is the next Tagaytay. “Tagaytay is saturated already, conGESTED THERE S TRAFkC WHEN YOU TRAVEL while Rizal is still laid-back, and much is still awaiting to be discovered. Some of the establishments presented in the tour already patronize our products that’s why [we’d like to] feature them. It’s our way of supporting them and grow their business. Local food tourism is promoting what’s around,� Arcenas concluded.

Featured products

Some of the San Miguel products that were featured were Grilled Pork Belly with Green Mango (prepared Tanay with Monterey Pork Belly), Salted Q National Artist Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco’s Egg Chicken Tenders (using Magnohome i n Angono now serves as a studio and Finally, Lutong Pugon, a two- lia Chicken Station Chicken Breast museum and is maintained and managed by year-old secluded garden res- Fillets) from Crescent Moon CafĂŠ grandson Carlos ‘Totong’ Francisco 2nd. taurant and art studio of artist and Studio Pottery. Jun Tiongco and his wife Aya Meanwhile, Minaluto, a bilao high school, he would be asked is open for travelers in Tanay. They of yellow and balaw balaw rice to do the projects and visuals of serve delectable gourmet pasta and mixed with Star Margarine and his teachers. Later on, he honed WOOD kRED PIZZA SLOW COOKED IN A topped with seafood, fried pork, his artistic skills working as a pugon or stone oven. salted eggs, tomato, steamed okra; signboard and poster maker for An interesting fact about their pu- Chicken Adobo (made with Magnodifferent movie theaters. gon is it was originally built by Tion- lia Chicken 3-way gata); Kinilaw na Perdigon was eventually contracted gco to bake pottery. But when he saw a Puso ng Saging using Monterey Pork by the Department of Environment lAW IN THE DESIGN HE REPURPOSED IT TO Belly were used by Balaw Balaw and Natural Resources (DENR) to a pizza oven since their family loved Restaurant and Art Gallery. create public sculptures to promote to cook and eat pizza. The decision to Lutong Pugon served Fresh LumMakiling, Laguna. With the earnings open a restaurant came when friends piang Labong, which includes Magfrom the DENR project, he was able to would visit Tiongco’s art studio and nolia Free Range Chicken from buy a parcel of land in Angono, where Aya would serve them pizza from Kawayan Farm Restaurant; and Beefy he established his own art gallery. the pugon. Their friends enjoyed the Penne Pasta (made with Monterey Whenever guests would come to lAVOR AND CONVINCED THE COUPLE TO Ground Beef); Pepperoni and Pulled look at his artwork, he would cook open their own pizza place. Pork Pizza made with Primo D’Italia for them, hence the idea to setup a The couple is working on expand- Pepperoni, GFS Mozzarella and Purecanteen within his art studio. ing their restaurant and studio to foods Pulled Pork BBQ Pinoy Style.

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