THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 15, 2019

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PCC blocks sugar mill merger ++

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•• 5 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 126 28

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Trusted since 1898

Govt set to vaccinate 1M kids vs measles AT least 1 million children in Manila aged 6 to 59 months will be given anti-measles vaccines starting February 16, Saturday, to prevent the number of possible victims of the dreaded disease from rising, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

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Ressa spits on our laws and on the truth, and then invokes press freedom

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Ressa freed after posting P100K bail Panelo: ‘She’s enjoying it’

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

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!00,%2 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER -ARIA 2ESSA POSTED BAIL ON 4HURSDAY WITH A -ANILA COURT AFTER BEING HELD AT THE .ATIONAL "UREAU OF )NVESTIGATION .") HEADQUARTERS OVERNIGHT ÂłBailA8

51% of Pinoys ‘very happy’ with love life

CJ Corona’s ghost

T is astonishing how many in the press here and abroad have rushed to swallow hook, line and sinker Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s lies that with her arrest on cyberlibel charges, she is a victim of the wrath of this administration.

A LITTLE over half of Filipinos are “very happy� with their love life, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on the eve of Valentine’s Day. The poll conducted from December 16 to 19 among 1,440 adults nationwide

RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

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‘Public funds off-limits to campaigns’

Are they more Catholic in Venezuela?

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N my last FIRST column, THINGS I tried to FIRST pay tribute to my departed friend and diva Armida Siguion Reyna, who passed on Monday at 88 after living a fruitful life in the service of others. ÂłTatadA5

FRANCISCO S. TATAD

DUTERTE’S BETS

President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hands of members of his senatorial slate during the proclamation rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on Thursday. From left: Zajid Mangudadatu, Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, Duterte, Senators Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao and Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel 3rd, and Francis Tolentino. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

What’s inside 63 NCOTABATO VILLAGES TO JOIN BANGSAMORO NewsA2 THE TRAUMA OF THE BATTLE OF MANILA

Marcelino Florete, Jr. CEO AND PRESIDENT, F&C GROUP OF COMPANIES

Marissa Florete-Gorriceta EVP FOR MARKETING, F&C GROUP EVP FOR MERCHANDISING, F&C JEWELRY

Maria Isabel OngpinA4 Homegrown diamond

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JEWELLERY MAGNATE SHARES THE WISDOM OF BEING FAMILY-FOCUSED

THE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on 4HURSDAY WARNED GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS and employees against the use of public resources for partisan political activities in the midterm elections this year. ÂłFundsA2

SPECIALREPORT

Why PH lags behind rural, agri devt BY CONRAD M. CARIÑO (First of three parts) WITH the country’s agriculture sector growing by a dismal 0.56 percent in 2018 and rural poverty remaining high, there is a need to sound the alarm on what needs to be done for the country’s agriculture sector and rural areas.

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HARDEN’S STREAK SURVIVES BUT WOLVES GROUND ROCKETS

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STEVIE WONDER, JOHN LEGEND HEADLINE MOTOWN TRIBUTE CONCERT

EntertainmentE1

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

NEW LANDMARK IN PASIG The 76-foot Arco de Emperador in Arcovia City at C-5 Road in Pasig City stands tall as the country’s highest bronze monument, created by world-renowned Spanish sculptor Gines Serran-Pagan. Leading the monument’s launch were Kevin Tan, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Megaworld (center); Gines Serran-Pagan (left); and William Co, president, Megaworld Resort Estates Inc. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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News

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY February 15, 2019

63 NCotabato villages to join Bangsamoro T BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

(% #OMMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC EN BANC SITTING AS THE .ATIONAL 0LEBISCITE "OARD OF #ANVASSERS .0"# ON 4HURSDAY OFkCIALLY PROCLAIMED THE EXCLUSION OF SIX MUNICIPALITIES OF ,ANAO DEL .ORTE AND THE INCLUsion of 63 BARANGAY VILLAGES IN SEVEN TOWNS OF .ORTH #OTABATO IN THE "ANGSAMORO !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO "!2--

Excluded were the municipalities of Baloi, Monai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagilowan and Pangkal, all in Lanao del Norte. Commissioner Al ParreĂąo, chairman of the BARMM Plebiscite Committee, said that while all six towns voted favorably for their inclusion, “the majority of the votes cast in the province of Lanao del Norte, however, is not in favor of their inclusion in the BARMM.â€? The NPBC also proclaimed the

inclusion in the BARMM of 63 out of 67 barangay in seven municipalities of North Cotabato. The four barangay that were excluded from the BARMM were Lower Mingandin and Pangangan, both in Aleosan; Galidan in Tolonan; and Baltican in Pikit. ParreĂąo said the villages in the towns of Aleosan and Tolonan were excluded even if these villages voted favorably for inclusion, because the majority of voters in the towns to which they belong

did not favor inclusion. As for Baltican in Pikit, village residents rejected inclusion in the BARMM, while the votes cast for the whole of Pikit favored inclusion. ParreĂąo explained that for a barangay to be included in the BARMM, there should be a double majority of favorable votes from the barangay and the municipality it belongs. 7ITH THE OFkCIAL PROCLAMATION the 63 barangay in the seven towns of North Cotabato will now form part of the BARMM, together with Cotabato City and the provinces comprising the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), namely: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi The just concluded second plebiscite, held February 6, was solely to determine the inclusion of the municipalities of Baloi, Monai, Nunungan, Pantar, Taguilowan and Pangka in Lanao del Norte and the 67 barangay in the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Pigkawayan and

‘UNITED ISLANDS OF MAHARLIKA’

Q FUNDS FROM A1

Ex-senator cheers name-change revival

Public funds

FORMER senator Eddie Ilarde, founding president and chairman of the Maharlika Movement for National Transformation, on Thursday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for endorsing the long-standing proposal to change the country’s name to “Maharlika.� In a resolution, the movement stated: “We commend President Rody Duterte for his courage and vision in favoring the renaming of the Philippines to Maharlika. ‘Maharlika’ is a divine name and a spiritual mantra, carried by the noble and revered counselors of the Datus and Rajahs of the Sulu Sultanate before the arrival of the Western colonialists.� Ilarde, in a statement, bared his preferred name for the Philippines: the “United Islands of Maharlika.� “President Duterte shall be loved and admired by succeeding generations in the ‘United Islands of Maharlika’ for being the nation’s leader who guided our people to renascence and dignity in the eyes of the world,� Ilarde said. Addressing critics of the name, the former senator traced the etymology of Maharlika: “Maha, a Sanskrit word in the Vedas of the ancient Aryans of the Indus valley, which means ‘noble and great’ as in Mahatma (a great soul), Taj Mahal, Mahabharata (historical epic),

Mahalokha (the highest heaven), mahal kita (I love you), which are words of endearment, etc.; in the Taitteria Upanishad, ‘Maha’ means God Himself; ‘likha’ is our native word, which means create, make, cause, conceive, design; ‘Maharlika,’ therefore, means ‘nobly created.’� Asked what is wrong with the name “Philippines,� Ilarde explained: “We baptize our children with names of saints or reputable and distinguished people, not Lucifer or [Adolf ] Hitler or names of ignoble persons. King Philip 2nd of Spain, the person we have been named after, was a symbol of ignominy — son of first cousins, burned alive thousands of Muslims, beheaded thousands of Protestants in Europe, married his first cousin and nieces, was excommunicated by Pope Paul 4th in 1552 for looting Rome, died of a ‘sexually transmitted disease’ (syphilis), and when he died his body was covered with pus from foul-smelling wounds festered by hundreds of insects.� The movement’s resolution concluded: “After centuries of carrying his name, it is time to redeem our ethos and true identity as a people emulating the other countries which changed their names and convulsed into progress and prosperity.�

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this year, the government’s growth target for the agriculture sector is 3.5 percent. “Although a lot of government programs and initiatives had been planned and implemented, the successes are far and small, thus the performance of the agriculture AND kSHERIES SECTOR IS CONSIDERED dismal and still leaves much to be desired. Perhaps, one of the reasons or maybe the main reason why agriculture and fisheries is not taking off is that it is basically treated merely as a food production activity rather than an industry,� he told The Manila Times in an interview. Dar said the dismal growth of the agriculture sector in the past years had resulted in high rural poverty. Based on data compiled by the InangLupa Movement, which Dar

Why PH The 0.56 percent growth of the agriculture sector for 2018 was below the government’s target of 4 percent and 2017’s 3.95 percent. In 2014, the sector grew by 1.83 percent, but slid by 0.11 percent in 2015. In 2016, the agriculture sector grew by only 1.41 percent. The dismal performance of the agriculture sector in 2018 was no surprise to William Dar, a former agriculture secretary who took the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics out of the doldrums when he led the organization from 2000 to 2014. He said the agriculture sector must grow by at least 5 percent annually to reduce rural poverty. For

PACC Chairman Dante Jimenez said these officials under the direct control and supervision of the President were prohibited from using government vehicles, facilities, manpower and office supplies as provided by Section 261, Article 12, of the Omnibus Election Code. The code, however, exempts those holding political offices; OFkCERS EMPLOYEES OR MEMBERS of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; or police forces, special forces, home defense forces, barangay (village) self-defense units and all other para-military units from “electioneering� and being penalized with election offenses THAT INCLUDE DISQUALIkCATION FROM PUBLIC OFkCE AS WELL AS ONE TO SIX years of imprisonment. Comelec spokesman James *IMENEZ SAID OFkCIALS WERE ALLOWED TO express their preference, but they may not “impose that [personal opinion] on others.� A joint circular of the Comelec and the Civil Service Commission in 2016 provides that a “partisan political activity� includes forming organizations or groups for the purpose of soliciting votes for or against a candidate or a party; holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies or founded, from the Philippine Statistics Authority and World Bank, the Philippines’ poverty incidence was 30 percent in the rural areas and 21.6 percent at the national level in 2014. Thailand’s rural poverty incidence was 13.9 percent and national poverty incidence at 10.5 percent in 2013. Vietnam recorded 18.6 percent poverty incidence at the rural level and 13.5 percent at the national level in 2014. Dar, who holds a doctorate in horticulture, sees rural development and agriculture growth as inseparable. “Agriculture is a twin of rural development,� he said.

Regionalization, land use needed On rural development, Gabby Lopez, a rural development expert

Tolanan, all from North Cotabato. These areas submitted to the Comelec petitions for inclusion in the BARMM, thus the plebiscite. The first plebiscite held on *ANUARY WAS FOR THE RATIkCATION of Republic Act (RA) 11054 or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao� by voters of THE kVE PROVINCES COMPRISING THE ARMM voting as one, the inclusion of Cotabato City and Isabela City, and for Basilan province if it wanted Isabela City to be part of the BARMM. The first plebiscite ratified RA 11054 after garnering majority of the votes cast in the ARMM. The NPBC also proclaimed Cotabato City to be part of the BARMM, while Isabela City was proclaimed not part of the BARMM. With the ratification of the BARMM, the ARMM is technically abolished. The BARMM’s territorial jurisdiction covers the whole ARMM, including Cotabato City and the 63 barangay in North Cotabato.

Robredo to Duterte: Sign budget bill now VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni� Robredo on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), as it has been almost a week after ConGRESS RATIkED THE MEASURE “Nakakalungkot na hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin napipirmahan iyong budget. Eto mas nakakalungkot na hangang nayon, mayroon pa ding mga sinusubukang ilusot na matagal na panahon pinagdedebatehan na (It is saddening that the budget bill has not been signed until now. It is more disappointing that until now, there are moves to restore allocations which have long been debated upon),� Robredo told reporters in a chance interview in Naga City, Camarines Sur. The P3.757-trillion budget has been delayed for months under the House of Representatives and Senate due to alleged budgeting irregularities and debates among lawmakers over questionable allocations for projects to congressional districts and government agencies. “Matagal na panahong nirereklamo na natin iyong pangaabuso sa paggastos ng pondo. Matagal na panahong sumisigaw tayo ng transparency saka accountability, e 2019 na, parang

iyon pa din iyong problema natin (We have long been complaining about the abuses in spending the national budget. We have long been clamoring for transparency and accountability but it’s already 2019 and we’re still facing the same problems),� Robredo added. But she said allegations by lawmakers of insertions in the budget should be a “cause for alarm� and should be addressed by Duterte. Before Congress ratified the 2019 GAA, the House and Senate contingents in the bicameral conference committee had to realign a supposed P75-billion insertion from the Department of Public Works and Highways where pork barrel funds are usually hidden. Under the newly ratikED 2019 PORK kLLED budget, the House and Senate reportedly made insertions to the 2019 budget amounting to P51 billion and P190 billion, respectively. 3EN 0ANkLO ,ACSON PREVIOUSLY called on Duterte to use his lineitem veto power to remove lawmakers’ budget insertions. In a 2013 decision, the Supreme Court declared pork barrel as unconstitutional, with lump-sum discretionary funds intended for government projects prone to misuse. GLEE JALEA

HANDS OFF

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chief Dante Jimenez (left) and Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez speak to reporters at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA other similar assemblies; making speeches, announcements or commentaries; holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate or party for public office; publishing, displaying or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate or party; and directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges and support for or against any candidate or party.

The Comelec’s Jimenez expressed hope that after issuing their warning, those who were attempting to directly or indirectly “disregard the rules and the law� would be dissuaded. He reminded citizens to supplement their complaints with proper DOCUMENTATION AS IT WAS gSIGNIkcant� in proving their claims. Meanwhile, the anti-graft commission head Jimenez said, “We would not spare anybody. Give us

proof and we will act on it.� The PACC, the Comelec and other government agencies had signed a memorandum of agreement to implement election laws. Under Executive Order 43, the PACC has the power to conduct lifestyle checks, investigate and hear administrative graft and corruption complaints and recommend punishment against violators of election laws. CATHERINE A. MODESTO

and professor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, knows what needs to be done to make the countryside more progressive, having been at the forefront of rural development with the government since the 1970s. His expertise is still being sought by government. Among the measures he sees necessary for rural development is a national land use plan. “In Vietnam, there is so much urban development, but their rural areas are reserved for food production. In the Philippines, we should not convert our farms to golf courses and subdivisions,� he told The Manila Times in an interview. “I am hopeful for that (land use act). That is what we have been advocating for 30 to 40 years. Not only for urban but also for rural,�

Lopez added. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly called on Congress to pass a National Land Use Act. Lopez said that food production was still best undertaken in the rural areas, so keeping rural areas “green� should be a longterm measure. “I am starting from the premise of two principles, Build, Better, Berde (Green). There are implications for that in the rural areas. The rural areas are green, so let’s keep it clean, and let’s not destroy it,� Lopez said. “Second principle is RRUrban THAT HAS TWO 2S 4HE kRST WAS 2 is regional, so it is inappropriate to plan only within boundaries. I want to convince more people to think in terms of bigger than the parochial LGU (local government

unit). It has to be clustered or sama-sama tayo (we should be together),� he said. Those two principles led Lopez to conceptualize the Transsectoral Framework for Development and Security, which he said was being applied as a rural development paradigm by various government agencies. Also, Lopez said the government was on track with the “convergence� efforts of the departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, and Interior and Local Government to propel growth in the rural areas. The “regionalization� of provinces in the Philippines, which started during the Marcos years, was also a good step to spurring rural development, he said.

News

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FRIDAY February 15, 2019

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‘Kill order vs drug dealers remains’ P BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed not to lift the “kill� order against drug TRAFkCKERS EVEN IF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS would seek God’s intervention. In his speech during the inauguration of a drug treatment facility in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday night, Duterte reiterated that his government would give no quarter to those involved in the illegal drug trade. “If you destroy my country, I will kill you. So be it. Human rights,

you can shout to the heavens. You can call God and intervene,� the President said. “If you continue to sell shabu, cocaine and the drugs that are deleterious and toxic and can cause death to the Filipinos, I will kill you. Period,� he added. Duterte maintained that his

“kill� order against drug offenders would not be lifted. “For those in the business, my God, no quarters given, no quarters asked. I don’t give a s**t, I will just kill you,� the President said. He added that he would take full responsibility for the drug war and was ready to be hanged for it. “We had a command conference, tapusin na natin ito sa panahon ko ) SAID LET S kNISH THIS UNDER my term), while I’m still here ready to assume singly. I will assume full legal responsibility for whatever it is. And they can hang me if they want. No problem,� Duterte said.

“I can kill an enemy. But to the drugs people, I can kill you for nothing,� he added. Duterte also observed that there seemed to be “a blossoming� of criminals globally, citing the involvement of Sinaloa cartel and BAMBOO TRIAD IN THE DRUG TRAFkCKING g7E ARE kGHTING A GLOBAL WAR against drug,� the President said. He lauded the establishment of Moscati Meadows, a one-hectare drug addiction treatment center that can accommodate up to 50 patients for a six-month holistic rehabilitation program. He said the treatment facility

was “truly in line with this administration’s efforts to combat the drug menace that has plagued our society for so long.� “I acknowledge the efforts of the management and staff of Moscati Meadows for successfully launching this facility, which will serve as a haven for those who have been victims of drug abuse. I am truly glad that through this center, you will help them recover AND kND THEIR WAY BACK TO SOCIETY u Duterte said. “By complementing traditional rehabilitation treatment with non-medical treatment methods

such as group and individual therapy sessions, meditation, and horticulture and farm animal therapy, you will not just provide holistic care to your patients, but will also empower them to become effective drug and [alcohol] counselors to their peers who suffer the same predicament,� he added. The President lamented that some three million Filipinos remain “slaves� to illegal drugs. “Three million addicts is no joke to me. I can cut you to pieces a thousand times. I hate drugs because you do not f***k with my country,� Duterte said.

Cheaper goods best gift for Filipinos – Aquino

NO TO VIOLENCE

Students participate in the One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against women and children . The event was held at the St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

P42B allotted for free college program SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th on Thursday assured the public that the government allotted P42 billion for the implementation of the free college law. Aquino, who is seeking reelection under the opposition (Eight Straight) slate, was one of the authors of Republic Act (RA) 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.� “May P42-billion pondo para sa free college law for school year 2019 to 2020 (There is a P42-billion fund for the implementation of the free college law for school year 2019 to 2020),� Aquino said in his Twitter account. “Sa RA 10931 o free college law, kahit kapos, makakatapos (Under RA 10931, even the needy CAN kNISH COLLEGE u HE ADDED Aquino said RA 10931 “opens up opportunities for Filipinos to have a brighter future through education and helps poor families cope with everyday needs.� BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th on Thursday said lowering the prices of petroleum products and goods would be the best gift for Filipinos on Valentine’s Day. “Masakit ang puso ng maraming Pilipino dahil nalulunod pa rin sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan lalo na ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan (The hearts of many Filipinos, especially the poor, are in pain due to the soaring prices of goods), said Aquino, one of the four senators WHO VOTED AGAINST THE RATIkCATION of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or Train Law.),� Aquino said. The price of galunggong (round scad) rose from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018, before slightly dropping to P180 per kilo in February 2019. In December 2017, a can of sardines cost P15, but this rose to P17.50 in December 2018. The price of bangus MILKkSH increased from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before dropping

to P180 per kilo this month, while pork went up from P200 per kilo in December 2017 to P220 per kilo in December 2018 up to present. “Kailangan pong ipaalala na sa gobyerno na hindi pa rin bumababa ang presyo (There’s a need to remind the government that the prices have not gone down),� Aquino said. He warned that Filipinos are in for tougher times with the increasing prices of petroleum products and electricity. “Kailangan na nating kumilos upang matugunan ang serye ng pagtaas na ito. Panahon na upang ipasa ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na matagal na nating isinusulong upang mabigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan (We need to act now to address the series of price hikes. It’s time to pass the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill),� said Aquino. Aquino’s measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the Train law once the country’s inlATION RATE EXCEEDS THE GOVERNMENT S target for three straight months. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Bill that seeks deployment of social welfare attachĂŠs ratified MORE social welfare attachĂŠs will be deployed to Philippine embassies abroad once a measure that seeks to establish the Office for Social Welfare AttachĂŠ (OSWA) is enacted into law. The Senate ratified a measure that aims to deploy social welfare attachĂŠs in countries with high concentration of overseas Filipino workers, especially in

the Middle East. Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said the adoption of House Bill 8907 as an amendment to Senate Bill 1819, or “An Act Establishing the Office for Social Welfare AttachĂŠ,â€? would do away with the convening of the bicameral conference committee,

hence the subsequent ratification of the bill. Villanueva said the measure could help curb the abuse of Filipino workers and incidents of suicide. The bill amends Section 1, paragraph B of Republic Act 8042 so that the State shall provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to Filipino migrant workers, especially for

workers who are vulnerable to physical, emotional and psychological stress or abuse. There were about 10 million Filipinos in more than 170 countries, Villanueva said. About 2.3 million of them are migrant workers. However, there are only eight social welfare attachĂŠs deployed in several parts of the world. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

TAKE DOWN ILLEGAL POSTERS, BETS TOLD THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started serving notices directing some national candidates to take down their illegal campaign materials within three days or face legal action. Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a radio interview that notices were issued to some senatorial candidates, including two incumbent senators, but she did not identify them. Senators running for reelection are Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Jose Victor

“JV� Ejericito, Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay, Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th and Aquilino “Koko� Pimentel 3rd. Guanzon said that if candidates failed to take down their illegal posters, the Comelec would presume that these materials were posted by them. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez earlier said campaign violators had until Thursday, February 13, to take down all their campaign posters, even those that were put up by others. g9OU BENEkTED FROM THAT )F YOU ARE

aware of the presence of violative materials and still made no effort to take them down, the law presumed that you ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE AND BENEkTING FROM it. Therefore, you are just as responsible as the one who did it,� Jimenez said. Jimenez said monitoring teams would be deployed to document all posters that were oversized and outside the designated common poster areas. Election lawyer George Garcia said the problem in the implementation of Comelec rules against illegal campaign

materials was is the law itself. He explained that Republic Act 9006 or the “Fair Elections Act� providedcertain remedies that candidates were taking advantage of. Under the law, the Comelec should kRST WRITE THE CANDIDATE TELLING HIM to remove illegal posters in three days. “What other candidates do is remove them and transfer them to another place, which would require another notice from the Comelec,� he said. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Hospitals, clinics banned from asking for deposits Dear PAO, I have a friend who was involved in a motorcycle accident and was brought to the emergency room of a nearby private hospital considering the severity of the injuries suffered. However, the hospital required the mother of my friend to pay a deposit first before her child could be given the required emergency treatment. I know that this is prohibited under the law, but may I know the penalty against a person who requires a deposit first before a patient in an emergency or serious case be given the much needed medical attention? Ginger Dear Ginger, Section 1 of Republic Act 109321, which amended Batas Pambansa

basic emergency care to any patient, confinement or medical treatment and support as DEAR PAO dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent death, or permanent disability, or in the case of a pregnant woman, Bilang 702, otherwise Known permanent injury or loss of as “An Act Prohibiting the De- her unborn child, or noninmand of Deposits or Advance stitutional delivery: Provided, 0AYMENTS FOR THE #ONkNEMENT that by reason of inadequacy or Treatment of Patients in of the medical capabilities of Hospitals and Medical Clinics in the hospital or medical clinic, the attending physician may Certain Cases� provides: “Section 1. In emergency or transfer the patient to a facilserious cases, it shall be un- ity where the appropriate care lawful for any proprietor, pres- can be given, after the patient ident, director, manager or any or his next of kin consents to other officer, and/or medical said transfer or his next of kin practitioner or employee of a consents to said transfer and hospital or medical clinic to after the receiving hospital or request, solicit, demand or ac- medical clinic agrees to the cept any deposit or any other transfer: Provided, however, form of advance payment as a that when the patient is unprerequisite for administering conscious, incapable of giving

PERSIDA ACOSTA

consent and/or unaccompanied, the physician can transfer the patient even without his consent; xxx.� A violation of the above-mentioned provision warrants the imposition of the following penalties pursuant to Section 4 of the same law, viz: “SEC 4. Section 4 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: “SEC 4. Any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic who violates the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than two years and four months, or a fine of not less than P100 thousand, but not more than P300

thousand or both, at the discretion of the court: Provided, however, that such hospital or clinic responsible for the formulation and implementation of such policy shall, upon conviction by final judgment, suffer imprisonment of four to six years, or a fine of not less than P500 thousand, but not more than P1 million or both, at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to damages that may be awarded to the patient-complainant: Provided, further, That upon three repeated violations committed pursuant to an established policy of the hospital or clinic or upon the instruction of its management, the health facility’s license to operate shall be revoked by the DOH (Department of Health. The president, chairman, board of directors,

or trustees, and other officers of the health facility shall be awarded by the court to the patient-complainant.� two years and four months.� Based on the facts that you stated, it is clear that the medical practitioner or employee who violated Section 1 of the said law, may be held criminally liable where more stringent penalties are in place. We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated. Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

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Opinion

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l Finally, some real steps to cut high power costs

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T has taken nearly eight months, but the most substantial proposal to lower consumer electricity bills to be offered in years now seems all but certain to become law within the next few weeks. The “Murang Kuryente [affordable electricity] Act� was kRST PROPOSED BY 3EN 2ALPH 2ECTO IN *ULY OF LAST YEAR WITH HIS kLING OF 3ENATE "ILL 4HE BILL SOUGHT TO USE THE Malampaya Fund, the pool of government royalties from THE -ALAMPAYA GAS kELD OFF 0ALAWAN TO COVER THE SO CALLED “universal charges� that appear on every consumer’s electric bill, as well as missionary fund charges, and the feed-in tariff that subsidizes renewable energy. As it stands now, both SB 924 and a counterpart version FROM THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN PASSED BY THEIR respective plenaries, and are awaiting action by a bicameral conference committee to produce a single compromise version to be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature. The main difference between the two measures is that the Senate version proposes to use the entire Malampaya Fund, which currently totals about P207 billion, while the (OUSE VERSION SETS ASIDE 0 BILLION FROM THE FUND Senate Economic Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian told the media earlier this week he was anticipating that the bicameral committee would be able to tackle the two versions of the Murang Kuryente measure “in about a week.� Congress is currently in recess ahead of the May 19 elections, but Gatchalian said legislators are using the time to complete some committee work. The Murang Kuryente !CT OFFERS SOME SIGNIkCANT RELIEF TO TWO SIGNIkCANT PROBLEMS THE kRST AND MOST OBVIOUS OF which is the high cost of electricity borne by consumers and businesses. Under the Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) Law of 2001, universal charges to recover stranded debt and stranded contract costs of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) were imposed on consumers, along with missionary charges (subsidies to provide electricity in economically unviable areas) and contributions to an environmental fund. Later, feed-in tariff charges were also added to help subsidize the development of renewable energy sources. For a household using 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, these charges add about P0.64 per kWh, or a little more than P127 to the monthly bill. Removing them represents a substantial reduction in cost. 4HE SECOND BENEkT OF THE Murang Kuryente Act is that it will greatly improve the productivity of the Malampaya Fund, which until now has been prone to waste and misuse. The Fund was ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO kNANCE ENERGY RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND development, but instead, has been used for a variety of nonENERGY RELATED EXPENDITURES SUCH AS DISASTER RELIEF RICE SUFkCIENCY programs and the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program. The use of the Malampaya accounts has been hounded by controversy for years; about P900 million allegedly diverted to fake nongovernmental organizations as part of the infamous “pork barrel� scandal are currently the subject of numerous indictments HANDED DOWN BY THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN Diverting the funds instead to a limited number of line items on consumers’ electric bills is a transparent and easily manageable way to handle the money, and is in keeping with the Fund’s original “energy-related� intent. More importantly than that, it is a way for nearly every Filipino household and business to tanGIBLY BENEkT FROM THE COUNTRY S OWN LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES This is obviously much more appealing than the present sad circumstances of being compelled to pay the penalty for past governments’ mismanagement of electricity supply. Our senators and congressional representatives should be given credit for shepherding the Murang Kuryente Act this FAR 7E URGE THEM TO TAKE THE kNAL STEP TO SEND IT TO 0RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte for his approval as quickly as possible. ~

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 126

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

 Lei-La Pasionaria; Maharlika?

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EN. Leila de Lima reminds me of that tough Basque heroine, Dolores Ibarruri, La Pasionaria. They may have differing ideologies but when it comes to courage, principle, work ethic and eloQUENCE ,EILA MORE THAN QUALIkES as our own La Pasionaria, who cried during the Spanish civil war No Pasaran! They shall not pass, manifesting undiscourageable resolute resistance. Bedan bar topnotcher (No. 8) Lei-La Pasionaria needs our support and prayers in the face of seemingly creeping militarization, where even the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare & Development) is now oddly headed by a retired general. The military is now equal, if not superior, to civilian authority, not the original understanding under the Constitution, as I perceive it. Superior, at least, in terms of more benefits, which all public servants of course deserve, to accentuate the unnecessary; however, it seems the President continues to feel insecure. But, for him not to worry, in this land of party animals, WE D RATHER PARTY TEXT AND SELkE Kodakan. Digong continues to be fond of the Nazi salute, with the CLENCHED RIGHT kST THRUST FORWARD

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T.G.I.F. RENE SAGUISAG IDENTIkED WITH (ITLER AND APED BY FAWNING FRIGHTENED OR INNOCENT ignorant guests. A coup is not in the cards, from where I sit. Ninoy Aquino likened the Pinoy to the carabao, slow to anger (but once it does, watch out, as in 1986, after nearly 14 years, with Digong’s mother a prime mover in Davao). If Leila had been quiet, or even “prudently� voiced support for the regime, she should not be in a small cage now, but with us, the dissenters asking foolish questions, in a wider cage in which to roam. It has been said that those who begin the coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters; the compulsory unification of opinion only leads to the unanimity of the graveyard. (Justice Robert Jackson) Take a bow, Maria Ressa, another gutsy victim of coercive elimination of dissent. True, Leila is an addict, a human rights addict, like Ka Pepe Diokno

— whose son, Dean Chel, belongs IN THE 3ENATE (E ALONG WITH %RIN 4AÄADA 0ILO (ILBAY .ERI #OLMENares, Samira Gutoc, et al., holds the passed torch of human rights advocacy, at which the President sadly looks askance. Ka Pepe was not even charged despite being detained for two years. She is charged and caged (ibon mang may layang lumipad ) for an implausible nonexistent offense. Kenkoy case, ) SUBMIT AS IN THE CASE OF (Ubert Webb, where druggie Jessica Alfaro, in NBI custody, could be, and was, made to sing any song for her supper. (UBERT #O WASTED MORE than 15 years in jail given the pervasive prejudicial publicity we had to contend with; as his original temporary lawyer, I cried from the start that I’d carry to my GRAVE THAT (UBERT WAS THOUSANDS of miles away when the Vizconde Massacre occurred on June 30, (ERE -ON 4ULFO 7INNIE Monsod, Teddy Benigno and I formed an unlikely barbershop quartet.) Mario Ongkiko (late), THE 7EBBS kRST CHOICE AS COUNSEL but who was then tied up, and Met Custodio, tirelessly carried and soldiered on — to a fair and right conclusion. But, unjust detention even for a second, is

torment beyond compare. Lei-La Pasionaria was arrested on Feb. 24, 2017 and will mark her second anniversary in a cage next week. (AIL ,EILA No pasaran! — of which I am also reminded when DEALING WITH OUR TRAFkC WHICH seems to get worse every day. We hardly move and cannot pass (unlike motorcycles in the millions, it seems, like ants). Last Sunday, I, driver-less, walked about half a kilometer from our Bigasan, Palanan, Makati home to pay my last respects to Msgr. Antero Aure Sarmiento, at the St. Joseph the Worker Church, WHERE HE HAD SERVED (E ALWAYS found the time for small talk after the services as my late wife, Dulce, and I, would attend the 6 p.m. daily Mass every chance we got. May I also extend my condolences to the family of iconic Armida Siguion Reyna, who I’d see ballroom dancing in the Bahia at Intercon, now demolished. After Mass last Sunday, I took TWO TRICYCLES THE kRST QUIT TO GO to Cash N Carry to take a cab for Resorts World. A Dance Instructor (DI) I had booked texted that at 4 p.m. she started waiting for a bus in Bacoor, Cavite but gave up at six cuz she could not

ÂłSaguisag A5

The trauma of the Battle of Manila

URRENTLY in town making the rounds of universities is James Scott, the author of Rampage: MacArthur, Yamashita and the Battle of Manila, a book that was launched late last year in the US. The Battle of Manila took place in February 1945, 74 years ago. Its details are some of the most painful war records of modern times. It caused a morbid wave of massacres, rapes, starvation, torture so EXTENSIVE AND SO DIFkCULT TO COMprehend that it continues to haunt present-day readers. Whoever survived was permanently scarred mentally and psychologically, even if not physically. But many were physically obliterated, causing an estimated 100,000 civilian deaths, and about 18,000 combined military deaths. Materially, it destroyed Manila, a city with a historic past as a trading center, a pioneer of 20th century modernity, a gracious tropical urban area, a thriving cultural capital. This city never came back whole in the same way. Any war is so destructive, mostly of the spirit. Values, morals, traditional civilized rituals break up under the pressure of suffering and death. Social Darwinism wins under the circumstances of war as survival will be the endgame using whatever it takes. There will be heroes and heroic actions but human nature cannot produce them overwhelmingly against the battle for survival where there are no heroes. There have been many accounts

AMBIENT VOICES MA. ISABEL ONGPIN of the battle for Manila (a misnomer was the term “liberation� which the true facts belied because it brought unspeakable tragedy). Some can be such a litany of man’s inhumanity to man that few can take it in, or become desensitized as matter of self-defense. Most are eyewitness accounts by people on the ground who saw, who suffered, and who were able to RECOUNT 4HE kRST ACCOUNTS TAKEN right after were the ones used for the military trial of the defeated enemy led by General Yamashita. But the major part of the narratives came decades later when the survivors who had repressed their dreadful memories became strong enough to revisit them and put them in writing. James Scott’s book is more comprehensive, laying the groundwork FOR WHAT WAS THE kNAL CHAPTER OF World War 2 in the Philippines. It uses a lot of military sources, many news and personal accounts of journalists who were present, or who had longtime observers of the war clouds that had been building up in Europe and Asia. It sketches the personalities who directed the war — MacArthur, Roosevelt, the American generals like Krueger, Eichelberger, the Japanese protagonists Yamashita, Tojo, Okucho, Muto, Iwabachi. It

is silent on guerrilla leaders and Filipino political figures, probABLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT kGURE in the American contemporary news reports. It also brings to light Japanese documents with military orders of what to do which are damning. And, most devastatingly, Scott gives the personal accounts of survivors who were there, who were affected by the orgy of death and destruction, cruelty and inhumanity. The concentration camp that was Santo Tomas, the university in Manila founded in 1611, is detailed. Almost 4,000 citizens from the Allied countries were incarcerated for close to four years. Conditions steadily deteriorated, from an organized prison community allowed to have supplies brought in by friends, family or help, with a school for children, housing and sanitation facilities, all to the credit of the prisoners, to days of starvation, sickness, scarcity of medical care, daily deaths, to the credit of the jailers when the tide turned against them. Methodical killing and burning were the lot of the rest of Manila. It started north of the Pasig River and reached its bloody climax south of the river. In the annals of war crimes, the massacres in St. Paul, De La Salle, Singalong, Intramuros, Fort Santiago are just a few of many. Why did this happen? When the Japanese invasion came in 1941, MacArthur declared Manila an Open City, so reluctantly but peacefully it stood by as the

Japanese entered the city. But at the end the debacles that the enEMY SUFFERED kRST IN NAVAL BATTLES (The Philippine Sea, Midway) and then in Leyte when it tried to make a stand to prevent the return of American forces, must have brought to the fore their belief that to surrender was dishonorable. So, while orders were to destroy supplies and bridges and then withdraw outside to the forces in the mountains, contrary orders came ordering the killing of civilians concentrated in large buildings TO BE SET ON kRE WITH GASOLINE TO save on ammunition). That might explain the use of bayonets much more than bullets (to be used only FOR THOSE WHO TRIED TO lEE !LSO IT was very clear from the last orders that they had no exit plan. Rampage ends with the capture and trial of Yamashita, the mayhem that took over Manila i.e. looting, lawlessness, homelessness, beggars, the seriously sick, orphans, followed by prostitution, a general decline in civility, morality, humanity. Not everyone was guilty of the latter but many were. The gracious city was no more. This is a huge book. Scott has used many primary sources, has gone over contemporary news accounts, personal diaries, logs, photo archives, battle reports, court records, cables, letters. It is A DEkNITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE "ATTLE of Manila. Some of us do not want to remember it; some of us are obliged to. The rest must know it happened the way it did.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

Opinion

A5

Q TATAD FROM A1

Are they more Catholic in Venezuela? She was such a happy person and will be remembered for a very long time. She sang so beautifully at my wedding in Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills, 49 years ago, with the then-President and First Lady as sponsors, and Fr. (ORACIO DE LA #OSTA 3* OFkCIATing. I thought I mentioned this last in my Wednesday column, but the word “officiating� was inadvertently omitted, giving THE ODD IMPRESSION THAT THE kRST Filipino Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, one of our greatest Filipino historians, sang with Tita Midz from the altar. I thought I owe it to that kind and saintly soul to start this column WITH THIS CLARIkCATION *** Lyndon LaRouche dies. From 6IRGINIA 53! (ELGA :EPP ,ARouche, wife of the American activist Lyndon LaRouche, and founder of the Schiller Institute, a political activist in her own right, wrote to say that her beloved Lyn, founder of the LaRouche movement, and the Executive Intelligence Review, and tireless proponent of returning America to the POLICIES OF !LEXANDER (AMILTON and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, passed on February 12 at the age of 97. There are no details. I have a longstanding invitation to visit LaRouche in his Virginia home, but never managed to do so. In Washington, New York and Manila, I met with his senior EIR colleague Mike Billington and corresponded with him every now and then whenever necessary. This enabled me to keep pace with LaRouche’s tireless advocacies, especially those ON kNANCE SPACE AND ENERGY (E passionately pursued the revival of the 1932 Glass-Steagal Act to bring back global economic STABILITY /NE OF HIS UNFULkLLED wishes was to bring together Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in an unprecedented global summit. I also got some invitations from Schiller Institute, which I never got to honor. But not long ago, I had a chance to listen to (ELGA :EPP ,A2OUCHE AT THE $IAlogue of Civilizations in island

of Rhodes in Greece, where I was a plenary speaker. She gave an impressive speech, without notes. The LaRouche Movement is represented in the Philippines by Antonio “Butch� Valdez, former undersecretary of education, who is a senatorial candidate in this election. Butch is one of the few candidates who have anything to say about national pride, national sovereignty and genuine indepenDENCE )F ) kNALLY DECIDE TO VOTE I may be asking you to consider voting for him. For now, I simply ask you to join me in praying for the eternal repose of Lyndon’s soul. Thank you very much. ***

Q SAGUISAG FROM A4

to speak out and assert anew his innocence on the drug charges PREVIOUSLY kLED AGAINST HIMw) know exactly, without any exaggeration, how it feels to be falsely accused. Perhaps what many people do not know is the previously dismissed charges against Col. Marcelino were then revived in order to pressure him to falsely testify against me‌[A long line of convicted criminals was recruited as perjured] witnesses against me in exchange for privileges and special treatment, and for them to stay alive‌� Better to suffer and die on one’s feet than live in shame on bended knees. Col. Marcelino refused to be a Jessica Alfaro but the Palace found many jailbirds, canaries willing to sing its song, its own Jessicas. Digong has another maleficent obsession, renaming our country after Maharlika, to honor fake war hero Marcos and his phony guerilla unit. Scholarship should conclusively establish first beyond cavil that Maharlika does not in fact stand for a giant phallus. Is Digong serious about renaming our country? Can the Pinoy live up to its supposed meaning and rise to the occasion? As may be seen in UP’s annual Oblation run? Do we need reminding that Macoy was a fake hero whose supposed exploits were made out of whole cloth? North and South America do not seem to mind having been named after Italian Amerigo Vespucci. But, given the reported P99-billion pork of lawmakers, why not rename our whole archipelago as the Babuyan Islands? Ladrones Islands is spoken for (now Marianas). And we can rename LMB as Libingan ng Isang Mandarambong at Berdugo, at mga Bayani (LIMBB).

 Lei-La get a ride. That is the transport situation today for commuters and others even if the weather is fair. Absolutely nothing to gloat about here. For another instance, last Friday, ) LEFT THE /FkCE OF THE #ITY 0ROSecutor in ParaĂąaque at 1:30 p.m. but got to the NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission) on Banawe, Quezon City more than two hours later. Yup, the situation today, gridlock in Nagtahan, same in EspaĂąa, etc. When I got there, I was told that the arbiter concerned had been taken ill. 4RAFkC SICKENS A FAVE EXCUSE of my tardy students, which may even be occasionally true. Lei- La-Pasionaria has a lot to gripe about, along with milLIONS OF COMMUTERS WASTING spending a quarter or more of their daily lives traveling. Metro Manila might soon stand still. Does MalacaĂąang care? It seems TO AGREE THAT TRAFkC IS LIKE THE weather, per Mark Twain, everyone talks about it but does little or nothing sa bansang matiisin aside from administration bragging. As Ninoy Aquino would repeatedly intone, better to die on one’s feet, than live in shame on bended knees. In various forms it is attributed to Benito Juarez and Emiliano Zapata of Mexico and Spain’s La Pasionaria, who said: “Antes morir de pie que vivir de rodillas.â€? Their preference: to die proudly on one’s feet to living in shame on bended knees, my own embroidered recasting. Lei- La Pasionaria’s dispatch from Crame last Saturday, on the ordeal of Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, said she was glad that he had “found the courage

The Catholics in Caracas From Caracas, Venezuela I have received a bouquet of prayers and a plea for reciprocal prayers too. “We’ll pray for you, will you pray for us too?� The sender is a Catholic who believes our two countries are both in urgent need of healing, and that we, Catholic Christians, no offense to anybody else, are in the best position to propose the appropriate cure. Like Filipinos, Venezuelans like to turn to God in times of trouble, said the sender, and they have lately come into a lot of trouble. From 1999 to 2013, (UGO #HAVEZ RAN 6ENEZUELA AS a populist strongman, getting reelected four times because of his “populist� appeal, and removing Venezuela from the orbit of liberal democracies. Although Venezuela holds the world’s largest known oil reserves, in 2018, its hyperinflation rate soared to 1.37 million percent, percent, it also defaulted on its foreign debt payments, and its poverty level sank far below that of most of the heavily indebted poor countries. Since 2005, the US government has imposed punitive sanctions on the Venezuelan government, and selected companies and individuals, because of terrorISM DRUG TRAFkCKING TRAFkCKING IN persons, anti-democratic actions, human rights violations, and corruption. Petroleos de Venezuela, SA, or PdVSA, Venezuela’s state

oil company, has itself been hit by sanctions. These have frozen Venezuelan assets, restricted Venezuelan government’s access to the US debt and equity markets, barred the Venezuelan government from issuing and using digital currency, digital coin or token, and barred others from purchasing Venezuelan debt, including accounts receivable, and any debt owed to Venezuela pledged as collateral. Thus, a resource-rich country is now poor.

speculations that those Venezuelans who had left their country during the Chavez regime and the kRST YEARS OF -ADURO S RULE COULD now come back as an “invasion force� similar to the Cuban exiles in Miami who invaded the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, but failed. Maduro has warned that such an attempt would result in something far worse than Vietnam.

February 10, a vast multitude of Catholics turned out at a public Eucharistic celebration in Caracas in support of the call for elections. Statements from the organizers claimed the Vatican has expressed support for the call for elections.

A model for Filipinos

Apparently, this is the Venezuelan Catholic initiative I was being Catholic reaction asked to support with my prayers. ) HAVE NO DIFkCULTY SUPPORTING Concerned that Venezuela could anything that would allow the sink into serious political trouble, Venezuelans to choose their It began with Chavez the country’s Catholic popula- own president. But clearly the tion has decided to intervene as Venezuelan Catholics have done On March 5, 2013 Chavez, 58, Catholics. The Catholic Bishops’ much better than their Filipino died from cancer. Rumors per- Conference, the Confederation of counterparts. They have shown sisted that he had died much Religious Men and Women of Ven- greater clarity and courage in dealearlier, but that his death had ezuela, and the National Council ing with their own government. been kept secret since December. of the Laity on February 4 de- Filipino Catholics have not been Nicolas Maduro, whom Chavez manded that the state agencies call as clear-minded about their rights had earlier nominated as his for “free and legitimate elections and duties in dealing with the successor, became the interim to retake the path to democracy, Duterte government. This seemed president, pending the presiden- allow the entry of humanitarian evident at the last plenary contial elections to be held within 30 aid into the country and stop the ference of the Catholic Bishops’ days after the vacancy occurred. repression of citizens.â€? Conference of the Philippines Maduro subsequently won the In a statement reported by (CBCP) in Manila last month. election that year and inherited the Catholic News Agency, the In that conference, CBCP Vice Chavez’s troubled regime, amid group said, “Venezuelan Catho- President and Caloocan Bishop SEVERE SHORTAGES HYPERINlATION lics facing ‘a painful injustice Pablo Virgilio David, D.D. was AND HORDES OF 6ENEZUELANS lEEING and suffering’ are in search of a asked to draft the group’s pastoral to other capitals. ‘peaceful and transparent transi- statement, according to reports. On January 10 this year, Madu- tion’ that will lead to a free and Accordingly, the bishop prepared ro won his second term in an elec- legitimate election to retake the a candidly worded statement tion where opposition candidates path to democracy, restoring the in which he said: “Since he aswere reportedly either jailed or rule of law, and fostering the re- SUMED OFkCE 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO barred from running. The Catho- construction of the social fabric, Roa Duterte, a baptized Catholic lic bishops, for one, called the economic productivity, morality raised in a Catholic family, has election illegitimate, and mount- in the country and reconciliation consistently hurled cruel words ing public protests threatened to among all Venezuelans.â€? like sharp daggers that pierce strip Maduro of his new mandate. It denounced the growing po- into the soul of the Catholic litical repression, human rights Church. We have silently noted The de facto president violations, arbitrary and selective these instances with deep sorrow arrests as morally unacceptable, and prayed over them. From deep On January 23, Juan Guaido, head and called on the security forces within, the body of Christ cries of the National Assembly, without to stop repressing the people and out, as he did on the way to Daan elaborate constitutional process, assume their true responsibility of mascus, â€œâ€Śwhy do you persecute declared himself interim president. protecting the population instead. me?â€? (Acts 9:4) An instant street presence ap- 3PECIkCALLY IT CALLED ON THE 0UBLIC “Although he has openly expeared to support Guiado’s de facto 0ROSECUTOR S /FkCE AND THE 0UBLIC pressed that he is ‘no longer a presidency, and the governments /MBUDSMAN S /FkCE TO STOP THE Catholic’ but ‘still a Christian’ or of the United States, Canada, the detention of minors. at least ‘a believer in God,’ or even European Union, and some Latin Since January 21, at least 40 a part-believer ‘in Islam,’ we are American countries were quick to have been killed and hundreds NEVERTHELESS BAFlED THAT A FORMER formally recognize it. arrested in public protests, even as member of the body of Christ China, Russia and Turkey were the economic conditions on the could utter such vitriol against the among those which stuck it out ground continued to deteriorate faith his own parents and grandwith the Maduro government. as a result of harmful govern- parents had devoutly embraced This conflict has prompted ment policies and sanctions. On and handed down to him.â€?

The draft statement went on to repudiate the President for REVILING THE MYSTERY OF THE (OLY Trinity, the meaning of Sacred Scriptures, Christ’s redeeming death on the Cross, and for calling God “stupid,� the apostles as “imbeciles,� the saints and martyrs as “fools and drunkards.� Mocking the faith of the people who voted for him is the cruelest thing the President can do, the draft said. There is more.

Cleaning up the draft But after the draft was submitted to the bishops for their approval, they cleaned it up of all sharp and “confrontational� phrases and statements. So instead of talking about the government’s execrable offenses against the Church, the polished draft tried to lighten the gravity of the government’s offenses and tried to balance them with the admitted sacramental failings of bishops and priests. Instead of ending the discomforting prolonged collective silence of the bishops, which the draft statement lamented, the polished draft REAFkRMED THE POLICY OF SILENCE citing Pope Francis’ statement that in some instances, “the best response is silence and prayer.� St. Francis of Assisi, whose name Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina took when he was elected pope, was a great apostle OF SILENCE (E COMMUNED WITH THE CRUCIkED #HRIST IN DEEP SILENCE for which the Lord rewarded him (and St. Pio later) with, among other things, the stigmata. But THERE IS A DIGNIkED SACRAMENTAL silence and there is a cowardly and UNDIGNIkED SILENCE UNWORTHY OF its name. And St. Francis himself says, “if necessary, use words.� In the face of great state abuse it is necessary for the Church to speak out. This is what the Catholics of Venezuela have apparently decided to do. This is what the Filipino bishops, priests, religious AND LAITY MUST NOW kND THE CLARity of mind and the courage of heart to do.

fstatad@gmail.com

Universities and the alumni Part 2

‘Giving and asking’ practices

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NIVERSITY alumni are a university’s goodwill ambassadors. Present-day communications technology, unlike snail mail of the past, conveniently keeps a university’s bonds with its alumni. That is, if universities transcend the one-sided practice of remembering their graduates only when some funding for a cause or project is needed. It seems though that such universities are a vanishing breed. Those that haven’t can visit the web to learn effective ways other universities adapt to strengthen alumni relationship. Easy communication using today’s varied media forms enable universities to go by the “asking and giving� practice — not merely requesting for monetary donations, but also providing for alumni various opportunities for the latter’s advantage. This mutuality makes for more enduring, enjoyable and high-level relationships. Providing personal remembrances. Newsletters and alumni blogs can connect universities with alumni on an emotional level. Informing alumni of an alma mater’s splendid performance, or events that evoke for alumni memories of honor and pride in their alma mater, or some upcoming event similar to a past event that gave recognition to a batch and to the alma mater as well—these are nostalgic information that even alumni of several decades would be very pleased to receive. “Share photos from alumni: This will help alumni feel appreciated, involved, and considered. Therefore, they’ll be more likely to engage and retweet or share those photos. Develop content around past memorable

FLASHBACKS/ INSIGHTS TERESITA TANHUECOTUMAPON events or annual gatherings.â€? HTTPS PAGELY COM BLOG ALUMni-engagement-best-practices HIGHER EDUCATION An example from the web is that of Allegheny College, which “created an Instagram hashtag.â€? Signs were posted around the campus notifying students of that hashtag, and asked students to share photos of student life. The resulting photo feed creates a captivating array of photographs that do a great job of authentically representing (and advertising) life on campus. HTTPS PAGELY COM BLOG alumni-engagement-best-pracTICES HIGHER EDUCATION More campus remembrances. There are always spaces in a university campus that hold beautiful memories for alumni. “Find those spaces and take amazing photos, or simply re-share images that current students have posted to their account.â€?<HTTPS PAGELY COM BLOG ALUMNI ENGAGEment-best-practices-higherEDUCATION Another way to bond with the alumni is to invite them to the scheduled blessing of a refurbished university canteen, which alumni remember with its then familiar buzzy sounds from an erratic airconditioner lording over faded varnished tables. Send pictures of the now modern setting showing the conveniences for shared meals and tĂŞte-ĂŁ-tĂŞte. This could attract alumni to visit, seeing photos of both the once frequented space, now with renovated walls of cracked adobe blunt the sound of mingled voices of

present generation of students. Likewise, send an invitation to the inaugural mass and the masses after, in the newly rebuilt chapel that now has been widened, lending a more solemn feel with its stained-glass windows, its retained traditional design matched with the design of the old buildings, the façade of these building having been intentionally maintained for remembrance. Inviting voices from the alumni. With the university alumni relations OFkCE SEEKING GUIDANCE ON CONTENT OF NEWSLETTERS AND OR BLOGS ABOUT or from the alumni, much can be gained to cement many a universityalumni bond. Several such practices include “asking alumni to discuss their current employment successes, or having polls for the naming of a new building or an area on campus,â€? or submit their favorite memories or places on campus, alumni or encouraging, involving them to share job-hunting tips. At the University College London, where I spent a trimester of postgraduate studies, I came across a call through the web which says: “We are looking for alumni to share their experiences in classrooms at our next Teach meet on Thursday 21st February 2019. The theme will be ‘Innovators in Education’ and we are looking to hear from alumni who are interested in sharing their experiences of new learning methods, innovative tools or unusual projects they use to engage learners. If you would like to present your ideas, please submit them now.â€? I have written down some thoughts to send UCL soonest. Voices of “givingâ€? from the Philippines. I looked up the web to find any example from our universities that invite growth opportunities for alumni. I found a catchy acronym of the term

“alumni� of the Alumni Relations Office of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). The word Alumni stands for “Avenues - creates opportunities for ideas exchange; Linkages - builds and renews partnerships across industries; Unity - inspires harmony among the alumni across ALL kELDS Movements - engages in community and extension work; Networks - expands both local and international community; Ideal - exhibits best practices in alumni relations thrusts� HTTPS WWW PUP EDU PH ALUMNI VM At the Manila Central University, there is included “MCU alumni Discount.� In the Alumni website of the University of the East, the UE Alumni Association Inc. lists goals which include: “to enhance unity and sharing of members’ areas of knowledge and expertise; To increase employment opportunities through linkages with industries, government and non-government units.� < HTTP WWW UE EDU PH ALUMNI?NTUEAAI PHP !S seen in their adverts, De La Salle University, the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines and very likely other Philippine state and private universities in the capital city and in regions, would regularly outsource expertise for workshops, seminars, training sessions from their respective alumni. This reaching out to a university’s alumni for the intellectual, career and personal growth of a university’s current students also do create opportunities for ALUMNI TO WIDEN PROFESSIONAL AND or business-related connections with other batches of alumni. Please share with us innovative ways you may know on how we can “give� to our alumni.

Email: ttumapon@liceo.edu.ph

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Ressa spits on our laws and on the truth, and then invokes press freedom Ressa simply is an extreme case of a person with such a huge sense of entitlement and an elephantine ego that she thinks she can violate our laws, because she and Rappler ARE ON A NOBLE CRUSADE kGHTING AN “evilâ€? government Let’s take a rational look at the cyberlibel case brought against her and her former researcher 2EYNALDO 3ANTOS *R NOW A kNANCE department employee. In its article reporting the arrest, Rappler claimed: “The Department of Justice (DoJ) recomMENDED THE kLING IN COURT OF CYBER libel charges against Ressa‌over a story published in May 2012 — or 4 months before the law that they allegedly violated was enacted.â€? This is a total lie. Yes, the story WAS PUBLISHED kRST ON -AY 2012, or before the Anti CyberLibel Law was enacted in July and came into force the next month. But the story was “updatedâ€? on Feb. 19, 2014 — two years after the law had been in full force.

‘Updated’ If an article in the internet that was posted years ago is “updated� today, for example, it is as if it was reported only today. And to this day, more than a

and arrest us for libel.� This of course is another instance of Rappler’s refusal to correct its lies. Its article in September 2016 that reported false, INlATED kGURES ON THE CASUALTIES in the government’s war against drugs was updated a year later, and is still posted to this day — despite incontrovertible evidence that the numbers were false, yet still reported by some in the foreign media.* And what was the cyberlibel article about? It was another of Rappler’s many articles that savaged then Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial. While the website pretends to be the beacon of press freedom in this country, it was part of the Yellow Cult’s project to remove Corona. Why? Other than in order to put the Supreme Court totally under the Yellows’ thumb, that project intended to extract P10 billion from government when the AquinoCojuangco clan had to turn over (ACIENDA ,UISITA UNDER AGRARIAN reform.

Ruthless vs Corona The article was ruthless in savaging Corona, and any editor would

Tuesday, controversy continues TO HOUND THE #HIEF *USTICE (E appears to have a penchant for using vehicles registered under the names of controversial personalities. (IS BLACK #HEVROLET 3UBURBAN a sports utility vehicle he used to travel to and from the Senate — when he appeared on May 22 and 25 before the impeachment court — is being linked to questionable transactions and persons. Between 2010 to 2011, a Newsbreak investigation (prompted by a tip that a litigant with a case pending before the Supreme Court was allowing him the use of an expensive vehicle) found that plate number ZWK 111 was registered under the name of Wilfredo Keng, a Chinese-Filipino businessman dubbed by Forbes Magazine as one of the richest Filipinos in 2010. The investigation was also part of the research for Marites DaĂąguilanVitug’s upcoming book on the high tribunal.â€? DaĂągilan-Vitug had been Rappler’s “editor-at-largeâ€? and was at the forefront of the black-propaganda campaign against Corona to remove him, even writing a book savaging him, rumored to have been funded by the law Firm that detested the Chief Justice. Worse, when Corona’s impeachment trial started, Vitug even wrote an article on Jan. 2, 2012 , published both in the Philippine Daily Inquirer as the banner story and in Rappler, that the University of Santo Tomas broke the rules to give Corona a Ph.D. It was intended to portray, especially to the Senate impeachment court, that Corona was so dishonest that he even cheated to get a Ph.D.

Totally false

Q Another libelous Rappler article, false but still posted, accessed yesterday. YEAR AFTER THE BUSINESSMAN kLED the case, it is still posted on Rappler’s website, as if telling the administration, “F**k you, go ahead

have seen it easily as a libelous one. It reads: �Even as the Corona impeachment trial comes to a close

The article was proven to be totally false, with the Inquirer apologizing for it, and publishing UST’s lengthy point-by-point rebuttal, and refusing to allow Vitug to anSWER THIS (OWEVER AS IN THE CASE of the cyberlibel charge, Rappler ignored the UST’s rebuttal and even updated it in May 2015. To this day, Vitug’s Rappler article falsely claiming that Corona had cheated to get a Ph.D. is still posted on its website. If anything, it must be Corona’s ghost crying out for justice to stop Rappler’s lies. 2ESSA WAS SO CONkDENT SHE WAS above the law, or so incompetent

Q The libelous article, still posted, accessed yesterday. as an editor that she didn’t block libelous articles in her website, and obviously even defended them. I was told that Keng, the busiNESSMAN WHO kLED THE CHARGES was reportedly so angry at Rappler, since it refused to admit its lies and take down the article from the internet. This is because, after the publication of the article, Keng lost business worth more than a P100 million, as the article practiCALLY IDENTIkED HIM AS AGAINST THE Aquino administration because of HIS ALLEGED SUPPORT OF #ORONA (IS would-be partners got spooked by this and backed off from their planned deals.

Howl C’mon, do you think that Duterte and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra — who had been former President Aquino 3rd’s deputy executive secretary — should have told the judge who issued the arrest warrant, Judge Reinalda Estacio-Montesa, not to do so since this would raise a howl that this government was suppressing the press? Estacio-Mendoza, one of the youngest regional trial court judges, has been getting a reputation as a brave, feisty judge. Even in the face of intense pressure, Estacio-Mendoza last year ruled that the suspected smuggling lord Mark Taguba could not be kept under NBI custody, and ordered him transferred to the Manila City Jail. Do you think this is a judge that Duterte, or Justice Secretary Guevarra, could order her what to do? Ressa’s accusation that she is a victim of press suppression is in effect a claim that Judge Estacio-Mendoza

is violating her oath as a judge of a court of justice and is merely the President’s stooge. She’s certainly digging her grae deeper and deepr Ressa also should have been alerted by the fact that the researcher who wrote the libelous article was Reynaldo Santos Jr. a leftist, biased reporter, who had been Vitug’s colleague who had co-authored a libelous book against former President Arroyo. Competent editors are extra careful in dealing with the reportage of the leftists, since they have an agenda to blacken the reputation of the government. (Santos, however, seemed to have joined the establishment in recent years. From Rappler, he joined the Bureau of Customs and is now with the Department of Finance.)

Spits on our laws This cyberlibel case isn’t the first time that Ressa and Rappler have spat on our laws, and when called to account, claimed that press freedom is being suppressed in the Philippines. Alerted by an article in Rappler itself boasting that two US OUTkTS HAD INVESTED IN IT ) WROTE in October 2016 that this was a blatant violation of our Constitution that bans any form of foreign involvement in media. After about a year during which the Securities and Exchange Commission investigated the allegation — and gave Rappler all the opportunity to respond — it ruled in 2018 that it violated the constitutional ban, and ordered it to be dissolved. (Rappler has appealed to a higher court.)

With the SEC ruling, Ressa shouted to the world: “Duterte is suppressing freedom of the press in the Philippines.� Ressa tried to wriggle her way out of the morass by claiming that the foreign money put into the kRM WAS IN THE FORM OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS WHICH OTHER kRMS such as Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and ABS-CBN use to go around the constitutional restrictions. Even as the SEC ignored that argument, the Bureau of Internal Revenue took notice, pointing out that such transactions on securities involved revenues Rappler receive, didn’t report, and didn’t pay taxes on, amounting to P133 million. The BIR forwarded its kNDINGS TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WHICH UPHELD IT AND kLED TAX EVAsion cases last month. Ressa responded that the tax evasion case was “a clear form of continuing intimidation and harassment� against the company and “an attempt to silence reporting that does not please the administration.� There’s a special place in hell for liars like Ressa. To cover up for her boo-boos as editor-in-chief and CEO of Rappler, for her arrogant DEkANCE OF OUR LAWS SHE HAS BEEN lying to the world that the Philippines is under an evil dictatorship that is ruthless in suppressing the press, and that only she and Rappler in Philippine media are bold ENOUGH TO kGHT $UTERTE

What colossal hypocrisy! Ressa and Rappler savaged a hapless Corona to help President Aquino control the Supreme Court and to put billions of pesos in his clan’s bank accounts. Now they are claiming to be crusaders for a free press. *See “Rappler spread lies to the world,� in my book Debunked , available in National Book, Fully Booked, La Solidaridad, and Popular book stores in metropolitan Manila and in some of their branches nationwide. Also at www.rigoBERTOTIGLAO COM BOOK

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

FOCUS

Thai junta pegs economic fortunes to China as uncertainty looms BANGKOK: After generals seized power in Thailand in a 2014 coup, they turned to Beijing to kickstart growth and buff up their vision of an innovative, developed country steered by wise leaders and buoyed by China-backed infrastructure. Thailand’s economy sagged in THE kRST YEARS AFTER THE POWER GRAB but the junta is staking its hopes for an economic turnaround on the Asian giant. Yet concerns are mounting of an overreliance on Beijing and the opacity of deals cemented by the generals. Few can predict what will happen in a country known for coups and backroom political plots — uncertainty that was in focus last week after the king scuttled a bid by his sister for prime minister. Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha is looking to hold onto power and drive through the largest investment program in Thai history — with China’s help. Tourism remains the kingdom’s BANKER ‡ ACCOUNTING FOR A kFTH of the economy — and Chinese visitors are integral, making up a quarter of Thailand’s projected 41 million visitors this year. Lavish Lunar New Year celebrations at the start of the month, including Chinese acrobats, arts, crafts and dragon dances, were expected to rake in over $300 million. Wang Ziying was among those who took part, emerging from a mass of incense-wielding devotees at a Bangkok shrine — one

of more than 11 million Chinese expected to visit Thailand this year. “Traveling here is quite cheap,� said Wang, 27, with red bunting and lanterns festooning the streets around her. Last year, tourist Xu Xiao, 28, prayed at the same shrine for a successful marriage. (ER HUSBAND WAS WITH HER this time. “Thailand is a country full of warm-hearted people,� she said.

Thailand 4.0

Bet the house Chinese investment in Bangkok condos is surging, while internaTIONAL SCHOOLS ARE BEING kLLED BY parents tiring of Shanghai and Beijing prices. But junta critics say the rush for Chinese investment, carried out with virtually no public scrutiny, has left Thai markets vulnerable to price manipulation and economic shocks. Thai rubber was hit hard by the trade war between the United States and China, while concerns abound over inducements likely to be offered to investors in special economic zones. “Thailand has shown signs of overdependence on the China market,� said Michael Montesano, coordinator of the Thailand Studies Program at Singapore’s ISEASYusof Ishak Institute. Approved investment deals from China in the first nine months of 2018 stood at 20 billion baht ($640 million), nearly double the

Q  This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2019 shows Chinese tourists walking past a Chinese-themed display in a shopping mall during Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok. AFP PHOTO amount recorded over the entire previous year, according to Thailand’s Board of Investment. "UT THE JUNTA S lAGSHIP PROJECT the Eastern Economic Corridor, aims to dwarf that. A mix of tech, airport and port upgrades, high-speed rail and manufacturing, the EEC is a $45 billion plan across three eastern seaboard provinces, and Thailand is courting investors from several countries. “But without the kind of Chi-

nese investment they are hoping to get, the Eastern Economic Corridor doesn’t get off the ground,� said Benjamin Zawacki, the author of “Thailand: Shifting Ground between the US and a Rising China�. Late last year, Thailand hosted more than 500 Chinese executives and investors, selling the EEC as a link to Southeast Asia to satisfy Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. But junta opponents are on

the lookout for any deals hustled through in the run-up to next month’s election before a new civilian administration takes power. The generals have also spent large sums on Chinese military gear, unencumbered by oversight. Junta number two Prawit Wongsuwan has served as the frontman, buying tanks, guns and three submarines — costing nearly $400 million each — that have yet to be delivered.

Once Southeast Asia’s most dynamic economy, Thailand has been beset by protests and political instability since an earlier coup in 2006, a period dubbed the “lost decade�. In that time, Thailand’s educaTION SYSTEM CALCIkED Shortly after their last power grab, the generals imposed fresh layers of rote learning across schools, focusing on loyalty to the monarchy, discipline and national pride. Yet junta leader Prayut has simultaneously touted a future of “Thailand 4.0� — a tech hub fed by highly-skilled, educated Thai workers. To buttress the vision, a $320million investment last year by e-commerce giant Alibaba was hailed by Prayut and Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma as a sign of the bounty to come. But critics say a woeful education system cannot feed into a pipeline of skilled workers without massive reform. The race for Chinese cash has unsettled many Thais concerned by the warping of their markets by China’s massive economy. A “pro-China stance� has been criticised by a wary Thai public, independent analyst Sasiwan Chingchit said, especially those affected by the government’s “poor performance�. “A lot of people... are so sick of this government,� she said. AFP

Regions Duterte to place Ecija under land reform L ˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

AUR, Nueva Ecija: In a bid to counter the communist insurgency in the province, President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to place Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon under the government’s agrarian land reform program.

In his speech during the inauguration of a drug treatment facility in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Duterte said he would deploy concerned ofkCIALS NEXT WEEK TO IMPLEMENT THE land reform in the province. The President added that he had met with some community members who were concerned about the problem of land and water in the province. “ Kaya mga N PA [ r e b e l s ] , nakikinig diyan ngayon. Hoy mga NPA, alam kong problema ninyo. Na kung hindi ako nag-

pupunta dito, hindi ko alam. Kaya may papupuntahin ako Lunes dito, huwag ninyong, hayaan ninyo (To members of the NPA if you’re listening, hey NPA, I know your problem. If I did not come here, I wouldn’t know. That’s why I will ask somebody to come here on Monday, please allow them)... I will declare land reform in this area next week,� Duterte said. He was referring to New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines,

which regards genuine land reform program as a cornerstone in any peace deal with the government. “At this time of our national life, I would even say that I’ve been telling the military and the police that unless we solve this age-old problem of getting the lands to the people, we can never end the insurgency problem in this country,� the President said. Duterte explained that he wanted to distribute lands, initially idle government lands, to agrarian REFORM BENEkCIARIES SO THEY CAN cultivate the land and improve their plight. He said so far he had distributed 60,000 land titles to land reform BENEkCIARIES “So, 10 years from now, mga anak ninyo makatikim ng pera (your children would have money). At least sa buhay nila (in their lifetime), ‘yung generation

niya makatikim ng milyon [their generation would have millions],â€? Duterte added. “I do not work for the‌ I work for the people. I do not work for‌ I serve no master. I am a worker of government. The military and the police are workers of the government and we work for the people,â€? he said. In the same speech, the President disclosed plans to visit Sagay, Negros Occidental, soon for another agrarian reform event. He said the government had been wrongly blamed for the death of some farmers in Sagay. “Ito ubusin ko talaga ito and then Sagay, doon ‘yung pinagpatayan ng mga‌ itong mga komunista nag-aaway-away doon at kami naman ang pinagbibintangan (I WILL kNISH THIS LAND DISTRIBUTION program and then in Sagay, the farmer were being killed, it was

Court names new receiver for Hanjin OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales: The regional trial court (RTC) here has appointed a new receiver to manage the assets of Hanjin shipyard, which is undergoing corporate rehabilitation. Rosario Bernaldo, founder and managing director of Bernaldo Mirador & Director Law Offices, was appointed on Monday by Richard Paradeza, presiding judge of Olongapo RTC Branch 72, as the new Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil)

receiver. Bernaldo replaced Stefani Saùo, WHO WAS kRST APPOINTED BY THE court in January this year. Saùo was a former senior deputy administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Creditor banks of Hanjin reportedly questioned his nomination and pressured him to resign. The court, in choosing Bernaldo for the position, took into consideration the lawyer’s work experience, as well as her answers during an interview.

“In particular, Atty. Bernaldo has vast experience in rehabilitation cases, as shown in her curriculum vitae,� Paradeza noted in his order dated Feb. 11, 2019. “To the mind of the court, her work experience in rehabilitation cases is vital in this selection,� the judge said. Bernaldo is also a certified PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT WITH SIGNIkcant professional experience in tax and management consulting, corporate and legal services, busi-

NESS AND kNANCIAL MANAGEMENT investment banking, insolvency and receivership, audit, training and research. On January 8 this year, Hanjin filed a petition for voluntary rehabilitation under Republic Act 10142, or “An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and Individuals,“ saying a slump in the global shipbuilding industry had caused it to suffer insolvency. PATRICK ROXAS

Go pushes for welfare of abandoned children FORMER special assistant to the President and now aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go recently threw his support behind the Accelerating Minors’ Opportunity for Recovery (AMOR) Village initiative as he also vowed to help sustain its operation. He made the assurance last week in Tarlac in his message at the thanksgiving and recognition party for benefactors and supporters of the AMOR Village, an institution for abandoned minors with disabilities. Its founder, former Tarlac Rep. Monica Prieto Teodoro and now special envoy to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, invited Go as the guest of honor of the gathering. She and her husband, former defense secretary Gilberto TeoDORO LOCAL OFkCIALS AND RESIDENTS of AMOR Village welcomed Go to the event. Go noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development supervised AMOR Village, while the provincial government of Tarlac subsidized its operation. Teodoro made the project possible in 2008. Go noted that one of his priorities was the protection and

Q HAPPY FROM A1

51% of Pinoys showed 51 percent of Filipinos said they were very happy with their love life, while 36 percent said they could be happier, and 13 percent said they did not have a love life. “This compares with 57 percent who said their love life was very happy, 29 percent who said it could be happier, and 14 percent who said they do not have a love life in 2017,� SWS said. 7HEN 373 kRST CONDUCTED the survey in 2002, the fraction of people who said their love life was “very happy� was at 58 percent. “It fell to 46 percent in 2004, and recovered to 50s levels from 2010 to 2012, reaching a record-high 59 percent in 2011. It declined to 49 percent in 2014 before bouncing to 51 percent in 2015, 55 percent in 2016 and 57 percent in 2017,� THE POLLING kRM SAID Since 2002, the proportion

THAT’S AMORE

Aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go greets well-wishers in Tarlac, where he recently assured support for abandoned minors with disabilities. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO welfare of the youth particularly abandoned children. He mentioned that one of the effective ways of keeping them away from illegal drugs and criminality was to provide them a community conducive to their growth and nurtured by responsible guardians.

Go said one of his top advocacies was to improve the delivery of health services in the entire country, particularly vulnerable sectors like abandoned children and indigent families. He also noted that Tarlac City now had its own Malasakit Center,

the 23rd such center in the country and the 9th in Luzon. A Malasakit Center makes it easier for indigent patients to avail OF MEDICAL AND kNANCIAL SERVICES for indigent patients as it brings together in one room all concerned government agencies.

of those saying their love lives could be happier has been at 30 percent, except in 2004 and 2014 when it was at a recordhigh 44 percent and 40 percent, respectively. “It reached its lowest level of 29 percent in 2017,� it added. Meanwhile, the proportion of those who have no love life ranged from 9 percent to 14 percent from 2002 to 2018, with the highest level observed in 2016 and 2017. The new survey also showed that 50 percent of adult Filipinos believe that age gap matters in a relationship, while 41 percent believe it does not. The remaining 9 percent are undecided on the matter. SWS said “opinions about age gap hardly vary among men and women.� More older men in the 55-years-and-above bracket believe that age gap matters — 54 percent compared to 38 percent who said otherwise. In the 18-to-24 age bracket, only 45 percent said age gap

mattered, while 40 percent said it did not matter. For women, however, more of the younger ones believe that age gap matters. In the 18-to-24 bracket, 65 percent said it mattered in a relationship, while 33 said it did not. Forty-eight percent of women aged 35 to 44 and 45 to 55 said age gap mattered, while more women between the ages of 25 and 34 say it did not (49 percent). In general, women are not willing to have a relationship with someone 10 years younger than them, with 58 percent of respondents saying they were not willing and 23 percent saying they were willing. Forty-eight percent of men, on the other hand, said they were willing to have a relationship with someone 10 years younger. The survey also showed women across all age groups are more willing than their male counterparts to have a relationship with someone older.

Majority of women aged 35 to 44 are willing to have a relationship with older men (60 percent) while only 48 percent of men in the same age range said they were willing to have a relationship with older women. Those who said they were “very happyâ€? with their love life was highest among married men (64 percent) and women (59 percent). Among women, it was also highest among those who are married at 59 percent, followed by those with a live-in partner at 56 percent and those who are single at 20 percent. Men aged 25 and above, and women aged 25 to 34, also have a happier love life than those in other age groups, the survey showed. The survey, conducted using face-to-face interview, has sampling error margins of Âą2.6 percent for national percentages and Âą5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao. CATHERINE S. VALENTE

THE COMMUNISTS WHO ARE kGHTING there and they’re blaming us),� the President noted. Duterte made the remark nearly four months after the massacre of nine farmers in Sagay, Negros Occidental, last October 20, who allegedly tried to occupy parts of Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon. The President tagged the communist rebels in the killing of the sugar farmers, saying it was the “style� of the NPA to kill their own members and put the blame on the government. The communist rebels see free distribution of agricultural land

A7

as a basic principle of genuine agrarian reform. This was among issues tackled by the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panels before peace talks collapsed in November 2017. Duterte earlier promised that he would place available land in the country under land reform within the remaining three years of his term. He had also implemented land reform in Boracay and other areas in Aklan during the six-month closure of the world-famous tourist destination.

News ‘LGUs violating environmental laws’ M A8

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY ROY D.R. NARRA

ORE than 50 percent of local government units (LGUs) surrounding Manila Bay were not complying with environmental laws, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.

A total of 95 or 53 percent of the 178 LGUs failed to hit indicators gauging compliance

with environmental laws, Interior Secretary Eduardo AĂąo said in a statement.

Based on data from the 2018 Regional Inter-Agency Committee table assessments and on-site inspections, the DILG said 56 of these LGUs were from Central Luzon, 37 were from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and two were from the National Capital Region. Sixteen LGUs with the “worst problems� would be given pri-

ority by the DILG, AĂąo said. “There were decades’ worth of shortcomings that led to the problems of Manila Bay, but we are not here to point fingers anymore. We, through the directive of the President (Rodrigo Duterte), are here to bring back the bay to its former glory and we need all LGUs to do their part,â€? AĂąo said. The DILG, he added, could

extend help to these LGUs by providing capacity development, workshops, and coaching and mentoring toward creating programs in line with environmental laws. AĂąo also warned LGUs that they would face sanctions if they refused to cooperate in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. “We can file cases against them with the Ombudsman or

recommend disciplinary action to the President if warranted. So, we challenge all LGUs to shape up. We need them to fight and win the Battle for Manila Bay,� he said. Aùo said the department would continue monitoring LGUs to ensure that they were complying with environmental laws for the rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay.

Belmonte vows cheaper housing QUEZON City (QC) Vice Mayor *OSEkNA g*OYu "ELMONTE ON 4HURSday vowed to provide adequate and affordable housing for informal settlers in the city. “My goal is to keep QC residents within our city. I don’t want them going to Rizal, Bulacan or elseWHERE JUST TO kND SOME PLACE TO live in. If you are from QC, then you should be living here in QC,� Belmonte said. “This was started by Mayor Herbert Bautista through the Bistekville, but we still want to kND WAYS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE IT cheaper than the current P450,000 price. We will not offer it for free, but we will make sure that our residents will not be burdened so much by the payment,� she added. In September last year, the city council passed the Comprehensive

Socialized Housing Code of 2018, authored by councilor Marivic Co Pilar, which seeks to provide affordable and adequate housing for low-income sectors. The ordinance also ensures access to employment and social services within socialized housing areas. “We have different ordinances in our city that address various concerns of our residents, but some of them are just not enforced properly. And my aim is to make sure that those laws will be implemented for our people TO COMPLETELY BENEkT FROM THE laws that had been passed by the city council,� said Belmonte, who will run for mayor against District 1 Rep. Vincent “Bingbong� Crisologo in May this year. JAIME R. PILAPIL

Q BAIL FROM A1

Ressa Ressa posted bail of P100,000, the amount set by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46. Presiding Judge Rainelda EstacioMontesa was in Las PiĂąas City, according to her staff, so a judge from Branch 45 signed the bail on her behalf. Ressa said this was the sixth time she had bailed herself out. “I will pay more bail than convicted criminals. I will pay more than Imelda Marcos,â€? she told

CAN WE DANCE?

A police officer dances with a commuter at the Metro Rail Transit 3 station in Cubao, Quezon City. The Quezon City police deployed its personnel to sing, dance and give flowers to commuters on Valentine’s Day. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

reporters. JJ Disini, Ressa’s legal counsel, said lawyers tried to post bail on Wednesday evening at the Pasay night court before it closed at 9 p.m., but the metropolitan judge refused to accept any application for bail, citing jurisdiction issues. Disini, however, argued that under the Rules of Court, a metropolitan judge has the power to do so. The NBI served the court order after court hours, a move which was viewed by Ressa as “ridiculous� and criticized as “harassment.� In an interview, Ressa told reporters that if the government thought keeping

her under custody for a night would “intimidate� her, it was mistaken. The arrest warrant, which stemmed from a revived complaint by businessman Wilfredo Keng over what he dubbed as a “malicious� story written by one of Rappler’s researchers and posted on May 29, 2012, came from Manila RTC Branch 46, after the Department of Justice’s recommendation to indict Ressa. The department submitted the recommendaTION TO kLE CHARGES ON &EBRUARY Ressa was arrested about 5 p.m. at the 2APPLER OFkCE IN 0ASIG #ITY FOR CYBERLIBEL a case which she described as “ridiculous,� an “abuse of power� and “weap-

onization of the law� because the violation she allegedly committed was nonexistent at the time. Keng accused Ressa of violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. It did not become law until about four months after the story — which claimed that Keng owned the sport utility vehicle that the late chief justice Renato Corona used during his impeachment trial — was published. The NBI previously dismissed Keng’s complaint in 2017 for lack of basis but the bureau revived it a week later. Ressa questioned the timing of the arrest, that she was not sent her own copy of the charge sheet, and that the case had been thrown out by the NBI itself. “These legal acrobatics show how far the government will go to silence journalists, including the pettiness of forcing me to spend the night in jail,� she said.

‘Not an assault on free press’ Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo, over radio station dzMM, said Ressa seemed to be basking in the spectacle. “I think she’s enjoying it.â€? He said the arrest of Ressa had nothing to do with the exercise of freedom of expression. In a statement released late Wednesday, Panelo said freedom of expression was “absolutelyâ€? unrelated with her “probable violationâ€? of the country’s laws. Panelo said Ressa should welcome the opportunity to defend herself before a court of law. In January 15 last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked Rappler’s CERTIkCATE OF INCORPORATION FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING the Philippine Constitution and the statutory foreign equity ban in mass media. A month later, Pia RaĂąada, the MalacaĂąang reporter of Rappler, was barred from entering the Palace. Panelo said the manner of Ressa’s arrest was being blown out of proportion. “They are making a fuss about anything they perceive to be wrong. You know a warrant of arrest can be issued on a weekday. The only prohibition is you issue it on a weekend and that will not give

Q VACCINATE FROM A1

Govt set The PRC on Thursday said it learned about the big number of children needing measles vaccination during a dialogue with over 200 barangay (village) chairmen at the San Andres sports complex in Manila’s San Andres district. The 1 million children, which is about half of Manila’s population, is just the estimated number of people immediately needing vaccination. They live in Manila’s 897 barangay, according to the PRC. /FkCIAL VACCINATION ACCORDING TO THE 02# MEdia bureau, starts with information dissemination in schools and barangay centers to let parents of the children know that there will be massive immunization of children within that age bracket. The PRC said it would decide in the following days if similar dialogues with barangay chairman of Metro Manila’s 15 other cities would be needed to further know the number of children needing anti-measles vaccines all over Metro Manila. !S OF &EBRUARY THERE WERE CHILdren all over the country aged 0 to 12 afflicted with measles. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also on Thursday reminded the public to have their unvaccinated children

THE RESPONDENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO kLE A MOTION FOR OR TO kLE BAIL u HE SAID

‘Singled out’ 4HE #ENTER FOR -EDIA &REEDOM AND 2ESPONSIbility described the arrest of Ressa as an attack ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE &OREIGN Correspondents Association of the Philippines said it would stand against any move that would undermine the freedom of the press. Michael Golden of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers urged President Duterte to stop the persecution of Rappler. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on authorities to drop all charges against Ressa. “The arrest of Maria Ressa is an outrage,� said CPJ Board Chairman Kathleen Carroll in a statement on Wednesday. Jim Roberts of the Paris-based Global Editors Network was also up in arms against the arrest. Ressa serves as network board member. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said the Duterte administration was desperate in arresting Ressa. “You know a government is desperate when they arrest a journalist,� she said in a tweet. The University of Santo Tomas Journalism Society, in a statement, condemned the arrest and said Ressa was being “singled out for her news organization’s critical coverage of the Duterte administration.� Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni� Robredo also said Ressa was “singled out� and harassed. The Senate minority bloc, composed of opposition Senators Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino TH 2ISA (ONTIVEROS &RANCIS 0ANGILINAN ,EILA de Lima and Antonio Trillanes 4th, said Ressa’s arrest was a government ploy to silence its critics, including journalists. The Commission on Human Rights urged the government to ensure constitutional guarantees, including due process and equal protection of laws, even to journalists. WITH GLEE JALEA, ARIC JOHN SY CUA, BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO AND RALPH U. VILLANUEVA take immunization shots to prevent the measles outbreak from further spreading. The agency ordered the regional councils to convene to address the issue. Last week, the Department of Health (DoH) declared measles outbreaks in several areas in Luzon and Visayas. The DoH reported that an estimated 2.6 milLION CHILDREN BELOW kVE YEARS ARE TARGETED TO BE vaccinated in 2019. An additional 1 million doses of measles rubella vaccine (MRV) are expected to arrive by the second week of March to augment existing supplies. Sen. Richard Gordon, also PRC chairman, said the DoH needs to step up its information drive on the importance of immunization. He noted that while the Dengvaxia controversy MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SIGNIkCANT DROP IN VACCINE CONkDENCE LAST YEAR A DECLINING TREND in vaccination coverage has already been noted since 2014. Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. It can cause debilitating or fatal complications, including encephalitis (an infection that leads to swelling of the brain), severe diarrhea and dehydration, pneumonia, ear infections and permanent vision loss. ED VELASCO, DEMPSEY REYES AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 0 . 0 5 %

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PWC’S NEEDLES IN A HAYSTACK

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Business Times

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PCC blocks sugar mill merger URC takeover of Batangas rival to create monopoly, harm planters – competition authorities BY TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

OF -ETRO -ANILA u IT SAID IN THE statement. The PCC’s Mergers and AcquisiTIONS /FkCE WAS SAID TO HAVE RAISED THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS r !S A gMERGER TO MONOPOLYu THE DEAL WOULD ELIMINATE 52# S ONLY COMPETITOR IN THE AREA r 52# WOULD HAVE THE MARKET POWER TO gUNILATERALLY REDUCE THE PLANTERS SHARE IN THE PLANTER MILLER SHARING AGREEMENT THE THEORETICAL RECOVERY RATES QUOTED TO PLANTERS AND THE INCENTIVES PROVIDED TO PLANTERSu r ALTERNATIVE SUGAR MILLS IN 0AMPANGA 4ARLAC AND #AMARINES 3UR ARE TOO FAR gTHUS NOT SUFkCIENT to constrain URC from exercising market power�; and r THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW ENTRANT gSEEMS REMOTEu GIVEN HIGH BARRIERS TO ENTRY AND gIF AT ALL

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OMPETITION authorities have rejected Universal Robina Corp.’s (URC) bid to take over Roxas Holdings, Inc.’s (RHI) Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc.(Cadpi), ruling that the deal would lead to a monopoly in the Southern Luzon sugar market. g! MERGER TO MONOPOLY DEAL IS AMONG THE MOST DETRIMENTAL types of business transactions,� 0HILIPPINE #OMPETITION #OMmission (PCC) Chairman Arsenio "ALISACAN SAID IN A STATEMENT ON Thursday. g4HE 52# TAKEOVER REMOVES ITS ONLY COMPETITOR ERODES THE BENEkT of competition for the sugarcane PLANTERS AND LEAVES MARKET POWER AT THE HANDS OF A SINGLE PROVIDER IN an area,� he added. 4HE 0## WHICH EARLIER RAISED

COMPETITION CONCERNS AND LAST MONTH REJECTED VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS SUBMITTED BY BOTH kRMS SAID the fact that URC and Cadpi-RHI’s SUGAR MILLS WERE IN "ATANGAS WOULD LESSEN COMPETITION NOT ONLY IN THE AREA BUT ALSO IN NEIGHBORING #AVITE ,AGUNA AND 1UEZON g4HE COMMISSION ALSO NOTED THAT WHILE THE TRANSACTION MAINLY affects sugarcane farmers in SouthERN ,UZON THE SUGAR PROCESSED FROM THESE FACILITIES SERVE NATIONWIDE DEMAND INCLUDING THAT

ÂłMerger B2

PSEi grows on renewed US-China trade talk hopes THE stock market recovered on Thursday AS INVESTORS BELATEDLY WELCOMED RENEWED HOPES OVER THE OUTCOME OF HIGH LEVEL 53 #HINA TRADE TALKS 4HE BENCHMARK 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK %Xchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.90 percent OR POINTS TO CLOSE AT 4HE WIDER !LL 3HARES GREW PERCENT OR POINTS TO kNISH AT 2EGINA #APITAL $EVELOPMENT #ORP HEAD OF SALES ,UIS ,IMLINGAN SAID MARKET PLAYERS REACTED POSITIVELY TO REPORTS THAT 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD Trump was considering a 60-day extension BEYOND A -ARCH DEADLINE TO REACH A DEAL 7ALL 3TREET GAINED OVERNIGHT ON THE OPTIMISM BUT WITH A WIDE GULF STILL REMAINing between the two sides, stock markets ELSEWHERE IN !SIA RESPONDED WITH CAUTION Tokyo dipped 0.02 percent, Shanghai dropped 0.05 percent and Hong Kong DECLINED PERCENT *AKARTA 3INGAPORE

AND "ANGKOK ALSO SLIPPED BY PERCENT PERCENT AND PERCENT RESPECTIVELY /NLY 3EOUL INCREASED PERCENT In Europe, London opened 0.4 percent HIGHER WHILE &RANKFURT WON PERCENT and Paris advanced 0.9 percent. )N A SEPARATE COMMENT 0 0 4RADE /NLINE SALES ASSOCIATE 'ABRIEL *OSE 0EREZ SAID NET FOREIGN BUYING MAY HAVE HELPED LIFT THE INDEX &OREIGN FUNDS BOUGHT 0 BILLION ISSUES AND SOLD 0 BILLION FOR A NET FOREIGN BUYING POSITION OF 0 MILLION )N -ANILA MOST SECTORAL RESULTS kNISHED IN THE GREEN EXCEPT FOR MINING AND OIL WHICH FELL PERCENT 6OLUME TURNOVER STOOD AT BILLION SHARES VALUED AT 0 BILLION 7INNERS LED LOSERS TO WHILE issues were unchanged. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS WITH A REPORT FROM AFP

Net ‘hot money’ hits 2-month high .%4 FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS remained positive in January, rising to their highest in two months, based on "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS "30 DATA RELEASED ON 4HURSDAY 4HE MILLION NET gHOT MONEYu INFLOW ‡ UP FROM $ECEMBER S MILLION ‡ CAME AS INVESTments in peso debt instruments and THE 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK %XCHANGE 03% MORE THAN OFFSET OUTlOWS .ET INFLOWS WERE NOTED FOR 03% LISTED SECURITIES MILLION PESO GOVERNMENT SECURITIES MILLION AND PESO TIME DEPOSITS LESS THAN MILLION WHILE TRANSACTIONS IN OTHER PESO DEBT INSTRUMENTS RESULTED IN NET OUTlOWS OF LESS THAN MILLION g4HIS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO INVEStor optimism arising from the easing trade tension between the US and #HINA AND THE DECLINE IN INFLATION ALONGSIDE THE INCREASE IN NET FOREIGN

Rice import proposal a ‘death trap’ A PROPOSAL calling for a shift to high-value crop production could lead to the death of the domestic rice industry, a Cabinet official said on Thursday. â€œ[A proposed] policy to just rely on imported rice and ask our rice farmers to diversify to other crops is a death trap.â€? Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said in a statement. “This is a shortsighted view which will kill the rice industry and drive away farmers from the rice fields,â€? he added. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Wednesday said the shift would be “the most efficient economic arrangementâ€? and also pressure the agriculture sector to be more competitive. Earnings from high-value produce are much higher than traditional crops such as rice,

which the Philippines is unable to produce in sufficient quantities to meet domestic needs. PiĂąol, however, said that relying purely on purchases from neighboring rice produces such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia also carried risks given weather challenges and rising demand elsewhere. “Even if we have the money to buy, there would be no available rice supply in the world market and assuming that there would be available supply, could we outbid China in buying all the remaining rice stocks?,â€? he asked. “The sad truth is that we are not the only country with a growing population. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and India, which are all rice exporting countries

now, also have growing population. Just like us, their farming areas are not expanding and will in fact shrink because of the sprouting of human settlements,â€? PiĂąol added. â€œIt is as certain as the sun will rise tomorrow that 10 years from now, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and India will no longer be able to export the same volume of rice that they ship out today.â€? At current production levels, the Philippines still needs to import about 600,000 to 800,000 metric tons of rice to satisfy domestic consumption and PiĂąol believes that the government should only allow the importation of rice for the purpose of “fill[ing] up the supply shortfall.â€? EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

BUYING IN 03% LISTED SHARES IN *ANUARY u THE CENTRAL BANK SAID IN A statement. )NFLATION DROPPED TO A MONTH LOW OF PERCENT IN *ANUARY FROM percent in December. 4HE *ANUARY gHOT MONEYu RESULT WAS THE LARGEST NET INlOW SINCE THE MILLION POSTED IN .OVEMBER )T WAS ALSO HIGHER THAN THE YEAR EARLIER NET INlOW OF MILLION 2EGISTERED FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AMOUNTED TO BILLION FOR the month, 30.7 percent and 27.1 PERCENT HIGHER RESPECTIVELY THAN THE BILLION IN $ECEMBER AND THE BILLION RECORDED A YEAR EARLIER 4HE BULK OF THE FUNDS WAS INVESTED IN 03% LISTED SECURITIES ‡ MAINLY HOLDING kRMS PROPERTY BANKS FOOD BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO AND RETAIL COMPANIES 4HE PERCENT BALANCE WENT TO peso government securities and peso

Insurance firms allowed to invest in infra projects INSURANCE companies are now allowed to invest in infrastructure-related projects of the government. The Insurance Commission (IC), in a statement on Thursday, said the new rule was approved last December 28 under Circular Letter 2018-74 and took effect immediately. Insurance and reinsurance firms can invest in debt or equity security instruments for infrastructure projects under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). These include highways, railways, non-rail-based transit facilities, port infrastructure, airports, warehouses, environmental and solid waste management-related facilities and climate change mitigation and adaptation infrastructure projects. They can join as a project proponent, financier/ sponsor or via an operation and maintenance contract. Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said the new circular created a new investment channel for insurers and opened opportunities to improve

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COMMON SHARES OF WHICH MILLION CLI common shares were in treasury and 1,667,500,000 outstanding CLI common shares. On Feb. 12, 2019, Cebu Landmasters opened trading at P4.19 per CLI common SHARE HIT A SESSION HIGH OF 0 FELL TO A LOW OF 0 AND CLOSED THE DAY AT 0 ,ANDMASTERS SAID IN AN EXPLANATORY NOTE !S SHOWN IN WWW PSE COM PH UNDER gHIS)N THE SAME kLING #EBU ,ANDMASTERS TORICAL DATA u THE STOCK PEAKED AT DAY SAID THAT AS OF &EB OF 0 MIL- high of P4.35 and dropped to a month’s LION SHARE BUY BACK BUDGET IT HAS ALREADY LOW OF 0 SPENT 0 4HIS TRANSLATES TO AN average repurchase price of P4.545 per CLI SMC is direct stockholder common share. As of Dec. 31, 2018, Cebu Landmasters !S A SUBSIDIARY OF 3AN -IGUEL #ORP HAS ISSUED A TOTAL OF MILLION #,) 3-# 3AN -IGUEL &OOD AND "EVERAGE

risk-adjusted returns, portfolio diversification and asset-liability matching. â€œThis circular is aimed at encouraging insurers to invest in domestic infrastructure projects to boost our economy and to reap the benefits of portfolio diversification and higher return,â€? he added. â€œWith the administration’s ‘Build Build Build’ Program in full swing, insurers can take advantage of investing their assets in infrastructure projects to aid them in improving their revenue that would address their compliance with the statutory net worth requirements under the Insurance Code,â€? Funa continued. For purposes of determining the net worth of an insurance and reinsurance company, meanwhile, the IC said duly-approved investments in infrastructure projects would now be considered as admitted assets. Before an investment is approved, insurers will have to submit the infrastructure project’s financial statements, which will be evaluated by the regulator to determine the risk impact on insurance firm’s capital. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

What’s inside

San Miguel’s food subsidiary EBU Landmasters Inc. (CLI) bought back 100,000 CLI common shares at DIFFERENT PRICES ON &EB )N A kLING POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE 0HILIPPINE Stock Exchange (PSE) on Feb. 12, 2019, it said it repurchased 61,000 CLI common shares at P4.10 each; 2,000 CLI common shares at P4.11 each; 10,000 CLI common shares at P4.12 each; 8,000 CLI common shares at P4.13 each; 12,000 CLI common shares at P4.14 each; and 7,000 CLI common shares at P4.15 each. The reacquisitions increased the number of the company’s treasury shares from MILLION #,) COMMON SHARES TO MILLION gFROM THE DATE WHEN THE SHARE buy-back program commenced,� Cebu

time deposits. The United Kingdom, the United 3TATES 3INGAPORE .ORWAY AND (ONG +ONG WERE THE TOP kVE INVESTOR COUNtries with a combined 74.7 percent of THE TOTAL *ANUARY S OUTlOWS OF BILLION MEANWHILE WERE LOWER COMPARED TO figures recorded for December and January 2018. The US remained the main destination of repatriated funds, accounting for 78.4 percent. 4AKING PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE first day of February into account, YEAR TO DATE HOT MONEY FLOWS WERE POSITIVE AT A NET INFLOW OF MILLION &ULL YEAR HOT MONEY lOWS HIT A NET INlOW OF BILLION LAST YEAR AN ABOUT FACE FROM S MILLION NET OUTlOW MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Inc. (FB) updated SMC’s ownership. As of Jan. 31, 2019, SMC’s food unit said San -IGUEL IS NOW A DIRECT STOCKHOLDER WITH BILLION &" COMMON SHARES OR PERCENT OF BILLION OUTSTANDING &" common shares. !S OF *AN 3AN -IGUEL &OOD SAID IN A kLING DATED &EB THAT 3-# INDIRECTLY OWNED BILLION &" COMMON SHARES OF ITS HOLDINGS TOTALING BILLION &" COMMON SHARES !S THE PARENT COMPANY 3-# HELD ONLY BILLION &" COMMON SHARES AS SHOWN IN THE LIST OF &" S TOP STOCKHOLDERS AS OF $EC 31, 2018. !S RECORD STOCKHOLDER 0#$ .OMINEE

ÂłPerez B4

2019 MARKET RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES – FINEX FILES BusinessB2

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DOTR WANTS BULACAN AIRPORT BUILT IN PHASES

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JOLLIBEE PROFIT HITS P7.77B, 2019 CAPEX SET AT P17.2B Corporate NewsB3

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US AND CHINA SEEK DEAL

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Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

DoTr wants Bulacan airport built in phases T $O4R 5NDERSECRETARY FOR PLANning Reuben Reinoso said the AGENCY WOULD BE PUSHING FOR PARTIAL OPERABILITY OF THE SOON TO RISE INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY IN "ULACAN u7E RE NOT GOING TO kNISH THE WHOLE FACILITY BEFORE WE COULD even operate. Don’t forget it’s P100

BILLION SINGLE TERMINAL FOUR PARALLEL RUNWAYS -AKE YOUR TERMINAL MODULAR !S LONG AS YOU HAVE A runway, you can start the operaTION u HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE SIDELINES OF AN EVENT ON 7EDNESDAY (E ALSO REITERATED $O4R S PLAN TO START THE 3WISS CHALLENGE WITHIN

THE kRST QUARTER ALLOWING OTHER GROUPS TO CONTEST CONGLOMERATE 3AN -IGUEL #ORP S 3-# UNSOLICITED OFFER SMC wants to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed HECTARE AIRPORT IN "ULAKAN "ULACAN 4HE 0 BILLION PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING WITH AIRSIDE AND LANDSIDE FACILITIES AND AN AIRPORT TOLL ROAD )F 3-# STILL EMERGES AS THE WINner, Reinoso said that once the CONSTRUCTION STARTS THE "ULACAN

Q MERGER FROM B1

ADDED THAT IT HAD HOPED THE DEAL WOULD gTRANSLATE TO BETTER SUGAR PLANTER AND CONSUMER WELFARE DRIVEN BY A MORE STABLE AND PROkTABLE SUGAR PRODUCTION INDUSTRY IN 3OUTHERN ,UZON u g7E SOUGHT TO ADDRESS THE CONcerns expressed by the PCC reGARDING THE POTENTIAL UNINTENDED consequences of such proposed transaction,� the company continued. 4HE RULING WAS A VALID EXERCISE of the PCC’s mandate, URC said, ADDING THAT THE REJECTION WOULD NOT gMATERIALLYu IMPACT ITS BUSINESS PLANS 2() MEANWHILE ONLY CON-

kRMED RECEIPT OF THE 0## DECISION URC shares gained P3.30 or PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 WHILE 2() SAW ITS STOCKS DROP CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO kNISH at P3 amid 0.90-percent spike FOR BENCHMARK 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK Exchange. 'OKONGWEI LED 52# IS ENGAGED IN THE FOOD AND RELATED BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE PRODUCTION of packed foods and beverages, SUGAR AGRO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS AND BIOETHANOL )TS MILLS IN "ATANGAS )LOILO .EGROS /RIENTAL AND /CCIDENTAL AND #AGAYAN PRODUCE RAW SUGAR REkNED SUGAR AND MOLASSES for URC business segments and

BY LISBET K. ESMAEL

HE Department of Transportation (DoTr) wants the proposed Bulacan airport to be built and operated in phases.

PCC blocks POSSIBLE MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY forthcoming as to constrain URC from exercising market power after the transaction.� URC, in a statement, said it accepted the PCC decision and EXPRESSED gSUPPORT TO THE EFFORTS of government for a strong market economy.� It said the merger was its way of ACHIEVING gGREATER PRODUCTION EFkCIENCYu IN ORDER TO PROVIDE QUALITY PRODUCTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES AND

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AIR HUB MAY BE OPERATIONAL IN THE next three to four years offering TWO RUNWAYS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PROPONENT S TIMELINE 5NDER 0HASE THE FACILITY CAN ACCOMMODATE MILLION PASSENGERS AND ANOTHER MILLION UNDER Phase 2, he added. Reinoso, however, noted that DEVELOPMENT WOULD DEPEND ON THE GROWTH OF TRAFkC g4HERE S NO POINT OF BUILDING THE FACILITY IF THERE S NO DEMAND BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN it,� he said.

third parties. 2() WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF AS THE COUNTRY S LARGEST INTEGRATED SUGAR business and the biggest domestic PRODUCER OF ETHANOL OWNS PERcent of CADPI in addition to other kRMS SUCH AS #ENTRAL !ZUCARERA DE LA #ARLOTA )NC IN .EGROS /RIENTAL AND 2OXOL "IOENERGY #ORP IN .OEGROS /CCIDENTAL 4HE 0## A QUASI JUDICIAL BODY ESTABLISHED IN UNDER THE 0HILippine Competition Act of 2015, is tasked with reviewing mergers and ACQUISITIONS FOR POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON COMPETITION AND ALSO initiating investigations into anticompetitive practices.

Compliance — It’s complicated

(%. I was starting to write THIS ARTICLE A SCENE FROM a Harry Potter movie came to MIND (OGWARTS 3CHOOL HAD A new headmistress in the person OF $OLORES 5MBRIDGE 3HE ISSUED A LOT OF NEW RULES WHICH -R &ILCH POSTED OUTSIDE A HUGE WALL WHILE PATIENTLY HAMMERING EVERY FRAME ) COULD IMAGINE HOW THE STUDENTS FELT m LIFE AT Hogwarts was getting to be different. There was an ever-growing TANGLE OF RULES AS THE SO CALLED 2EGULATOR THE -INISTRY OF -AGIC addressed the fast-changing and MATURING WIZARDS )N THE WORLD OF BUSINESS SURVEY AFTER SURVEY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH @COMPLIANCE LIKEWISE CONTINUES TO GET MORE COMPLICATED The rapid pace of innovation AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE CHARACTERIZES HOW ORGANIZATIONS DELIVER GOODS AND OPERATE INTERNALLY Opportunities abound and many CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCERS #%/S IN our country are optimistic about GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH 4HE ONRUSH OF REGULATIONS NOWADAYS SEEMS LIKE HOW 5MBRIDGE ISSUES RULES IN THE MOVIE scene. We are in a more expansive and dynamic risk universe, which goes with growth and innovation. Surveys show that overREGULATION REMAINS A TOP THREAT TO COMPANY GROWTH IN ALMOST EVERY PART OF THE WORLD 3O HOW DO WE

keep up with the times? 3TAKEHOLDERS EXPECT COMPLIance and ethics functions to PROTECT ORGANIZATIONS 4HE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE has never been greater. HeightENED REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT AND GROWING PRESSURES FROM GLOBAL movements and watchdogs (e.g., WHISTLEBLOWERS ACTIVIST GROUPS AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS ARE FUELING THE VALUE OF A STRONG AND RESPONSIVE ETHICAL AND COMPLIANT CULTURE AS WELL AS MORE TRANSPARENT INTERNAL REPORTING CHANNELS We’ve seen in the news how COMPLIANCE FAILURES CAN CAUSE HUGE REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE HIGH customer churn, and massive kNES (ENCE EXECUTIVES RELY ON STRONG COMPLIANCE AND ETHICS programs to address the conseQUENCES OF NON COMPLIANCE AS THEY TAKE RISKS WHILE SEIZING NEW market opportunities. How can we better understand THE COMPLEXITIES OR PERCEIVED COMPLEXITIES WE FACE RIGHT NOW How do we reduce the pressure on COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

ÂłNeedles B4

2019 market risks and opportunities T

HE 0ROFESSIONAL $EVELOPMENT #OMMITTEE OF &).%8 WILL BE CONDUCTING AN ECONOMIC BRIEkNG AT THE -AKATI 3HANGRI La on March 5, 2019 at 2 p.m. The program WILL COVER THE MARKET THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES )T WILL CONSIST OF THREE PARTS 4HE kRST PART WILL COVER THE TOP kNANCIAL RISKS 4HIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE 3'6 #O RISK PARTNER )AN ,AURON 4HIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL MARKET CONDITIONS AND HOW THESE WILL IMPACT EMERGING MARKETS LIKE THE 0HILIPPINES 4HIS WILL BE COVERED BY A MUCH COVETED ECONOMIST AND SPEAKERm *UN 4RINIDAD *UN WILL HELP US GO THROUGH HIS ECONOMIC DATA TO HELP US NAVIGATE THE MARKET CONDITIONS IN 4HIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION ON THE 0HILIPPINE market by ATR Kim Eng Asset ManageMENT INVESTMENT OFkCER 0HILLIP (AGEDORN 4HE LAST PORTION OF THE BRIEkNG WILL BE A TAX UPDATE 4HE ONLY THING CERTAIN IN THIS WORLD ARE TAXES SO $EPARTMENT OF &INANCE (DoF) Assistant Secretary Teresa Habitan WILL BRIEF US ON HOW OUR EARNINGS WILL BE

FINEX FILES

RONALD GOSECO TAXED FROM WHAT IS EVOLVING TO BE THE BEST performing equity market in Asia this year. 3HE WILL ALSO UPDATE US ON THE TAX AMNESTY AS WELL AS THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR !CCELERATION AND )NCLUSION 42!). AND )N PREPARING FOR THIS ECONOMIC BRIEkNG THE COMMITTEE REALIZED THAT RISKS WERE ALWAYS THE UNDERCURRENT IN THE GLOBAL economy and markets. We needed to understand risks to determine how the MARKETS WILL PERFORM IN )T WAS FORTUITOUS THAT THE 'LOBAL 2ISKS 2EPORT FROM THE 7ORLD %CONOMIC &ORUM 7%& WAS RELEASED WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING THE COVERAGE OF THIS &).%8 BRIEkNG 4HE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED THAT gGLOBAL RISKS ARE INTENSIFYING BUT THE COLLECTIVE WILL TO TACKLE THEM APPEARS TO BE LACKING

Instead divisions are hardening.� The report said that in 2018 , macroeconomic RISKS BECAME MORE PREVALENT AND THE kNANCIAL MARKET S VOLATILITY INCREASED )T ALSO APPEARS NOW THAT THE RATE OF GLOBAL GROWTH HAS PEAKED AND THE LATEST )NTERNATIONAL -ONETARY &UND )-& FORECASTS POINT TO A GRADUAL SLOWDOWN OVER THE NEXT few years. The question in our minds is WHETHER THE END OF THE LONGEST RUNNING BULL RUN IN RECENT HISTORY CAN VERY WELL SPELL THE END OF POTENTIAL PROkTS OR ARE there remaining segments in both the GLOBAL AND LOCAL MARKETS THAT ONE CAN STILL make money on? The other question is WHETHER OR NOT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES CAN spur another economic resurgence as they did in the past. 4HE GLOBAL RISK REPORT HIGHLIGHTED THAT GEOPOLITICAL AND GEO ECONOMIC TENSIONS ARE RISING AMONG THE WORLD S MAJOR POWERS /NE CAN SIMPLY LOOK BACK AT THE 53 China trade war that has been hogging THE HEADLINES SINCE LAST YEAR 4HE WORLD IS SEEN TO BE EVOLVING INTO A PERIOD OF DIvergence after decades OF GLOBALIZATION 4HE IMPLICATION OF THIS IS THAT IT WILL BECOME MORE DIFkCULT TO MAKE COLLECTIVE PROGRESS ON GLOBAL CHALLENGES INCLUDING PROTECTING THE environment and responding to the ethiCAL CHALLENGES OF THE 4th )NDUSTRIAL 2EVOLUtion. % N V I R O N M E N T A L risks continue to domINATE THE RESULTS OF THE 'LOBAL 2ISKS 0ERception Survey of the WEF. Extreme weather was the risks of greatest concern. According TO THE 7%& THE RESULTS OF CLIMATE INACTION ARE CLEAR 3PECIES ABUNdance is down by 60 percent since 1970 and this biodiversity LOSS IS AFFECTING THE human food chain AS WELL AS HEALTH AND socio-economic deVELOPMENT 4HIS IN turn is affecting proDUCTIVITY AND REGIONAL security. 4ECHNOLOGICAL VULNERABILITIES CONTINUE TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE GLOBAL RISKS LANDscape. Data fraud, cyber attacks, fake news and identity theft are expected to increase in 2019. The rise of cyber dependency due to the increasing DIGITAL INTERCONNECTION OF PEOPLE THINGS AND ORGANIZATIONS WILL

ÂłFinex B4

Corporate News

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Metrobank to exercise call option on P16-B note 4(% -ETROPOLITAN "ANK AND 4RUST #O -ETROBANK WILL EXERCISE LATER this year the call option on the 0 BILLION 4IER NOTE IT ISSUED kVE YEARS AGO In a disclosure on Thursday, the Ty-led lender reported that ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED TO EXERCISE THAT OPTION ON *UNE g4HE CALL OPTION IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE "ANGKO 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS u IT ADDED 4HE OPTION IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTE ISSUED IN -ARCH 4HE NOTE WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED TIMES AND PRICED AT A COUPON

RATE OF PERCENT OR BASIS POINTS OVER THE kVE YEAR 0$34 & GOVERNMENT BENCHMARK 4HE NOTE MATURES IN *UNE -ETROBANK S NET INCOME REACHED 0 BILLION IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF A PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE YEAR AGO AMOUNT For the third quarter alone, that INCOME GREW BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION -ETROBANK S SHARES ROSE BY 0 OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 EACH ON 4HURSDAY AFTER FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE CALL OPTION MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Phoenix close to sealing deal with state oil firm ,)34%$ 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM 0HILIPPINES )NC IS CLOSE TO FORGING A gSTRATEGIC ALLIANCEu WITH STATE RUN 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL /IL #O 0./# ON ITS PROPOSED LIQUEkED NATURAL GAS ,.' FACILITY IN "ATANGAS PROVINCE In a disclosure dated on 7EDNESDAY THE $ENNIS 5Y LED OIL COMPANY SAID 4ANGLAWAN 0HILIPPINES ,.' )NC ‡ THE JOINT VENTURE kRM IT FORMED WITH #HINA S #.//# 'AS AND 0OWER 'ROUP #O ,TD ‡ WAS LOOKING TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH 0./# IN THE COMING WEEKS 0HOENIX REPRESENTATIVES ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE LED CORPORAtion, it added, “in hopes to secure a STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH THE STATE OWNED kRM IN ITS ,.' HUB PROJECT u 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM IS PROPOSING TO INVOLVE THE 0./# IN PIPELINE infrastructure and franchising, BANKED GAS EQUITY AND OTHER MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 4HE kLING COMES TWO MONTHS AFTER THE $EPARTMENT OF %NERGY $O% AWARDED 4ANGLAWAN 0HILippines the notice to proceed on BUILDING AN ,.' REGASIFICATION

AND RECEIVING TERMINAL WHICH IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A MILLION TON PER ANNUM CAPACITY 4ANGLAWAN 0HILIPPINES EXPECTS TO BREAK GROUND FOR THE HUB THIS YEAR AND BEGIN COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS BY 4HE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES DEVELOPING A GAS kRED POWER PLANT WITH AN INSTALLED CAPACITY OF UP TO MEGAWATTS 4HE ,.' FACILITY 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM SAID WOULD HELP SUPPORT DEMAND FOR A CLEAN COMPETITIVE AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY ENERGY SOURCE IN ,UZON AND PROVIDE ENERGY SECURITY FOR THE COUNTRY %STABLISHED IN $AVAO #ITY IN AND LISTED ON THE 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK %XCHANGE IN *ULY 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM IS INTO TRADING AND MARKETING REFINED OIL PRODUCTS INCLUDING LIQUEkED PETROLEUM GAS AND LUBRICANTS operating oil depots and storage FACILITIES AND OFFERING HAULING AND INTO PLANE SERVICES 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM S SHARES ADDED CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO END AT 0 APIECE ON 4HURSDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,991.25

71.01

Ÿ

All Shares

4,851.64

39.65

Ÿ

Financials

1,835.10

31.44

Ÿ

Industrial

11,548.88

110.72

Ÿ

Holding Firms

7,892.41

4.76

Ÿ

Services

1,590.46

9.01

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8,516.19

-53.67

Ĺş

Property

4,029.77

66.13

Ÿ

J

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

OLLIBEE Foods Corp. saw its net income jump by 16.5 percent to P7.77 billion in 2018 from P6.67 billion the year before on the back of its strong systemwide retail sales. In a disclosure on Thursday, the listed fast-food giant said that for the fourth quarter alone, its net PROkT INCREASED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 3YSTEMWIDE SALES FROM BOTH COMPANY OWNED AND FRANCHISE STORES CLIMBED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN FROM 0 BILLION YEAR ON YEAR AND BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN /CTOBER TO $ECEMBER FROM 0 BILLION 4HESE SALES INCLUDED THE IMPACT OF 53 BASED FAST FOOD CHAIN 3MASHBURGER S CONSOLIDATION INTO

ALL SHARES

*OLLIBEE IN !PRIL 7ITHOUT THAT SALES WOULD HAVE GROWN BY ONLY PERCENT IN AND PERCENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER For its Philippine operations ALONE *OLLIBEE SAID SALES INCREASED BY PERCENT LAST YEAR ON THE BACK OF THE PERCENT CONTRIBUTION FROM NEW STORES AND PERCENT SAME STORE SALES GROWTH 3ALES GROWTH FROM NEW STORE OPENINGS IS EXCLUDED 4HE ACQUISITION OF 3MASHBURGER HELPED BOOST SALES FROM .ORTH !MERICA BY PERCENT WHILE THOSE FROM %UROPE -IDDLE %AST AND !SIA EXCLUDING THE 0HILIPPINES

GREW BY PERCENT AND FROM #HINA BY PERCENT .ET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT kRM ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN FROM 0 BILLION AND BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER FROM 0 BILLION /PERATING INCOME SURGED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION LAST YEAR FROM 0 BILLION IN AND BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF FROM 0 BILLION /PERATING INCOME MARGIN HOWEVER DIPPED BY PERCENT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF 3MASHBURGER WHICH *OLLIBEE TOOK FULL CONTROL OF IN $ECEMBER AFTER BUYING THE REMAINING PERCENT STAKE OF 3*"& ,## THE THEN PARENT COMPANY OF THE FORMER FOR 0 MILLION g4HE 0HILIPPINE BUSINESS PERFORMED STRONGLY IN DESPITE RISING INlATION RATE AND SLOWING '$0 GROWTH u *OLLIBEE #HIEF %X-

ECUTIVE /FkCER %RNESTO 4ANMANTIONG WAS QUOTED AS SAYING IN THE STATEMENT

2019 capex doubled 4HANKS TO ITS STRONG PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR *OLLIBEE SAID IT WAS ALLOCATING 0 BILLION AS CAPITAL expenditures (capex) this year, ALMOST DOUBLING THE 0 BILLION IT SPENT IN 4HE AMOUNT IT ADDED WOULD BE USED TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW STORES AND RENOVATION OF OLD ONES AND INVEST IN PRODUCTION FACILITIES ,AST YEAR *OLLIBEE OPENED NEW STORES ‡ IN THE 0HILIPPINES OVERSEAS ‡ BRINGING ITS STORE NETWORK TO A PERCENT INCREASE FROM AT END AND ENTERED THE )TALIAN -ACAU "RITISH AND -ALAYSIAN MARKETS *OLLIBEE SHARES ROSE BY 0 OR PERCENT TO END AT 0 APIECE ON 4HURSDAY

ICTSI expands capacity of Georgia terminal ,)34%$ )NTERNATIONAL #ONTAINER 4ERMINAL 3ERVICES )NC )#43) IS BOOSTING THE CAPACITY AND EFkCIENCY OF ITS CONTAINER TERMINAL IN 'EORGIA TO MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE )N A STATEMENT ON 4HURSDAY THE 2AZON LED PORT OPERATOR SAID THE EXPANSION OF ITS MULTIPURPOSE UNIT "ATUMI )NTERNATIONAL #ONTAINER 4ERMINAL ")#4 WOULD FOCUS ON ITS WATERSIDE AND LANDSLIDE SEGMENTS AIMED AT INCREASING THE CAPACITY AND IMPROVING THE EFkCIENCY OF CARGO lOWS 4HE TERMINAL S CONTAINER HANDLING CAPACITY IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE TO TWENTY FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS 4%5S ANNUALLY WITH THE BOOST g4HIS NEW INVESTMENT CONSOLIDATES AND EXPANDS ")#4 S COMPETITIVE POSITION u (ANS /LE -ADSEN )#43) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND

SERVICES

Stock indices as of February 14, 2019

PSEi

B3

Jollibee profit hits P7.77B, 2019 capex set at P17.2B

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

MINING AND OIL

%UROPE -IDDLE %AST AND !FRICA HEAD SAID IN THE STATEMENT g! COMPREHENSIVE DREDGING PROGRAM UNDERTAKEN IN COOPERATION WITH "ATUMI 3EA 0ORT PROVIDES AN METER DRAUGHT IN THE PORT S FAIRWAY AND ALONGSIDE ")#4 S QUAY LINE ALLOWING EASY ACCESS FOR FEEDERMAX VESSELS AT THE PORT AND MAKING IT 'EORGIA S DEEPEST DRAUGHT PORT u HE ADDED g/N THE LANDSIDE WE HAVE MET THE STATED REQUIREMENT OF IMPORTERS AND ESTABLISHED A NEW CONTAINER FREIGHT STATION COMPLETE WITH A METER RAIL SPUR TO FACILITATE CROSS STUFkNG FROM CONTAINERS TO RAIL CARS u g;7=E HAVE ALSO EXPANDED CONTAINER AND TRUCK STORAGE AREAS AND FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF A NEW HIGHWAY TO "ATUMI INTRODUCED A NEW DEDICATED TWO LANE GATE

COMPLEX FOR ")#4 u 4HE TERMINAL S EXPANSION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE PROkTS OF )#43) WHOSE NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS CLIMBED TO MILLION IN THE kRST NINE MONTHS OF FROM MILLION IN 2EVENUES FROM PORT OPERATIONS ALSO GREW BY PERCENT TO BILLION IN THE PERIOD FROM MILLION THE YEAR BEFORE %ARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST TAXES DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION JUMPED BY PERCENT TO MILLION IN *ANUARY TO 3EPTEMBER FROM MILLION WHILE OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES ALSO INCHED UP BY PERCENT TO MILLION IN THE PERIOD FROM MILLION 3HARES OF )#43) ROSE BY CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 APIECE ON 4HURSDAY LISBET K. ESMAEL

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 BDO Unibank, Inc. International Container Terminal Services, inc. Ayala Land, Inc. Jollibee Foods Corporation Bloomberry Resorts Corporation SM Investments Corporation SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company Bank of the Philippine Islands Ayala Corporation 0HWUR 3DFLÂżF ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ Xurpas Inc. Petron Corporation Abacore Capital Holdings, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Filinvest Development Corporation GT Capital Holdings, Inc. Manila Electric Company Security Bank Corporation Universal Robina Corporation

Last Price Chg %Chg 140.6 3.1 2.25% 115.9 0.9 0.78% 45 0.6 1.35% 321.2 5.2 1.65% 12.08 0.38 3.25% 990 7 0.71% 39.4 0.9 2.34% 82.4 1.4 1.73% 90.1 1.5 1.69% 926 -4 -0.43% 4.9 0.05 1.03% 1.79 -0.09 -4.79% 6.69 -0.09 -1.33% 0.85 0.02 2.41% 62.8 -0.45 -0.71% 14 1.38 10.94% 1,020.00 -28 -2.67% 360.2 0.2 0.06% 175.1 3.6 2.10% 143.8 3.3 2.35%

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Volume 3,147,140.00 2,946,830.00 6,798,400.00 838,930.00 16,261,000.00 191,030.00 4,587,600.00 2,105,180.00 1,827,570.00 137,760.00 25,725,000.00 64,685,000.00 16,170,900 121,011,000 1,657,230 7,328,300 78,805 198,280 390,820 466,850

Value 440,972,574.00 341,094,196.00 304,387,445.00 268,147,412.00 194,815,402.00 188,074,675.00 179,511,525.00 173,357,440.00 164,721,137.50 127,682,890.00 124,858,320.00 118,812,020.00 109,363,205.00 105,455,300.00 104,323,702.00 100,382,148.00 81,143,540.00 71,556,048.00 67,798,269.00 66,728,826.00

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS No. 1 2 3 4

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 8, 2019 Feb 07, 2019 Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 Jan 22, 2019 Jan 21, 2019 Jan 18, 2019 Jan 17, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 Jan 15, 2019 Jan 14, 2019 Jan 11, 2019 Jan 10, 2019 Jan 9, 2019 Jan 08, 2019 Jan 07, 2019 Jan 04, 2019 Jan 03, 2019

Open 7,960 8,040 8,077 8,088 8,092 8,093 8,091 8,132 8,039 7,999 8,039 8,087 8,071 8,076 8,001 7,941 8,024 8,055 7,932 7,866 7,983 8,009 7,886 7,965 7,932 7,775 7,820 7,801 7,657 7,507

High 7,996 8,040 8,084 8,106 8,096 8,127 8,214 8,149 8,166 8,099 8,047 8,087 8,144 8,116 8,068 7,990 8,030 8,067 8,058 7,938 7,991 8,028 8,024 7,965 7,992 7,920 7,826 7,901 7,802 7,681

Low 7,921 7,889 7,984 8,062 8,036 8,088 8,058 8,069 8,039 7,999 7,912 8,015 8,042 8,039 8,001 7,902 7,979 7,964 7,920 7,865 7,849 7,976 7,819 7,856 7,899 7,766 7,702 7,788 7,657 7,490

Close 7,991 7,920 8,010 8,062 8,071 8,100 8,058 8,069 8,144 8,007 7,980 8,051 8,054 8,053 8,065 7,990 8,009 8,007 8,047 7,927 7,865 8,013 8,024 7,904 7,985 7,920 7,702 7,788 7,761 7,681

CLOSE

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Manila Mining Corporation “B� Manila Mining Corporation “A� Benguet Corporation “B� Filinvest Development Corporation Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corporation - US Dollar-Denomination Preferred B-2 Shares The Philodrill Corporation Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation “B� Zeus Holdings, Inc. Island Information and Technology, Inc. Victorias Milling Company, Inc. 8990 Holdings, Inc. D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Incorporated Apollo Global Capital, Inc. Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. DMCI Holdings, Inc. Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company “A� Marcventures Holdings, Inc. Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Macay Holdings, Inc. First Abacus Financial Holdings Corp.

Volume Value Last Price Chg 315,000,000.00 3,520,000.00 0.011 0.002 518,000,000.00 5,522,300.00 0.01 0.001 83,000.00 116,200.00 1.4 0.16 7,328,300.00 100,382,148.00 14 1.38

%Chg 27.91% 13.64% 12.90% 10.94%

20,000.00

20,000.00

1

0.09

9.89%

11,000,000.00 400,000.00 49,480,000.00 40,390,000.00 202,000.00 3,759,000.00 1,354,700.00 75,700,000.00 253,950.00 1,912,600.00 6,880,000.00 841,000.00 16,261,000.00 1,403,000.00 420,000.00

141,000.00 5,200.00 17,893,050.00 5,933,990.00 533,320.00 42,756,644.00 13,922,072.00 3,398,700.00 21,973,737.00 23,989,092.00 916,580.00 958,770.00 194,815,402.00 23,481,370.00 288,740.00

0.013 0.013 0.365 0.15 2.73 11.82 10.48 0.044 89.4 12.6 0.132 1.14 12.08 14.64 0.68

0.001 0.001 0.025 0.01 0.17 0.68 0.52 0.002 3.9 0.48 0.005 0.04 0.38 0.44 0.02

8.33% 8.33% 7.35% 7.14% 6.64% 6.10% 5.22% 4.76% 4.56% 3.96% 3.94% 3.64% 3.25% 3.10% 3.03%

*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 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation 3DFLÂżFD ,QF TKC Metals Corporation Manila Broadcasting Company Synergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc. Centro Escolar University Asiabest Group International Inc. Swift Foods, Inc. Benguet Corporation “Aâ€? Suntrust Home Developers, Inc. Xurpas Inc. Abra Mining & Industrial Corporation Chemical Industries of the Philippines Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. “Aâ€? Crown Asia Chemicals Corporation PH Resorts Group Holdings, Inc. Ever-Gotesco Resources & Holdings, Inc. Mabuhay Holdings Corporation Ayala Corporation Preferred Class “Bâ€? Shares Philippine Estates Corporation

*amounts in peso except for volume, %chg

Volume Value Last Price Chg %Chg 62,563,000.00 51,840,230.00 0.77 -0.14 -15.38% 758,380,000.00 35,690,420.00 0.044 -0.007 -13.73% 9,114,000.00 11,608,430.00 1.24 -0.14 -10.14% 100.00 1,460.00 14.6 -1.42 -8.86% 50.00 22,820.00 459 -40 -8.02% 9,100.00 70,819.00 7.76 -0.63 -7.51% 1,377,300.00 32,220,055.00 23.1 -1.8 -7.23% 110,000.00 14,930.00 0.133 -0.007 -5.00% 9,000.00 11,970.00 1.33 -0.07 -5.00% 3,087,000.00 2,408,710.00 0.77 -0.04 -4.94% 64,685,000.00 118,812,020.00 1.79 -0.09 -4.79% 671,000,000.00 1,476,300.00 0.0022 -0.0001 -4.35% 4,230.00 530,088.00 125 -4.9 -3.77% 308,000.00 640,090.00 2.07 -0.08 -3.72% 279,000.00 511,570.00 1.82 -0.07 -3.70% 553,500.00 3,433,329.00 6.12 -0.22 -3.47% 31,170,000.00 4,800,100.00 0.14 -0.005 -3.45% 168,000.00 97,350.00 0.57 -0.02 -3.39% 2,000.00 660,000.00

920,000.00 315,350.00

460 0.47

-15 -0.015

-3.16% -3.09%

Foreign Business Airbus pulls plug US and China seek deal on A380 superjumbo B B4

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

EIJING: US and Chinese negotiators on Thursday kicked off two days of highlevel talks that President Donald Trump says could decide whether he escalates the bruising tariff battle between the world’s two biggest economies. Trump indicated this week he was open to extending a trade truce beyond March 1 depending on progress in Beijing. He is considering pushing the deadLINE BACK AN ADDITIONAL DAYS "LOOMBERG .EWS REPORTED CITING sources. In December he postponed PLANS TO SHARPLY HIKE TARIFFS ON BILLION OF #HINESE IMPORTS TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR NEGOTIATION The two economic superpowers

HAVE ALREADY IMPOSED DUTIES ON MORE THAN BILLION IN TWO WAY trade, which has weighed on their manufacturing sectors and shaken GLOBAL kNANCIAL MARKETS US Trade Representative Robert ,IGHTHIZER AND 4REASURY 3ECRETARY Steven Mnuchin are meeting with #HINA S TOP ECONOMIC CZAR ,IU (E SEEKING TO BUILD ON PROGRESS MADE IN 7ASHINGTON LAST MONTH 7E ARE gLOOKING FORWARD TO DIScussions today,� Mnuchin said as

Q NEEDLES FROM B2

$O WE USE POLICY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE COMPLIANCE department? Training and communication. $O WE UPDATE OUR COMPLIANCE TRAINing and communication programs ANNUALLY $O WE EXPECT TO INCREASE ONLINE TRAINING COURSES IN THE NEXT three years? Do we expect to do more frequent short-term communication in the next three years? Monitoring. $O WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR EMPLOYEES COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Have we gained better insights or DONE BETTER ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS FROM THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR EMPLOYEE COMPLIANCE MONITORING !RE OUR BUDGETS SUFkCIENT TO MEET ADDITIONAL NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH TECHNOLOGY ,INKING THESE AREAS OF COMPLI-

Compliance How do we identify and contribute TO HIGHLY EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE HABITS (OW CAN WE USE TECHNOLOGY SO OUR ORGANIZATIONS WILL INITIALLY IMPROVE THEN ULTIMATELY EXCEL

Cultivating a culture of compliance Understanding the state of the FOLLOWING OPERATIONAL AREAS OF COMPLIANCE CAN GIVE US A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW Policies and procedures. Do we review our code of conduct ANNUALLY $O WE HAVE A SINGLE POLICY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

HE LEFT HIS HOTEL 4HURSDAY MORNING FOR THE TALKS %XPECTATIONS FOR A TRADE DEAL have grown as China faces pressure FROM SLOWING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND AS SWOONING GLOBAL MARKETS POSE A CHALLENGE TO 4RUMP AND HIS economic advisors. $ATA RELEASED 4HURSDAY IN #HINA SHOWED ITS TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE 53 ‡ A MAJOR SOURCE OF ANGER within the Trump administration ‡ NARROWED IN *ANUARY TO BILLION EVEN AS ITS !MERICAN IMPORTS PLUNGED PERCENT FOR THE MONTH FROM A YEAR EARLIER ,AST YEAR THE SURPLUS HIT A RECORD BILLION #HINA S TOTAL IMPORTS ALSO SANK for the month, pointing to weak

DEMAND AMID SLOWING ECONOMIC growth. #HINESE 0RESIDENT 8I *INPING PLANS TO MEET WITH THE 53 OFkCIALS in Beijing this week, a report in the South China Morning Post said 7EDNESDAY BOLSTERING HOPES FOR THE TALKS AND WORLD MARKETS 4RUMP ALSO HAS SAID HE EXPECTS TO MEET WITH 8I gAT SOME POINTu TO CLINCH A TRADE DEAL 4RUMP TOLD REPORTERS IN THE /VAL /FkCE ON 7EDNESDAY THAT PRELIMINARY TALKS IN "EIJING WERE gGOING ALONG VERY WELL u "LOOMberg reported. The two sides said major progRESS WAS MADE IN TALKS LAST MONTH IN 7ASHINGTON BUT A WIDE GULF remains on some issues. AFP

PARIS: European aerospace giant Airbus said Thursday it would end production of the A380 superjumbo, the double-decker jet which earned plaudits from passengers but failed to win over enough airlines to justify its massive costs. The firm said it would stop deliveries in 2021 of the A380, which has been in operation for more than a decade, after Dubai-based carrier Emirates reduced its total order of the model by 39 planes. It marks an ignominious end to a bold bet on how millions of people would travel in the future, as airlines struggled to fill a plane capable of carrying anywhere from 500 to 850 people. “Following a review of its operations, and in light of developments in aircraft and engine technologies, Emirates is reducing its A380 order-

book from 162 to 123 aircraft,â€? Airbus said in a statement. “As a consequence and given the lack of order backlog with other airlines, Airbus will cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021.â€? Airbus had been forced to slow A380 production in recent years before warning in January 2018 that the program could be scrapped if no new orders came in. Just days after this announcement, the company appeared to get a lifeline with the latest Emirates deal, but last month Airbus admitted the airline might now be reconsidering. In Thursday’s statement Airbus said it would deliver the last 14 A380s to Emirates over the next two years, adding that the airline had ordered 70 smaller planes from AFP the manufacturer.

ance with business strategy sets the FOUNDATION FOR A CULTURE OF COMPLIance and ethics. And the answers TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS WILL GIVE A kRSTHAND ASSESSMENT ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS 2ISK CULTURE BEHAVIORS that are innovative and optimistic are expected to be exhibited as we go through the journey. For one, SIMPLY EMPHASIZING THE CONCEPT OF PROPER gTONE AT THE TOPu IS DEkNITELY A WINNING FORMULA TO achieve these distinctive behaviors.

7HAT TECHNOLOGY ELEMENTS TOOLS DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT YOUR COMPLIANCE PROGRAM $ATA ANALYSIS TOOLS DASHBOARDS continuous monitoring, data WAREHOUSING DATA EXTRACTION TOOLS '2# GOVERNANCE RISK MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS COLLABORATION AND INTERACTION TOOLS PREDICTIVE AND AUTOMATION TOOLS m THESE REGTECH REGULATORY TECHNOLOGY TOOLS HELP ORGANIZATIONS QUICKLY ANALYZE VAST AMOUNTS OF DATA ENABLING THEM TO gain insights into the business and CUSTOMER BEHAVIORS AND EFkCIENTLY ASSESS POTENTIAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES

SORT OUT VIOLATIONS

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Single policy management framework

San Miguel’s

Technology improves compliance What can we do to have effective COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS &INDING WORKERS WITH THE RIGHT SKILL SETS IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE WORKERS INCREASINGLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY THE BUSINESS AND COMPLIANCE 7ITH MULTIPLE NEW AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED WATCHDOGS now providing their own forms of insight, the case for strengthenING COMPLIANCE RISK MANAGEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IS STRONG 4O support a modern data-driven COMPLIANCE FUNCTION ORGANIZAtions are pressed to invest in TECHNOLOGY ENABLED INFRASTRUCTURE

Digital upskilling of compliance and ethics team

7ITH IMPROVED CULTURE SKILLS AND TOOLS THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO STREAMLINE POLICY MANAGEMENT AND TO CLEARLY AND DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE POLICIES TO ITS EMPLOYEES 2EADILY AVAILABLE SOFTWARE THAT CONTAINS MANY '2# TECHNOLOGY TOOLS CAN MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MORE COMPREHENSIVELY 0OLICY OWNERS can give information on training, AUDITING AND MONITORING PLANS FOR EACH POLICY !NY NEW OR REVISED POLICY CAN ALSO BE CONkGURED IN THE SYSTEM TO GO THROUGH A POLICY COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL ! SINGLE POLICY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK WITH DOCUMENTED POLICY GOVERNANCE LEADS TO BETTER CONSIStency and greater effectiveness of CORPORATE POLICIES ACROSS MULTIPLE AREAS 4HEY WILL BE GENERALLY A LOT SIMPLER AND EASIER FOR EMPLOYEES TO UNDERSTAND AND THEREFORE FOLLOW

7ITH TOOLS IN PLACE FOCUS ON THE DIGITAL UPSKILLING OF YOUR COMPLIANCE AND ETHICS TEAM /NCE WE KNOW HOW TO USE THE TOOLS TO IDENTIFY OUR AVAILABLE DATA AND data sources, we can perform our ANALYSES SUCH AS MONITORING EMPLOYEE COMPLIANCE 4ECHNOLOGY gives better insights and better Compliance training ROOT CAUSE ANALYSES /UR ABILITY TO RESPOND IN REAL TIME ALSO IMPROVES Conduct a thorough and up-to-date AND WE CAN IDENTIFY OUTLIERS AND COMPLIANCE TRAINING THAT STARTS AT THE top (again). Board training can give more headway. Engaging methods are often used to conduct board TRAINING AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING FOR THE REST IN THE ORGANIZATION Shorter and more frequent forms OF TRAINING ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO BE more engaged and create a positive EFFECT IN THE OFkCE 4%$ TECHNOLOGY ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN TALK LIKE AWARENESS VIDEOS are considered as high-impact. Thought-provoking messages usING EVERYDAY LANGUAGE AS OPPOSED TO THE FORMAL STYLE OF ETHICS PRESENtations, get more attention, thus enhancing interest and generating DIALOGUE -OBILE APPS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON IN DISTRIBUTING COMPLIance content.

Advice in improving compliance function 3TARTING A MORE DATA AND TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN COMPLIANCE FUNCTION CAN BE CHALLENGING #OMPLETING A needs assessment and identifying EXISTING TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS THAT CAN BE LEVERAGED ARE IMPORTANT kRST STEPS .EXT IS TO PRIORITIZE AREAS IN NEED OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE BY CONSIDERING DATA SOURCES "UILD A CASE FOR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT and identify process changes to MAKE COMPLIANCE MORE RESPONSIVE comprehensive, and current. Then EXECUTE AGAINST A TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS ROADMAP TOWARDS A BETTER AND EFFECTIVE COMPLIANT ENVIRONMENT 3O LET S STAY POSITIVE ABOUT THE future and do our part (no matter HOW SMALL OR BIG AS WE REMOVE THE COMPLICATIONS THAT SURROUND OUR WORLD OF COMPLIANCE 7E CANNOT CONTROL CHANGE BUT WE CAN DEkNITELY ACCEPT THEM AND ACT ON IT *** 'ERALDINE ( !POSTOL IS THE 2ISK Assurance Leader, Learning & DeVELOPMENT ,EAD 0ARTNER AND #HIEF )NTERNAL !UDITOR OF )SLA ,IPANA #O A MEMBER kRM OF THE 0W# NETWORK &OR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL MARKETS PH PWC COM 4HIS CONTENT IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

#ORP HELD BILLION &" COMmon shares for SMC. As of Dec. 31, IT ALSO HELD BILLION &" COMMON SHARES AND MILLION &" PREFERRED 3 SHARES FOR A TOTAL OF BILLION SHARES WHICH WERE THEN EQUIVALENT TO PERCENT )T ALSO HELD MILLION &" COMMON shares and 105,645 preferred shares FOR FOREIGNERS WHO INDIRECTLY OWNED A TOTAL OF MILLION &" COMMON shares, or 1.107 percent. 4HE 03% WEBSITE STILL LISTS %DUARDO M. Cojuangco Jr. as chairman of FB’s 13-person board with Ramon S. Ang AS VICE CHAIRMAN )T ALSO SHOWS 3AN -IGUEL &OOD HAVING FOUR INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS NAMELY #ARMELO , 3ANTIAGO -INITA 6 #HICO .AZARIO 2ICARDO # -ARQUEZ AND #IRILO 0 .OEL

Ownership profile )N A PUBLIC OWNERSHIP REPORT 0/2 #ENTRAL !ZUCARERA DE 4ARLAC )NC #!4 LISTED TWO PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS WITH COMBINED HOLDINGS OF 248.078, or 87.81 percent. These are #!4 2ESOURCE !SSETS (OLDINGS )NC WITH MILLION #!4 COMMON shares, or 71.4 percent, and Luisita 4RUST &UND WITH MILLION #!4 common shares, or 16.41 percent. )N THE SAME kLING #!4 ATTRIBUTED TO ITS PUBLIC STOCKHOLDERS THE OWNERSHIP OF MILLION #!4 COMMON shares, or 12.19 percent. The seven-person board of the LISTED COMPANY HELD COMMON SHARES AS OF *AN WHILE FOUR executives owned 24,980 common shares. On Feb. 13, 2019, CAT common shares opened trading at P17.20, hit a SESSION HIGH OF 0 FELL TO A LOW OF 0 AND CLOSED THE DAY AT 0 6OLUME REMAINS THIN AS ONLY common shares were traded during the session. The stock, according to www.pse. com.ph, peaked at 30-day high of 0 AND DROPPED TO A MONTH S LOW of P15.80. )N A DEkNITIVE INFORMATION STATEMENT $)3 #!4 LISTED 0#$ .OMINEE AS RECORD HOLDER OF MILLION #!4 COMMON SHARES OR 92.18 percent, for CAT Resource & !SSET (OLDINGS #!4 2ESOURCE IDENTIkED TWO #!4 STOCKHOLDERS FOR WHOM IT HELD #!4 COMMON SHARES TOTALING MILLION OR PERCENT 4HESE ARE -ARTIN )GNACIO 0 ,ORENZO MILLION #!4 COMMON SHARES AND Fernando Ignacio C. Cojuangco, MILLION #!4 COMMON SHARES

%MAIL ESDPEREZ GMAIL COM

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2019 AMPLIFY THESE RISKS !LL OF US HAVE TO take the necessary precautions and mitigations to address these. It is important that we keep this in mind as we continue to upgrade our processes and systems to harness our own DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES !S ALWAYS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES go side by side. Understanding both WILL DETERMINE SUCCESS OR FAILURE

2ONALD 'OSECO IS CURRENTLY A 4RUSTEE OF THE &).%8 &OUNDATION

AgriBusiness Lawyers favor biotech trends

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

DA,IRRI join forces to boost rice productivity THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have joined hands to increase productivity in the country’s rice industry. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol and IRRI Director General Matthew Morell on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Scientific and Technical Collaboration in support of enhancing the Philippine Rice Industry Competitiveness. “The initiatives in this agreement that we work to collaborate with the DA would include new innovations, the development and dissemination of improved rice varieties that are high-yielding, climate-smart and resistant to pests and diseases,â€? Morell said in the press conference relative to the signing of the MOU. He noted that both agencies had released over 320 rice varieties suited for the country, particularly in rainfed and upland areas. This development, Morell said, has helped farmers increase yield by up to 0.4 metric tons (MT) per hectare, translating to an additional $110 in income. Morell said IRRI was also poised on expanding its education courses to provide science and fieldwork courses as well as leadership programs to support decision-making in the Philippine agriculture sector. He added about 600 Filipino farmer-students had studied at IRRI in collaboration with Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and DA’s training arm Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). He said the IRRI was looking forward to strengthening its partnership with the DA and accelerating its contribution to the Philippines’ effort in facing continuing population growth, climate change, nutritional challenges and changes in the structure of the rice industry globally. PiĂąol, for his part, said the DA was looking at the greater utilization of good seeds provided by IRRI to local farmers nationwide to help improve their productivity. “If our farmers can increase their productivity from 4 MT to 6-8 MT, we would be able to compete,â€? said PiĂąol. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

A

GRI-BIOTECH application in food and medicines is acceptable to the legal community, according to a study conducted by the University of the Philippines Los BaĂąos-College of Development Communication (UPLB-CDC). The study titled “Legal Discourse on Agri-Biotechnology: Implications to Lawyers’ Engagement in Biotechnology in the Philippinesâ€? was commissioned by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Infor-

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

EDITOR: Conrad M. CariĂąo

mation Center (Searca-BIC) based in UPLB, Laguna. The results of the study were presented to scientists and experts as well as representatives from the academe, national and international agencies and institutions, and partners from the biotech

community during the recent Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) of Searca. Professor Cleofe Torres of the UPLB-CDC Department of Science Communication, and lawyer Damcelle Cortes, assistant professor at the Institute for Governance and Rural Development of the UPLB College of Public Affairs and Development, shared some of the research kNDINGS IN THEIR !$33 LECTURE ON “Engaging Lawyers in Agri-biotechnology: Challenges and Prospects.� Torres said results showed that despite having a low level of familiarity with key terms such as genes, viruses, Golden Rice, GMO GENETICALLY MODIkED ORGANISM

contamination; processes; and the existence of agri-biotech regulations in the country, lawyers still favor the application of agri-biotech in food and medicines provided proper precautions are taken. “[These] precautions include educating the public on its pros and cons, addressing risks of the technology, and having a structured regulatory process,� she said. According to Torres, the study also revealed that while lawyers perceive agri-biotech as an interesting topic, they still do not see it as a lucrative area of legal practice. “Nevertheless, lawyers were found to be open to expanding their knowledge on the subject, collaborating

with scientists, and actively participating in regulating agri-biotech products in the country,� she said. Furthermore, Cortes said the study also analyzed the content of legal documents related to the Bt eggplant case. “The study found that there is a need to improve the level of science literacy among the judiciary based on the legal arguments raised during the trial,� Cortes said. She also explained that such lack of understanding on the nature of GMO crops had implications on their decision to stop the Bt EGGPLANT kELD TESTING IN THE 0HILippines in 2015, which was overturned the following year.

Agri group opposes rice import liberalization

UPLB TECHNO HUB OPENED

The University of the Philippines Los BaĂąos (UPLB), through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension and the UPLB Foundation Inc., inaugurated the UPLB Technology Hub and One-Stop Shop on February 6. The techno hub and one-stop shop, funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), aims to promote products, processes and information as it houses various agricultural technologies and information products of UPLB generated through research and development. Inset photo shows BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar, PhD explaining the facets of the techno hub during its inauguration. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Economic managers looking for ways to improve agriculture sector WITH the agriculture sector growing at 0.8 percent in 2018, the Duterte administration’s economic managers, including Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, are exploring measures to enhance farm productivity. “Had the agriculture sector grown at its potential of 4 percent in 2018, full-year economic growth would have reached 6.5 percent, equal to the low-end of our revised growth target last year,� Diokno said. “Looking at 2018 gross domestic product (GDP) growth by industrial origin, the agriculture sector contributed a measly 0.1 percentage point to the full-year growth rate of 6.2 percent. Simply put, the farm sector had virtually zero contribution to economic growth last year,� he added.

B5

The Budget secretary said those were the reasons the Duterte administration was prioritizing the agriculture sector so farmers and kSHERFOLK WOULD ATTAIN HIGHER PROductivity translating to higher incomes. For consumers, this would mean lower food prices. Historically speaking, the performance of the agriculture, forestry, AND kSHERIES SECTOR HAS BEEN ERRATIC and subpar relative to the Philippine economy. Agriculture sector expansion was highest under President Joseph Estrada, averaging 6.5 percent. He was followed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with an average of 2.9-percent growth for the agriculture sector. The sector grew by 2.4 percent DURING THE kRST TWO YEARS OF THE $UTERte administration, the third best so far

among post-Martial law presidents. Weather disturbances can seriously affect the agriculture sector like in 1998, 2009 and 2010 from El NiĂąo and La NiĂąa. As of end-2018, the agriculture sector accounted for a fourth of total employment, but its share to GDP was disproportionately low at less than PERCENT SPECIkCALLY PERCENT AT constant 2000 prices. This is not much better like in 1992 when the sector accounted for as much as 45 percent of employment while accounting for 16 percent of total output. This employment-output mismatch is common for developing countries with less productive agriculture sectors. “Clearly, inadequate policies, vulnerability to natural hazards, and bureaucratic mismanagement

all had a hand in the sluggish performance of the agriculture sector throughout the years,� he said, adding agriculture has been the “weak link� in the economy.

and Development, for instance, is to direct more resources in improving supply-chain connectivity (farm-tomarket roads and other infrastructure) and focusing on agricultural research and extension services. Steps for agri sector “We will coordinate with the concerned agencies, especially the “In our last Cabinet meeting, we dis- Department of Agriculture and the cussed some measures to help farmers National Economic and DevelopAND kSHERFOLK u $IOKNO SAID g4HE ment Authority. Once ready, we LandBank discussed ways to allow WILL SHARE OUR kNDINGS IN HOPES small farmers access to credit and loan of reversing the poor performance facilities,� he added. of agriculture. This will take a The Department of Budget and holistic approach, both in policy Management is currently reviewing formulation and program implestudies by agriculture experts to mentation. Rest assured that the find ways in enhancing resource DBM will continue to play its part allocation in for the sector. One in ensuring that resources are allorecommendation by the Organi- CATED TO MOST BENEkCIAL AND MOST sation for Economic Cooperation EFkCIENT PURPOSES u $IOKNO SAID

THE Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is opposed to the rice import liberalization EMBODIED IN THE 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION Law that is set to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. PCAFI said the Duterte administration should instead zero in on a policy adopted by the United States AND #HINA THAT PROVIDES SIGNIkCANT subsidies for the farming sector. “On Dec. 20, 2018, the US passed another Farm Bill into law granting subsidies to both producers and consumers in the amount of $867 billion in the next five years. It must be noted that these are federalsubsidiesanddonotincludethose granted at the state level,â€? said PCAFI. The group said allowing rice imPORTS TO lOOD THE LOCAL MARKET WAS not the “magic wandâ€? to push down prices of the staple for the interest of consumers, and that the plight of the farmers also be considered. “How the rice farmers are treated will determine how the rest of the sectors [in agriculture] will be treated,â€? said PCAFI led by its president, Danilo Fausto. 4HE 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION ,AW SCRAPS the quantitative restriction on rice imports and slaps a 35-percent tariff on rice imports from Southeast Asia and 50 percent for those coming outside the region. Fausto said the government should provide more subsidies for farmers, a step being taken by the US and China that already have highly-productive farming and food industries. “Strangely, since 1995, our policymakers and some of those in the academe have been silent regarding the issue of subsidies despite the fact it was the main reason why the Doha Development Round of the WTO (World Trade Organization) was torpedoed by developed countries,â€? he added. CONRAD M. CARIĂ‘O

Reinventing PH agriculture at this critical time (First of two parts)

I

NEVER doubted what Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in an interview early this month that President Rodrigo Duterte had called agriculture the “weakest link� in the country’s economy. And while extreme weather conditions can be blamed for the dismal showing of agriculture last year, I must state that planning for the country’s agriculture sector should always, and I mean always, take into account the effects of climate change. Anyway, how many times has the country been visited by storms that wreak havoc on the country’s farms? More on that subject later. With the country’s agriculture sector now entering a critical period because of challenges like climate change, trade liberalization from globalization and aging farmers, among others, there is definitely a need to undertake structural and policy reforms for the sector, anchored on a strategy for agri-industrialization. Some quarters may question my saying that the country’s agri-

culture sector is entering a critical PERIOD BUT OFkCIAL kGURES FROM the government on the sector’s GROWTH IN THE PAST kVE YEARS ARE not encouraging. A few experts may even call to “press the panic button� at this point. The country’s agriculture sector grew by a measly 0.56 percent growth last year or below the government’s target of 4 percent. In 2017, the sector registered a growth of 3.95 percent, -1.41 percent in 2016, 0.11 percent in 2015, and 1.83 percent in 2014. A lot of people can blame the strong storms and typhoons that visited the country in the past years for the dismal performance of the agriculture sector from 2014. But as I said earlier, planning for the agriculture sector should always take into account effects of extreme weather conditions, since climate change has already become the “new normal� globally. When I exchange notes with some experts from agriculture and related industries, the consensus is the sector must grow by at least 5 percent to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty in

WAYS OF THE OASIS DR. WILLIAM DAR the countryside. So how can we make the country’s agriculture sector grow by a minimum of 5 percent annually? Obviously, there is a need to reinvent the agriculture sector that should be preceded with a reorientation of our thinking about FARMING AND kSHERIES ‡ WE SHOULD think of both as industries and not merely activities to provide food for the country. If agriculture was also treated like an industry, the country would surely be exporting more processed or value-added products amounting to the billions of dollars like Vietnam and Thailand do. Also proof that agriculture was not largely treated as an industry was the country’s pursuit of PERCENT RICE SELF SUFkCIENCY UP to last year, when the more critical issue was to make our smallholder

farmers raising the crop as competitive as their counterparts in Southeast Asia. Studies by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and the Philippine Rice Research Institute show the cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) in the Philippines is P12.72 per kilo, which is higher than Vietnam’s P6.22 and P8.86 of Thailand.

Rice industry critical issues On Tuesday evening, I, President Adviser on Economic Concerns Joey Concepcion, and private sector representatives met with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piùol to also discuss issues related to rice import liberalization and making the rice industry competitive. First, we said during the discussion that allocating P10 billion from rice tariff collections annually from this year to 2024 is a good step to making the country’s rice industry competitive. The yearly P10-billion allocation for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) is

CLEARLY STATED IN THE 2ICE 4ARIFkCAtion Law that has been forwarded to President Duterte for signing. However, we said that it was still premature to strip the National Food Authority’s (NFA) function of buying palay since this will prompt unscrupulous traders to offer ridiculously low prices for the commodity. Already, there are reports that the buying price of palay has dropped to P8 per kilo. The NFA should also continue maintaining a buffer stock to protect rice consumers, especially the poor, from price shocks that can also be caused by artificial shortages. So, the solution we recommended was to ask President Duterte to veto the Rice Tarrification Law so Congress can revise the provisions stripping NFA of its regulatory and price stabilization functions. Our position is to liberalize the rice industry, particularly importation, phase-by-phase as the projects and programs under RCEF are implemented. By the sixth year of the implementation of projects/programs

under RCEF, or by 2024, we believe that the country’s rice industry would be ready to compete regionally and globally, hence the NFA powers to stabilize rice prices will be ended. As I have said many times in my past columns, we should start treating the country’s rice growing activity as an industry and business, and make it competitive by investing in mechanization, hybrid seed production and propagation, research and development (R&D), enterprise development, and training of farmers. The R&D for the industry should also include making rice farms resilient to extreme weather occurrences. However, we must also protect the interest of farmers and consumers, as rice is the staple of most Filipinos, particularly the poor. Making the country’s rice industry regionally and globally competitive is one of the components to reinventing our country’s agriculture sector. I will discuss more steps to make the country’s agriculture more competitive in the next installment of this column-series.

B6

Classified Ads

FRIDAY February 15, 2019 Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

IN THE MATTER OF

: : REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES SMC GLOBAL POWER : (under Shelf Registration) HOLDINGS CORPORATION : (Registrant) : x---------------------------------------------x NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 06 February 2019 a sworn Registration 6WDWHPHQW ZDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKH 6HFXULWLHV DQG ([FKDQJH &RPPLVVLRQ IRU DQG on behalf of SMC GLOBAL POWER HOLDINGS CORPORATION (“the “Companyâ€?) for the registration of its Sixty Billion (P60,000,000,000.00) worth RI Âż[HG UDWH ERQGV ZLWK DQ Initial Tranche Offering of up to Twenty Five Billion Pesos (P25,000,000,000.00), with an over-subscription option of up to Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) consisting of 3-year Series H due on 2022, 5-year Series I Bonds due on 2024 and 7-year Series J due on 2026, for offer, sale and issue by way of public offering in the Philippines, and the Shelf Registration of Fixed Rate Bonds in an amount not less than Sixty Billion Pesos (P60,000,000,000.00), to be offered over a period not exceeding three (3) years from the effective date of the registration statement.

TO: ALL INTERESTED/ACCREDITED SUPPLIERS: Sealed Bids in three (3) copies, Pursuant to Sec. 17 of Revised IRR of RA 9184, all entries typewritten with the item(s) described in the accompanying Bidder’s Tender for the Procurement of Medical Supplies, Procurement of Other Supplies & Materials, Procurement of Food Supplies, Procurement of Drugs & Medicines and Procurement of Medical Equipment for Physical Medical Rehabilitation Section and in the total amount of Eighteen Million Three Hundred Ten Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Five Pesos (P18,310,565.00) for the use of PNP Health Service. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders from February 12, 2019 to March 4, 2019 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 P.M during working days and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for their bidding documents. Pre-Bid Conference will be held on February 20, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. Last day of submission of bids is until March 4, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. and must be submitted to HS Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) at the HS Conference Room. Opening of Bids is on the same time, date and place and will be opened in the presence of participating bidder. *HQHUDO 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQ DQG VSHFL¿FDWLRQ RI WKH LWHPV XQGHU WKLV ,QYLWDWLRQ WR %LG may obtain on the above address for information and compliance by the Bidder. The PNP HS-BAC reserves the right to accept or reject any bid proposal, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders. Please be guided accordingly. Very truly yours,

MT – Feb. 13 & 15, 2019

(SGD.) ALBERTO A. AVILA Police Senior Superintendent Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

2IÂżFHUV 5DPRQ 6 $QJ Ferdinand K. Constantino Virgilio S. Jacinto Elenita D. Go Paul Bernard D. Causon Ramon U. Agay Irene M. Cipriano Reynaldo S. Matillano /RUHQ] 5 'HIHQVRU Jeciel B. Campos Jose Ferlino P. Raymundo

Chairman Director Director Director Independent Director Independent Director ,QGHSHQGHQW 'LUHFWRU 3UHVLGHQW &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2IÂżFHU &KLHI 2SHUDWLQJ 2IÂżFHU Vice Chairman Corporate Secretary & Compliance 2IÂżFHU General Manager and Energy Sourcing & Trading Group Head Vice President and Chief Finance 2IÂżFHU Assistant Vice-President & Comptroller Assistant Corporate Secretary Internal Audit Manager 'DWD 3URWHFWLRQ 2IÂżFHU Assistant Vice President and Sales and Marketing Manager Assistant Vice President and Energy Sourcing & Trading Manager Assistant Vice President and Human Resources Group Manager

Notice of Decrease of Authorized Capital Stock Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors and stockholders of L’OREAL PHILIPPINES, INC. (the “Corporationâ€?), during their UHVSHFWLYH PHHWLQJV KHOG RQ 2FWREHU DW WKH SULQFLSDO RIÂżFH of the Corporation, have approved the amendment to the Article Seventh Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation to reduce its authorized capital stock from PhP781,879,999.72 divided into 2,470,999,999 common shares with a par value of PhP0.28 per share and 90,000 preferred shares with a par value of PhP1,000.00 per share to PhP49,509,999.98 divided into 2,470,999,999 common shares with a par value of PhP0.02 per share and 90,000 preferred shares with a par value of PhP1.00 per share. The subscribed capital stock of the Corporation will be reduced from 771,629,999.72 to 49,499,749.98. In view of the aforesaid decrease in the subscribed capital stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall apply the amount of P722,130,249.74 WR UHGXFH DQG HOLPLQDWH WKH GHÂżFLWV RI WKH &RUSRUDWLRQ The above approvals have amended and superseded the previous approvals provided by the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Corporation in their respective meetings held on 31 October 2018. The amendments are being implemented in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the decrease of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation.

(SGD.) VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director Markets and Securities Regulation Department

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 1ST MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT TOBIAS FORNIER-ANINIYHAMTIC MUNICIPALITY OF TOBIAS FORNIER PROVINCE OF ANTIQUE Civil Case No. 481-H For: Recovery of Possession and Damages IRYL MARK C. ONIN, Plaintiff, -versusJUANITO JUNSAY Defendant. x------------------------------------------x SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: JUANITO JUNSAY Brgy. Funda, Hamtic, Antique, Philippines GREETINGS: WHEREAS, on December 12, 2018, the Court issued an Order allowing the plaintiff to cause the Summons by Publication to the herein defendant. W H E R E A S , t h e aforementioned defendant is hereby ordered to file with the 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Tobias Fornier-Anini-y-Hamtic, Antique, Philippines within sixty (60) days from receipt of the Summons or the last day of SXEOLFDWLRQ WR ÂżOH LWV $QVZHU WR WKH Complaint and to furnish a copy to the said plaintiff as stated below the name and address. IRYL MARK C. ONIN Brgy. Atabay, San Jose, Antique, Philippines and upon failure on the part of the defendant within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff will take judgment against the defendant in accordance with law. WHEREAS, on June 22, 2018, plaintiff through counsel filed a Complaint dated November 17, 2017 alleging that: COMES NOW, Plaintiff through counsel unto the Honorable Court most respectfully avers: 1. Plaintiff IRYL MARK C. ONIN, is of legal age, Filipino and a resident of Atabay, San Jose, Antique, Philippines, where he may be served summons and other court processes; 2. Defendant JUANITO JUNSAY, is of legal age, Filipino and a resident of Brgy. Funda, Hamtic, Antique, Philippines, where he may be served with summons and other court processes; Ownership in fee simple. 3. Plaintiff IRYL MARK C. ONIN, is the lawful and registered owner of a parcel of land known as Lot No. 6721 of the Cadastral Survey of San Jose. Cad. Case No. 15, (LRC) Cad. Rec. No.954, with an area of TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FORTY SIX (2,146) square meters, situated at Brgy. Funda, Hamtic, Antique, Philippines, and FRYHUHG E\ 7UDQVIHU &HUWLÂżFDWH RI Title No. 088-2017002800, of the Registry of Deeds for the Province of San Jose, Antique. Photocopy of the title is hereto attached and marked as Annex “Aâ€? forming an integral part hereof and which is more particularly described as: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 088-2017002800 “Lot No.: 6721 of the Cadastral Survey of San Jose, Cad. Case No. 15 (LRC) Cad. Rec. No. 954 Location: Barrio of Guintas, Municipality of San Jose, Province of Antique Technical Description Boundaries: Line Direction Adjoining Lot (s) 1-2 South Lot 6720 2-3 West Cuyo East Pass

3-4 North Lot 6730 4-1 East National Road (20.00 M. wide) xxx xxx xxx Area: TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FORTY SIX (2,146) SQUARE METERS, more or less.â€? 4. Plaintiff acquired the subject property by virtue of a Deed of Sale executed by the previous lawful and registered owner, Perfecta Rios Onin copy of which is hereto attached and marked as Annex “Bâ€? hereof; Jurisdiction over the subject matter. 5. The subject property, Lot 6721 is situated at Brgy. Guintas (now known as Funda), Hamtic, Antique, Philippines and is covered by Tax Declaration No. 09-0025-00794 under Property Index No. 04-09-0025005-54 of the Municipality of Hamtic, Antique, which has an assessed value of SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS (7,820.00), Philippine Currency, and as such, is within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court. Photocopy of the Tax Declaration No. 09-002500794 is hereto attached as marked as Annex “Câ€?, forming an integral part hereof; 6. Plaintiff has been religiously paying the real property taxes of the aforementioned property as evidenced by the Tax Clearance dated 18 July 2017, hereto attached and marked as Annex “Dâ€?, forming an integral part hereof; Unlawful entry and refusal to vacate. 7. After the said sale, herein plaintiff commissioned a Geodetic Engineer to conduct a relocation survey of the property subject of this case, to determine the metes and bounds of the property; 8. It was then discovered that there are numerous deforciants who occupy the said property. Among them is herein defendant, JUANITO JUNSAY. Thereafter, notices were made to inform deforciants of their unlawful occupation and use of the property. Despite notice , defendant continually, forcefully and unlawfully occupy a portion of Lot 6721 and built structures therein, without acquiring any prior consent to herein plaintiff; 9. Plaintiff has been continuously asking for the defendant to peacefully vacate the property subject of this case. However, defendant vehemently refused and insisted ownership and possession over the property subject of this case; 10. Due to deliberate refusal of defendant to vacate the property, plaintiff was constrained to refer this matter to his lawyer who sent a Final Notice to Vacate dated 05 October 2017 to defendant via registered mail with return card. Photocopies of the letter the Registry Receipt RD 774 045 017 ZZ dated 10 October 2017, and the &HUWLÂżFDWLRQ IURP WKH 3RVW 0DVWHU are hereto attached and marked as Annexes “Eâ€?, “E-1â€?, and “Fâ€? respectively; 11. As the lawful and registered owner of Lot 6721 herein plaintiff is entitled to the legal and physical possession of the property subject of this case, without any kind of interference and to exclude any person therein; 12. Plaintiff’s title over the property is evidence by his ownership in fee simple. Hence, it fails any rhyme or reason that a person having ownership of a parcel of land be barred from seeking complete ownership and possession thereof by a stranger; 7R DVVHYHUDWH FHUWLÂżFDWH of title over the subject property

serves as indefeasible and incontrovertible title to the property in favor of the person whose name appears therein; 14. Despite said written legal demand, defendants still failed and refused and continue to fail and refuse to vacate and peacefully turn-over the possession of said parcel of land to the damage and prejudice of herein plaintiff: 15. Parties had personal confrontation before the Punong Barangay but there was no amicable settlement on the matter, WKXV D &HUWLÂżFDWH WR )LOH $FWLRQ ZDV issued, copy of which is hereto attached and marked as Annex “Gâ€? hereof; 16. The unwarranted refusal of defendant to deliver possession of Lot 6721 to the plaintiff had caused plaintiff sleepless nights, s e r i o u s a n x i e t y, w o u n d e d feelings, social humiliation and besmirched reputation, and therefore entitles plaintiff to claim moral damages in the amount of THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00), Philippine Currency; 17. As a deterrent to others who are similarly minded to do similar acts in the future, plaintiff is entitled to exemplary damages which is left to the sound judgment of this Honorable Court; 18. In order to protect the rights and interests of herein plaintiff, he was constrained to hire the services of counsel, and agreed to pay the amount of P50,000.00, as attorney’s fees; 19. Because of the continued refusal of the defendant to deliver possession of the portion of Lot No. 6721 occupied by defendant to herein plaintiff, the latter is entitled to claim litigation expenses, plus appearance fee of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) for every court hearing and; 20. The cost of suit; PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that after due notice and hearing an order be issued ordering defendant, as follows: 1.To deliver the physical and actual possession of the portion of Lot No. 6721 occupied by herein defendant to plaintiff; 2.To pay plaintiff the sum of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00). Philippine Currency as attorney’s fees, moral damages of THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00), Philippine Currency, exemplary damages which is left to the sound judgment of this Honorable Court, litigation expenses; and appearance fee of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00), Philippine Currency, for every hearing of this case ; and 3.Cost of suit Such other relief and remedies equitable and just under the premises. Iloilo City, Philippines, 17 November 2017. Gascon Tingson Caballero Lastimoso Pagunsan Law Firm Counsel for Plaintiff Door 3, 2nd Floor Rosary Building, Iznart Street, Iloilo City Tel. No. (033)509-1979 (SGD.) FHYMORE G. GASCON PTR No. 5681563 January 3, 2017, Iloilo City IBP No. 1058509, January 3 , 2017, Iloilo City MCLE Compliance No. V-0017648, 04/15/2016 Roll No. 52101 EmailAddress: attyfgg13@yahoo. com And (SGD.) MA. ANGELA D. MASACOTE PTR No. 5681565, 03 January

SUBIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-019 x---------------------------------------------x

MT – Feb. 8, 15 & 22, 2019

NOTICE OF HEARING Applicant, SUBIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION, a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), and a grantee of a Congressional Franchise under Republic Act No. 11000, requests for issuance of &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1 KW FM RADIO STATION in KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO. Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) SHQGLQJ ¿QDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI the application. In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MARCH 04, 2019, (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the Legal Branch, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, National Telecommunications Commission, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City, wherein applicant shall present its compliance with the Commission’s jurisdictional requirements, as well as its evidences, if warranted.

MT - Feb. 15, 2019

ELAINE RAMOS, Applicant. CASE NO. TNVS-2018-26696 x-------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE is hereby given that this application will be heard by this Board on MARCH 04, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. DW LWV 2IÂżFH DW WKH DERYH address.

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

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

$SSOLFDWLRQ IRU D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI D Public Convenience to Operate a Transport Network Vehicle Service.

$SSOLFDQW ÂżOHG DQ DSSOLFDWLRQ requesting for authority to operate a Transport Network Vehicle Service within METRO MANILA DFFHVVLEOH WR PRWRU YHKLFOH WUDIÂżF and vice versa with the use of ONE(1) unit/s.

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

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

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD East Avenue, Quezon City

$W OHDVW ¿YH GD\V SULRU WR WKH above date, applicant/s shall publish this Notice once in one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Luzon. Parties opposed to the granting RI WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ PXVW ¿OH WKHLU written oppositions supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same of the applicant/s and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This application will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. Witness the Honorable ATTY. MARTIN B. DELGRA III, Chairman this 12th day of SEPTEMBER 2018. (SGD.) ATTY. CARL SHA JEMIMAH F. MARBELLA 2I¿FHU LQ &KDUJH /HJDO 'LYLVLRQ MT – Feb. 15, 2019

(SGD.) MARIA ANGELINE L. TAYAG Asst. Corporate Secretary

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late DEANNA MARIEL M. PALISOC was the subject of a Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate, executed by and among her heirs on Feb. 8, 2019 and acknowledged as Doc. No. 57 on Page No. 12 of Book No. XXXII Series of 2019 before Atty. Florimond C. Rous, a notary public for and in Quezon City. MT – Feb. 15, 22 & Mar. 1, 2019

Republic of the Philippines 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Lupong Nangangasiwa sa Pabahay at Gamit ng Lupa SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION – (STR) NOTICE (ADDITIONAL TITLES) AYA L A GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Owner/Developer) by virtue of Deed RI $EVROXWH 6DOH KDV ¿OHG ZLWK WKLV 2I¿FH D VZRUQ UHJLVWUDWLRQ VWDWHPHQW for the sale of subdivision lot in AYALA GREENFIELD ESTAT ES, T HE PANORAMA PHASE 8-B located at Brgy. Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna and more particularly described as Lot No. 2485-New-1, Plan No. (LRC) Psd-19316 & Lot 2485-New-3-B, Psd04-250367 and covered by TCT Nos. 060-2017017208 & 060-2018010956. The project is under PD 957. The foregoing project is utilizing BELLAVITA ROSARIO (Socialized Housing) located at Brgy. Alpay, Rosario, Batangas as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279 as amended by RA 10884 subject to the accreditation approval of the CEO. 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 legal impediment, the abovecited project is deemed registered DQG D FHUWL¿FDWH LQ HYLGHQFH WKHUHRI VKDOO IRUWKZLWK EH LVVXHG DIWHU ¿YH days from the last day of publication. Calamba City, Laguna, 13th day of February 2019. Recommending Approval: (SGD). Engr. EMMANUEL G. GLIPO Head- Planning, Registration and Licensing Division (PRLD)

All papers having any claims against the Corporation are requested WR SUHVHQW WKHLU FODLPV DW WKH &RUSRUDWLRQÂśV SULQFLSDO RIÂżFH DW WKH ) Robinsons Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue cor. Poveda Street, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS�) are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request, at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS, Prospectus and the Offer Supplement dated 06 February 2019 and any subsequent amendments therein may also be downloaded at the website of the corporation at www.smcglobalpower.com.ph.

MT - Feb. 15 & 18, 2019

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE Notice is hereby given that a sale by public auction of abandoned merchandise and other personal properties of former tenants of Greenhills Shopping Center and Tiendesitas with overdue accounts will be conducted through a notary public to be held at the Ground Floor, Connecticut Parking, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City on February 28, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. All interested bidders are invited to participate.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2IÂżFH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

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

Position

Board of Directors Ramon S. Ang Ferdinand K. Constantino Aurora T. Calderon Virgilio S. Jacinto Jack G. Arroyo, Jr. Consuelo M. Ynares-Santiago -RVHÂżQD *XHYDUD 6DORQJD

Danilo T. Tolarba

w w w.manilatimes.net

Republic of the Philippines National Police Commission NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE HEALTH SERVICE Camp BGen Rafael T. Crame, Quezon City

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the Directors and/or executives of the Corporation: Name

˜ The Manila Times

Approved by: (SGD.) ENGR. FRANCIS D. ORDENIZA 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFHU MT - Feb. 15, 2019

Republic of the Philippines City of Manila COMMITTEE ON AWARDS MT – Feb. 15, 2019 February 4, 2019 INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SALE/AUCTION OF SALVAGEABLE MATERIALS AND DEBRIS OF THE DEMOLITION OF A PORTION OF TWO-STOREY L-SHAPED BUILDING AT BACOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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.

2017, Iloilo IBP No. 1058507, 03 January 2017, Iloilo City MCLE Compliance No. V-0014894, 01 March 2016 Attorney’s Roll No. 64235 E-mail Address: maiangelsmile@ yahoo.com VERIFICATION I, IRYL MARK C. ONIN, of legal age, married, Filipino and a resident of Brgy. Funda, Hamtic, Antique, Philippines, after being duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and say that: 1. I am the Plaintiff in the above-entitled case; 2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing case. 3. I have read and understood the contents thereof and allegations contained therein are true and correct based on my own personal knowledge and information and based on the authentic records; 4. I also hereby certify that I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, in any other tribunal or agency; 5.That to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency; 6. That if I should hereafter learn that a similar action or SURFHHGLQJ KDV EHHQ ¿OHG RU LV pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to this Honorable Court. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ____ day of NOV 17 2017. In Iloilo City, Philippines. (SGD.) IRYL MARK C. ONIN $I¿DQW TIN 249-101-498 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ___ day of NOV 17 2017 in the City of Iloilo, Philippines, affiant exhibiting to me his competent proof of LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ VWDWHG DERYH (SGD.) ATTY. MA. ANGELA D. MASACOTE Notary Public For the City and Province of Iloilo Comm. Reg. No. 115, valid until 31 December 2018 PTR No. 5681565, 03 January 2017, Iloilo City IBP No. 1058507, 03 January 2017, Iloilo City MCLE Compliance No. V-0014894, 01 March 2016 Attorney’s Roll No. 64235 Email Address: maiangelsmile@ gmail.com G a s c o n Ti n g s o n C a b a l l e r o Lastimoso Pagunsan Law Firm Counsel for Plaintiff Door 3, 2/F Rosary Building, Iznart Street, Iloilo City Telefax: (033) 323-6203 Doc. No. 206; Page No. 43; Book No. VII; Series of 2017. WHEREFORE, Let Summons and copy of the Complaint be published in the newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for four (4) consecutive weeks in accordance with Section 14 and 15, Rule 14 of the Revised Rules of Court as amended . WITNESS, The Hon. Gemma F. Bordon- Tady Acting Presiding Judge of this Court this 17th day of December, 2018 at Hamtic, Antique Philippines. (SGD.) JOSELINDA F. CRESENCIO-FEBRERO Clerk of Court II MT - Feb. 8, 15, 22 & Mar. 1, 2019

Republic of the Philippines 2IÂżFH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Lupong Nangangasiwa sa Pabahay at Gamit ng Lupa SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION - (STR)

Republic of the Philippines 2IÂżFH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Lupong Nangangasiwa sa Pabahay at Gamit ng Lupa SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION - (STR) PAUNAWA

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that CENQHOMES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Owner/Developer) has filed with this Office a sworn registration statement for the sale of subdivision lots with housing in TERRAVERDE RESIDENCES PHASE 3 located at Brgy. Mabuhay (formerly Bancal), Carmona, Cavite and more particularly described as portion of Lot Nos. B-2 to B-4, B-6, Psd-04-243578: B-5-A, B-7-A, & B-7-B, Psd-04-248266 containing an area of 161,210 square meters and covered by TCT Nos. 0572017041669 to 057-3027041670, 057-2017027149, 057-2018000206, 057-2018000209 to 057-2018000210. The project is under PD 957 (Medium Cost).

Ipinagbibigay alam na ang CENQHOMES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (May-ari at Tagadebelop) ay naghain sa Tanggapang ito ng sinumpaang aplikasyon para sa pagpapatala at pagbibili ng lote na may bahay sa TERRAVERDE RESIDENCES PHASE 3 na matatagpuan sa Brgy. Mabuhay (dating Bancal), Carmona, Cavite at sinasakop ng bahagi ng mga Lote Blg. B-2 hanggang B-4, B-6, Psd04-243578: B-5-A, B-7-A, at B-7-B, Psd-04-248266; na may sukat na 161,210 sq.m. sa ilalim ng mga Titulo Blg. 057-2017041669 hanggang 057-3027041670, 057-2017027149, 057-2018000206, 057-2018000209 hanggang 057-2018000210. Ang proyekto na ito ay sumasailalim sa PD 957 (Medium Cost).

The foregoing project is utilizing GREEN BREEZE PHASE 2A located at Brgy. San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal as its Compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279 as amended by Republic Act No. 10884.

Ang nasabing proyekto ay ginagamit ang GREEN BREEZE PHASE 2A na matatagpuan sa Brgy. San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal bilang pagtupad sa Seksyon 18 Batas Republika Blg. 7279 na na-amyendahan ng Batas Republika Blg. 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.

Ang mga kasulatang kaugnay nito ay maaring suriin ng sinumang tao na nagtataglay ng ligal na interes doon pagkatapos ng wastong aplikasyon at kaukulang bayad.

Absent legal impediment, the abovecited project is deemed registered DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ HYLGHQFH WKHUHRI VKDOO IRUWKZLWK EH LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH days from the last day of publication.

Pagkaraan ng limang (5) araw mula sa huling araw ng pagkalathala ang proyektong nabanggit ay ituturing na rehistrado na at maaring bigyan ng sertipiko bilang katibayan nito kapag wala nang sagabal na ligal.

Calamba City, Laguna, 1 st day of February 2019.

Lungsod ng Calamba, Laguna, ika-1 ng Pebrero 2019.

Recommending Approval:

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) Engr. EMMANUEL G. GLIPO Head - Planning, Registration and Licensing Division

(SGD.) Engr. EMMANUEL G. GLIPO Head - Planning, Registration and Licensing Division

Approved by:

Approved by:

(SGD.) Atty. RICHARD L. MANILA 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFHU

(SGD.) Atty. RICHARD L. MANILA 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFHU MT - Feb. 8 & 15, 2019

MT - Feb. 8 & 15, 2019

The City of Manila, through its Committee on Awards, invites Bidders for the sale/auction of salvageable materials and debris of the demolition of a portion of two-storey L-shaped building at Bacood Elementary School located at M Albert Street, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila, which will be publicly opened on MARCH 1, 2019 - 2:00PM at the CGSO Bidding Room, 4th Floor, Manila City Hall. ,QWHUHVWHG SDUWLHV PD\ VXEPLW WKHLU /HWWHU RI ,QWHQW DQG 3UH 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQ GRFXPHQWV DQG LI SUH TXDOLÂżHG JHW WKH %LG 3URSRVDO DW &LW\ *HQHUDO 6HUYLFHV 2IÂżFH 5RRP th Floor, Manila City Hall. %LGV ZLOO EH UHFHLYHG RQO\ IURP SUH TXDOLÂżHG ELGGHUV 7KH Letter of Intent addressed to the Chairman, Committee on Awards, and the following SUH TXDOLÂżFDWLRQ GRFXPHQWV shall be submitted on or before February 15, 2019: D '7, %XVLQHVV 1DPH 5HJLVWUDWLRQ RU 6(& 5HJLVWUDWLRQ &HUWLÂżFDWH ZKLFKHYHU PD\ EH appropriate under existing laws of the Philippines; b) For partnership or corporation, copies of Articles and By-Laws; c) Valid and current Mayor’s Permit/Municipal License; d) Latest Income Tax Return, stamped “receivedâ€? by BIR; e) Tax Clearance; f) Latest Audited Financial Statement, stamped “receivedâ€? by BIR; g) Letter authorizing the Committee on Awards or its duly authorized representative/s to verify any or all of the documents submitted for the eligibility check; K &HUWLÂżFDWLRQ WKDW HDFK RI WKH VXEPLWWHG GRFXPHQWV LQ VDWLVIDFWLRQ RI WKH HOLJLELOLW\ requirements is an authentic and original copy, or a true and faithful reproduction or copy of the original, complete, and that all the statements and information provided therein are true and correct. Sealed bid in the prescribed form will be received until the date and time the bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders or their duly authorized representative/s. The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: ACTIVITIES 1. Deadline of submission of Letter of Intent to participate DQG VXEPLVVLRQ RI 3UH 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQ 5HTXLUHPHQWV 3UH 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQ RI %LGGHUV DQG ,VVXDQFH RI Bid Proposal and Authority to View 3. Viewing Schedule of Salvageable Materials & Debris 4. Pre-Bid Conference 5. Deadline for submission of Bid Proposal 6. Opening of Bids 7. Bid Evaluation 8. Minimum Bid Amount

SCHEDULE February 15, 2019 February 19, 2019 February 20, 2019; 8:00am-5pm February 22, 2019 - 2:00pm March 1, 2019 - 10:00am March 1, 2019 - 2:00pm March 1, 2019 Php 83,000.00

The City of Manila reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any defects of formality found therein and to accept or reject such bids that may be advantageous to the interests of the City. FRANCIS F. YENKO 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH &*62 DQG &KDLUPDQ &RPPLWWHH RQ $ZDUGV

MT – Feb. 8 & 15, 2019

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/CONSULTATION N SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 209 Mandaluyong City IN RE: PETITION FOR CANCELLATION AND CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF SHEENA MARIE ENDIAPE CALDITO SHEENA MARIE ENDIAPE CALDITO, 3HWLWLRQHU - versus Case No. R-MND-18-02661-SP THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MANDALUYONG AND THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, 5HVSRQGHQWV x-----------------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER 2Q 1RYHPEHU 3HWLWLRQHU 6KHHQD 0DULH (QGLDSH &DOGLWR ¿OHG WKH LQVWDQW Petition dated 16 November 2018. Petitioner alleges that she was born on 5 July 1998 in Mandaluyong City, to parents Jhackeline Basijan Endiape and Benjamin Balonggay Caldito, with the birth registered under Registry No. 99-2977. Petitioner’s parents caused the annotation of the following entries in the &HUWL¿FDWH RI /LYH %LUWK under Registry No. 99-2977: ACKNOWLEDGED BY: BENJAMIN B. CALDITO on 5-06-1999 UNDER REGISTRY NO. 99-95

From birth up to present, petitioner used the name SHEENA MARIE ENDIAPE CALDITO in all her public and private records, including the following: (1) %DSWLVPDO &HUWL¿FDWH; (2) 'LSORPD from P. Cruz Elementary School; (3) 'LSORPD from Mataas na Paaralan Neptali Gonzales; (4) &HUWL¿FDWLRQ from University of Santo Tomas; (5) 666 3HUVRQDO 5HFRUG; and (6) 3KLOKHDOWK ,' Petitioner’s &HUWL¿FDWH RI /LYH %LUWK under Registry 1R ZDV QRW FKDQJHG WR UHÀHFW KHU OHJLWLPDWHG VWDWXV GHVSLWH WKH DQQRWDWLRQ ³/(*,7,0$7(' %< A SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE OF PARENTS ON 1-5-1999 AT CALOOCAN CITY.� The records of the 3KLOLSSLQH 6WDWLVWLFV $XWKRULW\ DQG RI WKH &DORRFDQ &LW\ /RFDO &LYLO 5HJLVWUDU UHÀHFW WKDW SHWLWLRQHUœV SDUHQWV were not lawfully married on 5 January 1999 in Caloocan City. Petitioner’s father expressly acknowledged petitioner as his daughter and gave consent to the use of the surname Caldito. Thus, Petitioner prays that cancellation and correction in the &HUWL¿FDWH RI /LYH %LUWK under Registry No. 99-2977 be made as follows:

),567 SHEENA MARIE

ENTRY NO. 1

),567 SHEENA MARIE

REMARKS/ANNOTATION:

REMARKS/ANNOTATION:

The CAAP invites the public to attend and participate in the public hearings/ consultations at the Civil Aviation Training Center, Merville Access Road, Pasay City. Date and Time of the Public Hearings/Consultation are as follows: DATE 04 March 2019

LEGITIMATED BY A SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE OF PARENTS ON 1-5-1999 AT CALOOCAN CITY

ENTRY NO. 1

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Finding the Petition WR EH VXI¿FLHQW LQ IRUP DQG VXEVWDQFH WKH VDPH LV KHUHE\ JLYHQ GXH FRXUVH /HW this Petition be set for hearing on 5 March 2019 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court located at 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Bldg., Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. Notice is hereby given that anyone who has any objection to the Petition VKRXOG ¿OH RQ RU WKH GDWH RI hearing his opposition thereto with a statement of the grounds therefor. Let this 2UGHU be posted on the Bulletin Board of the Court and published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines chosen by the Court through UDIÀH ERWK DW 3HWLWLRQHUœV H[SHQVH )LQDOO\ IXUQLVK WKH 2I¿FH RI WKH 6ROLFLWRU *HQHUDO DQG WKH UHVSRQGHQWV ZLWK D FRS\ RI WKLV 2UGHU and the Petition at Petitioner’s expense. SO ORDERED. 29 November 2018. Mandaluyong City, Philippines. (SGD.) MONIQUE A. QUISUMBING-IGNACIO Presiding Judge MT - Feb. 8, 15 & 22, 2019

04 March 2019 05 March 2019 05 March 2019 06 March 2019 06 March 2019 07 March 2019 07 March 2019

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For inquiries, please contact Atty. Rechel T. De Torres, Head Secretariat FSIS Fees and Charges Committee at Telephone Number (02) 944-2152. (SGD.) CAPTAIN DONALDO A. MENDOZA Deputy Director General for Operations Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines MT - Feb. 14 & 15, 2019

World Trump to Maduro: Unblock aid shipments Thai court to hear petition to dissolve princess’ party B ˜ The Manila Times

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WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump warned Venezuela on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that “all optionsâ€? were on the table and demanded that far left leader Nicolas Maduro unblock US aid shipments to the country. Again stressing that he had not ruled out military options, Trump said he was “sadâ€? about the “turmoilâ€? in the oil-rich Latin American nation. “You’ll see,â€? he told reporters at a White House meeting with his Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque, when asked if thousands of US troops could be deployed. Duque, whose country has taken in large numbers of Venezuelan refugees, also lambasted Maduro, saying that “obstructing the access of humanitarian aid is a crime against humanity.â€? The US aid, sitting on the Colombian side of the border with Venezuela, has become the latest flashpoint in the US-led push to topple Maduro, whose socialist government is bolstered by the military and backed by Russia and China. Maduro accuses the United States of using the blocked aid shipments as pretext for an invasion. However, much of Venezuela’s population is in desperate need, lacking even basics like food and medicine. “I think he’s making a terrible

mistake by not allowing that to happen,� Trump said of Maduro’s refusal to allow in the aid. “We’re trying to get food to people that are starving. You have people starving in Venezuela.� Washington has thrown its full weight behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognizing him as interim president, demanding that Maduro step aside and imposing sanctions. Around 50 countries have now recognized Guaido as interim president. At a huge opposition rally on Tuesday, Guaido vowed that humanitarian aid would enter the country on February 23. “We have almost 300,000 Venezuelans who will die if the aid doesn’t enter,� he added. In his latest attempt to erode Maduro’s authority over the military, Guaido said: “Here is a direct order to the armed forces: allow in the humanitarian aid once and for all (and) end the repression.� Guaido’s team has also met with Brazilian officials to set up a second aid storage center on that border. The new right-wing government of President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, which took over in January after more than a decade of leftist rule there, has joined the growing coalition against Maduro. AFP

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

ANGKOK: Thailand’s constitutional court on Thursday said it would hear a case to dissolve the party which proposed a princess for prime minister, an ill-fated candidacy which threatens to sink the election strategy of the powerful Shinawatra clan. The Thai Raksa Chart party nominated Princess Ubolratana for premier last Friday, a bombshell move bringing Thai royalty to FRONTLINE POLITICS FOR THE kRST TIME since the 1932 establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Hours later, the princess’s brother — Thailand’s powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn — scuttled her political ambitions, hitting out at the attempt to bring her into politics as “highly inappropriate� and against royal traditions. In the days since, chaos has enveloped Thai Raksa Chart, which falls under the tutelage of Thaksin Shinawatra, a divisive billionaire

EX PREMIER WHO SITS AT THE HEART OF Thailand’s bitter political schism. On Wednesday the Election Commission handed the case for dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart to the constitutional court on the grounds the party had taken “action considered hostile to the constitutional monarchy.� The court “unanimously agreed to accept the request by the Election Commission,� it said in a statement. 4HE NEXT HEARING IS ON &EBRUARY 0ARTY OFkCIALS FEAR THE CASE IS being hustled through ahead of the March 24 election, which is already stacked in favour of the ruling junta, whose leader Prayut

Chan-O-Cha wants to return as a civilian premier. “We feel the case has been irREGULARLY EXPEDITED u 4HAI 2AKSA Chart key member Chayika Wongnapachant, who is a niece of Thaksin Shinawatra, told AFP before the court delivered its statement. “Without Thai Raksa Chart in the play, I believe it is going to be hard for the people to win a majority in parliament,� she said, adding the loss of the party’s 278 candidates could land a hammer blow to the aspirations of anti-junta parties. “The party acted with good faith, loyalty and respect ... and we hope the court sees that,� she added. Thai Raksa Chart aimed to add to the vote bank of the bigger Shinawatra electoral vehicle, Pheu Thai, in an election where secondary parties are targeting seats via a party list system. !FTER kVE YEARS OF JUNTA RULE Thailand remains a deeply divided kingdom. 0ARTIES AFkLIATED WITH 4HAKSIN

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— who is adored by the rural poor ,but loathed by the Bangkok-based establishment — have won every election since 2001, but their governments have been battered by two coups and a barrage of court cases. The junta wants to embed its INlUENCE AFTER ELECTIONS SCRIPTING a charter that created a fully appointed upper house and limits the number of constituency seats up for grabs in elections. Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, who was toppled by a 2014 coup, both live abroad to avoid convictions they say are politically motivated. Thais have struggled to unpick the meaning behind Princess Ubolratana’s fleeting foray into politics, but have been left openjawed by the rare sight of palace intrigue playing out in public. Ubolratana renounced her royal titles to marry an American, but was still treated by Thais as member of the revered royal family. AFP

Meghan hounded like Diana – George Clooney SURVIVAL TRAINING A Thai soldier holds a slaughtered snake, while US Marines soldier drinks its blood during a jungle survival training in the joint ‘Cobra Gold’ military exercise in Chantaburi Province on Thursday. AFP PHOTO

US Congress resolves to withdraw troops from Yemen WASHINGTON. D.C.: Asserting congressional authority over war-making powers, the House passed a resolution Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that would force the administration to withdraw US troops from involvement in Yemen, in a rebuke of President Donald Trump’s alliance with the Saudi-led coalition behind the military intervention. Lawmakers in both parties are increasingly uneasy over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and skeptical of the US partnership with that coalition, especially in light of Saudi Arabia’s role in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the royal family. Passage would mark the first time Congress has relied on the decades-old War Powers Resolution to halt military intervention. It will also set up a potential confrontation with the White House, which has threatened a veto. The House voted 248-177 to approve the measure, sending it to the

Senate, where a similar resolution passed last year. “We have helped create, and worsen, the world’s largest humanitarian crisis,� said Democratic Representative from California Barbara Lee, during the debate. “Our involvement in this war, quite frankly, is shameful.� The Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Democratice Representative from New York Eliot Engel said the vote represents “Congress reclaiming its role in foreign policy.� Senate approval would set up a showdown with the administration — a veto would be Trump’s kRST ‡ OVER THE PRESIDENT S SHIFTING approach on foreign policy. Lawmakers are quick to point out that Trump wants to withdraw troops from the wars in Syria and Afghanistan as part of his “America First� approach, but he has shown less interest in limiting the US role in Yemen. The White House says the House RESOLUTION WAS glAWEDu BECAUSE

US troops were not directly involved in military action in Yemen, WHERE THE COALITION WAS kGHTING the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels IN A CONlICT LARGELY SEEN AS A PROXY war involving the Mideast’s dominant regional players. Since 2015, the administration says, the US had provided support to the coalition, including intelligence and, until recently, aerial refueling, but it has not had forces involved in “hostilities.� Congress has not invoked the War Power Resolution, which requires approval of military actions, since it was enacted in 1973. Lawmakers approved more sweeping authorizations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that some argue are being used too broadly for other military actions. Newly emboldened Democrats in the House, eager to confront Trump on foreign policy, and Republicans in both chambers have shown a willingness to put a legislative check on the president’s agenda.

Worldinbriefs RUSSIA, IRAN, TURKEY HOLD SYRIA SUMMIT SOCHI, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to host his Iranian and Turkish counterparts Thursday (Friday in Manila) to discuss how to resolve the conflict in Syria as Islamic State (IS) jihadists made a last stand in the east of the country and Washington prepares to withdraw troops. A flurry of diplomatic efforts this week are focusing on the eight-year conflict in which more than 350,000 people have died. The international anti-IS coalition is set to meet on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will attend a conference on the Middle East in Warsaw. At their meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin and Iran’s Hassan Rouhani — who back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — and Turkey’s rebel-backing Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to discuss ways to advance intra-Syrian dialogue. Russia has been a key player in the conflict since launching military intervention in 2015 in support of Assad’s regime, which now controls almost two-thirds of the country. AFP

SAUDI PRINCE TO VISIT INDONESIA JAKARTA: Indonesia will host Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a state visit next week, Jakarta said Thursday, part of an Asian tour that includes stops in Pakistan, India and Malaysia. His two-day visit to the world’s biggest Muslim majority country kicks off Monday, the prince’s second official visit to the archipelago, but Jakarta supplied few details about his itinerary. “He will arrive in Indonesia on February 18, and meet the president on February 19,â€? presidential spokesman Johan Budi told AFP. The crown prince is scheduled to visit Pakistan and Malaysia before arriving in Indonesia and then he heads to India. Salman last visited Indonesia with his father King Salman in 2017 as part of an Asian tour seeking investment opportunities. AFP

In the House, 18 Republicans, including members of the GOP’s libertarian-leaning wing and Trump allies in the conservative Freedom Caucus, joined Democrats in passing the Yemen measure. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, who drafted the legislation, said there’s an emerging bipartisan alliance that’s skeptical of military intervention without congressional oversight. “It’s not just about Yemen. It’s about the Congress taking a stand and every future president having to think twice about whether to authorize a military intervention without congressional approval,� Khanna said in an interview. The Senate version is from independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and backed by Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee. Before Wednesday’s vote, the House overwhelmingly agreed to add an amendment offered by Republicans who are seeking to EXPOSE EMERGING $EMOCRATIC DIvisions over support for Israel. AP

LONDON: Could Meghan Markle really face the same fate as Princess Diana? Britain’s newspapers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) angrily challenged US actor George Clooney’s claim that their treatment of Prince Harry’s wife resembled the hounding of his late mother. Clooney, who attended the couple’s wedding last year, on Tuesday stirred up a hornet’s nest of discontent by accusing the London tabloids of giving the new Duchess OF 3USSEX gA RAW DEAL u “She’s a woman who is seven months pregnant and she is being PURSUED AND VILIkED AND CHASED in the same way that Diana was,� the Hollywood superstar told Australian magazine WHO during an interview in Los Angeles. “It’s history repeating itself,� Clooney warned. “And we’ve seen how that ends.� The ending Clooney referred to was the 1997 car crash in Paris in which Diana died along with Dodi !L &AYED AS THEY lED THE PAPARAZZI The tragedy triggered mass public mourning in the UK and soul searching on the part of the press. It turned royal reporters into villains and forced the media to sigNIkCANTLY ALTER ITS CODE OF CONDUCT Pictures obtained through “persistent pursuit� were banned and A gREASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIvacy� had to be observed. The arrival in British public LIFE LAST YEAR OF THE MIXED RACE 53 actress put these new rules to the test with initially positive coverage slowly giving way to stories about g$UCHESS $IFkCULT u Meghan, 37, was said to have been tough on staff, with tensions also reported between her and Prince William’s wife Catherine. Following months of unwanted publicity focused on rifts with her family, the Mail on Sunday also

Q Meghan Markle. AFP PHOTO published a letter she wrote to her estranged father, begging him to gSTOP LYINGu AND gEXPLOITING MY relationship with my husband�. “You’re taking a letter from a daughter to a father and broadcasting it everywhere,� Clooney fumed. “It’s irresponsible.� It did not take long for the British media to tell Clooney to keep his thoughts to himself. “George Clooney’s claims of Meghan Markle and Diana are utter fantasy,� The Times declared. The Telegraph ran a story under the headline: “Why Meghan isn’t the new Diana.� And celebrity TV presenter Piers Morgan penned an article in the Mail Online, asking if Clooney was “a REAL friend or just another famous person Meghan’s latched ONTO AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE WHO until recently, she professed to care about.� Most of the recent headlines have been about Meghan’s father. But the bigger question facing British society as a whole is whether the papers’ two-decade truce with Buckingham Palace is coming to an end. Veteran royal watcher and biographer Penny Junor said the cases of Meghan and Diana could hardly be more different. AFP

US EX-INTEL OFFICIAL DEFECTS TO IRAN, REVEALS CLASSIFIED INFO WASHINGTON, D.C.: A former US Air Force counterintelligence specialist, who defected to Iran despite warnings from the FBI, had been charged with revealing classified information to the Tehran government, including the code name and secret mission of a Pentagon program, prosecutors said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). The Justice Department also accused Monica Elfriede Witt, 39, of betraying former colleagues in the US intelligence community by feeding details about their personal and professional lives to Iran. Four hackers linked to the Iranian government, charged in the same indictment, used that information to target the intelligence workers online, prosecutors said. Witt had been on the FBI’s radar at least a year before she defected after she attended an Iranian conference and appeared in anti-American videos. She was warned about her activities, but told agents that she would not provide sensitive information about her work if she returned to Iran, prosecutors say. She was not arrested at the time. AP

PERENNIAL US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DIES LEESBURG, Virginia: Lyndon LaRouche Jr., the political extremist who ran for president in every election from 1976 to 2004, including a campaign waged from federal prison, has died. He was 96. LaRouche’s political action committee confirmed Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) on its website that LaRouche died a day earlier. The cult-like figure, who espoused a wide range of conspiracy theories and advocated for an overhaul of the world’s economic and financial systems, ran first as a US Labor Party candidate and later, after an apparent shift to the right, as a Democratic or independent candidate. In 1986, LaRouche described himself as being in the tradition of the American Whig party, a forerunner of the Republican Party in the first half of the 19th century. In 1990, he ran unsuccessfully to represent Virginia in Congress. His views evolved throughout his life, but a central tenet of his apocalyptic platform warned of an inevitable global downward slide into crisis. AP

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7KH 3KLOLSSLQH (FRQRPLF 2XWORRN IRU “Riding the Tailwinds: Pursuing Growth and Value Amid Rising Global Risks� March 6, 2019 | Registration: 8:30 a.m. | Program: 9:40 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Mayuree Ballroom, Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City The global economy enters 2019 with decidedly slower growth, continued volatility and heightened risks. Interest rates are normalizing and pushing investors in search of higher-yielding assets, as economic performance diverges across countries and regions. While the US is poised for strong performance, China is looking for a soft landing, and emerging markets are showing signs of weakness. Also heightening risks are populist policies and the prospect of trade wars. The Philippines, however, remains a bright spot as it forges ahead with its infrastructure drive, expands revenue collections, and sustains growth at above 6 percent. The domestic economy

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Marcelino Florete, Jr. CEO AND PRESIDENT, F&C GROUP OF COMPANIES

Marissa Florete-Gorriceta EVP FOR MARKETING, F&C GROUP EVP FOR MERCHANDISING, F&C JEWELRY

Homegrown diamond JEWELLERY MAGNATE SHARES THE WISDOM OF BEING FAMILY FOCUSED BY KRISTEL DACUMOS LAGORZA Photos by Hermes Singson EVERY FRIDAY, MARCELINO FLOrete, Jr., the soon-to-be 73-year-old patriarch of the F&C Group of Companies, flies in from his hometown of Iloilo to spend the day in Manila. This is to attend to the many meetings, which often run for hours, back-toback, with his executive management team. This lean roster, comprised of his children and most trusted colleagues, leads an ever-growing corporate portfolio, now consisting of F&C Jewelry, Sbarro, Dulcinea, Estacio Uno, Boracay Uptown and Bohol Shores among a handful of others. For these sorties, he usually takes a comfortable and convenient flight on a local carrier, usually the 6:20 a.m. slot to Manila, heading back home by around 7:30 p.m. the same day.“But I can be in different cities around the country every day, if need be!” says the charming silver-haired businessman. As head of the F&C Group, Florete takes it upon himself to check on his businesses and visit his sites regularly. And with resorts in Bohol, Boracay, Cebu and Coron, he often cuts the time in travel and traffic by taking his own private transport. “If I’m not going to Manila, I board my private plane and go straight to where I need to go.” As extravagant as that sounds, it’s actually the more practical option, he insists, as “there are usually no direct flight [to where I need to go] from Iloilo.

of

HIGH AMBITIONS

BIG FISH

A hectic schedule and workload prompted Florete to maintain a private jet in order to check up on his business properties in Boracay, Bohol, Cebu and Coron.

The Florete family was primarily into rice trading and real estate before entering the retail jewellery business, which blossomed into the F&C Group of Companies.

“So instead of stopping over in Manila and wasting hours, I can go straight to work! Plus, I’m an old man. And I deserve to travel in a little bit of comfort, don’t I?” he says with an impish grin. Trusted team These trips are all in the name of business, and once he steps onto the hot asphalt of Metro Manila, his mind is all business as well. He runs his empire with a tightknit group of trusted individuals, mainly of his children. Marissa Florete-Gorriceta, the eldest of his brood of four, serves as the Executive Vice President (EVP) for the F&C Group and EVP for Merchandising for F&C Jewelry. A trained jeweler, she studied at the Gemological Institute of America for Diamond Grading and Jewelry Design. Marjorie, another daughter, is a product of the Gemological Institute of America, and is F&C Jewelry’s resident gemologist and EVP for Sales and Training. The only son, Marcelino III, an Accountancy graduate from the University of

Revel in beauty and romance with Cupid’s baubles and fine feasts as you pamper yourself and your special someone with supreme skincare page C3

BRW Issue92 0215 Florete.indd 1

FROM ILOILO TO ACROSS THE PH

Whether they like it or not, kids will be involved in the business. So, they should be ready to assume responsibility. But I do respect their choices MARCELINO FLORETE, JR.

MOTHER KNOWS

F&C Jewelry’s roots began with alajera Cristina Caperonce who passed on the trade to daughter Susan Florete who did the same with her girls, Marjorie, Christine and Marissa, the Philippines in the Visayas, with a Masters in Business Administration graduate of the Regis Program of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, is EVP for Audit and Finance for the F&C Group. Mary Christine Salome Florete is a lawyer and is chief legal counsel. In its very essence, F&C Group is truly a homegrown family enterprise. Family ties F&C Group–a name taken after Florete and Caperonce (his wife Susan’s maiden name)–was set up on October 15, 1973, by the couple. It began with a humble store, called “F&C Pawnshop and Jewelry” along Guanco Street in Iloilo City. Mrs. Florete’s mother, Cristina Orian Caperonce, was an alahera (jewellery saleswoman) from Bulacan, and her daughter inherited the interest and passion for the trade. Mr. Florete, on the other hand, also hails from a family of entrepreneurs but his family’s business dealt mainly with rice trading and realty. “But once I got

The F& C Group has over

100

establishments, brands and branches that include restaurants and hotels: Estacio Uno Boracay Uptown Bohol Shores Chalet Baguio Cebu Business Hotel Riverside Inn Iloilo Dulcinea Sbarro Buca di Beppo Fortune Jewellers Argento House of Pearls And soon to open Earl of Sandwich and Isla Kaniki Palawan

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Spanish restaurants under the F&C Group with trade name of Dulcinea in Ayala Malls, SM Malls, Ali Mall, Baguio and Boracay.

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Sbarro brand in the Philippines operating nationwide. F&C Group is the Master Franchisee for Sbarro in the Philippines.

³ Marcelino Florete, Jr. C2

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The Manila Times C 2

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

I used to believe everybody had to be aligned with you. But I realized diversity is a good thing. When ideas differ, you begin to think outside of the box Marissa Florete-Gorriceta

selves, our bond is strong enough to overcome any issues of pride and hurt. If it’s with an outsider, it becomes tricky. So my policy is that we stick as a family.” That’s the secret to their success, preservation and continuity. “It’s that aspect that I admire most about my dad,” Marissa says. “He believes in family, plus his tenacity and focus is admirable. He’s a master planner and organizer, and knows everything that’s happening within the company. So if you can get even just half of that talent, you’d be an impressive worker already.” Marissa herself is becoming an inspiring leader and executive that people look up to, taking on the wisdom not only learned from her father but from her own experience at the head of the boardroom. “I used to believe that [with good leadership] everybody had to be aligned with how you think. But over time, I realized that diversity is a good thing. When opinions and ideas differ, you find yourself thinking outside of the box and learning new things,” she says of some of her most important lessons as a boss.

TRUE PARTNERS. F&C patriarch Florete and trusted lieutenant, daughter Marissa Florete-Gorriceta examine some baubles from their latest collection

Q Marcelino Florete, Jr. FROM C1

WHO’S NEXT? WHAT’S NEXT? How to lead a family enterprise, according to two different generations of leaders. Marcelino Q On success: Your foot should always be on the ground, regardless of the success you achieve. We may be wearing better shoes now, but we mustn’t forget to keep both feet the ground. Tama? Q On work-life balance: Theoretically, it should work. But in real life, it rarely does. At the end of the day, we have to make sacrifices. So, it’s all about making the best decisions and making sure that your sacrifices are worth it. What’s your goal? What’s your dream? What do you want to do? Knowing the answers to these will determine how willing you are to sacrifice for it. Marissa Q On leading a team – You, as a brand, should be innovative and test new ideas, but you can temper the risks by taking baby steps. For example, instead of rolling out an idea across all your branches, you can test it first with one or two boutiques. Q On trust – In the jewelry business –or in any business for that matter–it’s all about trust. When people buy a diamond from you, they don’t really know if it’s real or fake; they believe in your word. So, you have to protect your good name and integrity. When you tarnish that trust, your business means nothing.

BRW Issue92 0215 Florete.indd 2

Homegrown diamond married, I [divested] from my family’s company and joined my wife, to venture on our own,” recalls Florete, who was then a young 20-something with big dreams and a bigger drive. F&C has since flourished and evolved from a mom-and-pop pawnshop to a premier jeweler and heirloom-maker, fronted by brand ambassadors like Bea Alonzo. Today, it marks 45 years in the market. “And we’re celebrating our growing old by being young!” laughs Marissa, who is leading the milestone year with ambitious activities. Though a heritage brand, F&C jewelry embodies a youthful and modern spirit, buoyed by Marissa’s constant efforts to adapt the brand to the times, making it more competitive. To date, there are an estimated 70 F&C boutiques across the country, and the number is continuing to grow! As a group, F&C is steadily expanding as well with more than 1,500 employees nationwide and its stable of hotels also burgeoning. Soon, two new brands–Isla Kaniki Palawan and Earl of Sandwich–will join their offerings. Just what is Florete’s formula to choosing his enterprising endeavors? “It’s all about gut feel,” he says. He entered the food and hospitality fields with no experience, he admits, adding that that did not deter him from succeeding. “You can always learn. And that is why you should always be involved in the ins and outs, the ups and downs of your business.” This allows better understanding of the game and wiser decisions for the group, he adds.

Stabilizing factors TOGETHER FOREVER. Florete and only son Marcelino Florete 3rd at Iloilo airport, Team Florete on a family holiday in Australia. Photos courtesy of F&C Jewelry

Critical Skills A sense of humility is another trait, which astute businessmen shouldn’t fail to keep in mind, Florete advises. “It’s knowing when to give up.” There are others who will push themselves to bankruptcy, he explains, even to the point of sacrificing the stability of their other enterprises for the sake of one, and this should never be the case. “That’s pride. If you feel and if you know it’s time to give up, then give up.” Florete counts being strong-willed and focused as his strong points as a leader. He never forgets to look at the “bottom line.” Meaning, he says: “Will we gain or will we lose?” A numbers whiz, he combs through their finances with a meticulous eye and directs the overall company strategy. While he steers the group with a firm hand, he does give way to his daughters, especially Marissa, concerning the creative aspects of the business such as marketing, branding and design. Marissa concurs: “I’m thankful that he gives us the room to grow in this aspect especially as the industry becomes more competitive.” With the Group going great guns, Florete needs all his team members wired and pumped up. While many family businesses have had to deal with the challenge of succession, the Boss is proud and thankful that his offspring have embraced their duties

and places in the scheme of things. “I believe that without the correct succession, it will all fail. I’ve seen so many businesses find their end this way,” he says. Marissa agrees, saying, “We really never had a choice!” Even in grade school, she recalls spending summers at the pawnshop, watching and learning from her parents. “So, when it was my time to join, the question wasn’t ‘Do you want to?’ It was, ‘When can you’?” Her Papa believes: “Whether they like it or not (referring to his own and even the children of other entrepreneurs), they will also be involved in the business. They should be ready to assume responsibility. But I do respect their choices.” There’s his daughter Christine, who has pursued her own career in law. “I’ve always believed, you can teach your children, advise them, but you can never impose. You make them see the importance of them being here and being involved. Now, if they don’t want to join, that’s ok. We [as parents and businessmen] propose, but can never impose,” he says. “We do go and hire professionals, but I prefer to keep the leadership within the family. In business, I believe it should only be family members and no outsiders, not even in-laws.” “Why, you ask?” he continues. “Because if we quarrel among our-

Today, as the Group celebrates 45 years–after taking on the challenges of building a brand, expanding its portfolio, addressing the crucial issue of succession–the Florete family is now focused on moving forward to a new chapter of growth, and that is to stabilize the F&C Group. “We want to professionalize and hire more support for the team because our newest acquisition–the hotel and hospitality business–is now in full gear,” Florete reports. The properties in Boracay, Baguio, Bohol and Coron are undergoing different stages of crucial development. “The fundamentals are in place, the land is ready for the hotels to be built, and so it’s a matter of rolling out the plans.” While Florete oversees the food and hospitality brands, the girls, on the other hand, have their hands full with F&C Jewelry, which has become the figurative and literal “gold mine” of the F&C Group. According to Marissa, “I love what I do because this means more to me than just business. Your good name is your biggest capital, your best asset and your most prized legacy.” F&C Jewelry, in fact, carries a certain sentimental cache, having been handed down from their lola, and passed onto their mother, who then handed it over to her daughters. Marissa’s own hija Bettina, although still an Ateneo college student, is slated to continue this legacy, joining her mom in Martina Bespoke, a social enterprise that aims to reintroduce a love for vintage inspired filigree tambourine jewelry. “Are you tired?” BoardRoom Watch asks Florete, the energetic F&C Group patriarch. “Maybe,” he says, “but I’m still very driven. I have ambition, I have dreams so I don’t get weary easily. Work, especially if it’s important to you, requires you to be generous with your time and talent. “And if you want to succeed, you must give it your all.”

13/02/2019 10:35 PM

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The Manila Times FRIDAY February 15, 2019

C 3

of

Revel in beauty and romance with Cupid’s baubles and fine feasts as you pamper yourself and that special someone with supreme skincare

BEAUTY BUSINESS Skinfinity High quality and affordable prices come together with the FilipinoKorean beauty and skincare services of Skinfinity. Based on cuttingedge technology and science in Korea, the brand offers treatments such as the signature Skinfinity facial, which provides one with deep cleansing by way of ultrasonic therapy and photon LED lights. Body slimming and shaping treatments are available such as cavitation, in which ultrasonic waves break down fat cells while keeping surrounding tissue intact. Skinfinity is located at 16H Fort Palm Spring 30th Street corner 1st Avenue, Bonifacio Global City. Visit Skinfinity.ph and follow them on Facebook at Skinfinity Skin and Body Spa BGC or Instagram at @Skinfinityph.

SHINING ROMANCE Charriol

The French brand has been creating luxury jewelry, leather goods and accessories since 1983. This year, Charriol presents Crazy in Love Again, their latest collection made especially for the Day of Hearts. The selection features variations of heart symbols and arrows in a nod to Cupid’s tools, all designed to give off a creative and trendy vibe. Playing with symmetry and asymmetry, the line consists of rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings made with white topaz, rhodium silver 925 and steel cables. Any of these pieces will be perfect as gifts for one’s special lady or even oneself. Bangles and bracelets featured in Crazy in Love Again are models of twisted steel cables punctuated with hearts and arrows set with white topaz. The fluidity of the silver mesh bracelets is juxtaposed with steel cable, emphasizing a femininity that is both strong and gentle. Rings, the symbol of eternal bonds, are available in twisted steel or white topaz. Channeling the spirit of modernity, elegance and glamor are the brand’s earrings. The pieces are designed keeping in mind the concept of asymmetry, making each loop unique. Crazy in Love Again also features necklaces that exude seduction and refinement. The fluid silver chains are asymmetrical, its elaborate meshes having no clasp or fastener. The chains are decorated with charms that pass through a ring to seal the necklace. Charriol is located at Gateway Mall, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, Robinson’s Magnolia among others. Visit facebook.com/CharriolOfficial or follow them on Instagram at @charriolph.

CREATIVE SPACE Marquis Events Place

TEA L’AMOUR TWG The purveyor of fine teas presents Place VendômeTM Tea from Haute Couture Tea Collection®, inspired by Paris’ iconic square. A green tea blend with citrus fruits and flowers, the tea brings harmony between Oriental and European tastes. Until February 24, romance will find its way to guests’ heart through their stomachs with a Valentine’s Day menu paired with TWG teas. The main course is accompanied by Mon Amour Tea, a black tea blend of yellow blossoms with sweet notes of quince, a fruit said to be sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. TWG Tea’s Valentine’s Day Menu is available at all TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques. For more information, visit facebook.com/TWGTeaPH or follow @TWGTeaOfficial and @TWGTea.PH on Instagram.

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Lorraine Lim-Aguila, Laura LimRodrigo and Lorlyn Lim-Almazora are entrepreneur-sisters who understand the need for inspiring spaces to mark important milestones. Hence, they established Marquis Events Place, crowned by the pillarless Grand Ballroom. Designed by Hirsch-Bedner, it takes its aesthetic cue from the Japanese legend of “a thousand paper cranes.” To heighten the experience, the culinary team stands at the ready to prepare unforgettable buffets or menus from the attached full kitchen set up or live cooking stations. The Marquis Grand Ballroom takes up to 1,000 guests. Marquis Events Place is located on Rizal Drive BGC, Taguig. To book or tour the facilty, call +63 2 663 7487 or check www.marquis.ph for more information.

13/02/2019 10:36 PM

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The Manila Times EDITOR: Margie T. Logarta DESIGN: Jose Ricardo G. Velarde

Q keep in view Business leaders to watch out for

Jason L. Buensalido CHIEF DESIGN AMBASSADOR AND PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT BUENSALIDO + ARCHITECTS

The product of parents–one artistic and the other logical and structured–this design specialist found his true calling in a field that demanded both of these characteristics co-exist. In so doing, he also learned to think of the non-tangibles, the stories behind the spaces we inhabit

Designing for life BY LEAH C. SALTERIO

Photos courtesy of Jason Buensalido

WHEN THE PARENTS ARE SUCcessful and esteemed in their chosen field, the children expectedly tread the same path. John Patrick Anthony “Jason” Buensalido, the second of the three children of dermatologist Adrian Buensalido and public relations maven Joy Buensalido, chose to heed a different calling. Jason is Chief Designer and Principal Architect of Buensalido + Architects, a 35-people team that’s gaining notice for innovation and quality. Its hip-looking boss didn’t really aspire to become an architect right away. Since he was a kid, Jason used to collect Marvel comic books, especially the adventures of SpiderMan and X-Men. Jason’s early childhood ambition was to become a comic book artist. He went beyond collecting them–he also created his own series. “I made my own characters,” he beams. “I wrote my own storyline, sketched it, inked it, colored it. It was just so amazing to imagine another world.” Part of the reason Jason became an artist, though subliminally, was because his dad is also very good with carpentry. “He’s the handyman of the house,” Jason says of the elder Buensalido. “He likes tinkering with cars and tools. “Instead of buying toys for us, he would make them for us. There was a time we were playing sword fights in our garden. All of my friends would bring plastic toys, but my dad would make us wooden swords.” Whenever Jason would get awards from school,

There may be only one person who’s paying you, but the other family members are also your clients. The mom, the son have their needs. How do I make all of them happy?

At Buensalido + Architects, projects are always a group effort

he got something more gratifying from his dad. “Instead of buying me toys, he would buy me scale models of a tank that you have to assemble, a navy ship or an F-14 or an F-16 plane. “Earning the satisfaction of being able to build and play with it, rather than somebody buying for you and playing with it right away. It was a delayed gratification. The combina-

BRW Issue92 0215 Florete.indd 4

tion of those eventually pushed me to become an architect.” Jason only wanted a job where he didn’t need to think, or so he thought. “I thought architecture would be like that,” he explains. “I just simply wanted to sketch forever.” The more he grasped the intricacies of architecture, however, the more Jason fell in love with it.

Jason eventually grew to value the non-tangibles. “I learned to think of the meaning behind architecture, the space and what it represents. If doctors can heal lives, architects have a great hand in crafting or influencing a way of life for a certain set of people. Jason went to Don Bosco Makati for grade school and high school. He eventually discovered that he could sketch and draw. Jason finished high school in 1997, then went to Japan for a year as an exchange student. He took up architecture at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and finished his five-year college course in 2003. He completed two years of experience, which was a “requirement,” before taking the board examinations for architects. He was the board topnotcher in 2005 and when he became a fullfledged architect, Jason went on to build impressive houses and buildings, not just in Manila, but even out of town. He is proud of every project that his team completed. One such landmark was the state-of-the-art studio of the country’s top noontime show, Eat Bulaga, along Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal, headquarters of TAPE (Television and Production Exponents Inc.) and EPT Entertainment. This new Eat Bulaga studio is actually Jason’s second project for the Tuviera family. Jason first met Ed Tuviera, the son of TV and film producer Tony Tuviera. Jason is equally proud of his firm’s track record that includes residential houses, condominiums and commercial structures. “None of the projects is designed by [just] me,”

ABOUT ME FIRST PAYCHECK I won a national competition in 2002 to master plan the entire Nayong Pilipino. That was even before I graduated in college. We won a check for P200,000 and there were only two of us, who shared the cash prize. After graduation, I didn’t work for a year. I joined a band. I played the guitar in a band.

MORNING ROUTINE I start the morning with a cup of coffee, double shot, double espresso.

SPECIAL SKILLS I can read people, not minds. I’m not telepathic.

FUN FACT I used to wake-board. I used to be a lead guitarist in my high school band called “Larger Than Life.” My favorite rock band is Mr. Big.

TIME YOU SPEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA For personal stuff, I don’t post too much. For work, I do spend a lot of time on social media in order to be aware. I look at designs, architecture. Everything is connected. When you post something, you can easily see it on FB or IG.

he says. “It’s always by the whole office.” For instance, building a hotel in various locations outside Manila– Benguet, Subic, El Nido, Palawan–is a learning experience, Jason reports. “Every project has its challenges. Sometimes, the smallest house is also challenging. “There may be only one person paying you, but the other family members are also your clients. The mom has her own needs and wants… the dad…the eldest son. How do I make all of them happy?” In flood-prone Marikina City, Jason strategically conceptualized houses that are progressive yet, still contemporary. The structures, which are his counter to the Philippine climate, have floating terraces or balconies that can be detached and easily moved to the nearest evacuation center, before the water rises. “Instead of spending all your resources and efforts to fight the flood, why don’t we design with it?” Jason wrote in “Random Responses: A Crusade to Contemporize Philippine Architecture,” a book he released in 2014. Jason’s parents strongly influenced his outlook. “My formative years, a lot of the values taught to you while your mind and your soul are malleable, stays with you for decades,” Jason attests. “A lot of how we act as adults are influenced because of our experiences as kids. “My mom was the one who exposed me to the creative side of the brain. We would have dates going to theater, Repertory Philippines, because she had season tickets. “I also got my fashion sense from her. My entrepreneurial side, that’s from her too. After school, I walked to her office and waited for her to finish her work before we go home. I would see her in action.” His dad was the more logical one, the more structured one, and very hands-on with his craft. “You need those two when it comes to architecture because architecture is an art and a science,” Jason says. “A rightbrained craft but also left-brained craft. There’s logic, but there’s also emotion. There’s math, but there’s also intuition. It can’t be all logic. It can’t be all emotion.” His busy schedule, notwithstanding, Jason also finds time to unwind. He dreams of witnessing the Northern Lights and exploring the Mayan Temples. So far, Jason has visited London, Chiang Mai, Alaska and more recently, South Africa. In the Philippines, “Balesin is always a favorite,” he says. “El Nido definitely, aside from the fact that we have projects there.” An ideal day for him means being with his family–wife Nikki and two-year-old daughter Annika Elize. What disappoints Jason are lack of planning and foresight. “It happens a lot of times, not just at work, but in general. It can be as simple as coordinating where to eat. Why can’t we talk about it an hour before it’s time to decide? When you’re rattled, you don’t make good decisions.” Disinterest also causes him to lose his cool. “I don’t want to say incompetence because I think I’m forgiving when it comes to mistakes,” he says. “In our office, I always tell the staff they are allowed to make mistakes. But to repeat mistakes make me angry.” Jason’s ultimate dream is to craft a piece of architecture that represents our current civilization.“So that a thousand years from now when they see that structure I was part of, they’ll understand who we were.”

13/02/2019 10:36 PM

Sports

D1 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Q Houston Rockets’ James Harden, left, dribbles as Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jeff Teague defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday in Minneapolis. AP PHOTO

www.manilatimes.net

BOXER SHORTS ED TOLENTINO

Who wants Nietes-Palicte 2? C

ONSIDERING that Donnie Nietes thoroughly outclassed Aston 0ALICTE IN THEIR kRST MEETING AND WAS only robbed of a clear-cut victory by the JUDGES IT IS DIFkCULT TO BELIEVE THE INsinuations that Nietes is scared of Palicte and is trying to avoid a return bout. 4HE MORE PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION IS THAT T NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO SEE A SECOND SERVING G OF THE kGHT AND .IETES IS LOOKING AT MORE lucrative offers on the table. The beating .IETES ADMINISTERED ON 0ALICTE WAS MORE METHODICAL THAN HOMICIDAL AND BOXING FANS ARE NOT REALLY ANTICIPATING BLOOD IN THE REMATCH 4HE ONLY REASON A REMATCH IS SHAPING UP IS BECAUSE THE HEAD HONCHOS OF THE 7ORLD "OXING /RGANIZATION 7"/ ORDERED IT FOLLOWING 0ALICTE S ASCENSION TO THE STATUS OF MANDATORY CHALLENGER .IETES AND 0ALICTE kRST FOUGHT FOR THE VACANT 7"/ JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT CROWN LBS IN 3EPTEMBER WITH THE kGHT ENDING G IN A CONTROVERSIAL DRAW %VERYBODY THOUGHT T .IETES WON THE kGHT AND NOT SURPRISINGLY HE WAS REWARDED WITH ANOTHER SHOT AT THE VACANT CROWN IN $ECEMBER AGAINST *APANESE +AZUTO )OKA .IETES OUTCLASSED )OKA IN ROUNDS TO kNALLY CLINCH THE 7"/ PLUM 0ALICTE WAS PUSHED TO THE BACKBURNER BUT HE RECENTLY RETURNED TO TITLE CONTENTION BY KNOCKING G OUT 0UERTO 2ICAN *OSE -ARTINEZ IN A TITLE ELIMINATION MATCH 7ITH THE VICTORY 0ALICTE BECAME THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER TO .IETES THRONE ! REMATCH SHOULD NOT REALLY BE A PROBG LEM BUT THE YEAR OLD .IETES IS SEEKING BIGGER NAMES AND PAYCHECKS 3PECIkCALLY .IETES IS LOOKING AT A UNIkCATION SHOWDOWN WITH 7"! JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP +HALID 9AFAI KNOCKOUTS A kGHT T THAT MAY BE PART OF THE PROPOSED !PRIL R OR -AY SHOWDOWN BETWEEN 7"# JUNIOR R BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION 3RISAKET 3OR 2UNGVISAI AND CHALLENGER *UAN &RANCISCO %STRADA ! JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT APPEARS TO BE IN THE WORKS WHAT T WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE 7"/ .IETES R 7"! 9AFAI AND 7"# 2UNGVISAI JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONS ALL SEEING ACTION IN THE SAME CARD )F .IETES AND 2UNGVISAI PREVAIL THEY COULD END UP BATTLING FOR THE UNIkED 7"/ 7"! 7"# TITLES 4HE UNIkCATION BOUT WITH 7"! CHAMP Yafai is the best route for Nietes, but there is THE MATTER OF THE MANDATORY DEFENSE AGAINST T 0ALICTE 0ALICTE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND A TITLE SHOT AND .IETES CAMP IS ARGUABLY TRYING TO kND G WAYS TO KEEP THE 7"/ CROWN WHILE PURSUING UNIkCATION TALKS WITH 7"! CHAMP 9AFAI .IETES RISKS BEING STRIPPED OF HIS 7"/ CROWN IF HE IGNORES 0ALICTE )F .IETES LOSES THE 7"/ BELT THE kGHT WITH 7"! COUNTERPART 9AFAI LOSES ITS MARKET VALUE 4HIS IS THE DILEMMA .IETES CAMP IS TRYING TO SOLVE ! PERUSAL OF THE 7"/ S RULES ON MANDATORY DEFENSES MAY OFFER SOME SOLUTION )F F Nietes is really bent on unifying the WBOK 7"! JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT STRAP HE CAN ASK R THE 7"/ FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD FOR HIS MANDATORY DEFENSE OBLIGATION 4HE 7"/ #HAMPIONSHIP #OMMITTEE HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO SANCTION A UNIFICATION BOUT OR PARTICIPATION IN A UNIkCATION TOURNAMENT AS A MANDATORY TITLE BOUT NOT TITLE DEFENSE 4HIS MEANS THAT T IF .IETES PARTICIPATES IN A UNIkCATION BOUT T WITH 7"! 9AFAI THE 7"/ #HAMPIONSHIP #OMMITTEE CAN APPROVE THE SAME AND CONSIDER IT AS A MANDATORY TITLE BOUT "ETWEEN THE .O 7"/ MANDATORY CONTENDER AND THE COUNTERPART 7"! CHAMPION THE LATTER R IS CONSIDERED THE TOUGHER AND MORE PRESTIGIOUS kGHT FOR THE INCUMBENT 7"/ CHAMP ! TITLE UNIkCATION SHOWN TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER A MANDATORY TITLE DEFENSE .IETES CAN ASK THE 7"/ #HAMPIONSHIP #OMMITTEE FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD FOR HIS MANDATORY OBLIGATION SO HE CAN TAKE ON 7"! CHAMP 9AFAI IN A UNIkCATION SHOWDOWN !S PER 7"/ RULES IF .IETES IS GRANTED AN EXTENSION AND ENDS UP BEATING G 7"! CHAMP 9AFAI HE MUST IMMEDIATELY Y COMPLETE HIS MANDATORY DEFENSE OBLIGAtion to challenger Palicte. While Palicte WAITS IN THE WINGS THE 7"/ CAN PERHAPS SET UP A kGHT FOR THE INTERIM 7"/ JUNIOR R BANTAMWEIGHT BELT )F .IETES GETS THE EXTENSION AND BEATS 9AFAI HE WILL HAVE THE 7"/ AND 7"! BELTS )F .IETES STILL WANTS TO PURSUE 7"# CHAMP 2UNGVISAI OR %STRADA IF THE -EXICAN BEATS 2UNGVISAI HE CAN GIVE UP THE 7"/ BELT AND 0ALICTE SHOULD HE WIN THE INTERIM CROWN MAY END UP BEING PROMOTED TO FULL lEDGED 7"/ CHAMPION .IETES CAN ALSO KEEP THE 7"/ 7"! BELTS AND SEEK ANOTHER EXTENSION OF HIS MANDATORY DEFENSE OBLIGATION CITING THIS TIME HIS INTENTION TO TAKE PART IN A TITLE TOURNAMENT "UT THIS MAY BE DIFkCULT CONSIDERING THAT T UNDER 7"/ RULES A TITLE TOURNAMENT MUST T INVOLVE FOUR WORLD TITLES 7"/ 7"# 7"! ! AND )"& 4HE PROPOSED TITLE TOURNAMENT INVOLVES ONLY .IETES 7"# CHAMP 2UNGVISAI AND 7"! CHAMP 9AFAI !S OF PRESS TIME )"& JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION *ERWIN !NCAJAS IS NOT PART OF THE TOURNAMENT /F COURSE IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE MONEY Y ON THE TABLE 4HE OFFER TO TAKE ON 7"! ! CHAMP 9AFAI AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TITLE TOURNAMENT HAS TO BE REALLY TEMPTING FOR .IETES TO EXPLORE ALL AVENUES )F THE kGHT WITH 9AFAI FALLS APART .IETES CAN JUST GO AHEAD WITH THE MANDATORY DEFENSE AGAINST 0ALICTE

Harden’s streak survives but Wolves ground Rockets

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OS ANGELES: James Harden joined some elite company by scoring at least 30 points in his 31st straight game on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), but the Houston Rockets lost 121-111 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. ( A R D E N S C O R E D A T E A M HIGH POINTS AND IS NOW TIED WITH HALL OF FAMER 7ILT #HAMBERLAIN FOR THE SECOND LONGEST POINT PLUS STREAK in NBA history. (ARDEN WILL HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK TO TRY AND PASS #HAMberlain for the second longest STREAK AS 7EDNESDAY S LOSS WAS THE 2OCKETS kNAL GAME BEFORE THE ALL STAR BREAK 4HEY RETURN NEXT 4HURSDAY TO FACE THE ,OS !NGELES ,AKERS AT 3TAPLES #ENTER )T IS UNLIKELY BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR (ARDEN TO CATCH #HAMBERLAIN FOR THE LONGEST STREAK IN ."! HISTORY WHICH STANDS AT STRAIGHT GAMES (OUSTON IS WHEN (ARDEN SCORED POINTS BUT THE 4IMBERWOLVES USED A BALANCED ATTACK AND AN INSIDE GAME TO BEAT THE 2OCKETS ON 7EDNESDAY *EFF 4EAGUE SCORED POINTS AND +ARL !NTHONY 4OWNS HAD AS SEVEN -INNESOTA PLAYERS SCORED IN DOUBLE kGURES (ARDEN S TH POINT ON 7EDNESDAY CAME IN THE THIRD QUARTER ON A THREE POINTER

FROM THE TOP OF THE KEY (ARDEN S STREAK APPEARED TO BE IN JEOPARDY EARLY ON AS HE HAD JUST POINTS AT THE END OF THE kRST QUARTER !N EXPLOSIVE POINT SECOND QUARTER PUT (ARDEN BACK ON PACE TO KEEP HIS STREAK ALIVE Harden tried to add to his POINT TOTAL WITH A LONG SHOT FROM ALMOST CENTER COURT AT THE BUZZer, but the ball hit the front of the RIM AND BOUNCED HARMLESSLY AWAY )T WAS HIS ND T H R E E P O I N T A TTEMPT OF THE NIGHT OF WHICH HE MADE JUST EIGHT BASKETS .O OTHER PLAYER ON THE 2OCKETS ATTEMPTED MORE THAN EIGHT THREE POINTERS AND *OSH /KOGIE HAD THE MOST THREE POINT ATTEMPTS FOR THE 4IMBERWOLVES WITH JUST SIX -EANWHILE 'I-

Embiid fined for verbal attack on referees NEW YORK: The National Basketball Association slapped Joel Embiid with a $25,000 fine on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) after the Philadelphia 76er player openly criticized the referees following a loss to the Boston Celtics. Embiid was wrapping up a post-game news conference with reporters after a 112-109 defeat on Tuesday night when he leaned into the microphone, yelled a profanity and said the referees “suck.â€? The league responded by fining Embiid for “public criticism of the officiating which included use of inappropriate languageâ€?. Embiid’s outburst was apparently the result of not getting a foul call in his favour in the final minute of the Celtics’ game. He finished the game with 23 points after shooting just nineof-22 from the field. Asked about the fine following the 76ers 126-111 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, an unapolo-

getic Embiid said “I knew what I was getting into.â€? Embiid scored a team-high 26 points and 14 rebounds as New York handed the hapless Knicks their 18th straight loss. Embiid gave the Madison Square Garden crowd a scare in the third quarter. While trying to chase down a ball going out of bounds, he jumped over Hollywood actress Regina King, who was sitting courtside, and landed on top of a Knicks broadcast worker. No one was seriously hurt. King, who won a Golden Globe for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talkâ€? tweeted about the incident, saying “Yoooo. Thank you God and @ JoelEmbiid for your athletic abilities. Crisis averted.â€? Asked why he chased a ball out of bounds with his team ahead by 15 points and the game out of reach, Embiid said, “I only know one way to play.â€? Embiid’s discipline is just the latest in a series of recent fines for criticism of NBA referees. AFP

ANNIS !NTETOKOUNMPO POSTED A TRIPLE DOUBLE WITH POINTS REBOUNDS AND ASSISTS AS THE -ILWAUKEE "UCKS EXTENDED THEIR LONGEST ROAD WINNING STREAK IN YEARS WITH A WIN OVER )NDIANA ! N T E T O K O U N M P O H A D A HAND IN EVERY BASKET BY THE "UCKS IN THE kRST QUARTER AND LED THEM BACK FROM A POINT DEkCIT IN THE FOURTH g4HE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB KEEPING ITS COMPOSURE u !NTETOKOUNMPO SAID g7E CHANGED THE LINEUP PLAYED HARDER AND SWITCHED EVERYTHING 7E WERE

ABLE TO MAKE )NDIANA GO ONE ON ONE AND ) THINK WE DID A better job rebounding the ball AND RUNNING THE lOOR u 4HE THREE TIME ALL STAR FROM Greece carried the NBA-leadING "UCKS TO THEIR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE WIN ON THE ROAD ON Wednesday. It is the longest ROAD WINNING STREAK SINCE THE SEASON -ILWAUKEE HAS ALSO WON EIGHT OF THEIR LAST NINE GAMES JUST BEFORE THE LEAGUE S ALL STAR BREAK %LSEWHERE $AMIAN ,ILLARD SCORED POINTS AS THE 0ORTLAND 4RAIL "LAZERS SNAPPED

'OLDEN 3TATE S GAME ROAD WINNING STREAK WITH A WIN THAT FEATURED 7ARRIORS coach Steve Kerr losing his cool AND BEING THROWN OUT FOR ARGUING WITH THE OFkCIALS *AKE ,AYMAN ADDED POINTS OFF THE BENCH FOR THE "LAZERS WHO HAD EIGHT PLAYERS IN DOUBLE kGURES 4HE WIN SNAPPED A TWO GAME SKID +EVIN $URANT AND 3TEPHEN #URRY EACH HAD POINTS FOR THE 7ARRIORS WHO WATCHED THE GAME TURN ON A lAGRANT FOUL CALLED ON $RAYMOND 'REEN AFP

D2

Sports

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

Birthday boy Yap relishes relationship with RoS

Q James Yap PBA MEDIA

BUREAU PHOTO

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

T

WO-time Most Valuable Player winner James Yap said that leading Rain or Shine to the quarterfinal round of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup is the best way he can repay the team that treated him so well. Yap, who just turned 37 today, scored the threepoint shot in the fading seconds to carry the Elasto Painters to a 75-74 win over his former team Magnolia on Wednesday night. It was RoS’ fifth straight victory. “As a player I always think about how to help my team. I die for my team. I want to be in good condition everyday. I’m doing plyometrics and shooting every other day. I’m just ready,� said Yap who is averaging 14.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in eight games this conference.

Prior to the season’s start, the former University of the East gunner inked a three-year maximum contract extension with Rain or Shine. Yap was acquired by the Elasto Painters from Magnolia for Paul Lee via trade in October 2016. Yap told reporters after they beat the Hotshots that his birthday wish is to win a championship for Rain or Shine. Yap has won seven titles with Magnolia in his 12 years stay with the team. He was Magnolia’s second overall pick in the 2004 rookie draft.

Yap stressed there was nothing personal in beating his former team. Though he’s playing his best basketball so far, Yap doesn’t want to promise that he will deliver RoS the championship, adding that it is something that a single player can’t accomplish. “Nope. We just can make it to the championship if we’re going to help each other as a team.� Yap also revealed that he’s playing golf recreationally. “Golf. It motivates me, it gives me relaxation. So after practice, I play golf and the result is great,� Yap told The Times. It is something that he looks forward to as the league enters a two-week break to give way to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asian qualikERS SIXTH AND LAST WINDOW “Tomorrow I will play golf,� concluded Yap.

Saludar to get $30K in first title defense WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion Vic Saludar will earn $30,000 (P1.57 million), the biggest payout of his boxing career, in his first title defense against Japanese Masataka Taniguchi on February 26, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Saludar’s trainer Jojo Palacios said that the Polomolok, South Cotabato native only earned $10,000 (P523,450 thousand) in his first world title fight on July 13, where he dethroned Japanese Ryuya Yamanaka via unanimous decision in Kobe, Japan. “This will be Vic’s biggest payout in his professional career. All he needs to do is make the weigh-in a day prior to the fight night,� said Palacios, adding that he is very confident Saludar would make the 105 pounds weight limit. “That (fight purse) is for his family and children. He is also supporting his brothers right now. He came from poverty that’s why I see his determination and hard work,� Palacios said. Taniguchi, 25, holds an 11-2 win-loss record with seven knockouts. The Japanese is jumping into the fray from a three-fight win streak. The 28-year-old Saludar (18-3 win-loss record with 10 knockouts) is now undergoing sparring sessions in General Santos with ex-world title contender Joey Canoy. “We need to be impressive round by round. We don’t need to force a knockout,� said Palacios. Saludar is the younger brother of professional boxer Froilan Saludar, an ex-world title contender and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist. As a flyweight amateur boxer, Saludar won a bronze medal in the 2010 Asian Games. JOSEF T. RAMOS

Rakhimov ‘understands IOC concerns’ over AIBA LAUSANNE: Boxing chief Gafur Rakhimov says he “understands� IOC concerns over the troubled AIBA, which has led to a freeze on the sport’s preparations for next year’s Tokyo Olympics. The Uzbek businessman laid the blame for “an extremely serious� situation squarely at the door of previous president Wu Ching-Kuo. “The former leadership of

AIBA left our organization in a complete mess, not only kNANCIALLY BUT ALSO IN TERMS of governance, anti-doping and refereeing,� he claimed. Boxing’s Tokyo fate depends on the outcome of an investigation into the AIBA by the International Olympic Committee. The IOC has presented the body with a list of 41 questions via audit firm

ever before�. year. They must be the priorDeloitte, who will then reHe urged the IOC to end ity of everybody!� port back to the IOC. the uncertainty over boxing’s Relations between the IOC Rakhimov boasted that presence in Tokyo. and AIBA were hit hard at the under his leadership the “Our boxers are waiting, 2016 Rio Olympics when 36 AIBA has “improved drathey need to know when, officials and referees were matically on all fronts�. where or how to qualify for suspended amid allegations “AIBA members and boxthe Olympic Games next of bout fixing. ers from around the world should be proud of this,� he added, declaring that the organization “is healthy now and Q Gina “Conviction� Iniong (right) delivers a kick against in better shape than a foe. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO

Rakhimov’s election in November also caused friction as the US Treasury Department has linked him to “transnational criminal organizations�, a charge he vehemently denies, calling his presence on the list “a mistake.� AFP

RADZUAN HAPPY TO FACE INIONG IN NEUTRAL TERRITORY WHEN Gina “Conviction� Iniong and Jihin “Shadow Cat� Radzuan clashes in a three-round bout in the ONE Championship Women’s Atomweight division, it will be more than just a battle between the Philippines and Malaysia. A lot will be at stake as both women take pride as excellent ambassadors of wushu, and the striking battle is expected to be intense when they tangle at ONE: Clash of Legends on Saturday at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The pride of Baguio City Iniong has repeatedly said that she feels she has an advantage on the feet, but Radzuan believes otherwise. “Gina might be saying that based on my previous matches where I did not perform well from my striking, but people close to me know I’ve been active in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and boxing,�

said the unbeaten Malaysian stand out “If she chooses to stand and take me on, I’ve got no problem.� Like Iniong, Radzuan is a champion in wushu – winning the Federation International of Grandmaster Association Wushu title before ultimately making her transition to mixed martial arts. The 20-year-old knows that she has a tall task at hand in facing the seasoned Iniong but she insists that she’s ready for whatever the Filipina throws at her on Saturday. While giving Iniong her dues as a warrior, Radzuan is not selling herself short as she believes she has what it takes to take on Iniong. “I’m not going to predict or expect anything from this match. She is the more experienced opponent, and she

will put on a performance However, I do not doubt my abilities and cannot look down on myself coming into the match,� stated Radzuan. “Iniong is a tough opponent, but I’m thankful to ONE for giving me someone like her because if you fight against easier opponents, you’ll never learn. You will not know your weakness, and you’ll never improve your game.� It will be the first time Radzuan will be battling outside of Malaysia and while she admits that there would be adjustments for her, she is glad that the bout is not in Manila, where fans are expected to be 100 percent behind Iniong. “I cannot wait. It is going to be very different as the crowd is not from my country. But thankfully, this bout is not taking place in Manila.�

The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

Sports

D3

Tiger takes aim at Riviera with WGCMexico on horizon L OS ANGELES: Tiger Woods says there’s “no secret� to playing Riviera Country Club, but it’s just not something he’s done well over the years.

“There’s no secret to this golf course, it’s right there in front of you,� the 14-time major champion said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) as he prepared to tee it up in the Genesis Open, the US PGA Tour event he HOSTS FOR THE BENEkT OF HIS 4'2 &OUNDATION 7OODS MADE HIS kRST 0'! 4OUR START AS A YEAR OLD AT 2IVIERA IN PLAYING ON A SPONSOR S EXEMPTION AND MISSING THE CUT He has gone on to amass 80 US PGA Tour titles, but in 11 prior appearances he has never lifted the trophy at the course HE PLAYED SO OFTEN AS A YOUNGSTER “Hopefully I can finally play this golf course well,� said Woods, who despite his lack of success remains a fan of the classic course tucked into Pacific Palisades west OF DOWNTOWN ,OS !NGELES “I love playing this golf course,� he SAID g4HERE S NO FAKING IT AROUND THIS GOLF course, especially if the greens are up to SPEED LIKE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW “It puts such a premium on putting the golf BALL IN PLAY AND HITTING THE BALL HIGH “You’ve got to hit the ball high into any of these greens and really control your spin and PUT THE BALL IN THE RIGHT SPOTS u Woods will be making his second start of AFTER A TIE FOR TH AT THE &ARMERS )NSURANCE /PEN AT 4ORREY 0INES In the intervening two weeks, Woods

Jolo virtual champ; Gabasa moves up by 2 JOLO MAGCALAYO all but wrapped up the men’s crown with a second straight 71, hiking his lead to nine over Masaichi Otake even as Junia Gabasa wrested control in the women’s side despite a 75 in the third round of the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North course in Laguna on Thursday. As elder brother Jonas bowed out with bogeys on the first three holes, Jolo rebounded from a shaky start with a slew of birdies, finishing with five that negated a four-bogey mishap, including on the last hole that hardly put a dent to his title drive in the 72-hole championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and held in honor of the late NGAP president and golf patron Rod V. Feliciano. He bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3 but birdied the sixth and eighth holes, dropped another stroke on No.12 but birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 17 before yielding another stroke on the closing par-4 hole. With a nine-under 207 aggregate, the 17-year-old Jolo went unassailably ahead of the pack with Otake moving to solo second at 216 after a 69 as erstwhile second-running Jonas groped for a 79 and tumbled to eighth at 222. Sean Ramos carded a 73 for third at 217 while another stroke adrift at 218 is Carl Corpus, who matched par 72. Paolo Wong rallied with a 33 for a 71 to tie Perry Bucay, who turned in a 73, and Paqo Barro, who made a 76, at fifth at 221. Rupert Zaragosa, who will join the pro ranks next month, failed to make a charge and settled for a 74 for joint ninth at 223 with Kristoffer Arevalo, who had a 76, and Elee Bisera, who made a 77. After being crowded by Eagle Ace Superal and Sofia Chabon in the first two rounds, Gabasa finally shook off her challengers, bucking a woeful backside 40 for a 75 and a 222 as Chabon reeled back with a 38-41 for a 79 and fell to fourth at 226. Young Rianne Malixi and Sofia Legaspi took over at joint second with 224s with the former stringing a 36-37 for a 73 and the latter bouncing back from an opening 39 with a 35 for a 74. Bernice Olivarez-Ilas remained too far behind at 228 after a 75 while Rafaela Singson, who fumbled with a 78, tied Superal, who skied to an 81, at 229, now seven strokes behind heading to the last 18 holes of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and backed Cignal, Metro Pacific and Cangolf. Dylan Castillo shot a 76 to post a onestroke edge over Kim Tae Won in boys’ play while Sophia Abarcas made a 79 for a threeshot lead over Mikhaela Constantino in girls’ side of the Special Division as part of the NGAP’s grassroots program that drew bets from Apo Golf and Del Monte.

said, he’s been working on hitting the BALL HIGH NOT ONLY TO PREPARE FOR 2IVIERA but also for next week’s WGC-Mexico #HAMPIONSHIP IN -EXICO #ITY 7OODS WILL PLAY THE LIMITED kELD TOURNAMENT FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE WHEN THE EVENT WAS HELD IN -IAMI g) M PLAYING NEXT WEEK u 7OODS CONkRMED 7EDNESDAY AFTER HIS PRO AM ROUND AT 2IVIERA “Beyond that, I haven’t really decided ON WHAT ) M GOING TO BE DOING ) MADE THE decision yesterday to add Mexico to my SCHEDULE AND OBVIOUSLY THE &LORIDA SWING GETS VERY COMPLICATED 3O ) M LEAVING THAT OPEN ENDED RIGHT NOW u But even if Woods hasn’t ironed out all the details of his buildup to the Masters in April, HE IS IN A gVERY DIFFERENT POSITIONu TO &EBRUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS TAKING HIS kRST STEPS in a comeback from spinal fusion surgery WITH NO CLEAR IDEA OF JUST HOW FAR HE COULD GO “I know what my body can and cannot do,� said Woods, who lifted the Tour Championship title in Atlanta in September and comes into this week ranked 13th IN THE WORLD Adding to the feeling of optimism, three of this year’s major championship courses -- Augusta National, PGA Championship venue Bethpage Black and US Open site Pebble Beach -- have yielded six of Woods’s

MAJOR TITLES

Woods, McIlroy paired

!S HE DID LAST YEAR AT 2IViera, Woods will play the kRST TWO ROUNDS WITH .ORTHERN )RELAND S 2ORY -C)LROY AND *USTIN 4HOMAS McIlroy admitted last year that the hubbub surrounding 7OODS WORE ON HIM “I swear, playing in front of all that, he (Tiger) gives up half a SHOT A DAY ON THE kELD u FOUR TIME major-winner McIlroy said of the noise and movement in the massive GALLERIES THAT FOLLOW 7OODS Other featured groups this week include Pebble Beach winner Phil Mickelson with Xander Schauffele AND *ORDAN 3PIETH Woods said he was energised by the success of old foe Mickelson, who claimed his 44th US PGA Tour title at Pebble Beach on Monday, completing a bogey-free 65 in his rain-disrupted final round to beat England’s Paul #ASEY BY THREE STROKES Defending champion Bubba Watson, gunning for a fourth Genesis Open title, WILL PLAY THE kRST TWO ROUNDS ALONGSIDE Dustin Johnson and big-hitting rookie #AMERON #HAMP AFP

Q Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 14th tee on the South Course during the final round of the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open on January 27, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California. AFP PHOTO

Garcia blames 'emotional' news for Saudi tantrum spectacular meltdown at the Saudi Arabia International on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), blaming his tantrum for “emotional, personal news� that he had received EARLIER IN THE WEEK The Spanish star was thrown out of the tournament after damaging several putting greens in frustration and caught on camera wildly attacking a bunker after a poor shot at

that prompted his loss of control, saying only it was a mix of “some emotional and personal things going on and a little frustration with THE GREENS u Garcia was kicked out of the European Tour event after reigning Masters

THE 2OYAL 'REENS COURSE Speaking ahead of this week’s Genesis Open in Los Angeles, HIS kRST TOURNAMENT SINCE HIS HUmiliating expulsion in Saudi Arabia, the YEAR OLD FORMER -ASTERS CHAMPION SAID HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS INEXCUSABLE “I received some very emotional, personal news earlier that week that didn’t help,� 'ARCIA TOLD 4HE 'OLF #HANNEL g)T WAS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND !S ) BECAME FRUSTRATED ON THE COURSE EVERYTHING ERUPTED u Garcia did not divulge details of the news

champion 0ATRICK 2EED AND A number of other players complained Garcia had DAMAGED SIX GREENS Garcia said he had snapped out of his rage during the ROUND (E REPORTedly apologised to 2EED AND OTHER players following

LOS ANGELES: Sergio Garcia apologized for his

Injured Sharapova out of Indian Wells — organizers

Q Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty during their women’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2019. AFP FILE PHOTO LOS ANGELES: Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from next month’s WTA Indian Wells Open after failing to overcome a right shoulder injury, tournament organizers said Wednesday 4HURSDAY IN -ANILA 4HE YEAR OLD 2USSIAN STAR HAS BEEN struggling with a right shoulder problem which forced her withdrawal from the 3AINT 0ETERSBURG TOURNAMENT LAST MONTH Organisers of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells announced on Wednesday the same problem had prompted her withdrawal from the March 4-17 event

IN #ALIFORNIA Sharapova’s place in the main draw will be taken by Germany’s Mona Barthel, ORGANISERS SAID Sharapova has been struggling back to TOP kTNESS SINCE WATCHING FROM THE SIDElines during her 15-month doping ban THAT ENDED IN The former world number one missed out on a place in the Australian Open QUARTERkNALS LAST MONTH BUT INSISTED SHE still believes she can increase her tally of kVE 3LAM TITLES AFP

HIS EXPULSION “It hit me like on the TH HOLE ) STARTED THINKing: ‘What am I doing? Get your head back on top of your SHOULDERS u 'ARCIA SAID g) KNOW ) LOST IT ) FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT IT ) VE BEEN THINKING about it for the last week, every DAY ) M AN EMOTIONAL PLAYER If I channel it the right way, IT S AMAZING )F ) CHANNEL IT THE WRONG WAY IT S TOO EXTREME -Y goal is make sure the bad gets

BETTER AND THE GOOD STAYS u Meanwhile Garcia said he had no issue with remarks by world number two Brooks Koepka, who said of the Spaniard: “You’re 40, so YOU VE GOT TO GROW UP u Garcia and Koepka are due to play next week at the World Golf ChampiONSHIP IN -EXICO #ITY “I’m going to tell him I agree,� 'ARCIA SAID g"UT ) DON T AGREE WITH THE AGE (E GOT MY AGE WRONG ) M NOT "UT WHEN ) SEE HIM ) LL TELL HIM ) M SORRY u AFP

Q Sergio Garcia AFP PHOTO

Tsitsipas ‘loses to himself’ in Rotterdam exit ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: 2IS-

ing Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas said he “lost to himself� after suffering a shock DEFEAT AT THE !40 EVENT IN 2OTTERdam by Bosnian Damir Dzumhur on 7EDNESDAY 4HURSDAY IN -ANILA 4HE YEAR OLD WHO DUMPED OUT 2OGER &EDERER EN ROUTE TO THE !USTRALIAN /PEN SEMI kNALS LAST MONTH SAVED TWO MATCH POINTS late in the third set but still slumped to a LOSS )T WAS $ZUMHUR S kRST WIN SINCE /CTOBER after a run of four straight defeats, and TsitSIPAS WAS LEFT FRUSTRATED BY AN ERRATIC DISPLAY “I lost to myself, not to him,� said the WORLD NUMBER “He fools you, waits for you to make MISTAKES (E STANDS EIGHT METRES BEHIND THE BASELINE AND PLAYS WITH YOUR STRENGTHS (E played nothing crazy or special, but you don’t GET ANY RHYTHM WITH HIM “The momentum was on my side but he kept PUTTING THE BALL INTO THE COURT AND RUNNING u Tsitsipas was seeded third at the Ahoy Arena, but has now lost three of his last four matches after following his Melbourne LAST FOUR THRASHING BY 2AFAEL .ADAL WITH A QUARTER kNAL EXIT AT THE HANDS OF 'AEL -ONkLS IN 3OkA LAST WEEK 3TAN 7AWRINKA THE CHAMPION ENDED A THREE MATCH LOSING RUN AGAINST -ILOS 2AONIC as he defeated the fourth-seeded Canadian TO REACH THE LAST EIGHT Wawrinka, ranked 68th after spending last season recovering and rehabbing from TWO KNEE OPERATIONS IS FAST GAINING MOMENTUM IN The 33-year-old Swiss saved the only break POINT HE FACED WHILE HOLDING BIG SERVER 2AONIC TO A RELATIVELY MODEST ACES “I was moving much better in this match than some of the others against him,� said the

THREE TIME 'RAND 3LAM TITLE WINNER g4HIS WAS MY BEST MATCH IN MANY MONTHS 3OME OF MY LOSSES THIS SEASON WERE CLOSE CALLS ) M TRYING TO PUSH MYSELF ) M LOOKING FOR RESULTS u 7AWRINKA WILL PLAY HIS SECOND QUARTER kNAL of the season after Doha when he takes on Denis Shapovalov after the Canadian teenager beat former champion Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3,

‘Kept my level’ Earlier on Wednesday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continued his strong form with a 6-1, 6-4 DEFEAT OF )TALY S 4HOMAS &ABBIANO 4HE &RENCHMAN WHO MISSED SEVEN MONTHS of last season after knee surgery, continued his momentum after winning last weekend’s TOURNAMENT IN -ONTPELLIER Tsonga, ranked 140th, spent just 66 minUTES IN DISPATCHING QUALIkER &ABBIANO 4HE FORMER !USTRALIAN /PEN kNALIST was pleased with his showing as he won his TH MATCH FROM SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR g) PLAYED WELL IN THE kRST SET AND KEPT MY LEVEL IN THE SECOND u HE SAID g-Y OPPONENT RAISED HIS IN THE SECOND BUT ) HELD ON u Tsonga next plays Dutch wildcard Tallon Griekspoor, who knocked out second seed Karen Khachanov on Tuesday and admitted he does not KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE TH RANKED HOME HOPE “I really don’t know about him, but we will WORK ON IT u 4SONGA SAID 2USSIAN kFTH SEED $ANIIL -EDVEDEV WON his opening match of the week, beating &RANCE S *EREMY #HARDY (UNGARIAN -ARTON &UCSOVICS PUT OUT 2OTTERDAM CHAMPION -ARTIN +LIZAN ,IKE 4SONGA -EDVEDEV WHO TURNED ON Monday, also arrived in the Netherlands after winning a title, having claimed his fourth ATP TOURNAMENT WIN IN 3OkA Monfils reached the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the expense of Italy’s Andreas 3EPPI AFP

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FFRIDAY R I DAY FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Entertainment

E1 Q The former Miss World title holder continues to thrive in her acting career.

www.manilatimes.net

More challenges for Megan A CTRESS and international beauty queen Megan Young had no doubts she wanted to renew her contract with GMA Network this week especially since it is where her heart and her sweetheart belong.

Very happy with how the network has nurtured her career, the former Miss World winner told Showbuzz, “This is where I started and I feel so at home here. I’m happy with the projects they give me and I really enjoyed doing our soap ‘The Stepdaughters’ which lasted for almost a year. I want to do another soap of that type because I want to be challenged and I want to improve more in my craft,� she shared. In The Stepdaughters, Megan had real-life boyfriend Mikael Daez as her leading man and she won’t lie it was a big factor in her excitement. “Masaya we got to work together. He’d pick me up at home and

SHOWBUZZ LHAR SANTIAGO we’d go to the set together tapos may baon pa kaming food! But of course, I’m very open to work with other leading men now that I’ve renewed my contract. I also realized pag boyfriend pala ang

katrabaho ko, parang nahihiya ako na hindi ko maintindihan kasi kilala niya ko. Pag ibang leading man, hindi ako nahihiya because

he doesn’t know anything about me,� she laughed. Asked what she’d love to be

given next, Megan quickly replied, “I want to do a rom-com. Hindi pa ko nakaka-rom-com. Mahilig kasi ako manood ng koreanovela AND ) kND +OREAN ROM COMS VERY entertaining so I really want to do shows like that.� Secondly, she’d like to hone her hosting skills because she really enjoys commentating and Q&As. “I hosted the last season of Starstruck with Dingdong Dantes, and I really had fun doing it. I hope they will consider me again for the new season because I love to interact with people. Ang hilig ko pa namang magsalita because I’m naturally talkative.� Moreover, hosting Starstruck brings back a lot of memories for Megan who auditioned for the very artista search in Pampanga in 2004. “Sumingit lang ako no’n. I was only 14 and had no experience whatsoever in acting or performing. Bahay-school-bahay lang ang

alam kong buhay.�

With no social media back then, Megan had no other way to check on requirements and schedules

Q Present at her contract renewal are (from left) GMA Network SAVP for Alternative Productions and Entertainment Gigi Santiago-Lara, SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth Rasonable, EVP and CFO Felipe Yalong, Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon and talent manager Arnold Vegafria.

except to be glued to the TV.

“Inaabangan lang namin ang announcements. Tapos we’d ask the help of friends kasi makiki-fax ka ng BIRTH CERTIkCATE and other requirements. It’s a lot easier and more convenient now for the aspiring Starstruck contestants with the Internet.� As host of the show on the other hand, Megan reveals she feels just as nervous as the contestants since she had been through the experience before. “Whenever it’s elimination day, kinakabahan talaga ako because I know the feeling na baka ka matanggal. And then as hosts, we have to be the once to announce the end of someone’s Starstruck journey so that’s an added emotional moment pa rin.� For now, as Megan waits for her next assignment, she and Mikael will take a couple of trips here and abroad as they are known to do. “Travelling is really what we enjoy doing together. It’s a way of enriching our knowledge on so many things and to experience those as a couple has made our relationship stronger.� NNN +YLINE !LCANTARA HAS PROVEN anew that she is a showbiz star what with her latest series “Inagaw Na Bituin� beating the competition in ratings when it premiered on Monday. 4HE SOAP OPENED WITH +YLINE and co-star Therese Malvar on stage as singers. A shot rang out AND +YLINE FELL TO THE GROUND leading to the flashback of her character Elsa’s life story, and how she became Anna the singer, competing with Therese’s Ariela. When Showbuzz checked up

with the new teleserye prinnCESS +YLINE WAS ECSTATICĂœ “When I woke-up thee following day, wala pa kongg nakita sa ratings. Sa totooo lang, I was nervous,â€? Laa Nueva Diva admitted. “Na-ajit ako (I got agitated) because being in the afternoon slot, paano manonood ang sunflowers ko? Most of them would be in school at that time. But happily, because we have a very good story and well directed scenes thanks to Direk Mark [Reyes], marami

nang nanonood.�

Q Kyline Alcantara on the set %VER HUMBLE +YLINE of 'Inagaw Na Bituin.' is quick to give credit to her co-stars and production duction team for the success the series has times a week, rehearsals for “Studio 7� and “Sunday Pinasaya� and of EARNED JUST IN ITS kRST WEEK “Ang huhusay po ng mga kasa- COURSE THE LIVE SHOWS TO SAY +YLINE ma namin ni Therese dito. We is busy is an understatement. “But I am not complaining,� are very proud that we are with SHE CLARIkES g)T WAS A GOOD THING the likes of top actors like Miss Sunshine Dizon, Miss Angelika I was able to do lots of mall shows dela Cruz, Mss Angelu de Leon, before the soap so I got to spend Sir Marvin Agustin and +UYA TIME WITH MY SUNlOWERS "REAK Gabby Eigenmann. It’s really a muna from those for now but of course, there will come a time na powerhouse cast.� With her scheduled taping three mauulit din 'yon.�

Stevie Wonder, John Legend headline Motown tribute concert LOS ANGELES: Stevie Wonder jammed with his harmonica, John Legend crooned while playing the piano, and Ciara pranced onstage dressed like Rick James at Motown Records’ 60th anniversary concert. Wonder closed out the all-star lineup performing more than a half-dozen songs at the “Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration� at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The tribute is hosted by Smokey Robinson and Cedric the Entertainer. Motown founder Berry Gordy said he fulfilled his dreams of creating a record label to make music for “all people.� The legendary music mogul started the historic label in 1959, which was home to numerous music artists, including Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, The Supremes and Diana Ross. “My dream was to make music for all people,� Gordy said as the crowd applauded. “Well, my dream came true. ... I want to thank all of you fans, and your parents, and their grandparents. All around the world. I could say their great grandparents, but that would make me older than I want to be.� Some of Motown’s greatest hits were on display: Legend covered Gaye’s “Mercy Me� and Ne-Yo sang The Jackson 5's “I’ll Be There.� Ciara sported a Rick James-like braided wig with beads during her rendition of “Give It to Me Baby.� Ross brought attendees to their feet when she

opened her set singing to Gordy while sitting next to him. After singing a couple of songs onstage, she returned back to Gordy and sang “My Man.� “This is your legacy,� Ross told Gordy. “I want you to know that you have been a gift to all of us.� The tribute comes after Jennifer Lopez’s criticized performance honoring the label at the Grammys on Sunday. The Latin singer-actress faced some backlash from social media for her lead participation in the tribute, but received support from Robinson, who joined her in a duet at the awards show. Lopez’s performance did not come up during the show. The main focus much of the night was how Motown influenced different cultures, genders and races. Meghan Trainor, Fantasia, Chloe x Halle, Thelma Houston, Tori Kelly and Martha Reeves took turns in a “Women of Motown� medley. Another highlight included the “First Four Bars� segment hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. The house band played several Motown hits and random audience members grabbed the microphone and sang the opening to songs like “My Girl,� "Super Freak,� "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough� and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.� “I’m going to have to make this into a TV show,� the comedian-actor sarcastically said. AP

Âťglobalspotlight

Q Ne-Yo AP PHOTOS

Q Diana Ross

Q John Legend and Stevie Wonder

Q Smokey Robinson and Cedric The Entertainer

E2

Funtimes

FRIDAY February 15, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (02/15/19). Strengthen and grow through teamwork this year. Carefully strategize for best results. Try something new at home. Practice for summer action that leads you to introspection. An inspiring winter dream or vision leads you to make a healthy change. Maintain a support web with friends. 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 -- Home restores your HQHUJ\ 7KHUH¶V SUR¿W SRWHQWLDO RYHU WKH QH[W VL[ ZHHNV ZLWK 0DUV LQ Taurus. Carve out domestic time today and tomorrow to recharge. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re especially creative and inventive. Envision an inspiring possibility. Keep your promises. Stand up for yourself. Write, broadcast and publish your views. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Plan, strategize and FRRUGLQDWH RYHU WKH QH[W VL[ ZHHNV 7KHUH¶V PRUH LQFRPH DYDLODEOH WRGD\ DQG WRPRUURZ 6WLFN WR \RXU EXGJHW DQG VDYLQJV FDQ JURZ CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re in your FRPIRUW ]RQH IRU D IHZ GD\V 7DNH SRZHUIXO FRRUGLQDWHG DFWLRQ 7HDPZRUN DQG SUDFWLFH OHDGV WR YLFWRU\ ZLWK 0DUV LQ 7DXUXV IRU VL[ ZHHNV LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Conserve resources without worrying about money. Retreat from the world today and tomorrow. Your professional life is getting more exciting; rest and recharge. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Friends are a big help over the next few days. Wherever you find yourself, UHDFK RXW DQG PDNH FRQQHFWLRQV 2WKHUV VKDUH YDOXDEOH SHUspectives on your research.

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BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re attracting the attention of someone influential. Stay gracious and positive LQ WKH VSRWOLJKW /XFUDWLYH RSSRUWXQLWLHV EHFNRQ RYHU WKH QH[W VL[ ZHHNV *LYH WKDQNV SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Expand your territory today and tomorrow. Enjoy time with a fun travel companLRQ &ROODERUDWLRQ UHDFKHV QHZ OHYHOV RYHU WKH QH[W VL[ ZHHNV ZLWK 0DUV LQ 7DXUXV SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) 7RGD\ LV D 0RQLWRU shared finances. Handle accounting, tax, legal or insurance administration and documentation. Physical action energizes you for six ZHHNV &UDQN WKH SRZHU WR CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Partnership gets you past a practical barrier. It could even get romantic; you’re EHJLQQLQJ D VL[ ZHHN SKDVH IDYRULQJ IXQ DQG FUHDWLYH DFWLRQ IRU ORYH AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Demand for your ZRUN LV ULVLQJ %DODQFH DFWLYLW\ ZLWK UHVW DQG JRRG IRRG +RPH DQG IDPLO\ UHVWRUH \RXU VSLULW 'RPHVWLF LPSURYHPHQWV ÀRZHU RYHU VL[ ZHHNV PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Romance and fun seduce you. Don’t get distracted by old fears, especially with \RXU FUHDWLYH ZRUN *R DKHDG DQG PDNH PLVWDNHV /LVWHQ SRZHUfully and adjust.

$VWURORJHU 1DQF\ %ODFN FRQWLQXHV KHU PRWKHU /LQGD %ODFN¶V OHJDF\ horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on 7ZLWWHU #OLQGDEODFN )RU PRUH DVWURORJLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQV YLVLW /LQGD %ODFN +RURVFRSHV DQG ZZZ QDQF\EODFN FRP

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 FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Lifestyle

E4

w w w.manilatimes.net

VILLA AMBROSIA ARBORETUM

An escape to nature BY DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

I

MAGINE escaping to towering trees, sweetly chirping birds and cooling winds. For many, this scenery may be just what they need to break their monotonous daily grind. Fortunately, this can still be experienced through existing ecology parks in the country. One of them is Villa Ambrosia Arboretum along Naguilian Road in Burgos, La Union. Owners Brian Nigbor and John Flor have opened the two-hectare arboretum for the public to experience a nature retreat and get reacquainted with the lORA AND FAUNA Villa Ambrosia is only a stone’s throw away from the Burgos Municipal Hall and is recognized as one of the ecotourism spots in Burgos along with the Bodahao Falls, Bolikewkew Rice Terraces and Imelda Lake.

Chicago, business partners Nigbor and Flor purchased the parcel of land in 2011 after years of scrutinizing various properties. They have chosen the location for its climate, quiet nature and the warm reception of the residents in Burgos. The business partners, who are fond and amused of old and rare trees, then built a homestead and nurtured the property in an attempt to save a piece of greenery. As trees are being cut down in their surrounding neighborhood, Nigbor and Flor Q Sometimes, a reprieve in the greenery is all a weary city dweller needs. have noticed more creatures such as birds, BEES BUTTERlIES LIZARDS AND SNAKES TAKING As one strides through refuge in the arboretum. the pathways, across a seVilla Ambrosia boasts of 20 species of ries of terraces and gently very rare and endangered trees and over Nurturing nature sloped hills, a captivata hundred species of common trees and ing view of green rariDeciding to settle in the Philippines from lOWERING BUSHES ties emerge such as Betis, Dau, Lamyo, Lipote, Supa and Yakal-Kaliot trees. Aside from the fact that they can rarely be seen, these trees are also interesting for their enormity, color, uses and Q Villa Ambrocia owners John Patrick Flor (right) and Brian Nigbor. HEALTH BENEkTS Distinctive features such planted in commemorative events. It as lawns, forests, gardens and rock forma- is known as one of the three true irontions across the arboretum could also offer woods, having a great density that when an extra feast for the eyes. It is a treat for submerged in water, the wood sinks and nature lovers and parents who would like DOES NOT lOAT )TS WOOD HAS BEEN USED IN to pass on their passion to their kids. older church furnishings. The arboretum is open to the public for Betis (Azaolapayena) is a rare tree that free and is most suitable for educational can produce a straight log with a length trips and hiking activities. For those who of to 20 meters by 3/4 meter. Its wood is want to know more about the rare trees, sturdy and water resistant, suitable for a guided tour is available. Route maps are building ships and piers. also available for hikers. Dau (Dracantomelanedule) , also known AS THE 0ACIkC 7ALNUT IS AN ENORMOUS TREE Rarities which could grow up to 50 meters, with branches appearing only above 20 meters Here are some of the interesting rare and OF THE TRUNK )TS FRUIT SEEDS KERNEL lOWendangered trees that continue to thrive ers and leaves are edible. Its wood has at Villa Ambrosia Arboretum: an interesting pinkish or yellowish color Almagika (Agathisphilippinensis) maybe with green and brown streaks, making it the tallest tree in the country, growing up to suitable for interior trim works. 60 meters. Its wood is white of high quality, Lanite (Anaserlaneti) is a nearly extinct SUITABLE FOR kNE FURNITURE 4HE RESIN FROM ITS tree in the Philippines. It is a hardwood bark has various uses such as for varnish, tree that grows up to 30 meters. Its wood is mosquito repellent and incense used in a beautiful gray to dark brown color suited churches. for interior trim work, sculptures, furniture Balayong or Tindalo (Eterna- rhom- and musical instruments. boidea) has never been widespread and Lipote (Syzygiumpolycephaloides) is Q The imposing Dalipalan trees is just one of the rare species in the nature reserve. is now endangered. Historically, it was a rare and endangered tree. It has white

flowers that grows in bunches and an edible fruit that resembles purple grapes WITH A SWEET AND SOUR TASTE 7ITH HIGH levels of vitamins C, its fruit has health BENEkTS SUCH AS DECREASING TOXINS FROM THE BODY TENSION INlAMMATION BACTERIA cholesterol, cough and tumor. Yakal-Kaliot (Hopeamalibata) is one of the two types of Yakal, which is rare and critically endangered. Yakal is also one of the three true ironwoods, that has a great density that makes it sink AND DOES NOT lOAT IN WATER 4HE WOOD is very hard and termite-proof and was used for bridges, wharves, mining timber and heavy construction. Its wood extract is used as treatment for tumors.

Q The kakao and its famous produce.

‘New Shades’ of Thailand WHEN one thinks of Thailand, street food, markets and elephants instantly come to mind. But for Thais, there is more to their kingdom than what the world knows with a richly layered culture that highlights a truly colorful nation. As such, the government realized that the time has come for Thailand to launch a new tourist campaign to better capture the essence of the country beyond its former tagline as the “Land of Smiles.� Fittingly, they coined “Open to the

New Shades,� which saw its Philippine launch over last weekend’s 2019 Travel Tour Expo. With Filipinos considered to be one of Thailand’s biggest markets, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines, Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng enthused, “Whatever time you choose to visit Thailand, we guarantee that there are festivals and events for you to enjoy.� “Wherever you go to in Thailand, you will always personally experience our long history, beautiful traditions, and colorful celebrations,� he continued.

Open to the New Shades “Thailand is already quite familiar for the Filipinos so this year, we are going to show new offerings that they don’t know about yet,� said Kajorndet Apichartrakul, the director for Singapore and the Philippines of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. According to Apichartrakul, the most popular destinations and activities for Filipinos are: shopping at the markets, watching shows at the Siam Niramit Theater, having dinner cruise, and visiting Pattaya which is near the beach.

Further explaining their new campaign, he added, “Thailand is a country of million shades — nature, culture, food, people, and so much more.� Thailand is also aiming to strengthen its relationship with the LGBT community; they are the Land of Smiles after all. “When you go visit Thailand, you can feel safe and you don’t feel discriminated. It’s what Thailand offers that is different from other areas.�

New travel ambassador Q Thailand's new travel ambassador is TV personality Robi Domingo.

Q Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng.

Part of the campaign is the launch of their new travel ambassador, Robi Domingo. The TV host and avid traveler

first visited the capital Bangkok with his family in 2011. With his brother being a chef, the Domingo family immersed in numerous Thai specialties like pad Thai, kao pad, sticky rice with mango, and his personal favorite, tom yam gung. Not long after, Domingo went back to the beautiful country for work in 2013, this time visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to educate the Filipino audience on “Matanglawin.� “It was a different experience for me because I got to train elephants, go to a river and the White Temple. They even gave me coffee,� Domingo recalled, still so appreciative of the kind gesture. “I’ve been there twice and I still want to go back because I’m not yet done,� he

shared. “I think whenever you go to a place, you’re never fully satisfied because there are countless things that you want to explore and learn more about.� For first-time Thailand visitors, Domingo had some advice to share. “Bring lots of sando, shirts, and comfortable clothing since the weather is similar to Manila. “Trust me, you’ll be walking a lot from morning to night because there are lots of places to discover. Bring lots of loose change because you would want to go around and easily try different kinds of food or activities. The best places for me are the unknown ones,� he ended. NIKA ROQUE

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