THE MANILA TIMES | MARCH 15, 2019

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‘More speed bumps’ to come from El Niño »Story on B1 ++

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•• 7 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 153 36

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019

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1.2M households without water BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

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HE bad news is all customers of Manila Water in Metro Manila and Rizal province will now experience service interruptions every day until the rains come. The good news is these households, numbering 1.2 million, would have water running down their taps for a few hours, based on the company’s new distribution scheme.

AHH, WATER! As taps run dry and many Metro Manila residents went without baths, a woman and her child enjoy a shower at a government-owned resort in Pasig City on Thursday. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Columnist Rigoberto Tiglao is indisposed and unable to file his column for this Friday edition of 4HE 4IMES

RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

EDITORIAL

Water probe under way – Palace

Friar lands issue: A matter of law and public policy

OpinionA4

What’s inside POE, VILLAR TOP MAGDALO SURVEY NewsA2 FOR SENATORS DUTERTE SIGNS ENERGY LAW

FRANK REICHENBACH General Manager Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

NewsA3

Hotelier lifts the bar higher on guest experiences

Luxury verified

-!,!#!«!.' ON 4HURSDAY SAID the government has started invesTIGATING THE WATER SHORTAGE WHICH MIGHT BE gARTIkCIAL u 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO

Palace to Congress: Sue 2019 budget tinkerers -!,!#!«!.' ON 4HURSDAY CHALLENGED LAWMAKERS TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE ALLEGEDLY TINKERING WITH THE PROPOSED NATIONAL BUDGET FOR 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER 3EN 0ANFILO ,ACSON ACCUSED 3PEAKER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR SIGNING A gFALSIkEDu VERSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET

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WARRIORS SNAP 9-GAME HOUSTON WIN STREAK, AVOID SWEEP SportsC1

DINGDONG DANTES PREPARES FOR HARD ACTION IN NEW MOVIE

EntertainmentD4

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

SAID IF REPORTS WERE TRUE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE SUPPLY FROM !NGAT $AM THE WATER WOES MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY INEFkCIENCY AND MISMANAGEMENT

³ProbeA2

-ANILA 7ATER #O )NC ON 4HURSDAY SAID IT WOULD STOP DEPLOYING WATER TANKS IN NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT IT COULD FOCUS ON PROVIDING WATER TO HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS 4HE WATER AGENCY SAID ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS WOULD HAVE NO WATER FROM SIX TO HOURS EVERY DAY g4HIS IS BECAUSE IT S ALREADY ACROSS THE ENTIRE %AST :ONE +UMBAGA WALA NA KAMING PIPILIIN ,AHAT NA 7E WILL NO LONGER SELECT AREAS EVERYONE WILL BE AFFECTED u -ANILA 7ATER #OMMUNICATIONS

³WaterA2

DUTERTE NAMES POLS ON NARCOLIST PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte released THE LIST OF GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS ALLEGEDLY involved in the illegal drugs trade on 4HURSDAY 4HREE LAWMAKERS AND SEVERAL MAYORS WERE ON THE LIST $UTERTE MADE PUBLIC THE GOVERNMENT S SO CALLED NARCOLIST AT THE .ATIONAL 0EACE AND /RDER #OUNCIL MEETING IN $AVAO #ITY )N HIS SPEECH HE SAID THE LIST WAS VETTED AND VALIDATED BY AUTHORITIES g3INCE MY ASSUMPTION IN )

HAVE COMMITTED TO ERADICATE THE DRUG PROBLEM ) HAVE DONE THAT -Y DECISION TO UNMASK THESE DRUG PERSONALITIES WAS ANCHORED ON MY TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO HAVE VETTED AND VALIDATED THE NARCOLIST u $UTERTE SAID “The Department of the Interior and ,OCAL 'OVERNMENT $),' HAS kLED ADMINISTRATIVE CASES AGAINST THEM LOCAL OFkCIALS TODAY -ARCH AT THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN u HE ADDED

³NarcolistA7

Probe graft allegations vs Balutan, Ombudsman asked -!,!#!«!.' HAS REFERRED THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FORMER 0HILIPPINE #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FFICE 0#3/ GENERAL MANAGER !LEXANDER "ALUTAN TO THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO ON 4HURSDAY SAID HE WROTE THE /M-

BUDSMAN ON 7EDNESDAY IN ORDER TO kNALLY SETTLE THE ALLEGATIONS g) TOLD THEM WE ARE REFERRING THE CASE OF "ALUTAN ON ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION SINCE HE IS REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION SO WE ARE TURNING IT OVER TO THE /MBUDSMAN u 0ANELO ADDED

³AllegationsA2

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News

˜ The Manila Times FRIDAY March 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q ALLEGATIONS FROM A1

Poe, Villar top Magdalo poll Probe Go jumps to No. 6

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BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

EELECTIONIST Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar remained the leading candidates for the Senate as shown by the latest Magdalo survey RELEASED ON 4HURSDAY BY THE OFkCE OF 3EN Antonio Trillanes 4th.

!CCORDING TO THE SURVEY CON- 0OE GARNERED PERDUCTED FROM -ARCH TO CENT WITH 6ILLAR AT SECOND WITH

PERCENT 4HEY WERE FOLLOWED BY ,ITO ,APID WITH PERCENT 0IA #AYETANO WITH PERCENT 2AMON g"ONGu 2EVILLA *R WITH PERCENT AND "ONG 'O WITH PERCENT 'O WAS NUMBER IN THE -AGDALO SURVEY CONDUCTED IN *ANUARY /THER CANDIDATES WHO MADE IT TO THE TOP WERE .ANCY "INAY *OSE g*INGGOYu %STRADA "ENIGNO 0AOLO g"AMu !QUINO TH )MEE -ARCOS -ANUEL g-ARu 2OXAS ND !QUILINO g+OKOu 0IMENTEL RD *UAN %DGARDO g3ONNYu !N-

GARA 2ONALD g"ATOu DELA 2OSA &RANCIS 4OLENTINO AND *OSEPH 6ICTOR g*6u %JERCITO !CCORDING TO 4RILLANES -AGDALO CHAIRMAN THE SIX /TSO $IRETSO OPPOSITION CANDIDATES STARTED TO GAIN MOMENTUM AFTER ONLY A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING g4HE /TSO $IRETSO CANDIDATES ARE ABOUT TO BREAK INTO THE TOP 'ARY !LEJANO IS NOW AT NUMBER FROM NUMBER IN THE *ANUARY SURVEY 3AMIRA 'UTOC IS NOW AT NUMBER FROM #HEL $IOKNO IS AT NUMBER

%RIN 4AÄADA IS AT NUMBER WHILE 2OMULO g2OMYu -ACALINTAL IS AT NUMBER AND &LORIN g0ILOu (ILBAY ALTHOUGH HIS RATING IMPROVED STILL HAS SOME CATCHING UP TO DO AT NUMBER u HE SAID 4HE -AGDALO SURVEY EMPLOYED A MULTI STAGE PROBABILITY SAMPLING DESIGN WITH FACE TO FACE INTERVIEWS OF RESPONDENTS EQUITABLY REPRESENTING THE VOTING POPULATION ACROSS DIFFERENT REGIONS AND HAS A MARGIN OF ERROR OF PERCENT

4HE 0ALACE OFkCIAL SAID THE INVESTIGATION WOULD COVER "ALUTAN BUT IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE LINKED TO THE ALLEGATIONS THEN THEY WOULD BE INVESTIGATED TOO -ALACAÄANG HAD ADMITTED THAT "ALUTAN RESIGNED CORRECTING ITS EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS kRED "ALUTAN WAS ACCUSED BY 0#3/ $IRECTOR 3ANDRA #AM OF SPENDING 0 MILLION FOR A #HRISTMAS PARTY IN A kVE STAR HOTEL IN $ECEMBER "ALUTAN HAD SOUGHT AN IMPARTIAL PROBE OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION THROWN AT HIM /VER THE WEEKEND HIS SPOKESMAN &LORANTE 3OLMERIN ASKED THOSE ACCUSING HIM OF CORRUPTION TO PRESENT EVIDENCE

RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

Duterte signs Simulated Birth Rectification Act PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has SIGNED INTO LAW SIMPLIFYING THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE COUNTRY $UTERTE SIGNED 2EPUBLIC !CT 2! OR THE g3IMULATED "IRTH 2ECTIkCATION !CT u ON &EBRUARY 4HE MEASURE WILL GRANT AMNESTY AND ALLOW THE RECTIkCATION FOR THE SIMULATED BIRTH OF A CHILD WHERE THE SIMULATION WAS gMADE FOR THE

BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD AND THAT SUCH CHILD HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY CONSIDERED AND TREATED BY THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO SIMULATED SUCH BIRTH AS HER HIS OR THEIR OWN DAUGHTER OR SON u )T WILL ALSO kX THE STATUS AND kLIATION OF A CHILD WHOSE BIRTH WAS SIMULATED BY GIVING ALL BENEkTS OF ADOPTION AND ENSURING THE CHILD S

entitlement to all rights provided BY THE LAW TO LEGALLY ADOPTED CHILDREN WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND 4HOSE WHO SIMULATED THE BIRTH RECORD OF A CHILD WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM CRIMINAL CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY AS LONG AS A PETITION FOR ADOPTION WITH AN APPLICATION FOR THE RECTIkCATION OF THE SIMULATED BIRTH

RECORD IS kLED WITHIN YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF 2! )T WILL ALSO ALLOW A SIMPLER AND LESS COSTLY ADMINISTRATIVE ADOPTION PROCEEDING WHERE THE CHILD HAS BEEN LIVING WITH THE PERSONS WHO SIMULATED HER OR HIS BIRTH RECORD FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS BEFORE THE ACT S EFFECTIVITY 4HE $EPARTMENT OF 3OCIAL 7EL-

FARE AND $EVELOPMENT WITH THE 0HILIPPINE 3TATISTICS !UTHORITY THE Department of the Interior and ,OCAL 'OVERNMENT THE $EPARTMENT OF *USTICE AND THE #OUNCIL FOR THE 7ELFARE OF #HILDREN ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE !SSOCIATION OF ,OCAL #IVIL REGISTRARS CHILD CARING AND CHILD PLACING AGENCIES AND CHILD S RIGHTS CIVIL

SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WILL ISSUE the implementing rules and reguLATIONS FOR THE LAW WITHIN DAYS FROM ITS EFFECTIVITY 4HE MEASURE IS A CONSOLIDATION OF (OUSE "ILL AND 3ENATE "ILL PASSED BY THE RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS ON $ECEMBER AND LAST YEAR RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

Q PROBE FROM A1

Water probe under way – Palace IN WATER DISTRIBUTION g7E ARE INVESTIGATING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING OR WHAT S THE CAUSE OF THE LACK OF WATER SUPPLY u 0ANELO TOLD REPORTERS “Kung totoo na ang !NGAT $AM is punong-puno at lahat naman NANGGAGALING DOON OH DI HINDI nga totoo )F !NGAT $AM IS FULL THEN THE WATER SHORTAGE MIGHT NOT BE TRUE 3O SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE EFkCIENCY IN DISTRIBUTING AS WELL AS THE QUOTAS OR THE SHARES u HE ADDED 0ANELO WONDERED WHY -AYNILAD WAS NOT HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS -ANILA 7ATER “Eh ‘di ARTIFICIAL LANG IYON KUNG GANOON 3O IT S ONLY AN ARTIFICIAL SHORTAGE "ECAUSE IF THE SOURCE IS FULL AND ANOTHER CONCESSIONAIRE IS ALSO FULL Eh BAKIT NAMAN IYONG ISA HINDI 7HY IS THE OTHER ONE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS u HE ADDED 4HE 0ALACE OFkCIAL SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE INVOLVED FOR MISMANAGEMENT g!S SOON AS WE HAVE THE kNDINGS WE WILL KNOW )NVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY u HE SAID

Seek other sources Former Senate president Juan 0ONCE %NRILE ECHOED 0ANELO S QUERY AND URGED THE .ATIONAL 7ATER 2ESOURCES "OARD .72" TO SEEK MORE WATER SOURCES FOR THE GROWING POPULATION IN -ETRO -ANILA g.GAYON NA RAMDAM NA RAMdam na natin ang El Niño at DAPAT NAGHAHANDA NA RIN TAYO SA MGA POSIBLENG EPEKTO NG CLIMATE CHANGE HINDI NA DAPAT TAYO UMAASA SA IISANG SUPLAY NG TUBIG lamang .OW THAT WE ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF %L .IÄO AND WHILE WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WE SHOULD no longer be dependent on one SOURCE OF WATER u HE SAID %NRILE WHO IS SEEKING A kFTH TERM IN THE 3ENATE RAISED THE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE WATER SHORTAGE 4HE (OUSE OF 2EPREsentatives and Senate are set TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY INTO THE WATER CRISIS ON -ARCH AND RESPECTIVELY g"AKIT SA CONCESSION AREA lamang ng -ANILA 7ATER ANG KRISIS 7HY IS IT THAT THE CRISIS IS BEING FELT ONLY IN THE CONCESSION AREA OF -ANILA 7ATER u HE ASKED

“What is being done to ease the DIFkCULTIES BEING EXPERIENCED BY ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE WATER TANKS OR OTHER SOURCES OF WATER u %NRILE ASKED IN &ILIPINO (E RAISED THESE ISSUES AT THE SIDELINES OF HIS CAMPAIGN SORTIES IN !NTIPOLO 2IZAL WHERE HE WAS DELUGED WITH COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THE WATER SHORTAGE !NTIPOLO IS PART OF -ANILA 7ATER S CONCESSION AREA 3ENATE 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE 3OTTO RD ON 7EDNESDAY kLED 2ESOLUTION DIRECTING THE 3ENATE #OMMITTEE ON 0UBLIC 3ERVICES CHAIRED BY 3EN 'RACE 0OE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CURRENT WATER CRISIS IN -ETRO -ANILA AND NEARBY AREAS (E NOTED THAT THE gLOW TO ZERO WATER SUPPLYu WAS DUE TO THE OPerational adjustments being done BY WATER SERVICE CONCESSIONAIRES -ANILA 7ATER AND -AYNILAD 7HILE SOME ATTRIBUTED THE CRISIS TO THE %L .IÄO PHENOMENON OTHERS BLAMED THE WATER SERVICE CONCESSIONAIRES gHENCE THE NEED TO REVIEW THE CONCESSION AGREEMENTS WITH THEM u 3OTTO SAID g)F LEFT UNRESOLVED THE WATER CRISIS MAY BRING MORE SERIOUS PROBlems to the people and businesses IN THE AFFECTED AREAS AND MAY IMPACT THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE u HE ADDED 0OE BLAMED CONCESSIONAIRES FOR THE WATER SHORTAGE AND VOWED TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE PROBLEM WHEN THE 3ENATE STARTS ITS PROBE g(INDI BA RESPONSIBILIDAD ng mga CONCESSIONAIRES na MASIGURO NA MERON TAYONG SAPAT NA SUPPLY NG TUBIG "AKIT parang isang linggo lang ang NAKAKALIPAS OKAY TAYO PERO PAGGISING NATIN BIGLANG WALA NG TUBIG 0WEDE BANG HINDI NILA NAKITA ANG PROBLEMA NA YAN #ONCESSIONAIRES HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AMPLE SUPPLY OF WATER ,AST WEEK WE WERE OKAY THEN SUDDENLY OUR TAPS RAN DRY 7HY DIDN T THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM u THE SENATOR SAID 3HE SAID EXECUTIVES OF -AYNILAD AND -ANILA 7ATER WOULD BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE INQUIRY SO THAT THEY CAN EXPLAIN AND PRESENT SOLUTIONS TO THE WATER PROBLEM CATHERINE S. VALENTE, BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

HOT AND MAD

A group of workers hold a noise barrage using pails and buckets at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City to denounce the water shortage. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

Q WATER FROM A1

1.2M households without water 0LANNING AND 4ACTICAL $EVELOPMENT -ANAGER $ITTIE 'ALANG SAID IN A PHONE INTERVIEW g7ITH THIS NEW SCHEME WE ARE EXPECTING NA HINDI NA NAMIN KAIlangan pang mag-DEPLOY ng TANKERS DAHIL LAHAT NAMAN AY MAGKAKAROON NG TUBIG SA MGA BAHAY NILA for limITED HOURS THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER NEED TO DEPLOY TANKERS BECAUSE EVERYONE WILL HAVE WATER IN THEIR HOMES FOR LIMITED HOURS u 'ALANG told 4HE -ANILA 4IMES -ANILA 7ATER SERVICES THE CITIES OF -ANDALUYONG -ARIKINA 0ASIG 0ATEROS 3AN *UAN 4AGUIG -AKATI AND PARTS OF 1UEZON #ITY AND -ANILA )T ALSO SERVES !NTIPOLO #ITY AND THE 2IZAL TOWNS OF !NGONO "ARAS "INAGONAN #AINTA #ARDONA *ALA *ALA -ORONG 0ILILLA 2ODRIQUEZ 4ANAY 4AYTAY AND 3AN -ATEO

4HE COMPANY ANNOUNCED ON 7EDNESDAY THAT CUSTOMERS WOULD EXPERIENCE SIX TO HOURS OF WATER SERVICE INTERRUPTION UNDER ITS REVISED WATER INTERRUPTION SCHEME WHICH TOOK EFFECT ON 4HURSDAY 5NDER THE NEW SCHEME WHICH WILL LAST FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS OR UNTIL THE RAINY SEASON SETS IN VALVES WILL BE CLOSED MEANING WATER SUPPLY WOULD BE CUT (OWEVER WHEN WATER IS AVAILABLE IN TAPS PRESSURE WOULD BE LOWER THAN USUAL ,AST WEEK THE COMPANY SAID PORTIONS OF -ETRO -ANILA AND 2IZAL WOULD EXPERIENCE LITTLE TO NO WATER SUPPLY STARTING -ARCH BECAUSE OF THE DECLINING WATER LEVEL AT ,A -ESA $AM !LTHOUGH THE SUPPLY CRUNCH

WAS AGGRAVATED BY THE %L .IÄO PHENOMENON -ANILA 7ATER SAID IT GOT WORSE WHEN CUSTOMERS WHOSE WATER SUPPLY REMAINED NORMAL STARTED STORING WATER 4HIS CAUSED reservoir volume in several areas to DECLINE BELOW MINIMUM PREVENTING WATER SUPPLY TO REACH ELEVATED COMMUNITIES -ANILA 7ATER SAID DEMAND HAD BEEN PUSHED TO AN AVERAGE OF MILLION LITERS PER DAY -,$ HIGHER THAN ITS ALLOCATION OF -,$ -ANILA 7ATER #HIEF /PERATING /FFICER 'EODINO #ARPIO EARLIER SAID DEMAND HAD BEEN INCREASING ANNUALLY BUT IN DEMAND SURPASSED ITS ALLOCATION FROM !NGAT $AM !NGAT $AM IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER FOR -ETRO -ANILA RESIDENTS 7ATER FROM !NGAT $AM

lOWS TO THE )PO $AM AND EVENTUALLY TO ,A -ESA $AM 4HE .ATIONAL 7ATER 2ESOURCES "OARD PROVIDES CUBIC METERS PER SECOND OF WATER FROM !NGAT $AM TO THE -ETROPOLITAN 7ATERWORKS AND 3EWERAGE 3YSTEM -733 4HIS IS SHARED BY -AYNILAD PERCENT AND -ANILA 7ATER PERCENT !LTHOUGH !NGAT $AM S WATER LEVEL REMAINS NORMAL THE WATER from the dam passes through sevERAL TUNNELS AND AQUEDUCTS INTO ,A -ESA $AM BEFORE IT REACHES THE COMPANY S "ALARA 4REATMENT 0LANTS AND THE %AST ,A -ESA 4REATMENT 0LANT #ARPIO SAID -ANILA 7ATER HOPES TO START OPERATING THE 2IZAL 0ROVINCE 7ATER 3UPPLY )MPROVEMENT 0ROJECT WHICH WOULD PROVIDE -,$ BY THE END OF THE MONTH

News

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

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Duterte signs energy law P

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

2%3)$%.T Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill that seeks to modernize and streamline the process of power generation, transmission and distribution.

Republic Act (RA) 11234, or the “Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act,� was signed by the President on March 8. The law would establish the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (Evoss) to allow the coordinated submission and synchronous

processing of all required data and information. The online platform will also provide a single decision-making portal for actions on applications FOR PERMITS AND OR CERTIkCATIONS necessary for, or related to, an application of a proponent for new

power generation, transmission, or distribution projects. The Evoss would also ensure the “secure, accessible and paperless� processing of documentary requirements, assessment and payment of charges and fees, status updates and progress monitoring not only for applicants, but also for national and local government offices and entities involved in the permitting process of energy generation projects. The shop will be managed and maintained by the Depart-

ment of Energy. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate energy committee, estimated that the Evoss Act would reduce consumer electricity prices by as much as P1 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in the long run. With an average household consumption rate of 200 kWh per month, he noted that this would result in savings of

P2,400 per household every year. Duterte also signed RA 11231 or the “Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act,� which aims to make agricultural land freely tradeable. RA 11231 removes restrictions on agricultural free patents imposed under the Commonwealth Act 141 or the “Public Land Act.� These restrictions prohibit land owners to sell and

mortgage the land within the first five years of the patent grant, and gives the option to the original owner of buying back the property within five years from the date of sale. Sen. Richard Gordon, who authored the bill in the Senate, earlier said the measure would help boost development in the agricultural sector as it was expected to “unleash about two to three million agri-free patents, equivalent to at least P387 billion up to P1 trillion worth of agricultural land.�

SANDIGANBAYAN SUSPENDS PICHAY THE Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has ordered the 90day preventive suspension of Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., former chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), pending litigation of the graft complaints he is facing in connection with LWUA’s alleged anomalous purchase of 60 percent of a bank’s stocks in 2009. Pichay pleaded not guilty to the graft charges in 2018. The court on Jan. 17, 2019 directed Pichay to show cause why he should not be suspended. Pichay, a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, had said it was unlikely for him to influence and threaten potential witnesses. The court ordered the House of Representatives to imple-

ment the suspension order. Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz penned the resolution, which was concurred in by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz, who leads the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division, and by Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the cases against Pichay and other individuals in 2016, alleging, among others, that the former LWUA Board passed a resolution in M a r c h 20 09 a p p r ov i n g t h e acquisition of the supposedly insolvent Express Saving Bank Inc., a local thrift bank in Laguna, without the required regulatory approvals from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Monetary Board, Department of Finance, and the Office of the President. REINA C. TOLENTINO

COCO NUTS

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol (right) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Danny Lim enjoy fresh buko juice during the launch of the Summer Coco Fest on Thursday. The program aims to help coconut farmers market their produce. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Duterte vetoes Central Luzon investment hub bill PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed a bill seeking the creation of an investment and infrastructure coordinating hub in Central Luzon. In his letter to the Senate and the House of Representatives dated March 13, Duterte said the bill “has several provisions, which would pose substantial risks to the country and are thus inimical to its economic growth.� “This Administration fully recognizes the significant role

of private investors in the economy. Such recognition is underscored by a number of policies that are meant to increase investor confidence and improve the ease of doing business in the country,� Duterte said. “However, even as the bill espouses the same growth objectives and policies stated above, I cannot support the bill considering the provisions therein that tend to defeat these very objectives and policies in the long run.�

Duterte also said the measure significantly narrows the tax base “with its mandated incentives applicable to registered enterprises in an entire region.� “This renders the whole system incapable of generating a yield sufficient to sustain the country’s social and economic infrastructure, and this would necessitate finding new sources of revenue through additional taxes or borrowings in the future,� the President said.

“In the end, it is the taxpayers all over the country, who are excluded from the tax incentives, that will bear the brunt of the burden.� The measure intends to establish the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub in place of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council, as the body to lead infrastructure development in Central Luzon. CATHERINE S. VALENTE

Ejercito lauds signing of child safety law SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito, a staunch road safety advocate, was elated by the enactment into law of his measure giving protection to children and infant passengers of land vehicles.  “This is good news. The child protection measure that I had pushed in the Senate is now a law. As a father who deeply cares for the health and well-being of our citizens, especially our children who are the future of this nation, I welcome and consider this as one of the most valuable laws that we have ever crafted,� said Ejercito in a statement.  President Rodrigo Duterte

signed Republic Act 11229, or the “Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act,� on Feb. 22, 2019. Ejercito also thanked Sen. Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, for conducting public hearings on his bill that led to its approval in the Senate.  Under the law, it is unlawful for the driver of a covered vehicle not to properly secure at all times a child, in a child restraint system (CRS), while the engine is running or transporting such child on any road, street or highway. The CRS should also be appropriate to the child’s age height and

weight.  A CRS, or car child seat, is a tool specifically designed to protect infants and young children (12 years and below) during a collision or sudden stop by restraining their movement away from the vehicle structure and distributing the forces of a crash over the strongest parts of the body, with minimum damage to the soft tissues.   â€œIt reduces the likelihood of a road crash fatality by approximately 70 percent among infants, and between 54 percent and 80 percent among young children,â€? Ejercito said.

 Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that from 2006 to 2014, 5,960 children died in car accidents, or an average of 662 deaths per year, or 55 deaths per month, or 1 death per day. “I push for this measure having in mind the safety of my children and the children of all parents. Spending for additional safety measures will be nothing compared to the cost of injuries of a crash. We should be mindful that no price can compare to a child’s life that is at stake every day on the road,â€? Ejercito said. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Absentee voters can cast votes from April 29 to May 1 THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the dates for the local and overseas absentee voting (OAV), which will be held ahead of the May 13 midterm elections.  Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Thursday that local absentee voters could cast their votes from April 29 to May 1, while overseas absentee voters had one month to vote from April 13 to May 13.  Covered by the local absentee voting are government officials and employees, members of the military and the police performing election duties, and members of the media.

Local and overseas voters will only vote for national candidates or 12 senators and one party-list group.  There are a total of 63,662,481 registered voters. Of the number, 2.86 percent or 1,822,173 are overseas voters.  Jimenez said the Comelec was right on track in its preparations for the May 13 polls. Director Elaiza Sabile David of the Office for Overseas Voting said electoral forms and other paraphernalia would be shipped out this month. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

OFWs with HIV up 33% in January THE number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who acquired huMAN IMMUNODEkCIENCY VIRUS ()6 went up by 33 percent in January, according to party-list group ACTS-OFW. The group said 90 OFWs were diagnosed with HIV in January, 33 percent higher than the 68 cases reported in the same month in 2018. “The January cases brought to 6,345 the cumulative number of OFWs found living with HIV since the government began passive surveillance of the virus in 1984,� said ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz 3rd. OFWs now comprise 10 percent of

THE CONkRMED CASES LISTED IN the National HIV/AIDS Registry as of January, Bertiz said. Of the 6,345 OFWs in the registry, 86 percent, or 5,471, were male with the median age of 32 years. The 874 female OFWs in the registry had a median age of 34 years. The group said 72 percent of the male patients were infected by having sex with men. Bertiz said his group was counting on the Department of Labor and Employment to deliver “highly improved support� to the growing number of OFWs living with HIV.

Partition of property without court assistance Dear PAO, My wife Ingga and I got married in 2002, and as far as I can remember, the marriage took place without a marriage license. Our relationship turned sour; hence, we got separated and we divided our properties through a notarized written agreement. Ingga sold her share and invested in a certain business,however, she SUFFERED kNANCIAL REVERSES 3HE came to me claiming that she still had an interest on my share, and the agreement we entered dividing our properties was not valid because it was not done judicially. Is she correct? Edmon Dear Edmon, Your marriage which was celebrated without a marriage license

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA is void pursuant to Article 35 (3) of the Family Code of the Philippines. The property regime that applies to your situation is governed by Article 147 of the same code where your wages and salaries shall be owned in equal shares and the properties acquired by both of you through your work or industry shall be governed by the rules on co-ownership. It is presumed that those properties were acquired through your joint efforts and shall be owned in equal shares.

Please be guided by the decision in the case of spouses Salgado vs. Anson (GR 204494, July 27, 2016), where the Supreme Court through former associate justice Bienvenido Reyes stated: “As there is no showing that Luis and Severina were incapacitated to marry each other at the time of their cohabitation and considering that their marriage is void from the beginning for lack of a valid marriage license, Article 144 of the Civil Code, in relation to Article 147 of the Family Code, are the pertinent provisions of law governing their property relations. Article 147 of the Family Code ‘applies to union of parties who are legally capacitated and not barred by any impediment to contract marriage, but whose

marriage is nonetheless void for other reasons, like absence of a marriage license.’ “Under this property regime, property acquired by both spouses through their work and industry shall be governed by the rules on equal co-ownership. Any property acquired during the union is prima facie presumed to have been obtained through their joint efforts. A party who did not participate in the acquisition of the property shall still be considered as having contributed thereto jointly if said party’s efforts consisted in the care and maintenance of the family household. “Accordingly, the provisions on co-ownership under the Civil Code shall apply in the partition of the properties co-owned by Luis

and Severina. It is stated under Article 1079 of the Civil Code that ‘partition, in general, is the separation, division and assignment of a thing held in common among those to whom it may belong. The thing itself may be divided, or its value.’ As to how partition may be validly done, Article 496 of the Civil Code is precise that ‘partition may be made by agreement between the parties or by judicial proceedings.’ The law does not impose a judicial approval for the agreement to be valid. Hence, even without the same, the partition was validly done by Luis and Severina through the execution of the Partition Agreement.� Thus, all properties acquired during your cohabitation with Ingga shall be governed by the

rule on co-ownership and shall be equally divided. The division of your properties was validly done through the notarized written agreement. Ingga was wrong when she claimed that the partition needs judicial approval. Moreover, she has no interest on your share as long as she had already received in full her proportionate share. 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

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l Friar lands issue: a matter of law and public policy

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2%3)$%.4 2ODRIGO $UTERTE MADE A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK IN 3AGAY #ITY .EGROS /CCIDENTAL THAT DURING THE SECOND HALF OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL TERM HE WOULD BE STEPPING UP THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC LANDS TO LANDLESS CITIZENS )T WAS MORE THAN ANOTHER APPLAUSE LINE IN HIS SPEECHES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE 4HIS TIME HE SPOKE TO A HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AT THE HEART OF CHURCH AND STATE RELATIONS IN THE COUNTRY 4HE 0RESIDENT SAID THAT LAND DISTRIBUTION IN HIS REMAINING YEARS COULD INCLUDE #HURCH OR FRIAR LANDS ACQUIRED DURING THE 3PANISH ERA (E TOLD THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH g,ET S REACH AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE LAND TITLES THAT YOU HAVE NOW *UST WAIT ) M STILL HAVING LANDS SURVEYED u 4HIS IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF HISTORY AND CONTROVERSY 0RESIDENT $UTERTE COULD NOT HAVE TOUCHED A RAWER NERVE IN THE OFTEN RANCOROUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE NUMERICALLY DOMINANT #ATHOLIC #HURCH (E HAS REVIVED THE QUESTION OVER FRIAR LANDS WHICH AT ONE TIME PREOCCUPIED 53 COLONIAL POLICY UPON ITS TAKEOVER OF THE 0HILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO IN 4HIS CONCERNED THE DISPOSITION OF LARGE LANDED ESTATES OWNED BY 3PANISH MONASTIC ORDERS ON THE ISLANDS &OR MORE THAN YEARS THE 2OMAN #ATHOLIC #HURCH AND THE ORDERS HAD BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH 3PANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY $URING THAT TIME THREE RELIGIOUS ORDERS ‡ THE $OMINICANS THE !UGUSTINIANS AND THE 2ECOLLECTS ‡ ACQUIRED ABOUT ONE TENTH OF ALL THE IMPROVED LAND ON THE ISLANDS 4HE DISCONTENT OF &ILIPINO PEASANTS WITH THIS SITUATION WAS A MAJOR CAUSE AND CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE 0HILIPPINE 2EVOLUTION OF )N THE 4REATY OF 0ARIS WHICH SETTLED THE 3PANISHm!MERICAN 7AR THE 5NITED 3TATES GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PROTECT THE FRIARS PROPERTY RIGHTS "UT IT ALSO REALIZED THAT IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO ALLOW THEM TO RETURN TO THEIR LANDS $URING TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED UNDER WHICH THE 53 GOVERNMENT PURCHASED ACRES ABOUT HECTARES FOR THE SUM OF 4HE LAND WAS THEN RESOLD TO TENANT FARMERS ON AN INSTALLMENT BASIS 4HE SOLUTION WAS NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY NUMEROUS DISPUTES AROSE OVER THE ACCURACY OF SURVEYS AND TERMS OF REPAYMENT #ONTINUED MONASTIC POSSESSION OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND BECAME A SOURCE OF CONTENTION THEREAFTER )T BECAME PART OF THE ISSUE OF LAND REFORM WHICH VEXED THE 0HILIPPINE GOVERNMENT IN MUCH OF ITS HISTORY 4HE 0RESIDENT MADE SOME STRIKING POINTS IN HIS REMARKS IN 3AGAY #ITY (E CITED .OVALICHES IN 1UEZON #ITY AS HAVING VAST TRACTS OF #HURCH LANDS (E SAID g4HAT S WHY IT CAME TO BE CALLED .OVALICHES )T BELONGED TO THE PRIESTS AND WAS MOSTLY FRIAR LANDS 4HE PRIESTS TOOK IN TENANTS BUT THE MONEY WENT TO THEM ONLY u (E THEN EXPLAINED WHY HE WANTS TO gGIVE AWAY ALL GOVERNMENT OWNED LANDS TO THE PEOPLE u g4HEY ARE OF NO USE TO THE GOVERNMENT ANYWAY 4HE MOUNTAINS ARE VAST %XCEPT FOR THE MILITARY RESERVATION 4HERE S NOTHING LIKE THAT IN THE MOUNTAINS u HE SAID 2EALISTICALLY HOWEVER GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF THE SO CALLED FRIAR LANDS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF THE 0RESIDENT WISHING AND THE !GRARIAN 2EFORM DEPARTMENT DUTIFULLY OBEYING &IRSTLY THIS IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY /UR GOVERNMENT SYSTEM OPERATES UNDER THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE g0RESIDENT PROPOSES #ONGRESS DISPOSES u 3INCE $UTERTE CANNOT DICTATE POLICY HE MUST PERSUADE #ONGRESS TO PASS A LAW ON THE MATTER 3ECONDLY THIS IS A MATTER OF LAW .EITHER THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH NOR THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS WILL SIT BACK AND YIELD THE LANDS IN QUESTION WITHOUT A MAJOR COURT STRUGGLE &OR ALL ITS POWER AND INlUENCE IN THE 53 WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT AND PURCHASING SOME OF THE ESTATES 4HEN AS NOW THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE FRIAR LANDS NEEDS A SERIOUS POLICY STUDY UNDERTAKEN BY COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS ~

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 00

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 XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

A

The second Fall of Bataan?

,, QUIET ON THE "ATAAN NUKE PLANT FRONT "UT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN OUR PROTEAN PROUD AND PROFANE 0REZ MAY JUST SAY GOGOGOÜ ‡ GIVEN THE PRO OPERATION FULL COURT PRESS OF %NERGY 3ECRETARY !LFONSO #USI ) DO NOT QUESTION THE BONA kDES OF ANYONE ALL MEAN WELL BUT ) REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE SECOND &ALL OF "ATAAN ,AST 3UNDAY S 7ASHINGTON 0OST THANK YOU &IL !M LAWYER #HUCK -EDEL REPORTED ON RELEVANT PRUDENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS LEADING WITH g!S *APAN S LEADER *UNICHIRO +OIZUMI BACKED NUCLEAR POWER .OW HE S A MAJOR FOE u #HUCK AND ) WENT TO 7YOMING TO LOOK AT THE "ALANGIGA "ELLS AN ISSUE ON WHICH THE 0REZ AND ) WERE ON THE SAME PAGE ) HOPE MY LUCK EXTENDS TO NUKE POWER ON WHICH MORE BELOW 7E NEVER WILL ON HUMAN RIGHTS SADLY !ND NOT ON #HINA EITHER /UR WALA NAMAN TAYONG LABAN 0REZ SHOULD REALIZE THAT WHILE #HINA IS A DANGEROUS ENEMY IT IS PERHAPS MORE DANGEROUS AS A FRIEND TO BORROW FROM 'EORGES #LEMENCEAU WHO ALSO SAID THAT !MERICA HAS MIRACULOUSLY GONE

T

(% ENDLESS RICE kELDS AND THE lOWING RIVERS AND CREEKS OF "ICOL ARE STILL ON MY MIND "ICOL IS ON THE CUSP OF MODERNITY A MIXED BLESSING IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN RURAL TURNS URBAN )N THIS COUNTRY THE BAD OF MODERNITY SOMETIMES TRUMPS THE GOOD BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION WHICH MEANS NO DEkNITION OF VALUES NO PRIORITY ON WHAT MUST BE SAVED AND WHAT IS DISPENSABLE IN THE RUSH TO MODERNIZE !LREADY THE CAPITAL CITIES OF $AET .AGA AND ,EGAZPI HAVE THEIR VARIETY OF MALLS FASTFOOD OUTLETS AND THE ATTRACTION FOR THE RURAL INHABITANTS TO MIGRATE TO THEM NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY LOSE IN HEALTHY SURROUNDINGS ADEQUATE SPACE AND LIVING STANDARDS .OT EVERYTHING NEW IS GOOD AND NOT EVERYTHING OLD IS USELESS SO NOT EVERYTHING URBAN IS BETTER THAN RURAL "UT THEN MODERNIZATION MARCHES ON 4RAFkC IS NOT YET A PROBLEM .ATIONAL ROADS ARE GOOD AND TRAVEL IS EFkCIENT AND COMFORTABLE 4HE "ITUKANG -ANOK AREA BETWEEN $AET AND .AGA NOTORIOUS FOR ITS ZIGZAGS THAT CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST IS A SPANKING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE WIDE AND WITH PROPER DRAINAGE 4RAFkC IS LIGHT ENOUGH FOR ONE TO SEE THE TREES CREEKS VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS A PANORAMA OF NATURE )N ,EGAZPI THERE IS NO HIGH RISE THAT DARES TO BLOCK -AYON OR INTERFERE WITH THE SIGHTLINE FOR IT )N "UHI THE LAKE PROVIDES THE SMALLEST EDIBLE kSH IN THE WORLD SAMSARGAN !ND CATCHING IT IS LIMITED TO CERTAIN MONTHS OF THE YEAR SO AS NOT TO OVERkSH IT 4HE MAYOR OF "UHI WANTS TO TRANSFER THE MARKET FROM ITS LAKESIDE SETTING WHICH MAY CAUSE POLLUTION TO A MORE RATIONAL DOWNTOWN SETTING 3HE IS AT WORK ON THIS )N ,EGAZPI WHICH HAS EXTENSIVE CITY BOUNDARIES WE VISITED "ANQUEROHAN A NEW SETTLEMENT BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE DANGER ZONES OF -AYON 6OLCANO A FEW YEARS AGO 4HE PLACE HAS A RURAL SETTING OF TREES

T.G.I.F. RENE SAGUISAG FROM BARBARISM TO DECADENCE WITHOUT THE USUAL INTERVAL OF CIVILIZATION ) WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE HAD TWO YEARS TO AS OUR ONE BRIEF SHINING MOMENT AS A PEOPLE .EXT TIME $IGONG SHAKES HANDS WITH 8I HE SHOULD COUNT HIS kNGERS AFTERWARDS WHILE RECALLING -ACTAN 4IRAD 0ASS "ATAAN AND "ESSANG 0ASS "ETTER TO DIE ON ONE S FEET THAN LIVE IN SHAME ON BENDED KNEES 7HY CAN T WE BE LIKE THE #UBANS AND 3OMALIS THAT THE +ANOS COULDN T DEFEAT /R THE 6IETNAMESE WHOM THE &RENCH +ANOS AND #HINESE COULDN T EITHER )T S ALL ABOUT PUSO /N PUBLIC MORALITY -ANONG %MIL *URADO WROTE LAST 4UESDAY g) HAVE BEEN A JOURNALIST FOR A LONG TIME AND ) HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MANY IMMORAL LEADERS AS ) DO NOW u (E HAS BEEN

AROUND FOR ALMOST A CENTURY OR TWO HE SOUNDS THAT WISE $IGONG S RATINGS SOAR WHICH MAY INDICATE HOW LOW WE HAVE FALLEN % G WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT WOMEN AND THE CLERGY AS MEYOR /+ LANG DI PO BAGAY KUNG PANGULO WITH DAUGHTER 3ARA PRONOUNCING THAT DISHONESTY IS THE BETTER POLICY !NYWAY BACK TO THE NUKE PLANT AND THE 7ASHINGTON 0OST REPORT g+OIZUMI HAS COME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN A BATTLE AGAINST THE ENTRENCHED BUSINESS AND POLITICAL INTERESTS HE HAD TANGLED WITH IN THE PAST ;(IS= NEW SIMPLE CATCH PHRASE z:ERO NUCLEAR POWER g%IGHT YEARS AFTER THE -ARCH NUCLEAR MELTDOWN AT THE &UKUSHIMA $AIICHI .UCLEAR 0OWER 0LANT ;HE= IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT TRYING TO HARNESS THE PUBLIC S GROWING DISTRUST OF SUCH POWER AND RID HIS COUNTRY OF AN INDUSTRY HE ONCE PROMOTED AS PRIME MINISTER FROM TO g! &EBRUARY POLL BY *APAN S !SAHI 3HIMBUN NEWSPAPER FOUND PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS AGAINST THE NATION S NUCLEAR PLANTS BEING

RESTARTED AND PERCENT IN SUPPORT z-OMENTUM IS BUILDING HE SAID z)T S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME ;(E= SAYS HE HAS LEARNED FROM HIS MISTAKES "UT *APAN S ESTABLISHMENT REMAINS kRMLY BEHIND NUCLEAR PLANTS EVEN AS OTHER CRITICS OFTEN POINT OUT THE DANGERS POSED BY *APAN S QUAKES AND TSUNAMIS A WORD *APAN GAVE THE WORLD z;7=E CAN TURN CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY 7E CAN MANAGE OURSELVES WITH RENEWABLES HE SAID z4AKE 'ERMANY FOR EXAMPLE 4HEY SAW THE DISASTER IN *APAN AND CHANGED THEIR ENERGY POLICYw;*APAN AND 'ERMANY ARE MAJOR LEAGUERS WE SALIMPUSA 2!63= g*APAN SHUT DOWN ALL OF ITS REACTORS AFTER &UKUSHIMA %XPLOSIONS IN THREE REACTORS SENT A CLOUD OF RADIOACTIVE DUST ACROSS VAST SWATHS OF NORTHEASTERN *APAN AND FORCED PEOPLE TO lEE THEIR HOMES "UT SINCE 3HINZO !BE WAS REELECTED PRIME MINISTER IN HIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ON A MISSION TO GET THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY BACK ON ITS FEET .INE REACTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESTARTED SIX MORE

³SaguisagA5

Visit Bicol AMBIENT VOICES MA. ISABEL ONGPIN AND CREEKS WITH A VIEW OF -OUNT -AYON IN THE DISTANCE !ND THE INHABITANTS ERSTWHILE EVACUEES ARE HAPPY AND AT WORK 'OVERNMENT AGENCIES FROM THE LABOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TAUGHT THEM LIVELIHOOD SKILLS 7EAVING FOR THE WOMEN IS ONE AND THEY HAVE A WEAVING CENTER PROVIDED WITH LOOMS SOME GIVEN BY PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS LIKE THE "0) &OUNDATION 7HAT IS MORE THEY HAVE A MARKET /NE LARGE BARONG TAGALOG MANUFACTURER WHO PROBABLY MANUFACTURES OTHER ITEMS ORDERS HUGE QUANTITIES OF WOVEN ABACA I E SINAMAY 4HE DEMAND IS SO GREAT THAT A NEW BUILDING HAS HAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED TO TAKE IN MORE LOOMS AND MORE WEAVERS 7E MET THE WEAVERS OF ALL AGES WHO WERE LOOKING QUITE HEALTHY AND CONkDENT 4HEY TREATED US TO MARUYA BANANA FRITTERS AND BUKO YOUNG COCONUT 4HEIR NEW HOME IS JUST AS GREEN AS THEIR OLD HOME AND THEY CAN SEE ALL OF -AYON FROM THERE 3O THEY ARE AT HOME (AVING SEEN #AMARINES .ORTE AND 3UR AND !LBAY IT WAS TIME TO VENTURE INTO 3ORSOGON !GAIN WE TRAVELED ON GOOD ROADS THAT ARE NEW AND WIDE 7E NOTED HOWEVER THAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE NOT NEAT 4HEY LEAVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS UNATTENDED ALONG THE WAY OR DUMP RUBBLE FROM THE OLD ROADS BY THE WAYSIDE 3OMEONE SHOULD INJECT DISCIPLINE INTO THEM SO THAT THE LANDSCAPE OF .ATURE IS PRESERVED AND ATTRACTIVE NOT DOTTED WITH DEBRIS OF MANMADE MATERIALS !LONG THE WAY WE HAD VIEWS OF THE 0ACIkC /CEAN AS WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE EAST TOWARDS THE SOUTH 4HERE WERE STANDS SELLING COOKED CRAB FRESH AND DRIED kSH AND FRESH

OYSTERS 7E STOPPED FOR A PLATE OF OYSTERS THAT THE VENDOR SHUCKED RIGHT THERE DIPPING THEM IN VINEGAR WITH ONIONS $ELICIOUS AND FAR AWAY FROM 0ARIS OYSTER PRICES 3ORSOGON IS ABACA AND COCONUT COUNTRY TO THE NTH DEGREE )N 'UBAT WE SERENDIPITOUSLY BUMPED INTO -AYOR 3HARON 2OSE 'LIPO %SCOTO WHEN WE STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF HER NEW #ITY (ALL WHICH SHE WAS ALSO VIEWING 3HE DIDN T LOOK OFFICIAL JUST A YOUNG LADY DRESSED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE .EXT THING WE KNEW SHE HAD INVITED US TO HER OFkCE WHERE SHE SHOWED US A SPECIAL ABACA WEAVE CALLED SALANIGO 4HEY WERE IN A PAIR OF SLIPPERS MADE BY ONE OF THE FEW WOMEN LEFT WHO COULD DO IT !FTER EATING WHAT WAS APPARENTLY HER MERIENDA CASSAVA WITH COCONUT MILK CAKE TOPPED WITH PILI NUTS ‡ WHICH SHE GRACIOUSLY OFFERED AND WE SHAMELESSLY ACCEPTED‡WE HIED OFF TO VISIT !IDA &ELISINO THE NEAREST WOMAN WHO COULD DO SALANIGO IN 3TA !NA 'UBAT 3HE HAD SOME SLIPPERS IN DIFFERENT COLORS )N 3TA !NA WE ALSO MET THE KAGAWAD WHO SHOWED US A LOOM DONATED BY THE "0) &OUNDATION IN HER RESIDENTIAL AREA FULL OF TREES !T LAST OUR GROUP WAS CLEARLY SHOWN WHAT A PILI TREE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE IN THE FOREST OF TREES IN THE LANDSCAPE IT WAS HARD TO DISCERN WHICH WAS A PILI )T PRODUCES A NUT THAT CAN BE ROASTED SALTED CANDIED TURNED INTO MARZIPAN AND EVEN INTO OIL FOR SKIN CARE AMONG OTHER THINGS "ICOLANDIA S GIFT TO HER FELLOW COUNTRYMEN IS THE PILI NUT )N 'UBAT WE ALSO SAW A VERY UPLIFTING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE RUN BY THE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OF -AYOR %SCOTO +ARYLLE 'LIPO %SCOTO WHO IS A GRADUATE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT FROM 50 ,OS "AÄOS )T IS THE 'UBAT !GRITECH )NDUSTRIES #OMPANY AND IT PROCESSES COCONUT WASTE FROM COPRA -EANING THE COCONUT SHELLS LEFT AFTER THE COCONUT FRUIT IS EXTRACTED FOR COPRA OR OTHER USES 4HESE SHELLS WHICH WERE CONSIDERED WASTE ARE PROCESSED

INTO kBER WHICH IS THEN TURNED INTO ROPE AND EVEN ANTI EROSION MATS USED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION 7HAT WAS MIND BENDING ABOUT THE FACTORY IS THAT IT USES SOLAR POWER FOR THE kBER EXTRACTED FROM THE COCONUT SHELLS TURNING IT INTO ROPE VIA MOTION ACTIVATED MACHINES 7OMEN FED THE kBER INTO THE MOTION ACTIVATED MACHINES WHICH BLENDED THEM INTO ROPES THAT TWO OTHER WOMEN PULLED OUT IN TWO ROWS AFTER WHICH THEY PUT THEM IN A SPINNING MACHINE THAT PRODUCED A SINGLE ROPE )T LOOKED EASY BUT ONE OF US TRIED IT AND COULD NOT MANAGE IT 4HE ROPE WAS THEN PUT THROUGH A STEEL LOOM WITH A HUGE SHUTTLE WHICH TWO MEN HANDLED BY PUSHING AND PULLING HARD WORK AND TURNED THE ROPE INTO THE ANTI EROSION MAT ROLLS OF WHICH WERE PILED ALL OVER ) AM TAKING TIME TO GIVE THE DETAILS BECAUSE +AYLLE %SCOTO SAID HER FAMILY WAS GIVEN A MISSION BY HER GRANDPARENTS WHO OWNED THE NEARBY LAND TO CONTINUE EMPLOYING THEIR LONGTIME WORKERS WHEN THEY WERE GONE !N UNCLE WHO SEEMS TO BE A MECHANICAL GENIUS DESIGNED THE SOLAR POWERED PLANT AND THE MOTION ACTIVATED MACHINES !ND WOMEN MAKE UP ABOUT PERCENT OF THE LABOR FORCE ) COULD GO ON AND ON FROM THE ABACA PARTS FASHIONED INTO PANELS THAT *APANESE ARE MAD FOR AND MADE IN 'UBAT BY 6ISITACION &ULGORINO TO THE VARIETY OF BURI AND RATTAN BASKETS THAT WE SAW IN "ULUSAN 7E PASSED THE TOWN OF "ARCELONA WHICH HAS A HERITAGE CHURCH AND IS NOW BEING REHABILITATED !CROSS IT FACING THE 0ACIkC ARE RUINS OF AN OLD CONVENT SCHOOL AND THE TOWN PRESIDENCIA OF 3PANISH TIMES (APPILY THEY ARE NOW A WELL CARED FOR PARK AND WE COULD SEE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE THERE ON AN AFTERNOON OUTING -EANWHILE THE 0ACIkC /CEAN S ENDLESS BLUE WAVES LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF 0ARADISE ON A SUNNY AND COOL AFTERNOON IN 3ORSOGON 6ISIT "ICOL

˜ The Manila Times

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FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Opinion

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Self-identity and self-image

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SYCHOLOGY has had festivals of theories about the individual person—a fascinating topic for any individual to help in one’s self introspection. We make an effort to set ourselves aside from the din of every day commitments, to take time off, WHETHER THIS BE A RETREAT A RElECtion session or any other form of extricating ourselves both mentally and physically from this physical world for a good enough length of time. We make time to review, to improve or reform what our personal traits are such as being too giving, too lax or too strict as well as those of our physical form such as being stocky or slim or dark, etc. or of our material possessions such as having more house-help than needed, an unkempt garden, a booming business or a start-up bed and breakfast lounge, etc. <https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC259 4523/pdf/ jnma00309-0088.pdf> Positive/good/negative/poor self-image. The idea one has of one’s abilities, appearance, and personality is self-image. In its most basic form, it is “an internalized mental picture/idea� one has of oneself. It’s how a person thinks and feels about one’s self “based on [one’s] appearance, performance, and relationships that consistently impact on [one’s] outlook on life as well as [one’s] level of happiness and FULkLLMENTu g4HESE ASSETS AND LIabilities often are evident through the labels one gives one’s self that describes one’s qualities and characteristics.� They are the “foundations of one’s self-image� and parts of the “internalized mental picture/idea� one creates of one’s

FLASHBACKS/ INSIGHTS TERESITA TANHUECOTUMAPON self. One’s self-image is the impression one has of one’s self that forms a collective representation of one’s assets and liabilities. In other words, one’s self-image is how one sees one’s self based on one’s strengths and weaknesses. <https://blog.iqmatrix.com/selfimage>. Said in another way, selfimage is “the idea that one has of one’s self, especially of one’s abilities, character and appearance.� <https://www .ldoceonline.com/ dictionary/self-image>. Implications for teachers and learners. A teacher announcing to the class his/her criticism on the poor quality of a learner’s output leads to the learner’s developing a negative self-image. Yes, there is such among us and this could be in graduate studies. A learner who may be the butt of the teacher’s prejudice will be rebellious. The learner would keep quiet because he or she feels he or she is not being valued. He or she feels isolated from the rest of the batchmates who, in the learner’s belief, have also isolated him or her from their group. “Essentially, all these blocks to communication and self-expression are to do with feelings of inadequacy and poor self-image. Personalitybased depression happens to people with poor self-image, or to a person who is heavily dependent on others for emotional support.� As an expert suggests, “No

child should leave school with a sense of failure or a poor selfimage.� We may not be aware that there are learners who do try their best to meet our expectations, except that they do have learning difficulties that have not been noticed, or have been noticed but have not been attended to for some reason or other. Particularly in the Philippine setting, where English is the medium of instruction in the upper grades, assignments, such as essays, have to be in English. Learners have much meaningful ideas to share except that their lack of vocabulary and declining English language skills prevent them from sharing what otherwise would have been valuable ideas to have shared. Also, “through no fault of their own, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO HAVE SPECIkC LEARNING DIFkCULTIES CAN ALSO BE disorganized, forget instructions and/or lose belongings such as their pen or notes; [learners] may seem to be constantly in trouble with their teachers, unwilling to conform, and even labelled as troublemakers.� How to help learners build a healthy self-image. Experts suggest various ways on how we can help improve the self-image of our learners. First is to look for something positive in every learner. Long years past, learners were labeled as “bright� if they scored high marks in what usually were on the basic cognitive levels such as remembering. There were questions verging on understanding and application. Tests given then were the matching type or kLLING THE BLANKS WHICH USUALLY were about who, when, where and what. Seldom did tests ask

Q SAGUISAG FROM A4

The second Fall of Bataan? applications to restart have been approved by a new, nominally independent Nuclear Regulation Authority, and the government wants nuclear power to contribute 20 percent to 22 percent of the nation’s energy by 2030. Japan’s nuclear agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) say safety standards HAVE BEEN SIGNIkCANTLY TIGHTENED 4HE aim, said Daisuke Matsuno, director of METI’s nuclear energy policy planning division, is to make the industry ‘the world’s safest.’ At the same time, it is dangerous to think you can achieve ZERO RISK @/VERCONkDENCE IS DANGERous. Indeed, overconfidence was Japan’s downfall.’ “A damning report by an independent parliamentary panel in 2012 concluded that the Fukushima disaster was ‘profoundly man-made,’ caused by a disregard of the risks of earthquakes by an industry determined to preserve the illusion that nuclear power was absolutely safe. Instead of supervising the industry, METI colluded with it, the report said. It said the risks were downplayed in a CULTURE OF @RElEXIVE OBEDIENCE AND A ‘reluctance to question authority.’ (The regulator captured by the regulated, so, what else is new? - RAVS) “A million tons of contaminated water must be stored, possibly for years, at Japan’s Fukushima power plant. METI and Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), its operator, should have been profoundly embarrassed by those conclusions, Koizumi said, but instead appears unfazed. ‘I am stunned. I think they are crazy. Everyone at METI and Tepco are all smart. They all did well in school. Still they don’t get it, they don’t get how this is costing so much money and is so risky,’ he added. So why are elected politicians so determined to press ahead? The answer, [he] asserted, lies in those same vested interests he has SPENT THE BEST PART OF HIS CAREER kGHTing. Building nuclear power plants is hugely expensive and involves large swaths of industry, which in turn supports the ruling party, [he] said. Labor unions eyeing jobs from nuclear power support the opposition parties, most of whom had backed nuclear power in the past. “‘Nuclear power is behind both sides,’ he said. Since 2011, the opposition has swung into the antinuclear camp. But Koizumi has found his own Liberal Democratic Party — also the party of Abe — harder to

sway. So much money has also been invested in the industry that there is a reluctance to write investments off. But [he] says nuclear power is neither economic nor necessary. The country, he noted, survived without it for two years without a single blackout. “[His] journey to the ‘zero nuclear’ camp began on the day the Fukushima plant ruptured. In retirement, he has devoured books on the subject, and has come to the belief that the world had next to no provisions to safely store nuclear waste. “Public pressure and litigation in Japan have delayed or prevented several plants from restarting, but critics say risks from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are still being systematically downplayed‌ [He] says he has told Abe to embrace renewable energy. ‘If Japan went in that direction, the world would look at us differently, with more respect,’ he said. ‘We can become a model.’ “Other voices of criticism struggle to be heard. Shigeaki Koga, an energy industry expert, says his career was sidelined at METI after he expressed doubts about the safety of nuclear power; he was ultimately forced to resign but has since emerged as a leading public critic. Kunihiko Shimazaki, one of Japan’s leading seismologists, warned of the risks of earthquakes and tsunamis along the country’s northeast coast for years before the disaster struck, but his reports were generally ignored or buried. After March 2011, he served for two years with the nuclear regulator, and spoke out forcefully, but his term was not renewed. For now, Koizumi is leading the charge and trying to appeal directly to the Japanese people‌ As someone who believes he was deceived by the nuclear power lobby during his time as prime minister, he sees it as his duty. “Just as Confucius said, for someone not to correct themselves after making a mistake - that is a true mistake.â€? Digong should make certain midterm course corrections, on many fronts. Napapanahon nang maging Pangulo, di na po meyor lang. Friar lands talk would be useless in Bataan (where the Catholic Church has prudently scrapped funeral mass fees, per this paper yesterday: moot, if the Weapon of Mass Destruction that is the nuke plant melts down, in a country where administration Senate bets, again, are said to believe that dishonesty is the better policy. Values meltdown.

why. Second, we try discovering what is unique in each learner, multiple intelligence-wise, such as talents related to the lessons for the day. A mathematics teaching research noted that learners receiving a teacher’s positive encouragement written on their exams were found to have greatly improved in their mathematics assignments. Learners became more interactive and unhesitatingly approached their teacher for needed explanations. Third, IS TO GIVE A gPOSITIVE AFkRMATIONu of what learners are able to do, enabling them to acknowledge their positive qualities they may not be aware of. Culture-wise, Filipino learners may be sensitive to criticism. How we frame our remarks could help either build or destroy a learner’s self-image. Hence, a fourth way is to teach learners that criticisms are part of the development process, to be less onion-skinned. This may help them accept positively negative remarks about their work or about themselves. A kFTH strategy is to train them set goals or objectives for every endeavor which they will launch themselves or with team mates. Indeed, there is merit, that at the outset, for every lesson taught, clear goals or objectives be formulated together with learners. This way, they have a common understanding of what learning expectations (a skill, new knowledge, new procedure, etc.) awaits them. This particular strategy has been considered through the outcomes-based approach which is the popular preoccupation these past years in formulating syllabi.

A5

ON SENATOR LACSON’S ALLEGED ‘FIXATION’ PLEASE allow us to set the record straight and disabuse the minds of your readers regarding the column of Mr. Rolly G. Reyes last March 7 (“Ping’s fixation,� Manila Times, March 7, 2019), where he made personal attacks against Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson – including his claim that the senator’s disclosures on pork barrel are due to a supposed fixation on Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It is quite dismaying that such baseless allegations belie the last paragraph of his piece, “good work, good deeds and good faith to all.� First, Senator Lacson calls out wrongdoing, regardless of who gets hurt. His latest disclosure about attempts to manipulate and sneak pork into the already-ratified P3.757-trillion national budget bill stemmed from information shared by several members of the House of Representatives themselves. In the case of post-ratification manipulations involving the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, House members received a text message on the matter from one Ms. Salamanca, who introduced herself as a member of the staff of Speaker Arroyo. To be clear, Senator Lacson has already made peace with Speaker Arroyo. But this does not mean he will keep quiet when there is an issue on the budget that involves her. And lest Mr. Reyes forget, Senator Lacson has also spoken out against other personalities involved in pork, even those who he considers his friends. Just ask former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Rep. Anthony Bravo. Second, while fine-tuning the budget is the work of both houses of Congress, no one from either house has any business tampering with the budget after it is ratified, much less violating the Constitution. Article VI, Sec. 26, Paragraph 2 of the 1987 Constitution particularly states that “upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed.� It is exactly such manipulation that threatens to render useless the long and tedious hours of bicameral deliberations, scrutiny and fine-tuning leading to both houses’ approval of the budget bill. On Mr. Reyes’ concern that inter-parliamentary respect has been violated, are the leaders of the House not the ones doing the violating, with their tampering of the budget bill ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives? To be sure, this is not the first time innuendos were hurled against Senator Lacson for exposing irregularities in the budgeting process. Such attacks also sought to muddle the issue, including claims on “institutional insertions,� which the senator has addressed by posting his institutional amendments on his website. As for Mr. Reyes’ spirited defense of the Speaker that prompted him to make personal attacks on Senator Lacson, perhaps he would do her — and the public — a much better service if he used his column in this prestigious paper to air her side, point by point, instead of muddling the issue on pork in the budget by making personal attacks on Senator Lacson. Joel Locsin Media Relations Officer Office of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson

Email: ttumapon@liceo.edu.ph

Great love without borders Chinese surveyors of island bridges project rescue two Filipino fishermen at sea. BY THE EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

A

T 7:20 a.m. on March 1, the marine water depth measurement team from the CCCC Highway Consultants Co., which was working on the China-aided �Feasibility Study of the PGN Island Bridge Project in the Philippines,� found two overturned and broken boats in Guimaras Strait. The surveyors immediately started rescue operations and successfully saved two fishermen who were in danger of being overwhelmed by waves and drowning. Surveyor Feng Minhua recalled that at about 7 a.m., the team was busy with survey work in the Guimaras Strait. At that time, the waves in the survey area were about 2 to 3 meters high, and the sea conditions were bad. As the survey ship sailed 5 kilometers away from the coast, the captain suddenly made out human figures floating amid the waves in the distance. Without hesitation, the surveyors immediately asked the captain to sail to the figures as fast as they could. As they came close, the surveyors heard calls for help apparently coming from two fishermen holding on to the planks of a broken small fishing boat. The voices were faint because the two were exhausted. As the waves were becoming bigger because of the rising tide, the two fishermen were in great danger. They faced having the planks overturned and drowned

Q Sighting by survey ship crew of two fishermen floating in rough seas. by the waves. The surveyors and the crew immediately threw life ropes and life jackets to the fishermen. After ensuring that the two were attached to the lifesaving devices, the surveyor and the crew slowly pulled them on to their ship. After the rescue of the fishermen, the survey ship also managed to tow the two damaged fishing boats back to the Sibunag wharf. Having calmed down, the two fishermen explained the cause of their accident. They said they lived near the Sibunag wharf which was about 10 km away. They went out to fish

Q The fishermen and surveyors after the rescue.

early in the morning when the tide was low. However, the sea conditions suddenly changed and the wind and waves started. Overcome by the wind and waves, the two boats collapsed and shattered. The two fishermen were exhausted after floating in the sea for more than an hour. As no ship passed by, and the boats were too small to be seen, they became quite desperate. They considered themselves lucky to have been discovered and rescued by the Chinese surveyors working in the area. After returning to the wharf,

the two fishermen and their families expressed their deep g r a t i t u d e t o t h e s u r ve yo r s. They thanked the Chinese for rescuing them and saving their fishing boats without claiming any charges. The Feasibility Study of the PGN Island Bridge Project is being undertaken with technical assistance from China, by the CCCC Highway Consultants Co. Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the implementation agreement of the project when he came on a state visit to the Philippines on Nov. 20, 2018.

Q Survey ship towed the two broken fishing boats back to shore.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

UN pays homage to staffers who died in plane crash BY THALIF DEEN UNITED NATIONS (IPS): The United Nations headquarters is in mourning ‡ AND THE 5. lAG IS AT HALF MAST 4HE DEATHS OF 5. STAFFERS -ARCH ON BOARD AN %THIOPIAN !IRLINES lIGHT IN !DDIS !BABA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRAGEDIES IN THE EXTENDED 5. FAMILY ‡ WITH A lASHBACK TO THE DEATHS OF PEOPLE MOSTLY 5. STAFFERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE #ANAL (OTEL BOMBING IN THE )RAQI CAPITAL OF "AGHDAD IN !UGUST 4HE TRAGEDY ON 3UNDAY HAD A WIDER IMPACT BECAUSE THE 5. STAFFERS ‡ ENROUTE FROM !DDIS !BABA TO .AIROBI FOR THE &OURTH 5. %NVIRONMENT !SSEMBLY -ARCH ‡ WERE FROM 5. AGENCIES AND PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS PLUS REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS #3/S )N THE ANNALS OF 5. TRAGEDIES $AG (AMMARSKJÇLD OF 3WEDEN THE SECOND 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL OF THE 5NITED .ATIONS PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR PEACE WHEN HE DIED IN A MYSTERIOUS PLANE CRASH BACK IN 3EPTEMBER WHICH STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED AFTER LONG YEARS !DDRESSING DELEGATES 5. 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL !NTONIO 'UTERRES SAID g! GLOBAL TRAGEDY HAS HIT CLOSE TO HOME ‡ AND THE 5NITED .ATIONS IS UNITED IN GRIEF u %XTENDING HIS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF ALL THE VICTIMS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF %THIOPIA AND ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER HE SAID g/UR COLLEAGUES WERE WOMEN AND MEN ‡ JUNIOR PROFESSIONALS AND SEASONED OFkCIALS ‡ HAILING FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE AND WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF EXPERTISE u 4HEY ALL HAD ONE THING IN COMMON HE SAID gA SPIRIT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AND TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE FOR US ALLu 5. SPOKESPERSON 3TEPHANE $UJARRIC SAID EVEN THOUGH THE PLANE CRASH IN %THIOPIA gRANKS UP THERE WITH ONE OF THE WORST DISASTERS THAT WE VE SEEN WHAT REMAINS THE HIGHEST TOLL WERE THE COLLEAGUES WE LOST IN THE EARTHQUAKE IN (AITI u 4HERE WAS ALSO THE ATTACK

ON THE #ANAL (OTEL IN "AGHDAD IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE KILLED 3EVENTEEN 5. COLLEAGUES WERE MURDERED IN !LGIERS IN DURING THE ATTACK THERE )N A 5. PEACEKEEPING PLANE CRASHED IN THE ;$EMOCRATIC 2EPUBLIC OF THE #ONGO= WITH ABOUT PEOPLE ON BOARD WHICH WAS A MIX OF 5. STAFFERS AND .'/S AND CONTRACTORS 4HIS RANKS EXTREMELY HIGH IN A VERY UNFORTUNATE RANKING $UJARRIC ADDED ! BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF STAFFERS FROM EACH OF THE AGENCIES AND PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS INCLUDES THE &OOD AND !GRICULTURE /RGANIZATION THE )NTERNATIONAL 4ELECOMMUNICATIONS 5NION THE /FkCE OF THE 5. (IGH #OMMISSIONER FOR 2EFUGEES THE 7ORLD &OOD 0ROGRAM 5. !SSISTANCE -ISSION IN 3OMALIA THE 5. $EVELOPMENT 0ROGRAM THE )NTERNATIONAL /RGANIZATION OF -IGRATION THE )NTERNATIONAL ,ABOR /RGANIZATION 5. /FkCE OF THE #OORDINATOR FOR (UMANITARIAN !FFAIRS THE 5. %DUCATIONAL 3CIENTIkC AND #ULTURAL /RGANIZATION 5. 3UPPORT /FkCE FOR THE !FRICAN 5NION -ISSION IN 3OMALIA AND THE 7ORLD -ETEOROLOGICAL /RGANIZATION )N A STATEMENT RELEASED -ONDAY THE 7ORLD &OOD 0ROGRAM WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST NUMBER OF DEATHS SAID IT IS IN MOURNING FOR SEVEN 7&0 STAFF MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES g!S WE CONFRONT THIS TERRIBLE LOSS WE RElECT THAT ALL THESE 7&0 COLLEAGUES WERE WILLING TO TRAVEL AND WORK FAR FROM THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN 4HAT WAS THEIR CALLING AS IT IS FOR THE REST OF THE 7&0 FAMILY u ‡ %KTA !DHIKARI FROM .EPAL WHOSE DUTY STATION WAS !DDIS !BABA ‡ -ARIA 0ILAR "UZZETTI FROM )TALY DUTY STATION 2OME ‡ 6IRGINIA #HIMENTI FROM )TALY DUTY STATION 2OME ‡ (ARINA (AkTZ FROM )NDONESIA DUTY STATION 2OME ‡ :HEN :HEN (UANG FROM #HINA DUTY STATION 2OME ‡ -ICHAEL 2YAN FROM )RE-

Q The Ethiopian Airlines plane was carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members, from 35 countries, when it took a nose dive six minutes after leaving the airport in Addis Ababa. ALEC WILSON/CC BY 2.0 LAND DUTY STATION 2OME ‡ $JORDJE 6DOVIC FROM 3ERBIA DUTY STATION "ANGKOK ON assignment to Rome 4HE 7&0 SAID g7E ALSO MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT OTHER 5NITED .ATIONS AGENCIES AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE CRASH !MONG THEM WAS 6ICTOR 4SANG A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF 7&0 WHO MOVED TO THE 5. %NVIRONMENT 0ROGRAM 5.%0 7E ASK THAT EVERYONE KEEP THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS u &!/ $IRECTOR 'ENERAL *OS¼ 'RAZIANO DA 3ILVA SAID g-Y HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHIES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES OF THE Û%THIOPIAN !IRLINES Û%4 PLANE CRASHu !MONG THE VICTIMS HE SAID WERE 5. STAFF MEMBERS INCLUDING ONE FROM &!/ g7E ARE WORKING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND ASSIST THEM IN THIS TIME OF TREMENDOUS PAINu 4HE %THIOPIAN !IRLINES "OEING -AX PLANE WAS CARRYING PASSENGERS AND EIGHT CREW

MEMBERS FROM COUNTRIES WHEN IT TOOK A NOSE DIVE SIX MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT IN !DDIS !BABA !T LAST COUNT THE PASSENGERS INCLUDED +ENYAN CITIZENS FROM #ANADA NINE FROM %THIOPIA EIGHT FROM )TALY #HINA AND THE 53 AND SEVEN FROM THE 5+ AND &RANCE )AN 2ICHARDS PRESIDENT OF THE STRONG #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE OF )NTERNATIONAL 3TAFF 5NIONS AND !SSOCIATIONS ##)35! TOLD )03 g/UR COLLEAGUES ARE DEVASTATED BY THE LOSS OF LIFE IN YESTERDAY S PLANE CRASH u (E SAID MANY KNEW THE VICTIMS OR WERE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR WORK g7ITH EVERY HOUR THAT PASSES WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE AMAZING THINGS THEY WERE DOING TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE WHETHER WORKING ON THE ENVIRONMENT MIGRATION HUMANITARIAN OR OTHER AREAS AND WE WON T FORGET THIS u g.ATURALLY OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AT THIS TIME AND WE WILL WORK WITH ADMIN-

Innovative sustainable business: A $ trillion opportunity that UN environment wants people to develop BYÂ ISAIAH ESIPISU NAIROBI (IPS): )N THE %AST !FRICAN REGION COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CONTINENT S LARGEST WATER BODY ,AKE 6ICTORIA REGARD THE WATER HYACINTH AS A GREAT MENACE THAT CLOGS THE LAKE AND HAMPERS THEIR FISHING ACTIVITIES "UT IN ,AGOS .IGERIA SOME GROUPS OF WOMEN HAVE LEARNED HOW TO CONVERT THE INVASIVE WEED INTO A RESOURCE PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RAW MATERIAL NEEDED TO MAKE HANDICRAFTS g/UR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS THE MARKET WHERE THESE WOMEN CAN SELL THEIR FINISHED PRODUCTS FROM THE WATER HYACINTH u SAID !CHENYO )DACHABA /BARO THE FOUNDER OF -ITIMETH A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT HAS TRAINED HUNDREDS OF WOMEN ON HOW TO MAKE POPULAR HANDICRAFTS FROM WATER HYACINTH $RESSED IN A BLOUSE PARTLY MADE OF FABRIC FROM WATER HYACINTH AND BUTTONS MADE FROM A COCONUT SHELL AT THE ONGOING 5NITED .ATIONS %NVIRONMENT !SSEMBLY 5.%! IN .AIROBI +ENYA )DACHABA /BARO SHOWCASED SEVERAL PRODUCTS MADE FROM THE AQUATIC WEED RANGING FROM BOUTIQUE DRESSES UNIQUE MULTIPURPOSE BASKETS VASES STATIONERY WALL DECOR AND DINING WARE AMONG OTHERS g!LL THESE ITEMS ARE A PRODUCT OF HANDCRAFTS BY WOMEN WHOM WE HAVE TRAINED AND THEY ARE NOW ABLE TO GENERATE EXTRA INCOME FROM A WEED THAT IS SEEN AS A MENACE TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WORLDWIDE u SHE TOLD )03 3O FAR OVER WOMEN COMPRISING MOSTLY OF WIDOWS BUT WHO ALSO INCLUDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM RIPARIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON HOW TO MAKE FINISHED PROD-

Q Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro, the founder of Mitimeth, a social enterprise that has trained hundreds of women on how to make popular handicraft from water hyacinth. ISAIAH ESIPISU/IPS UCTS FROM WATER HYACINTH AND THEY ALL SELL THEM LOCALLY g7HENEVER WE HAVE A READY MARKET WE ALWAYS CALL ON THEM TO MAKE WATER HYACINTH ROPES FOR US WHICH IS THE FIRST STAGE OF DEVELOPING ANY WATER HYACINTH FABRIC u SAID )DACHABA /BARO )N THE PAST FEW MONTHS FOR EXAMPLE A TEAM OF WOMEN WERE ABLE TO MAKE ROPES WHICH EARNED THEM MILLION .AIRA DOLLARS g)T HAS BECOME A BIG BUSINESS IN .IGERIA WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED u SHE SAID (ER EXHIBITION WAS ONE OF THE TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT FORMED THE 3USTAINABLE )NNOVATION %XPO AT THE 5.%! CONFERENCE IN .AIROBI WHICH IS BEING HELD -AR#( 4O M OVE S U C H I N N OVA T I O N S FORWARD THROUGH RESEARCH AND TO LATER UPSCALE THEM *OYCE -SUYA THE 5. %NVIRONMENT ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE 5. URGED COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH

INNOVATORS AND RESEARCHERS g)NNOVATION WILL BE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE TRANSFORMATION WE WANT AND THIS CANNOT HAPPEN BY ITSELF 0OLICIES AND INCENTIVES TO SPUR INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION MUST BE BACKED BY EFFORTS TO BUILD IMPLEMENTATION CAPACITY u SHE TOLD THE MORE THAN DELEGATES FROM COUNTRIES DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY IN .AIROBI !CCORDING TO 3IIM +ISLER THE MINISTER OF %NVIRONMENT IN %STONIA AND THE 5.%! PRESIDENT THERE IS NEED TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THROUGH DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION INSPIRING NATIONS PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS AND INDIVIDUALS 4HE %XPO IS THE 5. %NVIRONMENT !SSEMBLY S SOLUTION BASED PLATFORM FOR ENGAGING INNOVATORS USING EXHIBITIONS THAT REVEAL THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES /THER INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES

SHOWCASED AT THE EXPO INCLUDE @4IMBETER A DIGITAL MOBILE APP TIMBER MEASUREMENT SOLUTION THAT USES A SMART PHONE FOR ACCURATE LOG DETECTION g7ITH THIS APP ON YOUR SMART PHONE YOU ONLY NEED TO POINT THE PHONE CAMERA TO SAY A LORRY FULL OF TIMBER AND IT WILL ACCURATELY GIVE YOU THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LOGS ON THE TRUCK AND CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT OF EACH OF THE LOGS u !NNA 'RETA 4SAHKNA THE CO FOUNDER OF THE %STONIAN BASED 4IMBETER TOLD )03 3O FAR THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN EMBRACED IN 4HAILAND "RAZIL 3OUTH !FRICA 2USSIA AND #HILE WHERE COMPANIES ARE USING IT TO SHARE MEASUREMENTS WITH CONTRACTORS AND CLIENTS 4HEY USE IT TO COUNT LOGS THE LOG DIAMETER AND DENSITY IN LESS THAN MINUTES )T IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN ERADICATING ILLEGAL LOGGING !PART FROM ANOTHER EXHIBITION BY A #ANADIAN COMPANY THAT USES SHIPPING CONTAINERS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING "RAZILIAN EXPERTS FROM A COMPANY CALLED 6OTORANTIM WERE SHOWCASING A TECHNIQUE WHERE THEY EXTRACT $.! FROM DIFFERENT FOREST SPECIES TO ANALYSE THEIR CHEMICAL MAKEUP g4HIS MAKES IT EASY FOR USERS TO KNOW WHICH TYPE OF TREES PLANTS GRASS OR ANYTHING WITHIN THE BIODIVERSITY THEY SHOULD TARGET BASED ON WHAT THEY WANT TO EXTRACT FOR MEDICINES COSMETICS PERFUMES AMONG OTHERS u SAID &RINEIA 2EZENTE THE EXECUTIVE MANAGER OF 6OTORANTIM SAID !CCORDING TO A STATEMENT BY 5. %NVIRONMENT INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS REPRESENTS A TRILLION DOLLAR OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN BRING VALUE TO PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

ISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THEY GET ALL THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED u 2ICHARDS ADDED !T THE OPENING OF THE 5. ASSEMBLY IN .AIROBI DELEGATES PAID THEIR RESPECTS WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS FROM THE +ENYAN CAPITAL 3IIM +IISLER THE %STONIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SAID g7E HAVE LOST FELLOW DELEGATES INTERPRETERS AND 5. STAFF u g) EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THE CRASH u )NGER !NDERSEN THE INCOMING 5. ENVIRONMENT CHIEF SAID THE ORGANISATION WAS gDEVASTATEDu !MONG THOSE WHO DIED WERE DELEGATES FROM THE !FRICAN $IASPORA 9OUTH &ORUM IN %UROPE THE 53 BASED 3AVE THE #HILDREN AND THE .ORWAY BASED !SSOCIATION OF !RCTIC %XPEDITION #RUISE /PERATORS +ARANJA 1UINDOS A RETIRED TEACHER FROM "AHATI IN +ENYA S .AKURU #OUNTY LOST HIS WIFE !NNE 7ANGUI HIS DAUGHTER #AROLINE .DUTA AND HIS THREE GRANDCHIL-

DREN 2YAN .JOROGE +ELLIE 0AUL AND NINE MONTH OLD 2UBY 0AUL !LSO ON THE FLIGHT WAS )SABELLA "ERYL !CHIE FROM (OMABAY COUNTY ABOUT KILOMETRES WEST OF .AIROBI 3HE HAD BEEN TRAVELLING HOME FROM %GYPT WHERE SHE HAD RECENTLY FACILITATED A SEMINAR -EANWHILE THE +ENYAN AND %THIOPIAN GOVERNMENTS ARE PLANNING TO lY FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE VICTIMS TO !DDIS !BABA AS PLANS TO IDENTIFY THEIR REMAINS GET UNDERWAY )N A JOINT PRESS STATEMENT +ENYA S 4RANSPORT #ABINET 3ECRETARY *AMES -ACHARIA AND %THIOPIAN !IRLINES +ENYA COUNTRY MANAGER 9ILMA 'OSHU SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF OF THE +ENYANS WHO PERISHED IN THE 3UNDAY MORNING CRASH %THIOPIAN !IRLINES ALSO ANNOUNCED ON -ONDAY THAT THE BLACK BOX OF THE ILL FATED lIGHT HAD BEEN RECOVERED AS EFFORTS TO PIECE TOGETHER CLUES AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO THE PLANE BEGIN

Steam locomotives in Xinjiang become online sensation despite era being nearly over )

T NEVER OCCURRED TO ,I (E A YEAR OLD STEAM LOCOMOTIVE DRIVER WHO WORKS IN 3ANDAOLING (AMI 0REFECTURE IN .ORTHWEST #HINA S 8INJIANG 5YGHUR !UTONOMOUS 2EGION THAT THE PLACE WHERE HE HAD BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS HAD SUDDENLY BECOME WILDLY POPULAR ONLINE -ANY PEOPLE CAME TO 3ANDAOLING WHICH IS LOCATED MORE THAN KILOMETERS AWAY FROM (AMI TO SEE THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE AFTER PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THESE MACHINES STEAMING UP IN COLD WEATHER STUNNED NETIZENS 3ANDAOLING USED TO BE THE LARGEST COAL MINE IN 8INJIANG PRODUCING LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH QUALITY COAL -ORE THAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVE RAN DAY AND NIGHT TO TRANSPORT COAL FROM THE PITS TO FACTORIES (OWEVER WITH THE DECREASE OF OUTPUT IN THE MINES THE ONCE BUSTLING SCENES ARE NOW A THING OF THE PAST 4HE ERA OF THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IS ALSO NEARING ITS END AFTER PRODUCTION OF ITS ACCESSORIES WAS SUSPENDED AND PEOPLE BECAME MORE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 4HERE ARE STILL FOUR STEAM LOCOMOTIVES WORKING IN THE MINES OF 3ANDAOLING BUT NEWS THAT THEY WOULD SOON BE REPLACED BY TRUCKS HAS BEEN CIRCULATING FOR A LONG TIME ,I WHO WAS BORN AND HAS LIVED IN 3ANDAOLING ALL HIS LIFE AND IS SET TO RETIRE ON -ARCH DOESN T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE TRAVEL SEVERAL THOUSAND KILOMETERS TO THIS TINY PLACE JUST TO SEE gTHIS DIRTY AND BROKEN

IRON STUFF u (E HAS LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHANGES THESE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES HAVE UNDERGONE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL AGE TO MODERN TIMES (E KNOWS THAT HIS PEERS DEPEND ON THE LOCOMOTIVE FOR A LIVING JUST AS MUCH AS THEY DEPEND ON THE MINES ,I S FAMILY MOVED TO 3ANDAOLING IN 8INJIANG FROM AN INDUSTRIAL PARK IN .ORTHEAST #HINA ,I BEGAN WORKING IN THE MINES IN AND GOT HIS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE LICENSE IN 3INCE THEN THE TINY DRIVER S CAB HAS BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACE IN HIS LIFE ,I SAID THAT BEING A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE DRIVER MEANS HAVING TO BE ABLE TO ENDURE LONELINESS /NE SHIFT LASTS HOURS AND THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER ‡ THE DRIVER CO DRIVER AND THE STOKER -EMETI 3IMAYI IS AN OLD PAL OF ,I S 4HE TWO BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER IN 4ALKING ABOUT ,I S UPCOMING RETIREMENT -EMETI IS A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT ,I CAN kNALLY GET SOME REST AND ALSO FEELS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THAT ,I WILL NO LONGER BE WORKING WITH HIM 3EEING MANY VISITORS COMING TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE THEY FEEL HAPPY FOR BEING RECOGNIZED "UT FOR 3ONG *UNFU THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS FUTURE 3ONG AT THE AGE OF IS FROM THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVE DRIVERS 4HE LAST BATCH OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES WHICH HAVE SERVED THE MINES IN 3ANDAOLING FOR HALF A CENTURY WILL SOON MARK THE END OF AN ERA GLOBAL TIMES

˜ The Manila Times

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Negros records 48 new HIV cases, 6 deaths BACOLOD CITY: A total of 48 new CASES OF HUMAN IMMUNODEkCIENCY virus (HIV) with six deaths were recorded in Negros Occidental FROM *ANUARY TO &EBRUARY BY THE #ORAZON ,OCSIN -ONTELIBANO Memorial Regional Hospital TreatMENT (UB The 48 new cases are a 41-perCENT INCREASE FROM THE NUMBER IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR RECORDS SHOWED /F THE ()6 CASES WERE MALES AND FOUR WERE FEMALES The records also showed that THERE HAD BEEN ()6 !)$3

ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEkCIENCY SYNDROME DEATHS IN YEARS 4HE ()6 !)$3 DEATHS RECORDED IN WERE IN IN IN IN IN AND FROM TO /F THE CASES RECORDED AT THE TREATMENT HUB FROM TO THE MALES NUMBERED AND THE FEMALES -EANWHILE THE ()6 CASES RECORDED FROM TO WERE IN AND EUGENE Y. ADIONG

Duterte orders probe of Cebu student’s slay 02%3)$%.4 2ODRIGO $UTERTE HAS ordered an investigation of the BRUTAL MURDER OF A YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN #EBU #ITY -ALACAÄANG SAID ON 4HURSDAY #HRISTINE 3ILAWAN A 'RADE STUDENT WAS FOUND ON -ONDAY WITH MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS AND HER FACE PEELED OFF 3HE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN RAPED BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED )N A MEDIA BRIEFING 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO SAID -ALACAÄANG BELIEVES THE KILLING WAS CARRIED OUT BY A DRUG ADDICT ECHOING $UTERTE S EARLIER STATEMENT g7ELL WHO DOES THAT 4HE FACE WAS SKINNED -Y GOODNESS u THE President asked In a speech during the campaign RALLY OF THE 0ARTIDO $EMOKRATIKO 0ILIPINO ,AKAS NG "AYAN IN #AUAYAN #ITY )SABELA ON 7EDNESDAY NIGHT $UTERTE CURSED OUT AT RAPists as he underscored again the need to have law and order in the COUNTRY g! kVE YEAR OLD WAS RAPED BY A PRIEST 9ESTERDAY ;A WOMAN= WAS KILLED AND HER FACE WAS PEELED OFF WHILE OTHERS FOUR MONTHS OLD WERE RAPED &OUR MONTHS OLD THEY WERE KILLED 9OU SONS OF B

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YOU GO TO HELL NOW IDIOTS u THE 0RESIDENT SAID He asked human rights groups TO DIG INTO THE RAPE CASES AND gkND HIS REVULSION u g.OW LOOK #HILDREN ARE BEING RAPED ) DO NOT LIKE THAT ) CURSE PEOPLE OUT PEOPLE SAY IT S BAD TO LISTEN TO ) AM WHAT ) AM $EAL WITH IT u THE 0RESIDENT SAID 4HE BOUNTY FOR ANY INFORMATION that would lead to the capture of 3ILAWAN S KILLERS WAS INCREASED TO 0 MILLION 3UPT "ENJAMIN ,ARA DIRECTOR of the Philippine National Police #RIME ,ABORATORY IN #ENTRAL 6ISAYAS WAS QUOTED BY REPORTS THAT 3ILAWAN S TONGUE TRACHEA AND ESOPHAGUS WERE MISSING )N HIS 7EDNESDAY SPEECH $UTERTE ASKED THE POLICE TO GET THE SUSPECTS g0OLICE SAID THEY ;SUSPECTS= WERE PART OF A CULT ) TOLD THEM SON OF A B

H CULTS 9OU kND THEM BECAUSE THEY SKINNED THE ;GIRL = ) TOLD THEM DRUGS u HE SAID Panelo said a drug addict might DO SUCH A HEINOUS AND SYSTEMATIC crime if the suspect was a medical PRACTITIONER OR A STUDENT RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

Regions Cloud seeding starts in Isabela this weekend C FRIDAY March 15, 2019

BY DEMPSEY REYES

LOUD seeding will be conducted this weekend starting in Cauayan, Isabela, to cushion the impact of drought caused by the El NiĂąo phenomenon, the Philippine Air Force announced on Thursday. The announcement came amid THE DRY SPELL USHERED IN BY THE WEATHER PHENOMENON RESULTING IN WATER SHORTAGE IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES INCLUDING THOSE IN -ETRO -ANILA 4HE $EPARTMENT OF !GRICULTURE $! HAS TAPPED THE !IR &ORCE AND THE #IVIL !VIATION !UTHORITY OF the Philippines for assistance in CARRYING OUT THE CLOUD SEEDING AS THE DRY SPELL WAS BLAMED FOR THE WATER SHORTAGE )SABELA IS THE MOST VULNERABLE TO DROUGHT ACCORDING TO THE !GRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

THE Quezon City Council has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to postpone the relocation of over 200 enlisted personnel and their families from Camp Panopio in Barangay Kaunlaran to a National Housing Authority (NHA) resettlement site in Antipolo City. A city resolution, introduced by Councilors Ivy Xenia Lagman and Raquel MalaĂągen, was approved after consultation with residents and families who appealed for the postponement of their resettlement so that their children would be able to finish the school year. The relocation will give way to the construction of the PNP Medical Plaza and other facilities inside Camp Panopio.

ELDERLY MAN DIES, 2 HURT IN CEBU FIRE

Q NARCOLIST FROM A1

A SIXTY-FIVE-YEAR OLD man died, while two others, including a baby, were injured in a fire that broke out in a residential area along Tres De Abril Street in Cebu City early Thursday. Chief Insp. Noel Nelson Ababon, Cebu City fire marshall, said the charred remains of Mario Abella, 65, were found in his house where the fire originated. An unidentified woman and a seven-month-old boy sustained first-degree burns on their bodies from the blaze that started at 2:32 a.m. The fire, which damaged 10 houses mostly made of light materials, reached the third alarm at 2:38 a.m. and declared out at 4:35 a.m. Damage to property was estimated at P400,000. Initial investigation showed that Abella was boiling water in the kitchen when the fire broke out. The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Ababon said the incident was tagged as the fifth structural fire in Cebu City in March, the Fire Prevention Month. RHEA RUTH ROSELL

DUTERTE

PNP URGED TO DELAY RESETTLEMENT PROJECT

BIR-GENSAN EYES P4.3-B REVENUE TARGET FOR 2019 THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in General Santos City has expanded its tax campaign among local companies and business establishments to meet its revenue target of P4.3 billion this year. Rodrigo Rivamonte, revenue district officer of BIR 111, said they had increased their revenue target and expected the growth in number of taxpayers in their area. The district has collected P2.4 billion by serving about 356, 600 taxpayers in 2018, compared to about the 175, 600 taxpayers in 2012, which posted only P1.4 billion in revenue. Rivamonte said from 2012 to 2017, the bureau collection was only about P12.5 billion, translating to around P1.9 billion in internal revenue allotment share for the city. He added that they were exerting efforts to improving their services in line with the April 15 deadline for the filing of the 2018 annual income tax returns. JERRY N. ADLAW

UNPASSED 2019 BUDGET AFFECTS NEWLY HIRED TEACHERS MOST newly hired teachers in some parts of the country have not received their salaries since January as the 2019 national budget remains pending before Congress. Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said 134 teachers who were hired May last year sought help to relay to lawmakers that they have not yet received their salaries this year. Affected teachers are in Central Visayas, Central Luzon, Davao and Caraga Region in Mindanao. “We are knocking on the doors of the Department of Budget to have a supplemental budget so our teachers could receive their salaries on time,â€? Basilio said. Meanwhile, ACT introduced a hotline for teachers where they could relay their concerns during the election period: (02) 253 9669, 0956 384 6859, 0961 311 1956 and email actphilippines@gmail.com. JAIME R. PILAPIL

*ALAD SAID THE $EPARTMENT OF THE )NTERIOR AND ,OCAL 'OVERNMENT would issue a memorandum circular to all local government units to urge them to enact ordinances TO CURB ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS AND ENCOURAGE PRUDENT USE OF WATER 4HE "UREAU OF &IRE 0ROTECTION was also directed to allow free use OF kRETRUCKS FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION ! TOTAL OF FARMERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY %L .IĂ„O BASED ON A $! REPORT WHILE THE TOTAL VOLUME LOSS WAS PLACED AT METRIC TONS OF CROPS MOSTLY RICE AND CORN The farmers affected are from Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental AND -INDORO /RIENTAL -ARINDUQUE 2OMBLON AND 0ALAWAN Bangsamoro Autonomous ReGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO :AMBOANGA 0ENINSULA .ORTHERN -INDANAO $AVAO 2EGION AND 3OCCSKSARGEN

Go agrees to be godfather to twins 3%.!4% hopeful Christopher ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O HAS AGREED TO BECOME THE GODFATHER OF TWINS $IVINE AND -ERCY #ERILLO OF 3ABANG #AMARINES .ORTE WHO WERE CONJOINED UNTIL THEIR SEPARATION SURGERY Taking time off from campaignING 'O MET THE TWINS AGAIN IN -ANILA AFTER THEIR SUCCESSFUL SURGERY “Nagpapasalamat po ako na NAGING MATAGUMPAY ANG OPERASYON NILA $IVINE at -ERCY at NGAYON AY PWEDE NA SILANG MAMUHAY NG NORMAL TULAD NG IBANG BATA (I am thankful for the successful SURGERY OF $IVINE AND -ERCY NOW THEY CAN LEAD NORMAL LIVES LIKE ANY OTHER CHILDREN u HE SAID 4HE TWIN S PLIGHT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF 'O BY #AMARINES .ORTE 'OV %DGARD 4ALLADO AFTER PLEAS FOR HELP WERE MADE BY THE CHILDREN S PARENTS %DMUND AND 2UBELYN #ERILLO 'O SOUGHT PRIVATE SECTOR DONORS to shoulder the expenses for the operation to separate the twins and communicated with the doctors from time to time to inquire ABOUT THEIR CONDITION He also assisted their parents BY RENTING A ROOM FOR THEM IN 3TA #RUZ -ANILA WHERE THEY COULD STAY TEMPORARILY UNTIL THEIR BABIES

Nationinbriefs

-AJ !RISTIDES 'ALANG *R SAID THE AIRCRAFT TO BE USED IN THE OPERATION WOULD BE THE '!& . g.OMADu TWIN ENGINE TURBO PROP AIRCRAFT 4HE PLANE IS BEING kTTED WITH cloud-seeding equipment at the -ACTAN "ENITO %BUEN !IR "ASE IN #EBU Pilots from the 220th Airlift 7ING WOULD lY THE AIRCRAFT WHILE THE CLOUD SEEDING SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE TH !IR &ORCE 7EATHER 'ROUP 4HE OPERATION WOULD BE CONDUCTED FROM -ARCH UP TO -AY -EANWHILE THE .ATIONAL $ISAS-

ter Risk Reduction and Management Council has convened to discuss updates and plans regardING THE IMPACTS OF %L .IĂ„O /FFICE OF #IVIL $EFENSE !Dministrator Ricardo Jalad assured that the government was exerting efforts to ensure adequate water SUPPLY TO THE PUBLIC g4HESE AGENCIES PRESENT IN ;THE= MEETING ESPECIALLY THOSE WORKING WITH THE WATER SECTOR WOULD CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC u Jalad said in a statement also on 4HURSDAY He added that the regional OFkCES OF THE $! ALLOTTED 0 MILLION FOR THE CLOUD SEEDING BEING RECOMMENDED FOR #AGAYAN 6ALLEY AND 3OCCSKSARGEN 3OUTH #OTABATO #OTABATO 3ULTAN +UDARAT 3ARANGANI AND 'ENERAL 3ANTOS #ITY SCHEDULED BETWEEN -ARCH AND -AY THIS YEAR

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Included in the narcolist were Representatives Jesus Celeste of 0ANGASINAN 6ICENTE 6ELOSO OF ,EYTE AND *EFFREY +HONGHUN OF :AMBALES !LSO NAMED WERE -AYORS &ERDINAND !GUINALDO 0ASUQUIN )LOCOS .ORTE -ARJORIE 3ALAZAR ,ASAM #AGAYAN *EFFERSON +HONGHUN 3UBIC :AMBALES %RLON !GUSIN #AMILING 4ARLAC #IPRIANO 6IOLAGO *R 3AN 2AFAEL "ULACAN %ULALIO ,ARRY !LILIO ,EMERY "ATANGAS 2AUL 0ALINO 4ERESA 2IZAL #ECILIO (ERNANDEZ 2ODRIGUEZ 2IZAL ,ORETO !MANTE 3AN 0ABLO ,AGUNA *UAN 4OREJA )BAAN "ATANGAS AND 2ODERICK !LCALA ,UCENA #ITY The President did not read the ENTIRE LIST SAYING THE OTHER NAMES HAD YET TO BE VALIDATED g&OR THE TIME BEING ito lang muna THIS IS IT FOR NOW +ASI validated na e (Because it has BEEN VALIDATED @9UNG IBA (The OTHERS ) JUST WANT TO BE DOUBLY SURE ) M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN RELEASING IT BEFORE AND AFTER THE ELECTION BECAUSE ) DO NOT HAVE the slightest intention to hurt ANYBODY OR TO BE A CAUSE OF A FAILure of election of a certain man WHO WANTS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC 3O @YUNG IBA WAG NA MUNA KASI hindi ko sigurado 3O THE OTHERS ) WILL NOT DISCLOSE BECAUSE ) AM NOT SURE u HE SAID It was the third drug list released BY THE $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION 4HE

GODFATHER

Former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go holds Divine and Mercy Cerillo after a successful surgery that separated the once-conjoined twins. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO WERE kT TO GO HOME 4HE TWINS WILL BE BAPTIZED ON 3UNDAY -ARCH 'O ALSO FULFILLED HIS PROMISE THAT HE WOULD INTRODUCE THE BABIES and their parents to President RoDRIGO $UTERTE )T WAS NOT THE kRST TIME THE 3EN-

ATE ASPIRANT HELPED CHILDREN )N $ECEMBER LAST YEAR HE BROUGHT HOLIDAY CHEER TO YOUNG cancer patients of the Philippine #HILDREN S -EDICAL #ENTER IN $ILIMAN 1UEZON #ITY BY GIVING THEM GIFTS AND TOYS 'O DID THE SAME DURING HIS

BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR He assured the parents of the twins that he would ask Tallado TO kND THEM A SUITABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE A STEADY INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY THAT HAS GROWN WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TWINS

kRST INCLUDED JUDGES MAYORS AND POLICE OFkCIALS WHILE THE SECOND WAS COMPOSED OF VILLAGE OFkCIALS

Q SUE FROM A1

Charged

“If there is something wrong with THE PROCEDURES WHY DON T THEY GO the courts para magkaalaman na TO SETTLE THE SCORE u 0ANELO TOLD REPORTERS DURING A NEWS BRIEkNG “+UNG SINASABI MONG )F YOU SAID IT S UNCONSTITUTIONAL IT BEHOOVES THEM TO kLE THE APPROPRIATE CHARGES AGAINST WHOMSOEVER COMMITTED ANY VIOLATION OF ANY LAW u HE SAID ,ACSON ON 7EDNESDAY WARNED THAT !RROYO COULD BE CHARGED FOR SIGNING THE (OUSE S VERSION OF THE BUDGET BILL ON WHICH CONGRESSMEN HAD MADE CHANGES AFTER THE BUDGET WAS RATIkED BY #ONGRESS (E SAID THE 3ENATE WOULD STAND BY ITS POSITION NOT TO ADOPT THE (OUSE VERSION WHICH SUPPOSEDLY contain realignments amounting TO 0 BILLION g3INCE 3PEAKER !RROYO ALREADY SIGNED THE ;(OUSE= VERSION OF THE ENROLLED BILL SHE S ALREADY PRONE TO BEING CHARGED FOR FALSIkCATION BECAUSE SHE S ALREADY CERTIkED SOMETHING THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE u ,ACSON ADDED The senator explained that amendING A BILL AFTER IT HAS BEEN RATIkED WAS EQUAL TO FALSIkCATION OF RECORDS Article 170 of the Revised Penal #ODE PUNISHES FALSIkCATION OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS WITH A JAIL TERM OF SIX MONTHS AND ONE DAY TO SIX YEARS AND A 0 MILLION kNE #ONGRESSMEN SAID THEY ITEMIZED LUMP SUMS IN THE BUDGET AFTER ITS RATIkCATION BY #ONGRESS 3ENATORS HAVE SAID THIS WAS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUT (OUSE LEADERS SAID OTHERWISE 3ENATE 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE 3OTTO

RD EARLIER SAID HE WOULD NOT SIGN AN ENROLLED COPY OF THE BUDGET BILL IF the House of Representatives insists ON ITS POST BICAMERAL AMENDMENTS 4HE PROPOSED BUDGET CONtaining the House amendments had BEEN TRANSMITTED TO THE 3ENATE FOR 3OTTO S SIGNATURE "OTH SIGNATURES OF THE 3PEAKER AND THE 3ENATE PRESIDENT ARE NEEDED BEFORE THE MEASURE CAN BE TRANSMITted to MalacaĂąang for the PresiDENT S SIGNATURE Congressional leaders met with $UTERTE ON 4UESDAY NIGHT TO RESOLVE THE ONGOING BUDGET IMPASSE BUT NO CONSENSUS WAS REACHED

4HE $),' ON 4HURSDAY FILED COMPLAINTS BEFORE THE /FFICE OF THE /MBUDSMAN AGAINST INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS for their alleged involvement in ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE $),' 3ECRETARY %DUARDO !Ă„O SAID THE INITIAL LIST OF gNARCOPOLSu FACING CHARGES WAS PROVIDED BY THE 0HILIPPINE $RUG %NFORCEMENT !GENCY 0$%! 4HE INITIAL LIST INCLUDED MAYORS SEVEN VICE MAYORS ONE PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER AND THREE MEMBERS OF THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES (E SAID THESE OFkCIALS WERE FACING CHARGES OF GRAVE MISCONDUCT CONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SERVICE CONDUCT UNBECOMING OF A PUBLIC OFkCER AND GROSS NEGLECT OF DUTY AĂąo said the involvement of the respondents to the drug trade WAS EVALUATED AND VALIDATED BY THE )NTERAGENCY #OMMITTEE ON !NTI )LLEGAL $RUGS CHAIRED BY THE 0$%! IN COORDINATION WITH THE 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES AND .Ational Intelligence Coordinating !GENCY !S OF -ARCH THE NARCOLIST contained the names of 82 POLITICIANS INCLUDING MAYORS VICE MAYORS CONGRESSMEN GOVERNORS AND VICE GOVERNORS ACCORDING TO THE 0$%! CATHERINE S. VALENTE

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Lump sum House appropriations committee #HAIRMAN 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R 3AID THE 3ENATE PROPOSAL TO RETAIN THE lump-sum appropriations would RESTORE INSERTIONS OF THE $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT $"- AS WELL AS FORMER (OUSE LEADERS !NDAYA ON 4HURSDAY INSISTED THAT WITH THE SENATORS PROPOSAL TO RETURN TO THE OLD MODE OF LUMP SUM BUDGETING gQUESTIONABLE ALLOCATIONS FOR previous House leaders and their pet DISTRICTS PLUS $"- INSERTIONS THAT THE $07( $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS WAS CLUELESS ABOUT WOULD HAVE REMAINED INTACT u ,AST $ECEMBER !NDAYA BARED THAT FORMER 3PEAKER 0ANTALEON !LVAREZ FORMER -AJORITY LEADER 2ODOLFO &ARINAS AND THEN !PPROpriations Committee chairman +ARLO .OGRALES GOT THE BIGGEST ALLOCATIONS FOR PROJECTS IN THEIR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND GLEE JALEA

PSEi 7,750.42 DOWN 0.20%

P52.60 TO $1

FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 1 . 2 0 %

What’s inside COACHING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE – FINEX FILES BusinessB2

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SALES OF IMPORTED VEHICLES REBOUND

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‘More speed bumps’ to come from El NiĂąo BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

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HE El NiĂąo currently being felt by the Philippines COULD HALT AN INlATION SLOWDOWN AN ).' "ANK ECONOMIST SAID ADDING TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH challenge caused by delays to the 2019 national budget. In a statement on Thursday, ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Mapa forecast “more speed bumps aheadâ€? with the weather pattern’s impact not limited to the agriculture sector — likely to be “challenged for a second yearâ€?. “El NiĂąo will undoubtedly hamper our agricultural production, which in itself is coming off a lackluster performance in 2018,â€? Mapa said, pointing to crop damage and poor fisheries

harvests due to droughts. “Meanwhile, we see the drought to also sap some momentum from our manufacturing sector, given the heavy weight of ‘food manufactures’ in the overall sector (24 percent),� he added. “With the projected shortage of agricultural produce, we could see AN EPISODE WHERE INlATION REMAINS within target but likely at or above the 3 percent handle given the primacy

of the food basket in the overall CPI (consumer price index).â€? While El NiĂąo is primarily characterized by the lack of water, Mapa said the weather phenomenon “can induce even more virulent typhoon activityâ€? that WOULD BE A gBANEu TO SLOWING INlATION )NlATION HIT A NINE YEAR HIGH OF percent in September and October last year but has since returned to the 2.04.0 percent target range, easing to 3.8 percent last month. Rising oil prices and food supply shocks, particularly with respect to rice, have been blamed for last year’s surge. The ING economist said the impleMENTATION OF THE RICE TARRIkCATION LAW which liberalized the entry of imported rice, would mitigate the impact of El

SHAPER A worker welds liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank parts at a factory in Nantong in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on March 14, 2019. China’s industrial output slowed during the first two months of the year as unemployment rose, official data showed on Thursday, while some indicators showed a slowdown in the world’s second largest economystabilizing. AFP PHOTO

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NiĂąo “to some extentâ€?. “[However] the damage to domestic rice production will be felt in lower incomes for farmers in this sector as well as on fruits, vegetables and meat products,â€? he added. “Consumption, which we are counting on for the heavy lifting this year, will need to overcome the slight blip in INlATION DUE TO THE DRY SPELL u The Department of Agriculture has said that El NiĂąo already caused P463.3 million in damage in just one month. Mapa also noted that the delayed approval of the 2019 budget was already holding back the economy and said legislators needed to act. “Against the backdrop of slowing

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San Miguel profit up just 1% in 2019 SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) saw RECURRING PROkT GROW BY JUST percent last year even as revenues breached the P1-trillion mark. In a statement on Thursday, the Ramon Ang-led conglomerate said 2018 revenues jumped 24 percent to P1.02 trillion from the previous year’s P828 million. Consolidated recurring net income, however, came in at just P55.18 billion from the year-earlier P54.65 billion. San Miguel said growth had been tempered by sharp oil price drops during the fourth quarter, which resulted in inventory losses for its fuel and petrochemical businesses, and foreign exchange losses. On a stand-alone basis, San

M i g u e l Fo o d a n d B e ve r a g e Inc. (SMFB) saw an 8-percent increase in net profit to P30.5 billion from P28.2 billion on account of higher volumes and revenues, which at P286 billion were higher by 14 percent year on year. SMFB’s beer unit San Miguel Brewery Inc. saw net income rise by 15 percent to P23.8 billion from P20.7 billion. Revenues grew 14 percent to P129.2 billion from P113.2 billion. Liquor subsidiary Ginebra San Miguel Inc., meanwhile, posted a 75-percent climb in net income to P1.05 billion from only P602 million in 2017, while revenues increased by 19 percent to P24.8

Âł2019 B4

Net ‘hot Remittance slowdown risks tagged Be careful in buying condo units money’ O hits twomonth low FOREIGN portfolio investments remained positive in February but hit a two-month low, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data released on Thursday showed. The $339.57-million net “hot money� inflow — down from January’s $762.82 million but a rebound from the year-earlier’s NET OUTlOW OF MILLION — came as investments in government securities, peso instruments and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)-listed issues more than OFFSET OUTlOWS It was the lowest net inflow since the $278.11 million posted in December. The central bank said February’s result “may be attributed to investor optimism arising from developments on trade negotiations between the US and China and THE PASSAGE OF THE TARIFkCATION LAW which is expected to help boost the rice supply in the country and THEREBY TEMPER INlATION u The BSP has estimated that the liberalization of rice imports via THE NEW LAW WOULD REDUCE INlAtion by 0.6 percentage points in 2019 and 0.3-0.4 percentage points in 2020. Registered foreign portfolio investments amounted to $1.410 billion for the month, lower than the $2.061 billion in January but up 34.9 percent from February

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THE Philippines is expected to continue posting strong growth but a slowdown in remittances will likely contribute to a widening current account deficit and make the country vulnerable shifts in investor sentiment, a London-based consultancy said. “Remittance growth to the Philippines has slowed steadily over the past decade and looks set to remain subdued over the next few years. While weak remittance growth is likely to act as a drag on consumption and investment, overall GDP (gross domestic product) growth should continue to hold up pretty well,� Capital Eco-

nomics said in a report on Thursday. “We are more concerned that the slowdown in remittance growth will contribute to a further widening of the current account deficit, and make the Philippines more vulnerable to sudden shifts in global risk appetite,� it added. Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers hit an all-time high last year. Personal remittances amounted to $32.21 billion, up by 3.0 percent from a year earlier, while cash remittances likewise grew by 3.1 percent to $28.94 billion. Capital Economics, however, said last year’s growth was the “weakest

pace since 2001.� The think tank attributed the decline to the “improved performance� of the local economy, which it said “made it easier for people to find employment at home and reduced the need for them to go overseas in search of work.� “A second has been the economic downturn in the Middle East. The region is the source of 30 percent of remittances to the Philippines, and there has been a marked slowdown in remittances from the region over the past few years,� it added. These factors are expected to continue weighing

ÂłRisks B2

Diokno commits to FSCC objectives NEWLY installed central bank Governor Benjamin Diokno has committed to continue the objectives of the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC), which he now heads following the passing of Nestor Espenilla Jr.. In a statement on Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that the FSCC welcomed Diokno as its new chairman during its quarterly meeting. The FSCC is an inter-agency council composed of the BSP, Department of Finance, Insurance Commission, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The new BSP Governor said that he will continue to build on the progress made by the FSCC AS THE VENUE FOR kNANCIAL MARKET authorities to identify, monitor, manage, and mitigate the build up of systemic risk in the PhilipPINE kNANCIAL SYSTEM u THE CENTRAL bank said. It reported that meeting included an assessment of the impact of slowing global growth on the Philippines as well as the changing economic landscape in the United States and China. “Global markets were turbulent when we closed 2018 and there are new developments at the start OF THAT COULD AFFECT kNANCIAL

markets,� Diokno was quoted as saying during the meeting. He added that “we need to consider the possible scenarios and steer our financial system so that we can effectively manage these possibilities and continue with our economic growth agenda.� Local market conditions were also reviewed including the state of the banking industry and the corporate sector, the BSP continued. The council’s analysis will be shared publicly with the release of the 2018 Financial Stability Report in the second quarter of this year, it added. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

N Feb. 28, 2019, Wilkens Cabang emailed Due Diligencer regarding his acquisition of a condominium unit. The contents of his email are being published in this space for the readers of The Manila Times to analyze and understand the plight of condo buyers, and for consumers in general, who may have undergone similar experiences. Mr. Cabang wrote: “I was googling and found an article of yours about SMDC. I am just curious if you can be of help enlightening me on which agency should I come to if I have issues on condominium. By the way, I am an OFW, and I believe this issue applies to most of us OFWs. (OFW stands for overseas Filipino workers.) Sales agents usually conduct road shows and those hired by SMDC also do the same – they sell their company’s projects in the Philippines. Low payment scheme attracts us. Then there goes the pre-selling of properties that will make [us] wait for a minimum of 3 years (as we were then told). To cut the story short, everything has been settled with SMDC, with the bank loan meeting the balance due SMDC. What then can a buyer demand of SMDC if it fails to turn over the unit on the agreed date which was provided for in the contract? In my case, the sales agents said I would get my unit in the 3rd quarter of 2018. So before

that, the necessary loan must be processed so the bank will settle the balance due the developer. As my obligation demands, I was to pay directly the loan and the interest to the bank. I sent email to SMDC asking for some compensation for what they had caused me by asking to waive reasonable dues once the unit is turned over - like association dues for few months or so) but the response was negative.� On the same date, which was Jan. 25, 2019, Mr. Cabang received the following reply from SMDC’s Emrol G. Gereza: “Dear Mr. Cabang: We write with regard [to] your request for compensation. Please accept our sincerest apology for any inconvenience that you may have experienced with regard [to] your concern. Rest assured that it was neither done in bad faith nor was it meant to deprive you of your unit. Please be informed that since the completion of your unit is being facilitated accordingly and you were properly advised of its target delivery date last Feb. 15, 2019 via email, we regret to inform you that Management

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˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Sales of imported vehicles rebound BY TYRONE C. PIAD

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ALES of imported vehicles recovered in THE SECOND MONTH OF THE YEAR POSTING A PERCENT YEAR ON YEAR GROWTH ON THE BACK OF HIGHER CONSUMER SPENDING AND LAUNCH OF NEW models. A total of 7,876 units were sold in February, higher than year-ago’s 7,107 units, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. (AVID) said in a report. This was a reversal from the 25-percent drop in January when sales reached on 6,493 units compared to the 8,696 units sold a year ago. “We are encouraged by the

good sales performance of AVID for the month which signals STRONGER CONSUMER CONkDENCE AS well as preference for top-notch products,� AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said. Perez-Agudo expects a “robust recovery� for the automotive industry following the early sales growth. “We are seeing an upturn in

[almost] all major segments which augurs well for AVID in the coming months. Initial indications point to the fact that the Philippine economy is poised for improved performance in 2019. We aim to ride this wave of growth,� PerezAgudo added. The light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment, which accounted for the bulk of sales at 62 percent, saw it sales up by 22 percent to 4,905 units in February from 4,028 units a year ago. For the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, sales increased 19 percent to 128 units in February from last year’s 108 units. However, the passenger car (PC) segment dropped by one percent

to 2,843 units from 2,881 units a year earlier. And despite the boost in February sales, the industry has not yet fully recovered, AVID’s report indicated. Year-to-date, industry sales fell by 8 percent to 14,499 units from the same period last year. The PC and LCV segments dipped by 15 percent to 5,140 units and 3 percent to 9,146 units, respectively, since January. The commercial vehicle segment remained unchanged with 213 units for the last two months. Last year, AVID’s sales plunged 17 percent to 88,700 units from 106,285 a year earlier due to high INlATION RISING BORROWING COSTS oil price hikes and tax increase.

DICT halts Rice, corn stocks up in February search for towercos WHILE the tower sharing business continues to attract investors, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Thursday it may stop entertaining tower companies (towercos) in the meantime. This was revealed by acting DICT chief Eliseo Rio Jr. after the agency signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Shinheung Telecom Co. Ltd. and homegrown AltGlobal Solutions, Inc. “We can stop here for the meantime ‌ we will maybe pause if we have already overreached the capacity of the industry. We really have no data on how many the industry can accommodate,â€? he said following the signing in Quezon City. Rio noted that out of the 15 groups, the industry might only need four to five companies. However, he also stressed the number of towercos serving the industry would be driven by market forces as the telecommunications firms would be the clients. Opening the industry to more players aims to hasten the deployment of 50,000 cell sites across the Philippines. The country has less than 20,000 towers. Lisbet K. Esmael Under the MoU, the DICT will provide support once the groups secured business transactions with a telco carrier, where the entity would use its shared cell sites. Currently, the common tower initiative already has 15 potential towercos, including ISOC Infrastructures, Inc.; ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd.; IHS Holding Ltd. (IHS Towers); edotco Group Sdn Bhd; China Energy Equipment Co. Ltd.; RT Telecom Sdn Bhd.; Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; MGS Construction, Inc.; Frontier Tower Associates Management Pte. Ltd.; the consortium of Global Networks, Inc. (GNI) and JTower, Inc.; American Tower Corp. (ATC); J.S. Cruz Construction and Development, Inc.; and Desarrollos Terrestres (DT Towers). LISBET K. ESMAEL

THE rice and corn inventory of the country increased in February compared to levels a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. In a monthly inventory report, the PSA said the country’s rice stocks went up by 19.24 percent to 2.141 million metric tons (MMT) from last year’s 1.795 MMT. However, it fell 16.05 percent from 2.550 MMT in the previous month. On a monthly basis, stocks from commercial warehouses and National Food Authority (NFA) depositories rose by 25.46 percent and 384.72 percent, respectively. But household rice stocks dropped by 5.09 percent. Year-on-year (yoy), stocks in NFA depositories increased by 203.72 percent. But the existing stocks in the

households and commercial warehouses fell by 17.25 percent and 32.69 percent, respectively. Of the total rice inventories, 48.22 percent were from households, 37.88 percent from the commercial warehouses and 13.90 percent from NFA depositories. The country’s rice stocks are seen to increase in the coming months as the Philippines opens its market to cheap imported rice under a new rice regime. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier projected that imports may reach a record-high 2.6 million MT this year, which may also further increase as the Rice Import Liberalization Act takes effect. Meanwhile, the PSA said total corn

inventory climbed by 90.46 percent to 781,520 MT in February from 410,330 MT a year ago. It was also up by 15.59 percent from 676,130 MT in the previous month. Stocks from households and commercial warehouses rose yoy by 96.85 percent and 89.27 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, there were no corn stocks in NFA depositories during the period. On a monthly basis, stocks in the households and commercial warehouses likewise increased by 26.20 percent and 13.40 percent, respectively. Some 81.33 percent of the total corn inventory was held by households while the remaining 18.67 percent consisted of inventory held by ommercial warehouses. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Coaching for peak performance

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INEX will be holding a seminar on ‘Coaching – Engaging the Team for Peak Performance’ on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 from 2 to 5 pm at the New World Hotel. We have invited as our main speaker, Albert Mateo, Jr. , founder and president of Kitchen Insights, PhilipPINES )NC (E IS A CERTIkED COACH AND trainer with the John Maxwell Team. He also holds a brain-based coachING CERTIkCATE FROM THE .EURO,EADership Institute. We have also invited a sports coach who will talk to us about lessons from the hard court. The brain-based coaching methodology uses the results coaching system that is neuroscience based. It facilitates results through clearly articulated and well structured processes to provide clarity around WAYS FORWARD BY FOCUSING kRMLY ON setting and achieving objectives. This method is based on the principle of the growth mindset THAT RElECTS THE DUAL BELIEF THAT IMprovement is both possible and in the purpose of work that employees do. In this environment, employees hold these two beliefs simultaneously – they believe that skills can be improved and that improving these skills is precisely the point of the work. They uplift one another, welcome new ideas and strive to get better as a team. They do not point kNGERS SHOOT PEOPLE DOWN OR ASSERT themselves as geniuses. It is also not simply believing in a positive and optimistic outlook. Although this MAY SOMETIMES HELP IN DIFkCULT SITUations, it may not necessarily lead to CONSTRUCTIVE AND DEkNITIVE STEPS TO get out of the dire situation. This is where the search for improvement or a better way to tackle the problem comes in. The trouble that many companies run into is getting people to seek out improvement. Growth mindset is uncomfortable. It requires people to confront their weaknesses which may feel like personal shortcomings. The seminar was precisely timed to coincide with the period when personal appraisals come due in most companies. We’ve come to realise at FINEX that these performance feedback mechanisms can be improved and made more comfortable for both the apprais-

we plan. Some organizations ENCOUNTER DIFkCULTIES IN PLANNING because they simply do not have planning skills or knowledge. RONALD the Others are caught up in the tyranny GOSECO of the urgent and they believe they don’t have time. Some don’t like the ers and their employees. A proven perceived hassle of planning. Some approach that the growth mindset don’t plan because the outcome recommends in these appraisals varies greatly. is to reverse the methodology. These result in plans of varying Instead of the manager providing degrees. Some plans are passive. ratings on an annual basis, which They rhyme with the tune of ‘que are construed as judgmental, the sera, sera�. Sometimes plans are employees seek out the managers based on the moment and are trigvoluntarily at regular intervals for gered as panic plans. Some, on the ways to improve. This method has other hand, would have unrelenting proven to be less stressful and more AND RIGID gSCIENTIkCu FORMULA BASED effective for both parties. programs. These are unyielding and The brain-based coaching meth- INlEXIBLE odology seeks to change the culture The Maxwell team promotes and it follows the science – to know brain-based, principle centered how to shift peoples mindsets to plans. By failing to plan well, you adopt new habits for the long haul. actually plan to fail. They believe It is also increasingly important for that planning is essential because it individuals and organizations who bridges the gap between our desires need to adapt to the on going chal- and dreams. It calls to action a lenges posed by digital disruption. concrete plan that supplies us with An important mindset change tangible steps to look in the directhat this methodology recommends tion of our dreams. is the adoption of what we as pilots The seven principles in this know as the two challenge rule. This method include: the principle empowers a crew member to take of passion which is to approach action if their captain is unable to plans with excitement and urperform his duties. For instance, if gency, the principle of creativa co-pilot notices his captain is con- ITY THE PRINCIPLE OF INlUENCE ON FUSED OR OVERWHELMED MID lIGHT RESOURCES PEOPLE kNANCES AND the co-pilot can issue a challenge, time, principle of priorities which say to adjust the heading or altitude. includes the overarching search If he gets no response, he can ask FOR kNDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE again. If he still gets no response, so that we can run on the right the co-pilot is permitted to assume track instead of simply running control of the aircraft, potentially on the fast track, the principle of saving lives. lEXIBILITY WHICH IS TO BE MENTALLY You may recall a recent incident prepared that not everything will involving a Korean airline when go according to plan, the printhis rule was violated because of ciple of timing which seeks to the strict hierarchical culture in that differentiate emotional decisions cockpit. Based on the black box re- to realistic decisions and the princording, the captain did not listen ciple of teamwork which is based to his co-pilot’s suggestion which on the belief that what we can do resulted in the plane crash. This rule alone pales in comparison to the can be adopted in company settings potential when we work together. to avoid a similar incident from hapImportant principles and insights pening, albeit not life threatening. that guarantee to improve both your The other topics in the seminar individual and team performance will revolve around some of the will be shared in this program and insights that the John Maxwell team we invite you to join us. espouses. An important lesson we can Ronald Goseco is currently a Trustee learn from them is the way that of the FINEX Foundation

FINEX FILES

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How shared services companies secure client data

HESE days, monitoring and managing of business processes have been made easy with the help of shared services companies. Corporations can now reduce costs, get better insights faster, support strategic initiaTIVES AND FOCUS ON PROkT MAKING activities without worrying about administrative tasks. Shared Services is a tactic to effectively reduce cost and streamline organizations that it serves. It also improves process efficiency and effectiveness. It centralizes the company’s administrative functions that different departments or divisions usually handle. Shared Services brings down cost by standardizing and digitizing existing processes and procedures. It commonly focuses on accounting, human resources, kNANCE AND EVEN INFORMATION technology. It is a popular business strategy that’s been adopted by many companies all over the world. Over time, it has become a COMPREHENSIVE AND lEXIBLE TOOL for businesses, especially to those with a large number of staff. Since a shared services organization has access to personal information, the risk of sensitive data being compromised, either maliciously or unintentionally, is heightened. An effective data life cycle management is therefore necessary to ensure the confidentiality of client information. Shared services organizations COMMONLY DO THIS TO KEEP kLES restricted and avoid data breach. The cycle starts with the acquisition, capture or the collection of data. Examples of methods to get client information (usually directly coming from the client) include surveys, interviews or provision of a whole set of data by a third-party source. The purpose of the data must be stated upon collection – where and how it will be used, as well as the scope of the service it will be worked on, must be clear to make sure that the data will remain RESTRICTED AND CONkDENTIAL The next stage is data backup and recovery. Collected data, either in hard or electronic copies, go through an archival or retention process. Hard copies can be kept in folders and secured cabinets while electronic copies can be stored in cloud applications accredited by the National Privacy Commission (NPC). The third stage is data management and maintenance where processed data are now ready for usage and sharing within the organization. Shared data are usually incorporated into decision-making, planning, and operations. They allow the user to have a clear picture of the impact of decisions made in the past, thus guiding them towards

Q RISKS FROM B1

Remittance on remittances and Capital Economics said it expected growth to average 3 percent yearly over the next few years. “Remittances to the Philippines are equivalent to around 10 percent of GDP and weak remittances are likely to act as a drag on consumption and investment. However, with fiscal and monetary policy set to be loosened this year, economic growth should remain fairly strong,â€? it said. With regard to the balance of payments, Capital Economics noted that “the current account has gone from a surplus to a deficit over the past couple of years and is likely to widen further over the next couple of years. While the main driver of the shift has been a surge in imports of capital goods

the next course of action. The last part of the data life cycle is data retention or disposal. The agreement with the shared service organization must indicate until when the obtained data should be stored and how it will be disposed. Storing of data usually depends on how long the process will last, or on regulatory requirements. In other cases, data may be retained as long as there is consent to keep or even share it with third-party organizations. On the other hand, the process of disposal depends on the type of data acquired, be it in hard or electronic copy. Hard copies are typically shredded while electronic copies are deleted from the system, unless stated otherwise. Looking at the amount and kind of information that a shared services organization has, data protection is obviously one of its MOST SIGNIkCANT RESPONSIBILITIES They acquire important information that can threaten not only a person’s identity but also, if a large-scale breach happens, the safety of the whole corporation or even the nation. The shared services organization should be wary of network or social attacks – hackers generally target them because of the data they possess. #ONkDENTIAL AND RESTRICTED INformation such as a person’s full name, birthday, social security number, email address, medical information, and bank account numbers are the very kind of data considered a gold mine by cybercriminals. The shared services organization on top of its cybersecurity program means it has established data protection policies and proCEDURES THAT SUFkCIENTLY PROTECT data throughout its life cycle. They must educate and create awareness, thus instilling a security culture within the organization. In some cases, it is better to consider working with an expert who can help establish a more robust data protection solution to monitor, detect and prevent threats. *** Jimmy D. Disquetado is the Director for Operations of PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services Philippines Co. Ltd., a member firm of the PwC network. For more information, please email markets@ph.pwc. com. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors. and raw materials as the government’s infrastructure drive has gathered pace, weaker remittances (which are included as part of the current account) have also been a factor.� “The large current account deficit, which is now equivalent to around 3 percent of GDP, makes the currency more vulnerable to sudden shifts in global risk appetite,� it said. “This is a big worry given that foreign currency debt in the country is equivalent to around 25 percent of GDP. It is also one of the reasons why we think the central bank is likely to tread cautiously when it starts to ease monetary policy later this year.� The country’s current account hit a deficit of $6.471 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, a reversal from the $968-million surplus posted a year ago. Fullyear current account data is scheduled to be released today, March 15. ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Corporate News Ayala Corp. to increase stake in Generika group Robinsons Land profit surges 40% to P8.23B ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

AYALA Corp. is set to control the Generika group of companies once its health unit raises its stake in the drugstore operator. The listed conglomerate told the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Thursday that subsidiary AC HealthCARE (OLDINGS )NC WOULD INCREASE THE STAKE BY PERCENT FROM THE CURRENT PERCENT TO PERCENT The move is subject to conditions. !YALA #ORP WOULD EXPAND ITS OWNERSHIP IN 'ENERIKA SUBSIDIARIES !CTIMED )NC SHARES %RIKAGEN )NC SHARES .OVELIS 3OLUTIONS )NC shares) and Pharm Gen Ventures #ORP SHARES g4HIS TRANSACTION ALLOWS THE Generika group to raise additional capital for operations and national store expansion,� it said.

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

3UBSCRIPTION VALUE WAS NOT DISclosed, but the conglomerate said THE AMOUNT WAS ONLY LESS THAN ITS total equity. It also needs to secure the Philippine Competition Commission’s approval before it can proceed. !YALA #ORP WOULD PAY THE TOTAL amount in lump sum upon closing. Generika currently has more THAN STORES NATIONWIDE )T IS said to be the third-largest retail pharmacy player by store count. !# (EALTH OWNS PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CLINIC &AMILY$/# ONLINE pharmacy MedGrocer, health technology arm Vigos Health Technologies, home health application AIDE, and Negros Grace. !YALA #ORP SHARES ROSE BY 0 OR PERCENT TO kNISH AT 0 apiece on Thursday. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Megaworld, BCDA ink deal for Taguig property LISTED Megaworld Corp. and state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) signed an agreement on Thursday to rebrand a 160-hectare piece of property in Taguig City as the “Bonifacio Capital District.� The area covers two Megaworld townships, the 54.3-ha McKinley Hill and 34.5-ha McKinley West; the BCDA’s 26-ha Philippine Navy Village; the 33.1-ha Bonifacio South Pointe, developed in partnership with the SM Group; the 10.1-ha Consular property beside McKinley West; and a 1-ha BCDA lot. Bonifacio Capital is envisioned to rival Bonifacio Global City. Megaworld and BCDA will craft a masterplan and establish a policy review board that will set development policies and restrictions. Megaworld Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Andrew Tan, who signed the deal with BCDA President Vivencio Dizon, said the institutions that would move to Bonifacio Capital are the Senate, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. The company would also build more residential towers, office spaces, parks and

commercial establishments in the district over the next 10 years. Fifteen percent of the area would be reserved for green spaces. At present, the development-based gross floor area (GFA) of existing properties stands at 1.26 million square meters, while that of undeveloped lots is at 2.1 million sqm. Of the 160 ha, Tan said, 88 have been transformed by Megaworld into property developments; the rest, by BCDA. Bonifacio Capital will be served by its main road Lawton Avenue, which has direct access to Bonifacio Global City. The district will be accessible to the Makati Central Business District through Edsa; South Luzon Expressway and NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Expressway via southern Lawton Avenue; and C5 Road through Bayani Road and Upper McKinley Road. Megaworld and BCDA will construct six-lane roads and bicycle lanes to help decongest the area. Megaworld shares added 12 centavos or 2.22 percent to close at P5.53 each on Thursday. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

G

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

ROWTH in its investment and development portfolios drove Robinsons Land Corp. to post a 40-percent increase in its net income to P8.23 billion last year from P5.9 billion in 2017. In a statement on Thursday, the 'OKONGWEI LED REAL ESTATE COMpany reported that consolidated REVENUES SOARED BY PERCENT to P29.44 billion in 2018 from 0 BILLION A YEAR EARLIER Overall earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) jumped BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION last year from P12.48 billion the year before, it added.

Value 7,750.42

Chg -15.73

%Chg Ĺş

All Shares

4,785.01

-15.66

Ĺş

Financials

1,762.36

-2.44

Ĺş

Industrial

11,551.98

-65.53

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,671.73

-23.38

Ĺş

Services

1,572.20

3.63

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8,079.75

132.39

Ÿ

Property

3,902.86

-15.45

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Stock indices as of March 14, 2019

PSEi

ALL SHARES

0 MILLION The company’s infrastructure and integrated development business unit registered revenues OF 0 MILLION AND EBITDA OF P22 million. On its residential business, Robinsons Land said revenues AND EBITDA JUMPED BY PERCENT AND PERCENT TO 0 BILLION AND 0 BILLION RESPECTIVELY last year. Sales take-up surged by 49 PERCENT TO 0 BILLION DRIVEN BY NEW PROJECT LAUNCHES AND THE INlUX OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOReign buyers. Incorporated on June 4, 1980, Robinsons Land is the property arm of JG Summit Holdings Inc. 2OBINSONS ,AND SHARES kNISHED up by 0.42 percent or 10 centavos TO 0 EACH ON 4HURSDAY

Nickel Asia 2018 earnings up 6%Â to P4.22B NICKEL Asia Corp. said on Thursday its net income increased to P4.22 billion in 2018 on the back of increased shipment volumes AND ADDITIONAL PROkTS FROM TWO processing plants. In a disclosure, the listed minING FIRM SAID THE AMOUNT WAS A PERCENT GROWTH FROM ITS 0 BILLION PROkT IN Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ROSE TO 0 BILLION LAST YEAR FROM P6.86 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the GROWTH TO THE ADDITIONAL PROFit from its Taganito and Coral "AY PROCESSING PLANTS WHICH WENT UP BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION FROM 0 MILLION IN &AVOR-

HOLDING FIRMS

Index PSEi

g;2=OBUST GROWTH WAS DRIVEN by sustained performance of the INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO WHICH ROSE by 14 percent to P18.16 billion, DRIVEN BY ;OUR= MALL AND OFkCE divisions; and the robust performance of the development portFOLIO WHICH SURGED BY PERCENT to P11.28 billion due to remarkable revenues recognized from [the] sale of residential units, COUPLED WITH THE SALE OF INSTITU-

tional lots to our joint venture companies [and] international property developers,� Robinsons Land said in the statement. Its mall division contributed 41 PERCENT TO TOTAL REVENUES WORTH P11.94 billion on the back of strong rental income and the OPENING OF NEW MALLS )TS OFkCE DIVISION MEANWHILE SAW ITS REVENUES SURGE BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 billion on the back of higher rental rates and the revenue conTRIBUTION OF OFkCE BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN On its hotel and resort business, 2OBINSONS ,AND SAID IT WOULD expand aggressively to compete IN THE CROWDED SEGMENT 2EVENUES from this segment increased by PERCENT TO 0 BILLION BUT EBITDA DIPPED BY PERCENT TO

B3

SERVICES

MINING AND OIL

able cobalt and nickel prices drove this increase. Revenue earnings stood at 0 BILLION IN UP PERCENT FROM 0 BILlion a year earlier, due to increased shipments of its highervalue saprolite ore and a stronger US dollar. Nickel Asia sold an aggregate MILLION WET METRIC TONS (WMT) of nickel ore, compared WITH MILLION 7-4 IN Of last year’s volume, saprolite ore accounted for 60 percent or MILLION 7-4 UP PERCENT FROM 7-4 IN /RE deliveries made up the rest, falling SLIGHTLY TO MILLION 7-4 FROM 8.06 million WMT.

The average price received FOR SALES OF THE TWO ORE TYPES WAS PER 7-4 IN PERCENT HIGHER THAN S PER 7-4 Total operating cash costs inCREASED BY PERCENT TO 0 BILLION FROM 0 BILLION “Despite the challenges brought about by the increasing ore supPLY FROM )NDONESIA WE ARE VERY pleased by the company’s performance during the year,� Nickel Asia President Martin Antonio Zamora said in the disclosure. g!S WE LOOK AT THE MEDIUM term prospects of our company, WE BELIEVE THAT ,-% LINKED nickel has the [greatest] potential to outperform the commodity

market, given the evolution of battery technology. We are fortunate that a sizeable segment of our market is able to capture this,� he added. Incorporated on July 24, 2008, Nickel Asia is the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD )T exports saprolite and limonite ore to Japan, China and Australia. Besides operating mines, it ALSO OWNS PROPERTIES IN VARIOUS stages of exploration for nickel, WHILE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES IN copper and gold. Nickel Asia shares lost 8 centaVOS OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 each on Thursday. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

TOP ACTIVE STOCKS No. Security Name Last Price 1 International Container Terminal Services, Inc. 118.9 2 3 4

Ayala Land, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. PLDT Inc.

5 6

SM Investments Corporation Ayala Corporation

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

Wilcon Depot, Inc. San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. Greenergy Holdings Incorporated SM Prime Holdings, Inc. GT Capital Holdings, Inc. BDO Unibank, Inc. San Miguel Corporation Alliance Global Group, Inc. LT Group, Inc. Security Bank Corporation Megaworld Corporation First Gen Corporation Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. 0HWUR 3DFLÂżF ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ

Chg 0.6

%Chg 0.51%

Ÿ

Volume 4,149,290.00

Value(P) 493,399,201.00

42.8 61.7 1,132.00

-0.05 -1.5 13

-0.12% -2.37% 1.16%

ź ź Ÿ

9,923,800.00 4,399,370.00 218,560.00

425,657,295.00 272,433,073.50 249,565,805.00

925 925.5

-6 5.5

-0.64% 0.60%

ź Ÿ

238,530.00 238,850.00

221,345,455.00 221,128,450.00

15.4 104.1 2.6 37.1 1,000.00 132 172 15.1 16.62 170.5 5.53 20.85 58.35 4.9

-0.24 -3.3 0.15 -0.55 6.5 -0.8 -0.4 0.12 0.1 3.5 0.12 -0.65 -0.6 -0.04

-1.53% -3.07% 6.12% -1.46% 0.65% -0.60% -0.23% 0.80% 0.61% 2.10% 2.22% -3.02% -1.02% -0.81%

ź ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź ź ź

12,982,900.00 1,794,210.00 64,726,000.00 4,177,300.00 155,050.00 1,136,250.00 782,770.00 8,775,300 7,835,900 745,970 23,255,100 5,601,900 1,973,770 19,121,000

202,681,318.00 187,910,709.00 157,660,560.00 155,511,240.00 154,602,270.00 149,974,058.00 134,663,576.00 132,464,572.00 130,298,086.00 127,016,348.00 126,815,387.00 116,552,575.00 115,114,725.00 94,035,380.00

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Mar 14, 2019 Mar 13, 2019 Mar 12, 2019 Mar 11, 2019 Mar 8, 2019 Mar 07, 2019 Mar 06, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019 Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 8, 2019 Feb 7, 2019 Feb 6, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019

Open 7,742 7,726 7,728 7,815 7,869 7,807 7,675 7,700 7,632 7,712 7,920 7,962 7,996 7,940 7,947 7,849 7,923 7,925 7,965 7,960 8,040 8,077 8,088 8,092 8,093 8,091 8,132 8,039 7,999 8,039

High 7,764 7,766 7,774 7,824 7,884 7,882 7,821 7,735 7,698 7,754 7,920 7,973 7,996 7,962 7,947 7,945 7,939 7,964 8,000 7,996 8,040 8,084 8,106 8,096 8,127 8,214 8,149 8,166 8,099 8,047

Low 7,719 7,725 7,728 7,709 7,797 7,795 7,675 7,667 7,596 7,588 7,705 7,878 7,945 7,895 7,893 7,848 7,831 7,911 7,909 7,921 7,889 7,984 8,062 8,036 8,088 8,058 8,069 8,039 7,999 7,912

Close 7,750 7,766 7,748 7,709 7,797 7,882 7,821 7,671 7,675 7,642 7,705 7,889 7,988 7,962 7,931 7,939 7,834 7,911 7,909 7,991 7,920 8,010 8,062 8,071 8,100 8,058 8,069 8,144 8,007 7,980

CLOSE

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

Security Name Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. “B� The Philodrill Corporation Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation “B� PTFC Redevelopment Corporation DMCI Holdings, inc. Greenergy Holdings Incorporated Semirara Mining and Power Corporation Ever-Gotesco Resources & Holdings, Inc. Araneta Properties, Inc. ISM Communications Corporation Zeus Holdings, Inc. Globe Telecom, Inc. House of Investments, Inc. Macroasia Corporation Agrinurture, Inc. Premiere Horizon Alliance Corporation Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation Megaworld Corporation Century Peak Metals Holdings Corporation Security Bank Corporation

Volume 3,000.00 19,200,000.00 20,800,000.00 200.00 4,441,700.00 64,726,000.00 3,125,600.00 10,000.00 33,000.00 3,966,400.00 6,670,000.00 26,470.00 40,200.00 2,147,700.00 873,000.00 15,377,000.00 25,000.00 23,255,100.00 1,826,000.00 745,970.00

Value 6,450.00 212,800.00 260,400.00 9,200.00 51,925,878.00 157,660,560.00 64,823,000.00 1,370.00 62,510.00 22,301,009.00 2,315,700.00 50,491,380.00 255,716.00 43,291,910.00 12,796,294.00 18,557,920.00 90,100.00 126,815,387.00 4,186,100.00 127,016,348.00

Last Price 2.15 0.012 0.013 46 11.9 2.6 21 0.137 1.97 5.67 0.35 1,930.00 6.39 20.05 14.48 1.22 3.68 5.53 2.31 170.5

Chg 0.2 0.001 0.001 2.95 0.7 0.15 1.1 0.007 0.1 0.26 0.015 79 0.26 0.63 0.38 0.03 0.09 0.12 0.05 3.5

%Chg 10.26% 9.09% 8.33% 6.85% 6.25% 6.12% 5.53% 5.38% 5.35% 4.81% 4.48% 4.27% 4.24% 3.24% 2.70% 2.52% 2.51% 2.22% 2.21% 2.10%

*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 Philippine Racing Club, Inc. Concrete Aggregates Corporation “A� Suntrust Home Developers, Inc. Easycall Communications Phils., Inc. Boulevard Holdings, Inc. Republic Glass Holdings Corporation SBS Philippines Corporation DFNN, Inc. Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. Manila Water Company, Inc. iPeople, Inc. Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. Arthaland Corporation Omico Corporation San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. First Gen Corporation Nickel Asia Corporation Philippine Seven Corporation “Common� Central Azucarera de Tarlac Roxas and Company, Inc.

*amounts in peso except for volume, %chg

Volume 100.00 10.00 219,000.00 412,000.00 261,860,000.00 22,000.00 10,700.00 18,100.00 72,900.00 3,588,200.00 800.00 1,234,000.00 1,386,000.00 108,000.00 1,794,210.00 5,601,900.00 2,684,000.00 2,470.00 6,300.00 157,000.00

Value 700 655 162,060.00 5,576,588.00 19,934,700.00 56,340.00 89,941.00 126,724.00 875,544.00 93,209,595.00 8,520.00 3,598,660.00 1,235,670.00 63,760.00 187,910,709.00 116,552,575.00 6,991,900.00 321,120.00 100,800.00 285,800.00

Last Price 7 65.5 0.74 13.2 0.075 2.56 8.4 7 11.92 26 10.6 2.88 0.88 0.6 104.1 20.85 2.59 130 16 1.81

Chg -1.5 -6.4 -0.06 -1.06 -0.004 -0.13 -0.39 -0.3 -0.48 -1 -0.4 -0.1 -0.03 -0.02 -3.3 -0.65 -0.08 -4 -0.48 -0.05

%Chg -17.65% -8.90% -7.50% -7.43% -5.06% -4.83% -4.44% -4.11% -3.87% -3.70% -3.64% -3.36% -3.30% -3.23% -3.07% -3.02% -3.00% -2.99% -2.91% -2.69%

Foreign Business China factory output slows in Jan-Feb " B4

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

%)*).' #HINA S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SLOWED DURING THE kRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR AS UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE OFkCIAL DATA SHOWED 4HURSDAY WHILE SOME INDICATORS SHOWED A SLOWDOWN IN THE WORLD S SECOND LARGEST ECONOMY stabilising. 4HE kGURES FROM THE .ATIONAL Bureau of Statistics come as Beijing and Washington appear to be nearing a deal to resolve their painful trade spat, and Chinese leaders convene in the capital for an annual parliamentary session. Output growth at China’s facTORIES AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE kRST two months slowed to 5.3 percent on-year, from 5.7 percent in De-

cember, a multi-year low and short of forecasts. “We must be aware that there are many uncertainties and instabilities from the external environment,� said NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong. “The economy faces downward pressure,� he told reporters. China’s normally steady unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent

in February, from 4.9 percent in December, with the NBS saying it had expected worse numbers. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last week laid out a lower growth target of 6.0-6.5 percent this year, from 6.6 percent growth in 2018, which was already the slowest pace for almost three decades. Policymakers huddled in Beijing have talked up plans to support the economy, announcing tax cuts, fee REDUCTIONS AND kNANCING SUPPORT A plan to cut value-added tax for manufacturers will help the struggling sector. In January and February car sales continued to fall and manufacturing activity sunk. The latest data showed growth

in retail sales for January-February REMAINED lAT FROM $ECEMBER RISing 8.2 percent on-year and slightly above forecasts from economists polled by Bloomberg News. However, retail sales remain near a 15-year low, said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a note, adding that “the near-term outlook still looks downbeat�. Beijing is counting on consumers and renewed investment to stabilise the economy. Fixed-asset investment rose 6.1 PERCENT IN THE kRST TWO MONTHS from 5.9 percent in 2018. Last year investment in infrastructure crumbled as China hit the brakes on major projects such

as subway lines and motorways to keep a lid on debt. Beijing has tried to restart spending. Infrastructure spending ticked up 4.3 percent on-year in JanuaryFebruary, from 3.8 percent last year. Still it remains well below the near 20 percent growth seen for many years. “Infrastructure investment disAPPOINTED IN THE kRST TWO MONTHS suggesting that government efforts to accelerate it have not yet yielded material impact,� said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics. China is grappling with a decline in global demand -- most notably from the US, which launched a trade war last year.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he sees a “very good chance� of reaching a trade deal with China but is in “no rush� to reach an agreement. The two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, and China’s exports and imports plummeted much more than expected in February. “We expect economic growth to remain under pressure in the coming months from slowing exports and still subdued sentiment,� said Kuijs. The slowdown has stalled price growth in the country’s industrial SECTOR WHILE CONSUMER INlATION has eased. AFP

Reliance caps Venezuelan oil purchases US ups pressure on Europe over tapping Huawei for 5G MUMBAI: India’s biggest private oil refiner Reliance Industries has capped crude imports from sanction-hit Venezuela, the company said Thursday, following pressure from the United States. The energy-to-telecoms conglomerate has also stopped exporting diluents to the crisis-hit South American country, it told AFP. The announcements come after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked India to halt all crude imports from Nicolas Maduro’s regime, which the United States does not recognise. “Our US subsidiary has completely stopped all business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PdVSA, and its global parent has not increased crude purchases,� Reliance said in an emailed statement. “Reliance has halted all supply of diluent to PdVSA and will not resume such sales until sanctions are lifted,� added the company,

which is owned by India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani. Venezuela — a once-rich oilproducing nation -- is in the grip of an economic and political crisis and analysts said ending diluent exports would hamper Venezuela’s output. “Venezuelan oil is thick and needs these raw materials for processing crude,� PetroWatch editor Madhu Nainan told AFP. Venezuela is reeling from an unprecedented, week-long nationwide blackout and inflation is projected to reach 10 million percent this year, according to the IMF. The country’s infrastructure has degraded over years because of a lack of investment, a significant brain drain, and the government’s practice of putting the military in charge of key civilian facilities and companies. The situation has worsened with successive rounds of US sanctions against Maduro’s government,

including steps that have severely curbed its oil exports. India became the top importer of crude from Venezuela in February after US President Donald Trump issued a de facto ban on imports. The US and European Union recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president. On Tuesday, Pompeo asked India to stop buying crude from Venezuela, so as not to provide an “economic lifeline� to Maduro’s regime. The following day, New Delhi warned oil companies that they faced “undisclosed consequences� if they continued to buy Venezuelan oil. “We will continue a constructive dialogue with the US government to ensure Reliance remains in compliance,� the conglomerate, which operates the world’s biggest refining complex, added in its statement. AFP

Russia comeback set by Germany’s Opel FRANKFURT AM MAIN: German carmaker Opel on Thursday said it would return to Russia after a more than three-year absence as new French owner PSA branches out in a bid to reduce the group’s reliance on the European market. Opel will start by making three models available at Russian dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2019, the brand with the lightning logo said in a statement. 4WO OF THE MODELS THE :AkRA ,IFE minivan and the Vivaro transporter, will be manufactured at PSA’s plant in the western Russian city of Kaluga. The move by car giant PSA -- which also sells cars under the Peugeot and Citroen brands -- will step up competition with French rival Renault, which

owns Russia’s iconic Lada brand. Opel’s previous owner, US behemoth General Motors, yanked the German carmaker from the Russian market in 2015 and closed its Saint Petersburg factory in the face of plummeting sales as the country grappled with an economic crisis and a plunging ruble. The Russian comeback is part of PSA’s push to diversify its revenues beyond Europe at a time when US sanctions have torpedoed ambitions in Iran and the Chinese auto market has slowed considerably. The group already announced earlier this month that it plans to reintroduce Peugeot to the United States by 2026 after some 30 years away, while Citroen will start selling cars in India in 2021.

Q LOW FROM B1

“Russia is a large, strategically important and attractive market with a lot of potential,� Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller said in the statement. “As a German brand with a longstanding tradition and an excellent reputation in the country, we will benEkT FROM THIS u The initial ambitions for Russia are modest, with the firm expecting to ACHIEVE SALES IN THE gkVE DIGITu RANGE BY 2022, an Opel spokesman told AFP, recalling that Opel sales peaked at around 80,000 cars a year in 2012 and 2013. PSA bought troubled Opel from GM in 2017 and immediately embarked on a major overhaul that helped the GerMAN BRAND BOOK ITS kRST PROkT IN after years of losses. AFP

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US upped pressure on Europe Wednesday to avoid turning to Huawei for 5G telecom infrastructure, with a top commander saying NATO forces would cease communicating with their German colleagues IF "ERLIN TEAMS UP WITH THE #HINESE kRM The US and several other Western nations, fearful of the security risks posed by a company closely tied to the Chinese government, have shut Huawei out of tenders for the developMENT OF SUPER FAST kFTH GENERATION OR ' networks. “We’re concerned about their telecommunications backbone being compromised in the sense that, particularly with 5G, the bandwidth capability and ability to pull data is incredible,� US General Curtis Scaparrotti, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, told US lawmakers. “If it also is inside of their defense communications, then we’re not going to communicate with them� across those systems, the general said before the House Armed Services Committee. “And for the military, that would be a problem.� Scaparrotti’s comments came during questioning about trade talks in Europe, and Germany in particular, with Chinese telecom groups such as Huawei. The company has been charged by the US justice department of stealing trade secrets, obstructing a criminal investigation and evading economic sanctions on Iran. Its 5G equipment is reputed to be much further advanced than those of rivals Ericsson and Nokia, which has made it attractive for mobile operators looking to quickly roll out new networks. The next-generation systems will bring nearinstantaneous connectivity that can enable futuristic technologies such as self-driving cars. Chinese law obliges companies headquartered in the country to provide technical assistance to intelligence services, but Huawei has strenuously denied allegations its equipment could be used for espionage. Kathryn Wheelbarger, acting US assistant

secretary of defense for international affairs, told the committee Huawei represents a “threat� to Europe.

Private and military concerns “I can assure you that in all our conversations with all our European partners, we make very clear the threat of Chinese investment or development of the telecommunications infrastructure in Europe,� Wheelbarger said. These concerns relate to the “security of our communications, both private... as well as military,� she said. 4HE TWO 0ENTAGON OFkCIALS REFUSED TO GIVE further details in public about their concerns, TELLING ELECTED OFkCIALS THEY WOULD DISCUSS THE subject in depth during a later closed session. Germany is due to launch auctions in midMarch for future mobile telecommunications infrastructure. On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported the US had warned Berlin about future “information sharing� if it uses “untrusted vendors� in its 5G infrastructure. The newspaper said the US Ambassador to Berlin, Richard Grenell, had sent a letter to German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warning that in such a case, the US could scale down intelligence and other information exchanges. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin would consult Washington over using technology made by Huawei, ALTHOUGH gWE WILL DEkNE OUR STANDARDS FOR ourselves.� Asked about the security standards that Europe could adopt to protect against Chinese espionage, Wheelbarger said there were none. “Having looked into Huawei quite a bit a few years ago, I realized the challenges of even having a mitigation plan or strategy for the 4G infrastructure,� she said. “Given this sort of generational shift that is between 4G and 5G, I am not aware of something that would give us the kind of security we would need to mitigate the challenges it would impose on us.� AFP

Q 2019 FROM B1

Q EL NIĂ‘O FROM B1

Net ‘hot money’ hits San Miguel profit up just 1% More last year. The bulk or 77.4 percent was invested in PSE-listed securities ‡ MAINLY BANKS HOLDING kRMS property companies, food, beverage and tobacco companies, and transportation companies — while the rest went to peso government securities and peso debt instruments. The United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Luxembourg AND .ORWAY WERE THE TOP kVE INvestor countries with a combined 67 percent of the total. &EBRUARY S OUTlOWS OF

billion, meanwhile, reflected decreases of 17.6 percent and 32 percent, respectively, compared to the previous month ($1.299 billion) and a year ago ($1.573 billion). The United States remained the main destination of repatriated funds, accounting for 80.3 percent. Taking preliminary results for THE kRST DAY OF -ARCH INTO ACCOUNT YEAR TO DATE HOT MONEY lOWS WERE POSITIVE AT A NET INlOW OF billion. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

billion. Only San Miguel Pure Foods Inc. out of SMFB’ businesses POSTED A PROkT DROP 0 BILlion from P6.9 billion a year earlier despite a 13-percent increase in revenues to P132 billion. SMC did not explain the decline but said Pure Foods’ revenue growth was driven by increased volumes and better selling prices. Packaging arm San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp., meanwhile, posted 2018 revenues of P37.3 billion, higher by

16 percent than the P32.1 billion registered in 2017. Power subsidiary SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. was said to have registered a 45-percent revenue increase to P120 billion on the back of additional power generation from plants. Petron Corp., the conglomerate’s petroleum unit, reported a PERCENT PLUNGE IN NET PROkT TO P7.07 billion from 2017’s P14.09 billion, mainly due to inventory losses incurred in November and December. SMC noted that global oil

supplies increased during the fourth quarter of 2018, causing a nine-week fall in international oil prices. SMC Infrastructure, meanwhile, saw revenues of P24.5 billion, up 9 percent from last year due to growth in vehicular volumes on all operating toll roads. 3-# SHARES kNISHED DOWN centavos or 0.23 percent to P172 each amid a 0.20-percent drop for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index. ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Q PEREZ FROM B1

CLIENT WHO IDENTIkED HIMSELF AS James Pugh, who wrote: “I read your Manila Times article ‘Buying SMDC condo unit is not always fun�. I paid in full for 3 SMDC condo units and the turnover for 2 of them was 2 years ago and still they won’t issue titles. My wife and I have visited the 3-$# OFkCES AT -/! AND THEY don’t give any answer. If I want to SELL THE UNITS IT S DIFkCULT AND ) M NOT CONkDENT THAT MY INVESTMENT is secure.

Very little can be found on the internet for this situation. Do you have any further information to share please?� As a reporter who writes for The Manila Times, I don’t usually answer emails. However, I am making an exception in the case of Mr. Cabang and Mr. Pugh because they expressed what buyers of condo units go through before they take actual possession of their condo units. In my response to their emails, I decided to review my piece “Buy-

ing SMDC condo unit is not always fun�, which appeared in this space on Aug. 23, 2015. Yes, I started the piece about the two octogenarians who wanted to buy two condo units. Since they are in their 80s, they may be much older today. If they had pushed through with their acquisitions, the poser is, are they still alive today? Have they experienced what Mr. Cabang and Mr. Pugh went thru? By the way, for complaints regarding the acquisitions of either

house-and-lot packages or condo units, complainants may want to email President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Malacanang Palace, Manila. I don’t know his address in Davao City. Personally, I do not have the answers to the two emailers. All I can advise them is wait until SMDC would be able to deliver what it had promised. Shall I say they should continue waiting? Just asking.

Be careful cannot accede to your request for compensation. We seek for your understanding and kind consideration regrading this matter. Trust that SMDC is continuously undertaking further measures to deliver your unit the soonest time possible.� Due Diligencer received a similar complaint from another SMDC

esdperez@gmail.com

growth due to the harsh and extreme weather conditions, the budget impasse simmers. Government ofkCIALS PAINT A DOUR OUTLOOK SHOULD the budget be delayed further, we hope that the budget can and will be passed at the soonest,â€? he said. “Passage of the 2019 budget will indeed help cushion the impact of El NiĂąo on growth, which is already expected to hit a speed BUMP IN THE ( kRST HALF DUE to slowing capital formation and now likely challenged government spending,â€? he added. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Wednesday warned that economic growth could slow to as much as 4.2-4.9 percent if the government was forced to operate on the 2018 budget for the whole year. Growth targets for 2019 and 2020 were cut later that day by the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee, which cited the ongoing budget delay, El NiĂąo and the US-China trade war. The government is now aiming for 6.0-7.0 percent growth this year and 6.7-7.5 percent for 2020, down from 7.0-8.0 percent previously.

Classified Ads

advertising@manilatimes.net 524-5664 local 121, 3105895 and 3105582

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

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph 21 February 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Dept. Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 21 February 2019 regarding the Prepaid Giga Family Promo Amendment. The amendment of the promo are as follows: Brand Smart Prepaid

Promo

Type of Change

From

To

GIGA SURF 50

Promo name change

GIGA SURF 50

GIGA VIDEO 50

GIGA SURF 99 Promo name change GIGA SURF 299 Promo name change

GIGA SURF 99 GIGA SURF 299 2GB open access + 1.3GB/day for YouTube, Inclusions change iFlix, iWant NBA League Pass, Cignal TV GIGA SURF 599 Promo name change GIGA SURF 599 GIGA SURF 899 Promo name change GIGA SURF 899 Brand TNT

Promo GIGA SURF 50 GIGA SURF 99 GIGA SURF 299

GIGA SURF 599 GIGA SURF 899

Type of Change Promo name change Promo name change Promo name change Inclusions change

Promo name change Promo name change

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

From GIGA SURF 50 GIGA SURF 99 GIGA SURF 299 2GB open access + 1GB/day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant NBA League Pass, Cignal TV GIGA SURF 599 GIGA SURF 899

GIGA VIDEO 99 GIGA VIDEO 299 4GB open access + 1.3GB/day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant NBA League Pass, Cignal TV GIGA VIDEO 599 GIGA VIDEO 899 To GIGA VIDEO 50 GIGA VIDEO 99 GIGA VIDEO 299 4B open access + 1GB/day for YouTube, iFlix, iWant NBA League Pass, Cignal TV GIGA VIDEO 599 GIGA VIDEO 899

The maximum speed is up to 42Mbps for broadband and non-broadband connections. Minimum speed for broadband connection is 256 kbps and 48 kbps for non-broadband connection. Network reliability is 80%. The actual speed experience will depend on the device used, network signal detected, current subscriber WUDIÂżF SUHYDLOLQJ HQYLURQPHQWDO FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKH JHRJUDSK\ RI WKH DUHD ZKHUH WKH VXEVFULEHU LV ORFDWHG The same mechanics of the promo shall still be applied. The promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only.

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

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

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that SM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units at HILL RESIDENCES Phase 1 located at Reliance St., Brgy. Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches, 4XH]RQ &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG as Lot No. 209 of the Tala Estate, (GLRO) Rec. No. 6563 covered by TCT No. 004-2013005975, Lot No. 755-C, (LRC) Psd-22189 covered by TCT No. 004-2013005976 and Lot No. 208-NEW-C, Psd-42842 covered by TCT No. 004-2013005977 having a total area of 37,236.00 square meters. The project has been issued &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 1R 028192 dated April 24, 2018

Notice is hereby given that SM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units of GLAM RESIDENCES located at EDSA corner Samar St., Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW 6, 17 & 18, Blk. S-155, of Diliman Estate, Bsd-7365-B (TCT Nos. 004-2013006217, 004-2017011086 & 004-2017011085); Lots 1 & 2 (LRC) Pcs-20643 (TCT Nos. 0042013006218 & 004-2013012132) and Lot 7-A, Psd-13-005682 (TCT No. 004-2013006219), with a total area of 6,954 square meters.

Notice is hereby given that DATALAND, INC. (Owner/ 'HYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of units at DDT SKY TOWER located at EDSA corner Mother Ignacia Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW 1RV to 3, Block S-153 of Diliman Estate, Bsd-7365-B covered by TCT Nos. 004-2018003466, 004-2018003467 and 004-2017014859 with an area of 5,250.40 square meters.

The foregoing project is utilizing units in BELAROSA RESIDENCES located at Brgy. Sta. Teresita, Sto. 7RPDV %DWDQJDV LVVXHG &HUWLÂżFDWH of Accreditation No. CA-2019-03 dated 28 February 2019, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884.

The foregoing project is utilizing units in BELAROSA RESIDENCES located at Brgy. Sta. Teresita, Sto. Tomas, Batangas, owned and developed by SUMMERHILLS HOME DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LVVXHG &HUWLÂżFDWH RI $FFUHGLWDWLRQ 1R CA-2019-03 on 28 February 2019, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH ODVW day of publication.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH ODVW day of publication.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, MAR 04, 2019

Quezon City, Metro Manila, MAR 04, 2019

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. - March 08 & 15, 2019

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. - March 08 & 15, 2019

Please be informed that the request for approval of Prepaid Giga Family Promo Amendment effective 25 February 2019 is hereby granted. The approval is subject to the condition that SMART shall publish the amendment in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation.

The foregoing project is utilizing 103 lots/units covering Block 2 Lots 17 to 20, Block 3 Lots 1 to 28, Block 4 Lots 1 to 33, Block 5 Lots 1 to 7, Block 6 Lots 1 to 16 and Block 7 Lots 1 to 15 located within the project as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884. All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication. Quezon City, Metro Manila, MAR 04, 2019 (SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. - March 08 & 15, 2019

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

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY-V Legazpi City

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that C.G. UMALI COMMERCIAL (Owner) and C.G. UMALI PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CORP. (DeveORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV %RDUG a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots at SPRINGDALE RESIDENCES located at F.Cequena St., Brgy. Macamot, Binangonan, 5L]DO VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV SODQ Psd-045804-000261 covered by TCT No. N-39174 with a total area of 2,785 square meters. The foregoing project is utilizing the Participation Through Investment/ Incentivized Compliance, by depositing the amount of SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS & 91/100 (Php 768,373.91) in a Trust Account under Escrow Agreement executed on January 16, 2019 between the HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, C.G. UMALI PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CORP. and CHINA BANKING CORPORATION-TRUST AND ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884. All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH ODVW day of publication.

5( $SSOLFDWLRQ IRU LVVXDQFH RI D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to operate tramp service from Legazpi City (homeport) to any port in the Philippines with the use of the ship named MTKr “BULUSANâ€? for the carriage of non persistent oil (white products only) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9295 and its Revised-Implementing Rules and Regulations. ECOPETROL INC. Applicant. x-----------------------x

Case No. LMRO 19-013

ORDER This refers to the application for issuance of Certificate of Public &RQYHQLHQFH &3& ÂżOHG E\ DSSOLFDQW RQ 0DUFK WR RSHUDWH LWV VKLS in the tramping service for the carriage of non-persistent oil (white products only) from Legazpi City (homeport) to any port in the Philippines, as follows : For Tramp Operation Name of Ship/s MTKr “BULUSANâ€?

Area of Operation Legazpi City (homeport) to any port in the Philippines

Service/s offered/to be offered To operate on a tramping service for the carriage of non-persistent oil (white products only).

The Applicant shall cause the publication of this Order once in a newspaper of general circulation DW OHDVW ÂżYH GD\V EHIRUH WKH VFKHGXOHG KHDULQJ otherwise no hearing shall be conducted. 7KH DSSOLFDQW VKDOO SUHVHQW WKH MXULVGLFWLRQDO TXDOLÂżFDWLRQ DQG GRFXPHQWDU\ requirements in a summary proceeding to be conducted on 26 March 2019, Tuesday, 10:00 AM at the Hearing Room, Maritime Industry Authority-V, 3rd Floor RDC Primeland Inc. Bldg., Landco Business Park, Legazpi City, VXEMHFW WR FRPSOLDQFH ZLWK WKH ÂżYH GD\V SXEOLFDWLRQ UHTXLUHPHQW pursuant to Sections 9 & 10, Rule II of the MARINA Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Applicant shall be required to make a written Formal Offer of Evidence (FOE), and after post-evaluation and satisfactory compliance with the MARINA requirements, the application shall be deemed submitted for resolution/decision. WITNESS the Officer-In-Charge Administrator, VADM NARCISO A VINGSON JR., this 13th day of March 2019, Legazpi City, Philippines.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, MAR. 01, 2019 (SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH M.T. - March 08 & 15, 2019

B5

BY AUTHORITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR: (Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 23-18 dated 24 October 2018) (SGD.) ENGR. JAIME B. BEA Director, MRO V

MT - Mar. 15, 2019

Subject further, to the condition that SMART shall comply with the NTC Memorandum Circulars and Order, as follows: • • •

YOUR ADS HERE GET RESULTS

Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections. Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service

Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner MT – Mar. 15, 2019

LEGAL NOTICE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF JOANA JANE TO SIO to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139 X––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––X PETITION

SCN CASE NO. 000725

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is JOANA JANE TO SIO but I have also been known since childhood as JOANA JANE TO SIO or I have been judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) N.A. 2. My present place of residence is KING RICE MILL, BRGY. CALAOCAN. City/Municipality of SAN JOSE, Province of NUEVA ECIJA, and all my former places of residence are: 1998-PRESENT - KING RICE MILL, BRGY. CALAOCAN, SAN JOSE CITY, NUEVA ECIJA 3. I was born on AUGUST 12, 1998 in CABANATUAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 4. My father’s name is PENG SIO and he was born on OCTOBER 10, 1960 in CHINA. He is a citizen or subject of PRC (CHINA). My mother’s name is PAAH TO and she was born on MAY 18, 1965, in CHINA. She is a citizen or subject of PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which I derive an average annual income of P N/A inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife’s/husband’s trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A. (Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained: N/A (2) name of school: N/A and (3) year graduated: N/A who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship. 6. My civil status is Single. I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife’s/husband’s name is N/A and she/he was born on N/A. She/He is citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides at N/A. 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8.

I have N/A child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows: Name N/A

Date of Birth N/A

Place of Birth N/A

Residence N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of School BETTBIEN MONTESSORI BETTBIEN HIGHSCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST 10.

Place of School SAN JOSE CITY SAN JOSE CITY MANILA

Dates of Study 2006-2012 2012-2016 2017-PRESENT

Highest Grade Completed GRADUATED GRADUATED N/A

I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: ENGLISH AND TAGALOG

11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of Child N/A

Name and Place of School N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

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

MINDANAO BROADCASTING AND NEWS NETWORK, INC. Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-034 x---------------------------------------------x

MINDANAO BROADCASTING AND NEWS NETWORK, INC. Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-035 x---------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant, MINDANAO BROADCASTING AND NEWS NETWORK, INC., a 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 R.A No. 8529, requests for the issuance of a &HUWLÂżFDWH RI Public Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1KW FM BROADCAST STATION in TUKURAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR.

Applicant, MINDANAO BROADCASTING AND NEWS NETWORK, INC., a 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 R.A No. 8529, requests for the issuance of a &HUWLÂżFDWH RI Public Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1KW FM BROADCAST STATION in MARGOSATUBIG, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR.

Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) SHQGLQJ ÂżQDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI the application.

Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) SHQGLQJ ÂżQDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI the application.

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on APRIL 01, 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.

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on APRIL 01, 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.

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.

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.

$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.

$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.

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 affected SDUW\ WR ÂżOH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ WLPH DQG 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.

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 affected SDUW\ WR ÂżOH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ WLPH DQG 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.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 4th day of MARCH 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 5th day of MARCH 2019.

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

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

MT - Mar. 15, 2019

14. My character witnesses are ATTY. CARLO MARCO M. BAUTISTA and MR. ALEXANDER GLEN. E. BAUTISTA both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at 15 PASCUAL ST., F.E. MARCOS, SAN JOSE CITY and 229 MAHARLIKA RD., ABAR 1ST SAN JOSE CITY, respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; E GHWDLOHG VWDWHPHQWV RQ WKH GDWHV WKH\ ÂżUVW FDPH WR NQRZ PH WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI RXU LQLWLDO DFTXDLQWDQFH DQG WKH UHDVRQV DQG H[WHQW RI RXU continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization. 15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the GXSOLFDWH RULJLQDOV RU FHUWLÂżHG SKRWRFRSLHV of the following documents (please check the appropriate box):

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3HWLWLRQHUœV ELUWK FHUWL¿FDWH 3HWLWLRQHUœV DOLHQ FHUWL¿FDWH RI UHJLVWUDWLRQ (ACR) 3HWLWLRQHUœV QDWLYH ERUQ FHUWL¿FDWH RI UHVLGHQFH (NBCR) 3HWLWLRQHUœV PDUULDJH FHUWL¿FDWH LI PDUULHG 'HDWK FHUWL¿FDWH RI KLV KHU VSRXVH LI ZLGRZHG Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact %LUWK FHUWL¿FDWHV RI SHWLWLRQHUœV PLQRU FKLOGUHQ ACRs of petitioner’s minor children NBCRs of petitioner’s minor children $I¿GDYLWV RI ¿QDQFLDO FDSDFLW\ E\ WKH SHWLWLRQHU GXO\ VXSSRUWHG E\ EDQN FHUWL¿FDWLRQV SDVVERRNV VWRFN FHUWL¿FDWHV RU SURRI RI RZQHUVKLS RI RWKHU SURSHUWLHV $I¿GDYLWV RI DW OHDVW WZR FUHGLEOH ZLWQHVVHV ZKR PXVW EH )LOLSLQR FLWL]HQV RI JRRG UHSXWDWLRQ LQ SHWLWLRQHUœV SODFH RI UHVLGHQFH 0HGLFDO FHUWL¿FDWH IURP D JRYHUQPHQW KRVSLWDO VWDWLQJ WKDW SHWLWLRQHU LV QRW VXIIHULQJ IURP PHQWDO DOLHQDWLRQ RU D XVHU RI SURKLELWHG GUXJV RU RWKHUZLVH D GUXJ GHSHQGHQW DQG WKDW KH VKH LV QRW DIÀLFWHG ZLWK DFTXLUHG LPPXQH GH¿FLHQF\ V\QGURPH $,'6 RU DQ\ LQFXUDEOH FRQWDJLRXV GLVHDVH School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines &HUWL¿FDWLRQV VWDWLQJ WKDW SHWLWLRQHUœV PLQRU FKLOGUHQ DUH HQUROOHG LQ SXEOLF VFKRROV RU SULYDWH HGXFDWLRQDO LQVWLWXWLRQV GXO\ UHFRJQL]H by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality Petitioner’s income tax returns for the past three years Petitioner’s receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of her petition: NBI CLEARANCE; POLICE CLEARANCE; BARANGAY CLEARANCE, MTC AND RTC COURT CLEARANCE; PROSECUTOR’S CLEARANCE PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139. Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 15th day of January 2019.

JOANA JANE TO SITIO Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: King Rice Mill, Brgy. Calaocan, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

(REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY I, JOANA JANE TO SIO, of legal age and a resident of BRGY. CALAOCAN, SAN JOSE CITY, N.E., after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have need the foregoing petition and know the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge. JOANA JANE TO SITIO Name and Signature of Petitioner ACR NO. F0000284126 10 OCTOBER 2021 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at QUEZON CITY this January 28, 2019. _________________________________________ 2IÂżFLDO DXWKRUL]HG WR DGPLQLVWHU RDWKV 1RWDU\ 3XEOLF

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late spouses Juanito M. Cruz and Veronica P. Cruz has been extrajudicially settled by and among their heirs as per Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement executed on March 11, 2019 and entered as per Doc. No. 220; Page No. 45; Book No. VIII; Series of 2019 of the notarial registry of Atty. Gervacio B. Ortiz, Jr., notary public for and in Makati City.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION CO CUANCO & SONS, INC. Notice is hereby given that CO CUANCO & SONS, INC., with principal RIÂżFH DGGUHVV DW *ORER 'H 2UR 6W 4XLDSR 0DQLOD ZDV GLVVROYHG effective December 31, 2017 in a joint special meeting of its Board of Directors and Stockholders held on December 15, 2017. All persons having a claim against CO CUANCO & SONS, INC. are required to present the claim, including the name of claimant(s), address, telephone number, and description of claim alleged, to Philip W. Co, Jr. at 33 Washington St., San Juan City, Metro Manila. A claim will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within three (3) years after the date of publication of this notice. (SGD.) VANISON G.T. CO Corporate Secretary MT - Mar. 1, 8 & 15, 2019

MT – Mar. 15, 22 & 29, 2019

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Email: ntc@ntc.gov.ph; website: http://www.ntc.gov.ph 22 February 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Dept. Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Dear Mr. Fernandez: This refers to your letter dated 22 February 2019 regarding the Smart Satellite Free $100 Airtime Load Promo Extension. ,Q OLQH ZLWK WKH WKUXVW RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR ORZHU WHOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV VHUYLFH UDWHV IRU WKH EHQHÂżW RI WKH )LOLSLQR consumers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), the Commission hereby approves Smart Satellite Free $100 Airtime Load Promo Extension nationwide from 01 March 2019 to 30 June 2019. The approval is subject to the condition that SMART shall publish the mechanics in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to the implementation. Should SMART decide not to extend the promo, it shall seek approval of the Commission within ten (10) days prior to the date of discontinuance and notice to the public shall be SXEOLVKHG LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ DW OHDVW ÂżYH GD\V SULRU WR WKH GDWH RI GLVFRQWLQXDQFH 7KH notice should be posted in all business centers of SMART. The promo offers Smart Satellite subscribers free $100 worth of airtime load upon purchase of Smart Satellite prepaid card worth $250. The mechanics of the promo are as follows: 1. The promo is open to all Smart Satellite prepaid subscribers who wish to renew and reactivate their Smart satellite accounts. 2. To avail the promo, subscriber must purchase a smart satellite prepaid card worth $250 to any Smart stores nationwide. 2QFH WKH SXUFKDVHG FDUG KDV EHHQ VXFFHVVIXOO\ ORDGHG VXEVFULEHU VKDOO UHFHLYH DQ 606 QRWLÂżFDWLRQ that he/she will be credited the free $100 airtime load within seven (7) working days. 4. The free $100 airtime load is valid for 365 days from the date that it has been credited to the Smart Satellite account. 5. All complaints and queries regarding this promotional activity may be attended by hotline numbers: +63 2 5112643 or + 63 9985559371. The promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only. Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner

MT – Mar. 15, 2019

Visit our website www.manilatimes.net

MT - Mar. 15, 2019

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one’s ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof. ,W LV P\ WUXH DQG KRQHVW LQWHQWLRQ WR EHFRPH D FLWL]HQ RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG WR UHQRXQFH DEVROXWHO\ DQG IRUHYHU DOO DOOHJLDQFH DQG ¿GHOLW\ to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly to PRC (CHINA) of which all this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside FRQWLQXRXVO\ LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV IURP WKH GDWH RI WKH ¿OLQJ RI WKLV SHWLWLRQ XS WR WKH WLPH RI P\ DGPLVVLRQ WR 3KLOLSSLQH FLWL]HQVKLS

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

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

Presidential Commission on Good Government PROPERTIES FOR SALE INVITATION TO BID The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), through the Special Bids and Awards Committee for Privatization, is inviting interested bidders to submit sealed bids on the following properties: PERSONAL PROPERTY - Share of Stock Issuing Corporation (Location) No. of Shares *Makati (Sports) Club, Inc. (L. P. Leviste cor. Gallardo St., Salcedo Village, Makati City)

Pre-Bid Conference

One (1) Class “A� April 25, 2019 Share Cert. No. 9:30 - 10:00 AM A-3077

Opening of Bids May 8, 2019 9:00-9:30 AM

Bid Docs Floor Fee Price (in PhP) (in PhP) 500,000 500

*Subject to Pre-emptive Rights of Makati (Sports) Club, Inc. REAL PROPERTIES Property Location 1. Bgy. Balite, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro 2. BBC-Naga, Bgy. Mabolo, Naga City 3. Kingswood St., Brixtonville Subd., Camarin, Caloocan 4. Maligaya St., Pangarap VIII., Tala Estate, Caloocan 5. Matahimik St., Pangarap VIII., Tala Estate, Caloocan 6. Evergreen Subd., Brgy. Francisco, Tagaytay City

Area (TCT No.)

Pre-Bid Conference

Opening of Bids

300 sq.m. (064-2013003110) 5,952 sq.m. (086-13275) 480 sq.m. (103234/35)

April 25, 2019 10:00-11:00 AM April 25, 2019 1:30- 2:30 PM April 25, 2019 2:30 - 3:30 PM

May 8, 2019 9:30 -10:00 AM May 8, 2019 10:00 - 10:30 AM May 8, 2019 10:30 -11:00 AM

300 sq. m. (C-30047)

April 26, 2019 9:00-10:00 AM

300 sq. m. (T-131830)

April 26, 2019 10:00-11:00 AM

240 sq.m. 1. (076-2013001871) 2. (076-2013001873) 3. (076-2013001874) 4. (076-2013001875) 5. (076-2013001876) 6. (076-2013001877) 7. {076-2013001879) 330 sq.m. (076-2013001872) 325 sq.m. (076-2013001878)

Floor Bid Docs Price (in Fee (in PhP) PhP) 930,000 1,000 37,572,000

25,000

4,260,000

5,000

May 8, 2019 1:30- 2:00 PM

951,000

1,000

May 8, 2019 2:00- 2:30 PM

951,000

1,000

1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,650,000

5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000

1,625,000

5,000

April 26, 2019 May 9, 2019 1:30 - 4:30 PM 8:30-8:45 AM 9:10 - 9:25 AM 9:30 - 9:45 AM 9:50 -10:05 AM 10:10 -10:25 AM 10:30 - 10:45 AM 11:10 - 11:25 AM April 26, 2019 May 9, 2019 1:30-4:30 PM 8:50 - 9:05 AM April 26, 2019 May 9, 2019 1:30 - 4:30 PM 10:50 - 11:05 AM

Sealed bids for the respective properties will be accepted, opened and tabulated in the presence of the bidders on the respective date and time above stated at Salonga Room, Ground Floor, IRC Building, No. 82 EDSA, Mandaluyong City. $ FRPSOHWH VHW RI ELGGLQJ GRFXPHQWV LQFOXGLQJ GHVFULSWLRQ VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV RI WKH SURSHUWLHV %LGGLQJ Guidelines, Bid Forms, and instructions to bidders) may be procured by interested bidders, upon payment of non-refundable fee indicated above, from March 18 to April 4, 2019 (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM). Please look for Ms. Marita B. Villarica and/or Ms. Luzviminda M. Lansangan-Racho, at the Asset Management Department, 3rd Floor, IRC Building, No. 82 EDSA, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, please call Telephone Nos. (02) 7257134, (02) 7212849, or 09668840314. 'HDGOLQH IRU VXEPLVVLRQ RI SUH TXDOLÂżFDWLRQ GRFXPHQWV LV RQ $SULO The PCGG reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or any part thereof, waive any formality or requirements and reserves the right to accept the bid most advantageous to the government. THE PCGG SPECIAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR PRIVATIZATION

MT – Mar. 8, 15 & 22, 2019

MT - Mar. 15, 16 & 17, 2019

WARNING TO THE PUBLIC The Manila Times is w a r n i n g the public that certain individuals posing as our employees have been threatening to publish articles against some companies. Anyone who receives a call from t h e s e extortionists should report the matter to the police. The Manila Times DOES NOT ask for money to stop news articles from being published. This paper does not condone any form of blackmail.

B6

World

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Grounding of 737 MAX planes now worldwide W

ASHINGTON, D.C.: The ban on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft became worldwide on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) after US President Donald Trump joined Canada and other countries in groundING THE AIRCRAFT AS THE BLACK BOX lIGHT RECORDERS FROM THE DOOMED PLANE WERE lOWN TO &RANCE for analysis on Thursday.

53 AUTHORITIES SAID THAT NEW EVIDENCE SHOWED SIMILARITIES BETWEEN 3UNDAY S DEADLY CRASH OF AN %THIOPIAN !IRLINES "OEING -!8 AND A FATAL ACCIDENT IN )NDONESIA IN /CTOBER 4HE WEEKEND CRASH KILLED ALL PEOPLE ABOARD 4HE &EDERAL !VIATION !DMINISTRATION &!! SAID 7EDNESDAY THAT kNDINGS FROM THE CRASH SITE NEAR !DDIS !BABA AND gNEWLY REFINED

SATELLITE DATAu WARRANTED gFURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A SHARED CAUSE FOR THE TWO INCIDENTS u !N &!! EMERGENCY ORDER GROUNDED -!8 AND -!8 AIRCRAFT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE 4RUMP TOLD REPORTERS AT THE 7HITE (OUSE THE gSAFETY OF THE !MERICAN PEOPLE AND ALL PEOPLES IS OUR PARAMOUNT CONCERN u #ANADA GROUNDED THE WORLD S

THIRD LARGEST lEET OF "OEING -!8 JETLINERS OR PLANES OPERATED BY THREE #ANADIAN CARRIERS AND BANNED THE AIRCRAFT FROM ITS AIRSPACE 7EDNESDAY g!S A RESULT OF NEW DATA THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING AND HAD THE CHANCE TO ANALYZE AND ON THE ADVICE OF MY EXPERTS AND AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE ) ISSUED A SAFETY NOTICE u 4RANSPORT -INISTER -ARC 'ARNEAU TOLD REPORTERS g4HIS SAFETY NOTICE RESTRICTS COMMERCIAL PASSENGER lIGHTS FROM ANY OPERATOR OF THE "OEING -!8 OR -!8 VARIANT AIRCRAFT WHETHER DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN FROM ARRIVING DEPARTING OR OVERlYING #ANADIAN AIR SPACE g4HIS SAFETY NOTICE IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE u

(ERE IS A ROUND UP OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BANNED THE -!8 )N !FRICA m .AMIBIA AND .IGERIA IN !SIA 0ACIkC m !USTRALIA #HINA )NDIA )NDONESIA +AZAKHSTAN -ALAYSIA AND .EW :EALAND IN THE -IDDLE %AST m %GYPT +UWAIT ,EBANON /MAN AND 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES ‡ INCLUDING MAJOR HUB $UBAI IN .ORTH !MERICA m #ANADA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES IN %UROPE ‡ ALL %UROPEAN 5NION COUNTRIES AND 3ERBIA !IRLINES THAT HAVE BANNED THE -!8 ARE !EROLINEAS !RGENTINAS !EROMEXICO #AYMAN !IRWAYS #OMAIR 3OUTH !FRICA %ASTAR *ET 3OUTH +OREA %THIOPIAN !IRLINES 'OL !IRLINES "RAZIL )CELANDAIR -)!4 -ONGOLIAN !IRLINES .ORWEGIAN !IR 3HUTTLE AND 3 2USSIA AFP

INNOCENT VICTIMS

Yemeni children and female Huthi protesters gather during a rally in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) against raids by Saudi-led airstrikes in the Yemeni province of Hajjah. Twelve children and 10 women have been killed by strikes in that province over the weekend, the United Nations said on Monday. AFP PHOTO

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

British lawmakers reject no-deal Brexit LONDON: )N A TENTATIVE kRST STEP TOWARD ENDING MONTHS OF POLITICAL DEADLOCK "RITISH LAWMAKERS VOTED 7EDNESDAY 4HURSDAY IN -ANILA TO BLOCK THE COUNTRY FROM LEAVING THE %UROPEAN 5NION %5 WITHOUT A DIVORCE AGREEMENT TRIGGERING AN ATTEMPT TO DELAY THAT DEPARTURE CURRENTLY DUE TO TAKE PLACE ON -ARCH 0ARLIAMENT IS SCHEDULED TO DECIDE 4HURSDAY WHETHER TO PUT THE BRAKES ON "REXIT A VOTE SET UP AFTER LAWMAKERS DEALT YET ANOTHER DEFEAT TO 0RIME -INISTER 4HERESA -AY AMID A CRISIS OVER "RITAIN S DEPARTURE FROM THE %5 4HE LAWMAKERS VOTE HAS POLITICAL BUT NOT LEGAL FORCE AND DOES NOT ENTIRELY RULE OUT A CHAOTIC NO DEAL DEPARTURE FOR "RITAIN "UT IT MIGHT EASE JITTERS SPREADING ACROSS THE %5 AFTER LAWMAKERS RESOUNDINGLY REJECTED -AY S DIVORCE DEAL ON 4UESDAY %XITING THE %5 WITHOUT A DEAL COULD MEAN MAJOR DISRUPTIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE IN THE 5+ AND THE REMAINING %5 COUNTRIES )N CHAOTIC SCENES THAT REVEALED HOW -AY S AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ERODED BY "REXIT BATTLES MORE THAN A DOZEN PRO %5 GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ABSTAINED RATHER THAN VOTE WITH HER AGAINST RULING OUT NO DEAL 3PEAKING WITH A RASPY VOICE AFTER WEEKS OF RELENTLESS PRESSURE -AY HINTED THAT SHE PLANS TO MAKE A THIRD ATTEMPT TO GET LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT HER "REXIT DEAL WHICH THEY HAVE ALREADY REJECTED TWICE 3HE SAID 0ARLIAMENT FACED A gFUNDAMENTAL CHOICEu ‡ A gSHORT TECHNICAL EXTENSIONu IF LAWMAKERS APPROVE A DIVORCE DEAL WITH THE %5 IN THE NEXT WEEK OR A MUCH LONGER DELAY TO "REXIT IF THEY DON T 4HE %5 WARNED THAT VOTING AGAINST NO DEAL "REXIT WASN T ENOUGH TO STOP IT "Y LAW "RITAIN WILL LEAVE THE %5 ON -ARCH WITH OR WITHOUT A DEAL UNLESS IT CANCELS "REXIT OR SECURES A DELAY g4HERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO LEAVE THE %5 WITH OR WITHOUT A DEAL u A %UROPEAN #OMMISSION OFkCIAL SAID g4HE %5 IS PREPARED FOR BOTH 4O TAKE NO DEAL OFF THE TABLE IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO VOTE AGAINST NO DEAL ‡ YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO A DEAL u 4HE OFkCIAL SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE OF THE SEN-

SITIVITY OF THE UNRESOLVED SITUATION %ARLIER CHIEF %5 NEGOTIATOR -ICHEL "ARNIER WARNED THAT gTHE RISK OF A NO DEAL HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER u !S "RITAIN TEETERS EVER CLOSER TO THE EDGE OF THE "REXIT CLIFF LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO SEIZE CONTROL FROM THE DIVIDED AND SQUABBLING GOVERNMENT ALTHOUGH IT S FAR FROM CLEAR IF THEY CAN AGREE ON A WAY FORWARD 4HERE ARE COMPETING FACTIONS THAT SUPPORT -AY S DEAL A gSOFTERu DEAL THAT WOULD KEEP CLOSE TIES WITH THE %5 A NO DEAL "REXIT OR EVEN A NEW REFERENDUM ON "RITAIN S %5 MEMBERSHIP 0ARLIAMENT LIKELY WILL AGREE TO DELAY "REXIT BUT IT WOULD NEED %5 APPROVAL 4HE BLOC ‡ OPENLY EXASPERATED BY "RITAIN S CONTINUING "REXIT CRISIS ‡ WARNED THAT THE 5+ WOULD NEED TO PRESENT A STRONG REASON FOR ANY EXTENSION g) AM AGAINST EVERY EXTENSION ‡ WHETHER AN EXTENSION OF ONE DAY ONE WEEK EVEN HOURS ‡ IF IT S NOT BASED ON A CLEAR OPINION OF THE (OUSE OF #OMMONS FOR SOMETHING u SAID THE %UROPEAN 0ARLIAMENT S CHIEF "REXIT OFkCIAL 'UY 6ERHOFSTADT g0LEASE MAKE UP YOUR MINDS IN ,ONDON BECAUSE THIS UNCERTAINTY CANNOT CONTINUE u 4HE BLOC IS ALSO RELUCTANT TO CONSIDER A DELAY THAT GOES BEYOND ELECTIONS TO THE %UROPEAN 0ARLIAMENT IN LATE -AY BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN "RITAIN WOULD HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLLS EVEN AS IT PREPARES TO LEAVE "OTH "RITAIN AND THE %5 HAVE RAMPED UP PLANNING FOR A NO DEAL "REXIT WHICH WOULD RIP UP DECADES OF RULES FOR TRAVEL AND TRADE BETWEEN "RITAIN AND THE BLOC %CONOMISTS SAY IT COULD CAUSE HUGE UPHEAVAL WITH CUSTOMS CHECKS CAUSING GRIDLOCK AT 5+ PORTS NEW TARIFFS TRIGGERING SUDDEN PRICE INCREASES AND RED TAPE FOR EVERYONE FROM TRUCKERS TO TOURISTS 4HE 5+ GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ITS PLANS FOR THE )RISH BORDER IN THE EVENT OF A NO DEAL "REXIT SAYING IT WOULDN T IMPOSE NEW CHECKS DUTIES OR CONTROLS ON GOODS COMING FROM %5 MEMBER )RELAND INTO .ORTHERN )RELAND )T ALSO SAID IT WOULDN T SLAP TARIFFS ON PERCENT OF GOODS COMING INTO "RITAIN FROM THE %5 ‡ THOUGH THERE WOULD BE NEW LEVIES ON IMPORTS OF SOME ITEMS INCLUDING MEAT AND CARS AP

Cuba to revamp state, legal system US Senate to block Trump’s emergency Worldinbriefs HAVANA: Amid of a regional crisis over Venezuela and tough economic straits, the Cuban government is about to launch a sweeping makeover of its centrally planned, single-party system with dozens of new laws that could reshape everything from criminal justice to the market economy. Nearly a year of debate and discussion ended last month with the approval of Cuba’s first constitutional reform since 1976. Some observers see the new constitution as a merely cosmetic update aimed at assuring one of the world’s last communist systems won’t get another revamp until long after the passing of its founding fathers, now in their late 80s and early 90s. Others see the potential for a slow-moving but deep set of changes that will speed the modernization of Cuba’s economically stagnant authoritarian bureaucracy. Cuban legal experts told The Associated Press that they expect the government to send the National Assembly between

60 and 80 new laws over the next two years to replace ones rendered obsolete by the new constitution. The assembly is virtually certain to unanimously approve all government proposals, as it has for decades. “I expect to see big changes in Cuba with the new constitution,� said Julio Antonio Fernandez, a constitutional law professor at the University of Havana. “A new state structure, a transformed political system, led by the Communist Party, of course, but different and confronting big challenges.� One of the first changes will be in Cuba’s political system. Within five months, the government is required to pass a new electoral law that splits the roles of head of state and government between the current president and the new post of prime minister. A new set of governors will replace the Communist Party first secretaries as the highest official in Cuba’s 15 provinces. AP

Second Kim slay suspect not released SHAH ALAM, Malaysia: -ALAYSIA S ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE MURDER CASE TO PROCEED AGAINST A 6IETNAMESE WOMAN ACCUSED IN THE KILLING OF THE .ORTH +OREAN LEADER S ESTRANGED HALF BROTHER PROSECUTORS SAID IN COURT 4HURSDAY 0ROSECUTOR )SKANDAR !HMAD GAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THE REFUSAL TO DROP THE MURDER CHARGE AGAINST $OAN 4HI (UONG WHO IS THE ONLY SUSPECT IN CUSTODY AFTER THE STUNNING DECISION TO DROP THE CASE -ONDAY AGAINST )NDONESIAN 3ITI !ISYAH (UONG S LAWYER (ISYAM 4EH 0OH 4EIK TOLD THE COURT THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL S DECISION AND SAID PROSECUTORS WERE BEING UNFAIR TO (UONG g)T DOES NOT BRING CONkDENCE TO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 6ERY OBVIOUSLY THERE IS DISCRIMINATION 4HE !' FAVORED ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER u 4EH SAID (E ALSO SOUGHT A DEFERMENT OF THE TRIAL SAYING (UONG HAS BEEN UNWELL SINCE !ISYAH S RELEASE AND IS NOT IN A POSITION TO TESTIFY (UONG STOOD IN THE DOCK AND RESPONDED TO THE JUDGE S QUESTIONS ON THE DEFERMENT REQUEST SAYING SHE SUFFERED FROM TENSION AND STRESS g) HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON u SHE SAID 4HE JUDGE AGREED TO POSTPONE THE TRIAL UNTIL !PRIL BUT WARNED THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE DELAY 4HE DEFENSE PHASE OF THE TRIAL WAS

Q Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong (center) is escorted by police as she leaves Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia on Thursday. Malaysia’s attorney general ordered the murder case to proceed against the Vietnamese woman accused in the killing of the North Korean leader’s estranged half brother. AP PHOTO TO HAVE BEGUN -ONDAY 4HE TWO WOMEN WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN CUSTODY AFTER FOUR .ORTH +OREAN SUSPECTS lED THE COUNTRY THE MORNING OF &EB WHEN +IM *ONG .AM WAS POISONED WITH 68 NERVE AGENT !ISYAH AND (UONG HAVE SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE TAKING PART IN A PRANK FOR A 46 SHOW (UONG LOOKED TIRED AND WAS SOBBING AS SHE SPOKE TO 6IETNAMESE %MBASSY OFkCIALS AFTER 4HURSDAY S COURT HEARING ENDED 6IETNAMESE !MBASSAADOR ,E 1UY 1UYNH SAID HE WAS gVERY DISAPPOINTEDu WITH THE ATTORNEY

GENERAL S DECISION (E SAID 6IETNAM S JUSTICE MINISTER HAD WRITTEN TO THE -ALAYSIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKING (UONG S RELEASE AND THAT 6IETNAM WILL KEEP LOBBYING -ALAYSIA TO FREE HER g7E WILL REQUEST -ALAYSIA TO HAVE FAIR JUDGMENT AND RELEASE HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE u HE SAID ! HIGH COURT JUDGE LAST !UGUST HAD FOUND THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO INFER THAT !ISYAH (UONG AND THE FOUR MISSING .ORTH +OREANS ENGAGED IN A gWELL PLANNED CONSPIRACYu TO KILL +IM *ONG .AM BROTHER OF +IM *ONG 5N AP

WASHINGTON, D.C.: 4HE 2EPUBLICAN LED 3ENATE IS SET TO DEAL 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP A REBUKE ON HIS DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT THE -EXICAN BORDER WITH THE ONLY REMAINING QUESTION HOW MANY '/0 'RAND /LD 0ARTY OR 2EPUBLICAN SENATORS WILL JOIN $EMOCRATS IN DEFYING HIM 2EPUBLICANS ARE PREDICTING THAT 4HURSDAY S &RIDAY IN -ANILA SHOWDOWN VOTE WILL RESULT IN #ONGRESS SENDING 4RUMP A RESOLUTION BLOCKING THE BORDER EMERGENCY HE PROCLAIMED LAST MONTH TO STEER AN EXTRA BILLION TO BUILDING BORDER BARRIERS 3INCE THE $EMOCRATIC CONTROLLED (OUSE APPROVED THE MEASURE LAST MONTH THE 3ENATE VOTE WOULD FORCE 4RUMP TO USE A VETO TO PROTECT HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN S g"UILD THE 7ALLu MANTRA OVER OBJECTIONS FROM HIS OWN PARTY g)T WAS CALLED TURN OUT THE LIGHTS THE PARTY S OVER u SAID 3EN *OHN +ENNEDY A 2EPUBLICAN FROM ,OUISIANA RECALLING A FAVORITE REFRAIN OF g-ONDAY .IGHT &OOTBALLu ANNOUNCERS WHEN A GAME WAS OUT OF REACH g7ELL THAT S APPROPRIATE RIGHT NOW u 3ENATE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION WAS ALL BUT ORDAINED 7EDNESDAY AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF EFFORTS BY THE 7HITE (OUSE AND '/0 SENATORS TO REACH COMPROMISE ON SEPARATE LEGISLATION BY 3EN -IKE ,EE 2 5TAH LIMITING PRESIDENTS POWERS TO DECLARE EMERGENCIES IN THE FUTURE 2EPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAD HOPED A DEAL ON THAT MEASURE WOULD HAVE HELPED MORE OF THEM TO BACK 4RUMP S BORDER EMERGENCY IN 4HURSDAY S VOTE )NSTEAD SEVERAL 2EPUBLICANS ARE BEING BOXED INTO A THORNY DILEMMA DEFY 4RUMP AND THE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS WHO BACK HIM PASSIONATELY OR ASSENT TO WHAT MANY LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES CONSIDER A DUBIOUS AND DANGEROUS EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY AP

2 MASKED MEN KILL 7, THEMSELVES IN BRAZIL SCHOOL SUZANO, Brazil: Two masked men armed with a gun, knives, axes and crossbows descended on a school in southern Brazil on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), killing five students and two adults before one killed the other and then himself, authorities said. The men, identified as former students at the school in a suburb of Sao Paulo, also shot and killed the owner of a used car business nearby before launching the attack on the school, authorities said. Besides the five students, the dead included a teacher and a school administrator, said Joao Camilo Pires de Campos, the state’s public secretary. Nine others were wounded in the school attack and hospitalized, he said. “This is the saddest day of my life,� de Campos said, speaking to reporters outside the school in the Sao Paulo suburb of Suzano. AP

O’ROURKE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020 AUSTIN, Texas: Democrat Beto O’Rourke has told a Texas TV station that he’s running for president in 2020. The former Texas congressman sent a text message to KTSM Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) afternoon confirming the news that he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. He wrote: “I’m really proud of what El Paso did and what El Paso represents. It’s a big part of why I’m running. This city is the best example of this country at its best.â€? O’Rourke was little-known outside his hometown of El Paso until he challenged Republican Sen. Ted Cruz last year. He got within 3 percentage points of upsetting Cruz in the nation’s largest red state and shattered national fundraising records while using grassroots organizing and social media savvy to mobilize young voters and minorities. AP

FIRST PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY SURGERIES SUCCESSFUL DOHA: Qatar’s Sidra Medicine Hospital successfully performed two major neurosurgeries on young epilepsy patients within a span of 10 days. The surgeries mark another first in a series of historic medical milestones achieved by the healthcare organization in Qatar, since opening its inpatient hospital a year ago. The first surgery was performed on a two-year-old girl at Sidra Medicine’s new neurosurgery intra-operative MRI theatre suite (IMRIS). Sidra Medicine is one of the few women and children’s hospitals in the region to have a dedicated paediatric IMRIS suite as well as several flagship paediatric sub-specialties including neurology, craniofacial and plastic surgery, urology and cardiology. Patients with intractable epilepsy also face the possibility of sudden unexplained death if they have seizures during their sleep. GULF TIMES

SCIENTISTS CALL FOR BAN ON GENE EDITING NEW YORK: An international group of scientists and ethicists on Wednesday called for a temporary global ban on making babies with edited genes. It’s the latest reaction to last November’s announcement that gene-edited twins had been born in China, which was widely criticized. Mainstream scientists generally oppose making babies with altered DNA now, citing safety and ethical issues that must be addressed first. Such genetic changes may be passed to future generations, unlike gene editing done in parts of the body not involved in reproduction. News last year that Chinese scientist He Jiankui claimed to have edited DNA of embryos provoked widespread condemnation. Some scientists had called for a moratorium before the latest proposal, which carries no legal authority. It came from 18 researchers from seven countries who published a commentary in the journal Nature. AP

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˜ The Manila Times FRIDAY March 15, 2019

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We greet everyone nicelythat’s normal. But what about the little things that can go a long way to making a guest’s stay memorable? Things they may not necessarily get elsewhere SO, YOU WANT THAT FORBES STAR... Be prepared then to hurdle up to 900 criteria, and pass them with flying colors. Some details Forbes is fussy about.

Q ROOM SERVICE-Did the order taker think about all aspects of your meal? Was the food beautifully presented, original and thoughfully plated? Did the server make an effort to create a mini-restaurant in your room? Q THE BED-The mattress must be of exceptional quality, the linens have to be soft and comfortable, the pillow full and plump and thoughtfully placed on the bed. Q MEALS–It’s not enough for food to be memorable. Inspectors are asked to think about their meals a few days after they’ve dined–can they easily recall a dish because it stands out as unique, remarkable and something they’d have to go to that specific restaurant to get?

Q REGIONAL PLAYER. Gstaad-born Reichenbach has witnessed the Asian hotel industry flourish during the 40 years as a hotelier posted in cities such as Manila,Beijing, Surabaya and Singapore among others, with wife Norge and son Francis on holiday and paragliding in the Swiss Alps

Q FRANK REICHENBACH FROM B8

Luxury verified

SOURCE: FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE Penang (Malaysia), Surabaya (Indonesia) and Singapore before returning to Manila for Marco Polo Hotels, part of The Wharf Group founded in Hong Kong in 1886. “It’s like I’ve come full circle,� says Reichenbach, who, with Philippine-born wife Norge, are parents of Abby and Francis.

New Forbes territory

In 2016, Frank Reichenbach, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila general manager, approached a Forbes Travel Guide representative during a company powwow in China about the possibility of the hotel being signed up for the rating exercise. “Forbes had never entered the Philippines or Manila,� Reichenbach recalls. “So, they SENT PEOPLE TO SEE IF WE QUALIkED u They did, and Reichenbach and his team “went for it.� The Forbes Travel Guide, regarded as the oldest of its kind in the US, was launched in 1958 under the Mobil brand. Forbes published ratings results for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas in guidebooks up until eight years ago, when it migrated to an online platform (http://www.forbestravelguide.com). Each hotel or establishment is rated anonymously by paid staff, who are extremely well travelled. Scores are based on a set of criteria. As of last count, there are over 800 criteria that needs to be ticked off, from the cleanliness of the housekeeping cart or the leg of a dining table to the tone a front liner uses to greet a guest. Those are just few of the numerous points considered in a face-to-face encounter or wander about the property. Then, there are over the phone engagements such as when a customer books a guestroom or hotel facility. Says Reichenbach: “We get thousands of calls in a week, and one of them could be from Forbes. “Not only are we judged on response time and accuracy, but overall knowledge of the product–our hotel. They are also able to discern if they get an automatic or mechanical response. For that, you could get points deducted from your overall tally.

Q HOUSEKEEPING–It isn’t about simply cleaning–it’s about restoring space to its original condition with the guest’s items in it. But how are those items handled? Did the housekeeper see your sunglasses and provide a hotel-logoed microfiber cloth? Did she notice that you’re a fan of gummy bears and leave a bag?

Daily challenge

Q TEAM VICTORIOUS. (Front row, from left) Marita Marcos, sales & marketing director, Adlaine Marvilla, assistant front office manager, Joanne Bernardo, housekeeping manager, (back row, from left) Roel Constantino, resident manager, Michael Cruz, assistant chief engineer, Alisdair Bletcher, executive chef, Reichenbach, Stuart Stancomb, restaurant, bar and experience director, Andy Tutaan, security manager and Barbara Reyes, human resources director “Our concierge could also get an enquiry or request for advice about city tours and the like. We just never know when the call will come.�

Unannounced, unexpected

Inspectors, like those in Fawlty Towers, pay lightning visits, usually staying two nights. At the end of the year, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is presented a thick dossier with corresponding images to illustrate highlights of the exercise. Reichenbach, a 40-year hospitality veteran, regards the yearly Forbes assessment, not so much as an ordeal or added pressure to standards already promoted by the Hong Kong-headquartered chain,

but more as a invitation to surpass expectations. “Forbes,� he says, “used to attach 75 percent on luxury service and 25 percent on hardware. Now, it’s 85 percent luxury service and 15 percent hardware. They keep raising the bar.� The hotelier was born in Gstaad, Switzerland, the jet-set ski resort where no one batted an eyelash if they bumped into superstars Liz (Taylor) and Dick (Burton) at the bar or shared the same piste (ski run of compacted snow) with Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli or three-time Winter Olympics gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy of France. Reichenbach’s French mother, Genevieve Reichenbach-Cibert, a native of gastronomic hub Lyon and an avid cook

and traveler, convinced her offspring TO ENTER THE RAREkED WORLD OF PLUSH interiors and delicate china by heading for Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, one of the city’s top hotel institutes. Madame Genevieve, who passed away last year, “was always my strongest supporter,� says Reichenbach. “My mother visited me wherever I was assigned.� Reichenbach has certainly done the ROUNDS HIS kRST !SIAN ASSIGNMENT BEING Manila at the former Manila Midtown Ramada, where today Robinsons Place Manila stands. From there, it was six years with The Peninsula Hotels and six and half years with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in various posts around the region including Beijing (China),

With Forbes Travel’s ever heightening accent on luxury service, Reichenbach and his executive team face the daily challenge of sharpening their competitive edge, but not at the expense of losing the personal touch with customers and the ability to surprise and delight them. Reichenbach observes: “We greet everyone in a nice manner–that is normal and one can be trained to do that. But what about the little things that can go a long way to making a guest’s stay memorable? Things you may not necessarily get elsewhere.� Creative room amenities such as artisanal chocolate bars in combinations like chili and caramel and calamansi and dayap (local lime) and a predeparture service the night before check-out are some of the perks Marco Polo Ortigas Manila offers to enhance the guest experience. “It’s what is not put in black and white that makes a guest return often,� Reichenbach remarks. How to constantly improve staff-guest engagement, in light of the Forbes Travel checklist, is the perennial subject of daily management meetings and discussions between Duty Managers and employees assigned to various areas of the 316room property that also includes a lobby and ALL DAY RESTAURANT ON THE TH lOOR THE #HINESE RESTAURANT AND EXECUTIVE LOUNGE ON THE TH lOOR AND THE 6U 3KY "AR AND ,OUNGE ON THE TH lOOR among others. Role-playing during training activities is another way to get staff to understand guest mentality and preferences. Of the current plantilla of 200 employees, 70 have been with the hotel since it opened in July 2014. The Grab car we booked has pulled into the hotel driveway, and as we make a move to approach it, the young doorman offers his arm to HELP US DOWN THE SLIGHT STEP 4HIS IS THE kRST TIME in recent memory that someone in a hotel has shown us Old World courtesy. So, this is luxury. We love it.

~

The Manila Times FRIDAY March 15, 2019

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FRANK REICHENBACH General Manager Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Hotelier lifts the bar higher on guest experiences

Luxury verified BY MARGIE T. LOGARTA Photos by Hermes Singson For fans of Fawlty Towers–that supremely unforgettable send-up of hotel life in a small town in Cornwall–“The Hotel Inspectors” remains one of its funniest episodes. As usual, the brilliantly manic general manager, Basil Fawlty, essayed by John Cleese, gets it all wrong, pandering to a guest whom he mistakes as a hospitality rater. Discovering his faux pas in the end, he boots the unwitting fellow out, but not before smashing two pies in his face and pouring milk into his briefcase. Then, he ambles over to the reception counter to FACE THREE OFkCIOUS LOOKING GENTLEMEN who have witnessed the spectacle. He emits a blood-curdling scream–they are the inspectors.

Doing the job

Fortunately, the scenario at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is much more serene, civilized and collected. It doesn’t need the prospect of hotel snoops or pesky citizen reviewers to motivate Marco Polo employees to do their job of serving anyone, who arrives at their porte cochere (driveway). The attendant 1) immediately helps to open our Grab car door, 2) takes

Respected reviewer

Winning streak

The Forbes Travel Guide ratings system was launched under the Mobile brand in 1958. Its Five-Star and FourStar Awards are coveted by hotels, restaurants and spas.

Leading edge

The hotel’s Frank Reichenbach approached Forbes executives in 2016 to join these ratings. The property won its first FiveStar Award in 2017, followed by its second Five-Star award in 2018.

Reichenbach sees the Forbes Award, not so much as added pressure to do better. Rather, he sees it as an opportunity to raise the bar on going beyond guest expectations.

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA IN NUMBERS

4 Artworks by renowned visual artist and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso can be found around the hotel.

5

24

Food and Beverhour’s operation age outlets: Cusina, are the hotel’s fitness Lung Hin, Vu’s Sky center, spa and indoor Bar and Lounge, temperature-controlled Connect Lounge swimming pool. and Café Pronto.

our computer trolley without our asking, 3) gets the security canine to sniff at it (which it did very politely) and 4) hands it to the porter who wants to escort us to the lift lobby, which we declined. Of course, smiles are as plentiful as wreaths during the Christmas season and come so naturally. This is, after all, the Philippines.

27 Is the level on which the Sky Lobby and check in are located.

For the third straight year since 2017, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila appears in the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, capturing the Five-Star Award, the only “non-gaming hotel” in the country to do so. Sky Tower at Solaire Resort and Casino also triumphed for the third time in the same premium category, while Nuwa at City of Dreams was second time lucky.

70 Employees out of the current 200 have worked with the hotel since its opening.

Receiving a four-star rating were The Peninsula Manila, Fairmont Makati, Hyatt City of Dreams Manila, Nobu Hotel -ANILA 2AFlES -AKATI 3OkTEL 0HILIPPINE Plaza Manila and Nuwa Spa. &ILIP "OYEN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF Forbes Travel Guide, welcomed the 2019 winners, saying “the outstanding col-

We get thousands of calls in a week. and one of them could be from Forbes Travel Guide. We never know when that call will come lection of hotels, restaurants and spas demonstrated a strong culture of service.” He went on to add: “In a time of information overload and fake reviews online, Forbes Travel Guide is the ultimate trusted source in luxury travel. Our objective, data-driven Star Rating list features properties that achieved an impeccable standard of excellence in hospitality.”

³Frank Reichenbach B7

Sports

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Warriors snap 9-game Houston win streak, avoid sweep

FRIDAY MARCH 15, 20199

www.manilatimes.net

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ASHINGTON: Playing witho without out injured Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors snapped Houston’s nine-game win streak and avoided being swept this season by the Rockets with a 106-104 road victory Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Q Houston Rockets’ James Harden (No. 13) tries to drive around Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (No. 30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday in Houston. AP PHOTO

Klay Thompson scored a gamehigh 30 points while DeMarcus Cousins netted a seasonhigh 27 points plus team-highs of eight rebounds and seven assists and Stephen Curry contributed 24 points in a crucial victory for the defending champions. “When Kevin is out, we don’t have the luxury of throwing to him AND GETTING POINTS u Thompson said. “We had to throw it to ‘Boogie’ (Collins) in the post and he came through for us in a b i g way. He propelled us to a victory TONIGHT u Durant, a two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, was sidelined by a right ankle sprain suffered in a Sunday loss to Phoenix. But the Warriors, a Western Conference-best 46-21, bounced back behind 3-point sharpshooter Thompson, who hit 12-of-23 from the lOOR INCLUDING OF FROM BEYOND THE ARC “Whether Kevin is out here or not, I PLAY THE SAME WAY u 4HOMPSON SAID g) TRY TO KEEP MOVING AND BEING A FORCE u Cousins, signed as an injured free agent

in July, has had to blend with the Warriors powerhouse lineup since returning in January from a ruptured Achilles tendon. But Cousins established himself as a physical inside force who could give (OUSTON kTS IN A PLAYOFF SERIES “We made a concerted effort to feed HIM IN THE POST u #URRY SAID g.OTHING HE DOES OUT THERE SHOULD SURPRISE ANYBODY u Houston, which led Golden State 3-2 in LAST YEAR S 7ESTERN #ONFERENCE kNALS BEFORE FALLING IN SEVEN GAMES HAD WON THE kRST three meetings of the season with Golden 3TATE BUT COULD NOT BECOME THE kRST TEAM TO sweep the Warriors since Steve Kerr became coach of the club and their run of four consecutive NBA Finals runs began. g)T S A GOOD WIN FOR US u +ERR SAID g7E VE GOT GAMES LEFT FOR US TO kGURE OUT THE COMBINATIONS 4HIS WAS A GOOD NIGHT u NBA scoring leader James Harden netted 29 points and added 10 assists to lead the Rockets (42-26), who also got 24 points from Chris Paul and 13 points and 13 rebounds from Clint Capela. Paul sank two free throws with 47 seconds remaining to pull Houston within 104-100, then completed a 3-point play after being fouled by Andre Iguodala to pull the Rockets within 104-103 with 10 seconds remaining. Curry sank two free throws with eight seconds to play to boost the lead and the Warriors fouled Harden to send him to the free throw line. (ARDEN SANK THE kRST TO CREATE THE kNAL margin, but missed the second only to have Iguodala chase down the rebound

and tap the ball to unguarded Thompson, who tossed it in the AIR AS THE kNAL HORN SOUNDED.

Westbrook leads OKC win Russell Westbrook unleashed his 26th triple double of the season and led a second-half surge that lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder over visiting Brooklyn 108-96. Westbrook finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals while the Thunder’s Paul George and Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie each added 25 points. The Nets led 52-42 at half-time but could not silence the Thunder in the second half. “My job is to bring the energy every NIGHT )T WAS MY FAULT IN THE kRST HALF u Westbrook said. “I knew I needed to PICK IT UP IN THE SECOND HALF u Justise Winslow scored 16 POINTS TO LEAD SEVEN DOUBLE kGure scorers for Miami in a 108-74 rout of visiting Detroit. The Pistons, led by 13 points from "LAKE 'RIFkN WERE OUTSCORED IN the third quarter, the Heat opening the second half with a 21-0 run. Miami improved to 32-35, tightening the Heat’s grip on the eighth and last Eastern Conference playoff berth to two games over Orlando and Charlotte with Washington 3.5 adrift. Bradley Beal scored 23 points and Thomas Bryant came off the bench to add 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Washington Wizards beat visiting Orlando 100-90. Atlanta’s John Collins scored 27 points to lead the Hawks over visiting Memphis 132-111 while Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points to lead Utah’s 114-97 victory at Phoenix. AFP

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Sports

˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

RoS targets twiceto-beat vs Bolts R

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

AIN or Shine will be eyeing a twice-to-beat incentive when it plays Meralco in its last game in the elimination round of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup today at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. T he Elasto Painters are hoping to arrest

Q James Yap of Rain or Shine drives on rookie CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game last week at the Araneta Coliseum.

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

their two-game losing skid in their 7 p.m. encounter against the Bolts . Ros lost to 4.4 +A4ROPA AND THE #OLUMbian Dyip, 82-85, last week. “We have to try to win that game and end up at the top spot. We must try to get one of the two top spots at least,� said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. Raymond Almazan will miss TONIGHT S GAME BECAUSE OF A sprained ankle. Rain or Shine is currently No. 2 with a 7-3 win-loss record. The Elasto Painters must beat the Bolts and hope that TNT KaTropa (5-3) lose in one of its three remaining games to remain at the second spot. “We just want to repeat the way we played our kRST EIGHT GAMES u

The Bolts (3-5), fighting for survival, must sweep their last three games to enter the quarterfinal. Meanwhile, TNT hopes to sustain its winning streak to four games when it battles a struggling Alaska. A victory by TNT (5-3) will allow them to share the third spot with defending champion San Miguel Beer (6-3). SMB has ALREADY QUALIkED FOR THE TOP EIGHT “We are treating all remaining games as must win,� said TNT coach Bong Ravena, who is expectING A TOUGH kGHT FROM THE !CES WHO LOST TO .ORTHERN ,UZON Expressway on Wednesday. TNT is coming from a moraleBOOSTING WIN OVER "LACKWATER last week while he Aces, at 3-4, previously suffered two consecutive defeats.

Muddy race for PBA PH Cup berth WITH only nine playing days remaining in the elimination round, and three teams, so far, had made it to the quarterfinal phase, the race for the Final Four seats of the PBA Philippine Cup has turned muddy. Defending champion San Miguel Beer had just joined early qualifiers Phoenix Pulse and Rain or Shine, leaving the nine other squads fight for the first to win six and the remaining five seats in the next round. Besides officially laying claim to one quarterfinals berth, the Beermen, likewise, joined the Elasto Painters and the Fuel Masters in the race for the No.1 and No. 2 spots. The question being asked now is: Are the league-leading Fuel Masters (8-2) and the

Elasto Painters (7-3) capable of staying in their precarious 1-2 positions amid the expected push from the Beermen and other contenders. The Beermen (6-3) are lurking over the Painters, and the Fuel Masters ready to grab one of the much- coveted goal. For winning all four of their last assignments following a listless start, it looks not too remote a possibility that the five-peat seeking Beermen can achieve what they’re seeking. . Coach Leo Austria’s boys are meeting the coach Louie Alas’ charges on Saturday in a lone out-of-town showdown in Panabo City in Davao where a victory would hand the Beermen either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed with a potential seventh

win in 10 tries. Today, is Talk ‘Text’s turn to make it to the quarters when it faces Alaska in the hope of reaching the magic six win at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. RoS, for its part, plays Meralco to keep its grip of second place intact also today. , The erstwhile solo leader Elasto Painters lower the curtains in their elimination round campaign on March 27 against Magnolia. On Wednesday night, meanwhile, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok demolished Columbian Dyip, 109-83, to continue trekking the long, winding road toward salvaging a slot in the quarters. That was the Purefoods fran-

chise’s only third win in seven games that created a three-way logjam among them, NLEX and Alaska, all with identical 3-4 win-loss slate. This happened after the Road Warriors ran roughshod over the Aces, 91-70 on Wednesday’s other contest at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Despite these defeats, Columbian, with an even 5-5 card, remained in the now muddy fight for the required six wins and a berth in the Final Eight and so are the Talk ‘N Text Kartropa (5-3) , Barangay Ginebra (4-3), Meralco (3-5), Alaska, and however slim their chances are, even the lowly NorthPort (2-5) and Blackwater (2-7). For emerging winner of last season’s Governors’ Cup, Mag-

nolia was given the privilege of a much-needed rest to enjoy their latest title victory, allowing the Hotshots to start its Philippine Cup campaign late. As a result, the Pambansang Manok will have to play more games than the other teams with five spread in the remaining playing days from this coming Sunday till the eliminationround ending April 3. Three of their assignments are scheduled one after another from Sunday, against the Kings, Wednesday, against Batang Pier and Friday, against the Painters. The rest of Magnolia’s hectic schedule are March 27 against Rain or Shine and April 3 against NLEX. EDDIE G. ALINEA

Wangs sink Marinero WANGS Basketball beat Marinerong Pilipino, 88-78, in the 2019 PBA D-League on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Arvin Tolentino poured 32 points on a 3-of-7 shooting from distance, alongside 12 rebounds and four blocks to help the Couriers rise to 2-1 in the Foundation Group. However, the troika of Gelo Vito, Darius Estrella, and Radge Tongco allowed Wangs to halt Marinerong Pilipino’s two-game winning run throught tight defense in the fourth quarter. The Couriers forced the Skippers to miss their first eight shots as they staged a 13-0 tear to swing the game from a 58-57 lead to a commanding 71-57 edge with 6:31 left on the clock.

Not even Felix Apreku and Jed Mendoza’s heroics could stop Wangs as Tolentino punctuated the win with a tough and-one over Art Aquino to made it a 10-point affair anew, 80-70 with 2:32 left. Vito finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench, Estrella chipped in 10 points and five boards, and Tongco had 11 points and three assists in the win for the Couriers. Orlan Wamar led the Skippers with 25 points on a 5-of-9 shooting from distance as Apreku registered a double-double of 14 points, 16 rebounds, and two assists. The defeat sent Marinero down to an even 2-2 record.

Thompson tweets apology to low-energy NBA Warriors fan SAN FRANCISCO: Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson apologized Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to fans of the reigning NBA champions after ripping supporters for a lack of energy in a home loss to struggling Phoenix. With a 115-111 defeat Sunday at Oakland, the Warriors fell to 2410 this season at Oracle Arena in THEIR kNAL CAMPAIGN AT THE VENUE before moving to a new San Francisco arena in September. “I expect our crowd to be little more into it,� Thompson said after THE LOSS g) KNOW IT S NOT THE PLAYOFFS but it is our last go-around at Oracle. “Least you can stand up or something when we make a good play, especially in the beginning.

We need that energy, especially THIS TIME OF THE YEAR )T S HARD TO conjure up energy every single NIGHT @CAUSE YOU RE LOOKING FORward to the playoffs.� That drew criticism from fans and the 3-point sharpshooter turned to Twitter on Wednesday to try and ease hurt feelings. “I love DubNation. We have the greatest fan base in sports,� Thompson tweeted. “We feed greatly off their energy in Oracle and I meant no disrespect.� The Warriors (45-21) lead Denver by one game atop the Western Conference as they bid FOR A kFTH CONSECUTIVE TRIP TO THE NBA Finals and seek their fourth AFP CROWN IN kVE SEASONS

BOXER SHORTS ED TOLENTINO

GarciaSpence a rarity A

T a time when promoters are more into protecting than risking their marquee boxers, the upcoming (March 17, Manila time) showdown between IBF welterweight (147 lbs.) champion Errol Spence Jr. and challenger Miguel Angel “Mikey� Garcia in Dallas, Texas comes across as a breath of fresh air in a polluted environment. In Spence and Garcia, we are talking of two established champions who are in their prime and raring to prove who between them is the real deal. No less than Filipino ring icon and WBA “regular� welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao has expressed interest in taking on the winner. You can say that every true-blue boxing fan is also tuning in, knowing fully well that knuckle sandwiches will be served in THE RING COME kGHT TIME Jamaican-descent Spence (24-0, 21 knockouts), who grew up in Desoto, Texas, was initially into football before developing a passion for boxing at the age of 15. After a sterling amateur career that included an appearance in the 2012 Olympics, Spence turned pro in NovemBER AND KNOCKED OUT OF HIS kRST opponents. In May 2017, Spence stopped Kell Brook in 11 rounds to win the IBF welterweight diadem. He has since made two successful defenses, stopping Lamont Peterson and Carlos Ocampo. 'ARCIA KNOCKOUTS A NATIVE OF California, comes from a boxing family that includes former world junior lightweight champion Roberto Garcia. The younger Mikey Garcia turned pro in 2006 and has won four division crowns (featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight). After capturing the IBF junior welterweight (140 lbs.) crown in March 2018, Garcia returned to the lightweight diVISION IN *ULY AND UNIkED THE )"& AND WBC 135-pound crowns with a 12-round decision over Robert Easter Jr. &OR THE 3PENCE kGHT THE u 'ARCIA IS leaving the lightweight ranks to jump two DIVISIONS UP AND CHALLENGE THE u 3PENCE IN THE LATTER S WELTERWEIGHT BACKYARD Spence is the heavy betting favorite owing to his glaring size advantage. Last we heard, Garcia has been working out with controversial “nutritionist� Victor Conte (who served time in prison in 2005 for conspiracy to distribute steroids) in the hope of bulking up without losing his speed. Style-wise, Garcia actually has a better grasp of the fundamentals compared to Spence. Garcia is a boxer-counterpuncher who knows how to handle bigger opponents. In defeating Adrien Broner in July 2017 in a junior welterweight matchup, 'ARCIA SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED "RONER S BODY shots with his elbows and repeatedly hurt the American with his counter left hook. Garcia is a slow starter; one who prefers to probe his foes while working his way inside. He knows how to parry punches punches with his gloves and step back just enough to keep the counterpunching room open. Spence, a southpaw, is a boxerPRESSURE kGHTER WHO OFFERS A DEBILITATING body attack. Spence wears down foes with vicious left hooks to the body and sends them to dreamland with a sizzling left hook-right straight combiNATION 3PENCE S DEFENSE HOWEVER HAS ITS SHARE OF LEAKS (E DOESN T MOVE HIS UPPER body well and is a bit stiff when engaging in close quarter combat. He also has a bad habit of dropping his hands which makes him susceptible to a counter blow. 3PENCE IS EXPECTED TO TEST 'ARCIA S body at the outset and work on wearing him down. If Garcia struggles to adjust to the weight and spends most of his time along he ropes, he will be a sitting DUCK TO 3PENCE S POWER SHOTS 'ARCIA will have to take some risks on the INSIDE AND TURN THE kGHT INTO A SLUGFEST Spence has a tendency to coast and get too comfortable and Garcia must be quick to sense this and capitalize. There also the intangibles that cannot be set aside, i.e., resiliency and mental toughness. While Garcia has been training like a monk, Spence has reportedly been busy partying with Broner and junior lightweight champ Gervonta Davis. There ARE EVEN PREkGHT VIDEOS WHERE 3PENCE appears to be drunk. If Spence has been painting the town red, he will pay the corresponding price against Garcia. Whichever way you put it, SpenceGarcia has all the trimmings of a great kGHT 3PENCE MAY BE THE FAVORITE BUT from where this writer sits Garcia has what it takes to outwork him and register an upset decision. Ultimately, pro boxing stands to be the biggest winner IF THE kGHT LIVES UP TO EXPECTATIONS

The Manila Times

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Kyle Edmund of Great Britain during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday in Indian Wells, California.

AFP PHOTO

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Sports

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Federer, Nadal steam into Indian Wells quarterfinals

NDIAN WELLS, United States: Former champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal edged closer to a BLOCKBUSTER SEMIkNAL SHOWDOWN AT THE !40 )NDIAN 7ELLS -ASTERS ON 7EDNESDAY 4HURSDAY IN -ANILA WITH BRISK FOURTH ROUND WINS World number two Nadal overpowered Serbian qualikER &ILIP +RAJINOVIC TO BOOK HIS QUARTER kNAL BERTH IN ONE HOUR AND MINUTES &EDERER SEEKING A RECORD SIXTH TITLE IN THE #ALIFORNIA DESERT NEEDED JUST MINUTES TO GET PAST "RITAIN S +YLE %DMUND .ADAL SAID HIS PERFORMANCE ON A WINDY STADIUM COURT WASN T AS GOOD AS HIS THIRD ROUND WIN OVER !RGENTINE $IEGO 3CHWARTZMAN "UT HE WAS MORE THAN A MATCH FOR TH RANKED +RAJINOVIC BREAKING HIM EARLY IN EACH SET AND SAVING THE ONLY BREAK POINT HE FACED .ADAL WHO LIFTED THE )NDIAN 7ELLS TROPHY IN AND IS IN THE LAST EIGHT FOR THE kRST TIME IN THREE YEARS AFTER MISSING LAST YEAR S EDITION SKIPPING BOTH )NDIAN 7ELLS AND THE -IAMI -ASTERS WITH A HIP INJURY (E NEXT WILL TAKE ON TH RANKED 2USSIAN +AREN +HACHANOV WHO BEAT WORLD NUMBER NINE *OHN )SNER

+HACHANOV PRODUCED JUST ONE ACE TO THE BIG SERVING !MERICAN S BUT STRETCHED HIS RECORD OVER )SNER TO &OURTH SEEDED &EDERER FRESH OFF HIS TH CAREER TITLE LOOKED POISED TO kNISH OFF %DMUND IN LESS THAN AN HOUR "UT THE 3WISS GREAT HAD TO kGHT OFF THREE BREAK POINTS AS HE SERVED FOR THE MATCH JUST A SMALL SPEED BUMP IN A MATCH THAT HE TOOK CHARGE OF EARLY g(E DIDN T HAVE THE BEST START SO THAT COST HIM THE kRST SET u &EDERER SAID g3ECOND SET IT WAS DEkNITELY BETTER ) THINK HE PROBABLY STRUGGLED THROUGHOUT A LITTLE BIT (E NEVER REALLY GOT GOING g#ONDITIONS ARE TOUGH WITH THE GLARE AND THE JUMP OF THE BALL IT S SOMETIMES HARD TO kND THE RHYTHM AND TIMING u &EDERER WILL kGHT FOR A SEMI kNAL BERTH

AGAINST YEAR OLD 0OLE (UBERT (URKACZ (URKACZ RANKED TH IN THE WORLD SENT TH RANKED #ANADIAN $ENIS 3HAPOVALOV PACKING !LTHOUGH HE LL BE AN OVERWHELMING FAVORITE AGAINST (URKACZ &EDERER SAID HE WOULDN T TAKE A SEMI kNAL MEETING WITH .ADAL FOR GRANTED g) HOPE ) CAN GET THERE u &EDERER SAID gBUT ) M NOT GOING TO UNDERESTIMATE (UBERT u

Kecmanovic presses on ! DAY AFTER WORLD .O .OVAK $JOKOVIC TUMBLED OUT OF THE THIRD ROUND YEAR OLD -IOMIR +ECMANOVIC KEPT THE 3ERBIAN lAG lYING +ECMANOVIC BECAME THE kRST LUCKY LOSER TO REACH THE LAST EIGHT AT )NDIAN 7ELLS SINCE THE !40 S -ASTERS SERIES LAUNCHED IN +ECMANOVIC RANKED TH IN THE WORLD HAD TAKEN THE kRST SET AGAINST 9OSHIHITO .ISHIOKA WHEN THE TH RANKED *APANESE RETIRED BECAUSE OF INJURY +ECMANOVIC WHO GAINED ENTRY TO THE

SECOND ROUND WHEN kFTH SEEDED +EVIN !NDERSON WITHDREW WITH AN ELBOW INJURY IS IN HIS kRST !40 QUARTERkNAL +ECMANOVIC IS THE LAST TEEN LEFT IN THE MEN S DRAW AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF YEAR OLD 3HAPOVALOV !T THE OTHER END OF THE AGE SPECTRUM YEAR OLD #ROATIAN )VO +ARLOVIC S RUN CAME TO AN END WITH A LOSS TO YEAR OLD SEVENTH SEED $OMINIC 4HIEM 4HIEM NEEDED LESS THAN AN HOUR TO SUBDUE THE TH RANKED +ARLOVIC SURRENDERING JUST SEVEN POINTS ON HIS OWN SERVE AND PUNISHING +ARLOVIC S SECOND SERVE 4HIEM SAID PUTTING PERCENT OF HIS kRST SERVES IN PLAY WAS KEY IN HIS kRST MEETING WITH +ARLOVIC g) FELT PRETTY CONkDENT ON MY OWN SERVICE GAMES 4HAT S WHAT ) TRANSFERRED ALSO TO THE RETURN GAMES u HE SAID g) MADE TWO BREAKS IN THE RIGHT MOMENT ) WOULD SAY u 4HIEM BOOKED A MEETING WITH TH SEEDED 'AEL -ONkLS OF &RANCE WHO DEFEATED 0HILIPP +OHLSCHREIBER IN MINUTES A DAY AFTER THE 'ERMAN STUNNED WORLD NUMBER ONE .OVAK $JOKOVIC IN THE THIRD ROUND AFP

THAI OUTDUELS SUPERAL, FOILS IKEDA TO WIN THANUTRA BOONRAKSASAT pulled through in a high-noon duel of wits with Princess Superal, wresting control late then surviving a wobbly finish to hack out a onestroke victory in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship at the Legends course in Carmona, Cavite on Thursday. Boonraksasat hit a clutch birdie on No. 13 to take charge and went 2-up on Superal’s bogey on the next then held on to victory despite a bogey-bogey finish for a 69 as the Filipina shotmaker likewise holed out with a bogey for a 71. The Thai finished with a 13-under 203 total worth P350,000, joining the growing list of winners from the country’s perennial regional rivals, who have dominated the Ladies Philippine Golf Circuit with six victories out of 11 tournaments last year. “I don’t know what to say. I have mixed emotions at this point but I’m definitely feeling good,� said Boonraksasat, whose

thrilling victory likewise snapped a five-year title spell for the 28-year-old Bangkok native. She dumped her approach shot into the left bunker on par-4 No. 18 and ended with a 5 but Superal also found the rightside trap off a 9-iron approach shot and missed a 16-footer for a crack at a playoff. “I was left with 111 yards but the ball was in a tough lie. It’s just too bad that breaks didn’t go my way in the end,� said Superal. It was a sorry setback for Superal, who had led in the first two rounds, including a solid 64 in the first day. She held on two a one-stroke by matching Boonraksasat’s 34 start but flubbed a couple of birdie putts at the back, enabling the Thai to storm ahead with birdies on Nos. 10 and 13. Superal wound up with a 204, which Chihiro Ikeda matched on a sizzling 66. Four down off Boonraksasat after 36 holes, the FIl-Japanese moved within two with three straight birdies form

13 but missed her chances in the last three and settled for joint second. Each received P155,000. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, the last Thai to win at Pradera Verde last December, shot a second 69 to end up fourth at 205 with compatriot Chonalda Chayanun playing fifth at 206 after a 71. Punpaka Phuntumabamrung fired a 70 to share sixth place with Tiranan Yoopan, who rallied with a 69, 210 while former Champion Tour winner Lee Jeong Hwa of Korea shot a 70 for joint eighth with Daniella Uy, who rebounded with a 69, at 211. Pauline del Rosario matched par 72 and tied for 10th with Narisara Kerdrit, who fumbled with a 73, at 212 in the sixth leg of the LPGT 2018-29 circuit put up by ICTSI, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.

Q Thanutra Boonraksasat soaks it up in victory. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Champ Ancajas lays strategy vs Funai La Salle routs UST in UAAP Baseball ).4%2.!4)/.!, "OXING &EDERATION )"& SUPER lYWEIGHT CHAMPION *ERWIN !NCAJAS SAID HE WILL EMPLOY A DEFENSIVE COUNTER PUNCHING STRATEGY AGAINST *APANESE CHALLENGER 2YUICHI &UNAI ON -AY IN 3TOCKTON #ALIFORNIA !NCAJAS WIN LOSS DRAW RECORD WITH KNOCKOUTS SAID THE YEAR OLD &UNAI RECORD WITH KNOCKOUTS IS LIKELY TO DEPEND ON HIS TRADEMARK STRAIGHT PUNCHING g7E MUST AVOID HIS RIGHT STRAIGHT BECAUSE THAT S EVIDENT IN HIS PREVIOUS KNOCKOUT WINS (E ALSO SURPRISES HIS OPPONENT WITH POWERFUL JABS u !NCAJAS TOLD REPORTERS DURING THE 4ABLOID /RGANIZATION IN 0HILIPPINES 3PORTS WEEKLY FORUM ON 4HURSDAY AT THE .ATIONAL 0RESS #LUB IN )NTRAMUROS 4HE 0ANABO $AVAO DEL .ORTE NATIVE IS SET TO FLY FOR THE 5NITED 3TATES ON !PRIL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING AT THE 3URVIVAL #AMP IN -AGALLANES #AVITE g7E ARE GOING TO IMPROVE MY STYLE u ADDED !NCAJAS IN &ILIPINO WHOSE LAST BOUT AGAINST -EXICAN !LEJANDRO 3ANTIAGO

Q Jerwin Ancajas connects a solid left against Israel Gonzalez. PHOTO

COURTESY OF TOP RANK

"ARRIOS IN 3EPTEMBER LAST YEAR AT THE /RACLE !RENA IN /AKLAND #ALIFORNIA ENDED IN A SPLIT DRAW g&UNAI COULD USE DISTANCING IN A FIGHT (E IS A SEASONED VETERAN WHO HAVE SEEN LOT OF BOUTS u !NCAJAS TRAINER AND MAN-

AGER *OVEN *IMENEZ AGREES THAT GOING DEFENSIVE IS THE WAY TO GO VS &UNAI g*ERWIN IS KNOWN FOR HIS GREAT DEFENSE BUT WE ADDED OFFENSE TO OUR STRATEGY TOO 7E ARE NOW TO PERCENT READY *ERWIN HAS A PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST AND GOOD SPARRING PARTNERS u

*IMENEZ TOLD 4HE -ANILA 4IMES &UNAI IS COMING FROM A THREE kGHT WIN STREAK ALL BY KNOCKOUT THE MOST NOTABLE OF WHICH IS HIS SECOND ROUND +/ WIN OVER -EXICAN 6ICTOR %MANUEL /LIVO IN HIS LAST kGHT HELD .OVEMBER LAST YEAR IN *APAN

JOSEF T. RAMOS

Velez, Novis seek to dominate PPS MCF netfest MULTI-titled John David Velez resumes his age-group campaign at home, upbeat of pulling of another two-title sweep even as Ma. Angelica Novis tries to make it three-in-row in the PPS-PEPP MCF Global National tennis tournament, which got under way at the GSIS Tennis Club in Davao City on Thursday. Velez dominated the Actifit Open in

Valenzuela City last January then took a break from the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala to hone up by competing in other tournaments, making the Davaoeùo star the player to beat in the Group 1 tournament serving as part of the Davao’s 82nd anniversary celebrations. The five-day event, featuring the leading and upcoming junior players from the

host city and nearby cities and provinces, is also held in partnership with the Mac’s Crankit Foundation, a non-profit organization from Australia whose aim is to help change lives and empower underprivileged communities through sports. “The MCF has backed the PPS-PEPP circuit the last few years, conducting clinics and holding teachers/coaches conferences

in various regions in its continuing effort to help boost Phl tennis and help produce future champions,� said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. Novis, meanwhile, sets out for another sweep of the girls’ 16- and 18-U crowns following her romps in Digos and Tagum the last two weeks of the Mindanao swing of the circuit sanctioned by the Unified

,! 3ALLE DEALT 5NIVERSITY OF 3ANTO 4OMAS AN EMBARRASSING BEATING TO TAKE A PIECE OF THE 5!!0 "ASEBALL TOURNAMENT TOP SPOT AS .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITY TURNED THE TABLE ON ERSTWHILE LEADER !TENEO ON -ONDAY AT THE 2IZAL -EMORIAL "ALLPARK 4HE 'REEN !RCHERS PUMMELED FIVE 'ROWLING 4IGERS PITCHERS WITH HITS SCORING IN ALL BUT ONE INNING OF THE REGULATION SEVEN INNING CONFRONTATION )T WAS THEIR SIXTH VICTORY IN EIGHT OUTINGS 4HE !RCHERS THUS MATCHED THEIR ARCH RIVALS "LUE %AGLES WIN LOSS CARD SHARING THE LEAGUE LEADERSHIP HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND OF THE TWO ROUND PLAY 4HE !RCHERS COULD HAVE ACTUALLY ENDED THE MASSACRE WITH A FOUR RUN THREE HIT SPLURGE IN THE THIRD FRAME AND WON IN AN ABBREVIATED FASHION BUT CONTINUED THE ONSLAUGHT NEVERTHELESS UNTIL WHAT THE RULE PROVIDES 7ITH FASTBALL ARTIST !RVIN -AYNARD (ERRERA DICTATING HIS WILL ON THE MOUND AND HIS TEAMMATES SHUTTLING BACK AND

FORTH FROM THE BAGS TO THE PLATE

THE !RCHERS CAME UP WITH A PAIR OF MARKERS ON TWO HITS IN THE FOURTH FOUR ON FOUR IN THE kFTH AND SEVEN ON SEVEN IN THE SEVENTH TO EMERGE AS VICTORS 4HE "ULLDOGS LIKEWISE ONLY NEEDED THREE INNINGS IN MEETING THE %AGLES CHALLENGE AND IN COMPLETING A NINE INNING DEMOLITION THAT AVENGE THEIR DEFEAT TO THE SAME SQUAD IN THE OPENING ROUND -AR *OSEPH #AROLINO WORKED THE ENTIRE NINE INNING DISTANCE WITHOUT RELIEF WHILE DESIGNATED HITTER ,EO *OSEPH !RGO RIGHTkELDER #LAIRON 3ANTOS AND THIRD BASEMAN *EROME 4ENORIO PROVIDED THE HITTING SCORING SUCKS IN THE "ULLDOGS ONLY SECOND TRIUMPH IN EIGHT ATTEMPTS $EFENDING CHAMPION !DAMSON 2OARING &ALCONS PICKED UP THEIR FOURTH VICTORY IN EIGHT TIMES UP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES &IGHTING -AROONS 4HE LOSS WAS THE -AROONS SIXTH IN EIGHT GAMES TYING THE "ULLDOGS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SIX TEAM CAST

Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. But the Malita ace faces stiff challenge from the likes of siblings Juliana and Coleen Carvajal, Zkyla Cervantes and Theresa Nacito with Juliana Carvajal leading the title chase in the 14-U class along with Jemarie Manggarai, Khirylle Saldivar and Chelsea Bernaldez, who, on the other hand, gains the top seeding in the 12-U play.

Out to foil Velez’s bid are Bruce Hurtado, Ryan Alga and Khobe Dumlao in the boys’ premier 18-and-under division and Andrei Lago from Sogod Leyte and Nikhel Nowlakha from Iloilo in the 16-U play of the tournament presented by Dunlop. Puerto Princesa’s Kendrick Bona, on the other hand, also seeks titles in the 12- and 14-U categories against the likes of Nicholas Tan from Dipolog, Ben Flores, James Aquino, Reyman Saldivar Jr. and Andre Sing.

EDDIE G. ALINEA

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Football

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

The Manila Times ˜

w w w.manilatimes.net

UEFA opens probe into Neymar’s foul-mouthed referee rant

Q Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left) vies for the ball with Lyon’s Marcal and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO

Messi tows Barcelona to Champions League quarters B ARCELONA: Lionel Messi came up just short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick a day earlier but still scored twice and set up two more as Barcelona beat Lyon 5-1 on Wednesday (Thursday in -ANILA TO REACH THE #HAMPIONS ,EAGUE QUARTERkNALS After Ronaldo’s treble on Tuesday for Juventus sent Atletico Madrid packing in Turin, Messi delivered his own symphony at the Camp Nou, where Lyon were outplayed save for a very brief period in the second half when they threatened a comeback in this last-16 tie.

“Cristiano yesterday was impressive,� Messi said afterwards. “It was a big surprise because I thought Atletico would be stronger but Cristiano had a magical night.� ! DRAW IN &RANCE IN THE kRST LEG LAST MONTH meant Lyon always had a chance to make Barca

nervous, but Messi’s sumptuously chipped penALTY AND A SIMPLE kNISH FROM 0HILIPPE #OUTINHO LOOKED TO HAVE kNISHED THEM OFF BEFORE HALF TIME Yet Lucas Tousart’s volley left Lyon one goal away from putting Barcelona out, only for Messi to take charge again. He scored once more, BEFORE TEEING UP 'ERARD 0IQUE AND /USMANE Dembele to complete the victory. Messi now has 108 goals in the Champions League, behind Ronaldo’s imperious 124, but his latest double takes his team one step closer to the trophy they crave the most. “When he is at that kind of level, he is almost unstoppable,� Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said.

“We did what we could.� Barcelona go into Friday’s draw for the last eight as the sole Spanish representative, along with Juventus, Manchester United, Manchester City, ,IVERPOOL 4OTTENHAM (OTSPUR 0ORTO AND !JAX The last time Spain only had one team left at this stage was 2010 and after defeats for Atletico and Real Madrid, it was up to Barca TO AVERT A kRST 3PANISH BLACKOUT SINCE Coutinho had been whistled off by his own fans last weekend but was picked to start, preFERRED TO $EMBELE WHO HAD JUST RECOVERED FROM a hamstring strain. The Brazilian was bright, ENJOYING ONE OF HIS BEST PERFORMANCES IN WEEKS

NYON, Switzerland: Neymar could be hit with a Champions League ban after UEFA opened an investigation on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) into his foul-mouthed social media outburst about the refereeing during Paris SaintGermain’s controversial exit to Manchester United last week. Injured Brazil forward Neymar told match officials to “Go fuck yourselvesâ€? on Instagram after watching on incredulous from the sidelines at the Parc des Princes as United were awarded a decisive stoppage-time penalty for a debatable handball via the video assistant referee (VAR) system, allowing Marcus Rashford to fire United into the quarter-finals on away goals. “It’s a disgrace. They get four guys who don’t understand football to watch a slow motion replay in front of the TV,â€? Neymar wrote in Portuguese on the social media website. The Premier League outfit were given the spot-kick after Presnel Kimpembe was judged to have handled Diogo Dalot’s shot, a decision that on Friday UEFA maintained was correct due to the distance the ball traveled before hitting Kimpembe’s arm and the PSG defender’s body position. “The defender’s arm was not close to the body, which made the defender’s body bigger thus resulting in the ball being stopped from travelling in the direction of the goal,â€? UEFA said. Neymar was so reportedly enraged by the decision to give the penalty that he had to be restrained by PSG staff to stop him entering their dressing room. In a statement UEFA announced a disciplinary investigation “has been initiated ... in connection with the comments made on social media by the Paris Saint-Germain player Neymar following the above-mentioned matchâ€?. If found guilty the 27-year-old risks being suspended during the early rounds of next year’s Champions League, for which runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG are certainties to qualify. AFP

“In the last few weeks, months even, I’ve not been playing well,� Coutinho said. “You never know what the future holds but I am happy with my performance today.� “He has come in after not such a good run,� said coach Ernesto Valverde. “It was an important match for him and he played very well.� Lyon could barely escape their own penalty AREA IN EARLY EXCHANGES AS -ESSI GOT TO WORK (E kRED ONE SHOT TOWARDS THE TOP CORNER AND THEN LATCHED ONTO A 3ERGIO "USQUETS PASS BUT !NTHONY Lopes sprung out to intercept. AFP

FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2019

Lifestyle

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Hong Kong, an art mecca in March

Q (Left and below) The new cultural hotspots Tai Kwun and Xiqu Centre.

T

HERE is no perfect time than March to explore Hong Kong’s cultural life, particularly the art scene. Those visiting the city within the month are more than welcome to participate in the plethora of arts and cultural events around town, including the internationally renowned Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central, which provide rare occasions for enjoying famous art pieces and rubbing shoulders with the glitterati at the same time. With the latest cultural venues and street artworks that have emerged in recent months, art and CULTURE ENTHUSIASTS SURELY kND (ONG Kong the perfect subject matter to immerse in artsy ambience. It’s lavish visual feast at Art Basel Hong Kong — the mainstay of Hong Kong Arts Month — on March 29 to 31 and at Art Central on March 27 to 31. On its seventh year, Art Basel Hong Kong returns to the conveniently located Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with 242 galleries from 36 countries, 21 of which are new exhibitors. Art Central, on the other hand, boasts over 100 galleries showcasing art from around the globe. Other features are carefully curated performances, large-scale installations, new media art and talks. Appreciating art aside, patrons are served a riveting view of Victoria Harbour and the city’s signature skyline at the Central Harbourfront venue.

New cultural hotspots to capture a slice of history One of the various important cultural venues that have sprung up in the city over the past 10 months is Xiqu Centre, which opened in January. Dedicated to Q Eye-catching mural at Artlane. the preservation and promotion of CantonSituated in Tsuen Wan, once an ese opera, the Xiqu Centre is noteworthy not simply for being industrial area and now a major THE kRST VENUE IN THE MUCH AN- residential district, The Mills celticipated West Kowloon Cultural ebrates the golden days of Hong District to open its doors, but Kong’s textile industry and carries also for its striking architectural on the legacy by nurturing the design that juxtaposes traditional city’s creative talents. Inside the Centre for Heritage, and modern elements. With a futuristic form and a Arts and Textile (CHAT) set to steel structure, the eight-storey open during Arts Month, visiEDIkCE IS IN FACT A REINTERPRETATION tors can learn about the history of the traditional Chinese lantern, of Hong Kong’s textile industry whereas its façade is shaped to and the current local and global resemble the parted curtains on textile arts landscape. Starting March 16, visitors can a performing stage. While admiring the architecture, visitors are appreciate the array of contemencouraged to enjoy an intimate porary textile arts displayed at Cantonese opera viewing experi- the “Unfolding: Fabric of Our ence over traditional tea and dim Life Exhibition.” Another key heritage site worth sum at the Tea House Theatre. Another recent talk of the town visiting is Tai Kwun, one of the city’s is The Mills, an innovation and largest heritage revitalization project cultural hub transformed from a which took a decade and HK$3.8 billion to complete. Three iconic detextile factory.

Q In the Mills, visitors can learn about the history of Hong Kong’s textile industry and experience the manual cotton-spinning process using traditional spinning instruments. clared monuments are now part of this cultural destination that houses a world-standard contemporary art museum, some of the city’s chicest restaurants and boutiques.

museums” like Sheung Wan at Central and the latest “Artlane” in the hipster Sai Ying Pun area, where murals by local and overseas artists can be found on walls of old buildings and staircases.

Characterful neighborhoods for local street art

More than meets the eye (and the lens)

Out in the open, art has penetrated the corners of different neighbourhoods, inviting the curious to explore these living “street art

Those who seek more sensory stimulation find a plethora of performing arts events, the most notable of which is the

Hong Kong Arts Festival. With a history of over four decades, the annual bonanza featuring opera, theater, music, dance and more has been an artery of the city’s cultural life. Visitors have the opportunities to enjoy 166 performances and over 300 exciting array of outreach activities by over 1,700 artists from around the world during the 31-day-long program this year, which started on February 21 and culminates on March 23.

Newest Singapore icon to welcome travelers at Jewel Changi Airport

Q The majestic Rain Vortex and lush Forest Valley of the Jewel Changi Airport. PHOTO FROM JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

TRAVELERS to Singapore will enjoy a unique mix of lush greenery and curated offerings upon arrival when Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) opens in April. Developed by Changi Airport Group and CapitaLand, the latest multi-dimensional tourist destination brings a new dimension to the travel experience of visitors with its medley of lifestyle options. As one of Singapore’s top visitors, Filipinos can soon expect another world-class facility catering to any lifestyle the next time they visit the Lion City. Changi statistics show that there were close to three million passenger movements between Singapore and the Philippines in 2018 – a 5.5 percent increase from 2017. “Jewel’s unique mix of lush greenery and curated offerings are a first in the region, and we are excited to bring a new dimension to the travel experience of our visitors with its medley of lifestyle options,” Changi Airport Corporate and Marketing Communications Group Vice President Ivan Tan said. Located at the heart of Changi Airport, Jewel is directly connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The 10-storey lifestyle hub covers a total area of 137,000 square meters and offers aviation and travel-related facilities, and a wide range of retail offerings and unique play attractions. Designed by a consortium of consultants led by

Moshe Safdie of Safdie Architects, the concept for Jewel’s design represents a juxtaposition where a park and marketplace are situated side by side. This is exemplified in the lush four-storey Forest Valley and majestic 40-meter high Rain Vortex that takes centerstage in the complex. Filipinos visiting Singapore can find a one-stop lifestyle destination, as the world-class complex houses 280 shops and eateries, including Southeast Asia’s first Shake Shack store. Filipinos transiting in the Lion City can also conveniently check in at YotelAir Singapore Changi Airport, Jewel’s own 130-room hotel. “Filipinos, travelers and overseas workers alike, have always been valued customers of Changi. With the opening of Jewel, we look forward to giving an enhanced service and an even better travelling experience to Filipinos,” Tan concluded. Changi Airport is the world’s seventh busiest airport for international traffic, managing a record 65.6 million passenger movements in 2018. It has 400 retail and service stores, as well as 140 F&B outlets. With over 100 airlines providing connectivity to 400 cities worldwide, Changi Airport handles about 7,400 flights every week, or about one every 80 seconds.

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FRIDAY March 15, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/15/19). You’re a professional rock star this year. Coordinated collaboration broadens your reach. New love inspires your family this summer, before community challenges require action. Together, achieve a prime accomplishment this winter, before a romantic twist reveals new plot possibilities. Practice listening for passion. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Get help building a professional dream. Meditate and plan for later action. Let your imagination run wild. Avoid gossip or rumors. Connect with your ideal team. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- An outing could get postponed. Research reservations and routes. Domestic comforts could prove seductive. Whether to stay or go? Monitor conditions, and stay flexible.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Talk about a home renovation you’ve been dreaming about. Make a practical upgrade without overspending. Avoid distractions, and stick to the budget.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- New information threatens an assumption. Stay optimistic, while avoiding risk. Leave nothing to chance. Waste not, want not. Feed for growth. Imagine your team ahead.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Review instructions before attempting to teach anyone. Discuss plans. Communications seem unreliable. Allow extra time for traffic. What you’re learning has practical applications.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Talk with your partner before investing time, money or energy into something new. Dreams can come true. Planning and coordination help. Strategize together.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- To find out what’s going on, follow the money. Business picks up, and your work is in demand. Provide excellent services and satisfying results.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Guard private time for health, fitness and wellness practices. Prioritize time for yourself. Movement energizes you. Physical action gets results. Stick to basics.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Talk about personal dreams. Reality could look differently than the vision or fantasy you have. Get specific. Imagine the obvious steps to take. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Hold off on making a big change. Organize and plan. Imaginative strategies get results. Private productivity percolates while distraction slows the action. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep your promises with a group responsibility. The impossible seems accessible. If you can’t do something, stay in communication. Take advantage of an unusual opportunity.

» SUDOKU

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Don’t give up on someone you love. Prioritize matters of the heart, fun with friends and creative collaboration. Relax, and enjoy sweet company.

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

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

PAGE FROM THE PAST

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

FFRIDAY R I DAY MARCH 15, 2019

Entertainment

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www.manilatimes.net

Dingdong Dantes prepares for hard action in new movie PLUS: Proud and grounded dad reacts to daughter Zia’s inclusion in top regional website's ‘most beautiful children of Asian celebs list

I

T’S all systems go for Dingdong Dantes as he prepares to go all-out action in a new and exhilarating movie. GMA Network’s Prime Time King is leading the cast of “A Hard Day,� the Filipino version of a 2014 Korean movie of the same title, which originally starred Korean superstars Lee Sun-kyun and Cho Jin-woong. And this EARLY THE kLM HAS ALREADY BEEN SELECTED TO compete at the Director’s Fortnight at the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival. It is then no wonder why DingWith regard to the name of dong is very excited to do this “Baby Boy Dantes,� Dingdong movie, especially since he’s long swears they haven’t chosen one wanted to go hard action on the yet. They’re considering a couple big screen. Naturally, when the of- OF NAMES BUT NOTHING IS kNAL YET “We’ll both decide kung ano fer came for A Hard Day, he didn’t have any second thoughts about ang name. Kay Zia, kaming daaccepting it. lawa rin ni Marian ang pumili. “I like my character, it’s gray We’ll announce it when the baby bordering to black,� he volunteers. comes,� shares Dingdong. “May mga car chase scenes kami, Asked just how excited Zia, may madudugong kGHT SCENE At he replied, “She is thrilled with may mga barilan. It’s an action- the thought that she will be an suspense movie.� ate. Sobra niyang nilu-look forThe rest of the cast had their ward ‘yun. She doesn’t mind if look-test already as well as her room as their photo shoot, but Dinga baby will dong had one request before now be starting the shoot. occupied “I asked the producers if we by her could start shooting after Marian b a b y gives birth. I actually accept fewer brother. works these days because I just She’s want to stay home as much as poseven sible para kung biglang andiyan na, I will be with her. Siyempre, my wife and our baby are more important than any project,� explains Dong. As Marian’s due date nears, Dingdong can’t help but recall how he felt when their eldest Zia’s birth approached a little over three years ago. “I thought the excitement wouldn’t be as intense as THE kRST TIME BUT ) STILL HAVE the same feeling now. I think it’s also because of the fact that Zia’s also excitQ The widely followed Vietnamese website edly waiting for the arrival Kenh14 listed Zia Dantes as one of the most of the newest member of beautiful children of Asian celebrities. the family.�

Meet ‘Maria’ Cristine Reyes’ call to action DRAMATIC actress Cristine Reyes, according to internationally acCLAIMED kLMMAKER 0EDRING ,OPEZ was his only choice to play the female lead his upcoming action lICK g-ARIA u Lopez — who was named Best Director at the Los Angeles Philippine Film Festival and Festival Internacional de Cine Fantastico de Torremolinos for “Nilalang — GOES AS FAR AS TO SAY 2EYES kTS THE titular role perfectly. “She has very expressive eyes BUT SHE CAN BE kERCE 3HE CAN also look vulnerable but is very adept in doing action scenes because of her athleticism,� he

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explained, revealing too at the movie’s media conference he had Reyes in mind from the start of conceptualizing Maria. In meeting Maria, moviegoers will see Reyes as a former cartel assassin named Lily who fakes her own death following a failed mission that earns her the wrath of her organization. 3HE lEES TO A DISTANT PROVINCE WHERE she completely transforms her life. Changing her name to Maria, she meets Bert, a respectable businessman who becomes her husband, and with whom she bears a daughter. Maria’s peaceful life is cut short when the cartel learns of her

don’t mind it if it seems she’s hurting me because we need to make it appear real. So when the cameras started rolling AND WE DID THE CATkGHT wala na. We just did it. Nagsabunutan kami . Happily, Direk liked the SCENE ON THE kRST TAKE and we didn’t have to repeat it. “Pagkatapos, nagtawanan lang kami ni Therese. I know nagkasakitan kami because after the SCENE ) SAW SOME HAIR ON THE lOOR meaning sa tindi ng sabunutan, talagang may nalagasan ng hair,� Kyline added.

SHOWBUZZ

kay Ariela,� shared Kyline.

And speaking of Manolo, the new Kapuso actor is really bent on being good at his craft. He admits he still feels nervous whenever he does scenes with Kyline and Therese, telling Showbuzz, “They’re both very good actresses so I really have to level up my acting. So I’ve been taking many workshops and making sure I learn from the veteran actors in the cast like Sunshine Cruz, Angelika dela Cruz, Angelu de Leon, Gabby Eigenmann and Marvin Agustin. Th They’re all acting heavyweights so I can’t just take it easy.� Manolo bellieves the worksshops are very eeffective specially th those of the famed A l e x B ova a n d A Anne Villegas. “I know I still ha have a lot to learn an and I’m willing go on all the worksh shops that I need. I’m grateful to all my coco-actors who help me out too. They’re real really so nice to me,� he ccommented. NNN Q Therese Malvar (left) and Kyline Alcantara. SSHORTS... Miss Eco-Philippines 4HIS IS ONLY THE kRST CATkGHT BE4HIS IS ONLY THE kRST CATkGHT BE tween Kyline and Therese in after- Maureen Mintagne left for Cairo, noon series, which will air today. Egypt on Tuesday as the counThere should be more to come as try’s representative to the Miss the story goes on to intensify their %CO )NTERNATIONAL 3HE lEW OUT competition, not just for stardom, well-prepared with her body but for a boy named Prince, por- toned, her walk polished and her advocacy for clean water trayed by Manolo Pedrosa. “Viewers should really watch very clear. As early as now, beauty pageant for it, the way Elsa and Ariela deal with their rivalry over observers are already predicting a Prince. Kahit scheming si Ariela, GOOD kNISH FOR -AUREEN WHO S ALhindi rin magpapatalo si Elsa WAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOP kVE CHOICES because she’s the type of girl of experts with Misses Egypt, Ecuawho, despite being nice and lov- dor, Venezuela and Peru. While thrilled about the foreing, will not allow na maapi siya. Hindi siya magpapatapak lalo na casts, Maureen doesn’t plan on

LHAR SANTIAGO helping decorating the room. Nakakatuwa talaga.� Dingdong is very proud of Zia as she continues to grow up getting smarter and smarter, more than just prettier and prettier. All the same, he was delighted to learn that Zia was named by widely read Vietnamese website Kenh14 as one of the “most beautiful children of Asian celebrities.� He only learned about it at the media conference for his latest endorsement for shawarma brand Persian Avenue, quipping right away, “Nag-mana talaga sa ina.� He told Showbuzz though he doesn’t have any plans of telling Zia about her unique recognition.

“Hindi na lang muna namin sasabihin sa kanya. Hindi pa rin naman niya maiintindihan

but of course, we’re very happy she’s getting noticed even in other countries.� NNN All hell broke loose between Elsa and Ariela — Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar’s respective characters in the GMA hit afternoon series “Inagaw Na Bituin.� Elsa could no longer control her temper anymore when the very insecure Ariela hurt her sister -ELODY AND A CATkGHT ENSUED ! kRST FOR 4HERESE TO DO IN HER young acting career, she admitted, “I was so nervous over the scene! It was good I was doing it with Kyline who told me wag akong

mailang. Totohanin ko lang ang pagsabunot pero dapat controlled. Tinuruan niya pa ako how

to do it and I followed her instrucTIONS BECAUSE SHE S DONE CATkGHT scenes in ‘Kambal Karibal’.� #ONkRMING SHE GAVE 4HERESE the go signal to pull her hair for real, Kyline said, “I told her

taking it easy in Cairo, saying they just mean she has to work harder for the title‌

Q Miss Eco-Philippines Maureen Mintagne is now in Cairo to vie for the Miss Eco-International crown. w !LDEN 2ICHARDS lEW TO THE Holy Land on Wednesday to catch-up with his “Eat Bulaga� dabarkads who left for Israel the night before. Their 10-day trip will serve as the group’s Lenten retreat. The reason why Alden had to stay behind overnight, as The Manila Times Entertainment reported Tuesday, was because he had to attend the story conference for his Star Cinema movie with ABS-CBN actress Kathryn Bernardo and director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Third K-pop star embroiled in sex video scandal

Q Did you know that Cristine Reyes is a martial arts enthusiast in real life?

SEOUL: A K-pop star has quit after admitting he watched illicit sex videos received from another artist, his agency said Thursday, the third singer to be engulfed in a scandal sweeping South Korea’s music industry. Yong Jun-hyung, 29, who is a member of boy band Highlight — formerly known as Beast — said he watched a video of singer Jung Joon-young having sex with women taken without their consent. Jung, 30, was questioned by police on Thursday after admitting he shared the footage with other men, including mega K-pop star Seungri, who is also embroiled in a sex-forinvestment criminal investigation. Both Seungri — a member of boy band BIGBANG — and Jung, announced their retirement from show business earlier this week. Yong “has watched the footage... and had an inappropriate conversation with (Jung),� the singer’s agency Around Us Entertainment said in a statement, adding Yong would leave the band Highlight on Thursday. South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called “molka�, or spycam videos — mostly of women, secretly filmed by men.

As well as secretly filming women in schools, toilets and offices, “revenge porn� — videos men take of themselves having sex with their exes or partners filmed without the women’s consent — is believed to be equally widespread. According to Han Sol, an activist at Flaming Feminist Action, such videos have long been watched and shared by South Korean men as a form of entertainment and a way to strengthen their “brotherly ties�. Yong, who has also worked as a record producer and actor, previously denied allegations that he had been involved in the ongoing K-pop sex scandal. For South Korean women’s activists, the scandal, including the latest revelation, is unsurprising. Thousands of women protested in Seoul last year on several occasions against spycam and revenge porn videos, as part of the country’s ongoing #MeToo movement. “This case just shows that male K-pop stars are no exception when it comes to being part of this very disturbing reality that exploits women,� women’s rights activist Bae Bok-ju told AFP. AFP

Âťglobalspotlight

infocus

Q According to ‘Maria’ director Pedring Lopez, the lead star did 90 percent of all her stunts and refused to use a double.

Q With wife Marian Rivera’s due date around the corner, the A-list actor requested to begin shooting for his action flick just as soon as their son is born. PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM.COM/DONGDANTES

whereabouts. Kaleb, the man whose orders she disobeyed, tracks her down right inside her home. And, failing to protect her family, Maria returns to a life of violence with nothing but revenge in hear heart and mind. Happily, he also found his “perfect� Maria an asset in every way, once tweeting, “She handles THE kGHTS ALMOST PERCENT OF all her stunts without doubles,� further saying at the media conference, “Cristine is very collaborative. She had a lot of suggestions on how to make her role more interesting and that only made her role better and better.� Flattered by her director’s praises, Reyes on the other hand admitted that Maria is the most challenging movie she has done

in her career. Besides being a martial arts enthusiast, she nonetheless understood after reading the script why she would be a likely choice for the role. “I’m a mother too just like Maria,� she noted. Grateful to Viva Films for allowing him to bring a high-powered movie with a female in the lead to the big screen, Lopez enthused, “It’s about time to show the world THAT &ILIPINO kLMMAKERS CAN ALSO DO EXCELLENT ACTION kLMS AND THAT Filipinas also kick butt!� Maria also stars Ivan Padilla, KC Montero, Guji Lorenzana, Jennifer Lee, Andrea del Rosario, Cindy Miranda, Freddie Webb and Ronnie Lazaro. It opens in cinemas on March 27 from Films, BlackOps Studios Asia, and PsyOps.

Special Feature

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

E1

AMID GLOBAL SLOWDOWN

PH looks forward to bright, resilient economy Q ‘With this massive economic infrastructure in place, we could defy the adverse tides in the global economy,’ says Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd. BY CORA LLAMAS PHOTOS BY RENE DILAN AND J. GERARD SEGUIA

held on March 6 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

T

HE ongoing trade wars between China B r i g ht o u t l o o k and the United States, as well as the F i n a n c e S e c r e t a r y C a r l o s persistent problems plaguing the oil Dominguez 3rd started the industry in the Middle East, can slow down the m o r n i n g a s t h e k e y n o t e speaker, with his talk that momentum of the global economic growth. the “outlook is bright” for However, the Philippines’ own economy will the country despite the inprove resilient against these challenges and ternational tailwinds that it might be facing from brewing maintain a bright economic outlook that international socio-political should see increased consumer spending, tensions. The gross domestic kNANCIAL INCLUSIVITY AND A REDUCTION IN POVERTY product (GDP) is forecasted to grow by seven percent in rates in a few years’ time. 2019, and its more positive

This sums up the combined outlook of one government cabinet member and three

industry leaders who spoke during the 9th Manila Times B u s i n e s s E c o n o m i c Fo r u m

effects will be felt by the population by the second half of this year. This is in line with the government’s goal to re-

duce poverty incidence by 14 percent by 2022. One major driver of this growth is the “Build, Build, Build” program which will launch 75 strategic project that will improve the count r y ’s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e, w h i c h in turn will provide strong stimulus to the continuing economic expansion. The program, which will entail P8.3T in investments over the next three years will create jobs in the places where they will be built, even in regions outside Metro Manila. Dominguez pointed out a couple of examples that will reduce the massive traffic time while creating linkages of trade and flow of manpower from one city to a n o t h e r. T r a v e l t i m e f r o m the Bonifacio Global City to the Ortigas Business District can be cut down to a mere 12 minutes, while a trip from the National Capital Region to La Union will take only one hour, instead of the current four hours. “With this massive economic infrastructure in place, we could defy the adverse tides

in the global economy,” said the Finance Secretary.

R es il i ent bank i ng indu s t r y Echoing this prognosis was Chuchi Fonacier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) deputy governor for the Financial Supervision Sector, who said that the Philippine economy remained “resilient,” with the banking industry in particular “bullish in its outlook. The Philippine banking system is capable of maintaining its growth trajectory amid the instability in the global financial market. “ About 2/3 of the presid e n t s, C E O ’s, a n d c o u n t r y managers of Philippine banks surveyed in October 2018 saw the industry as “stable,” while the remaining 1/3 forecasted that it will even grow stronger in the next two years. According to Fonacier, the robust lending activities in 2018 resulted in a net profit of P178.8B for the Philippine banks. She elaborated, “Access to the banking system rose by 11.5 percent

ye a r o n ye a r t o T P 1 6 . 9 by end of December 2018. This wa s f u n d e d by a n i n c r e a s e of 8.8 percent in deposits to P12.8T, mostly sourced from residents and private corporations. The loans were made across various economic activities in industries like real estate, wholesale and retail, housing, construction, and manufacturing.” There were other positive indicators. In the meantime, inflation slowed down during the last months of 2018 and up to the first quarter of 201 8 . F r o m 4 . 4 p e r c e n t i n January 2019, it fell by 3.8 percent in March. In March of 2018, the peso closed at a value of P51.76 to a $1, appreciating by 1.35 percent from the P52.27 to a $1 exchange r a t e i n J a n u a r y 2 01 9 . T h e country’s international dollar reserves also increased from $79.2B in December of 2018 to $82.1B in January of 2019. Fonacier also cited one finding of an international organization as external validation of the country’s

³POST FORUM E2

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FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Special Feature

Q ‘In our commitment to give our readers accurate and up-to-date news and information about the country beyond the pages of the newspaper, The Manila Times stages a forum on the Philippine economic outlook for 2019,’ says The Times’ President and CEO Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd as he welcomes all the guests in the forum.

Q Deputy Governor for the Financial Supervision Sector Chuchi Fonacier says the banking industry is ‘bullish in its outlook.’

Q Rosemarie Bosch-Ong says retail industry remains strong owing to the young emerging middle-class millennials.

Q Sheila Lobien forecasts resilient growth in the real estate industry. Q POST FORUM FROM E1 economic improvement: financial services company Standard and Poors upgraded the Philippine banking industry country assessment from group 6 to group 5.

worth P2M to P5M each. About 325,000 units were completed in Metro Manila during the third quarter of 2018, and another 78,000 units will be done by 2020.

Strong retail industr y G row t h i n t h e re a l estate industr y Mirroring the confidence maintained by the banking industry is the forecasted resilient growth of the real estate industry, said Sheila Lobien, the CEO of the Lobien Realty Group Inc. and the chairperson of the Women in Business Committee in the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. The dynamics between these two sectors can be seen in the increase of the former’s loans to the commercial institutions by 600 percent the past ten years, while residential loans rose 450 percent during the same period. Lobien added that investor confidence can also be glimpsed in the f o l l ow i n g m a r k e r s. T h e s u p p l y s i d e for new offices has breached 1 million square meters, and a similar record is expected to happen this year. Driving this growth are the BPO’s, the software gaming companies, and the flexible offices used by freelancers and startups. When it comes to the residential supply side, one visible trend is the growth of the middle-income market who can afford and are buying condominiums

Finally, Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot, said that the retail industry is also strong because of the growth of the aforementioned industries and their expansion into real estate space. She said that there has been an “increase of large-format stores, convenience stores, and department stores to cope with the increase of office space especially in the BPO industry.” A young emerging middle-class of millennials are also spending for their lifestyles, and not just their necessities. So-called spending of one’s disposable income has risen from 12 percent to 16 percent. The tech-savvy consumer group will also be doing a lot of online shopping, which is expected to grow by $5.5B from $2.1B in 2020. While the global risks are present, all the speakers do seem to concur that the resilience of the Philippine market will enable it to sustain its growth to emerge as “a middle-income nation,” said Secretary Dominguez. “What we have is a breakthrough moment — the next generation of Filipinos will be better off because of what we accomplished today.”

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FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Special Feature

Q ‘Economic growth [for 2019] will be investment-led supported by public spending on infrastructure and stronger household consumption,’ says ADB Country Director Kelly Bird.

Q Alliance Global Chief Executive Officer Kevin Andrew Tan reveals that AGI’s real estate arm, Megaworld Corp. will be alloting P65 billion in capital expenditures to expand its residential and office businesses.

Q ‘In the Philippines, Filipino millennials make up one third of the country’s population. They now occupy a significant part of the country’s workforce — shaping the direction of the company, as workers, and at the same time, as consumers,’ says Jane Wan, vice president for marketing of Philippine OPPO Mobile Technology, Inc.

Q In her speech, Mabel Niala reveals challenges and opportunities for Filipinos’ financial services.

Q INDUSTRIES FROM F1

Economic growth mirrors more conservative but still encouraging growth outlook for 2019. ADB Philippines country manager Kelly Bird said that while ABB expects the economy to continue its strong expansion in 2019, the growth is “lower than their earlier projection of 6.7 percent due to the 2018 economic growth of 6.2 percent that was unexpectedly lower than their earlier projections� and their expected “lower global economic growth in 2019 from major industrial economies.� “Economic growth [for 2019] will be investment-led supported by public spending on infrastructure and stronger household consumption,� Bird said while also noting that domestic demand and industry and services were economy drivers in 2018. !S FAR AS INlATION IS CONCERNED "IRD SAYS THE ADB took note of “the policy rate increases of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and relaxation of administrative rice import controls that HELPED REVERSE PRICE INlATION u Even as “global oil process remain volatile and oil price futures have inched up,� Bird also SEES gINlATION CONVERGING BAACK TO "30 TARGET range in 2019.� In line with its country partnership strategy covering the period 2018 to 2023, Bird reiterated ADB’s continued support to the Philippines in three pillars: “by accelerating infrastructure and long-term investments, by promoting local economic development and by investing in people.� Other speakers at The Manila Times Business Forum also shared the largely optimistic outlook of the Philippine economy.

to generate around P90 billion in sales with the launch of 28 new residential towers.

Working millennials, behind the strong purchasing power Jane Wan, vice president for marketing of Philippine OPPO Mobile Technology, Inc, makers of the very popular OPPO smartphones cites “working millennialsâ€? as an emerging sector “behind the strong purchasing power amid a growing economy.â€? “In the Philippines, Filipino millennials make up one third of the country’s population. They NOW OCCUPY A SIGNIkCANT PART OF THE COUNTRY S workforce — shaping the direction of the company, as workers, and at the same time, as consumers,â€? Wan pointed out. Wan further notes that OPPO’s 20 percent local market share is a noteworthy achievement given that they only entered the Philippines four years ago. With more than 5000 stores nationwide, a workforce of around 5,000 people and over 4 million Filipinos using OPPO smartphones, THE COMPANY HAS CERTAINLY BENEkTTED FROM THE economy’s steady growth in recent years. Concluding the forum, Mabel Niala, head of sustainability and external affairs for Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc. pointed out that even in a growing economy like the Philippines, there are still kNANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED

Plenty of opportunities

In her speech, Niala revealed that 66 percent of Filipinos do not have bank accounts while 34 percent do not even have physical access to Conglomerates help banks, 90 percent has no credit score and 95 build the economy percent do not have credit cards. But with these challenges also come plenty of +EVIN !NDREW 4AN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF !LLIOPPORTUNITIES FOR MOBILE kNANCIAL SERVICES SUCH ance Global, Inc. discussed where conglomerates as the GCash mobile wallet product of Niala’s can help build the economy. company given that a whopping 78 million Tan revealed in his speech that AGI’s real Filipinos are using mobile phones, an equally estate arm, Megaworld Corp. will be alloting impressive 44 million are smartphone users and P65 billion in capital expenditures to expand its 80 million are online users. RESIDENTIAL AND OFkCE BUSINESSES !S IT SEEKS TO As promising and as rosy as the country’s become the country’s largest hotel operator by economic outlook is in 2019, it is not without 2021, Megaworld is looking to add 6,000 hotel its fair share of challenges. But with opporturooms across the Philippines as the company is nities outweighing the risks, the Philippines set to bring its hotel room portfolio to 12,000 is on track for better days ahead and better within that two-year span. equipped to address the economic concerns This year alone, the company has the potential that come its way.

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˜ The Manila Times

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

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FROM SELFIE EXPERT TO BRILLIANT PORTRAIT:

OPPO Makes an Upgrade with its New F11 Pro with 48MP Dual Rear Camera

O

PPO is set to add new products to its beloved F series of MOBILE PHONES )N ADDITION TO INHERITING THE EXCELLENT SELkE function of the F series as well as the sleek gradient design OF & THE & SERIES HIGHLIGHT IS ITS HUGE UPGRADE FROM SELkE EXPERT to brilliant portrait with its new 48MP ultra-clear camera system for excellent low-light photography.

From Selfie Expert to Brilliant Portrait OPPO has always been committed to providing creative youths with the inventive mobile phones that allow them to snap and share expressions of themselves and the world around them. With portraits being the most POPULAR FORM OF SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY /00/ kRST DEVISED A SELkE FUNCTION THAT WAS CONTINUOUSLY REFRESHED AND ENRICHED WITH CUTTING EDGE SELkE TECHNOLOGY 3UCH INNOVATION IN THE ART OF THE SELkE QUICKLY ESTABLISHED /00/ AS THE g3ELkE %XPERTu AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND BELOVED BRANDS IN )NDIA AND 3OUTHEAST !SIA /00/ CONTINUED TO INNOVATE RELEASING THE STUNNING & INTEGRATING THE kRST DUAL REAR CAMERA TO UNVEIL AN EXCELLENT DEPTH OF kELD EFFECT "UILDING ON THE GROUNDBREAKING DUAL REAR CAMERA AND PORTRAIT TECHNOLOGY OF F9, OPPO’s F11 series elevates the F series to a higher level; upgrading the mobile phones and OPPO itself FROM g3ELkE %XPERTu TO g"RILLIANT 0ORTRAITu

48MP Ultra-clear Image + Ultra-clear Night Mode for Night Photography 3UPPORTED BY /00/ S POWERFUL CAMERA TECHNOLOGY THE & SERIES IS EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST ADVANCED camera system of the F series. The rear camera has been greatly upgraded to feature an ultra-high standard 48MP+5MP dual camera system, F1.79 aperture, 6P lens, and 1/2.3-inch image sensors to bring more light. )N BRIGHT LIGHT ENVIRONMENTS THE DEVICES CAN DIRECTLY OUTPUT -0 ULTRA ($ PICTURES )N DARK ENVIRONMENTS THE & SERIES g4ETRACELL TECHNOLOGYu ANALYZES AND COMBINES THE DATA ACQUIRED BY FOUR ADJACENT PIXELS TO MAKE IT EQUIVALENT TO A SINGLE PIXEL SIZE OF ›M DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE PHOTOSENSITIVE PIXEL AND SHOOTING brighter and low-noise night portraits. 4HE & SERIES IS ALSO POWERED BY 5LTRA .IGHT -ODE AND $AZZLE #OLOR -ODE /00/ S SYSTEM LEVEL OPTIMIZATION SOLUTION SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY 4HIS SOLUTION AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZES THE SHOOTING SCENE AND MATCHES IT WITH THE TARGETED OPTIMIZATION SOLUTION )N 5LTRA .IGHT -ODE IT DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN PORTRAITS AND BACKGROUNDS FOCUSES ON FACES AND ADJUSTS SKIN COLOR IN NIGHT PORTRAITS TO ENLIVEN THE overall effect. This also intelligently reduces the overall noise, suppressing highlights, improving the dynamic RANGE AND INCREASING THE BRIGHTNESS OF DARK AREAS TO MAKE NIGHT SHOTS CLEAN AND CLEAR

A Panoramic Screen and Natural Gradient Design for Sublime Natural Beauty 4HE OVERALL DESIGN OF & 0RO EMBRACES ELEMENTS IN NATURE TO BE AS lUID AND STREAMLINED AS POSSIBLE )TS MAGNIkCENT PANORAMIC SCREEN HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HIDE THE FRONT CAMERA MAKING IT gNOTCHLESSu AND CREATING A STUNNING FULL SCREEN #OMPARED WITH TRADITIONAL MOBILE PHONES ITS INCH DISPLAY SCREEN AND SCREEN TO body ratio of up to 90.9% delivers larger images and more visual space to deliver eye-catching entertainment and gaming experiences. & 0RO ALSO CAPTURES A NEW DESIGN BREAKTHROUGH THAT INTEGRATES A VIVID NATURAL BEAUTY INTO THE STREAMLINED SLEEKNESS OF THE GRADIENT $RIVEN BY THE AESTHETIC CONCEPT OF gNATURAL CREATIONu /00/ DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL LIGHT WHICH IS RElECTED IN THE RHYTHMIC BEAUTY OF & 0RO S COLOR lOWS /00/ ALSO PROVIDES A UNIQUE AURORA GREEN WITH THE BLUE GREEN GRADIENT THAT WHEN PUT UNDER DIFFERENT LIGHTS AND shadows, the two colors blend into one. )N ADDITION TO THE ABOVE FEATURES THE /00/ & SERIES ALSO ENHANCES THE OVERALL USER EXPERIENCE AND SOLVE COMMON SMARTPHONE PROBLEMS SUCH AS OVER HEAT LAG AND BATTERY LIFE $ETAILS WILL BE UNVEILED VERY SOON AT THE OFkCIAL LAUNCH ON -ARCH ,OG ON TO /00/0( ON &ACEBOOK OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.oppo.com/ph for more information.

!BOUT /00/ /00/ IS A LEADING GLOBAL SMART DEVICE BRAND 3INCE LAUNCHING ITS kRST SMARTPHONE g3MILEY &ACEu IN 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology in 10 years. Today, OPPO provides customers with a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find, R AND & SERIES #OLOR/3 OPERATING SYSTEM AS WELL AS INTERNET SERVICES SUCH AS /00/ #LOUD AND /00/ /00/ operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 research centers worldwide and an international design center in London, OPPO’s more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating new experiences and greater value for customers around the world.

* The CMOS image sensor features 48 megapixels.

Special Feature

Q The Manila Times Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Nerilyn Tenorio leads the question and answer portion with Finance Secretary Carlos ‘Sonny’ Dominguez 3rd who gamely explains why economic outlook in the country is still bright despite global economic slowdown.

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

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Q Chuchi Fonacier (center), deputy governor for Financial Supervision Sector (FSS) of BSP’s Monetary Board, smiles for a selfie with The Manila Times COO Blanca Mercado and The Manila Times President and CEO Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd after receiving a plaque of appreciation and token.

INDUSTRY LEADERS

Forum m speakers share valuable insights on the count country’s tr y ’s projected outlook BY  MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY PHOTOS BY DILAN GERARD PHOT PH OTOS OT OS B Y RE RENE NE D ILAN IL AN AND A ND JJ.. GE GERA RARD RA RD SEGUIA S EG EGUI UIA UI A

A

FTER ending 2018 with above 6 percent economic growth, the Philippines enters 2019 with new tailwinds to pursue for a continued possibility of becoming an investment and growth hub. In line with this, nine industry experts shared their insights on the country’s projected outlook during The Manila Times’ 9th Business Forum held at Dusit Thani Manila, in Makati City on March 6. “The Manila Times endeavors to supply the nation with news and information vital in the daily life and long-term concerns,� explains The Times’ President and CEO Dante “Klink� Ang 2nd. “We are proud to present this forum top billed by some of the country’s

high-level speakers from government and industry.� Seasoned by their experiences and high-ranking positions in THEIR RESPECTIVE kELDS The Times’ forum speakers weigh in on rising global risks posed to affect the economic standing of the country.

The leading secretary Speaking on behalf of the national government to discuss matters REGARDING THE COUNTRY S kNANCIAL

spending is none other than the Finance Secretary himself, Carlos “Sonny� Dominguez 3rd. With his more than 40 years of experience, Dominguez has built an outstanding track record being at the helm of various organizations in the public and private sectors, across multi-industries such as power, agriculture, mining, banking, hospitality, real estate and investment. Aside from being the Finance chief, Dominguez also sits as a member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as well as chairman of the government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. During the administration of the late president Corazon “Cory� Aquino, he was the secretary of both the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of

Agriculture. Outside of government serv i c e, D o m i n g u e z h a d a l s o served as president in some of the leading Philippine corporations that include Philippine Airlines (PAL), Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. and Bank of the Philippine Islands’ Agricultural Development Bank—currently known as BPI Direct Savings Bank, Inc. Likewise, he has led the Republic Planters Banks and served as chairman of the Board of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC). Under his leadership, the Bureau of Internal Revenue was able to secure its largest tax settlement payment amounting to about $600 million from a single taxpayer in Philippine history. Dominguez completed his master’s degree in Business Ad-

ministration at the Ateneo de Manila University and pursued an Executive Management Program at the Stanford University in the US-state of California.

Financial Sector Forum (FSF), Working Group on Banking Supervision (WGBS) of the Executives’ -EETING OF %AST !SIA 0ACIkC #ENTRAL Banks (EMEAP), Credit Information Corporations Project, and the Tasked to finance Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). Weighing in more on the finanHer sector is tasked with creatcial situation of the country is ing a regulatory environment that Chuchi Fonacier, deputy gover- allows the Philippine banking nor for Financial Supervision system to thrive for the purpose Sector (FSS) of BSP’s Monetary of promoting economic developBoard. MENT PUBLIC TRUST AND CONkDENCE Appointed in July 2017, Fona- in the system. It also provides cier belongs to the sector respon- adequate incentives for these sible for the regulation of banks institutions to engage in activiAND OTHER "30 SUPERVISED kNANCIAL ties that would allow Filipinos to institutions to ensure the safety HAVE ACCESS TO kNANCIAL PRODUCTS and soundness of the country’s and services. kNANCIAL SYSTEM Fonacier took up her bachelor’s As deputy governor, she is the degree in Accounting at the UniBSP-designated representative to versity of St. La Salle in Bacolod, different inter-agency and inter- Negros Occidental, while she national committees, such as the ³PanelG2

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FRIDAY March 15, 2019

Special Feature

Q Kevin Andrew Tan (center), Alliance Global chief executive officer, receives plaque of appreciation from The Manila Times COO Blanca Mercado and The Manila Times President and CEO Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd. Q Yongzheng Yang (right), IMF’s representative to the Philippines, explains to The Manila Times Executive Editor Arnold Belleza how the country can navigate in a changing global landscape.

Q Mabel Niala, who heads the Sustainability and External Affairs under the Corporate Communications Group of Mynt, the operating company of the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet, GCash, believes that Finance for All will lead to financial inclusion.

Q Kelly Bird, ADB country director, discusses about the Asian Development Bank’s country partnership strategy with the Philippines.

Q PANEL FROM G1

Diversified panel obtained her master’s degree in Business Administration at the Ateneo de Manila University.

president of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA). With solid years of experience with people and products and gifted with strong organizational, technical and Loyalty in service interpersonal skills, she has developed a holistic understanding and approach to Discussing on the issues of the retail sector marketing, administration and operations. of the country is retail executive RosemaAn energetic leader, Bosch-Ong is also rie Bosch-Ong, who rose from the ranks known for her high integrity and her in one of the leading retail stores in the ability to envision and deliver successful country today. results in managing difficult company Bosch-Ong currently sits as senior ex- situations. ecutive vice president and chief operating In her years with Wilcon Depot, BoschOFkCER OF 7ILCON $EPOT AS WELL AS THE Ong worked her way up the corporate

ladder by creating aggressive strategies to drive revenues. She was able to deliver 80 consecutive quarters of consistent growth by expanding the business and helping it evolve into big depots. She has conceived and launched corporate social responsibility projects, as well as design competitions for professional interior designers and students. She also oversaw Wilcon’s participation in all industry-related exhibitions, such as Worldbex, Conex, Philconstruct and ManilaCon. Bosch-Ong graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University

of the East, and earned her master’s degree in Business Administration with distinction from the De La Salle University.

A woman anew Returning to speak at the forum is Sheila Lobien, a real estate expert who has been SERVING HER kELD SINCE 3HE NOW SERVES THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF HER OWN REAL ESTATE kRM ,OBIEN 2EALTY 'ROUP Inc. (LRG). Lobien envisions her company to become a major player in the Philippines’ real estate industry. She believes that LRG’s core team — which was instrumental in leasing out more than 1-million SQUARE METERS OF OFkCE AND COMMERCIAL space in key business districts in the Philippines in less than a decade — will bring the same professionalism, dedication and phenomenal performance in the company. Prior to Lobien Realty Group, she was the regional director and head of Project Leasing of a Fortune 500 propERTY CONSULTING kRM 3HE ALSO SERVED AS general manager of Regus Manila and was among those who pioneered Regus’ then-novel concept of shared and plugAND PLAY OFkCE SPACE IN THE EARLY S Currently, Regus has over 30 business centers all over the Philippines, making IT THE LEADING SHARED OFkCE COMPANY IN the country. As chairman of the Women in Business Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, she advocates gender equality and women empowerment as ECCP’s key activities provide an avenue for mentoring, networking and other social activities geared toward uplifting women professionals in the Philippines. Contradicting her profession today, Lobien graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Tourism from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She then pursued management degrees that include Management Development Program at the Asian Institute of Management; Master of Business Management at UP Manila; Management Executive Program at the National University of Singapore and Insead Business School in Fontainebleau, France.

as on IMF policies toward low-income countries. Before joining the IMF in 2001, he taught for 10 years at two Australian universities namely the Australian National University in Canberra and the Macquarie University in New South Wales. His RESEARCH INTEREST INCLUDES kNANCIAL INCLUsion, international trade, general equilibrium modeling and development issues. Over the course of his work with the IMF, he has been able to publish his research either as the sole author or as co-author, on interesting development issues, which include: “Low-income countries’ linkages to Brics: Are there growth SPILLOVERS u g0ACIkC )SLAND #OUNTRIES )N 3EARCH OF A 4RADE 3TRATEGYu g4HE 0ACIkC Speed of Growth: How Fast Can It Be and What Determines It?�; “Monetary policy transmission and macroeconomic policy COORDINATION IN 0ACIkC ISLAND COUNTRIESu and “Global Rebalancing: Implications for Low-Income Countries.�

Regional perspective

)N A NARROW SPECTRUM AN OFkCIAL FROM THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) Philippines discussed the country’s progress in the Asian region. Kelly Bird serves as the country direcTOR OF THE 0HILIPPINES #OUNTRY /FkCE in ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, appointed to position in January 2018. Prior to his current post, Bird was director of the Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division of the same department. He has been with ADB since 2006 and has gained specialization covering reguLATORY GOVERNANCE AND REFORMS kNANCIAL sector department, trade and investment policy and employment policy, among others. Moreover, he also has experience working with governments on various economic programs in the countries of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand. Prior to joining ADB, he worked as part of the United States Agency for International Development-funded project with the Indonesian government from 1999 to 2005, while in 2006 he served as a consultant on trade policy with the World From an international point Bank in Jakarta. Likewise, he has worked of view on several southern African countries on competition policy and private sector Delivering news of the country’s in- development. ternational standing is a representaBird graduated with a PhD in Ecotive from the International Monetary nomics from the Australian National Fund (IMF). University in 1999. He has published Known for his proven track record in several researches in international jourthe global platform, Yongzheng Yang nals including Applied Economic Letters, now serves as IMF’s representative to Bulletin of Indonesian Studies, Journal of the Philippines. Until recently, he was Development Studies, Oxford Developa deputy division chief at the Asia and ment Studies, Southeast Asian Affairs, 0ACIkC $EPARTMENT OF THE )-& AND THE World Economy and World Development. IMF’s mission chief for Myanmar. Prior to that, he was the IMF’s resident A man of many REPRESENTATIVE IN 0ACIkC ISLAND COUNTRIES responsibilities from 2010 to 2014, and served as the IMF’s mission chief for Papua New Guinea and As a member of one of the leading conSamoa. Yang has also worked on coun³PanelG3 tries in Africa and Central Asia, as well

Special Feature Q The Manila Times COO Blanca Mercado tries the OPPO selfie with The Manila Times President and CEO Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd and OPPO VP for Marketing Jane Wan (left) and Rosemarie Bosch-Ong (right) senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wilcon Depot. All nine speakers receive OPPO R17 during the forum as token of appreciation.

Q The Manila Times’ Chairman Emeritus Dante Arevalo Ang exchanges notes with Finance Secretary Carlos ‘Sonny’ Dominguez 3rd.

Foreign wisdom

Diversified panel Philippines. !S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF !') Tan is in-charge of the strategic planning, direction and execution of the conglomerate. He is also tasked to oversee the company’s kNANCIAL OPERATIONS INVESTMENTS and acquisitions as well as heads the company’s external affairs by representing the conglomerate in various public and private functions. At Megaworld Corp., Tan sits as its executive vice president and chief strategy officer. He is in-charge of the company’s corporate strategies, business development, expansion and new opportunities, as well as investor and stakeholder relations; leads the development of company

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Q The Manila Times COO Blanca Mercado and The Manila Times President and CEO Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd present a plaque of appreciation to Sheila Lobien, chief executive officer of Lobien Realty Group, Inc.

Q The Manila Times’ staff

Q PANEL FROM G2

glomerates in the country, Kevin Tan holds an impressive number of companies under his leadership. 4AN HEADS THE EXECUTIVE OFkCE operations of Alliance Global Inc. (AGI), which has interests in the food and beverage industry, gaming and entertainment, tourism and hospitality, real estate development and quick service restaurants. He also holds directorships in AGI companies, including Emperador Inc., Global-Estate Resorts Inc. (GERI), Empire East Land Holdings Inc. (EELHI), Resorts World Manila, Megaworld Corp. and Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC), which owns the master franchise of McDonald’s

FRIDAY March 15, 2019

strategies on innovation and technology; heads the conceptualization of design strategies and infusion of new trends into the company’s existing and new commercial township across its 23 townships. Moreover, Tan acts as a consultant for Emperador Distilleries, the world’s leading brandy producer and the largest liquor company in the Philippines. Meanwhile, he serves as president of Infracorp, AGI’s newly formed infrastructure arm, which is dedicated to complementing the infrastructure projects of the national g overnment while providing Filipinos added convenience and access to AGI’s real estate and tourism projects.

With her vast experience in public relations, advertising and branding skills, Jane Wan now sits as vice president of OPPO’s Marketing Department. Wan has been in the marketing business for over a decade, but prior to her involvement in marketing, she worked as a journalist and an educator in China. Her knowledge of marketing and deep understanding of industries come from her experience working in agencies and in-house operations at both local startups and international companies, such as Publicis Groupe, Nestle, Dolby, GE and Men’s Uno. She became part of the trailblazing smartphone brand OPPO in January 2015 and after a year, came to the Philippines to serve as the Brand Marketing Director

of OPPO Philippines. In 2018, she was promoted to vice president of Marketing owing to the hard work she put into the company’s collective effort to drive OPPO from its 5th rank in the market to become the top smartphone brand in the country. Wan holds a degree in English Literature from the Fujian Normal University and a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications at Peking University in Beijing. In her spare time, Wan also loves to paint and derives inspiration for her art from books and her travels.

Sustainability for all After gaining experience in various executive-level positions in multinational companies, Mabel Niala now heads the Sustainability and External Affairs under the Corpo-

rate Communications Group of Mynt, the operating company of the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet, GCash, which believes that Finance for All will lead to Financial Inclusion. Niala has worked with multinational companies, starting out as executive assistant and working her way up to general manager handling Executive Support, Project Management, Special Projects and Reporting. She also led various Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility projects for DELL and Roche Philippines. Niala is a Registered Nurse and a graduate of University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM). She pursued graduate studies in Project Management from the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business.

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