THE MANILA TIMES | APRIL 17, 2019

Registered POGOs face tax bureau audit

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Php20.00

•• 6 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 186 32

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019

Manila Water COO steps down 4(% #()%& OPERATING OFkCER #// OF Manila Water Co. Inc. has stepped down, following last month’s water shortage that hit about 1.2 million households in Metro Manila and Rizal province.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Manila Water said it had accepted the resignation of Geodino Carpio, who availed himself of an early retirement package.

His resignation took effect at the close of business hours on Tuesday.

Manila Water appointed Abelardo BasiLIO AS ACTING #// CONCURRENT WITH HIS POsition as group director for strategic asset MANAGEMENT AND DATA PROTECTION OFkCER

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Trusted since 1898

PH protests Chinese fishing at Panatag

BY RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

T

HE FOREIGN Affairs department has formally protested China’s reported mass harvesting of giant clams at the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which MalacaĂąang on Tuesday called as an “affrontâ€? to the Philippines.

ÂłWater A2

The crucifixion of the peasantry

A television news report by ABS-CBN showed &ILIPINO kSHERS SAYING #HINESE BOATS HAD BEEN doing clam extraction at Panatag “for years,�

CLOUDING THE WATERS AND AFFECTING THEIR kSH CATCH )N A NEWS BRIEkNG 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO SAID THE #HINESE MOVE WAS gDEkNITELYu A breach of the Philippines’ sovereignty. “[It is surely a violation of our sovereignty]‌If it’s our territory, therefore, it is an affront to our territory and to our sovereignty,â€? he said.

In a related development, a group of FiliPINO kSHERS SOUGHT A 7RIT OF +ALIKASAN FROM the Supreme Court on Tuesday, to compel the government to protect the disputed islands (see story on A2).

Panelo, however, noted that China was only being consistent with its claim on the whole West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “We have to be consistent with ours. As far as we’re concerned, that is ours, we will be objecting

MIDWEEK COMMENTS MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

T

HE municipal government of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, has designated a town park for a monument that will honor the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon, or THE (UKBALAHAP THE kERCE AND UNRELENTing peasant army of the Left during the Japanese occupation. Luis (Taruc), Guan

ÂłRonquillo A4

Notre Dame: An Omen

ÂłPanatag A2

H O LY W E D N E S DAY

CREATORS SYNDICATE

Take hard look at relationship with Christ – bishop

DENNIS PRAGER

T

HE symbolism of the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral, the most renowned building in Western civilization, the iconic symbol of Western Christendom, is hard to miss.

It is as if God Himself wanted to warn us in the most unmistakable way that

and roof collapsed Monday night in a blaze thought to be linked to extensive renovation work.

French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced Tuesday that he AND THE ,6-( LUXURY CONGLOMERate he controls would give 200 million euros ($226 million) for

")3(/0 'ERARDO !LMINAZA OF 3AN #ARLOS DIOCESE IN .EGROS /CCIDENTAL SAID (OLY 7EDNESDAY IS AN invitation for the faithful to take a “hard look� at their relationship with Jesus Christ that they “presumably committed to follow.�

Alminaza said Christians could ask the following questions to assess their faithfulness or lack thereof: “How central God really is in our life?

How closely or far away have we followed the Lord in our attitudes, priorities, mindset and lifestyle?�

Fr. Roy Bellen, head of the Archdiocese of -ANILA /FkCE OF #OMMUNICATIONS SAID IN HIS RElECTION AIRED OVER 46 -ARIA ON 4UESDAY THAT Holy Wednesday is also a commemoration of Judas’ kiss, the traitor-apostle’s act of betrayal in the guise of affection or friendship.

Bellen said Christians were the very ones who “betray and abandon� Jesus, their savior from sin and death.

In the Bible, Judas is portrayed as one of Christ’s closest disciples, who turned out to be a spy of temple authorities and betrayed Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

ÂłNotre-Dame A2

ÂłBishop A8

ÂłOmen A6

HISTORY BURNS

RIG RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO Columnist Rigoberto Tiglao is on leave from today until the weekend.

He will resume his column on Monday, April 22.

Flames and smoke rise as the spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the symbol of Christian Europe, is engulfed by fire on Monday (early Tuesday in Manila). AP PHOTO

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

What’s inside COMPEL GOVT TO PROTECT DISPUTED ISLANDS, SC URGED

NewsA2

Pledges to rebuild Notre-Dame pour in Main structure intact after huge fire PARIS: Billionaires and private donors pledged hundreds of millions of euros on Tuesday to help rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris which has been devastated by fire.

President Emmanuel Macron has vowed the emblematic monument will be rebuilt after its spire

ROAD CLOSURES ORDERED IN MANILA P A L A C E : NewsA8

Vetoed budget items ‘unconstitutional’

CLIPPERS PULL OFF BIGGEST COMEBACK IN PLAYOFF HISTORY

SportsC1

NEW OFW MOVIE VEERS AWAY FROM SAD TALES, FOCUSES ON SUCCESS

EntertainmentD4

-!,!#!ÂŤ!.' ON 4UESDAY JUSTIkED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIgo Duterte’s veto of P95.3 billion worth of programs and projects in the 2019 national budget, saying the provisions were “unconstitutional.â€?

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo explained that the vetoed provisions were “insertions,� not part of the programs of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Duterte signed, sans the usual ceremony, the muchdelayed General Appropriations Bill into law on April 15, but vetoed P95.3 billion worth of items.

It ended a months-long delay that forced the government to operate on the 2018 budget, resulting in delayed projects that could slow economic growth.

Panelo, Duterte’s chief legal counsel, also said the vetoed items in the budget were “unprogrammed.�

ÂłBudget A8

WITHOUT FANFARE

President Rodrigo Duterte signs the 2019 General Appropriations Act. MALACAĂ‘ANG PHOTO

A2

News

˜ The Manila Times

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WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Compel govt to protect disputed islands, SC urged

BY JOMAR CANLAS

A

'2/50 OF kSHERMEN ASKED THE 3UPREME Court (SC) on Tuesday to compel the government to protect disputed shoals in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), WHERE #HINESE kSHERMEN HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN harvesting marine resources.

In a 34-page petition for a g7RIT OF +ALIKASANu TO ORDER THE government to protect, preserve and rehabilitate the environment in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Mischief Reef (Panganiban) 2EEF THE GROUP OF kSHERMEN FROM Palawan and Zambales named the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and Department of Justice as respondents.

The petitioners, represented by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, stated that Ayungin Shoal and Panganiban Reef are part of the exclusive economic zone

(EEZ) of the Philippines on the basis of the 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Scarborough Shoal is likewise part of the EEZ under Republic Act 9522 or the “Philippine Baselines Law.�

They argued that since the three areas are part of the country’s EEZ, these should be covered by environmental laws of the country such as the Philippine Fisheries Code.

They argued that they “have no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy as petitioners are complaining of acts by the government agencies themselves who are supposed to be upholding Philippine environmental laws and protecting the environment and resources

in Philippine territory.� “Respondents have failed to perform their duties as mandated in the above-mentioned environmental laws and regulations,� they pointed out. “Chinese fishermen harvested endangered and threatened species and used cyanide and explosives in their fishing... the marine environment and resources in the abovementioned areas were damaged severely and extensively in spite of adequate Philippine laws to protect them. Clearly, the damage is brought upon by lack of enforcement of Philippine environmental laws by respondents,� they added.

The group also slammed the island-building done by China on Panganiban Reef.

Court defers Ressa’s cyberlibel arraignment THE MANILA court where journalist Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. are facing a cyberlibel charge has reset their arraignment to May 17.

Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa allowed the acCUSED TO kLE A MOTION TO RECONsider her decision to dismiss their cyberlibel case on April 12. Estacio-Montesa gave them 10 days.

Ressa’s news website Rappler is ACCUSED OF PUBLISHING A CLEARLY defamatory story titled “CJ using 356S OF @CONTROVERSIAL BUSINESSmen,� which claimed that busiNESSMAN 7ILFREDO +ENG OWNED THE sport utility vehicle that the late chief justice Renato Corona used during his impeachment trial. /N -AY

3ANTOS REPORTED THAT +ENG HAD BEEN UNDER SURveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in illegal activities, namely “human TRAFkCKING AND DRUG SMUGGLING u The Department of Justice said Ressa and Santos violated the Section 4(C)(4) of Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act.�

The legal counsel of Ressa and Santos, the Free Legal Assistance

Group’s Theodore Te, told reporters their position remained the same — the prescription period for the libel case is one year under criminal law, not 12 years under RA 10175.

4E ALSO SAID THAT FROM /CT

2012 continuously until April 22, 2014, there was effectively no Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, meaning no law could be applied retroactively because it was subject to a temporary restraining order.

Ressa appeared before the RTC Branch 46 for her arraignment on Tuesday morning. She said the case was incredibly important to look at because it was not just about Rappler, but anyone who posts on the web.

2APPLER IS FACING CASES kLED BY THE Philippine government, all of which, according to her, were ridiculous.

Ressa has posted bail eight times and was arrested twice in kVE WEEKS “I am just a journalist trying to do my job and I ask the government to let us do that. They should not be afraid of being held to account, of being asked to explain their actions to the Filipino people,� she said.

CATHERINE A. MODESTO

Q PANATAG FROM A1

with the Philippines in the sea dispute and junking China’s claims.

Panelo on Tuesday said it would be up to Duterte if he would tap the United States’ help over the maritime dispute.

PH protests

FOR PEACEFUL POLLS Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. (left), Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abbas (center) and Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde discuss security updates for the May elections under the National Joint Security Coordination Center during a meeting on Tuesday in Quezon City. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Albayalde wants security of ‘narcopols’ pulled out THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has recommended to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the removal of security detail of politicians included in the government’s “narcolist.�

0OLICE 'EN /SCAR !LBAYALDE THE PNP chief, defended his recommendation, saying the politicians’ inclusion in the narcolist, or list of GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS INVOLVED IN ILlegal drugs, would be “enough basis� for pulling out security detail.

Albayalde attended the Joint Security Control Center Meeting

between the PNP, Comelec and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, in preparation for the midterm elections in May 2019. “Security is not a matter of right, it’s a privilege. It can always be revoked anytime,� he told reporters in a news conference.

(E CLARIkED THAT NOT ALL POLITIcians included in the narcolist were given security escorts.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said he was still assessing the letter

Q NOTRE-DAME FROM A1

Pledges pour in to rebuild watched on in horror. the reconstruction efforts. !S DARKNESS FELL SOME kREThe pledge came after Arnault’s kGHTERS THEN BATTLED TO CONTROL THE CROSSTOWN RIVAL +ERING THE FASHION group founded by fellow billionaire kRE AND SAVE AT LEAST ITS ICONIC FRONT Francois Pinault, offered 100 million euros to help “completely rebuild Notre-Dame.�

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also said Tuesday that the city would unlock 50 million euros, and would propose holding an international donors’ conference in the coming weeks to coordinate the pledges to restore the gothic architectural masterpiece.

The privately run French Heritage Foundation has already launched a call for donations on its website — www.fondation-patrimoine.org — while several pages were set up on the Leetchi fundraising portal.

The Ile-de-France region comprising the greater Paris region is to provide another 10 million euros. &RENCH kREkGHTERS -ONDAY WON an hours-long battle to save the main structure of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, after a colossal kRE CAUSED THE SPIRE OF THE HISTORIC EDIkCE TO CRASH TO THE GROUND AND wiped out centuries of heritage.

Main structure saved 4HE kRE DESTROYED THE ROOF OF THE 850-year-old world heritage landmark, whose spectacular Gothic spire collapsed before the eyes of HORRIkED ONLOOKERS ON A PREVIOUSLY pristine early spring evening.

4HE kRE WHICH CAME AS #ATHOlics prepare to celebrate Easter, SENT ORANGE lAMES AND CLOUDS OF grey smoke billowing into the sky as stunned Parisians and tourists

TOWERS 4HEY kNALLY GAINED THE UPper hand as midnight approached.

Paris Fire Brigade chief JeanClaude Gallet said, “We can consider that the main structure of Notre-Dame has been saved and preserved� as well as the two towers.

The cause of the blaze was not imMEDIATELY CONkRMED 4HE CATHEDRAL had been undergoing intense restoRATION WORK WHICH THE kRE SERVICE said could be linked to the blaze.

French prosecutors said the blaze was being treated as an “involunTARYu kRE INDICATING THAT FOUL PLAY was ruled out for now.

Pope Francis urged all to “mobilizeâ€? to rebuild the cathedral, While Queen Elizabeth 2nd said she was “deeply sadDENEDu BY THE DEVASTATING kRE In Manila, MalacaĂąan Palace said the Philippine government was “deeply saddened and bothered by THE kRE u g/UR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE with the people of France as well as in solidarity with the rest of the world for this heartbreaking incident,â€? Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. urged the Philippine government and Filipinos to donate for the restoration of the cathedral. “Notre-Dame is a heritage of all mankind. I encourage donations from our end,� Locsin said on Twitter.

In a statement, the French embassy in Manila thanked “our friends in the Philippines for their heartfelt

sent by Albayalde.

Albayalde said the PNP might also recommend the removal of security escorts of politicians supporting the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

In February, Interior Secretary Eduardo Aùo announced a list of at least 349 politicians supposedly supporting communist rebels in THE COUNTRYSIDE THROUGH kNANCIAL aid or by giving in to the group’s extortion activities.

Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the AFP chief of staff, said the number

of politicians giving campaign fees of the NPA had decreased.

Madrigal cited the number of local government units that had declared NPA rebels as “personae non gratae.�

The town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte started it when former Bayan Muna party-list representative 3ATUR /CAMPO !#4 4EACHERS PARTY list Rep. France Castro and several others were arrested there last year over alleged kidnapping and human TRAFkCKING AFTER SUPPOSEDLY RESCUING indigenous children from abusers.

DEMPSEY REYES

MESSAGES FOLLOWING THE MASSIVE kRE that engulfed parts of the Notre Dame de Paris.�

government to mobilize the resources to quickly restore the cathedral. “Since yesterday I’ve been hearing that it will take a decade, what nonsense!� former culture minister Jack Lang told Agence France-Presse outside the church on Tuesday.

He called instead for an ambitious three-year project to rebuild the destroyed roof and its towering spire, which collapsed as a burning ember around two hours after the blaze erupted. “You have to set a short deadline, as we’ve done in the past with other exceptional works,� he said.

4HE GOTHIC EDIkCE HAD BEEN UNDERgoing an 11-million-euro ($12.4-milLION OVERHAUL kNANCED BY THE &RENCH STATE TO REPAIR DAMAGE INlICTED BY time, pollution and the weather.

The cathedral was located at the center of the French capital in the Middle Ages and its construction was completed in the mid-12th century after some 200 years of work.

During the French Revolution in the 18th century, the cathedral was vandalized during widespread anti-Catholic violence: its spire was dismantled, its treasures plundered and its large statues at the grand entrance doors destroyed.

It would go on to feature as a cenTRAL CHARACTER IN A 6ICTOR (UGO NOVEL published in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and shortly afterwards a restoration project lasting two decades got underway, led by ARCHITECT %UGENE 6IOLLET LE $UC It would survive the devastation OF TWO WORLD CONlICTS IN THE TH century and famously rang its bells on Aug. 24, 1944, the day of the Liberation of Paris from German occupation at the end of the World War 2.

AFP, RALPH U. VILLANUEVA AND BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Wooden beams offered Specialized craftsmen and rare materials are also expected to be needed to restore the monument, which welcomes more than 13 million visitors each year — an average of more than 35,000 people a day.

The head of a French lumber company told FranceInfo radio that it was ready to offer the best oak beams available to rebuild the intricate lattice that supported the now-destroyed roof, known as the “Forest.� “The work will surely take years, decades even, but it will require thousands of cubic meters of wood. We’ll HAVE TO kND THE BEST SPECIMENS WITH large diameters,� Sylvain Charlois of the Charlois group in Murlin, central France, told the radio station.

The United Nations’ Paris-based cultural agency United Nations %DUCATIONAL 3CIENTIkC AND #ULTURAL /RGANIZATION 5NESCO HAS ALSO promised to stand “at France’s side� to restore the site, which it declared a world heritage site in 1991. “We are already in contact with experts and ready to dispatch an urgent mission to evaluate the damage, save what can be saved and start elaborating measures for the short- and medium-term,� Unesco Secretary General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement Tuesday.

Done in years?

The painstaking renovation work is likely to cost hundreds of millions of euros over several years, if not decades, though experts breathed sighs of relief that the damage was not even worse.

"UT MANY OFkCIALS WERE URGING THE

to any intrusion to our own territory,� he said.

Panatag is considered a tradiTIONAL kSHING GROUND OF &ILIPINO

#HINESE AND 6IETNAMESE FISHERS

but falls within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. China seized control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippines.

Diplomatic note filed Earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the 0HILIPPINES HAD kLED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE WITH #HINA REGARDING THE 46 news report.

In a tweet, Locsin also said the Philippines was mulling legal action against China. “It is] with our legal department now,� he said.

The report came a few weeks after Chinese vessels were spotted around the Philippine-controlled Pag-asa 4HITU )SLAND AND +OTA ,OAITA )SLAND IN THE +ALAYAAN 3PRATLY )SLAND 'ROUP Panelo earlier told the Chinese vessels to “go away� from the islands because “they do not have any business there.�

Duterte had also said China should “lay off� Pag-asa Island.

Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last MONTH kLED A COMMUNICATION AGAINST Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court for “implementing a “systematic plan to control� the contested sea and violatING THE RIGHTS OF &ILIPINO kSHERS Last week, Panelo invoked for the kRST TIME THE RULING OF THE 0ERmanent Court of Arbitration siding

Q WATERFROM A1

Manila Water According to Manila Water’s website, Carpio joined Manila Water in 1997 as chief information OFkCER AND BECAME GROUP DIRECTOR for project delivery.

He was a member of the board of directors of various Manila Water subsidiaries and vice president of Manila Water Foundation Inc. Basilio has been with the East Zone concessionaire for 22 years.

He previously served as director of technical services, group director of east zone business operations, AND OFkCER IN CHARGE OF CORPORATE regulatory affairs.

Prior to his stint at Manila Water, Basilio worked for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, which he joined in 1984.

4HE NEW #// HAS gEXPERIENCE in water utility operations which include hydraulic engineering, water treatment, distribution and network management,� the Ayalaheld company said.

-ANILA 7ATER CAME UNDER kRE as customers — from low-income

Chinese vessels still at Spratlys #HINESE kSHING VESSELS CONTINUE TO ROAM AROUND THE +ALAYAAN )SLAND Group, the military’s Western Command (WesCom) said on Tuesday.

6ICE !DMIRAL 2ENE -EDINA

commander of the Palawan-based WesCom, said Chinese vessels were circling not just at Pag-asa, but other islands in the Spratly archipelago.

Medina did not specify all of the Philippine-occupied islands and reefs surrounded by Chinese vessels, BUT REPLIED IN THE AFkRMATIVE WHEN asked if it included Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal. “They are still roaming around there,� Medina told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Hasa-Hasa Shoal is located 68 nautical miles from Balabac Island in Palawan. The shoal is said to be the trading POST OF &ILIPINO kSHERMEN TRANSACTING WITH #HINESE kSH TRADERS Last year, the Philippine Navy’s lAGSHIP BRP Gregorio del Pilar ran aground the area.

In 2012, a Chinese frigate also ran aground the shoal, after conducting patrols.

Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the Armed Forces chief of staff, CONkRMED THE PRESENCE OF ABOUT #HINESE kSHING VESSELS IN THE disputed waters.

Panelo and Madrigal backed the DECISION OF ,OCSIN TO kLE A PROTEST against China for its harvesting of giant clams within Scarborough Shoal.

WITH DEMPSEY REYES

families to commercial and industrial establishments — suffered major inconveniences because of an unprecedented water shortage that started on March 6 with the implementation of a scheduled water service interruption scheme TO REkLL RESERVOIRS The utility has an allocation of 1,600 million liters per day (MLD) from Angat Dam. However, the company was forced to tap its reserves from La Mesa Dam to make UP FOR A SUPPLY DEkCIT AS DEMAND increased to about 1,750 MLD over the previous weeks.

To provide relief to its customers, Manila Water announced a one-time bill relief.

Manila Water covers the cities of Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Makati, parts of Quezon City and Manila.

It also serves Antipolo City and the towns of Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jala-Jala, Morong, Pililla, Rodriguez, Tanay, Taytay and San Mateo in Rizal.

Manila Water shares rose P0.30 or 1.30 percent on Tuesday to close at P23.45 apiece.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

News

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WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

A3

Duterte OKs plan against Reds

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved a national plan to integrate the government’s efforts to address THE ARMED CONlICT WITH LOCAL COMMUNISTS

MalacaĂąang said on Tuesday.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the plan was approved by the President during his meeting with the National Task Force to End Local ComMUNIST !RMED #ONlICT IN -ALAcaĂąang on Monday night. “President Rodrigo Duterte today rallied all instrumentalities of government, the private sector and the entire Filipino

nation to actively work together in a Whole-of-Nation Movement to address violent conflicts, as well as build a culture of peace and development throughout the country,� he said in a press briefing.

The national plan also harmonizes efforts of various agencies and sectors “in delivering goods and services, as well as in pro-

viding for peace and security, especially in conflict-affected communities,� he added.

According to Panelo, the members of the Cabinet and other heads of agencies who attended the meeting agreed that the plan did not primarily aim to crush the communist insurgency, but demonstrates “genuine good governance for the betterment of the lives of the people.� “To effectively manage the Whole-of-Nation Movement, THE 0RESIDENT WILL ASSIGN SPECIkC Cabinet members to oversee the peace and development efforts in every region. The designated #ABINET OFkCER FOR THE REGION WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A UNIkED AND IN-

tegrated Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council,� he said.

The Palace official said the government would also pursue the implementation of the national Wi-Fi and 911 projects in all villages nationwide. “By effectively managing barriers and challenges to peace and development, the Wholeof-Nation Movement envisions to build resilient and robust communities that promote the welfare and well-being of the Filipino people,� Panelo said.

In December last year, Duterte, through Executive Order 70, ordered the creation of a national task force to end the LOCAL COMMUNIST ARMED CONlICT

in the country.

The task force, headed by the President, was mandated to craft and implement a “National Peace Framework that will include development and peace-building initiatives in CONlICT AFFECTED PLACES u Duterte had expressed hope that the communist insurgency would be over by the second quarter of 2019.

He had repeatedly appealed to communist rebels to lay down their arms and surrender to authorities, promising to provide them with housing and livelihood assistance On March 21, Duterte announced the “permanent� termination of peace dialogue between his administration and

the communist leaders However, he backtracked on April 13, saying he was considering reopening peace talks with the communist party by creating a military-led peace panel. “If you want to talk to me, I’ll send someone else. You talk to each other. I don’t want to talk anymore,� Duterte said in his speech in Bukidnon. “I’ll look for another way [to revive the peace talks] and new people to talk to. Maybe one, two or three from the military, maybe around five. Two civilians and three from the military,� he added.

But Panelo said the creation of the new peace panel was not tackled during Monday’s meeting.

GO TO REPAY PEOPLE’S SUPPORT WITH SERVICE CHRISTOPHER Lawrence “Bong�

Go has vowed to repay with genuine service the kindness and support of Filipinos to his candidacy.

Go made the commitment as he thanked CaviteĂąos for the rousing welcome he received during his motorcade in the cities of DasmariĂąas and Imus. “Sobrang init po ng pagtanggap nila sa akin dito. Aasahan n’yo po na serbisyo, serbisyo, serbisyo lang po ako. ‘Yun po ang isusukli ko sa suportang ibinibigay ng mga kapatid natin (They really welcomed me warmly. You can count on me to serve, serve, serve. I will repay their support with true service),â€? Go said.

In DasmariĂąas City, he met WITH LOCAL OFkCIALS AND COMMUnity leaders to discuss his plans, particularly in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal AND 1UEZON 2EGION “Isusulong ko po pagdating ng panahon ‘yung Magna Carta FOR BARANGAY OFkCIALS po (I will push the Magna Carta for VilLAGE OFkCIALS u 'O SAID NOTING

THAT VILLAGE OFkCIALS ARE IN THE nararapat na benepisyo, mula forefront of delivery of services. sa barangay chairman down to “Gusto ko po silang bigyan ng barangay kagawads, (I want them

TO HAVE BETTER BENEkTS FROM THE village chairman down to village councilor) including maybe SK

Q CaviteĂąos line the streets in DasmariĂąas City to welcome Christopher Lawrence “Bongâ€? Go. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Healthcare law to address lack of doctors — Ejercito SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Tuesday said the lack of doctors and medical staff in far-flung areas would be addressed once the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law is implemented.

The reelectionist senator deplored that 6 out of 10 Filipinos die without seeing a doctor or health professional.

With the implementation of UHC, the doctor to population ratio in underserved areas, mostly geographically

isolated and disadvantaged communities, would narrow down, he said. The law requires doctors and graduates of other medical courses from state universities and colleges to serve for at least three full years in far-flung areas that “ rarely see doctors,� he said. “All graduates of allied and health-related courses, who are recipients of government-funded scholarship programs shall be required to

serve in priority areas in the public sector for at least three full years, with compensation, and under the supervision of the DoH (Department of Health),� Ejercito said.  The law also provides that even graduates of allied and health-related courses from private schools would be encouraged to serve. “These doctors and medical personnel will have compensation,� Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on

Health, said.

The UHC also allows additional incentives for health professionals who want to serve longer than their required three-year “tour of duty.�

Ejercito said the law had tasked the Health department to coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education to ensure effective implementation of the Human Resource for Health provisions of UHC. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

The doctrine of last clear chance Dear PAO, My father was involved in a vehicular accident with a certain bus last month. After his discharge from the hospital, we negotiated with the bus company regarding the possible payment of compensation to his injuries. The driver stated during the negotiation that he or the company should not be liable for any amount because during the incident, my father was driving his car in a very fast manner on the shoulder of the road, creating dust clouds. He further stated that at a distance of, more or less, 300 meters, my father’s car tried to return to its proper lane; however, it went out of control and occupied the lane where the bus was running, thus resulting in the collision. These facts according to him prove that my father was at fault; hence, he should be the proper party to initiate a complaint for the negligence of my father. Is he correct?

Perry Dear Perry, Under Article 2176 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines, it is stated: “Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for the damage done. Such fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties, is called quasi-delict and is governed by the provision of this chapter.�

Your father then may be held liable for damages due to his negligence in driving his vehicle.

On the other hand, the bus driver also failed to observe the diligence required under the circumstances for common carriers. This is stated under Article 1733 of the same code, which states that: “Common carriers, from the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, are bound to observe extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the goods and for the safety of the passengers transported by them, according to all the circumstances of each case. xxx�.

Both parties are deemed to be negligent based on the facts you

have provided. Please be guided by the decision in the case of Greenstar Express Inc. and Sayson Jr. vs Universal Robina Corp. and Nissin Universal Robina Corp. (GR 205090, Oct. 17, 2016), where the Supreme Court through Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo stated: “xxx The doctrine of last clear chance provides that where both parties are negligent but the negligent act of one is appreciably later in point of time than that of the other, or where it is impossible to determine whose fault or negligence brought about the occurrence of the incident, the one who had the last clear opportunity to avoid the impending harm but failed to do so, is chargeable with the consequence arising therefrom. Stated differently, the rule is that the antecedent negligence of a person does not preclude recovery of damages caused by supervening negligence of the latter, who had the last fair chance to prevent the impending harm by the exercise of due diligence.�

Applying the above-cited decision in your situation, your father and the bus driver were both negligent under the circumstanc-

es. However, it is clear that the bus driver’s negligence came at a later point. He saw the vehicle of your father running very fast on the shoulder of the road, which even created cloud dust and at a distance of 300 meters, the vehicle tried to return to its proper lane; however, it went out of control and occupied the lane of the bus.

In this instance, the bus driver had the last opportunity to avoid the collision by slowing down or stopping the bus but he failed to do so. Clearly, the bus driver failed to exercise extraordinary diligence.

Thus, you may still recover damages against the bus driver/bus company, and the latter has no cause of action for damages against your father.

This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated.

We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

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

(Sangguniang Kabataan),� he added.

Go is considered an adopted son of the province after Calabarzon governors issued in February a manifesto supporting his candidacy.

The former Palace official told CaviteĂąos that he would support the proper implemenTATION OF THE u"UILD "UILD

"UILDu INITIATIVE OF 0RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, particularly the projects that would benefit the people of the province and the entire region. “Sa Build, Build Build Program

[magkakaroon] ng easy access po ‘dun sa mga daan dito sa Cavite.

May mga proposal po ngayon na train para mapabilis ang transportasyon (The Build, Build, Build program will improve the road networks in Cavite for faster transportation),� Go said.

Among the infrastructure projects in Cavite are the Cavite-Laguna Expressway that will connect Cavitex in Kawit and South Luzon Expressway in BiĂąan, Laguna and the light rail transit line 1 Cavite Extension that will connect Bacoor to the existing Baclaran Station in ParaĂąaque City.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l Callao discovery leaves indelible mark on human evolution map

A

GROUP of foreign and local scientists, including archaeologists from UP Diliman, announced last WEEK IN THE SCIENTIkC JOURNAL Nature that fossils unearthed in Callao Cave in Cagayan Province, northern Philippines belonged to an older than the previously known human species from this part of the world.

Named Homo luzonensis, the now extinct species falls under the hominins, ancient human species closer to modern humans than to the great apes. Its discovery, based on seven teeth and small bones believed to have come from three individuals from the Late Pleistocene period, is itself an astonishing feat, enough to place the names of UP associate professor Armand Salvador Mijares and his team in the annals of archaeology.

But what moved the needle further was the dating of one of the fossil remains, a metatarsal or foot bone, to 67,000 years ago.

For one, the Callao Man has superseded the Tabon Man, discovered by American anthropologist Robert Fox in Palawan in 1962, in the history books as the earliest human species found in the Philippines. The Tabon Man is Homo sapiens, a modern human, with the oldest skeletal remains dating to only 16,500 years ago, although one tibia or lower leg bone is believed to have come from 47,000 years ago.

That a unique human species once roamed the island of Luzon, not known to have been accessible from mainland Asia by land bridges, is a tantalizing fact.

How H. luzonensis found its way to Cagayan Valley, east of the so-called Wallace Line differentiating Southeast Asian and Australian fauna, is an intriguing question that could redraw the path of human migration.

The importance of H. luzonensis is also apparent when taken side by side with the earlier unexpected discovery of a new human species, ( lORESIENSIS , from the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2004. The two are entirely different species but have similarities to the more ancient Australopithecus, believed to have originated from Africa.

One of the foot bones found in Callao is unusually bent, a feature of the climbing australopithecines, according to National Geographic.

The teeth have features similar to hominin remains found in southern China, such as a premolar with three roots not found in modern humans.

4HESE kNDINGS INDICATE THAT THE 0HILIPPINES WHICH HITHERTO HAD A MARGINAL IF NOT INSIGNIkCANT ROLE IN the study of human evolution, should actually be in the middle of it.

Luzon’s fauna and flora, according to the UP researchers, have been known for a long time for a “high rate of endemism and the discovery of anthropogenic elements.� These include stone tools and butchery marks in a Kalinga site, which indicate the existence of ancient human species in Luzon as early as about 700,000 years ago.

The fantastic find in Callao warrants more research efforts across Philippine prehistoric sites, preferably funded by the state. There could be more significant archaeological treasures waiting to be unearthed, providing us, modern humans, a deeper glimpse into our ancient past — how our ancestors came to being and how they once lived — and allowing us a greater sense of our place in the human species’ evolutionary process. ~

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 186

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

Q RONQUILLO FROM A1

The crucifixion of the peasantry Yek (Casto Alejandrino) and Linda Bie (Silvestre Liwanag Sr.) and the leading commanders of the Hukbalahap will be among the faces in that monument, given their legendary roles in the peasant movement.

4HE FACELESS FORGOTTEN kGHTERS WHO fought side by side with the commanders in those fierce, bloody encounters with the Japanese — my late father and my mother among them — will probably be represented by one John Doe. Even in the simple act of remembering, the leaders are placed on a pedestal and the faceless followers are relegated to the footnotes.

But even that monument to be built in Sta. Rita, Cabiao, then a forested barrio at the foot of Mount Arayat, which hosted the hastily convened plenum that formalized the formation of the peasant-led army in 1942, will not provide comfort to Ka Luis, Guan Yek et al. The tillers that they hoped would soon be delivered from the bondage of poverty and exploitation remain the 21st century’s version of Fanon’s “wretched of the earth.�

But there is a difference between then and now. The peasantry then had an army that almost brought down the seat of state power.

Their anguish and plaints was always the number one agenda of government. They had charismatic leaders like Ka Luis. They had the attention of government. The

“now� is depressing.

Today is probably the lowest point in the history of the aggrieved Philippine peasantry. They are aggrieved, and they are voiceless.

They are prostrate but possessed zero leverage. The listening posts of THE OFkCIAL STATE WERE ALWAYS TUNED in to the plaints of the farmers of the previous generation because of their rebellious, impatient nature.

Today, government would rather listen to the gripes of motorcycle riders about the contours of their plates than recognize the legitimate anguish of the current generation of soil tillers.

Ka Luis has been rolling and twisting in his grave, shocked by an arc of history that has relegated the current generation of small farmers to the lowly class of medieval serfs. The events that recently unfolded have all but sealed the prostrate status of the Philippine peasantry now called “small farmers� to perhaps emphasize their smallness and timidity.

Benjamin Diokno, the erstwhile Budget secretary and spokesman of a cabinet faction that would beat and bludgeon the agriculture sector whenever the opportunity arose, was recently named central bank governor. As a member of the Duterte cabinet, Diokno led the charge to reduce support to agriculture on the premise that the sector that makes up the majority of the country’s workforce is

the “sunset,� forgettable part of the economy. One of his last acts as Budget secretary was to announce the implementation of a policy of unlimited sugar importation.

In a context where credit is the lifeblood of the agricultural production, especially the credit-starved small farmers, the ascendancy of A CERTIkED GRIFTER LIKE $IOKNO INTO that exalted post of overseer of the country’s monetary policy will be a disaster. The mendicancy of the banking system, which would rather PAY BILLIONS OF PESOS IN kNES THAN follow the provisions of the AgriAgra Law, would reach new, mocking heights. The banking system was emboldened to mock the Agri-Agra Law in 2018, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.

Things would grow worse in 2019.

The most critical component of the Agri-Agra Law is the provision that 10 percent of the yearly loanable funds of banks should GO TO AGRARIAN REFORM BENEkCIAries, those that really fall into the category of peasants, aka small farmers. The total lending of the major banks to this sector in 2018, according to BSP data, was not even 1 percent. The other big banks, the “thrift banks,� mostly owned by the banking conglomerates, allocated just 1.2 percent of their yearly loan portfolio to AGRARIAN REFORM BENEkCIARIES 9ET kVE OF THESE MAJOR BANKS (the biggest of the big), including

the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines, whose original charter was that of a bank for farmers and AGRARIAN REFORM BENEkCIARIES LENT a total of $412 million to bankrupt Hanjin, the Korean shipbuilder based at Subic. Banks refuse to lend to farmers on the grounds THAT THEIR kDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO their stakeholders dictate so. On THE (ANJIN LOAN THAT gkDUCIARYu invocation was jettisoned as the $412 million loan was unsecured.

The country’s 3 million small rice farmers have started serving their death sentence as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law on rice import liberalization has been rolled out by the cabinet. Mr. Pernia, the Economic Planning secretary, called the IRR on rice import liberalization as a “milestone� event for the country — which means the start of a real process to eviscerate the small rice tillers. Farmgate prices of palay in Central Luzon have dropped to P13.50 per kilogram, from the usual P17 to P19 per kg. Farmers are restless.

In this dark comedy on the prostrate farmers, the lead player in the legislature that has been assuring the FARMERS THAT ALL WILL BE kNE AND WELL UNDER THE RICE TARIFkCATION REGIME IS Sen. Cynthia Villar, the other half of the land banking empire. And, irony of ironies, the chair of the Senate agriculture committee.

O tempora. O mores.

What voters don’t know

I

S the saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you� true?

Many Filipinos are blissfully unaware of the internal workings of computer systems, software programs, or apps as they are referred to nowadays, or do not make a distinction between the internet and Facebook. To many, Facebook is the internet and using a smartphone is a way to access Facebook. Many users of smartphones are not even aware why their mobile devices are called smartphones. They simply refer to them by their brand names.

While users of technology are unaware of how it works, it has surely impacted their lives, whether positive or negative.

PCOS and VCM have hit home, too. Voters who voted in the past elections can easily relate to how ballots are inserted into the VCM. But the same voters are unaware of how the VCM measured the shade on the oval across the name of the candidate of their choice.

Neither do they know how the votes are counted and how the election returns are generated.

Sure, voters know that VCMs are distributed nationwide — in all clustered precincts in voting centers. But they are unaware that there is a whole network

of machines nationwide that is consolidating election results and pushing and receiving election results through the ether.

All that voters and the public see are the vote counts reported by media or organizations gathering the election returns from the transparency server or its MIRROR AND OF COURSE THE OFkcial results announced by nationAL AND LOCAL OFkCES OF THE #OMmission on Elections (Comelec).

In fact, far too many voters don’t know what the transparency server is and how the election returns are transmitted from the VCM to the transparency server.

Many are unaware that election returns from clustered precincts are transmitted to their assigned CCS or canvassing and consolidation system server.

Voters, too, are unaware that the machines and computers used in the automated elections keep a record of incidents and activities. For instance, the VCM has a record of activities or events that occurred while

in operation, from the time it is powered up to the time it is turned off. The VCM keeps a record of activities whether there is interaction with an election worker — the chairman of the board of election inspectors, the member, or the poll clerk — or the VCM simply executes tasks that it is programmed to do, like scanning a ballot that is inserted by a voter or printing several copies of the election returns. The VCM also “knows� how many ballots have been inserted.

The CCS, the Comelec central server, the transparency server and its mirror, and the servers and computing appliances used in the transmission and delivery of election results, all have logs.

Even the telecommunications providers generate and maintain logs, logs which keep a record of which SIM card numbers were used, when and where.

The logs provide a whole chain of evidence that may be reviewed and analyzed. Review of the logs may reveal regularity in the process but could also reveal events and incidents that may BE TAGGED WITH A RED lAG WHICH merit deeper investigation.

Wouldn’t the voters want to know what those potentially red lAG INCIDENTS ARE The joint congressional over-

sight committee on the automated election system (JCOC-AES) had organized a technical working group (JCOC-AES-TWG) to look into and review some sample logs of the VCMs and CCS machines.

Based on the sample logs reviewed, early transmissions may indeed have occurred but these happened during the testing activities: 1) the logic and accuracy test; and 2) the final testing and sealing.

But, preliminary reports presented during the meeting of the JCOC-AES-TWG showed red flag incidents.

There have been anecdotal reports of pre-shaded ballots being inserted into the votecounting machines in the past three national elections where the automated election system was used. The logs reviewed showed what might be the resurrection of what was known during the manual elections as ballot box-stuffing. This form OF CHEATING INVOLVES THE kLLING UP OF OFkCIAL BALLOTS WITH THE names of preferred candidates by people behind the scheme.

The scheme was detected because the ballots showed similar styles of handwriting. Transported to the automated election system,

ÂłAveria A5

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Good govt and community participation

T

HE idea sells, as shown by how governments and funders are buying it. But how IS THE PUBLIC SUPPOSED TO PROkT from it?

Community participation is known by many other names (citizen participation, collective action, collective governance, ETC AND DEkNED IN MANY WAYS One of the more commonly used definition recognizes it as “a SOCIAL PROCESS WHEREBY SPECIkC groups with shared needs livING IN A DEkNED GEOGRAPHIC AREA actively pursue identification of their needs, take decisions and establish mechanisms to meet these needs.�

Community participation evolved from ideas that found top-down approaches to governance (which used to be the norm, the “one-best-way� to govern, especially for monarchies and authoritarian regimes) unresponsive to the needs of the governed, especially those who, for lack of resource bases, have been pushed to the margins of society, the poor, the disadvantaged sectors, among others.

The Local Government Code of 1991 tried to establish structures by which bottom-up approaches to governance could be institutionalized at the community level. It provides that local development councils, among other local bodies, must be constituted in such a manner that at least 20 percent of their members are representatives of community-based organizations.

While some local government units have succeeded in getting people participation work for their constituents, as the experience of the province of Bulacan and the cities of Marikina and

INGMING ABERIA Naga — Hall of Famers of Galing Pook Awards — have shown, others have not been as wellknown in taking advantage of the enabling provisions of the Code.

Meanwhile, new models of community participation have emerged and were pilot-tested.

In 1999, the national government, supported by a World Bank (WB) loan, implemented the Community-Based Resource Management Project (CBRMP) and, in 2003, again with WB support, the Kalahi-CIDSS, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as lead implementing agency, broke new ground in terms of scale and potential. Sometime in 2014, the Department of the Interior and Local Government led the launch of “bottom-up budgeting� (renamed several times eventually), where government agencies were required to set aside 10 percent of their budgets for projects that went through a community decision-making process.

The CBRMP helped upland farmers and fisherfolk along coastal areas to acquire technical knowledge and skills they needed to develop agroforestry areas, watersheds, marine sanctuaries, etc. The process of capacity-building enabled them to analyze environmental issues and identify projects that addressed them, and eventually to take those projects to a successful kNISH 4ODAY IF YOU SEE STANDS OF durian trees somewhere in the

upland areas of Mahaplag, Leyte, for example, or marine sanctuaries that teem with marine life in Bohol, or mangrove forests in Palompon, also in Leyte, chances ARE THERE ARE FARMERS OR kSHERFOLK in those areas who are making positive things happen for the environment. Chances also are they have improved their lives from economic opportunities generated by their natural resource management projects.

The Kalahi-CIDSS, later renamed the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP), delimited the menu from which communities can choose development projects.

The scale was likewise expanded, starting with practically all provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao where poverty incidence had been pervasive. It is now implemented in almost all regions nationwide.

Because the people themselves are the ones who are analyzing their development issues and needs, identifying and prioritizing the projects they consider as responsive to their needs, implementing and monitoring them as well, and eventually taking responsibility for their operation and maintenance, communityled projects have been shown to control conditions that give rise to waste and corruption, thereby enhancing not only effectiveness BUT ALSO EFkCIENCY )NCREASED SENSE of ownership among the people ensures better quality of public investments through these projects.

The NCDDP has received fine reviews over the years, and much of the credit for its success can be attributed to the skill, professionalism and dedication of its noncareer project

staff. Some of them have been working with communities for 16 straight years.

Some say everyone likes to be associated with success; and the funders, along with the national and local governments, have expressed growing interest with offers of technical support and cash. Aside from WB, others like the Asian Development Bank, the Japanese government and the European Union have added to their portfolios either loan or grant accounts for NCDDP. The ultimate goal is for these community projects to contribute to achieving the task of reducing poverty in the countryside. While facilitating community processes is timeconsuming and costly, the positive returns are limitless. Public gains from facilitative inputs made possible by CBRMP and .#$$0 ARE HARDLY QUANTIkABLE

but they empower people and show the way for society to make its progress sustainable.

Perhaps more than anything, in a context where government is the problem and good government is the solution, as Sen. Ping Lacson put it in a recent social media post, ways that get things done differently, especially those that have been known to work, are what we need.

Mr. Ingming Aberia is a development worker by profession and training. He has worked for government, nongoverment and international development organizations like the ADB, Unicef and UNDP. He is currently working for an Unctad project in the Philippines.

'Mayor Pete' and the crackup of Christianity PENNSYLVANIA: “[T]here is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,� said Hamlet, who thereby raised some crucial questions: Is moral truth subjective? Does it change with changing times and changing attitudes? Or is there a higher law, a permanent law, God’s law, immutable and eternal, to which man’s law should conform?

Are, for example, the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, Christian teaching and natural law unchangeable and applicable to all men at all times? Or can some of the 10 be consigned to the dumpster of antiquated moral prohibitions?

This question has been brought straight into the presidential primaries by Pete Buttigieg, breakout star of the spring of 2019. “ M ayo r Pe t e � i s p r o u d l y gay and living happily with his husband.

He says God made him the way he is, and he is living the life God intended for him. Raising the same-sex marriage issue himself, the mayor defiantly taunted Mike Pence: “Yes, Mr. Vice President ... it has moved me closer to God. ... That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand: That if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me. ...Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.�

Buttigieg declared his candidacy Sunday, and his bid ensures that America’s deepening moral divide will be front and center in 2020.

Our culture wars will not be

CREATORS SYNDICATE

PATRICK J. BUCHANAN ending anytime soon.

This weekend, General Social Survey data revealed that Americans who profess to have “no religion,� 23.1 percent, now exceed Catholics, our largest religion with 23 percent, and Evangelicals at 22.5 percent. And the “nones� have grown by 266 percent since 1991.

As for the mainstream Protestant congregations, together, they are not half as numerous as those Americans who profess no religion.

Added to our racial and ethnic diversity, America is growing more diverse religiously, de-Christianizing with all deliberate speed.

We are becoming another people, and a post-Christian America appears to be our destiny well before the end of this century.

Consider what has changed already.

In the 19th century, blasphemy was a crime.

In the Roaring ‘20s the “vices� of booze and gambling were outlawed. Now they are major sources of state revenue.

Divorce was a rarity. Now half of all marriages are dissolved.

After the sexual revolution of the ‘60s, births out of wedlock rocketed to where 40 percent of all children are born without a father in the home, as are half of Hispanics and 70 percent of all black children.

Pornography, which used to

bring a prison term, today dominates cable TV. Marijuana, once a social scourge, is the hot new product. And Sen. Kamala Harris wants prostitution legalized.

In the lifetime of many Americans, homosexuality and abortion were still scandalous crimes.

They are now cherished constitutional rights.

Yet, Mayor Pete’s assertion — that God made him gay, and God intended that he live his life this way, and that this life is moral and good — is another milestone on the road to a new America.

For what Buttigieg is saying is that either God changes his moral law to conform to the changing behavior of mankind or that, for 2,000 years, Christian preaching and practice toward homosexuals has been bigoted, injurious and morally indefensible.

If Pete is right, since the time of Christ, Christians have ostracized and persecuted gays simply for being and behaving as God intended.

And if that is true, what is the defense of Christianity?

Already, among a good slice of America, especially the young, the West is guilty of centuries of racism, imperialism, colonialism, slavery, sexism, ethnic cleansing, religious persecution and cultural genocide against indigenous peoples.

Now, according to Mayor Pete’s logic, the West is also guilty of centuries of hateful homophobia toward people living as God made them and intended them to live.

What does this portend for 2020?

While Democrats defend Mayor Pete’s same-sex marriage as

moral, they will also insist that women’s “reproductive rights� remain sacrosanct, and that unborn infants, 60 million of whom have been killed in the womb since Roe v Wade in 1973, still have no rights at all, not even the right to life.

How does a nation so divided ever come together again?

How can a nation, many of whose elites are so ashamed of its history and heritage and deplorable other half — as “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic ... and bigoted� — credibly claim to be a shining city on a hill or a light unto the nations?

America is today as powerful, prosperous and free as any nation the world has ever seen. And we have used that wealth and freedom to create a culture and a society many of our own people and much of the world now see as dissolute and decadent.

Post-Christian America, in many ways, is beginning to mirror what we were once taught that the pre-Christian Roman Empire looked like.

Indeed, if the mayor’s lifestyle is moral, Christianity got it wrong for 20 centuries.

CREATORS.COM

Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of Nixon’s White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever. 4O kND OUT MORE about Patrick Buchanan and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

Q AVERIA FROM A4

What voters don’t know this cheating scheme involves pre-shading ballots. It would be difficult for humans to detect pre-shaded ballots, but the VCMs would reveal what might be a BALLOT STUFkNG ACT The logs studied by the JCOCAES-TWG show that four VCMs operated normally during the voting period. The logs each

showed the respective number of ballots inserted and counted by the VCMs before closing and powering off: 256 ballots for VCM-1, 156 for VCM-2, 442 for VCM-3, and 15 for VCM-4. After at least an hour, the four VCMs were restarted, rezeroed, and ballots rescanned. Lo and behold, the VCM logs showed the respec-

tive ballot counts: 329 ballots for VCM-1, 218 for VCM-2, 654 for VCM-3, and 362 for VCM-4.

0OSSIBLY CASES OF BALLOT STUFkNG No, it was not a case of exploitation of machine vulnerabilities.

Rather it was an attack on the operating procedure and the people operating the machines.

In the context of the automated

elections that voters are surely getting used to, is the saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you� true?

Elections are for the voters. The voters have the right to know. The Comelec should adhere to election transparency by providing the data requested by the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).

Opinion

A5

H O LY W E E K R E F L E C T I O N S

The fight for the legacy of Jesus T First of 2 parts HIS week, this column digresses from the usual menu of parsing behind the headlines, mining the same for their political content. Instead I will do some RElECTIONS MYSELF DURING THIS (OLY Week on the beliefs, traditions and RITES THAT DEkNED #HRISTENDOM FOR a good part of 2,000 years. Most Christians take this week as a given: the passion of Jesus Christ the Son OF 'OD MADE lESH CAME DOWN TO THIS WORLD TO SACRIkCE HIS LIFE AS REdemption for its sins. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection is the bedrock of Christian faith.

There is, however, another dimension to this narrative which Christianity, principally the Roman Catholic Church, has relegated to oblivion, save perhaps for serious students of religious history, biblical scholars and vexatious ex-seminarians like this columnist.

This other version of the historical Christ was promoted by witnesses to his life in Palestine, spawning a Jesus Movement in Jerusalem. To them Christ was a devout Jew who was born of natural parents, Joseph and Mary, and was a charismatic preacher, a healer and a revolutionary who saw religion and politics as one. After his death, his older brother James headed the movement known as the Jerusalem Church in contrast with that of the Pauline Church headed by Saul of Tarsus who converted to the faith on his way to Damascus and much later was canonized as St. Paul the Apostle.

These two factions of the Jesus Movement were inspired by the life and death of Christ. Paul never did meet personally the living Christ but preached the new religion to the Roman Empire and beyond — principally to the non-Jews. James’ Jerusalem Church preached mainly to the Jews, himself adhering to the strict Jewish precepts. These two church leaders were a study in contrast. Paul was a man of letters, master of Greek rhetoric, sophisticated and urbane. James, on the other hand, was poor and illiterate, but being the elder brother of Jesus, must perforce be familiar with his teachings and humanity.

The split came 25 years after Christ died. The power struggle between the two factions centered on who best to interpret the life of Jesus Christ, his vision and message.

0AUL WANTED TO TELL THIS MAGNIkCENT story to the world, which includes non-Jews, on the divinity of Christ.

James, on the other hand, was bent on freeing Palestine from the clutches of Rome through the story of an earthly revolutionary messiah.

4HE FUNDAMENTAL CONlICT THEREFORE was whether or not Jesus was divine. !S IN ANY GREAT CONlICT IT STARTED with a seemingly mundane dispute, with James insisting that new members of the Jesus Movement must eat kosher food and be circumcised like Christ himself and must observe Jewish laws.

Paul’s perspective was beyond the Jewish character of the Jesus Movement, detaching himself from the Jewish political aim and thus was not bound by the Torah. This was anathema. And the added revelation that Paul was in fact a Roman citizen further exacerbated the already impossible state of affairs.

The split between the Jerusalem and the Pauline churches of the Jesus Movement became final around 58 A.D. In 66 A.D., less than a decade after the split, the Jews in Palestine rebelled against Rome. The rebellion was crushed in 70 A.D., ending with the suicide of 900 Jews in the fortress of Masada. As the Jews were being slaughtered, the Pauline Church dissociated any loyalty to the Jewish patriotism and declared itself not one with the rebellious Jews. James’ Jerusalem Church was wiped out. The Pauline Church emerged the victor of this RELIGIOUS INTERNECINE CONlICT AND the custodianship of the biography of Christ. Now known as Christians, they went on to capture the narrative through the writing of the New Testament, decades after THE CRUCIkXION THROUGH THE FOUR

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA

canonical gospels of Mark (66-70 A.D.), Matthew/Luke (circa 85-90 A.D.) and John (90-110 A.D.).

These writers were anonymous and did not meet Christ. These names were simply added in the 2nd century. What we have today in the Christian Catholic and Protestant TRADITIONS RElECT 0AUL S PERSPECTIVE

NOT THE *AMES *EWISH INlUENCED Jesus Movement.

The Gospels, the Good News, were considered the 2nd century’s version of propaganda with heavy theology and political undertones. Biblical scholars have identified Paul’s hand in the messaging although he died circa 67 A.D., just when the New Testament was being written. The irony of it all was that those who were witnesses to the actual life of the historical Jesus, and closest to him, his family and disciples — mainly James and his Jesus Movement — had no hand in the propagation of Christianity. They had no direct surviving records and Paul’s mainstream Christian Church made their version heretical, eventually evolving into a fringe group called Ebionites.

Latter biblical scholars who have been scrutinizing the Letters of St. Paul, the authorship of the Gospels and the evolution of Christianity from the great split have begun to re-examine the Ebionites. James’ Jewish-Christian movement who knew the living Christ accepted as central to their beliefs Christ nature as Man. He was a Jewish revolutionary tutored by John the Baptist, Jesus’ precursor, and martyred by the Roman puppet Herod Antipas.

Jesus inspired a secular movement to foment a revolution against the Romans and free the Jews from oppression ushering in a new age of Jewish ascendency over Palestine.

This was the original interpretation of a “Messiah establishing God’s Kingdom on earth.� He was not divine, not of a virgin birth but WAS CRUCIkED BY THE 2OMANS DIED but was resurrected as Lazarus was by a miracle.

Several inconsistencies in the New Testament came to the fore, accusing Paul of being an interloper and hijacking the Jesus movement. Paul, the Roman citizen with no love lost for the Jewish patriots, contemplated a Jesus narrative using the Old Testament’s prophecy of Isaiah on the coming Messiah, born of a Virgin. To Paul, messiah meant son of God come down to earth, died on the cross and promising eternal life to mankind.

This and other prophecies were meant to support Paul’s contention of Christ’s divinity. The gospels therefore came up with stories which could only be attributed to divine intervention or patently false narratives.

If James’ faction won the split in the early century of the Jesus movement, we wouldn’t have the Christian tradition as practiced today. His version of the life of Jesus witnessed by his family, father Joseph, mother Mary, his brothers and wife Mary Magdalene would have shown him to be a Jewish revolutionary at a time of the Roman occupation.

In second of this two-part column, the alternative biography of Jesus Christ reveals some of the implausible accounts in the New Testament which biblical scholars suspected were inserted in the Gospels to prove and sustain his divinity.

For comments: lito.lorenzana@cdpi.asia This two-part article drew heavily from the Timeline-World History Documentaries; excerpts from the historian Josephus’ books, The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews, downloadable from Wikipedia and You Tube, and relevant excerpts from the Catholic Bible. This columnist doesn’t claim to any deep research and scholarly work except to enHANCE THE (OLY 7EEK RElECTIONS

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Advice for travel and dive

T

()3 IS CERTAINLY NOT THE kRST time that I’m writing on concerns about security and safety in the region. But last week the US Department of State, in a travel advisory for Americans overseas, expressed its concerns about kidnapping or hostage-taking situations in certain areas of Eastern Sabah.

Frankly speaking, in the past, incidences of transborder kidnapping or hostage-taking did take place in and around the neighboring waters of Malaysia and the Philippines. The typical modus operandi would be the taking away by force of tourists (and sometimes locals too) from coastal and island resorts dotting the southeastern coasts of Sabah.

In the 1990s, the tourists were mainly Americans, Europeans and Japanese, as these regions were perceived to be relatively well off and their home governments were assumed to be able to pay the humongous ransom (running into millions of US dollars) demanded by the kidnappers.

In recent years, however, the main kidnapping targets have “switched� to mainly Chinese and Koreans, as these countries were considered to have become increasingly wealthy. There was often a blurring of the line between kidnapping and hostage-taking, as the kidnappers sometimes made political demands, and the hostage holders often also made monetary demands.

It would appear that the kidnappers are intent on both getting their way in their often militaristic political aspirations and also “earn� income at the same time.

After the latest bout of kidnappings about half a decade ago, and also the so-called Sulu invasion of Sabah a few years prior, the Malaysian authorities have largely beefed up their security presence on both land and sea.

I recall visiting several coastal and island resorts in that vicinity, and there were armed soldiers stationed on each of them, setting

EI SUN OH up look-out positions in strategic places. It would appear that the presence of these soldiers in the resorts did not bother the tourists a bit, for they are symbols of security reassurance and are, perhaps involuntarily, de facto “niche tourist attractions� in their own way. I have seen with my own eyes eager tourists happily trying TO SNAP SELkES WITH THE SOLDIERS

albeit from afar.

But kidnapping cases on and off in some parts of the eastern Sabah coast have dropped drastically over the past few years. I think this can partly be attributed to the pragmatic attitude of the authorities of the three neighboring countries — Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. They have apparently set up a joint patrol and intelligence-sharing mechanism which I hope is up and kicking. I think one important suggestion here would be to allow the “hot pursuit� of these kidnappers by the forces of one national authority into the territorial waters of another country (notifying the counterparts in the latter, of course) in order to be effective in interdicting these seabound kidnappers. At least some sort of “cross-border relay� of hot pursuit has to be established. In the case of friendly neighboring countries with no ambitious designs over one another, territorial sovereignty must take a decided back seat to joint urgent concern for safety and security.

I am of the opinion that negative as the latest US travel advisory might be, it would have scant effect on the tourism industry in Sabah and surrounding regions. This is due to at least two nuanced factors.

4HE kRST BEING THAT MANY OF THOSE TOURISTS WHO lOCK TO THE EASTERN

coastline of Sabah are diehard or amateur diving enthusiasts. From the ones I observed, they will stop at nothing in order to dive in what are reputed to be some of the most exquisite dive sites in the world.

Second, as hinted above, nowadays most of the tourists in the region are no longer Americans or Europeans, but Chinese and Koreans, not to mention those from other emerging markets, including even Vietnam.

The American travel advisory would have as much of a psychological effect on them as with Americans.

But of course there are still very pragmatic concerns, such as insurance coverage, when it comes to negative travel advisories as such. %VEN IF WE WERE TO GIVE THE BENEkT of the doubt to the American authorities as to the seemingly secret information that prompted them to issue such warnings, it is important for them to share such intelligence with regional law enforcement authorities, so that together preemptive actions could be taken to deter such horrid deeds.

But in the long term, regional economic development still remains the key to fundamentally uprooting such kidnappings for ransom. All of us have to adopt a mentality of not prospering ourselves but also “prospering thy neighbors.� When there is a huge disparity in income levels, the temptation to kidnap by violent means in return for tremendous ransom income is great. When the vast majority of people in the region have stable jobs and decent incomes, such incidents would invariably drop. Many years ago, there was this BIMP-EAGA initiative which was supposed to help spur the regional economy. The onslaught of the Asian financial crisis two decades ago unfortunately kicked it to the wayside.

It is time to reinvigorate this or similar regional development programs, not least so that the scourge of violent kidnappings can be eradicated.

Q OMEN FROM A1

Notre Dame: An Omen Western Christianity is burning — and with it, Western civilization.

Every major Western (and one major non-Western) social and intellectual force has conspired to rid Europe of Christianity and the civilization it produced.

Within the Western world, the French Enlightenment — the intellectual basis of the French Revolution and the modern West — sought to replace Christianity, and religion in general, with secularism rooted in reason. No God, Bible or Ten Commandments is necessary for morality or meaning: reason (and science) will replace them.

The two final deathblows to Christianity in Europe were the world wars. World War 1 ended most Westerners’ belief in the nation-state and the West.

Christianity, already weakened by the Enlightenment, was further weakened by World War 1. German Christians were killing millions of French and English Christians, and French and English Christians were killing millions of German Christians. So the argument and sentiment against Christianity went. Then World War 2 saw even more death on the Christian continent as well as the failure of Catholic and Protestant churches in Nazi Germany to offer even minimal noncompliance with the Nazis’ Jew-hatred.

With the end of World War 2, every internal Western intellectual doctrine was secular. God, the Bible and religion were regarded at best as innocuous nonsense and at worst as noxious nonsense.

Meanwhile, Europeans brought a non-European ideology into Europe, an ideology that, for more than a thousand

years, sought to replace Christianity as the world’s dominant religion. The Europeans, believing in nothing distinctly Christian or Western and believing in the moral and intellectual nonsense known as “multiculturalism�— a doctrine that asserts that all cultures are m o r a l l y e q u i va l e n t — s aw nothing problematic in bringing millions of Muslims into Europe. They had no idea that most of these people actually wanted to replace Christianity with their religion. They had no idea because, in their ignorance and arrogance, they assumed that because they were secular multiculturalists, everybody else was, too — or would be, once they lived in Europe.

They were wrong, of course.

And as a result, the two dominant forces in Europe — secular leftism and Islamism — sought the end of Christianity and the West. (The left believes that protecting Western civilization is equivalent to protecting white supremacy.)

This is not producing a pretty picture. Generally speaking, Islam has not been nearly as kind, tolerant, open, medically or scientifically innovative or intellectually curious as Western civilization (and yes, Nazism and communism were born in the West, but they were anti-Western).

Even without tens of millions of Muslims, post-Christian Europe has not produced a pretty picture. This was predicted in 1834, 100 years before Hitler’s rise, by the great German poet Heinrich Heine, a secular Jew (who later converted to Protestantism, “the ticket of admission into European culture�): “Christianity — and that is its greatest merit — has somewhat mitigated that brutal German love of war, but it could

not destroy it. Should that subduing talisman, the cross, be shattered, the frenzied madness of the ancient warriors, that insane Berserk rage of which Nordic bards have spoken and sung so often, will once more burst into flame. This talisman (the cross) is fragile, and the day will come when it will collapse miserably. Then ... a play will be performed in Germany which will make the French Revolution look like an innocent idyll.�

European Christians persecuted European Jews, often brutally. But it took a postChristian ideology, secular Nazism, to produce Auschwitz — just as it took post-Christian communism to produce the Gulag, the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Ukrainian and Cambodian genocides.

Moreover, Nazism and communism aside, the left’s belief that secular reason can replace God and the Bible turns out to be completely wrong. The alleged citadels of secular reason — the universities — are the most irrational and morally confused institutions in the West.

I don’t know if a worker accident or a radical Muslim set fire to Notre Dame Cathedral (as they have scores of other churches around Europe). In terms of what the fire represented, it doesn’t much matter. What matters is the omen: Europe is burning, just as Notre Dame was. CREATORS.COM

Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host and columnist. His latest book, published by Regnery in April 2018, is The Rational Bible , a commentary on the book of Exodus. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.

Civil society under attack in name of counterterrorism were dissolved and almost 950 others were delivered notices, referring them to courts on charges of “financial irregularities� or “receiving foreign funds to support terrorism� despite the lack of substantive evidence.

Many of the dissolved organizations provided aid and relief for orphans and the disabled.

BYÂ THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE UNITED NATIONS: Counterterrorism measures are not only affecting extremist groups, but are also impacting a crucial sector for peace and security in the world: civil society.

Civil society has long played a crucial role in society, providing life-saving assistance and upholding human rights for all.

However, counterterrorism measures, which are meant to protect civilians, are directly, and often intentionally, undermining such critical work. “Civil society is under increased assault in the name of countering terrorism,� Human Rights Watch’s senior counterterrorism researcher Letta Tayler told IPS, pointing to a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions as among the culprits. “Nearly two decades after the September 11 attacks, we are seeing a very clear pattern of overly broad counterterrorism resolutions. We are seeing a clear pattern of violations on the ground that are being carried out in the name of complying with binding Security Council counterterrorism resolutions,� she added.

Just two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1373 which called states to adopt and implement measures to prevent and combat terrorism.

Since then, more than 140 countries have adopted counterterrorism laws.

The newly approved Resolution 2462, passed at the end of March, requires member states to criminalISE kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TERRORIST individuals or groups “for any purpose� even if the aid is indirect and provided “in the absence of a link TO A SPECIkC TERRORIST ACT u While the resolution does include some language on human rights protections, Tayler noted THAT IT IS NOT SUFkCIENT

All eyes on deck

Q More than 200 civil society leaders and human rights activists from some 100 countries took to the streets of Belgrade, Serbia in solidarity with those whose basic freedoms are at risk. They participated in the International Civil Society Week, sponsored by Civicus, which took place in Belgrade, April 8-12.

COURTESY: CIVICUS

“It is not sufficiently spelled out to make very clear to member states what they can and cannot do that might violate human rights on the ground,� she said.

fenders, an Irish-based human rights organization, 58 percent of its cases in 2018 saw HRDs charged under national security legislation.

Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human Blurred lines rights while countering terrorism Fionnuala NĂ­ AolĂĄin found that Among the major issues concern- 67 percent of her mandate’s coming these resolutions is that there munications regarding civil society IS NO UNIVERSAL LEGAL DEkNITION OF were related to the use of counterterrorism, allowing states to craft terrorism, and noted that country’s THEIR OWN USUALLY BROAD DEkNI- counterterrorism laws are being tions. This has put civil society used as a “shortcut to targeting organizations and human rights democratic protest and dissent.â€?

In April 2018, thousands of defenders (HRDs) alike at risk people took to the streets in Niof detention and left vulnerable caragua to protest controversial populations without essential lifereforms to the country’s social saving assistance. security system. “I think it is irresponsible of the According to the /FkCE OF THE Security Council to pass binding UN High Commissioner for resolutions that leave up to States Human Rights, over 300 people TO CRAFT THEIR OWN DEkNITIONS OF have been killed, more than 2,000 terrorism‌that’s how you end up injured, and 2,000 arrested — with counterterrorism laws that some of whom were reportedly criminalize peaceful protest or subject to torture and sexual viocriticizing the state,â€? Tayler said. lence when detained.

Oxfam’s Humanitarian Policy Many of those arrested will also Lead Paul Scott echoed similar be tried as terrorists due to a new sentiments to IPS, stating: “The LAW THAT EXPANDED THE DEkNITION Security Council, by being overly broad, is just giving [governments] of terrorism to include a range of crimes such as damage to public the tools to restrict civil society.�

According to Front Line De- and private property.

At least 300 people, including human rights defenders, face charges of terrorism.

The Central American country said that the law was passed to comply with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body that works alongside the Security Council to COMBAT TERRORIST kNANCING

A civil society facing uncivility Tayler also pointed to the lack of consequences for States that pass counterterrorism laws that do not abide by their obligations under international law.

In Resolution 2462, member states are told to comply with international humanitarian law when cracking down on terrorist financing but does not require countries to consider the effect of such measures on humanitarian activities such as providing food and medical care. “In the zeal to be as tough looking as they can possibly can, governments have overlooked very very easy ways to protect those of us who are providing life-saving aid,� Paul told IPS.

The lack of protections for civil society and its impacts was most visible during the 2011 famine in Somalia.

In an effort to restrict “material support� to terrorist groups, countries such as the United States enacted counterterrorism legislation which blocked aid into areas controlled by Al-Shabab.

This not only impeded local and international organizations from doing their job, but one report noted that the constraints contributed to the deaths of over 250,000 people in the East African nation.

The problem has only gotten worse since then, Paul noted. “The measures imposed by governments are unnecessarily broad and they prevent us from working in areas that are controlled by designated terrorist entities.

What they have essentially done is criminalize humanitarian assistance,� he said.

Tunisia has used its terrorism financing laws to shut down a number of civil society organizations.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, approximately 200 organizations

Tayler highlighted the importance of the UN and civil society to monitor how counterterrorism resolutions such as Resolution 2462 are used on the ground. “While we would love to see amendments to this resolution, pragmatically the next best step is for all eyes — the eyes of civil society, the UN, regional organizations — to focus on just how states implement this resolution to make sure that overly broad language is not used by states to become a tool of repression,� she said. “The UN and leaders of countries around the world should use International Civil Society Week as an opportunity to take stock of the risk that this trend has posed on both to life-saving aid organizations and human rights defenders and to reverse this dangerous trend,� Tayler added.

Paul pointed to the need to educate both the public and policymakers on counterterrorism and its spillover effects as well as the importance of civil society in the global system. “Civil society is a key part of effective governance. We don’t get effective public services, we don’t get peace, we don’t get to move forward with the anti-poverty agenda if civil society actors aren’t strong and empowered,� he said. “If governments aren’t careful about protecting our right to stand up for marginalized and vulnerable populations, everyone will hurt. Not just those populations.

It will have an effect broadly on our societies,� Paul added. IPS

Regions Fast-track Hanjin takeover – Gordon ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

S

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

BYÂ JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

EN. Richard Gordon on Tuesday called on the government anew to fast-track the takeover of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and ConstructionPhilippines (HHIC-Phil) facility in Subic to ensure the integrity of the country’s territory and provide jobs for workers who would be displaced. “It is better if we could take over Hanjin in order to generate jobs. We

should use this for the security of the nation. Let’s set up a Philippine Navy base

in the area. Not only the Philippine Navy, we should also put a ship repair or shipbuilding [facility there] so we can build our own ships. Other areas could be converted into an industrial park.

That is what should be done. It is easier to do it because it’s already complete,�

Gordon said.

He also proposed setting up a naval engineering or naval architecture school in the vast facility to step up Filipinos’ shipbuilding capability. “We should develop the country’s

potential in the shipbuilding industry.

We must involve ourselves in designing vessels and step up our capabilities in naval architectural design. We are an archipelagic country, we must be able to build ships,� he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he was receptive to a government takeover of the Subic shipyard of the cashstrapped South Korean shipbuilder, the biggest foreign investor in the Subic Bar Freeport Zone.

The HHIC-Phil earlier revealed it had

A7

outstanding loans of $1.3 billion — $400 million from Philippine banks and $900 million from South Korean lenders. It had earlier asked the Philippine government FOR REHABILITATION CITING CASH lOW PROBLEMS It declared bankruptcy in January this year.

The shipbuilder also sought the government’s help in finding investors that can take over the operation of its shipyard as well as help its employees, who have taken the brunt of the company’s financial woes.

1 dead, 40 hurt in Negros bus mishap BACOLOD CITY: A passenger bus fell on its side, killing one and leaving about 40 other passengers injured as it navigated the road in Purok Kapayas, Barangay Pacol, Bago City, Negros Occidental on Monday.

Ana May de Claro, 28, of Barangay Ma-ao, Bago City, was the lone fatality.

The Ceres bus owned by Vallacar Transit Inc. was bound for Barangay Ma-ao from Bacolod City when it swerved out of control and fell on it side, its driver Aimer Paro, 28, of

CACHE

Gun enthusiasts Joseph de Lima and Rolly Iliw-Iliw were presented to the media at Camp Crame in Quezon City after their arrest in DasmariĂąas City, Cavite for possessing and selling high-powered firearms and ammunition with government markings. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

2 nabbed with cache of guns, ammo in Cavite TWO gun enthusiasts were arrested for possession of a cache of highPOWERED kREARMS ASSORTED AMMUnition, gun parts and accessories in Dasmariùas City, Cavite.

Joseph de Lima, 54, and Rolly IliwIliw, 39, were arrested at a gun shop in Barangay Langkaan 2 on Monday by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) armed with search warrant.

The two were presented before media at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Amador Corpus, CIDG director, said the operation stemmed from the mandate TO SEIZE HIGH POWERED kREARMS TO reduce election risk factors in preparation for the May 13 polls.

Col. Thomas Ibay, CIDG-National Capital Region director, added that de Lima and Iliw-Iliw were opERATING A kRING RANGE SITE IN SPITE OF having an expired license to operate.

He said the two had been selling HIGH POWERED kREARMS TO REGULAR CUSTOMERS OF THEIR kRING RANGE FOR over a year. It was also being investigated if they were also supplying guns to private armed groups and criminal syndicates.

The operatives seized three caliber 5.56, a 12-gauge shotgun,

a caliber .9mm pistol, three caliber .45 pistols, more than 5,700 rounds of assorted ammunition, one kilogram of gun powder, three boxes of unknown caliber of ammunition heads, and assorted gun parts and accessories.

Some of the seized ammunition bear the markings “supply of the Department of National Defense.

Ibay and Corpus said they were still investigating the real source of THE CACHE OF kREARMS Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Army spokesman, said they were also looking into how the suspects were able to acquire the kREARMS AND AMMUNITION BELONGing to the military.

In December, the military began its probe into the weapons’ pilferage after the arrest of gunrunners Edgardo and Rosemarie Medel in Valenzuela City, with P1.2 million worth of firearms and ammunition that were contained in wooden crates marked with “AFP� (Armed Forces of the Philippines), “Government Property� and “Philippine Army.� The cache was traced to the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Nueva Ecija.

DEMPSEY REYESÂ ANDÂ ROY D.R. NARRA

CA affirms case vs former Marinduque lawmaker THE Court of Appeals (CA) has approved the indictment of former Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes in connection with the charges for usurpation of official functions.

In a 12-page decision promulgated on April 11, the CA’s Special fifth division dismissed the petition of Reyes, saying the Department of Justice (DoJ) committed grave abuse of discretion which favored the findings of a probable cause against her for violation of Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, or the law on usurpation of official function.

Reyes was disqualified in the 2013 elections as Marinduque representative on the complaint of Lord Allan Velasco, son of retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. The indictment was made on the basis of the proclamation of the Commission on Elections and the SC in favor of Velasco as the real winner during the 2013 Congressional polls in Marinduque.

Velasco served only in the last five months of his three-year term in February

2016, and won in the May 2016 elections defeating Reyes.

The CA has set aside the arguments of Reyes that she could not be held liable since she was only performing her lawful duties believing that the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal is the only body that could unseat a member of Congress.

The appeals court argued that her good faith could not serve as a defense since it was “directly in contradiction with the findings of the Supreme Court� in its 2013 and 2016 decisions.

The high tribunal had earlier ordered the lower house to proceed with the the oath of office of Velasco because of the nullity of Reyes’s candidacy, but Reyes pushed through and took her oath before the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

As such, the CA opined that there was indeed probable cause to charge Reyes with usurpation of official functions.

JOMAR CANLASÂ

Sipalay City, told radio reporters.

The injured were rushed to Bago City Hospital and two private hospitals in Bacolod City.

Paro is now under the custody of the Bago City police, while an investigation was ongoing.

Jade Seballos, Vallacar’s media and public relations manager, said they already gave assistance to the injured passengers.

Before the accident, the bus company issued a statement assuring

commuters that it was safe to board its Ceres buses during the Holy Week.

Seballos said all their drivers and conductors undergo medical checkups before they are deployed on the road.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Region 6 had suspended the operation of 10 Ceres buses plying the Ma-ao — Bacolod City route.

Last week, the LTFRB also suspended for 30 days the operation

of 10 Ceres buses plying the Iloilo City to Barangay Caticlan in Malay, Aklan (via San Jose, Antique) route and vice versa.

The suspension came after a Ceres bus fell into a 30-meter-deep ravine in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic, Antique on April 5, which left three passengers dead and seven others injured.

The Monday incident was the third accident involving Ceres buses in the last two months in Western Visayas.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

A8

News

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Road closures ordered in Manila T

CATHERINE A MODESTO

HE -ANILA 0OLICE $ISTRICT 4RAFkC %NFORCEMENT 5NIT -0$ 4%5 WILL REROUTE TRAFkC AND CLOSE SOME PARTS of Manila for Holy Week activities.

The MPD will also implement a stop-andGO TRAFkC SCHEME ON 7EDNESDAY &RIDAY AND 3UNDAY DURING THE PROCESSIONS ORGANIZED

BY THE !RCHDIOCESAN 3HRINE OF 3TO .IÄO DE 4ONDO IN 4ONDO -ANILA /N (OLY 7EDNESDAY !PRIL THE PruSISYON NG 0AGPAPAKASAKIT NG 0ANGINOONG (ESUKRISTO WILL START AT A M AT THE 3TO .IÄO DE 4ONDO 0ARISH #HURCH AND WILL TURN LEFT TO

#HACON 3TREET LEFT TO *UAN ,UNA 3TREET MAKE A U TURN AT 0RITIL 3TREET TURN RIGHT AT (ERBOSA 3TREET TURN LEFT TO 9ANGCO 3TA -ARIA 3TREET

THEN CROSS -ORIONES 3TREET TO * .OLASCO 3TREET

AND HEAD BACK TO THE CHURCH 4HE 'OOD &RIDAY PROCESSION ON !PRIL WILL BEGIN AT P M AT THE 4ONDO #HURCH

WHICH THEN TURN LEFT TO #HACON 3TREET LEFT TO *UAN ,UNA 3TREET MAKE A U TURN AT 0RITIL

3T THEN TURN RIGHT TO (ERBOSA 3TREET LEFT TO 6ELASQUEZ 3TREET ANOTHER LEFT TO 0ANDAY 0IRA 3TREET RIGHT TO 3TA -ARIA 3TREET CROSS -ORIONES 3TREET TO * .OLASCO 3TREET THEN HEAD BACK TO THE CHURCH 4HE %ASTER 3UNDAY PROCESSION ON !PRIL WILL BEGIN AT A M AGAIN AT THE 4ONDO #HURCH TO * .OLASCO 3TREET LEFT TO -ORIONES 3TREET MAKE A U TURN THEN TURN RIGHT TO 7AGAS 3TREET TURN LEFT TO ,AKANDULA THEN STRAIGHT TO CHURCH !T A M THERE WILL BE ANOTHER %ASTER 3UNDAY 0ROCESSION RIGHT AFTER THE -ASS BEGINNING AT THE 4ONDO #HURCH THEN LEFT TO #HACON 3TREET ANOTHER LEFT TO *UAN ,UNA 3TREET MAKE

53 transport workers test positive for drugs ! TOTAL OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS tested positive for methamphetamine HYDROCHLORIDE LOCALLY KNOWN AS SHABU

during the nationwide surprise drug test CONDUCTED BY THE 0HILIPPINE $RUG %NFORCEMENT !GENCY 0$%! ON -ONDAY AS PART OF ITS PROGRAM TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS GOING TO PROVINCES FOR THE (OLY 7EEK /F THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS

TESTED POSITIVE BUS DRIVERS BUS CONDUCTORS AND A DISPATCHER "US STATIONS IN THE .ATIONAL #APITAL

2EGION HAD THE MOST NUMBER OF WORKERS who tested positive for illegal drugs use WITH FOLLOWED BY $AVAO 2EGION WITH EIGHT AND #ALABARZON #AVITE ,AGUNA

"ATANGAS 2IZAL AND 1UEZON WITH SIX &OUR WERE CAUGHT EACH IN #ENTRAL 6ISAYAS AND )LOCOS 2EGION THREE EACH IN #AGAYAN 2EGION AND #ORDILLERA !DMINISTRATIVE 2EGION TWO IN .ORTHERN -INDANAO AND ONE EACH IN #ENTRAL ,UZON %ASTERN 6ISAYAS :AMBOANGA 0ENINSULA 3OCCKSARGEN 3OUTH #OTABATO #OTABATO 3ULTAN +UDARAT 3ARANGANI AND 'ENERAL 3ANTOS #ITY

Jose Mari Gonzalez, 80 FORMER matinee idol and San Juan Rep. Jose Mari Gonzalez passed away on Tuesday due to pneumonia and cardiac arrrest. He was 80

Q Jose Mari Gonzales with Susan Roces PHOTO FROM CRISTINA GONZALEZ-ROMUALDEZ’ FACEBOOK

years old.

Showbiz columnist Aster Amoyo, the family’s publicist, broke the news on her Facebook page, which was shortly confirmed by his daughter, Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzalez Romualdez.

Cristina, also a former actress and incumbent Tacloban City mayor, posted: “Goodbye, Dad! You have been a blessing to Mom, me, Jolong, Mike, Anna, Chemari and to our whole family. I am blessed to have you as my father. So many good memories with you and Mom since we were little never failing to take us with you on your trips out of town. Being quite strict to us but within reason. I have learned so much from you. You will always be in our hearts! We love you Dad!” Aside from Cristina, Gonzalez is also survived by his wife Rosario “Chayong” Mallarky Gonzalez, children Jose Luis, Michael, Anna and Jose Mari Jr. and their spouses, and his grandchildren.

AND "ANGSAMORO 0$%! $IRECTOR 'EN !ARON !QUINO SAID THE DRUG TEST WAS CONDUCTED TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS !QUINO SAID THE DRIVERS WHO TESTED positive for drug use would have their DRIVER S LICENSE WITHHELD AND MUST UNDERGO REHABILITATION PENDING THE ISSUANCE OF CLEARANCE BY THE 0$%!

"ASED ON 0$%! DATA A TOTAL OF

PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS WERE ALREADY ARRESTED FOR DRUG USAGE FROM *ANUARY TO *ANUARY ROY D.R. NARRA A native of Tacloban, one of the most handsome actors in Philippine showbiz started making movies in the late 1950s.

Often paired with the “Queen of Philippine Movies” Susan Roces early in his career, and later with Liberty Ilagan under Sampaguita Pictures. Some of his memorable films include “Beatnik” (1960) with Roces; “Joey, Eddie, Lito” (1961) with Eddie Gutiérrez and Lito Legaspi; “Operatang Sampay Bakod” (1961) with Amalia Fuentes and “Comedy King” Dolphy; “Tindahan Ni Aling Epang” (1961) with Liberty Ilagan; and “Kaming Mga Talyada” (1962) with Juancho Gutiérrez, Dindo Fernando and Barbara Pérez.

In 1998, Gonzalez crossed over to politics and ran for a seat at the House of Representatives, winning as an independent candidate in San Juan, Metro Manila when it was still a municipality.

Gonzalez’ wake begins tomorrow at the Heritage Memorial Chapel in Taguig City.

Interment details have yet to be announced.

ARLO CUSTODIO

A U TURN AT 0RITIL 3TREET TURN RIGHT TO (ERBOSA 3TREET LEFT TO 9ANGCO 3TA -ARIA 3TREET CROSS -ORIONES 3TREET TO * .OLASCO 3TREET THEN HEAD BACK TO CHURCH -OTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES !LL PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES COMING FROM #ALOOCAN MUST TURN LEFT TO 4AYUMAN 3TREET then right to Dagupan Street to point of DESTINATION !LL MOTORISTS INTENDING TO UTILIZE -ORIONES MUST GO STRAIGHT TO 2OAD TO THEIR POINT OF DESTINATION 4HE STRETCH OF 'EN ,UNA 3TREET FROM 3TO Tomas Street to Muralla Street in Intramuros

WILL ALSO BE CLOSED FROM P M ON !PRIL TO TO PAVE THE WAY FOR -ANILA #ATHEDRAL ACTIVITIES DURING “Semana Santa u -OTORISTS COMING FROM -AGALLANES $RIVE INTENDING TO UTILIZE 'EN ,UNA 3TREET MUST GO STRAIGHT TO !NDA #IRCLE TO POINT OF DESTINATION -EANWHILE MOTORISTS COMING FROM !NDA #IRCLE INTENDING TO UTILIZE 'EN ,UNA 3TREET MUST GO STRAIGHT TO ! 3ORIANO THEN RIGHT TO -AGALLANES $RIVE TO POINT OF DESTINATION -OTORISTS COMING FROM 0 "URGOS 2OUND 4ABLE INTENDING TO UTILIZE 'EN ,UNA 3TREET shall turn right to Muralla Street to point of DESTINATION

Q BUDGET FROM A1

Vetoed budget insertions g4HE DECISION OF THE 3UPREME #OURT WAS THAT IF THEY ARE UNPROGRAMMED THEN IT VIOLATES THE #ONSTITUTION u THE 0ALACE OFkCIAL SAID 7HEN ASKED IF THE VETOED ITEMS WERE gPORK u 0ANELO SAID g4HEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF #ONSTITUTION

WHETHER YOU CALL IT PORK OR BEEF OR MEAT OR kSH 4HOSE PROVISIONS ARE VIOLATIVE OF THE BASIC CHARTER u g4HE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS YOU FOLLOW THE #ONSTITUTION !NY DEVIATION FROM THE #ONSTITUTION WILL NOT BE APPROVED BY THE 0RESIDENT OR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED u HE ADDED

House projects !CCORDING TO 0ANELO THE VETOED ITEMS INCLUDED 0 BILLION WORTH OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS UNDER THE $07( ITEMIZED BY THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES AFTER #ONGRESS RATIkED THE BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT (E DID NOT CONkRM OR DENY IF THE REMAINING 0 BILLION IN THE TOTAL VETOED AMOUNT INCLUDED INSERTIONS MADE BY THE 3ENATE 3EN 0ANkLO ,ACSON EARLIER SAID 3ENATE kNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ,OREN ,EGARDA MIGHT HAVE INSERTED 0 BILLION TO 0 BILLION TO FUND CERTAIN PROJECTS FOR !NTIQUE PROVINCE -ALACAÄANG HAS YET TO RELEASE THE 0RESIDENT S VETO MESSAGE WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE REJECTED PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET (OUSE !PPROPRIATIONS #OMMITTEE CHIEF 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R WHO kRST INTRODUCED THE INSERTIONS IN $ECEMBER SAID HE WOULD WAIT FOR THE VETO MESSAGE TO BE RELEASED (E ADDED THE 0RESIDENT MIGHT HAVE PLACED THE VETOED AMOUNTS UNDER gCONDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONu or might have set requisites for the appropriations TO BE RELEASED 0ANELO HOWEVER SAID THE REJECTION WAS kNAL AND NOT CONDITIONAL )N HIS STATEMENT ON -ONDAY 0ANELO SAID $UTERTE SUBJECTED CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BUDGET TO gCONDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONu IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS RULES AND REGULATIONS 4HIS WAS TO gENSURE CONFORMITY WITH EXISTING LAWS

RULES AND REGULATIONS SUCH AS THE ALLOWANCE AND BENEkTS OF TEACHERS AND CREATION OF TEACHING POSITIONS CONSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION CENTERS FUNDING FOR FOREIGN ASSISTED PROJECTS REVOLVING FUND AND LUMP SUM APPROPRIATIONS FOR CAPITAL OUTLAYS AS WELL AS kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS OF OUR FOREIGN SERVICE AMONG OTHERS u HE SAID

‘Slap on the House’ ! LAWMAKER SAID 4UESDAY THE 0RESIDENT S VETO WAS A SLAP ON THE (OUSE LEADERSHIP #AMARINES 3UR 2EP ,UIS 2AYMUND 6ILLAFUERTE *R VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE (OUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE PARTICULARLY CALLED OUT -AJORITY ,EADER &REDENIL #ASTRO OF #APIZ AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN 2EP 2OLANDO !NDAYA *R FOR INSISTING THAT NO POST RATIkCATION ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE IN THE 'ENERAL !PPROPRIATIONS "ILL '!" g4HIS PRESIDENTIAL VETO IS A SLAP ON THE FACE OF (OUSE LEADERS PARTICULARLY !NDAYA AND #ASTRO WHO

BOTH INSISTED NO MANIPULATIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE AND THAT THEY HAD SIMPLY ITEMIZED LUMP SUM PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET EVEN TO THE POINT OF MOCKING THEIR CRITICS FOR SUPPOSEDLY MAKING MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 7ELL THE VETO PROVED WHO AMONG US WERE TELLING THE TRUTH u 6ILLAFUERTE SAID 4HE (OUSE WAS PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED OF TAMPERING WITH AT LEAST 0 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOCATIONS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR OVER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF FAVORED LAWMAKERS UNDER THE '!"

THAT WAS RATIkED ON &EBRUARY "OTH CHAMBERS OF #ONGRESS PREVIOUSLY TRADED BARBS AND POINTED kNGERS OVER THE ISSUE OF REALIGNMENTS POST RATIkCATION WHICH THE 3ENATE SAID WERE ILLEGAL (OUSE 3PEAKER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED OF REALIGNING AT LEAST 0 BILLION TO HER ALLIES HAS YET TO COMMENT ON THE VETO OF PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET !NDAYA AND #ASTRO QUICKLY WELCOMED THE SIGNING OF THE BUDGET BUT CALLED FOR gTRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY u g-Y FRIENDS IN THE 3ENATE ARE GOING TO TOWN CLAIMING VICTORY OVER THE DELETION OF THE (OUSE AMENDMENTS $OES THIS MEAN THAT THE 3ENATE PORK REMAINS INTACT )T BEHOOVES THE 3ENATE TO TELL THE PEOPLE HOW MUCH IN THEIR INSERTIONS WERE CARRIED IN THE NATIONAL BUDGET AND HOW BIG IS THE BACON EACH SENATOR IS BRINGING HOME u !NDAYA ADDED !#4 4EACHERS PARTY LIST MEANWHILE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO OF A PORTION OF THE BUDGET INCLUDED gCONDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONu FOR TEACHERS BENEkTS AND THE HIRING OF NEW TEACHERS g7HILE WE AWAIT FULL DETAILS IN THE 0RESIDENT S VETO MESSAGE WE ASSERT THAT TOGETHER WITH THE TEACHERS UNIONS WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND BENEkTS INCLUDED IN THE ;BUDGET= AND WILL DEMAND THEIR FULL IMPLEMENTATION u !#4 4EACHERS PARTY LIST 2EP !NTONIO 4INIO SAID

Veto legal – Drilon 3ENATE -INORITY ,EADER &RANKLIN $RILON ON 4UESDAY SAID 0RESIDENT $UTERTE S VETO HAD LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS (E CITED THE CASE OF !RROYO VS DE 6ENECIA '2

!UG IN WHICH THE 3UPREME #OURT RULED THAT gTHE ATTESTATIONS BY THE 3PEAKER of the House and the Senate President serve as a SOLEMN ASSURANCE THAT THE MEASURE WAS INDEED PASSED BY #ONGRESS u g4HE 3ENATE 0RESIDENT ONLY ATTESTED TO THE APPROVAL OF THAT PORTION OF THE BILL NOT AFFECTED BY THE REALIGNMENTS 4HUS THE 0RESIDENT S LINE ITEM VETO IS BASED ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS AND NOT BECAUSE THE 0RESIDENT SIDED WITH THE 3ENATE u $RILON POINTED OUT ,ACSON WHO WAS AMONG THE CRITICS OF THE (OUSE LEADERSHIP SAID g7ITH HIS $UTERTE S GUTS GLORY COMES TO THE &ILIPINO TAXPAYERS 3IMPLE MATH TELLS US THIS 0 BILLION X PERCENT PORK COMMISSION EQUALS 0 BILLION SAVINGS FROM OUR HARD EARNED TAX MONEY u CATHERINE S. VALENTE, GLEE JALEA AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Q BISHOP FROM A1

Take hard look at relationship *UDAS SET IN MOTION THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT BECAME THE BASIC NARRATIVES OF THE #HRISTIAN FAITH KNOWN AS *ESUS PASSION DEATH AND RESURRECTION

WHICH IS OBSERVED DURING THE ,ENTEN SEASON AND (OLY 7EEK !LMINAZA STRESSED THAT (OLY -ONDAY TO 7EDNESDAY FORMED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE (OLY 7EEK CELEBRATION FROM 0ALM 3UNDAY TO %ASTER 3UNDAY g%ACH DAY LEADING TO THE 0ASCHAL 4RIDUUM (OLY 4HURSDAY TO %ASTER 3UNDAY HAS A SPECIkC EVENT TO FOCUS ON IMMEDIATELY LEADING TO THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF *ESUS LIKE THE ANOINTING OF *ESUS AMONG HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS IN "ETHANY AND THE INTIMATE SETTING FOR THE BETRAYAL OF *UDAS AMONG OTHERS u HE SAID !LMINAZA POINTED OUT THAT #HRISTIANS BETRAY g'OD S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR USu WHENEVER THEY COMMIT SIN g7E DO THIS COMMIT SINS CONSTANTLY SOME ARE AWARE OTHERS SAD TO SAY HAVE GROWN CALLOUSED u HE SAID (E EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF 'OD S GRACE gTO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR UNFAITHFULNESSu AS WELL AS COURAGE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SIN OR TO ASK FOR HELP gBECAUSE AT TIMES THE SINFULNESS AND BETRAYAL BECOMES EMBEDDED IN THE SYSTEM OR

CULTURE AND WE DEVELOP A @BLIND SPOT u (E SAID THAT THE FAITHFUL COULD START OVER THROUGH THE 3ACRAMENT OF 2ECONCILIATION ADDING THAT TO MAKE (OLY 7EEK gHOLY u THEY OUGHT TO BE gMORE LOVING AND KIND TO EVERY PERSON WE ENCOUNTER

CONSISTENTLY STEADFASTLY IMITATING THE ,ORD IN EVERY SITUATION WE kND OURSELVES IN u "ATAAN "ISHOP 2UPERTO 3ANTOS SAID THAT FOR &ILIPINO #HRISTIANS gMAHALu in -AHAL NA !RAW the &ILIPINO EQUIVALENT OF g(OLY 7EEK u means two THINGS THAT 'OD LOVES THEM AND THAT *ESUS PAID A HIGH PRICE WITH (IS OWN BLOOD WITH (IS OWN LIFE TO REDEEM MANKIND g4O SAVE US *ESUS PAID SO MUCH WITH (IS OWN BLOOD WITH (IS OWN LIFE (E REDEEMED US COSTING HIM (IS VERY LIFE 7E ARE VERY VALUABLE TO (IM THAT (E EXCHANGED (IS OWN FOR OUR SALVATION u 3ANTOS SAID g3ECOND mahal IS LOVE DEAREST AND CLOSEST TO OUR LIFE 3OMEONE WE VALUE SO MUCH WE WANT TO SPEND OUR LIFE WITH 'OD LOVES US THAT (E SEEKS US OUT SERVES US AND SAVES US 7ITH (IS WORDS AND DEEDS THROUGH (IS mahal FOR US (IS LAST DAYS WERE MADE HOLY u HE SAID CATHERINE A. MODESTO

ASIAN STOCKS: V S h a n g h a i 2 . 3 9 %

V S i n g a p o re 0 . 1 9 %

PSEi

7,826.46 UP 0.49%

P51.76 TO $1

What’s inside NFA ADOPTS AGGRESSIVE BUFFER STOCKING FOR PALAY BusinessB2

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JG SUMMIT PROFIT LOWER AT P22.4B; COSTS BLAMED

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CHELSEA LOGISTICS ENDS 2018 WITH P551-M LOSS

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PETROENERGY NET PROFIT RISES 63% TO P695M

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US, JAPAN OPEN TRADE TALKS SEEKING QUICK DEAL Foreign BusinessB4

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JAPAN ASKS BRITAIN TO LIMIT BREXIT IMPACT

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A

PUBLIC ownership report (POR) as of March 31, 2019 showed Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc.(IRC) had 6.062 billion issued common shares of which 18,642 IRC common shares were held in treasury, leaving the company with 6.062 billion outstanding IRC common shares.

Infradev listed two principal stockholders as owners of 4.920 million common shares, or 81.17 percent of 6.062 billion outstanding IRC common shares.

These were Aggregate Business Group Holdings Inc., 4.552 billion IRC common shares, or 75.1 percent, and Auspicious One Belt One Road with 368.175 million IRC common shares, or 6.07 percent.

Jovial Elm Limited, which Phil-

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been mandated to promote the establishment of business and the growth of the capital market in the Philippines. Through the pursuit of enabling legislation and the issuance of regulations, the SEC has ensured that the registration, monitoring and supervision of entities engaged in viable industries HAVE REMAINED CURRENT EFkCIENT and appropriate.

The emergence of the global economy presents a new challenge to the SEC such that the formation of domestic regulation must now recognize and take into full consid-

V Seoul 0.26%

V To k yo 0 . 2 4 %

V Jakarta 0.72%

V Hong Kong 1.07%

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B a n g ko k ( c l o s e d )

Registered POGOs face tax bureau audit R

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

EGISTERED offshore gaming operators will be audited by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to check if taxes paid to the government are correct. “We will counter-check if their remittances were correct against the income they generated,� BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa told reporters late on Monday.

He did not disclose further details.

Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) are a burgeoning industry, with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) data showing that their operations generated P657

PSA lowers Q1 palay, corn output estimates FIRST quarter palay (unmilled rice) and corn output estimates have been lowered by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), with revised kGURES GOING SEPARATE WAYS COMpared to the same period last year.

In an update released on Monday, the PSA said January-March palay production likely fell to 4.56 million metric tons (MMT) based on standing crops, lower than the January projection of 4.65 MMT and down from the 4.65 MMT seen a year earlier.

Corn output was estimated to have hit 2.51 MMT, also lower compared to January’s 2.55 MMT but higher than last year’s 2.46MMT result.

The rice harvest area, meanwhile, likely contracted by 3.5 percent from 1.95 million hectares last year, the PSA added, but yields could have increased to 3.96 MT per hectare

FROM WHERE WE SIT

www.manilatimes.net

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019

Business Times

CURRENCY RATE

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from the year-earlier 3.87 MT. “Of the updated standing crop, 41.2 percent of 1,165.15 thousand hectares have been harvested,� the agency said.

For corn, the harvest area also likely contracted to 707,000 hectares from 722,000 hectares last year while yields also improved to 3.54 MT per hectare from 3.43 MT previously. “Around 453.30 thousand hectares or 63.9 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested,� the PSA said.

The bulk of the standing palay crop is in the vegetative stage while most of the standing corn crop is in the maturing stage, the agency noted.

Planting intentions for the quarter have yet to be fully realized, it added, with the proportions at 89.2 percent for palay and 76 percent for corn.

FROM A REPORT BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

million in 2016, P3.924 billion in 2017 and P7.365 billion in 2018.

The BIR lists 54 POGOs with gaming LICENSES OF WHICH ARE LOCAL kRMS AND 44 headquartered offshore.

Only seven of the local operators and eight of the offshore licensees are registered with the bureau, however, despite the BIR having mandated such last September as a prerequisite for a Pagcor license.

“All foreign-based and Philippinebased operators, including those that have already been issued an offshore gaming license by Pagcor are required to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue on or before the commencement of business; or before payment of ANY TAX DUE OR BEFORE OR UPON kLING OF any applicable tax return, statement or declaration,� Revenue Memorandum Circular 78-2018 states.

The BIR has called on Pagcor to strictly enforce the registration rule amid concerns that the industry has become a conduit for undocumented workers from China.

A Finance department-led interagency task force is concurrently working to ensure that foreigners employed by

POGOs are paying income taxes.

The department has estimated that the government is losing about P22 billion annually from uncollected POGO worker income taxes.

After consolidating data from various agencies, the task force has come up with an initial list of some 138,000 foreign nationals, 54,241 of whom have been given alien employment permits and another 83,760 holding special working permits.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd has said those on the list have no Taxpayer Identification Numbers and that their reported salaries were only around P20,000 each per month, which he described as “ridiculously low�.

Papa roach breeds bugs for the table

Q This picture taken on March 25, 2019 shows cockroach farmer Li Bingcai holding up an exuvial roach at his farm in Yibin, China’s southwestern Sichuan province. The six-legged creatures may be a bugbear for most, but Li and other breeders in China are turning them into a niche business.

AFP PHOTO

YIBIN, China: As farmer Li Bingcai opened the door to his cockroach farm in southwest China, an insect the size of a dart lEW INTO HIS FACE Picking the critter off his forehead, he tossed it back into the dark room where some 10 million more of its kind scurried around, housed in wooden frames perched on shelves.

The six-legged creatures may be a bugbear for most, but Li and other breeders in China are turning them into a niche business.

Some sell cockroaches for medicinal purposes, as animal feed or to get rid of food waste.

Li breeds them for something else: food for

ÂłTable B4

Does Infradev own Rizal Partners?

IPPINE )NFRADEV CLASSIkED AS AN AFkLIATE DIRECTLY HELD MILLION IRC common shares, or 3.29 percent. Minus these stockholders’ holdings, the public stockholders, according to the company’s POR, held 941.164 million IRC common shares, or 15.53 percent of outstanding.

In its top 100 stockholders’ list, Aggregate Business Group held 4.321 billion outstanding IRC common shares, or 71.28 percent, as of March 31, 2019. Infradev listed PCD Nominee Corp. as record holder of 1.297 billion IRC common shares - 651.905 million IRC common shares, or 10.64 percent, for Filipinos, and 644.920 million IRC common shares, or 10.64 percent, for foreigners.

value of P10 each, and are “voting, participating, redeemable and convertible to common shares.�

Infradev also identified July 20, 2018 as the “date of approval by the board of directors of the creation of a new security.� It also announced that the funds from the issuance of preferred shares Capital increase were “in preparation for subway )N A kLING POSTED ON -ARCH project.�

On March 27, 2019, Infradev 2019 on the website of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), reported “change in the numInfradev reported it was expand- ber of issued and outstanding ing its authorized capital stock shares� when it issued on March (ACS) to 10.5 billion shares from 15, 2019 to three stockholders 4,561,665,000 IRC common 1.5 billion.

The capital expansion consisted shares. It issued 4,148,105,000 of 9.5 billion common shares with IRC common shares to Aggregate par value of P1 each and one bil- Business Group; 368.175 million lion preferred shares. The latter IRC common shares to Auspicious class of Infradev’s ACS had par One Belt One Road; and 45.385

million IRC common shares to Rizal Partners Co. Ltd., a Japanese company.

Infradev also said its POR had to be amended to include Auspicious One Belt as a principal stockholder. As a result, Infradev’s outstanding common shares expanded to 1,499,913,964 to 6,061,578,964 IRC common shares. Its outstanding common shares also increased to 6,061,580,322 from 1,499,895,322. The latter used to be IRC’s outstanding common shares as of Dec. 31, 2018.

Not included Auspicious One was not listed as ONE OF kVE PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS as of Dec. 31, 2018, according to

ÂłPerez B4

SEC’s international affairs unit eration international best practices.

Thus, the SEC has embraced in its participation in various regional and international fora and agreements such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Capital Markets Forum (ACMF), the !SIA 0ACIkC %CONOMIC #OOPERATION (APEC), the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the numerous Free Trade Agreements where the Philippines is a signatory.

The active participation of the SEC in the international sphere is FOR THE CONTINUED REkNEMENT OF Philippine regulations and business practices for consistency of

ÂłAudit B4

SEC MATTERS

KELVIN LESTER LEE rules and uniformity of standards across jurisdictions. Through exposure to the developments in both regulation and acceptable practices of neighboring and more progressive countries, the SEC is given the opportunity and encouraged to adopt principles of transparency/information-sharing and EFkCIENCY IN THE CAPITAL MARKET As “international cooperation�

has become a byword between securities commissions, an international affairs unit (IAU) under the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) has been created to keep the SEC abreast of international matters relating to its mandate. The IAU shall ensure that the SEC is properly represented in all meetings or negotiations that may affect entities under SEC supervision.

The IAU shall also pool the ongoing international projects and initiatives of the SEC to garner a holistic perspective and appreciation of the SEC’s role in the global community. Further, the

IAU shall also aid in the formulation of the SEC formal position in various international discussions with emphasis on consistency of representations.

The IAU will focus on maintaining the SEC’s professional international relations with its counterpart securities commissions and other international organizations as well as attaining memberships to international groups or agreements necessary for the SEC’s inclusion in regional and global economic initiatives.

Having a dedicated IAU will allow the SEC to have updated

ÂłSEC B4

Budget approval lifts stock market APPROVAL of the delayed 2019 national government budget lifted the stock market on Tuesday with investors anticipating a secondhalf economic uptick.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index finished at 7,826.46, up 0.49 percent or 38.48 points from the previous day. The wider All Shares added 0.23 percent or 10.99 to close at 4,828.14.

Sectoral results were mixed, WITH THE kNANCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND services indices closing in the red.

Total share volume stood at 1.45 billion valued at P7.14 billion.

Decliners led advancers, 10785, while 42 issues remained unchanged. “[Investors took] the passing of the 2019 budget ... as a positive sign that the economy might recover in the second half of 2019,�

Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Associate Piper Chaucer Tan said.

President Rorigo Duterte on Monday approved the P3.757-trillion budget, vetoing P95.3-billion worth of programs and projects AND kNALLY ENDING A 3ENATE (OUSE of Representative tiff over allegedly unauthorized insertions.

The budget impasse, along with an ongoing El NiĂąo and a global economic slowdown, has

ÂłMarket B2

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Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

NFA adopts aggressive buffer stocking for palay T BYÂ EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

HE National Food Authority (NFA) expects to procure sufficient palay (unmilled rice) from local farmers as it adopts more aggressive procurement as mandated by the rice TARIFkCATION LAW Under the liberalized rice trading scheme, the NFA will no longer be allowed to import rice as its ROLE WAS CONkNED TO BUFFER STOCKS management for emergencies and calamities via buying palay solely from local farmers. “Based on the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) [of the RICE TARIFkCATION LAW= THE .&! MUST now adopt a policy of maintaining a buffer stock equivalent to 15-30 days of the country’s national rice consumption, sourced from local farmers only. To be able to meet that, we have to buy around 1530 million bags of palay,� NFA acting administrator Tomas Es-

carez said in a statement on Tuesday.

As harvest season peaks this month, the NFA is currently buying an average of 73,233 bags per day, Escarez said, noting that the agency’s palay procurement was already much higher than in recent years.

NFA data said the agency procured a total of 1.86 million bags from January to April 12. Of that volume, 593,123 bags were bought in April alone, nearly half of the 1.26 million bags NFA proCURED IN THE kRST QUARTER OF Highest volume of palay procurement (in bags) this month were reported in Occidental Mindoro (San Jose), 93,699; Isabela,

79,020; Nueva Ecija, 72,420; Bulacan, 52,856; Mamburao, 31,907; Northwestern Cagayan-Apayao (Allacapan), 23,629; Tarlac, 19,484 and North Cotabato, 17,896. “We are hoping this will conTINUE AS WE FULkLL OUR MANDATED level of buffer stock. Our palay procurement activities will also continue for as long as there are palay farmers willing to sell to us, to give them a fair price for their palay produce,� Escarez said.

Escarez attributed the sharp increase in NFA’s palay procurement on the agency’s buffer stocking incentive (BSI) program which gives local farmers P3.70 incentive per kilo to the P17 per kilo buying price, or a total of P20.70 per kilo for clean and dry paddy rice.

Meanwhile, the average farmgate price of palay continues to fall, reaching P18.87 per kilo as of April 5, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed. Palay prices also fell to as low as P14 per

kilo in some areas in the country. “We are receiving complaints through our Citizens’ Complaint Hotline regarding low price of palay in some areas. But we assure the farmers not to worry because NFA is always ready to buy their harvest at a very reasonable price,� Escarez said.

Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law liberalizes the importation, export and trading of rice. It also lifts the quantitative import restriction on rice.

The law also stripped NFA’s regulatory functions over the international and domestic trading of rice, such as the issuance of rice import permits, licensing and registration of grains businessmen, monitoring and inspection of rice business and facilities, and enforcement of grains trading rules and regulations, among others.

7ITH THE RICE TARIFkCATION THE government said prices of the staple are expected to be cheaper by up to P7 per kilo.

A

The day after

PRIL 16 or ‘the day after’: a day most auditors and accountants will consider as the start of their temporary emancipation because the tax deadline has passed. Temporary, however, because unless we shift careers, we will face the tax deadline again next year.

Deadlines, depending on how high the stakes are, normally bring about high-stress situations and long working hours that eventually lead to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. Deadlines apply to anyone and everyone. Whether our deadlines are imposed by external factors or self-imposed, we face deadlines no matter how young or old we are, and no matter in what industry we work. It does not even matter if we are working FOR PROkT OR NOT %ACH OF US HAVE deadlines to face.

On the day after, on the day the adrenaline caused by the deadline has subsided, on the day we somehow manage to have the mental space to think about other things, we start contemplating on many other matters such as rest, careers and family and personal time. Matters that you may have neglected over the past few months, but feel are important enough that they should not have been neglected to begin with. When you start thinking about these things when you are still reeling from physical and mental tiredness, consider this word of advice: pause and consider the implications of your next steps, even if you are just thinking about resting.

Rest is important for our wellbeing. Even God rested after He finished creating the universe.

But just as work has parameters such as deadlines, there should also be parameters for rest. We SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEkNE WHAT constitutes rest, when can we start resting and until when do we rest.

The problem is that one does NOT DEkNE THESE PARAMETERS FOR rest. We think we have already rested, but our mind and body do not agree. I remember when I would “rest� by playing video games as much as I wanted. I was not spending time working and I was just at home, but did I get the rest that my self was clamoring for? More often than not, no. That is why, when I reported back to work, I did not feel that my “rest� was enough. $EkNE WHAT PART OF YOU REquires rest. If it is your body, stay at home or go to a quiet place, sleep and relax. If it is your mind, engage in activities that will not require you to exert effort to think, like painting or running. Even at rest, we should still be mindful of how

FROM WHERE WE SIT

ANTON NG we would do it. ,IKEWISE IF WE DO NOT DEkNE the timetable for our rest, our tendency is to “rest� and be lax at work, even if we still have to complete certain deliverables, or extend our rest, even if we are already back at work. This would result in us unable to be at our best. Setting a deadline for our rest also sets our expectations: that I can only rest up to a certain date, after which, I expect myself to get back to work and perform at par with how I worked prior to resting. By not setting a deadline for our rest, it becomes more difkCULT TO GET BACK TO OUR PREVIOUS work level because we are still in rest mode. This rest mode can linger, having an impact on our work performance.

The other important reason for setting a deadline for our rest is this: our mind sometimes plays tricks on us. We sometimes feel that, since we have worked so much over the past two months, we have the “moral license� to rest for the next two months as well. That should not be the case.

Take time to rest, but be mindful of how you rest.

The day after today is the start of a long weekend for most working individuals. May we take advantage of the few days to truly rest our mind and body before we get back to work next week, fully rested and fully committed to work once again.

May we also use this time to RElECT ON A DEEPER SENSE OF REST rest that is beyond mind and body; rest that will not be affected by the daily happenings of our lives; the kind of rest that, no matter what happens, everything will be for our good, regardless of the situation.

May this Holy Week allow us TO RElECT ON WHAT *ESUS #HRIST have done for us on the cross at Calvary; that He died on the cross FOR OUR SINS SO THAT WE MAY kND our eternal rest in Him forever.

Anton Ng is a Partner of the Audit & Assurance P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Outsourcing kRMS IN THE 0HILIPPINES WITH Partners and over 900 staff members. We’d like to hear from you!

Tweet us: @PAGrantThornton, like us on Facebook: P&A Grant Thornton, and email your comments to anton.ng@ph.gt.com or pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com.

For more information, visit our Website: www.grantthornton. com.ph.

Q MARKET FROM B1

Budget approval lifts prompted downward revisions to 2019 Philippine growth forecasts.

Tan also said that declines over the past few days had led to an undervalued market, setting the stage for a technical bounce.

P2P Trade Online Sales Associate Gabriel Jose Perez, meanwhile, said a slowdown was likely today, April 15, as traders wind up their activities for the Holy Week break. “Trading could likely be quiet ‌ especially with the upcoming long weekend,â€? he said.

The PSEi rose along with other Asian markets where investors were said to have brushed off a weak lead from Wall Street while looking ahead for the release of Chinese growth data.

With few catalysts to drive BUSINESS REGIONAL EQUITIES AT kRST struggled for traction but picked up as the day wore on — resuming an uptrend that has characterized the year.

Focus turns now to China’s GROWTH kGURES WHICH COME AFTER a number of upbeat readings on the world’s number two economy — including factory activity, INlATION NEW LOANS AND TRADE — that have given some cause

for optimism.

High-level talks between China and the United States aimed at ending their long-running trade war are also being closely followed, with most observers optimistic they would reach a deal.

Traders are also keeping tabs on trade talks between Japan and the United States in Washington.

Hong Kong rose 1.1 percent, while Shanghai ended more than two percent higher — boosted by a rise in property prices — and Tokyo was up 0.2 percent.

Sydney gained 0.4 percent, Singapore added 0.2 percent, Seoul rose 0.3 percent and Taipei jumped 0.6 percent.

Wellington, Mumbai and Jakarta were also well up.

Traders in New York provided a weak lead after Wall Street majors Goldman Sachs and Citigroup disappointed, offsetting a healthy report from peer JP Morgan last week and causing some concern as earnings season kicks into gear.

In early trade London’s FTSE index rose 0.2 percent, Paris gained 0.3 percent and Frankfurt 0.5 percent.

TYRONE C. PIAD AND AFP

Corporate News Chelsea Logistics ends 2018 with P551-M loss JG Summit profit lower at P22.4B; costs blamed H

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

CHELSEA Logistics Holdings Corp. reported on Tuesday that it posted a net loss of P551 million LAST YEAR COMPARED TO A NET PROkT of P161 million in 2017. )N A REGULATORY kLING THE $ENNIS 5Y LED SHIPPING kRM BLAMED THE weaker earnings on a P453-million loss for logistics unit 2GO Group and the P98-million loss brought by “higher bunkering costs and increased interest rates.�

But revenues climbed by 32 percent to P5.17 billion in 2018 from P3.9 billion a year earlier on the back of the strong performance of the company’s business segments.

Revenues from Chelsea Longistics’ tankering and freight businesses increased last year by 34 percent and 23 percent to P1.7 billion from P1.2

billion and P1.7 billion from P1.38 billion, respectively.

The company’s passage segment posted earnings of P969 million in 2018, 19 percent higher than P773 million a year earlier.

Tugboat fees rose by 28 percent to P334 million from P261 million in 2017, while logistics services grew to P287 million from P240 million the previous year.

Operating expenses also grew to P899 million from P530 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization improved by 13 percent to P1.47 billion from P1.29 billion in 2017.

Chelsea Logistrics shares lost 6 centavos or 1.15 percent to close at P5.14 each on Tuesday.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

PBCom income surges 58% despite difficult 2018 PHILIPPINE Bank of Communications (PBCom) reported on Tuesday that its net income rose to P626.2 million last year on the back of its strong core business.

In a disclosure, the listed lender said the amount was a 57.9-percent increase from P396.4 million in 2017.

The improved income allowed PBCom to post a return of equity of 6.2 percent and a return on asset of 0.6 percent for the period, which its chief described as difficult. “2018 was not an easy year, but the bank put its effort on building the blocks for its sustainable growth, focusing on customer deepening and acquisition, particularly within the identified ecosystem, product development, personnel training and engagement and capacity building,�

PBCom President and Chief Executive Officer Patricia May Siy said in the disclosure.

PBCom said it continued to deepen relationships with existing customers, as well as initiated various programs to

secure new ones. This enabled the lender to grow its total assets to P103.7 billion from P95.0 billion in 2017. This increase was anchored on the 12.6-percent growth in loan portfolio that was supported by double digit growth in deposits and deposit substitutes that now stand at P91.7 billion, it added. “This focused strategy helped deliver a net interest income of P3.1 billion, a 7.3-percent improvement from the previous year,� PBCom said.

Low-cost funding grew at a steady pace, with current and savings accounts making up 38 percent of the bank’s total deposits. Its net interest margins were kept above 4 percent, despite the higher interest rate environment, as the bank effectively managed its various funding sources. PBCom shares increased by 50 centavos or 2.34 percent to close at P21.90 each on Tuesday.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

BY LISBET K. ESMAEL

EADWINDS in its airline and manufacturing units caused listed JG Summit Holdings Inc.’s core net income to fall by 24 percent to P22.4 billion last year from P29.56 billion in 2017.

The Gokongwei-led conglomerate told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday that the REDUCED PROkT WAS DUE TO gHIGHER fuel and input costs, as well as and the weaker peso� faced by #EBU !IR )NC #EBU 0ACIkC *' Summit Petrochemical Corp. and Universal Robina Corp.

Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company dipped to P19.19 billion last

year from 2017’s P29.37 billion.

Revenues rose to P291.92 billion from P273.45 billion previously.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization decreased to P65.83 billion last year from 2017’s P70.67 billion.

Universal Robina saw its net income drop by 15 percent yearon-year to P9.2 billion, despite its revenues growing by 2 percent to P127.8 billion.

Property arm Robinsons Land #ORP S NET PROkT SURGED BY PERcent year-on-year to P8.2 billion, driven by the 31-percent growth in revenues, which reached P29.5 billion. #EBU 0ACIkC S CORE NET INCOME slid by 33 percent to P5.9 billion due to challenges faced by the aviation sector. Its revenues, however, climbed by 9 percent to P74.1 billion from P68.03 billion on the back of strong demand in air travel and its cargo business.

Petrochemical subsidiary JG Summit Petrochemicals posted a NET PROkT OF 0 BILLION LAST YEAR Banking unit Robinsons Bank saw its net income climb by 3 percent to P318 million year-onyear, and revenues by 37 percent

B3

to P6.1 billion. “We may say that the group braved a perfect storm in 2018.

Our cyclical and food businesses WERE CHALLENGED BY HIGH INlATION and fuel prices [and a] weaker peso, as well as intense competitive dynamics,� JG Summit PresiDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER Lance Y. Gokongwei was quoted as saying in the disclosure. “We are more optimistic in 2019, but we would remain vigilant of various risks and continue strengthening our diverse strategic business units to ensure balANCED SOURCES OF PROkTABILITY u he added.

JG Summit shares added P1.60 OR PERCENT TO kNISH AT 0 apiece on Tuesday.

PetroEnergy net profit rises 63% to P695M LISTED PetroEnergy Resources Corp. posted a 63-percent increase in its consolidated net income to P695 million in 2018 from P427 million a year earlier.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, the Yuchengco-led energy company said net profit attributed to equity holders surged by 120 percent to P421 million last year from P191 million in 2017. It credit the growth to improved electricity sales and higher oil revenues.

In 2018, the company saw electricity sales rise by 18.64 percent to P1.454 billion from P1.725 bil-

lion the year before.

Oil revenues also went up by 33.15 percent to P436.971 million from P328.188 million in 2017, driven by the increase in crude oil prices that averaged $55 to $80 a barrel.

The company’s strong performance last year was mainly due to its renewable-energy projects.

Throught its renewableenergy (RE) holding unit PetroGreen Energy Corp., PetroEnergy operates the 20-megawatt Maibarara-1 and 12 MW Maibarara-2 geothermal plants under Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI), the 36 MW Nabas-1 wind farm under PetroW-

ind Energy Inc. and the 50 MW DC Tarlac-1 solar plant under PetroSolar Corp.

(PSC).

PetroEnergy also generates revenues from operations of its Etame oil concession in offshore Gabon, which it runs with its American, Chinese and South African consortium partners. “We are pleased that our calibrated diversification and expansion are paying off not only for our shareholders, but for our host communities, as well,�

PetroEnergy President Milagros Reyes said in the disclosure. “Increases in our rev-

enues translate to higher national government royalty share for indigenous energy resource development; increased ER 1-94 remittances to both national and local governments; and more direct and sustained community partnership projects,� she added.

Founded in 1994, PetroEnergy is into upstream oil exploration and development. It has since diversified into RE power generation.

PetroEnergy shares shed 19 centavos or 4.15 percent to finish at P4.39 apiece on Tuesday. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Foreign Business Japan asks Britain US, Japan open trade to limit Brexit impact talks seeking quick deal W B4

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

ASHINGTON, D.C.: US and Japanese possibility of imposing tariffs of to 25 percent on foreign autos NEGOTIATORS OPENED THE kRST ROUND OF up and auto parts, a prospect that trade talks on Monday in the latest front alarmed the industry and could in President Donald Trump’s aggressive, multi- have serious repercussions for pronged strategy to address “chronic US trade Japan and Europe. imbalances.� ‘Very quick agreement’

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer welcomed the team from Tokyo led by Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi at the start of two days of talks looking for a rapid deal.

After launching blistering tariffs on allies and rivals alike, Trump’s trade team has completed a new North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico -- the USMCA -- and another with South Korea.

The US also appears to be approaching the final stages of a deal with China, while preparing for the start of negotiations with Europe.

Trump has focused attention on the countries which have the biggest trade surpluses with the United States, and has pushed HIS PREFERENCE FOR COUNTRY SPECIkC rather than multilateral deals.

Golf buddies Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

agreed in September to launch the talks between the world’s kRST AND THIRD LARGEST ECONOMIES

which represent about 30 percent of global output.

In Tokyo last week, Motegi predicted the crunch talks would BE gCANDID u WITH THE kRST ROUND focused on “making a decision on WHICH AREAS WE WILL DISCUSS CHIElY IN THE kELD OF GOODS u “I will do my best to have thorough discussions so as to produce a good result in line with our national interest,� he said.

The agreement between Trump and Abe said the negotiations initially would address “goods, as well as other key areas including services, that can produce early achievements,� while leaving access for US agriculture to Japan’s market for a later day.

In May, Trump ordered his administration to investigate the

Tokyo is expected to counter with demands that the United States scrap tariffs on Japanese industrial goods if Washington seeks an early opening of Japanese agricultural markets.

Tokyo aims to focus only on tariff matters, describing the talks as “TAG,� or trade agreement on US Agriculture Secretary Sonny goods.

However, Washington trade ofPerdue said last week he was seeking a “very quick agreement� with kCIALS HAVE SPELLED OUT SPECIkC Japan on tariff cuts for agricultural negotiation areas also including non-tariff barriers in Japan’s auto goods. “I hope we can come to a very market and currency.

US Treasury Secretary Steven quick agreement with Japan over maybe some temporary ... provi- Mnuchin said Saturday any agreesions and hash out the many other ment will include a requirement issues that take longer in this area,� to refrain from manipulating curPerdue told reporters in Washing- rencies to gain an advantage in ton, Kyodo News and the business international trade.

Trump and Abe will have plenty daily Nikkei reported.

However, the US side is likely to of opportunities to talk trade in run into opposition from Japan on the coming months.

Abe is visiting the United States latthis issue, Jiji Press reported, citing er this month and Trump is expected unnamed government sources. “There’s no way for us to con- in Japan in May to pay his respects to CLUDE AN AGRICULTURAL DEAL kRST u the country’s new emperor who will A SENIOR *APANESE OFkCIAL TOLD *IJI take the throne on May 1.

Trump is then expected back If Japan does so, it may violate World Trade Organization rules in Japan the following month as related to free-trade agreements, the western city of Osaka hosts THE OFkCIALS NOTED ACCORDING TO the Group of 20 summit of world leaders on June 28-29.

AFP the report.

TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday asked Britain to minimize the negative impact of its departure from the European Union on Japanese firms and the global economy.

His remarks came during a meeting with visiting British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and after analysts earlier this year warned that Brexit has in many cases accelerated the decisions of Japanese firms to leave Britain. “Japan welcomes the fact that a no-deal Brexit has been avoided for the time being, and I have a great respect for the effort made by Prime Minister (Theresa) May,� Abe said.

May was forced to ask fellow EU leaders earlier this month to postpone Brexit for a second time, from April 12 to October 31.

She has been unable to persuade MPs to back the withdrawal terms she has struck with Brussels, but is also unwilling to take Britain out of the EU with no deal at all. “I would like to express my hope that any negative impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will be minimized on Japanese corporations and on the world economy,� Abe said.

Around 1,000 Japanese companies operate in Britain, supporting about 140,000 jobs.

But automakers Honda and Nissan have said they are axing production at plants in Britain, while electronics giants Sony and Panasonic are scaling back operations and major Japanese banks are pulling out.

While there are specific reasons behind each individual business decision, analysts said the specter of Brexit was haunting Japanese firms across the board. “On the matter of Brexit, as you know we are very determined to avoid a no-deal outcome because we recognize that Japan has many investments, employing hundreds of thousands of people in the UK,� Hunt said. “And we know that Japan has helped to transform the British manufacturing industry for the better, and we want that strong cooperation to continue.�

The British government will resume talks with the main opposition Labour party this week on how to resolve the deadlock over Brexit, a senior minister, David Lidington, said on Sunday.

AFP

Goldman Sachs reports lower profits as it eyes Main Street growth NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs reported lower first-quarter earnings Monday on weakness in its traditional trading business as it talks up newer consumeroriented ventures, including a credit card that will be launched with Apple.

The financial giant saw net income plunge to $2.1 billion, a 20.3 percent drop from the same period of last year.

At the same time revenues fell 12.7 percent to $8.8 billion.

Goldman shares tumbled on the results and were joined by Citigroup, which dipped after reporting a slight increase in first-quarter profits.

Goldman encountered sharp declines in key trading divisions, such as equities and bonds. Market conditions improved from the prior quarter, but volatility was low, crimping trading activity, the investment bank said.

A bright spot was financial advising

for mergers and acquisitions where it scored a boost in revenues, while underwriting revenues fell.

There were no major announcements about the scandal involving Malaysian fund 1MDB, which has prompted a series of government probes. “Nobody wants to get to a resolution on this faster than we do,� Chief Executive David Solomon told analysts. “And we are absolutely committed to doing everything that we can to move the process along as quickly as possible.�

Executives outlined a number of growth initiatives, including its expansion of its “Marcus� online consumer lending and banking venture that has been touted as a means to diversify the firm beyond Wall Street.

Marcus offers personal loans and has attracted deposits by paying much higher interest rates than rival banks.

Q AUDIT FROM B1

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Q Goldman Sachs Chairman & Chief Executive Officer David M. Solomon. AFP PHOTO The bank hopes to lure in users who will evolve into long-term customers who can help drive profitability.

A key element will be the launch of a credit card with Apple, although there is no date set yet. “We look for markets that are big

Registered Does Infradev own Assuming that each foreign national earns an average of $1,500 a month and is taxed at 25 percent of his or her gross income, Dominguez came up with a rough estimate of P32 billion a year in income taxes to be collected.

Infradev’s POR. Infradev ‘s principal stockholders, who are also substantial stockholders, are T&M Holdings Inc., 100.819 million IRC common shares, or 6.72 percent; Mabuhay Holdings Corp., 70.129 million

Q SEC FROM B1

Q TABLE FROM B1

SEC’s and relevant information on international economic developments which is an advantage for the creation of domestic policy.

The impact of international EVENTS ESPECIALLY IN kNANCE ON THE domestic economy is not one that can be ignored. Hence, regional and international cooperation is a key factor in managing economic matters in the international arena.

The global visibility of the SEC and its willingness to collaborate with other jurisdictions through a forward-thinking, participative and EFkCIENT )!5 IS ONE WORTH FOSTERING especially in light of our economic interconnectedness.

Kelvin Lester K. Lee is a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He is the cochairperson of the SEC Committee on Memorandum Circulars To Operationalize Revised Corporation Code Provisions. The views and opinions stated herein are his own.

You may email your comments and questions to oclee@sec.gov.ph.

IRC common shares, or 4.67 percent; Aggregate Business Group, 404.115 million IRC common shares; Rizal Partners, 103.2 million IRC common shares; and Jovial Elm, 200 million IRC common shares. Their holdings totaled

where we don’t need to capture commanding market share to be relevant,� said Chief Financial Officer Stephen Scherr. “We’ve also looked at markets and at products where there are pain points felt by the consumer,� Scherr told analysts. “We have done that successfully in loans and now we are doing that in the card space.�

Other growth ventures included tapping into a broader wealth management customer base by targeting more executives at mid-sized companies.

Goldman currently provides wealth management services to 60 of the Fortune 100, but only 220 of the top 1,000.

The larger pool opens a much larger group of the “mass affluent business,� executives said.

CFRA Research analyst Ken Leon predicted Goldman’s flagship investment 878.263 million IRC common shares, or 58.54 percent.

Ironically, Infradev’s public stockholders were reported as owners of 621.431 million IRC common shares, or 41.43 percent, according to the POR. In its top 100 stockholders’ list, PCD Nominee held 698.613 million IRC common shares, or 46.58 percent of 1.5 billion outstanding IRC common shares, for Filipinos

Papa roach breeds bugs human consumption.

A restaurant down the road from his small facility fries them up in famously spicy Sichuan sauce for the gutsier eaters. “People don’t believe how good it is until they try some,� Li told AFP, putting a live one into his mouth as others crawled all over the place and people visiting.

Known colloquially as American cockroaches, the Periplaneta americana is one of the largest species and are consumed for a variety of ailments: stomach ulcers, respiratory tract problems, and even simply as a tonic. “The greatest effect of cockroaches are that they have great immunity, which is why humans WILL ABSORB ITS BENEkTS AFTER EATing them,� Li said, noting that in China cockroaches are dubbed “Little Strong� because they can live for days even after being cut in half.

Tucked at the edge of bamboocovered mountains in Yibin, Li’s facility is a nondescript single-sto-

rey former farmhouse surrounded

BY CROP kELDS AND LIVESTOCK FARMS The breeding area is roughly the size of a badminton court, with windows sealed off with netting to prevent any great escapes.

Security is paramount: In 2013, some one million cockroaches escaped a farm in eastern Jiangsu province roamed free after their greenhouse was destroyed.

Health benefits?

Li’s cockroaches live between the spaces of square wooden frames that are held together by pipes and stored in racks lining two rooms.

The place is kept warm and humid, leaving a smell reminiscent of damp clothes.

Feeding time causes a frenzy — as Li heaps a mix of ground corn, fruit and vegetable peelings on small trays, the insects suddenly swarm the platforms, crawling over each other. “We breed them in a hygienic environment. They eat proper food

— nothing synthetic,� he said.

Every three months, Li harvests the cockroaches to keep the population under control by dropping some into a vat of boiling water before dehydrating the carcasses.

Last year, he sold one tonne of dried cockroaches to a pharmaceutical factory for nearly 90,000 yuan ($13,500).

Li ran a mobile phone shop when he went into cockroach farming in 2016 because it was low cost business and the insects are easy to rear. He converted his farmhouse and bought eggs from another breeder.

His main source of income is from selling the insects directly to farms or medicine factories, and this is supplemented by an online shop his daughter helped set up. Half-a-kilo (1.1 pounds) of whole dehydrated insects retail for between 100 and 600 yuan ($15-90).

In neighboring Xichang, the Gooddoctor Pharmaceutical

bank performance would improve due to the healthy pipeline of initial public offerings.

Marcus and other consumer-oriented ventures “are not going to have a meaningful impact in 2019, but they are definitely going to be more significant in three or five years,� he told AFP.

Competing for customers Meanwhile, Citigroup reported firstquarter profit of $4.7 billion, a 1.9 percent increase from the year-ago period, while revenues dropped 1.6 percent to $18.6 billion.

Citigroup Chief Executive Michael Corbat cited growth in its credit card business and said new digital banking initiatives in the US were boosting deposits.

“While GDP growth does appear to be slowing somewhat, we still see good consumer and corporate engagement,�

Corbat said on a analyst conference call with analysts.

Citigroup is also offering generous interest for a new digital banking savings product to 40 states in the US where it has no physical branches, a spokeswoman said.

For example, customers in Louisiana or Maine would benefit from a yield of 2.36 percent, well above the national average.

Citigroup has also been running a promotion in the 10 states where it has branches, but they have $25,000 minimum balance, the spokeswoman said.

Shares of Goldman fell 3.8 percent to $199.91, while Citigroup slipped 0.1 percent to $67.38.

AFP

and 598.237 million IRC common shares, or 39.88 percent, for foreigners.

At No. 3 in the top 100 list was Aggregate Business Group with 172.8 million IRC common shares, or 11.52 percent.

In a “statement of changes in BENEkCIAL OWNERSHIP u 2IZAL 0ARTners said it held 17,000 IRC common shares after it sold 39.27 million IRC common shares on Jan.

7, 2019. This means the issuance of 43.385 million common shares to Rizal Partners would increase its ownership of IRC common shares to 45.402 million, or 0.749 percent of 6.062 billion outstanding IRC common shares.

Due Diligencer’s take is not included in this piece in observance of the Holy Week.

Group runs the world’s largest cockroach farm where a whopping six billion insects held in a facility that employs artificial intelligence in monitoring movement and environmental conditions.

Cockroaches were added in the late 16th century to the Compendium of Materia Medica, the most comprehensive medical book ever written about traditional Chinese medicine.

The bugs have detoxifying properties and can act as a diuretic, said Liu Daoyuan, chief specialist at the Yinchuan City Yongshou Medical Centre. “It is also effective for relieving sore throat, tonsillitis, [liver] CIRRHOSIS AND lUID BUILD UP u HE added.

But other Chinese medicine experts caution that a poorly regulated industry with a low barrier of entry could result in adverse effects. “Anything in excess can be harmful, even ginseng,� warned Goh Chye Tee, director of the Chinese Medicine Clinic at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

He noted the insect is not named

#HINA S OFkCIAL COMPENDIUM OF drugs covering both Chinese and western medicine.

esdperez@gmail.com

‘They are gold’ But Li is more interested in turning roaches into a delicacy and is working with a local restaurant.

Customers have been clamoring for a taste after hearing about the DISH S HEALTH BENEkTS SAID OWNER Fu Youqiang, who cooks up to 30 orders a month.

Diner Luo Gaoyi, who was trying the insect for first time, described it as being “quite tasty, very fragrant, very crispy�. “I think that anything good for health should be eaten, no matter what it is,� he said. “These have high nutritional value and are high in protein.�

Li is also working on expanding his line: cockroach-laced medical cream, cockroach medicated plasters, and insole inserts containing cockroach essence.

He said: “There is so much good in this one insect, I want to tell more people about it. A lot of people think it’s a pest but to me, they are gold. They are like my children.�

AFP

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

B5

‘Crooked’ Hillary Clinton should be probed – Trump WASHINGTON, D.C.: The president isn’t waiting. As Washington counts DOWN THE kNAL HOURS UNTIL PUBLICATION OF THE REDACTED SPECIAL COUNSEL report — now expected Thursday ‡ 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP stepped up his attacks Monday 4UESDAY IN -ANILA IN AN EFFORT TO UNDERMINE POTENTIAL DISCLOSURES ON 2USSIA HIS CAMPAIGN AND

THE AFTERMATH (E UNLEASHED A SERIES OF TWEETS FOCUSING ON THE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED SUMMARY OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 2OBERT -UELLER S CONCLUSIONS ‡ INCLUDING A CRUCIAL ONE ON OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE THAT 4RUMP AGAIN MISREPRESENTED ‡ PRODUCED BY !TTORNEY 'ENERAL 7ILLIA M "ARR g-UELLER AND THE !' BASED ON

US immigration targets overstaying migrants WASHINGTON, D.C.: 4OP ADMINISTRATION OFkCIALS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSing ways to increase pressure on COUNTRIES WITH HIGH NUMBERS OF CITIZENS WHO OVERSTAY SHORT TERM visas, as part of US President $ONALD 4RUMP S GROWING FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION HEADING INTO HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN 4HE ADMINISTRATION COULD INTRODUCE NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON NATIONALS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES

ACCORDING TO TWO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANS WHO SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DISCLOSE private conversations.

The idea, which was first rePORTED BY 4HE 7ALL 3TREET *OURNAL

IS JUST ONE OF MANY UNDER DISCUSSION BY AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS INCREASINGLY DESPERATE TO SATISFY A PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN ANGRY ABOUT THE INlUX OF MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER AS HE TRIES TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND ENERGIZE HIS BASE GOING INTO 4HE IDEAS HAVE RANGED FROM THE EXTREME ‡ INCLUDING 4RUMP S threat to shut down the southERN BORDER AND CONSIDERATION OF AGAIN SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM PARENTS ‡ TO MORE SUBTLE TWEAKS TO THE LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

INCLUDING EFFORTS TO CLAMP DOWN on visa overstays, which, according to the nonpartisan Center for -IGRATION 3TUDIES EXCEED ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS 0LANS ARE ALSO IN THE WORKS TO

HAVE BORDER PATROL AGENTS CONDUCT INITIAL INTERVIEWS TO DETERMINE WHETHER MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM HAVE A gCREDIBLE FEARu OF RETURNING TO THEIR HOMELANDS "ORDER PATROL AGENTS ARE THE kRST OFkCIALS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH MIGRANTS

AND THE THINKING IS THAT THEY LL BE LESS SYMPATHETIC THAN ASYLUM OFkCERS !ND OFkCIALS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING RAISING ASYLUM STANdards and changing the court SYSTEM SO THAT THE LAST PEOPLE IN ARE THE kRST TO HAVE THEIR CASES ADJUDICATED 3OME OF THE IDEAS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED REJECTED AND THEN proposed again.

4HE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO BEEN WEIGHING TARGETING THE REMITTANCE PAYMENTS SENT HOME

BY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY !ND 7HITE (OUSE AIDE 3TEPHEN -ILLER IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN PUSHING (OMELAND 3ECURITY OFFICIALS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS TO PUNISH IMMIGRANTS IN THE COUNTRY LEGALLY FOR USING PUBLIC BENEkTS SUCH AS FOOD STAMPS 7HITE (OUSE SPOKESMAN (OGAN 'IDLEY SAID BOTH ARE TOPICS OF FOCUS for the White House. “It is a top priority for the adMINISTRATION AS HAS BEEN FOR TWO years, to reduce overstay rates for VISAS AND THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM ‡ AND IT S WELL KNOWN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING TO ENSURE FAITHFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF IMMIGRATION WELFARE RULES TO PROTECT !MERICAN TAXPAYERS u HE SAID AP

-UELLER kNDINGS ;AND GREAT INTELLIGENCE= HAVE ALREADY RULED .O #OLLUSION .O /BSTRUCTION u 4RUMP TWEETED g4HESE WERE CRIMES COMMITTED BY #ROOKED (ILLARY THE $.# $EMOCRATIC .ATIONAL #OMMITTEE

$IRTY #OPS AND OTHERSĂœ ).6%34)'!4% 4(% ).6%34)'!4/23Ăœu Press Secretary Sarah Sanders rePEATEDLY TRIED TO MAKE THE SAME CASE

ON 46 TALK SHOWS ON 3UNDAY "UT THE POLITICAL BATTLE IS FAR FROM kNISHED OVER THE SPECIAL COUNSEL S INVESTIGATION OF 2USSIAN EFFORTS TO HELP 4RUMP IN and whether there was cooperation WITH HIS CAMPAIGN $EMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR -UELLER HIMSELF TO TESTIFY BEFORE #ONGRESS AND HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT "ARR WILL ORDER UNNECESSARY CENSORING OF

the report to protect the President.

4HE (OUSE *UDICIARY #OMMITTEE LED BY 2EP *ERRY .ADLER OF .EW 9ORK IS POISED TO TRY TO COMPEL "ARR TO TURN OVER AN UNREDACTED COPY AS WELL AS THE REPORT S UNDERLYING INVESTIGATIVE kLES 4HE *USTICE $EPARTMENT ANnounced Monday that it expects TO RELEASE THE REDACTED VERSION 4HURSDAY MORNING SENDING THE

Foxconn chief eyes Taiwan leadership T

AIPEI: Tech giant Foxconn’s boss Terry Gou hinted Tuesday that he was considering running for president of Taiwan in elections early next year.

4HE YEAR OLD SAID THAT HE WOULD SOON STEP BACK FROM FRONTLINE OPERATIONS WHILE REMAINING AT THE HELM OF THE MAJOR !PPLE SUPPLIER "UT WHEN ASKED BY REPORTERS 4UESDAY IF HE WOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT HE SAID g) WILL HAVE MEETINGS TODAY AND HEAR ;FEEDBACK= (OPEFULLY WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS TOMORROW OR LATER u 'OU A SUPPORTER OF THE "EIJING FRIENDLY OPPOSITION +UOMINTANG +-4 PARTY SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW THE PARTY S NOMINATION PROCEDURE gIF ) WERE TO JOIN THE +-4 S PRIMARY u

g)F ;) WERE TO= STAND FROM THE height of the president to ponder OVER 4AIWAN S ISSUES ) FEEL THAT PEACE SECURITY ECONOMY AND FUTURE ARE MOST IMPORTANT u HE SAID IN COMMENTS AIRED BY LOCAL TV CHANNELS )NCUMBENT 0RESIDENT 4SAI )NG WEN

OF THE "EIJING SCEPTIC $EMOCRATIC 0ROGRESSIVE 0ARTY $00 HAS DECLARED SHE WAS SEEKING REELECTION IN THE *ANUARY ELECTIONS 3HE FACES THE CHALLENGE OF PRO INDEPENDENCE FORMER 0REMIER 7IL-

LIAM ,AI IN THE PARTY S PRIMARIES

and the DPP is set to announce ITS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LATER THIS MONTH !LSO KNOWN BY ITS OFkCIAL NAME Hon Hai Precision Industry, &OXCONN IS THE WORLD S BIGGEST CONTRACT ELECTRONICS MAKER AND ASSEMBLES !PPLE I0HONES AS WELL as parts and accessories for other INTERNATIONAL BRANDS +NOWN FOR HIS AGGRESSIVE DEALMAKING 'OU HAS BEEN SNAPPING UP INVESTMENTS FROM *APAN TO )NDIA IN A BID TO DIVERSIFY FROM ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY ,AST YEAR 'OU APPEARED ALONGSIDE 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP AT A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY for a cutting-edge factory in WisCONSIN BACKED BY BILLION IN

g"UT WE RE VERY BUSY THIS YEAR u He’s not kidding. #ALLING ON FOUR LEGGED TRANSPORT MOTORBIKES SPEEDBOATS AND PLANES OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTING CARDBOARD BALLOT BOXES ‡ GUARDED BY ARMED security staff — to every corner OF THE KILOMETER

MILES LONG ARCHIPELAGO WHICH IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES 7HILE ELEPHANTS CARRIED BALLOT BOXES THROUGH 3UMATRA S !CEH province, horses were used to REACH TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF *AVA )SLAND g4HE PATH IS MUDDY DURING THE rainy season so we need to use HORSES TO TRANSPORT ELECTION MATERIAL u SAID 3UHARTANTO THE POLICE CHIEF IN 4EMPUREJO SUBDISTRICT

WHO GOES BY ONE NAME 4HE LIGHTWEIGHT BALLOT BOXES ‡ REPLACING METAL ONES USED IN PREVIOUS POLLS ‡ WERE UP TO THE JOB "UDIMAN INSISTED DECLARING THEM TO BE gVERY STRONGu g9OU CAN SPRINKLE WATER ON THEM ‡ BUT NOT A lOOD u HE SAID AFP

Penitents take part in a holy procession in Cordoba, Spain as part of the Holy Week ahead of Easter on April 21, 2019.

AFP PHOTO

Hi-tech equipment helps China curb smuggling #534/-3 OF #HENGDU CAPITAL OF southwest China’s Sichuan province, said that high-tech equipMENT HAD SIGNIkCANTLY HELPED STOP WILDLIFE SMUGGLING )N THE kRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR

#HENGDU CUSTOMS INVESTIGATED MORE THAN SMUGGLING CASES OF ENDANGERED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDING CASES INVOLVING IVORY PRODUCTS WEIGHING MORE THAN KILOGRAMS KG #HENGDU CUSTOMS SAID -ONDAY THAT TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING INTEL-

LIGENT #4 SCANS AND BIG DATA HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SEARCHING FOR ILLICIT ITEMS )N -ARCH CUSTOMS POLICE AT #HENGDU 3HUANGLIU )NTERNATIONAL !IRPORT FOUND SUSPECTED IVORY PRODUCTS IN A PASSENGER S LUGGAGE THROUGH AN INTELLIGENT #4 SCANNER /FkCERS LATER FERRETED OUT IVORY OBJECTS WEIGHING OVER KG FROM THE PASSENGER WHO HAD HIDDEN THE OBJECTS UNDERNEATH HIS CLOTHING g)NTELLIGENT #4 SCANS ARE MORE

Worldinbriefs 6 KILLED IN PAKISTAN SHOOTOUT PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistani authorities say a raid by security forces on a militant hideout in the northwestern city of Peshawar triggered a 15-hour shootout in which a police officer and at least five suspected militants were killed. Shaukat Yousafzai, a government spokesman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said police and commandos surrounded a home in the city on Monday night, acting on intelligence about planned attacks. He said the suspects were asked to surrender but instead, they opened fire on the security forces. Police say the suspects also threw grenades, which killed an officer.

AP

TOURIST DIES IN THAI ZIPLINE ACCIDENT BANGKOK: A Canadian fell to his death from about 12 meters (39 feet) while ziplining at a popular tourist attraction in northern Thailand, police said Tuesday. Home to famed Buddhist temples, lush jungles and picturesque waterfalls, Chiang Mai is a well-known destination in the north for visitors seeking an alternative to Thailand’s beaches. The 25-year-old man was taking part in Chiang Mai’s Flight of the Gibbon, a popular activity that allows tourists to zip through lush jungle, while hooked onto a harness. He “fell to his death from the zipline... on Saturday,� said police major Sakarin Wiratsaken of Chiang Mai’s Mae On district.

AFP

VOTE WISELY Indonesia’s election workers deliver ballot boxes to remote villages in Yalimo, Papua province. From sending ballot boxes by elephant in Sumatra to keeping voters safe in Papua’s rebel territory, Indonesia is all set for its election today, April 17, 2019. AFP PHOTO

CONTROVERSIAL TAX BREAKS However, Foxconn announced EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT IT WAS RE ASSESSING ITS BILLION PLAN FOR THE FACTORY DUE TO CHANGING GLOBAL MARKET ENVIRONMENT !SKED 4UESDAY IF HE WOULD TELL 4RUMP SHOULD HE DECIDE TO RUN for president, Gou said: “Why WOULD ) TELL MY DECISION TO THE 53 PRESIDENT (E IS NOT ;AMONG= MY voters. My voters are Taiwanese COMPATRIOTS -Y PRIORITY IS TELL THE VOTERS MY DECISION u 'OU WAS BORN IN IN 4AIPEI TO #HINESE IMMIGRANT PARENTS

WHO HAD FLED THE #OMMUNIST VICTORY IN #HINA S CIVIL WAR (E STUDIED SHIPPING MANAGEMENT IN COLLEGE WHILE SUPPORTING HIMSELF WITH PART TIME JOBS AFP

HOLY WEEK TRADITION

Indonesia uses horses for election duties JAYAPURA, Indonesia: &ROM SENDING BALLOT BOXES BY ELEPHANT IN 3UMATRA TO KEEPING VOTERS SAFE IN 0APUA S REBEL TERRITORY )NDONESIA IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR ONE OF THE WORLD S BIGGEST ONE DAY POLLS ACROSS A VAST ARCHIPELAGO OF MILLION /N 7EDNESDAY OVER MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE -USLIM MAJORITY COUNTRY WILL cast their votes in just eight hours OF POLLING WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION BATTLING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS VOTER FRAUD AND DAMAGING CYBER ATTACKS And if that wasn’t hard enough, THE WORLD S THIRD LARGEST DEMOCRACY BEHIND )NDIA AND THE 53 IS STAGING A kRST FOR ITS TWO DECADE OLD SYSTEM WHICH ROSE FROM THE ASHES OF A MILITARY BACKED DICTATORSHIP (OLDING PRESIDENTIAL

PARLIAMENTARY AND LOCAL POLLS ALL in one day. g4HIS IS A VERY BIG COUNTRY SO WE LL DO OUR BEST u !RIEF "UDIMAN THE COMMISSION S CHIEF

TOLD A RECENT GATHERING OF JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS

FINDINGS OF THE NEARLY TWO YEAR PROBE TO #ONGRESS AND MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC -UELLER OFkCIALLY CONCLUDED HIS INVESTIGATION LATE LAST MONTH AND SUBMITTED THE CONkDENTIAL REPORT TO "ARR 4WO DAYS LATER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SENT #ONGRESS A FOUR PAGE LETTER THAT DETAILED -UELLER S gPRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS u AP

US MEASLES CASES REACH ALL-TIME HIGH NEW York: US measles cases have surged to all-time high, and are on pace to set a record for most illnesses in 25 years. Health officials on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) said 555 measles cases had been confirmed so far this year, up from 465 as of a week

precise than X-ray scans, as CT SCAN CAN NOT ONLY DETECT THE SHAPE OF A SUSPECTED OBJECT BUT ALSO CALCULATE WHAT THE SUBSTANCE IS u SAID 9ANG ,ONG AN OFkCIAL WITH #HENGDU CUSTOMS ADDING THAT #4 SCANNERS WERE ABLE TO DETECT LIGHTWEIGHT IVORY ITEMS 4HE NEW TECHNOLOGY WAS CO DEVELOPED BY THE 'ENERAL !DMINISTRATION OF #USTOMS AND 4SINGHUA 5NIVERSITY #HENGDU S CUSTOMS IS one of the areas across the country PILOTING THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

)N &EBRUARY #HENGDU CUSTOMS DISCOVERED THREE TINS OF ALBUMEN powder when checking an AfriCAN lIGHT WHICH LATER WAS IDENTIkED AS PANGOLIN SCALE POWDER #USTOMS OFkCERS ALSO FOUND IVORY ITEMS IN THE POWDER 4HE PANGOLIN SCALE POWDER AND IVORY ITEMS WEIGHED OVER KG AND KG RESPECTIVELY #HINA BANNED ALL DOMESTIC IVORY TRADE AT THE END OF AS PART OF ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING WILD ANIMALS GLOBAL TIMES

ago. While 20 states have reported cases, New York has been the epicenter. Nearly two-thirds of all cases have been in New York, and 85 percent of the latest week’s cases came from the state. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. The 2019 tally is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994.

AP

MUSEUM SCRAPS EVENT FOR BRAZIL PRESIDENT NEW York: New York’s Museum of Natural History announced Monday it had canceled a private function booked to take place there that would honor Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The leader, who has been attacked at home and abroad for policies that critics say threaten the environment and indigenous communities, was due to receive an award at the museum from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. “With mutual respect for the work and goals of our individual organizations, we jointly agreed that the Museum is not the optimal location for the Brazilian-Am. Chamber of Commerce gala dinner,� the museum tweeted.

AFP

FERTILITY DOCTOR PRODUCED 49 CHILDREN THE Hague, Netherlands: Martijn van Halen has every right to be angry at Jan Karbaat. The Dutch fertility doctor lied to his parents and used his own sperm to inseminate Van Halen’s mother. But, somehow, the 39-year-old Dutch landscape gardener doesn’t seem to harbor too much resentment. “Of course, what this doctor did isn’t great. For my parents and the parents of my siblings, it’s of course terrible,�

Van Halen told The Associated Press on Monday. “They were lied to and it’s the doctor who treated them — that’s wrong. But for me, I wouldn’t have been here without the donor.� The case of Dr. Karbaat, who died in 2017 at age 89, has riveted the Netherlands, due to its mix of unethical medical behavior, privacy issues, DNA testing, legal wrangling and the rights of children to know who their parents are.

AP

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Classified Ads

WEDNESDAY April 17, 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

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

This refers to your letter dated 14 March 2019 regarding Smart Signature Plans and Boosters Promo approved by the Commission in a letter dated 07 March 2019.

The abovementioned product will no longer be offered as a promo but as a permanent service, as follows: AnyNet Plans (SIM-Only) LITE 2.5GB Unli ON-NET 25 mins. ANY-NET

Calls Texts Contract MSF

Unli ANY-NET 6 months PHP599

S M 10GB 20GB Unli ON-NET Unli ON-NET 200 100 mins. ANYmins. ANY-NET NET Unli ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 6 months 6 months PHP999 PHP1,499

L 30GB Unli ON-NET 300 mins.

ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 6 months PHP1,999

XL 60GB Unli ON-NET 600 mins. ANY-NET Uni ANY-NET 6 months PHP2,999

AnyNet Plans (with Device) With Device Data

S 5GB Unli ON-NET 50 mins. ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 24 months PHP 999

Calls Texts Contract MSF

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

JOSE M. LUISON & SONS, INC. Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-048 x---------------------------------------------x

MINDANAO BROADCASTING AND NEWS NETWORK, INC. Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-049 x---------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Dear Mr. Fernandez:

SIM only Data

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

M 10GB Unli ON-NET 100 mins. ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 24 months PHP 1,499

L 15GB Unli ON-NET 150 mins. ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 24 months PHP 1,999

XL 30GB Unli ON-NET 300 mins. ANY-NET Unli ANY-NET 24 months PHP 2,999

NOTES: • Data applies to mobile internet usage for all apps and sites • Unli On-Net Calls include calls to Smart, TNT, and Sun • Any Net Calls include calls to Globe, TM, and PLDT landline • Unli Any Net Texts include texts to all mobile networks (e.g. Smart, Sun, TNT, Globe, and TM) 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 DFWXDO VSHHG H[SHULHQFH ZLOO GHSHQG RQ WKH GHYLFH XVHG QHWZRUN VLJQDO GHWHFWHG FXUUHQW VXEVFULEHU WUDI¿F prevailing environmental conditions and the geography of the area where the subscriber is located.

The mechanics of the service are as follows: 1. Smart Signature Plans will be offered to the following: a) New Subscribers (with or without any Postpaid plan) from Other networks; b) Existing Subscribers 2. This new set of plans will be available through the following Smart PostPaid availment channels: a) Retail Store Operations b) Retail Partners Operations c) Chain Accounts & Distributors d) Retail Sales e) Online Store f) Telesales 3. New subscribers must submit the documentary requirements. This may or may not be limited to the following: D 3URRI ,GHQWL¿FDWLRQ Examples: SSS (Digitized), Passport (with Signature), Driver’s License, Company ID, Exclusive Club 0HPEHUVKLS ,' 8QL¿HG 0XOWLSXUSRVH ,' 3RVWDO ,' 'LJLWL]HG ,%3 ,' )LUHDUPV /LFHQVH 35& ,' b. Proof of Billing Address Examples: Utility Bills (Electricity, Water, Cable, Telco, DSL), Waybill or Proof of Shipping (Delivery Receipt), Club Membership Bill, Bank Statement of Account, Credit Card Bill / Statement of Account, Insurance Premium Bill / Statement of Account

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant, JOSE M. LUISON & SONS, INC., a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), and a grantee of a Congressional Franchise under R.A No. 8132, requests for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1.0 Kw FM Radio Broadcast Station in IMELDA, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY.

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 &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1 KW Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast (DTTB) Station in TUKURAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR.

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

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

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MAY 20, 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 MAY 27, 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 ¿IWHHQ 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 ¿IWHHQ 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 ¿OH LWV YHUL¿HG RSSRVLWLRQ RQ RU before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any DIIHFWHG SDUW\ WR ¿OH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

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

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 12th day of APRIL, 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 10th day of APRIL, 2019.

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

(SGD.) ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat MT - Apr. 17, 2019

MT - Apr. 17, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT “Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JUAN FROILAN has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Doc. No. 214; Page No. 44; Book No. IX, Series of 2019 executed on March 28, 2019 before Notary Public Atty. Lorenzo B. Castillo of Mariveles, Bataan.

MT - April 17, 24 & May 1, 2019

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

YOUR ADS HERE GET RESULTS

2. Statement of Account will be sent to subscriber via e-mail and/or myPLDT Smart app by default.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City 1116 Telephone Nos.: (632) 927-1517, 928-3725; Fax No.: (632) 920-2258 Website: http://www.emb.gov .ph

3. Pre-termination fee (PTF) shall be charged per plan/account if disconnection happens within the lock-in period. PTF is determined by the current handset base price of P10,080 (if the customer avails of a handset), whichever is higher.

4. Change of Plan, Change of MIN, or Change of Ownership are allowed within the lock-in period.

6. A higher credit limit can be assigned based on the following factors: • 7KH SUR¿OH VHJPHQW LQ ZKLFK WKH DSSOLFDQW EHORQJV • Financial reference provided by the applicant

This refers to your letter dated 27 March 2019 regarding the Smart Overseas Pinoy SIM Service.

The service offers the following: Service SRP Smart Overseas P60.00 Pinoy SIM

Inclusions • Automatic Roam On feature • Roam Chat subscription (valid 24 hours upon activation) • 10-minutes Premium calls to PH using Free Bee App (valid 3 days)

8. Subscribers can check the status of their plan balance by calling the Smart Hotline or through the myPLDT Smart app.

KEY FEATURES

Notice is hereby given to all parties who wish to give their opinion regarding the implementation of the proposed expansion of QVPI CEBU MARBLE AND AGGREGATES QUARRY PROJECT to attend a Public Hearing on the following dates: Date/Time April 24, 2019 (Wednesday) 10:00 AM (Registration starts at 8:00 AM) April 25, 2019 (Thursday) 9:00 AM (Registration starts at 8:00 AM) April 25, 2019 (Thursday) 2:00 AM (Registration starts at 1:00 AM)

1. Data Rollover • Subscriber’s unused data will roll over to his/her next billing cycle. • Maximum volume of data that can be rolled over is equivalent to the plan data inclusions. • Rolled-over data is valid for one billing cycle only. Unused rolled-over data will be forfeited on the next billing cycle. • Rolled-over data cannot be shared or used for gifting. • Subscribers on roaming will not be allowed to use their rolled-over data.

2. Data Sharing • Subscriber may share his/her plan data inclusions and/or other Smart subscribers.

- Minimum amount per transfer: 1GB data - Maximum amount per transfer: None • )LUVW ¿YH WUDQVIHUV SHU ELOOLQJ F\FOH DUH )5(( RI FKDUJH 3KS VHUYLFH IHH VKDOO DSSO\ IRU HYHU\ succeeding transfer. • Validity of Shared Data will follow the validity of its source.

3. Real-Time Balance Inquiry • Subscriber may check his/her remaining plan inclusions rela-time.

Venue Barangay Cogon Covered Court, City of Naga, Cebu Barangay Lamac Covered Court, Municipality of Pinamungahan, Cebu Barangay Bulongan Covered Court, City of Toledo, Cebu

The Public Hearing is being conducted in connection with the review of the EIA Report of the aforementioned project by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

All interested parties who wish to attend or participate in this Public Hearing should preferably FRQ¿UP WKHLU DWWHQGDQFH SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DQG PD\ JLYH WKHLU RSLQLRQ V LQ D FRQFLVH SRVLWLRQ SDSHU to the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EIAMD) of WKLV 2I¿FH WKURXJK PDLO RU WKURXJK HPDLO DW eiamd.emb.co@gmail.com, three (3) days before the Public Hearing schedule. Those who will not be able to register or submit written positions may be given the opportunity to share their issues on the day of the hearing itself.

SMART SIGNATURE BOOSTERS 4GB Php 299 30 days

200 AnyNet minutes Php 299 30 days

6GB Php 399 30 days

The project’s EIA Report and Executive Summary for the Public are downloadable at our website: www.eia.emb.gov.ph (kindly access the Notice of Public Hearing/ Consultation link found in our website) ZKLOH FRSLHV ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH LQ WKLV 2I¿FH DQG LQ WKH IROORZLQJ RI¿FHV 1.)

300 AnyNet minutes Php 399 30 days

EMB Region VII DENR Compound, Greenplains Subd., Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu

0XQLFLSDO 3ODQQLQJ DQG 'HYHORSPHQW 2I¿FH 03'2

Municipality of Pinamungahan, Cebu

NOTES: • AnyNet minutes include calls to Globe, TM, and PLDT landline

&LW\ 3ODQQLQJ DQG 'HYHORSPHQW 2I¿FH &3'2

City of Naga, Cebu

BOOSTERS MECHANICS

&LW\ 3ODQQLQJ DQG 'HYHORSPHQW 2I¿FH &3'2

City of Toledo, Cebu

1. These Data and Call Boosters are available only to Signature Plans.

)RU PRUH GHWDLOV SOHDVH FRQWDFW WKH (,$0' 'LYLVLRQ DW WKLV 2I¿FH DW WHOHSKRQH QXPEHU

2240 to 41 through the following project case handlers:

2. Subscribers can register to the boosters as long as their credit limit can accommodate.

3. Boosters may be availed through the following channels: a) myPLDT Smart App b) USSD (*121#) c) Smart Stores d) Smart Hotline

1.

2.

Engr. Jose Paolo Aragoncillo Mr. Carl Louie Santiago

MT - Apr. 10 & 17, 2019

4. Subscribers may enable auto-recurring feature for their valid boosters by opting in through the myPLDT Smart app.

5. Boosters will not be forfeited upon Retention / Upgrade / Downgrade of Signature Plan to another Signature Plan.

6. The subscriber’s account must be in ACTIVE status in order to successfully register to any booster.

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

7. Registration to the boosters shall be charged to the subscriber’s bill.

8. If the subscriber’s account is redirected or disconnected while subscribed to any booster, his outgoing services will be barred, including the service he is currently subscribed to. However, the booster will resume for the remaining period as long as the account reverts back to ACTIVE status.

9. The boosters are NOT available for subscribers on roaming. Applicable roaming fees shall apply.

10. Corporate accounts are not allowed to avail of these boosters.

13 March 2019 MR. ANTHONY LOUEN R. FERNANDEZ Legal & Regulatory Group Smart Communications, Inc. 6799 Ayala Avenue, 1226 Makati City

11. All queries or complaints that may arise from this promo shall be attended by hotline number *888 from any Smart postpaid or prepaid line and or 888-1111(landline)

Dear Mr. Fernandez:

The service is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only.

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Please be informed that the request for approval of Smart Signature Plans and Boosters Service effective 18 March 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.

Subject further, to the condition that SMART shall comply with the applicable NTC Memorandum Circulars and Orders, as follows: • Memorandum Order No. 07-07-2011, Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections. • Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2015, Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service • Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016, Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service • Memorandum Order No. 03-06-2009, Service Performance Standards for the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service.

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

This refers to your letter dated 11 March 2019 regarding the ALL NET OFFERS PROMO.

Please see table below for reference: Brand TNT

Promo SRP Validity SMS Voice Data Availment ALLNET 20 20 2 days Unlitext to ALL Unlicall to ALL 50MB Via USSD only. Dial ALLNETSAYA20 networks Networks *121# to register Smart ALLNET 30 30 1 day Unlitext to ALL Unlicall to ALL 100MB Prepaid networks Networks 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%.

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MT – April 17, 2019

BE A TOP JOURNALIST • See yourself on TV • Hear your voice on the radio • See your byline in the newspaper Jumpstart your media career at The Manila Times College!

For more information, call 524-5664 to 66 local 114 or 310-9625

Selling Partners All Smart Prepaid Selling channels (distributors, Key accounts, Smart Stores, International Distributors (PLDT Global)

The mechanics of the service are as follows: 1.

2.

The service is available to all overseas Filipinos working and living abroad or aspiring OFWs who are about to leave the Philippines.

There are different ways to load/top-up the Smart Overseas SIM card: • • •

3.

How to check the load balance: • •

4.

Via e-load - visit accredited retailers in the Philippines or abroad.

Online Reloading – Buy Smart load through smartworld247.com or store.smart.com.ph Call and Text Cards – Purchse Call and Texts cards from accredited retailers and distributors worldwide.

Text?1515 to 214 Dial 1515 using your mobile phone to receive balance details via SMS (P1/inquiry)

All complaints or questions that may arise from this service shall be attended by the following hotline numbers: Smart Prepaid/TNT: (02) 888-1111 or *888.

The service is intended for peer to peer and non-commercial use only.

Please be informed that the request for approval of Smart Overseas Pinoy SIM Service starting 08 April 2019 is hereby granted. The approval is subject to the condition that Smart shall publish the mechanics of the service in a newspaper of general circulation three (3) days prior to implementation.

Very truly yours, (SGD.) EDGARDO V. CABARIOS Deputy Commissioner MT – Apr. 17, 2019

Republic of the Philippines National Police Commission PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE HEALTH SERVICE Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, Quezon City TO: ALL INTERESTED/ACCREDITED SUPPLIERS: Sealed Bids in three (3) copies, Pursuant to Sec. 17 of Revised IRR of RA 9184, all entries typewritten with the item(s) described in the accompanying Bidder’s Tender for the Procurement of Medical, Dental & Laboratory Supplies and in the total amount of Twenty Two Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Pesos (P22,750,750.00) for the use of PNP Health Service. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders from April 15, 2019 to May 6, 2019 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 P.M during working days and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for their bidding documents. Pre-Bid Conference will be held on April 22, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. Last day of submission of bids is until May 6, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. and must be submitted to HS Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) at the HS Conference Room. Opening of Bids is on the same time, date and place and will be opened in the presence of participating bidder.

The PNP HS-BAC reserves the right to accept or reject any bid proposal, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

Please be guided accordingly.

Very truly yours, (SGD.) ALBERTO A. AVILA Police Colonel Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

On the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REPORT of the proposed QVPI CEBU MARBLE AND AGGREGATES QUARRY PROJECT of QUARRY VENTURES PHILIPPINES, INC. located in City of Naga and Toledo, and Municipality of Pinamungajan, Province of Cebu.

7. Payments shall be made to accredited payment channels only.

100 AnyNet minutes Php 199 30 days

Dear Mr. Fernandez:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

5. Approval of applications is subject to SMART credit guidelines.

CALL BOOSTERS Calls Price Validity

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

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27 March 2019

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DATA BOOSTERS Data Price Validity

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

Availment 1. ALLNET 20 is open to TNT Subscribers nationwide. ALLNET 30 is open to Smart Prepaid Subscribers nationwide.

2. To avail, the subscriber must register via USSD by dialing *121#.

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9. Offer is not available to roaming and international subscribers 10. All complaints or questions that may arise from these offers shall be attended to by the following hotline number: (02) 888-1111 or *888.

This promo is intended for peer-to-peer and non-commercial use only.

Subject further to the condition that SMART shall comply with the following Memorandum Circulars, if applicable: • • •

MO No. 07-07-2011 - Minimum Speed of Broadband Connection MC No. 07-08-2015 – Rules on the Measurement of Fixed Broadband/Internet Access Service MC No. 10-12-2016 - Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service

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

MT – Apr. 17, 2019

MT – Apr. 15 & 17, 2019

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 2I¿FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-043 x---------------------------------------------x

SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-044 x---------------------------------------------x

SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION Applicant BMC CASE NO. 2019-045 x---------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant, SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION, is a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), and a grantee of a Congressional Franchise under R.A No. 8209, requests for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1 Kw FM RADIO BROADCAST STATION in DALAGUETE, CEBU.

Applicant, SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION, is a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), and a grantee of a Congressional Franchise under R.A No. 8209, requests for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1 Kw FM RADIO BROADCAST STATION in BARILI, CEBU.

Applicant, SOUNDSTREAM BROADCASTING CORPORATION, is a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), and a grantee of a Congressional Franchise under R.A No. 8209, requests for the issuance of a &HUWL¿FDWH RI 3XEOLF Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain 1 Kw FM RADIO BROADCAST STATION in ALOGUINSAN, CEBU.

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

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

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

In view thereof, this will be heard by this Commission on MAY 27, 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 MAY 27, 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 MAY 27, 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.

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 ¿IWHHQ 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 ¿IWHHQ 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 ¿IWHHQ 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 ¿OH LWV YHUL¿HG RSSRVLWLRQ RQ RU before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any DIIHFWHG SDUW\ WR ¿OH LWV RSSRVLWLRQ RQ time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

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

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

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 11th day of APRIL, 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 11th day of APRIL, 2019.

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 11th day of APRIL, 2019.

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

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

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

MT - Apr. 17, 2019

MT - Apr. 17, 2019

MT - Apr. 17, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Maritime

B7

Standardization in IT to benefit shipping T HE adoption of common software, hardware and information technology (IT) in the shipping industry is expected to reduce operating costs of companies and improve maritime safety, according to industry analysts.

Such IT standardization includes adoption of common operating systems (Windows, iOS and Linux), hardware (Cisco networking devices and modem), and IT technology (block chain and internet of things).

This is seen to keep IT costs down by implementing standards based on the organization’s consensus.

Applied in the shipping industry, such IT standardization employs IT software and hardware that are standard or common among shipping companies.

It involves standardizing IT in shipping, modernizing the processes, overcoming the hurdles, and applying solutions for the BEST BENEkTS

Standardization The Philippine private maritime industry, as well as government agencies have been developing and implementing standardized IT software and hardware. More private ships are now using Transas Navi Radar to display wind

power, the status of electrical systems, global positiong system, maps, and navigational data. The same goes with the Philippine Coast Guard, which acquired and refurbished ships equipped with modern navigational instruments. “Patrick,� a senior programmer in a government agency, noted the BENEkTS OF )4 STANDARDIZATION IN THE Philippine shipping industry. “If all ships [public and private] use the same software and hardware that are both inexpensive and of GOOD QUALITY ALL WILL BENEkT 4HAT would lower the cost of shipping.

Why not use open source programs SUCH AS ,IBRE OFkCE !PACHE /FkCE

Gimp, to save cost rather than rely on proprietary software that would BENEkT A FEW u

Benefits A standardized IT is considered a boon for maritime education.

Aspiring students use the maritime simulator to effectively teach navigational instruments and hypothetical scenarios. PHIL

Camsat or the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training began using industry standardsfor IT hardware and software to teach students.

In particular, the center uses equipment such as the Electro-Mechanical Lab-Volt Trainer. Meanwhile, the Philippines-based Mitsui Lines uses a high-performance ship-handling simulator.

When asked how IT standardIZATION COULD BENEkT THE SHIPPING industry, Patrick said that common software and hardware could reduce operating costs. “IT standardization could cut costs by reducing errors and keeping customers who are accustomed to common software and hardware. A ship using similar software can save time and money by receiving updated and fast communication from other ships that use the same IT standards. Just imagine, if two ship’s crew are using different software,� Patrick said.

The International Electrotechnical Commission or IEC, an international organization that publishes articles about international standards on electrical devices, published a PAPER ON THE BENEkTS OF STANDARDization on safe global shipping.

The paper cited the standardization on electronic navigation charts and the use of e-navigation that is a harmonized exchange, presentation, analysis and collection of marine

info onshore and onboard to improve maritime safety and berth navigation. !NOTHER BENEkT IS THE PAPERLESS keeping of shipping documents by using the popular Blockchain technology. Recently, a consensus of APL, Accenture, Kuehne + Nagel, AB InBev, and a European customs organization tested Blockchain technology.

standardization: Sensor metadata, shipboard data recorder, sensor referencing and naming, and sensor reliability and quality.

make standardization overnight or make it happen in one month.

There must be a consensus among the private and public organization. Companies who are leading in IT digitalization can hinder progress if they make a platform that is proprietary and uncommon,� he said.

Hurdles

Hurdles in IT standardization include the high cost of technology, the shipping companies’ resistance to change, and the time to build Modernization such change. For instance, the cost of technology would be prohibitive Several modern and futuristic IT for small companies that will try to technologies are now being consid- catch up with standardized software ered by a number of global leaders and hardware. in the shipping industry. Maersk, a Some companies are also unwillshipping giant with Philippine pres- ing to adopt new technologies beence, is currently tapping internet of cause of the need to train new staff. things, which is the inter-connectivi- In addition, the time to standardize ty of sensors attached to everyday de- is not easy which is also linked to vices, home appliances and vehicles cost and resistance to change. via the internet. “Ralph,� an IT professional and Second, blockchain technology front-end web developer, said techor the decentralized record of the nologies need to be accessible and transaction is now being tested for affordable to get fully adopted. use in the maritime sector. Maersk “High tech IT technologies would and IBM employ blockchain tech- remain a futuristic thing unless nology in their digital supply chain it is commercialized and made known as Tradelens that records available for the public. Such techcommercial invoices, vessel move- nologies should be inexpensive,� ments, and bills of lading. he said.

Patrick, said the hurdles in IT DNV GL, a company with an OFkCE IN % #OM #ENTER 0ASAY #ITY standardization can slow down the is a provider of maritime software progress in shipping modernization. and risk and global quality assur“The lack of political will, ance management services. The enough computer hardware and company’s publication discussed software can add to the problems the following areas that need of IT modernization. We cannot

Solutions The success of IT standardization lies in a uniform or universal hardware AND SOFTWARE THAT SETS ASIDE PROkTEERing but raises the need for maritime safety and openness that can bring about true IT standardization. “A standard platform that is accessible for all organization and companies would make IT standardization a reality. If everyone places the welfare of the common above self, then IT standardization is possible,� Patrick said.

Asked about the solutions for IT standardization, Ralph cited the need for local shipping companies and government agencies to unite. “Cargo, shipping companies and the government must maintain a consensus that would establish a common IT platform, whether it’s A DATABASE WEBSITE OFkCE SOFTWARE

simulator, video editor, Enterprise resource program, customer relationship software or business process software,� he said.

SHARP MINDS CONTENT

New, state-of-the-art Marina advocates gender equality in shipbuilding, ship repair facility for PH seamen ONE of the world’s leading cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., announces its plans to put up new, state-of-the-art training facility in the Philippines to attract and train top talent to MEET STAFkNG DEMAND AND GROWTH The company is now in development and construction of the Norwegian Cruise Line Center of Excellence, a 200,000-squarefoot that will serve both new and existing shipboard team members across the company and will provide training for various onboard service areas. “The world class training campus will enable the company to fully immerse trainees in their coursework, reduce onboard training time and further improve upon the already industry-leading service levels,� the company’s statement read.

The facilities of the center have been intended to at least give trainees realistic work and a living experiences aboard a cruise ship, which will include replicas of staterooms, A SHIPBOARD GALLEY A CASINO lOOR

a full service bar as well as safety and security training areas.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, the center which has secured a 7.2-acre parcel of land in Manila, will provide annual training for as many as 8,000 shipboard team members each year, and expected to give trainings to present and

future seafarers that are hoping to work in cruise ships. “As the Company continues to grow and execute on our disciplined new build pipeline with eleven ships on order through 2027, the Center of Excellence will enable us to train and develop shipboard staff to meet the growing demand for top talent and to provide our guests with the high level of service and best-inclass vacation experience they have come to expect,� said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive OFkCER OF .ORWEGIAN #RUISE ,INE Holdings Ltd. “With our global fleet of 26 ships carrying over 2.5 million guests a year, this new facility will give us the ability to fully immerse shipboard team members in their coursework and ensure we continue to provide exceptional vacation experiences for our guests.�

Construction of the center is scheduled to begin in late 2019.

The Company currently sources approximately 65 percent of its shipboard talent from Southeast Asia and anticipates an even higher demand for personnel from the region in the coming years.

The central location of the Philippines, as well as its high percentage of multilingual citizens, has proven to be an ideal location for the Company’s training and development facility.

RAFFY AYENG

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has urged women to engage in the industry of ship-building and ship repair, contradicting the common notion that these industries are meant for men.

In a gender sensitivity workshop initiated by Marina through Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) in General Santos City, Marina stressed that shipyard should not be limited to men, advocating equal opportunities for women.

Regardless of gender, Marina believes that the active participation of every Filipino

would lead to the fulfillment of the Maritime Industry Development Plan and part of it is employing more people, including more women in the maritime industry.

Speaking to the participants is Marichu Magpantay-Buergo, a gender and development specialist. She tackled the social construction of gender, concepts and tools for gender analysis, as well as gender-based inequalities in the society.

The speaker deflated the cliche that men were stronger

compared to women.

Buergo also emphasized that “no scientific study has proven the claim, clarifying that women may actually be stronger than men for their capability to carry an unborn child inside their bodies for nine months.�

She also highlighted that men and women only varied in their physiological aspect and biological make-up, but actually had the same capacity.

She, then, encouraged the participants to share their gained knowledge on gender sensitivity

with their colleagues to further strengthen cooperation and oneness at the workplace. “This gender sensitivity workshop is not intended to devalue men by empowering women, but an opportunity to learn how to respect each and every individual,� said Marina-SRS Director Engr. Ramon Hernandez, reminding the participants that a more inclusive and less discriminatory environment is instrumental in engaging more individuals in the maritime industry.

RAFFY AYENG

Celebrating International Day of Museums PHILIPPINE history predating the arrival of Spanish conquistadores offers a glimpse of the fearless, regal tribes inherent in the mountains, fields, and shorelines of this archipelagic country in the Southeast of Asia.

Come May 10, however, the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) and the De La Salle University-Manila, in partnership with the International Council of Museums Philippines, will offer more than just a taste of the past — pre-Hispanic Philippines will be reconstructed using new archeological finds and extensive studies by experts from the allied fields.

The 1st International Symposium to celebrate International Museum Day entitled, “Discovering Pre-His-

panic Philippines from an Archeological Perspective� will be held at the Jayne Offemaria-Abuid Auditorium, Deck 12 of the AIMS Tower in Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City.

The symposium highlights the recent discoveries on Pre-Hispanic Philippines and its meaning and significance to world history. It recognizes the role of archeology in reconstructing the past through presentations of subject matter experts.

Museum tours will be offered on May 11 at the Museo Maritimo, the country’s first and only comprehensive maritime museum, and the National Museum.

Reservations can be sent through Rhogin Giner at rvginer@aims. edu.ph or through Daryll Abarca at museomaritimo@aims.edu.ph.

Q A religious statue is displayed at the Museo Maritimo of Asian Institute of Maritime Studies.

Lessons from the Titanic O

NE hundred seven years ago on April 15, the “unsinkable� Titanic sank, taking more than 1,500 of the 2,240 lives on board. It has been said that the RMS Titanic was the product of intense competition among rival shipping lines in that era, perhaps A RElECTION AND CONSEQUENCE OF the prevailing Darwinian maxim, gTHE SURVIVAL OF THE kTTEST u $ARwin’s theory states that limited resources would compel organisms to struggle against and compete with one another to obtain those resources. Eventually, only the kTTEST AND STRONGEST WOULD ENDURE and survive competition. And the Titanic did not pass the test.

We have come a long way since that era of intense competition AND SURVIVAL OF THE kTTEST MINDset. Today, scientists are questioning if bitter competition is really all that life is about. American evolutionary biologist Elizabeth

Sahtouris says, “Darwin was right about species competing for resources, but he never saw beyond it as just one stage in the maturation cycle. Evolution proceeded when crises created by species forced them to go beyond @SURVIVAL OF THE kTTEST AND kND COoperative strategies for survival.�

Indeed, in the shipping sector, it is cooperation that has proven most effective in moving the industry forward.

Consider this: Of all the industries that abound, shipping is without a doubt the most international in terms of its structure. – A shipowner is from country A. – Its ship is registered in Country B (not necessarily in the shipowner’s own country). – The ship manager is likely from Country C. – Its crew, a representation of the 174 member countries that make up the Interna-

tional Maritime Organization (IMO). – And the ship travels the globe, carrying important cargo from one port to the next, country by country, region by region, 365 days a year.

With this interconnectivity, how could the shipping industry survive if not through cooperation?

The major shipping nations banded together as a result of the Titanic tragedy to take collective measures to address maritime SAFETY AND ADOPT THE kRST INTERnational convention on safety of life at sea (Solas), in 1914. These nations also perceived the need to have an international standard-setting body, the IMO, to oversee maritime safety.

In matters of maritime safety, cooperation, not competition, is crucial. Relative to our own situation in the Philippines, maritime safety is a matter of equal concern not only

are to sell to other countries what we produce in surplus and buy what we cannot produce. The advent of a more integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations with a CARLOS SALINAS population of over 600 million has opened up tremendous opportunifrom the government’s perspective, ties to expand intra-regional trade but from all industry stakeholders, and facilitate the movement of goods as well as the riding public. and of people, including tourists The Philippines stands at the WHO ARE lOCKING MORE AND MORE TO crossroads of two main ocean this part of the world. In all these, HIGHWAYS WHICH PLAY A SIGNIkCANT maritime safety and the protection role in world trade. Harking back of the marine environment are to the famous galleon trade of vital to the potential for Philippine the 16th century, the Philippines economic growth. The achievement started off as a major trans- of this shared vision is possible only shipment point for goods from through cooperation. mainland Asia to markets in the In his essay “Cooperation VerAmericas and Europe. sus Competition: An Evolution4HIS WAS A SIGNIkCANT PERIOD IN ary Perspective,� Tobias Roberts our country’s history when Philip- spells out the implications of the pine shipping played a major role evolutionary “jump�: in international trade. “[W]e´ll have to question some International shipping is as im- of the most basic tenets of our portant as interisland shipping if we economic, political and social

FROM THE DESK OF THE IMO AMBASSADOR

livelihoods. Greed will need to be replaced by a willingness to share.

Violence will need to be substituted for peaceful coexistence, and our human hubris will need to be transformed into a humble realization that our survival depends on adhering to the principles and ethics that sustain life itself. “Individual self-interest won´t simply disappear. We will forever continue to be individuals. But our own self-interest will need to be negotiated with the greater interest of the communities where we live.

In the next step of our evolution, cooperative synergy will replace competitive exploitation.�

Inspiring words to live by, and so appropriate in this season of SACRIkCE AND RElECTION -AY WE be renewed through compassion and mindful awareness, and EMERGE WITH PURIkED HEARTS (AVE a meaningful Holy Week and a Happy Easter!

Maritime SKorea to offer shipboard training for Filipino cadets S B8

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

EDITOR: Carmela I. Huelar

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net Q T/S Segero at the Manila South harbor. PHOTO BY FAS MARITIME

BY GENIVI FACTAO Â

OUTH Korea‘s government-subsidized Mokpo National Maritime University (MMU) has offered to help in providing shipboard training for Filipino maritime cadets.

Partnering recently with some of the country’s maritime schools, MMU will facilitate the use of Korean training ships to help Filipino cadets meet the shipboard training requirements by the Philippine government before they can be CONSIDERED OFkCIALLY AS GRADUATES MMU and One Movement for Maritime Education of the Philippines (Ommep) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday, April 15 onboard T/S Segero at South Harbor Pier 15 Manila, to help Filipino students get an on-the-job training.

MMU owns two training ships for the training of Naval Academy students. The T/S Segero and T/S Hannara, are two identical training ships with a length of 133 meters and a beam of 19 meters. The training ships can accommodate up to 200 and 186 students, respectively.

MMU President, Dr. Park 3UNG (YEON SAID IT WAS THE kRST voyage of T/S Segero, since it was DELIVERED AND -ANILA WAS THE kRST PORT OF CALL FOR ITS kRST VOYAGE (E ADDED THAT IT WAS THE kRST -/5 signed onboard the training ship. “As president of MMU, the goal

is to make my university, an internationally recognized university beYOND +OREA 4HIS IS THE kRST OFkCIAL step moving forward. MMU has the world’s best training ship,� he said.

South Korea has already been listed as one of the top eight maritime powers in the world, and its mission is to continue to be a key leader in the world. “Our university is a specialized maritime institute that focuses on cultivating intellectuals who will have not only the leadership for new maritime culture, but also the knowledge of maritime science,� MMU said. “We are equipped with modern laboratory equipment and two new large-scale practice ships that are used in classes. We also provide qualified students with scholarships and stipends, which are comparable with international standards,� MMU added.

Engr. Galileo Maglasang, president of OMMEP, said the newly organized group was composed of 33 universities from Misamis Occidental, Davao, Cebu and Luzon. “We’re trying to have collaboration with MMU on how to im-

prove the maritime education and training. Maritime schools should have 100 percent deployment of students after graduation. But the domestic shipping cannot accommodate them,� Maglasang said.

He added that they need a government-to-government agreement in order to get the shipboard training onboard Korean ships.

The Initial process is to have an MOU with schools and satisfy the requirements, followed by a memorandum of agreement (MOA).

Chong Pal Kim Mokpo Chairman of Foscon Ship Management Inc. said since MMU is a government university, the shipboard training requires government-to-government agreement. “We want to make our school, a quality university in the world. We know that many Philippine maritime schools do not have a training ship. More than 80 percent of the students, although they were graduates, cannot join the vessel, without a one-year training program. We want to help students,� he said. “This is modernized training ship in the world. All we need is a MOA,� he added.

MMU can accommodate 30 foreign students to experience the training onboard ship. Students come from Ecuador, Panama, China, Vietnam, Malaysia. Around 10 Filipino cadets can be accommodated in the six -month programs.

The other six–month balance can be done in other private ships. The fee is minimal, as it would cover only few expenses like food.

Filipino students need to learn the Korean language and their culture, while Korean students can learn English from other students.

Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) expressed optimism on the forging of understanding between MMU and OMMEP and congratulated both institutions for a remarkable undertaking. The same cordial recognition was given by Undersecretary Renato Ebarle of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

The oath taking of OMMEP OFkCERS WAS ALSO CONDUCTED DURING the program with CHEd CommisSIONER !DAMAT AS INDUCTING OFkCER )NDUCTED INTO OFkCE WERE %NGR Galileo A. Maglasang (Misamis Institute of Technology) as president;

Q Signing of memorandum of understanding onboard T/SSegero (from left): Chong Pal Kim, chairman, Foscon Shipmanagement Inc; Dr. Sunghyeon Park, President, Mokpo National Maritime University; Engr. Galileo Maglasang, President, One Movement for Maritime Education of  the Philippines; and Dr. Joy Villapando, president, Worldwidelink Educational Development Inc. PHOTO BY FAS MARITIME Engr. Alden Salazar (Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology) as vice president and Representative for Visayas; Senforiano Alterado Jr. (MATS College of Technology) as vice president and Representative for Mindanao; Dr. Mansueto Atillo (Misamis Institute of Technology) as secretary; Dr. Dionisio Victor Balite (BIT International Collge) as treasurer and representative for Visayas; Lucile Maglasang (Our Lady of Triumph

Institute of Technology) as auditor; Chief Engr. Patricio Gonzales Jr. (Our Lady of Triumph Institute of TechnolOGY AS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFkCER AND representative for Mindanao; Capt.

Victor del Prado (Misamis Institute of Technology) as representative for Luzon; and Atty. Rebene Carrera (PIMSAT Colleges) as representative for Luzon.

WITH REPORTS

BY WILMAR ALMERIA

SOCIETY OF NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS INC. PRESIDENT SAMUEL LIM

ICTSI sees a healthy terminal business in 2019 Charting greater heights for PH shipbuilding INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is cautiously optimistic and expects a healthy container business this year, amid the changes taking place in the industry.

ICTSI Chairman and President Enrique Razon Jr., citing the Drewry report said that while ports worldwide would have to cope with more cascading loops, vessel size was unlikely to increase further in the next few years even as the outlook for global container port throughput remains healthy. “It is apparent then that utilization levels are expected to rise across most all regions. It also follows that berths with the infrastructure to handle the largest ships will be the most highly utilized and in s h o r t s u p p l y, w h i l e o l d e r berths will be underutilized,�

Razon said during the recent stockholder’s meeting. “These indication, couple with global trade dynamics — our drive in maintaining positive volume growth organically and through mergers and acquisitions, our focus on cost and operating efficiency to make our terminals the preferred port of call in their respective countries and regions — all combine to provide a case for cautious optimism in 2019,� he added.

Razon said they remain optimistic because the terminals they built could handle the biggest ships in places where they were. “Even if is there is no global trade, the berths that can handle the largest ships are the ones who’s most in command.

We will get growth from having modern terminals. Almost all our facilities are modernized,� Razon added.

ICTSI has allocated $380 million capital expenditure for capacity expansion in Manila, Mexico and Iraq, for additional equipment and carry over maintenance.

ICTSI’s flagship terminal, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT ) is working on Berths 7 and 8. With a con-

BY YASHIKA F. TORIB

Q Enrique Razon Jr. trolling depth of 13.5 to 14.5 meters, these new berths will further enhance the terminal’s capacity and ability to handle larger ships.

The second phase of the construction, which adds backup areas for future berths 9 and 10, started in the first quarter of 2019.

The Drewry Maritime Research showed that there would be no SIGNIkCANT INCREASE IN MAXIMUM container ship size. The maximum twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) intake is going up, but the physical dimensions were not. However, cascading will still be very much at work across all trade routes, and each port will see increasing pressure on whichever berths would be able to handle the biggest ships, and increased obsolescence of older berths.

Drewry said terminal operators and port authorities would continue to seek to expand their activities beyond the port gate into the wider supply chain, to try and diversify sources of revenue, tie in traffic and get closer to cargo owners. “Despite all the above challenges, the global container terminal industry will remain a very solid, profitable business. The 2019 industry throughput of over 800 million TEUs should generate EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) in excess of US$25 billion,� according to Drewry.

GENIVI FACTAO

this, in fact our Navy and the Coast Guard would import expensive THE country’s premier shipbuild- ships. We already have designs ers usher in a new era of progress here so why not build locally? By that shall serve as its vanguard in a getting our naval vessels abroad, TIME WHEN THE GLOBAL lEET TAKES ON we’re giving some of our [military modernization and maritime ed- capability details] to our enemy; ucation and training are evolving that is supposed to be our secret as a nation,� he reasoned out. “We into world-class standards.

At the forefront of this trend are even capable of developing our is the founder of the Society of own technology, in fact we have alNaval Architects and Marine READY DEPLOYED OUR kRST SATELLITE IN Engineers, Inc. (Soname), the space. What we only need now is only professional organization of government support to be readily its kind that is accredited by the in place so investors would come Professional Regulation Com- IN AND POLICIES WOULD BE BENEkCIAL mission (PRC). Engr. Samuel to our local builders.�

The seasoned naval architect Lim charts on inclusive improvements in the Philippine shipping mentioned how partial the governindustry that covers maritime ment regulations are for local shipsafety, educational competencies builders, disclosing that foreign and regulatory implementations. shipyards are granted operations “Our naval architects are as free of tax. “Their shipyard and good as anyone in the world,� says all else within its area is a tax-free Engr. Lim. “When Soname started zone, a policy that is not given to in 2007, we only have 10 licensed local builders. There are different naval architect production per and unfair standards for domestic year; now its 34, three-fold of what and foreign shipbuilders here in we used to produce,� he added, the Philippines. If we can give that stating that such development was kind of incentive to them, why spurred by the trend of shipping not apply the same to the Filipino shipbuilders especially if it is for modernization. domestic modernization? It’s not about the money that we will lose Strengthening local from foregoing such taxes; because shipbuilding sector we will eventually earn more than Lim, a naval architect and marine what we lost,� he explained.

A report made by the Maritime engineer by profession, indicated that the Philippines, being an ar- Industry Authority (Marina) in chipelagic and a traditional seafar- 2016 showed that the Philippines ing country, can stand abreast with was ranked as the fifth largest the global shipping only if the gov- shipbuilding nation in the world ernment would help the industry in terms of new building compush for regulatory improvements. pletion volume. The revenue was This includes amending the Pro- placed at about $1.5 billion for the curement Law which states that construction of 38 exported ships consumers should buy or have with 1.9 million gross tonnage.

These ships, however, were built vessels built from shipyards that already have a track record in by foreign shipyards that are based in the Philippines, to include Tsubuilding ships. “Unfortunately, we don’t have neishi, Austal and Hanjin. “Together with our maritime that track record of building international ships. Customers prefer party list, Angkla, we intend to to import ready-made vessels be- move for giving incentives to CAUSE THEY ARE NOT CONkDENT THAT Filipino-owned shipyards that is our local shipyards can deliver on equal to what the foreign-owned time,� Lim said, hinting that the shipyards are entitled to.�

111 Filipino owned shipyards are fully capable to build vessels as Promoting maritime it already for domestic shipping safety companies, however, bigger investments are needed to construct The Philippines hold several titles in the global maritime industry, vessels for international waters. “The government has budget for two of which are a stark contrast

Q Engr. Samuel Lim. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO from each other — the “World’s Premier Seafaring Country� and the “Country with the Worst Maritime Disaster.� “We pride ourselves on having the best and most number of seafarers in the entire world, and yet, the Guinness Book of World Records labeled us as having the worst maritime disaster as far as fatalities is concerned. That’s a smack right at our face as a maritime nation,� Lim said.

He mentioned the issue of using wooden hulled vessels, that while it was already phased out several years ago, the use of such is still prevalent in the southern regions particularly in the Sulu Sea. “The industry cannot move fast enough to replace them. And then there are the cases of small boats that continue to ply our seas especially in peak sea-passenger season such as now, Holy Week, when an INlUX OF PEOPLE WOULD TRAVEL FROM an island to another. The demand is so high that for many, wooden hulled boats are still acceptable. “The problem here, apart from poor maintenance from some shipowners, is the implementation of our sole regulatory body — Marina. Implementation is very lax but registration, even for existing vessels, is very hard. We should have a single class regime such as the United Kingdom, United States, China and Japan. That would mean a single, uniform standard of classifying ships. Right now, we have four,� he said. “How could we even think of ship automation when basic things such as these are not yet fixed?�

Establishing educational competencies While the Soname founder and president admitted that naval architecture can never be a money-making profession, he shared the group’s vision of strengthening the competencies of the country’s naval architects. “We have partnered with Marina, Angkla and the Commission on Higher Education to come up with a masters degree course for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME). We intend to bring this to the University of the Philippines (UP) as well as our maritime schools, hopefully this year. “We are looking at a government-funded scholarship that shall be implemented in partnership with these groups for a better quality of education and competencies,� he said.

With the enrollment season for the next school year in full swing, Engr. Lim called on to the incoming college students to consider NAME as their future profession. “In my time, there were only a few naval architects; there was a global recession back then and we had to design ships manually.

Should we decide to work abroad, we had to take additional schooling. But I tell you, now is a great time to take this course – the world economy is growing, opportunities for the Philippine maritime industry is abound, ship design is now aided by softwares, and we’ve got now the APEC-Asean Registry which allows licensed naval architects to practice their professions abroad without additional schooling. You are now ready for the world!�

Sports

Woods set to chase more major glory after Masters win

WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019

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Q Kevin Durant (No. 35) of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Patrick Beverley of the LA Clippers during Game Two of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP PHOTO

Clippers pull off biggest comeback in playoff history L OS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Clippers delivered the biggest comeback in NBA playoff history on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), rallying FROM A POINT DEkCIT FOR A SHOCKING 135-131 win over the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors.

Lou Williams scored 36 points and Montrezl Harrell nailed a couple of clutch late free throws as the Clippers surprised even themselves to square the first round playoff series at 1-1.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he told his players at halftime, when they were down by 23 points, to not give up. “I said ‘We are going to win this

game.’ I was honest with them. I said, ‘I don’t know how. Just hang in there with each other,’� Rivers said. “This is who we are. We hung in there long enough. We found a way to win the game.�

Williams also had 11 assists, GOING OF FROM THE kELD AND eight-of-10 from the free throw line.

Game three is Thursday in Los Angeles.

The stretch drive featured the Clippers’ consistent mid-range game against the Warriors’ inconsistent three-point shooting. But fouls and injuries also worked against the Warriors in game two OF THE kRST ROUND SERIES Warriors coach Steve Kerr described it as an epic meltdown.

The Clippers topped the Los Angeles Lakers’ rally from a 29-point DEkCIT TO BEAT THE 3EATTLE 3UPERSONics in 1989.

The Clippers also came back from being 27 points down in a playoff win over the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.

The Warriors got more bad news after the game when they learned centre DeMarcus Cousins suffered a serious injury. Cousins injured HIS LEFT QUAD IN THE kRST QUARTER AND

is expected to have an MRI scan done on it on Tuesday.

Williams drained a key jump shot over Klay Thompson with 46 seconds remaining after Curry had put the Warriors ahead 131-128 on a three-pointer 12 seconds earlier.

After Klay Thompson missed a shot from beyond the arc, Clippers Landry Shamet hit a three pointer with 16 seconds left for the game winner. Harrell sank two free THROWS WITH kVE SECONDS LEFT TO CAP the scoring.

‘We need everybody’ Elsewhere, Ben Simmons heard cheers instead of jeers Monday as the Philadelphia 76ers set a franchise record with 51 points in the third quarter en route to

a 145-123 playoff win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Australia’s Simmons, who had criticized the Philadelphia fans’ booing in game one of the series, delivered a triple-double of 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

He joined Wilt Chamberlain and Charles Barkley as the only Sixers to get multiple triple-doubles in the postseason, and this time he left to a standing ovation from the home fans.

Philadelphia grabbed command of the contest with a 51-point third quarter, a team record for most points in a quarter.

The Sixers also set a club record for most points in a playoff game, squaring their best-of-seven opening round series 1-1.

Game three is on Thursday in

New York.

Ailing Joel Embiid finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Philadelphia, who shot 56 PERCENT FROM THE kELD %MBIID WAS a game-time decision due to a sore left knee. “Everybody’s got to bring it,�

Embiid said. “We need everybody.�

Tobias Harris added 19 points, JJ Redick scored 17, reserve centre Boban Marjanovic had 16 and Mike Scott scored 15 for Philadelphia.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 19 and D’Angelo Russell added 16 for the Nets, who set a team record for points allowed in a postseason game.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson got 15, while Caris LeVert and Shabazz Napier scored 13 each.

AFP

Austria defends Standhardinger in Game 2 incident DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria defended Christian Standhardinger in Game 2 incident with Calvin Abueva, saying the 6’7 Filipino-German had no intention to hurt the Phoenix Pulse’s rugged player during their highly physical encounter last Wednesday. “We’re relying only on the video but if you will see before that happened, there was a foul on Christian (Stand-

hardinger). He was pulled down but no foul was called, and that was given though,� Austria told reporters in Filipino. “But I know Christian he will not do anything that will hurt a n y players because it is all their livelihood.�

Standhardinger was caught on television kicking Abueva on the head and groin as they were both LYING ON THE lOOR with 6:10 mark of second quarter after a loose ball action.

Standhardinger was thrown out of the game as game officials assessed HIM WITH A lAgrant foul Q Christian Standhardinger of San Miguel Beer tries to score against penalty Calvin Abueva (No. 8), Doug Kramer and Jason Perkins of Phoenix Pulse two. while June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer looks on during Game 2 of T h e their best-of-seven semifinals series of Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup last 2017-18 top Monday at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

NO REST FOR IBF CHAMP JERWIN ANCAJAS INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation )"& SUPER lYWEIGHT CHAMPION *ERWIN Ancajas will not rest for the Holy Week except on Good Friday with only a few DAYS LEFT BEFORE lYING TO THE 5NITED 3TATES to prepare for his seventh title defense against Ryuichi Funai on May 4 in Stockton, California. !NCAJAS

CONkRMED TO The Manila Times on Tuesday that they would stay and spend the entire week at the secluded Philippine Marine Corps Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite for his last phase of training before departing for San Francisco, California on April 23. “Except for Friday, we will be having no Holy Week break. That’s the way it

is I really need to focus on my training and not be complacent. I have to focus also on my weight,� said Ancajas (30-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 20 knockouts) in Filipino. “On Friday, we will just rest here in the camp and resume the next day. My walking weight now is 125 pounds and ) M CONkDENT WE CAN MEET THE POUND limit. That’s what we are doing before we GO TO THE 53 u ADDED !NCAJAS WHO JUST kNISHED A SIXTH ROUND SPARRING SESSION “For this week, we only have a light training and four to six sparring sessions AS THE kGHT GETS NEAR u Ancajas’ alternate sparring partners are Alan Alberca, Marvin Esquerdo,

overall pick, for his part, apologized for what he called as ‘accident.’ “He pulled me down and I fell down. I tried to run away and try to run back on defense. I accidentally hit him. Obviously, I feel very sorry for accidentally, and that is the most important thing. But I think he is kNE AND HE WAS ABLE TO kNISH THE GAME u SAID 3TANDhardinger to reporters.

Standhardinger was summoned by the commisSIONER S OFkCE LATE 4UESDAY AFTERNOON AS OF PRESS TIME ! HUGE kNE WAS EXPECTED TO BE SLAPPED ON 3TANDHARDINGER FOR THE lAGRANT FOUL PENALTY TWO INFRACTION Abueva, on the other hand, refused to talk with the reporters after the game.

Austria added that his players were inspired by the ejection of Standhardinger, resulting in a hard-earned come-from-behind 92-82 win in Game 2 for the BeerMEN S LEAD IN THEIR BEST OF SEVEN SEMIkNALS SERIES OF Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup against Phoenix. “The team was inspired. I was forced to use June Mar (Fajardo) a longer minutes and gave him a two or three minutes rest. Kelly Nabong gave us quality minutes and more ample time for June Mar to rest. So when June Mar returned, he was our go-to-guy,� added Austria.

Austria will give his players some time to rest and RElECT THIS (OLY 7EEK SINCE THE 3AN -IGUEL "EERMEN HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR kVE GAMES IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS JOSEF T. RAMOS

Q Jerwin Ancajas (right) TOP RANK PHOTO

George Nuez, Angelo Beltran, John Mark Alimane, Miller Alapormina and Daniel Lim. Trainer manager Joven Jimenez added that the Panabo, Davao del Norte pride

is now 92 to 93 percent ready before achieving their goal of 95 percent when THEY lY TO THE 53 “Jerwin only needs to focus on this kGHT u JOSEF T. RAMOS

Q Luke Walton AFP PHOTO

Kings confirm appointment of Walton LOS ANGELES: Luke Walton was confirmed as the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), marking a swift return to the NBA just days after parting company with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Walton, whose departure from the Lakers was announced on Friday, was rapidly identified by Sacramento as their preferred successor to Dave Joerger, who was fired last Thursday.

The Kings and Walton started talks on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the coach’s exit from the Lakers. “I have known Luke for many years and I am so excited to welcome him and his family to the Sacramento Kings,� said Kings General Manager Vlade Divac in a statement. “I look forward to his leadership on the court as we work to build a winning culture for many years to come.�

Terms of Walton’s contract with the Kings were not revealed.

The 39-year-old coach joins Sacramento after a disappointing end to his tenure with the Lakers, which saw them fail to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season despite the arrival last year of superstar LeBron James.

Walton arrives in Sacramento after three years with the Lakers, which saw the NBA giants improve year-on-year.

However his position with the iconic franchise had been the subject of intense speculation for several months as the team faded from playoff contention.

Prior to his stint with the Lakers, Walton had been an assistant to Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr from 2014 to 2016. He led the Warriors to a 39-4 start in the 2015-2016 season when Kerr was sidelined with a back problem.

AFP

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WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Scorpions drown Skippers to stay unscathed in D-League

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

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ENTRO Escolar University (CEU) pulled away late to keep its unbeaten slate with a 93-76 romp over Marinerong Pilipino in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) on Tuesday at the JCSGO Gym in Quezon City.

The Scorpions unleashed a furious run in the fourth quarter en route to their sixth victory in as many games IN THE &OUNDATION 'ROUP “We just got to be ready for EVERY SITUATION -ARINERO WAS ABLE to catch up and get the lead but we were able to regroup,� said CEU HEAD COACH $ERRICK 0UMAREN g7E KEPT OUR POISE AND DEFENSE That’s what has been keeping us to WHERE WE ARE u HE ADDED -AODO -ALICK $IOUF DRILLED IN a double-double of 22 points and REBOUNDS TO LEAD THE -ENDIOLA BASED TEAM 4HE 3ENEGALESE BIG man poured 10 points to fuel

THE SCORES: CEU (93) — Diouf 22, Caballero 17, Chan 15, Fuentes 14, Lisbo 11, Abastillas 6, Formento 4, Uri 3, Rojas 1, Diaz 0, David 0. MARINERO (76)— Asistio 17, Montalbo 16, Santillan 11, Victoria 8, Reyes 8, Apreku 6, M. Aquino 3, Buùag 3, Garcia 2, Bonifacio 2, A. Aquino 0, Wamar 0, Gamboa 0, Mendoza 0. Quarter scores: 23-20; 40-34; 5857; 93-76 #%5 S POINT EXPLOSION IN THE PIVOTAL PAYOFF PERIOD But it was playmaker Keanu

Caballero who shone the brightest with his all-round effort of 17 markers, six assists, three boards AND TWO STEALS “I always tell my teammates that among the teams in the D-League, we are of those who do not belong IN THE .#!! OR 5!!0 BUT WE WILL kGHT ALL OUT u SAID THE YEAR OLD FOURTH YEAR CAGER Tyron Chan chipped in 15 points, seven rebounds and six dimes even as Judel Fuentes added MARKERS IN THE WIN !HEAD BY A SOLITARY POINT ENTERING THE kNAL FRAME #%5 UNCORKED a 20-4 blast capped by Diouf’s dunk for a commanding 77-62 adVANTAGE WITH LEFT IN THE GAME The Scorpions kept the Skippers at bay from then on and even enJOYED A LEAD AS HIGH AS POINTS !NTON !SISTIO PACED -ARINERO with 17 points but committed a game-high eight turnovers while +IB -ONTALBO AND 3ANTI 3ANTILLAN HAD AND MARKERS RESPECTIVELY The Skippers suffered their third LOSS AGAINST THREE WINS

Q CEU’s Keanu Caballero (right) drives past Marinero’s Raffy Reyes during the 2019 PBA D-League on Tuesday at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

F1 in talks over second China GP, road race on cards Olongapo SHANGHAI: Formula One is in talks with six local governments in China this week about holding a second grand prix in the country, A SENIOR & OFkCIAL TOLD !&0 WITH a Beijing road race said to have BEEN lOATED ! SECOND GRAND PRIX ‡ MOST LIKELY ON THE STREETS ‡ WOULD complement the existing one on the $450 million Shanghai InterNATIONAL #IRCUIT No country currently has two Formula One races, alTHOUGH & OFkCIALS ARE NEGOTIATing for a second grand prix in the 5NITED 3TATES Formula One’s landmark 1,000th race took place in Shanghai on Sunday, underlining China’s growing role as the sport’s US-based owner looks TO !SIA ! SOURCE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATTER TOLD !&0 THAT A RACE ON THE streets of the Chinese capital BeiJING HAS BEEN RAISED AS ONE IDEA Sean Bratches, Formula One’s managing director of commercial

Q Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel drives his car during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. AFP PHOTO

operations, did not confirm or deny the road-race plan for Beijing WHEN APPROACHED BY !&0 “In terms of interest, we would be highly interested in a street RACE u HE SAID “It would be a nice juxtaposition

to the purpose-built, extraordinary facility that we have here,�

"RATCHES TOLD !&0 IN 3HANGHAI “Our intent is to bring our show TO THE PEOPLE u Bratches said Formula One chiefs will this week embark on

a visit to six potential host cities IN #HINA “There’s meetings set up in each WITH GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS TO TALK about identifying a second city to HOST A GRAND PRIX u "RATCHES SAID “We think there’s an opportuni-

TY TO GROW FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE u ,IBERTY -EDIA WHICH TOOK OVER Formula One in early 2017 in a multibillion-dollar deal, is wants to have more street races, believing that is the best way to attract NEW FANS Next year, the bustling Vietnamese capital Hanoi will host an F1 road race, while on Saturday crowds watched China’s Zhou Guanyu drive a Formula One car IN CENTRAL 3HANGHAI The shift to China, the world’s most populous country and home to a growing number of motorsport fans, has angered SOME TRADITIONALISTS There was talk of moving the milestone 1,000th race to Silverstone, in England, the unOFkCIAL HOME OF &ORMULA /NE AND WHICH STAGED THE kRST RACE BACK IN But staging it in Shanghai was apt, said Bratches, who says it will not be long until there is a Chinese driver and TEAM IN THE SPORT AFP

City to host FIDE Age Group OLONGAPO City will host the Invitational FIDE Age Group Standard Chess Tournament from May 10-12 at the Gordon College of East Tapinac Oval Sports Complex with hopes of giving young Filipino woodpushers a chance to gain FIDE rating points.

Open to all Filipino chessers aged 20 years old and below, the three-day tournament will use the nine-round Swiss System format and will stake a total cash pot worth P35,000 plus the FIDE rating points to all participants.

The event is divided into three categories — 12-and-under (2007 cutoff year), 16-and-under (2003) and the premier 20-and-under (1999).

For inquiries, interested parties may contact Joel Villanueva of the City Sports and Youth Development Office at 0950-9060341 or send message to his facebook or email account aveunallivjev@gmail.com.

Daquioag earns PBA POW honors SWEET-SHOOTING guard Ed $AQUIOAG CAPTURED THE 0"! 0RESS #ORPS 0LAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER playing a major role in Rain or 3HINE S SERIES LEAD OVER -AGNOLIA IN THEIR 0"! 0HILIPPINE #UP SEMIkNALS The standout from the University of Santo Tomas averaged POINTS REBOUNDS AND ASSISTS IN THE kRST TWO GAMES OF THE SERIES Known as a three-point threat since his college days, Daquioag provided the offensive for the second seed ROS off the bench in Game 1, finishing with 10 points, three boards, an assist and a three-pointer to help his team TO AN WIN He scored four points late in the third quarter when the %LASTO 0AINTERS BEGAN ASSERTING themselves following a poor kRST HALF SHOOTING The 6-foot-1 Daquioag added another two-point basket in the fourth quarter, joining hands with veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood in disposing of THE 0AMBANSANG -ANOK TO TAKE the opening game of the best-ofSEVEN SEMIkNALS )N 'AME $AQUIOAG JUSTIkED HIS STARTING ROLE kRING POINTS and lacing it with three triples, PART OF 2/3 kERY THREE POINTers in Rain or Shine’s dominant WIN OVER -AGNOLIA Rain or Shine eyes a comMANDING SERIES LEAD AGAINST -AGNOLIA ON 4UESDAY Daquioag came into the pro LEAGUE VIA -ERALCO WHICH SE-

Q Rain or Shine’s Ed Daquioag (right).

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

LECTED HIM IN THE SPECIAL DRAFT But his stay with the Bolts was shortlived after being traded to THE %LASTO 0AINTERS IN EXCHANGE FOR ROOKIE BATCHMATE -IKE 4OLOMIA 4HE YEAR OLD )LOKANO guard has since found a home

WITH 2AIN OR 3HINE Daquioag beat teammate NorWOOD ALONG WITH 3AN -IGUEL S *UNE -AR &AJARDO !LEX #ABAGNOT and Christian Standhardinger for the weekly citation for the period OF !PRIL

˜ The Manila Times

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

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Q Tiger Woods AFP PHOTO

Woods set to chase more major glory after Masters win A UGUSTA, US: Tiger Woods ended his 11-year wait for a 15th major title at the Masters.

Now the golf world is wondering whether the hunt to overhaul Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major titles is back on.

The cheers and raw emotion of Woods’ victory at Augusta National on Sunday had barely subsided before the 43-year-old was asked about whether he would now resume his chase for Nicklaus’s record. “You know, I really haven’t thought about that yet,� Woods said. “I’m sure that I’ll probably think of it going down the road. “Maybe, maybe not. Right now, I’m just enjoying 15,� he said.

Nicklaus, however, believes the record is back in play, noting that two of this year’s remaining majors -- the US Open and US PGA Championship -- will be staged at courses where Woods has won before. “I thought for a long time that he

was going to win again,� Nicklaus told the Golf Channel. “The next two majors are at Bethpage, where he has won and at Pebble Beach, where he has won. “So, he has got me shaking in my boots.�

Brooks Koepka, the three-time MAJOR CHAMPION WHO kNISHED ONE shot adrift of Woodson Sunday, also believes Nicklaus’s benchmark could be under threat. “Eighteen is, I think, a lot closer than people think,� Koepka said. “I would say that’s probably what all fans, what we’re thinking. That HE S DEkNITELY BACK AND S NOT FAR u

Scheduling boost Woods had once seemed guaranteed to surpass Nicklaus’s record, DOMINATING THE GAME FROM HIS kRST Masters triumph in 1997 through to his 2008 US Open victory.

Then came scandal and injuries, slumping form and nearly two years on the sidelines before he was able to mount a comeback campaign that stepped up in 2018.

Last year he went from strength to strength, contending in both the British Open and PGA Championship before seizing a breakthrough US PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship in September.

The revamped global golf schedule may now assist Woods on his quest for more major glory, with the PGA Championship, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, moved up in the calendar to May 16-19.

When Woods won the 2002 US Open held at Bethpage he was also coming off a Masters win that year.

Woods was the only player to kNISH UNDER PAR ON THE LONG TESTING course, his three-under total of 277 giving him a three-shot win over Phil Mickelson.

The US Open in June will be held at Pebble Beach -- where Woods won

by a stunning 15 strokes in 2000.

Doubts that Woods would ever win another major, or even another tournament, long centered on two issues: the crowd of young, talented, SUPER kT AND LONG HITTING PLAYERS HE inspired and the demands majors put on his own aging and often injured body.

Assessing his impact on the game on Sunday, Woods noted that attenTION TO PHYSICAL kTNESS EXPLODED IN the sport thanks largely to him. “A lot of the guys are training,� he said. “They are getting bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic. “They are recovering better. They are hitting the ball prodigious distances, and a little bit of that’s probably attributed to what I did. g7HEN ) kRST TURNED PRO ) WAS THE only one in the gym, except Vijay (Singh).�

‘Not going anywhere’ Now, Woods quipped, even his old rival Phil Mickelson -- famed for his love of fast-food burgers -- is

working out. “Things have come a long way,� Woods said.

But hours and hours of weight training and practice just aren’t possible for Woods anymore.

After knee injuries and multiple back surgeries, the last a spinal FUSION THAT kNALLY FREED HIM FROM pain, he isn’t up to the ‘reps’ he favored in his prime.

Although smarter training and better nutrition and physical therapy is helping older golfers compete for longer, Woods admits that preparation and recovery are as important for him as practice. “It sucks hopping in those ice baths, but it’s just part of the deal,� said Woods, who rose around 4 am on Sunday to be warmed up and READY FOR HIS kNAL ROUND TEE time at Augusta.

He took the lead at the 15th hole and never gave it back -- achieving ONE MORE kRST IN A CAREER STUFFED WITH RECORDS AND kRSTS HIS kRST MAJOR triumph when not leading through 54 holes.

AFP

Sudo, Choo wrest ICTSI PGTA Luisita lead TARLAC: Japanese Keita Sudo carded a second straight 70 while Choo Tze Huang of Singapore slowed down with a 71 as they shared the clubhouse lead halfway through the $100,000 ICTSI Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here on Tuesday.

With half of the starting 107-playER STARTING kELD INCLUDING OPENing round leader Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul, still to complete their second round play, Sudo and Choo took the provisional lead at four-under 140, two ahead of Arnold Villacencio and Enrico Gallardo, who pooled identical Q Singaporean Choo Tze Huang watches 142s even as newly crowned his tee shot in Hole 9 during the ICTSI Philippine Open champion Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf Clyde Mondilla broke par and Country Club in Tarlac. PHOTO BY 71 to tie Korean Jun Min ROGER RANADA Seok and Laos’ Thamma-

sack Bouahom at 143.

Deng Shan Koh, also of Singapore, turned in a 73 for joint eighth at 144 with Tony Lascuùa, who hobbled with a 73, while Luke Trocado of South Africa, Spain’s Marcos Pastor and local ace Mhark Fernando rallied to assemble identical 145s.

Trocado turned in the most impressive card in hot conditions at the Robert Trent Jones 3R DESIGNED LAYOUT HITTING kVE birdies while scrambling for pars in four times that he went out of regulation to save a bogey-free 34-33 card after a bogey-marred 78 Monday.

Though he remained far behind the clubhouse leaders, he hopes to sustain his charge in the last 36 holes and get a crack at the championship in this kickoff leg of the third season of Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up

by ICTSI. Sudo, who barely made it in

last week’s PGT Asia qualifying TOURNAMENT BIRDIED TWO OF THE kRST three holes then fought back from a bogey-double-bogey mishap from No. 5 with birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 then parred the rest to match his opening round 70.

Choo, one of those stranded in the rain-hit first round, double bogeyed the par-5 16th at resumption but birdied the 18th to shoot a 69 and settled for joint third with four others.

He birdied three of the first six holes at the back in the second round but fumbled with a bogey on No. 16 and dropped two strokes on the tricky par-3 second hole, needing to birdie the fourth for the second straight to salvage a 71.

'ALLARDO WHO IMPRESSED THE kELD with a solid 68 to seize solo second after 18 holes, fell with a thud with a double bogey on No. 5 and a bogey on the ninth. But he gunned down

back-to-back birdies from No. 12 before dropping another stroke on the last for a 142.

Mondilla, who came into the event backed by PLDT Enterprise, -ERALCO "$/ AND 0'4 !SIA OFkCIAL apparel Pin High riding the crest of his breakthrough victory in the Solaire Philippine Open, churned out a mediocre two-birdie, one-bogey game, hardly improving on his opening 72 although the Del Monte ace is expected to step up his bid for a second straight PGTA championship in today’s pivotal round on a course where he reigned (Luisita Invitational) last year.

So does LascuĂąa, the multi-titled former three-time PGT OOM winner who is raring to snap a long winless spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Only the top 50 plus ties will adVANCE TO THE kNAL TWO ROUNDS WITH the cut pegged at three-over 147.

Sports

C3

PH bet rules Siargao tourney PILAR, Surigao del Norte: A Filipino professional angler from Cebu bagged the championship crown of the recently concluded 12th Siargao International G a m e F i s h i n g To u r n a m e n t here.

The tournament opened on Thursday last week and concluded last Sunday with Filipino angler William Que of Mandaue City in Cebu coming out as the overall champion, garnering a total catch of 80.85 kilos.

Que’z records during the four-day tournament include 26.55, 17.45 and 20.80 kilos for Bill Fish Category; 6.60 kilos for Dorado Category; and, 9.45 kilos for Wahoo Category.

According to organizers, the following categories ruled the 12th game fishing tournament: Biggest Sailfish Category with a minimum size of 15 kilograms, the Biggest Giant Trevally locally known as Talakitok Category with minimum size of 3 kilograms, the Biggest Tanguige Category with minimum size of 5 kilograms, and the Biggest Dorado Category with the minimum size of 5 kilograms.

Fifty professional anglers coming from different parts of the world came to Siargao to join the prestigious annual tournament.

Data from the Department of Tourism in Caraga Region (DOT-XIII) said anglers from eight countries, including the Philippines with 32 participants were represented during the water sports activity.

These countries include Japan, Egypt, the US, Canada, Poland, Britain, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose “Bingo� F. Matugas, DOT-XIII Regional Director Ma. Ana T. Nuguid, and Pilar town Mayor Atty. Maria Liza G. Resurreccion.

Two more Filipino anglers ruled two of the total categories of the tournament.

Angler Buenaventua Gerso, Jr. of Bacoor, Cavite topped the Bill Fish Category with 33.50 kilos catch, followed by Sotenes Aparente of Pilar, Surigao del Norte with 31.50 kilos, and Muhammad Aboushahin of Egypt with 30.40 kilos.

Dullfuss Nollora of Butuan City bagged the top post of Giant Trevalley Category with 6.00 kilos, followed by Paul Minor, Jr. of the USA with 4.10 kilos, and Noli Manas of the USA with 3.05 kilos.

Jose Mari Lonzon of Singapore was the winner of Dorado Category with a total catch of 9.60 kilos, followed by Paul Minor, Sr. of the USA with 8.50 kilos, and Greg Laude of the USA with 7.50 kilos.

In the other category, angler Martin Tan from General Santos City came out first with 13.00 of catch, followed by Inocencio Yncierto of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu with 7.50 kilos, and Dullfuss Nollora of Butuan City with 6.40 kilos.

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

Subdued Nadal enters ‘the unknown’ in Monte Carlo MONTE CARLO: Rafael Nadal offered a low-key appraisal Monday of his chances for a record-extending 12th Monte Carlo Masters title as he prepares to return from his latest injury lay-off.

The 32-year-old Spaniard, whose bad knees and constant stoppages from competition have defined his career as king of clay, was extremely hesitant to even rate his chances as he gets set to face Roberto Bautista Agut in Wednesday’s second round start. “I cant give you any feeling, it’s been a rough year and a half for me,� Nadal said ahead of his first match

since withdrawing with another knee injury prior to an Indian Wells semi-final against Roger Federer last month. “It’s tough for me to get a clear view of how I am. It’s all hard for me personally.�

Nadal has a vast number of ranking points to defend on clay after lifting titles in a spectacular 2018 run at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros.

His only other trophy during a season in which he did not play at all after the US Open came on hard court in Toronto, where he beat young gun Stefanos

Tsitsipas in the final. “It’s been hard for me personally,� Nadal said of his latest physical set-

Q Rafael Nadal AP PHOTO

back. “Now the work of every day is to improve, (make) small improvements in every practice. “It’s important for me to have a good practice before the tournament starts and then try to be competitive for the first round.

“it’s gonna be a tough one (match with Bautista Agut), so let’s see.�

Nadal is seeded second here behind Novak Djokovic, who is hoping to build for the French Open as he attempts to complete a personal sweep by winning his fourth straight Grand Slam title.

While Bautista Agut fought back to beat Australian John Millman 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, Denis Shapovalov’s 20th birthday celebrations fell flat as he lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 to German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Fifteenth seed Shapovalov has yet to claim a win in the Principality after

losing in the first round a year ago to Tsitsipas.

The nearly two-hour effort was marred by 10 double-faults from the Canadian youngster, who was broken six times.

German Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-3 to line up against top seed Novak Djokovic; Belgian 16th seed David Goffin made short work of Argentine Guido Andreozzi 6-1, 6-4.

Italy’s Fabio Fognini thrilled fans from across the nearby border with his 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 comeback defeat of Andrey Rublev.

AFP

Football Kaya eyes crucial win vs Makassar in AFC Cup C4

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

K

AYA FC-Iloilo aims to remain atop its group when it tackles PSM Makassar of Indonesia anew in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup today at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

The Lions and the Red Fish square off for the second time in the second-tier continental club competition at 3 p.m.

Kaya-Iloilo leads Group H with five points built on a win and two draws plus a higher goal difference over PSM Makassar.

Only the group winner will have an asSURED SPOT IN THE !SEAN ZONAL SEMIkNALS Kaya earned a crucial away point after eliciting a 1-1 draw with Makassar at the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, Indonesia last April 2.

6ETERAN MIDkELDER -ARWIN !NGELES scored the equalizer for the Filipino club at the death, nullifying Eero Markkanen’s penalty kick conversion for the Indonesian side early in the second half. “With that away goal, it gives us a

boost ahead of our game in Bacolod,� said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida.

Marcaida will bank on Angeles along with Philippine Azkals striker Jovin Bedic, Ghanian forward Jordan Mintah and Trinidadian scorer Darryl Roberts as they shoot for another winning result in the City of Smiles.

The Lions’ previous game at the Panaad pitch saw them pulverize defending Asean zone champion Home United FC of Singapore, 5-0, last March 13.

Makassar’s Bosnian mentor Darjie Kazelic, on the other hand, will rely on Finnish forward Markkanen—older brother of Chicago Bulls player Lauri— TOGETHER WITH $UTCH MIDkELDERS -ARC Klok and Wiljan Pluim and local standout Zulham Zamrun.

Q Kaya FC-Iloilo’s Marwin Angeles (left) protects the ball against PSM Makassar’s Wiljan Pluim during the 2019 AFC Cup last April 2 at the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, Indonesia. AFC PHOTO

˜ The Manila Times

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FIFAÂ bans disgraced ex-Brazil football chief Marin for life GENEVA: FIFA on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) slapped a lifetime ban on the disgraced former boss of Brazilian football, Jose Maria Marin, after a US court convicted him of massive corruption.

The 86-year-old Marin was one OF THE KEY kGURES SWEPT UP IN THE graft scandal that began with a series of stunning arrests in 2015 and subsequently upended world football.

He had already been sentenced to four years in a US prison after a court in New York found him guilty in connection with nearly $6.6 million in bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for contracts to broadcast major tournaments.

But the decision from FIFA’s independent ethics judges dekNITIVELY CONkRMS THAT -ARIN IS kNISHED IN FOOTBALL FIFA’s ethics committee said in a statement that Marin had participated in various bribery schemes.

Judges “banned him for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level�, a FIFA statement said.

FIFA also imposed a 1 million Swiss franc ($1 million) fine against Marin, once one

Q Jose Maria Marin AFP PHOTO of the most powerful figures in world football.

Following his May 2015 arrest at a luxury hotel in Zurich, Marin SPENT kVE MONTHS IN A PRISON IN Switzerland before being extradited to the United States.

He posted bail of $15 million and spent two years living in luxury at Trump Tower, the Fifth Avenue skyscraper best known for housing the penthouse and company headquarters of the US president.

But his life of excess dramatically came to a halt at his sentencing in August, when he broke down in tears over the “nightmare� his family had endured.

AFP

Arsenal edges past 10-man Watford, moves into Top 4 LONDON: Arsenal moved into the Premier League top four, but made hard work of seeing off 10-man Watford 1-0 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fortunate early opener on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). !UBAMEYANG PROkTED FROM an error by Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster as he blasted an attempted clearance in off the Gabon international.

Watford captain Troy Deeney was then shown a straight red card after just 11 minutes, but the Gunners failed to make the most of their man advantage and were fortunate as the hosts twice hit the woodwork.

However, Unai Emery’s men HELD OUT FOR A kRST CLEAN SHEET away from home in the Premier League this season to move ahead of Chelsea on goal difference into fourth. “We didn’t control the match like I wanted,� admitted Emery. “The team was anxious because they could (have) taken some moment. The most important for us is to score the second goal, which we didn’t do.�

Arsenal also edge to within a point of north London rivals Tottenham and two clear of Manchester United in the four-way battle for the two remaining Champions League places behind Liverpool and Manchester City. &! #UP kNALISTS 7ATFORD WERE already shorn of the man who helped book their place at Wembley against Manchester City next month as Gerard Deulofeu missed out through injury and Javi Gracia’s side did themselves little favors early on.

Firstly, Foster dallied as Aubameyang closed in to concede a comical opener. “I’ve said sorry to the lads,� said Foster. “I have tried to drag it on to my left and pass it out but before I knew it he (Aubamey-

ang) was bloody on me. “In hindsight you have to get rid as quick as you can, even if it goes into row Z. g) AM DEkNITELY NOT A MODERN goalie. They can’t score from row Z.�

And within seconds, Deeney was punished for what the referee saw as an elbow into the face of Lucas Torreira. “If it is a foul I have a doubt, maybe a yellow card but (a) red card, I don’t understand why the referee did it,� argued Watford boss Javi Gracia.

However, the 10 men were still causing problems to a defensively vulnerable Arsenal at the other end.

Craig Cathcart’s shot was turned onto the post by Bernd Leno and the German goalkeeper was also a full stretch to turn an Etienne Capoue free-kick behind.

Emery introduced Mesut Ozil at half-time in an attempt to IMPROVE !RSENAL S kNAL BALL WITH so much space to counter-attack into, but to little avail.

Alex Iwobi looked to have provided the perfect cross to pick out Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but Foster made amends for his earlier error by spreading himself to make a brilliant save from the Armenian.

Arsenal’s terrible away record is why they face such a tight battle to secure Champions League football next season.

And they could have thrown just a second away league win since November away as Adam Masina crashed a 25-yard strike off the crossbar before Andre Gray miscontrolled Daryl Janmaat’s pass when clean through on Leno.

Gray was then denied by a last-ditch challenge from Ainsley Maitland-Niles after rounding ,ENO BUT WITHOUT THE kREPOWER OF Deulofeu and Deeney, Watford’s brave effort fell just short. AFP

Q Arsenal’s Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira (right) vies with Watford’s French midfielder Etienne Capoue during the English Premier League football match at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, London. AFP PHOTO

WEDNESDAY W E D N E S DAY APRIL 17, 2019

Lifestyle

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Kidney transplant patient launches book on survival and hope M

Q Kidney recipient and transplant advocate Marilou ‘Tootsie’ Labuguen Lazo (right) with her sister and organ donor Maribel Lazo-Newton (left) and Dr. Rosemarie Liquete, executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

ARILOU “Tootsie� Labuguen Lazo was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on May 18, 1986 when she found out her kidneys were failing. In order to survive, she had two choices: undergo periodic dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Her nephrologist informed her that kidney transplantation is considered the treatment of choice for many ESRD patients. Quality of life and survival are better for kidney transplant recipients than for patients who undergo dialysis.

However, getting a kidney donor remains a challenge in the Philippines. “Each kidney transplant patient has his or her unique story to tell.

Tootsie’s story is a great inspiration to patients afflicted with kidney disease. Her more than 30 years of extended life after kidney transplantation is a miracle of life! Something that would never have been possible without the gift of life through organ donation,� said Dr. Rosemarie Liquete, Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

Fortunately, her sister Maribel Lazo-Newton decided to give the gift of life by donating one of her kidneys. On November 18, 1986, Lazo underwent a kidney transplant. Thirty-three years later, Lazo stood before fellow kidney transplant recipients and advocates to share her inspiring story and launch her book Infrangible, which is a testimony to her courage, strength, perseverance, hope, love and faith.

“After my kidney transplant, Kidney Day 2019. The One to each day has been a blessing. Care, One to Share Roadshow involved a series of patient When people ask me what my seforums and cret is that enabled me to survive and thrive as a kidney transplant patient for more than 30 years, I tell them there is no secret formula,� said Lazo. “The key to success is to be a compliant patient, huwag matigas ang ulo [don’t be stubborn].

Follow your doctors’ orders regarding maintenance medications, diet and lifestyle, and do everything in moderation.�

In her brief but heartfelt talk, Newton said, “Deciding to be an organ donor makes your life meaningful. What is life without giving and sharing? I encourage Q Lazo’s book Infrangible is a testimony to all Filipinos to share the her courage, strength, perseverance, hope, gift of life by becoming love and faith. organ donors.�

The two sisters spoke during book launches held last week at the “One to Care, One to Share� THE .OVARTIS OFkCE IN -AKATI #ITY

Patient Testimonial And Book NKTI in Quezon City, Cebu City Launch Roadshow organized by and Davao City. “It took me almost 33 years to Novartis Healthcare Philippines in line with the celebration of World write Infrangible, because every

Âťseen@thescene

advocate. In the US, she worked as Clinical Research Coordinator for the Academic Medical Research Institute and Peer Educator of the St. Vincent Medical Center Dialysis Unit, both facilities located in Los Angeles. In the Philippines, she served as NKTI Transplant Coordinator for 15 years. She is one of the pioneers of the Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines, where she served as President of the organization for four consecutive years and spearheaded projects and advocacies on organ donation and transplantation. ,AZO WAS AMONG THE kRST &ILIpino participants and medalists in the World Transplant Games and National Games held in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

Her story was featured in “Magpakailanman,� and she has been interviewed by both local and INTERNATIONAL MEDIA OUTkTS ! HIStory buff, she worked as a Museum Guide at the National Museum of the Philippines for seven years.

Tootsie is a loving mother of three children, and a doting grandmother to six grandchildren.

Even pets experience obesity too

Q Maxicare Chairman of the Board Roberto Macasaet Jr. with President and CEO Christian Argos.

Q Taking the first step to eating and living better.

Veggie festival for healthier lifestyles THE country’s leading healthcare provider, Maxicare Healthcare Corp., held its first-ever outdoor festival — Maxicare Veggie Fest 2019 — a project in support of the company’s Chairman of the Board Roberto “Bobby�

Macasaet Jr.'s personal advocacy for healthier lifestyles.

As obesity and unhealthy lifestyles continue to grow into a global problem, eating shouldn’t be merely about satisfying one’s hunger because the chosen diet affects every aspect of health, including the environment. “It’s about time to eat healthy, live healthy, and take control of your health,� Macasaet avowed. “One of the easiest ways to start your journey to living a healthy life is by eating a plant-based diet, which is why we are very proud to be holding the Maxicare Veggie Fest. Today, we invite everyone to live their best by boosting not only their physical health, but also their mental health.

It’s like eating your favorites, but without the guilt,� said Macasaet

time I started to write a chapter I would break down in tears,� Lazo said. “It is my fervent hope that the book will provide encouragement and inspiration to others who are in a state of limbo because of seemingly insurmountable health crises and learn to hold on even if the going gets rough.�

Through the One to Care, One to Share advocacy, Novartis aims to foster a culture of caring and sharing among Filipinos in order to encourage them to become organ donors, according to Christine Fajardo, Corporate Affairs Head of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. “As Christians observe the Lenten season, let us remember that all major organized religions support organ donation, typically considering it a generous act that is the individual’s choice. If you donate your organs after you die, you could save and improve the lives of many Filipinos, especially those with kidney failure.�

Lazo is a passionate and accomplished kidney transplant

OBESITY is a persistent global health problem, but while there are novel solutions to combat this health issue, the affected people are still increasing in numbers.

Now it seems the same can be said of the pets.

For many humans, feeding is equated as an act of love, especially their four-legged pals. This, however, should not always be the case because chubby dogs and cats, regardless of how cute they look, are more susceptible to health problems and diseases.

It is indeed still important for responsible pet owners to consider their pet’s health and weight before responding with a rewarding treat.

Today, The Manila Times , with the help of the Pet Food Institute (PFI), shares tips on how pet owners can prevent pet obesity and show that true expression of love can come in different ways.

Visit the vet clinic

Q Cruel-free vegan bar soaps for healthy skin. whose main objective is to improve health and wellness, focusing on plant-based nutrition.

In its mission to improve others’ quality of life, Maxicare encourages members and non-members alike to incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and starches, good fats, and lean proteins into their diet so they can live longer and feel stronger by inspiring others to fight

Q Vegan goodies for munching on without the guilt.

disease and eat healthy.

Held at the Legaspi Active Park in Makati City in March, the veggie fest was packed with plant-based food vendors that offered handpicked products for health-conscious consumers.

The activities included a film showing on plant-based lifestyle and talks on several topics that promote wellness and wholesome living.

Q Choice veggies for a plant-based diet.

When tackling pet obesity, many pet owners would assume that the most logical way to treat it is to decrease the amount of food to feed but the truth is, managing meals is much more complex than that. The nutrition of both cats and dogs are very nuanced such that feeding and treat-giving must be properly administered.

Veterinarians have observed that one of the most common problems within the pet community would be the lack of knowledge regarding proper pet care and nutrition. Veterinarians have the expertise to understand the pet’s internal health to determine the pets’ ideal weight proportions and their proper diet. Hence, pet owners are urged to consult vets in order to do the proper way of treating pet obesity.

flat noses may have more difficulty breathing during strenuous exercise.

Age, like breed, is an important factor to consider as well. Young dogs under six months, though they have an immense amount of energy, should avoid sustained runs, which can be unhealthy for their developing bones and joints. Senior dogs, on the other hand, may need to take things slow and avoid extraneous activities like jogging.

Last but not the least, owners must choose the type of exercise that fits their lifestyle. Forcing oneself to do something that cannot be done is more detrimental that advantageous. One thing that owners must keep in mind is that exercise can come in the form of games. Playing games as simple as fetch is also considered as exercise.

Monitor pet’s food and weight

Losing and maintaining a healthy weight is easier said than done, especially when it comes to a pet’s weight. Owners can use this as a basis to tell whether or not their pet is healthy however most pet owners are not aware of how they can check if their pet is obese.

Veterinarians remind owners that there are three things they need to pay attention to in order to determine whether or not their pets are obese. First, owners must lightly feel the outline of their pet’s ribs when they run their fingers along its side. Second, a pet’s waist should be visible or they should have an hourglass figure when viewed from above. Lastly, pets should have an upward slope around their stomach when they are standing up. If one’s pet does not have any of the three indicators then it is best to Get physical consult a veterinarian in order to confirm if their pet is obese and what the next steps Regular exercise is also imin order to address this problem. portant for pets, regardless Pet owners should also be aware of of whether or not they their pet’s ideal weight. When doing are obese. Pets within so, owners must remember that each the ideal weight can breed is unique and the ideal weight use their daily exercise of each breed varies. to sustain a healthy PFI is committed in informing weight. Meanwhile, pet owners about pet nutrition pets who are overweight and proper pet care to keep pets or obese should use healthy and happy. Through this opportunity to shed its local initiative, Wellsome of those unhealthy Fed, Well-Nurtured pounds, along with a balcampaign in partneranced diet that can support ship with the Vetresponsible weight loss. erinary PractitioOwners must take breed, ners Association age, and size into considof the Philippines eration as they plan (VPAP), PFI an exercise regimen seeks to advocate that would cater to each responsible pet ownpet’s specific needs. For Q Chubby dogs and cats, regardless how cute ership to the everexample, some breeds growing Filipino they look, are more susceptible to health with short snouts or pet community. problems and diseases.

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WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Funtimes

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Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (04/17/19). Success arises through exploration and investigation this year. Build your professional dreams one step at a time. Win some unexpected silver. Summer domestic renovation leads to a new professional phase. Your career rockets ahead next winter, before household matters take attention. Share your discoveries.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Accept or offer assistance. More hands make lighter work. Have patience with misunderstandings. Work out a structural challenge together. Keep your part of the bargain.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- The next two days could get busy. Get farther with physical action instead of words. Healthy practices strengthen and energize you. Raise the tempo, and dance.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Talk is cheap. Show your heart by doing or providing something another has long wanted. Actions WDNHQ QRZ KDYH ORQJ ODVWLQJ EHQH¿W ([SUHVV ORYH ZRUGOHVVO\ CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Authorize improvements at home. Make repairs and upgrades. Resolve miscommunications before proceeding. Once the plan is clear, physical actions get great results.

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$VWURORJHU 1DQF\ %ODFN FRQWLQXHV KHU PRWKHU /LQGD %ODFN¶V legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and quesWLRQV RQ 7ZLWWHU #/LQGD&%ODFN )RU PRUH DVWURORJLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQV OLNH WRGD\¶V *HPLQL KRURVFRSH YLVLW /LQGD %ODFN $VWURORJ\ by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019

Public Square

D3

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

For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

PH highlights govt-private sector partnership in 20192020 AESIEAP hosting 4(% 0HILIPPINES UNDERSCORES THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE private sector in the attainment of THE COUNTRY S ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AS IT HOSTS TWO KEY EVENTS OF THE !SSOCIATION OF %LECTRICITY 3UPPLY )NDUSTRY OF %AST !SIA AND THE 7ESTERN 0ACIkC !%3)%!0 FOR AND !%3)%!0 IS THE LARGEST ORGA NIZATION OF POWER AND INDUSTRY COMPANIES IN THE REGION 4HE $EPARTMENT OF %NERGY $O% -ANILA %LECTRIC #OMPANY -ERALCO .ATIONAL 0OWER #OR PORATION .ATIONAL 'RID #ORPORA TION OF THE 0HILIPPINES .ATIONAL 4RANSMISSION #ORPORATION AND the Department of Tourism will LEAD THE HOSTING OF THE #%/ #ONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE THIS 3EPTEMBER IN #EBU AS WELL AS THE #ONFERENCE OF %LECTRIC 0OWER 3UPPLY )NDUSTRY #%03) WHICH WILL BE HELD IN -ANILA $EPARTMENT OF %NERGY 3ECRETARY AND (ONORARY !%3)%!0 #HAIRMAN !LFONSO #USI LOOKS FORWARD TO THESE EVENTS WHICH WOULD GIVE THE COUN

try access to an international plat FORM WHERE MEMBERS OF THE ENERGY FAMILY BOTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT and private sector, could actively ENGAGE IN CURRENT INDUSTRY DISCOURSE and promote the country as a tourist AND ENERGY INVESTMENT DESTINATION g7E ARE PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY

especially since our very own ener GY PLAYERS Â&#x2021; OUR LOCAL POWER COM panies and electric cooperatives Â&#x2021; WILL GAIN INVALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPOSURE TO EMERGING REGIONAL TECHNOLOGIES STANDARDS AND BEST INDUSTRY PRACTICES u #USI SAID 4HE !%3)%!0 #%/ #ONFERENCE WILL BE HELD FROM 3EPTEMBER TO AT THE 3HANGRI ,A S -ACTAN 2ESORT AND 3PA IN #EBU /VER ENERGY MINISTERS AND COR PORATE OFFICERS FROM !%3)%!0 MEMBER COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE EVENT AND ENGAGE IN DIS CUSSIONS ON PRESSING REGIONAL CHAL LENGES AS WELL AS GROUND BREAKING STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE the sustained development of the ENERGY INDUSTRY

ICTSI lauds PH govt crackdown on overstaying containers 0/24 OPERATOR )NTERNATIONAL #ON TAINER 4ERMINAL 3ERVICES )NC )#43) HAS WELCOMED CONCRETE STEPS TAKEN

BY THE 0HILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR -ANILA PORTS OF OVERSTAYING CARGO #HRISTIAN 'ONZALEZ )#43) GLOB al corporate head, hailed collabo RATIVE AND COMPLEMENTING EFFORTS OF THE 0HILIPPINE 0ORTS !UTHORITY 00!

THE $EPARTMENT OF 4RANS PORTATION $O4R THE $EPARTMENT OF 4RADE AND )NDUSTRY $4) AND THE "UREAU OF #USTOMS "O# TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF OVERSTAYING CARGO AT -ANILA PORTS AND ENSUR ING THEIR SWIFT DISPOSITION g7E THANK THE 0HILIPPINE GOV ERNMENT FOR TAKING A HARD STAND IN FAST TRACKING THE DISPOSAL AND REDUCTION OF OVERSTAYING AND EMP TY CONTAINERS AT -ANILA PORTS 4HE results have been immediate and

GOES TO SHOW WHAT DETERMINATION AND FOCUS OF PURPOSE CAN DO u 2OUGHLY A MONTH AFTER THE 00!

ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM FOR OVERSTAYING CONTAINERS YARD UTILIZATION AT THE -ANILA )NTERNATIONAL #ONTAINER 4ER MINAL -)#4 RAPIDLY DECREASED BY ABOUT PERCENT FROM PERCENT IN *ANUARY THIS YEAR TO PERCENT AT THE START OF !PRIL 4HE HEALTHY YARD UTILIZATION HAPPENED DESPITE HIGHER VOLUME HANDLED ESPECIALLY IN -ARCH WHERE -)#4 HANDLED A record monthly volume. The termi nal was able to accept almost double the number of empty containers it WAS RECEIVING FREEING UP TRUCKS IN the process which, in turn, resulted TO MORE IMPORT PULL OUTS 3HIPPING LINES HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN ACHIEVING THEIR WEEKLY EMPTY CONTAINER EVACUATION TARGETS

SMA-Oas Class of 1979 holds 40th homecoming #,!33 @ OF 3AINT -ICHAEL !CADEMY IN /AS !LBAY WILL HOLD ITS TH GRAND HOMECOMING ON !PRIL %ASTER 3UNDAY AT THE -ASARAGA 2ESTO "AR IN #ALZADA $ U B B E D g 0 A G T U R U P A R A N

u ALL MEMBERS ARE EN joined to share the fun as g.OTHING CAN BEAT THE JOY OF

A REUNION u &OR DETAILS CONTACT !NTONIO -OLINA AT 2OL LY 2AÃ&#x201E;OSA 2A MON -APE *ESUS 2EARIO "ETINA ,AGANA #LARITA 0ERILLO AND %MILY 2EBADAJO

Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Digest awards Sharp as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Trusted Brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

STSI, Pag-IBIG Fund sign agreement D

RIVERS and operators from the transportation sector can now have the opportunity TO ENJOY THE BENEkTS OF 0AG )")' Fund membership, with the recent SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT -/! BETWEEN THE (OME $EVELOPMENT -UTUAL &UND g0AG )")' &UNDu AND 3UPERMALLS 4RANSPORT 3ERVICES )NC 343) THE BIGGEST TERMINAL OPERATOR OF MALL BASED PUBLIC INTEGRATED TERMINALS 5NDER THE -/!

0AG )")' &UND will set up service booths where drivers and operators may submit their membership applications, payment of monthly contribu tions, apply for loans and other RELATED CONCERNS 4HE AGENCY has already set up booths at the TERMINALS AT 3- .ORTH %DSA 3-

Q During the MOA signing are Pag-Ibig Fund NCR South West Group Vice President Erlinda Francisco, Senior Vice President Member Operations Sector Amado Isabelo Dizon III, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Member Service Sector Alexander Hilario Aguilar of Pag-IBIG Fund, STSI Chief Operating Officer Engr. Anthony Hernandez, Operations Manager Ronald Abulencia, and Administration and Corporate Compliance Manager Kristine delos Reyes of STSI. -ALL OF !SIA 3- -EGAMALL AND 'RAND 4ERMINAL IN !LBAY 'ROUP OF #OMPANIES AND A SUB 3- 3OUTHMALL AND AT THE ,EGAZPI 343) IS A MEMBER OF THE ,+9 SIDIARY OF 3- 0RIME (OLDINGS )NC

Robinsons Bank grows bigger with P27-B capital stock 2/").3/.3 "ANK 2"ANK INCREASES ITS CAPITAL STOCK FROM 0 BILLION TO 0 BILLION

with the recent approval of the 3ECURITIES AND %XCHANGE #OM MISSION 3%# )N A DISCLOSURE TO THE 0HILIP PINE $EALING AND %XCHANGE #ORP 0$%X LAST -ARCH THE 0 BIL LION INCREASE WAS COMPOSED OF MILLION SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WITH A PAR VALUE OF 0 EACH "ACKED BY THE *' 3UMMIT #AP ITAL 3ERVICES #ORP AND 2OBINSONS 2ETAIL (OLDINGS )NC AT LEAST

OR 0 BILLION WAS SUBSCRIBED AND paid in full amount.

2"ANK HAS MADE HEADWAY IN UP SCALING OPERATIONS TOWARDS FORGING

THE PATH TO BECOMING A UNIVERSAL BANK g7E ARE MAKING IMPORTANT STEPS TO BRING THE "ANK TOWARDS THE RIGHT DIRECTION 4O SUSTAIN OUR MOMENTUM OF GROWTH TRAJECTORY

MORE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND SUS TAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS ARE BEING INTEGRATED AS WE FOCUS ON CUSTOM ER CENTRICITY AND DIGITIZATION u SAID %LFREN !NTONIO 3ARTE PRESIDENT AND #%/ OF 2OBINSONS "ANK 2OBINSONS "ANK IS THE TH LARGEST COMMERCIAL BANK IN THE industry in terms of assets as of

A NOTCH HIGHER FROM THE previous year, data from the cen TRAL BANK SHOWED 2"ANK RECORDED AN INCREASE IN NET INCOME OF PERCENT TO 0 MILLION FROM

0 MILLION IN THE kRST NINE For more information, visit MONTHS OF WWW ROBINSONSBANK COM PH

BPI, Emirates offer special rates for flights %-)2!4%3 0HILIPPINES #OUNTRY -ANAGER 3ATISH 3ETHI LEFT AND "ANK OF THE 0HILIPPINE )SLANDS "0) (EAD OF #REDIT #ARDS AND 0ERSONAL ,OANS *ENNY ,ACERNA recently sealed their exclusive partnership to offer special dis COUNTED RATES TO "0) CREDIT CARD HOLDERS FOR lIGHTS TO 5!% %U ROPE .ORTH AND 3OUTH !MERICA

AND 3OUTH !FRICA "0) #ARDHOLDERS CAN ENJOY ROUND TRIP FARES FOR AS LOW AS 53

FOR lIGHTS TO %UROPE 53 TO $UBAI 53 TO 3OUTH !F RICA AND 53 TO THE 5NITED 3TATES WITH THE OPTION TO lY OUT FROM -ANILA #LARK OR #EBU "0) CARDHOLDERS CAN AVAIL OF THESE DISCOUNTED FARES BY BOOK ING ONLINE VIA www.emirates.ph/ BPI AND USING THE PROMO CODE 0("0) 4HIS PROMO RUNS UNTIL !PRIL

WITH TRAVEL PERIOD STARTING FROM !PRIL TO $ECEMBER

Allianz backs young Aetasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bid for OCR National Team Pool !,,)!.: 0HILIPPINES HAS AN NOUNCED DURING A PRESS BRIEkNG ON -ARCH THAT IT WILL SUPPORT THE PURSUIT OF kVE YOUNG !ETAS UNTIL THEY MAKE IT TO THE 0HILIPPINES OB STACLE COURSE RACE /#2 NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING POOL )T WAS A TOUGH RACE FOR THE kVE !ETA YOUTHS Â&#x2021; 'ELLYANN 3ORIA

)VY 0ELAYO

$ANILO 9UG YUG

-IRACLE ,ANSANG

AND *ACOB +ING Â&#x2021; OF 6ILLA -ARIA )NTEGRATED 3CHOOL 6-)3 IN 0ORAC

0AMPANGA AS THEY COMPETED FOR THE + %LITE -ALE AND &EMALE CAT EGORIES IN THE RECENT !LLIANZ /#2 3UNDAY HELD AT &ILINVEST !LABANG ON -ACH 9UGYUG kNISHED WITHOUT PENALTY IN THE TOP OF THE RACE COMPOSED OF

OBSTACLES /FkCIAL RESULTS OF THE WHOLE RACE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY 7EDNESDAY

ACCORDING TO ORGANIZERS ! PARTICIPANT NEEDS TO LAND IN THE TOP TO SECURE A slot in the national team. g!LLIANZ IS SUPPORTING THE QUEST OF THE kVE !ETA YOUTH FROM 6ILLA -ARIA IN 0AMPANGA TO BE PART OF THE NATIONAL TEAM POOL 7E ARE NOT PUTTING A TIMETABLE BUT WHAT S IM PORTANT AS OF THIS POINT IS THEY GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED 7E ARE GIV ING THEM A CHANCE TO EXCEL IN THE SPORT AND THE LIFE SKILLS TO DISCOVER NEW OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE WAY u SAID !LLIANZ 0HILIPPINES CHIEF MAR KETING OFkCER 'AE -ARTINEZ .ATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED WITH TRAININGS HERE AND abroad. The team is currently

Q Five Aeta youths from the adopted school of Allianz in Porac, Pampanga competed for the 5K Elite races in the recent Allianz OCR Sunday, held at Filinvest, Alabang on March 31. They are (from left:) Danilo Yugyug, 19; Ivy Pelayo, 16; Jacob King, 22; Gellyann Soria, 17; and Miracle Lansang, 21.

TRAINING AT 0RETTY (UGE /BSTACLES

SQM lOOR AREA LOCATED AT !SIA S kRST AND LARGEST MULTI LEVEL THE #IVIC #ENTER 3- !URA 0RE obstacle sports facility with a MIER IN "'# 4AGUIG

CREBA to host 5-day international property course 3(!20 0HILIPPINES #ORP HAS already been a household name KNOWN FOR THE DURABILITY AND QUALITY OF THEIR WASHING MACHINES 4HAT S WHY &ILIPINO FAMILIES TRUST Sharp as their laundry partner for so many years now. $URING THE RECENT AWARDING CERE MONY HELD ON !PRIL AT THE -ARCO 0OLO /RTIGAS -ANILA (OTEL 3HARP WAS ONCE AGAIN AWARDED WITH THE 5LTIMATE 3EAL OF #ONSUMER !P PROVAL AS ONE OF THE -OST 4RUSTED "RANDS FOR (OUSEHOLD 0RODUCTS FOR THE 7ASHING -ACHINE #ATEGORY IN the 2EADER S $IGEST !SIA S 4RUSTED "RAND !WARDS The 2EADER S $IGEST !SIA 4RUSTED "RANDS HAS ESTABLISHED A SOLID

reputation as the premier consum ER BASED SURVEY IN !SIA PROVIDING a credible and reliable reference for CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION 7ITH THIS 3HARP 0HILIPPINES IS TRULY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS RECOG NITION AND IS GENUINELY THANKFUL TO everyone who trusted their brand AND VOTED IN THIS CATEGORY Sharp has released a variety of WASHING MACHINE PRODUCTS kT FOR EVERYONE S DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM WASHER DRYER TWIN 4TUB FULLY AU TOMATIC TO THEIR NEWEST FRONT LOAD INVERTER WASHING MACHINE 3HARP continuously strives to develop ENGINEERED PRODUCTS THAT CAN MAKE CONSUMER S LIFE MORE CONVENIENT and comfortable.

4(% #HAMBER OF 2EAL %STATE AND "UILDERS !SSOCIATIONS )NC #REBA .!2 S EXCLUSIVE BILATERAL COOPERATING ASSOCIATION IN THE 0HILIPPINES IS HOSTING THE TH -ANILA OFFERING OF THE #ERTIkED )NTERNATIONAL 0ROPERTY 3PECIALIST )NSTITUTE KNOWN WORLDWIDE AS THE #)03 BRAND FROM *UNE TO 4HEMED g#APTURE THE 'LOBAL -ARKET u THE kVE DAY COURSE LICENSED

BY THE #HICAGO BASED .ATIONAL !SSOCIATION OF 2EALTORS .!2 WILL BE HELD AT THE -ETROPOLITAN #LUB

2OCKWELL #ENTER -AKATI #ITY #)03 COURSE INSTRUCTOR IS &UR HAD 7AQUAD FROM -ICHIGAN A MULTI AWARDED 2EALTOR EDUCATOR AND .!2 LEADER FOR YEARS 4HE #)03 CURRICULUM COVERS INTER national real estate trends and trans ACTIONS REGION SPECIkC LAWS INCLUDING CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE ISSUES

Q Charlie Gorayeb

Q Furhad Waquad

Q Noel Cariño

CROSS CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS AND INTER CONTINENTAL MARKET CONDITIONS and investment performances in the !MERICAS %UROPE !SIA AND /CEANIA #REBA NATIONAL PRESIDENT .OEL 4OTI #ARIÃ&#x201E;O ENCOURAGES &ILIPINO real estate professionals to be PART OF THE ELITE #)03 DESIGNEES GROUP WHICH EXISTS IN COUNTRIES around the world so they can ben

EkT FROM THE GROWING CROSS BORDER INlUENCES IN REAL ESTATE MARKETS g4HE ABILITY TO ASSIST GLOBAL CLIENTS depends heavily upon your profes SIONAL NETWORKING EFFORTSÂ&#x2021;BOTH IN PERSONAL CONNECTIONS YOU VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND YOUR ABILITY TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY NEW RESOURCES u HE SAID #REBA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN #HARLIE 'ORAYEB AFkRMED THAT gAPPLYING A @NO

BORDERS MINDSET EXPANDS OPPORTUNI ties with buyers and sellers around the WORLD EXPONENTIALLY KNOCKING DOWN EVERY CONCEIVABLE BARRIER u ! #EBU EDITION OF THE #)03 #OURSE WILL ALSO BE HELD FROM *UNE TO AT THE 3ACRED (EART #ENTER #EBU #ITY &OR MORE INFORMATION E MAIL TO crebanar@yahoo.com.

WEDNESDAY W E D N ESDAY APRIL 17, 2019

Entertainment

D4

www.manilatimes.net

New OFW movie veers away from sad tales, focuses on success M

Q Behind the scenes in Dubai: (from left) producer Jay-Ar Rosales, lead actress Sylvia Sanchez, the Emirati couple Mohammad and Fatima who play her employers, co-producer Ting Umpa and director Neal â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Buboyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tan.

BY ARLO CUSTODIO

OST of the memorable movies made about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are those centered on tragedy and emotionally-charged stories. Remember â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Flor Contemplacion Storyâ&#x20AC;? in 1995, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sarah Balabagan Storyâ&#x20AC;? (1997), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anakâ&#x20AC;? (2000) and all the way to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maid in Londonâ&#x20AC;? in 2018.

"Y MID YEAR ANOTHER kLM ABOUT OFWs will hit the big screen but this time, it will be a feel-good movie showing the successful side of the Filipino diaspora. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are so many successful OFWs whose stories can serve as inspiration to all of us, so why tackle the few negative experiences OF THOSE WHO SACRIkCED FOR THEIR families?â&#x20AC;? director Neal Tan said during the story conference and cast presentation of â&#x20AC;&#x153;OFW The Movieâ&#x20AC;? at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) OFkCE IN 0ASAY #ITY Tan is remembered for his opus â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ataul For Rentâ&#x20AC;? starring Jaclyn Jose and Joel Torre; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tarimaâ&#x20AC;? starring Gloria Romero, Fanny Serrano and Rocky Salumbides; and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kalabit â&#x20AC;? starring Ara Mina and Raymond Bagatsing, among others.

While some directors and producers choose the award-winning formula of poverty or crime and punishment for international kLM FESTIVALS 4AN AND PRODUCER Jose Olinares Jr. of Active Media %VENTS 0RODUCTION #OMPANY CLARIkED THEIR INTENTION IS TO HIGHLIGHT positive results of working abroad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the time whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reported on social media [or main-

stream media for that matter] are those getting jailed, killed or raped, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has become the general idea what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be a Filipino working abroad. 0ERO

marami rin namang umuuwing wagi or victorious, yung iba nagiging milyonaryo pa at natututong magnegosyo,â&#x20AC;? Tan explained,

citing a returning OFW who now operates the biggest construction kRM IN A NORTHERN PROVINCE Tan and Olinares [known in showbiz as singer Jay-Ar Rosales] first worked together in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Men In Uniform,â&#x20AC;? an advocacy movie for policemen, which STARRED 2OMMEL 0ADILLA *ERIC Raval, Empress Schuck, Rayver Cruz and Alfred Vargas.

Personal connections /&7 4HE -OVIE BEARS kVE NARratives with the main characters played by Sylvia Sanchez, Kakai Bautista, Dianne Medina, Christian Vasquez and Rafael Rosell.

Arnell Ignacio, who became part of the project before he resigned as OWWA deputy administrator, STILL SERVES AS NARRATOR OF THE kLM It must be said that everyone in the production agreed to either waive or accept lesser

talent fees for the sake of this notable advocacy.

Sanchez for one [who just won Best Actress at the Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival Awards for the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jesusaâ&#x20AC;?] said she is already at a point in her career where making meaningful movies is a top priority. Moreover, with the OFW theme, she was all the more eager to be part of the OWWA-supported project since she is still in search of her seamanfather who went missing when she WAS IN kFTH GRADE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suddenly we lost contact with him. May nagsabi na nasa Brazil siya at may iba nang pamilya. I just want to have closure about my father, whether totoong buhay pa

siya o patay na. Kahit wala na siya, gusto ko pa rin mapuntahan kung saan siya nakalibing,â&#x20AC;? she related,

adding that OWWA has been sucCESSUL IN kNDING LONG LOST /&7S for a long time now. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Sana makatulong din ang OWWA para mahanap ko siya,â&#x20AC;? she expressed.

0LAYING THE ROLE OF A DOMESTIC HELPER 3ANCHEZ kNALLY SAID g!T my age, I really want to portray roles that can serve as a lesson or give inspiration to my fellow Filipinos. Masarap kumita pero mas

masarap yung makapagbibigay ka ng magandang message sa role mo, kaya ipinagmamalaki ko ang pelikulang ito at proud ako sa role na Ofelia,â&#x20AC;? she shared.

Ignacio, on the other hand, worked in Japan for 10 years, and is very much aware of how OFWs grapple with sadness and homesickness just to provide for the needs of their family.

Bautista, who provides comic RELIEF TO THE kLM RELATED THAT HER

Q Rafael Rosell

Q Dianne Medina

Q Christian Vasquez

brother is an OFW whom OWWA had previously helped. He was not being paid his salary for many months and sought the intervention of the government agency, which succeeded on his behalf.

Bautista was therefore wholehearted in accepting the role of a Waray domestic helper the movie. &OR 046 .EWS AND 246- HOST Medina, who plays the role of caregiver Feliza, she said she had been to exposed many OFW stories as co-host of Ignacioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s erstwhile program for OWWA titled, Bagong Bayani. g/NE GOAL FULkLLED FOR SURE IS to create awareness that the government helps our modern-day heroes,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Finally, prime time leading man Rafel Rosell, who was born to Filipino parents in Norway, can be considered to have the closest experince of OFW life having grown up in a foreign LAND (E EXPRIENCED kRST HAND how Filipinos would come to-

gether like families or close kin especially during holidays, particularly the Christmas season because they are away from their own for work. In fact, the actor declared that OFW should mean â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overseas Filipino Warriorâ&#x20AC;? for what they do and accomplish.

Besides the five main leads, independent movie producer "ABY 'O OF "' 0RODUCTIONS )Nternational has agreed to play a supporting character, as well as Regine Tolentino, Helga Krapf, Mel Kimura and Manuel Chua, with Angelica Santiago in an introductory role.

mainly was to provide the inspiring stories of returning OFWs, and of course, encourage OFWs and their families and relatives to watch and promote the movie,â&#x20AC;?

Cacdac said.

In full support of the porject as well is OFW-Global Movement Association and Cooperation (OFWGMAC) headed by Warpeace Martinez Arnold, who is a successful businesswoman based in Dubai.

The group assisted in processing the cast and crewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visa as well as organizing accomodations and location shoots in the Middle East. &ORMER $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC 7ORKS AND (IGHWAYS $07( No cost to the government Asst. Sec. Tingagun Umpa and Movie and Television Regulatory OWWA Administrator Hans Cac- AND #LASSIkCATION "OARD MEMBER DAC CLARIkED THAT THE GOVERNMENT Kate Brios Olinares serve also serve is not spending a single centavo co-producers.

OFW The Movie is targeted for the project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we were approached, for a June 7 premiere to mark THE kRST CONSIDERATION WAS @AT NO the commemoration of Migrant cost to the government, all for the Workers Day at the Cultural Cenlove of OFWs.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Our participation TER OF THE 0HILIPPINES

Âťpopcornmatch Âťtvlandia'slatest Meet the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sons of Nanay Sabelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Unang Hiritâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goes COMEDY Queen Ai-Ai Delas Alas is back on the big screen with her trademark motherly love and laugh-aminute antics in Viva Filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming pre-Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day offering, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sons of Nanay Sabel.â&#x20AC;?

Cementing her superstar title in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang Tanging Inaâ&#x20AC;? franchise, which spawned three sequels, delas Alas plays the lead role of Nanay Sabel this time, a former bartender who is supposed to marry a prince. UnforQ 'Nanay Sabel' Ai Ai delas Alas (center) with her onscreen sons, members of the popular ExBattallion rap group; co-star Kylie Versoza; and writer Mel Mendoza del Rosario (first row, second from right).

TUNATELY THE PRINCE kNDS OUT SHE LEFT her six children at an orphanage and calls off the wedding.

After her plans go bust, she decides to return to the orphanage to look for her kids with the help of the a nun who promised to keep the details of their foster families.

In meeting Sabelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sons, moviegoers WILL kNALLY SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE HIT RAP group Ex-Batallion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Daryl, Archie, King Bad-

ger, James, Mark and Rhenn â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in their VERY kRST MOVIE WITH A RIOTOUS STORY OF LIVING FOR THE kRST TIME WITH THEIR BROTHers and of course their inimitable nanay.

Sons of Nanay Sabel is written by Mel Mendoza del Rosario who is also behind the Tanging Ina series with a theme songs fresh from Ex-Batallion featuring delas Alas titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sama-Samaâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Huwag Siyaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagong Umaga.â&#x20AC;?

The movie opens in cinemas nationwide on May 1.

to the Vatican FOLLOWING its landmark Lenten coverage in the Holy Land in 2018, GMA Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-running early morning show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unang Hiritâ&#x20AC;? takes viewers on a spiritual journey this Holy Week â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the heart of Vatican and in the historic Italy.

Since the beginning of the week, host Susan Enriquez has taken viewers to various holy sites in and around the city state and headquarters of the Catholic Church via live feeds, which continue to air today.

With the aim of giving viewers more on-hand and meaningful observance of the Holy Week, the highlight of the series is a Visita Iglesia around Rome, and a visit to the most famous ancient Roman structures SUCH AS THE #OLOSSEUM AND THE 0ANTHEON

Q 'Unang Hirit' host Susan Enriquez

Âťwhat'sonwhere DJ Vega in Boracay COSTA Ricaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular DJ Vega will kick off Boracayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer party series on Thursday, April 18 at The Day Club at Aqua Boracay.

Known in many parts of the world for his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open Format Styleâ&#x20AC;? off mixing House, EDM,, Hip (OP @ S AND ALL SORT L SORT Q DJ Vega of Latin music, he has opened for such uch notable names in the industry as Seebastian Ingrossso, Yves Larock,, Alex Gaudino, Oscar G, Laidback Luke and Don Diablo among others.

After his set on

4HURSDAY FOR g0OPSICLEu WHERE HE WILL play the hottest pop music hits, DJ Vegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encore will unfold on Sunday with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soak,â&#x20AC;? still at The Day Club, for the ultimate beach house party and EDM. !QUA "ORACAY IS A kVE STAR luxury resort in lu Bulabog beach Bu and a five-mian nute walk from nu Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mall. The twoDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M day event will open to the public at 11 am and will serve as a preview for the th highly anticipated opening ticipat of the hotel and The h Club before the Day Clu end of the th summer.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Special Feature

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

E1

Q Pigafetta records in his account that the first Easter mass occurs in a place called Mazzawa on March 31, 1521.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

RESURRECTION

Easter Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the essential foundation of the Christian faith

BY MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY

A

CLEANSED spirit, a peaceful mind and rightful body, after a week of holy serendipity, d e f i n e E a s t e r S u n d a y.

Considered to be the holiest holiday in the Christian calendar, this special day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Across the globe, the Catholic faithful are the most observant of the holiday, beginning its anticipation on Ash Wednesday that marks the start of the Lent season, which courses for the next 40 days until Easter Sunday.

During the period, Catholic devotees underGO FASTING PRAYER REPENTANCE AND SACRIkCE IN preparation for Easter.

Passion of Jesus According to Christian doctrines in the New Testament, Christians celebrate Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus three days AFTER HE WAS CRUCIkED BY THE 2OMANS AND DIED

as written in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Digital channel History describes the New Testament as the essential foundation of the #HRISTIAN BELIEF MAKING IT A VERY SIGNIkCANT date in the Christian faith.

On the other hand, the four gospel accounts tell the life and death of Jesus as written in the four gospels.

The New Testament records the passion of *ESUS WHICH REFERS TO HIS SHORT kNAL PERIOD of life that began with his successful entry in Jerusalem to his death at the cross.

According to the gospel narratives, Jesus was arrested by Sanhedrin priests of the Sanhedrin Jewish Council at a garden across the Kidron Valley, where Judas Iscariot led a â&#x20AC;&#x153;detachment OF SOLDIERS AND SOME OFkCIALS FROM THE CHIEF priests and the Pharisees,â&#x20AC;? who were armed with torches, lanterns and weapons. *ESUS WAS kRST BROUGHT TO THE (IGH 0RIEST Annas of the province of Judea (sometimes spelled as Iudaea) who questioned him on his disciples and his teaching.

With no luck, he then sent Jesus to his sonin-law Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest of Jerusalem, who was accused of masterminding the killing of Jesus.

According to the gospel of Matthew, Caiaphas and some members of the council were depicted interrogating Jesus to look for false evidences that they can use to frame him. Jesus remained silent throughout the proceeding until Caiaphas demands him whether he is Christ OR NOT 7HEN HE AFkRMED #AIAPHAS AND HIS men charged him with blasphemy and order him beaten.

Following his interrogation with Caiaphas, HE WAS THEN SENT TO THE 2OMAN PREFECT 0ONTIUS 0ILATE WHO ORDERED HIS DEATH BY CRUCIkXION Â&#x2021; the event that marks the Christian holiday of Good Friday.

Pilate, according to History, was the prefect OF THE 2OMAN PROVINCE OF *UDAEA FROM TO ! $ AS APPOINTED BY THE 2OMAN %MPEROR Tiberius. Likewise, he also governed the provinces of Samaria and IdumĂŚa, but was best known at Judaea. !S A 2OMAN PREFECT HE WAS GRANTED WITH the power of a supreme judge, holding sole authority over a criminalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s execution.

During Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; trial, Pilate charged him with treason and declared that Jesus thought himself â&#x20AC;&#x153;King of the Jews,â&#x20AC;? thus, ordering his CRUCIkXION )N ANCIENT 2OME CALLING ONESELF AS KING WAS considered grounds for treason, and Pilate, who FACED A CONlICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE 2OMAN Empire and the Sanhedrin Jewish Council, accused Jesus of embracing the highly title.

Other accounts claim that Pilate conspired

ÂłEaster E2

E2

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

Special Feature

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

AT YOUR SERVICE

Magical celebration for the whole family What hotels around the metro offer for the holidays

A

S Easter comes, devout Catholics plan to celebrate the holiest holiday with a grand feast.

Diamond Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spectacular party

)N AND AROUND THE METRO HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ARE kRING UP THEIR menu and preparing activities to gear up for the celebration on Sunday.

From food items to Easter packages, The Manila Times gathers hotel and restaurant promotions for those who opts for a fun-packed, EastERRIkC 3UNDAY

Magical Easter at Century Park Hotel Century Park Hotel (CPH), one of the leading hotels in Manila, invites the family to spend Easter Sunday at the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Ballroom for a magical Easter experience. Take part in â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Magical, Mystical, Easterâ&#x20AC;? Egg (UNTING FROM A M TO P M INCLUSIVE OF FOOD AND LOOT BAG Ticket holders are also entitled to a 50 percent discount on lunch and dinner buffets throughout Holy Week by simply presenting their ticket.

Additionally, families can also enjoy an overnight stay at a Superior 2OOM $ELUXE 2OOM AND *R 3UITE 2OOM WHICH INCLUDES A FREE BREAKFAST for two and one Easter ticket for one kid and one accompanying adult, VALID FROM !PRIL TO ONLY For more information, visit www.centurypark.com.

Q Families can also enjoy an overnight Easter stay at a Superior Room, Deluxe Room and Jr. Suite Room of the Century Park Hotel.

Q Kids are invited to come in their best costume to take part in the grand costume parade at Diamond hotel.

Diamond Hotel Philippines hosts its Easter Spectacle: Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Party on Parade with twice the fun Easter activities happening at the Diamond Ballroom and at THE #ORNICHE FROM A M TO P M 4ICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT 0 PER PERSON INCLUSIVE OF A TAKE HOME snack box. Kids are invited to come in their best costume to take part in the grand costume parade where the most creative costumes will get a chance to win prizes. Aside from the parade, meet and greet some Easter characters, join the games and gain new friends and catch the live musical performances and thrilling magic show at the Diamond Ballroom. Book the Easter Staycation 0ACKAGE FROM !PRIL TO AND GET READY TO HAVE a wonderful family staycation for an overnight STAY IN A $ELUXE 2OOM INCLUSIVE OF ONE FREE TICKET TO THE %ASTER EVENT ON !PRIL For more information, visit www.diamondhotel.com.

Dino Easter Eggsploration at Crimson Hotel Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila is hatching an

egg-citing Easter weekend with its festive and family-friendly activities, room packages and lavish Sunday brunch. Both kids and the young-at-heart are invited to Crimson Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dino Easter %GGSPLORATION ON !PRIL AT PM "OOK ANY OF #RIMson Hotel Filinvest Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easter room packages include an OVERNIGHT STAY IN A $ELUXE 2OOM INCLUSIVE OF TWO TICKETS TO the Dino Easter Eggsploration event and complimentary late check-out at 5:00 pm with buffet breakfast for two persons. &OR LONGER FAMILY BONDING BOOK THE DAYS NIGHTS ROOM PACKAGE INCLUSIVE OF A $ELUXE 2OOM TWO TICKETS TO THE $INO Easter Eggsploration event, buffet breakfast for two persons at CafĂŠ Eight and complimentary late check-out at 4:00 pm.

Make the Easter Sunday more memorable with CafĂŠ Eightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brunch Buffet from savory signature dishes and international cuisines bountifully laid out for unlimited indulgence, carving stations to brunch classics, to kiddie activities such as face painting and Easter cookie decorating.

For more information, visit www.crimsonhotel.com/manila/.

Q Crimson Hotel is hatching an egg-citing Easter weekend.

Egg-citing Novotel Causeplay Let a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantasy come alive for an egg-citing cause-play egg hunt party at the Monet Grand Ballroom of Novotel Manila Araneta Center ON !PRIL WHERE CHILDREN AND KIDS AT HEART ARE INVITED TO DRESS UP AS their favorite characters and enjoy an afternoon of exciting kiddie ac-

ÂłHotel E3

Q EASTER FROM E1

needed to cross islands, they began heading back to Limasawa. with Jewish leaders to prosecute Jesus because Once back at Limasawa, the chief of the island they view his kingly claim as a political threat to guided the Magellan expedition en route to Cebu, THE 2OMAN %MPIRE WHICH THEY kNALLY ARRIVED ON !PR

Of all four gospel accounts, Pilate is said to be In Combesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; account, the planting of the cross and reluctant to condemn Jesus, but he eventually gave travel to Cebu were likewise incorporated in the IN DUE TO THE PRESSURE HE RECEIVED FROM 2OMAN story as it was also present in Pigafettaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account; OFkCIALS WHO WANTED *ESUS DEAD FOR CLAIMING TO THE kRST MASS HOWEVER WAS NOT BUT THE CLAIMING be king. of the island, as Combes states, occurred in Butuan.

Three days later, however, the bible continues that Jesus came back to life, a miracle event that Celebrated traditions authors of the gospel claim to be the proof that he indeed is the living son of God. In the Philippines, Filipino Catholics follow liturgical practices that begin on Palm Sunday, a week Easter mass in the Philippines before Easter Sunday.

The morning of Palm Sunday is celebrated with Written in the account of Antonio Pigafetta, the the reenactment of Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s triumphant entry to CHRONICLER OF THE -AGELLAN EXPEDITION THE kRST Jerusalem, days before his Passion on the cross occurs. recorded Easter Sunday mass occurred on March During this day, palaspas or palm fronds blessed by

WHICH WAS ALSO BELIEVED AS THE kRST priests are abundant and churchgoers bring it home. recorded Catholic mass in the country, in a place The pabasa or the chanting of the epic poem Pasyon called Mazzawa. that narrates the life, Passion, death and resurrection Based on the account of Father Francisco Col- of Jesus, begins as well.

IN 3* IN &ILIPINO HISTORIAN -ICHAEL #HUA Come Maundy Thursday, activities observed inwrites that Mazzawa can be pointed to present-day clude the reenactment of the Last Supper during mass Butuan City, in a beach called Masao, along its (senakulo) WHERE PARISHIONERS ARE CHOSEN TO BE nearby Baug Island, where an old obelisk can be THE !POSTLES FOR THE WASHING OF FEET BY THE PRIEST found commemorating the event inscribed in presider; and the tradition of Visita Iglesia, visiting Spanish that reads â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the immortal Magallanes, SEVEN TO CHURCHES AS PART OF ONE S DEVOTION the village of Butuan with its parish priest and On Good Friday, the procession of Santo Entierro, the Spaniards residing here to commemorate the OR THE $EAD #HRIST TAKES PLACE WHERE RELIGIOUS kGURES ARRIVAL AND THE CELEBRATION OF THE kRST MASS ON THIS that are carried during the procession are further SPOT ON !PRIL %RECTED IN WHEN THE covered in black to symbolize the mourning for the governor of the district was Jose Maria Carvallo.â&#x20AC;? death of Jesus. Consequently, the Divine Mercy NoIn Pigafettaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account, the Magellan expedition vena, a prayed chaplet in preparation for the Feast of stays on the island for seven days, beginning on Holy the Divine Mercy, also begins on this day.

4HURSDAY -ARCH BEFORE DEPARTING FOR #EBU Black Saturday is commemorated with the Easter He writes that the mass was attended by two vigil that begins late at night. Mass is also held in CHIEFTAINS 2AIAH 3IAGU OF -AZZAWA AND 2AIAH anticipation for the hours-long celebration of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Calambu of Butuan. After mass, Spaniards and resurrection. During mass, new Catholics (converted Filipino natives alike went uphill to plant a wood- ADULTS ARE BAPTIZED AND OFkCIATING PRIEST WEAR WHITE en-cross at the summit, where Ferdinand Magellan as symbol of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; triumph over death. has likewise claimed the island in the name of The lighting of the Paschal candle is deemed an the emperor and the Crown of the Castille. When important part of Black Saturday traditions as it all was settled, Magellan then headed for Cebu. lit during the vigil to represent the light of Christ For a long period of time, Mazzawa was believed entering the world.

TO BE THE SITE OF THE COUNTRY S kRST MASS UNTIL IN Easter Sunday celebration begins at dawn, where WHEN ,IMASAWA ,EYTE WAS DEBATED AS THE it starts with the salubong rites or the encounter possible site argued by the Jesuit scholar Pablo where Jesus meets Mother Mary after his resurrection, Pastells, SJ. With his claim, several major scholars according to the Bible. agreed and debunked Pigafetta and early chroniDuring the rites, a mourning statue of Mary covclersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; historic mistake. ered in black is carried by the women of the area, According to the account of Francisco Combes, along with statues of the saints that are said to have written in an article entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Butuan or Limasawa: been with Jesus before and after his death, passes 4HE SITE OF THE kRST MASS IN THE 0HILIPPINES ! along one route. On another route, statue of the reexamination of evidenceâ&#x20AC;? by Fr. Miguel Bernad, resurrected Christ is carried by the men of the area.

THE -AGELLAN EXPEDITION LANDED kRST IN ,IMASAWA The two statues meet in a decorated stage, usually before hearing of the Butuan Island. in front of a church, where locals will re-enact the Upon arriving in Butuan, Magellan and his men reunion of Jesus and Mother Mary through a ritual made friends with the Butuan locals, even plant- of singing and dancing. ing a cross to signify their partnership. However, Concluding the celebration, an Easter mass is held, SINCE THE 3PANIARDS DID NOT kND THE EQUIPMENT marking the end of the Holy Week observance.

Q The morning of Palm Sunday is celebrated with palaspas or palm fronds blessed by priests. PHOTO

BY DJ DIOSINA

Q Easter Sunday celebration begins at dawn with the salubong rites or the encounter where Jesus meets Mother Mary after his resurrection. PHOTO

BY RENATO H. DILAN

Q Maundy Thursday observes the reenactment of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Last Supper during â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;senakulo.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Special Feature

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2019

E3

Q HOTEL FROM E2

Q Its a family treat at Novotel Manila.

WHERE FRIENDLY SEAS WITH MAGIC ARTS AND CRAFTS AND GAMES AWAIT "OOK AN OVERNIGHT STAY ON !PRIL AND AND GET COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO g3ET 3AILu FOR FOUR PERSONS INCLUSIVE OF ACCESS TO THE INDOOR INkNITY POOL AND kTNESS CENTER Meanwhile, take the kids on a fun voyage across the friendly seas with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Set Sail: A Nautical Adventureâ&#x20AC;? at the Marco 0OLO /RTIGAS -ANILA ON %ASTER 3UNDAY !PRIL 3TARTING A M GO ON A SPECIAL JOURNEY WITH A FEATURED MAGIC SHOW

AS WELL AS ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES 4ICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT 0 PER PERSON KIDS OR ADULTS INCLUSIVE OF HEAVY SNACKS AND A BAG FULL OF DELIGHTFUL GIVEAWAYS 4HE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL BE HELD AT THE 'RAND "ALLROOM ON ,EVEL For more information, email catering.mnl@marcopolohotels.com.

Treats and festivities at City of Dreams Manila

tivities with lots of goodies and sweet treats. To make things more exciting, book an Easter Family Staycation and enjoy free breakfast for two at Food Exchange Manila. Get also complimentary two hours use of Kids Club by Novotel, choose between two tickets to Art in Island or two tickets to Gateway Cinema, plus access for one adult and one kid to the Egg-citing Cause-play Easter egg hunt.

For more information, visit www.novotelmanilaaranetacenter.com.

Easter journey at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

#ELEBRATE %ASTER WITH A DIVERSIkED OFFERING AT #ITY OF $REAMS -ANILA FROM %ASTER TREATS AT #HOCOL TO ACCOMmodations at Nobu Hotel Manila. On Easter Sunday, How To Train Your Dragon-inspired activities, such as an exclusive dragon-themed egg hunt, replete with a specially-designed string bag; dragon egg painting activity; a unique 4-D movie experience at Dream Theatre; and a video OUTTAKE FROM A DEGREE SPIN CAMERA WILL HAPPEN FROM A M TO P M ,IKEWISE GUESTS are welcome at The Garage for a MUSICAL EVENING STARTING AT p.m. At Nobu Manila, holiday seekers can avail its Easter Break package with an option between an Q Diversified offerings at City of Dreams Manila. overnight accommodation or a twonight stay. For Easter and the rest of April, Nobu will be highlighting an eight-course Omakase experience for guests at dinner time. Lastly, enjoy pamper sessions at Nobu Spa available from April to May. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Easter comes alive at Shangri-La at the Fort

This coming Easter season, come together with your loved ones and enjoy the comforts of staying at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

Bask in the warmth of Philippine hospitality on a special stay package available from April TO &OODIES ARE also in for a treat this Easter with special selections from Cucina and CafĂŠ Pronto.

Both the young and young-at-heart will set sail at Marco Polo Ortigas Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Q Experience warmth hospitality at Easter Sunday event Marco Polo Ortigas Manila. dubbed Set Sail: A Nautical Adventure,

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to delight the inner child this season as Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila invites guests to an array of stay AND DINING OFFERS FOR THE FAMILY TO ENJOY /VERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION FOR A $ELUXE 2OOM AND %XECUTIVE 3UITE

INCLUDE BUFFET BREAKFAST FOR TWO AT (IGH 3TREET #AFE !DVENTURE :ONE ACCESS FOR TWO CHILDREN BELOW YEARS OLD and access to Kerry Sports Manila. At High Street Cafe, a sumptuous Sunday brunch awaits on !PRIL INCLUSIVE OF AN ALCOHOLIC AND NON ALcoholic beverage package, while at High Street Lounge, an Easter-themed tea set for two at 0 PER PERSON INCLUSIVE OF A 4OBY S %STATE CURATED COFFEE SELECTION #ANTON 2OAD OFFERS a delectable dim sum set menu from April TO FOR 0 PER PERSON WHILE 2AGING Bull Chophouse & Bar invites guests dine on premium grain- and grass-fed beef cuts. Taste THE lAVORS OF 0ERU AT 3AMBA AND CELEBRATE with classic seafood specialties complete with sweeping views of the cityscape. Get down and dirty at Ministry of Crab as it opens its doors for lunch hour from AM TO PM WHILE DINNER SERVICE FOLLOWS AT P M For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/shangrilaatthefort/.

Easter treats at Astoria Hotels and Resorts Easter celebrations at Astoria Palawan, Astoria Boracay and Astoria Current offer more than your usual egg-hunting

N

OT a few people see the long weekend that caps Holy Week and officially concludes the Lenten Season as an opportunity to bond with family and friends at a dream summer destination in either Palawan or Boracay.

In both cases, exciting and fun activities await local and foreign guests at the picturesque and breathtaking properties of Astoria (OTELS AND 2ESORTS Located at the heart of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Final Frontier, Astoria Palawan is a five-hectare resort that is best characterized as a peaceful enclave of emerald virgin forests, grasslands, and mountain ranges. Here is where guests can truly appreciate why Palawan is considered the most beautiful island in the world.

Kissing the shores of majestic Sulu Sea, Astoria Palawan feaTURES A METER INkNITY POOL A recreation pavilion with karaoke and games, and an in-house restaurant and bar. The epitome of relaxation and luxury is BEST EXEMPLIkED IN THE RESORT S 40 spacious private rooms and SUITES HOUSED IN LEAF INSPIRED

wood-cabin villas.

Astoria Palawanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easter celebration kicks off with egg-hunting and games at Palawan Wa-

terpark. A bountiful feast will be served in the waterparkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own restaurant, Aqua Cena, so guests can maintain their energy all throughout the day. There are also water and beach activities such as kayaking, paddle boardING BEACH VOLLEYBALL KITE lYING

and a Zumba session in the kVE HECTARE RESORT To cap off the night, there will also be live entertainment that will feature LED and fire dancers and acoustic bands.

Likewise, activities such as sand castle-making, aqua aerobics, movie nights, traditional Filipino games, and karaoke challenges may be enjoyed throughout the entire Holy Week.

For those who are staying in the pristine white beaches of Boracay, Astoria Boracay and Astoria Current are the perfect destinations to spend your Easter sojourn.

Astoria Boracay is a 3,000 square meter resort nestled in a sweet spot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; right between the TRANQUILITY OF 3TATION AND LIVELINESS OF 3TATION 7ITH OVER

rooms, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the place where you can experience the best of both worlds.

Astoria Current, on the other HAND IS A PLUS SQM BEACHfront resort located in the action side of the island: Station 3. The location gives guests easy access to the many water sports offerings, adrenaline pumping activities and

exhilarating nightlife Boracay has to offer.

For Easter celebrants, experiencing the sumptuous Easter brunch buffet in both White CafĂŠ and 0ARASOL 2ESTAURANT IS A MUST Both Astoria Boracay and Astoria Current offer rooms that are equipped with classy furnishing,

MODERN DÂźCOR AND kRST CLASS AMEnities for a vacation experience thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a cut above other Boracay resorts This Easter, guests may participate in the games and egg-hunting hosted by both resorts. Astoria Current in Station 3 will be offering face painting and movies for

the kids.

Experience world-class service and fun activities this coming Easter by staying in the award-winning properties of !STORIA (OTELS AND 2ESORTS &OR more information, visit http:// www.astoriahotelsandresorts.com/.