The Manila Times | March 24, 2019

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MARCH 24, 2019 019

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Will senators S W S S U R V E Y vote to send children to jail?

REFLECTIONS

FR. SHAY CULLEN, SSC

W

E entered the so-called Bahay Pagasa, “House of Hope.� It turned out to be a children’s jail. We brought snacks and drinks to share with the young people in the cells. About 25 girls were crowded into one room. No air conditioning here, no electric fans either, so we brought some, but the rancid body smells pervaded the cells in the hot tropical heat.

There is a water shortage in the metropolis at this time. One of the children rescued by Preda Foundation from the

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Candidate Colmenares should tell the Ecuador dam story SUNDAY STORIES MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

3 in 4 voters to shun ‘corrupt’ Senate bets

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

F

ILIPINO voters will support a candidate for the Senate who is not corrupt and has concern for the poor, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Saturday.

The survey, held from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018, showed that 25 percent of the 1,440 respondents listed “will not be corrupt� as among the qualities they were looking for in aspiring senators.

This was followed by candidates who “have concern for the poor� (22 percent),

have “good personal characteristics� (21 percent), are “trustworthy� (21 percent) and are “concerned about or helpful to those in need� (20 percent).

The respondents’ favored candidate also gWALKS HIS TALK FULkLLS PROMISESu WITH

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276 KILOS OF SHABU Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Customs inspect a shabu shipment worth more than P1.8 billion seized in the Port of Manila late Friday.

PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

T

HERE is nothing wrong with foreign borrowing for developmental projects.

The P8 trillion or so funding requirement by the ambitious “Build, Build, Build“ program of the Duterte administration cannot be internally generated, even with the expanded revenue base. And even with BOND lOAT AFTER BOND lOAT On top of the seemingly insatiable public appetite for government-issued bonds, the infrastructure build-up has to have a

ÂłRonquillo A5 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

Passage of anti-terror bill top Senate priority ‘Manila does not need ICC to resolve sea dispute’ SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd on Saturday said the Senate would push the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act and other major bills during the remaining nine session days of the 17th Congress.

3OTTO IS CONkDENT THAT THE CHAMBER STILL HAS SUFkCIENT TIME TO ACT AND APPROVE ON THIRD AND kNAL READINGS SEVEN MAJOR BILLS

pending in the different committees beFORE THE kNAL EXIT OF THE CURRENT #ONGRESS After the May 13 midterm elections, the Senate will resume sessions on May 20 and adjourns sine die on June 7, 2019.

Sotto said topping the list of the major bills is Senate Bill 2204 or the proPOSED g!NTI 4ERRORISM !CTu OF kLED on Febr. 4, 2019 by Senators Richard Gor-

DON 'REGORIO (ONASAN 0ANkLO ,ACSON

,OREN ,EGARDA AND HIMSELF The six other measures are the Medical Scholarship Act, amendment to the Public Service Act, Budget Reform Act, Mindanao Railways Authority Bill, Emergency Powers Act and Reformation OF #HILDREN IN #ONlICT 7ITH THE ,AW

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‘Crab mentality’ ruining SEA Games THE chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) has blamed “crab mentality� among sports leaders for the disinformation on the Philippines possibly losing its hosting rights to the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) on November 30 to December 11 this year.

Although he did not name THOSE SPORTS OFkCIALS !LAN 0ETER Cayetano, former Department of Foreign Affairs secretary and former senator, over the weekend said he already talked to the ofkCIALS INVOLVED WHO HOWEVER DEnied news reports that they were behind the black propaganda. “[It’s] crab mentality,� Cayetano told the media in a news confer-

ence on Saturday in Taguig City when asked what was pulling down the biennial sports exxtravaganza that the Philippines will be hosting for the fourth time in Manila and other Metro Manila cities and Tarlac. “If everyone one wants to do something great and then everything looks okay, then others will pull it down. Everyone is so passionate in sports but you have to come to a consensus or a decision at one point. I’m disappointed and surprised that it happened,� he said.

Cayetano, a candidate for congressman seeking to represent Taguig, added that the Phisgoc would continue to move on although the release of the P5billion budget for the tournament

has been delayed. “We’ll continue working day by day. With the pressure coming from the athletes, everyone will shape up. Since the start [in] 2018, nag-abono na ako [I have been using my own money]. We will appeal to the Senate and Congress to pass the budget this March or

by April,� he said.

According to the aspiring congressman, the P5 billion will be used for the services, security, information technology, human resources, marketing, venues, volunteers, uniforms, athletes’ village and medical needs.

Cayetano, together with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman Abraham Tolentino and

ÂłSEA A2

FOUNDATION DAY Soldiers perform a silent drill during the 122nd founding anniversary of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. PHOTO DJ DIOSINA

THE Philippines does not need the help of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to resolve its maritime dispute with China, MalacaĂąang said on Saturday.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement as he claimed that the communication lodged against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity might not prosper. “Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario may have the RIGHT TO kLE THE COMPLAINT AGAINST #HINESE President Xi Jing Ping before the ICC as individuals over a perceived violation committed against their country or their countrymen,� he said. “[However], we do not need the help or disturbance of a biased tribunal known to politically prosecute heads of state, the very reason why powerful countries like the United States, China, Russia and Israel, to name only a few, have either withdrawn their membership as State Parties from the Rome Statute or declined to

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News

˜ The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Govt to continue quest for peace – Palace T

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

HE administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has not abandoned its quest for peace even with the termination of the formal negotiations with communist rebels, MalacaĂąang said on Saturday.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government will try a new method to attain peace through localized peace talks.

He issued the statement after communist leader Jose Maria “Joma� Sison slammed Duterte for pursuing a “fake� localized peace talks.

“The administration still seeks peace. We are just trying a different tact by localizing the peace talks as the concerns of rebel groups vary from one locality to another specially, so that Mr. Sison appears not to have control over the communist forces on the ground,�

Panelo said.

Panelo agreed with Sison that peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) can resume, but they have to reciprocate the government’s sincerity and STOP kGHTING “While Mr. Sison is right that the peace negotiation can still be resurrected by a new administration, which President Duterte himself SAID THE #00 .0! .$& MUST kRST demonstrate genuine sincerity in the peace process by laying down their arms and shun its acts of violence, which include murder, rape, extortion, and destruction of

public infrastructure and private properties,� he said. “Until such demonstration of sincerity, the localized peace talks shall be given impetus,� the Palace OFkCIAL ADDED The CPP founder earlier said Duterte needed the continuance OF ARMED CONlICT AS AN gEXCUSE TO impose martial law nationwide and a full-blown fascist dictatorship through charter change to a bogus kind of federalism.�

On Thursday, Duterte ended peace negotiations with communist rebels when he terminated the government panel tasked to hold peace talks with the NDF.

‘ICC complaint a message to Pinoys’ FORMER Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the filing of the “communication� against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a message to Filipinos that acts of impunity should not be tolerated. “We want to check impunity,� CarpioMorales said when she faced the media along with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario at the Manila Polo Club late Friday. “It’s not only a message to the Duterte administration. It is also addressed to Filipinos, to similarly situated fishermen, that we demand accountability from those who destroy marine areas, that we want to check impunity as a deterrent for other countries,� Carpio-Morales said.

Del Rosario said other countries can file a complaint against those who commit crimes that could be tried by the international court. “If for example we succeed in disciplining Mr. Xi Jinping then I think the whole world will naturally follow us,� he said.

Carpio-Morales said the ICC has jurisdiction over Xi even if China is not a member of the ICC. “The one who committed the crime does not have to belong to a country who is a state party to the ICC,� she said, adding that Xi “committed the crime within Philippine territory.�

The “communication� accused Xi and other Chinese officials of implementing a “systematic plan to control� the contested South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and violating Filipino fishers’ rights.

Senate bet Neri Colmenares backed

Morales and del Rosario’s move. “This is one way of asserting our sovereignty against China. We should use every venue both here and internationally to expose and fight China’s takeover of our seas,� he said. “Atin ang West Philippine Sea (The West Philippine Sea is ours). The UN Arbitral Tribunal affirmed that. The case now filed in the ICC is an assertion of our legitimate rights over our exclusive economic zone and a means especially for our fisherfolk to get justice,� he added.

Magdalo Rep. Alejano also lauded the two former government officials for filing the case before the ICC. “This is a slap on the Philippine government that has failed to exact accountability and punish the countless transgressions of China against Filipino fishermen and the destruction of our marine environment. Trabaho dapat ito ng ating gobyerno (This is the government’s job),� Alejano, who is running for senator under the opposition coalition Otso Diretso’s slate, said.

The former Marine captain called on the military and coast guard “to be steadfast in their duty to protect our territory and fellow Filipinos.�

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the country should stand upto China. “We have to show China that we are serious in defending our people as well as our territory. Our officials should always assert our independence, instead of them acting as apologists for China, who apparently now treat the Philippines as her vassal state,� Zarate said.  REINA C. TOLENTINO

Q ICC FROM A1

Manila does not need

CLEANUP

Members of the Bureau of Fire Protection collect garbage during the coastal cleanup held on Saturday at the Las PiĂąas-ParaĂąaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area. PHOTO DJ DIOSINA

‘Kaliwa Dam project to displace thousands’ THOUSANDS of indigenous people would be displaced if the Kaliwa Dam project pushes through, Makabayan senatorial bet Neri Colmenares warned on Saturday.

Colmenares, chairman of Bayan Muna, said at least 5,000 families of indigenous people would be affected by the project.

He said the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System -733 SHOULD kND OTHER WAYS TO boost the supply of water. “They could also look at the rehabilitation of the Wawa Dam and the Kaliwa Weir that is being proposed. They should not go

roughshod on this Kaliwa Dam that has many questionable provisions and will evict Remontados and Dumagats,� Colmenares said.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reject the dam project “because it would destroy the ecosystem in those parts of Rizal and Quezon.�

On Friday, MalacaĂąang said it was open to releasing copies of OFkCIAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE Kaliwa Dam project. “This administration early on has made it clear that it will be

Q SENATE FROM A1

3 in 4 voters to shun percent; “can give solutions to the problems of the country� with 9 percent; is “approachable,� 7 percent; “has good leadership qualities,� 6 percent; “knows how to listen and confer with other people,� 5 percent; “has faith in God,� 5 percent; “has political will�, 3 percent; and is “educated/intelligent/ bright,� 3 percent.

In Metro Manila, voters said

they would support candidates who are “trustworthy� (28 percent), “will not be corrupt� (25 percent) and who “helps/has concern for the poor� (23 percent).

In Balance Luzon, the respondents said their pick “will not be corrupt� (26 percent), is “trustworthy� (22 percent), “helps/has concern for the poor� (21 percent) and “has good personal characteristics� (20 percent).

transparent,� Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

Groups led by Senate hopeful Jose Manuel “Chel� Diokno had asked for copies of the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement between the MWSS and ExportImport Bank of China, and the Commercial Contract between the MWSS and China Energy Engineering Corp.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte could still stop the construction of the dam if it would be found that the deal was disadvantageous to the government or

even fraudulent. “Of course, the President can stop anything, unless a contract was already signed,� Panelo said DURING THE 0ALACE BRIEkNG “There might be impairment of obligations in the contract. But he can still scrap it if there was fraud committed,� he added.

The Kaliwa Dam project in Tanay, Rizal, which will cost $248 million or P12.2 billion, is facing opposition from environmental groups and local officials amid CONCERNS IT WOULD RESULT IN lOODing and displace residents.

REINA TOLENTINO

Those polled in Visayas also said they want candidates who are not corrupt and who have concern for the poor.

In Mindanao, most of those polled said they would vote for candidates with “good personal characteristics� (29 percent) and those who have concern to those in need (26 percent).

The survey also showed that candidates will get the vote of respondents from urban areas if the former “will not be corrupt�

(27 percent) and are “trustworthy� (26 percent ).

Among rural dwellers, candidates with “good personal characteristics� are the most preferred (25 percent), followed by those who “will not be corrupt� (24 percent) and “helps/has concern for the poor� (22 percent).

The SWS survey, commissioned by private think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, had sampling error margins, at 95 PERCENT CONkDENCE LEVEL OF • percent for national percentages, AND • PERCENT EACH FOR "ALANCE Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Q SEA FROM A1

Q BILLS FROM A1

Crab mentality

Passage of anti-terror

0HISGOC CHIEF OPERATING OFkCER 2AMON 3UZARA GAVE assurances that the 11-nation multi-sporting event would push through. g7E WILL kND A WAY EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT agree with each other. Even up to this day, there is no budget, the SEA Games will push through, with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission, POC and the private sector, for the country,� he said.

Cayetano added that the hosting of the Southeast Asian Games would jumpstart the country’s hosting of international events in the future like the 2020 Asean Para Games, the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and the 2023 FIBA World Cup. JOSEF T. RAMOS

“Yes, lahat yan nasa lOOR na at malaki ang pag-asa na maipasa, pwedeng ipasa (Yes, all OF THOSE ARE ON THE lOOR AND THERE IS A BIG chance that these will be passed, we will pass them), Sotto said.

Apart from the passage and ratification of the 2019 budget measure, the Senate, before its adjournment on February 8, also passed and ratified several measures including the Murang Kuryente Act, Automatic Membership for PWDs Act, Student Fare Discount Act, National Integrated Cancer Control Act, Department of Human Settlements and Urban

Development Act and Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act. All of these measures were already signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Friday, Sotto expressed optimism that the 2019 General Appropriations Bill would soon be transmitted to the Palace as the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to end their squabbling on the measure.

The national government has been operating under a reenacted 2018 budget. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

be members of the ICC,� he added.

Del Rosario and Carpio-Morales, ON BEHALF OF &ILIPINO kSHERMEN kLED a communication against Xi and other #HINESE OFkCIALS FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN the South China Sea that allegedly constitutes crimes against humanity. g4HESE ACTS OF #HINESE OFkCIALS AND NATIONALS INlICT FOOD AND LIVELIhood deprivation to the inhabitants of the coastal States in the South China Sea, which therefore constitute ‘inhuman acts... intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health,’� the communication read.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has engaged China “peacefully,� said the two former government ofkCIALS WERE gENTITLEDu TO SUBMIT THEIR complaint against Beijing.

He expressed confidence that THE kLING OF THE COMPLAINT AGAINST Xi would not strain the relations between the Philippines and Beijing. “The Philippines is a democratic country and anybody can bring a suit against anybody but whether or not it would prosper, or whether or not we have the jurisdiction, that’s something else. Remember China is not a member of the ICC,� Duterte said on Thursday.

Panelo said del Rosario and Carpio-Morales could have been motivated with “righteous indignation over the establishment of structures on some parts of the South China Sea which have been ruled to be rightfully belonging to us.� “To their minds, the establishment of those structures endanger the environment as well as our kSHERMEN u HE SAID Panelo, however, stressed that del Rosario and Carpio-Morales were “not authorized to lodge a complaint against China at the ICC on behalf of the Philippines.� “Whether or not the case will prosper is another matter. It could be dismissed because China is not a member of the ICC, so is the PhilipPINES 4HE kLING OF THE COMPLAINT MAY be a futile exercise. The ICC has no jurisdiction over China,� he added.

4HE 0ALACE OFkCIAL ALSO STRESSED THAT the Philippines and China were already engaged in a “diplomatic negotiation.� “We reiterate that the Philippines under the Duterte Administration is engaged in a diplomatic negotiation, through a bilateral consultation mechanism, over the West Philippine Sea issue,� Panelo said. “The critics and detractors will have A kELD DAY CRITICIZING THE 0RESIDENT IN the event the case is dismissed by the ICC for lack of jurisdiction. They can claim that it was a mistake for the Philippine government to withdraw its membership from the Rome Statute as the ICC can no longer serve as a venue to prosecute President Xi for an

alleged commission of crime against humanity,� he added.

Negotiation Former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile also said he favors negotiation with China even if the Philippines has the right over some areas in the South China Sea. “We have a right that is given, not only given by a convention [and] agreed upon by the international community through the [United Nations], but also pronounced by an international arbitral body,� said EnRILE WHO IS VYING FOR A kFTH TERM IN THE Senate in the May mid-term elections. “But having that right, does that vest in you the capacity to exploit your right because somebody is claiming it too?� he asked.

Under present circumstances, Enrile believes that the Philippines may either enter into negotiation or CONlICT WITH #HINA “In the game of nations, there are only two options that are available to us. Either we raise an army to match our competitor over that claim or we approach it through discussion, talking, negotiation,� the veteran lawmaker said. g)F WE OPT TO kGHT #HINA WE MUST have the money to raise an army, if at all. And even if we can raise that MONEY ARE WE WILLING TO SACRIkCE the blood and lives of our young PEOPLE TO kGHT A WAR THAT WE MAY NOT be able to win? And even if we win, could it cause us ruin?� Enrile asked.

He said China acknowledges the Philippines’ privilege over the disputed area. “On the other hand, if China wants to talk to us, and I think they’re willing to talk to us, which to me is an evidence of the fact that they recognize our right over the area, why don’t we talk to them and negotiate the problem?� he stressed.

The former Senate President, added that the Philippines does not have the money “to explore the presence of hydrocarbon fuel in that area or mineral resources.� “Even if we have [those resources] there, if we cannot exploit it, what good is that deposit there? Apart from that, we can take advantage of the market of China,� Enrile said.

3EN 0ANkLO ,ACSON ALSO LAUDED del Rosario and Carpio-Morales for taking action against China. “It is a patriotic move on the part of former Ombudsman Carpio-Morales and former DFA Secretary Del Rosario that deserves the support of every freedom loving Filipino whose duty is to protect and preserve our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,�

Lacson said in a statement.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

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RISE AND FALL OF JIHADISTS BEIRUT: Islamic State jihadists in June 2014 proclaimed a “caliphate� across territory seized in Syria and Iraq, but have since lost one territory after another until the fall of a border village on Saturday.

A timeline: On June 29, 2014, jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) proclaim a “caliphate� led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi across territory the group seized in Syria and Iraq and rebrands itself the Islamic State (IS).

In Iraq, where it is backed by former officers of late dictator Saddam Hussein and salafist groups, ISIL in June seizes Mosul and Sunni Arab areas bordering the autonomous Kurdistan region.

A badly prepared Iraqi army is routed without a fight.

Raqa and Mosul become the IS’s two de-facto capitals.

In July, Baghdadi appears in a video posted on jihadist websites and calls on all Muslims everywhere to “obey� him.

Atrocities In Raqa, the IS carries out beheadings, mass executions, rapes, abductions and ethnic cleansing. It stones to death women suspected of adultery and slaughters homosexuals.

Some of the atrocities are broadcast on video, which the jihadists use as a propaganda tool.

In Iraq, the group seizes the historic home of the Yazidi minority in Sinjar region, turning young children into soldiers and using thousands of women as sex slaves.

Anti-jihadist coalition In August 2014, US warplanes strike IS positions in northern Iraq.

Washington then forms a coalition of more than 70 countries to fight the group in both Iraq and Syria. Washington deploys 5,000 soldiers.

Backed by US-led air strikes, Kurdish forces in January 2015 drive the jihadists out of the city of Kobane, on the Turkish border.

In August 2016, a US-backed KurdishArab alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recaptures Manbij in Aleppo province.

Backed by Turkish tanks and air force, rebels then retake Jarabulus, and then, in February 2017, Al-Bab, the last IS bastion in Aleppo province.

In March 2017, Syrian troops backed

by Russian jets recapture the ancient desert town of Palmyra from the IS. The oasis city had traded hands several times during the war and become a symbol of the jihadists’ destruction of priceless cultural heritage in areas under their control.

In October 2017, the SDF announces the full recapture of Raqa city, the capital of the eponymous province.

In September 2018, the coalition launches an offensive against IS pockets in Deir Ezzor province.

On Saturday, March 23, the SDF announces the death of the caliphate after seizing total control of the last IS outpost in the village of Baghouz neighbouring Iraq.

AFP

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Syria IS caliphate ‘totally’ wiped out

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Defeats in Syria

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

AGHOUZ, Syria: Kurdish-led forces pronounced the death of the Islamic State (IS) group’s nearly kVE YEAR OLD gCALIPHATEu 3ATURDAY AFTER lUSHING OUT DIEHARD JIHADISTS FROM THEIR very last bastion in eastern Syria.

Fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) raised THEIR YELLOW lAG IN "AGHOUZ THE remote riverside village where diehard jihadists of a variety of nationalities made a desperate, dramatic last stand.

The SDF’s victory capped a sixmonth operation in which it took heavy casualties and will go down as a symbolic date in a war that changed the face of the region and spurred a spate of global terror attacks. “Syrian Democratic Forces declare total elimination of so-called caliphate and 100 percent territorial defeat of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant),� spokesman Mustefa Bali said in a statement, using another acronym for IS. )N !L /MAR AN OIL kELD USED AS the main SDF staging base for the kNAL PHASE OF THE ASSAULT kGHTERS in their best fatigues laid down their weapons and broke into song

and dance.

The state proclaimed in mid2014 by fugitive IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi started collapsing in 2017 when parallel offensives in Iraq and Syria wrested back its main hubs Mosul and Raqa.

4HE NEARLY kVE YEARS OF kGHTING against the most brutal jihadist group in modern history left thousand-year-old cities in ruins and populations homeless.

Foreigners last The territory administered by the remnants of IS continued to shrink month after month, and in September 2018 the SDF launched A kNAL OFFENSIVE ON THE LAST DREGS of the “caliphate� in its Euphrates Valley strongholds.

US President Donald Trump, whose country has led an international military coalition against IS since September 2014,

jumped the gun on announcing the end of jihadist territorial rule on multiple occasions.

3$& kGHTERS LAST WEEK EXPELLED THE LAST )3 kGHTERS WHO REFUSED TO surrender from an encampment on the edge of Baghouz and have since been hunting down a few survivors hiding on the reedy banks of the Euphrates. “Those who lasted the longest were mostly foreigners...

Tunisians, Moroccans, Egyptians,�

Hisham Harun, a 21-year-old +URDISH kGHTER SAID Around him, the former jihadist encampment was littered with bullet-riddled truck carcasses, discarded suicide belts and the torn tents where the caliphate’s last families sheltered for weeks. +URDISH OFkCERS AND AID GROUPS WERE lUMMOXED BY THE NUMBER OF people who had remained holed up in the last IS redoubt of Baghouz, a small village even few Syrians had ever heard of until this year.

As SDF forces pummelled IS positions and US warplanes dropped huge payloads on the riverside village, tens of thouSANDS OF PEOPLE lED OVER A ROCKY hill and trudged through the plains in biblical scenes.

Aid emergency For weeks, the ghostly figures of the caliphate’s last denizens hobbled out of the besieged village, famished, often wounded but SOMETIMES STILL DEkANTLY PROCLAIMing their support for IS. The Kurdish-led force and foreign intelligence screened more than 60,000 people since January, around 10 percent of them jihadists turning themselves in.

Most of the people evacuated from the smoldering ruins of Baghouz in recent days were relatives OF )3 MEMBERS WHO NOW kLL OVERcrowded camps further north in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled region.

The biggest of them, Al-Hol, is now struggling to host 74,000 people, including at least 25,000 school-aged children.

Among them are thousands of foreigners from France, Russia, Belgium and 40-plus countries that are in most cases unwilling to take them back. “The needs are huge and the camp is overwhelmed,� Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross said &RIDAY UPON RETURNING FROM A kVE AFP day visit to Syria.

DoF transparency on loan deals lauded

ARTVOCACY

An artist paints faces of Lumad leaders during the Dialogue of Life with the National Minorities at the College of Holy Spirit in Manila. The dialogue tackled attacks against indigenous people. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Help govt in federalism drive, Misuari asked THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday expressed hopes that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari could help push a federal form of government.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya assured Misuari in a statement that the department had been studying how to properly implement federalism in the country and how

the public can support it through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism and Constitutional Reform (IATF).

Malaya said Misuari could help them in raising public understanding of federalism. “There’s still time to get this off the ground, so Misuari shouldn’t worry. We hope that Chairman Misuari will instead help the IATF advocate for federalism among our people so that more people

will understand why federalism is needed,� he added.

Advocacy programs for federalism have stopped because of the election season, but Malaya said the campaign will resume after the midterm elections on May 13.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously said Misuari told him that he would wage war against the government if the country would not shift to a federal system of government.

Malaya described federalism as

a “complex matter.� “It’s a change in how we are governed. The devil is in the details. So, I think we have to give the government more time to iron out the details. And that’s what we had been doing recently,� he said.

Misuari is facing rebellion charges and violation of international humanitarian law for leading a 20-day attack on Zamboanga City in 2013 that led to the death of more than 200 people. ROY D.R. NARRA

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has lauded the Department of Finance (DoF) for being transparent on foreign loan agreements the government entered into to bankroll various infrastructure projects.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, commended the DoF after it made public several loan agreements that Manila signed with various countries to fund the big ticket projects under Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build (BBB) program. “We thank the DoF for heeding our call during the previous hearing on the BBB program to be transparent on the government’s dealings. I know that there is an FOI (Freedom of Information) directive, but it didn’t bar them from practicing greater transparency beyond what the FOI requires. This is to make the public appreciate that everything that is being done here is for their interest,� Gatchalian said.

With the loan agreements now posted on the DoF website, the lawmaker said the public would be able to scrutinize the terms and conditions of these loans. “Mapapanatag na ang kalooban ng ating mga kababayan sa mga nagawa at gagawing pag-utang ng ating gobyerno upang mapondohan ang mga big infrastructure projects natin sa bansa dahil sila mismo ay maaring bumusisi sa mga kasunduang ito (Our countrymen can now have peace of mind because they themselves can examine and scrutinize these agreements),�

Gatchalian said.

During the recent Senate inquiry

into the status, sustainability, and risk of the multi-billion projects under the BBB program, Gatchalian called the attention of the DoF, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to exercise greater transparency on infrastructure loans AFTER HE FAILED TO kND COPIES OF SUMmaries of different loan documents on their respective websites. “Whether it be with China, Japan, or any country for that matter, it is in the best interest of the government to exercise greater transparency in the agreements it entered — even beyond what the law requires. Every Filipino has the right to know and understand the process, criteria and methodology that the government employs when signing important agreements such as the infrastructure loan deals,� Gatchalian said in a statement.

The lawmaker reiterated his call for transparency on loan agreements during the Senate inquiry on the water shortage that affected Metro Manila and Rizal province.

Data from the DoF shows that at least five ongoing big-ticket infrastructure projects are being kNANCED THROUGH LOANS SECURED from Japan. China and South +OREA ARE kNANCING TWO PROJECTS under the BBB program. “We hope to see that the principle of responsible lending and borrowing have been observed, not just to correct public perception but to further strengthen our economic partnership with our development partners,� Gatchalian said.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Disinheritance of children Dear PAO, I am a senior citizen living with my youngest child. After my wife passed on, I have been estranged with my three other children because of a family dispute. As I am already at the late stage of my life, I plan to make a will that will exclude my three other children from inheriting from me and to give all of my properties to my youngest child. How can I make sure that my three other children will not receive anything from me after my death?

Frank Dear Frank, As a general rule, a testator cannot freely dispose a part of his or her property called the

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA “legitime� as this is reserved for the testator’s compulsory heirs, which include the testator’s children (Articles 886-887, Civil Code of the Philippines). As an exception, a testator may deprive his or her compulsory heirs of their legitime by expressly disinheriting the said heirs in his or her will and specifying therein the cause for the disinheritance (Articles 915-916, Ibid.). Under Article 919 of the Civil Code of

the Philippines, the following SHALL BE SUFkCIENT CAUSES TO DISinherit the children: “(1) When a child or descendant has been found guilty of an attempt against the life of the testator, his or her spouse, descendants or ascendants; “(2) When a child or descendant has accused the testator of a crime for which the law prescribes imprisonment for six years or more, if the accusation has been found groundless; “(3) When a child or descendant has been convicted of adultery or concubinage with the spouse of the testator; “(4) When a child or descendant by fraud, violence, intimidaTION OR UNDUE INlUENCE CAUSES the testator to make a will or to

change one already made; g ! REFUSAL WITHOUT JUSTIkable cause to support the parent or ascendant who disinherits such child or descendant; “(6) Maltreatment of the testator by word or deed, by the child or descendant; “(7) When a child or descendant leads a dishonorable or disgraceful life; “(8) Conviction of a crime which carries with it the penalty of civil interdiction.�

Please note, however, that “the children and descendants of the person disinherited shall take his or her place and shall preserve the rights of compulsory heirs with respect to the legitime, but the disinherited

parent shall not have the usufruct or administration of the property which constitutes the legitime�

(Article 923, Id.). Thus, if you have grandchildren from your three children whom you wish to disinherit, your grandchildren stand to inherit the legitime that was meant for their parents by right of representation.

Furthermore, “the legitime of legitimate children and descendants consists of one-half of the hereditary estate of the father and of the mother. The latter may freely dispose of the remaining half, subject to the rights of illegitimate children and of the surviving spouse‌â€? (Article 888, Id.) Since you have no other compulsory heir aside from your four children,

then you may freely dispose the other half of your property to your youngest child. Under Article 840 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, you may designate your youngest child in your will as the person who will succeed you in your property and other transmissible rights and obligations.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries.This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

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

A4

Opinion

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l US, world should move on from Trump-Russia episode

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INALLY, the investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 US presidential election and whether US President Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with Moscow to win the high-stakes race for the White House is over.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who spearheaded the months-long probe, submitted his report to US Attorney William Barr on Friday (Saturday in Manila). The report remains confidential, but the Washington press has widely reported that the Mueller report did not call for new indictments.

The Mueller investigation report is bound to be disclosed, or at least parts of it, to the public as President Trump himself had expressed willingness to release it.

It is also bound to disappoint and even upset the opposition Democrats, who have made no secret of their utter disdain for President Trump and his supposedly “White Nationalist� policy agenda.

Freshmen Democratic legislators, who helped take over the US House of Representatives during the November 2018 midterm elections have, in fact, been itching to impeach Trump.

It is one thing to allege that Moscow tried to tip the US election in favor of Trump and his conservative Republican Party; it is another to say that the billionaire New York property mogul actively colluded with the agents of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to steal the vote from the doomed Democratic contender, Hillary Clinton.

4HERE HAVE BEEN A FEW SIGNIkCANT INDICTMENTS /NE OF THEM WAS 4RUMP S PERSONAL LAWYER AND kXER -ICHAEL Cohen, caught lying to the US Congress about the Trump organization’s real estate venture in Moscow.

Long-time Trump adviser Roger Stone also lied about his contacts with Wikileaks, which, perhaps, cost Clinton the presidency by releasing a motherlode of emails ahead of the 2016 election.

Also indicted was Paul Manafort, the shady lobbyist who was convicted of fraud in connection with his Russian consultancy contracts. Filipinos might remember him as a lobbyist for the Marcos regime and a host of dictators.

Scandalous these wrongdoings might have been, these have no straightforward connections to the Oval Office, are hardly impeachable and are certainly not enough to secure a conviction in an impeachment trial.

The speaker of the US House of Representatives, San Francisco congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, has herself disengaged from impeachment moves, to the consternation of her rabidly anti-Trump caucus, as these are counterproductive, highly divisive and ultimately not in America’s best interest.

Russia’s meddling in the internal affairs of other countries is a serious issue that could, however, be easily dealt with through various mechanisms, such as sanctions.

There are more pressing problems that deserve Washington’s attention, among them the need to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, the Middle East peace process, the need to finish off the Islamic State, and the complex process of extricating Great Britain from the European Union.

These issues would be better resolved by engaging, not distracting, President Trump.

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

The Sunday Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 162

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.

When the Lord calls, are you paying attention?

Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?� God replied, “I am who am.� — The Book of Exodus, 3:13-15

W

HAT color is your soul?

That’s a trick question.

Souls are spirit, not matter, lacking physical traits such as color.

God, too. He may show and tell in tangible signs, but He is not any of those manifestations.

Except in His second person Jesus Christ, God is pure spirit, despite countless depictions as a bearded fatherly man.

Today’s first mass reading about Moses meeting God atop Mount Horeb, underscores the Almighty’s intangibility. Many Bible stories wrongly say that God was the burning bush unCONSUMED BY kRE )N FACT IT WAS “an angel of the Lord� who apPEARED gIN kRE lAMING OUT OF A bush� (Exodus 3:2).

God revealed Himself only WHEN -OSES DREW NEAR THE kERY

FAITH HEALER RICARDO SALUDO but unburnt bush, calling “Moses! Moses! ‌ I am the God of your fathers,â€? and telling him to go barefoot on hallowed ground.

And what the Lord said revealed two things: He loved His people, the Israelites, and wished to free them from bondage. And His name was “I am who am,� which sounds like Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Disbelieving to disobey We, too, meet God in much the same way, and if we pay attention like Moses, we will hear Him. Then what He says can impart the end — the purpose and destiny — for which we live, as it did for Moses.

And the Apostle Paul. Struck blind by Jesus Christ’s apparition on the road to Damascus, the former Saul could have dismissed

it as delirium due to the long ride from Jerusalem. But he paid heed, and from persecuting the faith, he preached it across the Roman Empire.

Fast-forward two millennia: popular preacher Fr. Michael 'AITLEY kRST GOT THE NUDGE TOward religious life when choosing which college to enter. He told God if he got unseasonal yellow roses for his high school graduation, he would go to the devoutly Catholic Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Yellow blooms came.

Have you encountered a burning bush or two? Some surprising event like a miraculous cure or a hugely improbable chance occurrence, which, perhaps, you thought nothing of after initially raising eyebrows?

One thirty-something got religion when his wife got well from a life-threatening illness after he prayed the Rosary for THE kRST TIME EVER !GAIN HE could have dismissed it as coincidence and kept to his undevout ways. But he didn’t.

In today’s world unmind-

ful or unbelieving of God, however, many others close their minds to the idea that God not only exists, but might actually be calling them.

The dozens of incorrupt bodies of saints, like Padre Pio’s, exhumed intact before TV cameras in 2008, four decades after his death; the miracle at Fatima, recounted even by an anti-Catholic journalist; the unfading image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the centuries-old tilma cape of Saint Juan Diego; 70-plus medically unexplained cures at Lourdes; the consecrated hosts turned to bloody heart muscle, as scienTIkC TESTING VERIkED ‡ THESE AND countless more unburning bushes, so to speak, are shrugged off.

Many who don’t believe may just be refusing to obey. They deny God not because they are sure He doesn’t exist, but because belief in Him demands obedience to Him. (Interestingly, for all their scientific skepticism, millennials are quick to swallow and share the latest fake news going viral.)

ÂłSaludoA5

Q CULLEN FROM A1

Will senators vote to send children to jail? cells told us later that they were only allowed washing or showering twice a week. This is a very big hardship for Filipinos living in overcrowded cells and who are normally fastidious about washing and showering and maintaining good personal hygiene. The steel bars of the gate and on the windows made it obvious to us it was a jail cell.

There was no escape. The children were looked upon as youth offenders, seen and treated as criminals by the authorities.

The boys were taken out of their cells and brought into an open space to receive snacks and drinks. The staff were ashamed that we would see the overcrowding of children behind bars, without beds, without furniture in cramped cells. The staff can do little to change the situation.

That is the decision of the city councils and the mayors in the 17 cities of Metro Manila.

These places are lock-up internment blocks without much hope for the youth detained here. They are like animals in cages. The youth over 15 years of age are held on remand. In the boys’ cell, I saw a very young child crying. I asked why he was in a cell with older youth.

He was a small boy, about 10 years old. He was detained like a criminal with 30 or so boys 16 to 18 years old. He was terrified what they could do to him. Few agencies or politicians challenge such violations of child rights.

We, at the Preda Foundation, and other child rights groups do and call for it to be changed.

The levels of aggression, frustration, anger and violence is high among the boys and girls IN THE CONkNED SPACE 4HERE IS NO outlet. No basketball or exercise, little entertainment. What might happen to the small boy in the dark at night where sex abuse is COMMON IS HORRIkC 4HOSE SMALL boys rescued from places like these tell us of rape, sexual abuse, bad food, punishment, bullying and beatings. I told the social worker the little boy should be removed there as it is a serious violation of children’s rights. The staff seemed to think he would be okay. It was very frustrating.

The youth over 15 years of age have court cases usually for some PETTY MISDEMEANOR LIKE SNIFkNG INdustrial glue from a plastic bag that damages their brains. Others are in for drug abuse. They are lucky to be still alive; it’s better than being shot DEAD AS A VICTIM OF THE IRON kSTED crackdown on drugs.

But minors under 15 must not be charged with a crime and should not be detained in jail cells and never with older boys or girls.

It’s a violation of child rights that government, and all in society, is responsible for. They are supposedly committed to uphold and protect the children from such abusive conditions.

It is the direct result of corrupt GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS THAT RULE FOR themselves and not for the wel-

READERS CAN EMAIL THE SENATORS AND SEND THEM THIS ARTICLE: Sen. Sonny Angara

sensonnyangara@yahoo.com

Sen. Gregorio Honasan 2nd

piu0720@yahoo.com, gringobhonasan@gmail.com

Sen. Loren Legarda

loren@lorenlegarda.com.ph, appointments@osl.ph

Sen. Ralph Recto

ralphgrecto@gmail.com

Sen. Cynthia Villar

sencynthiavillar@gmail.com

fare of the people. Super-rich dynastic families and clans rule the nation. The laws they make favor their interests and businesses and those of their children. Besides their own, children for them are of little importance.

We rescued John-Jo, 14 years old, from the youth detention center. He told us he was arrested for curfew violation. There are no government homes for the small street children that live on the streets and have no home where they can go. They sleep in doorways, under trees or in the back of parked jeepneys or buses.

They are the throwaway children, the unwanted and abused AND REJECTED HUMAN lOTSAM OF society. They run to the streets when they are beaten at home, rejected and scolded by their parents. There is little food, comfort or love for them in their families.

They seek a better life with the other street children in similar circumstances. Then they are arrested, to add to their hardship.

Before taking John-Jo to the

Preda Foundation Home for Boys for a new, happier life, we sought out his parents. We drove to a remote part of the city, walked along narrow alleys and found his father and elder brother living in a small box-sized shack with space for only two people to stand in. They were watching a small television.

John-Jo’s father asked why his boy had been arrested. Then after the Preda social worker explained that we were taking him out of the jail to a better life where he could go to school, he understood and embraced his son.

By May 15, the Philippine Senate will debate and vote on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years to 12 years. That will put many more children in detention centers where they will likely be beaten and abused. It criminalizes children and will be a descent into ignorance and ignominy.

Visit www.preda.org and click here: http://amzn.com/B07DXKX4SV and read the adventures of Ricky and Julie.

The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Opinion

A5

Q RONQUILLO FROM A1

Candidate Colmenares should tell the Ecuador dam story foreign borrowing component. Emerging economies normally borrow to pay for their developmental projects.

But as senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares had stressed, there should be options other than what he described as the “onerous� and “one-sided“ loans from China.

Exhibit A, Colmenares said in a recent exposĂŠ, was the estimated P3.2 billion loan borrowed for funding the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in the Cordilleras. “Can’t we have other funding sources than China?â€? asked Colmenares. That question was perfectly valid, given the carved-in-stone conditionalities of the Chico River Dam project, which are, indeed, onerous once compared with the conditions imposed on loans granted by Japan and the richer countries within the European Union. The conditions cited by Colmenares were: — Guaranteed repayment (the state provides the guarantee) — High interest rates

— Preference for Chinese contractors.

With those terms uncontested, the Chico project would go to China CAMC Engineering Co., with repayment set at 2 percent a year, which is higher than what ordinary savings accounts of Filipinos earn from the local banks. Some Shylockscum-banks even have time deposit rates of just about 2 percent a year. The 2 percent a year is not a concessional rate by any standard, given that China’s supposed magnanimity was implied in the Chico River Project deal. To be fair, it is also not as high as what China charges for loans granted to African and South American countries.

There will be other costs on top of the 2 percent a year rate. A commitment fee of 0.3 percent and a management fee of 0.3 percent will add up to the levies of the China loan for Chico. The levies will add up to almost 3 percent a year, which is

just a little bit lower than the unsecured car loans given to car-hungry Filipinos by the local banks, which are seguristas by nature.

The almost 3 percent rate, the state guarantees, and the Chinese contractor are not the most worrisome and troubling terms of the Chico River Dam loan. It was what Colmenares described as the “patrimonial property“ clause of the loan terms.

Should the Philippines fail to pay the loan, China has the right to grab a piece of Philippine property to get payment. This is a troubling thing, given the experience of countries that obtained loans from China and failed to make payment. One of these prostrate countries is Ecuador, which a few years back obtained — let this sink in — a loan to build a dam in a remote jungle area near a place called Reventador.

It should have been Colmenares’s follow-through story after the initial exposÊ. The Coca

Codo Sinclair Dam project in remote Ecuador should have BEEN THE RED lAG ON THE PERILS of contracting dam loans from China with the “patrimonial property“ rights cause .

This is story of the Coca Codo Sinclair Dam project in the jungles of Ecuador, according to public and news accounts on the project.

4HE #HINA kNANCED AND #HIna-constructed Ecuador hydroelectric dam was made operational two years ago amid very high and hopeful expectations. “The giant dam in the jungle, financed and built

by China, was supposed to christen Ecuador’s vast ambitions, solve its energy needs and help lift the small South American country out of poverty,� reportage from the New York Times said.

Today, the report said , “ thousands or cracks are splintering the dam’s machinery.

Its reservoir is clogged with silt and trees. And the only time engineers tried to throttle up the facility completely, it shook

Italy: EU’s loss, China’s gain – and PH’s one more reason for winning

N

EWS accounts now have it that Italy is breaking away from the European Union for sure.

There seems to be no reconciling anymore between Brussels and the ruling coalition in Italy in their tiff over the Italian 2019 budget, which the European Union (EU) wants trimmed down considerably.

Italy wants its debt ceiling raised to a level it deems necessary to lift the country’s economy from a deep slump. So it insists on its calculation of Italian GDP at 1.67 trillion pounds sterling (1.87 trilLION EUROS %5 DEEMS THAT kGURE too high and demands that Italy lower it to a manageable level, or OTHERWISE FACE kNE OF UP TO BILlion pounds (3.4 billion euros).

Budget differences with the EU government in Brussels have had a way of gelling even further the strong Italian ruling coalition.

While Italian Prime Minister Comte has already expressed openness to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has visibly been in the forefront of protests against Brussels both before thousands in his Facebook account and thousands more out in the streets, screaming: “We have a right to work, a right to health, a right to education, a right to a pension.

In Brussels they have nothing else to do but send us disapproving letters, threatening letters, telling us to change our budget plan, not to change our pension law. Telling us not to reduce taxation but to actually add more‌ Nothing and nobody, no big or small letter will make us backtrack. Italy will no longer be a slave and will no longer kneel down.�

Last Thursday, Chinese Presi-

ture Investment Bank (AIIB), the mother institution for funding BRI’s worldwide infrastructure MY SAY development binge.

This, too, was the case with the Philippines in 2016. The level of the country’s growth at the time can be gleaned from that year’s dent Xi Jinping, together with his annual budget of P3 trillion. That wife Peng Liyuan, began a two-day amount was all the country could visit to Italy, accompanied by a produce at the time, or the gross strong contingent of Chinese eco- domestic product (GDP). nomic managers. As expected, the President Rodrigo Duterte visit resulted in the overall integra- came home from a visit to China tion of the third largest European in 2016 already with about P25 economy with China’s worldwide billion worth of grants, loans BRI — the largest economy so far and business investments packto join the ambitious Chinese in- ages concluded with the Chinese frastructure plan aimed at realizing government. These economic President Xi’s vision of “a world assistance packages materialcommunity of shared future.� ized during China’s Premier Li The Chinese leader’s visit Keqiang’s visit to the Philippines should bail out Italy from the in November 2017, ultimately budget woes heaped upon it by expanded during President Xi's the EU. This must be a foregone visit to the country one year after. conclusion, in any case. China Under deliberation now in the has been on record as coming to Philippine Senate is the 2019 Genthe aid of a distressed nation at a eral Appropriations Act, providing time it needs succor most. for a national budget worth P3.76 That was the case, for instance, trillion. This budget should attest with Pakistan when as far back as to a P750 billion increase in GDP 1959, it gained interconnectiv- since 2016. Help me out with ity with the Chinese economy my math, but that certainly is no through the construction by China mean growth. And to think that of the Karakoram Highway that what Italy is griping against the cut across mountains, ending up European Union — for which it in the Port of Gwadar in the In- has now broken away from the dian Ocean. It took two decades group – is Brussels demanding for for the highway to be completed it to stay within the limits of a 4 and become operational. Actually PERCENT BUDGET DEkCIT signaling the start of the BRI, then In other words, while the EU’s termed One Belt, One Road, the THIRD LARGEST ECONOMY IS kGHTING construction of the highway and for the “the right to live� on high the port ultimately redounded to BUDGET DEkCITS THE 0HILIPPINES IS the betterment of the Pakistani beginning to gloat on growth. And economy, ultimately making it THAT GROWTH MUST RElECT GAINS THE QUALIkED TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDING Philippines made from China in members of the Asian Infrastruc- just over two years.

MAURO GIA SAMONTE

Covered by the 29 agreements signed on the occasion of Xi’s visit last year were the Chico River Irrigation Project, for irrigating the vast Cagayan Valley rice lands, the Kaliwa Dam Project for supply of water to Metro Manila and outlying environs (at the moment suffering from acute water shortage), two additional bridges across Pasig River (by the way, a grant gratis et amore, not a loan), the Manila-Matnog railway system, a trans-archipelagic railway system running around Mindanao and then through the Visayas onto the tip of Luzon, the lifting of the Chinese embargo on agricultural products imports from the Philippines and on Chinese tourist arrivals in the country, which have now breached the 1 million mark, and counting – the list is long, If Italy needs to break with the EU – and on the occasion of President Xi’s visit actually makes that break — does this not give President Duterte one good cue on what break he needs to do in turn to get his pet 2019 budget bill done?

All the better to strengthen the Philippines’ own integration into China’s BRI. Expert observers this early forecast that Italy — which is breaking up with the EU in order to join the BRI, and being an INlUENTIAL MEMBER AMONG THE that compose the union — could cause an exodus of European states into China’s unswerving economic development thrust the world over.

The Philippines has only been a BRI member for a year or so. But ALREADY BASED ON CONCRETE BENEkTS the country has gotten from China, &ILIPINOS CAN FEEL QUALIkED ENOUGH to tell Italy: Welcome to the club!

Q SALUDO FROM A4

When the Lord calls, are you paying attention?

Moses, too, could have dismissed the bush and the voice on Mount Horeb as pure imagination, and spared himself from facing the fearsome power of Pharaoh and the frustrating transgressions of his fellow Israelites. Yet he believed and obeyed.

To be or not to be like God We, too, are called to heed God and His will, which is, put simply, to be like Him, as God intended: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ‌â€?

(Genesis 1:26).

So, what’s God like? Take it from Him: “I am who am.�

For Bible experts, it means

that God is the Being whose existence depends on no other. He is who simply is.

That doesn’t just mean that God created and sustains the universe. He is, in fact, totally outside creation, absolutely free from its bounds of space and time, unaffected by any creature, but exerting power over all.

As one Filipino translation of “I am who am� put it, “Niyong walang pinagmulan at walang hanggan� — He who did not come from anything, anywhere AND ANY TIME AND IS INkNITE Now, how in heaven can we earthlings be anything like that? Well, if God is not of this world, the more we are

enamored of it, the less we can be like Him. Hence, we must shed worldly attachments.

As the Epistle to the Colossians (3:2) says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth.� Give greatest value, time and effort on matters spiritual. Prayer, Sacraments, Scripture, works of mercy.

Now, that doesn’t mean shutting out and never bothering with the world. After all, the Creator obviously cared for all and sundry enough to bring everything and everyone into existence. And send His only begotten Son to redeem us.

Indeed, as today’s mass responsorial Psalm 103 declares, “The

Lord is kind and merciful.� Especially to the failing and the fallen.

Right after praising God at the start, the psalm chants: “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction.�

And in the next line, “The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.�

So, listen. And when you do, the Lord blesses your faithful service. This writer’s mother Noemi set up Bahay ng Diyos Foundation (BDF) after literally hearing God’s call to help priests rebuild churches. Since its founding in 2006, BDF has aided more than 70 needy parishes nationwide.

Praise the Lord!

violently and shorted out the national electricity grid.�

It is also interesting to know WHICH #HINESE kNANCING INSTItution supplied the $1.7 billion loan for the Ecuador Dam — China’s Export -Import Bank.

The hoped-for hydroelectric marvel is now a useless piece of architecture, and it has buried Ecuador deep in debt. Just two years after its opening.

So what did China do to get payment for the useless, multi-billion dollar dam project high up in the Ecuador jungles? China now gets 80 percent of the most valuable export of Ecuador — oil.

The pressure to supply China with Ecuador oil is now so intense for the small country that it is digging deep into the Amazon just to supply China with oil — the environment as a collateral damage for a major loan folly.

This is the story that Colmenares should now tell. China is free to grab a crown jewel of Philippine patrimony should the Chico River Dam project fail

to pay for itself and payment to China comes due. It can grab anything, from the Malampaya to the Benham Rise.

Because China can. Under the “patrimonial property� clause of the Chico River Dam project, failure to repay allows China to get a piece of Philippine patrimony as repayment.

And what if the Chico Dam project suffers the fate of Pantabangan Dam, where the spire of the old church shows up during the dry months, the season the dam is rendered inutile? It will be a failed project, and we are used to such kinds of failure.

But what is carved in stone is this: China will demand payment. And if the government fails to pay, China can just expropriate one of our crown jewels as repayment.

This fact is worth noting. All the government leaders who brokered and pushed for the Ecuador Dam project during the time of former President Rafael Correa are now in jail, for extortion, corruption and other forms of malevolence.

BRI to create substantial opportunities for Europe its unique advantages. Some European countries and cities have already become connectivHINESE President Xi Jin- ity gateways or pivots under the ping published a signed BRI. Some of them from Eastern article titled “East Meets West — Europe are now the forerunners A New Chapter of Sino-Italian of Europe-Asia interconnectivity, Friendship� on March 20 in the gaining extra competitiveness leading Italian newspaper Cor- than their European peers. riere della Sera before his state Cities such as Prague and visit to the European country.

Budapest have opened multiple In the article, the Belt and air routes to China, becoming Road, and Marco Polo, who is regional aviation hubs. The Chiclosely related to the Silk Road, na-Europe freight trains are also were frequently mentioned by energizing the logistics services the Chinese President. and industries of countries and China hopes to work with Italy cities along the railways, making to advance the Belt and Road central and eastern European cooperation, the article said. The countries a stronger bond linktwo countries will harness their ing China and Europe. historical and cultural bonds The BRI turned Balkan counforged through the ancient Silk tries from a powder keg into an Road as well as their geographi- important pivot of land-sea concal locations to align connectiv- nectivity, and the Belgrade-Budaity cooperation under the Belt pest railway is a great example. and Road Initiative with Italy’s It also turned Azerbaijan, which plan to develop its northern was depicted as a geopolitical ports and the InvestItalia pro- pivot in Zbigniew Brzezinski’s gram, and jointly build the Belt book The Grand Chessboard, and Road of the new era on sea, into a geo-economic pivot. on land, in the air, in space and In the BRI network of conin the cultural domain. nectivity, even small countries Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe can become regional and global Conte said at a recent foreign pivots, to promote connectivity policy seminar that Italy is willing in traditional aspects and soft to join the co-construction of the connectivity of systems, policies, Belt and Road, as it will bring new rules and standards, and to create opportunities to the country. connectivity in more new areas.

In fact, the co-construction The joint construction of the of the Belt and Road will create Belt and Road will further facilitate substantial opportunities, not the China-EU comprehensive only for Italy, but also for the strategic partnership. Based on whole Europe. the China-EU 2020 Strategic It will create opportunities Agenda for Cooperation, China for economic revival of Europe. and the EU are negotiating on a Upon the proposal of the BRI, bilateral investment pact, and gothe European Commission (EC) ing through feasibility research of expressed its willingness to align an EU-China free trade agreement. the Juncker Plan, a 315-billionThe BRI will provide greater euro investment scheme to boost energy for these efforts, and also private investment in European in- promote the development of frastructure projects, with the BRI. China-EU partnership of peace, The EC reiterated its willingness growth, reform and civilization. in joining the BRI in a policy paper Currently, CHINA RAILWAY on connectivity of the Eurasian Express have made 14,000 trips continent it released last year. between China and 49 cities in Valuing the opportunities to 15 European countries, linking be provided by the Asian Infra- countries together for shared structure Investment Bank, the development and building a new UK, France, Germany, Italy, Lux- type of partnership featuring embourg, and Switzerland have cooperation and win-win results. all joined the organization. It is The joint construction of the an effective measure for these Eu- Belt and Road offers the EU an ropean countries to enhance the easier access to the participation INlUENCE OF THE "RITISH POUND OF !SIA 0ACIkC AFFAIRS euro and Swiss franc.

The BRI brings Europe and In addition, the co-construc- Asia closer to each other through tion of the BRI will create op- land- and sea-based transport portunities for Europe to explore ÂłBRIA6

BY WANG YIWEI The People's Daily

C

A6

Opinion

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

FOCUS

Budget forged in fire T

HE House of Representatives has withdrawn the 2019 budget it submitted earlier to the Senate for signing. I believe this is a goodwill gesture to break the impasse and hasten the much needed budget for the year. Making the first move, losing face to break the deadlock is a noticeable act of humility to hurdle the obstacles to grant President Rodrigo Duterte’s wish to accomplish his priority projects. A laudable move.

As Rep. Edcel Lagman said, “the withdrawal by the House leadership of its endorsement to Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd of the enrolled appropriations bill is to show good faith for the holding of immediate meaningful dialogues TO kNALLY RESOLVE THE IMPASSE

and spare the economy and the people of the detrimental and adverse effects of a prolonged reenacted budget.�

Speaking as the leader of the “Magnificent 7� opposition bloc in the House, Lagman said, “I am supporting the House version of the 2019 General ApPROPRIATIONS "ILL BECAUSE ) kND it completely constitutional and legal.� He described the House version of the budget measure as “entirely compliANT WITH THE RATIkED BICAMERAL conference committee report.�

What is the composition of the new team of budget negotiators?

Sotto said he had tasked Senate Finance Committee

to have been an advocate of fixing the blame rather than looking for someone to blame.

ROLLY G. Meanwhile, Senator Gordon REYES has allayed fears expressed by some over the requirement Chairman Loren Legarda and by the new Motorcycle Crime 3ENATORS 0ANkLO ,ACSON AND Prevention Act (RA 11235) for Gregorio Honasan to repremotorcycle riders to use larger sent the Senate. Speaker Glofront license plates, that the ria Macapagal Arroyo directed size of the plates might interRepresentatives Rolando Anfere with the operation of the daya Jr., Lagman and Ronnie two-wheeled vehicles. Citing Zamora to meet with their the urgent need for a law to Senate counterparts to address kNALLY PREVENT THE ATROCITIES the “contentious issues� of the committed by criminals riding 2019 appropriations bill. in tandem, he also pointed We will now know who the out that bigger license plates real “obstructionists� are. required could also dimin*** ish thievery of motor bikes This is what Sen. Richard around the city.

J. Gordon said regarding the *** water crisis: Signing Executive Order “When will Manila Water 77, President Duterte has kNISH ITS PROJECTS 4HEY SHOULD finally banned junkets for immediately look for other waGOVERNMENT OFkCIALS AND EMter sources. Maynilad has other ployees. I have said before water sources. They should also THAT GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS AND speed up upgrading their water employees had been concollection and distribution ducting fake team-building system, check their pipelines events and workshops. Seeing for leakages. If pipes are leakthem always meeting around ing ... there would really be an the dining table, partaking increase in their consumers’ of sumptuous meals for the demand, which is one of the purpose of renewing their reasons they cited.� long-ignored “missions and For weeks now, Gordon, as visions,� or wining and dining chairman of the Philippine with taxpayers who pick up Red Cross, has been delivering the tabs, is disgusting. water tanks to hospitals and *** encouraging various governHere is one reason why ment agencies to do the same.

PRRD is quite different from He is aware that the impact of other presidents. He lamthe crisis is a matter of life and basted opposition Senate candeath. I have known this man didate Manuel “Mar� Roxas

MIRRORLESS

2nd, calling him disloyal and a person without principle. “This person is disloyal.

During the time of Gloria Arroyo he was there, during the time of Aquino he was also there. He’s nothing. He pretends to be somebody. He’s a person without principle.�

I think Mar and his group got what they wanted. Consistently hitting the occupant of MalacaĂąang day in and day OUT kNDING MISTAKES IN EVERYthing he does, is just a normal thing for him to do. *** Senate candidate Imee Marcos has been in a season of academic bashing for the past several months. According to the latest reports, her Asian Institute of Management (AIM) credentials are now being questioned. This is aside from her Princeton and the University of the Philippines records.

It appears there is now a methodical effort grinding. Easy to spot the purpose. *** Olongapo used to be a model city and a haven for peace loving residents. It is sad to hear THAT THEIR OFkCIALS ARE NOW THE subject of a graft case before the Sandiganbayan involving the lease and development of the Olongapo City Civic Center.

Future investors may turn to other places if these accusations are proven true. *** Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.

9 Of the 10 worst global risks are linked to water

in the years to come. !NNUAL lOOD LOSSES IN %USTOCKHOLM, Sweden: Every year, rope are expected to increase the World Economic Forum fivefold to 2050 and up to asks some 1,000 decision- 17-fold by 2080. makers from the public sector, Water doesn’t have to create business, academia and civil a disaster to be a problem. society across the globe to asThe sheer uncertainty sess the risks facing the world around the future water availover the decade to come. ability is causing planning Since 2012, water crisis has problems for cities, busiconsistently been ranked as nesses and households. Shall one of the threats with the we invest in expanding our highest potential impact as water supplies or our stormwell as likelihood. water drains or both? Should This year “water crisis� is farmers invest in draining or named as the risk with the irrigation? Does your home fourth biggest impact. When INSURANCE COVER BOTH WILD kRES asked how likely the risks and mud slides? are to occur, “water crisis� is During last summer’s heat placed as number nine. wave in Sweden, fans were out The top scores on both im- of stock almost everywhere, pact and likelihood are per- reportedly creating a secondceived to be: extreme weath- hand market where 50 SEK er events; failure of climate fans sold for 1,500 SEK. Will change mitigation nd adapta- fans be the hot item in 2019 tion; and natural disasters. as well or will rainwear be the But wait a minute – what are coolest thing around? extreme weather events, poorOn closer inspection, 9 of ly managed climate change the 10 risks with above average and natural disasters? Almost impact and likelihood have always the answer is water. clear linkages to water.

Of the 1,000 most severe Apart from the already mendisasters that have occurred tioned, poor water goversince 1990, water-related di- nance too often plays a part in sasters accounted for 90 per “man-made natural disasters�, cent. With extreme water and “large-scale involuntary miweather events increasing in GRATIONu gINTERSTATE CONlICTu both frequency and severity and “failure of regional or in the wake of climate change, global governance�, as well as lOODS AND DROUGHTS ARE SET TO “bio-diversity loss and ecosysstrike harder and more often tem collapse� where populaBY JENS BERGGREN

tions of freshwater species have declined by an average of PER CENT OVER THE LAST kFTY years, far more than species on land or in the sea.

No one interested in managing risks can afford to ignore the role of water management.

So, what can be done?

Firstly, we need to understand that water risks are much more than its absence. Water is used by everyone, everywhere for almost everything.

Changes in its availability will have huge impacts on how we live and make a living. Ignoring the increasing water variability is A SURE WAY BOTH kGURATIVELY AND literally, to so called “stranded assets� – investments that become obsolete due to events rather than age.

We all need to apply the understanding of the role that water plays in our societies to policies and incentives in and by almost every sector and actor.

The big question we need to ask is: are our governance structures suited to the current and future realities of water?

Are we being guided to use the water that we sustainably can borrow from nature as effectively as we can? !ND ARE WE SUFkCIENTLY SUPported in our efforts to protect our loved ones, our lives and our livelihoods from the less benevolent aspects of water?

If not, now is the time to

start discussing this with our peers and our leaders.

Despite the challenges I am optimistic. Yes, adapting our societies to new water regimes are daunting tasks. But we have three great things working in our favor.

4HE kRST IS SOMEWHAT PARAdoxically, that the world has neglected water challenges for so long. This means that there is still a lot of low-hanging fruits, good innovative solutions and plenty of unused tools in our tool boxes.

The second is that water tends to foster collaboration as we are often simply sit in the same boat.

The third is that water underpins progress and development in so many other sectors and vice versa. By acting to improve how we use, manage and protect ourselves from water, there is likely to be gains of different kinds also with regards to poverty reduction, nutrition, health, manufacturing industries, our seas, energy sector, CONlICT PREVENTION ETC It will not always be easy, but I am sure that together we can kND TOOLS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT water situations so that water will continue to be a source of life, peace and prosperity. IPS

Jens Berggren is Spokesperson & Advisor at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

Mueller report could still damn Trump — or be a big ‘nothing-burger’ WASHINGTON: Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded his Russia meddling investigation Friday (Saturday in Manila) without recommending any new charges, but President Donald Trump, who faced obstruction and collusion allegations, could still be implicated in serious, even impeachable wrongdoing. %XPERTS SAY THE CONkDENTIAL report Mueller has submitted to Attorney General Bill Barr might still have evidence of wrongdoing that for Mueller didn’t rise to criminal level but could still lead to an impeachment investigation by Congress.

But no one else has seen the report yet, so the focus is on what comes next in the process in the coming days and weeks.

First step: inform Congress Under his mandate, Mueller was to provide to Barr “a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions.�

Barr is obliged to summarize the report for the House and Senate judiciary committees.

Barr said Friday he would be able to deliver its “principal conclusions� for the committees this weekend.

But Barr, a past critic of Mueller who Trump named to lead the Justice Department only in February, can divulge or withhold as much information as he wants in his own report.

The special counsel regulations “give Barr lots of discretion about what to disclose to Congress and the public,� said Andrew Coan, a University of Arizona law professor who has written about special prosecutors and presidents.

Coan said Barr could release an abbreviated report that puts Trump in a good light rather than a very damaging one. “The selective release of exculpatory material is a possibility worth watching for.�

Barr also said he will study how much of Mueller’s report he can release to the public.

With public pressure immense, Barr said he is “committed to as much transparency as possible.�

David Rivkin, a conservative attorney who has followed the investigation closely, says he thinks there won’t be much that Barr needs to hold back. “My sense is it’s going to be a nothing-burger. It will be fairly anticlimactic,� he said. “Mueller is a cautious person, he’s not going to make recommendations about impeachment.�

Step two: Congress reacts Parts or all of Barr’s summary can be expected to leak within hours of its arrival on Capitol Hill. But Congress has already moved beyond that to demand more.

The Democratic chairs of six committees in the House insisted Friday that the full Mueller report be released to the public. “We also expect the underlying evidence uncovered during the course of the Special Counsel’s investigation will be turned over to the relevant Committees of Congress upon request,� they said.

The value of that could be huge — or a dud.

The report could be “much ado about nothing,� wrote Marcy Wheeler, an independent journalist known for her knowledge of the case.

One the other hand, it might be “a very damning report that doesn’t amount to criminal behavior� — something that Democrats in Congress could act upon even if Mueller did not.

If Barr refuses to give more, it could spark a pitched battle between Congress and the White House. “It is likely to be weeks, and possibly months, before this issue is fully resolved, with much legal and political wrangling in the meantime,� said Coan.

Step three: Congress investigates Whatever they get from Barr, Congress — or at least the Democrats who control the House — will continue to investigate Trump and his circle.

T he i r r e a s on : t h r o u g h criminal cases against 34 individuals, including si x former Trump aides, Mueller sketched out a picture of scores of willing contacts bet ween t he Tr ump campaign and the Russians and a readiness to exchange “dirt� on Tr ump’s election r ival Hillary Clinton.

A nd Tr u mp’s be h av ior throughout the investigation has, many lawyers said, met most definitions of obstruction, even if Mueller didn’t see a provable case.

If there is more to that picture, Democrats want it out in public, and may believe that further investigation is required beyond the parameters that Mueller set for himself.

B ot h Mue l le r a nd Ba r r can be expected to be summoned to testify, both behind c losed door s where they can discuss intelligence matters, and in public. AFP

Q BRI FROM A5

BRI to create substantial opportunities for Europe links, allows Europe to take PART IN !SIA 0ACIkC AFFAIRS MORE conveniently, increases the EU’s capability to grasp the development opportunities of the Asia0ACIkC REGION AND EXPANDS %5 S INlUENCE IN THE REGION The BRI is valued by European countries. So far, 16 central and eastern European countries have signed intergovernmental memoranda of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation with China under the framework of Chinacentral and eastern European countries cooperation. Greece, Portugal and Malta have also

joined the BRI “circle of friends�.

The joining of these countries indicates the dividends generated by the BRI and the initiative’s rising popularity in Europe.

It is believed that the BRI will become a buzzword during President Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visits to Italy, Monaco and France. People’s Daily

Wang Yiwei is a Jean Monnet Chair professor of the European Union, and a senior researcher at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China.

Regions

The ˜Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

A7

5 killed, 10 injured in North Luzon Expressway accident FIVE women, mostly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), were killed while 10 others, including the driver, were wounded in a vehicular accident along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Apalit, Pampanga at noon on Saturday.

Initial investigation showed that a

Hyundai H-100 van was carrying 14 passengers, all of them women, traversing NLEX from Manila going to Clark International Airport in Pampanga to catch the 7 p.m. flight to Saudi Arabia.

Upon reaching the bridge in Barangay Tabuyoc, the left tire of the vehicle blew up

PNP identifies 8 election areas of concern in Region 9 ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) in Zamboanga 0ENINSULA HAS IDENTIkED EIGHT MUnicipalities in the region as areas of grave concern in the coming midterm elections because of political rivalries and the presence of lawless elements.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, PRO-9 commander, said these towns were Godod and Sirawai in Zamboanga del Norte; Labangan, Mahayag, Midsalip and Lapuyan in Zamboanga del Sur; and Siay and Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Speaking to the media, he said they put these areas on the list because of “intense political rivalries, the presence of lawless elements and criminal groups or extortionists.”

He stressed that they were already coordinating with the military to put

in place appropriate security measures in the entire region, particularly in the places considered as “hot spots.”

“We want our people to exercise their right of suffrage, to choose wisely their local government leaders and members of Congress without harassment from politicians and their hired criminal gangs,” he said.

Licup also urged people to be vigilant and report violations of election laws committed by candidates during the campaign period and on election day.

“We are here to protect and safeguard the electors; hence, I’m appealing to the public to divulge to law enforcement agencies the existence of lawless groups and suspected culprits in their area through text message or the Internet,” he added.

ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

Nationinbriefs MAGUINDANAO OPENS FIRST REHAB CENTER

WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER IDENTIkED AS *OHN Leo Jaylo, to lose control of the steering wheel. The van then turned turtle.

The fatalities were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Supt. Elmer Decena, Apalit chief of police, told The Manila Times in a

phone interview on Saturday afternoon that the identities of the victims were withheld until their families were informed of the accident.

Decena disclosed the van and the driver were provided by the First Personnel Inc., which is the manpower

agency of the victims.

Jaylo was currently detained at the Apalit Municipal Police Station, while charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries would be filed against.

ROY D.R. NARRA

Army, NPA clash triggers evacuation in Negros

BY EUGENE Y. ADIONG

B

ACOLOD CITY: A skirmish between Philippine Army troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Thursday night forced the suspension of classes in 10 public schools and the evacuation of more than 600 people in northern Negros Occidental.

Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commander of 79th Infantry Battalion, said soldiers under his unit responded to reports about the presence of suspected NPA rebels in Sitio Fuentes, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City.

A 10-minute running gunbattle ensued forcing the rebels to scamper in various directions. None of the soldiers were hit, Logan said.

As a result of the pursuit operations, a regular member of the NPA, whose identity is being withheld by the Army, surrendered, he added.

4HE kREkGHT FORCED 4OBOSO -AYor Richard Jaojoco to suspend classes in Uldarico Suison Elementary School, Labi-labi Elementary School, Labi-labi National High School, Stop Aguinaldo Elemen-

tary School, San Isidro Elementary School, Andres Gumban Memorial National High School, Mainit Elementary School, Bandila Elementary School, Tabun-ac Elementary School, Toril Elementary School and Salamanca Elementary School.

Fearing for their security, 381 people left their homes in the sitios (subvillages) of Barangay Mabini, and 301 others in Barangay San Jose, Toboso town.

Logan said pursuing government forces recovered P300,000 worth of medicines, several boxes of assorted canned goods and a record book containing an inventory of the medicines at the encounter site.

“We are still validating reports of civilians that three to four rebels were injured in the gunbattle based on the bloodstains seen along withdrawal

routes of the rebels,” he added.

The local governments of Escalante City and Toboso immediately distributed relief goods to the internally displaced persons temporarily staying in two schools in both areas.

Last March 12, troops from the 15th Infantry Battalion captured an .0! kGHTER IDENTIkED AS !RNEL g*ULYu Sairot, following an encounter at Sitio Bunga, Barangay Salong in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Sairot, 21, of Escalante City in northern Negros was among the fully-armed rebels who engaged the troops that conducted combat operations based on reports of the NPA’s extortion activities.

He was captured while the soldiers were conducting pursuit operations and clearing the area after his comrades retreated.

COTABATO CITY: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local officials of Sultan Kudarat opened the first rehabilitation center for drug dependents in Maguindanao on Friday. Known as “Balay Silangan Reformation and Treatment Center for Drug Law Offenders.” It will serve the entire Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Sultan Kudarat Mayor Shameen Mastura and Marlon Santos, PDEA-BARMM deputy regional director and officer in charge, led the opening of the facility in the town proper of Sultan Kudarat. Santos said the programs in the Balay Silangan would be implemented in three phases: dissemination of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and other related laws to former drug personalities; development of personal and life skills of the reformists; and conduct livelihood programs to prepare them to go back to the mainstream of society. Sultan Kudarat has recorded 951 drug surrenderers since police implemented Oplan Tokhang.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

USED CLOTHING SEIZED IN CDO PORT THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) seized an illegal shipment of used clothing or “ukay-ukay” consisting of 60 bundles of used clothes worth at least P360,000 on board MV Trans Asia 19 which was docked at the Port of Cagayan de Oro City. Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said used clothing is considered as a health hazard and not even fit for donation. Earlier, the BoC received an intelligence report about the hot cargo from the Coast Guard Intel Group-Northern Mindanao which it then relayed to BoC-Cagayan de Oro. Guerrero also reiterated an earlier order for an intensified campaign against ukay-ukay which continue to proliferate in key urban centers around the country despite an existing law prohibiting its importation. Former Port of La Union collector Bonifacio de Castro earlier told The Manila Times that the ukay-ukay business in Baguio City and others parts of Northern Luzon continue to flourish. Among the biggest catch of used clothing was in March 2017 when tons of these, worth hundreds of millions of pesos, were seized by customs intelligence operatives in four buildings along Cuneta Avenue in Pasay City. In April 2017, P500 million worth of used clothing and rags were also seized in several warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan.

WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

YOUTH COMMITMENT Hundreds of Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) members in Cavite sign a pledge of commitment during the launching of Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo in Trece Martires City on Saturday. PHOTO BY BOY JOSUE

Quezon radio station owners cry harassment GUMACA, Quezon: The owners of a radio station here is accusing Mayor Erwin Caralian of harassment allegedly because one of their broadcasters is critical about some irregularities in the mayor’s administration.

In an undated Final Notice of Closure signed by Caralian and Nancy Barretto, Municipal Treasurer’s Office officer in charge, it ordered Radyo Natin Gumaca DWGR FM to “close your business establishment effective March 22, 2019 at 8 a.m.”

Indicated in the order was the station’s failure to apply for and secure a mayor’s permit since 2016, in violation of “An Ordinance enacting the 2018 Revenue Code of the Municipality of Gumaca, Quezon.”

Michelle Hernando, one of the owners of LM Productions that operates Radyo Natin franchise, showed The Manila Times her application for business/mayor’s permit dated January 2019, with corresponding penalties for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Statements of Account from the -UNICIPAL 4REASURER S /FkCE SHOWED a total of P26,449.40 of unpaid permits and penalties, which Hernando said she was prepared to pay.

But, she said that after furnishing the concerned agencies with the requirements which the Treasurer’s Office demanded, including the congressional franchise of Radyo Natin, the local government still refused to accept her payment, hence the station’s lack of permit.

Hernando declined to close down the station, saying she was not violating any law. In fact, she said, they experienced harassment last week when officers from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) inspected their station, a move reportedly instigated by a complaint from the local government.

The NTC personnel found the station’s documents and permits in order, Hernando added.

Meanwhile, Caralian said he was just implementing the ordinance since the radio station failed to comply with the necessary permit to operate. In fact, he added, the station could not present an updated NTC permit.

He claimed he was the one being harassed since October 2018, as the radio station had been airing malicious and baseless rumors about him.

BELLY M. OTORDOZ

Baguio raises alert over dengue BAGUIO CITY: The City Health Services Office (CHO) has raised the alarm over dengue fever as another health concern with the onset of the dry season.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan and City Health Officer Rowena Galpo urged the public to observe anti-dengue measures particularly those contained in the “Anti-Dengue Ordinance of the City of Baguio” and the Department of Health’s (DoH) “Mag 4S Kontra Dengue.

“If you have been experiencing fever for two days, have yourself checked at the nearest health center because early detection is necessary to prevent worse symptoms or even death,” Galpo said.

Donnabel Tubera, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head and Dengue Program coordinator, confirmed that dengue cases had started to increase in the city and

warned that 2019 might be an “outbreak year” for the disease based on the three-year affliction cycle established in previous data.

“Moreover, with the prevailing El Niño, we have less water supply and the tendency is for people to store water in containers that can be breeding sites for mosquitoes,” Tubera said.

She added that as the cycle goes, dengue cases were expected to increase in June and July, peak in August and taper off in September and October towards the cold and dry months.

Dengue is spread mostly through bites by either the female aedes aegypti, aedes albopictus and other mosquito species.

The city’s anti-dengue ordinance mandates that households and business owners are required to properly and tightly cover all water containers such as drums, pails and water gal-

lons at all times; properly collect, store, dispose of or recycle all unused tin cans, jars, bottles including covers or caps, pots and the like; and check and drain water in all plant vases and pots, open bamboo poles or pipe posts, coconut shells, other natural or artificial containers that may accumulate water as these are potential breeding places of mosquitoes.

They are also required to properly dispose of broken appliances, puncture or cut or properly dispose of all old tires; conduct search and destroy activities inside and outside buildings and homes by doing proper solid waste management; eliminate breeding sites, and seek early consultation when experiencing fever for at least two days.

Residents and businesses are also required to secure clearance from the HSO prior to

the use of chemicals for killing mosquitoes; allow only accredited pest control operators on fumigation and chemical spray; report to hospitals or the nearest health center if any family member has any of the dengue symptoms; and inform authorities of broken water pipelines.

Public and private schools and universities are urged to conduct dengue prevention and control activities every day at 9 a.m.

Hospitals are required to provide fast lanes for suspected dengue cases while church organizations are tasked to assist the HSO and the media in disseminating dengue prevention measures by ringing church bells daily at 9 a.m. for community-wide search and destroy activities and to encourage parishioners to hold dengue prevention and control activities.

GABY B. KEITH

News P1.8-B shabu seized in Manila port A8

˜ The Manila Times

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

BY ROY D.R. NARRA

T

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized more than P1.8 billion worth of shabu shipped from Vietnam to the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Tondo, Manila.

0$%! $IRECTOR 'ENERAL !ARON Aquino told reporters that

on March 22, at 2 a.m., they received information

w w w.manilatimes.net

from their international counterparts that a cargo containing huge amount of drugs from Ho Chi Minh City arrived in Manila on March 17.

The shipment was declared as plastic resin.

The agency coordinated with the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and located the container at the MICT.

BoC authorities conducted an x-ray of the container and discovered 276 kilograms of shabu worth P1,876,800. “It is alarming because before, it was just thousands and millions [worth of drugs seized]. But now, it’s worth billions,� Aquino said in Filipino.

The cargo consignee was identikED AS THE 7EALTH ,OTUS %MPIRE

FOR WOMEN The University of the Philippines’ Pep Squad performs during a campaign against sexism, misogyny, and violence against women.

PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA

Corp., which Aquino said was a starting company.

It was not the first time that authorities discovered shipments of drugs at the MICP. )N !UGUST THE 0$%! SEIZED around 500 kilograms of shabu packed inside magnetic scrap lifters.

The discovery launched probes that led to the termination of FORMER 0$%! DEPUTY CHIEF FOR AD-

ministration Ismael Fajardo.

In January this year, the National Bureau of Investigation filed before the Department of Justice a complaint against former CUSTOMS CHIEF )SIDRO ,APEĂ„A AND several others in connection with the smuggling of illegal drugs.

NBI Director Dante Gierran said ,APEĂ„A SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR dereliction of duty.

Binay aide slay not poll-related – police 4(% Makati police on Saturday said the killing of former city MAYOR *EJOMAR %RWIN g*UNjun� Binay’s secretary was not “election-related� as provided by parameters set by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Chief Insp. Gideon Ines Jr., Makati assistant chief of police for operations, said the killing of Monaliza Bernardo was an isolated case. “Bernardo’s killing is an isolated case because based on the parameters, the victim should be a candidate to be considered an election-related crime,� Ines said.

Bernardo, 44, Junjun’s longtime aide and friend of 30 YEARS WAS SHOT BY UNIDENTIkED motorcycle-riding gunmen meters away from her house at Barangay Olympia in Makati on Thursday night.

She was rushed to the Makati Medical Center but she died on Friday night.

Junjun has called on the ComMISSION ON %LECTIONS #OMELEC to declare Makati an election hotspot.

Junjun is embroiled in a hot contest for the top post in Makati with his sister, i n c u m b e n t M a k a t i M ayo r Mar-len Abigail “Abby� Binay, and neophyte candidate 2ICKY 9ABUT SON OF FORMER CITY MAYOR .EMESIO 9ABUT 3R The poll body has yet to respond to Junjun’s statement.

Ines, however, said there was no reason to declare Makati City as an election hotspot.

According to the PNP, an area may be considered “election hotspot� if there is history of intense partisan political rivalry and presence of politically motivated and election-related violence.

Politically motivated incidents refer to those that happened before the campaign period, while election-related crimes took place during the election period.

An area is also considered an election hotspot if there is the presence of threats from communist groups and private ARMY GROUPS FROM INlUENTIAL politicians, and the proliferaTION OF kREARMS Junjun said Bernardo’s killing was politically motivated as it took place exactly a week before the start of the local campaign period.

Abby, meanwhile, had ordered police, village leaders and other CITY OFkCIALS TO SOLVE THE INCIdent and vowed to never allow “troublemakers to disturb peace and order in the city. g7E HAVE A PEACEFUL COMMUnity here in Makati. I will not allow people to disrupt that,�

Abby said in a statement.

Ines said an investigation was underway to determine the identity of the suspects and the motive behind the killing.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

Fullido lawyer blasts dismissal of libel raps A ,!79%2 of ABS-CBN entertainment anchor and reporter Gretchen Fullido lambasted the decision of the Quezon City (QC) Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss the libel charges against Cecilia Victoria “Ces� $RILON AND -ARIE ,OZANO SAYing it “misread the law.�

A day after the libel charges were dismissed, Fullido’s lawyer Marvin Aceron reached out to The Manila Times to air his discontent, saying they have yet to receive a copy of the decision. “Until now, the QC Prosecutor’s Office has not given US OUR COPY ) SAW A 0%0 AN entertainment news site) article, which says they got a copy, which is strange because they are strangers to the case,�

Aceron said. “But analyzing the decision from the copies on the web, it is hard to accept that a statement made in an investigation is privileged even if it is totally irrelevant to the subject of the investigation,� he added.

Aceron clarified that the issue in the ABS CBN investigation was whether there was sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by a superior officer committed against a lower employer. “Now, here is a witness saying the lower employee doesn’t complain when the others are cracking sexual jokes on her and that she likes to parade herself in a bikini in national TV. How can that

be relevant to the issue of the investigation? How can that be privileged? Does that mean the harassment did not happen‌ that it is justified?� he asked. g4HERE IS ONLY ONE LAW 7E believe the decision misread the law. Thus, we have no choice but to elevate it to the forum that will read it properly.�

In October 2018, Fullido filed libel suits alongside sexual harassment cases against former ABS-CBN executives Cheryl Favila and Maricar Asprec.

Aceron said the dismissal of the libel cases would not have any bearing on the sexual harassment cases. “I trust the system. This is a side issue. This should not affect the main case,� he said. “The sexual harassment case is submitted for resolution, but they consolidated it with a libel and perjury case against us. That might take another week before all pleadings are in. Hopefully, we get that resolved at this level in two months,� he said.

But Aceron said Fullido and their team were not giving up. g9OU KNOW IT S NEVER EASY to accept a setback like this.

"UT SHE S AN ATHLETE 9OU KNOW what happens when athletes suffer defeat. They always work harder to achieve what THEY WANT 7E RE NOT GIVING up,� he said.

CHRISTINA ALPAD

Business Times Q keep in view Business leaders to watch out for

Macario C. Reyes Founder and CEO PortLiving

SUNDAY MARCH 24, 2019 Email: bizreports@manilatimes.net

B1

The Filipino-Canadian runs one of Vancouver’s forward-thinking real estate companies, which boasts of star projects like South Creek Landing and the Terrace House that have garnered awards and notice. Enterprise is in his DNA, his lolo being the master builder D.M. Consunji.

ABOUT ME ROLE MODEL ‘D.M. (David M. Consunji)’ for sure. But I admire the Walt Disney Company and Rupert Murdoch’s savvy deals.

An eye for the address

GOALS Growing the company outside of Vancouver and potentially having projects all over the world.

FIRST PAYING JOB Either trading comics or designing t-shirts.

MORNING ROUTINE I work out every other morning, grab a cappuccino and walk to work.Â

SPECIAL SKILLS

BY ANNA T. CAYCO Filipino-Canadian Macario “Tobi� Reyes is living every person’s dream. He says: “I walk TO WORKw -Y OFkCE IS IN A COMPANY OWNED warehouse, two blocks from my home.�

Such convenience is not only because OF 6ANCOUVER S EFkCIENT URBAN PLANNING

but also because of Tobi’s eye for location, which is a necessity as the founder and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF 0ORT,IVING ONE OF Canada’s most progressive and successful property developers.

Some might say that real estate is in Tobi’s blood. He’s the grandson of the late businessman David Mendoza “D.M.“ Consunji of DMCI Holdings Inc. Ironically, Tobi found his heart in real estate almost by accident. His long journey toward success is a product of a constant curiosity for innovation, risk-taking spirit and sense of compassion.

Tobi has been a Vancouver local ever since his parents migrated to that chilly but gracious city in 1979. After graduating from Queen’s University with a degree in psychology and history, he found that his ANNUAL VISITS TO THE 0HILIPPINES WERE NOT enough to satisfy his cravings to reconnect with his cultural roots.

He recalls: “No matter how long I had been out of the country, it [after graduation] was a good a time as any to be with family, meet new people and get reacquainted with THE 0HILIPPINES u His return to Manila in 2000 would lead him away from the social sciences and into business instead. Inspired by tech giants of the time like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Michael Dell, Tobi established HIS kRST ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE )MPACT Information Systems, a start-up dial-up internet service provider.

Unfortunately, alternating between sunny Manila and bone-cold Vancouver took quite a toll on the young businessman. He admits: “After operating in two distant time zones for many years, I longed for some stability — some place to call home without the PRESSURE OF GETTING ON A HOUR lIGHT EVERY few weeks. “I subconsciously felt the desire to own and operate something that I could touch and hold, as opposed to the intangible world of bits and bytes.�

And there is nothing more tangible than land. Far from being defeated, Tobi returned to Vancouver to add another industry to his growing repertoire — real estate. Without any prior experience in property development or land banking, Tobi channelled his funds into a nondescript warehouse at the edge of the central business district in 2003. “I did not expect my world to be forever changed,� he recalls. Establishing

Hopefully, I can claim an eye for design with an eye for location, location, location.

“

TIME SPENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

How cities evolve can be approached thoughtfully and designed with the community at the core of it all. It’s the confluence of sustainability and real estate that is the key Q Young real estate maverick Tobi (left, center) with local Vancouver architects and builders at the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the arrival of Gateway, PortLiving’s new mixed-use commercial building in the eastern part of the city and with his team (below) in their warehouse-office at the edge of the central business district and two blocks from his home.

0ORT,IVING ‡ gPORT u REFERRING TO HIS hometowns Vancouver and Manila — as a fully-functioning company would take Tobi 10 years to complete. Most of the brunt work still fell on his shoulders as he simultaneously juggled company roles, working with various partners, while still learning more about the ins and outs of land development.

Tobi sees challenges not as hurdles but as opportunities to grow. He says: “Every project requires so many specialties from START TO kNISH 7ITH SCALE HAS ALSO COME A chance to be more creative.�

Even at present, Tobi says his day is never the same experience. “Every day is a mix of routine requirements, opportunities to evolve as a leader and a chance to learn more about how we can become better at what we do.�

Such a mindset had helped Tobi turn the GLOBAL kNANCIAL CRISIS OF TO HIS ADVANTAGE !T THAT POINT HIS lEDGLING COMPANY had its eye on increasing the quantity of its properties. Yet, the income of these lots was not enough to cradle the blow of the recession. This would be Tobi’s light-bulb MOMENT LANDING 0ORT,IVING ON #ANADA S list of rising real estate developers.

Tobi says: “I recognized the reality of a market cycle in my new industry, but also THE POTENTIAL BENEkTS OF SUCH A MOMENT It’s such a great time to invest.� He steered 0ORT,IVING S DIRECTION AROUND TOWARD FUNneling their money into upgrading the properties they already had.

With encouragement from city hall, lower construction costs and an abunDANCE OF LAND 0ORT,IVING ERECTED ITS kRST residential condominium, South Creek Landing, which won prestigious architectural awards like the Lt. Gov. Special Jury Award for Contextual Innovation and the Georgie Award for the Best Multi-family Mid-rise or High-rise in 2016.

South Creek Landing’s chic and forwardTHINKING DESIGN WITH ITS lOOR TO CEILING windows and shard-like structure, would set the standard for Tobi and his team’s contribution to forward-thinking luxury residential, commercial and mixed-use properties to the “City of Glass,� as Vancouver is dubbed.

“Clearly, my grandfather D.M., whom WE CALLED @0APA #ON WAS A MAJOR INlUence on me personally and inevitably, professionally,� Tobi says. “While he was a very grounded, disciplined leader, he also believed in the value of risk-taking and in protecting one’s reputation — one’s brand.�

Aside from his unconventional beginnings, what makes Tobi stand out from most real estate developers is his belief and advocacy for the wellness of the communities surrounding his properties. Going BEYOND RAKING IN PROkT HE IS MOTIVATED to further refine the quality of life for THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH 0ORT,IVING S mindful and environmentally sustainable development and design.

Not much. But I like to see our company stats on social media.

Tobi explains: “How that happens and how cities evolve can be approached thoughtfully and designed with the community at the core of it all.�

7HILE MANY MAY kND ENVIRONMENTALISM and land development to be on opposite ends, Tobi makes it his mission to integrate the two. After all, one of his projects is the /NE %ARTH )NITIATIVE A NONPROkT RESEARCH and advocacy group for sustainable production and consumption. g-Y CURRENT POINT OF CONlUENCE BETWEEN sustainability and real estate involves our project called Terrace House,� Tobi says with pride.

The Terrace House is expected to be Tobi AND 0ORT,IVING S GREATEST FEAT TO DATE 7ITH 0RITZKER !RCHITECTURE !WARD WINNER 3HIGERU Ban, they are currently building the tallest North American timber hybrid tower located in downtown Vancouver’s most prestigious neighborhood, Coal Harbor.

Set for completion by 2020, the 232-foottall shard-like tower aims to reduce carbon emissions and maximize natural lighting, and at the same time, stand for luxury PERSONIkED Amid all the accolades, Tobi has not forgotten his heritage. His inclination toWARD COMMUNITY BUILDING IS RElECTIVE OF the bayanihan spirit (famous Filipino trait of neighborly cooperation) found in most Filipinos abroad. Tobi says: “I wish to use my real estate background to contribute to a global network of Filipino Cultural Centers that could continue to share our culture with others, provide business opportunities and somehow support the lives of Filipinos living abroad as a means of keeping them connected to each other and THE 0HILIPPINES u Tobi’s path to success has been a long and winding one, but choosing the road LESS TAKEN HAS SHARPENED AND REkNED HIS vision and his skills as an entrepreneur.

With roughly 40 employees and over 1,000 condominiums under development across the Great White North, he continues to push the boundaries with art, sustainability and commerce while doing the Filipino name proud.

Now, as a father of two young girls, Isabella and Madeleine, with whom he loves to escape to sunnier destinations like Los Angeles, Mexico and Hawaii from time to time — Tobi keeps his gaze to the future. He says: “I develop properties, not just for myself or my company, but with a decades-long view, hopefully in alignment with the values of the communities that we invest in.�

B2

Business Times

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

˜ The Sunday Times

Editor: Edwin P. Sallan Email: edwin.sallan@manilatimes.net

w w w.manilatimes.net

Dealing with hypertension in the workplace

BY YUGEL LOSORATA

T

HE smartly, dressed professional eyeing a work spot is often warned to prepare for survival in the so-called corporate jungle.

Do not take that last phrase literally, as it is not about some wild animals ready to attack but about the stress-inducing workload awaiting every professional, regardless of how dressed to kill he or she might be for the job.

Hypertension, highly ranked among common health issues entrepreneurs face (according to blackenterprise.com IT S ON THE TOP kVE IS THAT MEDICAL condition also known as high blood pressure, or colloquially termed by Filipinos as simply “high blood.� “You have to take your meds,� implied American doctor George Bakris during a chat with few Filipino scribes before his keynote speech at a convention held at Ascott Hotel in BGC, Taguig last February 23.

The convention, spearheaded by the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), zeroed in on the latest research and guidelines to understanding and managing hypertension.

It naturally gathered some of the top medical practitioners and cardiologists in the Philippines today.

Dr. Bakris is rated in a report from PRNewswire as belonging to the top 1 percent in their specialties which PUTS HIM IN THE LIST OF !MERICA S 4OP $OCTORS His urging comes after he relayed his anecdote of a PATIENT WHO gCOULDN T EVEN TALK TO MEu AFTER SHE WAS FOUND OUT SHE S NOT TAKING THE MEDICINES GIVEN HER to address her hypertension problem. “My job is to educate the patient about hypertension and what he should be doing. So, I initially ask if he had good grades back in school,� argued the longtime

director of ASH Comprehensive Hypertension Center in the University of Chicago Medicine. “As a patient you have to be a good student.�

PSH President Dr. Alberto Atiliano mentioned that roughly 25 percent of Filipino adult population is affected by blood pressure problem.

He also quick-noted the “Rule of Halves in Hypertension,� which essentially states that “only half the people who have high blood pressure are aware they have it, while only half of those will receive treatment, and then only half of those will achieve full control of the condition.�

Filipinos in the business community, may they be bosses or subordinates, are traditionally in denial they have “high blood� and urgently need to address the matter, especially that they think there are more pressING MATTERS IN THE OFkCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH Most among the working population inadvertently neglect their best asset which is well-being.

Dr. Bakris, now in his 60s and who has been going around the world the past 20 years serving as guiding voice for anything related to saving people from the troubles of HYPERTENSION INSISTED g) NEED TO GET MY PATIENTS ATTENTION on their condition and that I mean business.�

BEN KRITZ skills, education and compatibility with the position ought to be the GUIDES TO ASSESSING QUALIkCATIONS OF prospective employees, the opinions expressed come across as more than a little chauvinistic.

There are approximately 950,000 business establishments in the Philippines, so whether or not the opinions of less than 100 of them are fairly representative of the entire business sector may be a little doubtful. On the other hand, in spite of the PhilipPINES REASONABLY GOOD REPUTATION IN terms of gender equality, discrimination in employment of a level that is frankly horrifying by 21st century standards is considered an acceptable norm here. Employers and job seekers do not bat an eye at the imposition OF COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT QUALIkCATIONS SUCH AS g3INGLE AT LEAST u IN HEIGHT

18-25 years old, with pleasing personality.� Any one of those conditions would land an employer on the wrong side of a labor relations board ruling IN THE 53 OR %UROPE HERE THEY RE PAR for the course, a natural outcome of a� tight job market.�

One also has to wonder what

I

WAS browsing through the website of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and I came across Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 11-2019, which talks about the “Gender and Development (GAD), Vision, Mission, Strategic Directions, and 5-year GAD Agenda� of the BIR. 4O BE HONEST IT WAS THE kRST TIME ) VE HEARD OF GAD, and some quick Googling revealed a few interesting facts about the subject.

According to a primer issued by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the “GAD approach� gained promi nence in the 1980s and seeks to correct systems and mechanisms that produce gender inequality by focusing not only on women, but by assessing the social status of both women and men. In the Philippines, a “Philippine Plan for GenderResponsive Development,� which addresses, provides and pursues full equality and development for men and women, was approved and adopted on Sept. 8, 1995 by President Fidel V. Ramos as Executive Order (EO) No. 273.

As it turns out, government agencies are mandated to prepare and formulate annual GAD plans and budgets, and GAD accomplishment reports, as a commitment to achieve gender EQUALITY AND WOMEN S EMPOWERMENT 4HE '!$ budget is the cost of implementing each activity indicated in the GAD plan, and forms part of, and is not in addition to the government AGENCY S APPROVED BUDGET 3PECIkCALLY THE COST of implementing GAD programs shall be the AGENCY S '!$ BUDGET WHICH IS AT LEAST PERCENT OF THE AGENCY S TOTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION In determining what can be or cannot be charged to the GAD budget, the primary consideration is the gender issue being addressed by the expense or activity. If the gender issue is clear, the expense may be charged to the GAD budget. Interestingly, the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), goes so far as to provide practical examples of expenses that can be charged to the GAD budget, i.e., agency PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS WOMEN S PRACTICAL AND strategic needs (daycare center, breastfeeding rooms, crisis or counseling rooms for abused WOMEN HALFWAY HOUSES FOR TRAFkCKED WOMEN and children, gender-responsive family planning program, among others).

3O WHAT ABOUT THE ")2 S '!$ !GENDA )T IS CLASSIkED INTO TWO AREAS CLIENT FOCUSED AND organization-focused. For the client-focused policies, the BIR is looking into integrating GAD principles into internal revenue taxes, particularly THE VALUE ADDED TAX 6!4 4HE ")2 S PLAN IS TO have products exclusively used by women, such as feminine wash and sanitary napkins, exempt from VAT. The BIR is also looking at establishing “tax clinics� to provide extensive, gender-responsive assistance to taxpayers. The focus, of course, is on MOTHERS AND PREGNANT WOMEN WHO HAVE DIFkCULTIES IN ACCESSING ")2 OFkCES Among the organization-focused polices is the strict use by the BIR of gender-fair language in all forms of communication (revenue issuances) that are compliant with international standards of agreement. Moreover, the RMO SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE ")2 S POLICIES ON THE appropriate response mechanisms to effectively address sexual harassment cases, as well as cases involving violence against women.

At a time when there is an influx of misogynistic statements in media, the inclusion OF '!$ PRINCIPLES IN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES policies provides us with a tiny, glimmer of hope. There is still hope.

THE FINE PRINT

RON ARRIESGADO

Q Dr. George Bakris Bottom line is to help people and allow them to keep their businesses going with them on board and in good health. One expert cited that stress in a business setting is inevitable and that entrepreneurs are prone to conditions like hypertension and diabetes which may lead to heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Bakris was given the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement award in 2017. He was a sevenYEAR DIRECTOR OF 2USH 5NIVERSITY -EDICAL #ENTER S Hypertension Research Center.

He has long survived the so-called jungle.

Maternity leave law a lesson in maturity for PH businesses ROUGH T TRADE HE newly enacted Expanded Maternity Leave Law has caused some consternation among Philippine businesses, or so we are being told by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).

According to PCCI President Alegria Limjoco, businesses are worried the new law will increase costs and lead to losses in productivity. “Businessmen will be businessmen,�

Limjoco said, adding that the new law might “affect the hiring of women.�

Under the measure, female employees are entitled to 105 days of paid maternity leave. Limjoco pointed out that businesses were already under pressure due to the high number of paid holidays (there are 19 scheduled for this year), and that hiring and trainING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO kLL IN FOR mothers away on leave would simply add to the burden.

Some businesses, such as “garments, beauty products, etc. need to hire women,� Limjoco said, implying that these would be hardest hit by the new law.

4HE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EMPLOYERS SENtiments toward the expanded maternity leave regulations were based on a survey conducted by ECOP between March 11, and 15.68 percent (or about 48) of 70 firms surveyed expressed reservations about the law, the PCCI said.

Although Limjoco did add that

The BIR’s GAD agenda

point the PCCI and ECOP are trying to make with the timing of the results of the “survey.� The Expanded Maternity Leave Law passed Congress with little opposition, and was signed quickly by President Duterte (who is certainly not otherwise a role model when it comes to gender sensitivity); at this stage, disagreement with it is more defiance than IT IS DEMOCRATIC DISSENT ,IMJOCO S observation that “businessmen will be businessmen� almost sounds like a threat, because the implication is “it should be anticipated that @BUSINESSMEN WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO comply with this new law,� and that non-compliance or the avoidance of compliance — such as refusing to hire women for positions other than those in unavoidably girly businesses like garments or cosmetics — ought to be excused as a reaction to a hardship beyond their control.

In this day and age, when it is universally acknowledged that very few JOBS ARE LEGITIMATELY GENDER SPECIkC

suggesting that a gender-related accommodation might disqualify women from employment is very bad form indeed, and reveals a certain ignorance about contemporary mores. The resistance to the maternity leave provisions is particularly insensitive to this society, where economic pressures and arcane social attitudes (such as a refusal to acknowledge the value of having a divorce

law) already pose enormous challenges to maintaining healthy families and nurturing environments for children.

Certainly, having to accommodate EMPLOYEES MATERNITY LEAVES DOES impose a material burden on businesses. That, however, should be considered part of the social contract, a concept that most Philippine businesses are either unaware of or refuse to accept. Doing business in any society is to some extent a privilege, one that need not be and should not be extended to businesses who do not contribute in at LEAST A SMALL WAY TO SOCIETY S OVERALL well-being. From a practical standpoint, the expanded maternity leave act even provides some minor relief to the “tight� job market by opening up positions, temporary though they may be, for new workers.

Philippine employers, at least the narrow segment represented by ECOP and the PCCI, ought to grow up and stop complaining about a law that has otherwise met with near-universal public approval and has broad benEkTS THAT OVERWHELMINGLY OUTWEIGH ITS costs. A far greater and certainly more image-friendly service can be done by the business groups by helping their constituencies manage the new requirements than by issuing impotent press releases.

ben.kritz@manilatimes.net

Entrepreneurs should not die in vainÂ

M

ARKETS are changing, global economies are faltering. The challenges facing family-owned businesses today are enormous and many business leaders (baby boomer generation) who rose to prominence and wealth as a result of their hard work are no longer capable of reversing the tide of declining revenues. The cause of many entrepreneurial failures are primarily due to major risk factors, including intense competition, disruptions and foreign exchange lUCTUATIONS AMONG OTHERS 7HILE these risks are external events, there are other dangers that family businesses can predict and manage.

These are family, business, ownership, wealth and succession risks, and they form part of the transition plan that every business owner MUST ADDRESSED BEFORE IT S TOO LATE In a survey conducted by ExCeD Institute Asia, an executive EDUCATION kRM SPECIALIZING IN training family owner-managers

FAMILIES IN BUSINESS PROF. ENRIQUE SORIANO with the right strategic and functional skillset, less than 25 percent of business leaders in the Asean region have some form of transition plan. And there lies the danger. When these business leaders die or become incapacitated, the business suffers a hit and most often than not it becomes irreversible.

Running a business without any form of transition plan is like heading to the jungle without compass and water. It can be chaotic for your family, children, employees, partners and the business itself — a completely avoidable mess that you put yourself into! When your business goes on a decline because you did nothing but procrastinate, you

should not expect to be remembered fondly. So why do I need to HAVE A TRANSITION PLAN ) AM PROVIDing a laundry list of issues that a business leader can use as reference.

Death is a thief in the night so the key is planning for the future!

sistent with the transition plan m 7HO CAN OWN SHARES !CTIVE

non-active, immediate, extended FAMILY MEMBERS – How will the shares be acQUIRED METHOD AND FUNDING – Will the ownership transfer be IMMEDIATE OR IN PHASES – Is the ownership succession Family and ALIGNED WITH LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION business issues – Expectation of present owners – Succession plan and timeline during and after the ownership – Employment rules of family succession – Compensation for the owners members, spouses and in-laws m #OMPENSATION AND BENEkTS FOR when they transition to retirement – Exit Plan and mechanism for family members – Role of current generation of exit (the fairness principle) –Expectations on Minority owners during and after the succession – Communicating the transition shareholders – What if a key business leader plan to family (active and nonDIES active), executives and employees #ONlICT RESOLUTION PROCESS It is not only scary but too daunting to imagine a likely scenario Ownership issues where the founder or patriarch dies – Ownership succession timeline without planning and leaving the – Shareholders Agreement con- future of the enterprise hanging by

the thread. In a recent family business coaching session where I regularly meet high net worth (HNW) Asian entrepreneurs and plot their vision for the future, the specter of death of the business leader is always a hot topic among owners and senior executives. There are times, owners are dumbfounded and shock when an unexpected death happens.

Sadly, they are not alone though.

In a Wong + Bernstein Advisory internal research initiative, fewer than 30 percent of business owners have a succession plan in Asia!

You can prevent losing all that you worked so hard with a good and enforceable transition plan.

The key is preparation! Founders, second generation leaders, patriarchs or matriarchs always think of themselves as superheroes and take the inevitability of death lightly until one day he or she discovers something that will forever change his or her

perspective about life and living.

And then in a blink of an eye, THE MORTAL FACES DEATH AND RElECTS on the family and the family business and the “what ifs� and the “what should have been done.�

But in all likelihood, it will be too late. Thus, it is no surprise that the Chinese saying, “Wealth shall not last three generations� will continue to consume and haunt families in the event that death suddenly occurs in the family.

Prof Enrique Soriano is a World Bank/IFC Governance consultant, senior advisor of Post and Powell Singapore and the executive director of Wong+Bernstein, a research AND CONSULTING kRM IN !SIA THAT serves family businesses and family foundations. He was the former chairman of the Marketing Cluster at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Manila, and is currently a visiting senior fellow of the IPMI International School, Jakarta.

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Sunday Business & I.T.

B3

A ‘thirsty’ crisis on social media THE DIGITAL NOMAD JOSEPH HOLANDES UBALDE

U

NLESS you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve noticed a familiar sight on people’s Facebook posts recently.

Many blame “El Nino,� for this crisis, while the weather bureau has denied this.

I mean, summer hasn’t even started and yet, the effects could already be felt by countless Filipinos.

This is an epic crisis that has affected people from all walks of life, and it has to stop!

Of course I’m not talking about the ARTIkCIAL WATER SHORTAGE THAT HAS DRIVEN throngs of people to line up each day to the nearest poso negro BUT THOSE SUPERkCIAL gTHIRST TRAPSu POSTS THAT ARE INkLTRATING PROkLES ALL OVER &ACEBOOK DRIVING THEM to wear thongs.

Yes Virginia, summer hasn’t come to our shores yet, but people have begun losing their shirts and donning on swimsuits while bending and snapping like some failed underwear model.

They come in all shapes and sizes, mostly face-tuned chiseled men and voluptuous women who start to show more skin than FABRIC ON THEIR PROkLE PHOTOS "UT WHAT ARE thirst traps and why are they so insatiable?

4HE URBAN DICTIONARY DEkNES A THIRST TRAP AS gA SEXY PHOTOGRAPH OR lIRTY MESsage posted on social media for the intent of causing others to publicly profess their attraction. This is done not to actually respond or satisfy any of this attraction, but to feed the posters ego or need for attention, at the expense of the time, reputation and sexual frustration of those who view the image or reply.�

Now, I have been guilty of such thirst trap posts in the past, and I agree they do yield some considerable attentions.

When I posted a picture of my trip last year to Camiguin on the beach, the post attracted thousands of likes on Instagram.

This helped me resuscitate my IG account, which has lain dormant for months.

In a recent conversation with a wellKNOWN LADY INlUENCER SHE ADMITTED THAT there are certain posts on social media THAT ARE SURE kRE HITS AMONG HER FANS “If I raise my armpit a bit or post something where I’m sweaty, I’d get more likes,� she confessed. !NOTHER GUY INlUENCER ) WORKED WITH would frequently strip down on his IG stream with a product he endorses placed somewhere in the frame. “It’s the only way I can catch more attention,� he said.

While I do enjoy an occasional thirst trap post from people I follow, I have to admit that it does diminish my interest in them overtime.

A friend posted once, “the more skin you show, the less competence you reveal.� While that reeks of ampalaya con bitterness, it does show how people perceive those who overly display their body parts in social media.

It’s okay to display your body. I’m not against that at all. What I am a bit concerned of though is when some people would offer nothing else on their news feeds than half naked torsos or constricting shirts for all to see.

"UT THEN AGAIN WHO AM ) TO SAY ANYthing? My Instagram feed last year has BEEN kLLED WITH MY BEACH PHOTOS FROM my travels, which can be deemed as thirst traps. They do get noticed, make no mistake about that. And they seem to add a few more followers to my account.

"UT WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH 7HEN DO WE say, “Hey man, suit up?�

I think it all boils down to context. When it’s summer, go post summery pictures.

When it’s raining, go for the wet look‌but wear shorts sometimes, I guess.

And what is it with thirst trap posts and inspirational quotes? It’s like the peanut butter to these people’s jelly. It just brims with attention-seeking, self-indulgent pretentiousness that should be stricken off social media.

A thirst trap should be nothing more or less than what it is. It’s not awe-inspiring or informative. It should just serve what it’s meant to do: a distraction.

Joseph Ubalde is a digital content expert and social media strategist who has worked for various local and global companies. “The Digital Nomad� is the kRST AND ONLY COLUMN DEDICATED TO SOCIAL media in the Philippines. If you have comments or want to connect with him, send an email to markjubalde@gmail.com.

Get ready for tech-savvy Gen Z! T

BY TONY MAGHIRANG

HE future has arrived. Those born after 1996, now collectively referred to as Generation Z, are starting to enter the labor force and by 2020, they will account for 20 percent of the working population.

In time for this year’s graduation season, organizations must ready themselves in welcoming fresh graduates to their fold, unifying their unique strengths with a multi-generational workforce. The blend of young and old hands has always been a hurdle for EMPLOYERS BUT 'EN : MAY YET PRESENT A particular challenge to most companies.

For starters, these young guns are digital natives to the core. They grew up and thrived in in the presence of digital technology, i.e. smart phones, laptops, tablets, home technology systems and SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WILL LIKELY DEkNE THEIR role in any organization.

"ETWEEN !UGUST AND 3EPTEMBER 2018, Dell Technologies surveyed 12,000 high school and college students from 17 countries, including the Philippines, about their views on technology and their future careers. +EY kNDINGS FROM THE RESEARCH STUDY reveal how business leaders can tap the IMMENSE POTENTIALS OF 'EN :ERS IN A diverse future-ready workforce.

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ASSWORDS are the keys to the riches of the modern kingdom, the internet. Password registration is still the primary means that allows people, even governments and multinational companies, to constantly gain the myriad advantages of internet access.

They are critical inputs to enjoying the expanding e-commerce platform today and the coming new age of self-driving vehicles, smart cities and intelligent manufacturing solutions.

The burden of ensuring secure passwords is on the user, and a recently released research report commissioned

by Google found out that “65 percent of [internet users] reused the same password across multiple sites and 51 percent had a favorite password that they stuck with for most things.�

They’re the same cavalier attitude that countless computer tips and techniques through the years advised users to avoid. Careless users become likely targets to hacking-related breaches, spamming and Denial of Service attacks that could lead to personal and kNANCIAL MISFORTUNE Passwords are also generally perceived as an outdated methodology, PRESENTING SIGNIkCANT USABILITY CHALlenges while not adequately mitigating security risks. They create risks for consumers and businesses alike, and in doing so threatens the integrity of the connected economy.

'EN : WANTS TO WORK WITH CUTTING EDGE technologies. Some 88 percent of Filipino survey respondents aspire to work with new technologies, while 97 percent will consider the type of technology provided as important when considering two similar jobs.

Advanced technology will entice 'EN : JOB CANDIDATES SO ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A TECH kRST APproach — from the hiring process, to onboarding, to the daily work experience.

'EN :ERS ARE EAGER TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLedge. Eighty-six percent of Filipinos are willing to be technology mentors to others on the job, and 78 percent can picture themselves as “digital ambassadors� for their company.

To reduce an inevitable “digital divide� among generations at the workplace, business leaders should look into tech mentorship programs that address variances in IT competency and build a well-integrated workforce 'EN :ERS ARE CONkDENT ABOUT THEIR TECH skills, which doesn’t necessarily equate to workforce readiness. Eighty-eight percent

of Filipinos ranked their technology literacy as good or excellent, 68 percent of Filipinos ARE CONkDENT THAT THEY HAVE THE technology skills employers want than non-tech skills, while 96 percent expressed concerns over starting at work.

Organizations that develop upskilling initiatives (including internships and rotation programs) for these digital natives as well as create cross-functional teams with complementary skillsets WILL BENEkT FROM FRESH APPROACHES IN problem-solving and knowledge exchange opportunities.

"EYOND INCOME 'EN : CONSIDERS OTHER things as important for their work. Gen : WANTS MORE THAN JUST MONEY FOR THEIR work. Fifty-three percent of Filipinos want to work for socially or environmentally responsible organizations, 67 percent look for the ability to learn new skills and have new experiences, while 52 percent want work that has meaning and purpose beyond just getting paid.

Employers should encourage corporate social responsibility initiatives as well as have a strong purpose beyond business. Learning and development at the workplace will also serve as key levers TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN 'EN : CANDIDATES 'EN :ERS ARE EAGER FOR MORE HUMAN interaction. 53 percent Filipinos choose in-person communication as the pre-

ferred method of interaction with coworkers, with text ranked last; 91 percent SAY THERE ARE WORK RELATED BENEkTS FROM social media including communicating with people in the same profession; 77 percent expect to learn on the job from coworkers or other people — not online; while 74 percent Filipinos prefer to be part of a team rather than working independently. /RGANIZATIONS SHOULD BUILD A lEXIBLE work environment that serves a diverse set of work styles with a strong blend of in-person and virtual collaborative workspaces as well as immersive tools such as augmented and virtual reality to enable teams to deliver their best output.

Aptly labeled “digital natives,� Gen :ERS HAVE LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES DURING a period of transformative technoloGIES #ONSEQUENTLY AS 'EN :ERS ENTER the global workforce, they are innately comfortable with the use and ubiquity of technology, especially at work.

Employers should well understand THAT 'EN :ERS NOT ONLY ARE TECHNICALLY savvy, but also expect technology to be a natural extension of their learning and work experiences. Companies should prepare to tap these digital advantages, as they also help bridge the divide with the older yet natively smart generations.

Internet without passwords TECH SPACE TONY MAGHIRANG The state of California has already passed legislation that requires hardware manufacturers to hardcode passwords for every connected device they produce that USERS MUST CHANGE ON kRST USE 4O TAKE effect in January 2020, the bill sparked a new round of debates on user’s continuing reliance on passwords for access authentication and security.

FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance, a global consortium working to create open standards for simpler, stronger user authentication, may have the answer to the password conundrum. In a think piece released to media outlets, &)$/ CHIEF MARKETING OFkCER !NDREW Shikiar is convinced that the internet without passwords is no longer a pipe dream but in fact, a viable proposition.

He wrote: “The root of the problem lies in the fact that older authentication systems are based on a shared secrets model, where the user’s credentials are known by both sides of the transaction. Typically, users are required to have complex, unique passwords for each account that feature a mix of numbers and letters. However, an average user today has over 90 online accounts, and this makes it impractical to

continue using this model. “In the meantime, as online services build their consumer base, user credentials [in usernames and passwords] are typically stored in a central data server or location. A single successful breach allows cybercriminals to gain access to millions of username-password pairs, which can lead to credential stuffing — with upwards of 80 percent of attempted e-commerce site log ins being stuffing attempts.�

Shikiar adds that the Alliance is introducing the concept of the FIDO Authenticator in which user authentication credentials are stored as private keys that are unique to each service or log-in.

These keys are established upon account registration, at which point the service provider stores a corresponding public key on its server.

When the user returns to the site or app, SHE GETS VERIkED THROUGH A SIMPLE GESTURE SUCH AS SWIPING A kNGER ENTERING A 0).

speaking into a microphone, or pressing a button. A challenge/response dialogue takes place the background to match the private and public keys that also includes entirely unique critical metadata about the authenticator or the website, thus eliminating the threat of phishing or account takeover.

Keeping the private key resident on the device means that the user is always in possession of her authentication data. This localized authentication is well-aligned

with regulations in Europe such as revised Payment Services Directive and General Data Protection Regulation. It also addresses common user fears associated with misuse of their biometric credentials like the theft of biometrics from centralized repositories since it is almost impossible TO REVOKE ONE S kNGERPRINT OR IRIS SCAN FIDO’s approach therefore does away with the requirement to store credentials in a centralized repository thereby changing the threat landscape for would-be hackers and at the same time, de-risking the authentication process for the service provider by limiting its downstream exPOSURE IN THE EVENT OF A DATA BREACH "Y utilizing public key cryptography techniques, smart devices can provide stronger authentication without burdening users.

In late February this year, FIDO Alliance announced that Android is now FIDO2 compliant. Mobile apps and websites are enabled to leverage FIDO standards bringing a simpler and secure biometric login to over a billion devices supporting Android 7.0+.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the FIDO Alliance are also kNALIZING THE WEB STANDARD FOR SECURE

passwordless logins. Major browsers and platforms will soon have built-in support FOR NEW WEB SPECIkCATIONS FOR EASY AND safe logins via biometrics, mobile devices and FIDO security keys.

For more information, visit https:// kDOALLIANCE ORG

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Sunday Business & I.T.

Editor: Jing Garcia

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Realme 3: A promising smartphone to compete in the midrange market

BY IRA JAMES

P

REVIOUSLY a sub-brand of Oppo, the now-independent smartphone company Realme has recently launched its new smartphone Realme 3 in the Philippine market, promising to be a game changer to enable users to discover real VALUE 'IVEN THE HARDWARE SPECIkCATION AND a very attractive price starting at P6,990, this new phone aims to deliver strong system performance, extraordinary build, upgraded cameras and dependable battery life.

The Realme 3 comes with a MediaTek Helio P60 processor that conSUMES SIGNIkCANTLY LESS POWER THAN other phones’ 12nm process chips.

This makes the Realme 3 the strongest segment entrant today.

For faster performance, the phone IS SUPPORTED WITH UP TO '" 2!- AND '" STORAGE 4AKING PHONE DESIGN up a notch is the Realme 3’s gradient unibody design, which brings the best tactile and visual experience.

The phone’s cameras feature imPROVED HARDWARE CONkGURATION WITH A 13MP front camera and a 13MP main camera + 2MP secondary camera rear duo. The cameras also boasts a nightscape mode optimizes camera performance in low-lit environments as well as a’ “chroma boost feature� which is Realme’s own iteration of HDR using AI technology to identify objects and optimize photo.

These features are supported by a 4230mAh battery with intelligent power-saving functions for much longer performance. “We are truly happy to bring here to the Philippines our latest product, the

Realme 3,� said Jacky Chen, Realme Philippines’ chief operating officer. “The Realme 3 is a budget smartphone that, just like all of our products, packs higher-tier feaTURES THAT kT THE &ILIPInos’ active and vibrant lifestyles. We are ready and humbled to once again give Filipinos a device that lets them #DiscoverRealValue.�

The Realme 3 with '" 2!- AND '" storage priced at P6,990 will be exclusively available online through shopping platform Shopee.

Realme fans can get their own Realme 3 at a marked-down price of P6,290 by using exclusive vouchers during Shopee’s March 25 lASH SALE

Lazada offers ‘super-solutions’ for e-business PER E"USINESS u SAID 0IERRE 0OIGNANT

,AZADA 'ROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER SINGAPORE: On it’s seventh year in busi- “That is why we are thrilled to roll out ness, e-commerce group Lazada re- super-solutions to help our brands cently announced an all-encompassing and sellers become more nimble in series of products and services that digitising their businesses and better THE COMPANY SAID WOULD kRE UP THE reach customers.�

The said super-solutions the Lazada growth of its brands and sellers in unveiled include a series of “super�’ Southeast Asia.

Dubbed super-solutions, the latest of- campaigns in which LazMall brands ferings are aimed at resolving pain points and sellers can choose to take part to that brands and sellers face, namely: boost their brand image and better engage with customers; a new and branding, marketing and sales.

The new features, which have been improved Marketing Solutions Packrolled out in conjunction with Lazada’s AGE AND "USINESS !DVISOR $ASHBOARD seventh birthday celebration, are aimed THAT CAN DELIVER MORE TRAFkC TO THEIR at brands and sellers, big or small, to storefronts, and arm brands and sellensure they are well-positioned to win ers with near real-time information to help them make faster and better market share in the region. “No seller is too small to aspire, decisions to sell more effectively and and no brand is too big to be a Su- efficiently; and new tech tools like

BY JING GARCIA

3TORE "UILDER FOR BRANDS AND SELLERS to customize their storefronts to differentiate themselves on Lazada, while in-app live streaming, news feed and in-app consumer games can help win the hearts of consumers with higher consumer engagement.

The super-solutions will also make it easier for brands and sellers to OPEN UP STORES ON ,AZ-ALL 1UALIkED merchants can now take advantage of the new self-sign up feature, a simplikED SIGN UP PROCESS THAT CAN NOW BE completed in mere minutes. This is in line with the Lazada’s goal of enabling small and medium enterprises to become globally competitive. “Since the launch of LazMall in 2018, we have seen tremendous growth among our key pioneer brand partners. We want TO EXTEND THE BENEkTS OF ,AZ-ALL TO EVEN

more brands and sellers to elevate their e-commerce operations,� said Jing Yin Lazada Group president. “We want to incubate them so they can grow alongside us and become sustainable and SUCCESSFUL E"USINESSES u "ACKED BY !LIBABA S TECHNOLOGY AND logistics infrastructure, Lazada has been able to launch over the past year industryleading tech innovations to become the region’s only “shoppertainment� platform on which people can watch, shop and play.

To complete Lazada’s birthday celebration, the e-commerce leader also INAUGURATED ,AZ-ALL "RANDS &UTURE &ORUM "&& AN ANNUAL SUMMIT GATHers brands and sellers to discuss growth opportunities and technological advancements that will create “Super E"USINESSES uSHAPING THE FUTURE OF Southeast Asia’s e-commerce landscape.

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Anna Oposa, chief mermaid of Save Philippine Seas

N

O one is ever LET’S TALK too young #SOCIAL or too old to use one’s passion to NOEMI protect what one loves. A tweet on LARDIZABAL-DADO April 9, 2011 alertED ME TO LOOK AT A WEBSITE WITH ITS OFkCE ADDRESS BASED in Florida, USA. The twitter account @TourismPinas $AVE 2YAN "UARON CONTINUED ON WITH ANOTHER tweet, “US company selling Philippines corals WHOLESALE. This is ILLEGAL.� He followed it with another tweet saying, “Someone in my wall SAYS THEY ARE ALL EXPORTED WITH "UREAU OF &ISHERIES AND !QUATIC 2ESOURCES "&!2 CLEARANCE ) HAVE the list if you like.� The images of large batches of corals plastered over the website such as Capiz SHELLS HORRIkED ME 4HIS DISCOVERY PROMPTED ME to write about the rape of our marine life along with other bloggers. I also alerted Anna Oposa, whom I knew to be passionate about the environment. Not only did she tell a story about the plunder of our marine life, she visited government agencies and sent them several letters which even LED TO A 3ENATE (EARING 7E HELD A "LOG !CTION Day on June 8 for Philippine Corals and Water that year to show our deep concern (and disgust) at continuing attempts to bypass laws already in place to safeguard our marine life.

What started out as a social media campaign in 2011 brought together by the collective drive to protect our richest marine resources evolved to a movement called Save Philippine Seas (SPS). And all it took was one tweet to start this eco revolution.

The group went public on May 26, 2011, via the #reefwatchPH hashtag on Twitter. In August 2012, !NNA EMBARKED ON THEIR kRST COMMUNITY BASED initiative in Malapascua Island, Cebu, called the Shark Shelter Project. They used social media to expand the knowledge about their advocacy and current events about the Philippine seas.

SPS (savephilippineseas. org) became a nonPROkT ORGANIZATION IN THAT AIMS TO PROTECT marine and coastal resources of the country through information, communication, and education campaigns and community-based projects.

Chief mermaid of SPS started out as a joke when the movement printed out their business cards.

What title did she want? Companies use chief EXECUTIVE OFkCER OR CHIEF OPERATING OFkCER SO WHY not chief mermaid? The quote of Anais Nin “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living� provides a good description of the last eight years. As chief mermaid, Anna leads SPS in the campaigns, projects, work on policies with local government, Senate and Congress. Her role is being an ambassador of the sea. Anna describes how SPS mobilizes citizens who they dub as “seatizens� — for collective action and behavior change. Facebook and Instagram are the top social media platforms that helped the most in pushing for SPS goals, but social media occupies 25 percent of their work.

Raising awareness is not enough. Awareness must turn into action. How does SPS get the youth to act and become pro-active in caring for the seas? SPS website (savephilippineseas.org) allows anyone to download their free toolkits to help one become a proactive “seatizen.� Each toolkit includes a presentation deck, letter templates, and printable materials like posters and standees. One can use these to reach out to business establishments, schools, local government units, national government agencies and individuals to engage them in this campaign. The youth can be the leaders of the future but Anna believes the “youth can be the leaders of today given the right opportunities and support.�

"EING YOUNG AND COURAGEOUS TO DARE TO DO something has its potential. Anna recalled she was only 23 years old in 2011 and just graduated from college with a degree in English Studies when she co-founded SPS. Anna wrote about environmental CONSERVATION AND 6OTERS %DUCATION FOR "LOG7ATCH in 2010 during her last year in college. I already noticed her potential as a passionate advocate and a brilliant writer. Her passion was her hobby until SHE kGURED OUT WHAT CAREER SHE WANTED )T WAS TOUGH at the beginning because she was young and female and traveling by herself. She had to work harder to prove herself. Anna recalls at the end of a council meeting, someone asked, “Are you single?� Anna wondered why her male colleagues never get asked those questions. In some occasions like enforcement or environmental compliance, she gets questions like can she really do it? Can she work on illegal issues?

When this happens, Anna steers the conversation back to the topic.

Marine Conservationist and Save Philippine Seas’ Chief Mermaid Anna Oposa believes that “age is not an excuse to be complacent and lazy. Every excuse is a choice to fail. It’s not about being the smartest or most talented, but having the courage to do something. The greatest change makers I know are also the biggest troublemakers I know.� Anyone can start an online advocacy and make it a movement one day.

Anna’s advice is to “stay committed and always go back to your why — why you started and why you wish to continue, and what your vision is.�

World

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

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Thais hope for change in polls

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ANGKOK: The leader of Thailand’s oldest political party said if he becomes prime minister after Sunday’s elections, he will make forceful but careful efforts to undo undemocratic provisions in the constitution imposed by the military government that seized power in 2014.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, head of the Democrat Party and a former prime minister, said in an interview with The Associated Press THAT THE POLLS THE kRST SINCE THE

coup, give Thailand a chance to halt military interventions in politics and respond effectively to challenges such as technological disruptions, an aging society and

high inequality.

Sunday’s general election is “important for the whole country. It’s a chance now to get the country out of the cycle of dictatorships and corrupt governments,� he told AP on Wednesday.

The army toppled an elected government in 2014 after months of sometimes-violent street protests that paralyzed Bangkok’s streets. The army said its goal was to restore stability but ruled with a heavy hand and for much longer than it had promised.

It has cracked down on its critics while imposing a new constitution and election laws that give its allies a powerful advantage in the balloting and increase the chances of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the COUP LEADER REMAINING IN OFkCE Vejjajiva noted “irregularities�

by Prayuth and the party backing him. Referring to campaign-like activities by Prayuth that are treated AS OFkCIAL BUSINESS HE SAID THEY ARE “obviously not held to the same kind of rules and standards� as other parties. But with four days

to go before the vote, he said he was hopeful the election would proceed smoothly. “My appeal to the people involved is let’s not make this an election that is unacceptable,� he said. “Let’s not make this election unfree or unfair. Not because one SIDE WOULD BENEkT OVER THE OTHER But because we need to maintain the integrity of the system.�

Many political parties have heavily criticized the 2016 constitution pushed through by the military government, with some saying it should

be completely rewritten.

Vejjajiva agreed there is much in the constitution that needs to be addressed but said battles should be carefully chosen. “The way we go about it is, I think, we have to identify and be clear about what kind of issues that need to be amended, particularly the undemocratic aspects of the constitution,� he said. “Build a consensus around it. Gain public support to put pressure on senators to accept that amendments are needed.�

CHINA PLANT EXPLOSION DEATHS INCREASE TO 64 BEIJING: The death toll in a chemical plant explosion in China rose to 64 Saturday, but rescuers found a survivor among more than two dozen still missing in the debris of one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in recent years.

Thursday’s explosion in the eastern city of Yancheng injured HUNDREDS AND lATTENED AN INDUStrial park.

The local fire brigade pulled a man in his 40s from the rubble of the destroyed chemical plant around dawn on Saturday, according to a statement on the city government’s official Weibo account.

He was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving further detail of his status or injuries.

Rescuers are looking for 28 people who are still missing,

Yancheng Mayor Cao Lubao said in the statement. “The identities of the dead and THE MISSING ARE BEING CONkRMED through interviews with family members, home visits and DNA tests,� Cao said.

More than 600 people have received medical treatment following the blast, according to the city government.

Among them, 21 are critically injured and 73 are seriously injured, the statement said.

The explosion toppled several buildings in the industrial park AND CAUSED A HUGE kRE THAT RAGED through the night, as rescuers SCRAMBLED TO kND SURVIVORS IN THE plant’s wreckage.

Hundreds of rescuers were dispatched to the scene, local authorities said, and some 4,000 people have been evacuated from the blast site.

AFP

EXPLOSION

An aerial view shows a chemical plant after an explosion in Yancheng in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on March 23, 2019. The death toll in the explosion in China rose to 64 as of Saturday, but rescuers found a survivor among more than two dozen still missing in the debris of one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in recent years. AFP PHOTO

Toxic fumes sicken 84 Cambodians Worldinbriefs Taiwan PRIEST STABBED LIVE ON TV leader to tour Pacific nations BEIJING: Taiwan Leader Tsai Ing-wen left Thursday on a tour of diplomatic allies in the Pacific that will end with a stopover in Hawaii.

Taiwan has struggled to shore up its dwindling roster of allies as countries are choosing instead to establish relations with Beijing, which considers the self-governing island part of Chinese territory.

Tsai will visit Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported.

The agency said she will transit through Hawaii on March 27 on her way back from the Marshall Islands, but did not give further details.

Only 17 mainly small, developing countries still recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. The island split from mainland China amid a civil war in 1949. Beijing has recently ratcheted up its rhetoric around “reunifying� Taiwan with Communist Party-ruled mainland China.

China is particularly sensitive to cooperation between Taiwan and the US. When the latter approved the sale of $330 million of military equipment to Taiwan last September, China warned of “severe damage� to bilateral relations.

China’s foreign ministry said Thursday that it has complained to the US about Tsai’s Hawaii stopover, mirroring its action toward a similar trip in 2017. “Any attempt to create ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan,’ will be opposed by all Chinese people,� ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing. “We urge the US to abide by the ‘one China’ principle ... and to not grant a stopover for Tsai Ing-wen, and to not send wrong messages to Taiwan independence forces.�

Tsai’s trip coincides with a visit to mainland China by Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, whose election last November ended 20 years of rule by Tsai’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party in the southern Taiwan port city. The DPP lost significant representation to the Nationalists, Han’s party, in the local races, raising doubts about Tsai’s prospects for reelection in 2020.

Han has said Taiwan should be more open to peace negotiations with China, in contrast to Tsai, who has dismissed Beijing’s overtures.

AP

A WAVE of “faintings� swept through the women working at the Indochine Apparel in Cambodia in Kandal province’s Ksach Kandal district on Friday morning without causing them severe harm.

The National Police reported that 84 female workers suffered from symptoms ranging from headaches and nausea, breathing DIFkCULTIES AND ANXIETY ATTACKS TO loss of consciousness.

The wave started around 7:30

a.m. when the fumes from the welding of pipes outside the factory were carried inside by the wind.

Colonel Men Sokheoun, Ksach Kandal district police chief, said that local authorities, police, MILITARY POLICE AND FACTORY OFkCIALS rushed to get the women to the referral hospital.

Chab Yuthorn, chief of Ksach Kandal referral hospital, said that some workers could return to their homes quickly, while

others required more attention.

He can name no conclusive cause of the incident for lack of a properly equipped laboratory, but assumes that “They fainted due to lack of oxygen or the bad smell (i.e. fumes).�

Early this month, the Ministry of Labor, issued its annual report stating that more workers fainted in 2018 than in 2017.

In 10 factories 1,825 fainted, all but three of them women.

KHMER TIMES

Sri Lanka experiences historichigh temp at 41 degrees Celsius SRI LANKA’S Meteorology Department on Saturday reissued an extreme heat advisory for several districts of the island country as temperatures were expected to soar as high as 41 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

The Meteorology Department, in a statement, issued the severe heat advisory for Mannar in the north, Puttalam and Kurunegala in the northwest and Monaragala in the Uva Province.

FREE AT LAST

“In such extreme situations, it may be possible to have heat cramps and exhaustion. Continuous activity could also result in heat stroke,� the department said.

Several other areas, including capital Colombo, were also warned to remain cautious due to the extreme heat.

The department also advised the public to remain hydrated and not leave children and elderly unattended in the coming days.

GLOBAL TIMES

The freed Iranian border guards pose for a picture upon their arrival at an undisclosed location in Iran recently. The four border guards were among the 12 security personnel rescued by the Pakistan military from militants and returned to Tehran to be reunited with their families. AFP PHOTO

MONTREAL: A priest was stabbed in front of his congregation live on television during morning mass on Friday (Saturday in Manila) at Canada’s biggest church in what police described as an isolated incident. Footage broadcast on a Catholic television station and picked up by the top-rated CTV network showed a man in jeans, parka and white baseball cap approach Claude Grou at St Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal in front of 60 horrified parishioners. He is seen chasing the priest around the altar and standing menacingly over the 77-year-old as he falls to the ground, scattering candles and a banner, before stabbing his victim.

AFP

NZ MASSACRE VICTIM’S MOM DIES CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: A grief-stricken mother who had traveled to New Zealand after her son was gunned down in the Christchurch mosque massacre passed away overnight, officials said Saturday. The woman, whose name was not available, was one of two relatives of shooting victims to die this week as the city’s close-knit Muslim community reels from the killings of 50 people by an Australian white supremacist more than a week ago. Hafiz Junaid, an imam from the city of Auckland in northern New Zealand, told AFP that the mother of one of the victims came from Jordan following the tragedy. Junaid said the woman was deeply distraught by her son’s loss.

AFP

CYCLONE FATALITIES HIT 600 BEIRA, Mozambique: With the flooding easing in parts of cyclone-stricken Mozambique on Friday, fears are rising that the waters could yield many more bodies. The confirmed number of people killed in Mozambique and neighboring Zimbabwe and Malawi climbed past 600. Eight days after Cyclone Idai struck southeast Africa’s Indian Ocean coast, touching off some of the worst flooding in decades, the homeless, hungry and injured slowly made their way from devastated inland areas to the port city of Beira, which was heavily damaged itself but has emerged as the nerve center for rescue efforts. “Some were wounded. Some were bleeding,� said Julia Castigo, a Beira resident who watched them arrive. “Some had feet white like flour for being in the water for so long.�

AP

2 CYCLONES SLAM AUSTRALIA CAIRNS, Australia: A “very destructive� category 4 cyclone slammed into Australia’s remote northern coast on Saturday, while a second, equally powerful storm bore down on the country’s west. Cyclone Trevor, pushing a big storm tide and packing winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour (150 mph), made landfall on the sparsely populated Northern Territory coast near the Gulf of Carpentaria town of Port McArthur, the Bureau of Meteorology reported. The storm was downgraded to a category 3 shortly after making landfall, and was expected to weaken further as it travelled inland, though officials warned of heavy rains and flooding.

AFP

3 KILLED IN AFGHAN BOMBING KABUL, Afghanistan: An Afghan official says a twin bombing at a public ceremony attended by local officials in the southern Helmand province has killed three people and wounded a dozen others. Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, says Saturday’s bombings targeted a celebration of Farmer’s Day in a sports stadium in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. He did not say whether any officials were among those killed or wounded. No one immediately claimed the attack, but the Taliban control much of the province and frequently target government officials and the security forces. AP

NO MORE CANOLA SEEDS – CHINA CHINA has stopped all new purchases of Canadian canola seeds in what some see as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei.

The Canola Council of Canada said late Thursday exporters are reporting Chinese importers are unwilling to purchase the seeds at this time. In 2018, China bought about 40 percent of Canada’s canola exports for a total of $2.1 billion. Guy SaintJacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said Canada’s government now needs to retaliate and should expel any Chinese athletes training in Canada for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2022. “We are going to lose billions in dollars in trade and it’s time to show our displeasure,� Saint-Jacques said. AP

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World

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Trump drops planned sanctions vs NKorea P ALM BEACH, Fla.: President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday that he had reversed his administration’s decision to slap new sanctions on North Korea, a move that left OFkCIALS AT THE 4REASURY DEPARTMENT AND OBSERVERS across Washington scratching their heads.

Trump delivered the news from his private club in Palm Beach, Florida, writing, “It was announced today by the US Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional sanctions!�

The problem: The Treasury did

not announce any new action affecting North Korea on Friday, let alone “additional large scale Sanctions.�

The administration on Thursday did sanction two Chinese shipping companies suspected of helping North Korea evade sanctions but not the country itself.

So what was Trump referring to? The White House wouldn’t

Leaders hold decision on 2050 climate goal BRUSSELS: European Union (EU) leaders on Saturday pushed back a decision on the bloc’s long-term efforts to fight climate change, with some countries opposing a pledge to end most emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.

Leaders meeting in Brussels agreed to discuss the issue again at their next gathering in June, ahead of a UN summit on climate change in the fall.

The delay frustrated environmental campaigners, who argue that the EU should lead global efforts to meet the 2015 Paris accord’s most ambitious target of keeping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century. “European governments are kicking the can down the road on climate change,� said Sebastian Mang, a policy adviser with Greenpeace.

Mang cited warnings from scientists that sharp cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are needed in the coming decades to prevent potentially catastrophic levels of warming by the end of the century. “Young people get this,� he said, referring to recent rallies in cities around the world that drew hundreds of thousands of students calling for leaders to tackle climate change.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who two years ago launched the “One Planet Summit� aimed at speeding up the implementation of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, said Friday that the bloc’s efforts at fighting climate change “were eminently insufficient.�

“Today, we are not giving a clear answer to the commitments we made in Paris in 2015, to the scienTIkC CHALLENGES POINTED OUT BY THE best experts, and to the legitimate impatience that youngsters are expressing in demonstrations every week in our capitals,� Macron said. “We will need to wake up, but we have not really seen that yet.�

Much of the two-day EU meeting in Brussels was taken up with haggling over the bloc’s future relationship with Britain.

But on the second day, leaders were able to address a number of other issues, including the EU’s ties with China, industrial policy and global warming.

Some countries, including France, Spain and the Netherlands, had proposed that leaders agree “an ambitious long-term strategy by 2020 striving for climate neutrality by 2050� in line with the Paris accord’s climate warming goal. Climate neutrality would require countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the level that can be absorbed again and is sometimes referred to as “net zero.�

Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic were among those EU nations reluctant to explicitly cite the year 2050 for curbing emissions, according to position papers obtained by The Associated Press.

Still, a lead author of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent report on limiting global warming to 1.5 C above preindustrial times said that while the EU declaration was vague, it addressed important points.

AP

INDIA, PAKISTAN TENSION EASES ISLAMABAD: The prime ministers of India and Pakistan have exchanged goodwill messages in a sign of easing tensions between the two nucleararmed rivals.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered “best wishes� to his counterpart Imran Khan ahead of Saturday’s Pakistan national day.

Khan welcomed the statement late Friday and called for a comprehensive dialogue on all issues, including the disputed Kashmir region.

Tensions between India and PakiSTAN lARED LAST MONTH AFTER A SUICIDE attack killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. The Indian air force launched an airstrike inside Pakistan, saying it was targeting militants it blamed for the bombing.

Pakistan retaliated and said it shot down two Indian air force planes. One pilot was captured and later released.

India says it lost only one plane. AP

DANCE, DANCE Dancers of the Hungarian Yvette Bozsik Company perform during a rehearsal of a Butoh dance, titled ‘Ha Do’ (Wave Motion), composed by Brazilian Daniel Maia and directed by Japanese Tadashi Endo. AFP PHOTO

say. Press secretary Sarah Sanders issued only a brief statement saying that Trump “likes� North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and “doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary.�

But a person familiar with the action later told The Associated Press that Trump’s tweet was not about reversing existing sanctions.

Instead, the person said, the president was talking about not going forward with additional large-scale sanctions on North Korea at this time. The person was not authorized to discuss the president’s comments and spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was the latest example of the

confusion sometimes sparked

by Trump’s governance-by-tweet, which has often sent agency heads SCRAMBLING TRYING TO kGURE OUT what he meant or trying to implement policy proclamations that have not gone through traditional vetting processes. That includes when Trump announced, via tweet, that transgender people would no longer be allowed to serve in the military.

Trump’s tweet took Treasury OFkCIALS BY SURPRISE AND PROMPTED REPORTERS TO BOMBARD OFkCIALS AT the White House National Security Council and Treasury Department with questions. All declined to comment.

AP

Mueller wraps probe on Trump-Russia ties WASHINGTON: Special counsel Robert Mueller closed his long and contentious Russia investigation with no new charges, ending the probe that has cast a dark shadow over Donald Trump’s presidency. The Justice department was expected to release the main kNDINGS AS SOON AS 3ATURDAY 3UNDAY in Manila).

Even with the details still under wraps, the end of the 22-month probe without additional indictments by Mueller was welcome news to some in 4RUMP S ORBIT WHO HAD FEARED A kNAL round of charges could ensnare more Trump associates, including members of the president’s family.

For now, the report is accessible to only a handful of Justice departMENT OFkCIALS WHILE !TTORNEY 'ENERAL William Barr prepared to release the gPRINCIPAL kNDINGSu SOON The Justice department said the report was delivered by a security OFkCER &RIDAY AFTERNOON TO THE OF-

fice of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and then it went to Barr. Word of the delivery triggered reactions across Washington, including Democrats’ demands that it be quickly released to the public and Republicans’ contentions that it ended two years of wasted time and money.

The next step is up to Barr, who is charged with writing his own ACCOUNT OF -UELLER S kNDINGS AND sending it to Congress. In a letter to lawmakers , he declared he was committed to transparency and speed.

He said he could provide details as soon as this weekend.

The White House sought to keep some distance from the report, saying it had not seen or been briefed on the document. Trump, surrounded by advisers and political supporters at his resort in Florida, stayed uncharacteristically quiet on Twitter.

AP

BREXIT BRIEFING

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (center right) and Europan Council President Donald Tusk (center left) arrive to give a joint press conference at the end of an European Union (EU) summit focused on Brexit at the EU headquarters in Brussels. European leaders and English Prime Minister agreed for a short delay to Britain’s divorce from the EU in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit.

AFP PHOTO

EU forces Brexit deadline on PM May BRUSSELS: Isolated at home and abroad, British Prime Minister Theresa May will be laboring against the odds once again to win backers in Parliament for her unloved Brexit deal, this time to a timetable dictated by the European Union (EU).

May has told lawmakers she may not seek passage of her Brexit withdrawal plan in Parliament next week.

The embattled leader wrote to lawmakers Friday night, saying she would bring the bill back to Parliament “if it appears that there IS SUFkCIENT support.�

She also says s h e

would need the approval of House Speaker John Bercow to bring the plan back for a third time despite his objections.

Almost three years after Britons voted to walk away from the EU, the bloc’s leaders seized control of the Brexit timetable from May to avert a chaotic departure at the end of this month that would be disruptive for the world’s biggest trading bloc and deeply damaging for Britain. “We are prepared for the worst but hope for the best,� European Council President Donald Tusk said Friday (Saturday in Manila). “As you know, hope dies last.�

May’s mantra since Britain’s EU

membership referendum in 2016 has always been about “taking back control� of UK affairs from the EU. But the process has seen her lose control of the UK Parliament, which has twice rejected her Brexit deal, and now of Britain’s date of departure.

In a move that underlined their LOSS OF CONkDENCE IN -AY %5 LEADers set two deadlines for Britain to leave the bloc of nearly half a billion people or to take an entirely new path in considering its EU future.

At marathon late night talks Thursday in Brus-

sels, they rejected May’s request to extend the Brexit deadline from March 29 until June 30.

Instead, the leaders agreed to extend the Brexit date until May 22, on the eve of EU Parliament elections, if she can persuade the British Parliament to endorse the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

Failing that, May now has until April 12 to choose between leaving the bloc without a divorce deal and a radically new path, such as revoking Britain’s decision to leave, holding a new British referendum on Brexit or kNDING A CROSS PARTY CONSENSUS FOR a very different kind of Brexit.

AP

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Liza Soberano, Ben & Ben headline Samsung A-Live Launch

Q Samsung PH, Liza Soberano (center), and Ben&Ben (second row) show off the new Galaxy A50 at the Samsung A-Live launch with (from left) Benson Galguerra, Product Marketing head for IT and Mobile; Haein Lee, category head for Core Smartphones; Cheska Tangco, product marketing manager for Core Smartphones; Jerry Manus, business division head for IT and Mobile; Mari Barretto, marketing manager for Core Smartphones; and Marlene Cinco, PR head) THE launch of Samsung’s newest offering in the mid-range category — Galaxy A50 — gathered members of the media along with different online personalities and university students for an experience like no other in the Samsung A-Live event held at Green Sun in Makati City on March 13.

Samsung built different experiential rooms, tagged as the A-suites, where guests got to test out the premium camera features of the

Galaxy A50. Guests also got a peek of the newest television commercial for the Galaxy A50 starring its brand ambassador, Liza Soberano, and featuring volleyball superstar Melissa Gohing and rising OPM band Ben & Ben. The event featured performances from Soberano, Ben & Ben, DJ Xavi Panlilo, Motherbass, Jess Connelly, and Butta B. For more information, visit samsung.com/ph.

Nu Skin introduces ageLOC LumiSpa’s technology NU Skin Enterprises, Inc. announced the Philippine launch of ageLOC LumiSpa Accent and ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes, a new targeted treatment that harnesses the power of ageLOC LumiSpa to rejuvenate skin around the eyes.

Paired with ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes, the multitasking ageLOC LumiSpa Accent uses an oscillating motion to gently exfoliate the skin around the eyes while delivering key ingredients to promote brighter, fresher eyes.

Like ageLOC LumiSpa treatment heads, the ageLOC LumiSpa Accent tip is also designed to gently exfoliate skin and is embedded with anti-microbial silver, which is more hygienic than other topical devices used on skin. “We’ve developed a topical formula that not only provides the correct cushioning and interaction between the surface and the

skin, but also provides some key ingredients for this area,� said Dr. *OSEPH #HANG CHIEF SCIENTIkC OFkcer. “The eye area’s unique characteristics make it a perfect candidate for this targeted treatment. It’s never too early to start caring for this area and keep your eyes looking glowing and healthy.�

For more information, visit www.nuskin.com.ph.

Love wins at New World Manila Bay

Public Square

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

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Memorial event retraces WW 2 Death March O

N April 9, 1942, more than 78,000 Filipino and American troops surrendered to Japan after a gallant last stand in Bataan during World War 2, in what is now known as Araw ng Kagitingan.

From Mariveles and Bagac towns, the prisoners of war (POWs) from the United States Army Forces in the Far East were forced to walk 88 kilometers (km) to the train station in San Fernando, Pampanga, where they were loaded onto jampacked freight coaches for a three-hour ride to Capas, Tarlac.

Only 54,000 reached the concentration camp, as up to 10,000 died or were killed along the road at the Death March, regarded as among history’s worst war crimes. Thousands more died due to famine, diseases and poor sanitation until their liberation in 1945.

This uncommon valor is relived 77 years later at the Capas Freedom March (CFM). Presented by the

Q Reenactment of the Death March at the Capas Freedom March.

Automobile Association Philippines conclude at the Capas National Shrine (AAP), Tourism Promotions Board with a commemorative program.

AAP Travel president Mina and the Department of TourismRegion III, the 10-km pre-dawn walk Gabor said the annual March is set on April 11 will be led by Sen. the national auto club’s social Richard Gordon to memorialize the responsibility in promoting casualties of World War 2. patriotism by appreciating the Now on its fourth year, the event is country’s rich history and culture. themed “March For A Veteran,� and Held in cooperation with will kick off from the People’s Park and the Philippine Veterans Affairs

/FkCE AND THE -UNICIPALITY OF #Apas, the march will be participated in by military personnel, government employees, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and WW 2 veterans’ relatives.

Incepted in 2015, previous CFM editions were led by former president &IDEL 2AMOS AND 06!/ OFkCIALS For more information, visit capasfreedommarch.com.ph.

PDEA-NCR lauds Quezon City anti-drug abuse, rehab program QUEZON City’s anti-drug use and abuse campaign was commended by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region (PDEA-NCR) following a recent declaration that at least 30 of its villages are drug-free. “Ang mga programa ng lungsod sa ilalim ng Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council (QCADAAC) ay mga konkretong programa para ma-eliminate ang drug problem,�

PDEA-NCR Joel Plaza said in a ceremony at the City Hall on March 11.

As of March, 30 villages in Quezon City were declared drug-free villages after passing parameters set by the PDEA which include the non-

availability of drug supply, absence of clandestine drug laboratory, drug warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pusher and user, existence of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) and Ugnayan ng Barangay at mga Simbahan (UBAS)/ Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Ilegal na Droga (MASA Masid).

The drug-free villages are: Damar, West Triangle, Maharlika, Philam, Blue Ridge B, Libis, Quirino 2B (Claro), Mangga, St. Ignatius, White Plains, Valencia, Horseshoe, Kalusugan, Paligsahan, Laging Handa, Teacher’s Village East, Capri, Novaliches Proper, Greater Fairview, Greater

Lagro, New Era, Marilag, Masagana, Don Manuel, Escopa I, Dioquino Zobel, Camp Aguinaldo, Blue Ridge A, Ugong Norte, and San Agustin.

The city government, under the administration of Mayor Herbert Bautista, has approved and implemented comprehensive programs and ordinances on illegal drugs, such as the 1# )NTEGRATED $RUG !BUSE 0ROkLING System Ordinance (City Ordinance 2540-2016), QC Business Establishment Drug-Free Ordinance of 2016 (City Ordinance 2539-2016), QC Special Anti-Illegal Drug Education Center Ordinance (City Ordinance 2538-2016), and the QC Drug-Free Work Place Ordinance of 2015 (City

Q Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista Ordinance 2460-2015).

Mayor Bautista also recently signed City Ordinance 2791-2018 providing the Dangerous Drugs code of Quezon City.

IBM study reveals advancing women still not a priority for most global orgs A NEW study by IBM, “Women, Leadership, and the Priority Paradox,� polled 2,300 executives and professionals and revealed that the leadership gender gap in the global workplace continues to persist because organizations have yet to make advancing women a formal business priority. The study also provides guidance on how to drive change.

The global study, conducted by IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) in cooperation with Oxford Economics, surveyed an equal number of women and men from organizations worldwide across multiple industries to

better understand why a large gender disparity in the leadership ranks persists and what can be done to drive progress toward gender equality. In addition to the qualitative survey, IBV conducted a series of one on one interviews with executives and professionals across six global regions.

The study revealed that within those organizations surveyed, only 18 percent of senior leadership positions are held by women. This is due to three key factors: Organizations are not sold on the business value. 79 percent of respondents indicated that they have not

formally prioritized fostering gender equality in leadership within their organizations, even though ample evidence correlates gender equity WITH IMPROVED kNANCIAL SUCCESS AND competitive advantage.

Men underestimate the magnitude of gender bias in their workplaces. 65 percent of male executives reported it is just as likely they would have been promoted to a top leadership role even if they had been women, despite the low numbers of women that currently hold those roles.

Few organizations display a sense of urgency or ownership about this issue.

Organizations are over-relying on “good intentions� and applying a laissez-faire approach to diversity, rather than applying the disciplined focus on operational execution they apply to other aspects of organizational performance. “The past year has heightened the world’s focus on diversity, and the BUSINESS BENEkTS OF INCLUSIVE TEAMS are now well-documented,� said Michelle Peluso, Senior Vice President of Digital Sales and Chief Marketing /FkCER g4HE OPPORTUNITY NOW IS TO move from inclusion being interesting to being imperative – just like we treat other top business priorities.�

Lenovo spearheads makeover of remote school in Benguet

NEW World Manila Bay Hotel invite couples to celebrate their union and promise of forever with the Love Wins Ceremony and Celebration Package.

Couples can select from versatile packages with the expert guidance of our experienced wedding specialist. From the pre-ceremony preparations and events leading up to the honeymoon, our wedding specialist

works hand-in-hand with the couple and suppliers.

The spacious guestrooms and suites are warm and welcoming; with well-appointed bathrooms that feature Italian white marble.

Guests can maximize their inroom pampering experience with an invigorating rain shower and a luxurious soaking tub.

For more information, visit newworldhotels.com.

The heat is on at Okada Manila AS the weather turns warmer, Okada Manila—the grandest integrated resort and destination for world-class entertainment in the metro—is gearing up for a season of dance, music, celebration, and comedy at The Coral Lounge.

From March to May 2019, the Coral Lounge will be presenting events that go perfectly well with the heat and excitement of summer.

Unleash your sizzling moves on the dance floor with the ÂĄBailamos! Latin Dance Parties!

Steamy ballroom dancing on these regular Latin nights start at 9:00 p.m.

Sultry music is provided by a live Latin band and instruction from dance instructors, and no entrance fees or coverage charges at the Coral Lounge on March 15, April 12, and May 10!

For those looking for a sweet hit of 80’s nostalgia, The Coral

LENOVO Philippines regularly collaborates with academic institutions to provide teachers and students the tools they need to push through with their educational journey despite adversities such as natural calamities, as well as the lack of financial and material resources.

For its annual outreach program, Lenovo Philippines recently partnered with the Alno-Kadoorie Elementary School (AKES) to give the school its much-needed facelift after the devastation brought about by Typhoon Ompong—a powerful tropical cyclone that hit Northern Luzon provinces in 2018.

Said typhoon brought about heavy RAINS lASH lOODS AND LANDSLIDES IN Baguio City and Benguet province.

Lenovo Philippines’ General Manager Michael Ngan led a contingent of Lenovo volunteers to restore AKES, which is located in the remote barangay of Alno in La Trinidad, Benguet. Over the two-day program, the team distributed school items for the students and supplied chairs and tables for its classrooms. They

Q Lenovo Philippines’ General Manager Michael Ngan leads a contingent of Lenovo volunteers to restore AlnoKadoorie Elementary School. also re-painted some of the rooms, education,� Ngan said. and be able to reach out to more Meanwhile, Mark Binay-an, far-flung schools in the Philipincluding the clinic as well as the the head teacher of AKES, said pines,� Binay-an said.

Physical Education room. “At Lenovo, we believe that ed- that this is the first time that Lenovo also donated two lapucation plays a major role in up- a private institution extended tops that can be used by faculty lifting our society. We hope that help to the school. members when submitting vital “We feel honored to be chosen documents and reports to the our actions have helped AKES create a more conducive learning AS THE BENEkCIARY OF ,ENOVO 0HILIP- $EP%D DIVISION OFkCE AS WELL AS environment and empower the pines’ CSR activity. We hope that to incorporate digital technology students to better appreciate their you will push this advocacy further in classroom learning.

Vicks’ campaign creates awareness for HIV-infected children Lounge’s ‘80s Night will bring back all the memories, kitsch, and unabashed fun of the iconic decade. A live band will play the best hits of the ‘80s while patrons dance or sip on specially crafted cocktails with clever names such as Electric Lemonade, Bagets, and The Cure.

For more information, visit www.okadamanila.com .

VICKS, a brand synonymous with generations of care globally, continues its mission on transforming people’s lives with the power of care with the belief that it is care that makes a family, and not the other way around.

The brand’s #TouchOfCare campaign brings to the surface societal taboos and sheds light on them to inspire change in perspectives and preconceived biases. It reveals how anybody with a loving touch of

care has the capability to transform another person’s life. “With our #TouchOfCare campaign, we aim to share stories where people have transformed lives of others through their extraordinary acts of care. The story of ‘Agnes’ was one such story which just needed to be told. We hope the campaign inspires more people to transform lives and transcend social NORMS DEkNITIONS AND STEREOTYPES through their own acts of care,�

Akhilesh Negi, P&G brand director for Healthcare APAC. The 4-minute video heroes a child who was born with HIV infection. When his mom died from the disease, the 4-month old was handed by his immediate family to Agnes, his mom’s friend. Captured in the story is how Agnes later on found out about the child’s condition, and instead of turning away from the unexpectedly difficult situation, she committed to raise

him and showered him with love and care. It was the start of a beautiful life transformation for the two; revealing how Agnes fought for child’s life against all ridicule and discrimination from the people around them. Today, with Agnes’ unfaltering love and care, the child is 4 years old and his HIV infection lays dormant in his body.

To watch the video visit https:// www.facebook.com/VicksPhilippines/videos/316478069224916/

Sports

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OS ANGELES: There will be no Hollywood ending to LeBron James’s first season in Los Angeles, and with his streak of 13 straight NBA playoff appearances doomed, he and the Lakers are focused on fashioning a blockbuster sequel.

Q LeBron James (No. 23) of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a pass during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on Feb. 06, 2019. AFP PHOTO

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‘Opportunity to get better’ ! SEASON SWEEP BY THE LEAGUE WORST .EW 9ORK +NICKS IS JUST ONE LOW POINT OF A ,AKERS SEASON THAT HAS SPAWNED QUESTIONS OVER HEAD COACH ,UKE 7ALTON S JOB SECURITY AND WHAT CHANGES THE TEAM MUST MAKE TO TURN THINGS AROUND NEXT SEASON g/BVIOUSLY ) WOULD LOVE FOR THE TEAM TO BE IN THE POST SEASON u *AMES SAID AS THE PLAYOFF PROSPECTS DWINDLED g"UT RIGHT NOW IT S NOT THE HAND ) WAS DEALT SO YOU PLAY THE HAND THAT YOU WERE DEALT UNTIL THE DEALER SHUFlES THE CARDS AND YOU RE DEALT ANOTHER HAND AND CAN DO THAT u ,AKERS PRESIDENT -AGIC *OHNSON AND GENERAL MANAGER 2OB 0ELINKA WILL NEED TO MAKE THE OFFSEASON MOVES NECESSARY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE REMAINING THREE YEARS ON *AMES S CONTRACT 4HE ,AKERS HAVE SALARY CAP SPACE TO TARGET AT LEAST ONE BIG NAME TO SHARE THE LOAD WITH *AMES !LTHOUGH THEIR BID TO GRAB $AVIS BY THE TRADE DEADLINE WAS FRUITLESS THERE S A NEW FRONT OFkCE IN PLACE IN .EW /RLEANS THAT COULD REVIVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE D LAND IN ,OS !NGELES 4HEN THERE S THE FREE AGENT MARKET WHICH COULD INCLUDE CURRENT 'OLDEN 3TATE STAR +EVIN $URANT 7ARRIORS TEAMMATE +AY 4HOMPSON AND 4ORONTO S +AWHI ,EONARD g7E HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER u *AMES SAID g!ND THAT S SOMETHING THAT IS DEkNITELY GREAT TO KNOW‡THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER FROM A PERSONNEL STANDPOINT u AFP

TNT BATTLES NORTHPORT IN CRUCIAL MATCH TODAY TNT KaTropa K T wants t tto endd th the elimination round on a high note and tie Rain or Shine at No. 2, when it meets Northport at 4:30 p.m. today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The KKaTropa Th T are on a mission i i tto beat the Batang Pier, equal Rain or Shine’s 8-3 win-loss record and earn a twice-to-beat via win over the other ruling.

TNT securing a twice-to-beat is dependent on Barangay Ginebra

ESPORTS PROPONENTS (From left to right) Momentum eSports TV battle league organizers Jennifer Jones, Joanna Paola DV Ang, Marc Christian Jarlego, and Rosalyn Faustino poses for a photo with The Manila Times sports columnist Eddie Alinea (first from left) during a news conference on Friday in Intramuros, Manila.

PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

Esports goes on air %30/243 A NEW EVENT THAT HAS

SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEEN CAPTIVATING THE IMAGINATION OF LOCAL ON LINE GAMING ENTHUSIASTS THE PAST DECADE OR SO HAS FOUND A NEW PARTNER IN MAKING THE SPORT ACCESSIBLE TO MORE &ILIPINO LIVING ROOMS AND INTERNET SHOPS 4HE -OMENTUM E3PORTS AND 4HE -ANILA 4IMES 46 4-4 46 HAD RECENTLY AGREED TO A JOINT VENTURE TO HOLD A NATIONAL COMPETITION TITLED g-OMENTUM E3PORTS 46 "ATTLE ,EAGUEu WITH 4HE 4IMES NEW TELEVISION STATION AS OFkCIAL CARRIER 4HE TOURNAMENT WILL FEATURE g-OBILE ,EGENDS "ANG "ANGu THAT WILL RUN FROM !PRIL TO -AY AND WILL BE AIRED LIVE DAILY FROM 3UNDAY TO 3ATURDAY

P M TO P M ON WWW MANILATIMES TV COM, &ACEBOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS 3 I X T Y F O U R A M A T E U R A N D SEMI PROFESSIONAL TEAMS COMPOSED OF FIVE REGULAR MEMBERS AND AN ALTERNATE EACH WILL VIE FOR TOP HONORS AND PRIZES TOTALED 0 MILLION PLUS

D I A M O N D S ! 0 T O P PURSE AWAITS THE TEAM THAT WILL EMERGE AS CHAMPION )N A NEWS CONFERENCE ON &RIDAY AT 4-4 46 3TATION AT THE $ANTE !NG "LDG ALONG !

3ORIANO !VE IN )NTRAMUROS

- O M E N T U M E X E C U T I VE P R ODUCER *OANNA 0AOLA $6 !NG

-46 ASSISTANT STATION MANAGER *ENNY *ONES -OMENTUM OPERATIONS MANAGER -ARC #HRISTIAN *ARLEGO AND EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 2OSALYN &AUSTINO JOINTLY EXPRESSED HOPES THAT 4-4 46 S FIRST NATIONWIDE COMPETITION WILL BE A SUCCESS *ARLEGO SAID CURRENTLY THE 0HILIPPINES IS MAKING WAVES IN THE WORLD OF E3PORTS‡AFTER 4.# 0REDATOR A LOCAL TEAM COMPOSED OF TO YEAR O L D C A M P A I G N E R S R E C E N T L Y CROWNED ITSELF CHAMPION IN THE $/4! 7ORLD %LECTRONIC 3PORTS 'AMES HELD LAST YEAR IN #HONGQING #HINA 4HE TEAM POCKETED AN EQUIVALENT OF 0 MILLION CASH PRIZE *ONES FOR HER PART SAID 4-4 46fS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE TO ALL LOCAL PLAYERS ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM SMALL COMMUNITIES

TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS g - O B I L E , E G E N D S " A N G "ANGu IS A MOBILE GAME DEVELOPED BY -ONTOON A -ALAYSIAN BASED GAME DEVELOPER 5NLIKE 'AMES AS $/4! OR ,EAGUE OF ,EGENDS ONE ONLY NEEDS A SMARTPHONE O PLAY !CCORDING TO 0RIORI $ATA

-OBILE ,EGENDS "ANG "ANGu H A S B E E N D O W N L O A D E D B Y MORE THAT MILLION USERS WITH THE 0HILIPPINES BEING ON THE TOP DOWNLOADERS LIST

EDDIE G. ALINEA

Q TNT’s Ryan Reyes scores against CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip on Friday during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

S Mi San Miguel’s l’ performance f iin its it last l t three games. If Ginebra wins all its remaining games in the elimination, the KaTropa will lose the twice-to-beat advantage to Ginebra because of higher quotient.

Ginebra will be No. 2 should it lose just one of the remaining three games. In the event TNT lost to Northport, the Elasto Painters will remain No. 2 with a twice-tobeat even if the Gin Kings sweep all their remaining games because of the win over the other ruling.

After surviving Columbian Dyip, 101-98, on Friday behind Jayson Castro’s 20 points, TNT coach Bong Ravena said much is to be done though they improved to 7-3 and owned a five-game winning streak. “Our concern is our last game— very important game. Still a must win for us every game and hopefully we will come out strong and win our last game (vs Northport),� said Ravena, adding that the Batang Pier’s six-game losing streak only made them dangerous. “You cannot underestimate them or take them lightly especially for a team whose back is against the wall.

It’s a very tough opponent, so we are preparing against them defensively.

Less turnovers, locked in in defense that’s what we have to do.�

The No. 11 Batang Pier (2-6) have a slim chance of entering the topeight playoff group after losing to Magnolia (103-90) on Wednesday.

They are out to spoil TNT’s hunt for a twice-to-beat.

Defending champion San Miguel Beer aims for an impressive finish at the end of the elimination round as it battles Alaska in the 7 p.m. game. A victory by the Beermen (6-4 win-loss record) will lift them to the upper half of the playoff standings.

After ending a three-game losing slump with a 92-77 win over Meralco, the Aces (4-5) need to sweep their remaining two games to enter the quarterfinal.

JOSEF T. RAMOS

D2

Nascar

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

˜ The Sunday Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Q Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 and winning his 200th NASCAR race at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2019 in Fontana, California.

Q Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 and winning his 200th NASCAR race.

AFP PHOTOS

Kyle Busch ties Petty’s record with 200th career NASCAR win F

More things to know about Fontana:

BY GREG BEACHAM

ONTANA, Calif.: Kyle Busch was dominating yet another race when a speeding penalty on pit road dropped him to the middle of the pack at Auto Club Speedway.

"USCH HAD TO PASS CARS IN laps on sizzling old asphalt to get his landmark 200th victory across .!3#!2 S THREE MAJOR SERIES Busch didn’t even need 50 laps.

He capped a series of brilliant passes by drafting off Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski to seize the lead again, and with this superb driver behind the wheel of a STANDOUT *OE 'IBBS 2ACING 4OYOTA

absolutely nothing was stopping Busch’s drive into history.

"USCH TIED 2ICHARD 0ETTY S .!3#!2 RECORD WITH HIS TH WIN 3UNDAY MAKING AN IMPRESSIVE LATE SURGE TO CLAIM THE #UP 3ERIES RACE on the same weathered Fontana TRACK WHERE HE GOT HIS kRST #UP WIN “It certainly is a monumental MOMENT FOR ALL OF US u "USCH SAID “I knew we had a great race car and we were fast. I just wasn’t sure how

we were going to able to come back THROUGH TRAFkC AND GET THROUGH THE kELD -AYBE THE STARS ALIGNED A LITTLE BIT MORE PERFECTLY TODAY u "USCH DOMINATED THE kRST TWO stages before that speeding penalty ADDED A DEGREE OF DIFkCULTY TO THIS win. After he carved through the kELD HE WAS AIDED BY A TIMELY LATE caution that helped Busch take the lead for good with 26 laps remaining.

The win was the fourth Cup victory overall and the third in seven years at Fontana for Busch.

(E HAS EARNED OF HIS WINS IN THE #UP 3ERIES ALONG WITH IN THE 4RUCK 3ERIES AND IN 8kNITY Busch previously expressed ambivalence about the achievement, saying 200 is just a number that doesn’t compare neatly with Petty’s achievements. All 200 of

0ETTY S VICTORIES WERE IN .!3#!2 S TOP #UP 3ERIES Busch’s excitement was still obvious after crossing the line. “All I do is win, win, win, no MATTER WHAT u HE SAID OVER THE RADIO His team handed him a white lAG WITH A LOGO EMBLAZONED WITH g 7).3u TO DISPLAY FROM HIS window during his celebratory drive across the track where he EARNED HIS kRST #UP VICTORY WAY BACK IN 3EPTEMBER (E THEN stood atop his car and waved it TOWARD HIS LARGE 3OUTHERN #ALIfornia fan base before taking his customary bow. g&EELS JUST LIKE .O u HE SAID “Feels just like yesterday. That was such an awesome race car. Dang. I’m glad we put on a heck of a show for these fans. To win 200, whatever it MEANS IT MEANS A LOT TO ME u “I just wish that we could keep it going, running strong, running WELL AND WINNING RACES u ,OGANO WAS SECONDS IN back of Busch, while Keselowski kNISHED THIRD UNABLE TO CATCH THE winningest driver of their era while "USCH BECAME THE kRST REPEAT WINNER THIS .!3#!2 SEASON Busch equaled Petty’s victories

MARK IN THE TH RACE OF HIS YEAR CAREER 0ETTY COMPETED IN

.!3#!2 RACES OVER YEARS In the barstool debate, detractors point to Busch’s many advantages in THE 8kNITY AND 4RUCKS SERIES WHILE observing that Petty’s 200 wins all CAME IN .!3#!2 S TOP SERIES COMPARED TO JUST FOR "USCH Busch’s defenders note his impressive win percentages and the fundamentally different nature OF .!3#!2 COMPETITION THESE DAYS WHEN A LARGER kELD OF ELITE drivers competes in every race all around the country as opposed TO THE kELDS OF VARYING DEPTH AND quality faced by Petty largely in THE 3OUTHEAST Anybody watching Busch’s electrifying move through the kELD AT &ONTANA COULDN T DOUBT HIS sublime talent. “He made a couple of moves WHERE ) FELT LIKE @(OLY MACKEREL u said Gibbs, his boss for the last 12 SEASONS g2EALLY WITH A PASSION

the way he drives the car, we appreciate it so much. I think he’s an unusual athlete. If there’s anything in front of him, he’s driving a race car, he’s going to try to get it. That SHOWED UP TODAY u

SIGNIkCANT AND ) AM REALLY PROUD of him. When you are running 4RUCKS 8kNITY OR #UP YOU ARE wearing your body out every day Close calls Busch reached the brink of the going after it. And anytime I’ve run record by sweeping last week- 8kNITY AND THEN HAVE TO GO BACK end’s two races at Phoenix, but he it up with a Cup race, it puts a toll MISSED HIS kRST CHANCE TO TIE 0ETTY on your body. He just keeps going IN THE &ONTANA 8kNITY 3ERIES RACE AND GOING ) AM PROUD OF HIM u 3ATURDAY BECAUSE OF A DISASTROUS late pit stop. He also could have Who’s hot hit the mark sooner if he hadn’t Busch has back-to-back wins, but been nabbed for speeding on he only has a 15-point overall pit road two weeks earlier at his lead on Logano, who posted his hometown track in Las Vegas. THIRD TOP FOUR kNISH OF THE YOUNG Busch had barely crossed the line season. The Team Penske star also 3UNDAY WHEN HIS MIND WENT TO POSTED THE BEST &ONTANA kNISH OF those disappointments — no his 11-year career. Team Penske surprise to those who know his had all three of its drivers in the singular mindset.

TOP kVE AS "LANEY WAS kFTH TO JOIN “Can you imagine if I could have Keselowski and Logano.

GOT 6EGAS AND 8kNITY YESTERDAY u Busch said over the radio. “How Who’s not MANY IN A ROW (OW MANY u While Busch excels, another great is struggling. Jimmie Johnson Big bro kNISHED TH AFTER STARTING TH

Kurt Busch also had an outstanding leaving him 14th in the current RACE kNISHING SIXTH AFTER STARTING points race. The seven-time Fon21st. He promptly jumped out of tana champ hasn’t won in 64 races his car to join his younger brother’s SINCE *UNE celebration of a landmark win. “He was the lazy one on the Up next couch not doing much when we -ARTINSVILLE 3PEEDWAY NEXT 3UNWERE KIDS u +URT "USCH SAID g"UT day, March 24. Clint Bowyer is the a number is a number, and it is defending race winner.

AP

Motor Sports

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Q Lady karter Bianca Bustamante dominates two races of the second leg of the current X30 Kart series.

Michelin driving experience – another dream come true TURBO TIMES I

(Part 1) had just posted my Michelin Pilot Sport Driving Experience of 2016 on my Facebook page and was happy to get a lot of comments and likes. Even my old friends, who don’t like to comment much, loved it!

Thus, I would like to share what I wrote right after that MPSE experience and how it turned out to be another dream come true!

My story revisited Have you ever dreamed of something that you would like TO DO AND kNALLY GET TO DO IT What if that vision suddenly came back and you get to do IT ALL OVER AGAIN 4HAT DREAM would be so huge that you would never forget it forever!

I was very fortunate to have that mind blowing experience when I attended the Michelin Pilot Sport Experience at Sepang, Malaysia recently. We were part of the 4-man Philippine Media Team, namely Ronald De Los Reyes, Christopher Kho, Randy Peregrino and I, whom would represent the country in the annual, multi-racing discipline, driving event.

Just getting chosen to be one of team members was a big achievement as a lot of people applied. We had to send our stories of why we should be chosen and there were a lot of entries. There was also the Car Club Enthusiasts’ group that was separated from the media peeps and they went ahead of our batch.

Before I give out more information that would spoil the climax, let’s start with the history of the Michelin Experience and see why lightning can strike twice.

Michelin history The very exciting Michelin event started in 2006 and was all about showcasing the Michelin line up of tires through a premium driving experience.

What was very commendable was how Michelin tires evolved by being involved in Motorsports since the 1890’s as a bicycle tire up to the present, highly specialized disciplines of racing.

They have competed in the hardest races in the world like the past Formula One races, 24 Hours of Le Mans, World Rally Championships, World Endurance Championship, Moto GP and Motocross GP. Michelin is also involved in various regional single seater formulas and touring car championships like the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, GT Asia and Australian V8 Bathurst 12 Hour Race.

-ICHELIN IS ALSO THE OFkCIAL TIRE of the new FIA Formula E for electric powered formulas running around the world.

MPSE brief All the participants got to drive different types of cars that were all equipped with the proper Michelin tires. There were 4 different stations that everyone will go through. The Rally Station had a new, 125 bhp Citroen DS3 R1 Rally Car with Michelin Rally Tires.

The Touring Station had a Michelin Slick Tire on the new Renault Clio IV Race Car with 220hp, paddle shifter 5 speed box and a purpose built body that is stripped of any luxurious items.

The Street Station had an Audi A6 Quattro that had the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Tires which was not yet launched in the market. The kNAL 3TATION WAS FOR THE &ORmula 4 which had a Renault 4 cylinder, 160 hp, engine

in a paddle shifted 6 speed gearbox and a 470 kg carbon kBER CHASSIS There was also a Tire Station which had Michelin’s Tire Specialist explain all about the new Pilot Sport 4 tire and how it was developed for the latest high performance and super cars in the market. This was very refreshing if you are a technical person and would like to know what makes a Michelin tire different from all the others.

We were quite lucky that time because our overall driving instructor turned out to be Earl Bamber, who was part of the Porsche Team that won the 2015 Le Mans! A true Champion in our midst and I have to admit I was a little star struck!

Blustery day I arrived quite late in Malaysia after a hosting gig that I did for Honda Motorcycles in BGC the day before. That gave me only 3 hours rest in Sama Sama Hotel before I had to wake up and take my breakfast with the rest of the 20+ members from Australia, Vietnam and other countries.

What was very noticeable was the lightning and thunder storm happening outside my room’s window and I knew that it will be a very wet day!

We all boarded a bus to the Sepang F1 Track and took only 25 minutes to get there. The rains were still pouring when we got off the bus and we were greeted by the whole Michelin crew along with their mechanics and PR people. We felt at home right away and excited for the driving experience to come. After A SHORT BRIEkNG WE NOW WENT TO kT OUR HELMETS SUITS SHOES and gloves, all decked out in Michelin colors.

4HE kNAL PREPARATION WAS A medical station to check for our blood pressure. Unluckily, I had always had a hypertensive condition since I was in my teens. This was aggravated when I had a late night arrival and lack of sleep. I failed 2x and after resting for a long while, I was permitted to run when my BP came down to 135/85. Sigh! That was so stressful as they were really strict with it.

Formula in the wet Our Philippine Team was given AS ITS kRST STATION THE &ORMULA 4 Driving experience. It would have been great to experience the great G Forces of the formula car in the dry but in the wet, I thought it would be a handful. We had 2 Formula cars and pace cars to follow in the shortened F1 track and we shouldn’t overtake them.

Our instructors told us that OUR FORMULAS WERE NOW kTTED with Michelin rain tires and Earl said that we will be surprised at its level of grip. In my kRST RUN THIS WAS DEkNITELY THE case and my fears melted away as I attacked the corners with MORE CONkDENCE IN EVERY LAP We had 2 sessions and in THE kNAL ONE MY INSTRUCTOR was Le Mans Winner in the GT class, Ben Rouget, and he said that I was driving well for the conditions out there. He had a hard time keeping his Porsche Carrera 4s in the proper line as it would not turn as well as the &ORMULA 7HAT A CONkDENCE builder that was!

D3

PHOTO FROM BIANCA BUSTAMANTE FACEBOOK PAGE

Bustamante, Nocom, Trofeo top X30 Kart races

BY MIKE POTENCIANO

I

NTERNATIONAL teen karter Bianca Bustamante, and new karting sensations Mariano Axel Nocom and Julio Trofeo dominated their respective divisions during the second leg of the X30 Kart series he l d r e c e n t l y a t the Clark International Speedway Kart Track in Pampanga.

From time trials up to the races, Bustamante, Nocom and Trofeo lorded it over their rivals and won by wide margins over their closest competitors, showing they are on their way to becoming the country’s elite karters.

Bustamante continued her winning ways in the premiere X30 Senior Division by winning the two races of the second leg, crushing her closest rival Zach David with a margin of more than three seconds. She has won all the four races in her division.

David, however, ruled the X30 Junior Restricted Division by finishing second

Q The seven-year old Mariano Axel Nocom displays his prowess.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

to Bustamante. Coming in second to Bustamante in the second race was returning karter Arvin Drueco. Another worthy opponent was young racer Jolo Suba who outclassed Drueco in the first race.

T h e n e w Pe t r o n Ka r t i n g Academy had its first round and winning the Cadet class was seven-year old Axel Nocom. Born to a non-racing family, Nocom surprised his parents by winning with a margin of over 18 seconds in the race. Jaoquin Yulo and Jesus Garcia finished second and third, respectively.

The Petron Academy Intermediate Class saw Trofeo dominate just like Bustamante and Nocom. Trofeo won by more than six seconds over two new lady karters Maria Meliza Quinones and Jennica Gulapa, who finished second and third, respectively.

IndyCar Classic set for debut race at US home of F1 AUSTIN,Texas: &ROM THE TIME THE kRST piles of dirt and rock were moved to start paving a new Formula One track in Texas, the owners of the Circuit of the Americas eyed a future with IndyCar. It may have taken longer than FANS HAD HOPED BUT THEY kNALLY HAVE ONE !ND WITH THE kRST )NdyCar Classic this weekend, the mission now is to develop what organizers hope will be the second-biggest race of the IndyCar calendar. “I think it can happen,� track President Bobby Epstein said. “It just has to get bigger every year.�

Epstein has insisted the IndyCar Classic will make a splash in its debut as the second race of the 2019 season, including a unique $100,000 bonus if the driver who wins the pole position also wins THE RACE 4HE DRIVERS kRST LEARNED of the bonus on Thursday. “Sweet!� James Hinchcliffe said while wringing his hands at the prospect. “That will be a nice bottle of wine.�

Built for Formula One, the 3.41-mile Circuit of the Americas opened in 2012 and has catered primarily to the European-based racing series F1 and MotoGP, hosting the U.S. Grand Prix and the Grand Prix of the Americas, respectively, every year. While Epstein also wanted to host IndyCar,

the Austin track had been frozen out by a geographic exclusivity clause the American series had in its contract with Texas Motor Speedway just three hours north in Fort Worth.

The restriction frustrated some fans, but it also gave the Circuit of the Americas time to mature as a track and gain exposure as a global and national destination for drivers and fans, Epstein said.

Relations between the two Texas tracks had been touchy for years, but now that both host IndyCar races about 10 weeks apart, Epstein sees no reason why both can’t thrive. “Their heath is as important to the health of racing as ours is,�

Epstein said. “They didn’t really roll out the welcome mat because they didn’t know what we would become. Everybody has the right to be protective of their investment. (But) I don’t think their success comes at our loss and I would hope they feel the same way.�

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said he wants the IndyCar Classic to be a hit. “I would expect their crowd to top 100,000 people. It’s a new THING A NOVELTY AND FOR THEIR kRST visit there they should draw a huge crowd,� Gossage said. “When we kRST RAN )NDY#AR WE DREW WELL over 100,000 people for the race for many years. That kind of suc-

cess Sunday will be good for all racing in Texas.�

IndyCar has pushed to boost its NEW TRACK S PROkLE IN THE OFFSEASON

hosting its preseason media days and two days of testing here in February. Several drivers were already familiar with the circuit, having turned laps in F1 or in private visits in years past. Andretti Autosports’ Alexander Rossi, Arrow Schmidt Peterson’s Marcus Ericsson and Carlin’s Max Chilton all raced in Austin IN & %RICSSON kNISHED TH AT THE U.S. Grand Prix last year.

Ericsson said the F1 experience is of little value in his new series. “I had all my reference points AND DID THE kRST ROUND OF PRACtice) and it didn’t really work,�

Ericsson said. “The Indy car today is very different to drive with grip and power steering. Things that worked in an F1 car don’t really work in an Indy car.�

The most tantalizing aspect for the former F1 drivers is returning with a chance to win. Rossi had little chance of even making the podium when he raced the U.S. Grand Prix for Marussia in 2015.

2OSSI kNISHED TH THAT YEAR AFTER eight other cars retired and still was more than 1 minute, 15 seconds off the winning pace.

Since joining IndyCar, Rossi is A kVE TIME RACE WINNER INCLUDING THE )NDIANAPOLIS AND kN-

ished second in the championship LAST SEASON 2OSSI kNISHED kFTH IN the season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, on March 10, a race won by Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden. “When I’ve come here in the past, I came into the weekend fully knowing there really wasn’t any chance,� Rossi said. “To able to come in here this weekend, competing on a level where we have as good a shot as anybody to win the race, is pretty cool. There’s ALMOST UNkNISHED BUSINESS BOX WE D like to tick here.�

NOTES: Ed Carpenter Racing’s Ed Jones has been cleared to race Sunday after dislocating HIS LEFT RING kNGER WHEN HIS CAR made contact with the wall in St. Petersburg. Jones met with a hand surgeon in Miami and HAD THE kNGER SPLINTED (E WAS cleared after a meeting with IndyCar Medical Director Dr. Geoffrey Billows. ... Indy Lights 2018 champion Patricio O’Ward of Mexico, who abruptly left Harding-Steinbrenner Racing in February, makes his IndyCar season debut this week after signing a 13-race deal with Carlin. / 7ARD kNISHED NINTH AT 3ONOMA LAST YEAR IN HIS kRST )N- d y C a r start, but didn’t t a k e part in preseason testing and missed the race in St. Petersburg.

AP

Q Drivers round a turn the opening lap out of turn one during the Formula One US Grand Prix auto race on October 21, 2018 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. AFP PHOTO

Sports Laguna dethrones Baguio in Batang Pinoy 2019 Luzon qualifying leg Lady Spikers eye revenge vs UP I D4

˜ The Manila Times

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID

L A G A N C I T Y, Isabela: Laguna Province cruised past Baguio City to rule the Batang Pinoy 2019 Luzon Qualifying leg on Saturday here.

Laguna’s 160-man delegation won 38 gold, 35 silver, and 36 bronze for a total medal haul of 109. “We are happy with the best performance of our team. Though we are only a 160-man delegation compared to other local governMENT UNITS WE kNISHED STRONG u SAID Gerardo Cantada, Laguna Province SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFkCER ))) AND head of the delegation.

Laguna won the most gold medals in swimming with 13 and seven from Pencak Silat .

Baguio City bagged 36 gold medals on top of 47 silvers and 60 bronze medALS FOR A TOTAL 1UEZON #ITY kNISHED with 54-total built on 24-19-11.

In last year’s qualifying leg in 6IGAN ,AGUNA kNISHED SECOND TO Baguio with 34 golds medals.

Laguna tracksters dominated the girls’ 4x400m relay finals (4:17 minutes) while San Fernando ruled the 4x100m mixed relay (49sec) and boys’ 4x400m relay (3:47.9) during the last day of action at the Ilagan Sports Complex.

Camarines Sur’s Leslie de Lima and Laguna Province’s James Bryle Ballester copped their second gold in athletics by dominating the 800m event.

De Lima, who claimed her first gold in 1,500m event in Day 1, registered two minutes and 19.2 seconds to rule the 800m event.

Finishing second and third, respectively were Magvrylle Chrause

Q Justin Cain Lingat (280), Franz Michael Matos (281), Marvin Ramos (286), and Andrei Luigi Bautista (273) display their medals after winning the 4x400 relay in the final day of the Batang Pinoy 2019 Luzon Qualifying Leg on Saturday in Ilagan City, Isabela. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Matchino of Laguna Province (2:21.7) and Rebecca Vinuya of Ilagan City (2:23.8).

Ballester finished at 2:06.3 trouncing Baguio City’s James Leann Poblete (2:08.2) and Olongapo City’s Paul Renlee Molina (2:09.7) in the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission for in-school and out-of-school children aged 15 and below.

Pangasinan Province beach volleyball team led by Grade 8-student Milson Janry Galzote and Grade 9 Jayvee Perlaoan of Umingan Central National High School defeated the tandem of Olongapo City’s Cris John Louie Damasig and Nathaniel Marquez, 21-18, 22-20, to bag the boys’ crown.

The duo of Jenaila De Guzman and Keith Leanne Arceo triumphed over the Janelle Marian Poquita - Jemalyn Sigre tandem of Mandaluyong, 21-18, 21-17, in the girls’ beach volleyball played over a makeshift sands court inside the

Ilagan Sports Complex.

Baguio City took four gold, four silver and three bronze medals in Boxing while Benguet copped three golds followed by Dagupan and Lucena with two golds apiece.

Siblings Clark Vicera and John Wayne Vicera won the gold for Lucena by ruling the school boys’ mosquito (38kg) and junior boys’ flyweight (50kg) divisions, respectively.

Quezon City bagged seven gold medals in the dancesport event held at the Brgy. San Felipe covered court.

The dance athletes from Quezon City ruled the Junior C Standard, Juvenile A, and C Standard, Juvenile A, C and D Latin, and Junior A Latin categories .

Taguig City (Junior A Standard), Angeles City (Junior C Latin), and DasmariĂąas City (Juvenile D Standard) denied Quezon City a sweep of the dancesport tilt with a gold medal each.

In badminton, Andrea Princess Hernandez of Laguna clinched

two gold in the under-13 girls’ singles and doubles event where she teamed up with Rosheila Quirez.

The other gold medalist in badminton were Karl Raphael Contreras of Malolos City (under-13 boys’ singles), Patricia de Leon of Taguig City (13-15 girls’ singles), John Paul Barandino of San Jose Del Monte (13-15 boys’ singles), Migz Valimento and Ryan Mendoza of Santa Maria (u13 boys’ doubles), Ashton Prieto and Raydric Abinales of Mandaluyong (13-15 boys’ doubles), as well as Angel Valle and Kahrene Zapanta of Taytay, Rizal (13-15 girls’ doubles).

Over at the Calamagui 2nd Covered Court, Naga City won three gold in boys’ and girls’ under-13, and girls’ UNDER IN THE FUTSAL kNALS WHILE Pasig City claimed the crown in the boys’ under-15.

DasmariĂąas City ruled basketball by beating Mariveles, 101-97, held at the Ilagan Community Center.

On the other hand, Sta. Rosa conquered Tanauan, 25-22, 25-11, to win the girls’ volleyball championship.

Winning gold medals in table tennis were Wrency Abad of Vigan City (cadet boys’), Manila’s Kheith Rhynne Cruz (cadet girls’), J-an Sanchez of Pangasinan (mini-cadet girls’), Ray Manlapaz (mini-cadet boys’), and Red Morison Torres along with Cruz for the mixed doubles event.

Chess wizard Allan Gabriel Hilario of Pulilan, Bulacan snared the gold in the blitz boys’ under-12 after beating Tanauan City’s Gladimir Chester Romero in the playoff.

Winners in the Luzon leg will advance to the Batang Pinoy National Finals tentatively set in Bacolod in October.

Eleven sports are to be played straight to the national championships including cycling, gymnastics, judo, billiards, muay thai, rugby football, triathlon, soft tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

DE La Salle University seeks revenge against University of the Philippines (UP) as the two heavyweights start their second round campaigns in Season 81 University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The Lady Spikers are keen to avenge their 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 25-20, 12-15 first round loss to the Lady Maroons when they clash anew at 4 p.m. “I expect them to a more solid game from them.

That’s what I am always asking from them. And we want to get back on those who defeated us in the first round,� said La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus.

La Salle also wants to strengthen its grip of the second spot and improve its 5-2 record.

Coming off a rare back-to-back defeats, the fourpeat seeking Taft volleybelles emphatically bounced back with back-to-back sweeps of University of the East (25-18, 25-25, 25-18) and Far Eastern University (25-15, 25-19, 26-24).

Veterans Des Cheng, Tin Tiamzon, May Luna, Aduke Ogunsanya and rookie Jolina Dela Cruz are expected to lead the Lady Spikers’ charge.

On the other hand, UP will shoot for a second consecutive win after snapping a two-game skid at the expense of Adamson University, 25-27, 25-14, 25-12, 25-21, to close the first round.

The Lady Maroons will also look to hike their 4-3 card and break free from a tie at No. 4 with Far Eastern U. “We’re going to see the best UP (in the second round),� said mentor Godfrey Okumu.

The State U will lean on seasoned spikers Tots Carlos, Isa Molde, Justine Dorog and setter Ayel EstraĂąero.

In the 2 p.m. opener, FEU (4-3) will aim to return on the winning track against the skidding cellardweller Adamson (1-6).

The Lady Tamaraws fell prey to La Salle while the Soaring Falcons plummeted to a third straight setback following their loss to UP.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Belonguil, Estreba rule Alaska IronKids as Ironman 70.3 Davao unfolds DAVAO CITY: Cebu bets Earol Belonguil and Marielle Estreba ruled the centerpiece 13-14 years old age group of the Alaska IronKids Davao early Saturday at the Azuela Cove here, a huge improvement of their third-place finishes last year.

Belonguil, member of the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group (TLTG)Go For Gold, crossed the finish line of the 400-meter swim-3-kilometer run race in 15 minutes and 29 seconds—just a tick ahead of teammate Matthew Justine Hermosa (15:30).

Meanwhile, Rider Omega Triathlon junior standout Estreba registered 17:20 to best TLTG-Go For Gold’s Jeanna Mariel CaĂąete (17:24) and Arianna Danielle Lim (18:12). “I’m very happy because last year I didn’t have much training,â€? said

Estreba, Estreba,whohadherfinalIronKidsraceassheisturning15thisyear. who had her final IronKids race as she is turning 15 this year.

Other winners in the individual category were Juan Alessandro Suarez and Francesca Behn Caballero in the 11-12 age bracket (100M swim-1KM run; Bruce Ice Bragat and Eleora Caelle Avanzado in 9-10 (200M-1.5KM); and Christy Ann Perez and Luke Kenshie Cabando in 6-8 (300M-2KM).

This year, the Alaska IronKids attracted 200 young athletes—more than double of last year’s participants—after removing the bike leg. “In partnership with IronKids, we want to promote good athlete values—determination, hard work, discipline. Besides nutrition and healthy lifestyle, it’s very important the we teach values to the kids,� said Alaska associate brand manager Diane Guarte.

Ironman 70.3 Davao rolls off today The IronKids ushered in the Alveo 70.3 Ironman that unfolds in Davao today.

Reigning champion Mauricio Mendez is bracing for a tougher competition this time in the premier 1.9k swim-90k bike-21k run triathlon. “I think it’s going to be a really tough race. Every race is different. We are all professionals and trained hard for this,� said Mendez during the Meet the Pros press conference on Friday.

The 23-year old Mexican triathlete, who won the inaugural Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao last year, said that he is in his best form to defend his crown. “I feel that I’m in great shape where I can totally say that I can be my best. I’ll just go out there and give everything I have.

And if that gives me a win, I’ll be more than happy for it,�he said.

Fred Uytengsu, owner of the Ironman organizer Sunrise Events, Inc., also expects a highly competitive race, with berths to the Ironman 70.3 World Championship at stake. “Given the bar raised by Ironman Davao last year, I have no doubt that this will be exciting,� he said.

Challenging Mendez are last year’s runner-up Tim Reed, three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander, Tim Van Berkel, Sam Betten, Matt Lewis, Fraser Walsh and David Mainwaring of Australia, Antony Costes of France, Marcus Rolli of Germany and Eric Watson of Bahrain.

Defending women’s champion Radka Kahlefeldt of

Q (From left) Women’s pro division top contenders Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Dimity Lee Duke of Australia pose with their men’s counterparts Sam Betten, Craig Alexaner and Tim Reed of Australia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Czech Republic is elated to be back in the King City of the South for her back-to-back bid. “I love racing here in the Philippines. I’m really excited to be back here in Davao. This race is very special for me since last year I had a baby,�said the 34-year old racer.

Eyeing to deny Kahlefeldt’s crown repeat are regular Philippine racer Caroline Steffen of Switzerland, Manami Iijima of Guam and Dimity Lee Duke, Kirra Seidel and Lisa Tyack of Australia.

A total of 1,965 triathletes from 38 countries signed up for the second staging of the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao presented by Petron and backed by Lungsod ng Dabaw, Azuela Cove and the Enderun Tent, Davao Del Norte, Panabo, Tagum and Carmen, 2Go Express, TYR, GU, Vitargo, Rudy Project, Aboitiz Power, Davao Light, David’s Salon, Davao Metro, Shuttle and Prudential Guarantee.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

PACQUIAO POLLS TWITTER ON WHO TO FIGHT NEXT

PHILIPPINE boxing legend Manny Pacquiao took to social media to poll millions of fans on who they think should be his next opponent, having brushed off calls to hang up his gloves after turning 40. g7HO SHOULD ) FIGHT NEXT u THE WORLD S only eight-division champion asked in a Twitter survey that drew 27,380 votes after five hours and listed Floyd Mayweather, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter as the choices.

The poll, also linked to Pacquiao’s Facebook wall, has 18 more hours to run. It did not indicate how the voting had gone so far.

Pacquiao, who has 2.5 1 million followers on Twitter and 11.76 million on Facebook, is known to have been angling for a rematch with Mayweather, who beat the Filipino on points in THE WORLD S RICHEST PRIZE kGHT IN Pacquiao’s decisive victory over American fighter Adrien Broner in January was supposed to have opened the door to that route.

But the unbeaten Mayweather, officially retired, has been non-committal.

Many Facebook users urged Pacquiao, who has 61 wins including 39 knockouts against seven losses and two draws in a 24-year career, TO kGHT -AYWEATHER

Q Manny Pacquiao AFP PHOTO g&LOYD OF COURSE THEN RETIRE u #ARLOS $E Luna Lagunsad added.

But another fan urged the 40-year-old to face International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Errol Spence,

who easily beat challenger Garcia in a match between two previously undefeated boxers on Saturday. “Show this young guys why u r a living LEGEND u -EG /SH 4IN /NIUQA SAID AFP

Golf

E 1 SUNDAY MARCH 24, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Defending champ Casey holds share of Valspar lead M

IAMI: Defending champion Paul #ASEY kRED A kVE UNDER PAR TO GRAB A SHARE OF THE HOLE LEAD ALONGSIDE !MERICAN !USTIN #OOK AT THE 53 0'! 4OUR 6ALSPAR #HAMPIONSHIP ON &RIDAY 3ATURDAY IN -ANILA

would love to do that here. “So I worked very, very hard on the game and for whatever reason it’s slowed things down. Quieted the transition at the top of the swing,� Casey said. “Nice to turn it around after last week to suddenly be not in control of this event but I’m near the top, which is good.�

England’s Casey and Cook each his third shot inches from the cup Casey’s lone bogey came on his stood on six-under 136 after two before a tap-in at the par-5 11th.

CLOSING NINTH HOLE kNDING BUNrounds at the Innisbrook Resort Casey scored on the other KERS WITH HIS kRST TWO SHOTS AND Copperhead course in Palm Har- par-5 holes as well, sinking a missing a six-footer for par. bor, Florida. three-foot birdie putt at 14, a six“Disappointing on nine,�

England’s Luke Donald, South FOOTER AT THE kRST BEFORE HOLING Casey said. “But everybody’s goKorean Im Sung-jae and American A FOOTER FOR EAGLE AT THE kFTH ing to make bogeys. If you can “I feel really good about just minimize those, it puts you Scott Stallings were a stroke back (my game) because last week in a good position.� on 137.

Donald had five birdies and was rubbish,� said Casey, who #OOK HAD kVE BIRDIES AND ONE four bogeys in his one-under was stung by a missed cut at bogey in his four-under 67.

70, surrendering a one-shot the Players Championship at He opened with a birdie from lead with two bogeys in his last TPC Sawgrass. seven feet, added a tap-in birdie “I struggle a little bit around at the par-4 third and then ran off four holes. Im posted a 67 and Sawgrass and that frustrated me, three birdies in a row with 12-foot Stallings a 68.

Casey, who edged Tiger Woods annoyed me, coming in here try- putts at the ninth and par-5 11th and Patrick Reed by a stroke last ing to defend my title, which I around one half as long to begin year for the crown, began on the would love to do because I never the back nine. back nine and promptly birdied defended a professional title, I’ve His only bogey came at 12 after THREE OF HIS kRST FOUR HOLES SINKING defended amateur titles, English kNDING A GREENSIDE BUNKER a 10-foot putt at 10 and landing Amateurs and PAC 12 titles, I World number one Dustin

Q Paul Casey of England watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Golf Resort on Saturday in Palm Harbor, Florida.

AFP PHOTO

Johnson was among three players on 138 after a 69 that included a double-bogey at the par-three 13th -- where his tee short tee shot found the water.

Johnson, who played alongside Casey, was two-over through nine HOLES BUT MADE kVE OF HIS SIX BIRDies coming in to post a 69 that left him tied with Joel Dahmen (72) AFP and Curtis Luck (68).

VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES LEADING second-round scores on Saturday at the US PGA Valspar Championship at Palm Harbor, Florida (USA unless noted, par 71): 136 - Paul Casey (ENG) 70-66, Austin Cook 69-67 137 - Scott Stallings 69-68, Im Sung-jae (KOR) 70-67, Luke Donald 67-70 138 - Dustin Johnson 69-69, Joel Dahmen 66-72, Curtis Luck 70-68 139 - Roberto Castro 68-71, Lucas Glover 72-67, Shawn Stefani 68-71, Kramer Hickok 71-68, Rory Sabbatini (SVK) 70-69, Jon Rahm (ESP) 71-68 140 - Brandt Snedeker 70-70, Bubba Watson 69-71, Jim Furyk 69-71, Danny Willett (ENG) 69-71, Ryan Blaum 73-67, Sam Saunders 71-69, Brian Stuard 68-72, Jason Kokrak 69-71 AFP

Park, Liu share LPGA Founders Cup lead Carlos eyes 2nd PGTA Riviera romp JOBIM Carlos hopes to mark his return to Philippine Golf Tour Asia in triumphant fashion as he shoots for a title repeat in the ICTSI Riviera Golf Challenge, which reels off March 27 at the Langer layout in Silang, Cavite.

The former national champion edged veteran Tony LascuĂąa by two at Riviera last year to score his breakthrough win in three years as pro, a victory that sparked his surge in the PGT where he won two tournaments at Apo and in Cebu while turning in five top five finishes to emerge the Order of Merit champion. “I couldn’t have done it without hard work,â€? said Carlos of his OOM feat. “It says a lot about my improvement as a player and I think I am more competitive than ever.â€?

He aims to put on display that kERY FORM AGAIN WHEN HE MIXES it with his fellow local top guns and a host of foreign bidders also out to make an impact in the second-to-last tournament of the 2018-19 PGTA season.

Carlos vied in the Singapore Open and when Jhonnel Ababa retained his PGTA crown at Pradera Verde last January with the Meycauayan, BuLACAN kND RARING TO get another crack at the crown in the $100,000 championship put up by ICTSI and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But he will be up AGAINST A kRED UP kELD priming up for the 101st

Q Jobim Carlos CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Philippine Open on April 3-6, including top players from Singapore, Thailand, England, Taiwan, the US, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, Macedonia, the Netherlands and Spain.

PGTA leg winners Damien Jordan and David Gleeson of Australia head the foreign challenge along with PGT titlist Nicolas Paez of the US, Thai stalwarts Pasavee Lertvilai, Wisut Artjanawat and Nirun Sae-ueng, PGT winner Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands, and Americans Brett Munson and Joshua Salah.

The other local aces will be as much tested as Carlos and their foreign counterparts, including Tony LascuĂąa, who is out to break a long title spell, along with P GTA S o u t h wo o d s w i n ner Jay Bayron, P h l Masters champion Jerson Balasabas, PGTA C A T Open titlist J a m e s Ryan Lam and PGTA Summit Point victory Joenard Rates.

The 50 plus ties after 36 holes will advance to the last two rounds of the event.

Meanwhile, the leading pros will team up with guests AND OFkCIALS OF THE event’s chief backers ICTSI, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. in Tuesday’s traditional pro-am tournament.

LOS ANGELES: China’s Liu Yu made the most of her early morning start, firing an eight-under par 64 on Friday (Saturday in Manila) to join world number one Park Sung-hyun atop the leaderboard of the LPGA Founders Cup. Liu matched France’s Celine Boutier — a former teammate at Duke University — for low round of the tournament to seize a share of the halfway lead on 12-under par 132.

South Korea’s Park posted her second straight 66 at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

She and Liu were two strokes clear of a group of eight players on 10-under 134 that included overnight leader Boutier as well as former world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

They were joined

by Americans Angel Yin and Cheyenne Knight, Sweden’s Linnea Strom, That group is headlined by top-15 players Amy Yang of South Korea and Lydia Ko of New Zealand. It also includes Boutier, Americans Angel Yin and Cheyenne Knight, Sweden’s Linnea Strom, Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and South Korean Hur Mi-jung.

Defending champion Park In-bee of South Korea headed a group of five players on 135.

Liu was in the first group off the tee at 10, bouncing back from an opening bogey with three straight birdies.

She followed another bogey at 14 with birdies at 15 and 18, and birdied five holes coming in. “Just everything kind of clicked all together,� said Liu, who admitted that it’s not something she would expect to happen every day. “When a day like this comes, I just am glad I was able to take advantage of it,�

she said, adding that the chilly temperatures that greeted her group slowed her early. “My putting definitely helped me a lot on the front nine,� she said. “On the back nine the weather warmed up and I was hitting it close and I was able to capitalize on those short- and mid-range birdie putts.�

Park also teed off on 10 and after playing her first nine holes in two-under.

She came alive over her final nine, with birdies at five of six holes that included a run of four straight from the first through the fourth.

A bogey at the ninth prevented her from holding

the solo 36-hole lead. “Overall I’m really happy with the play today, especially putting was really good and the shots were better than yesterday,� Park said.

Strom was eyeing a share of the lead with nine birdies and no bogeys through 17 holes before a double bogey at 18.

Boutier, who fired eight birdies without a bogey on Thursday, was as low as 13 under after three birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th.

But she fell back with a bogey at 16 and a double bogey at the last.

AFP

E2

Golf

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Johnson moves closer to top form as Masters nears

P

BY DOUG FERGUSON

ALM HARBOR, Fla.: Dustin Johnson is peaking. The Masters is nearing. And he was talking Wednesday about an injury from the stairs.

At least this time it was his brother. “Those stairs, man,� Johnson said with a smile. “They’ll get you.�

Johnson has been trying for two years to get back to the best golf he ever played, when he won three straight tournaments against the strongest fields to reach No. 1 and become a heavy favorite at the Masters. And then he slipped down the stairs at his rental home in Augusta, Georgia, withdrew, and hasn’t returned to that level of golf.

He feels closer than ever as he plays the Valspar Championship FOR THE kRST TIME IN NINE YEARS Johnson won the World Golf #HAMPIONSHIP IN -EXICO BY kVE shots, and he was in position to contend at The Players Championship until the putter deserted

HIM AND *OHNSON kNISHED THREE shots behind. “I feel like the swing is starting to feel a lot better. The shot patterns are starting to get more consistent,� Johnson said. “So now, it’s the closest I’ve been to that.�

He’ll have a caddie with one working arm.

Austin Johnson returned home from The Players Championship carrying luggage up the stairs in wet rain pants when he tripped and braced the fall with his left arm.

He’ll have a cast on his left arm for the week, which would be a bigger problem if he had to swing a club.

Stairs 2, Johnsons 0.

Johnson wasn’t planning to be at Innisbrook except for the PGA

Tour’s policy of players competing in an event they have not played in four years. Johnson thought he was excused from that when he won his 20th career PGA Tour title in Mexico, until learning that night he still had to put in 15 years (he’s in his 12th season).

The Valspar Championship was an easy choice.

The Copperhead Course is a strong layout that doesn’t rely heavily on water hazards like most Florida courses. It has subtle elevation and tree-lined fairways, and the winning score has been no BETTER THAN UNDER IN kVE of the last six years.

It’s why Jon Rahm is at InnisBROOK FOR THE kRST TIME “Every part of your game is going to be tested, and every part of the game needs to be on to be able to win,� Rahm said.

Johnson played this event in 2008 and 2010 and doesn’t remember much about it. That much was evident in the pro-am WHEN HE WALKED OFF THE kRST GREEN AND SAID g7HERE ARE THE lAGS u Attached to the pins was not the answer he wanted. Johnson has no recollection of pin positions.

Q Dustin Johnson plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO

He wasn’t sure some of the lines to take off the tees, and this was one time he would have preferred an 18-hole pro-am instead of going nine holes before another pro replaced him.

Having the No. 1 player in THE kELD WAS STILL A BOOST FOR THE tournament, which last year sold out when Tiger Woods played for THE kRST TIME AND kNISHED ONE shot behind Paul Casey. With the compact schedule and The Players Championship moving from May to last week, Woods decided to sit out the week before Match Play.

Rahm didn’t need to play )NNISBROOK TO FULkLL THE TOUR S scheduling policy. Most of his decision was word-of-mouth and, like Johnson, he is round-

ing into form. Rahm, the 54-hole leader at The Players Championship, was still tied for the lead on the back nine until Rory McIlroy birdied two of the last tree and Rahm didn’t keep up.

Most of the attention was on Rahm’s debate with caddie Adam Hayes on the par-5 11th, when the caddie wanted him to lay up and Rahm wanted to go for the green with a hard draw out of the bunker.

Rahm won the argument and hit into the water. “Adam was just doing his job and voicing his opinion and then as usual, the player has the last say,� Rahm said. “It’s as simple as that. We always worked very openly like that. We always say what’s in our mind whether we like it or not, and that’s why it works so

well. ... Because of that we hardly ever have any complaints about each other.�

2AHM SAID IT WAS THEIR kRST DISagreement in three years together, and he made it clear that “it will never be Adam’s fault� because Rahm is the one hitting the shot.

DIVOTS: Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams, which owns Valspar, says it has extended its title sponsorship for the Valspar Championship through 2025.

When the calendar changes in a few years and there is one less week available before the Masters, Valspar could be a tournament that moves to April.

Tournament director Tracy West said: “March, April, any of those dates are great. We sell paint in the spring.�

AP

Eddie Pepperell prefers not to spend much time at tournament

BY DOUG FERGUSON PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.: Eddie Pepperell makes his Masters debut this year, and he looks forward to seeing Augusta National so much that he plans to see it for the first time on Sunday, four days before it begins.

That’s early for him. “I DON’T like being at golf tournaments too long,� said the 28-year-old from England. “In fact, I hate being at golf tournaments too long. I like to get in on a Tuesday.�

He played Bay Hill for the first time and had nine holes of practice. He never saw the front nine until the opening round. He played one practice round ahead of the British Open last summer, though he has played Carnoustie plenty during the Dunhill Links.

He made his U.S. Open debut in 2017 at Erin Hills and played nine holes in practice and tied for 16th.

There is a method to what others might consider madness. “Historically, whenever I’ve been at courses a long time, come Thursday I can be de-motivated,� Pepperell said. “I don’t want to work my (tail) off too hard on Monday through Wednesday.

That represents you’re lost. I don’t want to be lost. That always represented a sign of struggle for me.�

Pepperell is more interested in being technically sound. “Most courses are in front of you, require good shot-making and skill,� he said. “It doesn’t matter how well I know a golf course. If I’m struggling with technique, I ain’t going to go out there and beat these guys.�

Or perhaps there’s another reason. “Maybe,� he said with a smile, “people have just got more energy than me.�

US OPEN EXEMPTION PGA Tour players have something to cheer when it comes to the U.S. Open.

For the first time since 2011, any player winning multiple PGA Tour events since last year’s U.S. Open is exempt from qualifying, provided those events awarded full FedEx Cup points.

Matt Kuchar became the first player to be exempt for Pebble Beach because of his victories at the Mayakoba Classic and Sony Open (though he has moved up high enough in the world ranking he would have been exempt, anyway).

The USGA used to exempt multiple

GOLF NOTES winners until 2012, when it adjusted its criteria to exempt the top 60 in the world instead of the top 50.

That became a sticking point last year when Patton Kizzire won the Mayakoba Classic and the Sony Open. He went from No. 236 to No. 119 with his Mayakoba victory, and then from No. 105 to No. 54 with his Sony Open victory. But at the cutoff for the top 60 to be exempt, Kizzire had missed four straight cuts (and six out of 10 since his Sony Open victory) and dropped out of the top 60. He then missed 36-hole sectional qualifying by one shot.

PRESIDENTIAL MATTERS THE schedule change hit home for Adam Scott when he realized that five of his next seven tournaments were major events, which began with The Players Championship. That means between the Masters in April and the British Open in July, he is playing only two regular PGA Tour events.

One of them is the Memorial. The other is the Zurich Classic.

Scott has never played the Zurich Classic, and it won’t count toward his requirement of playing something new because he Q Eddie Pepperell, of England, watches the flight of his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO

already played at Torrey Pines.

His partner is Jason Day, and therein lies the reason. “I think we’re playing it more with the Presidents Cup in mind and things like that, trying to get some reps in with Jason and prove we’re a good pairing,�

Scott said. “It shouldn’t be a secret that we should probably play together in Australia.�

The Presidents Cup goes back to Royal Melbourne in December.

Scott said International captain Ernie Els wants his players in New Orleans because the Zurich is a team event (two days of fourballs, two days of foursomes). Of course, the Zurich Classic does not offer world ranking points, so there’s no chance of moving up in the standings. Scott currently is No. 9. The top eight automatically qualify.

No worries. “IF I don’t qualify,� Scott said with a grin, “I’ll say that’s because I played Zurich, so you’ve got to pick me.�

REED PREPARES PATRICK Reed believes his game and his attitude are in a better place now than a year ago as he prepares to defend his title next month in the Masters.

He wouldn’t mind seeing some results to back that up.

Reed has not finished among the top 10 on American soil since he was fourth in the U.S. Open last summer. He tied for ninth in Germany, tied for seventh in Shanghai and was a runner-up in Dubai late last year on the European Tour.

He started slowly last year, too, until the month before the Masters when Reed was

runner-up at the Valspar Championship, tied for seventh at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and reached the quarterfinals of the Match Play. “The preparation has been going really well,� Reed said on a conference call Monday night. “I feel like I’m in as good a form, if not a better place, than I was last year at this time. The big thing is just to continue to build and grow on the things that we’ve been working on ... and just get ready and kind of get in playing shape for the tournaments upcoming.�

Reed is playing at Innisbrook this week, followed by Match Play before heading to Augusta National. In seven tournaments this year, he has not finished closer than nine shots off the lead, and his average finish is 14.5 shots out of the lead.

NEW ADDITION TWO days after Matt Fitzpatrick was runner-up at Bay Hill, the 24-year-old from England accepted special temporary membership on the PGA Tour. That means he can accept unlimited sponsor exemptions the rest of the season and would appear to be a lock for a full card next season.

A year ago, he also had temporary membership but fell short of the equivalent to No.

125 in the FedEx Cup. Fitzpatrick is No. 34 in the world, making him the highest-ranked player who is not a PGA Tour member.

Matt Wallace and Eddie Pepperell are right behind him in the ranking, and both are about 75 points shy of special temporary membership. Pepperell doesn’t sound interested in coming to America. “I have no ambition to play the PGA Tour,� he said in Mexico City.

DIVOTS RORY McIlroy has posted 23 out of 24 rounds at par or better in his six PGA Tour events this year. His highest score has been a 72. ... FOX Sports plans 38 hours of live coverage from the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach — 10 hours each of the opening three rounds and eight hours on Sunday. Coverage ends at 10 p.m. EDT on the weekend. ... The Senior British Open will be held at Sunningdale in 2020. ... The LPGA Tour returns to America this week with the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, the first of three straight weeks culminating with its first major of the year at the ANA Inspiration.

STAT OF THE WEEK DUSTIN Johnson was the first player since 1994 to shoot all four rounds in the 60s at The Players Championship and not win.

FINAL WORD “I DIDN’T think getting to No. 1 in the world would mean as much to me until the fact I haven’t had it in a while. It gets under my skin more than I thought it would now that I had it.� — Justin Thomas, who reached No. 1 for a month last May. He now is No. 5.

AP

PAGE FROM THE PAST

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

˜ The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

FOR announcements on tournaments, rankings and other golf-related events, email the sports sp editor at pgs_mallari@manilatimes.net

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

Bajo, Navales best competitors in 11th Phoenix Open

BY JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID JERICO Bajo and Arnold Navales clinched THE HIGHEST HONORS IN THE TH 0HOENIX /PEN 'OLF 4OURNAMENT ON -ARCH AT the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

"AJO EMERGED AS OVERALL LOWEST GROSS CHAMPION WITH A AND .AVALES AS OVERALL LOWEST NET TITLIST WITH A 7ENDELL 9AP CLAIMED THE #LASS ! CROWN WITH POINTS ONE POINT AHEAD OF RUNNER up Joseph Yun. Gross champion Roderick ,O GOT REGISTERED A FOLLOWED BY $EO #URA WITH A *UN 0EDRO WON #LASS " VIA COUNTBACK against Deo Cura after both players scored IDENTICAL S *OE 4ESADO kNISHED WITH POINTS TO ALSO WIN BY COUNTBACK OVER Benjie Senning.

'IL "ULLECER WON THE #LASS # GROSS TITLE WITH A WHILE *OHN .ARANJO FINISHED SECOND WITH A #LASS # NET CHAMPION %DWIN ,EDESMA POSTED A TO BEAT RUNNER UP *OHN /BERIO WITH

Golf

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Q Winners of the 11th Phoenix Open CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Don Caballes bagged the Class D gross PLUM WITH POINTS BEATING *IP -ASCARIĂ„AS WHO ALSO kNISHED WITH POINTS Ok Hee Park took the Class D net trophy

BY REGISTERING A AGAINST !NTONIO 'UILLEN S The third team of Eagle Masters, meanWHILE COPPED THE 4EAM #HAMPIONSHIP WITH A THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF *UNIE 3OTTO ,ANDO #ACHUELA 0HILIP )DULSA *OHAN $ALMACIO AND 2ALPH 'ARCIA "ORACUYZ kNISHED SECOND FOLLOWED BY 3ALAMI IN THE TEAM EVENT The duo of Arnold Navales and Jomari !MADOR kNISHED WITH A AGGREGATE TO WIN THE 0ARTNER S $IVISION The team of Isaclolo Diroy and FerdiNAND 2ONDINA SCORED AN WHILE 'LEN 9AP AND 3HERWIN "AHANI HAD AN TO kNISH SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY &UN HOLE WINNERS WERE *UN 0EDRO NEAREST TO THE PIN )SACLOLO $IROY ACCURATE DRIVE "RIAN $AVILA LONGEST DRIVE AND 3HERWIN "AHANI EAGLE AT PAR HOLE .O

The Manila Times holds 3rd President’s Cup 2nd Cobra-Puma Scramble Golf Tournament opens June 19 in Pampanga JOHANNSEN de Joya and Kiko Sabio clinched the top honors during the third edition of The Manila Times President’s Cup golf tournament on Friday at the Aoki Course of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite. $E *OYA kNISHED WITH A GROSS AND 3ABIO a three-under-par 69 net in the tournament co-presented by Sta. Lucia Land Inc. “We are glad for your continuous support for The Manila Times through the years. We hope everyone have enjoyed the tournament,� said The Manila Times president and CEO Dante “Klink� Ang 2nd during the AWARDING CEREMONY Efren Caboteja registered a three-under-par TO RULE #LASS ! FOLLOWED BY -ARK 4ELAN WITH NET AND !ARON #HUA WITH ANOTHER In Class B, Roberto Gonzales emerged as champion via countback after the top three kNISHERS REGISTERED IDENTICAL S &INISHING

SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY WERE 0ETER 0ABELICO kVE BOGEYS AND .OLI -ENDOZA SEVEN BOGEYS )N #LASS # !ARON ,AGRADILLA kNISHED WITH A NET FROM A GROSS TO BEAT kRST RUNNER up Torch Manalang and second runner up George Chua via countback. )N THE ,ADIES SIDE &ERRY &ASOL WON VIA COUNTBACK WITH A NET FOLLOWED BY .ORDELYN 2ICHENBACK AND -ARTHY &ERNANDO WHO BOTH SCORED IDENTICAL S De Joya bagged the nearest to the pin AWARD AT THREE FEET #YRIL #ASTRO BAGGED THE LONGEST DRIVE PLUM AT YARDS AND -ANNY ,UZON THE MOST ACCURATE DRIVE AT kVE FEET Rizgolf provided customized trophies for the competition . ! TOTAL OF PLAYERS COMPETED IN THE charity tournament organized and presented

by The Manila Times.

4HE TOURNEY S MULLIGAN FEES WILL BENEkT

Hospicio de San Jose and for the Rotary Club of Makati North feeding program.

The third edition of the President’s Cup WAS BACKED BY PLATINUM SPONSORS ,OBIEN 2EALTY 'ROUP .EW 3AN *OSE "UILDERS )NC

Oppo, San Miguel Corporation, Turkish Airlines, Volvo and Coffee Lab. 4HE GOLD TEE WAS SPONSORED BY 3OGO (OTEL the silver tee by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Sports #OMMISSION AND 3AVOY (OTEL -ANILA AND the bronze tee by Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Mega Prime, Pemcor Industries Inc., Phinma Properties, and Ricoh.

4HE EVENT S OTHER SPONSORS WERE "ROWNE Communications, Cherry Mobile, Crimson Hotel, FNI, Hilton Manila, Jack NickLAUS .EW 7ORLD -ANILA "AY (OTEL .EW World Makati Hotel, PCPPI, Royal Air, So Sure, Tag Media, Taal Vista Hotel, and Universal Robina.

THE 2nd Cobra-Puma Scramble Golf TourNAMENT WILL TEE OFF ON *UNE AT THE "EVERLY Place Golf and Country Club in Mexico, Pampanga.

4HE TOURNAMENT WILL ONLY ACCEPT THE kRST TEAMS TO REGISTER %NTRY FEE IS 0 PER TWO MAN TEAM 4EAM COMPOSITION WILL BE A TWO MAN PLAY WHICH CAN EITHER BE MALE MALE FEMALE female or male-female.

4HE MINIMUM COMBINED HANDICAP IS AND THE MAXIMUM IS BASED ON THE *UNE UNIkED NATIONAL HANDICAPPING SYSTEM Registered players can enjoy a special rate OF 0 PER PRACTICE ROUND FOR ONE MONTH An all-expense paid trip to Johor Baru, Malaysia and a chance to compete in the Cobra-Puma Regional Golf Tournament AWAITS THE LOW GROSS AND LOW NET TEAM champions.

AmCham ChariTEE Golf unfolds April 5 THE American Chamber Foundation of THE 0HILIPPINES RD !M#HAM #HARI4%% 'OLF 4OURNAMENT WILL kRE OFF ON !PRIL at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in DasmariĂąas City, Cavite.

The annual golf tilt that serves as a venue FOR RECREATION AND NETWORKING FOR !M#HAM members also aims to raise funds for the AmCham Foundation’s youth development programs. ,ISTING IS ONGOING WITH AN ENTRY FEE OF 0

INCLUSIVE OF GREEN FEE CADDIE FEE

shared golf cart use, buffet breakfast and LUNCH SOUVENIRS AND RAFlE ENTRY 2EGISTRATION BEGINS AT A M FOLLOWED BY THE SHOTGUN TEE OFF AT A M 4HE TOURNAMENT WILL EMPLOY A 3YSTEM FORMAT Actor John Estrada captured the tilt’s OVERALL LOW GROSS PLUM LAST YEAR AT THE SAME venue. &OR DETAILS CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS AT OR EMAIL AT CANDY AMCHAMPHILIPpines.com.

CCIP President’s Golf Cup unfolds April 30

Q The Manila Times’ president and CEO Dante “Klink� Ang 2nd (fifth from left) poses for a photo with competitors during the 3rd edition of The Manila Times President’s Cup on March 15 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite.

THE Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the PhilIPPINES )NC WILL HOST THE ANNUAL CCIP PresiDENT S 'OLF #UP ON !PRIL AT THE ,EGENDS #OURSE OF THE -ANILA 3OUTHWOODS 'OLF AND Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

The tournament, open to all amateur GOLFERS HAS A REGULAR ENTRY FEE OF 0

AND 0 FOR THE EARLY REGISTRANTS 4HE FEE is inclusive of green fee, use of shared golf

CART LUNCH RAFlE ENTRY AND GIFT ITEMS On-course registration starts at 6 a.m.

WHILE THE SHOTGUN TEE OFF BEGINS AT A M The CCIP 'OLF #UP IS AMONG THE SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES THAT WILL COMMEMORATE THE ORGANIZATION S TH FOUNDING ANNIVERsary. &OR REGISTRATION CONTACT OR

PASIA tourney opens March 29

Q L ow gross champion Johannsen de Joya (center) and low net champion Kiko Sabio

Q Class A men’s division winners

THE Procurement and Supply Institute of !SIA 0!3)! WILL HOLD A GOLF TOURNAMENT for supply chain professionals and logistics providers on March 29, next year at the MaNILA 3OUTHWOODS 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB IN Carmona, Cavite.

Riding on the success of its golf tournament last October, PASIA is pushing its advocacy for ethics, excellence, and e-enablement in another edition of the tilt.

2EGISTRATION IS ONGOING WITH AN ENTRY FEE OF

0 FOR NON MEMBERS AND 0

FOR -ANILA 3OUTHWOODS MEMBERS INCLUsive of green fee, shared golf cart use, caddie fee, BUFFET LUNCH COCKTAILS AND RAFlE ENTRY 0LAYERS CAN AVAIL OF THE PROMO IF THEY bring in their colleagues.

For inquiries, call PASIA and Transprocure 3HARED 3ERVICES /FFICE AT

OR OR EMAIL THE ORGANIZER AT INFO TRANSPROCURE COM OR VISIT WWW TRANSPOCURE COM

Me Cup tourney takes off April 8 in Antipolo THE Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City will host the Me Cup on April 8.

The member-employee golf tournament will follow a three-person scramble format (member, employee, and the caddie).

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. followed by the

Q The Times COO Blanca Mercado with Class B men’s division winners

Q Ladies division winners

Q Class C men’s division winners

Q Fun hole winners PHOTOS BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA

shotgun tee off at 7:30 a.m. at the Aoki Course.

Entry fee for members and guests is P2,500 and P500 for employees, caddies, Security, PMS, Par 72, and Golforce members.

For registration, email frontdesk@foresthillsgolf.com.

14th Pomelo Tee rolls off May 1 in Davao City THE TH 0OMELO 4EE WILL kRE OFF ON -AY TO AT THE 2ANCHO 0ALOS 6ERDES 'OLF AND Country Club in Mandug-Indangan, Buhangin, Davao City.

The four-day annual member-guest TOURNAMENT IS EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE THAN ENTRIES The event aims to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Pomelo Tee Foundation Incorporated among them college SCHOLARSHIP FOR SELECTED WORKERS AND CADDIES DEPENDENT 0ART OF THE PROCEEDS WILL ALSO BE

used to provide educational equipment and other learning materials to Mandug High School and Indangan High School. %NTRY FEE IS 0

INCLUSIVE OF TWO DAY

one mulligan per nine holes.

The tournament’s team and individual CATEGORIES WILL FOLLOW A HOLE STROKE PLAY under the modified Stableford scoring system.

For registration, contact Rancho 0ALOS AT

OR

Inspiration.

Celebrity.

Style.

The Sunday Times

March 24, 2019 Volume 118 | No. 84

FROM DOCTOR TO DIPLOMAT

Aman Rashid’s choice of service to humanity •

LITERARY LIFE

FILIPINO CHAMPIONS

ARTS AWAKE

UP Press unveils 16 new books

PH’s Autism Society celebrates 30th year

A spotlight on watercolor

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Literary Life SUNDAY March 24, 2019

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12 writers named for IYAS writers’ workshop

Q University of the Philippines (UP) Press Director J. Neil C. Garcia (front row, fifth from right) and Deputy Director for Editorial Gerry Los Baùos (back row, far left) pose with the authors, or their representatives, of the books launched at UP Balay Kalinaw on March 15. In the front row are (from left) Teodulo M. Topacio’s daughters Milali Topacio Torres and Marivel Topacio-Aro, Sir Anril Pineda Tiatco’s representative Alonzo Gabriel, Sakunang Darating co-editor Violeta V. Bautista, Rolando A. Danao, Majah-Leah V. Ravago, Will P. Ortiz, Vladimeir B. Gonzales, Lualhati Milan Abreu, Pauline Mari Hernando and Edward delos Santos Cabagnot. In the back row are (second from left) Rody Vera, Maynard Manansala, Ferdinand Llanes, GÊmino H. Abad, and Dennis Andrew S. Aguinaldo. PHOTO FROM UP PRESS

UP Press unveils poetry anthology, 15 other books

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HE University of the Philippines (UP) Press recently launched 16 books, including the fourth in a series of poetry anthologies, three books of plays and a biography of a PROMINENT ANTI -ARCOS ACTIVIST THAT REAFkRMED its status as a leading publisher of literary and scholarly works in the country.

During the “Paglulunsadâ€? event at UP Balay Kalinaw in Diliman, Quezon City on March 15, the esteemed publishing house formally introduced The Achieve of, The Mastery: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, mid-’90s to 2016. Edited by prize-winning poets Dr. GĂŠmino H. Abad and Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, the two-volume anthology is a sequel to A Habit of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, ‘60s to the ‘90s (1999).

That book followed A Native Clearing: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English since the ‘50s to the Present: Edith L. Tiempo to Cirilo Bautista (1993) and Man of Earth: An Anthology of Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, 1905 to the mid-’50s (1989). UP Press also published the three previous collections, which Abad also edited, the latter with Edna Z. Manlapaz.

The Achieve of, The Mastery was

previously launched last November at De La Salle University, where Katigbak-Lacuesta teaches. “The anthology will give a serious student and scholar of our literature a better sense of [our] literary tradition,� said Abad, also a literary critic and UP professor emeritus.

According to him, an anthology of Philippine literature is SIGNIkCANT IN CAPTURING AND UNderstanding the Filipino people’s history and culture. “Our literature, in whatever language, not just in English — Tagalog, Cebuano and so on — they are our people’s memory, our day-to-day living. It’s our culture. Our history and our culture [are] in our literature,� he told The Manila Times.

UP Press also launched Rody Vera’s Tatlong Dula (na Itinanghal ng Dulaang UP), which collects the 2014 Palanca Hall of

Fame inductee’s plays penned for the university’s premier theater group; U Z. Eliserio, Maynard Manansala and Chuckberry J. Pascual’s Kolab: Koleksyon ng mga Dula, which gathers the plays they have collaborated on, some of which have been staged at the annual Virgin Labfest theater festival; and Vladimeir B. Gonzales’ Lab: Mga Dulang Adaptasyon at Iba Pang Laro para sa mga Klaseng Panlaboratoryo.

Also unveiled were Lorena: Isang Talambuhay, Pauline Marie Hernando’s biography of the Martial Law-era activist and feminist Ma. Lorena Barros; A Split Second in Time: My Life, Times and Works, the autobiography of National Scientist for Veterinary Medicine Teodulo M. Topacio Jr.; and Dusking, Dawning, awardwinning playwright and former political detainee Bonifacio P. Ilagan’s translation of activist and cultural worker Lualhati Milan Abreau’s autobiography Agaw-Dilim, Agaw-Liwanag.

Other titles introduced are Palanca awardee Will P. Ortiz’s Si Maria Makiling at ang Alamat ng Animas Anya: Ikalawang Aklat; Dennis Andrew S. Aguinaldo’s Bukod sa Maliliit na Hayop: Mga Tula; Edward delos Santos Cabag-

not’s Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time and Manuel Silos’ Biyaya ng Lupa; and Sir Anril Pineda Tiatco’s Cosmopolitanism, Theatre, and the Philippines: Performing Community in a World of Strangers.

Na Kung Saan: Kapirasong Kritika, Mahigit Isang Dekada by Teo S. Marasigan; Stories of Struggle: Experiences of Land Reform in Negros Island, Philippines by Sarah Wright and Ma. Diosa Labiste; Powering the Philippine Economy: Electricity Economics and Policy

by Majah-Leah V. Ravago, James A. Roumasset and Rolando A. Danao; and Sakunang Darating, Saklolo’y Tayo Rin: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Handbook for Academic Institutions: The University of the Philippines Experience, edited by Ferdinand C. Llanes, et al., complete the list.

Established on March 16, 1965, UP Press has published important and often groundbreaking books IN VARIOUS kELDS INCLUDING LITERAture, arts and humanities, history, economics, and the social sciences.

Many of these works won prizes from various award-giving bodies.

The National Book Awards recognized it as publisher of the year in 1996, 2002, 2010 and 2016.

DIVINA DELA CRUZ WITH ALVIN I. DACANAY

THE IYAS La Salle National Writers’ Workshop of the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province has revealed the dozen fellows for its 19th edition, to be held at the school’s Balay Kalinungan complex from March 31 to April 6, 2019.

They are Elizabeth Joy Serrano Quijano (Binisayang Sugilanon), Maria Cristina I. Canson (Hiligaynon Binalaybay), Nicole-Ann T. Lucas (Hiligaynon/Kinaray-a Sugilanon), Isabella Kathrina S. Villarojo (Binisayang Dula), Ryan Cezar O. Alcarde (Filipino Tula), Alec Joshua B. Paradez (Filipino Maikling Kuwento), March Anetonette S. Ortuoste (Filipino Dula), Jefferson G. del Rosario (Binisayang Balak), Sigrid Mari-

anne P. Gayangos (English Short Story), King V. Llanza (English Poetry), Jose Luis B. Pablo (English Poetry) and Edmark T. Tan (English Poetry) John Iremil Teodoro is this year’s workshop director. Panelists are Marjorie M. Evasco, Grace Monte de Ramos-Arcellana, Susan S. Lara, Isidoro M. Cruz and Em Mendez. Joining them are Elsa Martinez Coscolluela, Ronald Baytan and IYAS Project Director Raymundo Pandan Jr. The workshop is organized by USLS and the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of De La Salle University. It is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

Poetizer: A Czech social network for poetry lovers HARD as it is to believe, there are people today who still see poetry as a literary form that elitist white men used in the past to articulate their thoughts on nature and women. But after World Poetry Day was celebrated last Thursday, people are encouraged to take another look at the genre and its potential to become a powerful force in international relations.

The last few years have seen poetry becoming a potent tool for those speaking out against social injustice and prejudice. Interestingly, most of these new poets and their admirers are millennials.

One of them is Indian-Canadian Rupi Kaur, who has sold millions of her poetry books around the world.

Poetry has become so popular, especially in the Western hemisphere, that last year, observers have reportedly considered it a new form of religion that believes in honesty and equality for everyone. Furthermore, with the absence of prejudice as its core value, poetry has become the preferred tool for people searching for meaningful self-expression.

Poetry has much to offer in today’s increasingly divided world. It has the power to bridge gaps between people, because it forms real connections based on our common human experiences, regardless of nationality, social status, religion or political views.

In a world where social media is often characterized as promoting only the edited highlights of a person’s life, its traditional platforms may not be the best places to share one’s innermost thoughts, worries or memories. Because of this, Lukas and Johana Sedlacek, a couple based in Prague, designed Poetizer. It is a social network for those devoted to writing, reading and sharing poetry. “Poetizer is creating a space for poetry lovers across the globe that share the same desires and values, like freedom of speech, authenticity and the love of poetry as a form of self-expression,� said Lukas,

also the site’s managing director. “We believe that the platform will interest even those who don’t write poetry themselves,� he added. “More and more people don’t feel free to be fully themselves on current social media sites, as they feel pressured to live up to other people’s expectations,� the co-founder explained, adding that Poetizer should serve as a safe space for the global poetry community and represent those who want to be heard in society.

Unlike other social-media platforms, Poetizer was created to suit a poet’s needs.

“When we were creating Poetizer, we primarily listened to the wishes and needs of poets,� Johana said. “The community of people interested in poetry is rapidly [expanding] around the world and they deserve their own social network built on their wishes and with no limits to their artistic expression.�

Poetizer allows users to create an account, save drafts, publish finished poems and share them with the world. Besides a news feed with new posts and the option to create poetry collections, the platform has features that allow users to be anonymous, edit text with great detail, and ask other users for feedback. All this is underscored by a minimalist design that doesn’t distract the users from the poems.

Since its launch in 2017, Poetizer now boasts of 120,000 poems written by users from 120 countries. It has encouraged people to interact with each other, regardless of their differences, and build friendships based on their common human experiences.

Poetizer can be accessed at poetizer. com and is available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play. For more information, send an email to press@poetizer.com.

BOOK REVIEW

Next Person: A ‘quick-read’ book ‘worth meeting’ MITCH Albom turned a career started by an intensely personal memoir called Tuesdays with Morrie into a series of parables written as short novels.

He followed the megasuccess of Morrie WITH HIS kRST NOVEL The Five People You Meet in Heaven, released in 2003.

In that book, an old amusement park mechanic dies saving a little girl from an accident. The old veteran dies thinking his life had

NO MEANING (E MEETS kVE PEOPLE in heaven who reveal how his life had meaning.

Fifteen years later, Albom has WRITTEN A SEQUEL TO HIS kRST NOVEL The Next Person You Meet in Heaven (Harper; 224 pages; 2018) follows the life of Annie, the little girl saved at the amusement park.

She suffered the loss and reattachment of a limb as a result of the accident. She remembers nothing of this incident, includ-

THE Literary Life page of The Sunday Times Magazine is now accepting contributions of new, original and unpublished short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, preferably in English, from emerging and established writers. Works must be encoded in Microsoft Word using the typefaces Arial, Times New Roman, or Palatino Linotype, font size 12 and letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches),

ing Eddie’s fatal role in saving her.

The accident spurs Annie’s single mother to relocate themselves to another location.

The accident leaves more than a mark on her arm where her hand was reattached.

Despite a difficult childhood and adolescence, she marries. The book opens with her wedding.

Another accident occurs the day after the wedding ceremony. Annie is whisked to heaven where she

MEETS HER kVE PEOPLE Next Person is written in the same easy-reading style as all of Albom’s books. He doesn’t claim his ideas of heaven are dogma.

Instead, the book is more about how lives are interconnected with people we know well to people we don’t really know at all.

A stranger can have as much impact on our lives as the most intimate relationship.

Next Person is another quick

and saved in either .doc or .rtf format. Each short story and creative nonfiction piece should be between ten (10) and twenty (20) pages (double-spaced), while each poem should be limited to only one (1) page (single-spaced).

Works littered with glaring grammatical and typographical errors will not be considered. Send your works to the literary editor, Alvin I. Dacanay, at literarylife[at]

read. It falls more in line with the original Five People and some of Albom’s other novels compared to his last outing, the longer The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto.

For readers who enjoy Albom, his latest is a book worth meeting.

THE VALDOSTA DAILY TIMES, GA./TNS The Next Person You Meet in Heaven costs P899 in hardcover and is available in leading bookstores.

manilatimes[dot]net. Kindly put the genre and title of the work in the email’s subject line (example: Short Story: Dead Stars). Authors whose creative works are published in the magazine agree to have these included in literary anthologies that The Manila Times may conceive and publish in the future. Full copyright ownership of the works shall remain with their respective authors.

Filipino Champions The Sunday Times

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

MAICA TEVES

Sparking a new generation of empowered Filipinas A

S a woman, I have always been proud to call Philippines my home only because of the opportunities given to THE THOUGHT women in both business and the governJUNKIE ment. My generation has seen powerful CARLA BIANCA WOMEN RUN FOR OFkCE HOLD THE HIGHEST RAVANES-HIGHAM positions in the government, and lead businesses that are successful not just in nas,� she reasons. the country but all over the world.

When asked where her passion that As Maica Teves, the Executive Director fuels Spark Philippines comes from, she of SPARK Philippines or Samahan ng mga says, “The projects are enough reason for Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran me to be passionate about the cause but says, “I think the Philippines is not the what personally hits me the most is seeworst place to live as a woman. We have ing our women become economically a certain amount of women in key posi- empowered. Projects like ours can actually tions in government and in business, more make big changes in their lives, slowly but so than other countries but I believe that surely. Seeing women who we have spent there is still a lot that can be done to make time with be able to provide not just for sure that women here can be economically themselves but for their families as well SELF SUFkCIENT AND EMPOWERED u make me feel like what we are doing is Maica, who has an outstanding ca- really making a difference.� reer that includes experience in project And rightfully so, women, I believe, coordination, management, and lead- have the right to live a life that is comership has always seen herself as an PLETELY THEIR OWN /NE THAT IS NOT DEkNED empowered woman and it is her own by whose daughter they are or who they experience that inspired her to give are married to. NGOS like Spark Philipother women the same opportunities. pines allow women to belong completely “Many women in the country, especially to themselves and to thrive while standing THOSE IN THE POORER AND FAR lUNG AREAS DO on their own two feet.

NOT HOLD THE SAME SELF SUFkCIENCY THAT Women, on their own, have so much makes them empowered. This is what to offer the world and this often begins inspired me to be an advocate for women when another woman offers her hand empowerment full time,� she shares. and graciously shares what she knows Through Spark Philippines, Maica is with another. able to provide women from Luzon to And that someone for a lot of women is Mindanao with the tools that will help Maica Teves and what she has built with them develop into women who are eco- Spark Philippines. nomically and politically empowered. She Thank you for all you do, Maica. You is also a staunch advocate of ending gen- truly are a great example of what happens der-based violence in the entire country. when women empower each other and One of these initiatives is called “With your light is truly sparking a revolution Her: A Skilled Workforce,� which refers to that is like no other. the theme of the International Day of the *** www.carlabiancaravanes.com Girl which highlights the new generation of women who will enter the workforce in a few years.

Maica, along with Spark Philippines doesn’t just empower women but girls as well by making sure that they are provided with the education that they need to thrive. “Education from a young age is key in women’s economic empowerment and teaching them skills they can use in the future is incredibly important in raising a new generation of empowered Filipi- Maica Teves, Spark Philippines executive director.

Teves' organization provides women, like this group from Midanao, tools to empower them toward economic independence and social significance.

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PH's Autism Society celebrates 30th year

Thousands join this year’s ‘Angels Walk for Autism,’ mounted by the Autism Society of the Philippines and SM Cares. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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HOUSANDS of autism advocates joined this year’s “Angels Walk for Autism,� the annual event that advocates acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of Filipinos with autism toward an Autism-OK Philippines.

Organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), together with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, this year’s celebration highlighted the country’s legacy of strong leaders that have brought the autism advocacy forward — for the last 30 years, across 97 chapters, with 13,000 members — and have become the foundation on which the next generation of leaders will build the future.

Hans Sy, SM Prime Holdings chairman of the executive committee, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the ASP’s Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare. It is the society’s highest recognition, celebrating exemplary leadership THAT HAS SIGNIkCANT AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON advancing ASP’s vision of acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of persons with autism in an Autism-OK Philippines.

Beyond awareness, Sy’s leadership has inspired tangible, measurable action through the accomplishments of SM Cares. “Although many are aware of autism, very few people actually understand what it means to live life on the autism spectrum.

SM Cares and ASP come together as a community to remind everyone that autism awareness and acceptance should be part of their everyday lives. Awareness is a good thing, but acceptance is far more meaningful,� said Bien Mateo, SVP of SM Supermalls

and Program Director of SM Cares Program on PWDs (persons with disabilities).

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who issued EO 711 of 1996, instituting the commemoration of the National Autism Consciousness Week, was honored by ASP as the Father of the Philippine Autism Advocacy. “FVR’s leadership opened the doors for the government agencies and private institutions to begin the path toward genuine inclusion of persons on the autism spectrum,� shared Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP national president. “His administration’s disability inclusive policies have put the Philippines ahead of our ASEAN neighbors in advocating for persons with autism and other invisible disabilities,� she added.

The pre-walk program was led by Ms. Dang Koe, ASP Chair Emeritus and the inaugural ASEAN Prize Laureate 2018.

The ASEAN Prize aims to recognize inspiring achievements and contributions that foster the ASEAN identity, promote the ASEAN spirit, and champion the ASEAN way. ASP is among the active movers behind the ASEAN Autism Network and the ASEAN Mapping Project.

ASP also awarded the Autism Works Partners of the Year honors to Dohtonbori Philippines, a Japanese casual dining pioneer and to Willis Towers Watson, a global leader in risk management and

consultancy, for their unwavering commitment to creation of productive opportunities for jobseekers with autism.

The program included the presentation of the annual ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards to Samantha Pia CabaĂąero (for Advocacy), Eduardo Enrique Munarriz (for Athletics), and Carlo Gregorio Veluz (for Visual Arts). It also incorporated the induction of the new ASP Board of Trustees, composed of parent advocates; and the kRST SET OF OFkCERS OF THE !30 3ELF !DVOCATES Circle, composed of adults with autism.

Over 20,000 participants – families, professionals, supporters from the government and private sectors, from the Philippines and overseas – joined the annual walk from the MOA Arena to the SM MOA Music Hall.

The annual walk is held with the support of the MOA Arena, SM Mall of Asia, National Council of Disability Affairs, ASEAN Autism .ETWORK AND THE !SIA 0ACIkC $EVELOPMENT Center on Disability.

Established in 1989, ASP is composed of 13,000 members spread over 96 chapters and has been in the forefront of providing services to families and individuals affected with autism.

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).

As a responsible integrated property developer, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change in the communities that it supports.

PhilMissionari, Habitat for Humanity partner to raise funds for poor communities THE Philippine Missionari Della Fondazione Di Carita Inc. or Philmissionari and Habitat for Humanity Philippines have partnered to mount a major fundraising initiative this year.

The two non-profit organizations recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for a joint endeavor which aims to raise funds for programs that aid select disadvantaged communities in the country. “Habitat’s achievements in uplifting the lives of families through housing and community development match our values of service and social change,� said Philmissionari Co-Founder and President Judith Tan. “We are looking forward to working with Habitat to power more programs to help Filipino communities in need of aid and access,� she added.

Philmissionari focuses on service, social change and the provision of aid, access and opportunities for poor communities.

The foundation currently has programs on support and volunteerism, education, livelihood and employment, health, nutrition and feeding, and emergency relief.

(From left) Habitat for Humanity Philippines Communications Director Jamie Sugay, COO Lili Fuentes, Philmissionari Founder and Chairman Charles Pontier Sr., CoFounder and President Judith Tan, Co-Founder and Operations and Outreach Archie Tan, (standing) Habitat for Humanity Philippines Resource Development Manager Stephanie Arellano, and Philmissionari’s Dexter Crudo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Cover Story The Sunday Times

F4

SUNDAY March 24, 2019 COVER PHOTO AND INSIDE PORTRAITS BY GERARD SEGUIN

F R O M D O C T O R T O D I P L O M AT

Aman Rashid’s choice of service to humanity Moreover, during my career in foreign service, I have continuously interacted with Filipinos in different levels — from the diplomatic level all the way to house workers [domestic helpers] — so you can say I’m familiar with the culture.

Also, I wanted to serve in Asia because this century, I believe, belongs to us Asians. I have never served in Asia as an ambassador so it was a plus factor for me [to be posted here]. !DDITIONALLY ) kND IT INTERESTING THAT in the Philippines, despite the fact that you are a Catholic country, there are a lot of pluralistic societies, like the Muslims and the Christians living together in a very harmonious manner. In fact in the United Nations (UN), the Philippines is among the countries that promotes interfaith dialogue.

And by the way, at the UN, Pakistan and the Philippines closely cooperate each other, not only in terms of having the same opinions, but also literally since seating is arranged alphabetically, and we are always sitting next to each other.

BY CHRISTINA ALPAD

L

IKE most children who grew up in traditional Asian households, Pakistan Ambassador to the Philippines Aman Rashid was expected to follow his family’s profession. In his case, it was to be a medical doctor like most everyone in his clan.

Adding to the pressure for the young Rashid was the fact that in Pakistan, doctors are highly regarded professionals with a career in medicine most sought after in society and a standing that gives the utmost prestige.

Nevertheless, the diligent son in Rashid — the youngest in his family — took him to medical school despite a feeling of uncertainty. He studied as any medical student would — intensely and vigorously — developing the kind of commitment and discipline

The Sunday Times

magazine TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY Literary Editor CHRISTINA ALPAD IZA IGLESIAS Staff Writers ARLO CUSTODIO Deskman *** PETER BAGA ZENAIDA D. ERISPE MARJORIE T. DIZON ENRICO D. BERATA JOANNA C. UMADHAY HORACIO MAKABENTA Layout Artists *** DANTE FRANCIS M. ANG 2ND President & CEO *** Telephone: 524-5664 to 66 Telefax: 521-6897 • 521-6872 Subscription: 528-1319 www.manilatimes.net Website lifestyle@manilatimes.net E-mail

~

The Manila Times is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

that would make any other endeavor almost a walk in the park.

But even then, Rashid realized two years into medical school that he did not want to become a doctor. He had no idea what he wanted to do but he was certain a career in medicine was not for him. “The question suddenly crossed my mind, ‘Was I willing to practice as a doctor?’ I knew it is a challenging profession but I was also aware it is a very committing job where you’re expected to work round the clock because you’re dealing with human life,� Rashid recalled to The Sunday Times Magazine in this one-on-one interview.

Looking back, he realized how his father’s career as an ophthalmologist contributed to his hesitation to carry on. “I witnessed how my father was always working that he hardly had time for his family because he had to be committed. And the family had no right to say anything regarding his absence.�

And yet, even with a heavy heart, Rashid fulfilled his promise to his FAMILY TO kNISH MEDICAL SCHOOL WHILE respectfully expressing his decision not to practice as a doctor. Because by then, he already found a career he was willing to pursue to the fullest. “I thought that if I really had the desire to serve the humanity, I can do it better as a diplomat because then the canvas and the horizon to do so is broader,� he explained.

Thankfully, he sought and was given his family’s blessing to take complete turnaround toward his future and immediately prepared to take Pakistan’s Civil and Foreign Service examinations. And in 1987 at 24 years old it BECAME OFkCIAL ‡ 2ASHID WAS ACCEPTED into the Pakistan Foreign Service.

A little over decades and several countries of posting later, The Sunday Times Magazine VENTURED TO kND OUT whether the Pakistan ambassador can say he truly found his calling. Can he wholeheartedly say today he did the right thing to turn his back in serving humanity as a medical doctor and instead, choosing to serve as bridge between peoples of different nations? $OES HE FEEL FULkLLED IN REPRESENTING Pakistan in the realms of global trade and social cultural exchange? Is he making a difference in people’s lives as he would have as doctor?

These and more are questions Ambassador Aman Rashid generously and

When you eventually arrived in the Philippines though, what were your immediate impressions of the country? ‘In my desire to serve humanity, I thought I could do it best as a diplomat,’ says Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Aman Rashid who completed medical school before joining the foreign service.

colorfully answered in the exchange that follows, while happily detailing how the 70-year-long relationship between Pakistan and the Philippines continues to grow strong, prosperous and meaningful under his watch.

has snow! I’m not really complaining about them, but you know coming from Pakistan — which also has four seasons — sometimes you just want to be assigned to a different setting. So it was my own choice to come to Manila.

They were very good. When I come to a country, my country’s reputation precedes me, because as ambassador, I’m not Mr. Rashid but Ambassador of Pakistan.

In my case here in the Philippines though, it turned out to be a very pleasant experience and a very positive thing because I was received with a lot of

The Sunday Times Magazine: What were the initial challenges you had to face when you embarked on a career in foreign service?

As with anything, if you want to do your job in the most professional WAY THE kRST THING TO DO IS LEARN I take everything as a challenge, but with the kind of life and discipline I had as a medical student, the challenge of learning the things I had to learn for foreign service were not AS DIFkCULT AS ONE WOULD IMAGINE IT TO be. In medical school, you are so focused, you have to put up long hours and these traits already became part of me before I shifted careers, so sure, it was a challenge to do so but it actually became a pleasant change too.

Following how you value learning and past experiences in dealing with the present, how do you think your previous postings helped you get settled in Manila.

I have to say that my previous posts actually had me wanting to go to Manila. All my career, most of the time I had been posted in a country that

The ambassador during his posting in the United States with former Chicago City Mayor Richard Daley.

Cover Story The Sunday Times

SUNDAY March 24, 2019

A meaningful meeting with Pope Francis.

warmth and smiles, not only by ofkCIALS BUT BY PEOPLE IN GENERAL 4HAT S why my family and I are very comfortable here because we’ve been received with so much love and affection. I mean, there are no Pakistan biases or negativity in the Philippines.

So I will always say I was received in a very pleasant way in this country than when in other countries and for me, it just speaks of the cordiality and the openness of the people of the Philippines. )N FACT IN MY kRST MEETING AND PREsentation of credentials, I was also very warmly received by President Duterte.

He told me that he has a special place for Pakistan in his heart and he was very forthcoming to improve relations between the two countries.

So I think we’ve been received at the highest level and at the leadership level very positively. And I really appreciate that at the highest level, there’s equanimity that the Philippines would like to have better and improved relations with Pakistan.

What do the Philippines and Pakistan have in common?

We’re both developing countries. We have the same kind of agrarian economies and social economic standards.

With our new government, the new Prime Minister Imran Khan has only BEEN IN OFkCE FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS now and his main political campaign and slogan was to bring justice to people and to uplift the poor. And this is exactly in conformity with what President Duterte is saying.

The other thing very interesting I noticed is that one of your main sources of foreign exchange earning in Philippines is from overseas workers, which is similar in Pakistan.

I believe we also have similarities in history because we also had a US camp just like the Philippines.

So to reiterate, we have similarities not only in terms of culture but of being family-oriented with social commonalities and our status of development.

All in all, these allow both sides to identify with one another more eas-

ily. We have the same skin color and neither countries have stereotypes or negativity for one another.

I can say this because I went to the Fletcher School in Boston and did my masters in diplomacy there from 1990 to 1992. At that time, it was very convenient [to study there] and [the people were] very open. But after 9/11, there came a concept of the clash of civilizations and it really created some friction between the West and the Muslim world, unfortunately.

But here in the Philippines, it’s very open. Filipinos have no biases at least against my country. So that’s a very positive thing.

Can you share what you know of the diplomatic history between Pakistan and the Philippines?

Pakistan gained independence in 1947 and it was in 1949 that the 0HILIPPINES kRST OPENED AN OFkCE in Karachi, which was initially the capital of Pakistan. That started the diplomatic relations of the two countries. And this year, we are on our 70th year of diplomatic ties so both countries agreed to celebrate the milestone.

In the past I believe the late President Ferdinand Marcos visited Pakistan and now, I think we are again expecting a visit from Philippines to Pakistan at the highest level.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ceferino Rodolfo who led a delegation to Pakistan. It was a very fruitful exchange.

Then on the second day, they had businessmen meeting here for Pakistan businessmen in the country.

The outcome was to work on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between our two countries because of the constraints for us as an outsider of the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations].

Although we are the sectoral dialogue partner of Asean, to do business for us is DIFkCULT BECAUSE THE MEMBER COUNtries have their own trade regime. So this is one of the reasons why we have to think of ways and means of encouraging and increasing our trade.

Pakistan is exporting cement and now that you have the “Build, Build, Build� policy of President Duterte, your requirement of cement is unimaginable.

We produce large quantities of cement.

Pakistan also has an agricultural economy. We have four seasons, so we grow rice, we grow all the crops and WE ARE ALSO SELF SUFkCIENT 7E ALWAYS have an ample amount of production of rice to be exported, which is what I always tell Secretary Manny PiĂąol of the Department of Agriculture.

Another landmark achievement is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on agriculture

F5

Aman Rashid’s 32-year career highlights 1987: Joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan 1992: Obtained Masters Degree in International Relations from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Medford, USA 1987 to 1990 and 1992 to 1994: Served at the Headquarters of Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Desk Officer 1998 to 2000 and 2004 to 2007: Served at the Headquarters of Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Director 2012 to 2013: Served at the Headquarters of Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Director General

*Held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions abroad: 1995 to 1997: Paris, France (Unesco) 2001 to 2003: New Delhi, India 2007 to 2010: Chicago, USA 2010 to 2012: Tehran, Iran November 2013 to August 2017: Served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Switzerland with concurrent accreditation to Liechtenstein and the Holy See September 2017: Ambassador of Pakistan to the Republic of Philippines

What are some of the projects you have established so far at the Pakistan Embassy in Manila?

The job of the ambassador is to institutionalize the links between two countries, so when I came in we had the bilateral political consultation in January 2018.

Going back in history, our two countries signed an agreement for the Joint Economic Commission in 2009 but the exchange and meeting never happened. So for me, one of the biggest achievements of my posting was in February 2018 when WE kNALLY HELD THAT EXCHANGE WITH

Rashid sees himself not only as the head of an administration but also as head of the family he has built at Pakistan’s Embassy in Manila.

population. We signed it on the 17th of October — myself and Secretary Piùol. So now it covers all the different aspects of agriculture — food crops, food chain and the agribusiness industry because you also have a very strong agriculture industry especially in making dry foods. So there’s a lot of opportunities for cooperation.

Recently, from Febr uar y 24 to 26, we had a high level delegation under t he Pa k ist a n-Philippines Business Council because we have reinvigorated this relationship. Almost 24 exporters to the Philppines from the rice, pharmaceutical and cement sectors came. In fact, one of the them said he is developing international food in Pakistan and negotiated with Jollibee, so maybe we’ll be opening a branch in Lahore.

There are a lot of areas of cooperation which can be developed. There is a strong desire on both sides for exchanges. The challenge is to translate this desire into action and your side and my side are trying our best to do that.

The ambassador and his beautiful family bask in the warm welcome and acceptance of the Filipino people.

As of now then, what can be expected of these constant developments between our two countries?

We a r e wor k i n g on t o m a k e

Makati and Karachi as sister cities. As both have same culture and Karachi is our business hub. So that is one of my goals, to at least have a sister city agreement so we can bring people together.

With a sisterhood, we can bring people together because it provides us an apolitical forum where you can have any interaction under the sister city, youth exchanges, professional lectures, and you can have business exchanges, just to name a few.

Can you give us an insight into your leadership style as ambassador?

In terms of leadership style, I see myself not only as the head of the administration but the head of the family also.

Half of the people working for me are locals who already have their homes here, but the rest of the staff are from Pakistan too, so it’s not only their professional requirement and competence which matters to me, but also their welfare.

On the other hand, my demand from the staff is discipline and responsibility.

Considering the challenges of a career in diplomatic service, what FULkLLMENT DO YOU ACHIEVE FROM choosing this career over your original profession? ) WOULD SAY THE FULkLLMENT IS FELT BOTH in my professional life as well as my family life. All human beings have a desire to travel overseas and go for tourism for new experiences. Foreignserviceallows youthat but with a vivid sense of purpose, a sense of commitment and a sense of contribution.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to represent my country at the highest level so besides the satisfaction of traveling overseas, this career is also very emotionally satisfying because you’re doing something very few people do.

So if I compare this career to medicine, medicine also serves humanity and yet foreign service has a bigger, larger canvas where you are able to contribute towards making policies, bringing the people of two countries where you are representative together in very meaningful ways.

At the end of the day, do you feel you have found your life’s purpose in shifting careers?

Life is a continuous learning experience. I have no regrets.

Fun Times The Sunday Times

F6

»horoscope

THE SUNDAY CROSSWORD

Intrigue!

By Merl Reagle March 24, 2019

...Sometimes the only thing you can predict is the dialogue This puzzle is part of Merl's best-of series 1 5 10 14 17 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28 29 37 38 39 40 41 42 49 50 51 52 53 56 57 59 63 71 72 73 74 75 76 83 84 85 86 87 90 92 93 95 104 105 106 107 108 109 116 117 118 119

ACROSS Gallo’s gallons Abraham’s wife, in Genesis 1939 Bolger costar A bloomin’ Lillie Actor Rusty of Make Room for Daddy Says is true Brainstorm Business mag.

Intrigue-ing film line First of the secondfloor apts., perhaps Winning number Party quaff Female Charles Intrigue-ing film line ___ Vegas Holm of The Hobbit Rico in a bottle Long fish savored by alligators Compass pt.

Intrigue-ing film line Max portrayer Dig in Dove sound Make (things) out Fla. reptile ___-Manuel Miranda Protein synthesizer Latté parlor Intrigue-ing film line Stimpy’s friend Mgr. ejector Scoreless hockey game Savalas’s real first name, for short Choice: abbr.

Intrigue-ing film line Precious bodily fluids Famous first baseman?

Summer drink Copycat Beatles tune, “___ Love You” High trains Letters on Cards’ caps Fashion monogram Intrigue-ing film line “Certainement” TV newswoman Curry City of 90 Acr. ___ hunch Before, once Intrigue-ing film line Glass globe flakes Toward the tail Iron in the raw Medicinal juice

120 Intrigue-ing film line 127 Mame portrayer, to friends 128 Of whom “I sing” 129 Development stage 130 Hitler humbler of 1936 131 Beehive State player 132 Noggin 133 Grammar concern 134 Other than this DOWN 1 “Scram!”

2 Turtles hit, “You Know What ___” 3 Bird’s beak 4 Gaucho gold 5 Be opposed (to) 6 Bond film, ___ to a Kill 7 Thing, in law 8 Word from Annie’s Sandy 9 Having equal tension 10 Lavender flower 11 Hubbub 12 Adhere (to) 13 1957 Taylor-Clift epic, ___ County 14 Major hurry 15 All together 16 Expert 17 Canopied seat atop an elephant 21 High post in the circus?

22 Fashionable Karan 23 Adornment for McGarrett 24 Not relative?

30 Poop out 31 I Lost It at the Movies author Pauline 32 Court document 33 Sweetums 34 In the past 35 Pesters 36 Prefix meaning “three times” 43 Family workout place, familiarly 44 Star Wars princess 45 Clinch, as a job 46 Like Hitchcock’s curtain?

47 Nobel-winning Morrison 48 Cal or Genen add-on 53 Rock or Pine 54 Superman portrayer 55 Boss, often

Gift givers! For info on Merl’s books, visit www.sundaycrosswords.com.

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56 Stinky Pepe of cartoons 58 “Relax, it’s only ___” 60 Tortoise-tale teller 61 Jacques, for one 62 Moray monger 64 Take to court 65 Where many renewals occur: abbr.

66 It breaks your heart 67 It breaks your dirt 68 Enormous span 69 Ball in socket?

70 Opposite of “undo” 77 Back of the neck 78 Stat preceder 79 On one’s own 80 “What ___ God wrought” 81 Between actions 82 Arkin’s co-star in The In-Laws 88 Don’t abandon 89 “This ___ time for jokes!”

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91 With this condition 92 Let your utensils do the wokking 93 Chinese concept 94 Crooked business 95 Across and Down indicators: abbr.

96 Bested at basketball 97 Treat as a celebrity 98 Bearded quadruped 99 Wk. day 100 Word after jaw or raw 101 “___ are wise; the rest are mad” (Euripides) 102 Tell weapons 103 Arab nation 110 Not neg.

111 Maximum voltage or current 112 Salamander terrestrial stage 113 Bob the Builder’s beltful 114 Furious

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115 Role Clint Eastwood played on Rawhide, Rowdy ___ 120 Jay Presson Allen play 121 That woman

122 Teachers’ grp.

123 Palindromic Dutch city 124 Have, as a fever 125 Foot extension?

126 Night avian

Solution: ¶:RUOG :DU 2QH· (Mar 17) H A H A D A N E M E A R A S P O T

domestic systems to support your family. Once you see what’s underneath, you can build it stronger. Do the research before investing. Relax at home.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Monitor communications carefully. You get more with honey than vinegar. Provide a persuasive message, and invite others to participate. Respond quickly to news updates.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Get into a profitable groove. Chop wood, and carry water. Take care of your regular responsibilities, even as demand increases for your goods and services.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Put one toe in the water before jumping in. Travel and education opportunities call. Listen to someone who’s been where you want to go. Details astound.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Consider a personal dream as conditions line up favorably. Allow extra time in the schedule for complications.

Restraint serves you well. Nonetheless, step forward.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep your long-term financial vision in mind as you review the numbers. Invest in success. Don’t fall for a trick. Get support from your team.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- It’s easy to get lost in thought. Allow yourself unstructured time to let your mind wander. Consider where you’ve been and what’s ahead. Rest and recharge.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Team up with a genius. Creative collaborations sparkle. Get persuaded by another’s dream. Don’t gamble with the rent.

Compromise on practical solutions and savings.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Brilliant ideas flow through your circle of friends. Learn from each other. Listen to your dreams and intuition. Support your team and energize the game.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Demand for your work is on the rise. Put your back into your efforts.

Physical energy gets the job done. Heed recommendations and warnings.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Focus on your work. Technical glitches would disrupt the schedule; make repairs before they’re necessary. Back up data and images. Prepare for an inspection or test.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Avoid unnecessary fussing. Share a worry or concern with someone you trust. Look at things from another vantage point. Relax, and wait for developments.

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

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Today’s Birthday (03/24/19). Discoveries abound this year. Disciplined work opens new professional doors. Savor domestic bliss this summer, before a professional opportunity calls. Realize a career milestone next winter, before home repairs get your attention. Explore new frontiers and share what you’re finding with people you love.

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SUNDAY March 24, 2019

A UNCH N T A R E O WW I L NO B L BO I S L E E HORN V OW A E WW I P RW I N S I R K ON E Y ND S P T O D I A WW I N P S I S GOR L O WW I E N A NC A TME A KO DN

WEWA S V A C MR S S A L OH A I T A L I A N L I T L OOK A N T ON I A A NC Y E L L O WW I N G T CH E D A S SOC A T L E A S T MA N T A S V I E WW I T H A L A R M H A A R E A H A N R A E E R S E T H E R S GR I N S I S H I V E T RO T S T E X T E L E E R OW A N T E N I N P O WW O W R E Y E D S T R A WW I N E E O L I D SOS I D E A D I N E D E N COA L T A R ME D I C A L E DH S S E NOV E L L O T T E D A D E A L OP A E W O O D R O WW I L S O N L E RROR S N A I L E D A S E E T O S NOO T Y

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Update

SUDOKU

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

By ROGER SEVILLA Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

Arts Awake SUNDAY March 24, 2019

University of the Philippines Choral Ensemble.

T

The Sunday Times

F7

Philippines to host 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix

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Koryo Mindanao officers and Distinction Cards awardees during the two-day summit held in Capiz.

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Arts Awake The Sunday Times

F8

Gallery Genesis Chairman Ernie Salas.

Rene Canlas with his prize-winning piece â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Engkargado.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

March 24, 2019 SUNDAY

Salas with guest of honor, Boysie Villavicencio; Workplace Enhancement and Customer Support Head of Globe Telecom Didi Javier; The Manila Times Chief Operating Officer Blanca Mercado; and renowned art collector and Gallery Genesis founder, Chichi Salas

' K U L AY SA T U B I G '

A spotlight on watercolor A

BY NIKA ROQUE

N extremely under-appreciated medium, watercolor is in truth a very challenging medium to master since an artist can neither control nor layer watercolor on canvas.

This in mind, Gallery Genesis in Ortigas Center, Pasig mounted â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kulay sa Tubig,â&#x20AC;? an invitational art competition and exhibit to give watercolor its due importance in the visual arts.

Now on its 31st edition, "Kulay sa Tubig" opened on March 14 with the awarding on the same night. For this edition, the exhibition was showcased at the Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City to further promote the artworks. ´:LWK ZDWHUFRORU \RXU Ă&#x20AC;UVW stroke is your last, walang pagbabago. So if you make a mistake, you tear up the whole thing and start all over again,â&#x20AC;? Ernie Salas, art collector and Gallery Genesis chairman shared, demonstrating the challenge of watercolor.

Salas and his wife Chichi founded Gallery Genesis in 1981 not just to display beautiful pieces, but to also help boost the careers of new and talented artists.

A few years after, Chichi felt the need to put the spotlight on watercolor artists, thus the birth of the competition.

For decades, the rules for the competition stayed the same: paintings should in 21 x 29 inches and in pure watercolor. Moreover, these works should have been done only in the last two years and have never been exhibited.

Apart from those, the 71 artists â&#x20AC;&#x201D; out of hundreds who wanted to join â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are not limited to follow a theme or subject. The competition assures that all of the

competitors are equal, in spite of the credentials or age. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether you are established or a new graduate, 80- or 25-years old, the same rules apply. Everyone is equal in this competition,â&#x20AC;? Salas noted.

The board of judges was headed by Felipe de Leon Jr., the former chairman of National

Culture and the Arts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems that many Filipinos are attracted to watercolor and artists,â&#x20AC;? noticed de Leon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are water people, we have been big seafarers ever since. Filipinos artists are so attracted to water. We were introduced to it through the works of Vicente Manansala.

Filipinos love transparency â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from the barong that we wear to the capiz windows in our ancestral houses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authentic, na parang bukas ang kalooban to connect to others.â&#x20AC;?

According to de Leon, one of the main criteria for judging

Kulay sa Tubig awarded five runners-up and five grand winners.

apart from the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technique was that watercolor should be respected and used in its true form, different from oil or acrylic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The subject matter should be rich enough to evoke stories to suggest many psychological or social possibilities, â&#x20AC;? de Leon, Jr. explained.

One artist to check these criteria is one of the competitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

grand winners, Rene Canlas.

He made a realistic painting which he conceptualized during one of Canlasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; routine walks around Manila. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kapag nag-iisip ako ng gusto kong gawin, the objective, always ,is to preserve a piece of history.

Kapag nag-travel ako, hinahanap ko â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan at paborito ko yung mga luma at historical ever since kahit

Kulay sa Tubig is on view at the Globe Tower art gallery until April 13. PHOTOS BY GERARD SEGUIA

na yung medium ko na oil at acrylic,â&#x20AC;? Canlas told The Sunday Times Magazine.

Walking around Ongpin, Canlas spotted a caregiver of a historical fountain who was in the middle of cleaning in despite the rains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nilapitan ko siya at sabi ko â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bilib ako sa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yo. Halos wala ka naman kikitain diyan, bakit mo gusto linisin?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ang sagot niya sa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kin, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Maganda kasi yung lugar kaya kailangan ma-preserve.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yun din ang gusto ko â&#x20AC;&#x201D; na ma-preserve ang fountain kasi napaka-halaga nito eh, sagisag mula nung kapanahunan ng mga Kastila at sa ngayon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sabi ko sa kanya, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pwede bang kunan kita ng litrato?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pumayag naman. Nagpatuloy siya ng ginagawa niya habang kinukunan ko siya. Naisip ko, napakagandang subject ito na watercolor kasi pagkatapos ng ulan. Ang pinangalan ko â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Enkargado,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? the artist further explained.

Canlas painted as he referenced his many photographs of that moment. He wanted to show historical landmarks such as the arch of Ongpin and the old BPI building, which wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit into one photograph. Canlas told The Sunday Times Magazine that he had a lot of preliminary sketches before turning his photo into a winning painting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang masasabi ko lang sa gusto mag watercolor, pilitin natin maghanap ng subject na gusto nating gawin, yung talagang sa puso natin ang paggawa,â&#x20AC;? Canlas ended.

Young talents emerge in 'Affordable Art Fair' IN its continued efforts to provide a platform for young emerging artists through its Jen-Why Art campaign, Hotel Jen Manila collaborated with Affordable Art Fair Singapore and ION Art Gallery to stage â&#x20AC;&#x153;Affordable Art Fair.â&#x20AC;?

An art exhibition featuring the works of the Young Talent Programme 2018 winners, Affordable Art Fair is also a platform for young artists to be introduced to art institutions and the art-loving public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of Hotel Jenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion is discovering emerging local artists, as a result, Jen-Why Art programme enables guests to rub shoulders with the best and brightest creative talents,â&#x20AC;? the hotel said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our participation in the Young Talent Programme organized by Affordable Art Fair and ION Art reinforces our commitment to the communities where we operate, to support emerging talent.â&#x20AC;?

One of the three winning Singaporean artists, 21-year-old Jia Qi (Jacey) Lim was present at the opening launch of the exhibit on March 15 at the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Lounge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my first time here in

Jia Qi Lim and her 'Snippets Green' series.

Manila. I am overwhelmed with the support of the Filipino public,â&#x20AC;? Lim confessed, DGGLQJ WKDW LW LV DOVR KHU Ă&#x20AC;UVW time exhibiting her works in an international art exhibition.

Lim is a printmaker whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made a name in her countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local scene by capturing the urban life in Singapore.

Her works are mostly of public housing units managed by Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Housing and Development Board (HDB), where majority of the residents live. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of what you see, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be public housing landscapes

juxtaposed with domestic intervention by residents,â&#x20AC;? she explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] something that I really enjoy, to play with these kinds of materials and shapes.â&#x20AC;?

To do her masterpieces, Lim uses traditional printmaking on wood or contemporary method on concrete slabs as alternatives. Her primary medium utilizes photography, reconstructing the photos in positive-negative space before layering onto wood or concrete to create an artwork.

She was awarded with the Ngee Ann Kongsi Scholarship

and the La Salle Award for Academic Excellence in 2017.

For her Manila exhibition, Lim displayed her newly-curated art series dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Snippets Green,â&#x20AC;? featuring five artworks showcasing the greeneries in her home country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Singapore, we have a lot of these cold, concrete buildings but at the same time, we have a lot of these greeneries and this juxtaposition is something that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very interested in and always incorporate into my work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mo s t p e ople would see the cold concrete structures of Singapore and would think â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh you know, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not really sightly,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; but to me, the kind of ju x t ap o s it ion of these organic elements with the structures is something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very beautiful and very different when you put

Lim's favorite piece among her works.

'Snippets Green 1'

them together.â&#x20AC;?

T he You n g Ta l e nt P r o gramme is an annual,

10-month project of the Affordable Art Fair Singapore i n c ol l a borat ion w it h t he Si n gapor e -ba se d ION A r t Ga l ler y and suppor ted by Hotel Jen. Its goal is to identify young talents, provide guidance and commentar y on their artistic development before presenti ng them to galleries and art institutions.

For the programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 7th edition, eight ar tists were chosen from Southeast Asia where three emerged as winners â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Arya Wirawan, Liu Lung and Jia Qi Lim. These winning artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works will be showcased at Hotel Jen Ma n i laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Lounge, which will be running until April 14 Currently, artworks of the winning artists are on a Southeast Asian tour, traveling to three Hotel Jen locations in Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore before exhibiting at the coveted Winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Solo Exhibition at ION Art Gallery in Singapore in September.

MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY