THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 24, 2019 by The Manila Times

JOHNSON TAKES TWO-SHOT LEAD AT WGC-MEXICO

PAALAM, NATIONAL ARTIST FRANCISCO MAÃ&#x2018;OSA

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AT EASE AND IN HIS ELEMENT

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DALIP SINGH

FEBRUARY 24, 4 2019

Trusted since 1898

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New leader rises for Mindanao terrorists UNLIKE many of his slain comrades, the touted new leader of the Islamic State GROUP IN THE SOUTHERN 0HILIPPINES LACKS THE BRAVADO CLAN NAME OR FOREIGN TRAINING Not much is known about Hatib (AJAN 3AWADJAAN BUT THE ATTACKS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM HERALDING HIS RISE ARE DISTINCTLY SAVAGE ! DEADLY BOMBING WHICH authorities say was a suicide attack by a FOREIGN TERRORIST COUPLE BLASTED THROUGH A PACKED 2OMAN #ATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IN the middle of a Mass. The January 27 attack, which killed 23 people and wounded about 100 others on southern Jolo island in Mindanao, and another suspected suicide bombING ON NEARBY "ASILAN )SLAND LAST *ULY THAT OFkCIALS SAID HE MASTERMINDED PUT 3AWADJAAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF THE 53 LED GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM )T ALSO comes at a time when the Islamic State GROUP S LAST ENCLAVE IN EASTERN 3YRIA IS NEAR ITS IMMINENT DOWNFALL SIGNALING AN END to the territorial rule of the self-declared gCALIPHATEu THAT ONCE STRETCHED ACROSS

Â³Terrorist A2

Therapy and justice for victims of clerical abuse REFLECTIONS

FR. SHAY CULLEN, SSC

HIS week, Pope Francis took a stand on the sexual abuse of minors by priests and bishops. He called a historiCAL kRST GLOBAL MEETING IN 2OME WHERE more than 190 bishops and clerics discussed a clear plan of action on how to protect and help the victims of clerical SEXUAL ABUSE AND BRING PRIESTS TO JUSTICE and hold bishops accountable. They will hopefully learn what direct action must be TAKEN TO END DENIAL COVER UP AND BRING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS BY HOLDING PRIESTS AND bishops accountable for criminal acts AGAINST MINORS 0OPE &RANCIS IS FACING THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE ISSUE 4HE MEETING IS

Â³Cullen A4

NEW HOPE FOR NEW REGION

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) shakes hands with Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Murad Ebrahim during the oathtaking of members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority at the MalacaÃ±an Palace. AFP PHOTO

Govt vows to provide Bangsamoro budget P

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has pledged to provide a budget for the Bangsamoro autonomous region to support its development.

(E ASSURED MEMBERS OF THE "ANGSAMORO TRANSITION GOVERNMENT THAT THE REGION S RESOURCES WILL BELONG TO THE "ANGSAMORO PEOPLE g6IOLENCE VISITED US EVERY NOW AND

THEN ) HOPE THAT WE CAN END THIS !ND ) assure you â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there is one contentious ISSUE ABOUT YOUR RESOURCES )T S ALL YOURS u $UTERTE TOLD THE MEMBER "ANGSAMORO 4RANSITION !UTHORITY "4! THAT WILL GOV-

ERN THE NEWLY FORMED "ANGSAMORO REGION in Mindanao. g)T BELONGS TO THE -INDANAOANS $O not be afraid that you will be deprived of THIS )T WILL ALWAYS BENEkT THE -INDANAOAN and that is the purpose why we are here. 7E DO AWAY WITH GREED 7E DO AWAY WITH OPPRESSION u HE ADDED The President, however, admitted THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT AFFORD TO GIVE THE BUDGET TO THE NEW AUTONOMOUS

Â³Budget A7

Japan commits $16.2M for new region PompeoÂ to visit PH amid China flirtation 4(% *APANESE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED A b BILLION MILLION GRANT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS IN THE "ANGSAMORO 2EGION 4HE $EPARTMENT OF &OREIGN !FFAIRS $&! SAID PART OF THE GRANT WOULD BE USED TO ESTABLISH 4%3$! 4ECHNICAL %DUCATION AND 3KILLS $EVELOPMENT !UTHORITY CENTERS AND ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD HELP sustain peace and development in the REGION THROUGH THE ACCELERATION OF HUMAN

capital development. 4HE 0HILIPPINES AND *APAN EXCHANGED NOTES ON THREE NON PROJECT GRANT AIDS .0'! WORTH b BILLION ON THE SIDELINES OF THE TH -EETING OF THE 0HILIPPINES *APAN *OINT #OMMITTEE ON )NFRASTRUCTURE $EVELOPMENT AND %CONOMIC #OOPERATION on February 21 in Osaka, Japan. 0HILIPPINE !MBASSADOR TO *APAN *OSE ,AUREL TH AND *APANESE !MBASSADOR TO THE 0HILIPPINES +OJI (ANEDA EXCHANGED NOTES ON A b BILLION GRANT FOR THE 4%3-

$! #ENTERS PROGRAM b MILLION GRANT for the Economic and Social Development 0ROGRAM 7ELL $RILLING AND 5NDERGROUND 7ATER $ETECTING -ACHINES AND A b BILLION GRANT FOR THE %CONOMIC AND 3OCIAL $EVELOPMENT 0ROGRAM 4RAIN 3IMULATOR 4HE PROGRAMS WOULD ENHANCE ACCESS to water supply and resources to improve THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THOSE IN THE "ANGSAMORO REGION AND ENHANCE THE capacity development of train drivers

Â³Commits A7 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

33 YEARS AFTER

Militant groups hold a protest rally at the EDSA Shrine on Saturday to commemorate the EDSA people power revolution that toppled the Marcos regime. PHOTO BY ROGER RAÃ&#x2018;ADA

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people power is vote power â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aquino FILIPINOS SHOULD AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES WITH THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE BALLOT IN THE -AY MID TERM ELECTIONS ACCORDING TO 3EN 0AOLO "ENIGNO g"AMu !QUINO TH 3AYING TODAY S PEOPLE POWER IS VOTE POWER !QUINO SAID g!LAM KONG NAKAKATAKOT NGAYON PERO KAILANGAN NATING IPAKITA ANG ATING TAPANG SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ATING

REGION IN ONE GO g7E WILL PROVIDE THE BUDGET u $UTERTE told reporters in a chance interview after ADMINISTERING THE OATH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT LED BY -ORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman !L (AJ -URAD %BRAHIM g"UT IT WILL NOT BE GIVEN IN ONE TIME )T S IMPOSSIBLE 7E CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT u HE ADDED

boto ;) KNOW IT S SCARY NOW BUT WE NEED TO SHOW OUR COURAGE THROUGH OUR VOTES= u g) M HOPING COME -AY IYONG LAKAS NG taumbayan, mapakita ulit [the power of THE PEOPLE WILL RESURFACE= u THE SENATOR WHO IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION UNDER THE Otso Diretso slate, added. (E ADMITTED THAT BEING PART OF THE

OPPOSITION IS VERY DIFkCULT DURING THESE TIMES BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO PUT THE GOVernment in check and make it accountable for its actions. g4HIS IS A GARGANTUAN TASK BUT STILL IT OUGHT TO BE DONE !ND SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO DO IT u !QUINO SAID

Â³Aquino A7

WASHINGTON, D. C.: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel next week to the Philippines, the State Department said on Friday (Saturday in Manila), as the former 53 COLONY INCREASINGLY lIRTS WITH REGIONAL GIANT #HINA Pompeo will travel to Manila on February 28 and March 1 for talks with PresiDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE 3TATE $EPARTMENT SPOKESMAN 2OBERT 0ALLADINO SAID 4HE TOP 53 DIPLOMAT WILL BE PAYING THE visit on his way back from Hanoi where HE IS JOINING 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP FOR his closely watched second summit with

Â³Flirtation A7

News

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY February 24, 2019

War vetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pension hiked to P20,000 BY REINA C. TOLENTINO

HE monthly pension of war veterans would be raised from P5,000 to P20,000 once Republic Act 11164 is implemented, according to Rep. Sandra Eriguel. %RIGUEL A CO AUTHOR OF THE BILL AT THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES THANKED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE FOR SIGNING THE MEASURE THAT WILL BENEFIT VETERANS WHO FOUGHT IN

World War 2, the Korean War, and THE 6IETNAM 7AR g4HIS WILL SUPPORT OUR HEROES WHO NEED MEDICAL AND kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR OLD AGE u SHE

said in a statement. g4HIS WILL ALSO BOOST THE MORALE OF OUR &ILIPINO SOLDIERS KNOWING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS READY TO ASSIST THEM DURING THEIR RETIREMENT u SHE ADDED The new law effectively raised the monthly pension of war vetERANS BY PERCENT STARTING The law provides that the monthly pension of veterans will be raised to P20,000 a month, provided that veterans of the Korean AND THE 6IETNAM WAR ARE NOT RE-

CEIVING PENSION FROM THE MILITARY %NTITLEMENT TO THE OLD AGE PENSION RAISE WILL BE LIMITED TO ELIGIBLE LIVING senior veterans. The pension is not transferable to family members or dependents of senior veterans. The law provides that the fund FOR THE kRST YEAR OF ITS IMPLEMENTAtion should come from the PhilipPINE 6ETERANS !FFAIRS /FkCE &OR ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN SUCCEEDING YEARS #ONGRESS WILL ALLOCATE A FUND IN THE 'ENERAL !PPROPRIATIONS !CT

Q TERRORIST FROM A1

Amid loss of leaders MUCH OF 3YRIA AND )RAQ ! RECENT 53 $EPARTMENT OF $EFENSE REPORT TO #ONGRESS SAID IT BELIEVED 3AWADJAAN WAS THE gACTING EMIR u OR LEADER IN THE Philippines of the Islamic State GROUP ALSO KNOWN BY ITS ACROnym IS. It added that no actual LEADER IS CONkRMED TO HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE MAIN )3)3 COMmand in the Middle East as of late last year. Interior Secretary Eduardo !Ã&#x201E;O HOWEVER SAID INTELLIGENCE INDICATED THAT 3AWADJAAN A Jolo-based commander of the !BU 3AYYAF EXTREMIST GROUP WAS installed as IS chief in a ceremony last year. Three other extremist GROUPS WERE RECOGNIZED AS )3 ALlies, he added.

Late bloomer

DREDGING THE BAY

Personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways hold a dredging dry run as the rehabilitation of Manila Bay continues. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

AFP honored for pursuing peace THE !RMED &ORCES OF THE 0HILIPPINES !&0 HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED by a foundation for its pursuit of LASTING PEACE IN THE COUNTRY !&0 CHIEF OF STAFF 'EN "ENJAMIN -ADRIGAL *R RECENTLY RECEIVED THE g+APIT "ISIGu TROPHY FROM Metrobank Foundation Inc., PartNER IN %MPOWERMENT !DVOCACY AND #OMMITMENT TO %XCELLENCE 0EACE FOR gUPLIFTING THE LIVES OF THE LEAST IN SOCIETY u

The 2019 Peace honorees come from various institutions, SUCH AS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NON GOVERNMENT AND SOCIO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS DIPLOmatic missions, media, business and the academe. "ESIDES THE 0EACE RECOGNITION FORMER AND CURRENT !RMED &ORCES OFkCIALS ALSO RECEIVED THE !WARD FOR #ONTINUING %XCELLENCE AND 3ERVICE !#%3 THIS YEAR

4HEY WERE RETIRED GENERAL #ARLITO 'ALVEZ *R FORMER !&0 CHIEF OF STAFF RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL !LEXANDER "ALUTAN RETIRED LIEUTENANT GENERALS 2AUL DEL 2OSARIO AND $ANILO 0AMONAG #OMMODORE !LBERTO #ARLOS .AVAL #OMBAT %NGINEERING "RIGADE #OMMANDER 2EAR !DMIRAL %RICK +AGAOAN 0HILIPPINE .AVY #HIEF OF .AVAL 3TAFF -AJ 'EN #IRILITO 3OBEJANA 0HILIPPINE !RMY TH )NFANTRY $IVISION COMMANDER

#OL 'IEMEL %SPINO 0HILIPPINE !IR &ORCE "RIG 'EN #USTODIO 0ARCON *R ACTING !&0 INSPECTOR GENERAL #HIEF -ASTER 3ERGEANT .ELSON -ERCADO 0!& #OL (ERNANIE 3ONGANO 0HILIPPINE .AVY AND #OL 2OMEO "RAWNER *R 0HILIPPINE !RMY 4HE !#%3 AWARDEES WERE PREsented with the Spiral medallion by the Metrobank Foundation board members. ROY NARRA

AQUINO ENDORSES BAM, OPPOSITION BETS &/2-%2 0RESIDENT "ENIGNO !QUIno 3rd on Saturday endorsed his COUSIN 3EN 0AOLO "ENIGNO g"AMu !QUINO TH AND THE OTHER SENATOrial candidates of opposition coalition Otso Diretso. 3ENATOR !QUINO SAID THE FORMER 0RESIDENT S ENDORSEMENT WOULD HELP BRING MORE VOTES g0ALAGAY KO NAMAN MARAMI PA RING TAO NA NATULUNGAN NA-appreciate @YUNG MGA NAGAWA NUNG TIME NIYA

(I think there are many people who received help, and who appreciated WHAT HE DID DURING HIS TERM u HE TOLD REPORTERS DURING A PROGRAM AT THE People Power Monument. g7E REALLY WANT TO GET ALL THE SUPPORT AND ALL THE GROUPS TOGETHER PARA ITULAK ITONG GUSTO NAMING IPAGLABAN PARA SA BAYAN (to push OUR ADVOCACIES FOR THE COUNTRY u the senator added. !SIDE FROM 3EN !QUINO THOSE

RUNNING UNDER THE /TSO $IRETSO SLATE ARE FORMER SOLICITOR GENERAL &LORIN (ILBAY FORMER LAWMAKER ,ORENZO g%RINu 4AÃ&#x201E;ADA RD VETERAN ELECTION LAWYER 2OMULO -ACALINTAL FORMER )NTERIOR SECRETARY -ANUEL g-ARu 2OXAS ND -ARAWI CIVIC LEADER 3AMIRA 'UTOC HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER #HEL $IOKNO AND -AGDALO PARTY LIST 2EP 'ARY !LEJANO The former president said the opposition slate is different.

Q Former President Benigno Aquino 3rd with the Senate bets of Otso Diretso. PHOTO BY ROGER RAÃ&#x2018;ADA

g)TO HONG WALONG KANDIDATO NG /TSO $IRETSO MAAAYOS HO ITONG MGA TAONG ITO 0ERO ANG NAGPAPATINGKAD SA KANILA KONTRA SA IBA ITO HO HANDANG MANINDIGAN PARA SA INYONG LAHAT 4HESE EIGHT CANDIDATES OF /TSO Diretso...these people are decent. But what separates them from the others is that they are ready to take A STAND FOR YOU ALL u HE SAID REINA C. TOLENTINO

.OW IN HIS S 3AWADJAAN IS A late bloomer in the terrorism underworld. His turn at the helm came AFTER DOZENS OF COMMANDERS SOME INITIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE al-Qaeda movement and later with IS, were killed or captured in decades of military offenSIVES 4HE BIGGEST BATTLE LOSS came in 2017, when several FOREIGN AND LOCAL COMMANDERS WERE KILLED AS TROOPS QUELLED A kVE MONTH SIEGE BY HUNDREDS of militants in southern Marawi #ITY CAPITAL OF ,ANAO DEL 3UR Province, in Mindanao. !MONG THOSE KILLED WAS )SNILON (APILON A FIERCE !BU Sayyaf leader, who was the first )3 DESIGNATED LEADER IN THE Philippines. g) THINK 3AWADJAAN ROSE IN RANK because of seniority and there WERE NO OTHER LEADERS LEFT !LMOST EVERYONE HAD BEEN WIPED OUT u SAID !Ã&#x201E;O ,ARGELY CONkNED TO *OLO S POVerty-wracked mountain settleMENTS ALL HIS LIFE 3AWADJAAN was not the well-connected and MEDIA SAVVY STRATEGIST FOREIGN GROUPS WOULD NORMALLY ALLY WITH to expand their reach. His rise shows how IS would latch on desperately to any terrorist who could provide a sanctuary and ARMED kGHTERS AS ITS LAST STRONGHOLDS CRUMBLE IN 3YRIA !Ã&#x201E;O SAID g&OR THE )3 ;sic= TO PERPETUATE their terror actions, they need a BASE THEY NEED PEOPLE 4HAT S THE ROLE OF 3AWADJAAN u !Ã&#x201E;O TOLD 4HE !SSOCIATED 0RESS IN AN interview. He estimated that 3AWADJAAN COMMANDS ABOUT 200 combatants and followers. 3AWADJAAN WAS BORN TO A peasant family in predominantly Muslim Jolo, and only LIKELY FINISHED GRADE SCHOOL Poverty drove him to work as A LUMBERJACK IN THE JUNGLES OFF Patikul town, where he married a woman from Tanum, THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE WHERE HE WOULD BASE HIS !BU 3AYYAF faction years later, a military officer, who has closely moniTORED THE !BU 3AYYAF TOLD THE !0 ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY !S AN ELDERLY VILLAGER HE SERVED AS A LOCAL MOSQUE PREACHER EARNING HIM THE RELIGIOUS SOBRIQUET gHATIB u or sermon leader in !RABIC THE OFkCER SAID 3AWADJAAN kRST TOOK UP ARMS AS a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the LARGEST -USLIM SECESSIONIST GROUP IN THE SOUTH OF THE LARGELY 2OMAN #ATHOLIC COUNTRY WHICH WENT ON TO SIGN A -USLIM AUTONOMY DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE OFkCER (IS COMMANDER WAS 2ADULAN Sahiron, the locally popular one-armed rebel who broke away

Q Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan

from the MNLF in 1992. They JOINED THE !BU 3AYYAF WHICH HAD JUST BEEN ORGANIZED BY A Libyan-educated local militant, said MNLF leader Yusop Jikiri. 3AWADJAAN WOULD LATER PART ways with Sahiron over the latTER S REFUSAL TO ACCOMMODATE FOREIGN MILITANTS FOR FEAR THEY RE A MAGNET FOR MILITARY AIRSTRIKES SAID !BU *IHAD A FORMER MILITANT WHO HAS MET 3AWADJAAN AND WAS CAPTURED BY TROOPS !BU *IHAD DESCRIBED 3AWADJAAN AS A FOLKSY VILLAGE ELDERLY WHO CONSTANTLY LUGGED AN - RIlE IN HIS HINTERland community but was friendly to visitors. When fellow terrorists kidNAPPED A VISITING !MERICAN -USLIM CONVERT *EFFREY 3CHILLING FOR RANSOM IN !UGUST 3AWADJAAN STAYED IN THE BACKGROUND BUT HELPED GATHER BAMBOOS THAT were used to build huts for the MILITANTS AND THEIR HOSTAGE !BU Jihad said. g(E CAN DISCUSS LOCAL ISSUES BUT DIDN T HAVE ANY WISDOM ON JIHAD u HE SAID g(E S VERY ACCOMMODATING (E S THE TYPE WHO WILL NOT BE HARD TO SWAY u 3AWADJAAN COLLABORATED WITH diverse outlaws, both Islamic exTREMISTS AND BRIGANDS !Ã&#x201E;O SAID (E HARBORED THE FOREIGN COUple, believed to be Indonesians, who detonated the bombs in the Jolo cathedral last month, as well as a militant believed to BE AN !RAB KNOWN AS !BU +ATHIR AL -AGHRIBI WHO DIED IN THE VAN BLAST THAT ALSO KILLED GOVERNMENT MILITIAMEN AND VILLAGERS IN "ASILAN LAST YEAR !Ã&#x201E;O SAID ! VIDEO OBTAINED BY POLICE OFFICIALS SHOWED AL -AGHRIBI IN 3AWADJAAN S CAMP LAST YEAR BEFORE THE FOREIGN TERRORIST REportedly carried out the suicide attack in Basilan. (IS DAUGHTER MARRIED A -ALAYSIAN TERRORIST KNOWN AS !MIN Baco, who has IS connections. (IS YOUNGER BROTHER !SMAN ALSO BELONGED TO THE !BU 3AYYAF ACCORDING TO A CONkDENTIAL POLICE PROkLE OF 3AWADJAAN 3AWADJAAN AND HIS MEN WOULD later be implicated in the kidnapPINGS OF A 'ERMAN COUPLE TWO #ANADIAN MEN 3CHILLING AND A *ORDANIAN JOURNALIST "AKER !TYani. Most were ransomed off or ESCAPED BUT THE #ANADIANS WERE separately beheaded on video by ONE OF 3AWADJAAN S NEPHEWS "EN 9ADAH ACCORDING TO MILITARY AND POLICE OFkCIALS In the more than a year of JUNGLE CAPTIVITY UNDER 3AWADJAAN S GROUP SINCE *UNE !TYANI GOT A DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE !BU 3AYYAF AND THE MAN who sheltered other terrorists from Indonesia and Malaysia and fostered banditry in the blurry underworld of Islamic extremism in the volatile South. !TYANI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FREED IN EXCHANGE FOR RANSOM g)T S ALL MONEY DRIVEN IT S NOT AN IDEOLOGY u !TYANI SAID g(OWEVER HE HAS SYMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALLEGEDLY FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE u AP

News Bare stand on death penalty, bets urged Parliamentarians renew call for de Limaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release The Sunday Times

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BUHAY party-list Rep. Jose â&#x20AC;&#x153;Litoâ&#x20AC;? Atienza Jr. urged candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives to declare their position on the proposal to reinstate the death penalty. In March 2017, the House passed on third and final reading a bill that seeks to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related offenses. The bill is pending in the Senate. Atienza said voters deserve to know the â&#x20AC;&#x153;clear-cut stanceâ&#x20AC;? of each candidate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be unfair â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even deceitful â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for candidates to court the support of voters who are opposed to the death penalty, only to betray them later on,â&#x20AC;? he said in a statement. The death penalty was abolished

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

in 2006. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The certainty of capture and punishment is the best deterrence to crime, more than the penalty itself. And the modern world has come to accept that prolonged imprisonment is just as effective,â&#x20AC;? Atienza said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The death penalty leaves no room for rectification. A dead convict cannot be brought back to life even if somebody else later on confesses to the crime,â&#x20AC;? he added. Atienza has introduced a substitute bill that seeks the imposition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;qualified reclusion perpetuaâ&#x20AC;? on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;worst criminal offenders.â&#x20AC;? The proposed penalty is equal to a 40-year imprisonment. REINA C. TOLENTINO

BY REINA C. TOLENTINO

ARLIAMENTARIANS from southeast Asia on Saturday reiterated their call for the release of Sen. Leila de Lima, who marks her second year in detention on February 24. g4HE TWO YEARS 3ENATOR DE Lima has spent languishing in PRISON SERVE AS A DARK REMINDER OF 0RESIDENT ;2ODRIGO= $UTERTE S ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SCRUTINY AND

THE ERODING STATE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE 0HILIPPINES u !SEAN 0ARLIAMENTARIANS FOR (UMAN 2IGHTS #HAIRMAN Charles Santiago, a member of

Bong Go welcomes signing of Maternity Leave law #(2)34/0(%2 ,AWRENCE g"ONGu 'O LAUDED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE FOR SIGNING THE %XPANDED -ATERNITY Leave law, saying it is a manifestation OF THE ADMINISTRATION S CONCERN FOR the welfare of women. 4HE NEW LAW INCREASED THE MATERNITY LEAVE PERIOD TO DAYS WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND THE LEAVE FOR AN ADDITIONAL DAYS WITHOUT PAY â&#x20AC;&#x153;.AGMAMALASAKIT ANG ADMINistrasyong Duterte sa kalagayan ng ating mga nanay na bagong panganak kayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t isang napakaGANDANG BALITA PARA SA PAMILYang Pilipino ang pagpirma ni Pangulong 2ODRIGO $UTERTE sa %XPANDED -ATERNITY ,EAVE ,AW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CONCERN for the welfare of mothers, thus THE SIGNING OF THE %XPANDED -Aternity Law is really a welcome NEWS u 'O SAID (E SAID WORKING MOTHERS WILL now have enough time to take care of their babies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alam nating lahat ang kahalagahan ng personal na pagkalinga ng mga nanay sa kanilang mga anak lalong-lalo na sa mga unang buwan ng pagsilang 7E ALL KNOW THE IM-

WITH FIRE VICTIMS

Former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Go (2ndÂ from left) joins ParaĂąaque fire victims in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;boodle fight during his visit to Valley 2, Barangay San Isidro, ParaĂąaque City, on Saturday. Â PORTANCE OF A MOTHER S LOVE AND CARE FOR A NEWBORN u 'O POINTED OUT â&#x20AC;&#x153;Patunay po ito ng pagpapahalaga ng ating gobyerno sa sektor ng kababaihan, lalong-lalo na sa mga nagtratrabahong nanay THIS shows the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concern

for the welfare of women, espeCIALLY MOTHERS u HE ADDED 'O NOTED THAT IN .OVEMBER LAST YEAR THE 0RESIDENT SIGNED 2EPUBLIC !CT OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng MagNanay !CT u

4HE LAW STRENGTHENS HEALTH AND nutrition programs for pregnant AND LACTATING WOMEN ADOLESCENT GIRLS INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN 'O SAID THESE LAWS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HIS ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES

FLAGS AT HALF-MAST FOR MAĂ&#x2018;OSA MALACAĂ&#x2018;ANG HAS ORDERED THAT ALL lAGS DISPLAYED IN THE COUNTRY AND IN 0HILIPPINE EMBASSIES ABROAD SHOULD BE lOWN AT HALF MAST ON 3UNDAY &EBRUARY AS A SIGN OF MOURNING FOR THE DEATH OF .ATIONAL !RTIST &RANCISCO g"OBBYu -AĂ&#x201E;OSA )N A STATEMENT 0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR 0ANELO SAID THE ORDER WAS IN PURSUANT TO 2EPUBLIC !CT THE &LAG AND (ERALDIC #ODE of the Philippines. g4HE /FkCE OF THE 0RESIDENT HAS ORDERED THE .ATIONAL &LAG TO BE lOWN AT HALF MAST AS A SIGN OF MOURNING IN ALL PLACES WHERE IT IS DISPLAYED IN THE COUNTRY AND IN 0HILIPPINE EMBASSIES ABROAD ON &EBRUARY 3UNDAY THE DAY OF THE LATE .ATIONAL !RTIST -AĂ&#x201E;OSA S INTERMENT u 0ANELO SAID %ARLIER -ALACAĂ&#x201E;ANG EXPRESSED GRIEF OVER THE

PASSING OF -AĂ&#x201E;OSA WHO DIED OF A LINGERING ILLNESS EARLY THIS WEEK (E WAS 0ANELO SAID THE INlUENCE AND LEGACY OF THE Father of Philippine Neo-Vernacular Architecture will continue to live on. 0ANELO SAID -AĂ&#x201E;OSA CHAMPIONED &ILIPINO ARCHITECTURE IN A CAREER SPANNING MORE THAN YEARS g!RCHITECT -AĂ&#x201E;OSA WAS A KNOWN NATIONALIST WHO HAD BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING @) DESIGN &ILIPINO NOTHING ELSE )NDEED THE SO CALLED Father of Philippine Neo-vernacular ArchitecTURE DEVOTED HIS LIFETIME WORK CHAMPIONING THE EXTENSIVE USE OF INDIGENOUS &ILIPINO MATERIALS IN HIS DESIGN u HE ADDED -AĂ&#x201E;OSA POPULARIZED THE bahay kubo AND THE bahay na bato that became motifs in contem-

porary Filipino architecture. (IS MOST FAMOUS WORK WAS THE gICONICu #OCONUT 0ALACE THAT BECAME THE FORMER OFkCE OF THE 6ICE 0RESIDENT !MONG HIS MAJOR WORKS ARE THE /UR ,ADY OF 0EACE 3HRINE ALONG %$3! 1UEZON #ITY 3AN -IGUEL "UILDING IN /RTIGAS 0ASIG #ITY -ETRO 2AIL 4RANSIT 3YSTEM 3TATIONS FOR ,24 1UEZON -EMORIAL #IRCLE $EVELOPMENT 0LAN AND #HAPEL OF THE 2ISEN ,ORD IN ,AS 0IĂ&#x201E;AS #ITY -AĂ&#x201E;OSA WAS AMONG THE SEVEN NATIONAL ARTISTS 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE PROCLAIMED IN October last year. -AĂ&#x201E;OSA WILL BE LAID TO REST IN A STATE FUNERAL at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on February 24. CATHERINE S. VALENTE

Employee cannot be dismissed based on complaint of co-workers Dear PAO, I am the owner of a general merchandising store. I recently learned that some of my employees established their own common fund wherein they agreed to contribute Fifty Pesos (P50) every week to a common fund. They then lend the money they collected for an interEST OF kVE PERCENT PERCENT PER month to any interested party. Every six months, they distribute the interest they earned to their members, which they call â&#x20AC;&#x153;dividends.â&#x20AC;? The members were supposed to receive dividends last January, however, for reasons unknown to the members, their treasurer, Jun, was not able to release the so-called dividends nor was he able to explain to the other members the reason therefor. .OW THE OTHER MEMBERS kLED A complaint to dismiss Jun for allegedly misappropriating their groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dividends. Can I terminate Jun on THE BASIS OF THE COMPLAINT kLED BY my employees? Gian Dear Gian, No. You may not terminate Jun on THE BASIS OF THE COMPLAINT kLED BY YOUR EMPLOYEES 4HE ,ABOR #ODE OF THE 0HILIPPINES EXPRESSLY PROVIDES

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the employer shall not terminate the services of an employee EXCEPT FOR JUST OR AUTHORIZED CAUSE OR WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE ;,ABOR #ODE= u ,ABOR #ODE OF THE 0HILIPpines, Article 294) Further, Article 297 OF THE ,ABOR #ODE OF THE 0HILIPPINES expressly states that â&#x20AC;&#x153;an employer may terminate an employment for any of the following causes: 3ERIOUS MISCONDUCT OR WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE BY THE EMPLOYEE OF THE LAWFUL ORDERS OF HIS EMPLOYER or representative in connection with his work; 'ROSS AND HABITUAL NEGLECT BY THE EMPLOYEE OF HIS DUTIES &RAUD OR WILLFUL BREACH BY THE EMPLOYEE OF THE TRUST REPOSED IN HIM BY HIS EMPLOYER OR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE - Commission of a crime or offense by the employee against the person OF HIS EMPLOYER OR ANY IMMEDIATE MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY OR HIS DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES AND

- Other causes analogous to the FOREGOING u )T WOULD APPEAR THAT THE SITUATION YOU NARRATED DOES NOT FALL UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE QUOTED ENUMERATION PROVIDED UNDER THE law. First, although misappropriaTION OF FUNDS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS MISCONDUCT THE SAME DOES NOT WARRANT *UN S DISMISSAL BECAUSE THE MISAPPROPRIATION WAS NOT MADE in connection with Junâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. In THE CASE OF 6ILLAMOR 'OLD #LUB VS 0EHID ' 2 .O /CTOBER * #ALLEJO *R THE 3UPREME #OURT EXPRESSLY STATED THAT gHOWEVER SERIOUS SUCH MISCONDUCT IT MUST nevertheless, be in connection with the employeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work to constitute just cause for his separation. The act COMPLAINED OF MUST BE RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EMPLOYEE S DUTIES SUCH AS WOULD SHOW HIM TO BE UNkT TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE EMPLOYER u 3ECOND IT CANNOT BE SAID THAT THERE WAS GROSS AND HABITUAL NEGLECT OF DUTY AS THE DISTRIBUTION OF gDIVIDENDSu IS NOT RELATED TO *UN S DUTIES AS YOUR EMPLOYEE 4HIRD THERE WAS NO FRAUD OR BREACH OF your trust as you were unaware that YOUR EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED THE SAID MUTUAL FUND AND YOU TOOK NO PART THEREIN 4HUS *UN S ALLEGED MISAP-

propriation of their groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money COULD NOT BE TANTAMOUNT TO FRAUD COMMITTED AGAINST YOU OR BREACH OF YOUR TRUST &OURTH EVEN IF THE SAID misappropriation is a criminal act, IT WAS NOT COMMITTED AGAINST YOU OR any of your family members. $EPARTMENT OF ,ABOR AND %MPLOYMENT /RDER .O 3ERIES OF PROVIDES THAT gNO ACT OR OMISSION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS analogous cause unless expressly SPECIkED IN THE COMPANY RULES AND REGULATIONS OR POLICIESu $/,% /RDER .O 2ULE ) ! G 4HUS in the absence of any company rule, regulation or policy stating that the SAID MISAPPROPRIATION IS TANTAMOUNT to an analogous circumstance justifying termination of employment, you may not terminate Jun on the basis of HIS ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION OF THEIR groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money. We hope that we were able to ANSWER YOUR QUERIES 4HIS 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

%DITOR S NOTE $EAR 0!/ IS A DAILY column of the Public Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OfkCE 1UESTIONS FOR #HIEF !COSTA MAY BE SENT TO DEARPAO MANILATIMES NET

THE -ALAYSIAN 0ARLIAMENT SAID in a statement. g4HE CHARGES AGAINST HER lY IN THE FACE OF JUSTICE AND THE 0HILIPPINE GOVERNMENT MUST END ITS JUDICIAL harassment against her without FURTHER DELAY u 3ANTIAGO SAID $E ,IMA WAS DETAINED ON DRUG CHARGES â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that the charges against HER ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED (ER PROLONGED AND UNJUST IMPRISONment has been nothing, but an ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY SILENCE 3ENATOR DE ,IMA S EFFORTS WHICH

WERE FOCUSED ON IMPORTANT MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST u 3ANTIAGO SAID g3ENATOR DE ,IMA S ONLY @CRIME WAS TRYING TO END THE BLOODY ANTI DRUG CAMPAIGN UNLEASHED UNDER THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT 4HE 0HILIPPINE PEOPLE NEED more champions for justice like the senator. As she continues her kGHT BEHIND BARS SHE CAN REST ASSURED THAT HER REGIONAL PEERS ARE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH HER AND WILL KEEP RAISING HER CASE UNTIL THE DAY SHE WALKS FREE AGAIN u HE SAID

Opinion

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

The Sunday Times w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l Vatican sex-abuse summit needs serious follow through

HE February 21-24 summit convened by Pope Francis and attended by 190 heads of bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conferences and other top clergymen is a laudable move by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. It sought to deal with the filth of sex abuse that has weakened both the moral standing of the Church and the faith of its members. Pope Francis correctly set the tone for the firstever Vatican Summit on Clerical sexual abuse by saying that Catholic leaders must go beyond simply condemning instances of abuse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The holy people of God are watching and waiting not for simple and obvious condemnations but concrete and efficient measures,â&#x20AC;? the Pope said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us listen to the cry of the young ones who ask us for justice.â&#x20AC;? Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the archbishop of -ANILA WAS AMONG THE kRST PLENARY SPEAKERS (E SAID bishops who had covered up sex abuse perpetrated by clergy had â&#x20AC;&#x153;woundedâ&#x20AC;? victims. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our lack of response to the suffering of victims, even to the point of rejecting them and covering up the scandal to protect perpetrators and the institution, has injured our people, leaving a deep wound in our relationship with those we are sent to serve,â&#x20AC;? he said. Tagle teared up at one point during his speech in what seemed to be a genuine display of remorse on behalf of his fellow prelates, and gained the attention of media and the wider public. At this juncture, however, when the crisis has reared its ugly head anew in the United States and has reopened old wounds in Latin America, Australia, Canada, Ireland and other places, the time for Church leaders to express remorse for their failings, whether by omission and commission, has long passed. We laud Tagle for being forthright about the faults of the Catholic hierarchy as far as the abuse crisis is concerned. But Tagle should follow through by initiating, at least in the Philippines, a review of Church policies and procedures on cases of abuse of minors. This is not to say that nothing has been done on the issue. The Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued an Exhortation on the Pastoral Care and Protection of Minors in 2016, stating that â&#x20AC;&#x153;bishops will not pre-empt investigations by declaring innocence or pronouncing exoneration until after a thorough, impartial and credible evaluation of facts as established by competent evidence.â&#x20AC;? However, Tagle and the CBCP should expand their guidelines to adequately cover cases of abuse of vulnerable adults. Filipino bishops should learn from the mistakes of their American counterparts, who exempted themselves from internal investigations and fostered a culture of secrecy and institutional rigidity. As can be learned from the case of Theodore McCarrick, the disgraced former cardinal-archbishop of Washington, the crisis extends to seminarians and young priests preyed upon by lecherous older clerics who have betrayed their religious vows. Bishops should ensure that victims seeking redress see it done not only to internal mechanisms of accountability but also to external prosecution. To do otherwise is to instigate a cover-up. The pronouncements of the Pope, Tagle and others at the Vatican summit must be translated to policy and practice, or they risk becoming empty rhetoric good only for publicity and news headlines. SUNDAY February 24, 2019

The Sunday Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 134

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

N the grave of John F. Kennedy, there is an eternal lAME THAT LITERALLY STANDS GUARD A lAME THAT CANT BE SNUFFED OUT by sleet and snow, by driving rain and harsh winds. It is not to foster the myth of a modern Camelot but rather to honor the memory of a young leader assassinated during his prime, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;what ifsâ&#x20AC;? still preoccupying historians and political chroniclers. And memorials also abound in developed countries, mostly to remember those who died for the these countries and their ideals, whether lofty of misplaced. Despite the folly of the Vietnam War, those who died in that senseless war are still remembered, via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. In Saigon, which the American troops abandoned in haste after a bloody and failed war, the brutal relics and images of that war are in a war museum, so the modern-day Vietnamese would not forget their elders relentless, and successful, wars against colonizers. Even with the thriving commercialism that animates the former Saigon, there is an effort not to make

Forgetting ground that we cannot whimsically or unilaterally archive into irrelevance. There are no heritage and historical sites that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be mowed down by bulldozers. But worse is the effort to forget those who disappeared modern-day Vietnamese forget. because of their principles. Take Deep in the collective conscious- the case of our desaparecidos . The human rights group ness of countries and peoples who have been through wars and strug- Karapatan HAS REVEALED AN OFkCIAL gles and mayhem, the operative effort to delist from the United phrase is either â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wont forgetâ&#x20AC;? Nations rolls more than 600 or â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall always remember.â&#x20AC;? cases of enforced and voluntary One of the greatest speeches disappearances that took place known to man was delivered on under two previous administraTHE SITE OF A BATTLEkELD A MEMORIAL tions and the present, an attempt to the fallen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have come to at a historical whitewash. DEDICATE A PORTION OF THAT kELD THE The active presence of the BATTLEkELD AS A kNAL RESTING PLACE more than 600 cases of desafor those who here gave their lives, parecidos in the UN rolls is that the nation might live,â&#x20AC;? Presi- now unnecessary, argued the dent Lincoln said at Gettysburg. Philippine government, because We should remember, he said, so a legal framework and the instithat a nation might live. tutional mechanism needed to The world, or most of it any- deal with the cases are in place. way, is bent on remembering, Karapatan sees the move as a not forgetting. brazen attempt to purge those Except, of course, in a few more than 600 cases from intercountries that are prone to histor- national inquiry and attention. ical revisionism. The Philippines Out of the UN list, and they are sadly belongs to the few outliers out of international sight. Ironically, the official effort who would rather forget than remember. There is no hallowed comes from a top functionary

SUNDAY STORIES MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

at the Philippine Human Rights Commission. You have to wonder, is this a case of placing a known arsonist in charge of the Fire Department? Or placing a thief as head of our treasury? Those of us who worked for the alternative broadsheet Malaya during the dying years of the Marcos dictatorship are deeply familiar with one of the 600 cases, the case of Jonas Burgos, the missing son of Joe Burgos, THEN THE kGHTING AND UNCOMPROmising publisher of Malaya. What national good would come from expunging the case of Jonas "URGOS FROM THE OFkCIAL RECORDS OF the UN? There is only one tortured line of reasoning here. It closely hews and fuses with the line from Imee Marcos, the eldest child of the conjugal dictatorship, who has advised the present-day Filipinos to â&#x20AC;&#x153;move on.â&#x20AC;? Forget the Martial Law years. Forget the thousands who died and who disappeared during those dark and sinister times. Forget those brutally tortured. Move on. Forget the years we had to import cash because the outside world did not trust our letters of credit. Forget the prostrate

ÂłRonquilloA5

Q CULLEN FROM A1

Therapy and justice for victims of clerical abuse an acknowledgment that the problem is a culture of criminality within the church, where thousands of priests around the world have abused and are abusing children. They are getting away with it to the anger and fury of the public at large, especially among Catholics. The normally arrogant higher prelates who consider themselves important enough to be above the law have to be challenged and confronted with these real crimes, which they have ignored and covered up for decades. They must answer for them before the civil law, which is there to protect children and bring culprits to justice. No one is above the law. The evil practice of clerical child abuse has been exposed in many Western countries by government tribunals and commissions in the United States, Australia, Ireland, Chile, France and Germany. For sure, the same is going on in other countries but has not yet come to the surface. While much has changed to prevent child abuse by clergy, much also remains to be done. All must realize that clerical abuse of minors is not just a church scandal or priests committing â&#x20AC;&#x153;sinsâ&#x20AC;? and when discovered, are transferred to another parish or diocese to stop the complaints from continuing. That is how it has been dealt with for decades now. Families are persuaded to agree to outof-court settlements and forced to sign non-disclosure agree-

ments. Some have been threatened with church sanctions if they pursued a criminal case. In the Philippines, Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has admitted in a television interview that the Philippine hierarchy dealt with the issues of child sex abuse by priests internally. As if that is the solution. He said at the opening of the Vatican meeting that it was an abuse of power and bishops have inflicted wounds on the victims, echoing the position of Pope Francis, who has said it was a culture of â&#x20AC;&#x153;clericalismâ&#x20AC;? in the church. However, stating the problem is not solving it. What is needed is for the bishops to expose the abusing clergy and help the civil authorities to bring them to justice. That is the healing that is needed by the victims. The abuse of power has been the practice of the bishops and senior clergy to deny, ignore and cover up such crimes and to protect the institutional Church. They tried to prevent the priest from being arrested and put on trial for crimes that could carry a life sentence. The fear of public disgrace, failure in office, loss of prestige and authority, criticism of the institutional Church by the Catholic communities and the media, and the huge loss of donations, are likely to be behind the practice of cover-up. Concern, compassion and just anger that little children are abused by priests seem to be far from their

hearts and minds. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a spiritual and theological crisis also. The gospel words of Jesus of Nazareth are forgotten. He said that the most important in the Kingdom of God is the child, not the learned and people in authority. They who accept and protect a child accept Him. Abusers have to be dealt with strictly as they are addressed in this New Testament passage: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Better a millstone be tied around their neck and they be thrown into the deepest ocean.â&#x20AC;? (Matthew 18:1-8) The deep suffering, hurt and anguish that abused children feel are ignored and unacknowledged. Some even say the children like that. A video of children releasing their pent-up anger, hurt and pain can be viewed on www.preda.org . Seeing and hearing this release of pent-up pain that is in many victims in Emotional Release Therapy gives us a determination to see that the children are healed and justice is done for the little kids. Many clerics have been found guilty and are serving jail sentences. This cover-up by church leaders is a systematic obstruction of justice and is a crime in itself. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, is on trial with other clerics for such an alleged crime. A court decision may be released in March. Cardinal George Pell, who held a senior Vatican position, is on trial for â&#x20AC;&#x153;historic child sexual offenses.â&#x20AC;? The Cardinal allegedly protected

a notorious pedophile priest who abused children. Catholics who, for centuries, were imbued with guilt by clergy AND WERE THREATENED WITH THE gkRES of hellâ&#x20AC;? are still told to repent and confess their â&#x20AC;&#x153;sins,â&#x20AC;? and do penance, no matter how little and petty as their so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;sinsâ&#x20AC;? may have been. They are waking up to the truth that they have been duped and misled by an archaic and false theology that has little or no compassion, understanding, forgiveness and Gospel love. Many of these pedophile priests, criminals themselves, judge and condemn the innocent. The genuine care, healing and support for every victim of child sexual abuse, especially by clergy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that process is the first and most important action that needs to be taken by the Popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting. Every diocese must have an independent trained professional child support therapy team, a therapeutic home with a paralegal to pursue justice and to help, support and protect every child victim. The team should provide therapy to empower the victims to give testimony against their abusers. The abusers, including clergy, must be brought to trial before a civil court of law and held accountable for child abuse. The accused, if guilty, ought to confess, repent and accept penance in jail behind bars. Nothing less is acceptable.

www.preda.org

The Sunday Times SUNDAY February 24, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

LL of a sudden, I think of Rizal again, he who by dint of the Americanization of the Philippines became the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national hero. Of the many virtues ascribed to him by his biographers, one shines out as truly titillating: his womanizing. He is reputed to have had at least nine lovers, three Filipinas, one Japanese and three Europeans. But no need to enumerate them here one by one. This piece has nothing to do with some trumped-up iconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s machismo but the darlings themselves of not the man but the province. Women appear to be heading toward dominance of Rizal. To begin with, the incumbent governor is a woman, Rebecca â&#x20AC;&#x153;Niniâ&#x20AC;? Ynares, who has been in the post for two terms already (in the current nine-year-term reckoning; she had two others in the past), and counting; she is running unopposed in the coming midterm elections in May. Antipolo City, the provincial capital, has fallen into the hands of a woman, Andrea â&#x20AC;&#x153;Andengâ&#x20AC;? Bautista-Ynares, wife of incumbent Mayor Casimiro â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jun Junâ&#x20AC;? Ynares 3rd â&#x20AC;&#x201D; short of elections. It has been bruited about that in the lead-up to the filing of certificates of candidacy for the post, none of the other probable aspirants for mayor of Antipolo, all men, dared file their own, thinking it was M ayo r J u n J u n w h o wo u l d proceed to seek reelection and they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to contest his candidacy; Jun Jun is good for one more term. Into the last minute of the deadline for the filing of COCs, who should come forward to throw a hat in the contest? Not Mayor Jun Jun but wife Andeng. Thus, has it come about that long before the elections in May, Antipolo City already has a new mayor in the person of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Lady. Antipolo folks welcome the development, in any case. They are witness to how energetic Andeng has been in helping

now serves as a barometer of how poor or rich the country is â&#x20AC;&#x201D; skyMY SAY rocketed in price from P25 to P80 per kilo. True enough, beginning with the Cory rule, the peso-dollar exchange rate steadily rose, from P38.15 to $1 in 1986 to P38.24 push Mayor Jun Junâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs, at the end of her term in 1992. and they believe she has had a #ONVERSELY THE kGURES RECKON A good amount of OJT (on-the- peso getting poorer and poorer. Governor Ito does not see the job-training) for the post. Governor Nini and soon-to- takeover by women of the poliassume Antipolo Mayor Andeng tics of Rizal as something that join up with two more lady local augured something unpleasant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nandiyan si (there is) Grace executives, incumbent Mayors Kathrine Robles of Baras and Poe, halimbawa (for instance). Si Cristina Diaz of San Mateo, to (there is Senator) Cynthia Villar make it at least four evidences of at si (and Senator) Nancy Binay. a province proving itself a wom- Nagugustuhan ng tao. At mahuanizer like the hero for whom it say din naman. Kaya ibinoboto. HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE kRST PLACE (People like them. And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re And before I forget, there, too, good, anyway. So they get elected.) is Jeri Mae Calderon, daughter of incumbent Angono Mayor Most competitive province Gerardo V. Calderon (who is sliding down to vice mayor in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tuloy-tuloy ang pagiging numthe coming elections). The b e r o n e natin bilang M o s t young number one councilor Competitive Province. Hall of of the town is projected to be Fame na tayo rito . (Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a hands-down winner for the continuously number one as mayoralty of Angono against the Most Competitive Province. incumbent Vice Mayor Sonny Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now in the Hall Fame.)â&#x20AC;? The province operates on a P4 Rubin. If that happens, after the May elections, Rizal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with 4 billion annual budget. He cited out of 13 municipalities having specifics: nearly zero-squatters ladies for mayors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be some status, with more than a thousand families of informal settlers 30 percent under women rule. I ask former Rizal Gover- having been relocated to the nor Casimiro â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itoâ&#x20AC;? Ynares, Jr., Pinugay relocation sites (I came â&#x20AC;&#x153;What happened to the men of to visit one such site and instantRizal? Before long, they might ly grew envious at â&#x20AC;&#x153;squattersâ&#x20AC;? find themselves completely los- enjoying such decent homes); The University of Rizal System ing out to the distaff side.â&#x20AC;? 523 SUFkCIENTLY ESTABLISHED IN Throwback to EDSA strategic areas to ensure higherlevel education for students I ask the question bearing in wherever they may reside; mind the so-called People Power Revolt of 1986. (This week is the period for commemorating the event, which is the centerpiece for the test broadcast of The Manila Times Television network tomorrow, February 25.) 4HAT WAS THE kRST TIME EVER IN Philippine history that a woman was installed president, Cory Aquino. What happened soon after? Galunggong â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which until

MAURO GIA SAMONTE

Q Governor Rebecca â&#x20AC;&#x153;Niniâ&#x20AC;? Ynares (top) lording it over Rizal, together with Baras Mayor Katherine B. Robles (extreme left, below), San Mateo Mayor Cristina C. Diaz (third from left, below), soon to assume as Antipolo City Mayor Andrea â&#x20AC;&#x153;Andengâ&#x20AC;? Bautista-Ynares (extreme right, below), and heavy favorite to win as mayor of Angono Jeri Mae Calderon (second from left, below).

Public hospitals abound, assuring Rizal residents instant attention to all their health and medical needs, all the way to mountainous areas like BosoBoso and Cabading â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and on top of the high-end Rizal Medical Center (RMC), which the province continuously maintains in Pasig (where I underwent medical attention leading to my successful recovery from a stroke I suffered in 2013); And in environmental concerns, the complete rehabilitation of the Hinulugang Taktak, the lovely pilgrimage falls of Rizalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time, thrown in utter neglect by past administrations but promptly attended to by Mayor Jun Jun as soon as he assumed office as Antipolo City mayor in 2013, restoring it to its once pristine beauty and, thereby, generating steady streams of visitors.

Those were the days Governor Ito reminisces on the good old days when, long before the beginning of his own administration of the province, Rizal still stood as the huge region known as Morong in the Spanish colonial era, consisting of all the cities and municipalities that presently comprise Metro Manila, except Manila and all 13 municipalities and one city that now make up the present Rizal. To cite them one by one, those municipalities and cities are, from south to north, west to east, Muntinlupa, Las PiĂąas, ParaĂąaque, Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon, Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig, Pateros, Cainta, Montalban (now Rodriguez), San Mateo, Marikina, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Jala-Jala, Teresa and Antipolo. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Noon, pare , number one tayo. Nang likhain ang Metro Manila , back to zero ang Rizal. Sana isinama na rin tayo sa Metro Manila. (That was the time, buddy, when we were number one. When Metro Manila was created, we were back to zero. They might as well just have included us in Metro Manila.â&#x20AC;? There was an initial tinge of ache in his voice as Governor Ito spoke those words, but in a moment the ache was replaced by a smart-aleck glint in his eyes, like adding, albeit silently, â&#x20AC;&#x153;That could have made my kingdom even bigger with the addition of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, Manila.â&#x20AC;? How much of Rizalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government policy is Governor Niniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and how much is his? â&#x20AC;&#x153; Lahat kanya (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all hers),â&#x20AC;? goes his prompt reply.

Q RONQUILLO FROM A5

Forgetting country and two lost decades. Now, it has morphed into something as tragic. Forget the desaparecidos . How about telling that to Edith Tronqued Burgos, the mother of Jonas? Of course, the human rights apparatchik who moved for the purge of the desaparecidos from the UN records is just dancing

to the tune of the times, which is to inflict on the current generation and the next a sense of amnesia and forgetting. The schools now teach scaled-down courses on history and civics, with probably the intent of deodorizing the Martial Law years. Who will teach the young about Jose Wright

Diokno and Lorenzo Tanada, two of our modern-day heroes, and their patriotism? The teaching of the Philippine Constitution, with an enshrined Bill of Rights, is now optional, no thanks to the High Court that is, in theory, supposed to be the rampart of the effort to nurture a sense of

country and patriotism. The teaching of Filipino courses is now optional, which probably sent Manuel Luis Quezon, that great patriot, twisting and rolling in his grave. I have a fear of what will come next: The appointment of Jovito Palparan as head of the Human Rights Commission.

The women of Rizal

Opinion

THE BEST PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PREVENT TERRORISM Reaction to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call for high alert after the Jolo Catholic cathedral attack (Story published in The Manila Times Jan. 28, 2019 issue) IN his statement regarding the bombing of the Jolo Catholic cathedral, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he has directed his troops to be on high alert, to secure all places of worship and public places, and to initiate proactive security measures to thwart hostile plans. We salute the defense secretary for taking proactive measures. The best proactive measure he can take is through a simple direct executive order. This measure can help his warriors gain a strategic and profound proactive advantage. It would prevent future terrorism, instead of responding after attacks have occurred, for far less than the cost of conventional defenses. This unconventional yet highly effective approach with a proven scientific record for diffusing terrorism and violence is called Invincible Defense Technology (IDT), based on the non-religious Transcendental Meditation (TM) program. As strange as it may sound, when large groups of trained practitionersÂ Â practice the advanced TM techniques together twice a day, a powerful â&#x20AC;&#x153;field effectâ&#x20AC;? of coherence and peace ripples throughout the consciousness of the surrounding population. The bigger the group the bigger the effect. The outcomes, confirmed repeatedly by extensive scientific research, are consistent and measurable decreases in war deaths, terrorism and crime. This surprising effect was demonstrated over a two-month period in the summer of 1993, in Washington DC, where 4,000 meditators gathered for an experiment to lower crime in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital. The result, as documented by an independent board of criminologists, was a 25 percent reduction in criminal violence. (Reference:Â Social Indicators Research, 1999, 47: 153-201). In 1983-84, at the peak of fighting in the Lebanon war, as many as 8,000 but as little as a few hundred meditators gathered at different times in Israel, Lebanon, Europe, and the United States. The documented effects of these assemblies included increased cooperation between the warring parties (66 percent) and a decrease of hostilities (70 percent). The odds of these results occurring by chance or any explanation other than the meditation were calculated at one in 10 million trillion! (Reference:Â Journal of Conflict Resolution, 1988, 32: 776-812, and 1990, 34:756-768). Similarly, large TM groups in Manila, New Delhi, and Puerto Rico have generated significant declines in violent crimes. Alternative explanations could not account for the results. (Reference:Â Journal of Mind and Behavior, 1987, 8: 67-104). For a minimal investment of time, manpower and resources, the Philippine military could train and maintain a group of about 1,500 experts in the IDT strategy. Think of it as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;prevention brigadeâ&#x20AC;? whose members meditate twice a day to defuse the deeply rooted regional stresses and hatred that are the cause of conflict. The research suggests that once such a program becomes operational, societal conditions in the Philippines and beyond would rapidly improve. For as long as the peace-creating group is sustained, the collective coherence throughout society would rise through the influences of greater harmony and peace. Better solutions will occur to the people and their leaders for improving their own living conditions. Violence will subside. IDT is not restricted to the military; any large groups practicing the IDT techniques can accomplish the goal, meaning all types of citizens could be enlisted, from schoolchildren to retirees.Â Its coherence-creating effect has also been documented on a global scale in a study published in theÂ Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. When large assemblies of civilian IDT experts gathered during the years 1983-1985, terrorism-related casualties decreased 72%, international conflict decreased 32%, and overall violence was reduced in nations without intrusion by other governments. The Global Union of Scientists for Peace (https://www.gusp.org), a global group of eminent scientists and leaders dedicated to support alternative, peaceful means of conflict resolution, have endorsed the IDT approach. Among them were Yukio Hatoyama, former prime minister of Japan; former president of Mozambique Joachim Chissano (who applied IDT programs to end that nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s civil war); Lt. General (Ret.) Vasyl Krutov, former chief of the Ukraine Anti-Terrorism Center; retired Ecuadorian Lt. General JosĂŠ Villamil (who also applied IDT to end conflict between Ecuador and Peru). Given the countless efforts previously tried by the Philippines that have not worked, now is the time to utilize this scientifically-validated method. IDT is simple and inexpensive, with a documented record of success: a cutting-edge brain-based technology that could potentially maximize the safety and security of the Filipino people and curb the bloodshed. Here is an opportunity for the Philippines to become a global leader in peace-making, so needed by this troubled world. At one time, meditation was considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;mystical.â&#x20AC;? Now, doctors routinely prescribe it, because research shows Transcendental Meditation reduces stress and improves health. Hundreds of studies confirm real benefits for individuals, including better energy, learning ability, job productivity, and happier relationships.Â The revelation that group meditation reduces turbulence in society and improves community or global health is simply an extension of the individual practice of meditation.Â Â This is a new proactive paradigm for our times, ready to be implemented for it holds the secret for planetary peace. If wars start in the minds of men, then peace logically ought to start there as well. Lt. Gen. Clarence E. McKnight, Jr., (US Army Ret.) Former director Command, Control and Communications Systems for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kulwant Singh, UYSM, PhD,Â Dr. David LefflerÂ Executive Director The Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS)Â http://www.StrongMilitary.org

De-radicalization and the defeat of IS: Radicalization will not disappear by itself theless, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;real workâ&#x20AC;? to defeat IS and its heinous ideology lies in de-radicalizing returning militants GENEVA (IPS): The defeat of the Islamist and addressing the root-causes that State in Middle East and North Afri- initially provided fertile ground to CAN BATTLEkELDS IS NOW A REALITY 4HE the rise of radicalism. terrorist group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which brought Radicalism is not a new phebereavement to the populations of nomenon. All regions of the world the Arab region â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has been defeated have witnessed the rise and fall militarily in Iraq and in Syria. of extremist forces at one time or Mosul, Raqqa, Tikrit and Ra- another. Europe was the scene of madi â&#x20AC;&#x201D; once considered as IS far-right apocalypse prior to and bastions in the Middle East â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are during the Second World War. now liberated and an era of brutal- Radicalism and violent extremism ity, cruelty and violence has come later became the trademarks of to an end. Although off-shoot fac- nationalist, radicalist Marxist and tions still exist in countries such as fundamentalist groups during the Libya, Yemen, Egypt and in small Cold War. In order to counter the pockets of Syria, the military defeat invasion of Soviet Union and the of IS marks a new era for Arab â&#x20AC;&#x153;red threatâ&#x20AC;? in Afghanistan radicountries in their endeavours to calization was used as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;weapon rebuild societies ravaged by vio- of warâ&#x20AC;? to mobilize radical moveLENCE AND ARMED CONlICT .ONE- ments to counter the Soviet sphere BYÂ DR. HANIF HASSAN ALI AL QASSIM

OF INlUENCE 4HE TRAUMA INlICTED upon the Middle East and North Africa by relentless foreign invasions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which have been occurring since the beginning of the 2000s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have once again given rise to extremist violence. The result: a generation of radicals with ultraconservative views motivated to carry out attacks on societies and governments which do not comply with their ideologies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once the genie is out of the bottle, who can force it back in?â&#x20AC;? One would assume that the adverse effect of Cold War radicalization would serve as lessons learned for decision-makers in their endeavours to address and roll-back radicalization. However, it appears that politicians and policy analysts presume that radicalization will disappear by

itself as was initially thought with the collapse of the Iron Curtain. Governments worldwide are now worried by the surge of IS kGHTERS SET TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME societies. And they have good reasons to remain disturbed. In a rushed attempt to identify solutions to counter radicalism, legislation criminalizing the involvement of individuals in extremist movements has been introduced for purposes of enhancing security. But will legislation alone prevent individuals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and in particular youth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from joining or remaining in extremist movements? Imposing legislation is a step in the right direction, but it must be COMPLEMENTED BY A FULL lEDGED analysis of the genesis of violent extremism and radicalism. Inequality, marginalization, xeno-

phobia, unemployment, ignorance, poverty, social exclusion and political marginalization as well as foreign intrusions, among other factors, contribute to the rise of radicalism. Ignoring these factors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and relying solely on criminalizing radicalism â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is equivalent to â&#x20AC;&#x153;treating the symptom rather than the problem.â&#x20AC;? Every country must look into its own characteristics and the interplay between the push and pull factors of radicalization to address its adverse impact. Every society must have an open discussion about the root causes that incite youth to head to THE BATTLEkELDS OF !LEPPO 2AQQA OR -OSUL TO kGHT FOR CAUSES THAT starkly contradict the true values of humanity. Extremist violence is here to stay for some time. In order to roll it back, a long-term strategy

that will go beyond security reinforcements is desperately needed. It will require political, cultural and sociological explanations. Another factor which demands the urgent attention of decision makers worldwide is Internet radicalization. The United Nations /FkCE ON $RUGS AND #RIME HAS repeatedly warned against the phenomenon of Internet radicalization and urging Member States to work towards â&#x20AC;&#x153;a proactive and coordinated response.â&#x20AC;? Decisionmakers must respond to the rise of Internet radicalism â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that is emerging as an invisible force â&#x20AC;&#x201D; inciting youth to join violent and radical groups including IS and others. Supportive settings and safe learning environments fostering social inclusion, open-mindedness

ÂłISA6

Opinion

The Sunday Times SUNDAY February 24, 2019

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One giant leap and one small step

XPLAINING the Social Security Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condonation program, Senator Dick Gordon said the state pension fund would be able to generate more funds and ensure its viability in the long run. When Gordonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Social Security Condonation Law of 2009 was implemented in 2010, the SSS was able to collect P3.5 billion from 24,042 delinquent employers. *** During the Vatican Summit, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle acknowledged that gWOUNDS HAVE BEEN INlICTED BY us, the bishops, on the victims.â&#x20AC;? I wish that some of our bishops do the same, instead of being silent about it and loudmouthed when it comes to political issues. If they mount calls for the resignation of some of our leaders, they should equally abhor the abuses committed by their peers and ask them to voluntarily leave the Church. Their complaints against a two-year presidency pales in comparison with decades of mental anguish suffered by the survivors. ***

MIRRORLESS

ROLLY G. REYES I cannot forget the misery experienced by the Vietnam war veterans. After victories in WW2 and the Korean war, American soldiers who fought in the Vietnam war suffered the most. Just when they started to reclaim some areas and started winning, they were told to leave because it became an unpopular war back home. The US 101st Airborneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Apache helicopters devastated enemy lines and were hitting targets with precision. Upon returning home, they were ridiculed and vilikED AS MURDERERS AND LOSERS )T WAS PAINFUL AS THEY COULDN T kND JOBS as they were treated like lepers. Yet THEY SACRIkCED MORE THAN lives. They gave up their teenage YEARS kNDING OUT IN THE END THAT THEIR ONLY FAULT WAS JUST TO SERVE when they were called upon. They did not lose the war in Vietnam. They lost the war at home in the

hands of their countrymen. *** There is no truth to the rumor that the Supreme Court is eyeing to make some media outlets function as special courts, given that the phrase, â&#x20AC;&#x153;trial by publicity,â&#x20AC;? is now commonplace. *** Due to the Dengvaxia scare, immunization is now a scary thought. Both Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd met recently at the $EP%D #ENTRAL /FkCE TO FORMULATE an immediate course of action to address the measles outbreak. The Department of Health and the DepEd chief were suggesting to make vaccination mandatory as both think that children who are not vaccinated will be a serious risk in the classrooms. *** PRRD swore-in Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman !L (AJJ -URAD %BRAHIM ON &RIDAY as the interim chief minister of the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). And I thought that PRRD was trying to minimize swearing or cursing.

3ERIOUSLY THIS kRST STEP OF THE transitory provision should involve all parties concerned. The survival of the BOL is very much DEPENDENT ON A JOINT MULTI SECtoral consultations. *** This is a good development in the national security issue of our country. National Security Council Deputy Director General Vicente Agdamag handed over to Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, all the documents containing the OFkCIAL COMPLAINTS OF THE DIFFERENT tribal communities represented by the Mindanao Indigenous People Council for Peace and Development, pertaining to some atrocities committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). These complaints will be submitted TO THE 5. /FkCE OF THE (IGH #OMmissioner for Human Rights. Let us NOW kND OUT WHO IS REALLY THE POT calling the kettle black.

*** I am also confused over the SIMILARITY OF CANDIDATES kELDED BY the PDP-Laban and Hugpong ng Pagbabago. The tickets are almost the same except for two or three. PDP Laban: Aquilino â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kokoâ&#x20AC;? Pimentel 3rd, Ronald â&#x20AC;&#x153;Batoâ&#x20AC;? Dela Rosa, Christopher â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? Go, :AJID -ANGUDADATU &RANCIS 4OLENTINO *6 %JERCITO 3ONNY !NGARA Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos and Freddie Aguilar. Hugpong ng Pagbabago: Aquilino â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kokoâ&#x20AC;? Pimentel 3rd, Sonny !NGARA #YNTHIA 6ILLAR *6 %JERCITO Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Christopher â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? Go, 2ONALD g"ATOu DELA 2OSA :AJID Mangudadatu, Jiggy Manicad. And Imee Marcos. Both parties say they are giving the people more choices. I really CAN T kND THE DIFFERENCE *** )N JUST ABOUT A LITTLE MORE THAN two years, the present dispensation was able to pen these laws: Extended maternity leave Speed limiters in public util-

ity vehicles Extension of driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license validity Permanent mobile phone number Universal access to quality higher education Bangsamoro Organic Law Universal Health Care Anti-hospital deposit law Philippine ID System National feeding program for undernourished Anti-hazing National mental health policy Modern corporation code Food technology board Philippine qualifications framework Telecommuting Free irrigation services Ease of doing business and govERNMENT EFkCIENCY Free internet in public places Of course, the opposition will not deal with these issues as subJECTS OF THEIR CHALLENGE FOR A PUBLIC debate as they are not familiar with most of them. *** Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.

FOCUS

Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;great chemistryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with Kim Jong Un put to test at summit

Germany under fire for Saudi arms export ban

WASHINGTON, DC: Convinced he has forged a budding friendship with Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump frequently boasts that he has made history with the North Korean leader. But Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contention that he is a masterful negotiator will be put to a test during his second summit with Kim on February 27-28 in Hanoi as the world waits to see if he can deliver concrete results. Trump has hailed his â&#x20AC;&#x153;great chemistryâ&#x20AC;? with Kim and voiced delight at â&#x20AC;&#x153;beautiful lettersâ&#x20AC;? from the totalitarian leader 30 YEARS HIS JUNIOR Trump points out that North Korea has not tested a nuclear bomb or long-range missile in more than a year and says he has saved the world from a devastating war â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a feat for which, he is not shy to say, he believes he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. But North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuclear program remains intact and the Kim dynasty, which has reigned with an iron fist for six decades, is skilled at the art of biding time. The most atypical of US presidents, Trump has taken a path REJECTED BY HIS PREDECESSORS Â&#x2021; negotiating face-to-face with the leader of the reclusive regime. And the real estate mogul believes that his style â&#x20AC;&#x201D; direct and brash â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can succeed where years of diplomatic drudgework with Pyongyang have failed.

Q Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un pose for the cameras at their first summit on June 12, 2018 in Singapore AFP PHOTO/SAUL LOEB

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether through design or chance, or a bit of both, Trump managed to achieve this mix by 2018,â&#x20AC;? he said. Trump himself has stayed evasive on what he hopes to achieve in Hanoi, which follows up the historic first summit between the two leaders in Singapore in June. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that North Korea and Chairman Kim have some very positive things in mind, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll soon find out,â&#x20AC;? Trump told reporters on Tuesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in no rush. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no testing. As long as thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not testing, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in no rush,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No rush,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; says Trump The two countries remain Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hanlon, a senior divided on the very meaning fellow at the Brookings Institu- of denuclearization, with the tion, said that Trump had laid United States wanting North the groundwork for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;pos- Korea to give up its arsenal and sibility of progress,â&#x20AC;? even if the Pyongyang supporting a more general end to nuclear weapons prospects remain uncertain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A combination of fear and in the region. What if months or even years pain, combined with hope for A BETTER FUTURE MAY BE JUST THE go by and North Korea gives up RIGHT JUXTAPOSITION OF SENTI- nothing significant? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think Trump is calculating ments to have instilled in Kimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that he can run out the clock mind,â&#x20AC;? Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hanlon said.

durability to radically alter the face of Northeast Asia,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to look beyond November 2020 and toward 2030 or 2040. Only then will we know.â&#x20AC;? And with heads of state personally conducting the diplomacy, there may be little Eye on 2020, or beyond? recourse if a new crisis erupts. Little more than a year ago, reFo r C h r i s t o p h e r G r e e n , a n lations were in crisis and the two expert on Korea at the Interna- leaders were trading insults in an tional Crisis Group, the issue of extraordinary personal way, with the calendar is central. Trump calling Kim â&#x20AC;&#x153;little rocket Trump faces re-election next manâ&#x20AC;? and North Korean media year and has already touted branding Trump the â&#x20AC;&#x153;mentally North Korea as an achievement, deranged US dotard.â&#x20AC;? telling Americans after the SinTrump, who now respectfully gapore summit that they can addresses the young leader as â&#x20AC;&#x153;sleep well tonight!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chairman Kim,â&#x20AC;? may seize on g4HE MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT any symbolic show to prove his Trump may be too keen to bring diplomacy is working, such as about something that looks a North Korean offer to destroy to naive, glimpsing eyes like a â&#x20AC;&#x201D; again â&#x20AC;&#x201D; part of its key Yongforeign policy achievement, and byon nuclear complex. wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the essential legwork â&#x20AC;&#x153;The risk is if Kim decides this to ensure that a durable agree- unilateral testing moratorium ment is reached,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not in writing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something that looks like an â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no longer works for him,â&#x20AC;? achievement during his time in Narang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then there is no OFkCE MAY NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY diplomatic exit ramp.â&#x20AC;? AFP at least until the end of his first term with this strategy,â&#x20AC;? said Vipin Narang, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot may depend on what Hanoi yields,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Q IS FROM A5

De-radicalization and the defeat of IS and equal citizenship rights are important prerequisites in creating conditions protecting youth from falling prey to misguided ideologies. Internet must not become a recruitment and radicalization tool for terrorist and extremist groups. Online radicalization of youth must not be left unattended. But the challenge must be addressed without undermining press freedom. Formal education, particularly early learning education, remain the most effective tool to nip dis-

crimination towards others in the bud. Several countries around the world provide inspiring examples of how teaching the important values of tolerance and equality in educational institutions and through GENERATION SPECIkC METHODS CAN save generations from the grips of radicalization and xenophobia. Lastly, reintegration strategies of former combatants and extremists and religious counselling are key to avoid a â&#x20AC;&#x153;return backlashâ&#x20AC;?. Rehabilitation of extremists must start at an early stage. Religious leaders

can play an important role in providing counselling to address radicalist thoughts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that underpin the beliefs of extremists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and to promote the values of tolerance, coexistence and dialogue. The panacea to address radicalization is to REJOICE IN THE /THER AND TO BREAK down the walls of ignorance that have insulated societies from some of their segments. Religious beliefs must not be instrumentalized to promote fear as a stepping stone to access power and to fuel indiscriminate xenophobic responses

undermining national unity. Many religions of the world bear a unique fundamental message of peace, harmony, tolerance and compassion. Only through dialogue between populations and regions of all cultures and religious faiths, only through the promotion of equal citizenship rights for all can bridges of understanding and tolerance be built between diverse social components of nations, thereby fostering social cohesion, harmony and a rollingback of radicalization.

BERLIN: Germany has long had a troubled relationship with selling arms abroad, a legacy of its dark history that is now spelling deep discord with its European allies. Chancellor Angela Merkelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government has recently sparred with both France and Britain over the issue, while trouble is also brewing within her uneasy left-right coalition government. Especially Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to freeze weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over the killing last /CTOBER OF JOURNALIST *AMAL Khashoggi, as well as the Yemen war, has upset Paris and London BECAUSE IT PUTS JOINT DEFENCE PROJECTS ON ICE British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt voiced â&#x20AC;&#x153;deep concernâ&#x20AC;? that Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stance damaged Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defence industry and its â&#x20AC;&#x153;ability to meet its NATO commitmentsâ&#x20AC;?, in a letter to his German counterpart Heiko Maas reported on by Spiegel Online. The picture becomes more complex given recent bold future visions to pool European military strengths, partially in response to US President Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;America Firstâ&#x20AC;? approach and his verbal attacks on NATO allies. As during the refugee crisis, a moralistic political debate within Germany -- a country at pains to draw the right lessons from its Nazi and Holocaust past -- is now straining the patience of its allies. Polls have shown that some two thirds of German citizens REJECT WEAPONS EXPORTS The centre-left Social DemoCRATS 30$ -ERKEL S JUNIOR coalition partners, in particular HAVE A STRONG PACIkST LEGACY AND a tendency to condemn corporate PROkTS EARNED FROM SELLING gKILLing machineryâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Germany public scepticism towards arms exports is almost unanimous,â&#x20AC;? said Michael Broening of think-tank the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given its history of belligerence, Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public has long viewed arms exports with a mix of moral outrage and helplessness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For many Social Democrats the current debate about arms exports seems like a golden opportunity to prove their progressive credentials and sharpen their IDEOLOGICAL PROkLE u

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pure demagogueryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Despite all the agonising, Germany is among the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top arms exporters, a club that is led by the United States and also includes Russia, China, France and Britain. The government regularly meets to review sales under the war weapons control law. One company that has run afoul

of the strict rules was gunmaker (ECKLER +OCH WHICH WAS kNED 3.7 million euros ($4.2 million) by a German court on Thursday. Two of its former employees WERE ALSO GIVEN SUSPENDED JAIL terms for illegally exporting thousands of assault rifles to violence-torn Mexican states in breach of the export licence. Human rights activists had charged that the G36 automatic rifles were used in abuses including the 2014 disappearance -- and suspected massacre -- of 43 Mexican students. Last October, when the killing of Khashoggi sparked widespread revulsion, Berlin reacted by suspending arms sales to Riyadh. Germany urged other countries to do likewise, but French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the call in unusually sharp language. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is the link between arms sales and Mr Khashoggi?â&#x20AC;? he said, calling it â&#x20AC;&#x153;pure demagoguery to call for a haltâ&#x20AC;?.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Reduce our influenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Saudi issue flared again this week, this time between Germany and Britain, a NATO nuclear power that despite Brexit is set to remain a crucial security partner for the bloc. Spiegel reported that Hunt had urged Germany to exempt MAJOR %UROPEAN DEFENCE PROJECTS LIKE %UROkGHTER OR 4ORNADO JETS which contain German parts, from its Saudi weapons embargo. In Berlin on Wednesday, Hunt expressed concern that â&#x20AC;&#x153;changing our commercial relationship with Saudi Arabia... would reduce our INlUENCEu IN EFFORTS SUCH AS HELPing end the Yemen war. Maas, an SPD politician, reiterated that the ban remained and said any future decision -- a review is due by March 9 -- would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;dependent on developments IN THE 9EMEN CONlICTu About 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the Yemen war since March 2015, but rights groups say the death toll is much higher. The wider arms export debate IMPACTS LARGE FUTURE PROJECTS AMONG them ambitious Franco-German PLANS TO JOINTLY DEVELOP THE SO called Future Combat Air System OF kGHTER JETS AND DRONES BY Merkel, in a speech last week, signalled a more relaxed stance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have, because of our history, very good reasons to have very strict arms export guidelines,â&#x20AC;? she said. But Merkel also stressed that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;without a common culture of defence exports in Europe, the DEVELOPMENT OF JOINT WEAPONS systems will be endangered.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Regions

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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2 police officers killed in Mindoro NPA clash CAMP GENERAL MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal: Combined troops of the 4th Infantry Battalion (4IB), Provincial Mobile Police Force and Criminal Investigation Group-4B clashed on Saturday with retreating New Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army (NPA) communist rebels in three separate incidents at Sitio Barungbong, Barangay Mapaya, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Supt. Socrates Faltado, Police Region 4B Public Information officer, identified the victims as Senior Police Officer (SPO)1 Bonifacio Tacuyo and SPO2 Raymundo Robles, both assigned with 1st Provincial Mobile Police Force Company. Col. Marceliano Teofilo, commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, said the first encounter happened at about 6 a.m., as the result of their pursuit operations in Mansalay, wherein the NPAs suffered two casualties, forcing them to withdraw to the Oriental-Occidental Mindoro boundary. But soldiers from 4IB and the police, conducting complementary operations, intercepted them. A firefight broke for about 5 minutes against about 10 rebels under Platoon Mike of Kilusang Larangan Guerilla Silangan. The troops recovered one 30 caliber cap magazines with ammunitions,

two cellular phones and sim (subscriber identity module) cards, two grenade launcher empty shells, a hammock, a mess kit, rain boots, a rifle sling, medical paraphernalia, enemy war materials and other personal belongings. No one was hurt on the government side, while there was undetermined number of casualties from the NPA. The enemy scampered and withdrew toward different directions, dragging along their wounded and dead comrades based on the heavy bloodstains in the encounter site. At about 9:40 a.m., another encounter happened when a team conducting pursuit operation met the fleeing NPAs at Sitio Imbrasan, Barangay Mapaya where two police officers were killed after the five-minute gunfight. The troops engaged in the first encounter clashed again with the rebels at about 11:45 a.m. The firefight was on going as to the filing of the story. Lt. Col Alexander Arbolado, 4IB new Battalion commander, said they were guarding all their possible exits and had directed all intelligence assets and informants on the ground to track and monitor the retreating enemies. ROSELLE R. AQUINO

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Luisita folk restive over eviction threat BY JERRY M. HERNANDEZ

ACIENDA LUISITA, Tarlac City: Residents of Barangay Central here expressed fears that the land, including the houses they have been living in and tilling for a long time, will soon be taken over by Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT).

This came after the CAT signaled its intention to â&#x20AC;&#x153;recoverâ&#x20AC;? possession of its properties in the Sitio (sub-villages) of Obrero, Zit, Lote and Camarin in Barangay Central that are covered by three lot titles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is surprising. Before I was born and before the Cojuangcos came to this place my parents were already living here,â&#x20AC;? said Bonifacio Dacayanan, 61, of Sitio Lote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do not even know how the place came to be caled Hacienda

Luisita as there was no such place with that name before they (the Cojuangcos) arrived,â&#x20AC;? he added. Dacayanan recalled that the Cojuangcos acquired the land through a government grant to a Spanish woman named DoĂąa Luisita, but the original name of the place was Tabacalera Incorporada. Between 1969 and 1970, a CASE WAS kLED BEFORE THE -ANILA regional trial court regarding the Cojuangcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; claim on the area.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is what I learned from my parents and forefathers. I hope we are not mistaken about these accounts and that we can be enlightened,â&#x20AC;? Dacayanan said. What puzzles Dacayanan, though, was the exclusion of their families from the distribution of lots, considering their long history and period of tenancy in the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were neglected by previous village officials and I hope the current ones would do something about this and maybe President Rodrigo Duterte would know and take some necessary steps to ease our burden,â&#x20AC;? he said. There are approximately 800 families in Central, who according to CAT through the Gatchalian and Castro law firm, have occupied their properties for several years without any obligation. g/CCUPATION IS WITHOUT THE BENEkT

of any contract of lease and only upon the tolerance and benevolence of the company,â&#x20AC;? it said in a notice to vacate the premises dated Feb. 18, 2019. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The company allowed you and your family to remain in its private property on the condition that you will vacate the same when asked to do so,â&#x20AC;? it added. As the CAT signaled its intention to recover the property, the residents were given 60 days from receipt of the notice to vacate their dwellings and demolish all improvements they made. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you fail to do so, then we will BE COMPELLED TO kLE THE APPROPRIate legal action. In which event we will claim reasonable compensation for the use and occupation of the company propertyâ&#x20AC;Ś and we will also demand payment of moral damages, attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fees and costs of suit,â&#x20AC;? it said.

INFERNO

A raging fire hit the building of the Bureau of Customs at South Harbor in Manila on Friday night, which reached the tower of the main building where important documents were reportedly stored. The blaze was raised to fifth alarm, with fire trucks and firefighting volunteers from various areas in Metro Manila responded to the fire scene. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

DrugWatch P8-M MARIJUANA UPROOTED IN CEBU, P5M GOES UP IN SMOKE IN BENGUET AUTHORITIES uprooted about 20,000 fully-grown marijuana plants worth P8 million in a remote area in Barangay Gaas, Balamban town, midwest Cebu on Friday. Donito Ocariza, a farmer and alleged marijuana cultivator, who distributes the illegal hemp in Cebu City, was at large.Â Police said they received a tip about a huge marijuana plantation in different areas of Sitio Koo, about 5 kilometers away from the main road.Â Chief Insp. Christian Torres, station commander of Balamban Police Station, said responding police officers saw Ocariza at a mountain on the other side. Ocariza reportedly ran upon seeing the lawmen. It took about 5 hours for the police to uproot the marijuana, plants which were eventually burned after taking samples for examination of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas. Similarly, police officers swooped down on nine marijuana plantations in remote and hinterland of Lapines and Tanap in Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet.Â Senior Supt. Lyndon Mencio, Benguet police director, said operatives discovered the plantations with some 27,350 pieces of fullygrown marijuana plants valued at P5.4 million. Mencio said aside from those brought for evidences, the haul was burned at the site. Kibungan is still considered as a hotbed of illicit marijuana plantations in Benguet where marijuana plantations are abundant. The two other areas are Kapangan and Bakun. Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso earlier disclosed a close coordination with the police and the local PDEA to eradicate marijuana plantation in the province. RHEA RUTH ROSELL AND THOM F. PICANA

Go bares agenda on education, youth PANGASINAN: On Friday, former special assistant to the President (SAP) and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? Go assured Pangasinenses that he would legislate on education and sports development, so the youth could be better equipped to become productive citizens. The former SAP issued the statement when he visited Dagupan City as guest at the 50th founding anniversary of Lyceum Northwestern University. Go is an adopted son of the province through a

resolution that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of Pangasinan passed, and which Gov. Amado Espino 3rd approved on Dec. 18, 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will author a bill creating a Bureau of Private Schools which would focus solely on these schools to uplift the quality of education such institutions provide,â&#x20AC;? Go said. He added that he would support President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans to increase the salaries of teachers and other education professionals.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President promised to do this for teachers after the move to standardize wages is accomplished. Hopefully, the teachers WILL BENEkT FROM THIS TOO )T IS TIME THEY ALSO BENEkT THIS WAY u Go said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the youth get the proper education and are given a chance to develop their abilities in sports, they will not be attracted to vice and will stay away from drugs,â&#x20AC;? he added. Go also reminded the students to take part, even at a young age,

in various service-oriented activities because their participation is important to nation building. The former SAP also detailed his legislative agenda with programs for agriculture, housing, improved healthcare service delivery, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay (village) welfare, senior citizen concerns, and the creation of a Department for overseas Filipino workers.

Q FLIRTATION FROM A1

Q BUDGET FROM A1

PompeoÂ to visit PH

Duterte vows budget for Bangsamoro

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After winning the presidency in 2016, the brash Philippine leader threatened to split with the United States and patch up with China by ending a long-running sea dispute. 0RESIDENT 8I *INPING VISITED -ANILA in November, offering trade and investment incentives. Duterte has bristled at all criticism over his sweeping crackdown on drugs and crime, which has killed thousands of people since

mid-2016 despite criticism of lack of due process. But Trump has hailed Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions as a sign of toughness â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a marked contrast with previous US president Barack Obama, who Duterte branded the â&#x20AC;&#x153;son of a whore.â&#x20AC;? The Trump administration has downplayed human rights except when pressing adversaries and has set an overall priority of reducing THE GLOBAL INlUENCE OF #HINA AND Russia. AFP

Q COMMITS FROM A1

Japan commits other railway personnel to ensure the safety, reliability and efficiency of railway operations in anticipation of the expansion of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; railway network SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT kVE YEARS The exchanges of notes were witnessed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd, Transportation Secretary Arthur

Tugade, Socioeconomic Planning 3ECRETARY %RNESTO 0ERNIA OFkCIALS from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the Philippine Consulate'ENERAL IN /SAKA -INISTRY OF Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and other Philippine government agencies. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the new region will have an annual block grant or a 5 percent share in the national internal revenue. The block grant is estimated to reach P60 billion. The law also mandates a 10-year special development fund worth P50 billion to help rebuild comMUNITIES AFFECTED BY CONlICT Duterte said the government must collect ample revenues that would be allocated to the Bangsamoro Region. He added that the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funds would be given â&#x20AC;&#x153;as the need arises

and as we collect the funds.â&#x20AC;? -URAD EARLIER SAID THE "4! would use the P32-billion budget allotted for the Autonomous 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO !2-- WHICH THE "ANGSAMORO Region replaced to deliver on the promise of improved education, social services and infrastructure. -URAD SAID THE gBLOCK GRANTu would have to wait until next year. Congress allocated P30 billion for the new governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations. The new region also stands to receive P50 billion in â&#x20AC;&#x153;special

Q AQUINO FROM A1

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people power He urged voters to select candidates who will work for the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welfare and uplift the lives of Filipino families. The senator said he was bank-

ing on his legislative accomplishments to earn him a second term in the Senate. )N HIS kRST TERM !QUINO HAS laws to his name, including the

development fundâ&#x20AC;? after 2019 to rebuild areas devastated by years OF ARMED CONlICT The creation of the BTA is one of the major steps in the peace process between the Philippine GOVERNMENT AND THE -),& WHICH once led a secessionist rebellion IN -INDANAO The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) congratuLATED THE GOVERNMENT -),& AND the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, as well as local communities on the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in the Southern Philippines, as well as a historic occasion for all people from the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General. â&#x20AC;?The United Nations will continue to support the Philippines in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and to help build the capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to achieve peace, democratic governance, and respect for human rights,â&#x20AC;? Dujarric added.

landmark free college law, which he pushed as principal sponsor during his term as chairman of the Senate Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. He also pushed for passage of the Go Negosyo Act, which has established more than 1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, catering to

the needs of Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business. If he wins a second term, Aquino vowed to push for reforms that will ensure good jobs for all college and K-12 graduates, enhance educational facilities AND BENEkTS FOR TEACHERS JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

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Business Times

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019 Editor: Edwin P. Sallan Email: edwin.sallan@manilatimes.net

CEO CORNER

Networking with an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;emperorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Under the stewardship of Alexander Salvador, OneOkada International Corp. is aiming to become a world leader among marketing companies BY YUGEL LOSORATAÂ

USION is a word not only embraced in culinary or music circles, but also in employing effective marketing system in the sphere of business. It is the fusion of traditional and innovative marketing rallying as battlecry in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cutthroat competition.

OneOkada International Corp., a network marketing company fast-becoming known for its health and beauty products, is one boasting the strength of that fusion. It has introduced one dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Extreme Binary System,â&#x20AC;? which basically â&#x20AC;&#x153;broke the norm of having daily income limits and flush out in

Q Alexander Salvador, CEO and president of OneOkada International Corp.

multi-level marketing.â&#x20AC;? Alexander Salvador, OneOkadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grounded CEO and president, is quite blunt about informing people of the bitter reality that more often misguide the young and the stillpromising. He implied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is so much potential in network marketing and it can be learned. A lot of graduates out there end up struggling for so long because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re misled to accepting jobs they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grow from or are losing hope to get good-paying jobs or fair employers altogether. Some of them are not even able to get past survival mode all their lives.â&#x20AC;? His company has now around 10 thousand members belonging to the marketing loop, a design of business platforms that include ecommerce, digital currencies and product distribution using breakthrough marketing programs. Products under its watch include anti-cancer Black Garlic (anti-cancer cells), Gravitrol (anti-oxidant), Pure Nature

C (vitamin C), and Maca Power (energy booster). It also carries Lex CafĂŠ, labeled as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthiest coffee.â&#x20AC;? All these products empower the so-called partners in OneOkada described by observers as being â&#x20AC;&#x153;responsible, faithful, and welltrained network marketers.â&#x20AC;? Collectively, they represent the kind of mindset their leader possesses and encourages. Salvador, fondly called â&#x20AC;&#x153;emperorâ&#x20AC;? by OneOkada members, is close to saying that a diploma is way past being the quickest way to getting access to the real world. In his book, everybody can sell products. Success in selling is very telling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We treat our members fair and respect their unique qualities by providing them opportunities to shine,â&#x20AC;? he related. Come to think of it, some people are allergic to hearing the very word â&#x20AC;&#x153;networkingâ&#x20AC;? because of the fear they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do sales talk, somehow forgetting the basic truth that everything is partly achieved through selling. Why would one buy a coffee drink for more than a hundred pesos if the idea of it being worth it had not been sold? Or why would a fan buy a costly ticket to a basketball match if it was not triumphantly BILLED AS A MEGAkGHT The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, easier said than done, is to be recog-

nized as a world leader among MARKETING COMPANIES IN THE kELD of wellness, health and digital technology. It is a shot at global triumph believed achievable because of a business model rooted on entrepreneurship that evaluates the weaknesses of traditional approach and enforces the strength of digital age innovation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spent so many years in networking and for it to be successful you need two things: system and organization,â&#x20AC;? Salvador offered. By that he is emphasizing on the fact that one cannot learn networking by mere hearsay. It is by bravely jumping into the water knowing you can swim or you have a life jacket with you. Salvador has somehow made his fortune by doing effective business; for example, the Cut and Fix Salon franchising. All in the name of proper marketing and sharing the knowledge to as many others. On his Facebook page, he greets you by saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about getting and having, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about giving and healing.â&#x20AC;? Last Wednesday, there was a gathering among OneOkada professionals and believers billed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Straight from the heart of the Emperor.â&#x20AC;? It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t some form of love advice session. It was a business activity embracing the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slogan of â&#x20AC;&#x153;One heart, One mind, One empire.â&#x20AC;?

Q OneOkada International Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health products

R E S I D E N T Ro d r i g o Duterte has signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11213, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tax Amnesty Act of 2019â&#x20AC;? (Tax Amnesty Act), but has vetoed several provisions, particularly the General Tax Amnesty (GTA). The GTA was supposed to cover all national internal revenue taxes (i.e., income tax, withholding tax, value-added tax, etc.), with or without assessments, that have remained unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2017. Under the GTA, a taxpayer would have had the option of paying the amnesty tax at the following rates: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 percent based on the taxpayerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total assets (gross) as of Dec. 31, 2017; or â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 percent based on the taxpayerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total networth or graduated amounts of mini-

Duterte vetoes General Tax Amnesty THE FINE PRINT RON ARRIESGADO mum amnesty tax payments, whichever is higher, depending on the amount of the corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subscribed capital. "ELOW IS A TABLE OF THE SPECIkC provisions of RA 11213 that were vetoed by President Duterte, as well as THE CORRESPONDING JUSTIkCATION FOR such veto: (See table at the right) With the veto of the GTA, President Duterte called on Congress to pass another GTA bill that will include safeguards to ensure truthful asset or net worth declarations, as well as the automatic exchange of information. Notwithstanding the

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pronouncement, it is unsure as to whether a GTA bill will be passed and signed into law within the year. As it stands, RA 11213 is left with the remaining 2 separate tax amnesty programs: Estate Tax Amnesty and Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies. The Estate Tax Amnesty provides for an amnesty tax of 6 percent based on the decedentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total net estate at the time of death, which can be availed of by estates of decedents who died on or before Dec. 31, 2017, and whose estate taxes remain unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2017. The Estate Tax Amnesty may be availed of within 2 years from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) issued by the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

As for the Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies, any person may ENJOY THE BENEkTS AND PRIVILEGES of the tax amnesty by paying the following tax amnesty rates: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 40 percent of the basic tax in cases of tax delinquencies and assessments, which have become kNAL AND EXECUTORY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50 percent of the basic tax for CASES SUBJECT TO kNAL AND EXECUtory judgment by the courts. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 60 percent of the basic tax for ongoing tax evasion cases. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 100 percent of the basic tax for withholding agents and their withholding tax liabilities. The Tax Amnesty on DelinquenCIES MAY BE kLED WITHIN ONE YEAR from the effectivity of the IRR. Currently, the DoF/BIR are drafting the IRR, with the intention that tax amnesty applicaTIONS MAY BE kLED AT THE EARLIEST by the third quarter of 2019.

Vetoed Provisions

Rationale

Entire section of GTA under A GTA without lifting bank secrecy Title 3 and all related provisions laws, imposing a legal framework in compliance with intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l standards on exchange of info, and penalties against untruthful declaration of net worth is overgenerous and would proliferate tax evasion. Provision allowing one-time To implement a one-time settledeclaration and settlement of ment across multiple estates would estate taxes on properties sub- erode the expected revenue of govject of multiple unsettled estates ernment from estate tax amnesty. The flat rate of 6 percent estate amnesty tax without penalties imposed at every stage is more than a fair imposition on the privilege. Provision raising presumption An erroneous valuation would afof correctness of the estate tax fect both revenue and subsequent amnesty returns transfers. There must be an opportunity to evaluate truthfulness of declarations made by the taxpayers, otherwise implementing agencies would merely be â&#x20AC;&#x153;stamping pads of approval.â&#x20AC;?

Business Times

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Hanjin rescue an exercise in institutional futility

A N A LY S I S

What emerging jobs in PH imply The human element still counts in the age of automation BY CORA LLAMAS

INKEDINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S recent study on the emerging jobs in the Philippines is nothing short of an eyeopener. At a time when professionals from all generations are beginning to fear redundancy because of the increasing entry of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in the workplace, the social media networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forecast on needed skills rams home the point that the human element is still essential to the success of a corporation. Neither does it present an either-or scenario. Its main thesis points out that the most in-demand professionals in the very near future will have been able to mix tech SAVVINESS WITH THE SO CALLED SOFT SKILLS THAT DEkNE our humanity, such as empathy and the ability to nurture long-term relationships. The LinkedIn study took five years to complete. While the increasing requirement for more TECH RELATED JOBS IS UNSURPRISING it also shows that these same competencies will have to be complemented by a more personal kind of management and a more effective means of communication. The result, as described by Feon Ang, LinkedInâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of talent and learning solutions, is a list composed of â&#x20AC;&#x153;hybrid of new and TRADITIONAL JOBS u ,ET S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP kVE JOBS THAT 0HILIPPINE BASED CORPORATIONS WILL BE SEEKING TO kLL VERY soon, ranking them from the most wanted: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Data scientist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Application development analyst â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back end developer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Full stack engineer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sales development representative The application development analyst and the full stack engineer ARE THE HARDCORE TECH JOBS THAT fuel the digitization of a company. 4HE kRST DEVELOPS COMPUTER BASED apps that serve as the platform for operational functions like payment transactions or web development, while the second is constantly looking for ways to make the app relevant to its customers, while ENSURING THAT A PROJECT IS kNISHED from beginning to end. The back end developer has

more of the so-called hybrid function. Because while he does engineer the nuts-and-bolts that keeps the servers and databases intact and running, he also has to coordinate regularly with the front end developer to guarantee that the customer has a user-friendly and happy experience. The minute the customer is not happy with how the site or structure communicates with him, he will click away and not return. As such, the back end developer has always to keep himself attuned to what the cusTOMER NEEDS WANTS AND ENJOYS TO make his end-product useful. He CANNOT CONkNE HIMSELF TO HIS monitor screens, but walk out (metaphorically speaking), take a whiff of life, and see and hear what his customers want real-time and in a real living space. This is especially true if he and the front end developer are working with the marketing manager in an online campaign,

for example. Engaging user exPERIENCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOW seamless the multichannel media platforms work, but how immersive and attractive the customer kNDS THE MESSAGE BEING PROMOTed. Sometimes, as pointed out by McCann Worldgroup Philippines Chairman Raul Castro in the Content 360 Marketing Conference two years ago, successful customer engagement boils down to compelling storytelling that touches the heart and stimulates the mind, while providing a visual feast for the eyes. The data scientist is critical to organizational success because he translates all those tons of information into actionable information for the decision-maker. Closely looking and discovering the patterns behind the statistics, numbers and tons of documents coming in can help him decipher a marketing trend and a critical

lAW IN THE SYSTEM THAT IS SLOWING down sales progress. But, again, the data scientist, in coming up WITH HIS OWN JUDGMENT CALL ALSO has to weigh in the various unpredictable factors that contribute to THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE )T NOT JUST A matter of knowing that a customer RESPONDED IN A SPECIkC WAY TO A product â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but digging deep into THE EMOTIONS FEELINGS PREJUDICES biases, and concerns that compelled him to make that choice. 4HE FIFTH JOB THAT ,INKED)N listed, the sales development manager, should make professionals in THAT JOB AND RELATED CATEGORIES SIGH in relief. The 21st century sales professional will have to learn how to work with AI and chatbots, but his expertise in listening to and empathizing with customers, and then encouraging them to maintain their relationship with the brand, is something no machine can do right now. Another global study bears this out. Recently released research BY /RACLE .ETSUITE 7AKEkELD 2Esearch and the Retail Doctor say that 95 percent of customers who shop online or in a physical store do NOT want to talk to a chatbot or a computer. They still prefer to deal with a fellow human being. Q Feon Ang, LinkedInâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of talent and learning solutions (Screengrab from video of LinkedIn Talent Solutions)

INCE the deus ex machina the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have been fervently hoping for did not happen, on Friday the bankrupt (ANJIN (EAVY )NDUSTRIES AND #ONstruction Co. Philippines (HHIC) began laying off its remaining workers, preparatory to a complete shutdown of the troubled shipyard. HHIC owes at least $900 million to South Korean banks and another P412 million (about $8 million) to kVE BANKS HERE IN THE 0HILIPPINES Including the claims of numerous unpaid vendors, the shipyardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debts reportedly exceed $2 billion. The Subic Bay facility does have a number of ships on its order book, but has no operating funds to continue their construction; stopping operations completely makes it even less likely that a buyer will be found anytime soon. What has been most frustrating to observe in the weeks since HHIC declared bankruptcy early last month is how the SBMA and DTI have decided â&#x20AC;&#x153;hand-wringingâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;wishful thinkingâ&#x20AC;? must be effective policy tools to address the crisis. Constant references to a search for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;white knightâ&#x20AC;? to buy the shipyard only reveal that the government has no practical plan, and is incapable of developing one. Perhaps the reason DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and SBMA chief Wilma Eisma appear so frantic is that they are now realizing they ignored ample warnings of potential trouble and squandered a nearly two-year head start to prepare some sort of contingency plans. HHICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s troubles are part of an even larger mess involving the ENTIRE (ANJIN 'ROUP WHICH WAS up until 2016 one of South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest industrial conglomerates. 3TRONG HINTS OF kNANCIAL TROUBLE had been circulating for a couple of years before the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s troubles exploding publicly with the abrupt COLLAPSE OF (ANJIN 3HIPPING IN August 2016. At the time, the government was quick to offer reassurances â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which to be fair, they were simply repeating from what they had been told by HHIC â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that the bankruptcy of the shipping concern would have no effect on the health of Subic Bayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest employer. The fault of the government, however, lies in its having taken HHICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reassurance at face value and not conducting some due diligence as to the real state of the shipbuilder and the risks posed by its connection to its parent group. Even if the DTI or 3"-! DID NOT HAVE OBJECTIVE EXPERTS in the shipping and shipbuilding industries at their disposal, it would not have taken particular genius to read the news and draw the concluSION THAT THE COLLAPSE OF (ANJIN 3HIPping was an indication of potentially serious trouble.

ROUGH TRADE BEN KRITZ (ANJIN 3HIPPING S BANKRUPTCY WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF BAD kNANCIAL management that seems to be enDEMIC TO THE (ANJIN GROUP CERTAINLY but it was greatly aggravated by the enormous overcapacity in shipping. In order to keep ships full, shippers had to continually reduce rates and MOTHBALL PART OF THEIR lEETS "ECAUSE of the time it takes to build ships, SHIP ORDERS ARE PLANNED AGAINST kVE to six-year forecasts of demand; by 2015, it was apparent that the shipping industry had gotten it terribly wrong. The idled shipping capacity simply aggravated the problem for shipbuilders; while some of the laidup ships were or are being scrapped, many will be made serviceable again if and when demand requires. Thus the prospects for the shipbuilding industry look dim until sometime next decade. .OBODY OUTSIDE THE (ANJIN GROUP EXPECTED (ANJIN 3HIPPING TO SUDdenly fail, but once it did, those with a critical interest in shipping and related industries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as government agencies here that were relying on the well-being of HHIC â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ought to have carefully considered similar scenarios. The blow of HHICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bankruptcy would have still been painful, but could have been softened had the DTI and SBMA spent some time developing alternatives. Doing that would have not only better prepared the Subic Bay area and the wider economy to absorb the LOSS OF A MAJOR INDUSTRY BUT WOULD have helped HHIC as well. Finding alternative markets for HHICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suppliers and attracting industries to Subic that would draw on the same labor force as HHIC would have obliged the shipyard to focus on economizing operations and making THEM MORE EFkCIENT 4HAT MIGHT NOT have saved HHIC, but it would have taken much of the sting out of its collapse, and not left the local economy completely empty-handed. Judging from comments made by DTIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lopez on Friday, the government IS GOING TO STICK WITH THE g0LEASE JUST come and restore the status quo for usâ&#x20AC;? policy direction; Lopez even went so far as to say that â&#x20AC;&#x153;it would be better if it [a buyer for the shipyard] was a foreign CONCERN BECAUSE IT SHOWS CONkDENCE in our economy.â&#x20AC;? 4HAT CONkDENCE WOULD BE GREATLY improved if the responsible government agencies would demonstrate a bit of proactive competence and foresight in managing it. Until they do, the now-quiet HHIC facility is likely to remain a white elephant no investor would touch, even with someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money. ben.kritz@manilatimes.net

Is the Chinese succession model doomed to fail? (Last part) HE overseas Chinese or huachiao is a term commonly used for the Chinese in Southeast Asia. In a broader sense, overseas Chinese refers to all Chinese who have left their homes in China to live and work abroad. The Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, particularly those who arrived between the 18th and mid-20th century, was mainly for economic reasons, particularly focused on employment and trade. Their prime motivation was to make a decent living and survive in a virtually new frontier.

Future proofing your business In his book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Critical Generations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Out of the Succession Dilemma of Chinese Family Businesses,â&#x20AC;? Professor Fan emphasized three critical tasks (family governance, ownership design and corporate governance) that every overseas Chinese family must pursue in order to survive internal and external complexities. He stressed the need for Chinese families to install and enforce a system of governance that emphasizes

Thus, the effects and extent of family disputes vary depending on how succession plans are structured within a business.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All of the income derived must be reinvested into the busiFAMILIES IN ness and/or donated for charitable BUSINESS purposes. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The rules of the transfer rePROF. ENRIQUE Unique ownership quire that no family members SORIANO designÂ could serve as manager unless he/ she is vetted. shared values, the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolve â&#x20AC;&#x201C; This transfer structure would to consolidate family interests, and The book cited a unique case provide a conflict management related to the ownership and also allow Wang to avoid govFORUM TO MANAGE INkGHTING AS THE wealth transfer model initi- ernment mandated inheritance family enterprise transitions from ated by the legendary Taiwanese related taxes. Effectively in the case of Wang, founding generation to sibling businessman Y.C Wang. Just generation stage. It also added that like any founder-owner, one who died at 91 in New Jersey while any governance system must regu- of the issues that Wang wanted on a business trip, his wealth translate family membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; involvement TO AVOID WAS THE LIKELY CONlICT fer has achieved business continuand prepare mechanisms related to within his big family when they ity and has sheltered his family their possible exit from the family inherit his wealth after he had BUSINESS FROM FAMILY INkGHTING )T passed on. Therefore, as part must be pointed out though that business. In all of these potential â&#x20AC;&#x153;mine- of Wangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealth transition, he the Y.C Wang model may be the kELDS u ANOTHER SOURCE OF MAJOR transferred the controlling own- exception rather than the norm as conflict was attributed to the ership of Formosa Plastics Group ownership transfer of a successful business foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural prefer- to a charitable foundation. His business to a charitable foundaence to â&#x20AC;&#x153;lock-upâ&#x20AC;? the wealth and primary purpose in transferring tion is a rare practice for overseas ownership of the business. This ownership to a foundation was Chinese. On top of all these interventions, traditional behavior differs from to effectively protect his business the next generation membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from being compromised by the Chinese family founders are now mindset where they expect to get anticipated family dispute. Sens- using a range of different methods a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fairâ&#x20AC;? share of their inheritance ING CONlICT AND THE CERTAINTY THAT to solve their succession problems after the founding generation his wealth will be dissipated, he and many founders are now becompasses away. All too often, when a set out to creating a mechanism ing more proactive in embracing governance and succession models. key business leader passes away, a under the following rules: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; No family members could be In my governance work in Asia, I NASTY FAMILY kGHT WILL ENSUE AND always encourage family businesses court action inevitably follows. A BENEkCIARY OF THE ASSETS

to explore many modes of wealth transition and in some cases I raise the option of family owned businesses using the stock market listing as a vehicle to manage transition complexities. Having public ownership will compel family members to raise the governance bar many notches higher and enforce fairness minus the drama that goes with any FAMILY CONlICT To reiterate in one TV interview where I guested, the seeds of destruction are actually started by the founding generation and it is their sole responsibility to embed governance while they are still in control. This life-changing initiative made in advance of an impending death can clear the way for any OBSTACLES THAT CAN PREJUDICE THE path towards any legacy-building measures. Excited to deliver a one-day talk in a family business forum organised by ICON Executive Search and ExCED Institute on March 9 at Elizabeth Hotel in Cebu. The event entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;ON BECOMING A 100 YEAR OLD FAMILY BUSINESS: Building An Enduring Legacy of Stewardshipâ&#x20AC;? is the second of a series of Family Governance advocacy initiatives organized by

ExCED Institute and ICON Executive Search in collaboration with Wong+Bernstein Family Advisory. Second generation Chief /PERATING /FkCER &RANCO 3OBERANO of publicly listed and family-led #EBU ,ANDMASTERS WILL JOIN ME AS co-speaker. The event is a follow through leg of the hugely successful program in Manila last year, where my co-speaker was Kevin Tan, the second-generation successor who recently assumed the Chief %XECUTIVE /FkCER ROLE OF !LLIANCE Global, the holding company of his billionaire father, Dr. Andrew Tan. Due to limited slots, please call Dennis Uyaco at 09177983118 to reserve seats.

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.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Special Feature

24TH ANNIVERSARY

Cagayan Economic Zone Authority is primed for boom in 2019

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Q Sec. Raul Lambino, administrator and CEO, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and presidential adviser for North Luzon.

Secretary Raul Lambino, CEZA administrator and CEO, and concurrent presidential advisor for Northern Luzon, is determined to turn the Zone into a haven for financial technology, innovation and tourism-driven entertainment

AST YEAR, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) experienced a surge of investmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;its biggest jump in more than two decadesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;following the UNVEILING OF ITS CRYPTOCURRENCY AND BLOCKCHAIN HUB A kRST IN the country, and the retooling of its online gaming industry sans the control of a duopoly. Both programs are at the tip of a threepronged initiative that Secretary Raul Lambino, administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority is pursuing relentlessly to turn the Zone into a haven for Financial Technology (Fintech) innovation and tourism-driven entertainment. With Lambino at the helm of CEZA, the route he chose for the Zoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recovery was daring, if not grand in vision. Like a modern-day savant spinning the WHEELS OF INNOVATION OUT TO kND A FORMULA to perk up growth at the economic enclave in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, Lambino came upon one Eureka moment, and then another, and then a third one. First, he transformed the landscape of ONLINE GAMING 7HERE ONLY TWO kRMS USED to wield immense power over the entire operations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; being the Cagayan Freeportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s master licensors for online gaming â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lambino decisively dismantled the duopoly with one masterstroke: he changed the lopsided rules. So online gaming became a rule-based operation. He led a CEZA crackdown on illegal online gaming that had the registration of 58 Inter-Active Gaming Licensees (IGLs) cancelled, as well as those of 77 Business Process Outsourcing "0/ kRMS THAT SERVED AS THEIR BACK OFkCES in compliance with the mandate of Executive Order No. 13 which prohibited the operations of CEZA-licensed IGLs outside of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Santa Ana, Cagayan. )TS IMPACT WAS TO RESTORE CONkDENCE IN THE AGENCY AND BELIEF IN CLEAN AND EFkCIENT government, the hallmark of the Duterte Administration, which promised change in 2016 when it claimed power. 4HE MOST VISIBLE BENEkTS WERE FELT WITHIN a few months when a new wave of big playERS LOCATORS FROM OVERSEAS STARTED lOWING in, attracted by the suddenly diversifying, oxygen-fed air of a formerly suffocating economic zone. In mid-May, Lambino unveiled the CRYPTOCURRENCY INITIATIVE THAT HE kTTINGLY christened â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crypto Valley in Asia.â&#x20AC;? It was a low-key move, but the innovation set off A RUSH OF CRYPTOCURRENCY AND &INTECH kRMS to locate in Santa Ana, applying with CEZA as principal licensees for blockchain and virtual currency trading. This transpired despite CEZAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high ceiling for the initial investment to be made by the licensed exchanges just to locate their perMANENT OFkCES IN 3ANTA !NA FOR APPLICATION FEES FOR LICENSE FEES AND MILLION EACH AS INVESTMENT COMMITMENT to be delivered in two years. At the end of the year, 25 o f f -

Q Palaui Island, the home of Asean Community-based Tourism Awardee (2019-2021).

SHORE kNTECH kRMS WERE GIVEN PRINCIPAL LIcenses by the agency. Every exchange given the license to operate had to commit a minimum OF MILLION IN INVESTMENT AND SIGN UP AT least a minimum of four traders or brokers. 7HAT THESE LICENSED EXCHANGES WILL kND AT the Zone, Lambino said, is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a haven where THEY CAN DESIGN AND GESTATE THEIR kNANCIAL technology innovationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and we are going to be partners in building the future of Fintech.â&#x20AC;? CEZA is creating, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;an ideal atmosphere that will inspire the best minds of the young generation and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s leading cryptocurrency companies to engage in the development of the next wave of technological breakthroughs.â&#x20AC;? The third innovation in Lambinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book is the most ambitious in scope, in scale, in vision, and in goals: A new satellite city southwest of Santa Ana. )T IS A PROPOSED BILLION JOINT VENTURE between CEZA and a leading local property DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT kRM â&#x20AC;&#x201D; First Cagayan Leisure Resorts Corporation, Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online gaming industry pioneer. Inspired by the North Starâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the bright point of light nearly directly above the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magnetic north pole and a beacon to travelers, it will be named â&#x20AC;&#x153;City Polaris.â&#x20AC;? It will be master-planned by the Italian company Mercurio $ESIGN ,ABu AND kNANCED BY 3INGAPORE BASED LongRunn Capital Pte. Ltd. The modern city will rise with integrated resorts, six-star hotels, public and championship golf courses, water theme parks, movie theme parks, retirement village, private villas, condominiums, cyberparks and iconic architecture and the latest amenities AND INNOVATIONSÂ&#x2021;ONE OF THE kNEST IN THIS part of the world. Construction will begin this year on a scenic mountainside overlooking enchanting Palaui Island and in another seaside siteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and if LongRunn Capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work timetable will not run into unexpected delays, the 500-hectare city could be inaugurated sometime in early 2021. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have never imagined in our lifetime a project of this magnitude and scale,â&#x20AC;? said Lambino, seeing City Polaris as an entertainment gem that could pull in foreign and local business to perk up growth in the Zoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and contribute to Northern Luzonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. LongRunn Capital has lined up other major investments in the Zone, one of them a joint venture with Cagayan Premium to develop, upgrade, expand and modernize the Cagayan North International Airport in Lallo with a multi-story passenger terminal, modern facilities and MRO services, and a new regional airline company. A multiple lane expressway connecting Santa Ana and

Lal-lo, the airportt to town tow ow wn so ssome ome 60 ome 60 kms kms ms to to the southwest, would uld ld b bee co constructed ons nst str tru ructed ruc uct cte ted ed to o ccut ut ut travel time between een n th them the hem em tto o th tthir thi thirty hir irty irt ty m minutes inut inu in utes ute es or less. Santa Ana itselff iiss po p poised ois ised ise ed tto o be b bec become eco come me the the he countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next major maj aajor ajo jor or beach beac ach ch h destination. des destin de est sti tina tin nat ati tion tti ion io on. on. Shanghaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jucheng ng Supply ng Sup uppl ply Management Manag M Ma Man ana nage geeme gem ment m men entt ent 'ROUP IS POURING G 53 53 5 53 3 MILLION MILLI MI LLIO IION ON N INTO INTO IN TO TO the developmentt of of aan n in iintegrated int ntte n tteg egr grraat gra ated ate ted ed rresort eeso es sort orrt o promoting its pristine stine sti st tiine white whi hite hit t beaches. bea eeac ach ch che hes. es. The es. es The Th resort will rise in the he mi mid m midd middle idd ddle ddl le o off some some so me of of the the th kNEST UNSPOILED NATURAL BEAUTIES OF ,UZON S ATU TU TUR URA RALL BE RA BEEAUTIE AUTI AU UTI TTIES TIE IES ES OF ,U ,UZO ,UZ ZON N S extreme northeastt reg regi rre region. eegi ggion gio ion. on. n. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading ading appare apparel el manufacmanu nufa fac turer, Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zhejiang Guannan Group, is breaking new ground in the Zone this year WITH A MILLION INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR â&#x20AC;&#x153;greenâ&#x20AC;? textile production and real estate development. To boost health care for visitors and the entire Northern Luzon population, a Slovak kRM STEPPED WITH A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A MODERN hospital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beginning of a new era of health care in our region,â&#x20AC;? said Lambino, adding that CEZA would give medical tourism and retirement communities an added premium.

submarine ssub su ubma bmar mari m ari rin in nee cable cabl cab ca ble to ble to HongHon ongkong, kong ko ong ng, an ng, and and nd by by u underground nde n nd der ergr grou gro ound o und nd kBER OPTIC LINE TO ITS -AKATI k kB BER ERR OPTIC ER O OPTIC I LIN INE E TO TO ITS TS -AK AKAT AKA ATI TTII I City-based C Cit Ci ity ty-b -bas aased sed ed h headquarters. eadq ea ead dquarters. d dqu qua uart arte rter ers rs. s. !N ! !N N EFkCI EFk EF EFkCIENT Fk kCI CIEN ENT IINFRASTR INFRASTRUCNFR NFFRA RAASTRUC TRU RU UCtture tur tu ure re sys ssystem yysste ste teem tem m will wiillll have w hav haave ve to o be p be put ut in in place pllac p pla lac ace ce to further ce furt fu fur urth ther the her transform tr r an aansf n sfo s f or orm o r m the t he th h e Freeportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frr ee eeeport eepor po o r t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iinvestment inve inv in nve vest ve sttment meent men nt climate. nt cli lima mate mat tee.. This te. TThi hi his iss year, yeear, CEZA C CE E EZA Z iiss de ZA det d determined eter teerrm rmin iined ned n ed tto ed o ro roll olll oll out o ou ut a building buil bu b bui uil ildin ding d di ing and and nd rehabilitareh re ehab eh abil ilit ili ita taattion tio ti ion on p program. rogram. ro ogrram am. am. m. A major majo ma jor face facelift celi lift of Port Irene nee will wi ll be undertaken undertak aken including thee dredging of its mooring waters. CEZA is also building three additional huge warehouses along the coast of Santa Ana where a coastal boulevard running all the way to nearby San Vicente Port, which will also be rehabilitated, will be constructed. San Vicente will have a bigger wharf to allow cruise vessels to berth while also boosting facilities for inter-island services. Two jetty ports that will be constructed in Palaui Island, named one of the Top Ten best beaches in the world by CNN Go, to go with the development of a 200-hectare property, part of a concept to turn it into a Maglev train R&D hub tourism enclave. Nangaramoan beach, another destination Two Chinese companies, one engaged in TRAIN TECHNOLOGY AND THE OTHER IN kNANCE off the beaten track, will have its share of develentered into agreements with CEZA to es- opment funds. CEZA has allocated part of its tablish a hub in the Zone dedicated for the 2019 corporate budget for the building, near development and production of Maglev its beachfront, of rest houses and boutique (magnetic levitation) trains, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest hotels accessible to backpackers and budget lOATING TRAINS &OR THE INITIAL 2 $ EFFORT (U- tourists. &OR SEVERAL YEARS #%:! IMPOUNDED A lEET nan Goke Maglev Technology Development Ltd. of Changsa City and Hongkong-based of high-end imported cars that had illegally Eminova Asset Management Ltd are investing through Port Irene, a grim reminder of the Freeportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past as the entreport for high-duty P1.5 billion. A P30-million investment made by the contraband items. Upon being named CEZA Administrator Taiwan Electronic Company-EV will usher in production of electric vehicles in support of the and CEO by President Rodrigo Duterte, Lambino made known his resolve to give the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advocacy of green technology. In August 2018, CNIA received the long- agency a clean, squeaky imageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that â&#x20AC;&#x153;CEZA awaited International Civil Aviation Organi- does not, and will never tolerate, condone or ZATION CERTIkCATION AND ACCREDITATION BY THE encourage smuggling or wrongdoing of any International Association of Travel Agencies, kind at the Freeportâ&#x20AC;?. /N -ARCH IN 3ANTA !NA AS THE 0RESIclearing the last hurdle for it to go into full dent and a group of ranking government officials commercial operation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With an airport code and a spot in the global watched while TV network cameras rolled, a travel map,â&#x20AC;? Lambino said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;CNIA can now op- bulldozer and backhoe rolled over several rows erate international flights. Cagayan province, not of Porsches, BMWs, and Benzes plus a collectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maserati, GT3, Alpina B12, Opel Manta and a only CEZA, is entering a new age.â&#x20AC;? To guarantee a stable electric power sup- Renault R5. On July 31, 2018 followed a second public ply as the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emerging new investment jewel, CEZA signed MoAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enabling condemnation, again watched by the Presithe power generation and distribution DENT IN 3ANTA !NA !N ENTIRE lEET OF (UMMERS companies to manage the Zoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surging Lamborghinis, Land Cruisers, and Harley Davidson big bikes was turned into scrap by power requirements. In this technological age, CEZA is adapting to the same bulldozer and backhoe. From the scrap CEZA will build, in Lambiinnovative technology as fast as it could. In an agreement, it gave Converge Information and noâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catchy phrase, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Memorial of TransforCommunications Technology Solutions the green mationâ&#x20AC;?. It was a year of moral rebirth in the agency and lighttoinstallundergroundfiberopticcableandan aerial distribution network to secure a digitally-en- a turnaround in its revenuesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a dramatic, but hardly surprising development. Lambino is typiabled special economic zone. Linked to Taiwan and the world, the Con- cally driven, a man of boundless verge submarine cable will boost the existing energy and bold imaginacable infrastructure built by LR Data and con- tion who loves to nected by lead by

blazing new trails and exploring unchartered territories. For instance, his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crypto Valley in Asiaâ&#x20AC;? project launched only in May with little fanfare has caught on. Within six months, it generated the bulk of #%:! S REVENUES FOR THE YEAR CONTRIBUTING 0 MILLION TO ITS COFFERS 0 MILLION TO #USTOMS collections while paying to the BIR a corporate tax amounting to P110 million. CEZA more than tripled its 2017 revenue collections of P233.063 million to P706.512 million last year, or a 330 percent increaseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an all-time new agency record in total revenues collected. Because of this, CEZA earned a net of P295.661 million to set aside dividends WORTH 0 MILLION FOR THE NATIONAL government. OVCE Principal Licensees stripped the title of the online gaming operators as CEZAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major tax payers, but their biggest contributions ARE EXPECTED TO OVERlOW #%:! S COFFERS THIS year. That is when their asset-backed tokens start to be traded in the offshore market and their coins used as tokens in the lucrative online gaming industry. Even land-based gaming and online gaming would eventually be overshadowed by the INlUENCE OF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET IN THE expanding territory of global entertainment and tourism promotions. The reason for this, as Fintech advocates argue, is that digital assets enjoy certain unmatched advantages. Not only are they low in transaction costs, much lower than those incurred using credit CARDS OR BANK TRANSFERS -ORE SIGNIkCANT IS that they are irreversible and transparent, DONE AT THE lICK OF A kNGER AND HAVE NO chargebacks because proof of payment is readily available on blockchain (distributed ledger). The long-term viability of doing business in cryptocurrencies using the blockchain technology to be more consumer-autonomous, has brought increasing optimism to online gaming operators. Admirably, Lambino has provided the right stimulus package and impetus to attract foreign investors to the zone. The challenge for him this year is to surpass his standard. The consensus is, CEZA is going to experience another year of robust growth and achievement in 2019.

Business Times

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

The making of an entrepreneur BY MA. GLAIZA LEE

ITH the third youngest population in Asia Pacific, the Philippines should take advantage of its young population to invoke change and address social issues. 4HERE ARE ABOUT MILLION youth and counting in the PhilIPPINES TODAY "UT THE NUMBERS ALSO SHOWED THAT A BIG CHUNK OF the youth population are living BELOW THE POVERTY LINE 7HILE some percentage are part of the LABOR FORCE MOST OF THEM ARE out-of-school-youth and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a source livelihood due to less employment opportunities AVAILABLE FOR THEM AND THE LACK OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AMONG other reasons. "EING YOUNG CAN BE BOTH THEIR advantage and disadvantage. Being YOUNG MIGHT MEAN BEING INEXPERIENCED BUT BEING YOUNG CAN ALSO MEAN UNTAPPED POTENTIALS 7HILE they are very young and inexperienced, the Filipino youth has the imagination and the creativity to CREATE IDEAS WHICH CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO TANGIBLE ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS Going into entrepreneurship CAN BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR YOUNG people, an alternative to enterING THE WORK FORCE WHICH CAN BE quite competitive and cutthroat nowadays. Starting and running A BUSINESS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE BOTH kNANCIAL AND PERsonal independence. Given the current trend towards GLOBALIZATION DEVELOPING AN innovative and entrepreneurial culture is a crucial. In the long run, youth entrepreneurship may lead

Q Spark Project Chief Executive Officer and founder Patch Dulay and celebrity speaker Bianca Gonzalez. TO kNANCIAL STABILITY CREATE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES GIVE YOUNG people a sense of purpose, and help them develop life skills, thus, improving their quality of life. 4HE QUESTION BOILS DOWN TO HOW to foster entrepreneurial spirit and JUMP START THEIR BUSINESS CAREER Young Filipino entrepreneurs encounter challenges, such as lack of know-how to fine-tune their IDEAS kNANCING CAPITAL LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS IN SETTING UP THEIR BUSIness, lack of marketing tools to maintain their competitiveness in the market, and inadequate access to technology, among others. That is where Spark Fest 2019, a one-day conference that gathers thought leaders and industry MOVERS IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR comes in. It is slated on March STARTING AT A M AT THE 'LOBE 4OWER IN "ONIFACIO 'LOBAL City, Taguig. /RGANIZED BY 4HE 3PARK 0ROJECT 430 THE ONLY 0HILIPPINE BASED crowdfunding platform for creative and social enterprises, the festival aims to inspire Filipino TALENT TO BUILD EARN AND MAKE THE WORLD BETTER WITH THEIR IDEAS

g)N THE 0HILIPPINES THERE IS A VAST resource of talent left untapped. 4HE SUCCESS BEHIND THE 3PARK 0ROJect was [anchored on]creating a SHARED SPACE FOR TALENT TO BUILD ON TALENT 7E WERE ALSO ABLE TO BUILD a community with a shared vision of helping aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern-day BAYANIHAN AT ITS kNEST u SAID 3PARK 0ROJECT #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FFICER founder Patch Dulay. 0ARTICIPANTS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT creativity and innovation to start a BUSINESS FROM START UP FOUNDERS creative entrepreneurs, and social innovators and get a chance to pitch and consult with some of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top entrepreneurs. /N ITS THIRD YEAR 3PARK &EST WILL FEATURE -AKE BY 3AATCHI AND Saatchi co-founder Christian San *OSE WHO HELPED BUILD THE DIGITAL BRANDS OF !DOBE )NC +OBE "RYant, James Harden and Usain Bolt; /RYSPA 3OLUTIONS S 3HERILL 1UINTANA !.4(),, &ABRIC 'ALLERY S Anya Lim; the Instagram famous TRIO PEREASTREET THE "LOOMkELDS 3AVE 0HILIPPINE 3EAS S !NNA /POSA 7ORSHIP 'ENERATION S +IRK Damasco; and Get Blued.

#ELEBRITY SPEAKERS 2* ,EDESMA and Bianca Gonzales-Intal will also share their stories of success SPARKED BY THEIR OWN CREATIVE ideas. Ledesma co-founded the -ERCATO #ENTRAL THE BIGGEST NIGHT FOOD MARKET AND FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOR HUB IN THE 0HILIPPINES while Gonzales Intal continues to inspire young people, women and moms with her life advice and reallife stories of survival through her BESTSELLING BOOK TURNED ONLINE VIDEO SERIES gĂ&#x203A;0AANO"A4O u g/UR CHALLENGE FOR &ILIPINO TALent is to re-imagine the way they create. Having a highly-curated roster of speakers and mentors is ESSENTIAL 7E REALLY WANT TO INSPIRE and teach emerging entrepreneurs BY PUTTING THEM IN THE SAME ROOM AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT BEFORE and succeeded. So, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very intentional in our selection of STORIES BECAUSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP creativity, and social change can BE CHALLENGING "UT THAT S HOW YOU MAKE THE WORLD BETTER /UR GOAL IS to encourage those who are ready to level up,â&#x20AC;? said Dulay. 4O JOIN REGISTER AT HTTPS W W W S P A R K F E S T B Y T S P C O M

Are you ready for the Samsung Galaxy Fold?

HE Samsung Galaxy Fold took the thunder away from the Sam- â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though Samsung is yet to reveal dimensions. The two sides of sung Galaxy S10 lineup during early Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Unpacked 2019 THE &OLD ARE JOINED TOGETHER BY A HINGE WITH MULTIPLE INTERLOCKING EVENT IN 3AN &RANCISCO 4HE kRST BENDABLE SMARTPHONE RELEASED BY GEARS 9OU LL BE ABLE TO USE APPS USING THE OUTER DISPLAY THEN PICK a major tech company is supposed to go on sale late April with a up where you left off on the inner display as soon as you open $1,980 or over PHP102,000 price tag. THE &OLD UP 3AMSUNG CALLS THIS FUNCTIONALITY @!PP This can mean that our wallets may have Continuityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. You can use three apps at once on folded on the Fold right at this point. But in the inner display.â&#x20AC;? an era where people hold on to their smart7E VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN PREVIOUS phones longer, the Galaxy Fold is still a leap. ENTRIES THAT THE SMARTPHONE MARKET NEEDS A BRAVE To which direction, only time will tell. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new technology for more consumers to upgrade. At SAFE TO ASSUME THAT BENDY LAUNCHES ARE BOUND the moment, smartphone owners tend to hold on to happen sooner than expected. TO THEIR DEVICES LONGER BECAUSE THEY VE GONE OVERLY Interestingly, Samsung did not allow jourEXPENSIVE )T DOESN T HELP THAT THE ANNUAL BUMP nalists to play with the Fold. Unlike the tenth IN FEATURES Â&#x2021; ACROSS ALL lAGSHIP PHONES Â&#x2021; IS NOT anniversary smartphone S10, which we has the chance to play with CONVINCING ENOUGH 7E VE ALSO MENTIONED THAT MAKING FOLDABLE DURING THE SIMULTANEOUS 5NPACKED EVENT BEFORE DAWN LAST &EBRUARY smartphones might do the trick â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or trick the consumers. Samsung 21 at Shangri-La The Fort, where Samsung gathered local media and REALLY THINKS SO 4HE TECH GIANT PRIDES ITSELF IN CLAIMING gINDUSTRY industry partners like Smart Communications to experience the S10 kRSTS u 4HE NEW SMARTPHONE IS FAR FROM THE lIP PHONES OF EARLY S ahead of most consumers and tech fanatics. g4ODAY 3AMSUNG IS WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MOBILE INNOVATION If your wallet hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t folded yet, then letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move on to how the fold HISTORY BY CHANGING WHAT S POSSIBLE IN A SMARTPHONE 'ALAXY &OLD INOPENS AND CLOSES LIKE A BOOK g7E INVENTED A SOPHISTICATED HINGE TRODUCES A COMPLETELY NEW CATEGORY THAT UNLOCKS NEW CAPABILITIES NEVER system that lets you fold and unfold the Fold naturally using naturally SEEN BEFORE WITH OUR )NkNITY &LEX $ISPLAY u SAID $* +OH 3AMSUNG S interlocking gears hidden under the screen,â&#x20AC;? said Samsung Senior president and chief EXECUTIVE OFkCER Vice President Justin Denison. USA Today PUBLISHED A POLL VIA 3URVEYThat said, For a quick look at the specs, TrustMonkey Audience that suggested only ED2EVIEWS COM DETAILED g3AMSUNG three percent are willing to pay for SAYS THERE WILL BE TWO VERSIONS OF anything over$1000 while only THE 'ALAXY &OLD AVAILABLE ! ' 19 percent of Android users model and an LTE model. It WILL GIVE THE FOLDABLE UNIT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN 3PACE A SHOT 7E HONESTLY Silver, Cosmos Black, think that it will Martian Green TAKE A WHILE BEand Astro fore consumers form a Blue colour solid schemes, desire and Samto pursung says chase a YO U L L B E F O L D A B L E ABLE TO CUSphone. Consumtomize the hinge ers will wait for reviews color too. Samsung will and actual user experience posts throw in the new Galaxy Buds as a to fully understand how technology in a FREEBIE TO &OLD BUYERS AND YOU LL BE ABLE TO BENDABLE DEVICE AFFECTS USE OF CAMERA VIDEO VIEWING get your pre-orders in on April 26. It features two SCREENS A INCH ($ 3UPER !-/,%$ OUTER Q The Samsung Galaxy Fold. experience and apps in a phone that transforms itself INTO A TABLET WITH A gPAGE lIP u DISPLAY WITH A ASPECT RATIO AND A INCH 18'! $YNAMIC !-/,%$ INNER @)NFINITY &LEX DISPLAY WITH A ASPECT RATIO "OTH OF THESE SCREENS FEATURE ROUNDED CORNERS 4HE AUTHOR IS A FORMER BROADSHEET ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE REPORTER 4HE &OLD OPENS UP LIKE A BOOK AND WHEN IT S CLOSED IT ESSENTIALLY AND SECTION EDITOR FOR AN ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE BEFORE CROSSING looks like two phones stuck together. Yes, that means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thick over to corporate and marketing PR.

TAP, SWIPE, SCROLL KAYE VILLAGOMEZ

The Sunday Times

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My heartaches have no place in social media I THE DIGITAL

7/+% up this morning from a dream that I was BACK WITH THE EX )T WAS BITTERSWEET ) TELL YA -ORE BITTER than sweet, actually. JOSEPH HOLANDES In that dream, we were locked in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emUBALDE BRACE AS ) UTTER 0HILIPPINE cinemaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheesiest line it DESERVES IT S OWN POPCORN lAVOR g3ANA AKO NA LANGwSANA ako na lang uli.â&#x20AC;? #UE WARM EMBRACE +ISS "Y THE TIME ) WOKE UP AND BEGAN REALIZING THAT IT WAS JUST MY SUBCONSCIOUS PLAYING TRICKS ON ME ) COULD FEEL ALL THE GOODNESS ALL THE KILIG ALL THE GOOD VIBES ESCAPING ME )T S like listening to a Jason Mraz song as the volume on the radio slowly turns to mute. /F COURSE MY kRST INSTINCT WAS TO TYPE THIS UP ON &ACEBOOK OR SHOOT AN g)NSTA STORY u ) DESPERATELY WANTED TO LET IT ALL OUTĂ&#x153; 4HE WORLD AFTER ALL DESERVES TO BEAR WITNESS TO MY HEARTACHE They need to experience my pain and anguish. ) ALSO NEED gTHEMu ) NEED THEIR g!WWWu AND g+AYA MO @YANĂ&#x153;u NO MATTER HOW ARTIkCIAL HOW DEVOID OF ANY REAL CONnection. It adds fuels to my soul. These virtual hugs are like A TOUCH FROM *ESUS IT SOOTHES AND HEALS "UT ALASĂ&#x153; ) DID NOT DO IT ) THOUGHT ABOUT IT COUNTLESS TIMES "UT IN THE END ) HAD TO ABANDON IT g-Y HEARTACHES HAVE NO PLACE IN SOCIAL MEDIA u ) THOUGHT (ERE ) WAS SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT Ă&#x203A;3OCIAL-EDIA&OR3OCIAL'OOD AND WHAT GOOD DOES IT REALLY BRING TO WASH ONE S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC /R IN THIS CASE MY TEAR SOAKED PILLOW CASE ) CANNOT RANT ONLINE AS ) USED TO ) AM IN A CONSTANT BATTLE not to put everything Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going through online. I thought, g$ON T CRY OUT LOUD *UST KEEP IT INSIDE ,EARN HOW TO HIDE your feelings.â&#x20AC;? I envy and at the same time, disdain those who wantonly POST THEIR HEARTACHES ON &ACEBOOK OR )NSTAGRAM UNMINDFUL of immediate or future repercussions it may have. ) VE WRITTEN AT LENGTH BEFORE HOW EMPLOYERS NOW SIFT THROUGH AN APPLICANT S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING the candidate for an interview. Political views and private musings on love (and life) may trigger warning alarms for the HR, so I advice against postING THEM ON &ACEBOOK AT LEAST WHILE ON AN ACTIVE JOB HUNT .OW THE NEXT LOGICAL OUTLET FOR RAMBLINGS ON MATTERS OF THE HEART ARE YOUR FRIENDS .OW ONE MIGHT SAY u "UT MY &ACEBOOK friends, are MY friends.â&#x20AC;? &IRST OF ALL NO ONE HAS THAT MANY FRIENDS /N AN AVERAGE A PERSON ON &ACEBOOK HAS BETWEEN TO ON &ACEBOOK )N REAL LIFE WE JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO WE CAN TRULY CALL ABOUT THESE THINGS !ND ) THINK ) VE ALREADY USED UP ALL MY BROWNIE points and have exhausted their ears listening to my stories. "UT ) D RATHER TRY MY LUCK WITH THEM THAN WITH THE virtual strangers I currently have in all my social media accounts. I guess, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of our DNA to seek attention or AFkRMATION AND PLATFORMS LIKE &ACEBOOK AND 4WITTER HAVE provided these virtual avenues for us to amplify that need and get it fast. ) HAVE A HARD TIME REMEMBERING HOW ) MANAGED TO OVERCOME MY HEARTACHES BEFORE &ACEBOOK ) M SURE A BIT OF ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED SOMEWHERE "UT ) BEGIN TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE CRY BABIES IN ALL OF US In the past, heartaches were transformed into something BEAUTIFUL AND IT BLOSSOMED INTO SOMETHING WE CAN STILL ENJOY NOW 0ICASSO PAINTED .INA 3IMONE SANG 6IRGINIA 7OOLF WROTE But now, we tend to just let it all out and not let it sink IN A BIT ) M GUILTY OF THAT ) ADMIT AND ) VE BEEN CONSTANTLY REMINDED OF MY PAST gTRANSGRESSIONSu WHENEVER &ACEBOOK ALERTS ME OF WHAT HAPPENED gON THIS DAY u 3ANS SOCIAL MEDIA ) RESOLVED TO INSTEAD WRITE ABOUT HOW ) felt and what I am still feeling. I know, Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has come AND GONE AND THIS RAMBLING IS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TOO LATE But when the pangs of loneliness strikes you are left with the desire to call out for someone, anyone to come to your aid. But right now, my heartaches have no place in social media.

NOMAD

*OSEPH 5BALDE IS A DIGITAL CONTENT EXPERT AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRA T EGIST WHO HAS WORKED FOR VARIOUS LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMPANIES g4HE $IGITAL .OMADu 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

PAL to undergo system upgrade in March FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced Friday would undergo a system upgrade BY -ARCH IN A BID TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF BEING A kVE STAR CARRIER In its official social media account, PAL announced that it would upgrade its system to Amadeus Altea to provide passengers faster and more convenient transactions. In March 2018, PAL signed a partnership with Altea Suite, a passenger service system that streamlines air travel processes, such as reservation, lIGHT MANAGE MENT AND DEPARTURE control, among others. Having this airline IT system, according to PAL, would enhance

the online check-in processes, MAKE BOOKING EXPERIENCE EASIER and make other transactions faster and seamless. PAL earlier said it needed the necessary technology to help the CARRIER ACHIEVE ITS kVE STAR GOAL In 2018, PAL received a four-star rating from Skytrax, an international air transport rating organization. 4HE RATING WAS BASED ON the carrierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-flight and onground services. PNA

Sunday Business & I.T.

C1 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Editor: Jing Garcia

GLOBAL SMARTPHONE SALES

Huawei rises, Apple falls in Q4 2018

LOBAL sales of smartphones to end-users stalled in the fourth quarter of 2018, totaling 408.4 million units â&#x20AC;&#x201D; growth of just 0.1 percent over the fourth quarter of ACCORDING TO RESEARCH kRM 'ARTNER !PPLE recorded its worst quarterly decline (11.8 percent) SINCE THE kRST QUARTER OF

g$EMAND FOR ENTRY LEVEL AND midprice smartphones remained strong across markets, but demand for high-end smartphones continued to slow in the fourth quarter of 2018,â&#x20AC;? said Anshul Gupta, senior research director at Gartner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Slowing incremental innovation at the high end, coupled with price increases, deterred replacement decisions for highend smartphones. This led to a lAT GROWTH MARKET IN THE FOURTH quarter of 2018,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Top five smartphone vendors Sales of Apple iPhones hit 64.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2018, a decline of 11.8 percent year over year. This double-digit decline made Apple experience the biggest decline in growth for the

QUARTER AMONG THE TOP kVE GLOBAL smartphone vendors. Apple saw iPhone demand weaken in most regions, except North America and mature Asia0ACIkC !PPLE S SALES DECLINED MOST in Greater China, where its market share dropped to 8.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 from 14.6 percent in the correspondING QUARTER OF &OR AS a whole, iPhone sales were down PERCENT TO JUST OVER MILlion units. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Apple has to deal not only with buyers delaying upgrades as they wait for more innovative smartphones, but it also continues to face compelling high-price and midprice smartphone alternatives from Chinese vendors. Both these challenges limit Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unit sales growth prospects,â&#x20AC;? said Gupta. At the high end, Samsung smart-

phones, such as the Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note9, struggled to drive growth in the fourth quarter of 2018. In the midtier, Xiaomi and Huawei continued to grab more market share. As a result, Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smartphone sales declined by 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018. Samsung lost market share in Greater China, Western Europe and Latin America, which contributed greatly to an overall 8.2

percent fall in its smartphone sales in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although Samsung is strengthening its smartphone offering at the midtier, it continues to face growing competition from Chinese brands that are expanding into more markets. It also faces DIFkCULTY BRINGING SIGNIkCANT INNOvation to high-end smartphones,â&#x20AC;? said Gupta. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Samsung introduced new mid-

tier-focused M series smartphones in the first quarter of 2019 to compete with aggressive Chinese manufacturers in emerging markets, and to expand into the online sales channel.â&#x20AC;?

In the fourth quarter of 2018 Huawei sold over 60 million smart-

phones and achieved the strongest growth of the quarter among the TOP kVE GLOBAL SMARTPHONE VENDORS PERCENT (UAWEI GREW throughout 2018, to close the gap with Apple. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond its strongholds of China and Europe, Huawei continued to increase its investment IN !SIA 0ACIkC ,ATIN !MERICA AND the Middle East, to drive further growth,â&#x20AC;? said Gupta. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Huawei also exploited growth opportunities through continued expansion of the Honor series in the second half of 2018, especially in emerging markets, which helped Huawei grow its market share to 13.0 percent in 2018.â&#x20AC;? In 2018 as a whole, global sales of smartphones to end-users grew 1.2 percent year over year to 1.6 billion units. North America, MATURE !SIA 0ACIkC AND 'REATER China recorded the worst declines of the year at 6.8 percent, 3.4 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In mature markets, demand for smartphones largely relies on the APPEAL OF lAGSHIP SMARTPHONES from the top three brands â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Samsung, Apple and Huawei â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and two of them recorded declines in 2018,â&#x20AC;? added Gupta.

both sides will be unable to reach a substantive deal that comprehensively addresses the major structural issues in the trade relationship, including US concerns over technology transfer and IP protection. The US and China have entered into a strategic competition for

long-term economic dominance, meaning that neither side is likely TO OFFER SIGNIkCANT CONCESSIONS The broader strategic rivalry between the US and China is rapidly evolving into an arms race for technological dominance. Increasingly, the global economy is at risk of a complete

bifurcation of global technology supply chains and the separation of the global landscape into two distinct regional systems: One based on US-led norms and rules, the other centred around China, which would represent a major deterioration in globalization.

2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Year of Huawei

US, China entering a technological arms race THE HE US and China were set to enter a long-term technological arms race, The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU) has outlined in a new forecast. In the forecast, The EIU assessed US and China agreeing a deal before March 1 to avoid the next round of tariff increases to have improved. However, such an agreement is unlikely to resolve the major structural issues in the trade relationship, including US concerns over technology transfer and intellectual property (IP) protection, meaning that a deal would only provide temporary relief from trade tensions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The likelihood that the US and China will make some progress in the ongoing trade talks has increased as a result of mounting domestic pressure in both economies,â&#x20AC;? said Cailin Birch, global economist at The EIU. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nonetheless, we do not expect a meaningful agreement, as the US and China enter into a strategic competition for economic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and particularly technological â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dominance.â&#x20AC;? Both the US and China are fac-

ing increasing economic pressure to make progress in ongoing trade talks. The recent slowdown in Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic growth is mainly due to domestic factors, including unsustainably high debt levels and surplus industrial capacity; the trade war will exacerbate these trends and raise costs for consumers at an inopportune time. In the US, rising trade barriers are raising input costs for US kRMS AND DENTING THEIR EXTERNAL competitiveness; combined with a recent moderation in consumer spending growth, these factors will WEIGH ON '$0 GROWTH IN IN the US. The potential economic benEkTS INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT the US and China will reach an agreement to avoid the next round of tariff increases. There are signs that the current talks can lead to an extension in the current ceasefire, or result in progress in other areas, including greater transparency around subsidies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from China. According to media reports, the

negotiating teams were drawing up an MoU on tech transfer and cyber theft, which would also be an important concession on Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part, if it comes to pass. That kind of deal can be substantial enough to allow the US to claim victory in the negotiations, allowing US President $ONALD 4RUMP TO SAVE FACE POLITICALLY AFTER A DAMAGING kGHT OVER BORDER security and wall funding. For China, any such agreement would be politically challenging, but would provide welcome respite from mounting economic pressures. Regardless of what happens, however, we expect existing tariffs to at least remain in place; the deal would likely only be to avoid a further escalation. However, there is still ample opportunity for the deal to fail, as the IMPLEMENTATION PROVES DIFkCULT Either way, the deal is more of a stop-gap measure than a real step forward, as it does not address the core issues at hand. This suggests that economic tensions will ultimately return at a later date. The core forecast remains that

The future unfolds as Samsung celebrates 10 years of Galaxy

HE invite to the Samsung Galaxy 10 Local Unpacked mentioned that Samsung is about to transform all I know about smartphones for the last 10 years. At 3 a.m. on February 21, the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pure ImagiNATIONu kLLED THE ROOM WHERE local media viewed the event via Livestream. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come with me and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll beâ&#x20AC;Ś in a world of pure imaginationâ&#x20AC;Ś Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll begin with a spin... What weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see.. Will defy explanationâ&#x20AC;? piqued my curiosity even more. Wow, I thought nothing more than the launch of the Galaxy S10. Samsung unveiled other interesting innovations: the Galaxy Fold and a new line-up of Galaxy wearables: Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Fit/Galaxy Fit e, and Galaxy Buds. From fold to FUN AND kT THERE IS SOMETHING for everyone.

Galaxy Fold The future unfolds with the

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALK #SOCIAL NOEMI LARDIZABAL-DADO Galaxy Fold. Samsung didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just transform the shape of the phone. 'ALAXY &OLD IS THE WORLD S kRST INCH )NkNITY &LEX $ISPLAY WHICH opens and shuts like a book. The Galaxy Fold features two displays: A 4.6-inch display on the front cover which you can USE WHEN IT S CLOSED AND A inch display when unfolded. Good bye to bulky tablets but is it worth $1,980? If you are looking for value, the Galaxy Fold could be worth it. The Galaxy Fold slips out of your pocket for one-handed calls, texts, and more. One can run three apps at a time for multitasking with a richer quality viewing for presentations, digital magazines, movies, and augmented reality content. Enough power is available because of the dual bat-

sky. Another remarkable feature is the Wireless PowerShare, which makes it possible to charge Qicertified devices. Galaxy S10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wireless PowerShare is an industry kRST AS IT WILL ALSO CHARGE COMPATIBLE wearable devices. In addition, Galaxy S10 can charge itself and a second Galaxy S10 device via Wireless PowerShare, Three variants are available in the while connected to a regular charger, Philippines. The Galaxy S10 is enabling you to leave behind your for those who want a premium second charger at home while smartphone with a powerful away. All three new phones include performance. If you are consider- support for Wi-Fi 6, but networks ing more speed and space, the and router equipment need to be Galaxy S10+ is for you. While the upgraded to support Wi-Fi 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faster Galaxy S10e is for users who want speeds. LTE for downloading and all the premium essentials in a browsing is now capable of up to COMPACT PACKAGE ON A lAT SCREEN 2.0 gigabits from 1.2 gigabits last The 6.4-inch S10 5G mentioned YEAR $YNAMIC !MOLED DISPLAY ALSO at the Global Launch will not be INTRODUCES THE kRST EVER EMBEDDED Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner available in the Philippines With my hands on a local demo THAT READS THE $ CONTOURS OF unit, I tested the true vision multi- your physical thumbprint for camera. A first for the S Series, IMPROVED ANTI SPOOkNG ! HIGH Galaxy S10 offers an ultra-wide storage capacity is available on a lens with a 123-degree field of 12 GB ram Galaxy S10 + with 1 view, so what you get is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in terabyte (TB) of built-in storage a frame from the ground to the which is double the 512GB tery system. Galaxy Fold can also charge itself and a second device via Wireless PowerShare while hooked up to a regular charger so you can leave your second charger at home.

maximum offered by the iPhone 83 -AX !DDING '" MICRO3$ card allows a 1.5TB storage. Will one ever need all that space? The multimedia consumed will require all that storage but I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep all my files in one device.

Galaxy wearable line The Galaxy wearable line expands to include Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Buds. The new line of wearables fits into your lifestyle preferences and complement your own personal and digital wellness journey. Having watched all the media launches of the Samsung Galaxy S series since 2010, I reminisce the time I switched to the Samsung Galaxy S3. From being a Nokia user, then shifting to iPhone, I was curious why the S2 helped Samsung Electronics topple Apple Inc. as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top smartphone maker. Samsung also overtook Nokia as the biggest maker of

many mobile phones in the same period. The Galaxy S phones didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t excite me until the S6 stepped out of the iPhoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shadow with an innovative new curved edge display. As Samsung celebrates its 10 years of Galaxy, they will not just sell smartphones. As the future unfolds, Samsung wants you to buy into the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for â&#x20AC;&#x153;the next era of mobile innovation,â&#x20AC;? including the Galaxy ecosystem. The Galaxy S10e will be available in Prism White, while the Galaxy S10 will be available in Prism White and Prism Black. Consumers who will opt for the Galaxy S10+ will have three colors to choose from: Prism White, Prism Black, and Prism Green. The Galaxy S10+ will also be available in a premium Ceramic Black variant. The Galaxy S10 line will be available in authorized retail stores, telco operator partners, and online beginning March 8.

Sunday Business & I.T.

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2019

The promise of 5G â&#x20AC;&#x201C; speed, hype, risk A

MUCH-HYPED network upgrade called â&#x20AC;&#x153;5Gâ&#x20AC;? means different things to different people.

To industry proponents, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the next huge innovation in wireless internet. To the US government, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the backbone technology of a future that America would wrestle with China to control. To many average people, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply a mystery. The technology is one of the issues expected to take center stage at the MWC mobile conference in Barcelona, Spain this month. The interest goes well beyond engineers: In Washington, there are fears that China could take the lead in developing the technology and sell equipment that could be used to spy on Americans. What, exactly, is 5G wireless â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and will you even notice when it comes online?

What is 5G? 5G is a new technical standard for wireless NETWORKS Â&#x2021; THE kFTH NATURALLY Â&#x2021; THAT promises faster speeds; less lag, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;latency,â&#x20AC;? when connecting to the network; and the ability to connect many devices to the internet without bogging it down. 5G networks will ideally be better able to handle more users, lots of sensors and HEAVY TRAFkC Before we can all use it, wireless companies and phone-makers have to upgrade. Phones need new chips and radio antennas. The phone you have today wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work with a 5G network. Wireless companies have been getting ready. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been revamping their network equipment, buying up chunks of radio spectrum for carrying 5G signals, and installing new 5G antennas on cellphone towers, utility poles and streetlights. WireLESS PROVIDERS WOULD INVEST BILLION in 5G-related networks in the US, according to CTIA, an industry trade group. When will it be available? A true US mobile rollout will start in 2019. It would take a few years to go national, and even then more rural areas of

Q AP PHOTO the country would not be covered in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;millimeter waveâ&#x20AC;? frequencies that promise the highest data speeds and capacities, said Michael Thelander, chief executive of wireless consultancy Signals Research Group. Thelander predicts that China might lag the US by a year in its initial rollout, but would ultimately have the biggest deployment, while European countries would build out more slowly. Beware of confusion, though. Wireless carriers have a history of rushing to slap the latest-and-greatest label on their networks, and this time is no different. US telecom AT&T has already applied the name 5G on a service thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not really 5G. Once the network is ready, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a 5G-enabled phone to connect to it. 4HE kRST ONES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE kRST HALF OF BUT A ' I0HONE ISN T expected until 2020. 5G phones will most likely be more expensive than current 4G PHONES $ON T WORRY EVEN WHEN ' TURNS

on, you can keep using 4G phones, just not at 5G speeds.

What can 5G do? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a considerable amount of hype over the promise of 5G. Industry groups say it would promote smart cities by connecting SENSOR NETWORKS THAT COULD MANAGE TRAFkC and quickly identify streetlight outages. 5G could connect self-driving cars and fuel new applications in virtual and augmented reality. Its high-speed connections could enable better remote surgery and other telemedicine, help companies automate their factories, and offer businesses dedicated high-speed internet lanes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;5G speeds, and ever-faster home broadband, will mean that existing applications will get richer, and also that new applications will emerge â&#x20AC;&#x201D; new Flickrs, YouTubes or Snapchats. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what yet,â&#x20AC;? Benedict Evans, a partner at Sili-

CON 6ALLEY VENTURE CAPITAL kRM !NDREESSEN Horowitz, wrote in a January blog post . The most immediate impact on consumers will be faster download speeds for movies and other video. Thelander said your phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internet would work better in crowded locations such as stadiums.

What are the security concerns? The 5G network is one front in rising tensions between the US and China. The US government has warned US companies not to use Chinese telecom technology in communications networks due to security concerns, and is pressing other countries to ban Huawei, a Chinese telecom company, from 5G network buildouts. 53 OFkCIALS HAVE SUSPECTED FOR YEARS THAT the Chinese government could use Huawei network equipment to help it spy. Huawei has rejected such accusations. AP

ABS-CBN SELLS 7M TVPLUS BOXES

!"3 #". #ORP HAS HIT THE MILLION MARK in the number of digital terrestrial televiSION $44 SET TOP BOXES SOLD FOUR YEARS after it was introduced in the market. The Lopez-led media firm said in a statement on Wednesday TVplus boxes continue to gain traction, noting its payper-view channel KBO had enticed more than one million TVplus users to register using the service. The product allows ABS-CBN to bring

six channels to its consumers, including Channel 2; ABS-CBN Sports and Action; Cinemo; Yey!; Knowledge Channel; and $:-- 4ELE2ADYO Last year, the network boosted TVplus with five additional exclusive channels, including Asianovela Channel, Movie Central, MYX, Jeepney TV and O Shopping. Citing data from Kantar Media, ABS#". SAID PERCENT OF NON CABLED

homes in Metro Manila have now TVplus box as of August 2018, higher penetraTION THAN !UGUST S PERCENT )N -EGA -ANILA MEANWHILE $44 ADOPTION ALSO CLIMBED TO PERCENT AGAINST S 44 percent. 4HE BROADCAST NETWORK WAS THE kRST IN THE COUNTRY TO ADAPT $44 TECHNOLOGY IN February 2015, in line with the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan to shift from analog to digital television by 2023.

Since 2015, ABS-CBN has accelerated the reach of its digital television broadcasting to 16 provinces, with Batangas as the latest area announced in November last year. The technologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signal also reaches Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, "ENGUET #AVITE -ETRO #EBU #AGAYAN $E /RO )LOILO "ACOLOD AND $AVAO LISBET K. ESMAEL

What is the role of offline stores in the digital world today? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Change is the only thing that is constant.â&#x20AC;?

IVEN the rapid adoption of technology of consumers and the shift of usual activities like shopping and PAYMENTS FROM OFlINE TO ONLINE TODAY do brick and mortar stores still have relevance to businesses? For most traditional businesses in the retail sector, setting up and increasing your number of branches are means to expand your reach of the market. The stores become the businessesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; touchpoint to deliver their products and transact. A good measure of growth is the increase of number of branches on a per annum basis. This line of thinking, though, is becoming more and more challenged by the massive change in consumer behavior. Filipinos today have become accustomed to ordering items, sending parcels, and even paying for their bills through their mobile phones or computers. What normally took hours to do now only takes a few clicks at the comfort of your home. As of 2018, there are more than 119 million mobile phone subscriptions in the country, which is almost the same size

GALLEON E-TRADE MAGELLAN FETALINO as our population. 55 percent of which are subscribed to a broadband plan, meaning over 65 million has access to internet. A month ago, a report published by Hootsuite and WeAreSocial revealed that Filipinos spend an average of ten hours and two minutes per day online, making us the most active nation globally in terms of internet usage. With these staggering numbers, fast and scalable adoption of online platforms becomes inevitable, which continuously grows on a year per pear basis. For the past years, a lot of traditional businesses have started to craft their digital strategy. Most retail brands have added online platforms like Lazada and Shopee as distribution channels, while adding e-wallet platforms like Gcash, Coins.ph, and Paymaya as means for payment. As the online distribution model becomes bigger, companies have also started to rethink their strategy for their retail stores. A noticeable change is how a number of brands have started to close down and even

lessen the number of stores they have in the country. Some extreme measures that have BEEN lOATED BY INDUSTRY PRACTITIONERS ARE the possibility of even removing the brick and mortar branches completely. There is obviously a huge advantage to moving distribution digitally since using the brick and mortar access point model requires a whole lot of capital expense to establish, versus current online alternatives. $ESPITE THIS COMPANIES LIKE !LIBABA and our very own Unionbank look at branches and retail stores as still important components of the overall business strategy, although for a different purpose.

An avenue to experience the goods See, smell, touch â&#x20AC;&#x201D; stores that were meant to BE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS HAVE BEEN REDEkNED to what you call â&#x20AC;&#x153;experience centersâ&#x20AC;? in the current business landscape. Alibaba is an ONLINE kRST PLATFORM )T S WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE was built to support e-commerce and enable merchants to transact online for their busiNESS IN THE MOST EFkCIENT MANNER &OR MOST people, it would be counterintuitive for them to build physical stores for their products, BUT !LIBABA HAVE UTILIZED OFlINE FACILITIES OR physical stores, not necessarily to expand their

reach, but to allow their customers to experience new features, or new products available IN THEIR PLATFORM 4HE INTENTION FOR THE OFlINE stores has been moved from an operational standpoint to a user-experience one. Unionbank, using the same strategy, launched their new design for their branches called â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Arkâ&#x20AC;?, which looks more like a tech store than a bank branch. More than letting their customers experience how their digital banking works, the Ark has become an avenue for their partners and customers to build a community to engage each other. While most bank branches are closed by 5 p.m., the Ark opens itself to industry events, forum and even parties THAT LAST UNTIL LATE IN THE EVENING Â&#x2021; DEknitely a better utilization of rent. $ESPITE THE CONTINUOUSLY GROWING DIGItization of businesses, old models have found a new function, being revamped as an avenue for user experience and customer engagement. We will continue to see retail stores and bank branches for the years to come, but when it comes to DESIGN AND FUNCTION THERE WILL DEkNITELY be a massive difference that may be trivial for us today, but will be the new normal for the next generation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a generation that will be more heavily meticulous when it comes to customer experience.

Digital transformation heightens competitiveness in the real-estate sector TECH SPACE TONY MAGHIRANG

HE $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION S g"UILD Build, Buildâ&#x20AC;? program is expected to boost the local real-estate sector as the massive infrastructure expansion program opens up new areas for property development. Add the continuing infusion of overseas Filipino worker investments in housing units plus the rising DEMAND FOR OFkCE SPACES ESPECIALLY BY the business process outsourcing industry and real-estate companies can look forward to a boom starting this year. Prime Philippines, a technologyPOWERED PROPERTY ADVISORY kRM SEEKS TO sustain the real-estate sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth by addressing perceived gaps through technological advancements. Jet Yu, Prime Philippines founder and chief executive, expressed the view that the future lay in his companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transformation to become A TECHNOLOGY POWERED CONSULTANCY kRM He has argued early on that while most developers and investors still rely on conventional strategies and practices, HIS kRM WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEWER perspectives and better insights that had proven to be most effective in addressing the needs of the millennial generation. Prime Philippines recently launched its Philippine Real-estate Outlook 2019, a comprehensive report on the situation and prospects for the real-estate sector THIS YEAR )N THE PRESS BRIEkNG *ET 9U also described as a real-estate thought leader, expanded on his vision for a new tech-driven real-estate company. g!S A TECH POWERED CONSULTANCY kRM PrimePhilippines has started investing in technology,â&#x20AC;? Yu explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year, we invested in property tech start-ups in Singapore, Hong Kong and south of Manila because we should be at the forefront of innovation. We believe WE RE TAKING THE kRST STEP IN BRINGING customers online for a more convenient, simplified experience in their search for the ideal property. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our PrimeCore application developed in-house will enable us to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies such AS ARTIkCIAL INTELLIGENCE "LOCKCHAIN AND machine learning,â&#x20AC;? Yu added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By our own estimate, the new system will help improve the productivity of our people by 400 percent. It will have features accessible on mobile devices as it delivers the right information to the right customer.â&#x20AC;? This innovation will also exploit promising opportunities explored in the Philippine Real-estate Outlook 2019. The report states that with the continuous expansion OF BUSINESSES IN THE kNTECH INDUSTRY IN THE 0HILIPPINES OFkCE SPACE FROM AS SMALL AS SERVICED OFkCE TO WHOLE OFkCE lOORS ARE seen to feed the remaining available supply in business districts. &ROM TO SHARED OFFICE spaces have catered to the growing startup businesses particularly in the millennial markets within central business DISTRICTS #"$ !S DEMAND FOR SMALLER office space requirements increase, CO WORKING AND SERVICED OFkCE SPACES are expected even more in 2019. Large multinational players have already EXPANDED THEIR FOOTPRINT WITHIN #"$S but local players are also performing well in secondary business centers such as Quezon City and Alabang. Overall, these twin developments create a generALLY ROBUST DEMAND BASE FOR THE OFkCE sector for 2019. Sustained demand for industrial warehouses will also be seen within Metro Manila due to proximity to the Manila port. In addition, the metro hosts most warehouses for logistics and distribution allowing ease of access to businesses operating in Quezon City, Manila and Makati City. The apparent growth of the e-commerce industry in the Philippines is driving the demand for storage and logistics, which is projected to pick up some more in 2019. Most of the demand is still targeted within Greater Metro Manila, which is the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest e-commerce market. $IGITAL TRANSFORMATION APPEARS TO BE a daunting journey. Prime Philippines is showing that, with the right tools, even traditional industry sectors like real-estate can survive and prosper in the digital age.

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Grabbing opportunities with new features I

0!)$ 0 OFF MY allowance for a Grab ride from Manila to Katipunan Avenue, a distance of 14 kilometers that took 1 hour and 11 minutes to complete. That is about P30.50 per kilometer or P6 per minute. If one considers cost of the convenience Grab offers, then paying what seems like a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wage for the average salary man is well worth it. Now, I am not writing this in defense of Grab. It has many faults, but to its credit it quickly addresses these faults and deploy solutions. Many people do not know how to operate the app beyond booking. The app is impressive because it offers so many things if only one explores its rich content and features. But let me backtrack a bit to the days of Uber and Grab. It will be a year this March, when American ride-hailing kRM 5BER LEFT THE 0HILIPPINES AND THE WHOLE OF 3OUTHEAST Asia after it agreed to sell its business to Grab. Now, Grab did not beat Uber in the ride-sharing, ridehailing game. It simply did things better (including compliance to government regulations, at a time when Uber stood its ground against incompatible government regulations). I felt at a loss when Uber disappeared and Grab took over. I always thought Uber was the far more superior platform, with a better selection of cars and better driver behavior as well as better rates per kilometer or per hour. So, when I moved into Grabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s platform, I lamented the loss of its elegant black UX screen and moved into the rather utilitarian green and white pastures of Grab. Ordinarily, one might say the pullout of Uber is a total a win for Grab. In reality the deal that has been agreed is a very momentous win-win â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a common occurrence in these days of collaboration and cooperation. It is thus more than an alliance than a winner-takes-all boxing match. Grab has introduced more services beyond transport â&#x20AC;&#x201D; GrabFood, (it took over the UberEats feature) and added GrabExpress, GrabRewards and GrabPay. In a way, I have sort of lost interest in getting my own car because if I calculate the averages I would spend only 0 A MONTH WITH MY AVERAGE 0 A DAY FOR THE fare. The lowest possible downpayment on a Hyundai Eon at 50 percent downpayment is P5,650. Consider fuel and vehicle maintenance and you end up spending more on a car that is a continually depreciating investment. Now, one will argue that there is the matter of owning an asset. I grew up with many cars and I realized that once you get one, the cost of running it is very high. Maybe without Grab I would have considered early on to save up for a car. But the only other reason to have a car is convenience, which has no price. So, take that into consideration, then compared to a ride-hailing service, a car becomes a chore and Grab a blessing. Tick off the following on the list too: No parking fees, riding a new car everytime, having your own chauffer, options to ride with others and an option to ride premium vehicles if one feels like it. Recently, Grab launched its â&#x20AC;&#x153;better ride experienceâ&#x20AC;? motto that comes with a series of feature add-ons, that WOULD ACCORDING TO 'RAB BIG BOSS "RIAN #U REDEkNE customer experience in the ride-hailing industry. Cancel Anytime (before allocation) allows consumers to cancel their booking attempt before a driver gets assigned. This way there is no penalty to the consumer for cancelling for whatever reason. Saved Places. Use this feature to make the booking experience easier and faster. Saving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preferred and most frequented places such as home, work, gym, etc. The feature allows the quick selection of frequently used addresses for pickup or drop off, allowing for better personalization of pickup or drop off points. Once a place is saved, the option will be available as a shortcut every time you book. Rewards points for passengers who were canceled on. This is worth 30 points added into the passengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grab Rewards, if the driver cancels a booking already accepted, for whatever reason. GrabRewards points are credited within 24 hours and can be used to purchase such as food, services and discounts. #HANGE $ESTINATION )N CASE OF INCORRECT LOCATION setting, last minute change in plans or emergencies, this feature allows user to modify their drop-off points while in transit, saving valuable time and money as this feature takes out the need to book for another ride and the hassle of negotiating with the driver. Changing can be done by tapping on the drop-off point while in-transit or tapping the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Changeâ&#x20AC;? tab on THE $RIVER DETAILS SCREEN WHILE IN TRANSIT Changing destination will update the fare to account for the distance already traveled by the driver and the new distance left to reach the new destination. This feature is only available on GrabCar, GrabCar 6-seater and GrabCar Premium services only in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod and Pampanga. Lost and found. Grab has also integrated into the app a new lost and found feature, which helps passengers contact the driver directly after a completed booking. To recover the item left in the car, simply click on the booking history tab, choose the recent booking record, and tap the new call button to reach the driver. The call button function is available within four hours after the trip has ended. Grab is one everyday app that serves the daily essential needs of Filipinos.

APPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;TIGHT DERIQ BERNARD

$ERIQ "ERNARD IS PURSUING A DEGREE IN kLMMAKING AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES IN $ILIMAN /N HIS SPARE time he is an avid gamer and a member of the UP Gamers Guild. Email him at deriq@tribdino.com

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Sunday Business & I.T.

THE PRICE: $1,980

The game-changing Samsung Galaxy Fold

AMSUNG unveiled a highly anticipated smartphone with a foldable screen in an attempt to break the innovation funk that has beset the smartphone market.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s far from clear that consumers will embrace a device that retails for almost $2,000, or that it will provide the creative catalyst the smartphone market needs. The Galaxy Fold, announced Wednesday in San Francisco, will sell for $1,980 when it is released in April 26. Consumers willing to pay that hefty price will get a device that can unfold like a wallet. It can work like a traditional smartphone, with a 4.6 inch screen or morph into something more LIKE A MINI TABLET WITH A INCH SCREEN When fully unfolded, the device will be able to simultaneously run three different apps on the screen. The Galaxy Fold will also boast six cameras: Three in the back, two on the inside and one on the front. After spending nearly five years developing the technology underlying its foldable-screen phone, Samsung is clearly hoping for a big payoff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get ready for the dawn of a new ERA u DECLARED $* +OH WHO OVERSEES Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smartphone division. The new phone, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;answers skeptics who said everything has already

been done.â&#x20AC;? If Samsung is right, the Galaxy Fold will spur more people to upgrade their phones. Overall smartphones SALES PEAKED IN 3AMSUNG SAW ITS smartphone sales fall 8 percent last year, based on estimates from the research kRM )NTERNATIONAL $ATA #ORP )$# Worldwide, smartphone sales dropped PERCENT IN ACCORDING TO )$# But most analysts see a limited market for foldable-screen phones, at least in the early going. Phones like

the Galaxy Fold â&#x20AC;&#x153;are likely to sell to a very limited market of technology AkCIONADOS WHO LIKE BIG SCREENS AND HAVE BIG WALLETS u SAID )$# ANALYST Ramon Llamas. Although he also believes the Galaxy Fold is more a â&#x20AC;&#x153;status symbolâ&#x20AC;? than mainstream product, Moor Insights & Strategy analyst Patrick Moorhead said the device was symbolically important for Samsung, the top seller of smartphones in the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Fold was icing on the cake showing

Q AP PHOTO that Samsung is the company driving new innovations and excitement to the market,â&#x20AC;? Moorhead said. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt that the Galaxy Fold is â&#x20AC;&#x153;luxury technology,â&#x20AC;? conceded *USTIN $ENISON 3AMSUNG SENIOR VICE president, during an interview. But he also predicted that the advent of foldable screens would unleash new uses for mobile devices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a technologiCAL MARVEL u $ENISON SAID g4HE kRST TIME YOU SEE A lEXIBLE SCREEN IT SORT OF bends your mind.â&#x20AC;? AP

A Smartphone. A Tablet. Folded into One. GALAXY Fold is in a category of its own. It delivers a new kind of mobile experience, allowing users to do things they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do with an ordinary smartphone. Users now have the best of both worlds: A compact device that

unfolds to reveal Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest-ever smartphone display. Galaxy Fold brings together material, engineering and display innovations, developed over eight years following the debut of Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kRST lEXIBLE DISPLAY PROTOTYPE IN

NEW HINGING MECHANISM

Galaxy Fold opens smoothly and naturally, like a book, and closes flat and compact with a satisfying click. To achieve this, Samsung engineered a sophisticated hinge with multiple interlocking gears.

Q This system is housed in a hidden enclosure for a seamless and elegant look.

NEW DISPLAY MATERIALS

Q The internal screen does not merely bend. It folds. Folding is a more intuitive motion and a more difficult innovation to deliver. Samsung invented a new polymer layer and created a display around 50 percent thinner than the typical smartphone display. The new material makes Galaxy Fold flexible and tough, built to last.

NEW DESIGN ELEMENTS

Q From the screen to the housing, to every element you can see and touch â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Samsung left no stone unturned. The fingerprint scanner is found on the side where the thumb naturally rests, so the device unlocks easily. Two batteries and the components are evenly distributed so Galaxy Fold feels balanced in your hands. Colors with unique finishing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Space Silver, Cosmos Black, Martian Green and Astro Blue â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the engraved hinge with Samsung logo complete its elegant fit and finish.

in cooperation with

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riding the Tailwinds: Pursuing Growth and Value Amid Rising Global Risksâ&#x20AC;? 0DUFK _ 5HJLVWUDWLRQ D P _ 3URJUDP D P S P _ 0D\XUHH %DOOURRP 'XVLW 7KDQL 0DQLOD 0DNDWL &LW\ The global economy enters 2019 with decidedly slower growth, continued volatility and heightened risks. Interest rates are normalizing and pushing investors in search of higher-yielding assets, as economic performance diverges across countries and regions. While the US is poised for strong performance, China is looking for a soft landing, and emerging markets are showing signs of weakness. Also heightening risks are populist policies and the prospect of trade wars. The Philippines, however, remains a bright spot as it forges ahead with its infrastructure drive, expands revenue collections, and sustains growth at above 6 percent. The domestic economy

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could yet ride through, if not defy, the tailwinds of 2019, getting a boost from increased spending due to the midterm elections and the slowdown in consumer inflation. The Philippines will also continue to benefit from its favorable demographic profile, with growing disposable incomes sustaining demand for property, leisure, automobiles, technology and others. The Manila Times Economic Outlook 2019 Forum will feature top policymakers and business leaders who will make the case for the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; continued viability as an investment and growth hub.

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Head of the Credit and Investment Risk Unit $VLDQ ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH ,QYHVWPHQW %DQN

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The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Trump says summit with Xi set in March WASHINGTON, D.C.: US President Donald Trump on Friday (Saturday in Manila) said a trade summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was likely to occur next month, and hailed two days of â&#x20AC;&#x153;very good talksâ&#x20AC;? by negotiators. The talks were extended through 3UNDAY AS OFkCIALS RACE TO REACH A DEAL ahead of a deadline next week, when US duty rates are due to rise sharply. But Trump again said he was considering pushing back the deadline for raising tariffs on more than $200 billion in Chinese exports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We expect to have a meeting sometime in a not too distant future,â&#x20AC;? he said of the meeting with Xi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Probably fairly soon in the month of March.â&#x20AC;? Details remained scant about any concrete progress in the seven-month-old trade war, which has rattled the global markets and prompted stark warnings about the risks to the world economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think there is a very, very good chance that a deal can be made,â&#x20AC;? Trump told reporters at the White House on a second day of trade neGOTIATIONS WITH #HINESE OFkCIALS â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we are doing well, I could see extending thatâ&#x20AC;? deadline for the end of the three month tariff truce. And Trump said an agreement on currency manipulation would be included in the trade pact. OfkCIALS FROM "EIJING ALSO EXPRESSED optimism about a positive outcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From China, we believe that it is very likely that it will happen,â&#x20AC;? Chinese Trade envoy Liu He said, speaking through an interpreter. Global stock markets were higher on expectations the two sides would avoid further deterioration in their trade relations. Analysts say the two sides were likely to trumpet mutual agreements to resolve the easier parts of the trade dispute â&#x20AC;&#x201D; increasing purchases of American goods, more open investment in China and tougher protections for intellectual

property and proprietary technology. The harder parts covering issues like scaling back Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious industrial strategy for global preeminence, are another question. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), again warned that the 53 #HINA TRADE TENSIONS A gMAJOR riskâ&#x20AC;? to world economic growth. Since July, the countries have hit out with tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade. While the tariffs alone were having â&#x20AC;&#x153;minimalâ&#x20AC;? effect on global trade, they WERE DAMAGING BUSINESS CONkDENCE and weighing on stock markets, Lagarde told the US radio program â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marketplaceâ&#x20AC;? on Thursday. g) CROSS MY kNGERS EVERY MORNing and my toes every evening because I hope that it is going to END UP WITH A WAY TO kX THE SYSTEM not break it,â&#x20AC;? she said The IMF has cut its forecast for global growth this year due to the combined impact of the trade war. "EIJING REPORTEDLY HAS PROPOSED AN increase in its imports of US energy AND AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS SIGNIkCANTLY US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue tweeted that China has committed to buying â&#x20AC;&#x153;an additionalâ&#x20AC;? 10 million metric tons of soybeans as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;show of good faith,â&#x20AC;? but he did not give any details or specify the timeframe. Still, a broader deal could be difficult given the US demands for far-reaching structural changes. Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said China might have to remove its tariffs in order to increase purchases of US goods, but Trump might feel no pressure to roll back the duties he imposed last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The big surprise would be a complete removal of tariffs by Trump but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m expecting an asymmetrical removal of tariffs by China in order to get to some of these numbers,â&#x20AC;? he said. AFP

World Kim to visit Vietnam before meeting Trump H SUNDAY February 24, 2019

ANOI: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would soon make an OFkCIAL VISIT TO 6IETNAM OFkCIALS SAID 3ATURDAY AS (ANOI PREPARES TO HOST +IM AND 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP FOR a summit next week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kim Jong Un will pay an OFkCIAL VISIT TO 6IETNAM IN THE coming days,â&#x20AC;? Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign ministry said Saturday on its Facebook page. Media did not specify when

the visit will take place, but several sources told AFP Friday that Kim was expected to arrive late on February 25 or February 26 by train. Kim and Trump will meet on

February 27 to 28, the second summit between the two leaders aimed at dismantling Pyongyangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuclear arsenal. Their first summit last year produced a vaguely-worded commitment for Pyongyang to denuclearise, and observers are hoping the follow up meeting will produce concrete outcomes. Kim is expected to travel to Vietnam by train, stopping at the Dong Dang train station near the China border before making the 170-kilometer (105 mile)

JOURNEY TO (ANOI BY CAR Hanoi is taking the unprecedented move of blocking all traffic along the road from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm on February 26, state media reported Friday, suggesting Kim will travel along the normally busy highway by car. Vietnam had beefed up security at the Dong Dang station and along the road leading to Hanoi, according to AFP reporters at the scene, who saw scores of armed guards in the area Saturday. AFP

PROTEST MARCH

Conservative pro-US, anti-North Korea activists march through centralÂ SeoulÂ on Saturday. North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader Kim Jong Un will soon make an official visit to Vietnam, Hanoi said on Saturday, as it beefed up security on the Chinese border, where Kim is expected to cross by train ahead of his summit with US President Donald Trump next week. AFP PHOTO

Myanmar ethnic group calls for greater China role in peace effort AS the political reconciliation is underway in Myanmar, Shan State Army-South (SSAS) Chairman, Lieutenant General Yawd Serk hopes China would play a greater role in the process of achieving peace in the country. The general, who is also Chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), told the Global Times that he has had talks with Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asia affairs special envoy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope China can participate in Myanmar peace process at a greater width. China and Myanmar have a long border and Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boundary with Shan State is also very long.â&#x20AC;? Despite the Myanmar governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s optimism that peace will prevail across the country, Yawd Serk said that he had almost â&#x20AC;&#x153;lost confidence.â&#x20AC;? g4HE CEASE kRE AGREEMENT HAS NOT BROUGHT any changes, the whole situation has worsened,â&#x20AC;? he told the Global Times. Since October 2015, Myanmarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government has signed the landmark Nationwide Cease-fire Accord (NCA)

with 10 ethnic armed groups including SSAS, which was viewed as an important STEP IN RESOLVING THE COUNTRY S CONlICTS On February 12, Myanmar President U Win Myint said the government was currently in negotiations with ethnic armed organizations, which have not yet signed the NCA in an effort to realize a kNAL PEACE DEAL 8INHUA REPORTED )T S BEEN REPORTED THAT MILITARY CONlICTS IN Myanmar occur to 200 to 300 times a year. Shan State in east Myanmar borders with China, Laos and Thailand, and is the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest state. A dozen ethnic armed groups are active in the region and control about 80 percent of the Myanmar-China border area. SSAS is one of the key groups in the area. When a Global Times reporter visited Loi Tai Leng, the headquarters of SSAS and RCSS, on February 7, they were celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the founding of Shan State. At a grand parade, soldiers demonstrated JUNGLE OPERATIONS AND HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSIONS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our supreme goal is to achieve autonomy for the Shan people and we will kGHT FOR IT TO THE END u 9AWD 3ERK SAID According to Yawd Serk, SSAS and RCSS control about 40 percent of Shan State, including central, eastern and southern regions of the state, as well as a small part of the northern area. There are more than 10,000 soldiers, the first or second most of all ethnic armed groups, said Yawd Serk. In addition to the military parade, other activities were also held in the evening, with Shan people dressed in their traditional outfits and dancing and singing in the square. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the rarest day of the year. There are celebrations across all regions where Shan people live. Several thousand people even traveled a few days to the headquarters for this celebration,â&#x20AC;? said the SSAS spokesperson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are no hotels here. They live in houses of relatives or friends, military

camps or even set up own tents. They feel THE WARMTH AND JOY HERE AS THIS PLACE IS the hometown of Shan people,â&#x20AC;? he said. A young person who looks to be in his 20s told the Global Times that he started TO kGHT IN HIS TEENS AND HAS NEVER LIVED a stable life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish to have a stable life, get married and have children. When the battle ends, I want to be a village chief to lead all villagers to a prosperous life.â&#x20AC;? Another solider told the Global Times that HE GOT ADDICTED TO DRUGS BEFORE JOINING the armed group in Loi Tai Leng. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would be doomed if I had not come to Loi Tai Leng â&#x20AC;Ś Here I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any opportunity to be exposed to drugs,â&#x20AC;? he said. Loi Tai Leng has undergone tremendous changes since the reporter first visited here six years ago. A cement road has been laid on the extremely narrow road; the exclusive residence where THE JOURNALIST ONCE STAYED WAS A LOG cabin but is now a multi-level house. Vigilance remains high. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is close to the

Worldinbriefs OAKLAND TEACHERS IN ROUND 2 OF STRIKES TEACHERS in Oakland, California, hit the picket lines just as West Virginia teachers went back to class in a kind of coast-to-coast tag-team display of the national teacher unrest that, in many places, has moved beyond pay to politics, tackling issues like charter schools and vouchers. Call it round two of the teacher mobilizations that began last spring as grassroots revolts in conservative-leaning states over salaries and school funding. The most recent actions, including a union-led strike in liberal Los Angeles, have been as much about pushing back on charter schools and other school choice reforms initiatives that have a history of bipartisan support but have long been decried by unions as threats to the traditional public school system. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the strikes this year were more important than actions that sought pay increases last year because teachers were pushing back on efforts to silence them. AP

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;EL CHAPOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SEEKS RETRIAL NEW YORK: The defense team for Joaquin â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Chapoâ&#x20AC;? Guzman said Friday (Saturday in Manila) it would seek a new trial for the notorious drug lord in light of â&#x20AC;&#x153;misconductâ&#x20AC;? on the part of several jurors who allegedly followed media accounts of the case against the instructions of a federal judge. Defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo said in a court filing he intends to ask US District Judge Brian Cogan to conduct an evidentiary hearing â&#x20AC;&#x153;to determine the extent of the misconduct.â&#x20AC;? The US Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office in Brooklyn declined to comment. Guzman was convicted last week of murder conspiracy and drug-trafficking charges. He faces life in prison at his June sentencing. The filing came two days after VICE News reported that at least five jurors followed media reports and Twitter feeds during the three-month-long trial and were aware of potentially prejudicial material that had been excluded from the proceedings. AP

VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT TO VISIT CAMBODIA

FED JUDGE GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO TWIN SON OF GAY COUPLE

VIETNAMESE President Nguyen Phu Trong would pay a two-day state visit to Cambodia on Monday to meet the Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high ranking officials and witness the signing of a number of documents,a statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said, noting that Nguyenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit was at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni. â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the visit, HE Nguyen Phu Trong will be granted an audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia, at the Royal Palace,â&#x20AC;? the statement said, adding that Nguyen would also meet Mahanikaya Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong and Great Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttikanikaya Bour Kry. Nguyen is also expected to meet Senate President Say Chhum, National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nguyen will also join Hun Sen to witness the signing of a number of documents,â&#x20AC;? the statement said. KHMER TIMES

LOS ANGELES: A federal judge in California ruled Thursday (Friday in Manila) that a twin son of a gay married couple has been an American citizen since birth, handing a defeat to the US government, which had only granted the status to his brother. The State Department was wrong to deny citizenship to twoyear-old Ethan Dvash Banks because US law does not require a child to show a biological relationship with their parents if their parents were married at the time of their birth, District Judge John F. Walter found. A lawsuit filed by the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parents, Andrew and Elad Dvash Banks, sought the same rights for Ethan that his brother, Aiden, has as a citizen. Each boy was conceived with donor eggs and the sperm from a different father one an American, the other an Israeli citizen, but born by the same surrogate mother minutes apart. The government had only granted citizenship to Aiden, who DNA tests showed was the biological son of Andrew, a US citizen. AP

chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. The SSAS needs to guarantee the absolute safety of the chairman and you. There are 24-hour security guards and electricity,â&#x20AC;? the spokesman said. A local resident told the Global Times that generators provide electric power between 6 pm to 10 pm, and they use solar energy during the daytime. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The home will never be dark again â&#x20AC;ŚLoi Tai Leng has had mobile phone service since 2015 and we can even connect to the internet,â&#x20AC;? he said. There are more than 600 households at the headquarters. In December, 1999 when the headquarters was built, there were only 250 people living here. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Loi Tai Leng used to be a barren mountain. But now there is a newly-built cement road. Electricity and water are available, vegetables are grown in open spaces and chicken and ducks are raised. Rice is also allocated to every household on a monthly basis. They (Local residents) have no problems in living,â&#x20AC;? said Yawd Serk. GLOBAL TIMES

India-Pakistan standoff â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dangerousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; WASHINGTON, D.C.:Â US President Donald Trump voiced alarm Friday (Saturday in Manila) at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;very dangerous situationâ&#x20AC;? between India andÂ Pakistan, warning that New Delhi was considering â&#x20AC;&#x153;very strongâ&#x20AC;? action after an attack in Kashmir. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very dangerous situation between the two countries. We would like to see it stop,â&#x20AC;? Trump said, adding that the United States was seeking talks withÂ Pakistan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now there is a lot of problems between India andÂ PakistanÂ because of what happened,â&#x20AC;? he told reporters as he met a senior Chinese official in the Oval Office. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed rivals since a suicide attack last week killed 41 soldiers on the Indian side of divided Kashmir, the deadliest attack in years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;India is looking at something very strong. India just lost almost 50 people with an attack. So, I can understand that also,â&#x20AC;? Trump said. India has been demanding action against militants fromÂ Pakistan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi under pressure from his Hindu nationalist base to show firmness weeks before he is set

to call elections. The attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist extremist group based inÂ Pakistan, although the suicide attacker came locally from Indian Kashmir. Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military on Friday warned India against any â&#x20AC;&#x153;misadventure,â&#x20AC;? saying it was capable of responding. The United States in recent years has allied with India, seeing common interests with a fellow democracy that has been battling Islamist extremists. The Trump administration last year cut off $300 million in military aid toÂ Pakistan, saying that Islamabad has not done enough to fight extremists at home or close safe havens for militants in neighboring Afghanistan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;PakistanÂ was taking very strong advantage of the United States under other presidents,â&#x20AC;? Trump said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ended that payment because they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t helping us in a way that they should have.â&#x20AC;? India andÂ PakistanÂ have fought two of their three full-fledged wars over Kashmir since their partition at independence from Britain in 1947. AFP

World

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

US govt cracks down on abortion W

!3().'4/. $ # 4HE 4RUMP administration on Friday (Saturday IN -ANILA SET UP NEW OBSTACLES FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS BARRING TAXPAYER FUNDED FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS FROM MAKING ABORTION REFERRALS 4HE NEW POLICY IS CERTAIN TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT The final rule released Friday by the Health and Human Services Department will also prohibit federally funded family planning clinics from being housed in the same locations as abortion providers and require STRICTER kNANCIAL SEPARATION Clinic staff will still be permitted

to discuss abortion with clients, along with other options. However, that will no longer be required. The move is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to remake government policy on reproductive health. The American Medical Association (AMA) warned it could have an impact far beyond

abortion, potentially affecting access to health care services now provided to low-income women by the clinics, including birth control, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. By law, the family planning program does not pay for abortions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the wrong prescription and threatens to compound a HEALTH EQUITY DEkCIT IN THIS NAtion,â&#x20AC;? AMA President Barbara McAneny said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women should have access to these medical services regardless of where they live, how much money they make, their background, or whether they have health insurance.â&#x20AC;?

It could be some time before women served by the federal family program feel the full impact. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groups, organizations representing the clinics, and Democratic-led states are expected to sue to block the policy from going INTO EFFECT !DMINISTRATION OFkCIALS told abortion opponents on a call Friday that they expect legal action, according to a participant. Abortion is a legal medical procedure, but federal laws prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman. Planned Parenthood, whose AFkLIATES ARE MAJOR PROVIDERS OF family planning services, as well as

abortions, said the administration was trying to impose a â&#x20AC;&#x153;gag rule,â&#x20AC;? and launched a full campaign to block it. Congressional supporters of the organization said it receives about $60 million a year from the federal program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want our patients to know THIS Â&#x2021; WE WILL kGHT THROUGH EVERY avenue so this illegal, unethical rule never goes into effect,â&#x20AC;? said Planned Parenthoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President, Dr. Leana Wen. She said the new policy would prevent doctors from referring women for abortions â&#x20AC;&#x153;even if your life depended on it.â&#x20AC;? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat-California, declared: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Republi-

cans must end their relentless assault on womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health care and rights.â&#x20AC;? Planned Parenthood and other groups representing the clinics say the new requirements for physical separation of facilities would be costly and ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO FULkLL 0LANNED Parenthood said the administration was making another attempt to drive it out of business, after efforts to deny funding failed in Congress. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway scoffed at that argument. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been saying for years they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t co-mingle their funds, so this should be easy for them,â&#x20AC;? she told reporters at the White House. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Physically separate AND kNANCIALLY SEPARATE u AP

No reducing Ex-ambassador to Canada named US ambassador to UN of US forces in SKorea WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump on Friday (Saturday in Manila) ruled out reducing US forces from South Korea as part of a deal in his upcoming summit with North Korea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not. That is not one of the things on the table,â&#x20AC;? Trump said when asked if he would consider pulling some of the 28,500 troops from South Korea. Trump, answering questions as he met at the White House with a senior Chinese official, said he would not reveal his bargaining cards ahead of next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summit in Hanoi. Pressed on what he would offer, Trump quipped: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything is on the table.â&#x20AC;? Trump again hailed his relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he met in June in Singapore in the first-ever summit between the two adversaries. The US leader will face pressure to produce more concrete results when they meet over two days at their second summit. The businessman-turned-president has long mused about withdrawing US troops from allies, seeing them as an expense shouldered by the United States by countries that are often commercial competitors. Heightening speculation that troops could be on the table, the US and South Korea have been struggling to finalize a new arrangement on how much Seoul will pay for the US military presence, with the Trump administration pressing for more. North Korea has never formally ended the 1950 to 1953 war with its neighbor and officially is seeking reunification with the South. But any bid to remove US troops will face strong pushback from the US Congress andÂ Japan, whose conservative government is deeply wary of North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions. And South Korean President Moon Jae-in has shown little interest in booting out US troops, in contrast with some of his predecessors who shared his left-of-center ideology. AFP

WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump announced Friday (Saturday in Manila) that he has selected Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to Canada, as his nominee to serve as the next US ambassador to the United Nations. Trump said in a pair of tweets that Craft â&#x20AC;&#x153;has done an outstanding JOB REPRESENTING OUR .ATIONu AND HE HAS gNO DOUBT THAT UNDER HER leadership, our country will be represented at the highest level.â&#x20AC;? Two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity had told The Associated Press that Trump had BEEN ADVISED THAT #RAFT S CONkRMATION WOULD BE THE SMOOTHEST OF THE THREE CANDIDATES HE HAD BEEN CONSIDERING TO kLL THE JOB last held by Nikki Haley. 3ENATE -AJORITY ,EADER -ITCH -C#ONNELL 2EPUBLICAN +ENTUCKY had backed Craft for the post, and she also had the support of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, THE PEOPLE SAID 4RUMP S kRST PICK TO REPLACE (ALEY 3TATE $EPARTMENT spokesman Heather Nauert, withdrew over the weekend. McConnell praised Craft as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an exceptional choice for this critical post.â&#x20AC;? He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has a long record of service to her state AND THE NATION AND ) M CONkDENT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH

distinction as Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice to the world at the United Nations.â&#x20AC;? Craft, a Kentucky native, was a member of the US delegation to the UN General Assembly under President George Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration. She is also friends with McConnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and thanked Chao for her â&#x20AC;&#x153;longtime friendship and supportâ&#x20AC;? at her swearing-in as ambassador. As US ambassador to Canada, she played a role in facilitating the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump had also considered US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell and former US Senate candidate John James of Michigan for the post. Nauertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s withdrawal from consideration came amid a push WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION TO kLL THE POSITION GIVEN A PRESSING ARRAY of foreign policy concerns in which the United Nations, particuLARLY THE 5. 3ECURITY #OUNCIL IS LIKELY TO PLAY A SIGNIkCANT ROLE From Afghanistan to Venezuela, the administration has pressing CONCERNS THAT INVOLVE THE WORLD BODY AND OFkCIALS SAID THERE HAD been impatience with the delays on Nauertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s formal nomination.

Trump said December 7 that he would pick the former Fox News anchor and State Department spokeswoman for THE 5. JOB BUT HER NOMINATION WAS NEVER FORMALIZED .OTwithstanding other concerns that may have arisen during her CONkRMATION .AUERT S NOMINATION HAD LANGUISHED IN PART DUE to the 35-day government shutdown that began December 22 and interrupted key parts of the vetting process. Nauert cited family considerations in withdrawing from the post. 7ITH .AUERT OUT OF THE RUNNING OFkCIALS SAID 0OMPEO HAD BEEN KEEN ON #RAFT TO kLL THE POSITION !LTHOUGH 0OMPEO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE JOB kLLED THE VACANCY HAS CREATED AN opportunity for him and others to take on a more active role in UN diplomacy. On Thursday, for example, Pompeo was in New York to meet with UN chief Antonio Guterres. Trump has demoted the UN position to sub-Cabinet rank, in a move backed by both Bolton and Pompeo, according TO THREE OTHER OFkCIALS 'RENELL HAD SUGGESTED HE WASN T INTERESTED IN A NON #ABINET ROLE 4HE OFkCIALS WERE NOT authorized to discuss internal personnel deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity. AP

Church files on abusive priests destroyed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cardinal VATICANÂ CITY: A top Catholic cardinal ADMITTED 3ATURDAY THAT #HURCH kLES on priests who sexually abused children were destroyed or never even drawn up, a move which allowed paedophiles to prey on others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible were destroyed, or not even created,â&#x20AC;? German Cardinal Reinhard Marx said in a speech to a landmark Vatican summit on tackling paedophilia in the clergy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead of the perpetrators, the victims were regulated and silence imposed on them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The stipulated procedures and processes for the prosecution of offences were deliberately not complied with, but instead cancelled or overridden,â&#x20AC;? he said. Marx was speaking on the third day of an unprecedented meeting of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top bishops, which Pope Francis has called in an effort to get on top of a crisis that has dogged the Roman Catholic Church for decades. The ongoing scandals have escalated into a crisis, which has touched many countries across the globe, with recent cases affecting Chile, Germany and the US. Investigations have revealed that in

BELEAGUERED

Photo shows Pope Francis (third from left), summit moderator and Italian priest Federico Lombardi (second from left), cardinals and bishops (front, right and rear) attending at theÂ VaticanÂ on the third day of a global child protection summit for reflections on the sex abuse crisis within the Catholic Church on Saturday. AFP PHOTO many cases priests accused of assaulting minors were transferred to other parishes as bishops turned a blind eye to protect the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The rights of victims were ef-

fectively trampled underfoot, and left to the whims of individuals. These are all events that sharply contradict what the Church should stand for,â&#x20AC;? Marx said.

The cardinal said it was essential that victims felt â&#x20AC;&#x153;that they can trust the systemâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are no alternatives to traceability and transparency,â&#x20AC;?

he insisted, adding that attempts to cover-up scandals risked seriously undermining the Catholic Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credibility. Francis has told his bishops he wanted â&#x20AC;&#x153;concrete measuresâ&#x20AC;? drawn up against child sex abuse, though survivor groups in Rome for the summit have accused the Vatican OF kNE WORDS BUT LITTLE ACTION A prominent Nigerian nun has blasted the culture of silence in the Catholic Church that has long sought to hide clergy sexual abuse, telling a Vatican summit that transparency and an admission of mistakes was needed to restore trust. In a powerful speech Saturday, Sister Veronica Openibo told Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gathering of the Catholic hierarchy that African and Asian CHURCH LEADERS MUST NO LONGER JUSTIFY their silence about sexual violence by CLAIMING THAT POVERTY AND CONlICT ARE more serious issues for the church. Openibo warned: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This storm will not pass by.â&#x20AC;? She called for discussion on a host of controversial issues to address the scandal, including lay participation in the selection of bishops, whether seminaries for young boys were really healthy and why abusers werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dismissed from the clergy. AFP WITH AP

R&B singer R. Kelly charged with aggravated sex abuse of 4 victims CHICAGO: R. Kelly, the R&B star who has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves, is due in court Saturday (Sunday in Manila), after being charged with aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17. In a brief appearance before reporters, Cook County Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Atty. Kim Foxx on Friday announced the 10 counts against the 52-yearold Grammy winner, whose real name is Robert Kelly. She said the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade. She did not comment on the charges or take questions. Kelly was driven to a Chicago police station in a dark colored van with heavily tinted rear windows around 8:15 p.m. Friday. He did not respond to questions from gathered reporters as he walked inside the building. Police spokesman Anthony

Guglielmi tweeted a short time later that Kelly was under arrest. He was expected to be held overnight before an appearance Saturday in bond court. Kellyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal counsel, Steve Greenberg, told reporters following the singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrest that one of the charges he faces appears to be tied to a decade-old child pornography case. g$OUBLE JEOPARDY SHOULD BAR that case,â&#x20AC;? Greenberg said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He won that case.â&#x20AC;? Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, has consistently denied any sexual misconduct. Greenberg said he thinks proseCUTORS RUSHED TO JUDGMENT &RIDAY in charging Kelly, calling the singer â&#x20AC;&#x153;an innocent man.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Kelly is strong,â&#x20AC;? Greenberg added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a lot of support and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be vindicated on all these charges.â&#x20AC;? The arrest sets the stage for another #MeToo-era celebrity trial. Bill Cosby went to prison last year,

and former Hollywood studio boss Harvey Weinstein is awaiting trial. Best known for hits such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Believe I Can Fly,â&#x20AC;? Kelly was charged a week after Michael Avenatti, the lawyer whose clients have included porn star Stormy Daniels, said he gave prosecutors new video evidence of the singer with an underage girl. At a news conference earlier Friday in Chicago, Avenatti said a 14-year-old girl seen with R. Kelly on the video was among four victims mentioned in the indictment. He said the footage showed two separate scenes on two separate days at Kellyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence in the late 1990s. During the video, both the victim and Kelly referred to her age 10 times, he said. Avenatti said he represents six clients, including two victims, two parents and two people he describes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;knowing R. Kelly and being within his inner circle for the better part of 25 years.â&#x20AC;?

BLUES

R. Kelly surrenders to authorities at the Chicago First District police station on Friday (Saturday in Manila). The R&B star R. Kelly was taken into custody after arriving Friday night at a Chicago police precinct, hours after authorities announced multiple charges of aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims. AP PHOTO â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what the tape is,â&#x20AC;? Greenberg said of the video Avenatti gave prosecutors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen it. No oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showed us the tape.â&#x20AC;? The new charges marked â&#x20AC;&#x153;a watershed moment,â&#x20AC;?

Avenatti said, adding that he believes more than 10 other people associated with Kelly should be charged as â&#x20AC;&#x153;enablersâ&#x20AC;? for helping with the assaults, transporting minors and covering up evidence. 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.)

SSUNDAY U N DAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Public Square

D4 Public Square appears on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

New Red Cross office opens in Southern Luzon T

HE Philippine Red Cross (PRC), led by Chairman Richard Gordon, opened its newly constructed three-storey satellite office in Calamba, Laguna on February 14. The facility allows PRC to extend its service delivery to the most vulnerable members of the society, especially in the 2nd district of Laguna. The building and space is located inside the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital, funded by the Provincial Government of Laguna headed by Gov. Ramil Hernandez, and available for 25 years as stated in the Memorandum of Agreement signed July 2017. The building complex houses a blood facility and a 100-bag capacity blood refrigerator courtesy of Department of Health Region 4A headed by Regional Director Eduardo Janairo. On the other hand, Gordon stressed that this building was a huge step toward achieving an even bigger goalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to have a second blood center in the whole province of Laguna.

Q Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon (2nd from right) leads the opening of the newly constructed office in Calamba, Laguna with Gov. Ramil Hernandez (extreme left). With them (from left) are Laguna Board Member Ruth Hernandez, Laguna Chapter Board Chairman Jaime Ching and Laguna Chapter Administrator Frank Gray Sorromero. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a game changer Governor, you just turn the page, you create a building, you create a blood bank, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna help all the way to Mindoro and Batangas with this program,â&#x20AC;?

Gordon told Hernandez. Also in the spirit of Valentines Day and giving love, members of the Philippine national Police Special Action Force training branch at Fort Sto.Do-

mingo in Sta.Rosa City, participated in a mass blood donation event. Gordon and Hernandez personally expressed their thanks and praises for this noble act for humanity.

SM, DSAPI all set for Happy Walk 2019 IN celebration of the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month, the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI), in partnership with SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., will hold the annual Happy Walk for Down syndrome this February 24 at Halls 1 and 2 of the SMX Convention Center, in Pasay City. The theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Living with Down, This Is My Story,â&#x20AC;? and will feature performances from children with Down syndrome, talks from honorary guests, and interactive booths. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a time to tell our stories, the stories of our children. As each person goes through life, there are countless experiences that touch our lives. Some experiences can be so powerful that they have long-lasting and life-changing

Q File photo from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Happy Walk for Down Syndrome, organized by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines and SM Cares. impact on our lives,â&#x20AC;? DSAPI things SM can offer, regardless of Cares Program on PWDs. Chairman Elmer LapeĂąa shared. varying conditions. We are very Registration starts at 7 a.m. On its 17th year, Happy Walk grateful for the partnership with and program begins at 8:30 a.m. continues to promote awareness the DSAPI, who work endlessly to Simultaneously, SM City Bacolod and inclusivity for Persons with reach and help more people, and will also join the celebration and Down syndrome. most importantly, provide access have their walk as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SM has been and will always and care to the ones who need it For more information, visit be for inclusiveness. Everyone most,â&#x20AC;? said Bien Mateo, SM SVP www.smcares.com.ph and dsashould be able to enjoy the good for Operations and director for SM pi@hotmail.com.

PLDT-Smart Foundation donates digital learning kits to Ormoc public schools PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) donated Smart School-in-a-Bag units to Department of Education (DepEd)-nominated institutions in Ormoc, Leyte. Digital learning packages were recently donated to Hugpa Elementary School, Mahayahay Elementary School, and Inaad Elementary Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;making THEM THE kRST 3CHOOL IN A "AG BENEkCIARIES FOR Led by PSF President Esther Santos, Foundation and Smart Communications (Smart) representatives turned over a teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laptop, Smart pocket WiFi, projector, DVD PLAYER AND kVE STUDENT TABLETS TO each of the three remote schools. Meanwhile, PSFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s donated tablets are pre-installed with educational content that include Learn Smart literacy apps developed

DoLE drafts agreement with Quebec officials

LABOR Undersecretary Claro Arellano (3rd, L), together with Legal Service Director Phillip Paredes and International Labor Affairs Bureau Director Alice Visperas, welcome the delegation of the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion of Quebec,

Canada, headed by its International Affairs Advisor Siegfried Gagnon (2nd, R), during a meeting on the draft memorandum of agreement on the protection and employment of Filipino workers in Quebec, , held at the Bayleaf Hotel, in Intramuros, Manila on February 11.

League of Provinces backs Imee Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; senatorial bid THE League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) backs the senatorial bid of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, citing her â&#x20AC;&#x153;no non-sense performance in public service and governance as champion for the improvement of the lives of Filipinos, especially those in the countryside.â&#x20AC;? In a resolution released recently, the LPP describes Marcos as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an efficient and effective local public officialâ&#x20AC;? who can im-

mensely contribute in realizing the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte to build a stronger and more progressive republic. The LPP, which gathers all governors from the 81 provinces across the country, expressed confidence that Marcos would â&#x20AC;&#x153;bring to the Senate the concerns of local governments and local government officials to reinforce local autonomy and ensure local development.â&#x20AC;?

Napolcom to give special promotion toÂ 75 police officers inÂ Marawi siege ABOUT 75 police personnel will be given a special promotion by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) after demonstrating conspicuous courage and gallantry in action during the continuous military and police operations of the Marawi siege. According to Napolcom ViceChairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao, the 75 PNP

uniformed personnel held their ground and managed to hit every target through the conduct of offensive and clearing of building operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The courage displayed by these valiant police personn e l e a r n e d t h e m s e l ve s n o t only the admiration of the members of the PNP but also of the people they had sworn to serve,â&#x20AC;? Casurao said.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;G Diariesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; partners with NatGeo

Q PLDT-Smart Foundation President Esther Santos (first row, 2nd, R) and Smart VP for Corporate Communications Sally Aldaba (first row, 3rd, R) turn over a School-in-a-Bag kit to Hugpa Elementary School teachers alongside Leyteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (center), Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (second row, 3rd, R) and Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin, Jr. (second row, 2nd, R). in partnership with the DepEd app, Kaalam Cebuano app, Taal- salug tribe of Davao and Bukidnon. and academic institutions nation- lam and Tahderiyyah Arabic apps, For more information, viswide: the Bahay Kubo Tagalog and Matigsalug app for the Matig- it www.pldtsmartfoundation.org.

Muntinlupa receives award from LandBank

GINA LOPEZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning travel show â&#x20AC;&#x153;G Diariesâ&#x20AC;? on the ABS CBN Network goes global as it signs a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with American-based National Geographic Channel (Nat Geo) for its third season, held on February 15. Beginning March 3, â&#x20AC;&#x153;G Diariesâ&#x20AC;? will feature eight communities of that won I LOVEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Investments in Loving Organizations or Village Economies)

Quest for Love search last year. Under the agreement, Nat Geo fulfills its vision of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creating a Planet in Balance,â&#x20AC;? by taking part in transforming marginalized communities into sustainable agro-forestry, fishing and ecotourism sites through showcasing I LOVE sites through its identified media platforms and digital assets. For more information, visit www.passitforward.com .

QC Council urges poll bets to use environment-friendly materials MEMBERS of the Quezon City Council reminded all local and national candidates of the upcoming elections to observe the existing ordinance that prohibits the use of plastics as advertisement and propaganda materials within the territorial jurisdiction of Quezon City. Ordinance SP-2202 prohibits the use of polyethylene (plastics) as advertisement and propaganda materials in QC as the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

initiative to reduce wastes and encourage candidates to utilize environmentally-sound methods that could prevent pollution. Meanwhile, Councilors Victor Ferrer Jr., Eufemio Lagumbay, Ranulfo Ludovica, Allan Francisco and Allan Benedict Reyes recently called on the city government to remove propaganda materials posted on electric wires in the city regardless of their political parties and affiliations.

Romualdez lauds Tingog partylist Q LBP Public Sector Department VP Esperanza Martinez (center, right) hands over the award to Mayor Jaime Fresnedi along with (from left) City Accounting Officer Lanie Casanova, City Treasurer Al MiĂąosa, City Budget Officer Lolet Morales, City Administrator Allan Cachuela, LBPAssistant VP Mary Lilian Cruz, LBP Account Manager Josephine Cabanela, LBP Muntinlupa Branch Head Synpha Malto, and LBP Marketing Assistant Florence Guliman. LAND Bank of the Philippines (LBP) awards Gawad Pilak to the city government of Muntinlupa for its outstanding collaborative

ties with the organization. LBP executives, headed by LBP Public Sector Department VP Esperanza Martinez lauded

-AYOR *AIME &RESNEDI S kNANCIAL &EBRUARY management and the 25th year Recently, Muntinlupa City of Muntinlupa LGU and LBPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was declared debt-free as it fully partnership, during their visit on settled all of its loans from LBP.

LEYTE First District Representative and Tingog Party List First Nominee Yedda Marie Romualdez lauded her fellow nominees for their integrity, competence, and dedication in public service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have always been part of Tingog. In the three years that I had the opportunity of representing the First District of Leyte in the House of Representatives, Tingog

has always been one of our strongest, if not our foremost, partners and allies, in serving not only the First District which I represented, and also the rest of the region,â&#x20AC;? said Romualdez. Tingog Sinirangan (or Tingog) is a regional political party based in Eastern Visayas that aims to be a champion for regional development.

Sports

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019

PH battles Kazakhstan in crucial game tonight

www.manilatimes.net

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

EDDIE G. ALINEA

How the MayweatherPacquiao fight came about I

F youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still wondering why American Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is back with the camp of Filipino reigning World Boxing Association welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, read on. A little birdie told me the reason could be that Pacquiao will be needing the trainer in his projected rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., should the latter resort anew to his dilly-dallying tactics employed in protracted negotiations that marked their May 5, 2005 encounter that needed kVE YEARS TO MATERIALIZE Roach, you see, played a major role on why the Mayweather-Pacquiao EVENTUALLY HAPPENED ALMOST kVE years after it was hatched as early as 2009 following the Filipinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12th round stoppage of Miguel Cotto to crown himself the World Boxing OrGANIZATION WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION To cut the long story short, serious negotiations actually started in 2014 FOLLOWING FAILURE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE between the two camps and those who interceded to make what is BILLED AS THE RICHEST kGHT IN THE HISTORY OF BOXING REALIZED BY A VERY UNLIKELY source â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Hollywood waiter/actor NAMED 'ABRIEL 3ALVADOR And retracing what really transpired, this OUTSIDER found no reason why THE STORY SHOULD NOT BE BELIEVED 3ALVADOR HAPPENED TO FORGE A friendship with CBS Network PresiDENT ,ESLIE -OONVES WHEN THE LATTER became a regular at Craigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant IN 7EST (OLLYWOOD WHERE 3ALVADOR worked part-time as a waiter. 3ALVADOR AND -OONVES ACCORDING to Wikipedia, were bonded by their MUTUAL LOVE OF BOXING !CCORDING TO Wikipedia, CBS is the parent company of Showtime Network, which had inVESTED HEAVILY IN BOXING AND SPENT millions on a multi-year deal with Mayweather. 3ALVADOR TOLD -OONVES THAT HE BELIEVED HE COULD MAKE THE kGHT HAPPEN IF HE COULD GET -OONVES AND 0ACQUIAO CONkDANT AND TRAINER &REDDIE 2OACH TOGETHER 3ALVADOR BELIEVED HE COULD do so based on his connection to both men and his â&#x20AC;&#x153;unshakeable feelingâ&#x20AC;? that together they could cut through the politicking and power struggles THAT SEEM TO HAVE STYMIED PRIOR NEgotiations. )T TURNED OUT 3ALVADOR S SON %LIJAH worked out at Freddie Roachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gym. -OONVES AGREED THAT 3ALVADOR SHOULD meet Roach to make an introduction WITH A VIEW TO MAKING THE FIGHT A REALITY %VENTUALLY 3ALVADOR ASKED 2OACH IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET WITH -OONVES togetthewheelsinmotion.Roachagreed AND ASKED 3ALVADOR TO SET UP A MEETING -OONVES AND 2OACH kRST MET ON May 28, 2014, at the Scarpetta restauRANT IN THE -ONTAGE (OTEL IN "EVERLY (ILLS IN THE PRESENCE OF 3ALVADOR "OTH 2OACH AND -OONVES AGREED THE LONG awaited bout had to happen and 2OACH GAVE -OONVES THE GREEN LIGHT to start making things happen. Roach, meanwhile, helped -OONVES MAKE PEACE WITH 0ACQUIAO PROMOTER "OB !RUM -OONVES THEN brought the warring elements from both boxersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; camps together and, WITH 3ALVADOR S HELP EVEN ARRANGED meetings at his home. After the extended negotiations, it was not long after that both camps AGREED TO kGHT ON THE NIGHT OF -AY 2, 2015. The consensus is that but FOR 3ALVADOR S KEY INTRODUCTION THE kGHT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED "OTH -OONVES AND 0ACQUIAO PROMOTER "OB !RUM HAVE CONkRMED 3ALVADOR S PIVOTAL ROLE &OR HIS ROLE AS gkNDER u 3ALVADOR WAS ENTITLED TO A kNDER S FEE One time, this writer asked Roach ON THE VERACITY OF THIS STORY (E JUST smiled, nodding his head.

Q Team Pilipinasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gabe Norwood dunks the ball unopposed by Qatar players during the sixth and last window of the FIBA Asian qualifiers on Friday in Doha, Qatar. PHOTO FROM FIBA.COM

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

EAM Pilipinas must beat Kazakhstan tonight to move closer to its goal of qualifying for the FIBA World Cup in China on August 31 to September 15. The crucial game in the sixth and last day of the International Basketball &EDERATION &)"! !SIAN QUALIkERS AT the Saryarka Sports Complex in Astana begins at 10:30 p.m. (Manila time). The Philippines routed host Qatar, 84-46, on Friday in Doha. Only the top three teams in Group F and E plus one best fourth placer will qualify for the World Cup. The Philippines, with a 6-5 win-loss RECORD MUST DEFEAT +AZAKHSTAN kRST AND hope that Lebanon and Jordan lose to THEIR RESPECTIVE FOES IN 'ROUP & ALSO ON &EBRUARY TO IMPROVE THEIR PLACING Host Lebanon (6-5) will face South Korea (9-2) while host Jordan (6-5) will TAKE ON .EW :EALAND IN 'ROUP % THEIR kNAL GAMES IN THE QUALIkERS .ATURALIZED PLAYER !NDRAY "LATCHE LED Team PH against the Qataris with 17 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The Filipinos shot 15-of-30 from beyond the arc with Paul Lee and

-ARCIO ,ASSITER COMBINING FOR SEVEN triples. Lassiter finished with 14 points, Lee contributed 13 points while JP Erram registered four blocks. Blatche will draw support from Gabe Norwood, Japeth Aguilar, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Mark Barroca. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excited to get out there and build off our performance last night,â&#x20AC;? said Norwood through a text message sent to The Manila Times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think we understand the scenario and know the importance of this game.â&#x20AC;? Team Pilipinasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; final lineup in THE GAME AGAINST +AZAKHSTAN wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t announced yet at press time. +AZAKHSTAN MEANWHILE IS COMing off a 60-81 beating from Group Fâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading team Australia (10-1) in Astana on Thursday. .ATURALIZED PLAYMAKER !NTHONY Clemmons who scored 31 points against !USTRALIA IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER BIG WHEN +AZAKHSTAN FACES THE 0HILIPPINES

LEONARD STEALS THE SHOW AS RAPTORS SPOIL DEROZANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RETURN LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard got

booed in his return to San Antonio. It was a much different story for DeMar $E2OZAN IN 4ORONTO Raptors star Leonard scored a game-high 25 points and stole the BALL FROM 3AN !NTONIO S $E2OZAN AT mid-court for the go-ahead dunk as the Toronto Raptors held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-117 on Friday night (Saturday in Manila). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tonight was like a playoff game,â&#x20AC;? Leonard said. ,EONARD SCORED THE kNAL FOUR POINTS for the Raptors, including a steal and a DUNK OFF $E2OZAN WITH SECONDS TO go with the game on the line. $E2OZAN TRIED TO CARRY THE BALL UP court but slipped while being pressured and Leonard snatched the ball FOR THE UNCONTESTED DUNK TO GIVE THE Raptors a one-point lead, 118-117. He then sank two free throws to seal it. It all added up to a night of mixed EMOTIONS BUT FOR $E2OZAN THE ENDING COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER 4HIS WAS HIS kRST TRIP BACK TO 4Oronto since the trade in the offseason between the two teams that saw the two Los Angeles area products being swapped for each other. The sold-out crowd of 20,060 at the 3COTIABANK !RENA GAVE $E2OZAN TWO STANDING OVATIONS 4HE kRST TOOK PLACE during team introductions and the second

CAME HALFWAY THROUGH THE kRST QUARTER H LF H H H k when the Raptors honoured him with a VIDEO TRIBUTE DURING A STOPPAGE IN PLAY â&#x20AC;&#x153;DeMar did a great job here with his nine-year run,â&#x20AC;? said Leonard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was leading all the stats with Raptors all the time and the fans came out AND SHOWED HIM LOVE u $E2OZAN IS THE 2APTORS ALL TIME LEADER IN POINTS kELD GOALS (4,716), free throws (3,539), games (675) and wins (353). ,EONARD COULD ONLY FANTASIZE ABOUT getting the same warm welcome when the teams met January 3 in San AntoNIO FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE THE TRADE Leonard scored 21 points in a 125107 San Antonio win and was booed BY THE 3PURS FANS $E2OZAN RECORDED HIS kRST CAREER TRIPLE DOUBLE IN THAT one with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. While Leonard asked for a trade OUT OF 3AN !NTONIO $E2OZAN WAS stunned by the deal. After re-signing with the Raptors in 2016 he said he wanted to be a Raptor for life. Pascal Siakam added 22 points to help Toronto extend its winning streak TO SEVEN STRAIGHT WITH THE WIN +YLE ,OWRY and Danny Green each had 17, Serge Ibaka had 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Jeremy Lin had 11 points in just his second game with the Raptors. Marco Belinelli scored 21 points for San

Q San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) loses the the ball under pressure from Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) with about 15 seconds left in an NBA basketball game on Saturday in Toronto. AP PHOTO !NTONIO $AVIS "ERTANS HAD AND 2UDY Gay added 12 points and 10 rebounds

NBA T-Wolves center Towns recovering after car smash NEW YORK: Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a possible concussion in a car crash as he was driving to the airport to catch a team flight. Coach Ryan Saunders said Friday that Towns would miss the NBA teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It is the first time Towns has missed a game in his career. Towns was involved in the smash on Thursday in the Minneapolis area and flew into New York later that day on a separate flight so he could join his teammates. Saunders said Towns was resting back at the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotel. The 7-foot (2.13m) Dominican is averaging 23.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocked shots a game this season for Minnesota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important, that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthy and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing OK,â&#x20AC;? teammate Andrew Wiggins said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because a lot of things could have went wrong.â&#x20AC;? Said guard Tyrus Jones, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It just goes to show nothingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promised. Tomorrow isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t promised. Life and things can turn in a matter of seconds in the blink of an eye.â&#x20AC;? At 27-30, the Timberwolves are four games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Towns represented the T-Wolves in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

Q Team LeBronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Karl-Anthony Towns, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, heads to the hoop against Team Giannisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, during the first half of an NBA All-Star basketball game on February 17, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. AP PHOTO

FOR 3AN !NTONIO WHO HAVE LOST kVE OF SIX The Raptors took a 101-100 lead

on Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jumper with 6:52 to goâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; part of a 9-0 run. AFP

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Nascar

Âť

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times w w w.manilatimes.net Q Joey Logano, driver of the (No. 22) Shell Pennzoil Ford, during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Q Michael McDowell, driver of the (No. 34) Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Stops Ford, talks with David Ragan, driver of the (No. 38) Select Blinds Ford, during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, in Daytona Beach, Florida. AFP PHOTOS

McDowell defends Daytona 500 decision not to push Logano

HARLOTTE, N.C.: Michael McDowELL WAS STILL DIGESTING HIS kFTH PLACE kNISH AT THE $AYTONA WHEN *OEY ,OGANO APPEARED AT THE FRONT OF HIS CAR ANGRILY POINTING AT THE &ORD LOGO He was questioning McDowellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loyalty to the brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He shows up pointing at the Ford emblem, pushing on the Ford, making his point â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, you are a Ford driver, why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you push me?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? McDowell told The Associated Press on Tuesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a two-way street, and if I got out of the car and started screaming at Joey for not going with me, everybody would say I was ridiculous and that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t belong up there and am not fast enough. God forbid I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push him to a win, now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the bad guy.â&#x20AC;? The tension between a pair of Ford drivers is the fallout from a disappointing Daytona 500 for the blue oval brand. The manufacturer debuted its new Mustang at Daytona International Speedway and positioned its stable of drivers as heavy favorites to win â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Great American Race.â&#x20AC;? Most manufacturers align their teams to work together at Daytona and Talladega with the goal of getting one of their drivers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter who â&#x20AC;&#x201D; into victory lane. Ford fell short in the final overtime sprint to the checkered lAG ON 3UNDAY PERHAPS BECAUSE McDowell made a lane change that separated him from Logano. Both drivers were trying to

win, yet both probably needed to work together to have any chance at catching winner Denny Hamlin. Instead, Ford wound up locked out of a Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota podium sweep. ,OGANO kNISHED FOURTH AHEAD OF McDowell. McDowell didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to hear about brand loyalty in the aftermath of the race: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just told him that my team doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay me to push Joey Logano to a win.â&#x20AC;? McDowell is winless in 286 Cup starts since 2008 and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drive for one of NASCARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superstar teams. He moved last season to Front Row Motorsports, one of NASCARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smaller teams, and MANAGED ONE TOP kNISH BUT was tied for a career-best 26th in THE kNAL #UP STANDINGS â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have many chances to win races,â&#x20AC;? McDowell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I HAVE MAYBE FOUR OR kVE SHOTS A year to try to win a race. These other guys, they have 35 more chances. I needed to take my chance to win a race.â&#x20AC;? Logano is NASCARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reigning champion and a former Daytona 500 winner. So when McDowell found himself lined up with the leaders in the closing laps of the Daytona 500 he was racing for the victory

with no time to consider team alliances. He pulled out of the bottom lane, away from Logano, and tried to hook onto Kyle Busch in the top lane. The move hampered Loganoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shot to catch Hamlin for the win. McDowell has watched replays, spoken with Logano and Ford executives, and said he now realizes his best bet for a win would have been staying in line behind Logano. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a split-second decision to make a move and I had the momentum and thought it was best to go the outside and thought that was the right move,â&#x20AC;? McDowell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Looking back at it, if I could do it over again, the bottom would have been better for me.â&#x20AC;? He remains adamant it was not his responsibility to help Logano win. Teamwork between m a n u facturers can work, but often depends on where drivers fall in the alliance. Team Penske and StewartHaas Racing are the big shots at Ford. McDowell and the Front Row Motorsports group seem more like distant cousins. McDowell said he, David Ragan and their teams were not privy to the Penske and SHR pit strat-

egy at Daytona; SHR driver Clint Bowyer weaved around McDowell late in the race, a move that dumped McDowell into a slower middle lane, then cut McDowell off to create another late multicar accident as Bowyer tried to force his way back into line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those guys donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work with Front Row Motorsports at all,â&#x20AC;? McDowell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help us at all. They want us to be there to support them when they need it, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let us in on when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to pit, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share strategy, they

HOT WHEELS

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell us whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on. And so my frustration with Joey is, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to me talking about brand loyalty when you guys donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do nothing to help us. And you want me to help you when you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything for us?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? -C$OWELL S kNISH WAS A CAREER best in the Daytona 500, placing him ninth in the Cup standings as NASCAR shifts to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend with a new rules package that is designed to tighten the on-track competition. The idea behind the rules is to slow the cars to

keep them closer together and improve passing opportunities. If it works, then drivers like McDowell might be able to consistently compete with the big teams. McDowell has seven career top-10 finishes, all but one was at either Daytona or Talladega. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If this package races like Daytona and Talladega, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to be in a great spot,â&#x20AC;? McDowell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully we can have some highlights and put ourselves in a position to make some noise.â&#x20AC;? AP

Daytona Beach, Florida, UNITED STATES: Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Ford, smokes during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, in Daytona Beach, Florida. AFP PHOTO

Motor Sports

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019 Q Joseph Rodriguez ruled the Maxxis 4x4 Cup Ilocos Sur leg.

Wild, wild Ilocos Sur 4x4 (Part 1) NCE you have been in a good 4x4 extreme race, you will be hooked and will look for more! Watching the 4x4 vehicles going through seemingly impassable obstacles like shoulderhigh mud, payloader-sized tire pits, 40 degree steep hill climbs and jumps with dips that break suspensions, I can say that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m now addicted! Watching the National Association of Filipino Offroaders (NAsFOR) national leg in San Idelfonso, Ilocos Sur last weekend, was one of those events that made our speed-loving group miss these technical 4x4 RACES 4HIS WAS THE kRST NATIONAL race and the second in the 2019 Maxxis 4x4 Cup series, with the kRST RACE HELD IN "ALER !URORA only a week earlier. I have written the Maxxis 4x4 National results in a separate article and found in our motor sports section today. I will concentrate on the inside stories of this adrenaline-producing and energy-sapping race and hope you like it.

TURBO TIMES

Lito Joaquin. He used to be a car upholsterer in Portilloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s before WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS "AMBO AND Ding Santiago. Lito made the car seat of one of my cars and even made copies of a high-end brand for all to enjoy! Now, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really a small world and was great to relive those old days. Lito made the track in just 4 days and had all the obstacles he wanted in it. From the very deep mud pit, that you cross twice, to the very tough hill climb, the track will test not only the skills of the driver but also if they have the balls to do it! There was also the big bowls that I saw for the kRST TIME THE /TSO /TSO kGURE 8 mounds and the classic jumps and dips that can break your vehicle if you are not careful.

Ilocano hospitality

The 4x4 racers were all treated to a beach party on Saturday night NAsFOR-MP Turbo and gave everyone a chance to history relax after a grinding qualifying day. The 2 tracks were challengMy forever partner Lindy Pellicer, ing enough to have veterans VIDEOGRAPHER (ENRY "UENCONSEJO face tough times to get good reand I were invited by NAsFOR of- sults like PampangueĂąos Edison kCIALS LED BY .EIL 0ALABRICA AND $UNGCA AND .OEL "ARTOLOME 3R past president Ramon Toong, to The organizers made sure that JOIN THEM FOR THIS kRST LEG !FTER all participants were well fed missing the Philippine Tough during the event as well. There Truck Challenge in Cagayan De was even a bag of local products Oro last December due to our Pe- given to us when we left and was tron Rally of Champions running very endearing. This is something that same weekend, we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that we have not done in our miss this one! ROC and we should be doing it Lindy had never been to Vigan especially when we have drivers so it was just right timing as it was from all over the country like this on the way to San Ildelfonso. Ac- Ilocos leg. cording to Waze, we would face a nine-hour travel time if we left Extreme prototypes Manila early evening of Friday. We decided to leave at midnight Even though the event had the so we only had a good six-hour Production classes, the premiere trip. It was just very tiring as were event was reserved for the special like Zombies on Saturday but buggies or prototypes, racing at least it was much better than for the best time in the hardest GETTING TRAPPED IN TRAFkC IN THE possible tracks laid around the Metro and other municipalities. natural terrain. The vehicles are specially made Ilocos 4x4 with tube frames, long travel suspensions, powerful steering systems, Team Ilocos Offroaders orga- huge wheels with Maxxis tires, mulnized this race and was supported tiple winches and all the air locker by the Provincial Government of differentials you can install. Ilocos, headed by Governor Ryan The latest 4x4 technologies are Singson. It was only the 3rd time being imported and currently asthat they hosted the race but it sembled with Pinoy talent. There didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to be the case. is a full aluminum chassis made They went all out to make it a by Dungca and looks very well true national event! It had the made. There was a V8 engine perfect match of a challenging MACHINE OF "ARTOLOME THAT HAD track with multiple obstacles for lots of torque. There were a lot the extreme racers and a produc- of small things that helped the tion track for the relatively stock driver get across the obstacles invehicles. The huge area was cluding very fast winches to pull INSIDE THE COMPOUND OF "#0% the vehicles in a very short time. Construction and was quite near Next week, we will tackle other the center of town. stories including the driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; One of the special people that techniques and unique rules of we met during the event was NAs- NAsFOR when it comes to runFORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track designer and builder ning their event. Godspeed to all!

Rodriguez wins Maxxis 4x4 Ilocos leg S BY MIKE POTENCIANO

AN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur: Four Wheelers Davao Teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Joseph Rodriguez bagged the overall honors in last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maxxis 4x4 Cup National leg by BESTING AN IMPRESSIVE kELD HERE

Organized by Team Ilocos Offroaders with the full support of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chavitâ&#x20AC;? Singson, the national event was presented by the National Association of Filipino Offroaders (NAsFOR) and Maxxis Tires Philippines with Racetech 4x4 Suspensions, FCC Trading, WDM Truck Center and "#0% AS MAJOR SPONSORS The dual qualifying held on Saturday saw Rodriguez top both sessions en route to his domination of the kNAL RUN ON THE COMBINED TRACKS on Sunday. The track was made up of shoulder-high mud pits, rock and tire pits, among others. This was the only the second time that a 4x4 racer was able to sweep all three tracks in a NAsFOR NATIONAL EVENT A FEAT THAT WAS kRST

ACHIEVED IN BY "ICOL /FFROAD Club racer and former NASFOR president Roger Peyra. Rodriguez was very lucky to win the final run with less than 49 seconds ahead of second-placer Derrick Gahite of Manila East Offroaders. Gahite was always close to the times set by the DavaoeĂąo but this time, he took more time winching in the mud pit area. $ERRICK S SECOND PLACE kNISH was his second in a row after winding up in the same position A WEEK EARLIER IN "ALER !URORA during the season opener of the NAsFOR 4x4 series. Completing the top three was 2018 NAsFOR Driver of the Year AND "ALER S CHAMPION *HERICO ,ARA of Aurora Racing Team. Lara was

Q One of the obstacles that 4x4 racers have to overcome is the dreaded mud pit. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS only six seconds away from the Rodriguez in Track C but had a bad 4RACK " QUALIFYING TIME THAT BROUGHT him down by almost six minutes. Nevertheless, his aggressive driving made him the darling of the crowd, crossing the mud pit without winching. Fourth place went to local hero Froy Mendoza of Team Ilocos Offroaders who was about four seconds away from third-placer Lara. Fifth place went to Pampangaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edison Ton Dungca of the Kapampangan Racing Team. Dungca

struggled in the first qualifying TRACK BUT SALVAGED A GOOD kNAL RUN TO GET INTO THE TOP kVE The Maxxis 4x4 Cup Philippines leg, held only for the third time in Ilocos Sur, has drawn off-road racers from Central and Northern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila. Since it was only a week since the previous leg in Aurora, some drivers didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough time to repair their rigs for the Ilocos Sur tilt among them .OEL "ARTOLOME *R AND OTHER BIG racers from Mindanao.

Ferrariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leclerc not worried over pressure MONTMELĂ&#x201C;, Spain: Charles Leclerc insisted on Thursday that he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry about the pressure which is about to engulf him as he attempts to help the fabled Ferrari team break an F1 title drought which has now stretched beyond a decade. The highly-regarded 21-yearOLD -ONEGASQUE STARTS HIS kRST season with the Italian giants after leaving Sauber to replace Kimi Raikkonen, who was the last man to win a driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; world title with Ferrari in 2007. "UT HAVING SET THE FASTEST TIME on the second day of the first week of pre-season testing, Leclerc shrugged off the expectations of a campaign that will see him partner with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, the German star who is 10 years his senior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try not to think about it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important for me to focus on myself, on the job I have to do on and off the track

with the engineers without really thinking about what people expect of me off the track,â&#x20AC;? Leclerc said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since I got on the track, I have done some really good work, I tried to put any emotion to one side,â&#x20AC;? he added. Leclerc said it was a challenge to make the step-up from midgrid Sauber, where he made his debut in 2018, to Ferrari that boasts 16 constructorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; titles and 15 driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crowns. The last constructorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; honor came the way of Ferrari in 2008, a year after Raikkonenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recent driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; triumph.

Leclerc believes Ferrari has the tools and the drivers to shatter Mercedesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; iron-grip on the sport WITH ,EWIS (AMILTON S OUTkT HAVING SWEPT THE LAST kVE g) THINK WE HAVE A STRONG CAR "UT in terms of comparison to direct competition, including Mercedes, I think we will only really know at THE kRST RACE IN -ELBOURNE -ARCH 17),â&#x20AC;? he added. !S THE kRST WEEK OF TESTING CAME to an end, it was Nico Hulkenberg who was the fastest overall in

his Renault. -ERCEDES PAIR OF 6ALTERRI "OTTAS and Hamilton were sixth and seventh, respectively ahead of Leclerc and Vettel. However, the Ferrari men had the psychological edge of topping the time charts on Monday and Tuesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to keep on pushing, the competition looks very strong,â&#x20AC;? said defending world champion Hamilton. AFP

Q Ferrariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monegasque driver CharlesÂ LeclercÂ takes part in the tests for the new Formula One Grand Prix season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, in the outskirts of Barcelona, on Thursday. AFP PHOTO

HAMILTON STILL FULL OF DRIVE AS HE CHASES 6TH F1 WORLD TITLE TURIN, Italy: At the age of 34 and with five world titles, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is still showing no sign of waning motivation. His competitive spirit was clear to see at an event for Mercedesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sponsors in Turin on Friday. Taking part in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pit-stop challengeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with teammate Valtteri "OTTAS WHERE THE PAIR HAD TO HELP change a tire on an F1 car several times, Hamilton was eager to beat the Finnish driver on every occasion, despite it counting for little. And it is that drive and determination he will take into the new season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just come off my break. I missed work. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a workaholic,â&#x20AC;? Hamilton said at Petronasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; $60 million research and technology center. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love being at work, I like working with people. I feel that as soon as I get back to work Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m living my purpose. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately I just love driving. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love testing. I just want to

go racing. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t struggle with the motivation for that.â&#x20AC;? Hamilton has won the title in FOUR OF THE PAST kVE SEASONS AND secured it by his biggest margin of 88 points last season after Sebastian Vettelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poor second half of the campaign. However, this

year could be one of the toughest YET FOR THE "RITISH DRIVER 4HE kRST WEEK OF TESTING ENDED Thursday with Ferrari looking to be a step ahead of Mercedes. Vettel and Charles Leclerc â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who replaced Kimi Raikkonen â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were among the fastest drivers in the first week of testing in Spain, with Hamilton and "OTTAS UNABLE

to keep pace. Max Verstappen is also expected to push for the title. The 21-yearOLD 2ED "ULL DRIVER kNISHED FOURTH LAST SEASON ABOVE "OTTAS AND WAS only two points away from beating Raikkonen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have no idea at the moment,â&#x20AC;? Hamilton said when asked who would be his main rival. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not been looking at what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing but I have to assume that Q Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain cheers with marshals, followed by US actor Will Smith, prior to the start of the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix on November 25, 2018 at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. AP PHOTO

theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all currently contenders, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just one of them and ) LL kND OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE kRST couple of races. g0ROBABLY THE kRST FOUR RACES youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get an understanding of the true pace and the consistency of the cars and the drivers.â&#x20AC;? Verstappen and Leclerc â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who is the same age â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are tipped to follow Hamilton and Vettel as F1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next stars. Leclerc earned a prestigious move to Ferrari following strong performances for unheralded Sauber in his debut F1 season and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he reminds him of Hamilton when HE kRST CAME INTO & IN "UT WHILE (AMILTON ADMITS certain aspects of racing are harder with age, he also believes nothing replaces experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each year, getting in shape, getting your mind into gear is still a massive challenge if not harder each year as you get older so once you get over that wall its pretty

good after that,â&#x20AC;? he said. g7HEN ) kRST STARTED ) WAS JUST A kid, I was 22. I had all the talent that I needed, but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the experience. So it was all raw, wild adrenaline and ambition without really a particular strategy. Over the years you gain knowledge and experience and that helps solidify that foundation.â&#x20AC;? Testing will continue Tuesday&RIDAY AT THE "ARCELONA #ATALUNYA Circuit, home to the Spanish Grand Prix in May. The season-opening Australian Grand Prix is on March 17, where Hamilton will start his bid to become only the second driver to WIN MORE THAN kVE WORLD CHAMpionships â&#x20AC;&#x201D; behind only seventime winner Michael Schumacher. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each year hopefully the goal is always to get better,â&#x20AC;? Hamilton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The more competition the better, you always want to be against the best at their best because when you beat them itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more painful for them and more enjoyable for you.â&#x20AC;? AP

Sports BPinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg opens Monday

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY JEREMIAH SEVILLA

LOILO CITY: Nearly 3,000 athletes aged 15 years old and below will see action in the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg that opens today at the Iloilo Sports Complex here. Up for grabs are berths in the national championships of the Philippine Sports Com-

missionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual grassroots sporting event. Participating athletes and

MADRID: Real Madrid and Barcelona face two

Clasicos in four days next week but La Ligaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest rivals are not so much revving up for the double-header but crawling reluctantly towards it. This weekend, Barca travel to fourth-placed Sevilla on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) and Madrid to Levante on Sunday, when priorities, rest and rotation will all be high on the agenda again. Santiago Solari pointed to exhaustion following his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest loss at home to Girona, four days after they came from behind to beat Ajax, eight after defeating Atletico Madrid and 11 after holding Barca to a draw at the Camp Nou. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fatigue is not only physical, it is mental, it affects our concentration,â&#x20AC;? Solari said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously we have come from an important period, with a lot of hard games. We have to overcome it because it might be that our energy levels dipped in the second half.â&#x20AC;? 'IRONA WERE OUTPLAYED IN THE kRST PERIOD BUT scored twice in the second, both goals coming in THE kNAL MINUTES TO END WHAT HAD BEGUN TO look like a serious Real resurgence in the title race. Instead, Barcelona now own a nine-pont cushion over Real, seven over Atletico, and even if that lead is dented this weekend, there remains room for error ahead of the league game at the Santiago Bernabeu. By then, the two clubs will already have squared off in the second leg of the Copa del 2EY SEMI kNAL IN THE SAME STADIUM WHERE Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motivation might be greater given Barca have won the cup four times in a row. The dilemma for Solari is that preserving key players against Levante risks another slip which, combined with Barca winning at Sevilla, would surely spell the end of any fading title hopes. g7E WILL CONTINUE kGHTING ON ALL THREE fronts that we have open,â&#x20AC;? Solari said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to keep trying to reduce the gap.â&#x20AC;?

technical officials are quartered in six billeting areas. Fifteen venues will host competitions in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dance sport, futsal, karatedo, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball. The competition proper

will start on Monday. Meanwhile, cycling, gymnastics, judo, billiards, muay thai, rugby football, triathlon and soft tennis will be played straight to the nationals. Cebu City will try to defend its title against 66 other local government units. The Queen City of the South ruled the 6ISAYAS QUALIkERS LAST YEAR AFTER GARNERING GOLD SILVER

AND BRONZE MEDALS The Visayas leg is the second of the three qualifying events for the nationals tentatively set either in Tagbilaran City, Bohol or Ormoc City, Leyte in October. The first leg was held in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte LAST &EBRUARY TO WHILE THE upcoming third leg will be hosted by Ilagan, Isabela on -ARCH TO

Barca, Real Madrid wrestle fatigue, form ahead of Clasico double-header

Q Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (right) controls the ball next to Lyonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s French defender Leo Dubois during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Lyon and FC Barcelona on February 19, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France. AFP PHOTO

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Missing chancesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The most disappointing aspect of their defeat to Girona was that Barcelona have been stumbling themselves, a stodgy 1-0 win over 2EAL 6ALLADOLID DOING LITTLE TO RESTORE CONkdence after three consecutive draws. A stalemate away to Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday should not prove too damaging to their chances of progress but Barca have now scored only twice in four matches. Luis Suarez has lost form and Lionel -ESSI APPEARS YET TO HAVE REGAINED FULL kTNESS

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would worry if we did not create any CHANCES u COACH %RNESTO 6ALVERDE SAID IN &RANCE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Football is all about results. But I get more nervous if the opposition are missing chances.â&#x20AC;? Valverde has more wiggle room than Solari, both in the league, due to his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthy advantage, and the cup, which comes a distant third this season in the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s list of priorities. Messi could even sit out any, or all, of the next three games in a bid to be sharp for the

business end of calendar. But momentum is on the line too. Defeat to Sevilla would swell the sense of a dip while succumbing to Real, in either match, let alone both, could knock morale just as much as it might boost their opponentsÂ´. Perhaps most buoyant are Atletico Madrid, FRESH FROM THEIR TRIUMPH OVER *UVENTUS AT A bouncing Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday. $IEGO #OSTA WAS BUSY ON HIS kRST START

in almost three months but Alvaro Morata impressed off the bench. A front three with Antoine Griezmann could compromise the Frenchmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attacking freedom, which leaves Diego Simeone with his own selection problem ahead of Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game at home to Villarreal. Sevilla have managed only one win in their last eight league games and could drop out of the top four if they are beaten by Barcelona. AFP

Undermanned Lady Bulldogs batter UE NATIONAL University (NU) scored a morale-boosting 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 breakthrough victory over University of the East (UE) in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The shorthanded Lady Bulldogs leaned on rookie blocker Iv y Lacsina and sophomore libero-turned setter Jovi Anne Chavez to post their first win of the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy. I cannot express my feelings because as you all know, our team has many struggles,â&#x20AC;? said NU head coach Norman Miguel. The Sampaloc-based squad was reduced to 10 players after losing rookie setter Joyme Cagande, who was injured in the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25-22, 19-25, 1925, 12-25 season-opening loss to Far Eastern University. Lacsina finished with a game-high 18 points anchored on 14 kills, three blocks and an ace. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very happy with this win because we have so many struggles and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still young,â&#x20AC;? said Lacsina. Chavez filled in the void left by Cagande, as she accounted for 14 of NUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 16 excellent sets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very glad that we won. This is my first time to play as a setter. Coach just told me not to be pressured and just play,â&#x20AC;? said Chavez. Veteran blocker Roselyn Doria chipped in 12 points on seven spikes and five blocks while third-year outside hitter Audrey Paran contributed 10 markers in the win. Judith Abil was the lone bright spot posting 10 points on eight attacks and two aces for the Lady Warriors, who remained winless in two outings. Earlier in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division, defending champion NU thrashed UE, 25-13, 25-18, 25-18. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finals MVP Bryan Bagunas scored a game-high 24 points built on 22 attacks to help the Bulldogs bounce back from a 12-25, 18-25, 17-25 season-opening defeat to Far Eastern University. The Red Warriors dropped to 1-1. Adamson joined FEU atop the standings after smothering La Salle, 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 17-25. Paolo Pablico notched 18 points on 16 spikes, a block and an ace while George Labang and Mark Alvarez tallied 17 and 16 markers, respectively, to power the Soaring Falcons to their second win in as many games. The Green Spikers dropped to 0-2. JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

McDonald outlasts del Potro to reach first ATP semifinal

MIAMI: American Mackenzie McDonald disrupted Juan Martin del Potroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest injury comeback Friday (Saturday in Manila) with a three-set victory over the top-seeded Argentinian in the ATP Delray "EACH /PEN QUARTERkNALS McDonald, ranked 84th in the world, outlasted the fourth-ranked del Potro 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 TO NOTCH HIS kRST VICTORY OVER A TOP kVE PLAYER AND REACH HIS kRST !40 4OUR SEMI kNAL $EL 0OTRO PLAYING HIS kRST TOURNAMENT SINCE hobbling out of the Shanghai Masters with a broken right kneecap in October, took the court with his right knee more heavily bandaged than in his prior matches this week. He was moving tentatively as he dropped the opening set, but still had plenty of pop on his serve and forehand

as he managed to fend off two break points on the way to taking the second. It would take a third-set tiebreaker to settle things, McDonald gaining the win with an overhead smash on his third match point. -C$ONALD NEXT FACES -OLDOVA S Radu Albot, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat fourth-seeded AmeriCAN 3TEVE *OHNSON Del Potro was scheduled to continue his comeback bid at next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tournament in Acapulco, but he said Friday night he would not be traveling to Mexico to try and defend his title there. He is still hoping to defend his Indian Wells Masters title in March. In other matches, US second seed John )SNER BLASTED ACES IN A VIC-

tory over eighth-seeded Adrian Mannarino. Ninth-ranked Isner, who has dropped only one set in seven career wins over THE &RENCH LEFT HANDER NEEDED ONLY minutes to book a spot in the last four AGAINST "RITISH QUALIkER $ANIEL %VANS â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought Adrian was playing well today. Those three break points I saved in THE kRST SET FELT LIKE SET POINTS u )SNER SAID g) was able to get the one break in the second set and sometimes thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all you need.â&#x20AC;? %VANS RANKED TH IN THE WORLD defeated Italian sixth seed Andreas Seppi, RANKED ND %VANS WHO BEAT DEFENDING CHAMPION &RANCES 4IAFOE IN THE kRST ROUND IS INTO HIS kRST !40 4OUR SEMIkNAL SINCE THE Sydney International. AFP

Patriots owner charged with soliciting sex MIAMI: Robert Kraft, principal owner of the reigning NFL Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, was charged Friday (Saturday in Manila) with paying for sex after a raid on a massage parlor, police in Florida said. The 77-year-old businessman, a friend of President Donald Trump, was charged in connection with an investigation into an illegal massage parlor operation, police in Jupiter, Florida, said. Kraft, whose club recently beat the Los Angeles Rams for its third title in five seasons, is among 25 men charged with solicitation, said police chief Daniel Kerr, adding that video evidence had been collected in raids made over recent days. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re as deeply stunned as anyone else,â&#x20AC;?Kerr added. A spokesperson for Kraft denied that the tycoon had â&#x20AC;&#x153;engaged in any illegal activityâ&#x20AC;? but declined to comment further. Kraft has not yet been arrested on the two misdemeanor charges for each of his alleged visits to the Orchids of Asia day spa. About 200 arrest warrants have been issued, police said, with more expected.

The charges were made as part of an eight-month investigation into human trafficking that included surveillance in five spas and shutting down 10 in a case prosecutors say has links to China and New York. Police say Kraft, who does not face trafficking charges, was twice driven to the spa and that they have video evidence of him paying for a sex act and of sex acts with a prostitute. While uncertain of the amounts Kraft actually paid, police said the average fees for services at the parlor ranged from $59 for 30 minutes to $79 for one hour. Kraft has a net worth of $6.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine, putting him among the top 20 percent of the Forbes 400 richest list for 2018.

Mar-a-Lago regular Kraft has been a frequent visitor to Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, with the president tweeting his congratulations to the Patriots -including Kraft, quarterback Tom Brady and coach

Bill Belichick by name -- for reaching the Super Bowl and after past championships. Belichick and Kraft were among the Patriots delegation that visited Trump in the White House in 2017 after their Super Bowl victory over Atlanta. Kraft handed Trump a personalized Patriots jersey during the visit. Kraft, whose wife Myra died in 2011, became the principal owner of the Patriots in 1994 and has seen the club win six NFL crowns in all. Punishment from the NFL could be forthcoming if Kraft is found guilty. A league bylaw gives NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the power to sanction an owner for â&#x20AC;&#x153;conduct detrimental to the welfare of the league.â&#x20AC;? Kraftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports holdings also include Major League Soccerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New England Revolution, a share of a mixed martial arts promotion group and a team in the videogaming e-Sports Overwatch league. Women, some of them from China, lived in the spa and were not allowed to leave, according to Will Snyder, sheriff of Martin County. Some women averaged as many as eight clients a day, police said. AFP

Golf

F 1 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019

www.manilatimes.net WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES LEADING second-round scores on Saturday in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship (USA unless noted, par-71): 131 - Dustin Johnson 64-67 133 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 63-70, Matt Kuchar 66-67 135 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-66, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 70-65 136 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 69-67, Ian Poulter (ENG) 68-68 137 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-69, Richard Sterne (RSA) 69-68, Charles Howell 69-68, Tiger Woods 71-66, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 67-70 138 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 72-66, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 71-67, Joost Luiten (NED) 71-67 139 - Jake McLeod (AUS) 70-69, Patrick Cantlay 72-67, David Lipsky 68-71, Justin Thomas 66-73 140 - Kevin Kisner 73-67, Patrick Reed 72-68, Erik van Rooyen (RSA) 72-68, Shugo Imahira (JPN) 73-67, Danny Willett (ENG) 71-69 141 - George Coetzee (RSA) 67-74, Aaron Wise 73-68, Li Haotong (CHN) 69-72 AFP

Johnson takes twoshot lead at WGC-Mexico

Q US golfer Dustin Johnson plans his shot on the 15th green during the second round of the PGA World Golf Championship, at Chapultepecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf Club in Mexico City on Saturday. AFP PHOTO

EXICO CITY: Dustin Johnson fired his second straight bogeyfree round on Friday (Saturday in Manila), a four-under par 67 that gave him a two-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s methodical approach at Club de Golf Chapultepec paid diviDENDS AS HE OVERHAULED kRST ROUND leader McIlroy on a day when 14-time major champion Tiger Woods moved INTO THE TOP WITH A kVE UNDER â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just done a really good job with controlling my distance with

my irons and giving myself a lot OF LOOKS AT BIRDIES u SAID *OHNSON who had never before in his US 0'! 4OUR CAREER OPENED A TOURNAment with two bogey-free rounds. The 2017 WGC-Mexico champion said he enjoyed the challenge of adjusting to the altitude.

g)T MAKES YOU FOCUS YOU VE GOT TO THINK AND YOU RE DOING A LOT OF calculations with the numbers, tryING TO kGURE OUT HOW FAR THE BALL is going to actually go,â&#x20AC;? he said. McIlroy, who opened Thursday WITH AN EIGHT UNDER PAR PICKED up where he left off with three BIRDIES IN HIS kRST FOUR HOLES But he found the water for a bogey at the sixth and then made a double-bogey at the par-four ninth, where he was 15 feet from the fringe with his second shot but needed four putts from there. He signed for a one-under 71 for nine-under 133. He was joined

by Kuchar, who opened with four straight birdies in a four-under 67. Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sergio Garcia and Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tommy Fleetwood were tied for fourth on 135, Garcia posting a 66 and Fleetwood a 65 that started WITH BACK TO BACK EAGLES AT THE kRST and second â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both par-fours. Fleetwood tied for low round of THE DAY WITH 0HIL -ICKELSON WHO had opened his title defense with a horrendous 79, only to bounce BACK WITH A BOGEY FREE

Woods rallies Woods climbed the leaderboard

WITH A kVE UNDER THAT FEATURED SIX BIRDIES AND AN UNLIKELY PAR AT HIS kNISHING HOLE THE PAR FOUR NINTH )N A FAIRWAY BUNKER OFF THE tee, Woods produced a vintage recovery shot, cutting a nine-iron around a tree, the ball spinning BACK SOME FEET TOWARD THE HOLE It left him an 11-foot birdie putt that lipped out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ball was sitting down just ENOUGH WHERE ) DIDN T THINK ) COULD CLEAR THE TREE u SAID 7OODS WHO kRST went for his eight-iron but decided it would come out too hot. g) WENT BACK TO THE NINE IRON ) realized â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really got to slice this

thing,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I opened up and gave it as much of a cut motion as I could AND IT WORKED OUT u Woods had made a scrambling start to his round, rolling in a nine-footer for HIS kRST BIRDIE AT THE TH (E BIRDIED 14 and got up and down for birdie FROM A GREENSIDE BUNKER AT (E GAVE A SHOT BACK AT BUT DRAINED A FOOTER AT TO MAKE the turn three-under. He rolled in a 22-footer for birdie at the third AND PICKED UP ANOTHER SHOT AT THE kFTH TO STAND TIED FOR EIGHTH Â&#x2021; SIX shots off the lead â&#x20AC;&#x201D; heading into THE WEEKEND AFP

Spiethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father fills in as caddie in Mexico Shin birdies last to inch MEXICO CITY: Jordan Spiethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father decided at the last minute to come down to the Mexico Championship without realizing how much he would be needed. Spiethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caddie had to leave Wednesday morning when his father died. Shawn Spieth stepped in as his SON S CADDIE HIS kRST TIME ON THE bag since the 2011 U.S. Amateur, at a World Golf Championship played at an elevation of 7,800 feet. It started well enough, with Spieth hitting a tough pitch to a tapin range for birdie, followed by a CASUAL kST BUMP WITH HIS FATHER It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end so well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I would have done more for him,â&#x20AC;? Spieth said after opening with a 4-over 75, his highest opening round since the U.S. Open last summer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But glad heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stepping in. Our bright moment was probably No. 1.â&#x20AC;? Michael Greller learned his father, John, had died Tuesday night AND lEW TO 0ORTLAND /REGON ON Wednesday morning. Spieth was without a caddie, and his father WAS THE kRST OPTION â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had other options â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you always have other options,â&#x20AC;? Shawn Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He felt if we could get a little momentum going early we COULD RIDE IT ) TOLD HIM @0ICK YOUR best chance to win. He felt it was.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? His father felt it might help if Spieth, who hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t won since the 2017 British Open, had to rely more on himself to plot his way around Chapultepec Golf Club,

Q Shawn Spieth caddies for his son Jordan Spieth, during the first day of competition of the WGC-Mexico Championship at the Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City on Friday. AP PHOTO

only so much more is involved in thin air and a stiff breeze. He could offer his son much guidance on NUMBERS AND lIGHT â&#x20AC;&#x153;But when you get it going a little sideways, he could use some help,â&#x20AC;? Shawn Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And he was on his own.â&#x20AC;? It got going sideways on the BACK NINE WHEN 3PIETH THREE PUTTed from about 40 feet on No. 10 and then pulled his shot and had to re-tee, leading to double bogey. He dropped two more shots on a

day where little went right. Shawn Spieth at least had a lighter load. He carried his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bag for nine holes of practice Wednesday, and then a staff member from Spiethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FOUNDATION lEW FROM $ALLAS TO Mexico City with a stand bag. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carrying a stand bag for 18 was a lot easier than carrying a tour bag for nine,â&#x20AC;? the father said. It still was a special moment. Spiethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father caddied for him at times as a junior, the last occasion

at Erin Hills in 2011 for the U.S. Amateur, where he lost in THE QUARTERkNALS TO *ACK Senior of England. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mixed emotions,â&#x20AC;? Shawn Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great. But you want him to have his best chance. You got your regular caddie here, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your best chance. I learned a lot.â&#x20AC;? And as Spieth headed over to sign autographs, his father added with a smile, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to TAKE ATTENTION FROM him.â&#x20AC;? Greller had FLOWN TO 0ORTLAND BETWEEN 0EBBLE Beach and Riviera, KNOWING HIS FATHER had not been doing well. Spieth said based on reports he was getting, he realized *OHN 'RELLER LIKELY DID NOT HAVE much longer. g)T TOOK A LOT FOR HIM TO ASK TO GO see him the Monday and Tuesday of L.A., which it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t,â&#x20AC;? Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where he needed to be.â&#x20AC;? Spieth said he has been in touch with Greller, who was preparing FOR A SERVICE IN 0ORTLAND WITH another planned for Iowa. Spieth was not planning to play the next TWO WEEKS IN &LORIDA RETURNING AT 4HE 0LAYERS #HAMPIONSHIP AP

ahead at LPGA Thailand

BANGKOK: South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jenny 3HIN BIRDIED THE kNAL HOLE TO hold a narrow, one-shot lead AFTER ROUND TWO OF THE ,0'! Thailand on Friday. Shin carded an early bogey on the sixth hole but recovered with three birdies in a row and two more on 15 and 18 to sign for 68 and 11-under-par aggregate. American Lizette Salas, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minjee Lee and round-one leader Ji %UN HEE WERE ALL ONE STROKE BACK ON A hot day at par-72 Siam Country Club 0ATTAYA /LD #OURSE â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hydrated enough this morning and I could feel it by late afternoon,â&#x20AC;? Shin said, according to organizers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought I could have made a few more putts.â&#x20AC;? Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world number one Ariya Jutanugarn dropped further off THE PACE WITH BACK TO BACK DOUBLE bogeys en route to a 72 and tied 19th. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got worried and scared after I made a bogey, and then a double bogey, so it was pretty tough for me,â&#x20AC;? she said after. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m nervous and worried because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not played well in the last few tournaments.â&#x20AC;? Her sister Moriya

fared better with a 68, enough for a share of ninth place heading INTO THE WEEKEND ROUNDS AFP

PGA THAILAND SCORES LEADING scores on day two of the LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club, Pattaya Old Course (par-72) on Friday: 133 - Jenny Shin (KOR) 65-68 134 - Lizette Salas (USA) 66-68, Minjee Lee (AUS), 65-69, Ji Eun-hee (KOR), 63-71, 135 - Austin Ernst (USA) 69-66, Amy Yang (KOR) 69-66, Amy Olson (USA) 68-67 136 - Danielle Kang (USA) 65-71 137 - Carlota Ciganda (SPA) 70-67, Ryann Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole (USA) 69-68, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 69-68, Katherine Kirk (AUS) 66-71 138 - Georgia Hall (ENG) 72-66, Nelly Korda (USA) 69-69, Yu Liu (CHN) 68-70 139 - Megan Khang (USA) 70-69, Ayako Uehara (JPN) 68-71, Brooke M. Henderson (CAN) 66-73 Selected 140 - Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 68-72

AFP

Fowler penalized for illegal drop at WGC-Mexico MEXICO CITY: 2ICKIE &OWLER TOOK A one-shot penalty for an illegal drop from shoulder-height at the WGC-Mexico Championship on Friday (Saturday in -ANILA BUT SAID HE THINKS THE NEW KNEE HEIGHT DROP RULE WILL be changed. &OWLER HAD SHANKED HIS SECond shot out of bounds on the TH HOLE AND WHEN HE TOOK his drop he used the old style

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; holding his right arm out from his shoulder and letting the ball fall. Neither of his playing partners noticed, nor did his caddie Joe 3KOVRON WHO WAS LOOKING AWAY at the time. If they had, he would have been allowed to re-drop and avoid the penalty. Fowler had already played his shot before the infraction was pointed out.

g) KNOW ) DIDN T DROP PROPerly, but just going through THE NATURAL KIND OF PROGRESSION of what you do with the drop, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to,â&#x20AC;? said Fowler, who ended up with a triple-bogey seven. He birdied the next two holes, but signed for a two-over par 73. g) THINK WITH THE NEW RULES THAT have been put in place, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not doing any favors for our sport,â&#x20AC;?

&OWLER SAID g) THINK IT WILL DEknitely be changed. g)T WAS ON ME BUT ) THINK IT S A terrible change.â&#x20AC;? The drop rule change was part of the modernized Rules of Golf that TOOK EFFECT ON *ANUARY AND SOME of the changes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as one on caddie alignment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have required CLARIkCATION FROM GLOBAL GOVERNING bodies the Royal & Ancient and the AFP US Golf Association.

Q South Korean golfer Jenny Shin watches the flight of her ball, during the LPGA Thailand golf tournament second round at Siam Country Club Pattaya, at Chonburi, Thailand, Friday. AP PHOTO

Golf

The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Spieth keeping patience amid worst slump of career

BY DOUG FERGUSON

EXICO CITY: For a brief moment, Jordan Spieth had reason to BELIEVE HE kNALLY CAUGHT A GOOD break with a bad shot. He was trying to hit a hard, low DRAW ON THE kFTH HOLE OF THE kNAL ROUND AT 2IVIERA INTO A STRONG wind and a light rain. Instead, it caught the heel of his 3-wood and spun out to the right, smacked off a tree and went further back next to a fence, just beyond a white out-of-bounds stake. 'OOD NEWS 4HE RULES OFkCIAL said the stake was left there by accident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not supposed to be there.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He literally picked up the white stake and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ours,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So I got it out.â&#x20AC;? Bad news? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still made triple,â&#x20AC;? he said with a laugh. Spieth can still find humor amid the worst slump of his career, or what amounts to a slump for a 25-year-old who alREADY HAS VICTORIES WORLDWIDE including three legs of the career Grand Slam. He picked up his third major in the 2017 British Open when he his tee shot caromed off a spectatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head and into the dunes right of the 13th fairway at Royal Birkdale. He hit 3-wood afTER A PENALTY DROP ON THE DRIVING range, somehow escaped with bogey, and then went birdieeagle-birdie-birdie to win. That was 37 tournaments ago, AND IT S STARTING TO FEEL EVEN LONGER #OMING OFF THE kRST WINLESS YEAR of his pro career, Spieth made a last-minute decision to play the Sony Open in Hawaii to shake off the rust from a busy offseason that included getting married. He missed the cut. Since then, he has opened with rounds of 65 at Torrey Pines, 66 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and 64 at 2IVIERA (E HAS YET TO BREAK PAR on the weekend. His best result was a tie for 35th at Torrey. 4HE WEEKENDS HAVE BEEN AN issue, and Spieth said as much AFTER HE kNISHED HIS kRST ROUND AT 2IVIERA â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got off to good starts my LAST COUPLE EVENTS AND ) NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO IMPROVE each day here instead of getting complacent and assuming my game is there,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still not quite there tee-to-green.â&#x20AC;? Two days later, he went into THE kNAL ROUND IN A TIE FOR FOURTH eight shots behind Justin Thomas. He shot 81. That triple bogey on No. 5 was only part of his troubles. Just as the rain began, Spieth fanned a 4-iron on the second hole that sailed so far right that it went into the bushes high on the hill. He had to take a penalty drop and made double bogey. After the triple bogey on No. 5, his round really came unglued on the par-4 10th. He made a quadruple-bogey WITH kVE OF THOSE SHOTS FROM the sand. /NE WENT OVER THE GREEN INTO a plugged like near the back lip. He popped that into the middle of the sand, and his fourth shot caught too much sand and PLUGGED UNDER THE LIP 4HE kFTH was to get back into the bottom of the bunker â&#x20AC;&#x201D; plugged again â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and he got that one out and two-putted for 8. The 81 matched his highest score to par, though it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all that jolting to sign his name beneath that number on his card. g.OT WHEN YOU RE OVER AFTER AND HAVE THE HARDEST HOLES TO play,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought I played pretty well after that.â&#x20AC;? The game is progressing.

The results â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the ultimate measure in golf â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are still a work in progress. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one thing that Spieth is at No. 24 in the world after starting 2018 at No. 2. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another to realize he has played six tournaments this season and is No. 175 in the FedEx Cup standings. Perhaps most startling is how INFREQUENTLY HE S EVEN HAD A chance to win. In the last year, Spieth has only had three tournaMENTS WHERE HE STARTED THE kNAL ROUND WITHIN kVE SHOTS OF THE LEAD or closer. The most recent was at the TPC Boston, where he shot 70 and tied for 12th. )T HAS PROVEN TO BE A LONG ROAD back from a year in which he struggled with his putter, and when that came around, his swing GOT OUT OF SORTS 2IVIERA WAS HIS 11th straight time out of the top 10, his longest such streak since he started in 2013. Is his patience being tested? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think so,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that comes with what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m working on.â&#x20AC;? He said at the start of the year he felt no pressure to get his game turned around quickly. He was more concerned last year when something was off in his game and he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite

Q Jordan Spieth reacts after missing a putt on the first hole during the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club on Sunday in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. AP PHOTO

sure what it was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not an easy feeling,â&#x20AC;? he said. &OR kVE YEARS HE DID A LOT RIGHT without really knowing why.

And when it stopped, he had to kGURE IT OUT Spieth pays little attention to any form of media, social or oth-

erwise, and would prefer to keep it that way. He shared as much in Hawaii when he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong with Jordan Spieth, and

I know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right with Jordan Spieth. I know how to get where I want to go with my golf game and HAVE FUN DOING IT u AP

PGA TOUR CONTEMPLATING CUT TO TOP 65 AND TIES BY DOUG FERGUSON

addition,â&#x20AC;? Kuchar said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guys who have a bad Saturday (and missed cut), theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not tive in the m e n t T h e

lost a four-shot lead at Riviera in the Genesis Open. Just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the idea he will forget about it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will bother me the rest of my life â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 100 percent it will,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are tournaments I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win my rookie year that still bother me and that was a lot worse than that, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that will bother me. But in terms of being over it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done with.â&#x20AC;? Thomas closed with a 75 and finished one shot behind J.B. Holmes. It was only his third runner-up finish, the others at the Mexico Championship last year in a playoff to Phil Mickelson, and at the 2017 Tour Championship behind Xander Schauffele. Asked if he spends more time thinking about his wins or losses, Thomas replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hate to lose more than I like to win, if that answers the question.â&#x20AC;?

GOLF NOTES

MEXICO CITY: The PGA Tour again is taking a close look at changing the size of its cuts, and this time the idea appears to have some legs. the 54-hole One topic at the first Player Advisory Council competimeeting last Tuesday at Riviera was to tournachange the 36-hole cut from anymore. top 70 and ties to top 65 T-65 ... you and ties, which is what the just have European Tour and the Web. a handful com Tour do. of stories of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some traction for a guy who it,â&#x20AC;? said Jordan Spieth, in his would have first year on the policy board. missed the cut â&#x20AC;&#x153;The argument is the MDFs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that has won or has a look good and twosomes on the top 5. It happens every weekend are better for everybody, now and then.â&#x20AC;? including the viewership.â&#x20AC;? The best The MDF was the tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first crack at example was Jose avoiding bloated fields for the final round. It Maria Olazabal, stands for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Made the cut, did not finish,â&#x20AC;? and it who made the was passed unanimously at the end of 2007. cut on the Whenever more than 78 players make the cut, a number at 54-hole cut is in play to narrow the field to top Torrey Pines 70 and ties. in 2002 (tie This would be another step, though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in for 69th) and the early stages. was among In the 10 tournaments this season, a cut to 89 players the top 65 and ties would have happened just who advanced once. At the Safeway Open, 86 players made to the weekthe 36-hole cut. If the cut had been top end. Olazabal 65 and ties, 67 players would have shot 67-65 on advanced to the weekend, sending Q Jordan Spieth hits his the weekend home another 19 players on second shot on the 13th and won by Friday. Of those 19, Tom Hoge one shot. hole as second round play had a 69-70 weekend â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m kind of continues during the Genesis and tied for 17th, on the fence,â&#x20AC;? Open golf tournament at which was worth 44 Kuchar said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It FedEx Cup points. Riviera Country Club on works in Europe. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Saturday in the Pacific It works in a lot concerns Matt Kuchar, Palisades area of Los of places.â&#x20AC;? who is on the PAC. Angeles. AP PHOTO Even with a cut â&#x20AC;&#x153;The MDF is a great

to top 65 and ties, there still could be occasions when more than 78 players make the cut, and the 54-hole cut would remain. Spieth said he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t detected too many players opposed to the idea, except for those who seem to constantly be around the cut line and want every chance. Much like Kuchar, however, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a strong opinion either way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind how it is now. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind if it switches,â&#x20AC;? Spieth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But there is some traction.â&#x20AC;?

Shorts games Branden Grace showed up on the putting green at Chapultepec Golf Club wearing pants, just like always. He got the memo too late. The PGA Tour, taking a page from the European Tour, has decided to let its players wear shorts during practice rounds and pro-ams. The announcement was posted in the locker room at the Puerto Rico Open and at the Mexico Championship on Monday. Players still must have shorts that are knee length, tailored and â&#x20AC;&#x153;neat in appearance.â&#x20AC;? Grace was in Los Angeles last week and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put any such shorts in his suitcase. And maybe thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing. He raised his pants to show a pair of very white legs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need a week in Florida to get some sun on these out-of-bounds stakes,â&#x20AC;? Grace said. Europe began allowing shorts in practice rounds three years ago, while the PGA Championship allowed them in 2017 at Quail Hollow. Players still must wear pants during competition rounds.

Thomas recovery Justin Thomas says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already over the fact he

European riches Justin Rose skipped the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai late last year, in part because he had no chance of winning the Race to Dubai. That scenario likely wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist this year with a big boost in prize money and points. And the European Tour will find out just how much money is as an incentive. For starters, first place in Dubai will worth $3 million, the biggest tournament check in golf. The first-place share for the two events leading up to Dubai will also get large increases â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to $2 million for the winner in the Turkish Airlines Open and $2.5 million for the winner of the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa. The total purse at all three events remain the same, meaning the rest of the field will play for a $5 million purse. That also leads to slightly smaller fields â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 70 players for Turkey, 60 for South Africa and 50 for Dubai. European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said the additional Race to Dubai points will

increase the number of players with a chance to win. A tour analysis shows if this new points model had been in place the last five years, five to 16 players on average would have had a chance to win the Race to Dubai. Last year, it came down to only two players, Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood. Molinari finished in a tie for 26th to hold off Fleetwood for the season-long title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the revised prize money breakdown and the extra Race to Dubai points in place for 2019, this provides a tremendous incentive for our players,â&#x20AC;? Pelley said.

Divots Mexico is the 22nd country where Tiger Woods has competed as a pro. ... Michelle Wie makes her first LPGA Tour appearance since last October because of a hand injury. She is part of the field at the Honda LPGA Thailand. ... The 3M Open in Minnesota, one of two new tournaments on the PGA Tour this year, now has commitments from Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day and Patrick Reed. ... The developmental circuit for the LPGA of Japan, known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Step Up Tour,â&#x20AC;? has been approved to allot world ranking points. ... PGA of America president Suzy Whaley will be captain of the U.S. team in the inaugural Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PGA Cup in October in Austin, Texas, a team competition among PGA members from around the world.

Stat of the week In the last year, Jordan Spieth has only had three tournaments where he has started the final round within five shots of the lead or better.

Final word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nobody can really brag about how far they hit it this week.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Justin Thomas, on playing at 7,800 feet elevation in the Mexico Championship. AP

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

6WLIÃ&#x20AC;QJ \RXU FDGGLH LV QHYHU D JRRG ORRN M BY TIM DAHLBERG

ATT Kuchar could have avoided a lot of damage by keeping his wallet open and his mouth closed. ,IKE MANY OF GOLF S ENTITLED MULTIMILLIONAIRES THOUGH HE SIMPLY DIDN T HAVE A CLUE .OT WHEN HE PAID HIS TEMPORARY CADDIE WHILE PICKING UP THE WINNER S CHECK OF MILLION A FEW MONTHS AGO IN -EXICO #ERTAINLY NOT WHEN +UCHAR DEFENDED HIS MISERLY WAYS BY SUGGESTING LOCAL CADDIE $AVID /RTIZ SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE CRUMBS HE THREW HIS WAY g&OR A GUY WHO MAKES A DAY A WEEK IS A REALLY BIG WEEK u +UCHAR TOLD GOLF COM )T IS PERHAPS WHEN LOOKED AT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A GUY WHO CARRIES THE BAGS OF TOURISTS FOR A LIVING )T IS PERHAPS UNTIL YOU CONSIDER THAT MOST 0'! 4OUR CADDIES NOT ONLY GET EXPENSES BUT PERCENT OF A WINNER S PAYCHECK 4HAT WOULD HAVE TRANSLATED INTO JUST SHY OF WHICH REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG WEEK FOR /RTIZ

"UT THIS WAS -EXICO AND THIS WAS A CADDIE FOR THE WEEK 4HEY HAD AN AGREEMENT +UCHAR INSISTED AND /RTIZ DIDN T DESERVE A PENNY MORE 5NTIL &RIDAY THAT IS 4HAT S WHEN +UCHAR Â&#x2021; FEELING THE HEAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FROM ON COURSE HECKLERS Â&#x2021; ISSUED A STATEMENT BETWEEN ROUNDS IN ,OS !NGELES THAT HE WOULD PAY /RTIZ THE HE HAD BEEN SEEKING g) MADE COMMENTS THAT WERE OUT OF TOUCH AND INSENSITIVE MAKING A BAD SITUATION WORSE u +UCHAR SAID g) READ THEM AGAIN AND CRINGED u ! LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE CRINGED TOO WHILE WONDERING JUST HOW TONE DEAF BOTH +UCHAR AND HIS AGENT -ARK 3TEINBERG COULD BE g'O LOW +UCH GO LOW *UST NOT ON THE GRATUITYÃ&#x153;u ONE FAN SHOUTED TO HIM ON THE SIXTH TEE &RIDAY 4HE BACKLASH ON 4WITTER WAS EVEN WORSE

/NE GOLF OBSERVER NOTED THAT AN !USTRALIAN JOURNEYMAN NAMED #AMERON 0ERCY GAVE HIS CADDIE AFTER WINNING FOR kFTH PLACE IN LAST WEEK S 7EB COM EVENT 0ERCY THEN WENT ON 4WITTER TO CONkRM THE PAYMENT g) COULDN T LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR IF ) DIDN T u HE WROTE ) LIKE PEOPLE LIKE 0ERCY A YEAR OLD WHO SO FAR THIS YEAR HAS WON ) CADDIED FOR ONE LONG AGO IN A 0'! 4OUR EVENT WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A FEW BUCKS IN HIGH SCHOOL )N THOSE DAYS THERE WEREN T MANY TRAVELING CADDIES AND ) JUST HAPPENED TO DRAW AN UNKNOWN NAMED "ABE (ISKEY WHO HAD NEVER WON ON TOUR ) DIDN T HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR WORKING THE WEEKEND OF THE 3AHARA )NVITATIONAL WITH "ABE ESPECIALLY ON &RIDAY WHEN HE HAD TO GO ON A BIRDIE STREAK ON THE BACK NINE TO MAKE THE CUT (OW "ABE GOT TO ,AS 6EGAS ) HAVE NO IDEA BUT HE WAS STAYING WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE YOUNG KIDS IN A DINGY A WEEK MOTEL IN A SEEDY PART OF TOWN WHERE MOST CUSTOMERS WEREN T LOOKING FOR A GOOD NIGHT S SLEEP (E NEEDED ME TO PICK HIM UP EVERY DAY IN MY MOTHER S STATION WAGON TO TAKE HIM TO THE COURSE

Gene Littler, US Amateur and US Open champion, dies Q Gene Littler holds the trophy after winning the US Open golf tournament in Birmingham, Michigan on June 17, 1961. AP FILE PHOTO

SAN DIEGO: 'ENE ,ITTLER WHOSE lUID SWING CARRIED HIM TO VICTORIES ON THE 0'! 4OUR AND A 5 3 /PEN TITLE AT /AKLAND (ILLS HAS DIED ,ITTLER DIED &RIDAY NIGHT WITH HIS FAMILY AT HIS SIDE SON #URT ,ITTER SAID 3ATURDAY (E WAS ,ITTLER HELD HIS OWN AMONG THE GOLkNG GREATS TO EMERGE FROM 3AN $IEGO WITH A TEMPO TO HIS SWING THAT MADE THE GAME LOOK EASY 'ENE 3ARAZEN ONCE SAID ,ITTLER HAD A PERFECT SWING LIKE 3AM 3NEAD gONLY BETTER u -ICKEY 7RIGHT ASKED IN FOR THE BEST SWING SHE EVER SAW MENTIONED "EN (OGAN BEFORE QUICKLY ADDING g) HAD MY FAVORITES LIKE 'ENE ,ITTLER WHOM ) JUST LOVED u (E WAS KNOWN AS g'ENE THE -ACHINE u AND HE WON THE kRST OF HIS TOUR TITLES IN THE 3AN $IEGO /PEN WHILE STILL AN AMATEUR (E WON THE ,OS !NGELES /PEN FOR HIS kRST PRO VICTORY AND WENT ON TO WIN THREE MORE TIMES THAT YEAR ! TESTAMENT TO THE QUALITY OF HIS SWING WAS THAT ,ITTLER HAD A MALIGNANT TUMOR REMOVED FROM THE LYMPH GLANDS UNDER HIS LEFT ARM IN WHEN HE WAS AND HE WON FOUR MORE TIMES ,ITTLE WON THREE TIMES AT AGE IN g(IS RHYTHMIC SWING THAT EARNED HIM HIS DISTINCTIVE NICKNAME REMAINS IN OUR MINDS A THING OF BEAUTY u 0'! 4OUR #OMMISSIONER *AY -ONAHAN SAID g)T WAS A PLEASURE TO WATCH 'ENE ,ITTLER HIT A GOLF BALL 3AN $IEGO HAS PRODUCED GREAT CHAMPIONS LIKE "ILLY #ASPER 0HIL -ICKELSON AND -ICKEY 7RIGHT 'ENE ,ITTLER STOOD THERE RIGHT THERE BESIDE THOSE GIANTS OF THE GAME u ,ITTLER WAS BORN *ULY IN 3AN $IEGO AND GREW UP AT ,A *OLLA #OUNTRY #LUB (E JOINED THE .AVY IN AND WHILE IN THE SERVICE WON HIS kRST MAJOR TITLE IN THE 5 3 !MATEUR IN /KLAHOMA #ITY ! MONTH AFTER WINNING THE 3AN $IEGO /PEN HE TURNED PRO AND kNISHED ONE SHOT BEHIND %D &URGOL IN THE 5 3 /PEN AT "ALTUSROL

(IS MOST PRODUCTIVE YEAR WAS IN WHEN ,ITTLER WON kVE TIMES WAS RUNNER UP THREE TIMES AND kNISHED .O ON THE 0'! 4OUR MONEY LIST BEHIND !RT 7ALL 4WO YEARS LATER ,ITTLER RALLIED FROM THREE SHOTS BEHIND IN THE kNAL ROUND AT /AKLAND (ILLS TO WIN THE 5 3 /PEN 4HAT WAS HIS ONLY PROFESSIONAL MAJOR THOUGH HE NEARLY WON THE 0'! #HAMPIONSHIP AT 0EBBLE "EACH UNTIL LOSING TO ,ANNY 7ADKINS IN THE kRST SUDDEN DEATH PLAYOFF IN A MAJOR %VEN SO ,ITTLER FELT HIS TITLE AT THE 3T ,OUIS #HILDREN S (OSPITAL /PEN WAS AS BIG AS ANY )T WAS HIS kRST VICTORY SINCE RECOVERING FROM CANCER g) WAS ECSTATIC AFTER WINNING THE /PEN OF COURSE u HE ONCE SAID g"UT ) WAS ABSOLUTELY OVERCOME BY WINNING IN 3T ,OUIS ) REALIZED ) WAS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO HAD EVER COME BACK FROM THAT KIND OF SURGERY u ,ITTLER PLAYED ON SIX 2YDER #UP TEAMS ALL 5 3 VICTORIES COMPILING A RECORD (E WAS INDUCTED INTO THE 7ORLD 'OLF (ALL OF &AME IN AND IN RECEIVED THE "OB *ONES !WARD THE HIGHEST HONOR BY THE 5 3 'OLF !SSOCIATION THAT RECOGNIZES DISTINGUISHED SPORTSMANSHIP IN GOLF g) WORKED ON TEMPO A LOT AND ) THINK MY TEMPO WAS REALLY PRETTY GOOD u ,ITTLER ONCE SAID g) THINK MAYBE THAT S WHAT GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF A TERRIkC SWING ) DON T KNOW IF MECHANICALLY IT WAS THAT SOUND OR NOT BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN /+ u ,ITTLER DIDN T HAVE AS MUCH FANFARE AND LIKED IT THAT WAY #URT ,ITTLER SAID HIS FATHER HAD gAN AMAZING SENSE OF HUMOR u WHICH HE OFTEN DISPLAYED AS HE REACHED HIS S AND S AND SOMEONE WOULD ASK IF HE WAS 'ENE ,ITTLER g) USED TO BE u HE WOULD TELL THEM WITH A WRY GRIN ,ITTLER IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF YEARS 3HIRLEY SON #URT AND DAUGHTER 3UZANNE AP

/F COURSE "ABE SHOT ON 3ATURDAY TO MOVE INTO THE LEAD AND ENDED UP WINNING THE 3AHARA )NVITATIONAL WITH ME ON HIS BAG (E BEAT -ILLER "ARBER AND "OB 'OALBY BY A SHOT AND EARNED A COOL FOR HIS ONLY 0'! 4OUR WIN ) GOT AND WAS THRILLED .O IT WASN T PERCENT BUT ) DIDN T HAVE A FAMILY TO SUPPORT AND BESIDES ) kGURED "ABE NEEDED THE MONEY MORE THAN ME +UCHAR OF COURSE DOESN T NEED THE MONEY (E S TH ON THE ALL TIME MONEY LIST WITH EARNINGS OF MILLION AND LIKELY DEDUCTS ANY CADDIE PAYMENTS AS BUSINESS EXPENSES ANYWAY 3TILL IF +UCHAR HAD PAID HIS CADDIE THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF HIS WINNINGS THAT "ABE PAID ME HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN +UCHAR TALKED 3ATURDAY ABOUT HOW HE NOW UNDERSTANDS HE SHOULD HAVE PAID /RTIZ MORE (E SEEMED CONTRITE AND SAID HE CALLED THE CADDIE A NIGHT BEFORE AND LEFT HIM A MESSAGE (E S FINALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING EVEN IF IT S THREE MONTHS TOO LATE AND HE HAD TO BE SHAMED INTO IT BY THE REACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FROM HIS PEERS )T WAS A FAR CRY FROM A FEW DAYS EARLIER WHEN +UCHAR DISMISSED SUGGESTIONS HE

WAS AT FAULT AND SAID g) CERTAINLY DON T LOSE SLEEP OVER THIS u +UCHAR S SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT WAS JAW DROPPING BUT NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING ,IKE OTHER TOP PROS HE LIVES IN A WORLD OF LUXURY CARS PRIVATE JETS AND FANCY COUNTRY CLUBS /N TOURNAMENT WEEKS HIS EVERY NEED IS TAKEN CARE OF FROM THE MOMENT HE WAKES UP UNTIL HE GOES TO BED &ANS LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE USUALLY HAS A GOOFY GRIN ON HIS FACE AND THEY CAN YELL g+UUUUUCHu WHEN HE MAKES A BIRDIE 5NTIL NOW THE WORST THING THAT COULD BE SAID ABOUT HIM WAS HIS FATHER WAS A LITTLE OVER EXUBERANT AS HIS CADDIE AS AN AMATEUR YEARS AGO .OW HE S KNOWN AS A TOP ALL TIME MONEY WINNER WHO STIFFED HIS CADDIE BEFORE LEAVING TOWN WITH A CHECK BIGGER THAN THE RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS OF PERCENT OF !MERICANS !ND THAT S NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT AP

Golf

Q Matt Kuchar hits his approach shot on the 17th hole as the first round of play continues at the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club on February 15, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. AP PHOTO

Romo wrong for agreeing to play in Byron Nelson &/2 A GUY WHO HAS GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT MAKING THE RIGHT CALL AS A 46 ANALYST 4ONY 2OMO BLEW IT WHEN HE ACCEPTED A SPONSOR S EXEMPTION 4UESDAY TO PLAY IN THE 0'! 4OUR S !4 4 "YRON .ELSON IN -AY 4HE RETIRED $ALLAS #OWBOYS QUARTERBACK IS STEALING AN OPPORTUNITY FROM A REAL PRO GOLFER OR A PROMISING YOUNG AMATEUR WHO IS COMMITTED TO MAKING GOLF HIS CAREER !ND 2OMO IS NEITHER OF THESE (E S NOTHING MORE THAN A DILETTANTE A FORMER STAR ATHLETE WHO S TAKING A MORE DESERVING PERSON S PLACE !S A FORMER PRO ATHLETE HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF ) RESPECTED 2OMO FOR CARVING OUT A LENGTHY .&, CAREER WITH THE #OWBOYS AND MAKING FOUR 0RO "OWLS DESPITE NOT BEING DRAFTED "UT ) WONDER HOW 2OMO WOULD HAVE FELT BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF HIS CAREER WHEN HE WAS STILL A BACKUP WAITING FOR HIS CHANCE IF THE #OWBOYS DECIDED THEY COULD SELL MORE PRESEASON TICKETS IF THEY GAVE 2OMO S PLAYING TIME TO A LOCAL COUNTRY SINGER WHO HAD BEEN A GOOD QUARTERBACK IN HIGH SCHOOL )T S THE SAME THING ! CHEAP PUBLICITY STUNT 4HE ORGANIZERS OF THE .ELSON TOURNAMENT IN $ALLAS ALSO SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR GIVING 2OMO THE EXEMPTION g7E VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS u TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR *ON $RAGO TOLD THE $ALLAS -ORNING .EWS g(E S TRIED TO QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THEM HAS HAD CONlICTS WITH FOOTBALL .OW WE RE PLAYING AT 4RINITY &OREST HIS HOME COURSE AND HE S NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL g4HE TIMING JUST FELT RIGHT THIS YEAR u 9EAH THE TIMING FELT RIGHT BECAUSE 2OMO COULDN T GET IN THE HONEST WAY THROUGH A

-ONDAY QUALIkER LIKE THE HOI POLLOI WHO HAVE TO SCRATCH AND CLAW THEIR WAY IN -AYBE SOME FANS THINK IT S CUTE AND HARMLESS AND WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW 2OMO WILL FARE "UT ) VE COVERED PRO GOLFERS FOR YEARS AND ) HAVE TOO MUCH RESPECT FOR THEIR STRUGGLE TO WATCH AN AMATEUR WITH AN INlATED SENSE OF HIMSELF PRETEND TO BE A PRO FOR TWO DAYS ON HIS WAY TO MISSING THE CUT BADLY !ND MAKE NO MISTAKE 2OMO WILL MISS THE CUT !T LAST YEAR S .ELSON THE CUT CAME AT UNDER PAR !MAZING PLAYERS LIKE 3ERGIO 'ARCIA %RNIE %LS 0ADRAIG (ARRINGTON 'RAEME -C$OWELL AND "RANDT 3NEDEKER MISSED THE CUT 2OMO ALSO GOT A SPONSOR S EXEMPTION LAST -ARCH TO THE 0'! 4OUR S EVENT IN 0UNTA #ANA $OMINICAN 2EPUBLIC AND HE kNISHED DEAD LAST AMONG PLAYERS AT OVER 9EAH 4HE TIMING S RIGHT 2OMO IS A VERY GOOD AMATEUR GOLFER )N *ULY HE WON THE ANNUAL CELEBRITY ,AKE 4AHOE TOURNAMENT )N THE FALL HE EVEN MADE IT OUT OF A PREQUALIkER FOR MEMBERMADE IT OUT OF A PREQUALIkER FOR MEMBERSHIP TO THE 7EB COM 4OUR 4HIS BASICALLY MEANS IF 2OMO DROPPED EVERYTHING ELSE AND DEDICATED HIMSELF FULLY TO GOLF HE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY ON THE 0'! 4OUR S DEVELOPMENTAL TOUR -IGHT "UT HE HAS ZERO CHANCE OF PLAYING ON THE 0'! 4OUR :ERO

!ND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED 7HAT EXACTLY IS 2OMO S PURPOSE IN TAKING THE SPONSOR S EXEMPTION 4O gTESTu HIMSELF 4O BASK IN ADULATION AND FEEL LIKE A STAR ATHLETE AGAIN 4O GET READY FOR THE 0'! 4OUR #HAMPIONS IN YEARS !ND WHY WOULD 2OMO EVEN WANT TO BE A PRO GOLFER )T S GRUELING WITH CONSTANT TRAVEL AND TONS OF PRESSURE )N 2OMO EARNED ABOUT MILLION WITH #"3 AND HE S REPORTEDLY DUE FOR A BIG RAISE (IS SALARY WOULD HAVE PUT HIM IN THE TOP OF LAST SEASON S 0'! 4OUR MONEY LIST ALONGSIDE 0HIL -ICKELSON AND 2ICKIE &OWLER 4HE 7EB COM 4OUR S MONEY LEADER LAST YEAR MADE 3O 2OMO WOULD EITHER HAVE TO PLAY AS WELL AS ,EFTY TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS HE DOES SAYING g(ERE WE GOÃ&#x153;u AND MAKING PREDICTIONS ON 46 OR HE WOULD PLAY FOR PEANUTS IN THE 0'! 4OUR S MINOR LEAGUE )T S WRONG AND NONE NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE 5NLESS YOU RE AA VAIN FORMER ATHLETE OR AN ATTENLETE OR AN ATTENTION HUNGRY GOLF TOURNAMENT TNS

Q Quarterback Tony Romo (No. 9) of the Dallas Cowboys AFP PHOTO

Webb has moment to forget, trails in Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Australian Open ADELAIDE, Australia: +ARRIE 7EBB HAD ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS DURING THE 7OMEN S !USTRALIAN /PEN ON &RIDAY THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE HER FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE WEEKEND GOLFERS FOLLOWING HER BEHIND THE SPECTATOR ROPES AT 4HE 'RANGE OR WATCHING ON TELEVISION 3HORT SIDING HERSELF IN A BUNKER ON THE PAR TH kVE TIME CHAMPION 7EBB HIT IT ACROSS THE GREEN AND WATCHED IT DRIBBLE INTO A BUNKER ON THE OTHER SIDE 3HE ENDED UP TAKING A DOUBLE BOGEY ON HER WAY TO A AND IS SEVEN STROKES

BEHIND SECOND ROUND LEADERS 7EI ,ING (SU AND -ADELENE 3AGSTROM g) PAID THE PENALTY FOR A LOT OF MY M I S S E D SHOTS u S H E S A I D g ) M DISAPPOINTED NOT TO PLAY BETTER AND BE CLOSE TO t h e LEAD u 3 A G STROM HAD HER SECOND STRAIGHT W H I L E ( S U

Q Karrie Webb, of Australia, watches her tee shot on the 17th hole during a practice round for the KPMG Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PGA Championship golf tournament on June 27, 2018 at Kemper Lakes Golf Course in Lake Zurich, Ill. AP PHOTO

SHOT 4HEY WERE BOTH AT UNDER IN THE ,0'! TOURNAMENT !MERICAN .ELLY +ORDA WHO SHOT &RIDAY AND !USTRALIAN (ANNAH 'REEN WERE AMONG THOSE TIED FOR THIRD THREE STROKES BEHIND +ORDA WHO HAD SEVEN BIRDIES IN HOLES SAID g) GOT OFF TO A REALLY SOLID START AND JUST KEPT IT GOING u 7ORLD .O !RIYA *UTANUGARN REBOUNDED FROM AN OPENING WITH A &RIDAY AND MADE THE CUT BY TWO STROKES &ORMER .O ,YDIA +O SHOT AND AT OVER DIDN T MAKE THE WEEKEND AP

Golf

FOR announcements on tournaments, rankings and other golf-related events, email the sports editor at pgs_mallari@manilatimes.net es net

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

AmCham ChariTEE Golf unfolds April 5 fee, shared golf cart use, buffet THE American Chamber FoundaBREAKFAST AND LUNCH SOUTION OF THE 0HILIPPINES RD AmCham ChariTEE Golf VENIRS AND RAFlE ENTRY 4OURNAMENT WILL kRE Registration beoff on April 5 at the GINS AT A M FOLOrchard Golf and L OWE D BY T H E Country Club in shotgun tee off DasmariÃ±as City, AT A M Cavite. The tournaThe annual golf MENT WILL EMtilt that serves as PLOY A 3YSTEM a venue for recreformat. Actor John EstraATION AND NETWORKING for AmCham members DA CAPTURED THE TILT S also aims to raise funds OVERALL LOW GROSS PLUM FOR THE !M#HAM &OUNDATION S last year at the same venue. youth development programs. For details, contact the organizers at ,ISTING IS ONGOING WITH AN ENTRY FEE OR EMAIL AT CANDY AMCHAMOF 0 INCLUSIVE OF GREEN FEE CADDIE philippines.com.

Hero Golf Cup unfolds March 1 in Quezon City

Q Overall low gross champion Jeffrey Bernaldez with G&W-TVB Golf Cup organizers.

THE (ERO &OUNDATION )NC WILL HOLD ITS Hero Golf Cup on March 1 at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in Quezon City. The annual tournament aims to raise funds for the bereaved families of fallen soldiers. 2EGISTRATION IS ONGOING WITH A TICKET FEE OF 0 INCLUSIVE OF GREEN FEE REGISTRATION FEE LUNCH AND A RAFlE ENTRY 2EGISTRATION BEGINS AT A M FOLLOWED BY TEE OFF FROM A M TO A M

Q Overall low net champion Conrad Limcaco with G&W-TVB Golf Cup organizers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Q Winners of the 5th G&W-TVB Golf Cup hoist their trophies. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Bernaldez, Limcaco best rivals in 5th G&W-TVB Golf Cup BY JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID JEFFREY Bernaldez and Conrad Limcaco clinched the top honors during the 5th G&W-TVB Golf Cup on February 18 at the !YALA 'REENkELD 'OLF AND ,EISURE #LUB IN Calamba, Laguna. "ERNALDEZ kNISHED WITH A TO CLAIM THE OVERALL LOW GROSS TROPHY WHILE ,IMCACO AN HANDICAPPER SIZZLED WITH A TO GRAB THE OVERALL LOW NET PLUM Class A champion Harry Paltongan CARDED A TO BEAT kRST RUNNER UP !RTHUR

$YCHIAO VIA COUNTBACK AND SECOND RUNNER UP 'IO $IAZ BY ONE STROKE Nilo Punzalan claimed the Class " HONOR WITH A IN THE TOURNAment organized by G&W Clubshares Incorporated in honor of the late Tony B. Villaruel. Alfred Chua subdued Roberto Quiogue VIA COUNTBACK TO kNISH SECOND AND THIRD in Class B, respectively, after both players SCORED #LASS # WINNER #ESAR #RAIG SHOT AN EVEN PAR TO WIN BY ONE STROKE

OVER (ANZEL (ERNANDEZ !RTURO -ANALANG FINISHED THIRD WITH A NET FROM A GROSS Nine-handicapper Abby Lapid, meanWHILE CLAIMED THE WOMEN S TITLE WITH A ONE UNDER PAR PERFORMANCE TO BEAT HANDICAPPER !LCHERLYN 6ILLAMOR AND #ATHERINE "ORJA -EANWHILE $YCHIAO RECEIVED THE NEAREST TO PIN AWARD "ENNY !LCANTARA TOOK THE MOST ACCURATE DRIVE PLUM WHILE THE LONGEST DRIVE AWARDS WENT TO 6ILLAMOR YARDS AND $IAZ YARDS

4ICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE #AMP Aguinaldo Golf Club or online through THEIR &ACEBOOK 0AGE 4HE FIRST PARTICIPANTS TO REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A PILLOW COURTESY OF 5RATEX -EANWHILE ONE -- "ERETTA 0ISTOL m &3 IS AT STAKE DURING THE RAFFLE DRAW &OR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OR OR EMAIL AT INFO HEROFOUNDATION COM PH

Naval-Laxa tandem rules 11th Seniors Invitational THE duo of Mario Naval and ChrisTOPHER ,AXA CARDED A AGGREGATE to top the 11th Seniors Invitational ON &EBRUARY AND AT THE -ANILA 3OUTHWOODS 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB in Carmona, Cavite. The tandem of Paco Gonzales and 4OMAS *OSON kNISHED SECOND WITH A Class B champion Mario Badillo AND 0ETER 6IZCONDE WON BY SECOND DAY POINTS AGAINST kRST RUNNER UP 0ELAGIO

,ALAP AND .ICK -AGPANTAY AFTER BOTH PAIRS POSTED Rod Pepito and Enrique Gangoso, MEANWHILE CLINCHED THE #LASS # CROWN WITH A EIGHT POINTS AHEAD of Boom Buencamino and Vicente -ENDOZA WITH A -EANWHILE GRAND RAFFLE WINNER &EDERICO !COSTA ROMPED AWAY WITH A BRAND NEW 9AMAHA SEATER ELECTRIC golf cart.

Q Class A champions Mar Naval (second from left) and Christopher Laxa together with Jun Del Corro (left) and Paco Gonzales (right). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

14th Pomelo Tee rolls off May 1 in Davao City BACK-TO-BACK WIN

Yuka Saso holds the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open trophy after cruising to a five-shot victory over Yosita Khawnuna at six-under 207 during the 54-hole championship last February 19 to 21 at the Manila Golf and Country Club. Saso completed a back-to-back title romp after winning in the same tournament held at the Orchard last year. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PAL Interclub to be played over 4 Cebu courses IN A VERY RARE INSTANCE THIS YEAR S STAGing of the prestigious Philippine Airlines )NTERCLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE PLAYED over four courses in the Queen City of the 3OUTH STARTING WITH 3ENIOR PLAY ON &EB #ANLUBANG WILL BE SHOOTING FOR YET another title in the 55-and-over division BY BRINGING BACK THE MULTI TITLED 4OMMY -ANOTOC AND THE 3UGAR "ARONS WILL BE CONTENDING WITH PERENNIAL RIVAL ,UISITA IN TWO LAYOUTS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR IN CHARACTER Alta Vista and Club Filipino de Cebu IN $ANAO WILL BE THE SITE OF 3ENIOR ACTION WITH BOTH COURSES CARVED OUT OF MOUNTAINS WHERE PRECISION OFF THE TEES AND ACCURATE APPROACHES WILL BE THE PREMIUM 4HE "ARONS WON COMING FROM BEHIND IN "ACOLOD LAST YEAR EVEN WITH -ANOTOC not in the team for the second straight year because of family commitments in the United States.

-ANILA 3OUTHWOODS WILL BE SHOOTING TO EQUAL AN )NTERCLUB RECORD kFTH #HAMPIONSHIP $IVISION TITLE IN -EN S PLAY STARTING -AR Cebu Country Club, that exclusive layout in the heart of the city, and Mactan, an AIR FORCE LAYOUT VERY NEAR THE CITY S MODERN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL BE THE HOST CLUBS for the centerpiece division. The CCC and Mactan are traditional COURSES WITH ### AGAIN TO DETERMINE THE CHAMPION OWING TO ITS DIFkCULTY 4HIS YEAR S )NTERCLUB IS SPONSORED BY Asian Air Safari and Radio Mindanao .ETWORK !LSO EXTENDING SUPPORT ARE ABS-CBN Global Ltd. (The Filipino #HANNEL 2OLLS 2OYCE 0RIMAX "ROADCASTING .ETWORK 5- "ROADCASTING .ETWORK -INDANAO &OX 3PORTS '%#!3 "OEING ,UFTHANSA 4ECHNIK !' AND -ANILA 3TANDARD /FkCIAL HOTEL IS 1UEST (OTEL Conference Center Cebu.

1st Zamora Cup fires off February 27 THE ST :AMORA #UP WILL TEE OFF ON &EBRUARY AT THE 7ACK 7ACK 'OLF and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. 4HE BY INVITATION TOURNAMENT WILL HOLD A DOUBLE SHOTGUN TEE OFF AT A M AND P M 4HE INAUGURAL :AMORA #UP WILL TEST ITS PARTICIPANTS SKILLS AT 7ACK 7ACK S West course. 4HE PRICE OF THE TICKETS COVERS GREEN FEE DINNER AND GIVEAWAYS !WARDING CEREMONY BEGINS AT P M at the Clubhouse. &OR TICKET INQUIRIES CONTACT OR OR EMAIL THE ORGANIZERS AT ZAMORAGOLFCUP gmail.com.

THE TH 0OMELO 4EE WILL FIRE OFF ON May 1 to4 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in MandugIndangan, 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 4HE TOURNAMENT S TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES WILL FOLLOW A HOLE STROKE PLAY UNDER THE MODIFIED Stableford scoring system. For registration, contact RanC H O 0 A L O S A T OR

PASIA tourney opens March 29 THE Procurement and Supply Institute OF !SIA 0!3)! WILL HOLD A GOLF TOURNAment for supply chain professionals AND LOGISTICS PROVIDERS ON -ARCH NEXT YEAR AT THE -ANILA 3OUTHWOODS Golf and Country Club 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 Players can avail of the 4+1 promo if they bring in their colleagues. For inquiries, call PASIA and 4RANSPROCURE 3HARED 3ERVICES /FkCE AT OR OR EMAIL THE ORGANIZER AT INFO TRANSPROCURE COM OR VISIT WWW transpocure.com.

The Sunday Times

Inspiration. Celebrity. Style. February 24, 2019 Volume 118 | No. 80

Marco Polo Hotels – Hong Kong’s

GENERAL MANAGER DALIP SINGH

At ease and in his element

•

LITERARY LIFE

FILIPINO CHAMPIONS

ARTS AWAKE

‘Bamboo Bed:’ Dreaming psychedelic dreams G2

Feminism in ‘STEM’

Paalam, National Artist Francisco Mañosaa G3

Literary Life SUNDAY February 24, 2019

BOOK REVIEW

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bamboo Bedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: A Texanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tropical trip(s) BY FAYE VALENCIA

. THE kRST SEASON OF THE ("/ CRIME DRAMA True Detective, there is a line that is often REPEATED g4IME IS A lAT CIRCLE u ) AM SURE THERE are various philosophical interpretations of that LINE "UT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS REVIEW IT MEANS that there comes a point in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life when THE SUM OF HIS MEMORIES COMES lOODING BACK like a merciless tsunami. Some of these memories are still like-it-happened-yesterday vivid, while others are only vague bits and pieces. There are also dreams and false memories in the mix.

In Bamboo Bed (University of the Philippines Press; 382 pages; 2016), Weldon M. McCarty dives into his tsunami of memories, and then some, and manages to swim through it. He emerges with the expected wear-and-tear from living life too fast, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still every bit the rascal that he is, despite the decades that have passed and all the trouble that he had gotten himself into. McCarty has been a musician, truck driver, sound engineer and military man. McCartyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writing is vibrant. His bravado and lust for life comes through. This is not some bitter old man imparting life lessons to â&#x20AC;&#x153;the younger generation.â&#x20AC;? This is a man who, as American writer Henry David Thoreau would put it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;lived deep and sucked out all the marrow of life.â&#x20AC;? Then again, McCarty is no Thoreau, and that is also a very good thing (no offense, Thoreau). McCarty, who hails from Texas, found himself in the Philippines by, more or less, his own design. He explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Texas, a highschool graduate was expected to go to university, or get married and get a job, or simply do the inevitable and join the military before his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;numberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; came up for the draft. Weldon was precocious, so by 1966 he had already done two of the three, the military being the missing leg of the tripod.â&#x20AC;? Though he was already married

by then, McCarty wanted nothing more than to get out of Texas. He writes: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ah, escape from Texas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; many people over the years have asked, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why did you come to the Philippines?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The short answer is it was far from Texas. In those days, every unassigned member of the military was subjected to a process called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forecasting.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; A large herd of troops would be sent into a meeting hall and given papers to kLL OUT u 7HEN ASKED FOR HIS TOP three assignment picks, McCarty â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who was trained to be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Communications and Cryptographic Electronic Systems Equipment Maintenance and Repair...ah personâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; placed the Philippines at No. 1. His other two choices were Japan and Germany, but the Philippines already had a special place in his heart because it was the farthest from Texas. When he left for the Philippines, McCarty also left his Texas life behind, wife included. McCarty thrived at the Clark Air Base and outside it. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before he was taking trips to Manila, where he indulged in the hedonistic trifecta of sex, drugs and rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll. McCarty remembers one his paramours, a woman named Helen, whose father was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a Dutch Malaysianâ&#x20AC;? who â&#x20AC;&#x153;had married into one of -ANILA S kNEST FAMILIES BACK IN THE 1930s.â&#x20AC;? Helenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, incensed that his daughter was engaging in

trysts with McCarty, decided to have cops tail the author. It was a form of intimidation. Unfortunately, McCarty, who was testosterone-addled at that point, was not intimidated. In the end, though, after just a few months, Helen gave up on the fling and moved to Europe. McCarty wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly devastated, though: there were so many other distractions occupying him. Besides, as he himself declared, he fell in love with the Philippines. But whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with the bamboo bed? Well, the hefty memoir takes its title from the bed in the opening scene, which dramatizes the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agonizing do-it-yourself drug DETOXIkCATION PROGRAM (E simply went to his friend Pepito Boschâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house to quit his heroin addiction. The two read some sort of medical book on how it could be done, and then McCarty remained in Boschâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house in a state of self-imposed CONkNEMENT UNTIL THE HEROIN was out of his system. McCartyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prose is surreal and psychedelic, as he talks about his experience in the out-of-body third person. The book hooks you with its opening passage: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though living, the body on the bamboo bed was perfectly still, as still as death. Supine, hands on each side, no sign of breath, no motion behind the closed eyelids, the pallid form dressed only in grimy briefs so disconcerting a sight that when the owner of the house returned each day, he would quietly open the door and tentatively, almost fearfully ask, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mac?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? There are three main personas in the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memoir. Well, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all him, but he differentiates these personas according to the crucial turning points in his life that

ultimately made him who he is. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weldon (his Texas self), Mac (his Philippine self) and the narrator (his omnipresent self unwrapping his personal history as Weldon, as Mac and as who he is as of the writing of the book). Given this premise, reading this fascinating memoir requires considerable focus. There are segments where McCarty refers to himself in the third person. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly earned the right to refer to himself in the third person, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool.

At about page 25 of this book, I thought to myself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is probably what hanging out with Joey â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pepeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Smith would be like.â&#x20AC;? Not that I ever got to get that close to the larger-than-life rockstar. Mind you, when I started reading the book, Smith â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who died on January 28 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was still alive. In any case, I was quite thrilled when the author revealed that he actually hung out with the rock icon. It turns out they were both friends with two ladies â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Flo and

Marlon James shares truths via fantasy of new novel BY HILLEL ITALIE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK: Marlon James is in search of a definition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Myths are so suffused with monsters. It makes me think of the Latin root of monsters, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;monstrum.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; What does â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;monstrumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mean?â&#x20AC;? asks the novelist, who is seated at a Brooklyn coffee house, briefly forgetting the meaning before looking it up in a novel heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been reading. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ah! â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Monstrumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a divine messenger of catastrophe. A monster is a harbinger.â&#x20AC;? Author of four novels, notably the Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings, the 48-year-old James has made an art of â&#x20AC;&#x153;finding what would rather stay lost,â&#x20AC;? as he writes in his latest work, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, a fantastical vision of ancient Africa that has been likened to Game of Thrones and is the first of a planned Dark Star trilogy. The book features a hunter-for-hire named Tracker whose pursuit of a missing boy extends over 600 pages of warfare, sex, shape-shifting and plotting in a landscape filled with monsters and witches and ever taller tales. The novelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digressive path, with detours becoming main roads and main roads detours, mirrors the writing of it. A James novel is a work in progress to the very end. He might write hundreds of pages before one characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice so compels him that he starts all over. For A Brief History, he says, the

first words he wrote ended up on page 458. For Black Leopard, he had planned a story of the fall of a royal house and its mad queen. But once he â&#x20AC;&#x153;stumbledâ&#x20AC;? upon the character he came to call â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tracker,â&#x20AC;? a new narrative was born. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not every story appears to you â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A to Z,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes Q shows up first.â&#x20AC;? James is deeply troubled by the world as it enters the third year of the Trump administration, but also considers himself a fortunate man, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s being able to live openly gay or write at a time when a so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;literaryâ&#x20AC;? author can freely take on fantasy or other genres. Published in early February, Black Leopard has been getting the kinds of reviews

Q In this Oct. 12, 2015 file photo, author Marlon James poses with his book A Brief History of Seven Killings in London. AP PHOTO

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),

that prize judges remember. The Washington Post called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;an African fantasy as vibrant, complex and haunting as any Western mythologyâ&#x20AC;? and The New York Times predicted his characters would â&#x20AC;&#x153;take their place in the pantheon of memorable and fantastical superheroes.â&#x20AC;? Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; editor at Riverhead Books, Jake Morrissey, cites the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;unwillingness to give the readers what they expect.â&#x20AC;? Every James book is a break from the previous one â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he debuted with John Crowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Devil, a 200-page parable (likely the shortest novel he will ever write and his only one told in the third person) about rival ministers in a 1950s Jamaican village; his second was the 400-page slave story The Book of Night Women, followed by A Brief History, his 700-page panorama of the attempted 1976 assassination of Marley. He sees Black Leopard, Red Wolf as a fitting testament for a moment that demands a close look at the past. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always thought we go back to the myths when we want answers,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you look at Tolkien [and] Lord of the Rings, this came after World War 1. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to understand how human beings could have that depth of cruelty [against] other humans.... The only way they could process it is to bring in mythical beasts.â&#x20AC;? Victor LaValle, whose books range from the story collection Slapboxing With Jesus to the horror novel The Changeling, told The Associated Press in a recent email that genres such as horror and fantasy allowed authors to â&#x20AC;&#x153;talk about the present in ways that are more illustrative that strict realism can

often pull off. Sometimes you have to tell a story thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger than life if you want to capture reality. Especially the reality we are all living in today.â&#x20AC;? James, a Kingston native who now divides his time between Brooklyn and Minneapolis, had tried to complete other novels before John Crowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Devil, which was rejected by dozens of publishers, but eventually taken on by Akashic Books. He remembers starting Book of Night Women in the third person (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s English,â&#x20AC;? he says), but found it â&#x20AC;&#x153;too stilted.â&#x20AC;? The novelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eventual narrator, the child of a conflicted Jamaican slave named Lilith, had been â&#x20AC;&#x153;hiding outâ&#x20AC;? in a previous chapter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started to wonder: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s her story?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? James says. Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; books reflect his quest for unearthing the raw desires â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for power, for violence, for sex â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that have existed unchanged for thousands of years, and an imagination he hopes can resist the aging process. He remembered being so compulsive a storyteller as a child that during English class one day he dashed off a Jamaican version of Cinderella, discovered by his teacher, who chastised Marlon before she actually read the story and changed her mind. He happily absorbed the Shakespeare plays and other classics his teachers required, but adds that no one could talk him out of his love for the novels of Jackie Collins. He remains the kind of man who might spend his spare time reading Thomas Aquinas or comic books. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I resisted growing for a very long time,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think writers should grow up. You should grow up in terms of understanding people, especially women. But I think in terms of imagination you should never grow up. I always resented that it was a sign of maturity that I had to let go of fairies and fairy tales.â&#x20AC;?

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]

Geo â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who, like them, were practically regulars at Los Indios Bravos. Located on Mabini Street in Malate, the club was a haven for bohemians and expatriates. McCarty has fond memories of Smith. He recalls: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Geoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main boyfriend in those days was Joey Smith â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how Mac came to know him in 1969.â&#x20AC;? Then, he adds: â&#x20AC;&#x153;One impact that Joey had on Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life was to teach him to deal with unrequited lust. Once the rent deposit ran out in Malate, Mac moved to the place Flo and Geo shared in Makati. There, Geo and Joey would meet for trysts in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;meditation roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that Geo had tricked out with an Indian canopy she had gotten from David Medalla. It was a DIFkCULT LESSON FOR -AC TO learn at age twenty-two, but was well-learned and beneficial.â&#x20AC;? Ever the survivor, McCarty, of course, lives through the Smith interlude and goes on to live in his adopted country. During the cursed years of martial law, he even ended up sharing a prison cell with historian William Henry Scott. There just arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough words in a book review to do justice to McCartyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memoir. Go out and buy it, and read it. Read it everywhere and sleep with it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing. (And, oh, whoever decided to tap artist Kawayan de Guia to design the bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awesome cover also deserves a lot of praise. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the kind of genius that McCarty enjoys.) Bamboo Bed costs P450 and is available in leading bookstores nationwide.

POETRY

New Wars at Angkor Wat BY LEN CRISTOBAL What ruins, despite abandonment, rulers with blood of serpents and silver screens in the city, could demand gravity, awe shaped by parting lips, a return to the ground, and gather us under moonless nights, like Angkor Wat? A cluster of kings and queens sitting tightly together from a distance, shoulders relaxed, soundless under crowns, with skin reminiscent of rust, random black strokes, in unbuttoned robes revealing old wars and the new ones we are making. Inside, the affair of the air and walls pounds the heart harder and startles us from quiet corners. There is the dignity of the Buddhas, legs crossed, arms on their laps, unbothered by their missing heads. And the war between the warriors and the wicked is carved on one side of the soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces, on the wings of motionless dragons, on the shut eyes of gods made of stone, on the face of a child not far from the temple, selling ten postcards for a dollar and speaking a language so familiar it makes us foreign. Because there we are, restless bodies standing behind a pile of stones, holding our phones just above our heads and slanted to our faces, making the peace sign, kNGERS ALMOST TOUCHING OUR EYES

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Filipino Champions The Sunday Times

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

She Talks Asia asserts feminism in STEM Meet women who challenged the status quo in male-dominated industries BY NIKA ROQUE

OR THE kRST TRIBE MEET UP OF FEMINIST ORGANIZATION 3HE 4ALKS !SIA CO FOUNDER ACTRESS )ZA #ALZADO HIGHLIGHTED WHAT IS PERHAPS AN UNDER APPRECIATED GROUP m THE STRONG WOMEN IN THE kELDS OF 3CIENCE 4ECHNOLOGY %NGINEERING AND -ATHEMATICS 34%-

'IVING A PLATFORM TO WOMEN WHO CHALLENGED THE STATUS QUO AND HELPED ADD REPRESENTATION TO OTHERWISE MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRIES 3HE 4ALKS !SIA INVITED , /REAL 0HILIPPINES CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS HEAD #ARMEL 6ALENCIA WHO LEADS THEIR ADVOCACIES IN BEAUTY AND SCIENCE $R -ARICOR 3ORIANO $OCTOR OF 0HILOSOPHY IN 0HYSICS AT THE .ATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF 0HYSICS AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES !LEXANDRA 3UAREZ COUNTRY LEAD FOR "UMBLE AND $R 'ERALDINE :AMORA RHEUMATOLOGIST AND FOUNDER OF THE ,UPUS "RIDGING &UND 4HESE WOMEN THOUGH ALREADY SO SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS ARE NO STRANGER TO THE DISCRIMINATION AND DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING GENDER )N SPITE OF THESE THEIR GREAT SKILLS AND MOTIVATION HAVE HELPED THEM MOVE FORWARD g) THINK IT IS A SAD FACT THAT WOMEN IN 34%- ARE NOT AS CELEBRATED AS WOMEN IN THE ARTS 4HESE WOMEN ARE AMAZING 4HEY SAVE LIVES AND COME UP WITH INVENTIONS TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER u #ALZADO SAID WHEN SHE OPENED THE PROGRAM g) THINK CELEBRITIES ARE OVERHYPED

AND WE NEED TO SHARE THIS HYPE u SHE CONTINUED g7E NEED TO TALK ABOUT SCIENTISTS LIKE WE TALK ABOUT ;BEAUTY QUEENS= 0IA 7URTZBACH OR #ATRIONA 'RAY OR ;ACTRESSES LIKE= -ERYL 3TREEP 7E NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE NAMES ARE OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG WOMEN TO GET INTO 34%- u g7E WANT TO MAKE THEIR WORLD BROAD EXPLORE TOPICS THAT CONCERN THEM DISCUSS THESE THINGS WITHOUT ANY HATE OR ANGER AND ALWAYS COMING FROM A PLACE THAT HAS EMPATHY AND ALSO EXPOSING THEM TO WOMEN THEY CAN LOOK UP TO u #ALZADO TOLD 4HE -ANILA 4IMES LATER IN AN INTERVIEW /PENING UP THE DIALOGUE IN A PANEL DISCUSSION THE FOUR WOMEN ALL AGREED THAT OPENNESS IN THE INDUSTRY COULD STILL IMPROVE g4HERE S STILL A STEREOTYPE THAT IF YOU RE IN 34%- THAT MEANS THAT YOU RE A NERD OR YOU RE NOT FEMININE ENOUGH u BEGAN :AMORA 7HEN ASKED HOW SHE JUGGLES HER MEDICAL WORK WITH MOTHERHOOD SHE ANSWERED g0EOPLE THINK YOU RE SUPER-

The panelists of the first ‘Tribe Meetup’ engage in lively discussion about their own stories and opinions about thriving in a field dominated by males.

(From left) She Talks Asia Co-Founder and Head of Branding and Partnerships, Victoria Herrera; Country Lead of Bumble Philippines, Alex Suarez; Rheumatalogist and Founder of the Lupus Bridging Fund, Dr. Geraldine Zamora; Physicist at the National Institute of Physics at the University of the Philippines, Dr. Maricor “Jing” Soriano; L’Oreal Philippines Corporate Communications Manager, Carmel Valencia; She Talks Asia Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Lynn Pinugu and She Talks Asia Co-Founder and Head of Public Relations, Iza Calzado.

WOMAN ) THINK IT S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT PRIORITIES CAN CHANGE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS &OR EXAMPLE TODAY MY DAUGHTER IS MY PRIORITY BECAUSE SHE HAS EXAMS TOMORROW 4OMORROW SHE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT MY PRIORITY IS MY PATIENT )T S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE BEST OF THE WORLD IF YOU CHOOSE TO PRIORITIZE u SHE EXPLAINED DISPROVING THE STEREOTYPE IN MOST CULTURES THAT WOMEN NEED TO STAY AT HOME g%VEN IF THERE ARE HURDLES IN TERMS OF WOMEN IN 34%- WE RE LUCKILY IN A CULTURE AND COUNTRY THAT S WELCOMING TO FEMALES EVEN IF WE DON T CELEBRATE THEM ENOUGH u EXPRESSED 3UAREZ RELATING TO HER CAREER EXPERIENCES IN TECHNOLOGY WORKING FOR 5BER AND 'OOGLE 0HILIPPINES BEFORE HER TIME AT "UMBLE A DATING APP THAT ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO BE MORE CONFIDENT g4HERE S STILL THIS PRESSURE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ALL ) VE SEEN MANY CO WORKERS STRUGGLE WORKING WHILE PREGNANT AND WITH HOUR DAYS 4HERE S ALSO A PRESSURE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR FAMILY BUT THERE S THIS DIRECT PRESSURE TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYONE ELSE

Segunda Mana outlet opens in Montalban, soon in Tanauan I CARITAS -ANILA A NON PROkT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES AS THE LEAD SOCIAL SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY OF THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH IN THE 0HILIPPINES OPENED ITS RD 3EGUNDA -ANA #HARITY /UTLET IN 0HASE +ASIGLAHAN 6ILLAGE -ONTALBAN 2IZAL ON &EBRUARY &ATHER "ONIFACIO #HAVEZ OF -ARIA )NA NG +APAYAPAAN 0ARISH OFkCIATED THE PRAYER AND BLESSING OF THE OUTLET ATTENDED BY #ARITAS -ANILA MEMBERS AND 2ADIO 6ERITAS STAFF HEADED BY 3EGUNDA -ANA 0ROGRAM -ANAGER "ARRY #AMIGUE AS WELL AS CITIZENS OF THE VILLAGE 4HE -ONTALBAN OUTLET IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY BASED 3EGUNDA -ANA #HARITY BRANCH WHERE IT COVERS AN ESTIMATED FAMILIES RELOCATED FROM VARIOUS PLACES IN THE .ATIONAL #APITAL 2EGION !NOTHER WILL BE OPENED ON &EBRUARY IN 4ANAUAN "ATANGAS !DDING TO THIS IS THEIR CONTINUOUS VENTURE SOUTH IN #EBU IN THE 6ISAYAS AND IN 4AGUM IN -INDANAO ESTABLISHING 3EGUNDA -ANA AS A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM #AMIGUE SAID THEY ARE AIMING TO OPEN MORE BRANCHES WITHIN THE YEAR TO MEET THE TARGET OF COMPLETELY OPENED OUTLETS BY

Funds for youth education program 3EGUNDA -ANA IS A DONATIONS IN KIND PROGRAM OF #ARITAS -ANILA FROM THE 3OCIAL %NTREPRENEURSHIP $IVISION INSPIRED BY THE SPIRITUALITY OF STEWARDSHIP AS A WAY OF LIFE -EANING SECOND HAND 3EGUNDA -ANA REFERS TO PRE OWNED ITEMS CONSISTING OF CLOTHES EQUIPMENT TOYS AND HOME AND FASHION ACCESSORIES WHICH ARE DONATED BY GENEROUS COMPANIES AND BRANDS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OFFERED AT FRIENDLY PRICES 0ROCEEDS FROM THE PURCHASED ITEMS HELP SUSTAIN #ARITAS -ANILA S 9OUTH 3ERVANT ,EADERSHIP AND %DUCATION 0ROGRAM 93,%0 WHICH FOCUSES ON EDUCATION FOR THE YOUTH FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED AND MARGINAL COMMUNITIES #URRENTLY THERE ARE SCHOLARS WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY 93,%0 WITH OF THOSE

Segunda Mana is a donations-inkind program of Caritas Manila that supports the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) which focuses on education for the youth from underprivileged and marginal communities.

COMING FROM THE $IOCESE OF !NTIPOLO #AMIGUE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEVER ENDING SUPPORT FROM THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE PROGRAM AND HAS CALLED OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR FURTHER SUPPORT &IRST KNOWN AS #ATHOLIC #HARITIES #ARITAS -ANILA WAS ESTABLIHSED BY THE LATE !RCHBISHOP OF -ANILA 2UkNO #ARDINAL 3ANTOS ON /CTOBER AS A SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM FOR gUPLIFTING THE SPIRIT AND SOUL OF THE UNFOPRTUNATE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ASSIST THEM IN ALL THEIR NEEDS AND TO BRING THE HELP OF 'OD IN THEIR MISERIES AND DISTRESS u

NEEDED SUPPORT STARTS AT HOME OR AT THE COMPANY THEY ALL AGREED g) THINK THAT CHILDREN ARE NATURAL BORN SCIENTISTS BECAUSE THE FIRST QUESTION THEY ASK IS @WHY u SAID 3ORIANO ONE OF THE FEW FEMALE PHYSICISTS IN THAT SMALL COMMUNITY 3HE EMPHASIZED THAT EDUCATION ON DEEP OR COMPLICATED TOPICS LIKE THESE BEGIN AT HOME g7E NEED TO HAVE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS &OR EXAMPLE SOME KIDS WANT TO BE POLICEMEN BECAUSE THEY WATCH THEM ON 46 )T S NOT HARD TO CONVINCE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO TO SCHOOLS IF THE PARENTS ARE INFORMED THAT THERE S A CAREER IN SCIENCE THAT S ONE WAY TO GIVE MORE SUPPORT u SHE NOTED !LL AGREED THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A BIGGER WORLD OUTSIDE AND IT S THE SMALL Carmel Valencia asserts that women have THINGS THAT HELP MAKE A BIG IMPACT the power to change the world through g7E WANT TO MAKE THEIR WORLD BROAD pursuing their passions fearlessly, EXPLORE TOPICS THAT CONCERN THEM DISespecially in the field of STEM and how L’Oreal empowers them through the For CUSS THESE THINGS WITHOUT ANY HATE OR Women in Science program. ANGER AND ALWAYS COMING FROM A PLACE )T S STILL A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS EMPATHY AND ALSO EXPOSING 4HAT PROBLEM IS REAL AND IT S SOMETHING THEM TO WOMEN THEY CAN LOOK UP TO u #ALZADO TOLD 4HE -ANILA 4IMES LATER WE RE STILL VERY FAR FROM u #HANGING THE STATUS QUO WITH THE IN AN INTERVIEW

Muriel finds niche in live circuit

T WAS YEARS AGO WHEN ) kRST ENCOUNTERED 0RECIOUS -ARIE -URIEL 4ING 0REX AS HER FRIENDS CALL HER HAS THE THOUGHT LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR HER SENSE OF STYLE JUNKIE AND HER NUMBER ONE PASSION SINGING CARLA BIANCA 0ROFESSIONALLY SHE IS KNOWN AS -URIEL RAVANES-HIGHAM 7ITH A #OMMUNICATIONS DEGREE TUCKED UNDER HER BELT SHE SAID SHE HAS ALWAYS MOUS SINGERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL BEEN IN LOVE WITH MUSIC BUT DIDN T PURSUE OF THAT BUT ) REALIZED THAT ) WASN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY JUST= BECAUSE ) WANTED GROWING SO ) SHIFTED FROM THAT TO LIVE TO EARN OR BECOME FAMOUS ) SING BECAUSE MUSIC WHICH IS WHAT ) AM DOING NOW )T IS THROUGH THIS SWITCH THAT -URIEL THAT IS WHAT ) LOVE TO DO FOUND HER NICHE 3HE GREW UP IN A STRICT HOUSEHOLD ) STARTED WITH SMALL THAT INSPIRED HER TO CONTINUE TO PURBARS TO BIGGER ONES SUE MUSIC WITH A #HINESE BUSINESSTHEN ) FOUND MYMAN FATHER WHO HAD EXTREMELY HIGH SELF BLOOMING EXPECTATIONS OF HER IN LOUNGES AND Ý) GREW UP WANTING TO FULkLL THOSE EVENTS )T TOOK ME EXPECTATIONS AND THAT LED ME TO A WHILE TO DISBEING LOST AS TO WHAT ) REALLY COVER THAT ) CAN WANTED TO PURSUE !FTER GRADUAACTUALLY DO LIVE TION MY DAD ENCOURAGED MUSIC EVERY ME TO WORK RIGHT AWAY NIGHT AND DO SO ) CAN TAKE CARE OF MYIT ON MY SELF !ND SINCE ) LOVED O W N MUSIC ) PURSUED IT AND MADE IT MORE THAN MY PASSION ) MADE IT MY CAREER )F YOU ASK ME WHO INSPIRED ME IT WOULD BE MY DAD AND MY GRANDMOTHER ,OURDES Ý SHE RELATED -URIEL SHARED THAT 4 H I S THE JOURNEY WAS DEkI S W H E N NITELY A ROLLER COASTER ) FOUND MYSELF RIDE OF EMOTIONS FELT G R O W I N G A N D FRUSTRATED AND PRESLEARNING NOT JUST SURED BECAUSE ) WANTED WITH MUSIC BUT TO BE THE BEST BUT NOW IN DISCOVERING ) AM SLOWLY LEARNING TO WHAT ) WAS CAkND MY OWN NICHE PABLE OF 3HE HAS HAD HER EX-URIEL WENT PERIENCE OF RECORDON TO SAY THAT ING MUSIC GOING ON BEING ABLE TO CAMPUS TOURS CONDO WHAT SHE CERT TOURS RADIO AND LOVES ON A 46 APPEARANCES DAILY BASIS MUSIC VIDEOS AND IS A BLESSING EVEN COLLABORA) AM VERY TIONS WITH FA- Singer Precious Marie Muril Ting.

GRATEFUL TO OUR #REATOR FOR THAT -USIC FEEDS MY SOUL AND IT HELPED ME OVERCOME MY ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION )T MADE ME LIVE -Y MUSIC AND MY CAREER GAVE ME ENOUGH REASON TO NOT GIVE UP AND IT GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO ALWAYS PUSH PAST MY COMFORT ZONE (ER EARLY STRUGGLES OF HAVING TROUBLE kNDING CONSISTENT WORK AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD CONSTANTLY BELITTLE WHAT SHE IS DOING HAS TURNED -URIEL INTO A BETTER PERSON INSTEAD OF A BITTER ONE ) BECAME TOUGHER STRONGER AND WISER !ND THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO JUST FOCUS ON THOSE WHO LOVE ME LIKE MY FAMILY MY FANS WHO HAVE TURNED INTO FRIENDS AND MY BOYFRIEND !NTON WHO ALWAYS ENCOURAGES ME TO GO ON SHE ASSERTED 3HE S LIKEWISE GRATEFUL FOR HAVING BEEN GIVEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE THOSE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ) HAVE ENCOUNTERED SUICIDAL FANS BUT WHO DIDN GO THROUGH WITH IT BECAUSE ) INSPIRED THEM NOT TO AND ) REALIZED THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN THE DEVIL INSIDE OF US AND IF WE OVERCOME OUR DEMONS WE CAN DEkNITELY HELP OTHERS TO DO THE SAME -URIEL HAS THIS PIECE OF ADVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR OWN JOURNEY "E kRM BE kRM WITH WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO BE kRM WITH YOUR INNER SELF BECAUSE IN ANY CAREER YOU WILL ENCOUNTER DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY TO BRING YOU DOWN SO JUST BE kRM AT ALL TIMES (AVE CONkDENCE IN YOUR DECISIONS AND BE kRM IN WHAT YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR BECAUSE 'OD LISTENS (E KNOWS WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME IS FOR YOU SO YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT YOU WILL BE AMAZED ON HOW (E WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL EVEN BE MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR *** 4O KNOW MORE ABOUT -URIEL YOU CAN LIKE HER PAGE ON &ACEBOOK AND FOLLOW HER ON )NSTAGRAM

The Sunday Times

Cover Story SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Marco Polo Hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

GENERAL MANAGER DALIP SINGH

At ease and in his element BY TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA

Find a job you enjoy and you will never have to work a day in your life â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Confucius

ITH close to 1,500 luxury guestrooms and suites, six celebrated dining outlets, and a huge expanse of leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) facilities, spread across three of Kowloonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent hotels under his supervision, The Sunday Times Magazine expected to meet a hurried and high-strung top man on its visit to Hong Kong over the holidays. (APPILY AND SURPRISINGLY A DASHING kGure with purposeful strides, the warmest of smiles and a most solid handshake arrived AT THIS ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW (IS NAME IS Dalip Singh, clearly and impressively the very capable general manager of Tsim Sha Tsuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed trio of properties, the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Gateway Hotel and Prince Hotel, all within the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest LUXURY RETAIL HAVEN OF (ARBOUR #ITY g7ELCOME TO (ONG +ONG u HE ENTHUSED IN A TONE THAT WAS FRIENDLY BUT ALSO kLLED with pride as he stretched out an arm toward the breathtaking view of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BELOVED 6ICTORIA (ARBOUR And as he comfortably settled down on a plush couch at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upscale restaurant Cucina, Singh pulled another surprise when he said he WAS ACTUALLY 3INGAPOREAN !NYONE WOULD mistake the handsome hotelier as a national of the former British colony given HIS ZEAL FOR !SIA S VIBRANT g7ORLD #ITY u BUT

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 â&#x20AC;¢ 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

no matter, here can be no doubt that the man is deeply in love with Hong Kong all the same what with his candid reply to The Sunday Times Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kRST QUESTION â&#x20AC;&#x153;What led you to live and work in this stunNING AND BUSTLING WATERFRONT -R 3INGH u He effused, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Definitely the exciting opportunity to work this three-cluster proper ty under The Wharf Hotels [a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd], managing an inventory of around 1,500 rooms and everything in BETWEEN AND BECAUSE IT IS (ONG +ONGÃ&#x153;u Thus as the interview ensued, two undeniable facts soared above everything Dalip Singh revealed about himself in relation to the three premiere properties THAT ARE PERFECTLY UNDER HIS CARE 4HE kRST is that he is for all intents and purposes gBORN FOR THE ;GARGANTUAN= JOB u AND secondly, that he is among the fortunate beings able to live out the most important TEACHING OF THE WISE AND GREAT #ONFUCIUS For in earning the top job practically within a year of joining the Marco Polo Hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hong Kong, he has truly found a vocation he enjoys â&#x20AC;&#x201D; visibly at ease and in his element managing three major properties at once â&#x20AC;&#x201D; looking as if he NEVER HAS TO WORK A DAY IN HIS LIFE (OW DOES HE DO IT 2EAD ON AND kND out in this exclusive Q&A with Marco Polo Hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarkable General -ANAGER $ALIP 3INGH How long have you been with the Marco Polo brand? I joined Marco Polo as Hotel Manager in December 2016 for the three-cluster properties located along the prestigious #ANTON 2OAD Â&#x2021; THESE ARE THE -ARCO Polo Hongkong Hotel, Gateway Hotel AND 0RINCE (OTEL ! YEAR LATER IN December 2017, I was excited to take up a new role as General Manager for Marco Polo Hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hong Kong in $ECEMBER What attracted you to build a career in the hotel industr y in the beginning? The hotel industry is an ever-changing business and a challenging WORLD ) LOVE THE VIBRANT d y n a m ic a nd l i ve l y working environment in the world of hospitability and being able to create fond memories for OUR GUESTS Moreover, this is a people-driven industry where hoteliers are passionate to provide

the best hospitality experience and I love working with associates who are full of passion, because this is where the energy COMES FROM WHICH EXCITES OUR LIFE What educational courses and/or trainings did you bring with you in pursuing this career? I am an experienced Chief Executive OfkCER WITH A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF WORKing in the hospitality industry, across all the components of Business Development, Business Management, Pre-openings, Corporate and Operations Skill, and Digital AND 9IELD -ANAGEMENT In my career spanning more than 15 years, I have also won various personal AWARDS SUCH AS THE * 7 -ARRIOTT !WARD OF Excellence in 2005, the Singapore Institute of Management Gold Medal Award in 2003, and Young Executive of the Year Award FROM THE 2OTARY #LUB OF 3INGAPORE IN In varied posts, my operational roles have included organizing and managing events such as the International Monetary Fund World Bank meetings, the International Olympic Council meeting in 3INGAPORE AND VARIOUS OTHER HIGH PROkLE GATHERINGS IN THE !SIAN REGION Could you elaborate on the positions and companies where you were able to accomplish these things and also win such prominent recognitions? Prior to my appointment with Wharf Hotels, I was the Managing Director of KOP Properties in Singapore responsible for the strategic growth and positioning OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES ) ALSO HELD THE POSITION OF #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER OF -ONTIGO 2ESORTS 0TE ,TD WHICH WAS THE HOSPITALITY DIVISION OF +/0 0ROPERTIES ,TD With more than two decades of experience in the hotel industry, I have also held

several senior management positions for more than 20 years in a number of reputable hotel groups in my native Singapore, as well as Malaysia and Dubai, including 4HE 2ITZ #ARLTON -ILLENIA 3INGAPORE $USIT 2ESIDENCE $UBAI -ARINA AND 0ANG KOR ,AUT 2ESORT Now a year into the job as general manager of not just one but three prominent properties in the heart of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World City â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and very much thriving in it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what is it you love most about what you do? What also makes it challenging? Taking care of three hotels with the perfect location in Hong Kong at the same TIME IS NOT AN EASY TASK (ONG +ONG IS such a vibrant city where guests have high EXPECTATIONS "UT YOU RE RIGHT ) REALLY DO enjoy working at Marco Polo Hotels, where the associates working together as a team really excel and provide our guests an overALL EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE 4EAM SPIRIT HERE is strong which is the driving force of the g-ARCO 0OLO 7AY u The most challenging factor we constantly have to address is the changing GUEST BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS 4HIS CHALlenge is the same for the whole hospitality industry especially against the technological landscape, which also shapes the guest JOURNEY IN A DIFFERENT WAY But thanks to the amazing team we have, we strive to and are able to provide an excepTIONAL EXPERIENCE TO OUR DISCERNING GUESTS To better explain what I mean, what guests look for today are personalized EXPERIENCES DURING THEIR STAY 3O FOR instance, with the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile and Inter net obsession we launc hed t he complimentary smartphone in all guest ROOMS OF THE THREE HOTELS SINCE With unlimited 3G mobile Internet, unlimited local and international calls (10 designated regions, including Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, the UK and the USA), Wi-Fi hotspot and tethering to other mobile devices such as laptops and tablets, instant access to the hotel concierge and call-to-order in-room dining, and a Hong Kong dining and city guide plus ticketing offers via the handy phone, the power of connectivity is fully DEMONSTRATED 7E WISH TO SATISFY EVERY guestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sophisticated needs and I believe WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER Looking forward, with the forecast of 840 hotel supplies in 2020, increasing competition will definitely make our work more c ha lleng ing , yet we are confident to deliver the best to our business and

leisure travelers with the best team in -ARCO 0OLO (OTELS Â&#x2021; (ONG +ONG Normally, a General Manager would focus on only one hotel, you have a most unique task of running three properties within Harbour City. How do you approach this three-fold responsibility? Being an integral part of Harbour City, the largest shopping complex in Hong Kong of COURSE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO US 4OGETHER WE COMbine superb leisure accommodation with thrillING SHOPPING EXPERIENCES !ND WITH THE SAME mother company of The Wharf (Holdings) ,TE WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE (ARBOUR #ITY team to pay homage to the legendary spirit of travel, exploring and sharing experiences as the embodiment Marco Polo Hotels, the essence OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN OUR VIBRANT LOCATION $OES EACH PROPERTY REQUIRE SPECIkC styles of leadership? ) BELIEVE IN PEOPLE ORIENTED LEADERSHIP As a leader for three hotels with associates comprised of different cultures and different personalities, I love to build a friendly relationship with them who are all human CAPITAL OF THE PROPERTIES ) ALSO BELIEVE IN THE power of appreciation which serves as a key TO SUCCESS IN THE PEOPLE ORIENTED INDUSTRY Our corporate values are to promote a healthy climate of enthusiasm and success, continuous coaching and development at all levels, and thereby recognize outstandING ACHIEVEMENTS $URING THE STATE OF THE hotel meetings, for example, together with the management team, we appreciate our associates who achieve their targets and GIVE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT How would you describe each of the three brands? Who do they each cater to? Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel is a stylish

Â³Continued on G5

The Sunday Times

Cover Story SUNDAY February 24, 2019

Singh and the Human Resources Team were honored at the HR Distinction Awards 2018 organized by Human Resources magazine. CHOICE FOR SAVVY BUSINESS TRAVELERS /FFERING 665 guestrooms and suites, many of which showcase breathtaking waterfront views of the celebrated Victoria Harbour, this hotel gives our guests the perfect blend of warm Asian hospitality and a central location with convenient access TO +OWLOON AND (ONG +ONG The chic Gateway Hotel boasts sophisticated INTERIORS WITHIN A MODERN URBAN SANCTUARY !LL of its spacious rooms and suites feature sleek design elements evoking a modern residential FEEL %NHANCED WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND complimentary mini-bar service in every room, THE HOTEL CATERS TO TODAY S MODERN TRAVELERS As for Prince Hotel, it is at the doorstep of the #HINA &ERRY 4ERMINAL AND (ARBOUR #ITY &AMILIES and groups travelers not only love the accessible location, but also the spacious and comfortable GUESTROOMS AND SUITES OF 0RINCE (OTEL Based on your experience, what sets Asian hospitality apart from the rest? Moreover, does Marco Polo Hotelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brand hospitality ofFER SOMETHING SPECIkC TO THE REST OF THE WORLD Undoubtedly, the people-oriented nature of !SIAN HOSPITALITY IS PERFECT 4HE WARM !SIAN culture and values make every guestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stay truly MEMORABLE &ITTINGLY g%XCEPTIONAL 3ERVICEu IS one of our Marco Polo values, which we understand as a value that can be created with every ENCOUNTER AND THEREBY RElECTED IN OUR EXEMPLARY STANDARD OF SERVICE g(OSPITALITY FROM THE HEARTu IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN OUR HOTELS What percentage of the propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guests is approximately comprised of Filipinos? There is a constantly increasing trend of Filipino guest visits to the three Marco Polo Hotels IN THE PAST FEW YEARS 'ATEWAY (OTEL IS RELATIVELY popular among the three hotels in Hong Kong, WITH OVER PERCENT OF &ILIPINO GUESTS It therefore gives me great pleasure to let them know that Gateway Hotel will soon unveil an ENTIRELY NEW #ONTINENTAL #LUB lOOR ON ITS UPpermost level, while the newly appointed guest ROOMS CONTINUE TO RElECT A SOPHISTICATED MODERN DESIGN AND LAYOUT !ND LIKE BEFORE GUESTS MAY enjoy the complimentary mini-bar service in every room, which will be replenished daily for the ENTIRE DURATION OF STAY AT 'ATEWAY (OTEL &ILIPINOS WILL SURELY ENJOY THIS COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE How do the Marco Polo Hotels deliver the value of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exceptional Serviceâ&#x20AC;? and personalized experience to the Filipino guest today? The Philippines is one of our targeted markets and we continue to put efforts in promoting OUR HOTELS TO THE &ILIPINOS For corporate guests, we identify the business needs and opportunities of the potential MARKET IN THE 0HILIPPINES AND (ONG +ONG 3PECIkCALLY THE g4HRICE AS .ICEu MEETING package has been launched which serves as a great reason to book a meeting at a Marco Polo property either in Hong Kong or the Philippines, where as you know our properties are located in Ortigas in Metro Manila, #EBU #ITY AND OF COURSE THE VERY kRST -ARCO 0OLO IN THE COUNTRY IN $AVAO #ITY 4O QUALIFY CORPORATE GUESTS ONLY HAVE TO book at least 15 rooms and one meeting or BANQUET TO REACH THE MINIMUM SPEND OF HK$70,000 when in Hong Kong or P200,000 WHEN IN THE 0HILIPPINES 4HEY WILL GET TRIPLE rewards under this package, which is now availABLE FOR STAYS UNTIL !PRIL 4HE 4HRICE AS .ICE PREMIUM REWARDS FURTHER include an overnight stay with breakfast buffet at the participating hotel of choice in Hong

+ONG OR THE 0HILIPPINES 'UESTS WILL ALSO GET one room category upgrade for one delegate DURING THE EVENT To continue, a special dining discount is the THIRD AWESOME PERK &OR -ARCO 0OLO HOTELS IN Hong Kong, event organizers can enjoy 10 percent food and beverage savings at participating RESTAURANTS EXCLUDING FESTIVAL DATES

The well-loved general manager joined the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Football Cake-decorating Classâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with the associates to celebrate the World Cup festivity.

Enjoying the Associate Party in 2018 with Dr. Jennifer Cronin, president of The Wharf Hotels, and the rest of the team.

If you were to invite a tourist to come over to Hong Kong, when would you say the best time to do so is? And what tips would you give them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from food, activities, etc. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to thoroughly enjoy staying at your hotels and Harbour City? Hong Kong, possessing a sub-tropical climate with distinct seasons, is a city suitable for traveling all year around, depending on THE PURPOSE OF VISIT 7HILE YOU WILL FIND typical hot and humid weather throughout most of the year in the Philippines, we recommend Filipino guests to visit Hong Kong during late Autumn, from October to around Christmas time when the weather IS RELATIVELY COOL AND PLEASANT Guests should also join our signature event of Marco Polo German Bierfest, which the hotel has been mounting annually since its INCEPTION IN &ROM MID /CTOBER TO EARLY .OVEMBER EVERY YEAR THE EVENT BRINGS Ă&#x152;BER fun to guests by the award-winning events team at the viewing platform of Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, and of course against the BREATHTAKING BACKDROP OF 6ICTORIA (ARBOUR Foodies here will find the most popular German beers and authentic German dishes SUCH AS 2OAST 0ORK +NUCKLE AND 0AN FRIED 3AUSAGES g.Ă&#x152;RNBERGERu 3TYLE ! SUPERB BAND CALLED $IE .OTENHOBLER FROM 'ERMANY WILL also create a truly memorable ambience for partygoers, with their entertaining antics along with popular drinking competitions AND TRADITIONAL GAMES

Singh and the management team distributed mandarins to the associates in January, wishing every associate a wealthier year.

What is it like living as an expat in Hong Kong? How would you describe its people and culture; and what do you enjoy most in this city to unwind after work? Living as an expat, Hong Kong is a convenient AND PERFECT GATEWAY CITY TO ME 7ITH GOOD CONnections with the world, everything is available AND IT IS SIMILAR TO MY HOME COUNTRY OF 3INGAPORE In terms of culture, I love exploring Hong +ONG S RICH AND VARIED HISTORY 4AI / ,ANTAU )SLAND ETC ARE THE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE PLENTY OF CULTURAL GEMS TO UNCOVER I love hiking in Hong Kong where a lot of URBAN HIKING TRAILS ARE AVAILABLE -ANY OF THEM OFFER THE BEST VIEWS OF (ONG +ONG ) ALSO ENJOY island hopping in with the astonishing landSCAPE AND SCENERY ) PARTICULARLY LOVE TO VISIT ,ANTAU )SLAND TAKING THE CABLE CAR TO .GONG Ping and visiting the big Buddha for getaway DURING WEEKENDS Best of all, the people here in Hong Kong ARE FRIENDLY KIND HARDWORKING EFkCIENT AND sincere, especially making my associates just LIKE MY FAMILY MEMBERS What should travelers to Hong Kong look forward to at the three properties for 2019? 4HIS YEAR WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR US as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Marco 0OLO (ONGKONG (OTEL 7E WISH TO CELEBRATE THIS important date with all our privileged guests and associates but I will keep the details a SECRET FOR NOW 7HAT ) CAN SAY IS THAT EVERYONE should look out for the next big thing by us in THE MONTHS TO COME

Ever friendly, Singh loves taking selfies like this one during the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Be our Guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activity where he distributed breakfast treats to the associates.

Singh and his group were honored to receive the Best Event Team Award for the Marco Polo German Bierfest at the Marketing Events Awards 2018.

Supporting Marco Poloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players at the Hong Kong Hotel Association 7-a-side Soccer Tournament in 2018.

Fun Times The Sunday Times

ÂŞKRURVFRSH

THE SUNDAY CROSSWORD

Double Bills 3

By Merl Reagle February 24, 2019

...Still more movies that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be shown together This puzzle is part of Merl's best-of series 1 5 8 11 17 18 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 40 41 42 43 47 48 50 53 54 55 56

61 62 63 64 65 69 72 73 74 77 80 81 82 83 84 86 87 90 93 94 95 100

ACROSS Marine leader? Dribbling guard Photo cards Orange-flower oil Hang ten Curl Up and Dye, for one Tuition cost Binary compounds Result of feeding hot sauce to a cat? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help!â&#x20AC;? Mag heads Romantic attachment? Inflatable doll? Relative of sri Living qtrs. Author of them Pepperoni? Decks out Meadow Superpower? Eoan events D.C. 11 Surveys Hockey-stick end Bering Sea bird Hamster morsel Least: abbr. With 77 Across, the name of ex-Secretary of State Haigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new exercise video? Mismatched You can bet on it Corrida cry Where Ike was reared Where to see the inscription â&#x20AC;&#x153;Th-th-ththatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all, folksâ&#x20AC;?? Actress Bonnie Quaker morsel Stephanopoulos, to Clinton, once Upsilon preceder See 56 Across Child occupier Pageantry Sinuous suffocator MisĂŠrables opener Confrontation Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irving? At this time Type of welder See 5 Down Rottweiler, for one Frustrated cry about a stinky pet? Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wozniak

101 Where undeliverable mail ends up: abbr. 102 Like Unsolved Mysteries 103 With 112 Across, a vendor telling you what sandwiches he has left? 107 Furry sitcom alien 108 Type of saw 111 Old odist 112 See 103 Across 115 Stretches ___ (exaggerates) 116 Wine cask 117 Ear buzzers 118 Sectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s object, sometimes 119 A trillion has a dozen 120 Actress Hagen 121 Mental mediator 122 Care one way or the other

Gift givers! For info on Merlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books, visit www.sundaycrosswords.com. 1

17 22

90 96

116 120

Eye-product prefix 75 Appliance name Decline 76 Stomach woe Ex-Senator Sam 78 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five minutes ago if Type of terrier not soonerâ&#x20AC;? Stonecutterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tool 79 Sudden thrill of Crap-game player pleasure Formal discourse 81 Tube pasta Make concrete 85 Grants grp. Hemingway in 86 GATT subject Manhattan 88 Where Telemundo Tree or street tapes When azaleas 89 ___ of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bloom: abbr. existence Copacetic 91 Weathered Mugful at Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 92 Left-hand list on old Drum effect Chinese menus Chick follower? 94 Spanish king, Sequel start Juan ___ Pinch 96 Heads off Overfill 97 Pro football players An Ali Cabell or Slaughter 98 Soliloquy start 99 ___ the world of baseball (sound asleep) June 6 event 100 Hombreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s address Extremely 103 Ready to eat dangerous

To get the advantage, check the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Review your reserves. Store provisions for the future. Manage shared finances, taxes and insurance. A shared venture profits with attention. Back up talk with action.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Rest and recuperate for a few days. Consider upcoming actions, and work out logistics. A peaceful scene sets you up for productive planning and coordination.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Join forces for common gain. You and your partner get into a productive groove. Expand your collaboration to push ahead with long-term goals. Get farther together.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Leave nothing to chance. Rely on anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience. Friends have what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for. Reach out to your networks for practical long-term solutions.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Get into motion. Your physical work, health and energy surge. Measure your progress, and push for satisfying results. Have fun! Savor hot water later.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Emotion, words and action align for a professional target. Schedule carefully. Prepare for a deadline or test. You can leap toward fulfilling a dream.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Enjoy the company of people you love. Notice sparkling moments of beauty. Expand the level of your game. Someone attractive finds you charming.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Your studies take you to new destinations. Travel with a great companion. Exploration surges ahead into fascinating discoveries. Meet interesting people and places.

99 102

104

119

115

101

112

111

71 74

73 79

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- A lucrative opportunity presents itself. Handle the practical details that keep cash flowing in a positive direction. Keep in action. Get farther than expected. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re especially hot over the next two days. Advance a personal passion. Your efforts ripple outward. Reach new levels of performance.

to dreams, intuition and emotional undercurrents. Trust your own good sense. You know just what to say.

100

59 60 62 65 66 67 68 69 70

103

43 50

39 42

57 58

32 37

39 44 45 46 48 49 51 52 55

7 19

30 34

DOWN 1 Longtime U.S. Davis Cup captain 2 College green 3 Trinity author 4 Where to go to go to Togo: abbr. 5 Waters near Stockholm, with 93 Across 6 Not up to par? 7 Nincompoop 8 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ A Rich Manâ&#x20AC;? 9 Rids of corrosion 10 Ooze 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forget itâ&#x20AC;? 12 Glorified 13 San Remoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beach 14 The Country Girl playwright 15 Golfer Tony who won the 1964 British Open 16 Brit. verb ending 18 Obis 19 Sunday and Monday night games org. 23 Deli rolls 24 Swindlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;two tens ___ fiveâ&#x20AC;? 29 Chop 30 Kiosk 31 Bushwa 34 Cow catcher 35 Bugged 36 Sampled 37 Example of long life? 38 Snow melter

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday (02/24/19). Benefit through career growth this year. Strengthen social connections for shared gain. Expect new revelations. Find a hot summer romance, before a team challenge. Winter successes thrill friends, leading to a new passion. Express your passion to expand to new delights.

SUNDAY February 24, 2019

105 106

107 113

108 109 110 114

117

118 121

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re especially creative with words and communication. Listen

122

104 Alphabet section 105 Reading from the heart? 106 A prime time 108 Star Wars Knights 109 Mashie, today

110 Premium podium prize 111 La ___, Bolivia 113 Find fault with 114 That guy

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(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @lindablack. For more astrological interpretations visit Linda Black Horoscopes and www.nancyblack.com) NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Arts Awake SUNDAY February 24, 2019

The Sunday Times

Paalam, National Artist Francisco MaĂąosa N ATIONAL ARTIST Francisco "Bobby" MaĂąosa, who was known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Father of Philippine Neovernacular Architecture,â&#x20AC;? passed away due to lingering illness at age 88 on February 20. He was survived by his wife Denise and children Bambi, Dino and Gelo.

For more than 60 years of his architecture career, MaĂąosa championed the Filipino architecture. From his landmark design of the Sulo Hotel in 1960s until his retirement in 2015, he had passionately created original Filipino forms and spaces ZLWK LQWULFDWH DQG UHĂ&#x20AC;QHG GHWDLOV DQFKRUHG on Filipino sensibilities and cultures. He strongly believed that Philippine Architecture must be â&#x20AC;&#x153;true to itself, its land and its people.â&#x20AC;? He intensively studied, mastered and interpreted the untapped DNA of Philippine architecture, especially the Bahay Kubo and Bahay na Bato. He also pushed for the use of indigenous materials such bamboo, coconut, rattan and capiz, among others for architectural finishes, furniture and furnishings.

Intuitively, he pioneered the sustainable architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;way before this environmental design movement broke ground in the Philippines. He conceptualized the â&#x20AC;&#x153;edible gardenâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a design where plants surround the external walls of the structures. This is quite evident in the San Miguel Building â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of his major works â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with its rice terraces-like green balconies and â&#x20AC;&#x153;tukodâ&#x20AC;? (inwardly slanting windows). While he had journeyed alone in his battle to uplift and promote Philippine architecture, MaĂąosa wholeheartedly defended his philosophy and developed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Filipinismâ&#x20AC;? design style. One of his many landmark projects included the Tahanang Pilipino (or the Coconut Palace), where he invented numerous coconut product finishes with suppliers and orchestrating many artists and artisans to participate in the different rooms showcasing Philippine culture; the internationally awarded Amanpulo Resort, which celebrates deconstructed â&#x20AC;&#x153;bahay kubosâ&#x20AC;?; Our Lady

of Peace Shrine in EDSA, Quezon City; Metrorail Transit System Stations for LRT 1, circa 1980s; Quezon Memorial Circle Development Plan; Chapel of the Risen Lord, Las PiĂąas City, which was WKH FRYHU RI KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW SXEOLVKHG ERRN Designing Filipino, among others. He received several awards and recognitions such as Most Outstanding Professional Award in the Field of Interior Design from Philippine Regulation Commission in 2013; Lifetime Achievement Award from United Architects of the Philippines in 2009; Outstanding Artist for Golden Years of Service Award LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG RI $UFKLWHFWXUH IURP WKH 1Dtional Commission for Culture and the Arts, in observance of the Unesco World Theater Week in 2009; Gawad Diwa ng Lahi sa Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award in 2006; Gawad Ginto Likha Award from Architectural Archives of the Philippines in 2005; The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award; 2004 Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining Award in 2004; and Papal Award, Noble Knighthood of WKH 3RQWLĂ&#x20AC;FDO 2UGHU RI 6W *UHJRU\ WKH Great in 1982, among others. He was conferred the National Artist Award in 2018 for his valuable contribution to the development, preservation and promotion of the Philippine Architecture, which is essential to the Filipino identity.

Necro rites for MaĂąosa

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts will pay tribute to the late National Artist for Architecture Francisco â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bobbyâ&#x20AC;? MaĂąosa through a state necrological ceremony, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pagdadalamhati ng Bayan Para Kay Francisco MaĂąosa,â&#x20AC;? today at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). The Arrival Honors, led by the Philippine Navy, will start at 8:30 a.m. at the CCP Front Lawn, followed by a procession at the Ramp. The Necrological Rites will follow promptly at 9 a.m. Fellow National Artists will pay homage WR 0DxRVD ZKR KDG PDGH VLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQW FRQWULEXWLRQV WR 3KLOLSSLQH $UFKLWHFWXUH His interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will happen between late morning and high noon, right after the necrological services at the CCP. The necrological service is open to the public.

nccaupdate Âť Biggest improv comedy Ian Veneracion leads 2019 Ani ng Dangal awardees

festival in Asia returns ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S back! Third World Improv and the PETA Theater Center in cooperation with Ticket2Me present anew the Manila Improv Festival. The festival is set to happen from March 27 to 31 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Manila Improv Festival, or MIF, is a globally recognized biennial showcase of the best acts in improvisational theater in the Asian UHJLRQ DQG EH\RQG ,W LV RQ LWV Ă&#x20AC;IWK edition and has developed a loyal audience since it began in 2010. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manila Improv Festival includes 58 local and i nt er n at ion a l i mprov act s , i nclud i ng g roups and i nd ividuals from Israel, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Australia, the United States, Spain, Colombia, France, and Venezuela in what is considered to be one of the major improv festivals in the world. Performers of unscripted and unrehearsed theater will do shows in four different performing venues i n side the PETA Theater Center for a f ive-day comedy marathon with 20 shows and 10 workshops beginning on the evening of March 27 until the evening of March 31. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the most attended international festival we have had yet, with special shows that celebrate and embrace the roots of the individual performers. For example, we have an all Latino show, a French show, an Indians of Singapore show, and an LGBTQ show,â&#x20AC;? says festival producer Gabe Mercado. Pa r ticipati n g th i s yea r a re Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Impromafia; Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Dodot Ensemble; Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pi rate s Of Tokyo Bay; Lati n Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lattitude; Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The ThĂŠ Tre De Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oignon Company and The Frenchies; and Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beijing Broads, Beijing Improv and Zmack. Adding to the lineup are Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Formosa Improv Group

and Skits and Giggles; USâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bird and Friends and Ed Reggi; and the joint group of US and Philippines, Jonathan and Gabe. The Philippines is bringing the largest number of delegates, 17 acts in total. Raising the Philippine f lag are 6 p.m. Improv; The 4th Players; Bi mpo; Chopsuey; C ra m mer sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Collective; Counter Clockwise; Is It Wednesday Yet?; Isprikitik Improv; Lipstick Therapy; Maki-Improv, Huwag Matakot!; Malingap Monsters; One and a Half Men; Pochinki Palz; Schrodingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Act; Singkit Improv; Spit; and Walang Wala. Finally, Singapore comes in second with the most delegates with 15 of them including AB Devils; A s ap; T he C ompa ny Pl aye r s; First Draft Shakespeare; Indian Improv Theatre Singapore; Les Musicables; Karma Cornf licts; The Latecomers; Mandarin is Pain; May Contain Nuts!; The Modern S chemer s; Mu lt i l i n g u i n i ; Not OK; Thick. Sol id. Tight.; and #BrownFamJam. Tickets are already available on l i ne th rough the Ticket2Me platform in single show and multiple show packages.

BY ARLO CUSTODIO ACTOR-PILOT-VISUAL artist Ian Veneracion leads the awardees in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors). He bagged the Best Actor Award for his role as a reporter who covers sensational stories of the occult in the Ă&#x20AC;OP Â´,ODZRG 7KH :DWHU 6SLUW Âľ DW the 38th Osporto International Film Festival held in Lisbon, Portugal. Directed by Dan Villegas, the horror Ă&#x20AC;OP WHOOV RI D IDPLO\ ZKRVH UHODWLRQVKLSV get tested when strange things happen in the household. Veneracion is also one of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Arts Month Ambassadors, along with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Heart Evagelista, Boy Abunda and KZ Tandingan, who is Ambassador for Music. Fifty-five artists in various fields â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Architecture and the Allied Arts, Broadcast Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music and Visual Arts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in the 2019 edition of Ani ng Dangal. The awarding ceremonies are to be held at the Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila on February 27.

Other awardees Awardees from Cinema also include Ryza Cenon who won the Yakushi Pearl Award or the Most Brilliant Award for her role in the movie, "Mr. And Mrs. Cruz,â&#x20AC;? at the 13th Osaka Film Festival in Japan; Allen Dizon who won Best Actor for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bombaâ&#x20AC;? at the 16th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh; Angeli Nicole Sanoy who won Best Actress also for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bombaâ&#x20AC;? at the 33rd Warsaw International Film Festival in Poland; Christian Apolinario, Best Actor for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ma-Gulong Sayaw ng Buhayâ&#x20AC;? at the 4th Sorok Short Film Festival in the Philippines; Christian Bables, Best Actor for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Signal Rockâ&#x20AC;? at the Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF) 2018 in Vietnam; and Timothy Castillo, Best Actor for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Neomanilaâ&#x20AC;? at the 34th /RV $QJHOHV $VLDQ 3DFLĂ&#x20AC;Y )LOP )HVWLYDO in Southern California.

7KH Ă&#x20AC;OPV Â´3DQDKRQ QJ +DOLPDZ Âľ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagahe,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Call Her Ganda,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employee of the Month,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last Order,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mabubulokâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ngiti ng Nazarenoâ&#x20AC;? are likewise honored, same with directors Arjanmar Rebeta and Mikhail Red, and scriptwriter Shireen Seno. Three artists in Architecture, two in Broadcast Arts, 17 artists in Cinema, Ă&#x20AC;YH DUWLVWV LQ 'DQFH RQH LQ 'UDPDWLF Arts, one in Literary Arts, 16 in Music, and 10 in Visual Arts are honored in the 11th edition of Ani ng Dangal. Organized by NCCA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; led by its Chairman and National Artist Virgilio Almario and Executive Director Rico Pableo Jr., Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano, and Commissioner for the Arts Teddy Co and SCA Vice Chair Shirley HaliliCruz â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Ani ng Dangal Awards also recognizes cultural workers and works that have earned international awards and accolades during the past year. It is one of the highlights of NCCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s c elebration of National Arts Month.

Actor and National Arts Month Ambassador Ian Veneracion was honored for winning Best Actor at the 38th Osporto International Film Festival held in Lisbon, Portugal (photo above).

Arts Awake The Sunday Times

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Sceneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Cesar Legaspi, oil on wood panel, 60.5 X 90.5 cm (1970)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Untitledâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Benedicto Cabrera, oil on canvas, 241 X 192 cm (1995)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fish (Green)â&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Ang Kiukok, tempera on paper, 30 X 44 cm (1979)

February 24, 2019 SUNDAY

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Baguio Weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Jose Joya, acrylic, collage on board, 73.5 X 109.5 cm (1988)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;IMAGES OF NATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cities of the Past #2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Arturo Luz, mixed media on canvas, 90.5 X 90.5 cm (1997)

14 National Artists, one massive exhibit F

BY CHRISTINA ALPAD

EBRUARY is arguably the most exciting month for both art creators and patrons. Declared as the National Arts Month with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683 in 1991, private and government agencies have since organized events to celebrate Filipinosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; artistic brilliance this time of the year. But if the long list of art events this month â&#x20AC;&#x201D; among them Art Fair PH, Fringe Manila, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; endeavors and the numerous other theater productions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; fail to satiate art enthusiasts, Bank of the Philippine Islands' (BPI) Foundation and Ayala Museum is taking the celebration a notch higher with an exhibit of not just one but 14 National Artists for Visual Arts. A three-month massive exhibit launched this National Arts Month and will run until May 19, the endeavor is aptly called â&#x20AC;&#x153;BPI: Images of Nation.â&#x20AC;? The 45-piece exhibit, all from the private collection of the bank, includes the works of Fernando Amorsolo, Carlos â&#x20AC;&#x153;Botongâ&#x20AC;? Francisco, Napoleon

Abueva, Victorio Edades, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi, Hernando Ocampo, Arturo Luz, J. Elizalde Navarro, Ang Kiukok, Jose Joya, Benedicto â&#x20AC;&#x153;BenCabâ&#x20AC;? Cabrera, Abdulmari Asia Imao, and Federico Aguilar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since last year, BPI Foundation has been taking a more active role in supSRUWLQJ WKH Ă RXULVKLQJ ORFDO DUW VFHQH Âľ BPI Foundation Executive Director Maricris San Diego shared during the exhibitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch in Makati. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While this primarily entails the maintenance of BPIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art collection, we believe our part also includes educating the public about art appreciation and inspiring creative talents through exhibits that demonstrate our cultural wealth,â&#x20AC;? the executive added. Curated by Ayala Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sarimanokâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Abdulmari Asia Imao, solid brass, 57 X 55.5 X 23 cm (1973)

curator and conservation head, Ken Esguerra, the masterpieces are arranged to inspire thriving Filipino artists by identifying and idealizing the states and stages of Philippine nation as portrayed by the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Artists.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our intent is to share art and democratize it and help preserve it and promote it not only this generation but for future generations to come,â&#x20AC;? San Diego further noted. For its part, Ayala Museum â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which has been helping the foundation to manage and restore its more than 1,000 Filipino art collection, among other partnerships â&#x20AC;&#x201D; said it gives them pleasure to be a platform for general public to appreciate the works of Filipino National Artists. â&#x20AC;&#x153; T h r o u g h t h i s e n d e avo r w e aim to inspire pride in being Filipino, especially among our young students. The education system becomes so complex that not as many of them donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get exposed to art and culture as much as they should. So when they do come to museums like this, hopefully they will get inspired,â&#x20AC;? noted Ayala Museum Senior Director Mariles Gustilo. BPI: Images of Nation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; composed of two and three-dimentional artworks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is currently on YLHZ DW WKH WKLUG Ă RRU JDOOHULHV RI Ayala Museum in Makati.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Basa Na (Woman with Salakot) by Napoleon Abueva, molave, 89 X 33 cm (1970)

Honoring â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tatangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; WHILE it was certainly SM Megamallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grand welcome for the Year of the Pig, the exhibit of Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students at the property, more importantly, celebrated the late SM founder, Henry Sy, Sr., fondly known to most as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tatang.â&#x20AC;? Fifty artists showcased a total of 381 artworks in Chinese Scrolls, Oil Paintings and Taels. Touchingly, the artists declared that their works were dedicated to the memory of Tatang. The centerpiece of the exhibit was â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Journey,â&#x20AC;? a mural which the elder Chan Lim brothers, Alex and Felix Chan Lim, started 35 years ago and recently completed. When the panel of pine and plum was unearthed in the storage, the brothers decided to take some time off their work to complete their painting in order to UHĂ HFW WKHLU FRQYHUJHQW DUW VW\OHV The family patriarch, Chan Lim, was then requested to compose a poem for this masterpiece. 2YHU WKH SDVW Ă&#x20AC;YH GHFDGHV WKH &KDQ /LP Family of Artists has used a wide variety of media, styles, and techniques to create a fusion of Western and Eastern art.

Kathleen Uy Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s painting in a tael or Chinese coin-inspired plate

However, it is their Asian-themed art and Chinese brush painting that the Chan Lim artists are best known for. Currently, the three generations of the family are actively involved in the arts, with the younger generation dabbing in different types of more modern techniques, such as digital media and audio-visual creations. The art exhibit also featured free painting workshops at the mall.

'The Journey,' the 35-year-old masterpiece of Chan Lim brothers

Artworks in Chinese Scrolls