THE MANILA TIMES | MARCH 25, 2019

Immediate policy easing ‘imprudent’ — Guinigundo »Story on B1 ++

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Pagasa: 51 provinces to suffer drought

BY DIVINA DELA CRUZ

T

HE STATE weather bureau expects 51 provinces to experience drought by the end of April, as the country suffers from the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

Just days after declaring an earlier-thanusual start of the dry season, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that some areas under a dry spell could transition to drought by next month.

³DroughtA8

Del Rosario’s ICC case: Cover-up Part 2 for his boo-boo in losing Scarborough

T

HE real reason why former President Aquino 3rd’s Foreign AfFAIRS 3ECRETARY !LBERTO DEL 2OSARIO kLED A useless case against China’s President Xi Jinping in the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the following. ³TiglaoA5

RIG RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

SCORCHED

More than 40 provinces experiencing a dry spell might transition to a drought by next month, according to the weather bureau. Drought is declared if a province has experienced three consecutive months of way below normal or five consecutive months of below normal rainfall.

THE MANILA TIMES FILE PHOTO

SC justice cautions govt on China loan for Chico Dam A SUPREME Court (SC) justice has expressed alarm over the Chico River irrigation loan agreement between the Philippines and China that is supposedly advantageous to Beijing.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, in his

speech at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila over the weekend, warned that China could seize oil and gas-rich Philippine assets in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) if the country defaulted on payment.

Experts to assess PH seafaring standards NEXT month, a group of international maritime experts will conduct an independent assessment of the Philippines’ conformity with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). ³SeafaringA2

Carpio had slammed China over the West Philippine Sea issue, earning the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao had belittled the Supreme Court justice, saying Carpio was not an inter-

UNITY RIDE

Thousands of bikers cross the Magallanes Flyover in Makati during ‘National Unity Ride’ on Sunday to show strong dissent to Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, a law requiring motorcycles to have bigger license plates and other identification marks.

PHOTO BY ROGER RAÑADA

»Story on A8

What’s inside ‘SURRENDER OR BE ARRESTED’ NewsA2 THE UHURU BLUEPRINT: WHAT IF PH HAD STAYED IN ICC?

Dan SteinbockA4

national lawyer.

In his speech, Carpio said China would ravish natural gas in areas contested by Manila and Beijing in the disputed sea if the Philippines failed to

³LoanA2

Sugar industry backs Bong Go, JV, 5 other Senate bets STAKEHOLDERS of the sugar industry have vowed to support seven candidates for senator whom they consider “champions” of the industry, particularly for pushing to abort proposed sugar liberalization in the country.

At a recent news conference in Bacolod City, sugar producers, small farmers, AGRARIAN REFORM BENEkCIARIES AND MILL AND farm workers agreed to collectively address various challenges to the industry over the last couple of years such as high-fructose corn (HFC) syrup and sugar sweetened beverage tax, and lately, moves by government economic managers to liberalize sugar importation.

³BacksA2 REACH US AT:

FILIPINO TOUCHES BEHIND SOME OF MARVEL’S FAVORITE SUPERHEROES MAVERICKS ROUT CURRY-LESS WARRIORS SportsC1

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

Robots to replace workers, warns Pinay scientist REINABELLE Reyes, the Filipino woman, who confirmed physicist Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity through LARGE SCALE RESEARCH SAID ARTIkCIAL INTELligence (AI) was “bound” to replace human workers in the future.

“We should be grappling with this

because it is bound to happen. What would humans do now? Humans would be unemployed,” the data scientist and astrophysicist said in a lecture at the National Museum Planetarium in Manila on Saturday.

Reyes said the change would be

gradual, but people should be ready just the same.

The physicist added that people could come to terms with the idea that workers could one day be replaced by robots if they “look at things and realize that they

³ReplaceA2

A2

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

Q SEAFARING FROM A1

M I L I TA R Y T O R E D C O N S U LTA N T S :

‘Surrender or be arrested’ T

BY DEMPSEY REYES

HE ARMED Forces of the Philippines on Sunday told consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) previously given safe conduct passes to surrender or be arrested anytime, now that peace negotiations have ended.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, military spokesman, said that following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement ending peace talks with the communists, the passes, which granted immunity from ar-

rest when the peace talks were on, had been cancelled. “Safe conduct passes [were] being distributed by our government for them (NDF consultants) to walk freely and participate in the

peace negotiations, but now it has been permanently ended, there is no reason for them to walk freely anymore,� Arevalo said in an interview over dwIZ radio. “They should surrender themselves because their safe conduct passes have effectively been revoked and if they refuse to surrender voluntarily, they may be arrested validly anytime,� he added.

In his speech in Fort Bonifacio last week, Duterte announced that he had permanently ended talks with the NDF, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Arevalo in 2017 disclosed that the military had begun tracking the whereabouts of NDF consultants with safe conduct passes.

These include Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Alfredo Mapano, Tirso Alcantara, Pedro Codaste, Porferio Tuna, Concha Araneta-Bocala, Ernesto Lorenza, Eduardo Ganelsa, Ariel Arbitario, Runel Saluta, Jaime Solidad, Keneddy Bangibang and Alan Jazmines.

Last week, an NDF consultant was arrested by police and military operatives in Imus, Cavite identikED AS 2ENANTE 'AMARA AND HIS companion, Arturo Joseph Bala-

gat, a retired Catholic priest.

Gamara and Balagat’s arrests stemmed from a search warrant for POSSESSION OF kREARMS EXPLOSIVES and other documents.

Last year, series of arrests were made against consultants including Silva, Alcantara, Rey Casambre and Vicente Ladlad.

Duterte stopped the talks and declared the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), terrorist organizations, in late 2017.

The President was angered by the series of NPA attacks on government forces despite ongoing talks.

Lawmakers meet at the Senate today over budget impasse CONGRESSIONAL leaders will attempt to break a deadlock over the 2019 national budget in a meeting Monday morning at the Senate.

This was confirmed to The Manila Times by House negotiators appointed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to talk to the Senate to end the budget impasse.

Last week, Arroyo instructed the three-man House team composed of Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., the House

Appropriations Committee chairman; Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman; and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora to address the budget issue with the Senate contingent composed of Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Loren Legarda AND 3ENATORS 0ANkLO ,ACSON AND Gregorio Honasan.

4HE TWO CHAMBERS RATIkED THE P3.8-trillion 2019 budget in February, and the enrolled copy was signed by Arroyo in early March.

Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd, however, refused to sign THE BILL AFTER kNDING OUT THAT THE (OUSE MADE CHANGES POST RATIkCAtion, such as itemizing lump-sum funds. The Senate prefers to let these funds be vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lacson has accused the House of making P95.1 billion in realignments and itemizing a portion of the P15-billion budget for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program to

at least 62 favored districts.

Apart from her assertion that lump-sum budgeting was “unconstitutional,� Arroyo reiterated that she did not micromanage the budget following Lacson’s threat that she could be charged with FALSIkCATION FOR SIGNING A BUDGET bill that was different from the RATIkED VERSION The House last week physically retrieved the budget books it had sent to the Senate out of “good

faith� that they would hold an “immediate meaningful and sober dialogue� to resolve the impasse.

The government is operating on a reenacted 2018 budget after congressional leaders failed to reach a consensus during their meeting with the President two weeks ago.

This has led to lower spending, as shown by a rare budget surplus recorded by the government in January.

GLEE JALEA

SUGAR POWER

Sugar producers and farmers, agrarian-reform beneficiaries and mill and farm workers under the Confederation of Sugar Producers gather to endorse the Senate candidacies of Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Maria Lourdes ‘Nancy’ Binay, Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito, Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel 3rd and Cynthia Villar along with the personal bets of President Rodrigo Duterte — former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa. The group is calling for action to address challenges to the industry over the last couple of years, such as the influx of high fructose corn syrup, the sugar-sweetened beverage tax and moves to liberalize sugar importation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Q BACKS FROM A1

Sugar industry “We come together because, once again, the sugar industry is faced with a threat — liberalized importation — that could well spell its death and sink the nation’s economy and our efforts to ACHIEVE FULL FOOD SELF SUFkCIENCY u Tatak Kalamay said in a statement read by Raymond Montinola,

spokesman for the Confederation of Sugar Producers (Confed). “We come together, not to flex our muscles, not in a show of force, but to avail of that supreme remedy accorded by democracy, the electoral process, and throw our full support behind the [Senate] candidates

who have proven themselves to be champions of the sugar industry,� the group added.

The candidates whom the movement will carry to the Senate are incumbent Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Maria Lourdes “Nancy� Binay, Jose Victor “JV�

Ejercito, Aquilino “Koko� Pimentel 3rd and Cynthia Villar along with the personal bets of President Rodrigo Duterte former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go

and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa. “These are the candidates who have walked their talk, standing with us as we fended off chalLENGES SUCH AS THE INlUX OF (&#S and sugar taxes,� the statement said, referring to the incumbent senators who helped the industry hurdle the challenges including filing Senate Resolution 1014 last February, urging the government to abort the planned sugar liberalization to safeguard the

economy and welfare of industry stakeholders in 28 sugar-producing provinces in the country.

Go and de la Rosa were included in Tatak Kalamay’s list after the two bets assured the group of their support for the industry during a dialogue.

The group said similar launches would be held in the 28 sugarproducing provinces where they would concentrate their campaign for the seven candidates.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Q LOAN FROM A1

Q REPLACE FROM A1

SC justice cautions govt on China loan

Robots

pay the $62-million loan.

The 20-year loan deal for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project was signed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotenciary of China Zhao Jianhua and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd on April 10, 2018. “In case of default by the Philippines in the repayment of the loan, China can seize, to satisfy any arbitral award in favor of China, patrimonial assets and assets dedicated to commercial use of the Philippine government,� Carpio pointed out.

The Supreme Court justice, who will retire in October this year, cited paragraph 8.1 of the loan agreement wherein the Philippines “expressedly waived any sovereign immunity� over all its assets except for some, including “public or governmental use as distinguished from patrimonial assets and assets dedicated to commercial use.�

Patrimonial assets are properties owned by the Philippines in its private capacity and not for public use, public service or intended for development of

national wealth.

Carpio said “patrimonial assets and assets dedicated to commercial use� include the oil and gas within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that includes the West Philippine Sea. An EEZ is an area within 200 nautical miles from the country’s baseline, where it can explore and exploit any resources; carry out any search, excavation or drilling operations; conduct any research; and construct, maintain or operate any artificial island, off-shore terminal, installation or other structures or devices. “This includes the rich gas kELDS IN 2EED "ANK u #ARPIO SAID He added that the loan agreement was governed by Chinese law and in case of disagreement and lawsuit, the “arbitration shall be conducted by the China International Economic Trade Arbitration Commission under CIETAC arbitration rules� that shall be held in their hometown in China.

He also warned that whatever the ruling of CIETAC shall be “final and binding.�

Q Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio Carpio said with the home court advantage in the lawsuit, “patrimonial assets and assets dedicated to commercial use� was “defined under Chinese law, interpreted by a Chinesemajority tribunal in Beijing and enforced by the Chinese government in the Philippines.�

This means that the Philippines will have no chance of winning the arbitration because China will always have a majority in the three-member arbitration panel.

Carpio said there was a provision in the arbitration clause where the chairman of CIETAC, A GOVERNMENT OFkCER OF #HINA

shall appoint the presiding arbitrator if ever there shall be no common candidates on the list of arbitrators for both countries.

A 2013 report from the United States Energy Information Administration said Reed Bank could hold up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

JOMAR CANLAS

have not been there forever.�

She said it would be “naive� on the part of humans to think that they would not be affected by it. “But thought leaders looking at the future said humans won’t need to work because all the computers would do the jobs for us. We can do arts. It is also related to this idea of minimum base income.

4HEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT FULkLL their potential.�

According to her, there is a need for leaders to be “informed to understand the science� because technology is “changing society in ways we cannot imagine.�

The scientist called on budding scientists to ask for evidencebacked government policies. “We are future leaders who understand and can look for evidence and can actually demand policies which are supported by data and studies,� Reyes said. “We are far from that because decisions are based on other things, but that is the direction that we want to go to,� she added.

Reyes noted a need for more women scientists because there were NOT ENOUGH OF THEM IN THE kELD “We need more women scientists. It is not being a woman. It is just that there are just so few of us.

Experts to assess PH seafaring standards “Our engagement with the professional services of independent evaluators shows our full efforts in maintaining our seafarer’s reputation worldwide as a dependable maritime workforce. We will continue to comply with IMO standards for the benefit of our seafarers,�

Marina officer-in-charge and administrator Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. was quoted as saying in a statement.

The IMO is the International Maritime Organization.

The government on Sunday expressed bullishness that the Philippines will continue to secure its place in the so-called White List of the IMO. The Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) have vowed to conform with the International Convention on STCW for seafarers following an exclusive report of The Manila Times warning of the country’s possible exclusion from the White List.

Inclusion in the White List means that the country complies with minimum qualification STANDARDS FOR MASTERS OFkCERS and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships, under the revised 1978 International Convention on STCW of the IMO, a United Nations agency. “The DoTr-Marina is taking the necessary steps to consistently improve the country’s maritime education, training, examination and assessment system,� the agencies said in a joint statement.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade urged Marina to fortify the country’s standing in the IMO and protect the livelihood of thousands of seafarers.

According to United Filipino Seafarers, over 400,000 jobs for Filipino seamen would be at risk if Marina failed to comply with global reporting standards.

Both the DOTr and Marina last week shrugged off reports about the government’s alleged failure to meet standards, stressing this has caused “undue panic.�

They said the Philippines remains on the White List, citing an IMO Maritime Safety Committee circular published in December 2018.

LISBET K. ESMAEL AND CARMELA I. HUELAR

Q Reinabelle Reyes Why discriminate and stop people from becoming what they will be good at?� she said.

Globally, according to the the astrophysicist, women were still a minority. “The potential is there, but the system is not allowing the women to move up [in leadership positions] in the same manner as men,� she said.

Reyes also cited the need for MORE kNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE government to produce more Filipino scientists. “We just want opportunities to be available to all Filipinos,� she said.

In 2010, Reyes and her research team were on the spotlight for showing how gravity pulled together galaxies up to 3.5 billion light years away, as predicted by Einstein’s theory. g/UR MEASUREMENTS CONkRMED relativity because the predictions were consistent with the measurements that we made,� Reyes said.

CATHERINE A. MODESTO

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DICT asks 15 companies to submit list of cell sites THE Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has asked 15 companies to identify the location of the cell towers that they intend to build in a bid to speed up the construction of telecommunication infrastructure in the country.

The DICT signed Memorandums of Understanding with 15 tower companies for the deployment of common towers in the country.

DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. asked the following companies to submit a list of sites for their cell towers: ISOC Infrastructures Inc.; Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.; MGS Construction Inc.; J.S. Cruz Construction and Development Inc.; ALT Global; ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd.; IHS Holding Ltd. (IHS Towers); Edotco Group Sdn Bhd; China Energy Equipment Co. Ltd.; RT Telecom Sdn Bhd.; Frontier Tower Associates Management Pte. Ltd.; the consortium of Global Networks Inc. and JTower Inc.; American Tower Corp.; Desarrollos Terrestres (DT Towers); and Shinheung Telecom. /NLY kVE OF THESE kRMS ARE LOCAL companies — ISOC Infrastructures Inc.; Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.; MGS Construction Inc.; J.S. Cruz Construction and Development Inc.; and ALT Global.

Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communications and incoming third telco Mislatel Consortium have also expressed their support to the government’s initiative to allow the building of more cell towers.

The DICT had proposed the signing of an agreement between the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other telecommunications companies (telcos) for the construction of 50,000 common towers in seven years.

Under the proposed agreement, the DICT and NTC, along with other telcos, will coordinate with one another in identifying the various sites where the common towers will be built. “Telcos will be the end-user of these common towers so we fully need their cooperation to improve our overall telecommunication landscape,� Rio said.

The DICT aims to build on

SITES ON THE kRST YEAR )T PLANS to gradually increase the number OF SITES TO FROM ON THE kFTH to seventh year.

The country has currently less than 20,000 towers and it needs to have an additional 50,000 in order to be competitive with neighboring countries. ROY D.R. NARRA

MONDAY March 25, 2019

A3

‘Misuari incapable of waging war’

BY DEMPSEY REYES

M

ORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari is no longer capable of waging war because he has lost most of his men to other groups, said $EFENSE 3ECRETARY $ELkN ,ORENZANA “They (MNLF) are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege.

But war? Not anymore,� Lorenzana told reporters in a text message over the weekend.

He was referring to the incident in Zamboanga in 2013 when the MNLF, under Misuari’s supervision, battled soldiers. The clashes left more than 200 people dead.

The Defense chief said Misuari no longer had manpower since most of his followers had “gravitated� to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),

following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

President Rodrigo Duterte last week said the MNLF leader threatened to wage war if the plan to shift to a federal system of government does not push through.

Lorenzana dismissed Misuari’s threat as mere “sound bites in an attempt to make himself be noticed.� “But he is missing a great chance to be really relevant. He should accept the BARMM, work within it and lend his leadership, stature and expertise to make it succeed,� the Defense chief said.

“My guess [on his threat]? He’s BLUFkNG u HE ADDED The military echoed the stand of Lorenzana.

Col. Noel Detoyato, military public affairs chief, pointed out that the BOL won in Mindanao overwhelmingly, citing that it should be prepared for by the military as well. “He will go to war, with whom?

Who is his enemy? He went to Zamboanga [in 2013] and burned things there, who was his enemy back then?� Detoyato said in a ardio interview on Sunday.

Still, Detoyato said the military was ready for war. “The biggest challenge here is to change the direction of his thinking, if he does not get what he wants, he will go to war. It’s a childish thought that if you do not get what you want, you will throw tantrums,� he added. “It will no longer work this time since most people now wants

peace,� Detoyato said.

Former MNLF chairman Muslimin Sema said there was no reason to threaten war� as he cited the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) signed by the MNLF and the Philippine government. “While federalism may be a solution to the Bangsamoro issue, the 1996 FPA does not provide for it but merely for meaningful autonomy AND THE INTEGRATION OF OUR kGHTERS TO the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),� Sema said in a statement. “There is no valid reason to make threats of war, veiled or otherwise. War is not a child’s play and already considered uncivilized,� Sema stressed. “Our people has been through to so much violence and displacement. It is time we truly give them not only peace of mind but more importantly the chance to rebuild their lives and enjoy the dividends of peace,� he added.

Bam seeks protection for freelancers Social services, cohesion key to Mindanao peace – Manicad SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam�

Aquino 4th has filed a bill recognizing the freelancers’ right to protection from late or non-payment for services rendered. “With more and more freelancers, we are confronted with an urgent need to protect this new sector and empower them with ease of doing business,� Aquino said. “In our age of instantaneous global communication and interconnectivity, increased specialization and a millennialism that values mobility, creativity and entrepreneurship, we can only expect our pool of freelancers to grow,� he said.

“Let us waste no time in ensuring that they are not inconvenienced by red tape and that they are protected from difficult, even fraudulent clients,� he added.

Senate Bill 351, also known as the “Freelancers Protection Act,� aims to give freelancers the power to demand their remuneration from their employer based on their signed contract.

The measure also does not bar the aggrieved party from filing a complaint with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) or before the court.

Aquino said freelancing was now a “dream job� and a fun-

damental source of livelihood for those who value mobility, their own time and freedom from a fixed employer.

The measure takes into account the ease of doing business for freelancers, making it easier for them to register in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Under the proposed law, freelancers would not have to pay tax for the first three years.

The bill is pending in the committee on labor, employment and human resource development headed by Sen. Joel Villanueva, who has signified his intention to be made co-author of the measure.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

PH, Japan sign labor agreement THE Philippines and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation that seeks to provide better protection on the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers as Japan opened its doors to more than 350,000 foreign workers to address its manpower shortage in at least 14 job categories.

The agreement was signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd and Justice Minister Tashi Yamashita.

Bello said the labor pact aims to strengthen the cooperation between Manila and Tokyo in eliminating illegal recruiters for the smooth deployment of workers. “Ensuring the welfare and security of our Filipino skilled workers is among the priorities of the government and this agreement

is geared towards a more secure process of recruitment and deployMENT OF SPECIkED SKILLED WORKERS in Japan,� Bello said.

He estimated that Filipinos would corner at least 30 percent of the 350,000 available jobs Japan was opening to foreign workers effective April 11.

The memorandum seeks to establish a basic partnership framework for the “proper operation of the system pertaining to foreign human resources� with the status OF RESIDENCE OF gSPECIkED SKILLED worker,� who possess certain expertise and skills in certain job categories including health care, building maintenance, food services, industrial machinery, electronics, food manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, construc-

TION SHIPBUILDING kSHERIES AND aquaculture, parts and tooling, and aviation.

Under the agreement, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will serve as the country’s contact points in the processing and accreditation while THE VERIkCATION OF SKILLED WORKERS documents, coordination onsite and welfare concerns would be under the supervision of the Philippine Labor Overseas Labor /FkCE IN *APAN Workers who will be hired as SPECIkED SKILLED WORKERS CAN STAY IN *APAN FOR A MAXIMUM OF kVE years .

As of June 2018, there were 280,000 Filipinos residing and working in Japan.

WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

Q Senate bet Rodrigo ‘Jiggy’ Manicad greets a supporter during a campaign rally. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SENATE candidate Rodrigo “Jiggy� Manicad Jr. called on the government to focus on providing social services and social cohesion, the “missing ingredients� in the peace efforts in Mindanao.

Manicad said some people join radical groups because of poverty, desperation, isolation and lack of opportunities. “There are many things lacking in our studies on what really pushes the people, especially children, to join militant groups in Mindanao, but now, we can have a war-less solution,� the former journalist said.

Manicad noted that communities prone to CONlICT SHOULD HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT INCLUDED livelihood and job security.

This, he added, would “reduce the appeal of bounties or ransom money promised by militant group.�

The neophyte candidate, who is advocating novel and innovative solutions to the country’s persistent problems, also called on Filipinos to promote peace. “Tayong mga Pilipino ay dapat ding makiisa sa kampanya kontra terorismo. Iwasan po natin ang mag-enforce ng mga stereotypes. Magbasa

at makialam po tayo tungkol sa kultura at pananampalataya ng iba. Maging bukas tayo sa pakikipag-usap at pakikipagsalamuha sa mga taong ‘di tulad natin (We should be one in the campaign against terrorism. We should not enforce stereotypes. We should read and learnt about the culture and faith of other people. Let us open ourselves to accepting people who are unlike us),� he added.

Manicad cited a 2018 study of global developMENT kRM $!) AND 53 !GENCY FOR )NTERNATIONAL Development (USAid), which revealed that support for violence and extremism can stem from social insecurities and discrimination.

The same study also showed that the belief that Islam is being attacked, coupled with a tolerance for a culture of guns, are strong predictors of radicalization.

Thus, Manicad said government services should reach those who need it most.

He cited a number of ghost projects that hired “ghost employees� during his time as a journalist. g4HE WORST PART IS THAT YOU CAN kND THESE CASES IN the poorest communities,� Manicad said.

RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA

Lay-off must be done in good faith Dear PAO, ) WAS HIRED AS A RANK AND kLE personnel and became a regular EMPLOYEE IN !UGUST ,AST MONTH WE WERE ALL NOTIkED BY the Human Resource (HR) manager of our temporary lay-off from April 1 until August 1 of THIS YEAR /UR (2 MANAGER TOLD us that our company would suspend its operations for a period OF FOUR MONTHS DUE TO kNANCIAL LOSSES AND LACK OF CAPITAL )S our forthcoming lay-off legal AND VALID 0LEASE ENLIGHTEN ME 4HANK YOU SO MUCH Ely Dear Ely, To answer your question, we shall refer to the provisions of the Labor Code, to wit: “Article 301. When employment not deemed terminated. The bonakDE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF a business or undertaking for a period not exceeding six (6) months,

losses or the closing or cessation of operation of the establishment or undertaking unless the closing is for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this Title, by serving a written notice on the workers and the Ministry of Labor and Employment at least OR THE FULkLLMENT BY THE EMPLOYEE one month before the intended of a military or civic duty shall not date thereof.� terminate employment. In all such In the case of Pasig Agricultural cases, the employer shall reinstate Development and Industrial Supthe employee to his former position ply Corp. and Celestino E. Dawithout loss of seniority rights if mian vs. Wilson Nievarez, et al. he indicates his desire to resume (GR 197852, Oct. 19, 2015), the his work not later than one month Supreme Court through Associate from the resumption of operations Justice Diosdado Peralta elucidated: of his employer or from his relief g,AY OFF IS DEkNED AS THE SEVERfrom the military or civic duty. ance of employment, through no “Article 298. Closure of estab- fault of and without prejudice to lishment and reduction of per- the employee, resorted to by mansonnel. The employer may also agement during the periods of terminate the employment of any business recession, industrial deemployee due to the installation PRESSION OR SEASONAL lUCTUATIONS

of labor-saving devices, redun- or during lulls caused by lack dancy, retrenchment to prevent of orders, shortage of materials,

DEAR PAO PERSIDA ACOSTA

conversion of the plant to a new production program or the introduction of new methods or more EFkCIENT MACHINERY OR OF AUTOMAtion. However, a layoff would be tantamount to a dismissal only if it is permanent. Hence, when a lay-off is only temporary, the employment status of the employee is not deemed terminated, but merely suspended. “Pursuant to Article 286 (now Article 301), the suspension of the operation of business or undertaking in a temporary layoff situation must not exceed six months. Within this six-month period, the employee should either be recalled or permanently retrenched. Otherwise, the employee would be deemed to have been dismissed, and the employee held liable therefor. “Closure or cessation of operations for economic reasons is, therefore, recognized as a valid

exercise of management prerogative. The determination to cease operations is a prerogative of management which the State does not usually interfere with, as no business or undertaking must be required to continue operating at a loss simply because it has to maintain its workers in employment. Such an act would be tantamount to a taking of property without due process of law. “Jurisprudence, in both a permanent and a temporary lay-off, dictates that the one-month notice rule to both the DoLE (Department of Labor and Employment) and the employee under Article 283 (now Article 298) is mandatory. Also, in both cases, the layoff, as an exercise of the employer’s management prerogative, must be exercised in good faith — that is, one which is intended for the advancement of employers’ interest and not

for the purpose of defeating or circumventing the rights of the employees under special laws or under valid agreements.�

Applying the jurisprudence in your situation, your employer must adduce clear and compelling evidence that it is forced to temporarily shut down its business operations, resulting in the temporary lay-off of employees and that such lay-off must not exceed six months.

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

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

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

A4

Opinion

MONDAY March 25, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l New tone and terminology in handling communist insurgency

P

EOPLE are not so sure which is sadder to behold: the permanent end of peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels, or the dissolution of the government negotiating panel led by Labor Secretary Silvestrre Bello.

In our view, it is fitting that President Duterte has declared an emphatic end to both because both signify a failed and costly initiative.

Both government and the communists must shoulder part of the blame for the failed peace effort.

The effort started with a bang when President Duterte made the dramatic decision to include representatives of the communists in his initial cabinet and administration.

But this show of confidence quickly petered out when CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison failed to reciprocate with an earnest that the communists would be willing to end their armed struggle against the government.

In the subsequent negotiations, the communists were more intransigent and demanding than conciliatory. They made demands for communist leaders in detention to be released so they could serve as consultants in the talks.

The government negotiating panel for its part did not look prepared for a hard-nosed eyeball-to-eyeball meeting with the communist panel. The government’s position appeared to come out in stages, and only in the end did it present what it considered as the acceptable outcome from the talks.

President Duterte appeared to shape the government’s position by butting in.

Now, the government wants to shift the peace process entirely to localized talks, and to exclude Sison from the conversation.

According to national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., this means the Chief Executive has completely shut the door to any “interventions or persuasions� regarding the CPP, its armed unit the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The government will focus instead on localized peace engagements.

Esperon said there is no need to pursue talks with Sison since the socio-economic causes he has been fighting for are already being delivered by the Duterte administration.

It was in November 2017, that President Duterte issued Proclamation 360 declaring the termination of peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA over the insurgents’ continued offensives against government forces and private installations.

A year later, in December 2018, the President signed Executive Order 70 directing the creation of a national task force that will spearhead a whole-of-government approach to “end local communist armed conflict.�

4HE CHANGE IN TERMINOLOGY IS SIGNIkCANT 4HE TALK IS NOW ABOUT the end of the insurgency. It is not about peace the platitude.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said Mr. Duterte’s move is the right path because the communists only took advantage of the peace negotiations to regroup and strengthen their ranks. “This is only proper,� he said. “Thirty-one years of deceptive ploys using peace talks, across five administrations, only resulted in more terrorist NPA being released, an opportunity for the CTG (communist terrorist group) to recruit and recover lost areas of influence, publicity for Joma in the international arena as a ‘dove’,� Parlade said.

Talks with Sison only resulted in “wasted government funds spent for negotiations and junkets, opportunity losses for investments and development because of prolonged and intermittent fighting, politicians kowtowing with NPA for survival, especially during elections but leaving the government empty-handed.�

Sison, for his part, never showed a semblace of control over the local insurgents still actively operating in the country.

As government strategists began testing the new approach, Sison declared that Duterte was just being “delusional.�

~

MONDAY March 25, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 163

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

The Uhuru blueprint: What if PH had stayed in ICC? Recently, the Philippines withdrew from the ICC, opting for the path of the US, Russia, China and India. To focus on a new economic future and the battle against drugs and corruption, the Duterte government shunned the Uhuru blueprint.

O

enough, Odinga withdrew from the October election, which resulted in Uhuru’s crushing electoral victory.

Instead of democratic competition, Odinga traveled to London where he met former UN Deputy Secretary General, Lord Mark colonial leader Jomo Kenyatta. Malloch Brown, the PR muscle However, the opposition led by behind Cory Aquino’s election 2AILA /DINGA HOPED TO BENEkT win in 1986 and the Aquino family since then; and the chair of from his demise.

Reportedly, Odinga’s Or- Smartmatic, whose election techange Democratic Movement nology has unleashed controverwas named after the Ukrainian sies in many countries, including “Orange Revolution,� which the Philippines. In 2007, Malloch billionaire George Soros had Brown was named vice chairman supported. Soros’ Open Society of Soros Fund Management and also funded the pro-Odinga key his Open Society Institute.

The Uhuru case undermined the NGO and Kenyan think tanks to stop President Uhuru from the ICC’s credibility, wasting resources The Uhuru blueprint 2013 general election. And yet, and causing gratuitous political In 2010, then-ICC Prosecutor after a three-year juridical chaos, turmoil. It also cost Kenya as the Luis Moreno Ocampo charged the ICC charges were dropped in ICC’s lingering process began to then-Deputy Prime Minister March 2015 for lack of evidence. penalize the perceived legitimacy Another show began ahead of of Kenya’s political leadership.

5HURU +ENYATTA ALONG WITH kVE When Uhuru served as deputy other government leaders, as an the 2017 elections. In August, indirect co-perpetrator in the the bank account of Odinga’s PM, Kenya’s growth surged to more violence that followed Kenya’s daughter was frozen, and a pro- than 10 percent in the early 2010s.

2007-2008 post-election vio- Odinga NGO received more than During the ICC debacle, it more lence. Ocampo accused them of $5 million from the Soros Foun- than halved to 4 percent in 2012 dation. In September, Uhuru stabilizing thereafter at a lower “crimes against humanity.�

Despite the ICC process, Uhuru was reelected for a second term. level. Concurrently, the Kenyan was elected Kenya’s president in Odinga challenged the outcome shilling weakened from 80 to more 2013. He is a popular politician in the Supreme Court, which than 100 to the US dollar, plunging and the son of the legendary anti- ordered a new election. Oddly more than 25 percent.

N March 17, the Philippines withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has sought to investigate allegations that President Duterte had committed “crimes against humanity.�

The charges were pushed by controversial critics associated with former President Aquino’s Liberal Party and its allies, which – after the 2016 election meltdown – have sought domestic political change increasingly through international pressure.

Fast-forward to an imagined future: If the Philippines had not withdrawn from the ICC, Duterte’s government could have faced the Uhuru blueprint.

F

DAN STEINBOCK

Several ICC cases suggest a similar sequence: First, the target country enjoys promising development. Political destabilization ensues in the name of “people power.� Financial speculation penalizes economic growth and currency stability, causing capital OUTlOWS )F NEW LEADERS TAKE OVER

privatization of public assets tends to follow. Development potential weakens.

While only a probable future, even an imagined Uhuru blueprint leaves one apprehensive.

Without withdrawal from the ICC, it could have recurred in the Philippines, especially as some of the key actors are identical (Soros, Malloch Brown) or comparable (transnationally supported NGOs and think-tanks, Smartmatic interests).

The ICC liabilities In Kenya, the ICC effort to prosecute President Uhuru led to the parliament’s call for withdrawal from the ICC and the 2013 African Union summit in which Uhuru accused the ICC of being “a toy of declining imperial powers.� There is good reason for frustration. For a decade or two,

ÂłSteinbockA5

Water agency plan doesn’t hold water

OR once I am on the same side as lawyer Salvador Panelo, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, that the proposed creation of a Department of Water is not the solution to the current water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. It just doesn’t hold water.

0ANELO IN A MEDIA BRIEkNG LAST week, attributed the water supply shortage in areas served by Manila Water to “inefficiency and mismanagement� which the agency managed to solve somehow.

A l t h o u g h Pa n e l o d o e s n ’ t sound credible to me most of the time, I agreed with him on his statements about the water problem, be it real because of the dry season, or manufactured because of the desire of some people in the administration to speed up a multi-million dollar China-funded Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon province.

Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, was responding negatively to the statement of Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia about the need to create a line agency dedicated to manage the country’s water needs.

Pernia said in an interview on television that a Department of Water would “centralize� all efFORTS TO ENSURE SUFkCIENT WATER supply for the country – including managing water resources and distributing water supply. He attributed the water crisis to the

services across the country.

When the faucets in some 1.2 million households—mostly in Metro Manila’s east zone serviced by the Ayala-led consortium Manila Water—ran dry for two to eight days early this month, the fragmentation of agencies han- proposal came up again. dling the country’s water needs, At the Senate, Sen. Ralph Recto noting that too many agencies kLED A BILL IN CREATING A 7Adealing with water issues are in ter Regulatory Commission, an CONlICT WITH ONE ANOTHER “independent, quasi-judicial body The Metropolitan Waterworks consolidating the economic reguand Sewerage System (MWSS) latory powers of the various water regulates Manila Water and Mayni- agencies into one national body.� lad, servicing the east and west LWUA Administrator Jeci zones, respectively. The National Lapus had proposed that an Water Resources Board (NWRB), expanded Department of Water, on the other hand, coordinates Irrigation, Sewerage and Sanitaand regulates water-related activi- tion to consolidate and focus all ties in the country that has impact aspects of water provision would on the physical environment and be the best solution to reach out the economy. Local water entities to the millions of households outside Metro Manila are super- all over the country that are still vised by the Local Water Utilities lacking water connections.

Administration (LWUA).

Citing that the government has Aside from these, the Laguna separate departments for energy, Lake Development Authority environment, transportation and (LLDA), Pasig River Rehabilita- housing, Lapus said it would be tion Commission (PRRC) and good to have a single entity that the National Irrigation Authority would focus on water-related, (NIA) also have certain functions health and environment concerns. related to the issue of water.

The water crisis is real, and it’s The proposal to create a De- even getting worse as population partment of Water is not new. grows and resources are depleted.

There are pending bills in both What the Philippines needs is more the Senate and the House of investments and strong leadership Representatives to have a single to achieve water security while puragency to handle all aspects of suing development initiatives. providing faster, simpler, and The heads of the water agencies MORE EFkCIENT DELIVERY OF WATER have to put their heads together

TEA TIME

TITA C. VALDERAMA

and harmonize their programs and ACTIVITIES INSTEAD OF POINTING kNGERS at one another for accountability.

Better yet, a revamp of all those agencies to place competent executives and managers would be in order. Many of those have become dumping grounds for political appointees who have no background and experience in the jobs they were assigned.

The MWSS board, for instance, has six lawyers, a retired police general, a retired military colonel and one chemical engineer but not a single expert in water such as a hydro engineer or water scientist.

While Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand de la Cruz has held himself accountable for the water crisis that has affected tens of thousands of Metro Manilans, it is not enough consolation to the suffering customers who can hardly keep both ends meet.

While it is true that water is in short supply during the summer months, the government and the private concessioners have the obligation to develop other sources and make sure they meet the growing demands of consumers.

So far, the excuses that the water agencies and the private concessioners have been giving do not hold water. As they have been quick in charging consumers, even for wasted water due to illegal connections and leakages, they should be as quick in delivering the service they have sworn to provide.

˜ The Manila Times

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Q Cable to Clinton on the Scarborough crisis. such as impounding Philippine ba- the shoal. We therefore agreed. At nanas at its ports on the pretext that the appointed time, we withdrew, whereas China did not — in violathese needed to be quarantined. tion of our agreement.�

However, neither the US nor Unwritten rule China has admitted that there was Neither party would leave the such an agreement – only talks for shoal’s lagoon, knowing full well such an agreement. Indeed, if there the unwritten rule in territorial was such an agreement, would the disputes not just in the Spratlys but “honest broker� US not have raised all over the world: “If you leave a a ruckus that China reneged on an disputed territory you lose it and agreement it brokered?

A recent book by Marites Vitug, even if you can, you can’t use violence to get back to it, or the world Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won its Maritime Case Against will condemn you.�

There were two “backchannel China is a one-sided pro-American talks� to resolve the dispute. One paean to the Aquino government was ordered by Aquino. The other FOR kLING AND ALLEGEDLY WINNING THE WASN T AND WAS‡VERY SIGNIkCANT- arbitration case against China. Not surprisingly because of the author’s ly—an American initiative.

The talks which Aquino au- track record, it portrayed Supreme thorized was undertaken by Sen. Court Justice Antonio Carpio as the Antonio Trillanes 4th. In his aide brains, and the man-behind-thememoire on his talks that he made scenes, of the suit against China, available to me (which I had published in full in “Trillanes: Aquino Unwittingly and Del Rosario lost Panatag Shoal to China�), Trillanes reported that However, the book unwittingly rePaid academics he told Aquino on June 2, 2012 veals what her patrons, and the US “that the Chinese agreed on a simul- deep state even, have been concealI have written several columns taneous withdrawal of the Chinese ing since 2012. Vitug wrote: “Thousands of miles away from the since 2013 explaining how del Ro- ships and the Philippine vessels. sario dropped the ball to lose Bajo PNoy directed me to work on the turmoil in the shoal, in Washington, de Masinloc. Neither del Rosario sequential withdrawal of govern- D.C., Kurt Campbell was closely watching the crisis between China and the nor any of his paid academics in ment ships inside the shoal.� his pompously named Albert del Trillanes wrote that a day later on Philippines unfold. He was Assistant Rosario Institute for Strategic and June 4, “PNoy called me to inform Secretary at the State Department, the International Studies, have even me that our BFAR vessel has already top diplomat in charge of Asia.

Campbell took the initiative to talk tried to debunk this account. left the shoal but China reneged They can’t as this account is not on the agreement of simultaneous to China’s Foreign Affairs Vice Minister my opinion, but accounts of eyewit- withdrawal of their ships, so two of Fu Ying while she was in Washington D.C., Jose Cuisia, then the Philippines’ nesses to and even participants in the them were still inside the shoal.�

Trillanes continued: “I asked him ambassador to the US, recalled. episode. It is another indication of ‘He was the one who approached the power of the elites over people’s who agreed with what, since I was minds that del Rosario, a top execu- just hammering out the details of ME SUGGESTING THAT WE kND A SOLUtive of the mammoth Antoni Salim the sequential withdrawal because tion to ease the tension in the South (aka MVP) conglomerate here contin- the mouth of the shoal was too nar- China Sea. Kurt was talking to me ues to conceal his big blunder. row for a simultaneous withdrawal. and the Chinese ambassador and I, The Scarborough stand-off was trig- The President told me that Sec. del in turn, would convey to Secretary gered when Aquino in early April 2012 Rosario told him about the agree- del Rosario his proposal,’ Cuisia said.

Campbell also called del Rosario sent his new warship, the BRP Gregorio ment reached in Washington.� in Manila to inform him that he was del Pilar, to Scarborough to assist the brokering an arrangement which Coast Guard in arresting Chinese Why? would break the impasse, Del Rosafishermen who allegedly were fishing endangered marine life. China of “This time I asked PNoy: ‘If the RIO CONkRMED #AMPBELL THEN MET course raised a howl, claiming that the agreement was simultaneous with- with Fu Ying in June 2012 in a hotel Philippines had militarized the shoal, drawal, why did we leave first?’ in Virginia to discuss a dangerous with its “US-made� warship deployed PNoy responded to this effect: ‘Kaya two-month stand-off taking place AGAINST HELPLESS UNARMED kSHERMEN nga sinabihan ko si Albert kung in the South China Sea. and its civilian government ships. bakit niya pinalabas yung BFAR na China sent to the area more of its hindi ko nalalaman.’� (‘That’s why Campbell civilian government vessels together I asked Albert [del Rosario] why he WITH AN ARMADA OF kSHERMEN TO CREATE ordered the BFAR vessels to leave By the end of the meeting, Campbell believed he had an agreement a picture of a seaborne “people pow- without my permission.’)" er� against an aggressive Philippine Neither Aquino nor del Rosario for both sides to withdraw. The navy, emboldened by the US. For 10 have disputed this narrative. In fact, Philippine ships left the Scarborweeks, vessels of the two countries del Rosario himself unwittingly ough Shoal and returned home.

The Chinese, however, stayed in faced each other in the shoal.

CONkRMED IT WHEN HE WROTE IN AN Del Rosario, a corporate man all article in 2017. “During the impasse the area. Cuisia recounted: ‘When his life with little expertise in diplo- at Scarborough Shoal with China, the Chinese did not fulfill their macy and geopolitics, and Aquino as we were approached by the US, an commitment to pull out, I got a call well, apparently lost their wits and honest broker for both China and from del Rosario asking me why had panicked — especially when China the Philippines, to agree to a simul- the Chinese not pulled out. I, in imposed covert economic sanctions taneous withdrawal of ships from turn, called Kurt and he suggested

A5

March is NPA month M RESURGENCE

Del Rosario’s ICC case: Cover-up Part 2 for his boo-boo in losing Scarborough It was because of del Rosario’s huge blunder that we lost Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) to the Chinese in 2012. To cover up for his monumental error, he urged the Aquino government in 2013—most probably prodded by THE 53‡TO kLE THE ARBITRATION SUIT against China for violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He very falsely thought the suit could order China out of the shoal. It didn’t.

That was Part 1 of his efforts to portray himself as a big crusader against China, as a smokescreen to conceal his blunder. After two years, the decision was handed down; that suit more and more is being revealed not just as useless one because it cannot be enforced, even as we spent P500 million for it.

Worse, some of its decisions worked against us, among these was its ruling that not only the features the Chinese were occupying were mere “rocks�. It ruled that all features in the Spratlys were not “islands� but rocks. That means even our Pag-Asa Island, and every geographical feature under the Kalayaan group of islands which Marcos annexed to our territory, became mere “rocks.� If we really comply with the arbitration decision, as del Rosario keeps saying China should, we have to rename those territories as the Kalayaan Group of Rocks, and Pag-Asa Rock.

With more and more studies pointing to del Rosario’s blunder, he needed another plot to portray himself as a patriotic crusader AGAINST #HINA WHICH WAS TO kLE THE ICC case: Part 2 of the big cover-up.

Opinion

ARCH has been d e c l a r e d “ N PA month� by the Communist Party of the Philippines to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army. On March 29,

STARTING WITH ONLY kGHTERS AND kREARMS THE CPP organized its armed wing.

To highlight the anniversary, social media accounts of THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT ARE FEATURING STORIES OF kGHTERS such as Ka Mika, a 24-year-old former campus journalist; 24-year-old Ka Eman who came from a family of military men, and Ka Axel, 26, who grew up in a religious family.

7HETHER THESE CHARACTERS ARE REAL kCTITIOUS OR ROMANTICIZED versions of real persons is hard to tell. The stories are meant to show that the NPA is still capable of attracting new recruits of diverse backgrounds, while pursuing the armed struggle against the US-Duterte regime (and before that, the US-Aquino regime, the US-Arroyo regime, the US-Estrada regime, and the US-Marcos regime).

The shooting war indeed continues. In Western and Central Visayas, 61st Infantry Battalion reported one encounter in San Remegio, Antique (March 17) and two in Igbaras, Iloilo (March 17 and 20). The 94th Infantry Battalion clashed with rebels in Talalak, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on March 14. On March 19, a detachment of the 12th Infantry (CAFGU) Battalion in Toboso, Negros Occidental, was harassed. On March 21, troops belonging to the 79th Infantry Battalion encountered about 10 armed NPA members in Escalante City, adjacent to Toboso. The NPA liquidated a farmer and a CAFGU member in Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City on March 14 and 17, respectively. &IFTY YEARS AND THE .0! IS STILL AROUND INlICTING DAMAGE and death. One reason for this is purely military: The NPA mostly operates in remote rural areas where soldiers are spread too thinly to effectively neutralize an enemy who takes advantage of familiarity with the terrain.

The real reason for the continued existence of the NPA, HOWEVER IS THAT THE #00 gCAPITALIZES ON ALL THE lAWS AND shortcomings of our government and the entire society,� as Retired Police Colonel Miguel Coronel put it in his 1991 book “Pro-Democracy People’s War.� According to Coronel, majority of NPA members joined because of grievances not ideology.

This is also why the government’s surrender program in itself isn’t a threat to the hardcore communists, despite, for instance, the recent surrender of 25 NPA combatants with kREARMS IN .ORTHERN .EGROS g!SSUMING THE % #,)0 AND other psywar tactics succeed in attracting members of the revolutionary movement to surrender, this, in all certainty, is but temporary. Why? Because it does not get into the root CAUSES OF THE ARMED CONlICT u ACCORDING TO A COMMENTARY BY the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

There is no doubt that the root causes—poverty, injustice, rights abuses—must be addressed to end insurgency for good. But we must also be careful. Among the many non-governmental organizations that are working on these issues and receive funding from foreign governments are several whose real purpose—in Coronel’s words—“is to undermine and destroy the faith and confidence of the people in our government and democratic system� thus “weakening the government in terms of moral and material support.�

The European Union and governments accused by the Armed Forces of the Philippines of funding NGOs that are helping the NPA are naturally asking for hard evidence to prove this connection. However, we are dealing with a revolutionary movement that operates both aboveground and underground, legally and illegally, openly and clandestinely. #REDIBLE HARD EVIDENCE IS THEREFORE DIFkCULT TO COME BY though there are cases: In 2000 staff members of a Cebubased NGO were killed in an NPA camp in Bohol when A kREkGHT WITH GOVERNMENT TROOPS ERUPTED !NAKPAWIS

MORE THAN A DECADE AGO ORGANIZED kSHERFOLK IN /RMOC #ITY WITH .0! CADRES BOARDING THE kSHING BOATS TO HELP THE kSHERMEN RESIST THE CONkSCATION OF THEIR ILLEGAL NETS Mostly, however, we must rely on circumstantial evidence and identify the patterns over time in order to establish the unity of purpose and the connection.

Today, after almost three years of war on drugs, it seems that the rule of law has been suspended with warrantless arrests, execution of suspects, planting of evidence and cases filed against drug suspects on fabricated charges.

But this should not make us turn a blind eye to the hidden agenda of some so-called “human rights defenders� that operate under the umbrella of the NDFP. Their defense of human rights is selective and incidental to their higher agenda, which is to discredit the government, help the NPA operate undisturbed in the countryside, gain concessions for the CPP, and eventually bring down the democratically elected government. Funding agencies should be discerning when giving generous grants lest well-intended funding support ends up undermining the government and prolonging armed conflict, thus ultimately delaying peace and development.

MARIT STINUSCABUGON

we give the Chinese some time.

Much later, Fu denied there had been any deal between her and US diplomats in 2012. ‘I do not know what agreement you are referring to‌. The Chinese vessels did not leave the area because they feared the Philippines might double-cross them,’ the Financial Times reported. ‘All China is doing is to keep an eye on the island for fear that the Philippines would do it again.’â€?

The episode shows the huge costs to the country as a result of either or all of del Rosario and his boss Aquino’s incompetence, their naivetÊ, or worse, blind faith in an American mediator.

Any diplomat worth his salt would have known that Fu, even if she was a ranking foreign ministry OFkCIAL WOULD HAVE TO SEEK THE APproval of her higher-ups in Beijing for such an agreement, which could take not just days but weeks. Only an extremely naĂŻve person or one ignorant on how states work would believe that Fu could commit her government to foreign nations on such an important decision.

Explosive This is especially so since the episode had become an explosive issue in China that roused Chinese indignation, since the press narrative was that a Philippine warship had intruded into Chinese territory and ARRESTED SEVERAL OF THEIR kSHERMEN

Del Rosario didn’t even seek Aquino’s permission, nor even sought the counsel of the National Security Council – for a decision that led to the loss of our territory.

What reveals del Rosario, Cuisia, and even Vitug’s naivete, is that none of them seemed to be interested who the US diplomat Kurt Campbell is, whom the former foreign secretary concluded was an “honest broker.�

Another explanation, as revealed in a secret cable to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is that the US pressured the Philippines to leave Scarborough Shoal, whether or not the Chinese left.

Clinton’s deputy chief of staff reported to her on June 17, a week after our ships abandoned Scarborough: “We put a lot of pressure on the Philippines to step back and if anything it looks as if the Chinese are consolidating their position.�

On Wednesday, I’ll point out why knowing who Campbell was would reveal what the Scarborough Shoal episode really was.

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@gmail.com Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Order my Debunked book at rigobertotiglao.com/debunked

Q STEINBOCK FROM A4

The Uhuru blueprint: What if PH had stayed in ICC? the ICC has gone after the poorest countries mainly in Africa, which has suffered the most from colonial plunder.

The ties of ICC prosecutor Ocampo to Soros-supported organizations stem from early 1990s, when the billionaire infused funds into a prominent real estate backer of the lawyer’s NGO in Argentina.

Then, Ocampo worked for Transparency International, a corruption watchdog that has been criticized for bias against developing countries. A decade later, he joined a roundtable of Soros’ Open Society called “Restoring American

Leadership - the ICC.�

When the UN Security Council assigned Ocampo to investigate war crimes in Libya, he reportedly SHARED CONkDENTIAL INFORMATION with the French government, which was bombing Libya. After HE INDICTED 'ADDAk IN HE signed a lucrative $3-million contract to advise the Libyan oil billionaire Hassan Tatanaki, presumably to protect him from potential ICC prosecution. ReportEDLY HE ALSO PROkTED BY ROUTING monies to offshore companies in tax havens, as evidenced by the Panama Papers.

Importantly, the ICC’s ability to investigate and prosecute is severely restricted by its mandate.

It can only prosecute crimes after its creation in 2002—which conveniently suspends the worst genocides, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression – the four key international crime categories.

Today, there are more than 120 state parties to the Rome Statute.

Over 30 countries have signed BUT NOT RATIkED THE STATUTE AND there are more than 50 nonsignatory countries.

4HE )## IS kNANCED gPRIMAR-

ily� by its member states. About two-thirds of its budget comes from only 10 countries, especially Europe’s former colonial powers.

Additional funding is provided— but not detailed—by “voluntary government contributions, international organizations, individuals, corporations, and other entities.� The net effect is a moral hazard. The ICC is not immune TO EXTERNAL INlUENCE The US, Russia, China and India are not ICC signatories. In Southeast Asia, neither wealthier countries (Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia) nor emerging economies (Indonesia,

Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos) have signed the Statute.

The Philippines and the ICC Unlike his peers, President Aquino signed the Statute in February 2011, right before he aligned Manila’s foreign policy with President Obama’s security pivot to Asia—in contrast to almost all BRIC and Asean economies.

Since 2016, the effort to have the ICC intervene in Philippine matters has been further fueled by the domestic meltdown of the Liberal Party and the exploitation

of human rights issues abroad, to advance political agendas at home.

Since its creation, the ICC’s credibility and judicial indepenDENCE HAS BEEN DElATED The world needs a truly international criminal court, not one that targets the most vulnerable members of the international community.

Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at India, China and America Institute (USA) Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net/

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

5 top reasons for visa approvals

T

HE United States may be THE kRST COUNTRY MOST &ILIPINOS WANT TO VISIT BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS PERMANENTLY RESIDING THERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD BUT %UROPE GETS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF TOURIST ARRIVALS FROM TRAVELERS ALL OVER )N %UROPE POSTED MILLION TOURIST ARRIVALS COMPARED TO MILLION IN THE 5NITED 3TATES ACCORDING TO THE 5. 7ORLD 4RAVEL /RGANIZATION !SIA AND THE 0ACIkC HOSTED MILLION TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD !FRICA AND THE -IDDLE %AST BROUGHT UP THE REAR BUT STILL MANAGED TO ATTRACT AND MILLION TOURISTS LAST YEAR RESPECTIVELY 4HE 5.74/ PROJECTS CONTINUOUS GROWTH IN TOURISM TILL

WITH BILLION TOURISTS IN VARIOUS DESTINATIONS THE GROWTH DRIVEN MAINLY BY FIVE FACTORS FAVORABLE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT STRONG OUTBOUND DEMAND FROM MAJOR SOURCE MARKETS CONSOLIDATION OF THE RECOVERY IN KEY DESTINATIONS AFFECTED BY PREVIOUS CRISES ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY AND INCREASED VISA FACILITATION /N THE DOWNSIDE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN THE UNCERTAINTY OF "REXIT GEOPOLITICAL AND TRADE TENSIONS LEADING TO A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE AMONG INVESTORS AND TRAVELERS COULD DAMPEN THE TRAVEL BUG &OR TOURISTS THE DESTINATION OFFERS MORE ALLURE THAN THE MEANS TO GET THERE BUT FEAR OF FLYING COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS WORLDWIDE COULD CONSTRAIN TRAVEL PLANS $ESPITE THE TWO TRAGIC AIR CRASHES "OEING WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO GET ITS STEEL WINGS BACK IN THE AIR EVEN IF IT MEANS HAVING TO SETTLE FORTHCOMING CLASS ACTION SUITS FROM

MIGRANT MATTERS

CRISPIN R. ARANDA FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND REASSURING AIRLINES THAT "OEING HAS kXED THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHICH‡AS THE BLACK BOXES REVEAL‡APPARENTLY CAUSED OF THE CRASH 3TILL WITH FLIGHTS A DAY WORLDWIDE REPORTED BY THE )NTERNATIONAL !IR 4RANSPORT !SSOCIATION )!4! lYING REMAINS SAFER THAN LAND TRAVEL )N )!4! SAYS ESTIMATED COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS WERE MILLION NOT INCLUDING PRIVATE

BUSINESS AND MILITARY AVIATION (ENCE IF NON COMMERCIAL lIGHTS

INCLUDING UNAUTHORIZED AND NON TRACKED ARE INCLUDED THE TOTAL lIGHTS YEARLY COME UP TO ABOUT MILLION PER YEAR 4HE NEED AND WANT TO TRAVEL WILL SURELY OVERCOME THE SPECTER OF "OEING S TRAGEDY 5NLESS YOU ARE TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THE !SEAN REGION A VISA IS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION IN THE !SIA AND 0ACIkC REGION INCLUDING #HINA 4HE 53 ADMITS AN AVERAGE OF CLOSE TO MILLION TRAVELERS FROM %UROPE !SIA AND !FRICA WITHOUT VISAS THROUGH THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM !S OF *AN

THERE ARE VISA WAIVER COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS MAY TRAVEL TO THE 53 WITHOUT A " TEMPORARY VISA FOR BUSINESS OR " TEMPORARY VISA FOR PLEASURE VISA 0ASSPORT HOLDERS OF A VISA WAIVER COUNTRY MAY TRAVEL TO AND STAY IN THE 53 FOR UP TO DAYS WITHOUT A VISA (OWEVER AN APPROVED %34!

TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION IS STILL REQUIRED TO VISIT THE 53 VIA AIR OR SEA

AND AN ONLINE APPLICATION MUST BE

SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE 4HE 0HILIPPINES IS NOT AMONG THE PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES 4HERE WAS A TIME WHEN &ILIPINOS DID NOT NEED VISAS TO TRAVEL TO THE 53 &ROM THE TIME THE 4REATY OF 0ARIS WAS SIGNED WHERE THE 0HILIPPINES WAS BOUGHT FROM 3PAIN FOR MILLION &ILIPINOS WERE CONSIDERED 53 NATIONALS /UR GREAT GRANDFATHERS DID NOT NEED TO TRAVEL TO THE 53 THE 0HILIPPINES WAS !MERICA 0OLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REALITIES IN THE 53 LED TO THE CREATION OF THE 0HILIPPINE #OMMONWEALTH AND ULTIMATELY THE gGRANT OF 0HILIPPINE )NDEPENDENCEu ON *ULY

!S CITIZENS OF AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY &ILIPINOS WERE SUBJECT TO ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TRAVEL TO THE 53‡TEMPORARY OR OTHERWISE‡REQUIRES VISAS

B visas &ILIPINOS AND OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS NOT CITIZENS OF VISA WAIVER PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES MAY TRAVEL TO THE 53 FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE 4RAVELERS gCONSULTING WITH BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ATTENDING SCIENTIkC EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL OR BUSINESS CONVENTIONS CONFERENCES

SETTLING AN ESTATE OR NEGOTIATING CONTRACTSu SHOULD APPLY FOR THE " TEMPORARY VISA FOR BUSINESS 4HE " VISA ON THE OTHER HAND IS ISSUED TO INDIVIDUALS WHOSE PURPOSE TO TRAVEL TO THE 53 IS gRECREATIONAL IN NATURE INVOLVING TOURISM VISITING FRIENDS OR RELATIVES MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF A FRATERNAL

SOCIAL OR SERVICE NATURE u !N APPLICANT WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED BY A 53 CONSUL AS SOMEONE WHO CAN AFFORD TO AND A POTENTIAL FREQUENT VISITOR TO THE 53 ON EITHER BUSINESS OR PLEASURE COULD BE ISSUED THE " " VISA

FOR UP TO YEARS 4HE DURATION OF THE VISIT IS DETERMINED BY THE CONSUL ALTHOUGH THE REQUEST ON HOW LONG TO STAY IN THE 53 IS INDICATED BY THE VISA APPLICANT ON THE ONLINE $3 NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION FORM

NON AGRICULTURAL CATEGORIES 4HE IMMIGRANT VISA ALLOCATION REMAINS THE SAME AT APPROXIMATELY

A YEAR IN THE kVE MAJOR FAMILY SPONSORED CATEGORIES AND FIVE EMPLOYMENT BASED CLASSES "UT BACK TO THE gVISITu VISAS

Qualifications

Pinoy visitors to the US and elsewhere

)F YOU APPLY FOR A " " VISA

YOU MUST DEMONSTRATE TO A CONSULAR OFkCER THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR A 53 VISA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 53 )MMIGRATION AND .ATIONALITY !CT ).! 3ECTION B OF THE ).! WHICH PRESUMES THAT EVERY " " APPLICANT IS AN INTENDING IMMIGRANT 9OU MUST OVERCOME THIS LEGALLY ESTABLISHED PRESUMPTION BY SHOWING THAT THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRIP TO THE 53 IS FOR A TEMPORARY VISIT SUCH AS BUSINESS PLEASURE OR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND THAT YOU PLAN TO REMAIN IN THE 53 FOR A SPECIkC

LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME 4HE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF FUNDS TO COVER THE EXPENSES WHILE IN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT THE APPLICANT HAS gA RESIDENCE OUTSIDE THE 53 AS WELL AS OTHER BINDING SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC TIES

THAT WILL ENSURE YOUR RETURN ABROAD AT THE END OF YOUR VISIT u %SSENTIALLY PERMANENT TIES ARE GIVEN MORE WEIGHT THAN THE VALID AND STATED REASONS FOR THE TEMPORARY VISIT

)T DOES NOT HELP THAT HISTORICALLY

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TEMPORARY VISITOR VISAS OVERSTAY HENCE

THE 4.4 TAG FOR OVERSTAYING 0INOYS !ND NOT JUST VISITOR VISA HOLDERS )N FACT AS OF *ANUARY THE 0HILIPPINES HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS MAY APPLY FOR TEMPORARY WORK VISAS m THE ( ! AGRICULTURAL AND ( "

FOCUS

FOCUS

Accepting Golan annexation, Trump risks new precedents

Q Israeli soldiers prepare at the Quneitra border crossing of the Israeli annexed-Golan Heights, on March 23, 2019, as demonstrations are expected on the Syrian side of the border to protest against the backing of Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights by US President Donald Trump. AFP PHOTO WASHINGTON: 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP IS AGAIN BREAKING DIPLOMATIC NORMS IN BACKING )SRAEL S CAPTURE OF THE 'OLAN (EIGHTS WITH EXPERTS WARNING THAT HE RISKS JUSTIFYING EXPANSIONISM

BY OTHER COUNTRIES )SRAEL CONQUERED THE 'OLAN FROM 3YRIA IN THE 3IX $AY 7AR OF AND ANNEXED IT IN BUT UNTIL NOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NOT ACCEPTED THE MOVE HOPING THE TERRITORY COULD SERVE AS A BARGAINING CHIP IN A FUTURE PEACE DEAL BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES "UT 4RUMP ON 4HURSDAY TURNED TO 4WITTER FOR THE ABRUPT DIPLOMATIC TURNAROUND SAYING THAT AFTER YEARS gIT IS TIME FOR THE 5NITED 3TATES TO FULLY RECOGNIZEu )SRAELI SOVEREIGNTY 4HE MOVE‡WHICH CAME AS 4RUMP S ALLY

0RIME -INISTER "ENJAMIN .ETANYAHU FACES ELECTIONS‡HAS CAUSED DISMAY EVEN AMONG 53 ALLIES WITH "RITAIN AND &RANCE BOTH SAYING THEY STILL CONSIDERED THE 'OLAN (EIGHTS TO BE gOCCUPIEDu BY )SRAEL 2ICHARD (AASS PRESIDENT OF THE #OUNCIL ON &OREIGN 2ELATIONS FEARED THE CONSEQUENCES OF WALKING AWAY FROM 5.

3ECURITY #OUNCIL 2ESOLUTION WHICH STRESSED THE gINADMISSIBILITY OF THE ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY BY WAR u 4HE MEASURE WAS PASSED AFTER THE 3IX $AY 7AR g4HIS IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORDER AND WAS THE BASIS OF 53 OPPOSITION TO 3ADDAM S CONQUEST OF +UWAIT AND 0UTIN S OF #RIMEA u (AAS SAID REFERRING TO THE 'ULF 7AR IN WHICH A 53 LED COALITION FREED +UWAIT AND 2USSIA S SEIZURE OF THE 5KRAINIAN PENINSULA

)T IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE REAL ESTATE MOGUL TURNED PRESIDENT HAS BRAZENLY DISMISSED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS )N $ECEMBER 4RUMP RECOGNIZED PASSIONATELY CONTESTED *ERUSALEM AS )SRAEL S CAPITAL FULkLLING A MAJOR GOAL FOR THE *EWISH STATE )N A TELEVISION INTERVIEW 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE -IKE 0OMPEO REJECTED THE SUGGESTION THAT THE 5NITED 3TATES WAS USING A DOUBLE STANDARD BY RECOGNIZING )SRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN THE 'OLAN WHILE IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON 2USSIA FOR ANNEXING #RIMEA g7HAT THE PRESIDENT DID WITH THE 'OLAN (EIGHTS IS RECOGNIZE THE REALITY ON THE GROUND AND THE SECURITY SITUATION NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE )SRAELI STATE )T S THAT SIMPLE u HE TOLD 3KY .EWS 0OMPEO CHARACTERIZED THE 53 AS A gFORCE FOR GOODu IN THE REGION WITH gNOBLEu INTENTIONS g7E WANT GOOD OUTCOMES FOR ALL NATIONS IN THE -IDDLE %AST AND THE DECISION THE PRESIDENT MADE WILL INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE TO BE STABILITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION u HE SAID

Law of the ‘jungle’ 3WEDEN S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER #ARL "ILDT SAID THAT 4RUMP WAS RETURNING TO THE LAW OF THE gJUNGLE u g4HIS IS A CATASTROPHIC DEPARTURE FROM THE VERY BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW +REMLIN WILL APPLAUD AND APPLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE TO #RIMEA "EIJING WILL APPLAUD AND APPLY TO 3OUTH #HINA 3EA u "ILDT TWEETED 3YRIA AND ITS ALLY )RAN RELIABLY DE-

/F

PERSONS ADMITTED TEMPORARILY IN THE 53 UNDER VARIOUS CATEGORIES IN THE 53 $EPARTMENT OF (OMELAND 3ECURITY SAID WERE INDIVIDUALS WITH VISAS FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE AS WELL AS HOLDERS OF PASSPORTS FROM COUNTRIES NOT NEEDING VISAS THROUGH THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM WHO WERE STILL COUNTED AS NONIMMIGRANT TEMPORARY VISITORS 4HE NUMBER OF KABABAYAN VISITING THE 53 AVERAGED IN THE THREE YEAR PERIOD TO

CROSSING THE MARK IN 7HEN APPLYING FOR TOURIST VISAS TO THE 53 #ANADA OR %UROPE 3CHENGEN VISAS !USTRALIA AND .EW :EALAND THERE ARE kVE THINGS TO CONSIDER TO ENHANCE THE CHANCE OF VISA APPROVAL 6ALID REASON FOR THE VISIT 9OU MUST SPECIFY THE REASON FOR THE INTENDED TRAVEL !VOID GENERALIZATIONS SUCH AS gTO SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYu WITHOUT SPECIFYING WHAT PART OF WHICH STATE REGION OR AREA YOU INTEND TO VISIT )TINERARY OF YOUR TEMPORARY STAY 7HILE THE VISA APPLICATION NOW ONLINE MAY NOT OFFER SUFkCIENT SPACE TO INDICATE THE PLACES AND PERSONS TO VISIT YOU MUST BE READY TO PROVIDE SPECIkCS AS TO THE DURATION OF STAY AND TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION WHETHER PRE ARRANGED WITH PERSONS YOU ARE STAYING WITH OR BOOKING WITH HOTELS

3PENDING MONEY m !S A TOURIST

YOU MUST HAVE MONEY TO SPEND FOR THE INTENDED TRAVEL AND TOUR 4HERE IS NO SET AMOUNT #ONSULS WOULD CHECK AND VERIFY THE HISTORY OF FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE ITINERARY SUBMITTED AVAILABILITY OR ACCESS TO FUNDS FROM OVERSEAS )F YOU HAVE SAVINGS AND THE COST OF THE ENTIRE JOURNEY WILL CLEAN UP YOUR BANK ACCOUNT YOU MUST HAVE NOT ONLY A VERY GOOD REASON TO TRAVEL BUT ALSO YOU MUST HAVE VERY COMPELLING REASONS TO RETURN )NTENTION TO RETURN TO THE 0HILIPPINES AFTER COMPLETING THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT ! PERSON S FAMILY TIES IN BOTH COUNTRIES ARE CONSIDERED !S A GENERAL RULE THE LONGER THE DURATION OF THE VISIT AND STAY IN THE 53 THE LESS LIKELIHOOD OF BEING GRANTED A VISIT VISA )F YOU CAN BE ABSENT FROM WORK OR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE 0HILIPPINES LET S SAY FOR SIX MONTHS THE CHANCES ARE YOU DO NOT PLAN TO RETURN /THERWISE CONVINCING THE CONSUL OR VISA OFkCER OF DEPARTING FROM THE 53 #ANADA %UROPE OR 3CHENGEN COUNTRY REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL DOCUMENTATION THAT ARE INDEPENDENTLY VERIkABLE 4RUTHFUL COMPLETE AND CONSISTENT COMPLETION OF APPLICATION FORMS 7HETHER ONLINE OR PAPER FORM APPLICATION FORMS ARE THE MARKERS THAT EMBASSIES DESIGN TO SEPARATE THE GENUINE VISITORS FROM INTENDING IMMIGRANTS !ND A MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS IN A VISITOR VISA APPLICATION CAN COME BACK TO HAUNT YOUR IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION IN THE FUTURE 4HESE kVE FACTORS CONSIDERED BY INTERVIEWING OR ASSESSING OFkCER COULD BE SUMMED UP BY COMBINING THE kRST LETTERS OF EACH CRITERIA CHECK OUT THE kRST LETTERS OF ALL kVE REASONS AND THEY SPELL OUT THE PURPOSE OF YOUR APPLICATION m 6)3)4

NOUNCED 4RUMP S MOVE 4URKISH 0RESIDENT 2ECEP 4AYYIP %RDOGAN‡FEARFUL OF A BREAK UP OF 3YRIA UNDER WHICH +URDS COULD SEEK INDEPENDENCE‡SAID THAT 4RUMP HAS CREATED A gNEW CRISISu AND CALLED FOR INTERVENTION BY THE /RGANIZATION OF THE )SLAMIC #ONFERENCE "UT ALLIES ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS &RANCE S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT RECOGNIZING )SRAELI SOVEREIGNTY gWOULD BE CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW IN PARTICULAR THE OBLIGATION FOR STATES NOT TO RECOGNIZE AN ILLEGAL SITUATION u 3TEVEN #OOK AN EXPERT ON THE -IDDLE %AST AT THE #OUNCIL ON &OREIGN 2ELATIONS QUESTIONED THE NEED TO SHAKE UP THE STATUS QUO SAYING THAT 53 RECOGNITION ONLY TRIGGERED FRESH OPPOSITION TO )SRAEL S LONGSTANDING CONTROL OF THE 'OLAN WHERE SETTLERS LIVE g)N REALITY THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE RECOGNITION )SRAEL IS IN 'OLAN FOR ITS OWN REASONS AND NOTHING THE 4RUMP ADMINISTRATION DECIDES WILL CHANGE THAT u HE WROTE IN AN ARTICLE IN &OREIGN 0OLICY MAGAZINE )LAN 'OLDENBERG OF THE #ENTER FOR A .EW !MERICAN 3ECURITY SAID THAT 4RUMP S DECISION gSTIRS A HORNET S NEST THAT DIDN T NEED STIRRING u g!LSO IT MAKES IT QUITE HARD FOR THE 53 TO CONTINUE TO CONTEST 2USSIA S ANNEXATION OF #RIMEA UNDER THE PRINCIPLE THAT TAKING TERRITORY BY FORCE IS ILLEGAL 7E NOW HAVE NO LEG TO STAND ON AND THE 2USSIANS WILL USE IT u HE TWEETED g3O WHY DO IT "ECAUSE THIS IS AWESOME FOR "IBI S POLITICS u HE SAID USING .ETANYAHU S NICKNAME AFP

What has Guaido achieved as Venezuela’s US-backed ‘interim leader’?

CARACAS: Two months have now passed since Juan Guaido asserted himself as Venezuela’s interim president. Domestically, he has been unable to shake President Nicolas Maduro from power. But internationally, with US backing, he’s making some headway.

Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the opposition-run parliament, is riding on a wave of popular support as he tours the country on what he calls “Operation Freedom.�

But there is no sign yet of him making good on his vow to “very soon� march up to the presidential Miraflores Palace in Caracas and take over.

On Saturday, he was set to address a crowd in the northeastern city of Barcelona, after saying a day earlier that “we are calling for the phase of maximum public pressure� on the regime to go.

Maduro, 56, has repeated that he is going nowhere. He retains the loyalty of military chiefs and police with his hands on the levers of power: the state-run oil company PDVSA, the courts, his own parallel legislature and state media.

The president’s supporters held their own counter-demonstration Saturday in the capital.

On Thursday, his security forces arrested Guaido’s chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, on “terrorism� accusations, triggering an outcry from the European Union, the United States and other Latin American nations.

But Maduro has been careful to leave Guaido himself alone, heeding US warnings of “a significant response� were the opposition figurehead to be arrested.

Public support for Guaido Both Guaido and Maduro claim to be constitutionally legitimate. Guaido declared himself interim president on January 23, saying Maduro’s reelection last year was invalid because opposition figures were barred from running and boycotted the ballot.

Inside Venezuela, Guaido has a 61 percent approval rating among the public, according to the polling firm Datanalisis. Maduro has only 14 percent.

But it’s abroad that Guaido’s backing is more consequential. More than 50 countries recognize him as interim president, including, crucially, the United States and major EU and Latin American nations.

Maduro, on the other hand, has China, Cuba, Iran and Russia on his side. The latter two are Venezuela’s biggest creditors, getting paid in the dwindling amounts of crude being exported.

The dueling support between the US and China spilled over Friday when the Inter-American Development Bank, which provides funding in Latin America, pulled its annual meeting out

of China after Beijing refused to issue a visa to Guaido’s representative.

Washington is reportedly trying to have Guaido’s envoys replace Maduro’s officials on other international bodies, such as the UN Disarmament Conference in Geneva, where Venezuela is due to take over the rotating presidency.

US President Donald Trump’s government has also ratcheted up sanctions on Venezuela, most recently as Friday in reaction to Marrero’s arrest, and has frozen state accounts and assets on US territory.

On April 28, America is due to impose a ban on importing Venezuelan crude.

That will be a major blow, as the US is historically Venezuela’s biggest oil customer. But southern US oil refiners are also dependent on the heavy grade, high sulfur variety of oil that Venezuela produces.

Trump has reiterated that “all options�—including, it is inferred, military action— are on the table for Venezuela. However, US troops were not used last month in a foiled attempt by Guaido supporters to truck US aid in Colombia over the border into Venezuela.

Military’s ‘absolute loyalty’ Despite being weakened by Guaido’s rise, Maduro “has managed to maintain surprising cohesion in such an adverse scenario,� analyst Mariano de Alba told AFP. The military, which controls politics and the economy, has shown “absolute loyalty,� ignoring calls by Washington and Guaido to abandon Maduro in return for amnesty, he noted.

While hundreds of soldiers have defected, the vast majority have been low-ranking troops.

The head of the Datanalisis firm, Luis Vicente Leon, said the core of the military has not broken ranks “because there has been no credible offer which the military elite could trust� and troops fear being trashed in any change of regime.

He added that the opposition likely expected that only a US invasion would eject Maduro and thus it would reject any possible negotiations in the hope of “provoking a fracture.�

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s economy swirls deeper down the drain.

Inflation is forecast by the IMF to top 10 million percent this year. Once oil shipments to the US cease altogether, the country’s access to hard currency will be severely curtailed. “The economic situation is going to worsen a lot more, and the population will experience a substantial deterioration of quality of life,� de Alba warned. He said increased repression by Maduro’s regime would follow.

AFP

Regions

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Teenager yields P6.8-M shabu in Cebu drug bust ANTI-NARCOTICS police operatives shot and wounded an armed teenager who yielded more than P6 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust in Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City on Sunday.

Chief Insp. Ricardo Tero, head of the Regional Special Operations Group in Central Visayas, said Michael David de Gracia, 18, of Sitio Mansanitas, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City, sold a kilo of shabu for P1.4 million to a poseur-buyer along B. Aranas Street at about 3:30 p.m.

Police said de Gracia attempted to shoot the poseur-buyer, which PROMPTED ONE POLICE OFkCER IN THE areas to shoot him in the leg.

0OLICE CONkSCATED A HOMEMADE REVOLVER WITH kVE LIVE BULLETS

from de Gracia.

Tero said de Gracia claimed that he was only instructed to deliver the shabu in exchange for P1,000.

He refused to reveal his source during the initial investigation.

The suspect, who was brought to Cebu City Medical Center for treatment, said he was supposed to enroll in school this June, but his plan was shattered after his arrest.

Police added that de Gracia’s coHORTS IDENTIkED AS *EAN 0ALERMO OF Sitio Alaska, in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City and a certain “Raxo� escaped during the operation.

Police said the seized substance was estimate by the Dangerous Drugs Board to value P6.8 million.

RHEA RUTH ROSELL

MONDAY March 25, 2019

A7

BIR-Region 15 to poll bets: Pay tax or be disqualified

Z

BY ANTONIO P. RIMANDO Â

AMBOANGA CITY: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 15 reminded candidates in the midterm elections to pay THEIR WITHHOLDING TAX OR BE DISQUALIkED AS THE agency would run after them.

BIR assistant revenue district officer Fabian Francisco said 1 percent of the candidates’ expenses should be withheld for print advertisements and 2 percent for radio and television.

Francisco pointed out that cam-

paign expenditures — whether paid for by the candidates, their representatives or contributors — were subject to creditable income tax to be withheld by the payor from income payments made to election contractors, suppliers and

other service providers.

Campaign period for the local positions — governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board), city or municipal mayor, vice mayor, Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) members, will start on March 29 and ends on May 11.

He stressed that the Commission on Elections would disqualify any local candidate who fails to declare withholding tax and the BIR would sue them.

Francisco told members of the media that the Bureau “can trace where the candidates made their purchases as all are now computerized,� even as the agency is also expecting a minimal increase in the sales of stores during the election period, which means an increase in taxes paid.

BIR Region 15 is composed of 2EVENUE $ISTRICT /FkCE 2$/ Dipolog City, RDO 92 Pagadian City, RDO 93-A Zamboanga City, RDO 93-B Zamboanga Sibugay, RDO 94 Isabela City (Basilan), RDO 95 Sulu, and RDO 96 Tawi-Tawi.

P2.4-B hydro plant in Mindoro opens THE P2.4-billion hydro-electric power plant in Mindoro, considered the first renewable energy (RE) project in the island, is now online.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi led the inauguration of the 10-megawatt (MW) Hydro-Electric Power Plant (IHPP), which was built to “develop the country’s hydro-power resources essential to meet energy demand over the next 10 years.�

Located in one of the foothills of Mount Halcon in San Teodoro town, the IHPP, which draws its power from the Inabasan River, has an initial power production of -7 FOLLOWING ITS kRST OPERAtion on January 14.

The hydro power plant is the kRST PHASE OF -7 HYDRO POWER facilities to be developed in three stages. It is expected to generate up to 10 MW of electricity.

Ormin Power Inc. (OPI), the power arm of Jolliville Holdings Corp. led by its Chairman Jolly Ting, developed the hydro power plant. “The completion of the Inabasan Hydro-electric power plant is a realization of the vision of harnessing renewable energy to provide clean, sustainable and affordable energy to Oriental Mindoro to support the growth and development of the province,� Ting said. “The second phase of 10-MW hydro plant is now in the pipeline and that would be also implemented,� Ting added.

The Inabasan mini-hydro power PLANT IS gCONSIDERED AS THE kRST renewable energy project un-

dertaken and completed by an independent power provider, the Ormin Power Inc., on Mindoro Island,� OPI Executive Vice President Jose Ilagan said.

OPI was supposed to finish the hydro facility in 2016, but it suffered setbacks because of four big typhoons — Nona, Nina, Urduja and Usman, which struck the island and delayed the project’s completion for three years.

The project, whose total cost rose to P2 billion from the initial P1.6 billion, underwent rehabilitation and major repair works because of the damage wrought by the typhoons.

OPI tapped 300 Mangyan natives of the Iraya tribe as construction crew, workers and laborers during the plant’s construction from 2014 to 2019. Five of them are now permanently employed either as turbine operators or transmission lines watchdogs WITH FULL BENEkTS ASIDE FROM THEIR salaries equal to their lowland counterparts, according to IHPP plant manager Bert Bautista.

The company noted that the hydro-power plant capacity factor in the Philippines ranges from 35 to 65 percent, making its Inabasan mini-hydro power plant “one of the best hydro-power sites in the country� as it could generate electric power at full-rated capacity of 10 megawatts with an 88-percent plant factor.

The power generation company also completed its first powergeneration project, a 9.6-MW modular Diesel Power Plant, in Calapan City in 2011.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

SUMMER SPLASH

Families and groups of friends troop to Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal on Sunday to escape the heat as summer was officially declared by the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Half of WVisayas villages cleared of drugs BACOLOD CITY: The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) has announced that more than half of the 2,121 barangay (villages) in Western Visayas are now “drug-cleared�

OR gOFkCIALLY UNAFFECTEDu AFTER THE conduct of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

Alex Tablate, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said the ROC just concluded its 14th deliberation on March 19 wherein 522 barangay submitted their intention for drug-clearing, while 393 met the parameters and submitted docu-

mentary requirements.

Of the 393 villages, 203 were from Antique, 117 from Iloilo, 47 from Capiz, 22 from Negros Occidental, and four from Aklan.

The region has 4,051 barangay spread across six provinces, two highly urbanized cities, 14 component cities, and 117 municipalities.

As of last week, 676 barangay were cleared compared to 444 villages last year. “In the regions with urban areas and highly urbanized cities, the barangay drug-clearing process is not that fast,� Tablate

New technology key to growth of Bohol tourism THE emergence of new technology brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe) can be a powerful tool to boost the tourism in "OHOL A TOP OFkCIAL OF THE "OHOL Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) said.

Marietta Gasatan, BCCI vice president for external affairs, said in a forum organized by state think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), that the digital age had provided huge opportunities for those in the tourism business to expand their markets, enhance customer satisfaction and improve services. “If we compare the way we did business 15 years ago, there’s a big difference,� she said, adding that the region’s tourism sector was the

kRST TO DIGITIZE BUSINESS PROCESSES using online platforms to book GUEST lIGHTS AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS Gasatan said, however, that there were still challenges in the adoption of the fourth industrial revolution. “Whether we call it FIRe or Industry 4.0, the fact remains that the business landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace. We should not ignore it. We should welcome it in a balanced and customized way but we need to set parameters and embrace only what is accepted and needed by the industry and community,� she said.

Gasatan said challenges include the FIRe’s effect on the region’s culTURE AND HERITAGE AND THE DIFkCULTY in making people, especially the old ones, accept the changes and

Nationinbrief EX-MAGUINDANAO COUNCILOR SLAIN IN AMBUSH SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: The former municipal councilor of Talitay town in Maguindanao was killed in an ambush by unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle on Saturday, while enroute to Cotabato City with his wife. Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director, said Ambel Guimadel and his wife Saida were traveling on a pick-up truck from Talitay when attacked in Barangay Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat town. The gunmen apparently followed them from Talitay. Guimadel, who sustained gunshot wounds in the body, was declared dead on arrival at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City. His wife was wounded but was declared out of danger.

Guimadel relatives said he had no known enemies, but their municipality is a known as a politically troubled town during elections. Talitay is also known for deadly clan wars involving local politicians. Guiamadel was a former president of the associa-

technological advancements. “I don’t think ‘Gen X’ or those born from 1965 to 1980, which makes up 20.75 percent of the population in the world, is 100 percent or even 90 percent tech savvy. The same goes for those born from 1946 to 1964, or those we refer to as baby boomers. But we are certain that the digital age will be embraced by ‘Gen Y’ and ‘Z’ or those born between 1981 to 2014 as well as the millenials.

This is the reason why we need to persuade the younger generations to closely work with us,� she said.

Gasatan also said that while most of tourism services should be sustained and improved, there were some that could never be replaced by modern technologies. “Tourism promotes personal

touch and personal experience like the warmth of the people you encounter while visiting a place. These experiences cannot and can never be virtual or cyber or be replaced by robotics,� she pointed out.

Gasatan noted that the pace of the region to cope with technological advancements was also dependent on the “feel and priority of the government.’’ “We need the government to push the actors to bring innovaTION TO FAR lUNG AREAS *UST LIKE the FabLab at the Bohol Island State University, it needs all the support from the public sector. The government can link the FabLab to the industry sector so that it can do more research,� she said.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

tion of barangay (village) chairmen in Talitay, a position that entitled him to be an ex-officio member of the municipal council.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

PUSHER KILLED IN LAGUNA BUY-BUST BIÑAN CITY, Laguna: A police officer was wounded while a drug pusher was killed in an anti-illegal drugs operation on Sunday. Senior Supt. Ely Matta, Laguna Police director, identified the suspect as Maburak Cabugatan of Barangay San Jose, Biùan City. He said Cabugatan transacted with Police Officer 1 Alric Natividad, who acted as a poseur-buyer, but when the suspect sensed that he was dealing with an undercover, he ran inside his house and fired shots hitting the police officer in the stomach. An unidentified bystander was also wounded in the firefight. Cabugatan was declared dead on arrival in the hospital, while Natividad and the bystander were in a stable condition after the treatment. Recovered from the suspect were six sachets containing 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 hidden in a sling bag, and a caliber .38 revolver.

ROSELLE R. AQUINO

said. “But, compared this with other regions, we have a positive output,� he added.

Tablate, however, said that even if all barangay were processed and cleared, they were still required to establish a Balay Silangan rehabilitation center before being declared as drug-cleared or drug-free, based on the directive of their national headquarters and the Dangerous Drugs Board. “The essence of Balay Silangan was focused on the reformation of pushers,� he said, adding that without the facility, the concerns

of barangay that were moderately AFFECTED OR WITH IDENTIkED PUSHERS will not be addressed.

Barangay certified as drugcleared were mostly within the slightly affected category, where THE IDENTIkED SURRENDERERS WERE mostly drug users.

Tablate said another deliberation would be conducted in the second quarter of this year.

The ROC is made up of PDEA, 0OLICE 2EGIONAL /FkCE $EPARTment of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Health.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

News Motorbike plate law defective – Atienza B A8

MONDAY March 25, 2019

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

UHAY party-list Rep. Jose “Lito� Atienza on Sunday said the law that requires bigger motorcycle plates was defective and urged Congress to repeal it. “It is better to accept errors in the law and repealing the same rather than causing permanent damage and even lives lost on the part of the motorcyclists. Obviously, the law has fundamental defects and the sooner it is adjusted to international norms and standards on safety, the better for all,� Atienza said in a statement. “Motorcycles are designed for speed and maneuverability. These cumbersome plates or decals will hamper the movement of and are even dangerous to legitimate motorcycle-riding citizens. And why should government be issuing new plates or decals when motorcycle owners have been waiting for their

new plates since the last administration? These are plates that they have paid for but have not received until now,� Atienza said.

He was referring to the Republic Act 11235 or the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act� which requires the Land Transportation /FkCE ,4/ TO ISSUE BIGGER COLOR coded number plates for motorcycle.

Groups of bikers are also up in arms against the law, saying its implementation could pose risks to bikers and motorists.

Atienza said while the law’s intention was to curb activities of riding-in-tandem criminals, the gGENUINE SOLUTIONu LIES IN EFkCIENT

police action so as not to endanger the lives of motorcyclists and their passengers. “Ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng mga awtoridad ay dagdagan ang police visibility at patibayin pa ang pagbabantay laban sa mga riding-in-tandem na criminal elements, at hulihin at ipakulong ang mga ito. Hindi solusyon ang pagpapakabit sa mga motorista ng panibagong mga plaka sa motorsiklo (Authorities should instead increase police visibility and tighten their watch on ridingin-tandem criminals, who should be arrested and jailed. The installation of two big plates is not a solution),� he said. “ Makakasagabal lamang ito sa maayos na pagmamaneho ng ating mga kababayan at hindi makakatutulong laban sa mga masasamang-loob. Aminin na natin ang pagkakamali at ayusin ang batas na ito (It will only hinder motorists from driving

safely. Let us admit that the law has defects and let us correct them),� he added.

Sen. Richard Gordon also on Sunday reminded the LTO to be careful in drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the new law.

Gordon, author and sponsor of the motorbike law, said the IRR should not digress from the purpose of the law which is to protect the citizenry from crimes committed with the use of motorcycles. “We should not let this law die because of poor implementation that is why the LTO should do the IRR properly,� he said. “As the principal author and sponsor, I would like to help the committee, which will draft the )22 TO MAKE SURE THAT IT RElECTS THE genuine spirit of the law,� he said.

He allayed fears of motorcycle riders that the use of bigger license plates at the front and back of their bikes could endanger their safety.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

ART FOR WEARING

Calligraphers and a muralist from Guhit Pinas, a group composed of women artists from Rizal province, turn casual wear into works of art to celebrate Women’s Month in Taytay, Rizal. PHOTO BY ROGER RANADA

Chinese on top of list of aliens living in PH CHINESE topped the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) list of foreigners who live permanently and temporarily in the country.

The BI’s Alien Registration Division chief Jose Carlitos Licas said of the 148,387 foreigners who filed their annual reports from Jan. 1 to March 2, 2019, 56,015 were Chinese.

Indians came in second at 26,533; followed by Americans at 10,566; Taiwanese at 8,557, and South Koreans at 8,157.

Also in the top 10 were nationals from Japan, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Germany.

The BI noted that there were

59,339 legal foreign workers here.

Almost 100,000 aliens submitted their annual reports at the BI main office in Manila and the bureau’s satellite and extension ofkCES IN THE CITIES OF 4AGUIG -AKATI

Cebu, Davao and Clark.

Licas reminded those who were abroad during the reporting peRIOD TO kLE WITHIN DAYS FROM their return to the country.

The annual report of aliens is pursuant to the 1950 Alien Registration Act, which requires holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas to personally report to the BI WITHIN THE kRST DAYS OF THE YEAR CATHERINE A. MODESTO

Oil firms to hike pump prices OIL companies are set to increase their pump prices again this week. “Diesel should go up by P0.05 to P0.10 per liter and gasoline should go up by P0.65 to P0.75 per liter,� Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. said in an advisory over the weekend.

A source said the cost of diesel would likely go up by 5 to 15 centavos per liter and 70 centavos to 80 centavos per liter for gasoline.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said fuel prices are expected to go up this week.

He said oil prices slightly changed in Asia “as traders remained cautious amid the latest news on the Sino-US trade war.� ,AST WEEK OIL kRMS INCREASED THE price of diesel by 30 centavos per liter, gasoline by P1.45 per liter, and kerosene by 40 centavos per liter.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Q DROUGHT FROM A1

Zambales, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

In the Visayas, these are Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar.

In Mindanao, these are Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Sulatan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Provinces expected to experience a dry spell by the end of April are Ifugao, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Aurora, Batangas, Rizal, Bohol, Cebu, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Basilan and Lanao del Sur. Pagasa’s Solis said rains were expected by May, easing the effects of El NiĂąo and lowering the number of provinces under drought and dry spell. “Rains are expected to increase by May even when there’s drought,â€? Solis said.

By the end of May, Pagasa expects drought areas to decline to 37 percent and dry spell areas to drop to 4 percent of the whole country.

Pagasa “The dry spell may prolong and continue in the next coming months,� said Analiza Solis, chief of Climate Information Monitoring and Prediction of Pagasa.

Sixteen provinces are already experiencing drought, 55 are under a dry spell, and 12 have dry conditions.

In February, Pagasa said it expected 10 provinces to experience drought, 41 to fall under a dry spell and 21 under dry conditions by the end of March.

Pagasa classifies a province under drought if it had experienced three consecutive months of way below normal or five consecutive months of below normal rainfall. A dry spell is declared if a province has experienced three consecutive months of below normal or two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall. Dry conditions mean two consecutive months of below normal rainfall.

Pagasa’s latest forecast indicate that 61 percent of the country was likely to experience meteorological drought by the end of April, higher than the proportion of 6 percent recorded in February and 19 percent in March.

A dry spell was expected to hit 39 percent of the country by the end of April, from 13 percent in February and 66 percent in March.

In Luzon, areas that might be declared under drought by the end of April are Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija,

What’s inside SPEEDY APPOINTMENT OF ARTA HEAD PUSHED

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GOVT SEES MORE RESPONSIVE ICT PLANS, POLICIES BusinessB2

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ONION FARMERS GET HELP VS PRICE FIXING

ÂťBusinessB2

PCC APPROVAL DRIVES ICTSI SHARES HIGHER

ÂťStock WatchB3

FIRMS EYE 2022 START FOR WAWA OPERATIONS

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

FRUITAS LOOKING TO ADD 200 STORES

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

www.manilatimes.net

DELOITTE. ON THE DOT

B2

W

MONDAY MARCH 25, 2019

Business Times

B1

Immediate policy easing ‘imprudent’ – Guinigundo

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

I

T would be unwise to immediately ease monetary policy settings, a senior Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "30 OFkCIAL SAID GIVEN gWILD CARDu RISKS TO INlATION

“El NiĂąo could be prolonged while OIL PRICES SEEM TO BE ACTING UP AGAIN u central bank Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters late last week. “These are the wild cards, that is WHY IT WOULD BE DIFkCULT TO REDUCE THE reserve requirement ratio (RRR) and THE POLICY RATES u HE ADDED g;!N EASING= WOULD BE IMPRUDENT u With regard to oil prices, meanwhile, Gunigundo said Dubai crude futures were indicating an upward price trend. “It needs careful assessment before

actually considering an actual adjustMENT ON POLICY RATES AND THE 222 u HE reiterated.

The Agriculture department last week said that dry spells and droughts caused

by El NiĂąo had already destroyed P1.3 billion in farm damage, up from the P464.27 million reported a week earlier. %ASING INlATION PROMPTED THE "30 S policymaking Monetary Board to keep key interest rates unchanged last week.

After a 2018 surge — blamed largely on higher oil prices and food supply

ISSUES ‡ THAT PROMPTED kVE SUCCESSIVE RATE HIKES OFkCIALS SAID CONSUMER PRICE growth was now expected to settle within the 2.0-4.0 percent target this year.

7ITH INlATION ALREADY DOWN TO percent in February and the economy also expected to slow this year given El NiĂąo, a budget impasse and the USChina trade war, some analysts now expect BSP rate cuts to be ordered as early as May. "UT WITH YEAR TO DATE INlATION STILL above target at 4.1 percent, analysts have also said the Monetary Board would wait until consumer price GROWTH SETTLED kRMLY WITHIN THE TARGET band.

HSBC economist Noelan Arbis is among those that expect monetary authorities to await further data before reversing policy.

“As we noted previously, we believe it would be most prudent for the BSP TO WAIT UNTIL INlATION IS MORE kRMLY within its target before engaging in any MONETARY ACCOMMODATION u !RBIS SAID in a commentary.

He noted that both headline and core INlATION STILL REMAINED NEAR THE UPPER end of the target band, which suggested that price pressures remained elevated. #ORE INlATION WAS AT PERCENT IN February.

Moreover, Arbis said the El NiĂąo cycle could again put pressure on food prices. Ongoing droughts will be the primary factor during the first half while the stronger storms that typically follow the end of an El NiĂąo will also affect prices. “That said, the case to provide greater

³’Imprudent’ B2

SHARES OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEK:

PSEi seen waiting for fresh catalysts THE stock market could go either way this week — the last for the current quarter — with analysts pointing to budget worries as possibly dampening optimism from last Thursday’s US Federal Reserve and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas policy decisions.

Eagle Equities Inc. research head Christopher Mangun over the weekend said that Friday’s rally to the 8,000 level could further excite investors, although the opposite is also likely given continued delays in the approval of the 2019 national budget. “The main index must blow through its next resistance of 8,140 to confirm that this rally will keep going,� Mangun added.

The government has been

operating on a reenacted budget since the start of the year with the Senate accusing the House of Representatives of making post-bicameral changes to the P3.757-trillion outlay.

Senate and House leaders have agreed to meet today, March 25, in a renewed bid to resolve the impasse.

Other factors that could influence this week’s trading, meanwhile, is a March 28-29 meeting in Beijing as top US and Chinese officials try to finalize a trade deal.

On Friday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index rose by 0.74 percent or 58.70 points to finish at 8,013.42, a one-month high. The wider All Shares grew by 0.50 percent or 24.52 points to end at 4,913.31.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

SKEWERED

A puppet of Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May spearing a representation of the British economy is paraded during a rally organized by the pro-European People’s Vote campaign for a second EU referendum in central London on March 23, 2019. AFP PHOTO

Failed NKorea ventures offer warning to Filipinos GOCC PHILIPPINE authorities are on the lookout for business activities between Filipinos and North Koreans following reports that some Southeast Asian companies have been defrauded.

The Trade department said the country remained committed to United Nations economic sanctions that North Korea has been lobbying to be lifted. “We abide by the UN sancTIONS u &ENG "RUM HEAD OF THE Information and Technology Division of the Bureau of Investments (BOI), told The Manila

Times. “[There is] no encouragement [to do business] with North KoREA SO AS FAR AS WE RE CONCERNED u she added. “There are no businesses, trades, or investments that are going on between the Philippines AND .ORTH +OREA u That said, some businesses have been encouraged to explore business opportunities in North Korea, especially following overtures made by US President Donald Trump to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.

! kRST MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO leaders in Singapore led to a business delegation visiting North Korea in September. A Southeast Asia expert claimed they were lured into investing some $2 BILLION INTO TOURISM kSHING AND industrial ventures.

A year earlier, meanwhile, Singaporean firm Victoria 88 Distributions PTE Ltd. Was said to have been defrauded of as much as $1 million via a failed cigarette venture.

North Korea has a history of bilking investors. Sweden, in

particularly, regularly reminds Pyongyang that it owes over $300 million dollars — including interest and other charges — for 1,000 Volvos ordered in the early ‘70s.

Despite these cautionary tales and the Philippine government OFkCIALS STATEMENTS ABOUT ABIDing by UN sanctions, Filipinos have been doing business with North Koreans.

In a March 9, 2018 report, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security included the Philippines as

one of 52 countries violating international sanctions.

The report said the Philippines was importing sanctioned goods and minerals from North Korea including coal, copper ore, iron/ steel, nickel, silver and zinc.

Other Southeast Asia countries were said to be guilty of similar violations, including Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Other countries reportedly in violation were Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ghana, India,

ÂłWarning B2

The Zobels should identify Ayala ‘affiliates’

A

DEFINITIVE information statement (DIS) showed Ayala Corp. (AC) proposal for an “amendment to the Second Article of the Articles of Incorporation to expressly include in the Primary Purpose the Power to Act as Gurantor or Surety for the Loans and Obligations of its AFkLIATES OR !SSOCIATES u The amendment will be among the 10 items in the agenda of AC’s annual stockholders’ meeting on April 26, 2019, during which “only stockholders of record as of March 12, 2019 are entitled to notice of and to vote AT THIS MEETING u As approved by AC’s seven-

person board, the Zobel-owned holding company proposed said amendment. It is regrettable, THOUGH THAT IT FAILED TO DEkNE AN gASSOCIATEu OR gAFkLIATE u Who are the owners of this “asSOCIATEu OR gAFkLIATEu 4HE PUBLIC stockholders need to know the identities of its owners.

After all, the public are AC’s majority stockholders, according to the company’s public ownership report (POR). As of Dec. 31, 2018, they held 330.161 million common shares, then equivalent to 52.35 percent of 630.627 million outstanding AC common shares. They even topped the ownership entry of

divided this into 900 million common shares with par value of P50 each; 12 million preferred A shares; 58 million preferred B shares; 40 million preferred C shares and 200 million voting preferred shares.

While AC’s voting preferred Mermac which a POR credited shares carry par value of P1 per with 296.626 million AC com- share, its 47 million non-voting preferred shares had par value mon shares, or 47.04 percent. of P100 each. Preferred A shares were issued at P500 each but Ayala Corp. earned an interest rate of 8.88 stockholders percent. Preferred B shares, isIn a general information sheet sued in July 2006, were offered (GIS) for 2018, AC listed 1.21 at P100 par value and earned billion shares as its authorized 9.4578 percent per annum.

On March 14, 2011, AC offered CAPITAL STOCK !#3 4HE kLING

to reacquire the AC’s preferred B shares by paying the holders 9.5 percent interest rate per annum.

4HE $)3 kLED BY !# CLASSIkED AS gDIVIDEND RATEu THE EARNINGS of non-voting preferred shares.

However, Due Diligencer treated these earnings per annum as gINTEREST RATEu WHICH IN REALITY were interest rate.

Of Ayala’s 1.21 billion ACS, 1.1 billion shares are voting shares, which, when computed, represents a little over 90.909 percent of 1.1 billion voting shares.

Incidentally, AC had 200 million voting preferred shares in

ÂłPerez B2

subsidies down 13% in January SUBSIDIES received by staterun companies from the government declined in January, latest Treasury bureau data showed.

A total of P795 million was provided to 18 governmentowned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) during the month, 13.8 percent lower than the P922 million recorded a year earlier.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which is responsible for irrigation development and management, accounted for the bulk or P435 million.

The next-biggest allocation went to the Philippine Heart Center, which got P74 million, followed by Philippine Children’s Medical Center (P67 million) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (P50 million).

Other GOCCs that received assistance were the Light Rail Transit Authority, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Credit

ÂłJanuary B2

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 25, 2019

Speedy appointment of ARTA head pushed L

BY TYRONE C. PIAD

OCAL exporters recently called for the immediate appointment of a a director general to head the Anti-Red Tape !UTHORITY !24!

Appointing the ARTA head will facilitate the full implementation of the Ease of Doing Business and %FkCIENT 'OVERNMENT 3ERVICE $Elivery (EOBD-EGSD) Act of 2018, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said in a statement.

Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis 2nd said fully implementing the EODB could help boost the export industry’s operations and maximize its opportunities. “The now half-year delay in the implementation [of EOBD-

EGSD) already undermines the very intention of the law which is to shorten government transactions and eliminate bureaucratic AND REGULATORY BARRIERS u HE SAID President Rodrigo Duterte, who signed RA 11032 or the EOBDEGSD Act in May last year, has not yet appointed a full-pledged director general amid the presence of a SHORTLIST !N OFkCIAL !24! HEAD IS necessary to sign the new law’s implementing rules and regulations, which remains to be pending and open for public consultation until

March 31.

The EODB-EGSD sets prescribed processing period: simple business transactions should be completed within 3 working days, 7 for complex transactions and 20 for highly technical process. RA 11032 mandated the creation of ARTA which is tasked to monitor and implement antired tape measures and reforms for ease of doing business to improve global competitiveness ranking of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Luis said the local exporters are looking forward to the government’s joint administrative order addressing issues on port congestion.

The agencies taking part in the joint agreement are the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance, Depart-

ment of Transportation, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Ortiz-Luis also stressed the importance of continuously fostering innovation through research and development (R&D), adding that the DTI-led initiative of establishing Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs) will help in do so.

The RIIC initiative, one of the main key points under the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap in 2018, aims to bring government, academe and industries together in doing R&D to promote innovation. The Philexport head SAID 2 $ WAS A gMUSTu GIVEN THE fourth industrial revolution.

Govt sees more responsive ICT plans, policies THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will beef up statistical data on digital technology following a partnership with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI).

A memorandum of agreement was recently inked between the DICT and the PSRTI to pursue the National ICT Household

Q PEREZ FROM B1

The Zobels should its ACS as a result of the “reclasSIkCATION OF MILLION UNISSUED common shares with par value of P50 per share into 200 million voting preferred shares with par VALUE OF 0 PER SHARE u

Due Diligencer’s take The public stockholders of Ayala #ORP WOULD kND IT MUCH EASIER to understand how 200 million voting preferred shares came about by multiplying 4 million unissued common shares by P50 per common share, which is the stock’s par value.

As posted on the PSE website, AC had 630.631 million outstanding common shares out of 900 million common shares reported in its DIS. The outstanding but fully paid 200 million voting preferred shares were equivalent to 24.078 percent of AC’s 830.631 million voting shares.

Despite its ownership of only 24.078 percent of AC’s voting capital stock, the Zobels not only control the board, they also appoint their company’s three independent directors.

As the Zobels’ nominees, Antonio Jose U. Periquet, Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. and Xavier P. Loinaz will not qualify as regular directors because they owned less than the required number of either common or voting preferred shares.

By the way, as of Feb. 28, 2019, AC’s outstanding capital stock consisted of 630.631 million common shares, 20 million preferred B Series 1 shares, 27 million preferred B series 2 shares and 200 million voting preferred shares.

If 200 million voting preferred shares equals 24.078 percent of 830.631 million voting AC shares, 47 million non-voting outstanding preferred shares equals 5.658 percent of outstanding.

Will the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) inform the public if the public stockholders, as AC’s majority stockholders, qualify to at least A SEAT IN THE BOARD *UST ASKING

esdperez@gmail.com.

Survey (NICTHS) and the Pipol Konek User Feedback Analysis. “From this NICTHS and Pipol Konek user feedback study, we can design more cost-effective plans for our ICT projects. It is now time to buckle down to the REAL WORK AHEAD OF US u $)#4 acting chief Eliseo Rio, Jr. said in a statement. “Our partnership will provide the foundation for more respon-

sive ICT plans and policies to BENEkT OUR NATION FOR THE YEARS TO COME u 0324) %XECUTIVE $IRECTOR *OSEkNA 6 !LMEDA ALSO SAID The NICTHS will focus on baseline data on household access and use of ICT services and equipment, which will be used to facilitate evidence-based planning and policy information.

The Pipol Konek User Feed-

back Analysis, on the other hand, targets to study the impact OF THE FREE WI k PROJECT #URrently, the DICT has more than 2,300 Pipol Konek hotspots across the country.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was also part of the deal, where it would provide the clearance review and technical inputs of the projects.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

Onion farmers get help vs price fixing P200-milliion in working capital has been committed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to onion farmers associations so they can buy the produce of their members amid alleged price manipulation by traders.

The fund will be released through the DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piùol said.

The farmers, particularly those from Nueva Ecija, earlier raised concern on the closure of cold storage facilities, forcing them to drop the price of their produce.

Prices of locally-produced onion reportedly fell to P15 per kilo from a high of P30 per kilo before the start of

harvest season. PiĂąol said he told DA Field Operations Director Roy Abaya to source reefer vans which could be used as temporary storage facilities. “The [P200-million] working capital could be used in buying the farmers onion production which could be kept in reefer vans to be released to the market when prices have stabilized,â€? PiĂąol said. “[It] could be released as soon as the farmers groups have been validated and provided with reefer vans,â€? he added. Earlier, the DA requested the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to

Q JANUARY FROM B1

GOCC subsidies Information Corp., Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Lung Center of the Philippines, N a t i o n a l D a i r y Au t h o r i t y, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care,

People’s Television Network Inc., Southern Philippines Development Authority, and Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority.

The subsidies fell under the national government’s disbursements program.

In January, state spending contracted by 7 percent to P212.2 billion, resulting largely

Q WARNING FROM B1

Failed NKorea ventures Ireland, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia and South Korea.

The UN has been imposing restrictions on trade with North Korea for years over the regime’s nuclear weapons program.

Pyongyang has seen the TrumpXi meetings as a premier chance having these lifted.

While the abrupt end to a second meeting in Vietman this year was seen as a setback, Trump on Friday reversed fresh sanctions announced just a day earlier by the Treasury department.

The Duterte government, meanwhile, insists that the Philippines has not been remiss. In August 2017, then Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano declared that the Philippines had suspended trade relations with North Korea. “We will fully comply with UNSC (United Nations Security Council) resolution including THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS u #AYetano said.

Brum of the BoI echoed that policy last week. “We are not allowed to engage

probe reports that firms closed down four major cold storage facilities in Nueva Ecija to lower onion prices. These storage facilities were identified as Rivson Coop Storage Inc., Argo Cold Storage Facility, Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magsisibuyas ng Nueva Ecija (Kasamne), All In Palayan City and the Titan Onion Cold Storage in Bongabon City. The DA also ordered the suspension of onion importation by allowing the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to issue sanitary and pytho-sanitary permits only after the harvest season and the investigation on alleged price manipulation. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

from the delays in the implementation of new government projects and salary adjustments due to the deferred passage of the 2019 budget.

In 2018, the national government gave away a record P136.652 billion in subsidies.

State firms that received the biggest funding assistance were the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (P52.950 billion), NIA, (P28.427 billion) and Land Bank of the Philippine (P25.622 billion).

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

with North Korea, along with OTHER AGENCIES u SHE TOLD The Times.

But when asked whether Philippine companies had fully complied, she suggested that The Times check with other government agencies, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) just regulates trading in goods, she explained.

When The Times called the Division II-North East Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which looks after compliance with international sancTIONS AN OFkCER THERE REFERRED THE inquiry back to the DTI. REVA ANNE MARCELO

Smart renewable cities I DELOITTE. N Central Luzon, some 100 kilometers from Metro Manila, construction is in full swing on the Philippines’ very first ‘smart city’. New Clark City is a 9,450-hectare mixeduse development within the Clark Special Economic Zone masterplanned to address the pain points that make many of our big cities nearly unlivable: the congested roads, the pollution, the high cost of utilities, the inability to weather natural disasters. Like all smart cities around the world, New Clark City is a chance to get it right.

Besides their heavy reliance on technology, smart cities are distinguished by their peoplecentered focus and sustainable practices. There is emphasis on carving out wide, open, pedestrian-friendly spaces and making mass transit easily accessible to discourage the use of private vehicles. Some have gone a step further and are already powered by renewable energy (RE) and are looking at further deployment of these sources as part of their smart city plans. These are what Deloitte calls smart renewable cities (SRC).

SRCs around the world are turning to wind and solar power as these RE sources reach price and performance parity with conventional energy sources. Deloitte looked at a number of SRCs and the range of initiatives they are taking around renewables and classified them into three categories – biggest cities, purest cities and newest cities – to build a framework other smart cities can use to plan their own shift to renewables.

Biggest, purest, newest Biggest cities have over a million residents and tend to be replete with legacy infrastructure and complexity. Among the biggest SRCs Deloitte studied, the one with the highest share of solar and wind power is in Adelaide, Australia, at 42.2 percent.

Purest SRCs are those where solar and/or wind account for over 42.2 percent of the current energy mix. One example is Copenhagen, Denmark, where wind and solar account for 47 percent of the energy generated. Newest cities may be the ideal models, having the advantage of fully intentional and unhindered deployment of renewables. PeĂąa Station Next in Colorado, USA is one: the 382-acre community runs purely on renewable energy and, as such, is carbon neutral.

These SRCs are leading the way in harnessing renewables to contribute to the smart city goals of economic growth, sustainability, and quality of life.

Green economic growth SRCs foster economic growth by using affordable and reliable renewable power.

Georgetown, Texas in the US, for example, has managed to drive down its electricity prices from 11.4c/kWh in 2008 to 8.5c/kWh after it achieved its 100 percent wind and solar goal in 2017. Classified as a purest city, Georgetown’s “100 PERCENT RENEWABLEu STATUS HAS also drawn interest from members of RE100, a growing group of 165 companies committed to achieving or maintaining

ON THE DOT

DIANE YAP 100 percent renewable use.

Many of these companies offer high-paying jobs that cities seek.

Sustainable buildings and transportation As in traditional cities, buildings and transportation account for most of the energy use in the SRCs Deloitte studied. But unlike traditional citites, SRCs manage their energy and natural resources more efficiently.

Public utility company San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) supported its city’s smart building initiatives by deploying smart meters and working with Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology providers to give building operators in the Port of San Diego demandresponse capability. The meters track patterns of energy consumption and identify abnormalities, allowing building operators to adjust behaviors accordingly. Besides energy and cost savings, the meters are helping drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

Higher quality of life Finally, SRCs can offer higher quality of life for residents, if only for the cleaner, healthier environment they promote. Newest SRCs, in particular, can minimize most local air pollutants in a world where 80 percent of urban dwellers are exposed to pollution levels that exceed World Health Organization limits for public safety. That percentage rises to 98 percent in low- and mid-income countries such as the Philippines.

One of the ways SRCs are improving air quality is by restricting vehicular access to city centers. New Clark City, for example, was designed with people – not cars – in mind, with wide pedestrian lanes and protected bicycle lanes. Copenhagen has banned diesel cars in the city and has designated certain areas as carfree. Peùa Station Next is piloting an autonomous electronic vehicle shuttle fleet as part of its mass transit system.

These SRCs are proof that the technology, know-how and synergies already exist to build cities that are cleaner, smarter and more efficient than the cities we currently live and work in. And in a few months, Filipinos will have the chance to experience this difference for themselves when New Clark City debuts its first phase of development. It’s an infrastructure project that not only carries with it the pride of Philippine innovation and ingenuity; if you think about it, our very health and survival may depend on it.

The author is the Financial Advisory Leader at Navarro Amper & Co., the local member firm of Deloitte Southeast Asia Ltd. – a member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited – comprising Deloitte practices operating in Brunei, Cambodia, Guam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

25bps cut to the policy rate in the second quarter.

The Monetary Board’s next policy meeting will be on May 9, to be followed by another on June 20. monetary accommodation is war“All in all, we expect 300bp of RANTED AS LONG AS INlATION CONTIN- cuts of the RRR and 50bp of cuts to UES TO MODERATE AS EXPECTED u HE THE POLICY RATE IN u !RBIS SAID acknowledged.

The Monetary Board’s last four With this, Arbis said HSBC ex- policy meetings for the year will be pected a 100-basis point (bp) cut held on August 8, September 26, to the 18-percent RRR before a November 14 and December 12.

Q ‘IMPRUDENT’ FROM B1

Immediate

Stock Watch

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

B3

MONDAY March 25, 2019

30-DAY STOCK PERFORMANCE

HIGH

LOW

AVERAGE

CLOSE

30-day high: P124.90

Market capitalization: P244,434,706,115.60

30-day low: P76.95

Q Terminal 1 of the Manila North Harbor. Its facilities include berth space for ship to shore crane operation, a container yard, and an operations center building. PHOTO GRABBED FROM MANILA NORTH HARBOR WEBSITE

Date

PCC approval drives ICTSI shares higher

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

E

N R I Q U E Ra z o n - l e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) saw its share price grow by 4 percent weekon-week, buoyed by the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) approval of an increase IN THE kRM S OWNERSHIP OF THE -ANILA .ORTH Harbor. from the P100 recorded in the last trading day of December 2018. $IVERSIkED 3ECURITIES )NC TRADER Aniceto Pangan said the firm’s share price was lifted by the PCC approval while Eastern Securities Development Corp. trader Jayniel Manuel said the company’s attributable net income — which climbed by 22 percent to $221.5 million last year from $182.1

4HE PORTS OPERATOR kNISHED &RIday up at P124.20, the same day that the antitrust body announced its go-signal for the acquisition of a 15.17-percent stake that would bring ICTSI’s North Harbor ownership to 50 percent.

The latest price was its highest year-to-date and was also just 0.56-percent shy of a 52-week high of P124.90. ICTSI is up 24 percent

million in 2017 — likely helped.

Pangan noted that the firm’s share price was already expensive.

Manuel said he was bullish about the company given aggressive expansion plans, including a reported interest in taking over bankrupt Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Philippines. “[These] aggressive expansions will boost the company’s growth and development that may somehow dominate the industry not just locally but also worldwide,�

Manuel said.

Last week, ICTSI said it planned to transform Hanjin shipbuilding operations in Subic into a multipurpose facility.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research associate Piper Chaucer Tan is also optimistic about ICTSI, notING THE kRM S SUSTAINED GROWTH LAST year despite economic challenges and threats such as the US-China trade war.

Razon’s interest in merger-andacquisition transactions, Tan said, is good news for investors.

FINANCIAL CONDITION Year

Total Assets

Total Liabilities

2016 2017 2018

4,182,126 4,370,687 4,702,932

2,416,046 2,498,119 53,921,543

Shareholders’ Equity 1,766,080 1,872,568 2,229,200

*amounts in thousand dollars

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

8,013.42

58.7

Ÿ

All Shares

4,913.31

24.52

Ÿ

Financials

1,789.47

7.18

Ÿ

Industrial

11,737.38

82.37

Ÿ

Holding Firms

7,944.05

49.29

Ÿ

Services

1,608.71

17.1

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8,339.61

-24.59

Ĺş

Property

4,111.50

23.59

Ÿ

SERVICES

Stock indices as of March 22, 2019

PSEi

ALL SHARES

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

MINING AND OIL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY wDate Mar 22, 2019 Mar 21, 2019 Mar 20, 2019 Mar 19, 2019 Mar 18, 2019 Mar 15, 2019 Mar 14, 2019 Mar 13, 2019 Mar 12, 2019 Mar 11, 2019 Mar 08, 2019 Mar 07, 2019 Mar 06, 2019 Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019 Mar 01, 2019 Feb 28, 2019 Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019

Open 7,956.67 7,875.78 7,848.16 7,863.70 7,794.58 7,748.07 7,741.78 7,725.62 7,728.22 7,815.28 7,868.50 7,806.50 7,674.56 7,700.38 7,631.90 7,711.70 7,919.99 7,962.10 7,996.15 7,940.29 7,946.66 7,849.08 7,923.36 7,924.60 7,965.17 7,960.19 8,040.34 8,076.60 8,088.34

High 8,032.40 7,954.72 7,875.62 7,878.80 7,873.02 7,798.28 7,763.97 7,766.15 7,773.61 7,823.80 7,884.46 7,881.79 7,821.34 7,734.71 7,698.44 7,754.45 7,919.99 7,972.69 7,996.15 7,962.13 7,946.66 7,944.59 7,938.79 7,964.05 7,999.84 7,996.21 8,040.43 8,083.53 8,105.58

Low 7,951.06 7,869.31 7,823.60 7,843.41 7,760.51 7,701.74 7,718.77 7,724.79 7,728.22 7,708.72 7,797.11 7,795.21 7,674.56 7,667.14 7,595.92 7,587.99 7,705.49 7,877.63 7,945.03 7,894.56 7,892.58 7,848.47 7,830.63 7,910.58 7,908.89 7,920.62 7,889.46 7,984.42 8,061.54

Close 8,013.42 7,954.72 7,858.20 7,843.41 7,873.02 7,798.28 7,750.42 7,766.15 7,747.54 7,708.72 7,797.11 7,881.79 7,821.34 7,670.62 7,675.47 7,641.77 7,705.49 7,889.12 7,988.16 7,962.13 7,931.30 7,939.24 7,833.75 7,910.58 7,908.89 7,991.25 7,920.24 8,009.92 8,061.54

CLOSE

Close

Date

Close

Mar 22, 2019

124.2

Mar 01, 2019

113

Mar 21, 2019

121.4

Feb 28, 2019

116

Mar 20, 2019

122

Mar 19, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

120.8 119

Feb 27, 2019 Feb 26, 2019 Feb 22, 2019

119.3 119.6 119.4

Mar 15, 2019

119.5

Feb 21, 2019

119

Mar 14, 2019

118.9

Mar 13, 2019 Mar 12, 2019

118.3 119

Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019

119 117.8

Feb 18, 2019

118 115 115.9 115 116.9

Mar 11, 2019 Mar 08, 2019 Mar 07, 2019

114 114 114

Mar 06, 2019

116.5

Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019

Mar 05, 2019 Mar 04, 2019

112.8 113

Feb 11, 2019

114.7

Feb 08, 2019

114

*amounts in peso

*amounts in peso

PROFITABILITY Date Mar. 18 Mar. 19 Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 22

P/E ratio 34.19 34.71 35.05 34.88 35.71

Net income Earnings per share Book value per share *Net income in thousands

P/E growth (%) 1.52 0.98 2.38

Price to book ratio 107.2072 108.8288 109.9099 109.3694 111.8919

2016 2017 2018 193,470 207,717 249,823 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.87

0.92

1.11

Year

THIRD QUARTER REPORT NET INCOME $75,579,000

TOTAL ASSETS $4,702,932,267

TOTAL LIABILITIES

*amounts in dollars

$2,473,732,681

FINANCIAL RATIOS Return on Assets (%)

Return on Equity (%)

TOTAL EQUITY $2,229,199,586

Debt to Equity ratio

Common ratio

2016 2017

4.63 4.75

10.95 11.09

1.3680 1.3341

1.1776 1.2436

2018

5.31

11.21

1.1097

1.5350

FINANCIAL RATIOS Return on Assets 1.61% Return on Equity 3.39% Debt to Ety Ratio 1.1097 Common Ratio 1.5350

Corporate News

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

Outstanding shares: 2,013,465,454

Firms eye 2022 start for Wawa operations

C

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

/-0!.)%3 LED BY THE !YALA AND 2AZON groups are looking to fast-track a water project in light of a massive supply crisis THAT HIT PARTS OF -ETRO -ANILA AND 2IZAL PROVINCE

Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. Inc. on Friday signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Metroline Infrastructure Holdings Inc. (PMIHI) for the development of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project.

Both parties initially agreed to form a technical team to conduct due diligence. “Based on the recommendations of the technical team, the parties will discuss the possibility of having an offtake arrangement, which ‌ shall be subject to the prior review and approval of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS),â€?

Manila Water told the local bourse.

In a statement on Sunday, PMIHI 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF /PERATING /Fk-

cer Guillaume Lucci said the project “will get going considering government’s support to fast-track this needed new water source for Metro Manila and the Rizal province.� “The proximity and water source quality of the Wawa catchment area WILL ALLOW US TO DELIVER kRST WATER NO later than 2022. Because of the scale and life cycle cost of large dams, the public can be assured that we will deliver it in a cost-effective manner,� Lucci added.

The company said MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco was facilitating discussions between the TWO kRMS TO COMMENCE THE PROJECT at the soonest possible time. “This is not an immediate fix but rather a medium to long term solution,� Razon was also quoted

as saying. “Yet our project is one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to solve this current water crisis. If we don’t act now, this will be a recurring problem,� he added.

PMIHI said it also had a partnership with San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group Inc. to develop a water supply facility of more than 500 million liters per day (MLD) at the Wawa catchment area traversing the Rodriguez municipality and Antipolo City.

This can serve more than 500,000 households within Manila Water’s franchise area, it claimed “This is an important step towards resolving the legal impediment preventing the development of one of the most strategic water supply sources for Metro Manila,� SLRBD President Anthony Violago also said in the statement.

Manila Water shares dropped by P0.85 or 3.33 percent on Friday to P24.65 apiece amid a 0.74-percent gain for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.

Fruitas looking to add 200 stores HIGH

INITIAL public offering (IPO) aspirant Fruitas Holdings Inc. plans to expand its network this year by adding 200 outlets, aiming to take advantage of a favorable market environment.

Speaking at the sidelines of a launch event late on Friday, Fruitas Chief Financial Adviser Calvin Chua said the company ended last year with over 950 stores.

Chua said stabilizing inflation and expected strong growth in consumer spending due to the midterm elections underpinned the expansion plan. “I think we expect the growth momentum to continue, we will continue to

expand our store network and also look for additional brands so we can increase [our footprint],� he said. “That’s always been our strategy, to look for brands which we can scale, and something that can also work within our system and find synergies,� he added.

Chua said the firm would be looking for more opportunities in provincial areas.

At present, 80 percent of Fruitas’ stores across 20 brands were company-owned. “We differentiate ourselves versus competition by really owning a lot more of our stores ‌,â€? Chua said.

However, he said Fruitas expected

to lower the ratio of company-owned branches and hike franchised stores “a bit.�

Fruitas last year announced plans to raise as much as P2 billion through an IPO to raise funds for expansion plans. It targeted to file its application with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the second quarter, with a listing by the third quarter.

Fruitas is the holding firm of the Buko Loco, Buko ni Fruitas, Jamaican Pattie Shop, John Lemon, House of Desserts, Black Pearl, Juice Avenue, The Mango Farm, and Friends Fries branch, among others.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

B4

World

MONDAY March 25, 2019

Ousted Thai party confident of poll win

B

ANGKOK: The leader of the Pheu Thai political party that was ousted as Thailand’s government in a 2014 military coup says SHE S CONkDENT OF WINNING 3UNDAY S ELECTION Speaking to reporters after voting in Bangkok, Sudarat Keyuraphan said: “I don’t say it’ll be a landslide. I don’t know. Depend on the people. But I think we can win this election.�

Thais are voting for a 500-mem-

ber parliament that, along with a 250-member junta-appointed Senate, will decide the country’s next prime minister.

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has issued a stateMENT AS 4HAIS VOTE IN THEIR kRST

election since the 2014 coup that says the role of leaders is to stop “bad people� from gaining power and causing chaos.

Invoking a speech by his father, the previous Thai king, who died in 2016 after reigning for seven decades, Vajiralongkorn said not all citizens could be transformed into good people, so leaders must be given support in ruling to create a peaceful nation.

(E URGED GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS

soldiers and civil servants to look after national security.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, the army chief who led the 2014 coup, is hoping to extend his hold on power after engineering a new political system that aims to STIlE THE INlUENCE OF BIG POLITICAL parties not aligned with the military.

Voting is underway in Thailand’s first election since the military ousted an elected government in a 2014 coup.

AFP

VOTING TIME Royal Thai soldiers queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station in Bangkok on Sunday during Thailand's general election.

AFP PHOTO

Widodo inaugurates Jakarta’s 1st subway JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia’s longAWAITED kRST SUBWAY OPENED 3UNday in the country’s capital with the aim of relieving crippling TRAFkC GRIDLOCK IN 3OUTHEAST !SIA S biggest economy.

Minutes after inaugurating the 16-kilometer (10-mile) transit line running south from Jakarta’s downtown, President Joko Widodo presided over a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the second phase: Eight-kiloMETER kVE MILE NORTHWARD LINE planned for completion by 2024.

The two projects are being built at a cost of $2.6 billion. “Today we will begin a new CIVILIZATION BY OPERATING THE kRST phase of mass rapid transit in Jakarta,� Widodo told several thousand guests and residents at the inauguration.

The line that opened Sunday includes seven elevated and six underground stations built by two consortiums of local and Japanese companies. Passengers can ride for free until the end of the month, after which operator PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta has said tickets would cost the equivalent of between 70 cents and $1.

Widodo, who is campaigning for reelection, told the crowd that

he has instructed Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to begin the next phase of construction of an eastwest line covering a distance of 87 kilometers this year.

Jakarta’s first subway line, the latest of many infrastructure improvements across the world’s fourth most populous nation, is aimed at helping it catch up with other southeast Asian capitals such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok in public transport. Jakarta is officially home to about 10 million people, but the population of the greater metropolitan area swells to 30 million.

The project, funded through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has been planned since the 1980s, but its construction was hampered by political crises, red tape and funding disagreements. Widodo was the Jakarta governor when CONSTRUCTION kNALLY KICKED OFF IN October 2013.

JICA has predicted that without a major investment in transportation, Jakarta would be overWHELMED BY TRAFkC JAMS BY Annual losses from congestion are forecast to reach $6.5 billion by next year.

AP

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

6.1 quake jolts Indonesia JAKARTA: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of North Maluku province in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake was 150 kilometers (km) (92 miles) northwest of the coastal town of Ternate at a depth of 37 km, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in Ternate, but residents were unconcerned, a local said. “I was watching TV when the earthquake suddenly happened, the jolt was quite strong, but thankfully it was quick so there was no panic,�

Ternate resident Budi Nurgianto told the Agence France-Presse. /FkCIALS ARE STILL ASSESSING THE quake’s impact but there were no

Vietnam tells monks to stop karma rituals HANOI, Vietnam: Vietnamese authorities have ordered monks at a popular Buddhist pagoda to stop “soul summoning� and “bad karma eviction� ceremonies after an investigation found the rituals were a scam.

Tens of thousands of worshippers had been paying the 18th century Ba Vang pagoda in northern Quang Ninh province between 1 million and several hundred million dong ($45 to $13,500) to have their bad karma vanquished, according to the state-run Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper.

The Committee for Religious Affairs, a government body, issued a statement on its website on Friday, saying “the ritual goes against Buddhist philosophy and violates Vietnam’s law on religion and folk beliefs.� “It has a negative impact on social order and security,� it added.

Calls to the pagoda were not answered on Friday.

Monks at the pagoda teach that all illnesses and misfortune result

formance, the Chinese aircraft released trails of red, yellow, white and green plumes, representing the colors of the national flags of China and Pakistan, winning waves of applause from spectators at the venue with each maneuver, according to a statement the PLA Air Force released on Sunday.

A local broadcaster welcomed the J-10s as they appeared on camera and called the performance "beautiful," in the Chinese language, CCTV reported.

GLOBAL TIMES

from bad deeds in previous lives.

Three times a month, they hold a two-day ceremony to “summon wandering souls� and “remove bad karma,� demanding donations, supposedly representing good deeds, to help cure bad karma and make up for supposed bad deeds in previous lives.

Such rituals have been going on for years, but the practice has drawn unfavorable attention as the amounts demanded by the monks soared to the point where they began taking payments by bank transfers and by installments.

0UBLIC OUTRAGE lARED WHEN AN inspirational speaker associated with the pagoda blamed a victim for being gang raped, saying she had committed evil acts in a past life in comments posted on the pagoda’s website and on social media. The 20-year-old college student was taken hostage and raped BY kVE MEN FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE she was killed on the eve of the February 5 Lunar New Year. AP

Israel strikes Gaza after explosions JERUSALEM: Israeli aircraft targeted Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip early Sunday after Palestinians there threw explosive devices at the border fence during “riots,� the army said.

Also Sunday, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced the death of a Palestinian wounded previously in clashes with Israeli forces.

Palestinians in Gaza had thrown a number of explosive devices to-

ward the border fence with Israel, one of which set off air raid sirens in the south of the country late Saturday, the army said. “In response to multiple explosive devices that were hurled and exploded during Gaza riots near Israel’s border fence this evening, an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) aircraft targeted two Hamas observation posts in the southern Gaza Strip,� a state-

ment from the military read.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry, however, announced the death of 24-year-old Habib al-Masri, who was wounded in clashes with the Israeli army. It gave no details on when he was wounded.

On Friday, two Palestinians were KILLED BY )SRAELI kRE IN SEPARATE border clashes.

And on Saturday, the Israeli army launched two separate airstrikes against, groups of Palestinians in Gaza who had allegedly lOWN BALLOONS RIGGED WITH EXPLOsives into Israel.

The Health Ministry said two Palestinians had been wounded.

At least 258 Palestinians have BEEN KILLED BY )SRAELI kRE IN 'AZA since weekly border protests began nearly a year ago.

AFP

NBC crew last IS victim in Syria DIY bomb BAGHOUZ, Syria: A driver-crew working with NBC News reporters in Syria was killed Sunday by an explosive device in eastern Syria, where several media outlets are covering the liberation of the last sliver of territory held by the Islamic State (IS) group.

The driver was believed to be the last victim of the dreaded group before they were formally terminated Saturday noon, reports said.

Noah Oppenheim, president of NBC News, said in a statement that NBC employees escaped unharmed, and expressed "deepest sympathies" to the driver's family and loved ones.

"We are still gathering information from today's events, and are in touch with the driver's family to support them however we can," he said.

Several media outlets are in Syria to cover the military defeat of IS in the small eastern village of Baghouz.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declared victory over IS on Saturday after clearing the militants from their last position in the village, following weeks of HEAVY kGHTING IS left behind booby-traps and explosive devices, and there may be unexploded munitions in the

area following US-led airstrikes.

The explosion happened in a house used as a command post by the SDF and a media center for reporters. The SDF was storing munitions inside the building.

The victory announced Saturday marks the end of the extremist group's self-styled caliphate, which once sprawled across a third of Syria and Iraq. However, unknown NUMBERS OF kGHTERS AND SUPPORTERS are believed to have gone underground, and the group continues to carry out insurgent attacks in both countries.

AP

China’s J-10 fighter jets mark 21st anniversary CHINA'S * kGHTER JET CELEBRATED its 21th birthday in spectacular fashion with six J-10s dazzling audiences at Pakistan's national day parade on Saturday.

During the parade in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, the warplanes AFkLIATED WITH THE 0EOPLEfS ,IBeration Army (PLA) Air Force completed a series of thrilling aerobatic maneuvers in single, double and six-plane formations, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.

During the 18-minute per-

immediate reports of casualties. “We are still checking to see if there’s any damage,� said Rahmat Triyono, head of Indonesian weather agency Badan MeteoroloGI +LIMATOLOGI DAN 'EOkSIKA S earthquake and tsunami division.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to ITS POSITION ON THE 0ACIkC g2ING OF Fire,� where tectonic plates collide.

Last September, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi Island killed more than 2,200, with a thousand more declared missing.

On boxing day Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia.

AFP

FIGHTING

Moroccan police officers with protesters during a demonstration in the capital Rabat on Sunday. The police dispersed during the night a gathering of teachers who reportedly attempted to camp in front of the Parliament, demanding permanent contracts within the national education system. AFP PHOTO

hurts 6 in Cambodia A FARMER in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district in Cambodia was seriously injured when he hit an unexploded remnant of the war with his plough, and in Ratanakiri province’s Taveng district five persons were injured when they tried to do-ityourself (DIY) an explosive device.

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, posted on Facebook that Pich Him, a 44-year-old farmer from Pursat province, literally “plowed into� an unexploded ordnance(UXO) near the village of Khmeng Krom. The explosion caused him serious bodily harm; he was taken to the provincial hospital for medical treatment.

Ratanakiri province’s Taveng District Police chief Ang Pheouk reported that 40-year-old Heng Saroeun, bought fireworks (cherry bombs), removed the power and filled a beverage can with it to make a DIY “bomb�— why, is anyone’s guess.

He accidently dropped a cigarette into the can and the ensuing explosion injured his right leg badly. Two boys standing nearby, one 1aged 11 and the other 8, were seriously injured; two adults suffered minor injuries. All were sent to provincial hospital.

The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority announced last week that in THE kRST TWO MONTHS OF

people died or were injured as a result of contact with UXOs. KHMER TIMES

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

World

MONDAY March 25, 2019

B5

ACROBAT Samantha Field performs a cartwheel under the New Brighton Pier in Christchurch in New Zealand on Sunday, as the city attempts to resume normal life after the shootings in two mosques.

New Zealand will hold a national remembrance service for victims of the Christchurch massacre on March 29, 2019.

AFP PHOTO

Americans in the dark on Mueller report findings WASHINGTON D.C.: The US public and Washington’s deeply divided political class on Sunday faced another day of anxiously waiting TO LEARN IF THE KEY kNDINGS OF THE Russian meddling probe will implicate President Donald Trump in serious wrongdoing.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller SUBMITTED THE CONkDENTIAL kNAL report on his 22-month investigation Friday and Attorney General Bill Barr has been studying the document, which he must summarize for Congress.

The Justice Department had told legislators that Barr would not be sending an outline of its “principal conclusions� — expected over the weekend — on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), according to US media.

That left the American public still in the dark over what the Mueller investigation uncovered about the President’s ties to Russia and alleged acts of obstruction of justice.

Chronic tweeter Trump, who was spending the weekend at his Palm Beach, Florida Mar-a-Lago residence, remained uncommonly silent after spending two years repeatedly labeling Mueller’s investigation an illegal witch hunt.

After the President spent the morning golfing, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley con-

kRMED THAT THEY STILL HAD NOT SEEN the report or been briefed on its kNDINGS Asked how the President felt, Gidley replied: “He’s good.�

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress, many of whom are hoping for evidence to support a presidential impeachment, pressed hard to ensure the report’s full contents are made public, and not just a summary prepared by the Trumpappointed Barr.

Neal Katyal, the former Justice $EPARTMENT OFkCIAL WHO DRAFTED the rules for special counsels, said Barr had no excuse for keeping Mueller’s report secret.

No new indictments “Absolutely nothing in the law or the regulations prevents the report from becoming public,�

Katyal said in a Washington Post opinion piece.

The secret report was handed to Barr on Friday with the announcement that no new indictments were forthcoming.

That produced sighs of relief from the White House, where members of Trump’s family -- Don Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner in particular — had been feared possible targets of the probe. AP

Stop Brexit, protesters urge; May to resign?

L /.$/. !NTI "REXIT PROTESTERS lOODED INTO CENTRAL ,ONDON BY THE HUNDREDS DEMANDING THAT "RITAIN S #ONSERVATIVE LED GOVERNMENT HOLD A NEW REFERENDUM ON WHETHER "RITAIN SHOULD LEAVE THE %UROPEAN 5NION %5

The “People’s Vote March� on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) snaked from Park Lane and other locations to converge on the UK Parliament, where the fate of Brexit will be decided in the coming weeks.

-ARCHERS CARRIED %5 lAGS AND signs praising the longstanding ties between Britain and continental Europe. The protest drew people from across Britain who are determined to force Prime Minister Theresa May’s

government to alter its march toward Brexit.

May, meanwile, was also asked to resign by her party mates in order for Brexit to proceed.

Independent legislator Chuka Umunna and others supporting a second Brexit referendum estimated the crowd at 1 million.

Around 100 British expats have rallied in the Spanish capital against Britain leaving the EU. The protesters chanted

slogans against Brexit, while many held up homemade signs, including “17,410,742 people need a good spanking,� in reference to the number of Britons who supported leaving the EU in a 2016 vote.

The gathering in Madrid’s Margaret Thatcher Plaza on Saturday comes before what is expected to be a massive march in London in favor of a second Brexit referendum.

AP

STOP BREXIT

British-German musician Simon Wallfisch (center) poses playing the cello with supporters outside Europe House in Smith Square in London during a performance to protest Britain’s exit from the European Union. AFP PHOTO

Pope replaces bishop in sex cover-up 115 dead in Mali attack VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) replaced Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati as archbishop of Santiago, Chile after he was placed under criminal investigation in the country’s spiraling church sex abuse and cover-up scandal.

Francis accepted Ezzati’s resignation and named a temporary replacement to govern Chile’s most important archdiocese: The Spanish-born Capuchin friar and current bishop of Copiapo, Chile Monsignor Celestino Aos Braco.

In a statement asking for prayers for his new job, Aos acknowledged THE DIFkCULTIES AHEAD NOTING THE “light and darkness, success and

shortcomings, wounds and sins� of the Santiago church. But Aos, too, faced accusations of cover-up after a former seminarian accused him of helping stall his case years ago. The 77-year-old Ezzati had submitted his resignation to Francis two years ago when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. But Francis kept him on, and %ZZATI BECAME THE lASHPOINT OF abuse survivors’ ire for mishandling several cases of abuse.

Just Friday, an appeals court in Chile allowed prosecutors to continue investigating Ezzati for an alleged cover-up, rejecting his motion to dismiss the case and

Worldinbrief THOUSANDS IN AFRICA NEED HELP BEIRA, Mozambique: A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique.

Members of the Indian and South African militaries are joining aid groups in flying over stretches of central Mozambique as they look for signs of life and people in need. No one knows how many people are missing. More than 600 people are confirmed dead in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Aid workers say that number was certain to rise as flood waters recede. The shattered Mozambican city of Beira and other communities are now home to crowded displacement camps, both organized and informal. With communications badly affected by the cyclone and some families separated in the chaos, a program aimed at reunification is now underway.

AP

40,000 PEOPLE JOIN FRANCE RALLY PARIS: France’s Interior minister said more “yellow vest� protesters took to the streets around the country than in recent weeks and more than 200 people were arrested. Christophe Castaner told reporters Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that heightened security allowed police to prevent renewed rioting, a week after protesters set fires and ransacked luxury stores on Paris’ Champs-Elysees. Castaner said among the 233 arrests were people trying to come to Paris to protest with baseball bats, slingshots and other potential weapons. Castaner estimated that 40,500 people took part in protests Saturday around France, up from 14,500 a week ago. This week’s protests were more spread out, with just 5,000 estimated in Paris compared to 10,000 last Saturday.

AP

VENEZUELAN CRISIS FELT ABROAD BOGOTA, Colombia: When Lorena Delgado approached the Venezuelan consulate in Colombia’s capital on a recent afternoon hoping to extend the life of her expiring

remove himself from the probe, Chilean media reported.

Ezzati has denied covering up any cases, but has acknowledged the pain of abuse victims and vowed to promote transparency.

At a press conference Saturday, he said he was leaving “with my head held high.� He insisted that all complaints that were lodged WITH THE ARCHDIOCESAN OFkCE HE created in 2011 “have been investigated or are being investigated.�

Francis himself became embroiled in the Chilean scandal after initially discrediting victims during his 2018 trip to the country, sparking A CRISIS IN CONkDENCE IN THE #HILEAN

hierarchy and his own leadership.

After realizing his error and apologizing to the victims, Francis summoned all of Chile’s 30-plus active bishops to the Vatican last May and strong-armed them into offering their resignations. With Ezzati’s resignation Saturday, Francis has accepted eight of them.

Chilean abuse survivors have long accused Ezzati and his predecessor in Santiago, Cardinal Javier Errazuriz, of protecting predator priests and discrediting victims. In recent weeks, Ezzati has been embroiled in a new scandal after a man sued him for allegedly covering up his rape inside the cathedral.

AP

passport, she found the metal gates to the languishing building shuttered. Days earlier, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had severed ties with the neighboring Andean nation, where over a million of his compatriots have fled in recent years, recalling all his diplomats and leaving the consulate and embassy buildings closed. The man challenging Maduro’s claim to the presidency had appointed a new ambassador, but he was at a loss about how to help her. Despite the fact that Colombia recognizes Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president, the ambassador he sent does not have access to the consulate or the ability to issue passport extensions.

AP

11 KILLED IN SOMALIA ATTACK MOGADISHU: An attack involving gunmen and bomb blasts on a complex housing government ministries in Somalia’s capital killed at least 11 people on Saturday, including the deputy labour minister, officials said. Claimed by the Al-Shabaab Islamist group, the assault was a sign of the insurgency’s continued ability to strike at the heart of Somalia’s government, despite years of foreign military support for Mogadishu. The fighting began with two blasts at the gates of the complex housing the labour and works ministries. Police say at least four gunmen then stormed the buildings, leading to a shootout as officers rushed to confront the attackers.

AFP

ANOTHER CYCLONE TO HIT AUSTRALIA SYDNEY: Australia was bracing Sunday to be hit by a second powerful cyclone in two days, as Cyclone Veronica bore down on the country’s northwest coast.

The storm was expected to make landfall Sunday afternoon, a day after Cyclone Trevor hit a remote part of the Northern Territory coast. Weather authorities were forecasting Veronica would hit the coast about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the west, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia state. While that area is also lightly populated, residents were warned that because the cyclone was moving slowly — at just 8 kilometers per hour (5 miles per hour) — they would likely have to shelter for several hours.

AP

A GROUP representing ethnic Peulhs in central Mali said the provisional death toll from a morning militia attack has risen to 115.

Abdoul Aziz Diallo, president OF 4ABITAL 0ULAAKU GAVE THE kGURE Saturday after receiving detailed information from authorities at the scene. Initially, witnesses said at least 40 had been slain.

Diallo said the victims included pregnant women and small children.

Another leader of a local Peulh militia said the village chief of Ogossagou had also been killed along with some of his grandchildren.

It was not immediately possible

to independently corroborate the death toll.

Members of the Dogon group accuse the Peulhs of supporting these jihadists linked to terror groups in the country’s north and beyond. Peulhs have in turn accused the Dogon of supporting the Malian army in its effort to stamp out extremism.

The dead included the village chief and his grandchildren.

The Dogon and Peulh communities have long co-existed in central Mali though the emergence of jihadists from other parts of the country has unraveled the peace between them.

AP

1,300 Norway ship passengers rescued HELSINKI: Rescue workers off Norway’s western coast rushed to evacuate 1,300 passengers and crew from a disabled cruise ship by helicopter on Saturday, winching them one-by-one to safety as heaving waves tossed the ship from side to side and high winds battered the operation.

The Viking Sky issued a mayday call as bad weather hit and engine problems caused it to start drifting toward the rocky shore, the Norwegian newspaper VG reported. Police in the western county of Moere og Romsdal said the crew, fearing the ship would run aground, managed to anchor in Hustadvika Bay, between the Norwegian cities of Alesund and Trondheim, so the evacuations could take place.

Rescue teams with helicopters and boats were sent to evacuate the cruise ship under extremely DIFkCULT CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING gusts up to 38 knots (43 miles per hour) and waves over 8 meters

(26 feet). The area is known for its rough, frigid waters.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said the Viking Sky’s evacuation was a slow and dangerous process, as passengers needed to be hoisted one-by-one from the cruise SHIP TO THE kVE AVAILABLE HELICOPTERS “I was afraid. I’ve never experienced anything so scary,� Janet *ACOB AMONG THE kRST GROUP OF passengers evacuated to the nearby town of Molde, said.

She said her helicopter ride to safety came amid strong winds “like a tornado,� prompting her to pray “for the safety of all aboard.�

The majority of the cruise ship passengers were reportedly British and American tourists. About 460 have been evacuated so far by helicopters.

Per Fjeld of the Joint Rescue Center Southern Norway said there is no danger to the remaining passengers and the airlift can accommodate all of them.

AP

B6

MONDAY March 25, 2019

Public Square

MCIAA expresses support to DoT’s sustainable tourism thrust

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Odyssey Foundation empowers women with livelihood trainings

M

ACTAN-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) partner in hosting Routes Asia 2019 in Cebu, pledges its support to the agency’s pursuit of sustainable tourism through their 50-year master plan, which envisions a passenger-friendly and sustainable airport. “By increasing the throughput of people going in and out of the Philippines that will also increase our economy, and our tourism, and it will have a multiplier effect on the community around us.� Atty. Steve Dicdican, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA)’s general manager AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FkCER STATED Moreover, the MCIAA is also considering proposals for reusing treated wastewater in addition to their plans to use rainwater catchMENTS IN ORDER TO MORE EFkCIENTLY satisfy the water requirements

Q Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager and Atty. Steve Dicdican, proud co-host of this year Routes Asia 2019 with the Department of Tourism In light of the recent changes in of the airport without using too practice sustainability through the usage of recycled paper throughout travel trends and the environment, much ground water.

As part of the MCIA’s 50-year the event, thereby reducing carbon such practices are deemed imperamaster plan, these developments impact on the environment by 28 tive in ensuring a sustainable growth are expected to ensure more percent, and usage of LED bulbs in the tourism industry and instillsustainable water and electrical instead of shell scheme lights, ing the practice of responsible tourreducing its impacts to 80 percent. ism among visitors, tourism estabutility systems in the future.

In addition, Routes also contin- lishments, airlines and airports alike.

Routes Asia, a major gathering The said master plan aims at growof route development and aviation ues to support its charity partner, industries in pursuit of new trends the Alder Hey Children’s Charity, ing the airport capacity to receive 50 and developments, mounted by in building a 4D Immersive Dis- MILLION PASSENGERS PER ANNUM kVE times its current arrivals to date.

MCIAA and DoT, was noted to traction Room for its hospital.

PHL packaging, processing sectors get big boost REMARKABLE growths in the economy such as in food exports (30 percent), food sales (8.6 percent) and pharmaceuticals industry (3.9 percent), and a high GDP growth forecast have been needing an equally confident domestic packaging and processing sector. “The packaging industry is critical to the growth of our domestic manufacturers. Through new packaging and processing technologies and methods, entrepreneurs, and micro, small and medium enterprises will be able to extend the reach of their products and expand opportunities for both export and domestic consumption,� said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez.

For instance, at the recent ProPak Philippines processing and packaging-focused B2B convention, trade experts underscored that food manufacturing is the Philippines’ strongest sector representing 65 percent of the manu-

facturing industry.

But the industry needs to upgrade technology and implement higher levels of automation, and these are being made available through the launch of ProPak Philippines.

ProPak Philippines was launched to a backdrop of a very strong industry and strong government objectives and initiatives. “Business opportunities for the processing and packaging industries abound, especially in the key sectors of food, beverage and pharmaceuticals, and new technologies, new products, ser-

vices and knowledge are now presented via ProPak Philippines.� stated Justin Pau, project head of ProPak Philippines.

The event was strongly supported by the DTI, the Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP), the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, the Production Management Association of the Philippines (Promap), the Philippine Printing Technical Foundation, the Association of Laguna Food Processors Inc., the Philippine Association of Food Technologies (PAFT), and other allied industries and associations.

Organized by UBM Philip-

pines, ProPak Philippines drew over 9,000 attendees and raked in over $8 million worth of new trade deals and investments, from among the 386 exhibitors from 30 countries, including 9 international pavilions, from China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK. The next ProPak Philippines will take place Feb. 5-7, 2020 at World Trade Center, Metro Manila.

For more information about Propak Philippines, including registration details, visit www. propakphilippines.com.

Muntilupa City Hall provides barangays with more fire trucks IN observance of the Fire Prevention Month, Muntinlupa government beefs up its local disaster risk response management SERVICES BY PROVIDING kRE TRUCKS to its nine barangays (villages).

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the turn-over ceremony of 10 sixWHEELER kRE TRUCK PENETRATORS WITH 500-gallons water tanker to barangay OFkCIALS AND $ISASTER 2ISK 2EDUCTION AND -ANAGEMENT /FkCE DURING THE CITY S lAG RAISING RITES LAST -ARCH 4HE kRE TRUCKS AMOUNTING TO ALMOST P52.3 million comprised the second BATCH OF kRE AND RESCUE VEHICLES GIVEN TO -UNTINLUPA BARANGAYS 4HE kRST batch was given last August 2016. &RESNEDI SAID THE kRE TRUCKS WOULD SERVE AS kRST RESPONDERS TO kRE INCIDENTS

in the communities. The mayor added THAT THE kRE TRUCKS WERE SEEN TO AUGMENT LOCAL kRE DEPARTMENT S EFFORTS as there could easily penetrate narrow roads during emergency situations.

Previously, the Muntinlupa govERNMENT HAS ALSO GIVEN THREE kRE trucks to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)–Muntinlupa. The local government constructed an additional kRE STATION IN "ARANGAY 4UNASAN ON 2017. BFP hailed the station as the Best Fire Station on 2018.

Muntinlupa prioritizes programs on disaster resilience in light of the presence of natural vulnerabilities.

Rescue vehicles and other tools form part of the city’s growing inventory of disaster response and management equipment.

The puppets are the library’s most popular attractions that teach values not only to young library goers but to school children all over Quezon City.

The Knowledge Channel, meanwhile, is an educational media channel that promotes the development of basic education through audiovisual presentations.

The channel’s shows are an-

Q Mayor Jaime Fresnedi inspected a fire truck during a turn-over ceremony on March 18. Ten six-wheeler fire truck penetrators with 500-gallon water tanker were given to barangay officials and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office during the city’s flag raising rites. The local government of Muntinlupa continues to improve its local disaster risk response management services through purchasing equipment and tools for disaster resilience.

chored on government-prescribed curricula for pre-school to secondary schoolchildren as well as on the Alternative Learning System.

Rina Lopez-Bautista, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) president and executive director, said that the puppets will help Knowledge Channel connect to more children. “We share the same advocacy

with the Quezon City Public Library in promoting the culture of reading,� Lopez-Bautista said.

DLSMC provides Alaga’t Kalinga for MVP Cares Medical Mission DE Los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC), the seventh hospital UNDER THE -ETRO 0ACIkC (OSPITAL Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI) umbrella, recently participated in the 2nd MVP Cares Medical and Dental Mission held at the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA) compound in Antipolo City. The institution joined other MPHHI hospitals such as Makati Medical Center (MMC), Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) and Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) in providing free medicines and medical consultations close to 2,000 residents in the Antipolo area.

household income and unemployment, resulting in malnutrition among children. It also supports poor parents to attain financial independence through self-help and reduce their reliance on others. )T TRAINS BENEkCIARIES ON MEAT PROcessing; cosmetology; soap, diswashing liquid and fabric conditioner making; fancy jewelry making; basahan making; candle making; water lily weaving; perfume making; beads making; basic massage therapy; and mushroom cultivation. “We believe in the capacity of the people to take an active role towards their own development and success. We will strive to create avenues for them to be productive members of society,� said Ong. Odyssey Foundation has administered has 118 training workshops in 46 impoverished communities across the National Capital Region, Bulacan and Batangas provinces over the past seven years.

Gabay Hanapbuhay started on Oct. 8, 2011 in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela City with 142 female parents as participants.

Search on for Entrepreneur of The Year Philippines 2019 THE SGV Foundation announced on Saturday the start of the nomination period for the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2019 at the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in the Washington SyCip Development Center in Makati.

The MOA was signed and witnessed by co-presenters who have supported the program over the past 10 years. These include the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Business for Social Progress; ofkCIAL MEDIA BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel; and the OFkCIAL AIRLINE 0HILIPPINE !IRLINES &ORMER kNALISTS AND WINNERS GRACED the event, led by Entrepreneur of The Year Philippines 2017, Natividad Cheng, chairperson and chief EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF -ULTIlEX 2.# Philippines Inc. The theme for the 2019 program is Disrupt. Transform. Inspire!

which captures the power of a single idea that can spark a business evolution, create new possibilities, or even change the world. Visionary entrepreneurs leverage on new ideas to challenge old paradigms and seize opportunities to develop sustainable enterprises that have the potential to transform industries and support economic development.

To be eligible, a nominee must be a Filipino business owner or founder who is primarily responsible for the growth of his or her company. The nominee must still be active in business, which must have been in operation for at least two years. A completed nomination FORM AUDITED kNANCIAL STATEMENTS

and other business documents are required for a nomination to be considered for further judging.

Nominations for the award may be submitted online at https://geoy. ey.com until May 31, 2019.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list tops survey

QC Library forms partnership with the Knowledge Channel THE Quezon City Public Library (QCPL) recently signed an agreement with the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) for the promotion of reading among children.

QCPL Children Section head Alistair Troy Lacsama said that both parties shall produce shows featuring QCPL’s puppets to be aired on the Knowledge Channel.

MORE than 3,000 mothers have BENEkTED FROM DIFFERENT LIVELIHOOD trainings and seminars initiated

by Odyssey Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO Foodsphere Inc. Odyssey Foundation, in commemoration of National Women’s Month, said that as of Feb. 28, 2019, some 3,051 beneficiaries, mostly mothers of undernourished children in poor communities, graduated from a livelihood assistance program called “Gabay Hanapbuhay.�

Many of them received starter kits from Odyssey Foundation and its partners to continue their small businesses at home and help their families achieve a better life. “Gabay Hanapbuhay is now in its seventh year of operation. It is one of the hallmarks of Odyssey Foundation in keeping its social commitment to help uplift the lives of our brothers and sisters who do not have much in life,� said OFI President Jerome Ong. Gabay Hanapbuhay aims to help the marginalized members of society suffering from inadequate

The two-day CSR event — dubbed Pusong Alay sa Antipolo — was spearheaded by the First 0ACIkC ,EADERSHIP !CADEMY IN partnership with the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and in coordination with the local government of Antipolo City.

DLSMC sent a contingent of internal medicine doctors, obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians, and pharmacists to bring its brand of Alaga’t Kalinga Q An Antipolo resident receives free consultation from a physician from De Los patient care to the beneficiaries Santos Medical Center during the 2nd MVP Cares Medical and Dental Mission. of the endeavor. Meanwhile, vices were provided by local aforementioned US-based nondental and other medical ser- government partners and the profit professional organization.

1-ANG Edukasyon party-list is primarily leading the most recent party-list survey based on the Top 47 Party-list Ranking Based on AdVOCACY FROM THE 4ANGERE SURVEY kRM Out of the 47 party-lists currently running in the mid-term elections, 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list, headed

by Rep. Salvador “Bong� Belaro, Jr. or better known as “Mr. Education,� ranked first, which earned 82.70 points based on the advancement of participating party lists.

Belaro was pleased with the latest survey, saying it was a testament of the many believers who wished to strengthen the education system in the country through the 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list. “You can hope that your ser-

vants will be more committed TO PUSHING FOR SIGNIkCANT LAWS TO address the problems faced in the education sector in our country,�

Belaro said in an interview.

According to the advocacy survey, the ranking continued with Senior Citizen with 79.90 points, followed

by Diwa, 76.10; Butil, 74.30; PNPA, 71.90; ACTS-OFW, 71.40; Aangat Tayo, 70.00; Gabriela, 68.30; 67.60; Sinag, 67.60; Agri, 67.60; Kabuhayan, 67.00; Buhay, 66.90; AGAP, 66.50; MATA, 66.10; Cibac, 65.70; Yacap, 65.60 and Kabayan, 65.40.

Recently, 1-Ang Edukasyon also took the lead in a survey held at the University of Caloocan, where nearly 500 political science students participated.

GBP unit cited for exemplary compliance GLOBAL Business Power (GBP) subsidiary Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) has been cited by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) for its exemplary compliance with market rules. PEDC, which has a combined gross capacity of 314 MW, has been named by PEMC as among the ten generating companies with the least number of market rule breaches.

Pursuant to WESM rules, each scheduled generator is required primarily to comply with the mustoffer rule (MOR) and real-time dispatch (RTD) deviation. Any violation of the rules would result into a breach, which could mean penalty

fees. “Through continuous compliance with WESM regulations, GBP helps encourage competition in the market as well as promote effective operation of transmission networks,� said GBP President Jaime Azurin.

Since 2018, PEMC has served as a governance body under the regulatory oversight of the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission, tasked with monitoring compliance by market participants.

GBP operates 11 power generation facilities in Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan and Mindoro. In 2017, the company acquired a 50 percent stake in Mindanao-based Alsons Thermal Energy Corp.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Say yes to new adventures with Doughnut travel bags NO matter how well you prepare for an adventure, whether it’s a cross-continental trip or your daily walk to the office, there’s just no avoiding little inconveniences when your bag isn’t fully equipped with all the features you need.

Introducing Doughnut, a Hong Kong-based brand that addresses travel bag with a masterful balance of form and function.woes. #PerfectForAnyAdventure, Doughnut’s bag styles are extremely versatile and come with built-in organizers, pockets and handy features.

The Macaroon is Doughnut’s signature backpack. Armed with built-in organizers and a wide selection of colorways rendered with water-repellent fabric, this spacious classic model is bound to be a practical addition to any wardrobe. Available in different sizes: regular, large, and mini!

A minimalist’s dream travel bag, Doughnut’s Black line designs are highly suitable for the traveling professional, with styles like DyNAMIC )MPARTIAL 6ITAL AND -ODISH DEkNITELY KEEPS YOU ON YOUR toes and in the throes of fashion.

Doughnut’s Montana is lightweight and built for traveling. It’s

Q Doughnut bags come with built-in organizers, pockets, and handy features. also equipped with a detachable bag organizer that can be used as a separate cross-body carrier.

Made for higher capacity and better durability — thanks to its Cordura fabric — Doughnut’s Colorado and Christopher has multiple straps and buckles to latch your belongings onto with as little fuss as possible.

Aside from Doughnut bag and travel essentials, there’s also Stanley’s simple and streamlined water bottles that are sure to quench your thirst water that stays cold for hours on end.

Doughnut bags are available online via https://doughnutphilippines.com, and in physical branches at Ayala Malls the 30th, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, Glorietta 4, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma, UP Town Center, and SM Seaside Cebu.

Q Artist rendition of Explorer Dream’s new hull art add my artistic vision to the Dream Cruises brand and to be able to carry on the saga of their iconic mermaid for their newest family member, Explorer Dream,� said Huang.

The latest addition to the Dream Cruises family, Explorer Dream WILL ASSUME THE ROLE OF PATHkNDER for the brand’s global aspirations.

Formerly the 3UPER3TAR 6IRGO of sister brand Star Cruises, Explorer Dream is currently undergoing a $56-million transformation that will incorporate exquisite new facilities including The Palace, Dream Cruises’ signature, luxury private enclave featuring over 40 new suites and butler service.

Explorer Dream will strengthen the Dream Cruises’ brand in North China, with homeports in Shanghai and Tianjin during Spring/Summer 2019 with a selection of voyages of various durations from Shanghai or Tianjin to picturesque destinations in ever-popular Japan.

For more information about Dream Cruises, please visit www. dreamcruiseline.com ; like us at www.facebook.com/DreamCruisesHQ and follow us at www. weibo.com/dreamcruises.

Enjoy seafood galore this Lenten season at Kitsho APRIL is seafood month at Kitsho, not only because of the abundance of fresh catch but also because it makes special notice to Christiandom’s observance of the Lenten season.

Seafood lovers would surely delight in the many seafood options that the a la carte menu offers, especially for those who intend to go on a buffet binge. However, there will be no buffet spread as everything diners would want to sample are cooked just as they are ordered. Simply tell the waiting staff what dishes you want to savor and sample, and executive chef Keita Kamimoto and his F&B team will gladly prepare them for you.

The lunch buffet is priced at P1,356 and comes with unlimited iced tea, while the dinner buffet is priced at P1,568 with one round of red/white wine or beer. All meal prices, including THE SET MEALS ARE INCLUSIVE OF 6!4 and service charge. Moreover, EVERY kVE PAYING DINERS ON THE a la caRte buffet could bring an

Q Executives and yuppies will find Kitsho’s set meal a real value for money treat. extra guest for free.

Kitsho Japanese Restaurant & Sake Bar is managed and operated by MCK Millennium Food Inc. and is conveniently located at the ground level of Hotel Jen Manila, right across the sprawling CCP Complex along Roxas Boulevard’s sunset strip on the historic side of Manila Bay. For reservations, check out Kitsho’s social media pages Kitsho FB, Kitsho instagram, Kitsho twitter for more details.

Public Square

B7

Stars add glitter to Franchise Asia Philippines 2019 Intl Conference T

Genting Cruise Lines unveils new hull artwork

GENTING Cruise Lines unveiled the concept and design behind the new artwork that will adorn the hull of Dream Cruises’ newest family member, the 75,338-grosston, 1,870 passenger Explorer Dream, which is currently undergoing a comprehensive upgrade before her launch later this month.

The new hull artwork by New York-based, Chinese artist; Kuri Huang continues the brand’s signature mermaid brand icon as the ethereal hull painting beckons viewers to ride upon “Waves of Dreams� in a whimsical and colourful ode to exploration and discovery. “Dream Cruises is excited to welcome the artistic talents of Kuri Huang who will provide the hull art to our newest ship, Explorer Dream,� said Thatcher Brown, president of Dream Cruises.

Huang’s fresh, new take on the myth of the mermaid sees a softer, almost impressionistic, approach to the depiction of this iconic figure and also introduces the DREAM LIKE kGURE OF THE UNICORN to further personify the spirit of exploration and discovery. “I am honored to be able to

MONDAY March 25, 2019

HREE celebrities who have gained success in the business world will be among the high-caliber panelists at Franchise Asia Philippines 2019 (FAPHL) International Conference slated March 27 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.

To discuss the topic “Lights, Camera, Business: A Journey of Celebrity Entrepreneurs� are Enchong Dee, a franchisee of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar; Rissa Mananquil-TrilLO CO FOUNDER AND CHIEF BRAND OFkCER of Happy Skin; and Bea Soriano-Dee, operations director of Sunnies Studios and Sunnies Face. “The participation of celebrities in Franchise Asia Philippines has been a tradition as we strengthen our efforts to promote entrepreneurship via franchising,� said Mr. Fred Moreno, FAPHL 2019 Marketing and Promotions Chairman. Moreno is also the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER OF 8CESS 3ALON and son of the late German “Kuya

Germs� Moreno.

The conference is one of the four major components of the week-long FAPHL 2019 which will feature 70 subject matter experts and is expected to attract over 1,000 conference delegates coming from the franchising and other business sectors. Keynoting the conference are Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

FAPHL 2019 will have the theme “Growing Businesses, Building Legacies� to underscore the role of franchising not only in creating businesses but also in ensuring their longevity.

FAPHL 2019 will also feature a three-day international expo with the theme, “Be The Boss� and will feature 700+ franchise and other business opportunities. The expo will showcase franchise brands from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the US and others.

Q FAPHL 2019 Marketing and Promotions Chairman Fred Moreno Opening the week-long event is the Philippine Franchise Association and #ERTIkED &RANCHISE %XECUTIVE 0ROGRAM is co-presented by Bank of the Philipon March 25 to 26, which is an inter- pine Islands and PLDT Enterprise. For nationally-recognized certification details, visit www.pfa.org.ph, www. program for franchise professionals. franchiseasiaph.com or www.faceFAPHL 2019 is organized by the book.com/franchiseasiaph.

Marriott Manila throws in a triple treat for all graduates IN Marriott Manila, it’s double or even triple celebration with back to back treats at the CRU Steakhouse, Marriott CafÊ and Man Ho for all graduates until April 30. Because graduation does not come very often, what better way to commemorate the occasion than to reward yourself and celebrate together with the people who supported you in your academic journey.

CRU Steakhouse is throwing in a 250-gram US choice rib eye steak with two side dishes for free. All graduates can avail this offer when they dine in at CRU with a dining group minimum of two persons and A MAXIMUM OF kVE Marriott CafÊ is the best place to bond and dine if you’re a large group, and the good news? Graduates and their special ones get 50 percent off on lunch buffet (12n.n. to 2:30p.m.) for

P1,050 nett and dinner buffet (6p.m. to 10:30p.m.) for Php 1,150 nett. This offer applies to a maximum of 10 persons in the dining group, including the graduate. From the wide selection of international cuisines such as Chinese, Japanese, Italian and more to organic salads for a healthier option to a decadent spread of desserts including their signature gelato — a celebration in MarRIOTT #AFŸ IS DEkNITELY ONE FOR THE BOOKS Man Ho, Marriott Manila’s authentic Chinese restaurant, offers a graduation set menu for only P1,800++ per person FOR A MINIMUM OF kVE PERSONS IN THE dining group. Savor The savory menu selection which includes assorted cold cuts, polonchay and crabmeat with straw mushroom and silken tofu soup, fried Jing Du spareribs, stir-fried shrimps and porcini mushrooms and broccoli, fried boneless chicken, egg tart, and a

Q Man Ho offers authentic Chinese cuisine complimentary steamed green Garoupa to complete the festivity.

To avail of the promos, the graduate must be included in the dining group and must present proof of com-

mencement. Strictly one graduate per table only. For reservations, visit the hotel’s website www.manilamarriott. com, and social media accounts in FB, IG, and Twitter @ManilaMarriott.

SM Supermalls honored with Metrobank Foundation’s PEACE award SM Supermalls was recently awarded the Peace (Partner in Empowerment, Advocacy, and Commitment to Excellence) Award during Metrobank Foundation’s 40th year anniversary celebration, giving SM the distinction of being the only mall developer to receive this prestigious award. The award is given to select institutions which, over the years, have supported the foundation’s major programs for nation-build-

ing. Receiving the Peace Award were SM Supermalls Chief Operating /FkCER 3TEVEN 4AN AND 3ENIOR 6ICE President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin from Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto Sobrepena and Metrobank President Fabian Dee. For more information, VISIT 3- 3UPERMALLS OFkCIAL WEBSITE at www.smsupermalls.com, or its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts: @smsupermalls.

Carmen Copper bags Anvil Award CARMEN Copper Corp.’s commitment to sustainable development through responsible stewardship was showcased in the award winning “2017 Carmen Copper Sustainability Report� that bagged a Silver Anvil Award during the concluded 54th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).

The 56-page sustainability report titled “Responsible Stewardship� highlights the company’s programs on sustainable development anchored on its role as a responsible steward of the

natural resources which it mines, the environment, which serves as habitat of diverse species, the talents who contribute to its sustainability and the communities the embrace its activities as part of their heritage.

It was submitted as entry to the 54th Anvil Awards under the PR Tools Category. The report has helped the company increase public awareness and promote responsible mining among its various stakeholders from its shareholders, the employees, contractors, suppliers, regulators and most especially

the members of the community.

Carmen Copper sent more than 300 children to high school and college, and more than BENEkCIARIES HAVE RECEIVED technical-vocational education.

The company has since produced seven licensed mining engineers.

Carmen Copper provided livelihood opportunities to poor families and assisted more than 2,400 local farmers to improve their crops, bring more income to the family and contribute to food security.

In September 2018, Carmen Cop-

per inaugurated the Carmen Copper (ERITAGE #ENTER THE kRST MINING MUseum in South East Asia that honors the men and women behind Atlas Mining and the Toledo Copper Mine and celebrates the contribution of the mining industry to the heritage of Toledo City and the present.

The award was received by Carmen Copper’s Senior Corporate Relations and Communications /FkCER 3OkA 0ICARDAL DURING THE Gabi ng Parangal at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel, Pasay City last January 30.

SBE announces launch of The House of Originals SBE, a leading international hospitality group that develops, manages and operates award-winning global hospitality brands, announced at the Berlin Hospitality Conference, the launch of its new luxury global brand, The House of Originals in partnership with Accor.

The House of Originals is a luxury collection of properties from sbe featuring a bold spirit that challenges and inspires. SBE is thrilled to launch this new hotel brand

collection, which will include the Sanderson and St. Martins Lane in London, 10 Karakoy in Istanbul, and the Shore Club in Miami Beach.

This new brand will create a community for its guests, predicated on luxury experiences and centered around SBE’s iconic culinary and mixology offerings. Further, the support of Accor will be critical in establishing the brand internationally by offering SBE’s customers and partners access to an unparalleled global distribution

and procurement infrastructure.

Sam Nazarian, Founder and Chief %XECUTIVE /FkCER OF SBE states: “At SBE we are always looking to create memorable experiences. The House of Originals will create a community and network of unique global properties. I am proud to partner on this project very closely with the Accor team who will provide us invaluable support in helping us create a truly international suite of properties.�

Gaurav Bhushan, chief develop-

ment officer of Accor states: “The House of Originals is the perfect combination of sbe’s know-how in entertainment and F&B (Food and "EVERAGE AND WILL BENEkT FROM !CCOR S global platform, particularly in terms of distribution, loyalty and network DEVELOPMENT 7ITH ALREADY kVE NEW hotels in the pipeline and an exciting pipeline underway in key gateway cities such as Dubai, London and Paris, THIS BRAND BRINGS A NEW LIFESTYLE lAVOR into the Accor portfolio.�

Search for 2019 GMA Network Excellence Award recipients begins GMA Network is now accepting nominees to the 2019 GMA Network Excellence Award (GNEA).

Now on its 17th year, GNEA recognizes excellence among graduating students through the demonstration of exemplary leadership, stellar academic performance, and proactive social responsibility. '.%! IS OPEN TO ANY BONA kDE &ILIpino graduating student (Academic Year

2018-2019) of mass communication, multi-media arts, advertising, electronics communication engineering, computer science, computer engineering, and information technology. The aspirant must be graduating with honors and active in socio-civic activities.

Candidates must submit the Entry Book, which includes the accomplished application form, related work, transcript of records,

CERTIkCATES OF CANDIDATE FOR GRADUATION CERTIkCATE OF GOOD MORAL CHARacter and recommendation letter.

GMA Network will confer two awards — one for the best Communication student and another for the outstanding student of a technology-based course.

For more details about GNEA, visit www.gmanetwork.com/ excellenceaward.

B8

Special Feature

MONDAY March 25, 2019

F I N A N C I A L L I T E R AC Y

Riding on technology A millennial’s guide to stable money management

BY MAYLENE STEPHANIE S. VIRAY

N

OW a formidable force to be reckoned with, millennials (or young professionals born between 1981 to 1986) have been steadily taking over the workplace in just about every part of the planet.

In the Philippines, Filipino millennials make up about one-third of the country’s population, and with speedy internet connection, this genERATION IS MORE EXPOSED TO kNANCIAL spending than its predecessors — Generation X and Baby Boomers.

But while millennials have the luxury of having spending power, numerous reports have placed the millennial generation in a bad light when it comes to kNANCING THEIR MONEY

The millennial traits Like most age groups, millennials have their fair share of positive and negative feedback particularly in terms of how they compare to previous generations.

One of the negatives include adopting a YOLO (You Only Live Once) lifestyle, wherein millennials are often characterized with the concept of “living in the moment� than “planning for the future.�

This lifestyle translates to satisfying what needs to be done now rather than preparing for the long-term, hence, making saving for their future quite a daunting

and often neglected proposition. g4HE SUPREME CONkDENCE AND HIGH optimism characteristic of this generation have, indeed, informed its attitudes about professional achievement,� as revealed in a recent report by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC). “With very high—and perhaps unrealistic—aspirations, millennials are also prone to higher-than-average levels of disappointment.�

In addition, digital marketing agency Leap Out also describes millennials as tech-savvy individuals known as “digital natives.�

With most of their time spent in the digital sphere, impulsive and indulgent spending have accounted to the generation’s overspending trait often due to pressures often brought about by the internet and especially social media.

Generations’ perspective on money With each generation, starting from the Baby Boomers of 1946 TO MONEY AND kNANCING ARE viewed differently. !CCORDING TO MULTIMEDIA kNAN-

cial services company The Motley Fool, Baby Boomers tend to be MORE IN CONTROL OF THEIR kNANCES as well as their future.

The report adds that this generation have been saving quite enough to cope for their retirement plans and unexpected expenses without accumulating more debt.

On the other hand, Generation X, those born from 1965 to 1980, may have learned a lesson or two from their Boomer parents as this generation are known to juggle their OWN kNANCIAL EXPENSES ALONG WITH A fund allocated for their parents (Baby Boomers) and children (millennials).

Online invoicing platform due. com describes this generation as realistic dreamers, financial SURVIVORS AND INFORMED kNANCIAL decision makers.

Meanwhile, millennials view money far different than the generations before them.

When it comes to savings, due. com says millennials are more gFOCUSED ON SHORT TERM kNANCIAL goals, including managing cash and getting out of debt.�

Most of this debt usually go to fund their YOLO lifestyle. According to a survey of the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships Inc. (SEDPI), a millennial can be overburdened with debt when monthly installment payments that surpasses 20 percent of his monthly income.

In turn, this leads millennials to

acquire loans which will eventually translate to even more debt.

Notable problems With the changing times come new challenges to overcome.

Millennials are often painted as adventurous individuals — the risk takers and thrill seekers. But when it COMES DOWN TO kNANCIAL PLANNING

this generation hides in the shadow of fear and anxiousness. ,EADING kNANCIAL COMPARISON WEBsite iMoney.ph lists some of the top COMMON kNANCIAL PROBLEMS MILLENNIals encounter in the Philippine setting, WHICH INCLUDE LACK OF kNANCIAL LITERACY

kNANCIALLY VULNERABILITY AND BURDENED WITH MORE kNANCIAL REPONSIBILITIES

Financial tips Millennials need to manage the various manifes-

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net tations of consumerism and “live in the moment� lifestyle.

While both can be sources of inspiration and motivation, a well-balanced management of these concepts can lead to a HEALTHY kNANCIAL MANAGEMENT 1. Start early 6ARIOUS TIPS ON kNANCIAL PLANNING all agree on one thing: starting as soon as possible. It wouldn’t matter if you start small or big, what is important is starting from somewhere and then working up from there.

7HETHER THE CASH lOW COMES FROM active income, income for which services have been performed, or from passive income, where earnings are derived from limited partnership, saving and investing early on can entail a STABLE kNANCIAL FUTURE 2. Track expenses A popular tip from financial experts is to track daily expenses.

From food purchases to transport fares, tracking expenses can help assess where the money goes and decide if it’s an everyday staple or an occasional reward for a hard day’s work. Likewise, tracking expenses can also lead to a MORE CONTROLLABLE kNANCIAL SPENDING Various mobile applications can be of assistance in tracking expenses but writing it down on pen-and-paper is equally useful. By doing so, a new wave of changes and set goals will abound along with savings that need not require maximum effort to earn.

3. Save up for emergency funds &OR BEGINNERS kNANCIAL PLANNERS often advise to save at least three months’ worth of

paycheck as a way to cushion emergency situations in the near future.

No one can really tell what will happen in the next few hours, but having emergency funds ready can prevent or at least minimize unwanted debt. $ELAY GRATIkCATION Differentiating a want from a need will depend on the person. Handle debt with care in a way that it would contribute to productive purposes.

-AKE USE OF LOANS TO kNANCE long-term goals such as a house, car or retirement plans. If the desire to purchase a want is too strong to resist, aim to create a passive form of income to fund these.

5. Ask for professional help Despite being tech-savvy, with most of the needed information can be found online, it never hurts TO ASK A CERTIkED kNANCIAL PLANNER for further advice.

Self-training on the internet may BENEkCIAL ON A PERSONAL LEVEL BUT at some point in your financial journey, you may stumble upon ups and downs and even crossroads too complex for your internet knowledge. %XPERTS AND kNANCIAL ADVISORS such as financial professionals from Banco de Oro (BDO) are as equally sprawled on the internet as millennials so engaging with them can be done in real time.

From planning to implementing, BDO’s expertise can ensure an ontrack plan through careful monitoring of portfolios on a regular basis.

Reviews on circumstances and investments can also be periodically conducted.

Mind your own biz? With online banking, you can

T

A fourth Asakusa branch will open sometime this year.

HEY say owning your own business is several notches “Being an entrepreneur offers the pursuit of personal better than being an employee, even if you have a high- FREEDOM "UT TO MAINTAIN A PROkTABLE BUSINESS ) NEED paying job. There’s no greater feeling than being your to be disciplined enough to adhere to a rigorous weekly own boss, experts point out. Still, being an entrepreneur is no schedule of tasks,� he says. “Planning and prioritizing are cakewalk with so many things to consider. Since you essentially keys to having a balanced professional and personal life.� become the captain of your own ship, you now have to take care A Way to Monitor Money of things you never even paid any attention to before: payroll of an entrepreneur means being on top of your employees, check writing as payment to suppliers, and account “Being kNANCES u SAYS +AYE 4AMAYAO A :UMBA AND YOGA INmonitoring of the entire business, among others. From just structor and owner of BEATS Dance & Fitness Studio.

She keeps separate accounts for her businesses concentrating on your own department or area of expertise, and personal savings. She uses BDO’s mobile app to your scope of work has now expanded a hundred fold. You’re monitor their movements as well as her expenses and not just a simple 9-to-5er anymore. Now, everything demands investments. “Online transactions are faster and more CONVENIENT SO ) REALLY MAXIMIZE ITS BENEkTS u SHE ADDS your attention ‘round the clock.

Yes, owning a business can be quite daunting.

Luckily, technology can serve as a crutch in these trying situations. Online banking, notably, helps FACILITATE THESE kNANCIAL TRANSACTIONS TO MAKE your transition from employee to employer a seamless one.

Three young entrepreneurs — Rolf Madrid, Kaye Tamayao, and Arlene Lee — share how the online banking services of one of the country’s LEADING kNANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HELPED THEM WITH their respective businesses and pushed them to REMAIN kNANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

A Way to Make Business Easier “Online banking is truly a game changer. I use BDO’s online payroll and online check writing

facilities. It saves me a lot of time in doing my weekly checks since my secretary just prints the checks after we approve them online,� says Rolf Madrid, part owner and managing partner of Japanese restaurant, Asakusa, Home of Tempura.

He adds that he also uses it to pay for his PERSONAL CREDIT CARD BILLS OF WHICH HE HAS kVE to manage his various expenses, from gas, shopping, grocery, travel, and investments, among others. He also goes online to send money and check his account balance.

4HE kRST OF THREE !SAKUSA BRANCHES IS LOCATED in Pasig beside a BDO branch. “I opened our business’ corporate bank account there. Its branch manager and staff have taken care of our business’ needs very well. So much so that we NOW HAVE kVE CORPORATE ACCOUNTS WITH "$/ u

Kaye has always loved music and movement. In 2015, she followed her heart and opened BEATS. Here she holds scheduled and private dance classes. Other dance instructors rent her studio for their regular classes as well. Kaye is also part of Young Living, America’s leading essential oils company. She builds and manages a team of like-minded individuals on how to be a responsible and informed “oilbularyo.� “Having your own business often means that you are working 24 hours. Otherwise, you are not earning anything,� she says. “You need to set your priorities and manage your time very well so you can have time for your personal life, which is essential to your own well-being.�

A Way to Serve Customers Entrepreneurs value customer feedback. “When we started in 2010, we only had a few items on our product list and catered to nearby hardware stores. But as we listened to our

customers and learned more about their needs, our product list grew,� says Arlene Lee, owner of a B2B wholesale of construction materials. “In 2015, we saw a potential to grow our business through online retail selling. BDO was our partner to reCEIVE AND CONkRM OUR CUSTOMERS PAYMENTS 3INCE "$/ branches are very accessible, it is also the choice of our CUSTOMERS 7HEN THE CUSTOMER CONkRMS HIS PAYMENT

we simply verify it online.�

Today, Arlene’s customers outside of Metro Manila pay online or via bank deposits—both safer than mailing checks which could get lost in transit. “I view online banking as a way to serve customers. By giving them other payment options, they can choose which is best and most convenient for them.�

Now on its 9th year of operations, Arlene understands that there is no such thing as having more free time when you own a business. She is thankful however for her team’s hard work. By working well together, they strike a balanced life.

Adapt or...

While most clients in the Philippines still prefer personal interaction when transacting with their banks through visits in branches, what the stories of Rolf, Kaye and !RLENE HAVE SHOWN IS SOME CLIENTS NOW HAVE SPECIkC needs and their requirements have grown beyond the traditional brick and mortar type of banking.

Their positive experiences clearly reveal that local banks have already embraced technological innovations through electronic banking, not only to address shifting client needs but to also keep pace with global standards in banking. Clients’ needs are evolving and the country’s banking institutions are favorably responding.

Sports

MONDAY MARCH 25, 2019

C1

www.manilatimes.net

Mavericks rout Curry-less Warriors L

OS ANGELES: Luka Doncic had a triple double and Dirk .OWITZKI UNDERLINED HIS kNAL GAME AT /RACLE !RENA WITH A THROWBACK PERFORMANCE AS THE $ALLAS -AVERICKS HANDED THE Golden State Warriors their worst loss of the season on Saturday. $ONCIC kNISHED WITH A GAME HIGH POINTS REBOUNDS AND ASSISTS AND .OWITZKI WHO IS LIKELY IN HIS kNAL ."! SEASON SCORED A SEASON HIGH POINTS IN A BLOWOUT VICTORY BY THE VISITING -AVS g4HE LAST FEW GAMES ) DIDN T HAVE A GOOD SHOOTING RHYTHM u SAID THE YEAR OLD .OWITZKI WHO STARTED AFTER COMING OFF THE BENCH FOR MOST OF THE SEASON g4ODAY ) HAD IT EARLY AND OFTEN u 'ERMANY S .OWITZKI SCORED OF THE GAME S kRST POINTS HELPING $ALLAS SEIZE A EARLY LEAD (E WAS CHEERED LOUDLY IN THE INTRODUCTIONS BY THE CROWD AT /RACLE WHICH IS SCHED ULED TO CLOSE AT THE END OF THE SEASON g) REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME HERE ) PLAYED AGAINST SOME GREAT PLAYERS u SAID .OWITZKI ADDING HE SCORED HIS kRST ."! BASKET AT THE VENUE .OWITZKI HAD kVE THREE POINTERS AND $ONCIC AND -AXI +LEBER EACH DRAINED FOUR AS $ALLAS OUTSCORED THE 7ARRIORS FROM BEYOND

THE ARC TO EARN THEIR kRST WIN IN 'OLDEN 3TATE SINCE 4HE LOSS ON THEIR HOME lOOR CAME ON A NIGHT WHEN THE 7ARRIORS CHOSE TO SIT OUT 3TEPHEN #URRY 4HE POINT MARGIN OF DEFEAT WAS THE LARGEST OF THE SEASON FOR 'OLDEN 3TATE ECLIPSING A POINT ROUT BY THE "OSTON #ELTICS 4HE -AVERICKS HAD A POINT WIN OVER 5TAH AND A POINTER OVER #HARLOTTE EARLIER IN THE SEASON +EVIN $URANT HAD POINTS IN MINUTES FOR THE 7ARRIORS WHO HAD WON FOUR OF THEIR PREVIOUS kVE GAMES $URANT MISSED ALL EIGHT OF HIS THREE POINT ATTEMPTS $RAYMOND 'REEN SAID THE 7AR RIORS HAVE TROUBLE GETTING MOTI VATED TO PLAY THE -AVERICKS $URANT IS LOOKING TO THEIR NEXT GAME ON 3UNDAY AGAINST $ETROIT %LSEWHERE +EMBA 7ALKER SCORED OF HIS GAME HIGH POINTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THE #HARLOTTE

(ORNETS KEPT THEIR SLIM PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE BY RALLY ING TO BEAT THE "OSTON #ELTICS #HARLOTTE WON ITS SECOND STRAIGHT IMPROVED TO ON THE SEASON !LSO 4RAE 9OUNG SCORED POINTS INCLUDING A LAST SECOND GO AHEAD CLUTCH BASKET AS THE !TLANTA (AWKS SNAPPED THE 0HILADELPHIA ERS SIX GAME WINNING STREAK WITH A WIN AFP Q Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (No. 77) looks to shoot as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, California. AP PHOTO

Former MVP Rose undergoes right elbow surgery WASHINGTON: Injury-nagged 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose has undergone his latest operation, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), saying he had arthroscopic surgery to remove right elbow bone chips.

Rose will be sidelined indefinitely

but was already slated to miss the remainder of the regular season for the T-Wolves, who at 32-40 are one loss from being eliminated from playoff contention with 10 games remaining.

The 30-year-old point guard was a superstar playmaker for his hometown Chicago Bulls, but suffered a left knee

injury in Chicago’s opening game of the 2012 NBA playoffs, missed the entire 2012-13 season and then suffered a right knee injury early in the 2013-14 campaign and missed most of that season as well.

Another knee injury followed and Rose was traded to New York in 2016,

but in April 2017 suffered another left knee injury and underwent his fourth career knee surgery.

Rose played for Cleveland in the 2017-18 campaign before a trade to Utah, which released him. Rose signed with Minnesota and was reunited with ex-Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. AFP

Phoenix and the rise of Injury-hit FEU regains form, survives Adamson positionless basketball

P

/,% POSITION IN THE 0"! ELIMI NATION HAS BEEN SECURED 4HE LEADER IS NOT ANY TEAM FROM THE 3-# EMPIRE WHOSE THREE TEAMS EACH WON A CHAMPIONSHIP LAST SEASON .EITHER IS IT FROM THE -60 SIDE WHOSE THREE TEAMS HAVE STRUGGLED OF LATE )NDEPENDENT STALWARTS 2AIN OR 3HINE AND !LASKA DIDN T GET TO THE SUMMIT EITHER &INISHING WITH A CARD NO OTHER TEAM CAN CATCH THE 0HOENIX &UELMASTERS AND THEY NOW ENJOY A TWICE TO BEAT ADVANTAGE WITH WHOEVER ENDS UP AT TH PLACE )T S SAFE TO SAY THAT NOBODY SAW THIS COMING

Seamless team play

BASKETBALL SLEUTH MICHAEL ANGELO B. ASIS 0ERKINS AND $OUG +RAMER AT THE CEN TER SPOT AGAINST 'INEBRA S TWIN TOW ERS TOOK THEM TO THE LIMIT 7RIGHT MISSED A GAME TYING POINTER AND 3-" S TIME -60 *UNEMAR&AJARDO #OACH ,OUIE !LAS AND ABLE ASSISTANT 4OPEX 2OBINSON CRAFTED THE PERFECT SYSTEM FOR THEM /BSERVERS HAVE NOTED THAT IT S VIRTUALLY POSITIONLESS BASKETBALL

4HERE WAS NO EARTH SHAKING ADDITION TO THE &UELMASTERS IN THE OFFSEASON

THEY ADDED GOOD ROTATION PLAYERS 4HIS IS THE REASON WHY THE GAMES ARE ACTUALLY PLAYED ON THE COURT‡THEY ARE NOT WON ON PAPER )MPROVEMENT CAN COME WITH A PARADIGM SHIFT NOT NECESSARILY A ROSTER ADDITION 0HOENIX IS NOW THE PARADIGM OF TEAM PLAY %VEN THE STATISTICS RElECT IT 4HEY HAVE FOUR PLAYERS IN DOUBLE kGURES -ATTHEW 7RIGHT #ALVIN !BUEVA *USTIN #HUA AND 2OOKIE OF THE 9EAR *ASON 0ER KINS 4WO OTHER PLAYERS BARELY MADE THE CUT 2* *AZUL AND -ALLARI‡THE TEAM S PRIMARY BALL DISTRIBUTORS 3PEAKING OF DISTRIBUTORS THE TEAM IS ACTUALLY kLLED WITH MULTI TASKING TEAM PLAYERS 9OU CAN SEE THAT THE PLAYERS GEL AND THEY TRUST EACH OTHER /F COURSE IT ALSO HELPS THAT THEIR CORE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN HEALTHY 0HOENIX DOES NOT HAVE A DOMI NANT PLAYER WHO CARRIES THE TEAM ON HIS SHOULDERS 7HAT THEY HAVE IS A CORE THAT HAS LEARNED TO WORK SEAMLESSLY WITH EACH OTHER

4HE GAME HAS TRULY CHANGED )N THE S TO EARLY S THE MOST VALUABLE COM MODITY WAS A SEVEN FOOT CENTER -ICHAEL *ORDAN REVOLUTIONIZED THE GAME AND PLACED THE EMPHASIS ON ATHLETIC GUARDS AND WINGMEN ,E"RON *AMES WAS A FREAK OF NATURE AND HAD THE ABILITY TO PLAY AND GUARD VIRTUALLY EVERY POSITION (E HAS SHIFTED MAINLY FROM SMALL FORWARD

TO POWER FORWARD AND IF THE MATCH UP DICTATES AN UNDERSIZED kVE .OWADAYS SKILL NOT HEIGHT DICTATES YOUR POSITION +EVIN $URANT USED TO LIE ABOUT HIS HEIGHT KEPT ON SAYING HE WAS JUST SO THEY LET HIM PLAY SMALL FORWARD (E S CLOSER TO FEET NOW AND THE GAME HAS CAUGHT UP THEY LET HIM PLAY AS HE DESIRES "EN 3IMMONS IS A POINT GUARD AT (E WASN T FORCED TO BE A POST OR INSIDE PLAYER 4HE SEVEN FOOTER IS STILL USEFUL BUT THE SKILLS REQUIRED ARE DIFFERENT

The beast effect

Aliens upon us

4HE &UELMASTERS DID HAVE THEIR BREAK THROUGH ACQUISITIONS LAST SEASON 4HE BIG TRADE FOR #ALVIN !BUEVA CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE TEAM 4HEY HAD A RISING ROOKIE IN *ASON 0ERKINS AND -ATTHEW 7RIGHT WAS ON HIS WAY TO STARDOM !BUEVA IS THE TYPE OF PLAYER WHO PLAYS HARD AND DOESN T CARE ABOUT POSI TIONS (E LL GUARD AND CHASE DOWN ,!

4ENORIO OR *AYSON #ASTRO AND WRESTLE THE REBOUND WITH 'REG 3LAUGHTER OR 4ROY 2OSARIO‡IN THE SAME PLAYĂœ 4HE "EAST IS THE BEST MAN TO LEAD 0HOENIX GIVING THEM THE SWAGGER THEY NEED TO OVERCOME THEIR UNDER SIZED ROSTER 4HEIR TALLEST PLAYER IS *USTIN #HUA AT 4HEY HAVE USED

)N A RECENT PODCAST 4HE 2INGER SHOWRUN NER "ILL 3IMMONS NAMED HIS !LL ."! kRST TEAM 4HIS AWARD WAS STILL BASED ON POSITIONS BUT FOR 'IANNIS !NTETOK OUNMPO HE SAID gHE HAS NO POSITION

HE S AN ALIEN u 4HE BATTLE FOR THE -60 WILL BOIL DOWN BETWEEN gTHE 'REEK &REAKu A SEVEN FOOTER WHO LIKE ,E"RON

CAN TAKE ON ANY POSITION AND THE PRO TOTYPE SHOOTING GUARD *AMES (ARDEN .EVERTHELESS THE GAME WILL SOON BE PLAYED BY kVE PLAYERS ON THE COURT‡ !.9 kVE PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF HEIGHT

WHO CAN REBOUND SHOOT THE THREE AND DEFEND WITHOUT SUFFERING ON SWITCHES !S OF NOW 0HOENIX IS CLOSEST TO DOING THAT AND THEY ARE THE MODEL OF SUCCESS

Basketball as a game of skill, not position

Q Adamson University’s Chiara Permentilla tries to block Far Eastern University’s Lycha Ebon’s attack during the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. PHOTO BY ROGER RANADA

6%4%2!.3 *ERILLI -ALABANAN AND #ELINE $OMINGO DELIVERED IN THE CLUTCH AS &AR %ASTERN 5NIVERSITY OUTLASTED !DAMSON 5NIVERSITY

FOR A REBOUND WIN TO START THE SECOND ROUND OF 3EASON 5NIVERSITY !THLETIC !SSOCIATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES 5!!0 WOMEN S VOLLEYBALL ON 3UNDAY AT THE 9NARES #ENTER IN !NTIPOLO #ITY 4EAM CAPTAIN -ALABANAN AND THIRD YEAR BLOCKER $OMINGO SCORED THE LAST TWO POINTS FOR THE ,ADY 4AMARAWS WHO NEEDED TO BUCK THE ABSENCE OF SUPER ROOKIE ,YCHA %BON IN THE kFTH SET TO JUMPSTART THE SECOND ROUND WITH A BOUNCE BACK VICTORY g&ORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION u SAID &%5 HEAD COACH 'EORGE 0ASCUA WHOSE SQUAD REBOUNDED FROM A

SWEEP TO $E ,A 3ALLE 5NIVERSITY %BON SIZZLED WITH A GAME HIGH POINTS ON KILLS TWO BLOCKS AND AN ACE BEFORE GETTING STRETCHERED OUT EARLY IN THE LAST SET DUE TO A RIGHT KNEE INJURY (EATHER !NNE 'UINOO CHIPPED IN POINTS WHILE -ALA BANAN TALLIED EIGHT MARKERS AND $OMINGO ADDED SIX g3INCE ) AM THE CAPTAIN HE 0ASCUA WANTS ME TO BE THE ONE WHO LEADS THE TEAM u SAID -ALABANAN #ZARINA #ARANDANG AND )VANA !GUDO STEPPED UP IN THE ABSENCE OF %BON kNISHING WITH EIGHT AND FOUR POINTS RESPECTIVELY )T WAS ANOTHER GRUELING kVE SETTER FOR THE -ORAYTA BASED VOL LEYBELLES AGAINST THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM 3AN -ARCELINO REPEATING THEIR

TRIUMPH IN THE kRST ROUND !FTER SAVING &%5 IN THE FOURTH SET %BON SUFFERED A KNEE INJURY FOLLOWING A BAD FALL EARLY IN THE DECIDING FRAME 0ASCUA CALLED IN !GUDO WHO COMBINED FORCES WITH #ARAN DANG TO PUSH THE ,ADY 4AMARAWS UP

"UT THE ,ADY &ALCONS UNLEASHED A RUN CAPPED BY "ERN &LORA S STRONG SPIKE TO KNOT THE GAME AT ALL -ALABANAN SENT A DOWN THE LINE SPIKE BEFORE $OMINGO HAMMERED OUT A BLOCK TO HAND &%5 THE HARD EARNED WIN %LI 3OYUD HAD A TEAM BEST POINTS *OY $ACORON AND #HIARA 0ERMENTILLA HAD MARKERS APIECE EVEN AS &LORA HAD FOR !DAMSON 4HE ,ADY &ALCONS FELL TO THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT AS THEY SANK DEEPER DOWN THE CELLAR WITH A SLATE %ARLIER IN THE MEN S DIVISION ,A 3ALLE kRED OFF THE SECOND ROUND WITH A

UPSET OVER 5NIVERSITY OF 3ANTO 4OMAS 534 #HRIS "ERNARD $UMAGO CHALKED POINTS TO LEAD THREE OTHER 'REEN 3PIKERS IN DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING AS THEY TIED THE SKIDDING 4IGER 3PIKERS AT .O WITH A SIMILAR CARD 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES kNALLY GOT ITS BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY AT THE EXPENSE OF 5NIVERSITY OF THE %AST IN A kVE SETTER

50 REMAINED AT THE BOTTOM WITH WHILE 5% STAYED AT .O WITH A SLATE JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

Revellers eye second straight win vs McDavid TRADITIONAL powerhouse ChÊlu Bar & Grill goes for its first winning streak when it takes on winless league rookie McDavid in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League today at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City. The last season’s twice runners-up Revellers shoot for their maiden back-to-back victories this season against McDavid at 4 p.m. in the Aspirants Group. Facing a struggling team, ChÊlu head coach

Stevenson Tiu warns his wards of complacency. complacency. “I’m always reminding my players that even though they’re talented and experienced, it’s a guarantee that we’ll win. We have to work hard every game whichever team we face,â€? said Tiu. Coming off a 77-82 loss to surprise leader St. Clare College-Virtual Reality, ChĂŠlu strikingly bounced back with an 89-63 demolition of Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College behind Sean Manganti last March 12.Â

Former Adamson University skipper Manganti is expected to take charge of the Revellers anew together with veterans Jeff Viernes, Jesse Collado and Jay-R Taganas as they aim to improve their 2-1 record. But McDavid is aching to get its breakthrough win following a three-game losing start capped by a 64-89 defeat at the hands of Petron-Colegio de Sa Juan de Letran. The Allen Ricardo-mentored team will pin its hopes on David Caranguian, Michael

Sorela, James Martinez and Jan Colina. In the 2 p.m. opener, Marinerong Pilipino (2-2) guns for a rebound win against tough-luck The Masterpiece Clothing-Trinity University of Asia (0-3). The Skippers surrendered a 78-88 decision to Wangs Basketball last March 14 while the White Stallions suffered their third consecutive setback to Cha Dao-Far Eastern University, 81-106, on the same game day.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

Q Germany’s Markus Rolli (left) and Czech Republic’s Radka Kahlefeldt CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Rolli, Kahlefeldt dominate Ironman 70.3 Davao

D

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

AVAO CITY: Germany’s Markus Rolli emerged as the new champion in the men’s pro division while Czech Republic’s Radka Kahlefeldt retained her women’s pro crown in the 2019 Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao that started and ended at the Azuela Cove here.

4HE YEAR OLD 2OLLI NEVER SKIPPED A BEAT UNDER SCORCHING HEAT AND AMID THE LOUD CHEERS BREAKING AWAY RIGHT FROM THE BIKE LEG OF THE + SWIM + BIKE + RUN RACE EN ROUTE TO kNISHING IN THREE HOURS

MINUTES AND SECONDS FOR HIS

kRST )RONMAN TITLE IN THE COUN TRY AND SECOND OVERALL g)T FEELS GREAT 4HE PEOPLE HERE ARE AMAZING 4HEY WERE CHEERING ON EVERY METER OF THE RACE COURSE )T WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE u SAID 2OLLI WHO TURNED PRO JUST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN HE LAST WON A

70.3 trophy in Phuket, Thailand.

2OLLI A kRST TIMER IN THE 0HILIP PINES OUTPACED !USTRALIA S THREE TIME )RONMAN WORLD CHAMPION #RAIG !LEX ander (3:52:21) and bronze repeater 4IM 6AN "ERKEL 4HE 'ERMAN TRIATHLETE TALLIED MINUTES AND SECONDS IN SWIM TWO HOURS AND SECONDS IN BIKE and 1:22:19 in run. )NAUGURAL $AVAO WINNER -AURICIO -ENDEZ OF -EXICO WAS NOT ABLE TO kNISH THE RACE DUE TO A TECHNICAL PROBLEM ON HIS BIKE WHILE LAST YEAR S !USSIE RUNNER UP 4IM 2EED WOUND UP FOURTH !FTER COMING IN SECOND TO "AH RAIN S %RIC 7ATSON IN SWIM 2OLLI ROLLED OFF STRONG WITH THE PEDALS

HARD AND TOOK AN EIGHT MINUTE

THREE SECOND LEAD OVER 3AM "ETTEN AT THE END OF THE BIKE EVENT 2OLLI SAID HE SUFFERED FROM SORE LEG MUSCLES DUE TO OVER BIKING BUT DREW STRENGTH FROM THE CHEERFUL SPECTATORS ALONG THE COURSE g)N THE BIKE ) JUST TOOK THE RISK

BROKE AWAY AND PUSHED REALLY HARD ) THINK ) OVER BIKED A BIT 4HE RUN WAS REALLY TOUGH 4HEY AUDI ENCE JUST PUSHED ME THROUGH THE PAIN ) SUFFERED BIG TIME IN THE RUN ) WAS NOT FEELING WELL BUT ) GOT A BIG GAP WHEN ) STARTED IT AROUND EIGHT MINUTES 3O ) JUST GAVE MY BEST AND BROUGHT IT HOME u HE ADDED /N THE OTHER HAND +AHLEFELDT REMAINED AS THE QUEEN OF $AVAO S

HALF )RONMAN AFTER CLOCKING IN TO BEAT 3WITZERLAND S #ARO LINE 3TEFFEN ANEW !US TRALIA S +IRRALEE 3EIDEL SETTLED FOR THIRD 4HE YEAR OLD +AHLEFELDT CHALKED MINUTES AND SECONDS IN SWIM ONE HOUR AND MINUTES IN BIKE AND IN RUN )T WAS A NIP AND TUCK RACE BE TWEEN THE TWO %UROPEANS WITH +AHLEFELDT ONLY AHEAD BY SECOND OVER 3TEFFEN IN THE SECOND TRANSITION TO THE RUN 4HE 3WISS SNATCHED A TWO SEC OND ADVANTAGE + INTO THE FOOTRACE BEFORE THE #ZECH STALWART RETOOK IT IN THE + MARK AND BEGAN TO PULL AWAY

g) M VERY HAPPY THAT ) COULD COME BACK AND WIN AGAIN )T WAS A TOUGH COMPETITION AND THE WHOLE RACE WAS HARD u SAID THE YEAR OLD TRIATHLETE WHO TOPPED THE kRST )RONMAN $AVAO JUST WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO HER kRSTBORN +AHLEFELDT AND 2OLLI BAGGED THE LION SHARE OF THE PRIZE PURSE -EANWHILE &ILIPINO STANDOUT !UGUST "ENEDICTO TOPPED THE !SIAN %LITE FOR THE kFTH TIME BY kNISHING SIXTH OVERALL "ENEDICTO AN !LASKA 4RI !SPIRE ATHLETE CROSSED THE LINE IN A PER SONAL BEST CRUISING PAST COUNTRYMEN *ORRY 9CONG

"ANJO .ORTE AND 2AY MOND 4ORIO

Adamson earns 9th UAAP softball finals appearance  AN outhit defending titlist Adamson University found National University a hard nut to crack, settling for a close 2-1 victory in their one-game, winner-take-all semifinal round encounter on Saturday to earn its place in the championship playoff for the UAAP women’s softball tiara at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Lady Falcons, who, for the entire two-round elimination, showed their might on both sides of the field, turned meek this time, managing only four hits against the combined efforts of Merry

Ann Ramos and Elsie dela Torre.

Ramos started for one inning, but accounted for the Lady Falcon’s go-ahead run on a solitary hit in the period before yielding the mound to the steadier dela Torre, who, except in the fourth, held her own against the title defenders’ bats.

Lyca Basa manned the hill for Adamson without relief and although she allowed the enemies to tag her with five hits, she more than made up for that by striking out six of the NU batters she met. Â Â Â Â

The Lady Falcons’ one-hit, one-run salvo at the bottom of the fourth proved enough for coach Ana Santiago’s girls to snatch their ninth Finals stint since 2010.

The nine-peat-seeking Lady Falcons, thus, wait for the outcome of the other Final Four showdown between La Salle and University of Santo Tomas.

The twice-to-beat La Salle softbelles weren’t as lucky, losing to the Tigresses, 6-12, in the other semis match.

La Salle and UST will dispute the last finals berth when they meet anew today at the same venue.

A tense Ramos actually paved the way for the Lady Bulldogs downfall, allowing Adamson’s first batter, shortstop Mary Nichole Padasas, on board on a base-on-ball in the opening frame.

Second base-girl Mary Joy Maguad sacrificed Padasas to second from where the Lady Falcons’ shortstop scampered home on a single by rightfielder Janette Rjusia.

De la Torre looked succeeding in holding Adamson’s bats at bay in the next two period, until leftfielder Krisha Cantor connected starting the bottom

fourth that unsettled Naional U’s right hand tossing fastballer.

De la Torre hit first-base girl Remile Herrero by pitched ball, then induced her catcher to throw wild on a streaking centerfielder Angelu Gabriel.

A pivotal three-hit, six-run Tigresses attack in the second inning, followed by an equally killing five-run producing five connections in the fifth spelled doom to La Salle’s attempt to reaffirmed its supremacy over UST and its bid to advance outright in the finals.

EDDIE G. ALINEA

DasmariĂąas, Salva win IBF title eliminator bouts

Q Stephen Loman (right) throws a punch against Elias Boudegzdame.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BRAVE CF 22 DELIVERS FESTIVAL FINISHES IN PH BRAVE Combat Federation made a historic debut in the Philippines, as the local fans cheered on one of their own, in Bantamweight champion Stephen Loman. “The Sniper� dominated his main event bout against Elias Boudegzdame, eventually landing a finishing blow to walk away with the technical knockout.  However, Loman’s wasn’t the only finish in the stellar fight card.

Actually, out of the nine bouts that took place at the iconic Mall of Asia Arena last Friday, six of them ended in finishes, an encouraging 66,6% rate of finishes to kick off the new year.  Aside from the champ’s KO, another Filipino finished his fight with his fists.

Rolando Dy needed less than a round to

knock out Pakistan’s Mehmosh Raza, who’s the owner of Brave’s fastest submission.

Speaking of which, there were four tapouts during the fight card.  The most exquisite one was a kneebar, locked in by Harold Banario, who made his Brave debut one to remember, with a decisive victory over Ariel Oliveros. Another rare move was used by Abdul Hussein. In his Flyweight preliminary bout against John Cris Corton, the Finnish standout locked in a ninja choke to make his opponent quit.  Brave Bantamweight contender Jeremy Pacatiw dominated his countryman Marc Alcoba throughout the first two rounds before attacking with an armbar to add yet another finish on his Brave resume.

FORMER International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight champion Michael Dasmariùas and Samuel Salva are now heading to their respective world title fights soon after winning Saturday night’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminators.

Dasmariùas overcame compatriot Kenny Demecillo’s big fighting heart with a big unanimous decision victory to become the IBF bantamweight mandatory challenger in a boxing event at the Newport Plaza in Resort’s World Manila.

Judges gave the 26-year-old Dasmariùas a favorable 116-112, 115-113 and 117-111 scores at the end of the bout. He improved his win-lossdraw record to 29-2-1 with 19 knockouts. Despite his big punches and great counterpunching, Dasmariùas couldn’t easily put away Demecillo the rest of the way. Although he was outboxed in the first three rounds of the fight, the 26-year-old fighter from Iligan City refused to give up and made the fight a slugfest.

But DasmariĂąas changed his tactics relying on his great counter-punching and superb head movements the rest of the way. The Pili, Camarines Sur boxer also scored two knockdowns on Demecillo (14-5-2 record with eight knockouts), but referee Danrex Tapdasan ruled those as a slipped. Demecillo was just an easy target to Demecillo all the time and got the better of their exchanges. “I’m really happy that I won the fight and did my very best. I know my opponent would not give up. I went around him because he was just a steady fighter,â€? DasmariĂąas told The Manila Times after the fight. “He was a strong puncher too that’s why I’m very careful.â€?

It was worth all the sacrifices for DasmariĂąas as he vacated his IBO title prior to the fight. He will be challenging unbeaten IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-0 with 12 knockouts) of Puerto Rico, who will defend first his title against Japanese Naoya Inoue on May 18 in Scotland.

Meanwhile, undefeated Salva started to make a name for himself as he demolished fellow Mark Cuarto via unanimous decision to secure the rights of being a mandatory challenger to IBF minimumweight titleholder DeeJay Kriel (15-1-1 record with seven knockouts) of South Africa.

Salva earned a 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111 scores from the judges’ scorecards.

JOSEF RAMOS

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

SHE'S GOT GAME

Q Paul Casey of England plays a shot during the third round of the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Casey holds Meeting UFC’s Frankie Edgar one-shot PGA and Bundesliga lead over Johnson legend Oliver Kahn M I CHARMAINE CRUZ

(Part 1)

HAD the opportunity to meet former UFC world lightweight champion and mixed martial arts icon Frankie “The Answer� Edgar, at the opening of the first UFC Gym in Singapore.

Edgar rose to prominence after refusing to tap out despite being pinned down in a kneebar by Tyson Griffin at UFC 67.

Before reaching the UFC summit, Edgar earned a reputation of giving his all, against bigger and highlyfavored opponents. His exemplary exploits in the octagon has consistently earned him Fight of the Night accolades and citations.

Because of his never-say-die attitude, Edgar became a fan favorite all over the world.

Edgar won the UFC lightweight title after scoring a unanimous, but controversial win against then reigning champion BJ Penn at UFC 112. The win gained a nomination for Edgar in the Best Upset of the Year category of the 2010 ESPY Awards.

In the rematch at UFC 118, Edgar proved his initial win against Penn was no fluke after scoring another unanimous decision but without any controversy. He became just the second fighter to beat Penn twice in UFC history.

Edgar eventually yielded the lightweight crown after losing to Benson Henderson at UFC 144.

I must say though, that Frankie Edgar is one of the nicest top international athletes I’ve ever met, very down to earth, and he was game to do all the media interviews, and attend to the requests of fans for AUTOGRAPHS AND SELkES ! TRUE PROfessional in and out of the cage, his fans had the opportunity to interact with him at UFC Gym Singapore’s opening, attended by 500 people.

According to Edgar, “I’m excited to be out here in Singapore for the UFC Gym opening. I had my UFC Gym open two years ago and for me to be able to share my career with the masses is huge for me. I know the PEOPLE AT THE 5&# IT S A kGHT SPORT club. While UFC gym is really something for the whole family. From your grandparents, to your 4-year old kid, you can all learn skills for life. Boxing, jiu jitsu, MMA, it’s really a family experience.�

UFC Gym Singapore’s 9,800 sq. ft. flagship branch offers General & Fitness training, Functional Workouts, MMA Classes Group Fitness Classes, all designed to beat the standard fitness routine.

During the media interviews, Fox Sports Asia asked Edgar what needs to be done to get more South East !SIAN kGHTERS TO THE 5&# SINCE SO far, only Filipinos have joined UFC, he says, “It’s just time. It’s gonna happen eventually, the sport is growing exponentially all over the world.

Martial arts was invented in Asia. So IT S A kGHTING CULTURE HERE AND IT S JUST a matter of time before you see more AND MORE !SIAN kGHTERS IN THE 5&# u Straits Times also managed to get his thoughts on Conor McGregor, who was just recently involved in another controversial issue, to this, he replied, “Conor Mc Gregor changed the game a little bit, and a lot of people are trying to follow suit. But they don’t realize that Conor has the gift of gab, and he backed it up too.�

He also added that Conor risks diluting his legacy as one of the greats of the sport if he continues to be mired in controversies outside the cage, without proving himself inside it. “You can be the most popular in the world, but if you’re not in there and not doing something positive, and out there causing trouble, it’s not a good look for him,� ends Edgar.

Sports C3

AFP PHOTO

IAMI: Defending champion Paul Casey clung to a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Dustin Johnson despite a closing bogey in Saturday’s (Sunday in Manila) third round of the US PGA Tour Valspar Championship.

The 41-year-old Englishman missed a 14-foot par putt at the par-4 18th and settled for a bogey and a three-under par 68.

Casey stood on nine-under 204 after 54 holes at the Innisbrook Resort Copperhead course in Palm Harbor, Florida. “It feels really good,� Casey said. “I was patient for the most part and aggressive when I had opportunities.�

Johnson, a winner at last month’s WGC Mexico Championship, was next on 205 after a 67 with fellow American Jason Kokrak third on 206 after a hole-in-one on his way to matching the week’s low round on 66.

Casey relishes the challenge of playing alongside the world number one in Sunday’s last group. “Playing with Dustin is going to be very exciting,� Casey said. “Any time I’ve got a chance to go up against world number one I’m excited about that.�

Casey has struggled to defend titles and turn 54-hole leads into victories but he stands a chance of doing both on Sunday.

(E HAS WON ONLY ONCE IN kVE TRIES AND NEVER BROKEN WHEN LEADing a US PGA event after 54 holes. The win came at the 2009 Houston /PEN WITH A BOGEY ON THE kRST PLAYOFF HOLE TO BEAT !MERICAN * " (OLMES Casey, who edged Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed by a stroke for the 2018 Valspar crown, has never defended a professional title.

But the British star has taken back-to-back titles multiple times as an amateur. He won the 1999 and 2000 English Amateurs and THREE CONSECUTIVE 0ACIkC #ONFERENCE TROPHIES WHILE STUDYING AT Arizona State University.

Casey opened birdie-bogey, added a six-foot birdie putt at the par-4 sixth and made back-to-back birdie putts from three feet at the par-5 11th and eight feet at the par-4 12th.

Casey made a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th, but at 18, Casey found a greenside bunker and blasted out before rolling his par putt just off the right edge of the cup. *OHNSON kRED HIS TH CONSECUTIVE ROUND IN THE 60s, the longest such run of his career or by any tour player this season.

The World No. 1 sank a 33-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th and curled in a tricky 10-footer for birdie at 18 to join Casey in the last pairing. +OKRAK SEEKING HIS kRST 0'! CROWN AFTER STARTS over eight seasons, aced the par-3 15th with an 8-iron from 218 yards.

Kokrak delivered only the third ace in tournament history at 15 when his ball bounced twice AND ROLLED FEET INTO THE CUP BRIElY GIVING him a share of the lead at seven-under.

Britain’s Luke Donald, a former world number one who has battled a back injury, began and ended with birdies in shooting 70 to share fourth on 207 with American Scott Stallings.

AFP

Liu storms to one-shot lead at LPGA Founders Cup Farr, Belgira snare Pump Track World Championship titles LOS ANGELES: China’s Liu Yu had seven birdies and an eagle in a seven-under par 65 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to seize a one-shot lead over Carlota Ciganda in the LPGA Founders Cup. Liu, who shared the overnight lead with world number one Park Sung-hyun, was four-under over her last four holes —with an eagle at the par-five 15th and back-to-back birdies to finish—to overtake Spain’s Ciganda with a 54-hole total of 19-under 197 at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ciganda had roared up the leaderboard with a blemish-free nine-under par 63—playing her last five holes i n five-under with a birdie at 14 followed

by an eagle at 15 and birdies at 16 and 18—where she rolled in a 15-footer to take the lead. “I’m not very comfortable and not very used to playing in the last group,� admitted 23-year-old Liu said. “I’ve had two experiences before and I didn’t do very well. Today was definitely a turnaround.�

Ciganda, meanwhile, was just enjoying watching the birdies land in her impressive round.

Nine-under to start the day, the Spaniard had four birdies on the front nine, but she was fighting to stay patient as she opened the back nine with four straight pars.

At the par-three 14th, she said, “I hit a really good shot there, tap in.

Birdies followed at 16 and 18, putting her alone in front until Liu powered past her to put herself in prime position to join Feng Shanshan as the only Chinese players to win on the LPGA Tour.

It was a further two strokes back to American Angel Yin, who carded a 66 for 200.

Park fired a 69 to head a group on 201 that also included former world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who posted a 67.

South Koreans Kim Hyo-Joo and Ko Jin-young both carded 64s to join the group sharing fourth along with Nelly AFP Korda, who carded a 66.

6th Tanduay Chairman Kap set in Wack Wack EVERYTHING is all set for this year’s edition of Tanduay Chairman Kap Year 6 on April 5 at the West Course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

The golf tournament started in 2014 when Tanduay celebrated its 160th year.

This has been the brainchild of young tycoon, Lucio “Bong� Tan Jr. to honor his father and the LT Group’s Chairman Lucio C. Tan, Sr. known in the industry as “El Kapitan�.

The anxiously awaited prestigious tournament will be participated in by key officers of the LT Group of Companies, business associates, friends from the government and media.

This is traditionally held on the first Friday of April to celebrate the birthday of the family’s matriarch Mrs. Carmen Tan. Now on its 165th year, Tanduay will hold a one-day event with am and pm shotgun start same as in 2014.

Q Lucio “Bong� Tan Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

JOHN DERRICK “JERICH� FARR and Lea Denise Belgira captured their respective titles in the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship for the second straight year in the Manila qualifiers on Saturday afternoon at the bike park in Circulo Verde, Quezon City.

Farr, 22, a well known mountain bike racing champion, tallied a leading time of 31.611 to waylay Oscar Acdol Jr. (32.089) IN THE MEN S BIG kNAL ELITE CLASS TO WIN THE crown and qualify for the World Final this year in the United States or in Switzerland. g4HIS IS MY SECOND TIME AFTER ) QUALIkED last year. It was so tough since we only learned the competition recently so I only practiced last Wednesday and Thursday. I didn’t expect to win but I just did my best,� said the Prima Pasta athlete Farr, also the son of cyclist Eboy Farr.

Jerich’s father who also joined the comPETITION MADE IT TO THE SEMIkNALS Belgira, also a Team Prima cyclist, beat Singaporean Natasha Nadiah Abdul Nazzeer Nur with a leading time of 35.383 to pocket the women’s elite category crown at the big final round.

Nazzeer Nur was behind by four seconds (39.964) to the Filipino. “It was so intense and a lot of pressure because I’m competing against a foreign participant. They came here to win but I’m happy that I won,� said Belgira in Filipino, noting that she would do her best in the World Finals despite the odds. g7E CANNOT SAY IT WINNING THE WORLD knals) because everybody there is competitive.�

JOSEF RAMOSÂ

Osaka, Zverev stunned, Serena withdraws in Miami

Q Naomi Osaka

AFP PHOTO

MIAMI:Â Naomi Osaka crashed out of the third round of the WTA and ATP Miami Open on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) as Hsieh SuWei exacted revenge for a painful Australian Open defeat with a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory.

World number one Osaka had looked in LITTLE DANGER AFTER WINNING THE kRST SET AND moving a break ahead in the second.

But Taiwan’s Hsieh, who was a set and 4-1 up in Melbourne earlier this year before losing to the Japanese star in the third round, battled superbly. “This was a very emotional win for me,� said Hsieh, whose 39 winners were one less than her opponent. “Any time you beat one of the top players it is amazing.�

It wasn’t the only shocker of the day, as Spanish veteran David Ferrer rallied to beat world number three Alexander Zverev 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the third round.

Ferrer, 36 and ranked 155th in the world, received a wild card into the tournament as

he continues a limited schedule in a 2019 billed as his farewell tour.

Zverev, runner-up to John Isner here last year, coughed up 12 double faults as he suffered his second straight early exit in succession after a third-round departure at Indian Wells.

Osaka was coming off a fourth-round exit at Indian Wells, but Hsieh’s coach said her victory wasn’t all that surprising. “She has enough experience to stay strong and you saw that,� French coach Frederic Aniere, who has worked with Hsieh for the last two years and is also her boyfriend, told AFP. “Yes it’s huge, but for her it’s not a big surprise.�

The 33-year-old Hsieh will play Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round of the women’s draw, which now looks wide open following Osaka’s defeat and former world number one Serena Williams’s surprise exit with a left knee injury.

AFP

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Contact Number/s (02) 522-0000 loc. 2885 (02) 405-7645 (02) 405-7156 (02) 405-7248 (02) 522-0000 loc. 2481 (02) 522-0000 loc. 2374 (02) 405-7695 (02) 405-7405

TO: ALL INTERESTED/ACCREDITED SUPPLIERS:

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MONDAY M O N DAY MARC MARCH C H 225, 5, 2019 20

Entertainment www.manilatimes.net

Filipino touches behind some of Marvelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite superheroes

T

HEY say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the costume that makes a superhero. In the Know agrees but takes the conviction a step further to say what completes it is the artist and meaning behind the suit.

Case in point is Anthony Francisco, a senior Filipino-American Visual Development Artist from Marvel Studios. In The Know got to chat with this genius about his works for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was amazed!

Yes, Anthony dabbled in designs for the still showing blockbuster VALUABLE IN DETERMINING THE kNAL LOOK "Captain Marvel" that rightly puts the female in the world of superheroes. of a superhero and are used to serve He mostly worked on the "Starforce" as pointers for upcoming artists from characters but also a little bit on Captain which to learn and understand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes people think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bad Marvel in the early stages, and on the Kree uniform. He was also tasked thing [for a design to get rejected], but you know, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big help for the direcTO lESH OUT THE TOR TO EVEN kND OUT design for the to not to go Supreme Intelto that direcligence (which tion. You help emerged as narrow down the final apdesign aesthetics proved deand develop the sign), confinal look,â&#x20AC;? he tributed in explained. kGURING OUT Anthony grew the liquid up in Cubao, Quetechnolzon City and beogy and lieves that the artist other ele- Q Anthony Francisco with 'Black Panther' star in him was honed ments of Danai Gurira. PHOTOS FROM ANTHONY from his childhood. the com- FRANCISCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSTAGRAM His interest in munications tech, drawing was sparked and illustrated some Keyframe Art that helped the directors visualize epic mo- by his yayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comic books, whose characters inspired him to reach for a pencil ments in the movie.

Anthony says it takes a very long pro- and sketch away. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Noong bata ako si 'Zumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lagi ang cess before designs get approved for a single movie. And if particular designs nasa drawing ko. Mahilig ako kay Zuma donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the go, they are still considered kesa kay Darna kasi nahirapan ako sa

IN THE KNOW MJ MARFORI

female noon,â&#x20AC;? he happily recalled.

In college, Anthony took up Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.

Two decades ago, he joined his family when they were petitioned to the United States, and that was when his artistic career beGAN TO lOURISH â&#x20AC;&#x153;Early on, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always loved art

the big screen like the costume he did for Dora Milaje in "Black Panther."

According to Anthony, he took inspiration from his auntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indigenous table runner back in the Philippines for the elaborate costume. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black pero hindi ko alam Panther is na pwede siyang from Afrimaging trabaho,â&#x20AC;? can culture he admitted. so I got tribal Q The Filipino-American artist was inspired Living the ideas from by his aunt's indigenous table runner for Dora dream of around the Milaje's neck accessory in 'Black Panther.' comic fans to world, and work with Marvel, Anthony is of course the coming up to his seventh year at the Philippines. To add more drama to Dora company where his contributions Milajeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look, I added a particular design are forever etched in MCUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back- around her neck, which was inspired by a to-back blockbusters. beaded table runner of an aunt of mine. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s And yes, this means there are Filipino almost like abaca and woven.â&#x20AC;?

Now that you know about Anthony touches when Marvel comes to life on w has extensive exposure to Philipwho p weaves, patterns and textures, his pine w works may just stand out for Filipinos w when they go back to past Marvel m movies.

Take a closer look at Loki in â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thor: Ragnarokâ&#x20AC;? and Baby Groot in â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guardians of the Galaxy 2,â&#x20AC;? and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll D DEkNITELY SAY EUREKAĂ&#x153; -OST EXCITINGLY !NTHONY JUST kNISHED w working on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avengers: Endgame,â&#x20AC;? w which is showing on April 24, two d earlier in the Philippines. So keep days a lookout for his art and his name in t credits and be proud of yet another the Q Exposed to various indigenous textures F Filipino achiever in the world! here before his family migrated to the US, NNN Francisco contributed to the final approved Until next week, ta-ta! look of Groot 'Guardians of the Galaxy.'

D1

Two PH series make it to New York websiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top 10 buzzedabout list CONGRATULATIONS are in order for a promising pair of GMA Network dramas, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kara Miaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inagaw na Bituin,â&#x20AC;? for making waves around the globe and earning two spots on The Social Wit Listâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top 10 Most Buzzed About New Shows Worldwide in the last month. The original productions were the only entries from the Philippines and Southeast Asia that made it to the list.

This Top 10 on the Social Wit List is released

by New York-based international media business news website WorldScreen.com based on the number of tweets and posts measured during the showsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premieres. In their respective pilot dates in February, Kara Mia hit the second spot while Inagaw na Bituin ranked sixth among the shows from across the globe.

Kara Mia, a fantasy-drama series headlined

by Barbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz, gained at least 29,000 tweets. According to the site, viewers applauded the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #RemarkableSpecialEffects, #GreatPerformanceByTheMainActresses and their representation of #FilipinoFolkloreOnScreen, which were the buzz words that resonated with social media users. Even before its premiere, netizens and viewers were already curious about the seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unusual premise which generated viral posts online.

On the other hand, GMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical-drama Inagaw na Bituin starring Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar garnered at least 21,000 tweets with hashtags such as #GreatCast, #InterestingStory, #ExcitingEpisode, and #ALotofSuspense.

Q Barbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz's fantaserye 'Kara Mia' made it to the list as well as Kyline Alcantara's 'Inagaw na Bituin.'

D2

Funtimes

MONDAY March 25, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/25/19). Travel to unexplored destinations this year. Practice your skills to expand professionally. Beautify your home and garden this summer, before work responsibilities take priority. A professional dream materializes next winter, before domestic issues require adaptation. Explorations lead to discoveries with practical domestic applications.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re especially brilliant. Creative projects flower. Write, broadcast and publish your views. Express your feelings through art, music or dance. Share what you love.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Conserve resources while generating income. Less is more. Simplify your needs for greater financial freedom. Provide value, charge a fair price and keep track.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- The open road is calling. Where to explore? Try something new. Educational opportunities invite you into another point of view. Discover fresh inspiration.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Advance a creative vision or dream. You’re especially strong, and you know what you want. Put another check on your bucket list. Enjoy a personal moment.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Strategize about the budget with your partner. The next two days are good for financial planning. Take care not to provoke jealousies. Sell something you made.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Fine-tune your domestic environment. Rest and recuperate from recent adventures. Peace and privacy allow for thoughtful consideration of what’s next. Make plans, and organize.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Together, it’s easier to navigate obstacles and barriers. Your perspective is wider. Diversity provides strength. Another’s skills take over where yours leave off.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Stay connected with friends. Participate with community groups and people who share your interests and commitments. Benefits come through your inner circle. Support your team.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Your attention is in demand. Increase the pace as much as is safe, guarding your health and energy. Others may want quick action.

Postpone non-essentials.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Crazy dreams seem possible. Unexpected circumstances could preempt your schedule. Adapt on the fly. Be prepared for inspection. An influential person is paying attention.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Relax, and enjoy the scenery. Keep someone special in the foreground. Find yourself drawn magnetically toward love and kindness, beauty and goodness.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Focus on domestic matters. Clean, sort and organize. Resolve a family issue by listening and avoiding automatic reactions. Let go of a preconception. Prioritize love.

» SUDOKU

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Expats&Diplomats

China Book Center now in UP Diliman

BY NIKA ROQUE

T

HE Chinese Embassy in Manila together with China International Publishing Group (CIPG), OPENED THE VERY kRST China Book Center at the University of the Philippines (UP) Asian Center in Diliman, Quezon City.

Their collaboration resulted in the donation of 1,000 books, tables, chairs, television and online courses that now comprise the center. Further plans of expansion along with projects focused on the many facets of the Chinese culture are also in the works. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This started through the embassy and they asked if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested. !T kRST IT WAS ONLY BOOKS but I asked if we could make it bigger, and now we have 1,000 books. It started as a small project we could do inside the library but it grew and they donated more

Q Tan Qingsheng, ChargĂŠ dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy; Chen Shi, president of China Report Magazine, Joefe Santarita, dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) Asian Center; and Michael Tan, chancellor of UP Diliman unveiled the plaque of the China Book Center and were presented with the book donations. equipment,â&#x20AC;? Joefe Santarita, dean of the UP Asian Center told The

have more opportunities to study China. The establishment of the Manila Times. book center is very useful for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think this is what we need be- Filipino people to understand cause of there are tensions between China more and I hope our the Philippines and China. This is dialogue and cooperation will a good way for people-to-people continue in the future,â&#x20AC;? Tan endialogue,â&#x20AC;? he added. thused in his speech.

Meanwhile, UP Chancellor MiMeanwhile, Chinese Embassyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chael Tan said the project would ChargĂŠ dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Affaires Tan Qingsheng BENEkT THE UNIVERSITY AS MUCH AS said their embassy was pleased IT WOULD BENEkT THE !SIAN #ENTER to make a modest contribution â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope the students who are to the institution. interested in Asian Studies will â&#x20AC;&#x153;As UPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motto says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;UP has

Q Qingsheng and Shi expressed hope that the China Book Center will be a way for Filipinos to further understand Chinese culture and strengthen bonds between the two countries.

Q UP Asian Center Dean Joefe Santarita.PHOTOS BY ORVEN VERDOTE

US-PH partnership fosters citizen engagement in Mindanao THE US and Philippine governments celebrated the accomplishments of a six-year US Agency for International Development (USAid) project that has worked to improve peace and stability in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. The Enhancing Governance, Accountability and Engagement (Engage) project is a six-year, P860 million US-Philippine partnership to advance social and economic inclusion and stability by empowering communities to participate in effective and inclusive governance.

Around 150 Engage stakeholders from across Mindanao shared best practices and lessons learned in order to sustain their work after the project concludes in April. Participants included mayors and governors, representatives from high schools and community service organizations, as well as officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Mindanao Development Authority, Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, Task Force Bangon Marawi, Bangsamoro Development Authority, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

At the conference, USAid Acting Mission Director Denny Robertson noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The US government remains committed to promoting

peace and development. We must continue to do so both collaboratively and sustainably, in partnership with national and local governments, the private sector, and most importantly, communities.â&#x20AC;?

USAidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engage project partnered with local government leaders and over 8,000 individuals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including women and youth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to jointly address communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; concerns. To further strengthen civic engagement, USAid trained more than 30 civil society organizations to advocate for citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs and represent public interests to local governments. As a result, these local governments have improved accountability and responsiveness, including by allocating larger budgets to improve public services.

In one example of an Engage outcome, local government leaders mobilized following the siege in Marawi to coordinate recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The project also supported 47 barangay villages hosting internally displaced persons in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur. Assistance for these communities included installing solar street lights, upgrading barangay halls and water distribution systems, delivering health services equipment, and providing training and materials for livelihoods such as farming, carpentry, sewing and food service.

Q USAid Acting Mission Director Denny Q Under USAid, Engage helps youngsters Robertson highlights the accomplishments of affected by the Marawi siege such mounting this Project Engage, which has been working since 2013 to improve peace and stability in Mindanao. community vision exercise.

not only shaped the young minds of the country, but also shaped the nations.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy that UP has established relations with China.

This improves the shared programs with universities there and there are many Chinese students studying at UP now. The success of UP lies in inclusiveness, which has also been one of the keys in Chinese development in the last four years,â&#x20AC;? Qingsheng said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope the China Book Center will provide you with a complete picture of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, culture, and development. I also hope more scholars could become ambassadors for friendship and cooperation between China and the Philippines.â&#x20AC;? he added.

Following Qingshengâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement, Chen Shi â&#x20AC;&#x201D; president of China Report Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; related, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We sincerely hope that the book center will create a bridge between the two countries through a variety of cultural exchanges such as launches, book readings and Chinese language lectures.â&#x20AC;?

MONDAY March 25, 2019

D3

PH, Japan formalize healthcare cooperation JAPANESE Ambassador Koji Haneda and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel 5th exchanged Memorandum of Cooperation for Health Care between Japan and Philippines during the 7th Japan-Philippines High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Osaka.

The exchanging ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Hiroto Izumi, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, for the Japan side, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd.

The said Memorandum of Cooperation is aimed at establishing a mechanism to create vibrant and healthy societies for long and productive lives through enriching necessary healthcare services including business-based approaches and creating a virtuous cycle for economic growth and enhancement of healthcare services and to identify concrete approaches for collaboration in THE kELDS OF HEALTHCARE The possible cooperation include focusing on developing industries such as elderly care services; development of regulation standards and implementation of public health system; and introducing advanced medical technologies, pharma-

ceuticals and medical devices.

For development of infrastructure, it includes providing universal health coverage in the public health insurance system and promoting institutional collaboration on information and communication technology in the HEALTHCARE kELDS Aside from that, human resources that can be developed in THE ELDERLY CARE kELDS THROUGH THE Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) will be implemented. On the other hand, it will also develop training programs for medical practitioners, including allied health professionals and public health professionals.

Other possible cooperation also covers transferring know-how on Japanese-style management of hospitals including incorporated administrative agency system and sharing knowledge on healthcare between Japan and the Philippines in the public and private sectors, technical assistance in preparedness and response and evaluation activities for disasters and medical waste management.

Other areas as may also be jointly decided upon to promote cooperation as envisaged under the said Memorandum of Cooperation.

Q (From left) Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel 5th, Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Hiroto Izumi.

MONDAY M O N D AY M MARCH A RCH 25, 2019

Lifestyle

D4

www.manilatimes.net

Q Joyce Pilasrsky and Connie Garcia.

Q Joel Cruz with his children Princess Synne and Prince Sean.

Q David, Emilia and Mache Ackerman.

Q Maru Go, Beth Victoria and Malou Martinez.

Friends for CCP host 'Buena Familia' fashion gala T HE Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a unique fashion gala emphasizing culture and the arts, at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La. The fashion show is one of FCCP’s big annual fundraising affairs. Funds raised are used to mainly support its scholarship and outreach programs.

Q Nonie Basilio, Rose Lazaro, Baby de Jesus, Terry Tambunting and Mimi Valerio.

Q Eileen, Prima, Noel and Kris John Paul Gonzales.

One part of the show was "Alta Moda," or high fashion, which featured highly creative Filipino designer Albert Andrada. The other segment was "Buena Familia," which was a parade featuring best dressed families walking down the ramp wearing Frankie de Leon’s creations.

The FCCP also presented distinguished leaders of the academe who shall partner with it in supporting more scholarships.

FCCP aims to foster a deep sense of appreciation for all forms of art. It seeks to share this mission among fellow Filipinos by organizing fund-raising events and projects to support the activities of local organiza-

tions which are aligned with the vision of FCCP. These aim to develop and enrich Philippine performing arts, visual arts, literature, music, and fashion as well as to form awareness of art films, post modern architecture and heighten consciousness of Philippine history.

To all the hardworking, dedicated ladies and committee members — President Teresita Rodrigo, Director in charge Mimi Valerio, Chairman Terry Tambunting, Co-chairman Baby de Jesus, Nonie Basilio, Rosemarie Lazaro, Estela Lopez, Annabelle Adriano, Nikki Valerio, Bianca Valerio, and Nelia Sarcol — may your tribe increase. Congratulations!

HI! SOCIETY BECKY GARCIA

Q Nelia Cruz-Sarcol

Q Jed Mathew Sarte and Sol Tan-Gatue.

Q Maru, Wyanette Marie, William Marc, Winona and Howee Go.

'Phantom’ cast meets an enchanting wizard THE cast of world renowned musical “The Phantom of the Opera” experienced magic Filipino-style when they visited proudly homegrown theme park Enchanted Kingdom (EK) in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

4HE %+ kRST TIMERS ENJOYED AN ENTERTAINING SHOW AT THE Eldar’s Theater with special performances by Victoria’s Way and Kingsmen. They were also given a taste of Filipino entertainment — the "Tinikling." EK’s own Circle of Artists performed the traditional Philippine folk dance and the guests immediately joined in on the fun on stage.

With their hectic schedule and sold-out shows, the cast could not go around the country as much as they want to. Fortunately, they enjoyed "Agila The EKsperience" — a one-stop destination to all the wonders of the Philippines.

Judging by their smiles and glees, it’s safe to say these theater stalwarts had an enchanting experience at EK. Q This time, the 'Phantom' cast played audience as Enchanted Kingdom’s Circle of Artists performed traditional Filipino dances for the musical theater stars.

Q Adventurous besides talented, the cast members gamely tried the thrilling rides.

Q The cast of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ took some time off their ongoing run in Manila to experience the country’s very own theme park, Enchanted Kingdom.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Special Feature

MONDAY March 25, 2019

E1

Q The province is blessed with endless water flowing and fertile lands as far as the eye can see.

FOR PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

Lanao del Sur should pursue cultural, economic and political revolution A

BY ARLO CUSTODIO PHOTOS BY J. GERALD SEGUIA

BUNDANT in natural resources, what with Lake Lanaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 340-square kilometer area and fertile lands as far as the eye can see, the province of Lanao del Sur has every potential to become a food basket for the whole of Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines withal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but only if its agricultural sector is sustainably developed. inscribed in the UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Representative List in 2005.

Lanao is the home of the Maranao Sultanate, known today as the four principalities or Pat a Pagampong sa Ranao, namely Masiu, Unayan, Balo-i and Bayabao. The Sultanate governs independently through an unwritten code established as Igma Ago Taritib or Order and Consensus. Its political power and domain is equally re cognized like those in Sulu of the Tausugs and Maguindanao.

Colorful history Before the colonial period, Lanao had The Maranaos (which means people of the four important boundaries that held lake or ranao) trace their history through the power in appointing a new sultan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BakaDarangen epic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which relates events and yawan, Dalama, Madamba and Sawer. In PEOPLE AND DEkNES THE OLD TOWNS BEFORE THE appointing a new sultan, the permission archipelago was colonized by Spain. from these four boundaries were needed The region already had a sophisticated to validate the position. culture prior to the arrival of Islam in the Impregnable by colonialism, Maranaos 13th century, as embodied in various Ma- to this day pride themselves to have successranao epics, chants and recorded history. fully resisted the successive forays of SpanIt was during this era that various cultural ish, American and Japanese encroachment icons were developed such as the torogan, as documented by how their men fought the singkil dance, the Darangen, the brass- with kris, spear, and bow and arrow against ware craft, the Sarimanok, the okir motif THE CANONS AND RIlES OF THE !MERICANS IN THE and the indigenous suyat script. legendary battles of Tamparan, Bayang, SulThe United Nations Educational, tan Gumander, Ganassi, Tugaya and Marawi Scientific and Cultural Organization City. The Japanese Imperial Army likewise (UNESCO) has inscribed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daran- failed as Maranaos gallantly asserted their gen Chants of the Maranao People of freedom and distinct political identity in Lake Lanaoâ&#x20AC;? in the Representative List the Battle of Lanao. of the Intangible Cultural Heritage It was in Malabang that Chief Justice of of Humanity in 2008. It was earlier the Supreme Court Jose Abad Santos was For sadly, Lanao del Sur has remained poor despite its valuable potential and is in fact considered to be the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; poorest province with a poverty incidence of 71 percent. This regrettable state is mainly attributed to the breakdown of peace and order, which has plagued this part of the south for so long.

To comprehend what needs to happen for Lanao del Sur to realize its full potential, a look back at its peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; history is in order.

Q The body of water is counted as one of the 15 ancient lakes in the world.

Scientific and mythical origin of Lake Lanao

Q Since its charter, politics in Lanao has been controlled by a few dynastic clans, where people have no choice but to be beholden to their patrons for survival. province in ARMM during the plebiscite on Feb. 19, 1989.

From one province to two Although its capital Marawi City refused What used to be a whole Lanao, administra- TO BE INCLUDED AT kRST IT RECONSIDERED ITS tively part and a political unit of the Moro position and joined ARMM in 2001.

Province by virtue of Philippine CommisLanao del Sur is composed of 39 sion Act 787, was divided into two distinct municipalities and divided into two provinces â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lanao del Sur and Lanao del congressional districts, consisting of Norte â&#x20AC;&#x201D; on May 27, 1959 by virtue of Re- 1,159 barangay (villages).

PUBLIC !CT ,ANAO DEL 3UR WAS OFkCIALLY Latest statistics show that the province chartered on July 4, 1959. has a total population of approximately Lanao del Surâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political landscape went 1.1 million out of a total 2.5 million through a series of transformation. As a Maranaos, where around 1.3 million are result of the peace settlement with the spread all over the country, mostly traders Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in urban areas. under the Tripoli (Libya) Agreement during the Martial Law years, President Hope for bright future Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential amid anarchy Decree 742, which included the province Since its charter, politics in Lanao has been in the Autonomous Region in Muslim controlled by a few dynastic clans, where Mindanao (ARMM). Lanao del Sur con- people have no choice but to be beholden STITUENTS AFkRMED THE INCLUSION OF THE to their patrons for survival. The anarKILLED BY THE *APANESE IN A kRING SQUAD

LAKE Lanao is formed by the tectonic-volcanic damming of a basin between two mountain ranges and the collapse of a large volcano. It has a maximum depth of 400 feet (122 meters) and a mean depth of 198 feet (60.3 meters).

The basin is shallowest toward the north and progressively gets deeper toward the south.

The lake, second largest in the Philippines after Laguna de Bay, was proclaimed as watershed reservation in 1992 through Presidential Proclamation 971 to ensure protection of forest cover and water yield for hydropower, irrigation and domestic use. It is counted as one of the 15 aancient lakes in the world.

Home to 18 endemic species of cyprinid fish, only five hhave been located in the investigations in 1992 and 2008.

TThe freshwater crab is also endemic to the lake. High ccommercial value species are baolan, diza, lindog, manalak aand palata.

The biggest native species is bangangan sa erungan, whereas introduced species include pait/dipura, pait sah w ggandamatu, bagangan, tumba, katolo, kundur, bongkaong, bbitungu, sirang/tumaginting and tras may have caused the eextinction of some of the native fishes due to competition, aabetted by overfishing and pollution.

The massive algae contamination in 2006 was initally touted by Mindanao State University (MSU) studies as caused

chaic situation is characterized by rido or family feuds, kidnapping, carnapping, theft, gambling and illegal drugs. There is inadequate access to governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social services and economic development programs, which socioeconomic DIFkCULTIES ARE NURTURED BY SKETCHY AND poorly maintained road network brought about by neglect.

Those who love their birthplace just cry in silent pain as the condition of the national highway, particularly the Lake Lanao Circumferential Road, is deplorable when they know that term after term those IN AUTHORITY WERE GIVEN BUDGET TO kNISH the projects.

It is for this reason that leaders concerned of their provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development have banded together to help ensure the presence of the government in all the municipalities, including Marawi City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leadership shift is the change that the good people of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City must collectively pursue with Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help,â&#x20AC;? is the Development Podium of Lanao del Sur Alliance for Good Governance (LAGGO), adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our future and our children and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children well-being is todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Change.â&#x20AC;?

LAGGO vows to help provide good governance in cooperation with conCERNED GOVERNMENT OFkCES AND AGENCIES â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the lack of it amounts to lack of governance.â&#x20AC;? Another objective is to help reinstitute and restore peace and order and promote a just and peaceful SOCIETY AS WELL AS kGHT TERRORISM AND extremism so the Marawi siege and Butig attacks will not happen again.

Conversely, the alliance commits to support the Bangsamoro Government and the shift to federal system of the national government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our pledge to look after the socioeconomic welfare of every man and woman, young and old, in the province of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City and FORM A UNITED FRONT TO kGHT ILLEGAL DRUGS

criminalities, corruption and poverty of the people,â&#x20AC;? LAGGO states.

Q The lake is formed by the tectonic-volcanic damming of a basin between two mountain ranges and the collapse of a large volcano. by poor sewerage and agricultural waste management, but the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources stated that it was caused by soil erosion from indiscriminate logging.

For Maranaos, folklore says that long ago, there was a polity (organized society) known as Mantapoli centered in the location of the lake. Due to advancement in many fields (like the Western tale of Atlantis), there was sudden growth in population and power tilting the equilibrium between Sebangan (east) and Sedapan (west).

The problem came to the attention of Archangel Diabarail (Gabriel for Christians), which he brought the news to Allah in heaven. Sohora, the vice of Allah, advised Diabarail to go to seven regions beneath the earth and seven regions in the sky to summon the angels.

Sohora also said that when Allah fully establishes the barahana (solar ecclipse), Mantapoli will be removed from its location and transfer it to the center of the world.

When the angels were summoned and the barahana was made, Mantapoli was teleported to the center of the earth, leaving a vast hole in its former location. The hole was eventually filled with water and turned into a deep blue-colored lake.

When Diabarail saw the tides of water, he immediately went to heaven to report to Allah, that the waters may drown the people. Hearing the report, Allah told Diabarail to summon the four winds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Angin-Taupan, Angin-Besar, AnginDarat and Angin-Sarsar â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to blow the excess waters and establish outlets where the waters flow. After three trials, the winds succeeded and the Agus River was made.

AC

E2

Special Feature

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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MONDAY March 25, 2019

Q The 2017 siege turned into the longest urban battle in modern Philippine history, leaving the business and commercial district of Marawi in total destruction.

Marawi City as an exponent of Maranao culture Locals look to torogan as inspiration for rehabilitation

T

BY ARLO CUSTODIO PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

HE name of Lanao del Surâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital comes from the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;rawi,â&#x20AC;? which means reclining, as all underwater weeds recline downstream toward the current of the Agus River.

Originally, its name was Dansalan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; derived from the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;dansal,â&#x20AC;? meaning a destination point or rendezvous place.

It also means arrival or coming. The city is the reference point 0.000 of all roads in Mindanao.

Founded in Oct. 1639, Dansalan was one of the early settlements established by the Spaniards and led by Francisco Atienza who came from Iligan to conquer the entire Lake Lanao area. But thousands of Maranao warriors triumphed in driving the colonizers back to Iligan, abandoning the thenfortifying settlement that same year.

The Spaniards returned to the area more than two centuries later when they began their conquest of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the late 19th century, only to abandon it again when the Americans came in 1900. Dansalan served as the capital of the undivided Lanao province from 1907 to 1940.

According to Maranao scholar Dr. Mamitua Saber, records show Dansalan becoming a chartered city was jointly conceived by the Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon and Assemblyman and eventual Sen. Tomas Cabili.

4HE CHANGING OF THE OFkCIAL NAME FROM Dansalan to Marawi was passed through the Congressional amendment of the Charter in 1956, sponsored by Sen. Domocao Alonto, as embodied by Republic Act 1552 dated June 16, 1956.

Its naming as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Islamic City of Marawiâ&#x20AC;? was proposed by Parliamentary Bill 261 in Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Batasang Pambansa reportedly for the capital to attract funding from the Middle East.

With a total land area of 8,755 hectares or 21,630 acres, Marawi is located on the northernmost shores of Lake Lanao and straddles the area where the Agus River starts. It is bound to the north by the

municipalities of Kapai and Saguiaran; to the south by Lake Lanao; to the east by the municipalities of Bubong and Ditsaan-Ramain; and to the west by the municipalities of Marantao and Saguiaran. Bagang Beach is 2 kilometers away from the commercial center.

Also located in Marawi is the Sacred Mountain National Park, dominated by the 900-foot tall Mount Mupo, an extinct volcanic cone. Declared as protected area on Aug. 5, 1965, the 94-hectare sanctuary known for its untouched trees is ideal for birdwatching and mountain climbing to the summit that features a small pond.

Its cool weather all-year round can make it an ideal Summer Capital of Mindanao. With the elevation along Lake Lanao at 2,300 feet, the city experiences light to heavy showers and fog most of the time.

Marawi is home to the main campus of Mindanao State Universtiy (MSU), the biggest state university in Mindanao established in 1961, and next to the University of the Philippines. Within MSU is the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Arts, named in honor of Sultan Aga Khan, who contributed to the realization of the museum. It has huge collection of indigenous arts and cultural materials, recorded ethnic music, native folk dances from different regions in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan, and tools and weapons used by Muslims as well as artistic designs of Maranao houses.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development of Filipinos is also stationed in Marawi, as well as other institutions and colleges.

Besides Maranao and English, locals can also speak Tagalog, Cebuano, Maguindan-

Q Marawi is home to the main campus of Mindanao State University (MSU), the biggest state university in Mindanao and next to the University of the Philippines.

Q On Oct. 17, 2017 President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liberated from terrorist influence.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ao, Iranun and Arabic. Muslims account for 99.6 percent of the population. Sharia law exists minus the stoning, amputation, lAGELLATION OR OTHER PUNISHMENT TYPICALLY associated with Sharia as they are against the law of the Philippines.

Women must cover their heads, although non-Muslims are not required to abide by this rule. Distribution of alcoholic products and gambling is forbidden.

Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy largely runs on agriculture, trading and export. Most industries are agriculture-oriented â&#x20AC;&#x201D; rice, corn and vegetable farming, hollow blocks manufacturing, goldsmithing and sawmilling. Small and cottage-size enterprises are engaged in garment making, mat and malong weaving, woodcarving, brassware making, web development and blacksmithing.

The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Islamic City is home to the National Power Corporation Agus 1 (YDROELECTRIC 0OWER 0LANT AND THE kRST of the six cascading Agus Hydroelectric Power Plants.

Politically subdivided into 96 barangay (villages), the unique natural setting of the Maranaos is manifested by the presence of many large torogans (antique royal high-roofed houses with panolong) and the Sambitory Old Building in Barrio Naga in front of Tuaka Laput.

Although a component of Lanao del Sur, Marawi City has been acting independently from the provincial government as it were an autonomous local government unit. It was kRST DEVASTATED BY ARMED CONlICT ON /CT

1972 when the MNLF attacked Camp Amai Pakpak. Called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marawi Uprising,â&#x20AC;? rebels almost took control of MSU, where hundreds of innocent people were killed.

2017 Battle of Marawi /N -AY

MILITANTS AFkLIATED WITH the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including the Maute and Abu SayyAF 3ALAk JIHADIST GROUPS ENTERED -ARAWI virtually uncontested, taking effective control of the city for almost one week.

The clashes between the military and the rebels began during an offensive mission to capture Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, where he was presumed to meet the Maute group to establish Lanao del Sur as wilayat or provincial territory of ISIL. The Marawi siege is believed to have been an ordinate plan since the founding of the Maute group in 2013, but the threat of ISIS was downplayed by the government then.

The group had established a stronghold in the province since February 2016 and was blamed for the Davao City bombing in the same year and the two attacks in Butig, a town located south of the city.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines STATED THAT THE kGHTING IN -ARAWI WAS DUE TO a raid conducted by the military in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP). The Philippine Army 1st Infantry Division was said to have received reports of impending activity two or three weeks earlier, and as the combined Armed Forces and PNP team conducted zoning in the city to validate the information that suspicious personalities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including Omar and Abdullah Maute â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were consolidating in the area, the team spotted Hapilon instead.

Military intelligence reports said that Hapilon had been appointed as emir (ruler or commander) of the IS forces in the Philippines and was consolidating his group with the Maute and other terrorist groups.

After residents reported the presence of an armed group within their locale and AFTER MILITARY VERIkED THE INFORMATION THE military launched a â&#x20AC;&#x153;surgical operationâ&#x20AC;? to capture Hapilon, only to stumble into

an entire city of armed men.

Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings, including the City Hall, MSU, Amai Pakpak Hospital and the City Jail. They also occupied the main street and burned Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cathedral, Ninoy Aquino School and Dansalan College, which is run by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. They also took a priest and several churchgoers hostage.

The military stated that some of the terrorists were foreigners who had been in the country for a long time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi, with the objecTIVE TO RAISE THE )3), lAG AT THE ,ANAO DEL 3UR Provincial Capitol and declare it as wilayat.

CNN Philippines reported the militants had more than 500 men (and young children, with residents helping them dodge the military in broad daylight or at nighttime).

The battle became the longest urban battle in modern Philippine history, leaving the business and commercial district

of Marawi in total destruction.

A day after the confirmed deaths of Omar Maute and Hapilon on Oct. 17, President Rodrigo Duterte declared -ARAWI WAS gLIBERATED FROM TERRORIST INlUence.â&#x20AC;? Then on Oct. 23, Department of .ATIONAL $EFENSE $ELkN ,ORENZANA ANNOUNCED THAT THE kVE MONTH BATTLE AGAINST THE TERRORISTS IN -ARAWI HAD kNALLY ENDED As announced on Jan. 30, 2018, a 10-hectare military base will be established in Marawi to prevent the reentry of terrorists.

Locals have petitioned for the usage of the torogan as inspiration for the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehabilitation, as they want their culture preserved in opposition to the Manila Rehabilitation Effect that the government plans to impose â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where shanty houses and buildings are erected without Maranao architectural styles.

It is foreseen that with culture and styles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like the okir, sarimanok, panolong and torogan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; incorporated in the rehabilitation, tourism may become Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading industry in the long run for its cultural aesthetics.

Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history in a capsule WRAPPED in myth and legends, Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s origin is best understood by its chronologic past. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 14th century: Islam reached the Lake Lanao region by way of Maguindanao from Sulu archipelago through Sarip Kabungsuan. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1640: First Spanish expeditionary force headed by Bermudez de Castro under Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcueraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order with 500 Boholano troops engaged the Maranao warriors.

The Spanish troops were routed and retreated back to Iligan Bay. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aug. 21, 1891: Spanish Governor General Valeriano Weyler aided by 1,242 Spanish and Filipino troops led the second expidition. Fort Marawi was captured driving out Maranao warriors with heavy casualties on both sides. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aug. 24, 1891: Maranao warriors led by Amai Pakpak routed and defeated the Spanish forces driving them back to Iligan Bay with heavy casualties on each side and ended the second Spanish expedition in tragedy. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1892 to 1895: Spanish government in Manila ordered the construction of four gunboats and assigned them to Lake Lanao â&#x20AC;&#x201C; S.S. Blanco, S.S. Lanao, S.S. Corcuera and S.S. Almonte. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 10, 1895: The Spaniards captured and planted their flag over Fort Marawi with at least 400 troops killed. Amai Pakpak and his warriors also perished in the battle. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1902: The Americans continued the campaign against the Maranaos, adding two motorized launches to the old Spanish gunboats. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1903: The place became a business hub as Captain John Persing and Major Robert Bullard encouraged non-Maranaos to settle including a dozen Chinese and 30 Christian families. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1906: The Americans established the locale as a village, known then as Dansalan. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 24, 1907: Dansalan was officially created as municipality under an Act of the Moro Province Legislative Council with Jesse Gaston as its first American president. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1914: Dansalan was made the capital of Lanao, one of the four districts under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aug. 18, 1940: Dansalan was given charter pursuant to Commonwealth Act 592 but the inauguration took place on Sept. 30, 1950 after World War 2. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June 16, 1956: Senator Domocao Alonto passed amendment renaming Dansalan to Marawi. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 15, 1980: Marawi was declared â&#x20AC;&#x153;Islamic City of Marawiâ&#x20AC;? under City Council Resolution No. 19-A, and as 92 percent of its population then are Muslims. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 23, 2017: Government forces clashed with members of the Maute group, with reports that armed men have taken over the Amai Pakpak Medical Center, replacing the Philippine flag with a black flag, supposedly representing the Islamic State (ISIS). President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, declared Martial Law in Mindanao, citing the siege as possibly rebellion. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Oct. 17, 2017: After five months of fierce fighting between the military and the extremists, leaving the commercial and business district in shambles, President Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi on his seventh visit to the city. A total of 163 government troops and 47 civilians have been killed in the battle; a total of 847 Maute fighters have died; and a total of 359,680 residents have been displaced. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Oct. 23, 2017: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the termination of all combat operations in Marawi.

Sources: Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Islamic City of Marawi website icom.gov.ph, Wikipedia, CNN Philippines.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY March 25, 2019

Special Feature

E3

Maratabat — a way of Maranao life FOR people living outside Lanao, it may be puzzling why a simple act of whistling at a Maranao girl could lead into a brawl. Then if it results to death of the offender, his family would take revenge that could in turn lead to a long-time family feud, resulting in other deaths from both sides involving whole clans. This is what rido is about — all because of maratabat.

“That’s the negative side of it,” Aminah, a nursing graduate, told The Manila Times about maratabat.

The good side, though, which is the driving factor of many successes of Maranaos in various fields, is that no one in the family is left behind.

“It’s quite normal in a Maranao household that the richer or more successful members of the family are obligated to help the less successful ones. Parang kahihiyaan kasi ng kapatid kung may nakababata o nakatatanda sa kanya na naghihirap samantalang siya ay sagana,” she further explained.

MSU-Marawi Psychology Professor Aminoding Limpao and Faridah Alango of the Division of Student Affairs said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency that roughly translated, maratabat is “self pride.” This also explains why on the way to Marawi, tarpaulins are posted everywhere on both sides – announcing the graduation of this, the passing of the board of that, or the promotion of those, as honor to the family or clan.

An ancient Maranao adage, maratabat is “mental construct” or a “concept” that could be the key word in understanding the complex culture of the people of Lanao.

Maratabat is what drives Maranaos to protect every member of the clan, preserve the family honor, or protect from physical or mental harm. It is as well that leaves them no choice but to observe Islamic laws and family traditions, including pre-arranged marriages, giving and fixing of dowry and the like.

“Maratabat is part of every Muslim’s way of life. We are useless without our Maratabat,” the professor said.

This mental construct provides strength in every Maranao, knowing that wherever they are and whatever situation they are in, they are protected by their family and members of their clan. It follows that the already powerful political Maranao family becomes even more powerful with the help and protection of clan members with influence and wealth.

If a powerful clan has a “rogue” or wayward member, their Maratabat provides them shelter or protection. Maratabat can also be the refuge and protection of a devout Muslim, as he can seek shelter and refuge with his family and relatives during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

This concept has never been more evident and manifested in countless of ways during and after the Marawi siege — in the way they behave at the evacuation centers (ECs), in their mannerisms, in their way of expressing themselves to others, in how they respond to authorities manning the ECs, in getting voluntary medical services, and most notably in living with their relatives in their crowded homes and dwelling places despite all the risks and discomfort.

“There are friends of mine who can afford to live outside of the ECs but they prefer to stay with family and relatives inside the congested temporary shelters rather than living in comfort without them,” Limpao related.

Alango, meanwhile, cited her own experience that many of her relatives chose to live in Iligan City with their close relatives rather than in Cagayan de Oro City with her, so she and her family also decided to live with them there.

“Sama-sama na kami sa hirap at ginhawa,” she said.

For Maranaos, it’s a family honor and pride that they are helping each other in times of need.

On the negative side, warring clans who could not see eye-to-eye stay away from ECs or communities where there could be a strong chance of encounter with “enemies.” There are ECs where their population are members of friendly clans only, as there are well-known clans living in close proximity with each other and none could join them from other clans.

Some internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in ECs because they have no choice, and it’s possible that a Maranao would rather stay with relatives that accept donations as evacuees.

“Maranaos are a proud race, it has been inculcated in their thinking that they belong to royal families or descendants of royal families and there is royal blood running in their veins,” Limpao stressed.

Looking at the situation of IDPs, he said, “They are angry at the Mautes, they are angry that their houses got bombed and destroyed, but it’s their children that [sometimes] get the brunt of their anger.”

One woman IDP said, “Milyonaryo man kami,” which was understood that they shouldn’t be in ECs (living with relatives) if they had a choice.

Datu Jamal Ashley Abbas, in his blog “The Setting Sun” on wordpress.com, also explained the heart of Maranao culture.

“The concept of Maratabat is much talked about but only half-understood by most non-Maranaos and even by some Maranaos. First and foremost, maratabat is not about revenge killing, which is related to rido (blood feud).

“Maratabat is about honor, ‘face,’ dignity, sense of shame, sense of pride, ethics, etiquette, protocol, and self-esteem. It is an age-old guide to social relations, individual and collective action.

“Maratabat is a code of conduct on how individuals should treat himself, his family, his relations, and other people. If he follows the rules, others are expected to reciprocate. But if he does not, then no one is obliged to treat him according to the maratabat norms.

“If a leader or a datu does not treat his people well, then he cannot expect respect from the people. If a leader does not fight for his people, then he cannot expect his people to fight for him. Maratabat is a two-way affair.

“In the same vein, if a father does not respect his adult children, then his adult children need not respect their father. In fact, according to Maratabat, a man who abandons his family for no reason at all must be punished — by the children.”

ARLO CUSTODIO Sources: Philippine Information Agency (PIA); The Setting Sun @ jamalashley.wordpress.com

Clamor for change echoes in Lanao del Sur Forgotten IDPs

A malong trader before the Marawi siege, Soraya Soltani, 47, now stays with 58 other families in the evacuation center beside the Saguiaran Municipal Hall. She said they are the forgotten IDPs (internally displaced persons).

With six children, she only hopes to get back to her old business, but laments that they haven’t received any relief goods from the local and provincial government for three months already. They subsist from the donations of foreign NGOs like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

But cries lay flat on their leaders‘ deaf ears

BY ARLO CUSTODIO PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

W

ITH the abundance of water resources such as Lake Lanao, springs, rivers and streams, and every inch of soil arable, the Maranao people of Lanao Q The Panolong is an ubiquitous symbol of Maranao del Sur are practically sitting arts like the Sarimanok. on a “pot of gold.” And yet the Vegetable farmer hinges hope on BARMM majority of the populace con- Forty-six-year-old Mamanto Macadair is lucky to be worktinue to starve, living in chronic ing in a cooperative, but he sells his harvest only in their (village). poverty and uncertainty. Worse, barangay Although the farm is just a few hundred steps away potable water has never reached from Lake Lanao, he laments the fact that they don’t have residences or establishments in the machinery to suck in the water for their plants that got affected by the drought for the past four months. The this hapless province. provincial government gave them seedlings and fertil-

It is ironic too that as host of Lake Lanao, where it supplies the bigger portion of hydroelectric requirement to the Mindanao Grid, the province experiences power shortage — ranging from intermittent supply of electricity to brownouts and total blackouts — and has become the norm that Maranaos face from day to day.

The fertile soil is ideal for planting to rice, vegetables, tropical fruits, industrial plantations such as cassava, coconut, palm oil, cocoa and other high-yield crops, yet locals need to buy these staples from neighboring provinces instead.

The 71 percent poverty incidence (see story on Page 1) in the province means 7 out of 10 residents belong to the marginalized sector and only three are gainfully employed or have means of livelihood. Family feuds called rido AND ARMED CONlICT BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND rebel groups have driven many of the populace to settle in other places or put up businesses in urban areas.

Pinagtaksilan ng panahon, as a Filipino phrase would call a place left out of progress and development, is how to best describe Lanao del Sur. Much of its backward condition is alluded to corruption in local and provincial government, whether those in position were given their mandate through election or appointment.

Whereas corruption in other areas works via a 70-30 RATIO MEANING OFkCIALS GET MANDATORY COMMISSION of 30 percent from the budget of government projects), the opposite could be truer in Lanao del Sur as MANIFESTED THROUGH ITS MANY UNkNISHED ROADS SUB standard materials used in construction, or assistance to constituents in need who barely receive a trickle from funds intended for them.

There are those who have accepted their fate, that they are helpless of the situation, but many Maranaos, particularly those in Lanao del Sur want to see the change that they’ve been wanting to happen in their lifetime.

(Note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees)

Tugaya needs government intervention

Mindanao has its own Paete — the town of Tugaya which specializes in the traditional Maranao arts and crafts. The locality is known for its woodcarving and mother-of-pearl inlay work.

Listed in the UNESCO Tentative List for Heritage Sites IN IT WAS DROPPED IN AS OFkCIALS ANNOUNCED THE site is better to be nominated in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Jamal Salik, 53, whose specialty is carving Sarimanok, Panolong and Langkungan (vessel that carries kulintang), said they are not inclined to expand their craft and accept mass orders because they have no bank to deposit their earnings.

Traditional leaders to help stabilize governance

izer but it’s irrigation that they need to make their farm sustainable, he said.

He is hoping that with the passage of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the corruption in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will not happen under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Fisherfolk cry for help

#OLLECTIVELY A GROUP OF kSHERMEN CALLED birador can harvest around 40 kilos from their daily pagbibira (pulling) and earn a measly sum of P100 to P200 each. But THEIR ROPES ARE ABOUT TO BE BREACHED WITH kSHNETS AND boats not enough and their catches get smaller every day.

Now 62, Hussein Malik said they have never received any help from local government and expressed hope that with the promise of change brought about by the coming ELECTIONS HE WILL kNALLY FEEL THAT HE IS A VALUED CONSTITUENT of the province.

Rice farmer decry corruption

Sultan Canacan Marandang (real name), retired Finance Manager of Agus 1 and 2 of the National Power Corp., whose house was used by the military as sniper hideout during the Marawi siege, said that political governance in the city and the province could stabilize with the help of traditional leaders like him.

He said that Maranao culture respects elders and traditional leadership, and if they are included in the rehabilitation and development program, he is sure that what happened in 2017 will never happen again.

Sad state of brassware industry

While a big chunk of Maranao arts and crafts is brassware, the present situation is like a dying ember that can extinguish anytime.

For one, the venue of the craft is A DECREPIT SOIL lOOR AND WORKERS went down from 13 to just 10 now.

There are also no apparent heir of the craft as it’s physically draining to hammer the brass to form gongs and kulintangs.

If there’s one sector that needs urgent assistance from the provincial and national government, it’s the brassware industry so as not to cut the legacy of Maranaos to the world.

Basheer Maroun, 38, had been farming for 12 years. He and his relatives harvest once a year, but with irrigation coming from upstream, they could harvest three times a year.

He said they requested for irrigation from both the local government and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) MANY TIMES BUT HE FEELS THAT OFkCIALS POCKETED the budget intended for them. Nevertheless he is still hopeful that this will change when there is change in the provincial administration and get the attention and help Q Mindanao has its own Paete with the town of Tugaya they’ve been waiting for known for its wood carving and mother-of-pearl inlay work. many years.

Sarimanok – a rooster in the first of seven heavens THE name of the legendary bird of the Maranaos comes from “sari” which means cloth or garment, generally of assorted colors; and “manok” which means chicken.

An ubiquitous symbol of Maranao arts, the Sarimanok is depicted as a fowl with colorful wings and feathered tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons. With the head profusely decorated with scroll, leaf and spiral motifs, it is said to be a symbol of good fortune.

The Sarimanok is derived from the totem bird of the Maranaos called Itotoro, a medium to the spirit world via its unseen twin spirit bird called Inikadowa.

Islamic legend says that the Prophet Muhammad found a

rooster in the first of the seven heavens, so large that its crest touched the second heaven. Its crow roused every living creature except mankind.

Judgment Day would come once this celestial rooster ceased to crow.

While there was a tradition that Sarimanok should not be displayed by its own but among set of flags, standards and vexilloids, at present this is no longer true. It may be placed on top of the umbrella of a sultan or dignitary, and also, MSU has adopted it for the graduation exercises following a non-traditional use.

Sources: Philippine Information Agency (PIA); Islamic City of Marawi City website icom.gov.ph; Encyclopaedia Britannica; and Wikipedia.

E4

Special Feature

MONDAY March 25, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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Honest, competent and compassionate local JRYHUQPHQW ČĽ NH\ WR /DQDR GHO 6XU SURJUHVV

BY ARLO CUSTODIO PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

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E V E R A L multisectoral organizations whose concern is the shift of political leadership from the dynastic political clans who are well-entrenched to the new but developmentORIENTED LEADERSHIP have banded themselves into an alliance for the general interest of the good people of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.

Envisioning Lanao del Sur and its capital as an agro-tourism destination, the Lanao del Sur Alliance for Good Governance (LAGGO) was established to reinstate Maranao to its true form as a just, democratic and God-fearing society. As such, its goal is to give its hopeful people a drug-free, crime-free, gambling-free, insurgency-free, terrorism-free, graft-and corruption-free and poverty-free land that is economically sound, peaceful and globally competitive.

In their own words, LAGGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is â&#x20AC;&#x153;to meaningfully and equitably improve the quality of life of our people by providing them the necessary sound public policies, best practices and sustainable programs through honest, competent, accountable and compassionate local government.â&#x20AC;?

And as their slogan goes, they are morally armed with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tapang at Malasakit.â&#x20AC;?

The leaders and members of this alliance credit President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong political will for the vanquish of the Maute Group after months of bombardment and grand assault by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

With the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolve to reconstruct, rehabilitate and develop Marawi, LAGGO further believes that the Bangon Marawi Task Force (BMTF) must waste no time in rebuilding the capital. It likewise behooves that what is of utmost importance is to rally the cooperation of the people for Marawi to rise from the ruins and the province to soar to progress and development.

Beliefs and principles

Besides believing in the Supreme Being â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Allah, who is the sole and only source of all life and material possessions on earth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and upholding and respecting at all times freedom of religion, LAGGO also gives importance to the rights of all human beings regardless of race, religion, gender and social class in a pluralistic society. They therefore stand and strive for unity in diversity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that the interest of our province and people should take precedence over any other interest, with due regard to the interest of the Bansamoro people and the entire Filipino nation,â&#x20AC;? declares LAGGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s principles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that the wealth of our province should be shared equitably ac-

Q Through succeeding administrations, no matter who is president, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General and lawyer Guiling â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Geneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ampang Mamondiong has committed and delivered in alleviating the lives of the people of his beloved province of Lanao del Sur. His passion for public service however has intensified with the leadership of fellow Mindanaoan President Rodrigo Duterte whom he has supported from the very beginning, confident he is the man to bring true change to the south and the rest of the country.

Q It was Mamondiong who founded the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) in 2014, aimed to rally and support the then Davao City mayor as the next President of the Philippines. cording to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to develop and utilize them with social responsibility. We uphold the right of our people to participate in all the affairs of government through free, orderly and peaceful political exercises and practices. We believe in the decentralization and devolution of powers and resources to the municipalities and barangay (village) to accelerate and sustain their development.â&#x20AC;?

Finally, they cherish, maintain and sustain Mushawara [consultation and consensus] not only in form but also in substance â&#x20AC;&#x153;as [their] best weapon against authoritarian leadership.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will defend the right of our people to voice out their grievances peacefully and orderly against their abusive government. We believe in Mushawara as an instrument for political stability.â&#x20AC;?

Q On Oct. 17, 2018 Mamondiong relinquished his post at TESDA and filed his candidacy for Governor of Lanao del Sur â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opting to endeavor a lesser position in order to serve his people when they need it most.

Strategies for paradigm shift

Based on their lofty goals, LAGGO has derived strategies toward a paradigm shift in governance, declaring that the immediate resolution of the social, economic, cultural and political issues and concerns affecting the people of Lanao del Sur lies in the collective action of the leaders of the province who must work together as a team, and who should set aside their political differences in favor of the common good.

First on the list of priorities is to establish a Municipal Government Center (MGC) in every municipality where government facilities are built. These refer to municipal halls, police stations, hospitals, school buildings, skills training

centers, cultural centers, nursery schools, public markets, parks and transport terminals.

Second is the development of e-governance through the establishment of a Provincial Information and Communication System that is equipped with the latest information and communications technology to connect all

local government units, national and regional OFkCES AND AGENCIES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE rest of the world. Such a system will provide PEOPLE EASY AND EFkCIENT ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT data and information, except those considered CLASSIkED DUE TO SECURITY REASONS Third, with cheating in elections prevalent

in the province for decades, LAGGO fully supports biometric voter registration and automated elections from voting to canvassing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will continue to oppose and condemn [in] the strongest possible terms vote-buying, terrorism, intimidation and all forms of electoral fraud. We will prosecute those who are involved in election irregularities,â&#x20AC;? they stress.

For sustainable development, LAGGO fully favors President Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Build, Build, Buildâ&#x20AC;? program for Lanao del Surâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own infrastructure agenda; Energy Development that centers on renewable energy such as mini-hydro power plants, hybrid of Solar PV Power and co-generATION OF CRUDE OIL PALM kRED GENERATOR SETS THE creation of Lanao Sur Special Economic Zone (LSZES) and Lanao del Sur Agro-Industrial Development Corporation; the establishment of public market and trading center in every municipality, and commercial center in Ganassi; and the development of agriculture for FOOD SUFkCIENCY Besides these, LAGGO ultimately seeks to devise ways and means to create jobs, pursue universal education programs for the youth including free technical and vocational education, provide free healthcare programs for the constituents, open peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access to information and communication technology, maintain adequate water supply, establish socialized housing, microcredit and family enterprise and social security for senior citizens, and carry out land reform and Baital Mal to complement the social services of the national government.

Leaders and members further vow to CONTINUE TO kGHT TERRORISM ILLEGAL DRUGS AND GAMBLING AND POSSESSION OF LOOSE kREARMS

as well as the settlement of family feuds and land disputes, and integration of insurgents.

They also want the Malabang Airport (or build another one) to operate again, build hotels and bring in commercial banks to Marawi.

To complete the provincial overhaul, LAGGO ultimately puts a premium on cultural and moral rejuvenation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will promote and preserve our cultural and moral values as part of our cultural and spiritual heritage as a people. We will pursue the integration of our cultural and moral values into our curriculum in the elementary and secondary education up TO THE kRST TWO YEARS IN COLLEGE u THEY VOW Endorsing this development podium are lawyer Guiling Mamondiong, Aleem Ameroddin Sarangani, Congressman Mauyag Papandayan, Assemblyman Rolan Abdul Rashid Macarambon, Kimal Salacop Jr., Abunail Adilao, Minupun Guro, Amiloden Abdulmadid, Jeraham Salic, Usman Abutasnimah, Bangcola Adtha, Parok Balt, Norohinar Asama-Maongco, Camil Sangcopan and Amer Faisal Mindalano.

MAMONDIONG CARRIES TORCH OF CHANGE FOR LANAO DEL SUR

â&#x20AC;&#x153;LANAO del Sur and Marawi City are important to the Philippines. Look what happened [in 2017], the entire nation was affected [by the war].

Clearly, the development and progress of the province and the city will also spell development and progress for the whole of the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General and lawyer Guiling â&#x20AC;&#x153;Geneâ&#x20AC;? Ampang Mamondiong told The Manila Times in an exclusive interview for this special.

Mamondiong has lived through the issues experienced by citizens of the province, having been born to a family of meager income, and growing up in the rural areas of Lanao del Sur. He spent much of his childhood working various jobs, from shining shoes to hauling fish in the market, in order to help his parents cope with the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expenses and afford his studies.

Having embraced the tenets of hard work and perseverance at a young age, he worked to pay for college and post graduate studies in law at the University of Manila.

Despite achieving a status that most of his people can only dream of, Mamondiong never forgot the reality of growing up in a depressed rural area of the province, which widely opened both his eyes and mind to the need for sustainable livelihood as the core of socioeconomic development.

Political foray Subsequent to his inclusion to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the Lanao del Sur native worked as member of the Legal Counsel in the Department of Agrarian Reform.

His first political exposure came when he ran for board member in

Lanao del Sur under the political party of the late Governor Ali Dimaporo.

He garnered a great majority of votes in the election, and during his incumbency he prioritized the implementation of programs addressed to alleviate the poor socioeconomic predisposition of the populace.

Government service appointments After serving one term as board member, Atty. Mamondiong opted not to run for reelection and instead decided to focus on his pledge to serve the public through other channels.

In response to the looming oil crisis in the country during the 1970s, President Ferdinand Marcos sought the creation of Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), where Mamondiong was named to the board of directors.

Under President Fidel Ramos, Mamondiong focused his efforts on the movement of Lakas NUCD-UMDP, the political party of the administration, in the province where he served as executive director of the Muslim Affairs Office.

As a prominent member of the party, he advocated the creation of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development, which was aimed to formally integrate the Moroland into the Filipino nation and assist in resolving decades of fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels.

Noting the dedication and sincerity by which Mamondiong serves the general public, President Ramos thereafter appointed him as Undersecretary for Municipal Telephone of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Aware of the integral role of communication in the economic development of Lanao del Sur alongside the limited financial capacity of the populace to afford telecommunication services of private companies, he implemented the first public payphone services to connect the rural province to the rest of the nation.

Given his track record at the agency, President Gloria MacapagalArroyo named the Maranao lawyer Undersecretary for Railways of DOTC.

Into an era of change With all his hard work and achievements for his province, none can be compared to what Mamondiong accomplished in the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But long before this era of change began to unfold in the Philippines, Mamondiong founded the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), aimed to rally and support then Davao City mayor as the next president of the Philippines.

Faced with the grueling task of convincing then Mayor Duterte to run for president, knowing they were both from the same cloth as â&#x20AC;&#x153;galing sa masa, para sa masa,â&#x20AC;? Mamondiong and his few co-believers shared the same vision of a crime-free, drug-free, corruption-free, insurgency-free and poverty-free Philippines.

As such, the group campaigned tirelessly to secure commitment from different local government officials and other political groups in the country for Mr. Duterte. Thankfully, their efforts came to fruition when the man in whom they believe finally agreed to run for president and won.

Thereafter, Atty. Mamondiong was appointed Director General of TESDA with the rank of Cabinet Secretary. As he set off to work

as a proud native of Lanao del Sur with unwavering commemoration of his ethnic identity, he implemented key scholarship programs with emphasis on secluded rural areas of the province, in order to provide sustainable livelihood and financial stability.

In the aftermath of the conflict in Marawi City, Mamondiong immediately implemented several Specials Skills Training Programs and Financial Assistance Scholarships for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to assist in the recovery of affected families.

Moreover, he implemented scholarship programs for the families and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)/ Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to aid in the transition of the rebel fighters into being peaceful members of the society pending the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

A true Maranao leader On Oct. 17, 2018, Mamondiong relinquished his post at TESDA and filed his candidacy for Governor of Lanao del Sur â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opting to endeavor a lesser position in order to serving his people during these dire times as a true Maranao leader. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would rather choose a lesser position if it means serving my people when they need it most,â&#x20AC;? he explained when asked why he chose to leave the post President Duterte appointed him.

His principles, commitment and dedication to his people unchanging from his youth, Mamondiong advocates for change in the political paradigm of the province to eradicate corruption which has created stagnation in the socioeconomic development of the province. And this he vows to ARLO CUSTODIO pursue with tapang at malasakit.