THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 25, 2019

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019

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Central bank governor loses battle vs cancer B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr., who battled tongue cancer, passed away on Saturday at the age of 60.

Q Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.

Five facts about EDSA we didn’t know at the time

M

OST likely it is another case of the adage that history is written by the victors.

But there are facts — now indisputable — that we didn’t know, or were hidden from public knowledge, during the February 1986 People Power Revolt and even three decades later.

RIG RRIGOBERTO IGG DD. TIGLAO

BY MAY U. CARABALLO

³LosesA2

‘Bangsamoro law no quick fix to Mindanao problems’ COTABATO CITY: The Philippine Center for Mindanao.

Amina Rasul, PCID president, said endIslam and Democracy (PCID) on Sunday congratulated the 80 members of the ING DECADES OF VIOLENT CONlICT WOULD NOT Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) be accomplished overnight. g4HE "/, RATIkCATION IS NOT A QUICK kX who will run the newly created Bangsamfor the systemic probORO REGION BUT WARNED THAT THE RATIkCATION lems of the region,” she of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is pointed out.

NOT A QUICK kX TO THE PROBLEMS HOUNDING

But Rasul said the BTA leadership would lead “in the resolution of the issues that have hindered the region in reaching its full potential.”

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Murad Ebrahim was appointed as the interim chief minister of the

FROM REBEL TO LEADER Murad Ebrahim, the Bangsamoro region’s first minister.

AFP PHOTO

³ProblemsA2

‘Beauty boot camps’ key to PH pageant dominance

³TiglaoA4

After 33 years, is EDSA no longer just a place?

RODGIL Flores casts a stern taskmaster’s glance as grimacing young women in bikinis stride across one of the mirror-walled studios that is central to making the Philippines a beauty pageant juggernaut.

O

N FIRST SatTHINGS urday FIRST morning last week, several hundred left-leaning demonstrators took over a religious group’s march to the Marian Shrine on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), and set the tone for this year’s celebration of the military revolt that ousted the strongman Ferdinand Marcos on Feb. 25, 1986. ³TatadA5

FRANCISCO S. TATAD

³Pageant A7

TRAINING CAMP

What’s inside SSS TO ROLL OUT LOAN CONDONATION PROGRAM

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2019 shows aspiring beauty queens during the “duck walk” practice at a beauty boot camp in Manila. AFP PHOTO

NewsA2

WHAT THE EDSA REVOLT MEANS TO POSTMILLENNIAL STUDENTS

Tita ValderamaA5

No deportation of illegal Chinese workers MALACAÑANG on Sunday said the government will study a way to have a “win-win” situation on the issue of illegal Chinese workers in the country, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte opposed deporting them.

In a speech during a PDP-Laban event in Laguna on Saturday evening, Duterte said it was best if the Philippines would not deport the illegal

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“It is with deep sadness that the Monetary Board announce that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. peacefully passed away on 23 February 2019

THIS MISS U DOESN’T HOLD BACK ON ISSUES

EntertainmentD4

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

Chinese workers because there were illegal Filipino workers in China.

In a text message to The Manila Times, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would look INTO SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD BENEkT BOTH Philippines and China on the issue.

“We are treading cautiously and studying how to go about a win-win solution given our countrymen’s situ-

ation in China,” Panelo said.

He added that China might enforce a similar policy.

“We have also thousands of Filipinos illegally staying in China, and the Chinese government might enforce a policy of tit for tat,” Panelo said.

He added that the Chinese workers in the Philippines might be skilled

³DeportationA7

Police insulate EDSA rites from politics POLICE on Sunday said they would not allow political rallies and other similar activities without permits within a 50-meter radius of the Edsa Shrine on February 25 to mark the 33rd anniversary of a popular revolt that toppled the Marcos regime.

Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran Jr., chief of police of Mandaluyong City where the shrine is located, warned that violators of the

no-permit policy would be arrested.

“Let us make very clear that those who will stage a rally must secure a permit from Quezon City, while those given permits to rally are not allowed to hold programs within the perimeter of the sacred shrine,” the police chief told The Manila Times.

Rallyists will only be allowed to pass by

³EDSA A2

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News

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY February 25, 2019

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SSS to roll out loan condonation program

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BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

HE Social Security System (SSS) will roll out a loan condonation program once its newly signed amended charter takes effect.

“A condonation program is automatic in the law. So, we are now ready for that once it gets effective, we can accept appli-

cation for condonation,� SSS President a n d

Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc said.

The condonation program will run for six months from the effectivity of the law on March 5. “This will be a one big time opportunity for them (delinquent member-borrowers) to avail,�

Dooc said.

The SSS will provide more details about the program once the implementing

rules and regulations of its charter HAVE BEEN kNALIZED Earlier, SSS reported that it had collected P2.1 billion from its Loan Restructuring Program with condonation that was launched in April last year.

Latest available data showed that the pension fund has condoned P4.3 billion in penalties, resulting in P4.9 billion in restructured loans as of August 2018.

Q EDSA FROM A1

Police

EDSA DAY Workers rush to install a tent

the EDSA Shrine and shout nonpolitical messages, but they cannot stop there, put up a podium, install loud speakers and deliver INlAMMATORY SPEECHES “The EDSA celebration shouldn’t be used for politics. It’s a time to commemorate how the Philippines regained its democracy,� Villaceran said.

The police would deploy around 2,000 personnel across Metro Manila on Monday, Director Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar of the National Capital Region Police /FkCE SAID Eleazar added that aside from securing a commemorative program scheduled at the EDSA Shrine, they would also be sending police officers to Mendiola Bridge near MalacaĂąang and other possible protest areas. “We don’t want that rallies would cause inconvenience to the riding public, motorists and other people in those areas,â€? he said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier announced the closure of one lane of EDSA in front of the People Power monument to vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday.

It said the number coding would also be suspended.

near the People Power Monument where a program would be held to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the uprising that toppled the Marcos regime.

PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Q PROBLEMS FROM A1

Bangsamoro Bangsamoro region that replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Ebrahim will assume his post after ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman will turn over to him the powers and responsibilities of the region on Tuesday in Cotabato City.

Rasul said the Bangsamoro people expect the BTA to effectively utilize the additional powers and mechanisms provided by the BOL to ensure a better and more responsive governance cognisant of the people’s clamor for inclusive development after years of poverty, illiteracy and strife.

The PCID president pointed out that the start of the Bangsamoro government was a major step toward peace and development in the region.

From rebel to leader Murad Ebrahim’s life as top MusLIM REBEL LED HIM INTO kERCE JUNGLE

DETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte might have been successful in detaining her since 2017, but he FAILED TO STOP HER FROM FULkLLING HER public duties in the last two years. “And he will continue to fail to do such in the days to come,� the senator noted as she marked her second year in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on drug charges. $E ,IMA THE kRST PROMINENT POlitical prisoner under the Duterte administration, maintained that her “continued unjust detention only asserts Mr. Duterte’s failure to break her spirit and prevent her from defending human rights and the rule of law.�

She said that February 24 should always be remembered as a “day of injustice� in the country because “it will remind us that, aside from me, there are others out there who were falsely accused and were made to pay for the crimes that they never committed because justice has always been in the hands of the powerful.�

Without access to any electronic gadget and communication device, de ,IMA MANAGED TO FULkLL HER ELECTORAL mandate, having authored and co-authored 142 bills and 146 resolutions, with 113 bills and 123 resolutions drafted inside her detention.

She has also continued to publish handwritten statements about important national issues and PERSONAL RElECTIONS FROM HER DEtention quarters in Camp Crame

in Quezon City.

To date, she has issued 473 dispatches.

The senator continues to gain support from local and international groups in seeking her immediate release from what they described as illegal detention.

Among these groups and individuals are her colleagues from the Senate minority bloc, the European Parliament, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Australian and European Parliaments, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

On Sunday,Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni� Robredo called for justice for de Lima and urged the public to cry for justice, not just for the senator, but for Filipinos as well, whom she claimed have all been victims of a legal system that is “susceptible to political and ECONOMICAL INlUENCE u “Both have fallen victim to a legal system that is, at times, seemINGLY NO LONGER GOVERNED BY kRM ruled and impartial magistrates, but one that appears alarmingly susceptible to political and ecoNOMIC INlUENCE u SHE SAID Members of the Otso Diretso opposition coalition also decried de Lima’s “unjust� detention, and expressed hope that she would be released soon.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO WITH GLEE JALEA

Q LOSES FROM A1

The last item, Panelo said, “saw the Philippines’ gradual shift from cash and check-based payments to electronic means.� “As we express our condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and loved ones of Governor Espenilla, we express our gratitude to the man once in charge of disciplining banks for his complete devotion to his work and great service to the nation,� he added.

Central

Jobs More than 20,000 overseas and local job opportunities would be offered in a job fair during Monday’s 33rd EDSA anniversary celebration, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said.

The job fair will be held at the Floor Activity Center of Starmall in Mandaluyong City.

It will be participated in by 50 employers and recruitment agencies Among the vacancies to be offered by local employers are for the positions of steelman, production machine operator, production worker, customer service representative, product promodizer, electrician, service crew, merchandiser, kNISHING MASON AND PLUMBER In the same event, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said 12,000 job orders would be offered by 15 participating recruitment agencies.

De Lima marks 2nd year in detention

Some of the vacancies are for the positions of laborer, nurse (genERAL WELDER PIPE kTTER CARPENTER

technician (electrical/mechanical), FOREMAN STEEL kXER )4 ENGINEER and waitress.

Among the countries of destination are the United States, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada,

Germany, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Turks and Caicos Island, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Solomon Islands, South Korea and African countries.

Bello reminded applicants to bring requirements, such as resume or curriculum vitae (bring extra copies for multiple job applications); 2 x 2 ID

PICTURES CERTIkCATE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR those formerly employed; diploma and/or transcript of records; and auTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIkCATE The theme of the 33rd EDSA anniversary rites is “EDSA 2019: ED VELASCO, DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ AND WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

combat and to meet with Osama bin Laden, but a very different challenge now awaits him: Governing.

After decades as a rebel, Murad will need to become a bureaucrat and complete complex projects as chief minister of the body that will steer the new Bangsamoro region until elections in 2022. g7E ALSO SEE THE DIFkCULT CHALlenge we will be facing ahead. To us, the struggle is not yet over,� the 70-year-old Murad said. “This is only another level of the struggle.�

Once a feared commander, Murad is chairman of the MILF, which signed a landmark pact with the government in 2014 to end a separatist insurgency that killed some 150,000 people since the 1970s.

That deal led to the creation of the Bangsamoro, which is based on the southern island of Mindanao and was overwhelmingly approved in a January vote.

Rebels and the government hope the new region, which is getting an INlUX OF CASH WILL BE ABLE TO BRING sorely needed development to the violence-plagued area.

The son of an Islamic preacher, Murad was orphaned early on as he lost his mother when he was only one and his father at 13.

He studied civil engineering at the Catholic-run Notre Dame University in southern Cotabato City, where he LEARNED lUENT %NGLISH But in his senior year, he dropped out to join an underground movement that he said defended Muslims targeted by Christian paramilitary groups and security forces under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

(E JOINED THE ARMED STRUGGLE kRST with the rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), but internal differences led him and Cairotrained scholar Salamat Hashim to split and form the MILF. In the 1980s, Murad said he was in Afghanistan to visit Filipino rebels who joined anti-Soviet forces, but HE DENIED kGHTING ALONGSIDE THEM It was there where he met future Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. “Osama bin Laden was very soft spoken. I did not think he would eventually be declared a world enemy BECAUSE HE WAS A VERY REkNED PERSON u

Murad told Agence France-Presse.

After Salamat’s death in 2003, Murad took over as leader and earned the respect of colleagues for building consensus, observers said. “He is the best, if not the only real choice [for Bangsamoro chief minister],� former presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said. “He has never been one to think power is all his.�

Security experts say Murad and the MILF would be hard-pressed to GOVERN FOR THE kRST TIME WHILE FACing threats from pro-Islamic State groups in Mindanao.

Murad would also have to deal with resentment from families of civilians and soldiers killed or affected by previous battles, according to Julkipli Wadi, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of the Philippines. “Murad should extend a hand of reconciliation even to (nonMuslims) so he would be able to extract himself from the ghosts of the past,� Wadi said.

“He is walking a tightrope where he has to juggle a lot of sensitive issues.�

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL AND AFP

surrounded by members of his family,� the central bank said in a statement on Sunday.

Espenilla left behind his wife Maria Teresita, daughter Jacqueline Joyce and son-in-law Ben Baltazar, sons Nikko Nestor and Leonardo Nestor and grandchild Zev Eron.

Espenilla, who was named Central Bank governor in May 2017, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in November 2017. He immediately started treatment that he said led to mouth sores.

In February 2018, Espenilla announced that he was cancer-free, but he resumed treatments in September and took intermittent medical leaves.

He concurrently served as exOFkCIO chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Philippine International Convention Center and the Financial Stability Coordination Council.

Under Espenilla’s leadership, the Bangko Sentral pursued major reforms under the theme “Continuity Plus Plus� covering monetary and kNANCIAL POLICIES AS WELL AS THE CENtral bank organizational structure.

He also spearheaded the digitalization of the retail payment system FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EFkCIENT kNANCIAL SYSTEM Espenilla also oversaw the establishment of the automated clearing houses — PESO Net and Instapay — under the National Retail Payments System which he said would increase the share of electronic payments in the country to at least 20 percent by 2020.

During his tenure, the amendments to the BSP charter were passed, strengthening the capability of the Bangko Sentral to deliver its mandate to promote price and kNANCIAL STABILITY AND TO FOSTER A SAFE EFkCIENT AND INCLUSIVE PAYment system.

The Bangko Sentral said the Monetary Board designated Deputy Gov. Almasara Cyd TuaĂąo Amador AS OFkCER IN CHARGE MalacaĂąang on Sunday expressed its condolences to the friends and family of Espenilla.

In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Espenilla would be best remembered for making kNANCIAL SERVICES CLOSER TO &ILIPINOS Panelo cited Espenilla’s contributions to the banking world — the National Retail Payment System and the introduction of the electronic fund transfer system InstaPay and the PESONet, an automated clearing house.

Tireless worker Espenilla was lauded by one of his colleagues for his hard work in actively pushing for inclusive banking measures in the country.

Leyte 2nd District Rep. Henry Ong, chairman of the House Committee on Banks, described the late BSP governor as a “wise, tireless and hardworking� man in the industry. “Our sympathies to the entire BSP family and the banking community on having lost a good, hardworking and devoted leader to cancer,� Ong said on Sunday. “Governor Espenilla was wise, tireless and determined in his push for banking reforms and updating legislation,� he added.

Espenilla supported Republic Act 1121 or the amended charter enabling the BSP to exercise better SUPERVISION OF THE COUNTRY S kNANcial system, including banks and kNANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES The measure was signed into law by the President two weeks ago.

Espenilla also helped in pushing for regulations for Islamic banking TO DEVELOP A kNANCIAL SYSTEM THAT includes the Muslim community.

House Bill 8281 or an “Act Providing for the Regulation and Organization of Islamic Banks� was approved by lawmakers on third AND kNAL READING Ong said the proposal was just a few steps to becoming a law as its Senate counterpart bill would be approved soon.

Also describing Espenilla as “a spirited champion of financial inclusion,� he expressed hope that more banking reforms that the latter supported would be approved soon after the congressional break.

For those who wish to pay their kNAL RESPECTS TO %SPENILLA PUBLIC viewing will begin at 3 p.m. to 12 midnight on Monday at The Arlington Chapel at Aeternum in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

There will be necrological services AND VIEWING AT THE "30 HEAD OFkCE in Manila from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Espenilla’s remains will be cremated on March 2.

WITH RALPH U. VILLANUEVA AND GLEE JALEA

News

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Law allows termination due to redundancy DEAR PAO PERSIDA ACOSTA Dear PAO, My cousin was informed by her private employer that they need to terminate her because her position has already become redundant. Is this legally possible? How will they go about it and will my cousin receive anything? Please advise me on this matter.

Darcy Dear Darcy, Our laws provide causes to lawfully terminate an employee. One of the authorized causes under the Labor Code of the Philippines is redundancy. It is explicitly provided for under Article 283 of the said law: “The employer may also terminate the employment of any employee due to the installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment to prevent 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 one (1) month before the intended date thereof. In case of termination due to the installation of labor-saving devices or redundancy, the worker affected thereby shall be entitled to a separation pay equivalent to at least his one (1) month pay or to at least one (1) month pay for every year of service, whichever is higher. In case of retrenchment to prevent losses and in cases of closures or cessation of operations of establishment or undertaking not due to serious business losses OR kNANCIAL REVERSES THE SEPARATION PAY shall be equivalent to one (1) month pay or at least one-half (1/2) month pay for every year of service, whichever is higher.

A fraction of at least six (6) months shall be considered one (1) whole year.� (Emphasis supplied) Based on the foregoing, it is possible for your cousin to be terminated from her private employment based on redundancy. However, it bears stressing that her employer must meet the requirements for a valid and legal termination. In addition, her termination due to redundancy must be done in good faith. As laid down by our Supreme Court in the case of General Milling Corporation vs. Viajar (GR 181738, Jan. 30, 2013, Ponente: former Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes): “x x x From the above provision, it is imperative that the employer must comply with the requirements for a valid implementation of the company’s redundancy program, to wit: (a) the employer must serve a written notice to the affected employees and the DoLE (Department of Labor and Employment) at least one (1) month before the intended date of retrenchment; (b) the employer must pay the employees a separation pay equivalent to at least one month pay or at least one month pay for every year of service, whichever is higher; (c) the employer must abolish the redundant positions in good faith; and (d) the employer must set fair and reasonable criteria in ascertaining which positions are redundant and may be abolished. “While it is true that the “characterization OF AN EMPLOYEE S SERVICES AS SUPERlUOUS OR no longer necessary and, therefore, properly terminable, is an exercise of business judgment on the part of the employer,� the exercise of such judgment, however, must not be in violation of the law, and must not be arbitrary or malicious. The Court has always stressed that a company cannot simply declare redundancy without basis.

To exhibit its good faith and that there was a fair and reasonable criteria in ascertaining redundant positions, a company claiming to be over manned must produce adequate proof of the same.�

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

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column OF THE 0UBLIC !TTORNEY S /FkCE 1UESTIONS for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@ manilatimes.net

MONDAY February 25, 2019

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Navy to upgrade fleet

BY DEMPSEY REYES

T

HE 0HILIPPINE .AVY WILL UPGRADE ITS lEET to improve its territorial defense and counterterrorism capability, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).

The DND said the Navy’s del Pilar-class frigates would be getting an upgrade that would cost the government P1.5 billion.

Arsenio Andolong, DND spokesman, said the ships’ management system, electronic support and sonar capability would get a boost to ensure quality performance

in the conduct of maritime patrols and search and rescue operations.

The DND’s Bids and Awards Committee announced the start of procurement for the Navy’s Upgrade Acquisition Project, the funding of which will come from the modernization trust fund of the Armed

Forces of the Philippines.

Andolong said additional weapons systems would also be acquired. “At the moment, the advanced weapons are only being considered for the brand-new platforms that we are acquiring,�

Andolong added.

The ships under the delPilar class are BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) and the BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17) , which are all formerly under the US Coast Guard’s Hamilton-class cutters, which were only converted to frigates when it was acquired.

Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, Navy chief, said the contractor would come from United Kingdom, but this would still be SUBJECT FOR POST QUALIkCATIONS BY the DND. “This is very important because once you upgrade the capability, if you put automated systems in the future, missile systems, sonar capability, it will have the capability to locate submarines,� Empedrad told reporters on Sunday.

Lorenzana to allow the procurement of 12 fast craft to patrol the waters of Mindanao.

The vessels will be used in the campaign to suppress pirates, smugglers and terrorists.

The Navy chief lamented that the Navy only had a few fast boats. “In our proposal, the SND (Secretary of National Defense) is saying that the boats requested have capabilities of staying at sea for seven to 10 days,� Empedrad said.

Fast craft “I’m sure once the President sees this project, he will approve Empedrad said he had also it since it is in line with his guidASKED $EFENSE 3ECRETARY $ELkN ance to sink the enemies.�

Rekindle EDSA spirit – Aquino

OFF WITH THE BENCHES Workers demolish benches along Baywalk in Manila as the rehabilitation of Manila Bay continues. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

OFWs covered by new health care law - Ejercito SEN. Jose Victor “JV� Ejercito on Sunday assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they are covered by the Republic Act 11223 or the “Universal Health Care (UHC) law.�

The reelectionist senator said under the UHC law, which he authored and sponsored, all Filipinos were “automatic members� of the Philippine Health

Insurance Corp. g/&7S ARE DEkNITELY COVERED If you’re a Filipino, you’re included. After their tour of duty, they will be covered,� Ejercito said in a radio interview. “If you can present proof that you are a Filipino, you would be covered by the National Health Insurance Program. That means, you can now

afford medical services such as check-ups, laboratory tests, and hospitalization because the government will subsidize the fees,� he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte also recently signed Republic Act 11201 that creates the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act, which Ejercito also authored.

%LECTED IN FOR HIS kRST term, Ejercito has authored and co-authored 75 laws, 572 bills and 108 resolutions.

Among those that he authored were the laws on free irrigation, anti-agricultural smuggling, free college education and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) reform.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th on Sunday called for the rekindling of the EDSA people power spirit amid issues of corruption. “The 1986 EDSA fight was against thieves, thieves who plundered the national treasury, thieves who took lives and human rights, thieves of good future under the 20 years of a dictator,� Aquino said in Filipino.

He said the spirit of EDSA should be rekindled as corruption issues continue to hound the government, despite the Duterte administration’s campaign against corruption. “ Hindi pa tapos ang laban ng EDSA dahil hindi pa tUmitigil ang mga pagnanakaw (The EDSA fight is not yet finished because plunder has not stopped),� he said on the eve of the commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 that toppled the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino is seeking reelection under the opposition Otso Diretso senatorial slate. “There is a need to revive in 2019 the People Power [through the ballot] to fight the thieves and achieve a bright future,� he said.

He called on voters to select candidates who have the people’s welfare in mind . “Magsisilbing boses ng taumbayan ang kanilang mga boto sa Mayo (The votes in May will serve as the voice of the people),� Aquino said.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Chief justice to judges: Be human CHIEF Justice Lucas Bersamin called on judges and justices to be human and not to resent criticism.

In his speech before the justices and employees of the Sandiganbayan, Bersamin said aside from the constitutional requirement of integrity, probity and competence, the foremost requirement for magistrates was being human. “You should not leave your humanity behind in the home each day that you trek to work. No judge will be worth his or her title if he or she ignores or abandons his or her humanity while at work. You must stay human,� the chief justice pointed out.

He also urged judges and justices to show courtesy and moderate their temper. “Have a good dose of humor, but do not be jokers. Remember

that you now wear the mantle of authority in your jurisdiction, and this often requires you to be stern and serious without being gross,� he said. “Let us neither hate nor decry criticism of our work and our persons. We cannot be immune from scrutiny of the people. It is their absolute right to be critical of judges and their work. No matter how unjust or harsh or unfair the criticism may be, we should welcome it,� Bersamin stressed.

He also urged judges to be humble. “Self-restraint during your trials, even only a modicum of it, is the manifestation of humility. Practice selfrestraint constantly.

The judges who eschew humility have realized soon enough how very oppressive they have been,� the chief justice said.

JOMAR CANLAS

Q Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go greets women during an event in Bulacan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Go eyes better health care for elderly PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s former special assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go pressed for more government support for senior citizens, particularly in terms of health care. “Tulad ni Tatay Digong, priority measure ko ang kalusugan, lalong lalo na ang kalusugan ng ating mga senior citizens (Just like Tatay Digong, health care is my priority, especially the health of senior citizens),� Go said at the “Labs Kita, Lolo at Lola,� a gathering of senior citizens at St. Mary’s College in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Go said he would work for the enactment of a law for the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and key urban centers.

A program of the Duterte administration, a Malasakit Center allows

poor patients to seek help from various government agencies, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes OfkCE AND THE 0HILIPPINE (EALTH )NSURance Corp. under one roof. “May express lane po ang Malasakit Center para sa mga disabled at senior citizens, para hindi na kayo mahirapang pumila (There’s a express lane for the disabled and senior citizens),� Go pointed out. “Yan ang gusto kong isabatas pagdating ng panahon [para]kahit hindi na Pangulo si Pangulong Duterte tuloy-tuloy po iyan. Mahirap pong magkasakit (I want a law on the establishment of more Malasakit Centers, so that even if President Duterte is no longer there, that program will continue.

)T S DIFkCULT TO GET SICK u HE ADDED There are 24 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

Likewise, Go proposed the creation of a National Citizens Commission that will ensure the proper implementation of laws and programs for senior citizens.

Go, who is seeking a Senate seat, said he would also look into the possibility of providing free medicines to senior citizens and granting them higher pension.

The former Palace official is also batting for additional funding for public hospitals to increase their bed capacity. He said senior citizens, who were susceptible to health problems, would be among THE PRINCIPAL BENEkCIARIES OF ANY improvement in the delivery of health services.

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Opinion

MONDAY February 25, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l Benigno Aquino 4th blames Benigno Aquino 3rd for Dengvaxia scandal

S

EN. Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th may have finally caught the attention of the nation in the current lackluster and uneventful midterm election campaign.

He has done so by doing what most Filipinos thought was unlikely or even impossible: He has TURNED AGAINST HIS kRST COUSIN AND NAMESAKE FORMER President Benigno “Noynoy� Aquino 3rd, by declaring in the media that the former president should be held responsible for the Dengvaxia debacle.

As the whole country will readily remember, it was Noynoy who was principally responsible for Bam Aquino’s being drafted as a senatorial candidate of the Liberal Party in the May 2013 senatorial elections.

Despite Bam’s near anonymity at the time, it was the Aquino administration’s huge war chest, Noynoy’s determination that his namesake must not lose, and then the administration political machinations that ensured victory for Bam Aquino in the balloting.

Now, in virtual repudiation of that debt, Bam Aquino has switched from loyalty to the former president to loyalty to himself and his political career. He has declared in no uncertain terms that former President Noynoy Aquino, should be held responsible for the purchase and use of the controversial anti-dengue vaccine that was injected into 830,000 Filipinos, mostly children, a number of whom later died from complications allegedly caused by the vaccine.

The senator said at a morning cable TV program the other day: “Yes, [President Aquino] is responsible for Dengvaxia because he made a decision to bring [the vaccine] in. Now, whether Dengvaxia did lead to the deaths or not is really the question.�

The noose is moving ever closer to Noynoy Aquino.

Last year, former president Aquino, his health secretary Janette Garin, budget secretary Florencio Abad and several other former Cabinet members in his administration were charged with plunder, malversaTION AND GRAFT BEFORE THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN for their involvement in the Dengvaxia program.

A committee inquiry by the House of Representives CONCLUDED IN ITS kNAL REPORT THAT THE PURCHASE OF THE Dengvaxia vaccine was approved by Aquino and Abad even though the program had no allocation in the 2016 national budget. Two House committees recommended THE kLING OF CRIMINAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES AGAINST .OYNOY !QUINO AND THE OTHER OFkCIALS In its lengthy and separate probe, the Senate was not as emphatic.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s declaration concerning Noynoy’s ultimate responsibility for Dengvaxia will strengthen public belief that Aquino must stand trial. Bam is the kRST ,IBERAL 0ARTY AND OPPOSITION VOICE TO DECLARE against the former president.

The attention that this declaration draws to the senator’s reelection campaign may not be enough to raise him to victory in the May elections. But it certainly will get him talked about for a little while.

What is indelible here is the implied declaration of CONSCIENCE BY A HIGH !QUINO ADMINISTRATION OFkCIAL concerning illegal and criminal acts by the government of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

That Benigno Aquino 4th has done this matters a lot. It should count for something in weighing the scales in May. ~

MONDAY February 25, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 135

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

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Five facts about EDSA we didn’t know at the time Perhaps because of the disillusionment with the presidency of the son of the so-called heroine of EDSA 1, the facts have been ferreted out, or have simply beCOME CLEARER 4HE FOLLOWING kVE facts are from documents and eyewitness accounts, and not from some “anonymous� sources, which the space constraints of a newspaper column do not allow me to list.

Fact 1: Cory Aquino had little to do with EDSA 1.

Ironically, it was Marcos’ legal and military pillar, his longtime defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile who — in a last stand to defend himself and his “RAM boys� from certain doom — was mainly responsible for EDSA 1.

The events that led to it were triggered by the botched coup attempt by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) cabal of colonels under Enrile’s aegis. It was to have been a classic coup by colonels as happened in many Latin American countries and other Third World nations. The leaders were Gregorio Honasan, Tirso Gador, Rex Robles, Tito Legaspi, Red Kapunan and Felix Turingan.

As revealed in Juan Ponce Enrile’s biography published in 2012 and in articles written by the colonels themselves since 1986, the conspirators after months of planning, decided to attack — boldly or foolishly — Malacaùan Palace at 2 a.m. of Feb. 23, 1986, and capture Marcos and his family, and for its coup d’etat to take over government.

Talking incessantly to foreign and local media for months about their opposition to Marcos, it is astonishing that the RAM WAS SO CONkDENT OR NAÂVE THAT its plot wouldn’t be uncovered.

Enrile only realized their plot had been uncovered when a hysterical Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin on the morning of February 22 called him to complain that his military security detail had been arrested by the Marines that night. Ongpin wasn’t aware that his security detail were RAM members. They were, rather amateurishly, reconnoitering the residence of Marine commander Gen. Artemio Tadiar to prepare for their planned attack on him the next day, when they were spotted by Military Police and arrested.

After lunch that day, Enrile, realizing that his and his RAM boys’ plot had been uncovered, decided that rather than being ignominiously arrested and executed, decided to take a “last stand� at his headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Several of the RAM boys had been in close contact for months with foreign correspondents — a favorite source of assets for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A 2015 newspaper article by three RAM colonels revealed that an emissary from the Pentagon promised the RAM the US government’s protection from ar-

rest if it “refrained from employing violent methods in pursuing its reformist goals.�

Did Enrile and his RAM boys expect that the Pentagon would keep its word and intervene in some way to save them from Marcos’ wrath?

Enrile though was clever to immediately call foreign correspondents to Camp Crame to cover what he thought was his last stand, after then Vice Chief of Staff and longtime PC Commander Fidel Ramos agreed to join him in his mutiny.

Another brilliant move of Enrile was to call Cardinal Sin to ask his faithful to surround Camp Crame to form their human shield. People Power, or People Fodder?

Fact 2: Only a small faction of the military supported the mutineers.

Enrile’s RAM boys consisted mostly of the colonels he had taken under his wing as defense minister. Air Force Commander Vicente Piccio, Army Commander Josephus Ramas and Marine Commandant Tadiar were all loyal to the chain of command.

The Philippine Constabulary surprisingly though, as it was headed for more than a decade

by Ramos who was succeeded by his protĂŠgĂŠ Renato de Villa, was divided in its loyalties.

The Marcos military succumbed to the EDSA forces because they realized that they were helpless facing the huge crowds. Marcos had given them the categorical order which was impossible to implement — “Disperse the crowds but do not shoot them.�

Isn’t it Marcos therefore that made it possible for EDSA to be a “peaceful revolution�?

Contrast that to the political will of the Chinese Communist Party, which ordered a column of tanks and battalions of People’s Liberation Army soldiers to disperse the thousands of protesters trying to mimic EDSA 1 in 1989 in Tiananmen Square.

Fact 3: The US betrayed Marcos, shanghaiing him to Hawaii.

US authorities told Marcos that it would accede to his request to evacuate him and his family by helicopter from MalacaĂąang to Laoag City, the capital of his home province Ilocos Norte. They instead brought him to Hawaii.

We’ll never know what Marcos — who even his archenemies concede was a brilliant strategist — intended to do in the North: Rally his army to defend him and re-take Malacaùang, or to negotiate a peaceful retirement?

The Yellow propaganda, of course, deviously made a joke out of it, that Marcos thought he was going to Paoay, but was instead brought to Hawaii. That

joke made most Filipinos conCLUDE THAT -ARCOS lED TO THE 53 in fear of his and his family’s life.

Paoay, however, is a fourth-class municipality that didn’t have any emotional links to Marcos, who was born in Sarrat.

The truth is that testimonies in hearings in the US Congress (which investigated what funds were used for the Marcos operation) incontrovertibly show that the US military initially had orders to take Marcos and his party to Laoag.

The helicopters, however, decided to land at Clark Air Base, telling him it had become danGEROUS TO lY TO ,AOAG #ITY SINCE they had arrived right after dawn.

That was a lie: US choppers and their pilots – trained through the Vietnam and other wars – could LAND IN ANY lAT TERRAIN AND EVEN in the darkest nighttime.

The truth is that the US military received a request from Cory Aquino for Marcos to be evacuated to Hawaii, which it immediately did, after clearance from the White House itself.

posed just a month after Marcos fell, on March 25, 1986, a revolutionary government, which made her a dictator monopolizing executive, legislative and judicial powers until the 1987 ConstituTION WAS RATIkED

Fact 5: Cory’s 1986 electoral campaign was handled by a US PR firm.

Sawyer Miller, an American public relations and political strategist kRM THAT WOULD BE IN THE S and 1990s, the most expensive and most sought-after outfit in the world after EDSA 1, handled almost in its entirety Cory Aquino’s public performance in the 1986 SNAP ELECTIONS 4HIS IS CONkRMED BY US documents that Sawyer Miller submitted in compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Its operations during the electoral campaign to transform !QUINO S BLAND WIDOW TO A kERY candidate has been revealed in detail in the James Harding’s book Alpha Dogs: The Americans Who Turned Political Spin into Fact 4: Under both a Global Business (2008: Farrar, the 1935 and 1973 Straus and Giroux).

Constitution, Corazon The blurb in the book’s jacket Aquino was not described the firm: “A political qualified to run for powerhouse, directing demopresident in the 1986 cratic revolutions from the “snap elections.�

Philippines to Chile, steering a dozen presidents and prime Both the 1935 and 1973 constitu- ministers into office.� tions specified that a president Sawyer Miller’s man on the must be a “resident of the Philip- ground who coached Cory and pines for at least 10 years immedi- wrote nearly all of her speeches ately preceding the election.� Cory was one British citizen Malloch had left the Philippines together Brown, disguised as a corresponwith her husband — voluntarily dent of the British newsmagazine The Economist. Brown, the book — to live in Boston in 1980.

So, why didn’t Marcos, a law- reported, even had to sit on the yer, and his stable of the country’s lOOR OF #ORY S CAMPAIGN BUS TO brightest legal minds raise this hide him from public view.

After Sawyer Miller, Brown objection to Cory’s candidacy?

0ERHAPS HE WAS CONkDENT THAT would two decades later become there was no way for Cory to win United Nations Deputy Secretarythe snap elections. Or perhaps General, and then a UK governthe Americans demanded that ment minister. Brown was knighthe prove his legitimacy in an ed in 2007, after which he has been electoral contest with Aquino’s addressed as Lord Malloch Brown.

According to the book, it was widow. The country’s fate at that time was in the hands of the US- Brown who got Cory to stick to controlled International Mon- a single message “with bumperetary Fund and the World Bank sticker simplicity: Marcos is corand a group of foreign banks, rupt. Marcos is a dictator.�

Brown’s messaging formed the mostly American, that agreed to the orderly rescheduling of the core of the Yellow narrative of EDSA, country’s foreign debts. Without brainwashed in the minds of a US support of the program, the generation of Filipinos. They even country would have been plunged inanely think they can use the same messaging in the case of Duterte. into an economic meltdown.

4HIS PIECE IS ONE OF kVE ARTICLES The Comelec count had Marcos winning by a margin of 1.5 million in the chapter “The EDSA Revolt�

VOTES 4HE PARTIAL UNOFkCIAL TALLY that debunks the myths over this of Namfrel — which was then episode in our nation’s history, in headed by Jose Concepcion who my book Debunked: Uncovering BECAME !QUINO S kRST TRADE SECRE- Hard Truths about EDSA, Martial tary — had Cory winning by half a Law, Marcos, Aquino, with a Special million votes. A brilliant move by Section on the Duterte Presidency, RAM was to have their wives and available in most bookstores and relatives – who “volunteered� with through online ordering, www. the Comelec’s quick count as en- rigobertotiglao.com/debunked. coders – walk out of the televised Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ tally, creating the propaganda that gmail.com these “ordinary citizens� were proFacebook: Rigoberto Tiglao testing Marcos’ cheating.

Twitter: @bobitiglao All these data became irrelevant of course when Cory im- Archives at: www.rigobertotiglao.com

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY February 25, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q TATAD FROM A1

After 32 years, is EDSA no longer just a place?

However, instead of chanting slogans against Marcos, who had been the Left’s rabid enemy for 20 years, the marchers turned to the President Rodrigo Duterte, with their new mantra: “Tayo ang EDSA, tayo ang pagasa, labanan ang diktadura.� —“ We are EDSA, we are THE HOPE kGHT THE DICTATORSHIP u

vito Salonga, and Ramon Bagatsing, who was running for mayor of Manila. Then-Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTY OFkCIAL who was absent during the explosions, automatically accused Marcos of having ordered the bombing.

But Marcos rejected the accusation and rapped the communists instead as the actual perpetrators.

A street no more He suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus through4HIS GAVE A SIGNIkCANT TWIST TO THE out the country to round up the meaning of “EDSA.â€? From the suspects. One year later, he prostreet which in 1986 and 2001 saw claimed martial law to turn back a successful uprising against the the rebellion, which had spilled government, EDSA, according to out into the streets and threatened this new language, now means the to overrun the government. people rising in protest against the Some of the perpetrators ultigovernment. Although their small MATELY CONkRMED -ARCOS CLAIM number still obstructed the traf- this was documented by Gregg kC THEY WERE SAYING THEY DID NOT Jones’ Red Revolution: Inside the have to physically occupy EDSA Philippine Guerrilla Movement, in great numbers anymore; all among others. The late former they had to do was simply march Senate President Salonga, one of against the government. EDSA had the most, if not the most, seriously become a noun, if not a verb, of wounded of the victims, said he had resistance, if not revolt. come to the conclusion that the real This indeed is a significant architect and author of the crime development in our language of was not Marcos, but the founding politics. Before the 1986 EDSA chairman of the Communist Party revolt, the government was obliged of the Philippines Jose Maria Sito validate its claims before the son, with “the possible knowledge kERCELY ADVERSARIAL PRESS AND THE of ‘Ninoy’ Aquino.â€? even more adversarial interaction with the masses. Plaza Miranda, Mutating to EDSA the public square in front of the famous Quiapo Catholic Church This was the last time Plaza Miin Manila, became the nation’s randa was described in political most popular testing ground for texts as the place where political political ideas—it was there, even ideas were validated by the Filimore than in the halls of Congress, pino people. On Feb. 25, 1986, a where the most important na- military mutiny, supported by the tional questions could be debated civilian population that poured before the electorate. For Ramon out on EDSA, and the Catholic Magsaysay, the popular seventh Bishops’ Conference of the Philpresident of the Philippines (Dec ippines, which issued a powerful 30, 1953 to March 17, 1957), the pastoral statement that set the litmus test of any government idea moral basis for the move against was whether “one could defend it Marcos, forced the strongman out in Plaza Miranda.â€? of MalacaĂąang after 20 years in power. It was a bloodless uprising Plaza Miranda that ended with the strongman AND HIS FAMILY BEING lOWN BY THE It was in Plaza Miranda where US Air Force to Hawaii. national candidates spoke to the Instantly, EDSA became a nation to sell themselves and their household word for changing an programs of government. And it was unwanted government.

The military installed Mrs. Corahere where the most brutal attack on free speech and the democratic zon Aquino as revolutionary ELECTORAL PROCESS WAS INlICTED ON president, even though she had Aug. 21, 1971, when communist failed to overcome Marcos in the agents bombed a senatorial cam- snap presidential election of Feb. paign rally of the opposition Liberal 7, 1986 and had gone into hiding Party, killing nine and wounding 95 with the Pink Sisters in Cebu as the others, including the party’s most EDSA revolt broke out in Manila. prominent LP personalities like Despite the props provided by Gerry Roxas, Sergio Osmeùa Jr., Jo- external actors, Cory’s government

could hardly mute nor mask its inherent dysfunctions. Lacking an authentic constitutional mandate, Cory had to face an EDSA-type revolt from the same forces that had installed her in power, for at least seven times during her six-and-ahalf years. The deadliest of these nearly toppled her, were it not for THE TIMELY lYOVER OF 53 JET kGHTERS at the height of the coup attempt.

Ousting Estrada Fifteen years later, under then-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, EDSA made a dramatic reappearance. Led by then-Speaker Manuel Villar, the rich property developer from Las PiĂąas, the House of Representatives impeached Estrada for bribery and CORRUPTION WITHOUT MUCH OF A kGHT

and the Articles of Impeachment promptly went up to the Senate for trial. Estrada was represented by some of the best lawyers in the profession—Andres Narvasa, former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Estelito Mendoza, former solicitorgeneral and secretary of justice, Raul Daza, former deputy speaker of the House where he had served three consecutive terms as congressman for the first district of Northern Samar. Then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. presided over the trial.

But the case was to be decided not on legal merits alone.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution threatened to walk out every time it moved for anything and feared its motion would not BE GRANTED 4HE WALKOUT kNALLY came after the court refused to admit and open an envelope which had been volunteered by a bank, without the need of a subpoena, and whose contents were totally unknown to the court. Not getting what they wanted, the prosecution walked out, and instead of recalling them back to court, the presiding Chief Justice joined them at EDSA, together with the other Supreme Court justices, the members of the Cabinet and the commanding generals of the Armed Forces, and swore in Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as “president� of the Philippines.

This was the second time EDSA became the venue of regime change after 15 years.

Delayed countermoves Estrada tried to reclaim the presidency by pointing out he never

resigned and that Arroyo was merely sworn in as “Acting President.â€? But the Supreme Court, through the former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, ruled that Estrada resigned “constructivelyâ€? when he vacated MalacaĂąang. Normally, a President loses the presidency when he dies, is permanently incapacitated, is removed upon conviction in an impeachment trial, or resigns. In each of these instances, a formal document attests to what happened. Estrada’s resignation was the only such resignation, from the presidency at that, without the necessary supporting document.

EDSA under GMA There were several moves to mount a counter-coup to recover MalacaĂąang for Estrada, all without avail. The Oakwood mutiny was the biggest such project, but it proved to be an utter failure. Some people may still be hoping that one big EDSA push could remove DU30 from power, even without a suitable successor. But with the military and the police eating out of his hands, DU30 may be the only one who could remove himself from his constitutional office, through a military junta or a revolutionary government.

In the absence of a committed constitutional and ideological opposition, the idea of great numbers massing on EDSA to oust the dictator may now be a pipe dream. For the same reason that no serious senatorial candidate would dare to debate any of DU30’s minions on any national or international important issue during this campaign, no one would dare entertain the idea of challenging DU30’s right to CONTINUE IN OFkCE EVEN IN POOR imitation of the Venezuelan Juan Guiado who declared himself interim president without any constitutional process, even while President Nicolas Maduro reigns.

Today’s street marchers probably know this only too well.

That’s why the best they can do is to proclaim “Tayo ang EDSA, tayo ang pagasa, laban ang diktadura.� They have to assert that the actors, no matter how few, have NOW BECOME THE kRST AND ULTImate venue of the “revolution.�

fstatad@gmail.com

Postcard from Malaysia Not so long ago, Malaysia was set to lose years of economic progress. Today, following the re-imposition of economic discipline, the country is almost back on track.

A

NEW era dawned in Malaysia in May 2018, when the opposition coalition led by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim secured a simple majority in a historical election. When Mahathir will return to retirement, opposition leader Anwar is expected to replace him in about two years.

In the 2018 election, their coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), won 113 seats against the ruling coalition, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and its allies that had not lost an election since 1957.

Last year, Malaysia’s economy grew PERCENT YEAR ON YEAR $ESPITE kSCAL consolidation and challenging international conditions, the country is set to sustain its growth path in 2019. It is an extraordinary achievement after years of political turmoil.

The Najib regression As the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak ruled the country from 2009 to 2018. His early tenure was marked by economic liberalization measures, including cuts in government subsidies, loosening of foreign investment restrictions, and reductions in preferential measures for ethnic Malays in business.

After the 2013 election, the neoliberal economic policies gave way to greater efforts at political consolidation, including the pursuit of critics on sedition charges, the imprisonment of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, the implementation of a consumption tax (GST), and the embarrassing scandal

DAN STEINBOCK INVOLVING STATE INVESTMENT kRM -Alaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

That’s when Malaysia lost its economic discipline. The changing fortunes can be illustrated by the lUCTUATIONS OF THE -ALAYSIAN RINGgit. Between 2009 and 2013, the US dollar was still about 3-3.60 MYR. As economic prospects weakened, so did the ringgit. Between 2013 and 2018, the US dollar amounted to 4.40 MYR (SEE kGURE).

Eventually, the massive 1MDB corruption debacle led to rallies calling for Najib’s resignation, spearheaded by the grassroots movement Bersih.

Following his release in 2004, Anwar )BRAHIM BECAME THE LEADING kGURE IN the opposition and helped coalesce the opposition parties into the Pakatan Rakyat, which contested the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

These protests culminated in the Malaysian Citizens’ Declaration by Mahathir, the rise of Pakatan Harapan and NGOs to oust Najib. The 2018 election triumph paved the way for Mahathir to become the world’s oldest elected leader at 93. He said his coalition would not seek revenge but would “restore the rule of law.�

Recently, Anwar seconded those views. He said Malaysia “will not compromise� in its talks with Goldman Sachs over the 1MDB corruption scandal, and the bank “must bear responsibility.� The nation has a responsibility to uncover any crimes the investment MALAYSIAN RINGGIT, 2009-2019

bank may have committed.

Fiscal consolidation Between 1974 and 2004, Mahathir’s Malaysia experienced a period of rapid modernization and economic growth, as his government initiated a series of bold infrastructure projects.

During his rule, Malaysia was transformed into an Asean tiger. Politically, Mahathir was dominant, winning kVE CONSECUTIVE GENERAL ELECTIONS AND fending off a series of rivals for the leadership of UMNO. 4HE kNAL TEST CAME WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THE !SIAN kNANCIAL CRISIS IN 1998. While much of Asia succumbed to IMF-imposed austerity, Malaysia did not. Instead, Mahathir pursued a heterodox model of economic policies, including currency and capital

ÂłSteinbockA6

Opinion

A5

What the EDSA revolt means to post-millennial students C TEA TIME AMPAIGN gimmicks nowadays are targeting mostly young people – the generation of people aged 18 to 35. They grew up in the digital age and are considered the workforce of tomorrow and the new generation of consumers.

By generational nicknames they’re called millennials and post-millennials. They were born between 1984 and 2001.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez estimated last year that Filipino voters falling under this age bracket will dominate this year’s mid-term election, making up more than one third of the 55 million registered voters.

Based on demographics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Filipinos aged 18 to 35 would easily total 25 million, but many of them may not have registered as voters.

As freedom-loving Filipinos celebrate over the weekend the 33rd anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, I asked some of my students and interns about what they know of what we refer to as EDSA 1, and if they think that it is still relevant.

The respondent-students were born long before 1986. They belong to the post-millennials.

Many of them have parents who had not yet met at that time.

Here’s what they have to say: Denielle Ann Yap Abolencia: Although I cannot relate to the People Power Revolution, the youth of this generation still has OTHER REVOLUTIONS TO kGHT‡TO BE liberated from poverty, to have a good education, to defend human rights, and to advocate for the withering environment.

Everyone has the chance to participate in building a better nation, to exercise genuine leadership, which is an action, not a position. True leadership is not defined by practice of power; rather, it’s the earnest concern in attending and expressing compassion to the needs of others.

I believe our past leaders, namely former presidents Cory and Noynoy Aquino, were ideal examples of such leadership. It is up to the youth now to nurture and cherish the inspiration they have passed on.

Mia Macatiag: My age group did not witness the atrocities that triggered the EDSA Revolution, but as we celebrate it annually where it took place serves as a reminder to all Filipinos of different ages that we must always kGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN IF IT REQUIRES SUCH A GREAT SACRIkCE As a millennial, commemorating our historical past boosts my pride as a Filipino. The revolution against the Marcos regime reminds us that we have the power to act and to speak up if things go the wrong way.

To the opposition, I hope we Filipinos could always find a distinction between what is right and what is not.

Miguel Baleros: Yes, I think it is still relevant. As someone who hasn’t experienced or has no knowledge of the events before, the EDSA revolution and how until now it is [considered as] a celebrated moment just shows millennials like me how historic the EDSA revolution was before and would serve as a constant reminder of what happened in the past.

Rudolf Kyle Peralta: I believe that EDSA 1 revolution has truly made an impact on almost all Filipinos from the 1980s to the present as people have been awakened to what the government could do when leaders we elect abuse their powers. The commemoration of this revolution is proof that we Filipinos stand firm to uphold our liberty as democracy is considered the backbone of the country.

Carl Joshua Roque: It has been 33 years since the Filipino people showed the world that real power lies on its citizens.

The empowerment of democracy was displayed as the people

TITA C. VALDERAMA overthrew tyranny without bloodshed and violence. Only prayers and faith were used as weapons by the people to recover their freedom from the tyrant president, Ferdinand Marcos. The revolution resulted in a political change and the democracy that we have today.

I think it is still relevant to celebrate the EDSA revolution and to commemorate the hardships of all people who gave up their lives to restore democracy. This is not just about recalling the pain and the unity that we had before. This is not just a fragment of our history.

It is to remind us that real power is coming from the people and the kGHT FOR DEMOCRACY ISN T OVER 7E are still working toward the change that every Filipino wanted to have.

As a millennial, it showed me, us, that real change does not rely on who sits on top of everyone; real change depends on every people of our nation to move together towards the same aspirations. Also, that the fight isn’t only for the people of that time, but also for the children of the next generations.

Celebrating EDSA 1 revolution is like retelling an old story so we can prevent history from repeating itself.

Alec Naldo: Filipinos had enough of two decades of unfair governance. Abuse and corruption ignited a spark in the hearts of our citizens – a revolution.

History repeats itself. With the current government trying to silence the media, symptoms of dictatorship are starting to resurface, and will eventually be rampant if left unchecked.

As we commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the revolution that astounded the world, let us remember those who fought fearlessly against the Marcos regime.

History repeats itself. Therefore we need a revolution once more. Never again!

Jan Danizon Arcilla: History is history. Ousting a dictator has a massive effect in our country’s democracy. This EDSA People Power will always remind us how powerful our freedom is if we use it properly.

We owe freedom of speech and expression to the people before us and we, as the new generation must do the same, protect it.

We are bounded by technology today. If we, the Filipino people, maximize our right/s properly, something really good will happen.

Angelica Anne Hernaez: An event like the People Power Re vo l u t i o n c a n n o t l o s e i t s relevance because of the sensitivity of countries to repeat its mistakes as seen in history.

An understanding of this event creates a newfound appreciation for the liberties that society enjoys at this time.

EDSA 1 happened years ago during the Marcos period. The children born during that time remember the events and know the relevance of those events but will not take the time and exert efforts to re-live our victory as a people, and to teach the lessons of the revolution to the future generation, everything might be forgotten. If it happens, then history might repeat itself and the next generations may have to go through the same struggle.

It is important to understand a little of the history of what happened to our country from the past. It helps us to understand the roots of a country’s struggles. It gives you an appreciation of what you have today as a result of the struggles that past generations have gone through. We must not lose sight of the past and continue to be vigilant when encountering government actions that do not conform to what is right.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY February 25, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

The last resort

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ILIPINO artisans, skilled workers, professionals would rather stay home or within the country’s shores – if there are enough jobs that would provide them with decent pay, and consequently, the prospects of a better future for their families.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are threatened by war, pestilence, health outbreaks and ethnic CONlICTS IN ONE -IDDLE %AST NATION would rather cross the border and wait things out instead of coming home, even if there are assurances of repatriation and opportunities for training in preparation for re-entry into the Philippine workforce.

To these OFWs, going abroad is not the ideal but it is the only viable option left.

Last week, we traveled to Batangas, one of the provinces comprising the Calabarzon region.

Based on various sources—the Philippine Statistics Authority, 0/%! #OMMISSION ON &ILIPINOS Overseas and the Central Bank—the number of OFWs who work abroad would be at least 2.2 million as of September 2016.

4HERE ARE NO OTHER AVAILABLE OFkcial statistics from these government sources online. Intermittent news articles by industry practitioners and recruitment agencies come out every now and then, but one would have to exert effort to scour the web for actual and timely numbers.

The Philippines registered a nine percent decline in the deployment of migrant workers in 2017 after 10 years of continuous growth.

A Sept. 24, 2018 news article which appeared on another daily quoted a “recruitment consultant

MIGRANT MATTERS

CRISPIN R. ARANDA -ANNY 'ESLANI u AS SAYING THAT gTHE deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to 180 countries declined by nine percent in 2017 as compared to 2016, a banner year of deployment for migrant workers THAT HIT

u ! 0/%! SUMMARY OF $EPLOYED Overseas Filipino Workers by type of HIRING FOR THE YEARS TO THE kRST SEmester of 2018 shows only 1,992,746 workers were deployed in 2017.

Of the total deployed in 2017, only 419,955 were new hires, and 1,194,719 were rehires. In 2016, there were 582,816 new hires while rehires numbered 1,086,695.

By region, Calabarzon reported the biggest share of OFWs with 21 percent, followed by the National Capital Region and Central Luzon with 12.9 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively. !CCORDING TO THE 0/%! S REPORT ON /&7 $EPLOYMENT PER 3KILL and Country, there were 401,000 farm workers and farmers deployed.

Five years earlier, the same occupation group represented only 103,000 of the total deployed based on 2005 0/%! STATISTICS On the way to La Luz Resort in San Juan, Batangas, we passed through the Star tollway ending up in Rosario, bypassing Lipa City. On the way back, we decided to take a road trip through the backroads FROM 0AGSANJAN TO -ABITAC ONWARDS to Pililla, Tanay, towards Teresa then

to Antipolo City.

4HE RICE kELDS ALONG THE WAY HAD shrunk while the commercial establishments, particularly the fast food franchises, had mushroomed.

In addition, subdivisions were beING BUILT OVER RICE kELDS 4HIS IS TRUE from Pagsanjan to the long stretch OF ROAD TO -ABITAC AND EVEN THE town of Teresa, Rizal. g"UILD BUILD BUILDu ROADS OF course, would require buying the agricultural area planted to rice.

Without sellers, there would be no buyers. In quite a few cases, farmers volunteer to sell a portion of their RICE kELDS AS THE VALUE OF THE LAND would be more than the reduced harvest (cavan per hectare).

In some cases, the government uses its eminent domain authority to take the land without the owner’s consent provided there is just compensation.

The buying price through eminent domain in general is much lower than if the price were to be negotiated directly between the farmer and the buyer.

In 2015, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the average family income for all occupations was P267,000 per year. The average income of farmers (farm, off-farm, and non-farm), however, was just around P100,000 a year.

After deducting the farming costs, the net income is much smaller.

PSA’s report on production costs and returns shows a gross income of P80,360. With total costs of P48,985, a Filipino farmer only makes P31,375 NET INCOME 2EMEMBER THAT .%$!

OFkCIALS GOT INTO HOT WATER WHEN IT CLAIMED THAT A FAMILY OF kVE NEEDED only P10,000 a month to survive. With these numbers, the farmer’s family

On press freedom and how we abuse it

A

$%,%'!4)/. FROM the National Task &ORCE TO %ND ,OCAL #OMMUNIST !RMED #ONlICT

members of a “press FREEDOM CARAVANu AND other government ofkCIALS WAS RECENTLY IN %UROPE TO PRESENT TO THE 5NITED .ATIONS THE OFkCIAL 0HILIPPINE version of matters pertaining to enforced and involuntary disappearances. Ambassador %VAN 'ARCIA THE 0HILIPPINES 0ERMANENT Representative to the United Nations and OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN 'ENEVA 3WITZERLAND

lamented that front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines have BEEN PEDDLING gFALSE NARRATIVESu 0HILIPPINE Information Agency, Feb. 22, 2019), putting the Philippines in a bad light as far as respect for human rights is concerned. !MBASSADOR 'ARCIA IS RIGHT 4HE #00

through its extensive network of Philippinebased and international organizations, has been spreading false narratives for decades.

However, we must not be blind also to the shortcomings of the government. “Unless we somehow reduce to the barest minimum [the New People’s Army’s] sentiments, their hunger for justice, social justice, there will BE NO PEACE IN THE LAND u 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE SAID IN A RECENT SPEECH 0RESIDENTIAL #OMMUNICATIONS /PERATIONS /FkCE OFkCIAL transcript, Feb. 19, 2019).

Reading the comments of AmbassaDOR 'ARCIA AND 0RESIDENT $UTERTE ) WAS REMINDED OF THE CASE OF *ESUS @$ONDON Isugan who was killed by policemen from THE 0OLICE 2EGIONAL /FkCE 02/ ON $EC IN CONNECTION WITH /PLAN Sauron counter-insurgency operation in 'UIHULNGAN #ITY .EGROS /RIENTAL %YEWITNESSES CLAIM THAT $ONDON WAS EXECUTED ) HAVE NO PROOF OF THIS -Y POINT IN ONCE again bringing up this case is that the police told both local and national media THAT $ONDON WAS THE gPRIME SUSPECTu in the murder of Philippine Air Force 3TAFF 3ERGEANT -ARK (ERBERT /BERES WHO was mauled, stabbed and shot, his body BURNED ON *ANUARY LAST YEAR $ONDON

PRO-7 told reporters in a statement dated Jan. 31, 2019, had standing warrants of arrest for “murder docketed in [Criminal Case] # TCR (Talisay City RTC) 2018-3913 and another case of Arson in Carcar City 0ROSECUTOR S /FkCE u A personal check with the Talisay City PROSECUTOR S OFkCE HOWEVER REVEALED THAT $ONDON S NAME NEVER CAME UP IN connection with the murder of Oberes. )T WAS $ONDON S BROTHER 4OMAS WHO WAS implicated. The police were aware of Tomas’ involvement right from the start as stated in numerous news articles about the murder, the investigation and trial.

Warrants for Tomas’ arrest for murder and arson have been issued but not re-

TURNED 4WO *OHN $OES were charged.

"UT $ONDON HATED Tomas, according to 'UIHUNGAN #ITY BASED sources. There was no WAY THAT $ONDON WHO was known as a good guy, would help his NPA brother. Yes, Tomas is a member of the NPA and the parents are active and known members of the communist peasant organization Kaugmaon. But these FACTS DO NOT MAKE $ONDON A MURDERER or arsonist. The police killed an innocent man and told the public that they had killed the prime suspect in Oberes’ murder. *ESUS @$ONDON )SUGAN WAS THUS wrongly described as a murderer by local and national media that accepted the police’s narration of supposed facts without verifying these. Unfortunately, THE KILLING OF $ONDON IS EXACTLY THE KIND of injustice that fuels insurgency.

As for the communist aboveground and underground organizations’ being so vocal about press freedom, hurting as they are from the undoubtedly government-sponsored attacks on their websites and social media accounts, their howls of protest are hypocritical.

From a partisan political perspective, I understand why they are silent when the .0! MURDERS CIVILIANS LIKE #ORNELIO -ORALES (killed on January 29 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental); Reynaldo Lukiluki (February 18 in Bindoy, Negros Oriental); and Junibert Sabico (February 19 in Kabankalan City). The NPA, in justifying its liquidations, use exactly the same line of argument—including their victims’ alleged involvement in drugs and gambling—as THOSE WHO DEFEND THE THOUSANDS OF %*+S believed to be the handiwork of the police.

In this type of justice system, accuser, judge and executioner become one. Karapatan and OTHER SO CALLED gHUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERSu reveal their true colors in not taking a strong stand against human rights violations committed by the NPA. Using unsuspecting, naïve or ideologically like-minded journalists to perpetuate the deception that aboveground organizations such as, for example, Karapatan, Anakpawis and Kodao Productions, are not as much PART AND PARCEL OF THE #00 S .ATIONAL $EMOcratic Front as the NPA, is a clever way of taking advantage of press freedom. These organizations are communist, not simply ‘progressive’, ‘militant’ or ‘left-leaning’. They have not renounced armed struggle or violence as a means to achieve political goals.

These organizations provide vital moral and material support, directly or indirectly, to the CPP and the NPA. Thus, the government is JUSTIkED IN WAGING WAR INCLUDING ONE IN cyber space, against both underground and aboveground communist organizations.

RESURGENCE

MARIT STINUSCABUGON

would be able to survive for just over three months.

According to Payscale, the average pay for a farm worker is SAR 15,660, or P217,394 per year. No wonder the number of farmers being deployed overseas increase OVER A ONE TO kVE YEAR PERIOD If there are less areas planted to palay, where do Filipinos get their rice?

From imports of course.

For politicians, importing provides a better opportunity to make money than providing funds and support for the Filipino farmer.

In November 2018, the country’s RICE SELF SUFkCIENCY LEVEL DECLINED TO 93.44 percent from 95.01 percent, according to PSA data. The PSA report said that “the country’s imPORT DEPENDENCY RATIO )$2 OF RICE increased to 6.56 percent last year, from 4.99 percent in 2016. “Rice imports went up by 39 percent to P18 billion in 2017.In terms of volume, shipments soared PERCENT TO METRIC TONS u The reason?

4HE DECLINING SELF SUFkCIENCY OF rice was due to the reduced share of domestic production in the country’s supply of the staple, while the share of rice imports increased.

It does not take rocket science to deduce that with subdivisions being built and commercial establishments BEING BUILT OVER RICE kELDS DOMESTIC production is bound to decrease.

In fact, the PSA reported that by major industry group, other sectors got a boost, but the agriculture industry registered a decline of 723,000 workers in farming, huntING FORESTRY AND kSHING SECTORS Rehired OFWs – farmers or non-

agricultural workers – invest their earnings in tricycles, jeepneys and other modes of transportation as the alternate source of income in anticipation of the day when the OFW might have to return home, repatriated or not. After losing the farm or being forced to either pawn or sell their rice kELDS THE FARM WORKER FARMER HOPES income from tricycles or other forms of transportation would earn more than the previous farm income.

OFWs also hope that when they kNALLY HAVE TO RETURN VOLUNTARILY OR otherwise, their children would have kNISHED SECONDARY EDUCATION AND would be able to earn for themselves or contribute to the family income, this time as workers in other sectors, but not agriculture.

In 2012, there were over 650,000 public tricycles operating in the country, accounting for nearly 68 percent of the total for-hire vehicle population. While this motorized personal and public conveyances earn income for the OFW operator, tricycles and motorcycles are responsible for 45 percent of all volatile organic compound that destroy the ozone layer and worsen the greenhouse effect, according to a study conducted by the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) of the University of the Philippines.

A few students in hospitality courses were deployed by the schools in Batangas province to La Luz Resort. These on-the-job trainees hope to gain experience and later move out of the province either to -ETRO -ANILA -ETRO #EBU OR -ETRO $AVAO WHERE THE PAY WOULD BE higher and there would be a career progression compared to inheriting

THE FARM OR WORKING THE kELDS )N !UGUST THE $EPARTMENT OF ,ABOR AND %MPLOYMENT $/,% reported the minimum wage of non-agriculture in Calabarzon, or Region IV-A, was P317 to P400.

Workers in agriculture, however, get P303 to P372.

Non-agriculture workers in NCR get P475 to P512 a day.

With at least two years’ experience, the same entry-level or semi-skilled workers (food and beverage servers for example) in Canada would earn an average of $12.70 per hour, or $16,661.00 per year today, according to the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey.

The peso equivalent in today’s exchange rate would be P657,378 a year.

The son or daughter of a farmer would be earning P147,456 a year with the highest wages (in NCR), after moving out of the farm into a provincial resort hospitality job, then on to NCR and eventually overseas.

As an OFW, the farmer or the farmer’s children would even be able to save enough and join other OFWs IN "ATANGAS m PARTICULARLY IN -ABINI – as homeowners and, with their GLOBAL QUALIkCATION AND EXPERIENCE

become mid- to top-level management in hotels, rental facilities and other hospitality establishments.

Leaving for overseas may have been the painful last choice of their parents and they had to move out of the family farm as a last resort, but they can return better individuals, more productive members of the community and bringing back some of the better traits from their country of temporary work and residency.

They may even be stockholders, PARTNERS OF OWNERS OF THEIR kRST RESORT

FOCUS

SKoreans fearful of ‘nightmare’ US troop withdrawal PYEONGTAEK, South Korea: Sales at Kim Chang-bae’s hardware shop in South Korea rise every year thanks to Camp Humphreys, an enormous US military base he is frightened will close in the wake of the summit between Kim Jong-un AND $ONALD 4RUMP -ORE THAN 53 TROOPS ARE STAtioned in the South to guard against nuclear-armed North Korea, part of a Seoul-Washington security alliance in place since the Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty.

But with talks between the North Korean and US leaders in Hanoi just days away, speculation is building that the pair could agree to a treaty in return for denuclearization measures from Pyongyang—and that the withdrawal of US troops might follow.

For South Koreans dependent on US troops to make a living—like Kim Changbae—that is a worrisome prospect. “Without the presence of US soldiers, many businesses, including mine, will LOSE THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME u SAID Kim, who sells bolts and screwdrivers to Americans stationed at Camp Humphreys, 60 kilometers south of Seoul. g)T S A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO u Camp Humphreys, in the city of Pyeongtaek, is the US’ largest overseas military base, stretching across 14.7 square kilometers to accommodate 32,000 people – soldiers and their families.

The camp—home to almost all of the 53 TROOPS IN 3OUTH +OREA‡BOASTS A lEET of Blackhawk and Apache helicopters,

a bowling alley, an 18-hole golf course, multiple schools, churches and cinemas.

Hundreds of restaurants and shops ranging from nail salons to tattoo parlors have set up around the base, which is in the final stages of an expansion project that will see its capacity rise to 43,000 people by 2022. “It does worry me that they could leave the COUNTRY u SAID #HOI %UN HEE WHO HAS RUN a Turkish restaurant just a few steps from Camp Humphreys for a decade. “At least 80 PERCENT OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE 53 SOLDIERS u

the end of war declaration had “nothing to DOu WITH 53 FORCES IN THE 3OUTH “Kim Jong-un understands that the issue is entirely up to the decision of South +OREA AND THE 53 u -OON SAID "UT 3EOUL HAS gNO REASONS TO BELIEVEu +IM Jong-un’s quoted assurance at face value, Kim Sung-han, professor of international relations at Korea University, told AFP. “North Korea is expected to say the US military presence in the South poses a serious threat to its security... It could claim true peace is only possible when 53 TROOPS ARE OUT OF HERE u

‘We go together’ Trump factor Choi, 43, attended a rally last month, where dozens from the community demanded US troops remain.

When AFP visited, banners reading g!NTI !MERICANS 'ET /UTu AND g7E 'O 4OGETHERu WERE STRUNG UP AMONG A CLUSTER OF !MERICAN AND 3OUTH +OREAN lAGS Shopowner Kim, 57, who is head of the local merchants’ association representing 230 business owners, said Americans in uniform had become a “hallmark of the CITY S CHARACTER u )F THE WAR WERE TO BE OFkCIALLY DECLARED over at the Hanoi summit—the second between Trump and Kim after the two met in Singapore last year –and a peace treaty subsequently signed, Pyongyang could raise objections over the presence of US troops in the South, analysts say.

3OUTH +OREAN PRESIDENT -OON *AE IN HAS tried to quell concerns, saying in January that the North Korean leader had told him

%VEN IF A PEACE TREATY IS NOT SECURED IN (Anoi, there is no guarantee US troops will remain with a highly unpredictable presiDENT AT THE HELM WHO HAS lIP lOPPED ON the issue of their long-term stay.

Trump said on Friday that reducing US forces in the South “was not one of the THINGS ON THE TABLEu AT THE SUMMIT‡BUT he has repeatedly complained about the expense of keeping them there.

Seoul agreed earlier this month to hike its payment for maintaining the troops on its soil, but since the new deal is only valid for one year, the two sides may soon have to return to the negotiating table.

Song Wol-sook, 46, who runs a nail salon, said US withdrawal would leave South Koreans feeling isolated and alone in their own city, with a bleak future. “It will leave pretty much every busiNESS HERE IN RUINS INCLUDING MINE u AFP

Q STEINBOCK FROM A5

Postcard from Malaysia CONTROLS WHILE DETERRING 'EORGE 3OROS SPECULAtive efforts to derail the economy. )N THE 7EST -AHATHIR WAS DEMONized as an authoritarian dictator who was intent on undermining his own economy. In reality, his mix of policies ULTIMATELY HELPED -ALAYSIA ENDURE A SHALLOWER '$0 LOSS THAN CRISIS AFFLICTED Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand. .OW -AHATHIR S OBJECTIVE IS kSCAL CONsolidation to surpass the policy mistakes of the Najib years, while stabilizing a more robust growth path. It is a challenging task that must be implemented amid America’s new protectionism and US tariff wars.

-OREOVER -AHATHIR HAS HAD TO SUSPEND several multibillion-dollar projects, including China-backed initiatives, in a bid to TARGET -ALAYSIA S ESTIMATED BILLION national debt and other liabilities. %ARLY SIGNS ARE PROMISING )N

economic growth is likely to be around 4.5 percent; in 2020, 4.2 percent. Private consumption is the key contributor as consumers have loosened their purse

strings amid an improving labor market and lower consumption tax.

However, investment growth is lingering as SEVERAL HIGH PROkLE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PUT ON the back-burner following the new governMENT S kSCAL RATIONALIZATION

Preparing for 2020 contingencies !S THE NEW GOVERNMENT S kRST BUDGET SUGGESTS

the focus is on institutional reforms, improving the standards of living, particularly for the lower income groups, as well as encouraging ENTREPRENEURSHIP 4HE kSCAL DEkCIT IS PROJECTED TO NARROW TO PERCENT OF '$0 BY AND TO 2 percent in the medium term. )T IS A TYPICAL -AHATHIR MIX PEOPLE kRST GOOD GOVERNANCE SELF SUFkCIENCY BUT OPENNESS TO international trade and investment.

9ET THERE ARE TWO KEY RISKS TO THE kSCAL target forecast. On the one hand, growth could be less than anticipated, thanks to the challenging external environment. On THE OTHER HAND REVENUE lOWS COULD PROVE more volatile than expected, given the higher

dependence on oil-related revenues, which account for almost a third of total.

While the government’s expansionary efforts ARE LIMITED BY THE ONGOING kSCAL CONSOLIDATION

-ALAYSIA CAN STILL RELY ON MORE ACCOMMODATIVE monetary policy. In 2019, monetary policy is expected to be stable. As international headwinds are likely to escalate in 2020, the central bank could opt for a more dovish stance.

Until recently, neoliberal policies have OFTEN BEEN PORTRAYED AS gNATURALu FOR POST industrializing Asia. In reality, such policies tend to boost oligarchs and shun the rule of LAW ,ED BY -AHATHIR -OHAMAD AND !NWAR )BRAHIM -ALAYSIA S POLITICAL RESET SHOWS that neoliberal trajectory and corruption are not an inevitable destiny.

-ALAYSIANS DESERVE A BETTER SOVEREIGN FUTURE

$R $AN 3TEINBOCK IS THE FOUNDER OF $IFFERENCE 'ROUP AND HAS SERVED AT THE )NDIA

China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) AND THE %5 #ENTER 3INGAPORE &OR MORE

SEE HTTP WWW DIFFERENCEGROUP NET

Regions 65% of Negros villages drug affected – PNP Big ticket projects break ground in CEZA ˜ The Manila Times

MONDAY February 25, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BACOLOD CITY: A total of 495 or 64.72 percent barangay (villages) in Negros Occidental are affected by illegal drugs, said Senior Supt. Romeo Baleros, provincial police officer in charge.

Baleros, during the recent meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order-AntiDrug Abuse Councils, said the number of drug-affected villages was almost 65 percent of a total of 601 villages in the province, except Bacolod City.

He said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency had already cleared 106 villages of illegal drugs, particularly shabu, while 34 others were up for clearing.

The Police Provincial Office’s report showed that the 1,172 suspects in the illegal drugs watchlist recorded at the onset of “Oplan Tokhang� in 2016 had now been reduced to only 75.

Of the 11,807 suspected drug users in the province, 11,290 have surrendered, while 574 pushers and 87 users were arrested in 2018.

The bio profile of surrenderers showed 52.41 percent were unem-

ployed, 24.24 percent were employed and 14.90 percent were students.

Baleros also said the top three police stations with the most number of highprofile suspects on the watchlist were San Carlos with 11, Kabankalan with seven and Calatrava with six.

Under the Jessie Ramos Drug group in southern Negros, 34 have been arrested and nine surrendered. In the north, under the Michael Divinagracia drug group, 11 were arrested and one surrendered.

There were also 3,796 cases filed, of which 2,006 cases are on trial; 134 were convicted, while 59 cases were dismissed.

A report on the intensified internal cleansing of the Philippine National Police showed 88 police personnel have been involved in illegal drugs, 25 went absent without official leave, dropped from roster, or dismissed, while 26 were re-assigned, pending investigation.

As of January this year, P747,724 worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

Surigao conducts measles vaccination SURIGAO CITY: The city government of Surigao has pushed for a massive measles vaccination following reports of the increase of cases of measles particularly in the four barangay (villages) here.

Mayor Ernesto Matugas said he already instructed the City Health /FkCE #(/ TO IMPLEMENT MASsive vaccination, especially to children.

On Thursday last week, the Department of Health in Caraga Region (DoH-Caraga) had identikED 3URIGAO #ITY AS AMONG THE areas with high cases of measles in the region.

DoH-Caraga said it recorded a total of 61 cases of measles in Surigao City, 41 in Agusan del Sur, and 38 cases in Surigao del Norte.

In Surigao City, a high number of cases of measles were recorded in the villages of Taft, Luna, Washington and San Juan.

Matugas assured residents that cases of measles in the four villages were already decreasing as massive vaccination was already implemented.

Assistant City Health Officer Charito Ariba told reporters that a total of 808 children were already vaccinated in Barangay San Juan.

As of Saturday, Ariba said the

CHO of Surigao City already vaccinated about 1,500 children IN THE FOUR VILLAGES IDENTIkED BY DoH-Caraga.

But, despite the high number of cases of measles in the city, no fatalities were recorded as the city government immediately provided medical support and services to the affected villages. “We have instructed our Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) to monitor cases of measles in their respective areas and help convince parents to have their children vaccinated for measles,�

Matugas said.

Surigao City had more than 1,000 BHWs, Matugas added.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas on Saturday convened the BHWs at the Provincial Capitol and urged them to help kGHT MEASLES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE villages.

She also asked them to help in the dissemination of information on the importance of vaccination for measles, especially among children.

As of Saturday a total of 4,775 children in Surigao del Norte were given measles vaccination.

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

Q PAGEANT FROM A1

Grenade Beauty seized at MRT3 station QUEZON City police seized a live grenade from a man who was about to board the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT 3) station in Cubao, Quezon City on Saturday.

The Quezon City Police District presented Christian Guzman, 29, from Ilagan, Isabela, at a news conference on Sunday.

National Capital Region Police /FkCE $IRECTOR 'UILLERMO ,ORENzo Eleazar said a guard manning the x-ray machine at the MRT 3 Cubao station spotted a suspicious object inside the suspect’s backpack at 7:10 p.m.

The guard, Ana Mae Burlaza, immediately called the attention of the police officers stationed nearby. The police said the grenade was wrapped with packaging tape and placed inside a cellphone box. Guzman said he was to deliver the grenade to his brother !LVIN A MILITARY OFkCER DEPLOYED at the Communications Electronics division in Tagaytay.

The police will conduct further investigation regarding the ownership and issuance of the grenade TO THE MILITARY OFkCER DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

In 17-centimeter (seven-inch) stiletto heels, the students sway their hips between long slow strides, a brutal drill that Flores requires them to repeat in order to make the act of sashaying second nature come pageant time. “For crown. For country,� is the slogan of the Kagandahang Flores (Flores Beauty) studio he set up in

THE kRST OF A HANDFUL OF BEAUTY boot camps that have helped transform the nation’s pageant fortunes.

With the naming of Catriona Gray as Miss Universe 2018, the Philippines took home its fourth title in what is considered the summit of the beauty contest world.

Both Gray and 2015 winner Pia Wurtzbach trained in the Philippines’ beauty studios before securing their wins.

Success in the pageant world can OPEN DOORS TO COMMERCIAL kLM AND modelling work. “The rise of the camps turned the Philippines into a beauty pageant powerhouse. What they did was to raise the level of pageant training,�

Flores said. “Our evolution [into] a beauty pageant superpower compels every Filipina competing internationally to prolong this streak,� the 50-yearold added.

Manila’s beauty boot camps effectively create a production line of contenders for the Miss Universe crown. Their students come up from the country’s circuit of local beauty competitions and then hone their skills in a bid to

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGOÂ

S

ANTA ANA, Cagayan: The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) held groundbreaking rites and inspections on Sunday of P238.87 billion worth of big ticket projects, all eyed to spur economic boom in the area.

S e c r e t a r y Ra u l L a m b i n o , CEZA administrator and chief executive officer, said the biggest among the six big projects was City Polaris, the $4.5-billion CEZA township project in Mapurao, which includes a 2,013-hectare property with an ocean view and is open for mixed-use development. “It shall have business spaces for information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies, commercial and resi-

dential areas, health, wellness, leisure and recreational facilities,� he said.

Another is the P301 million worth of additional warehouses in Port Irene in Barangay Casambalangan envisioned to be the premier international port of northern Philippines. It can accommodate panamax and capesized vessels catering to the marKETS IN THE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION “It will be developed as a major international seaport

that will serve as a gateway for exports and imports from neighboring East Asian countries to the US West Coast and vice versa,� Lambino said.

He added that the development included construction of four WAREHOUSES WITH OFkCES WITHIN THE one-hectare property for Phase 1, which could be expanded up to three hectares.

The groundbreaking for CEZA’s planned Corporate and Commercial Center with a P300-million fund for Phase 1 was also held at the newly acquired 11-hectare CEZA property in Sitio Punti, Barangay Rapuli.

Lambino said the center would include hotel and condominium buildings, duty-free shopping malls and an entertainment plaza.

Also, the inspection of Port San Vicente was for the ongo-

A7

ing P155-million rehabilitation and expansion of its wharf and causeway. The port is the take-off point to tourism destinations in Cagayan Freeport’s famous Palaui Island. “To ferry tourists, small motorized boats are currently utilized from San Vicente Port to the Survivor Island (Palaui) and other tourist areas in the ecozone,� Lambino said.

He pointed out that the project aimed to accommodate leisure kSHING BOATS SAIL BOATS AND LUXURY yachts and promote the Cagayan &REEPORT AS A PREMIER GAME kSHING destination.

Another City Polaris groundbreaking and inspection rite was held in a 238.48-hectare area in Sitio Puzo Robo, also in San 6ICENTE ALONG THE 0ACIkC #OAST that includes a forest reserve.

Go open to LGBT office

ANTI-MEASLES

Parents and health workers try to restrain a crying boy being given the supplemental vaccination during the Anti-Tigdas (measles) immunization campaign in Tagaytay City, Cavite on Sunday. PHOTO BY BOY JOSUE reach the next level.

Miss Philippines 2019 hopeful Melba Ann Macasaet, 25, took extended leave from her job as a government pharmacist to join Flores’ beauty studio.

It took her two weeks and several miscues to master his signature stride, called the “duck walk.� “I have been joining pageants since I was 15 years old. I believe that every pageant girl has dreams of being able to try and do this,� she said.

It will be about another month before she knows if she has made the cut for the pageant, which organizers expect to be held in June.

Patriotism and pageantry The beauty boot camp runs six days a week and sessions often stretch on till midnight.

Some 200 hopefuls a year take part in the training at Flores’ studio, which include gym workouts, makeup lessons, and duck walk drills.

There are also formal classes where the students take part in mock pageant situations, learning to deliver concise responses to tricky questions on world peace and equality usually asked of contestants.

Training is free for Filipinas, who camp organizers usually recruit from provincial contests. Beauty industry benefactors pitch in to cover costs and many people donate their time to help shape what they hope are future champions. “We don’t earn anything, but we do this out of our passion for beauty pageants,� said Arnold Mercado, the manager and personality development coach of Aces & Queens,

another main pageant camp.

Mercado, 51, quit his job as an engineer for an oil company after 28 years to focus full time on pageantcoaching. He counts Wurtzbach and Gray among those he mentored. “We’re so lucky here in the Philippines to be surrounded by teams of amazing people who will lift you up as you make all your preparations,� Gray told reporters on Wednesday.

Before the Manila boot camps arose, the country’s Miss Universe and Miss World contestants were sent to train at similar camps in Venezuela and Colombia, which have also had consistent pageant successes.

4HIS WAS A SIGNIkCANT EXPENSE IN a nation where 21 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day and getting visas can be tricky.

Ric Galvez, overall coordinator of Missosology.org, a Philippinesbased pageant resource website, said the contests had a deeper cultural resonance for Filipinos.

The events hark back to the annual pageants that have been held at village and town festivals for hundreds of years.

Beauty queens are held up as though they are royalty in the Philippines and often take public stances on key social and welfare issues.

During the Miss Universe pageant, Gray spoke in favor of medical marijuana, which some lawmakers feel has helped advance a bill to legalize cannabis-containing medicines in the Philippines.

Galvez said: “Filipinos are looking up to their beauty queens for some sort of guidance on matters AFP of national relevance.�

Q DEPORTATION FROM A1

No workers “that we may need in the meantime since we are short of a supply of workers as most of them have found work abroad.�

On Saturday, Duterte said the thousands of illegal Filipino workers in China might also be deported if the Chinese were deported. “The Chinese here, let them work. Let them be. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China,�

Duterte said. “So, what will happen if the [300,000] are deported?�

Duterte’s statement came a few days after the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development resumed its investigation of the INlUX OF #HINESE ILLEGAL WORKERS in the Philippines.

The Department of Labor and Employment earlier said 85,496 of the 169,000 alien employment permits issued from 2015 to 2018 were given to Chinese.

ORANI, Bataan: Aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go wooed the women of Bataan in this town on Saturday afternoon for the 22nd anniversary of the biggest women’s organization in the province.

First District Rep. Geraldine Roman and her mother, former lawmaker Herminia Roman, led women in the jampacked Orani Sports Center in welcoming Go. Herminia formed the Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran or Kabaka 22 years ago with women from the kRST DISTRICT COMPOSED OF $INALUpihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Morong towns.

Go also said he was amenable to establishing a Commission for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community Roman envisioned.

He then told the cheering crowd: “If you are happy with President [Rodrigo] Duterte’s work, then continue to work for the change he has begun.

He hates crime, corruption and drugs, as I do.�

Go said he would continue setting up Malasakit Centers to add to the present 24 nationwide, to look after the health needs of needy citizens.

ERNIE B. ESCONDE

Last week, Malacanang voiced support to the measure that will ensure the registration of foreign and Philippine Offshort Gaming Operators (POGOs) with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before their licenses can be renewed.

Panelo said the proposal would SHOW A SOLID kGURE OF THE NUMBER OF illegal Chinese workers in the country. “[The government] is not alarmed, maybe the BIR just wants to determine the number of [Chinese]. This is because it is connected to the declaration of income, so we can collect the correct corporate tax,� he added.

Earlier, the BIR voiced the possibility of joining an interagency task force that aims to check and monitor the number of Chinese working in the Philippine online gaming industry.

Last September, BIR issued Revenue Memorandum Circular 78-2018, which stated that all foreign and Philippine-based POGOs should register with the tax agency as a prerequisite.

RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

MONDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2019

What’s inside DPWH, DOE EYE TASK FORCE FOR POWER LINE RELOCATION BusinessB2

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PH EXPORTERS URGED TO TARGET ASIAN MARKETS BusinessB2 SAN MIGUEL REDUCES WATER USE BY 23% Corporate NewsB2

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RAMIN IS NEW ASTRAZENECA PH CHIEF

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BARGAIN-HUNTING LIFTS PETRON AFTER PSEI REMOVAL Stock WatchB3

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B1

www.manilatimes.net

Deal inked for three metro subway stations

BY LISBET K. ESMAEL

T

HE multibillion-peso Metro Manila Subway project has taken another step forward with the SIGNING OF A DESIGN AND BUILD CONTRACT FOR THE kRST stations that are expected to operational in three years.

The deal for the “partial operability section�, the Transportation department announced on Sunday, was inked with a joint venture composed of Japan’s Shimizu Corp., Fujita Corp., Takenaka Civil Engineering Co., Ltd., and homegrown EEI Corp.

The signatories were Transportation Undersecretary Reinier Paul Yebra and Shimuzu Corp. Manila branch manager Makoto Fujii.

The joint venture will be responsible for the design and construction of the Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora,

and North Avenue stations, which are expected to be partially running by 2022, as well as tunnel structures, the subway’s Valenzuela depot, and the building and facilities for the planned Philippine Railway Institute.

Full operations of the 15-station, 36-kilometer subway — one of the $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION S lAGSHIP @"UILD Build Build’ projects — have been targeted for 2025, three years after the current government steps down.

Announcement of the contract’s signing followed last week’s high-level infrastructure and economic cooperation

meeting in Osaka between Japanese AND 0HILIPPINE OFkCIALS With groundbreaking for the Metro Manila Subway scheduled this Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Arthur 4UGADE SAID gOUR COUNTRY WILL kNALLY see that the dream of a railway system running underground in this country is soon becoming a reality.� “Of course there will be some inconvenience along the way, but that is nothing to the long-lasting comfort this project will bring to the Filipino people,� he was quoted as saying in

ÂłSubway B4

S H A R E S O U T LO O K F O R T H E W E E K :

Lift seen from earnings results, window-dressing THE stock market could trade higher this week following the release of fresh earnings reports and month-end window-dressing, analysts said.

Hopes of positive developments in US-China trade talks that buoyed Wall Street on Friday could also provide a lift despite a looming March 1 deadline.

In a phone interview, Summit Securities Inc. President Harry Liu SAID PROkT DISCLOSURES DUE this week could provide a pick-up despite a shortened trading week.

Philippine financial markets will be closed Monday as the country celebrates the anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Among the firms scheduled to release earnings results once the market opens on Tuesday are blue chips Sy-led SM Investments Corp., BDO Unibank Inc., as well as Manila Electric Co. and Manila Water Co.

Eagle Equities Inc. research head Christopher Mangun echoed Liu’s view and added that investors could also go hunting for bargains as the market was down 0.56 percent for February. “[This] week is the last trading week for the month ‌ and investors may want to end the month in the green,â€? Mangun said.

A stronger local currency — the peso gained 6.5 centavos to close at P52.065 on Friday — could also help boost investor sentiment, he added.

On the international front, Mangun said market players would be looking for fresh news about USChina trade talks that were extended to Sunday in Washington.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said two days of negotiations last week were “very good� and again reiterated that he could move the March 1 deadline for the imposition of fresh tariffs on

ÂłEarnings B4

ON RECORD

US President Donald Trump (R) takes part in a meeting with China’s Vice Premier Liu He (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on February 22, 2019. Less than a week remains to avoid a sharp increase in US duty rates on more than $200 billion in Chinese exports, although Trump has suggested he could extend the March 1 deadline. AFP PHOTO

‘Painful’ fines added to central bank arsenal Monetary Board closes Laguna-based rural bank “PAINFUL� kNES UNDER THE "ANGKO 3ENTRAL ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) newly-amended charter ARE EXPECTED TO DISCOURAGE kNANCIAL INSTITUtions from violating banking rules and reguLATIONS A SENIOR CENTRAL BANK OFkCIAL SAID Republic Act 11211, which amended RA 7653 or the New Central Bank Act of 1993 and was signed into law earlier this month

by President Rodrigo Duterte, aims to provide the BSP with an enhanced legal and regulatory framework to support its manDATE OF SUPERVISING THE COUNTRY S kNANCIAL system.

In particular, Section 37 of the New Central Bank Act was revised to allow the BSP’s policymaking Monetary Board to impose kNES OF AS MUCH AS 0 MILLION PESOS PER violation or P100,000 per day for violations of a continuing nature.

W

HEN was the last time you had fun at work? The kind of fun you have when you’re busy with a hobby or playing your favorite sport?

For some (or many) of us, “fun� is not something we readily associate with the workplace, what with our tight deadlines, endless meetings and long hours. But as with most areas of our lives, “business as usual� is being disrupted by changing attitudes, expectations and technology. Now, people don’t go to work just to meet targets and score milestones; they do it to have fun, as well.

In a report on how companies are merging work and play, Deloitte notes that jobseekers, especially those with bargaining power, are intentionally looking

If the violation results the avoidance of a LOSS OR A PROkT GAIN MONETARY AUTHORITIES CAN ALSO IMPOSE A kNE gNO MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE PROkT GAINED OR LOSS AVOIDEDu Prior to the amendment, violators were kNED NOT MORE THAN 0 PER DAY FOR each violation. “This is to make it painful on the part of the banks to violate our rules and regulations because it will be expensive on their part,� BSP Senior Assistant Governor and General Counsel Elmore Capule told reporters on Friday. “Fines are already very cheap. Sometimes, it is better for the banks to violate and pay THE kNE RATHER THAN DISCONTINUE THEIR PRACtice,� he noted.

The revised administrative sanctions apply to the following:

• willful violation of the charter or bylaws; • willful delay in the submission of reports or publications as required by law, rules and regulations; • refusal to permit examination of the institution’s affairs; • willful issuance of false or misleading statements to the board or the appropriate supervising and examining department or its examiners; • willful failure or refusal to comply with, or violation of, any banking laws or any order issued by monetary authorities or the BSP governor; or • the commission of irregularities, and/ or conduct of business in an unsafe or unsound manner. )N ADDITION TO kNES THE -ONETARY "OARD

ÂłArsenal B4

MONETARY authorities have ordered a Laguna-based rural bank (RB) closed and placed under receivership. “The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) prohibited Rural Bank of Mabitac (Laguna) Inc. from doing business in the Philippines,� the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) said in a statement late on Friday. It was the second bank to be placed under PDIC receivership this year. The bank’s assets and affairs were placed under control of the PDIC on February 22, 2019. The 17-unit lender is headquartered at 17 J. Rizal St., Brgy. Sinagtala, Mabitac, Laguna. It has two branches in Candelaria and In-

fanta, Quezon; six extension offices in Laguna (Cabuyao, Calamba, Los BaĂąos, Paete, Siniloan and Sta. Maria); five micro banking offices in Laguna (Cabuyao, Los BaĂąos, Paete), Batangas (Tanauan) and Rizal (Tanay); and three other banking offices located in Nagcarlan, Sta. Cruz and Sta. Rosa, all in Laguna.

Depositors of closed banks under PDIC receivership are entitled to be paid up to the maximum insurance coverage of P500,000.

Latest available records show that as of December 31, 2018, the rural bank had 45,807 deposit accounts with total deposit liabilities of P367.1 million. Total insured deposits amounted to P288.3 million equivalent to 78.52 percent of total deposits.

ÂłBank B4

When work is fun for employers to fulfill needs beyond the material kind. Many WANT TO HAVE lEXIBLE WORK SCHEDules and arrangements, and engaging environments where they are able to gain new and useful skills. These shifts in how work is viewed include the concept of workplace fun, which is fast becoming a form of competitive advantage.

By “fun,� Deloitte doesn’t mean one-off events or gimmicks. Rather, it is about truly instilling a climate of fun in the corporate culture. In its report, Deloitte DEkNES A FUN WORK ENVIRONMENT as one that “intentionally encourages, initiates, and supports a variety of enjoyable and pleasurable activities that positively impact the attitude and productivity of

DELOITTE. ON THE DOT

ANGELO ARBOLEDA individuals and groups.�

Deloitte noted the following shifts in the business environment that have led to this more relaxed work experience: Shift in the psychological contract. There was a time when it was enough for employees to work for a “winning� organization, one that was performing well kNANCIALLY AND THAT COULD PROvide them with the stability they desired. Today, this fundamental relationship between employees and employers — what academics

call “psychological contract� — is not as black and white.

An increasing number of workers now see business success as something more than just a healthy bottom line. More socially aware and more socially connected employees look for organizations that can offer them a fun and engaging work experience, one that shows genuine concern for its people.

Shift in work itself. Nowadays, collaboration isn’t limited to big projects or major launches. The complexity of business problems makes it necessary for employees to reach across organizational boundaries and tap the various skills of their colleagues in order TO kND SOLUTIONS Leaders must foster a deeper

understanding of how various departments interact and impact one another to create an environment conducive to collaboration.

Research has shown that a key driver of collaborative environments is fostering a fun work climate.

Companies that embrace the idea of instilling fun in their culture can offer an experience that is differentiated from their competitors. This also enhances their ability to attract, retain and develop talent. It’s an effort that goes beyond simply throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

Organizations that have successfully created a fun workplace are using big data and analytics to think strategically about the kinds of activities that support

a climate of fun. They use pulse surveys and solicit qualitative feedback to gather large amounts of data that can be analyzed to get a better understanding of what employees, as a group, enjoy doING !ND THEN THEY kNE TUNE UNTIL they get it just right.

Toy company Lego holds an annual “play day� for its employees, where they get the day off to simply play with Lego products. A US-based brewing company designated a senior leader as Director of Fun, and in that capacity, he has carved out fun and social spaces in the company headquarters for a rock-climbing wall, ping-pong table and slide.

Organizations can also consider fun activities that more deliberately

ÂłDeloitte B4

Business Times

B2

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

MONDAY February 25, 2019

exporters urged DPWH, DoE eye task force toPHtarget Asian markets for power line relocation T

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

HE departments of Energy (DoE) and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plan to create an inter-agency task force to oversee and facilitate the relocation of power distribution and sub-transmission lines of electrric cooperatives (ECs) within the government’s right-of-way.

In a recent post on its website, the Energy department said it was working with the DPWH on a draft circular on the task force, which shall recommend ways on resolving issues over the relocation of such lines, as well as create a systematic monitoring and reporting scheme.

The DoE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau and the two departments’ legal services

shall support the proposed task force by providing administrative and technical support, monitoring the compliance or submissions of concerned stakeholders, and preparing status and accomplishment reports, among others.

Once the circular takes effect, THE .ATIONAL %LECTRIkCATION !Dministration, which supervises all 121 ECs in the country, shall submit an inventory of all obstructing

facilities to the task force within a prescribed period.

Based on that inventory, the task force shall have those facilities removed.

Within 15 days of receiving the notice for removal, the power co-op must submit its relocation plan. This includes its suggested relocation site, compensation request with corresponding computation of costs and timetable for the removal of its facility.

The NEA then determines and informs the task force if the EC’s proposal is consistent with its kNDINGS A power co-op is entitled for compensation, provided it has submitted its plan not later than April 30 and that the relocation will be completed on or before December 31.

The task force shall be composed of the Energy undersecretary for power as chairman; the Energy and Public Works assistant secretaries for power as vice chairman; and the NEA deputy administrator for technical services, Energy directors for power and legal services and Public Works directors for maintenance and legal services as members.

The circular also seeks to form a technical working group to help THE TASK FORCE FULkLL ITS MANDATES The proposed circular is in line with a previous one inked by the two departments in July 2017 outlining the guidelines and procedures for the payment of compensation including the recovery of cost in case a distribution/subtransmission lines has to be relocated.

FILIPINO exporters should trade more of their goods in regional markets as the Asian economy is expected to grow stronger, according to the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation Inc. (REID).

In a recent report by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., REID Vice President Ronilo Balbieran said that in terms of growth and size, the country had more places to sell its products to, noting that China, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) 5 were expected to stir the global economy.

Asean 5 is composed of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. “We have the economics, we have the population. They (regional markets) have the population. We can sell more

DA renews push to hike biodiesel’s coco oil content THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is again pushing to increase the coconut oil content in biodiesel from 2 percent to 5 percent, and reduce palm-oil imports to help revive the Philippine coconut industry.

According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol, the increase would result in using an estimated 200,000 metric tons of copra, from which the oil is extracted.

The move, he said, would also support coconut farmers and farmworkers who are threatened by plummeting copra prices, which have fallen to as low as P16 per kilo from about P40 per kilo three years ago. “The increase in the use of coconut oil in the biodiesel program is frowned upon by the fuel industry, because it could increase the cost of biodiesel by about 35 centavos per liter,â€? PiĂąol said in a statement on Sunday. “What has not been emphasized, however, is the fact that by using more coconut oil in biodiesel, the mileage of vehicles increases by about 3 kilometers per liter and improves the air pollution index,â€? he added.

Biodiesel is a blend of diesel fuel and coco methyl ester (CME), a derivative of coconut oil.

In Southeast Asia, Philippine biodiesel has the lowest percentage of vegetable oil mixed with regular diesel. Malaysia and Thailand have at least 7 percent of CME in their mix, while Indonesia has as much as 20 percent.

The DA, PiĂąol said, will also push for the quantitative restriction on the volume of palm olein from major producers Malaysia and Indonesia, which grew to 900 percent over the last three years.

Department data showed that total palm oil imports reached 95 million kilograms in 2017 from 47.1 million kilos the year before.

The Philippines imports this commodity without any tariff.

About 25 million people depend on the coconut industry for their livelihood.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

to them,� he added.

According to him, selling should not be a problem if exporters targeted the right markets with the right products.

The economics of networks and technology is important in boosting international trade, as it could help promote and market goods, he said.

The report comes after the Philippine Statistics Authority released on February 12 data showing that merchandise exports dipped by 1.78 percent to $67.49 billion in 2018 from $68.71 billion the year before.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez blamed this decrease on lower global demand caused by the global economic slowdown and concerns over the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

More investments eyed by BritCham THE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BritCham) eyes to increase more investments from the United Kingdom in the country, with Clark as the next destination for its trade mission this year. “We are looking to sort of highlight British companies in other places, and obviously Clark is one the cities that has been promoted,� BritCham Chairman Chris Nelson told reporters last week.

According to him, the chamber would bring in REPRESENTATIVES OF "RITISH kRMS ‡ THOSE BASED IN THE 5+ AND THOSE WITH OFkCES IN -ETRO -ANILA AND in the region — to Clark so they would know the investment opportunities available there.

"RIT#HAM HAS ASSISTED NEARLY "RITISH kRMS from different industries since it launched its Overseas Partner Delivery Project in April 2014. “We have seen those companies actually grow in terms of their exports or doing business here. We would like to see a lot more,� Nelson said, adding that the chamber was formulating plans and promotion strategies for the Clark mission.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

Q Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol.

FILE PHOTO

Corporate News

San Miguel reduces water use by 23%

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

S

AN Miguel Corp. said on Sunday it had reduced its water consumption by 23 percent despite its ongoing expansion efforts.

The listed conglomerate aimed to lower its water consumption by 20 percent by 2020 and by 50

percent by 2025 — resulting in a total of 7.7 billion liters of water saved — as part of its “Water for

All� sustainability project.

San Miguel attributed the drop to the effective implementation of programs aimed at increasing the use of alternative, “nonscarce� water, including rainwater, recycled water and seawater.

It said it was able to increase its use of non-scarce water in 2018, saving 7.76 billion cubic meters

of fresh water. “This is a significant milestone for us, and we’re highly encouraged by these results,� San Miguel President and Chief OpERATING /FkCER 2AMON !NG SAID “It’s only the second year since we announced this major sustainability goal, and already the effort and commitment of those

in our company tasked with making this goal a reality, have started to pay off,� he added.

San Miguel also said it was also targeting to provide water access to remote communities, adding it already did so in Malita town in Davao Occidental province; Maasim municipality in Saranggani province, and Mulanay town

in Quezon province.

Originally founded as a brewery in 1890, San Miguel has since evolved into a company with investments in food and beverage, power, petroleum, banking, packaging, and infrastructure.

San Miguel shares added P4.50 or 2.58 percent to close at P179 apiece on Friday.

Wilcon Depot targets 100 stores, Ramin is new AstraZeneca PH chief double-digit net income growth WILCON Depot Inc. is looking to raise its store network to 100 in the Philippines, its chief said.

In a recent interview, Wilcon Chief ExecuTIVE /FkCER ,ORRAINE "ELO #INCOCHAN SAID THAT although the listed home-improvement and construction-supply company was targeting to reach that number, it was still assessing when that would happen.

Wilcon aims to unveil eight new stores this YEAR THE kRST OF WHICH ALREADY OPENED IN 0UERTO Princesa City, Palawan province. The second will open in April, Belo-Cicochan said without disclosing its location. )T PLANS TO OPEN kVE OR SIX MORE IN WHEN it would add 21 stores to the 52 it currently has. “We would add to areas where it needed to be

added,� the Wilcon chief said.

Last year, Wilcon said it was spending P4 billion through 2020 to fund the construction of these new branches.

"ELO #INCOCHAN SAID HER kRM WOULD STILL EYE double-digit growth in its earnings. &OR THE kRST NINE MONTHS OF 7ILCON saw a 24-percent increase in its net income to P1.39 billion from P1.12 billion in the same period in 2017.

For the third quarter alone, its net profit jumped by 34 percent to P475 million from P355 recorded in July to September 2017.

Wilcon shares shed 12 centavos or 0.84 percent to close at P14.20 each on Friday.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

LOTIS Ramin has been named the new president of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc. (AZ Philippines), making her the research-based biopharmaceutical kRM S kRST &ILIPINO COUNTRY CHIEF In an announcement to the company’s employees over the weekend, AstraZaneca Senior Vice President for Asia Jo Feng said Ramin would assume new her role on March 1, replacing Justin Chin, who was selected as the new country president of AstraZeneca in Taiwan.

Prior to her new position, Ramin was the company’s business

unit director for cardiovascular metabolic diseases from January 2016 to the present; marketing and capabilities director from March 2014 to December 2015; marketing manager for Asia from July 2012 to April 2014; and brand manager from January 2010 to June 2012.

Under her leadership, Forxiga, a medication for adult type 2 diabetes that was launched in 2014, became the company’s biggest brand, outgrowing the IOAD market.

Outside AstraZeneca, Ramin worked as the group band man-

ager for Merck Serono from April 2008 to December 2009; senior brand manager for Novartis from 2006 to 2008; and Eli Lilly and Co. from 2002 to 2005.

A behavioral science graduate from De La Salle University, Ramin has received various prizes for her work. These include AZ Philippines Employee of the Year in 2010, Asia Area Vice President’s Award for Onglyza Launch Excellence in 2011, and Asia Area Vice President’s Award for Crestor Loe plans and execution in 2014.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Buffett, mum on a successor, dreams of ‘elephant-sized’ acquisition WASHINGTON, D.C.: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has yet to name a successor and at age 88 still dreams of making an “elephant-sized� acquisition, he said in his annual letter to shareholders.

The letter to shareholders of Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway,

is considered a must-read on Wall Street, distilling the views of the “Oracle of Omaha� on the state of the economy and the wisdom of investing in this or that investment product.

In the latest edition, Buffett says it is the prospect of an “elephant-sized acquisition� that causes his heart,

and that of his longtime partner, 95-year-old Charlie Munger, “to beat faster.� “In the years ahead, we hope to move much of our excess liquidity into businesses that Berkshire will permanently own,� he said. “The immediate prospects for that, however, are not good: Prices are sky-high

for businesses possessing decent long-term prospects,� he added.

At the moment, Berkshire Hathaway has more than $100 billion in liquid assets that would be rapidly available if an opportunity should present itself.

The investor remained silent on who might suc-

ceed him as Berkshire’s CEO but he was unstinting in his praise of his two lieutenants, who since 2018 have taken the reins of essential day-to-day operations: Ajit Jain and Greg Abel.

The decision to give them a more central role was “overdue,� he said. One of the two men is expected to

succeed Buffett. “Berkshire is now far better managed than when I alone was supervising operations,� he said.

A bet gone bad In terms of results, the year did not end well for Buffett.

ÂłDreams B4

Stock Watch Bargain-hunting lifts Petron after PSEi removal ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

S

B3

MONDAY February 25, 2019

HIGH

LOW

AVERAGE

CLOSE

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

HARES of Petron Corp. have been hit by the firm’s removal from the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi).

30-day high: P2.95

Outstanding shares: 3,310,486,430

Close

Date

Close

6.74

Jan 31, 2019

7.48

6.98

Jan 30, 2019

7.6

Feb 20, 2019

7.1

Jan 29, 2019

7.74

Feb 19, 2019

6.82

Jan 28, 2019

7.82

Feb 18, 2019

6.6

Jan 25, 2019

7.8

Feb 15, 2019

6.6

Jan 24, 2019

7.86

Feb 14, 2019

6.69

Jan 23, 2019

7.8

Feb 13, 2019

6.78

Jan 22, 2019

7.75

Feb 12, 2019

6.78

Jan 21, 2019

7.77

6.75

Jan 18, 2019

7.73

Feb 08, 2019

7.2

Jan 17, 2019

7.68

Feb 07, 2019

7.66

Jan 16, 2019

7.69

Feb 06, 2019

7.72

Jan 15, 2019

7.77

Feb 04, 2019

7.49

Jan 14, 2019

7.79

Feb 01, 2019

7.49

Jan 11, 2019

7.89

Date Feb 22, 2019

The company’s shares are already down 12.6 percent since the start of the year. At P6.74 last Friday, it was also slightly higher than 52-week low of P6.50.

The PSE earlier this month announced that Petron would be replaced in the 30-member PSEi by Bloomberry Resorts Corp. During THE kRST WEEK AFTER THE ANNOUNCEment, Petron’s shares declined by 8.3 percent to P6.6 each compared WITH THE 0 kNISH A WEEK PRIOR “Leading up to the announcement, it traded lower. Although it recovered, it had to be sold heavily because tracker funds had to remove it from their portfolios,�

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan noted.

However, bargain-hunting was SAID TO HAVE HELPED THE kRM REcover by 2 percent last week as it was already oversold. $IVERSIkED 3ECURITIES )NC TRADER Aniceto Pangan echoed Limlingan’s view and said that Petron “could hardly rebound from its standing prior to the incident.�

0HILSTOCKS &INANCIAL )NC REsearch associate Piper Chaucer Tan also agreed and added that uncertain global oil prices could further hit the company.

Pangan said he expected Petron shares to be bearish in the near term but bullish in the

Feb 21, 2019

Feb 11, 2019

*amounts in peso

*amounts in peso

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

Q A Petron gas station. PHOTO FROM PETRON CORP. FACEBOOK PAGE long run as long as the company EXECUTED A PLAN TO EXPAND REkNing capacity.

Last year, Petron announced that it was planning to expand its REkNERY IN ,IMAY "ATAAN RAMPING up capacity by 55 percent from 180,000 barrels per day (bpd) at present to between 270,000300,000 bpd. )T TAPPED 5NITED 3TATES BASED (ONEYWELL 5/0 FOR THE BASIC engineering design, licensing and services, naphtha hydrotreater, as well as proprietary technologies in

PETROLEUM REkNING The plant is targeted for completion in 2022.

Petron, which has yet to report 2018 net income, saw nineMONTH PROkT GROW BY PERCENT to P12.1 billion, from P11.8

Index

Value

PSEi

7,962.13

Chg 30.83

Ÿ

All Shares

4,883.83

26.83

Ÿ

Financials

1,754.68

-17.49

Ĺş

Year

Total Assets

2015 2016 2017

Total Liabilities

294,267 318,89 338,030

Industrial

11,678.17

54.25

Ÿ

8,020.92

48.15

Ÿ

Services

1,578.39

4.01

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8,609.85

-16.27

Ĺş

Property

4,045.68

44.86

Ÿ

SERVICES

Stock indices as of February 22, 2019

ALL SHARES

211,167 230,073 238,411

P/E ratio 7.67 7.93 8.25 8.12 7.84

P/E growth (%) 3.39 4.04 -

Price to book ratio 0.8148 0.8420 0.8765 0.8617 0.8321

Year 2015 2016 2017

NET INCOME P2,555,000,000

2015 6,270 0.15 7.7

Net income Earnings per share Book value per share *Net Income (loss) in 000 000

2016 10,822 0.6 7.9

2017 14,087 0.86 8.88

*amounts in peso

TOTAL ASSETS P384,236,000,000

TOTAL LIABILITIES P290,924,000,000

TOTAL EQUITY

FINANCIAL RATIOS

Shareholders’ Equity 83,100 88,820 99,619

THIRD QUARTER REPORT

P384,236,000,000

Return on Assets (%)

Return on Equity (%)

Debt to Equity ratio

Common ratio

2.13 3.39 4.17

7.55 12.18 14.14

2.5411 2.5903 2.3932

0.9143 0.7923 1.1686

FINANCIAL RATIOS Return on Assets 0.66% Return on Equity 2.74% Debt to Ety Ratio 3.1178 Common Ratio 10283

*amounts in million pesos

%Chg

Holding Firms

billion a year earlier, despite a decline in fuel demand because of high pump prices.

(OWEVER NET PROkT FOR THE THIRD quarter alone dropped by 28.17 percent to P2.55 billion from P3.55 billion the previous year.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

HOLDING FIRMS

PSEi

Market capitalization: P7,945,167,432

30-day low: P2.28

MINING AND OIL

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

Security Name Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. Bank of the Philippine Islands 8990 Holdings, Inc. Ayala Land, Inc. San Miguel Corp.

PLDT Inc. SM Investments Corp.

BDO Unibank, Inc. International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Ayala Corp.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Jollibee Foods Corp.

Puregold Price Club, Inc. San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. Megaworld Corp.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Universal Robina Corp.

Megawide Construction Corp.

Last Price 7.50 86.05 12.10 44.50 179.00 1,113.00 980.00 129.00 119.40 942.00 39.10 68.50 313.20 48.70 104.00 87.00 5.30 12.18 149.00 18.90

Chg 0.21 -2.90 -0.34 0.50 4.50 33.00 8.00 0.00 0.40 -8.00 0.60 2.00 6.00 0.00 5.00 0.00 -0.01 -0.42 0.00 -0.10

%Chg 2.88% -3.26% -2.73% 1.14% 2.58% 3.06% 0.82% 0% 0.34% -0.84% 1.56% 3.01% 1.95% 0% 5.05% 0% -0.19% -3.33% 0% -0.53%

Ÿ ź ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź ź ź

Volume 258,872,000 4,907,790 31,385,500 7,967,400 1,779,850 279,075 264,500 1,925,340 1,996,820 250,830 5,361,600 3,048,150 454,250 2,676,500 1,246,370 1,025,810 15,347,100 6,282,500 499,050 3,854,400

Value 1,937,613,322.00 425,153,396.00 383,579,412.00 352,464,830.00 316,688,294.00 307,863,000.00 255,360,760.00 248,143,013.00 238,633,932.00 235,582,875.00 208,143,365.00 208,083,330.00 141,249,422.00 129,769,505.00 128,662,024.00 89,261,382.50 81,190,877.00 76,740,320.00 74,161,259.00 72,704,552.00

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Feb 22, 2019 Feb 21, 2019 Feb 20, 2019 Feb 19, 2019 Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 08, 2019 Feb 07, 2019 Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 Jan 22, 2019 Jan 21, 2019 Jan 18, 2019 Jan 17, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 Jan 15, 2019 Jan 14, 2019

Open 7,940.29 7,946.66 7,849.08 7,923.36 7,985.46 7,965.17 7,960.19 8,040.34 8,076.60 8,088.34 8,091.70 8,093.17 8,091.45 8,131.55 8,038.65 7,999.41 8,038.77 8,086.93 8,071.12 8,075.66 8,000.65 7,941.05 8,023.84 8,055.48 7,932.11 7,866.42 7,983.46 8,009.08 7,886.40

High 7,962.13 7,946.66 7,944.59 7,938.79 8,025.21 7,999.84 7,996.21 8,040.43 8,083.53 8,105.58 8,096.47 8,127.08 8,213.71 8,148.88 8,165.66 8,099.23 8,046.95 8,087.39 8,143.61 8,116.23 8,068.48 7,989.65 8,029.80 8,067.08 8,057.57 7,937.98 7,990.65 8,027.92 8,024.14

Low 7,894.56 7,892.58 7,848.47 7,830.63 7,971.33 7,908.89 7,920.62 7,889.46 7,984.42 8,061.54 8,035.84 8,087.73 8,058.45 8,068.74 8,038.65 7,999.41 7,912.16 8,014.94 8,042.20 8,038.94 8,000.65 7,901.64 7,979.14 7,964.06 7,919.50 7,865.13 7,848.70 7,976.43 7,818.95

Close 7,962.13 7,931.30 7,939.24 7,833.75 7,971.33 7,908.89 7,991.25 7,920.24 8,009.92 8,061.54 8,070.89 8,100.30 8,058.45 8,069.48 8,144.16 8,007.48 7,979.95 8,050.82 8,053.92 8,053.20 8,064.90 7,989.65 8,008.67 8,007.46 8,047.12 7,927.20 7,864.70 8,013.42 8,024.14

CLOSE

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

Security Name Zeus Holdings, Inc. Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp. “A�

Victorias Milling Co., Inc. Apollo Global Capital, Inc. Phinma Corp.

San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. Coal Asia Holdings, Inc. Macay Holdings, Inc. City & Land Developers, Inc. Boulevard Holdings, Inc. )RUXP 3DFLÂżF ,QF Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. Sta. Lucia Land, Inc. PLDT, Inc. Century Properties Group, Inc. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. ABS-CBN Corp.

Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. Philweb Corp.

Filinvest Development Corp.

Volume 62,120,000 52,700,000 246,000 76,400,000 3,800 1,246,370 350,000 37,900 247,000 299,340,000 410,000 16,657,000 2,160,000 279,075 16,260,000 3,048,150 100,700 258,872,000 708,000 1,900,300

Value 21,379,550.00 660,500.00 737,110.00 3,705,300.00 35,358.00 128,662,024.00 107,100.00 444,284.00 227,840.00 20,994,230.00 96,520.00 23,586,360.00 3,133,910.00 307,863,000.00 8,203,800.00 208,083,330.00 2,272,305.00 1,937,613,322.00 2,215,490.00 26,818,686.00

Last Price 0.355 0.013 2.95 0.05 9.3 104 0.315 12.08 0.91 0.071 0.244 1.43 1.47 1,113.00 0.51 68.5 22.85 7.5 3.22 14.02

Chg 0.03 0.001 0.22 0.003 0.46 5 0.015 0.54 0.04 0.003 0.009 0.05 0.05 33 0.02 2 0.65 0.21 0.09 0.38

%Chg 9.23% 8.33% 8.06% 6.38% 5.20% 5.05% 5.00% 4.68% 4.60% 4.41% 3.83% 3.62% 3.52% 3.06% 3.03% 3.01% 2.93% 2.88% 2.88% 2.79%

Chg -0.18 -0.001 -4.25 -7.8 -0.03 -0.01 -40 -0.01 -0.24 -4.6 -0.42 -0.0003 -2.9 -2.4 -0.05 -33 -0.004 -0.004 -0.02 -0.03

%Chg -8.45% -7.69% -7.17% -6.09% -4.17% -3.85% -3.85% -3.45% -3.44% -3.44% -3.33% -3.30% -3.26% -3.25% -3.25% -3.19% -3.08% -2.96% -2.82% -2.78%

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

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

Security Name Imperial Resources, Inc. The Philodrill Corp.

Liberty Flour Mills, Inc. Chemical Industries of the Philippines Waterfront Philippines, Inc. Wellex Industries, Inc. Petron Corp. Perpetual Preferred Shares Series “2� - Subseries “2B�

Geograce Resources Philippines, Inc. Petron Corp.

Philippine Seven Corporation “Common�

Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Manila Mining Corp. “A�

Bank of the Philippine Islands San Miguel Corp. Series “2� Preferred Shares - Subseries “2-D�

I-Remit, Inc. GT Capital Holdings, Inc. Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. “A�

Island Information and Technology, Inc. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.

National Reinsurance Corp. of the Philippines

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

Volume 30,000 17,600,000 1,440 320 6,072,000 2,680,000 2,100 2,720,000 5,362,500 80 6,282,500 57,000,000 4,907,790 82,100 76,000 58,455 3,950,000 2,910,000 2,465,000 2,250,000

Value 58,920.00 211,200.00 83,321.00 38,433.00 4,219,280.00 671,200.00 2,100,010.00 743,800.00 36,775,367.00 10,336.00 76,740,320.00 518,000.00 425,153,396.00 5,925,873.00 107,810.00 58,638,040.00 509,130.00 383,770.00 1,714,550.00 2,366,290.00

Last Price 1.95 0.012 55 120.2 0.69 0.25 1,000.00 0.28 6.74 129.2 12.18 0.0088 86.05 71.4 1.49 1,002.00 0.126 0.131 0.69 1.05

B4

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times MONDAY February 25, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q SUBWAY FROM B1

Deal inked for three metro subway stations the Transportation department statement.

The department also said that Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda, who was present during the high-level meeting, said the contract highlighted the strong cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.

4HE kRST OF SEVERAL LOAN AGREEments that will fund the subway’s construction was inked in March last year by the government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA country representative Yoshio Wada, who was also present in Osaka, was quoted as saying

that Japan “appreciate[d] the fact that our Japanese technology will be utilized and make [the] Filipino people’s life better by mitigating congestion in the city with safe and punctual Japanese railway culture”.

In Japan, Tugade was said to have inspected tunnel boring MACHINES SUBWAY lOOD CONTROL equipment and other Japanese technological achievements and practices.

Once fully operational, the Metro Manila Subway is expected to handle an initial 370,000 passengers per day with a maximum capacity of 1.5 million daily riders.

Q ARSENAL FROM B1

‘Painful’ fines can also impose the following sanctions against erring institutions: • suspension of rediscounting privileges or access to BSP credit facilities; • suspension of lending or foreign exchange operations or

authority to accept new deposits or make new investments; • suspension of interbank clearing privileges; and/or • suspension or revocation of quasi-banking or other special licenses.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Q DELOITTE FROM B1

When work is fun foster collaboration. An online retailer based in New York has what it calls a “lunch roulette.” Employees from different departments are selected at random to have lunch together, paid for by the company, so they can get to know each other better and make cross-functional connections.

A graphic design company has a smaller version of this: two employees are randomly selected to go on a “coffee date,” where they can learn more about each other’s passion projects and see if they can collaborate.

There are many ways to infuse fun into the workplace and have it result in meaningful, positive change. Having a leader who values having fun at work is, of course, a plus. But instilling fun is a collective effort that starts with

understanding what each employee considers a fun work experience, having that perspective accepted (not judged) by the rest of the TEAM AND THEN kNDING WAYS TO accommodate those different perspectives in organizational activities and celebrations. It’s A DIFkCULT IDEA TO ARGUE AGAINST because, really, who doesn’t want to have fun at work?

The author is the director for human resources at Navarro Amper & Co., THE LOCAL MEMBER kRM OF $ELOITTE Southeast Asia Ltd. – a member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited – made up Deloitte practices operating in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Guam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Q BANK FROM B1

Monetary Board closes According to the PDIC, depositors with valid accounts of P100,000 and below are eligible for early payment and need not file deposit insurance claims, except when they have outstanding obligations with the closed bank or acted as co-makers of obligations.

“These individual depositors must ensure that they have complete and

updated addresses with the bank. They may update their addresses until March 12, 2019 using the Mailing Address Update Forms to be distributed by PDIC representatives at the bank premises” PDIC said.

The Monetary Board closed 12 banks in 2018 and 7 banks in 2017, placing them all under PDIC receivership.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Q EARNINGS FROM B1

Lift seen from earnings Chinese goods.

He also said that a summit with Chinese President Xi Jingping could be held “probably fairly soon in the month of March”.

On Friday, the bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange

index rose by 0.39 percent or 30.83 points to close at 7,962.13, while the broader All Shares increased by 0.55 percent or 26.83 points to finish at 4,883.83.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Q DREAMS FROM B1

Buffett, mum on a His bet on Kraft Heinz, maker of the famous ketchup and instant macaroni and cheese, erased nearly $3 billion from Berkshire’s bottom line, which nonetheless posted $4 billion in earnings.

Kraft Heinz — in which Berkshire has a 25 percent stake — announced a roughly $15 billion writedown of its assets stemming from its failure to adapt to changing consumer tastes.

Buffett also once again criticized an accounting rule that requires including

unrealized gains or losses in the calculations of net quarterly results.

With a stock portfolio valued at $173 billion at the end of 2018, “wide swings in our quarterly GAAP earnings will inevitably continue.” GAAP stands for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

“Indeed, in the fourth quarter, a period of high volatility in stock prices, we experienced several days with a ‘profit’ or ‘loss’ of more than $4 billion,” he wrote.

AFP

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

World

MONDAY February 25, 2019

B5

Kim takes train to Vietnam

B

EIJING: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s armored train chugged across China on Sunday as he headed to his highly anticipated second summit with US President Donald Trump in Vietnam.

Emulating his late father and grandfather, who took epic train trips when they were leaders, Kim set off on the long journey from Pyongyang on Saturday with a military honor guard seeing him off in the North Korean capital.

His departure from the Pyongyang railway station was conkRMED BY .ORTH +OREA S OFkCIAL +#.! NEWS AGENCY WITH OFkCIAL photos showing him waving from the train for what could be a 60hour journey to Vietnam.

The train crossed the border city of Dandong later that day, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and the specialist outlet NK News, but its route remained a tightly held secret.

The train’s crossing into China follows days of speculation over Kim’s travel plans, as his team gathered in Hanoi ahead of the talks expected next Wednesday and Thursday.

Accompanying the North Korean leader was right-hand man

and top general Kim Yong Chol, who met with Trump in the White House last month, along with several other top dignitaries, KCNA said.

Security was tight before the train’s arrival in Dandong, with police cordoning off the border bridge area with tape and metal barriers, and leading an AFP journalist out of the area.

A hotel facing the bridge was closed for impromptu renovations on Saturday. “The train is long and crossed the bridge slower than the tourIST TRAIN BUT IT S DEkNITELY HIM

there’s a lot of police presence,� an UNIDENTIkED SOURCE TOLD .+ .EWS Windows on the train were blacked out, the source said,

with only headlights turned on as it crossed.

The train usually takes 13 hours to reach Beijing, but there were no signs of heightened security around the railway station, indicating that the train likely bypassed the Chinese capital on the nearly 4,000-kilometer (2,500-mile) journey to Vietnam.

Kim has met Chinese President Xi Jinping four times in the past YEAR BRIEkNG HIS COUNTRY S SOLE MAjor ally before and after his historic summits with Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The North Korean leader, who last met Xi in January, could be saving their next meeting for his trip back to Pyongyang to debrief the Chinese leader.

Trump and Kim met in June i n S i n g a p o r e, p r o d u c i n g a vaguely worded agreement on denuclearization, but progress has since stalled, with the two sides disagreeing over what the agreement meant.

Observers say tangible progress was needed in Hanoi to avoid the talks being dismissed as a publicity stunt.

Kim travelled to Singapore last year on a plane lent by Beijing.

Several sources said Kim was expected to arrive in Vietnam by train, stopping at the Dong Dang train station near the China border, then driving to Hanoi.

Meanwhile, the nightmare scenario heading into the second summit between President Donald

Trump and North Korean leader +IM *ONG 5N ISN T SO MUCH gkRE and fury� and millions dead. Rather, some experts fear the meeting could result in an ill-considered deal that allows North Korea to get everything it wants, while giving up very little, even as the mercurial leaders trumpet a blockbuster nuclear success.

But with the stakes so high, a growing chorus of experts highlight a particular risk: That Trump, burned by criticism that the results of his June meeting with Kim in Singapore were vague at best and an outright failure at worst, will ignore his more cautious aides and try to strike a deal that’s cobbled TOGETHER ON THE lY WITH LITTLE PREparatory work.

AP WITH AFP

Caracas troops block aid; 2 dead, 300 hurt CUCUTA, Colombia: A US-backed drive to deliver foreign aid to Venezuela met strong resistance as troops loyal to President Nicolas Maduro blocked the convoys at the border AND kRED TEAR GAS ON PROTESTERS IN clashes that left two people dead and some 300 injured.

As night fell Saturday (Sunday in Manila), opposition leader Juan Guaido refrained from asking supporters to continue risking their lives trying to break through the government’s barricades at the Colombian and Brazilian borders.

Instead, he said he would meet US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday in Bogota at an emergency meeting of mostly conservative Latin American governments to discuss Venezuela’s crisis.

But he did make one last appeal to troops to let the aid in and urged the international community to keep “all options open�

IN THE kGHT TO OUST -ADURO GIVEN Saturday’s violence. “How many of you national guardsmen have a sick mother?

How many have kids in school without food,� he said, standing alongside a warehouse in the Colombian city of Cucuta, where 600 tons of mostly US-supplied

boxes of food and medicine have been stockpiled. “You don’t owe any obedience to a sadist...who celebrates the denial of humanitarian aid the country needs.�

Earlier, Maduro, who considers the aid part of a coup plot and has refused to let it in, struck a DEkANT TONE BREAKING DIPLOMATIC relations with Colombia, accusing its “fascist� government of serving as a staging ground for a US-led effort to oust him from power and possibly a military invasion. “My patience has run out,�

Maduro said, speaking at a rally of red-shirted supporters in Caracas and giving Colombian diplomats 24 hours to leave the country.

Throughout the turbulent day Saturday, as police and protesters squared off on two bridges connecting Venezuela to Colombia, Guaido made repeated calls for THE MILITARY TO JOIN HIM IN THE kGHT against Maduro’s “dictatorship.�

Colombian authorities said more than 60 soldiers answered his call, deserting their posts in oftengripping fashion, though most were lower in rank and didn’t appear to dent the higher command’s continued loyalty to Maduro’s socialist government.

AP

3 MPs urge May to delay Brexit LONDON: Three members of Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet warned Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that Brexit must be delayed if she could not persuade the British parliament to back her European Union divorce deal next week.

Business Minister Greg Clark, Work and Pensions Minister Amber Rudd and Justice Minister David Gauke wrote an article stating their opposition to leaving the EU on March 29 with no deal.

May is currently scrambling to secure changes to the divorce text she struck with the bloc in November, hoping to win the support of the members of Parliament (MPs) who last month rejected the deal by a massive margin. “If there is no breakthrough in the coming week, the balance of opinion in parliament is clear — that it would be better to seek to... delay our date of departure rather than crash out of the European

Union on March 29,� the ministers wrote in the Daily Mail newspaper.

They added: “Beyond the next few days, there simply will not be time to agree a deal and complete all the necessary legislation before March 29.�

But they warned that leaving the EU with no deal would “severely� damage the economy, weaken national security and risk the breakup of the UK. May was in Brussels this week for talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and will meet European Council President Donald Tusk on Sunday at an EU-Arab League summit in Egypt.

She has promised to update parliament on her efforts on Tuesday and either put the new deal to a fresh vote of MPs or allow them on Wednesday to debate their own ideas for the way forward.

One of these is expected to be a plan to delay Brexit to avoid a “no deal� scenario.

AFP

ONE VS MANY A group of men perform the bullfight of ‘Capeia Arraiana’ during the Bullfighting Day at the Campo Pequeno bullfighting arena in Lisbon on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). AFP PHOTO

US, TALIBAN IN QATAR FOR FRESH TALKS KABUL: The US and the Taliban are to meet in Qatar for fresh talks Monday, seeking an end to 17 years of grindING CONlICT IN !FGHANISTAN WITH THE stakes ratcheting higher as the spring kGHTING SEASON APPROACHES Marathon talks held in Doha last month have stoked hopes of a breakthrough after the two sides walked away with a “draft framework� that included a Taliban commitment to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for international terror groups.

It was the most substantial engagement by Washington with the militants since US forces ousted them from power in 2001. But there is still no accord on a timetable for a 53 WITHDRAWAL OR A CEASEkRE ‡ BOTH major issues on which previous efforts have foundered.

This time Washington’s special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has spearheaded the months-long effort, is expected to face an expanded Taliban negotiating team

headed by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Taliban’s former deputy minister of foreign affairs.

Neither side has stated how long they expect the meetings to last or the details of what will be discussed.

Analysts say this round would likely see the Taliban push for the removal of its leaders from a UN travel blacklist, matched with pressure from the US for the militants to open a dialogue with the Afghan government. “Both sides are going into this process with open minds and a sense of urgency as the weather GETS WARMER AND kGHTING SEASON draws closer,� Graeme Smith, a consultant based with International Crisis Group, told AFP. The Taliban have steadfastly refused to negotiate with Kabul, whom they dismiss as “puppets�.

They have also stated that, without a withdrawal timetable, further progress is “impossible.�

COMING OUT

done if the US rushes for the exits.

Women’s groups and civil society organisations have warned that a speedy withdrawal or lenient deal with the Taliban could pave the way for a return of their repressive rule, or an even bloodier civil war.

Many watched in astonishment earlier this month as Taliban militants shared meals and prayers with Afghan political leaders, including presidential contender Mohammad Atta Noor and former president Hamid Karzai, in Moscow.

But not one representative from the current administration of President Ashraf Ghani was present at the informal talks, deepening the sense of anxiety.

Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also playing a role in the talks, as Russia and China watch closely, and many observers fear regional disputes could yet derail the process. AFP

Worldinbriefs

over the brutal killing amid claims that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — the kingdom’s de-facto ruler — was personally responsible.

AFP

CHICAGO: A US judge set a $1-million bail for R&B superstar R. Kelly on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) after prosecutors laid out graphic details of charges that he sexually abused four victims, three of whom were minors. Kelly, known for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,� surrendered to police late Friday after decades of allegations of sexual abuse, especially of underage girls, led to the first sexual assault charges against him. Kelly was acquitted in a child porn trial more than a decade ago and had maintained a steady fan base and continued to perform. But his fortunes changed after a docuseries last month led Chicago prosecutors to publicly seek out any potential victims. A Chicago grand jury on Friday charged him with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against four females, the youngest 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes, which spanned between 1998 and 2010. The charges carry three to seven years of prison per count.

AFP

WASHINGTON, D. C.: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort committed crimes that cut to “the heart of the criminal justice system� and over the years deceived everyone from bookkeepers and banks to federal prosecutors and his own lawyers, according to a sentencing memo filed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s office. In the memo, submitted Saturday in one of two criminal cases Manafort faces, prosecutors do not yet take a position on how much prison time he should serve or whether to stack the punishment on top of a separate sentence he will soon receive in a Virginia prosecution. Manafort committed “bold� crimes, including under the spotlight of his role as campaign chairman and later while on bail, and who does not deserve any leniency. “For over a decade, Manafort repeatedly and brazenly violated the law,� prosecutors wrote. “His crimes continued up through the time he was first indicted in October 2017 and remarkably went unabated even after indictment.� AP

US JUDGE SETS $1-M BAIL FOR R. KELLY

SAUDI ARABIA SENDS FIRST WOMAN ENVOY TO WASHINGTON

A victim of abuse plays the violin after delivering his testimony before the Pope and an assembly of cardinals and bishops during a liturgical prayer within the third day of a landmark summit on tackling pedophilia in the clergy on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO

US President Donald Trump’s apparent eagerness to end America’s longest war, the Afghan government’s fear of being sidelined, and the coming of spring all weigh on the process. “Eyes are on the Taliban to see if they are capable of compromising,� said analyst Michael Semple. “Can they come up with a sufficient compromise to agree to a formula for an intra-Afghan dialogue that absolutely involves the current Afghan government?�

Khalilzad, he added, “has stirred up the peace process in a way that nobody over the previous two decades had.�

The gathering momentum has spurred fresh peace demonstrations and cautious hope in Afghanistan.

But there is also growing unease, with fears the government is being pushed aside and that progress, which many Afghans have paid for with their lives, could yet be un-

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday named a princess as its first woman ambassador to the United States, a key appointment as the fallout over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder tests relations between the allies. Princess Rima bint Bandar replaced Prince Khalid bin Salman, the younger brother of the powerful crown prince who was appointed vice defense minister. The reshuffle comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to quell an international outcry over Khashoggi’s murder last October in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. After initially denying they knew anything of Khashoggi’s disappearance, the kingdom finally acknowledged that Saudi agents killed him inside the consulate, but described it as a rogue operation. Princess Rima faces hostile US lawmakers who have threatened tough action against Saudi Arabia

MUELLER: MANAFORT’S CRIMES LASTED A DECADE

TORNADO RAMS INTO MISSISSIPPI CITY

COLUMBUS, Mississippi: A tornado smashed into a commercial district in the small Mississippi city of Columbus on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) afternoon, shattering businesses as severe storms raked the South amid days of drenching rains and a rising flood threat.

The tornado struck about 5 p.m. in the east Mississippi city and was confirmed on radar, said meteorologist Anna Wolverton with the National Weather Service in Jackson. She said by phone with The Associated Press that a team would go to the city of about 23,000 people Sunday to gauge the tornado’s intensity. There were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries. Lee Lawrence, who said he has been selling used cars for decades in Columbus, told The AP that four buildings on his car lot had been destroyed. He said trees toppled across vehicles and car windows had been blown out. And he said he had no idea about how badly his collection of antique cars fared.

AP

B6

MONDAY February 25, 2019

Public Square

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Matadi Gateway Terminal unlocks shipping system benefits Gov. Imee Marcos urges govt to address concerns of rice farmers amid tariffication T HE recent call of the 2,500-TEU capacity Safmarine Nuba at the Matadi Gateway Terminal (MGT), an ICTSI Group company, opens the door to major new shipping SYSTEM BENEkTS FOR THE $EMOCRATIC 2EPUBLIC OF THE #ONGO $2# The call, which took place at the END OF *ANUARY MARKED THE kRST call by a gearless containership AND THE kRST BY A VESSEL WITH A CAPACITY AS HIGH AS 4%5S 4HE DEPLOYMENT OF A VESSEL OF THIS SIZE unlocks economies of scale as well AS PROVIDES THE MOST COST EFkCIENT MEANS OF SERVING THE CAPITAL CITY OF +INSHASA 5SE OF ANY OTHER port gateway entails substantial additional land transport costs DRAMATICALLY PUSHING UP THE OVERall container transport cost from POINT OF ORIGIN TO DESTINATION The transit along the Congo 2IVER IS ALSO TIME COMPETITIVE m it takes just eight hours from the Banana Roads, at the head of the #ONGO 2IVER UPSTREAM TO -ATADI

COMPARED TO APPROXIMATELY kVE hours by road when optimum CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE g4HE -'4 IS BUILT TO HANDLE VESsels of up to Wafmax dimensions and as such the Safmarine Nuba

was straightforward to berth and work,� explains Tim Van Campen, -'4 DIRECTOR GENERAL g7E SEE this,� he elaborates,� as a step on THE ROAD TO HANDLING EVEN BIGGER VESSELS AS DEMAND BUILDS EVENTUally up to Wafmax dimensions FROM DIRECT CALLS u MGT, with support from the GOVERNMENT OF $2# HAS A TWO STEP PLAN IN PLACE TO REALIZE strategic dredging in the Congo 2IVER UP TO A DRAUGHT OF MEters thereby opening the door to

0ANAMAX CLASS VESSEL CALLS g0ROGRESSIVELY -'4 IS FULkLLING its potential and unlocking scale ECONOMIES AND SERVICE EFkCIENcies for cargo owners,� underlines Hans-Ole Madsen, ICTSI senior VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF %-%! “There is always competition,� adds Madsen, “but the logic of using Matadi, the closest port gateway to Kinshasa, where VIRTUALLY ALL THE CARGO GOES IS IRREFUTABLE )F YOU START YOUR OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM POINTS

such as Banana or Pointe Noire THE ADDITIONAL OVERLAND TRANSPORT costs, compared to using Matadi, will work out to be more expenSIVE THAN THE ENTIRE SEA FREIGHT cost from Shanghai to Matadi!

We are also working with the RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TO ENHANCE the rail link between Matadi and Kinshasa, the only direct uninterrupted rail link between a port gateway and the capital CITY -ATADI IS BY FAR THE LOGICAL CHOICE u HE CONCLUDES

ICDC donates 3.6-hectare land to Muntinlupa THE )NTERCONTINENTAL $EVELOPMENT #ORPORATION DONATES hectares of land in Laguerta, "RGY 4UNASAN TO THE CITY GOVernment of Muntinlupa on &EBRUARY !TTENDING THE signing of deed of donation are -AYOR *AIME &RESNEDI #OUN ,ESTER "AES )#$# 60 FOR 0ROJECT $EVELOPMENT -ARIA )MELDA &RANCISCO )#$# 60 FOR 3ALES !DMINISTRATION #ARMELYNE "OLUS AND OTHER LOCAL EXECUTIVES Fresnedi extended his utmost THANKS TO )#$# AND MEMBERS OF the Madrigal family for donatING THE PARCELS OF LAND WHICH will soon be the site of other GOVERNMENT PROJECTS &ORMERLY gaining an infamous reputation, Laguerta has transformed complex, now dubbed as Cen- CENTER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENINTO A PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT TENNIAL !VENUE WITH A HEALTH ter, secondary school, police

STATION AND HOME TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY

Turning plastic into play -/.$%,%: Philippines has launched a program to help turn plastic packaging waste into play AREAS FOR ITS ADOPTED *OY 3CHOOLS This project is in support of the Company’s global 2025 commitment to make all packaging recyCLABLE PROVIDE RECYCLING INFORMATION AND SUPPORT PUBLIC PRIVATE partnerships to help reduce waste AND IMPROVE RECYCLING Plastic waste and its impact on the planet is a broad, systemic issue that a lot of people care deeply about, and which requires a holisTIC RESPONSE !S A COMPANY WHICH aims to empower people to snack RIGHT -ONDELEZ 0HILIPPINES WANTS TO HELP MINIMIZE PLASTIC WASTE AS PART OF A GLOBAL LONG TERM VISION FOR ZERO NET WASTE PACKAGING Locally, one of the company’s programs to help address this is-

Q During the launch, from left: Anchel Cruz, First Balfour HR senior supervisor; Ashish Pisharodi, Mondelez Philippines country director; Assistant Principal Dr. Flora Baggayan of Camp Claudio Elementary School; and Boi Mojica, assistant department head of the City Environment and Natural Resources in Paranaque City, where two of the schools are located. sue is the Joy Schools Plastic Play %AST !SIA WHICH AIMS TO EMPOWER A DAILY MONTH FEEDING FOR !REAS PROJECT 4HE *OY 3CHOOLS IS CHILDREN TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS undernourished students in the -ONDELEZ 0HILIPPINES SIGNATURE TOWARDS THEIR OVERALL WELL BEING COUNTRY TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR NUTRIcommunity program across South 4HE *OY 3CHOOLS CURRENTLY PROVIDES TION AND INCREASE ENERGY FOR SCHOOL

ILOCOS .ORTE 'OVERNOR )MEE Marcos expressed concern that coconut farmers might plunge deeper INTO POVERTY BECAUSE THE PREVAILING PRICES OF COPRA HAVE RENDERED THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD MORE UNTENABLE -ARCOS URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE THE 0 BILLION COCO LEVY FUND TO NOT ONLY help resuscitate the ailing coconut industry but more so, to rescue FARMERS FROM THEIR DIRE SITUATION g/UR FARMERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG TO AVAIL OF THE BENEkTS DUE THEM THROUGH THE COCO LEVY FUND 4HEY SHOULD NOT BE MADE to wait any further,� said Marcos, who is running for senator in the MIDTERM ELECTIONS IN -AY %ARLIER

0RESIDENT $UTERTE VETOED THE BILL supposed to strengthen the Phil-

IPPINE #OCONUT !UTHORITY 0#! and address the problems besetTING THE COCONUT INDUSTRY -ALAcanang said the measure lacked VITAL SAFEGUARDS AND DOES NOT FULLY UTILIZE THE COCO LEVY ASSETS FOR THE BENEkT OF MARGINALIZED FARMERS “Instead of increasing repreSENTATIVES ON THE 0#! BOARD THE 3ENATE SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR the payment of loans which is alLEGEDLY THE REASON FOR THE VETO u 'OV -ARCOS SAID g4HE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF COCO LEVY FUNDS WAS promised by the President during HIS kRST DAYS IN OFkCE u $ATA FROM THE 0#! SHOWED THE AVERage farm-gate price of copra has DECREASED BY ALMOST PERCENT FROM 0 PER KILO IN TO 0 PER KILO LAST YEAR

EON, among the top banks in Asia, wins UK-based Intl Finance Awards &).!.#)!, industry MAGAZINE )NTERNATIONAL Finance, awarded EON by UnionBank as the Most )NNOVATIVE $IGITAL "ANKING 0RODUCT DURING ITS )NTERNATIONAL &INANCE !WARDS held in Bangkok, Thailand LAST *ANUARY /THer awardees in the Banking #ATEGORY INCLUDE $"3 AND Standard Chartered SingaPORE 7INNING BANKS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR LEADING IN INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND CUSTOMER CENTRICITY 4HE AWARD IS AN AFkRMAtion that EON has been ranking high among the region’s top banks for harnessing the power of technology to bring the best and the most delightful BANKING EXPERIENCE TO CUSTOMERS “We are truly honored to be awarded among the top banks and

showcase the world-class capabilities of EON’s neo banking platFORM 7E WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON this as we represent the country in the digital banking space,� shared Senior Vice President Paolo Baltao, %/. "ANKING 'ROUP HEAD

Free labor on oil change GET free labor on your change oil when you bring a minimum OF LITER ' 4ECH OR LITER $ Tech specially marked Prestone Motor Oils at select Rapide outLETS #OST ON OIL FILTER AND OTHER INCIDENTALS ARE NOT INCLUDED G-Tech Full Synthetic, which is made for gasoline-powered engines, is Prestone’s mineral AND SYNTHETIC BLEND )T USES hydrocracked base oil with a CORE ADDITIVE FOR BETTER ENGINE PERFORMANCE ' 4ECH !DVANCE ALSO IMPROVES PISTON CLEANLINESS

DELIVERS BETTER FUEL EFkCIENCY AND LOWERS OIL CONSUMPTION $ 4ECH &ULL 3YNTHETIC IS UNIVERSAL HEAVY DUTY DIESEL ENGINE OIL THAT BRINGS !MERICAN AND European standards to meet the REQUIREMENTS OF !0) #) !#%!

% -" AND THE STRINGENT 'LOBAL $($ SPECIkCATIONS 0ROMO RUNS UNTIL -ARCH

&OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT 0RESTONE 0HILIPPINES &ACEBOOK PAGE

Seaoil helps PFA fuel rise of franchise concepts

Mega Global Corporation transfers to a better distribution center

THIS AS THE PRODUCER OF Mega Sardines, Mega Creations Sardines, Mega Tuna and Mega Prime Quality, Mega Global Corporation plans to keep its place at the top of the canning INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY -EGA 'LOBAL HAS ACHIEVED THIS by committing only to the highest standards for its products, professionalism among its employees, and passion from the people BEHIND IT LED BY #HIEF %XECUTIVE

/FkCER 7ILLIAM 4IU ,IM The company employs its TRADEMARK INNOVATION A HOUR catching-to-canning process at ITS PRODUCTION PLANTS IN :AMBOANGA 4HIS ENSURES FRESHNESS FROM THE MOMENT A kSH IS CAUGHT UNTIL IT IS PACKAGED IN A CAN Besides its state-of-the-art assemBLY LINE -EGA 'LOBAL ALSO INVESTS IN EFkCIENTLY DISTRIBUTING ITS BRANDS NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT GLOBALLY )T IS ALREADY BEING EXPORTED TO OVER

COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD The company truly understands the importance of a distribution center THAT CAN HANDLE ITS SCALE OF BUSINESS !S SUCH -EGA 'LOBAL HAS CONstructed a bigger, bolder and better DISTRIBUTION CENTER #OVERING AN EXPANSIVE LOT AREA OF HECTARES

it is located at Barangay Viente 2EALES IN 6ALENZUELA #ITY 4OGETHER with its distribution hubs in Visayas and Mindanao, Mega Global products can now reach Filipino

CONSUMERS FASTER AND EASIER “Our brands and products can be seen throughout the Philippines and the world, we beLIEVE THAT INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE products that are higher quality, healthier, tastier, and affordable is key to our expansion in the global LANDSCAPE u SAYS -ARVIN 4IU ,IM

-EGA 'LOBAL #ORPORATION S VICE PRESIDENT FOR 3ALES AND -ARKETING &OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT HTTPS MEGAGLOBAL COM PH

HOMEGROWN brand Seaoil 0HILIPPINES )NC EXTENDS ITS PARTnership with the Philippine FranCHISE !SSOCIATION 0&! IN FUELING the further growth of franchising in the country by signing as Platinum Partner of Franchise !SIA 0HILIPPINES &!0(, Conference and Expo slated on -ARCH TO AT THE 3-8 #ONVENTION #ENTER -ANILA 3EAOIL Philippines is one of the staunch SUPPORTERS OF &!0(, SINCE &RANCHISE !SIA 0HILIPPINES

BILLED AS !SIA S BIGGEST IN FRANCHISE SHOW WILL HAVE THE THEME “Growing Businesses, Building Legacies�, starting with the Certi-

kED &RANCHISE %XECUTIVE 0ROGRAM FROM -ARCH )NTERNATIONAL #ONFERENCE FROM -ARCH TO

International Expo from March TO AND ,EARNING AND .ETWORKING 3ESSIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISORS AND FRANCHISEES 0HOTO SHOWS 0&! CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 3AMIE ,IM RIGHT AND 0&! CHAIRMAN $R !LAN %SCALONA LEFT SEALING the agreement with a handshake WITH 3EAOIL 0HILIPPINES )NC 3Enior Manager, Corporate and #ONSUMER -ARKETING 2EY *IMENEZ (2nd from left), and Seaoil PhilipPINES )NC 60 FOR #ORPORATE AND #ONSUMER -ARKETING *AYVEE $ELA &UENTE ND FROM RIGHT

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Filipino warmth and hospitality acclaimed among world’s best FORBES Travel Guide unveiled its annual Star Rating list, naming Marco Polo Ortigas Manila as a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel for the third consecutive year. Part of Wharf Hotels, the Philippines’ kRST SKY HOTEL WILL BE SHOWCASED with all of the Star Rating recipients on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila holds the distinct honor of being the only Philippine non-gaming hotel to receive the highly esteemed Five-Star Award from Forbes Travel Guide for three straight years. Located along Meralco Avenue and Sapphire Road in Pasig’s Ortigas Center, the sky hotel champions excellence in the country’s hospitality industry, having consistently met Forbes Travel Guide’s over 800 exacting standards since 2017. “Receiving this coveted global recognition is a testament to the commitment of all our associates

at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila to make each guest encounter more meaningful than the last,� said General Manager Frank Reichenbach. “More than the prestige it brings to the hotel and our team, this third Five-Star Award recognizes Philippine hospitality among the world’s best,� added Reichenbach.

Savor summer’s fresh bounty at Kitsho

MONDAY February 25, 2019

Public Square

B7

Finex partners with BSP on book project ‘Ethics: Black or White (or Gray?)’

Q Presentation of the 50 complimentary copies of the book to BSP accepted by DG Chuchi Fonacier and MB Member Juan de Zuniga, Jr. (last two on right) with from left: Dr. Jesus Estanislao, Flor Tarriela, Sherisa Nuesa, Consuelo Garcia and 2018 FINEX President Ma. Victoria Espano.

T

HE Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) book project entitled “Ethics: Black or White (or Gray?)� was made possible with the partnership of Finex and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) launched on Oct. 8,

2018 at the BSP Executive Lounge.

Fifty complimentary copies were presented to and accepted

by BSP through Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier and MB Member Juan de Zuniga, Jr. The book was published in

celebration of the Finex Golden Jubilee. The book features stories, examples and experiences of the 50 well-known writers including BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, Jr., Monetary Board Member Jun de Zuniga

and Deputy Governors Chuchi Fonacier and Diwa Guinigundo.

Other contributors are past and PRESENT PUBLIC OFkCIALS #%/S AND directors from the banking industry, business executives and Finex OFkCERS AND MEMBERS

Enjoy up to 44% off on selected OPPO phones at Shopee 3.3 Mega Shopping Sale

AFTER nights of cold, the summer breeze has started to waft all over the metro. And with it is the promise of sun-drenched adventures and FUN kLLED DAYS AHEAD 3EASCAPES ARE TEEMING WITH FRESH CATCH AND kSHERFOLK ARE HAVING A kELD DAY !LL OF THESE bountiful resources gather in Kitsho’s kitchen as executive chef Keita Kamimoto whips up the tastiest Japanese dishes this side of town.

Diners can either enjoy the dishes a la carte or have them all through a buffet selection. Should you prefer the latter choice, you’ll be amazed to know that your choices will be prepared only as

you order them, whether as a single dish or an array of choices. Simply tell the staff what you want and Chef Keita, together with his F &’B team, will prepare them all for you.

Lunch buffet is served with unlimited iced tea, while the dinner buffet is offered with one round of red/ white wine or beer. All meal prices are inclusive of VAT and service charge.

This merry month of March, diners who come in small or big groups get to enjoy Kitsho’s 5 + 1 promo wherein ONE GUEST DINES FOR FREE FOR EVERY kVE paying diners in their company.

For more information, visit Kitsho’s social media pages.

Daiana Menezes opens for major concert BEAUTIFUL and talented “Brazilipina� TV host, singer and actress Daiana Menezes is excited to do the opening act for the big concert of American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor Aloe Blacc. Daiana will launch four songs with equally talented artists from America.

Blacc, a businessman and philanthropist known for his UK chart-topping singles “I Need a Dollar� and “The Man,� is set to stage his self-titled performance in Okada Manila on March 1 as part of his world tour.

Presented by Daiana’s production company, Ikon, that books and brings international artists here and to other countries, Aloe Blacc’s concert is expected to give Filipino fans two hours of pure talent on stage with his own orchestra.

Daiana is excited to launch the singles “Therapy,� “November,�

always placed intellectual property rights as our top priority. We look forward to working with Ericsson to drive cutting-edge innovation in products and services.�

Ericsson is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the world. Chief IntellecTUAL 0ROPERTY /FkCER AT %RICSSON Gustav Brismark says “This imporTANT DEAL CONkRMS THE VALUE OF OUR patent portfolio, and the stability of our entire licensing program.

Ericsson has signed more than 100 patent license agreements to date, and we are delighted to sign A MUTUALLY BENEkCIAL AGREEMENT with OPPO, a global leader in the SMART DEVICE kELD u &OLLOWING A PATENT kRST STRATEGY

OPPO has dramatically increased its patent portfolio since 2014.

As of January 2019, the company HAS kLED MORE THAN PATent applications worldwide and owns more than 8,000 granted patents. The deal with Ericsson is the latest in a series of patent

license agreements by OPPO with key telecommunication industry partners including Qualcomm, Dolby and Nokia. OPPO will continue to work closely with leading industry partners to bring the best products and experiences to consumers globally.

Staycation is the new vacation CRIMSON HOTEL believes that staycation is the new vacation these days. If you’re dreaming of a holiday or time off from the day-to-day grind, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City offers its Urban Escape Series room packages that will let anyone experience a oneof-kind vacation without getting far out. Whether you need to recharge, feel great after a refreshing swim, cross off a foodie’s bucket list, sip on some cocktails, or simply enjoy a spectacular view of the city skyline—Crimson Hotel has something for everyone.

Effortlessly relaxing and charming rooms combined with delectable

dining experience give hotel guests the perfect taste of what an urban escape is all about. The Stay and Dine room package comes with buffet breakfast, buffet lunch or dinner for two persons at CafĂŠ Eight and an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room.

Use of hotel facilities and amenities such as the newly renovated swimming pool, fitness center, complimentary WiFi and parking space are also included in any of the room packages. These packages are available until March 30, 2019. For more information visit http://www. crimsonhotel.com/manila/

Savoy Hotel bags Bookings.com, TripZilla awards

“Mango� and “Simon AF� with her music team composed of music producer Ryan Klos, talented rapper Tommie King, and rapper, free-styler and writer KXNG.

Landers Superstore partners with BDO for free membership LANDERS Superstore, the country’s fastest growing membership shopping establishment, partners with BDO, the largest bank in the Philippines, to make the customers’ shopping experience even more blissful with free membership application and renewal for all BDO credit cardholders.

To qualify for the promo, members can simply visit any Landers Superstore branch and purchase a minimum of P5,000 in a single receipt. Non-members, meanwhile, must present their BDO credit card at the main entrance to be given a temporary pass to

CUSTOMERS can avail up to 44 percent discount when they purchase selected OPPO phones at Shopee from February 15 to March 3, 2019. For more information of /00/ S OFkCIAL ONLINE STORE ON Shopee, visit https://shopee.ph/ oppophilippines.

Meanwhile, OPPO and Ericsson announced the signing of a multi-year global patent license agreement between the two companies. The agreement covers patent licensing and collaboration on a number of business projects.

Head of OPPO Intellectual Property Department Adler Feng said that the agreement will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation between the two companies in the 5G era. “OPPO has

shop at Landers Superstore. All principal and supplementary BDO credit cardholders can avail of the promo up to two times.

Promo runs until February 28, 2019 and is valid for premium membership only, not for business membership or extension card renewal.

To redeem the free membership card, customers must present original copies of the receipt and credit card charge slip at the Landers Superstore membership counter.

Redemption is until April 30, 2019.

For more information, visit http://landers.ph/.

S AVOY H OT E L M A N I L A , a Megaworld home-grown brand, stomped its class to bag awards from prestigious travel websites Bookings.com and TripZilla.

Early this year, the hotel has achieved a “Loved by Guests�

Award for delivering exceptional customer service, based on online guest reviews by Bookings.com.

Late last year, won in the ‘Best New Hotel’ award in the TripZilla Excellence Awards 2018, topping tourism and hotel brands from the around the world competed in 72 hotly-contested categories, where winners were decided via an intensive voting on TripZilla’s platform.

As Southeast Asia’s leading digital travel media company which reaches

more than 25 million travellers monthly, TripZilla’s only awards event presents prestigious recognition to the most deserving recipients. “This ‘Best New Hotel’ award will be a source of motivation for us at Savoy Hotel Manila to give our guests the best travel experience in the metro,� says hotel general manager Lorenzo Tang.

Catering to both business travelers and millennials who want a hip hotel experience, its rooms offer panoramic views of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, and the Makati and Bonifacio Global City skylines.

For month of February, unwind with your special someone with the “Forever TWO-gether� Valentine room package which runs

until the end of the month. The rate includes overnight stay at an Essential 1 room with breakfast for 2, choice of dinner for 2 at the Savoy Cafe or Signature Couple

Massage, and 20 percent discount on selected Resorts World Manila shows for two.

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

Asian Cultural Council partners with Leon Gallery for benefit auction RARE masterpiece works, furniture, and important historical documents shine under the spotlight in the Asian Cultural Council Art Auction 2019.

A partnership with Leon Gallery five years running, the auction benefitted the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program, which has helped hone home-grown artists and produced eight Philippine National Artists including Lamberto Avellana, Francisco Feliciano, Jose Joya, Lucrecia Kasilag, Jose Maceda, Alice Reyes, Ramon Santos, and Kidlat Tahimik.

Established in 2000, the ACC Philippines Foundation has been giving four to six grants every year, according to Director Teresa Rances. “Our partnership with Leon Gallery has been very fruitful and it’s especially thanks to Jaime Ponce de Leon,� Rances says. “He has a very big heart for Filipino artists.�

The Asian Cultural Council Art Auction 2019 was held at Leòn Gallery at Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City on February 23. For more information, visit www.leon-gallery.com.

B8

Special Feature

MONDAY February 25, 2019

P E Z A AT 24

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Providing an investor-friendly environment for a stronger PH

T

HE 2018 statistics reported by various media are impressive: P140.24 billion worth of investments; 1.5 million jobs created, a 7.33 percent increase compared to the number in 2017; U.S.$ 42.39 billion in export revenues or 6.58 percent higher; P25.56 billion investments in the Information Technology sector, a 32.2 percent higher.

4HE RECORDS AFkRM THAT THE 0HILIPPINE %CONOMIC :ONE !UTHORITY 0%:! HAS RELENTLESSLY IMPLEMENTED ITS PROGRAMS EVEN AS IT FACES FORMIDABLE CHALLENGES‡ DECLINE IN NEW INVESTMENTS AS INVESTORS ARE WARY OVER CHANGES INVESTMENT POLICY CHANGES FOLLOWING THIS YEAR S NATIONAL ELECTIONS OR GLOBAL DOWNTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 5NITED 3TATES #HINA TRADE CONlICT 0%:! $IRECTOR 'ENERAL #HARITO 0LAZA

HOWEVER STANDS UNDAUNTED 0LAZA AND THE COUNTRY S ECONOMIC MANAGERS

Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Manila North Harbor Terminal (NorthPort) Subic Bay International Terminal (New Container Terminals 1 & 2), Subic Bay Freeport

REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT INVESTMENTS

PARTICULARLY IN THE 0%:! RUN ZONES WILL BE UP TO EXPECTATIONS $IRECTOR 0LAZA SAYS g0%:! IS DOING ITS BEST TO RETAIN THE BENEkTS OR INCENTIVES THAT ARE WORKING AND EVEN ENHANCE THE EXISTING SO WE BECOME VERY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN ATTRACTING INVESTORS u

Attracting investors #REATED ON &EBRUARY

0%:!

CELEBRATES ITS TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR AS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY MANDATED

Bauan International Port, Bauan, Batangas

Mindanao International Container Terminal, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental Hijo International Port, Tagum City Sasa Wharf, Davao Makar Wharf, Gen. Santos City

Q Director General Charito Plaza SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES WHICH WOULD GENERATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ESTABLISH BACKWARD AND FORWARD LINKAGES AMONG INDUSTRIES IN AND AROUND THE ECONOMIC ZONES 4HE AGENCY STIMULATES THE REPATRIATION OF &ILIPINO CAPITAL BY PROVIDING ATTRACTIVE CLIMATE AND INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS ACTIVITY 3INCE IT DEALS WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENTS 0%:! PROMOTES FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE 0HILIPPINES AND INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES 4HE AGENCY THUS SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES TO

POWERING THE PHILIPPINES WITH GATEWAYS TO GROWTH

Cavite Gateway Terminal, Tanza, Cavite Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal, Calamba City, Laguna

TO PROMOTE INVESTMENTS IN THE EXPORT ORIENTED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY INTO THE COUNTRY !TTACHED TO THE $EPARTMENT OF 4RADE AND )NDUSTRY 0%:! WAS CREATED UNDER 2EPUBLIC !CT .O AS AMENDED BY 2EPUBLIC !CT .O OTHERWISE KNOWN AS g4HE 3PECIAL %CONOMIC :ONE !CT OF u 0%:! ESTABLISHES THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND MECHANISMS FOR THE INTEGRATION

COORDINATION PLANNING AND MONITORING OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PARKS EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES AND OTHER ECONOMIC ZONES 0%:! TRANSFORMS SELECTED AREAS IN THE COUNTRY INTO HIGHLY DEVELOPED AGRO INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL

TOURIST BANKING INVESTMENT AND kNANCIAL CENTERS‡ TO PROVIDE HIGHLY TRAINED WORKERS AND EFkCIENT SERVICES FOR COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES 4HE AGENCY THUS PROMOTES THE lOW OF INVESTORS BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL INTO

PHILIPPINES

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) strengthens trade and supply chain synergies in the Philippines.

At the heart of Philippine trade is the Port of Manila, where ICTSI operates the country’s sole dedicated international container terminal (MICT) and the largest multi-use domestic cargo hub (NorthPort).

North of Manila, ICTSI serves the central and northern Luzon markets at the Subic Freeport. South of Manila, ICTSI boosts supply chain synergies: giving Cavite a sea lane alternative to Manila via the country’s first roll-on rolloff (ro-ro) container barge terminal; extending the Port of Manila to an inland container park and future intermodal facility in Laguna; and supporting the auto industry via a Batangas ro-ro terminal.

In the agricultural powerhouse that is Mindanao, ICTSI optimizes gateways for the exports of the country’s top produce: Davao bananas, Gen. Santos City tuna, Bukidnon pineapples, and Mindanao’s copra and coconut products.

From country to global markets—ICTSI powers the Philippines with world class gateways to growth.

HEAD OFFICE ICTSI Administration Bldg., Manila International Container Terminal MICT South Access Road, Port of Manila, Manila 1012, Philippines +632 245 4101 +632 245 2245 info@ictsi.com www.ictsi.com

ARGENTINA • AUSTRALI A • BRAZIL • CHINA • COLOMBIA • CROATIA • D.R. CONGO • ECUADOR • GEORGIA • HONDURAS • INDONESIA • IRAQ • MADAGASCAR • MEXICO • PAKISTAN • PAPUA NEW GUINEA • PHILIPPINES • POLAND • SUDAN

MODERNIZE THE COUNTRY S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AND IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS

World-class economic zones 4O ACHIEVE ITS GOALS 0%:! IS MANDATED TO VEST THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES ON CERTAIN AREAS WITH THE STATUS OF A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE #ONSTITUTION AND THE NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES 0%:! HAS GAINED THE TRUST OF FOREIGN AS WELL AS LOCAL INVESTORS SINCE IT HAS MET GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT STANDARDS THUS MERITING FOR THE AGENCY THE )3/ CERTIkCATION 0%:! MANAGES VARIOUS FULLY OPERATING WORLD CLASS ECONOMIC ZONES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 4HE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES AREA ARE ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY SECURED AND COMPETITIVELY PRICED /FkCERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OF THESE ECONOMIC ZONES ARE READY TO RESOLVE ISSUES AND RESPOND TO IMMEDIATE CONCERNS OF INVESTORS )NFORMATION 4ECHNOLOGY COMPANIES RECEIVE PRIORITY SERVICE AND HAVE A DIRECT LINK TO THE 0%:! (EAD /FkCE IN -ETRO -ANILA SUCH THAT THE GROWTH IN )4 SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS REMAINED ROBUST

Incentives 0%:! OFFERS ATTRACTIVE INCENTIVES FOR INVESTORS

Fiscal Incentives:Â r )NCOME 4AX (OLIDAY FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS WHICH TRANSLATES TO EXEMPTION FROM CORPORATE INCOME TAX r 4AX AND DUTY FREE IMPORTATION OF RAW MATERIALS CAPITAL EQUIPMENT MACHINERY AND SPARE PARTS r %XEMPTION FROM WHARFAGE DUES AND EXPORT TAX IMPOST OR FEES r 6!4 ZERO RATING OF LOCAL PURCHASES SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH ")2 AND 0%:! REQUIREMENTS r %XEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF ANY AND ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPOSTS FEES

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Non-Fiscal Incentives: r 3IMPLIkED )MPORT %XPORT 0ROCEDURES %LECTRONIC )MPORT 0ERMIT 3YSTEM AND !UTOMATED %XPORT $OCUMENTATION 3YSTEM r .ON RESIDENT &OREIGN .ATIONALS MAY BE EMPLOYED BY 0%:! REGISTERED %CONOMIC :ONE %NTERPRISES IN SUPERVISORY

TECHNICAL OR ADVISORY POSITIONS r 3PECIAL .ON )MMIGRANT 6ISA WITH -ULTIPLE %NTRY 0RIVILEGES FOR THE FOLLOWING NON RESIDENTS FOREIGN NATIONALS IN A 0%:! REGISTERED %CONOMIC :ONE %NTERPRISE )NVESTOR S OFkCERS AND EMPLOYEES IN SUPERVISORY TECHNICAL OR ADVISORY POSITION AND THEIR SPOUSES AND UNMARRIED CHILDREN UNDER YEARS OF AGE r %XTENDED 6ISA &ACILITATION !SSISTANCE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS THEIR SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS !SIDE FROM THESE INCENTIVES LOCATING IN A 0%:! ACCREDITED FACILITY OR AREA ALSO ENSURES THAT DOING BUSINESS IN THE 0HILIPPINES IS SMOOTHER AND EASIER .OT ONLY DO BUSINESSES SAVE ON TAXES AND FEES

BUT THEY ARE ALSO ASSURED THAT PERMITS AND OTHER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE SECURED IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME #ONTRIBUTING BILLIONS OF PESOS TO THE COUNTRY S COFFERS 0%:! INDEED PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PUSHING UP THECOUNTRY S ECONOMIC GROWTH !S IT CELEBRATES ITS TH ANNIVERSARY

0%:! LOOKS FORWARD TO ANOTHER BANNER YEAR OF ATTRACTING MORE INVESTORS AND PROVIDING THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR BUSINESS SUCCESS

Sports

MONDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2019

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Rockets stop Warriors, Alab clobbers Blazers down depleted 76ers Travis-less Mono Vampire L

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SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas came up with a strong second half, subduing the Romeo Travis-less Mono Vampire Basketball Club, 78-59, for a third straight win in Season 9 Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Saturday at the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The reigning Filipino champion squad pulled away in the final two quarters to stretch its winning streak and improve its league-best record to 16-3. Alab Pilipinas, which already secured a playoff spot, also posted its third triumph in as many encounters against finals rival Mono Vampire. Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman erupted for a game-high 31 points built on a 14-of-23 shooting clip to go with six rebounds, four steals and two assists. PJ Ramos made up for lost time as the 7-foot4 center drilled in a huge double-double of 16 points and 19 boards on top of seven assists and a block. Ramos came from a one-game suspension due to technical foul accumulation. The two Puerto Rican reinforcements lorded over the paint as Mono’s import Travis went missing in action due to knee injury. Two-time Local MVP Ray Parks Jr. contributed nine points, six rebounds and five assists even as Lawrence Domingo and Pao Javelona came off the bench to chip in eight markers apiece for the Jimmy Alapag-mentored team. Up by only 40-33 at the half, Alab unleashed a 22-12 run behind Balkman for a massive 62-45 lead late in the third quarter. The Filipino ball club led by as high as 20 points, 74-54, on Ramos’ dunk with 6:39 left in the game. American imports Mike Singletary and Malcolm White paced Mono with 17 points each while Thai-American guard Tyler Lamb had 13 markers. The Vampires remained stuck at No. 9 with a 5-14 slate. JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA Â

OS ANGELES: Eric Gordon scored a team high 25 points and Chris Paul had 23 as the Houston Rockets, playing without leading scorer James Harden, used a balanced attack to beat the Golden State Warriors 118-112 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The Rockets won without the reigning NBA most valuable player Harden, who has been bothered by a sore neck of late and THEN WOKE UP 3ATURDAY MORNING WITH lU symptoms, the team said.

(ARDEN WHO WAS kNED EARLIER Saturday for criticizing the referees after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, has missed just four games this season.

Saturday’s win showed the team’s depth WITHOUT (ARDEN WHO HAS SCORED OR MORE POINTS IN STRAIGHT GAMES FOR THE SECOND longest streak in league history.

The two-time defending NBA champion Warriors beat the Rockets in a seven-game series last May in the Western Conference kNALS BUT THIS REGULAR SEASON THE TABLES HAVE turned. Houston has now won all three meetings with Golden State this season, including A ROUT IN .OVEMBER Paul converted two clutch free throws with SECONDS LEFT IN THE FOURTH AND 'ORDON NAILED four three pointers for the Rockets, who had to use different means to beat the Warriors.

When the Rockets blew a big lead and lost TO THE ,AKERS ON 4HURSDAY NIGHT IT left analysts wondering if the team was relying too much on Harden and whether or not his streak had become a distraction.

Kenneth Faried started in Harden’s place AND DELIVERED POINTS AND REBOUNDS AS kVE 2OCKET PLAYERS SCORED IN DOUBLE kGURES 0 * 4UCKER TALLIED POINTS AND REBOUNDS AND 'ERALD 'REEN SCORED POINTS AS THE 2OCKETS RAN OFF TO A POINT LEAD IN THE kRST HALF #LINT #APELA GRABBED REBOUNDS 0AUL DISHED OUT OF HIS SEASON HIGH ASSISTS IN THE kRST HALF TO REACH FOR HIS CAREER as the Rockets avoided a third straight road loss. +EVIN $URANT SCORED POINTS AND #URRY ADDED WITH NINE REBOUNDS AND SEVEN ASSISTS FOR 'OLDEN 3TATE WHO HAD THEIR kVE game home winning streak snapped.

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers once again took advantage of Joel Embiid’s absence

Q Houston Rockets’ Austin Rivers (red) looks to shoot against Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, California. AP PHOTO

IN A VICTORY OVER THE 0HILADELPHIA ERS *USUF .URKIC SCORED POINTS AND PULLED DOWN REBOUNDS AND $AMIAN ,ILLARD ADDED POINTS FOR THE 4RAIL "LAZERS WHO SOLIDIkED their fourth position in the Western Conference.

Cameroonian center Embiid missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, and the Sixers expect to be without him again when they travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans on Monday.

Aussie star Ben Simmons tried to pick up the SLACK MATCHING HIS SEASON HIGH WITH POINTS TO GO WITH ASSISTS AND SEVEN REBOUNDS But Philadelphia missed Embiid on the defensive end and the Trail Blazers notched their second win of the season over the Sixers with %MBIID ON THE SIDELINES AFTER THEIR POINT TRIUMPH ON $ECEMBER IN 0ORTLAND “They’re not the same team without Embiid, obviously, he’s a big part of what they do,� said Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, who was pleased with what he saw from his own players, who out-scored 0HILADELPHIA IN THE THIRD QUARTER to take control for good. “I thought we really played well defensively,� he said. “We helped each other.�

The victory gave the BlazERS A START ON THEIR seven-game road trip. g'ETTING THESE kRST TWO IS huge for our momentum and us feeling good about ourselves,� Lillard said. “And also, they were two games that we could have easily lost. So I think we should feel good about it but understand that this is only the beginning of the trip.�

AFP

BLUE EAGLES GUN FOR SOLO LEAD IN ASPIRANTS GROUP

Q James Harden of the Houston Rockets argues with referee Michael Smith after getting three fouls during an NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP PHOTO

Rockets star Harden fined $25K for ripping referees NEW YORK: Houston Rockets guard *AMES (ARDENWAS FINED

by the NBA on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for public criticism of officiating, the league announced.

Harden made his comments to reporters after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting 2OCKETS ON 4HURSDAY AT Staples Center.

Referee Scott Foster aroused Harden’s anger, the versatile All-Star saying Foster has a “personal� issue with the Rockets and should not be permitted to officiate any more of their games.

Four offensive fouls were called against Harden, the last sending him out of the game with HousTON DOWN BY SIX POINTS WITH

seconds remaining, although it was not whistled by Foster.

Harden called Foster “rude� a n d “a r r o g a n t � a n d a d d e d , “You aren’t able to talk to him throughout the course of the game. It’s like, how do you build that relationship with officials?

It’s pretty frustrating.�

Harden leads the NBA in scorING WITH POINTS A GAME (E ALSO AVERAGES ASSISTS AND rebounds per contest as well as ranking third in the league with STEALS A GAME 7ITH CONSECUTIVE GAMES OF points or more, Harden is on the second-longest such streak in NBA HISTORY (E SCORED IN THE LOSS to the Lakers.

AFP

CIGNAL Ateneo De Manila University CIGNAL-Ateneo shoots for the solo group lead as it takes on debuting Family Mart-EndeRUN #OLLEGES IN THE 0HILIPPINE Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) today at the Paco Arena in Manila.

A second straight win by the early title-favorite Blue Eagles over the Titans IN THE P M GAME DAY OPENER WILL propel them atop the Aspirants Group.

The back-to-back University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) CHAMPION SQUAD WENT ON AN EXPLOSIVE start to its D-League campaign, posting A ROUT OF PREVIOUS CONFERENCE champ Go For Gold during the openING DAY LAST &EBRUARY Cignal-Ateneo notched the maiden win without main man Thirdy

players Ravena and with only nine players.

Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, who enjoyed a victorious D-League coaching debut, cannot assure a full lineup anew. g)T S THE kRST $ ,EAGUE GAME ) VE EVER been. So I’m happy. We got a good win, and who knows what our roster will be in the next game. I have no idea, it depends on classes,� said Baldwin.

Should he be available, big man Isaac Go will be tabbed to spearhead the Eagles’ charge after pourING POINTS HIGHLIGHTED BY FOUR triples in their last outing.

"ALDWIN WILL ALSO BANK ON FOOT )VORIAN CENTER !NGELO +OUAME and veteran guard Adrian Wong.

Ravena will miss a game for the second straight time as the athletic forward was called up in the men’s

national basketball team vying for A SLOT IN THE &)"! 7ORLD #UP Family Mart-Enderun, on the other hand, is eager to pull off an upset for a winning D-League debut.

Former PBA standouts Fonzo Gotladera and Marvin Hayes are expected to lead the young Titans of mentor Pipo Noundou.

Meanwhile, Cha Dao-Far Eastern 5NIVERSITY AND 6ALENCIA #ITY Bukidnon-San Sebastian College DISPUTE THE TOP SPOT IN THE &OUNDATION 'ROUP AT P M The Tamaraws thrashed SMDC.ATIONAL 5NIVERSITY

WHILE the Golden Harvest stunned league powerhouse Marinerong Pilipino WITH A OVERTIME WIN. JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

Q Cignal-Ateneo’s Matt Nieto (12) and John Wong (3) battle for the ball against Go For Gold-Benile’s Unique Naboa and Yankie Haruna (white) during a PBA D-League. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

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Sports

The Manila Times MONDAY February 25, 2019

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

L

OILO CITY: Twenty-eight gold medals are at stake in medal-rich swimming and athletics as the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg goes underway today at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.

A total of 2,824 in-school and outof-school athletes aged 15 years old and below from 71 local government units will duke it out for the 1,260 medals—420 each in gold, silver and bronze—in 20 sporting events.

Reigning Visayas leg champion Cebu City boasts of the highest number of athletes at 316, host Iloilo City has 311 participants while last year’s runner-up Dumaguete City has 117.

A leg-high 70 gold mints are up

for grabs in swimming, followed by arnis with 68, karatedo with 40 and athletics with 36.

Winners will qualify for the Batang Pinoy national championships tentatively set in October either in Tagbilaran City, Bohol or Ormoc City, Leyte.

Meanwhile, talented young athletes are expected to be discovered in this second of three qualifying legs for the nationals. “These young athletes are the

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Batang Pinoy Visayas goes full blast today future national team members in various sports,� said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey during a news conference prior to the opening ceremony at the Iloilo Sports Complex on Sunday. “This is what we achieve when we stage the Batang Pinoy. We get to dis-

cover talents‌ It means that we have plenty of talents waiting to be discovered from the countryside,� he added.

Moises Salomon Jr., head of the Iloilo City youth and sports development ofkCE ECHOED -AXEY S SENTIMENTS “We have put this program for us to discover more future sports heroes for the Philippines,� said Salomon.

PSC chairman William Ramirez explained the reason behind tapping Iloilo City as the host of the Visayas leg. “We thought it would be good for us to bring the Batang Pinoy here to motivate the Panay Island to engage in grassroots development,� said Ramirez.

Ramirez also bared that the PSC

has allocated Php 15 million worth of sports equipment for the host city.

Rommel Castro, senior executive assistant to mayor Joe Espinosa III, said that Iloilo City is well-prepared TO HOLD THE REGIONAL QUALIkERS Iloilo City, together with the Iloilo province, previously hosted the Batang Pinoy nationals in 2012.

TIGRESSES DOWN MAROONS, GAIN SHARE OF NO. 2 Q University of Santo Tomas’ Sisi Rondina goes for topspin against Ateneo de Manila University’s Maddie Madayag and Deanna Wong during a UAAP women’s volleyball game. FILE PHOTO

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) posted an emphatic bounce-back win after dealing University of the 0HILIPPINES 50 ITS kRST LOSS OF THE season, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20, in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Golden Tigresses bucked an opening set defeat then lunged at the shorthanded Lady Maroons to rebound from a 21-25, 18-25, 25-16, 22-25 loss to Ateneo De Manila University last Wednesday. “I told them, ‘You are more than your mistakes,’� said UST head coach +UNGFU 2EYES g4HE kRST SET WAS REALLY a struggle for us. I just reminded them that we can do many things besides

thinking of our mistakes,� said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes. “Fortunately, come the first to fourth set, we were able to overcome all our errors,� added Reyes.

UST joined UP at No. 2 with identical 2-1 records as the Tigresses took advantage of the absence of Lady Maroons setter Ayel EstraĂąero due to food poisoning.

Filipino-Italian opposite hitter Milena Alessandrini sizzled with a career-high 22 points built around 19 attacks and three blocks.

The last season’s Rookie of the Year also delivered on the defensive end, tallying 15 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.

Rookie spiker Eya Laure chipped in 18 points while graduating captain Sisi Rondina added 17 markers on 15 kills and two aces.

Veteran hitter Tots Carlos paced

UP with 20 points highlighted by 18 attacks even as Isa Molde and Justin Dorog had 13 and 10 markers, respectively, in a losing effort.

Meanwhile, Ateneo De Manila University (1-1) and FEU (1-1) are clashing for a second win at press time.

Earlier in the men’s division, FEU kept its stranglehold of the top spot after squeaking past Ateneo, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 16-14.

The Tamaraws took home their third victory in as many outings and pushed the Blue Eagles down to No. 6 with a 1-2 slate.

UST also came out victorious against UP, 26-24, 25-27, 25-23, 25-13. The Tiger Spikers improved to 2-1 for the solo third while the Fighting Maroons stayed winless in three outings.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

Dirrell claims WBC super middleweight belt

LOS ANGELES: A n t h o n y Dirrell captured the vacant World Boxing Council super middleweight world title with a 10-round technical split decision over Turkey’s Avni Yildirim on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The action-packed bout was stopped in the 10th of 12 scheduled rounds on the advice of the ringside doctor because of a gaping cut over Dirrell’s left eye.

With the cut deemed to have resulted from an accidental head butt in the middle rounds, they went to the scorecards, with two ringside judges scoring it 9694 for Dirrell and one seeing it 98-92 for Yildirim.

Yildirim, who began celebrating as soon as the bout was stopped, looked on in disgust as the belt was handed to Dirrell, who regained a title he first won with a unanimous decision over Sakio Bika in August ONLY TO LOSE IT IN HIS kRST

Q Anthony Dirrell (right) PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS PHOTO

defense against Badou Jack. “This one is just as joyful,� said Dirrell, whose ring career was nearly derailed in 2006 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He was sidelined for almost two yearsbeforereturningin2008.

Dirrell said he couldn’t tell how bad the cut was. “I wanted to keep going and kNISH THE kGHT LIKE A CHAM-

pion,� said the American, who improved to 33-1-1 with 24 wins inside the distance.

Yildirim fell to 21-2, with 12 KNOCKOUTS (E HAD WON kVE kGHTS IN A ROW SINCE A KNOCKout loss to Chris Eubank Jr. in October of 2017.

Dirrell, 34, has said he expects 2019 to be his last year before he retires, but before he departs he’s eager for a

unification bout against International Boxing Federation title holder Caleb Plant.

He captured the title left vacant when David Benavidez was stripped of the belt and suspended after testing positive for cocaine on August 27. ! TITLE kGHT AGAINST "ENAvidez, slated to return to the ring in March, could also be on the cards.

AFP

US hoops star out after injury from Nike shoe shredding NEW YORK: Zion Williamson, the expected top pick in June’s NBA Draft, was declared out for Duke University’s game at Syracuse on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), three days after his Nike shoe shredded during a game.

Duke’s athletic department announced on Twitter that the 18-year-old forward would miss the contest while still recovering from a right knee sprain suffered in the early seconds of a loss Wednesday to

rival North Carolina.

Nike was in damage control mode after the high-profile star suffered the injury and left a game whose ticket resale prices rivaled those of Super Bowls and whose spectators included such celebrities as Barack Obama and Spike Lee. Williamson, who stands 6-foot-7 (2.01m), has averaged 22.4 points a game. He was dribbling near the free throw line on his team’s first possession when he planted his left foot and his sneaker blew apart.

AFP Q Zion Williamson of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after falling as his shoe breaks during a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

AFP FILE PHOTO

˜

˜ The Manila Times

MONDAY February 25, 2019

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Sports C3

Johnson leads McIlroy by four at WGC-Mexico M

EXICO CITY: Dustin Johnson edged closer to a 20th US PGA Tour title on Saturday 3UNDAY IN -ANILA kRING A kVE UNDER PAR TO TAKE A FOUR SHOT LEAD OVER 2ORY -C)LROY HEADING INTO THE kNAL ROUND OF THE 7'# -EXICO Championship.

Johnson built a 16-under par total of 197 at Club de Golf Chapultepec, where -C)LROY kRED A THREE UNDER FOR It was another three strokes back to their nearest rivals -- Masters champion Patrick Reed, fellow American Patrick Cantlay, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Australian Cameron Smith -- on day that saw Tiger Woods’s challenge fade with a disastrous DOUBLE BOGEY BOGEY AT THE TH AND TH Reed posted the round of the day with A SEVEN UNDER #ANTLAY CARDED A

3MITH A AND 'ARCIA A Johnson kickstarted his round with an

eagle at the par-four second, where he hit HIS TEE SHOT TO FOUR FEET But his lead, up to as many as five, dwindled to two when he was in the trees ON THE WAY TO A DOUBLE BOGEY AT THE TH It was his first miscue of the week, and Johnson responded with four more birdies coming in to maintain a comfortABLE ADVANTAGE g) WAS PLAYING GOOD u THE !MERICAN SAID g) played really well the front nine even though I MISSED QUITE A FEW SHORT BIRDIE PUTTS g%VEN ON ACTUALLY ) HAD A DECENT SHOT AT THE lAG ) JUST MISJUDGED THE LIE A LITTLE

BIT )T SHOT STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR AND HIT THE TREE IN FRONT OF ME “I didn’t let it bother me,� Johnson said, “because i knew there was plenty of holes I could MAKE BIRDIE ON COMING DOWN THE STRETCH u McIlroy had three birdies and three BOGEYS IN HIS kRST NINE HOLES ROLLING IN a 34-foot putt at the ninth to launch a run OF THREE STRAIGHT BIRDIES After a short par putt lipped out at 14 he birdied 15 and 16 as he tried to KEEP *OHNSONIN HIS SIGHTS g) BATTLED u -C)LROY SAID g) PROBABLY DIDN T HIT IT AS WELL AS THE kRST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT ) HUNG IN THERE “Especially after the eighth hole, playing the LAST HOLES IN FOUR UNDER PAR TO KEEP MYSELF WITHIN SOME SORT OF TOUCH OF $* IS NICE u McIlroy said the course, which already offers an unusual challenge of altitude SITUATED AT FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL WAS GETTING MORE DIFkCULT AS IT kRMED UP g)T S GETTING REALLY BOUNCY u HE SAID “The fairways are playing really more nar-

ROW 3OME REACTIONS ON the greens are throwing PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT “It’s going to be tricky TOMORROW u Woods, a seven-time winner of the tournament but playing it for the first time since it moved to Mexico, was a case study in how things can go WRONG ON THE #HAPULTEPEC GREENS 4HE TIME MAJOR CHAMpion made an early run to move INTO THE TOP kVE BUT A FOUR PUTT double-bogey at 15 followed by a three-putt bogey at 16 saw him POST A ONE UNDER THAT LEFT HIM ADRIFT ON *OHNSON SEEKING A kFTH World Golf Championships title, said he won’t change his apPROACH ON 3UNDAY

AFP

AFP PHOTO

YANG, LEE SHARE LEAD GOING INTO FINAL DAY OF LPGA THAILAND BANGKOK: Amy Yang and Minjee Lee shared a narrow lead on Saturday after the third round of the LPGA Thailand, as the top spot continues to change hands going into the final day.

South Korea’s Yang started out two strokes short of Friday frontrunner Jenny Shin but closed the gap thanks to six birdies and a bogey-free round to sign for 66 and 15-under par aggregate.

World number seven Lee carded a

bogey on the ninth hole but six birdies including a long putt on the 18th sealed her portion of the lead.

The Australian is eyeing a fifth LPGA title and said she felt ready. “I’ve been holing a couple more putts this week than the other two weeks that I played, so that’s a good sign,� she said in an interview on LPGA.com. “And I’ve been hitting it pretty solid, so that’s pretty nice too.�

Shin trailed Yang and Lee by only two shots after a frustrating two bogeys on the 2nd and 5th holes. But two birdies and an eagle on the 18th kept her in sight of victory.

LPGA Australian Open winner Nelly Korda was one stroke behind her after sinking seven birdies and one bogey.

The $1.6 million LPGA Thailand is being held at the par-72 Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course in Chonburi province.

Thailand’s world number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn crept closer to the leading pack with a round of 68 but is still seven shots away from the front.

She is also tied with her sister Moriya.

AFP

Solaire PH Open back at TCC THE Solaire Philippine Open, the country’s premier golf championship, gears up for another blockbuster staging and thrilling ending at The Country Club when it begins its journey to a new century with a stellar international cast being firmed up.

Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena nipped veteran Prom Meesawat of Thailand in sudden death to highlight the milestone Centennial staging of the event at the TCC last year with the same finish expected when the 101st Open is held April 3-6.

The 2017 Open also went over the distance with Englishman Steve Lewton edging American Johannes Veerman in a playoff, also at the well-kept Tom Weiskoph-designed layout, with the same windup likely to ensue in the upcoming event sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino. “More than 50 percent of the field which vied last year will all be coming over again

with the 2019 cast to be toughened up by new, crack international players,� said Colo Ventosa, general manager of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., which co-organizes the event with the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Solaire Resort and Casino, headed by president/CEO Thomas Arasi, and the NGAP, now led by president Martin Lorenzo, have recently inked a pact to jointly stage the 2019 Open with the former bankrolling $500,000 to put up the four-day championship, which also serves as part of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

Lorenzo and NGAP secretary-general Bones Floro have reiterated their full support to ensure the smooth and successful staging of the fabled event, which will feature former champions and mainstays of the other regional tours seeking to join the elite circle of winners in Asia’s oldest National Open and at the same time test a

challenging course that doesn’t favor any particular style of play.

Tabuena will actually shoot for a third Open diadem, nailing his first in abbreviated fashion when he ruled the rain-shortened championship at Luisita in 2015. He wound up joint fifth in 2017 but pulled off a memorable victory in the event’s Centennial edition.

But the Rio Olympic Games veteran will be as much tested as the rest of the field, which includes the country’s other top guns, led by former titlist Angelo Que and reigning PGT Order of Merit winner Jobim Carlos along with the likes of Jhonnel Ababa, Clyde Mondilla, Tony Lascuùa and Jay Bayron.

Korean-American Micah Shin, who became the first non-Filipino winner of the TCC Invitational when he foiled Tabuena also last year, is also expected to join the title hunt along with PGT and

Q Miguel Tabuena CONTRIBUTED PHOTO PGT Asia campaigners Kim Joo Hyung of Korea, Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Nicolas Paez of the US and Aussie Tim Stewart.

Messi treble fires Barca to thrilling win over Sevilla SEVILLE Spain: Lionel Messi hit a sumptuous SEVILLE, hat trick, the 50th of his career, to inspire Bar CELONA TO A VICTORY OVER 3EVILLA ON 3ATURDAY (Sunday in Manila) and take them one step closer to winning La Liga.

-ESSI WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LACKING kTNESS and Barca struggling for form but both de LIVERED A RESOUNDING RESPONSE AT THE 2AMON Sanchez Pizjuan, with two matches against 2EAL -ADRID JUST AROUND THE CORNER After scoring 11 goals in nine games, Messi’s thigh strain had coincided with a dip by his own high standards, one goal in four prompt ing concerns he was being pushed too far.

But the Argentinean was back to his scin tillating best, this his 44th treble for Barce lona, now the joint most for a Spanish club ALONGSIDE #RISTIANO 2ONALDO ROUNDED OFF BY a trademark chip late on. g7E CANNOT ALWAYS BE AT OUR BEST u -ES SI SAID AFTERWARDS g7E CAME FROM A STREAK when, to be honest, we weren’t playing our best football. If the game flows it is easier TO SCORE GOALS u Luis Suarez needed a goal after a disap pointing performance against Lyon in mid week and Messi arranged that too. It was his

PASS THAT 3UAREZ CONVERTED FOR A FOURTH AFTER PASS THAT 3UAREZ CONVEERTED FOR A FOURTH AFTER *ESUS .AVAS AND 'ABRIEL -ERCADO HAD TWICE PUT 3EVILLA AHEAD IN THE kRST HALF 3EVILLA S TOP FOUR HOPES LOOK INCREAS ingly uncertain but for Barcelona, this was one of the toughest tests left in THEIR RUN IN WITH PERHAPS THE MOST DIFkCULT TO COME NEXT WEEKEND AGAINST Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

2EAL WHO FACE ,EVANTE ON 3UNDAY SIT 12 points behind Barca and their best hope of a domestic trophy is surely NOW IN BEATING THEM kRST ON 7EDNES DAY IN THE #OPA DEL 2EY “This is not the title almost won but IT WAS IMPORTANT TO WIN TODAY u -ES si said. “It gets harder towards the end AND IT IS NEVER EASY HERE 4ODAY WE WERE BACK TO BEING US u As well as a return to form for Barca and Messi, there was a return to the team for Samuel Umtiti, the de FENDER HANDED HIS kRST appearance in three MONTHS AFTER RECOVERING from a knee injury. AFP

Q US golfer Dustin Johnson aims at the hole of the 1st green during the third round of the PGA World Golf Championship at Chapultepec’s Golf Club in Mexico City.

Evans shocks Isner to reach ATP Delray final MIAMI: "RITAIN S TH RANKED Dan Evansoutlasted world numBER NINE *OHN )SNER OF

6-3 on Saturday to reach the ATP $ELRAY "EACH /PEN kNAL 4HE YEAR OLD WILL BATTLE FOR the title against Moldova’s Radu Albot, with both seeking to beCOME THE kFTH kRST TIME WINNER ON THE !40 4OUR THIS YEAR !LBOT AND RANKED ND in the world, defeated American -ACKENZIE -C$ONALD

TO REACH HIS kRST TOUR LEVEL kNAL Evans reached his only other !40 kNAL IN WHEN HE LOST at Sydney to Gilles Mueller of ,UXEMBOURG (E WAS SUSPENDED for one year later that year after testing positive for cocaine at the "ARCELONA /PEN THAT !PRIL Evans denied second-seeded Isner,

33, a chance at his 15th career ATP title, although he said that was the furthest THING FROM HIS MIND DURING THE MATCH g) JUST PLAY EVERY MATCH AS IT comes, every point, every game,� EvANS SAID g)T SOUNDS VERY CLICHE BUT ) M JUST PLAYING EVERY MATCH “It’s not about beating John, it’s not ABOUT BEATING !NDREAS 3EPPI 4HE BALL IS COMING AND ) M JUST TRYING TO FOCUS ON MYSELF u ADDED %VANS )N TAKING A LEAD )SNER stretched his streak of service games HELD TO DATING BACK TO THE kRST ROUND OF THE !USTRALIAN /PEN But Evans broke him three times FROM THERE TO TURN THE TIDE “I returned really well when I got my racquet on the ball, and THAT WAS MY GOAL u %VANSSAID “Just to get the ball back and get THE RUNNING SHOES ON u AFP

Q Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left) challenges Sevilla’s Ever Banega during the Spanish league football match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Sevilla.

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“Riding the Tailwinds: Pursuing Growth and Value Amid Rising Global Risks�

0DUFK _ 5HJLVWUDWLRQ D P _ 3URJUDP D P S P _ 0D\XUHH %DOOURRP 'XVLW 7KDQL 0DQLOD 0DNDWL &LW\ The global economy enters 2019 with decidedly slower growth, continued volatility and heightened risks. Interest rates are normalizing and pushing investors in search of higher-yielding assets, as economic performance diverges across countries and regions. While the US is poised for strong performance, China is looking for a soft landing, and emerging markets are showing signs of weakness. Also heightening risks are populist policies and the prospect of trade wars.

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could yet ride through, if not defy, the tailwinds of 2019, getting a boost from increased spending due to the midterm elections and the slowdown in consumer inflation. The Philippines will also continue to benefit from its favorable demographic profile, with growing disposable incomes sustaining demand for property, leisure, automobiles, technology and others.

The Manila Times Economic Outlook 2019 Forum will feature top policymakers and business leaders who will make the case for the Philippines’ continued viability as an investment and growth hub.

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MONDAY M OOND N DAYY FEBRU FEBRUARY UARYY 25, 25, 2019

Expats&Diplomats

D1

www.manilatimes.net

US Marine Pacific Commander visits PH

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OMMANDER of US Marine Forces 0ACIkC ,IEUTENANT 'ENERAL ,EWIS #RAPAROTTA VISITED THE 0HILIPPINES ON &EBRUARY TO AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 53 0HILIPPINE ALLIANCE TO THE )NDO 0ACIkC REGION During his visit, Craparotta met with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and the Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps General Alvin ParreĂąo to discuss the US Marine CorpsAFP partnership.

Craparotta joined ParreĂąo

to deliver opening remarks at the US Marine Forces Pacific Marine-to-Marine Staff Talks, a bilateral exchange in which members of the US and Philippine Marine Corps discuss opportunities to increase collaboration in the future. “These Philippine Marine Corps Marine to Marine Staff

Talks promote cooperation and interoperability between our forces. As the warriors from the sea and the crisis response force, we the Marines have always been ready and responsive to address the defense and security challenges of the Pacific region,â€? said ParreĂąo. “These topics also strengthen THE TRUST AND CONkDENCE THAT WE have and promote mutual security interests as well as contributing to global and security, peace security and stability,â€? he added.

Craparotta discussed specific lines of effort outlined by former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Car-

lito Galvez Jr. and Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson, which will frame the US and Philippine Marine Corps’ exercises and activities in the future. “This week we are here to focus on training, readiness, [and] interoperability, not just for today and 2020, but really for the future,� said Craparotta. “This is a long and lasting critical partnership for the region.�

Lt. Gen. Craparotta’s visit to the Philippines, his first since taking command in August 2018, reaffirmed the US Marine Corps’ close ties with the PMC.

Q Lieutenant General Lewis Craparotta, Commander of US Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), meets with General Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Q President Rodrigo Duterte (right) welcomes Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua of the diplomat's courtesy call to MalacaĂąan Palace.

Duterte invited to ROC's Belt and Road Forum CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua has invited President Rodrigo Duterte in Beijing for the second Belt and Road forum in April after paying a courtesy call at the MalacaĂąan Palace on February 20.

Ambassador Zhao said he would coordinate with the relevant Philippine agencies in preparation for Duterte’s visit. “The Chinese government attaches great importance to Mr. Duterte’s presence at the said forum and his attendance will help enhance Belt and Road cooperation and boost the development of bilateral relations,� Zhao said.

Duterte, on the other hand, thanked China’s invitation and is keen to meet with President Xi Jinping once again.

The two also had a wide range of discussions and exchanged

views on the latest development of China-Philippines relations, and spoke highly of the good momentum of the development of bilateral ties.

Zhao and Duterte emphasized the importance of fulfilling the signed agreements and important consensus reached during the visit of President Xi to the Philippines and highlighted the pragmatic cooperation of the two countries in areas such as security, trade, and people-to-people exchanges as well as coordination on international and regional issues, in order to BRING ABOUT MORE TANGIBLE BENEkTS to the two peoples.

Present during the courtesy call were Defense Secretary $ELkN ,ORENZANA 0RESIDENTIAL spokesman Salvador Panelo and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo.

Japan donates shelters, Israel Tourism, DoT sign labor agreement livelihood support for Marawi JAPANESE Economic Minister Makoto Iyori attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the project for community development through building shelters and livelihood support for rebuilding Marawi in Barangay Dulay West.

Minister Iyori was joined by Assistant Secretary Felix Castro of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), Arnolfo Cabling, president of the Social Housing and Financing Corporation (SHFC), Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra of Marawi City and Christopher Rollo, Country Program Manager of UN-Habitat Philippines.

The provision of 1,500 permanent shelters, community infrastructure and livelihood support worth P500 million, is based on the exchange of notes that was signed between the Government of Japan and UN-Habitat in March 2018.

Japan’s grant supports UN-Habitat’s program to provide core shelters and livelihood support for those affected by the Marawi incident.

-INISTER )YORI STATED THAT HE IS gCONkdent that the hard work and perseverance

of the people, combined with the resilience of the Filipino spirit, will pay off and provide the people of Marawi and Lanao del Sur opportunities for the dynamic future that they deserve.�

Castro meanwhile, expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support for the rehabilitation of Marawi, pointing out that this project is just one of many, including grant assistance to develop roads, the provision of 27 heavy machineries, AND ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN THE kELD OF vocational training.

The joint statement issued in October 2017 during a summit meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe states that “the Government of Japan recognizes that rehabilitation and reconstruction of the City of Marawi and its surrounding areas is extremely important for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, and will extend the utmost support towards that end.�

The ceremonial groundbreaking for Marawi rehabilitation is an embodiment of the joint statement.

ISRAEL Tourism Minister Yariv Levin and Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat signed labor agreement allowing up to 1,000 Filipinos to work in the Israeli hotels during Puyat’s COURTESY CALL TO -INISTER S OFkCE IN *ERUSAlem on February 11.

Also present in the meeting were Ambassador Neal Imperial, Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., Israel Tourism Director to India and the Philippines Hassan -ADAH AND EMBASSY OFkCIALS The two ministers, who also discussed THE ISSUE OF THE DIRECT lIGHTS OF 0HILIPPINES to Israel, took initiatives in encouraging tourism growth for both Filipinos going to Israel and Israelis to the Philippines. “In 2018, we have reached an amazing and historic record with over 4.12 million tourists arriving in Israel. We have broken incoming tourism records and this achievement is the direct result of intensive work that we are doing at the Tourism Ministry. This achievement is a result of a revolutionary change in marketing strategy; infrastructure development; opening direct routes from new destinations and creating collaborations with some of the largest travel agents in the world. Incoming tourism makes a huge contribution to both Israel’s economy and its image,� Levin said.

Statistics from the Israel Ministry of Tourism showed that a total of 28,600 Filipinos traveled to Israel in 2018

Q Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (left) and Israel Tourism Minister Yariv Levin.’

with a 31 percent increase from 2017 while Philippines achieved a growth of 16.61 percent increase in 2018 over the previous year with a 20,343 Israelis visiting the country. Philippine passport holder can enjoy visa free access to Israel up to 90 days.

The Philippine delegation headed

by Romulo-Puyat visited Israel to participate in the Annual International

Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM 2019) in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Philippines is stepping up its marketing activities having the biggest booth in the said event.

The IMTM is an annual tourism event that brings together professionals and service providers from the tourism industry and introduces new attractions and tourist destinations.

RETIRED JUDGE RECEIVES CONFERMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE RISING SUN

Q The Japan-assisted project provides 1,500 permanent shelters, community infrastructure, and livelihood support worth P500 million.

Retired Judge Antonina Oshita Escovilla (center) received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono, the Certificate of Conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette; and the decoration from Ambassador Koji Haneda at a ceremony at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City on February 10. In his congratulatory message, Ambassador Haneda lauded Judge Escovilla for her contribution to the improvement of the status of Japanese descendants, including educational environment, and the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the Philippines.

D2

Funtimes

MONDAY February 25, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (02/25/19). Take your career to new heights this year. Together, you’re a formidable force. Summer love flowers, before a group obstacle challenges. Friends pull through to win next winter, before you resolve a family matter. Your wisdom and skills grow with practice and passion.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Get out and explore. You can get farther than expected. Discover unexpected treasure. Stay focused; grab an educational opportunity. Expand your horizons.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Review reserves and resources over the next two days. Work out priorities and practicalities with your partner. Your collaboration can get especially fruitful.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- You and a partner are really cooking now. The next two days get especially productive and even romantic. Good fortune blesses your venture together.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Get moving! Physical action produces satisfying results. Practice, prepare and then perform with confidence. For best outcomes, get yourself energized, motivated and inspired.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Fun comes naturally over the next few days. Prioritize family and romance. Your passions grow and blossom with attention. You’re especially lucky in love.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Invest your heart and muscle into domestic renovation. Improve your sanctuary to nurture your family more. Words and action come together for beautiful results.

» SUDOKU

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- A creative project develops in satisfying directions. Get your message to a wider audience. Grow your networks, connections and community participation.

Write and publish.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Your ideas are attracting attention. Keep providing the value that’s bringing home the bacon. Demand for your services in on the rise.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Have faith in your own imagination. You’re especially creative and confident today and tomorrow. Try a new outfit or style. Dress for the role you want.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Slow down to recharge. Process recent activities with rest and meditation.

Plan and organize for what’s coming next. Nurture yourself; body, mind and spirit.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Friends can open doors. Reach out and connect for shared goals. Attract community attention to a cause everyone can get behind. Together, you’re a powerful force.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Schedule carefully at work. A professional goal is within view. Old assumptions can get challenged; strike out in a new direction. Advance boldly. ((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.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

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

MONDAY M O N DAY FEBRUARY 25, 2019

Entertainment

D4

www.manilatimes.net

This Miss U doesn’t hold back on issues I T was talk of the town soon after Catriona Gray won the 2018 Miss Universe crown that she had broken up with her boyfriend of six years. Not one to hold back ON ANY ISSUE SHE kNALLY ANNOUNCED AT HER homecoming that she had actually been single even before pageant night and that a zero love life is the least of her concerns right now.

She was focused on taking home the crown and now her mission is to represent the country as best she can AND TO BE ABLE TO FULkLL ALL the duties of Miss Universe in the same way.

Beloved not only for her beauty and intelligence but her sincerity in all that she says and does, it was no surprise that her back-to-back welcome events last week were super successful. This week, Cat will do the rounds of her charitable organizations such as Young Focus and Smile Train where she has been a devoted volunteer prior to winning the most prestigious beauty queen tilt.

During In The Know’s one-onone interview with Miss U, she

IN THE KNOW MJ MARFORI also emphasized her stand on one of the day’s burning national issues on lowering the age of criminal liability. “I really feel that it’s important for us to readjust our focus as to why these children [are] committing those crimes because I worked a lot with children and anyone knows children are not disposed to do that kind of act or to act that way. As a nation, I think we should

Q Catriona Q Caat Cat Gray's mission is to represent the Philippines as best as she can ca an and a fulfill all the duties of Miss Universe in the same way. PHOTO an BY YR RUSSELL PALMA

Q The beauty queen part ways with Clint Bondad after six years. INSTAGRAM PHOTO focus on eradicating these external PRESSURES u SHE kRMLY DECLARED The passionate Catriona, however, has been getting mixed reactions from supporters and trolls about getting involved in this particular issue, but how could she not? Children are her main advocacy. “Once you label a child as such ‡ AS A CHILD IN CONlICT WITH THE law — how are you bringing them up to see themselves or the com-

Âťlights,camera,boto!

munity to see them? Because children, they have so much potential.

Their hearts are pure. It’s just that sometimes circumstance bears down on them or the people or what they’re faced with bear down on them,� she further asserted.

Besides this issue, several memes have also been going around about how Filipinos seem to have higher standards in supporting Miss Universe contestants versus

choosing political candidates.

Asked for her comment, Catriona smiled and graciously reminded her countrymen, “We have to educate ourselves about the candidates; we have to know if our values align and our visions align with theirs and then cast our vote.�

Finally asked for her take on the memes of candidates wearing sashes that spell Maharlika instead of the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte stated he agrees with the late president Ferdinand Marcos’ suggestion to rename the country as such, Cat

said she hasn’t heard for herself the President’s reason on the matter but still, she ably gave her opinion with the simple proverb, g $ON T kX WHAT S NOT BROKEN u Tr u l y a p r o a c t i ve b e a u t y queen and citizen of the Philippines Catriona looks forward to her Senate visit this week eager to gain a deeper understanding of these issues and definitely, we will have more to hear from Miss Universe 2018, a true pride of the Philippines.

NNN Until next week! Ta-ta!

Âťtvlandia'slatest

Alonzo Muhlach’s jingle Yasmien Kurdi showcases drama prowess anew for Bong Go goes viral

THEY say a mother’s love is unconditional. a street-smart and arrogant former seafarer; But how can you love a child whom you and Lauren Young as Dessa, a strong-willed HAVE TREATED AS YOUR OWN AFTER kNDING OUT woman who never got over her anger tothat her true parents ruined your dreams wards her parents.

Playing a very special role in the series CHILD actor Alonzo Muhlach released a government for the continued development of of raising your real daughter? is Empress Schuck as Wena, a doting yet Beginning February 25, GMA Network song and music video last week in support the industry as well as to protect the livelihood naĂŻve department store saleslady who presents another enthralling tale of a of senatorial bid of former Special Assis- of many Filipinos who work in it. falls for Benjo. mother’s love for a daughter she raised as tant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Kailangan suportahan ng gobyerno ang Adding color to Miren and Adrian’s Lawrence “Bongâ€? Go. industriya ng pelikula, telebisyon, at musika her own in "Hiram Na Anak," topbilled lives are talented actors and actresses: Rita by outstanding and highly-talented artists The music video, which ich para tuloy-tu tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang paAvila as Hilda, Adrian’s elder sister who is Yasmien Kurdi and Dion Ignacio, together featured the singing, rapapgglago nito at para din self-centered, clingy, and possessive; with Paolo Contis and Lauren Young. ping, dancing and performmm mapangalagaan ang Vaness del Moral as Alma, Miren’s After 10 years, Yasmien and Dion reing talents of Alonzo, was kkabuhayaan ng mga cheery older sister who loves unite to breathe life into the characters released on Instagram m Pi Pilipinong nagtatraand protects her very much; of Miren and Adrian, a happily and Facebook on wheree ba baho dito,â€? Go said.

Sef Cadayona as Vince, married couple.

Miren is a it has since been viewed d “Kay Alonzo, kitangAd r i a n ’s b e s t simple, loving, and kind

by Alonzo’s 71,167 fol-kita na malayo ang marfriend since woman who works as a lowers as of press time. arat arating ng mga artista high school midwife.

Adrian, on the The former SAP was nati natin lalo na yung mga other hand, is a faithful who also DEEPLY lATTERED AT THE GESbata bata. Sana ay mapalakas gentleman and her one grows close ture of the young star, pa aang industriya para great love.

Unfortuto Misaying that acts like this marami pang talentadong maram nately, Miren has difren; Maey motivate him to con- Q Fist bumps from the child star and pinoy ang ma-develop,� kCULTIES CONCEIVING A Bautista tinue serving the people, the candidate for senator.

Go added. ad child and the couple as Engke, one way or another.

Go, if given the chance, decides to adopt — a Miren and “Maraming salamat kay Alonzo Muhlach sa would like to push for measures for the bendecision that dramatiA drian’s kanyang pagsuporta! Nakakabilib yung bata. EkT OF THE 0HILIPPINE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY cally changes the course trusted helpMagaling, talentado, humble, malayo ang mara- as a whole. of their lives. er at home; rating,� Go said. “Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, nais Joining them are Leanne BauGo mentioned that stars like Alonzo kong isulong ang mga batas at programa na Q Yasmien Kurdi, Leanne Bautista tista as Duequally versatile artists Muhlach and other people in the entertain- tutulong sa industriya ng pelikula, telebisyon, and Dion Ignacio. day, a smart, Paolo Contis as Benjo, ment industry deserve to be supported by the at musika ng Pilipinas,� Go ended.

Âťglobalspotlight HOLLYWOOD: All winners for the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, will be revealed today.

Will Alfonso Cuaron sweep the awards for his cinematic masterpiece “Roma?� Will another contender swipe the best picture Oscar from him? Can Glenn Close finally claim her first Academy Award?

The ceremony will be without a host for the first time in three decades — a fact sure to create some surprising moments.

Here are five things to watch for when the stars gather for the 91st Oscars:

Five things to watch for on Oscars night season for Alfonso Cuaron, whose black-and-white film pays homage to his mother, his nanny and his childhood in 1970s Mexico City.

Four of the 10 nominations for “Roma� are his: for best picture as a producer, best director, best original screenplay and best cinematography.

He joins illustrious company with his achievement: Warren Beatty did the same, scoring four nominations in four different categories — twice — for “Heaven Can Wait� and “Reds.�

Joel and Ethan Coen did it for “No Country for Old Men.�

Can Netflix’s ‘Roma’ make history? At last, Glenn Close’s turn?

Streaming giant Netflix could take a major step forward in its quest to be both a distribution king and a purveyor of quality original content if “Roma� becomes its first film to take home a best picture Oscar. “Roma� earned a whopping 10 nods, leading the proceedings in a tie with “The Favourite.� The film earned nominations in several top categories including best director and best actress, also a new high for Netflix.

Amazon Studios already broke through in the best picture category in 2017 with a nomination for “Manchester by the Sea� — but did not grab the win.

A best picture victory for “Roma� would also make history as it would be the first foreign-language film to do so.

And it would be the crown jewel in a rich awards

charming kid and the couple’s adopted daughter who will change the lives of everyone around her.

Behind this engrossing drama is the creative team composed of Creative Director Aloy Adlawan; Creative Consultant Denoy Navarro Punio; Headwriter Gina Marissa Tagasa; Writers Maria Prescilla Hidalgo and Anna Aleta Nadela; and Brainstormers Hilda Marcelino and Roda Sulit Marino.

The series is another original creation of the GMA Drama group under the supervision of Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Drama Redgie AcuĂąa-Magno; Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Senior Program Manager Cathy Ochoa Perez, Executive Producer Omar Sortijas.

Hiram na Anak showcases how a parENT S LOVE REMAINS SELlESS IN THE FACE OF adversity, and how far they will always be willing to go for the sake of their child.

Under the helm of esteemed Director Gil Tejada, Jr. don’t miss the intriguing story of Hiram na Anak beginning today on GMA7.

Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Glenn Close is a veteran stage and screen actress and is revered by her peers. She is a winner of three Emmys, three Golden Globes and three Tony Awards. But Oscar has never smiled on her.

This year, with her seventh nomination, could finally be her year.

Close, 71, earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Joan Castleman, a woman who finds herself at a crossroads in her marriage to an author husband in “The Wife,� opposite a formidable Jonathan Pryce.

She has swept the major prizes so far this awards season, from a Golden Globe in January to a Screen Actors Guild prize to the Critics’ Choice Award she shared with Lady Gaga.

Oscarologists are near-unanimous in their predic-

tion that Close will strike gold. We’ll see when the envelope is opened.

Organizers have promised to try to keep the show at about three hours. We’ll see.

What about Spike Lee?

A-list music performances

Spike Lee is still bitter about what is perceived as one of the most egregious Oscar snubs: the choice of “Driving Miss Daisy� for best picture in 1990, when his “Do The Right Thing� was not nominated.

But this year, his “BlacKkKlansman� is up for six Oscars, and Lee himself was nominated three times: for best picture as a producer, best director and best adapted screenplay.

Lee was given a honorary Oscar a few years ago for lifetime achievement but has never taken home a competitive Academy Award. Many hope his tale of a black cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan will break the unhappy streak.

Lady Gaga, Queen with Adam Lambert, Bette Midler: some of music’s biggest stars will be front and center on Oscars night to perform Oscar-nominated songs, and otherwise entertain the A-listers.

Gaga and Bradley Cooper will sing their power ballad “Shallow� from “A Star Is Born� live for the first time on television.

Midler will do “The Place Where Lost Things Go� from “Mary Poppins Returns,� and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will sing the theme song “I’ll Fight� from the documentary “RBG� about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Also added to the schedule were Queen — “Bohemian Rhapsody,� the story of the band’s rise to fame, earned five nominations including for best picture and best actor (Rami Malek as the late Freddie Mercury).

Kendrick Lamar and SZA had been due to perform their song “All the Stars� from “Black Panther,� but Variety reported that they would not attend, citing a “logistics and timing� issue.

AFP

Is a hostless Oscars a better Oscars?

For the first time in 30 years, the Oscars will go on without a host. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences initially offered the job to Kevin Hart, but backlash over a series of old tweets quickly ended that.

So gala organizers are going without an emcee for the first time since 1989 — a disastrous year remembered for a musical duet between actor Rob Lowe and ... Snow White.

Will the hostless gala mean a shorter gala, which many viewers and industry A-listers have asked for?