THE MANILA TIMES | JANUARY 26, 2019

‘Yes’ vote wins; Bangsamoro law deemed ratified ÂťStory on A2 ++

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019

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Govt raids Maute camp, leader flees

BY DEMPSEY REYES AND AL JACINTO

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ANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY: Government forces seized the camp of the Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute group on Friday AFTER HOURS OF kGHTING in Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.

SAF 44 kin yet to get full cash aid from govt MALACAĂ‘ANG on Friday said it would look into claims THAT kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES OF THE 3!& HAS yet to be given in full by the government. “We will check on the claim[s],â€? Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a text message.

The government, at the same, time vowed that “never again� would it allow a repeat of the incident where 44 elite commandos from the Special Armed Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police were mowed down by Muslim rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Jan. 25, 2015.

(ELEN 2AMACULA MOTHER OF 0OLICE /FkCER 2ODEL

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The age debate: A crisis of labels

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OMEON THE TIMES CONTRARY the problem lies not in the actual substance that constitutes the act, but in how we label and spin it, that is, how we brand it. ÂłContrerasA4

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ANTONIO CONTRERAS

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Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde leads the day of remembrance for the SAF 44, the 44 members of the Special Action Force who died during an encounter with Moro rebels four years ago, at the SAF headquarters in Bicutan, Taguig on Friday.

OWA R D MY SAY the end of 2018, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana surprised keen observers when he declared to the press that it was high time the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States was reviewed.

MAURO GIA SAMONTE

PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

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What’s inside FITCH UNIT: PH ECONOMY ‘UNLIKELY TO GATHER STEAM’ BusinessB1

LifestyleD1

Satisfaction with state institutions up – SWS

REACH US AT:

2018 was fourth hottest year on record — researchers

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³’Caliphate’A8

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

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CONSULAR BALL MARKS 43 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC FELLOWSHIP

HASAKEH, Syria: Military operations against the Islamic State group in Syria are wrapping up and the last pockets of the jihadists’ selfproclaimed “caliphate� will be lUSHED OUT WITHIN A MONTH A TOP commander said.

Mazloum Kobani, the chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spearheading the battle against IS, told AFP that its “special status� should be preserved in any talks with the Damascus government. “The operation of our forces against IS in its last pocket has reached its end and IS fighters are now surrounded in one area,� said Kobani, the top commander of the SDF. With backing from the US-led coalition, the SDF are in the last phase of an operation started on September 10 to defeat the jihadists in their Euphrates Valley bastions in eastern Syria.

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DISGRACING THE TYCOON’S LEGACY

OF EVENING GOWNS AND FILIPINIANA FASHION AT MISS INTERCONTINENTAL

IS ‘caliphate’ dead within a month

PUBLIC satisfaction with top government institutions under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte increased in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Friday.

The SWS survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018 via face-to-face interviews with 1,440 adults nationwide, found 52 perCENT OF &ILIPINOS SATISkED AND PERCENT DISSATISkED ON THE PERFORmance of Duterte’s Cabinet.

The results yielded a net satisfaction rating of “good� +35, 3 points higher than “good� +32 recorded in September. “This is the highest since the GOOD IN $ECEMBER u THE POLLING kRM NOTED

HEROISM REMEMBERED

Lorenzana: OJT at the presidency

US MILITARY:

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The last four years have been the world’s hottest since record-keeping began, with 2018 the fourth warmest on record, according to data published Thursday by US research group Berkeley Earth.

Temperatures in 2018 were around 1.16 degrees Celsius (2.09 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average temperature of the second half of the 19th

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˜ The Manila Times SATURDAY January 26, 2019

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‘YES’ VOTE WINS; BANGSAMORO LAW DEEMED RATIFIED

BOL PLEBISCITE VOTER TURNOUT

Discrepancies resolved in Cotabato City count

TOTAL REGISTERED VOTERS 1. BASILAN 190,861 2. SULU 375,137 3. TAWI-TAWI 209,710 4. LANAO DEL SUR 554,417 5. MAGUINDANAO 652,244 6. COTABATO CITY 113,751 7. ISABELA CITY 71,124 2,167,244

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BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

HE Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvass (NPBC), on Friday, resolved the discrepancies in Cotabato City, which voted to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), along with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

4HE .0"# kNISHED THE TALLY OF ALL #ERTIkCATES OF #ANVASS #O#S from ARMM, which voted as a region, the Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.

In Cotabato City, the “yes� votes won with a total of 36,682, as against 24,994 “no� in the CoCs released by the city plebiscite board of canvassers.

The NPBC resolved the issues on the discrepancy on the number of votes cast for “yes� and “no� votes, and the discrepancy between the total number of registered voters and the total number of registered voters who actually voted in Cotabato City.

The tabulation committee re-

ported that there were two pages of the summary statement of votes (SSOV).

Page one showed that there were 31,013 “yes� votes while page two had 5,651 for a total of 36,082 VOTES WHICH TALLIED WITH THE kGures in the CoC. The “no� votes totalled 24,994 in the CoC, which also tallied with the number of “no� votes in the 33/6 BROKEN DOWN INTO

ON THE kRST PAGE AND ON THE second page. “There was no grand total made by the city plebiscite board of canvassers of Cotabato City. So there is no discrepancy as far as the voters are concerned, your honor,� the

tabulation committee said.

The committee also said that there was no discrepancy in the total number of registered voters and the total number of registered voters who cast their ballots.

The committee said that based on those it had audited, there were certain SSOVs that did not have entries for the number of registered voters who actually voted FOR SPECIkC CLUSTERED PRECINCTS AND were left blank, which made the data incomplete.

The audit group recommended for the approval of the correction sheet prepared by the tabulation committee in relation to the statistical data on the total number of registered voters and those who actually voted considering that the plebiscite committee was not able to complete its data.

The NPBC declared the alleged “discrepancy� as a “formal defect� and ordered the turnover of all pertinent election documents to the tabulation committee for correction.

The ARMM, composed of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-

Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, voted as one region where the “yes votes won overwhelmINGLY WITH

AS AGAINST

gNOu VOTES /F THE kVE !2-- PROVINCES

the “no� votes won only in Sulu.

The victory, however, was rendered moot as Sulu would remain part of the envisioned Bangsamoro ARMM or Barmm.

Only Isabela City will not become part of the proposed Barmm as 22,441 voted “no� as against 19,032 for “yes.�

ARMM voters were asked: “Do you agree to ratify Republic Act 11054?�

Isabela City and Cotabato City voters were asked if they wanted to include their respective cities in Barmm.

A second plebiscite will be held on February 6 in Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City, covering the municipalities of Baloi, Monai, Nunungan, Pantar, Taguilowan and Pangkal, and the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan, including Tolanan, all from North Cotabato.

Q SWS FROM A1

Satisfaction The SWS said the three-point increase in the overall net satisfaction rating of the Cabinet resulted from increases in Metro Manila and the Visayas, combined with a steady score in Balance Luzon and a slight decline in Mindanao.

The Cabinet’s net satisfaction rating rose from moderate to good in Metro Manila, up by 12 points from +23 in September to +35 in December.

4HE 373 SURVEY ALSO FOUND percent satisfied and 13 percent dissatisfied on the performance of the Senate, registering a “very good� +58 net satisfaction score, up by 10 points from “good� +48 in September.

This, according to SWS, was the HIGHEST SINCE THE gVERY GOODu in August 2012.

It said the 10-point increase in the Senate’s net satisfaction resulted from increases in all areas, especially in Metro Manila.

On the House of RepresentaTIVES PERFORMANCE PERCENT WERE SATISFIED AND PERCENT WERE DISSATISkED GARNERING A NET satisfaction rating of “good� +40, up by 4 points from September’s “good� +36.

The SWS said the House of Representatives’ latest score was the highest since the “good� +42 in June 2016. “The four-point rise in the overall net satisfaction rating of the House of Representatives was due to increases in Metro Manila and the Visayas, combined with steady scores in Mindanao and Balance Luzon,� it added.

Meanwhile, the SWS poll showed a six-point increase on the Supreme Court’s performance rating.

The court received a net satisFACTION SCORE OF gGOODu PERCENT SATISkED PERCENT DISSATISkED “The six-point improvement in the overall net satisfaction rating of the Supreme Court was due to increases in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and the Visayas, combined with a slight decline in Mindanao,� the polling firm said.

The tribunal’s net satisfaction rating rose from moderate to good in Metro Manila, up by 13 points from +22 in September to +35 in December.

The survey used sampling error margins of Âą2.6 percent for national percentages and Âą5 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

NO NOYNOY

Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, daughter of the late president Corazon Aquino, addresses the crowd during the 86th birthday celebration of the democracy icon at the Manila Memorial Park in ParaĂąaque City on January 25. Her brother, former president Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino 3rd, skipped the rites.

PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

Q HOTTEST FROM A1

2018 century, from 1850 to 1900, often used as a pre-industrial baseline for global temperature targets. “Global mean temperature in 2018 was colder than 2015, 2016, AND BUT WARMER THAN EVERY

previously observed year prior to 2015,� the report said. “Consequently, 2016 remains the warmest year in the period of historical observations. The slight DECLINE IN IS LIKELY TO RElECT short-term natural variability, but the overall pattern remains consistent with a long-term trend towards global warming.�

The US government normally conducts a similar analysis, but the partial shutdown of operations over a budgetary impasse has put a hold on it for now.

The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service pubLISHED ITS OWN DATA ON *ANUARY that also found 2015 to 2018 to be the hottest years on record. AFP

Leonen won’t inhibit from Bangsamoro cases THE government’s former chief negotiator in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who now handles petitions assailing the legality and constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will not recuse himself from hearing these motions.

According to well-placed sources of The Manila Times in the tribunal, Supreme Court Justice Mario Victor Leonen will also be the ponente of rulings on the petitions.

In 2012 and 2015, Leonen inhibited from cases involving the framework of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The Supreme Court released a statement in 2015 that said Leonen shall voluntary inhibit himself from all pending and future cases related to the Framework and Comprehensive Agreements on the Bangsamoro and the BBL. Leonen served as the chairman of the government negotiating panel that sealed the Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro (FAB).

This time, The Manila Times source said, Leonen will not inhibit from the cases since the FAB that he handled before is different from the BOL. The tribunal has already ordered the consolidation of the two petitions of the Philippine Constitutional Association (Philconsa) AND THE kRST PETITION THAT WAS kLED before the court by the province of Sulu, duly represented by its governor, Abdusakur Tan 2nd.

4HE 4AN PETITION WAS RAFlED OFF to Leonen, but since it is the lowest docket number it will absorb the Philconsa petition, along WITH THE INTERVENTION kLED BY THE Philippine Association of Islamic Accountants (PAIA), which took the stand of the government and even asked for the junking of the petitions lodged by the Sulu provincial government and the Philconsa..

Commissioner Manuelito Luna of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and PAIA President Amanoding Esmail represented the intervenors.

The Philconsa is represented by Justice Manuel Lazaro, who has been recognized by the Supreme #OURT TO kLE AND OR HANDLE CASES on constitutional issues impressed WITH PUBLIC INTEREST AND OR OF TRANscendental importance.

Named respondents in the

Govt raids Maute camp, leader flees and 82nd Infantries — clashed with a group of militants under Abu Dar, who was one of the leaders that laid siege in Marawi #ITY IN (E SAID kGHTING BROKE OUT ON Thursday after troops tracked down Dar’s group on a remote village in the town.

Sultan Dumalondong is 50 kilometers away from Marawi City.

Antipala said there were reports that an undetermined number of militants were slain in the clash. “There are enemy casualties, but we still do not know how many were dead or wounded from the side of Abu Dar’s group. Pursuit operation is going on,� he said.

Brawner called on the villagers to stay vigilant as troops were tracking down the militants. “We are calling on the public not to panic and not to evacuate because we have everything under control,� he said.

Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, commander of the 1st ID, said the clash was the result of the government’s “relentless campaign� against the militants.

Amid the military operation, two militants, one of then a teenager, surrendered to the 49th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, in the town of Butig, also in Lanao del Sur. The duo admitted that they fought against security forces durING THE kVE MONTH -ARAWI SIEGE that left hundreds of militants and soldiers dead and wounded.

They were being interrogated at an undisclosed military base.

‘No longer capable’ Brawner claimed the group was “no longer capable� of mounting large-scale attacks, but said Abu Dar’s group remained a threat.

Brawner’s unit, including the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion,

PERCENTAGE OF VOTER TURNOUT 81.98% 80.28% 77.17% 92.56% 93.35% 54.22% 58.70% 85.13%

Source: Commission on Elections

Q MAUTE FROM A1

But Owayda Benito Marohombsar, also known as Abu Dar, the Maute leader, escaped along with at least 20 of his men, the military said.

Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the camp was seized at about 5:20 a.m. on Friday.

Troops found in the Maute base several foxholes, running trenches, bunkers, personal belongings of THE TERRORISTS AND A BLACK )3 lAG They also spotted a training camp behind the Maute encampment itself, believed to be where minors recruited by the bandits were being trained.

Three Maute men were killed while three soldiers were wounded.

Capt. Clint Antipala, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division (ID), said fighting erupted in Sultan Dumalondong town where two army battalions — the 55th

VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY VOTED 156,468 301,157 161,823 513,155 608,846 61,676 41,748 1,844,873

started its operations against Abu Dar’s group on Wednesday evening in Barangay Sumalindao in Sultan Dumalondong.

While pursuing its operations, the military forces encountered about 24 members of the Maute group under Abu Dar, triggering a firefight and deployment of air assets that lasted for at least 10 hours.

Abu Dar is reportedly the successor of Isnilon Hapilon as emir of the IS in southeast Asia. Hapilon WAS KILLED DURING THE SIEGE Mindanao is still under martial law after the Armed Forces recommended an extension until the end of 2019, which Congress overwhelmingly approved.

The military claims that communities around Lake Lanao have realized the repercussions of violent extremism. “After massive information dissemination, people are now aware of the destruction brought by these

case are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives that are headed

by Sen. Vicente Sotto 3rd and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, respectively.

The petitioners argued that Congress has committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the passage of the BOL. In their current petition for CERTIORARI AND PROHIBITION kLED by the Philconsa, they asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order that will stop the respondents from implementing the law, which will change the name of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or Barmm.

The Philconsa also sought the court’s intervention after hearing the case by issuing a writ of preliminary injunction “enjoining the implementation of the unconstitutional and void RA (Republic Act) 11054 and EO (Executive Order) 120, as amended creating public offices only Congress has the mandate to create.�

In its arguments, it pointed out that the BOL violates Sections 18 AND OF !RTICLE 8 OF THE Constitution that authorized the enactment of only one Organic Act to establish the ARMM. Establishing a parliamentary form of government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Philconsa said, violates the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.

It argued that the ARMM and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were created by the Constitution and that they are the only autonomous regions recognized by the fundamental law.

Since the Constitution is the paramount law, the Philconsa said, “any exercise of power of the legislative and the executive departments or any of their respective functionaries beyond what is circumscribed by the the Constitution and the law is unconstitutional, and a nullity.�

It added that even deliberations of the Constitutional Commission THAT DRAFTED THE #ONSTITUTION were crystal clear that the creation of the ARMM and the CAR could not BE DEkED OR SUPPLANTED BY #ONGRESS JOMAR CANLAS violent extremists. Communities now willingly give out information to government troops to rid their communities of terrorists,� said Brawner. “With the support we are receiving from the populace, we are moving forward to liberate communities of the [Maute] remnants, he added.

Brawner believes that sustained military operations — both combat and civil-military — will be a cornerstone in his campaign against the terrorist remnants. “Despite their losses, we are not discounting the possibility of spoiling attacks in retaliation to our latest exploit. We expect the terrorists to attack indiscriminately, targeting Muslims and Christians communities alike,�

Brawner remarked. “We will weaken their will to kGHT EITHER THROUGH LETHAL OR NON lethal means. We will take them out of their comfort zones until they have no other option but to die or return to the folds of the law,� Brawner stated.

WITH MASIDING NOOR YAHYA AND ASA MADALE

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SATURDAY January 26, 2019

A3

Improve tax collection efficiency – JV Ejercito SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Friday urged the government to collect taxes efficiently and go after tax evaders, instead of implementing the second wave of the fuel excise tax increase. “Instead of fuel excise tax increase, why not implement a no-nonsense campaign against big time tax evaders and avoiders? It’s the government’s mandate to collect, it’s their (evaders) obligation to pay under the law,� Ejercito said in a statement.

The second tranche of fuel excise tax under Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2017, imposed an excise tax of P2.50 per liter for diesel and P7 per liter for gasoline.

By January 2019, the excise tax

on diesel and gasoline will increase

by P4.50 per liter and P9 per liter, respectively.

Ejercito said the increase in fuel excise tax was responsible for the high cost of goods last year, thus “[it does not make sense] to increase it again.� “Efficient and right collection of taxes and running after tax cheaters should be the strategy. So, let’s suspend the implementation of the fuel excise tax increase temporarily and embark on an effective, efficient, and correct collection of taxes.

And, at the same time, launch a serious, sustained, and no let-up campaign against tax evaders,� he pointed out.

Ejercito called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs to seriously and relentlessly run after big time tax evaders and avoiders.

Bill to double number of female police officers THE House Committee on Public Order and Safety has approved a bill seeking to increase to 20 percent the number of female recruits, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to create 10,000 extra positions for Police /FkCER 0/ House Bill (HB) 8689, authored by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, seeks to amend the 21-year-old PNP Reform Law that reserves for women only 10 percent of all new slots for recruits.

The committee chaired by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, a retired police chief superintendent, endorsed the bill for immediate plenary passage. “Besides giving women greater opportunity to join the PNP, our intention here is to push up the absolute NUMBER OF FEMALE OFkCERS IN THE FORCE over time,� Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that at present, the 0.0 HAS ONLY FEMALE OFkCERS

accounting for less than 12 percent of the entire force of 194,410.

Camp Crame is set to spend P3 billion this year to create the 10,000 extra positions for PO1. “We want the PNP to achieve the IDEAL SITUATION WHEREIN FEMALE OFkcers shall have exclusive supervision over women and children brought to police stations for custodial investigation,� Pimentel said.

Custodial investigation refers to any questioning initiated by the

police after a person has been taken into custody. “In other countries with superior safeguards against potential abuse, MALE OFkCERS FOR INSTANCE CANNOT just take custody of a young girl.

They are encouraged if not required TO LOOK FOR A FEMALE OFkCER TO ESCORT the minor,� Pimentel said.

Pimentel and nine other lawmakers kLED (" IN .OVEMBER AFTER A MALE OFkCER IN -ANILA WAS ACCUSED OF RAPING a 15-year-old girl whose parents were apprehended for alleged drug offenses.

The girl was also brought to the Sampaloc police station even if there was no case against her.

At the station, then PO1 Eduardo Valencia offered to have sex with her, so that the case against her parents would be dropped. The girl was then brought to a motel in Sta. Mesa where she was raped.

Valencia has since been slapped with a statutory rape charge and dismissed from service.

The co-authors of HB 8689 are Representatives Alexandria Gonzales (Mandaluyong City), Chiqui RoaPuno (Antipolo City), Marlyn Alonte (Biliran), Ann Hofer (Zamboanga Sibugay), Victoria Isabel Noel (AN Waray), Bernadette Herrera (BH), Vini Nola Ortega (Abono) and Francisco Josef Matugas 2nd (Surigao del Norte).

PROTEST

Members of various organizations stage a rally at the gate of the Senate in Pasay City to protest the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9 or 12 years old. PHOTO BY RUSSEL PALMA

Junk MACR bill, rights groups tell senators C

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

HILDREN’S rights advocates Save the Children Philippines (SCP) on Friday urged the Senate to reject the efforts of Congress to lower the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) from 15 years old to either 9 or 12 years old.

Speaking before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, SCP said lowering the MACR would result in the stigmatization of children and would place undue burden on the country’s justice and social welfare system. “We believe that lowering the MACR will result in criminalizing more and younger children, which has a profound impact on their well-being and development, and place a massive demand on our justice and social welfare system that is already struggling to properly implement the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act [of 2006],�

SCP’s Wilma Banaga said.

Banaga said children who per-

ceive themselves as criminals would likely to continue to engage in deviant behaviors particularly with their peers.

SCP also lamented that despite the passage of Republic Act (RA) 10630, the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006,� the needed facilities and programs for children in conflict with the law remained inadequate.

Banaga cited data from the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council which showed that of the required 114, there were only 58 operational Bahay Pag-asa (House of Hope), of which only eight were accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and three were operated by non-

ACT Teachers hit proposal to exclude members from election duties ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to “stay true to the rules� after a former lawmaker appealed to prohibit ACT teachers from serving as poll workers in the midterm elections in May. Tinio and Castro raised concern after former Rep. Mohammad Omar Albano Fajardo of Tao Muna partylist filed a petition before the Comelec saying that Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) who are ACT Teachers members would cause “due advantage� in favor of their (ACT Teachers) party.

In his petition dated January 24, Fajardo said that there are nonpartisan teachers or government employees who can perform the duties of a BEI member.

“This attack against members of ACT which tries to prohibit them from serving as poll workers ultimately aims to discriminate by mere affiliation to a legitimate teachers’ organization instead of its claims to prevent partisanship,�

Castro said on Friday.

Similarly, Tinio said the attempt to prohibit teachers who are members of ACT from serving in elections is “blatantly discriminatory and violates constitutionally protected rights, including freedom of association and the right to unionize.�

Tinio maintained that his group and ACT Teachers are separate entities, with the former a sectoral party-list group and the latter a public sector union.

Both, he said, are duly organized and recognized under separate

laws. “Public school teachers who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers should not be prohibited from serving in the 2019 elections for being mere members of a teachers’ organization that genuinely protects and fights for their rights and welfare,�

Tinio added.

Earlier this month, ACT members reported that authorities had been surveying around schools and profiling those who are part of the organization, as they were directed by a certain memorandum to do so. “Discrimination against teachers because of their affiliations are prohibited under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, laws on public sector unionism and even in international laws,� Castro said.

GLEE JALEA

government organizations.

Bahay Pag-asa is 24-hour caring institutions for children with pending cases in court or children who were committed by the court who are above 12 but below 15 years old who committed serious crimes as enumerated in RA 10630 or have repeat offenses.

Similarly, the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns also opposed the MACR of children in CONlICT WITH THE LAW #)#, In a position paper submitted to the Gordon panel, Salinlahi said that a number of studies had disproved the claims of the proponents of the amendment to lower down MACR that “children, as young as 9 to 12 years old can act with discernment, comprehending fully well the consequences of their actions.�

Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd underscored the need to pass a new law that would address the need to save children from committing crimes, as the prevailing juvenile justice law did not result in bringing down the number of crimes committed

by minors, many of which were violent in nature.

Sotto has kLED A BILL SEEKING TO lower the age of criminal liability from the current 15 to 13 years old. “The objective is not to incarcerate children, but to place them in Bahay Pag-asa facilities across the country where they would be rehabilitated and given a chance to enjoy normal lives,� Sotto said. “Part of the bill is to upgrade these facilities which the current law failed to address,� he added.

In 2017, Senate Minority Leader &RANKLIN $RILON kLED A SIMILAR BILL lowering the minimum age to 12 years old.

The proposals of Sotto and Drilon are higher than the Houseapproved proposal, which was 9 years old. Psychologists, pro-child groups and social workers opposed this, saying a child’s brain has not yet fully developed at adolescence and that the problem is the law’s implementation.

Gordon said that his panel was likely to come out with a report and recommendations on the proposal to lower the MACR.

Miners want action vs illegal small-scale mining THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) on Friday urged government anew to intensify the campaign against illegal small-scale mining activities after a landslide left four people dead and three miners missing during the height of Tropical Depression “Amang� in Mount Mahupaw, Agusan del Norte.

In a statement, COMP said such incidents could have been avoided if small-scale mining activities, including their safety practices and environmental performance, were closely monitored under the Minahang Bayan setup recognized by the government.

Minahang Bayan refers to a common area where small-scale miners are permitted.

COMP, composed of the country’s largest mining companies, argued that small-scale mining does not follow the same stringent safety and environment standards required of legitimate large-scale mining operators.

It said the operations of small-scale

mining were the main contributors to the poor image of the entire mining industry in the Philippines. “The Mines and Geosciences Bureau estimates that more than 60 percent of the gold mined in the Philippines are from unregulated [small-scale mining] operations. Apart from endangering the lives of poor mining workers and destroying the environment, illegal [small-scale mining] do not pay taxes,� COMP said.

Under the law for small-scale mining, only three metallic minerals are allowed — gold, silver and chromite.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources designates the Minahang Bayan upon the endorsement of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Boards (PMRBs). Republic Act 7076 or the Minahang Bayan Law gives the PMRB the authority to, among others, formulate and implement rules and regulations related to small-scale mining.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Prevailing interest rate for loans Dear PAO, I obtained a loan from my neighbor in August 2017. I was asked to sign an acknowledgment receipt stating that I obtained a loan from my neighbor in the amount of P300,000.00, with interest and payable within one year. I was able to pay P200,000.00, but still owe him P100,000 plus interest. I received a letter from my neighbor last week informing me that I have to pay him P100,000.00 plus 12 percent interest rate per annum.

A good friend of mine told me that I only need to pay 6 percent interest since our loan agreement and the acknowledgment

DEAR PAO PERSIDA ACOSTA receipt failed to state the rate of interest I need to pay. However, my neighbor is insisting that I have to pay him 12 percent interest. I am so confused right now. Do I need to pay 12 or 6 percent interest rate? Please enlighten me.

Simeone Dear Simeone, To answer your question, we shall

refer to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monetary Board Resolution 796, dated May 16, 2013, the pertinent portion of which reads: “Section 1. The rate of interest for the loan or forbearance of any money, goods or credits and the rate allowed in judgments, in the absence of an express contract as to such rate of interest, shall be six percent (6%) per annum. xxx xxx xxx This Circular shall take effect on 1 July 2013.� xxx xxx xxx (Emphases supplied) It is clear from this cited circular that in the absence of an express stipulation as to the rate of interest, the rate of legal interest for

loan or forbearance of any money, goods or credits shall only be 6 percent per annum effective on July 1, 2013. In the case of Spouses Salvador and Alma Abella vs.

Spouses Romeo and Annie Abella (GR 195166, July 8, 2015), the Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen elucidated: “1. When the obligation is breached, and it consists in the payment of a sum of money, i.e., a loan or forbearance of money, the interest due should be that which may have been stipulated in writing. Furthermore, the interest due shall itself earn legal interest from the time it is judicially demanded.

In the absence of stipulation, the

rate of interest shall be 6% per annum to be computed from default, i.e., from judicial or extrajudicial demand under and subject to the provisions of Article 1169 of the Civil Code. xxx “Thus, it remains that where interest was stipulated in writing by the debtor and creditor in a simple loan or mutuum, but no exact interest rate was mentioned, the legal rate of interest shall apply. At present, this is 6% per annum. xxx� (Emphases supplied) Applying the abovementioned circular and decision in your situation, the 12 percent interest rate being demanded by your neighbor is excessive and exorbitant.

At present, the legal interest rate for loan or forbearance of money, in the absence of any stipulation between the parties, is at 6 percent per annum.

7E kND IT NECESSARY TO MENTION that this opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Thus, the opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

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

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l Economic slowdown spells 2019 budget passage ‘ASAP’

T

HE SIGNIkCANT SLOWDOWN IN THE COUNTRY S ECOnomic growth in the fourth quarter and the full year of 2018 makes it even more imperative for Congress to pass the 2019 budget now than when we kRST ISSUED ALARM OVER ITS DELAY /PERATING UNDER A gREENACTED BUDGETu HAS BECOME a fortunately rare occurrence in the Philippines. The CURRENT BUDGET IMPASSE IS THE kRST IN NINE YEARS IT HAPpened three times during the term of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Arroyo. A reenacted budget simply means that the same amount of budget FOR IS BEING USED FOR THE kSCAL YEAR WHICH runs concurrently with the calendar) until the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is signed into law.

Our system avoids the sort of utter chaos the US is now experiencing by at least providing a legal means by which almost all of the day-to-day functions of government can continue. There is, otherwise, nothing positive about a reenacted budget.

Under a reenacted budget, most new programs and projects for this year cannot be funded. This is a serious problem, as the government’s economic team is counting on increased government spending to boost economic growth. Late last year, when it became apparent that the 2018 budget would have to be reenacted, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno estimated THAT THERE WOULD BE A kVE MONTH gIMPLEMENTATION GAPu AS A RESULT 4HIS MEANS ESSENTIALLY THAT IF THE 2019 budget were passed today, the government’s infrastructure and other developmental projects could not start until after the midterm elections in May. Apart from infrastructure projects, some of the key programs that will be delayed due to a lack of authorized funding include the Universal Health Care, implementaTION OF THE 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION !CT ‡ WHICH IS BEING COUNTED ON AS A KEY INlATION REDUCING TOOL ‡ AND FUNDING FOR THE implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. A slowdown or delay in government spending has some direct negative effects on consumer spending as well. Increases in salaries for government workers and service personnel cannot be implemented until the budget is passed. Likewise, new jobs, procurement and service contracts created by projects and programs under the 2019 budget will also be delayed.

Given that the budget is a cash-based system, which requires that funded programs be able to complete THEIR PROCUREMENT WITHIN THE SAME kSCAL YEAR THE longer the budget is delayed, the more likely it will be for some projects not to be implemented at all, or will be delayed until 2020.

The current status of the 2019 budget is that both the House and the Senate have advanced their own versions of the GAA, making it imperative to resolve the differences between them in a bicameral conference in order TO CREATE A SINGLE kNAL VERSION ! MEETING OF THE BICAMeral committee was held on Tuesday, but failed to reach an agreement. No information about when the next meeting would be held has been provided since then.

This is hardly acceptable. Given the critical imporTANCE OF kNALIZING THE BUDGET AT THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME THE LAWMAKERS TASKED WITH kNE TUNING THE VERSION to be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature should not be allowed the luxury of holding intermittent discussions. Their duty now is to convene at once, and not adjourn until this work is completed.

The well-being of tens of millions of Filipinos, as well as of the nation’s economy as a whole depend on it. ~

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 106

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 EVELYN A. FAUNI, Vice President for Finance RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

On reviewing the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty AMBASSADORS’ D CORNER

EFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s call for a review of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty was both refreshing and perplexing. Refreshing because such a call has hitherto mostly come from civilian analysts and observers. Perplexing because his reported reason is that the MDT is out of date having been meant for the Cold War. That is to say, that such a review was overdue because the Cold War has long been over.

Secretary Lorenzana was also reported to have said that the review could possibly lead to the treaty’s abrogation. In fact, if it cannot be made relevant to the circumstances that have changed and are not covered by the treaty, why, one may ask, keep it? Why even review it at all?

My colleague Ambassador Al-

JAIME J. YAMBAO berto Encomienda has contended that the MDT has long lapsed, the conditions in consideration of which it was negotiated having long disappeared. The MDT provision that it expires one year after either party serves notice is a mere procedural formality.

The shortcomings of the current MDT are well known. They are incomprehensible to many who know that other MDTS that the US has with other countries address the issues concerned. The lack of an automatic retaliation clause had been complained about from the very beginning. That the coverage

of the treaty does not include the country’s claims for sovereignty and sovereign rights over territory in the South China Sea is a failing that has been sorely and widely lamented.

Would amending the MDT to kLL THESE HOLES AT THIS TIME SERVE a meaningful purpose or even be possible? There is no enthusiasm among the South China Sea claimants, including China, to attack and go to war against each other, as such would nullify the tremendous economic gains that each one has been making.

Reversing his predecessors’ policy of silence, then President Obama issued a statement that the United States was taking no sides in the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Even after the ruling of the arbitration panel in The Hague upholding the Philippines’ entitlements under

the UN Convention on the Law OF THE 3EA 5NCLOS AND kNDING China’s nine-dash-line claim to have no legal basis, the Trump government issued a statement maintaining Obama’s position.

Being an ally of the United States, as pointed out by the treaty’s critics, especially if it entails the stationing of US troops and the stockpiling of strategic weapons in the country, could make the country a target of attack. Furthermore, it opens the possibility of the country and region becoming an arena of the contest for hegemony among the big powers, resulting in an avoidable catastrophe.

What we should undertake is a serious examination of the question: Must we ally ourselves with the United States, a country from outside our region, which no one

ÂłYambaoA5

Q CONTRERAS FROM A1

The age debate: A crisis of labels The divisive debate currently raging over the issue of the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility appears to be caused less by its actual intent, but more by how it is being framed by its proponents. And the root of the unnecessary noise is found in the title of the proposal, that it is being branded as one that seeks to reduce the age by which someone can be held criminally responsible, when in fact, its real purpose is something else.

Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, the chairman of the House Committee on Justice, which approved the proposal, was quoted as saying, “We are not putting children in jail, but in reformative institutions to correct their ways and bring them back to the community. They will not be branded as criminals but children IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW u Sen. Richard Gordon, Leachon’s counterpart in the Senate who vowed to deliver what Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has confirmed to be what President Rodrigo Duterte wants by June despite reservations expressed by majority of his colleagues, was also quoted as saying, “Hindi nangangahulugan na kapag ibinaba ang age of criminal responsibility ay ikukulong kaagad. Merong proseso pa iyan.

Nandyan pa ang rehabilitation. (It doesn’t mean that if we lower the age of criminal responsibility that the children will be immediately jailed. There is a process that still needs to be followed. First, there is REHABILITATION u Thus, it is clear from Leachon and Gordon that the intent of the law is not to treat children as criminals that deserve jail time, but as juvenile delinquents that should be rehabilitated. The problem lies not in the intent of the proposal, but in how it is named, as to be construed that its main purview is on reducing the age of criminal responsibility, thereby implying

that children would now be treated legally as criminals.

The confusion, therefore, emanates from what can be seen as the legislator’s deliberate intent to bow down to the imprimatur emanating from the President, who has repeatedly stated his wish that the age of criminal responsibility be lowered from the currently prescribed 15 years old. But, in fact, the substance of the proposal is actually to simply strengthen the juvenile justice system so that CHILDREN WHO kND THEMSELVES IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW ARE NOW SUBjected to mandatory rehabilitation.

This would then be an amendment to the Pangilinan law, in which CHILDREN IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW but who are under 15 years old would merely be subjected to prescribed interventions under the care of parents or guardians and through the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). That is unless they have committed serious offenses, in which case they would be placed in rehabilitation centers or Bahay Pag-Asa. Thus, for all intents and purposes, the proposal is technically not a reduction of the age of criminal liability, considering that the children will not be labeled as criminals, and that they will not be punished with incarceration. After all, to subject these children to criminal responsibility is to make them fall under the ambit of penal laws that mandate imprisonment for serious offenses, and where those found guilty are labeled as convicted criminals. Both the House and Senate versions clearly do not prescribe these.

The problem, therefore, is in the labeling, as well as the spin. The opponents of the measure naturally would react to the manner by which the proposal is being framed by its proponents and supporters.

One can, therefore, argue that

what we have is actually a crisis in branding, in that people and messages are confused simply because there is a disparity between the intent of the law and how we have labeled it. This unnecessarily creates disagreements when, in fact, at the end of the day, the real intent is something that is acceptable to those who oppose the measure.

After all, there is no debate that chilDREN IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW SHOULD be reformed in well-equipped rehabilitation facilities.

However, the confusion and animosity resulting from a crisis in branding may also be the result of people deliberately branding an issue as a crisis to a point that one could even suspect an attempt to manufacture it for political purposes, perhaps as a diversionary tactic.

Everyone agrees that children IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW DESERVE attention from government. But to paint the problem as if it had reached a critical moment, and to cast it no longer as a social challenge that required a more developmentalist and programmatic response, but as a key menacing problem of monster killer children threatening our very security that necessitated punitive and legalistic measures, is very problematic, and is not matched by actual data.

Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicates that from 2006 until 2015, more than 98 percent of all crimes reported to the police were crimes committed by adults, not children. This does not support the argument that the PROPOSED MEASURE WILL SIGNIkCANTLY reduce crime. Furthermore, the claim that the incidence of children IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW IS INCREASING is belied by the fact that the percentage of crimes committed by children declined from 6.2 percent in 2002 to 1.72 percent in 2015.

Anecdotal evidence deployed by proponents and supporters of the measure paint a growing menace

of child criminals engaged in serious offenses, yet according to the PNP, the crimes most committed by children from 2017 to 2018 were physical injury, theft and damage to property, even as there were fewer rapes and drug cases reported. In fact, the number of rescued children from drug-related offenses amounts to only 0.61 percent when compared to the total number of people involved in drugs who underwent rehabilitation programs from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2018.

Yet, this phenomenon is now branded as a crisis to the extent that no less than the President has issued a directive, and to which Speaker Arroyo and Sen. Gordon are all but willing to comply and yield. The crisis appears to be compelling enough for House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro to diminish science and treat it as inferior to his own anecdotal experiences. “I see a lot of children in the streets, even in the tunnel, Ayala tunnel, you will see a lot of children in the morning. And in the news, mayroong rape doon, mayroong robbery doon. (There’s rape there, there’s robbery there.) How could there be more probative than what you see as distinguished AS THE SCIENCE AS BASIS ;SIC=u #ASTRO BOLDLY ASKED WITH THE CONkDENCE and erudition of an expert.

What is now effectively deployed is a climate of fear of monster children, instead of an air of understanding toward child-victims who ARE BEING OBJECTIkED AND EXPLOITED by a criminal culture.

We saw how fear prevailing over solid science has wreaked havoc in our vaccination program. If we believe that fear trumping science led to irrational acts, then we must not have it repeated in the case of CHILDREN IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW We must not allow legislated fear to negate science on human and child development.

˜ The Manila Times SATURDAY January 26, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net Q SAMONTE FROM A1

S

Q Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (center) is welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua (in maroon Chinese-style coat) Rear Admiral Xu Haihua and Rear Admiral Du Naihua (left), and commanders of the task group (right) when he went to visit the contingent of visiting Chinese Navy missile frigates at Manila’s South Harbor on January 17.

Choosing among the four is ouster of Duterte — due to failing “WTF!� from a vantage point at the US legation as he watched crucial at this stage when whispers health, among other reasons.

In this context, Secretary Lo- Lorenzana being welcomed by about President Duterte having to renzana’s recent actions are com- Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jian- give way to someone else for the pletely intelligible. Earlier taunted hua, Rear Admiral Xu Haihua and post are getting louder every day. as being an Amboy, he seems to Rear Admiral Du Naihua, and My informant swears he got this dossier from a member of PMA have executed a turnaround with commanders of the task group.

In solo majesty, Secretary Lo- #LASS @ TO WHOM THE 0RESIDENT his sudden proposal for a review of the MDT. The treaty works so renzana walked the red carpet laid manifests deep friendship. “Something is being cooked,� well for the US that it is better left out for him to review the honor untouched. So, you would not guard, while the commanders of my informant avers. “Why is Class propose to review it if you were an the task group maintained their @ ALL OVER 4HE #HIEF OF 3TAFF IS American stooge, would you? Very distance off the carpet as they FROM #LASS @ 4HE #HIEF OF THE !RMY IS FROM #LASS @ SO ARE THE matched his stride.

Duterte-like, you might even say.

Reports called the event a rou- Chiefs of Police and of Air Force. In Now, on January 17 this new YEAR THE %SCORT 4ASK 'ROUP %4' tine visit. My say? An occasion for fact, the entire division of the AFP 539 of the China’s People’s Libera- seeking patterns in succession to in Southern Luzon is controlled BY #LASS @ 4HIS IS BECAUSE IF TION !RMY 0,! .AVY CONSISTING the Philippine presidency.

Sorting data on past presidential she is prevented from assuming of missile frigates Wuhu and Handan and replenishment ship successions, we come to determine the presidency the moment it is Dongpinghu arrived in Manila. the following dominant patterns: vacated, then Leni would declare 1. From Defense Secretary – 2 a revolutionary government based Protocol would place the arrival as a goodwill visit, if done by one TIMES 2AMON -AGSAYSAY IN IN "ICOL #LASS @ IS THERE TO FOREstall this Leni move.� symbolic vessel. Done by a contin- &IDEL 6 2AMOS IN Lorenzana’s current moves do 2. From Vice President – 2 gent composed of missile frigates, with a replenishment ship to boot, TIMES #ARLOS 0 'ARCIA IN betray that something big is hapthat visit should amount to some- upon Magsaysay’s death; Joseph pening hidden from the public eye. Whatever it is, we don’t know %STRADA IN thing more than goodwill.

3. From Senate President – 2 yet. But it must be something on What?

TIMES $IOSDADO -ACAPAGAL IN which the continued existence of A show of force?

The idea is not far-fetched. I &ERDINAND % -ARCOS IN the MDT bears so heavily that it &ROM A MILITARY COUP m must be abrogated now and, at the remember sometime in March last year, a US Los Angeles class attack TIMES #ORAZON !QUINO IN same time, the quick cementing submarine, the USS Bremerton, 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO IN of a military alliance with China.

Moreover — and this could be If this be the regla 4AGALOG FOR docked at Subic Bay for, what was reported as a routine port visit. PATTERN FOR SUCCEEDING 0RESIDENT the overbearing concern Secretary China, having gained control of Duterte, then the chances are Lorenzana is addressing with his the Scarborough Shoal beginning even-steven for the following: One current efforts — such firming in 2012, expressed strongly worded who may be anybody, even you or up of military ties with China concern over the matter. Scarbor- me, so long as we are backed up is a necessity for cementing as a by the Armed Forces of the Phil- HAPPY CONSEQUENCE THE BENEkTS ough is just a sail-by from Subic.

In like manner, in this current IPPINES !&0 3ENATE 0RESIDENT the Philippines has already gained discussion, the ETG 539 of the PLA Tito Sotto; Vice President Leni from the ceaseless Chinese push of Navy was just a wave away from Robredo; and Defense Secretary the Belt and Road Initiative in this the US embassy Sunday last week $ELkN ,ORENZANA )NCIDENTALLY corner of the world.

It is no mean job the guy is when Defense Secretary Lorenzana former senator Bongbong Marcos went aboard the frigate Wuhu, remains a dark horse, given that his doing. It is practicing already docked at Pier 15 of the South electoral protest at the Presidential the art of statecraft.

As a diehard Lorenzana follower Harbor. Somebody using simple %LECTORAL 4RIBUNAL 0%4 MAY STILL would put it, “OJT at the presidency.� binoculars could have cussed SWING IN HIS FAVOR

Q YAMBAO FROM A4

On reviewing the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty else in our neighborhood is doing?

Aren’t there alternative options?

In the past, the country could claim that its alliance with the US was a service to the region because it maintained the balance of power in this part of the world. As President Duterte has recently revealed, he has been asked by leaders from neighboring countries why bring in the Americans to interfere in the affairs of the region? With the region consisting of a nascent superpower and a constellation

of middle powers, the idea of the US as a balancer is questionable.

2EGIONAL PROBLEMS SHOULD kND regional solutions. Ambassador Encomienda, in a new monograph, proposes for Southeast Asia the revival of a regional collective security system envisioned in the UN Charter.

He thus advocates that Asean take ownership of the South China Sea question. The Philippines should take the lead in this endeavor.

We ourselves have recalled in a previous article that appeared in this corner the declaration by

the Asean Founding Fathers of Asean as a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality. The MDT contravenes this declaration.

In order that the citizens of the Zone can sleep soundly at night, we suggested in another article that the regional association consider a system of collective security directed at no other country but serving to protect the region’s neutrality.

All these cannot be realized overnight. They would require our concentrated attention.

Anyway, negotiating a defense treaty with the US that serves our national interests may be untimely with the attitude of the leader of that country towards foreign and global entanglements being so confusing that the only thing clear is its self-centered nature. President Trump has based his style of governance on the theory of chaos. He gives standing policies the wrecking ball, hoping to extract from the mess a “Deal� to be admired by all.

What to make of him? He is either a god or a madman.

A5

Disgracing the tycoon’s legacy

Lorenzana: OJT at the presidency Reactions were varied. On the one hand, rabid anti-US advocates immediately saw the idea as a US ploy for making even stronger its position in the relationship. And on the other, similarly obsessed anti-Chinese mouthpieces hailed the move as a way of propping up THE 0HILIPPINES IN ITS CONlICT WITH China over certain areas in the South China Sea. In a meeting called by former Ambassador Alberto Encomienda THREE WEEKS AGO THIS WAS TREATED IN MY COLUMN LAST 3UNDAY THE ambassador sought to clarify the issue from several standpoints. The diplomat explained that the MDT’s reason for being had become passĂŠ with the formation of the Southeast Asia Treaty OrganizaTION 3EATO WHICH IN HIS PERCEPtion had effectively supplanted the need for the Philippines to strike an individual military alliance with a country outside of the Southeast Asian grouping; that the MDT is a one-way affair to the favor of America which, for NOT HAVING THE TREATY RATIkED BY its Senate, is not obliged in any manner to retaliate automatically in case the Philippines is attacked by another country, say, China; and that having been rendered null and void by history, the MDT cannot be made the mother treaty for the Visiting Forces Agreement 6&! CONCLUDED IN AND THE Enhanced Defense Cooperation !GREEMENT %$#! IN Instead of a review of the MDT, the meeting reached a consensus that the MDT should be scrapped altogether. And doing this, I suggested, was easy. According to the treaty, all it takes is for either of the parties to notify the other that it doesn’t want the treaty anymore, and one year after, the treaty is deemed abrogated without further ado. That President Duterte hasn’t done so can only mean one thing: He is an Amboy. “It doesn’t follow,â€? snapped somebody with instant passion. “Hindi pa naman tapos ang term niya (IS TERM ISN T OVER YET 7AIT TILL u But the wait could be long, and between then and now, things feared of can happen. Who takes over in the event?

Perceptions are rife that President Duterte wouldn’t allow Leni Robredo to take over, but that such being a constitutional mandate, military action is perceived necessary to deny the vice president that prerogative.

My own informant, who is a retired AFP general, deems it quite likely that the military will have to step in the moment there occurs a forcible

Opinion

HOPPING mall tycoon Henry Sy Sr. died peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 19, 2019. He is known as the “father of modern Philippine retail� and was fondly called “ Tatang � by the officers and staff of the SM conglomerate.

A self-made billionaire and the Philippines’ richest man, he left an unparalleled legacy in the industry.

One of the executives who aligns his vision with that of Henry Sy’s is SM Supermalls Chief Operating OfkCER #// 3TEVEN 4AN !CCORDING to published sources, Tan “treats the business as if it is his own. He often tells everyone under him to work like an owner, but never act like one.� This drive and enthusiasm shows in his more than 13 years career with SM. With the passing of the tycoon, SM Supermalls is ensured of carrying on the legacy of Sy with Tan at the helm.

But not everyone works and thinks like Tan. There are those in the next executive level and the lower echelon that not only “treat the business as if it were their own� but also “act as if they are the owner.� Presumably, these are the people that could bring dishonor and disgrace to the legacy left by the late tycoon.

ALL INSIGHT

AL S. VITANGCOL 3RD is very wrong with this scenario.

Legal consequences

What are the legal consequences of Perez’s and Baronia’s actions? Here is my legal opinion on the issue: I am sure that a prestigious company, such as SM, follows a basic norm of conducting business in a most professional manner. As such, ITS OFkCERS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW what is required under the law — at all times without exception.

The lease contract currently in effect is between SM and SmileAsia, a domestic corporation. Under such circumstances, any act of the corporation, to make it binding, should be covered by a corresponding board resolution. Dr. Perez’s act of writing to SM Leasing requesting for termination of their lease contract, without a board resolution to back it up, is an ultra vires act, meaning beyond the president’s powers and authority as A MERE OFkCER OF A CORPORATION AND is, thus, invalid and illegal.

Case of SmileAsia It is common business sense There are a number of real stories and a matter of standard proand events that can be considered cedure that a board resolution as “major lapses� on the part of FROM 3MILE!SIA SHOULD HAVE the lower-level executives. These been required and demanded by go unnoticed because nobody has SM Leasing. However, the leashad the courage to bring it to the ing department failed to ask for attention of the “real� decision one. Having dealt with numermakers like Tan. One example is ous corporate lessees, the leasing the story of SmileAsia. department would and should be SmileAsia Dental and Diagnos- fully aware that to validate an act tics Clinic Inc. was legally formed as a legal corporate action, there in 2010 and thereafter began op- must be a binding and supporting erating its dental clinic at the SM board resolution. The fact that it Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Its lease was not buttressed or supported with the premier mall has since by any board resolution should been regularly renewed, the last HAVE ALERTED AND RAISED A RED lAG one being on Jan. 31, 2018. on the part of SM Leasing.

Sometime in March 2018, SmileAsia presented to Baronia SmileAsia held its annual stockhold- its latest General Information Sheet ers’ meeting and elected a new set of ')3 AS kLED WITH THE 3ECURITIES BOARD DIRECTORS AND OFkCERS )TS IM- and Exchange Commission, clearly mediate past president, a certain Dr. showing that Perez was no longer 0EREZ OFkCIALLY RETIRED AS 3MILE!SIA S with the company. They gave BaroPRESIDENT 3HE WAS OFkCIALLY SUC- nia a copy of the board resolution, ceeded by one Dr. Maligaya. signed by all the directors, stating This is where the problem start- that the letter of Perez was unaued. Dr. Perez, in an act of spite, thorized and that the clinic was keen sent a letter to SM Leasing that on renewing its lease.

SmileAsia was no longer interested More importantly, the contract in renewing its contract of lease is the law between the lessor and come Jan. 31, 2019. the lessee. The existing contract of SmileAsia contains the provision Actions of AVP Baronia that, “Should the lessee desire to extend or renew the lease beyond the As a consequence, SM Leasing Pre- stipulated term, it shall notify Lessor MIER !SSISTANT 6ICE 0RESIDENT !60 THEREOF IN WRITING AT LEAST SIXTY Ma. Carmela Baronia sent a notice calendar days prior to expiration of of non-renewal of lease contract to said term to qualify it to negotiate the SmileAsia. Dr. Maligaya received the terms and conditions of a new lease notice, which alarmed her no end. with the Lessor.� SmileAsia complied For one, they had not yet re- with this and sent a letter, together covered their construction and with a board resolution, expressing renovation expenses when they their intent to renew their lease. were transferred, due to zoning, Baronia stood her ground to a new location in the mall less and said that the letter of Perez than three years ago. Second, they was enough for her to terminate have served and provided dental SmileAsia’s contract. care services to more than 12,000 To preserve the legacy of Henry SATISkED DENTAL PATIENTS WHO HAVE Sy Sr., COO Tan should look into already been familiar with the matters like this. It seemed that clinic’s name and present location. Baronia took literally the words Thus, seeing no immediate relief of Tan. She acted as if she was the on hand, they wrote, met, and owner of SM Mall of Asia. talked to AVP Baronia but to no AVAIL "ARONIA WAS kRM THAT HER allinsight.manilatimes@gmail.com DECISION WAS kNAL AND COULD NO www.facebook.com/All.Insight.

Manila.Times longer be appealed. Something

Can the Pentagon build a bridge to the tech community?

WASHINGTON, DC: As the age of artikCIAL INTELLIGENCE TRANSFORMS WARfare, the Pentagon faces a delicate problem: How does it convince employees of high-tech companies based in the US that Americans are still the “good guys,� so that they’ll lend their talents to US national-security projects?

The challenge is huge, given that Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and other tech giants see themselves as global companies with workers drawn from many nations.

But tapping this talent base is essential for future US security — and fortunately the Pentagon, after some false starts, is now launching a creative effort to win the trust of

WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

DAVID IGNATIUS suspicious software engineers who grew up in the shadow of Edward Snowden’s revelations.

The basic idea is to do AI “the American way,� as people used to say, by framing a set of clear ethical rules through public debate. This “AI Principles Project� was launched last October by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Board. The first major public

meeting took place on Tuesday at Harvard, where Pentagon ofkCIALS MET WITH ABOUT A DOZEN AI experts, some of them strong critics of US military actions.

The Harvard roundtable discussion was lively, and occasionally sharp, says a participant. The group debated privacy concerns, the trade-off between an algorithm’s power and its ability to explain its results, methods for establishing human accountability for AI actions, and other legal and moral issues. Similar expert gatherings are planned at Carnegie Mellon in March and Stanford in April, and then the board will release draft principles for public comment.

The Pentagon outreach was deliberately aimed at engineers who don’t like the idea of working with the US military. As the innovation board’s statement announcing the ethics dialogue put it, “We are taking care to include not only experts who often work with the [Department of Defense], but also AI skeptics, DoD critics and leading AI engineers who have never worked with DoD before.� “If we’re going to be the arsenal of democracy in the 21st century, we have to show that we have ideals and are ready to stand up for them,� says one senior Pentagon OFkCIAL INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM “It wasn’t going to be enough to

say, ‘Hey, we’re the good guys, we’re Americans.’ We needed to be more introspective.�

This bridge-building to the tech community follows a potentially disastrous rupture last year, when Google employees rebelled at a Pentagon AI effort called “Project Maven.� It was a relatively small, $9-million contract to write algorithms for nonlethal monitoring of surveillance videos to detect threatening movement. Neither the company nor the Pentagon foresaw the controversy that erupted when thousands of Google employees signed a protest petition; the company had to retreat and declined to renew the contract.

"EHIND THE -AVEN lAP LIE SOME fascinating crosscurrents. Senior Google executives had wanted a larger piece of the government’s national-security business, which has been dominated by Amazon and Microsoft. But they were secretive with employees about the project. A tight-lipped Pentagon worsened the public-relations disaster. Google employees felt misled, and Pentagon officials were enraged that the tech engineers had scuttled a project aimed at detecting terrorist threats.

0ENTAGON ANGER DEEPENED when Google announced last YEAR IT WOULD LAUNCH A g$RAGONlYu

ÂłIgnatiusA6

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times SATURDAY January 26, 2019

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The ‘Noli Me Tangere’ opera

I

T is welcome news that the “Noli Me Tangere, The Opera" will be restaged once again for only one weekend, March 8-10, 2019, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The producers have set a press lunch for our media friends on Feb. 8, 2019.

Last Thursday, it was revealed that Ivan Niccolo Nery will play Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the protagonist of Rizal’s story, in this new production.

Although this opera is more than six decades old, its approach is all the more unique and fresh, especially now that grand and operatic theater productions that could cater to our young audiences are rare.

The risks for producers are just too high. I have seen the opera twice from J&S Productions and there is something different every time I watch it. And usu-

WALKING HISTORY MICHAEL “XIAO� CHUA ally, bookings will only come during the last shows when word of mouth about the beauty and value of the musical has spread through those who have watched it. Hopefully, because of the early promotion, people will take their chance to see the production in this limited run.

Although I am not really part of their team, I always make it a point to help the opera’s producers, New York-based Filipinos Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue, spread the word about it. Despite the risks, they see it as a patriotic duty to assemble and showcase Filipino talents, intended for the Filipino audi-

Children in conflict with the law are not yet criminals

T

H E a p p r ova l o n s e c o n d reading of a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9 by the House of Representatives resonates with ignorance and callousness.

Just reading the introduction to the bill with its shallow justification and its grammatical lapses exhibits the carelessness and thoughtlessness of those who put it together. That it was actually TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND PASSED RElECTS very badly on the Lower House.

We have not heard any serious debate or professional authorities like child psychologists or social welfare workers being consulted before the bill was hastily put through a third reading. Indeed, professional organizations representing them have strongly criticized it. Might it have been only law enforcers AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFkCIALS who were the resource persons, if any consultations were made?

They would indeed have opted for the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility. Getting rid of pesky and lawbreaking youths from their aegis would be a quick solution to their law enforcement problems.

There is some mention in the bill that upon determination of criminal responsibility, the youths concerned will be turned over to present institutions like the overcrowded and abysmal youth detention houses (Bahay Pag-asa ). So far, government funding for Bahay Pag-asa detention facilities (some social worker called them “ kulungan � or jails) are way below target because of the targeted number of 114, only about 58 have been built and they are not up to standards for youth reformation. And that is a gross understatement. What exists are beyond-capacity social welfare institutions with no apparent funding for staff and supplies for the avalanche of designated criminal youths that will be put there. What is more, they are at present under the local government units, another perilous mistake. So far, few local governments have the funds, the interest or the expertise to run these youth detention centers. We saw this when medical services were devolved under the Local Government law of a few decades ago. People in need of medical help just died for the deficiencies mentioned above. We can therefore expect these so-called youth reformative centers to be overcrowded, dangerous and inhumane as our jails are today. Is this what this country is heading for with the irresponsible lowering of the age of criminal liability? Tossing the responsibility to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which is overwhelmed with poverty alleviation programs, attention to

AMBIENT VOICES MA. ISABEL ONGPIN street children, abused women and children, adoption processes, registering NGOs is not a viable move.

Just think. Why would nineyear-olds steal, run drugs, be in the streets? Because they are poor and neglected, with no decent and caring parental attention. If modern civilization holds the principle that adult criminals should be rehabilitated so as to be reformed, why are we not thinking that children deserve the same, if not more, compassion according to their circumstances of poverty and neglect? These children, many of whom have hardly reached the age of reason and the older ones who have obviously not been educated on what is right and wrong against the instinct of self-preservation at all ethical and religious costs, are a class that deserves another chance at a decent and fulfilling life.

What drives them is hunger and emotional need in circumstances of neglect, cruelty, indifference and abandonment. If there are so many of them, it is only a relECTION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR social problems. This is what our society has to confront. And punishing them is not the solution because it will not change them.

Then there is the clause about “discernment� of the 9-18-yearold “criminals�; if they acted with discernment, they get the book thrown at them. How many social workers, law enforcement personnel, custodians can judge this? To begin with, every child is different, may have varying levels of experience even in the general chaos of poverty and neglect that they find themselves in. With this bill that goes after them rather than those who manipulate them like the drug syndicates or the amoral parents, expect them to pay the price, not those who put them up to it. They are the ones judged for “discernment� while those who exploited them are not mentioned. Moreover, judging discernment can be so ambiguous that it can be rationalized either way for reasons other than fairness and justice.

Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is sweeping the dirt under the rug. It will in fact create more hardened criminals as the needs of care and education are set aside for institutionalized exile into facilities that are not capable of giving them what is needed.

Please, let us have an enlightened debate about how to treat children IN CONlICT WITH THE LAW &ROM THE bill that the Lower House has just passed, there has been none.

ence, because they believe that a Filipino proud of his history and roots is a Filipino who can be productive for his country and for the world.

When asked why I believe that it is important to preserve, present and promote the Noli opera, here is my answer: 1. It is an opera on the great Filipino novel that helped create the Filipino national sentiment by showing us the common misfortunes of Filipinos under colonialism. It is one of the works that made us realize we are one nation. Penguin Classics DESCRIBED THIS NOVEL AS gTHE kRST major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European colonialism.� Despite many things changing in this land after more than a hundred years, there are things that also still have not changed. The Noli Me Tangere cancer (yes, it is the clinical

name of a cancer in the eyelids which gets worse when you try to cure it) is still pervasive, that is why the work continues to be relevant. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

2. The novel was written by JosĂŠ Rizal, recognized by many as the National Hero of the Philippines. It is mandated by law to study his life and works in high school and college, and for that alone we need more material like this to supplement classroom learning.

3. Operas are usually sung in foreign languages such as Italian, German, Russian or English but here National Artist Guillermo Tolentino wrote the libretto in Tagalog. Another National Artist, Felipe Padilla de Leon, wrote the music and one can notice that the work has been made by the three important “nationals� of our coun-

try. The opera has made the novel and the genre closer to the Filipino PEOPLE 7HEN THIS OPERA WAS kRST produced in 1957, one of the most famous sopranos in the world and another national treasure, Jovita Fuentes, was its producer. From then on it has been performed numerous times around the country and around the world.

4. Noli Me Tangere is a classic, and it deserves a classic retelling. The Noli opera preserves that classic vibe but also provides a novel approach to younger audiences, that they may also appreciate such artistic expression and talent. The J&S Production of the opera was first staged in Chicago and then performed in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. It moved Filipino audiences to tears and was acclaimed critically. When it was staged here in Manila twice, the young

people appreciated it as a new way of learning about our past.

This became possible with both the use of modern technology in theater and the sheer talent of the actor and the production.

5. There is a need not just to preserve, present and promote but also for institutions to support this patriotic initiative which showcases not just Filipino culture and history but also the talents of both classic historical personalities and the present generation of artists and cultural workers. This is a collaboration of the past and the present, some sort of historical crossover, and like all classic masterpieces, it should be available not just to our students, but to the general public.

Erratum. Apologies to Butuan historian Vicente Calibo de Jesus for recalling his name wrongly in last Sunday’s column.

FOCUS

For Trump, clear stakes and uncertain end on Venezuela mate� government of Venezuela, although he acknowledged that the process was complicated.

Washington is also pushing for more countries to break with Maduro.

Britain said Thursday that Maduro was “not the legitimate leader of Venezuela,� although other European allies have been less explicit and Maduro enjoys Russia’s support.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States was preparing $20 million in emergency humanitarian aid which it would direct through the opposition-led National Assembly once it is “logistically feasible.�

The United States could also boost punitive sanctions, which have so far targeted Maduro rather than the broader economy.

Geoff Ramsey of the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights advocacy group, said it was critical that sanctions do not worsen the economic toll on ordinary people, saying that an oil embargo could be counter-productive.

Ramsey also cautioned against “saber-rattling,� which he warned could divide Venezuela’s newly united opposition.

Trump has openly mused of military intervention and said that “all options are on the table.�

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has intervened in an unusually forceful way in Venezuela’s political crisis, but whether the United States can force a change of power remains to be seen.

Trump — who has largely shunned democracy promotion overseas and is pulling troops from Syria and Afghanistan as part of an “American First� worldview — on Wednesday recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.

Backed by most but not all Latin American powers, Trump said that leftist firebrand Nicolas Maduro was illegitimate, even as the military leadership continues to support him as Venezuela’s rightful leader. “Venezuela is in our hemisphere, I think we have a special responsibility here, and I think the president feels very strongly about it,� Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, said Thursday.

Why did Trump get involved?

Bolton’s remark came in response to a question about why Trump had abandoned Maduro, when he has embraced other authoritarian leaders.

Trump has shown no reluctance in allying the United States with countries whose human rights records are questionable such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and has eagerly negotiated with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But Maduro, like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, has relished poking his finger in the eye of the United States and regularly rails against US imperialism in Latin America.

A Trump administration ofkCIAL JUSTIkED THE RECOGNITION OF Guaido by saying that Venezuela, whose elections last year were WIDELY CRITICIZED AS lAWED WAS bound by a commitment to democracy made in the 2001 InterAmerican Democratic Charter.

Mariano de Alba, a Venezuelan lawyer and international affairs expert based in Washington, however, suggested that Trump

Q Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro told supporters he was breaking off diplomatic ties with the United States AFP

What is the endgame?

was under pressure from Florida’s large and mostly anti-Maduro Venezuelan community, which includes naturalized US citizens.

The Venezuela crisis also gives Trump a way “to highlight the effects of socialism and the importance of capitalism,� said De Alba, who works for the analytical news site Prodavinci.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has taken a lead on Latin America policy in Trump’s Republican Party and has pushed for a hard line both on Venezuela and Cuba. Bolton, of course, is a longtime hawk. “His administration doesn’t pick and choose friends based on whether they’re authoritarians,� Stephen Pomper, director of the US program at the International Crisis Group and an

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue group, said that the Trump administration’s actions intensify pressure on Maduro — but also carry risks if the government clamps down.

The United States has ignored Maduro’s orders for its diplomats to leave within 72 hours, saying he is no longer president — presenting an early test on whether Washington can sustain its policy. “The endgame is which entity is able to gather the strongest support to impose its statements and power in Venezuela,�

De Alba said. “As long as the Maduro regime has the control of the territory and cohesive support of the military, it will have the AFP advantage,� he said.

adviser on human rights to former president Barack Obama, said of Trump. “It picks and chooses which authoritarians to criticize based on whether or not they’re friends.�

What more can the US do?

Bolton said that the key focus for the United States was “disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the source of its revenues.�

Venezuela is Latin America’s largest producer of oil, whose declining price has worsened the spiraling economic crisis in the country, where many residents lack basic foods and medicine.

Bolton said the United States was looking at ways for the US to direct revenues to the “legiti-

Q IGNATIUS FROM A5

Can the Pentagon build a bridge to the tech community? search-engine project in China; the company has since retreated, again after employee protest.)

Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai’s withdrawal from Maven was driven, above all, by opposition from some of the top engineers on whom Google’s future RESTS ! 0ENTAGON OFkCIAL RECALLS trying to explain to one of these AI gurus that the US Constitution and Bill of Rights would prevent excesses by America. The engi-

neer replied that these safeguards meant little to him because he wasn’t a US citizen.

The Google revolt hasn’t yet spread across Silicon Valley, despite efforts by some engineers to organize such a boycott. Top executives at Microsoft and Amazon have resisted employee protest AND REAFkRMED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON CLASSIkED CONTRACTS FOR the military and the intelligence community, such as the huge JEDI

cloud-computing project. (Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post.)

The engineers aren’t wrong in demanding that the Pentagon set rules for this new domain of warfare. “There has been a lack of clarity from DoD about how it will use AI,� argued Paul Scharre of the Center for a New American Security.

The Pentagon-Silicon Valley dialogue is wary and awkward, and it

could collapse — with dire consequences for America’s future military strength. The senior Pentagon OFkCIAL EXPLAINS THE ONE REASON IT might work: “We’ve created ways for people who hate us to express their views. That’s what makes us different from a closed society.�

(C) 2019, WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

David Ignatius can be reached via Twitter: @IgnatiusPost.

Regions

˜ The Manila Times

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SATURDAY January 26, 2019

A7

COURT ISSUES HOLD DEPARTURE ORDER AGAINST BALDO THE Regional Trial Court in Legazpi City issued a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) against Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, alleged mastermind behind the murder of AKO Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

Department of Justice Undersecretary Mark Perete said the order was issued on

Friday based on a request of the prosecution to monitor the movements of Baldo to ensure that he would not sneak out of the country.

The Ofiicer in Charge Provincial Prosecutor of Albay on January 7 applied for a PHDO against Baldo and five other suspects in connec-

tion with the murder complaint filed against them.

The complaint is under preliminary investigation. Baldo, who is under hospital arrest, was nabbed on Tuesday after police executing a search warrant found UNLICENSED kREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN his residence.

He was brought to the hospital before midnight after his arrest because of asthma attack and hypertension at the detention cell of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Legazpi.

"ALDO AND kVE OTHER SUSPECTS ARE ACcused of the killing of Batocabe and his

aide, Senior Police Office 1 Orlando Diaz, on Dec. 22, 2018 during a giftgiving event in Daraga.

Baldo and Batocabe were supposed to slug it out for the mayoralty in the May 2019 mid-term elections.

JOMAR CANLAS AND RHAYDZ B. BARCIA

‘Bishop’ arrested for drugs in Cavite

A

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTOÂ

DRUG suspect who claimed to be a Catholic priest was arrested with another companion during a buybust on Thursday in Bacoor City, Cavite.

Police said “Bishop� Richard Alcantara was arrested after he sold P200 worth of shabu to a poseur buyer with his cohort Fernando Dacuma, alias Nanding, in Tagumpay Compound, Tabing Dagat of Barangay Alima in Bacoor.

Dacuma reportedly escaped during the commotion and a reinforcement team was able to arrest only Alcantara and another companion, IDENTIkED AS 0ERLITO !LIBAY Supt. Vicente Cabatingan, Bacoor City Police chief, said anti-narcotics teams seized 0.5 grams of shabu worth P3,400, six aluminum foil strips, an improvised glass tooter, two improvised burners and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Alcantara was said to be a former member of the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales and member of the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Congregation.

Cabatingan said Alcantara admitted to the use of shabu but claimed he was using it as “a research� to kND OUT ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS The “bishop� added that he had been doing it for two years.

Police said Alcantara was on the drug watchlist and had been under surveillance for the last three months.

Alcantara was assigned at the Sto. NiĂąo de Ligas Catholic church in Bacoor and was forced to leave after altar assistants caught him using prohibited drugs.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday issued a statement saying Alcantara was not a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. “Alcantara is neither a Catholic bishop nor a priest of the Roman Catholic Church and certainly not a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,� the CBCP statement said.

Fake priest Similarly, the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales issued an online statement on Jan. 15, 2019 saying that Alcantara is a “fake priest� in the Philippines. “Mr. Richard Alcantara is not a priest of this Catholic Church.

We remind all that he holds NO sacraments or license to dispense the sacraments or hold a Mass. He is un-educated and has no training in seminary and or any idea of how to do a simple Mass. We have been clearly informed in writing that he has been informing people

BUSTED

Anti-narcotics police arrest drug suspect ‘Bishop’ Richard Alcantara during a buy-bust in Bacoor City in Cavite. Alcantara, who is included in the police drug watchlist, claims to be a member of the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Congregation and celebrates Mass (inset) when not having shabu session. PHOTO BY BOY JOSUE that he will ordain them for vast amounts of money in several countries. Furthermore, he has received vast amounts of money FROM THE FAITHFUL FOR HIS OWN knancial gain,� the statement said.

The Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales was founded

by Patriarch Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez as a Sui Juris Latin Rite Church in a modern community using Rubrics and pre-Vatican 2 rites.

WITH REPORTS FROM JAN DANIZON P. ARCILLA, TMTC INTERN AND MELRIC DIONISIO

Go helps conjoined twins have normal lives CONJOINED twins Divine and Mercy of Sabang, Camarines Norte will get a good chance at living as separate, normal children as former special assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong�

Go assured them of his assistance for their surgery and treatment.

In a meeting recently with the twins’ parents, Rubelyn Guinto and Edmund Cerilo, Go said he would shoulder all expenses for the operation to separate the twins who were born joined at the chest.

He added that his heart goes for the twins and asked for prayers for the successful operation of Divine and Mercy.

To make it convenient for the parents while preparing for the surgery of the twins, Go also assisted them of rent money for a room in Santa Cruz, Manila where they would temporarily stay.

On Monday, the twins were admitted to the Pedia Ward 6 of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where Go had

Q Former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go meets Divine and Mercy as they prepare for the medical procedure to separate the conjoined twins. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO referred them.

Divine and Mercy underwent preliminary check-up procedures and the results were encouraging.

Dr. Esther Saguil of the PGHPediatric Surgery said the twins LOOK kT FOR SEPARATION

Nationinbriefs

“The conjoined twins look separable and of the appropriate size,�

Saguil said.

She said an assessment was needed “if skin coverage is adequate and there is a need for expanders.�

The twins arrived in Manila with their parents on January 19 through the help of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, who referred them to Go via Cesar Chavez’ radio program on dzRH.

Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who concurrently leads the court’s Third Division, said in open court.

REINA C. TOLENTINO

TROOPS SENT FOR TRAPPED MINERS IN AGUSAN

MANILA WATER GETS NOD FOR MANAOAG PROJECT

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The military has dispatched more soldiers on Friday to help search for three missing miners buried in landslide inside tunnels in Mount Manhupao in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. The three were missing since January 20 after torrential rains triggered the landslide in Barangay Bangonay that killed four people, according to Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command. He said Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos, division commander, ordered the deployment of additional military rescuers to help search for the missing miners. They were identified as Rex Penig, Jay-ay Matanog and another known only by his first name Gang-gang. Mount Manhupao is a known gold rush area in Agusan del Norte where small-scale miners dug holes despite the dangers posed by landslides and collapse of makeshift tunnels. AL JACINTO Â Â

MANILA Water Co. Inc. was given the approval to develop water projects for the Manaoag town in Pagsanjan. In a disclosure on Friday, it said, Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc. (MWPV), received a notice to proceed through an ordinance that grants its “franchise to operate, maintain, manage, finance, and expand water supply operation and septage management in the area.�The 25-year franchise, excluding two years of construction, has an estimated capital expenditure (capex) of more than P588.6 million. The project is expected to be operational by 2020 and estimated to deliver a potential billed volume of 9 million liters per day by the end of the franchise period. With a land area of 55.95 square kilometers, Manaoag is a first-class municipality in the 4th District of Pangasinan with 26 barangay (villages). MWPV is a subsidiary of Ayala-led listed water company engaged in the business of wastewater processing and maintenance services.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

MISUARI’S ARRAIGNMENT RESET TO FEBRUARY THE Sandiganbayan’s Third Division moved to February 27 the arraignment of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari pending his motion to reconsider the denial of his appeal for the dismissal of the cases he is facing along with several others. Misuari is facing charges of graft and of malversation through falsification over the alleged anomalous procurement of information technology package. His lawyers earlier filed a petition to dismiss the cases against him citing inordinate delay by the Office of the Ombudsman in filing the charges in 2017. “Considering that the prosecution had already filed its Opposition to the motion for reconsideration filed by accused Nur Misuari, the said motion for reconsideration is now submitted for resolution,� Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice

COURT GRANTS EX-ILOILO LAWMAKER’S TRAVEL PLEA THE Sandiganbayan’s Third Division has granted former Iloilo 2nd district Rep. Judy Syjuco permission to travel abroad in February to accompany her husband, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director Augusto Syjuco for medical treatment. “Considering that the accused had already been arraigned and the reason for the travel advanced in the said motion/s, the Court, over the objection of the prosecution, hereby resolves to grant the said accused permission to travel to Singapore on Feb. 7 to 22, 2019,� the court said. Syjuco is facing a charge of graft and of malversation through falsification along with other individuals over the alleged anomalous award of a deal for the supply of communications equipment for Municipal Telecenters in Region 6 in 2005.

REINA C. TOLENTINO

2 Marines wounded in NPA ambush CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao: Two Marines were wounded when communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed government forces in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, the military said on Friday.   Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division (6th ID), said the wounded soldiers belong to the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team and were part of the government troops conducting patrol in Barangay Datu Ito Andong, Kalamansig.

Encinas did not identify the wounded Marines.

Major. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the 6th ID commander, said the ambush showed the NPA’s insincerity in talking peace with the Duterte administration as he cited reports from the Philippine Marines stationed in the coastal towns of Sultan Kudarat.

Reports from the 1st Marine Brigade based in Kalamansig said they were on board KM-450 military truck passing by Sitio Ugangawon, Barangay Datu Ito when an anti-personnel mine exploded followed by a gunfire from communist rebels positioned in an elevated portion of the highway.

The Marines returned fire, forcing the rebels to flee deep into the forest. Â Â A follow-up operation led to the recovery of the anti-personnel mine at the blast site. Â Â Sobejana, also chief of the military-led Task Force Central, directed government troops to intensify operations against NPA rebels who have repeatedly harassed government forces and torched several heavy equipment of a road construction firm in Kalamansig for refusal to pay revolutionary taxes.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

News After scare, public told to remain calm A8

˜ The Manila Times

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

T

HE Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Tondo, Manila, which closed its emergency room for disinfection on Wednesday after one of its patients exhibited signs of meningococcemia, reopened the next day.

GABMMC management, however, reminded the public to remain calm because a meningococcal infection “rarely�occurs.

It added that it had sterilized the place and provided the people

who were exposed to the patient suspected to have meningococcemia with prophylaxis as part of the standard safety procedure and infection control protocol.

The closure came a week after

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the Department of Health quashed rumors on social media that there was a meningococcemia outbreak, following the death of an unidentikED TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE DUE TO SUSpected meningococcemia. However, the minor tested negative for the severe bacterial infection.

Dr. Yapendon Fresco, an infectious disease specialist of the GABMMC, said that the rash did not evolve into the typical meningococcal rash, which is characterIZED BY RED SPOTS WITH WELL DEkNED border and center secondary to

necrosis, or the death of most of or all cells in the organ because of a disease, failure of blood supply, so “most likely its not meningococcemia.�

Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, former health undersecretary, said that the typical hospital procedure when an admitted patient has meningococcemia, is to give all health professionals exposed to the patient, antibiotics such as rifampin, minocycline, and sulfadiazine. Then they are observed for symptoms. The ER is then closed

TODA leaders thank Bong Go TRICYCLE Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) in the country thanked Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go for bringing their concerns to President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his message during the TODA Summit held on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, NCR-TODA President Ismael Sevilla said that the idea for the summit started with a chance encounter with Go in an eatery. “We bumped into [former] SAP (Special Assistant to the President) Bong Go who engaged us in a conversation and asked about the problems of the TODA, so I mentioned to him all our concerns.�

Sevilla said.

He added the last TODA summit was held in 2008, and since then their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. “But with the help of SAP Bong Go, our concerns have been brought to the President himself. I hope the coordination between the TODA and the national government does not end here,� Sevilla said as he thanked the President for personally attending the summit.

It was Go who initiated calls for the summit to hear the concerns of the country’s tricycle operators particularly

Q Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go on uniform regulations for their operations nationwide.

Speaking to the summit participants, Duterte endorsed the senatorial bid of Go as he vouched for the integrity of his former top aide who served him for over 20 years, characterizing him as “mabait� (good) and “honest.�

The President also emphasized how Go could be the ‘voice of the masses’ given his EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR HIM AND kNDING WAYS to address the concerns of his constituents.

Speaking earlier, Go thanked the 18 government agencies that participated in the TODA summit, noting that some 15,000 tricycle operators and drivers received various forms of assistance during the event.

He acknowledged the important contribution of the tricycle drivers and operators in their respective communities.

The whole-day summit also included lectures on road safety from the Metro Manila Development Authority, as well as a forum on livelihood programs and skills training conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

4HE ,AND 4RANSPORTATION /FkCE SET UP a one-stop shop for renewal of driver’s license and registration of vehicles. The Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), and PagIbig also set up booths to encourage drivers to apply for membership.

The Commission on Higher Education informed TODA members that their children are eligible to apply in various scholarships programs of the agency.

and disinfected.

They would also do a follow up or do contact tracing of the primary case, he added.

Dr. Anthony Leachon, former president of the Philippine College of Physicians, said that meningococcemia is caused by infection with the meningococci bacteria (Neisseria memingitidis) which are gram-negative diplococci bacteria.

4HESE GROUPS CAN BE IDENTIkED BY blood testing, scraping of the skin rash and taking samples of the patient’s CEREBROSPINAL lUID 4ESTING MAY TAKE

Q ‘CALIPHATE’ FROM A1

IS ‘caliphate’ “We need a month to eliminate IS remnants still in the area,� said Kobani, who spoke to AFP on Thursday near the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh. ! FEW HUNDRED )3 kGHTERS ARE DEFENDING A handful of hamlets near the Iraqi border, the last rump of a “caliphate� which the jihadist organization proclaimed in 2014 and once covered territory the size of Britain. “I believe that during the next month we WILL OFkCIALLY ANNOUNCE THE END OF THE MILITARY presence on the ground of the so-called caliphate,� Kobani said. )NTENSE kGHTING IN THE AREA KNOWN AS gTHE (AJIN POCKETu HAS LEFT HUNDREDS OF kGHTERS dead on both sides, according to the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

‘Sleeper cells’ IS lost the town of Hajin late last year and the subsequent collapse of its defenses saw the SDF — an alliance of Kurdish forces and local Arab tribal kGHTERS ‡ CONQUER ONE VILLAGE AFTER ANOTHER Kobani said their battle had been complicated as IS shifted its strategy after the SDF ousted the jihadists from their de-facto Syrian capital of Raqa in 2017.

New tactics include “sleeper cells everywhere, secretly recruiting people again, and carrying out suicide operations, bombings, and assassinations,� he said. “We expect there will be an increase in the intensity of IS operations against our forces after the end of their military presence.�

IS has retained a presence in Syria’s vast Badia desert and has claimed a series of attacks in SDF-held territory.

The SDF have been the main ground partner in Syria of the US-led coalition created in 2014 TO kGHT THE JIHADISTS

Q KIN FROM A1

SAF 44 kin Ramacula, who died in the attack in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines, told reporters also on Friday that a balance of P87,000 has yet to be released to them by the government.

The Aquino administration had promised TO GIVE A TOTAL OF 0 AS kNANCIAL AID TO families of the SAF 44.

Mrs. Ramacula said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had not given them the remaining 30 percent of the P300,000 worth of livelihood program. “It has been four years [since the massacre] and we still haven’t received the second grant.

7E ONLY GOT THE kRST GRANT u SHE ADDED -RS 2AMACULA SAID OTHER BENEkCIARIES WERE also experiencing this problem.

She added that she already complied with requirements of the DSWD for the livelihood program but the agency still was unable to give her the exact date when they would receive the balance of 30 percent.

Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesMAN SAID THEY HAD GIVEN kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE 3!& BENEkCIARIES BUT THAT THEY WERE “open to any complaints.�

The PNP and relatives of the 44 fallen commandos commemorated the fourth year of the Mamasapano massacre in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The elite troops were killed in an “Oplan Exodus� police operation in Mamasapano while serving a warrant of arrest against MaLAYSIAN TERRORIST BOMB MAKER :ULKIlI !BDHIR or Marwan.

Marwan was killed in the operation, but fellow bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman was able to escape.

Usman was later killed in another operation in May 2015.

Chief Supt. Amando Empiso, SAF acting director, said they were still seeking justice for THEIR FELLOW POLICE OFkCERS He added that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) could help prevent the tragic incident from happening again as there would be more coordination between the government and the MILF.

UP TO kVE DAYS AS THE CULTURES ARE VERY slow growing, he added.

The natural place for the meningococci bacteria is either in the carrier’s nose or throat. It may be airborne or spread by a carrier through close contact with others. The carrier may spread the infection for weeks or months if he is not diagnosed and treated, Leachon said.

He said that during times of epidemics, extreme hygienic measures must be implemented and the infected patient must be put in isolation.

Last month, US President Donald Trump announced he was ordering a full troop pullout from Syria, a move that left the Kurds feeling betrayed and exposed to Turkish attacks.

The minority has since turned to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to guarantee its survival, but Kobani said negotiaTIONS WERE PROVING DIFkCULT

‘Red line’ “Any political agreement should include the special status� of the Syrian Democratic Forces after they fought IS “on behalf of all humanity and even the Syrian army�, he said. “This is our red line and we will not concede this.�

The Kurdish-led alliance “protected northeastern Syria... liberated these areas, and have the right to continue protecting the region,�

Kobani added.

Assad’s government has gained ground against rebels and jihadists with key Russian backing since 2015, and now controls almost two-thirds of the country.

It is determined to reassert its authority over oil-rich SDF-held areas, which make up the lion’s share of the rest.

But after years of marginalization, the Kurds are determined to keep some of the autonomy they gained during the eight-year war.

The SDF could “agree to be part of the national army of a future Syria, but only on the condition they keep their special status,�

Kobani said.

Damascus has rejected self-rule in northeastern Syria, but Kurdish leaders started talks with the government in July in a bid to seek some form of decentralization. “The discussions are ongoing but have not yet reached any positive result,� he said.

The regime “keeps on thinking it can go back to the way it was before 2011 (when Syria’s conlICT ERUPTED )T STILL HOPES IT CAN TAKE MILITARY control of the whole region.� “It needs... to understand that is impossible.�

AFP “This will not happen again because they -),& kGHTERS ARE THE ONES WHO WILL GOVERN that part of Mindanao and we will just be there to help them especially in maintaining peace and order...We hope and pray that this is the time for the wounds to heal and achieve peace in Mindanao,� Empiso said.

MalacaĂąang reiterated that the bungled antiterror operation that claimed the lives of the 44 SAF troops would not happen under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Panelo made the assurance as he joined the nation in commemorating the heroism of the slain elite policemen, whose deaths had sparked public outrage.

The President had declared January 25 as national day of remembrance for the fallen SAF members. “Today, January 25, a grieving nation remembers the tragedy that befell the PNP OFkCERS IN -AMASAPANO -AGUINDANAO 7E pay homage to the bravery and heroism of the 44 uniformed personnel of the Special Action Force known as the Fallen SAF 44. They offered and gave their lives for the country and the people,� Panelo said in a statement. “Never again will we allow a recurrence of such tragic event. Those in authority must learn from the mistakes of the past otherwise those valorous men in uniform would have died in vain,� he added.

4HE 0ALACE OFkCIAL THEN URGED THE /FkCE OF the Ombudsman to “resolve with dispatch�

THE CHARGES kLED AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR the Mamasapano operation. “Even as we continue to pray for the eternal repose of the souls of these gallant heroes who were recipients posthumously of the PNP Medal of Valor (Medalya ng Kagitingan) and as we share in the grief of their bereaved FAMILIES WE URGE THE /FkCE OF THE /MBUDSMAN TO RESOLVE WITH DISPATCH THE CASE kLED against those who recklessly placed them in mortal peril,� Panelo said. “The nation demands justice for them as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the botched police operation,� the Palace OFkCIAL ADDED The Mamasapano incident also claimed the lives of at least 20 other individuals.

ROY D.R. NARRA AND CATHERINE S. VALENTE

ASIAN STOCKS: V S h a n g h a i 0 . 3 9 %

V S i n g a p o re 0 . 3 6 %

PSEi 8,053.20 DOWN 0.14%

P52.53 TO $1

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www.manilatimes.net V Seoul 1.52%

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V Jakarta 0.25%

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

T

HE Philippine economy is “unlikely to gather steam� in 2019, a Fitch unit said, with growth expected to ease for a second straight year.

“[W]e maintain our forecast for real GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the Philippines to slow slightly to 6.1 percent in 2019, from

6.2 percent in 2018 and 6.7 percent in 2017,� Fitch Solutions said in a January 24 report issued following the government’s release of 2018 growth data. “We expect a further tightening of

monetary conditions, the likelihood of a reescalation of global trade tensions, and a deteriorating business environment to weigh on the Philippines’s economic growth momentum,� it added. “The strong public investment drive WILL BE INSUFkCIENT TO OFFSET GROWING external headwinds and weak private investment.�

High prices weighed on the economy last year, with the 6.2-percent result

ÂłProfit-taking B3

V B a n g ko k 0 . 1 9 %

Q US President Donald Trump holds a tariff table as he speaks in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Jan. 24, 2019. Trump spoke about the unfair trade practices at play in the world. AFP PHOTO serious obstacles. His comments also coincided with pessimistic policy remarks from the European Central Bank.

US stocks bounced in and out of THE RED DURING THE DAY AND kNISHED mixed.

Washington accuses Beijing of a host of unfair trading practices, especially theft of American technological know-how.

THE country’s anti-trust watchdog on Friday fined Grab Philippines anew for failing to fulfill pledges related to its purchase of rival ride-hailing firm Uber.

The P6.5-million penalty adds to the P16 million the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) told both firms to pay last year over violations committed while the deal was being reviewed.

PCC Chairman Arnesio M. Balisacan told reporters that Grab had filed “deficient, inconsistent and incorrect data for the monitoring of its compliance with its voluntary commitments.�

While the PCC cleared Grab and Uber’s controver-

missing the government’s downwardlyrevised 6.5-6.9-percent target.

Fitch Solution’s 6.1-percent projecTION FOR ALSO FALLS BELOW THE OFkCIAL 7.0-8.0-percent goal.

The 2018 slowdown, it noted, was driven by declines in private consumption and exports — a situation likely to be repeated this year. “We expect overall growth to continue

ÂłSteam B3

‘Little reason’ for BSP to again hike policy rates

Ross said there was still “a fair chance� of reaching a deal with Beijing, but much work remains to be done since the dispute involves ISSUES DIFkCULT TO ADDRESS IN A SHORT timeframe.

‘Mutually indispensable’ “I believe China would like to

make a deal. I believe we would like to make a deal but it has to be a deal that works for both parties,� he said. “I’m trying to say people shouldn’t think the events of next week will be the solution to all of the issues between the United States and China.�

Washington and Beijing last year

ÂłTrade B3

Stock market PCC slaps P6.5-M fine on Grab PH dips on profit-taking THE stock market dipped on Friday as investors cashed in following a surge earlier in the day.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 0.14 percent or 11.70 points to close at 8,053.20 while the wider All Shares dropped 0.16 percent or POINTS TO kNISH AT

“Our index closed slightly lower today as investors took profits when our market revisited the 8,100 level earlier,� Timson Securities Inc. trader Jervin de Celis said.

Below-target economic growth results for 2018 have already been priced in, he added, thus there is “not much to worry� about as long

V H o n g Ko n g 1 . 6 5 %

B2

Fitch unit: PH economy ‘unlikely to gather steam’

US, China far from ending trade war WASHINGTON, D.C.: Washington and Beijing are “miles and miles� from resolving their trade war, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

A high-level Chinese delegation is due in Washington next week for talks to resolve the dispute by March 1, when US duty rates on Chinese imports are due to rise sharply, but Ross tried to tamp down expectations to those meetings. “There’s been a lot of ant i c i p a t o r y wo r k d o n e b u t we’re miles and miles from getting a resolution and that shouldn’t be too surprising,� Ross told CNBC. As the world economy comes under increasing strain, the possibility of failure in the US-China talks has rattled global stock markets repeatedly over the last year.

Wall Street futures fell during his remarks, which came a day after the White House contradicted reports the trade talks had hit

MONEY TALKS

W

SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2019

Business Times

CURRENCY RATE

B1

sial merger in August 2018, it vowed to keep a close eye on Grab for a year.

Grab had submitted a list of voluntary commitments, which included regular submission of pricing and other data, in response to PCC’s statement of concern regarding higers fares and cancellations following the shutdown of Uber’s operation in April. “However, the Commission cannot effectively enforce these commitments without the submission of correct, sufficient, consistent, and timely data by Grab,� Balisacan said. “We remain steadfast in binding Grab to its commitments, as these are meant to address the concerns of

market competition and the ride-hailing public,� he added.

The decision to impose the P6.5-million fine followed the conclusion of the Aug. 10-Nov. 20, 2018 monitoring period, PCC Commissioner Amabelle Asuncion said.

Grab Philippines President Brian Cu, in a statement, said the firm would be appealing the penalty. “PCC required us to submit our post-transaction data and given the nature and the huge volume of data that we need to extract and prepare, Grab was working under very limited timelines to meet PCC’s deadline,� he noted.

ÂłGrab B2

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely keep policy rates unchanged this year but will tap other instruments to infuse liquidity into the financial system, a Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) economist said. “With the 6.5-percent to 7.0-percent growth momentum still intact and with demand remaining strong, we still believe the BSP has little reason to adjust its policy rate throughout 2019,� BPI Vice President and lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. said in a report issued after the release of the 2018 gross domestic

product (GDP) growth figures.

GDP growth came in at 6.2 percent last year, short of the government’s downwardly revised 6.5-6.9 percent target. After policy rate hikes totalling 175 basis points in 2018, Neri said the central bank would likely pick “low hanging fruits before considering reversing its course on the RRP (reverse repurchase rate).�  Last year’s rate hikes brought the benchmark RRP rate to 4.75 percent.

To alleviate liquidity challenges faced by the financial system, Neri said the BSP could prioritize cutting the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 2 percentage points or more this year.

The RRR is the proportion of current

ÂłRates B2

A non-lawyer’s cheat sheet to contract review SME FIRST W CIRCLE HEN dealing with contracts, lawyers are notorious for their obsessiveness, paranoia and pessimism. We may forcefully insist on writing a CLAUSE A CERTAIN WAY IN A SPECIkC place within the contract, for very particular reasons.

This overzealous attitude is explainable. Lawyers are trained to be their client’s primary line of defense against contractual liability, not the last. We spend most of our professional life digging through and making sense of documents that nobody else WANTS TO READ SO WE ARE THE kRST to spot the provision that may cause you to transfer ownership of intellectual property for free, or to pay millions of pesos in penalties.

Engaging a lawyer to review your every contract may not be ideal if you are a small business owner on a tight budget. While YOU WILL DEkNITELY BENEkT FROM competent and timely legal advice, you can hack that lawyerlike approach without spending too much.

When faced with a new con-

KARLA MESINA tract to review, ask yourself two questions: Do I understand this document fully? and Does it serve the business purpose I am aiming for?

A contract is a story that answers the 5Ws and 1H, just couched in legal format: who, what, when, where, why, and HOW 9OU MUST BE SATISkED THAT these points are covered in your contract. If anything is missing or unclear, go back to the negotiating table and ask your counterparty to agree with you on A PROVISION THAT WILL kLL THE GAP Although there are business contracts that require specialist knowledge and technical jargon (like construction contracts or technology transfer agreements), most contracts can and should be written in plain English. A clear contract written

ÂłSME B3

Business Times

B2

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

Group backs bill raising tobacco, alcohol taxes

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

A

N advocacy group has supported the proposed increase in excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.

ultimately, the nation’s long-term development,� the group said.

FEF is a public advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the cause of economic and political liberty, good governance, secure AND WELL DEkNED PROPERTY RIGHTS

market oriented reforms and consumer protection..

It said the P60-billion revenue seen from increased alcohol and tobacco taxes is crucial in funding the soon-to-be-implemented Universal Health Care law. “As it stands, over P40-100 billion must be raised in order to sustain this monumental health sector reform,� FEF said.

The group said studies have shown that excise taxes are the most effective means of reducing the economic cost of tobacco and alcohol consumption. “Not only must we address the health burden that these sin products pose, but it is also in the government’s best interest to minimize the negative externalities which can hamper the labor force’s productivity,� FEF said.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, cigarettes were slapped with a tax of P32.50 per pack last year; P35 this year; P37.50 in 2021; and P40 in 2023. Excise taxes will increase by 4 percent every year thereafter.

“Sin taxes prove to be both pragmatic and crucial as a policy measure. This measure will serve to simultaneously generate muchneeded revenues and curb the consumption of these harmful commodities,� the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) said in statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte reCENTLY CERTIkED AS URGENT 3ENATE

Bill 1599 filed by Senator Emmanuel Pacquaio. The bill seeks to increase the excise tax of tobacco to P60 per pack and alcohol to P40 per liter. “President Duterte has already CERTIkED THE MEASURE AS URGENT Likewise, we call on Congress to pass this measure that will allow US TO MAKE A SIGNIkCANT INVESTment in our country’s health and,

Fertilizer costs up last year

AVID sales drop 17% in 2018 THE Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) reported its sales for 2018 dropped by 17 percent to 88,700 units from 106,285 units the previous year DUE TO HIGH INlATION RISING BORrowing costs, oil price hikes and tax increase. “Full year 2018 AVID sales recorded 88,700 units sold amidst unfavorable economic condition,�

AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said in a statement on Friday.

The passenger car (PC) segment, which comprised 35 percent of the total sales, recorded a 22-percent

THE average annual dealers’ prices of fertilizers increased in 2018 compared to their levels a year ago, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report on “Updates on fertilizer prices,� PSA said price increases were observed for four fertilizer varieties, namely urea, complete, ammosul and ammophos.

Most of the regions exhibited positive average annual rates during 2018, it added.

PSA said the country’s average annual dealers’ price of urea was at P1,031.05 per sack, a 12.93-percent increase from the 2017 level. The increase for urea was seen in all regions, the agency added.

For the complete variety, annual price was pegged at P1,111.51 per sack, 1.38 percent higher from the 2017 figure.

Increases on prices were noted in 14 regions, PSA said.

Likewise, the average annual dealers’ price of ammosul was P600.29 per sack in 2018, 7.15 percent higher year-on-year (yoy).

The country’s average dealer price of Ammophos was P936.18 per sack, up 3.18 percent yoy. Except for the Cordillera Administrative Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), higher prices were posted in all regions, PSA said.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

T

decline in sales from 39,721 units in 2017 to 30,960 units last year.

Hyundai led the PC segment, selling 19,905 units in 2018.

AVID said sales of the local commercial vehicles segment likewise went down by 14 percent to 57,027 units from 66,564 units.

Ford topped in this category, selling 22,946 units.

Meanwhile, AVID’s commercial vehicle segment, as represented

by JAC Automobile International Philippines, sold 713 units last year.

For 2019, AVID said it expects better economic condition to help

boost industry sales, given that INlATION IS SEEN EASING TO percent. “As the economic backdrop for robust vehicle sales becomes intact, AVID is bullish on its outlook as the industry is projected to grow by 10 percent in 2019,� it added.

The automobile industry sales fell by 16 percent last year due to tax increases and higher-thanEXPECTED INlATION THE #HAMBER of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said earlier. TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

Palay farmgate price still falling THE average farmgate price of palay (unmilled rice) continued to fall in the second week of January and reached a new all-time low of P19.85 per kilo since the downtrend started in September last year.

In its weekly update on palay, rice and corn prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the latest average quotation of palay was 0.50 percent lower than previous week’s P19.95 per kilo. The figure, however, was 4.09 percent higher year-on-year (yoy).

PSA said the wholesale and retail prices of both well-milled and regularmilled rice still declined in the second

week of January. The average wholesale price of wellmilled rice dropped by 0.55 percent to P41.79 per kilo from its week-ago level of P41.56 per kilo. But it climbed by 5.38 percent from P39.44 per kilo yoy.  At the retail trade, the average price of well-milled rice was P45.08 per kilo, 0.18 percent lower than previous week’s P45.16 per kilo. Yoy, it was up by 6.35 percent. On the other hand, the average wholesale price of regular-milled rice fell by 0.62 percent to P38.51 per kilo from last week’s P38.78 per kilo. A year ago, it was P35.91 per kilo.

At the retail level, the price of regular milled rice was P41.53 per kilo, 0.14 percent lower and 8.38 percent higher than its previous year and week ago levels , respectively. The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier attributed the continuous decline of palay buying prices on the harvest season and the arrival of additional rice imports of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piùol said the buying prices of palay could even fall by at least 21 percent to P18 per kilo when harvest season peaks. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Q RATES FROM B1

Monetary Board in February and May last year. “The other lower hanging fruit the BSP will likely pick over a sudden RRP cut is non-sterilized purchases of foreign currencies in the spot FX (foreign exchange) market,� Neri continued.

He claimed that by keeping its policy rate attractive to portfolio flows, the Bangko Sentral will not only be able to replenish its inter-

national reserves but also infuse much-needed liquidity into the funds market. “This can have a significant effect on liquidity since every $1.0 billion the BSP purchases from the FX market translates to an expansion of high powered money by roughly about P52 billion to P54 billion,� he added.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Little deposits that banks need to keep with the central bank against the sum they can loan out to borrowers.

One-percentage-point cuts to the ratio, currently at 18 percent, were ordered by the BSP’s policy-making

Blockchain in the academe

HERE is a lot of hype about blockchain technology as “bigger than the internet� in terms of its potential impact on society, but it is no exaggeration that it has numerous potential applications IN BUSINESS kNANCE RETAIL HEALTH care, and the academe.

Usually described as a decentralized, digitized, distributed ledger and database, blockchain adds records in a chronological order and once the data are stored, it CAN NEVER BE CHANGED %FkCIENT AND low-cost trading is achieved when point-to-point networks establish a foundation of trust that does not require third-party guarantees.

This technology behind bitcoin – which first appeared in 2009 – and other cryptocurrencies is becoming the focus of university teaching and research according to UK-based technology reporter Lindsay McKenzie, who covers science policy, academic publishing, and higher education in Europe and the US. She said: “Interest in blockchain technology is growing fast in the business world. Many professors are incorporating blockchain into their teaching, and several universities have developed full courses devoted to the technology. In the process, they are providing the emerging discipline, once seen

licensee of the Cagayan Economic FINEX FILES Zone Authority.

Located in the town of Silang, Cavite, the South Forbes City ColJ. ALBERT lege will utilize AmberTime to GAMBOA record student admissions and learning progress as well as issue as unserious, with intellectual blockchain diplomas, certificates legitimacy.� of completion, and transcripts of The Massachusetts Institute of records. The “One-Key Uplink�

Technology (MIT) started it all partnership also seeks to expand through its Digital Currency Initia- blockchain developer skill sets tive, which was launched in 2015 among Filipino college graduates as part of the MIT Media Lab. In and encourage foreign students to 2018, the Stanford University in consider studying in the Philippines.

California and Columbia UniAmberTime founder Li Jian versity in New York created their said, “the project was developed own blockchain research centers, to design a blockchain technology the latter in collaboration with ecosystem that can create trust, IBM Corp. transparency, and usability for The Columbia-IBM Center for multiple sectors across the world, Blockchain and Data Transparency BECOMING THE kRST INDEPENDENT has an “innovation accelerator� to global authenticity provider using support blockchain-related start- blockchain.� ups, while Stanford’s Center for A group of blockchain experts Blockchain Research has an initial from the Philippines and SinkVE YEAR PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE gapore comprise AmberTime’s Ethereum Foundation and four technical development team that other blockchain organizations. has won international awards Here in the Philippines, a stra- in Malaysia, Dubai, and Taiwan. tegic partnership was recently !MONG THEM ARE kVE ALUMNI FROM signed between the South Forbes the University of the Philippines City College and AmberTime (UP) who co-founded MaroonStuBlockchain, a trade name of Lian- dios, an information technology net Technology Ltd. which is a firm in Diliman, Quezon City subsidiary of Hong Kong-based that has served 39 companies and Apsaras Group Ltd. and a principal completed more than 50 projects.

Aside from its tie-ups with the South Forbes City College and UP graduates, AmberTime has a cooperation agreement with a Japanese university and is in communication with some higher learning institutions of Australia and Switzerland to promote the convergence of blockchain technology and education. Ultimately, it is committed to build a “borderless university� based on the blockchain certification platform at the center of the next educational storm.

Professor Cesare Fracassi of the University of Texas at Austin believes that since blockchain was discovered and developed by industry practitioners focusing on short-term business applications, university researchers have been struggling to catch up. However, they are now poised to play an important role in advancing the technology as they have the luxury of thinking long-term.

His conclusion: “Because many people singing praises for blockchain are invested in it succeeding, academics can bring more objectivity to the research.�

The author is CFO of the Asian Center for Legal Excellence and chairman of the FINEX Golden Jubilee Book Project.

I

Financial planning is a process

PROMISED to discuss in greater detail the financial planning process. It consists of kVE STEPS AND SIX IF YOU RE USING A kNANCIAL PLANNER

Establish, define relationship with your planner It’s about managing each other’s expectations. The planner should clearly explain the services he is expected to provide, define each other’s responsibilities, frequency you expect to hear from him, compensation, duration of the relationship and more importantly how he derives his recommendations.

Gather data, establish personal, financial goals In establishing your goals, be SMARTER (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound, escalating and rewarding). People fall prey to creating vague and ambiguous goals like “I want to be rich�. What do you mean by rich? Does having P10 million already mean you’re rich? Some may say yes but some want more. How would you even know you’ve already achieved your goal if there’s no numerical value in place? It’s like shooting on a target you can’t see.

Assess your risk appetite at this stage. Always ask yourself how much you can afford to lose. Comically, this question may be the best gauge for you to know if somebody just wants to make a sale or is really after your best interest. If the person starts recommending products that promise high returns and without understanding your risk appetite, then you have a big problem. That person is just after some quick commissions from a sale.

Document all relevant information about your personal AND kNANCIAL SITUATION SUCH AS your health status and that of your family, your interest and hobbies, expectations about employment, possible change in lifestyle like getting married or retiring soon, assets and liabilities, current investments and performance, insurance policies, income and expense, etc. Contact us for a copy of the template we use.

Analyze, evaluate your plan With the “big picture� view, it is now clearer and easier for you to identify potential pitfalls and misalignments. Ask yourself, do MY CASHlOW ASSET AND LIABILIties, insurance, investments, match my goals? Does my risk appetite match my investments?

Your risk appetite is low risk yet a big part of your investments is in equities. Do your investments match your goal’s time horizon? Your investments are in money market yet this is for your retirement that will happen in 10 years. With an untrained eye, some of these discrepancies might not be obvious. This is perhaps where an EXPERIENCED kNANCIAL PLANNER will be most helpful.

Develop your action plan, consider some alternatives This requires choosing ways to achieve your goals. As you achieve your short-term goals, the goals next in priority will come into focus. This may in-

MONEY TALKS

MELVIN ESTEBAN clude mapping how much you need to set aside as monthly savings, realignment of your investments, or adjusting your future lifestyle.

Evaluate alternative courses of action, consider your life situation, personal values, and current economic conditions.

Note that every decision closes off alternatives. By deciding to invest in the stock market now, it may mean you cannot take a vacation. A decision to go back to school full time may mean you cannot work full time. Opportunity cost is what you give up by making these choices.

-ANY OF THESE kNANCIAL DECIsions will be challenging. So my tip would be to gather as much information based on your experience and the experiences of others or even better, involve a PROFESSIONAL kNANCIAL PLANNER

Implement the plan Yes. Just implement. It may sound simple but many people MAY kND THIS PART TO BE THE MOST DIFkCULT STEP )T TAKES A LOT OF discipline and desire to put your plan into action. Saving even a few even hundreds per month may be difficult especially if you’ve never done that before.

People can easily be tempted to take no action, eventually leading to procrastination.

Successful people will tell you that getting started is the most difficult but most important aspect in succeeding.

Best advice--start gradually and be realistic.

Monitoring the plan They’re not called “financial planning� for no reason. Plans evolve and change. Monitoring them regularly is vital to ensure that you’re always on track. Change and tweak your parameters as needed. Events like marriage, child birth, career change, early retirement or events beyond your control like the recent changes in our tax, peso depreciation and sudden INlATION SURGE WILL REQUIRE A DIFferent perspective on your plan.

Just remember, financial planning is a continuous cycle.

Refer back to the steps as sigNIkCANT LIFE AND kNANCIAL EVENTS occur. You may also want to sit down with a professional kNANCIAL PLANNER AND REEVALUate your plan on a regular basis.

It’s best if you can do it once or twice a year.

Watch out for my article on g4IPS ON CHOOSING A kNANCIAL planner�. Happy and wealthy living!

Melvin J. Esteban is the CEO of Motivating Minds and is one of the lead lecturer for the Registered Financial Planner Program of RFP Philippines.

-ELVIN IS THE kRST &ILIPINO TO win the prestigious â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young ASEAN Manager Awardâ&#x20AC;?. He has BEEN ENGAGED IN THE kNANCIAL services industry for over 20 years in various capacities such as wealth management, learning and development, portfolio management, and segments marketing. Learn more about personal financial planning at the 74th RFP program this January 2019. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text <name><email><RFP> to 0917-9689774.

Q GRAB FROM B1

PCC slaps P6.5-M fine â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the Voluntary Commitment negotiations, Grab recommended various ways to present the requested data based on how

the system can best provide them. Given enough time, we can reconcile our data structure with theirs,â&#x20AC;? Cu added. LISBET K. ESMAEL

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

PNB sets P100-B bond issuance THE Philippine National Bank (PNB) said on Friday it planned to issue bonds and commercial papers amounting to P100 billion.

In a disclosure, the listed lender announced that its board of directors had â&#x20AC;&#x153;approved the establishment of a peso bond and commercial program of up to P100 billionâ&#x20AC;? during a meeting that day.

The program will be issued in one or more tranches, it added without disclosing other details.

The program comes months after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) relaxed its rules on bank bond issuances in line with the objective of helping develop the local capital market.

In August, the central bank said

that under the enhanced rules, eligible banks would no longer need prior regulatory approval to issue bonds and commercial papers.

Last year, PNB raised $300 million from its issuance of mediumterm notes (MTN) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the first tranche of its $1-billion MTN program, which was rated provisional medium investment grade or (P) Baa2 by Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investors Service.

The lenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net income grew by 67 percent to P7.449 billion in THE kRST NINE MONTHS OF FROM P4.5 billion in the same period the year before.

PNB shares rose by 50 centavos or 1.14 percent to close at P44.50 each on Friday.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

PBB increases capital stock to P20 billion PHILIPPINE Business Bank 0"" IS RAISING ITS AUTHORIZED capital stock to P20 billion from the current P10 billion to fund its growth initiatives.

In a disclosure on Friday, the Yaoled lender said its board of directors approved on Thursday to increase its common shares by P10 billion â&#x20AC;&#x153;in preparation for an enlarged shareholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; equity base.â&#x20AC;?

The higher capital stock â&#x20AC;&#x153;will greatly expand the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capability to develop more businesses and harmless opportunities in THE kNANCIAL SERVICES SPACEu AND enable it to meet the growing demands of the banking business, it added.

The increase is subject to the approval of shareholders, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The approval comes after the central bank approved earlier this month the planned merger of PBB and rural lender Insular Savers Bank Inc., with the former as the surviving entity.

Previously, PBB told the Philippine Stock Exchange that its NET PROkT ROSE BY PERCENT TO 0 MILLION IN THE kRST NINE MONTHS OF FROM 0 MILlion in the same period in 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bank continues to show strength despite increasing global market uncertainties, domestic CHALLENGES AND ACCELERATING INlAtion,â&#x20AC;? PBB President and Chief %XECUTIVE /FkCER 2OLAND !VANTE said then.

0"" SHARES ROSE BY CENTAVOS or 0.64 percent to end at P12.50 apiece on Friday.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLOÂ

Businessinbriefs BDO SECURES NOD FOR P15-B COMMERCIAL PAPERS THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved BDO Leasing and Finance Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planned issuance of P15-billion worth of commercial papers. In its approval sent to reporters on Thursday, the SEC said each paper would have a maturity level of at least P300,000, with interest rates depending on prevailing money-market rates. Out of the total amount to be raised, P14.58 billion would be used for payment obligations, including expenses for issuance and distribution, and the remaining P416.74 million for re-lending. BDO Capital and Investment Corp. is the exclusive selling agent for this transaction. The Philippine Rating Services Corp. earlier gave BDO Leasing a credit rating of â&#x20AC;&#x153;PRS Aa (minus),â&#x20AC;? indicating that it is in a strong financial position to meet its obligations.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

PNOC MULLS OVER BUILDING OIL STORAGE FACILITY STATE-RUN Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) is studying a plan to build an oil storage facility to establish the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic petroleum reserve. At a recent talk on nuclear energy in Taguig City, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the â&#x20AC;&#x153;PNOC is even looking at investing in the storage facility,â&#x20AC;? but noted that developing it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;somewhat complicated,â&#x20AC;? given its constraints, such as usage, time and pricing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of these things require [an] operating framework, [a] regulatory framework, [and a] budgeting framework,â&#x20AC;? he added. Establishing this facility is in line with the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan to import 240 million liters of cheaper diesel. In May, the Energy department issued a board resolution mandating the PNOC-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) to sell imported low-cost diesel and distribute this to independent dealers and individual consumers to spur competition and curb price hikes.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

MERALCO GROUP WINS NEW CLARK POWER-SUPPLY BID A CONSORTIUM led by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) won its bid to supply electricity to New Clark City in Capas town, Tarlac province, according to an official.

In a recent interview, Alfredo Panlilio, Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communications, told reporters that although the consortium â&#x20AC;&#x201D; formed by Meralco and Japanese energy firms Marubeni Corp., Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; succeeded in its bid, the supply contract is yet to be awarded. He said the four-member group aims to start building a power plant by June, in time for the Southeast Asian Games later this year.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Corporate News

A

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

C Energy Inc. announced on Friday it had LAUNCHED ITS kRST GREEN BONDS AMOUNTING TO MILLION

In a disclosure, the energy platform of listed Ayala Corp. said its US dollar-denominated senior GREEN BONDS HAD A TENOR OF kVE years and a coupon rate of 4.75 percent per annum, and were valued at $99.451 each.

These bonds, part of AC Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $1-billion medium-term note program, will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd. AC Energy subsidiary AC Energy Finance International Ltd. will is-

sue the bonds.

0ROCEEDS WILL BE USED TO kNANCE renewable energy projects as it aspires to exceed 5 gigawatts (GW) of attributable capacity and generate at least 50 percent of energy from renewables by 2025. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very pleased to see the success of our maiden green bond. This will enable AC Energy to scale up its renewable energy investments in the region,â&#x20AC;? AC Energy Chairman Fernando Zobel

de Ayala said in the statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very encouraged by the strong reception among bond investors within the current volatile ENVIRONMENT 4HIS RElECTS CONkdence in AC Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capability to execute its plans and meet investor expectations,â&#x20AC;? AC Energy Chief &INANCE /FkCER #ORA $IZON SAID AC Energy said its maiden green bonds received pre-issuance certikCATION AS CLIMATE BONDS FROM THE Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) Board of the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), which approved it on *ANUARY MAKING THESE THE kRST of their kind in Southeast Asia. g4HE #"3 CERTIkCATION PROVIDES assurance that proceeds from any issuance of bonds will be used to

kNANCE PROJECTS AND ASSETS THAT are consistent with delivering a low-carbon and climate resilient economy,â&#x20AC;? AC Energy said.

HSBC acted as the sole global coordinator, while Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) served as lone green structuring agent.

BAML, CLSA and HSBC were the joint bookrunners and joint lead MANAGERS WHILE "$/ #APITAL "0) Capital Corp. and China Bank Capital served as domestic managers.

AC Energy, which has more than $1 billion of invested and committed equity in renewable and thermal energy in the Philippines and around the region, currently HAS A TOTAL CAPACITY OF MEGAwatts (MW).

SEC okays PH Resortsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; P18.5-B follow-on offering THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved on ThursDAY THE PLANNED 0 BILLION FOLLOW ON OFFERING OF $AVAO #ITY BASED BUSINESSMAN $ENNIS 5Y S PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. In its approval emailed to reporters, the SEC said the company would offer 2.054 billion common shares for a maximum of P9 each.

PH Resorts is initially offering BILLION SHARES ALTHOUGH it has set aside another 267.94 MILLION SHARES FOR A STABILIZATION related option.

The firm expects proceeds to

reach about P17.9 billion, assuming that option is used, â&#x20AC;&#x153;after deducting the applicable underwriting fees and commissions and expenses for the offer (excluding any additional expenses that may be incurred in relation to the staBILIZATION RELATED OPTION PAYABLE by the company,â&#x20AC;? the SEC said in the approval.

Asked if the offering would be successful, Luis Limlingan, head of research and sales of Regina CapiTAL $EVELOPMENT #ORP 2#$#

said there would be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;tug of warâ&#x20AC;? over the share price.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;[O]f course, investors want [a] lower [price] and the company wants the highest, so there will be a tug of war,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Piper Chaucer Tan, Philstocks Financial, Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research associate, believed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;proceeds will go to the construction of New Clark City, which is set to be the next Metro Manila in the next 10 to 15 years.â&#x20AC;?

He said any project and expansion under PH Resorts could be approved because of Uy, a close asSOCIATE OF 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE Timing in entering the market and pricing are key to the offer-

ingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, according to Summit Securities President Harry Liu. PH Resorts is the parent company of PH Travel and Leisure Holdings Corp., the Udenna GROUP S HOLDING kRM FOR GAMING and hospitality. It portfolio includes two integrated resort and casino projectss: one in Mactan, Cebu province and another in Clark Global City in Angeles City, Pampanga province.

Shares of PH Resorts added 1 centavos or 1.49 percent to close AT 0 EACH ON &RIDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Q TRADE FROM B1

day helped right Wall Street stock prices, denying media reports that 53 OFkCIALS HAD CALLED OFF A PREPAratory meeting this week due to a supposed lack of progress.

Kudlow told reporters on Thursday that next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;very importantâ&#x20AC;? but â&#x20AC;&#x153;not the end of the game.â&#x20AC;?

The US message to China, he said, was â&#x20AC;&#x153;open up your economy.

7E LL EXPORT LIKE CRAZY u Earlier at the World Economic &ORUM IN 3WITZERLAND ON 7EDNESday, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said â&#x20AC;&#x153;neither side can do without the other.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Chinese and US economies are mutually indispensable, so their RELATIONS MUST BE MUTUALLY BENEkcial and win-win,â&#x20AC;? Wang said. $ESPITE 0RESIDENT $ONALD

Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard line tactics, the US TRADE DEkCIT WITH #HINA HAS CONtinued to grow, underscoring the extent to which American industry has come to rely on the Asian giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing base.

Last year, China posted its slowest growth in nearly three decades, and economists say the trade war is sapping the strength of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-largest economy.

AFP

US, China exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, slowing the economies in both countries.

Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Wednes-

Q SME FROM B1

Q PROFIT-TAKING FROM B1

A non-lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheat sheet to contract review Stock market

in laymanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s language is easier to enforce in court because it does not need any legal interpretation.

Any Juan who can read it can tell you what it means.

More importantly, understanding your contract will guide you on what to do when a party fails to perform its obligations. Are you entitled to claim liquidated damages, interest and/or late payment fees? Should you bring up the dispute with an ARBITRATOR kRST OR CAN YOU GO DIRECTLY to court? What are the instances by which you can be declared in partial or complete default?

There may be formal legal requirements that only a lawyer can do, such AS NOTARIZATION BUT THAT S ICING ON THE cake now. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already studied your agreement from top to bottom, and no longer need to consult him or her on any provision.

On the other hand, you must also make sure that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good kT BETWEEN YOUR WRITTEN AGREEMENT and your intended purpose. In the context of a business transaction, your contract is both a legal and a commercial document. You are in the best

position to set the commercial target OF THE CONTRACT SO TAKE THE kRST CRACK at making that target a reality. $ON T BE SCARED TO WRITE DOWN lofty goals in the contract, but be realistic, too. For example, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a toy manufacturer, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bind yourself to deliver 10,000 pieces of toys in 30 days if your factory can make only half that numberâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;unless you have backup plans like expanding the production line or subcontracting another entity to churn out the other 5,000 pieces.

9OU WANT YOUR BUSINESS TO STABILIZE and grow, not get mired in debt or BE RUINED BY AN UNFULkLLED ORDER That means understanding how your contracts can best support your business plans.

Finally, depending on your particular transaction, you will need to place safeguards that can help you manage risk. This can be a pre-termination clause that allows you to cut the contract short at any time for good reason, or a bond the other party must put up to guarantee complete and timely delivery of your purchase.

Fitch unit: PH economy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unlikely to gather steamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eased following a 90-day truce WHICH STARTED ON $ECEMBER

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL not be a lasting resolution to the trade dispute after the end of the truce on March 1,â&#x20AC;? Fitch Solutions said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A re-escalation of trade tensions will not only disrupt global SUPPLY CHAINS AND INVESTOR CONkdence, but also weigh directly on Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic growth and hence export demand from the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? it added.

State spending, which helped sustain economic growth last year, WILL LIKELY PROVE INSUFkCIENT IN

B3

AC Energy launches $225-M green bonds

Q STEAM FROM B1

to be negatively impacted by headwinds to private consumption as domestic monetary conditions tighten further over the coming quarters, alongside global rising interest rates,â&#x20AC;? it said, also pointing to a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey that found reDUCED CONSUMER CONkDENCE FOR THE kRST QUARTER AND THE FULL YEAR The US-China trade war, meanwhile, is expected to flare up anew and affect shipments of Philippine-made goods to its largest neighbor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although trade tensions between the US and China have

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

THE WAKE OF A FOURTH QUARTER slowdown and limited resources. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[W]e highlight that the government is constrained by its limited ability to raise revenues and we believe that the heavy government spending will be unsustainable AND INSUFkCIENT TO SUPPORT ECOnomic growth sustainably amid rising headwinds,â&#x20AC;? it said.

The fourth quarter spending slowdown, to 5.5 percent from PERCENT A YEAR EARLIER WAS THE lowest in over three years.

Highlighting the importance of increased public infrastructure spending as a means sustaining

growth and boosting the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitiveness, Fitch Solutions said that in the case of the Philupines, â&#x20AC;&#x153;returns from large-scale public-led infrastructure projects ARE TYPICALLY NOT MAXIMIZED DUE to hasty appraisal and a sub-optimal public procurement system.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;This could end up increasing the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt burden without a commensurating increase in productivity, instead weighing on future growth potential,â&#x20AC;? it added.

A deteriorating business environment will also not help and is expected to weigh on private investments over the year, Fitch

If, despite thorough self-review, you are still unsure whether your contract promotes and protects your interest, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to call in the experts. Your lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fees will be chump change compared to the potential costs of a shoddy legal agreement.

Remember that a contract has the force of law between the parties. The court will not step in to rewrite or invalidate it unless it is contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order, or public policy. Lawyers know this by heart, and will strive to craft a contract that will uphold both the law and your business.

dips on profit-taking

Atty. Karla Eunice T. Mesina is the General Counsel of First Circle Growth Finance Corp., a fintech company offering trade-backed credit to SMEs through a fully-online platform, www.firstcircle.com.

Karla received her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and graduated Cum Laude from the Ateneo de Manila University, and obtained her law degree from the University of the Philippines. She may be reached via karla.mesina@ kRSTCIRCLE COM or LinkedIn.

as the market stays above 7,900 support.

2EGINA #APITAL $EVELOPMENT Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan, meanwhile, said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Philippines shares traded slightly lower after several regional events and economic data did not stir any interest heading into the weekend.â&#x20AC;?

Hong Kong jumped 1.7 percent and Shanghai ended up 0.4 percent while Tokyo closed one percent higher.

Back in Manila, all sectors kNISHED IN THE GREEN EXCEPT FOR HOLDING kRMS Volume turnover stood at 1.33 billion shares valued at P7.37 billion.

7INNERS LED LOSERS

while 50 issues were unchanged.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD WITH A REPORT FROM AFP

Solutions said, pointing to declines in the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ease of doing business and corruption perception rankings.

Still, the Fitch unit said that near-term risks to its outlook remained â&#x20AC;&#x153;evenly balancedâ&#x20AC;?.

On the upside, the government COULD OPT TO ABANDON DEkCIT CAP OF PERCENT OF '$0 AND SPEND even more aggressively to achieve its economic goals, albeit at the expense of longer-term macroeconomic stability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The [countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] relatively large foreign reserves (more than eight months of import cover) and low PUBLIC DEBT LOAD OF '$0 suggest that there is room for the government to borrow and spend aggressively, which would provide

a short-term boost to growth,â&#x20AC;?

Fitch Solutions noted.

External and geopolitical issues, meanwhile, were tagged as pertinent downside risks. g! SIGNIkCANT DETERIORATION IN US-China trade tensions and a faster-than-expected rate hiking CYCLE IN THE 53 COULD TRIGGER A lIGHT to safety, weighing on investment further,â&#x20AC;? Fitch Solutions said. !ND WHILE THE $UTERTE ADMINIStration has chosen to pursue closer ties with China, it noted that maritime disputes in the South China Sea remain unresolved. g! lARE UP OF TENSIONS BETWEEN both sides would damage economic cooperation and could see China pull out of infrastructure investments in the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? it said.

B4

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

Health Industries

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Physicians urge public to get flu, pneumonia shots A

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

â&#x20AC;&#x153;[It] can be mildly distressing for otherwise healthy people but it can be dangerous or even fatal to people who are considered immunocompromised such as children and the elderly,â&#x20AC;? the doctors said.

GROUP of chest physicians is urging the PUBLIC TO GET INlUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL vaccination to prevent contracting RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS AMID THE lU SEASON AND DECLINE IN IMMUNIZATION RATES IN THE Symptoms to observe country last year, partly caused by the dengue and treatments VACCINE kASCO â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flu season is here again and the rising number of outpatient visits, ER (emergency room) visits and ADMISSIONS DUE TO lU IS CAUSING alarm among the population,â&#x20AC;? the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) said in a statement.

The PCCP quashed fears about vaccination, saying it is effective, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;has greatly reduced the burden of infectious diseases.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sadly, there was a very low vac-

cination rate last year and we hope to overcome the barriers to vaccination this year. We urge everyone to be protected,â&#x20AC;? the doctors said.

Flu, which is a highly contagious respiratory illness usually transmitted coughing or sneezING CAUSED BY THE INlUENZA VIRUS affecting the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, typically presents with fever, cough, nasal congestion and sore throat.

They suggested that if one has persistent cough, colds and fever, it is better to seek professional consultation, warning that respiratory problems such as flu may develop into asthma1, COPD2, bronchiectasis are at risk for more complications like pneumonia if left untreated.

Treatment is usually supportive, the doctors said. In most cases, patients are treated with the antiviral agent or prophylaxis

Oseltamivir within seven days of exposure or 48 to 72 hours from the onset of symptoms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flu vaccination is a safe and effective means to prevent and PROTECT AGAINST lU AND ITS POSSIBLE complications,â&#x20AC;? the doctors said.

They noted that each year, the World Health Organization MONITORS AND ANALYZES INlUENZA activity and recommends vaccine compositions. Because of this, every April or May, the stocks of lU VACCINE ARE REPLENISHED A flu shot is good for a year while a pneumonia vaccine lasts depending on what a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age group is. For two years old and below, they need four shots or at two, four and six months, and then a dose between 12 and 15 months.

If a person is between two and 64 years old, they need at least one

to three shots.

For 65 years old or older, they need about two shots, which will last them the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, the PCCP assured the availability of pneumonia vaccine all year and â&#x20AC;&#x153;patients should contact their doctors regarding its recommended schedule,â&#x20AC;? the group added.

The PCCP also stressed the importance of â&#x20AC;&#x153;simple infection preventionâ&#x20AC;? strategies such as proper hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, hand washing, and keeping a healthy lifestyle.

Proper etiquette related to sneezing and coughing is covering the either the nose or the mouth with tissue. If there is none available, people are advised to turn away from other people and sneeze into their sleeve or the crook of their arm.

BY STANLEY GAJETE Second of two parts IN the 2017 World Health Organization global school-based survey report, there were close to 800,000 suicides reported. And this does not include suicide cases that have never been reported.

In the Philippines, there has been a reported increase in young Filipinos ending their lives, according to UCAnews, a Catholic news source. In 2016, 237 children aged 10 to 14 committed suicide.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an alarming rate especially since the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s median age is 23.4. Also, suicide by countries in 2018 showed the Philippines with 3.2 suicide per 100,000 ranking at 155 out of 176 countries.

Stress and depression effects It should have been a fresh start for Melanie Moreno as a secondary school teacher in Cavite. But her experience with her suicidal student happened during her practical teaching and as observer in 2006.

A 15-year old girl decided to end her life when she allegedly learned that her older boyfriend had a family. Because of her stress that caused depression, she decided to end her life one weekend.

According to Melanie, the girl had a turning point and told her mother that she was not yet ready to end her life. But things did not turn for the better. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were shocked because she was a cheerful kid. And it never looked like she would one day end her life,â&#x20AC;? the teacher said.

Dispelling misconceptions on contraception HYPERTENSION and postpartum hemorrhage, among other fatal complications that occur during labor, delivery and the postpartum period, result from closely spaced births and various chronic and infectious diseases, according to a 2014 report of the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program Philippines.

And every year, 5,000 Filipino mothers die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many women and couples want to delay or limit pregnancies but are not using any form of contraception. Either they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use it or stop using it altogether even after receiving counseling from healthcare providers,â&#x20AC;? said medical doctor Bernabe Marinduque who is with the Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood (PSRP).

There are various reasons for this, chief among them are â&#x20AC;&#x153;uninformed beliefs or negative misconceptions about family planning among individuals, and within families and communities where the mother belongs,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Many women and their families think that using modern contraceptives will produce adverse effects on the body or the womb, or cause birth defects. Another related fear is that contraception causes infertility-nakakabaog â&#x20AC;&#x201D; although that is simply a rumor.

And then there are cultural beliefs such as children or pregnancies are blessings and should not be prevented, or that contraception is a form of abortion.

Marinduque said that by discussing the persistent myths among individuals and couples, people could make better and informed choices about birth spacing that directly have an impact on their health, well being, and relationships.

Pursuant to the Philippine Reproductive Health Law, 51 contraceptive products have been made available, all of which have been determined to be safe as approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These contraceptives are non-abortifacient, meaning they do not induce abortion.

Both traditional and modern contraceptives should be used or administered properly. Some side effects of contraceptives like intrauterine devices and subdermal implants include headaches, spotting, irregular menses, and slight abdominal pain, but these are temporary or short-term discomforts. Mothers can go back to their regular fertility cycle once the contraception is discontinued, as in the case of progestin subdermal implants that prevent pregnancies for up to three years.

According to the Department of Health, contraceptives generally do not diminish sexual desire or performance. On the other hand, family planning even improves sexual and social relations because it helps reduce anxieties associated with ill-timed pregnancies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aside from misconceptions, access is also another key area that needs to be addressed if we are to save mothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and infantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. There are times when people who may be aware of the ECONOMIC AND HEALTH BENEkTS OF CONTRACEPTION do not know where or how to obtain information and services,â&#x20AC;? Marinduque said.

(IS GROUP THE NONSTOCK NONPROkT 0320 IS a professional organization that advances family planning through training and practice of members, promoting research and international collaboration, and getting involved in community health care and outreach programs especially among the disadvantaged. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When people are empowered to make informed choices, we can dispel the fears associated with myths about family planning, as well as the deadly consequences of poor birth spacing,â&#x20AC;?

Marinduque added.

How to avoid depression, suicide

Stigma and taboo

BOAC GETS 2D MACHINE The local government of Boac, Marinduque, recently received a 2D echo machine from the Marinduque Provincial Department of Health Office. Boac Mayor Robert Madla requested the 2D machine that will be deployed and maintained at the Dr. Pabo N. Marquez Municipal Health and Diagnostic Center is Barangay (village) Isok 1. PIA PHOTO

Getting through lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disability CRISTETA ESTRADA, a 53-year-old high school teacher with psoriatic arthritis, cannot help but get frustrated every time she lines up in grocery stores or fast food chains for hours, and notice people ahead of her looking pretty healthy, normal and â&#x20AC;&#x153;stronger than Hercules.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can no longer stand for an hour since my leg disability. I just wish the store manager would religiously follow what the lane is for â&#x20AC;&#x201D; senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD). Do not wait for something to happen to us. Our lane should serve only people like us,â&#x20AC;? she lamented in one of her Facebook posts.

In the Philippines, disability is one of the social issues affecting a portion of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; situation. The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded a total of 1.443 million (1.57 percent of the total population) PWDs as of 2010.

Apparently, only 60 percent (or 6 out of 10) of local government units (LGUs) have A 0ERSONS WITH $ISABILITY /FkCE 0$!/ according to a study by the University of the Philippines-Center for Local and Regional Governance (UP CLRG) on PWD inclusion in the Philippines.

The presence of PDAOs in LGUs lowers the chance of PWDs having limited access to various services such as health, employment, rehabilitation, assistive devices, social welfare, disaster management, and education. But the low compliance with this requirement has severely impaired the implementation of the law assuring the delivery of services to PWDs.

Who qualifies for PWD According to the PWD Philippines website, there are seven categories that qualify an applicant for a PWD ID: visual impairment, hearing loss, orthopedic disability, learning disability, psychosocial disability, chronic illness and mental disability.

In the case of Estrada, she is suffering from psoriatic arthritis, a type arthritis that

started with psoriasis, which eventually led to her leg disability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My psoriasis condition started in my mid-40s. This is hereditary because my father and brothers had this. At the beginning, I had an itchy scalp and reddish spots that leave my skin dry once I pop them. It gets worse and the spots multiply and the dandruff keeps coming back, which often times makes me so embarrassed,â&#x20AC;? said Estrada.

Psoriasis In the Philippines, an estimated 2 million Filipinos suffer from this disease. Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life of cycle of skin cells. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful.

In 2014, psoriasis was recognized FOR THE kRST TIME AS A SERIOUS NON COMmunicable disease at the World Health Assembly. All member-states recognized that incorrect or delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment options, among others, cause needless suffering for millions of people worldwide.

If one has psoriasis, the patient is at greater risk of developing certain diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, eye condition, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, kidney disease and other autoimmune diseases.

Psoriatic arthritis is a long-term condition that can get progressively worse and occurs when bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immune system begins to attach healthy cells and tissue.

Estradaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doctor said her condition was degenerative, or had the tendency to decline and deteriorate.

Hope for psoriasis A former energetic athlete in high school and a writer, Estrada admitted that she feels depressed looking for cures to her

skin irregularities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I met a dermatologist who advised me to get sun treatment. Sun light can be a cure,â&#x20AC;? said Estrada.

Sun treatment is not only known to reduce inflammation and scaling, it also helps clear psoriasis symptoms and makes the body produce more Vitamin $ WHICH CAN HELP REDUCE INlAMMATION throughout the body.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are several effective treatments available apart from medicines, which is exposure to the sun or sun treatment.

Despite her condition, Estrada tries to be positive, be grateful in life, and serve God by being active in parish organizations as a member of the Mother Butler Guild. Her husband is also active in the parish as member of the Lay Ministers.

The couple is blessed with an 18-yearold child. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lord gave me this condition but He helped me realize to be grateful despite the pain. The mere fact that I can still climb the stairs in our school to attend classes is enough to be thankful for, that I have a husband who supports ME EMOTIONAL AND kNANCIALLY AND AN 18-year-old child. I do not know before how to thank him before but He really works in my life,â&#x20AC;? said Estrada, who is set to retire next year.

Under the Labor Code of the Philippines, all employees with disability are ENTITLED TO ALL RIGHTS AND BENEkTS 7ORKERS with disability must also be mandatorily covered under the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and the Home Guarantee Development Fund (Pag-IBIG), whenever applicable.

The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, or Republic Act 7277, prescribes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;no disabled persons shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment, AND THAT A QUALIkED DISABLED EMPLOYEE shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of employment.â&#x20AC;? MYLENE ORILLO

Numerous research have shown that stigma, particularly surrounding mental disorders and suicide, means many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted suicide were not seeking help.

And stress can be a major cause of suicide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stress interferes at least moderately with their lives. Chronic stress can affect your health, causing symptoms from headaches, high blood pressure, and chest pain to heart palpitations, skin rashes, and loss of sleep,â&#x20AC;? said Felicitas Soriano, a psychiatrist at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, said.

She added that there was no health without mental health. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood,â&#x20AC;?

Soriano said.

She further said that only half of those with mental health illness receive treatment, which results in poor performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities, and increased risk of suicide.

Besides getting treatment, those with mental illness or suspected of having one can take various steps to improving their health. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having a good family relationship, being in full-life resiliency, exercising, doing relaxation activities, setting goals and priorities, are some of the key ways to distress and fight anxiety and depression,â&#x20AC;? Soriano said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You must also know your limitations so pressures wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect you fully. Always get connected with people, especially parents, friends and siblings,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the dimension of having a powerful spiritual attitude. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, you must also know the signs and when to go to a doctor,â&#x20AC;? said Soriano.

World Proposals to end US Maduro gets military backing shutdown blocked C

˜ The Manila Times

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US Senate on Thursday blocked dueling plans to reopen shuttered federal agencies, a fresh setback in efforts to end a month-long government shutdown, but President Donald Trump signaled he could back a “reasonable” proposal that includes border security.

The legislative deadlock left Congress and the president grasping for a solution as thousands of federal workers, some reliant on food banks to make ends meet, are about to miss a second paycheck.

But shortly after the votes, the outlines of a possible deal to end the deepening crisis began to take shape, when Senate leaders huddled in private to discuss a proposal to fund lapsed federal agencies for three weeks, to allow for negotiations over border security.

Asked if he would support the plan, discussed in private by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, Trump was noncommittal, saying he would still want funding for his wall.

“If they come to a reasonable agreement, I would support it,” he said, but added: “We have to have a wall in this country.”

But top Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, said any deal that includes a down payment on Trump’s wall would be a non-starter.

“I hope that that doesn’t mean some big downpayment for the wall,” Pelosi said according to US media, adding, “I don’t know if he knows what he’s talking about.”

AFP

ARACAS: Venezuela’s powerful military threw its weight behind President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday as the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority, and the fate of the crisis-wracked country hung in the balance.

As the death toll from days of street protests jumped to 26, a dekANT -ADURO ANNOUNCED THE CLOsure of Venezuela’s embassy and consulates in the United States, a day after President Donald Trump’s administration declared his regime “illegitimate.”

The oil-rich but economically devastated country was plunged into uncertainty Wednesday when Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself “acting president” — earning swift endorsement from Washington and a dozen regional powers including Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.

Maduro’s reelection last year was contested by the opposition, and criticized internationally — but the socialist leader has until now retained the loyalty of the powerful military, whose response was being keenly watched.

Flanked by military top brass, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, himself a general, declared the 56-year-old Maduro “the legitimate president” — and vowed to defend his authority against an attempted “coup d’etat.”

Following Padrino’s lead, eight generals in turn reiterated their “absolute loyalty and subordination” to the socialist leader in messages carried on state television.

And the Supreme Court — made up of regime loyalists — doubled DOWN BY REAFkRMING ITS ALLEGIANCE to Maduro’s “legitimate authority.”

“A coup is brewing in Venezu-

ela with the consent of foreign governments,” charged the court’s president, Maikel Moreno.

‘Debate is done’ In a Skype interview with Univision, Guaido said he did not rule out including Maduro in an amnesty he is offering for military AND CIVILIAN OFkCIALS WHO LEAD A transition in Venezuela. But he said such an option would have to be evaluated because, he said, Maduro is responsible for the death of protesters.

Analysts at the Eurasia Group consultancy noted that while international recognition of Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president cemented his position as the main opposition leader, he had failed to win over senior elements of the military.

In that light, “Maduro’s fall does not appear imminent,” the analysts wrote.

In Washington, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo kept up the pressure on the leftist leader, as the United States called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis.

“The time for debate is done.

The regime of former president Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate,” Pompeo said in a speech to the Organization of American States, warning him against the use of force towards demonstrators.

A furious Maduro on Wednesday issued US diplomats a 72-hour

deadline to leave the country, and on Thursday said he was recalling all Venezuelan diplomats from the United States.

The State Department meanwhile ordered its non-emergency staff to leave Venezuela but refused to comply with a full expulsion, saying it would maintain diplomatic ties with “the government of interim President Guaido.”

Trump, meanwhile, has openly mused about military intervention in Venezuela, saying “all options are on the table,” and analysts suggest he could consider further economic sanctions against the country, a third of whose oil production goes to the US. The Republican president has found rare support from the Democratic Party over Venezuela, but one prominent dissenting voice was independent senator Bernie Sanders.

“We must learn the lessons of the past and not be in the business of regime change or supporting coups — as we have in Chile, Guatemala, Brazil and the Dominican Republic,” the 2016 presidential hopeful said in a statement, while also condemning Venezuela’s crackdown on protesters.

Outside South America, the United States has been joined by Canada and Britain in recognizing Guaido as Venezuela’s interim leader, while France has also rejected Maduro’s legitimacy.

But both Russia and China have thrown their weight behind the embattled Maduro.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Maduro to express support, charging that the “crisis has been provoked from the outside.”

China, Venezuela’s main creditor, opposed “interference in Venezuelan affairs by external forces.”

Maduro has retained the sup-

B5

STANDING PAT

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends the opening ceremony of the judicial year at the Supreme Court of Justice in Caracas on Jan. 24, 2019. AFP PHOTO port of Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia, people were arrested but it set off all led by leftist governments. a wave of smaller protests that were met by security forces using tear Military support key gas and rubber bullets.

7EDNESDAY THEN SAW THE kRST Maduro has presided over a deep- mass street protests in Venezuela ening economic crisis that has left since a crackdown on anti-govthe country facing shortages of ernment protests between April basic necessities such as food and and July 2017 claimed the lives of medicine.

125 people.

Some 2.3 million people have Leading figures around the lED THE COUNTRY SINCE AC- world have appealed for calm to cording to the United Nations. avoid a repeat of the bloodshed )NlATION IS FORECAST TO HIT MIL- — as a Caracas-based NGO, the lion percent this year.

3OCIAL #ONlICT /BSERVATORY SAID Guaido’s bold move capped 26 people had been killed since three days of high tension that this week’s protests began four began Monday when a group of days ago.

Speaking at the World Youth soldiers took over a command post in the capital Caracas and rose up Day in Panama, Pope Francis’s spokesman said he was “praying against Maduro.

That uprising was quickly for the victims and for all the quashed and officials said 27 people of Venezuela.”

AFP

‘Seek common ground,’ Queen urges Britons LONDON: Queen Elizabeth 2nd has emphasized the need for Britons to come together to “seek out the common ground,” in what has been viewed as an appeal to overcome divisions over Brexit.

Speaking to members of the Women’s Institute (WI) near her Sandringham estate in eastern England, the 92-year-old said people should never lose sight of the bigger picture.

“Reflecting on a century of change, it is clear that the qualities of the WI endure,” she said, noting the foundation of the institute in 1915, to encourage contributions to World War One. “The continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community-focus, and considering the needs of others, are as important today as they were when the group was founded all those years ago.

“Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities.

“As we look for

new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.

“To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”

Her message, delivered in a meeting late on Thursday, comes amid intense argument in parliament about Britain’s exit from the European Union, which is scheduled for March 29.

The royals tend to steer well clear of politics, and as head of state, the queen in particular is careful to stay neutral in public.

In her traditional Christmas broadcast to the nation last month, she offered a similar message of unity, warning against “tribalism”.

“Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding,” she said.

AFP

OVER A NAME

Riot police stand guard outside the Greek parliament as protesters throw flares during a demonstration against an agreement to rename Greece’s neighbor Macedonia as the Republic of North Macedonia in Athens on Jan. 24, 2019. AFP PHOTO

ROYAL APPEAL

Greek MPs delay Macedonia name change vote

In this file photo taken on June 21, 2017 Britain’s Queen Elizabeth 2nd sits by the Imperial State Crown during the State Opening of Parliament in the Houses of Parliament in London on June 21, 2017. Queen Elizabeth 2nd has emphasized the need for Britons to come together to “seek out the common ground,” in what has been viewed as an appeal to overcome divisions over Brexit. Speaking to members of the Women’s Institute near her Sandringham estate in eastern England, the 92-year-old said people should never lose sight of the bigger picture.

AFP PHOTO

ATHENS: Greek lawmakers are due to vote Friday on a deal to change the name of neighboring Macedonia and resolve a diplomatic dispute that has dragged on for nearly 30 years.

The vote was originally scheduled for after midnight Thursday but had to be postponed to Friday because some 230 lawmakers wanted to speak on the issue, the parliament speaker said.

Hundreds opposed to the deal protested outside parliament on Thursday evening, with police using tear gas to disperse them.

The vote on the agreement to rename Macedonia as the Republic

of North Macedonia is now planned for around 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT).

“Tomorrow is a crucial vote... now is the time to break free of the vicious cycle of nationalism and look at... future cooperation,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told the chamber.

Macedonia’s parliament on January 11 backed a constitutional revision to change the country’s name but for the deal to go through, it must also be approved

by Greek MPs. Communist party activists Thursday draped giant banners outside the Acropolis, the ancient citadel on an rocky outcrop over-

looking Athens, reading: “No to the Tsipras-Zaev agreement.”

That was a reference to the landmark compromise agreed in June between Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev.

On Sunday, clashes between police and masked protesters left around 40 people injured as tens of thousands demonstrated in Athens against the name change.

According to the government, “the incidents were provoked by extremists, members of [neoNazi party] Golden Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament”.

A wide range of Greek political parties, from Golden Dawn to the

Socialists, oppose the accord.

But it could nonetheless be approved by the required 151 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament.

The accord aims to start unravelling a diplomatic dispute that began nearly three decades ago with Macedonia’s declaration of independence but whose roots date back centuries.

Since 1991, Athens has objected to its neighbor being called Macedonia because Greece has a northern province of the same name. In ancient times it was the cradle of Alexander the Great’s empire, a source of intense pride for Greeks.

AFP

Pope Francis brings World Youth Day to Panama’s detained youth PANAMA CITY: Pope Francis is bringing World Youth Day to Panama’s juvenile delinquents who can’t participate in the Catholic Church’s big festival of faith.

Francis was to celebrate a special penitential Mass inside the Las Garzas de Pacora detention center, which is Panama’s main youth lockup. In a twist, he will also hear the inmates’ confessions

inside confessionals the detainees made themselves.

It’s all part of Francis’ belief that prisoners deserve the same dignity as everyone else — as well as hope. &RANCIS OPENED HIS kRST FULL DAY IN Panama with that message of hope Thursday, formally welcoming tens of thousands of pilgrims to World Youth Day at a twilight pep rally at the capital’s seaside park.

He urged them to be builders of bridges of encounter, not “builders of walls that sow fear and look to divide and box people in,” a clear reference to the proposed US-Mexico border wall.

Earlier in the day, in remarks to President Juan Carlos Varela, he warned that those same young people are increasingly demanding that public officials live honest

lives that are coherent with the jobs entrusted to them.

“They call upon them to live in simplicity and transparency, with a clear sense of responsibility for others and for our world,” Francis told Varela and other Panamanian leaders. “To lead a life that demonstrates that public service is a synonym of honesty and justice, and opposed to all forms of corruption.”

Transparency International estimates that as much as 1 percent of Panama’s GDP, approximately $600 million, may have been lost to various corruption schemes during the presidency of Ricardo Martinelli, who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014. Martinelli was extradited to Panama last year from the United States to face political espionage and embezzle-

ment charges.

In addition, two of Martinelli’s sons have been detained in the US and are being sought on corruption charges in Panama. They are suspected of receiving more than $50 million in “undue payments” from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which is at the center of one of the largest graft scandals in history.

AP

B6

World

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

Indonesia floods, landslides death toll climbs to 59

M

AKASSAR, Indonesia: Floods and landslides in Indonesia have killed at least 59 people, the government said Friday, after heavy rain pounded Sulawesi island and forced THOUSANDS TO lEE THEIR homes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen something this bad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this is the worst,â&#x20AC;? Syamsibar, head of South Sulawesiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disaster mitigation agency, told AFP, adding that 25 people were still missing.

Lashed by the heavy rain, rivers swelled and burst their banks, inundating dozens of communities in 11 districts of southern Sulawesi. Parts of the provincial capital Makassar have also been affected.

Gowa district suffered the heaviest casualties, with 44 people found dead, said Syamsibar, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Some 3,400 people were evacuated from their homes and given refuge in schools, mosques and tents.

Rescuers and residents waded THROUGH STREETS kLLED WITH WAIST deep water, some carrying their possessions above their heads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t save all my belongings, my house was swept away,â&#x20AC;?

SWEPT AWAY

Indonesian rescuers search for survivors after a landslide in Gowa on Jan. 25, 2019 occurred after heavy rains and strong winds pounded the southern part of Sulawesi island, swelling rivers that burst their banks and inundating dozens of communities in nine southern districts. AFP PHOTO Makassar resident Ayu Fiskarina told AFP. !UTHORITIES SAY lOODWATERS ARE receding but the impact of the disaster has ranged far and wide, damaging houses, government buildings, schools and bridges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the locals in this area have been evacuated to the mosque, except for [a] woman who refuses to leave her house because sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scared her belongings could be looted,â&#x20AC;?

SAID -AKASSAR POLICE OFkCER !RDAL The death toll stood at 30 on Thursday evening. ,ANDSLIDES AND lOODS ARE COM-

mon in Indonesia, especially during the monsoon season between October and April, when rains lash the vast Southeast Asian archipelago. ,AST YEAR lASH lOODS AND LANDslides killed at least 22 people in several districts across Sumatra island, while a dozen died when an avalanche of mud and rock cascaded down a steep slope in central Java, Indonesiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main island.

In 2016, also in Central Java, about 50 people died when heavy downpours sent torrents of water, mud and rock into villages.

Indonesia is one of the most disas-

ter-prone nations on Earth, straddling THE 0ACIkC 2ING OF &IRE WHERE TECTONIC plates collide. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common.

In December, more than 400 were killed in a volcano-triggered tsunami in western Java, while thousands died in a quake-tsunami disaster around the city of Palu on Sulawesi island in September.

Lombok, an island next to Bali, was rocked by earthquakes in the summer that killed more than 500 and sparked a mass exodus of foreigners from the tropical paradise.

AFP

Rakhine cower in pagoda as new conflict flares BUTHIDAUNG, Myanmar: As bullets smashed into the walls, the residents of Alecheung village were jolted from their sleep and lED LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND Â&#x2021; CIVILIAN victims of a crackdown by Myanmarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army on ethnic Rakhine militants in an area already concussed by violence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just ran... I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have time to take my phone,â&#x20AC;? Zaw Win, 22, told AFP on Friday from a makeshift camp in the grounds of a pagoda, a few kilometers from his village in restive Buthidaung district.

Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh, is a cauldron of religious and ethnic hatreds.

In 2017, 720,000 Rohingya Muslims were expelled in a bloody army crackdown. United Nations investigators say that operation merits prosecu-

tion for genocide.

Now the majority ethnic Rakhine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who are Buddhist and who helped drive out the Rohingya â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are IN CONlICT WITH THE SAME ARMY THEY supported against their Muslim neighbors just 18 months ago.

On January 4, the Arakan Army (AA), a militant group espousing greater rights and autonomy for the Rakhine, killed 13 in raids on police border posts, prompting an army kickback.

The army says 13 AA militants have been killed in reprisals so far, while the UN says at least 5,200 people have been displaced by violence.

An accurate death toll â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including any civilian casualties â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is impossible to gauge in a zone in a AFP near-blanket lockdown.

SEEKING REFUGE Mro ethnic women with children

displaced from the surge of fighting between ethnic armed rebel group of the Arakan Army and government troops take refuge at a compound of a Buddhist pagoda are seen during a government-organized visit for journalists in Buthidaung township in the restive Rakhine state on Jan. 25, 2019. AFP PHOTO

Rare pangolins perish in wildlife rescue WASHINGTON, D.C.: When Chinese police found them in the trunk of a smugglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car, 33 of the trafficked pangolins â&#x20AC;&#x201D; endangered scaly mammals from southern China â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were still alive, wrapped in plastic bags soaked with their own urine.

But the fate of the creatures â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whose scales are worth nearly their weight in silver on the black market â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was not a happy one. Every last pangolin died in government captivity within a few months of the August 2017 seizure.

A pioneering environmental nonprofit in Beijing has launched an investigation, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;counting pangolins,â&#x20AC;? to figure out what happens to such animals recovered from the illegal wildlife trade. Its findings so far highlight discrepancies between environmental laws and outcomes.

China is hardly unique. The number of environmental laws on the books worldwide has increased 38-fold since 1972, according to an exhaustive UN Environment report released Thursday. But the political will and capacity to enforce those laws often lags â&#x20AC;&#x201D; undermining global efforts to curb issues like wildlife trafficking, air pollution and climate change, the report found. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The law doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t self-execute,â&#x20AC;? said Carl Bruch, a study co-author and director of international programs at the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C. Each of the 33 pangolins transferred to the care of a government-run wildlife rescue center in Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guangxi province died within three months â&#x20AC;&#x201D; according to records obtained by the nonprofit China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation and shown to the Associated Press.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still unclear is what happened to their bodies.

Pangolins are insect-eating, scaly mammals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; playfully described by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as â&#x20AC;&#x153;resembling an artichoke with legs and a tail.â&#x20AC;? Their scales â&#x20AC;&#x201D; made of keratin, the same material in human finger nails â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are in high demand for Chinese traditional medicine, to purportedly cure arthritis, promote breast-feeding for mothers, and boost male virility, although there is no scientific backing for these beliefs.

The price of pangolin scales in China has risen from $11 per kilogram in the 1990s to $470 in 2014, according to researchers at Beijing Forestry University.

Scientists have designated all eight species of pangolins as being at risk of extinction â&#x20AC;&#x201D; four species in Asia, and four in Africa. More than 1 million pangolins were trafficked between 2004 and 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for their scales, meat and

HIGH DEMAND In

this March 16, 2018 file photo, a pangolin from the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital is taken to a nearby field to forage for food near Johannesburg. Their scales â&#x20AC;&#x201D; made of keratin, the same material as in human finger nails â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are in high demand for Chinese traditional medicine, to allegedly cure several ailments, although there is no scientific backing for these beliefs. AP PHOTO blood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with China and Vietnam as the largest markets. In the last two decades, the number of pangolins worldwide has dropped by about 90 percent.

In 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) adopted a worldwide ban on commercial trade in pangolins, and China later approved that ban. Pangolins are also listed as a protected species in China. While Chinese state-run media have publicized a few high-profile poacher busts, watchdogs say a thriving black market for endangered-animal parts persists.

In November 2017, customs officials in Shenzhen seized 13.1 tons (11.9 metric tonnes) of pangolin scales â&#x20AC;&#x201D; reportedly the largest-ever seizure of scales from Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201D; according to state media. The penalties offenders face are not always publicized, but in another case involving a smaller shipment of scales, two smugglers received prison sentences of five years, state media said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant that China has adopted laws against trade in many endangered species, but the law itself isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough to protect a species from extinction,â&#x20AC;? said Jinfeng Zhou, director of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation.

Zhou wants the government to issue public records tracking all living and dead pangolins seized by authorities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and to offer evidence that contraband, including pangolin scales, is destroyed before it enters black markets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are determined to know what happens to the pangolins,â&#x20AC;? said Sophia Zhang, a researcher at the biodiversity group. After reading news reports about the August 2017 poaching bust, she filed information requests to government agencies and traveled to Guangxi to visit the wildlife rescue center. AP

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&RS\ IXUQLVKHG ATTY. JOSELITO C. FRIAL Counsel for the Plaintiff - & )ULDO $VVRFLDWHV /DZ 2IÂżFH 6XLWH &&, %OGJ 1DWLYLGDG $ /RSH] 6W (UPLWD 0DQLOD OLIVER R. PEDRAZA Defendant 8QLW 7KH 0DQLOD 5HVLGHQFHV 7RZHU ,, 7DIW $YH 0DODWH 0DQLOD -andNo. 1515 2nd Street, Fabie Subdivision, Paco, Manila

ORDER Filed before this Court is an Ex-Parte Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication ÂżOHG E\ WKH SODLQWLII WKURXJK FRXQVHO $WW\ -RVHOLWR & )ULDO ZKLFK ZDV UHFHLYHG E\ WKLV FRXUW RQ November 15, 2018.

5HFRUGV VKRZHG WKDW D FRS\ RI WKH VDLG Ex-Parte Motion ZDV VHQW E\ $WW\ -RVHOLWR & )ULDO through registered mail to defendant Oliver R. Pedraza on November 14, 2018 and to date, none ZDV HYHU UHFHLYHG E\ WKLV FRXUW RQ WKH VLGH RI KHUHLQ GHIHQGDQW ZKLFK DGGV WR WKH REVHUYDWLRQ RI WKH 6KHULII RI WKLV FRXUW WKDW GHIHQGDQWÂśV XQLW DW 7KH 0DQLOD 5HVLGHQFHV LV DOZD\V FORVHG DQG that he seldom go home in that address. Also, that defendant is no longer residing at his other address at Paco, Manila. &RQVLGHULQJ WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV ZKHUHLQ ZKLFK VXPPRQV WKURXJK SHUVRQDO or substituted service cannot be effected against defendant 2OLYHU 5 3HGUD]D ZKRVH XQLW DW 7KH 0DQLOD 5HVLGHQFHV DFFRUGLQJO\ LV DOZD\V FORVHG DQG KH VHOGRP JRHV KRPH DQG KH LV QR ORQJHU UHVLGLQJ DW KLV DGGUHVV at Paco, Manila, as per Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Return of Summons dated 12 October 2018, the Ex-Parte Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication LV KHUHE\ *5$17(' SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ Rule 14 of the Rules of Court. &RQVHTXHQWO\ OHW FRSLHV RI WKLV 2UGHU WKH 6XPPRQV DQG WKH &RPSODLQW GDWHG $XJXVW DQG LWV DQQH[HV EH SXEOLVKHG RQFH LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ $OVR OHW FRSLHV of this Order, the Summons and the Complaint and its annexes be posted on the Bulletin Board RI 7KH 0DQLOD 5HVLGHQFHV 7RZHU ,, DQG RXWVLGH 8QLW WKHUHRI DQG RQ WKH %XOOHWLQ %RDUG RI Fabie Subdivision and outside No. 1515, 2nd 6WUHHW WKHUHRI IRU DW OHDVW WKLUW\ GD\V IURP WKH WLPH RI SRVWLQJ )LQDOO\ OHW FRSLHV RI WKLV 2UGHU WKH 6XPPRQV DQG WKH &RPSODLQW DQG LWV DQQH[HV EH VHUYHG DW WKH GHIHQGDQWÂśV ODVW NQRZQ DGGUHVVHV 7KH SXEOLFDWLRQ SRVWLQJ DQG VHUYLFH DW GHIHQGDQWÂśV ODVW NQRZQ DGGUHVVHV DERYH PHQWLRQHG DUH WR EH FRPSOLHG ZLWK ZLWKLQ IRUW\ ÂżYH

GD\V IURP UHFHLSW RI WKLV 2UGHU 7KH GHIHQGDQW LV JLYHQ QLQHW\ GD\V IURP WKH WLPH WKH 2UGHU WKH 6XPPRQV DQG WKH &RPSODLQW DQG LWV DQQH[HV DUH SXEOLVKHG LQ D QHZVSDSHU RI JHQHUDO FLUFXODWLRQ ZLWKLQ ZKLFK WR UHVSRQG WR WKH Complaint.

SO ORDERED. Manila, Philippines, 5 December 2018.

(SGD.) RENATO Z. ENCISO Presiding Judge

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Manila, Branch _____ HERMINIO P. OBAR, UHSUHVHQWHG LQ WKLV DFWLRQ E\ KLV $WWRUQH\ LQ )DFW VIRGILIO P. OBAR, Plaintiff, - versus

OLIVER R. PEDRAZA, Defendant. x-----------------------------x

Civil Case No. R-MNL-18-09062-CV )RU 5H FRQYH\DQFH DQG 'DPDJHV

COMPLAINT COMES NOW, plaintiff HERMINIO P. OBAR E\ WKH XQGHUVLJQHG FRXQVHO DQG XQWR WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW PRVW UHVSHFWIXOO\ DOOHJHV THAT: 1. Plaintiff, HERMINIO P. OBAR LV RI OHJDO DJH $PHULFDQ FLWL]HQ VLQJOH ZLWK 3KLOLSSLQH residence, and postal address at No. 2444-C Mercurio St., San Andres Bukid, Sta. Ana, Manila +H LV EHLQJ UHSUHVHQWHG LQ WKLV DFWLRQ E\ KLV $WWRUQH\ LQ )DFW VIRGILIO P. OBAR E\ YLUWXH RI WKH Special Power of Attorney FRS\ RI ZKLFK LV KHUHWR DWWDFKHG DV Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? to form integral part hereof; 2. Defendant, OLIVER R. PEDRAZA LV OLNHZLVH RI OHJDO DJH )LOLSLQR ZLWK UHVLGHQFH DQG SRVWDO address at Unit 3616 The Manila Residences Tower II, 2310 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila or at No. 1515 2nd Street, Fabie Subdivision, Paco, Manila ZKHUH KH PD\ EH VHUYHG ZLWK VXPPRQV DQG RWKHU SURFHVVHV RI WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW 6RPHWLPH LQ WKH \HDU 2014, plaintiff purchased on installment basis from the developer of The Manila Residences Tower II D FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW LGHQWLÂżHG DV Unit 3616 th )ORRU and Parking Slot No. P541, FRYHUHG E\ &RQGRPLQLXP &HUWLÂżFDWHV RI 7LWOH 1RV and 002-2018000225, UHVSHFWLYHO\ ORFDWHG DW No. 2310 Taft Avenue, Manila. Copies of the Deeds of Absolute Sale are hereto attached is Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;B-1â&#x20AC;? ZKLOH FRSLHV RI WKH Condominium &HUWLÂżFDWHV RI 7LWOH 1RV DQG are also attached as Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;C-1â&#x20AC;?, UHVSHFWLYHO\ WR IRUP LQWHJUDO SDUWV KHUHRI

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

3ODLQWLII SDLG ZLWK KLV RZQ PRQH\ WKH GRZQ SD\PHQW DQG DOO WKH PRQWKO\ DPRUWL]DWLRQV accruing from -XQH XS WR -XQH RQ WKH VDLG UHDO SURSHUWLHV ZKLOH WKH GHIHQGDQW GLG QRW FRQWULEXWH DQ\ VLQJOH FHQWDYR IRU WKH SXUFKDVH RI WKH VDLG FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW DQG SDUNLQJ VORW 0DFKLQH FRSLHV RI WKH EDQN VWDWHPHQWV RI SODLQWLIIÂśV EDQN DFFRXQW IURP ZKLFK WKH PRQWKO\ DPRUWL]DWLRQV ZHUH ZLWKGUDZQ DUH KHUHWR DWWDFKHG DV Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;D-46â&#x20AC;? to form integral parts hereof; 3ODLQWLII EHLQJ WKHQ WKH ORYHU RI WKH GHIHQGDQW DQG EHFDXVH RI KLV WUXVW DQG FRQÂżGHQFH LQ KLP PDGH WKH ODWWHU DV UHJLVWHUHG FR RZQHU RI WKH FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW DQG SDUNLQJ VORW DQG DOORZHG KLP WR VWD\ LQ WKH VDLG FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW IXOO\ IXUQLVKHG ZLWK DSSOLDQFHV DQG IXUQLWXUH DOVR SXUFKDVHG E\ WKH SODLQWLII ZKLOH WKH ODWWHU LV LQ WKH XQLWHG 6WDWHV RI $PHULFD 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ LQ YLRODWLRQ RI WKH WUXVW DQG FRQÂżGHQFH UHSRVHG XSRQ KLP E\ WKH SODLQWLII DQG the series of hostile acts of the latter, the former decided to end up their romantic relationship and live LQ SHDFH DZD\ IURP WKH GHIHQGDQW 7. Despite the foregoing, defendant continued to spread lies and gossips against the plaintiff DQG HYHQ FRQWLQXH WR HQMR\ WKH SRVVHVVLRQ RI WKH FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW DQG SDUNLQJ VORW 'HPDQGV IRU UH FRQYH\DQFH RI WKH DERYH GHVFULEHG UHDO SURSHUWLHV ZHUH PDGH E\ WKH SODLQWLII WR WKH GHIHQGDQW +RZHYHU WKH ODWWHU DGDPDQWO\ UHIXVHG WR KHHG VDLG GHPDQG ZLWKRXW MXVWLÂżDEOH reason. Thus, on May 29, 2018 SODLQWLIIÂśV FRXQVHO VHQW GHPDQG IRU UH FRQYH\DQFH WR WKH GHIHQGDQW EXW VDLG GHPDQG IHOO RQ GHDI HDUV &RS\ RI WKH GHPDQG OHWWHU LV KHUHWR DWWDFKHG DV Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eâ&#x20AC;? ZKLOH the Registry Return Receipts as Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;E-1â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;E-2â&#x20AC;? and the Registry Return Card as Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;E-3â&#x20AC;? to form integral parts hereof; 3ODLQWLII UHOLJLRXVO\ SUD\V WR WKH &LW\ 7UHDVXUHU RI 0DQLOD WKH FRUUHVSRQGLQJ DQQXDO UHDO SURSHUW\ WD[ RI WKH DERYH PHQWLRQHG FRQGRPLQLXP XQLW HYLGHQFHG E\ WKH Tax Declarations and 2IÂżFLDO 5HFHLSWV IRU 5HDO (VWDWH 7D[ FRSLHV RI ZKLFK DUH KHUHWR DWWDFKHG DV Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;F,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;F-1,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;G-1â&#x20AC;? to form integral parts hereof; %\ UHDVRQ RI GHIHQGDQWÂśV IDLOXUH DQG UHIXVDO WR FRPSO\ ZLWK SODLQWLIIÂśV UHSHDWHG GHPDQGV WKH ODWWHU ZDV FRQVWUDLQHG WR LQVWLWXWH WKH LQVWDQW FDVH DQG HQJDJHG WKH VHUYLFHV RI EHORZ QDPHG ODZ ÂżUP IRU ZKLFK KH DJUHHG WR SD\ WKH DPRXQW RI 3 DV DQG IRU DWWRUQH\ÂśV IHHV SOXV WKH IXUWKHU VXP RI 3KS SHU FRXUW DSSHDUDQFH 7KH VDLG DPRXQWV PXVW EH FKDUJHG DJDLQVW WKH GHIHQGDQW &RS\ RI WKH Service Agreement is hereto attached as Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hâ&#x20AC;? to form integral part hereof; )XUWKHU SODLQWLII LQFXUUHG OLWLJDWLRQ H[SHQVHV LQ WKH DPRXQW RI 3KS ZKLFK PXVW OLNHZLVH EH FKDUJHG DJDLQVW WKH GHIHQGDQW PRAYER WHEREFORE SUHPLVHV FRQVLGHUHG LW LV UHVSHFWIXOO\ SUD\HG RI WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW WKDW DIWHU due notice and appropriate proceedings, judgment be rendered in favor of the plaintiff and against the GHIHQGDQW RUGHULQJ WKH ODWWHU WR UH FRQYH\ WR WKH SODLQWLII WKH one-half (1/2) portion of the condominium unit LGHQWLÂżHG DV Unit 3616 and Parking Slot No. P541 of The Manila Residences Tower II, covered E\ &RQGRPLQLXP &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 7LWOH 1RV DQG UHVSHFWLYHO\ RI WKH 5HJLVWU\ RI 'HHGV IRU WKH &LW\ RI 0DQLOD ,W LV OLNHZLVH SUD\HG WKDW GHIHQGDQW EH RUGHUHG WR 3$< SODLQWLII WKH IROORZLQJ 3KS DV DQG IRU DWWRUQH\ÂśV IHHV SOXV WKH DPRXQW RI 3KS SU FRXUW DSSHDUDQFH and 2. The cost of suit in the amount of Php50,000.00.

2WKHU UHOLHI MXVW DQG HTXLWDEOH XQGHU WKH SUHPLVHV LV OLNHZLVH SUD\HG IRU 0DQLOD &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD $XJXVW J.C. FRIAL & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICE COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF

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6XLWH &&, %XLOGLQJ 1 /RSH] 6WUHHW Ermita, Manila 7HO 1R %\ (SGD.) JOSELITO C. FRIAL 5ROO RI $WWRUQH\V 1R ,%3 1R 0DNDWL PTR No. 7006942, 01-04-2018, Manila 4 MCLE Compliance NO. V-0017477 April 4, 2016 5(38%/,& 2) 7+( 3+,/,33,1(6

&LW\ RI 0DQLOD VV VERIFICATION/CERTIFICATION , VIRGILIO P. OBAR RI OHJDO DJH )LOLSLQR DIWHU EHLQJ GXO\ VZRUQ WR LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK ODZ GR KHUHE\ GHSRVH DQG VWDWH THAT: , DP WKH $WWRUQH\ LQ )DFW RI SODLQWLII LQ WKH DERYH HQWLWOHG FLYLO FDVH E\ YLUWXH RI WKH 6SHFLDO 3RZHU RI $WWRUQH\ ZKLFK LV DWWDFKHG DV $QQH[ Âł$´ RI WKH FRPSODLQW , FDXVHG WKH SUHSDUDWLRQ DQG ÂżOLQJ RI WKH IRUHJRLQJ &RPSODLQW IRU 5H FRQYH\DQFH DQG Damages; 7KH DOOHJDWLRQV FRQWDLQHG WKHUHLQ DUH WUXH DQG FRUUHFW DFFRUGLQJ WR P\ RZQ SHUVRQDO NQRZOHGJH and base don authentic records and documents; )XUWKHU , KHUHE\ FHUWLI\ WKDW SODLQWLII KDV QRW FRPPHQFHG DQ\ DFWLRQ RU ÂżOHG DQ\ FODLP LQYROYLQJ WKH VDPH LVVXHV LQ DQ\ FRXUW WULEXQDO RU TXDVL MXGLFLDO DJHQF\ DQG WR WKH EHVW RI P\ NQRZOHGJH QR VXFK RWKHU DFWLRQ RU FODLP LV SHQGLQJ WKHUHLQ ,I , VKRXOG WKHUHDIWHU OHDUQ WKDW WKH VDPH RU VLPLODU DFWLRQ RU FODLP KDV EHHQ ÂżOHG RU LV SHQGLQJ EHIRUH DQ\ FRXUW WULEXQDO RU DJHQF\ , VKDOO UHSRUW VXFK IDFW ZLWKLQ ÂżYH GD\V WKHUHIURP WR WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ZH KDYH KHUHXQWR DIÂż[HG RXU VLJQDWXUHV WKLV 16th day of August, 2018 LQ WKH &LW\ RI 0DQLOD (SGD.) VIRGILIO P. OBAR $IÂżDQW SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 16th day of August, 2018 in the City of Manila; DIÂżDQW H[KLELWHG WR PH KLV Voterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ID: 3914-2950C-C1856VPO10000 ) ZKRVH SKRWRJUDSK DQG VLJQDWXUH DSSHDU WKHUHRQ LVVXHG E\ COMELEC DV SURRI RI KLV LGHQWLW\

Doc. No. 428 Page No. 86 %RRN 1R ;,; Series of 2018

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Sports

C1 SSATURDAY JJANUARY 26, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Warriors switch gears to beat Wizards for 9th straight win L OS ANGELES: Stephen Curry made a timely RETURN TO kNISH WITH POINTS AS THE 'OLDEN 3TATE 7ARRIORS WON THEIR SEASON HIGH NINTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH A VICTORY OVER THE 7ASHINGTON 7IZARDS ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA

With Curry on the bench in the fourth quarter, the Wizards cut the Warriors lead to just two, 108-106, but the two-time defending NBA champions pulled away after he re-entered the contest.

Kevin Durant delivered 21 points on nine-of-18 shooting from the floor as the Warriors switched gears against the Wizards from their successful three-point attack to an inside game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are trying to create momentum,â&#x20AC;?

Curry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understand what it means to win a championship. There are great challenges for us to focus in on.â&#x20AC;?

The Warriors had been dominating opponents with their three point shooting but after shooting just one of six from beyond THE ARC IN THE kRST QUARTER THEY ADJUSTED NICELY kNISHING WITH POINTS IN THE PAINT Curry sank just two of eight three point attempts but ended up shooting 12-of-16 from the three point line in.

Just one game after tying the NBA record by making his first 10 three pointers, Klay Thompson went one-for-four.

Curry said teams are starting to adapt their defense to stopping the three-point attack. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teams are adjusting,â&#x20AC;? Curry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We still got good looks.â&#x20AC;? #ENTRE $E-ARCUS #OUSINS HAD POINTS in 24 minutes in his third game with the Warriors since being sidelined almost a full

year with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is just amazing. He misses a year and three games back he is starting to pick up his rhythm,â&#x20AC;? said Curry, who scored 30plus points for the 19th time this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will continue to get better and he will continue to get better.â&#x20AC;?

Trevor Ariza led the Wizards with a SEASON HIGH POINTS AND "RADLEY "EAL had 22 points as their two-game winning streak came to a halt.

Before the game in Washington, some of the Warriors met with former President Barack Obama. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was amazing,â&#x20AC;? Warriors Durant said in describing the meeting.

Obama visit The Warriors did not go to the White (OUSE TO CELEBRATE THEIR OR championships. President Donald Trump WITHDREW THE INVITE IN AFTER SEVERAL players, including Stephen Curry, said they would not go if invited.

Elsewhere, Russell Westbrook scored his NBA-leading 15th triple-double of the season and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans 122-116.

7ESTBROOK kNISHED WITH POINTS REbounds and 16 assists for the 119th triple-dou-

Q Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (No. 30) goes to the basket against Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr., left, forward Jeff Green (No. 32), and guard Tomas Satoransky (No. 31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Friday in Washington.

AP PHOTO

ble of his career. The Thunder improved to 10-5 this season when he gets a triple double.

Paul George had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Steven Adams added 20 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma City, who won their fourth straight.

Jrue Holiday scored 22 points and Darius Miller matched a career high with 21 for New Orleans, which has lost four of five.

The Pelicans were missing center Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic.

Davis missed his third consecutive game with a sprained kNGER AND -IROTIC WILL be out at least a week with a right calf strain.

In the late game, guard Rajon Rondo scored 15 points and had 13 assists in a return from injury as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 120-105 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rondo returned after missing 14 games with a kNGER INJURY 4HE ,AKERS ARE STILL WITHOUT LeBron James who missed his 15th consecutive game due to a groin injury. AFP

JAMES, ANTETOKOUNMPO NAMED NBA ALL-STAR CAPTAINS LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo were named captains of their teams after leading their respective conferences in voting, the NBA announced on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Joining James as a Western Conference all-star are Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, Golden State guard Stephen Curry and Houston Rockets guard James Harden.

Antetokounmpo is joined in the East by Toronto Raptorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kawhi Leonard and Philadelphia 76ersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Joel Embiid

in the frontcourt and two guards, Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets and Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics.

Walker is the lone first time starter among the 10 starters.

This marks Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 15th all-star game start, tying him with Kobe Bryant for the most of all-time. He has not played since injuring his groin in a Christmas Day victory over the Warriors.

The starters were chosen by a vote that included ballots from mainly fans, but also players and the media.

Each of the Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starters has been named an allstar at least six times.

Irving leads the East starters with a half dozen selec-

Q James Yap of Rain or Shine (No. 18) fires a jumper as Mac Tallo (No. 26) of NLEX looks on during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game last week at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

RoS clashes with Ginebra in Calasiao UNBEATEN Rain or Shine (RoS) guns for back-to-back victories when it faces crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at 5 p.m. today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.

Though coming off a 96-87 first game triumph against winless Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) last week, the Elasto Painters and coach Caloy Garcia are taking on the Gin Kings with caution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy playing Ginebra especially after they lost to San Miguel

Beer. I think they are more ready and prepared now so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to play the same way when we beat NLEX,â&#x20AC;? Garcia told The Manila Times.

He added that containing Ginebraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frontline ma nned by the 7-footer Greg Slaughter and the 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;9 Japeth Aguilar would be crucial. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At least if we contain the big men of Ginebra, we might have a chance [to win] and Japeth is really a tall order to play against,â&#x20AC;?said Garcia, who will likely rely on Jewel Ponferada, Norbert Torres and veteran Beau Belga for the task.

Two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap scored 20 points in Rain or

Shineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first win against NLEX while former San Beda player and rookie Jayvee Mocon, in his debut with RoS, finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

Meanwhile, Grand slam coach Tim Cone and the Gin Kings will be all out to reclaim their winning form after being beaten by defending champion San Miguel Beer, 91-99, on Sunday.

Veteran playmaker LA Tenorio notched 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, Aguilar had 20 points while Slaughter finished with a double-double of 11 points plus 10 rebounds in their previous game.

JOSEF T. RAMOS

tions. Antetokounmpo is making his third all-star appearance.

As the captains, James -- who earned 4.6 million fan votes -- and Antetokounmpo will fill out their teams for the game with a draft on Februar y 7.

James, who was also the top overall vote receiver in 2018, will select first from a pool of players voted as starters and reserves to fill out Team James.

Reserves will be announced next Thursday, and the all-star game will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina on February 17.

AFP

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Sports

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

Ateneo, San Beda vie for last berth

Q Czech Republicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Petra Kvitova (right) hits a return against Danielle Collins of the US during their womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singles semifinal match, and Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Naomi Osaka hitting a return against Czech Republicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Karolina Pliskova during their womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singles semifinal match on day 11 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Thursday.

AFP PHOTO

Kvitota aims to hit Osaka with early onslaught in Open final M

ELBOURNE: Czech Petra Kvitova is aiming to rock Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;on fireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Naomi Osaka with an early onslaught in the Australian Open final, predicting the decider will be more slugfest than tactical masterclass.

4HE kNAL ON 3ATURDAY FEATURES two of the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest hitters in a showdown for both the Australian crown and the world number ONE RANKING Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova is on an 11-match winning streak and has been in imperious form at Melbourne Park, where she is yet to drop a set OR EVEN BE STRETCHED TO A TIE BREAK The 28-year-old is jubilant about MAKING A 'RAND 3LAM kNAL FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE A BURGLAR SLICED HER racquet hand in a terrifying attack in late 2016 at her home in the #ZECH 2EPUBLIC Q Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo Battles for the ball against Bright Akhuetie of UP during a UAAP menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. PHOTO

BY RUSSELL PALMA

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably a bit more special because of everything Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been through,â&#x20AC;? said Kvitova, who feared she would never rejoin the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite after sufFERING PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE But to make her comeback complete, the eighth seed needs to overcome US Open champion Osaka, one of the few players who can match Kvitovaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful serve AND BLAZING GROUNDSTROKES The Czech said she must start strongly against the 21-year-old, whose meek off-court demeanor beLIES A FEROCIOUS COMPETITIVE INSTINCT g.AOMI IS ON FIRE 3HE S IN VERY GOOD FORM u +VITOVA SAID g3HE S AN

AGGRESSIVE PLAYER WHICH ) AM AS WELL â&#x20AC;&#x153;So I think it will be about whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GOING TO TAKE THE kRST POINT AND PUSH THE OTHER A LITTLE BIT u Osaka has battled through threesetters three times on her way to the kNAL AND SAID ADVANCING AT 'RAND Slam level was sometimes more about the ability to outlast an opPONENT THAN OUTTHINK THEM â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m playing the best players in the world, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been playing THREE SETS MOST OF THE TIME u SHE SAID â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more like a battle of wills AT THIS POINT u The pair has never met and Osaka said she would have to adjust her game against the lanky LEFT HANDER

TO COME UP WITH GREAT TACTICSu HE SAID â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both of them play so fast, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be about who HAS THE BIGGER HEART u 4HE kNAL OF THIS YEAR S SEASON opening Grand Slam will also determine the world number one ranking after Romaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Simona Halep was bundled out in the FOURTH ROUND Neither Osaka nor Kvitova has HELD THE TOP SPOT BEFORE Osaka is currently sitting on a career-high ranking of four, while Kvitova even in her pomp only reached number two in 2011, the year she claimed her maiden major AT 7IMBLEDON The Czech, whose previous best AT -ELBOURNE 0ARK WAS A kNAL FOUR appearance in 2012, said claiming â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bigger heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the top spot would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;a very nice Kvitovaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach Jiri Vanek said both bonusâ&#x20AC;? but she was only thinking kNALISTS PLAYED IN A SIMILAR MANNER ABOUT LIFTING THE TROPHY Osaka was more enthusiastic â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Osaka) goes for winners, Petra GOES FOR WINNERS 9OU DON T HAVE TIME about the prospect of becoming

world number one but also said THE TITLE WAS HER PRIORITY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very big deal FOR ME u SHE SAID g)T S ONE OF THE biggest goals that I had when I heard it was possible after playing THE QUARTERS â&#x20AC;&#x153;But my main goal is winning THIS TOURNAMENT 4HE RANKING COMES AFTER THAT ) TEND TO DO BETTER IF ) FOCUS ON ONE GOAL u Winning back-to-back Grand Slams would be a huge statement for Osaka, showing her success at FlushING -EADOWS WAS NOT A ONE OFF She would be the first player other than American 23-time major winner Serena Williams to claim back-to-back majors since Kim Clijsters took the 2010 US /PEN AND !USTRALIAN /PEN Osaka would also become the youngest to achieve the feat since Martina Hingis won the 1998 Australian Open after claiming the US /PEN IN AFP

Guiao includes Thirdy Ravena to natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l pool COACH Yeng Guiao included collegiate hoops star Thirdy Ravena to the 15-man national pool for the last window of the International Basketball Federation &)"! !SIAN 1UALIkERS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time we name a player into the pool is like future investment, just like in the case of Kobe (Paras) and Ricci 2IVERO ,AST WINDOW WE BROUGHT IN +AI Sotto,â&#x20AC;? Guiao told The Manila Times on &RIDAY IN A PHONE INTERVIEW â&#x20AC;&#x153;The coaching staff has agreed to give Thirdy (Ravena) a chance and I think heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allowed by Ateneo since he already pracTICED YESTERDAY 4HURSDAY u ADDED 'UIAO The veteran coach said the young RavENA COULD INDEED TO MAKE IT TO THE kNAL MAN LINEUP â&#x20AC;&#x153;His best chance to make it to the Philippine team is if Troy Rosario and Raymond Almazan wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be available DUE TO INJURIES u ADDED 'UIAO g4ROY HAS been practicing for us with a face mask while Raymond remains on the sideline DUE TO A SPRAINED ANKLE u Rosario of TNT KaTropa is nursing a

BROKEN NOSE The national pool has only 13 PLAYERS IN THE 0(fS kRST GAME AT THE QUALIkERS AGAINST 1ATAR ON &EBRUARY IN $OHA 2OGER 0OGOY WILL MISS that game because of a FIBA suspension due to his involvement in a brawl AGAINST !USTRALIA IN *ULY LAST YEAR Pogoy of Talk N Text will be available for the PHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game against Kazakhstan in !STANA ON THE TH Ravena, instrumental to Ateneoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dominance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for the last two seasons, said he would seek permission from Ateneo De Manila to play for THE 0( AGAINST 1ATAR AND +AZAKHSTAN g)T IS A GREAT HONOR ) M SO THANKFUL to coach Yeng for giving me the opportunity to be part of the pool that will represent the Philippines in the FIBA 1UALIkERS )T S A BIG HONOR ESPECIALLY FOR a college player like me,â&#x20AC;? Ravena told reporters after the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practice on 4HURSDAY AT THE -ERALCO GYM JOSEF T. RAMOS

ATENEO De Manila University and San Beda University will dispute the last finals spot in Game Three of the semifinals the Philippine Collegiate Championsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; League (PCCL) Presidents Cup at 3 p.m. today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Winner will head to the grand finals against the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, who earned the first berth in the national championship after dominating the regional qualifiers.

Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runnerup, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titlist San Beda prevailed in the lowscoring Game One, 4943, last Monday night at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

But University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion Ateneo bounced back with a 74-62 victory in Game Two last Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena forcing a do-ordie match.

The Red Lions, under head coach Boyet Fernandez, will lean on Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua and sophomore guard Evan Nelle, who led the team to a series opening win.

Tankoua posted 18 points and nine rebounds while Nelle had 12 markers for the Mendiola-based side that had just lost Robert Bolick and Javee Mocon to the PBA. Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles under veteran tactician Tab Baldwin are pinning their hopes on big man Isaac Go and playmaker Tyler Tio. Go stepped up big time for the undermanned Ateneo in the second game with 28 points built on seven triples, 10 rebounds and two blocks while Tio finished with 18 markers and five assists.

Last year, Lyceum of the Philippines University won the PCCL crown after beating San Beda, 70-66, in a single game finale.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Oladipo out for season with knee injury LOS ANGELES: Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo will miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury during his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory over 4ORONTO THE ."! TEAM CONkRMED ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA Oladipo collapsed to the court in the second period of the Pacersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 110-106 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday, clutching his right knee IN AGONY A statement from the Pacers on Thursday said scans had revealed he suffered a ruptured quadriceps tenDON IN HIS RIGHT KNEE â&#x20AC;&#x153;He will undergo surgery at a date to be determined and will be out for the season,â&#x20AC;? the Pacers medical bulLETIN SAID â&#x20AC;&#x153;Further updates will be provided AS WARRANTED u Oladipoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injury comes as a huge blow to the Pacers, who are 32-15 and occupy third place in the Eastern #ONFERENCE STANDINGS The 26-year-old Oladipo is Indianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-scorer this season, averaging POINTS PER GAME AFP

Q Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers is taken off of the court on a stretcher after being injured in the second quarter of the game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP PHOTO

Sports

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

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Rahm seizes early lead at Farmers, Woods with 70 L

OS ANGELES: Jon Rahm had two eagles on his front nine in a sizzling 10-under 62 on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to grab a one-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance Open where Tiger Woods is making his 2019 debut.

Q Jon Rahm of Spain plays his shot from the 11th tee on the North Course during the first round of the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.Â

Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rahm, whose first win on the US PGA Tour came at this event two years ago, is one stroke ahead of world number one Justin Rose and American Doug Ghim, who both shot nine-under 63s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of happiness going on in this area for me, so I just feel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to play good when I tee up,â&#x20AC;? Rahm said.

Fourteen time major winner Woods birdied his last hole of the day to post a 70 and is eight shots

back of Rahm at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California.

Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C.T. Pan is fourth after shooting A AND *ORDAN 3PIETH IS ALONE IN kFTH WITH a seven-under 65.

The 24-year-old Rahm came into the event as one of the hottest players on the tour and his START RElECTED THAT AS HE EAGLED BOTH PAR kVES on his front nine, including the opening hole.

Rahm, who began on the 10th tee on the North Course, sailed his approach to INSIDE OF FEET FROM THE lAG AND THEN rolled in the putt for an eagle.

The world number seven also eagled the

par-five 17th. He finished with seven birdies and one bogey, which came on his back nine.

Rahmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last win came in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. He has four STRAIGHT TOP kNISHES He is the youngest champion in tournament history, winning at age 22 and two months.

Rose is coming off a tie for 34th at last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desert Classic near Palm Springs.

Rose shot a bogey-free 63 that included an eagle and seven birdies. Like Rahm he began with an OPENING EAGLE ON THE PAR kVE TH 7OODS kNISHED WITH kVE BIRDies, three bogeys and 10 pars for a share of 53rd place. He played on the South Course, which is the

MORE DIFkCULT OF THE TWO â&#x20AC;&#x153;A couple under par on the South Course is not something to sneeze at, but now I have to shoot a low one tomorrow,â&#x20AC;? said Woods, who hit half his fairways and made one 29 foot putt on the 13th hole. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt pretty comfortable with everything today,â&#x20AC;? Woods said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt like I drove it halfway decent and irons were good. Playing at competitive speed again, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite hit all my irons pin high like I normally do.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something hopefully Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a better handle on tomorrow.â&#x20AC;?

World number eight Rory McIlroy fired a one-under 71 in his Torrey Pines debut and defending champion Jason Day OF !USTRALIA SHOT kVE UNDER and is tied for 15th.

AFP

AFP PHOTO

Fitzpatrick grabs early Dubai lead from Garcia, DeChambeau DUBAI: Matthew Fitzpatrick produced a burst of birdies over the closing stretch to take a one-shot lead after the Dubai Desert Classic opening round on Thursday (Friday in Manila), with Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau in an eight-way tie for second.

At the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, the 24-year-old Englishman birdied his last four holes, and five of his last six, to card a seven-under-par 65, playing in the decidedly tougher scoring conditions of the afternoon session.

American DeChambeau, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, fired a 66 to sit in the logjam for second alongside 2017 champion Sergio Garcia and Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Callum Shinkwin, who won a 36-hole qualifying tournament earlier in the week to make it into the field.

Defending champion Li Haotong of China, and English pair Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were among those tied for 10th place at five-under.

Players in the morning took advantage of softer conditions on the golf course, but there was a little bit more wind in the afternoon and the greens got firmer.

But all that did not seem to faze Fitzpatrick, who is coming off a fourth-place finish at the Singapore Open last week.

With the experienced Billy Foster now on his bag, the world number 39 made just one bogey on the difficult par-four sixth

hole, and was two-under par through 12 holes.

He made a birdie on the par-five 13th, before rolling in a 30-foot putt on the par-there 15th to start his birdie blitz coming in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was obviously a great finish to the round,â&#x20AC;? said Fitzpatrick, who is looking for his sixth win on the European Tour. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A couple things that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing in the off-season seems to have paid off a little bit. I just added a bit of extra length to my driver, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given me a few yards to help get on in two on the (par-five) last because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been able to do that. And also just wedging it a lot better has given me a few more chances coming in.â&#x20AC;?

Garcia was in supreme ball-striking form as he found 17 greens in regulation and was delighted with his effort, but DeChambeau said he â&#x20AC;&#x153;struggledâ&#x20AC;? in making his 66. Both were bogey-free during their rounds.

And world number five DeChambeau made several of his birdie putts with the flagstick in as he looks to take advantage of changes to the rules for 2019. AFP

Q Matthew Fitzpatrick AFP PHOTO

ARDINA BAGS BEVERLY CROWN Number of NFL AHEAD OF LPGA JAUNT concussions

Q : Dottie Ardina holds her trophy after dominating the ICTSI Beverly Place field. PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ&#x2018;ADA

DOTTIE ARDINA gave her upcoming LPGA Tour campaign a big morale boost, claiming the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic crown in emphatic fashion on a closing 67 for a six-stroke romp over Pauline del Rosario at the Beverly Place Golf Club on Friday in Mexico, Pampanga.

Two-up over a pair of Thai rivals after 36 holes, Ardina hiked her lead to four over Chonlada Chayanun with back-to-back birdies from No. 2 and though she slipped with a bogey on the par-3 No. 8, no one failed to cash in, enabling the 25-year-old Canlubang ace to scoot home to victory on a 32-35 card she spiked with three birdies in the last six holes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This victory means so much to me,â&#x20AC;? said Ardina after capping her domination with a second straight four-under card for a 54-hole total of seven-under 206 worth P150,000.

More importantly, the win primed Ardina up for her return to the LPGA Tour as a full-card holder starting in the Handa Vic Open and the Australian Open both slated next month in Australia. g) NEEDED TO BUILD ON MY CONkDENCE SINCE ) AM FACING the best golfers in these two tournaments. I have to be in top form, mentally and physically,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Ardinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s triumph also broke the foreign betsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strong start in the seventh season of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI after then Korean amateur Lee Ji Hyeon topped the kickoff leg in Baguio last October AND 4HAI VETERAN DOMINATED THE 0RADERA 6ERDE kELD LAST December, while providing some push for the localsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bid

when the tour resumes at Splendido on January 29 to 31.

Four shots off Ardina at the start of the final round, del Rosario pressed her bid in a flight ahead with birdies on Nos. 6 and 14 but the 2017 LPGT Order of Merit champion could only come closest at four as Ardina put the outcome beyond doubt with birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 16 before opting to settle for pars in the closing par-5 holes.

Del Rosario shot the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only other two-under par card of 69 for a 212 as she took runner-up honors worth P95,000 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. "RACING FOR A TIGHT kNISH !RDINA PUT THE PRESSURE ON her pursuers with those early birdie binge allowing the Filipina shotmaker to cruise to the lopsided triumph, HER kRST IN A LONG WHILE AFTER DOMINATING THE CIRCUIT S inaugural season in 2013 with back-to-back wins at The Country Club and Canlubang.

Phuntumabamrung faded with three bogeys although SHE PUT UP SOME SEMBLANCE OF A kGHT WITH TWO BIRDIES IN the last four holes to save a 72 for solo third at 213 while Chayanun hobbled with a 75 for fourth at 216.

Reigning LPGT Order of Merit winner Princess Superal hardly recovered from a second round 74 with a 73, the same output put in by Ornnicha Konsunthea as they tied FOR kFTH AT WITH 4HAI !LISARA 7EDCHAKAMA CARDING A 73 to tie Daniella Uy and Mookharin Ladgratok, who shot identical 74s, at 219.

Narisara Kerdrit rallied with a 72 for a 220 as she salvaged 10th place in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp,

KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.

AIBA says progress made in fight to avoid Tokyo KO LAUSANNE: Amateur boxingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governing body was upbeat on Thursday (Friday in Manila) over the steps it has taken to avoid being potentially kicked out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The AIBA is being investigated by the International Olympic Committee, which in November froze preparations for boxing at next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Games, warning it could be stripped of the right to

run the competition.

Since the IOC launched their investigation the two sides have yet to meet face to face. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no meeting planned with the IOC up to now,â&#x20AC;? AIBA executive director Tom Virgets told AFP. â&#x20AC;&#x153;AIBA is preparing documents to present that will address the additional advances that we have made on every

question and area that the IOC has asked us to report on.â&#x20AC;?

He called for hearings conducted by the IOCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probe to be held in public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;AIBA is transparent, and wants to be an open book. We have nothing to hide!â&#x20AC;? assured Virgets.

An IOC spokesman said they would sit down with the AIBA â&#x20AC;&#x153;once all the documents and responses we have from AIBA have

been studiedâ&#x20AC;?.

The inquiry led by IOC executive member Nenad Lalovic, who is president of wrestlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling body, met last week, with the AIBA absent.

The IOCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probe is focusing on gGOVERNANCE ETHICS AND kNANcial managementâ&#x20AC;? of the AIBA, which in November elected as president a controversial Uzbek businessman the US Treasury

Department claims is linked to organized crime.

Gafur Rakhimov strenuously rejects the charges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We anticipate that the IOCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns will centre on how AIBA is progressing in all of the areas they focused upon in the past, and I am confident that we will be able to show continued improvements in all areas,â&#x20AC;?

Virgets said.

AFP

drops 30% LOS ANGELES: Concussions in the NFL dropped by nearly 30 percent this season in the wake of rule changes designed to make the game safer, the league confirmed on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Figures reported on the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website showed that the number of diagnosed concussion cases in regular season games fell from 190 in 2017 to 135 in 2018, a 29 percent decrease.

With concussions from pre-season games included, the number dropped from 281 in 2017 to 214 in 2018.

The sharp drop in concussions comes after the NFL introduced new rules this year, making it illegal for players to initiate contact with the helmet when tackling or being tackled.

The league also tweaked rules relating to kick offs and punt returns, with the goal of reducing the number of high-speed collisions.

The NFL was cautious, however, on whether the fall-off in concussion numbers could be definitively attributed to the rule changes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re certainly pleased with the progress on concussion reduction,â&#x20AC;? Jeff Miller, the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive vice president for health and safety, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a lot more work to do.â&#x20AC;?

NFL medical officials will sift through the data gleaned from the 2018 season in the coming weeks to attempt to pinpoint causes for the reduced number.

The NFL meanwhile has continued to encourage more advanced helmets, with certain kinds set to be phased out altogether as of next season.

League officials also carry out more concussion evaluations on the sidelines than ever before.

This year 538 players were evaluated for concussion although 75 percent of those cases came back without diagnosis of concussion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We continue to emphasize an extremely conservative approach,â&#x20AC;? said Allen Sills, the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief medical officer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they even suspect someone is concussed, we screen that player.â&#x20AC;?

The NFL has faced growing scrutiny in recent years over the issue of concussions and head trauma in the sport.

In 2015, the league agreed to a $1 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits by former players suffering from neurological problems.

AFP

C4

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

Football

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times manilatimes.net

Iran storms into Asian Cup semis A

BU DHABI: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz warned of the Asian Cupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apex predators on Thursday (Friday in Manila) after his title chasers ruthlessly dispatched China 3-0 to set UP A SEMIkNAL AGAINST *APAN

Q Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s midfielder Zhi Zheng (center) vies for the ball with four Iranian players during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal football match at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

AFP PHOTO

PFF fined over â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yellow cardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Asian Cup THE Asian Football Confederation (AFC) fined the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) for the yellow cards slapped on five Philippine Azkals players in their 1-3 loss to Kyrgyzstan in the Asian Cup 2019. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Philippine Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 2,500 (more than Php 131,000),â&#x20AC;? the AFC said in a decision recently released by its disciplinary and ethics committee. Based on the continental sanctioning bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest decision, the Azkals breached the rule on team misconduct, which states that â&#x20AC;&#x153;any team of which at least five individuals have

been sanctioned (caution or expulsion) by the referee during a match has committed an offence.â&#x20AC;? Primary striker Javier PatiĂąo, midfielder Kevin Ingreso and defenders Alvaro Silva, Stephen Palla and Luke Woodland were all booked with a yellow card each in the Azkalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defeat to the Vitalij Luxpowered White Falcons in their final Asian Cup game last January 16. That setback at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai cut short the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; maiden campaign in the top continental tournament. As per regulations, the PFF needs to

Q Cristiano Ronaldo

AFP PHOTO

settle the payment within 30 days starting from the release of the decision. The AFC also warned the PFF that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a repeat violation of this provision may be met with more severe punishment.â&#x20AC;? The Filipino federation received the lowest fine among the mix of 17 member associations, players and coaching staff members penalized by the Asian football governing body. Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goalkeeping coach Johannes Cornelis accounted for a heavy USD 10,000 of the total USD 90,500 penalty.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

Ritsu Doan scored from the spot in Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1-0 win over Vietnam earlier in the day as the video assistant referee system marked its tournament debut with a bang.

Iran continued their quest to end a barren run at the Asian Cup dating back 43 years with Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard all on target in Abu Dhabi.

But Queiroz insisted his side should not be labeled title favorites, despite ending Marcello Lippiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reign as China coach in such clinical fashion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we know the big sharks will come for us,â&#x20AC;? said the former Real Madrid boss. g4HE SUIT OF FAVORITES DOESN T kT US *APAN

Korea are coming, so we need to be more alert -what we did against China will not be enough.â&#x20AC;? )RAN DREW kRST BLOOD AFTER MINUTES OF A LOP SIDED QUARTERkNAL WHEN !ZMOUN squared for Taremi to sweep home after some calamitous Chinese defending.

Their second was almost a carbon copy -- much to the chagrin of Lippi, who stood staring in horror.

This time Liu Yiming misjudged a hopeful PUNT DOWN kELD ALLOWING !ZMOUN TO NIP IN and round goalkeeper Yan Junling to score his fourth of the tournament.

Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best chance came after just six minutes when Hao Junmin wriggled free, only for Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian to slide in with a superb goal-line clearance.

Iran could have been out of sight by half time as Azmoun -- dubbed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iranian Messiâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;twice went close and Taremi missed a sitter, before picking up A YELLOW CARD THAT RULES HIM OUT OF THE SEMI kNAL

Lippi gloom

Portugal mulls revoking Ronaldoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honors after tax fraud fine LISBON: Portugal is considering pulling Cristiano Ronaldoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public honors after he was fined millions by Spain for committing tax fraud while at Real Madrid, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president said on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Five-time Ballon dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Or winner Ronaldo was awarded the Grand Cross of THE 0ORTUGUESE /RDER OF -ERIT IN

when the national team won the European Championship, but on Tuesday was ordered by a Spanish court to pay 3.57 million euros ($4.1 million), part of a BROADER MILLION EURO PAYOUT He was handed a two-year jail sentence THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO A kNE OF

EUROS AND ANOTHER PENALTY OF million euros, according to the sentence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The law is very simple: it is up to the chancellors of the national orders to see if anything has happened that could lead to the loss of an honor,â&#x20AC;? President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told reporters.

This means it would be the current chancellor of Portugalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s civil Order of Merit, one of several branches of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honors system, to decide whether the 33-year-oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conviction is enough to strip him of his honor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should let those with the legal power to decide to do so and see whether the law applies or not in this case.â&#x20AC;?

However the Juventus attackerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honors from his home island of Madeira are safe. Ronaldo received the Madeira Medal of Merit, the autonomous regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest HONOR IN $ECEMBER BEFORE THE INAUguration of a bronze statue in his likeness at Madeira airport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here in Madeira, Cristiano Ronaldo has always been seen as a good person ... He is not a criminal,â&#x20AC;? said regional president Miguel Albuquerque, who dismissed Ronaldoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conviction as an â&#x20AC;&#x153;interpretation of a tax issueâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is the most prestigious Portuguese AFP in the world,â&#x20AC;? he added.

!FTER %HSAN (AJSAk HAD FORCED A SHARP SAVE from Yan on the hour mark, Ansarifard raced clear to add a third in stoppage time.

It was another dominant performance from Iran, who also equalled South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RECORD OF KEEPING CLEAN SHEETS IN THEIR kRST kVE GAMES AT A SINGLE !SIAN #UP #HINA kNISHED RUNNERS UP IN AND BUT the sleeping giants of Asian football were no match for Iran as their challenge ended in a whimper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many people might have expected this result, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m angry at how it happened,â&#x20AC;? growled Lippi, who is stepping down after two years in charge.

Japan won the last of their record FOUR !SIAN #UPS IN AND HAVE HARDLY SET the world alight at this tournament.

But the Blue Samurai had too much quality for Vietnam in Dubai, Doan converting the spot kick on 57 minutes after a penalty awarded by VAR technology.

Japan captain Maya Yoshida also had a headed goal chalked off for hand-ball on review in a game Hajime Moriyasuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side never looked like losing.

AFP

Ramos double puts Madrid within sight of semifinals MADRID: Sergio Ramos scored twice to put Real Madrid on the brink of the Copa del Rey semifinals as they came from behind to beat Girona 4-2 in a thrilling first leg on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Ramosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chipped penalty gave Madrid a 2-1 half-time lead at the Santiago Bernabeu after Lucas Vazquez had cancelled out Anthony Lozanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early strike.

Girona, however, came again, Alex Granell scoring from the spot, only for Ramos to head home with 13 minutes left before Benzema added a fourth to extend the advantage ahead of next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second leg.

Ramos now has nine goals in all competitions this season and these two were key as Madrid maintained what it is beginning to look like a second revival under coach Santiago Solari.

After a blistering start, Solari oversaw a dip at the turn of the year but his team have now won four out of their last five, the only slip coming in a second leg defeat to Leganes when progress was already all-but secured. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Football never lets up, now comes Espanyol on Sunday and we want to win to get closer to the top,â&#x20AC;?Solari said.â&#x20AC;&#x153;When hard work is rewarded by results, the feeling is contagious.â&#x20AC;?

It would be a timely run into form, with Atletico Madrid in La Liga and then Ajax in the Champions League both to come at the start of next month.

Ten points adrift in the league, this competition now represents Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best hope of a domestic trophy this season and Solariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selection seemed to suggest as much.

He picked a strong line-up, which included a recall for the struggling Marcelo while Toni Kroos made the bench, after recovering from injury.

Girona was keener to rotate as Cristhian Stuani, La Ligaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third top scorer, was left on the bench ahead of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game at home to Barcelona. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We prioritize La Liga,â&#x20AC;? Girona coach Eusebio said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We value the history of the cup but our resources have to be saved for the league.â&#x20AC;?

AFP

SSATURDAY AT U R DAY JJANUARY ANUARY 26, 2019

Lifestyle

D1

www.manilatimes.net

Q Former Senator Bongbong Marcos and Liza Marcos with Estonia Consul Fernando Peña and his wife Julie.

Q Consular Corps Dean and Jordanian Consul Michael Ang (second from left) with wife Jazmin and husband and wife Francis and Betty Chua Consul Generals of Peru and Tanzania respectively.

Consular Ball marks 43 years of diplomatic fellowship

T

HE 43rd Annual Consular Ball was successfully held at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

According to event chair US Consul General and Corps Vice Dean Russel Brown, the ball lived up to its longtime tradition of being the annual highlight of the Philippine international communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diplomatic-consular calendar.

The ball was successful in terms of attendance, amenities, program highlights, and number of RAFlE PRIZES -ORE THAN GUESTS filled the beautifully decorated 2IZAL "ALLROOM %STONIA (ONORary Consul General Juan Peña, a past dean and co-founder of the Corps, started the program WITH AN INSPIRING INVOCATION The program proper, emceed

BY NOTED HOST -IGZ !NZURES

was appropriately short to give WAY TO MORE EXCITING SIDELIGHTS Consular Corps Outgoing Dean -ICHAEL !LEXANDER !NG (ONORARY Consul of Jordan, delivered his valedictory remarks thanking the %XECUTIVE AND !DVISORY "OARDS ALL #OMMITTEE #HAIRMEN AND -EMbers for their support in Corps acTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR 6ICE $EAN "ROWN DELIVERED HIS ACCEPTANCE remarks as incoming Dean of the #ORPS FOR AND PRESENTED OUTGOING $EAN !NG WITH AN !WARD OF -ERIT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE #ORPS IN 4HE "ALL WAS ATTENDED BY NUmerous dignitaries from the diplomatic and consular community, including some ambassadors; government leaders, eminent personalities of Philippine

HI! SOCIETY BECKY GARCIA SOCIETY AND SOME MEDIA FRIENDS Plaques of appreciation were presented to celebrity host Johnny ,ITTON FOR HAVING EMCEED THE !NNUAL #ONSULAR "ALL FOR OVER THREE decades, and to Francis Chua, 0ERU (ONORARY #ONSUL 'ENERAL

AND HIS WIFE 4ANZANIA (ONORARY #ONSUL AND #ORPS !UDITOR "ETTY !NG FOR BEING THE "ALL S 0LATInum Sponsors, thereby leading other donors in contributing to THE #ORP S CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Other major sponsors included 5NIVERSAL (ARVESTER )NC OF -ILAGROS (OW (ONORARY #ONSUL OF "ELARUS IN $AVAO 0HILIPPINE !IRLINES

4URKISH !IRLINES /MAN !IR !ERO -EXICO !UTO.ATION OF 3LOVENIA (ONORARY #ONSUL &ELIX !NG 6INE (OLISTIC -EDICAL !ESTHETICS AND 4HE :EN )NSTITUTE Cocktails were served, compliments of Destileria Limtuaco & #O )NC AND 0HILIPPINE 7INE

-ERCHANTS FOLLOWED BY A SUMPtuous dinner with special ballet PRESENTATIONS BY 3!9!7 3CHOLARS Live ballroom dance music was PLAYED BY THE -ARCY $AVID "AND

followed by a lively playlist of dance music from international $* 'AVIN 3KEWES !S IN PREVIOUS YEARS THE 5NITED 3TATES CONSULAR OFkCERS AND THEIR guests, led by Consul General AND "ALL #HAIRMAN 2USSEL "ROWN

COMPRISED THE LARGEST CONTINGENT /THER MEMBERS OF THE "ALL #OMMITTEE WERE !NGOLA #ONSUL (ELEN /NG !USTRALIA &IRST 3ECRETARY #ONSUL 'AVIN %VERS 'EORGETTE 7ILSON

"ELARUS #ONSUL !NNA -ARIE !BLAN

Costa Rica Consul General aPast $EAN &AUSTO 0REYSLER *R %L 3ALVADOR #ONSUL -A *OSEkNA /RTIGAS de Duarte, Guatemala Consul 0AST $EAN !MELIA !BLAZA 0ORTUGAL #ONSUL !NTONIO 2UkNO 2OMANIA Consul General Corps Treasurer 3ERGIO /RTIZ ,UIS *R

Syria Consul GeneralCorps Secretary ) S S A M % L $ E B S

4ANZANIA #ONSUL #ORPS !UDITOR "ETTY !NG AND 4OGO Consul General 6ISITACION #OSTA Other sponsors that donated a fantastic array of valuABLE RAFlE PRIZES TO spice up and make the evening more exciting and memoRABLE INCLUDED !NGOLA #ONSUL (ELEN Ong, Flora Chua, #HINA !IRLINES %VA !IR !IR !SIA 3HAN-

Q Agnes Huibonhoa, Grace Ang and Consul General of Monaco Fortune Ledesma.

Q Panamanian Ambassador Rolando Guevara Alvarado, Louie and Mellie Ablaza.

Q Mila and William How.

Q Ann and Fausto Preysler.

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Q Mel Martinez, Vina Nationales, Agile Zamora, Anabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez.

Q Georgette Wilson, Virginia Lane and Cory Navarro.

D2

Funtimes

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

FAMOUS HAND

In this deal from the 1997 world team championship final between France and the United States, judgment rather than superior card play or systemic bidding differences played the key role in a substantial gain for the French.

The bidding shown occurred when Bobby Wolff and Bob Hamman, for two decades one of the world’s foremost pairs, were North-South for the U.S., with Michel Perron and Paul Chemla East-West for France. Ham-

» CROSSWORD

man’s opening club bid was strong and artificial, and by the time it was his next turn, the opponents were in five clubs. Hamman elected to make a forcing pass, whereupon Wolff rebid his diamonds.

Hamman now showed his true colors by bidding five hearts, and Wolff was at the crossroads. He knew that a cuebid of six clubs, showing firstround control of clubs and implying interest in a grand slam, was the correct bid, but he feared that if only a small slam could be made, his cuebid might provoke the opponents into taking a profitable sacrifice at seven clubs. So he settled for a raise to six hearts, figuring that plus 1,430 or 1,460 was better than setting seven clubs doubled four or five tricks.

Wolff was correct in this regard, since seven clubs doubled would probably have gone down five for 1,100 points.

But the tactic did not allow for the possibility that the French pair at the other table might bid and make seven hearts for a score of 2,210.

Wolff’s “less is more” strategy did indeed backfire when Christian Mari and Alain Levy reached the grand slam despite similar interference by Eric Rodwell and Jeff Meckstroth.

The 750-point difference gave the French a pickup of 13 IMPs, which helped them capture the world title that year. © 2019 King Features Syndicate Inc.

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

Solution to puzzle

By Samantha Weaver

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (01/26/19). Friends are your power source this year. Disciplined plans and preparation allow for victory. Expect domestic repairs. Winter shifts refocus a partnership. Your summer moves win acclaim, leading to a recuperative and introspective phase. Discover fresh insight, inspiration and motivation next winter. Share your love.

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 a 9 -- Tend to shared finances through tomorrow. Adjust the budget for conditions. You can see what your partner needs. Support each other for common gain.

TAURUS ( APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Collaborate with partners, and share resources. Avoid controversy or stepping on anyone’s toes. Make bargains and deals. Satisfying results are possible.

GEMINI ( MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Get expert support with your work, health and fitness. Nurture your energy with steady practices and good food. Try new tricks to grow stronger.

CANCER ( JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Prioritize fun and romance. Hang out with beloved people. Someone pulls you in like a bee to honey. Learn from another’s view. Discover sweetness.

LEO ( JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- The gentle approach works best at home. Family matters have your focus. Find an inexpensive solution without controversy. Relax, and nurture each other.

VIRGO ( AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re especially clever. You can learn whatever you need. Study with an experienced guide or teacher. Find creative ways to express your views.

LIBRA ( SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Compute expenses,

» SUDOKU

• It was Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, communist revolutionary and the first leader of the Soviet Union, who made the following sage observation: “One fool can ask more questions in a minute than 12 wise men can answer in an hour.”

• Back in 1893, when the zipper was invented, the device was intended to be used for fastening shoes.

• When the TV sitcom “The Addams Family” was being cast in the early 1960s, actor John Astin came in to audition for the role of Lurch, the cadaverous butler. He was immediately rejected for the part. As he was leaving the room, though, the producer spotted him, pulled him aside, and immediately offered him the role of Gomez — the lead. All he had to do was grow a mustache.

• What do the words “obscene,” “tranquil,” “mediate,” “catastrophe,” “dire,” “critical,” “vast” and “apostrophe” have in common? All of them appeared in print for the first time in the works of William Shakespeare.

• As the Black Plague was sweeping Europe during the Middle Ages, some people, for reasons surpassing understanding, believed that plague victims could cure themselves by smelling human waste.

• The United States isn’t the only country that has an accolade to recognize excellence in the film industry. Here the awards are known as the Oscars, but other nations have their own names for the awards: In Canada they’re known as Genies, in France they’re Cesars, in Russia they’re called Nikas, in Mexico they’re Golden Ariels, in Spain they’re known as Goyas, and in the United Kingdom they’re called Orange British Academy Film Awards. *** Thought for the Day: “The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy.” — Florence Scovel Shin © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY NANCY BLACK and keep generating income. Send invoices and pay bills. File documents carefully to avoid financial mistakes. Positive flow is possible.

SCORPIO ( OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Take charge.

Use your power responsibly. Don’t tromp on anyone; maintain your humility and a sense of humor. Provide generous leadership for a personal cause.

SAGITTARIUS ( NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Concentrate on cleanup and organization. Consider options and plans as you sort and organize. Complete projects, and put away materials.

Handle final details.

CAPRICORN ( DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Confer with friends, colleagues and allies. Participate in group projects. Your team supports high performance. Provide your piece of the puzzle.

AQUARIUS ( JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Consider new professional projects and options. Begin a testing phase to refine your direction. Compete for more responsibilities, influence and status.

Victory is possible.

PISCES ( FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Investigate options and destinations. Get expert instruction. Classes and educational exploration engage you for growth and development. Practice what you’re learning.

(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.)

SSATURDAY AT U R DAY JANUARY 26, 2019

Entertainment

D4

Q Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Lee Chang.

www.manilatimes.net

NETFLIXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;KINGDOMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

K-drama superstars shine in $10-million series

BY IZA IGLESIAS

S

(Last of two parts)

EOUL, SOUTH KOREA: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kingdom,â&#x20AC;? the six-episode Korean series which DEBUTED ON .ETlIX YESTERDAY IS ONE of the most anticipated original streaming productions of 2019.

To start with, to bring the unlikely genres of a period Kdrama and a zombie invasion together, the production spent a whopping $1.78 million per episode, or roughly 2 billion won in Korean money. Multiply that figure by the six-episode total and Kingdom may well be one of .ETlIX S MOST EXPENSIVE ORIGINAL production to date.

There can be no doubt then that

the casting coup of K-drama superstars also landed a huge opportunity in their original crossover to the streaming platform with this no-expense-spared-production.

The question is, is their acting worth the money?

(ERE S 4HE -ANILA 4IMES verDICT STRAIGHT FROM +INGDOM S RED carpet premiere in Seoul, Korea last Monday.

Ju Ji-hoon perfectly portrays

Crown Prince Lee Chang of the Joseon Dynasty, who, in the beginning of the story, is stripped of his power and birthright, only to grow into a true leader after coming face to face with the cruel reality of his kingdom.

Director Kim Seong-hun therefore was right on the dot at the media conference before the PREMIERE WHEN HE SAID *I HOON S acting gained more depth with an expanded range of emotions as the series progressed.

4HE SHOW S LEAD WHO + DRAMA fans should know as Hae Wonmaek from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Along with the Gods,â&#x20AC;? was basked in the positive review but also acknowledged he had a so much to work with in THE CROWN PRINCE S CHARACTER TO develop his talent.

Âťstreaming

Q Ryu Seung-yong as Chief State Councilor Cho Hak-ju. Q Bae Doona as Seo-bi, a physician at Jiyulheon.

T

Through the life of a great screenwriter

HE more recent 20th batch of Scriptwriting 7ORKSHOP UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE COUNTRY S iconic screenwriter Ricky Lee was comprised of diverse, albeit familiar faces in the entertainment industry.

Half of the participants were emerging movie directors from the Kapisanan Ng Mga Direktor Ng Pelikulang Pilipino (KDPP) aka Philippine Motion Picture Directors Association (PMPDA) headed by William Mayo, under the umbrella of the Film Academy of the Philippines. They also need to know the conundrum of writing screenplays to make them auteur directors.

The other half came from Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) members who have ventured into INDIE kLM DIRECTING 4HEY SAY IT S PART OF REINVENTING themselves because movie writing these days is not as lucrative compared to the time of mainstream movie making. Relationships then between stars and movie writers was hinged on some personal basis with easy cash and fringe benefits.

Not like now with stars being cordoned off by their Q Perry EscaĂąo respective home networks.

Of said groups, three actors-workshoppers, namely Jordan Castillo, Inday Garutay, and Perry EscaĂąo immersed themselves gamely with the batch, disclosing even that taking the workshop under Ricky Lee sort of made them come full circle with their career in showbiz. Coming FROM THE VIRTUAL CLOSURE OF MAINSTREAM kLMMAKing, the three have emerged very productively yet in their career to the present time.

From acting, Jordan Castillo is now into directING SO HE THINKS IT S BUT RIGHT TO ARM HIMSELF WITH the art and technique of screenwriting to come out with sensible movie projects. The same with comedian Inday Garutay even if his hands are full WRITING FOR '-! .ETWORK S g3UNDAY 0INASAYA u Of the three, Perry EscaĂąo is relatively more entrenched and yet exploring more avenues in

the direction. He originated from the legit stage of Bulwagang Gantimpala and has successfully CROSSED THE MEDIUM OF 46 AND kLMS %VENTUALLY

he became his own producer and director for some indie kLMS 9ET HE THINKS ENHANCing the rubrics of writing for the screen from Ricky Lee is totally a different ball game to be desired upon by any SERIOUS kLMMAKER IN THIS COUNTRY )NCIDENTALLY 0ERRY S OFkCIAL ENTRY TO LAST YEAR S #INEMALAYA BILLED g!NG 'URO +ONG $I -ARUNONG -AGBASAu WAS OFkCIALLY HAILED and endorsed by the Senate an for screenings in schools fo nationwide. na Perry is also the founder and festival director of an Singkuwento International Si Film Festival (SIFF). Now Fi on its fourth edition, the festival is slated on Februfe ary 15 to 22 at its homear ground NCCA Theater, gr Intramuros, Manila with In releases nationwide. re In a manner of speaking, not a few stakeholders from no showbiz, whether coming sh from the mainstream and fr the network-controlled inth dustry, have breathed the du air of those who have gone ahead of Perry and his batchmates â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they who have listened up to what life has taught Ricky Lee to become a memorable, relevant and truthful screenwriter that he is today.

NNN GUESS WHO? On the set of a toprating teleserye, reality search discovery (RSD) was so threatened by the unannounced visit of her original discoverer that she had long junked. RSD was scared stiff the discoverer might expose her skeletons in the closet that she is now wealthy, as a kept mistress of a prominent politician.

RSD instead gave the original discoverer a big amount of money as preventive measure for a potential scandalous revelation. #LUE 23$ S TELESERYE IS ON PRIMETIME NIGHTLY

CAVEAT GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;First of all, traditionally, all of the kings or crown prince that WE VE SEEN IN HISTORY DRAMA SERIES AND IN kLMS THEY HAVE ALL LIVED within the palace. But for my character Lee Chang, he steps out OF THE PALACE TO kND answers himself. He grows as a person who thinks and makes decisions on his own. Constantly faced with situations where he has to accept his responsibility, he learns how to embrace it and grows as a person,â&#x20AC;?

Ji-hoon elaborated.

Moreover, the handsome K-drama star also braved the physical requirements of his role, training to deliver high energy action scenes and even expert horse-riding to become a true crown prince. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Besides all that, the most challenging part of the series is that it is a historical period drama so that there are certain types of ideologies and attitudes that my character has TO RElECT WHILE KEEPING IN MIND that the viewers are audiences of the modern times. We needed all needed to maintain a balance in that sense to be able to deliver the reality of the time as well as the story we want the audience to appreciate,â&#x20AC;? he continued.

-EANWHILE "AE $OONA S CHA racter Seo-bi is a physician at Jiyulheon, a clinic led by Dr. Lee Hee-seung, who used to treat the King who had a mysterious disEASE 3HE IS THE kRST WITNESS TO THE HORRIkC INCIDENT WHERE STARVING people in the kingdom transform

into monsters following a plague.

As the only survivor of the incident, she escapes from Jiyulheon AND SETS OFF ON A JOURNEY TO kND the cure for the plague relying on a small piece of clue that her doctormentor left behind. Strong and WISE 3EO BI BECOMES ,EE #HANG S most important and trusted aide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My character Seo-bi is a physician in the Joseon Dynasty where in terms of the social structure, IT WASN T EASY FOR WOMEN TO BE active in their roles. Despite that, 3EO BI DEkED THE NORM WITH HER strength and intelligence and pursued her commitment and responsibility as a doctor,â&#x20AC;? said Bae Doona, who previously appeared as Sun Bak in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sense8.â&#x20AC;?

As aide to the crown prince, Doona also needed to equip herself for horseback riding as wellâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;physically demanding challenges Doona admitted she thoroughly enjoyed, as proven by her delivery on screen.

Finally, Ryu Seung-yongâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one of the most reputable actors of South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;portrays the role of the most powerful man next to the King. He is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;De Facto Ruler of Joseon,â&#x20AC;? Chief State Councilor Cho Hak-ju. !CCORDING TO THE .ETlIX CREW

they singled out Seung-yong for the role, convinced he is the only actor who can portray the very chilling persona of the councilor.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My character will stop at nothing to feed his greed. And that evil is what drew me to the part. He has more power than the king, he is scarier that the zombies, and he will even sacrikCE HIS OWN CHILDREN TO GET WHAT he wants,â&#x20AC;? Seung-yong revealed.

And indeed, an ominous air possesses the screen every time Cho Hak-ju steps into the scene, with just one glare and more so by the unsettling timber of his voice.

Seung-yong confessed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was quite difficult for me [to portray Cho Hak-ju] because I had to make him scarier than the zombies.â&#x20AC;?

And given his illustrious career as an actor in South Korea, it was BUT kTTING FOR THE SUPERSTAR TO CONCLUDE THE CAST S EXCHANGE WITH THE media as follows: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know that Kdrama is really popular around the world today because I do believe there is a certain power behind Korean content and that is a very exciting spirit of creativity. And particularly for Kingdom, I think IT S BEEN GIVEN QUITE A FREEDOM in terms of merging genres and IN HOW IT S BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE DEPTH OF A kLM ) HAVE HIGH hopes that we will be able to tell this great story in the long span, BEYOND THIS kRST SEASON u Kingdom also stars Kim Sangho, Heo Joon-ho, Kim Seong-kyu, Jeon Seok-ho, Kim Hye-joon, and Jin Seon-kyu.

The stage is set for Katrina Velarde K

ATRINA Velarde became popular online a few years ago after uploading a series of videos where she sang hits while using a hairbrush as her microphone. Immediately, netizens took notice of her good voice and, using wit, immediately branded her as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suklay Diva.â&#x20AC;?

The single mother â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to a threeyear-old-son â&#x20AC;&#x201D; did not shy away in sharing that she came from a poor family. Born to a sampaguita vendor mom and a carpenter dad, their living condition actually oin emboldened her to join n at singing contests even rize a young age. The prize me money she takes home ke was then used to make or both ends meet for her family of eight. rToday, the 25-yearold singer-performerr and Viva record-ing artist is slowlyy making her dreams come true, thanks to the support of her loving family and her fans who regularly watch Q Katrina Velarde her shows at the o Walk.

Music Hall in Metro They used to stay in a squatters area in Tondo. But now they are renting an apartment in Novaliches, Quezon City and hopefully they can move to their new home, a townhouse in Caloocan City. Aside from her dream house, her next project is to buy a car.

Katrina said she could not have made these dreams come true if not for her strong fan base on social media, the same platform that made her a household name. Likewise, she is hoping they WILL SUPPORT HER AS SHE HOLDS HER kRST major solo concert at the New Frontier Theater titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;SiKat Ako.â&#x20AC;?

The title of the concert is quite intriguing for its double meaning.

One, it can a play on her name, as if introducing herself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si Kat

ROVING EYE RO RICKY CALDERON CA Ako.â&#x20AC;? The other can be a proud statement that â&#x20AC;&#x153;she is popular.â&#x20AC;?

7HILE SHE DID NOT WIN IN THE kRST season of The X-Factor Philippines, Katrina caught the attention of Gary Valenciano who became her mentor and paved the way for her to be comanaged BY 'ARY S Manila G Genesis and tthe Viva Artis ist Agency.

Her first m major concert to be held at the New Frontie Theater tier (fo (formerly KIA Theater) on Febr February 1, will have Gary V as her sspecial guest along with BuDaKhel (composed Bu of Bugoy Drilon, Darryl Ong and Michael Pangilinan), Adlib Dancers and other surprise guests. The concert will be directed by Paolo Valenciano with Mon Faustino as musical director.

NNN Janine Gutierrez has done a lot of movies in recent years but has not top-billed a title until Regal EntertainMENT S ROMANTIC COMEDY kLM g%LISE u 4HE kLM OUTkT S OPENING SALVO FOR 2019 as well as a pre-Valentine offering, Elise is based on the experiences of writer-director of Joel Ferrer during THE TIME HE kRST FELL IN LOVE 0LAYING *ANINE S LOVE INTEREST IN THE kLM "ERT

is Kapamilya actor Enchong Dee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enchong is fun to work with,â&#x20AC;? she said, further expressing her admira-

tion for the actor who has a number OF TOPLESS SCENES BUT DIDN T SEEM TO mind them at all. In jest, Janine said Enchong even seemed to enjoy going half-naked in some of his scenes.

In real life, Enchong is the best FRIEND OF 2AYVER #RUZ *ANINE S RUmored boyfriend. So was it awkward for the two to work together especially in a kissing scene? *ANINE SAID IT S kNE SINCE SHE CONsiders it as part of the job but Enchong admitted he felt awkward because of his closeness to Rayver.

Rounding up the interview, Janine kNALLY SHARED SHE IS THRILLED TO HAVE A MOVIE FOR 6ALENTINE S $AY AND BElieves the audience will relate to the STORY OF HER %LISE AND %NCHONG S "ERT

Q Janine Gutierrez

E1

SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2019

EDITOR Tessa Mauricio-Arriola STAFF WRITERS Christina Alpad & Iza Iglesias DESKMAN Arlo Custodio

Of evening gowns and Filipiniana fashion at Miss Intercontinental

BY ARLO CUSTODIO

O

NE hundred seventy-four veteran and up-andcoming Filipino fashion designers showcased their artistry and craftsmanship in two big events as part of the 47th Miss Intercontinental preliminaries at the posh Okada Manila in ParaĂąaque City.

As reported in last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lookbook, the 87 candidates from Africa, the Americas, and Asia and Oceana donned gowns especially created for them by a talented pool of local designers for the Philippine Designers Fashion Show on January 16.

On January 17, the beauty queens gracefully walked the runway in a mix of modern

and traditional ternos for the Filipiniana Fashion Show. Miss Argentina Cecilia Villalobos Fuchs wore the winning design by Maricris dela PeĂąa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an avante-garde take on the traditional terno with an elaborate collar and dramatic cape worn over a beaded jumpsuit.

In the Evening Gown Competition that

same night, the candidates wowed the crowd in gowns they brought with them from their respective countries.

-ISS 'ERMANY IN HER kERY RED LACE ensemble, was declared the winner. &INALLY ON *ANUARY THE CANDIdates wowed the crowd all the more in COLORFUL DAZZLING AND FANTASTIC OUTkTS endemic to their respective countries and regions in the National Costume Competition held at Okada Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crystal Corridor. The panel of judges CLEARLY HAD A DIFkCULT TIME CHOOSING the winner, but in the end, it was Miss Peru in a very intricate costume from her native land snagged the last of the pre-pageant awards.

Q The Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Karen Gallman in Sasa Abarentos (left) and Benedick Eroa (right) for the Philippine Designers Fashion Show and Filipiniana Night respectively.

Karen Gallman vies for PHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Miss Intercontinental crown Q Maricris dela PeĂąa and her muse Miss Argentina celebrate their win.

PHOTOS BY DJ DIOSINA

Q Miss Argentina in Maricris dela PeĂąa.

Q Best in National Costume Miss Peru.

Vallejoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successor known tonight at MOA Arena ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S green and go tonight for the glittering 47th Miss Intercontinental pageant at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, which will crown the successor to reigning titleholder Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico in what is sure to be another exciting beauty contest.

Sharing hosting duties for the program when the clock strikes seven are the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own Billy Crawford, Miss Intercontinental Japan 2017 Kumi Miyamae, Japanese personality Taka Nori and Kenyan TV host-producer Serah Ndanu.

The latest update on the panel of judges lists pageant CEO Joanna Gimena Miyamae, corporate executive and philantropist Marilyn de Mesa, entrepreneur Wilbert Tolentino, former Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, Hollywood actor Lorenzo Llamas of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Falcon Crestâ&#x20AC;? fame, two-time Emmy Award-winner Vincent de Paul, Miss Intercontinental Maydelise Columna, Turkish book author and plastic surgeon Yasar Sarigul, and Vallejo.

A delayed telecast is set to air on ABS-CBN on Sunday night.

Q Best in Evening Gown Miss Germany.

Q Reigning Miss Intercontinental Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico.

FILIPINO-Australian Karen Juanita Boyones Gallman, 26, born and raised in Ubay, Bohol but migrated to Australia at a young age, vies for the crown never been held by a Filipina in its 46 years of existence.

Last year, Katarina Rodriguez came in First RunnerUp to Veronica Salas Vallejo in the pageant held in Egypt. In 2015, Filipino-American Christi Lynn McGarry placed First Runner-Up to Rasulova Valentina of Russia in the contest held in Magde- Q In Patrick Isorenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moriones Festival-inspired National burg, Germany. Costume with the mythical Sarimanok atop Gallmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head for In her offi- added drama. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/RYAN AGUAS cial bio sketch, Gallman said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;self-awareness was something instilled in me at a very young age by my mother and late father. I was taught nothing is ever too big to achieve; that everything is possible if you set your mind to it and are willing to work hard for it.â&#x20AC;?

3HE kRST JOINED "INIBINING 0ILIPINAS IN AT THE AGE OF AND ENDED IN the Top 12. It was the year Janine Tugonon won the top crown and eventually placing First Runner-Up to Olivia Culpo of USA in the Miss Universe pageant HELD IN ,AS 6EGAS .EVADA 'ALLMAN kNISHED COLLEGE IN !USTRALIA THEN WORKED as operations analyst in London. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having had the opportunity to live and work in different cities, I became good at coping in different environments, and living in harmony with the people around me. Those close to me know me as a risk-taker; someone who relishes a good challenge. I would say being part of this prestigious pageant is one of the biggest challenges I have faced so far â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and not only am I ready for it, I would enjoy every minute of it and come out an even better human being from the experience,â&#x20AC;? she expounded.

Inspired by batchmate Catriona Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win as Q Winner of the Miss Universe 2018, Gallspecial award Miss man also hopes to give FiberHealth Beautiful Filipinos a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift.

Body at the Swimsuit Winning the crown also Competition. means it is easier for her to advance her advocacy in improving compulsory education in the rural parts of the Philippines and the rest of the world, as she herself saw the hardship of students while attending primary school in Bohol. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would live to be a stellar example of a Filipina, and a woman of substance for people to look up to, and be the light of love and positivity to everyone I meet,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

E2

LIFESTYLE@MANILATIMES.NET

w w w.manilatimes.net SATURDAY Â JANUARY 26, 2019

Q This year, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about playing with colors.

0DNHXS URXWLQH XSJUDGHV IRU Q Use a highlighter over foundation like Glaiza de Castro for radiantly glowing skin.

L

EVELING up your makeup game for this year does not necessarily mean a complete overhaul of your usual makeup looks.

A few subtle changes by switching up your usual routine can easily upgrade your game and get gorgeous points.

Bold and sparkly colors are fail-proof makeup looks that you can try for a more adventurous and glamorous year. But if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all set on channeling an easygoing and wholesome vibe, you can go for bold to monochromatic shades from day to day.

Today, The Manila Times Lookbook â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with the help of Careline and Ever Bilena â&#x20AC;&#x201D; suggests these trendy techniques and clever products to help you do just that.

Highlight over foundation for skin that glows. The usual

step that most follow is to apply primer then foundation. But if you want to achieve naturallooking glowy skin, switch up your makeup routine a bit and brush on some Glow Out Highlighter on the high points of your cheeks, bridge of your nose,

temples, Cupidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bow, and chin right after priming. Dab on your favorite foundation then proceed with the rest of your routine. You can opt to intensify your highlighter by adding another layer AFTER kNISHING YOUR MAKEUP 9OU can also use highlighter on your body such as your collarbones, shoulders, and legs for that sunkissed glow.

Go Monochromatic. The monochromatic look involves keeping your eyes, lips and cheek within the same makeup shades.

Perfect for any occasion, this makeup trend is not only easy to wear but also easy to apply.

The trick is to choose a color that

complements your skin tone like Multi Sticks in Rose and Peach.

You can apply your shade all over your lids, dab some on your cheeks and use it on your lips.

Bold brows. Bold brows and lips will never go out of style. To achieve this look, be sure your eyebrows are well-groomed so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EASY TO kLL THEM IN WITH YOUR PREferred eyebrow product. With a brow comb, brush your eyebrow HAIRS UPWARD THEN kLL IN SPARSE spots with Best Brow Liner in Taupe or Brunette.

Smudge eyeliner for effortlessly cool smoky eyes. If you want subtle glam but lack the time and skill to do it, a smudged

eyeliner will do the trick. Simply APPLY A THICK LINE OF %YE $EkNE Waterproof Matic Liner above your upper lash line and use a brush to smudge out your eyeliner. Of course, smoky eyes arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t complete without a swipe of mascara.

Experiment with colors. For

IT S ALL ABOUT PLAYING WITH eyeshadow colors that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t normally go for. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the â&#x20AC;&#x153;no makeup, makeupâ&#x20AC;? type, maybe you can try adding a pop of color like blood red matte. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the adventurous type who prefers loud colors, maybe you can try the muted, neutral ones for a change.

Âťseen@thescene

Q Keri (right) and daughter Amanda Zamora.

Q Peevee Dela Rosa and Ashley Yap

Rediscovering the goodness of yogurt THE 100 percent vegan Body Yogurt Body Care Collection was launched at The Wholesome Table in Makati.

Seen in the event were celebrities, models and bloggers including Ria Atayde, Janeena Chan, Jane Kingsu-Cheng, Amanda and Keri Zamora, Peevee Dela Rosa and Ashley Yap. Just like these personalities who are always on a go, these Body Yogurts ab-

sorb in seconds and work on damp skin, so one can enjoy the day without that greasy feeling but providing 48 hours of lightweight moisture. It has a gel-like formula turned into cream, which just melts into the skin almost instantly and definitely non-sticky. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re cool and almost water-like once rubbed in, and leave a nice scent behind that lightly lingers for several hours.

Q Jane Kingsu-Cheng (second from left) and her little ones with The Body Shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emily Koa (second from right).

This vegan bodycare is enriched with Community Trade Organic Almond Milk from Maùån in Alicante, Spain. Maùån provides stability for the cooperative of local, small-scale farmers who extract the almond milk, utilizing low-intensity farming methods. They also use broken nuts that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sold for food and turn unwanted almond husks into compost to help minimize waste.

Q Kally Araneta and Janeena Chan

Q Actress Ria Atayde

Q FM radio DJ Katz Salao and Billie Capistrano

Q Model Yanna Cowper

Q The Body Shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Katrina Penalba

˜ The Manila Times

E3

w w w.manilatimes.net

LIFESTYLE@MANILATIMES.NET

SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2019

Rick Owens blows a ‘Kiss’ and rocks!

BY THOMAS ADAMSON, AP FASHION WRITER

P

ARIS: A brooding and saucy mood overtook lauded American designer Rick Owens in a ‘70sstyle collection in the City of Lights last week.

Space looks from ‘80s band Kiss, retro shades, and David Bowie-style tight waists set the time-dial very much to the era of Glam Rock in this bombastic collection by the American designer.

The show was entitled “Larry,” after US designer Larry LeGaspi, whose silver and black space looks were worn by rock groups such as Kiss.

The fall-winter show was very much an homage to the bombastic styles of LeGaspi, about whom Owens has written a book.

Tan, sienna, deep vermillion and lashings of black in the clothes were highlighted by sensually dappled lighting.

Excess was simply everywhere.

Enveloping retro shades, peaked shoulders, OVERSIZED SLEEVES lARES AND $AVID "OWIE STYLE tight waists set the time-dial very much to the era of Glam Rock.

As if that weren’t enough, Owens pushed the envelope further with painted white faces and inset leather appliques that resembled women’s genitals. They contrasted purity with provocation.

LeGaspi “helped set a lot of kids like me free with his mix of art-deco sexual ambiguity,” Owens said.

AP

Issey Miyake brings the wind PARIS: The Franco-Japanese house of Issey Miyake put on a collection in homage to the wind.

In the fall-winter silhouettes, it was not the wind of an angry storm at work, but more a gentle breeze that served to curve and soften the clothes’ shapes.

The result was a low-key affair by designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae.

A welcome sharpness did appear in the collection via its print detailing, but its power was diluted by the rounded shapes.

For instance, some jagged yellow diagonal motifs evoked the strong movement of wind — but the looseness of the suits and coats on which they appeared lessened the effect.

The prints were conceived by an Asian wax resistant dyeing technique called batik that the house frequently uses.

Issey Miyake is one house that cannot be faulted for its use of cutting-edge fashion-making methods.

Elsewhere, another Asian technique, ikat — a sort of tie-dye — was employed to produce the collection’s strongest pieces.

A silk-wool series sported beautifully defused white horizontal bands across icy blue-gray pants and shimmering coats.

THOMAS ADAMSON, AP FASHION WRITER

Miyake’s fall-winter silhouette are far from inspired by the wind of an angry storm, but more of a gentle breeze that serves to curve and soften the shapes of coats and jackets.

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

E4

w w w.manilatimes.net

LIFESTYLE@MANILATIMES.NET

SATURDAY Â JANUARY 26, 2019

Q â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re black or white.â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Vuittonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Abloh celebrates Michael Jackson

Q Though touching, the collection could have perhaps done without the scarf shirts fashioned out of global flags that came across as a tad busy and somewhat obvious.

BY THOMAS ADAMSON, AP FASHION WRITER

P

ARIS: Louis Vuittonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designer Virgil Abloh transported celebRITY GUESTS AT 0ARIS &ASHION 7EEK TO THE GRAFkTIED STREETS OF .EW York in a dramatic menswear ode to Michael Jackson whose 10th death anniversary will be remembered this this year on June 25.

!BLOH THE kRST !FRICAN !MERican to head a major European fashion house, used his unique platform to celebrate one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most globally recognized and celebrated black performers.

Here are the highlights of January 17â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall-winter shows in Paris.

Louis Vuitton goes off the wall Model Naomi Campbell and actors Timothee Chalamet and Joel Edgerton seemed amazed to discover a reconstructed cityscape that evoked the King of Popâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed music videos, all inside the Tuileries Gardens.

A young, skinny actor resembling the late Jackson as a boy drew applause as he ran and danced across the impressive set of a poor New York neighborhood.

No detail was spared.

Guests clutched their show invites that comprised a single bejeweled white glove, as their eyes were led past a Chinese busi-

ness store, New York street signs, sidewalks littered with dead leaves, and a barber shop ending at a saxophonist playing on the street.

Campbell nodded to the beat of the soundtrack â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an infectious checklist of Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest hits that had some humming well after the show had ended. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michael Jackson. My hero,â&#x20AC;? she exclaimed.

was saved from excess with soft CHARCOAL lANNEL TWILL The signature layering of the singer, who died in 2009, was ubiquitous in the 64-piece parade that went from the subtle to the not so subtle toward the end.

An overlaid silver parka coat in aluminum foil leather and a silver safety vest were among the most literal of the Jackson odes and recalled some of his King of Pop revisited most spectacular concert performances, as did the models who )T WAS THE lAMBOYANCE OF -ICHAEL wore jeweled gloves.

Jackson as seen through the classiLater in the show, Abloh made a cal prism of Louis Vuitton. series of prints based on a cartoon The silhouettes of some of IN *ACKSON S kLM g4HE 7IZu the late starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most eye-popping that became a cult classic among looks were taken by Abloh and black audiences. revisited in a slightly more paredAbloh called his hero, Jackson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the universal symbol of unity down style.

A military jacket and large sash on the planet.â&#x20AC;? Though touchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; that might have come across ing, the collection could have overly showy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were designed perhaps done without the scarf in a tasteful pearl-gray mono- shirts fashioned out of global lAGS THAT CAME ACROSS AS A TAD chrome cashmere.

Elsewhere, a giant cropped busy and somewhat obvious.

AP jacket with stiff padded lapels

Q Abloh made a series of prints based on a cartoon in Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1978 film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Wizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that became a cult classic among black audiences.

Q The signature layering of the singer was ubiquitous in the 64-piece parade.

The silhouettes of some of the late starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most eye-popping looks were taken by Abloh and revisited in a slightly pared-down style.

Q Chanelling the late King of Pop.

70th Republic Day of India 70 Years of India-Philippines Diplomatic Relations

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WHY INDIA?

India: Land of unlimited opportunities

REASON 01

One of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastestgrowing economies â&#x20AC;¢ India to remain one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Source: International Monetary Fund r &$) INlOWS INCREASED BY PERcent since the launch of Make in India initiative.

3OURCE $EPARTMENT OF )NDUSTRIAL Policy and Promotion, Government of India â&#x20AC;¢ Leading investors ranked India as the most attractive market.

Source: Ernst & Young Emerging Markets Center

REASON 02

Largest youth population in the world â&#x20AC;¢ India to have worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest YOUTH POPULATION BY 3OURCE 5NITED .ATIONS 0OPULAtion Fund r )NDIA TO BE THE LARGEST SUPPLIER of university graduates in the world BY Source: British Council r )NDIA HAS THE THIRD LARGEST GROUP of scientists and technicians in the world.

Source: All India Management Association & The Boston ConsultING 'ROUP G P

REASON 03

Huge domestic market r 2ISING AFlUENCE IS THE BIGGEST DRIVER OF INCREASING CONSUMPTION IN )NDIA Source: Boston ConsultING 'ROUP â&#x20AC;¢ Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consumer story WILL BE LED BY ITS MN URBAN MASS CONSUMERS Source: Goldman Sachs 'ROUP r 0RIVATE CONSUMPTION TO BE FOUR TIMES BY 3OURCE -C+INSEY 'LOBAL In nst stit itut utee Institute

REASON 04 2ISING ECONOMIC INlUENCE r #ENTER OF GLOBAL MARITIME TRADE TO MOVE FROM THE 0ACIkC TO THE )NDIAN /CEAN 2EGION )NDIA AND #HINA WILL BE THE LARGEST MANUFACTURING HUBS OF THE WORLD BY Source: Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Register Marine & University of Strathclyde, Glasgo â&#x20AC;¢ Connectivity to Central Asia and %UROPE VIA THE )NTERNATIONAL .ORTH 3OUTH 4RANSPORT #ORRIDOR ).34# Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of Indi r )N THE NEXT kVE YEARS )NDIA TO HAVE greater economic influence across the !SIA 0ACIkC 2EGION

REASON 05

Indian infrastructure story r /VER THE NEXT THREE DECADES MORE THAN MN )NDIANS WILL MOVE INTO CITIES 3OURCE -C+INSEY 'LOBAL )NSTITUTE r /VER THE NEXT TWO DECADES MORE THAN TRILLION INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN PLANNED for infrastructure.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India r )NVESTMENTS PLANNED ACROSS THE KEY GOVernment initiatives in various sectors: r (IGHWAYS "HARATMALA .($0 BILLION r 2AILWAYS BILLION r 0ORTS BILLION 0ORT DEVELOPMENT BN 0ORT LED )NDUSTRIALISATION r !IRPORTS BILLION r )NDUSTRIAL #ORRIDORS BILLION $-)#

REASON 06 2ISING GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS r )NDIA JUMPS POSITIONS FROM ND TO TH IN @7ORLD "ANK S %ASE OF $OING "USINESS 2ANKING 3OURCE 7ORLD "ANK

PHASE ) r 3MART #ITIES BILLION Source: Government of India r )NDIA RANKS TH ON THE 'LOBAL #OMPETITIVENESS )NDEX 3OURCE 7ORLD %CONOMIC &ORUM r PERCENT OF BN )NDIANS ARE COVERED under Aadhar Scheme, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largEST SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India â&#x20AC;¢ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, a formalization of savings scheme under which MN BANK ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN OPENED WITH SAVINGS AMOUNTING TO BILLION Source: Ministry of Finance, Government of India r 'OODS AND 3ERVICES 4AX '34 THE BIGGEST TAX REFORMS SINCE INDEPENDENCE PAVES WAY FOR A COMMON NATIONAL MARKET BY INTEGRATING various indirect taxes.

Source: Government of India

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

F1

Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message ON 26 January every year, India celebrates her Republic Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the day on which the Indian Constitution came into force in 1950. It is a constitution that established India as a sovereign, democratic republic and to a large extent defined what India is as a nation and as a people - wedded to democracy, pluralism and the rule of law.

It was even before the Constitution of India came into force, that India and the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;both newly independent nations of Asia, reached out to each other and established diplomatic relations.

Hence even as we in India celebrate seventy years of our Republic, this year also marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines.

Our relations with the Philippines thus predates the promulgation of the Constitution of India Last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was a Guest of Honor at Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic Day, along with the other Asean leaders. That marked a high point in our relations through these 70 years. With that visit, coming as it did closely on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own visit to Manila a few months earlier, our relations are poised for unprecedented growth in depth and width.

A key objective during this landmark year in our bilateral relations will be greater people to people relations. We will bring India to the Philippines this year with many cultural programs, festivals and exhibitions. The impending resumption of direct flights between the two countries augurs well. Both countries have immense tourism potential. Indians are already beginning to discover the charms of the Philippines. Indians are the fastest growing foreign tourists and this will grow exponentially with the commencement of direct flights. Moreover, this year has been designated as India-Asean Tourism Year with special promotions for the tourists from this region. What better time to discover India!

Despite turbulence in the global economic system, both our economies are growing fast. Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy is the fastest growing major economy in the world with a growth rate that is well over 7 percent. According to the IMF, the Indian economy will be one of the main drivers of the world economy this year as well as in the next. In terms of ease of doing business, India has improved her ranking in the world by 53 places in just two yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a world record. The economy of the Philippines is also growing at a rapid rate. With the ease of business legislation, the country is poised to be more investor friendly. Consequently, trade and investment between the two countries is poised to boom.

Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exports to India have gone up by 50 percent in just one year.

Indians will be casting their votes in general elections by May this year. Every time India votes

in general elections, it is the biggest exercise in democracy in the history of mankind. The Philippines too will be holding elections at that time.

Our common commitment to democracy is another factor that binds us.

In the field of defence and security, as two maritime nations with long coastlines and extensive exclusive economic zones, both our countries face similar challenges. Terrorism is a menace that imprerils our pluralistic democratic systems. Over the past year or so, new areas of cooperation have opened up in the areas of defence and security and today we have a far more robust relationship in these areas than ever before.

Both within India and abroad, Indians are creating value and wealth. In the Philippines too, the community of Indians is contributing in numerous ways to their country of domicile and to its economy. It is a tribute as much to the warmth and hospitality of the Filipinos as to the entrepreneurial spirit of Indians that so many of them choose to live and work here.

On this the 70th Republic Day of India, I extend my greetings to all Indians in the Philippines and to the numerous friends of India in this country.

Jaideep Mazumdar Ambassador of India to the Philippines Manila

F2

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

70th Republic Day of India 700 Years Y off India-Philippines I di Phili Phil i Diplomatic D l Di i Relations R l i

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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INDIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEX T BIG DREAM:

Send an Indian into space on Indian technology I

BY B Y PALLAVA BAGLA BAG LA A

NDIA has a new d dream, a d deep conviction to launch an Indian into space, from Indian soil on an Indian rocket by 2022 which is before the 75th birthday for Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independence. Work has started in right earnest at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) which is expected to deliver this Herculean task in less than 1.4 billion dollars, possibly the cheapest human SPACE lIGHT EVER TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE WORLD 4HIS CONkDENCE AND PROMISE COMES riding on the repeated successes that the Indian space agency has tasted in the past.

3PEAKING FROM THE RAMPARTS of the Red Fort in Delhi, on !UGUST 0RIME -INISTER .ARENDRA -ODI A KNOWN SPACE BUFF SAID gWE HAVE A DREAM OUR SCIENTISTS HAVE A DREAM 7E HAVE RESOLVED THAT BY WHEN )NDIA CELEBRATES YEARS OF )NDEPENDENCE OR MAYBE EVEN BEfore that, certainly some of our YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS WILL UNFURL THE TRICOLOUR IN SPACE 7ITH Mangalyaan our scientists have PROVED THEIR CAPABILITIES ) FEEL PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT VERY SOON AS A PART OF OUR MANNED SPACE MISSION WE SHALL BE SENDING AN )NDIAN INTO SPACE 4HIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH THE

PURSUIT OF OUR ESTEEMED SCIENTISTS AND WE WILL PROUDLY FIND ourselves as the fourth such nation to have launched a sucCESSFUL MAN SPACE MISSION u 7HEN )NDIA SUCCEEDS IT WILL BE the fourth country after Russia, United States of America and #HINA THAT HAVE INDEPENDENT CAPABILITIES TO LAUNCH HUMANS INTO SPACE #HINA JOINED THIS SELECT CLUB IN AND THE kRST MAN TO BE LAUNCHED IN WAS Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. .EIL !RMSTRONG BECAME THE kRST American astronaut to set foot on THE MOON IN Unlike other nations India asPIRES TO SEND A WOMAN AS THE kRST

ASTRONAUT AND THE HUMAN SPACE lIGHT IS PART OF A SUSTAINED LONG term endeavour, K Sivan, chairMAN OF )32/ SAYS gNOT FAR INTO THE FUTURE HUMANITY WILL DEkNITELY COLONISE SPACE AND BILLION )NDIA S JUST CAN T BE LEFT BEHINDu SO AS A kRST STEP AN )NDIAN SON OR daughter will launched into a low %ARTH ORBIT AND THEN TO A SPACE station following which human missions to the Moon and Mars WILL BE CONSIDERED India already has end-to-end CAPABILITIES IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY

making and launching its own rockets, its own satellites and in THE AREA OF APPLICATION THE )NDIAN SPACE AGENCY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST 7ITH ALMOST FOUR DOZEN SATELLITES IN ORBIT IN THE !SIA 0ACIkC region India is a leader. India has CONDUCTED A LITTLE OVER LAUNCHES FROM ITS SPACE PORT AT 3RIHARIKOTA situated on the coast of the Bay of "ENGAL 4ODAY )32/ IS CONSIDERED A RELIABLE LOW COST LAUNCHER AND IN IN A SINGLE LAUNCH USING the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle 03,6 )NDIA SET A WORLD RECORD OF LAUNCHING A lOCK OF SATELLITES in a single mission. )N )NDIA CONDUCTED SPACE MISSIONS AND IN 3IVAN HAS PROMISED TO UNDERTAKE MISSIONS WHICH WILL INCLUDE Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second visit to the Moon

THROUGH #HANDRAYAAN WHICH WILL INCLUDE AN ORBITER A LANDER AND A SIX WHEELED ROVER )NDIA HOPES to land on the South Pole of the MOON TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS ON the lunar soil. India also set anOTHER GLOBAL RECORD WHEN IN ITS SATELLITE -ARS BOUND SATELLITE THE -ANGALYAAN REACHED THE ORBIT OF -ARS AND )NDIA BECAME THE kRST country in the world to succeed in THIS DIFkCULT MISSION ON ITS MAIDEN ATTEMPT )NDIA HAS ITS VERY OWN PURPOSE BUILT SATELLITE BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM A KIND OF A gDESI '03u CALLED g.AVIGATION WITH )NDIAN #ONSTELLATION .AV)# u SYSTEM NavIC, also known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite SysTEM )2.33 IS AN INDEPENDENT regional navigation satellite system also aids Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defence forces.

The only Indian ever to fly INTO SPACE HAS BEEN 7ING #OMMANDER 2ETD 2AKESH 3HARMA WHO lEW ON A 2USSIAN MISSION IN AND HE GIVES A THUMBS UP TO )NDIA S PLANS OF SENDING ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE USING 'AGANYAAN SAYING gA MANNED SPACE lIGHT IS A NATURAL COROLLARY OF EVERY SPACE PROGRAMME THAT HAS ATTAINED A level of maturityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a coming of AGE IF YOU WILL u 4OWARDS THIS THE STRONG SPACE AGENCY HOPES TO USE THE COUNTRY S HEAVIest launcher the Geosynchro-

nous Satellite Launch Vehicle -ARK OR '3,6 -K 4HIS TONNE METER TALL ROCKET ALSO DUBBED THE g"AHUBALLIu AND HAS HAD THREE SUCCESSFUL lIGHTS 4HIS Indian made rocket can launch TONNES INTO A LOW EARTH ORBIT WHICH WILL BE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SEND A CREW INTO SPACE SAYS )32/ 4HE )NDIAN MADE CREW MODULE HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCOMmodate a crew of three and it can STORE PROVISIONS TO WITHSTAND A lIGHT OF UP TO ONE WEEK IN SPACE For the meeting the stiff deadLINE FOR 'AGANYAAN )32/ HAS ALREADY DEVELOPED SOME CRITIcal technologies like re-entry MISSION CAPABILITY CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM CREW MODULE CONkGURATION THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

DECELERATION AND lOATATION SYSTEM

SUB SYSTEMS OF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAMME )NDIA MAKES ITS SPACE PROWESS AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD AND HAS LAUNCHED SATELLITES FOR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AS OF /CTOBER

WHICH INCLUDES COUNTRIES LIKE USA, Canada, UK and Israel. This YEAR SCIENTISTS FROM )32/ WILL TRAIN PARTICIPANTS FROM COUNTRIES THE art of making nano-satellites as PART OF A MAJOR GLOBAL INITIATIVE )N ON THE ADVICE OF 0RIME -INISTER -ODI )32/ LAUNCHED FREE OF COST THE 3OUTH !SIA 3ATELLITE A kilogram communications satellite

THAT IS AIMED TO PROVIDE SATELLITE BASED CONNECTIVITY TO )NDIA S NEIGHBOURS !FGHANISTAN .EPAL

Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, this was a major effort in USING SPACE AS A DIPLOMATIC TOOL TO win friends on Earth.

"Y IN A COLLABORATIVE VENture India and USA will launch THE WORLD S MOST EXPENSIVE EARTH IMAGING SATELLITE EVER TO BE MADE AT COST OF A WHOPPING BILLION

THE .!3! )32/ 3YNTHETIC !PERTURE 2ADAR .ISAR THAT WILL BE launched from India and it will AMONG OTHER THINGS HELP TRACK climate change. )32/ IS )NDIA S DARLING AND ITS #HAIRMAN 3IVAN SAYS gFAILURE IS NOT AN OPTIONu THE EBULLIENT ROCKET SCIENTIST ADDS THAT gTEAM )32/ WILL rise to the challenge to make sure that an Indian is launched into SPACE BY u 3RIHARIKOTA )NDIA S SPINDLE SHAPEDÂ&#x2021;TILL RECENTLYÂ&#x2021;UN INHABITED ISLAND AWAITS THE kRST CREW TO BE SENT WHERE FEW HUMANS have dared to go!

About Pallava Bagla 0ALLAVA "AGLA FOLLOWS THE SPACE PROGRAM VERY CLOSELY AND IS AUTHOR OF THE BOOK g2EACHING FOR THE 3TARS Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey for Mars and BeYONDu PUBLISHED BY "LOOMSBURY (E CAN BE REACHED AT 0ALLAVA BAGLA GMAIL COM OR 4WITTER PALLAVABAGLA

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

www.incredibleindia.org

For more information, visit: www.incredibleindia.org | Follow us on: /incredibleindia @incredibleindia Contact India Tourism Singapore, Tel: +65-62353800 | Email: info@indiatourism.com.sg

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

70th Republic Day of India 70 Years of India-Philippines Diplomatic Relations

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

F3

The Great Indian Thali

Based on the basic principles of nourishment and seasonality, the thalis of India pack a carefully-curated balance of nutrients and minerals within delicious spreads. We bring you six among them that you must try on your next visit to the country

A

BY M MADHULIKA ADHU AD HULI LIKA KA D DASH ASH AS H

RGUABLY Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most loved culinary tradition, the thali, or platter of assorted dishes that together make a complete meal, is essentially the celebration of a regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuisine and culture. Each thali is based on two basic principles, nourishment and seasonality, and the selection of dishes is never random: each item is rich in an essential nutrient. Here are six stellar spreads from different regions in India that are must-tries.

Assamese thali

DISH THAT IS A STAPLE OF NEARLY EVERY RAJASTHANI )F YOU EVER WANTED TO EXPLORE NORTHEAST )N- thali is ker sangri A PREPARATION OF DRIED BLACK dia through its food, the assamese thali is the BERRIES AND TWIGGY BEANS MADE USING MUSTARD PERFECT MUSE TO BEGIN YOUR CULINARY JOURNEY OIL WHOLE RED CHILLIES AND RAW MANGO 7ITH FROM )NCORPORATING INlUENCES FROM VARIOUS THE TEXTURE OF A PICKLE THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE TRIBES OF THE REGION THIS THALI IS A BALANCED good for digestion.

PACKAGE OF PROTECTION AND NOURISHMENT FOR THE BODY 4HE MEAL BEGINS WITH A khar dish, Gujarati thali )F THERE IS ONE THALI THAT CAN BOAST THE LARGEST SO NAMED BECAUSE OF ITS MAIN INGREDIENT ALSO COLLECTION OF DISHES BASED ON THE CLEVER USE CALLED KHAR AN ALKALINE SOLUTION PREPARED USING BANANAS 4HIS IS BELIEVED TO BE A CONSCIOUS OF YOGHURT AND GRAM lOUR IT IS THE GUJARATI STEP TOWARDS PREPARING THE GUT FOR THE REST OF THALI "ELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CONCEPTUALIZED THE MEAL WHICH INCORPORATES ELEMENTS OF FOR A PROFESSION THAT INVOLVES LONG HOURS OF SOURNESS TO FACILITATE BETTER DIGESTION AN AS- sitting and working, a lot of the dishes in samese thali normally concludes with a tenga THIS THALI WORK ON TWO PRINCIPLES NOURISHDISH THE WORD gTENGAu LITERALLY TRANSLATING INTO ment and lightness. Take the famous dhokla gSOUR u 4HIS COULD BE A kSH CURRY OR A CURRY , for instance. This steamed cake-like snack is MADE USING CITRUS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES /THER SIMULTANEOUSLY LIGHT AND kLLING ON ACCOUNT dishes served include POITABHAT FERMENTED of its low glycemic index, and is also a good rice seasoned with mustard oil, onions and SOURCE OF SELENIUM /MEGA AND MAGNECHILLIES PITIKA MASHED VEGETABLES BOILED sium. It is also a rich source of antioxidants, OR ROASTED AND PICKLE WHICH CONTAINS PRO- thanks to dishes such as undhiyu A MIXED BIOTIC ELEMENTS ,OW ON SPICES AND SODIUM VEGETABLE PREPARATION AND kadhi, chutneys THIS THALI IS ALL ABOUT USING LOCAL GREENS AND AND THE kBRE RICH KACHUMBER CUBED ONIONS AND TOMATOES 4HIS THALI ALSO PLAYS ON THE NATURALLY OCCURRING SALTY COMPONENTS INTERACTION OF SWEET AND SOUR THE SWEET BEING USED TO CREATE AN APPETITE AND THE SOUR HELPING Punjabi thali +NOWN BEST FOR ITS dal makhani, sarso ka digest the meal.

SAAG BAJRE KI ROTI AND BUTTER CHICKEN THE BEAUTY OF THE PUNJABI THALI LIES IN HOW IT BRINGS Sadya ! WELL KNOWN CELEBRATORY SPREAD SERVED TOGETHER THE DISHES BEST SUITED TO THE REGION S during the festival of onam, this meal can extreme climate: sweltering summers and cold INCORPORATE AS MANY AS DISHES 4RADITIONWINTERS 4HE PUNJABI THALI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CREATED AROUND A COMMUNITY TRADITION ALLY SERVED ON A PLANTAIN LEAF A SADYA SPREAD called sanjha chulha, or community kitchen. INCLUDES PAR BOILED RED RICE SIDE DISHES

! QUINTESSENTIAL VERSION WOULD HAVE A lAT- SAVORIES PICKLES AND DESSERT 7HILE THE RICE

BREADÂ&#x2021;EITHER MADE OF WHEAT OR BAJRA m DAL a RICH IN kBRE AND MAGNESIUM IS SERVED kRST

BOWL OF GREENS SPINACH SARSON during winter, THE MEAL BEGINS WITH PARIPPU a gram and PALAK DURING SUMMER AND FRESHLY CHOPPED GHEE CURRY 4HIS IS FOLLOWED BY SAMBAR A ONION ALONGSIDE A ROOT VEGETABLE SUCH AS STEW LIKE PREPARATION OF MASHED LENTILS AND RADISH OR CARROT -ADE USING GHEE CLARIkED MIXED VEGETABLES /THER DISHES INCLUDE avial A BUTTER THIS MEAL COMBINES THE GOODNESS OF PREPARATION OF VEGETABLES COCONUT PASTE AND CARBOHYDRATES IN THE lATBREAD WITH THE POWER GREEN CHILLIES thoran MINCED STRING BEANS

OF PROTEIN IN THE DAL WHILE DELIVERING AN AR- CABBAGE RADISH AND GRATED COCONUT AND olan ray of nutrients and antioxidants with the PUMPKIN AND RED GRAMS COOKED WITH COCONUT VEGETABLES 4HE FRESH ONION WORKS AS A PALATE MILK &OR DESSERT PAYASAM A PUDDING MADE CLEANSER WHILE ALSO BEING A GOOD SOURCE OF USING MILK OR SWEET BROWN MOLASSES SEALS THE 6ITAMIN # THE lassi, A TYPICAL SUMMER DRINK deal. The meal doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end here, however. The made using milk and yoghurt, is often served kNAL SERVING IS OF RICE AND rasam A TAMARIND with the thali during the hotter months of JUICE BASED LIQUID PREPARATION WHICH AIDS the year, its fermented characteristics aiding IN DIGESTION BY STIMULATING THE METABOLISM IN DIGESTION )N WINTER THE MEAL BEGINS WITH gur ka halwa, A SWEET PREPARATION MADE USING Bengali thali This thali is served in a series of courses, JAGGERY THAT WARMS UP THE BODY FROM WITHIN EACH COURSE DESIGNED IN PAIRS SUCH THAT ONE -EAT IS SAID TO BE INTEGRAL TO THE PUNJABI THALI dish aids in the digestion of the other. the during the colder months of the year.

MEAL BEGINS WITH SHUKTO A MIXED VEGETABLE PREPARATION A GREAT SOURCE OF kBRE 6ITAMIN Rajasthani thali /NE OF THE kNEST EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE A 6ITAMIN # FOLATE MAGNESIUM POTASSIUM

CONSUMPTION THE RAJASTHANI THALI HAS SEV- zinc and manganese, shukto not only delivERAL VARIANTS BELIEVED TO DIFFER EVERY MILES ERS THE DAILY REQUIREMENT OF MINERALS BUT WITHIN THE STATEĂ&#x153; )T CAN BE BROADLY DIVIDED ALSO CLEANSES THE PALATE 4HE NEXT COURSE IS into two categories: the mewari thali and the usually luchi DEEP FRIED lOUR lATBREAD MARWARI THALI 7HILE ONE IS HIGH ON MEAT and dal OR A MEAT PREPARATION FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER IS HIGH ON VEGETABLES "OTH WILL rice and ghonto A CURRY MADE USING SEATYPICALLY FEATURE A BAATI or thick roti, dal, a SONAL VEGETABLES AND kSH 4HE MEAL USUALLY VEGETABLE PREPARATION A YOGHURT BASED GRAVY ENDS WITH SWEET RICE PUDDING CALLED PAESH DISH PICKLE AND AN ASSORTMENT OF CHUTNEYS /THER DISHES CAN INCLUDE A BHAJA STIR FRIED with the occasional addition of a meat dish. VEGETABLES mochar PUFF BANANA lOWER A highlight of this thali is that nearly all its PREPARATION AND A kSH DELICACY 2ICH IN COMPONENTS ARE SLOW COOKED AND EACH DELI- /MEGA AND COD LIVER OIL A "ENGALI THALI CACY HAS A DISTINCT TASTE AND TEXTURE ! POPULAR OFFERS A TRULY BALANCED MEAL

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- Dr. G. Venkataswamy Venkata Founder - AECS AEC

F4

SATURDAY January 26, 2019

70th Republic Day of India 70 Years of India-Philippines Diplomatic Relations

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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IN THE HEART OF KALINGA

From ancient temples and vibrant artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; villages to beautiful beaches and lip-smacking seafood, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Odisha should be your next vacation destination

S

BY B Y MADHULIKA DASH H

CHOLAR AR R and d traveller ll Hiuen Hi Tsang had once said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the thing about Calingae (Kalinga, as odisha was known then) is YOU kND A NEWNESS IN EVERY SINGLE LANE EVEN those you have traversed before.â&#x20AC;? Centuries LATER "RITISH OFkCIAL *OHN "EAMES WAS INSPIRED by historical accounts like Tsangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to travel to the state. After spending several months exploring odishaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasures, he is believed to have termed it â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most fascinating hidden secret of the great Indian soil.â&#x20AC;?

4ODAY /DISHA REMAINS A LAND OF UNTOUCHED NATURAL BEAUTY and ancient mysticism even as IT EMBRACES MODERNITY AT ITS kNESTÂ&#x2021;"HUBANESWAR THE CAPITAL

is now a Smart City, in line with THE PRIME MINISTER S 3MART #ITIES -ISSION LAUNCHED IN 7ITH A WEALTH OF ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL PRACTICES SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEMPLES IN THE COUNTRY AND A RADIant old-world charm in its every BYLANE THE STATE GIVES YOU PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ESCAPE THE CITY CROWD AND BE TRULY REJUVENATED !FTER ALL WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU kND THE LARGEST BRACKISH WATER LAKE IN !SIA #HILIKA LAKE AN ASSORTMENT OF PRISTINE BEACHES FASCINATING HOT SPRINGS 4APTAPANI WILDLIFE 3IMLIPAL "HITARKANIKA .ANDAN +ANAN AND EVEN AN ANCIENT "UDDHIST MONASTERY "ISWANATH (ILL Ă&#x153;

The Golden Trinity .OT ONLY IS THE STATE S CAPITAL A GATEWAY TO ITS BEATING HEART BUT "HUBANESWAR IS ALSO IN MANY WAYS A MINI /DISHA !LSO KNOWN

AS THE gTEMPLE CITY OF )NDIAu IT IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF TEMPLES and offers every traveller an inTERESTING PARADOX THE HISTORIC old town thrives alongside the NEW PLANNED SMART #ITY BOTH RESONATING WITH "HUBANESWAR S DYNAMIC SPIRIT IN PERFECT HARMONY &LANKED BY $HAULI ON one side and Udaygiri, the largEST "UDDHIST COMPLEX IN /DIsha, on the other, it is also near .ANDAN +ANAN )NDIA S kRST ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN TO JOIN THE 7ORLD !SSOCIATION OF :OOS AND !QUARIUMS IN )F HIStory is among your interests as a TRAVELLER THE CITY BOASTS SEVERAL fascinating museums dedicated TO HANDICRAFTS TRIBAL CULTURE AND EVEN PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPTS DATING BACK TO THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD A roughly two-hour drive from "HUBANESWAR TAKES YOU TO +ONARK

where you can visit the iconic sun TEMPLE #ONSIDERED ONE OF THE kNEST REPRESENTATIONS OF /DISHA S TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE IT WAS ONCE DESCRIBED BY AUTHOR AND POET

2ABINDRANATH 4AGORE THUS gHERE

THE LANGUAGE OF STONE SURPASSES THE LANGUAGE OF MAN u %MBARK FOR THE TEMPLE TOWN OF 0URI FROM HERE BUT NOT BEFORE YOU VE TAKEN A WALK ALONG #HANDRABHAGA BEACH NEARBYÂ&#x2021;A QUIET PRISTINE HAVEN OF SUN AND SAND WHERE YOU LL kND FEWER TOURISTS THAN MOST BEACHES IN the state. As if that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t alluring enough, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky, you might EVEN CHANCE UPON AWARD WINNING

sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, laBORING AWAY AT ONE OF HIS THOUGHT PROVOKING MASTERPIECES .O TRIP TO /DISHA CAN BE COMPLETE WITHOUT AT LEAST A DAY SPENT IN 0URI %XPLORE THE MAGNIkCENT TEMPLE OF ,ORD *AGANNATH HERE

PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO THE RESIdent deities and gorge on some khaja immediately outside its PREMISESÂ&#x2021;A CRISPY lOURÂ&#x2021;BASED TREAT THAT PANDERS TO THE WHIMS

of anyone with a sweet tooth!

7HAT MAKES A VISIT TO 0URI EVEN more worth your while are the destinations en route, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re driving FROM "HUBANESWAR OR +ONARK 0IPLI A SMALL HAMLET KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE APPLIQUÂź WORK IS A MUST visit, for instance. Closer to Puri, THERE IS ALSO 2AGHURAJPUR AN ARTISTS VILLAGE INHABITED BY HUNDREDS OF CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE STATE S MOST EXQUISITE

art and craft forms. The village is PARTICULARLY RENOWNED FOR ITS PATtachitra, which translates literally INTO A PAINTED CLOTH 4HEN SPEND A BLISSFUL DAY AT #HILIKA LAKE ADMIRING ITS BREATHTAKING NATURAL BEAUTY AND ALSO SAMPLING SOME GREAT SEAFOOD cooked with minimal use of oil AND SPICES For more information visit odishatourism.gov.in