THE MANILA TIMES | APRIL 27, 2019

‘PH to be upper-middle income country by 2022’ ÂťStory on B1 ++

Php20.00

•• 4 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 196 24

SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019

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Trusted since 1898

‘Media not capable of unseating Duterte’ Times chairman emeritus defends editor’s firing

M

EDIA organizations critical of the government are not capable of unseating President Rodrigo Duterte, analysts said in reaction to a report linking journalists and lawyers to an alleged ouster plot against the Chief Executive. ÂłUnseatingA2

Q DZMM news anchors Gerry Baja and Anthony Taberna interview Times Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante A. Ang on ‘The Matrix’ article and actions of former managing editor Felipe Salvosa 2nd.

Q Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante A. Ang

PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

The lore and lure of markets First word ( L a s t Tuesday, April 23, I was one OF kVE SPEAKERS AT A FORUM ON g'OING to Traditional Markets� that was organized by the Museo ng Kaalamang Katutubo (Museum of Indigenous Knowledge) of United Laboratories.

To share with readers my lifelong interest in public or wet markets, I am reprinting below the text of my remarks at the lively and well-attended forum.)

OBSERVER YEN MAKABENTA

ÂłMakabentaA4

Who are ‘The Forgotten?’ (This is IN MY LINE the third OF SIGHT of a series RAMON on the immigration T. TULFO jail that is the Philippine version of the gulag, written by Raymond Smith, a British book publisher and webmaster, who was DETAINED THERE FOR kVE WEEKS

ÂłTulfoA5 REACH US AT: E-mail: newsdesk@ manilatimes.net Tel. Nos.: 524-5664 to 67 Address: 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

FINISHING TOUCHES A man adjusts decorations on a float to be paraded during today’s Aliwan Festival.

PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Angat Dam could hit critical low on Sunday ANGAT Dam, which supplies most of Metro Manila’s potable water, could hit the critical level this Sunday and authorities have already ordered limits to use as an irrigation source.

The state weather bureau said the reservoir’s water level fell to 180.73 meters early on Friday, near the key mark of 180 meters, which is expected to soon be breached given an average daily decline of 0.40 meters.

Angat, whose normal high water level is 210 meters, could see this further drop to 173.5 meters next month based on dry season and El NiĂąo rainfall forecasts plus projected water usage, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Located outside the metropolis in the province of Bulacan, Angat Dam supplies 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs. Its lowest recorded level is 157.56 meters, posted in July 2010 when the country was also experiencing an El Niùo.

The continued water level drop prompted the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday to order reduced irrigation water allocations. “Considering the current level of the dam, the board has decided to approve an allocation at least for the month of May,�

NWRB Executive Director Sevill David said in a NEWS BRIEkNG While water releases for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will be maintained at 48 cubic meters per second (cms), the allocation for irrigation will be reduced to 10 cms, substantially lower compared to 40 cms and 35 cms in March and April, respectively.

ÂłCriticalA2

Death toll from Luzon quake rises to 18

DUTERTE TO BRING HOME $12.165B IN INVESTMENTS FROM CHINA

THE death toll from a strong earthquake that hit the country early this week had risen to 18, with 282 injured and seven missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

ÂłTollA8

What’s inside COMELEC READY FOR MIDTERM POLLS

NewsA2

IN DEFENSE OF BARABBAS

Antonio ContrerasA4

LEADERS’ MEETING

President Rodrigo Duterte, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrive for the opening ceremony of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Friday. AP PHOTO

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will bring home an estimated $12.165 billion in investments and loan pledges from China, the Trade department said on Friday.

In a statement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Duterte had witnessed the signing of 19 business deals that were expected to generate more than 20,000 new jobs for Filipinos.

One contract agreement, three cooperation agreements, two purchase framework agreements, and 13 Memoranda of Agreement (MoAs) or Understanding (MoUs) were inked at the sidelines of the Second Belt Road Forum.

Lopez said majority involved energy, infrastructure, food, telecommunications, agricultural products, tourism, and economic zone and

ÂłInvestmentsA2

Questionable contract termination SPURS BOUNCE BACK TO FORCE GAME SEVEN WITH NUGGETS

SportsC1

GET TO THE ‘ENDGAME’ IN STYLE

EntertainmentD4

THE official start of the construction by Seasia Nectar Port Services, Inc. (SNPSI) of a dry bulk terminal inside the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in February 2015 sent a wave of enthusiasm not only among provinCIAL OFkCIALDOM BUT ALSO AND MORE SIGNIkCANTLY AMONG "ATAAN RESIDENTS WHO IMMEDIATELY FELT THE BENEkCIAL impact the project would be bringing to their day-to-day lives.

FAB to be the preferred location for investments and record the highest human development index in the country.�

For his part, Authority for the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Chairman Deogracias Custodio hailed the undertaking thus,“The presence of SNPSI would help in attracting more investors to locate at the FAB as costs of shipment would be reduced.�

SPECIALREPORT

BY MAURO GIA SAMONTE

Q Holcim President John Stull As Bataan Governor Albert Raymond Garcia worded it, “The creation of the port is another milestone toward attaining the vision of Bataan and the

ÂłTerminationA8

A2

News

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SATURDAY April 27, 2019

Comelec ready for midterm polls

BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

W

ITH 17 days to go, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it was all set for the national and local elections.

Comelec Director Teopisto El- said on Friday that 92,000 vote nas Jr. deputy director of the Proj- counting machines (VCM) and ECT -ANAGEMENT /FkCE 0-/ 63 million ballots were now

Q UNSEATING FROM A1

Media The report, published by The Manila Times, has generated controversy AND LED TO THE kRING OF THE PAPER S managing editor, a decision that Times Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante Ang again defended on Friday.

Assistant Professor Dennis Coronacion, chairman of the University of Santo Tomas’ Political Science department, said it was not the role of the media to lead a campaign to unseat an elected president. “Who in his right mind would believe the claim that Duterte critics running internet-based media outlets could pull off a leadership change? As shown in EDSA 1 and EDSA 2, media did not play a pivotal role in ousting a sitting president,� Coronacion told The Times.

EDSA 1 or the 1986 People Power Revolution toppled Ferdinand Marcos, then a 20-year dictator, and installed Corazon Aquino as president, while EDSA 2 in 2001 led to the overthrow of then-President Joseph ‘’Erap’’ Estrada over charges of corruption.

Perlita Frago-Marasigan, Political Science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, agreed with Coronacion, saying media were just “gatekeepers of information� and “guardians of democracy.� “They act as the fourth estate to check and balance the powers of the elected, but they have not directly played a role in political successions,� Frago-Marasigan said in a separate interview. “There have always been proestablishment media and dissenting press in the Philippines. The dissenting media have always been projected as threats by those who cling precariously to their powers.

But these fears are probably more imagined than real,� she added.

Earlier this week, The Times’ Ang penned a piece about an alleged “Oust Duterte� matrix that tagged several journalists as conspirators.

It was published a few days after Duterte warned that he was going to divulge information from foreign intelligence reports about the links of “Bikoy,� a man who has tied the presidential family to the illegal DRUGS TRADE WITH SOME MEDIA kRMS The Times report claimed that Vera Files President Ellen Tordesillas “acts as the nexus and distributor of the materials of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Rappler and the National Union of People’s Lawyers.� “These organizations, in turn, distribute the false narratives to their respective members,� the report added.

Media entities tagged in the supposed plot have denied the allegations.

The article of Ang, who also serves as Duterte’s special envoy for international public relations, was heavily backed by Malacaùang.

Matrix defended Times Managing Editor Felipe Salvosa 2nd criticized the publication of the matrix on social media and was subsequently asked to resign. Media outlets have focused ON HIS kRING AND ON &RIDAY !NG TOLD radio station DZMM that the story deserved to be released. “Galing kay Presidente ‘yun (It came from the President),� he said on the “Dos Por Dos� program. “It is a news item. Hindi poorly sourced iyan (It is not poorly sourced).�

Ang was responding to Salvosa’s interview on the ANC program “Early Edition,� where he said the story was “poorly sourced.� “Ang role ng journalist ay hindi para husgahan kung tama o mali ito (A journalist’s role is not to judge if the article is right or wrong),� Ang SAID g6ERIkED ito, galing sa /FkCE OF

THE 0RESIDENT )T S VERIkED AND CAME FROM THE /FkCE OF THE 0RESIDENT u Detailing the circumstances of Salvosa’s removal, Ang said he saw a tweet “na binabanatan niya ‘yung mga may-ari at ang Manila Times (I saw a tweet where he criticized the Manila Times and its owners).� “Sinasabi niya na ‘di naman daw ‘pag kung may matrix, guilty na ang mga taong ‘yun, pero sino nagsabi kasama sila sa ouster plot? Ni-report ko lang ang nakasulat lang sa matrix (He was saying that the matrix was not proof that the people there were involved in the ouster plot are guilty, but who is saying they’re part of the ouster plot? I only reported what was in the matrix).� “Ang mahalaga dito, empleyado ka pa ng Manila Times, unethical ‘yung magsasalita kang masama laban sa iyong employer (What’s important here is that while you’re still employed with The Manila Times , it’s unethical to say bad things against your employer),�

Ang said. “’Yung storya na ‘yun was a running story; because it was a running story, kung meron siyang objection, dapat in-interview niya sa mga taong hindi na-interview. Hindi niya ginawa ‘yun (That story was a running story, if he had objections, he could’ve interviewed the people involved).� “Kung meron siyang reservations doon sa istorya nu’ng gabi na ‘yun, dapat tinawagan niya ako at nag-comment siya, ‘di niya ginawa ‘yun (If he had reservations about the story that night [Sunday], he could’ve called me and commented on that and he didn’t do it),� Ang added.

Salvosa, who was subsequently asked to resign, told ANC that he was already planning to quit. “Naunahan lang ako (They beat me to it),� he said. “When I talked to the owners on Wednesday, I told them, ‘Sir, I’m going to resign.’ I resigned because I didn’t agree to the publication on the story on the matrix.�

Chaos the objective?

Analyst Antonio “Butch� Valdes, meanwhile, said those conspiring to remove Duterte from power would not succeed as the President was overwhelmingly backed by the people. “Their plot is to destroy [the] popularity of Duterte. They will fail.

But their bosses can try to kill him and may succeed in creating chaos by doing so. Chaos may still be the objective,� Valdes, head of the Save the Nation Movement, told The Times in a separate interview. “Fake news promoters and mind conditioners are always part of ouster plots. They create the environment to rationalize regime change,� he added.

Meanwhile, Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms Executive Director Ramon Casiple said that while media were not capable of unseating the President, they could have a part IN INlUENCING PUBLIC OPINION “By itself, media cannot. However, it can prime the public opinion,�

Casiple said in a text message. “The (Juan Ponce) Enrile interview and Cardinal Sin call for EDSA mobilization in February 1986 are examples. The matrix or the Bikoy @EXPOSÂź DO NOT kT THE BILL u HE ADDED The late cardinal was best known for helping topple the Marcos regime on Feb. 25, 1986 after he urged Filipinos to troop to Metro Manila’s main EDSA highway to protect rebel forces.

His appeal over the Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas prompted the bloodless People Power Revolution, which marked its 33rd anniversary this year.

More than a decade after the rebellion of 1986, Sin backed another popular uprising that unseated Estrada on Jan. 20, 2001.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE WITH A REPORT FROM ARIC JOHN SY CUA

ready for distribution.

The Comelec, Elnas said, would be using 85,000 VCMs on the day of the elections, while the remaining 7,000 would be on standby in the event that some of the machines would malfunction.

The VCMs, Elnas said, had undergone “pre-logic and accuracy tests.� “They [VCMs] are already in our regional and local hubs pending

THE kNAL TESTING AND SEALING IN DIFferent polling precincts from May 6 to 10, where they will be in place until election day,� he said.

Elnas said the ballots would be with the city and municipal election OFkCERS A WEEK BEFORE THE POLLS Comelec records show that there are 61,843,750 registered voters for the May 13 elections, but 63,662,481 or 1,818,731 more

ballots were printed.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez had said that the excess of 1.1 million ballots would be used for final testing and sealing process, while the rest were demonstration ballots allotted for VCM road show and demonstration purposes.

Jimenez said the Comelec had also prepared contingency mea-

sures in case of power outage, including standby generator sets in polling areas.

He also pointed out that the VCMs had standby batteries to ensure they would continue to function during a power outage. #OMELEC kELD OFkCES ARE ALSO coordinating with power distributors to ensure a steady supply of electricity during elections.

Q CRITICAL FROM A1

Angat Dam could hit

EMERGENCY DRILL

Employees of the Manila Hotel run out of their posts as they conduct an emergency drill in light of recent disasters that hit the country. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

Ex-military comptroller seeks probation over perjury conviction RETIRED Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot, former military comptroller, has applied for probation before the Sandiganbayan First Division instead of serving around six years of jail time over his perjury conviction.

Ligot, who was convicted for failing to declare pieces of property in his Statements of Assets, Lliabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from 1998 to 2003, appealed that he was not among those disqualikED OFFENDERS AS ENUMERATED IN

Section 9 of Presidential Decree 968 or the “Probation Law.� “He undertakes to comply with such terms and conditions as this honorable court may impose if his application for probation will be granted,� he said in his application kLED ON !PRIL “Wherefore, in light of the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed of the honorable court that the execution of sentence of the accused Jacinto Ligot be suspended and

that he be placed on probation,�

Ligot added.

On April 12, the anti-graft court found Ligot guilty beyond reasonable doubt in six of his perjury cases and was sentenced to suffer one year of prison for each count.

Among the pieces of property that he failed to disclose were his Imbayao Farm, his Paseo Parkview condominium units and his parcel of land in Tanay, Rizal.

GLEE JALEA

4HIS WOULD HAVE gNO SIGNIkCANT impact� on farmers since crops were nearly ready for harvest, David said. “[D]ahil malapit na silang magharvest normally, mas reduced ‘yung nire-require nila na water (Because they are nearly ready to do their harvesting, they normally require less water),� he said.

While Metro Manila supplies will not be affected, the NWRB urged residents to conserve at least 4 liters of water or a total of 48 million liters daily to reduce demand on Angat Dam. Elsewhere in Luzon, other dams are also experiencing declining water levels to the lack of rainfall.

Authorities identified these as Ambuklao Dam in Benguet at 740.16 meters (down 0.08 meters), San Roque Dam in Pangasinan at 251.67 meters (-1.07 meters), Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija at 195.27 meters (-0.18 meters), and Caliraya Dam in Laguna at 286.25 meters (-0.44 meters). All are still within normal levels.

Some reservoirs, on the other hand, are posting increasing levels: Binga Dam at 566.50 meters (+0.41meters) and Magat Dam at 172.91 meters (+0.06 meters), AS THESE HAVE RECEIVED SUFkCIENT amounts of rainfall.

DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ AND LISBET ESMAEL

DFA monitoring probe of 3 Pinays murdered in Cyprus THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Embassy in Athens, is monitoring developments in the investigation of the murder of three Filipino women in Cyprus.

The DFA also extended its condolences to the families of the victims, whose identities it cannot divulged at this time in respect for their next of kin.

The three Filipinas — one of whom was with her daughter — were reported missing between 2017 and 2018, and authorities

have initially thought that they disappeared for other reasons and had not been victims of a violent crime.

Initial investigation showed that the victims’ bodies were found in an abandoned mine in Mitsero early this month.

It was found that the self-confessed suspect is a Cypriot and member of the National Guard, and that he met the women through a dating website.

DFA Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Fernandez, in a statement,

said, “The child’s remains have not yet been found. It is hoped that the investigation would bring the perpetrator to justice.�

ChargÊ d’Affaires Judy Barbara Robianes said the embassy had reported the cases of the missing Filipinas to Cypriot authorities.

Embassy representatives are now in Cyprus to meet with authorities on the case and provide further assistance to their probe.

The police in Cyprus took custody of a 35-year-old Greek Cypriot, A CAREER OFkCER IN THE ARMY AS THE

primary murder suspect The bodies of two women were found in an abandoned mine shaft on April 14 and 20, and were believed to belong to two individuals from the Philippines who were reported missing in May and August 2018.

On Thursday, police discovered the body of another woman at an ARMY kRING RANGE ABOUT KILOMEters from the mine shaft, but there was no immediate information as to her identity.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Q INVESTMENTS FROM A1

DUTERTE TO BRING HOME $12.165B

industrial park development. “The Duterte administration is pushing for investments in energy and manufacturing for the Philippines to broaden its manufacturing base and increase its exports,� the Trade chief said. “Among the agreements are energy projects that will help the country decrease its dependence on oil and gas imports. There will also be several industrial parks to bring jobs to Filipinos in the countryside,� he added.

Among the signed deals is a contract for the proposed 250-megawatt South Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plant Project in Damulog, Bukidnon, which aims to improve power supply reliability and resilience in the country, particularly in Mindanao. The project is valued at $800 million and will create 5,000 jobs.

A framework agreement for thermal, hydro, and renewable power plants was also signed between the Philippines’ Tranzen Group and China Power Investment Holding.

Valued at around $1.5-2.0 billion, the venture is expected to create

1,000 jobs.

The Davao Occidental local government and Fengyuan Holdings, meanwhile, signed an MOU for a $1.5-billion petrochemical REkNERY PROCESSING PLANT COMPLEX at the Tubalan Cove Business and Industrial Park.

As part of the long-term plan to reduce dependence on imported energy fuels, the Department of Energy, Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd, and Deluxe Family Co Ltd also inked a $40-million MoU to collaborate in the promotion of indigenous, new, and renewable energy resources.

Tranzen also signed two MoUs for infrastructure and telecommunications projects. One was with China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd for construction of the LRT in Manila, housing, and roads in North Luzon. The projects have a combined value of $4 billion and are expected to generate 1,000 jobs.

The other was with CITIC Guoan Information Technology for a $500-million project to construct infrastructure for

nationwide Wi-Fi Internet connectivity that is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Two Philippine companies also inked purchase frameworks to supply agricultural prodUCTS TO #HINESE kRMS 0HILPACK Corporation will supply $40 million worth of pineapples to China’s Goodfarmer Foods Holding Group, while Eng Seng Food Products will supply $36.5 million-worth of green coconuts to China Artex Corp.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority also signed six MoUs WITH #HINESE kRMS 4HE PROJECTS include a $150-million yacht club, a $500-million green textile industry park, a $500-million expansion of the Cagayan North International Airport, a $100-milLION kNTECH HUB AND kNANCIAL CENter, a $500-million smart city, and $150-million for various projects including a resort and theme park and a lithium battery manufacturing plant.

The Pampanga local governMENT AND #HINESE kRM -ACROLINK Group likewise inked a $1.5-bil-

lion framework agreement to construct and develop the Yatai Industrial Park, estimated to create 10,000 jobs.

A third framework agreement between GFTG Property Holdings and Sanya CEDF SinoPhilippine Investment Corp., meanwhile, is for a $298-million project to develop Grande and Chiquita Islands under the Subic Bay Matropolitan Authority.

Adnama Mining Resource, Inc., Fu Properties Inc, and Xiamen C&D Incorporation also signed an MoU to construct a $50-million iron processing plant in Agusan Del Norte.

Aside from these agreements, Lopez said AAC Technologies expressed intent to expand its current operations in Philippines during a courtesy call at the sidelines of the business forum. “The company plans to invest $30 million to engage in stepper motor and motor reducer manufacturing and create about 3,000 jobs in the next three years,� he said.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

News

˜ The Manila Times

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PH devt plan includes chapter on culture THE Philippines celebrates National Heritage Month in May with President Rodrigo Duterte including a chapter on culture in THE kVE YEAR 0HILIPPINE $EVELOPment Plan (PDP).

National Commission for Culture and the Arts head Harold 2ENTORIA SAID IN A PRESS BRIEkNG THAT THIS SIGNIkES THE ADMINISTRAtion’s staunch support for arts and culture in the country. It is THE kRST TIME SUCH A CHAPTER WAS incorporated in the PDP. “That is why many of the programs of the cultural agencies are geared towards the implementation on what is in the PDP,� he said.

According to the PDP 20172022, the administration aims to give Filipinos “greater awareness of diverse culture and values.� g4HERE WILL BE SIGNIkCANT PROGress towards inculcating values for the common good, cultivating creativity and strengthening culture-sensitive governance and development,� it read.

Rentoria’s statement was seconded by National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Rene Escalante.

Escalante said that even if Duterte was not that vocal about culture and arts, he was supportive of the cause.

Earlier, Duterte also issued an executive order creating a committee for the 5th centenary celebration of the victory of Lapu-Lapu in Mactan.

Escalante also lauded the appointment of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as the chairman of the committee.

Rentoria added that this year’s National Heritage Month aims to educate and foster awareness of Filipinos of the Philippine heritage through trainings, forums and immersions. “[This will be to] recognize and support the role of local artists and cultural workers in preserving local tradition and initiate ways to promote preservation and care for our cultural heritage,� he said.

The celebration of National Heritage Monthwill start on May 2 at the St. Matthias Church in Isabela, a national historical landmark and cultural treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

A3

Ejercito eyes sugar price probe increase R EELECTIONIST Senator Joseph 6ICTOR g*6u %JERCITO SAID HE WAS kLING a resolution calling for a Senate investigation on the rising prices of sugar.

In line with this, Ejercito, author of the Sugar Cane Industry DevelopMENT !CT SAID HE WOULD CALL OFkCIALS of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Board to explain in the Senate probe the “highly irregular� increase in sugar prices in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Ejercito suspected that some “dirty hands� were manipulating the market price, whether wholesale or retail, since sugar production is high and the supply is adequate.

“One of the directions of this investigation is to unmask the people behind this,� he said in a statement, adding, “But what is important and urgent right now is quick government intervention to lower the price of sugar and protect consumers and end-users as well as sugar farmers and producers.�

“The prevailing farmgate price of raw or brown sugar, I was told by sugar farmers themselves, is only P30 per kilo, but here in Metro Manila and other places, many are complaining of the increase in prices. This is unfair to the farmers also since they are the ones working hard to produce sugar, but OTHERS ARE PROkTING MAYBE EVEN illegally. This is also most unfair to consumers,� Ejercito said.

He stressed: “First, we want the lower price of sugar to be restored.

Second, we want protection for sugar farmers.�

2019 declared ILO centenary PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 710 declaring 2019 as the centenary of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The proclamation, which was signed on April 24 but released to media only on Friday, read, “The Philippines, as an active member of ILO since 1948, enedeavors to enhance its commitment to pursue the ideals of the organization.� “The Philippine government, through the ILO’s social partners, which includes employers and workers’organizations, reaffirms its full support to, and cooperation with the, ILO’s mandate of promoting peace and social justice,� it added.

In the proclamation, Duterte ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), to spearhead programs and activities nationwide related to the ILO Centenary celebration. “All other agencies and instrumentalities of the gov-

ernment, specifically those involved in ILO projects, are hereby enjoined, and all local government units, as well as the private sector, are hereby encouraged to provide the necessary support and assistance to the DoLE to ensure the successful observance of the ILO Centenary and the effective implementation of this proclamation,� it said.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Operations OfkCE HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO LEAD THE campaign to foster ILO awareness in the Philippines and promote activities in conection with the centenary celebration.

According to its website, the ILO is the only tripartite United Nations agency that brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labor standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all men and women.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

Q Senator Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito

P1.1M in drugs seized, 4 suspects arrested in Taguig POLICE arrested early Friday four drug suspects who surrendered ILLEGAL DRUGS AND kREARMS WORTH P1.1 million during a sting operation in Taguig City.

Arrested at Barangay Napindan at about 12:30 a.m. were Joseph Marcelo, 41; Ronal Bustos, 32; Anthony Cruz, 41; and Robert Saligan, 40 — all members of a criminal organization.

Police Col. Alexander Santos, Taguig chief of police, said the operation was conducted after a tip from an informant, which prompted operatives to case and survey the four suspects.

Operatives found that the suspects had been arrested and prosecuted before the Taguig and Makati Regional Trial Courts for the past two years for similar

charges, but were dismissed due to lack of evidence.

During their casing operations, the four were found to have been in contact with a group of high-value drug suspects, who were targets of the city police.

In the sting operation on Friday, one of the suspects transacted with undercover police disguised as a buyer for their product, which led to their arrest.

Taguig police were joined by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Seized were six plastic bags of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu weighing 165 grams, said to have been worth P1,122,000.

Also confiscated were .45 and

9-mm caliber pistols, three ammunition magazines, bullets and a hand grenade.

Convinced that the suspects or cohorts placed in high societies used bribery to have their cases dismissed, Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO Director, said they would pursue the reopening of their cases. “We all know that drug-dealing is good business for them (suspects) and money comes in easily.

7E WILL kND OUT IF THESE PEOPLE ARE using their money to repeatedly have themselves absolved from their cases,� Eleazar told reporters.

The metro police chief added that they should not have been reintegrated into their communities. “There’s no reason for them to return to their communities and keep selling drugs. We’ll probe

FURTHER TO kND OUT WHY THEY WERE released,� he said.

The pieces of evidence were brought to the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit for technical examinations before the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

The suspects are now detained at the NCRPO detention center where they await charges for the sale of illegal drugs, possession OF ILLEGAL kREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES They are also facing charges in relation to the gun ban enforced during the election period as stated by the Omnibus Election Code after the suspects failed to yield special permits from the Commission on Elections, usually issued exclusively to the army, police, security guards, among others.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

FALCIS BROTHERS’ CASE AGAINST KRIS AQUINO DROPPED A CASE filed by Nicko and Jesus Falcis against Kris Aquino for grave threats has been junked by the Quezon City Prosecutor Office (QC-OCP) “for lack of probable cause.�

The multimedia celebrity posted the resolution and a press statement from her legal counsel at Divina Law via a slideshow on her Instagram, stating the QC-OCP “found the

allegations of the Falcis Vothers [sic] as incredible and contrary to human experience.�

It can be recalled that Aquino’s former manager and business partner filed the charges soon after a phone call between them went viral online.

The infamous recording had Aquino’s distinctive voice saying, “‘Wag ka nang bumalik sa Pilipinas, nadinig mo.

Papapatay ka ng pamilya ko!�

But based on the resolution, the QC-OCP said that the Falcis brothers did not present any evidence to support their complaint other than their bare allegations, “[which only shows] this complaint is just a pure case of harassment for the numerous complaints she (Aquino) filed against the complainants.’�

Along with the post, Aquino wrote a lengthy caption to express her gratitude over the outcome of the complaint, as well as her resolve to see her own cases against them to the very end. “Hindi ako nag pretend sa inyo na ‘perfect’ ako... and we STUCK TO THE ISSUES. “Higit sa lahat, hindi ko binastos ang pagkatao nila

kagaya ng ginawa nila sa ‘kin.

Dinaan namin sa tamang proseso at nagtiwala ako sa justice system ng Pilipinas. �Mahaba pa ang LABAN. I am not prematurely celebrating, naipanalo namin yung kaso nila laban sa ‘kin, alam kong mas titindi ang kanilang misyon na siraan at sirain ako at saktan ang mga mahal ko sa buhay.

“My tears fall while writing this post, because I shall never forget all the special people, na nung kinailangan kong magpakatatag, no questions asked — they generously gave me unconditional love, friendship, support, and prayers,� she ended.

Falcis continues to face Aquino’s charges of qualified theft. NIKA ROQUE

Declaring one’s husband presumptively dead Dear PAO, My husband left and abandoned our home in November 2009. I tried calling him and his family to know his whereabouts, but I never received any response from them. I am now planning to marry my current boyfriend, who has been there FOR ME SINCE ) WANT TO kLE a petition declaring my husband presumptively dead. What do I need to do?

Bunny

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA

a previous marriage shall be null and void, unless before the celebration of the subsequent marriage, the prior spouse had been absent for four consecutive years and the spouse present has a well-founded belief that the absent spouse was already Dear Bunny, dead. xxx For the purpose of conTo answer your question, we shall tracting a subsequent marriage refer to the Family Code of the under the preceding paragraph, Philippines, which contains a the spouse present must institute a PROVISION THAT SPECIkCALLY APPLIES summary proceeding as provided to your question, to wit: in this Code for the declaration of “Article 41. A marriage contracted presumptive death of the absentee, by any person during subsistence of without prejudice to the effect of

reappearance of the absent spouse�

(Emphasis supplied).

It is clear from this cited provision that the spouse must have been absent for four consecutive years and that the present spouse has a well-founded belief that the absentee is already dead. In the case of Philippines vs Sarenogon (GR 199194, Feb. 10, 2016), the Supreme Court through Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe stated: “The well-founded belief in the absentee’s death requires the present spouse to prove that his/her belief was the result of diligent and reasonable efforts to locate the absent spouse and that based on these efforts and inquiries, he/she believes that under the circumstances, the absent spouse is already dead. It necessitates exertion of

active effort, not a passive one. xxx The premise is that Article 41 of the Family Code places upon the present spouse the burden of complying with the stringent requirement of “well founded belief� which can only be discharged upon a showing of proper and honest-to-goodness inquiries and efforts to ascertain not only the absent spouse’s whereabouts, but more importantly, whether the latter is still alive or is already dead.

The burden of proof rests on the present spouse to show that all the requisites under Article 41 of the Family Code are present.

Since it is the present spouse who, for purposes of declaration of presumptive death, substantially ASSERTS THE AFkRMATIVE OF THE ISSUE

it stands to reason that the burden

of proof lies with him/her. He who alleges a fact has the burden of proving it and mere allegation is not evidence. xxx Whether or not the spouse present acted on a well-founded belief of death of the absent spouse depends upon the inquiries to be drawn from a great many circumstances occurring before and after the disappearance of the absent spouse and the nature and extent of the inquiries made by [the] present spouse� (Emphases supplied).

Applying the afore-cited jurisprudence in your situation, you, as the present spouse, must adduce evidence to support your claim that your husband had already been absent for four consecutive years, and that you undertook a thorough, determined AND UNlAGGING SEARCH FOR YOUR

husband within a reasonable period of time. To be able to comply with this requirement, you must likewise prove that your belief was the result of diligent and reasonable efforts and inquiries to locate your husband and that based on your efforts and inquiries, your absent husband is already dead.

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 Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@ manilatimes.net

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l

M

Lessons from the Sri Lanka tragedy

ORE details about the parties and circumstances CONNECTED TO %ASTER 3UNDAY S HORRIkC TERRORIST ATtacks in Sri Lanka have emerged. The implications are disturbing, but there is a great deal of lessons that we can learn from them about how better to combat extremism and protect the public.

The coordinated suicide bombings on April 21 struck three Christian churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka, killing at least 359 people and injuring hundreds more.

The Sri Lankan government has accused a local Islamic extremist group called National Towheed Jamaar for the attacks, and has so far arrested at least 58 people in connection with them. The Islamic State (IS) group hinted that it was also connected to the little known Sri Lankan terrorist group, releasing a photo through its Aamaq propaganda website that supposedly depicted the leader of the attacks with several of the bombers.

The Sri Lankan government said it believed that the Easter Sunday attacks were in retaliation for the March 15 mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The most disturbing revelation in the wake of the attacks has been the frank admission by the Sri Lankan government that it had information before Easter that an attack might take place, but that the warning was not shared with government leaders by the security forces and, therefore, was not acted upon. According to various media reports, the leader of the National Towheed Jamaar group, a man named Mohammed Zahran, has been known to Sri Lankan Muslim leaders – and PRESUMABLY 3RI ,ANKAN INTELLIGENCE OFkCIALS m FOR SEVERAL YEARS for his antagonistic speeches posted online.

Although Sri Lanka witnessed numerous terrorist attacks and widespread destruction during its 25-year civil war against Tamil separatists, there has been almost nothing about Sri Lanka, since the Rebellion was crushed a decade ago, that would make it an obvious target for IS-inspired violence. It is not a Muslim-majority country; the people are a mix of Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian worshipers.

There have been lingering tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority since the war ended, but little outright violence, and none directed toward Muslims that could be claimed as a provocation.

Under the surface, however, Sri Lanka’s stability is a bit TENUOUS 9EARS OF CONlICT HAVE LEFT THE ECONOMY IN POOR shape, which was only made worse by the devastation wrought by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; Sri Lanka was second only to Indonesia in terms of lives lost in the natural disaster. Successive governments have struggled to manage the postwar economy but have had limited success, with the result that development and public services are falling behind demand for them.

As the intelligence breakdown regarding prior warning of the attacks shows, political rivalries within the government also prevent effective action from being taken. The political instability is partly due to lingering friction between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority, and partly due to politiCIANS BEING POLITICIANS VYING WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR INlUENCE Extremist groups such as those supported by or claim allegiance to IS are only successful when they can exploit vulnerabilities like those of Sri Lanka. Political factionalism THAT LEADS TO INEFkCIENCY AND WEAKENED SECURITY AND POOR OR unequal economic opportunities that create disadvantaged and disaffected people vulnerable to being recruited serve the extremists’ purposes even better than bombs and guns do.

Our leaders here should bear these lessons in mind, and not let the Philippines, which already is regarded as being at risk from extremism, become the next target. ~

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 196

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL S. MALLARI, Sports Editor DINO RAY V. DIRECTO 3RD, Motoring Editor CONRAD M. CARIĂ‘O, Special Sections Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY, Assistant Business Editor MARIO F. FETALINO, Assistant Business Editor REMIA B. EUGENIO, Deskman (Regions) MARISHELLE R. MEDINA, Deskman JOMAR CANLAS, Chief of Reporters RENE H. DILAN, Chief Photographer DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO BLANCA C. MERCADO, #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

In defense of Barabbas

C

ALOOCAN Bishop Pablo David painted what he thought was a clear choice for the voters in the upcoming May 13 elections. He cast that choice as being like choosing between Jesus Christ and Barabbas. We know that when Pilate asked the Jewish mob whom to set free, the crowd shouted the name of Barabbas. Bishop David wants the Filipino voters to choose candidates whom he likens to Jesus Christ, who is the messiah sent by God, and not Barabbas who is portrayed in popular culture as a thief. The obvious subtext is, of course, to shun and reject the thieving candidates in May and choose the virtuous and upright.

However, Bishop David may have either grossly misrepresented the symbolism of the crowd choosing Barabbas, or he grossly misrepresented who Barabbas was.

ON THE CONTRARY ANTONIO CONTRERAS One can argue that when the people chose Barabbas over Jesus Christ, that it was simply to fulfill what had been prophesied. Christ needed to be crucified and die on the cross to redeem us from our sins. This is the Christian narrative. Barabbas was chosen to live because it was what God had willed.

Hence, to paint the narrative of the Jewish crowd as making a wrong choice as a template to exhort a virtuous and autonomous act of choosing the correct candidate in the May elections is simply inconsistent with the original context and meaning of the biblical text. There was no autonomous choice, considering that the event was in fulfill-

ment of a prophecy that must happen in order for Christ to complete His mission on earth.

The choice in the May elections is supposed to be about voters exercising their free will, and of applying reason.

It is erroneous and logically flawed to give Catholic voters the impression that choosing Barabbas over Jesus Christ was a grave mistake that should not be repeated again.

Hence, voters should vote for candidates who emulate the virtues of Christ and reject those that Bishop David would image as the present-day incarnations of Barabbas. One can just imagine the serious implications if the Jewish crowd had chosen to do what Bishop David frames as the right thing and freed Jesus and voted to crucify Barabbas instead. This would have led to the collapse of the entire logic of the Christian faith.

However, a more fundamental flaw in turning the May elections into a choice between the so-called “Jesus� candidates and the “Barabbas� candidates, thereby exhorting the electorate to vote for the former, is that it may even be based on the wrong premise that Barabbas is a notorious thief.

It should be stressed that even the scriptures may not necessarily support this view.

Matthew 27:16 labels Barabbas as a “notorious prisoner.�

The word used in Luke 23:19 is that Barabbas was involved in a stasis or a “riot.� Mark 15:7 was more precise in painting Barabbas as someone imprisoned together with the rebels for committing murder during an insurrection against Rome.

John 18:40 refers to Barabbas as a lĂŠstĂŠs which is translated into “bandit.â€? Josephus, the famed

ÂłContrerasA5

Q MAKABENTA FROM A1

The lore and lure of markets

B

ECAUSE of my name, I am often mistaken for a marketing man or salesman. In my native Waray, " benta " does not mean sell or sale. Indeed, we do not have the word in our vocabulary. Our words for market and selling are Hispanic. Mercado for the market, or tienda or tinda for the goods for sale.

When we buy something, we say " palit ," which is the common word for barter in most Philippine languages.

Language is a good place to start from in this forum on “traditional markets.�

A market, or marketplace, is literally as old as history, in denoting a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock and other goods.

In different parts of the world, a market may be described as a souk (in Arabic), a bazaar (in Persian), a mercado (in Spanish), a tianguis (in Mexico), or a palengke (in Filipino).

Markets have existed for as long as humans have engaged in trade. The earliest bazaars are believed to have originated in Persia, from where they spread to the rest of the Middle East and Europe.

In many countries, shopping at a local market is a standard feature of daily life. Given the market’s role in ensuring food supply for a population in a typical Filipino community, it is as indispensable as the parish church and the town hall. In my hometown, church, town hall and market form a triad in a prominent part of town.

A father’s legacy As far back as I can remember,

I have always been fascinated and drawn by the market — the assembly of goods that it offers, and the incredible society of vendors and shoppers that it gathers together. To be asked by my mother or my grandmother to go to the market was a welcome errand for me.

I imbibed the knack of going to market from my father who, every market day (Sunday) in my hometown, would walk over to the market to buy seafood and meat and other provisions for the house. And I would often accompany him.

The habit has stayed with me ever since, even now when there’s a full-time housewife and help in my hearth and home.

My father and I were alike in our choice of spouse. Mother didn’t care much for the marketing. And my wife, who’s lived nearly all her life in the big city, prefers going to the grocery or supermarket where things are neatly arranged. I take on the weekly marketing as a matter of duty and pleasure.

The Filipino traditional market — whether you call it palengke, talipapa, or tiangge — is a different experience altogether.

Ardor for freshness At the wet market you get the thrill of buying freshly caught or just-harvested seafood, meat, vegetables, and fruit in one go.

When I shop, I imagine how something would look on our dining table.

I love dishes that are freshly cooked and prepared such as kinilaw, sinugba or grilled dishes, tinola or steamed seafood. Elaborate dishes that take hours to prepare are for special occasions.

For some reason I am not too keen about cooked food in the tiangge or flea markets like Sidcor; but some cooked dishes have been happy discoveries for me. Neither am I interested in paluto, or having dishes cooked in the market.

Father was particular about the freshness of the seafood and meat and instilled in me a lifelong abhorrence of anything stale or smelly. He taught me the names and character of various fishes. He taught me also that different varieties of a particular fish can differ greatly in quality. From him, I learned also the folk wisdom that a fish that has many bones or tinik are to be prized for being tasty.

Only a few kinds of fish are good for kinilaw . Most others are not. I am surprised that there are restaurants in Manila that make kinilaw out of tuna, a no-no where I come from.

I learned from uncles and cousins a few things about good marketing, and the secret of certain prized dishes. Kinilaw , for example, is best if you use the native calamansi to sour it. Beef or carabeef tapa is best when it is sun-dried.

Shopping for good meat also needs experience or special knowledge. You can buy native chicken at Farmer’s market at any time. It is irreplaceable for certain dishes. A good butcher can get you whatever meat you need, in the kind of cut that you want.

Market research in New York City My fascination with the traditional market is so keen that even when I’m on a trip abroad,

I sometimes sneak away for a quick trip to the public market—not to buy things to cook but for research.

Once, while on a trip to New York City, I went to the public market. My guide of all people was my friend the late artist and cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo. He knew his way around the city, and introduced me to Greek cuisine.

I won’t recommend such quick visits to markets in foreign capitals. The secret of good and enjoyable marketing is knowing where you are and who you’re buying from.

Good marketing is a test of molding good relationships with vendors who become your suki or regular supplier, and fellow buyers who generously share good market information.

Palengke with escalators In the end, marketing for me is really an adventure. It is serendipitous in its pleasures.

I love the surprise of finding something new, or a fish I have not seen for the longest time.

Finally, and with this I will conclude: the divide between the public market and the supermarket is closing in our capital. We now have a place like Fisher Mall in Quezon City, which offers a wide array of different fish species to rival a wet market. It offers at any time several prized species live. Think of a palengke with escalators.

With a mall like this, the traditional market is under challenge.

I will visit Fisher Mall, but I will personally hold on to my favorite talipapa and palengke. Familiarity breeds loyalty.

yenmakabenta@yahoo.com

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

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SATURDAY April 27, 2019

A5

Q TULFO FROM A1

Who are 'The Forgotten?'

T

WO distinct groups exist within the Bureau of Immigration (BI) detention center, both with opposite objectives, and these are as follows:

The Pay-to-Stay group This is the group that actually prefers to be there than elsewhere, mostly Korean fugitives from justice who were and still are active in organized crime mostly online whether it be scamming, boiler-room gambling, credit card or whatever and pay big money to indefinitely delay deportations. During the last few years there has been two Korean groups vying for power which is firmly with Daniel at the moment. His business is big and increasing and his field expanding into West and Central Europe. Daniel’s ability to pay seems limitless and goes high enough (if we join the dots we find out where it goes) for him and his group to enjoy full protection by BI. His people’s phones, laptops and high-powered internet access are never discovered during raids even though on one occasion recently an international agency could pinpoint exactly which phones were where doing the online fraud. There is much more to this but I will leave it there for now except to say they should be in jail here or in Korea and not in immigration detention.

The Want-to-Get-Outs These are mostly overstayers who don’t have serious issues here or in their home country but often have a wife or girl-

friend making trouble. Unfortunately, most of these want to stay because they have property or kids in the Philippines so they try to fight their deportation—which never happens unless they are willing to pay substantial “undocumented payments.” There are several different mechanisms for a release, it could be bail, or as in the case of 84-year-old Peter Saunders, a substantial payment to have him removed from the blacklist while he appears to have been deported by flying out and then back in after a few days. Even those that don’t want to stay will have three to four months’ wait before the BI will clear them to go when in fact this should take a day or two at most. These people should get free legal assistance – which I will come to later.

The In-Betweens To complicate matters there are people there that fall into both of the above. For example, there is the crazy situation where detainees are fugitives from their home country who want the requesting country to extradite them but they won’t. The British are especially bad on this one; an extradition treaty has been in place for 10 years but not one person has ever been extradited from the Philippines under the treaty because as part of the process their UK case has to be fully disclosed and anyone extradited cannot be, for anything except the case, be disclosed. The UK tries to bully them into voluntary deportation where they do not enjoy the

Q CONTRERAS FROM A4

In defense of Barabbas Jewish historian, has often used the word “bandit” to refer to revolutionaries or those involved in an insurrection against Rome.

Thus, it is clear that the image painting Barabbas as a plain criminal, a thief, is inaccurate.

There is enough reason to believe that he was an active participant, if not a leader himself, of the Jewish insurrection engaged in a violent resistance against the occupying Roman forces. Some historians and scholars even posit that he was a Zealot, or a member of the sicarii , a militant group of dagger-wielding Jews who were rebelling against the authority of the Roman Empire in Judea. In fact, Barabbas may even be a powerful representation of those who at present are fighting for political rights and are being persecuted

by State authorities.

It behooves us to realize that Jesus Christ and Barabbas were both seen as threats to the political establishment at the time. Jesus Christ proclaiming Himself as King was a threat to Rome, even as His claim of being a messiah was an outright challenge to the religious authority of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Barabbas, on the other hand, was a threat to the political power of Rome, and collaterally, to the Sanhedrin’s and Herod’s residual authority, but was not a threat to Judaism as a religion.

It is here that one can even argue that the response of the Jewish people to Pilate’s question on who to free between Barabbas and Jesus Christ could even be interpreted as a rational one, and not necessarily an outcome of an illogical mob mentality. Jesus Christ carried a message that may not have resonated with the ordinary people at the time. After all, He was claiming to be the Son of God, which could have sounded abstract, if not crazy. Barabbas, on the other hand, represented a more political message of directly rebelling against a foreign occupying force. Thus, he represented a message that would have resonated more with the ordinary people. It was more concrete and material to which people who were suffering under Roman rule, and the complicity of the Jewish elites in Herod’s palace and among the members of the Sanhedrin, could have easily related.

In the end, it could even be said that while the crucifixion of Christ was foreordained by a prophecy, it was made possible by a people making a rational choice of setting free someone who was fighting the Romans and, therefore, was fighting for their liberation as Jews. The Jews choosing Barabbas, who was a symbol of their liberation from Rome, paved the way for Christ’s crucifixion to redeem us from our sins.

It is with this alternative reading that the fallacy of turning the May elections into an opportunity to make Barabbas into a symbol of thieving candidates collapses.

Q Crowded sleeping quarters. same legal protection. Basically, the UK government leaves them in limbo indefinitely until they give up and go home at their own expense. There are two cases like this at present, Gary and Calvin. The Americans do much the same thing; some high-profile fugitives are extradited but in many cases the authorities seem content that they are incarcerated and leave them there until they get tired and pay their own way home. With these cases, BI should have the requesting state extradite, or threaten to release after the prescribed 60 days. But BI needs to be forced to do this.

There is also a category that can include all of the above. The sick and elderly should not be subjected to the conditions in that place because when already frail it is virtually impossible to stay healthy amid the rats, filth and disease and it is in effect a death sentence. Included in this category are the likes of Peter, the German Juergen Saeger (see VfaB https://voicesfromabox. wordpress.com/2019/04/05/ abandoned/ ) as well as several more who are seriously ill or elderly or both. Or mentally ill

and need to be in care such as Habib, a new Swede Sven, and a very odd Korean. There has been the death of Bill (William St. Cyr) from neglect and starvation. And there is currently someone who came in very sick that they put him round the back out of sight to die that inmates know very little about. Basically, anyone sick or elderly should not be detained by immigration and should be fast-tracked to deportation (apply pressure on the embassies), or should either be released on bail or hospitalized until they can be deported.

Immigration should have woken up to the fact that these people are a liability because they die on them, but has not. The authorities need shaming about the deaths and conditions (lack of medical care) so that they act quickly on these cases.

One official who really helps One person in authority who is actively helping the detainees is Dr. Acosta, head of PAO ( Smith is referring to Persida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorneys

Q Rat-infested surroundings.

Office of the Department of Justice—RTT ). She is doing what she can within the limits of her powers but could do more with public support. She believes that by definition all BI detainees are entitled to PAO assistance and she actually endorsed several cases to regional PAOs. It got cumbersome because of the regional structure of the PAO which meant no one PAO attorney can handle both a detainee’s BI case and RTC case.

Another case where Dr. Acosta has got personally involved is that of Walter Prescot, a Phil/Am (sic) who has been in detention since 2016 and is about 70 years old. Walter is one of the many cases where his wife did the dirty (job) on him, but in his case used an anomaly of the 1937 Philippine Constitution to have his

Philippine nationality revoked by the then justice secretary (Leila) de Lima. Walter wants to live out the remainder of his life in the PhilipPINES AND HAS BEEN kGHTING FOR HIS birthright to live here ever since and refuses to be deported to the US. It came to a head end of last year apparently when Walter was hospitalized, Morente was supposed to have done a deal with him but then reneged on the deal and Walter got stuck in the hospital. His common-law Filipino wife has a good relationship with Dr. Acosta, and to cut a long story short, Walter now has a case against (Immigration Commissioner Jaime) Morente in the SC for illegal detention and Dr. Acosta has slipped Walter out of the hospital to a “safe house” to protect him.

(To be concluded Tuesday)

Having the media cake and wanting to eat it, too

M

Y time was near way back a decade ago. That was when SM banned adult movies in its theaters, sending Philippine cinema crashing in one fell swoop. I found myself floundering in the doldrums of writing — no more scripts to write, no more films to direct.

But because the writing bug just wouldn’t stop biting, I contented myself, anyway, with running blogs for my literary outpourings, political thoughts and historical insights.

At 70, I had gone through so much adventure that in my desire to share it with the world, my mind just wouldn’t say, “Enough.”

Over coffee at Café Adriatico one afternoon in 2010, one guy thought so, too — Dr. Dante A. Ang, chairman emeritus of The Manila Times .

He gave me a try, saw that I got what it takes to run a newspaper column, and then veritably to tunes of angels singing hallelujah over a risen downed pen pusher, I began writing a column for the paper, first with “Director’s Cut” in the entertainment section; eventually with this, “My Say” in the opinion section. I sailed on over oceans of journalism from then on.

What am I trying to say?

I earned my berth in the pool of opinion writers of the country’s oldest surviving newspaper not because I am talented but because I have had the privilege of meeting Dr. Dante A. Ang. How many good writers are there in this country?

Thousands upon thousands. Why are they not writing columns for the Manila Times ? Because they have not met DAA. Simple as that.

Democratic fourth estate Let no one be proud. A journalist is only as good as his publisher allows him to be. My kumpadre used to be the news editor of what was once the number one newspaper of the land. He earned the displeasure of the newspaper owner. He was put on early retirement. Another friend used to be a hard-hitting columnist of another respected newspaper.

He got into an altercation with his publisher over a certain editorial policy, which he wouldn’t follow.

MY SAY

MAURO GIA SAMONTE His column was terminated pronto.

The idea of a democratic fourth estate is not universal. It must be reckoned in the context of the social system in which it exists. In a system of private entrepreneurship, journalistic freedom cannot but be limited by what is necessary to maintain privately owned news media.

Why, for instance, had the Philippine Daily Inquirer not published at any single point the huge tax deficiencies of the Prietos? Because the Prietos owned the Inquirer .

You don’t have to crank your cranium so much to understand why “ Ang Probinsyano ” suddenly causes an originally conceived protector of the law to turn vengeful anti-government rebel, particularly aiming his vendetta against a fictional President. The franchise of ABS-CBN, over which the extremely popular show has been running for the past three years, is about to expire. President Duterte has openly declared his objection to an extension of the franchise, and so insofar as ABS-CBN is concerned, President Duterte must come across or he goes. It is easy to understand that ABS-CBN can figure in any destabilization move against the Duterte administration, to the extent of his ouster. That’s what “ Ang Probinsyano ” has been agitating against the fictional President.

To the point It is ABS-CBN that has largely fanned the currently raging controversy between Manila Times’ former managing editor Felipe Salvosa and the paper’s Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante A. Ang. On April 22, 2019, The Manila Times published Dr. Ang’s story on the so-called matrix of the Duterte ouster plot. The story carried a wide labyrinth of links detailing people and institutions involved in a “Duterte ouster plot.”

On that same day, Salvosa posted a tweet which read: “A diagram is by no means an evidence of ‘destabilization’ or an ‘ouster plot.’ It is

a very huge stretch for anyone to accuse PCIJ, Vera Files and Rappler of actively plotting to unseat the President. I know people there and they are not coup plotters.”

In short, Salvosa, disagreeing with the Ang article, was publicly castigating the Times owner for writing the story and the Times , itself, for publishing it.

ABS-CBN picked up the Twitter post, and thus, with the network’s immense reach, has caused the controversy flaming across the land.

I was at my favorite carinderia in the morning of the day of this writing, seated at breakfast beside a guy who introduced himself as a resort attendant. Learning that I was with the Times , the guy promptly asked about the firing of Salvosa: “Don’t journalists have the right to say what they want?”

That was no occasion for lecturing anybody on the deep ramifications of the freedom of expression. What amazed me was how widely ABSCBN had already caused a splurge of the controversy permeating even the lowly segments of the populace.

Instantly, I felt a seizure of guilt feeling: my benefactor was heavily under fire and there I was not doing anything about it. And yet, though I was with DAA in the afternoon of the previous day to discuss an entirely different agenda, he gave no hint whatsoever about him needing support in his current travail against a former subordinate.

That’s how DAA has always been.

To me, that’s for sure. As to others in the editorial staff and pool of columnists, let each corroborate this statement with their own experiences.

Not once has he intervened with me on matters of what my columns should contain. As a special envoy for the President, his heavy inclination toward Duterte should be a given, yet in none of those occasions — which have been many, indeed — in which I wrote strong criticism of the President, had DAA given me even the slightest reproach.

The only intervention — if it can be called that—– I experienced from DAA was when in one of my past pieces I tended to assail the character of Rappler’s Maria Ressa, who in one Senate investigation made a grand video presentation damning

DAA for alleged subservience to the Duterte administration.

“Argue the case, Mao,” DAA counseled, ascribing to Ressa the right to say what she wanted.

If that’s not upholding the highest level of journalistic ethics, I don’t know what it is.

He was reprimanding me for hitting his enemy!

Freedom of expression Freedom of the fourth estate is nothing about freedom in the abstract. It is freedom in the objective reality of you working for a fee, and so long as you continue accepting that fee, you must continue working for which you are paid.

One quote I distinctly remember from my college days runs to this effect: “So long as you are part of an institution, never criticize it publicly. When you can no longer take that which you are complaining about in that institution, get out and damn to your heart’s content, criticize it.” That, to me, stuck as the meaning of principle.

Salvosa, through his Twitter post, called out Dr. Ang and the Times for the Duterte Ouster Association Matrix story while still within the strictures of the Times ’ organization. Did he act right?

Principle and opportunism Principle, according to my kumpadre, is being bought and staying bought.

If opportunism is the opposite of principle, then opportunism is being bought but not staying bought.

In the case of Salvosas, for accepting the post of managing editor of the Manila Times , he was buying into the policies of the company. But in the case at bar, for lambasting the Times owner and the paper itself but still remaining in his post, therefore remaining within the ambit of rules and procedures of the publication, he was continuing to buy into that ambit but not staying bought.

Salvosa was not being principled.

He was being an opportunist. He executed a classic illustration of the good ole American adage: “Wanting to have your cake and eat it, too.”

And you shout, “Press freedom?”

My foot!

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

The ‘national narrator’ of Philippine history

L

OURD de Veyra told me how, when he heard an ad in the 1990s with the soaring narration which ended with “National Steel Corporation‌ we’re building a country‌â€? he felt that he really wanted to help build the country, “e bakal lang yun.â€? But that’s the power and inspiration brought by the voice of Joonee Gamboa.

The new generation may not be familiar with THE NAME BUT THEY DEkNITELY KNOW HIS FACE (E always played the wise lolo kGURE IN MANY BEloved teleseryes such as “Got to Believe� (2013), “Kahit Konting Pagtingin� (2013), “Asian Treasures� (2007), “Daddy Di Do Du� (2005), and CURRENTLY g"AGANI u (E APPEARED IN NEARLY movies and counting; familiar with the young would be his role in “Ang Panday 1 and 2� starRING #OCO -ARTIN (E ONCE WON THE -ETRO -ANILA Film Festival Best Supporting Actor award for the 1977 classic “Burlesk Queen.�

But for many in our generation, Joonee Gamboa is one of the most popular voice talents of our time.

(E WAS BORN IN -ANILA ON !UG !Ccording to his own account, “I was once a radio announcer doing personality shows and newscasting. I am a stage, movie and TV character actor.� In fact, I have friends in Malolos who told me he is still very active in the art scene, especially in the community theater Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. Since I am a history buff, my favorite portrayals of his would be Juan Ponce Enrile in the international TV series on the EDSA Revolution, “A Dangerous Life� (1988) and Paciano Rizal in “Bayaning Third World�

(E ALSO PLAYED &ELIPE "UENCAMINO IN “El Presidente� (2012) and also appeared in INTERNATIONAL kLMS SUCH AS g4HE 9EAR OF ,IVING Dangerously� (1982) and the controversial “Brokedown Palace� (1999).

But of course, for a history buff like me, my favorite work of his would be his narrations of HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY 7HEN ) WAS IN 'RADE

ON $EC

THE NIGHT OF THE CENTENNIAL of the martyrdom of Dr. JosĂŠ Rizal, I watched the premiere of “JosĂŠ Rizal: Ang Buhay ng Isang Bayanâ€? in GMA-7. The next year, the short documentary “JosĂŠ Rizal: Pride of the Malay Race,â€? repeatedly played on Channel 11. Also, on the night of Sept. 21, 1997, I watched the premiere of “Batas Militar: A Documentary on Martial Law in the Philippinesâ€? in ABS-CBN. And during the

Estrada inaugural in 1998, I WATCHED FOR THE kRST TIME THE documentary, “MalacaĂąang,â€? on the history of Philippine presidents. These documentaries changed my life and gave me a comprehensive and sweeping view of Philippine HISTORY !ND THESE WERE ALL NARRATED BY *OONEE (E went on to do voice for the Intramuros Light and Sound Museum, and international documentaries, “Asia’s Titanicâ€? and “Inside MalacaĂąang.â€?

That’s why even today, when I want to remember something about the life of Rizal or the Marcos era, it is Joonee’s voice I hear in my head.

I knew all his words by heart and memorized LARGE PORTIONS OF IT (IS NARRATIONS INSPIRED ME to decide eventually to teach history and be a historian of the Martial Law era.

The Rizal and Batas Militar documentaries continue to be staples in the teaching of Philippine history and the Rizal courses. I also eventually did voice narrations of my college projects and was doing pale imitations of his voice. That’s why one of my ultimate fantasies is to do a historical script that he will narrate. I never knew I’d have the chance.

7HEN THE .ATIONAL (ISTORICAL #OMMISSION OF the Philippine chair Rene Escalante approached me to write their Andres Bonifacio documentary “May pagasa:Ang Bantayog ni Andres Bonifacio�

(2017-2018), I asked the producers if we could get Joonee Gamboa to narrate it. In fact, I wrote IT WITH HIS VOICE IN MY MIND (E AGREED I was late a few minutes for the recording session, which made me scared. I was so shocked to see him at the top of the stairs of the studio. And then he told me, “Later, I will ask my assistant to take my photo with you. It’s an honor to meet you.â€? I almost fell from the stairs. I replied, “But Sir, your voice is one of the reasons why I am a HISTORIANĂœu (E SAID HE WATCHED ME ON TELEVISION AND LIKED WHAT HE HEARD FROM ME (E WAS SO humble to say that he was kind of nervous that I would be supervising him. Apparently he is more comfortable doing narrations in English and needs help with some Filipino words. Wow. Supervising him and listening to him at work was FOUR HOURS OF HAPPINESS FOR ME (IS VOICE GAVE credence and authenticity to the script I wrote.

(IS VOICE CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR PEOPLE ABOUT HISTORY (E HAS DONE PUBLIC HISTORY A GREAT SERVICE (E IS g4HE 6OICE OF 0HILIPPINE (ISTORY u THE NATIONAL NARRATOR

WALKING HISTORY MICHAEL “XIAO� CHUA

T

Letter to Comelec Chairman Abas

(% 4ECHNICAL 7ORKING 'ROUP (TWG) of the joint congressional oversight committee (JCOC) met on April 8, 2019 to discuss their recommendations for subsequent submission to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Among the attendees was one Jeffrey Ian Diy, supposedly a former technology head at Smartmatic Philippines, Inc. Diy submitted a 25-page report revealing the perceived vulnerabilities of the Smartmatic-supplied voting machines and the existence of a questionable IP address. This CONkRMS MY DOUBTS ON THE INTEGRITY of the system. Thus, I sent a letter to Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas on April 24, 2019.

(ERE IS THE FULL TEXT OF THAT LETTER WITH footnotes and citations omitted): (ON 3HERIFF - !BAS Chairman, Commission on Elections Re: Inventory of IP addresses and MAC addresses for the 2019 elections

ALL INSIGHT

AL S. VITANGCOL 3RD

damus and praying for the following: “1. Respondent Commission on Elections to take precautionary steps to ensure that no electronic cheating would take place during the .ATIONAL AND ,OCAL %LECTIONS

SPECIkCALLY BY MAKING AN INVENTORY of the MAC addresses of all its vote counting machines, computers, servers and transmission devices, WHICH WILL BE USED ON -AY

“2. Respondent undertake to make a list of all the IP addresses used in its Virtual Private Network, together with their geographical locations, that were USED ON -AY

“3. Respondent to submit to this (ONORABLE #OURT THE SAID INVENTORY of MAC addresses no later than May

AND THE LIST OF )0 ADDRESSES used in its network no later than -AY u Dear Chairman Abas, As expected, the high court “reA certain Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, claim- solved to DISMISS the instant petiing to be a former employee of tions for mandamus on the ground of Smartmatic Philippines, Inc., re- mootness.� It was decided on Oct.11, cently submitted a 25-page report kVE LONG MONTHS AFTER THE to the joint congressional oversight .,% 4HE COURT LIKEWISE NOTED committee (JCOC) pertaining to the that “[t]he conclusion of the May 9, CONDUCT OF THE NATIONAL AND ELECTIONS HOWEVER MOOTED THE issues raised in these petitions.� local elections (NLE).

Notwithstanding, the separate In that particular report, Mr. Dy mentioned the existence of a “ques- opinion of Associate Justice Marvic tionable� internet protocol (IP) ad- M.V. F. Leonen is worth revisiting. dress—10.101.1.198—from where (E SAID g.EVERTHELESS THE ISSUES THAT multiple transmissions of election petitioners raise are susceptible to repetition. In a few years, the electorate results were coming.

I have always advocated that the will again cast their votes through the simplest way to trace electronic automated election system. Rather cheating in an automated elec- than this court again having to deal tion system (AES) is by making a WITH BELATEDLY kLED PETITIONS AS IN thorough inventory of the MAC the past, we should take cognizance addresses of all the VCMs, serv- of this case for the early guidance of ers, computers, BGANs, and other the bench, the bar, and the public.�

It has to be noted that the presence communication devices, which are used in the NLE. Likewise, all IP of “questionable,� or even rogue, IP addresses assigned to each and every addresses can easily be trapped if THIS (ONORABLE #OMMISSION HAD AN device should be listed.

Be it remembered that on May 2, inventory of all the IP addresses and

A WEEK BEFORE THE .,% ) kLED MAC addresses that were used in the a petition before the Supreme Court electoral exercise. Utmost transparseeking the issuance of a writ of man- ency is always the key in ensuring

the credibility and trustworthiness of automated elections.

4HUS ) AM REQUESTING THIS (ONORable Commission to consider this suggestion and, thereafter, issue a resolution directing all responsible units and services under its control to 1) make an inventory of the MAC addresses of all its vote counting machines, computers, servers, and transmission devices, which will be used on the 2019 NLE; 2) make a list of all the IP addresses in its virtual private network, together with their geographical locations; and 3.) submit to an independent body the said inventory of MAC addresses no later than May 13, 2019 and the list of IP addresses used in its network no later than May 14, 2019.

Releasing this information to the public will not in any way endanger the security of the AES. This will even help this Commission regain its credibility and integrity, for whatever it is worth.

In closing, let me cite again a few words from J. Leonen : “The issues raised by petitioners have far-reaching and serious implications.

The claim that hackers can intercept, alter, and send the altered data to the Commission on Elections servers may cast doubt on the integrity of election results. Consequently, the legitimacy OF THE NEWLY ELECTED OFkCIALS MAY BE QUESTIONED 4HE ELECTORATE MAY kND THE automated election system unreliable, which may then deter them from casting their votes on election day.; “Any form of doubt on the integrity of election results is detrimental to our democratic form of government.

Clearly, then, transparency is imperative to dispel fears and mistrust.�

Lastly, I am humbly asking that I be furnished with a copy of any action taken relative to this request. I am looking forward to a favorable response, within the period as prescribed by existing laws.

(Signed) Atty. Al S. Vitangcol III

allinsight.manilatimes@gmail.com www.facebook.com/All.Insight.

Manila.Times

Letter from a US soldier and other early American impressions of the Philippines AMBASSADORS’ I CORNER

AM in possession of two old documents that are part of my personal historical collections. One is an American soldier’s letter to his uncle in the United States dated Sept. 25, 1898; the other is a very rare June 1898 copy of the National Geographic magazine ,which is devoted entirely to articles about the Philippine Islands. The letter contains the soldier’s perceptions of Manila. The June 1898 National Geographic issue was titled Philippine Number and has four articles: ‘’The Philippine Islands’’; “Notes on Some Primitive Philippine Tribes’’; “Commerce of the Philippine Islands’’; and “The Disposition of the Philippines.’’ The soldier’s name is Constable % (ILLS OF (EADQUARTERS !STOR "ATtery, United States Army — PhilipPINE )SLANDS -ANILA (IS LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO * # (EILLZ %SQ OF !TTWOOD 3TREET (ARTFORD #ONNECTIcut, USA, and postmarked ‘’Philippine Station San Francisco Sept. 25 #ONSTABLE (ILLS COULD BE ANYONE AMONG THE kRST BATCHES OF American soldiers sent to Manila from San Francisco: 2,500 men who left San Francisco on May 25, 1898 and arrived in Manila on June 30, 1898 under the command of Brig.

Gen. Thomas Anderson; 7,500 who arrived in Manila on July 25, 1898 under Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt; and 5,000 troops who came to Manila on Aug. 21, 1898 under Maj. Gen. %LWELL /TIS (IS LETTER WRITTEN IN pencil, is quoted in full as follows: ‘’My dear Uncle, Since last writing to you nothing of very importance has taken place here worthwhile writing about. I have, however, written [a] letter to Gertrude once or twice a week and surmise that you have received news through HER AS WE ARE NOW QUARTERED IN A kNE house near the ‘’Luneta,’’ which is the fashionable stroll and walk of Manila. I am on the hunt for relics all the time but they are pretty scarce as every man in the army seems to be on the same errand himself. I have succeeded in getting pieces of the 3PANISH lAGSHIP 2EGINA #HRISTINA — destroyed by Dewey on May 1st.

Some son of a gun stole the medal I had for you but I can get another one

DANILO T. IBAYAN

NEWS OF THE TAKING OF -ANILA 9ESTERDAY ) HAD A @ .EW 9ORK (ERALD 0ARIS edition of Aug. 17th, it contained an account of the taking of the city.

The account, considering it was the kRST MESSAGE THAT CAME OUT WAS A VERY FAIR ARTICLE 7E HAVE HAD kNE weather for three weeks but – no rain at all to speak of, but the sun has been very warm and the nights uncomfortably hot. The men’s QUARTERS HERE ARE SOMETHING kERCE New Jersey is out in it with them.

All men in the American Army were freed off during the past two weeks and loads of money have been spent here. The Spaniards cannot realize that so much money is being spent here. There are many thousands of Chinese here and whole sections of the city are regular Chinatowns.

One sees all nationalities here — all kinds, sorts and conditions. We hope that the commission at Paris will hurry up in their work and not talk and talk, while we poor fellows in the meantime are getting fevers and disease which will stick to us for life. Let them give grants on themselves and let the President and Congress get a big sum on themselves also. If I could only leave here by November 10th to get home Xmas, why I could have no kick coming at all and would not say a single word.

(OPE YOU ARE ALL WELL AND THAT YOU have had a pleasant summer.

This is summer all the year round and hot summer at that. Everyone wears white duck suits all the year round — natives dress with only white trousers and their shirt,s which hang outside of the trousers.

4HE ONLY 0HILIPPINE COIN ) CAN kND is the Peso ($1.00). Value 50 cents !MERICAN #AN T SEEM TO kND THE SET you spoke about getting. Mail goes out today so I must close.

Sincerely, Bill 7E HAVE COCKkGHTS HERE ALL THE time, that is the national sport, but I don’t care for it.’’

all right. I have the volunteer medal for you of the war against the PhilipPINES IN ) SEND YOU A TRACING of it in this letter. The medal is copper or bronze, very pretty front side reads in circular letters ‘’a los L’eales voluntarios de Filipinas,‘’ a raised head of young Alfonso in front also.

On the back side the of medal is in raised letters – ‘’CampaĂąa De ,UZON The medal has a striped red and yellow ribbon. Can get these medals for 75 cts American or 450 Mexican – don’t know whether this is cheap or not, but if you want a half dozen of them let me know. The jewelry stores here have all the Spanish decorations but I suppose you can get them much CHEAPER AT AUCTIONS THERE 9OU CAN BUY them brand new.

If you like you can send me the names of the Spanish orders you wish with short descriptions and prices you are willing to pay and I will get them for you if I can.

(AVE BEEN QUITE ILL SINCE ) LAST WROTE TO YOU (AD DYSENTERY AND MALARIAL fever. I still have the fever in my system but am coming around all right.

We do not have a single thing to do all day long from 5:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and it is really tiresome.

(OWEVER IF ONE TRIES TO DO VERY HARD work here why it breaks them all up for it is the most depressing climate in the world and the least bit of exercise drops one out completely.

Everyone goes to sleep between 11 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.

Sure we are all dead anxious to get home and it can’t be any too soon for us. We hear that 5,000 regulars are on the way here to relieve us and WE ALL HOPE IT IS TRUE (AVE BEEN EXpecting mail now every day for over two weeks. This is the longest wait we have had for mail since we have National Geographic been here. The last mail we had was PH special July 24th FROM .EW 9ORK 7E ARE VERY anxious to get papers containing the In June 1898, the National Geo-

graphic magazine, an American monthly, produced only more than a thousand subscription copies and my personal copy is probably only one of the not so many surviving copies, and therefore, very rare. It was published just a month after the world-famous Battle of Manila Bay of May 1, 1898, in which the American Navy commanded by Commodore George Dewey, sank THE ENTIRE ANTIQUATED 3PANISH lEET headed by Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo. Spain’s ignominious defeat in that naval battle marked the end of the more than three centuries’ Spanish colonial administration of the Philippines. The following are quotations taken from that magazine’s articles: ‘’As a consequence of subterranean forces, earthquakes are frequent and violent. The more recent of these CONVULSIONS OCCURRED IN AND 1880, both of which caused great destruction of property.’’ ‘’Its scenery, although mountainOUS IS CHARMINGLY DIVERSIkED AND will compare favorably with any of the countries of farther Asia. Its large lakes and rivers, broad plains and fertile valleys, teeming with luxuriant tropical vegetation and noble forests, add both to its beauties and productive capabilities.’’ ‘’The extreme length of the Philippine group being from north to south, their northern extremity reaching nearly to the northern limit of the tropical zone, causes considerable variety of climate, although the general characteristics are, of course, tropical. Where Manila is situated, the hottest season is from March to June, the greatest heat being felt generally in May, before the rains set in. During the months from November to February the sky is bright, the atmosphere cool and dry, and the weather in every way delightful.’’ ‘’The northern islands lie in the track of the typhoons which develop IN THE 0ACIkC AND SWEEP OVER THE China sea from northeast to southwest during the southwest monsoon. They are liable to occur at any time between May and November, but it is in the months of July, August

and September that they are most frequent. They are always storms of TERRIkC ENERGY FREQUENTLY CAUSING terrible devastation and destruction of crops and property on shore and of shipping on the sea.’’ ‘’For a tropical climate, that of the islands may be considered healthful for people of the white race, and even for natives of northern regions VISITING FOR THE kRST TIME A TROPICAL country if they pay ordinary attention to hygienic laws, particularly to cleanliness and temperance in eating and drinking.’’ ‘’The Philippine Malays are a superior race to many other Asiatic people; they are orderly, amiable, courteous, honest and hospitable, exceedingly superstitious, and when they profess to Christianity are easily INlUENCED BY THE PRIESTS “The mestizos or mixed races FORM A NUMEROUS AND INlUENTIAL portion of the population. The descendants of Spanish fathers and native mothers are numerous.

Another element is the Chinese and half-breeds of mixed Chinese and native blood. Few Chinese women come to the islands and the men intermarry with the native women.

There are probably not more than kFTEEN OR TWENTY THOUSAND 3PANiards or people of pure Spanish blood who are permanent or temporary residents, and the number of other foreigners is not large.’’ ‘’Education is much neglected.

Both the institutions for higher education and primary schools are antiquated in their methods, and altogether behind the times, and although in nearly every town and village that is under the control of the government a school may be found, neither the quantity nor quality of the instruction it imparts is satisfactory.’’ @ $URING THE YEAR THE total foreign commerce of the Philippine Islands amounted to

THE EXPORTS AMOUNTing to $20,175,000 and the imports TO

/F THE TOTAL FOREIGN trade, that with the United Kingdom amounted to $9,934,590, that with the United States to $5,145,303, that

with France to $3,782,000, with JaPAN TO

WITH 'ERMANY TO

AND WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

including Spain, to $9,488,238.

The principal articles of exports are manila hemp, sugar, copra, and tobacco. The chief imports of the Philippines are rice, flour, dress goods, wines, coal, and petroleum.

Of the exports from Spain to the ISLANDS IN THE COTTON FABRICS alone were valued at $4,915,851.’’ ‘’The population of the metropolis and its suburbs is about 250,000 to 300,000. Spanish statistics are notoriously unreliable and no accurate census has ever been taken, but the number of inhabitants is about 8,000,000. The bulk of the populaTION IS OF -ALAY ORIGIN /N THEIR kRST arrival the Spaniards found part of the natives in possession of some amount of civilization. They had a written language, of which some specimens have been preserved, though of no value in throwing light on their former history, and their traditions are very few. The Spanish priests here, as in Mexico and Central America, did all in their power to extirpate all mythological and other lore that existed, and unfortunately with almost complete success; but fortunately for the inhabitants they were treated more mercifully than in most of the other newly discovered countries acquired by Spain, so that they have increased in numbers instead of being exterminated, as in many places in the Western hemisphere.’’

Admiral Dewey on Filipinos Finally, George Dewey, the man who led the Americans to victory against the Spaniards in the May 1st Battle of Manila Bay had this to say on the Filipinos, as quoted from the book BY *AMES ( "LOUNT The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912, (Chapter 2, Dewey and Aguinaldo), published in 1913: ‘’Admiral Dewey repeatedly expressed the opinion, in the summer of 1898, that the Filipinos were far superior in intelligence to the Cubans and more capable of self-government.’’

Regions Islamic State uses Sabah to enter PH Z ˜ The Manila Times

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BY AL JACINTO

AMBOANGA CITY: Sabah, which the Sultanate of Sulu has claimed, was being used by Islamic State (IS) militants to enter the Philippines to establish bases from which to CARRY OUT TERROR ACTIVITIES A -ALAYSIAN OFkCIAL SAID

4HE -ALAY -AIL ON 4HURSDAY QUOTED )NSPECTOR 'ENERAL OF 0OLICE 4AN 3RI -OHAMAD &UZI (ARUN AS SAYING THAT MILITANTS WERE LOOKING FOR NEW BASES FROM WHICH TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF ATTACKS BY ALLIED FORCES ON )3 TARGETS IN 3YRIA AND )RAQ g7E ARE AWARE THAT IN 3OUTHEAST !SIA 4AWAU AND 3ANDAKAN ARE BEING USED AS TRANSIT POINTS

BY MILITANTS TO ENTER 3OUTHERN 0HILIPPINES AND 2AKHINE IN -YANMAR 4HAT IS FOR 3OUTHEAST !SIA )N %UROPEAN COUNTRIES WE KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT "ALKAN STATES SUCH AS "OSNIA AND A FEW

OTHER NATIONS u (ARUN SAID

ADDING THAT THIS WAS FROM INTELLIGENCE THEY GATHERED AND INFORMATION EXCHANGED WITH POLICE AGENCIES WORLDWIDE (E SAID POLICE WERE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION AND ARRESTS HAD BEEN MADE FROM TIME TO TIME TO KEEP MILITANTS IN CHECK g7E ARE ALSO MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CHECK THE SPREAD OF )SLAMIC 3TATE IDEOLOGY u (ARUN ADDED 4HE REPORT ALSO QUOTED (ARUNAS AS SAYING THAT THE NUMBER OF )3 MILITANTS WERE DECLINING DUE TO THE ALLIED CAMPAIGN g!T ONE

time, there were some 45,000 kGHTERS BUT NOW WE HAVE A REPORT THAT THE NUMBER HAS DROPPED TO

u HE SAID )N -ARCH THE -ALAY -AIL REPORTED THAT POLICE ARRESTED NINE PEOPLE WITH SUSPECTED LINKS TO AN !FRICAN BASED TERROR GROUP BEHIND THE ALLEGED PLANS TO LAUNCH LARGE SCALE ATTACKS IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES )T SAID TWO OF THE SUSPECTS AN %GYPTIAN AND A 4UNISIAN WERE BELIEVED TO BE kGHTERS OF THE !NSAR !L 3HARIAH !L 4UNISIA WHICH IS PART OF THE AL 1AEDA TERROR NETWORK OPERATING IN .ORTH !FRICA 4HE TWO AGED AND TRANSITED THROUGH -ALAYSIA WITH THE HELP OF SEVEN PEOPLE kVE OF THEM %GYPTIANS AND TWO -ALAYSIANS

WHO PROVIDED LODGINGS AND PAID FOR THEIR OTHER EXPENSES INCLUDING PLANE TICKETS TO THE 0HILIPPINES (ARUN S STATEMENT COINCIDED WITH 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE S WARNING TO FOREIGNERS TO STAY AWAY FROM :AMBOANGA WHICH MAY BE A

TARGET OF )3 AND !BU 3AYYAF 'ROUP 4HERE HAD BEEN NO KIDNAP !3' BANDITS PINGS OF FOREIGN BIRDWATCHERS IN :AMBOANGA #ITY BUT IN &EBRUWarning ARY !3' BANDITS UNDER (AJAN 3AWADJAAN AND SUSPECTED #ITING A RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE RE- -ORO .ATIONAL ,IBERATION &RONT PORT $UTERTE ADDRESSING PARTICI- MEMBERS KIDNAPPED %UROPEAN PANTS IN THE TH 5NION !SIA 0ACIkC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS ,ORENZO 2EGIONAL #ONFERENCE IN 0ASAY #ITY 6INCIGUERRA FROM 3WITZERLAND AND SAID g4HERE S A CERTAIN PLACE WHICH %WOLD (ORN

FROM (OLLAND IN ) WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANY- THE COASTAL VILLAGE OF 0ARANGAN IN BODY TO GO THERE NOT JUST AS YET 0ANGLIMA 3UGALA 4AWI 4AWI THIS IS :AMBOANGA 3OME %UROPE6INCIGUERRA ESCAPED FROM HIS ANS GO THERE FOR BIRD WATCHING AND GUARDS AND WAS RECOVERED BY THEY WERE CAPTURED AND EVENTUALLY SOLDIERS IN $ECEMBER AFTER WERE DECAPITATED EVEN AFTER THE HE ALLEGEDLY HACKED ONE OF HIS PAYMENT OF RANSOM u GUARDS ‡ *UHURIM (USSIEN ‡ WITH g)T IS THE )3 ACTUALLY )T USED TO A BOLO 4HE FATE OF (ORN HOWEVER

BE THE !BU 3AYYAF .OW IT S AN !BU WAS STILL UNKNOWN 3AYYAF TERRITORY 4HEY DO NOTHING 0HILIPPINE AUTHORITIES BLAMED BUT KILL AND DESTROY u HE ADDED THE !3' AND )3 FOR THE TWIN "UT $UTERTE MAY HAVE CONFUSED SUICIDE BOMBINGS OF A #ATHOLIC :AMBOANGA #ITY WITH 4AWI 4AWI CATHEDRAL IN *OLO 3ULU EARLY THIS PROVINCE WHEN HE SAID THAT SOME YEAR 4HE ATTACKS CARRIED OUT BY %UROPEAN BIRDWATCHERS WERE KID- AN )NDONESIAN COUPLE KILLED NAPPED AND EVENTUALLY DECAPITATED AND WOUNDED DOZENS OF PEOPLE

MOSTLY SOLDIERS GUARDING THE

BY MILITANTS

A7

#ATHEDRAL OF /UR ,ADY OF -OUNT #ARMEL ON *ANUARY 4HESE OCCURRED TWO YEARS AFTER HUNDREDS OF !3' AND PRO )3 MILITANTS AND CIVILIAN SUPPORTERS WERE CAPTURED IN -ARAWI #ITY ,ANAO DEL 3UR 'OVERNMENT TROOPS RECOVERED THE CITY AFTER kVE MONTHS OF HOUSE TO HOUSE AND CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE THAT KILLED AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS MILITANTS AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS $UTERTE S WARNING CAME AFTER )3 SUICIDE BOMBERS STRUCK CHURCHES AND HOTELS IN 3RI ,ANKA THAT KILLED OVER PEOPLE ON %ASTER 3UNDAY -EANWHILE :AMBOANGA -AYOR -ARIA )SABELLE #LIMACO 3ALAZAR SAID g7E HEIGHTENED SECURITY IN THE CITY AND WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF ALERT AS A PRE EMPTIVE MEASURE FOLLOWING THE 3RI ,ANKA BOMBINGS u 0OLICE SPOKESMAN #APT 3HELLAMAE #HANG SAID THE HIGH ALERT LEVEL IN :AMBOANGA REMAINS ESPECIALLY IN PLACES OF WORSHIP

Fire razes 90 houses More cocaine blocks recovered in Caraga in Cebu City, 3 hurt !. AFTERNOON BLAZE GUTTED AT LEAST HOUSES THAT ALSO INJURED THREE PERSONS IN A HIGHLY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL AREA IN 3ITIO 3ILANGAN OF "ARANGAY 4EJERO #EBU #ITY ON &RIDAY #HIEF )NSP .OEL .ELSON !BABON #EBU #ITY kRE MARSHAL SAID THE BLAZE ORIGINATED FROM THE RENTED HOUSE OF *OEY "ANTUGAN

WHICH WAS OWNED BY 0RECIANO +AROMAYAN

4HE kRE ALARM WAS RECEIVED BY THE #EBU #ITY &IRE $EPARTMENT AT PM THAT WAS RAISED TO 4ASK &ORCE !LPHA AT PM AND PLACED UNDER CONTROL AT PM !BABON SAID HOUSES WERE TOTALLY RAZED WHILE HOUSES WERE PARTIALLY BURNED $AMAGE TO PROPERTY IS ESTIMATED AT 0 MILLION 4HE CAUSE OF kRE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION AS OF &RIDAY AFTERNOON RHEA RUTH ROSELL

Nationinbriefs LIDAR MAPS TO EQUIP COMPOSTELA VS DISASTER DAVAO CITY: Compostela Valley recently received seven Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) Maps from the University of the Philippines (UP)–Mindanao. The provincial government said Lidar maps is one of the most important components of the Geo-SAFER Southern Mindanao Project being implemented in the province. Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy and University of the Philippines-Mindanao recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the Geo-informatics for the Systematic Assessment of Flood Effects and Risk towards a Resilient Southeastern Mindanao (Geo-SAFER Southeastern Mindanao) Project.

Under the MoA, UP-Mindanao committed to provide Compostela Valley P2.3 million for Geo-SAFER project facilities. Uy said the project also aimed to keep the lives of the people who are at risk in times of calamity given that Compostela Valley is among the affected areas in Davao Region during floods when the rainy season or tropical depression hit southern and eastern Mindanao.

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

DPWH SETS UP WEIGHING SYSTEM FOR OVERLOADED CARGO TRUCKS BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will install a state of the art weighing system in Nueva Vizcaya to protect the national road from big cracks and prevent accidents caused by overloaded cargo trucks plying the Cagayan-Manila route via the Cagayan Valley region.

Records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province revealed that overloading among cargo trucks were the most common causes of vehicular accidents and perennial traffic congestion along the Diadi-Santa Fe portion of the national highway in this province. DPWH south district chief Glen Miguel said the weighing in motion machine to be installed in Barangay Darapidap of Aritao town would check the correct load of cargo trucks and other vehicles. Miguel said the DPWH central office already conducted an ocular inspection in the area where the new weighing system would be installed. Once the system is installed, all passing cargo trucks and other vehicles would be scanned and checked for allowable loads. The Land Transportation Office will receive recorded violations on overloading and enforce penalties among violators, Miguel added.

LEANDER C. DOMINGO

FOREST RANGER SHOT DEAD IN NEGROS ORIENTAL BACOLOD CITY: A forest ranger of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) engaged in money lending was shot dead in Barangay Panalaan, Bais City in Negros Oriental. The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOrPPO) identified the victim as Rodrigo Reyes, 59, of Sitio Lighi, Barangay Mabunao in Basi City. Reyes was having lunch with friends at the JEZIL store at Sitio checkpoint in Barangay Panalaan when two unidentified suspects with covered faces appeared, and shot Reyes in the neck, killing him instantly, while the other stood as look out. One of the suspects then grabbed the victim’s sling bag then fired another shot and fled. The victim’s daughter told the police her father usually carries a sling bag containing a huge amount of money for his lending business. The victim’s bag allegedly contained about P100,000 in cash, a Vivo mobile phone, a Samsung tablet, receipts and documents of pawned items.

EUGENE Y. ADIONG

SLAIN ANTIPOLO POLICE OFFICER GETS MEDAL THE Philippine National Police accorded a Medalya ng Kadakilaan (Heroism Medal) to Patrolman Ariel Dapyawen who was killed in an encounter during an anti-drug operation in Antipolo, Rizal. The award for Dapyawen, a member of the intelligence unit of the Antipolo City police, was received by his family during a ceremony recently. His colleague, Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Monjardin, who suffered wounds during the same operation, also received similar award. Dapyawen and Monjardin acted as poseur buyers during an operation against brothers Ranie and Celeste Lajota in Barangay de la Paz. But the suspects noticed that they were transacting with authorities and fired at the officers triggering a firefight. Dapyawen suffered multiple gunshots wounds, while Monjardin was hit once. The firefight also killed Celeste, while Ranie was cornered after he tried to escape. The suspects were also members of Lego Group, a gun-for-hire group operating in Rizal. Ranie was facing two counts of murder in previous incidents.

GABRIELA BARON

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte: .INE BRICKS OF COCAINE WERE RECOVERED AND TURNED OVER BY kSHERS IN $INAGAT )SLANDS AND 3URIGAO DEL .ORTE RECENTLY

THE 0HILIPPINE .ATIONAL 0OLICE IN #ARAGA 2EGION 0.0 REPORTED )N A STATEMENT 0.0 $IRECTOR "RIG 'EN 'ILBERTO $# #RUZ SAID kSHERS REPORTED EIGHT BRICKS OF SUSPECTED COCAINE THEY RECOVERED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHILE kSHING ON 7EDNESDAY AT ,ORETO TOWN IN $INAGAT )SLANDS &ISHER *OUIE #ABANTOC AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE kSHING ALONG THE AREA OF "ARANGAY (ELEN 'IBOSONG )SLAND IN ,ORETO TOWN WHEN THEY FOUND THE lOATING ODD BROWN BRICK WRAPPED

IN TRANSPARENT PLASTIC 4HEY REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO "ARANGAY +AGAWAD VILLAGE COUNCILMAN 2AMIL -ARQUITO WHO TURNED OVER THE ITEM TO 0.0 0ROVINCIAL -OBILE &ORCE IN $INAGAT 3IMILARLY kSHERS #LYDE #ABE AND HIS TWIN #LARK "ENITO #ABANTOC

AND *OSELITO "ALBUENA WERE ALSO kSHING IN THE AREA WHEN THEY DISCOVERED SEVEN SEALED BRICKS OF COCAINE 4HE RECOVERED BLOCKS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE ,ORETO 0.0 -EANWHILE #RUZ SAID ANOTHER BRICK OF COCAINE WAS RECOVERED BY kSHER %DGAR -ORENO

IN "ARANGAY !BAD 3ANTOS OF 3TA -ONICA 3URIGAO

DEL .ORTE ON !PRIL -ORENO TOLD AUTHORITIES HE FOUND THE OBJECT WRAPPED IN PLASTIC CELLOPHANE WHILE kSHING IN THE AREA 2ESULTS CONkRMED THE ITEMS WERE COCAINE OF GRAMS WITH ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE OF 0 MILLION #RUZ SAID INTENSIkED INFORMATION DRIVE TO COMMUNITIES IN #ARAGA 2EGION LED TO THE RECOVERY OF THE BRICKS OF COCAINE ,AST &EBRUARY SOME BRICKS OF COCAINE WEIGHING KILOS

ESTIMATED BY THE $ANGEROUS $RUGS "OARD TO VALUE 0 MILLION WERE RECOVERED BY FISHERFOLK IN #AGDIANAO $INAGAT )SLANDS

/N &EBRUARY AND BRICKS OF COCAINE WEIGHING KILOS VALUED AT 0 MILLION WERE ALSO RECOVERED IN 3AN )SIDRO 3URIGAO DEL .ORTE !NOTHER BRICKS OF COCAINE VALUED AT 0 MILLION WERE ALSO TURNED OVER BY kSHERS TO AUTHORITIES IN 4ANDAG #ITY

3URIGAO DEL 3UR ON &EBRUARY WHILE ANOTHER kSHERS FROM "URGOS 3URIGAO DEL .ORTE ALSO TURNED OVER BRICKS OF COCAINE THEY RECOVERED ESTIMATED AT 0 MILLION #RUZ SAID A TOTAL OF BRICKS OF COCAINE WEIGHING KILOS WITH 0 MILLION VALUE HAD BEEN RECOVERED IN THE REGION THIS YEAR ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

Go backs call for disaster resiliency department &/2-%2 SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE 0RESIDENT 3!0 &RIDAY THAT PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN 2EGION AND 3ENATE CANDIDATE #HRISTOPHER ,AWRENCE AS A RESULT OF THE MAGNITUDE QUAKE IN g"ONGu 'O SUPPORTED 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE S %ASTERN 3AMAR 'O SAID THE MATTER WAS BROUGHT UP ANEW BY CALL FOR THE CREATION OF A $EPARTMENT OF $ISASTER 2ESILIENCE AMID THE DEADLY MAGNITUDE EARTH- $UTERTE DURING THE BRIEkNG IN 3AN &ERNANDO

0AMPANGA AFTER CONDUCTING AN OCULAR INSPECQUAKE THAT HIT #ENTRAL ,UZON ON -ONDAY $URING HIS THIRD 3TATE OF THE .ATION !DDRESS TION IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TREMOR 4HE FORMER 3!0 SAID THAT IF ELECTED TO THE ON *ULY

$UTERTE REITERATED HIS CALL FOR #ONGRESS TO PASS A LAW CREATING A MORE EMPOW- 3ENATE HE WOULD PRESS EFFORTS TO PASS A LAW ERED DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE FULL TIME CREATING THE $EPARTMENT OF $ISASTER 2ESILIENCY 'O HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE ESTABFOCUS ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND TAKE CHARGE OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PREPAREDNESS AND RE- LISHMENT OF STRONG SAFE AND WELL EQUIPPED SPONSE WITH BETTER RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION EVACUATION CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY AS PART OF HIS g-ADALAS PO TAMAAN NG BAGYO LINDOL AT IBA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA -EANWHILE 'O ASSURED THE PEOPLE OF PANG KALAMIDAD ANG ATING BANSA +UNG MAY IISANG AHENSYA PO NA NAKATUTOK DITO MAS MAAYOS MA- 3AMAR AND ADJACENT PROVINCES ROCKED BY THE BILIS AT MAAASAHAN ANG SERBISYONG MAIBIBIGAY NG MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ON 4UESDAY THAT THE GOBYERNO PARA RUMESPONDE AT IHANDA ANG BANSA SA $UTERTE ADMINISTRATION WOULD EXTEND TO THEM KIND OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN GANITONG MGA HINDI INAASAHANG PANGYAYARI /UR THE SAME VICTIMS OF #ENTRAL COUNTRY IS OFTEN HIT BY TYPHOON EARTHQUAKE AND to the QUAKE OTHER CALAMITIES )F THERE WOULD BE ONE AGENCY TO ,UZON FOCUS ON THESE WE COULD EXPECT A MORE EFkCIENT AND RELIABLE SERVICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS UNEXPECTED EVENTUALITIES u 'O SAID 4HE #ENTRAL ,UZON QUAKE LEFT A TOTAL OF DEATHS

INJURED AND MISSING IN 2EGION ACCORDING TO THE .ATIONAL $ISASTER 2ISK 2EDUCTION AND -ANAGEMENT #OUNCIL .$22-# )T ALSO DAMAGED A TOTAL OF STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS IN 2EGION AND THE .ATIONAL #APITAL 2EGION Q Senate candidate Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go 4HE .$22-# ALSO REPORTED ON

(E SAID THE 0RESIDENT S MAIN DIRECTIVE TO CONCERNED AGENCIES WAS TO RESTORE NORMALCY IN #ENTRAL ,UZON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 4HE FORMER 3!0 SAID THE STRONG QUAKES THAT HIT ,UZON AND 3AMAR SHOULD BE A REMINDER TO EVERYONE NOT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED THE EARTHQUAKE DRILLS ,IKEWISE 'O ADDED THAT SIMILAR TO THE QUAKE VICTIMS IN 0AMPANGA THOSE AFFECTED BY THE TREMOR IN 3AMAR AND NEARBY AREAS NEEDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE COULD SEEK HELP FROM THE -ALASAKIT #ENTER IN 4ACLOBAN #ITY

CoA uncovers ghost projects in Kalinga TABUK CITY, Kalinga: 'OVERNMENT AUDITORS UNCOVERED ALLEGED GHOST AND DEFECTIVE PROJECTS OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN 0 MILLION WHEN IT CONDUCTED ITS REGULAR AUDIT OF THREE PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE PERCENT ,OCAL $EVELOPMENT &UND AND ONE PROJECT FUNDED UNDER THE 3PECIAL %DUCATION &UND 4HE PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN DURING THE TERM OF 'OV *OCEL "AAC CONSISTED OF CONSTRUCTION OF A FARM TO MARKET ROAD ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND PERIMETER FENCING AND RENOVATION OF A SPORTS COMPLEX 4HE AUDIT TEAM CONDUCTED ITS REGULAR AUDIT OF THE PROJECTS AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE EITHER UNkNISHED OR HAD DEFECTS CONTRARY TO THE REPORT OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT THAT THE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETELY ACCOMPLISHED 3UPERVISING AUDITOR ,EA $AGUIO AND AUDIT TEAM LEADER "ERNADETTE 0EKAS WROTE IN THEIR !UDIT /BSERVATION -EMORANDUM !/-

DATED *AN

THAT THEY FOUND

THE PROJECTS gPOORLY PLANNED UNSUPERVISED AND NOT MONITORED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT u 4HE PROJECT ENGINEER OF THE FOUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ALSO ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO REPORT TO THE INSPECTION TEAM WHAT WAS ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED RESULTING IN AN UNDERRUN OF OVER 0 MILLION 4HE !/- ALSO NOTED THAT PROPOSED EXISTING OR ONGOING PROJECTS FROM OTHER FUNDING AGENCIES

AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR SOME ITEMS OF WORK WERE NOT CONSIDERED DURING THE PLANNING PHASE OF THE AUDITED PROJECTS 4HE #OMMISSION ON !UDIT #O! TECHNICAL INSPECTION REPORT ALSO REVEALED PERCENT DEkCIENCY IN ALL ITEMS OF WORK IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 0 MILLION -ANGALI "ANAGAO FARM TO MARKET ROAD IN "ANAGAO 4ANUDAN +ALINGA BY 4.* #ONSTRUCTION CONTRARY TO THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT S CLAIM THAT ALL WORKS WERE COMPLETED 4HE REPORT ADDED THAT THE $E-

PARTMENT OF 0UBLIC WORKS AND (IGHWAYSm,OWER +ALINGA $ISTRICT %NGINEERING /FkCE $07( ,+$%/ ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH -'32 #ONSTRUCTION TO WORK ON THE PROJECTS %ARLIER DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR AUDIT SHOWED THE PROJECT STARTED ON -ARCH AND WAS COMPLETED ON $EC

BUT UPON FURTHER VERIkCATION IT WAS DISCLOSED THAT THE $07( ,+$%/ IMPLEMENTED A SIMILAR PROJECT ON THE SAME ROAD NETWORK WHICH WAS COMPLETED ON &EB

LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE START OF THE SAME PROJECT BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 4HE AUDIT TEAM MADE AN OCULAR INSPECTION AT THE PROJECT SITE ON -ARCH

BUT COULD HARDLY DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN WHAT $07( ,+$%/ ACCOMPLISHED AND CLAIMED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 4HE #O! REPORT ALSO SHOWED THAT ROAD IMPROVEMENT IN "ARANGAY "ILAG TO 3AN *ULIAN 4ABUK

#ITY AMOUNTING TO 0 MILLION BY 0AKBIENG 3IENG #ONSTRUCTION

WAS ONLY PERCENT ACCOMPLISHED CONTRARY TO THE MANAGEMENT CERTIkCATION THAT THE PROJECT WAS PERCENT COMPLETE THUS

A TOTAL DEkCIENCY AMOUNTING TO OVER 0

4HE !/- REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS SHOWED THAT THE PERIMETER FENCE AT THE +ALINGA 3TATE 5NIVERSITY +35 COSTING 0 BY % 4 !MILIG #ONSTRUCTION WAS APPROVED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON A PROJECT PROPOSAL

BY A FORMER PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER AND NOT FROM THE +35 ADMINISTRATION 4HERE WAS A DEkCIENCY OF OVER 0 EQUIVALENT TO THE COST OF THE LINEAL METERS SINCE ONLY OF LINEAL METERS OF FENCING WERE COMPLETED /N -ARCH

0EKAS WROTE "AAC ASKING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE ON THEIR AUDIT FINDINGS BUT NO RESPONSE HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE AUDIT TEAM DEXTER A. SEE

A8

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

El Niùo crop losses balloon to P7.96B In its latest advisory, the department’s Disaster Risk Reduction Operations Center said an ongoing drought had destroyed 447,889 metric tons of rice and corn, more than double from March 31.

Damage to the rice sector alone was P4.04 billion, with an estimated production loss of 191,761 metric tons (MT), covering 144,202 hectares.

The drought has also affected 140,387 rice farmers nationwide.

Corn losses were pegged at P3.89 billion or 254,776 MT over 133,007 hectares and affecting 105,937 farmers.

The Agriculture department said it had already released P360 million in insurance payments and emergency loans to affected FARMERS AND kSHERFOLK

Of this, P264.515 million was paid to 24,119 farmers by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., while the remaining P95.875 million was provided under the department’s Survival and Recovery Assistance program.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol told reporters that cloud seeding in Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) had helped increase water levels at the Magat Dam and watershed areas in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

He added that the department remained optimistic of hitting its 2019

Q TOLL FROM A1

ate� magnitude 5 and two “light� magnitude 4 earthquakes that rocked Surigao del Norte, Ilocos Norte and Leyte were unrelated to the back-to-back magnitude 6.1 and 6.5 temblors in Castillejos, Zambales and San Julian, Eastern Samar on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

A tectonic magnitude 5.3 quake was recorded 71 kilometers southeast of General Luna, Surigao del Norte, in southern Mindanao, with a depth of 9 kilometers at 1:26 p.m.

Magnitude 2 was felt in Surigao City.

Magnitude 5, the highest, was recorded at 2:04 p.m.

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was recorded 7 kilometers southwest of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte at 3 a.m.

It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Magnitudes 4 and 3 were felt in San Nicolas and Sarrat town, respectively.

Another tectonic earthquake of magnitude 4.0 was recorded also 7 kilometers northeast of Albuera,

Leyte at 10:44 a.m.

It had a depth of 2 kilometers.

Magnitude 3 was felt in Ormoc City. “Earthquakes occur every day.

That is a trend even though we felt strong earthquakes recently. There are fault lines across the Philippines so earthquakes usually occur,� Phivolcs project assistant Jun Tanganan said, adding that there was a usual average of 20 earthquakes per day of low magnitudes.

Eight “light� earthquakes of magnitudes 4 and above were recorded

by Phivolcs in the last few days.

As of 8 a.m. also on Friday, Phivolcs recorded 741 aftershocks from the Zambales and Eastern Samar earthquakes, 102 plotted or CONkRMED BY MORE INSTRUMENTS AND 10 felt by people.

Strengths were observed to be from magnitude 1.4 to 4.5.

Eastern Samar continued to register fewer aftershocks.

Tanganan said the aftershocks are fading out but they might still last up to several weeks. DEMPSEY REYES AND DIVINA D. DELA CRUZ

C

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

ROP damage due to the El NiĂąo weather pattern had surged to P7.96 billion, the Agriculture department said on Friday.

Death Ricardo Jalad, NDRRMC executive director, on Friday said the casualties all came from Central Luzon, the hardest-hit by the 6.1-magnitude temblor that struck the region on Monday.

In a report, the council said 3,205 families or 14,901 persons in 13 cities and municipalities of the region were affected by the earthquake.

Of this number, it added, 909 families or 3,381 persons were now inside evacuation centers, and 951 families or 4,756 persons were outside the temporary shelters.

The NDRRMC said 1,230 houses in Bataan and Pampanga provinces were damaged by the tremblor, of which 156 were totally damaged and 1,074 were partly damaged.

It added that in Central Luzon and Metro Manila (National Capital Region), 138 structures were damaged.

Also on Friday, the “moder-

rice output target of 20 million MT “Our production is high. In fact, OUR ;REGIONAL OFkCES= HAVE REPORTed that despite El NiĂąo, Central Luzon, which is our major rice production area, has increased its yield by 22 percent compared to last year,â€? PiĂąol said.

The Agriculture chief reiterated claims that the overall impact on total agricultural production would be “very minimal.â€? “We’re not trying to [downGRADE= THE EFFECTS OF %L .IĂ„O ON agriculture but in as far as its impact on our production for rice, it’s less than one percent. For corn, it’s a little over 2 percent. We can cope with it,â€? PiĂąol said.

Q TERMINATION FROM A1

’ROCKSTAR’S’ WELCOME

Former special assistant to the President and Senate aspirant Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go gets a welcome befitting a ‘rockstar’ during a motorcade that took him back to places in the cities of ParaĂąaque and Las PiĂąas that he had previously visited as a government official. The residents recalled how he assisted the victims of fires that devastated their neighborhoods then.

QUESTIONABLE CONTRACT

After an initial ceremonial groundbreaking, construction activities took on a frenzied pace, very soon revealing an overview of the entire port complex spread over an 11.4-hectare slice of the Mariveles coast on Manila Bay, with an initial 247-meter quay.

SNPSI Chairman Ramon Atayde explained that the planned dry bulk terminal was designed to handle shipment of coal, clinker, silica sand and other cement raw materials, steel, fertilizer and other dry bulk cargo. He said SNPSI would eventually also build facilities for warehousing, stevedoring, lightening and towing of cargo.

Phases of Project Phase 1 of the project was for accommodating two vessels of about 120 meters long, or one supramax/ panama vessel, as well as handle a capacity of at least 3 million tons per year. The second and third phases would expand the bulk terminal to accommodate two more vessels or one supramax/panama vessel.

Completion of the entire port complex would require one whole year, so that operations of its facilities would not come about until 2016.

From the looks of it, the construction blast was a far cry from what SNPSI had originally intended the undertaking to be. When the joint venture company was formed between the Seasia Port Services Philippines, Inc. and Nectar, Ltd. of London in 2014, the plan it had in mind was the construction of a dry bulk terminal, yes, but a lot smaller, with a budget of P60 million, over an area of some 5 hectares, with limited quay and draft capable of handling only barges.

But in March 2014, Holcim Philippines, Inc. took the initiative of arranging a meeting between Holcim’s President Ed Sahagun and SNPSI’s Chairman Ramon Atayde during which Holcim expressed interest to use the SNPSI’s port facilities exclusively if SNPSI was willing to invest in a bigger terminal that could accommodate Holcim’s operational

requirements.

Certainly, the idea was attractive.

Holcim is a reputed name in the realm of construction, engaged in heavy manufacture, sale and distribution of cement, dry mix mortar products, and clinker. The company is also involved in the ready-mix concrete business. In 2014, the company launched Holcim Skim Coat, Holcim Tile Adhesive and Holcim 7ATERPROOkNG From all angles, Holcim had got what it took for SNPSI to get ASSURED OF MAXIMUM PROkTABLE USE of its port facilities on a continuing, regular basis.

been delivered.

"UT ONE SIGNIkCANT ASPECT ABOUT THE BANK kNANCING IS THAT WITH ITS requirement of the signing of the MOA, it succeeded in putting in its own records corroborating evidence of a questionable act committed by Holcim’s currently sitting president, John Stull.

Succession of presidents

So much water has flown under the bridge of the Holcim Philippines, Inc. presidency. Ed Sahagun, who had indefatigably worked out the deal with SNPSI, thereby ushering in a period of Negotiations and (0) REAPING MACRO BENEkTS FROM agreements the operations of the SNPSI Bataan dry bulk terminal, had gone The period from April to December on retirement.

2014 was one for SNPSI and HPI to This happened at a time when iron out details of their deal. some irritants were developing beIn the series of talks that took tween HPI and SNPSI over issues of place, Atayde informed HPI that bunching of HPI vessels that denied SNPSI would be willing to invest space for other clients. Their conas per Holcim specification but TRACT SPECIkES A GUARANTEED OFFTAKE

obviously, this would necessitate withdrawal of at least 3000MT/day SNPSI putting in more equity and of HPI cargo from the Terminal in borrowing money and therefore, order to free up the area for non-ceSNPSI would need at least a 10-year ment clients. contract with a minimum volume Sahagun had left with an assurguarantee. In return, SNPSI would ance to Atayde that the contract guarantee a discharge rate and other with SNPSI having been approved services. The rates and fees would by the HPI board, stayed valid even be negotiated based on open books with his retirement. And Sahagun’s with SNPSI requiring a 20% Return successor, Ms. Sapna Sood, turned out accommodating enough to on Capital Employed (ROCE).

At any rate, it was a period guided listen to SNPSI’s plaints. But for by goodwill on both sides. This was some reason, Sood was shortly evident in the initial terms agreed removed and her replacement was upon, to wit, among others: an American guy. It is during Stull’s 10-year agreement (as demanded tenure that relations between SNby SNPSI) with volume assessments PSI and HPI have gone from bad bi-annually to worse.

Initial guaranteed volume of 1 Here is an SNPSI insider speakmillion tons ING g3INCE *OHN 3TULL TOOK OFkCE

Sliding scale for rates – increase Mr. Atayde had repeatedly requested volume = lower per ton rate for a meeting, through emails, letters %FkCIENT VESSEL DISCHARGING WITH AND CALLS TO HIS OFkCE *OHN 3TULL minimum rate of 5,000t/day, guided never bothered to reply.� operational requirement of 8,000t/ On July 23, 2018, Holcim sent day a letter terminating its contract Truck loading rate of 3,000t/day with SNPSI. Shortly, SNPSI sent a Demurrage is for SNPSI’s account; Notice of Dispute questioning the despatch shall be shared 50/50 termination.

HPI shall be the only cement On August 17, 2018, Stull replied company to utilize the bulk material to SNPSI’s Notice of Dispute: “We terminal insist on our right to pre-terminate based on provision in the Port SerBig financial risk vices Agreement.�

But the Provision of the Port Meanwhile, SNPSI was able to Services Agreements between the negotiate for financing of the Parties states: “Unless terminated project by Union Bank in the earlier in accordance with the proamount of P800 million. As visions hereof, this Agreement shall a condition for its approval take effect on August 1, 2016 and of the financing loan, Union- shall continue to be in force up to bank required the submission July 31, 2026.� of a Memorandum of Agreement Expressly provided for as part (MOA) between SNPSI and HPI of the Port Services Agreement is as required by Unionbank for its the Memorandum of Agreement APPROVAL OF THE kNANCE LOAN 4HE (MOA) signed by Sahagun and -/! SPECIkED A YEAR CONTRACT Atayde on January 12, 2015, which and an agreed rate of P402/MT; provides for termination of the minimum guaranteed volume contract by mutual agreement. and take or pay scheme. Take The question for Stull is: Was or pay means, for the total of there a mutual agreement in your 700,000 MT of foreign cargo and termination act of July 23, 2018?

300,000 MT of local coal submit- What’s that Notice of Dispute sent ted to the bank as guaranteed you by SNPSI? Does it not effectively under the contract, any shortfall negate the aforesaid “mutuality of will be slapped a corresponding agreement� clause in the MOA? charge as if such shortfall has To be continued

PSEi 7,868.28 DOWN 0.33%

P52.18 TO $1

SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 1 . 2 0 %

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MONEY TALKS

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BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

T

HE Philippines is expected to continue posting strong growth in the next few years and poised to become an upper-middle income country by 2022 and a trillion-dollar economy by 2032, according to an IHS Markit report.

In its “Philippines Tiger Economy Still Set for Dynamic Growth� report released on Friday, the London-based RESEARCH kRM MAINTAINED ITS PERCENT economic growth forecast for the country for 2019 and 2020, a slowdown from last year’s 6.2-percent expansion.

These projections were lower than THE 7ORLD "ANK S REVISED FORECAST OF PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR AND PERCENT

and the government’s sound fiscal position. JCR also expects the Philippines to grow at an annual rate of between 6 percent and 7 percent in the future on solid domestic demand. “Economic growth is expected to accelerate in the medium to long term as supply constraints will be mitigated by infrastructure development,� it said.

Infrastructure development, it added, has accelerated under the Duterte administration amid expanding expenditures based on its Public Investment Program and improved budget execution rate brought by budget reforms. The Philippine economy recorded a fullyear GDP growth rate of 6.2 percent in 2018, lower than the government’s revised target of 6.5 to 6.9 percent. This is also lower than the 6.7 percent and 6.9 percent recorded in 2017 and 2016, respectively, largely due to

ÂłOutlook B2

Right and wrong messages MOBILITY M MATTERS ETRO Manilans experienced exceptionally difkCULT COMMUTES THIS PAST WEEK MRT3 was off line during Holy Week. Then came the earthquake on Monday, April 22, shutting down all three rail lines during rush hour.

7ITH BUSES AND JEEPNEYS kLLED to the brim, BUT STUCK IN TRAFkC

streets and sidewalks were overflowing with people desperate to get home, UNABLE TO kND ANY viable option. Many ended up walking home that night. Sadly, these experiences harden commuters’ resolve to buy a private motor vehicle as soon as they can afford (to our collective detriment).

Commuters deserve better, but improvements in mobility continue to be elusive. Taking public transport today means heavy crowding, breathing polluted air, slow travel, inconvenient connections and poor safety.

Commuters are also getting the impression that the government’s main transportation objective is to improve the travel speed of cars, even if this means disadvantaging people who walk or use public transport. They observe that recent government decisions harm the commuter while favoring the minority using private vehicles.

Public utility vehicles are intentionally restricted by the Metro Manila Development Authority and some local governments through “number-coding� (despite the severe public transport shortage, buses, jeepneys and

W B a n g ko k 0 . 3 7 %

‘PH to be upper-middle income country by 2022’ for 2020 and the Asian Development "ANK S PERCENT Despite this, IHS Markit chief econoMIST FOR !SIA 0ACIkC 2AJIV "ISWAS SAID the country’s growth outlook for both the medium and long term continues to be positive. “The Philippines economy has recorded a strong macroeconomic perforMANCE SINCE THE GLOBAL kNANCIAL CRISIS

[of 2008], with the total size of national GDP (gross domestic product) having risen from $200 billion in 2010 to around $330 billion by 2018,� he said. “The near-term outlook is for continued strong economic expansion, with GDP growth of around 6 percent per year over 2019 and 2020,� the economist added. +EY GROWTH ENGINES INCLUDE STRONG INlOWS OF REMITTANCES FROM OVERSEAS Filipino workers, high growth of the information technology-business process outsourcing sector, strong electronics industry exports, and the government’s massive infrastructure program.

The report also said the country was poised to be one of the upper middleincome countries by 2022 due to the economic reforms the government

implemented. “By 2022, the Philippines is projected to reach per capita GDP exceeding

PER PERSON WHICH WOULD PUSH IT into the ranks of upper-middle income developing countries. Rapidly growing household incomes in major cities, led

by Manila, will drive the growth of the domestic consumer market,� Biswas explained. “The Duterte administration has been pressing ahead with a number of SIGNIkCANT ECONOMIC REFORMS DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF ITS TERM IN OFkCE INcluding a major push to improve public infrastructure and the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which is expected to boost revenue growth,� he noted. “With a total population estimated

JCR raises outlook for PH to ‘positive’ THE Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (JCR) revised its investment grade credit rating outlook for the Philippines to “positive,� which means the country is now only a step away from securing another upgrade. “JCR has left the ratings unchanged in view of the need to assess progress on infrastructure development and the CTRP, but has changed the rating outlook from Stable to Positive. JCR will monitor future developments and reflect the outcome on the ratings,� the debt watcher said in a recent statement.

The Philippines’ BBB+ ratings, it added, mainly reflect the country’s high and sustainable economic growth performance.

According to the agency, this performance is underpinned by solid domestic demand, resilience to external shocks supported by an external debt kept low relative to gross domestic product (GDP) and the accumulation of foreign exchange reserves,

B2

W

CURRENCY RATE

B1

ROBERT SIY vans are barred from operating on certain days of the week, depending on the last digit on their license plates), so there will be more road space for private vehicles. Sidewalks are narrowed or eliminated to create additional car lanes. Ground-level pedestrian crosswalks are eliminated so that cars can go faster.

UV Express vans, each carrying 10-18 passengers are banned from EDSA so that more private cars with only 1 to 2 passengers can be accommodated on this important corridor. Provincial BUSES WHICH EACH CARRY TO passengers are threatened with the same fate. In these decisions, the short-sighted goal is to move the maximum number of cars instead of moving the maximum number of people.

Commuters get the strong hint that car users are the priority of government, while public transport users, representing the vast majority, are considered as “second class� citizens. “To have a superior travel experience, use A PRIVATE CAR u 4HIS IS DEkNITELY the wrong message to send to commuters.

Of course, major mass transit projects are being implemented, BUT ARE FAR FROM SUFkCIENT .EW rail projects are urgently needed and are being rushed, but the new

ÂłMobility B4

ÂłIncome B3

Households, firms hit with tighter lending rules

Q A man leaves with a sack of rice from a rice store at an unidentified market in Quezon City on Friday, the day the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said headline inflation decelerated to 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2019 from 5.9 percent in the previous quarter. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

BSP: Monetary policy still ‘appropriate’ THE Philippines’ monetary policy remains “appropriate� based on THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE kRST quarter of 2019, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). “[O]ur prevailing monetary policy stance remains appropriATE GIVEN THE CONlUENCE OF EASING INlATION AND kRM GROWTH DYNAMics,� Diokno said in his welcome remarks during the central bank’s PRESS BRIEkNG FOR THE &IRST 1UARTER )NlATION 2EPORT ON &RIDAY The BSP has decided to keep its monetary policy settings unchanged during the quarter based on its assessment of a more manAGEABLE INlATION ENVIRONMENT Diokno highlighted that headLINE INlATION FURTHER DECELERATED to 3.8 percent in January to March FROM PERCENT IN THE PREVIOUS quarter, mainly as a result of a sigNIkCANT DROP IN FOOD INlATION DUE to improved supply conditions.

He also said recent prevalent demand indicators continued to point to overall firm domestic growth prospects for the country. “In fact, survey-based consumer and business sentiment showed IMPROVED OUTLOOK IN kRST QUARTER of 2019,� Diokno added.

Results of the central bank’s latest Business Expectations Survey put the first quarter confidence index — computed as the percentage of companies that answered in THE AFkRMATIVE MINUS THOSE WHO REPLIED OTHERWISE ‡ AT PERcent, up from 27.2 percent three months earlier.

Meanwhile, the overall conSUMER CONkDENCE INDEX FOR THE kRST QUARTER ALSO IMPROVED TO PERCENT FROM PERCENT THREE months earlier. “The BSP continues to gauge the impact of its monetary policy responses on domestic economic

CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT INlATION remains on track toward the govERNMENT S TARGET OF TO PERCENT and that inflation expectations remain anchored,� Diokno said.

7HILE THE RISKS TO THE INlATION outlook are assessed to be evenly balanced this year, he, however, said further risks could emerge FROM A PROLONGED %L .IĂ„O AND higher-than-expected increase in global oil and food prices. !CCORDING TO THE INlATION REPORT A PROLONGED %L .IĂ„O PRESENTS upside price pressures on food prices. g4HE START OF A WEAK %L .IĂ„O condition could lead to droughts IN THE kRST HALF OF u THE REport said.

Citing the latest assessment of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, it noted that

ÂłPolicy B3

Vehicle import sales grow 8% in March AUTOMOBILE importers and distributors posted higher sales in March on the back of the doubledigit increase in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment.

In a statement late on Thursday, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. (AVID) SAID IT SOLD UNITS LAST MONTH

an 8-percent increase from 7,380 units in March 2018.

This was the second straight month that AVID ended a month on the positive note this year. In February, sales grew by 12 percent to 7,876 units, reversing January’s PERCENT DIP LCVs sold rose by 21 percent TO IN THE MONTH ‡ ACcounting for 63 percent of total SALES ‡ FROM A YEAR AGO

leading AVID to call the segment the “primary growth and volume

driver� of revenues.

The number of passenger cars sold dipped by 9 percent to 2,831 in March from 3,123 12 months before.

Sales of commercial vehicles, meanwhile, slid by 2 percent to 123 units from 126 a year earlier.

Despite the positive results, sales of imported vehicles are yet to recover as of end-March. )N THE kRST QUARTER !6)$ SAW ITS SALES SLIP BY PERCENT TO

units from 22,083 in the same period last year.

Sales of passenger and commercial vehicles dropped by 13 percent and 1 percent to 7,993 units and 336 units, respectively.

Meanwhile, LCV sales grew by PERCENT TO UNITS FROM

A YEAR AGO Despite the decreases, AVID

remains upbeat, noting that a revenue boost is anticipated in the next few months. “We expect a further upturn in the next three quarters on the back of improved consumer sentiment, the introduction of exciting and innovative vehicles, and the government’s aggressive infrastructure program,� AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

AVID is also banking on positive economic developments, such as EASING INlATION LOWER UNEMPLOYment rates and election spending, to boost favorable sentiment in the industry.

Last year, AVID sales plunged by 17 percent to 88,700 units from THE YEAR EARLIER

DUE TO HIGH INlATION RISING BORROWING costs oil price hikes and tax increases.

TYRONE C. PIAD

"!.+3 ON THE WHOLE TIGHTENED lending standards for businesses AND HOUSEHOLDS DURING THE kRST three months of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday. “[T]he diffusion index (DI) approach continued to indicate a net tightening of credit standards for both loans to enterprises and households,� the central bank said as it released results of its First 1UARTER 3ENIOR "ANK ,OAN /FkCERS 3URVEY .ET TIGHTENING OF CREDIT STANdards for enterprises was largely attributed by banks that participated in the poll to their percepTION OF STRICTER kNANCIAL SYSTEM regulations and reduced tolerance for risk. g)N TERMS OF SPECIkC CREDIT STANdards, DI-based results suggested stricter collateral requirements and loan covenants, shortened loan maturities, and increased use of interest rate floors,� the BSP said.

More banks expect overall credit standards for businesses to tighten over the next quarter, on the back of banks’ expectations of stricter

ÂłLending B2

Ayala Land share drop weighs on PSEi THE stock market retreated on Friday as the drop in Ayala Land Inc. Shares was said to have weighed on sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 0.33 percent or 26.17 points to close at 7,868.28. The wider All Shares declined by 0.23 percent or POINTS TO kNISH AT

P2P Trade Online sales associate Gabriel Jose Perez said the PSEi took a breather, largely due to a correction on Ayala Land shares after it shed 2.02 percent or P1 to kNISH AT 0 ON &RIDAY On Thursday, the property giANT S SHARES kNISHED UP BY percent following announcements that it would list within the second HALF OF THE YEAR ITS OFkCES WITHIN the Makati central business district, on the Real Estate Investment

ÂłWeighs B3

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

PH urged to boost data security

BY TYRONE C. PIAD

S

TRESSING the importance of information security, the New Zealand Privacy Commission urged the Philippines to protect its data from breaches or unauthorized access amid the increasing risks and vulnerabilities in the digital economy.

Speaking before government executives and businessmen during the Data Privacy Council meeting in Manila on Friday, New Zealand Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said a pri-

VACY OFkCER SHOULD BE ASSIGNED PER AGENCY or organization to monitor information security and compliance. “It is very important for you to ensure that they have the tools they need to keep your company compliant and safe,� he said.

He said implementing a BREACH NOTIkCATION SYS-

Q New Zealand's privacy commissioner John Edwards.

PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

tem is necessary to alert the privacy commission on data attacks in the country.

This would help the agency “critique� the data security systems of units victimized by unauthorized access, he added.

In the Philippines, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) mandates Personal Information Controllers (PICs) to send notification within 72 hours upon discovery of personal data breach, reporting the scope, nature and extent of the attack.

NPC Commssioner Raymund Liboro said the PICs should take measures to protect data subjects once they know about the hacking. The Privacy Data Act dictates “that failure to timely report a data breach is punishable by up to 5 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A kNE OF UP TO P1 million upon conviction.�

To reiterate his point, Edwards said, “[Data should be] stored securely and prevent them from being leaked. We have seen problems all around the world and the Philippines hasn’t been immune

Why you can call your financial planner best friend

OFWs major workforce in Taiwan’s giant firms ment, education, labor and human resources, including tourism, and [now] smart agriculture or aquaagriculture,� she said.

She added the Philippines is currently Taiwan’s fourth largest partner in terms of trade volume next to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Manila Economic AND #ULTURAL /FkCE -%#/ #HAIRman and Resident Representative Angelito Banayo vowed to assist Taiwanese companies and investors planning to set up businesses in the Philippines. “We want to position the Philippines as the gateway of 4AIWAN TO MARKETS IDENTIkED IN ITS new Southbound Policy and as a hub for its global market access strategies,� he said.

Banayo said Wistron, a computer MANUFACTURING OUTkT OF !CER )NC

Taiwan’s biggest computer firm, which left the Philippines for China in 2010, has decided to return and

resume its major manufacturing operations in Subic last year. As a RESULT SEVEN OF THE kRM S SUPPLY chain partners have followed suit and are now putting up shops in the country.

The New Kinpo Group, another major company in Taiwan that produces known brands such as Toshiba, Daisun and Hewlett Packard, also announced it will establish its Southeast Asian hub in the PhilIPPINES "ANAYO SAID THE kRM WILL expand its current workforce in the country, from the current 10,000 to 18,000 full-time employees within the next two years.

He said that while most of these electronics-based investments will have lower value effects on the country’s gross domestic product, they will help generate jobs, which is of great socioeconomic value to a country like the Philippines.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

THE Philippines continues to be a major source of manpower for Taiwan, supplying more than a hundred thousand overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the electronics industry there.

Dr. Kristy Hsu, director of the Taiwan Asean Studies Center at the Chung Hua Institution for Economic Research (Chier) made the statement during a recent symposium jointly organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 0HILIPPINE !0%# !SIA 0ACIkC %COnomic Cooperation) Study Center Network and Chier. “We have 122,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan. If you look at the BREAKDOWN OF SECTORS YOU WILL kND that Filipino workers have a unique presence in computer and electronics [technology]. More than 60 percent of foreign workers in electronic parts [assembly] are from the Philippines. Filipino workers make

up a major workforce in [Taiwan’s] large companies,� said Hsu. But despite the country’s huge contribution to Taiwan’s labor force, Hsu said Taiwan’s investment to the Philippines remains low compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. “Unfortunately, only about 3 percent of our total investments goes to the Philippines. About onethird of our total investments goes to Vietnam. Why? [This is] because of the population and government. Less democratic governments tend to be MORE EFkCIENT u (SU SAID Hsu however expressed confidence that the economic ties between Taiwan and the Philippines will strengthen. “In recent years, the bilateral relations [between the two countries] have moved toward a fulllEDGED PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP [by] entering into broader areas of cooperation such as trade, invest-

Q LENDING FROM B1

DA poised to upgrade farmers’ role

Households kNANCIAL SYSTEM REGULATIONS AND more uncertain economic outlook, among others.

Meanwhile, net tightening of credit standards for household loans were observed for housing, auto and personal/salary loans. “The overall net tightening of standards for household loans RElECTED STRICTER LOAN COVENANTS and increased use of interest rate lOORS u THE CENTRAL BANK SAID The banks, it added, attributed the tightening largely to their PERCEPTIONS OF STRICTER kNANCIAL system regulations and reduced tolerance for risk.

Credit standards are expected to be tigthened over the next quarter AS BANKS ANTICIPATE STRICTER kNANcial system regulations and lower tolerance for risk.

At the same time, results also showed increased demand for business and housing loans in THE kRST QUARTER AS WELL AS EXPECtations of a sustained increase in demand for such loans in the second. “The net increase in demand for business loans was attributed by respondent banks to their customers’ higher working capital requirements and investment in plant or equipment, as well as BANKS MORE ATTRACTIVE kNANCING terms during the quarter,� the Bangko Sentral said.

On housing loans, the banks attributed the growth to higher household consumption and the low interest rates they offered, among others.

Conducted since 2009, the survey helps the BSP enhance its understanding of banks’ lending behavior, an important indicator of the strength of credit activity in the country.

It also helps assess demand conditions, potential risks in asset markets, and possible strains in bank lending as a transmission channel of monetary policy.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has set high hopes that the country’s food producers would also be processors and entrepreneurs themselves to uplift their livelihood while increasing food production.

The government failed to do this in the past years, which limited farmers capacity to raise their productivity and earnings, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said.

For many years, he said Filipino farmers have been regarded as raw materials producers, when they can be processors and merchandisers of their products. “One of the problems in the country was the failure of the government actually to elevate the FARMER AND THE kSHERMEN FROM THE level of a raw material producer to a processor. That is precisely the reason why farmers complain of the very low prices of their produce. That is [also] precisely the reason why there is a disconnect between the farmgate price and the market price because farmers have no access to the market,â€? PiĂąol said at the sidelines of the Pilipinas Agila Tires launching on Friday.

He pointed to the lack of financial capacity of the farmers as well as lack of technical support for them to process their products which caused the problem on farmers being “mere raw materials producers�. This prompted the DA to expand its easy access credit for FARMERS AND kSHERMEN ACROSS THE country to boost their productivity and competitiveness.

In particular, the DA has alloted a P10-million initial working capital for the Philippine Rubber Farmers’ Cooperative (PRFC) with a 2-percent interest payable in eight years. PRFC is composed of farmers from Mindanao and Palawan.

It’s leading the effort to develop the Pilipinas Agila Tires, the counTRY S kRST FARMER OWNED MOTORCYCLE tire brand using locally-harvested rubber cup lumps. These tires were designed for working motorcycles or habal-habal and tricycles. The Pilipinas Agila tires are expected to enter the market soon at prices lower than imported ones.

PiĂąol described the Pilipinas Agila Tires project as an “ambitiousâ€? program of his department, which was expected to stabilize

and increase the buying price of raw rubber produced by local farmers, “but somehow we’re moving.� “Our hope is that when the time comes, our rubber farmers should be the processors and the manufacturers of their own tires which they would sell themselves. They should be the one dictating the price in the market not that they are the ones dictated by what the prices would be,� he said.

The DA aims that Filipino rubber farmers will have their own tire manufacturing plant in Mindanao before the Duterte administration ends in 2022.

The launching of the Pilipinas Agila Tires coincided with the awarding of outstanding farmers AND kSHERMEN AS WELL AS THEIR COoperatives and associations, who have made 91 percent repayment of their loans from ACPC. Meanwhile, Piùol said the initiative upgrade the roles of farmers will be eventually implemented across all commodities, proving DA’s seriousness on stepping up efforts to support them.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

Q OUTLOOK FROM B1

GDP terms, while foreign currency reserves at end-March 2019 were equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of goods and services imports and 5.0 times the short-term external debt.

the long haul, in part because of the BSP’s commitment to maintain price stability and the soundness of the banking and financial system.� “The BSP will continue to provide an enabling environment for sustainable, robust, and more inclusive economic growth by staying committed to its price and financial stability mandates,� he added. In its report, JCR highlighted the banking system’s low exposure to bad debts, with the non-performing loans ratio settling at 1.8 percent, and sufficient capitalization, with the capital adequacy ratio at 15 percent, last year. JCR’s BBB+ rating with positive outlook is just one notch away from a single-A credit rating, according to IRO. It said a single A credit rating would place the Philippines on the radar screen of even more portfolio investors, given that some institutional investors have a policy of investing only in bonds issued by A-rated sovereigns or corporate entities.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

JCR the spikes in inflation rates in 2018.

JCR also said the country’s fiscal deficit would be maintained at manageable levels and the government debt as a percentage of GDP would keep declining moderately in the future.

Last year’s P558.26-billion budget shortfall was equivalent to 3.2 percent of GDP, surpassing the 3-percent ceiling set by the government.

Government debt, meanwhile, was equivalent to 41.9 percent of GDP last year, lower than the 42.1 percent posted a year ago.

JCR added that the Philippines’ low external debt balance and foreign currency reserves “demonstrate that the country stays highly resilient to external shocks.�

It said the external debt balance had been kept at a lower 20 percent level in

‘Aggressive yet prudent economic policy’ In a statement on Friday, the Investor Relations Office (IRO) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd and BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno both welcomed the JCR’s positive outlook.

Dominguez was quoted as to have cited the outlook as “recognition of the Duterte administration’s aggressive yet prudent economic policy of spending big on infrastructure modernization while maintaining fiscal discipline.�

For his part, Diokno said “the Philippines’ robust economic growth is sustainable over

from them.�

He said one of the major data attacks in the country was the ‘Comeleak’, a security breach involving the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in 2016 when a hacker group got into the commission’s database and posted the personal information of 55 million registered voters, including names, birthdays and addresses, among others, online.

Edwards also called on local privacy ofkCERS NOT TO TREAT COMPLAINTS AS gNUISANCEu but as a learning tool to understand their JOBS BETTER (E SHARED THAT AS AN OFkCIAL HE was receiving 800 to 900 complaints a year.

Earlier, the NPC said it was coordinating with the Comelec and other involved agencies to ensure that ‘Comeleak is not repeated in the upcoming elections.

Liboro pledged to further uphold data privacy and security in the country. ‘The Philippines, just like New Zealand, is aiming for an enhanced enforcement system,� he said.

I

T’S high time we start recognizing our investment advisors for what they really are: the unsung heroes of the world. It’s too limiting to confine them to the financial and corporate sphere; what they do for us greatly impacts our personal lives too. These heroes have exercised great wit with grit; their passion to help others achieve their financial goals is a feat in its own. It’s quite possibly one of the very rare careers that allow you to attain both fulfillment for yourself and your client. Its a two-way street.

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Financial advisors, financial planners, financial consultants -- they go by many names, but at the end of the day their trade is the same: to ensure your financial goals are kept in check while your quality of life goes from 0 to 100. These guys work day in and day out to create future-proof programs to protect, secure and enable you during your financial journey.

Well versed in topics such as investments, estate planning, retirement and taxes to name a few, a financial planner you’re wise to think you’re in very good hands.

If you’ve read my previous work on the Tips To Choosing The Right Financial Planner (and if you haven’t yet, I highly suggest you do), you’ll know just how imperative it is to look for a kNANCIAL PLANNER THAT EXUDES EVerything from being knowledgeable and hardworking to being reliable and competent. This is someone you’ll be working hand in hand with to achieve all of YOUR kNANCIAL GOALS SO BE GENerous on your time and energy during the meticulous process.

Financial planner have your best interests at heart. They tailor fit the financial planning to better suit you and your personal whims, risk appetites, as well as other factors that solidify your relationship with your financial planner as something that goes above and beyond just “business�.

Establishing a deeper connecTION WITH YOUR kNANCIAL PLANner to the point of fondness or friendship is a given; it’s hard not to like someone who helps you navigate through life with nothing but good intentions.

An efficient financial planner can not only help you choose the right decisions, they can recommend tax-savings

MONEY TALKS

MELVIN ESTEBAN strategies that can help you save on time and resources too. A financial planner will be able to offer services - be it implementation or management responsibilities so that you have all the time in the world to focus on making the money and enjoying your life.

It’s a push and pull scenario where you generate the income, while your financial planner does his best to make those assets grow. He takes on the fuss so you don’t have to.

The financial planner oversees your finances for you, allowing for a stress-free environment to pursue your career and other endeavors while he takes care of the nitty-gritty. Allowing your financial planner to handle your funds will allow you to focus your attention on other areas of your life.

To determine the best way to maximize those returns and improve your account’s performance, an advisor go as far as monitoring bank accounts.

He researches investment opportunities to find financial planning opportunities that you or your friends may not have even heard of. It pays to be prepared, and a financial advisor exemplify that.

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Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Ayala Corp. to raise $7.8B for venture subsidiary LISTED Ayala Corp. plans to generate more than $150 million (P7.8 billion) this year for its venture unit that will engage in investing in star t-up companies.

Ayala Corp. Chief Finance Officer Jose Teodoro Limcaoco told a news briefing in Makati City on Friday that the conglomerate would pool from its subsidiaries the funds needed for AC Ventures Holdings Corp.

Limcaoco, who will head AC Ventures, said their management would be handed to Kickstart Ventures Inc. the venture arm of Ayala-led telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we are doing is raising funds among the [Ayala Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] companies [and] the intention is to [meet] the goal about our capital investments,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to close this fund within the middle of this year.â&#x20AC;?

Once funds are secured, AC Ventures will focus on startups that have synergies with Ayala Corp.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busi-

nesses, such as those in the brick-and-mortar, financial technology, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, energy, battery technologies and real estate sectors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of the mandate is, really, you need to go outside and look for these and circulate [these] with the communities where there are entrepreneurs,â&#x20AC;? Limcaoco said.

Established in 1834, Ayala Corp. was incorporated on Jan. 23, 1968 and listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in 1976. It has investments in banking, property and industrial estate, logistics, power, water, health, education and automotive, among others.

Last year, the company saw its net income rise by 5 percent to P31.8 billion from P30.3 billion in 2017, buoyed by strong contributions from its property, telecommunications and power businesses.

Ayala Corp. shares jumped by 10 percent or 1.13 percent to finish at P895 apiece on Friday.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Corporate News Cemex allots P7.75B this year; Q1 profit up 137% C SATURDAY April 27, 2019

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

EMEX Holdings Philippines Corp. has set aside P7.75 billion for 2019, primarily to finance the expansion of one of its subsidiaries and for other purposes.

)N A COPY OF A PRESENTATION kLED with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, the listed cement manufacturer said it had alloted P6.8 billion for unit Solid Cement Corp.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansion program and P975 million as its maintenance capital expenditure (capex).

The P12.7-billion program, which began last October, involves building a new cement plant in Antipolo City, Rizal province.

This facility will have a production capacity of 1.5 million metric tons (MT) of cement every year, translated to a 26-percent increase in Cemexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual production capacity. It is set to start commercial operations by the fourth quarter of 2020.

Solid Cement had inked a deal with China-based CBMI Construction Co. Ltd. for the procurement, construction and installation of the plant.

Earlier this month, Cemex an-

nounced plans to increase its authorized capital stock to P18.3 billion from P5.2 billion to raise funds for its capital needs. Common shares have a par value of P1 each.

If necessary approvals were to be secured, Cemex said it would conduct an equity offering not limited to a rights offer to raise as much as P13 billion.

Lower forex losses )N A SEPARATE kLING #EMEX SAID ITS NET INCOME IN THE kRST THREE MONTHS of the year climbed by 137 percent to P172 million from P73 million in the same period in 2018, primarily due to lower foreign exchange losses and higher operating gains.

Revenues reached P6.23 billion in January to March, while operating income grew by 6 percent to P615 million from P579 million year-on-year.

Harbor Star inaugurates power plant in GenSan LISTED Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solar power plant in General Santos City started operations on Thursday, three months after initial end-January target had passed.

The tugboat operator told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday that its subsidiary Harbor Star Energy Corp.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Astroenergy Development Gensan Inc. inaugurated the facility in Sitio Changco,

in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Siguel village. The plant marked the unitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in south-central Mindanao. g!S ;OUR= kRST SOLAR POWER PLANT

the province of South Cotobato will be assured of a steady supply of electricity for its current and future requirements,â&#x20AC;? the company said.

In February, Harbor Star said the facilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commissioning was delayed by the engineering procurement and

construction contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late completion of the project siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration building, dormitory, storage area and substation building.

In October 2017, Harbor Star ventured into the power sector by buying a 60-percent stake in Astroenergy. The following April, it acquired an additional 25-percent and last October, an additional 15 percent.

The last share purchase made Astroenergy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which has permits,

licenses and entitlements to operate the plant â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a wholly owned unit of Harbor Star Energy.

Harbor Star provides harbor assistance, lighterafe, towage, ship salvage, ship management, diving and underwater marine works, and other specialized services.

Harbor Star shares dipped by 6 CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO kNISH at P2.78 each on Friday.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

DoE ends Basic Energy geothermal contract THE Department of Energy (DoE) has canceled Basic Energy Corp.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geothermal contract covering some PORTIONS OF ,UZON THE LISTED kRM reported on Friday.

In a disclosure, Basic Energy said it received from the Energy department a letter terminating Geothermal Service Contract (GSC) 2013-02-041 for the East Mankayan Geothermal Project, which covers certain areas in the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province.

This contract, awarded on Feb.

HAD A kVE YEAR PRE DEVELopment phase.

During that period, the compa-

ny said it conducted the necessary geological and geophysical studies to determine the potential of the geothermal resource and information and education campaign in the affected areas.

But that stopped when it encounTERED DIFkCULTIES IN SECURING CLEARances from the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the communities involved.

4HIS PROMPTED THE kRM IN *ANUary last year to request for a suspension of obligations until such time issues raised by the IPs have been addressed.

The department acted on Basic Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request, stipulating that the non-completion of the pre-

development phase was not due to force majeure and terminated the service contract retroactive on Feb. 8, 2018.

Meanwhile, the DoE denied the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request for a moratorium for GSC 2013-11-048, which covers the West Bulusan Geothermal Project.

"ASIC %NERGY kLED ITS APPLICATION on Oct. 26, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x153;due to the strong opposition of the local communities and the Diocese of Sorsogon.â&#x20AC;?

The DoE, however, did not consider the situation as force majeure and terminated that contract on Oct. 19, 2018. g4HE COMPANY kLED A MOTION

for reconsideration of the said termination, which is now pending resolution of [the] DoE,â&#x20AC;? it added.

Basic Energy, which holds a 70-percent stake in Hong Kongbased electronic manufacturer Grandway Group Ltd., is a holding company with interests in different fields of renewable energy and alternative fuels, and oil and gas exploration and development.

4HE kRM HAS OTHER GEOTHERMAL contracts in various parts of the country in Mariveles town, Bataan province; Iriga town, Camarines Sur and Albay provinces; and West Bulusan town, Sorsogon province.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Q POLICY FROM B1

Q INCOME FROM B1

pines is forecast to become one of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trillion-US-dollar economies by 2032, with per capita GDP reaching around $8,200,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Biswas, however, said that while outlook remains positive, policymakers needed to tackle some economic development challenges, including the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high poverty rate.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poverty incidence hit 21 percent in THE kRST HALF OF The weak business climate is also a concern. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another major hurdle to economic development is the relatively weak business climate, with the Philippines ranked at just 124th out of 190 countries in the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ease of Doing Business ranking for 2019,â&#x20AC;? Biswas said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The comparatively low ranking for the business climate of the Philippines compared to other large

Southeast Asian developing countries IS RElECTED IN RELATIVELY WEAK FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INlOWS u HE ADDED The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas had REPORTED THAT NET &$) INlOWS DROPPED by 38.2 percent to $609 million in January from $986 million a year ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Duterte administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Build Build Buildâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; program does recognize that decades of weak infrastructure investment have contributed to the weak business climate in the Philippines, and is therefore giving a high priority to narrowing the infrastructure gap by 2022,â&#x20AC;? Biswas said.

He also said that, aside from these, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade deficit, which hit $2.79 billion in February, highlighted the need to increase competitiveness in order to make the Philippines an investment hub for multinationals to boost exports of goods and services.

Over the next decade, sustained rapid economic development would RESULT IN A SIGNIkCANT REDUCTION IN poverty levels and accelerate progress in the country, he added.

of sales Luis Limlingan said market players stayed on the sidelines, waiting â&#x20AC;&#x153;whether an endgame between #HINA AND 53 IS kNALLY NEARING u Global markets were mixed. In the US, the Dow Jones and S&P500 kNISHED DOWN BY PERCENT AND 0.04 percent, respectively, while Nasdaq grew by 0.21 percent.

In Asia, Tokyo dropped by 0.22 percent, Shanghai lost 1.20 percent, Hong Kong finished flat, Seoul

declined by 0.51 percent, Bangkok dipped by 0.08 percent, and Bangkok slipped by 0.25 percent. Jakarta grew by 0.29 percent. )N -ANILA ONLY THE kNANCIAL SECTOR kNISHED IN THE GREEN UP percent.

More than 2.45 billion issues were traded, valued at P5.7 billion.

Losers led winners, 94 to 81, while 61 issues were unchanged.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

BSP: Monetary PH to be policy still slightly warmer average temperaTURE AND SIGNIkCANT REDUCTION IN rainfall could result in moderate to severe drought conditions over the forecast horizon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This could result in higher prices of key food items broadly similar to previous El NiĂąo episodes,â&#x20AC;? the report warned.

On the other hand, it added THAT DESPITE AVERAGING LOWER IN kRST quarter, Dubai crude oil prices have been steadily rising since January 2019 due to tighter supply.

The report also pointed out that estimated futures prices of Dubai crude as of end-March, six of which are based on movements of Brent crude oil, showed a higher path for 2019â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2022, compared to the previous quarterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimates.

That said, Diokno stressed that the central bank â&#x20AC;&#x153;will remain datadriven at all times in our policy decision-making and our actions WILL BE DETERMINED BY OUR INlAtion outlook.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The BSP remains focused on safeguarding and promoting price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth,â&#x20AC;? he added.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

at 107 million in 2018, the Philippines is also one of the most populous countries in Southeast Asia, and as per capita GDP levels rise above the upper middle-income threshold, this will create an increasingly substantial consumer market that will support the growth of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing, services and construction industries,â&#x20AC;? Biswas said.

The Philippines is also projected to be a trillion-dollar economy by 2032, according to the economist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Philippines is on the threshold of becoming an upper middleincome economy, which will help to drive strong growth in the size of the domestic consumer market and foster industrial development,â&#x20AC;? Biswas said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The long-term outlook for the Philippines economy is very positive, with total GDP projected to double from $330 billion in 2018 to $672 billion by 2026. The Philip-

Q WEIGHS FROM B1

Ayala Land Trust (REIT) market.

The listing would have a portfolio size of $500 million or P26 billion.

The application would be filed under existing rules of 67-percent minimum public ownership.

In a separate comment, Regina Capital Development Corp. head

Challenges

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) hit P1.1 billion in the period, resulting in an ebitda margin of 17 percent.

Cemex said it saw strong demand growth from the property segment during the period as compared with non-residential activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sales volume during the first quarter posted a 9-percent improvement from the fourth quarter of 2018, when the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations were affected by the landslide in [Cebu PROVINCE S= .AGA #ITY u THE kRM SAID IN

B3

THE kLING REFERRING TO THE 3EPTEMBER 20, 2018 landslide that left at least 72 people dead and led to the suspension of quarrying operations there for almost three months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sales activity was still recovering at the start of the year, but picked up toward February and March,â&#x20AC;? it added, resulting in cement sales volume in the quarter dipping by 1 percent from the same period last year.

Cemex shares increased by 10 centavos or 5.26 percent to close at P2 apiece on Friday.

Foreign Business Amazon income hits Xi: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll end anticompetitive $3.6B in Jan-March subsidies to Chinese firms B B4

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

EIJING: President Xi Jinping vowed on Friday to abolish unreasonable subsiDIES TO #HINESE kRMS THAT IMPEDE FAIR competition, addressing a key US demand ahead of trade war talks next week.

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top two economies are inching closer toward a deal aimed at resolving a months-long dispute that has included bruising tariffs on $360 billion worth of goods.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are expected in Beijing on April 30 for a new round of negotiations before more talks in Washington next month.

President Donald Trump on Thursday said his Chinese counterpart would soon be coming to the US to seal the trade deal, without providing a date for the long expected visit.

In a speech at a forum on his Belt and Road global infrastructure project, Xi repeated past promises to lower tariffs, increase imports, crack down on intellectual property infringers and open up more sectors of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy to foreign businesses.

And he added another promise: an end to â&#x20AC;&#x153;unreasonableâ&#x20AC;? Chinese government subsidies to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s companies. He did not PROVIDE SPECIkCS OR A TIMELINE FOR

implementation.

The United States and the European Union have long complained that China has created an uneven PLAYING kELD BY HEAVILY SUBSIDISING #HINESE kRMS WHILE ERECTING HURDLES FOR FOREIGN kRMS SEEKING TO tap the Asian powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will overhaul and abolish UNJUSTIkED REGULATIONS SUBSIDIES and practises that impede fair competition and distort the market,â&#x20AC;? Xi said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will treat all companies, enterprises and business entities equally and foster an enabling business environment based on market operation and governed by law,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Xi also reiterated that China would not engage in competitive devaluation of its yuan currency â&#x20AC;&#x201D; another cause of US anger.

On another major issue in the talks, Xi said China would fully implement a new foreign investment law aimed at protecting the intellectual property of overseas firms.

The US Trade Representativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OFkCE SAID IN A REPORT TO #ONGRESS

Q Chinese President Xi Jinping claps while delivering his speech for the opening ceremony of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Friday. AP PHOTO on Thursday that China had made PROGRESS TOWARDS BEEkNG UP INTELlectual property protections, but Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts still â&#x20AC;&#x153;fall short of needed fundamental changes.â&#x20AC;?

China has long promised more extensive reforms than it has delivered, leading the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China to once coin the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;promise fatigue.â&#x20AC;?

Washington has sought to leave some tariffs on Chinese goods in

PLACE OR kND ANOTHER ENFORCEMENT mechanism to ensure Beijing follows through with pledges made in any trade deal.

Xi also said on Friday China attaches â&#x20AC;&#x153;great importance to implementing multilateral and bilateral economic and trade agreements reached with other countries.â&#x20AC;?

China will â&#x20AC;&#x153;establish a binding mechanism for honouring international agreements,â&#x20AC;? he added, without providing details. AFP

Sony logs record profits, warns of headwinds TOKYO: Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sony said on Friday robust its games and entertainment divisions had pushed annual profits to a second consecutive record high, but warned of a looming downturn in its bottom line.

The PlayStation manufacturer also said the integration of EMI Music Publishing as a fully owned subsidiary had played well. .ET PROkTS SOARED BY PERcent year-on-year to 916.3 billion yen ($8.2 billion) in the year ended in March, while operating PROkT CLIMBED BY PERCENT TO

894.2 billion yen. Sales edged up 1.4 percent to 8.7 trillion yen.

However, the future is looking less bright as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one-off boost partly from integrating EMI Music Publishing will make annual comparisons less rosy.

Net profits for the current kSCAL YEAR TO -ARCH WERE forecast to drop by 45 percent to 500 billion yen, with operating PROkT SAGGING BY PERCENT TO billion yen.

Sales, however, were seen growing by 1.5 percent to 8.8 trillion yen.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sony had achieved a V-shape RECOVERY UNTIL THE LAST kSCAL YEAR but its growth is expected to slow DOWN IN THE CURRENT kSCAL YEAR u said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;PS4, which spearheaded Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revival, is now peaking out, while its mobile phone businesses are expected to continue squeezing profits,â&#x20AC;? he told Agence France-Presse.

Sony continued to struggle in the mobile business with its operating loss more than tripling to 97 billion yen because of reduced

Q In this Feb. 2, 2017 file photo, people are reflected on a wall of the Sony showroom building at Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ginza shopping district. AP PHOTOÂ

Q MOBILITY FROM B1

Right and wrong train lines, including the Metro Manila Subway, will take many years to implement.

Even with all the new rail projects, the volume of passengers that existing and planned rail systems can accommodate comes to less than 30 percent of Metro Manila commuters.

The government needs to prioritize the upgrading of road-based public transport services (used by the bulk of commuters) and to make as much of these services high quality.

There is no better time to implement bus rapid transit (BRT) in Greater Manila. BRT in combination with other mass transit such as rail, plus the promotion of active transport modes (walking and cycling), is what Metro Manila needs to reverse our worsening mobility.

BRT moves passengers as efficiently and as safely as a train: new, low-emission, air-conditioned buses travel fast on dedicated lanes, liberATED FROM STREET TRAFkC AND FRICTION

with private cars; station platforms are set at the same level as the bus floor, offering fast boarding and alighting; fares are collected mostly at stations before riders board buses, as in the MRT/LRT. Today, many persons with disabilities and senior citizens (together, they represent 8 to 10 percent of the population) canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t access most city buses in Metro Manila because of the gHIGH lOORu DESIGN OF EXISTING BUSES (many internal steps to climb). BRT buses are designed to permit persons with wheelchairs and strollers to use the mass transit system. BRT would enhance the mobility of this very large segment of the population.

And BRT can be delivered in shorter time and at much lower cost per kilometer than rail. The key ingredient is political will. To implement BRT, the government should stand by the principle that one lane of road devoted to public transport (moving, say, 10,000 to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction) is a far better use of road space than one lane of road for private cars (moving around 2,000 passengers per hour per direction). And there is no better place to apply this principle than on congested city roads.

With BRT, a commuter traveling from Fairview, Quezon City to Makati could be there in an hour instead of the near three-hour journey required today. By rewarding those on public transport with faster travel speeds, BRT encourages car users to shift to more sustainable transport options.

The car user gets to think, â&#x20AC;&#x153;if I were on that BRT bus, I would be home by now instead of being stuck in trafkC u !S MORE CAR USERS SHIFT TO PUBLIC transport, the remaining cars on the road get to move faster.

BRT is not only an infrastructure solution; it is also a mechanism for transforming the bus and jeepney industry. For example, the current inefficient public transport business model involves one driver working long hours and earning a commission for collecting as many passengers as possible. This results in dangerous on-street competition AMONG DRIVERS INEFkCIENT LINGERING at bus stops, and drivers working as long as 16 hours daily.

In a BRT system, bus operators are paid according to the number of kilometers served in a day, with bonuses and penalties linked to service performance and quality. Bus drivers ARE ON kXED SALARY AND BENEkTS WORK-

smartphone sales.

0ROkTS ALSO FELL IN 3ONY S SEMICONDUCTOR AND kNANCIAL SERVICES businesses.

But it enjoyed strong growth in its games and network businesses, including an online service that allows users to enjoy music and video titles via their PlayStation accounts. /PERATING PROkT IN THAT SECTOR soared by 75 percent to 311 billion yen.

Revenue from PlayStation4 consoles fell but software sales and network services logged robust rises.

Sony said it expected revenue from this core sector to sag due to a continued fall in game hardware sales, costs to develop the nextgeneration console and unfavourable foreign exchange rates.

Yasuo Imanaka, an analyst at Rakuten Securities in Tokyo, said Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game business also faced a threat from new entrants in the sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stadia can be a powerful rival. Sony is expected to launch PS5 in the near future but may have to review its game business strategy due to the emergence of Stadia,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The Stadia platform will let gamers stream blockbuster titles to any device they wish.

AFP ing in shifts, each restricted to driving no more than 7 to 8 hours daily.

BRT can be implemented without necessarily displacing existing transport operators and driversâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they can be part of the new system. On BRT routes, operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;jeepneys or buses) will be invited to form consortia and become the BRT bus operators.

Under this option, existing operators will have access to capacity building and financing to enable them to acquire and manage a new BRT bus lEET 4HIS APPROACH TO TRANSFORMAtion of the transport industry has been applied successfully in many "24 SYSTEMS WE kND TODAY IN ,ATIN America and Africa.

Having both BRT and rail on the same corridor delivers better service to the commuter. In Seoul, there are 10 subway lines below ground overlapping with BRT lines above groundâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;providing commuters with maximum convenience. In London and New York City, there are many corridors with overlapping rail and bus lines. Intervals between train stations are every 1 to 2 kilometers; intervals between BRT stations can be every 500 to 1,000 meters. So, passengers can transfer easily from

SAN FRANCISCO:Â Amazon on Thursday (Friday in Manila) delivered record PROkTS FOR THE kRST QUARTER OF THE year, fueled by gains in cloud computing and new business segments for the US technology colossus. .ET PROkT IN THE QUARTER MORE than doubled from the same period last year to $3.6 billion, extending Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trend of risING PROkTABILITY Overall revenues for the company rose by 17 percent to $59.7 billion, according to the update, which topped most analyst forecasts.

Seattle-based Amazon said revenue from online sales was up 10 percent billion, while money taken in from subscription services and the Amazon Web Services cloud platform leapt by some 40 percent.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;otherâ&#x20AC;? revenue segment, which includes online advertising, grew some 34 percent from a year ago.

Shares in Amazon â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which has expanded from its origins in e-commerce to cloud services, STREAMING MEDIA ARTIkCIAL INTELligence and brick-and-mortar grocery stores â&#x20AC;&#x201D; wobbled in AFTER MARKET TRADES DIPPING BRIElY before returning to a modest gain of 0.6 percent.

given its massive size and competition from other retailers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our view, the trend is only likely to accelerate going forward and it will put Amazonunder more competitive pressure that it has been before,â&#x20AC;? Saunders said in a research note. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a perverse way this is advantageous to Amazon as it puts an end to the lie that the company is somehow a monopoly or that it is immune from competitive forces,â&#x20AC;? he added.

"UT !MAZON S DIVERSIkED BUSIness gives it more opportunities to deal with competition, the analyst noted.

It has begun investing more in its recently acquired Whole Foods grocery stores and expanding the home delivery areas for the chain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As much as the top-line performance matters, Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shallower growth is coinciding with a period of improving profits,â&#x20AC;?

Saunders said.

Speedier deliveries

! FREE TWO DAY SHIPPING BENEkT OFfered to Amazon Prime subscribers is evolving into a one-day shipping perk that the company expects to boost shopping and membership, executives said on an earnings call. !MAZON kGURED TO SPEND million this quarter on shortening Expanding digital delivery times to a single day for advertising Prime buyers, with shoppers in Analysts pointed out that Ama- North America expected to be the zon is increasing its digital kRST TO BENEkT Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prime Video has also advertising revenues, a market dominated by tech rivals Google been in tough competition on STREAMING TELEVISION WITH .ETlIX and Facebook. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amazon just turned in another and new entrants, and its Alexapowerhouse quarter fueled by its powered devices are seeing more strength in the cloud and advertis- RIVALS FROM OTHER kRMS USING DIGITAL ing businesses, which continues to ASSISTANTS WITH ARTIkCIAL INTELLIGENCE Amazon executives said the INlATE THE COMPANY S OPERATING margins,â&#x20AC;? said Andrew Lipsman of company will continue to invest â&#x20AC;&#x153;meaningfullyâ&#x20AC;? in original shows THE RESEARCH kRM E-ARKETER â&#x20AC;&#x153;While AWSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s momentum con- AND kLMS FOR ITS 0RIME STREAMING tinues unabated and is clearly the television service.

Colin Sebastian of Baird Equity BIGGER DRIVER OF THIS PROkT STORY at the moment, the advertising Research welcomed â&#x20AC;&#x153;a good report lYWHEEL NOW APPEARS TO BE IN FULL given some concerns over online effect for Amazon and will only be spending headwinds,â&#x20AC;? and said a bigger part of the growth story he saw â&#x20AC;&#x153;no change to our positive long-term thesisâ&#x20AC;? for Amazon. over the near term,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Sebastian calls for more gains Neil Saunders of the research kRM 'LOBAL$ATA 2ETAIL SAID !MA- IN !MAZON SHARES RElECTING gOUR zonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth in product sales was increased conviction in emerging AFP slowing, a trend to be expected, business segments.â&#x20AC;?

Q In this Oct. 18, 2010 file photo, an Amazon.com package awaits delivery from UPS in Palo Alto, California. AP PHOTO a train to a bus, or vice-versa, to get closer to their destinations.

Moreover, on important corridors like EDSA, having more than one form of mass transit provides valuable redundancy. In case MRT3 or the planned Subway is shut down for any reason (such as an earthquake), commuters have an alternate form of mass transit to move around the city. They are not just left without any option.

With an efficient BRT system, provincial bus passengers using the new integrated terminals such as the new Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) would be able to transfer conveniently to BRT buses going to any of the major destinations in Metro Manila.

Today, as millions of Metro Manilans face longer and longer commutes, and with more Filipino commuters wanting to shift to private car use, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should prioritize the two BRT projects (Metro Manila BRT Lines 1 and 2) that are NEDA board-approved and implementable since 2016.

Once completed, the two BRT projects can offer high quality public transport to over two million passengers daily and provide convenient

access to important city destinations, such as Mall of Asia, Quiapo, Makati, BGC, Ortigas Center, Cubao, and North EDSA. The delay in implementing the Metro Manila BRT projects has already cost the country billions of PESOS IN FOREGONE ECONOMIC BENEkTS By holding back on the implementation of BRT projects, DOTr sends another wrong message to commuters that private cars are the preferred clients while commuters on public transport should suffer in silence until they can afford a private vehicle.

The government should demonstrate it champions the welfare of the majority over the needs of the minority in private carsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;essentially what President Duterte has promised when he speaks about pursuing the â&#x20AC;&#x153;greater good for the greatest numberâ&#x20AC;?. Implementing BRT in Metro Manila will deliver the right message to commuters and give real meaning to the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise.

Robert Y. Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate. He can be reached at mobilitymatters.ph@ yahoo.com or followed on Twitter @RobertRsiy

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Our youth have done their homework on climate change (First of two parts) od bless you, continue to work, continue. Go along, go ahead,â&#x20AC;? Pope Francis told Greta Thunberg, as he blessed the 16-yearold environmentalist during the general audience in St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square in Vatican City few days ago.

Greta is the Swedish schoolgirl who has been described as a role model for worldwide student activism. She gained media attention when she protested outside the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm in August 2018 with the placard â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skolstrejk fĂśr klimatetâ&#x20AC;? (School strike for the climate). She initiated the school strike for climate movement in November 2018 and rose globally when she was invited to speak during the Conference of the Parties (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.

4HE LATEST LANDMARK SCIENTIkC report on climate change, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius (C), clearly stated that human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0 C of global warming above pre-industrial levels and that, if not addressed, global warming is likely to reach 1.5 C between 2030 and 2052.

The world is presently on an emissions trajectory that could see the planet warm by over 3 C. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.â&#x20AC;? Over a hundred earth scientists believe that it is still possible to avert this future, but this can only be achieved by reversing our current trend of increasing emissions and decarbonizing the global economy at the pace and urgency of a moon race.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;G

Youth demanding global climate action While we know that the longer we wait, the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security, population displacement and human mobility, heat and health, and other environmental impacts would continue to worsen, these kids believe that going to school begins to be pointless. These children asked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why study for a future, which may not be there? Why spend a lot of effort to become educated, when our governments are not listening to the educated?â&#x20AC;?

The global coordination group of the youth-led climate strike issued a letter on March demanding for global climate action. Here is the complete text published in The Guardian newspaper: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, the young, are deeply concerned about our future. Humanity is currently causing the sixth mass extinction of species and the global climate system is at the brink of a catastrophic crisis. Its devastating impacts are already felt by millions of people around the globe. Yet we are far from reaching the goals of the Paris agreement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young people make up more than half of the global population. Our generation grew up with the climate crisis and we will have to deal with it for the rest of our lives. Despite that fact, most of us are not included in the local and global decision-making process. We are the voiceless future of humanity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will no longer accept this injustice. We demand justice for all past, current and future victims of the climate crisis, and so we are rising up. Thousands of us have taken to the streets in the past weeks all around the world. Now we will make our voices heard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We finally need to treat the climate crisis as a crisis. It is the biggest threat in human history and we will not accept the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision-makersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inaction that threatens our entire civilization. We will not accept a life in fear and devastation. We have the right to live our dreams and hopes. Climate change is already happening.

People did die, are dying and

ALL ABOUT CHOICES LUDWIG O. FEDERIGAN will die because of it, but we can and will stop this madness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, the young, have started to move. We are going to change the fate of humanity, whether you like it or not. United we will rise until we see climate justice.

We demand the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decisionmakers take responsibility and solve this crisis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have failed us in the past.

If you continue failing us in the future, we, the young people, will make change happen by ourselves. The youth of this world has started to move and we will not rest again.â&#x20AC;?

During the week of March 15, based on the www.fridaysforfuture. org, there were at least 1.6 million strikers on all seven continents, in more than 125 countries and in well over 2,000 places. These data represent only 65 percent of those WHO CONkRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION Our Filipino youth from 10 municipalities/cities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bacolod, Baguio, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Malaybalay, Manila, Quezon, Odiongan, San Carlos and San Fernando â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have taken the challenge and participated.

Few days before the worldwide student strike, hundreds of our Filipino youth made their voices heard outside the provincial capitol BEFORE THE LOCAL OFkCIALS OF .EGROS Occidental announced that it has issued an executive order declaring the province as coal-free, and that it will pursue clean and renewable energy projects. On Monday, over 7,000 residents of the province, mostly from the youth sector, formed a human chain stretching 229 kilometers from Manapla, Negros Occidental to La Libertad, Negros Oriental, to oppose the construction of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 300-megawatt COAL kRED POWER PLANT IN 3AN #ARLOS City, Negros Occidental.

Our young people, the millennials at this present time, have been touted as the generation that will do something about the climate crisis. Through the joint efforts of the National Youth Commission, the Climate Change Commission and nongovernment organizations, the Filipino youth was in the forefront of climate action WHEN IT LED IN THE kNALIZATION OF the resolution urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to declare November 25 of every year as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asean Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Dayâ&#x20AC;? during the #NowASEAN Conference held in Manila in November 2017. I, together with fellow Climate Reality Leaders Vermon Timbas and Ellen Estares, had the privilege to facilitate the session attended by Filipino youth representing our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 17 REGIONS AND kVE OTHER MEMBER states of the Asean that worked and adopted the resolution.

Considered by many to be among the greatest in the English language and nominated thrice for the Nobel Prize in Literature, American-British novelist Henry James wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their aspirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the turbulent seas of hate and injustice will be calmed. They will champion the causes of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underdogs, forging a society without class discrimination. They will supply humanity with music and beauty as it has never known. They will endure.â&#x20AC;?

N N N Today, April 27, I will deliver a presentation on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sustaining the Environment for Future Generationsâ&#x20AC;? during the Green Summit: Serving Green, Serving Clean organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Management Society. On Sunday, April 28, I will be the guest speaker for the Environmental Summit for Youth Action 2019 organized by the Environmental Advocates Reaching Towards Humanity. Both events will be held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Green Industries

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

B5

Hydro firm reforests 2 major watersheds

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

I

N an effort to maintain the integrity of watershed areas in Benguet province, renewable energy company SN AboitizPower (SNAP-Benguet) has planted about 145,000 trees since 2009 in the Ambuklao and Binga watershed areas.

In 2018, the company planted about 2,200 seedlings.

Lawyer Mike Hosillos, SNAP Group vice president and chief CORPORATE SERVICES OFkCER SAID THE effort was part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainability program, and supported AboitizPowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aboitiz Passion to Agroforestry and Reforestation to Keep (Apark) program.

He said since 2009, SNAP-Benguet had continuously partnered with its host communities, peoples

organizations and indigenous peoples organizations (IPOs) for the preservation, conservation and protection of the Ambuklao and Binga watersheds, including its natural resources. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our tree planting activities, we engage volunteers from within and outside SNAP-Benguet to plant endemic seedlings such as bamboo, Benguet pine, cypress, arabica and robusta coffee, among others, in protected

areas,â&#x20AC;? Hosillos said.

He said SNAP-Benguet also provided support funds for the seedling production program of the Baguio Regreening Movement.

Meanwhile, SNAP-Benguet has collaborated with the National Power Corp., forging a technical cooperation agreement that established a community-based FOREST kRE PROTECTION TEAM 4HE company also implemented protection activities within the 2.5-kilometer radius from the high-water mark of the Ambuklao and Binga reservoirs.

Also in partnership with the Ambuclao Coffee Growers Association, Tinongdan IPO and Shakila ni Ikulos IPO, SNAPBenguet cares, maintains and protects adjacent areas of the

reservoir and various watershed areas through the establishment of fire lines and greenbelt areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SNAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reforestation, tree planting and forest protection activities aim to maintain the integrity of the watersheds to supply our water needs, and help us in providing clean, reliable energy to the Luzon Grid,â&#x20AC;? Hosillos said This year, SNAP-Benguet aims to plant at least 15,000 seedlings in Ambuklao and Binga areas, he added.

SNAP-Benguet is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power that operates the 105-megawatt (MW) Ambuklao hydro and the 140MW Binga hydro, both in the Benguet Province.

Protecting forest through better governance PHILIPPINE forests are undoubtedly an important source of our daily necessities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; food, water, air and medicine, among others. But for the indigenous peoples, who strive to live in harmony with this ecosystem, the forest is a source of energy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gakakuha kami ug kusog gikan sa lasang. Adunay koneksyon

ang tribo ug ang lasang, ug kami gakabati ug pagkaluya kung kami mapalayo dinhi (We get energy from the forest. There is a connection between us and the forest, and we feel weak when are separated from it),â&#x20AC;? Datu Eric Dawog of the Pakwan-Manobo Indigenous Cultural Community (PMICC) shared during a

training on forest governance conducted by Haribon Foundation in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. Indigenous peoples believe that the forest is an inheritance from their ancestors and is a critical part of their culture and tradition. It is their source of livelihood and it serves as their grounds for sacred rituals.

Q SN, Aboitiz Power (SNAP) President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Yu participates in one of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tree planting activities. SNAP-Benguet is looking to plant an additional 15,000 seedlings this year in the Ambuklao and Binga watershed areas after planting 145,000 seedlings from 2009 to 2018. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

According to environmental group Haribon Foundation, Philippine forests were threatened by weak forest governance that resulted in rampant illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming and mining activities. Local communities, including indigenous peoples, have a little say on decisions pertaining to forest management.

The said training on forest governance sought to respond to this issue by empowering local communities to embrace a bigger role in forest protection. It is part of a series of capacity-building activities under the Forest Governance Project (FOGOP) of Haribon Foundation and BirdLife International, with funding from the European Union.

Through FOGOP, local communities and indigenous peoples from three selected key biodiversity areas in the Philippines were designated and trained as bantay gubat/banwa or forest guards to monitor their forests.

A community-based monitoring and reporting tool was also developed in order to identify the state of the forest, the pressures or threats present in it, and the necessary actions to be enforced. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Local communities have the kRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ON THE STATE of the forests. This presents them A SIGNIkCANT ROLE ON THE FUTURE OF Philippine forestsâ&#x20AC;?, said Haribon.

The indigenous peoples share in the responsibility of protecting their treasure as forests are considered as their source of wealth, heritage and identity.

PRINCESS DEL CASTILLO

HOLCIM PLAYS PART IN WATER CONSERVATION LEADING cement maker Holcim water consumption by at least 30 operations such as a closed-loop tiatives being implemented aside Philippines participated in the percent by 2030, as its sites were system to reduce water consump- from other conservation programs celebration of the World Water among the top water consumers tion,â&#x20AC;? Frogoso added. in the plant.

Day (WWD), a global initiative in the areas it operates in.

In its Norzagaray plant in BuHolcim sites also actively paradvocating the importance of â&#x20AC;&#x153;We continued to raise our ef- lacan, Holcim currently utilizes an ticipate in regular cleanup activifreshwater conservation, through kCIENCY IN USING THIS RESOURCE IN old quarry to collect rainwater for ties, water quality monitoring, and various programs in its facilities 2018 by improving water recycling use in operations. This initiative information and education camacross the country. facilities in our plants and con- can potentially provide 30 percent paigns. In Misamis Oriental, the Holcim Philippines has been sumption in the process lines. Our of the total water requirement Lugait plant implemented the Waimplementing projects to con- expansion project in the pipeline of the plant. It is also part of the ter, Sanitation and Hygiene project serve water in its facilities and WILL ALSO CONSIDER WATER EFkCIENT sustainable water management ini- for community daycare centers to help improve access improve access to resource in its of children there communities since to such facilities.

2015 as part of its susA total of 263 tainability commitstudents from ments. These are part Mauswagon of its pledge to supand Masikalon port global-building daycare centers materials leader Labenefited from fargeHolcim Group the project. in contributing to In Davao, the the attainment of Holcim plant is a 14 of the 17 United partner of the local Nations Sustaingovernment and able Development the Department of Goals, which aim to Environment and improve the lives of Natural Resourcpeople worldwide. es in protecting Holcim Philippines the Ilang River, Environment Managwhich is used er Stephanie Frogoso for recreation and said the initiatives household needs were designed to re- Q Holcim Philippines has been implementing projects to conserve water in its facilities since 2015, as part of of a nearby comduce the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s its sustainability commitments. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO munity.

B6

Classified Ads

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE DEPARTMENT HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 230, QUEZON CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR PROBATE OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC WILL OF DECEASED JOSE G. BALTAZAR - versus ROMAN G. BALTAZAR, Petitioner. x------------------------------------x

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VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, ROMAN G. BALTAZAR, of legal age, Filipino, married with postal address at 36 D-Rizal Tower, Rockwell Centre, Poblacion, Makati, 1210, after having been duly sworn in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state: 7KDW , DP WKH 3HWLWLRQHU LQ WKH DERYH HQWLWOHG FDVH 7KDW , FDXVHG WKH SUHSDUDWLRQ RI WKH IRUHJRLQJ 3HWLWLRQ 3. That I have read and understood the contents thereof and that the same are true and correct RI P\ RZQ NQRZOHGJH 7KDW QR RWKHU VLPLODU DFWLRQ RU SURFHHGLQJ LQYROYLQJ WKH VDPH LVVXHV KDYH EHHQ FRPPHQFHG EHIRUH WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDOV RU DQ\ RWKHU WULEXQDO RU DJHQF\ 5. That to the best of our knowledge, no such action is pending before the Supreme Court, WKH ORZHU FRXUWV RU DQ\ RWKHU WULEXQDO RU DJHQF\ DQG 6KRXOG , OHDUQ WKDW D VLPLODU DFWLRQ RU SURFHHGLQJ KDV EHHQ ÂżOHG RU LV SHQGLQJ EHIRUH WKH Supreme Court, the lower courts or any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to report such IDFW WR WKLV +RQRUDEOH &RXUW ZLWKLQ ÂżYH GD\V IURP NQRZOHGJH WKHUHRI ,1 :,71(66 :+(5(2) , KDYH KHUHXQWR DIÂż[HG P\ VLJQDWXUH WKLV th GD\ RI )HEUXDU\ at Mandaluyong City.

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HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital 5HJLRQ )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City NOTICE Notice is hereby given that SW GLOBAL UNITED REALTY CORP., RZQHU GHYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board for the sale of condominium units of SW TOWER located at Antonio Rivera St., Tondo, Manila, GHVFULEHG DV /RWV %ORFN &DGDVWUDO Survey of the City of Manila, &$' &DVH 1R 7&7 1R DQG ZLWK D WRWDO DUHD RI VTXDUH PHWHUV All papers relative thereto VKDOO XSRQ UHTXHVW DQG payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

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25 Amistad, Irvine, California 92620, USA

4XH]RQ &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD $35 (SGD.) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU ,Q &KDUJH

25 Amistad, Irvine, California 92620, USA 2-35-6 Higashi Yukigaya, Ohta-ku, Tokyo, Japan (as director of 0RYHUV F R 0RYHUV DQG 0DQDJHUV &RUS 1R 7DFRPD 6W 3RUW $UHD 0DQLOD

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That to the knowledge of the Petitioner, the deceased left properties, both real and personal, under his name. The probable value of the properties are as follows:

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TOTAL

Probable Value $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 3

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

3 Approximately P90,000.00 $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 3 Approximately P200,000.00 Approximately P250,000.00 $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 3 Approximately P5,000.00 $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 3 $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 3 $SSUR[LPDWHO\ 86' 3 86' 3

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7KDW VKRXOG WKH 3HWLWLRQHU GHWHUPLQH DIWHU GLOLJHQW VHDUFK DQG LQTXLULHV DV WR RWKHU SURSHUWLHV RZQHG E\ WKH GHFHDVHG KH XQGHUWDNHV WR LQIRUP WKH +RQRUDEOH &RXUW RI WKH VDPH ,Q OLJKW RI WKH IRUHJRLQJ 3HWLWLRQHU SUD\V WKDW OHWWHUV WHVWDPHQWDU\ EH LVVXHG WR KLP PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that after due hearing, the aforementioned Will of deceased Jose G. Baltazar be approved and allowed, and letters testamentary be issued to petitioner, Roman G. Baltazar.

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NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FILINVEST LAND, INC. (2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units at VERDE SPATIAL located at Commonwealth Ave., %UJ\ &RPPRQZHDOWK 4XH]RQ &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW & '' 3ODQ 1R /5&

3VG FRYHUHG E\ 7&7 1R KDYLQJ D WRWDO DUHD RI VTXDUH PHWHUV 7KH IRUHJRLQJ SURMHFW LV XWLOL]LQJ ROSEWOOD PLACE located at %UJ\ +XJR 3HUH] 7UHFH 0DUWLUHV City, Cavite, owned and developed

by Filinvest Land, Inc., with License WR 6HOO 1R GDWHG 'HFHPEHU DV LWV FRPSOLDQFH SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R DV DPHQGHG E\ 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R Âł%DODQFHG +RXVLQJ Development Program Amendmentâ&#x20AC;?.

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2

SPEC.PROC. NO. R-QZN-18-14900-SP PROBATE OF WILL

Real Property: +RXVH DQG ORW in New Manila Rolling Hills Subdivision, 4XH]RQ &LW\ D +RXVH ZLWK DUHD RI VTP ZLWK PDUNHW YDOXH RI 3 2) E /DQG ZLWK DUHD RI VTP ZLWK PDUNHW YDOXH RI 3 3) Personal Property: VKDUHV LQ 0RYHUV DQG 0DQDJHUV &RUSRUDWLRQ ZLWK SDU YDOXH RI 3 SHU VKDUH 0HUFHGHV %HQ] 6 5 3. Totota Camry6 9ROYR [F 5. Nissan Murano 6. BDO joint time-deposit account9 ZLWK 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU (expected maturity value is P1,016,754.04, to be divided equally by Jose and Roman Baltazar as owners thereof) 0HWUREDQN MRLQW FXUUHQW DFFRXQW ZLWK 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU (account balance is P10,000.00, to be divided equally by Jose and Roman Baltazar as owners thereof) 0HWUREDQN MRLQW VDYLQJV DFFRXQW ZLWK 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU (account balance is P244,188.62, to be divided equally by Jose and Roman Baltazar as owners thereof) 0HWUREDQN MRLQW VDYLQJV DFFRXQW ZLWK 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU (account balance is P112,806.98, to be divided equally by Jose and Roman Baltazar as owners thereof) 0HWUREDQN MRLQW VDYLQJV DFFRXQW ZLWK 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU DFFRXQW EDODQFH LV 86' WR EH GLYLGHG HTXDOO\ E\ -RVH DQG 5RPDQ %DOWD]DU DV RZQHUV WKHUHRI

7KH IRUHJRLQJ SURMHFW LV XWLOL]LQJ WKH 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ 7KURXJK ,QYHVWPHQW , Q F H Q W L Y L ] H G & R P S O L D Q F H by depositing the amount of 3KS LQ 7UXVW $FFRXQW 1R XQGHU (VFURZ $JUHHPHQW H[HFXWHG RQ 0DUFK E H W Z H H Q W K H + 2 8 6 , 1 * AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, FEDERAL PIONEER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DQG $6,$ 81,7(' %$1. DV LWV FRPSOLDQFH SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R DV DPHQGHG E\ 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital 5HJLRQ )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

AMENDED PETITION PETITIONER, ROMAN G. BALTAZAR, through the undersigned counsel, most respectfully states: 7KDW 3HWLWLRQHU LV RI OHJDO DJH )LOLSLQR PDUULHG ZLWK UHVLGHQFH DQG SRVWDO DGGUHVV DW ' 5L]DO 7RZHU 5RFNZHOO &HQWUH 3REODFLRQ 0DNDWL 2. That the Petitioner is among the devisees and legatees named in the holographic will of his GHFHDVHG EURWKHU -RVH * %DOWD]DU H[HFXWHG LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH IRUPDOLWLHV SUHVFULEHG E\ ODZ 7KDW WKH WHVWDWRU -RVH * %DOWD]DU GLHG RQ $XJXVW LQ 4XH]RQ &LW\ 3KLOLSSLQHV D FRS\ RI KLV GHDWK FHUWLÂżFDWH LV DWWDFKHG KHUHLQ DV Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;?; 7KDW WKH WHVWDWRU SULRU WR KLV GHDWK OHIW WR WKH FXVWRG\ RI WKH 3HWLWLRQHU D KRORJUDSKLF ZLOO D copy of which is attached herein as Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bâ&#x20AC;? DQG PDGH DQ LQWHJUDO SDUW RI WKLV SHWLWLRQ 7KDW WKH DERYHPHQWLRQHG ZLOO ZDV HQWLUHO\ ZULWWHQ GDWHG DQG VLJQHG E\ WKH WHVWDWRU 6. That the testator, at the time of the execution of the aforesaid will was of sound and disposing PLQG DQG QRW DFWLQJ XQGHU GXUHVV PHQDFH IUDXG RU XQGXH LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQFH DQG ZDV LQ HYHU\ UHVSHFW FDSDFLWDWHG WR GLVSRVH RI KLV HVWDWH E\ ZLOO 7KDW WKH WHVWDWRU GLHG D ZLGRZHU DQG ZLWKRXW DQ\ FRPSXOVRU\ KHLU 7KDW WKH QDPHV DQG UHVLGHQFHV RI WKH KHLUV OHJDWHHV DQG GHYLVHHV RI WKH WHVWDWRU LQFOXGLQJ the Petitioner, are the following: Name D 5DPRQ * %DOWD]DU (legitimate brother) E 5DPRQ * %DOWD]DU (legitmate brother)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FEDERAL PIONEER DEVELOPMENT CORP., (owner/developer) KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK this Board for the sale of units at SUNSHINE 100 CITY PLAZA PIONEER-TOWER 3 (YOUTH) located at Pioneer Street corner Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong &LW\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW $ $ /5& 3VG FRYHUHG E\ 7UDQVIHU &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 7LWOH 7&7

1RV ZLWK D WRWDO DUHD RI VTXDUH PHWHUV

All papers relative thereto shall upon UHTXHVW DQG SD\PHQW RI SURFHVVLQJ fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

IN RE: PETITION FOR PROBATE OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC WILL OF DECEASED JOSE G. BALTAZAR ROMAN G. BALTAZAR, Petitioner. x------------------------------------x

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FILINVEST LAND, INC. (2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of condominium units at MAUI OASIS BUILDING 5 KAHANA located at Anonas St., Sampaloc District, Sta. Mesa, Manila &LW\ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /5$

3FQ 7&7 1R DQG /RW & & ( /5$ 3VG 7&7 1R ZLWK D WRWDO DUHD RI VTXDUH meters. This is forms part of Maui 2DVLV SURMHFW FRYHUHG E\ &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 1R LVVXHG GDWHG 6HSWHPEHU 7KH IRUHJRLQJ SURMHFW LV XWLOL]LQJ ROSEWOOD PLACE located at %UJ\ +XJR 3HUH] 7UHFH 0DUWLUHV City, Cavite, owned and developed

by Filinvest Land, Inc., with License WR 6HOO 1R GDWHG 'HFHPEHU DV LWV FRPSOLDQFH SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R DV DPHQGHG E\ 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R Âł%DODQFHG +RXVLQJ Development Program Amendmentâ&#x20AC;?.

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) MANDALUYONG CITY ) S.S.

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH 6th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue Quezon City

07 $SU 0D\

Any incorrect advertisement published in The Manila Times Classified Ads must be brought to our attention on the same day the advertisement came out. We will not be held liable for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of THNGYEO MARINE PRODUCTS CORPORATION shortening the WHUP RI LWV H[LVWHQFH XS WR -DQXDU\ WKHUHE\ GLVVROYLQJ WKH VDLG corporation on said date have been approved by the Board of Directors and stockholders. $OO SHUVRQV KDYLQJ FODLPV DJDLQVW VDLG FRUSRUDWLRQ DUH UHTXHVWHG WR SUHVHQW WKH VDPH DW 3DODQ\DJ 5RDG %DUDQJD\ 6DQ 'LRQLVLR 3DUDxDTXH City for immediate settlement.

This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned at the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

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KAREN ANN J. PABLO Corporate Secretary

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NAVOTAS FISH PORT COMPLEX 1RUWKED\ %RXOHYDUG 1DYRWDV &LW\ INVITATION TO LEASE Space for Lease at the Navotas Fish Port Complex - :LWK SUHIHUHQFH IRU WKH HVWDEOLVKPHQW RI FROG storage facilities and ancillary services to the ÂżVKLQJ LQGXVWU\ For further details, please contact NFPC at (02) RU

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WARNING TO THE PUBLIC The Manila Times is warning the public that certain individuals posing as our employees have been threatening to publish articles against some companies.

Anyone who receives a call from these extortionists should report the matter to the police.

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SATURDAY April 27, 2019

NKorea: US acting in bad faith during talks VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: Kim Jong Un has accused the US of acting in â&#x20AC;&#x153;bad faithâ&#x20AC;? in talks on its nuclear arsenal, his state media said Friday, as the North Korean leader left 2USSIA FOLLOWING HIS kRST SUMMIT with President Vladimir Putin.

Kimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armoured train departed the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok a day after talks that saw Putin back the Northâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need for â&#x20AC;&#x153;security guaranteesâ&#x20AC;? in its standoff with the US. 4HE OFkCIAL +OREAN #ENTRAL .EWS Agency reported that Kim told Putin the US adopted a â&#x20AC;&#x153;unilateral attitude in bad faithâ&#x20AC;? at a summit attended

by US President Donald Trump two months ago in Hanoi, Vietnam. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peace and security on the Korean peninsula will entirely depend on the US future attitude, and the DPRK (Democratic Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of Korea) will gird itself for every possible

Address global warming, leaders told UNITED Nations (UN): The UN climate chief says world leaders must recognize that there is no option except to speed-up and scale-up action to tackle global warming, warning that continuing on the current path will lead to â&#x20AC;&#x153;a catastrophe.

Patricia Espinosa stressed in two recent interviews with the Associated Press that climate scientists were saying thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a chance to make things right, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but the window of opportunity is closing very soonâ&#x20AC;? and the world has 12 years until carbon emissions reach â&#x20AC;&#x153;a point of no return.â&#x20AC;?

That meant the world needs to accelerate all efforts to keep from reaching that level, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and therefore all efforts are absolutely indispensableâ&#x20AC;? to cut carbon emissions and keep temperatures from rising, she said.

Some top scientists say reaching the â&#x20AC;&#x153;tipping pointâ&#x20AC;? in 12 years is an oversimplification of a UN report last year.

Espinosa said carbon emissions were expected to rise in the immediate future after the landmark Paris agreement was adopted in 2015 to address climate change because the transformations needed to go to a downward trajectory â&#x20AC;&#x153;cannot be done overnight.â&#x20AC;? In addition, global population is growing and more people demand more energy and resources, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What has become clear, however, is that if we continue to grow or to behave in a way that this kind of trajectory is maintained we will not be able to achieve the goals of the Paris agreement,â&#x20AC;? said Espinosa, who is executive secretary of the UN &RAMEWORK #ONVENTION ON #LIMATE #HANGE The Paris agreement called for global temperatures to rise A MAXIMUM OF DEGREES #ELSIUS # DEGREES &AHRENHEIT ;&= by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial times and as close as possible to 1.5 # & 4HE WORLD HAS ALREADY WARMED # SO THE GOAL IS REALLY about preventing another 1 or # OR & INCREASE from now.

A report last year by the InterGOVERNMENTAL 0ANEL ON #LIMATE #HANGE OR )0## CONCLUDED that while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technically possible to cap global warming at # & BY THE END OF THE century, it is highly unlikely because this would require a dramatic overhaul of the global economy, including a shift away from fossil fuels. Deep in the report, scientists say less than PERCENT OF OF THEIR CALCUlated possible future scenarios kept warming below the 1.5 DEGREE # DEGREES & GOAL AP

World Trump eyes major nuke deal with Russia, China W

situation,â&#x20AC;? Kim was quoted as saying.

The Kim-Trump summit broke down in late February without a deal, after cash-strapped Pyongyang demanded immediate relief from sanctions, but the two sides disagreed over what the North was prepared to give up in return.

Russia has called for the sanctions to be eased, while the US has accused it of trying to help Pyongyang evade some of the measures â&#x20AC;&#x201D; accusations Moscow denies.

Just a week ago, Pyongyang demanded the removal of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from the stalled nuclear talks, accusing him of derailing the process.

On Thursday, Putin emerged from the meeting saying that like Washington, Moscow supported efforts to reduce tensions and PREVENT NUCLEAR CONlICTS AFP

ASHINGTON, D.C.: US President Donald Trump said he was eyeing to forge a major nuclear deal with Russia and China.

Trump said striking a nuclear deal was a potential signature foreign policy achievement. However, some arms control experts are conCERNED THE EFFORT COULD BACKkRE The President has hinted publicly a deal is on his agenda, adding a threat if it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to pass.

Presently, the White House is conducting intense interagency talks to develop options for the President to pursue the deal.

All major nuclear deals will be included in the USâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; New Start Treaty. This treaty will expire in 2021. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President has made clear that he thinks that arms control SHOULD INCLUDE 2USSIA AND #HIna and should include all the weapons, all the warheads, all the missiles,â&#x20AC;? said a senior White (OUSE OFkCIAL 4HE OFkCIAL SAID THE MAJOR NUclear deal was something that no

DISASTER VICTIMS Flowers and candles are placed at the monument for Chernobyl victims in Slavutych, Russia. Ukraine marked the 33rd anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster last April 26. AFP PHOTO

Putin to brief US details of summit VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: President Vladimir Putin says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willing to share details with the United States about his summit on Thursday with Kim Jong Un, potentially raising Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence in the stalemated issue of North Korean denuclearization.

The two leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first one-on-one did not indicate major changes in North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position: Putin said Kim was willing to give up nuclear weapons, but only if he got ironclad security guarantees.

However, Putin said Kim urged him to explain the nuances of North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position to President Donald Trump. Such an interlocutor role could be meaningful in light of Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

apparent admiration of the Russian leader.

Trump has said he â&#x20AC;&#x153;fell in loveâ&#x20AC;? with Kim, possibly indicating a proclivity to being swayed toward accommodation with the North Korean leader, although that declaration came before the TrumpKim summit in Hanoi in February that collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament.

At Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summit in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the North Korean border, Kim criticized Washington for taking â&#x20AC;&#x153;unilateral attitude in bad faithâ&#x20AC;? at the Trump-Kim meeting that had caused a diplomatic standstill,

North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state-run Korean Central News Agency said Friday. Kim told Putin that the situation on the Korean Peninsula had reached a â&#x20AC;&#x153;critical pointâ&#x20AC;? where it could return to tensions and that peace and security would â&#x20AC;&#x153;entirely depend on the US future attitude,â&#x20AC;? the agency said.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim and Putin held in-depth discussions to promote â&#x20AC;&#x153;strategic communication and tactical collaborationâ&#x20AC;? over the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and also talked about boosting high-level visits and other exchanges between the countries.

AP

other administrations had tried.

However, many have criticized the New Start as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;bad deal.â&#x20AC;? One of its leading critics is National Security adviser John Bolton, who is a longstanding critic of arms control agreements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only reason you bring UP #HINA IS IF YOU HAVE NO INtention of extending the New Start Treaty,â&#x20AC;? said Alexandra Bell, senior policy director at THE #ENTER FOR !RMS #ONTROL AND Non-Proliferation.

Others expressed concern that before too long, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two LARGEST NUCLEAR POWERS 53 AND 2USSIA MIGHT SHED LIMITS ON THEIR

B7

NUCLEAR ARSENALS FOR THE kRST TIME in decades. !DMINISTRATION OFkCIALS SAY THEIR aim was to revamp a dusty pact for a new age and increase global security. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can get the deal right, if WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT kTS and beyond, President Trump has made very clear that if we can get a good solid arms control agreement we ought to get one,â&#x20AC;? Secretary of 3TATE -IKE 0OMPEO TOLD #ONGRESS this month.

He added that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to make sure weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got all of the parties that are relevant as a component of this as well.â&#x20AC;?

AP

Blasts death toll reduced to 253 COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has lowered the death toll from the Easter suicide bombings by nearly ONE THIRD TO AS AUTHORITIES hunted urgently for a least five more suspects and braced for the possibility of more attacks in the next few days.

In rolling back the number OF DEAD FROM A TOP (EALTH -INISTRY OFkCIAL $R !NIL *ASINGHE

said in a statement that the blasts had damaged some bodies beyond RECOGNITION MAKING IDENTIkCATION DIFkCULT Religious leaders, meanwhile, canceled public prayer gatherings amid warnings of more such attacks, along with retaliatory sectarian violence. In an unusually SPECIkC WARNING THE 53 %MBASSY in Sri Lanka said places of worship could be hit by extremists this weekend. !T LEAST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN arrested in connection with the wave of blasts at churches and luxury hotels last Sunday, including the father of two of the alleged suicide bombers one of Sri Lankaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest spice traders. Authorities have said those involved in the bloodbath were well-educated and WELL OFF kNANCIALLY Sri Lankan authorities have blamed a local Muslim militant

group, National Towheed Jamaat.

The Islamic State group has also claimed responsibility, though OFkCIALS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE extent of any involvement.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said militants, who might have explosives, remain on the loose in the country and â&#x20AC;&#x153;may go out for a suicide attack.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have rounded up a lot of suspects, but there are still active people on the run,â&#x20AC;? Wickremesinghe said in an interview with The Associated Press. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They may be having explosives with them, SO WE HAVE TO kND THEM u Police appealed for information about an additional three women and two men suspected of involvement in the bombings.

The bloodshed stirred fears of more sectarian violence in Sri ,ANKA A COUNTRY OF MILLION PEOPLE ABOUT PERCENT OF THEM Buddhist, with the rest Muslims, (INDUS AND #HRISTIANS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sri Lankan authorities are reporting that additional attacks may occur targeting places of worship,â&#x20AC;? the US embassy warned on Twitter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avoid these areas over the weekend, starting tomorrow.â&#x20AC;?

Britain advised its citizens against traveling to the island country.

AP

Rains trigger flooding, evacuations in Indonesia JAKARTA: Torrential rain triggered lOODING IN PARTS OF THE )NDONESIAN capital Jakarta overnight, the disaster agency said Friday, forcing the evacuation of residents.

Heavy rain pounded the greater JaKARTA AREA CAUSING THE #ILIWUNG 2IVER TO BURST ITS BANKS AND PROMPTING lASH lOODING IN AT LEAST COMMUNITIES Dozens of residents in parts of the CAPITAL S EAST WHERE lOODING OCCURS frequently during rainy season, were FORCED TO WADE THROUGH STREETS kLLED with 1-meter high water in places.

Images from some parts of the city showed people taking refuge on higher ground with their belongings,

while authorities tried to reach hardhit areas with rubber boats.

Public kitchens have been set up in East Jakarta to distribute aid to PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE lOODING â&#x20AC;&#x153;We urge people to stay alert to the POSSIBILITY OF MORE lOODING u THE *AKARta disaster mitigation agency said in a statement, adding the high water level of several dams was still at a worrying level.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, the agency said.

On Wednesday, at least four people were killed and two were reported missing after heavy rain TRIGGERED lASH lOODS IN #ENTRAL *AVA

local media reported.

AFP

Worldinbriefs

SPEECH POWER

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a ceremony at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The Russian President has gathered praises for advising North Korean President Kim Jong Un to normalize relations with the US. AFP PHOTO

atop the giant white fir by volunteer firefighter Randy Acker, who owns a tree removal company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My thought was, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I need to get up there and see whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Acker said.

AP

10.5 kilograms of heroin. The details of the case were not disclosed until Thursday. The case is under further investigation.

GLOBAL TIMES

2 LA SCHOOLS QUARANTINED OVER MEASLES

SERIAL KILLER VICTIMIZED 7 WOMEN

BANGLADESHI HERO COMMITS SUICIDE

LOS Angeles: A quarantine at two Los Angeles universities affected more than 200 students and staff who may have been exposed to measles and either have not been vaccinated or cannot verify that they are immune. The order issued in connection with the University of California and Cal State University comes as the number of measles cases nationwide has hit a 25-year high. The order requires that affected people stay home, avoid contact with others and notify authorities if they develop measles symptoms.

The virus is highly contagious, spread by coughing and sneezing.

AP

NICOSIA, Cyprus: Police in Cyprus confronted the possibility that a serial killer had been at large in their midst after an army captain in custody for the deaths of two women claimed responsibility for more slayings, seven in all. A police official told The Associated Press that if the statements the suspect made while under questioning were true, he killed five women and two girls. All but one of the women was of Asian descent. They include two Filipino women whose bodies were found in an abandoned mineshaft six days apart. Police previously said the suspect had admitted killing Marry Rose Tiburcio, 38, and the second woman, identified by Cypriot media as 28-year-old Arian Palanas Lozano.

AP

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi activist who rescued dozens of people when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in 2013 had committed suicide after suffering years of trauma-related depression, police said Friday. Police said Nowshad Hasan Himu, 27, killed himself near the industrial town of Savar late Wednesday on the sixth anniversary of the disaster, which killed 1,138 people in one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst industrial tragedies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He poured kerosene onto his body and set himself in fire. He was rushed to a Dhaka hospital where he died,â&#x20AC;? police inspector Asgar Ali told the Agence France-Presse.

AFP

PILOT RESCUED ON TOP OF TREE MCCALL, Idaho: A pilot who was trying to crashland this week in an Idaho field instead brought his small plane to rest at the top of a 60-foot (18-meter) tree, officials said. Pilot John Gregory was not hurt in the Monday night crash, which happened when his single-engine Piper Cub PA-18 lost power and a wing strut became entangled in the tree, according to the fire department in the resort town of McCall. Gregory was rescued from his perch

CHINA BUSTS BIG DRUG SYNDICATE POLICE in southwest Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yunnan Province busted a drug trafficking case with three suspects arrested and over 10 kilograms of heroin seized. The public security bureau of Yanshan County launched an investigation after they got a clue one month ago that a man was suspected of drug trafficking, according to the bureau. In early April, the police arrested three suspects in a rental house and seized about

3 DEAD IN UKRAINE MINE BLAST KIEV: Three people have died and 14 were missing following a coal mine blast in a separatist eastern region of Ukraine, news agencies reported Friday. The gas blast ripped through the mine in Yurievka village in the self-proclaimed republic of Lugansk, which broke away from Kiev in 2014 and is run by Moscow-backed rebels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the moment we understand three dead have been brought to the surface.

The fate of 14 others is uncertain,â&#x20AC;? local government official Yevgeny Katsavalov told the Lugansk news service.

AFP

SSATURDAY AT URDAY APRIL 27,, 2019

Public Square

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Sitel highlights countryside expansion, people development at Asia BMP Summit 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x153;W

E believe that investing in people and bringing global contact center career opportunities to the rural countryside has allowed us to develop incredible Filipino talent outside of Metro Manila,â&#x20AC;? emphasized Haidee Enriquez, Sitel general manager-PH Countryside during her talk at the recently concluded Asia BMP Summit 2019. She shared the opportunities of countryside development and why it remains a key pillar in Sitelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth strategy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In investing in rural expansions and DEVELOPING GREENkELD LOCATIONS WE not only grow our business but we

also provide more Filipinos outside of Manila with employment and learning opportunities. Through our people programs like Sitel Academy we nurture and grow rural talent creating a robust and passionate workforce,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Enriquez joined IT-BPM business leaders for the summit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; aptly entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Back!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to highlight the latest industry developments and innovations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was some fear a year ago as to whether the industry would continue to grow,â&#x20AC;? Richard Mills, Chalre Associates chief executive OFkCER EXPLAINED g"UT WE STILL SEE

tremendous growth and potential, so we must continue promoting our capabilities. This summit BRINGS EXPERTS IN THE kELD TOGETHER to share growth stories, best practices, and innovations.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Participation in events like these is a good way to share what we are doing not just to boost the industry but to help the overall community as well,â&#x20AC;? Enriquez shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe highlighting our commitment to invest in growing our countryside locations and nurturing the communities is a good way to share insights with other summit participants and enjoin them to follow suit.â&#x20AC;?

Q Haidee Enriquez, Sitel GM-PH Countryside

BETII chairman, one of the Ten Outstanding Movers of the Philippines DR. Robert So, chairman of the Board of Ecosystem Technologies International, Inc. a subsidiary of -ETRO 0ACIkC 7ATER WAS RECENTLY chosen by Save ME or Save Mother Earth Movement as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Movers of the Philippine 2018 - Champion of Life and Heroes of the Environment for Business and Entrepreneurship in a ceremony held in Malacanang Palace. The award is given to person who have contributed in the advocacy of environment preservation.

Q During the awarding (from left) DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, Dr. Robert So and Dr. Edwin Chinel Monares, founder and executive director of the SAVE ME Movement. Other awardees are Dr. Edgar Tulin, education; Engr.

Oman Fajardo, OFW; Dr. Ma. Joserfina Abilay, leadership and public service; Arsenio â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nickâ&#x20AC;?Lizaso, art and culture; Cesar Chavez, leadership and public service; Dr. Mona Liza Solano, education; Engr. Juanito Simon, science and technology; Joey Ayala, art and culture and Jessica Soho, broadcast communication.

BESTSELLING author Ardy Roberto formally launched his latest book â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Happy Entrepreneurâ&#x20AC;? in Makati City and the event was attended by businessmen and business advocates who shared their inspiring journeys towards success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Happy Entrepreneur,â&#x20AC;? published by ABS-CBN Books, TALKS ABOUT kCTIONAL CHARACTERS %Ddie, who has to face adversities in his life, and Timothy, a successful businessman who will mentor EdDIE ON HIS TOUGH lIGHT 4HE BOOK Q During the launching (from left) Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Potato Corner founder also mentions real-life successful and CEO Joe Magsaysay, British tycoon and Human Nature CEO and founder Dylan Wilk, author Ardy Roberto, Techno entrepreneurs who all have stirring Asia and Club Balai Isabel President and CEO Nelson Terrible, Airspeed International Corp. president Ut Rafael, CEO of stories that aim to motivate readers Cheers Corp. Sandy Montano, and ABS-CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative Programs Inc. President Ernie Lopez. to rise again after failure. tional Book Store, Glorietta. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The in leading bookstores. For updates, Twitter, and Instagram or visit The launching was held in Na- Happy Entrepreneurâ&#x20AC;? is available follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, www.abscbn.com/newsroom.

Franchise Asia Philippines continues to grow in stature globally

Suli, Charges Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Affaires of the Embassy of Singapore; PFA Director for Foreign Brands Jose Victor Paterno; PFA Director for External Relations and Advocacy Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta; FAPHL 2019 Overall Chairman Sherill Quintana; FAPHL 2019 Expo Chairman Dom Hernandez; PCCI Honorary Chairman and Treasurer,

ECOP and Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis; Javier Lagdameo, Vice President-Corporate Relationship Management of PLDT; PFA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim; Junie Veloso, SVP for Business Banking of BPI; DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman; Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey

Concepcion; Jovy Hernandez, SVP and Head of PLDT Enterprise; H. E. Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, Thai Ambassador to the Philippines; PCCI President Bing Sibal-Limjoco; PCCI Chairman George Barcelon; PFA Chairman Alan Escalona; PFA President Richard Sanz and FAPHL 2019 Overall Co-Chair Chris Lim.

EFI founder and chairman, Hong Kong-based Madison Holdings Group offer flexible jeepney financing program TOP jeepney manufacturer Elmer Francisco Industries (EFI) and Hong +ONG BASED kRM -ADISON (OLDINGS Group (Madison) look forward to a potential business collaboration that will make brand new jeepneys affordable to transport groups AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A lEXIBLE kNANCING PROGRAM 4HE kNANCING program will help operators and drivers abide by the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). This is pursuant to Department of Transportationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (DOTr) Department Order No. 2017-011, the Omnibus Guidelines ON THE 0LANNING AND )DENTIkCATION of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance.

Under the PUVMP, jeepneys that are at least 15 years old are deemed road unworthy. The Land Transpor-

QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said she will push for highrise type dwellings to maximize land area and cater to hundreds of thousands of informal settlers as part of her planned massive in-city relocation in Quezon City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the concerns for our planned in-city relocation is our area, whether we have available space in QC where we can construct houses for our informal settlers. I think to solve this, we should change the mindset of our PEOPLE kRST u "ELMONTE SAID Belmonte shared that the highrise type of residential development covering a smaller land area for relocation is more ideal in Quezon City, unlike the typical National Housing Authority (NHA) structures which

are bungalow-type houses with spare spaces usually used as a mini-garden.

Belmonte vowed to implement massive in-city relocation for the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s informal settler families (ISF) to promote secured socialized housing and inclusive growth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My goal is to keep QC residents to live within our city. If you are from Quezon City, then you should be living here in Quezon City,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Quezon City has been active in providing socialized housing programs for its residents which includes the construction of Bistekville, introduced

by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and with over 1, 678 units in Payatas, Kaligayahan, and Culiat; and the passing of the Comprehensive Socialized Housing Code in 2018 by the Quezon City Council.

In Touch Community Services PH appoints new executive director

Inspiring business founders and advocates grace â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Happy Entrepreneurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; launch

THE third largest franchise show in the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after Paris and New York â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is in the Philippines. Organized by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Franchise Asia Philippines (FAPHL) continues to grow in stature globally. The said event is part of PFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to help raise the global competitiveness of Philippine franchising by providing opportunities for expansion and for capacity-building. And in this digital era, PFA is relentless in supporting and encouraging the sector to become digitally transformed.

0HOTO SHOWS 0&! OFkCERS AND THE guests-of-honor of the expo opening ceremony at the PLDT Enterprise booth (from left) FAPHL 2019 Conference Chair Debbie Uy Rodolfo; Zhou

Belmonte: High-rise type residences ideal for relocation of informal settlers in QC

Q EFI founder and chairman Elmer Francisco (5th from left) with officials and representatives of transport groups. tation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) noted that by 2020, around 180,000 jeepneys should be REPLACED WITH SAFER MORE EFkCIENT AND environment-friendly jeepneys.

However, it is likely to be challenging for the transport groups to be able to afford a new jeepney that costs up to two million pesos each. EFI Founder and Chairman Elmer Francisco said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The main concern is the investment needed

to buy a brand new jeepney.â&#x20AC;?

After a series of consultations with the transport groups, EFI formulated THE lEXIBLE kNANCING PROGRAM CALLED the Boundary Hulog. Francisco explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is why EFIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boundary Hulog program is designed to match the paying capability of the operators/ drivers. They can choose to complete the payment in eight, nine, or even 15 years. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important is their income is not affected by the purchase

of the jeepney as they follow the law.â&#x20AC;?

Madison believes there will be significant upfront and recurring demand for electric-powered jeepneys which are compliant with the program. Under the cooperation agreement with EFI, Madison will exclusively supply these electricpowered jeepneys to EFI, as well as PROVIDE kNANCIAL AND BLOCKCHAIN services, including a cryptocurrency fare payment system.

IN Touch Community Services, a NON PROkT ORGANIZATION AND LEADING provider of mental health services in the Philippines, has appointed Billie Adelman, a 20-year Citigroup veteran as its executive director. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Billieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate career with international organizations such as IBM and Citibank, has enabled her to develop a diverse set of culturally adaptive leadership skills and funcTIONAL KNOWLEDGE SUCH AS kNANCE

marketing and IT,â&#x20AC;? said In Touch Chairman Camilla Brooks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her appointment as executive director is timely and strategic as In Touch, supports the goal of mental wellness for all in alignment with the Philippines Mental Health Act, and continues to seek ways to support those in need with timely, affordable, high-quality, and culturally appropriate mental health care.â&#x20AC;?

In Touch has been serving the community since 1980 with its Crisis Line, direct counseling, workshops and Employee Well-being Programs, with the primary mission of enabling

Q Billie Adelman individuals to have healthy coping mechanisms and realize their potential. Adelmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership with In Touch started in 2002 as a Crisis Line volunteer and in recent years, she supported the transformation of the organization and joined the Board of Directors, ultimately taking on the responsibility as Treasurer.

Additionally, her values and volunteerism have been evidenced by her participation in community-based activities with several charities such as Operation Smile, UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity.

Award-winning editor holds free workshop at Sinag Maynila 5 FILM editor John Anthony Wong conducted a free workshop at the Solar Century Tower on April 10, as part of the 2019 Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival.

Wong, who also serves as managing director of EDGE Manila Creatives Corp., discussed the POST PRODUCTION WORKlOW OF EDITING A FEATURE kLM FROM OFlINE TO ONLINE EDITING TO kNAL DELIVERY

with emphasis on understanding the philosophy, practice and importance of an editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the filmmaking process. There was also an introduction to the preparation of a feature for digital cinema package or DCP mastering and cloud distribution.

Wong recently bagged a Film Ambassador award from the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Best Editing for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bhoy Intsikâ&#x20AC;? directed by Joel Lamangan in

the Foreign Language Film category of the Nice International Filmmaker Festival 2018 held in France. He earned another Best Editing nomination for THE SAME kLM AT THE UPCOMING 3OUTH Europe International Film Festival in Valencia, Spain from May 4 to 11.

For more information, visit www.sinagmaynila.com.

So Sure bladder leakage Pads for a dry and fresh pregnancy YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE having a baby. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to BREAK OUT THE DIAPERS THE PACIkERS

and lullabies. As most moms have warned, life wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just be about those cute baby things. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morning sickness, nausea, and possibly some urinary or vaginal issues.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;these are all very normal in pregnancy. Your body is changing and working overtime every second to form that little bundle of joy, so you may want to take it easy on yourself as to why you may be experiencing quite a couple of not-so-pretty conditions and problems.

These common urinary and vaginal problems in pregnancy may be troublesome and even embarrassing at some point, but you do not have to add this to your list of worries any longer.

So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad is a

high-quality incontinence pad that is essential from pregnancy to childbirth. Additionally, it has antibacterial, antifungal, and has odor control features that are also safe for pregnant women to use. Mothers-to-be can have one less thing to think about with So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad. For more information, visit www.sosurepads.ph.

Sports

SSATURDAY AAPRIL 27, 2019

C1

www.manilatimes.net

Spurs bounce back to force game seven with Nuggets L

OS ANGELES: The San Antonio Spurs closer than 15 points the rewerenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about to go quietly in their mainder of the game. kRST ROUND SERIES WITH THE $ENVER Westbrook shrugs .UGGETS DELIVERING A DOMINATING off critics after WIN ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA TO playoff exit FORCE A WINNER TAKE ALL GAME SEVEN Russell Westbrook hit back at The Spurs kept their postseason alive by shooting and rebounding their way to victory in game six at home after losing two straight in the series. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had to come out aggressive,â&#x20AC;? said Spurs DeMar DeRozan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At halftime we discussed how we were getting outrebounded and we tried to buckle down and did a better job in the second half. Everybody fell in line.â&#x20AC;?

Game seven will be Saturday in Denver, where the secondseeded Nuggets had the best home record in the NBA in the regular season.

LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and DeRozan added 25 points as the Spurs, who were the better team off the bench and down the stretch.

Rudy Gay added 19 points for the Spurs. Derrick White and Bryn Forbes scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for San Antonio, the seventh seed in the West. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rudy Gay off the bench was a huge factor,â&#x20AC;? said Nuggets coach

Mike Malone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You knew at some point he was going to make an imprint on the series and he did tonight in a big way.â&#x20AC;?

Nikola Jokic scored 43 points to set a Nuggetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; franchise playoff record in the loss.

The total was a career high for the Serb star. Jokic also grabbed 12 rebounds and recorded nine assists.

Malone said they were hampered by too many careless turnovers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was turnovers for us and it was offensive rebounds for them. And just no defense. The attention to detail was not there tonight and we have to be much better next game,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Denver survived the Spursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quick start and came back in the second quarter to take a brief 50-47 lead.

3AN !NTONIO LED BY kVE POINTS to start the fourth, but scored the kRST EIGHT POINTS OF THE PERIOD TO compile a 98-85 lead.

A three-pointer by Forbes as the shot clock ran down with 7:28 to play capped a 15-2 run and pushed the Spursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lead to 105-87, and Denver never got

critics on Thursday (Friday in Manila) as the Oklahoma City Thunder licked their wounds after another playoff failure.

Westbrook and the Thunder bowed out of the postseason on 4UESDAY BEATEN IN kVE GAMES by the Portland Trail Blazers to EXIT IN THE kRST ROUND FOR A THIRD straight season.

Oklahoma Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest postseason disappointment left some observers questioning We s t b r o o k â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credentials despite another dazzling season which saw him average a tripledouble once more.

The 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player shrugged off the criticism of his role in the Thunderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playoff campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you want to determine my career and what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done over two, three games, you go ahead,â&#x20AC;? Westbrook told reporters during his end-of-season AFP exit interview.

Q Nikola Jokic (No. 15) of the Denver Nuggets drives on Derrick White (No. 4) of the San Antonio Spurs during Game Six of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AFP PHOTO

CELTICS ICONÂ HAVLICEKÂ DIES AT 79 BOSTON:Â John Havlicek, a Hall of Famer and the Boston Celticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; all-time leading scorer, died on Thursday (Friday in Manila) in Florida. He was 79.

Havlicek spent all 16 seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics, won eight NBA titles and was selected to the all-star team 13 times.

He had been suffering from

Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease.

The Celtics released a statement Thursday, describing Havlicek as â&#x20AC;&#x153;thoughtful and generousâ&#x20AC;? and calling him the perfect team player. g(IS DEkNING TRAITS AS A PLAYER were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self,â&#x20AC;? a team statement read. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was extraordinarily thought-

ful and generous, both on a personal level and for those in need, as illustrated by his commitment to raising money for The Genesis Foundation for Children for over three decades THROUGH HIS kSHING TOURNAMENT â&#x20AC;&#x153;John was kind and considerate, humble and gracious. He was a champion in every sense, and as we join his family, friends, and

fans in mourning his loss, we are thankful for all the joy and inspiration he brought to us.â&#x20AC;?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Havlicek was involved in some of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;most iconic momentsâ&#x20AC;? in NBA history. â&#x20AC;&#x153;John Havlicek was a wonderful friend who represented the best of AFP the NBA,â&#x20AC;? Silver said.

Austria hopes to sustain momentum in Finals DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer, now gunning for a fifth consecutive Philippine Cup crown, is hoping to sustain the momentum heading to the Final round of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association. Despite the physicality in the semifinals series against Phoenix Pulse, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria was still thankful to the Fuel Masters and even to quarterfinal foe TNT KaTropa for making them tough in the playoff rounds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so grateful that we are back in the finals for the fifth time.

Credit to Phoenix, they pushed us to the limit in this series and we love it,â&#x20AC;? said Austria, referring to the five games they had in the best-ofseven semifinals series with the Fuel Masters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the quarterfinals, we were up also against a strong team Talk â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Text and now Phoenix. So hopefully we learn from these two series going into the finals because the other side between Magnolia and Rain or Shine are really competitive. We hope we sustain our momentum going to the finals.â&#x20AC;?

The Beermen finally finished the Fuel Masters in Game 5 with a 105-94 win Thursday night behind Chris Rossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 24 points, six steals and five

three-pointers and Alex Cabagnotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 22 points and seven assists. Prior to closing out the series, San Miguel Beerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Standhardinger and Alex Cabagnot, Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dave Marcelo were fined P20,000 each for flagrant foul penalty two infractions during the semifinal round.

But reigning five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, who had 17 points and 16 rebounds in Game 5, said he had no any animosity toward Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Calvin Abueva for his rough plays and thrash talking during the series. Abueva was slapped with P15,000 for obscene gesture in Game 2.

Asked if what team he wants to face in the Finals between Rain or Shine and Magnolia, the 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;11 Fajardo said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any team, they are both strong.â&#x20AC;?

San Miguel Beer will be having a luxury of five-day rest before the championship round begins on May 1.

JOSEF T. RAMOSÂ

Q Chris Ross of San Miguel Beer tries to score against Jaypee Mendoza of Phoenix Pulse during Game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinals duel of Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game on Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

N

Fear the Deer

OBODY expected the Milwaukee Bucks to be the No. 1 NBA team in the regular season. Behind the stellar play of All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks ended the season with a 6022 win-loss card, the second time they finished with the league-best record in franchise history, guaranteeing home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Giannis is the main reason for this surprising resurgence.

He is having a banner season scoring 27.7 points on 58% shooting, grabbing 12.5 rebounds, 6 assists and a combined 2.8 blocks/steals per game. He is nearly unstoppable one-on-one despite shooting a dismal 25% from beyond the arc â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the only weakness in his otherwise complete two-way game. He is poised to be named the MVP as he is the best player on the best team.

The Bucksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success can also be attributed to head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has brought with him a proven track record in Atlanta as well as 4 championships as the Spursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; assistant coach for nearly 2 decades. He is known for his mentoring coaching style, systems, and playerdevelopment expertise.

Under his tutelage, the Bucks have adapted a freelOWING OFFENSE WITH LOTS OF three-point shots and rim shots to unleash the full potential of Giannis. To sum it up in two words â&#x20AC;&#x201D; space and pace. In just one season, the revamped Bucks offense and defense surged to No. 1 in the league in terms of points SCORED AND kELD GOAL PERCENTage defense. This offense has enabled 6 Bucks to score in double-digits which is also

CROSSOVER RAFFY LEDESMA indicative of their depth. !FTER THREE CONSECUTIVE kRST round exits, the Bucks have kNALLY WON A PLAYOFF SERIES

THEIR kRST SINCE VERSUS the Detroit Pistons. They now FACE THEIR kRST TRUE TEST AGAINST the Boston Celtics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a team that was touted to win it all in the East but fell in the standings due to chemistry issues.

Trouble is, after a roller-coaster ride in the regular season, the Celtics looks like a team peaking just at the right time.

They swept the Indian Pacers IN THE kRST ROUND If they get past Boston, the Bucks will face another tough opponent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; either the Toronto Raptors or the Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors boast of Kawhi Leonard who plays the same way as Giannis but just 4 inches shorter and a more accurate three-point shot. The Raptors also have the depth and the length to go toe-to-toe with the Bucks.

If they meet the 76ersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new look starting unit, they will likewise have a difficult time since Philly has 3 players in their starting unit that can guard Giannis straight up.

If they reach the NBA Finals, the Bucks could establish themselves as the next great NBA team after the Warriors dynasty era, which is highly expected to end next year as rumors are rife that Kevin Durant will be leaving. Giannis will be the NBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next poster boy as LeBron James fades away into the sunset.

raffyrledesma@yahoo.com

C2

Sports

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

UST guns for crucial win vs National U U

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) aims to keep its Final Four twiceto-beat bid going when it tangles with National University (NU) in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. ! WIN BY THE &INAL &OUR BOUND 'OLDEN 4IGRESSES AGAINST THE ALSO RAN ,ADY "ULLDOGS AT P M MAY GIVE THEM A SHOT AT THE SECOND SEMIkNAL INCENTIVE 534 WILL BATTLE SECOND RUNNING $E ,A 3ALLE 5NIVERSITY IN A PLAYOFF FOR THE REMAINING WIN ONCE BONUS SHOULD THE LATTER LOSE its last elimination match against &AR %ASTERN 5NIVERSITY ON 3UNDAY (EAD COACH +UNGFU 2EYES ONLY WANTS HIS 4IGRESSES TO PUT UP A STRONG kNISH IN THE ELIMINATION ROUND

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to end the eliminaTIONS ON A HIGH NOTE u SAID 2EYES IN &ILIPINO g7E LL JUST END IT RIGHT so come the semis we will be more REkNED ON OUR PLAYS u The Tigresses are riding on a THREE GAME WINNING STREAK CAPPED

BY A

SWEEP OF THE ,ADY 4AMARAWS LAST !PRIL 0RIOR TO THAT WIN 534 ALREADY BOOKED A RETURN TRIP TO THE &INAL &OUR WITH 5NIVERSITY OF THE 0HILIPPINES

LOSS TO .ATIONAL 5 ON THE

SAME GAME DAY 'RADUATING CAPTAIN 3ISI 2ONDINA ROOKIE %YA ,AURE AND VETERAN $IMDIM 0ACRES ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD THE %SPAĂ&#x201E;A BASED VOLLEYBELLES OFFENSE ANEW /N THE OTHER HAND THE ,ADY "ULLDOGS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO CLOSE THE SEASON ON A WIN AND POST A kTTING FOLLOW UP TO ITS SHOCKING TRIUMPH OVER 50 g7E JUST PURELY WANT TO END OUR LAST TWO GAMES WITH GOOD PERFORMANCES u SAID .5 MENTOR .ORMAN -IGUEL WHO WILL RELY ON SEASONED SPIKER !UDREY 0ARAN AND ROOKIE HITTER 0RINCESS 2OBLES )N THE SECOND GAME AT P M

.O 50 AND BOTTOM DWELLER !DAMSON 5NIVERSITY CLASH FOR A WINNING END TO THE SEASON "OTH TEAMS ARE EYEING TO SNAP THEIR RESPECTIVE LOSING SKIDS WITH THE ,ADY -AROONS DROPPING THEIR PAST THREE GAMES AND THE ,ADY &ALCONS ON A NINE GAME SLIDE

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Q University of Santo Tomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Eya Laure goes for a crosscourt hit against Adamson Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grace Ava during the UAAP Season 81 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament. FILE PHOTO

Petron, F2 seal finals showdown SMB IN 13THÂ PH CUP COMPLACENCY will be the last thing on Petronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind when it renews its rivalry with F2 ,OGISTICS IN THE kNALS THE 0HILIPPINE 3UPERLIGA 'RAND 0RIX ON 4UESDAY AT THE &ILOIL &LYING 6 #ENTRE IN 3AN *UAN "LAZE 3PIKERS COACH 3HAQ $ELOS 3ANTOS admitted that Cignal gave them a scare in the SEMIkNALS PROMPTING THEM TO CHECK THEIR CONkDENCE LEVEL ENTERING INTO 'AME OF THEIR BEST OF THREE kNALS SERIES 4HE ($ 3PIKERS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT IN THE SEMIkNAL SERIES 4HEY MARCHED INTO 'AME WITH kRE IN THEIR EYES BEFORE YIELDING A

DECISION 4HEN 2ACHEL !NNE $AQUIS AND IMPORT %RICA 7ILSON BUCKLED DOWN TO WORK EARLY UNTIL 3TEPHANIE .IEMER ASSERTED HER DOMINANCE

GIVING THE "LAZE 3PIKERS A

WIN IN 'AME TO BOOK THEIR SIXTH STRAIGHT kNAL DUEL WITH THE #ARGO -OVERS $ELOS 3ANTOS SAID THE WILL SURELY HAVE A HARD TIME BEATING THE HUNGRY & ,OGISTICS IF THEY WILL BE CARELESS AND OVER CONkDENT â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I can say is that Cignal was really eager TO BEAT US u SAID $ELOS 3ANTOS ADMITTING THAT POSTING CONSECUTIVE WINS HAD GIVEN THEM A FALSE SENSE OF COMPLACENCY g) ALWAYS FEEL THAT WE ARE COMPLACENT "UT ) always remind the team that Cignal managed TO PUSH US TO THE BRINK IN OUR TWO SEMIkNAL

MATCHES SO DEkNITELY & ,OGISTICS WILL COME OUT kRING AS WELL (OPEFULLY

THAT EXPERIENCE WILL SERVE AS A LEARNING CURVE FOR ALL OF US u 4RUE ENOUGH BEATING THE #ARGO -OVERS WILL NOT BE EASY !FTER BLOWING HOT AND COLD IN THE QUARTERkNALS AND SEMIkNALS & ,OGISTICS COACH 2AMIL DE *ESUS LIT A kRE UNDER HIS WARDS ESPECIALLY SETTER !LEX #ABANOS WHO IS kLLING IN FOR NATIONAL TEAM MAINSTAY +IM &AJARDO $E *ESUS MOTIVATIONAL WORDS WERE EFFECTIVE AS THE #ARGO -OVERS DOMINATED 0,$4 (OME &IBR

IN 'AME OF THEIR OWN BEST OF THREE SEMIS SERIES g&OR ME THIS IS THE TOUGHEST ROAD GOING TO THE kNALS 7E LOST SO MANY PLAYERS SO MAKING IT HERE IS ALREADY A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT u SAID DE *ESUS 7ITH &AJARDO OUT FOR THE CONFERENCE DUE TO kNGER INJURY DE *ESUS SAID LOCAL PLAYERS !BY -ARANO -AJOY "ARON AND $AWN -ACANDILI HAVE TO WORK DOUBLY HARD TO SUPPORT IMPORTS ,INDSAY 3TALZER AND -ARIA *OSE Perez as well as contain the Q Former Petron import Lindsay Stalzer who kREPOWER OF 0ETRON REINFORCEMENTS now plays with F2 Logictics in the 2019 Philippine +AT "ELL AND 3TEPHANIE .IEMER Superliga Grand Prix. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A

FINALS APPEARANCE

 WHAT else is new?

The San Miguel Beermen are in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals for the fifth consecutive seasons.

The Beermen broke down the top-seed Phoenix Fuel Masters, 105-94, on Thursday to advance into the championship playoff for the title theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve laid their hands on since year 2015.

This, actually, is the 13th time the franchise is disputing the conference plum since it was inserted in the PBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual calendar in 1977 under the name All-Filipino Conference and changed to Philippine Cup in 2004.

Before its string of 2015-2018 Philippine Cup, the Beermen had. Likewise, crowned themselves the All-Filipino champs in 1989, 1992, 1994 and 2001.

They took the 1989 and 1992 diadems at the expense of Purefoods (Magnolia Hotshots), the 1994 plum against Coney Island, also of the Purefoods franchise and 2001 versus Ginebra. Â Â Â Â Â From 2001, SMB had waited half a decade before emerging triumphant in the PBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious.

Coach Jong Uichico called the shots when the Beermen took the title in 2001.     The Beermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s present mentor Leo Austria

has been at the helm in all those Philippine Cup 2015 2018 championship conquests.

Meanwhile who between SMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister team Magnolia Hotshots and Rain or Shine will be the Beermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dancing partner come the gold medal play on May 1 in a yet to be determined. Â The Pambansang Manok and the Elasto Painters were still mixing if up in Game 6 of their own best-of-three semis series Friday night where Magnolia leading, 3-2.

Austria, by the way, had given his boy a well-deserved rest following their Final Four series with the Fuel Masters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One day lang muna ang rest namin. If Magnolia wins tomorrow (Friday), ensayo na kami starting Saturday. Pag na-extend ang series, bibigyanko pa mga bata ng mahabahabang pahinga,â&#x20AC;? Austria told The Manila Times after his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Game 5 win.   â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so thankful weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re back in the finals,â&#x20AC;?

Austria said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All we needed is to have a good start and it happened.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I give credit to Phoenix. They really pushed us to our limit. We loved it. Hopefully we could learn from this going into the finals.

We hope we can sustain this momentum going into the finals,â&#x20AC;? Austria said.

EDDIE G. ALINEA

Tough decisions: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next for OKC Thunder?

&4%2 THREE STRAIGHT SEASONS WE HAVE SEEN THE PLAYER THAT 2USSELL 7ESTBROOK IS (E S A GREAT PLAYER (E PLAYS WITH PASSION AND TENACITY AT EVERY PLAY (E GETS HIS TRIPLE DOUBLES BECAUSE IS ALL OVER THE COURT MOST OF THE TIME TRYING TO GET THE BALL OR HOLDING THE BALL (E S ALSO GOOD AT PASSING THE BALL BUT THIS PAST SERIES HE JUST CAN T GET THAT BALL THROUGH THE HOOP 4HE ."! HAS A REKINDLED LOVE FOR SHOOTING THE BALL &OR ALMOST EVERYONE WHO PLAYS BASKETBALL IT DIDN T START BY DRIBBLING OR PLAYING DEFENSE IT STARTED BY PUTTING THE BALL THROUGH THE HOOP 3HOOTING IS THE BASIC MOTION FOR BASKETBALL 7HEN WE WERE TODDLERS OUR PARENTS SIBLINGS OR UNCLES WOULD TELL US TO gSHOOT THE BALL u 'UYS LIKE 3TEPH #URRY AND $AMIAN ,ILLARD DIDN T SEEM TO OUTGROW THAT 4HEY JUST GOT BETTER THEN ADDED ASPECTS TO THEIR GAME 4HEN CAME THE SIMPLE DISCOVERY THAT A gTHREEu IS HIGHER THAN gTWO u NO MATTER HOW SPECTACULAR THAT TWO IS 4HEN CAME the realization that there was a lot OF SPACE BEHIND THE THREE POINT LINE AND THAT OPPONENTS ONLY DEFEND UP TO THIRTY FEET OKC has been on the wrong END OF THIRTY FOOT GAME WINNERS 3TEPH #URRY ALSO BROUGHT A FOOT DAGGER ON THE 4HUNDER IN

IN OVERTIME WHEN THE SCORE WAS ALL IS NOT A LUCKY NUMBER FOR THE 4HUNDER 3OMEONE ON THE /+# SIDE WAS IMPRESSED ENOUGH TO CHANGE SIDES

BASKETBALL SLEUTH MICHAEL ANGELO B. ASIS Team at a crossroads 3PEAKING OF CHANGING SIDES THE 4HUNDER IS AT A CROSSROADS 4HEY NEED TO ACCEPT THAT THIS IS WHAT THEIR FRANCHISE PLAYER ISÂ&#x2021;A TRIPLE DOUBLE MACHINE

AGGRESSIVE INTENSE AND ENTERTAINING (E CAN GET YOU A PLAYOFF TICKET BUT ONCE THE OTHER TEAMS LEVEL UP YOUR SEASON ENDS 4HE GAME HAS CHANGED BUT 7ESTBROOK WOULD NOT (IS LATEST STATEMENTS OF g) DON T CARE ABOUT THE CRITICISM THEY KNOW THE PLAYER THAT ) AM NIGHT IN AND NIGHT OUTu DOESN T EXACTLY BRING WINDS OF CHANGE OR THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY 3O THIS IS A DECISION THAT '- 3AM 0RESTI HAS TO MAKE 0RESTI HAS ASSEMBLED ONE OF THE POTENTIALLY GREATEST TEAMS EVER ASSEMBLED 4HE kNALISTS HAD THREE FUTURE -60S 7ESTBROOK $URANT (ARDEN AND A $EFENSIVE 0LAYER OF THE 9EAR )BAKA 9ET 0RESTI LOST THEM ALL EXCEPT 2USS 0RESTI UNDERSTANDS THAT IT S A BUSINESS PLAYERS COME PLAYERS GO !ND YOU CAN T KEEP LOOKING BACK ONLY LOOK FORWARD ,OOKING FORWARD THE 4HUNDER HAS THE SECOND LARGEST PAYROLL IN THE LEAGUE 4HEY WILL PAY 7ESTBROOK AN AVERAGE OF MILLION FOR EVERY SEASON ON HIS CONTRACT 4HEY WILL ALSO PAY 0AUL 'EORGE 4HEY DO NOT HAVE

MUCH ROOM TO IMPROVE THEIR ROSTER 4HEY WILL GET TRIPLE DOUBLES AND A LIKELY kRST ROUND EXIT )S THIS A SITUATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE /+# 4HUNDER FANS 4O THE OWNERSHIP 3URE THEY CAN CHANGE "ILLY $ONOVAN BUT IS THERE ANY COACH WHO CAN CHANGE 2USSELL 7ESTBROOK +EVIN $URANT SAW WHAT 2USS WAS Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good teammate and gives MORE THAN EVERY PLAY "UT $URANT WANTED A CHAMPIONSHIP AT THAT POINT AND HE WASN T GOING TO GET THAT THERE 3O HE LEFT 0AUL 'EORGE IS A GREAT PLAYER PLAYED ALMOST -60 LEVEL THIS SEASON "UT HE IS NOT BETTER THAN +EVIN $URANT !ND +EVIN $URANT LEFT WHEN HE COULD George canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do that as he signed a FOUR YEAR DEAL WITH THE 4HUNDER TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY )S 0AUL 'EORGE CONTENT WITH kRST ROUND EXITS 4HAT S what he got with the Indiana Pacers WHEN HE DEMANDED A TRADE

Explore all possibilities 3AM 0RESTI IS A GOOD '- (E GETS THE JOB DONE BUT THERE ARE THINGS HE CAN T CONTROL THE OWNERSHIP S WILLINGNESS TO SPEND AND A PLAYER S DECISION TO LEAVE IN FREE AGENCY 7ITH THOSE TWO THINGS HE LOST *AMES (ARDEN AND +EVIN $URANT !CCORDING TO %30. S PROJECTED CAP SHEET THE OWNERS WILL PAY MILLION IN SALARY AND MILLION IN LUXURY TAXES AND THEY ARE A TEAM IN A SMALL MARKET )T S A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE BUT THIS IS THE SITUATION FOR /+# 5NLESS 2USS BECOMES A TODDLER AGAIN (E LIKES TO gROCK THE BABYu ANYWAY

˜ The Manila Times

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

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Sports

C3

Stallings, Mullinax atop storm-hit Zurich Classic N EW ORLEANS:The duo of Scott Stallings and Trey Mullinax finished their round with a 11-under 61 before storms and then darkness prevented the completion of the opening round of the Zurich Classic on Thursday (Friday in Manila). /NLY TEAMS WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR kRST ROUNDS AT 40# ,OUISIANA FOLLOWING A WEATHER DELAY THAT INCLUDED LIGHTNING IN THE AREA 0LAY WILL RESUME AT AM LOCAL TIME NOON '-4 ON &RIDAY

-ARTIN ,AIRD .ICK 4AYLOR AND "RIAN 'AY 2ORY 3ABBATINI WERE TIED FOR SECOND AT UNDER ,AIRD AND 4AYLOR kNISHED THEIR ROUND WHILE 'AY AND 3ABBATINI STILL HAVE FOUR HOLES TO PLAY

Q Trey Mullinax of the United States tees off during the first round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. AFP PHOTO

!NOTHER SHOT OFF THE PACE WERE THE TEAMS OF *OEL $AHMEN "RANDON (ARKINS AND "RICE 'ARNETT #HESSON (ADLEY WHO WERE BOTH ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR ROUNDS 4OURNAMENT OFkCIALS SAID THEY

ARE HOPEFUL OF GETTING THE ROUND COMPLETED ON &RIDAY g7E RE GOING TO PLAY AS MUCH GOLF AS WE CAN TODAY AND kNISH UP WHAT WE HAVE TO TOMORROW u SAID 0'! 4/52 RULES OFFICIAL

'ARY 9OUNG g(OPEFULLY NOT INTO 3ATURDAY "UT ) THINK WE LL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT DONE BY TOMORROW u 4HE TWO PLAYER TEAM EVENT INCLUDES &OUR BALL BEST BALL ROUNDS

ON 4HURSDAY 3ATURDAY AND &OURSOMES ALTERNATE SHOT ON &RIDAY 3UNDAY 4HE kELD WILL BE CUT FROM TEAMS TO FOLLOWING THE SECOND ROUND

AFP

Green, Lewis share Kim snares TCC crown in record feat lead at LA Open LOS ANGELES: 3TACY ,EWIS kRED A SIX UNDER ON 4HURSDAY FOR A SHARE OF THE LEAD WITH (ANNAH 'REEN AFTER THE kRST ROUND OF THE 53,0'! 4OUR S ,OS !NGELES /PEN ON 4HURSDAY &RIDAY IN -ANILA 4HE YEAR OLD !MERICAN BIRDIED FOUR OF HER LAST SIX HOLES IN THE BOGEY FREE ROUND AT 7ILSHIRE #OUNTRY #LUB g) HIT IT GOOD AND PUTTED WELL u ,EWIS SAID g4HAT S KIND OF THE COMBINATION THAT S BEEN MISSING IS JUST PUTTING BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER &INALLY DID IT ON THE SAME DAY u 4HE TIME TOUR WINNER MISSED THE CUT LAST YEAR IN THE INAUGURAL EVENT SHOOTING

,EWIS DIDN T LIKE THE COURSE SETUP LAST YEAR BUT SAYS ORGANIZERS HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS g,AST YEAR IT WAS SUPER FIRM AND SO ) DID NOT LIKE THE GOLF COURSE u ,EWIS SAID g.OW THE GREENS ARE MUCH

MORE RECEPTIVE AND YOU CAN JUST HIT A LOT BETTER GOLF SHOTS u 'REEN ALSO HAD A BOGEY FREE ROUND g-Y BALL STRIKING WAS GREAT

BUT ALSO MY PUTTER WAS REALLY HOT u 'REEN SAID g) WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW ) ROLLED IT u (ER !USTRALIAN COMPATRIOT ,EE -IN JEE ,EE ALSO WENT BOGEY FREE AND WAS A STROKE BACK g)T WAS PRETTY SOLID ALL ROUND u SAID ,EE g) JUST HIT THE GREENS AND THEN IF ) WAS CLOSE ) WOULD TRY AND TAKE OPPORTUNITY OF MY BIRDIE CHANCES )F NOT THEN ) WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A PAR u #ANADA S !NNE #ATHERINE 4ANGUAY WAS JUST TWO STROKES BACK OF THE LEADERS AFTER SHOOTING A FOUR UNDER 4ANGUAY S FELLOW "ROOKE (ENDERSON WHO WON THE ,OTTE #HAMPIONSHIP LAST WEEK IN (AWAII WAS AT WITH 0ARK )N BEE &ENG 3HANSHAN ,IZETTE 3ALAS !NGEL 9IN )SI 'ABSA

3ARAH *ANE 3MITH *ING 9AN AND *ASMINE 3UWANNAPURA AFP

STA. ROSA, Laguna: +IM *OO (YUNG OUTDUELED +EANU *AHNS IN ANOTHER NERVE WRACKING FINISH AT 4HE #OUNTRY #LUB )NVITATIONAL HERE ON &RIDAY BIRDYING .O FROM FOUR FEET FOR A CRUCIAL TWO SHOT SWING AND SNARING A ONE STROKE VICTORY IN RECORD SETTING FASHION 4IED WITH *AHNS AT ONE OVER OVERALL WITH THREE HOLES LEFT +IM KEPT HIS POISE AND CAME THROUGH WITH TWO BIG SHOTS ON THE DIFkCULT PAR TH A SOLID DRIVE AND A SUPERB APPROACH SHOT THEN DRILLED IN THAT BIRDIE PUTT FROM CLOSE RANGE AFTER *AHNS MUFFED HIS PAR PUTT BID FROM SIX FEET .OT EVEN A CLOSING BOGEY ON THE TOUGH TH COULD SPOIL +IM S CLAIM TO FAME IN THE PREMIER EVENT ALSO KNOWN AS THE 2AZON #UP AS THE YOUNG +OREAN kNISHED WITH A FOR A HOLE TOTAL OF A TWO OVER WORTH 0 MILLION .OT ONLY DID HE KEEP THE CROWN SNATCHED BY COMPATRIOT -ICAH 3HIN FROM WINNER AND ABSENTEE -IGUEL 4ABUENA LAST YEAR BUT ALSO HE EMERGED AS THE YOUNGEST WINNER OF THE PREMIER EVENT ALSO KNOWN AS THE 2AZON #UP AT NINE MONTHS AFTER POSTING SUCH RECORD WHEN HE SCORED A BREAKTHROUGH WIN AT 0UEBLO DE /RO LAST *ULY (E ALSO SET ASIDE PERSONAL WOES

IN THE LAST HOLES THAT FURTHER UNDERSCORED HIS MATURITY AND CHARACTER NOT TO MENTION POISE NEEDED IN SUCH KIND OF PRESSURE PACKED kNISHES g)T S QUITE HURTING AND DISTURBING UPON LEARNING THAT MY GRANDMA HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER "UT ) SET ASIDE THAT BAD NEWS SINCE ) DIDN T WANT IT TO AFFECT MY GAME u SAID +IM g) WANTED TO WIN SO ) KEPT PLAYING TILL THE END ) M HAPPY ) MADE IT u )T WAS A SORRY SETBACK FOR THE YEAR OLD *AHNS WHO GALLANTLY FOUGHT BACK FROM FOUR DOWN AFTER HOLES WITH THAT BIRDIE SPLURGE AT THE BACK TO GET A CLEAR SHOT AT THE CROWN IN WHAT HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP OUTSIDE OF THE 0HILIPPINE /PEN (E CLOSED OUT WITH A SECOND STRAIGHT FOR SECOND AT STILL HIS BEST kNISH IN SIX YEARS WORTH 0

g) NEED TO TOUGHEN UP MORE AND MORE PRACTICE AND SACRIkCE u SAID *AHNS #LYDE -ONDILLA WHO ALSO POUNCED ON A LATE TWO SHOT SWING TO REGAIN A SHARE OF THE LEAD WITH +IM IN THE THIRD ROUND STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE A START BUT STILL STAYED IN HUNT WITH A TWO OVER OVERALL CARD AFTER HOLES "UT THE $EL -ONTE

ACE BOWED OUT WITH BACK TO BACK BOGEYS FROM .O FOR A AND MISSED MAKING IT TWO IN ROW HERE AFTER BESTING A CRACK INTERNATIONAL kELD TO NAIL HIS kRST 0HL /PEN VICTORY THREE WEEKS AGO ( E G R O P E D FOR A AND ENDED UP THIRD AT WORTH 0

IN THE EVENT W H I C H KICKED OFF T H E

0'4 S MILESTONE TH SEASON PUT UP BY )#43) CHAIRMAN 2ICKY 2AZON IN TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF HIS FATHER AND )#43) FOUNDER g,ET S IT GIVE TO HIM +IM (E DESERVED IT u SAID -ONDILLA WHO STAYED LEVEL WITH +IM AFTER HOLES BUT REELED BACK WITH BOGEYS ON .OS AND !NGELO 1UE FAILED TO GET GOING WITH A COUPLE OF lUBBED BIRDIE PUTTS kNISHING WITH A FOR FOURTH AT AND FELLOW THREE TIME WINNER *UVIC 0AGUNSAN

W O U N D UP kFTH AT AFTER A SECOND Q Kim Joo Hyung embraces his fathercaddie after pulling off another record win, this time against the best of the best.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Nadal salutes retiring Ferrer in Barcelona BARCELONA: 2AFAEL .ADAL SHOWED NO MERCY TOWARDS AN EMOTIONAL $AVID &ERRER AS HE EASED INTO THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE "ARCELONA /PEN ON 4HURSDAY DESCRIBING HIS COMPATRIOT WHO IS WINDING DOWN HIS CAREER AS A gPLEASURE TO WATCHu &ERRER IS SET TO RETIRE AFTER THE -ADRID /PEN NEXT MONTH AND MADE A TEARFUL EXIT ON WHAT WAS HIS TH AND kNAL APPEARANCE AT THIS TOURNAMENT "UT THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR SENTIMENT FOR .ADAL WHO WON

TO TAKE ONE STEP CLOSER TO A RECORD TH "ARCELONA TITLE &OUR OF THOSE TRIUMPHS CAME

AFTER BEATING &ERRER IN THE FINAL AND AT THE END OF THIS LATEST VICTORY .ADAL S YEAR OLD OPPONENT SALUTED THE CROWD BEFORE PLACING HIS PINK HEADBAND DOWN ON THE SERVICE LINE g$AVID IS NOT RETIRING BECAUSE OF HIS LEVEL BUT IT HAS BEEN A COMPLICATED YEAR AND A HALF FOR HIM WITH INJURIES u .ADAL SAID g(IS LEVEL THIS YEAR HAS STILL BEEN VERY HIGH AND FOR ALL THESE YEARS HE S BEEN kGHTING HARD AND GIVING US PLEASURE WATCHING HIM 7E ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO HIM u &ERRER REACHED

A CAREER HIGH RANKING OF NUMBER THREE IN THE WORLD IN THE SAME YEAR HE WENT CLOSEST TO WINNING A 'RAND 3LAM TOO UNDONE BY .ADAL AGAIN IN THE &RENCH /PEN kNAL g) GAVE EVERYTHING ) HAD u ADDED &ERRER g) M VERY HAPPY IT S A DREAM COME TRUE TO PLAY ONE OF MY LAST MATCHES ON THIS COURT u .ADAL WILL BE GUNNING FOR HIS TH SUCCESS AT 2OLAND 'ARROS NEXT MONTH AND THIS WAS MORE LIKE THE SORT OF FORM EXPECTED OF THE WORLD NUMBER TWO WHO HAD WON CONSECUTIVE SETS IN "ARCELONA BEFORE FALLING ONE

BEHIND TO ,EONARDO -AYER ON 7EDNESDAY g) HAD TO MAJORLY IMPROVE u .ADAL ADDED g) NEED TO STEP UP PLAY WITH MORE ENERGY AND A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE u .ADAL WILL NOW FACE 'ERMANY S *AN ,ENNARD 3TRUFF WHO KNOCKED OUT kFTH SEED 3TEFANOS 4SITSIPAS

BEFORE A POTENTIAL SEMI kNAL MEETING WITH $OMINIC 4HIEM WHOM HE BEAT IN THE &RENCH /PEN kNAL LAST YEAR &OURTH SEED +EI .ISHIKORI IS ALSO THROUGH AFTER BEATING &ELIX !UGER !LIASSIME IN STRAIGHT SETS AFP

Q David Ferrer waves to the crowd after losing during his men’s singles match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona, Spain. AP PHOTO

Q Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Tan lauds successful Chairman Kap THIS year’s edition of the Tanduay Chairman Kap Year 6 at the West Course of Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong City was successfully held recently.

Cash and merchandise were raffled off to the lucky participants and guests.

Overall Lowest Net honors went to Remy Maturan with a score of 74 while Overall Lowest Gross honors went to Tanduay Rum endorser Derek Ramsey with a 71.

A total of 208 play-

ers inclusive of executives of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies and guests participated in the one-day tournament.

Tournament format was System 36.

The golf tournament started in 2014 when Tanduay celebrated its 160th year.

This has been the brainchild of young tycoon, Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. to honor his father and the LT Group’s Chairman Lucio C. Tan, Sr. known in the industry as “El Kapitan.”

Football Neymar headlines as PSG eyes French Cup P C4

SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019

ARIS: Paris Saint-Germainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pursuit of a fifth successive French Cup title will be bolstered by the return of Neymar and Edinson Cavani from longterm injuries for Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showdown with Rennes at the Stade de France.

Brazil star Neymar made his first appearance since January 23 as a second-half substitute in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-1 win over Monaco as PSG celebrated clinching a sixth Ligue 1 crown in seven years.

Cavani also returned to action, coming on FOR THE kNAL MINUTES AS 03' S FAMED FRONT three -- which has accounted for 78 goals this season -- were reunited after months apart.

Coach Thomas Tuchel admitted he â&#x20AC;&#x153;worriedâ&#x20AC;? for PSGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prospects after they blew a third chance to wrap up the league at Nantes last week, but the German struck a more positive note after watching his team belatedly seal the title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our objective is clear: to win the double.

We have to win on Saturday,â&#x20AC;? said Tuchel, who is also set to welcome back Angel Di

Maria after six weeks out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The French Cup is very important to us, and we hope to clinch it and leave nothing for the others,â&#x20AC;? added goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, his thoughts echoed by defender Marquinhos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A title is always about honor and pride. We all know what our goal for the season is, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to win a maximum number of titles for the club,â&#x20AC;? said the Brazilian.

Anything less than a domestic double for PSG, attempting to lift the French Cup for a record 13th time, would cast further gloom over the Qatari-backed club after their latest European failure.

But Gianluigi Buffon expects Rennes, who enjoyed their best ever run on the continent this year by reaching the Europa League last 16,

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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to present a tricky test.

PSG beat Rennes 3-1 a t Ro a z hon Park and won 4-1 at the Parc des Princes, but Rennes will look for the ultimate revenge AS THEY CHASE A kRST &RENCH #UP IN YEARS g4HE FACT THAT IT S A ONE OFF MATCH A kNAL

brings the two sides closer together, the gap isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as wide as it can be over 38 matches,â&#x20AC;?

Buffon told PSG TV. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the league our chances might have been 80-20, in the final itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more like 60-40 or 65-35, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a final where anything can happen.â&#x20AC;?

Rennes won the trophy in 1965 and 1971, but the Brittany club have painful memoRIES OF THEIR PAST TWO kNALS kNISHING AS runners-up to neighbors Guingamp in both 2009 and 2014.

AFP

La Salle tames NU to strengthen F4 bid DE LA SALLE University boosted its Final Four bid after crushing National University (NU), 3-1, in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football on Thursday at the Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman Football Field in Quezon City. Three players scored as the Green Booters battled back from a goal down to move a win away from securing one of the three remaining semifinal spots. La Salle overtook idle University of the Philippines (UP) at No. 3 with 22 points on a 7-1-5 win-draw-loss record. Head coach Alvin Ocampoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Taftbased squad also extended its streak to three wins. Joobin Park hit the opening goal for NU in the 25th minute but Mikio Umilin fired the equalizer for La Salle in the 40th to forge a stalemate at the break. Jed Diamante buried a penalty kick to give the Green Booters the lead just five minutes after the restart. Rafael Montelibano slotted in a low shot from the right flank in the injury

time to seal the crucial win. The also-ran Bulldogs were left stuck at No. 7 with 10 markers on a 2-4-8 slate. Meanwhile, last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runner-up University of Sto. Tomas (UST) stayed in the Final Four race with a 2-1 stunner over Ateneo De Manila University. AJ Pasion struck the match-winner in the 78th and Glen Ramos netted the opener in the 43rd, keeping the Golden Bootersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; semifinal hopes alive. UST improved to 5-5-3 to tie UPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tally of 20 points but remained at No. 5 with an inferior goal difference. The Blue Booters, who got an equalizer from Julian Roxas, suffered their fourth loss though they stayed at No. 2 with 23 markers on seven wins and two draws. In the other game, Adamson University ended the season on a 1-1 standoff with fellow eliminated University of the East. The No. 6 Soaring Falcons wound up with 12 points on a 2-6-6 card while the cellar-dwelling Red Warriors improved to nine markers on a 2-3-8 sheet.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

LIVERPOOL SHOOTS FOR HOME STRAIGHT LIVERPOOL:Â Jurgen Klopp will s e n d h i s L i ve r p o o l t e a m onto the pitch in their ongoing pursuit of the Premier League title against relegated Huddersfield on Friday (Saturday in Manila) knowing he has already rewritten the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record books.

The only question that remains in their neck-and-neck race with Pep Guardiolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manchester City is whether that will be SUFkCIENT TO END HIS CLUB S 29-year wait for an English league crown.

Last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory at struggling Cardiff took Liverpool to 88 points, the most they have ever recorded in the Premier League era, and has them on course to finish with an astonishing 97 points should they win their remaining three games.

With the exception of the 100 points amassed by City in winning the championship 12 months ago, no other team in Premier League history has ever notched as many as 97 points, regardless of their finishing position.

Even Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current tally of 88 points would have been ENOUGH TO HAVE kNISHED kRST IN 14 of the 26 seasons the Premier League has been in existence.

It means Kloppâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side could end the season with the thirdhighest points total in Premier League history and still see their frustrating wait for an end to

Q Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roberto Firmino (right) and Cardiff Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bruno Ecuele Manga battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match at The Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. AP PHOTO their title drought continue for another 12 months at least.

The form book does not offer Liverpool much hope, with City having won 25 of their past 27 league and cup games dating back to late last year, even if Liverpoolthemselves have lost just once â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to City in January â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the league all season.

Guardiola has already called Kloppâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current side the greatest Liverpool team he has ever seen, an extravagant claim but one which is supported, at least in part, by the statistics. AFP

SSATURDAY AT U R DAY APRIL 27, 2019

Entertainment

D1

Q Dingdong Dantes renewed his commitment to his home studio of 21 years this week .

www.manilatimes.net

John Arcilla proves mettle as actor in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kuwaresmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; N

OT even in his wildest dreams did John Arcilla imagine that one day he will get that once-of-a-lifetime chance to do a movie with Megastar Sharon Cuneta. But Reality Entertainment and Globe Studios made it happen in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kuwaresma,â&#x20AC;?

THE HORROR lICK DIRECTED BY the master of horror himself, Erik Matti.

He admitted that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big fan of Sharon and when the actress-singer did a tour in the US recently, John took the time to watch his idol. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It never crossed my mind that I will have that chance,â&#x20AC;? said the award-winning actor of the great opportunity to work with Sharon in a movie. John even joked that he is not that good-looking enough to pass as screen partner to the megastar.

They play husband and wife in Kuwaresma, which is showing on May 15. It is also Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reunion project with Erik Matti.

For his part, direk Erik praised Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mettle as an actor.

Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City.

Conspicuously absent was Kier Legaspi, Daniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father; same with Marjorieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sisters, Claudine and Gretchen Barretto.

Kier didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to attend the wedding after Dani said not so good things about him on Facebook. She allegedly said it was only Marjorie who supported her needs while growing up. But somebody in the know said it was Claudine and Gretchen who helped Marjorie in raising her kids.

Kier and Marjorieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sisters were also absent at the reception held at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the children who suffer most when former partners part ways, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blame them if they feel neglected or unloved.

But it is also not right to pass judgment because we are not privy to the real reason for the breakup of a relationship.

As the saying goes, time heals all wounds. We WISH BOTH PARTIES WILL kND THE GOODNESS IN THEIR heart and forgive each other for their faults.

NNN Gerald Santos is excited to be G home hom after spending two years with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miss â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mi Saigonâ&#x20AC;? where he played the role of Thuy. The singer-performer said he will never forget his stint in UK production since it was a life-changing l experience and certainly cer one of the high points of his career.

It was also because of his Miss Sa Saigon stint which gave iSkin Clinic to get Gerald as brand ambassador.

Th owner of iSkin believes Gerald The w be a big help to make their will th three-year-old company known in internationally.

The offer of iSkin to him as b brand ambassador came at the rright time. He is having a conc on May 4 at The Theatre at cert Solaire where he will have as his special guests fellow Miss Saigon alumnus Leo Valdez, Santo and Joreen Bautista, as well Aicelle Santos, as Jake Xyrus.

Titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gerald Santos: The Homecoming Concert,â&#x20AC;? this is his musical treat for his fans who missed him while on tour with Miss Saigon.

In the presscon-cum-contract signing with the brand, he also expressed interest to appear in any teleserye of ABS-CBN and given a choice, he hopes to join the cast of â&#x20AC;&#x153;FPJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ang Probinsyano.â&#x20AC;?

RO ROVING EYE RICKY CA CALDERON

Q John Arcilla with Sharon Cuneta â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is a very reliable actor. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of any actor but John to play the demanding role of the husband who is lead and villain at the same time. And he and Sharon have excellent chemistry,â&#x20AC;? the director said.

NNN It was only Marjorie Barretto and her other daughters who attended the wedding of her daughter Dani held at the Sanctuario de San

AFTER â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;THE LAST INTERVIEWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tokhangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; issue next for journalist-film director B

EFORE the controversial mayor of Tanuaun, Batangas Antonio Halili was assassinated, veteran broadcast journalist and film director Caesar Soriano was able to interview him. This happened less than 24 hours while the mayor was in a flag ceremony at the newly constructed municipal hall of said city.

Halili was gunned down by an unknown assailant in the morning of July 2, 2018. He served as Tanauan mayor from 2013 to 2018. The case remains mysteriously unsolved to this day.

Into the observance of Lent, Caveat was privy to an intimate preview to the biopic of the murdered mayor hosted by Soriano himself. He directed and produced the film under his own Greatczar Media Productions billed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Last Interview (The Mayor Antonio â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Paradaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Halili Story)â&#x20AC;? from the screenplay of Abet Pagdagdagan Raz. As backgrounder, Soriano entered the media industry as a broadcast journalist. He was formerly ABSCBN Mindanao News Bureau chief and has worked as news anchor of DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990 AM. His film debut was â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang Misyon: A Marawi Siege Story.â&#x20AC;? Soriano has in pre-production stage his own incisive take on Pres. Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controversial â&#x20AC;&#x153;tokhangâ&#x20AC;? issue. Tokhang comes from the Cebuano words toktok and hangyo , which means knock and bargain or plea.

Currently, he is news anchor of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ulat Bayan,â&#x20AC;? a weekend news program of PTV4 and hosts â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magandang Gabi Pilipinasâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isyu One On Oneâ&#x20AC;? as well.

In hindsight, the journalist-director wanted to find out why Halili had to parade the suspected drug pushers and users especially thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ongoing war on drugs speraheaded by no less than the President.

He was obsessed in understanding the harsh and not normal way of parading drug suspects that the mayor was accused of human rights violations.

Soriano also noted that Halili was booted out

from the list of mayors who ought to be given full security because he was allegedly involved in drugs and that he was in the Drug Watch List of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military.

In Sorianoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last four-hour interview, the mayor revealed everything bordering on the ominous. The journalist had observed that the mayor somehow sensed that his life would end similar to that of Mayors Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte and Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz City.

Shortly after the memorable interview, the mayor called him up for another meeting the following morning, supposedly after the flag ceremony. He fancied asking the mayor how to end perhaps his biopic?

The mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s answer was, â&#x20AC;&#x153; You will know the answer to that by tomorrow.â&#x20AC;? And that was it, the mayor was felled by a gunmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bullet that fateful morning while singing the national anthem.

Soriano thinks the inspirational biopic on hand is in keeping with his advocacy as a filmmaker focusing on social commentary and awareness of critical political issues.

Already reviewed by the MTRCB, said film â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with John Estrada as Mayor Halili and Ara Mina as the wife â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be screened right after the election to quash the idea of electioneering. The film shows actual video footages of Sorianoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last interview with the mayor.

NNN GUESS WHO: During the Holy Week, a movie reporter (MR) figured in an almost violent altercation with a sexy star (SS) who allegedly has an influential lover from the military. Not to make things worse, a cooler influential showbiz personality intervened on behalf of MR. So a peace pipe got the better of the two warring showbiz denizens. Clue: SS was discovered in a pioneering network star search.

CAVEAT GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

Through decades with Dingdong Dantes F

OR a man who has it all â&#x20AC;&#x201D; fame, fortune and a beautiful family â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dingdong Dantes has only become humbler, more thoughtful and grateful for what he has. And at no other time has he probably felt the intensity of the cosmosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; benevolence than the lead up to Easter week when he became dad ANEW AND REFORTIkED HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS HOME STUDIO OF YEARS Understandably emotional on Easter Monday, just days after his second child Jose Sixto 4th was born and only moments after the ink on his contract renewal had dried, Dingdong expressed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here for 21 years; higit kalahati ng buhay ko Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent with GMA. Dito ko nakilala ang aking

Korean series, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Descendants of the Sun.â&#x20AC;?

Clearly the networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important talent today, its EXECUTIVES ARE IN FACT kRST TO APPRECIATE HOW GROUNDED THEIR biggest star has remained despite his success.

As the company president and COO Gilberto Duavit put in in a recorded message, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si $ONG IS ONE OF THE VERY kRST na lumagda ng exclusive contract with us. now na nagbabalik tanaw tayo, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TESSA MAURICIO aAnd great sense of happiness and pride kasi

napangasawa; dito ako nagkaroon ng panganay at nang pangalawang anak.

Bahagi ang GMA ng aking buhay and it is a company na talagang itinuri ako bilang isang anak. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At ngayong alam ko na ang pakiramdam isang tatay â&#x20AC;&#x201D; na gagawin ang lahat para sa kanyang anak â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ang gusto ko lang po sabihin sa GMA ay hinding hindi ko kayo ipapahiya.â&#x20AC;?

In a joint statement from Dingdong and the networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top executives, the actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest contract renewal paves way for a deeper partnership between the long reigning Kapuso Prime Time King and GMA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so grateful that way back when I was teenager and starting in showbiz, there was at the very least one person here in GMA na nagtiwala sa akin. And kung sino man â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yon, hindi ko alam, pero dahil sa isang taong â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yon, I am where I am today and will be grateful for the rest of my life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why to be honest, hindi sa akin importante yung TITLE OR POSITION OR OFkCIAL na trabaho because having spent over half my life at this network, I will do what I can beyond my own shows to return the love, concern and loyalty they have given me. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, kung anong kailangan nila sa akin, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m there and eager to help with what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned from being a Kapuso for many years.â&#x20AC;?

But even as the network is only too happy to have Dingdong take a more active and extensive role in creatives, production and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various facets, they will continue to further his ever progressing skills in hosting and acting via his ongoing infotainment program â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amazing Earthâ&#x20AC;? and in giving him the iconic role of Captain Lucas or Big Boss in the highly-anticipated adaptation of the hit

THE T-ZONE -ARRIOLA

bukod sa hindi siya nagbago, bagamat ang laki na ng itinaas ni Dingdong dito sa industriya, he has remained the same

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; very humble, very professional, very conscientious, loyal as an actor and as a friend.â&#x20AC;?

And with every angle of his life picture perfect from â&#x20AC;&#x153;a regular â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; point of view,â&#x20AC;? The Manila Times kNALLY asked the 38-year-old superstar if anything still worries a man like him today.

And again, in all humility, Dingdong replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa kabila ng lahat na nakikita natin, behind it is a lot of hard work. Of course what the public sees is the glamor of all these things but where I am today didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come easy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And hindi ko pa rin masasabing nakamit ko na yung gusto kong makamit, kasi Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still in the process of reinventing myself and trying to be a better actor because I believe na we are all a work in progress. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And the worry comes in kapag hindi magtugma ang lahat ng bagay toward your goals and present responsibilities. In my personal life, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the more true with the fear is of course is paano kung hindi ko magagampanan ng tama

yung mga tungkulin ko bilang asawa at ama.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an everyday struggle to always try to be the best version of myself. Hindi siya madali and hindi din siya automatic like what others may think amid all the glamor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like everyone else, ganun din ang buhay ko â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mada-

ming dadaanan na mahirap pero dahil maraming tumutulong, nagmamahal at nagtitiwala sa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yo, saka lang siya dumadali,â&#x20AC;? he ended.

D2

Funtimes

SATURDAY April 27, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

THE OLD TRICK

RABBIT-IN-THE-HAT

Appearances can be very deceiving.

This is just as true in bridge as it is in everyday life.

Take this case where, because of an unlucky 4-0 trump division, South seems doomed to go down one in four spades, losing two trumps, a heart and a diamond. Yet when the play ended, declarer had 10 tricks, the opponents only three, and, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, there

Âť CROSSWORD

was absolutely nothing the defenders could have done about it.

When dummy came down, the play seemed routine. The obvious losers were a diamond, a heart and perhaps a trump. But when declarer took the opening spade lead with the king and East showed out, what had looked like an easy contract took on a decidedly different hue.

Undaunted, declarer proceeded to demonstrate that everything is not always as it appears to be. He started by playing the ace and another diamond, losing to the queen. West returned a second trump to the ace, whereupon South led a club to the ace and ruffed a club.

A diamond was ruffed in dummy, followed by a second club ruff. Declarer then cashed the K-A of hearts and trumped dummyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last club.

By this time, 11 tricks had been played, and South had won 10 of them. The last two tricks were taken

by Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two spade winners, one of which obliterated his partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart trick. The four â&#x20AC;&#x153;sureâ&#x20AC;? losers were thus telescoped into just three.

Declarerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10 tricks came from scoring three ruffs in his hand and another in dummy to go with the A-K of trumps and four top winners in the side suits. Apparent defeat was converted into victory by getting maximum mileage out of the trump suit. Š 2019 King Features Syndicate Inc.

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

Solution to puzzle

By Samantha Weaver

ÂťHOROSCOPE Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday (04/27/19). Your family fortunes gain value this year. Prepare for educational adventures. Deliver a powerful message this summer, leading to changing destinations. Travel and studies reveal new horizons next winter, flavoring new directions in your research and communications. Connect and share to grow together.

To get the advantage, check the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

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â&#x20AC;˘ It was one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock â&#x20AC;&#x201D; also known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Master of Suspenseâ&#x20AC;? -â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who made the following sage observation: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, it is illegal to keep indoor furniture outdoors. â&#x20AC;˘ The town of Llanfair in Wales is also known by its Welsh name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantsiliogogogoch. Roughly translated, this means, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in a hollow of white hazel, close to a whirlpool and Saint Tysiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church and near a red cave.â&#x20AC;? The sign at the railway station that has the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is 20 feet long. â&#x20AC;˘ Those who study such things say that cockroaches can run as fast as 3 mph. â&#x20AC;˘ You probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and you certainly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t notice it -â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but experts claim that the Atlantic Ocean is getting about 1 centimeter bigger every year, and the Pacific Ocean is shrinking by the same amount. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due to continental drift, they say. â&#x20AC;˘ Linguists say that American English has roughly 20 swear words (depending, of course, on how one defines swearing). In contrast, residents of ancient Rome had a lexicon of about 800 so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;dirtyâ&#x20AC;? words to draw upon. â&#x20AC;˘ The tuatara is a lizard that can be found in New Zealand. Its claim to fame? It has a third eye, located on the top of its head. â&#x20AC;˘ If you counted up all the McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Dunkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Donuts, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Dominoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Taco Bell locations in the United States and added them together, you still wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reach the number of pharmacy locations across the country. *** Thought for the Day: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; W. C. Fields Š 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

D3

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LIFESTYLE@MANILATIMES.NET

SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019

Highlights from New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bridal fashion week N

EW YORK: There was a church wedding with a Madonna soundtrack, a sit-down tea at a fancy Midtown hotel, and yards and yards of tulle and trains at Aprilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bridal fashion week in New York.

Several dozen designers hosted the media and buyers for appointments or put together runway shows and presentations for the twice-yearly celebration of bridal dressing, this time featuring looks for spring 2020.

Inspired Reem Acra OUTDID HERSELF kLLING EVERY SEAT IN -IDtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge and historic St. Bartholomewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, expanding her guest list to include regular brides.

This collection, a mix of modern mini-dress, shorts looks and more traditional gowns, had a simple celebratory sentiment: Thank you.

Acra was inspired by a message to God she wrote in her Bible 40 years ago, back in 1979 at age 17: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you God you have given me more than I deserve. You have given me more than beauty, you have given me the power to make beauty. Thank you.â&#x20AC;? )N RETURN SHE GAVE US ADORABLE lOWER GIRLS IN PINK holding bedazzled faux candles, messages of love emblazoned on bodices, live singers belting from the audience and at the front of the church, and A -ADONNA SOUNDTRACK DRIVEN BY g,IKE A 0RAYER u In collaboration with her fellow designer of ,EBANESE DESCENT *OSEPH !BBOUD SHE ALSO GAVE us embellished looks for grooms, including a heavily pearled white tuxedo shirt worn under a tailored navy jacket.

For some looks, Acra broke out of the traditional veil mold with sculptural tulle head PIECES PUTTING SUNGLASSES ON A FEW -ANY OF these brides had swagger for days.

Her church runway was adorned with HUGE ARCHES OF RED PINK AND WHITE lOWERS

adding to the fun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted to empower all women because I had to empower myself when I was 17 years old,â&#x20AC;? she told The AssoCIATED 0RESS AFTER THE EXTRAVAganza. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a celebration for all of us human beings.â&#x20AC;?

Q From Phuong My tion, showing looks in bright red, using long black gloves against white, and fashioning helmet-shaped AND lAT DISC HEAD PIECES 0HUONG -Y A GRADUATE OF THE !CADEMY OF !RT 5NIversity in San Francisco, is a luxury ready-to-wear designer who generated some buzz with her non-bridal debut at New York Fashion Week for fall-winter. For bridal, a harpist and quartet performed at Academy -ANSION ON A PRIME %AST 3IDE BLOCK AS HER MODELS WALKED AMID lOWER BLOOMS ON TWIGS IN GOWNS JUMPsuits, suiting and skirts, some with origami-inspired asymmetric folds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For this collection we want the woman to be more of a warrior,â&#x20AC;? she explained in a post-show interview.

3OMEONE 0HUONG -Y SAID WHO GETS MARRIED BUT WANTS TO gkND THEIR OWN placeâ&#x20AC;? and be truthful to themselves is the customer sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after. Weddings, she said, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always have to be white. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Red is one of the most popular colORS FOR BRIDAL IN !SIA u 0HUONG -Y said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A little color doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt anyone.â&#x20AC;?

Q From Vera Wang

Ines Di Santo

Woman warrior 4RAN 0HUONG -Y

originally from Ho Chi -INH IN 6IETNAM

LAUNCHED HER kRST bridal collection with a challenge to tradi-

Q From Ines Di Santo

Q From Amsale Aberra

sleeves, as petticoats and as corsages. There was a deliberate randomness to her collection, intended to surprise from all 360 degrees. There were long trains and DELICATE PIECES THAT TRAILED FROM THE UPPER ARMS ,OOKS in blueberry, pistachio and the lightest of mauves were mixed with blushes and whites.

For ready to wear, Wang goes heavy on the blacks and grays, to the chagrin long ago of fashion powerhouse Anna Wintour. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But then I come to bridal where everything should be white. I always canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand it,â&#x20AC;? Wang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just have to mess it up. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rebellious streak in me.â&#x20AC;?

This was her 59th bridal collection, and she said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to her to reinvent. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been experimenting with color for bridal for a while now.

7ANG SAID THE LATE +ARL ,AGERFELD ONCE TOLD HER g9OU KNOW 6ERA ) DO ALL THESE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS because they come and they still buy the Chanel bag.

But he said I have to shock. If I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do that what interest is there in the brand?â&#x20AC;?

This hand-done bridal collection, which sells for up to $30,000, is couture by anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really a collection based on a certain freedom, but to get that freedom takes incredible technique,â&#x20AC;? Wang said.

Vera Wang

Amsale

She doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often appear personally for private presentations at her bridal design studio, but this time she did. And her couture looks in muted color, visible boning and draped silk tulle lit UP WITH OUTSIZE lORAL embellishment she used magically.

Her statement blooms came at the collars, on

A year after the death of Amsale Aberra, her namesake brand has carried on under the design tutelage of -ARGO ,A&ONTAINE This season, the company announced the launch of Amsale x You, a service that allows a bride to â&#x20AC;&#x153;buildâ&#x20AC;? her own gown online using couture patterns from the 32-year-old brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s archives. Starting at $5,000, you can choose a bodice, a skirt and optional belts. The runway show included seven brides who designed the gowns they wore. See Amsale.com for how it works.

4HIS IS ,A&ONTAINE S THIRD SEASON AT THE COMPANY

her second show without Aberraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guidance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I keep her with me in everything that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking and designing and hope to continue to pay tribute to HER LEGACY u ,A&ONTAINE SAID As for the main collection, she focused on draping, hand-pleating and plays on texture. She built texture with embroidery and faux lace. There was a dramatic cape T-shirt on one look and illusion touches Aberra was known for.

4HE COLLECTION WAS ALL WHITE ,A&ONTAINE SAID gA LOT of people like to stick with the tradition.â&#x20AC;? .EIL "ROWN #%/ OF !MSALE AND !BERRA S WIDOWER

said she would have loved the idea of Amsale x You. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was a revolutionary in so many respects,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She had the foresight to introduce CAD design technology very early in her career.

Thanks to that foresight, we are now armed with 32 years of perfected couture wedding dress designs that we can utilize to create completely new and different experiences and expand and grow her legacy.â&#x20AC;?

&AIRYTALES DREAMS CLOUDS /PHELIA 4HESE ARE JUST A few of the things that inspired Di Santoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection.

3HE ATTACHED A lOWING lORAL PRINTED CATHEDRAL train to a bandeau and mini-skirt with feather accents, WORN WITH LONG BELL SLEEVES /NE TRUMPET GOWN WAS embellished with silvery stars and came with a bottom done in pleated circles. A strappy backless satin gown was shown with a romantic little tulle stole that lUTTERED BEHIND ALL IN WHITE â&#x20AC;&#x153;The dress is more than a dress. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a personality,â&#x20AC;? she said.

While she included traditional white, Di Santo isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid of patterned and color bridal gowns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Color is very important for me. Different patterns, different silhouettes, describe who we are,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love color. Being Italian, we love color.â&#x20AC;? /NE OF HER DESIGNS WAS A HIGH WAISTED SHORT SET WITH PINK lORAL EMBELLISHMENT PAIRED WITH SHEER leggings adorned with stars at the thighs. The jacket was worn open with nothing underneath.

Di Santo treated her guests to tea at the luxurious "ACCARAT (OTEL IN -IDTOWN WALKING HER MODELS through intimate tables as the crowd sipped and NIBBLED ON kNGER FOOD AP Q From Reem Acra

D4

SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019

EDITOR Tessa Mauricio-Arriola STAFF WRITERS Christina Alpad & Iza Iglesias DESKMAN Arlo Custodio

Get to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Endgameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in style Oppoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in on the epic N Avengers finale, too!

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OPPO smartphones has also joined in on the momentous Marvel Cinematic Universe event as it launched a brand new F11 Pro Avengers Limited Edition model on Friday, which is an exclusive release in cooperation with Marvel Studios.

Now available for pre-order at selected Oppo concept stores, the F11 Pro Avengers Limited Edition comes in a unique design called Space Blue. The back cover features a design inspired by Captain Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armor. The bold red

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Avengers â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? collides with the blue background in Oppoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature gradient effects to form the attractive red-blue color-blocking. A wallpaper featuring the magnificent Avengers logo shines completes the look.

The limited-edition unit also comes with a Captain Americathemed Case. It has a central-located finger ring, inspired by Capâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic shield.

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Q This limited edition phone unites powerful features with stunning gradient finishes.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thronesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is ending, but will live on in merchandise NEW YORK: From wine to clothing to tours, HBO and retailers have cashed in through the years with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;? merchandise.

Thrones is not only a huge international show but also a massive business, with all sides hoping to pad the bank during the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eighth and final season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thousands of products, just a lot of stuff all around the world,â&#x20AC;? said Jeff Peters, HBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of licensing and retail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so busy we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop and count.â&#x20AC;?

Products include makeup, beer, toy collectibles and even high fashion collaborations.

But while the show itself is a TV phenomenon, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t guarantee fans will flock to stores. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly good to be lucky. But you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to where the merchandising programs are with HBO and what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done with Game of Thrones unless you have a true, point-by-point marketing and merchandising and retail strategy,â&#x20AC;? said product and licensing expert Tony Lisanti. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a global property and every country may resonate a little different,â&#x20AC;? he said.

California-based Vintage Wine Estates

Q Various styles of Adidas x Game of Thrones Ultra Boosts sneakers inspired by HBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; series.

Q Costumes of the seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; characters Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell on display during the launch of The Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition at the Titanic Exhibition center in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

has been making the official â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;? wine for three years now, said Pat Roney, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just the excitement all over the world with the calls that we get from almost 40 different countries to sell wine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just amazing,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Popular tours of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;? filming locations in Croatia and Ireland have boosted small, local economies there, according to TripAdvisorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andrew Aley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some really positive examples like Northern Ireland, for example, where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not somewhere thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been on every touristâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radar and

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now become one of the major pillars of tourism in that local economy,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of those factors thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s then driving tourism to other attractions as well, like at Belfast Titanic or Giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Causeway.â&#x20AC;?

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always this easy for HBO to find retailing partners for Game of Thrones, Peters said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the beginning, nobody really knew what it was,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, we were the ones making phone calls and we were saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, you got to get in on this. We think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; As the show got established and got big, then all the calls came to us and people were just throwing ideas and pitches.â&#x20AC;?

Some of those ideas resulted in fashion collaborations with companies like Adidas, who created the now hard-to-find â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adidas x Game of Thrones Ultra Boostsâ&#x20AC;? shoes, as well as a collection with menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion designer John Varvatos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The one thing that always stands out in my mind from the first season was all the textures, all the way the leathers are finished, the artisan fabrics, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of what we do,â&#x20AC;? said Varvatos.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I also didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to make Game of Thrones (clothes) where someone felt like they were wearing a costume around town. So what you wanted to do is take that inspiration with a lot of the great details from the wardrobe from the show and put that into product that people actually could wear.â&#x20AC;?

There are also Thrones-themed board games like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Monopoly,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Clueâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Risk;â&#x20AC;? Danielle Nicoleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Game of Thrones handbags; and beer made by upstate New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brewery Ommegang.

Just how much money is being made?

No one really knows except HBO. And the numberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to estimate, for a reason. â&#x20AC;&#x153;HBO wants to get as high a licensing fee as possible. It will not want the companies that license â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to know what deals HBO is striking so that those companies seek to obtain a lower fee,â&#x20AC;? wrote Dr. Larry Chiagouris, professor of marketing at Pace University, in an email to the Associated Press.

His broad guess of how much HBO is bringing in: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot!â&#x20AC;?

Besides the chance to make money, there have been other benefits to retailers joining forces with HBO. Take Urban Decayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new makeup collection, for example.

Q Urban Decayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new makeup collection inspired â&#x20AC;&#x153;A couple of these products by the HBO series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of Thrones.â&#x20AC;? didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even exist in our line before.

So the lipsticks were reimagined and have new casings and everything else,â&#x20AC;? said Wende Zomnir, franchise will continue to be popular. And that founding partner and chief creative officer of content doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be another series,â&#x20AC;?

Urban Decay (the company previously worked said Lisanti. It could be events such as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;travwith HBO on the show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vinylâ&#x20AC;?). eling exhibition, concerts series, and events in Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a push to get new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thronesâ&#x20AC;? cities and around the world.â&#x20AC;? products out in time for the last season, but HBO isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worried.

Lisanti thinks that even when the show ends, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re striking right now while the iron is products will stay in demand thanks to streaming hot,â&#x20AC;? said Peters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pretty confident and planned spinoffs. that there will be interest in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Game of Thronesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;As long as thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new content, then the for a long time.â&#x20AC;?

AP