The Manila Times | January 30, 2019

Infra investments to boost long-term PH growth — AIIB »Story on B1 ++

Php20.00

•• 5 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 110 28

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

R w w w.manilatimes.net

Trusted since 1898

D U T E R T E , LO R E N Z A N A :

Q One of many similar comments on social media.

‘Suicide bombers behind Jolo blasts’

Manila Bay clean-up: ‘Broken windows’ theory on a grand scale

BY DEMPSEY REYES

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the twin blasts in Jolo were likely the handiwork of suicide bombers, as he ordered the military anew to crush the Abu Sayyaf terrorists said to be responsible for the attack on Jolo Cathedral.

I

T is not an exaggeration to say that President Duterte’s dramatically TERMED g"ATTLE FOR -ANILA "AY u HIS grand project to clean up what has been the polluted-landscape symbol of the Philippines, will be a watershed in our nation’s history. ³TiglaoA6

RIGOBERTO RIG DD. TIGLAO

Honoring our martyred dead

³BombersA2

T

HE whole FIRST city of THINGS Jolo is on a toFIRST tal lockdown following the twin explosions at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral on Sunday, January 27, that killed 20 civilians, soldiers and Coast Guard personnel, wounded 100 others, and shattered the peace promised to war-torn Southern Philippines by the January RATIkCATION OF THE "ANGSAMORO /RGANIC ,AW CREATING THE "ANGSAMORO !UTONOMOUS 2EGION IN -USLIM -INDANAO "!2--

PH improves on corruption perception — Transparency

FRANCISCO S. TATAD

SECURITY FOOTAGE

seized the passport database.

He said that he wanted to hold on to the assurance of the APO (Asian Productivity Organization) Production Unit Inc. (APUI), the one in

THE Philippines’ corruption perception index (CPI) has slightly improved as it climbed 12 ranks up and earned 2 points higher in a recent report published by Transparency International, an anti-graft organization.

Transparency International ranks 180 countries annually in terms of perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, according to experts and business personalities.

It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates highly corrupt and 100 very clean.

The Philippines has climbed to the 99th spot in 2018, a few levels up from its 111th ranking in 2017.

The country’s CPI, however, only

³SafeA8

³ImprovesA8

Screenshots of CCTV footage show three persons of interest before the explosion at a church in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday. SCREENSHOTS FROM WESTERN MINDANAO COMMAND

³TatadA5

What’s inside

Passport data safe

BY BERNADETTE TAMAYO

2018 MARKET OVERVIEW

QC leads real estate market survey Build&Design C1 HOUSE PASSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

NewsA3

PCSO TO GIVE P8B TO PHILHEALTH NewsA3 CURRY SIZZLES AS WARRIORS ROUT PACERS

SportsD1

WORKING AS A TEMP IN TRUMP HOTELS IS NOT THE REAL DEAL

Marlen RonquilloA4 ENCHONG DEE, JANINE GUTIERREZ – FIRST UP FOR 2019’s VALENTINES MOVIES

EntertainmentE1

SPECIALREPORT

Second of three parts FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. backpedalled on his claim that a previous private contractor

Poll: Prison time OK for minors in crime SIXTY-THREE percent of Filipinos aged 18 and above agreed that minors should be imprisoned for raping a person, 59 percent for killing someone, 49 percent for acting as drug couriers, 28 percent for snatching phones and 8 percent for stealing food, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS)

³MinorsA2 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

A2

News

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Bicam scraps budget for dredging projects

S

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

ENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said the national budget for 2019 had zero money for dredging activities, which he described as “a rich source of corruption.�

This came after the bicameral conference committee, which is reconciling the disagreeing provisions of the 2019 General !PPROPRIATIONS "ILL ADOPTED

the motion of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to scrap the budget for dredging activities. “Contracts with contractors for dredging activities will not be

funded. The reason is, dredging contracts with private contractors are the biggest sources of corruption, and the preferred insertions IN THE BUDGET BY LEGISLATORS "ILLIONS ARE ALLOCATED FOR DREDGING u Drilon said. “How can you measure how many cubic meters of mud did you DREDGE u HE ADDED Drilon said the budget would be used to fund the purchase OF DREDGING EQUIPMENT FOR THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Citing what I did for the Iloilo River, Senator Lacson moved that all the amounts allocated for dredging be used for the purchase of dredging machines. This was adopted by THE BICAM u $RILON SAID “We purchased dredging machines so up to now, five years after, we’re still dredging without ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSE u HE ADDED Drilon said that henceforth, as a matter of policy, dredging would be done in-house, by the DPWH, not by private contractors.

Q MINORS FROM A1

Prison survey released at the Commission ON (UMAN 2IGHTS #(2 OFkCE on Tuesday.

The SWS survey was conducted from July 13 to 16 in Metro Manila and from Dec. 18 to 22, 2018 in the rest of the country.

A total of 1,500 respondents aged 18 and above were surveyed, with 300 IN -ETRO -ANILA AND IN "ALANCE Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Of the 63 percent of Filipinos who believed that minors should be jailed for rape, 32 percent said only those aged 15 and above should be held liable.

About 30 percent of the 59 percent of respondents who agreed to jail minors who killed someone said only those aged 15 and above should be put behind bars.

Twenty-five percent of the 49 percent who agreed to jail minors acting as drug couriers said children aged 14 years and below should not be held liable for the crime.

The survey, which has a Âą6 percent margin of error, was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults in the National Capital Region (NCR OR -ETRO -ANILA "ALANCE ,UZON

Visayas and Mindanao.

Of the respondents, 14 percent were from the NCR, 45 percent from Luzon, 19 percent from Visayas, 19 percent from Mindanao excluding the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and 3 percent from the ARMM. The distribution by socio-economic CLASS WAS PERCENT FOR CLASSES !"#

85 percent for class D and 12 percent for class E. Male and female adult respondents were alternately sampled, hence the 1 to 1 ratio.

Majority of those who disagreed that minors should be put in jail for any of the crimes mentioned recommended putting them under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “For those who say that minors should not be jailed, 73 percent agree that children who commit offenses should be placed under $37$ CUSTODY u 373 PRESIDENT Dr. Mahar Mangahas said.

According to CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act was enacted to ensure that children who committed crimes were guided through diversion programs. “It takes a village to raise a child, the commission will be coordinating with our partners both in government AND CIVIL SOCIETY u $UMPIT SAID JOVE MOYA

Pay hike for Comelec rank-and-file pushed 3%. 0AOLO "ENIGNO g"AMu !QUIno 4th has sought the passage of a bill that will provide better compensation for officers and employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

4HE SENATOR RECENTLY kLED 3ENATE "ILL 3" WHICH AIMS TO reclassify and upgrade the plantilla positions of Comelec’s rank-andkLE PARTICULARLY IN ITS MAIN AND kELD OFkCES He said the Comelec was mandated to safeguard the right to suffrage, as well as ensure safe and honest elections.

The country is set to elect its new SET OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL OFkCIALS in the May 2019 mid term polls. “It is these public servants that we must empower to remain incorruptible and loyal to the Filipino PEOPLE u !QUINO SAID “Unfortunately, there is a gap between the salary grade of our #OMELEC OFkCERS AND OTHER GOVERNment agency employees, despite SIMILAR QUALIkCATIONS AND EQUIVALENT POSITIONS u HE ADDED !QUINO SAID g)T IS NO SURPRISE then that the Comelec Employees’

5NION HAS BEEN REQUESTING HIGHER REMUNERATION u 3" MANDATES THE #OMELEC TO SET UP kELD OFkCES DIVIDED INTO REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL OFkCES TO be headed by regional and provinCIAL ELECTIONS OFkCERS RESPECTIVELY

with the rank of Director 2.

The National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila) must BE DIVIDED INTO kVE ADMINISTRAtive districts, which should then be headed and administratively supervised by district elections directors, also with the rank of Director 2. #ITY OR MUNICIPAL OFkCES SHALL BE headed by city/municipal elections specialists with the rank of Director 1, to be assisted by a minimum of two assistant elections specialists (AES) provided that for every additional 20,000 voters — from 50,000 voters — additional AES shall be automatically appointed. “It is high time that we listen to calls to reorganize the Comelec and provide better compensation AS #OMELEC OFkCERS SERVE A CRUCIAL ROLE IN OUR DEMOCRACY u !QUINO SAID BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Diokno asked to explain absence from hearings THE House Committee on Appropriations will issue a showCAUSE ORDER AGAINST "UDGET 3ECRETARY "ENJAMIN $IOKNO TO EXPLAIN HIS FAILURE to attend congressional hearings on budget anomalies allegedly facilitated

BY THE $EPARTMENT OF "UDGET AND -ANAGEMENT $"- The panel agreed to a motion of Leyte 3rd District Rep. Vicente Veloso on Tuesday to issue a showcause order after newly installed Committee Chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. said Diokno’s absence FROM THE PUBLIC INQUIRIES WAS AN gUTTER DISRESPECTu TO THE PROCEEDINGS “We need to issue a show-cause order for him to explain why he SHOULD NOT BE CITED FOR CONTEMPT u Veloso said. g)T IS LAMENTABLE THAT THE $"- secretary continues to deprive us of THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION HIM directly on several issues hounding THE $"- 7E HAVE PROVIDED HIM the proper forum to clear his name

OF ANY WRONGDOING u !NDAYA SAID The probe took off from last week’s discovery of Diokno’s alleged revision of provisions in the Implementing Rules and Regulations to allow other agencies to transfer the bidding authority to them under big-ticket infrastructure projects.

Diokno was also accused of inserting P75 billion in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways under the 2019 national budget and facilitating P81 million worth of government CONTRACTS TO FAVOR THE kRM OF HIS in-laws.

4HE "UDGET SECRETARY SHUNNED the hearing for the fourth time since his heated exchange with Andaya, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and other lawmakers during QUESTION HOUR LAST $ECEMBER ON the issue of irregularities under the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019.

GLEE JALEA

gORPHANSu IN THE 4AUSUG LANGUAGE spoken in Sulu, is composed of young subordinates or children of Abu Sayyaf members and is under the command of Hatib Sawadjaan, father in law of Malaysian terrorist !MIN "ACO The military was eyeing four to six suspects, all under the Ajang-Ajang group, Detoyato said.

2OMMEL "ANLAOI CHAIRMAN OF the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said “There are high-level law enforcement operations against them !JANG !JANG u g)T EVOLVED INTO A REVENGE GROUP u he said.

While the Abu Sayyaf had sworn allegiance to Islamic State, that was not necessarily true for the motley members of Ajang-Ajang. “Not all members of Ajang-Ajang group are pro-ISIS, but all of them ARE !BU 3AYYAF GROUP u SAID "ANLAOI using another acronym for IS. “It’s NOT )3 AFkLIATED u

“We will never know how the bombers got in or near the church as the soldiers guarding the main door all died. Other soldiers who were getting in the rescue the victims of THE kRST EXPLOSION INSIDE THE CHURCH WERE ALSO HIT BY THE SECOND BOMB u Lorenzana said.

Asked if there were lapses in seCURITY THE $EFENSE CHIEF SAID g7AS there a lapse? While we were briefed that all people going inside were searched, it is possible that there MAY BE LAPSE IN THE PROCEDURE u This time, Detoyato backed Lorenzana. “Terrorism is a very complex crime that even in nations with very advanced technology, there will STILL BE LAPSES u HE ADDED The military had recommended the third extension of martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year to crush terrorism in the restive region.

ing the blasts. “It is holding the limelight in international newspapers. We received many calls from companies asking ... Of course, this is not a positive or encouraging companies to come to THE 0HILIPPINES w u %##0 0RESIDENT Nabil Francis said. “What we need is stability, those things are of course scaring invesTORS u &RANCIS ADDED While the incident may create gNEGATIVE IMPRESSIONS u %##0 %Xecutive Director Florian Gottein said the organization would work on building the reputation of the Philippines and helping increase comPANIES CONkDENCE ON THE COUNTRY “As ECCP, it is our role to improve THE REPUTATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES u he said.

Lapses admitted

4HE !SIAN $EVELOPMENT "ANK !$" on Tuesday committed to support the Philippine government in pursuing peace in Mindanao even after the twin explosions in Jolo. )N A STATEMENT !$" 6ICE 0RESIdent Stephen Groff also extended the bank’s “deepest sympathies to the people of Jolo, Sulu and to the FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS u g!$" STANDS READY TO SUPPORT THE Government of the Philippines in the peace process and provide assisTANCE AS NEEDED u 'ROFF SAID )N !$" APPROVED A $380-million loan to improve 280 kilometers of national road and bridge networks in Mindanao. The PROJECT WAS THE kRST -INDANAO SPECIkC LOAN GRANTED BY !$" IN YEARS The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) however, said investors could respond negatively follow-

TAX TOBACCO

Medical practitioners hold a rally to urge the Senate to approve the proposal to increase the excise tax on tobacco products. PHOTO BY RENE DILAN

Q BOMBERS FROM A1

Suicide Speaking to reporters, Duterte said there was no doubt the terror and kidnap group Abu Sayyaf was behind the blasts, whose death toll rose to 21 on Tuesday.

Two suspects, a woman and a man, carried out the suicide mission, he said. “Nobody can perpetuate that terrorism except for [the Abu Sayyaf group]. That is what the MILITARY TOLD ME u HE SAID FOLLOWing a hospital groundbreaking ceremony in Malabon.

On Monday, Duterte said he WOULD kGHT kRE WITH kRE AS HE ORdered soldiers to crush the group gBY WHATEVER MEANS u “You go out, you kill them. PeRIOD u HE SAID $EFENSE 3ECRETARY $ELkN ,ORENZAna backed Duterte, and said at least one suicide blast likely occurred at the cathedral during the 8 a.m.

Sunday Mass. “The first bomb that exploded inside the church was apparently left behind by a certain woman. This is according to the hazy recollection of a survivor sitting four pews behind the exPLOSION u THE $EFENSE chief told reporters in a text message, when asked to comment on Duterte’s statements. “The second [bomb] that exploded at the entrance about a minute and a half after may have been a suicide bomber as indicated by body

parts strewn all over including HALF A FACE AND NECK AND TWO FEET u Lorenzana explained.

The identity of the supposed suicide bomber is still considered AS A gMYSTERYu BY AUTHORITIES AND is being investigated by the Philippine National Police’s crime scene operatives.

Lorenzana said investigators also found a soldier with severed torso. “It is more likely that the second bomb was caused by a suicide BOMBER u HE SAID Col. Noel Detoyato, military public affairs chief, however, dismissed the possibility that the blasts were the handiwork of suicide bombers, disclosing that a black bag was planted by a woman inside the church and was detonated through a mobile phone.

The Islamic State (IS) had claimed that two individuals with suicide belts blew themselves up at the cathedral as the Sunday liturgy was underway.

"ASED ON THE MILITARY S INITIAL REPORT ON 3UNDAY THE kRST EXPLOSION WAS RECORDED AT A M As for the second explosion, Detoyato said there were no leads yet, but said three suspects and responders met at the entrance of the church.

Security footage from the military’s Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) showed one of the SUSPECTS DETONATING THE kRST BOMB In the video, one of the three suspects was seen pressing a device and pointing it to the direction of THE CHURCH SECONDS BEFORE THE kRST explosion transpired.

Motive: Revenge?

Detoyato reiterated that security forces were eyeing the subgroup “Ajang!JANGu UNDER THE !BU 3AYYAF GROUP AS behind the deadly explosions.

The Ajang-Ajang, which means

Security officials on Tuesday admitted there were lapses on their part ahead of the twin explosions at Jolo Cathedral, with Lorenzana CONkRMING THAT INTELLIGENCE REPORTS HAD INDICATED AS EARLY AS kVE MONTHS ago that terrorists were out to bomb the church.

Lorenzana told reporters that in August 2018, the Armed Forces had received information that Catholic CHURCHES IN *OLO "ASILAN AND :AMboanga areas would be bombed.

As a result, the Defense chief has ordered tighter security in all Catholic places of worship in all three areas.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, now under 24/7 watch by authorities, and its vicinity have been prone to terror attacks since 2000, according to the military.

ADB to continue support for Mindanao

Putin sends condoloences Russian leader Vladimir Putin sent condolences to President Duterte in connection with the tragic aftermath of the terrorist attack in Jolo. “A crime committed against civilians who had congregated for church services is shocking in its cynicism and cruelty. I expect that the masterminds and perpetrators of this crime will sustain the punishment they deserve. I would like to reiterate our readiness to further step up interaction with our Philippine partners in combating the terrorist threat in all its forms and manifestations.

People in Russia share the grief of the victims’ friends and families and hope for a prompt recovery of the INJURED u 0UTIN SAID IN A STATEMENT Putin also expressed Moscow’s readiness to “further step up interaction with our Philippine partners in combating the terrorist threats in all ITS FORMS AND MANIFESTATION u

WITH ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES AND LISBET K. ESMAEL

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Duterte again shuts door on peace talks with Reds PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte again declared that he would not talk peace with communist rebels amid their continued attacks on government troops and civilians.

In a speech during his visit to Jolo, Sulu on Monday, Duterte assailed the communist group’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), for attacking military and police personnel. “Hindi na ako makipag-usap sa inyo. Eh walang magawa. Magpakabuti ka, pasunud-sunuran ka lang. You practically begged (I will never talk to you. I can’t do anything. You do something good to them, you follow their whims. You practically begged,’� Duterte said. “Tapos in return ito ang ibigay ninyo sa akin. Mga kabaong pati iyong mga naputol mga paa. Ay p***** i**. Hindi ako... ‘Di na

News House passes marijuana bill T

bale ako makulong pagkatapos nito. )N RETURN YOU GIVE ME COFkNS and dismembered limbs. Son of a bitch. Not me... Never mind if I go to jail after this,� he added.

Duterte made the statement on the day that rebels detonated a bomb in Magpet, North Cotabato, KILLING A POLICE OFkCER T h e p e a c e t a l k s b e t we e n the government and the communist group broke down in November 2017.

In November 2018, Duterte formally ended the peace negotiations and ordered the military to “destroy� the rebel group.

The NPA rebels have been waging war against the government for the past 50 years, which is considered as the world’s longestrunning communist rebellion.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

BY REINA C. TOLENTINO

HE House of Representatives approved on third reading a bill that seeks to legalize and regulate the use of medical marijuana.

On Tuesday afternoon, 163 lawmakers voted for the passage of House Bill (HB) 6517 on final reading.

Five lawmakers voted against

the measure while three others abstained.

HB 6517, authored by Isabela 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Albano 3rd, aims to benefit

patients who are suffering from debilitating diseases. )T DEkNES A DEBILITATING MEDICAL condition as a disease that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe nausea; and seizures.

Under the bill, a person can use medical cannabis if he has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease and if he, in the doctor’s evaluation, “should receive thera-

A3

PEUTIC OR PALLIATIVE BENEkTS FROM the medical use of cannabis.�

The measure prohibits the use of cannabis in its raw form.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo earlier vouched for the effectivity of medical marijuana.

She admitted that she had used a pain patch to ease the pain in her cervical spine when she was in a country where the use of medical cannabis is legal.

INC’s anti-poverty drive reaches 5 Asian countries THE Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) anti-poverty program has reached kVE !SIAN COUNTRIES TO EXTEND ITS assistance to Filipinos abroad.

Outreach and assistance initiatives were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct. 28, 2018; in Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Nov. 18 and 25, 2018 respectively; in Bangkok, Thailand on January 13; in Macau on January 20; and in Hong Kong on January 27. “Goodwill bags� containing food and hygiene items were DISTRIBUTED TO BENEkCIARIES UNDER INC’s “Lingap ng Mamamayan�

(Lingap) activities. “For the most recent Lingap activities abroad, we made a conscious effort to reach out to our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). Our kababayans are scattered all over our neighboring countries in Southeast and Northeast Asia, but seldom do they get together as one big Filipino community. That’s what we did and accomplished with our Aid to OFW events. We opened up opportunities for us to meet and help each other,� INC General Auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.

Santos added that the Lingap efforts in Asia were fueled by INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo’s desire to continue offering “tangible, effective and needed assistance to Filipinos abroad who toil hard for their families back home.�

The Lingap activities in Taiwan were held in Taipei’s Hua Nan Bank International Convention Center and Kaohsiung International Trade and Exhibition

Center. Sheraton hotels housed the Lingap efforts in Macau and Thailand, while the Kuala Lumpur event was at the Malaysian capital’s Majestic Hotel.

Close to a thousand people attended the events in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Macau.

The Hong Kong Lingap attracted about 3,000 people, INC said.

In 2018, the INC, through its Felix Manalo Foundation, went full blast with Lingap events in other countries.

Two “Aid To Humanity, Fight Poverty� activities were held in Long Island, New York and Hartford, Connecticut in the United States in September, targeting low-income localities.

In the same month, Toronto IN #ANADA BENEkTED FROM SImultaneous Aid to Humanity programs that focused on elderly, women, children and immigrants in various centers and shelters in the North American city.

For 2019, INC plans to reestablish Lingap in various parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia while sustaining efforts that have gained momentum in North America. “We’re trying to constantly evolve and improve our Lingap initiatives to be local and global at the same time. We choose locations and target beneficiaries not on the basis of religious affiliation or political leanings, but on specific needs of communities.

This year should see bigger and better programs in the Philippines and elsewhere.�

Santos said.

GLEE JALEA

MARCH VS POLLUTION

Hundreds of members of various groups march along Elliptical Road in Quezon City to call on the government to protect the people’s right to clean air. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

EJERCITO PUSHES HIRING OF RETIREES SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Tuesday urged private companies to hire retired workers who are still PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY kT TO WORK The senator said private firms should allot a certain percentage of their manpower requirement for retirees who are looking for jobs. “Retirees, who are mostly senior citizens, possess vast experience, technical know-how, and expertise in their respective kELDS u %JERCITO SAID

Q Sen. Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito “They acquired these through long years of working hard. If they are willing to work, with a healthy mind and

body, they should be given employment because they are assets,� he said.

Ejercito’s call for the “rehiring� of retirees is part of his “zero- unemployment� advocacy. Companies should give retirees the opportunity to put to use their wisdom, craftsmanship, and industry, he said.

The senator said retirees could still perform and contribute to the growth of companies and industries that would employ them. “They can be hired on a part-

time or project assignment basis.

This is being done in other counTRIES AND EMPLOYERS ARE kNDING IT cost effective,� Ejercito said. “Older workers have lower absenteeism. Older workers tend to be more punctual and have a better commitment to quality. If retirees remain unemployed and idle, they deteriorate faster and become burden to their families and the community,� he added.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

PCSO to give P8B to PhilHealth PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Tuesday that the agency would give P8 billion to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in compliance with the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Program of President Rodrigo Duterte. “The agency will give 40 percent from the 30 percent of our Charity Fund, which is about P8 billion for Universal Healthcare Program on the 3rd quarter this year,� Balutan said.

In 2018, the PCSO helped 528,190 patients under its Individual Medical

Assistance Program (IMAP), spending about P10.2 billion for hospitalization, medicines, chemo and dialysis sessions, laboratory and diagnostic procedures.

Balutan called on the public to support the charity agency. “Iwasan natin ang mga illegal numbers game para ‘yung pondo ay diretsong makarating sa ating mamamayan. Sisikapin naming makatulong sa lahat at dagdagan ang ating serbisyo. Pagagandahin po namin ang aming serbisyo at magiging malawak ang serbisyo na ihahatid natin

sa ating mga branches nationwide (Avoid illegal numbers games. We will do our best to help and further expand our services),� he added.

The PCSO is set to construct its own Corporate Center at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City to decongest its extension office at the Lung Center of the Philippines, which caters to about 700 patients per day. “We will continue to help our indigent patients nationwide. We shall maintain the IMAP program,� Balutan said.

Under the law, the PCSO is required to allocate 55 percent of its revenues for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund and 15 percent for its operations.

Sixty percent of the charity fund goes to IMAP and other charity programs such as ambulance donation, calamity assistance, medical and dental mission, while 40 percent goes to 28 government agencies which include the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Sports Commission and Commission on Higher Education.

acting for declaration of nullity of donation. And, it would be SUFkCIENT IF EVIDENCE PREPONDERates upon the guilt of the consort for the offense indicated.

The quantum of proof in criminal cases is not demanded.� Thus, should your wife decide to oppose your donation to your partner; she ONLY NEEDS TO kLE A PETITION FOR nullity of the said donation, and show through preponderance of evidence that you and your partner are guilty of concubinage.

The same rule applies with regard to inheritance. If you leave a last will and testament bequeathing the house and lot to your partner, your spouse may petition the court to nullify the said testa-

mentary provision on your last will and testament on the basis of the prohibition provided in Article 1028 of the Civil Code of the Philippines barring any inheritance between parties who are guilty of concubinage.

This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same.

The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or elaborated.

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

Donation to a mistress Dear PAO, I have been separated from my wife for the past 12 years.

While I was working as a seafarer, she left me for another man and she has been living with him until now. A few years after my wife left me, I also found a new partner and have been living with her for the past eight years.

Currently, I’m thinking of the properties that I was able to acquire while working as a seafarer. I don’t think that my wife deserves to get my properties when I pass away considering how she left me for another man while I was working. My partner who has

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA been with me showed me what true love is, and I want to show her my love for her by giving her my house and lot. Is it possible to donate or bequeath my house and lot to my partner?

Adonis Dear Adonis, You may not donate or bequeath your house and lot to your new partner. The Civil Code of the Philippines is very clear on the

rules pertaining to donations and inheritance made between parties guilty of adultery or concubinage.

It provides that “the following donations shall be void: 1. Those made between persons who were guilty of adultery and concubinage at the time of the donation‌ xxx In the case referred to in No. 1, the action for declaration of nullity may be brought by the spouse of the donor or donee; and the guilt of the donor and donee may be proved by preponderance of evidence in the same actionâ€? (Article 739, Ibid.). Further, the Civil Code on the rules on succession also provides that “the prohibitions mentioned in Article 739, concerning donations inter vivos

shall apply to testamentary provisions� (Article 1028, Id.).

Despite the absence of a court pronouncement convicting you and your partner of concubinage, you are still prohibited from donating or bequeathing anything to your partner because a court pronouncement is not necessary for the prohibition to apply. In the case of The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. vs. Ebrado (GR L-44059, Oct. 28, 1977, Ponente: Associate Justice Ruperto Martin), the Supreme Court explained that “no criminal conviction for the offense is a condition precedent. xxx On the contrary, the law plainly states that the guilt of the party may be proved in the same

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

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

E d i to r i a l IS claims on Jolo blast need thorough vetting

A

LMOST like clockwork, the Islamic State (IS) immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly blasts at Jolo Cathedral on Sunday.

This is a claim that cannot be taken at face value.

The IS has been reduced into an internet propaganda machine, and is now but a shadow of the once huge terrorist network that dreamed of establishing a global caliphate from captured strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

The American military, in fact, now believes the demise of the IS will come in the next few weeks.

The IS’s claim of responsibility for the Jolo blasts came by way of its Amaq online newsletter and a communiquÊ, and was later picked up by private security entities SITE Intelligence Group and the Long War Journal .

The details released by Amaq were doubtful, at best. The IS claims two pro-IS militants detonated explosive belts at the cathedral, timed for the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass.

Initial investigation, however, showed that an improvised explosive went off inside the cathedral at about 8 a.m., followed shortly by another blast close to the entrance. That second improvised bomb was left inside the toolbox of a parked motorcycle, according to the military.

The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, found several mobile phones on the blast site, one of which was possibly used to detonate the twin bombs.

The early conclusion was that there were no suicide bombers at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral. If there were, the Jolo blasts would be the first instance of suicide bombing — and changes the nature of terrorist strategy — in the Philippines.

No terrorist has ever used a suicide belt in the Philippines to execute a dastardly act that could be carried out by remote control. The IS also has a faulty history of claiming authorship of terrorist attacks, and Philippine incidents are no exception.

In early 2017, the same Amaq online news site published the IS claim of responsibility for the attack on the Resorts World Manila complex in Pasay City. It turned out to be a false claim; the attacker was a lone wolf, a former government employee who became deranged over mounting casino debts.

At best, the online warriors at Amaq can only claim that the Jolo blasts were the handiwork of pro-IS “sympathizers.� There is no evidence, yet, that the IS itself had provided resources and know-how to its Filipino adherents, or had even communicated with them.

According to the military, the Ajang-Ajang faction of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group could have been responsible for the Jolo blasts, based on security footage from establishments surrounding the cathedral.

In the footage, the brother of one of the group’s leader’s, who was killed by authorities last year, was said to have been spotted by investigators.

If this proved true, the motive of the blast could have been revenge.

Taking the word of the IS could mislead the investigation away from the real brains behind the cathedral attack, and deprive the victims of justice. The claims of this spent force must be vetted thoroughly by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. ~

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 110

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

How automation of vote counting has undermined transparency

T

HE smartphone has truly become a ubiquitous device that many aspire to own. Couple this with internet technologies that brought a revolution and evolution of applications that enable connectivity and the delivery of services and information. In the hands of users is a computer thousands of times more powerful than computers of half a century ago. Yet, many users of these technologies are unaware how these devices and technologies work. Well, there may not be a need to know because users can stay connected and informed, allowing them to interact with friends and relatives, react to information they receive, avail of certain services, and even purchase products online. Such are the wonders of technology.

But technology has a downside.

There has been an increase of cases of fraud and scams, and even identity theft. Despite this, people continue to use these technologies, oblivious to the dangers, until they get hit.

In a recently overheard discussion, a group was discussing the dangers that today’s technologies bring. The discussion quickly turned to the upcoming midterm elections. One expressed his desire for a change in leadership in the city where he resides.

He is concerned that the current leader will make it in the coming elections BECAUSE OF THE ELECTED OFkCIAL S IMMENSE POPULARITY AND INlUENCE 4HE fear is not exactly technology-based until one person in the group ex-

elements or pixels, how the pixels are counted to determine which mark passed as a valid vote mark or not, how a valid vote mark is credited as a vote for a candidate, how the votes are counted, how the election returns are generated, and how the electronic version of the election returns is transpressed doubts about the results of mitted to the canvassing server at the past elections, further expressing the city or municipality, and, oh yes, what fear that the devices used can be rigged transmission is and how it is carried out and what a server is. to favor certain candidates.

The voting process ended at the Is the fear unfounded or is it real?

When the automated election point when the voter feeds his ballot SYSTEM WAS USED FOR THE kRST TIME into the voting machine.

There was a change in the proon a nationwide scale, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cess in the 2016 elections when exerted a lot of effort to educate the the Supreme Court mandated voting public on how the voters can that the Comelec implement the exercise their right to vote with the VOTER VERIkABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL OR use of the technology. This effort was VVPAT, popularly referred to as the complemented by various groups “resibo,� which provided a list of that delivered voter education pro- selections made by the voter for the grams focusing on the nuances of different contests. The voter had the voting using the pre-printed ballots. opportunity to check if the resibo Voter education programs contin- RElECTED HIS CHOICES 4HE DOWNSIDE

ued to be delivered in subsequent however, was, if the resibo did not automated elections but the “bilog RElECT THE VOTER S CHOICES THERE WAS na hugis itlog� promotional cum no recourse. The ballot was already educational materials took a back in the ballot box and no replaceseat and disappeared altogether. ment ballot is provided.

The focus was on the use of the Despite the change, allegations of technology for voting. Voter educa- cheating and rigging arose. Allegations tion programs did not include in- of early transmissions from certain formation on how the voter’s ballot jurisdictions, queries to unknown is processed by the vote counting servers, and the use of “queue servers,� machine. The challenge was how to among others, were raised. explain to the ordinary voter how the Perhaps the lack of information on marks on the ballots are detected, how how the system works, how the system said marks are made up of picture is set up, and the limited information

gathered gave rise to the allegations.

Indeed, smartphones and the automated election system are black boxes that accept inputs and generate outputs. What happens in between is unknown to the user.

In the case of the vote counting machines, what happens to the ballot after it is fed into the machine is unknown to immensely many voters. An example given by a colleague is a basketball game. During the game, players shoot the ball into the basket but there is no scoreboard.

The watchers do not see how the scores are credited. At the end of the game, the winner is announced.

The use of technology for the elections has its merits. The counting of votes and the consolidation of votes from the precincts to city/municipal level, on to the legislative districts AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS AND kNALLY AT the national level were speedily done and delivered. But technology is supposed to support transparency, not undermine it. Transparency has been SACRIkCED FOR SPEED AND EFkCIENCY The automation of our elections included the automation of vote counting. Vote counting is indeed fast but transparency has taken a back seat. There may still be secrecy of voting but the principle of public counting of votes is gone. The voter has been deprived of his right to know if his vote had been counted and if it was counted properly.

Was it really necessary to automate the vote counting?

Working as a temp in Trump hotels is not the real deal MIDWEEK I COMMENTS

T is all rooted in the so-called “American Dream,� the overwhelming sense of Filipinos to move to the United States when a window of opportunity opens. Filipinos with no opportunity to get petitioned by blood relatives in the US, or get marRIED TO AN !MERICAN CITIZEN OR kLE for a green card after working in a US government entity for at least 15 years — the three quickest routes — will have to settle for an entry route as a “temp,� or temporary worker.

And those seeking entry as “temps“ mostly secure H-2A and H-2B visas to gain temporary employment in the US, the 2A covering agricultural workers and the 2B covering seasonal jobs, mostly in hotels, restaurants and construction. The H-1B, the visa type used

by Pinoys with sought-after skills, sends the visa holder to the likes of 7ALL 3TREET BIG LAW kRMS 3ILICON Valley, universities, the engineering and research hubs. Before Trump, the H-1B was a clear pathway to a permanent stay in the US. The two non-immigrant work visas are what preoccupy Philippine OFkCIALDOM TODAY AFTER THE $EPARTment of Homeland Security (DHS) imposed a one-year ban on Filipinos seeking entry to the US via the two visa types. The DHS said that 40 percent of Filipino workers who get visas under the non-immigrant work programs

MARLEN V. RONQUILLO overstay and that was what prompted the one-year ban.

4HE OFkCIAL RESPONSE FROM OUR government is that it may, through the DFA, appeal the DHS ban. If ) WERE THE $&! ) WOULD JUST kLE A routine appeal, then forget all about the ban. Many reasons for this. But kRST AND FOREMOST IS THIS 4HERE ARE JOBS THAT ARE DEkNITELY BETTER THAN holding a temp job in the US. OK, ) WILL BE MORE SPECIkC 0RESIDENT Trump is an immigration hardliner.

He wants to wall in America to prevent immigrants, especially people of color, from moving into the US. But his businesses seek H-2B type visas. And when you get an H-2B, chances are you might be mopping THE lOORS AT THE 4RUMP HOTELS /R dicing onions at his restaurants.

Do you want a temp job at the hotels and restaurants of the man who abets the current anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions in the US? The president who loathes people of color? Do you want to work as a temp at the Trump hotels?

Trump welcomes temps who do the tough jobs of cleaning toilet

bowls and vacuuming up the carpets in his hotels but that is all there is to it. Giving these workers a slim window for a permanent stay in the US is against what Trump stands for.

Along the vast agricultural stretches of California, you often see men and women in the orange groves, in the strawberry fields, in the pistachio plantations, with dusty pick-up trucks and old sedans parked nearby. Many of them are seasonal workers from Mexico and they come in under the 2A visas. While Mexicans dominate work in the fruit farms, there are seasonal workers from other countries as well, Filipinos and workers from African countries among them.

The backbreaking jobs available under the 2A visas do not pay that much, probably less than what is paid the temps at the fast-food joints and Panda Express. The 2A workers have to pack their bags and leave the US once the fruitpicking season is over.

By the time the 2A workers reach their home countries, little or none at all had been saved from the money sent during the work season.

This is probably at the root of the decision of these temporary workers to overstay. Nothing or very little is left after the work season is over. The type of jobs available under the 2A and the 2B visas are not really the kind of jobs that would provide economic stability

to the families back home.

Working as temps, say, in the Trump establishments, as the headline says, is not the real deal.

OK, what are alternative jobs for the footloose in the global job markets? With the Trump administration’s hardline policy, what are the options for those who are willing to take on tough jobs overseas, with North America as the desired place of work?

One option is this. Move into Saskatchewan and other frontier employment areas in Canada as many young Filipinos not afraid of taking on tough jobs are doing right now. They move into that cold area to work on the CANOLA kELDS THE PIGGERY FARMS AND various agro-forestry-related jobs.

The stories the young Filipinos who have moved into these cold and frontier areas center on two themes — the challenge of winter on the negative side and the ease of assimilation on the positive side.

They say you will not encounter law enforcers like Joe Arpaio. Or young men in red MAGA hats who — with smirks on their faces and venom in their threatening voices — essentially say you are unwelcome and you should return to your home country.

There are more welcoming places of work than Trump’s America. And working as temps at the Trump establishments is not the real deal.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Q TATAD FROM A1

Honoring our martyred dead The terrorist Islamic State (IS), which US President Donald Trump has declared “defeated� in Syria, prompting him to pull out all AmerICAN TROOPS kGHTING TERRORISM IN THAT country, was quick to claim responsibility for the attack, but Philippine police and military authorities were equally quick to reject the claim as “pure propaganda.� The Duterte government had earlier claimed to have expelled IS forces when it liquidated the IS-linked Maute group last year in Marawi City.

of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) meeting in Manila, and with whom I had dinner on Sunday evening, said that on the eve of the January 21 plebiscite, the Tausugs were warned “by word of mouth� that bombs would explode if the BOL loses in Sulu.

There was no indication though that the cathedral would be targeted.

Former Sulu governor Sakur Tan is still trying to get the Supreme Court to rule that because of its vote (163,526 against, and 137,630 in favor), Sulu cannot be made part A giant setback of BARMM, despite the obviously unconstitutional rule that no single Whoever was finally responsible province in ARMM can opt for exfor the carnage, foreign govern- clusion if the majority of provinces ments which were unanimous in votes for inclusion. Tan is also chalwelcoming the BOL as a genuine lenging the constitutionality of the achievement for peace were equally entire BOL itself, which provides unanimous in lamenting the return for a regional government in which of violence as a giant setback to the the executive and legislative funcpeace and economic development tions are fused, as in a parliamenin Mindanao. Local analysts can- tary government, while the rest of not help linking the terrorist attack government remains presidential, to the results of the January 21 where the executive and the legislaPLEBISCITE‡OF THE kVE PROVINCES IN tive functions remain separate and the Autonomous Region in Muslim distinct from each other.

Mindanao (ARMM), Sulu alone votRegardless of how the high court ed against BARMM; Maguindanao, kNALLY RULES ON THESE TWO ISSUES AND Lanao Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi how the law enforcement authorities voted for it, by a landslide. kNALLY RESOLVE THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE But Sulu is Muslim, not Catholic; cathedral bombing, it looks like the why should the Catholic Church be Catholic Church in Sulu will be going punished for Sulu’s negative vote? through a new period of intense strugThere was no pronounced Catholic gle. From 1971 to 2001, 13 Catholic campaign in any direction among priests were killed in Mindanao, a the Tausugs; they voted as Tausugs, number of them from Sulu. who apparently were not prepared In 1985, a paramilitary group to see their own Nur Misuari’s Moro kidnapped and killed Father Tullio National Liberation Front (MNLF) &AVALLI THE kRST FOREIGN MISSIONARY LOSE OUT DEkNITIVELY TO -URAD %BRA- TAKEN FROM THE 0ONTIkCAL )NSTITUTE him’s Moro Islamic Liberation Front FOR &OREIGN -ISSIONARIES 0)-% (IS (MILF). Their vote against inclusion killers were arrested, prosecuted and was motivated by ethnic political punished, but ultimately forgiven. considerations, not by religious relief. The chief culprit Norberto Manero In Cotabato City, the crown jewel of was freed in January 2008, after BARMM, the people voted for inclu- serving a commuted sentence and sion, after voting against it twice in being pardoned by President Gloria the past. This was largely because of Macapagal Arroyo. the combined efforts of Muslim and Catholic campaigners, led by Cardinal First Favalli, then De Jesus !RCHBISHOP %MERITUS /RLANDO 1UEvedo, who had long consistently ad- But after Father Favalli, the most celvocated it. There was no basis for any ebrated of these murders was that of group to accuse any religious group of the 56-year-old Oblate bishop BenHAVING ATTEMPTED TO INlUENCE A NEGA- jamin de Jesus outside the cathedral of Mount Carmel on Feb. 4, 1997. tive vote on the organic law.

De Jesus was a priest from Malabon, The Tausugs warned kRST ASSIGNED TO *OLO S .OTRE $AME #OLLEGE IN (E WAS MADE But reports reaching some members bishop by Saint John Paul 2nd in

s PREYING ON CHILDREN On Rachel A.G. Reyes’ “Jailing children is cruel, callous and wrong� (Manila Times, January 22 ); Ma. Isabel Ongpin’s “Children in conflict with the law are not yet criminals�(January 26); and Fr. Shay Cullen’s “Children at detention centers are treated like criminals� (January 27): INDEED, those ignorant lawmakers ignore the facts that are present and available everywhere — made possible by chunks of academic research through the years.

Just look at what Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice committee, said on Friday: “Because that’s what I prefer.� Trusting only his own faulty opinions, despite the opinions given to him by experts. He followed this with, “That’s what I feel. I’m the chairman (of the Senate justice committee). That’s what I see.�

He remarked that it satisfied his conscience and those who had the same opinion as him. Clearly, any lawmaker of our land with this kind of reasoning that ignores credible research is unworthy of public office. He obviously shut the door to criticism when he only accepted the concerns of the people with whom he shared the same opinion. It is not even right to call such cruelty a product of one’s ‘conscience.’ Ignoring research and choosing one’s own opinion instead is an irresponsible thing to do. It produces barbaric capabilities from the poor judgment in them

1992. Two gunmen shot him six times at close range, hitting him on the head, the right cheek, shoulder and arm, back of the neck and twice in the chest. A 10-to-15-year-old third assailant was reported to have participated in the killing, and a fourth acted as lookout and getaway driver. One woman was killed and several others were wounded during the police pursuit of the killers through the marketplace.

De Jesus was the first Filipino Catholic bishop to be assassinated in history. In 1975, Manila’s auxilIARY BISHOP (ERNANDO !NTIPORDA was killed in what was believed to be a robbery. In 1993, two Spanish Carmelite sisters were kidnapped in Sulu, but were subsequently released. In 1994, Father Bertelsman of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate was kidnapped after substituting for Bishop de Jesus at a mass in a military camp. By some twist of fate, I was personally drawn to share the bishop’s tragedy.

A fateful trip to Jolo On Feb. 14, 1997, my wife and I lEW TO *OLO IN THE COMPANY OF SOME bishops and the Apostolic Nuncio to attend the martyred bishop’s funeral. We took the regular PAL lIGHT TO :AMBOANGA AND FROM THERE took two small planes to Jolo. I was still in the Senate at the time, and an aide and a freelance photographer who used to cover Sen. Nikki Coseteng traveled with me. /N OUR RETURN lIGHT SOME OF THE bishop’s relatives who had come with us chose to stay behind, leaving one small plane free. This allowed MY FAITHFUL AIDE %DISON 4AMONDONG AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER %DWIN 0ONCE de Leon to occupy the plane by themselves. As we prepared to take off, Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Nepomuceno of Cotabato came running, asking if he could join us. As we were already full, I asked him to join the next plane which was quite empty.

Then we took off.

The plane crash 7E LANDED IN :AMBOANGA IN A MATter of minutes, and proceeded to the late Congresswoman Maria Clara Lobregat’s seafood restaurant on the seaside for lunch. Minutes went by, then hours, there was no news

OF THE SECOND PLANE 4HEN kNALLY we heard the plane had crashed after takeoff in the forest, bringing all three passengers and the pilot TO THEIR DEATH 4HERE WERE CONlICTing stories and theories about what happened, but it remains unclear to this day what really happened. The owner of the plane was too poor to provide indemnity for the deceased passengers. Since then I have never been able to think of Bishop de Jesus’ death without feeling that part of me had also died with him. Nor have I been able to go back to Jolo.

More murders This was not the last priestly murder in Sulu or in any other part of Mindanao. In 2002, Claretian priest Roel Gallardo was kidnapped, tortured and killed in Basilan. In January 2008, the Oblate priest Fr. Rey Roda was killed inside the Notre Dame (IGH 3CHOOL IN 3OUTH 5BIAN TOWN during a failed kidnapping attempt.

The priest fought off Abu Sayyaf GUNMEN WHO RAIDED HIS CONVENT (E was praying when 10 gunmen burst into the room, dragged him outside AND KILLED HIM (IS HANDS WERE TIED when his bullet-ridden body was found outside the convent later.

In other parts of the country, priests have been killed while speaking against the evil of extrajudicial drug killings. Since December 2017, three priests have been killed in Luzon for preaching about the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not kill� amid the continued extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. These are Fr. Richmond Nilo in Nueva %CIJA &R -ARK !NTHONY 6ENTURA in Cagayan and Fr, Marcelino Paez, ALSO IN .UEVA %CIJA All these deaths — whether in the hands of Islamic jihadists or death squads and vigilantes — have the quality of martyrdom, which in my view should be properly and adequately recognized by the Church.

It may be time for some Catholic organization, after an inventory of all these victims, to work for the OPENING OF THE CAUSE OF BEATIkCATION of these martyred dead. Then all the extremists and thugs who murder for the state will see how we honor the least of our brethren who are killed for their faith.

fstatad@gmail.com

that disregards facts. Research data contributes to the progress of humanity. As the social scientist, Jayeel Cornelio, said, “Policies need to be based on systematic analysis and understanding of social problems.�

The pronouncements of lawmakers who support the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) is evidence of the recessing humanity in them. We all know how the current administration handles crime — it handles crime in a bloody way. Why involve the children in the ongoing bloodshed in our country? Senator Pangilinan, who authored Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice Law, said that the youth offenders and their parents are not excused from the criminal liabilities for their offenses. Mandatory confinement is the remedy in the provisions of the aforementioned law. The failure of the implementation wreaks havoc among society today and this “duct tape�-like solution will only make it worse. Police statistics, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Rafael-Banaag, show that only 2.3 percent of the 473, 068 crime nationwide were allotted for minors; 2.6 percent in the year 2017 and 2.4 in 2016. Just look at current facts of today. The funding for the overcrowded youth detention houses (Bahay Pag-asa) did not even reach the target of 114 houses. Even if children are drastically prone to being drug couriers because of their immunity from the law, this distinctly shows that they are really the victims. Victims of inhumane criminals, victims of the negligent implementation of the law. This proposed bill will make more children — the hope of our future — certainly vulnerable to abuse.

We have, indeed, terrible lawmakers. The same Filipinos who we share the same blood with prey even on the children. It seems like they have lost their senses in their pursuit of power. Deaf they are to the cries of the people and blind to the accessible research data presented to them. This disease in our society that appears to be spreading, targets the human perceptions. The only solution there is to dissent and be critical at all times.

Luis Antonio A. Bonifacio Grade 12 humanities and social sciences student

T

Opinion

A5

Academic freedom: For the academy, not for academicians?

(% PRINCIPLE OF gACADEMIC freedom� is part of the culture of Philippine education, being inlUENCED LARGELY BY !MERICAN EDUcation. But what does academic freedom mean for the institutions and professors? Our Constitution IMPLIES THAT THE BENEkTS OF ACAdemic freedom are, to borrow the words of the US Supreme Court, “vested in the academy, not in the academicians.� But if we trace the concept of institutional academic freedom, it was derived from the individual academic freedom of professors which refers to their freedom to adopt their own teaching methods, techniques, and to pursue the truth free from external and internal control subject only to reasonable limitations.

In one of my meetings with some university presidents, one of them in a light manner argued against the principle of institutional academic freedom in the Constitution, calling it a “misnomer� and an “abomination� to genuine academic freedom which, according to him, resides in individual faculty, not in the institution. The friendly but passionate debate prompted me to respond: “If I were to say that, I’d be cited in contempt by our Supreme Court for casting aspersion on its landmark CASES ) JUST ENUMERATED DEkNING institutional academic freedom.�

But there may be some truth to the statement of this university president. In many cases, we have seen that academic freedom enjoyed by educational institutions is at odds with the idea of the professor’s academic freedom in class.

The right of the institution to regulate the teaching methods of the professor is immediately apparent in one of the essential freedoms subsumed in academic freedom which is “how it shall be taught.�

4HIS OSTENSIBLE INCONSISTENCY kNDS support in a case decided by the US Supreme Court involving a higher education institution where it noted that, “academic freedom thrives not only on the independent and uninhibited exchange of ideas among teachers and students, but also, and somewhat inconsistently, on autonomous decision-making by the academy itself�. (Regents of Univ. of Mich.

V %WING, 474 US 214).

At any rate, here’s a case study where both the academy and the academician’s academic freedom are recognized:

‘Ghost students’ A graduate school professor in a state university was the subject of several complaints for having “ghost students� in his DocTOR OF %DUCATION %D D CLASS These were students who were granted a special arrangement on attendance so that they were not required to attend regular classes, but were given grades at the end of the course. A felLOW PROFESSOR kLED A COMPLAINT with the board of regents of the state university. The board of regents, however, sided with the respondent professor and upheld the grades given to the students.

Reference was made on a policy under the University Code which

JOSEPH NOEL ESTRADA provides that rules on attendance of students shall be enforced in all classes subject to the modikCATION BY THE $EAN IN THE CASE of graduate students and other courses. The respondent professor, at the time he was handling THE GRADUATE CLASS IN %D D HAD already been appointed OIC of THE GRADUATE SCHOOL (ENCE HE WAS ENTITLED TO DO gMODIkCATIONu as the University Code allows.

In the case for graft filed against the professor and the UNIVERSITY OFkCIALS THE 3UPREME #OURT AFkRMED THEIR EXONERATION from criminal and administrative charges by the Ombudsman.

It held that academic freedom clothes the professor with the widest latitude to innovate and experiment on the method of TEACHING WHICH IS MOST kTTING TO his students (graduate students at that), subject only to the rules and policies of the university.

The Supreme Court recognized the primacy of academic freedom in regard to higher institutions of learning when the university in this case validated the teaching style of the professor. “Institutional academic freedom includes the right of the school or college to decide for itself, its aims and objectives and the methods on how best to attain them, free from outside coercion or interference save possibly when the overriding public welfare calls for some restraint.

It encompasses the freedom to determine for itself on academic grounds: who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught, and who may be admitted to study.�

The court also cited academic freedom accorded to a faculty member which pertains to the right to pursue his studies in his PARTICULAR SPECIALTY )T IS DEkNED as a right claimed by the accredited educator, as teacher and as investigator, to interpret his kNDINGS AND TO COMMUNICATE HIS conclusions without being subjected to any interference, molestation, or penalty because these conclusions are unacceptable to some constituted authority within or beyond the institution.

Please read in full the case of Camacho v. Coresis, Jr., GR 134372, [Aug. 22, 2002], 436 0(),

The author is the corporate secretary and legal counsel of The Manila Times, and the managing PARTNER OF %STRADA !QUINO ,AW

#O (E IS ALSO THE LEGAL COUNSEL of the Coordinating Council of 0RIVATE %DUCATIONAL !SSOCIATIONS #/#/0%! #ATHOLIC %DUCAtional Association of the PhilipPINES #%!0 0HIL !SSOCIATION of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU), Philippine Accrediting Association of 3CHOOLS #OLLEGES 5NIVERSIties (PAASCU), and the Asian !SSOCIATION OF 3CHOOL (2-$ 0RACTITIONERS )NC !!3(0)

Asia’s expanding illicit market: brides engrained, it is no surprise that parents choose to not to UNITED NATIONS: Paradoxically, HAVE DAUGHTERS u SAID (UMAN the world’s most populated 2IGHTS 7ATCH S (27 SENIOR REcountries are facing a popula- searcher in the Women’s Rights tion crisis: a woman shortage. $IVISION (EATHER "ARR Now that there is a shortage of And it’s women who are paying women doesn’t mean that woma brutal price for it. !CCORDING TO THE 7ORLD (EALTH en become more treasured or /RGANIZATION 7(/ THE NATURAL valued, she noted. Instead, there sex ratio at birth is approximately are very harmful consequences. “[Women have] become a com105 boys to every 100 girls.

(OWEVER DECADES OF GENDER modity which is in demand, so in discrimination, which favored demand that people will use viohaving boys over girls, has left lence to acquire it,� Barr told IPS. “The stories we heard were really India and China with 80 milunbelievably shocking even after lion more men than women. “When women lack equal having spent many, many years on rights and patriarchy is deeply human rights issues,� she added.

BYÂ THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE

The “bride shortage� has triggered trafficking as women are lured under false pretenses and sold as brides.

Bordering China is Myanmar’s Kachin and northern Shan states which have seen iterations of CONlICTS OVER THE LAST DECADE (27 FOUND THAT TRAFFICKERS often prey on women and girls in those regions, offering jobs in and transport to China. The women are then sold for $3,000 to $13,000 to Chinese families struggling to find a bride for their sons.

Once purchased, women and girls are often locked in room and raped, so that they can quick-

ly provide a baby for the family.

Often times, women and girls are even sold by people they know — sometimes even by family members. “The idea that there is a situation, a set of social pressures, a sense of lawlessness that is so extreme that it is causing people to sell their own relatives‌it is shocking,â€? Barr said.

In India, bride trafficking has become common in the NORTHERN STATES SUCH AS (ARYana, which has only 830 girls to every 1,000 boys.

In a study, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

ÂłIPSA6

Q The 'bride shortage' in India and China has triggered trafficking as women are lured under false pretences and sold as brides. Pictured here are the rites of a Hindu marriage ceremony.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Q TIGLAO FROM A1

Manila Bay clean-up: ‘Broken windows’ theory on a grand scale Its impact on our culture and institutions will go beyond simply the physical accomplishment of cleaning up the bay and its waterfront.

That area had been the Philippine version of the mythical Augean stables of ancient Greek legend; the cleaning of centuries of horse shit there seemed an impossible task until the demi-god Hercules did the job — cleverly rechanneling a nearby river to flow through it. (Duterte and Environment Secretary Frank Cimatu’s version of that: Get a wave OF OVER PEOPLE TO glOWu through it, and clean it up.)

One dimension of realizing the impact of this Duterte project would be in terms of the famous sociological and criminological gBROKEN WINDOWSu THEORY &IRST proposed in 1982 by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, the idea became renowned when the New York police head and Mayor Rudi Giuliani used it as their framework to restore peace and order in the metropolis that had become so crime-infested that mugging was a commonplace occurrence.

In simple terms, the theory says that “visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior and civil

disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including SERIOUS CRIMES u 4O CHANGE THAT situation, prevent those visible signs from being created.

FECES kLLED BUILDING WITH BROKEN windows. What made it so is a microcosm of almost everything that’s gone wrong in our nation.

We have a capitalist class with no sense of responsibility to the community they live in and Climate of lawlessness GENERATE THEIR PROkTS FROM )T IS not just the restaurants along the The theory’s name is from the bay (one of which is reportedly illustration that if a broken win- the famous Aristocrat restaurant dow in an abandoned building owned by the family of Sen. Bam ISN T kXED FAST IT WOULD ATTRACT Aquino’s wife) that polluted it. vandals to break its other winThe filth also came from the dows. A building with all its numerous factories and squatwindows broken would portray ters along the Pasig River that a climate of lawlessness, which had been discharging their would then create a culture of wastes there which eventually impunity in the area, so that end up in the Bay. more and more crimes will occur.

The theory says that it is not only Corrupt political class fear of police enforcement that prevents people from committing We have a political class that is not crimes. People look for signals in just incompetent but corrupted by their environment on how they our kind of capitalists. Those enterwould behave. If an environment prises polluting the Pasig River and IS kLLED WITH THINGS THAT SUGGEST Manila Bay would have been closed criminal or anti-social behavior overnight with the power of city gov— windows shattered by rocks, ernments to issue business and even GRAFkTI AND LITTER ‡ PEOPLE WOULD sanitary permits. But they weren’t, be emboldened to commit not just for millions of reasons of course. similar crimes, but even worse.

It is not just graft money that The cesspool that Manila Bay has made our political class look had become, starting roughly in away from the hideous picture of the 1960s, has been a colossal, a bay world-famous for its sunset

that had become a cesspool. The urban poor squatters along the Pasig River who throw their wastes there that end up in the bay are there because mayors and other politicians protect them, since they have made these communities their electoral bases that deliver the crucial votes on election day.

It is a condemnation of our political system that the capital of the country, the City of Manila, has been governed by mayors who proved to be either incompetent or corrupt that they have allowed its bay to be turned into a cesspool.

Manila even has a mayor who is a former President of the Republic, whose popularity and therefore political base has been enormous YET WHO HASN T LIFTED A kNGER TO clean up Manila Bay. A clean Manila Bay with clear waters, without squatters and petty criminals, will create a culture of peace and order and of responsibility to the community we live in. It will have a chain effect on the things that the nation needs to clean up – the esteros of Chinatown that have become garbage dumps, the whole length of the Pasig River and its estuaries, the squatter areas along the river.

More importantly perhaps,

Conspiracy theory

M

Y article last January 23 delved into the US conspiracy claims precipitated by an op-ed piece in the prestigious Washington Post. Insinuations about US President Donald Trump’s being a Russian spy are made more believable by his comportment during these past two years as president. His bending over to accommodate Russia, the former Soviet Union, and his kowtowing to the Russian strongman, Vladimir Putin, has been perceived not only by the Americans but NATO allies as an overly pernicious massaging of a perverted personal relationship. It gives a certain amount of credence to the suspicion of Putin’s stranglehold over Trump. And it did not help that the two have conducted several personal talks with only their interpreters in attendance, with no aides present. To top it all, Trump embargoed his interpreter’s notes. This conduct where a summit meeting is held between leaders of competing countries is unprecedented, leading to suspicions of surreptitious agreements inimical to American and democratic interests.

This aberrant bond goes back to long before the elections where Trump lost the plurality votes. Were it not for the byzantine electoral college, Hillary Clinton could have been the kRST !MERICAN WOMAN PRESIDENT 4HIS COMPLEXity allowed Russia’s meddling into the 2016 electoral process, placing Trump’s legitimacy in question, prompting the Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s comprehensive investigation into the Donald’s campaign group’s collusion with Russia. Close to two dozen of Trump’s campaign advisers, colleagues and operators have been indicted and awaiting sentencing by US courts. Campaign manager Paul Manafort has been found guilty of subsidiary crimes.

And Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen HAS BEEN gSPILLING THE BEANS u SO TO SPEAK TO Mueller. Cohen too, pleaded guilty to ancillary charges and has been meted jail time.

And an FBI investigation on the allegations of the Donald being a Russian spy is ongoing, separately from the Mueller investigation. The noose is tightening around Trump’s neck as Mueller and the FBI are closing in on their PREY g! 2USSIAN 3PY IN THE 7HITE (OUSE u The Manila Times, Jan. 23, 2018). The Donald is perceived to be in panic mood as his defense IS CRUMBLING IN THE FACE OF THE gFACT CHECKINGu being conducted by the liberal American media.

His lies are being proven to be just that — lies!

Predictably, Trump’s strategy to face a political crisis head-on is to create another one. This is probably the cause anterieure immediate for the US government shutdown that has gone on for

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA more than a month and has impacted not only 800,000 unpaid US federal employees but the US economy itself. The repercussions have gone far and wide and has negatively affected US tourism.

-Y FAMILY HAD A kRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WHEN MY grandkids went to Yosemite in California for the holidays. Some parts of the park were closed. The few park employees I talked to were either paid by privately managed resorts, or as in the case of the federal park rangers were technically on furlough and were simply unpaid volunteers. On our way back to Manila, US airports were inadEQUATELY MANNED BY IMMIGRATION OFkCERS !FTER more than a month of this shutdown, the air TRAFkC CONTROL EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDING planes to take off and land at US airports could be adversely affected and travel safety jeopardized.

"UT CONSPIRACY THEORIES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE to Washington. Closer to home is one involving the Deegong, Malacaùang and Congress. In the best tradition of Filipino "tsismis cum conspiracy," rumors are rife and currently circulating in social media, NO DOUBT EXACERBATED BY THE ELECTION CIRCUS The dramatis personae are those on the top echelon of the country’s political leadership.

The plot centers around the Deegong with Congress, the cabinet and the military playing all sorts of supporting and adversarial roles.

The storyline starts with the pronouncements lately of DU30’s frustration with the pervasive corruption not only in the bureaucracy but even among his small coterie. His attendant ACTS OF kRING PEOPLE ON A gWHIFF OF CORRUPTIONu without undergoing serious investigation or following the protocols of fairness and justice, is eating into his political innards, wasting his political capital. His rants against the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that initially found some adherents for their boldness and warped charm, have begun to run their course and are now simply prosaic. And his declaration that “I AM NOT #ATHOLIC ) AM )SLAMu HAS LEFT MANY OF his admirers even more befuddled.

This preoccupation and frustration with mundane and irrelevant matters are impacting negatively on his ability to govern; creating a dangerous vacuum in the running of the ship of state, further fueling a general perception that the Deegong is tired of it all.

Perhaps he is. The public allusions to his failing health and his proclivity to repair to the CONkNES OF THE COMFORTABLE AND THE FAMILIAR in Davao – could be misconstrued as a forfeiture of his presidential duties.

It does not help too that his alter egos in the bureaucracy have been reluctant to take the cudgels for him or, not surprisingly, his alphamale trait may have intimidated them into acting logically as they should.

Thus are emboldened the political opportunists hovering over the presidency. Foremost among which is the House of Representatives where a battle for control over the country’s development is being fought, using the budget as the weapon of choice. The ultimate political survivor who now heads the HOR has her loyalISTS kGHTING A SURROGATE BATTLE FOR THE COUNTRY S agenda. They want Budget Secretary Diokno out. They may yet have their wish.

But the conspiracy theory doesn’t end here.

The conjecture is that the chief sentinel of THE ECONOMY AND PROTECTOR OF ITS kNANCIAL lifeblood must go. A traditional political component needs to be injected into this post and logically lodged on the speaker who is now on her last term. Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, the professional and independently wealthy technocrat, is much more needed by PRRD as his Chief of Staff — the primus inter pares — to impose a certain sense of manaGERIAL DISCIPLINE TO THE /FkCE OF THE 0RESIDENT g4HE 'ATEKEEPERS 0ARTS u The Manila Times, Sept. 28 & Oct 5, 2017). And what to do with the ES? Appoint him to the Supreme Court where his father had served honorably.

And if one follows several articles I wrote about Gloria, (Game of Thrones, The Manila Times -ARCH AND g'LORIA EN EXCELSIS u -ARCH THE gkuro-kurou WAS for the constitutional revisions to happen and a transition to a parliamentary form of government before the mid-term elections.

Now it’s too late. The Senate thwarted this plan and thus the presidential government under the unitary system continues: no constitutional changes, no parliamentary government and above all no prime minister — and the hell with federalism! Guess who was gunning for the prime minister post?

4HUS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE kNANCE AND the budget portfolios. The other cabinet departments and agencies are presumably now being put under the effective control of GMA’s group — still totally loyal to DU30 — a PARADOX 4HE CONSPIRACY CONTINUESw

Q IPS FROM A5

Asia’s expanding illicit market: brides (UNODC) found in over 10,000 households, over 9,000 married women in Haryana were brought from other states.

Most of those women came from poor villages in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar where their families, desperate for money, struck deals with traffickers.

There are also cases of girls being resold to other people after living a married life for a few years.

According to the 2016 National Crimes Records Bureau, almost 34,000 were kidnapped or abducted for the purpose of marriage across India, half of whom were under the age of 18.

While the immediate consequences for

women are clear, there may also be long-term CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTORTED SEX RATIO “Part of the reason that we should be worrying about it is that we simply don’t know what the long-term consequences of this are. We don’t know how this might change societies, but this is something that is going to have an efFECT THROUGH GENERATIONS u "ARR TOLD )03

highlighting the need for action including better prevention efforts and law enforcement on trafficking and violence against women.

But at the end of the day, governments must do more to address the root cause of the imbalance — gender discrimination.

4HOUGH SEX SELECTIVE ABORTION IS ILlegal in India, it is still a widespread practice in the country. In fact, apPROXIMATELY TO MILLION SEX SELECTIVE abortions are estimated to be carried out in the South Asian country every year.

China’s now two-child policy may also continue to pose a threat to women and girls, as well as the future stability of the country’s population. “The most fundamental problem is gender inequality and most fundamental solution to this is that you have to change the dynamics in society that makes sons valued and daughters not VALUED u "ARR CONCLUDED IPS

THIS DRIVE TO CLEAN UP gTHINGSu will evolve into cleaning up our institutions. Indeed, the histories of societies involved a single precedent, which was then replicated.

As corrupt before The US bureaucracy was as corrupt as any developing nation before.

The reform of its Department of Agriculture which had been notorious in its corruption due its power to give subsidies to farmers. was the precedent that led to the anti-graft campaigns in most of its other federal departments.

Hong Kong’s bureaucracy in the 1960s was also a graft-ridden one.

It was the cleanup of its police department in the late 1970s by a newly established Independent Commission Against Corruption (funded by income from its worldrenowned horse races) that became a precedent for the transformation of its entire bureaucracy into a graftFREE AND EFkCIENT MACHINE The following are from my book Debunked *: “Note the following descriptions by scholars: — ‘Patronage-oriented political parties and free-spending corruption dominated‌’ ‘The political

system consisted of a ‘distinctive COMPLEX OF A WEAK NATIONAL ADMINistration, divided and fragmentary public authority, and non-programmatic political parties.’ — ‘The nation-state had a weak hold on the imagination and consciousness of a people who were now forced to think of them as ONE COMMUNITY -OST IDENTIkED themselves with their province of birth, not with the nation.’ Apt descriptions of the Philippines today these may be, but these referred to different countries.

The first described the USA in the 1930s. The second described Italy in the 1920s. Yet these two countries were able to build strong NATION STATES WITHIN A GENERATION u For the sake of our children’s children, I hope Duterte does build a strong nation-state.

Wouldn’t it be dramatic if the Manila Bay clean-up signals the start of such a strong Republic?

*Available at National and Popular book stores, and amazon.com Email: tiglao.manilatimes@ gmail.com Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Archives at: www.rigobertotiglao.com

A new king to be crowned T OMORROW Malaysia welcomes a new king who will ascend the nation’s throne. Malaysia is one of only three monarchies in Southeast Asia and like ThaiLAND IS ONE WHICH IS gCONSTITUTIONALu IN nature. And that is not all. The Malaysian MONARCHY IS ALSO AN gELECTEDu ONE )T is perhaps instructive for us to delve a bit deeper into this unique national governmental institution.

A constitutional and elected monarCHY IS BY DEkNITION DIFFERENT OF COURSE FROM AN gABSOLUTEu AND gDYNASTICu OR gHEREDITARYu MONARCHY !BSOLUTE monarchies are no strangers to students of history, ancient or modern.

These monarchs rule their nations WITH UNQUESTIONABLE kAT THEIR WORDS often automatically become laws, and they essentially hold the fate of their subject peoples in their hands, literally deciding on their life and death. The fearsome Genghis Khan who conquered large parts of two continents (Asia and Europe) nearly a millennium ago, and Jean-Bedel Bokassa, self-proclaimed emperor of the Central African Empire (now republic) in the 1970s come to mind when one thinks of absolute monarchs. And dynastic or hereditary monarchies are also the order of the day since ancient times when most nations had royal households. The present "RITISH QUEEN FOR EXAMPLE HAILS FROM the House of Windsor. Wars have raged when dynastic changes took place, as in the case of the British War of the Roses in the Middle Ages, pitching the House of York against the House of Lancaster.

In contrast, Malaysia is a sovereign country formed more than half a century ago when an already independent Malaya merged with the British colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore into one national entity (with Singapore having later seceded to become an independent nation in its own right). At the time of Malaysian formation, Sabah and Sarawak had no monarchical political arrangement. But there have been various traditional state monarchies in Malaya, mostly but not all HEREDITARY IN NATURE /NE SUCH gEXCEPTIONALu -ALAYA STATE IS .EGERI 3EMBILAN

WHICH HAS LONG PRACTICED AN gELECTEDu monarchical system, with a state ruler elected for life by four regional chiefs.

Such a unique monarchical arrangement perhaps inspired the British which bestowed upon Malayan independence a somewhat similarly elected monarchy, and this monarchical system was transplanted onto Malaysia upon the latter’s formation a few years later.

4HE -ALAYSIAN KING IS OFkCIALLY KNOWN AS THE g3UPREME (EAD OF -ALAYSIA u )N the normal course of events, the nine reigning Malayan state rulers will meet EVERY kVE YEARS TO ELECT ONE AMONG THEMSELVES TO BE KING FOR A kXED PERIOD OF kVE years. So, the Malaysian king is not only elected (albeit by his royal brethren) but also has a time limit on his kingship.

This differs from the ruling arrangement in the United Arab Emirates,

FOR EXAMPLE )N THE UAE, the presidency and premiership are held for life by the rulers of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively. In Malaysia, the national THRONE IS SOMEWHAT UNOFkCIALLY ROTATED among the various state rulers, such that each state would have its ruler ascending the throne at appropriate time lapses.

3O THAT WAS THE gELECTIVEu NATURE OF the Malaysian monarchy. It is also constitutional in nature in that its position in the Malaysian political machinery is similar to that of the British monarch in the British political arrangement. Since the previously absolute British king was gPERSUADEDu BY THE NOBILITY TO SIGN THE Magna Carta to share political power with them a millennium ago, the British political system has evolved into one WHERE THE gREALu POLITICAL POWER IS HELD by the government of the day led by the prime minister. The monarch has to act on the advice of the prime minister or THE CABINET IN ALMOST ALL OFkCIAL MATTERS

from political appointments to pardons, AND AS FAR AS INlUENCE ON POLICY IS CONcerned, the monarch is supposed to only gADVISE ENCOURAGE OR WARN u 3UCH IS ALSO the case with the Malaysian monarch.

Both the British and Malaysian monarchs are essentially symbols of national unity in their respective countries, and as such their ceremonial duties and roles often take up a major part of their work.

There comes a time nevertheless when the monarch in principle could PLAY A SIGNIkCANT ROLE IN CHARTING THE political course of the country. The king is supposed to appoint a member of the lower house of parliament who in the king’s view commands the support of the majority of member in that house, to be the prime minister (and therefore form the new government) after a fresh general election or upon the resignation of the previous prime minister. When a political party or coalition holds the majority of parliamentary seats outright and is united, the royal choice is quite obvious. But when no party or coalition holds the majority or when the majority party or coalition is disunited in its membership, the royal choice for a new prime minister could be a nuanced yet decisive one. The change of the ruling COALITION IN -ALAYSIA FOR THE kRST TIME in the country’s history last year initially presented a considerable challenge in this regard, but was ultimately resolved.

The Malaysian monarch and also the state rulers used to enjoy total criminal immunity. However, laws have been passed that nowadays any of them could be criminally prosecuted or civilly sued, albeit in special courts constituted for the specific purpose. The impending coronation of the new Malaysian king comes about due to the unprecedented abdication by his predecessor for personal reasons. It is hoped that the smooth transition of the Malaysian throne could continue to play the unifying role for the country as it embarks upon a national journey of development.

EI SUN OH

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

ASG bomber slain in Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA CITY: Police commandos killed a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG BOMBER IN A kREkGHT HERE OFkCIALS SAID 4UESDAY Officials said Admar Asilon, an alleged member of the ASG’s urban terrorist group (UTG) under -ARZAN !JIJUL TRADED GUNkRE WITH the police in Barangay San Jose, where he was tracked down late on Monday.

Asilon, 35, was cornered in a building where he was eventually killed.

A police report said Asilon was also a member of City Hunter, a gun-for-hire syndicate operating in Zamboanga City and neighboring Basilan province.

The operation against Asilon was launched by the 904th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9.

Asilon’s death came barely a day after two Islamic State suicide bombers blew themselves up at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu.

Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isa-

belle “Beng� Climaco urged residents to “be very vigilant against the presence of suspicious-looking persons and unattended packages in their community, and report them immediately to the authorities.�

She said security here had been heightened with police and military personnel now on full alert. “Multiple layers of checkpoints have been established, particularly in thickly populated areas and at the borders or entry and exit points of the city,� Climaco said.

The police recently captured an ASG bandit, Daud Isnani, 33, in Barangay Talon-Talon.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, regional police commander, said Isnani was linked to multiple kidnappings in Basilan.

It was not immediately known whether the operation against Asilon was connected to the capture of Isnani, who was tracked down by members of the Regional AntiCriminality Task Group of the Police Regional Intelligence Division 9.

AL JACINTO

Regions Army hunts down NPAs after Magpet bombings WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

C

BY JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

OTABATO CITY: The Philippine Army launched massive manhunt operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels, who set off two roadside BOMBS THAT KILLED A POLICE OFkCER AND WOUNDED eight others on Monday night in Magpet, North Cotabato.

Col. Erlich Noel Paraso, commander of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion (19IB) on Tuesday said the operation was ongoing in the mountains of Magpet, particularly near the country’s highest peak Mount Apo. Senior Insp. Rolando Dillera, Magpet town police chief, identi-

kED THE SLAIN OFkCER AS 0OLICE /FkCER 0/ #HRISTOPHER !NADON of the North Cotabato police mobile force.

Anadon, 29, of Parang, Maguindanao, who was driving one of the police cars, died at a hospital in Kidapawan City.

The victims were on board a

convoy of two police cars on their way back to the police station when two anti-personnel mines exploded in Barangay Poblacion of Magpet at about 6 p.m.

Also wounded were PO1 Stephenson Batoon ParreĂąo, 27, of Carmen, North Cotabato; Senior 0OLICE /FkCER -ICHAEL -ARIANO EscaĂąo, 42, of Kidapawan City; PO2 Marinerl Pastores, 38, of Midsayap, North Cotabato; PO1 Eliezer Langcuban, 27, of Aleosan, North Cotabato; PO1 Darrel Ferolina, 26, of Midsayap; PO1 Phil Jan Ray Canarejo, 2, of Aleosan; and PO1 Mark Vincent Capilitan, 30, of Kidapawan City.

Paraso said the roadside bombing was the NPA’s retaliatory attack against government forces after a

A7

rebel was killed and his son was wounded during an encounter in Barangay Bagumbayan, Magpet on Sunday morning. “We are hunting them down, we will get them; we know exactly where they are, it’s just a matter of time that justice will be served,�

Paraso vowed.

Paraso also challenged the NPA sympathizers like the militant groups Karapatan and Bayan Muna to issue statements condemning THE BOMBING AGAINST POLICE OFkCERS “I challenged you to condemn the rebel atrocities, much as you condemn when there is military operation,� he added.

Paraso assured that no civilians were affected in the on-going military offensive.

Muslim religious leaders condemn Jolo carnage MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur: Muslim religious leaders condemned the twin bombings on Sunday of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu that killed 21 people and wounded 112 others, which the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.

Aleem Said Ahmad Basher, chairman of the Organization of the Imam Council of the Philippines, said the Muslim community was saddened about the inhuman attack on a house of worship like the cathedral in Jolo. “We strongly condemn these inhuman atrocities because of its barbaric nature and which is forbidden in Islam,� Basher stressed. “This barbaric act is not accepted in Islam because it does not only destroy the living of peace, but demolishes the tranquility of a sound society,� he added.

Imam Kamil Unda, leader of the Ahlul Bait in the Philippines, another sect of Islam, said such an act was barbarous and must be condemned in the strongest terms. g"ASED ON 1URAN HOUSes of worship of the Jews and Christians must be protected,�

Unda added.

He said the Prophet of Islam strictly forbade the killing of civilians, children, women and the elderly in time of war.

Both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Jikiri Faction have condemned the bombing.

MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, in a statement, said the MILF leadership joined peaceloving individuals in strongly condemning the twin bombing of the Cathedral. “The MILF commits to assist in gathering information that CAN LEAD TO THE IDENTIkCATION OF the perpetrator and their eventual arrest. We are very willing to coordinate with the security sector and the local government OFkCIALS OF 3ULU IN THE INVESTIgation of this terroristic act,�

Ebrahim said.

Yusop Jikiri, chairman of a breakaway MNLF faction, also

condemned the bombings “for the great loss of innocent lives and for causing pain and suffering to the big numbers of the injured.�

Jikiri’s faction joined the MILF in the pursuit of peace in the Philippine south through the framing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which Congress enacted into law as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Meanwhile, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Vice Gov. Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr. believed whoever did it had political motive that had nothing to do with local issues. “Religion has never been an issue in Sulu. Christians in that province have lived well with the Tausug for centuries,� Lucman stressed.

PRO3 condemns attack -EANWHILE 0OLICE 2EGIONAL /FkCE 3 (PRO3) condemned in the strongest terms the bombing of Jolo Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Sunday. “While we are outraged by the tragic attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the bombing of churches not only in Jolo but in the different places of worship, we are not pointing fingers on any faith community. Rather, we assure that we will use the full force of the law to bring to justice the perpetrators behind this incident,�

Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, PRO3 director, said.

Coronel encouraged every Filipino to keep on upholding the spirit of unity and continue to pray for those who would seek to sow discord and enmity in the country and destroy the peace.

He added that the police were collectively taking steps to ensure that every one feels safe and secure, knowing that their freedom to worship is protected. “We continue to appeal to the public to help us in our goal of maintaining peace and order in Central Luzon,� Coronel said.

MASIDING NOOR YAHYA AND FREDERICK SILVERIOÂ

Nationinbriefs CLERK ‘KILLER’ NABBED IN ANTIPOLO A WATER delivery boy, suspect in the killing of a clerk at Taytay Municipal Hall, was arrested in Antipolo City on Tuesday. Police said Joven Evasco, 19, was suspected of stabbing dead Salvador Alcantara with a kitchen knife. Evasco was seen with Alcantara in a CCTV footage before the crime. The body of Alcantara was discovered by his nephew in the victim’s apartment at Barangay Soccoro in Cubao, Quezon City. Evasco, who was positively identified by his co-workers at a water station, has not reported for work since January 19, after the body of Alcantara was found. He admitted to killing and robbing Alcantara. Seized from him was a receipt from a pawnshop where he pawned Alcantara’s phone after the killing.

GABRIELA G. BARON

FIRE RAZES 800 HOUSES IN BATAAN ORION, Bataan: Fire razed about 800 houses and affected more than 1,000 families in a fishing village here on Tuesday morning, village Chairman Ernesto

BAMBANTI FESTIVAL

The Ilocano festival sets new Guinness World Record for its 2,495 human scarecrows in continuous two-hour street dancing. PHOTO COURTESY OF RAFAEL ZAGASA

Isabela ‘scarecrows’ set new Guinness record ILAGAN CITY, Isabela: The Bambanti Festival earned another victory, landing in the Guinness World Records (GWR) with 2,495 street dancers dressed as scarecrows performing non-stop for two hours. “Bambanti� is the Iloco term for scarecrow used by farmers to PROTECT THEIR RICE kELDS FROM BIRDS that pluck maturing rice grains.

Paulina Sapinska, GWR adjudicator and representative, said this

surpassed the criteria set for the new world record at 250 human scarecrows dancing continuously FOR kVE MINUTES “After the proper verification and witnessing your event, the Bambanti Festival set the new world record for the largest human scarecrow dancers,� Sapinska said.

Started in 1997 during the time of former governor Faustino Dy Jr., Bambanti Festival is an an-

nual celebration of the provincial government that showcases local products and tourists spots in the different municipalities of Isabela.

T h r o u g h t h e ye a r s, ove r 100,000 hectares of cropland all over the province are dotted with scarecrows. Gov. Faustino Dy 3rd and Vice Gov. Tonypet Albano RECEIVED THE CERTIkCATE OF RECOGnition from Sapinski on Friday night after the human scarecrows

kNISHED THEIR STREET DANCING IN colorful costumes.

Dy thanked the GWR representative for the recognition and the IsabeleĂąos for their efforts to create the new world record.

Of the three cities and 35 towns of the province, two cities and 23 towns participated in the scarecrow street dance parade at the Isabela Provincial Sports Complex.

LEANDER C. DOMINGO

GO BACKS LOCALIZED PEACE TALKS WITH REDS CAPIZ: Former special assistant to the President (SAP) and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go announced that the Duterte administration was open to conducting localized peace talks to solve the insurgency problem in Capiz.

Go said this during an interview on ‘‘Straight to the Point’’ with Joven Anisco, a radio program on DYVR RMN Capiz.

He explained that he remains hopeful that national peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s

Army would resume in the future because he and President Rodrigo Duterte did not like the idea of fellow Filipinos killing one ANOTHER IN THE BATTLEkELD “The President is sad every time a soldier dies and is just as sad when a rebel is killed because THESE ARE &ILIPINOS kGHTING ONE another,� he said.

Go stressed that the rebels should take advantage of the government’s offer of peaceful communication while Duterte was President because, unlike other leaders, Duterte was sincere in wanting to talk to them

Delona said. The burned houses were mostly made of bamboo and light materials in Sitio Depensa, a fishing village in Barangay Capunitan. Fleeing families scampered through the mud along the riverbank since it was low tide, village officials said. An initial report said children playing with matches caused the fire that started at about 9 a.m., but Delona added they were still waiting for the official report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as of this writing. Fire raged for more than two hours and the BFP declared fire out at about 1 p.m. Firetrucks from 11 towns and Balanga City, as well as two others from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority responded. Delona said affected families were evacuated to Capunitan Elementary School.  ERNIE B. ESCONDE

QC CONDUCTS SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN SPECIAL ELECTIONS THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) held special Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in 15 barangay (villages) in Quezon City to fill vacancies in the youth council. Special elections were held on January 23 and 26 in Barangay Damar, Lourdes, Sienna, West Triangle, DoĂąa Josefa, Laging Handa, Mariana, and Teachers Village East and West. A special election is also scheduled on February 2 in the villages of St. Ignatius, White Plains, Mangga, Blue Ridge A, Quirino 2A and

and in his desire for long-lasting peace. “He is the only one they can talk to now,� Go added.

He also told CapizeĂąos that there are Malasakit Centers in Bacolod and Iloilo, the nearby provinces, where they can go for their medical needs. “If there is a government hospital here in Capiz that has complete facilities and has space for a Malasakit Center, we will conduct an ocular inspection and ask the Department of Health to set up a center,â€? Go said.

He added that he plans to pass

a bill that would mandate the creation of a Malasakit Center in every province and urban center nationwide for the convenience of needy patients to get assistance for THEIR MEDICAL AND kNANCIAL NEEDS under one roof.

Go’s legislative agenda includes agriculture, housing, improved health service delivery, education, long-term sports development, anti-drug and crime drive, anticorruption drive, barangay (village) welfare, creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers, as well as address senior citizens’ concerns.

Loyola Heights. Among the six districts in Quezon City, DILG identified Districts 1, 3 and 4 with incomplete members or no SK membership. Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez, DILG-QC director, said complete membership in the youth council was vital in the implementation of youth-oriented programs and utilization of the SK fund that was worth 10 percent of the city’s annual general fund. Director Baltazar-Cortez also called on the active participation of the youth in the special elections.

TASK FORCE FORMED TO PROBE BACOLOD POLICE OFFICER MURDER BACOLOD CITY: The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) created a Special Investigation Task Force to investigate the murder of Senior Police Officer 4 Oscar Exaltado, deputy chief of Police Station 6, over the weekend. Chief Insp. Ariel Pico, city police public information officer, said Police Station 8 under Chief Insp. Charles Gever was tasked to investigate the case. Pico said the investigators were focusing on two angles — his work as warrant server and his alleged involvement in illegal drugs. Exaltado, 46, was shot at close range by two unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle near his home in Barangay Singcang-Airport on January 26.  He sustained eight wounds in body and seven in the head.

EUGENE Y. ADIONGÂ

A8

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

News

˜ The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net Q IMPROVES FROM A1

improves Bill on commission for elderly passed PHon corruption

T

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

HE Senate on Tuesday passed on THIRD AND kNAL READING A MEASURE CREATING A COMMISSION FOR THE ELDERLY

3ENATE "ILL 3" UNDER #OMMITTEE 2EPORT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH THE .ATIONAL #OMMISSION OF 3ENIOR #ITIZENS .#3#

IN SUBSTITUTION OF 3"

AND kLED BY 3EN 0AOLO "ENIGNO g"AMu !QUINO TH 3ENATE 0RESIDENT 6ICENTE g4ITOu 3OTTO RD AND 3EN *UAN %DGARDO g3ONNYu !NGARA RESPECTIVELY

3EN !NTONIO g3ONNYu 4RILLANES TH SPONSOR OF THE BILL SAID THE MEASURE WOULD CREATE A BODY DEDICATED SOLELY TO HANDLE THE CONCERNS OF SENIOR CITIZENS THEREBY ABOLISHING THE .ATIONAL #OORDINATING AND -ONITORING "OARD 4HE BOARD CREATED BY 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE g%XPANDED 3ENIOR #ITIZENS !CT OF u IS COMPOSED OF HEADS OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

4HE .#3# WILL BE UNDER THE /FkCE OF THE 0RESIDENT AND WILL BE COMPOSED OF A CHAIRMAN AND SIX COMMISSIONERS !QUINO PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE SAID THE .#3# WOULD FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES

PLANS AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE SENIOR CITIZENS RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OR ADDRESS ISSUES PLAGUING THE SECTOR g7ITH SECTORS SUCH AS THE YOUTH

WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVING A SPECIALIZED BODY CATERING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT OUR &ILIPINO SENIORS ARE AWARDED THEIR OWN COMMISSION AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT NO &ILIPINO GETS LEFT BEHIND u HE SAID 4HE 0OPULATION #OMMISSION SAID THE POPULATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE COUNTRY IN COULD BE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OR MILLION

PCSO approves P24 ‘Spiderman’ scales Makati tower lotto consolation prize THE Philippine Charity SweepSTAKES /FkCE 0#3/ HAD AGREED TO GIVE A CONSOLATION PRIZE OF 0 TO BETTORS WHO CORRECTLY GUESSED THREE OF THE SIX WINNING NUMBERS 4HE 0#3/ 'AMING 3ECTOR ON 4UESDAY SAID THE 0#3/ "OARD HAD APPROVED THE RETURN OF THE CONSOLATION PRIZE WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO LIFT LOTTO SALES BEYOND THE 0 BILLION GENERATED IN g4HE 'AMING 3ECTOR LOOKED FOR WAYS WHERE WE CAN GET THE ADDITIONAL 0 TO RETURN TO THE BETTORS 4HEY HAVE LONG REQUESTED TO RETURN ADD OR MAKE THE CONSOLATION PRIZE AT LEAST 0 u !RNEL #ASAS

0#3/ ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER FOR 'AMING 3ECTOR SAID 4HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR !CCELERATION AND )NCLUSION 4RAIN ,AW IN SAW LOTTERY TICKETS SUBJECTED TO HIGHER DOCUMENT STAMP TAX PROMPTING THE 0#3/ TO INCREASE OF ,OTTO TICKETS FROM 0 TO 0 g,OTTO AGENTS ALSO REQUESTED ;THE REIMPLEMENTATION= !LTHOUGH IT WILL NOT INCREASE THEIR COMMISSION IT WILL REDOUND TO ADDITIONAL

SALES u #ASAS SAID (E ADMITTED THAT THE 0 BILLION OVERALL 0#3/ SALES IN WOULD BE VERY HARD TO SURPASS THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS PHENOMENAL (E SAID THE GAMING SECTOR WAS EYEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS OR INTERNET GAMING OF EXISTING ,OTTO GAMES TO REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO HAD NO PATIENCE TO LINE UP IN LOTTO OUTLETS g7HEN THE ,OTTO REACHED 0 BILLION THE LINES WERE SO LONG %VEN THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN LOTTO LINED UP )T BECAME PHENOMENAL 3O IF THERE WERE EASIER OR MORE CONVENIENT WAY TO PLACE OUR BETS OUR REVENUES MAY INCREASE 3ALES PROJECTION WILL GO HIGHER DEPENDING ON THE REACTION OF THE GAMING PUBLIC AND UNTAPPED MARKET u #ASAS ADDED (E URGED THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING 0#3/ PRODUCTS BECAUSE THE CHARITY AGENCY WOULD NOW BE A MAJOR SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT S 5NIVERSAL (EALTHCARE PROGRAM

A FRENCH climber who scaled towering structures around the world, including the Eiffel Tower was arrested by the police after climbing one of the tallest buildings in Makati City on Tuesday.

Alain Robert, 56, who earned the moniker “French Spiderman,” climbed the 43-story George Ty Tower without any safety equipment.

Chief Insp. Gideon Ines Jr., Makati assistant police chief, said the police and security personnel of the building asked Robert to come down, but he was keen on finishing his climb.

The glass-walled skyscraper is the 7th tallest building in the Makati central business district.

Robert began scaling the building at 10:20 a.m. He finished the climb at 11:45 a.m.

To the surprise of the police, Robert had a lawyer ready to represent him — Howard Calleja.

“It seems he’s already used to this kind of activity as he had been doing this in several countries. In all instances, he had been arrested. We will do the same and file charges,” Ines said.

Robert, who had been climbing buildings since he was 11, made it to the Guinness World Records for “most buildings climbed” after he conquered 121 structures in 2015.

“Climbing is my passion [and] my philosophy

PIECE OF CAKE Alain Robert scales the GT Tower. AFP PHOTO of life. I have never thought about giving up on my childhood dream. Climbing was for me as

important as eating or breathing,”Robert said.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

Q SAFE FROM A1

Passport data safe CHARGE IN THE PRINTING OF THE NEW ELECTRONIC PASSPORTS THAT THE DATA IS SAFE AND INTACT BUT WAS EITHER gCORRUPTEDu OR gINACCESSIBLE u 4HE CONTROVERSY STARTED WHEN SOME PASSPORT HOLDERS COMPLAINED TO ,OCSIN *R THROUGH 4WITTER ABOUT THE SUBMISSION OF A BIRTH CERTIkCATE AS REQUIREMENT FOR PASSPORT RENEWAL 4HEY INSISTED THAT THEIR OLD PASSPORTS SHOULD BE ENOUGH BASIS TO OBTAIN A NEW ONE ,OCSIN WHO HAS FOLLOWERS ON 4WITTTER AGREED IN A SERIES OF TWEETS THAT A BIRTH CERTIkCATE SHOULD NO LONGER BE REQUIRED IN RENEWING A PASSPORT "UT HE PROMISED TO SOLVE THE gMYSTERYu BEHIND THE REQUIREMENT ,OCSIN LATER ON REVEALED THAT THE SUBMISSION OF A BIRTH CERTIkCATE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE $&! NEEDED TO REBUILD ITS PASSPORT DATABASE FROM SCRATCH AFTER ITS FORMER CONTRACTOR ALLEGEDLY gRAN AWAYu WITH IT WHEN ITS CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED $&! !SSISTANT 3ECRETARY %LMER #ATO HOWEVER MAINTAINED THAT MINOR APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A BIRTH CERTIkCATE AND IDENTIkCATION CARD OF ACCOMPANYING PARENT AS PROOF OF IDENTIFY OF THE PARENT 4HIS REQUIREMENT HAD BEEN THERE EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT TO HELP PREVENT ILLEGAL TRAFkCKING OF CHILDREN HE ADDED )N HIS *ANUARY TWEET ,OCSIN SAID HE WANTED THE ISSUE kXED AND NOT REPEATED g2EDUNDANCY OF DATA WAS PROMISED BY PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR BUT NOT FULkLLED OR JUST DENIED US 7E HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER IF IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED u 4HE $&! CHIEF SAID THE PASSPORT PROBLEM STARTED UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEN PRESIDENT AND NOW (OUSE 3PEAKER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO AND gGOT WORSEu UNDER THE TERM OF 0RESIDENT "ENIGNO !QUINO RD g)T WILL BE SOLVED BY 022$ S 0RESIDENT 2ODRIGO 2OA $UTERTER $&! UNDER ,OCSIN 4HE YELLOW CROWD WHO PERPETRATED THE PASSPORT FRAUD ARE IN PANIC BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA AUTOPSY THEIR CROOKED DEAL 0ERIOD u ,OCSIN SAID IN A TWEET 7ITHOUT NAMING NAMES THE gYELLOW CROWDu THAT ,OCSIN WAS REFERRING TO WERE THE OFkCIALS UNDER THEN PRESIDENT "ENIGNO !QUINO RD WHO WERE ALLEGEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBCONTRACTING THE PASSPORT PRINTING JOB TO A PRIVATE kRM 5'%# IN 9ELLOW IS THE POLITICAL COLOR OF THE OPPOSITION ,OCSIN EXPRESSED SUPPORT TO THE INVESTIGATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED

BY THE 3ENATE AND OTHER CONCERNED AGENCIES ON THE PASSPORT CONTROVERSY g7E NEED LAWS ON WHAT CONTRACTS OFkCIALS CAN GO INTO %VERY CONTRACT SHOULD BE EXPOSED BUTT NAKED IN AND BY THE 3ENATE u )N ANOTHER SERIES OF TWEETS ,OCSIN SAID HIS MAIN CONCERN WAS TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF PASSPORT RENEWAL gBY DOING AWAY WITH ANY REQUIREMENT BUT A PRIOR PASSPORT u /N *ANUARY ,OCSIN SIGNED $EPARTMENT /RDER $/

WAIVING THE SUBMISSION OF A BIRTH CERTIkCATE TO RENEW A PASSPORT 5NDER THE $/ THE PRESENTATION OF BIRTH CERTIkCATES WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED FOR REGULAR RENEWALS EXCEPT FOR APPLICATIONS FOR LOST AND MUTILATED PASSPORTS THOSE REQUIRING CHANGES IN THE PASSPORT ENTRIES OLD BROWN AND GREEN PASSPORTS BEARING NO COMPLETE MIDDLE NAMES AND APPLICANTS INCLUDED IN THE $&! S WATCHLIST g&OR NOW THE $EPARTMENT OF &OREIGN !FFAIRS IS TAKING THE WORD OF !0/ 0RODUCTION 5NIT THAT THERE IS NO BREACH IN PASSPORT DATA AND AS SUFkCIENT JUSTIkCATION IN REMOVING THE BIRTH CERTIkCATE REQUIREMENT IN THE RENEWAL OF PASSPORTS u ,OCSIN SAID IN A STATEMENT (E ADDED g5NTIL THEN THE $EPARTMENT CAN GIVE NO ASSURANCES ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SOME DATA u /N *ANUARY ,OCSIN TWEETED g4HE ODD THING IS THE RETIRED GREAT ONES IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE TOLD ME @"UT THAT REQUIREMENT IS THE SILLIEST THING AND THEN LEGAL ;DEPARTMENT= SHOWED ME THAT THERE IS NO BASIS FOR IT IN THE LAW 4HEN !0/ SAID @$ITCH THE SUSPICION OF LEAK "IRTH CERTIkCATE IS CRAP SIR 2AN WITH THAT u

perception WENT UP BY TWO POINTS TO IN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR MAINTAINING ITS STATUS AS ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD This has been the PhilipPINES HIGHEST #0) IN YEARS

S C O R I N G B O T H I N AND The Philippines shares the TH SPOT WITH !LBANIA "AHR A I N # O L O M B I A 4A N Z A N I A AND 4HAILAND 4HE CLEANEST COUNTRIES WERE $ENMARK AND .EW :EALAND

SCORING AND RESPECTIVELY 3INGAPORE WAS NAMED AS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES SHARING THE THIRD SPOT ALONG WITH &INLAND

3WEDEN AND 3WITZERLAND ALL SCORING !FRICA S 3OMALIA REMAINED TO BE THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY

OCCUPYING THE TH SPOT WITH A #0) OF 3 O U T H 3 U D A N A N D 3 Y R I A SHARED THE TH SPOT SCORING WHILE 9EMEN AND !SIA S .ORTH +OREA OCCUPIED THE TH SPOT AT A #0) )N TERMS OF REGIONAL rankING 7ESTERN %UROPE AND THE %UROPEAN 5NION WERE RECORDED AS THE CLEANEST REGIONS

GAINING AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 3UB 3AHARAN !FRICA AND %ASTERN %UROPE AND #ENTRAL !SIA GOT THE LOWEST SCORES AT AN AVERAGE OF AND RESPECTIVELY 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL ALSO REVEALED THAT MAJORITY OR MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE COUNTRIES SURVEYED SCORED BELOW WITH AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 4HIS ACCORDING TO THE GROUP

REFLECTED A CONTINUED FAILURE OF MOST COUNTRIES TO SIGNIFICANTLY ADDRESS CORRUPTION AND FURTHER CONTRIBUTED TO A gCRISIS IN DEMOCRACYu ACROSS THE GLOBE 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL ALSO NOTED THAT DATA INDICATED PROGRESS MOST COUNTRIES MAKE SERIOUS STRIDES TO CURTAIL CORRUPTION g7ITH MANY DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS UNDER THREAT ACROSS THE GLOBE OFTEN BY LEADERS WITH AUTHORITARIAN OR POPULIST TENDENCIES WE NEED TO DO MORE TO STRENGTHEN CHECKS AND BALANCES AND PROTECT CITIZENS RIGHTS u 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL -ANAGING $IRECTOR 0ATRICIA -OREIRA SAID g # O R R U P T I O N C H I P S AWAY AT DEMOCRACY TO PRODUCE A VICIOUS CYCLE WHERE CORRUPTION UNDERMINES DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND IN TURN

WE A K I N S T I T U T I O N S A R E L E S S ABLE TO CONTROL CORRUPTION u -OREIRA ADDED 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN $ELIA &ERREIRA 2UBIO SAID THE RESEARCH SHOWS gA CLEAR LINK BETWEEN HAVING A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY AND SUCCESSFULLY kGHTING PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION u g#ORRUPTION IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO FLOURISH WHERE DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATIONS ARE WEAK AND AS WE HAVE SEEN IN MANY COUNTRIES WHERE UNDEMOCRATIC AND POPULIST POLITICIANS CAN USE IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE u 2UBIO EXPLAINED 4RANSPARENCY )NTERNATIONAL MADE THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENTS TO HELP CURB CORRUPTION m 3TRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CHECKS AND BALANCES OVER POLITICAL POWER AND ENSURE THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE WITHOUT INTIMIDATION m #LOSE THE IMPLEMENTATION GAP BETWEEN ANTI CORRUPTION LEGISLATION PRACTICE AND ENFORCEMENT m 3UPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ENHANCE POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OVER GOVERNMENT SPENDING PARTICULARLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND m 3UPPORT A FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO WORK WITHOUT INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT DIVINANOVAJOYDELACRUZ

P52.43 TO $1

PSEi 8,050.82 DOWN 0.04%

Business Times www.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 ASIAN STOCKS: W S h a n g h a i 0 . 1 0 %

What’s inside PCC TO CARTEL MEMBERS: COME CLEAN

ÂťBusinessB2

NCR LAND PRICES PUSH FIRMS TO EYE REGIONS

ÂťBusinessB2

MEGAWORLD SETS 2019 CAPEX AT P65B

ÂťCorporate NewsB3

CHINA TRADE NEGOTIATOR ARRIVES IN US FOR TALKS

ÂťForeign BusinessB4

W S i n g a p o re 0 . 3 7 %

V Seoul 0.28%

V To k yo 0 . 0 8 %

W Jakarta 0.34%

W H o n g Ko n g 0 . 1 6 %

B2

W B a n g ko k 0 . 0 6 %

Infra investments to boost long-term PH growth – AIIB

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

P

HILIPPINE economic growth is expected to receive a long-term boost via the Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build� initiative, a senior Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) OFkCIAL SAID ON 4UESDAY “That’s clearly a very large scale and ambitious infrastructure pro-

gram in the Philippines. If you think about the key drivers of

growth, like trade, economic integration and the importance of becoming more sustainable in terms of climate change, all of those are driven by infrastructure investment,� AIIB Vice President Daniel Alexander told The Manila Times in an interview. “Actually what the Philippines is doing is very much in line with what we are looking at, you need to look longer term to support

US accuses Huawei of tech theft, fraud WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US Justice Department on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) unveiled sweeping charges against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei in two cases likely to ratchet up tensions between the two superpowers — including that of a top executive arrested in Canada on a US warrant.

The department unveiled 13 charges against Huawei Technologies, its chief kNANCIAL OFkCER -ENG 7ANZHOU ‡ THE daughter of the company’s founder who is currently out on bail in Canada ‡ AND TWO AFkLIATES RELATED TO VIOLATING US sanctions on Iran.

Meng’s case has sparked a major crisis between Beijing and Ottawa, which is accused of doing Washington’s bidding.

The indictment was unsealed as China’s top trade negotiator arrived in Washington for high-stakes talks with 53 OFkCIALS POSSIBLY COMPLICATING THE discussions ahead of a March deadline to avert a deepening of their trade war.

In addition, 10 US federal charges

FROM WHERE WE SIT

W

CURRENCY RATE

B1

WERE kLED AGAINST TWO (UAWEI AFkLIates for stealing robot technology from T-Mobile. “Both sets of charges expose Huawei’s brazen and persistent actions to exploit American companies and kNANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND TO THREATEN the free and fair global marketplace,� said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

China reacted furiously, saying there were “strong political manipulations� behind the case against Huawei.

In a statement sent to Agence FrancePresse, Huawei denied “that it or its SUBSIDIARY OR AFkLIATE HAVE COMMITTED any of the asserted violations of US law set forth in each of the indictments.�

4HE kRM gIS NOT AWARE OF ANY WRONGdoing by Ms Meng (Wanzhou), and believes the US courts will ultimately reach the same conclusion,� it added.

Extradition request Meng — who was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 at Washington’s request

long term growth,� he added.

The AIIB on Tuesday also released its “Asian Infrastructure Finance� report, which emphasizes the need for crossborder infrastructure, including links that promote trade, market integration and the distribution of green energy.

In the case of the Philippines, the report said infrastructure construction activity would likely increase on the

ÂłAIIB B2

Govt debt balloons to P7.292T in 2018

‡ IS EXPECTED TO kGHT EXTRADITION to the United States, amid heavy pressure on Canada from Beijing, whose subsequent detention of two Canadians is seen as an act of retaliation for Meng’s arrest.

Late Monday, Canada’s Justice Department confirmed that officials had received a formal extradition request from the US, reported Canadian broadcaster CBC, with a hearing set for February 6.

Ac t i n g U S At t o r ney General Matthew Whitaker said there was nothing in the indictment that alleged

NATIONAL government (NG) debt ballooned to P7.292 trillion last year, expanding by over P600 billion from 2017 due to higher domestic and foreign borrowings, the Bureau of the Treasury reported on Tuesday.

The end-2018 level was up by 9.6 percent or P640.07 billion compared to the prior year, with P97.48 billion added in December alone.

It was equivalent to 41.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which the Treasury stressed was lower than the programmed 42.1 percent and 42.1 percent posted a

³FraudB4 Q A woman laughs while using her smartphone outside a Huawei store in Beijing on Tuesday. AFP PHOTO

year ago. “The lower debt-to-GDP ratio is due to the moderate increment in debt as a result of prudent cash and debt management and steady economic growth,� it said.

Of the total debt stock, 34.50 percent was sourced externally while 65.50 percent was borrowed onshore.

Domestic borrowings totaling P4.776 trillion — up 1.5 percent from the previous month — accounted for the bulk of outstanding debt, while external debt rose by 1.2 percent to P2.515 trillion.

Outstanding domestic and foreign obligations the year before stood at P4.441 trillion and P2.211 trillion, respectively. “For the month, the rise in domestic debt level was due to the net issuance of government securities

ÂłBalloonsB4

Oil prices BIR nets P1.961T, misses 2018 target Lucio Co’s Puregold paper wealth equals P9.71B key risk to economic L growth PHILIPPINE growth will likely pick up this year, an economist said on Tuesday, but the country should watch out for oil price movements that could exacerbate the current account deficit. )N A BRIEkNG 3TANDARD #HARtered Bank economist Chidu Narayanan said that domestic consumption and rapid infrastructure investment growth were expected to drive 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 6.4 percent, up from last year’s 6.2 percent.

The forecast, however, falls BELOW THE OFkCIAL PERCENT target.

Last year’s expansion, which also fell short of the government’s downwardly revised 6.5-6.9 percent goal, has been blamed on

ÂłGrowth B4

LOWER-THAN-EXPECTED income, value-added and excise tax revenues caused the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to miss its 2018 collection target, legislators were told on Tuesday.

While the bureau netted P1.961 trillion last year, up 10.1 percent from a year earlier, the result fell short of the P2.043-trillion goal, BIR Assistant Commissioner Al-

fredo Misajon said during a House of Representatives ways and means committee hearing.

BIR data showed the biggest shortfalls came from the income, value-added (VAT) and excise tax components.

At P982.7 billion, income tax collections were 4.14 percent below the P1.024-trillion target for the year.

It should be noted that tax exemptions for those earning P250,000 were implemented last year under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. VAT collections of P358.27 billion, meanwhile, missed the full-year target of P435.88 billion by 17.8 percent.

Misajon attributed the shortfall

ÂłTarget B2

PSEi flat; Huawei raps dent sentiment THE stock market finished flat again on Tuesday, with hopes over upcoming US-China trade talks said to have been dampened by indictment of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. over alleged fraud and technology theft.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dipped by 0.04 percent or 3.10 points to close at 8,050.82. The wider All Shares inched up by 0.007 percent or 0.34 points to end at 4,856.72.

Eagle Equities Inc. research head

Christopher Mangun said the drop was in line other declines in the region following news that the US Justice department had charged Huawei with conspiring to steal technology and working to skirt sanctions against Iran.

Declines on Wall Street overnight did not help.

Regional results were mixed, with Tokyo up 0.08 percent and Seoul adding 0.28 percent.

Shanghai, however, declined 0.10 percent, Hong Kong dropped 0.24 percent and Singapore de-

creased 0.37 percent.

P2P Trade Online sales associate Gabriel Jose Perez advised investors to watch out how US markets perform “as this could dampen sentiment again [today].�

In Manila, sectoral results were mixed with the property and mining and oil indices the only losers.

More than 1.9 billion issues valued at P8.2 billion were traded.

Losers led winners, 124 to 86, while 33 issues were unchanged.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

UCIO Lao Co, chairman of the nine-person board of Puregold Price Club Inc. (PGold), owned a total of 211.088 million PGold common shares, or 7.633 percent of 2.765 billion outstanding common shares, according to a public ownership report (POR) as of Dec. 31, 2018. In addition to directly owning 69.884 million PGold common shares, or 2.527 percent, he also indirectly held 141.204 million PGold common shares, or 5.106 percent.

Puregold listed two individuals as principal/substantial stockholders, namely, Camille Clarisse P. Co, who owned 8.155 million PGold common shares, or 0.33 percent, according to the POR. The same POR showed Cosco Capital Inc., which 0UREGOLD SAID IS AN AFkLIATE AS DIRECT holder of 1.411 billion PGold common shares, or 51.02 percent.

As a listed stock, PGold’s POR listed its public stockholders as owner of 901.864 million PGold common shares or 32.61 percent.

Like other listed but not necessarily public companies, Puregold does not allow its public stockholders a directorship. Instead, it appointed two independent directors, who are Edgardo G. Lacson and Marilyn V. Pardo, according to the website of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

At P46 per PGold common share, Lucio L. Co had paper wealth of P9.71 billion while Cosco’s 1.411 billion PGold common shares were worth P64.9 billion.

Compensation Puregold, according to the company’s general information sheet

ÂłPerez B4

B2

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

PCC to cartel members: Come clean 4

BY TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

HE COUNTRY S ANTITRUST WATCHDOG CALLED ON cartel members to “come clean� and share information on anticompetitive agreements AMID ITS LAUNCH OF A WHISTLEBLOWER TYPE PROGRAM AT THE START OF THE YEAR “We urge current and former cartel members to turn their backs on anticompetitive agreements

such as price-fixing and bidrigging,� Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Chairman

Arsenio Balisacan said in a press BRIEkNG LAST WEEK Anti-competitive behaviors are prohibited under Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act. “The PCC will not hesitate to carry out its mandate under the Philippine Competition Act and bear down on those suspected of participating in cartel conduct.

We strongly urge cartel members

NCR land prices push BIR nets firms to eye regions

Q TARGET FROM B1

THE continued increase in Metro Manila property prices is helping to unlock the value of provincial areas.

At a news briefing organized by Lamudi Philippines in Makati City on Tuesday, Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) Philippines research and consultancy head Janlo delos Reyes said the increased land values in the National Capital Region (NCR) is pushing developers and the domestic market to locate in the provinces.

He cited as an example land values in the Manila Bay area, now pegged at P300,000 per square meter and at par with that of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and Makati City. “Everyone else is looking to achieve that kind of level for their (developers) next development,� delos Reyes said. “(But) the local market is unable to

keep up with that kind of pricing. So I think what’s happening is that some of them are being pushed towards the benches and locate in other areas,� where values are cheaper, he said.

Lamudi Philippines Chief Executive Officer Bhavna Suresh said the relocation to the provinces is good for the region. “It is good for us for the rest of the region. The only flipside there is that infrastructure needs to catch up,� she said.

In its latest report, global real estate services firm Colliers InternationalPhilippines said capital values as of the third quarter of 2018 continued to climb with average prices of prime threebedroom units in the secondary market ranging between P124,000 per sqm and P313,000 per sqm.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

to “reported decreases in revenues/ receipts from sale of goods and services.�

Excise tax collections, lastly, reached P290.64 billion, missing the P332.80-billion goal by 12.67 percent.

Some of reasons cited for lower total excise tax collections were

to come clean and disclose information to the PCC before the law’s long arm catches them,� he added.

Balisacan said a preliminary inquiry on possible bid-rigging of a major government project involving hundreds of millions of PESOS HAS COMMENCED 4HE kRST OF its kind, the motu proprio case investigates on a government project awarded in 2017. The parties in-

VOLVED AND THE SPECIkC AMOUNT FOR the said project were not disclosed amid the ongoing investigation. “We cannot offer any details,� Balisacan said, adding that entities proven guilty of “taking turns to win projects or manipulating bids� would be punished with 0 MILLION kNE AND IMPRISONment of up to seven years.

On January 19, PCC launched the Leniency Program to strength-

en the enforcement capacity of the commission through detection of anticompetitive agreements. PCC expects thr program to help them detect cartels and launch more cartel probes in the coming years.

As of now, PCC has received 162 queries and informal complaints on the matter. PCC has started 12 preliminary inquiries. Four were BASED ON VERIkED COMPLAINTS WHILE eight were initiated motu proprio.

the non-implementation of fuel marking, the sweetened beverage industry’s shift to ordinary sugar from high-fructose corn syrup, and a decline in automobile industry removals. “There’s a a lot of economic factors affecting the performance of our collection. One of which is HIGH INlATION u -ISAJON ADDED He noted that high prices had affected consumer consumption, which led businesses to declare lower sales.

“Some of them may go out of the business or some might have shifted to other kinds of non-tax consumption,� the BIR official added.

Still, Misajon is optimistic that slowing inflation will support business expansion going forward. g7ITH INlATION TAPERING OFF WE expect that business environment will continue to prosper,� he said.

Headline inflation averaged 5.2 percent last year, hitting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ fore-

cast but exceeding the 2.0-4.0 percent target.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay for his part said the bureau remained committed to achieving its 2019 collection target of P2.339 trillion. “Well, we’ll have to do everything to reach the target. We have PROGRAMS LIKE THE INTENSIkED AUDIT and we have to continue with our RATE (Run After Tax Evaders) program,� he added.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

see a role in helping our member countries in that, including the Philippines which we very much would like to be a long-term partner, that’s our philosophy,�

Alexander said The China-backed lender has so FAR kNANCED BILLION WORTH OF projects in 40 different countries.

In the Philippines, the AIIB comMITTED TO CO kNANCE THE kRST PHASE OF THE MILLION -ETRO -ANILA Flood Management Project along with the World Bank.

The government has asked the AIIB to fund three big-ticket infrastructure projects for possible kNANCING “So far, [those] projects have not gone through the approval process yet. The way it works is when the projects come to us they have to be assessed and appraised and then eventually they will go to our board of directors for approval. So far for the one project approved, we will continue to talk to the Department of Finance, we’ll be seeing them when I’m here to know about

how we can help with the program,� Alexander said.

He said the AIIB was also open TO kNANCING OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE projects in the country, including those in Mindanao. “From the bank’s point of view, the Philippines is a very important member of the AIIB, it has very strong infrastructure demand, we would very much like to more involved in the future and we stand ready to help in whatever way the Philippine government deems appropriate,� Alexander said. “We would look to the government to what are the priorities of AIIB activity here. We ourselves have to look in detail each project. We have to look into the kNANCIAL VIABILITY THE ECONOMIC BENEkTS AND TO LOOK AT THE ENVIronmental and social viability.

If all those are met, then we can consider any project from any member countries. If the Philippine government wants us to help in that [Mindanao] region then we could certainly consider that.�

Q AIIB FROM B1

Infra investments back of “Build Build Build.�

It said an increase in long-term kNANCING COSTS WAS ALSO EXPECTED IN THE NEXT MONTHS DUE TO INlAtion, but would not be sharp “owing to the strength of the economy and the fact that most infrastrucTURE kNANCING IS DENOMINATED IN local currencies.�

The report further said that the cost of construction was likely to increase due to demand from large-scale projects, projected DEPRECIATION OF THE PESO AND INlAtionary pressure. The AIIB’s report noted that the 2018 estimated construction cost was at P60,000 per meter. “Construction materials need to be imported, making costs vulnerable to peso’s depreciation, which the EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) projects will continue in 2019- driving input prices up and INCREASING INlATIONARY PRESSURE !T

P

the same time, structural factors such as high capacity utilization and a relatively tight labor market will continue to push up domestic prices,� the report states.

Alexander said that one of the conclusions of the report was that of determining the opportunities in investing in infrastructure. “There are huge economic opportunities for Asia in investing in infrastructure especially in promoting economic activity within the country and between countries and so even though maybe there are some short term risks in the economy, it is important that we continue to focus on opportunities of infrastructure to support growth over the longer term,� he said.

The AIIB, he continued, could help member countries like the Philippines deliver infrastructure programs. “From the AIIB point of view, we

Family enterprise: To infinity and beyond

ICTURE for a moment a Philippines without SM, Metrobank, the Aboitiz Group, and DMCI. Creating such a picture will probably take a lot more time and effort, because it is simply unimaginable to think of a Philippines without these powerful brands. You might even be thinking how crazy I am to conceive such an absurd idea. This thought springs from the passing of the people behind these brands in recent years. These brands are among the many owned and manAGED BY SOME OF THE MOST INlUential families in the Philippines.

A family-owned business may be DEkNED AS ANY BUSINESS IN WHICH two or more family members are involved and the majority of ownership or control lies within a family.

According to Harvard Business School, family firms account for two-thirds of all businesses around the world. The United States Bureau of the Census reports that about 90 percent of American businesses are familyowned or -controlled. In Southeast Asia, 65 percent of total listed companies in the region are family-owned. In the Philippines, 80 percent of businesses are family-owned and -controlled.

Family-owned companies continue to dominate the Philippine business landscape, according to a report by Credit Suisse Research Institute that showed the country ranking 11th globally in terms of THE NUMBER OF FAMILY RUN kRMS The inevitable departure by demise signals the changing of the guard in most family enterprises.

At least two of the large family enterprises in the Philippines are now on their sixth or later generation, yet majority of the top family businesses are still being currently controlled by the second generation. This brings me to my

FROM WHERE WE SIT

OBET CRUZ earlier point of powerful Philippine brands disappearing.

There is a famous Chinese saying that goes “Fu Pu Kuo San Tai,� which literally means “wealth does not pass three generations.�

Based on the Chinese saying, the first-generation founder works hard to build the business. The second generation inherits it and grows the family fortune, while the third generation squanders it and destroys the business. The Chinese saying actually makes a lot of sense, since the second generation business owners are actually siblings who lived in the same house and know each other very well. The third generation, on the other hand, is comprised of cousins who do not know each other as much.

A number of research studies support this Chinese saying. Recent worldwide research shows that the mean age of family control in the family’s core company is 60.2 years. In 2010, Businessweek said that less than half (40 percent) of family businesses survive to the second generation and 13 percent continue to the third generation, while only a shocking 3 percent survive to the fourth generation and beyond.

The odds are not good.

With these numbers, can we therefore say that, eventually, family enterprises will be eradicated from the face of the earth?

I say if others are able to surpass the third-generation hurdle, the rest can also do the same. A close examination of family enterprises that are able to survive beyond the third generation shows four best

practices: First is the presence of a strong family constitution. A family constitution is a formal document that sets out the rights, values, responsibilities, and rules applying to stakeholders in the family business, as well as provides plans and structures to deal with situations that arise in the course of the family business operations. It will take a lot of openness and humility for family members, especially for the founders, to spearhead the creation of a family constitution.

I have personally witnessed a founder who is already in his early 80’s, but still refuses to come up with some sort of succession plan.

The founder’s reluctance to plan for succession may stem from a denial of mortality, or the fact that the business is dear to his heart.

This reluctance may lead to the business not surviving.

Second, which is equally important as the family constitution, is for the founding family members to not only transfer their financial wealth, but also the values surrounding their wealth to subsequent generations. I have heard directly from a secondgeneration guy that his father told him to return his preowned high-end sports car to the country of origin, when he decided to bring his car from overseas after completing his education abroad.

According to his father, since they are in the business of clients trusting them with their money, they should live their lives in accordance with the trust accorded to them. Up until this time, this guy who already took over some of the major businesses of the family, still lives an unassuming life.

Other primary values that need to be taught include encouraging the next generation to earn their own money, philanthropy, charitable giving, and volunteering.

Third, successful family business leaders focus on the next generation, not on the next quarter. Leaders ensure that the next generation will have interest in the family business by exposing them to all facets of the business at a very young age. Earlier generations ensure that the next GENERATION IS QUALIkED TO ASSUME leadership roles in the family business by providing them topnotch education. They put family members in critical roles not only because of blood relation, but ALSO BECAUSE OF QUALIkCATIONS Fourth, the family must be willing to bring in professionals to leadership roles when necessary and at the appropriate time. We have heard of second-generation business owners retiring early to be able “to smell the roses.� They are able to do so, because they have allowed competent professional non-family members to occupy positions at the top early on.

We all want to leave a legacy behind or, to some extent, be immortal. Unfortunately, we cannot defy the laws of nature. It might sound morbid, but we will all die.

There are ways to be immortal: you write, invent something useful for humanity, or build a business and ensure it will last forever.

Forever does exist.

Obet Cruz is a Senior Managing Consultant of Advisory Services.

P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Outsourcing firms in the Philippines, with 21 Partners and over 900 staff members. We’d like to hear from you! Tweet us: @PAGrantThornton, like us on Facebook: P&A Grant Thornton, and email your comments to Obet.cruz@ph.gt.com or pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com. For more information, visit our Website: www.grantthornton.com.ph.

Corporate News Megaworld sets 2019 capex at P65B L ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

ISTED Megaworld Corp. is spending P65 billion this year to expand its residential AND OFkCE BUSINESSES

)N A DISCLOSURE ON 4UESDAY THE !NDREW 4AN LED PROPERTY DEVELoper said 80 percent of the capital EXPENDITURE CAPEX WOULD BE USED FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND THE REST FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

4HE BUDGET IS AN PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE 0 BILLION ALlocated last year. g7E ARE RAMPING UP OUR RESIDENtial properties in our portfolio this YEAR AS WE HAVE SEEN A REMARKABLE SPIKE IN RESIDENTIAL DEMAND ACROSS

our townships, both in Metro Manila and in the provinces,� Megaworld Executive Vice President and #HIEF 3TRATEGY /FkCER +EVIN 4AN said in the disclosure.

4HE COMPANY IS SET TO LAUNCH 28 new residential towers this year across its 23 townships that could potentially generate P90 billion IN SALES 4HESE INCLUDE 4HE -ACtan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, #EBU PROVINCE 4HE 5PPER %AST IN Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province; Iloilo Business Park in

Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district in Iloilo province; Southwoods City in Biùan City, Laguna province; and Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island, Aklan province. g,IKEWISE WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON CEMENTING OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE OFkCE CATEGORY BY LAUNCHING MORE OFFICE SPACES AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO OPENING MORE LIFESTYLE MALLS AS WE KEEP TRACK OF OUR goal towards P20-billion in rental REVENUES BY NEXT YEAR u 4AN ADDED 4HE PROPERTY DEVELOPER TARGETS

TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF ITS LEASABLE SPACES TO MILLION SQUARE METERS SQM BY YEAREND ALMOST 60 percent of which is expected TO COME FROM ITS OFkCE PORTFOLIO )T IT SET TO BUILD kVE NEW OFkCE PROJECTS IN 5PTOWN "ONIFACIO IN 4AGUIG #ITY #APITAL 4OWN IN THE #ITY OF 3AN &ERNANDO 0AMPANGA province; and Westside City in 0ARAĂ„AQUE #ITY COVERING

SQM OF GROSS LEASABLE AREA ',!

WHILE ANOTHER kVE WOULD BE COMPLETED WITH A ',! OF SQM

B3

Megaworld would also conSTRUCT MALLS AND kVE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WITHIN -C+INLEY (ILL IN 4AGUIG !RCOVIA #ITY IN 0ASIG #ITY

and Davao Park District in Davao #ITY 4HESE WILL ADD SQM OF ',! TO ITS PORTFOLIO “On our rental portfolio, we are ALLOCATING MOST OF OUR CAPEX IN THE COMPLETION OF NEW OFkCE AND LIFESTYLE MALL DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS OUR TOWNSHIPS u 4AN SAID Shares of Megaworld ended unCHANGED AT 0 APIECE ON 4UESDAY

AboitizPower Japanese airline firm to invest $95M in PAL to sell bonds worth P16.8B ,)34%$ !BOITIZ0OWER #ORP SAID ON 4UESDAY IT WOULD OFFER 0 BILLION WORTH OF kXED RATE RETAIL bonds up for sale later this year. )N A DISCLOSURE THE HOLDING COMPANY OF THE !BOITIZ 'ROUP S ENERGY INVESTMENTS SAID ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS approved the issuance of these bonds, which was expected to take place by the second half of 2019 and be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

0$%X DEPENDING ON MARKET CONDITIONS 4HE BOARD HAS ASSIGNED THE kRM S MANAGEMENT TO kNALIZE THE ISSUE AMOUNT OFFER PRICE INTEREST RATE

TENORS AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE ENTITIES THAT WILL MANAGE THE TRANSACTION 0ROCEEDS WILL BE EARMARKED FOR FINANCING gPLANNED ACQUISITIONS FUTURE INVESTMENTS AND OR OTHER CORPORATE REQUIREMENTS u IT SAID 4HIS PLANNED ISSUANCE IS THE THIRD TRANCHE OF !BOITIZ0OWER S 0 BILLION SHELF REGISTRATION PROGRAM WHICH THE 3ECURITIES AND %XCHANGE #OMMISSION APPROVED IN *UNE 4HE kRST TRANCHE WORTH 0 BILLION WAS ISSUED IN *ULY THE SECOND AMOUNTING TO 0 BILLION

was released in October 2018.

4HE 0HILIPPINE 2ATING 3ERVICES #ORP HAD RATED THE kXED RATE BONDS g023 !AAu WITH STABLE OUTLOOK 4HIS INDICATES THE COMPANY S STRONG CAPACITY TO FULkLL ITS kNANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND SIGNIkES THAT THE RATING IS LIKELY TO BE MAINTAIN IN THE NEXT MONTHS 3HARES OF !BOITIZ0OWER DROPPED BY CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 APIECE ON 4UESDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

JAPANESE firm ANA Holdings Inc. has signed a $95-million investment agreement with the operator of Philippine Airlines (PAL), more than a week after reports emerged that such a deal was imminent.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, PAL Holdings Inc. said the parent company of Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) would buy 9.5 percent of the former’s outstanding shares from Lucio Tan-owned Trustmark Holdings Corp., the flag carrier’s largest shareholder.

The investment’s completion is subject to certain closing condi-

tions, it added.

According to the PAL operator, the investment only showed ANA Holdings’ eagerness to fur ther expand its presence, and its bullishness about the Philippine aviation market.

The move “heralds the dawn of a new era of growth for PAL, which has embarked on a fullscale expansion program that has seen its fleet and network grow to almost 100 aircraft and 80 destinations in four continents,� it said. “We are honored and excited that a premier airline group such

Value

,!79%2 2AY %SPINOSA IS SET TO TAKE THE HELM OF THE -ANILA %LECTRIC #O -ERALCO IN -AY )N A DISCLOSURE ON 4UESDAY THE LISTed power giant said Espinosa would SUCCEED /SCAR 2EYES AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER #%/ ONCE THE latter left his posts on May 28.

4HE COMPANY S BOARD APPROVED %SPINOSA S APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY #%/ EFFECTIVE -ONDAY (E WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO 2EYES 2EYES JOINED -ERALCO IN *ULY

Chg

after serving as president of Pilipinas 3HELL 0ETROLEUM #ORP AND MANAGING director of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (E IS ALSO A DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF -ERALCO 0OWER'EN #ORP #)3 Bayad Center, Meralco Energy Inc., 2EDONDO 0ENINSULA %NERGY )NC AND 0ACIkC ,IGHT 0TE ,TD (E IS A BOARD MEMBER OF "ANK OF THE Philippine Islands, Manila Water Co., 0,$4 )NC 0EPSI #OLA 0RODUCTS 0HILIPpines Inc., Basic Energy Corp., Cosco

%Chg

PSEi

8,050.82

-3.1

Ĺş

All Shares

4,856.72

0.34

Ÿ

Financials

1,844.41

3.52

Ÿ

,QGXVWULDO

11,738.91

5.89

Ÿ

+ROGLQJ )LUPV

7,911.12

37.49

Ÿ

Services

1,611.84

0.3

Ÿ

0LQLQJ DQG 2LO

8,501.24

-18.58

Ĺş

3URSHUW\

3,953.53

-50.65

Ĺş

SERVICES

6WRFN LQGLFHV DV RI -DQXDU\

PSEi

said in the disclosure. The deal comes as the local carrier is marking its seventh decade of service to Japan this year. Currently, PAL has 84 weekly flights on nine routes to Japan, while ANA offers 14 weekly flights weekly on two routes to the Philippines.  Reports on PAL’s plan to have an investor for its global network and become a five-star operator by 2020 have emerged as early as 2017. PAL’s shares rose slightly by 92 centavos or 7.03 percent to end at P14 each on Tuesday.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

Espinosa to take helm of Meralco in May

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

as ANA HD has decided to purchase shares in PAL Holdings.

The Philippines and Japan have a long-standing relationship with complementary strengths,�

PAL Holdings and PAL President Jaime Bautista was quoted as saying in the filing. “Asia is a key growth market and we believe [that] Philippine Airlines is in an excellent operational position to capitalize on both the strong uptick in air traffic growth, as well as the vibrant, expanding Philippine economy,� ANA Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Shinya Katanozaka

ALL SHARES

MINING AND OIL

Capital Inc. and PXP Energy Corp.

2EYES FINISHED ECONOMICS AT THE !TENEO DE -ANILA 5NIVERSITY !D-5 AND COMPLETED HIS -ASTER IN "USINESS !DMINISTRATION DEGREE FROM THE !TENEO 'RADUATE 3CHOOL OF "USINESS Meanwhile, Espinosa, who heads -ERALCO S kNANCE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN 0,$4 S CHIEF CORPORATE SERVICES OFkCER SINCE $ECEMBER (E SITS AT THE BOARD OF 0,$4 -ETRO 0ACIkC )NVESTMENTS #ORP ,EPANTO #ONSOLIDATED -INING #ORP AND 2OXAS

(OLDINGS )NC %SPINOSA COMPLETED HIS "3 'ENERAL 3TUDIES AND LAW DEGREES AT !D-5 -ERALCO HOLDS THE LARGEST MARKET CAPITALIZATION AMONG LISTED UTILITY AND POWER COMPANIES )TS units are in the business of engineering and consulting, construcTION BILLS PAYMENTS AND OTHER electricity-related services.

3HARES OF -ERALCO LOST 0 OR PERCENT TO CLOSE AT 0 EACH ON 4UESDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

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

Security Name $\DOD /DQG ,QF 3UHPLHUH +RUL]RQ $OOLDQFH &RUSRUDWLRQ 60 3ULPH +ROGLQJV ,QF $\DOD &RUSRUDWLRQ %'2 8QLEDQN ,QF 60 ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RQWDLQHU 7HUPLQDO 6HUYLFHV ,QF -ROOLEHH )RRGV &RUSRUDWLRQ %DQN RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQH ,VODQGV &HPH[ +ROGLQJV 3KLOLSSLQHV ,QF 0HWUR 3DFLÂżF ,QYHVWPHQWV &RUSRUDWLRQ 0HWURSROLWDQ %DQN 7UXVW &RPSDQ\ -* 6XPPLW +ROGLQJV ,QF *7 &DSLWDO +ROGLQJV ,QF 3/'7 ,QF $ERLWL] (TXLW\ 9HQWXUHV ,QF 0HJDZRUOG &RUSRUDWLRQ 8QLYHUVDO 5RELQD &RUSRUDWLRQ 0DQLOD (OHFWULF &RPSDQ\ 7UDQVSDFLÂżF %URDGEDQG *URXS ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QF

Last Price 43.1 1.58 39.7 923 139.4 971 107.5 322 91 2.54 4.94 84 65 1,040.00 1,380.00 64 5.29 147 373.6 0.485

Chg -1.1 0.22 -0.25 -4 1.4 1 -1.1 5 -1.1 0.16 0.04 0.6 1.3 5 -5 1 0 -1 -1.4 0.02

%Chg -2.49% 16.18% -0.63% -0.43% 1.01% 0.10% -1.01% 1.58% -1.19% 6.72% 0.82% 0.72% 2.04% 0.48% -0.36% 1.59% 0% -0.68% -0.37% 4.30%

ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź ź Ÿ

Volume Value(P) 25,127,000.00 1,089,775,010.00 642,057,000.00 925,450,260.00 11,637,500.00 459,471,830.00 457,420.00 421,687,215.00 2,878,380.00 399,889,760.00 345,240.00 335,285,615.00 2,358,980.00 254,541,084.00 716,830.00 233,023,908.00 2,532,650.00 230,836,185.00 74,399,000.00 182,965,330.00 34,864,000.00 172,114,390.00 1,893,510.00 158,088,352.00 2,251,070.00 145,393,550.50 132,640 137,544,085.00 93,975 129,300,075.00 1,941,130 124,805,363.00 20,288,100 107,209,837.00 727,620 106,798,314.00 276,560 103,168,806.00 202,320,000 98,748,700.00

DPRXQWV LQ SHVR H[FHSW IRU YROXPH FKJ

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 Jan 22, 2019 Jan 21, 2019 Jan 18, 2019 Jan 17, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 Jan 15, 2019 Jan 14, 2019 Jan 11, 2019 Jan 10, 2019 Jan 9, 2019 Jan 8, 2019 Jan 7, 2019 Jan 4, 2019 Jan 3, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Dec 28, 2018 Dec 27, 2018 Dec 26, 2018 Dec 21, 2018 Dec 20, 2018 Dec 19, 2018 Dec 18, 2018 Dec 17, 2018 Dec 14, 2018 Dec 13, 2018

Open 8,087 8,071 8,076 8,001 7,941 8,024 8,055 7,932 7,866 7,983 8,009 7,886 7,965 7,932 7,775 7,820 7,801 7,657 7,507 7,497 7,497 7,465 7,437 7,537 7,514 7,412 7,478 7,501 7,506 7,514

High 8,087 8,144 8,116 8,068 7,990 8,030 8,067 8,058 7,938 7,991 8,028 8,024 7,965 7,992 7,920 7,826 7,901 7,802 7,681 7,540 7,507 7,514 7,453 7,548 7,584 7,580 7,482 7,538 7,559 7,556

Low 8,015 8,042 8,039 8,001 7,902 7,979 7,964 7,920 7,865 7,849 7,976 7,819 7,856 7,899 7,766 7,702 7,788 7,657 7,490 7,466 7,466 7,447 7,379 7,452 7,498 7,407 7,397 7,491 7,503 7,514

Close 8,051 8,054 8,053 8,065 7,990 8,009 8,007 8,047 7,927 7,865 8,013 8,024 7,904 7,985 7,920 7,702 7,788 7,761 7,681 7,489 7,466 7,483 7,450 7,480 7,563 7,580 7,420 7,520 7,524 7,523

CLOSE

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

Security Name 3UHPLHUH +RUL]RQ $OOLDQFH &RUSRUDWLRQ 3KLOLSSLQH %DQN RI &RPPXQLFDWLRQV +ROFLP 3KLOLSSLQHV ,QF /HSDQWR &RQVROLGDWHG 0LQLQJ &RPSDQ\ ³$´ 3$/ +ROGLQJV ,QF &HPH[ +ROGLQJV 3KLOLSSLQHV ,QF $QJOR 3KLOLSSLQH +ROGLQJV &RUSRUDWLRQ /HSDQWR &RQVROLGDWHG 0LQLQJ &RPSDQ\ ³%´ 67, (GXFDWLRQ 6\VWHPV +ROGLQJV ,QF 3KLOLSSLQH %XVLQHVV %DQN ;XUSDV ,QF 7UDQVSDFL¿F %URDGEDQG *URXS ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QF 0HWUR $OOLDQFH +ROGLQJV (TXLWLHV &RUS ³$´ ')11 ,QF :LOFRQ 'HSRW ,QF 37)& 5HGHYHORSPHQW &RUSRUDWLRQ 3KLOLSSLQH 6HYHQ &RUSRUDWLRQ ³&RPPRQ´ 05& $OOLHG ,QFRUSRUDWHG &LW\ODQG 'HYHORSPHQW &RUSRUDWLRQ &HQWXU\ 3URSHUWLHV *URXS ,QF

Volume 642,057,000.00 1,100.00 7,906,900.00 21,320,000.00 5,593,300.00 74,399,000.00 65,000.00 1,050,000.00 37,649,000.00 290,600.00 11,388,000.00 202,320,000 576,000.00 600.00 1,534,400.00 1,300.00 2,320.00 17,050,000.00 15,000.00 28,060,000.00

Value 925,450,260.00 23,295.00 63,651,212.00 2,668,920.00 80,875,496.00 182,965,330.00 50,670.00 135,250.00 29,825,550.00 3,805,708.00 15,347,840.00 98,748,700.00 1,218,450.00 4,374.00 20,801,532.00 68,043.00 280,592.00 7,302,800.00 13,110.00 13,407,100.00

Last Price 1.58 22.95 8 0.129 14 2.54 0.8 0.129 0.8 13.4 1.39 0.485 2.21 7.29 13.78 51.95 122 0.435 0.9 0.48

Chg 0.22 2.75 0.7 0.01 0.92 0.16 0.05 0.008 0.04 0.62 0.06 0.02 0.09 0.29 0.54 1.95 4.5 0.015 0.03 0.015

%Chg 16.18% 13.61% 9.59% 8.40% 7.03% 6.72% 6.67% 6.61% 5.26% 4.85% 4.51% 4.30% 4.25% 4.14% 4.08% 3.90% 3.83% 3.57% 3.45% 3.23%

DPRXQWV LQ SHVR H[FHSW IRU YROXPH FKJ

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

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

Security Name Vitarich Corporation The Philodrill Corporation 3DFL¿FD ,QF 7UDYHOOHUV ,QWHUQDWLRQDO +RWHO *URXS ,QF =HXV +ROGLQJV ,QF 3K 5HVRUWV *URXS +ROGLQJV ,QF $QJOR 3KLOLSSLQH +ROGLQJV &RUSRUDWLRQ $WRN %LJ :HGJH &RPSDQ\ ,QF ³$´ /HSDQWR &RQVROLGDWHG 0LQLQJ &RPSDQ\ ³%´ 3DO +ROGLQJV ,QF ')11 ,QF (DV\FDOO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 3KLOV ,QF /RSH] +ROGLQJV &RUSRUDWLRQ ABS-CBN Corporation 6XQWUXVW +RPH 'HYHORSHUV ,QF 3KLOLSSLQH %DQN RI &RPPXQLFDWLRQV &\EHU %D\ &RUSRUDWLRQ 3DQDVRQLF 0DQXIDFWXULQJ 3KLOLSSLQHV &RUSRUDWLRQ &LW\ /DQG 'HYHORSHUV ,QF 3HWURQ &RUS 3HUSHWXDO 3UHIHUUHG ³ ´ 6XEVHULHV ³ $´

DPRXQWV LQ SHVR H[FHSW IRU YROXPH FKJ

Volume 26,979,000 104,900,000 26,100,000 1,550,500 10,000 3,177,700 30,000 33,800 50,000 1,731,600 44,100 241,000 3,822,200 440,100 110,000 1,400 300,000 140,800 330,000 30

Value 52,649,470 1,258,800 1,036,500 8,547,081 2,120 20,795,061 22,750 462,808 6,050 22,747,160 308,988 3,807,188 20,448,827 10,752,290 77,100 28,360 114,500 842,646 257,970 28,890

Last Price 1.89 0.012 0.038 5.4 0.212 6.33 0.75 13.6 0.121 13.08 7 15.74 5.22 23.9 0.7 20.2 0.38 5.9 0.77 963

Chg -0.23 -0.001 -0.003 -0.41 -0.016 -0.47 -0.05 -0.9 -0.008 -0.86 -0.39 -0.86 -0.27 -1.05 -0.03 -0.8 -0.015 -0.23 -0.03 -36.5

%Chg -10.85% -7.69% -7.32% -7.06% -7.02% -6.91% -6.25% -6.21% -6.20% -6.17% -5.28% -5.18% -4.92% -4.21% -4.11% -3.81% -3.80% -3.75% -3.75% -3.65%

Foreign Business Huawei raps cause China trade negotiator Asia markets to fall arrives in US for talks B B4

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

EIJING: China’s top trade negotiator arrived in Washington as the world’s top two economies prepare for high-stakes trade TALKS #HINESE STATE MEDIA SAID 4UESDAY The large delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He and including the head of the central bank arrived Monday as a US Justice Department indictment against TOP #HINESE TECH kRM (UAWEI WAS unsealed, possibly complicating the discussions.

Beijing and Washington have a month remaining on a truce —

declared in December by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping — that delayed a hike in tariffs on hundreds of billions in Chinese exports economists say could further damage an already-faltering global economy.

Trump will meet with Liu during the two-day talks, which are slated TO OPEN 7EDNESDAY 53 OFkCIALS

said, as pressure mounts on both sides to reach a deal, with China in particular struggling with stuttering growth.

While there have been contradictory reports on the chances of success for the negotiations, global equities have been risen in recent weeks on hopes the two will reach some sort of deal.

China’s negotiating team includes central bank chief Yi Gang, Vice Finance Minister Liao Min and Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang, among other high level OFkCIALS OFkCIAL STATE NEWS AGENCY

Q GROWTH FROM B1

propel growth while the key downside risk is that of oil price movements.

Standard Chartered expects oil PRICES TO AVERAGE PER BARREL this year. “If oil prices rise up even more than we anticipated, then that would mean that the current acCOUNT WOULD SLIP TO BIGGER DEkCIT u

Narayanan warned.

At the moment, the bank expects THE CURRENT ACCOUNT DEkCIT TO NARROW to 1.3 percent of GDP this year from an estimated 1.5 percent last year.

The current account — a major component of the balance of payments — consists of transactions in goods, services, primary in-

come and secondary income, and measures the net transfer of real resources between the domestic economy and the rest of the world.

The shortfall as of end-September LAST YEAR REACHED BILLION A REVERSAL FROM THE MILLION SURPLUS seen in the comparable 2017 period.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

against the dollar was used for the latest data, down from November’s 0 4HE EXCHANGE RATE UTILIZED A YEAR EARLIER WAS 0 Meanwhile, “foreign exchange fluctuations on both dollar and third-currency denominated debt contributed the biggest increment to external debt amounting to P8.26 billion and P14.33 billion, respectively,

along with net availments on foreign loans which added P6.02 billion,� the Treasury said.

Government-guaranteed debt rose

by P15.787 billion or 3.3 percent to P487.586 billion from November and was up 2 percent from a year earlier.

The month-on-month increase, the Treasury said, was due to “the impact of currency fluctuations

on both dollar and third-currency denominated external guarantees amounting to P0.95 billion and P4.87 billion, respectively, while net availments on domestic guarantees added P11.40 billion which offset the effect of net repayments on external guarantees amounting to P1.43 billion.�

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Oil prices factors such as higher world oil PRICES AND ABOVE TARGET INlATION /N THE UPSIDE SIGNIkCANT INFRAstructure investments are expected to

Q BALLOONS FROM B1

Govt amounting to P68.79 billion and peso depreciation that increased the value of onshore dollar bonds by P0.08 billion,� the Treasury explained.

A foreign exchange rate of P52.56

Xinhua reported.

But the gathering comes days after the US Justice Department unveiled sweeping charges against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei AND ITS CHIEF kNANCIAL OFkCER -ENG Wanzhou -- also the daughter of the company’s founder.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Monday the indictments were “wholly separate from our trade negotiations with China.�

However, he added: “Commerce will continue to work with our interagency partners to protect US national security interests.� AFP

HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fell Tuesday as the charging of Chinese giant Huawei in the US cast a shadow over upcoming trade talks, while investors were also tracking a Wall Street selloff fuelled by CONCERNS OVER CORPORATE PROkTS A busy week across the globe got off to a nervous start Monday after industrial giant Caterpillar and chip company Nvidia projected worsethan-expected results for 2019, citing ongoing weakness in China.

The announcements from two of Wall Street’s big-hitters follow similar warnings from Apple and Samsung and sent shudders THROUGH TRADING lOORS “Caterpillar and Nvidia are NOT THE kRST COMPANIES TO BLAME China for their afflictions, but both companies are seen as industry bellwethers and their disappointing results provide further evidence that this time China’s slowdown is for real,� said Rodrigo Catril, senior markets strategist at Australia National Bank.

The warnings come as Beijing struggles to kickstart the world’s number two economy, which expanded last year at its slowest pace for almost three decades, with a mammoth debt mountain and the US trade war hampering efforts.

However, while the majority of Asian markets fell Tuesday they did pare their losses and some even edged into positive territory.

Hong Kong was down 0.3 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai shed 0.1 percent while Sydney fell 0.5 percent and Singapore gave

Q FRAUD FROM B1

US accuses Chinese government involvement in either case.

(OWEVER HE ADDED g!S ) TOLD #HINESE OFkcials in August, China must hold its citizens and Chinese companies accountable for complying with the law.�

The Chinese foreign ministry accused Washington of using “state power to discredit and CRACK DOWN ON SPECIkC #HINESE COMPANIES IN an attempt to strangle the enterprises’ legitimate and legal operations�. “There are strong political motivations and political manipulations behind the actions,� ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement, urging Washington to stop “the unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies including Huawei.�

4HE BROADER ALLEGATIONS AGAINST -ENG kLED in federal court in New York, had already been revealed in general terms by Canadian authorities.

They allege that between 2007 and 2017, Meng, Huawei and the subsidiaries sought to mask their business with Iran in violation of US and UN sanctions on the country.

Meng in particular “repeatedly lied� to bankers about the relationships between the compaNIES ESPECIALLY WITH 3KYCOM A (UAWEI AFkLIATE in Iran, according to the charges.

That violated US laws, the Justice Department said, because the Iran business involved US-dollar transactions processed by banks

Q PEREZ FROM B1

Lucio Co’s

up 0.3 percent.

Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta rose but Tokyo and Seoul closed with minor gains.

The main focus of attention this week is on the two-day meeting BETWEEN #HINA AND 53 OFkCIALS aimed at resolving the long-running trade war that has been a drag on equities.

Donald Trump will meet China’s top economy envoy Liu He during the talks, which start Wednesday, while US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he EXPECTED gSIGNIkCANT PROGRESS AT these meetings�.

However, the negotiations will begin under a cloud after the US Justice Department announced criminal charges against Chinese telecom titan Huawei and two afkLIATES ON A NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGY theft counts as well as fraud related to Iran sanctions violations.

4HE kRM S CHIEF kNANCIAL OFkCER Meng Wanzhou, who has been held in Canada for weeks, was also charged and faces extradition to the US. Huawei described the charges as “disappointing� and denied any guilt, while China’s foreign ministry hit out at the “political motivations and political manipulations behind the actions�.

While the US has played down THE SIGNIkCANCE OF THE (UAWEI ROW with regard to the talks, it ratcheted up the pressure ahead of the meeting, and comes just over a month before the end of a 90-day deadline set between Trump and Xi Jinping on reaching a trade deal.

AFP

through the United States.

(UAWEI AND THE AFkLIATES ALSO LIED TO 53 AUthorities, obstructing the investigation, they said.

Beijing renewed its demand for the US to drop its warrant against Meng and for Canada to release her.

‘Bonuses for stealing tech secrets’ The second case charged that Huawei made a concerted effort to steal technology related to a phone-testing robot dubbed Tappy from a T-Mobile USA lab in Washington state.

Engineers of Huawei — which was supplying T-Mobile with phones — took pictures and made measurements of parts of the robot, “even stealing a piece of it,� said Whitaker.

The Justice Department charged that the Chinese company had, in July 2013, offered bonuses to employees “based on the value of information they stole from other companies around the world, and provided to Huawei via an encrypted email address.�

The indictments came as Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington on Monday to lead trade talks this week, according to Chinese state media.

Speaking together with Justice Department ofkCIALS ANNOUNCING THE INDICTMENTS 53 3ECRETARY of Commerce Wilbur Ross said they were “wholly separate from our trade negotiations with China.�

However, he added: “Commerce will continue to work with our interagency partners to protect US national security interests.� AFP

Due Diligencer’s take “Lucio L. Co and Vice chairman Susan P. Co are husband and wife and the parents of Ferdinand Vincent P. Co, president, and Pamela Justine P. Co.�

4HIS WAS HOW 0UREGOLD EXPLAINED IN A kLING the relationship among the company’s nine directors. No one is about to argue against the disclosure. After all, the Cos own Puregold.

What the Cos and other majority owners of listed companies either forgot to disclose is why THEY FAILED TO SEPARATE gPARENT ONLY g kNANCIAL kLING In other words, the public investors also have the right to know which amount of the retained earnings belongs to the one that sold them common shares. !S CONSOLIDATED A kNANCIAL kLING WHETHER audited annual reports or unaudited quarterly kNANCIALS WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR THE PUBLIC INVESTORS )T PAYS FOR A kNANCIAL kLING TO BE as detailed as possible. The public investors would have to go to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for them to learn about the non-listed subsidiaries of listed companies.

The public investors are responsible in making stock corporations, which are mostly owned and controlled by the very rich families also listed.

Being listed, these companies’ majority stockholders are able to save taxes due the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Why don’t they and their ownERS kLE THEIR AUDITED AND NON AUDITED QUARTERLY reports in non-consolidated form? Just asking.

(GIS), paid its nine-person board P15.485 million in 2016. This means each director received P1.72-million compensation for the year. )N THE SAME kLING IT SAID IT HAD TOTAL MANpower complement of 5,700 divided into 2,597 OFkCERS AND RANK AND kLE EMPLOYEES 4RANSLATED TO RATIO EACH OF THESE OFkCERS HAS WORKING UNDER HIM HER RANK AND kLE workers.

(ERE ARE MORE PERCENTAGES OFkCERS represent 45.561 percent of the 5,700 manPOWER COMPLEMENT AND RANK AND kLE employees make up 54.439 percent.

In a definitive information statement $)3 0UREGOLD REPORTED kVE MOST HIGHLY compensated executives. As owners, Lucio, Susan, and their son, Ferdinand Vincent, WERE AMONG THE kVE EXECUTIVES WHO RECEIVED P14.64 million in 2018; and P14.5 million in 2017 and 2016.

4HE SAME $)3 SHOWED gALL OTHER OFkCERS AND directors as a group unnamed�, got P135.415 million in 2018; P91.012 million in 2017; and 82.734 million in 2016.

4HE COMPENSATION kLING SAID ALL THE AMOUNTS were salaries as Puregold does not have any entry under “bonus and other compensation.�

As “standard arrangements�, Puregood said “all directors receive per diem of P50,000 per board meeting and P20,000 per committee meeting.� esdperez@gmail.com

Classified Ads

advertising@manilatimes.net 524-5664 local 121, 3105895 and 3105582

NOTICE

w w w.manilatimes.net

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FRANCISCO JUAN B. MANGAHAS was the subject of an Amended Affidavit of Self-Adjudication executed by his sole heir, Cayetano P. Mangahas, on January 9, 2019 and acknowledged as Doc. No. 84 on Page No. 17 RI %RRN 1R ;, 6HULHV RI 2019 before Atty. Camilo B. Cabero, Jr., a notary public for and in the City of Manila.

All persons having claims against said Corporation are requested to SUHVHQW WKH VDPH DW $ 0RODYH 6W %DUDQJD\ 4XLULQR $ 3URMHFW 4XH]RQ &LW\ IRU LPPHGLDWH VHWWOHPHQW This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

(SGD.) DARLYN A. DY Corporate Secretary 07 Âą -DQ )HE

07 -DQ

Republic of the Philippines City Government of Ormoc 2nd/F New Ormoc City Hall Bldg., Ormoc City 7H

/RFDO INVITATION TO BID The City Government of Ormoc, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project.

Project Ref. No.: Name of Project:

03-PR#190068 – 5970663 Design, Supply and Delivery of LED Lighting of Ormoc City Oval at Ormoc City Central School, Ormoc City Location: Department of Education, Ormoc City Brief Description of the Project: 6SHFV /(' )ORRGOLJKW :DWWV 1HXWUDO white 400K Narrow Beam 108,000 Lumens, Aluminum ([WUXGHG +RXVLQJ 3RO\FDUERQDWH &RYHU ,3 DQG ,. 3URWHFWLRQ ZLWK &( DQG RWKHU &HUWL¿FDWHV HWF Approved Budget For the Contract: 14,000,000.00 CY-2019-Special Education Fund (SEF) Contract Duration: Delivery Period: FDOHQGDU GD\V Prospective bidders must have an experience of having completed a VLPLODU SURMHFW ZLWKLQ WKH ODVW \HDUV ZLWK DQ DPRXQW RI DW OHDVW RI WKH $%& RU IRU H[SHQGDEOH VXSSOLHV DW OHDVW RI WKH $%& 7KH GHVFULSWLRQ of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding SURFHGXUHV XVLQJ D QRQ GLVFUHWLRQDU\ SDVV IDLO FULWHULRQ DV VSHFL¿HG in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 5$ RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV WKH ³*RYHUQPHQW 3URFXUHPHQW 5HIRUP $FW ´ ,W LV DOVR UHVWULFWHG WR )LOLSLQR FLWL]HQV VROH SURSULHWRUVKLSV SDUWQHUVKLSV RU RUJDQL]DWLRQV ZLWK DW OHDVW VL[W\ SHUFHQW LQWHUHVW RU RXWVWDQGLQJ FDSLWDO VKDUH EHORQJLQJ WR FLWL]HQV RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS NEGROS ORIENTAL 1st DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE VII Tinaogan, Bindoy, Negros Oriental

Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of MIRACLES GREAT DELIGHT BEANERY CORPORATION (MGDBC) shortening the term of its existence up to December 10, 2017 thereby dissolving the said corporation on the said date has been approved by the Board of Directors and Stockholders.

ACTIVITIES Schedules Issuance and Wednesday, January 23, Tuesday, February Availability of Bid- 2019 12, 2019 @ 9:30 a.m. ding Documents Pre-Bid ConferThursday, January 31, 2019 @ 2:00 o’clock P.M. ence Deadline for SubTuesday, February 12, 2019 & 10:00 o’clock A.M. mission & Receipt of Bids Opening of Bids Tuesday, February 12, 2019 @ 2:00 o’clock P.M.

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents to interested ELGGHUV RU WKHLU GXO\ DXWKRUL]HG UHSUHVHQWDWLYH DW WKH %$& 2I¿FH 2/F New Ormoc City Hall Building, Ormoc City, upon presentation of SURSHU LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ 6SHFLDO 3RZHU RI $WWRUQH\ 63$ IRU DXWKRUL]HG representative and upon payment of a non refundable fee in the amount RI 7ZHQW\ )LYH 7KRXVDQG 3HVRV 2QO\ 3 WR WKH &LW\ 7UHDVXUHUœV 2I¿FH 2UPRF &LW\ Pre-bid conference shall be open to all interested prospective ELGGHUV RU WKHLU GXO\ DXWKRUL]HG UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV %LGV ZLOO EH RSHQHG LQ the presence of bidder’s representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The City Government of Ormoc reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, to annul the bidding process, to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

INVITATION TO BID (RE-BID) A.

The DPWH, Negros Oriental 1 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH 7LQDRJDQ %LQGR\ 1HJURV Oriental now invites contractors to apply to bid for the contract(s);

1.

Contract ID # Contract Name

st

19Hl0021 Asset Preservation -Rehabilitation/ Reconstruction/ Upgrading of Damaged Paved Roads - Tertiary RoadsGuihulngan-Baloc-Isabela Rd. Location Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental 1st LD Limits Section 1: K0119+017-K0119+499 Scope of Works Provision of 4x4 Pick Up Type Service Vehicle for the Engineer on Bare Rental Basis; Operation and Maintenance of 4x4 Pick Up Type Service for the Engineer; Provision of Furniture/Furnitures, Equipment $SSOLDQFHV IRU WKH )LHOG 2IÂżFH IRU WKH (QJLQHHU Project Billboard/ Signboard; Occupational Safety and +HDOWK 3URJUDP 7UDIÂżF 0DQDJHPHQW 0RELOL]DWLRQ DQG 'HPRELOL]DWLRQ ,QGLYLGXDO 5HPRYDO RI 7UHHV PP 300mm) small each; Removal of Actual Structures/ Obstruction (0.20 m) PCCP ; Surplus Common Excavation; Structure Excavation(Common Soil); Embankment from borrow; Aggregate Base Course; Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (Unreinforced) (Plain, t = 230 mm.); Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (Unreinforced) (Plain, t = 280 mm.); Reinforcing Steel Bar, Grade 40 Minor Structures); Structural Concrete, Class A, 28 days; Pipe Culverts PP &ODVV ,, 6WRQH 0DVRQU\ 5HĂ&#x20AC;HFWRUL]HG 7KHUPRSODVWLF 3DYHPHQW 0DUNLQJ :KLWH 5HĂ&#x20AC;HFWRUL]HG 7KHUPRSODVWLF 3DYHPHQW 0DUNLQJ <HOORZ +D]DUG 0DUNHUV PP ; PP 6WUXFWXUH ([FDYDWLRQ (Common Soil); Structural Concrete(Class A, 28 days); Reinforcing Steel Bar(Deformed), Grade 40; Carpentry DQG -RLQHU\ :RUNV &RUUXJDWHG 0HWDO 5RRÂżQJ 3DLQWLQJ Works (Masonry/Concrete); CHB Non load Bearing (Including Reinforcing steel)(l00mm).

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) P 18,228,000.00 Duration 139 CD &RVW RI %LGGLQJ 'RFXPHQWV 3

The BAC is conducting the public bidding for this Contract in accordance with RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The schedule of key procurement activities for this Contract is shown below: Activity 1. Issuance/ Downloading of Bidding Documents

Time January 24, 2019 (February 12, 2019 until 1:00 p.m.)

2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipt by the BAC of Bids 4. Opening of Bids

January 31, 2019 @ 10:00 a.m.

February 12, 2019@ 1:29 p.m.

February 12, 2019@ 1:30 p.m.

Place Hard copies at BAC Secretariat, DPWH, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. Downloading from DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph PhilGEPs www.philgeps.gov.ph DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or. DPWH Bidding Hall, Neg. Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or.

Bidders shall pay the BAC for the Bidding Documents, upon securing hard copies of the Documents. Bidders who downloaded the Documents from the DPWH website shall pay the fee upon submission of their bids.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Negros Oriental 1st District Engineering 2I¿FH UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR DFFHSW RU UHMHFW DQ\ ELG DQG WR DQQXO WKH ELGGLQJ SURFHVV DQ\ time before the Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders in accordance with the provisions of Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR. ,I DW WKH WLPH RI WKH SRVW TXDOL¿FDWLRQ SURFHGXUH WKH %$& YHUL¿HV WKDW DQ\ RI WKH GH¿FLHQFLHV LV GXH WR WKH FRQWUDFWRUœV IDXOW RU QHJOLJHQFH SXUVXDQW WR E LL F RI WKH 5HYLVHG ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 5XOHV DQG 5HJXODWLRQV RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R 5,55 RI 5$ WKH procuring shall disqualify the contractor from the award without any right to reimburse fees and incidental cost for the procurement of infrastructure contract subject of the Bid. ,I WKH JURXQG IRU SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ LV EDVHG RQ DERYH UHTXLUHPHQWV WKH FRQFHUQ %$& VKDOO LVVXH D QRWLFH RI SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ WR WKH ELGGHU ZLWK D VWDWHPHQW WKDW ³WKH '3:+ shall not qualify your bid for any of each project until and/or unless the reason for your SRVW GLVTXDOL¿FDWLRQ ZDV DOUHDG\ FOHDUHG E\ WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH´ 8SRQ SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI UHTXLUHG GRFXPHQWDU\ HYLGHQFH WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH VKDOO LVVXH D FHUWL¿FDWLRQ LI WKH FRQWUDFWRU KDV DOUHDG\ HOLPLQDWHG WKH QHJDWLYH VOLSSDJHV DQG RWKHU GH¿FLHQFLHV +RZHYHU QRWKLQJ KHUHLQ VKDOO GHOD\ WKH SURFXUHPHQW SURFHVV RI WKH FRQFHUQ ,PSOHPHQWLQJ 2I¿FH LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK SHULRGV SURYLGHG XQGHU 5,55 RI 5$ Any request for additional information concerning this bidding shall be directed to the following: BAC Chairman: BENILDA V. BANQUE Address: DPWH, Negros Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or.

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019 HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, 4XH]RQ $YHQXH 4XH]RQ &LW\ NOTICE Notice is hereby given that SM PRIME HOLDINGS, INC. (Owner/ 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units of SAIL RESIDENCES located at Sunrise Drive, CBP1A, MOA Complex, Pasay City, VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW 1R % 3VG 7&7 1R ZLWK D WRWDO DUHD RI 22,000.00 square meters.

7KH IRUHJRLQJ SURMHFW LV XWLOL]LQJ lots/units in a BALAI FILIPINO HOUSING PROJECT located at Brgy. Lasang, Davao City, owned by Local Government of Davao and to be developed by SMDC, SM Prime +ROGLQJV ,QF 67 5HVRXUFHV Corporation, 102 E. Delos Santos Realty Co. Inc., Metro South Davao Property Corporation and Prime Metro Estate, Inc, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.10884.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication.

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital 5HJLRQ )LHOG 2IÂżFH th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, 4XH]RQ $YHQXH 4XH]RQ &LW\ NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ROBINSONS LAND CORPORATION (owner/ GHYHORSHU KDYH ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots and units at THE SAPPHIRE BLOC (East and South) Towers located at Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Garnet and Onyx Roads, Pasig City, VSHFLÂżFDOO\ GHVFULEHG DV /RW %ORFN 3VG DG /RWV % & DQG ' 3VG and covered by TCT Nos. 0112012001003, TCT No. 011 and 011-2011001139 with a total area of 8,421 square meters.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ HYLGHQFH WKHUHRI shall forthwith be issued after ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH ODVW GD\ of publication.

4XH]RQ &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD -$1 17, 2019

4XH]RQ &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD JAN. 17, 2019

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU LQ &KDUJH

(SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU LQ &KDUJH

M.T.-January 23 & 30, 2019

B5

HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Expanded National Capital Region )LHOG 2IÂżFH th Floor, Sunnymede IT Center, 4XH]RQ $YHQXH 4XH]RQ &LW\ NOTICE Notice is hereby given that SUNWEALTH LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 2ZQHU 'HYHORSHU KDV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKLV Board for the sale of condominium units at CONGRESSIONAL TOWN CENTER-TOWERS 1 AND 2 located at 23 Congressional Ave., %UJ\ %DKD\ 7RUR 4XH]RQ &LW\ as described by Lot Nos. 1 to 7, 3FV ( FRYHUHG E\ 7&7 1RV WR UHVSHFWLYHO\ DQG Lot 832-A 1 and Lot 832-A 1, Psd007404-024888-D covered by TCT 1RV DQG KDYLQJ D WRWDO DUHD RI VTXDUH PHWHUV 7KH IRUHJRLQJ SURMHFW LV XWLOL]LQJ WKH Participation Through Investment/ ,QFHQWLYL]HG &RPSOLDQFH E\ depositing the amount of Five Million Two Hundred Nineteen Thousand Two Hundred Forty Five and Forty 7ZR &HQWDYRV 3KS

in a Trust Account No. 001-03 XQGHU (VFURZ $JUHHPHQW executed on 19 November 2018 between the HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, SUNWEALTH LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, and ASIA UNITED BANK, as its compliance pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279, as amended

by Republic Act No.10884.

All papers relative thereto shall upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed UHJLVWHUHG DQG D FHUWLÂżFDWH LQ evidence thereof, shall forthwith be LVVXHG DIWHU ÂżYH GD\V IURP WKH last day of publication.

4XH]RQ &LW\ 0HWUR 0DQLOD -$1 14, 2019 (SGD) ATTY. NORMAN JACINTO P. DORAL 2IÂżFHU LQ &KDUJH

M.T.-January 23 & 30, 2019

M.T.-January 23 & 30, 2019

Republic of the Philippines Pasay City Metro Manila OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR INVITATION TO SUBMIT SEALED PROPOSAL ISSP# 2019-01 â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Is, Where Is Basisâ&#x20AC;?

DISPOSAL OF UNSERVICEABLE PROPERTIES The Pasay City Government through its Disposal Committee invites interested parties to submit sealed proposal for the auction of the following unserviceable properties as indicated in the approved Inventory and Inspection Report of Unserviceable Property (IIRUP): IIRUP Number Particulars Location 2018-10-018 Unserviceable Equipment GSO Storage at Pasay City Sports Complex and Salvageable and Guarded vacant lot of Pasay City Materials Government at Macapagal Blvd., near Mall of Asia, Pasay City 2018-10-019 Unserviceable Motor Guarded vacant lot of Pasay City Vehicles Government at Macapagal Blvd., near Mall of Asia, Pasay City 2018-11-021 Unserviceable Equipment Storage room at DepEd, Pasay City Division 2018-12-023 Unserviceable Equipment GSO Storage at Pasay City Sports Complex and DoĂąa Nena Health Center Minimum Bid Offer P 166,341.82 Sealed proposal shall be submitted to the Chairman, Disposal Committee c/o Atty. Dennis %HUQDUG 1 $FRUGD &LW\ $GPLQLVWUDWRU 3OHDVH DWWDFK FHUWLÂżHG WUXH FRS\ RI YDOLG %XVLQHVV Permit, DTI Registration/SEC Registration and Special Power of Attorney (SPA)/Secretary &HUWLÂżFDWH IRU DXWKRUL]HG UHSUHVHQWDWLYH LI DSSOLFDEOH 'HDGOLQH IRU WKH VXEPLVVLRQ RI sealed proposal and opening thereof shall be on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 10:00AM DW WKH FRQIHUHQFH URRP 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ $GPLQLVWUDWRU URRP QG Ă&#x20AC;RRU Pasay City Hall Building. All bids must be accompanied by a Bidderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bond equivalent to RI WKH WRWDO DPRXQW RI WKH ELG RIIHU DQG WKH GLIIHUHQFH WKHUHRI VKDOO EH SDLG LQ IXOO LQ the form of cash, cashierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s check, or managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s check issued by a reputable bank within 3 working days upon receipt of the Notice of Award. &ODLPV VKDOO EH PDGH DIWHU WKH ELG SULFH LV IXOO\ SDLG DV HYLGHQFHG E\ DQ 2IÂżFLDO 5HFHLSW DQG VKDOO EH PDGH GXULQJ RIÂżFLDO JRYHUQPHQW ZRUNLQJ KRXUV ZLWK UHSUHVHQWDWLYH IURP WKH *HQHUDO 6HUYLFHV 2IÂżFH ZLWKLQ WKUHH ZRUNLQJ GD\V XSRQ UHFHLSW RI WKH 1RWLFH WR 3URFHHG Bid documents may be obtained starting on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the General 6HUYLFHV 2IÂżFH 5RRP *) 3DVD\ &LW\ +DOO IURP DP WR SP XSRQ SD\PHQW RI D IHH RI 3 SHU SDJH DQG SHU SKRWRFRS\ RU DV SHU &LW\ 2UGLQDQFH 1R 6HULHV RI 6HFWLRQ &KDSWHU RI 3DVD\ &LW\ 5HYHQXH &RGH Inspection of the properties for auction is scheduled on February 7 and 8, 2019 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM only ZLWK UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV IURP *HQHUDO 6HUYLFHV 2IÂżFH

BAC Secretariat Head: NILO E. MATUOG Address: DPWH, Negros Or. 1st DEO, Tinaogan, Bindoy, Neg. Or,

The Committee reserves the right to cancel or postpone the date of auction without offering any reason thereof for the advantage of the City Government.

(SGD.) ATTY. DENNIS BERNARD N. ACORDA City Administrator

Approved by: MT - Jan. 30, 31 & Feb. 1, 2019

(SGD.) BENILDA V. BANQUE BAC Chairman Approved by:

WARNING TO THE PUBLIC

(SGD.) JOEL MELCHOR R. BOCO OIC-District Engineer MT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jan. 30, 2019

APPROVED: (SGD.) VINCENT L. EMNAS BAC Chairman MT - Jan. 30, 2019

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.

The Manila Times DOES NOT ask for money to stop news articles from being published. This paper does not condone any form of blackmail.

For subscription, please call the Circulation Department at 524-5664 local 222 or 310-5584 or email circulation@manilatimes. net ----------------------------To a d v e r t i s e , e m a i l u s a t advertising@manilatimes. net or call 524-5664 local 121

World US, Kabul draft deal for peace talks K B6

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

ABUL: The US and the Taliban had drafted the framework of a deal which could pave the way for peace talks with Kabul, Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main negotiator was quoted as saying Monday, but major hurdles INCLUDING A CEASEkRE AND A WITHDRAWAL OF foreign forces remain.

The comments by special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to the New York Times are the clearest signal YET FROM A 53 OFkCIAL THAT TALKS between Washington and the militants are progressing, igniting hopes of a breakthrough in the GRINDING YEAR CONlICT Khalilzad has been leading a months-long diplomatic push to convince the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government, but the militants have steadfastly refused, dismissing authorities in Kabul as â&#x20AC;&#x153;puppets.â&#x20AC;?

4HE lURRY OF ACTIVITY CULMINATED in an unprecedented six straight days of talks in Qatar last week, with both the US and the Taliban citing progress over the weekend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a draft of the frameWORK THAT HAS TO BE lESHED OUT before it becomes an agreement,â&#x20AC;?

Khalilzad, who arrived in Kabul

Sunday to update Afghan authorities on the talks, was quoted as saying by the Times.

He told Afghan media that Washington and the insurgents had â&#x20AC;&#x153;agreed to agreements in principle on a couple of very important issuesâ&#x20AC;?, and said Afghans must â&#x20AC;&#x153;seize the opportunity,â&#x20AC;? according to comments released by the US embassy in Kabul.

Experts quickly hailed the development as a milestone, noting it indicated willingness on both sides TO kND A WAY OUT OF THE CONlICT Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan described the talks as â&#x20AC;&#x153;encouragingâ&#x20AC;?.

However, there is still no accord on a timetable for a US withdrawal OR A CEASEkRE Â&#x2021; MAJOR ISSUES ON which previous attempts at negotiations have foundered.

On Saturday Taliban spokesman

Zabihullah Mujahid said that without a withdrawal timetable, progress on other issues is â&#x20AC;&#x153;impossible.â&#x20AC;? +HALILZAD CONkRMED THE 4ALIban had acceded on one major issue for the US: safe havens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals,â&#x20AC;? he told the Times.

He gave no further details, but the statement gave weight to reports last week that the Taliban had agreed to oppose Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group in Afghanistan.

The US invasion of 2001 was driven by the Talibanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harbouring of Al Qaeda, but more than 17 years later the jihadist group appears diminished in the region.

Islamic State, however, is a growing and potent presence in Afghanistan, where it is fighting a fierce turf war with the Taliban in some areas.

Analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington, DC said such a move had long been a major ask of the US,

PEACEMAKERS

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (center) talks with US Special Representative for Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad (top left) during a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul. AFP PHOTO but noted it was more of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;conciliatory gestureâ&#x20AC;? than a concession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Taliban has never been a friend of ISIS (Islamic State), and Al-Qaeda has become a shadow of its former self,â&#x20AC;? he told AFP. E ve n so â&#x20AC;&#x153;it signals, at least at

this point, that the insurgents are willing to negotiate in good faith and agree to a key US demand.â&#x20AC;?

Afghan authorities have warned that any deal between the US and the Taliban would require Kabulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endorsement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I call on the Tali-

ban to... show their Afghan will, and accept Afghansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; demand for peace, and enter serious talks with the Afghan government,â&#x20AC;? President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised address Monday.

US President Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear eagerness to end Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest war has also weighed heavy on the discussions, and Ghani warned against rushing into a deal, citing violence following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

AFP

14 terror suspects face death penalty in India GUWAHATI, India:Â Fourteen militants from an armed separatist group were found guilty Monday of orchestrating a coordinated bomb attack in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northeast in 2008 that killed 88 people and wounded hundreds more.

The accused were charged with multiple murder and explosives offences by a special court in restive Assam State, where eleven bombs were detonated in quick succession in October 2008 in one of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst militant attacks.

At least 500 people were injured in the attack by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, one of dozens of armed groups in Assam waging an insurgency against New Delhi.

The militants will be sentenced on Wednesday and may face death penalty for the attack.

Investigators have named 22 accused in the bombing, but just 15 were tracked down to face a years-long trial involving hundreds of witnesses in Guwahati, the state capital.

Ranjan Daimary, the chief of the Bodoland

separatists, was among the 14 convicted on Monday. One of the accused was acquitted.

N.S. Yadav, a chief officer from Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Central Bureau of Investigations, said hundreds of witnesses had helped build a detailed and lengthy case against the accused.

Daimary fled into Bangladesh after the bombings, which went off around noon in crowded marketplaces in Guwahati and other parts of the state, inflicting huge casualties.

He was extradited in 2010 and detained, but released on bail in 2013 to participate in a failed peace dialogue with New Delhi.

The separatist group formed in the 1980s to fight for a separate homeland for the Bodos, an ethno-linguistic community native to Assam number roughly 1.2 million.

The group has since splintered into factions. Some fight for outright independence, but others â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including Daimaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faction â&#x20AC;&#x201D; want to carve out a separate state within Assam under Indian rule.

AFP

Malaysia probes deadly stampede KUALA LUMPUR: A stampede in a Malaysian market that killed two elderly women as people rushed to collect free food coupons would be INVESTIGATED BY POLICE AN OFkCIAL said Tuesday.

Almost 1,000 people descended on the indoor market in Kuala Lumpur Monday to get their hands on 200 vouchers for a buffet meal during next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lunar New Year festivities.

Two women, aged 85 and 78, collapsed in the crush. Attempts by paramedics to resuscitate them failed and they died at the scene, police said.

Two other women who fainted during the rush to collect the vouchers, which were being given away by those running the market,

were revived.

Such stampedes are rare in MaLAYSIA WHICH IS RELATIVELY AFlUENT in comparison to other parts of Southeast Asia.

A security guard described chaotic scenes, telling The Star newspaper that people were â&#x20AC;&#x153;pushing each otherâ&#x20AC;? to collect the coupons and then started to scream. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will investigate the cause of death and also whether the orGANISERS HAD PUT IN PLACE SUFkCIENT safety measures,â&#x20AC;? local police chief Shaharuddin Abdullah told AFP. Lunar New Year is a major celebration in Malaysia, where about a quarter of the 32 million inhabitants are ethnic Chinese.

AFP

DANCE

A woman checks out a dragon costume made for dragon dance ahead of the Lunar New Year in Boyang in Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central Jiangxi Province. AFP PHOTO

Chinese man who killed 15 people executed BEIJING: Chinese authorities on Tuesday executed a man who killed 15 people after ramming a car into a crowded square in central Hunan Province last year.

Last September, Yang Zanyun ploughed a Land Rover into pedestrians at a public square in Hengdong City before slashing at people with a shovel and dagger.

Fifteen people were killed and

43 others were injured.

The Hengyang Intermediate Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court in Hunan Province said Tuesday it â&#x20AC;&#x153;carried out the death penaltyâ&#x20AC;? on Yang Zanyun for â&#x20AC;&#x153;endangering public security through dangerous methodsâ&#x20AC;?.

Local police have called him a â&#x20AC;&#x153;vengeful repeat offenderâ&#x20AC;? at the time, naming drug charges, theft and intentionally causing hurt as

previous offences in their statement.

China has experienced a spate of similar incidents in recent months.

In late November, a car ploughed into a group of children crossing a street in front of an elementary school in northeastern Liaoning 0ROVINCE KILLING kVE PEOPLE AND injuring at least 19.

The driver said he â&#x20AC;&#x153;chose his victims at randomâ&#x20AC;? and had report-

edly been contemplating suicide due to domestic troubles before the tragedy occurred.

In December, eight people were killed and 22 injured after a man hijacked a bus and crashed into pedestrians in eastern Fujian Province.

(E HAD KILLED A LOCAL OFkCIAL AND POLICE OFkCER BEFORE COMMANDEERing the bus, according to reports by Chinese media.

AFP

Top activist gets 5-year jail sentence BEIJING: The founder of a prominent Chinese civil and human rights WEBSITE WAS SENTENCED TO kVE YEARS in prison on Tuesday for inciting state subversion, according to human rights organizations.

Liu Feiyue created and ran the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website, which covers a

range of civil and human rights issues, including protests, police abuses, and government corruption â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sensitive topics that are scrubbed from most Chinese media sites.

The Suizhou Intermediate Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court in central Hubei Province sentenced him after he was

found guilty of â&#x20AC;&#x153;inciting subversion of state power,â&#x20AC;? according to Human Rights Watch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The sentence... once again shows how the Chinese government abuses the judicial system to silence dissidents,â&#x20AC;? Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, told AFP.

4HERE ARE gSERIOUS lAWS IN THE procedure of this case, without due process in line with international standards,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Liuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sentence came one day after human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was handed a fourand-a-half-year sentence on similar subversion charges.

AFP

Worldinbriefs 65 DEAD, 279 MISSING IN BRAZIL DAM COLLAPSE

DEMS TO QUASH STARBUCKS EX-CEOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 2020 BID

BRUMADINHO, Brazil: Brazilian firefighters and Israeli rescue workers poked sticks into treacherous mud Monday (Tuesday in Manila) looking for bodies, as pressure mounted on the mining company responsible for a dam that burst and spilled a flood of iron ore waste. By late in the day, the death toll rose to 65, with 279 people still missing, said Lt. Col. Flavio Godinho of the Civil Defense Department in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. In a sign of the risks posed by the deep mud, Col. Alexandre Ferreira, a doctor with the military police of Minas Gerais, advised rescue crews, volunteers and journalists to take antibiotics to prevent cholera, the bacterial infection leptospirosis and other diseases. Officials said the death toll was expected to grow â&#x20AC;&#x153;exponentially,â&#x20AC;? since no had been rescued alive since Saturday. Search efforts were extremely slow because of the treacherous sea of reddish-brown mud that surged out when the mine tailings dam breached Friday afternoon.

AP

NEW YORK: Some of the most influential forces in Democratic politics revolted Monday (Tuesday in Manila) against former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prospective presidential bid, insisting that an independent run would unintentionally help President Donald Trump win another four years in office. The critics included the Democratic chairman of Schultzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home state, another billionaire businessman who long flirted with an independent run of his own, former President Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief strategist, and the most powerful super PAC in Democratic politics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If Schultz entered the race as an independent, we would do everything we can to ensure that his candidacy is unsuccessful,â&#x20AC;? said Patrick McHugh, executive director of Priorities USA, which spent nearly $200 million in the 2016 presidential contest. Specifically, he seized on Schultzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparent willingness to cut entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security to narrow the federal deficit.

AP

STRONGEST TORNADO HITS CUBA

MASSIVE FISHKILL HITS AUSTRALIA

HAVANA: Neighborhood brigades and teams of government workers hacked at fallen trees and hauled chunks of concrete out of collapsed homes Monday as the Cuban capital attempted to recover from what officials called the strongest tornado to hit Cuba in nearly 80 years. Three people were dead and hundreds injured, at least 12 in critical condition, after the tornado touched down with estimated winds of 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour) in three neighborhoods across eastern Havana. Members of the Provincial Defense Council of Havana said 90 homes collapsed completely and 30 suffered partial collapse. A quarter of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roughly 2 million people were without power Monday afternoon and more than 200,000 people had lost water service because of a broken main and power cuts that left pumps out of service. Some 100 underground cisterns close to the coastal section of Havana were contaminated by seawater.

AP

SYDNEY:Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hundreds of thousandsâ&#x20AC;? of fish had died in drought-stricken Australia in the last few days and more mass deaths were likely to occur, the authorities warned Tuesday. Locals around the Darling River were confronted with a sea of white, as dead fish carpeted the waters near the southeastern Outback town of Menindee. Just weeks after up to a million were killed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with scientists pointing to low water and oxygen levels as well as possibly toxic algae â&#x20AC;&#x201D; another mass death occurred in the key food growing region. Inspectors from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries have visited the site and said they found that â&#x20AC;&#x153;hundreds of thousands of fish have died.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Further fish deaths in the Darling River are anticipated as a significant number of fish have been observed under stress,â&#x20AC;? the department said in a statement. The Darling River is part of the Murray-Darling River system that stretches thousands of kilometres across several states.

AFP

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

US hits Venezuela with oil sanctions WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration on Monday ( Tu e s d ay i n M a n i l a ) s a n c t i o n e d Ve n e z u e l a â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s s t a t e owned oil company, ratcheting up pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro to cede power to the US-backed opposition in the oil-rich nation in South America.

The action means Maduroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embattled government would lose access to one of its most important sources of income and foreign currency along with around $7 billion in assets of the state-owned company, Petroleos De Venezuela SA (PDVSA).

Hours after the White House announced the sanctions, Maduro went on state TV and called the US action â&#x20AC;&#x153;immoral, criminal.â&#x20AC;? In words directed at President Donald Trump, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hands off Venezuela!â&#x20AC;?

The sanctions follow the unusual decision by more than 20 countries, including the US, to recognize the opposition leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the interim president of Venezuela. Maduro was re-elected last year in an election widely seen as fraudulent. The once-prosperous nation has been in an economic collapse, with SEVERAL MILLION CITIZENS lEEING to neighboring countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have continued to expose the corruption of Maduro and his cronies, and todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action ensures they can no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people,â&#x20AC;?

National Security Adviser John Bolton said at a White House news conference to announce the sanctions with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Bolton said he expects Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions against PDVSA would result in more than $11 billion in lost export proceeds during the next year.

Oil production â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the lifeblood of Venezuelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has been collapsing for years.

Despite sitting atop the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

largest reserves, Venezuela currently pumps just a third of the 3.5 million barrels a day it did when the late Hugo Chavez took power in 1999.

The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refining capacity has also declined because of poor maintenance and lack of skilled personnel. That has left it reliant on Citgo, the Houston-based refining arm of PDVSA, to refine the oil and send gasoline back to Venezuela to meet domestic needs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have just lost that source,â&#x20AC;? said Russ Dallen, managing partner of Caracas Capital, a brokerage company.

Venezuela is very reliant on the US for its oil revenue, sending 41 percent of its oil exports to the US. Maduro can divert the roughly 500,000 barrels per day of oil currently being sold to Gulf Coast refineries to markets in Russia, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand.

But processing international financial transactions is hard without going through the US or European banks. Transport costs will also jump because Venezuelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ports arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t well-equipped to load supertankers for transporting oil to distant markets.

That means the country, which depends almost entirely on oil exports for hard currency, will be able to purchase even less food and other imports, potentially worsening shortages and deepening its economic collapse.

Outside the PDVSA headq u a r t e r s i n C a r a c a s, o f f i c e workers lining up to board red company buses were seeking information about the immediate impact of the US sanctions. As he hurried home with his two children, one employee told The Associated Press that the sanctions signaled tough times ahead.

Mnuchin said any money that US entities use to buy Venezuelan oil would go into a blocked account in the US, not the Maduro government. AP

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

FIERY

The UN visit comes nearly four months after Khashoggi was murdered inside Riyadhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consulate in Istanbul.

Callamard, leading a team of legal and forensic experts, has also made a request to visit the consulate in Istanbul and also to visit the kingdom, the UN human rights branch told dpa in an emailed note on Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have requested access to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and a meeting with the ambassador of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Turkey,â&#x20AC;?

B7

Corruption on the rise in US â&#x20AC;&#x201C; watchdog F

RANKFURT AM MAIN: The United States last year slid down the rankings of a global corruption index as Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system of checks and balances faced growing threats on President Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watch, Transparency International (TI) said on Tuesday.

The US lost four points to score 71 out of 100 on the watchdogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index, sending the country tumbling out of the TOP FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE â&#x20AC;&#x153;The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power,â&#x20AC;? TI said in its annual report.

The second year of Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency was a turbulent one, ranging from damaging revelations in an investigation probing links between Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 campaign team and Russia, to his controver-

sial backing for a Supreme Court nominee accused of sexual assault.

The US leader, who frequently rails against the media for writing â&#x20AC;&#x153;fake newsâ&#x20AC;?, was also dogged by acCUSATIONS OF NEPOTISM AND CONlICTS of interest.

Last month, Trump agreed to close his personal charity after the New York attorney general said it had acted â&#x20AC;&#x153;as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business and political interestsâ&#x20AC;?.

Transparency Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closely-watched index ranks 180 nations according to their perceived level of public sector corruption,

where a score of zero means very CORRUPT AND SIGNIkES VERY CLEAN â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Trump presidency has illuminated the cracks in the US system for ensuring a government that is accountable to the public interest,â&#x20AC;? TIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoe Reiter, acting representative to the US, told AFP. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But President Trump is a symptom rather than a cause; the issues WERE THERE BEFORE HE TOOK OFkCE &OR EXAMPLE THE /FkCE OF 'OVERNMENT Ethics simply doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the teeth TO CONTROL FOR CONlICTS OF INTEREST AT the highest levels,â&#x20AC;? she said.

As in previous years, New Zealand and Nordic countries were among the best in class, with Denmark narrowly beating New Zealand to the top spot at 88 and 87 points respectively.

Strife-torn Somalia was once again the worst performer, below Yemen, South Sudan and Syria, which all scored in the low teens.

The Berlin-based watchdog also singled out Turkey and Hungary for falling down the rankings, blaming â&#x20AC;&#x153;the deterioration of rule of law and democratic institutions, as well as a rapidly shrinking space for civil society and independent mediaâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With many democratic institutions under threat across the globe â&#x20AC;&#x201D; often by leaders with authoritarian or populist tendencies â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we need to do more to strengthen checks and balances and protect citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights,â&#x20AC;? TIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Managing Director Patricia Moreira said.

As part of its recommendations, the group urged governments to stand up for a free press and support civil society organisations that encourage public oversight over government spending.

The index is compiled based on data from 12 international organisations including the World Bank, African Development Bank and the World Economic Forum. AFP

RECOGNITION German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives the American Fulbright Prize for International Understanding as she poses beside Manfred Philipp (left), Vice President of the Fulbright Association, Mary Ellen Heian Schmider (second from right), Executive Director of the Fulbright Association, and CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, in Berlin on January 28, 2019.

AFP PHOTO

UN rapporteur leads Khashoggi slay probe A UN human rights rapporteur arrived in Ankara on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) for a week-long visit to lead an international inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Turkish ForEIGN -INISTRY CONkRMED TO DPA Agnes Callamard, the UNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, was received by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the ministry said, without elaborating on the details. The meeting in Ankara was still going on.

World

Callamard was quoted as saying. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have also sought permission to conduct a similar country visit to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.â&#x20AC;?

It was not immediately clear IF HER REQUEST WAS CONkRMED OR when she would have access to the consulate.

Saudi Arabia insists that the death of Khashoggi, a Saudi national and vocal critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;rogue operationâ&#x20AC;? and has put 11 defendants on trial for the crime.

However Turkish President Re-

cep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted that the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government.

The UN team will now assess steps taken by the Turkish and Saudi governments to address the case, Calamard said in a statement on the UNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human rights branch website last week.

The UN experts will also assess the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nature and extent of statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; responsibilities for the killing,â&#x20AC;? the statement read.

GULF TIMES

A student of the Autonomous National University of Honduras throws a Molotov cocktail at riot police during a protest demanding the resignation of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, in Tegucigalpa on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) on the second day of protests. People took to the streets to protest against the President a year after his controversial inauguration. Hernandez took office on Sunday after being re-elected in a vote called fraud by the opposition alliance. AFP PHOTO

No-deal Brexit may cause food shortages LONDON: Pro-Brexit British lawmakers were mounting a campaign Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to rescue Prime Minister Theresa Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rejected European Union (EU) divorce deal in a parliamentary showdown, as major retailers warned the United Kingdom could face food shortages if it leaves the bloc without an agreement.

Lawmakers threw out Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brexit deal two weeks ago and will debate and vote Tuesday on competing plans for what to do next. Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, with or without a deal.

Much of the business world says a no-deal Brexit would cause economic chaos by eliminating existing EU trade agreements and imposing tariffs, customs checks and other barriers between the UK and its main export market.

Chief executives of fast-food company McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and supermarket chains Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Waitrose were among signatories to a letter to lawmakers warning OF gSIGNIkCANT DISRUPTIONu IF THE UK leaves without a deal, given that nearly a third of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food comes from the EU. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we have been working closely with our suppliers on contingency plans it is not possible to mitigate all the risks to our supply chains,â&#x20AC;? said the retailers, who urged lawmakers to avoid a no-deal departure. g7E ANTICIPATE SIGNIkCANT RISKS to maintaining the choice, quality and durability of food that our customers have come to expect in our stores,â&#x20AC;? they added.

May says she wants a deal, and insists her agreement could still win Parliamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backing, if it is tweaked to alleviate concerns

about a provision over the Irish border. The government hopes to bring the deal back for a new vote in Parliament in February.

The border measure, known as the backstop, will keep the UK in a customs union with the EU in order to remove the need for checks along the frontier between the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Britain leaves the bloc.

That border is crucial to the divorce deal because it will be the only land frontier between the UK and the EU after Brexit.

Border checkpoints have disappeared since Ireland and Britain both became members of the EU single market in the 1990s, and since the 1998 Good Friday peace accord largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Opposition to the backstop by pro-Brexit lawmakers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who fear it will trap Britain in regulatory lockstep with the EU â&#x20AC;&#x201D; helped sink Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal on January 15, when Parliament rejected it by 432 votes to 202.

A new proposal submitted by Conservative legislator Graham Brady commits to backing Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal if the backstop is replaced by â&#x20AC;&#x153;alternative arrangements.â&#x20AC;?

Brady said if the motion was approved by Parliament, it would give May â&#x20AC;&#x153;enormous firepowerâ&#x20AC;? to go back to Brussels and renegotiate the Brexit divorce deal.

The prime minister appeared to agree, urging Conservative l aw m a k e r s t o b a c k B r a d y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amendment in order to send a clear message to the EU. She made the comments at a meeting with backbench Conservatives, according to several attendees.

AP

WEDNESDAY W E DNESDAY JANUARY 30, 201 2019 19

Public Square

B8 Public Square appears on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

For contributions, email to publicsquare@manilatimes.net

publicsquare@manilatimes.net

DoE taps all possible resources to assure national energy security

Year of the Earth Pig at Crimson Hotel

D

EPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi underscored the need to tap all available energy resources to assure the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy security amidst ever growing demand during the DoE-hosted TED Talk of policy expert Michael Shellenberger on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why We Need Nuclear Energyâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are technology neutral, because we want to explore all possible ways to bring affordable, secure and reliable power to Filipinos throughout the entire archipelago. I believe this is time for us to take a leap and include nuclear power into our energy mix. We wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to wait until we are all crying for power before we actually do something,â&#x20AC;? Sec. Cusi emphasized in his opening remarks.

He also expressed that Shellenbergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s views helped shed light on common misconceptions about nuclear power as he expounded

Q Energy family officials led by DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi (center) with Michael Shellenberger at the successful conclusion of TED Talk on nuclear power. Also in photo,from left:DOE Undersecretary and NEPIO Chair Donato Marcos, Mark Cojuangco, DoE Senior Undersecretary Jesus Cristino Posadas, Assistant Secretary Gerardo Erguiza, Jr., and PNOC President and CEO Admiral Reuben Lista (ret). on how a country like the PhilipPINES WOULD BENEkT FROM HARNESSing this energy source.

During Shellenbergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compelling presentation, he stressed that

while facts point to nuclear energy as the future of safe and reliable electricity production, the decision for the country to go nuclear must be made as a people.

The TED Talk was attended by members of the energy family, representatives from other government agencies, members of the academe and media.

DoLE assures assistance to Hanjin workers LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd (2nd, L) assures the workers affected by the financial crisis of the Subic-based shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation of DOLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistance during a media briefING AT THE $O,% #ENTRAL /FkCE IN Intramuros, Manila on Jan. 21.

Joining the secretary are, from left: OIC Undersecretary Benjo BenaviDEZ $O,% 2EGIONAL /FkCE .O 2Egional Director Ma. Zenaida Campita and Bureau of Local Employment Director Dominique Tutay.

TMC, Dapja launch PWD livelihood project WITH an initial P1.2-million funding, Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) and peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organization Dapja recently launch the Dapja Native Chicken Poultry Farm to acknowledge the rights of PWDs (persons with disabilities) to a sustainable livelihood and an empowered future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The members of Dapja are committed to making the project succeed not only to acknowledge TMC but, more importantly, to show the dependability of the PWDs in Cabugo,â&#x20AC;? organization President Eddie Gasulas said.

TMC provided the funding and technical support, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, to ensure the project is sustainable. Dapja members on the

other hand, conducted a â&#x20AC;&#x153;bayanihanâ&#x20AC;? to build the farm, and take turns in manning, managing and monitoring the poultry farm.

Dapjaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a local term which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;rocks surrounded by waterâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;is a 35-man strong peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organization (PO) whose members are PWDs and their family, all from barangay Cabugo.

The DAPJA poultry farm project started initially with eight cages with 40 hens and eight roosters on a one hectare property owned by the family of Gasulas.

The municipality of Claver, meanwhile, is a mining community and home to TMC, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC).

Q TMC VP for Operations Aloysius Diaz (right) hands a rooster to Dapja President Eddie Gasulas (4th, R) while TMC Resident Mine Manager Jun Valeroso holds a native hen.

Q Members of BPI Remittance and Funds Transfer Group: Melinda Dulay (last row, 4th, R), BPI head of Inward Remittance; Bon Urven Dampor (last row, 3rd, L), BPI region head for Asia; Roy Delo Perez (last row, 5th, R), BPI relationship manager for Asia; Bess Aguinaldo (last row, extreme right), BPI Product marketing manager; and Gary Flores (last row, 4th, L), head of Operations, BPI Express Remittance Center (HK) Ltd.

Smart establishes two cell sites in Cebu City BETTER connectivity means better lives for the residents of Barangay Guba and Bonbon, in Cebu City, two mountainous villages that now enjoy stronger cellular and data signal after Smart CommuniCATIONS )NC 3MART kRED UP TWO 4G LTE cell sites in the area.

Fr. Peter Necesario, parish priest of St. NiĂąo Parish in Guba, Cebu City said that with stronger signal, they no longer feel isolated, especially during emergencies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In times of emergencies such

as storms, it is easier for us to communicate and be updated about the weather through the internet,â&#x20AC;? Fr. Necesario said.

The activation of two new cell sites is part of a larger rollout plan covering several more mountain villages of Cebu City developed at the request of Mayor Tomas OsmeĂąa. The city government plans to deploy new services for these communities that requires improved mobile phone coverage and data services.

Mitch Carson holds week-long conference MITCH CARSON, a motivational speaker as well as a trainer who teaches the art of public speaking, hosted a four-day conference to share and teach his mastery in speaking in the global digital arena, held at Discovery Suites Manila, in Mandaluyong City, on Jan. 15 to 19.

Dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speak in Manila,â&#x20AC;? the event highlighted how those who want to become thought leaders and INlUENCERS CAN POSITION THEMSELVES powerfully in the digital age by leveraging on its many platforms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be effective internationally, a speaker must know how to be effective on camera, using a microphone, and in presenting before a live audience,â&#x20AC;? Carson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He must also be adept in presenting and selling through webinars. Mastering social media and launching concise mes-

sages through it is also something he must be skilled at personally.â&#x20AC;?

With authenticity now becoming a buzzword and a requirement for companies that do want to make an impact, especially among the millennial, the owner or marketer of a brand can no longer hide comfortably behind his advertisements and marketing campaigns, but must take the lead in representing them.

For more information, visit www. internationalspeakingmastery.com.

Paradizoo launches Power of Three Festival

BPI holds financial literacy seminars for HK-based OFWs ). ITS BID TO BE A RELIABLE PARTNER IN MANAGING kNANCES THE "ANK OF THE 0HILIPPINE )SLANDS "0) CONDUCTED A SERIES OF kNANCIAL LITERACY seminars for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;BPI strives to be the trusted partner of OFWs,â&#x20AC;? said Melinda Dulay, BPIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head of Inward Remittance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through our products and services, we aim to empower these clients to have control on THEIR kNANCES AS THEY TAKE ON THEIR CHALLENGING ROLE AS /&7 BUT at the same time have peace of mind that whatever happens to them, they have a back-up plan for their family.â&#x20AC;?

With around 220,000 Filipino nationals in Hong Kong, many of whom are women working as household service workers (HSWs) who earn about HKD 4,000, or close to P25,000 monthly, a good portion of which they remit to their families in the Philippines once a month.

To help address this situation, BPIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Remittance and Funds Transfer Group (BPI RFTG) conducted a series of learning sessions aimed AT ADDRESSING THE kNANCIAL CHALLENGES OF /&7S IN (ONG +ONG 4HESE kNANCIAL LITERACY SEMINARS WERE CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP with BPI Express Remittance Center (HK) Ltd. and BPIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remittance partner Lulu Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited.

Q CafĂŠ Eightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Feast for Prosperity buffet.

GET into the season of fortune Chinese geomancy, conducts the and happiness with Crimson welcome ceremony and shares 2019 Hotel Filinvest City and its festive predictions, while the traditional Chinese New Year celebration eye-dotting ceremony and lion and happening from Feb. 1 to 10. dragon dance will be held at the The festivities feature CafĂŠ Eightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crimson Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ground lobby.

A Feast for Prosperity buffet that will Get auspicious with Crimson serve a great selection of Chinese Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Red Fortune room packcuisine and Dumpling Festival that age inclusive of an overnight will be available in both the buffetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stay in a Deluxe Room, buffet dumpling station and a la carte menu. breakfast and lunch or dinner at On Feb. 10, discover how the CafĂŠ Eight for two persons, and a Year of the Earth Pig attracts luck Chinese New Year surprise.

For more information, visit http:// and fortune as Feng Shui Master Joseph Chau, the most-sought-after www.crimsonhotel.com/manila.

Q Residents of Brgy Bonbon and Guba are all smiles after Smart fired up its LTE sites in their villages.

PARADIZOO, one of Zoomanity Group parks in Mendez, Cavite, relaunches the Power of Threeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a lORAL VEGETABLE AND AGRI LIFESTOCK festival running from January to March to promote inclusive growth IN THE kELD OF AGRICULTURE â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to have this kind of initiative from the private sector,â&#x20AC;? said Grace Bondad Nicolas, Paradizoo business consultant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to help the farmers and their children to see the opportunity and importance of farming. Paradizoo will also open an Agriculture Learning Institute with the help of the government that will give opportunity to younger generation to have a glimpse and proper education that will give them idea and skills to start a business in agriculture sector.â&#x20AC;?

Through its event, Paradizoo is inviting over 20,000 students, farmers and other public and private sectors for free to focus and understand the BENEkTS OF GROWING AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Q Business Consultant Grace Bondad Nicolas in Paradizoo Theme Farm, Mendez, Cavite. in the country. Paradizoo will be offerING FREE SEMINARS ON lOWER VEGETABLE and livestock care, which will be given by different well-known educators and speakers of agriculture sector.

For more information, visit www.zoomanity.com.

Security Bank opens nominations for 8 Bravo Awards 2019 SECURITY Bank, in partnership with Zonta Club of Makati & Environs, are now accepting nominees for the 8 Bravo Empowered Women Awards 2019.

Now on its 3rd year, the 8 Bravo Empowered Women Awards program recognizes outstanding Filipino women whose unwavering commitment to their advocacies have led to social and economic progress and have empowered women towards nation-building.

An awardee will be chosen for each of the eight categories: Arts, Culture & Heritage; Business; Cu-

linary Arts; Education; Media & Public Affairs; Science & Technology; Social Services; and Sports.

Nominees must possess the FOLLOWING QUALIkCATIONS &ILIPINO citizen; of good moral character; with outstanding track record in her profession; involved in an advocacy for the last three years; and sustained a project for the improvement of society Zontians and Security Bank employees are not allowed to be nominated. Deadline for submission is on Mar. 31, 2019.

For more information, visit https:// www.securitybank.com/bravoawards.

Build&Design

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019

EDITOR: Mario F. Fetalino Jr.

www.manilatimes.net

C1

mario.fetalino@manilatimes.net

2018 MARKET OVERVIEW

Q The Quezon City market topped in many categories of the survey.

QC leads real estate market survey T HE Digital Property Seeker Series of 2019 consists of data collected from the Lamudi PLATFORM )T COMPRISES kVE CATEGORIES Â&#x2021; House, Condo, Foreclosed Properties, Land and Apartment.

%ACH CATEGORY IS MADE UP OF FOUR SECTIONS -OST 3EARCHED ,OCATION

!GE 'ENDER AND !REA OF 2ESIDENCE OF PROPERTY SEEKERS WITH EACH CON TAINING THREE DATA INDICATORS 4HESE ARE 3ESSIONS 0AGEVIEWS AND ,EADS 3ESSIONS OR VISITS IS A GROUP OF USER INTERACTIONS WITH YOUR WEBSITE THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN A GIVEN TIME FRAME ! CLICK IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE SESSION

WHICH LASTS FOR MINUTES 4IME IN EXCESS OF MINUTES IS CONSIDERED AS A NEW SESSION 0AGEVIEWS ARE THE RECORDED PAGES THAT WERE VISITED

WHILE ,EADS ARE THE INQUIRIES MADE

Quezon City most interesting "ASED ON THE DATA COLLECTED FROM *ANUARY TO $ECEMBER 1UE ZON #ITY CONSISTENTLY MADE IT TO THE TOP kVE ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES 7ITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE #ONDO CATEGORY IT WAS RANKED THE HIGHEST )T HOWEVER

PLACED SECOND TO -AKATI #ITY FOR THE -OST 3EARCHED ,OCATION AND !REA OF 2ESIDENCE CATEGORIES 1UEZON #ITY GARNERED THE MOST INTEREST 7HEN IT CAME TO !GE GROUP IT WAS THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET THAT HELD THE TOP SPOT REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY 4HE !GE GROUP WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SECOND PLACER IN ALL OF THE CATEGORIES IF IT DIDN T COME IN THIRD AFTER THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET IN THE !PARTMENT CATEGORY 4HE 'ENDER SECTION WAS UNANIMOUS WITH FEMALE PROPERTY SEEKERS

EXCEEDING THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS 4HERE WAS A COMMANDING LEAD IN EACH CATEGORY EXCEPT FOR ,AND 4HEY CAME WITHIN A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OF EACH OTHER FOR THE THREE INDICATORS &EMALE PROPERTY SEEKERS HOWEVER

STILL LED IN THAT CATEGORY

PH real estate market resilient 4HERE WERE MANY NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS AND TRENDS THAT DEkNED THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN MOST OF WHICH FOCUSED ON -ETRO -ANILA !CCORD ING TO *ONES ,ANG ,A3ALLE )NC OR *,, AN !MERICAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN REAL ESTATE gTHE -ETRO -ANILA PROPERTY MARKET IS SEEN TO MAINTAIN AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY DESPITE THE RECENT HEADWINDS IN THE 0HILIPPINE ECONOMY 4HE REAL ESTATE MARKET REMAINS TO BE RESILIENT EXHIBITED BY THE MODEST PERFORMANCE ON THE DEMAND SIDE AND THE 0HILIPPINES MAINTAIN POSITIVE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT FROM CREDIT RATING AGENCIES VIEW u /THER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE ALSO HIGHLY INVOLVED IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY S ROBUST GROWTH 3EVERAL RESIDENTIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WERE BEING BUILT IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND BASED ON THE RECENT STUDY g%MERGING #ITIES #ONDO -ARKET u CITIES LIKE )LOILO #ITY #LARK 0AMPANGA AND $AVAO #ITY HAD ONE OF THE TOP LEVERAGES SEEN IN 4HESE ARE POISED TO PLAY THEIR OWN SIGNIkCANT ROLES IN THE YEAR AHEAD

THAT 0/'/S REPRESENTED PERCENT OF OFkCE TAKE UP BY THE THIRD QUARTER OF "0/S WHICH CAN BE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO +NOWLEDGE 0ROCESS /UTSOURCING +0/ AND VOICE TOOK UP AND PERCENT RESPECTIVELY 4OGETHER WITH THE NON "0/ TRADITIONAL OFkCE REQUIREMENTS THESE COM PANIES KEPT VACANCY RATES BELOW PERCENT WITHIN THE PERIOD 2ENTAL RATES ROSE BY TO PERCENT IN -ETRO -ANILA ON THE STRENGTH OF HIGH DEMAND 0ROPERTY PRICES CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS WELL AND THERE ARE MORE OFkCE SPACES IN THE PIPELINE FOR 4HIS BODES WELL FOR THE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SEGMENT WHICH WOULD BE CRUCIAL IN PROVIDING GOOD HOUSING OPTIONS IN THESE LOCATIONS ,AMUDI S SEARCH DATA STUDIED THE INTEREST OF PROPERTY SEEKERS IN RESIDENTIAL PROPER TIES CONTAINED IN ITS PLATFORM PROVIDING ADEQUATE EVIDENCE ON WHICH LOCATIONS ARE GARNERING THE MOST INTEREST AND WHERE IT S COMING FROM

Most Searched Most Searched LocationLocation City Sessions Pageviews Quezon City 20.79% 17.68% Parañaque 10.03% 9.22% Las Piñas 6.41% 6.30% Cebu 3.07% 4.17% Pasig 3.83% 3.44% Others 55.87% 59.19%

Leads 16.78% 10.40% 7.58% 3.41% 3.77% 58.05%

House 4HE -OST 3EARCHED ,OCATION FOR THE (OUSE CATEGORY WAS THE COUNTRY S LARGEST CITY 1UEZON #ITY OUTPERFORMED OTHER -ETRO -ANILA AREAS FOR ALL THREE INDICATORS )T HAD MORE THAN DOUBLE 3ESSIONS AT PERCENT THAN SECOND RANKING 0ARAÃ&#x201E;AQUE #ITY AT PERCENT 0AGEVIEWS COMPRISED PERCENT AND PERCENT RESPECTIVELY FOR THE TOP TWO CITIES )T HAD SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RATIOS WHEN IT CAME TO ,EADS PERFORMING PERCENT AGAINST 0ARAÃ&#x201E;AQUE S PERCENT 4HESE INDICATORS CLEARLY SHOWED THAT 1UEZON #ITY WAS THE MOST POPULAR LOCATION FOR HOUSES AMONG PROPERTY SEEKERS 2OUNDING OUT THE TOP kVE WERE ,AS 0IÃ&#x201E;AS #EBU AND 0ASIG 7ITH THE EXCEPTION OF #EBU THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDED MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WORKING WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF -ETRO -ANILA S MAIN

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS 4HOSE CHOOSING TO SET UP THEIR RESIDENCE IN THESE AREAS COULD EASILY ACCESS THE VASTLY IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PROMISED BY THE """ #EBU ALSO STANDS TO BENEkT FROM THE """ S INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS )T HAS THREE MAJOR BRIDGES THAT WILL CONNECT IT TO "OHOL AND .EGROS 4HESE WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY AN EXPRESSWAY AS WELL AS A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM 4HE INDICATORS SHOWED THAT IT WAS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF 0ASIG IN TERMS OF 0AGEVIEWS #ONVERSELY 0ASIG NARROWLY BEAT #EBU WHEN IT CAME TO 3ESSIONS AND ,EADS 4HEY WERE LESS THAN PERCENT APART IN ALL THREE INSTANCES 0ROPERTY SEEKERS FROM THE TO YEAR OLD AGE BRACKET EXPRESSED THE HIGHEST INTEREST !LL INDICATORS HAD THEM SURPASSING THE PERCENT MARK &EMALES SHOWED A CONVINCING MAJORITY OVER THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS

WHICH WAS COLLECTIVELY AT PERCENT !CCORDING TO g4HE /UTLOOK ,AMUDI S #OMPREHENSIVE ,OOK IN THE 0HILIPPINE 2EAL %STATE u MILLENNIALS WERE STILL THE MOST CURIOUS

ACCOUNTING FOR THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF OUR PAGE VISIT 4HIS MARKET GREW UP IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL DEVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS THAT MAKE SEARCHING AND BUYING PROPERTIES MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM 7HEN IT CAME TO !REA OF 2ESIDENCE IT WAS AGAIN 1UEZON #ITY ON TOP 0ARAÃ&#x201E;AQUE AND ,AS 0IÃ&#x201E;AS WHICH PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED SECOND AND THIRD PLACES FOR THE MOST SEARCHED LOCATION WERE REPLACED $ATA SHOWED THAT USERS FROM -AKATI AND -ANILA RESPECTIVELY TOOK THEIR SPOTS #EBU AND 0ASIG WERE SIMILARLY PLACED IN THE FOURTH AND kFTH SPOTS

Condo 4HE TOP kVE DOMINATED THE -OST 3EARCHED ,OCATION FOR THIS CATEGORY 4HEY REPRESENT MORE THAN PERCENT OF SEARCHES AMONG ALL THE POSSIBLE CITIES TO BE SELECTED "EYOND THAT THE AGGREGATE OF OTHER CITIES REPRE SENTED A MERE PERCENT FOR 3ESSIONS PERCENT FOR 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT FOR ,EADS )T IS NO SURPRISE THAT -AKATI OCCUPIES THE NUMBER ONE SPOT 4HE CITY IS HOME TO THE COUNTRY S PREMIERE BUSINESS DISTRICT /FkCE WORKERS COULD SIMPLY WALK TO THEIR WORKPLACE FROM THEIR CONDO 7HAT IS REVEALING ABOUT THE DATA WAS THE PLACEMENT OF 1UEZON #ITY AT NUMBER TWO 4HE INCREASED CONVENIENCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT HAS MADE IT EASIER TO COME FROM THIS LOCATION WITH THE -24 AND ,24 LINES INTERSECTING IN #UBAO A MAIN JUNCTION #OMING IN THIRD WAS 4AGUIG WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO RANK HIGHER THOUGH

³Estate C4

Build, Build, Build Program growth driver 3IMILARLY WITH THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION S "UILD "UILD "UILD """ PRO GRAM GAINING MOMENTUM VARIOUS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS ARE FORMULATING THEIR STRATEGIES AROUND IT 4HE AREAS WHERE THE lAGSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE """ WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ARE EXPECTED TO BRING ABOUT SIGNIk CANT ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS ENCOURAGING BOTH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN SUCH AREAS 4HE """ IS PROJECTED TO COST ABOVE 0 TRILLION AND IS ENVISIONED TO CREATE MORE JOBS THAT WOULD RESULT IN INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR THE COUNTRY 4HE REAL ESTATE OFkCE CONDO SEGMENT ALSO kGURED PROMINENTLY IN 4HIS WAS BOOSTED BY THE 0HILIPPINE /FFSHORE 'AMING /PERATORS 0/'/S AND BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING "0/ #OLLIERS REPORTED

C2 BGC property earns LEED gold certification

Q Quezon City residents also topped the number of property seekers.

C3 REIT offering to raise DoubleDragon value

C4 Shelter program monitoring sought

C2

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Build&Design

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

BGC property earns LEED gold certification B ONIFACIO 3TOPOVER #ORPORATE #ENTER AN OFkCE building owned and controlled by the Fort Bonifacio $EVELOPMENT #ORP &"$# WAS AWARDED A 'OLD CERTIkCATION BY THE 53 'REEN "UILDING #OUNCIL UNDER ITS ,EADERSHIP IN %NERGY AND %NVIRONMENTAL $ESIGN ,%%$ program.

4HE ,%%$ CERTIkCATION IS A GLOB ALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARD OF SUSTAIN ABILITY ACHIEVEMENT THAT PROVIDES INDEPENDENT VALIDATION OF A BUILDING S QUALITY AND GREEN FEATURES )T ASSESSES COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS ON ENERGY CONSERVATION WATER USAGE AIR QUALITY

BUILDING MATERIALS USED AND CONSTRUC TION PROCESS AMONG OTHERS "ONIFACIO 3TOPOVER #ORPORATE #EN TER ONLY APPLIED FOR A SILVER ,%%$ CER

TIkCATION BUT ACHIEVED GOLD )T EARNED THE ACCOLADE BECAUSE IT HAS OPTIMIZED ENERGY PERFORMANCE ACHIEVED BY MIN IMIZING THE OPERATION OF ITS ELEVATORS

LIGHTINGS AND AIR CONDITIONING UNITS THROUGHOUT THE DAY ENHANCED COM MISSIONING BY CHECKING AND PASSING THE EQUIPMENT AIR EMISSION OBSERVED PROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT THROUGH SEGREGATION AND MULTIPLE RECYCLE BINS MANAGED WATER USE BY INSTALLING

SENSORS TO LAVATORIES URINALS AND TOI LETS AND PROVIDED ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCESS ON SITE LIKE THE "ONIFACIO 'LOBAL #ITY "'# "US g"'# IS COMMITTED TO DESIGNING AND BUILDING SUSTAINABLY 7E ARE HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE GREEN BUILDING MOVEMENT AND ARE ENJOINING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME u SAID #HRISTINE .OVERA MANAGER FOR "USINESS $EVELOPMENT 0ROPERTY 0LANNING AND /FkCE ,EASING OF &"$# 3USTAINABILITY IS IN "'# S MASTER PLAN !PART FROM ENSURING THAT THE CITY REMAINS A DENSITY CONTROLLED ENVIRON MENT WHERE UTILITIES AND TRAFkC lOW DE TERMINE THE INTENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT

IT CONTINUOUSLY CREATES AND IMPLEMENTS PROJECTS THAT KEEP THE CITY GREEN AND FUTURE READY

Q The Bonifacio Stopover Corporate Center

Nurturing architects in service of society

BY ARCH. JOSE BERSAMINA

CPD activities

!. ARCHITECT S H WORK K DOES D NOT END NOR REVOLVE SOLELY AROUND THE SO CALLED DRAFTING TABLE )N FACT AN ARCHITECT S WORK EXTENDS BEYOND THE CONkNES OF A DEFTLY AR RANGED OFkCE BREEZING PAST DESIGN SKETCHES AND RENDERINGS EVEN THE BULK OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS ALL OF WHICH ARE MOVING PARTS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL kRM )T IS TEMPTING TO IMAGINE SOMETIMES THAT AN ARCHITECT IS A CLOISTERED INDIVIDUAL ONE WHO IS REMOVED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD WHILE HE OR SHE RUMINATES ON A POTENTIAL IDEA AND CONSIDERS THE POSSIBILITIES OF A CAREFULLY STUDIED FORM UNTIL IT kNALLY SHAPES INTO ONE THAT WILL SATISFY AND RESPOND TO THE CLIENT S NEED FOR SHELTER AND SPACE "UT IT S THE VARIEGATED WORLD OUTSIDE THAT GIVES IMPETUS TO AN ARCHITECT S BODY OF WORK )T IS A WORLD THAT KEEPS CHANGING AND EVOLVING AS FAR AS INNOVATIONS IN ARCHITECTURE ARE CONCERNED 9ET IN SPITE OF AN ARCHITECT S NOBLE IDEAS HE OR SHE IS BURDENED BY THE WEIGHT OF THAT TIRED AND OLD IMPRESSION THAT AN ARCHITECT ONLY KNOWS HOW TO DRAW AND DESIGN HOUSES 0HRASES LIKE g$RAWING LANG @YANu )T S JUST A DRAWING and g$ESIGN LANG @YANu ARE COM MONLY HEARD AMONG THOSE WHO HARDLY KNOW AN ARCHITECT S REAL CAPABILITIES 4HIS IS EVEN MORE COMPOUNDED BY THE SAME LEVEL OF IGNORANCE WHEN THE INDUSTRY ITSELF KEEPS THE ARCHITECT AT THE SIDELINES IF NOT TOTALLY IGNORED IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETIES 7ITH SUCH A PROFOUND CHALLENGE THE ARCHITECT BREAKS AWAY FROM THE ISOLATION AND BEGINS COLLABORATION WITH FELLOW ARCHITECTS AND BECOMES PART OF A SERIOUS COLLECTIVE BODY

%ARNING #0$ POINTS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ACTIVITY AMONG &ILI PINO ARCHITECTS THESE DAYS !ND TO OFFER SOME CONVENIENCE THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER HAS PREVIOUSLY ORGANIZED IN COORDINATION WITH THE 0ROFESSIONAL 2EGULATIONS #OMMIS SION 02# A LECTURE IN ITS !UGUST GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING '-- WHICH WAS EQUIVALENT TO #0$ POINTS 4ITLED g4RANSLATING $ESIGN #ONCEPTS INTO !RCHITECTURAL 3PACES u THE ONE HOUR AND A HALF HOUR TALK FEATURED !RCH #ONRAD /NGLAO WHO PRESENTED A STUNNING PORTFOLIO THAT MADE THE AUDIENCE GASP WITH EVERY TURN OF THE SLIDE SHOWING HIS METICULOUS DESIGNS COUPLED WITH AN EXPLANATION ON THE BEST PRACTICES OF HIS kRM 3INCE !UGUST LAST YEAR FRESH FROM ITS INDUCTION OF NEW OFkCERS IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH OF *ULY THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER IM MEDIATELY PURSUED ITS CONTINUING CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

BY FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH NON PROkT ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDA TIONS 3OME OF THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED AN INITIAL MEETING AND CONSULTATION HELD LAST !UGUST AT THE MULTI PURPOSE AREA OF A VILLAGE IN "IBIRAO $AET #AMA RINES .ORTE WITH MEMBERS OF THE 'AWAD +ALINGA 0INYASAN 6ILLAGE #OMMUNITY LED BY 4ERESITA /BU SAN 4HIS INVOLVED DISCUSSIONS ON SOCIO CULTURAL EDUCATION ENVIRON MENTAL PROTECTION AND DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT FOLLOWED BY THE GIVING OF AN INITIAL DRAFT OF THE REVISED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF "ATASANG 0AMBANSA "0 WHICH WAS RECEIVED BY THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THIS '+ COMMUNITY ! MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING -O5 WAS SIGNED DURING THE EVENT 4HE 0ASIG $IOCESAN #OMMISSION FOR #ULTURAL (ERITAGE OF THE #HURCH HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH #"$

BECOMING THE kRST COLLABORATION BETWEEN A CATHOLIC DIOCESE AND A 5!0 CHAPTER ! MEETING WAS HELD LAST !UGUST WITH -O5 SIGNING WHICH AIMS TO TASK THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENT ON A NUMBER OF HERITAGE CHURCHES IN 0ASIG 4HE PROJECT IS ALSO SUP PORTED BY !BANG ,INGKOD NI -ARIA, A NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OF 0ASIG #ITY OLD TIMERS ADVOCATING THE PRESERVATION OF THE CITY S ECCLESIASTI CAL HERITAGE !S AN AWARD WINNING ADVOCATE OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR 0ERSONS WITH $ISABILITIES 07$S THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF TALKS

MEETINGS AND LECTURES HOPING TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE ARCHITECT S POSITION TO PROVIDE SAFER PUBLIC SPACES 4O KICK THINGS OFF THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER UPON THE REQUEST OF *ONES ,ANG ,ASALLE AT /NE%COM "LDG AT THE -ALL OF !SIA

0ASAY #ITY DELIVERED A LECTURE LAST !UGUST ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS

NAMELY !SSISTING 0ERSONS WITH

UAP Makati 4HIS IS WHERE THE 5NITED !RCHITECTS !RCHITECTS OF THE 0HILIPPINES 5!0 0 STEPS IN 7ITH 5!0 CHAPTERS FORMED IN EVERY REGION DISTRICT

CT CITIES CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THE 5!0 IS ABLE TO FUNCTION ON A NATIONAL SCALE TO SPREAD AWARENESS ON THE S ON THE SIGNIkCANT ROLE ARCHITECTS PLAY IN S PLAY IN THE COUNTRY S PROGRESS !ND !ND CONTRIBUTING LARGELY IN THIS PURSUIT IS THE 5!0 -AKATI AKATI #ENTRAL "USINESS $ISTRICT TRICT #"$ #HAPTER WHICH FOR YEARS REMAINED ONE OF THE HE MOST PROMINENT IF NOT OT MOST PROLIkC CHAPTERS OF F THE ORGANIZATION 4HE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ $ #HAPTER WAS FORMED IN N $ECEMBER BY A GROUP OF YOUNG ARCHITECTS S LED BY !RCH -ARIO !RTURO O ,ISING WHO ALSO BECAME E ITS CHARTER PRESIDENT !C C CORDING TO ITS HISTORICAL CAL BRIEF THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ "$ #HAPTER USHERED IN THE gAD gAD VENT OF #OMPUTER !IDED $E D $E

Q Members of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Makati Central Business District (CBD) chapter gather during the general membership meeting in August last year.

SIGN AND $RAFTING WHICH USED TO BE ONE OF THE PROGRAMS FOR #ON TINUING 0ROFESSIONAL %DUCATION u 4HUS IT CAN BE SAID THAT #"$ AS IT IS POPULARLY KNOWN AMONG PEERS

HAS PRECEDED 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE g#ONTINUING 0ROFESSIONAL $EVELOPMENT #0$ ,AW u )NSPIRED BY THE LEGACY OF ITS PIONEERS THE PRESENT DAY 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER LAUNCHED THE "USINESS OF !RCHITECTURE ,ECTURE 3ERIES IN )T AIMS TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR WORKSHOPS LECTURES AND SEMINARS AMONG &ILIPINO ARCHITECTS SEEKING TO ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREER AND QUICKLY ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT BY A ROBUST CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE OMINOUS EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE )T IS NOTEWORTHY THAT LIKE ITS PREDECESSORS THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER THROUGH THE "USI NESS OF !RCHITECTURE ,ECTURE 3ERIES

HAS ALSO ANTICIPATED THE #0$ ,AW BEFORE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN )TS kFTH INSTALLMENT HELD ON /CTOBER AND LAST YEAR AT THE 3- !URA #ONVENTION #ENTER IN 4AGU IG FEATURED NOT ONE BUT TWO L E C T U R E MODULES

each rep resent ING TWO MAIN TOP ICS OF IN

Q Induction of UAP-Makati CBD chapter officers in July 2018.

TEREST Â&#x2021; THE ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE AND THE COUNTRY S BUILT HERITAGE -ODULE IS TITLED g"EYOND !RCHITECTUREu WHICH EXPLORED THE ARCHITECT S REGULAR SERVICES )T ALSO DEALT WITH RELEVANT ISSUES TRENDS

AND STANDARDS CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE PROFESSION 4HE kRST SET HAP PENED ON /CTOBER &EATURED SPEAKERS WERE !RCH 3UZETTE #HUA #ARINGAL ON $ESIGN AND "UILD 3ERVICES !RCH $ELANO -ARZO ON )NTEGRATED 0ROJECT $ELIVERY AND !RCH !RMANDO !LLI ON !RCHITEC TURE #ONSULTING 4HE SECOND SET WAS HELD ON /CTOBER WHICH FEA TURED !RCH %DISON #HING 0ADILLA ON "ASIC /CCUPATIONAL 3AFETY AND (EALTH FOR #ONSTRUCTION AND &IRE AND ,IFE 3AFETY 0RINCIPLES !RCH -ARIA #YNTHIA 9LAGAN &UNK ON 4HE 2ELEVANCE AND #HALLENGE OF !DVANCED !RCHITECTURE AND !RCH * !NTONIO 6ICENTE -ERCADO ON THE )NTRODUCTION TO 0HILIPPINE 'REEN "UILDING #ODE. 7HILE -ODULE CENTERED ON THE ARCHITECT AND THE PRACTICE -ODULE STEPPED A BIT FURTHER INTO AN AREA SEEN TO HAVE RECENTLY INCREASED IN IM PORTANCE (ERITAGE 0 R E S E R V A T I O N 4ITLED g#ONNECT ING THE $OTS !N )NTERDISCIPLIN

Q UAP Makati-CBD chapter President Arch. Michael Frederick Lazo

ARY !PPROACH TO (ERITAGE 0RESER VATION u -ODULE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL THE FACTS SURROUNDING OUR COUNTRY S BUILT HERITAGE BALANC ING BETWEEN HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS AND FUNDAMENTAL TECHNICALITIES -ODULE CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ARCHITECTS

ALONG WITH ALLIED PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS TO BECOME STEWARDS OF OUR COUNTRY S COLLECTIVE MEMORY ,IKE -ODULE THE kRST SET OF -ODULE WAS HELD ON /CTOBER

ALBEIT SEPARATED BY CURTAINS AND THE SO CALLED WAR ROOM OF THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER "OARD ACTING AS THE EVENT S ORGANIZING COMMIT TEE 4HE kRST SET FEATURED SPEAKERS SUCH AS 0ROF -ARIA "ERNARDITA -ARONILLA 2EYES ON !NALYSIS OF "UILDING -ATERIALS %NGR 2EGINALD *UAN -ERCADO ON !UTOMATION IN $IAGNOSING (ERITAGE 3TRUCTURES !RCH !RNULFO $ADO ON ,EGAL 0ROCESS AND 0ERTINENT $ETAILS IN $ECLARATION OF (ERITAGE 3TRUCTURES AND !RCH 2INO $OMINGO &ER NANDEZ ON 2EVISITING 4RADITIONAL 0RE !RCHITECTURAL &ORM IN THE 0HILIPPINES AND )TS )NlUENCE TO 3PANISH #OLONIAL !RCHITECTURE ,IKEWISE THE SECOND SET OF -ODULE WAS HELD ON /CTOBER )T FEATURED SPEAKERS SUCH AS !RCH &ERDINAND DELA 0AZ ON 4HE &ORM AND 3HAPE OF -ARIKINA ! $ISCUS SION ON !RCHITECTURE AND (ERITAGE $R !RCH 'ERARD 2EY ,ICO ON !RKITEKTURANG &ILIPINO ! (ISTORY OF !RCHITECTURE AND 5RBANISM IN THE 0HILIPPINES %NGR !NTHONY 6LADIMIR 0IMENTEL ON #ONDUCT ING 0ERFORMANCE "ASED 3IMULA TION ON (ERITAGE 3TRUCTURE !S 0REPARATION !GAINST %ARTHQUAKES AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST $R 6ICTOR 6ENIDA ON %CONOMICS IN (ERITAGE 0RESERVATION

$ISABILITIES 07$S 3TANDARDS AND $IMENSIONS ON "0 AND THE !POLINARIO -ABINI !WARDS /N !UGUST AT THE OFkCE OF THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL ON $ISABILITY !FFAIRS .#$! IN 1UEZON #ITY

THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER MET WITH THE 4ECHNICAL 7ORKING 'ROUP 47' OF THE SUB COMMITTEE ON !CCESSIBILITY ON "UILT %NVIRON MENT 4RANSPORTATION 3#!"%4 FOCUSING ON THE AMENDMENTS OF THE )22 OF "0 OR THE g!CCES SIBILITY ,AW u $URING THE SAME DAY AND IN THE SAME VENUE THE CHAPTER MET WITH THE ,EONARD #HESHIRE &OUNDATION )NC SEEKING TO kNALIZE THE PARAMETERS FOR THE -O5 WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY SIGNED DURING THE #"$ S !UGUST '-- 4HE ,EONARD #HESHIRE &OUNDA TION )NC IS A NON STOCK NON PROkT ORGANIZATION WHICH PROMOTES AND PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF 07$S IN THE COUNTRY USING A RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO DISABILITY AND DE VELOPMENT INVOLVING THREE CORE PROGRAMS Â&#x2021; )NCLUSIVE %DUCATION

%CONOMIC %MPOWERMENT AND THEIR ADVOCACY PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH 9OUNG 6OICES 4HE FOUNDA TION SOUGHT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE #"$ TO AUDIT THEIR BUILDINGS 0ERFORMING AUDITS ON ESTABLISH MENTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF 07$S HAS BEEN QUITE A RELIGIOUS VOCATION OF #"$ )N THIS ENDEAVOR ITS CURRENT CHAPTER PRESIDENT !RCH -ICHAEL &REDERICK ,AZO PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE EVEN PRIOR TO HIS ASSUMPTION IN OFkCE )N HIS BIO FOR THE !POLI NARIO -ABINI !WARDS WHERE HE WAS AWARDED AS 2EHABILITATION 6OLUNTEER INDIVIDUAL ,AZO HAS AUDITED HOTELS HOUSING FACILITIES AND HAS HELD CONSULTATIVE MEETINGS FOR THE AMENDMENT OF "0 AND A 07$ FRIENDLY SOCIALIZED HOUSING PROGRAM (E WAS INSPIRED BY !RCH *AIME 3ILVA A FELLOW #"$ MEMBER

KNOWN AS g4HE "LIND !RCHITECT u WHO CHAMPIONS THE CAUSE OF AC CESSIBILITY FOR 07$S DESPITE HIS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT 4HERE IS ALSO INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE 5!0 ORGANIZATION FOR #"$ ,AST !UGUST THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER RECENTLY ATTENDED A SPECIAL MEETING WITH THE 5!0 "ALANGKASAN FRAMEWORK #OMMITTEE HEADED BY !RCH 3YLVESTER 3ENO TO PLAN THE UP COMING "ALANGKASAN 4HE FORMAT OF THE EVENT IS A DEBATE LIKE DISCUSSION WHICH WILL REVOLVE AROUND THE TOPIC g(OW MUCH OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF THE BUILDING MUST BE PRESERVED AND HOW MUCH IS TO BE MODERNIZED u 4O SUM IT UP THE 5!0 -AKATI #"$ #HAPTER NURTURES ARCHITECTS IN THE SERVICE OF SOCIETY "ECAUSE OF THIS IT HAS BEEN AWARDED kVE TIMES AS 5!0 "EST #HAPTER IN THE YEARS AND AND

AND LASTLY IN 4HIS ENABLED THE CHAPTER TO REACH THE 5!0 (ALL /F &AME 2ECENTLY THE CHAPTER RECIEVED THE !POLINARIO -ABINI AWARD FOR "EST IN 2EHABILITATION 6OLUNTEER AS A GROUP GIVEN BY THE 0HILIPPINE &OUNDATION FOR THE 2EHABILITATION OF THE $ISABLED LAST 3EPT

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times w w w.manilatimes.net

Build&Design

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

D

/5",%$2!'/. 0ROPERTIES #ORP PLANS TO BE gAT THE FOREFRONTu OF 2EAL %STATE )NVESTMENT 4RUSTS 2%)4 OFFERING IN A BID TO GIVE FURTHER VALUATION to the company.

Q Hannah Yulo

!T THE SIDELINES OF A FORUM ORGANIZED

BY THE 5RBAN ,AND )NSTITUTE 0HILIPPINES IN 0ASAY #ITY RECENTLY $OUBLE$RAGON #HIEF )NVESTMENT /FFICER (ANNAH 9ULO SAID THE COMPANY WAS READY FOR 2%)4 OFFERINGS WHICH IT DEEMED AS AN ATTRACTIVE FUND RAISING INSTRUMENT FOR $OUBLE$RAGON g7E RE READY FOR 2%)4 AND WE RE LOOK

ING FORWARD TO THIS BECAUSE IT HELPS ;COMPANIES= LIKE US WHO ARE VERY UNDERVALUED IN THE MARKET UNLOCK REAL VALUATIONS u 9ULO SAID 3HE SAID THE COMPANY COULD DOUBLE ITS VALUE gBY 2%)4ING OUR ASSETS u 4HE 2%)4 !CT OF IS BEING REVIVED

BY THE 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK %XCHANGE AND 3ECURITIES AND %XCHANGE #OMMISSION

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

3%# AS PART OF EFFORTS TO BOOST LIQUIDITY IN THE EQUITIES MARKET 3%# #OMMISSIONER %PHYRO ,UIS !MATONG SAID EARLY THIS MONTH THE 2%)4 FRAMEWORK WAS LIKELY TO BE IMPLE MENTED IN THE kRST HALF OF THE YEAR AS ALL STUMBLING BLOCKS Â&#x2021; SUCH AS THE MINI MUM PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PERCENT

AND THE VALUE ADDED TAX ISSUE Â&#x2021; WERE ALREADY RESOLVED 9ULO SAID THE COMPANY WAS TARGETTING TO COMPLETE WITHIN THE YEAR ANOTHER

SQUARE METERS SQM OF GROSS LEASABLE AREA AS PART OF ITS TARGET TO HAVE MILLION SQM OF LEASABLE SPACE BY 4HE TOTAL FIGURE SHALL BE COMPRISED OF SQM FROM #ITY-ALLS

C3

SQM FROM $$ -ERIDIAN 0ARK AND *OLLIBEE 4OWER SQM FROM THE PLANNED HOTEL ROOMS OF (O TEL AND *INJIANG )NN 0HILIPPINES AND ANOTHER SQM OF INDUSTRIAL SPACE FROM #ENTRAL(UB SITES NATIONWIDE g7E RE SO ON TRACK TO MEET OUR GOALS AND WE RE ACTUALLY VERY WELL IN TERMS OF YIELDS IN TERMS OF OUR OFkCE OUR GROW ING RETAIL GROUP AND NOW INDUSTRIAL HUB WE RE SEEING A LOT OF DEMAND FOR INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES AS WELL AS OUR HOTEL u 9ULO SAID $OUBLE$RAGON SHARES WERE DOWN

BY CENTAVOS ON 4HURSDAY TO CLOSE AT 0 EACH VERSUS THE 0HILIPPINE 3TOCK %XCHANGE INDEX S PERCENT GAIN

Q Hotel 101 in Pasay City

Q The DD Meridian Park

Friendly rates, easy payments key to south of Manila market

&/2 MOST &ILIPINOS OWNING THEIR DREAM HOME IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER AS SOARING HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO PUSH HOME AFFORD ABILITY OUT OF REACH 7HILE RISING HOUSEHOLD INCOMES PROVIDED SOME OFFSET STRETCHED AFFORDABILITY CONDITIONS IN BIG CITIES MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MOST HOUSE HOLDS TO ENTER THE HOUSING MARKETS /NE COMPANY DECIDED TO GET SOMETHING DONE YEARS AGO AND EMBARKED ON A MISSION OF gPUTTING A ROOF OVER THE HEADS OF &ILIPINO FAMILIES WHICH THEY CAN TRULY CALL THEIR OWN Â&#x2021; AT A PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD u g)T ALL STARTED IN WITH 3T *OSEPH 6ILLAGE Â&#x2021; NAMED AFTER 3T *OSEPH THE 7ORKER Â&#x2021; THAT COMPLETELY SOLD OUT IN JUST FOUR MONTHS )T MADE ME REALIZE THEN OF THAT HUGE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLY PRICED HOMES ESPECIALLY IN THE PROVINCES SOUTH OF -ETRO -ANILA WHERE AT THE TIME INVESTMENT INlOWS ARE GETTING STRONGER POTENTIAL FOR JOB CREATION IS BIG AND CREATING A WELL PLANNED COUNTER MAGNET DEVELOP MENTS TO A HEAVILY CONGESTED METROPO LIS MAKES SENSE u SAID 0! 0ROPERTIES #HAIRMAN 2OMARICO g"INGu !LVAREZ

Q Data indicate that the significantly high number of young households who are buying houses in Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan may be attributed to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness to move out of big cities in search of affordable homes.

Photo shows model houses in St. Joseph Village in Calamba, Laguna. !CCORDING TO EXPERTS THE ASPIRA TIONS OF POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIkCANT CHANGE OVER THE YEARS g"UYERS TODAY ARE SMARTER

AS MOST CONSIDER HOUSING PRICES AS IMPORTANT AS LOCATION /UR DATABASE OF BUYERS INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SIGNIkCANTLY HIGH NUMBER OF YOUNG HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE BUYING HOUSES IN ,AGUNA #AVITE AND "ULACAN WHICH MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE S WILLING NESS TO MOVE OUT OF BIG CITIES IN SEARCH OF AFFORDABLE HOMES u SAID *ONATHAN ,U 0! 0ROPERTIES PRESIDENT

Q The formula of building houses within the range of low-income households, average wage-earners and overseas Filipino workers and arranging funding mechanisms to finance such homes is doing wonders.

Shown are affordable houses in Nuvista Village in Lipa, Batangas.

g7HILE RENTING WOULD STILL CON TINUE TO BE THE NORM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN CITIES WHERE A SHORTAGE OF HOMES WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE HIGHER PRICES WE EXPECT THAT THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RETHINK ABOUT THEIR HOUSING INVEST MENT OPTIONS u HE ADDED "UYING THE DREAM HOME CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE AFFAIR YET HOMEBUYERS ARE NOT AVERSE TO STRETCHING THEIR SAV INGS TO THE LIMIT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN 3INCE BANKS TYPICALLY DO NOT LEND MORE THAN PERCENT OF THE VALUE ;ON AVERAGE= OF THE PROPERTY AT THE OUTSET THE BUYER HAS TO SHELL OUT A LUMP SUM AS DOWN PAYMENT OF THE HOUSE -OST END UP TAKING A LARGE CHUNK OUT OF THEIR LIFE SAVINGS TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT AND SECURE THE HOME LOAN &OR THE MOST PART A NUMBER OF HOMEBUYERS ARE SINKING IN MORE THAN PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL SAVINGS INTO THE DOWNPAYMENT ITSELF 4HESE NUANCES AND MORE OF HOME OWNERSHIP WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY !LVAREZ AND ,U AS THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO OFFER LOW TO MEDIUM COST HOUSING UNITS WITH EASY PAY MENT OPTIONS FOR &ILIPINOS WHO DREAM OF HAVING THEIR OWN HOME

4HE COMPANY BUILDS HOUSES WITH LOT AREAS RANGING FROM TO SQUARE METERS SQM AND lOOR AREAS FROM SQM AND ABOVE AT PRICES AS LOW AS 0 MILLION 3O FAR THE COMPANY IS SUCCEEDING g/UR FORMULA OF BUILDING HOUSES WITHIN THE RANGE OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AVERAGE WAGE EARNERS AND /&7S OVERSEAS &ILIPINO WORK ERS AND ARRANGING FUNDING MECHA NISMS TO kNANCE SUCH HOMES WORKED WONDERS FOR 0! 0ROPERTIES AND SUS TAINED ITS PROFITABILITY AND OPERA TIONS u !LVAREZ ADDED 4O DATE 0! 0ROPERTIES HAS COM PLETED A TOTAL OF AFFORDABLY PRICED HOUSING COMMUNITIES EQUIVALENT TO OVER UNITS 7ITH HOUSING COMMUNITIES STILL BEING DEVELOPED

THE COMPANY SAID MORE PROJECTS

ESTIMATED TO GENERATE 0 BILLION IN REVENUES WERE NOW IN THE PIPELINE )NDEED FOR A 0 BILLION COMPANY THAT BEGAN WITH AN INITIAL CAPITALIZA TION OF JUST 0

0! 0ROPERTIES IS STARTING TO MAKE ITS MARK IN THE AF FORDABLE HOUSING MARKET AND IS NOW HIGHLY RECOGNIZED AND WELL RECEIVED IN COMMUNITIES WHERE IT OPERATES

PARTICULARLY IN THE PROVINCES OF ,A GUNA #AVITE "ULACAN AND "ATANGAS !PART FROM AFFORDABLE PAYMENT SCHEMES 0! 0ROPERTIES ALSO ADOPTED AGGRESSIVE STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO HELP THE COMPANY REALIZE ITS BUSINESS GOALS g0! 0ROPERTIES UNDERSCORES THE POWER OF LINKAGES COLLABORATION AND TECHNOL OGY IN ITS JOURNEY TOWARD ACHIEVING ITS VISION AND THRUST TO HELP ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT BRIDGE THAT GAP IN HOME OWNERSHIP PARTICULARLY IN THE LOW COST HOUSING SEGMENT 7E WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD KEEP HOME OWNER SHIP VERY MUCH ALIVE AND AFFORDABLE BECAUSE HOME OWNERSHIP ANCHORS A NEIGHBORHOOD u ,U SAID

Q Representatives of United Architects of the Philippines, Junior Chamber International Philippines LauBini and other partners for Project Booklat pose for a picture during the launching ceremony.

Architects to help build school library

BY ARCH. JOSEPH CASAS 4(% 5NITED 5 I D !RCHITECTS ! HI OF F THE H 0HILIPPINES 5!0 -AKATI !YALA 4RIANGLE #HAPTER SIGNED ON 3EPT

A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A LIBRARY BUILDING AT THE "ALELE %LEMENTARY 3CHOOL IN 4ANAUAN

"ATANGAS 4HE PROJECT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE *UNIOR #HAMBER )NTERNA TIONAL 0HILIPPINES *#) 4ANAUAN ,AU"INI AND THE 5!0 "ATANGAS ,AKESHORE #HAPTER *#) HAS BEEN HELPING THE SCHOOL

BY DISTRIBUTING HYGIENE KITS TO STUDENTS AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THEIR EDUCATION "OOKS RESEARCH MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT TO FURTHER FACILITATE THE LEARNING OF THE STUDENTS ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE BUT THE SCHOOL LACKS THE FACILITY TO HOUSE THE LEARNING TOOLS

Q The memorandum of agreement provides for the construction of a library building for the Balele Elementary School in Tanauan, Batangas to boost the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; learning capacity. #ALLED g0ROJECT "OOKLAT u THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBIL ITY PROGRAM OF THE ARCHITECTS AIMS TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF LEARNING FACILITIES IN "ALELE %L EMENTARY 3CHOOL #OMPLETION OF THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED IN *UNE THIS YEAR

C4

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Build&Design

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Q Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Q These new lot owners just got their land titles, but some beneficiaries of the National Government Center housing project in Quezon City are not so lucky. Problems on land grabbing and other issues are stopping them from getting their land titles.

Shelter program monitoring sought

L

AND titles are still not awarded to some BENEkCIARIES OF THE GOVERNMENT S HOUSING program in Barangay Holy Spirit Quezon City due to land grabbing and other problems.

4HIS WAS LEARNED BY (OUSE 3PEAK ER 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO DURING HER VISIT AT THE SITE OF THE PROGRAM IN "ARANGGAY (OLY 3PIRIT LAST WEEK !SIDE FROM LAND GRABBING !R ROYO DISCOVERED THAT FAILURE IN THE REBLOCKING OF SOME PROPERTIES

PREVENTED SOME PERCENT OF THE BENEkCIARIES FROM BEING AWARDED THEIR LAND TITLES )N RESPONSE !RROYO SAID SHE WOULD FORM AN OVERSIGHT COMMIT TEE TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTA TION OF 2EPUBLIC !CT OR THE

g.ATIONAL 'OVERNMENT #ENTER (OUSING AND ,AND 5TILIZATION !CT OF u 2!

WHICH FACILITATED UR BAN POOR HOUSING IN 1UEZON #ITY

WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY !RROYO WHEN SHE WAS PRESIDENT g) FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN OVER SIGHT COMMITTEE IN THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED DURING MY TERM 3INCE THERE ARE STILL SOME REMAINING PROBLEMS HERE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHOULD BE CONSTITUTED u SHE SAID

#ONSTITUTING THE MONITORING BODY IS CONSISTENT WITH HER EAR LIER PRONOUNCEMENT FOR THE ,OWER (OUSE TO EXERCISE ITS OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS IN THE REMAINING MONTHS OF HER SPEAKERSHIP AS IT HAD ALREADY PASSED ALL THE PRIORITY BILLS OF 0RESI DENT 2ODRIGO $UTERTE !RROYO SAID !RROYO SAID g4HIS IS VERY CON SISTENT WITH WHAT ) SAID WHEN WE LEFT FOR THE #HRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

THAT WE ALREADY PASSED MANY GOOD LAWS Â&#x2021; INCLUDING MY OWN

LAW IN "UT WHAT IS IMPOR TANT NOW IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WELL IMPLEMENTED u g3O THIS IS PART OF WHAT ) HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THAT S THE TASK ) THINK THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE DOING FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS u SHE ADDED 5NDER THE LAW THE (OUSE /VERSIGHT #OMMITTEE ON 2!

WILL BE HEADED BY THE CHAIR OF THE %NVIRONMENT AND .ATURAL 2ESOURCES #OMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

WHO IS CURRENTLY #EBU 2EP 2O DRIGO !BELLANOSA -EANWHILE 1UEZON #ITY 2EP 7INSTON #ASTELO WHO IS THE DIS TRICT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AREA

WILL BE NAMED AS CHAIR OF THE SUB COMMITTEE ON THE CONCERNS OF "ARANGAY (OLY 3PIRIT 4HE OVERSIGHT PANEL WILL HOLD ITS kRST HEARING NEXT WEEK TO THRESH OUT THE REMAINING PROBLEMS OF THE RESIDENTS IN "ARANGAY (OLY 3PIRIT

PNA !RROYO SAID

Q ESTATE FROM C1

QC leads real estate market survey

NEVERTHELESS H L WAS AMONG THE H TOP THREE FOR CONDOS 4HE RAPID DEVEL OPMENTS IN THE "'# AREA WERE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CONDO DEVELOP MENTS WERE HIGH IN DEMAND -UL TIPLE WORLD CLASS CORPORATIONS ARE ALSO LOCATED IN THIS AREA )T DIDN T COME AS A SURPRISE THAT -ETRO -ANILA CITIES OCCUPIED THE TOP SPOTS AMONG MOST SEARCHED LOCATIONS AS CITIES IN THE METRO GENERALLY CATER TO THE DEMAND FOR BOTH LUXURY AND MID RANGE CON DOS !CCORDING TO THE g -AR KET 3NAPSHOTu BY *,, gCONDITIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM MARKET REMAINED SOLID WITH LO CAL AND FOREIGN HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS LEADING THE DEMAND FOR THE LUXURY PRICE SEGMENT WHILE MID INCOME EARNERS AND OVERSEAS &LIPINOS /& FAMILIES TAKING UP UNITS IN THE MID RANGE SEGMENT u 4HE TO YEAR OLD AGE GROUP COMPRISED THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SEARCHES 4HEY TALLIED PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS 4HE ,EADS GENERATED ARE STRONG INDICATOR OF THIS AGE GROUP WANTING TO EXPERIENCE CONDO LIVING &EMALES LIKEWISE OUTNUMBERED MALES IN THE GENDER CATEGORY 4HE MALES ONLY HAD PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS )N THE !REA OF 2ESIDENCE CATEGO RY PROPERTY SEEKERS CAME MOSTLY FROM -AKATI 4HEY TOTALLED PERCENT IN SESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS ! CLOSE SECOND PLACE HOW EVER WERE USERS FROM 1UEZON #ITY 4HEY TOTALLED PERCENT IN SES SION PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS )T IS POSSIBLE THAT THOSE PRESENTLY STAY ING IN CONDOS IN -AKATI OR 1UEZON #ITY WERE LOOKING TO UPGRADE 4HE TWO CITIES WERE LIKEWISE IN THE TOP TWO FOR THE MOST SEARCHED LOCA TIONS IN THIS CATEGORY

Foreclosed Property 4HE MOST SEARCHED LOCATIONS WERE MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED WITH OTHER CITIES CONSTITUTING THE BULK OF THE INQUIRIES AT PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS 1UEZON #ITY HOWEVER WAS ONCE AGAIN AT THE TOP )T WAS JOINED

BY THREE CITIES FROM #AVITE PROV INCE $ASMARIÃ&#x201E;AS SECOND PLACE

"ACOOR THIRD PLACE AND )MUS

kFTH PLACE ,AS 0IÃ&#x201E;AS AT FOURTH PLACE COMPLETED THE TOP kVE 4HIS INDICATED THAT INTEREST IN FORECLOSED PROPERTIES WAS NOT CONCENTRATED IN JUST A FEW CITIES

WHICH SHOW THAT INVESTORS ARE CONSIDERING LOCATIONS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY 4HE TOP AGE GROUP WAS THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET )T COMPRISED PERCENT IN SESSIONS PER CENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS 4HERE WERE MORE INVESTORS WILLING TO INVEST IN FORECLOSED PROP ERTIES THAN ANY AGE GROUP 4HE NEXT WAS THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET

MAKING UP LESS THAN HALF AT PERCENT IN ,EADS &EMALES ONCE AGAIN REPRESENT ED CLOSE TO TWO THIRDS OF SEARCHES WHEN IT CAME TO GENDER 4HEIR NUMBERS TOTALLED PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS RESPECTIVELY -OST POTENTIAL INVESTORS DE kNITIVELY CAME FROM 1UEZON #ITY )T REPRESENTS A STRONGER SHOWING OF PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS

PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS #OMPARED TO ITS MOST SEARCHED LOCATION OUTPUT

1UEZON #ITY S AREA OF RESIDENCE RESULTS CONCLUSIVELY SHOWS WHERE MOST PROPERTY SEEKERS IN FORECLOSED PROPERTIES COME FROM )T DOES NOT HOWEVER TOP THE OTHERS CITIES 5SERS OF THE PLATFORM COMING FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE 0HILIP PINES POSTED THE HIGHEST RANKING FOR THE AREA OF RESIDENCE PORTION )T REPRESENTED PERCENT IN 3ES SIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS

Lot 3IMILAR TO THE &ORECLOSED 0ROPERTIES CATEGORY THE OTHERS CITIES SECTION PROVIDED CONVINCING NUMBERS )T REPRESENTED PERCENT IN SES SIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS

AND PERCENT IN ,EADS 1UEZON #ITY HOWEVER STILL HELD THE TOP SPOT )T WAS JOINED BY 4AGAYTAY !NTIPOLO

3ANTA 2OSA ,AGUNA AND $AVAO 4HE kVE CITIES MENTIONED ONLY MADE UP ABOUT PERCENT OF THE TOTAL 7ITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1UEZON #ITY IT APPEARED PROPERTY SEEKERS WERE LOOKING TO INVEST IN LAND OUTSIDE OF -ETRO -ANILA 7HILE IT WAS NOT CONCLUSIVE THESE SEARCHES COULD BE IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT S INITIATIVES TO DECONGEST -ETRO -ANILA

Q Makati City is the most searched location for condominiums.

OF THE NUMBERS AT PERCENT IN SESSIONS PERCENT IN PAGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN LEADS 4HIS IS FOLLOWED BY -AKATI SECOND -ANILA THIRD #EBU FOURTH AND 0ASIG kFTH (OWEVER 1UEZON #ITY DID NOT HOLD A COMMANDING LEAD AS IT DID OVER -AKATI IN THE MOST SEARCHED LOCATION

Challenges

Q In all categories, the millenials (18-34 years old) are the most active in the search for properties.

4HOSE COMING FROM THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET REMAINED THE HIGHEST AGE GROUP OUT OF THE SIX 4HEY GENERATED PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS )T WAS MORE EVENLY BALANCED WHEN IT CAME TO GENDER WITH MALES TRAILING FEMALES BY A SMALLER MAR GIN 4HEY COMPRISED PERCENT IN SESSIONS PERCENT IN PA GEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN LEADS ,OT PROPERTY SEEKERS COMING FROM 1UEZON #ITY CONTINUED TO PLACE AT THE TOP OF THE AREA OF RESIDENCE REP RESENTING PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS

PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS )N ADDITION TO 1UEZON #ITY MOST OF THE POTEN TIAL INVESTORS IN THE TOP kVE CAME FROM -ETRO -ANILA 4HESE ARE THE CITIES OF -AKATI -ANILA AND 0ASIG 5SERS COMING FROM #EBU HOWEVER

REGISTERED AT FOURTH PLACE #EBU IS SECOND ONLY TO -ETRO -ANILA IN TERMS OF POPULATION 0ROPERTY SEEKERS COLLECTIVELY COMING FROM THE COUNTRY S MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS TOP THIS CATEGORY

Apartment 4HE MOST SEARCHED LOCATION UN DER THE APARTMENT CATEGORY WAS 1UEZON #ITY )T GARNERED PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS 4HIS WAS MORE THAN PERCENT THE AMOUNT OF THE SECOND PLACER -AKATI #ITY 4HE REST OF THE TOP kVE WERE -ANILA THIRD #EBU FOURTH AND 0ASIG kFTH )T GENER ALLY IMPLIED THAT APARTMENT LIVING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS WOULD NATU RALLY RANK HIGH IN THIS CATEGORY !PARTMENTS WERE A LESS COSTLY

ALTERNATIVE TO HOUSES AND IN SOME CASES CONDOS )T WAS A LOGICAL CHOICE FOR THOSE WHO WERE LIVING AND WORK ING IN MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS 7HEN IT CAME TO AGE THE TO YEAR OLD BRACKET CONVINCINGLY HELD THE TOP POSITION )T CONSTITUTED ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY SEEKERS !T PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS PER CENT IN 0AGEVIEWS AND PERCENT IN ,EADS IT OVERTOOK THE NEXT AGE GROUP BY A WIDE MARGIN &EMALE APARTMENT SEEKERS BY FAR OUTNUMBERED MALES 4HEY REPRE SENTED PERCENT IN 3ESSIONS

PERCENT IN 0AGEVIEWSAND PERCENT IN ,EADS )T WAS ONLY IN THE APARTMENT CATEGORY IN WHICH FEMALES COMMANDED THE BIGGEST LEAD &OR AREA OF RESIDENCE 1UEZON #ITY ONCE AGAIN HELD THE NUMBER ONE SPOT )T TALLIED CLOSE TO A THIRD

7ITH MORE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE """ PROGRAM MATERIALIZING EXPECT MORE RISING PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE INlUENCED BY IT -ETRO -ANILA WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS FAIR SHARE OF HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS THOUGH THERE WILL LIKELY BE IN CREASED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROVINCES ESPECIALLY IN #EBU

$AVAO AND )LOILO (OWEVER IT WILL NOT BE SMOOTH SAILING THE WHOLE WAY #OLLIERS HAS IDENTIkED CERTAIN CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE INDUSTRY INCLUDING RISING INTEREST RATES AND INlATION

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS UNCER TAINTY WITH THE SECOND PACKAGE OF THE #OMPREHENSIVE 4AX 2EFORM 0ROGRAM AND RIGHT OF WAY ISSUES ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS "UT WITH SOLID MARKET PERFOR MANCE IN AND GROWTH IN THE PROPERTY SECTOR S VARIOUS SEGMENTS AND EMERGING HOTSPOTS IN AD DITION TO POSITIVE TRENDS SUCH AS GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABILITY

PROPERTY INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS ALIKE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A FAVOR ABLE YEAR AHEAD

Sports

WEDNESDAY D1 JANUARY 30, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Curry sizzles as Warriors rout Pacers

L

OS ANGELES: Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 26 points on another milestone night on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), leading the NBA champion Warriors in a 132-100 rout of the Indiana Pacers.

The Warriors stretched the longest winning streak in the league this season to 11 as they wrapped

UP A kVE GAME ROAD TRIP IN STYLE IN Indianapolis.

Curry connected on 10 of 13 SHOTS FROM THE kELD INCLUDING six three-pointers and beCAME THE kRST PLAYER IN ."! HISTORY TO MAKE 200 three-pointers IN SEVEN SUCCESSIVE seasons.

(E DID MOST OF THE DAMAGE IN THE FIRST HALF WHEN HIS POINTS INcluded eight straight to break A TIE MIDWAY THROUGH THE first quarterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a burst that put the Warriors on their way. g*UST A REALLY GOOD WAY TO kNISH IT u 7ARRIORS COACH 3TEVE +ERR SAID OF THE CONVINCING END TO THE ROAD trip. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a little worried about THIS GAME %VERYBODY S ANXIOUS TO GET HOME BUT WE VE kNQ Stephen Curry (No. 30) of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday in Indianapolis, Indiana.

AFP PHOTO

HIM EIGHT TO GAMES ANYWAY SO WHEN HE DOES HAVE NICKS AND BRUISES IT MAKES sense to sit. u

Nuggets rally 4HE $ENVER .UGGETS SECOND in the Western Conference BEHIND HE 7ARRIORS ERASED A POINT THIRD QUARTER DEkCIT TO BEAT THE 'RIZZLIES IN -EMphis 95-92.

Nikola Jokic scored 24 points and drained a go-ahead hook shot with 28.9 seconds to play AS THE .UGGETS BECAME THE kRST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE THIS season to win after trailing by 25 in the second half.

Down 17 heading into the kNAL PERIOD THE .UGGETS FORCED THE 'RIZZLIES INTO EIGHT STRAIGHT MISSES IN THE kNAL MINUTES Malik Beasley scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. g)T S WHAT WE DO u "EASLEY SAID g7E JUST STAYED TOGETHER KEPT OUR HEADS up and kept playing hard.

7E RE THE BEST TEAM IN THIS AFP LEAGUE TO ME u

JAMES GETTING CLOSER TO NBA RETURN LOS ANGELES: LeBron James is ramping up his training activity but no date has been set for his return to NBA action after a Christmas Day groin injury, Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton said Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Walton told reporters that James took part in three-minute, full-court scrimmages with the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the closest he has come to

Q James Yap of Rain or Shine attempts to score against LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson (No. 6) and Greg Slaughter (No. 20) of Ginebra during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game last Saturday at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO

Unscathed RoS wants share of lead with Phoenix RAIN or Shine aims to extend its winning run and grab a share of the top spot with Phoenix when it battles the still winless Blackwater Elite at 7 p.m. tonight in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Elasto Painters are coming off two big wins against Northern Luzon Expressway (96-87) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (83-80) for a 2-0 win-loss record). â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remind the players not to waste our good start and we have to play within our system.

Blackwater is a dangerous team so we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be com-

ished off the trip the right way. g7E RE IN A GROOVE WE RE IN A GOOD PLACE 7E VE JUST GOT TO KEEP GOING u DeMarcus Cousins added 22 POINTS FOR THE 7ARRIORS SHAKING OFF A SCARY FALL IN THE kRST QUARTER #OUSINS PLAYING JUST HIS FIFTH GAME FOR THE 7ARRIORS AFTER MISSING ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR AFTER A TORN !CHILLES TENDON WENT DOWN HARD AFTER )NDIANA S -YLES 4URNER FOULED HIM IN TRANSITION in the first quarter. g) WASN T ACTUALLY HURT ) WAS MORE SPOOKED FROM THE FALL u SAID #OUSINS WHO WAS SLOW TO RISE BUT STAYED IN THE GAME +EVIN Durant added 16 points for THE 7ARRIORS WHO LET gBANGED UPu $RAYMOND 'REEN SIT OUT FOR A BIT OF REST Tu r n e r s c o r e d l e d t h e Pa c ERS WITH POINTS BUT )NDIANA dropped their second straight since losing guard Victor Oladipo TO A SEASON ENDING KNEE INJURY

IN "OSTON THE ABSENCE OF +YRIE )RVING WAS NO PROBLEM for the Celtics as Jaylen Brown AND -ARCUS 3MART SCORED points apiece to lead the CeltICS TO A VICTORY OVER THE Brooklyn Nets.

A r o n B ay n e s a d d e d 1 6 POINTS -ARCUS -ORRIS SCORED 15 and Al Horford and Terry Rozier chipped in 14 each for THE #ELTICS WHOSE BLOCKED shots were a franchise record. )RVING SAT OUT WITH A SORE left hip -- possibly the result OF A FALL IN 3ATURDAY S LOSS TO the Warriors. g) DON T THINK IT LL BE ANYTHING LONG TERM u #ELTICS C O A C H " R A D 3 T E VE N S S A I D BEFORE THE GAME g7E LL SEE after tonight how he feels TOMORROW u 3TEVENS SAID IT WASN T A TOUGH DECISION TO HAVE )RVING SIT OUT A SEVENTH GAME THIS SEASON EVEN WITH A MINOR INJURY AS THE TEAM LOOKS TO PRESERVE THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF THE !LL 3TAR POINT GUARD g % S P E C I A L L Y W I T H A G U Y that we were going to sit

placent,â&#x20AC;? Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said.

Garcia is hoping that big man Raymond Almazanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sprained ankle is fully healed timely for tonight's game.

Another great performance is also expected of veteran James Yap, who is averaging 14.5 points in their first two games.

Although yet to post a win, the Elite exude optimism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rough start for us but we are not really thinking of 0-2. We have a great young team and we have a lot of talents out there. It is up to us to coordinate,â&#x20AC;? Blackwater rookie Abu Tratter told The

Manila Times.

Meanwhile, a resurgent TNT KaTropa are on a hunt for their third straight victory when they face Meralco in the 4:30 p.m. first game.

After losing their first two games, the KaTropa, using the advice of TNT consultant Mark Dickel, notched a two-game winning streak beating NLEX 85-80, and San Miguel Beer 104-93. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully we can sustain our energy and we just have to be ready. The goal is to believe in our system which employs more passing and less dribbling,â&#x20AC;? said TNT coach Bong Ravena. JOSEF T. RAMOS

playing under game-type conditions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see how his body responds to that, and from there weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take it as far as making those scrimmages longer, or if he says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey I feel great, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see if I can play,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make those adjustments,â&#x20AC;? Walton said.

The coach said he was preparing his team for a Tuesday game against the Philadelphia 76ers as if James wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be available.

The Lakers face the Los Angeles Clip-

pers on Thursday in a cross-town clash before a Saturday showdown with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

James has missed 16 games since he was hurt in the holiday victory over the Warriors, having never missed more than 13 games in any of his 15 prior seasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not driving the lane and tomahawk dunking on people right now,â&#x20AC;? Walton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moving well and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting into the paint AFP and shooting jumpers.â&#x20AC;?

D2

Sports

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Ancajas to defend belt vs Funai after cancelled unification bout

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

I

NTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) super lYWEIGHT CHAMPION *ERWIN !NCAJAS IS N OW SHI FTI NG H I S FOCUS ON DEFENDING HIS CROWN AGAINST *APANESE 2YUICHI & U N A I A F T E R H I S PLANNED UNIkCATION BOUT VS 4HAI 7ORLD " O X I N G # O U N C I L S U P E R F L Y W E I G H T TITLEHOLDER 3RISAKET 3OR 2UNGVISAI DID NOT MATERIALIZE â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will fight in any bout arr a n g e d by my i n t e r n a t i o n a l matchmaker but I really regret not fighting Rungvisai,â&#x20AC;? Ancajas told The Manila Times on Tuesday.

International matchmaker Sean Gibbons revealed early this year THAT 2UNGVISAI HAD DECIDED TO kGHT Juan Francisco Estrada in a rematch leaving Ancajas with no other option but to face the mandatory challenger Funai. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still okay with me. I guess IT IS NOT YET TIME FOR US TO kGHT u added Ancajas.

Gibbons said the Ancajas-Funai fight might be an undercard of the Terence Crawford-Amir Khan

Q Jerwin Ancajas fires a right against Jonas Sultan in their all-Filipino IBF world title showdown in May 2018 in the US. PHOTO COURTESY OF JHAY OTAMIAS bout on April 20 in a yet to be determined venue.

The 27-year-old Ancajas (30-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 20 knock-

outs) describes Funai (31-7 record with 22 knockouts) as a grizzled veteran. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is a pugilistic stylist who can attack craftily and hits you

solidly. He is a veteran of many world championship fights.â&#x20AC;?

Ancajas is eager to bounce back from his disappointing perfor-

mance in Oakland, California last year against Mexican Alejandro Barrios Santiago that resulted in a split draw.

Malaysia defiant after losing swim event over Israel stance KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has branded Israel a â&#x20AC;&#x153;criminal stateâ&#x20AC;?, hitting back at a decision to strip Malaysia of the right to host a major swimming event for refusing to let Israelis participate.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced at the weekend that Malaysia would no longer be staging the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships as authorities had failed to provide guarantees that Israelis could take part.

The championships, a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, were due to take place in Kuching from July 29-August 4.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with the Jewish state and entry to the country on an Israeli passport is forbidden, but the IPC had received assurances in 2017 that all eligible athletes would be able to participate in the event.

However the situation changed after a new government headed by 93-year-

old Mahathir, long notorious for his tirades against Israel and Jews, came to power in Malaysia last year.

Following the IPC decision, Mahathir struck a defiant note, with a long entry on his blog listing examples of what he claimed was unfair treatment of the Palestinians by Israel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Israel is a criminal state and deserves to be condemned,â&#x20AC;? he wrote late Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We maintain we have a right to bar Israelis from our country. When

the world condemns us for this, we have a right to say that the world is being hypocritical.â&#x20AC;?

At least 245 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March, mostly during protests and border clashes but also by tank fire and air strikes. Two Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuse Hamas of orchestrating the protests and argue that Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions are aimed at defending the border.

Meanwhile, Polish swimmer Bart

Kizierowskiâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who represented his country at four Olympicsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;pulled out of a job coaching the Malaysian team due to the refusal to allow Israelis to attend the tournament, local media reported.

In a Facebook post, Kizierowski said he rejected the position due to Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refusal to grant visas to some athletes, adding: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no place for that in sport.â&#x20AC;?

The Star newspaper reported that sports officials in Malaysia had already AFP announced his appointment.

Odom lifts Mighty past Magnolia five MIGHTY Sports beat Magnolia, 98-97, in a tune-up match at Ronac gym on Tuesday but coach Charles Tiu remained wary three days before the team plunges into action in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship.

Though the team played much better than its 106-99 win over Blackwater last week, Tiu said his players need to work double time on two aspects â&#x20AC;&#x201D;execution and defense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Team is slowly improving but I would not consider us ready yet,â&#x20AC;? said the younger brother of retired Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to play real smart defensively and also need to improve our execution.â&#x20AC;?

Tiu said former LA Lakers star Lamar Odom is doing great. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lamar looks better every day and our locals also look okay,â&#x20AC;? added Tiu. In fact, it was the 6-foot-10 Odom who rescued the team from defeat with his timely threepoint shot in the crunch.

He finished with seven points.

Mighty Sports owner Alex Wongchuking was delighted with the outcome of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two tune-up matches especially with the performances of Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee and Chinese league veteran Randolp Morris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping they can sustain their good form and help team advance to the semis,â&#x20AC;? said Wongchuking, who co-owns the team with younger brother and former Xavier School basketball team manager Caesar.

The team aims to improve its maiden showing in the annual tournament after winning only once in seven games two years ago.

Besides Brownlee and Morris, University of the Philippines star Juan Gomez de Liano and new recruit Jason Brickman also delivered to the delight of a motley crowd.

De Liano held his own against the pros on the way to scoring 16 points while Brickman, a Fil-Am, showed the brilliance that made him one of the Asean Basketball League stars.

BRADY, GOFF RARING TO GO AS SUPER BOWL CIRCUS KICKS OFF ATLANTA: Rival quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jared Goff declared themselves raring to go on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) as the final countdown to the Super Bowl got under way with the traditional opening night media circus.

A day after the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams touched down in Atlanta, the teams who will battle for the biggest prize in US sport were presented to around 9,000 raucous fans packed into the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Farm Arena basketball venue.

Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s media extravaganza marked the start of week-long festivities which will culminate with next Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super Bowl showpiece at the futuristic Mercedes Benz Stadium.

For Brady, the now customary hoopla surrounding the opening party is nothing new.

The 41-year-old Patriots quarterback will be appearing in a record ninth Super Bowl this weekend, chasing a record-breaking sixth championship.

Unsurprisingly, Brady looked at ease on Monday as he surveyed a throng of hundreds of journalists which included the usual array of comedians, celebrities and bizarre costumes. One credentialed media member arrived dressed as a clown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the most important thing is to keep the week as normal as possible, try to limit the distractions,â&#x20AC;? Brady said when asked for the key to his Super Bowl preparations.

Brady and Rams counterpart Goff, 24, had earlier shared a friendly exchange after being introduced on stage by a moderator.

Asked what advice Brady would give to Goff as the young Rams signal caller prepared for his first Super Bowl, Brady laughed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not giving him advice.â&#x20AC;?

Goff, who would replace Brady as the secondyoungest quarterback to win a Super Bowl with a victory on Sunday, meanwhile underscored the generational gap between the two players.

Asked what memories he had of Bradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Super Bowl appearance -- way back in 2002 -- Goff replied: â&#x20AC;&#x153;None. I was seven, I think.â&#x20AC;?

Vivid memories Brady by contrast said the memories of the win, against the then St.Louis Rams,

Q Quarterback Tom Brady (No. 12) of the New England Patriots talks to the media during Super Bowl LIII Opening Night at State Farm Arena on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP PHOTO remained etched on his mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most important memory is that ball going through the uprights at the end and us winning,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So to do it 17 years later with a new bunch of guys means as much as ever.â&#x20AC;?

Goff, meanwhile, said he would attempt to make the build-up as normal as possible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just knowing what to make important, what not to make important,â&#x20AC;? Goff said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Try to keep your routine the same. If you normally go out to a dinner on Friday at home, go to dinner on a Friday out here.â&#x20AC;?

Goff said he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe Brady and the Patriotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; familiarity with the Super Bowl environment would give them a decisive advantage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe it helps, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re certainly not seeing it that way,â&#x20AC;? Goff told AFP. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last week we were inexperienced in playing in the NFC Championship game against the Saints, and we came through that challenge. You try to put that stuff to one side and play your game.â&#x20AC;?

Goff said the Rams had been emboldened by coming through their nail-biting 26-23 overtime

win over the Saints in Louisiana, where the deafening noise had created â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most difficult environment Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever played in.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It speaks to the resiliency of this team,â&#x20AC;? Goff said.

Rams coach Sean McVay said the win over New Orleans had emphasized the coolness under pressure of his quarterback, the No.1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been impressed with since day one,â&#x20AC;? said McVay, who would become the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl this week at the age of just 33. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unfazed, good or bad. His ability to handle and adversity the same way, demonstrates the poise and confidence you want from your quarterback. Against New Orleans he handled it. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flinch, he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blink, and he played his best when his best was required.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big reason why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here.â&#x20AC;?

Goff, for his part, is looking forward to the biggest game of his career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ready,â&#x20AC;? Goff told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a choice. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be fun. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

S

The 31-year-old Sharapova prevailed 6-0, 6-4 in one hour 45 minutes to chalk up her third win in four headto-head meetings with Russian-born Gavrilova.

AFP PHOTO

D3

Sharapova off to winning start at St. Petersburg

AINT PETERSBURG: Russian star Maria Sharapova made a victorious debut at the WTA Saint Petersburg indoor tournament, beating Daria Gavrilova of Australia in straight sets on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Q Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maria Sharapova hits a return against Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daria Gavrilova during their match at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy tennis tournament at Saint Petersburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sibur Arena on Tuesday.

Sports

T h e u n s e e d e d S h a r a p ova was in command from the start on the hard court of Sibur Arena, breaking her rivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s serve three times to take the opening set to love.

Gavrilova broke in the second, but Sharapova, who is ranked 29th in the world, replied by breaking

twice and sealing her victory with a precise forehand drive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was much harder than the scoreline indicates,â&#x20AC;? Sharapova said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a tough physical battle but I expected it as thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played all of our previous meetings.â&#x20AC;? )N THE LAST kVE TIME MAJOR winner Sharapova will meet thirdseeded compatriot Daria Kasatkina, who enjoyed an openinground bye. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daria has recently been in the top 10,â&#x20AC;? said Sharapova. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though she lost early in Australia she is in good form and it will be hard to play against her. But I feel

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ready.â&#x20AC;?

Earlier on Monday, Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium saw off compatriot Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with fourth-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

Meanwhile, Vera Zvonareva, the 2010 Wimbledon and US Open finalist, beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-4 in a battle of former top 10 players, who both appeared in the main draw courtesy of wildcards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The match was really tough, but I expected that,â&#x20AC;?

Zvonareva said.

AFP

Chicano, Kilgroe Korean rookie takes charge by 3 with 68 top NAGT opener 2017 SEA Games silver medalist John Chicano and 2018 Asian Games veteran Kim Kilgroe of the Philippine triathlon team emerged victorious in the National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) 2019 series opener held at San Bernardino in Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday. )N THE -EN S %LITE kRST OUT OF the 1.5 kilometer swim were JC Abad Kim Remolino followed by 21-year-old Filipino-Spanish triathlete Fer Casares (from Madrid) who is in the country aspiring to join the Philippine team. Chicano, who was only fourth in the swim LEG BREEZED THROUGH THE kRST TRANsition to catch up with lead pack in the windy 40km bike leg. Chicano and Casares entered the second transition together and battled toe to toe in the 10 km run leg, which saw Chicano broke away during THE kNAL TWO KILOMETERS TO WIN THE gold with a time of 1:58:47. CasaRES kNISHED SECOND WITH and 2018 national junior Andrew Kim Remolino of Cebu third with 2:02:12.

In the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elite, Kim +ILGROE LED FROM START TO kNISH in the absence of SEA Games gold and silver medalists Kim Mangrobang who is in Portugal training, and Claire Adorna who is attending to a family affair. +ILGROE kNISHED kRST WITH followed by returning Alexandra Ganzon 2:25:56 and Jacqui Lamparero with 2:30:32.

The Junior Elite Men Sprint Distance (750 M swim â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 Km bike â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 Km run) saw Tonito Alejo (1:17:19) as champion followed by Jacob Taylor (1:17:55) and Juan Baniqued (1:18:37).

In the Junior Elite Women, Karen Manayon (1:26:59) won the gold. Finishing second and third, respectively, were Lauren Plaza (1:29:26) and Erica Bulatao

(1:35:01).

The champions in the Standard Distance age-group were Kris Dinglasan (19-24), Heinrich Gasacao (25-29), Jhon Quinones (30-34), Ronald Mulit and Ines Santiago (35-39), Jualyn Asugbog and Mary Grace Ollindo (4044), Abe Tayag and Vanj Endaya (45-49), Celma Hitalia (Female 50-above), Neil Ong (50-54), Dean Recupero (55-59) and Roman Totanes (60-above).

The champions in the Sprint Distance age-group were Mykelle Bulog and Clifford Pusing (1619), Jess Belonio and Janina Garcia (20-29), Carlo Mejia and Jilliane Caancan (30-39), George Vilog and Ma. Victoria Fereria (40-49) and Peter Gonzales and An Ping Cua (50-above). Super Sprint Distance champions were La Union Bull Sharks team members Ronel Victor Cruz and Lady Samantha Corpuz (13-15).

The Team Relay competition was won by E-Racing Multisport. !LL PARTICIPANTS HAD DIFkCULTY IN the bike leg of the race because of strong headwinds.

The tilt, organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism DePARTMENT ATTRACTED A RECORD kELD of 731 entries. The Philippine Sports Commission, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines and the SBMA sponsored the event Complete race results can be viewed at Triathlon.org.ph and at TRAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page. The NAGT series serves as TRAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main development and recruitment program from the grassroots level. The future events of the series will be held in Cebu, Dipolog City, Roxas City and Cagayan de Oro.

ROOKIE pro Hwang Min-jeong banked on a pair of back-to-back birdies to open both nines and take charge with a 68, storming to a three-stroke lead as Thai Chonlada Chayanun stumbled AT THE kNISH IN THE OPENER OF THE ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic in Laurel, Batangas on Tuesday.

Chayanun actually seized control with a running five-under card after 11 holes but failed to ride the heavy wind that blew from all over, bogeying No. 12, dropping two strokes on the next and yielding another shot on No. 14 of Splendido Taal Golf Club.

She wound up with a 71, dropping instead to joint second with compatriots Saraporn Chamchoi and Punpaka Phuntumabamrung. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really enjoyed my game

today (yesterday),â&#x20AC;? said Hwang, who won at Mt. Malarayat as an amateur in 2015 and posted a record 16-shot romp in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Philippine Amateur Open at Riviera. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I played smart and safe because of the heavy wind but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad because I set up a number of short birdie putts.â&#x20AC;?

The Incheon native birdied the kRST TWO HOLES ADDED TWO MORE on Nos. 10 and 11 then tapped in for another birdie on the 15th she negated with a bogey on the next.

Princess Superal, installed as the best local bet in the absence of last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beverly Place leg winner Dottie Ardina and

runner-up Pauline del Rosario, blew a one-under card with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, dropping to joint eighth at 73 with Wad Phaenchimplee of Thailand.

That enabled amateur and Princessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; young sister Eagle Ace to emerge the bestPLACED &ILIPINA AT JOINT kFTH at 72 with Thais Mookharin Ladgratok and Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro with former Ladies Philippine Golf Tour leg winner Wannasiri Sirisampant and Bruneiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valerie Tan at 74 and Marvi Monsalve and Daniella Uy turning in identical 75s with Thais Narisara Kerdrit, Preenaphan Poomklay and Nattapan Siritrai, and Korean Lee Ji Hyeon.

Multi-titled Chihiro

Ikeda and former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez held sway in the early going but came in ruffled by the gusts with the former limping with three double bogeys at the back that marred her 81 card and the latter, who quit due to poor form after the first round at Beverly Place, squandered an even-par card after five holes, dropping strokes in the next three holes and wobbling with an atrocious 43 for an 82 in the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.

Q Hwang Min-jeong leans on superb wedge shots that set up short birdie chances CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

My Daily Collagen TRI 1 takes off Feb 24 in Subic OVER 600 triathletes from around the country will see action in the standard-distance My Daily Collagen TRI 1 on February 24 in Subic Bay. The competition features a swim-bike-run course perfect for TRIATHLON kRST TIMERS AGE GROUPERS raring to chalk up a personal best, and returning multisport enthusiasts. Gun start for the 1.5-kilometer swim off Acea Subic Bay

Hotel is at 6:10 a.m., followed by A KM BIKE COMBINING lATS AND climbs. Triathletes return to Acea for the 10-km run, consisting of four loops toward All Hands Beach with a sweeping view of Subic Bay. My Daily Collagen TRI 1 also has a sprint distance course consisting of a 750-m swim, an 18-km bike, and a 5-km run.

The event presented by My Daily

Collagen, supported by Smart, Saucony, Vitorria, Rudy Project, ACEA Subic Bay, Court Meridian Hotel & Suites, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. My Daily Collagen, triathlonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title sponsor, is a mango-flavored drink from Japan that provides the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirement of collagen, a protein that keeps skin and tissues in the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

joints healthy.

Registration ends January 31, 2019. For online registration visit https://regonline.activeglobal. com/mydailycollagentri2019.

For more information on the race and other upcoming events, visit BikeKingPhilippines. com.

Djokovic tightens grip on top of rankings; Federer slides PARIS: Novak Djokovic strengthened his grip at the top of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ATP tennis ranking Monday following his destruction of

Rafael Nadal in the Australian /PEN kNAL An outclassed Nadal, beaten in straight sets in just over two

hours, held on to second spot in the rankings while Roger Federer slipped from third to six place.

Federer, the defending cham-

LATEST ATP RANKING: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 (+1) 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 (+1) 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 (+1) 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3) 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 (+2) 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 (+1) 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)

11. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2,880 12. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 2,805 (+3) 13. Borna Coric (CRO) 2,605 (-1) 14. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,250 (+3) 15. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,225 (-2) 16. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2,000 (+3) 17. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 1,955 (+14) 18. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 1,955 (+6) 19. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 1,870 (-1) 20. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 1,835 (-4)

pion, was eliminated in the round of 16 by Greek giant-killer Stefanos Tsitsipas Alexander Zverev replaces Federer in third position ahead of Juan Martin Del Potro, fourth, who missed the Australian Open.

Despite his early elimination in Melbourne, South African Kevin Anderson, a Wimbledon finalist LAST YEAR MOVED UP A SPOT INTO kFTH Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kei Nishikori, meanwhile, rises two places to seventh AFTER REACHING THE QUARTER kNALS in Melbourne.

Tsitsipas, eliminated by Nadal IN THE SEMI kNALS JUMPED THREE places and is knocking on the door of the top 10 in 12th place. AFP

Q Novak Djokovic AFP PHOTO

D4

Football

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w. m a n i l at i m e s. n e t FREE KICK ROMY P. MARIĂ&#x2018;AS

Cry for Panaad W

Q Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda (second from right) catches the ball during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semifinal football match between Iran and Japan at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AFP PHOTO

Japan stuns imploding Iran WR UHDFK $VLDQ &XS Ă&#x20AC;QDOV A L-AIN, UAE: Japan cashed in on a defensive mix-up and a controversial PENALTY AS THEY STUNNED FAVORITE )RAN IN THE !SIAN #UP SEMIkNALS TO MOVE ONE WIN AWAY FROM THEIR kFTH TITLE ON -ONDAY 4UESDAY IN -ANILA

Yuya Osako put Japan 1-0 up after half time when the Iranian defense fatally stopped to remonstrate with the referee, and then stroked home the penalty awarded after a replay for Morteza

Pouraliganjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accidental hand ball.

Genki Haraguchi then scored in stoppage time to complete a rout, which had been wholly unexpected against a free-scoring

Iran side, which had banged in 12 unanswered goals en route to the semis.

It was the last hurrah for Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-serving coach Carlos Queiroz, who is leaving the team after nearly eight years at the helm, a reign that has included two World Cups.

Queiroz said the â&#x20AC;&#x153;innocent mistakeâ&#x20AC;? that led to the opening goal, when players surrounded the referee as Japan played on and scored, â&#x20AC;&#x153;destroyed (them) emotionallyâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My players stopped and everyone was expecting the referee to take action for that incident,â&#x20AC;? he said, referring to a challenge on Takumi Minamino on the edge of the box.

Eleven minutes later, Minaminoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross hit Pouraliganjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arm as he slid in, but Australian referee Chris Beath blew for the penalty and stood by his decision after watching a replay.

Osako stroked home the spot-kick to give Japan a 2-0 lead with 23 minutes to play, and there was no coming back for Iran whose 43-year wait for a fourth Asian title goes on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My players had good preparation and SHOWED GREAT kGHTING SPIRIT 4HEY PLAYED AS underdogs,â&#x20AC;? said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, whose team will play Qatar or hosts the 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES IN &RIDAY S kNAL Queirozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Iran has been the form team of theAsianCupbuttheylackedideasonMondayagainst

HOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S going to troop to the venerable Rizal Memorial Football Stadium (RMFS) to watch the most beautiful game in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) that the country will be hosting in November?

Perhaps, a handful, considering that the Philippine Azkals, the national football team, will not be playing for the country, but Filipino futbolistas under 23 years old. %VEN IF THE !ZKALS WERE kELDED HOWEVER THIS CORNER doubts that football fans this side of basketball-obsessed country would be drawn to the endangered RMFS partly because Phil Younghusband and company had had poor runs particularly in the 2018 Suzuki Cup and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asian Cup ongoing in the United Emirates.

But organizers of the SEA Games have spoken that football games will be held at the stadium in crowded Vito Cruz Street in Malate, Manila, and next question please.

They reportedly ruled out pitches outside Metro Manila (National Capital Region) because none supposedly meets international criteria that would justify holding a game or two in, say, Clark in Pampanga, where athletics and aquatics will be contested in venues that are still under construction.

So, what happened to the ever-reliable Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental?

Between a home game between the Philippines and 6IETNAM AT 0ANAAD IN THE TWO LEGGED SEMIkNALS OF LAST yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suzuki Cup and last week or thereabouts, the Negros Occidental football landmark has suddenly become substandard for regional and continental-level matches?

Panaad has hosted internationals and friendlies and at THAT BEFORE BOISTEROUS FOOTBALL FANS WHO kLL IT TO THE RAFTERS

thus it cannot be set aside as a legitimate SEA Games venue.

Besides, it is located in football country and home to Ceres football club as Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City or Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City is basketball mecca for Barangay Ginebra or Columbian Dyip fans.

We absolutely agree with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) that futbol should be promoted at THE GRASSROOTS BUT -ANILA HARDLY QUALIkES AS GRASSroots despite many internationals and friendlies played at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Negros provinces and Iloilo, which gave us the likes of Emelio â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chieffyâ&#x20AC;? Caligdong, are and they have real fans to show for their reputation as cradles of football in the Philippines.

Not to offend the under-23 Philippine team in the November SEA Games but nothing is heard from those behind its formation when the regional sports showcase is just a little over 10 months away.

If the team exited early, then it would be curtains down for the gamble that was the holding of the gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; football clashes in Metro Manila.

If that were the case, then Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hosting of SEA Games football would just be a footnote, a sad ending for all the good intentions of the PFF of moving on or that there is still a future for Philippine football after Sven-Goran Ericksson.

a calm Japanese team who seized their opportunities.

At a rocking Hazza Bin Stadium, Iran lobbed balls at target man Sardar Azmoun at every opportunity but it was Japan who looked the biggest threat in the opening exchanges.

Captain Maya Yoshida headed over and Ritsu Doan saw a shot trickle wide as the Blue Samurai were anything but cowed by the physical Iran presence.

However, Shuichi Gonda had to be sharp to keep out Azmoun from a tight angle -- after the goalkeeper had gifted Iran possession with a botched clearance.

The game was on a knife-edge but a major misjudgment from the Iranian defence tilted it decisively Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way 11 minutes after half-time.

While five players were protesting Hossein Kananiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innocence over his tackle on Minamino, the forward got up and crossed to Osako, whose glancing header put Japan ahead.

It was a body-blow for Iran, but worse was to come when Pouraliganji was adjudged to have handled in the box, a decision that could have gone either way.

Osako stuck it away to all but silence the Iranian support, which then had to watch as Haraguchi stole in for the third goal to make it a lopsided victory for Japan.

AFP

Messi shines as Barca sweeps past Girona GIRONA, Spain: Lionel Messi scored a sublime goal to make up for the missed trip to Miami as Barcelona beat Girona 2-0 to go five points clear again at the top of La Liga.

This was the fixture intended to be played in the United States but any advantage Girona maintained by keeping it at their own Montilivi ground was cancelled out by Messi, and another ruthless Barca display.

Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant finish in the second half, his ninth goal in as many games, came after Nelson Semedo had given the visitors an early lead, before Bernardo Espinosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s red card consigned Girona to 39 minutes with 10 men.

The home fans were left incensed by that decision, as well as Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction they believed had caused it, but the Argentineanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal offered the perfect riposte.

Barcelona restores their hefty advantage over Atletico Madrid, who had cut the gap to two by beating Getafe on Saturday. Real Madrid will have to overcome Espanyol later on Sunday just to reduce their own deficit to 10.

Q Lionel Messi AFP PHOTO

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We struggled in the first half a bit but after the red card we had to dominate the game,â&#x20AC;? Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said.

Outside the stadium before kick-off, propped up on a railing, was a sign with a scrawled message that read: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miami, here we comeâ&#x20AC;?.

La Liga had hoped to drag this game there to promote Spanish football and the clubs had supported the idea, with various perks dangled in front of fans, including free flights and tickets, not to mention the chance to be part of something â&#x20AC;&#x153;historicâ&#x20AC;?.

AFP

WEDNESDAY W E D N ESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019

Entertainment www.manilatimes.net

surfedoverhearduncovered Âť E1 Robinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style in doing biopics

Enchong Dee, Janine Gutierrez â&#x20AC;&#x201C; first up for 2019â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valentine movies

BY IZA IGLESIAS

B

EAUTIFUL actors Enchong Dee and Janine Gutierrez will beat the rest of showbizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Valentine pair-ups to the punch this year as their tandem unfolds on the big screen today.

Titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elise,â&#x20AC;? the romanticcomedy with dramatic touches serves as Regal Entertainmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual offering for the month of

love as well as the long established production companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening salvo for 2019.

According to the talented pair,

Elise is actually a reunion for them since they had already worked in THE HORROR lICK g,ILA u At the Valentine offeringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s media launch, Dee and Gutierrez shared THEY WERE BOTH HAPPY TO kND OUT 2EGAL HAD CAST THEM FOR THEIR kRST movie of the year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After nung kRST PROJECT sobra kaming naging magkaibigan. We stayed in touch and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still go out even before we found out magkakatrabaho kami sa Elise,â&#x20AC;?

Dee enthused. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great about working with Janine is that we share the same values. Iniisip nila dahil magkaiba ang TV station namin, iba din yung atake and yung working attitude namin. But no, Janine is actually very easy and fun to be with whether on the set or off-cam.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tawa lang kami ng tawa behind the scenes,â&#x20AC;? Janine agreed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and hindi na ako nahirapang mag-adjust kasi komportable na

talaga ako sa kanya.â&#x20AC;?

Q Janine Gutierrez and Enchong Dee as childhood friends Bert and Elise.

The Kapamilya and Kapuso stars are especially thrilled to be given a very unique rom-com in that

'The Mule' â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a 90-year-old gangster and horticulturist â&#x20AC;&#x153;W ALA ka sa lolo ko,â&#x20AC;? roughly translated

proves to be dangerous â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both for him and to, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You got nothing on my grandpaâ&#x20AC;? for others â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and that worries him. I liked holds true especially if that â&#x20AC;&#x153;grandpaâ&#x20AC;? is Clint the idea of this guy with so many physical Eastwood. If you use the and emotional obstacles to go term â&#x20AC;&#x153;legendâ&#x20AC;? sparingly, through.â&#x20AC;? youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still have no doubt Eastwood is reunited with actor calling him one.

Bradley Cooper who he directed in Clint is back in Warner â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Sniper.â&#x20AC;? Cooper plays Bros.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Mule.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also DEA agent Colin Bates who is out his return to the dual roles make a mark in his career by bringof lead actor and director since â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gran Torinoâ&#x20AC;? ing in this stealthy, mysterious courier known was released almost 10 years ago. He plays Earl only as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tataâ&#x20AC;? (Mexican for lolo).

Stone, a Daylily cultivator and salesman turned Joining him is Michael PeĂąa, as agent TreviĂąo. drug courier.

This return to playing a DEA agent is not lost His character is based in part on actual horti- ON FANS OF .ETlIX S g.ARCOS u culturist Leo Sharp, Other actors subject of a 2014 who need no furNew York Times ther introduction article â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sinaloa are in the cast too: Cartelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 90-YearLaurence FishOld Drug Muleâ&#x20AC;? by burne as Batesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sam Dolnick. boss, Dianne WiNick Shenk who est as Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex-wife worked with Eastand Andy Garcia as wood on Gran Tocartel chief Laton. rino, turned this The younger cast story into a screenmembers include play with an angle â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? Taissa about family and Farmiga and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lost â&#x20AC;&#x153;what to do with In Spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? Ignacio the time given usâ&#x20AC;?

Serricho. to quote another faLook out for the mous legend by the Filipino in the cast name of Gandalf. as well as Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Earl we meet party scene in Lain the opening tonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mansion. scenes knows how The premise to look dapper at does make for a horticulturist confascinating story ventions and how but more than anyto charm ladies. thing, The Mule is He could talk to Q Living legend Clint Eastwood is back as the lead actor yet another testaanyone in town â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and director of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Mule.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ment to Clint Eastexcept maybe the family he let slide. woodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career. At the screening, the folks beside The internet and the online marketplace me were saying this might be his last. eventually gives Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business a heavy blow.

In my mind, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be so quick to say g(E S IN A BAD POSITION kNANCIALLY HE NEEDS that. Watching some of the promotional inmoney or heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll lose his home and his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work,â&#x20AC;? terviews, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look like Lolo Clintâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done Eastwood noted. As a result, he takes up a shady with storytelling both in front and behind the offer doing something heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also good at â&#x20AC;&#x201D; driving. cameras. I hope Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m right. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once he gets a taste of the money, he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t The Mule opens today exclusively at Ayala resist playing Robin Hood a little, doing good Malls Cinemas: Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio for other folks, rationalizing his actions. But High Street, Glorietta 4, The 30th, Trinoma, U.P. heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the wrong side of the law, and that Town Center and Ayala Center Cebu.

FAN GIRL KAREN KUNAWICZ

Eliseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story is based on real events.

According to Director Joel Ferrer, he was inspired by a story of a quick-witted but sickly and emotional guy who falls for a strong and independent woman named Elise. They had known each other since they were youngsters, parting ways later on to study and pursue their personal goals.

Years after, their paths cross and puppy love grows into a real romance but not without its share of struggles.

Ferrer â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who happens to be the WRITER OF THE kLM AS WELL Â&#x2021; WENT on to say that Elise is not just a love story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lahat naman tayo may someone [special] before. For some â&#x20AC;&#x201D; artists especially â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they write a song about them or paint their feelings. Ako naman, I expressed it in a form of a script ko. Very experiential siya sa akin,â&#x20AC;? he admitted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But above all the story of Elise is kNDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE u Opening in cinemas February 6, Elise also stars Miko Raval, Victor Anastacio, Miel Espinosa and Laura Lehmann.

STARRING in biopics have always been a great interest and challenge for Hollywood actors who push themselves to the limit in resembling and practically becoming the subject they portray.

Be it having to gain 50 pounds or lose that as the case may be and imitating the tiniest of nuances of the character, they do and will always go the length.

Take for example two-time Best Actor Rami Malek who was the spitting image of music legend Freddie Mercury for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bohemian Rhapsody,â&#x20AC;? and still in the running for an Oscar.

His fellow nominee Christian Bale also transformed in to Dick Cheney for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vice,â&#x20AC;? shaving his head, bleaching his eyebrows and gaining 40 pounds for his critically acclaimed PERFORMANCE !ND WHAT OF THE kRST Filipino-American to win a Golden Globe, Darren Criss who won Best Actor in a Limited Series as the spree killer in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Assassination of Gianni Versace?â&#x20AC;?

None of them would have won the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most coveted nominations and acting awards had it not been for their exceptional efforts to become the subjects they portrayed.

Here in the Philippines, however, actors are chosen for biopics for their fame and not for their resemblance to a(n) (in)famous person. And it seems like the actors themselves are neither willing to go the entire length.

At least thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what action star Robin Padilla seemed to say when he talked about portraying former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald â&#x20AC;&#x153;Batoâ&#x20AC;? dela Rosa in his biopic which comes out today from Regal Entertainment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Actually nag-collaborate po kami ni direk pagdating diyan.

Unang-una kong sinabi sa kanya,

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Direk, hindi ako impersonator, ar-

tista po ako, ayoko yung gagayahin yung mga ganito, ganyan, hindi ko po kaya yun. Kailangan, bigyan mo din ako 50-percent para sarili kong interpretation, at kung sino

Q Even though Robin Padilla is not even close to the bulky physique of a policeman he is portraying, he approached the role through movements and overall acting.

si Bato. Kasi kung gagayahin natin si Bato talaga, kukuha tayo ng kamukha talaga niya.â&#x20AC;?

Acknowledging that his frame is not even close to the bulky physique of policeman, he was still chosen for the role, which he therefore approached in his movements and overall acting.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yung pagganap bilang siya naging madali lang po, ang mahirap po is yung kunin yung physical appearance ni General kasi magkaiba po talaga kami ng anatomy. Ang ginawa po namin ni Direk, una yung lakad dahil napakahalaga po iyon sa pelikula, kasi yung pelikula ay action. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At higit sa lahat, hindi pa ako humagulgol sa isang pelikula simula nung akoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y nag-artista pero dito po, pinahagulgol ako ng aming direktor na si Adolf Alix Jr. Medyo nahirapan po ako doon sa crying scene, pero yung iba doon, kayang kaya. Makikita mo naman sa mata kasi iisa ang motivation namin. Doon, wala kaming pinagkaiba,â&#x20AC;? Padilla assures his fans.

IZA IGLESIAS

THE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SIKRETOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; IS OUT

Ariel, Gelli back on the big screen WHILE it is almost a given that COUPLES IN SHOWBIZ ALWAYS kND THEMselves in a merry-go-round of changing partners, there are some who remain loyal to each other, while enduring the challenges of marriage and building a family like any regular husband and wife.

Considered one of local showbizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most enduring real-life couples are Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen who have been together for 26 years, 21 of those lawfully and faithfully married. Blessed with two sons, Joaqui and Julio, they lead a happy family life while also pursuing individual showbiz careers.

Today, however, 22 years since they were last paired in the movie drama â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ikaw Pala Ang Mahal Ko,â&#x20AC;? they are back on the big screen, also as husband and wife, in the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang Sikrero Ng Piso.â&#x20AC;?

A family-oriented comedy from MPJ Entertainment and JPP Dreamworld Productions, the movie is inspired by actual events on the smuggle of the Philippine peso coin in 2006.

The Riveras agree itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a welcome and refreshing treat to be able to work together after so long, and in a comedy at that.

Q Almost 22 years since they last worked together in film, the real-life couple happily reunites in the movies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been looking for a project thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light and easy because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always given heavy drama or romantic roles. This is a good change for me and I enjoyed it especially with my wife who is funny even off-cam!â&#x20AC;? related Rivera. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our dialogues went very smoothly since kilalang-kilala

especially with the difference in character of his role from real life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had to overcome that weirdness while we were doing our scenes together because Ariel is so sweet and cheesy in this movie and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very different at home,â&#x20AC;? she laughed.

Directed by Perry EscaĂąo, Sikreto opens in cinemas today with the cast scheduled for meet-and-greets in SM Cinemas around Metro Manila.

Âťinfocus

namin ang isaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t-isa.â&#x20AC;?

As for de Belen, she admitted it felt weird to work with her husband again,

Âťpopcornmatch

J.Lo tells women to keep dreaming and believing Q Jennifer Lopez returns to the movies in 'Second Act.'

GLOBAL superstar Jennifer Lopez ignites a new fire of girl power and inspires women to dream and believe in themselves in her big screen comeback, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second Act,â&#x20AC;? which opens today.

The movie tells the story of Maya (Lopez), a 40-yearold woman struggling with frustrations stemming from unfulfilled dreams. Until she gets the chance to prove to Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advertising industry that street smarts are as valuable as a college degree, and that it is never too late for a second chance.

But in the midst of her careerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuing success, she wants to come clean with something, risking everything she has built up to now.

Also starring in the movie is Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimiglia and Leah Remini.

Directed by Peter Segal, (â&#x20AC;&#x153;50 First Dates,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Smartâ&#x20AC;?) and presented by Viva International Pictures, the movie features J Loâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit single â&#x20AC;&#x153;Limitless.â&#x20AC;?

E2

WEDNESDAY January 30, 2019

Funtimes

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Solution to puzzle

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (01/30/19). Benefits come through community participation this year. Lay foundational groundwork.

Domestic changes could disrupt. Navigate changes with your partner this winter. Reach a milestone around health, work and fitness this summer, before a restorative rest. Follow an inspiring possibility next winter. It’s all better together.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Communication is especially important and effective now. Let people know exactly what you want, and listen for what they want. Share information, ideas and resources.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Steady action gets lucrative. Extra income is available. Make sure you understand what’s required. Clarify details, and negotiate deals. Provide valuable services.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Disciplined efforts can realize a dream. Avoid emotional spending. Investigate and explore a subject of your fascination. Good news comes from far away.

S A G I T TA R I U S (N O V. 22-D E C. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Step into new leadership. A personal dream is in view; focus and coordinated efforts are required. An open mind can see unusual opportunities.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is an 8 -- It’s easy to get distracted. Keep your eyes on a long-term financial goal, and take profitable actions. Celebrate positive results with your partner.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Find a private spot to plan and organize. Craft your vision, and refine the steps you see to take. Take a walk in nature.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Nebulous possibilities take shape and form with focused action. Collaborate with a partner to get farther, faster. Listen carefully, and make sure you understand. Compromise.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Rely on good friends for a steady grip. Start a conversation for possibility and set the wheels in motion. Together, you’re a powerful force.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Keep practicing to raise your physical performance levels. Nurture your health and wellness. Get your heart pumping. Energize a dream to realize it faster.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Share sweet words and compassion. Actions speak louder than words. Let your efforts show what’s in your heart. Make a move for love.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- You can make a domestic dream come true. Muse on colors and furniture. Clear excess clutter, and open up the space. Make repairs and upgrades.

» SUDOKU

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- A professional vision inspires you. Imagine how you would love your work to be.

Make adjustments to align reality to your dream.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

Today, we look back at an old front page of The Manila Times, the oldest national daily that was founded on October 11, 1898. (Note: This image was adjusted to fit the page.)

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE Q PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan (left) and Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza (right) cut the ribbon during the opening of the new PCSO Agusan del Sur branch located at the Government Center of the Municipality of Prosperidad. Witnessing the event is PCSO Department Manager for Mindanao Gloria Ybañez and officials from the local government. PHOTOS BY ARNOLD RAMOS

Q GM Balutan and Gov. Plaza together with PCSO officials and guests sing the National Anthem (left photo); DM Ybañez presents the official cake of PCSO to Balutan and Plaza (above); while city and municipal treasurers receive the LGU checks from PCSO (below).

GM Balutan formally opens PCSOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 18th Mindanao branch T

BY EUGENIO DARCY GERONIMO

HE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes /FkCE 0#3/ FORMALLY OPENED ITS 18th branch in Mindanao to the people of Agusan del Sur on January 10, with the aim to serve more than 103,637 families. Agusan del Sur is the 45th most populated province in the Philippines.

4HE FORMAL OPENING CELEBRATION WAS LED BY NO LESS THAN 0#3/ 'ENERAL -ANAGER !LEXANDER "ALUTAN AND !GUSAN DEL 3UR 'OVERNOR !DOLPH %DWARD 0LAZA WITH A RIBBON CUTTING AND SHORT PRAYER

BEFORE THE BLESSING RITES !LSO PRESENT IN THE EVENT WERE SEVERAL 0#3/ AND ,'5 OFkCIALS HEADED BY 0#3/ -INDANAO $EPARTMENT -ANAGER 'LORIA 9BANEZ

!GUSAN DEL .ORTE "RANCH -ANAGER

#EDRIC 2ECAMARA AND 0ROSPERIDAD -AYOR !LBIN -AGDAMIT TOGETHER WITH )ST $ISTRICT AND ND $ISTRICT 2EPRESENTATIVES -ARIA 6ALENTINA 0LAZA AND %VELYN 0LAZA 6ELENA RESPECTIVELY AND OTHER 0#3/ AND ,'5 OFkCIALS 4HE NEWLY OPENED 0#3/ BRANCH IS LOCATED AT THE 'OVERNMENT #ENTER IN 0ATIN AY 0ROSPERIDAD WHICH IS A FIRST CLASS MUNICIPALITY AND ALSO THE CAPITAL OF !GUSAN DEL 3UR 4HE BRANCH IS EXPECTED TO SERVE THE MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PROVINCE NAMELY

"AYUGAN "UNAWAN %SPERANZA

,A 0AZ ,ORETO 0ROSPERIDAD

2OSARIO 3AN &RANCISCO 3AN ,UIS

3ANTA *OSEFA 3IBAGAT 4ALACOGON

4RENTO AND 6ERUELA m WHICH HAS ABOUT RESIDENTS g0#3/ WAS ABLE TO REACH THE 0 BILLION MARK BECAUSE OF PUBLIC TRUST AND CONkDENCE ,ET US CONTINUE THIS MUTUAL TRUST IN ORDER TO DELIVER MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND TO BRING CLOSER THE SERVICES TO THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE THROUGH 0#3/ PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS u '- "ALUTAN SAID IN HIS SPEECH /NE CONCRETE PROGRAM OF 0#3/ THAT PROVIDE FUNDINGS FOR THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ,'5 SHARES DERIVED FROM THE INCOME OF 0#3/ GAMES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS

!S PART OF 0#3/ S GOODWILL TO THE PEOPLE OF !GUSAN 0#3/ DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL CHECK AMOUNT OF 0 TO THE MUNICIPALITIES OF 6ENUELA 3UBAGAN 4RENTO "AYUGAN #ITY "UNAWAN %SPERANZA

,A 0AZ ,ORETO AND THE PROVINCE OF !GUSAN DEL 3UR /N .OVEMBER LAST YEAR

0#3/ SOFT LAUNCHED THE BRANCH IN 0ROSPERIDAD TO IMMEDIATELY

RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF !GUSAN DEL 3UR g2EST ASSURED THAT 0#3/ WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE 0#3/ S RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT MERELY A RESPONSIBILITY

BUT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE u $- 9BAÃ&#x201E;EZ SAID OF THE OPENING OF -INDANAO S TH BRANCH

PCSO kickstarts 2019 with medical mission in San Mateo, Rizal THE 0HILIPPINE #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE 0#3/ STARTED ITS CHARITABLE SERVICES FOR WITH A MEDICAL MISSION FOR RESIDENTS OF "ARANGAY VILLAGE 3TO .IÃ&#x201E;O 3AN -ATEO 2IZAL ON *ANUARY ! TOTAL OF PATIENTS WERE SERVED FROM A M TO NOON 4HE VILLAGE HAS BEEN ORGANIZING AN ANNUAL OUTREACH PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH 0#3/ FOR THREE YEARS NOW FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED PARISH MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF NEARBY AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY /NE OF THE PATIENTS .OLAN DE ,EON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PNEUMONIA IN ITS EARLY STAGE g-ASAYA AKO NA NA CHECK UP AKO NANG LIBRE AT

NAKAPAG UWI NG LIBRENG GAMOT .AKATIRA AKO SA BUNDOK KAYA ANG AKING KUNDISYON AY PAIBA IBA

LALO NA NUNG NAGDAANG KAPASKUHAN SIGURO AKO Y MADALAS NATUTUYUAN NG PAWIS SA TRABAHO AT MINSAN AY NAULANAN DIN HABANG NAKA MOTOR -ARAMI PONG SALAMAT SA MGA KINAUUKULAN NG 0#3/ AT NATUTULU NGAN NINYO ANG MAHIHIRAP NA KATULAD KO -ABUHAY PO KAYOÃ&#x153;u HE SAID 0#3/ S -EDICAL -ISSION PROGRAM PROVIDES OUTREACH HEALTH CARE ACTIVITIES IN DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES WITHIN -ETRO -ANILA AND NEARBY PROVINCES INCLUDING PROVISION OF FREE MEDICINES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LESS OR NO ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES OFFERED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT JUSTIN SANTOS Q PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan hands over check to Dr. Arnel Francisco of Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital (left photo) and Dr. Bienvinida Cabezon of Ospital Ning Capas (right photo). Also in photos are AGM Larry Cedro (extreme left) and other PCSO officials and representatives of beneficiary hospitals. PHOTOS BY ALBERT PIQUERO

2 hospital partners receive P4M from PCSO 0(),)00).% #HARITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FFICE 'ENERAL -ANAGER !LEXANDER "ALUTAN AWARDED CHECKS IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 0 MILLION TO TWO HOSPITAL PARTNERS ON *ANUARY Â&#x2021; 0 MILLION FOR /SPITAL .ING #APAS IN #APAS 4ARLAC AND 0 MILLION FOR #AMARINES .ORTE 0ROVINCIAL (OSPITAL IN $AET 4HE 0#3/ %NDOWMENT &UND 0ROGRAM

GIVES FUNDING SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS FOR CHARITY WARD PATIENTS 4HE FUND IS UTILIZED FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD FROM ITS RELEASE TO HOSPITAL PARTNERS 4HIS PROACTIVE PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE HEALTH NEEDS OF &ILIPINOS AS 0#3/ STRETCHES ITS LEGACY FOR ITS TH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE ROBERTO BUADO JR.

PHOTOS BY KOBI JANAIRO

ANNOUNCEMENT 4HE PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIkED THAT SUBMISSION OF Small Town Lottery (STL) application in the NCR SOUTHERN DISTRICT IS EXTENDED UNTIL January 31, 2019 (Thursday), 3:00PM. 0LEASE SUBMIT COMPLETE DOCUMENTS TO THE !DVISORY #OMMITTEE FOR 34, LOCATED AT THE TH &LOOR OF 3UN 0LAZA "LDG

3HAW "LVD -ANDALUYONG #ITY For more information you may visit our website www.pcso.gov.ph or email us at

acspcso@gmail.com