Manila Standard - 2016 December 24 - Saturday by Manila Standard

Xmas Day dampener: Typhoon warning up SEVERE tropical storm “Nina” is expected to make landfall over Catanduanes or Metro Manila on Sunday night, the weather bureau said Friday. “The storm’s eye wall is more dangerous than its eye, and it is possible that ‘Nina’ will make landfall in Metro Manila or Catanduanes,” weather forecaster Robert Badrina told the Manila Standard. Storm Signal no. 2 remained hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. “Nina”―international name Nock-Ten―will be packing winds of up to 194 kilometers an hour and gusts of nearly 241 kilometers an hour when it hits the eastern tip of Luzon on Sunday, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center said. The Philippines’ weather bureau is predicting more modest wind speeds.

“Our people are being made aware that we could get hit on Christmas Day,” Romina Marasigan, spokeswoman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told AFP. “The highest levels of preparedness are being undertaken,” she said, including stocking up designated evacuation centers with food and other provisions. Millions of Filipinos are traveling by land, sea or air to their hometowns for the festive holiday. Local weather authorities said the storm could brush past Manila after Christmas Day if it maintained its current path. The main threats were landslides and ﬂash ﬂoods from heavy rain as well as potentially large waves known as storm surges smashing through coastal communities, they said. Next page

Jack Lam faces new charges THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Friday ﬁled a complaint against Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam and four others for violating the Anti-Dummy Law. The VACC, through its president Dante Jimenez and legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said Lam and four others broke the law to get around the prohibi-

tion on foreign ownership of real estate. Also named as respondents in the eightpage complaint were Rosanno Nisce, former president of Fort Ilocandia Holdings; Siu Wah Chung, a British national and former chairman of the board; Edgar Lim, former treasurer and director of Fort Ilocandia Holdings; and Jose Roberto Mumuric, former secretary and direcNext page tor of Fort Ilocandia Holdings.

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PH, Asia heighten alert Davao blast suspect falls; terror plots fail in Jakarta, Melbourne

ECURITY forces arrested the ninth suspect in the September 2 Davao City night market bombing as Southeast Asian nations and Australia went on alert after foiling separate terror plots. In Jakarta, Indonesian police foiled plans by an IS-linked group for a Christmas-time suicide bombing after killing three suspected militants Wednesday and discovering a cache of bombs, authorities said. In Melbourne, Australian police said Friday they arrested seven people as part of an investigation into a plot to attack central Melbourne on or around Christmas Day. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the alleged terrorists planned to “explode improvised explosive devices” in the city’s business district. (Related stories on C4) Joint military and police operatives arrested the ninth suspect in the September 2 Davao City blast at a checkpoint in Barira, Maguindanao Thursday afternoon. Army deputy public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson said a checkpoint manned by police and troops stopped six vehicles without plate numbes and arrested ﬁve people, including ex-PO2 Jessy Vincent Guinto Original alias Abu Aisha, formerly assigned at the Antipolo Police Station and a suspect in the Davao Next page night market bombing.

Duterte ‘most Googled person in PH’, says ‘Time’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was the Philippines’ “Most Googled Person in Each Country in 2016,” Time magazine said Friday. Duterte is known for his expletive-laden speeches, and Malacañang said Friday it was not surprised by the magazine’s report. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte was an unknown politician from Davao City when he decided to run for President in the May elections. “The President was a relatively unknown political ﬁgure outside Davao City and Region XI. It is therefore not surprising that people

in the Philippines would be interested to know him and his platform,” Andanar said. But the person who got the attention of most people around the world was US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump was the top trending person in 88 countries this year, “far more places than anyone else in the world,” Time said. John

Paolo Bencito

Rody: Martial Law must be a presidential prerogative PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he wants the Constitution amended to make it less difﬁcult for any president to declare Martial Law. Speaking in front of volunteer women in Angeles City on Thursday, Duterte said he wants the declaration of Martial Law to be the sole prerogative of the president. This, he said, would bypass the “inefﬁciency” of having Congress and the Supreme Court agree to the declaration.

“If I declare Martial Law amid an invasion or war, I cannot proceed on and on, especially if there is unrest. I would need to go to Congress and to the Supreme Court? “Well, what happens if the Supreme Court says one thing and Congress says another— one says yes and the other says no? Where would you put me? That’s why I really need to change it,” Duterte said. Under the 1987 Constitution, Next page

GIANT PROBLEM. President Rodrigo Duterte, discussing Thursday how huge the illegal drugs problem is with 4 million addicts in the Philippines, assures the more than 9,000 women volunteers against illegal drugs—the Convergence of Nanay Volunteers as Community Drugwatch—in Pampanga there will be ‘no corruption’ in his government.

Drugs, gambling heaped on Leila By John Paolo Bencito SENATOR Leila de Lima did not only condone the illegal drug trade, she may have also protected and beneﬁtted from illegal gambling, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said Friday.

FILM FESTIVAL. Stars from the eight ﬁlms included in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival wave to fans on board their individual ﬂoats during the Parade of Stars around the capital city of Manila on Friday. Norman Cruz

Aguirre said De Lima, a former Justice secretary, may soon face another investigation after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered him to investigate online gambling operations owned by Chinese gambling mogul Jack Lam.

“Most probably, he was talking of Leila de Lima, who was being suspected of protecting Jack Lam when she was still the DoJ Secretary because of the proliferation of illegal online gaming,” Aguirre told Manila Next page Standard.

Most Pinoys expect happy Xmas MOST Filipinos expect to have a happy Christmas and believe it is better to give than to receive, the results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed. The survey was conducted among 1,500 adults

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nationwide, and it says 73 percent or seven out of every 10 Filipinos expect to celebrate this Christmas. But ﬁve percent of the respondents said their Christmas will be sad while 21 percent said it will be nei-

ther happy nor sad. In a message to the faithful, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Christmas is a season of hospitality and every Filipino in need, especially the poor, must be welcomed. Next page

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Women to get Vatican jobs V ATICAN CITY— Pope Francis told Vatican ofﬁcials to start appointing women and lay people to top jobs in the Curia, the Holy See bureaucracy that he is seeking to shake-up. In his latest broadside against resistance to change in the Catholic Church’s corridors of power, the 80-year-old pontiff warned that the reform process he launched in 2013 had to lead to more than a cosmetic “facelift” or plastic surgery to remove wrinkles. “Dear brothers, it’s not the wrinkles in the church that you should fear, but the stains!” Francis said in his Christmas speech to senior Curia officials. The blistering tone will have come as no surprise to the assembled staff. In 2014 he described some of them as hypocritical, status-obsessed careerists who were suffering from “spiritual Alzheimer’s”. This year he set out 12 prin-

ciples guiding the reform he wants to see. One of those was “catholicism” in the sense of “all embracing”, and it was under that heading that he made arguably his most significant comments. Referring to the Vatican dicasteries, or departments, that he has sought to streamline and reorganize, Francis said it would be “appropriate” to bring in more lay people, especially where their expertise made them more competent than staff drawn from the clergy. “The development of the role of women and lay people in the church and their appointment to leading roles in the dicasteries, with particular attention to multiculturalism, is furthermore of

great importance,” Francis said. As things stand, all the dicasteries, including those shaken up by Francis, are headed by religious figures, and the Curia has been a clerical closed shop for centuries. A lack of professional expertise within the Vatican was notably highlighted by recent scandals centred on the Holy See’s finances, which exposed problems in ensuring transparency and reliable controls on waste and mismanagement. Francis has made the introduction of modern accounting standards for every department one of his reform priorities. But his efforts appear to have hit obstacles and an audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers was halted earlier this year. Women within the Church have long campaigned for a greater role in its governance. Francis agreed earlier this year to study the historical role of female deacons in the first

centuries of the Church, a move which some have seen as potentially opening the door to women entering the clergy. Such a move would involve a major change in Church thinking and would be hugely difficult to deliver. But there is no such fundamental obstacle to women being given top jobs in the Curia, with the issue being one of culture and tradition rather than doctrine. Francis said he did not see all resistance to his reforms as necessarily bad. But he hinted at a toxic atmosphere when he railed against both “hidden” and “malevolent” resistance, describing the latter as being inspired by “the devil, often dressed in lamb’s clothing.” Separately, but in a potential reflection of simmering tensions inside the Vatican, Francis announced Thursday an investigation into goings-on at the Order

of Malta, a Church-linked charity body descended from the crusading knights of the Middle Ages. The move follows the dismissal earlier this month of Albrecht Boeselager, the order’s Grand Chancellor, amid suggestions he was too liberal for the tastes of Cardinal Raymond Burke, who acts as the order’s liason with the Vatican. Burke, an American, is a prominent conservative figure who has been outspoken in his criticism of Francis’s efforts to reform Church teaching on questions related to the family, marriage and divorce. Reports in the specialist Catholic press have suggested Boeselager was targeted because of a row over the use of condoms in Africa to prevent the spread of AIDS - something conservatives say violates Church teaching but has been deemed acceptable by Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI. AFP

Rody:...

to the experience of the Filipino nation that endured great suffering and hardship under the Martial Law regime,” Robredo said. “Moreover, for President Duterte to challenge the democratic safeguards of the very Constitution he swore to uphold on June 30, 2016 is appalling,” she added. She urged the public to fight any move that would curtail their freedoms. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Robredo’s fears were misplaced. “She may have misunderstood the context. I know where she is coming from, and I can understand the fears of victims of Martial Law but we have to consider the character of this man. He will not tolerate any violation of any law,” he said. “What the President meant is that no president, not him but all presidents succeeding him would not be hostage to the provisions of the Constitution,” Panelo said. “Duterte is different from Marcos in the sense that Marcos is a good man, too good to his cronies and friends. But not this man,” Panelo said, referring to Duterte. “This man will fire his close friend if he does anything wrong in relation to performance of his duty as Cabinet member.” He also said that Robredo, as a lawyer, should know that the Constitution gives the President the power to safeguard public safety. “Under the Constitution, the primordial duty of the President as head of the government is to protect and serve the people. That is the context by which the President made these statements. It doesn’t mean that he will declare Martial Law. He repeatedly said he will not,” Panelo said. Panelo also agreed that a three-year term was too short for good officials. “I’m not afraid of extending the term. Why? Because there’s a recall. If the people committed a mistake, the people can recall you even in your very first year. There is nothing wrong with the President’s statements,” he added. “The tolerance of people has certain limits that if we are abused, we’re gonna hang you. We still can decide. No President can decide for us,” he said.

From A1

TAOIST GREETING. Taoist grand minister Wong Seng Tian of the Sheng Lian Temple in Quezon City holds up images of roosters to welcome 2017 which is a Year of the Rooster. Manny Palmero

China to fund 3 rehab facilities By John Paolo Bencito THE Chinese Embassy has vowed to finance the construction of three more drug rehabilitation centers here to help the government in its drug rehabilitation efforts, the Interior Department said Friday. The areas being considered to house the rehab centers include a 10-hectare land in Rosario,

Jack... From A1

Topacio said the company used “layering” to show that Filipino ownership came to 60 percent, contrary to the truth that Fort Ilocandia’s is owned mostly by Lam. “Through corporate layering, Fort Ilocandia through its dummy companies, and its directors and officers are able to exercise, enjoy, use and exploit real property in the Philippines, contrary to law,” the VACC complaint said. The VACC also sought to declare the Asset Purchase Agreement entered into by Fort Ilocandia with Grand Ilocandia and WPI (Waterfront Philippines Inc.) to be null and void for being contrary to law. Grand Ilocandia was the original operator and owner of Fort Ilocandia Resort and Hotel when it participated in the deal on Sept. 9, 2000. Through the asset purchase agreement, Fort Ilocandia Holdings was able to acquire from

Most... From A1

He said hospitality is second nature to Filipinos. “We make strangers or guests feel at home in our company. Our home becomes their home,” Tagle said.

Cavite, another 10-hectare property in Tagaytay and a four-hectare area in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Interior Undersecretary for Operations John Castriciones said. But he said the embassy’s officials were interested in properties near Metro Manila. “They were represented by Charge d’ Affaires He Xiangqi and also by the National Police

Attache’ Fu Yunfei of the People’s Republic of China. They informed us that they are very much interested to donate a facility for drug rehabilitation,” Castriciones said. “They will be sending over a delegation in order to have an inspection of the possible areas where they can build the rehabilitation facility which they will finance.”

Grand Ilocandia properties and assets including the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Hotel. “There is a violation of the Anti-Dummy Law, when a qualified Filipino citizen or national allows a foreign citizen or nonqualified person to enjoy rights, privileges, property or business, the exercise of which is limited to Filipino citizens,” the complaint said. Citing records from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the VACC noted that the stocks of Fort Ilocandia Holdings are shared by Ilocandia Holdings Corp., which holds 59 percent of the Filipino shares; Intellectual Group Ltd. (IGL) which owns 39 percent of the foreign shares; and less than 1 percent to Lam. However, the VACC learned that Lam seems to also have a hold on IGL when it signed a May 6, 2000 memorandum on behalf of IGL over a P150-million loan given to WPI. The VACC also noted that Ilocandia Holdings has 39 percent foreign ownership through

Corpsmart Ltd. and 59 percent Filipino ownership through Sevenseas Holdings. “The corporate structure of the above corporations, despite being seemingly complaint with the Philippine laws, warrants a deeper investigation as to their real foreign equities and those of their subsidiaries... or affiliattes,” the complaint said. Lam is involved in a bribery scandal with four high-ranking officials of Bureau of Immigration officials, who reportedly received P50 million from him in exchange for the release of the undocumented Chinese workers arrested in Lam’s casino facility in his Fontana Leisure Resort in Clark Field, Pampanga on Nov. 24. Of the 1,316 arrested Chinese nationals, a total of 592 were granted bail by the BI board of commissioners. Only 43 of them were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling) and Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). PNA

“Hospitality enables us to expand our home so that no one could say there was no room for them.” SWS says the expectation of a happy Christmas this year is an improvement from the previous years: from 72 percent in 2015 and 71 percent in 2014 and

the third highest since 2002’s 82 percent. The expectations of a happy Christmas were highest in Mindanao at 78 percent. Seventy-four percent of the respondents from the Visayas and in Balance Luzon said Christmas will be happy.

Congress and the Supreme Court, both co-equal branches of government, have the power to review the declaration of Martial Law. Duterte also criticized the Constitution’s three-term limit for local officials, saying that the provisions on Martial Law in the current Constitution were a “reckless reaction” to the Marcos regime. “That’s a bad law. It should really be changed — ask any governor or mayor,” the President said. Duterte had been toying with the idea of declaring Martial Law. In August, Duterte asked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno if the chief magistrate would rather have the President declare Martial Law after the chief justice commented on Duterte’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs. In October, Duterte once again floated the idea of declaring Martial Law because of the illegal drug trade during a meeting with the Jewish community at the Beit Yaacov Synagogue in Makati City. Despite Duterte’s pronouncements, he did not explain what sort of change he wants or how he plans to do it. Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution requires the President to submit a report to Congress within 48 hours after declaring Martial Law. Congress can revoke the President’s proclamation through a joint-vote by at least a majority of all its members. The President cannot set aside this revocation. But earlier this month, Duterte said he had no plans of declaring Martial Law after all. Instead, he said he would rather give local officials blanket authority. “Martial Law for what? Killing people? I would rather empower every mayor,” he said. Vice President Leni Robredo scored Duterte’s threat of a return to Martial Law, saying that it is the “worst Christmas gift to the Filipino people.” “To refer to specific provisions in the 1987 Constitution prohibiting such as a reckless reaction to the Marcos regime is an insult

The Philippine islands are often the first major landmass to be hit by storms that generate over the Pacific. The Southeast Asian country endures about 20 major storms each year,

many of them deadly. The most powerful and deadliest was Haiyan, which left 7,350 people dead or missing and destroyed entire towns in heavily populated areas of the Visayas in November 2013. Rio N. Araja, with AFP

But only 66 percent of the respondents in Metro manila expect a happy Christmas this year. The same survey said three in four adults or 75 percent said it was better to give gifts this Christmas while 21 percent said it was “better to receive.” The respondents who said it

was better to give were highest in Balance Luzon at 82 percent and Metro Manila at 81 percent. Only 72 percent of the respondents from the Visayas said this Christmas would be a happy one compared with 63 percent from those in Mindanao. John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo

Xmas... From A1

PH,... From A1

Tiongson said some of the occupants of the vehicles managed to flee upon sighting government security personnel. He said one of the vehicles contained materials for an improvised bomb. One of those arrested was carrying four fragmentation grenades, Tiongson added. All six vehicles were confiscated. Police earlier arrested eight out of the 12 suspects involved in the Davao City blast which killed 15 and wounded 70 others on September 2. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-ARMM said Original was planning terrorist activities in Cotabato City and Maguindanao with fellow Maute members. Original admitted that he is a member of the Maute group, adding that a comrade in the police force convinced him to join. He said he started studying about jihad even while he was still in the service. “I joined when a case was filed against me. Infidelity in the custody of a prisoner and grave misconduct. That was when I became active in the jihad. I went AWOL,” he said. The former cop said he went to Bicol where he met other Maute group members. He also went to Butig, Lanao del Sur, along with a certain “Haron” who is now detained as one of the suspects of the Davao City night market bombing. Original admitted that he was in Davao City when an explosion hit the Davao night market last September but claimed he did not have a role but was in the vehicle that carried the perpetrators. He also said there are more than 100 members of the Maute group scattered in the mountains near Barira town. The ex-cop said he has no regrets giving up his job and joining the Maute group because he will be in paradise when he dies. Aside from Original, police also arrested four other suspects - Ibrahim Pandita Arumpac, Hamsa Bagul, Musa Rasamal and Mohammad Said Jamla. “They will not be able to leave the Lanao area because they are all being monitored. They are now looking for an exit and they decided on Barira. We learned that they were going to be picked up by a vehicle,” CIDG-ARMM deputy regional director William Santos said. The government has launched an intensified campaign against the Maute group after the rebels tried to occupy Butig last month. PNA

Drugs,... From A1

Duterte recently ordered Aguirre to investigate the extent of Lam’s gaming operations, who he said benefitted from an onerous contract allowing him to remit only one percent to the government. Aguirre’s pronouncements came after President Duterte on Thursday claimed that a certain head of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the state regulator of special economic zones whom he didn’t name, was receiving more than P300 billion as ‘kickbacks’ to protect the online gambling operations of Lam. Duterte in November named Former Butuan Rep. Charito Plaza as director-general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. She replaced former Peza chief Lilia De Lima, the agency’s head for more than 21 years following her retirement. The former Peza chief, the aunt of Senator Leila de Lima, was a widely respected official who promoted investments in the Philippines and oversaw export companies operating in special economic zones. Aguirre said Duterte was more likely to be talking about the senator, not the former Peza chief. “I’m sure [Duterte] was not referring to Lilia, a good friend and [an official] of unquestionable integrity,” Aguirre said. “The President might have been mistaken [on Lilia] because they both have almost the same names,” he said. Recently, Lam allegedly tried to bribe Aguirre to become his protector, but the Justice secretary immediately turned down the offer.

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NCR gets biggest slice of P3.35-t natl budget

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

Thousands of poor families in the country’s national capital region receive their Christmas gifts Friday from the Lamabat Outreach Ministry at the bayside Philippine International Convention Center. Lino Santos

By John Paolo Bencito DESPITE President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to pour more money to the countryside, the National Capital Region still gets the biggest chunk of his P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017, with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao bagging the least in the first spending plan under his administration. With about 66.3 percent, or P2.221 trillion of the total budget to be directly allocated to the 16 regions of the country, NCR, with 16 cities and one town, gets the highest share of the pie receiving a total P519.3 billion in 2017 which is 16.5 percent higher than the 2016 budget. Allocations for NCR will include expenditures for national government offices, including the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President and the Legislature. Region IV-A (Calabarzon) gets the next biggest budget share, with P120.8 billion which is 28.1 percent than last year; followed by Region III (Central Luzon) with P167.4 billion; Region VI (Western Visayas) with 139.0 billion; and Region VII (Central Visayas) with 123.3 billion. Region V (Bicol) gets 120.8 billion; followed by Region X (Northern Mindanao) with P116.9 billion; Region VIII with P112.6 billion; Region XI (Davao Region) with P108.3 billiion; and Region I (Ilocos) with P98.1 billion. Those getting the least portions of the pie: Region XII (Soccsksargen) with only P97.2 billion; Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) with P90.3 billion; Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) with P80.4 billion; and Region XIII with P76.7 billion. Cordillera Administrative Region gets only P56.4 billion while the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao gets the lowest appropriation with only P56.0 billion. Luzon, excluding NCR, gets a total P782.2 billion in 2017, higher by 24.5 percent than in 2016; Visayas gets P374.9 billion, 25.6 percent more than in 2016; while Mindanao gets P545.5 billion, which is 37.5 percent higher than the 2016 level.

‘Travel time along Edsa shortened by 28 mins’ By Joel E. Zurbano

HE travel time of motorists along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue has been reduced by 28 minutes despite the heavy volume of vehicles this holiday season, Metro Manila Development Authority acting chairman Thomas Orbos said Friday.

Orbos said a comparative survey done by his agency showed a substantial decrease in travel time from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to Monumento in Caloocan City and vice versa. The survey showed on December 22 the travel time was one hour and 10 minutes compared to last year’s average of one hour, 39 minutes on the same date. He added there was an increase in travel speed from 13.91 kilometers per hour taken on December 22 last year to 19.54 kilometers per hour on December 22 this year, or a 5.63 kph increase.

The MMDA noted the total vehicle volume count along Edsa on December 21 last year was 346,030 compared to 357,529 on December 21 this year, or an 11,499 increase in vehicular volume. Orbos and other MMDA ofﬁcials expressed gratitude to motorists for their continuous support, understanding, and cooperation with the agency in implementing various measures in the past months to improve the trafﬁc situation in the metropolis. Orbos said both public and private motorists alike have been very helpful and cooperative with concerned government agencies

in easing the traffic condition in Metro Manila. “With Christmas just around the corner and when traffic is expected to be heaviest during the holidays in almost [all] major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, the cooperation of the public and private sectors has been vital in improving the traffic flow,” he said. The MMDA chief cited the motoring public’s cooperation when several barriers and delineators were removed from portions of Edsa. Even without these barriers, motorists still follow the traffic rules, particularly the Yellow Lane, which is exclusively for public passenger buses, Orbos added. Orbos also noted the initiatives of motorcycle riders federations and public transport groups in helping and coming out with stakeholder-specific solutions to traffic in recent months. “The agency is also grateful to these groups who made it possible for the strict enforcement of our existing traffic rules and regulations. With their ranks’ coopera-

tion, a semblance of discipline can now be seen in our roads,” he said. Aside from the cooperation of various stakeholders, Orbos said the agency, along with the InterAgency Council on Traffic, also started strictly enforcing the NoseIn, Nose-Out Policy for provincial buses along Edsa. “We have been making headway in decongesting these areas where the provincial bus terminals are located along Edsa with our stringent enforcement of the NoseIn, Nose-Out Policy,” he added. Members of the Metro Manila Council, the governing board and the policy-making body of the MMDA, are likewise appreciative of the traffic management by the MMDA field personnel in an effort to speed up traffic flow in the metropolis. Apart from MMDA, I-ACT is composed of the Department of Transportation, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the MMC.

Debt audit ‘historic first’ Alvarez seeks Sandiganbayan comment By Rio N. Araja in PH budget system By Macon Araneta “A HISTORIC ﬁrst in the history of the Philippine budget system.” This is how Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros described the passage of the 2017 national government budget that contains a special provision mandating Congress to conduct a comprehensive audit of the country’s debt. The provision tasked the Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Development Assistance to conduct a debt audit to determine the legitimacy of a list of loan agreements challenged as illegitimate. The debt audit will be con-

ducted in the 2017 ﬁscal year. Hontiveros, who introduced the general provision, said the process of a debt audit, was an important policy tool to unburden the Filipino people from paying onerous and illegitimate debts and beef up funding for social service spending. “This is truly a historic ﬁrst. With this provision, we commit to diligently scrutinize the country’s debts if they are indeed in accordance with the principles on promoting responsible sovereign lending and borrowing by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and repudiate the illegitimate part of our overall debt,” Hontiveros said.

HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is asking the Sandiganbayan to comment on the proposal to amend Section 13 of Republic Act. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, allowing the anti-graft court to preventively suspend local ofﬁcials. But Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang declined to comment on House Bill 3605 that would stop the anti-graft court to implement the suspension order on any incumbent government ofﬁcial charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act committed while in a previous government position. She said Alvarez wrote the court, asking for its reaction on proposed amendment of RA 3019.

“We asked them [Congress] that we be excused from submitting any comment. Because at the end of the day, we will still be the ones to interpret everything about the law,” she said. The House of Representatives, however, could enact a law to protect incumbent ofﬁcials from serving a preventive suspension order, she said. “In fact, it can completely amend Section 13 or completely delete Section 13 to abolish the preventive suspension completely. It’s within the legislative power of Congress,” she added. In September, Alvarez ﬁled HB 3605 to bar Sandiganbayan from issuing a preventive suspension order after the court ordered the suspension of Camarines Sur Rep. Raymund Villafuerte and Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr.

NIA ready to enforce irrigation masterplan MANILA—The country is gearing up to implement starting next year a 10-year masterplan meant to provide irrigation to an additional 576,000 hectares arable lands in the country at a cost of Php390 billion. National Irrigation Administration Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña said his agency had covered 57 percent of the total 3.2 million hectares of irrigable area in the country. This is estimated at 1.824 million hectares. “In the 10-year masterplan, our target is to increase this to 75

percent of the 3.2 million hectares,” he told reporters, noting the projects involve restoration and rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems and opening new irrigated areas. Laviña said these irrigation projects and systems were located nationwide. He added bulk, or 99 percent, of irrigated areas were rice crop area. “We will not be able to achieve our target of rice selfsufﬁciency without irrigation,” he noted.

SNOW WORLD. Children born in this tropic country enjoy the cold air as they take photos at the Snow World, a popular attraction where visitors experience a white Christmas inside the Star City amusement park in Pasay City. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Palace wishes Erap ‘speedy and full recovery’ MALACAÑANG has expressed concern over the condition of former President Joseph Estrada, 79, who was admitted to and conﬁned at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan due to pneumonia. His son Senator JV Ejercito said doctors detected an infection in Estrada’s lungs but Erap, mayor of Manila, was already recuperating after receiving treatment. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said: “As mayor of the Philippines’ capital and premier city, he regained Manila’s lost glory. The National Competitiveness Council named it the most competitive city in the Philippines. Get well soon, Mayor Erap!”John Paolo Bencito

Health dept records 3 firecracker injuries MANILA—Three firecrackerrelated injuries were recorded on December 22, bringing the total to six since December 21, the Department of Health reported Friday. The three new cases were a six-year-old boy from Cainta, Rizal, a 14-year-old from Iloilo, and a 15-year-old from Manila. The boy ingested a firecracker when he placed a ‘luces’ between his teeth, according to hospital records. However, because he did not exhibit any abnormal reaction, he was advised to go home, brush his teeth and gargle. The 14-year-old from IloIlo, who sustained injuries in both eyes due to a ‘bogo,’ an improvised canon, was being treated at the Western Visayas Medical Center. PNA

MRT rolls out 27 elevators MANILA—The Metro Rail Transit 3 has installed 27 brand new elevators in most stations to ensure convenient travel for its passengers. Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade inspected the new elevators and rode the MRT-3 from Magallanes Station to North Avenue station Friday.The new units are cable elevators with permanent magnet which do not need oil to operate unlike the old hydraulic elevators in MRT stations. Five more elevators are to be installed at North Avenue Station, Ortigas Station, Buendia Station and Ayala Station. MRT-3 general manager Deo Manalo said the new elevators would ease the commute of passengers during the holidays. Senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disability will be given priority. “The elevators would relieve passengers from carrying heavy bags especially this Christmas,” Manalo said. PNA

Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

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EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

A season for the young

OUNG people in this country make up more than half the population. Filipinos aged 30 years and below stand to reap the rewards—or the consequences—of the decisions we make or refuse to make today.

cused of being too focused on themselves, restless, entitled to privileges, and having things too easy. What is not said however is that the previous generation had a lot to do with the way the youth behave. If they feel entitled to privileges, it is because we raised them to believe so perhaps in a desire to give them better options than we ever had. Today’s young have plenty of energy and attention to spare. Social media may be a skewed barometer, especially But they are not passive recipients of since not every Filipino household has whatever we do. access to the internet. Still, current Some of them are portrayed rather un- developments in politics and governance fairly. For instance, millennials are ac- tell us the youth can be informed and

engaged if they want. We must make them want to. It is said the holidays are for the young. Let us not underestimate them and believe that they are only after the trimmings, the presents, the perks and privileges of the season. It is up to their elders to encourage their participation. Tell them the truth —no lies, no euphemisms. Engage them in conversation. Seek out their opinion. Give them room to express themselves and allow them to defend their positions. With this, perhaps we can feel better about the coming years—however big, daunting and threatening the challenges may appear now. HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The Marcos burial and the 1987 Charter

therefore, cannot understand how some politicians can conclude that people feel safer these days. They are so out of touch with people’s sentiments. They live in a different reality. They are busy trying to be on the good side of the president they forget that their mandate is to protect the Filipino people’s welfare. How blind can these politicians be? To add insult to injury, PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recently said that the President is giving bonuses to police officials in the hundreds of thousands of pesos depending how many stars one has. While there was a statement that such bonuses would no longer push through, there were counter reports that some officials have already received theirs. I am not averse to giving legal incentives to the police for doing their job which is to enforce our laws. But in this

ANOTHER group of Aquino family allies announced its opposition to the burial of the remains of ex-President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They are the surviving members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Constitution. In opposing the Marcos burial at the heroes cemetery, these pro-Aquino family commissioners claimed that the ouster of President Marcos in 1986 “is the backdrop to the drafting of the 1987 Constitution.” Sure, but how the 1987 Constitution itself bars the Marcos burial at the Libingan is not sufficiently explained by the commissioners. What prompted that claim anyway? Perhaps, the explanation is in the history of the 1986 Constitutional Commission itself. When President Corazon “Cory” Aquino seized power in February 1986, she unilaterally abolished the 1973 Constitution (the charter then in force) and imposed on the Filipino people a so-called “Freedom Constitution.” Aquino’s “new” constitution retained the provisions of the 1973 Constitution, but eliminated the Batasang Pambansa, the legislature under the 1973 charter. As a result, Aquino exercised both executive and legislative powers. In other words, the government became a Cory Aquino dictatorship for the next 12 months. Actually, Presidents Marcos and Aquino both exercised executive and legislative powers. Marcos got both powers from the 1973 Constitution, while Aquino got hers under her self-created “Freedom Constitution.” While Aquino had no legislature to check her under the “Freedom Constitution,” Marcos at least had the Batasang Pambansa under the 1973 Constitution. Although the Batasan was relatively passive from 1978 to 1984, it was quite a check against Marcos from 1984 to 1986, thanks to the assemblymen elected under Salvador “Doy” Laurel’s political opposition party—the UNIDO.

Turn to A5

Christmas in the time of killings POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO CHRISTMAS in the Philippines is the holiday of all holiday seasons. Worldwide, the country is known to have the longest Christmas season, the “ber” season because it starts in September. But how does one greet people a “merry” Christmas at a time when almost 80 percent of adult Filipinos fear that they would become victims of killings? This result of the latest Social Weather Stations survey is not at all surprising considering the huge number of murders that have happened because of this administration’s so-called “war against drugs.” Many call these deaths extrajudicial killings (EJKs) but as far as I am concerned, these are plain murders. For as long as

death penalty remains illegal, and deaths are not due to selfdefense, killings are unjustifiable, and cannot be considered as judicial. According to the same SWS survey, 80 percent of our people view EJKs as a serious issue and only 3 percent said that the issue is “not serious at all.” Moreover, 94 percent of the respondents consider it important that suspected drug offenders are caught alive. It stands to reason that the big majority of Filipinos want suspects to be subjected to due process and not summarily killed. For the people, it is important that the rule of law prevails. The fear that prevails among the populace is not only understandable, it is expected. According to Rappler’s reports, for the period July 1 to December 23, there have been around 6,187 “war on drugs”—related killings. The number covers those from police operations

and those killed by unknown assailants. 2,138 of the deaths involved police operations, and 4,049 were due to vigilantestyle killings. It cannot be ascertained how many of the deaths are collateral damage to this “war,” and how many are due to mistaken identity. Definitely however,

Are we a nation of barbarians?

some of the deaths are those of victims who had nothing to do with drugs including a four-year-old girl from Negros Oriental. President Duterte, in an interview in October said that children killed are

collateral damage. What is sure is that all the killed suspects did not have the opportunity to defend themselves in the Court of Law. After all, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Technically therefore, all of the almost 6,200 deaths are those of innocents. Very recently, in Laguna, two people were killed and others who were hit by stray bullets in what was dubbed as “Simbang Gabi” shooting. The crime happened near a church and those hurt were churchgoers. There are many other heartbreaking stories of innocent people getting killed. No wonder, people are scared. Who would not be? Imagine going to church and getting killed. The Philippine National Police has reported a decrease in the crime index BUT a big increase in murders. I,

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THE Visiting Forces Agree- culminating in the country’s ment is the only agreement of unilateral filing of our claim beits kind where the host country fore the Permanent Court of Aris more concerned in wanting bitration. The government knew to please a visiting guest than beforehand that China would in prioritizing its national in- never recognize the arbitration terest. Noynoy Aquino and court or much more accept its his cabal of fawning lapdogs decision, notwithstanding that knew the agreement was not the US refuse to give us an asin pursuit of our interest but surance of support us to break an extension cord of the US to the expected impasse. China bolster its declining imperial even learned that the BS Aquidominion. He concurred to all no exerted efforts to influence the suppositions of the US that the decision which all the more the VFA is not a treaty but an made our cause embarrassing. executive agreement that need Third, our signing of Edca not go through the process of was used by the US as its Senate ratification. own leverage to invite Japan To place its seal of constitu- to join them in patrolling the tionality, our invertebrate Su- South China Sea even if Edca preme Court rendered its ques- is outside the scope of our allitionable justification based ance under the Mutual Defense on the discredited Cold War Agreement the country signed premise to get away with the in 1947. As one observed, it was requirement of Section 4, Ar- the US that violated the agreeticle XVIII of the Constitution. ment when it over extended our Unfortunately, Noynoy failed hospitality of inviting Japan to to anticipate that President Du- join it in containing China. terte could also use the same Fourth, the US is already power to abrogate the VFA and engaged in provocative surthe Enhanced Defense Cooper- veillance against China, and ation Agreement by mere presi- often is carried out without our dential order. The BS Aquino knowledge and consent. Readministration was trapped in connaissance flights of drones its own con game. to spy on our military on opThis was followed by the eration against the secessionEdca which the country pro- ist rebels and on China’s alvided five access points to leged military build-up in the the US Armed Forces, all fac- Spratlys constitute dangerous ing the South provocations. China Sea. Nobody These are the knows whethAntonio Bauer the classitista Air Base informaEverything was fied in Palawan, tion the US Basa Air Base handed to the collects from in Pampanga, its aerial surAmericans on a Fort Magsayveillance is say in Nueva silver platter. passed on Ecija, Lumbia to the reThese Air Base in bels. are worrying Cagayan de signs that has Oro and Benito Ebuen in Mactan. The bases turned the Philippine archipelwere not only meant to support ago into a tinder box. Fifth, during the time of the “Pivot to Asia” policy of a lameduck president, but would President Marcos, he insisted from thereon allow the US to on payment of compensation conduct regular naval patrol for the bases. Even if the US rein the South China Sea in the fused to acknowledge rental, it guise of ensuring the “freedom was nonetheless committed to come up with an amount often of navigation.” Thus, the deployment of US referred to as “economic assisforces in our territory increased tance.” This was to emphasize the certainty of being dragged our ownership and jurisdiction in a proxy war with China, and over the bases. The RP-US Military Bases the country bearing the brunt of the fighting. In that, the Agreement during his time was country will be defending the meticulous that it even detailed US’ geo-strategic interest in the rights and benefits of Filithe Asia-Pacific rim. This is a pinos working inside the bases, complete reversal to the origi- and the taxes US military pernal purpose why the country sonnel would pay for items they opted to enter into a military brought in and sold outside the alliance, which is for the US to base. However, the BS Aquino “protect” their implanted free- administration scrapped them, blindly accepting that as host dom and democracy. Taking advantage of the col- country we should be the one to laborating mentality of the BS shoulder the burden of sustainAquino government, the US ing the imperialistic hegemony stood pat in its position that the of the US. The VFA and Edca marked the reintroduction of the US military bases is for our own inter- lowest ebb in Philippine-US reest. That in turn justified their lations. The US no longer treats demand that we shoulder, in part us as an ally but a modern-day or in whole, expenses related to vassal state. This is why Presithe maintenance and operations dent Duterte reacted when the of their bases in the Philippines. US withheld the release of the We allowed them to use the fa- $433-million assistance by the cilities we built for our soldiers, Millennium Challenge Corporause our existing airfields, install tion. The President suspected it sophisticated communications was the handiwork of the opposiequipment inside the bases, and tion to blackmail him for alleged to operate drones and use them human rights violations claiming as staging points to violate the that allegedly more than 5,000 drug pushers have been liquidatterritory of other countries. Nothing about the rental for ed through extrajudicial killing. This prompted the President the use of the bases and the issue of jurisdiction was dis- to sarcastically say, “You can cussed. In other words, every- eat all your dollars” (kainin nyo thing was handed to the US on ang dolyar nyo), and that “Filipinos will not starve to death” a silver platter. First, when the country ap- (hindi kami patay gutom). proved the Edca, it became ap- On the contrary he called the parent that anytime, we could amount puny compared to the be entangled in a proxy war $50-billion economic and dewith China. Edca was validat- velopmental assistance offered ed by the Supreme Court on the by China. All he asks is for the basis that it is merely an elabo- US not to treat us like dirt or in the vernacular, “huwag naman ration of the VFA. Second, the US intentionally tayong babuyin ng ganun.” instigated the BS Aquino ad(rpkapunan@gmail.com) ministration to pursue our claim

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Saint Joseph and Cardinal Tagle

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Scaffolding US imperial interest

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA A WEEK or so ago, there was an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, entitled “The Silence of Cardinal Tagle.” The author, Carlos Isles, lamented what he considered the lack of leadership of the Archbishop of Manila in confronting the government for the ongoing massacre of the poor: “Without doubt, the flock is scattered and in disarray. They ache for a leader, a shepherd, and a voice that will denounce evil, guide and provide solace in this time of grave peril. That leader should be Cardinal Tagle. He should stand in the wind unafraid to show the powerful that those who can kill the body cannot kill the soul. Unfortunately, it appears that he is not the man of the hour to restore courage in the hearts of the people to resist oppression.” I do not agree with Isles. First, it is not true that Cardinal Tagle has been silent and has not condemned the killings. He has done so in both public and private forums. Certainly, church leaders close to him, like Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, have consistently spoken up. The Baclaran church set up a photo exhibit of the extrajudicial killings and the Quiapo church, whose parish priest Fr. Ding Coronel is a classmate and student of mine, has hung a protest banner in a prominent place. Second, it is not right to compare Cardinal Tagle with Cardinal Sin. The times are different and both the country and the Church have changed. Personally, for what we are facing now I prefer less political Church leaders and more pastors in our bishops. I trust that Cardinal Tagle is discerning the mission he and the Catholic Church are called to serve in these trying times.

The Marcos... From A4

The Cory Aquino dictatorship from 1986 to 1987 created the Presidential Commission on Good Government ostensibly to run after the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and their allies. The PCGG, however, turned out to be a monster. By threatening their victims with writs of sequestration, many PCGG officials had a heyday making money out of their newly acquired power. The country also became the “brownout” capital of the world after Aquino abolished the Department of Energy. Instead of calling an election for delegates to a constitutional convention which will draft a new charter, Cory Aquino created the 1986 Constitutional Commission, composed of almost 50 appointed individuals. With the exception of five commissioners recommended by the political opposition, the commissioners were Aquino’s personal choices, and many were her personal friends. After a year’s work, the Commission came out with its draft charter. The draft was eventually ratified by the electorate as the 1987 Constitution, in a plebiscite called for the purpose.

Christmas... From A4

case, if the bonuses are indeed released, what are these for? Is it for the thousands of suspected drug users and pushers they killed? Is this an incentive to kill more? It is as if we are a nation of barbarians. This Christmas season is a sad and scary one. What if someone dear to us who is out to celebrate the season becomes

The Archdiocese of Manila, which Tagle leads, is particularly important because it is Ground Zero of the killings. If things do not abate, we will have 20,000 dead next year and a few hundred thousand victims, mostly poor, by the end of the President’s term. Understandably, given the grim prospects, some of the faithful yearn for a John the Baptist today. For me, what we need more is the example of Saint Joseph. Throughout the Bible we have been introduced to colorful personalities who were used by the Divine to convey his message of love or to inflict punishment to an erring people. Thus, the Old Testament tells as about Samson, Moses, and the Prophets Elijah, Isaiah among others. They became instruments of God to draw his plan of salvation. The New Testament is no different. We have Saints Peter and the Apostles who figure prominently during the three-year ministry of our Lord. Then there is St. Paul, a hitherto persecutor of the early Christians, but through his dramatic conversion narrative he became one of the greatest apostles, becoming known as the apostle of the gentiles. And of course, there is the Mother of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary. She may be a simple character, without the flamboyance and flair of the other protagonists in the bible, but as the mother of God, she played a very prominent and crucial role in God’s plan of Salvation. But there is one central character in the Bible who is conspicuous by his silence although he plays an equally crucial role. He spoke few words, seldom mentioned, but he spoke through his actions by obeying without question what the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He was nowhere near the crucifixion nor was he ever mentioned during Jesus’ whole ministry. The only time

we hear of him in the scriptures is when somebody referred to him in a disparaging tone— “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Why should we be listening to him?” someone told Jesus. Silent as he was, Joseph in fact played a very important role in the economy of salvation. Obedient, just and righteous, and always fearful of the Lord, Joseph was given the unique privilege of being the guardian of our Lord throughout his childhood and teenage years before coming out to undertake his three-year ministry. When Joseph was told in a dream to take Mary as his wife, he obeyed without question even when he learned that his betrothed was pregnant. He also immediately obeyed the angel when he was commanded to bring his family to Egypt to protect the Child Jesus from Herod’s soldiers. And when it was revealed to him to go home to Nazareth, he once again did not hesitate. All of these he did to protect Mary and Jesus, trusting God’s plan for the Holy Family. In all of these, Joseph must have been full of fear and trembling, but there was no hesitation from him to do what was necessary. Venerable Louis of Granada, a Dominican priest from the 14th Century, writes the following: “Joseph realized how great was the blessing which God had bestowed upon him, a poor carpenter, in decreeing that from his house and family should come the hope and salvation and remedy of all generations and that he should be guardian and putative father of the Savior and the spouse of His blessed Mother. When a heart so pure and holy sees itself enclosed and inundated by such mysteries, what must it feel? How astonished and enraptured it must be amidst such marvels and blessings, especially since the Holy Spirit

usually gives to the just an experience or taste proportionate to the knowledge which He gives them. What must have been the state of Joseph’s will when his intellect was enlightened concerning the great marvels and mysteries?” This Christmas, it is time to learn our lessons from St. Joseph. Most of all let us imitate his humility. By our submission to and acceptance of God’s most holy will, we will have true peace and joy. The life of Joseph tells us that we can do much good, great or small, without drawing praise and attention to ourselves. What is important is not us but how to give glory to God. Applied to what is happening around us, perhaps what we need now is not just a vocal Catholic Church but also a pastoral one, a Church that is present, as Joseph was to Mary and Jesus. What we need is less a condemnatory Church but one that offered consolation and protection to its faithful, as Saint Joseph gave to his family. A guardian and a sanctuary for a Church is what the people of God needs at this time. Many families cannot even bury their dead. Many children have been orphaned. Wives have been widowed. There are addicts that do need rehabilitation. Above all, poor neighborhoods need protection from the evil men that invade the houses of the poor to kill mercilessly. The Catholic Church has the human and material resources to address these needs. I hope its leaders, including Cardinal Tagle, understand that is in fact potentially genocide of the poor that we face. The best Christmas gift the Church could give today to the country’s poor is sanctuary —consolation and protection. That would be doing a Saint Joseph in these times.

Because almost all of the commissioners were political allies of President Aquino, the 1987 Constitution was a reactionary charter designed to make it virtually impossible for the president to become an absolute ruler. It also has many defects. All this notwithstanding, there is nothing in the 1987 Constitution which bans the burial of President Marcos at the Libingan. Thus put, how the 1987 Constitution can be cited by the commissioners against the Marcos burial remains a mystery. For the record, this is not the first time the pro-Aquino commissioners cited the 1987 charter to support their political views. At the height of the public debate on the divisive Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was an idea of Cory’s son President Benigno Aquino III, the commissioners urged Congress to enact the BBL because doing so was supposedly in accord with the intent of the 1987 Constitution. Just how the 1987 Constitution specifically warranted the enactment of the BBL despite its patently unconstitutional provisions was, as usual, not satisfactorily explained by the commissioners. Fortunately, the BBL was assailed by noted experts in Constitutional Law led by ex-Supreme

Court Justice Vicente V. Mendoza because it called for, among others, the creation of a virtual Moro sub-state in Mindanao. This gave then Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos enough reason to almost single-handedly derail the BBL in the Senate. The commissioners label the Marcos administration a dictatorship primarily because Marcos was allowed by the 1973 Constitution to exercise both executive and legislative powers, despite the existence of the Batasang Pambansa. They are, however, conveniently silent about the fact that the 1986 Constitutional Commission was created by Cory Aquino in the exercise of her dictatorial powers—dictatorial, because the creation of a public office like a constituent assembly requires the exercise of legislative power, something a president does not have unless that president is, following their definition, a dictator. Drafting a new constitution is by no means an ordinary responsibility because the ensuing product will bind both the government and the people. That is why delegates to the separate constitutional conventions that drafted the 1935 Constitution and the 1973 charter were elected by the Filipino people. Sadly, the commissioners who

drafted the 1987 Constitution were not elected, but were merely appointed by President Aquino. Being so, they owe their appointment to Aquino, and not to the Filipino electorate. Where is the democracy there? The ratification of the 1987 Constitution by the Filipino people does not make it an honest to goodness constitution of the people. Under ordinary circumstances, the plebiscite is a forum where the people are asked if they want to replace the existing constitution with another constitution. On the other hand, the choices the people had at the plebiscite on the 1987 Constitution were radically different—it was either they approve the 1987 Constitution despite its obvious defects, or they continued living under a Cory Aquino dictatorship. Since that’s not much to choose from, the people naturally chose to approve the 1987 Constitution because a constitutional government under a defective constitution is a far better choice than a Cory Aquino dictatorship. So the next time the commissioners who drafted the 1987 Constitution invoke the charter against what they call “the Marcos dictatorship,” they should take a look at the historical record first.

a collateral damage? What if a friend becomes a victim of mistaken identity? Government has not announced any cessation of police operations in this “war against drugs.” Instead, we hear the president issuing threats against those who oppose his “war” almost on a daily basis. He has threatened his critics, human rights advocates, lawyers defending suspected users or pushers, and lately, even government officials who he thinks are critical of his actions.

Really, who is safe? Who feels safe? Even if one is not on any list, how does one party knowing that almost 6,200 families are grieving because of the loss of a loved one. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. What about these victims’ children? How are they to celebrate the season of love and goodwill? Will they have a happy Christmas? Will they even be in the mood to celebrate? Christmas in time of killings is a very difficult one.

I cannot wish people a “Merry Christmas.” Instead, let us all try to stay safe and let our “celebration” be a meaningful one. For Catholics, Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of the Savior. I wish everyone to be the savior of others. Be safe and try to help others stay safe as well. Be counted in the war against killings.

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News

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 A6 Standard TODAY Manila

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More job offers in Taiwan, Saudi By Vito Barcelo TAIWAN and Saudi Arabia are in need of Filipino workers, especially nurses and factory workers, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that a semiconductor company in Taiwan and the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia are now recruiting at least 50 factory workers and 346 nurses and therapists, respectively. The companies which are looking for qualified applicants are the Powertech Technology Inc., a semiconductor company in Taiwan and the Ministry of Health/King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Powertech needs at least 50 fac-

PRESENT:

Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ LnB President

tory workers who have obtained at least two years of college education, or graduate of vocational course. On the other hand, the MoH have vacancies for 306 female nurses and 40 respiratory therapists. He said that to qualify for the vacancies at the MoH, applicants should not be more than 40 years old, must be graduates of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) course, with PRC license and have three years of related experience. Salary ranges from P48,176 a month for respiratory the rapists while nurses’ basic salary of SR3,705, or more than P49,000 a month. For factory workers in Taiwan, salary ranges between P18,000 to P25,000 a month.

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT ARMANDO P. PADILLA

STILL LUCKY. At least six people were injured in this multiple vehicle collision at Camp 8 in Baguio City but luckily there were no fatalities. David Chan

ABSENT: Councilor “ “

ROMEO C. MEDINA ENRICO J. PUNO NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

========================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2016-A-043 on third and final reading. CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2016-A-043 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla Co- Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CASH INCENTIVES OF REGISTERED SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF MAKATI, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES WHEREAS, Art. 15, Sec. 14 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the family has the duty to take care for its elderly members but the state may also do so through just programs of social security; WHEREAS, Article XIII, Sec. 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children; WHEREAS, Sec. 16. of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare; WHEREAS, Sec. 16. of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides the local legislative power shall be exercised by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City; WHEREAS, Sec. 10 (e) (17) of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, provides that the Sangguniang Panlungsod shall approve ordinances which appropriate funds to support programs and projects for the benefit of the elderly; WHEREAS, as of 15 October 2016 there are around 42,426 senior citizens for ages 60-69, ages 70-79 there are around 22,748 senior citizens and ages 80 and up there are around 4,241 senior citizens in the City of Makati; WHEREAS, the City of Makati sees the reality that most senior citizens’ medical concerns require maintaining medicines and treatments, some of which are expensive for the senior citizens; WHEREAS, assistance in a form of monetary allowance would be of great help for senior citizens to augment their expenses in medicines and other treatment; WHEREAS, in recognition of the vital roles and contributions of the city’s senior citizens to the development of the Makati into a vibrant city and the recognized economic powerhouse of the country, while, at the same time, retraining its rich cultural identity/heritage and religious piety, the City Government has been granting annual cash incentives in the amount of three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) each to all registered (blu card holders) senior citizens; WHEREAS, the mounting expenses for medicines and other medical concerns of senior citizens as their age advances make their monthly pensions, if any, hardly sufficient to tide them over. This condition is true to most of the city’s senior citizens, particularly those belonging to the older groupings who are in more fragile state of health, but not, necessarily, the least grateful for the privileges that come with their realization of how much the city genuinely and truly care for them in their twilight years; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, considering the integral role, contribution and participation of the members of elderly sector in the promotion of the nation as well as to the development of the City, hereby enacts this Ordinance for the cash incentives of registered senior citizens in the City of Makati, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. There shall be cash incentives for senior citizens every year, to be given in half during the months of July and December. Section 2. The following is the age bracket of senior citizens for the purpose of determining the amount of incentives they may receive every year: A.

ABSENT: Councilor

ENRICO J. PUNO

========================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2016-A-034 on third and final reading. CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2016-A-034 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina Co-Authors: Hon. S.e. Aspillaga, Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.AM. Ortega, Hon. AP. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. M.Re. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. E.J. Puno AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING MAKATI DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (MAKATI DRRMC) RESOLUTION NO. 2016-01 SERIES OF 2016 ENTITLED AS “APPROVING THE GUIDELINES ON THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO DISASTER AFFECTED AREAS IN THE PHILIPPINES”, SUBJECT TO ALL LAWS AND EXISTING LEGAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) enlisted enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction as one of the priority area in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM); WHEREAS, Section 21 of RA 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, that upon the recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the Sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared under state of calamity; WHEREAS, it is important for local governments to adopt policies and actions establishing a system of coordination in the provision of logistical, financials medical, relief, manpower, and any other relevant forms of assistance needed by disaster affected areas in the Philippines for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction; WHEREAS, in recognition of Makati’s efforts in providing post-disaster assistance to Local Government Units affected by disasters, a mechanism is needed to be established in order to improve the provision of assistance to disaster affected areas; WHEREAS, Outcome 24 of the Recovery and Rehabilitation thematic area of the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan recognized the importance of restoring the citizenry’s state of normal functioning after each disaster; WHEREAS, a Technical Working Group composed of representatives from pertinent offices and/or departments of the City underwent a series of participatory and consultative meetings;

WHEREAS, on 23 February 2016, the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Makati DRRMC) approved Resolution No. 2016-01 Series of 2016 entitled as “Approving the Guidelines on the Provision of Assistance to Disaster Affected Areas in the Philippines”;

The first half [One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 1,500.00)] shall be given in July of every year; and The other half [One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 1,500.00)] shall be given in December of every year. For senior citizen whose age is between 70-79 years old, such senior citizen is entitled to receive Four Thousand Pesos (Php 4,000.00) to be distributed as follows: 1. 2.

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR. ARMANDO P. PADILLA

For senior citizen whose age is between 60-69 years old, such senior citizen is entitled to receive Three Thousand Pesos (Php 3,000.00) to be distributed as follows:

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ LnB President

The first half [Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00)] shall be given in July of every year; and The other half [Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00)] shall be given in December of every year.

For senior citizen whose age is 80 years old and above, such senior citizen is entitled to receive Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) to be distributed as follows: 1. 2.

The first half [Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 2,500.00)] shall be given in July of every year; and The other half [Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 2,500.00)] shall be given in December of every year.

Section 3. The Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) in coordination with the City Budget Office, the Accounting Department and Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) shall formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations within 30 days after the effectivity of this ordinance. Section 4. The funds for carrying this Ordinance shall be chargeable to the Executive Budget of the Office of the Mayor, under Special Activities Funds, and/or funds of the Makati Social Welfare Department, under the BIu Card Program or any other sources of funds as indicated in the Annual or Supplemental Budget of the city government, whichever is applicable, subject to existing laws and auditing rules and procedures.

WHEREAS, considering the necessity of espousing Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MAKATl DRRMC) Resolution No. 2016-01 Series of 2016, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby adopts the aforecited Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ADOPTED AS IT IS HEREBY ADOPTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POVVERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT: Section 1. The Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby adopts Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Makati DRRMC) Resolution No. 2016-01 Series of 2016 which. is hereto attached as Annex “A” and shall form an integral part hereof. Section 2. The Guidelines on the Provision of Assistance to Disaster Affected Areas in the Philippines, which is hereto attached as Annex “B”, is likewise adopted and shall form an integral part hereof. Section 3. All existing ordinances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent ‘with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Section 5. Let a copy of this ordinance be furnished the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD), the City Budget Office, the Accounting Department and the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and other concerned agencies for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 5. Let copy of this Ordinance and its attached Annexes be furnished to the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MAKATI DRRMC) and other concerned offices for their information and guidance.

Section 6. All ordinances, executive orders and rules and regulations inconsistent or in conflict with any provisions of this ordinance are deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 1 December 2016.

Section 7. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Special Session held on 5 December 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. MAR MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. MAR MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. EVEL EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. EVEL EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Attested by:

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer Approved by:

Approved by:

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor (MS-DEC. 24, 2016)

Increased arrivals of retirees expected B By Dexter A. See

AGUIO CITY—The Philippines can become top retirement and investment haven by the year 2019 if the government improves its services for foreigners wanting to spend their retirement in strategic places in the country, according to a senior ofﬁcial of the Philippine Retirement Authority. Lawyer Bienvenido Chy, PRA general manager, said there are already 47,600 foreign retirees in the different parts of the country and government plans to double the number over the next two to three years depending on how the PRA will be able to market the country to the foreign retirees. He said the top foreign retirees in the country include Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, Indians, Japanese and other Southeast Asian nationals who now staying in various parts of the country. “We believe we can improve the country’s standing as a retirement and investment haven through our introduction of the needed innovations to the services that we offer and the aggressive marketing we will do to the prospective foreign retirees,” Chy stressed. The PRA official said the Philippines now ranks 17th among existing retirement and investment havens in the different parts of the world and the government needs to overhaul the country’s existing re-

tirement programs. According to Chy, the country already has the natural beauty that entices foreign retirees to visit the different tourist destinations and what needs to be done is to design attractive retirement packages for the appreciation of interested retirees. He admitted the potentials of the country becoming a retirement and investment haven had been overlooked by the previous administrators of the PRA, thus, he will introduce the necessary innovations that will make foreign retirees an integral part of the country’s robust economic growth in the next several years. Chy believes by improving the existing packages being offered for foreign retirees, there will be an upsurge of foreign retirees wanting to reside in the city, and in other prime tourist destinations such as Cebu, Davao, Clark and Subic. Chy claimed numerous foreign retirees have expressed a desire to retire in the country because of the scenic tourist destinations, the hospitable people and the good food.

Customs to open suspicious boxes THE Bureau of Customs said on Friday “balikbayan” boxes suspected of containing contraband, such as explosives, illegal drugs and firearms, will be subjected to 100 percent physical examination in the presence of the consignee or duly authorized representative. While under an existing policy that balikbayan boxes shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical inspection, it shall only undergo mandatory x-ray scanning. “In cases of shipments tagged ‘suspect’ after x-ray scanner, the inspector shall recommend the issuance of an Alert Order,” BoC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said. The customs chief has issued a memorandum directing all district collectors and other concerned customs officials and personnel regarding the policy on opening

alerted balikbayan boxes, saying alerted balikbayan boxes shall be subject to 100 percent physical examination only in the presence of the consignee or his duly authorized representative. “If the consignee or representative cannot personally attend the inspection, a waiver from the owner of the shipment should be submitted,” the BoC chief said. For balikbayan boxes containing contraband or items that are possible threats to national security such as explosives, firearms, and illegal drugs, they will be opened only upon the written approval by the district collector of the port concerned. Faeldon issued the memorandum following reports that smuggling syndicate will use the “balikbayan” privilege to smuggle contrabands into the country. Vito Barcelo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PSC Sports Institute launched on Jan. 17 STARTING next year, the Philippine Sports Commission will step up its efforts to identify young athletes who can someday win medals for the country in international meets. The launching of the Philippine Sports Institute on Jan. 17 will make sure that these kids will have a future in sports. “It will be the culmination of everything we worked for since July,” said national training director Marc Velasco, who PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez appointed to head the PSI. The talented kids who are between the age of 8 to 15 years old will be put under the grassroots’ athletics development program. This is a program which Velasco developed while working closely with deputy director Dr. Henry Daut, who came aboard last October. The PSI is expected to become

the PSC’s flagship program in terms of talent identification. President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest speaker during its launch at the Philsports Multipurpose Hall in ULTRA, Pasig City. The program is first set to be held in Davao, before it is later introduced in other provinces. The PSC has plans to put up around 40 regional training centers in the provinces. Ramirez said around 20 of the centers will be located in Luzon, while 10 will be in the Visayas region, and the other 10 will be in the Mindanao region. Initially, around 16 areas were identified. But more LGUs got interested, according to Ramirez. The PSI will initially have a staff of 15 overseeing the development of athletes, who will be trained at the grassroots’ and elite level. Peter Atencio

COURTESY VISIT. The National Collegiate Athletic Association 91 Women’s Volleyball champions College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers,

along with their coaches, present a token jersey to Gerry’s senior marketing manager Francis Villaluz (fourth from right) on the launch of Gerry’s at 20 in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. The homegrown restaurant and bar which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in February 2017, is a sponsor of the Lady Blazers and the Philippine Volcanoes. Shown from left are Ranya Musa, Chelsea Umali, Christine Lim-Libero, Arianne Daguil, assistant coach Santi Edralin, Villaluz, coach Michael Carino, Pauline Cardiente and Chelsea Santillan.

Asian champ faces game-fixing ban

UALA LUMPUR—Asian titleholders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors could be banned from next year’s AFC Champions League over a matchﬁxing scandal after a new eligibility body was unveiled on Friday. Jeonbuk, who lifted the Asian trophy in November, two months after they were punished for match-fixing in South Korea’s K-League, face a possible one-year ban by the five-member panel. The Asian Football Confederation said the independent Entry Control Body, led

by China’s Liu Chi, will make decisions based on a new document setting out rules for eligibility. Any clubs involved in “arranging or influencing the outcome of a match at national or international level” will be barred from the Asian competition for one season,

the document says. “The AFC has a zero tolerance towards match manipulation and has done more than many other bodies to tackle that threat to sport,” AFC general secretary Windsor John said in a statement announcing the new body. “We are also determined to protect the sporting integrity of our competitions which are now regarded as some of the best in the world.” Asia’s football authorities have long struggled against match-fixing, with major scandals seen in a swathe of countries including South

Korea and China. In September, K-League leaders Jeonbuk were docked nine points and fined 100 million won ($83,000) after one of their scouts was convicted of bribing referees during the 2013 season. As a result, Jeonbuk narrowly missed out on the Korean title. But they beat UAE’s Al Ain 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League final to lift Asia’s most prestigious club trophy. The eligibility body will also rule on clubs suspected of “violation of rules relating to control or influence”, and

Palawan Pawnshop netfest winds up in Cainta OVER 200 entries gear up for another spirited battle for top honors in various divisions as the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit winds up its 2016 season at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal starting Monday (Dec. 26). Mikaela Vicencio and Cenon Gonzales Jr. head the centerpiece 18-and-under cast that features the country’s leading junior players who remain in shape during the holiday season to vie for honors and ranking points in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger. “We commend our age groupers for their effort to stay in top shape all-year which only inspires to continue providing them tournaments week-in, week-out throughout the year,” said Bobby Castro, president/CEO of Palawan Pawnshop, the chief backer of the country’s premier agegrouper, which also features a number of Open tournaments. Joining Vicencio in the roster are Bettina Bautista, Jhastine Ballado and Lila Salvacion while out to crowd Gonzales in the boys’ side of the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, are Kurt Molina, Klyde Lagarde and Wilfred Bentillo. For details, contact PPSPEPP Regional Age Group Tennis Event organizer and Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464. Vicencio is also entered in the 16-U class as second seed with Miles Vitaliano as the top ranked player and Blanche Lagrisola, Ballado, Gab Zoleta and Patricia Lim also tipped to contend for the crown.

will make sure football associations nominate the correct clubs to play in Asian competitions. Over the past month, Hong Kong has been hit by infighting over which team should play the 2017 Champions League after the domestic title-winners, Eastern, expressed doubt about taking part. Easter n ultimately retained their place in next year’s Champions League, when they will make histor y with the tour nament’s f irst female coach, Chan Yuen-ting. AFP

This photo taken on December 10, 2016 shows runners taking part in the half marathon in Xiamen, eastern China’s Fujian province. A runner, who investigators said was running in a half marathon for another person, died of cardiorespiratory arrest some 4.5 kilometers from the ﬁnish line, Chinese media reported. The death highlighted the use of cheating in marathon events in China, where the presence of ‘liners’ on all or part of the course is not unusual. AFP

Death of China runner reveals cheats BEIJING (AFP)--Thinking of competing in a marathon but put off by the distance? Easy. Pay someone to run it for you. The death of a runner in a half marathon in China’s southeastern city of Xiamen this month has highlighted an unexpected form of cheating. When a runner suffered a heart attack and collapsed 4.5 kilometres (three miles) from the finish line, at first it seemed like a tragic death. But a subsequent investigation revealed that the victim was actually running on behalf of someone else. The trickster has since been given a life ban from competing in the event, the Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. According to the Beijing Youth Daily, 30 of the 18,000 people who had registered to participate in the December 10 event were disqualified. Reasons for the bans were not given, but the paper said high school students were told they could earn credits towards university entrance examinations if they finished in the top 100 places in the race,

hinting at one possible motive for cheating. Critics took to social media to attack the cheats while others blamed race organizers. “Without any systematic training or willpower, what they want is to take photos and tell the world on social media that they are leading a fashionably ‘healthy’ life,” Xinhua quoted a poster named Chiphell as saying on one microblogging site. Organizers acknowledged that it was possible for a nonrunner to pick up another person’s bib, partly to help out-oftowners who may not be able to do so in person. “Trading of number bibs is banned, but it is also hard to detect,” a committee member told Xinhua. Such cheating is not entirely new. In 2010, some runners in the Xiamen marathon were disqualified for covering part of the route by bus. Xinhua quoted one marathon runner surnamed Liu as saying he had witnessed all kinds of cheating at races. Those who failed to get a number in the lot-

tery could buy one from lucky registrants or simply take their chances by mixing into the crowd on the race track, he said. Others who wanted a finisher’s certificate but did not want to actually complete the race would either have someone else run for them or take shortcuts on the course, he said. Turning a blind eye “The organizers should first be blamed for the chaos,” another runner named Gao told Xinhua. “Once I saw a man running with a woman’s number bib. The bib colours for male and female runners are different. Anyone who was not colourblind could easily spot it, but all the referees along the route just turned a blind eye.” The tactic recalls the case of unremarkable Cuban runner Rosie Ruiz who won the Boston marathon in 1980 before suspicious officials realised she had taken the subway for part of the race and emerged from a station not far from the finish line. Long-distance running has become increasingly popular in China since the country’s first marathon was

held in Beijing in 1981. More than 300 events are now held a year, according to the Chinese Athletics Association, despite the kind of air pollution that in 2014 forced runners to compete in Beijing wearing face masks in choking conditions. While some say the surge in popularity is due to the increasing desire to be seen to have a healthy lifestyle, others suspect the trend is driven by wanting to score social media points rather than love of the sport, Xinhua said. It said that 14 people have died in marathons over the past three years, including the substitute runner in Xiamen this month and another competitor in the same race, who collapsed after the finish line. Most of the dead were under 35, it said. Xiamen’s race organisers reacted to the deaths by appealing for athletes to abide by the rules. “We call on all runners to bear the spirit of sportsmanship and run by the rules. Anyone who breaches the rules will face severe punishment.” AFP

George Karl

Karl rips ‘user’ Melo in new book LOS ANGELES—Former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl is harshly critical of New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony in an unsparing new memoir in which he calls the player a “user of people.” Anthony spent his first seven-and-a-half NBA seasons with the Nuggets, playing six-and-a-half of those campaigns—from 2005 until early 2011—for Karl. “Carmelo was a true conundrum for me in the six years I had him,” Karl writes, according to multiple New York media outlets that obtained an advance look at his book “Furious George.” “He was the best offensive player I ever coached... He really lit my fuse with his low demand of himself on defense. He had no commitment to the hard, dirty work of stopping the other guy...” “Since Carmelo only played hard on one side of the ball, he made it plain he couldn’t lead the Nuggets, even though he said he wanted to. Coaching him meant working around his defense and compensating for his attitude.” In the book due out in January, Karl adds that he believes Anthony could have become “the best defender at his position in the NBA.” “That was never going to happen with Melo,” Karl says, “whose amazing ability to score with the ball made him a star but didn’t make him a winner.” Anthony declined to get into a verbal spat with Karl on Thursday night but did say he was pleased to see others speaking up for him. “It’s irrelevant to me. It’s irrelevant at this point,” he said. “The truth of the matter is, everybody else is kind of speaking up for me from their own experience. So I really don’t have to speak on it.” Anthony isn’t the only one of Karl’s former players to come in for criticism. Retired Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin and former Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, are dubbed, along with Anthony, “spoiled brats.” AFP

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

Sports

Saranporn Langkulgasettrin reacts after drilling a clutch birdie putt on No. 16.

Rosario’s best game steers Katropa past Alaska Aces I By Jeric Lopez

N its most impressive victory thus far, TNT KaTropa came out with a lot of ﬁre to snap Alaska’s streak and score a decisive 109-100 triumph—its second straight win in the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last night. Troy Rosario had his best game of the tournament, scoring a season-high 25 points to go with six boards to lead the Tropang Texters, while getting help from Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier, who each added 16 markers. TNT KaTropa, who led by

twin-digits for most part of the game, is now tied for second place with Blackwater as they both have similar 4-2 cards, while Alaska slipped into the bottom half with its 3-3 mark after getting its threegame winning streak halted. Right from the get-go, the Tro-

pang Texters were already right on cue, clicking on all cylinders to systematically pull away. They zoomed to a 31-22 headstart after one and then grew their lead to a sizeable 16-point margin, 54-38, at the half behind Rosario’s 16 points in the first 24 minutes. Though the Aces came within single-digit several times in the second half, TNT KaTropa was able to fend off every uprising to remain in firm control and eventually seal the victory. For tomorrow, the action continues for the league as a pair of games are set to take centerstage in its Christmas offerings. Second-running Blackwater (42) takes on hapless Mahindra (0-5)

at 3 p.m. and it will be followed by the much-anticipated Christmas main attraction between rampaging Star (3-2) and Barangay Ginebra (2-3), two of the league’s crowd-darlings, at 5:15 p.m. The games will be held at the 55-seater Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where the league will hold its second playdate in history with the first one being the recordbreaking opening of the 40th season two years back. The Hotshots will enter this contest as one of the league’s hottest teams, having racked up three victories in a row after losing their first two as they are slowly but surely making things work. As for the Gin Kings, they

are yet to find their rhythm as they’ve been inconsistent through five games. Star took down Rain or Shine, 99-91, last Sunday for its third straight win, while Ginebra suffered a tough 101-86 beatdown The scores: TNT 109—Rosario 26, Castro 16, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 10, Tautuaa 9, Rosser 9, Williams 8, Reyes 6, Rosales 6, Carey 3, Pogoy 0, Tamsi 0, Golla 0. ALASKA 100—Abueva 18, Manuel 16, Racal 14, Banchero 12, Dela Cruz 8, Casio 7, Exciminiano 6, Mendoza 5, Cruz 3, Hontiveros 3, Pascual 2. Quarterscores: 31-22, 54-38, 77-70, 109-100

Heat retire Shaq’s no. 32 jersey MIAMI—Shaquille O’Neal fulfilled a promise in 2006 to bring Miami its first NBA championship and the Heat said thank you on Thursday by retiring his No. 32 jersey. The jersey was lifted to the rafters in an emotional but sometimes light-hearted halftime ceremony that included O’Neal’s mother, Lucille, arriving on the court behind the wheel of a scaled-down 18-wheel truck. It was a miniature version -- right down to the words “Diesel Power” written on the side -- of the semi that O’Neal once drove into town when he made that initial promise back in 2004. But the best thing about Thursday night for the Heat was they rallied from a 19-point second-quarter deficit to beat O’Neal former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-107 and snap a three-game losing skid. O’Neal deflected the praise

Thursday, thanking Heat boss Pat Riley as well as his teammates, especially star guard Dwyane Wade, who became the other half of the club’s one-two scoring punch. “When you win championships, it becomes contagious. I felt like I still had a lot to give I just needed another piece. D-Wade was that piece,” O’Neal said. “It was already his team so I wasn’t going to redecorate the Christmas tree.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team trailed by seven points at halftime, said Miami got an emotional lift from listening to Shaq’s acceptance speech. “It was like going down memory lane. It felt like 2006,” he said. “Shaq engaged the entire crowd with incredible class. “Our players were sitting there with eyes wide open. They saw a vision of what we’re trying to build and what the arena is like when you have a legit-

imate championship-contending team. It was a special presentation.” Indeed it was. O’Neal’s message didn’t go unnoticed by Justise Winslow. He scored a career-high 23 points and Hassan Whiteside had his sixth double-double in a row to lead Miami past the struggling Lakers, who have fallen on hard times since the days of O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. “It was a great environment,” said Winslow, who posted a career high in points and a season high in rebounds. “We knew the fans were going to be out here to see Shaq’s jersey hanging. We knew it was going to electric, and we wanted to give them a show. It was a lot of fun playing in this arena tonight.” Whiteside and Winslow each had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Whiteside has 23 double-doubles this season, ty- NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal speaks at his number ing him for the NBA lead with Russell retirement ceremony at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Westbrook and James Harden. AFP Florida. AFP

Lim is newest PH Davis Cup team member By Peter Atencio TOP Filipino junior player Alberto “AJ” Lim Jr., who slid to 52nd place in the International Tennis Federation Juniors rankings this month, is the newest member of the Philippine Davis Cup team. The 17-year-old Lim, college freshman at the University of the East-Manila, replaced Jeson Patrombon. Philippine Tennis Association secretary-general Romeo Magat has confirmed Lim’s entry into the national squad yesterday as the Philta celebrated the birthday of honorary chairman Salvador Andrada.

Lim, who has competed in 12 tournaments this year, including the Junior Australian Open, French Open and US Open, will join regulars Francis Casey Alcantara, Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales. “He is the newest member of the team and he will join the seasoned members of the team,” said Magat. Lim, who began the 2016 season with a career-high ranking of No. 12, will make his debut when the Philippines faces Indonesia from Feb. 3 to 5 at the Philippine Columbian Association indoor courts in Paco, Manila. The Philippines is seeded third in the

Group 2 of the Asia/Oceania bracket and is with top-ranked Pakistan, second seed Thailand, no. 4 Vietnam, Iran, Hong Kong and Kuwait. His best performance this season was when he made the singles’ finals at the Asian B1 ITF Pune Open Juniors in May, losing to Japanese Naoki Tajima, 3-6, 1-6. Early this week, Lim played in the Hong Kong F4 Futures and lost to Shuichi Shekiguchi, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6. His father Alberto Sr. said his son had laid low from his campaigns in preparation for the Davis Cup.

He will continue playing in the Hong Kong Futures next week, before joining the 2017 Australian Open this January. His stints will get him ready for the Davis Cup, according to Alberto Sr. Lim was a quarterfinalist at the 53rd Coffee Bowl (Copa del Café) in Costa Rica in January and the Eddie Herr ITF Juniors, which served as tune-up tournament for the Metropolia Orange Bowl held early this month in Florida, USA. The national team coaching staff, led by Chris Cuarto, put Lim in place of Patrombon after the Philippines bowed to Taipei, 1-2, the last time around.

Thai nips Korean, Ikeda, wins by 3 THAI Saranporn Langkulgasettrin put away Korean Lee Jeong-Hwa with a solid start then watched local hope Chihiro Ikeda fumble at the finish to capture the $80,000 ICTSI Philippines Ladies Masters crown by three despite a closing 73 at the Alabang Country Club yesterday. Langkulgasettrin blew a late two-stroke lead but leaned on a rare, decisive four-shot swing on No. 16 to beat Ikeda and turn what had been a fierce, nerve-wracking finale into a runaway triumph on a four-under 212 total, pocketing the top $17,000 purse in the season-ending tournament of both the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and the Taiwan LPGA Tour. “It’s my first championship here and a big confidence booster for next season,” said Langkulgasettrin, who struggled to finish joint 12th at Splendido and 14th at Southwoods in the first two legs of the ICTSI Champion Tour, both legs of the Taiwan LPGA Tour, last March won by Lee. Ikeda actually sparked hopes of a big local celebration when she canned in a birdie on No. 15 to tie Langkulgasettrin at four-under overall. But the Fil-Japanese choked and triple-bogeyed the par-5 16th, which the Thai birdied to go four-up with two holes to play. It was over from there as Langkulgasettrin, who scored a breakthrough win on the Thai LPGA Tour last Aug., coasted to a three-shot romp despite a bogey-par windup, savoring the big victory she later dedicated to his father, Surat, who carried the bag for her. “The key was in the backnine, although I shot one-over, I just focused on my game. When she (Ikeda) missed her shot, I said to myself, alright, I think it’s mine,” said Langkulgasettrin, who played steady in another sweltering day with one-birdie, one-bogey stint at the front.

Patafa backed by private sponsors PRIVATE sponsors, led by Ayala Corporation, is coming in to support members of the national athletics’ pool in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said this as the PATAFA begins the process of selecting an initial list of 12 athletes, who will get support and funding in their training program of the biennial meet. Juico added that they have an initial roster of 60 athletes, with 19 of them in the priority list and 41 in the training pool. “Here, we will choose an initial 12 for specialized training and specialized funding coming from the private sector and Ayala Corporation,” said Juico. SEA Games double gold medallist Eric Cray is at the top of the list, along with pole vaulter EJ Obiena, steeplechaser Christopher Ulboc, 800-meter specialists Marco Vilog and Mervin Guarte. Olympian Marestella TorresSunang, who is eyeing a comeback in the SEA Games, is also a candidate with hammer thrower Caleb Stuart, sprinter Kayla Richardson, and relay specialists Edgardo Alejan and Aris Toledo. Other candidates include steeplechaser Jessica Barnard, triple jumper Harry Diones, Patrick Unso and Trenton Beram. Juico added that they are also keen on relay specialists Jon Caido, Ryan Bigyan and Raymund Alfero. In the last SEAS Games, Cray and the national team brought home five gold medals. The national team’s performances were highlighted by record-breaking feats by Cray in the 400m hurdles and Stuart in the hammer throw. Peter Atencio

Iran asks PH firms to export materials

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

BDO eyes P28.81-b net profit next year By Julito G. Rada

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing December 23, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

6,563.67 23.50

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing DECEMBER 23, 2016 43.00

LRT-1 IMPROVEMENTS. Light Rail Transit Line 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. completes the restoration of all elevators and escalators in LRT-1 stations. The job made the 32 elevators and escalators in Doroteo Jose, Edsa, Roosevelt, Balintawak, and Monumento stations functional for the comfort and convenience of the riding public. The restorations were done in partnership with original equipment manufacturers Schindler and Otis.

Ayala, Asian partners buy Chevron holdings By Alena Mae S. Flores

45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.770

49.00

HIGH P49.770 LOW P49.970 AVERAGE P49.908 VOLUME 257.900M

P430.00-P661.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.10 Unleaded Gasoline P25.75-P29.32 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, December 23, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9750

Japan

Yen

0.008506

0.4251

Pound

1.228700

61.4043

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128824

6.4380

Switzerland

Franc

0.975229

48.7371

Canada

Dollar

0.741015

37.0322

Singapore

Dollar

0.689227

34.4441

Australia

Dollar

0.720900

36.0270

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

132.5597

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.3267

Brunei

Dollar

0.686860

34.3258

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027771

1.3879

UAE

Dirham

0.272316

13.6090

Euro

1.043600

52.1539

Korea

Won

0.000830

0.0415

China

Yuan

0.144009

7.1968

India

Rupee

0.014743

0.7368

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.223414

11.1651

New Zealand

Dollar

0.689700

34.4678

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031097

1.5541 Source: PDS Bridge

unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. and its Indonesian and Thai partners are purchasing the geothermal assets of Chevron Corp. in the Philippines and Indonesia for an undisclosed price. AC Energy Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corp. and part of an Indonesian consortium, and a separate Filipino group signed an agreement to buy Chevron’s assets. AC Energy said in a statement it signed the sale transaction with Chevron Global Energy Inc., Union Oil Co. of California and their units. The Indonesia consortium consists of AC Energy, with a 19.8-percent economic stake, Star

Energy Group Holdings Pte. Ltd., Star Energy Geothermal Pte. Ltd. and Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand. The consortium formalized the acquisition through a joint venture company, Star Energy Geothermal (Salak-Darajat) B.V. of Indonesia. The Philippine consortium, meanwhile, consists of AC Energy and Star Energy Group Holdings Pte. Ltd. The Philippine group is making the purchase

through a joint venture company, Acehi-Star Holdings Inc. Energy Development Corp. of the Lopez Group, with partners Mitsui and Kyushu of Japan, and Aboitiz Power Corp. also joined the bidding for Chevron’s geotehrmal assets in Asia. The SM Group of retail tycoon Henry Sy, however, has a right of ﬁrst refusal over the Philippine assets of Chevron. The SM Group owns 60 percent of Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc., which develops and produces steam energy for the 692-megawatt Tiwi and MakBan geothermal power plants. Chevron has a 40 percent interest in PGPC. AC Energy said the closing of the transaction was subject to

the satisfaction of certain agreed conditions. It is also contingent to obtaining certain consents and approvals, including that of the Philippine Competition Commission. “This acquisition is a major milestone for AC Energy as this scales up our renewable energy platform and establishes our presence in Indonesia. This is a significant step towards attaining our goal of reaching 2000 9megawatts) by 2020,” AC Energy president and chief executive officer John Eric TFrancia said. Chevron subsidiaries operate the Darajat and Salak geothermal fields in West Java, Indonesia, with a combined capacity of 235 MW equivalent of steam and 402 MW of electricity.

PLDT open to investing in GMA, says Pangilinan By Darwin G. Amojelar THE group of PLDT Inc. said on Friday it is open to revive its bid to invest in GMA Network Inc. “We don’t know yet, we intend to focus on looking at our 2017, 2018 and 2019 numbers. So anyway, if there’s any discussions this will be 2017. [But] we are always open, a lot would be depend on how our numbers would like for 2017, 2018 and 2019,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manual Pangilinan told reporters Friday. “I’m quite optimistic that 2017 will show improvement over 2016,” he added.

PLDT, partly owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. of the Salim Group of Indonesia and Japan’s NTT group, earlier booked a net income of P15.87 billion in the first nine months, down 37 percent from P25.34 billion year-on-year. Pangilinan had described the financial result “annus horribilis,” or a horrible year. GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon earlier said he was open to entertain suitors by next year for the sale of a majority stake in the broadcasting network. The Gozon, Jimenez and Dua-

vit families own a combined 79 percent of the network, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV. Majority shareholders of the broadcaster earlier agreed to sell about 30 percent of the company to businessman Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp., but the negotiations were scuttled after more than one year of talks. Talks with the group of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. also did not push through due to price and regulatory issues. Ang earlier accused the owners of GMA of abruptly terminating the plan to sell a minority stake in the broadcast company

while talks were ongoing, after the network blamed him for the failed negotiations. GMA Network vice president for corporate communications Angela Javier Cruz said the Jimenez, Duavit and Gozon groups had not abruptly terminated the negotiations. Cruz said the owners of the network were constrained to terminate the negotiations after more than one year of negotiations. GMA earlier reported a net income of P3.11 billion in the January-to-September period, up 72 percent from P1.80 billion year-on-year.

Funa appointed new chief of Insurance Commission By Gabrielle H. Binaday PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa as the new head of the Insurance Commission. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea conﬁrmed the approval of the nomination of Funa as the new Insurance Commissioner in a letter to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Funa replaced former IC chief Emmanuel Dooc after the latter was appointed early this month as the new president and chief executive ofﬁcer of pension fund Social Security System. Funa on June 2013 was appointed by then President Be-

nigno S. Aquino III as the Deputy Insurance Commissioner for legal services of the IC. Funa obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree at the San Beda College of Law and passed the Bar in 1992. He took his undergraduate degree from De La Salle University. He took his primary and secondary education at the St. Francis Xavier School of New York, USA and San Beda High School, Manila, respectively. He also was a scholar of the London-based International Bar Association in its Biennial Conference in New Delhi, India and of the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarships in Tokyo, Japan.

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender controlled by retail tycoon Henry Sy, aims to increase net profit in 2017 by 10 percent to P28.810 billion from the 2016 projection of P26.129 billion amid the robust domestic economy that will sustain the expansion of core businesses. BDO posted a net income of P19.321 billion in the first nine months. Net profit in 2015 stood at P25.055 billion. BDO in a projection posted on the Philippine Stock Exchange web site said it expects net interest income next year to grow 16 percent to P76.556 billion from an estimate of P65.780 billion this year. Data showed actual net interest income in the ninemonth period this year reached P48.449 billion. Other operating income is expected to reach P42.784 billion next year, up from the 2016 target of P40.929 billion. Other operating income as of end-September reached P31.275 billion. Total assets next year are expected to reach P2.6 trillion, up from P2.28 trillion projection for this year. Total assets as of end-September 2016 hit P2.207 trillion. Total liabilities are seen to grow to P2.273 trillion, up from P2.058 trillion in the 2016 projection. Actual total liabilities as of the third quarter stood at P1.992 trillion. “Growth for the rest of the year and 2017 is expected to remain healthy, supported by the increased infrastructure spending and sustained consumer demand on the back of steady overseas Filipino workers remittances and increasing BPO revenues,” BDO said.

IN BRIEF Petron acquires SMC power plant

PETRON Corp. has acquired the 140-megawatt solid fuel power plant of SMC PowerGen Inc. in the Petron refinery complex in Bataan for P20.029 billon. “The purchase of the power plant would lower the power and steam costs of the Petron Bataan Refinery,” Petron said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Petron owns the 180,000-barrelper-day refinery in Bataan. Petron paid SMC PowerGen P15.966 billion on December 23 and settle the balance of P4.06 billion before July 31, 2017. “The funds for the purchase of the power plant are from internally generated funds and through credit facilities secured by the company to fund the purchase of the power plant,” it said. Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. owns both SMC Power Gen and Petron. The power plant started commercial operations in May 2013 and availed of the income tax holiday from May to September 2013. Alena Mae S. Flores

SM Group into low-cost housing

PLDT-UP PARTNERSHIP. Leading telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT Inc. teams up with the University of the Philippines Open University for the fourth consecutive year to conduct its PLDT Infoteach Outreach Program, which provides public high school teachers and students advanced courses and modules in computer and internet literacy. Reconﬁrming the partnership are (from left) Paoay, Ilocos Norte Mayor Jessie Galano, UPOU assistant professor Myra Almodiel, UPOU chancellor Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. public affairs head Ramon Isberto, PLDT community relations head Evelyn Del Rosario and Currimao Mayor Rosario To.

SM DEVELOPMENT Corp., the residential unit of property giant SM Prime Holdings Inc., is expanding its product offering by venturing into economic housing and mediumrise buildings. SM Development said in a statement would launch next year its ﬁrst economic housing project in Central Luzon. The company did not disclose the location of the project.It said the gated development would offer house and lots, well-appointed amenities, and a commercial development right beside it. “We would like to offer the cosmopolitan lifestyle to as many Filipinos to allow them to live in lifestyle districts anchored on the synergies of SM’s property developments,” SMDC executive vice president Jose Mari Banzon said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; PLDT down P HILIPPINE stocks retreated Friday, as Asian markets followed Wall Street lower and oil prices weakened on the last trading day before Christmas. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 23.50 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,563.67 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 105 to 66, with 46 issues unchanged. Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp., which has investments in tollroads, water and electricity distribution and hospitals, lost 3.1 percent to P5.99, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy, dropped 1.3 percent to P27. Manila Water Co. Inc., which distributes water to the eastern area of Metro Manila and

nearby provinces, slipped 2.7 percent to P27.30, while PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications ﬁrm, fell 2.1 percent to P1,313. Regional stocks mirrored negative sentiment globally, with shares of US retailers falling sharply and European stocks under pressure over worries about Italy’s ailing Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank. Another troubled European lender, Germany’s Deutsche Bank, said Friday it had agreed to pay a total of $7.2 billion to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in

the subprime mortgage crisis. Shanghai suffered the sharpest downturn Friday of almost one percent, while Hong Kong slid 0.51 percent in afternoon trade and Sydney shed 0.28 percent on a shortened trading day in Australia ahead of the Christmas holiday. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday, Singapore fell 0.30 percent mid-afternoon and Seoul edged up 0.01 percent. “Hong Kong stocks are troubled by capital outﬂows,” Ben Kwong, executive director at KGI Asia in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News. China is facing massive capital outﬂows as investors seek better and more stable investments abroad. Traders on the mainland were also grappling with fears over

rising borrowing costs in the world’s two largest economies. The US Federal Reserve raised borrowing costs earlier this month, while China has tightened monetary conditions. And oil struggled Friday, with both contracts down. Asian markets were hit after the Dow’s closely monitored quest to hit 20,000 points struck another roadblock Thursday, with declines by retailers WalMart Stores and Home Depot contributing to the index’s second straight fall. In forex trade, the yen—which has fallen sharply against the greenback since Donald Trump’s shock US presidential election win in November—rose against the dollar Friday. However, analysts tipped the US currency to build on

its recent strength in the New Year. “Going into next year, we are conﬁdent the dollar will continue to make headway. It will be the currency that appreciates in 2017, it’s just a question of how much,” Andrew Milligan, head of global strategy at Standard Life Investments in Edinburgh, told Bloomberg News. Observers are betting Trump’s plans for a ﬁscal stimulus will stoke growth in the US, and speculation of higher spending has already sent the dollar to near a 14-year high against the euro. Mainland Chinese investors have been fretting over a weakening yuan, which has plunged 13 percent against the greenback since its peak in January 2014. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.5 13,000 47.7 9,600 87.4 946,780 105 4,377,230 1.37 293,000 38 86,900 16.2 20,500 18.4 21,200 790 30 0.56 3,316,000 71.55 1,014,520 0.78 154,000 14.04 22,000 21.2 26,800 54.55 31,660 248 150 90 1,210 34 189,100 200 667,790 1,658 295 74.5 34,420 1.25 75,000

44,630 457,725 83,067,992 455,287,133 393,760 3,302,985 330,882 391,132 23,700 1,845,560 72,357,358.50 121,690 308,880 583,400 1,727,130.50 37,150 109,665 6,442,385 129,958,777 489,250 2,563,479 88,990

453,000 -16,011,568 12,640,886 4,140 1,827,800 -9,250 1,100 2,623,491 755,138 -6,428,645 -8,464,912 -317,130.50 -

41.5 4.15 0.81 1.21 18.46 0.185 86 11.36 15.52 22.85 20 57 87.8 1.86 6.3 11.9 11.06 5.95 6.89 4.89 22.05 67.75 15.9 6.03 1.55 185 70 2.62 3.85 27 22.5 14.4 257.4 0.235 3.28 9.56 2.08 5.63 1.33 69.05 4.95 225 4.9 2.2 2.65 10.9 1.41 150 1.35 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 41.5 966,500 4.34 997,000 0.84 171,000 1.24 4,408,000 19.28 200 0.185 800,000 86 900 11.4 16,161,900 15.6 2,818,600 23.35 1,111,800 20.95 2,400 57 128,200 87.8 360 1.86 217,000 6.4 127,000 11.9 8,500 11.08 4,492,500 5.99 243,000 7 453,400 4.94 4,774,000 22.2 780,500 67.8 34,700 16.52 177,200 6.03 87,700 1.58 627,000 190.6 725,220 70 4,410 2.62 106,000 3.85 1,000 27.3 5,325,700 22.9 646,100 14.54 382,500 258.8 244,220 0.249 120,000 3.28 4,365,000 9.58 2,769,200 2.09 1,788,000 5.65 3,715,400 1.33 10,000 69.8 1,123,590 5 281,400 225 580 4.95 8,388,000 2.34 16,000 2.65 11,000 11.2 4,136,300 1.41 137,000 150 1,849,140 1.35 2,409,000 1.08 54,000

40,323,265 4,265,700 140,470 5,405,240 3,774 148,380 77,571.50 184,972,790 43,899,648 25,925,255 48,285 7,307,400 31,666 403,940 808,810 101,252 49,814,006 1,448,334 3,150,545 23,501,280 17,281,200 2,354,527 2,923,158 528,878 994,990 137,002,881 313,389 280,840 3,850 146,883,600 14,794,265 5,571,166 63,075,842 28,490 14,405,340 26,532,715 3,724,930 21,173,406 13,300 77,981,941.50 1,398,601 130,630 41,106,200 35,340 29,450 46,189,582 193,390 281,437,624 3,316,260 58,320

-25,981,050 2,196,730 -86,800 -3,013,906 -13,940,550 577,500 20,000 -6,460,380 5,580 -31,500 -7,575,810 -1,214,054 -802,055 -5,175,370 -2,610,530 -1,179,425.50 -1,911,084 502,893 23,143,311 -81,050,620 -13,702,640 1,168,184 -5,985,474 -40,460 -15,953,816 2,708,500 -20,770,800 52,155,462 495,720 1,636,200 14,251,784 -64,087,520 -936,770 -

0.415 67.15 12.62 6 0.31 0.305 715 1,140 8.51 12.6 8.2 0.184 1,209 5.83 66.1 1.1 7.8 12.96 6.2 0.038 1.92 92 615.5 1.21 260.4 0.3 0.175 0.26

0.38 66.5 12.2 5.86 0.3 0.305 701.5 1,140 8.42 12.08 8.15 0.18 1,175 5.3 64.5 1.01 7.66 12.52 5.9 0.037 1.9 90 602 1.2 258 0.3 0.175 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 20,140,000 66.95 1,137,640 12.3 3,577,300 6 10,100 0.3 530,000 0.305 70,000 708 241,170 1,140 5 8.5 757,700 12.6 8,843,600 8.2 6,000 0.18 110,000 1,209 71,180 5.4 58,700 66 2,098,320 1.1 5,500,000 7.79 990,900 12.8 238,800 5.99 49,988,200 0.038 24,700,000 1.9 1,208,000 91 316,250 615 335,910 1.2 216,000 259.6 3,310 0.3 50,000 0.175 10,000 0.255 2,430,000

7,968,800 76,024,523.50 44,081,884 59,446 159,100 21,350 169,925,510 5,700 6,440,371 109,278,628 49,151 20,160 85,688,510 325,753 137,006,710 5,772,870 7,697,601 3,045,990 300,551,999 914,100 2,295,360 28,795,529.50 203,964,620 260,460 858,612 15,000 1,750 609,800

-48,902,344.50 -12,444,886 -15,342,200 4,453,150 4,803,494 824.9999 -7,518,195 -74,390,816 100,720 -1,886,652 -2,106,528 -50,714,004 -20,736,044 -44,977,790 -

7.5 1.06 2.12 0.415 30.5 3.1 4.95 0.55 1.06 1.43 0.154 0.56 37.8 0.7 0.132 1.57 0.98 1.27 3.6 0.132

7.2 1.03 2.01 0.38 30.05 3.03 4.92 0.53 1.06 1.36 0.149 0.54 37 0.67 0.13 1.5 0.97 1.24 3.48 0.126

PROPERTY 7.2 64,300 1.05 412,000 2.12 449,000 0.395 11,590,000 30.05 5,647,700 3.1 689,000 4.93 17,000 0.55 3,711,000 1.06 25,000 1.37 981,000 0.154 2,960,000 0.55 4,466,000 37.5 278,500 0.7 951,000 0.13 2,500,000 1.54 16,766,000 0.98 1,146,000 1.27 96,000 3.53 10,642,000 0.129 11,040,000

476,308 428,990 913,640 4,584,650 170,036,325 2,116,510 83,930 1,999,570 26,500 1,342,990 449,290 2,454,670 10,394,100 637,230 327,830 25,445,980 1,115,590 120,540 37,687,690 1,426,890

168,760 -20,250 -101,085,765 114,650 -465,610 -12,300 6,600 -549,200.00 635,830 108,560 -19,807,950 980 -8,548,810 258,780

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE 3.44 ASIA UNITED 47.7 BANK PH ISLANDS 88 BDO UNIBANK 103.6 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.33 CHINABANK 38 COL FINANCIAL 16.14 EAST WEST BANK 18.5 MANULIFE 790 MEDCO HLDG 0.56 METROBANK 70.7 NTL REINSURANCE 0.81 PB BANK 14.04 PBCOM 21.9 PHIL NATL BANK 54.5 PHIL STOCK EXCH 247 PSBANK 91.5 RCBC 34.35 SECURITY BANK 195 SUN LIFE 1,652 UNION BANK 74.55 VANTAGE 1.19

3.5 47.7 88.3 105.2 1.39 38.05 16.2 18.6 790 0.57 71.95 0.83 14.04 22 54.7 248 91.5 34.35 200 1,662 74.55 1.25

3.38 47.25 87.1 103.6 1.31 38 16.14 18.4 790 0.55 70.7 0.77 14.04 21.2 54.5 247 90 33.95 192 1,652 74.2 1.15

ABOITIZ POWER 41.85 AGRINURTURE 4.19 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.83 ALSONS CONS 1.21 ASIABEST GROUP 18.46 BASIC ENERGY 0.188 BOGO MEDELLIN 86.35 CEMEX HLDG 11.46 CENTURY FOOD 15.7 CIRTEK HLDG 22.85 CNTRL AZUCARERA21.3 CONCEPCION 57 CONCRETE A 88 CROWN ASIA 1.87 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.31 DEL MONTE 11.98 DNL INDUS 11.3 EEI CORP 5.95 EMPERADOR 6.96 ENERGY DEVT 4.9 FIRST GEN 22.45 FIRST PHIL HLDG 68 HOLCIM 16.48 INTEGRATED MICR 6.06 IONICS 1.61 JOLLIBEE 186 LIBERTY FLOUR 74.15 LMG CHEMICALS 2.71 MABUHAY VINYL 3.85 MANILA WATER 28 MAXS GROUP 23.5 MEGAWIDE 14.8 MERALCO 259 MG HLDG 0.235 PEPSI COLA 3.33 PETRON 9.6 PHINMA ENERGY 2.08 PHX PETROLEUM 5.63 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.33 PILIPINAS SHELL 69.15 PRYCE CORP 4.98 PUREFOODS 227 RFM CORP 4.9 ROXAS AND CO 2.2 ROXAS HLDG 2.68 SHAKEYS PIZZA 11.24 TKC METALS 1.42 UNIV ROBINA 153 VITARICH 1.43 VULCAN INDL 1.08

42.5 4.34 0.84 1.25 19.28 0.188 86.35 11.62 15.7 23.35 21.3 57 88 1.88 6.4 11.98 11.3 6 7 5 22.5 68 16.52 6.06 1.61 190.9 76 2.71 3.85 28.65 23.5 14.8 260 0.25 3.33 9.6 2.11 5.7 1.33 69.8 5 227 4.95 2.34 2.68 11.26 1.43 155.8 1.44 1.08

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP BHI HLDG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.395 66.5 12.62 5.87 0.3 0.305 702 1,140 8.5 12.48 8.19 0.184 1,181 5.83 65.55 1.04 7.66 12.96 6.16 0.037 1.92 91.2 603 1.2 260.4 0.3 0.175 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED

7.2 1.04 2.04 0.41 30.2 3.03 4.92 0.53 1.06 1.39 0.15 0.56 37.5 0.67 0.132 1.57 0.98 1.24 3.58 0.129

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL ESTATES 0.25 PHIL REALTY 0.4 PRIMEX CORP 3.31 PTFC REDEV CORP 30 ROBINSONS LAND 24.5 ROCKWELL 1.5 SHANG PROP 3.23 SM PRIME HLDG 27.5 STA LUCIA LAND 1.17 SUNTRUST HOME 0.9 VISTA LAND 4.95

0.25 0.4 3.34 30 24.95 1.57 3.26 27.5 1.17 0.9 4.95

0.25 0.4 3.25 30 24.35 1.5 3.22 26.2 1.09 0.9 4.81

0.25 0.4 3.25 30 24.95 1.56 3.26 27 1.12 0.9 4.95

10,000 40,000 396,000 1,500 864,500 287,000 6,000 10,842,600 8,998,000 2,000 4,234,000

2,500 16,000 1,296,920 45,000 21,271,725 434,690 19,370 290,585,530 9,942,420 1,800 20,735,450

-12,614,775 125,320 -27,087,480 24,980 -9,407,100

2GO GROUP 7.5 ABS CBN 44.3 ACESITE HOTEL 1.36 APC GROUP 0.48 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.041 BERJAYA 5.02 BLOOMBERRY 6.09 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.061 CALATA CORP 2.39 CEBU AIR 90.05 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.9 DFNN INC 7.31 GLOBE TELECOM 1,440 GMA NETWORK 6.19 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.98 GRAND PLAZA 15.4 HARBOR STAR 2.26 IMPERIAL A 15 INTL CONTAINER 67.7 IP EGAME 0.0088 IPM HLDG 9.09 ISLAND INFO 0.202 LBC EXPRESS 15.3 LEISURE AND RES 3.9 MACROASIA 2.4 MELCO CROWN 3.95 METRO RETAIL 4 NOW CORP 2.38 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.04 PAL HLDG 5.02 PHIL SEVEN CORP 135.2 PHILWEB 8.01 PLDT 1,321 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.16 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.46 PUREGOLD 36.5 ROBINSONS RTL 72.55 SBS PHIL CORP 5.3 SSI GROUP 2.54 STI HLDG 0.93 TRAVELLERS 3.25 WATERFRONT 0.33

7.6 44.3 1.42 0.485 0.041 5.15 6.09 0.062 2.42 92.5 9.9 8.86 1,450 6.26 15.98 15.4 2.44 15 69.85 0.0089 9.09 0.202 15.3 4.48 2.5 3.95 4 2.44 11.06 5.18 135.2 11.2 1,322 1.17 0.475 36.95 72.95 5.53 2.56 0.97 3.29 0.33

7.44 43.5 1.34 0.48 0.039 5.02 5.8 0.06 2.31 90 9.9 7.31 1,435 6.19 15.52 15.4 2.23 14.6 67.7 0.0088 9 0.193 15.1 3.81 2.4 3.79 3.8 2.3 11.04 5.02 134.9 7.18 1,306 1.15 0.445 36 71.05 5.3 2.5 0.92 3.2 0.33

SERVICES 7.6 9,700 44.2 1,000 1.34 26,000 0.485 40,000 0.04 87,100,000 5.15 3,100 5.96 1,866,400 0.062 31,330,000 2.4 1,184,000 92 45,110 9.9 900 8.57 8,108,800 1,445 70,260 6.24 86,900 15.98 169,000 15.4 200 2.32 17,509,000 14.62 12,900 69.85 566,350 0.0089 43,000,000 9.06 502,000 0.198 11,340,000 15.1 5,100 4.19 4,106,000 2.4 7,000 3.9 4,744,000 3.9 18,483,000 2.35 817,000 11.06 700 5.18 1,500 135 208,990 11.2 11,581,700 1,313 72,150 1.17 2,075,000 0.455 3,150,000 36 472,700 71.05 545,940 5.49 614,800 2.5 435,000 0.93 8,096,000 3.27 437,000 0.33 500,000

72,650 44,105 35,980 19,350 3,467,900 15,601 11,184,636 1,895,720 2,785,990 4,078,583.50 8,910 67,573,468 101,589,430 541,766 2,698,608 3,080 40,212,660 190,308 39,151,169 379,200 4,545,970 2,238,430 77,710 17,410,670 17,100 18,362,350 71,744,910 1,919,330 7,730 7,734 28,221,314 113,921,224 94,709,065 2,426,360 1,447,950 17,060,110 39,522,736.50 3,371,242 1,095,680 7,626,880 1,410,700 165,000

-13,500 -19,000 1,562,007 101,640 786,596 -10,613,685 57,330,575 158,210 -17,798,645 -178,600 -49,320 -10,371,340 -12,669,100 23,200 7,734.00 53,948 -1,237,384 -36,275,860 -264,020 -92,000 -4,058,735 9,814,368.50 -25,240 2,792,880 -131,800 -

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0033 2.7 4.97 2.14 0.51 0.47 11.5 3.11 0.27 0.196 0.196 0.012 2.53 7.77 2.69 1.07 0.011 4.11 0.012 8.69 3.43 130 2.9 0.0082

0.0034 2.75 4.97 2.14 0.51 0.47 11.5 3.18 0.27 0.196 0.196 0.012 2.58 7.8 2.9 1.07 0.012 4.11 0.012 8.69 3.6 130 3 0.0085

0.0033 2.68 4.86 2.14 0.5 0.46 10.86 2.97 0.27 0.192 0.196 0.012 2.45 7.46 2.69 1.01 0.011 4.1 0.011 8.56 3.38 128.5 2.86 0.0082

MINING & OIL 0.0033 98,000,000 2.7 20,000 4.96 78,000 2.14 3,000 0.5 709,000 0.46 1,300,000 11.36 51,300 3.11 8,167,000 0.27 100,000 0.195 1,270,000 0.196 1,260,000 0.012 1,000,000 2.46 1,511,000 7.8 4,939,600 2.83 28,000 1.02 2,365,000 0.011 9,400,000 4.1 22,000 0.012 4,200,000 8.68 142,000 3.45 886,000 130 294,100 3 94,000 0.0085 9,000,000

323,600 54,110 383,150 6,420 354,520 603,400 562,634 24,716,700 27,000 245,530 246,960 12,000 3,732,370 37,650,221 77,330 2,427,160 107,800 90,220 48,400 1,229,979 3,084,570 38,221,024 269,820 74,300

79,200 -9,800 1,239,720 231,190 -1,154,420 28,400 -66,096 535,280 2,267,538 -8,200

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2H

43.85 103 104.1 114 119 540 6 1,030 1.05 1,089 1,035 110 77.5 77.2

44 103 104.1 114 119 540 6 1,030 1.05 1,089 1,035 110 77.5 78

43.85 103 103.9 114 119 540 5.9 1,030 1.04 1,089 1,035 110 77.5 77.2

PREFERRED 44 575,400 103 110,500 103.9 3,650 114 230 119 3,000 540 9,550 5.9 7,000 1,030 70 1.04 207,000 1,089 130 1,035 70 110 450 77.5 10,050 78 93,850

25,316,400 11,381,500 379,465 26,220 357,000 5,157,000 41,700 72,100 215,910 141,570 72,450 49,500 778,875 7,303,448

-258,700 -5,157,000 -

LR WARRANT

1.91

2.38

1.9

WARRANTS 2.12 921,000

1,997,720

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

10.7 3.79 2.82 7.8

10.7 3.8 2.82 7.85

8.9 3.69 2.82 7.6

SME 9.4 3.7 2.82 7.68

8,622,936 842,760 14,100 20,581,668

45,241 -4,953,307

109.6

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108.6 109 12,030

1,309,743

38,220

NAME

MS FIRST METRO ETF 109.6

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

11,301,418

INDUSTRIAL

141,538,615

HOLDING FIRMS

123,805,917

PROPERTY

100,237,051

SERVICES

261,495,176

MINING & OIL

145,956,302

GRAND TOTAL

788,153,109

895,400 226,000 5,000 2,678,900

VALUE 1,626.52 (up) 5.42 759,948,524.75 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,258.99 (down) 67.36 2,758,746,485.33 HOLDING FIRMS 6,674.50 (down) 21.48 1,200,030,695.718 PROPERTY 2,926.67 (down) 19.34 1,259.10 (down) 9.32 618,218,546.54 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,923.31 (up) 15.06 736,042,567.705 PSEI 6,563.67 (down) 23.50 114,595,659.644 All Shares Index 4,022.50 (down0 14.00 6,218,959,671.25 Gainers:66; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 46; Total: 217

Iran asks PH firms to export materials By Othel V. Campos IRANIAN Ambassador to the Philippines Mohammad Tanhaei urged Filipino entrepreneurs to consider Iran as a frontier export destination. He cited a large untapped market for Filipino products in his country, adding several export and business opportunities awaited local companies in Iran if they could overcome their misconceptions about the Middle East nation. Cosmetics is among these goods enjoying high demand, said Tanhaei in his recent talk at a trade seminar on new destinations for Philippine exports, organized by the Trade Department’s marketing bureau. “Iran is one of the main destinations of cosmetics in the Persian Gulf. Cosmetics can be a good [starting] ground for the Filipino exporters to [supply to] Iran,” he said. The Iranian Association of Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Importers said Iran accounted for $2.1 billion of the Middle East’s $7.2-billion beauty products market, second in the region after Saudi Arabia. Beauty products highly sought by Iranians include makeup, skin-care and antiaging products. Tanhaei related how he helped one cosmetic company in the Philippines go to Iran for market exploration. The firm confirmed the big business opportunity in the country,

Century fortifies presence in China By Jenniffer B. Austria CANNED tuna manufacturer Century Pacific Food Inc. acquired distribution companies in China for $2.56 million in a bid to further expand its branded exports. Century Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would purchase a 100 percent stake in a group that currently distributes Century Tuna products in China. “We are excited about this newest addition to our export presence. China could be a future growth market for us with its total canned food market estimated to be increasing double-digits annually,” Century Pacific vice president and general manager Gregory Banzon said. The acquisition is expected to support the expansion of Century Pacific’s international branded segment, which is currently still a small part of the business. Century Pacific will finance the transaction in cash. “We look forward to growing our product portfolio and expanding the distribution network in China,” said Banzon. The company is also studying opportunities to enter allied categories to take advantage of the new market. Prior to the acquisition, the Chinese companies were owned 50 percent each by Thai Union Manufacturing Co Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bangkok-listed Thai Union Frozen, and Century Pacific Group Inc., parent company of Century Pacific. Century Pacific has expanded its presence to become the country’s number one canned tuna brand since its entry into China during the early 1990s. The company recently acquired the license for the Kamayan trademark in North America, one of the top names in the US market for shrimp paste—a popular condiment in Philippine cuisine.

Home / Design

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Disaster-resilient school

saves lives during typhoon in Aurora

ne of the areas hit by Typhoon Lawin (Haima) last October was Casiguran in Aurora province.

structure. The site now houses a school designed by Palafox Architecture Group, in collaboration with Fastenopfer (Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund), for the indigenous community in Sitio Dipontian. Now in its ﬁnal stages of construction, the school was able to shelter members of the Agta community during Typhoon Lawin. Designed to be disaster-resilient, the school features A year earlier, the area was rav- quatro aguas rooﬁng that is reaged by Typhoon Lando (Koppu) sistant to strong winds, as well damaging agriculture and infra- as rainwater harvesting for wa-

ter supply. Structurally-sound materials such as hardwood doors and jalousie windows were used while columns and trusses were added to strengthen the structure. Building orientation plays an important part in disaster resilience. Walls should not be parallel to the shoreline, and positioning it diagonally slices off the wind. Thus, the longer side of the school is positioned diagonally, and not against the wind.

STRENGTH AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. Upon turnover to the community this year, the Casiguran school will house six classrooms that can be used for future emergencies.

BACOLOD ON THE RISE. Megaworld recently announced that it is building an upscale residential village, Forbes Hill, in Northill Gateway, Bacolod City. The community will have 197 lots ranging from 449 sq. meters to 916 sq. meters, or approximately 13 lots per hectare. Future lot owners will have a free hand to design their own homes, which overlook the Negros mountain ranges, and surrounding sugarcane plantation vistas. Residents will also have a big breathing space as Megaworld alloted 5-hectares of open and green spaces for parks Forbes Hill is nestled within the 53-hectare Northill Gateway, a joint development of Megaworld and Suntrust Properties, Inc., in partnership with the Lacson Family. The development will house residential villages, mixed-use ofﬁce and retail developments, leisure and recreational amenities as well as institutional facilities.

HIGHER QUALITY, MORE SECURE VIDEO STREAMING. Bosch recently released its Video

Management System 7.0 software (Bosch VMS 7.0), which will help security operators to better manage high-resolution video streams in their day-to-day work. With the Bosch VMS 7.0, the user is able to keep multiple UHD (Ultra High Deﬁnition) cameras open without having to worry about slowing down the application. Bosch VMS 7.0 uses the technology “streamlining”. This technology automatically shows the optimal video resolution on the screen. Another new feature is the encrypted communication between Bosch cameras and the Video Management System. A security manager can choose to encrypt all control communications and videos through a secure HTTPS connection, reducing the risk of the system being hacked.

HIGH QUALITY ROOFING, METAL-BUILDING PRODUCTS RECOGNIZED. Philmetal Products, Inc. (PMPI), one the country’s biggest

NEW LIFESTYLE. The Mandaluyong-Pasig residential condo scene just got richer with the ongoing construction of the Sheridan Towers. A two-tower

development located on the boundary of both cities, it is surrounded by major road networks, commercial establishments, hospitals and schools. Sheridan Towers, a resort-inspired condominium community developed by DMCI Homes, promotes carefree living with its resort atmosphere. Aside from generous amenities, Sheridan Towers, like other DMCI condo communities, have an innovative building design called Lumiventt. This means single loaded corridors, landscaped atriums and breezeways. These features provide natural lighting and fresh air throughout the building corridors. In every ﬁve levels, there is a Sky Patio that ensures natural light, and ventilation to ﬂow freely within the units.

maker of roofing products, was recently awarded an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certificate by TUV Rheinland Philippines Inc.. This was for the manufacture of galvanized and pre-painted metal building products including bending, slitting, shearing, curving of roofing, decking and bended accessories.The ISO 9001:2008 certification was based on quality management principles including strong customer focus, management commitment, the process approach, continual improvement and regular process reviews. The certificate verified that Philmetal met relevant standards of ISO 9001: 2008. Shown in photo are Isabel M. Tiu, assistant manager ,TUV Rheinland, and Pinky Zamora-Villacrusis, senior manager for marketing and sales. The certificate was awarded to Stephanie Uy, PMPI president, and witnessed by Rizaldy C. Mojica, PMPI plant manager and Rommel Bulalacao, PMPI sales director.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

Green design for less stress

URBAN FREE FALL. Sprawling slums, long commutes, high stress and low

productivity are the bane of Metro Manila living. Albert S. Zambrano’s call for green designs can ostensibly be applied on a mass scale, and have a big impact on the environment, and society.

RAZY traffic, jumbled urban planning, and pollution in our cities will be the death of us. But not if a proposal for integrating low-income households in high- and middle-income areas would be considered by government planners and urban regulators. This would result in increased worker productivity, lesser commuter traffic, and faster delivery of goods and services. The proposal was made by Mapúa professor and architect Albert S. Zambrano, when he spoke recently in the Senate about issues on justice and human rights, urban planning, housing, and resettlement. Zambrano highlighted the importance of in-city housing and resettlement, urban integration, and how these could contribute to a more efficient distribution of resources and alleviate several factors that cause severe poverty such as high transport demand, pollution, and stress. “Today, there’s a lot of construction going on,” said Zambrano. “What if for every building constructed, a corresponding portion of it would be dedicated to social housing? If we make it as a requirement, we can create a lot of social housing, if not within the same

lot or property, then at least within the city itself.” Social housing refers to affordable rental housing which may be owned and managed by the government, by a non-proﬁt organization, or by a combination of the two with the aim to assist households with lower or modest incomes. Zambrano said cities like New York, San Francisco, Hollywood, London, and Singapore are implementing social housing in their communities by enacting laws and policies that will provide affordable homes to those who have none. Zambrano said he incorporated the vertical sidewalkmedium rise building in one of his recent projects, to complement the concept of urban planning and social housing in the country.

The structure aims to decrease household expenses and increase income-generating opportunities by using natural light and ventilation, having walls suitable for growing ‘pechay’ or spinach, and catching and recycling water during the rainy season. It was also designed to house micro, small, medium, and home-based enterprises. “Green architecture, at the moment, is mostly implemented with projects for the upper 10% income bracket,” Zambrano said. “It will have an even greater impact if green architecture is applied for the other 90% lowerincome bracket. Zambrano said he is currently creating green designs together with students, “green designs that can be applied on a mass scale, that will have a bigger impact on the environment and society.”

GOODBYE, HOME-PROTECTION WORRIES. Fascia—known as ‘senepa’—has a very practical

purpose: aside from fortifying rain gutters to help weather-proof our homes, and prevent moisture from entering the house through gaps between the roof and eaves, it adds a decorative accent to the home’s façade. Filipino homes have very specialized needs when it comes to fascia, because of the consistently harsh weather in the Philippines. Created to withstand typhoons, long months of heavy rains, humidity and months of extreme heat, HardieFlex® Senepa offers a good the mix of durable performance and versatility. Fascia is one of the trims and details under the roof that can bring a house’s exterior design elements together. As a ﬁnishing touch, it can either add vibrancy, whimsical touch, modern ﬂavor, or classic sophistication to provide contrast to the roof’s design.

RAMPING UP IN THE BPO ARENA. PSE-listed IT ﬁrm NOW Corp, recently signed a deal with Eton

Properties for the provision of broadband services to Eton Centris, a 12-hectare retail and office complex in Quezon City. Eton Centris is one of city’s growing convergence points, and home to some of the largest BPO companies in the country. NOW considers the alliance with ETON as a step towards its goal of strengthening its presence in the BPO sector, one of the key pillars of the domestic economy. The USD25 billion industry provides more than 1 million jobs, and is the second biggest dollar earner in the country, next to OFWs. At the signing ceremony were Kristian A. Pura, NOW Corp. head of enterprise marketing; Dr. Thomas G. Aquino, NOW Corp chairman; Josefino C. Lucas, deputy COO of ETON Properties; Gigi W. Samala, first vice-president of ETON Properties; and Martha S. Herrara, AVP for marketing of ETON Properties.

MAVEN BREAKS GROUND IN CAPITOL COMMONS. Property developer Ortigas & Co. recently held

groundbreaking ceremonies for Maven, one of its residential towers in Capitol Commons. The 62-storey building set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, Maven is the third residential tower to rise in Capitol Commons, Ortigas & Co.’s mixed-use development which is now part of the Ortigas central business district. Maven units are available in studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom conﬁgurations. Shown in photo during the ceremony is Jaime E. Ysmael, Ortigas & Co. president and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer (middle). He was joined by (Left to right): Thomas F. Mirasol, Ortigas & Co. senior vice president; Annette Gaddi-Liganor, managing director of GF & Partners Architects, Co.; Josephine Yap-Lim, sales group head, luxury division, Ortigas & Co., and Atty. Michael David I. Abundo III, Ortigas & Co. vice president.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

DAWN DELIGHTS. Parishioners flock to the Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces church in Kidapawan City to hear the ‘Misa de Gallo’ or dawn Mass that marks the Christmas season for Catholics in the Philippines. After church the faithful troop to the nearest ‘bibingka’ (rice cake) vendor, who cooks nonstop to serve the hungry public. The nine-day Christmas novena Mass ends today. Geonarri O. Solmerano

Makati braces for ‘Nina’ onslaught By Joel E. Zurbano

HE city government of Makati placed its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council under red alert to prepare for severe tropical storm “Nina,” which is forecast to hit Metro Manila on Christmas Day.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the council will also preposition its resources in flood-prone barangays beginning midnight of Christmas Eve (December 24). “The Makati DRRMC has started mobilizing our disaster responders and will preposition needed resources, such as amphibious trucks, rubber boats,

and relief goods, in flood-prone areas in the city,” Binay said. On the mayor’s orders, key members of the MDRRMC have assigned their respective personnel to 24/7 duty to provide the needed services before, during and after the typhoon makes landfall in Metro Manila. These include the city engi-

neering, environmental services, health, and social welfare departments, the Makati Rescue and C3, and Ospital ng Makati. Makati’s DRRMC Office handles the overall monitoring of operations and warning systems. The MDRRMC has also coordinated with concerned barangays to prepare

Drug suspect caught in his own auto shop By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The most wanted drug personality here was busted while smoking shabu inside his own auto shop at V. Mapa St. in J.P Laurel district early on Friday. John Jao Saavedra and four others were apprehended as authorities from the Sta. Ana police station conducted a buybust operation nearby. Others arrested were Andrew Kuo Lim, 26, the grandson of the owner of Grand Men Seng hotel; Denar V. Valdevieso, 26, the grandson of the owner of Weena Bus Co.; Oliver H. Borres, 45; and Henry C. Sumpat, 40. Police recovered 12 pieces of different sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money from the suspects. According to Sta. Ana Police Station Commander Chief Inspector Hamlet Lerios, his

subordinates bought a sachet of shabu from the suspects as they held their drug session. Lerios said Saavedra was Davao City’s most elusive drug personality and a high-profile target. “We’ve been monitoring him for more than a year already, he is very hard to catch. Very elusive,” he said. Saavedra previously surrendered to President Rodrigo Duterte when the latter was still mayor of Davao, Lerios said. However, he returned to his illegal drug activities when Duterte was already campaigning for the presidency. “During the busy days of the campaign [Saavedra] returned to peddling drugs,” the police chief said. “Our eyes were on him since last year. We had not gathered enough evidence back then, that is why we could not act immediately.”

Estrada unleashes 80 MTPB enforcers

BOATS FOR FISHERMEN. Fiber finishing boats, engines, nets and solar lamps for fisherfolk are readied

for distribution to fisherfolk in Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon under a program by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Leading the activity at the Areza town mall in Pagsanjan, Laguna are BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona and Regional Director Lilian C. Garcia. Roy Tomandao

QC: No holiday Fire hits Veterans Hospital engineering bldg for trash work ANTICIPATING the huge volume of trash generated during the Yuletide season, the Quezon City government announced that the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department will conduct its regular garbage collection on December 25 and January 1. Household and domestic wastes collected along the main roads will be prioritized during the operation, said EPWMD head Frederika Rentoy. The garbage collection will also cover the waste generated by QC-based institutions, Rentoy added. Regular garbage collection will still proceed on December 26 and January 2, which are both declared non-working holidays. EPWMD will be maintaining a skeletal force to accommodate inquiries and requests during the holiday season. Rentoy pointed out that her department strictly prohibits its garbage collection crew from soliciting money from residents.

A FIRE hit the Veterans Memorial Medical ing department at 2:05 p.m. and reached Sr. Supt. Jesus Fernandez, Quezon City Center in Quezon City Friday afternoon. the third alarm, but was declared under fire marshal, said they have yet to deterThe fire razed the hospital’s engineer- control at 2:32 p.m. mine the cause of the fire. Rio N. Araja

BUCKET TREATS.

Residents of Las Piñas City line up to receive Christmas gifts in buckets from Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar (seated left) and the City Council at the Verdant Village covered court. Aguilar personally doles out the gifts for the thousands in Las Piñas’ barangays each holiday season.

evacuation areas such as public schools and covered courts. Identified low-lying and flood-prone barangays in the city include Pio del Pilar, Bangkal, San Antonio, Magallanes, La Paz, Tejeros, San Isidro and Sta, Cruz in District 1 and District 2 barangays Rizal, Pembo and Comembo.

TO HELP decongest the streets of Christmas-rush traffic, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will post 80 newly trained traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau in the city’s high-density shopping districts, where holiday shoppers have reached an average of one million a day. In a statement on Friday, Estrada said the new enforcers, fresh from a 15-day extensive training course, will back up members of the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Units and maintain peace and order in Manila’s major roads during the holidays. “It’s a common thought that during Christmas traffic is heavy, and there are several people on the streets. We are expecting this, so we must counter this with the police and traffic enforcers who will secure and control the traffic,” Estrada said. The mayor said the enforces are expected to see action after the completion of their training on Friday, December 23, and will be deployed to Divisoria, Binondo, and Quiapo districts. Estrada ordered their training on November 28 after he terminated the work contracts of 690 incumbent MTPB personnel owing to numerous complaints of extortion and other illegal activities against them. The former president has been keeping close tabs on the retraining of the first batch of 92 trainees who will fill the vacated slots at the MTPB. Only eight of the enforcers are new recruits. The Manila Police District is retraining these enforcers and have focused on developing discipline, proper decorum and posture, and physical fitness. The trainees also have classroom lectures about basic road accident investigation, rescue and first aid, and basic self defense techniques. Sandy Araneta

LGUs

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

P1.36b for Cordillera irrigation set L

A TRINIDAD, Benguet— The Cordillera office of the National Irrigation Administration said Friday P1.36 billion has been earmarked for the implementation of irrigation-related projects regionwide, to boost the agricultural production of farmers in the provinces here next year.

Engineer John Socalo, NIACAR regional irrigation manager, said 70 percent of the funds from the national government will be for rehabilitating and upgrading communal irrigation projects, while 20 percent will be used to improve the agency’s national irrigation facilities located in Kalinga, Ifugao and Apayao. The remaining 10 percent of the funds will be devoted to feasibility studies for future projects, Socalo

said. An additional P300 million will be devoted to the convergence initiatives of the NIA-CAR with other regional line agencies. “We are quite lucky next year because we received a huge amount of funds for the sustained implementation of our mandate, which is to provide adequate irrigation to our farmers in the different parts of the region. We believe we are in the right track of increasing the number of irrigable areas beneficial to

the interest of more farmers regionwide,” he stressed. The NIA-CAR official disclosed some P65 million will go to the Marimay small river irrigation project in Apayao, while another P50 million will go to the Alfonso Lista pump irrigation project in Ifugao. Socalo said the funding for Alfonso Lista this year will be added to the appropriation for the project next year to complete

its important portions and make it operational sooner. He expressed confidence NIACAR will implement the programmed projects next year so that it could gain more funding for their priority projects. Socalo called on the agency’s partners to cooperate with the policies that will be crafted by the new NIA leadership to help boost the growth of agriculture in the countryside. Dexter A. See

Shooting victim asks for support BIÑAN, Laguna—The family of a housewife hit by a stray bullet while attending Simbang Gabi on Wednesday night is appealing for help of any kind from the public. Darwin Gayap, the eldest son of gunshot victim Rowena Flores Gayap, told Manila Standard his mother has been transferred to a recovery room from the intensive care unit of Biñan Doctors Hospital. Gayap’s doctor said the bullet entered the side of her spinal cord and went out the side of her stomach, Darwin said. Based on a CT scan, no internal organs were damaged, the doctor added. Currently, Rowena is still unable to eat, her son said. Gayap was attending the evening Christmas Mass at the San Antonio Parish Church here when still unidentified gunmen shot and killed security guard Allan Fernandez, who was on duty. Stray bullets also hit Christine Joy Sailog, who was declared dead on arrival at another hospital. Fernandez was on a drug watchlist, Binan Chief of Police Supt. Serafin Petalio said. Darwin Gayap asked for prayers for her mom’s complete recovery, but also for financial assistance to help defray their hospital bills. Rowena has six children and runs a small eatery in the city. Roy Tomandao

BACK RUB. Licensed blind masseurs offer low-cost massages and reflexology treatments to visitors at the main hallway leading to Quezon City Hall, part of the city’s Christmas treat to residents. Ey Acasio

9,000 Pampanga volunteers vs drugs CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga —A total of 9,000 community volunteers, mostly mothers who are working on Pampanga’s civic projects, were presented by the provincial government to President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his visit here Thursday. Gov. Lilia Pineda led the volunteers in the meeting also attended by second district Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Andrea Domingo, Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda and

the mayors of Pampanga’s three cities and 19 towns. Pineda said the volunteers were divided into 505 groups that serve as lookouts for any illegal activities in the barangays, including illegal drugs and environment degradation, apart from helping in their areas’ cleanliness and sanitation drives, calamity response, and peace and order activities. Organized by the vice governor in coordination with local officials, the volunteer program

aims to boost the government’s campaigns against illegal drugs and corruption and improve its public assistance programs, Dennis Pineda said. Governor Pineda, meanwhile, told the President the volunteers will help in the speedy delivery of services from the provincial government, especially during calamities. “They are also very active as partners in the program launched by Department of Interior and Local Governemnt

program called Masa Masid in the barangays to fight against illegal drugs in Pampanga,” she said. Earlier, Pampanga also unveiled its Preventive Health Management System patterned after the health system of Cuba, which Duterte admires. The program calls for disease prevention instead of medication, and brings health services to the villages instead of people going to health centers. Romeo Dizon

Ilocos Norte debuts its own 911 emergency line THE provincial government and police of Ilocos Norte on Thursday launched the Provincial Incident Response Management 911 emergency phone system, allowing for quick response from public safety agencies and other law enforcement offices to anyone in the province. In line with the vision of Gov. Imee R. Marcos toward making Ilocos Norte liveable, sustainable and resilient, the province

SHIP SHAPE.

The SM Foundation has renovated the Naval Education and Training Command Station Hospital in San Antonio, Zambales, the 15th military health facility made over by the mall operator’s social responsibility arm. The foundation has been improving and refurbishing military and police health facilities to pay tribute to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police personnel.

has been coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to provide a Public Safety Answering Point as early as last July. A provincial call center had been on deck for the past two years, Marcos added. While waiting for the PSAP, Police Provincial Director Melencio Nartatez said the implementation of the 911 telephone number will lead to quicker

response times and professionalizing the response team itself, while the call center uses state-of-the-art software and equipment to respond to emergencies. “There’s no better time to start than now,” Nartatez said. The PIRM 911 was launched with four temporary hotlines that are open 24/7, and managed by PNP staff and trained provincial government personnel. The

hotlines are (077) 600-0948, (077) 772-1772, 0999-9997707 and 0917-1099911. Agents also demonstrated a mock emergency call of a vehicular accident and recorded a response time of five minutes. “We really want to respond in 5 to 7 minutes ideally,” Marcos said. “We’ll keep it down to seven minutes ideally because that’s the benchmark that has been established by Davao City, and I’m

hopeful that this will actually come to flourish even with this makeshift system we use in the meantime.” The Ilocos Norte Provincial Police has already disseminated the temporary hotlines to all the municipalities and cities of the province, Nartatez said. All the chiefs of police in the province are expected to disseminate the hotline numbers to the barangay levels as well.

Baguio folk say no to e-bingo By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—Residents and religious leaders here are against an electronic bingo outlet opening within the Maharlika Livelihood Center, and called on local officials not to renew permits issued to e-bingo outlets in the Baguio Center Mall and along Marcos Highway. In a strongly-worded letter to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, the BaguioBenguet Ecumenical Group urged local officials not to issue permits and licenses to ebingo establishments here after the City Council endorsed the application of the e-bingo operator at Maharlika to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the government regulator for gambling. Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon, Philian Louise Weygan, Dr. Ma. Reylita C. Calimlim, Dr. Milandre Rusgal, Pastor Jonathan Erardo, Pastor Abraham Luis, Rebecca A. Taylor, Rev. Sharon Langbis, Geraldine Fiag-oy and Alicia Pacsi Dizon signed the letter to Domogan. The group learned that during the City Council’s suspension of rules last December 12, approved the Maharlika e-bingo operation despite the anti-gambling policy of the local government. Councilors Peter Fianza and Maria Victoria Mylen G. Yaranon abstained during the voting to approve the endorsement for e-bingo operator at the establishment in the city’s central business district area. “We feel that the City Council, by approving the issuance of permit or recommendation to Pagcor for e-bingo in the city, is not supportive of improving the morals, health, comfort and peace in our beloved city,” the religious leaders wrote.

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Manila

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

IS burning Turkish troops alive B EIRUT―The Islamic State jihadist group has released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to fight “terror” in Syria in response to 16 of its troops being killed in battle.

The 19-minute video, showing two uniformed men being hauled from a cage before being bound and torched, was posted on jihadist websites and was supposedly shot in the ISdeclared “Aleppo Province” in northern Syria. Speaking in Turkish, the killer of the two men criticizes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and calls for “destruction to be sowed” in Turkey. The shocking images recall the killing of Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian ﬁghter pilot, who was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and was later burned alive in a cage. The IS-linked news agency Amaq said last month that the jihadists had kidnapped two Turkish soldiers, and the Turkish army separately said it had lost contact with two of its men. The video’s release comes a day after 16 Turkish soldiers were killed by IS ﬁghters in Ankara’s biggest loss so far in its unprecedented incursion into Syria. They were killed in a succession of attacks around the Syrian town of Al-Bab on Wednesday that included three suicide car bombings. The heavy toll showed the intensifying battle for the town, which Turkish forces have been

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ LnB President

seeking to capture for weeks in the biggest test of their fourmonth incursion into Syria. Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of proAnkara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area. At least 38 Turkish soldiers have been killed in the operation, which the Turkish government has dubbed Euphrates Shield. Speaking earlier Thursday, Erdogan vowed no let-up in the ongoing campaign. “Yes, maybe we will have to lay martyrs to rest,” he said in a speech in Ankara. “But we are determined to preserve their memory and protect what they left us and continue this struggle.” Turkey, he said, “is engaged in its most serious struggle since the war of independence” that led to the creation of the modern state in 1923. Turkish television showed distraught relatives of the dead dealing with the news and putting national flags outside their homes. The earlier stages of Turkey’s campaign proceeded with lightning speed and the border town of Jarabulus was taken on the first day of the offensive. But the army has suffered increasing casualties in the fight

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR. ARMANDO P. PADILLA

for Al-Bab -- 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the border. Defence Minister Fikri Isik told parliament on Thursday that 1,005 IS jihadists and 299 fighters affiliated to the Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Units had been killed in the operation so far. Ankara considers the YPG a terror group, even though it works together with the United States as an ally in the fight against IS.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ LnB President ABSENT:

Councilor FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO ==========================================================================

Councilor

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2016-A-027 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., and Hon. M.A.M. Ortega Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puna, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor AN ORDINANCE REVERTING THE CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND 20% DEVELOPMENT FUND AMOUNTING TO ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR MILLION FOUR HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY PESOS AND 19/100 (PHP 1,224,412,690.19) TO THE GENERAL FUND, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, Section 322 of the Local Government Code categorically provides: “Section 322. Reversion of Unexpended Balances of Appropriations, Continuing Appropriations. Unexpended balances of appropriations authorized in the annual appropriations ordinance shall revert to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund at the end of the fiscal year and shall not thereafter be available for expenditures except by subsequent enactment. However, appropriationsfor capital outlays shall continue and remain valid until fully spent, reverted or the project is completed. Reversions of continuing appropriations shall not be allowed unless obligations therefor have been fully paid or otherwise settled. The balances of continuing appropriations shall be reviewed as part of the annual budget preparation and the Sanggunian concerned may approve, upon recommendation of the local chief executive, the reversion of funds no longer needed in connection with the activities funded by said continuing appropriations subject to the provisions of this Section.” WHEREAS, it is necessary to revert the aforesaid budgets to the General Fund so that the said unspent funds can be utilized as additional source of fund for 2017 Annual Budget or in whatever manner the City Government of Makati deems fit. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The reversion of Continuing Appropriation of the Office of the Mayor and 20% Development Fund of the approved Annual Budgets for CY 2011 to CY 2015 and Supplemental Budgets for CY 2010 to CY 2014, amounting to One Billion Two Hundred Twenty-Four Million Four Hundred Twelve Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Pesos and 19/100 (Php1,224,412,690.19) to the General Fund is hereby approved, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. Section 2. The Certification issued by the City Budget Officer, City Treasurer and the Accounting Department as to the availability of unexpended and unused funds of Continuing Appropriation of the Office of the Mayor of the approved Annual Budgets for CY 2011 to CY 2015, approved Supplemental Budgets for CY 2010 to CY 2014, and the 20% Development Fund for ·CY 2010 to 2015 amounting to One Billion Two Hundred Twenty-Four Million Four Hundred Twelve Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Pesos and 19/100 (Php 1,224,412,690.19) is hereto attached as Annex “A” and made an integral part hereof. Section 3. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the City Administrator’s Office, City Budget Office, Accounting Department, City Treasurer’s Office and other offices concerned for their information, guidance and reference. Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 23 November 2016 HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

MAR RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON. MARY

HON. DIVINA A JACOME

EVEL HON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR. ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

ABSENT:

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2016-A-054 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.AS.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. D.A Jacome, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr. and Hon. M.AM. Ortega

Co- Authors: Hon. S.c. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. RC. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puna, Hon. M.RC. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and AP. Padilla

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier,Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. AP. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF FOUR THOUSAND PESOS (Php4,000.00) AS ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE TO MAKATI CITY HALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING REGULAR, CASUAL AND CONTRACTUAL POSITIONS, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THE 2016 EXECUTIVE BUDGET, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, for the past years, the city government has been consistently posting annual revenue growth even without increasing tax rates due to city’s efficient tax collection system and its ability to maintain a healthy investment climate that continues to draw new investors and stimulate business growth, coupled with strong and improved performance in the implementation of projects and programs and delivery of basic public services as shown by the numerous awards and citations bestowed upon the city; WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati in recognition of the employees invaluable work and contribution to another banner year for the city and a bid to further inspire them to give their best in the performance of their duties, the grant and release of Php 4,000.00 as additional incentive is well deserved token of appreciation; WHEREAS, Section 10 (a) (8), Article IV of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati to wit, the Sangguniang Panlungsod shall approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective government and to determine the position and the salaries, wages, allowances and other emoluments and benefits of official employees paid wholly or mainly from city funds and provide for expenditures necessary for the proper conduct of programs, projects, services, and activities ofthe City Government; WHEREAS, funding for this purpose had been programmed and included in the approved 2016 Executive Budget of the City Government. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT . IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati authorizes the release of additional allowance to Makati City Hall employees holding regular, casual and contractual positions, funds of which shall be taken from 2016 Executive Budget, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. Section 2. Employees entitled to Four Thousand Pesos (Php 4,000.00) incentive are those employees who are holding regular, casual and contractual positions. Section 3. Employees who incurred unauthorized absences and leave without pay (LWOP) which aggregates to more than one (1) month are excluded from the coverage. Section 4. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference. Section 5.. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 7 December 2016.

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF EIGHTEEN BILLION EIGHTY FOUR MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY THREE THOUSAND PESOS (P18,084,763,000.00), AS EXECUTIVE BUDGET FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2017 TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AS APPROPRIATIONS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WHICH BUDGET IS HERETO ATTACHED AS ANNEX “A” AND MADE AN INTEGRAL PART HEREOF, FUNDS SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THE ESTIMATED INCOME CERTIFIED AS REASONABLY COLLECTIBLE BY THE CITY TREASURER IN YEAR 2017, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, has endorsed to the Sanggunian Panlungsod of the City of Makati the approval of proposed 2017 Executive Budget containing proposed appropriations to meet the city’s mandatory contractual obligations and operational expenses and defray costs of the city’s programs, projects and delivery of basic services, among others, with the end in view of promoting the general welfare of Makati and its constituents; WHEREAS, Section 10 (b) (1) of Article IV of Republic Act 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati which mandates the Sangguniang Panlungsod to approve the annual budget of the City for the ensuing fiscal year on the basis of the estimate of income and expenditures submitted by the local chief executive. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED, BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The amount of Eighteen Billion Eighty Four Million Seven Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Pesos (P18,084,763,000.00) as Executive Budget For Calendar Year 2017 is hereby appropriated to be made available as appropriations of the City Government of Makati, which budget is hereto attached as Annex “A” and made an integral part hereof, the amount to be taken from the estimated income certified as reasonably collectible by the City Treasurer in year 2017, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. Section 2. The City Mayor is hereby authorized to realign funds from one office to another, from one item to another, from one program, project and activity to another, subject to availability of savings and within the same expense class. Section 3. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Office of the Mayor, Office of the City Treasurer, Accounting Department, Budget Department and other departments, offices, and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference. Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 December 2016. HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

MAR RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON. MARY

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. MAR MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A JACOME

EVEL HON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. DIVINA A JACOME

HON. EVEL EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

Certified true and correct by:

Attested by:

Approved by:

(MS-DEC. 24, 2016)

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR NEMESIO S. YABUT JR. ARMANDO P. PADILLA

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2016-A-052 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.AS.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon: N.S. Yabut Jr. and Hon. M.AM. Ortega

Approved by:

(MS-DEC. 24, 2016)

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ LnB President

Councilor MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT - Vacation Leave ===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.AS.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2016-A-054 on third and final reading.

Certified true and correct by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

sponse from the government to the claim. Turkey has also been hit at home by the bloodiest attacks in its modern history, which it blames on jihadists and Kurdish militants. The government is also carrying out a wide-ranging crackdown following an attempted coup in July, which it says was orchestrated by the group of an exiled cleric, Fethullah Gulen. AFP

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Attested by:

only way to bring peace to Syria. But Ankara has stayed out of the most recent battle for Aleppo and worked with Assad’s key ally Russia to broker evacuations from the city. Turkish air strikes on Al-Bab meanwhile killed at least 47 civilians including 14 children and nine women, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was no immediate re-

ONIONS. This picture taken on December 22, 2016 ,shows Indonesian women carrying bags of onions at a market in Surabaya. AFP

ABSENT:

On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2016-A-027 on third and final reading.

The army said the latest clashes erupted around a weapons depot that had been used by IS for the last two years. Al-Bab lies 35 kilometers northeast of Aleppo, which is now under control of government forces in the biggest defeat for rebels in the civil war. Turkey has been a key backer of the rebels and insists the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad is the

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-DEC. 24, 2016)

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

World

PROTEST. VTC drivers (transport car with driver) block part of the highway leading to the Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport to protest the pricing policy of reservation platforms. AFP

88 dead in raids on town held by IS BEIRUT―At least 88 civilians have been killed in 24 hours of Turkish air strikes on an Islamic State group bastion in northern Syria, a monitoring group said Friday. A barrage of raids hit Al-Bab on Thursday, killing 72 civilians including 21 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Bombardment continued on Friday, leaving another 16 civilians dead, including three children. “Eighty-eight civilians have been killed in 24 hours,” Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He said it was the bloodiest attack by Turkish forces that his monitoring group had recorded since Ankara began its intervention in Syria in late August. The Observatory says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to their type, location, ﬂight patterns and the munitions involved. Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies have been seeking to capture Al-Bab, about 25 kilometers from the northern Syrian border, for weeks. On Thursday, IS released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to respond to 16 of its troops being killed in the ﬁght against the jihadist group. Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of proAnkara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area. AFP

Christmas Day terror plot foiled S YDNEY―A “significant” Islamic State-inspired Christmas Day terror plot targeting central Melbourne has been foiled after a series of arrests in raids across the city, police said Friday.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton alleged those detained planned to use explosives, knives and guns to attack busy locations including Melbourne’s Flinders Street train

station, Federation Square and St Paul’s Cathedral. “Over the last fortnight... we have had to conduct a criminal investigation relating to the formation of what we believe was

a terrorist plot,” he told a news conference. “We believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multi-mode attack, possibly on Christmas Day. “The attack that we will allege was being planned, we believe was going to involve an explosive event, the use of explosives, and we gathered evidence to support that.” Police believe the plotters were planning to also use other weapons including knives and guns.

The targets of the alleged attack are all in the same area in the heart of the city, and only a short distance from the Melbourne Cricket Ground where up to 100,000 people are expected to attend the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan. Of the seven arrested on Friday morning, five remain in custody. All had been under surveillance for weeks. Ashton said four of them were Australian-born, of Lebanese background, with the fifth an Egyptian-born Australian citizen, all in their 20s.

“Certainly these are self-radicalized, we believe, but inspired by ISIS and ISIS propaganda,” he added, referring to the jihadist group. “If this had got under our guard this would have been a signiﬁcant attack, we believe. No doubt about that.” He added: “A substantial number of people could have been injured in the attack, from what we’ve seen. Certainly potential for quite a number of people to be in-

Two held over plan to attack big mall BERLIN―Police have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack one of Germany’s biggest shopping centers, authorities said Friday, four days after a jihadist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market. Police said they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, originally from Kosovo, and were trying to establish how advanced the plot was and whether other people were involved. Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said. The mall that was targeted, Centro, is one of the largest in Germany with around 250 shops that are usually packed in the run-up to Christmas. The arrests come as police frantically hunt for the Tunisian suspect accused of plowing a truck through crowds packing one of Berlin’s most popular Christmas markets on Monday. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault—their deadliest yet carried out on German soil. Police commandos on Thursday raided three homes and a long-distance bus, prosecutors said, as they cast a wide dragnet for 24-year-old Anis Amri. Police say they are certain it was Amri who steered the 40-ton lorry after ﬁnding his identity papers and ﬁngerprints inside the cab, next to the corpse of its registered Polish driver who was killed with a gunshot to the head. AFP

jured or killed in this attack.” The foiled plot comes with security on heightened alert in Australia after a truck drove into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State. On Wednesday in the capital Canberra, a van laden with gas cylinders exploded outside the headquarters of an Australian Christian lobby group, although police said it was not being treated as terror-related. AFP

IN BRIEF Man charged in serial killer case SYDNEY―A man was charged Friday in an infamous Australian serial killer case after one of the country’s longest and most complex police investigations spanning 20 years. The deaths of three women who disappeared from the upmarket Perth suburb of Claremont after a night out between 1996 and 1997 shocked the country and struck fear into the city. Police struggled to pin the blame on anyone and followed thousands of leads before arresting Bradley Edwards, 48, at a home in a Perth suburb on Thursday. He was charged with the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, whose bodies were found dumped in bushland. But an investigation into the killing of Sarah Spiers remains ongoing. Her body has never been found. AFP

UNDER THE LIGHTS. Cars line up in trafﬁc under Christmas lights in Saint Petersburg. AFP

Pitt accuses Jolie of risking their children’s privacy LOS ANGELES―Brad Pitt has accused Angelina Jolie of compromising their children’s privacy and is asking a judge to seal details about the youngsters emerging from the couple’s divorce, court papers showed Thursday. The 52-year-old star’s lawyers claim his estranged wife is showing little regard for the welfare of the three boys and three girls, as her attorneys try to make him look bad, according to a motion

ﬁled in a Los Angeles court. Pitt’s legal team argues that Jolie has already violated an agreement to protect the privacy of the children—who range from age eight to 15—by making public the names of family therapists. The lawyers accuse Jolie, 41, of “attempting to clear the way to put in the public eye any allegations she can” without regard to the impact on the children. Jolie ﬁled for divorce in Sep-

tember, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking sole custody of the children. Pitt was cleared by the FBI and social workers over allegations that he struck one of his children during a ﬂight that month from France to Los Angeles. Pitt, who won a best ﬁlm Oscar for producing “12 Years a Slave” (2013), is seeking joint legal and physical custody. He has been granted visits su-

pervised by a therapist as part of a temporary custody agreement. Under the deal Jolie has physical custody of the children— three of whom are adopted—at a rented LA house. The A-listers—given the celebrity moniker “Brangelina” —wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004. A hearing on Pitt’s motion is scheduled for January 17. AFP

Crowds cheer Akihito’s 83rd birthday TOKYO―The biggest crowds of his nearly threae-decade reign thronged Japan’s Imperial Palace on Friday to celebrate Emperor Akihito’s 83rd birthday on what could be his last such appearance after expressing his desire to abdicate. It was his ﬁrst birthday since he announced in August that his advancing age and weakening health mean he may no longer be able to carry out his duties, setting the stage for Japan to prepare for an historic abdication. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

Celebrate holidays in Hong Kong

MERRY MICKEY CHRISTMAS. Celebrate the holiday season with loved ones in

Hong Kong Disneyland as it presents ‘A Sparkling Christmas’ wherein the theme park transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with snow and lanterns.

T’S festive fun all around as Hong Kong rings in the holidays with its spectacular WinterFest. Asia’s World City is geared up for the season of cheer as the top Hong Kong attractions present an exciting lineup of events and activities that you can enjoy when you visit. Celebrate the holidays like a local, and get an insider’s guide on how to make the most of your stay in Hong Kong as Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) shares with you the city’s best for you to be in for an unforgettable experience this December. This winter, visit Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and immerse yourself in a fantasy world of dots and gourd

motifs as world-renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama comes to life. Step into Kusama’s world of polka dots for the perfect Instagram picture. Besides this special theme installation, marvel at the over 100 incredibly lifelike figures, guaranteed to provide everyone a fun and interactive celebrity experience. For visitors looking for the most

picturesque views of Hong Kong, HKTB recommends visiting Hong Kong Wetland Park now till April 10, 2017 for its much-awaited Bird Watching Festival. This year’s event, titled “Secrets in the World of Birds,” allows guests to experience thematic exhibitions, guided walks and various educational activities. For most locals, nothing beats hopping on the Ngong Ping 360 at night for the best place to stargaze in Hong Kong. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere and even make wishes for the New Year. Visitors can also visit sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck to appreciate the beauty of Hong Kong, where

The AIA Great European Carnival is now open at the Central Harbourfront Event Space

Turn to D2

Guests can revel in the stunning view of Hong Kong and the famous Victoria Harbour from the sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck

The Carnival features various rides, booths and other attractions for guests to enjoy

10 tips for a low-carbon Christmas CHRISTMAS is the season of generosity, but it doesn’t mean we should go on endless shopping sprees and host furious binge parties every night. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that humanity is currently using the resources of 1.6 planets, meaning many of its resources are no longer naturally replenished. With the global population expected to breach nine billion by 2050, we need to learn to minimize our consumption today. So this Holiday season, let less be more. Celebrate a green or eco-friendly Christmas by recycling decor, opting for energy-efficient lights and heeding these 10 quick tips to help minimize humanity’s holiday carbon footprint. After all – a fun, simple and meaningful period of reflection is our best gift to the Earth. 1. Buy local products and support homemade crafts — Flown or shipped in from distant locales, it takes more resources for imported goods to reach our homes and offices. Patronizing local products cuts carbon emissions while boosting the local economy. Support native handicrafts, particularly if the raw materials are sustainably sourced, like twigs, leaves and pine cones. 2. Bring eco-bags when shopping for gifts — An estimated one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year and most end up in landfills. This means over a million plastic bags are used every second—and most are used only once. Please don’t add to the waste by switching to eco-friendly canvas or recycled bags. 3. Use LED Christmas lights with timers — Energy-efficient LED (light-

emitting diode) Christmas lights are up to 90 percent more efficient than regular tungsten bulbs. They’re far safer and last longer too. Remember to plug them into automated timers to ensure they’ll turn themselves off a little after you go to bed, saving power and ensuring that in terms of your carbon footprint, you won’t be naughty but nice. 4. Make your own personalized Christmas cards — About two billion Christmas cards are wasted every December. Why not craft your own

cards from recycled books, magazines or packaging? A little creativity with some crayons, paintbrushes or colored pens can ease out your inner artist. It will mean more to your special someone, too. 5. Use recycled décor — With some tinkering and a touch of creativity, your old jars, gifts and gizmos can be converted into nifty Christmas decorations. This is not just cheaper—you’ll even ensure that each homey gift piece is unique.

6. Buy only what you’ll use — Hosting this year’s Christmas party? Then politely ask your guests to minimize leftovers and get only the food they can consume. Every year, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. Buy just the right amount of sturdy plastic cups and bring out a marker to assign cups. Minimize waste and your waistline this Holiday season. 7. Set that thermostat a bit higher — Your office doesn’t have to be like the North Pole. When the party’s get-

ting too cold, you can increase your air conditioner’s thermostat by one degree Celsius. This will leave you feeling comfortable while cutting down the energy bill by as much as 10 percent. The ideal temperature range for homes and offices ranges from 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. 8. Recycle last year’s wrapping paper for this year’s gifts — Printed-paper wrappers comprise one of the largest Christmas wastes. Use last year’s wrappers for this year’s gifts. Old boxes, ribbons and strings can also be repurposed to minimize waste. 9. Reuse old props for this year’s parties — Bring out old decor and leftover trimmings for this season’s celebrations. In need of refreshing? A little glitter and paint can go a long way. Why not ask your buddies to donate a few things for the party? This allows everybody to participate and spread the Christmas spirit. 10. Observe proper cleanup after partying — Before staging your next party, ensure there are enough bins and trash bags that are clearly marked with the right labels for proper disposal. Try forming a ‘green team’ and announce to everyone that this is an Earth-friendly Christmas party where their love for the planet will be appreciated. Remember, everyone has a duty to the environment. These 10 quick tips can lessen your impact on the planet. Get more tips on reducing your carbon footprint at www.wwf.org.ph/takeaction/live-green/when-you-shop. Join the #WWFChristmasPanda contest on the WWF-Philippines official Facebook page.

Life

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Christmas Destinations H

AVING crisscrossed the globe MERCURY RISING many times BY BOB ZOZOBRADO in the course of my extended career in the Travel Industry, I have had some favorites from among the many cities I have visited. I was curious if my jetsetting friends shared my favorites, so I asked them, “If given a choice to spend Christmas outside our country with your loved ones, where would you go and why?” The plethora of exciting destinations they came up with, although none matched my favorites, further affirmed that ours is, indeed, a beautiful world. Today, the eve of His birthday, I thank God for it, by sharing with you my friends’ choices.

On a golf and whiskey tour of Scotland, first, because we haven’t done that yet as a family; also, because golf is my passion and my son, Ice, and I would love to play the old course. My eldest, Josh, and I fancy ourselves as trying-hard whiskey connoisseurs. Finally, Scotland is close enough to London where my wife, Cherry, and our other kids, Mosh and Rookie, can shop and still get some work done visiting our principals at Toni&Guy. – Chot Reyes, CEO and President, TV5; Head Coach, Gilas Pilipinas My choice is still on my bucket list…to rent a Villa in Tuscany for a month, to take in the history, art and ambience of Florence and nearby medieval towns, plus an adventurous discovery drive and foodie tour with my family around Italy. I want to have a taste of Italy by feeling Italian. – Cory Quirino, National Director, Ms. World Philippines; wellness guru, columnist, author, TV host

Where there is snow, like Hokkaido or Crans, Montana...When I was a child, I would read books about Christmas and how cold it is during winter time. I would love to experience winter activities like skiing, sled riding or ice skating. There is a certain calmness during winter, almost serene… trees capped with bits of snow, kids walking in their boots, wearing thick jackets, while I sip hot chocolate in the cold. Winter is bliss. – Richard Gomez, Mayor, Ormoc City; movie/TV actor, sports enthusiast

Spain will always be my favorite destination outside the Philippines because this is the origin of my ancestors. I love exploring its beautiful cities, especially Barcelona. Spain has a culturally diverse population, the people love sports and the language is my first tongue. – Cynthia Norton, former Tourism Undersecretary; President, ‎ Philippine Organization of Wellness Establishments & Resources

I never miss Christmas with my family in Toulouse, in the south of France, a region famous for good food. In true French style, we take time to prepare the best meal of the year, with the best of what the Winter Season has to offer—oysters, crabs, foie gras, slow cooked stews, ruffle, cheese, wine, chocolate, mandarins—we have it all. A good way to recharge and feel the warmth of winter in the comforts of home! – Victor Delfour, Vice President, Placement International; jetsetter

Vienna, Austria, as it celebrates Christmas in a grand way, with beautiful music! I love the Christmas markets, too, siyempre mana sa Mommy ko who loved markets. I am reminded of my Mom when I see little houses that make up a village, as she loved to collect their replicas. Of course, the snow

with mulled wine is best! – Peachy Veneracion, former Mutya Ng Pilipinas; Vice President, Carousel Productions

The Holy Land—to retrace Jesus’ journey from his birth until He fulfilled His mission. What better way to honor the Man who gave up His life to redeem mankind. Merry Christmas everyone! – Mel Liwag; former commercial/ramp model; retired bank executive and financial analyst

Hallstatt, Austria. It was a dream come true when I got to go there last September. It is a small breathtaking town by a serene lake surrounded by majestic mountains. Every sight is picture perfect and, at wintertime, with pristine snow covering the evergreens, rooftops and hills, it is the perfect setting for family holiday bonding. – Nonong “Dero” Pedero; composer, singer; life enhancement speaker

A s p e n Colorado, to experience living in a rustic country cottage and enjoy some snow sports. It would be a change from the hot weather we live in. – Helen Massab, proprietor, Chantal Fashion Jewelry; Managing Director, San Rafael Development Corp.

Sweet Christmas indulgence

Rome, with my loved ones…I did it when I was a high school senior at Marymount. The Vatican Christmas Mass was awesome. I remember seeing Pope Paul VI bless the people, a stirring uplifting experience. I missed my family but I was with the Ambassador and his family (close family friends) for the Christmas break. I remember the chilly days, roasted chestnuts, the marron glace and the delicacies. Since then, I’ve been back to Rome many times but not in December. Have a blessed Christmas! – Mav Rufino, visual artist, writer, producer For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE It was Christmas Eve at the Meat Counter and a woman was anxiously picking over the last few remaining turkeys in the hope of finding a large one. In desperation, she called over a Shop Assistant and said, “Excuse me. Do these turkeys get any bigger?” “No, Madam,” he replied, “they’re all dead.”

Celebrate... From D1

BRIGHTEN up your holidays with the sweetest gifts as The Bellevue Manila’s Pastry Corner offers its very own Christmas Goodies and Christmas Hampers the whole month of December. A fine selection of baked delights, homemade pastries and other luscious goodies will surely satisfy your sweet cravings and even serve as perfect gifts for people closest to your heart. For inquiries, call (02) 771-8181, email tbmnl@ thebellevue.com or visit www.thebellevuemanila. com. For real time updates, like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thebellevuemanila. The five-star hotel in Alabang offers a fine selection of baked goodies and other sumptuous treats perfect to give as gifts

you can see the best and most stunning views of Victoria Harbour. The WinterFest is not just a family affair, but for everyone to enjoy. Visit The Hong Kong Observation Wheel from now till Jan. 1, 2017 and immerse yourself in festivities as it transforms into a magical, enchanted winter garden, with twinkling lights, bells, garlands, candy canes and Christmas trees. During the weekends and holidays, participate in the environmental conservation-themed games and workshops at Noah’s Ark Hong Kong, the world’s only full-size replica of the biblical boat. Of course, a trip to Hong Kong is not complete without heading to the Hong Kong’s homegrown theme park. Until Jan. 2, 2017, visit Ocean Park for a magical Christmas adventure. Witness a series of jaw-dropping performances, where illusionists perform exciting stunts, disappearing acts, and an escape from a cage on fire. The stellar performances and landscapes will enthrall audiences of all ages. Known as the “happiest place on Earth,” Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) presents guests with ‘A Sparkling Christmas’ this winter. From today until Jan. 2, 2017, experience a stunning winter wonderland as lanterns are lit and snow descends in HKDL. Get your wishes granted as Santa Goofy comes to town this Christmas. Feel the magic and warmth of the festive season with these holiday events that cannot be missed. For more information, log on to www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/best.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

T’S a known fact that Hello Kitty brings joy to everyone. To the Hello Kitty fanatics who’d like to experience and share the love, happiness and friendship of the iconic Hello Kitty, check out her events happening around the metro this yuletide season.

First off is the very cute and adorable Sanrio-themed gingerbread village at SM North The Block. It’s the perfect site to take your ‘selfie’ and photos with your friends and family. The house is adorned with big candy canes, a pretzel fence topped with cone-shaped chocolates. What makes it more exciting is the vast array of Hello Kitty and Sanrio merchandise. From accessories to school supplies to clothing to toys, and even a bicycle, you’re sure to find the perfect gift in the Sanrio Gingerbread Village! If you want to have more of your Hello Kitty ﬁx, check out the Sanrio stores at SM North and SM Aura. They boast of Japan-made Sanrio items including interesting collaborations with designer

Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel spread Holiday cheers across the metro this season

A Hello Kitty Christmas brands like Tokidoki and other concept-driven merchandise. Still can’t enough of your love for Hello Kitty products? A wide selection awaits you at all SM Department stores, Toys R Us and Toy Kingdom. It’ll deﬁnitely bring out the smile on your face when you see the latest fashion collections! SM Department Store’s Character Shop has also just launched the Hello Kitty for Everyone campaign. This exclusive promo shares the meaning of your zodiac sign and it makes a perfect gift for your loved one this holiday season! Check out Hello Kitty Café at SM North Edsa The Block with its new look. Enjoy eating your doughnuts, cakes and cupcakes adorned with images of the beloved character at this nook. This café also offers a light yet impressive

menu from the main dishes like pasta and sandwiches down to character lattes, frappes, and fruit shakes. Taking after the success of this pop-up café is another branch that is soon to open at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City. This will be the ﬂagship Hello Kitty Café in the Philippines with a full on Sanrio experience offering Hello Kitty-inspired dishes and kawaii interiors. What better way to celebrate Christmas than being with your idol? This can happen when you watch Hello Kitty Live – Fashion & Friends at the Meralco Theater until Jan. 1, 2017. This is the ﬁrst musical that talks about the life of Hello Kitty and her friends Dear Daniel, My Melody, Bad Badtz-Maru, Pom Pom Purin and Mimmy. The show is a

breathtaking experience full of interactive scenes and dance numbers to the tune of pop hits by Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, Flo Rida, Charli XCX, among others. It takes you on a story of friendship, respect, talent, hard work and passion for creativity. Tickets to this phenomenal event are available at SM Tickets, Ticketnet and Ticketworld outlets. To all Hello Kitty lovers and fans, there are a lot of Hello Kitty events around town this holiday season to look forward to! Have a wonderful Hello Kitty Christmas and share the love, friendship and happiness on social media by using the hashtags: #HelloKittyXmas2016 #HelloKittyPH #HelloKittyForEveryone #HelloKittyCafePH #HelloKittyDessertBar.

Latest Korean entertainment made easy PCCW Media, a key global player in the entertainment industry in Asia, announced the launch of its video Over-the-top (OTT) service Viu in the Philippines, offering viewers in Philippines free, convenient and the fastest access to the latest authorized premium Korean content as fast as eight hours after telecast in Korea. With the top four Korean broadcasters, SBS, KBS, MBC and CJ E&M, as content partners and strongly localized content and functions, Viu is widely regarded as the preferred video platform, offering the latest popular Korean dramas, variety shows and other Asian premium content with exclusive content windowing across Asia. The Hallyu or Korean ‘wave’ has long since swept the Philippines and Viu aims to be the go service to satisfy Korean drama fans with the largest authorized Korean content library in Philippines. Viu is the FIRST service in the Philippines market, which facilitates downloading of authorized content

to smartphones and tablets for Free. Viewers can access the content on web, download shows directly to their mobile devices via Viu and viewing offline anywhere, or stream via wi-fi as well as mobile network while onthe-move. Viu’s multi-screen synchronization feature, which automatically bookmarks the progress of your viewing on different device offers viewers a seamless viewing experience as viewers move from school to screen. Premium content with English subtitles and exclusive curated content with local flavor An impressive catalogue of around 10,000 content hours with 4,000 hours of the newest simulcast Korean dramas and variety shows with English subtitling in Viu, such as the drama series Hwarang: the Poet Warrior Youth (coming soon), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, Sweet Stranger and Me, Dr. Romantic, The K2, Love In the Moonlight, W – The Two Worlds, Doctors, Descendants of The Sun; renowned

PCCW Media Group managing director Janice Lee

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, December 24, 2016

ACROSS 1 It abuts the threshold 5 Basso Simon — 10 Jealous goddess 14 Indigo plant 15 “Hasta —, amigo!” 16 Lyrid poems 17 Prefix for second 18 Synthetic fabric 19 Cold duck 20 Lumber source 22 Comic-strip queen 23 All ears 24 Swampy ground 26 Walked softly 28 Lavish 32 Bellow 33 Rope injuries 34 ER workers 35 Actor Brad — 36 Yearns 37 Quilt stuffing 38 Time to celebrate 39 Chili con — 40 Submarine outlets 41 Left (2 wds.) 43 “The Body” Ventura 44 Wildcat 45 Cause to froth

46 Bison features 49 Loud squawkers 52 Survey finding 53 Injury mementos 55 Odd notion 57 Luau welcomes 58 Reckon 59 Doc Holliday’s friend 60 Novice 61 Violet 62 Platter DOWN 1 Snowy mo. 2 Miscellanies 3 Girl in “Dracula” 4 Like a candle in the wind (2 wds.) 5 Hotel brat of fiction 6 Bad-tempered 7 Pass the word 8 I, to Caesar 9 Favorite — 10 Wolf, at times 11 Ms. McClurg 12 Budget item 13 Perplexed 21 Shed 22 Mars, to Plato 24 On-ramp sign 25 Motels of yore 26 Brahma, Vishnu

and — 27 Aleut carving 28 Rough sack 29 Face-to-face exams 30 Loosen 31 Mach 1 breakers 32 Blueprint, briefly 33 20 Mule Team cleanser 36 Turf 37 Granted 39 Coral islets 40 Diary opener

42 Border town (2 wds.) 43 Milk cow 45 Farm buildings 46 Freeze! 47 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 48 Golda of politics 49 Feeling no — 50 Far East cuisine 51 Knighted ones 53 Dip in gravy 54 Numbers pro 56 Radar-gun info

variety shows Running Man and Return of Superman; popular Kpop music programs Music Bank and Inkigayo – The Music Trend, etc; and also selected Japanese dramas. Moreover, K1 Headline, which brings the latest Korean entertainment authorized exclusively by Dispatch – the most inﬂuential entertainment news hub in Korea and curated by Viu editor, as well as Fanbites which presents interesting facts and anecdotes on Korean culture to deepen the Filipino viewers’ understanding of the programs, enhances the overall enjoyment of the content and relevance to locals. Viu sets to satisfy viewers with the burgeoning trend and popularity of K drama in Philippines Janice Lee, managing director of PCCW Media Group, said, “We are very excited with our launch in the Philippines. Recent research we conducted on online viewing of drama across multiple Asian markets has shown 77 percent of viewers surveyed in Philippines watch Korean dramas

on a regular basis. With growing affluence, increasing broadband adoption and online increasing penetration of smart phones, we see a great potential in this market where online video consumption is fast becoming a part of the daily habits for over 55 million internet users in Philippines.” The Nielsen Global Video-OnDemand Survey shows that 45 percent of online consumers in watch VOD once a day and 82 percent of online consumers said they like to catch up on multiple episodes at one time in Philippines. “Viu’s download features will fulfill their need. We are confident that our Philippines’ launch will replicate the rapid growth we have experienced in the region,” added Lee. Viu’s “freemium” model - an attractive pool of engaged and captive consumers for advertisers The Viu app can be downloaded for free at Apple Store and Google Play or viewers can visit www.viu.com to view the content online.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016

ISAH V. RED

HE truth of the matter is that mothers -although they may differ in status, race, creed, and background – are basically one and the same across all generations when it comes to their regard and love for their children.

So much so that the word “mother” is spelled the same way we spell “unconditional love.” Do you even wonder why we often consider our moms the superheroes of our lives? In their theology, the welfare and protection of their children come first. It doesn’t matter what kind of sacrifice they have to make, for as long as they can be sure that their children are safe – they have peace of mind. All will be right in their world. That’s just how moms are. Today’s modern Moms face more formidable challenges as they have to deal with juggling multiple roles in and out of the household, the workplace and the community. And they have to do them all with a mindset that is focused on their most important job of all – raising their family. How can she be more efficient in this role and still have peace of mind especially at times when she cannot be physically present at home? Some vibrantly beautiful, celebrity moms like Regine Velasquez, Isabel Oli, and Denise Laurel admit that the key lies in technology. Their battle cry is the same – worry-free parenting made possible with a lot of help from technology. Regine’s presence in the life of her son Nate is palpable even when she goes out to her taping schedules weekly or perform in concerts in some cities. Add it to the fact that her husband Ogie Alcasid keeps the same busy grind as she does, if not even busier. Somehow, PLDT HOME Fibr makes everything better for this beautiful family. The same goes with Isabel Oli who dotes on her first-born Feather by husband John Pratts. She makes excellent use of time away from Feather by being connected even she is away taping for an ABS-CBN show or doing some hosting gigs someplace. Solo mom Denise Laurel

Clockwise: PLDT Home Fibr ambassadors Denise Laurel and son Alejandro, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid with PLDT's Gary Dujali, and Isabel Oli

CELEBRITY MOMS

experience peace of mind on Christmas

Poppin Jazz celebrates the Holiday season and treats Enchanted Kingdom visitors with a concert on Dec. 28 and 29

certainly doesn’t feel guilty anymore even when she goes out to work and leaves her son, Alejandro, with his grandparents. All three share the same sentiment of gratitude to what PLDT HOME gives, a company that understands a mother’s predicament and dilemma. The technology being offered by PLDT HOME Fibr, the country’s no. 1 broadband, makes mommy life easier for them. To them, PLDT HOME Fibr is equal to a mother’s peace of mind experience. Who wouldn’t think the same? After all, it is a fact that PLDT HOME’s thrust is to really develop and pioneer products in the market that answer to the needs of the family by capitalizing on modern technology. This is where PLDT pulls away from the rest – it simply knows how to make technology work in the best interest of the family. PLDT HOME Fibr’s Peace of Mind experience offers Telpad, a tablet that allows our kids to play games that can be directly under a mother’s supervision; Smart Watch that is a gadget that can

receive messages from Mom and monitor their mobility as much as it is a toy for them; Fam Cam which allows us to see and actually hear our children even when we are not home; and the latest is the Fam Zone, it

gives parental control over sites the kids can access, among others. Christmas is just around the corner. It’s a time of giving and a time of sharing. A time of paying tribute to those who have generously blessed us with love and care like our Moms. What better way to honor our mothers than by gifting them with PLDT HOME’s Peace of Mind experience powered by Fibr. PLDT Fibr now enjoys the widest coverage as it being aggressively rolled out nationwide – including the provinces of Pampanga, Cabanatuan, Baguio, Benguet, Koronadal, among others, after achieving a record of being able to service 3,000 villages in Metro Manila. The sure plus is that it is now made more affordable with the new Plan 1899 with speeds of up to 20 Mbps. Make Christmas even merrier for our Moms. Give them the gift of PLDT HOME Fibr’s Peace of Mind experience now. *** Poppin Jazz, Emcy Corteza and Richard Merk enchant visitors at Enchanted Kingdom’s Bandside on Dec. 28 and 29. It is a rare treat for free for all Enchanted Kingdom holiday season visitors. Poppin Jazz plays in major hotels and bars while Richard Merk, Prince of Jazz, sings in hotels, bars and corporate shows. *** “Let us watch all the eight movies in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and support Philippine cinema.” That’s the consensus of those who attended the “Pandesal Forum” at the 77-year-old, artisanal Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City on Dec. 8. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Tim Orbos and Executive Committee’s Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo, 2016 MMFF Selection Committee Chairman Nic Tiongson and Krip Yuson, filmmakers and actors of Oro and Kabisera films, etc. met with media. Members of the media asked how the group behind this year’s MMFF is taking criticisms that the festival may be a big flop and most films may only last a day or two in movie houses, actress Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo said the MMFF has thought about it seriously but at the same, “We remain hopeful that the audience who, we believe, has evolved in their choice of film will patronize this year’s MMFF.” Everyone said, “We all pray for your success!” Today, the annual Parade of Stars will be held around Manila, courtesy of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. *** Today, watch the heartwarming reunion between Derk Ruano, a cancer survivor and his loving Lola in Dipolog City. Christmas celebrations in the Philippines is not without parties and Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh (GRR TNT) host Ricky Reyes had one for his Filipino Hairdressers Association (FILHAIR) colleagues and for the children at Childhaus joined by Karylle, Divine Lee and Iza Calzado. Hair problems will be solved in all Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons with the following treatments: Regold for kinky hairs, SoftWave for dull hair and natural wigs for hair loss. Pursue your passion in beauty, learn from the best and enroll at the Ricky Reyes Learning Institute (RRLI) with branches in Manila, Cubao, Anonas and Fairview. All these and more this Saturday Dec. 24, 9 to 10 a.m. with host Ricky Reyes in GRR TNT on GMA News TV.

PANDESAL FORUM. Journalist and Kamuning Bakery owner Wilson Flores talks about the MMFF lineup this year. Joining him on the panel are Dr. Nick Tiongson, Boots Anson Rodrigo, and Krip Yuson

iflix spreads holiday cheer IFLIX, the world’s leading Internet TV service for emerging markets, offering subscribers unlimited access to thousands of TV shows, movies and more, is celebrating Christmas with a Tree-rific Giveaway. Starting today, consumers can take home iflix subscriptions just by visiting iflix Christmas trees at Greenbelt 5, TriNoma, and Eastwood Mall. Participants are able to take one ornament from the tree that contains a voucher code for either 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year iflix subscriptions upon signing up or presenting details of their existing iflix account to personnel on site. Users that claim vouchers on the spot can additionally choose to receive a candy cane or have their photo taken with Santa Claus.

The campaign kicked-off with a tree lighting ceremony at The Gallery in Greenbelt 5 on Dec. 17, featuring an iflix tree with ornaments containing subscription vouchers. Guests were treated to musical performances from renowned local artists Kai Honasan, Kitchie Nadal, Aia De Leon, and Barbie Almalbis. Sherwin Dela Cruz, iflix Philippines country manager, said “It’s been a phenomenal year for iflix as more and more Filipinos join the entertainment revolution. Our Tree-rific Giveaway is a chance for us to give back and say thank you for all the support we’ve received in 2016. 2017 is going to be another great year for us as we promise to deliver more titles that Filipinos will surely love.”

Offering consumers, a vast library of top Hollywood, Asian regional, and local TV shows and movies including many first run exclusives and award-winning programs, each subscription allows users to access the service on up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and television sets, for viewing wherever, whenever. iflix subscribers can also download TV shows and movies from iflix’s extensive catalogue for offline viewing. The service is priced at only PHP 129 per month in the Philippines for unlimited access with no ads! For new subscribers, iflix offers a complimentary 1-month trial with full access to its world-class service, features and content. Go to www.iflix.com to register.

Rock chick Barbie Almalbis performing at The Gallery in Greenbelt