Manila Standard - 2017 February 23 - Thursday by Manila Standard

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 13 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

A N N I V E R S A RY

XPERIENCE•XCELLENCE•XCITEMENT

It’s official: P1-k hike in SSS pension By John Paolo Bencito THE Palace on Wednesday approved the P1,000 increase in the benefits of Social Security System (SSS) pensioners that will be incorporated starting April. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who signed the memorandum, informed SSS Chairman Amado Valdez and SSS president Emmanuel Dooc that the Malacañang approved the proposed increase in the benefits of qualified SSS pensioners and beneficiaries, retroactive from January this year. “Upon representations made by SSS, and subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations, please be informed that the one thousand peso [P1,000] increase in benefits of qualified SSS retirees, survivors, and permanently disabled pensioners effective January 2017, has been approved,” Medialdea’s memo said. In a text message to reporters, Dooc said that pensioners will be retroactively paid for the three months. The January differential of P1,000 will be given on March 3, the February differential of P1,000 to be given March 10 and the March differential of P1,000 to be given March 17. “Starting April 2017, the additional P1,000 increase shall be incorporated in the regular penNext page sion,” Dooc said.

PHOTO OP. President Rodrigo

Duterte and Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao pose Tuesday with bank employees during ADB’s 50th anniversary celebration at the bank headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

Gina: Solons bribed P50m to vote vs me

DFA sees Manila-Beijing sea-row unsettled under Duterte’s term NOT IN A LIFETIME. Foreign

Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., appearing Wednesday before the Commission on Appointments, explains why he thinks the maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea may not be resolved in his lifetime. Lino Santos

By Christine F. Herrera, Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito

HE House contingent to the powerful Commission on Appointments rebuffed Environment Secretary Regina Lopez, who was seeking an audience with the lawmakers ahead of her conﬁrmation hearing, after she accused them of accepting bribes of P50 million each to vote against her. San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, chairman of the House contingent to the bicameral body, said he canceled the courtesy call Lopez requested on Monday and decided to just see her during the CA hearing next Wednesday. “I have canceled Gina’s courtesy call on our contingent on Monday, and will just meet her in open sessions on Wednesday at her conﬁrmation hearings,” Zamora told the Manila Standard. Members of the powerful panel were aghast at the charges Lopez made in a speech to the Makati Rotary Club last Tuesday when she lashed at her critics and claimed to have received infor-

No such thing as oust plot vs govt

By John Paolo Bencito

mation that CA members were promised P50 million each if they blocked her confirmation. “My confirmation is on March 1. Let the [sword] fall where it may. I don’t care. I was told that every congressman was offered P50 million if they voted against me. I don’t know. I heard there’s a kitty out there. I don’t know. That’s people talking,” Lopez told the businessmen. “To my detractors, stop it already, I mean if you’re gonna fight, at least fight clean. These are below the belt attacks. For example, Inquirer puts headlines, which are not even true. Manila Standard puts

NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon shrugged off reports of a plot to destabilize the Duterte administration. “If ever there are [such attempts], leave it to us. We’ll monitor it. We will be on top of the situation,” said Esperon in a chance interview Tuesday during the 50th anniversary of the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong. He added that the government is ready to quell any plot if necessary. “The government has to protect the interest of the

Question of citizenship dogs Yasay By Macon Ramos-Araneta FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Wednesday the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China will not be settled during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte or “even during my lifetime.” “My position, and this is the position of the government and the

legal position, is that the disputed territory in the South China Sea has never been adjudged to be belonging to any particular country,” Yasay said during a conﬁrmation hearing by the Commission on Appointments at the Senate. He said that even after the United Nations’ Permanent Arbitral Tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, the Duterte

administration’s ofﬁcial stand is that the Philippines does not own the disputed area in the South China Sea, and neither does any other country. He said the Arbitral Tribunal did not decide on the ownership of the disputed islands. “This will have to be determined by another tribunal of competent jurisdiction,” Yasay said. Next page

THE Commission on Appointments deferred the confirmation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. due to some congressmen’s pending concerns, an official said Wednesday. “The House still has concerns,” said Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the CA committee. He said the commission will resume Yasay’s confirmation hear-

ing next week. During Yasay’s conﬁrmation hearing on Wednesday, several CA members questioned him about the reports on his US citizenship, but Yasay said that although he applied for US citizenship, his application was denied. He said he became a permanent legal resident in the US but re-

NBI execs charged in Jee killing

No Rody at Edsa fete; rival rallies set By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will skip the celebration of the 31st anniversary of Edsa People Power Revolution in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, according to a program sent to reporters on Wednesday. Instead of Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, head of the Edsa People Power Commission, will deliver the keynote speech during the event. Elsewhere, the left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabay-

an said it was not a question of whether the country would hold a simple celebration of the Edsa but whether it would stress the importance of the lessons of the past. “It is not really a question of whether a commemoration is simple or not. The point of a meaningful commemoration is to appreciate the lessons of the past and use these to guide our actions in the present, said Renato Reyes Jr., the group’s secretary general. He said the previous regime held grand celebrations but missed out on the real lessons and true heroes of Edsa.

He said the Edsa celebrations of the past focused on one family, one political color and the role of politicians and generals. “The past celebrations denied the reality that social ills remained the same 30 years after the toppling of the dictator. Previous governments were in fact notorious for suppressing people power, Reyes said. Duterte ﬂew to Davao City on Tuesday night, and he is expected to stay there until the weekend. His supporters will gather at the Rizal Park on Feb. 25 for a vigil Next page

turned to the Philippines after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. He was petitioned by his wife who is a US citizen. Yasay was also questioned on the government’s stand on the West Philippine Sea, to which he vowed that if there was an encroachment on Philippine territory, the government would “assert” Next page its claim.

By Rey E. Requejo

SUPPORT FOR WAR. Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte

launch Wednesday the ‘People’s Support on Duterte’s War Against Illegal Drugs, Corruption, Criminality and Poverty’ at Club Filipino in San Juan City, which kicked off the two-day prayer vigil to be held at the Luneta starting Saturday. Ey Acasio

THE Philippine National Police ﬁled criminal charges Wednesday against three ofﬁcials of the National Bureau of Investigation earlier implicated in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October 2016. In the complaint, the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group named as Next page

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘De Lima liable for inciting to sedition’ By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

LREADY facing imminent arrest for drug trafﬁcking cases, Senator Leila de Lima may be facing more legal woes, including a possible inciting to sedition charge following her strong statements against President Rodrigo Duterte last Tuesday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II warned that De Lima could be held criminally liable for inciting the people to rebel against the President whom she branded as a “psychopathic murderer” and “dictator” during a press conference in the Senate. “She should be careful about her statements, she was already inciting to sedition,” Aguirre said. Inciting to sedition is an offense punishable under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code committed by “any person who, without taking any direct part in the crime of sedition, should incite others to the accomplish-

ment of any of the acts which constitute sedition, by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners, or other representations tending to the same end.” It also covers “utter seditious words or speeches, write, publish, or circulate scurrilous libels against the Republic of the Philippines or any of the duly constituted authorities thereof, or which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or which tend to instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which sug-

gest or incite people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the Government.” Such crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to six years to and a fine not exceeding P2,000. Aguirre was referring to De Lima’s statements calling for the public to rise against Duterte. De Lima was quoted urging the public to speak out against crimes allegedly being committed by the President, although she did not specifically call for a people power to oust him. “Now is the time to make a stand and rise up in the face of a criminal dictator and a repressive regime,” the senator declared. “Lend your voice. Lend your voice of outrage [for] what’s happening in the country,” she pleaded. De Lima said Duterte, whom she accused of being liable for the killings of the Davao Death Squad, is “the number one criminal in the Philippines, if not the world.” The senator also called on the

Cabinet to declare Duterte incapable of keeping the top government post. “To the members of the Cabinet, you can save our country from a criminal President through declaring that because of his criminal mind, he has no capacity to perform the duties of a President,” she said. Taking the cudgel for the President, the Justice Secretary said the allegations of De Lima were “totally baseless.” “It is all rehashed and Senator De Lima knows it. She served as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights from May 7, 2008 to June 30, 2010 and as secretary of Justice from June 30, 2010 to October 12, 2015, yet she did not file any case against then Mayor Duterte on the purported killings. Even the timing is suspect, why come out only now? Is somebody diverting the public’s attention from what is to come? One cannot help but ask these questions,” he added. “As a former Secretary of Justice,

NBI...

Gina:...

From A1

new respondents former NBI deputy director for investigation services Jose “Jojo” Yap; former National Capital Region director Ricardo Diaz and former Task Force against Illegal Drugs head Roel Bolivar in a supplemental criminal complaint filed with the Justice department panel of prosecutors reinvestigating the case. The three NBI officials were implicated by Police Supt. Rafael Dumlao, the official of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group who allegedly masterminded the kidnapping of Jee. They were earlier relieved from their posts by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Also named new respondents are five employees of Gream funeral where Jee’s body was cremated--Epephany Gotera, Teodolito Macato Tarepe, Kevin Enriquez, Robert John Tobias and Bernardo Maraya. In its earlier complaint, which was already filed before the Angeles City, Pampanga regional trial court, the AKG only named Senior Police Officer 2 Ricky Sta. Isabel, Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas and Ramon Yalung as respondents along with four others with aliases “Sir Dumlao, Jerry, Ding and Pulis.” The case was initially for kidnapping for ransom with homicide. However, Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. of RTC Branch 58 ordered the reinvestigation of the case upon the plea of Sta. Isabel, who pointed to Dumlao as brains in the kidnapping. In the amended complaint, the AKG now also named Dumlao as a respondent along with Gerardo Santiago and Jerry Omlang. Santiago, the retired police officer who owns the Gream funeral parlor where Jee’s body was cremated, has applied for the witness protection program after surrendering to the NBI. Omlang, an errand boy in the NBI who also surrendered and confessed to his participation in the crime, also sought protection from the bureau. Santiago and Omlang backed the claim of Sta. Isabel that it was Dumlao who masterminded the kidnapping and killing of Jee. The new complaint also amended the charges to kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention with homicide, robbery, car theft, falsification and obstruction of justice. The DoJ panel composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Olivia Torrevillas gave the respondents until the next hearing on March 2 to submit their answers and file counter-affidavits.

It's... From A1

Starting January, an SSS pensioner will be receiving a P1,000 pension increase, but there would be a corresponding annual 1.5-percent rate hike in premiums to be implemented by May 2017 from the current 11-percent contribution rate, over a stretch of six years, until it reaches 17 percent. Valdez said that a second tranche of increases will be implemented by 2022, if the SSS gets “favorable results” following a reform of the whole pension system.

Senator De Lima should know that the real battle is in the courts. She should do the fighting there, answer all the charges against her there and present credible evidence in her defense there and not in a press conference,” he added. Solicitor General Jose Calida echoed Aguirre’s sentiments, saying that De Lima’s “latest tirades against President Duterte and the government clearly show why she is the high priestess of hypocrisy.” “She should stop acting like a vacuous victim and crybaby. My unsolicited advice to her is: face the charges with equanimity and dignity befitting a senator,” he said. Meanwhile, De Lima disclosed that Malacañang’s tried to sway the votes of senators who favored the Senate inquiry into claims of retired SPO3 Arthur Lascañas that the president ordered the killings perpetrated by the Davao Death Squad when he was Davao City mayor. De Lima said she got an information about efforts from the

From A1

things, which are not even true.

SPECIAL CARE. Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial (right, standing), along with UP-PGH Chancellor Dr. Car-

mencita Padilla (not in photo), announce the partnership of the DoH and the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health in tracking the whereabouts and possible treatment of Filipinos who are suffering from rare diseases during the 1st Philippine Rare Disease Symposium and press conference held at the Century Park Hotel Manila on Wednesday. Also in photo are some of the patients under the care of the health department under the program. Norman Cruz

No Rody...

No such...

and rock concert to counter the anti-administration rallies and in support of the President’s campaign against illegal drugs and corruption. Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing said the gathering at the Quirino Grandstand will focus on the support to the Duterte administration. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion III said Tuesday the public should understand if Duterte would not grace the event because he had a hectic schedule. “If his schedule is busy, he has a reason that he can’t attend. Many people will be attending. The executive secretary will be there,” Concepcion said. The Palace opted for a “simple and quiet” commemoration of the Edsa revolution, saying it was now time for Filipino people to “move on from just celebrating the past.” It also decided to hold the Edsa rites in Camp Aguinaldo because “that’s where it all actually began.” The opposition groups will troop to the People Power Monument on Edsa.

Filipino and it has an interest in protecting itself,” Esperon said. Esperon also dismissed the likelihood that Senator Leila de Lima—who is on the verge of arrest on drug charges—could be a rallying point against the President. “Why should a case of an individual be the convergence point? It should be nation-building,” he said. “What will they do? Stage People Power to defend one case? I don’t think Filipinos are that gullible.” The military, meanwhile, said it has not monitored any plot to overthrow the Duterte administration. “Based on our monitoring, negative,” AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said. “We have not monitored any destabilization attempt that will be done on this government of President Duterte.” Earlier, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año made the same point. “The AFP is solid and shall continue to do its mandate of protecting the people and the state. We can feel the support of the national leadership as we perform our tasks,” Año said. He added that the AFP wold stay out of politics. The views of the top security

From A1

DFA...

From A1 “The decision of the Arbitral Tribunal simply rests on the issue of whether or not the South China Sea claim is part of our exclusive economic zone, not our territory. “Even as they have ruled in our favor, this territory continues to be international waters.” Yasay’s statement came seven months after the country won the landmark arbitration case that challenged the validity of China’s sprawling territorial claims in the South China Sea as embodied in China’s 9-dash-line that was declared as invalid. The Arbitral ruling also clarified the territorial entitlements of certain Chinese-occupied features under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

From A1

But Yasay said the issue of whether Philippines or China owned islands, features and areas in the West Philippine Sea had yet to be decided. Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato quizzed Yasay on his remarks on the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling favoring the Philippines. Yasay said the Philippine government had never categorically claimed ownership over the disputed islands. “Even if the tribunal rules in our favor, this area will continue to belong to international waters,” Yasay said. Sato told Yasay she was “very troubled” by his statements on the issue. “I am very troubled by your answer, Mr. Secretary, because I want you now to declare and categorically state what is the position of the Philippine government with respect to these islands,” she said.

officers contradicted pronouncements by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who said there is “a protracted political drama aimed [at destroying] the President” and toppling his administration. In a radio interview Wednesday, Andanar said that he doesn’t care if the press does not like him, but insisted there are plots to oust the President. “The media doesn’t [sic] need to like me ... I was hired to run the office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and to satisfy the Filipino people,” the former news reader said, following a heated confrontation with a newspaper reporter whose fairness he questioned. Pressed again on the call of Senate reporters for him to substantiate his claims that they were offered $1,000 to attend a press conference or apologize, Andanar again refused to do either. “You can see and read that I never alluded to a reporter [who] received this kind of money. I was just saying that there was this amount that circulated,” he added. On Friday, supporters of Duterte from all over the country will converge at Rizal Park for a vigil and rock concert purportedly to support the President’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Question...

From A1 But he said he was not very optimistic that the sea dispute would be resolved within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte or even within his lifetime. “Personally I would hope, but we may not be able to achieve it,” Yasay said. He said the government will remain obliged to carry out an independent foreign policy to make sure it is anchored on the country’s paramount national interest. He said the government will instead pursue the other aspects to maximize the mutual benefits of both countries. Also brought up during Yasay’s confirmation hearing was the ability of the government to save migrant Filipino workers from the death row in other countries. PNA

Play the game well. If you think that what I’m doing is not right, at least tell the truth,” Lopez said in a video she posted on her Facebook page. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III was incensed by Lopez’ accusations. “She heard? She just heard and she took it already as gospel truth? What’s her motive for making it public? So that people would think the CA members got bribed when the congressmen vote against her?” Albano asked. “We definitely would want to know who wanted to bribe the congressmen with P50 million. Who are they? How about the senators? How much did they get? “Did they also bother to approach Senator Loren Legarda, a staunch environmentalist, and offered her millions? I would just love to know how Senator Legarda will react to that,” he said, adding that Lopez should have foreseen the opposition against her. “What did she expect? She ran over so many. These aggrieved parties definitely do not want her there at the DENR. [But] at the same time, those who support her advocacies are lobbying hard for her,” Albano said. Albano said Lopez “should stop acting like a prima donna and instead explain why she deserve to be a DENR secretary despite strong opposition against her confirmation by several sectors.” But other congressmen lambasted Lopez for making wild accusations against legislators when she does not even attend congressional hearings on mining-related bills pending at the House. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said resources persons in congressional hearings in aid of legislation should not just ignore invitations from Congress. “The committee should reprimand her and send a strongly worded letter to her for ignoring the [invitation] of the committee,” Barbers said. “She should be taught that she cannot ignore the invite; otherwise, the committee should cite her for contempt,” Barbers added. The committee, chaired by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, is considering 11 miningrelated bills and invited Lopez to attend, but she declined the invitation without any explanation. Lopez earlier earned the ire of lawmakers after she snubbed the hearing conducted by the House committee on ecology on the adverse environmental impact of mining. Lopez this month closed 23 mining companies and suspended five others for alleged violations of environmental laws. She later canceled 75 mining contracts with companies that she accused of damaging watersheds and causing siltation of coastal waters and farmlands. Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez earlier suggested to the committee, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, that it issue a subpoena to Lopez to compel her attendance. “Since this is not the first time the DENR secretary did not attend this committee’s hearing, there has to be a strongly worded letter from the chairperson to compel the DENR secretary to attend the next hearing and a warning for a subpoena if she fails again to attend it,” Hernandez said. Suansing’s panel moved to send another invitation compelling her to attend the next hearing on March 1, 2017.

Palace to stop Lascañas from testifying in the impending senate inquiry. She said some senators were asked to go to Malacañang immediately after the Senate caucus Tuesday night, which was suspicious. “They learned what happened and they want to remedy the situation so...I really do not know what happened,” she said. Due to the pressure being exerted by the Palace, De Lima admitted it is likely that some senators who voted for the conduct of the Senate probe might overturn their earlier decision or might abstain. “But it won’t look good to those individual senators solely changing their votes from last night [Tuesday]. And also, the Senate is an institution because we know for a fact there were some (senators) called to the Palace last night,” she said. De Lima, however, said she does not know who were summoned to Malacanang. “I was not able to confirm so I don’t want to say who are they,” she said. Suansing said Lopez, who has been under intense criticism for her decision, has already snubbed three hearings of his panel. They also vowed to grill Lopez and make her explain her reported “squandering away” of millions in public funds over environment projects that benefited her and her family owned ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., among other issues raised against her. These were multimillion projects that spanned several years under the previous administrations at the expense of the government, they said. The projects included the Sabsaban Falls Eco-tourism project in Palawan, the La Mesa Ecopark project in Quezon City and the Pasig River Rehabilitation project. Lopez herself answered the controversy on her Facebook page and maintained that her department “followed due process every step of the way.” “To the mining companies, you talk about contracts, [but] how about our contract to life? I have every right and it is my duty and obligation to review contracts in light of the common good,” she said. “That is the duty of government: To check which contracts benefit everyone, and then if we see that a contract was made that affects the community, it’s our duty and responsibility to help them.” On Wednesday, the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) said Lopez was unfit to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Expressing its opposition to her confirmation as DENR secretary, the group said Lopez willfully circumvented due process when she disregarded the findings of a technical review committee to suspend erring mining companies. “Secretary Lopez’s deep-seated bias against mining in general has compromised her ability to lead a government agency. Her personal views about mining have unfairly portrayed the mining industry as the villain and has damaged the reputation of many responsible mining companies in the country in the eyes of the general public,” the PNIA said. The nickel miners said her decision to close mining companies on her own without basis was already enough grounds to disqualify her for a Cabinet post on the grounds of gross misconduct, gave abuse of power and conduct unbecoing of a public officer. Benguet Corp Nickel Mines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Benguet Corp., said Wednesday Lopez has no legal basis in canceling its mining contract in Zambales province. In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the mining company said that the order failed to identify specific environmental violations of BNMI that would warrant cancellation of its mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the government. “As in the suspension order, we strongly object to such arbitrary actions being made without observance of due process and without basis in fact and in law,” said BNMI president Leopoldo S. Sison III. DENR’s order alleged that BNMI has impaired the function of the watershed in the area. But Sison said the company’s approved MPSA issued in 2005 states that BNMI’s contract area is located within the Zambales Chromite Mineral Reservation. “This specific mineral reservation has been excluded from government declared watersheds as proven by area clearance issued by the DENR prior to the MPSA approval. Our nickel project continues to be operated outside of any known, critical or declared watershed,” Sison said. With Anna Leah E. Gonzales

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ejercito to get Smart guarantee By Macon Araneta

PRESIDENTIAL SALUTATION. President Rodrigo Duterte and former President Fidel Ramos exchange pleasantries Tuesday while former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo beams on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank 50th anniversary at the bank headquarters in Mandalauyong City.

IN BRIEF Bill on false testimonies filed in House A MINORITY bloc in the House of Representatives filed Wednesday a bill seeking to impose a stiffer penalty for false testimonies during congressional hearings. “I filed House Bill 5112 penalizing higher penalties for perjuring themselves in Congress,” Rep. Harry Roque told a news conference. Roque said at present, the penalty for false testimony in Congress was only six months and one day. Roque said it was important for people to understand that lying while under oath had a corresponding punishment. In his explanatory note, Roque said perjuries committed during inquiries in aid of legislation “undermine the serious task of the legislature in crafting laws that address some national need.” “When false testimonies are given under oath in a congressional proceeding for some malicious or questionable political end, such contemptible acts make of the second branch of government no more than a malleable, utilitarian tool,” he said. “Where legislative acts are based on untrustworthy statements of perjured testimonies, they undermine the very heart of good and accountable government,” Roque added. Maricel V. Cruz

3 nabbed, 1 recruitment agency closed THE Labor department’s continuing campaign against illegal recruitment resulted in the arrest of three persons and padlocking of a local recruitment agency in Cebu after victimizing several job seekers wanting to work abroad, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. The three arrested were employees of Feljobs Manpower Services with ofﬁce address in Lapu-Lapu City, whose license as a private recruitment and placement agency expired last 2014, the Labor chief said. He said an entrapment operation was conducted by Labor regional 7 with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives after several applicants complained they were asked to pay placement and other fees for deployment abroad. “The DoLE has reinforced the anti-illegal recruitment campaign to look after the welfare of the OFWs and Filipinos who plan to work abroad. DoLE under the law is mandated to inspect and verify should various recruitment agencies violate laws, particularly on illegal recruitment,” Bello said. Vito Barcelo

‘SC last battleground to stop death penalty reimposition’ By Vito Barcelo and Maricel Cruz

HE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Wednesday said the last battleground to stop the reimposition of the death penalty would be the Supreme Court should Congress approve its reimposition. CBCP Commission on Prison Pastoral Care Executive Secretary Rodolfo Diamante said anti-death penalty advocates would not give up easily if the controversial measure would be passed into law. “We will go to the Supreme Court. We will exhaust all these legal means available because we believe that it [its reimposition] is unconstitutional. It is cruel. It is inhumane,” Diamante said. In a related development: • House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo

Fariñas said there might be no execution under the Duterte administration once the House of Representatives passed the death penalty bill, adding the execution of the ﬁrst convict might not take place in the next four years because of long court proceedings. The CBCP and advocates are now conducting studies to build a strong case against the capital punishment. Diamante said they were considering at least two options on how to challenge the death penalty before SC—either

through death-row convicts or through lawmakers who ratified the country’s international treaty obligation against it. Diamante said filing the objection against the reimposition of death penalty through lawmakers might be more practical since they could easily invoke the violation of the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “The argument could be possible since the country has already signed the treaty, a senator can easily claim that he/she is affected since he/she was among those that ratified it. Therefore, they can file a case before the SC,” Diamante said. On the other hand, anti-death penalty advocates can also wait for the “test case” involving a death row convict. “So that the case won’t be dismissed, there has to be a victim. In that sense, we can do it when a person convicted

DoT eyes tours of Blessed Justo sites By Sandy Araneta THE Department of Tourism will launch a new travel initiative to tap into the Japan niche market following the recent beatiﬁcation of a Japanese martyr who died in exile in 1615 in the Philippines, the agency said on Wednesday. The life story of Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon has stirred a growing interest, particularly in the places he stayed in before he succumbed to illness in a Jesuit dormitory in Intramuros, Manila, said DoT Secretary Wanda Teo. “I can’t help seeing this noble opportunity to deepen and strengthen friendship between Filipinos and the Japanese with this very inspiring development,” said Teo, whose mother is of Jap-

anese descent. Blessed Justo was known as Takayama, a feudal lord who chose to give up his wealth, embraced Christianity and suffered persecution. After a year-long sea voyage, he and his family reached Manila in 1615 but died of illness 40 days later under the care of the Jesuits in Manila. Also referred to as Justus “the Japanese Servant of God,” Takayama was beatiﬁed and proclaimed “Blessed” last Feb. 7 by Cardinal Angelo Amato on behalf of Pope Francis in Osaka, Takayama’s birthplace. Teo directed DoT Undersecretary Falconi Millar to oversee the familiarization tour program intended for Japanese tourists, who wish to pay homage to Blessed Justo in the Philippines.

LEGAL LUMINARIES. Atty. Christian Monsod, a member of the Aquino-appointed 1986 Constitutional Commission and former Comelec chairman, and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. are among top legal minds invited as resource persons Wednesday at the 2nd Senate hearing on the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution. Lino Santos

and penalized with death penalty files a case to the SC and say it is unconstitutional,” Diamante said. Aside from the high court, he revealed that another plan was to bring the issue to the international community since the Philippines signed the ICCPR. “We are seeking the opinion of the international community. The Philippines cannot simply withdraw unilaterally. It has repercussions. And the international community is very active in making pronouncements,” he added. In the House, Fariñas said the death penalty bill was among the priority measures of President Rodrigo Duterte. He said if the bill were enacted, it would not have a retroactive effect. “...because the President has about ﬁve years and four months left, so just think how long the gestation period of a death penalty case is. It will really take time,” Fariñas said.

SENATOR JV Ejercito said he would get the commitment of telecommunications giant Smart Communications to improve and upgrade its services for the next ﬁve to 10 years. The senator, vice chairman of the Public Services Committee, said the extension of Smart’s franchise could have been easily renewed for another 25 years if there were no issues involving its services to the public. “It’s okay to immediately give them (their franchise), but we have subscribers and consumers who have many issues about being short changed. I am also a subscriber who has many dropped calls..internet has no connection and then, for a time, I also used prepaid. After loading P500, it will suddenly be lost,” related Ejercito. While Filipinos are the heaviest users, the senator noted it was not an excuse for Smart not to give the proper service. He said if there were more than enough subscribers or Smart was already overloaded, it should stop issuing subscriptioms. “We are all being shortchanged with what we pay. Think of it, if we are affected, how much more the kasambahays and laborers who invest their hard-earned money to buy cellphone load?” said Ejercito. “It’s their only way to unwind and to communicate with their loved ones. And what do they get in return? Load overcharging, poor signal, and slow internet,” added Ejercito, principal author of the Kasambahay Law. He noted it was also high time Filipinos put a stop on the duopoly of Smart and Globe in the telecommunications industry. “We should let in a third player to encourage competition and to avoid possible collusion in expensive cellphone services.” Ejercito said it was the legislators’ duty to voice out these complaints by millions of subscribers. “Otherwise, if we just approve Smart’s franchise without raising these issues, we will continue to avail [ourselves of] poor services,” he said.

Recto recoils resolution proposing amendments By Macon Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Ralph Recto withdrew his resolution Wednesday proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution, saying he does not want to be a part of doing it for political reasons like federalism which he believes would do more harm than good. “I know the purpose today is more political. So I don’t want to be a part of that, that’s why I withdrew my resolution,” said Recto as he withdrew Joint Resolution No. 2 which sought amendments to economic and certain social provisions in the Constitution. Recto said “we know that the position of the President’s party is to amend it [Constitution] for political purposes, particularly Federalism.” “And I think that will do more harm than good. It would be additional bureaucracy, taxes and red tape, and if we’re growing by 7-10 percent today, 7 percent real growth, 10 percent nominally, by doing that, we might destroy the economy,” Recto added. He warned that turning the Philippines into a federal republic would be destructive to the existing state of affairs. In the hearing of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, Recto made a manifestation withdrawing his resolution. “I withdraw the resolution that

I ﬁled,” said the Senate minority leader who insisted he was only after economic changes, if at all. But since that is not the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies, Recto said he withdrew his proposal. Duterte and his allies, including including Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, have been pushing towards shifting the system of government to federalism that would separate the country’s regions into separate states. Asked if he totally objected to the adoption of federalism, a legislative priority of the President, Recto gave an afﬁrmative response. He believes this can be done better by just amending the Local Government Code. Pressed further on the economic provisions he wants amended, Recto said at this point, he is not proposing any amendments to the Constitution. While authoritarian tendencies of the President like calling for Martial Law is a possibility in charter change, Recto said he had not heard this from the President. “So it has nothing to do with that—so far. What I’m hearing is that they are really pushing for Federalism and I think that will be very harmful to the country,” he said. Drilon said Recto’s withdrawal was a vote against the adoption of the resolution calling either for a constitutional convention or constitutional assembly. But he does not know if it would be a decisive vote.

Opinion

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

For change’s sake

HE Edsa People Power revolution will be commemorated this Saturday, with varying degrees of fervor and fondness. At best, however, it is a glaring reminder that all our high hopes eventually amount to nothing without follow through.

Thirty-one years ago, people were overwhelmed with a sense of new beginnings. A sad and conflicting chapter of the nation’s history has just end-

ed and Filipinos looked forward to a period of change. Soon after, though, it dawned on us that the change appeared nominal. Only names and faces changed—old habits and systems continued, leading to frustration. The same pattern occurred with every change in administration. Every regime begins with high hopes, but soon enough people get disillusioned, real change did not seem to be happening, and people resorted to wishing they could begin again, soon. This latest administration is no exception, even as it might be noisier about

bringing about change than its predecessors. Make no mistake about it: Edsa is an event that has taught us many valuable lessons. The most important among these is our propensity to glorify change in itself, without giving adequate thought as to how lasting change will be brought about. Transitions can cause euphoria, but without deliberation, careful implementation and consistency, it fails. Many things would be an apt theme for this weekend’s commemoration. Jubilation is not one of them. OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ

A disaster waiting to happen

handle personnel, especially those from Luzon, often find themselves sent to the South which is considered a hardship assignment. It used to be that problematic police personnel were simply sent for retraining. Two months of training to improve their physical conditions usually would do wonders. This, as well as cleaning the Pasig River, was apparently considered for the 300 policemen. In the end, however, the President decided to send them to Basilan to fight the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups. If they survive for two years, then they could come back to Luzon. But problems have already started even before the process could begin. Many of those presented to the President in Malacañang were replaced by people who were not there. There are also allegations

CLIMATE change imposes increasingly difficult challenges every year. We suffer stronger and more frequent typhoons, cyclones, tsunamis, long dry spells, single-digit temperatures in mountainous regions, among others. The geographical region of the Philippines renders the country especially vulnerable to storms, cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic activity. These two non-modifiable factors emphasize our government’s readiness, adaptability, and resilience to calamities. Quezon was one of the affected provinces during the onslaught of Typhoon Nina last December. Thirty percent of the coconut trees—approximately 350,000 trees—in four municipalities in Quezon, were damaged. To this day, there is no response from the government. No efforts were made to facilitate the replanting of trees which are a source of livelihood for the locals. What saddens me is that this should not be a problem. The funds are there—it is the implementation of the programs and the structure of protocols that are flawed. In a statement to the Manila Standard, Former President Ramos expressed his disappointment on the lack of action by this administration on other issues such as poverty, climate change, terrorism, and provision of basic services. I am of the same view. I reiterate my call to the government to shift its focus on other equally important issues such as the current ineffective response to calamities and disasters. Given the unpredictability of when calamities will strike, and with only a guesstimated intensity, the government must enhance and strengthen its preparedness strategies. The government must also have a realistic, feasible and immediately implementable post-calamity assistance program. During a meeting with the representatives from different government agencies post-Nina, I

Turn to A5

Not a good idea DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA TWO issues involving our uniformed services have been the subject of much discussion by old foggies like me from the service. Everyone agrees that both are not good ideas. These concern the organization of a special AFP unit to help in the anti-drug war and the transfer of about 300 PNP personnel with various administrative cases to Basilan to fight terrorists. Both were upon the direct orders of President Duterte. To be fair, this is not the first time that military personnel would be involved in law enforcement and problematic police personnel being transferred to Mindanao. But this is the first time that both were

done with so much media coverage. I am sure that the public remembers the old PC Metrocom. When it was first organized, many of the personnel were from the military. Its first commander was in fact an army general. Gradually, however, all those coming from the army and other services returned to their mother units leaving only the constabulary personnel to compose the Metrocom. If I read the President correctly, this move by him stems from his frustration with the turn of events in his anti-drug war. He is probably looking for more disciplined units unexposed to the temptation of big money that comes from the drug trade. AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said that a battalion size unit—between 300 and 800 men—will be organized to assist in the anti-drug war. The focus will be intelli-

gence, big names in the drug trade and the destruction of illegal drug laboratories. But as experience has taught us, there are problems with involving the military in law enforcement duties.

There are problems with giving the military law-enforcement duties. First among these is training. The military is not trained in law enforcement. Police work involves the collection of intelligence, investigation, case filing and court appearances. This is something the military is not familiar with.

There is also a big difference between so-called police intelligence and military intelligence. Police intelligence must stand scrutiny in court. Another reason is that with all our problems in the South, this unit could better be used in the insurgency campaign and other threat groups in Mindanao. If we want a disciplined unit that is not yet exposed to big-time corruption, perhaps our leaders could consider detaching one battalion from the PNP SAF to assist in the drug war. Although the SAF is the fighting unit of the PNP in the insurgency campaign, at least they are trained in police work and could adjust more quickly to regular police work than an army or marine battalion. *** The practice of transferring problematic PNP personnel to Mindanao is nothing new. It has happened before. Hard-to-

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Dump Lopez THIRTY-ONE years ago, when she argues that mining the People Power revolution causes harmful effects on the happened. The Reform the environment, and that local Armed Forces Movement communities do not receive broke away from the Mar- the economic benefits and cos government. They stayed fair return for hosting minfirst at Camp Aquino and lat- ing concerns. er on at Camp Crame. ThenBut she does not care. She PC/INP Chief Fidel Ramos can afford to push her advojoined Defense Secretary cacy because she was born Juan Ponce Enrile and Col. rich. Gregorio Honasan. Santa Banana, employThree days later, the ers have aired their concern strongman President Fer- that what Lopez – who was dinand Marcos went on a once a drug addict commitself-exile with the help of ted to DARE Foundation, but the Americans to Honolulu, escaped and later on became Hawaii. That prompted the a member of Ananda Marga, installation of the housewife an Indian meditation cult – is of the late Senator Ninoy doing could worsen poverty. Aquino as the next president. Lopez said she could not The rest is history. care less if she is not be conSo what did the 1986 Peo- firmed as DENR secretary. ple Power Revolution achieve Of course. She doesn’t need for the nation? Poverty and the job. joblessness still stalk the Now she complains that land. The gap between the members of the Commission rich and the poor seems to on Appointments have been grow wider. Do we now en- offered P50 million apiece so joy the freedoms denied us in they would not confirm her. the past? Have our lives beI am sure lawmakers will come better at all? not take this sitting down. This is why I have been While she did not name pessimistic about the subject names, her allegations cast of celebrations. a cloud over Congress as a The idea is to move on and whole. let not those who would reThe commission should mind us of the dark pages of also inquire into her alleged our history get the better of misuse of funds, both private us. and public, and her conflict *** of interest. The Lopez-owned W h e n pipeline President spanning Duterte apBatangas poi nted to Manila Gina Lopez leaked, Appointing as secrem a k i ng her was President tary of Ena condov i r o n m e n t Duterte’s biggest minium and Natural mistake. building in Re s ou r c e s , Makati unI said to inhabitable. myself, the She is not President is doing anymaking his thing about biggest mistake. it, though. I am not surprised. Lopez used to say that if If the President really she had her way she would wants change, he should not have mining at all in make Lopez resign since she Southeast Asia, particularly seems to be the biggest stumin the Philippines. bling block in efforts to solve And that’s exactly what poverty and joblessness. she did by ordering the cloMister President, listen sure of 23 mining firms and to Finance Secretary Carlos suspending five more. More Dominguez and other memrecently, she cancelled 75 bers of the Cabinet, who see Mineral Production Sharing Lopez more as a problem Agreements in the pursuit than as a solution. of her “green economy” and *** eco-tourism. Alleged threats and demoDoes she not realize she is lition jobs seem to be the duty-bound to observe due concern of people around process and the rule of law? the President these days. The financial losses to lo- But while National Secucal governments and national rity Adviser Hermogenes economy cannot be under- Esperon says there are no estimated. The exact figure specific threats, presidential of P821.15 million is even spokesman Ernesto Abella higher than the one estimat- and Communications Secreed earlier at P800 million by tary Martin Andanar so easthe Department of Finance. ily point to attempts to oust What is particularly alarm- President Duterte. ing in the DoF financial data Abella and Andanar now was that all three municipali- point to destabilization plots ties stand to lose all their op- against the President by the erating incomes. “Yellowtards” of former These losses don’t include President Aquino. real estate taxes, local busiIndeed these two have beness taxes, mayor’s permit come the President’s worst fees, regulatory and admin- enemies. istrative fees and a lot more. *** The local governments are Every so often, we read also entitled to a share—all contrasting claims of ABSthese alone will amount to CBN and GMA-7 on televiP481.17 million. sion ratings leadership. The Lopez network, ABSThe Lopez-owned network CBN, tried to justify the ac- uses Kantar Media while tions of Lopez, but stopped GMA 7 uses Nielsen figures. short when it could no longer I’d rather believe in GMA gloss over what Lopez did to 7. Nielsen is more widely local governments and the used and hence more crednational economy. My gulay, ible. some 1.2-million jobs will be This is aside from the fact lost! that ABS-CBN is often used The heiress Lopez patron- to advocate the interests of izes the poor and the jobless vested groups.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

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‘Sumbong’ as intelligence report FOLKS all over the world think that the situation in the White House is becoming increasingly unscrewed from reality—but the Americans weren’t the first to gain that distinction. Several highly placed denizens of the White House have been noted to have a supernatural talent for obfuscation. Consultant to the President Kellyanne Conway gave the world “alternative facts,” spokesperson Sean Spicer erroneously claimed an overflow crowd for President Trump’s inauguration, and Trump recently referred to an imaginary immigration-related incident in Sweden. But what those people may not know is that we were way ahead of them on that front. It’s more punk in the Philippines! Just recently Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar raised eyebrows when he recently referred to a destabilization plot to overthrow the government. He also alleged that US$1,000 in payola was given to certain Senate reporters in exchange for publicizing the claims of SPO3 Arthur Lascañas about the existence of

the Davao Death Squad. The group of Senate reporters issued a strongly-worded statement that denied Andanar’s payola allegations, even as Andanar himself could provide no concrete proof of such. Likewise, his claim that there is a “protracted political drama aimed to destroy the President and topple his administration” was gainsaid by the military. Col. Edgard Arevalo, public affairs office chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, responded, “Based on our monitoring, negative. We have not monitored any destabilization attempt that will be done on this government of President Duterte.” Andanar said he was told by a source that a “monetary” offer was made to some reporters, but after the backlash he admitted “mayroong nagsumbong”—literally “someone told on…” or “tattled.” So this is the new state of the intelligence report—unsubstantiated claims that could likely be fabricated? Andanar was, not too long ago, a member of the media community himself, and should be aware of journalism ethics. To accuse some reporters of wrongdoing on the basis of unverified gossip is unfair and irresponsible. The White House occupants at least make up their own spins, whether on purpose or not. But we’re way ahead of

them—our Palace spox listens to other people’s careless whispers and accepts them as truth. Any employee will tell you that among the bosses from hell are those who manage based on “bulong-bulong” (whisper-whisper). In that sort of environment, the sycophants and backbiters triumph, the “maninira” (literally, “those who destroy”) prevail, and truth becomes optional. It’s difficult to trust just anybody and any new administration will have to grope its careful way along, weeding the no-gooders from the do-gooders. But chismis (gossip) is not reliable and at best will only show smoke, not the fire. But as Trump supporters have shown, facts aren’t enough to change our minds and reason only goes so far. Mercier and Sperber’s The Enigma of Reason says that this is a result of human evolution, which rewards cooperation that enables humans to live in collaborative groups. The current environment of information overload and the need to quickly discern between true versus fake news is just too overwhelming for some. “This is one of the many cases in which the environment changed too quickly for natural selection to catch up,” the two researchers said. This gives the advantage to the shrewd and savvy manipulators and those who have per-

sonal agendas to grind. Andanar, in keeping with the high responsibility of his office, should have fact-checked any information that came his way rather than swallowing them whole and regurgitating hook, line, and sinker. Though he later claimed that, as a Visayan, his unfamiliarity with Tagalog led to a “misunderstanding” with the reporters, this is “palusot”—an attempt to slip through—and we know it, and it is all the more galling because we’re being played for fools. As I understand the function of a spokesperson, they are supposed to convey official statements in behalf of the President to the media and be able to answer questions that arise from that communication. But Andanar’s track record reflects that he goes off the rails, blames the media for negative write-ups (shades of Trump), and in general seemingly fails to live up to the high standards expected of someone in his position. Andanar is too much like Sean Spicer to be of benefit to the Palace. His main claim to fame is that he was on the scene first. Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

North Korea offers an opportunity for China and the US By Junheng Li NORTH Korea’s test of a ballistic missile on Feb. 11 and the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un, in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13, are a reminder of two uncomfortable facts. First, the leader of North Korea, who ordered the murder of his uncle and possibly that of his half-brother, is capable of anything to safeguard his rule. Second, North Korea is rapidly approaching the point where it will be able to use ballistic missiles with nuclear payloads. South Korea is already at risk, and Japan soon will be, too. Intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking Australia and the West Coast of the US with a nuclear payload are unlikely to be more than a few years away. The range of countries to which North Korea’s growing nuclear warfare capabilities poses an existential threat is growing steadily. China, even if it isn’t a direct target, has much to fear. Political chaos

A disaster... From A4 observed bureaucratic red tape which result in delays. Bureaucratic red tape is unacceptable in an emergency situation. I also believe that the response protocols and program implementation are inadequate and non-responsive. Our LGUs should expect full cooperation from government agencies such as the DPWH

Not... From A4 that senior PNP officers intervened to remove their proteges from the list and replaced them with new names. Consequently, only 53 out of the 300 who reported to Villamor Air Base will be transported to Zamboanga City. The obvious step here is to declare those who did not report as Absent Without Official Leave or AWOL then drop them from the PNP roster. We do not know really if some will still report to Basilan but my guess is that they will try to apply all the avail-

and further economic collapse along with a large-scale famine could send many of North Korea’s 25 million citizens fleeing over the northern border. The economic cost and the political risks associated with a large inflow of refugees would pose a serious challenge to the Chinese authorities. China has wanted economic changes in North Korea along the lines of the market reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979. It considers such reforms necessary to prevent an economic collapse. Kim Jong Nam was a proponent of such an evolution. He lived, under Chinese protection, in Macao. China also fears a reunification of the two Koreas that would take the form of an effective takeover of the North by the South. Strategically and politically China does not want South Korean and US troops on its border. Having the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, an anti-ballistic missile defense offered by the US to South Korea, deployed at its border with a newly unified Korea would be interpreted

as a public slap in the face by China’s rulers. There is some hope, however, that the steady progress toward nuclear warfare capability achieved by North Korea and the abandonment of any hope for the economic reforms necessary to prevent an economic collapse could create strategic common ground between China and the US In response to the latest test-firing, China announced it would suspend North Korean coal imports to China, starting Feb. 19, for the rest of the year. Unlike earlier bans imposed by China, this one includes coal already “in transit.” Coal represents about one-third of North Korea’s total exports and almost all of these exports (which account for around $1 billion of total gross domestic product of about $17 billion) go to China. Much still divides the US and China. The disputed islands in the South China Sea, the disagreements about trade and possible currency manipulation, and the likely growing disagreements about Chinese foreign direct investment in

the US and US FDI in China are not going away. But North Korea poses an existential threat to both countries (as well as to South Korea and Japan). A deal is possible between China and the US (and its allies in the region) that would materially reduce the threat. The US would have to make concessions. Giving in on THAAD would be easier if elections in South Korea were to produce a more left-leaning government. If and when the US and China adopt a common approach to North Korea, the risk of other disputes flaring up diminishes. At first glance, there is no direct connection between progress in limiting the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and easing other confrontations between the two largest economies in the world (such as trade and labeling China as a currency manipulator). But politics is a seamless web: Progress anywhere makes progress everywhere more likely. So the bad news about North Korea may turn out not to be so bad after all. Bloomberg

and DSWD to act and respond days before any typhoon or calamity strikes. Before Camarines Sur was battered by Typhoon Nina, the LGU of Quezon Province has coordinated already with the DSWD in ensuring the adequacy of supplies in anticipation of flooding and evacuation. Other LGUs and government agencies should follow this example. Aside from that, post-calamity rehabilitation in infrastructure,

agriculture, and community livelihood should also be implemented as soon as possible to facilitate immediate resumption of the people to their normal lives. Heads of government agencies could learn from Japan. Japan is equally prone to typhoons and earthquakes as it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire but it has set the standard and became the leader in disaster preparedness and urban resilience. Just last year, the story of a sinkhole

getting fixed in Japan within 48 hours was all over the news. We should aim to be at par with such efficiency. We are close to summer, the hottest months. Time is of the essence here. With urgency, we should investigate the government agencies concerned to determine if their policies permit the release of necessary assistance to prepare, protect and rehabilitate any part of country after a natural calamity.

able tricks in the book to wiggle their way out of their predicament. But that will be terrible a waste of resources. Even those who reported will immediately apply for leave and spend as much time out of Basilan. Could there have been a better way to handle the problem? The President said that the Basilan assignment is probably the best of the worst choices. Investigating them then firing them will just release 300 potential criminals on our streets which will just make the crime situation worse. But this is assuming that all of them are guilty. Even if all of them are fired, it is doubtful if

all of them will become criminals. If they do, 300 really is not such a big number in the overall scheme of things. And since they are all known to the Police, it will be easier to look for them and arrest them. With what has happened, it is hard to see them becoming productive members of the Basilan PNP provincial office. Maybe as a guide for future administrations, what will happen to those 53 who reported and the more than 200 who did not should be tracked to determine whether this kind of approach to solving such a problem is good or not. The general

sentiment of those I talked to in the handling is that both could have been handled differently. But maybe the President has something in mind that we do not know about. After all, he has had a long experience of handling similar problems not only as a mayor but as a clever politician.

LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES Mr. Robles’ column will resume tomorrow.

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF SC absolves Villa-Ignacio THE Supreme Court absolved former Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio in the estafa case against him before the Sandiganbayan. In a decision, the SC ordered the dismissal of the case against Villa-Ignacio, a former official of Office of the Ombudsman, in connection with the alleged anomaly in the use of charity funds meant for victims of Typhoon “Milenyo” in 2004. The tribunal ruled held that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion for failure to follow their own rules, which provide that the chairman and vice chairman of the Internal Affairs Board shall be automatically disqualified from acting on any proceeding if he belongs to the same component as any of the parties to the case. The high court also scolded the anti-graft body for changing the rule in the middle of the proceedings. The case stemmed from the complaint by an assistant special prosecutor who contributed P26,000 in a 2004 charity drive for victims of Typhoon “Milenyo” through Gawad Kalinga. The complainant accused Villa-Ignacio of using the money for a different purpose, particularly for construction of water pipes in areas damaged by “Milenyo.” Rey E. Requejo

Bautista told to resign after second Comeleak By Sandy Araneta

OLL watchdog Kontra Daya on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista over another voters’ information theft in Lanao del Sur last January. Kontra Daya convenor professor Danilo Arao said Bautista apparently failed to learn lessons from “the worst recorded breach on a government-held personal database in the world” last March when the data of voters were exfiltrated from the Come-

lec. The incident has come to be known as “Comeleak.” “This means only one thing: The Comelec itself needs a ‘reboot’,” Arao said. “The Comelec’s fresh start should be in the form of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista’s resignation

after he has miserably failed to provide the necessary means to protect voters’ data.” As if the first Comeleak was not bad enough, another data theft incident happened in Wao town in Lanao del Sur last January when unidentified people stole a computer that contained a copy of the national voters’ list. “Comelec officials admitted that it took two weeks to submit a report regarding what happened at Wao, using as an excuse the need not to disrupt the ongoing voter registration for the Oct. 23, 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan

Elections,” said Arao. “We find this hard to believe, but at the same time not surprising given that the 2016 [Comeleak] was initially reported by TrendMicro as early as April 6 but it was publicly confirmed by Comelec only 15 days after,” said Arao. “Indeed, the Wao break-in highlights anew the brazen incompetence of the Comelec leadership and it is high time that Bautista resign,” said Arao. “This is the second breach involving the Comelec voter registration database” in a span of less than a year, said NPC Com-

LTO radio ID project junked

‘Guards can’t direct traffic’ ACTING chairman Thomas Orbos of the Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday appealed to security personnel in the commercial and residential districts in the metropolis to stop controlling traffic on streets in favor of their tenants and customers. Orbos made the appeal following numerous complaints from motorists that many security personnel of business establishments are wantonly taking over the traffic chores of MMDA and its deputized traffic personnel to favor their clients and tenants. This, according to MMDA chief, has resulted to traffic snarls and bottlenecks in nearby streets. Orbos said only those deputized by the agency can direct traffic in their respective areas especially if this would affect traffic flow on major routes. He stressed that security personnel should refrain from stopping traffic to allow their tenants or clients to enter or leave the establishments. “Except in emergency cases, only deputized traffic personnel of the MMDA have the authority or right to manage and control the direction of traffic,” he explained. Joel E. Zurbano

Noted lensman mounts exhibit PHOTOJOURNALIST Sonny Camarillo, past president of the Press Photographers of the Philippines and The Camera Club of the Philippines, will hold a photo exhibit titled “Edsa 1986 Before & Beyond Dapat Na Ba Ito Kalimutan” to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Edsa People Power revolt. The photo exhibit, presented by Ayala Land Inc., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Camerahaus, will be shown at the UP Town Center from Feb. 22 to March 7. The first part will show the rise of Ferdinand Marcos to the presidency, his vision for a new society, the distribution of wealth and a larger middle-class Filipino families. The photo exhibit, which is also sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the Fil-Estate Management Corp., JRS Express, Balikbayan Handicrafts and CWC Corp. will showcase the making of the 1986 Edsa People Power revolt. Also likewise included were the administrations of Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte. Camarillo has been presenting these exhibits since 1987. Camarillo said he was inspired by comments from viewers to continue showing his “magnificent awesome photographs” and continue presenting our history like what the students of FEU Institute of Technology said.

missioner Raymund Liboro. The Comelec confirmed that a copy of the national voters’ list was on the computer stolen in Wao last January. Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino Jr. said the National List of Registered Voters contains the demographics data of nearly 76 million active and deactivated voters as of October 2016, but not their biometrics data. Only the biometrics data of voters in Wao are on the stolen computer, where the municipality’s Voter Registration System is stored, he said.

By Rey E. Requejo

CIVIL SOCIETY FOR EQUALITY. Civil society leaders from across Asia gathered at a strategy meeting in Quezon City to discuss a global campaign against inequality. Ey Acasio

Govt reforms to benefit 4.7m taxpayers SOME 4.66 million taxpayers, or more than double the current figure of 1.8 million, will no longer have to pay personal income taxes upon the passage of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program. Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the Department of Finance-endorsed tax reform bill now pending in the Congress will exempt 83 percent of individual taxpayers from the PIT, including 1.8 million minimum-wage workers who are already paying zero income tax, and close to another three million earners with a net taxable income of P250,000 and below. He said House Bill No. 4774, which represents Package One of the CTRP, also provides for revenue-enhancing measures to offset the revenue erosion from the lower PIT rates. HB 4774 was authored by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the House ways and means committee. “These revenue-enhancing measures primarily targets rich consumers and taxpayers so the government can still raise enough money for its unprecedented massive pub-

lic investment program under the Duterte administration,” Chua said. Chua said those earning between the above-minimum wage rate and P22,000 a month will pay zero tax under HB 4774. The first P82,000 in the 13th month pay and other bonuses will be exempted from the PIT computation. He said a call center agent who earns P21,000 a month with a gross income of P273,000 inclusive of the 13th month pay and other benefits, will still fall under the zero-tax bracket. This will save him or her almost P22,000 in foregone income tax payments because under the current system, the call center agent, even with two dependents, would still have to pay P21,867 in income tax because of an outdated tax structure in which his or her net taxable income of P136,834 would still be taxed P8,500 plus 20 percent in excess of P70,000. Chua noted that HB 4774 aims to correct this form of “income creeping” through the adoption of a simplified and fairer system where the call center agent’s declared deductions

and exemptions of P36,166 – inclusive of the 13th month pay and mandatory contributions – will be deducted from the gross income of P273,000. This will yield for this type of taxpayer a net taxable income of P236,834, which still falls under the zero-tax bracket, Chua said. “Thus, under the tax reform bill, the call center agent’s take home pay will effectively increase by P21,867 annually because he would no longer have to pay this amount of income tax under the current system,” Chua said. Public school tutors classified as Teacher I and II are also covered by the zero-tax bracket. A Teacher II who earns P20,651 monthly or a gross income of P299,114 a year inclusive of benefits, will be taxed P18,011 under the current system. But under the proposed tax reform plan, a Teacher II will already be PIT-exempt, which means he or she gets to take home P18,011 more per year or an additional P1,500 a month. An above-minimum wage earner with a monthly pay of P15,000 will get to take home at least P7,200

more with tax reform, because of his or her PIT-exempt status. Chua said even middle-class taxpayers will benefit from tax reform by way of substantially lower PIT rates. A government employee with Salary Grade 24, or one earning P56,610 a month, will have to pay P137,981 in PIT. But under HB 4774, the tax will be substantially reduced to only P90,141, effectively increasing the take-home pay to P47,840 a year or an addition of almost P4,000 a month. HB 4774, Chua said, will shift the tax burden to rich taxpayers. For instance, a high-income earner who is paid P877,500 a month shells out P4,048,456 in PIT under the current system. Under HB 4774, this PIT will increase to P4,200,186 or by P152,730. Chua pointed out though, that taxing the ultra-rich through their income is not enough because they comprise only less than 1 percent of the country’s individual taxpayers, based on BIR data. Those with a net taxable income of over P80,000 comprise only 3 percent of the individual taxpayer base. PNA

THE Supreme Court nullified the Radio Frequency Identification Project Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the government with Stradcom Corp. in 2009 without public bidding. The RFID project of the Land Transportation Office entails an additional charge of P350 for every motor vehicle. In a decision written by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the SC granted the petitions filed by Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglungsod, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide and Automobile Association of the Philippines seeking to declare the project unconstitutional. The tribunal also ordered a refund of the RFID fees collected during the project’s implementation prior to the Court’s issuance of a status quo ante order last Jan. 12, 2010, which enjoined its enforcement. Court records showed that the LTO had already generated P29,894,200 in RFID fees during its implementation. “The RFID fees collected during the implementation of the RFID Project prior to the issuance of this Court’s status quo ante Order are likewise ordered refunded to the payors thereof,” the tribunal declared. Under the RFID project, all vehicles would be required to install stickers containing a microchip that stores vehicle information. It is an automatic identification technology whereby digital data encoded in an RFID tag or “smart label” are captured by a reader using radio waves. For a one-time fee of P350, the LTO had planned to install the RFID tags on some 4,760,593 vehicles, which is expected to raise P1.6 billion in revenues. The RFID tag, which is intended to last for 10 years, will be procured from Stradcom Corp.

1,208 drug users yield in Malita By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

THROWBACK EXHIBIT. Photographer Sonny Camarillo with former President Fidel V. Ramos

MALITA, Davao Occidental —The 1,208 drug personalities surrendered to the authorities here on Wednesday after the local government campaign to turn Davao Occidental into a drug- free province. Gov. Claude Bautista gave a warning to those drug personalities under the list of the Malita Municipal Police Station who have yet to surrender to the authorities. Authorities have a total list of 1,335 drug personalities under 30 barangays in Malita, 127 of them have yet to submit themselves to the authorities. Bautista said that he intends to make his province drug-free come March this year and threatened those who refused to surrender against the full force of the law.

“I am undertaking this personally. I know almost all of them,” he said. “If they refuse to surrender and they will be my only problem here “buhay-buhay lang yan.” The governor said if drug personalities resist arrest, “your birthday will be changed to Nov. 2.” Bautista explained he is taking the drug problem in his province seriously to help the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte, who asked him to help in the government’s war against narcotics. Since last week, the authorities have been conducting drug tests on known drug personalities of the different towns of Davao Occidental. The provincial government launched the campaign in Sta. Maria where thousands of drug personalities submitted themselves for testing.

Bautista said that those who will submit themselves will have the chance to clear their names and live a normal life after it. “If they will surrender, they will have the chance to clean their names but if we update them and they still test positive, we will apply the law,” he said. He added that erring barangay officials who were under the drug list of the PNP also underwent through the surprise drug test. Malita Vice Mayor Joseph Bautista said that they will be providing livelihood assistance to drug personalities to encourage them not to return to their illegal activities. “We can help them through livelihood assistance and we will give our full support to the projects and campaign of the provincial and national government,” he said.

Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Tio, 2 others share kiteboarding honors CHRISTIAN Tio and Doque delos Santos soared to their third straight victories while Bibiana Magaji of Slovakia pulled off a twin title feat in the ICTSI Philippine Kitaboarding Tour Season 4’s third leg in Boracay last weekend. Tio, a Red Bull rider, came out of the double elims virtually unscathed then nipped Jaka Komocar of Slovenia in a thrilling finale to rule the men’s Freestyle for the third straight time after topping the elite field in Cuyo, Palawan and Bantayan, Cebu. Frenchman Lazare Gournay placed third while Ukraine’s Michael Khromykh wound up fourth in the penultimate leg of the fourleg circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association marked by thrilling finishes and kite tangles. Spanish rider Julia Castro took the women’s Freestyle crown over Magaji with Mariska Wildenberg of the Netherlands and Filipina Mary Jane Gajisan taking the next two spots in

NBA Legend Erving “Magic” Johnson hugs Stephen Curry of the Western Conference before the NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2017 NBA All Star Weekend at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Johnson is now the Lakers’ president of basketball operations. AFP

Brotherhood Basketball Cup begins on Feb. 25 BROTHERHOOD Basketball League, the newest amateur commercial basketball tournament in Metro Manila, will open its Passion and Expert Division on Feb. 25 at the Trinity Gym of the Trinity University of Asia in Quezon City. Billed as ‘BBL-WCA Travel Cup,’ the tournament organized by businessman/sports patron BBL chairman Erick Kirong of Macway and supported by Engr. Joven Diaz, CEO of World Cruisers Adventure Travel Tours, will be contested by known amateur/ commercial teams in Metro Manila. Multi-titled teams joining are Hobe Atlanta, Bear Cats, Coco Life, Ninja, Breezy Brothers, Goto Pilipinas, MPD Bongking, GSIS and EARIST. The Expert Division will have teams R. Lapids, Ninja, Hobe, Atlanta, Earist, Primus Woldpack and Kjeds competing. Kirong said big cash prizes, elegant trophies and champion shirts are at stake in the pre-summer basketball league that that will have a winner-take-all championship in both divisions. Tournament format is a one-round robin, wherein four teams will advance to the crossover semifinals. The top two teams will then collide in the winner-take-all finals according to league commissioner Rommel Divino. Team managers, players, coaches and assistants are advised to wear complete uniforms for the colorful parade of team muses during the opening ceremonies.

the event which drew 60 competitors from various countries. Delos Santos likewise made it three-in-row in the men’s Twin Tip Racing, beating Julius Non with Ken Nacor, Popeye Li and Ronel Mateo placing third, fourth and fifth, respectively. But the day also belonged to Magaji, the world Hangtime champion who nailed the women’s plum with 5.57 seconds on air, nipping Wildenberg with 5.47 seconds. Simone Bartmann had 4.04 seconds for third while Castro ended up fourth with four seconds and Kathrin Borgwardt of Germany had 3.41 seconds for fifth. The talented Slovak rider also bagged the Twin Tip Racing title, upending Borgwardt, Wildenberg, Castro and Gajisan in the event sponsored by Cabrinha Philippines, Greenyard Boracay and Air Juan Aviation with Solar Sports, Strong Media Advertising Solutions and My Life On Board as media partners.

Magic takes charge in LA L

OS ANGELES —Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to ﬁve NBA titles in the 1980s, was on Tuesday named president of basketball operations for the struggling NBA squad.

Lakers president and part-owner Jeanie Buss also announced the firing of general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss, Jeanie’s brother and son of former owner Jerry Buss, who died in 2013. “Today I took a series of actions I believe will return the Lakers to the heights Dr. Jerry Buss demanded and our fans rightly expect,” Jeanie Buss said. “Effective immediately,

Earvin Johnson will be in charge of all basketball operations and will report directly to me. “Our search for a new general manager to work with Earvin and coach Luke Walton is well underway and we hope to announce a new general manager in short order. Together, Earvin, Luke and our new general manager will establish the foundation for the next generation of

Los Angeles Lakers greatness.” Hall of Famer Johnson, 57, was part of the fabled “Showtime” lineup alongside Kareem AbdulJabbar, the NBA all-time scoring leader. “Magic” was part of Lakers championship squads in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 before retiring in 1991 after being diagnosed with the HIV virus. The Lakers returned to greatness behind superstar guard Kobe Bryant with five NBA crowns from 2000-2010 but have fallen on hard times since. “It’s a dream come true to return to the Lakers as president of basketball operations,” Johnson said. “Since 1979, I’ve been a part of the Laker Nation and I’m pas-

sionate about this organization.” At 19-39 this season, the Lakers have the third-worst record in the NBA, ahead only of conference doormats Brooklyn and Phoenix. “I will do everything I can to build a winning culture on and off the court,” Johnson said. “We have a great coach in Luke Walton and good young players. We will work tirelessly to return our Los Angeles Lakers to NBA champions.” Jeanie Buss said she acted so the organization would unite behind one vision and plan for improvement going forward. “I took these actions today to achieve one goal. Everyone associated with the Lakers will now be pulling in the same direction, the

direction established by Earvin and myself,” she said. “We are determined to get back to competing to win NBA championships again.” Kupchak, 62, had been controlling general manager of the Lakers since 2000. He won NBA crowns with the Lakers playing alongside Johnson in 1982 and 1985 as well as with Washington in 1978. Jeanie Buss said that she and her brother shared the same desire in seeing the team prosper once more. “Jim loves the Lakers. Although he will no longer be responsible for basketball personnel decisions, he is an owner of this team and we share the same goal: returning the Lakers to the level of greatness our father demanded,” she said. AFP

Badminton bets endorsed to Universiade Sacapano eyes By Graham C. Lim FOUR badminton athletes—two males and two females —have been endorsed by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines to take part in the 29th Summer Universiade to be held in Taipei City from Aug. 19 to 30 this year. This came about following the completion of the 5th National

Students Badminton Championship recently at the Valencia Badminton Sports Center. Endorsed by the FESSAP Board to compete in the Taipei Universiade are National University’s Alem Palmares and De La Salle-Lipa’s Mac Lawrence Marfat in the male category and Loverly Dezelle Magallano of the Lyceum University of the Philippines) and Christine

Garin of Adamson University from the distaff side. The complete results of the 5th National Students Badminton Championship are as follows: Men’s Final Standings: Champion Alem Palmares (National University); 1st Runner Up Mac Lawrence Marfa (De La SalleLipa); 2nd Runner Up Jerome Pechera (Adamson University);

The top ﬁnishers in the 5th National Students Badminton Championship are shown with tournament director JC Clarito and members of the Organizing Committee.

4th Adriean Rigonan (College of Saint Benilde); 5th Josh Defensor (University of Santo Tomas); 6th Leo Jeff Prince Orsolino (Letran College-Manila); 7th Alex Climaco (Lyceum University of the Philippines); and 8th Jhonel Rebito (San Sebastian College-Recoletos) In the women’s side, the winners are Champion Loverly Dezelle Magallano (Lyceum University of the Philippines); 1st Runner Up Christine Garin (Adamson University); 2nd Runner Up Gielyn Ochoa (College of Saint Benilde); 4th Joy Tubongbanua (Lyceum); 5th Jona Mae Juanillo (De La Salle-Lipa); 6th Kat Canon (Mapua Institute of Technology); 7th Samantha Citron (De La Salle-Lipa); 8th Denisse Estrella (Mapua Institute of Technology) The members of the FESSAP Organizing Committee that supervised the Universiade-qualifying tryouts were Robert Milton Calo, JC Clarito, Cecil Sarmiento, Annie Rodas, Dolores Uy Chan, Fructuso Raytos, Kert Bryan Ocampo, and Reymundo Nillama.

Economist Villegas proves love for ‘the beautiful game’ By Jimbo Gulle ONE of the Philippines’ leading economists, Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas, is an avid fan of soccer football, and now has a book to prove his love for “the beautiful game.” Villegas recently launched his “first venture in sports book writing” about the sport he fell in love with while teaching in Spain—an inevitability considering he lived in a house overlooking the storied Camp Nou, home of European powerhouse FC Barcelona. The economist collaborated with several local scribes to produce “Philippine Football: Its Past, Its Future,” which also dovetails with Villegas’ goal to drum up support for the launch of the professional Philippine Football League next month. “I came up with the book so that readers could have a clearer picture of the strengths and weaknesses of how football developed in the Philippines, with the goal of promoting the sport in the country,” said Villegas, who chaired

the Philippine Football Federation’s Task Force that laid the groundwork for the coming local soccer pro league. Of course, for the Harvard alumnus there’s an economic angle to promoting football in a country still obsessed with basketball and with a growing appetite for women’s volleyball and mixed martial arts. “I also wanted to show that, through a combination of a large, young population, the efforts of the Azkals, more affordable transportation, and the growth of firms that could capitalize on sports promotion, a national football league can become a sustainable enterprise,” Villegas said. Published by the University of Asia and the Pacific’s Center for Research and Communication, of which Villegas is currently Director for Research, “Philippine Football” is now available for P650 at Fully Booked outlets nationwide. It can also be ordered from the CRC though Rio Quiza, Administrative Assistant for Publications, at rioangela.quiza@uap.asia.

It took over three years from planning to printing to produce the 232-page book, said editor Alberto Ramirez, one of seven people who collaborated with Villegas. They received support from the PFF and PRU Life UK. “The process of writing the book was a big challenge,” said Ramirez, noting the scarcity of material about Philippine football even with Google and modern technology available. “Quite simply, writing the book was not a simple, much less easy job.” But “Philippine Football” is more than worth the time of the true-blue footy fan, said PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Jr. “I would recommend the book to football players, officials, stakeholders, and anyone who loves football— especially children and the youth, who will be the next generation of futsal and football players,” he said. Indeed, football is one of Villegas’ passions apart from economics and the academe, dating to his time as a goalkeeper for his De La Salle high school teams, and the book is his tribute to the sport.

tennis rebound AVERILLE Sacapano tries to bounce back from twin setbacks in Iloilo as she banners the girls’ field in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Dumalag leg regional tennis tournament unfolding Friday at the Dumalag Tennis Club in Capiz. Sacapano, 16, fell short against La Carlota’s Tracy Llamas in last week’s fifth leg of the nationwide circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger but the rising Aklan star is out for a sweep of the 16- and 18-and-under titles against the likes of Kiana de Asis, Avril Suace and Claire Clavaton in the Group 2 tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp. Over 200 entries from Negros, Panay Island and nearby cities are vying for top honors and ranking points in various classes in the event hosted by Mayor Amado Eriberto Castro Jr. with Suace, Abigail Sacapano, Ann Cocoy, Dana Castro, Wella Fullo, Louchelle Estember and Sophia Gazo leading the cast in the 14and 12-U categories. “Drawing this huge participation only inspires us to continue providing these youngsters a series of ranking tournaments and we thank the local government, especially the host city, for ensuring the successful staging of this particular leg,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. Matthew Flores, Alfrancis Andrade, Justine Alba and Jon Jimenea loom as the players to watch in the boys’ premier 18-U side with Jimenea also competing in the 16-U side led by Drixcyn Guillano, Nikhel Nowlakha and Chrysler Gazo. Nowlakha and Guillano, along with Angelo Mejia and Marben Mosqueda lead the chase in the 14-U group while Clyde Feca, Lester Astromenada, Jeff Jimenez and Derrick Guillano are expected to mix it up in the 12-U division.

LOTTO RESULTS

Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas

“Besides encouraging the growth of football, I also wish to encourage Filipino children (through the book) to have a passion for the ‘beautiful game,’ so that hopefully we would get to the World Cup before the 21st century is over,” Villegas said.

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Sports

Centennial III reigns at Boracay Regatta Cup

Ginebra coach Tim Cone (left) and San Miguel Beer mentor Leo Austria are shown with the PBA Philppine Cup championship trophy which their wards will dispute in the coming PBA bestof-seven ﬁnals starting Friday.

Ginebra Gin Kings live up to never-say-die mantra

quarterfinals which they did before bumping into Star in the semifinals. The Hotshots took a 3-2 lead GAINST all odds. and were on the verge of getting Following the injuries and inconsistencies a finals berth, but the Gin Kings, staying true to their never-sayand do-or-die games all tournament long, die mantra, refused to go down Barangay Ginebra still managed to make its way as they took the series’ last two games to once again defy the odds to the ﬁnals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball and make the finals. Association Philippine Cup. Inspired by the presence of living legend Robert Jaworski, who The Gin Kings are no strangers ship in eight years. jumpstarted the team’s spirit and to this path as they took almost As the No. 7 seed, Ginebra first tradition, Ginebra was able to take a similar one last conference on needed to overcome a twice-to-win Game 7, 89-76, Wednesday night their way to their first champion- disadvantage against Alaska in the to set up a much-anticipated finale

By Jeric Lopez

against longtime rival and defending champion San Miguel Beer, a team it eliminated last Governors’ Cup in the semis. Ginebra coach Tim Cone described how tough the road was for Ginebra to get to the finals. “It was really tough for us. It really took a total team effort to get to this point,” said Cone. “Our guys just did a good job of pushing and pushing and battling and battling.” Cone is now shooting for his 20th league championship as a coach in his 31st finals appearance.

Luisita opens 2-shot lead at PAL Interclub

2-rider fight at Ronda PH NAVY-STANDARD Insurance’s Jan Paul Morales and Rudy Roque will go into the final three stages of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 as the last two riders with realistic chance of going home with this year’s title. Morales, 31, has been leading the way with an aggregate time of 37 hours, 25 minutes and 56 seconds after 11 stages while Roque, 25, is just about two minutes behind with a total clocking of 37:28:11. And both agree the 40-km Stage 12 Individual Time Trial in Guimaras on March 2 will be a deciding factor in their two-man showdown. “We have agreed weeks before that whoever among us from Navy who still leads after the Stage 12 ITT in Guimaras will be the rider we will support to win the title,” said Morales in Filipino. “If it’s still me, I would be happy. If it’s not, it will also be okay as long the winner is a Navy teammate,” he added. Roque, for his part, feels little pressure since a second-place finish will be an accomplishment in itself considering that his best performance in this annual race was ninth overall in the inaugural edition six years ago. “It’s my dream to win Ronda Pilipinas, but being second isn’t that bad,” said Roque, who hails from Tipo, Bataan. Roque made his move by ruling the Calamba-Antipolo Stage 11 Tuesday that saw him cutting his four-minute deficit to just two behind Morales. Roque, who ruled the opening stage in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to lead in the first seven stages before relinquishing it to Morales in Stage 8, could have snatched the lead had Morales failed to wind up at second in the same stage.

Now, they are facing a golden opportunity to win a second straight championship in their 23rd finals’ appearance in franchise history. Like they’re used to, the odds are stacked against Ginebra again in the best-of-seven finals as it is facing the favored Beermen, who are in full force unlike the Gin Kings, who are still playing sans star center Greg Slaughter and injured Joe Devance. Game 1 of the series starts tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

BORACAY—Subic Bay to Boracay Race winner Centennial III, skippered by sail master Judes Echauz, again defeated Hong Kong’s Jelik manned by Frank Pong in the first race of IRC Racing Class I of the 8th Standard Insurance Boracay Cup Regatta 2017 in this pristine island paradise. Powerhouse Centennial III, a TP 52 Davidson, won in race one on Tuesday morning with a corrected time of 4:14:57 in the four-day regatta, a combination of point-topoint and windward/leeward courses, which is part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix season. Centennial III, with an all Filipino-crew, arrived in this pristine white beach resort with 11:33:14, nosing out Jelik with 11:50: 02 or a difference of 16: 48 in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race last Sunday. Pong’s Jelik, a Reichel/Pugh 75, placed second with a corrected time of 4:18:16, receiving line honors in day one of the annual regatta grand prix sanctioned by the Philippine Sailing Association and fully backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Watercraft Venture Corp., Seawind Boracay Resort, the Lighthouse Marina Resort and Subic Sailing Club. Coming in third was Great Britain’s Antipode’s, captained by Geoff Hill with 4:19:51, followed by Karakoa, skippered by veteran Filipino sailor Ray Ordoveza, in 4: 26: 55. “Today, we had an exciting 28-nautical mile race around Carabao Island through Tablas Strait in Romblon and back to Boracay Island with winds blowing 20 knots from the North East,” said Jun Avecilla, chairman of the organizing committee. For the IRC Racing Class II, Steve Manning and Anthony Root’s Black Baza grabbed first place, followed by Martin Tanco and Ronald Tanco’s Centennial II for 2nd place and Bobby Benares’ Sabad for third place. For the Cruising Class, Michael Brinkers’ Bella Uno emerged first place and Xiong Ting’s Mermaid placed second. The Boracay Regatta Cup also offers precious points for the coveted Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards.

Archie Mondilla of Del Monte watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the ﬁrst round of the 70th PAL Seniors Interclub golf team championships at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

Mighty Sports’ hopes snuffed out by Lebanon The gallant effort of DUBAI—The semis Games Today Kiefer Ravena to help hopes of Mighty (Al Ahli Indoor Stadium) turn the team’s forSpor ts-Philippines 5 p.m. – Sale vs Egypt was snuffed out late 7 p.m. – Sagese vs Homenetmen tunes around proved Tuesday after absorb- 9 p.m. – Mighty Sports vs Ball costly as he injured his Above All shooting hand during a ing yet another disapmad scramble for the pointing 100-93 loss to Homenetmen of Lebanon, 100-93, loose ball early in the fourth. Ravena will definitely miss the in the 28th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al Ahli team’s last two games. The team played catch up once again Indoor Stadium here. Not even the vintage performances and fell behind by 16 points midway in of Gary David and two-time PBA the third, but rallied in the fourth and MVP Willie Miller were enough to eventually closed the gap at 96-92 on lift Mighty Sports as it suffered its four straight charities by David after he fourth straight defeat to kiss their was fouled by the durable Lebanese star semis bid goodbye in the toughest Fadi El-Khatib, while going for a three with still 50 ticks left. cage event in the Gulf region.

DAVAO CITY—Fifteen-time champion Luisita Golf Club got a big lift from two new recruits to take a slim two-point lead over Del Monte Golf Club at the start of the 31stPhilippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships. Rodel Mangulabnan made an auspicious seniors’ debut for Luisita with 50 points, one of only three players who scored in the fifties at the Apo Golf and Country Club. Mangulabnan, who just turned 55, made two birdies against six bogeys. Chito Laureta, another fresh addition, added 48 and Jingy Tuason chipped in 47 as Luisita pooled 145 points. Allan Alegre did not count with 45 points. “We kind of expected to lead, but we didn’t expect the high scores,” said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova, noting that players were allowed to lift and clean their balls. Del Monte, made up of former pros and caddies, emerged as a serious con-

tender, scoring 143 points behind Archie Mondilla’s 50 points. Mondilla is the father of pro Clyde Mondilla. The Bukidnon-based squad also drew 48 points from last year’s individual champion Virgilio Adag and 45 from Ernesto Apas. Romeo Bautista failed to count with 39. A huge disappointment was defending champion Canlubang which skidded to fourth place with 124, 21 points behind Luisita. Eagle Ridge, getting 51 points from Korean Tong Wha Lee, took third spot with 131. Other scorers were Koreans Jie Sik Oh (41) and Seong Song (39). Despite the heavy deficit, Canlubang skipper Tony OIives is not about to throw in the towel. “There are plenty of golf to be played, but we need to start reducing the leadtomorrow at Rancho Palos Verdes,” said Olives.

Solaire PH Open hikes pot to $.4M THE 2017 Solaire Philippine Open, in cooperation with Meralco and PLDT, has increased its prize fund to $400,000 with the two firms coming in as the new backers of Asia’s oldest National Open, which reels off March 2 at The Country Club in Laguna. The new total purse has easily ranked the upcoming blue-ribbon event among the richest and biggest, drawing the leading Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour stars and other international players along with the cream of the local pro crop. Organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa has guaranteed top-notch competition from among the elite

cast, headed by former champions Mardan Mamat of Singapore and Marcus Both of Australia, and former Filipino champions Angelo Que (2008), Miguel Tabuena (2015) and Frankie Minoza (1988 and 2007). Ventosa said the winner will earn as much as $70,000 or a whopping P3.5 million. “The support that the Philippine Open has generated from the local corporations has been tremendous. It is through sponsorship that this great event can become bigger and better in the years to come,” said Ventosa. Solaire Resort and Casino is coming in as the new title sponsor of the fabled event while Meralco and PLDT have been regular sup-

porters of local golf with the PLDT Group a long-time sponsor of the amateur circuit. The $400,000 championship is $100,000 more than the minimum prize fund of Asian Tour events. Though the 72-hole championship, which used to be the kickoff leg of the AT, won’t be part of the region’s premier circuit this year, the PGTI has lured a stellar cast with the likes of Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, Canadian Richard Lee, Pachara Khongwatmai, Jazz Janewattananon, Panuphol Pittayarat and Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand and Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, among the Top 25 in the early AT Order of Merit ranking, joining the title hunt.

Bill to exempt 4.66m Filipinos from taxes B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

2 European ﬁrms cancel projects By Othel V. Campos

WO European companies canceled their plans to invest and expand operations in the Philippines amid the policy uncertainty caused by President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the European Union. European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Florian Gottein said the two investors were among the European companies now looking elsewhere to build their projects. “One company now is redirecting investments to Vietnam. They were thinking of doubling their

investments here. Another company has put on hold their investments,” Gottein said in a brieﬁng to announce the Asean-EU Business Summit in March 2017. Gottein said the projects of the two companies would have generated 4,000 to 5,000 new jobs in the information technol-

ogy and manufacturing sectors. He said the series of statements of President Duterte directed against the EU had affected the business plans of European companies. Duterte earlier cursed at the EU, along with the US and the United Nations for criticizing his bloody campaign against illegal drugs. Gottein said ECCP was now trying to work closely with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and other members of the government’s economic team to discuss the concerns of European businessmen and how to align the interests of both parties. Gottein said the EU’s initia-

tives catered to the overarching goal of inclusiveness and the 10-point agenda. EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said trade and investment relations between Asean and the EU reached 208 billion euros in 2016. EU imports from Asean doubled since 2009 and EU-Asean trade in services in 2015 amounted to 79.6 billion euros, or three times the ﬁgure a decade ago. EU was the largest source of foreign direct investment in Asean with 23.3 billion euros in 2015, up 57 percent from 2014. The 2017 Asean-EU Business Summit will be held on March 19 at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

While European companies were wary in the Philippines, several Japanese firms in real estate, agriculture, healthcare and medical equipment expressed interests to do business in the Philippines to take advantage of its robust economy. Security Bank Corp. president and chief executive Alfonso Salcedo said in a news briefing in Makati City the first joint business matching fair conducted with Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. resulted in 200 meetings between the two banks’ Japanese, Philippine and Southeast Asian corporate clients.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing February 22, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,304.45 21.77

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

45.00 46.50 48.00

P50.230 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.200 LOW P50.280 AVERAGE P50.240 VOLUME 355.300M

P471.00-P690.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.80-P48.90 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P33.80 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene

First Philec Inc., a unit of the Lopez Group, opens a new facility in Tanauan, Batangas that manufactures transformers using mainly a highefﬁciency material for its core, called amorphous metal. This is an alloy that performs better than the commonly used silicon cores. Shown during the inauguration of the facility are (from left) First Philec president Ariel Ong, First Philec chairman Federico Lopez, Lopez Group chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Trade undersecretary Rowel Barba and Export Marketing Bureau director Senen Perlada.

First Philec opens new plant in Batangas

P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, February 22, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3050

Japan

Yen

0.008803

0.4428

Pound

1.247300

62.7454

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128849

6.4817

Switzerland

Franc

0.991572

49.8810

Canada

Dollar

0.761093

38.2868

Singapore

Dollar

0.704275

35.4286

Australia

Dollar

0.768100

38.6393

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

133.4350 13.4147

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

Brunei

Dollar

0.701804

35.3043

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028550

1.4362

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6966

Euro

1.054700

53.0567

Korea

Won

0.000876

0.0441

China

Yuan

0.145328

7.3107

India

Rupee

0.014934

0.7513

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224442

11.2906

New Zealand

Dollar

0.716400

36.0385

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032551

1.6375 Source: PDS Bridge

Motorcycle group eyes 1.9-m unit sales

THE motorcycle sector asked the government to audit the compliance of motorcycle participants in the Motorcycle Development Program amid the projection of higher sales in 2017. The program grants registered firms zero tariff on imported motorcycle units. Motor Development Program Participants Association president Armando Reyes said the industry aimed to boost sales in 2017 to 1.9 million units from 1.14 million units. The association, consisting of motorcycle manufacturers Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kymco, breached the 1 million sales mark for the first time in 2016 with a 34 percent year-on-year sales growth. “Audit is a major advocacy of the group after their petition three years ago to the Board of Investments, which administers the program, did not yield results,” he said. Motorcycle assemblers are given 1 percent tariff for completely knockeddown imports and five percent for those importing completely built-up units. CBU imports from China come in at 20-percent tariff, while units from India are slapped with 20 percent to 22 percent tariff. To be able to enjoy the preferential import tariff, companies must invest $2 million for parts manufacturing. “We just want to have fair level playing field. This is our advocacy to have a fair level playing because if some complies with the requirements then they are entitled to get the incentives,” said association vice-president Alfredo Lejano Jr. Othel V. Campos

PAL expects 15m passengers in 2017

Closing FEBRUARY 22, 2017

49.50

IN BRIEF

FIRST Philec Inc., Southeast Asia’s largest manufacturer of high-efficiency transformers, opened Wednesday a new facility in Tanauan, Batangas. The new plant manufactures transformers using mainly a high-efficiency material for its core, called amorphous metal. This is an alloy that performs better than the commonly used silicon cores. First Philec president Ariel Ong said transformers made from amorphous alloy could perform better than counterparts made from traditional silicon metals. “Distribution transformer inefficiencies accounts for about two percent losses of the total generated energy. Here in our

country, we have 80,000 units already installed and we estimate that the use of 100 percent amorphous transformers in the whole network can reduce the losses between 0.3 to 0.5 percent, which is about P2 billion annually in wasted energy. More importantly, this can save up to 200,000 tons of CO2e [carbon dioxide equivalent] per year for the Philippines or ﬁve million tons of greenhouse gas reduced over the life of the transformers,” said Ong. First Philec’s new plant caters to the needs of distribution utilities, rural electric cooperatives and establishments in the property, commercial and industrial sector. Once operating at full capac-

ity, the plant will manufacture transformers at a rate of 24,000 units per year and provide employment for at least 500 workers. First Philec is expected to dominate the industry given the rated capacity of the plant as industry pioneer and leading maker of distribution transformers in the region. The company is a subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings Corp., a listed holding company of the Lopez family with interests in power generation, manufacturing, real estate, construction and energy services. The plant will also help create direct and indirect employment of up to 4,000 people, inclusive of local parts suppliers and third-

party service providers. With nearly ﬁve decades of experience, First Philec provides more than half of the country’s demand in transformer solutions satisfying the needs of the progressive distribution utilities and electric cooperatives, as well as commercial, industrial and real estate businesses of all sizes, including malls and factories. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency was committed to pursue competitive, job generating and inclusive industries, wherein the Philippines has comparative advantage and should be known for. “The Trade Department shares your passion on nation-building,” he said. Othel V. Campos

S&P sees inﬂation, interest rate rising By Julito G. Rada

WESTERN UNION SUB-AGENT. Direct Agent 5 Inc., one of the leading Western Union agents in

the Philippines, signs up Villarica Pawnshop as a sub-agent. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (seated, from left) DA5 president Raymond Babst, Villarica Pawnshop president and general manager Henry Villarica, Villarica Pawnshop vice president for legal affairs Hailey Lynne Villarica-Ong and DA5 vice president for business development Edward Estacion. With them are (standing, from left) DA5 vice president for business solutions Christopher Sarabia and Western Union country director Jeffrey Navarro.

CREDIT watcher S&P Global Ratings said Wednesday Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may begin raising interest rates in the months ahead in the face of higher inflation rate. “Inflation is likely to rise significantly this year, and we expect the BSP to begin raising interest rates in response,” S&P said. It said the strong gross domestic product growth would continue to be driven by solid consumption and investment. The robust growth and rising commodity prices were pushing up inflation from less than 2 percent last year. “New taxes on petrol and luxury goods are also generating further inflation expectations, but given the low starting point, it is not a big concern,” it said. S&P said inflation rate this year was expected to average 2.9 percent and accelerate further to 3.6 percent in 2018. Inflation in 2016 averaged 1.8 percent, below the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. Headline inflation in January increased to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent in December 2016. The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, kept the benchmark interest rates steady on its first meeting for the year on Feb. 9, given the manageable inflation environment and strong economic growth prospects.

PHILIPPINE Airlines said it expects a “good” outlook this year with passenger traffic seen growing by double digit. PAL president and chief executive Jaime Bautista said the airline aimed to carry 15 million domestic and international passengers this year, up from 13.5 million passengers last year. “The demand will continue to grow, especially in the Philippines. The [economic] growth rate is around 6.7 percent [and] that means Filipinos will have the purchasing power to travel, so we are looking at more traveling―even domestic, regional and international,” Bautista said. “So, it’s a good outlook. Because of competition, there’s a lot of challenges [such as] congestion in airport, considering we have practically one runway in Manila [and] our ability to grow is limited,” he said. PAL earlier transferred some of its domestic and international flights to Clark to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Bautista earlier said the airline expected to close a deal with a new strategic investor this year . “We are looking at finalizing a deal with a strategic investor, hopefully this year. It takes time for a strategic investor to finalize their decisions. There’s negotiations, you have to agree on the valuations and you have to agree on the management,” Bautista said. Darwin G. Amojelar

ERC eyes options on retail row By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission and the Energy Department are exploring legal options in the wake of the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order against mandatory retail competition and open access which was supposed to start Feb. 26. “We will continue to explore all legal options available to us. We hold ﬁrmly to our position that the reforms are good for the country,” ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said. A mandatory open access requires power users with an average monthly demand of one megawatt and above to choose their own power supplier. Open access is mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. “We keep our hope that the high court would also see the wisdom and merit of our position in these reforms,” Salazar. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the TRO would push back the implementation of open access. The case stemmed from the petition ﬁled by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, San Beda College Alabang Inc., Ateneo de Manila University and Riverbank Development Corp. The ERC and the Energy Department agreed late last year to implement the mandatory retail competition and open access to power users with a demand of one megawatt on Feb. 26.

Business

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; Puregold, Cemex up S

Puregold replaces Emperador in PSEi By Jenniffer B. Austria RETAILER Puregold Price Club Inc. will replace liquor producer Emperador Inc. in the composition of the 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index next month. PSE said the change was a part of a biannual recomposition of the benchmark index being conducted by the local bourse. The latest recomposition, which will take effect March 13, is based on the results of the index review covering trading activities from January to December 2016. PSE said several changes would also be seen in the composition of sectoral indices. It said for the the ﬁnancial index, no new company would be added but AG Finance Inc. would be removed from the list. Five companies will be dropped from the industrial index, includ-

ing Concepcion Industrial Corp., Del Monte Paciﬁc Limited, Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines, Swift Foods Inc. and Splash Corp., while two companies― Holcim Philippines Inc. and Vitarich Corp.--will be included. For the holding ﬁrms index, Filinvest Development Corp. will replace Unioil Resources & Holdings Company Inc. Two companies will join the property index namely, Araneta Properties Inc. and Primex Corp., while Suntrust Home Developers Inc. will be removed. Apollo Global Capital Inc. will no longer be a part of the services index while changes in the mining and oil index will include the addition of Apex Mining Company Inc. and the removal of The Philodrill Corp. and Trans-Asia Petroleum Corp.

TOCKS rose for a third day, as Asian markets followed a rally in the US, lifted by rising oil prices and strong eurozone economic data.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 21 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,304.45, as all six sectoral indices advanced. The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 7 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,411.71, on a value turnover of P7.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 101 to 88, while 52 issues

were unchanged. Ten of the 20 most active issues ended in the green, led by cement producer Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. which climbed 3.9 percent to P9.80 and retailer Puregold Price Club Inc. which went up 3.6 percent to P46. Property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 3.4 percent to P37.60. Meanwhile, the MSCI Asia

Paciﬁc index climbed to the highest level since July 2015, with Chinese shares traded in Hong Kong resuming a rally. The dollar slipped against the yen early in the Asia trading day as Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said policy makers don’t want to surprise the market on interest rates. Oil extended gains above $54 a barrel. Australian debt held declines after the government’s biggest-ever bond sale. Global equities are trading at the highest levels ever even as money managers are grappling with political uncertainty as the Fed prepares to

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.43 157,000 48.4 9,800 94.2 1,142,550 4.21 2,000 115.8 1,720,040 1.35 117,000 40.95 286,300 9.99 200 16.18 1,100 20.1 176,500 8.2 6,300 1.61 143,000 0.69 3,727,000 79.85 1,159,140 0.75 3,989,000 14.3 16,700 25.5 41,000 59.35 7,350 243.6 1,580 116 490 90 20 39.7 268,600 207.4 1,275,390 1,727 150 78.95 88,570 1.24 1,000

531,150 473,620 108,425,376.50 8,420 197,211,540 153,340 11,579,510 1,998 17,740 3,532,506 50,689 230,530 2,587,100 92,345,050.50 3,091,930 238,648 1,040,000 437,988.50 383,498 56,840 1,800 10,671,280 265,671,964 266,960 6,989,356.50 1,240

-9,420 459,100 46,289,472 -39,415,245 4,892,760 2,370,809 36,777,358 -393,404 132,792 -6,902,595 -196,175,510 196,200 1,515,202 -

43 5.1 0.86 1.4 19 0.265 9.5 16.18 191.5 22.95 14.82 60 91.55 99 2.15 6.1 11.8 12.8 7.85 6.85 5.87 1.68 21.6 73.6 12.78 17.02 6.6 1.7 201.8 6.8 3.61 30.15 26.6 16.36 287.8 0.275 6.25 3.42 8.9 3.7 11.32 2.34 7.01 1.93 79 5.03 269 4.95 2.89 12.1 4.22 0.147 1.49 163.1 4.42 1.64 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 43.75 1,680,100 5.19 828,400 0.87 380,000 1.42 316,000 19 8,600 0.28 11,240,000 9.8 14,560,400 16.18 1,168,500 191.5 30 23.5 118,100 15.08 6,300 60 76,600 99 510 99 220 2.18 1,124,000 6.2 62,700 12.04 78,400 12.96 9,338,200 8.1 344,700 6.97 21,980,700 5.88 5,987,000 1.68 20,000 21.6 762,700 73.9 21,390 12.78 700 17.18 236,600 6.61 1,167,800 1.74 779,000 201.8 882,270 6.9 4,337,400 3.61 4,000 30.4 473,500 27 127,900 16.46 3,318,500 289 415,100 0.275 17,680,000 6.49 23,200 3.44 1,029,000 8.9 11,343,000 3.7 3,000 11.5 32,700 2.34 3,086,000 7.15 447,400 1.93 1,785,000 79 442,110 5.03 5,500 269 13,270 4.97 207,000 2.92 116,000 12.1 4,990,300 4.22 50,000 0.15 11,900,000 1.49 143,000 165.4 2,242,940 4.54 16,000 1.69 723,000 1.08 63,000

73,564,395 4,290,272 332,550 445,950 164,092 3,100,950 141,487,075 18,980,262 5,745 2,765,545 93,968 4,596,000 49,915.50 21,780 2,458,520 388,170 925,174 121,624,746 2,760,296 153,321,695 35,202,402 33,650 16,593,650 1,576,996 8,948 4,050,186 7,744,565 1,359,600 179,303,026 31,914,536 14,440 14,374,700 3,442,020 54,749,870 119,937,254 5,010,550 149,398 3,560,000 102,043,679 11,100 370,550 7,263,250 3,184,240 3,533,700 35,015,491 27,813 3,579,630 1,028,280 337,120 60,637,118 211,000 1,810,920 216,150 370,700,907 72,500 1,213,520 68,040

-6,327,870 19,735 -84,000 70,278,987 3,400,126 24,128 3,366,600 2,180 -48,933,564 446,186 -46,718,614 19,336,657 -10,322,905 430,045 -511,884 1,184,277 0 -88,828,270 -209,784 930,135 -999,980 -923,802.00 -7,885,820 -1,223,800.00 3,500 -37,400,994 6,001,680 -87,858 5,963,114.50 782,790 -924,130 5,686,992 211,000 30,000 6,769,891 -

0.4 73.8 12.98 1.16 6.3 0.375 0.36 807 9.26 13.24 8 0.198 1,240 6 77.3 0.98 7.85 14.7 0.45 6.95 3.01 0.064 2 107 2.29 680.5 0.87 1.51 269 0.305 0.19 0.25

0.37 73.2 12.88 1.1 6.11 0.35 0.35 783.5 9.08 13.14 8 0.189 1,220 5.98 76.7 0.93 7.72 14.32 0.44 6.81 3.01 0.059 1.98 103.6 2.29 671.5 0.87 1.48 260 0.295 0.19 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.38 4,740,000 73.8 742,110 12.96 6,393,600 1.16 34,000 6.3 25,600 0.37 3,700,000 0.36 60,000 805 142,370 9.2 2,474,500 13.16 3,172,200 8 100 0.189 1,470,000 1,228 147,805 6 10,400 77 1,438,120 0.98 4,586,000 7.8 3,163,600 14.7 2,111,800 0.44 360,000 6.82 57,911,800 3.01 5,000 0.059 232,370,000 2 60,000 104.2 408,300 2.29 5,000 680 222,600 0.87 40,000 1.48 476,000 267 20,000 0.295 340,000 0.19 30,000 0.25 10,000

1,796,800 54,671,009.50 82,788,076 37,870 158,952 1,348,950 21,500 113,669,610 22,705,047 41,734,840 800 281,220 182,054,820 62,392 110,730,587 4,376,950 24,679,297 30,759,752 160,200 397,760,949 15,050 14,065,550 119,040 43,025,361 11,450 150,676,775 34,800 709,910 5,306,492 101,600 5,700 2,500

-22,500 -4,094,404 15,162,346 -51,875 34,607,520 -1,334,106 16,502,328 -41,332,025 90,266,561 748,332 8,857,736 -135,292,826 -5,613,872 8,518,575 -1,261,392 -

6.78 1.06 6.1 2.64 1.27 37.6 3.58 5.05 0.53 1.03 1.38 0.17 0.58 55.5 0.71 0.206 1.76 1.01 1.4

6.65 1.03 6.1 2.55 1.17 36.1 3.46 5.05 0.52 1.03 1.31 0.166 0.56 54 0.69 0.178 1.72 0.99 1.33

374,938 2,824,130 23,790 1,138,300 84,535,760 613,109,305 24,329,610 12,120 2,676,080 16,480 745,520 1,772,900 1,507,310 26,960,343 176,400 11,021,410 6,879,290 3,816,860 810,760

-283,315 1,578,410 169,199,245 10,700,880 -517,400 -19,900 147,800 -5,900,348.50 90,960 -3,692,570 -1,400

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.14 48.3 94.8 4.21 115.4 1.36 40.1 9.99 16.18 20.05 7.56 1.62 0.7 79 0.75 14.28 25 60 243.8 116 90 40 208.6 1,800 78.95 1.24

3.51 48.4 95.35 4.21 116 1.36 41 9.99 16.18 20.1 8.2 1.62 0.71 80 0.8 14.3 25.5 60 244 116 90 40.05 211 1,800 79.1 1.24

3.14 48.3 94.2 4.21 113.5 1.3 40.1 9.99 16.04 19.96 7.55 1.61 0.69 78.95 0.75 14.2 25 59.35 240 116 90 39.6 207.4 1,727 78.9 1.24

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

43 5.1 0.88 1.4 19.6 0.275 9.5 16.3 191.5 23.45 15.08 60 91.55 99 2.22 6.1 11.8 13.12 7.88 7.1 5.88 1.69 22.05 73.8 12.8 17.1 6.65 1.72 206 7.12 3.61 30.4 26.8 16.4 288.8 0.285 6.5 3.46 9.16 3.7 11.4 2.37 7.01 2 79.35 5.15 269 4.97 2.95 12.64 4.22 0.15 1.52 163.1 4.42 1.7 1.08

44 5.33 0.88 1.43 19.6 0.28 9.83 16.48 191.5 23.5 15.08 60 99 99 2.23 6.2 12.04 13.38 8.1 7.1 5.89 1.69 22.1 74 12.8 17.18 6.78 1.76 206 7.82 3.61 30.5 27 16.66 292 0.295 6.5 3.46 9.44 3.7 11.5 2.38 7.17 2.02 79.35 5.15 270 4.97 2.95 12.68 4.22 0.157 1.52 167 4.54 1.7 1.08

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

0.4 73.2 12.88 1.11 6.19 0.355 0.35 792 9.15 13.16 8 0.198 1,235 6 76.75 0.96 7.85 14.32 0.45 6.81 3.01 0.063 1.98 106.6 2.29 680 0.87 1.49 269 0.305 0.19 0.25

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND 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

6.66 1.04 6.1 2.6 1.25 36.2 3.58 5.05 0.52 1.03 1.31 0.17 0.57 54.5 0.7 0.19 1.76 1 1.4

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.72 0.173 0.335 0.65 4.83 25 1.69 3.33 30 1.01 6.9 0.93 4.84

3.75 0.173 0.335 0.65 4.89 25 1.71 3.38 30 1.04 7 0.93 4.92

3.65 0.165 0.32 0.6 4.72 24.7 1.68 3.33 29.5 1.01 6.9 0.91 4.84

3.65 0.166 0.32 0.6 4.81 24.95 1.69 3.38 29.8 1.03 7 0.92 4.85

22,434,000 22,560,000 790,000 36,678,000 3,265,000 1,081,100 232,000 274,000 11,051,500 11,547,000 12,400 86,000 7,139,000

82,740,060 3,766,480 258,550 22,460,270 15,591,990 26,908,010 394,210 916,930 328,779,310 11,821,540 86,760 78,990 34,673,030

-28,068,010 205,960 90,500 -118,500 -9,010,635 14,437,435 8,909,540

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

8 47.4 1.48 10.7 5.4 7.5 0.066 2.37 93.55 9.75 8.6 2.27 980 1,790 6.13 16.56 3.85 5.98 76 0.011 12.06 9.06 0.192 1.38 3.19 14.18 3.97 1.06 3.1 5.28 3.87 3.01 11.08 5.5 3.16 138 9.17 1,433 1.33 0.43 44.9 80 6.2 2.46 1.14 3.31 0.41

8 47.5 1.5 10.7 5.4 7.69 0.066 2.37 94.4 9.75 9.02 2.35 980 1,800 6.16 16.7 3.95 5.98 76 0.011 12.06 9.06 0.193 1.4 3.19 14.18 3.98 1.1 3.1 5.29 3.87 3.05 11.08 5.58 3.34 140 9.38 1,449 1.34 0.43 47.3 80 6.2 2.48 1.15 3.42 0.43

7.92 47.1 1.47 10.7 5.15 7.4 0.065 2.34 93.3 9.75 8.5 2.27 980 1,772 6.13 16.48 3.75 4.5 75.25 0.01 12.06 9.06 0.19 1.35 3.16 14.04 3.95 1.06 3.01 5.02 3.79 2.86 11.08 5.4 3.16 138 8.95 1,402 1.3 0.415 44.35 79.5 6.14 2.45 1.13 3.31 0.405

SERVICES 8 47.5 1.5 10.7 5.15 7.64 0.065 2.37 93.45 9.75 8.8 2.35 980 1,800 6.15 16.7 3.75 5.08 76 0.01 12.06 9.06 0.192 1.39 3.16 14.04 3.97 1.07 3.05 5.05 3.85 2.88 11.08 5.58 3.3 140 9 1,418 1.32 0.42 46 79.5 6.14 2.47 1.15 3.4 0.42

149,000 12,800 21,000 1,000 1,200 5,988,600 7,900,000 781,000 114,590 4,900 1,007,900 8,000 1,280 128,085 148,200 125,000 5,526,000 7,060,400 2,186,370 31,900,000 1,000 450,000 6,840,000 285,000 44,000 2,000 937,000 70,000 689,000 7,629,500 1,062,000 4,795,000 6,500 15,600 15,000 940 1,261,800 104,945 8,857,000 1,200,000 22,017,300 44,590 64,200 655,000 4,487,000 7,276,000 2,340,000

1,190,380 605,665 31,270 10,700 6,328 45,426,017 517,410 1,837,540 10,705,496 47,775 8,960,847 18,400 1,254,400 229,533,680 910,903 2,074,630 21,189,220 36,086,296 165,173,608 319,700 12,060 4,077,000 1,305,220 391,180 139,620 28,304 3,714,170 75,050 2,097,220 38,928,530 4,046,860 14,159,380 72,020 85,834 48,390 131,200 11,534,442 149,031,205 11,637,060 505,850 1,016,135,280 3,557,374.50 394,442 1,611,730 5,116,960 24,672,160 979,450

-10,700 594,891 132,000 -707,732 -2,049,272 -4,047,215 -3,950 -6,500 19,040,411.50 -2,081,910 -738,150 -20,245,192 -615,740 14,434 131,200 -942,840 -56,379,715 1,033,270 -708,948,150 -1,085,274 -407,270 834,200 2,098,780 -

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

0.0032 1.85 5.7 1.84 1.92 0.47 0.45 11.22 2.43 0.255 0.185 0.011 0.011 1.82 6.89 2.39 0.465 0.94 0.012 4.15 0.015 9.36 3.25 141.1 2.85

0.0032 1.86 5.98 1.84 2.03 0.47 0.45 11.28 2.44 0.26 0.187 0.012 0.011 1.82 6.89 2.4 0.465 0.98 0.012 4.18 0.015 9.38 3.3 145 2.99

0.0032 1.72 5.6 1.83 1.92 0.46 0.44 10.66 2.36 0.25 0.185 0.011 0.011 1.8 6.77 2.32 0.465 0.94 0.012 4.15 0.014 9.12 3.25 140.3 2.85

MINING & OIL 0.0032 102,000,000 1.76 4,550,000 5.98 452,300 1.83 25,000 2.03 22,000 0.47 140,000 0.44 1,370,000 11.08 12,600 2.42 11,771,000 0.25 280,000 0.187 3,050,000 0.012 2,500,000 0.011 600,000 1.82 214,000 6.8 2,465,600 2.38 124,000 0.465 30,000 0.94 48,000 0.012 5,300,000 4.18 13,000 0.015 15,500,000 9.38 747,400 3.25 379,000 145 1,215,290 2.99 113,000

326,400 8,089,740 2,549,973 45,930 42,460 65,350 608,350 136,218 28,431,490 70,300 569,180 27,600 6,600 387,620 16,809,375 289,780 13,950 45,590 63,600 54,160 223,200 6,920,443 1,238,480 172,906,742 326,130

304,370 -1,123,017 -36,480 22,500 -1,773,050 -5,382,704 1,400 529,206.00 -84,900,638 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

47.9 535 106.5 105 112.8 5.85 1,030 1.03 107 1,098 1,013 2.29 82.5 77.3 79.4 78.5

48 535 106.5 105 112.8 5.85 1,030 1.03 107 1,098 1,013 2.39 82.7 77.3 79.5 79

47.8 535 106.5 105 112.8 5.85 1,030 1.03 106.8 1,098 1,012 2.29 82 77.3 77.65 78.5

PREFERRED 48 18,700 535 1,210 106.5 3,050 105 16,500 112.8 40 5.85 470,500 1,030 50 1.03 50,000 106.8 25,910 1,098 50 1,012 5,000 2.39 6,000 82.7 8,430 77.3 11,600 77.65 62,670 79 96,500

896,200 647,350 324,825 1,732,500 4,512 2,752,425 51,500 51,500 2,768,068 54,900 5,061,500 13,880 693,774 896,680 4,889,102.50 7,606,800

-139,230 -4,512 -1,757,925 -429,030 2,621,900

LR WARRANT

2.18

2.14

WARRANTS 2.17 94,000

202,330

1,939,229 297,180 5,860 9,877,941

74,725 -1,570,111

1,198,898

PROPERTY 6.66 1.05 6.1 2.63 1.18 37.6 3.51 5.05 0.52 1.03 1.31 0.168 0.56 54 0.71 0.183 1.74 1 1.38

56,200 2,688,000 3,900 439,000 69,832,000 16,481,400 6,861,000 2,400 5,144,000 16,000 564,000 10,580,000 2,663,000 492,720 252,000 57,610,000 3,964,000 3,818,000 604,000

PHILAB HLDG ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

7.16 3.65 2.93 8.14

7.9 3.65 2.93 8.2

7.16 3.62 2.93 7.9

FIRST METRO ETF

119.6

120

119.2

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

15,552,843

INDUSTRIAL

138,238,674

HOLDING FIRMS

326,869,783

PROPERTY

299,258,587

SERVICES

135,655,758

MINING & OIL

153,202,011

GRAND TOTAL

1,070,370,272

7.26 3.63 2.93 7.95

SME

260,400 82,000 2,000 1,238,200

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120 10,010

VALUE 1,789.44 (up) 2.50 809,328,172.37 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,140.83 (up) 1.60 1,609,682,504.255 HOLDING FIRMS 7,406.74 (up) 15.88 1,298,699,640.746 PROPERTY 3,367.53 (up) 27.63 SERVICES 1,414.20 (up) 2.95 1,313,311,328.72 MINING & OIL 12,388.72 (up) 163.77 1,960,572,294.288 PSEI 7,304.45 (up) 21.77 240,271,517.19 All Shares Index 4,411.71 (up) 7.12 7,245,185,253.068 Gainers:88; Losers: 101; Unchanged: 52; Total: 241

lift interest rates again later this year. Expectations for a rate increase at the next policy meeting have been on the rise since Chair Janet Yellen indicated Feb. 14 that she foresees additional tightening this year regardless of whether President Donald Trump follows through on plans to pursue a pro-growth fiscal policy. All three major US equity indices finished at new records for the seventh time in eight sessions, as enthusiasm for President Donald Trump’s economic plan added to gains. Frankfurt and Paris also finished the day with solid gains after a closely-watched report rated January economic growth in Europe at the fastest pace in six years. The “grind higher in equity markets continues with stunning consistency,” said Jasper Lawler, an analyst with London Capital Group. “Everybody knows there has to be a big shake-out sometime but the momentum is still firmly higher.” But HSBC’s disappointing fourth-quarter performance pushed London into negative territory as the bank’s shares tumbled by more than six percent. Financials Barclays, Standard Chartered and Lloyds joined the downward trend. Without HSBC’s share price fall, the FTSE would have reached new highs for this month, analysts said. “Banks are today’s index millstone,” said Michael van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets in London. Wth Bloomberg, AFP

Phoenix’s income rises 21% to P1.09b By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL distributor Phoenix Petroleum Philippines said Wednesday net income in 2016 climbed 21 percent to a record P1.09 billion from P905 billion in 2015. The company controlled by Udenna Group said earnings rose last year, after sales volume hit an all-time-high of 1.5 billion liters, up by 25 percent from a year ago. Core earnings from the fuel business more than doubled to P937 million from P416 million on better margins and sales mix, it said. Lubricant sales volume also saw an 18-percent growth year-on-year on increased market share. Retail sales volume increased 12 percent year-onyear, with the completion of 51 new retail stations last year, bringing the total number of outlets to 505 as of end-December 2016. Same-store sales growth remained strong at 18 percent on higher consumption, supported by brand-enhancing investments in marketing and advertising. The company said commercial sales volume grew 33 percent, from higher market share and increased consumption by distributors and corporate direct accounts, which included the power, transport, construction and aviation sectors. Revenues rose 2 percent, as higher sales volume offset lower oil prices. The company concluded last year the sale of non-core businesses in shipping and industrial park operations to the Udenna Group, the effective parent and majority stockholder of the company, for total net proceeds of P3 billion.

Business

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Will govt dilly-dally again on airport bids?

BPO DELEGATION. IT Business Process Association of the Philippines sends the largest business delegation to the 25th edition of the Nasscom India Leadership Forum in Mumbai, conveying a signal and willingness to work closely with the Indian IT/BPM industry. Shown are (from left) Leechiu Associates chief executive David Leechiu, Accenture Philippines service delivery operations lead Benedict Hernandez, Philippine commercial counsellor in India Michael Alfred Ignacio, IBPAP president Ike Amigo, Sutherland Global Services senior director Catherine Salceda-Ileto, Concentrix country general manager for India Ravinder Singh Rana, Nasscom director Mohanakrishnan P and WNS Global Services business unit leader Deepak Gupta.

Bill to exempt 4.7m Filipinos from taxes By Julito G. Rada

he proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program will exempt 4.66 million Filipinos, or more than double the current ﬁgure of 1.8 million, from paying personal income taxes, a Finance ofﬁcial said Wednesday. Finance undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the tax reform bill now pending in Congress would exempt 83 percent of individual taxpayers from the personal income tax, including 1.8 million minimum-wage workers who were already paying zero income tax as mandated by law, and close to 3 million earners with a net taxable income of P250,000 and below, based on Bureau of Internal Revenue data.

Chua said House Bill No. 4774, which represented package one of the CTRP, also provided for revenue-enhancing measures to offset the revenue erosion from the lower PIT rates. HB 4774 was authored by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the House ways and means committee. “These revenue-enhancing measures primarily targets rich consumers and taxpayers so the government can still raise

enough money for its unprecedented massive public investment program under the Duterte administration,” Chua said at the recent hearing of the House ways and means panel. At the hearing, which focused on the personal income tax reductions, Chua said those earning between the above-minimum wage rate and P22,000 a month would pay zero tax under HB 4774. The first P82,000 in the 13th month pay and other bonuses will be exempted from the PIT computation. Public school teachers classified as teacher I and II are also covered by the zero-tax bracket. A teacher II who earns P20,651 monthly or a gross income of P299,114 a year inclusive of benefits, is taxed P18,011 under the current system. But under the proposed tax

reform plan, a teacher II will already be PIT-exempt, which means he or she gets to take home P18,011 more per year or an additional P1,500 a month. An above-minimum wage earner with a monthly pay of P15,000 will get to take home at least P7,200 more with tax reform, because of his or her PITexempt status. Chua said even middle-class taxpayers would beneﬁt from tax reform by way of substantially lower PIT rates. A government employee with Salary Grade 24, or one earning P56,610 a month, will have to pay P137,981 in PIT. But under HB 4774, the tax will be substantially reduced to P90,141, effectively increasing the takehome pay to P47,840 a year or an addition of almost P4,000 a month.

2017 GDP riding on tax package approval

MUCH respect is accorded to the views and forecasts of the resident representative (Res Rep) in this country of the International Monetary Fund. That is because the Res Rep is always a well-trained economist who has served at IMF headquarters in Washington D.C. and who keeps himself well-informed on all developments that affect the performance of the Philippine economy. The individuals assigned to the Philippines as Res Rep came from different countries. The current Res Rep is an Indian, Shanaka Jayanath Peiris. Because the agency with which IMF works most closely is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the office of the IMF Res Rep historically has been within the premises of BSP. The IMF Res Rep regularly makes threeyear forecasts for the Philippine economy’s performance, represented by the annual growth of the gross domestic product. Mr. Peiris recently issued his forecast for the GDP’s growth in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Mr. Peiris has raised his forecast for Philippine GDP growth in 2017 to 6.8 percent; his previous forecast was 6.7 percent. This compares with the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s growth target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent. The Philippine Statistics Authority placed the GDP’s 2016 growth at 6.8 percent. Mr. Peiris has premised his forecast for 2017 GDP growth principally on two factors, namely, higher public-sector spending and a recovery in Philippine export trade. “The Philippines is expected to maintain [into 2017] the strong growth momentum registered in 2016, at a pace of about 6.8 percent, supported by fiscal stimulus as the budget deficit widens towards the 3 percent of GDP target…. Exports are expected to recover, reflecting the pick-up in global growth and in commodity prices,” said Mr. Peiris. Of the two 2017 GDP growth drivers identified by Mr. Peiris, higher government spending clearly is the more important. The IMF’s man recognizes this: “(T)he passage of the administration’s tax reform program …. would be important to continue to raise public infrastructure investment and social spending to benefit from the demographic

dividend,” he said. Mr. Peiris’s sentiment regarding the tax reform program have been echoed by the Secretary of Finance. “(S)ustaining economic growth will be a challenge if the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program will not push through,” said Carlos Dominguez III. Funding the Duterte administration’s ambitious infrastructure program by raising sufficient revenues (beginning 2017), rather than relying on borrowing, is necessary to keep the budget deficit within the manageable level of 3 percent of GDP, the Secretary has said. Secretary Dominguez has gone on to warn about the dire consequences of a breach of the 3 percent of GDP debt service ratio. “Without tax reforms, the 3 percent of GDP (level) would be breached, leaving the country susceptible to an unsustainable fiscal

position, which could lead to a credit rating downgrade to below investment grade,” the Secretary has said. He believes that the non-passage of the tax reform package that is now before Congress will have sire consequences …. for our hard-earned gains in improving (this country’s) macroeconomic fundamentals. From Mr. Peiris’ description of the Philippine economy’s 2017 growth prospects and Secretary Dominguez’s statements on the importance of funding the government’s infrastructure program with tax revenues, it is clear that speedy Congress has to act in a speedy manner on the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program; otherwise, Mr. Peiris’ 6.8 percent GDP growth forecast will be very difﬁcult to achieve. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

THE Philippines can no longer ignore the deplorable conditions of the country’s premier airport, if it wants to improve its poor ranking in tourist arrivals in the region. Two tycoons have pressed the government to approve their separate proposals to build a new airport outside of the capital region. It’s now up to the government to select the better proposal and time is not on Manila’s side. The International Air Transport Association early last year endorsed a new location for Manila’s international gateway because of the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “Whether you need one airport, two airports or three airports, I think you have to build it somewhere. Obviously there’s no enough space around the current airports,” IATA regional director for airport, passenger, cargo and security in Asia-Pacific Vinoop Goel said. “If you have to build a new airport, make sure that it’s big enough because from a passenger airline point of view, having multiple airports requires you to land in one airport and in some cases navigate through Manila traffic and take off from the other airports, which you don’t want,” he says. A new and modern airport often creates a lasting impression on arriving tourists and arouses them ahead of their travel plan. Sadly, the Philippines has probably one of the worst airports in this side of the world, lagging behind its competitors in Asia. Data on Philippine tourist arrivals reflect the sorry state of the country’s premier airport. The Philippines, according to latest available figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, ranked 14th or second to last in 2015 in terms of arrivals. The Philippines registered foreign tourist arrivals of 5.36 million in 2015, ahead of 15th and last-place Cambodia with 4.78 million. Philippine arrivals in 2016 hardly improved to 5.97 million tourists. Other Asian countries have fared much better than the Philippines. Thailand drew 29.9 million foreign tourists, or just behind China in first place with 56.9 million. Hong Kong at third place lured 26.7 million, followed by Malaysia at 25.7 million. Indonesia was in eighth place with 10.4 million tourists, while Vietnam rounded the top 10 with 7.9 million. IATA has urged the Philippines to build a new greenfield airport with sufficient capacity to meet Manila’s aviation needs that is situated no greater than 50 kilometers from the city center as a longterm solution. IATA projected annual passengers to reach 140 million by 2035, up from 60 million in 2014. 2 tycoons slug it out Two Philippine conglomerates have offered to build IATA’s greenfield airport. All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., a consortium led by tycoon Henry Sy Sr. and the family of Wilson Tieng, has pushed Sangley and Clark as the new international gateway airports. All-Asia Resources says Sangley and Clark are strategically located to serve the northern and southern parts of Luzon. “Those in Metro Manila can choose which one is more convenient to them which will also help ease traffic,” ARRC vice chairman Edmund Lim said All-Asia Resources proposed the Philippine Global Gateway project worth P1.3 trillion to decongest traffic in Metro Manila. It plans to build an international airport, seaport, economic zone and real estate components in Sangely Point, Cavite province, and proposes to reclaim 2,500 hectares at Sangley Point. The new airport would be designed to have a capacity of 90 million passengers. San Miguel Corp., meanwhile, proposed a P700-billion ($14 billion) facility. The conglomerate submitted a plan to the Department of Transportation with a provision for up to six runways in a 2,500-hectare property in Bulacan province, president Ramon Ang told Bloomberg. It will be built without any guarantee or a subsidy from the government, he said. “We will finance everything, build everything by ourselves and take the risk,” Ang said. The government could sell the 600-hectare property where the current Manila airport complex is located for $20 billion and have the area converted into a new business district, he says. An international airport in Sangley can be up and running in four to five years after the government gives a notice to proceed, All-Asia Resource counters. “It will be built by our company in partnership with foreign partners without the need for a single cent from the government. We have already signed all the contracts to make this happen. We are ready but we need the government to give its nod,” Lim says. Clark, he said, only needed to be upgraded and “perhaps should be the one whose operations and maintenance should be privatized,” referring to a government decision to bid out the operation and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The government must act with urgency in the the construction of a new airport. The Philippines is steadily losing out to its neighbors in Southeast Asia after neglecting airport development. By failing to draw enough foreign tourists, it also passing up the opportunity to directly create thousands of jobs. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Business

Oil prices top $54 in strong rally

IL extended gains in its longest rally since the end of December on increasing conﬁdence that Opec’s supply curbs will outweigh a gain in US crude stockpiles.

Futures in London added as much as 0.6 percent, after gaining 1.8 percent over the past three sessions. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is conﬁdent members will continue to cut production and reduce global stockpiles, Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said. While US inventories probably expanded last week, they are seen shrinking once some of the nation’s reﬁneries resume operations next month after maintenance.

A surge in US crude stockpiles to the highest level in more than three decades at a time when Opec and 11 other nations are trimming supply to ease a global glut has kept oil futures in a tight range above $50 a barrel this year. But with the exporters group implementing about 90 percent of the pledged cuts last month and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicting the market will shift into deficit in the first half of this year, investors are turning more confident. “Even if the US output

recovers, there is still room for oil to rise as shale producers won’t be able to offset Opec’s output cuts as long as the accord is in place,” said Min Byungkyu, a global market strategist at Yuanta Securities Korea Co. in Seoul. “The market is less concerned about the rise in US stockpiles because it’s low-demand season and once reﬁneries boost output from March, inventories will shrink.” Brent for April settlement rose as much as 35 cents to $57.01 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, and was up 0.3 percent at $56.85 by 7:25 a.m. London time. The contract advanced 48 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $56.66 on Tuesday. Front-month futures are set for their fourth day of

gains, the longest rally since Dec. 28. West Texas Intermediate for April delivery was at $54.43 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 10 cents. Total volume traded was about 50 percent below the 100day average. The March contract expired Tuesday after advancing 66 cents to $54.06, the highest since Dec. 28. The US benchmark crude traded at a discount of $2.41 to global benchmark Brent. It’s premature to say whether Opec would need to extend the agreement beyond its initial term of six months, or even to deepen the cuts, Barkindo said. The pace of the decline in global oil stockpiles, which Opec wants to see fall back in line with the ﬁveyear average, will determine the

group’s next move, according to Barkindo. US stockpiles probably rose by 3.5 million barrels last week, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg before a government report Thursday. Nationwide inventories have increased by about 40 million barrels since the start of the year. Rosneft PJSC, the state-run producer headed by a close adviser of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expanding its footprint in the Middle East by striking new oil deals with Iraq’s Kurdish region and Libya. ConocoPhillips said proved reserves of oil and natural gas tumbled 21 percent to a 15-year low as weak energy prices made some oil-sands assets in western Canada unproﬁtable. Bloomberg

French foie gras output slashed PARIS―The French government on Tuesday ordered the slaughter of 360,000 ducks in a bird flu-hit southwest region at the forefront of the foie gras industry. The cull will effectively wipe out production of foie gras in the Landes area that accounts for a quarter of the total French production of the controversial delicacy made from the livers of force-fed ducks and geese. “We are going to have to move quickly in the slaughter of the ducks so that we can stabilize the whole area,” Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said. Le Foll said the cull would happen “in the 15 coming days.” The minister had earlier given a figure of 600,000 but no reason was given why the figure was downsized. He said the 240,000 estimated remaining ducks “would be used for foie gras production.” France is scrambling to stop the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N8 virus sweeping across Europe. There is no deadly risk to humans. The virus was first spotted in wild geese in November and has spread rapidly through duck farms across the southwest. “Authorities are facing a virus that spreads at speeds never seen before and with extremely short incubation periods,” Le Foll said. Duck farmers have accused the government of being slow to respond at the start of the outbreak, helping it spread and increasing the number of birds now being slaughtered. The French foie gras industry believes the cull will cost producers 270 million euros ($284 million). The government has promised the farmers will be compensated, but some have complained of being underpaid following a similar outbreak in 2015 that set the industry back an estimated half a billion euros. Since October, the strain has been detected in at least 13 European countries, according to the French government―including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Hungary and Sweden. In South Korea, over 10 million farm chickens and ducks have been slaughtered this winter as that country battles its worst bird flu outbreak since 2014. In Japan, a million farm birds have been culled. AFP

Bull market. A trader works on the ﬂoor before the Dow Jones closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, February 21, 2017 in New York.

US stocks jumped with retailers and energy ﬁrms among the winners as positive sentiment about President Donald Trump’s economic agenda again lifted the market to fresh records at the close. AFP

Verizon acquiring Yahoo at discount VERIZON Communications Inc. will acquire Yahoo! Inc.’s internet properties at a $350-million discount after revelations of security breaches at the web company. The acquisition, now valued at $4.48 billion in cash, is expected to close in the second quarter, the companies said in a statement Tuesday. In addition to the price cut, Verizon and the entity that remains of Yahoo after the deal, to be renamed Altaba Inc., will share any ongoing legal responsibilities related to the breaches. The move brings Verizon another step closer to adding Yahoo and its billion users as it tries to expand beyond a maturing wireless and landline business into mobile media and advertising ventures. The company is also exploring other acquisitions at a time when regulations are loosening and broader M&A strategies are taking hold under a deal-friendly President Donald Trump. The revised terms provide a “fair and favorable outcome” for shareholders, said Marni Walden, Verizon’s executive vice president and president of product innovation and new businesses. “It provides protections for both sides and delivers a clear path to close the transaction in the second quarter,” she said. Verizon executives had some misgivings about the deal in recent months, frustrated by a lack of progress in investigating the security breaches, Bloomberg reported in October. Still, the companies have been working on combination plans, including more than 20 integration tracks to bring Yahoo’s business into the fold. Shares of Verizon climbed 0.5 percent to $49.43 at 9:40 a.m. in New York. Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, California, rose 0.7 percent to $45.40. Yahoo shareholders would have to approve the revised deal. Yahoo said in December that cyber thieves in 2013 siphoned information including users’ email addresses, scrambled account passwords and dates of birth. The stolen data may allow criminals to go after more sensitive personal information elsewhere online. The announcement followed news in September of a 2014 breach that affected at least 500 million customer accounts. Bloomberg

Cosmopolitan Milan laughs while Rome cries By Céline Cornu MILAN, Italy―While rays of sun warm the elegant marble monuments on Rome’s skyline, Milan lies under grey crowds heavy with pollution. But beyond the blue skies the eternal city is battling crises on several fronts, while its northern rival has become the nerve center of Italy, attracting not only record numbers of tourists but entrepreneurs and foreign capital. “Milan is experiencing a moment of extraordinary transformation, becoming one of the most interesting hubs internationally,” says Giuliano Noci, a strategy professor at the Polytechnic School in Milan. Visitors descend for fashion week four times a year; a design fair that takes over large parts of the city; a week-long food fair founded this year; and a book fair Milan is boldly stealing from its sister northern metropolis, Turin. With such an array of cultural offerings, the smog lingers but the city has shrugged off the stereotype of being a sad industrial hub. “Milan was able to capitalize on the World Expo” of 2015, which attracted 21.5 million people, including 6.5 million foreigners, Noci said. And despite welcoming a record number of visitors in 2015, the home of the famous Gothic cathedral and La Scala opera house topped it last year, with tourists up by over 2 percent. “One of the highlights of Milan is that it is a cosmopolitan city, it attracts many qual-

Tourists take pictures in the “Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II” shopping mall in Milan on January 21, 2017. The Lombard capital has become the nerve center of the country, teeming with projects and attracting tourists and foreign capital. AFP

ity foreigners, it’s a center of exchange. The universities are very international,” says Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffe, a professor at the Bocconi University. Noci describes it as “a gateway to business in Italy, linked to one of the most important economic development zones in Europe.” While the national jobless rate is close to 12 percent, it is only 8.0 percent in Milan, while in Rome it nears 11 percent.

The country’s ﬁnance capital alone generates 10 percent of the country’s GDP (gross domestic product). A quarter of Italian banks have set up their headquarters here, and many companies have quit Rome for Milan, like television group Skytg24, which decided in January to close its headquarters in the Italian capital. ‘Make Milan the capital?’ “Important multinationals, in-

cluding Chinese ones, have decided to open research centers here, such as Huawei,” said Noci, referring to the Chinese telecoms giant. You cannot move for famous ‘Made in Italy’ food, fashion and tech companies, and the Lombardy capital has the largest congress center in Europe as well as three airports to Rome’s two. And while the city of the Colosseum struggles with a waste

problem, that of the stock exchange is one of the top three European cities for recycling. Rome’s dirty buses have taken to spontaneously igniting. Milan’s gleam. The gulf between the two cities has become so pronounced that even the Roman philosopher Raffaele Simone was driven to suggest in L’Espresso magazine in January that it might be time to move the capital to Milan. “It is an ancient question... but for some time it has become increasingly impossible to avoid it,” he wrote, citing corruption scandals, Rome’s huge mountain of debt and its beleaguered mayor Virginia Raggi as reasons to up sticks. His complaints will have rung true with many: “cleanliness (years of neglect), urban policing (inefficient, boorish), maintenance of green spaces (zero), public transport (catastrophic), traffic (undisciplined to the point of malignancy).” Rome has “significant potential, but it must first solve basic problems such as transport. Only once it has done that can it think of a medium to long term project of strategic development,” Noci said. Simone’s suggestion tickles Carnevale Maffe. “Us Milanese have never been interested in being the capital of Italy,” he said. “What Milan wants is to be the capital of the growth, innovation and economic development.” He describes the city as “strongly European,” in the sense of a Europe “looking outwards to the world.” AFP

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

WETLANDS DAY. An indigenous Aeta woman joins other volunteers in planting mangrove saplings during the celebration of World Wetlands Day at the Malawaan-Binictican mangrove area at the Subic Bay Freeport. Celebrated every Feb. 2 each year, World Wetlands Day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on Feb. 2, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Butch Gunio

Manila small biz get funds By Sandy Araneta

N SUPPORT of President Duterte’s call to end the “5-6” lending scheme, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has released P607,000 in funds to support low-income microentrepreneurs in the city. Estrada handed the cash aid to 108 beneficiaries of his Capital Assistance Program, a livelihood initiative he started in 2013 to help poor residents and owners of backyard businesses start up and boost their own ventures. The 108 beneficiaries were “second timers” or those who have repaid the initial seed funds loaned to them by the city government last

year. They were given a bigger loan to boost their businesses. “You’ve proven yourselves to be trustworthy. You made good use of the capital given to you, so we will give you again a chance to avail the assistance,” Estrada told the beneficiaries during the release of the CAP fund at city hall. The mayor discouraged the beneficiaries from getting “5-6”

or usurious loans since it comes with high interest rates, which he said would be detrimental to their micro-businesses. The micro-entrepreneurs will also receive free skills training and seminars to improve their operations, said Estrada, as he thanked Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo for supporting the program. The beneficiaries come from Manila’s Districts 1 to 6, including a selected group from the impoverished community of Baseco Compound in Tondo. They each received up to P6,000 capital aid depending on the type of their businesses. One of the beneficiaries, Natividad Hara of Barangay 11 in Del Pan, Tondo, was given a second

loan of P6,000, which she said is a big help in her small business of selling refreshments and snacks near the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. Manila Department of Social Welfare officer-in-charge Nanet Tanyag congratulated the successful micro-entrepreneurs, as she assured the city government will continue supporting them. Long before President Duterte’s plan to ban “5-6” in the country, the Estrada administration introduced CAP, where low-income residents receive a start-up capital loan of P5,000 toward their own businesses. The loan is payable in 10 weeks with no interest. With the financial assistance, the beneficiaries have started

backyard businesses such as eateries, barber shops, beauty parlors, sari-sari stores, salon services like manicure and pedicure, smallscale vending, and other ventures that only require minimal capital. Through free lectures and training, the beneficiaries are also taught the rudiments of business management and operation to effectively run their community-based businesses. The program saw 532 beneficiaries in the second semester of 2016, and the 108 latest beneficiaries comprise the first batch for 2017. CAP is also offered to street hawkers in Divisoria and public markets in Manila, to help them increase their profits and improve their economic standing.

Herbert new chair of peace council QUEZON City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista on Tuesday was formally sworn in as chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council for Metro Manila. Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno administered the oath during his first meeting with the chairpersons of the Regional Peace and Order Councils in Luzon. Sueno recommended Bautista’s appointment to President Rodrigo Duterte last December. Bautista, in his initial meeting with the RPOC secretariat, ordered multi-sectoral dialogues

and consultation workshops with stakeholders. The output of these dialogues and workshops would be presented to the President and the National Peace and Order Council. Bautista, the most senior local chief executive in Metro Manila, holds a Master’s degree in national security from the National Defense College of the Philippines. He was recently promoted to full Colonel in the Armed Forces Reserve Command, and is due to face the Commission on Appointments.

Ilagan trainees get Tesda certificates ILAGAN CITY, Isabela—The Manpower Skills Training Program jointly spearheaded by Tesda-Isabela School of Arts and Trade and the city government of Ilagan recently held its 17th graduation ceremonies. Maria Elena Narciso, TesdaISAT Registrar, presented the 527 candidates for graduation and pronounced them “eligible to receive their training certificates.” The graduates were confirmed by Vocational School Superintendent Igmedio S. Casticon, who ordered the issuance of the certifications of the graduates in his speech. As a manifestation of support to the MSTP, City Councilor Jay Eveson C. Diaz, representing her mother, Mayor Evelyn

C. Diaz, handed over a cheque worth P260,000 to Tesda-ISAT to cover training expenses and incentives to the trainers. Among the graduates, 29 finished automotive servicing, 37 in basic massage, 21 in bread and pastry, 51 in caregiving, 41 in cookery, 14 in dressmaking, 29 in electrical installation and maintenance, 22 in electronic servicing, and 14 in front office services. Another 12 graduates took up handicrafts, 14 in housekeeping, 16 in motorcycle and small engine servicing, nine in nail care, 13 in refrigeration and air-conditioning, and 26 in shielded metal arc welding. About 179 others received various skills certificates, such as basic solar DIY generator, basic life support, and other skills. Abe Almirol

CENTENARIAN HONORED. Makati Mayor Abby Binay holds centenarian Miguela E. Manikan while awarding her a P100,000 check, a bouquet and a plaque of recognition on Tuesday at the latter’s home in Brgy. Magallanes. Manikan has resided in Makati City since 1955. According to her daughter Noemi Gomez (right), she was among the women who opened a puericulture center in Brgy. San Antonio, where former mayor Dr. Elenita Binay served as its first doctor. Also in the photo are (from left) Councilor Concepcion Yabut, Liga ng mga Barangay president Armand Padilla, and Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo.

Missing P5m gets groups riled up By Robert A. Evora CALAPAN CITY—An environmental group here has threatened to boycott the scheduled visit on Feb. 27 of Environment Secretary Regina Lopez because of an alleged missing P5-million compensation from a power company to local victims of Typhoon “Nona.” Lopez is coming over drum up support for her confirmation by the Senate’s Commission on Appointments, and Father Edwin A. Gariguez of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has called on Mindoreños to support his call for the DENR secretary’s confirmation.” “We need to provide a groundswell of support to DENR Secretary Lopez. Let’s unite to defend our threatened ecology,” Gariguez said. The Batang Naujan group, however, expressed misgivings on attending the rally supporting Lopez unless a rival group, the Koalisyon Sagip Mindoro, clarifies the whereabouts of the P5-million cash assistance extended by Sta. Clara International Corp. The grant from SCIC, the mother company of local firm Sta. Clara Power Corp., was meant to compensate some 2,000 islanders, including Mangyan natives, who were victims of “Nona” that battered the province last Dec. 15, 2015. Sta. Clara Power owns the P1.2-billion, eight-megawatt Catuiran 2 Mini-Hydro Power Project, located on a 3,000-hectare watershed area in Sitio Arangin, Bgy. Malvar, Naujan town.

Baguio eyes Environment Week in June BAGUIO CITY—The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the first week of June each year as City Environment Week. Authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano, the ordinance aims to come up with a regular and local government-sponsored and sanctioned activity “as an avenue for the promotion and information drive of the various policies, programs and projects on health and

sanitation, waste management and environmental protection, including private sector initiatives on these public concerns.” The ordinance would create committee led by the city mayor as chairman and the City General Services Officer as action officer. Committee member would include the City Environment and Parks Management Officer, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, Chairperson of

the City Council Committee of Health and Sanitation, and the President of the Association of Barangay Councils. Representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, the academe, duly accredited non-government organizations with programs related to environment protection, and the

Association of Recyclers would also join the committee. The body would then formulate the program of activities for the weeklong City Environment Week, the requirements and guidelines for public participation, and criteria for the Search for the Most Innovative Indigenous or Locally Developed Waste management practice or technology, among others, Sembrano said. Dexter A. See

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 Standard C2 TODAY Manila

Workers in SBMA rise 11 percent CL traders worried S viaduct may break By Butch Gunio

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The number of workers here has increased to 112,653 with the rising number of investments, and thus job opportunities for Filipinos, in the freeport, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority revealed.

SBMA Administrator lawyer 2015. Eisma said 1,093 new acWilma Amy T. Eisma said the counts are now being processed total active workers inside the by the SBMA. freeport has “significantly inEisma commended the freecreased” by 11 percent from port’s top five employers, 2015 following a 12.76-percent namely Hanjin Heavy Indusrise in the number of locators. tries and Construction-PhilCurrently, the Freeport has ippines with 33,296 employ1,536 investor companies, YELLOW com- ees;BLACK Nidec Subic Phils Corp. CYAN MAGENTA pared to 1,340 firms recorded in (5,240); Sanyo Denki Phils. Inc.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 208 MANDALUYONG CITY PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, CIVIL CASE NO. MC14-8655 For: RECOVERY OF POSSESSION WITH APPLICATION FOR PRELIMINARY WRIT OF REPLEVIN WITH ALTERNATIVE PRAYER FOR SUM OF MONEY -versusBRYAN C. ANG AND JOHN DOE, Defendants; x------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION WHEREAS, on 24 October 2016, the Court issued an Order, which reads as follows: “On record is Plaintiff’s Ex-Parte Motion to Revive with Motion to Effect Service of Summons by Publication. Finding the allegations to be meritorious, the instant case is hereby revived. xxx xxx xxx SO ORDERED” COME NOW the Plaintiffs, in the above entitled- case, by and through the undersigned counsel and to this Honorable Court most respectfully states the following: 1. Plaintiff, Philippine Savings Bank (PSBANK for brevity), is a thrift banking corporation duly organized and existing under Philippine Laws, with principal office and place of business at 4th Floor, PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeño Street, Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City; 2. Defendant, BRYAN C. ANG Filipino, of legal age, with given address at NO. 47A, BIAK NA BATO, DAMAR VILLAGE, QUEZON CITY where she may be served with summons and other judicial processes: 3. Defendant John Doe, whose real name and address are unknown to the plaintiff, is whoever may be in actual possession of the motor vehicle described below if it is not of the defendants; 4. For value received, the defendants jointly and severally executed and delivered to TOYOTA SHAW INC (Dealer for brevity) a Promissory Note (Annex A) dated on JULY 17, 2012 with a face amount of Php 1,126,400.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of Php 27,517.00 beginning AUGUST 16, 2012 and on the 16th day of every succeeding month thereafter, with late payment penalty of 5% per month from due date until the entire obligation is fully paid. 5. To secure the payment of the Promissory Note, the defendants also executed in favor of the plaintiff, A Chattel Mortgage dated on JULY 17, 2012 over the motor vehicle: MAKE/TYPE : 2012 TOYOTA FORTUNER 4x2 MOTOR NO. : 2KDU056499 SERIAL NO. : MHFZR69G603044751 together with the body built or that may be built thereon and all the equipment, attachments and accessories which may now or from time to time be used with, added to or attached to the motor vehicle; 6. On JULY 17, 2012 the Dealer assigned to the plaintiff all its rights, title and interest over the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage through a Deed of Assignment (Annex B) dated on JULY 17, 2012. 7. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage, it is stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/ other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance at the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgage motor vehicle from the defendants who are bound, on demand, to the deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may found or situated or where the plaintiff may have its principal or branch office; 8. Defendants violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two monthly installments due beginning SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 and subsequent installments plus other stipulated charges if any; 9. Plaintiff demanded from the defendants the payment of their outstanding balance amounting to P952,858.78 or the surrender of the mortgage motor vehicle for purpose of foreclosure, to satisfy defendants obligation, but the latter failed and/ or refused to do so, despite plaintiff’s oral/written demands. Copies of the Demand Letter and Statement of Account are attached here to as (Annexes C and D); 10. The Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage further stipulate that any legal action arising there from, may be instituted at plaintiff’s option, in the court of competent jurisdiction in Metro Manila or in any province, city or municipality where plaintiff has a branch office; 11. Pursuant to Sec. 2 Rule 60 of the revised Rules of Court and in support of plaintiff’s application for a preliminary writ of replevin, attached is plaintiff’s Affidavit of Merit; 12. Plaintiff is willing to file good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual market value of P915,200.00 of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants, if its return be adjudged and for the defendants of such sums as it may recover from the plaintiff. ALTERNATIVE CAUSE OF ACTION 1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference, the preceding paragraphs; 2. In the event that the mortgage motor vehicle cannot be found, seized and foreclosed, that the defendant, their successors, assigns and such other persons as may be required by law, be held liable, jointly and severally, to pay the amount of P952, 858.78 plus all occurring charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid.

PRAYER ACCORDINGLY, it is respectfully prayed that: 1. A writ of replevin be issued ordering the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle, complete with all its equipment, attachments and accessories from the defendants and its delivery to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, to satisfy defendant’s obligation; 2. Judgement be rendered confirming and ratifying as legal and valid the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle and its delivery to plaintiff for purposes of extra judicial foreclosure, in accordance with the provisions of the Chattel Mortgage; On the alternative cause of action, in the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be recovered and delivered to plaintiff, to render judgement in favor of plaintiff: 1. Ordering defendant, jointly and severally, to pay plaintiff the amount of P952,858.78 plus all accruing charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid; Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for. Makati City for Mandaluyong City, 11 October 2012.

YSMAEL SALGADO REYES VILLASIS & ASSOCIATES Counsel for Plaintiff PSBank 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg. No.777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City CONSTATINO L. REYES PTR No. 6031652, 01/02/12, Q.C. IBP Lifetime No. 00747, Pasig City Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0000374 8-31-10 Quezon City AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF REPLEVIN AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, MA. ELENA P. CRISOSTOMO, of legal age, Filipino and with postal address at 4th Floor, PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeño Street, Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I cause the preparation of the complaint and read the contents thereof; and all allegations therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; 2. Philippine Savings Bank is the mortgage/assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated on JULY 17, 2012 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE : 2012 TOYOTA FORTUNER 4x2 MOTOR NO.: 2KDU056499 SERIAL NO.: MHFZR69G603044751 with all its equipment, attachments and accessories which defendants mortgage to secure the payment of A Promissory Note (Annex A, Complaint) dated JULY 17, 2017 with a face amount of Php 1,126, 400.00 payable in 60 month a monthly at a monthly installment of Php 27, 517.00 beginning AUGUST 16, 2012 and on the 16th of every succeeding month thereafter, until fully paid; 3. The estimated market value of the mortgaged motor vehicle is approximately P915,200.00. 4. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/ other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance at the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgage motor vehicle from the defendants who are bound, on demand, to the deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may found or stipulated or where the plaintiff as mortgagee/assignee may have its principal of branch office; 5. Defendants defaulted/violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two (2) monthly installments due thereon and subsequently installments; 6. In view of defendants’ default/ violation plaintiff has become entitled to the possession of the mortgage motor vehicle which the defendants appears to have wrongfully detained to defeat plaintiff’s mortgage lien thereon, when they failed and/or refused to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, despite oral and/or written demands, contrary to the provision of the Chattel Mortgage; 7. The mortgage motor vehicle has not been taken for any tax assessment. Or fine pursuant to law, or seized under an attachment or execution against the property of the plaintiff or if so seized, the same is exempt from such seizure;

Republic of the Philippines 21 February 2017 REGIONAL TRIAL C OURT

IN RE: PETITION FOR THE ISSUANCE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF SECOND OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 15253

scheduled hearing and file such claim as they may have before this

prior to the hearing, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation for all concerned to appear, oppose and/or contest said petition. Likewise, let this Order and copy of the petition be posted at the main entrance of the Pasay City Hall, the Bulletin Board of the Hall of Justice, Pasay City, the Office of the Register of Deeds of Pasay City and at the place where the subject property is located at least fifteen (15) days immediately preceding the aforesaid hearing. The publication and posting shall be at the expense of the petitioner. Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the petition the Register of Deeds of Pasay City, the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of the Land Registration Authority, the Land Management Bureau, as well as Augusto Jewel A. Bautista III and Sultan Huzur R.S. Rusulla. Furnish also the petitioner and his counsel copy of this Order. The Register of Deeds of Pasay City may file comment/opposition to the subject petition within fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Order.

Mr. Juan Felipe A. Alfonso Chief Operating Officer (COO) ASEAGAS CORPORATION Case No.Malaruhatan, R-PSY-17-24879-CV Sitio Hermosa,LRCBrgy. Lian, Batangas Tel. No. 886-2800 12673 MARK H.loc NAGTALON, Petitioner. Email Address: juan.alfonso@aboitiz.com x---------------------------------x ORDER

On January 4, 2017, a verified Subject: Application for Registration under the Special Laws List petition was filed and raffled to this (Renewable Energy) of the 2014-2016 IPP as Renewable Court for the ISSUANCE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF SECOND Developer of Biomass Energy Resources (8.8 MW OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE Biomass Power Plant) OF TITLE NO. 15253 of the Registry of Deeds for Pasay City, covering a parcel of land located Dear Mr. Alfonso, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, consisting of Four Hundred Fifty (450) square meters, more or

This refers to less, your above-cited application for registration that we registered in the names of Spouses Augusto Bautista, Jr. and officially accepted on 21 February 2017. As a matter of policy, Purita Baker-Bautista. the attached “Notice” be ispublished once in a newspaper of It appearingshould that the petition sufficient in form and substance, general circulation giving three (3) days from date of let the hearing thereofany be set person on 4, 2017 at 1:30 o’clock inobjection SO ORDERED. publication to April file his/her written to the application. the afternoon before this Court located at Rm. 406, 4th Floor,

Pasay

City,

Metro

Manila,

of Justice, F.B. Harrison St., January 11, 2017. Please submitHall the Pasay City.proof of publication within five (5) days from receipt of this letter; All personsotherwise, having an interest we will consider your application in the subject property are (Sgd.) EUGENIO G. DELA CRUZ withdrawn without prejudice tothere-filling the Judge same for as long as Presiding hereby directed to appear on the proposed project is still listed in the IPP and has not started commercial operation yet. Please note that the paid filling fee is non-refundable.

Verty truly yours,

Republic of the Philippines

before this Court sitting at the

CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE REPORT OF BIRTH CHILD BORN ABROAD OF PHILIPPINE PARENT OR PARENTS PARTICULARLY THE NAME OF THE CHILD FROM MARK ALLAN GOMEZ TO MARK ALLAN MENDOZA VERIÑA, THE FULL NAME OF THE MOTHER FROM GEMMA F. GOMEZ VERIÑA TO IMELDA ALEJANDRA MENDOZA VERIÑA, NAME BEFORE MARRIAGE FROM GEMMA F. GOMEZ TO IMELDA ALEJANDRA MENDOZA AND DATE OF BIRTH OF MOTHER FROM JUNE 3, 1967 TO APRIL 23, 1965, AND THE DELETION OF THE PLACE AND DATE OF MARRIAGE TANTAY NEG. OR. PHIL. 25 MAY 1995,

cause, if any, why said petition should not be granted.

Second Floor, Rm. 237, Hall of REGIONAL TRIAL C OURT NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN National Capital Judicial Region Justice Bldg., Quezon City at Director which date, time and place, all Branch 216, Quezon City persons are hereby Resource-based Industries Serviceinterested (RBIS) IN RE: PETITION FOR THE cited to appear and show

Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, to be selected by raffle pursuant to PD 1079. The Office of the Clerk of Court is directed to report to the Court the result of the raffle, with notice to petitioner within ten (10) days from receipt thereof. The Philippine Statistics Authority, the Office of the Solicitor General and any person who has any opposition hereto may file the same, within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition, or from the last date of publication of such notice.

IMELDA ALEJANDRA MENDOZA VERIÑA, Furnish a copy of this Petitioner, Order and petition to the Philippine Statistics Authority versus and the Office of the Solicitor General. R-QZN-16-13951-SP SO ORDERED. ALLAN S. VERIÑA, GEMMA Quezon City, Metro Manila, GOMEZ, THE CIVIL December 21, 2016. REGISTRAR GENERAL, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY AND THE (Sgd.) ALFONSO C. RUIZ II Presiding Judge PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, HONGKONG, SAR, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Copy furnished: Respondents. Office of the Solicitor General x--------------------------------------x 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi ORDER Village The petitioner, Imelda Makati City Alejandra Mendoza Veriña, filed Atty. Edwin Arreola a verified petition praying for: Concepcion, Jr. a) Correction of entry – Full Counsel for Petitioner name of child from Mark Allan Santa Maria, 2705 Ilocos Sur Gomez” to “Mark Allan Mendoza Philippine Statistics Authority Veriña’; b) Correction of entry – Name East Avenue, Quezon City

MA. ELENA P. CRISOSTOMO Affiant Subscribed and sworn to before me this Jan. 08, 2014, Makati City; affiant exhibiting to me her Driver’s License with No. N03-07-002281 issued by Land Transportation Office East Avenue Quezon City.

of mother from “Gemma F. Gomez Veriña”, to “Imelda Alejandra Mendoza Veriña’; c) Correction of entry – Name of Mother before Marriage from “Gemma F. Gomez” to “Imelda Alejandra Mendoza”; d) Correction of Date of Birth of Mother from “June 3, 1967” to “April 23, 1965”; and e) Cancellation of entry – Place and Date of Marriage, “Tanjy Neg. Or. Phil., 25 May 1995”;

NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. ROMEO S. MASANGYA, JR. NOTARY PUBLIC UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2014 IBP NO.948098/01/02/14 MAKATI CITY PTR NO. 4225686/01/02/14 MAKATI CITY Roll No. 45164 Doc.No. 151; Page No. 32; Book No. I; Series of 2014.

RTC-OCC, Quezon City Quezon City Imelda Alejandra Mendoza Veriña Petitioner Nanguneg East, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Gemma F. Gomez Respondent Paratong, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

The Philippine Consulate in the Report of Birth of the General Child Born Abroad of Philippine Hongkong SAR, thru: The Parent or Parents. Department of Foreign Affairs The Court hereby sets the Macapagal Avenue, Petition for hearing on March Parañaque City 29, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning

Now therefore, defendant BRYAN C. ANG and JOHN DOE is hereby summoned and required to file with the Office of the Branch Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 208, Mandaluyong City, within sixty (60) days from the date of the time of last Publication, his answer to the complaint, serving at the same time copies thereof upon the Plaintiff, Philippine Savings Bank at 4th Floor, PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas comer Sedeño Street, Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City, pursuant to Rule 9, Sec. 3 of the 1987 Rules of Civil Procedure.

(MS-FEB. 23, 2017)

By Ferdie G. Domingo CABANATUAN CITY—An influential group of Central Luzon businessmen has expressed concern over the structural integrity of the Pampanga Viaduct amid the devastation brought by the powerful earthquake in Surigao del Norte two weeks ago. The viaduct, also known as the Pulilan-Apalit Bridge, is a five-kilometer bridge passing over the Candaba Swamp and the adjacent Pampanga River along the North Luzon Expressway, and connects the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. Considered one of the longest bridges in the country, the viaduct consists of four lanes, two northbound and two southbound. The Department of Public Works and Highways office here said it is eyeing other alternate routes in place of the bridge structure, if ever it is damaged. The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its chairman emeritus Levi Laus, has inquired about the sturdiness of the viaduct in case

of movement in the West Valley Fault, said Antonio Molano, DPWH regional director for Central Luzon. “They have been asking me, what if the [structural] integrity of the viaduct has been compromised?” Molano quoted Laus as saying. Molano said the DPWH is looking at the Pulilan Bridge in the southbound portion of the province and the MacArthur Manila Standard Highway in the northbound porTODAY tion as buffer roads. “We have been constructing directional designs just in case,” he said. The viaduct, built in 1973, was retrofitted in 2003 and again in 2013. Molano said he has discussed its condition with the management of the Manila North Tollways Corp., which maintains the bridge and the rest of NLEX. “They told me that with the latest retrofitting in 2013, the viaduct is structurally stable,” Molano said. He admitted, however, that if the West Valley Fault moves, it would spell trouble for the viaduct.

Pangasinan ‘Umaani’ festival set in March

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 214 Mandaluyong City CRISTINA M. LEABRES Petitioner,

with an area of 18.21 square meters, more or less located at España Grand Residences, España, Manila; (4) That in 2012, PETITIONER decided to separate from RESPONDENT; and (5) That RESPONDENT is psychologically incapacitated thus, he failed to comply with the essential marital oblications.

Point Development Thrusts of the Provincial Government, to achieve CIVIL CASE NO. MC16-11265 LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— equitable distribution of benefits For: DECLARATION OF Preparations are under way for and opportunities, and also to NULLITY OF MARRIAGE and DISSOLUTION OF the provincial government’s maximize their contribution to the COMMUNITY PROPERTY hosting of the Umaani Expo province’s wealth and progress,” CHRISTOPHER M. on March 27RESPICIO, to April 1, which the executive order reads. Respondent. WHEREFORE, showcases Pangasinan’s abun- findingThetheorder also states the prox-----------------------------------------x petition to be sufficient in form dance ORDER of food staplesandand sup-and vincial recogsubstance pursuant to administration This is a petition for nullity of Supreme Court A.M. No. 02-11ports the push for agro-industrinizes the importance of agriculmarriage filed by Cristina Leabres 10-SC in rel. to Sec. 15, Rule 14 Procedure, (PETITIONER) against Christopher al enterprises here. of the Rules of Civilture “in making available and Respicio (RESPONDENT) on 30 let SUMMONS be served upon A brainchild of Gov. Amado CHRISTOPHER safe food necessary to sustain RESPONDENT September 2016. by PUBLICATION in that Umaani the M. RESPICIO I.PETITIONER Espino prays III, the Expo human life, and to provide liveafter due notice and hearing, a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines by theto a major sector of the is an beagro-industrial lihood judgment rendered declaring trade expoaccredited her marriage with RESPONDENT Office of the Executive Judge of and expected to bolster Trial Court, Mandaluyong province’s population.” null and fair void aband initio is on the ground Regional week for THREE (3) ofthe psychological incapacity of the City once aaim provincial government’s Thanks to the “intense push” in RESPONDENT under Article 36 of CONSECUTIVE WEEKS and a copy of the for summons and this the Code of the Philippines markets toFamily expand existing agriculture during the nine-year and for the dissolution of community Order be sent to RESPONDENT by registered mail to his last known crops fish commodities, term of former governor and now offarm property, as aand consequence thereof. further address at the expense of the in line PETITIONER with the national govern- fifth district Rep. Amado T. Espiprays for such other reliefs just and PETITIONER. equitable under the circumstances. ment’s food security plan. no Jr., Pangasinan is now among Finally, RESPONDENT is To support her claim, directed to file his Answer to the Espino, through provincial the top producers of quality rice PETITIONER cites of the Petition within SIXTY (60) DAYS following allegations: (1) That Executive Order No.from011-2017 and corn in the country. the last issue of this Notice. the PETITIONER is a Filipino he issued on atFeb. created In a coordination meeting last citizen and residing Blk 6 41,that SO ORDERED. Zone 3, Lot 1, Welfareville an executive and Feb. 15 at the Provincial AgCompound, Mandaluyongcommittee City Mandaluyong City while RESPONDENT is likewise technical working group for the 01 February 2017 riculture Office in Tebag, Sta. a Filipino citizen and a resident stressed Umaani will Barbara, Officer-in-Charge Prooffestival, Greenheights Subdivision, Alibagu, Ilagan, Isabela; (2) That (Sgd.) IMELDA L. PORTES-SAULOG Presiding Judge also serve as a rallying point vincial Agriculturist Dalisay PETITIONER and RESPONDENT were on 04 Marchof 2009 formarried the transfer new technol- Moya convened stakeholders of at the Philippine Embassy of Copy Furnished: Doha, and solemnize by Office ogy,Qatar farming systems andof the farm agriculture sector and repreSolicitor the General Vice Consul Jabbar M. Adiong Office of the City Prosecutor, mechanization in Pangasinan. sentatives from various agencies (Certificate of Marriage and Mandaluyong City Report of Marriage as Annexes “The development of Atty. agriculture and Marciano BAcalla, Jr. offices of the provincial gov“B” and “B-1” of the Petition); Cristina Leabres (3) Thatfishery during their marriage, and sectors of the province Christopher Respicio ernment to present the proposed PETITIONER and RESPONDENT OCC, RTC, Mandaluyong City is one aofcondominium the priorities activities for the six-day festival. acquired unit in the Ten

By Dexter A. See

-versus-

Consequently, Summons together with its annexes was sent to RESPONDENT at his given address. However, it was returned UNSERVED with the information that RESPONDENT is currently working as overseas contract worker in Doha, Qatar (Return of Service of Summons dated 25 November 2016).

IN BRIEF Pangasinan backs K-to-12 program LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado I. Espino III on Tuesday assured the province’s all-out support to the Department of Education and its implementation of the K-to-12 education program. “Since 2007, when my father was governor, and until today under my watch, the provincial government is unwavering in its support to DepEd,” said Espino during the opening program of the K-to-12 Summit of DepEd Schools Division of Pangasinan 1 at the Sison Auditorium here. The first such summit conducted by a DepEd division in Region 1 after the Senior High School national summit last January updated school administrators on the implementation of the K to 12 system, including innovations and strategies that could be adopted by local schools. Dexter A. See

Provincial CPP-govt peace talks urged BONTOC, Mountain Province—Board Member Tomas B. Tawagen, the new Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, is proposing local peace talks between the Communist Party of the Philippines-News People’s Army and the government through designated local officials. Tawagen proposed this after the breakdown of the peace talks on the national level. As chairman of the provincial board’s committee on indigenous peoples, he said there have been precedents of the local-level peace talks, like the declaration of Sagada town as a “peace zone.” “We strongly support localized peace talks between the government and the communist rebels if the national initiative suffered a temporary breakdown. Everyone wants to achieve lasting peace, but it only depends on how it will be undertaken. Thus, we want to undertake the local initiative in the province which there had been a previous success,” Tawagen stressed. Dexter A. See

“If the defendant party fails to Answer within the time allowed therefore, the Court shall upon motion of the claiming party with notice to the defending party, and proof of such failure declare the defending party in default. Thereupon, the Court shall proceed to render judgment granting the claimant such relief as his pleading may warrant, unless the court in its discretion requires the claimant to submit evidence. Such receipt of evidence may be delegated to the Clerk of Court. Let Summons be published at the expense of the plaintiff in a newspaper of general circulation, once (1), selected by raffle. Philippines,

(Sgd.) IVY EVANGELISTA Officer In Charge (MS-Feb. 23, 2017)

The freeport also has tax incentives and duty-free importation of raw materials and capital equipment. “Along with these is the unrestricted entry of foreign investments,” Eisma said. The area “is profitable for business, share values [of companies here] have increased, there is low business risk, capital expenditure is in place, the quality of life inside the Freeport is high, and there is ease of doing business here,” she added. These factors are what SBMA should maintain “to provide investors the much-needed help they deserve while providing employment to our fellow countrymen,” Eisma said.

National Capital Judicial Region Court. Branch 117, Pasay City Let this Order be published,

8. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual value of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return is adjudged and for the payment of the defendants of such amounts as they may recover from the plaintiff on the action; 9. I further certify plaintiff has not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issue in another tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court, or any other tribunal or agency and that if I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court or any other tribunal or agency. I undertake to promptly inform the Honorable Court of that fact within five (5) days from my knowledge thereof.

Mandaluyong City, January 12, 2016

(4,011); Tong Lung Phils Metal Industry Co. Inc. (2,900); and Nicera Phils Inc. (2,294). The administrator said one of the reasons why companies choose to invest in Subic Bay is its accessibility by land, air and sea, conducive to both tourists and the movement of goods. Eisma added the Freeport “has a high quality of air and ambience” since it is gifted with natural resources, mountains, and water and nature parks. “We also pride ourselves with the safety and security provided by our law enforcers here. The Freeport has gated entry and exit points,” she said, noting the zoning guidelines and restrictions that are strictly enforced.

(MS-FEB. 2017) (MS-FEB. 23, 23, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

US targets millions in deportation plan W ASHINGTON―The Trump administration issued tough new orders Tuesday for a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigrants, putting nearly all of the country’s 11 million undocumented foreigners in its cross-hairs.

The orders sent shivers through US immigrant communities, where millions of people who have spent years building families and livelihoods in the country, most of them from Mexico and Central America, were seriously threatened with deportation for the ﬁrst time in decades. Rights groups labeled the move a “witch hunt,” warning that mass deportations would damage families with deep roots in the United States and hurt the economy. But John Kelly, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security who issued the

new orders in two memos, said they were necessary to address a problem that had “overwhelmed” government resources. “The surge of illegal immigration at the southern border has overwhelmed federal agencies and resources and has created a signiﬁcant national security vulnerability to the United States,” he said in one of the memos. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned the new guidelines will “harm national security and public safety.”

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said he refused to turn the city’s police officers into immigration agents or its jails into “holding pens for deportation policy that will only undermine the inclusiveness that has helped make New York city the safest big city in the nation.” The new rules make it easier for border patrol and immigration officers to quickly deport any illegal immigrants they find, with only a few exceptions, principally children. The priority will remain undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes, as well as anyone who has been charged

or potentially faces criminal charges. However, people deemed as low priority for deportation by the previous administration of Barack Obama -- generally anyone not tied to a crime -- are no longer protected. “With extremely limited exceptions, DHS will not exempt classes or categories of removal aliens from potential enforcement,” the memos said. “All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to enforcement proceedings, up to and including removal from the United States.” AFP

Amnesty alarmed at ‘demonization’ PARIS―US President Donald Trump and other leaders whose policies “demonize” entire groups of people pose a growing danger for the world, Amnesty International said Wednesday in its annual report. “The poisonous politics of demonization” are making the world “more fragmented, more unequal [and] more unsafe”, Amnesty chief Salil Shetty said while presenting the 2016 report in Paris. The report says that “divisive fearmongering has become a dangerous force in world affairs,” adding: “More and more politicians calling themselves anti-establishment are wielding a toxic agenda that hounds, scapegoats and dehumanises entire groups of people.” Shetty pointed to Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as leaders employing “us versus them” rhetoric. Their brand of identity politics is causing a “global pushback” of human rights and undermining a coordinated response to mass atrocities, Amnesty said in the report, which evaluates the state of human rights in 159 countries.

“We have reached a point where there is no longer any red line. Almost no action has become too appalling or indefensible,” Shetty said. “In this new reality it’s easy to imagine a dystopian future where unrestrained brutality becomes a new normal.” He said that last year the world “ceased to be shocked by the deliberate bombing of hospitals and schools in conﬂict zones.” But while acknowledging “the parallels that many are drawing between the present time and 1930s Europe,” Shetty said “We must not be fatalistic.” He called on “leaders, but especially people, to stand up against the politics of demonization”. Shetty denounced the Trump administration’s attempted travel ban as inhumane, illegal and “just plain stupid... because what it’s doing is making all of us, not just people in the United States, less safe.” After a federal judge blocked the ban affecting all refugees and anyone from seven Muslim-majority countries, the White House is planning a new order this week that would allow it to circumvent the court. AFP

Top envoys to meet Mexico’s president

GENERAL AUDIENCE. Pope Francis gestures as he arrives for his weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. AFP

MEXICO CITY―The US secretaries of state and homeland security meet with Mexico’s president on Thursday, seeking to ease diplomatic tensions over President Donald Trump’s trade and immigration policies. With the countries’ relations at their most strained in years, President Enrique Pena Nieto will host US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security chief John Kelly. Trump has angered Mexico by vowing to build a wall to keep out migrants from Latin America and revise trade relations. During his election campaign, Trump branded the immigrants from Mexico rapists and criminals. Pena Nieto last month canceled a meeting after Trump insisted he would make Mexico pay for the wall. The US State Department said in a statement the ofﬁcials will discuss “border security, law enforcement cooperation, and trade, among other issues.” Mexico, which announced the visit last week, said it was aimed at building “a respectful, close and constructive relationship between the two countries.” Tillerson and Kelly will also meet with Mexico’s ministers of the interior, foreign affairs, ﬁnance, defense and the navy, US government statements said. US immigration authorities

IN BRIEF

South Korean women looking to live up to 90 PARIS―By 2030 the life expectancy for South Korean women could top nine decades, an average lifespan long thought to be out of reach, researchers said Wednesday. South Korea is not only the ﬁrst country in the world where women may live past 90 on average, it is also the one on track to log the biggest jump in longevity, they reported in The Lancet medical journal. Other developed countries are not far behind: the longevity of French and Japanese women are more likely than not to stretch past 88 years. “As recently as the turn of the century, many researchers believed that life expectancy would never surpass 90 years,” said lead author Majid Ezzati, a professor at Imperial College London. Nations boasting the greatest longevity among men by 2030 -- 84 years in each case -- will likely be South Korea, Australia and Switzerland, according to the study. Among 35 well-off countries examined, life expectancy was predicted to increase across the board over the next 15 years. While a marker of progress, aging populations also pose huge challenges to health care systems and social services, and may require pushing back the

age at which people stop working, the study warned. “It is important that policies to support the growing older population are in place,” Ezzati said. “The social implications of this change will also likely require changes to pensions and retirement.” The South Korean success story is built on broad gains in economic status, along with improved child nutrition and broad access to health care and modern medical technology, the study noted. The East Asian nation of 50 million, along with its neighbor Japan, has also maintained signiﬁcantly lower rates of obesity, and of smoking among women. In the United States, by contrast, life expectancy at birth is currently below most other highincome countries, and is poised to fall even further behind. “The poor recent and projected US performance is at least partly due to high and inequitable mortality from chronic diseases and violence, and insufﬁcient health care,” the study concluded. Among the countries canvassed, the United States has the highest child and maternal mortality, homicide rate, and bodymass index, a standard measure of obesity. AFP

have arrested hundreds of people across the country as part of Trump’s pledge to crack down on people, mostly Latinos, who are in the country illegally. Kelly on Tuesday issued new orders to authorities to begin arresting and deporting illegal immigrants. Mexico could use border cooperation as a card in negotiations. “We have been a great ally to ﬁght problems with migration, narcotics,” warned Mexico’s economy secretary Ildefonso Guajardo in an interview with Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail. “If at some point in time things become so badly managed in the relationship, the incentives for the Mexican people to keep on cooperating in things that are at the heart of (US) national security issues will be diminished.” Trump has vowed to end Mexico’s privileged trade relationship with the United States, blaming Mexico for the loss of American jobs. He has threatened to block remittances sent home by Mexican workers in the United States. Pena Nieto has vowed to defend Mexico’s interests and called for respect from the United States. He said in January that Mexico would reach out to other countries to seek alternative trade accords. AFP

Jails safety boss sent to prison for 15 years

TOAST. Actress Lydia Hearst and comedian Chris Hardwick attend the Vanity Fair and L’Oreal Paris Toast to Young Hollywood hosted by Dakota Johnson and Krista Smith at Delilah in West Hollywood, California. AFP

BEIJING―China’s former top work-safety official has been jailed for 15 years for graft, a year and a half after he was sacked over a giant industrial explosion that killed 165 people. Yang Dongliang, now 63, was head of the State Administration of Work Safety in August 2015 when a series of mammoth blasts at a dangerous chemicals storage facility rocked the northern port of Tianjin. Yang was quickly removed from his post after the disaster and subsequently placed under investigation for corruption. A court in Beijing announced Yang’s sentence in a statement late Tuesday, saying that from 2002 to 2015 he took bribes totaling 28.5 million yuan ($4.1 million) in exchange for project contracts. The court also said he bought a 270,000-yuan apartment in Tianjin in 1999 using government funds. The statement, however, did not mention whether any of Yang’s corrupt activities were tied directly to the Tianjin disaster. Yang was fined two million yuan and his ill-gotten assets confiscated. AFP

IN BRIEF Train bomber jailed for 30 years

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

World ONSTAGE. David Fanning and Leah Turner perform during the Forget-Me-Not A Night Of Music For Alzheimer’s Awareness at 3rd & Lindsley on February 21 in Nashville. AFP

TAIPEI―A Taiwanese man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday for detonating a pipe bomb on a busy Taipei train that injured more than two dozen people last year. Lin Ying-chang, 56, was convicted on charges of attempted murder and making an explosive without a permit over the July 2016 blast, which the Taipei district court said was a botched suicide attempt. The explosion injured 24 people when it tore through the train as it pulled into a station. “The defendant detonated the explosive device with the goal of committing suicide, as well as taking his revenge on society by means of killing innocent people. His motive was malicious,” a court statement said. Lin, who has the right to appeal the ruling, was also injured in the blast. He told the court he had struggled to ﬁnd a job after being diagnosed with cancer and had ended up living in his car. He said he had also become estranged from his family. But Lin believed that “society should be responsible for him”, the court statement said. The last major attack on Taipei’s public transit was when a college student killed four people in a stabbing spree in 2014 on the metro, shocking the island and prompting a security overhaul. AFP

Envoy wanted over Kim’s killing

UALA LUMPUR―Detectives probing the assassination of Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother want to question a North Korean diplomat, Malaysia’s top policeman said Wednesday.

Investigators have put ﬁve North Koreans in the frame for last week’s brazen killing of Kim Jong-Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and have said they are seeking three

more for questioning. They include the embassy’s second secretary, Hyon Kwang Song, as well as a North Korean airline employee called Kim Uk Il, Khalid Abu Bakar

told reporters. “We have written to the ambassador to allow us to interview both of them. We hope that the Korean embassy will cooperate with us and allow us to interview them quickly. If not, we will compel them to come to us,” he said. Jong-Nam died on February 13 after being attacked as he waited for a plane to Macau. Leaked CCTV footage from the airport shows the chubby 45-year-old being approached by two women, one of whom grabs

him from behind and appears to shove a cloth in his face. Moments later Jong Nam is seen seeking help from airport staff, who direct him to a clinic, where he apparently slumped in a chair. Malaysian police say he suffered a seizure and died before he reached hospital, seemingly from the effects of a toxin. Seoul has said from the start that Pyongyang was behind the murder, citing a “standing order” from Jong-Un to kill his elder sib-

ling, and a failed assassination bid in 2012. Asked whether the ﬁve North Korean suspects had masterminded the attack, Khalid said he believed they were “heavily involved” in the murder. Four of the men ﬂed the country on the day of the killing and returned to Pyongyang, he said, while one remains in custody in Malaysia. The police chief dismissed claims the two women had believed the attack was a made-for-

Charges against cadre are dismissed

N. Korea now more isolated KUALA LUMPUR―North Korea had few friends even before the assassination of the leader’s half-brother at a Kuala Lumpur airport last week, but the fallout from the killing looks set to further isolate the nuclear-armed state. Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur have enjoyed relatively warm economic ties, with some bilateral trade and citizens from both countries entitled to travel to the other under a unique reciprocal visa-free deal. Malaysia has also provided a channel between Pyongyang ofﬁcials and the wider world, with Kuala Lumpur in recent years serving as a discreet meeting place for talks between the regime and the United States. But all that could come to an end following a war of words over Malaysia’s probe into the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, which has seen Pyongyang’s envoy to Kuala Lumpur savage local police, and Malaysia recall its ambassador to the North. Singapore canceled its visafree arrangement with Pyongyang last year in protest over the regime’s fourth nuclear test. Andray Abrahamian of Choson Exchange, a non-proﬁt that provides economic policy training to North Koreans, believes Malaysia could now make a similar move. “It wouldn’t surprise me. The arrangement is already absolutely unique. North Koreans don’t need a visa to work in Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos. But the Malaysian side is the unusual thing,” he told AFP. AFP

TV prank. “Of course they knew” it was a poison attack, Khalid said. “I think you have seen the video, right? The lady was moving away with her hands towards the bathroom. She was very aware that it was toxic and that she needed to wash her hands.” Khalid said Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong, 28, and Indonesian Siti Aishah, 25, had been trained to swab the man’s face, practicing in Kuala Lumpur before the assault at the airport. AFP

GUILD AWARDS. From left, actress Mamie Gummer and honoree Meryl Streep attend The 19th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards) with Presenting Sponsor LACOSTE at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

20 months jail for ex-Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang HONG KONG―Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Wednesday after a high-profile corruption trial found him guilty of misconduct during his time at the helm of the city. Tsang, 72, who held the leadership post of chief executive for seven years from 2005, is the most senior city official ever to be convicted in a criminal trial and the highest ranking one to be put behind bars. The six-week trial at the High Court came as residents lose faith in Hong Kong’s leaders after a string of corruption cases fuel suspicions over the links between public officials and busi-

ness figures. Tsang was found guilty on Friday of failing to disclose his plans to lease a luxury flat from a major investor in a broadcaster, which was later granted a license from the government while he was leader. “Never in my judicial career have I seen a man fallen from so high,” judge Andrew Chan said in delivering the sentence. Tsang’s four decades of service to Hong Kong was “indisputable”, but his breach of trust was “significant”, Chan told the court packed with reporters and Tsang’s relatives. He “deliberately concealed” his dealing and negotiations, the

judge said. The former leader was photographed wearing a surgical face mask, his trademark bow tie and hand restraints as he was escorted to a prison van ahead of the hearing. He had been remanded in custody on Monday ahead of the sentencing but was hospitalized on the same night after he apparently had difﬁculty breathing. Tsang was acquitted on another misconduct charge which alleged he had failed to declare that an architect he proposed for a government award had been employed as an interior designer on the ﬂat. However the jury failed to reach a verdict on a bribery

charge that alleged he had taken the redecoration and refurbishment of the apartment as a kickback. A retrial on that count was scheduled for September. Tsang’s family, including his two sons and wife, looked visibly upset as they exited the court house. “Today is a very dark day. My family and I feel very disappointed and sad regarding today’s decision by the court” his wife, Selina, arm-in-arm with her two sons, told reporters. “We will appeal,” she added. Tsang had previously said that he had “every conﬁdence” he would be exonerated. AFP

PHNOM PENH―A UNbacked court on Wednesday dismissed a case against a former Khmer Rouge cadre charged with crimes against humanity, highlighting the difficulties of bringing lower level members of the brutal regime to justice. The Khmer Rouge dismantled modern society in Cambodia in their quest for an agrarian Marxist utopia, killing up to two million people. Only a handful of senior leaders have been jailed by the special court set up to deliver justice to the regime’s victims. But a string of recent cases had raised hopes of new convictions in a country where thousands of regime officials have never paid for their crimes. Mid-ranking cadre Im Chaem, a former district official, was among four Khmer Rouge members facing prosecution for charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Prosecutors and survivors accused her of being a key player in overseeing regime policies that led to the deaths of tens of thousands. But on Wednesday two judges—a Cambodian and a German national—threw out the prosecution against her, ruling the court did not have the remit to pursue lower level cadres. “Im Chaem is not subject to the (tribunal’s) personal jurisdiction, which means she was neither a senior leader nor otherwise one of the most responsible officials of the Khmer Rouge regime,” the court said in a statement. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Works by established and emerging artists were auctioned off

Art, Awareness and Advocacy

HE Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP), the only professional liver society in the country that champions research, education and advocacy on liver health and liver-related diseases, hosted a gala and an art auction to benefit its flagship advocacy project, the B Aware Campaign, on 19 January 2017. B Aware Benefit Gala was held at the Atrium and Courtyard of Enderun Colleges.

The evening started with wine and cocktails as guests browsed the art pieces that were up for auction. The auction featured works by established and emerging Filipino artists – Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo, Aris Bagtas, Max Balatbat, Kris Brasileño, Marrz Capanang, Rafael Cusi, Daryl Dalipe, Alvin De Jesus, Vic Fario, Ronald and Jonnel Castrillo, Toym Imao, Jonn Laserna, Ram Mallari, Pierre Patricio, Rene Robles, Paulina Luz Sotto, Bea Tan, Edwin Wilwayco, among others. Bill Perez and Ver Cuison of Kunst Art Gallery curated the exhibit. Dr. Ian Cua, current president of HSP, opened the event. He highlighted the need to spread awareness regarding Hepatitis B to the public. “Being at the forefront of advocacy and the formulation of national policies on liver health and liver disease in the country, HSP aims to educate the general public, through its B Aware Campaign—by bringing to light the risk factors, health consequences, treatment and prevention of Hepatitis B via digital, print and broadcast media, and out of home advertising as well as by way of events,” said Cua. Dr. Janus Ong, Public Relations oficer of HSP, introduced the B Aware Campaign and its story; how the campaign began with a Facebook page (BeAwarePH) in October 2014, followed by an informative website (www. beawareph.com). The online following

has grown to over 10,000 followers; B Aware is poised to embark on a multimedia campaign in the coming months. An important highlight of the evening was the B Aware Hero Awards, which aimed to honor individuals and organizations who contributed greatly to the B Aware Campaign and Hepatitis B awareness in the country. Among the B Aware Heroes is Baltazar Lucas, an advocate who lost three brothers to Hepatitis B complications. He is also a courageous Hepatitis B patient, and survivor of liver cancer and liver transplant. Another awardee is Dr. Roel Cagape, a Mindanao-based community doctor serving the B’laan tribe of Sarangani, whom he discovered to have a high prevalence of Hepatitis B infection. Other distinguished awardees were: Yellow Warriors Society of the Philippines, a national organization of individuals living with viral hepatitis, and Gilead Sciences, a company committed to supporting community-based educational programs for awareness and disease prevention. World Health Organization, and the Department of Health were also recognized for their continued partnership with the HSP in its advocacy projects in Hepatitis B. Not present during the event was another awardee, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc, also a strong partner in the B Aware Campaign. Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, was the guest of honor of

(From left) Dr. Ian Cua; Dr. Rajendra Yadav, representative of the WHO Office in the Philippines; Rosalind Viazon of Department of Health; Ben Kamarck of Gilead Sciences; B Aware Hero awardees Roel Cagape and Baltazar Lucas; Senator Rissa Hontiveros; and Eternity Labio, immediate past president of the HSP

Ogie Alcasid serenades the guests

the event. In her speech, she acknowledged the social stigma and discrimination that exists against those living with Hepatitis B. “This is grossly unfair, to anyone. Sometimes, those who test positive for hepatitis have been unfairly denied employment. It is my firm conviction that all forms of social and psychological stigma need to stop and I am very open to push for legislation that protects the rights of individuals who fall victims to discrimination,” Hontiveros said. For the evening’s entertainment, a shadow play group showcased stories inspired by battles against Hepatitis B—from a doctor and patient’s perspective. As a finale, one of the country’s foremost singer-songwriter, Ogie

Alcasid entertained and enthralled the guests with some of his hit songs. The event was graced by over 120 guests, many of them giving invaluable support by taking home beautiful pieces of art from the silent auction. The funds raised during the event will be used to fund future projects of the B Aware Campaign and HSP. B Aware Benefit Gala was sponsored by Akari Lighting & Technology, Westmont, Armstrong Securities, Mechatrends, LLC Impact, SMA, SPR Boracay Real Estate, Inc., Ralph’s Wines and Spirits, and Mr. and Mrs. Sonny and Vivian Lim. Niña Corpuz of ABS-CBN and Dr. Angelo Lozada of HSP were the hosts during the event.

Campaign rallies young people to speak out, raise funds and build decent homes HOUSING organization, Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP), announces today its 2017 launch of Young Leaders Build. The campaign is Habitat’s largest youth movement in the Asia-Pacific region. Organized for the sixth consecutive year, the regional campaign is driven by dynamic and socially responsible youth to ensure decent housing for all in a region where one in eight people live in slums, according to the United Nations. The Philippines is currently facing a housing crisis with 5.5 million Filipino families lacking access to their own safe, decent home. “At Habitat, we aim to serve these families in need by partnering with others to build better communities, and a better nation—together. We believe the best way to face this crisis is work alongside the next generation of empowered youth leaders who are socially conscious and energetic to volunteer, fundraise and advocate for poverty alleviation,” Charlie Ayco, HFHP managing director and CEO said. Youth volunteers help transform the lives of underprivileged families and communities by helping build better homes for them

HFHP has engaged more than 1.2 million volunteers in the past fiscal year, which garnered more than 2.5 million volunteer hours, and the organization looks forward to engaging even more youth volunteers through the Young Leaders Build campaign in the coming months. The Young Leaders Build was pioneered more than a decade ago by Alexandra Eduque, founder and chairwoman of the Habitat Youth Council, who kickstarted the project as a national effort. Now, due to the campaign’s successes, it is now a global youth movement. “We look forward to this year’s Young Leaders Build to be more empowering to the youth and more transforming for the families and communities we serve,” Ayco added. In the coming months, youth, celebrities, schools and corporate supporters will volunteer, raise funds and lend their voices to help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for them-

selves. Events planned across the region include workshops, rallies, runs, volunteer trips, a youth forum, an advocacy grant program and a Twitter party. The multi-month Young Leaders Build campaign will culminate on Apr. 22 with thousands of young people taking part in simultaneous activities across Asia-Pacific. These include house building, school cleaning, fundraising events, and advocating for decent housing on social media. The campaign in the past year saw a record 2,448,914 supporters from 16 countries and one Special Administrative Region in the Asia-Pacific region. Volunteers worked on 420 houses and served 7,620 families. The campaign raised US$ 1.6 million to enable families to have a decent place to live. Join the Habitat Young Leaders Build community on Facebook bit.ly/HabitatYLB. Post on social media with the hashtag #HabitatYLB. Follow on Instagram @HabitatYLB.

MakatiMed’s team of multidisciplinary doctors and nurses help patients under the hospital’s palliative and home care services

Care and comfort

when a serious illness strikes A DIAGNOSIS of a life-threatening illness often comes with feelings of panic and hopelessness. But there is help available. Makati Medical Center, the Philippines’ premier healthcare institution, discusses palliative care, a kind of specialized medical care available to patients and families dealing with serious diseases. “It is a type of holistic care given to patients and their families focusing on relief of symptoms, pains and stresses” says Mari Joanne A. Guerzon-Joson, MD, head of MakatiMed Integrative Palliative & Home Care Services. “It can be offered in the hospital, at home, in hospices, or centers for the elderly. The goal is to make the patient facing life-threatening illness feel comfortable and pain-free.” According to Joson, palliative care is ideally given at the early stage of a lifethreatening illness to establish goals of care, advance directives, and decision-

making procedures. It’s a team care approach shared between a team of multidisciplinary doctors and nurses, who will help the patient and the family explore personal goals and match the treatment options available to improve the patient’s quality of life. “This type of care treats the symptoms the patient feels, such as pain and depression, as well as shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and other symptoms that can also cause distress not just to the patient but also to his or her loved ones,” she says. “Palliative care may be offered to anyone at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and provided along with curative treatment for Cancer, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and many more.” One of the services offered to patients under palliative care is Advance Continued on D2

Life

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

T SITIO Pajo, a poor barangay in Baesa, Quezon City, a small kitchen comes to life before dawn. Over 600 meals are cooked and packed every day by a handful of Kusina ng Kalinga volunteers. Kusina ng Kalinga is a universal school-based feeding program run by Gawad Kalinga. It serves nutritious lunch meals daily to 18,252 elementary students in our country’s poorest communities thru its kitchens in Palo, Alang-Alang, and San Isidro, Leyte; Hernani, Eastern Samar; Sitio Pajo in Quezon City; Nagcarlan, Laguna; San Gabriel, La Union; Baguio City, Benguet; Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and Parang, Maguindanao. Unlike many feeding programs, Kusina ng Kalinga is a sustained initiative that is vital in ending a fundamental symptom of poverty: hunger. All students of sections that are part of the program will be able to receive a meal; regardless of their weight or current nutrition status. In 2015, social enterprise First Harvest set out to raise 10,000 meals for hundreds of public school children via Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga. This year, First Harvest intends to go even further with its Caring Comes First campaign. Each purchase of First Harvest Peanut Spread goes towards raising 66,000 meals for Kusina ng Kalinga. It seems unfathomable that a fouryear-old food brand like First Harvest is gearing up to raise funds to help feed hundreds of our nation’s poorest children.

66K meals for Gawad Kalinga’s

KUSINA NG KALINGA First Harvest’s bestselling Peanut Spread

Social enterprise First Harvest in Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan, is raising 66,000 meals for Kusina ng Kalinga

“What makes our business work is that we always put the poor first. They define our

A favorite among kids, Peanut Crunch combines the flavor of peanut spread and the texture of pinipig

Newest threat to health DO YOU feel like you get tired and exhausted more often? Do you find yourself suddenly more prone to allergies you previously didn’t have before? These signs, and more, all point to the development of what some experts call 21st century diseases. What’s the most alarming characteristic of 21st century diseases? It is man-made. How does this happen? Long work hours, pollution, binge eating, binge drinking, lack of exercise and traffic are all modern stressors that lead to an imbalanced immune system. Not many people know that a compromised immune system is an imbalanced immune system. To be imbalanced means that some of your immune cells may be over-reactive or not attentive enough. When this happens, the immune system either overreacts to harmless things, or isn’t attentive enough when harmful bacteria or viruses enter the body. The result could be as manageable as a recurring allergy or asthma; it could be as serious as heart disease, diabetes, or even cancer. One of the best ways to protect the body from 21st century diseases is to balance the immune system. To get it back on track, it needs immunomodulators. Immunomodulators are naturallyoccurring substances that help nourish

your immune cells, so your immune system becomes balanced once again. Studies have shown that when taken with your doctor-prescribed medicine, immunomodulators greatly speed up the recovery time of people suffering from ailments like allergic rhinitis; it can also help minimize the recurrence of certain sicknesses like asthma. One of the more effective immunomodulators is CM-glucan, a natural substance derived from baker’s yeast that can help keep 21st century illnesses at bay. It is 100 times more soluble than beta-glucan through a process called carboxymethylation, developed and patented by a Swiss company called Mibelle Biochemistry. Because it is more soluble, CM-glucan is completely absorbed by the body in 24 hours with no effect on the liver. When CM-glucan enters the body, it goes directly to your immune cells and begins to nourish them. Weak immune cells become more alert, while overreactive cells calm down and stabilize. The immune system now becomes more balanced, and is once again working hard to protect your body from the threat of 21st century diseases. Help your body protect itself from sickness and disease. To learn more about the immunomodulator made with pure CMglucan, go to www.immunomax.com.ph

business model. We continue to dream that we will be able to scale up our production so that we can help more people and their families,” explains Tajen Sui, co-founder of First Harvest. First Harvest credits its strong social mission to its roots. The enterprise was founded in the country’s leading hub for social entrepreneurship—the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. “When we started First Harvest, we had no business background. All we knew was we wanted to help women in poor communities. We partnered with two women who lived in a community in GK Enchanted Farm, Tita Cora and Tita Aida, who were already making homemade peanut butter from local ingredients. The samples they made eventually became the products we enjoy now.” He adds that their beneficiaries have become benefactors, teaching more

women to make peanut butter. “Our lo- platform to share their talent and to concals and our farmers have vast untapped nect them to opportunities.” First Harvest’s bestseller, the Peanut resources like land and produce.” Spread (P174.75, 250g; P274.75, 450g) Twice the love in every jar is loved for its all-natural blend of rich For Sui and the rest of the First Har- roasted peanuts delicately sweetened vest team, providing food is a palpable by honey. It also has a Filipino take on expression of love. the much raved about salted caramel Every bite is free from extenders, ar- flavor: Salted Coco Caramel (P149.75, tificial flavors and preservatives. The 140g). Its layers of flavors with arobrand’s development process involves matic sesame seeds and a dash of reviving heritage recipes and using salt—is a far cry from the regular coco homegrown ingredients for its products. jam. Kids love the texture of the PeaAs a social enterprise, First Harvest nut Crunch (P189.75, 250g; P289.75, participates in rural development by 450g). It combines the flavors of the manufacturing straight in farming com- peanut spread with a pop of pinipig. munities. This way, the brand can source First Harvest spreads are now availathe freshest ingredients straight from the ble in 40 outlets nationwide. Grab them farmers, and create employment oppor- from Human Nature branches nationtunities through its manufacturing chain. wide, Balai Pandesal, B GOOD Store, “We want to create value for our Alabang-based Real Food and selected community partners—whether they’re Echostore branches. agrarian reform beneficiaries or local women who can be taught how to make For more information, the products. First Harvest wants to be a visit First Harvest.ph.

NOT all established organizations are only focused on growing their businesses. Some also use their resources to give back and create a positive impact to the community. Such is the case of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) whose company culture goes beyond providing the best-quality food products to households to reaching out to Filipinos, especially the ones in the fringes of society. As part of its employee engagement program and in keeping with its advocacy of extending help to marginalized minority groups, BAVI employees recently visited an indigenous people camping site at the University of the Philippines in Diliman to sponsor 300 oven-roasted chickens from its flagship rotisserie brand Chooks-to-Go. Gathered to conduct a series of cultural activities to inform the public about their plight in their communities, about 3,000 Lumad and 500 indigenous peoples from the Cordilleras, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon were fed as the BAVI employees brought food, as well as helped organize the grouping and distribution. During the simple outreach activity, the employees also had an opportunity to meet with Lumad tribal leaders and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to further their understanding of the current situation of the Lumads and the indigenous people. Indeed, such a simple deed served as an eye-opener to share the many

300 Chooks-to-Go chickens in Lumad campsite

Care... From D1

Stress, pollution and unhealthy lifestyle choices are some of the leading causes of imbalanced immune system.

Salted Caramel is like coco jam, but better

Care Planning. It involves getting information about the kinds of treatments available to improve a patient’s quality of life, and deciding in advance which treatment the patient may want based on his or her own personal values and preferences. A patient facing serious illness may also opt not to undergo curative treatment or further hospitalization any longer. Joson adds, “When a patient is diagnosed with life-threatening illness and chooses not to have further treatments, the consequences of these decisions have to be explained thoroughly to the patient and his or her family. At the end

Bounty Agri Ventures, Inc. employees give out 300 roasted chickens to indigenous people at a camping site at the University of the Philippines Diliman

blessings to the ones in need. But more than the brief engagement, the visit was an opportunity to immerse the employees to have a glimpse of the life and culture of the various indigenous groups across the country. It also aimed to create a deeper social awareness for BAVI employees as they become more caring and responsible citizens as part of a company that ac-

tively promotes and encourages social responsibility through volunteer and outreach activities. This is the second year that the company has sponsored a meal for the visiting indigenous people and is just among its many outreach programs. In the near future, BAVI intends to create more impactful initiatives to sustainably help such minority groups

of the day, the palliative care team will support their decision and guide them every step of the way. The symptoms and discomfort of the patient will be addressed by the team. With Advance Care Planning, patients and families will have more control over the medical care with clear goals and a good communication system.” There are patients who refuse palliative care, usually due to the misconception that it is end-of-life care only, or it is the same as hospice. According to Dr. Joson, hospice care is actually a specific type of palliative care for patients who are not expected to live more than six months. “Talking about illnesses and dying is upsetting and difficult,” says Dr. Joson. “But the better prepared we

are, the easier it will be on the ones we leave behind.” Makati Medical Center’s very own Integrative Palliative and Home Care Services is composed of a team of highly skilled doctors and nurses who conduct visits to patients in the comfort of their home or in other facilities. They aim to improve the quality of life of patients, and assist in the decisionmaking process for the patient’s health and treatment plans. For more information, contact MakatiMed Integrative Palliative & Home Care Services located at 2nd floor, Tower 2, or call (02) 8888 999 local 3266. You may also contact MakatiMed On-Call at (02) 8888 999, email mmc@makatimed. net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

‘Emerald City’

from Tarsem Singh now on iﬂix

HE world’s leading Internet TV service for emerging markets, offering subscribers unlimited access to thousands of TV shows, movies and more, is thrilled to premiere Emerald City, a fantastic reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Subscribers of iflix in the Philippines can now stream and download episodes of NBCUniversal’s awesome new drama series, with new episodes fast-tracked from the United States every week. Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-yearold Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) is transported to another world — a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (Vincent D’Onofrio) governs over one kingdom, has outlawed magic, and faces not only the wrath of a growing cauldron of witches, but a looming disaster brought on by a mythical force. Directed by renowned filmmaker, Tarsem Singh, the epic, romantic and fantastical Emerald City is an empowering tale of a young woman finding her true strength and identity even as she battles to bring a

divided world together. James Bridges, iflix Group Chief Content Officer, said, “Emerald City is an epic, enthralling and much darker take on the world of Oz, brought to life for a new generation with director Tarsem Singh’s jaw-dropping, breathtaking visual flair. We’re thrilled once again to partner with NBCUniversal International Distribution to bring this epic series to viewers across Southeast Asia for the first time, exclusively on iflix.” The service is priced at only P129 per month in the Philippines for unlimited access with no ads. For new subscribers, iflix offers a complimentary a month’s trial with full access to its world-class service, features and content. Go to www.iflix.com to register.

‘It’s Showtime’ introduces 8 new Hashtags members ‘Death Note: Light Up The New World’ in cinemas March 15 Japanese actors Sosuke Ikematsu and Masahiro Higashide playing detectives and special task force members in the "Death Note" realm

THE highly-anticipated manga film adaptation Death Note: Light Up the New World is an interesting follow up to the original three Death Note films. The story takes place 10 years later since two geniuses fought the battle of intelligence and now, six different notebooks fell down on Earth. The film simultaneously takes place in Shibuya, Wall Street and Russia where authorities are on high alert with Death Note killings taking place while a world renowned private investigator, Ryuzaki (Sosuke Ikematsu), joins the Task Force. He is regarded as a successor to L and it is him who figures in six Death notes this time. The unexplained deaths started when Light Yagami aka Kira, a Japanese college student found a mysterious notebook, Death Note that revealed that if a person will die if his name is written in the notebook. He used the Death Note on fugitives to punish them making him one of the most wanted serial killers by the authorities. Until a well-known detective named L stopped him at the cost of his own life. In the latest movie Death Note: Light Up the New World, havoc is once again created when

Death puts his Death Note in the mortal world again. The Death Note Task Force, originally set up by police officer Soichiro Yagami, is reinstated. Their office is in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. With Yagami dead, the Task Force is made up of five investigators including Tsukuru Mishima (Mashima Higashide) who is well versed on the Death Note incident, and Touta Matsuka (Sota Aoyama) who is the only one from the original Task Force. As the investigation continues, a computer virus called “Kira virus” spreads across the world. The virus comes with a message, “Attention Death Note owners, turn your notebook in to me immediately”. But once all six Death Notes were possessed by one individual, the person would have the ability to rule the world. A fight ensues between those who wish for the second coming of Kira and those who oppose the evil plan. Death Note: Light Up the New World opens in cinemas nationwide on March 15 from Pioneer Films. Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=2_VXmXCAb4c

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, February 23, 2017

ACROSS 1 Quaffs for tars 6 Earl “—” Hines 11 Mil. rank 14 He tried to beat the Bushes 15 Ess moldings 16 Cassius Clay 17 Mammoth dispatcher 18 Old Norse poems 19 Sixth notes 20 Vexed 22 Pitch-black 24 Shows up 28 Caterpillar feet? 29 Like moccasins 30 Dork 32 — -majeste 33 “Pal Joey” author 35 Sita’s husband, in myth 39 NFL broadcaster 40 Cato’s hello 41 With, to Henri 42 Balance 43 Razorbacks 45 By oneself 46 Metal shackles 48 More yucky 50 Beaming 53 Travel will do it 54 Toes the line 55 Come to terms

57 RV haven 58 Ho Chi Minh city 60 Vexes 65 Always, to Keats 66 Singer — John 67 Blue jay topper 68 Common ID 69 Offend the nostrils 70 Helena rival DOWN 1 Location technique: abbr. 2 Standing, slangily 3 Miners dig it 4 — — few rounds 5 Make a big effort 6 Branches 7 Feverish chill 8 Lean toward 9 Start of a bray 10 Promise 11 Kind of lily 12 Sporty fabric 13 Tallies 21 Give a fresh look 23 Kearney’s place 24 Better trained 25 Ms. Witherspoon 26 Says hoarsely 27 Find the mug

shot 28 Kind of towel or party 30 Geena or Bette 31 Brown bird 34 Goldie of “Laugh-In” 36 Shun 37 Rumpus 38 Oak, once 43 Earth’s star 44 Blarney Stone locale 47 Marsh reeds 49 Strong-arm

50 Kids around 51 Woodwind instruments 52 Pine 53 Cliff’s edge 55 Debate side 56 Thug 59 Elev. 61 Form 1040 processors 62 Give the OK 63 Flight dir. 64 Sault — Marie

IT’S Showtime introduced another batch of its kilig ambassadors – the newest members of its boy group Hashtags – who will bring more kilig to the noontime program. The new heartthrobs showed off their dance moves for the ﬁrst time on Valentine’s Day (led by former child star Bugoy Cariño, who said, “Dancing and showbiz are not new to me. But now that I’m a ‘kilig ambassador,’ you will see a different Bugoy.” Also making their debut on It’s Showtime’s stage as new Hashtags were former Pinoy Boyband Superstar contestant Wilbert Ross, model Maru Delgado, as well as CK Kieron, Kid Yambao, Rayt Carreon, Vitto Marquez, and Franco Hernandez. They will join original Hashtags members Zeus Collins, Jimboy Martin, McCoy De Leon, Nikko Natividad, Tom Doromal, Jameson Blake, Paulo Angeles, Jon Lucas, Ryle Santiago, Luke Conde, and Ronnie Alonte. It’s Showtime airs at New Hashtags members raise the "kilig" noon on weekdays and meter as they join the country's most popular Saturdays on AB-CBN. boy group

CNN mobilizes students for global day of action against human trafficking CNN is teaming up with young people around the globe for a unique, studentled day of action against modern-day slavery with the launch of #MyFreedomDay, it was announced by Tony Maddox, EVP and managing director of CNN International. As part of the #MyFreedomDay call to action, students will organize anti-trafficking events on March 14 to generate awareness of the multi-billion dollar industry of human trafficking. CNN and the CNN Freedom Project, the network’s award-winning initiative focused on covering stories of modern-day slavery, will amplify the voices of these young people seeking real social change around the world. Maddox said, “Children and young people are very often the victims of modernday slavery, but they are also some of the most energized and engaged activists against it. #MyFreedomDay is designed to provide a focal point for their actions, bring attention to their efforts and link them with others fighting this criminal enterprise in every corner of the globe.” On March 14 CNN’s television networks will show the world what students, schools and communities are doing to fight slavery with live coverage of their antitrafficking rallies. CNN correspondents around the world will also report on these various student-hosted events. Driving #MyFreedomDay is a simple question: What does freedom mean to you? CNN is asking young people to share their responses via text, photo or video across social media using the #MyFreedomDay hashtag. That content will be showcased in a dynamic, interactive video wall on CNN.com/myfreedom and across CNN’s television and social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. CNN will complement those user-generated submissions by publishing a series of stories that highlight real-life examples of how children are approached by human traffickers in addition to recent studies and statistics from support organizations.

THE BAES. They don't just twerk, members of the rising boy group, with over a million fans on Instagram, want to become good examples to their growing fan base.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

The ‘BAES’ of ‘EAT BULAGA’ want to be showbiz role models N O DOUBT about it: the “baes” of Eat Bulaga are fast becoming regular ISAH V. RED ﬁxtures on local television. Apart from their regular appearances on the GMA-7 noontime variety show, their teen-oriented show Trops continues to dominate the ratings in its timeslot months after its premiere in October last year. Collectively, the “baes” now have over a million followers on Instagram.

The Baes (as they are ofﬁcially known now) — composed of Kenneth Medrano, Miggy Tolentino, Joel Palencia, Tommy Peñaﬂor, Jon Timmons, and Kim Last — were once just known as back-up dancers in the noontime show. Now, they are making their mark in showbiz as a boy group and as individual artists. They are clearly living their showbiz dreams. But for the Baes, showbiz is not just about popularity. Their main goal is to become the new role models of the youth. “We owe it to those who supported us from the start to be the best that we can be,” said Kim, who admits that acting on television has been his dream since he was a child. “Ever since I could speak, I’ve known I wanted to be an actor. Masaya na ako. I achieved the point wherein I’m happy. Masaya ako dito.” He added, “I am living my dream, so I feel—the whole group feels—that we have to give back.” Wanting to be role models isn’t just lip service. Their showbiz success is proof in

itself that they are worthy to be emulated by the today’s youth. Kenneth, the Cebuano grand winner of Eat Bulaga’s “That’s My Bae” in 2015, also wanted to be part of showbiz ever since he was young. But despite having classic Pinoy movie star good looks, entering the industry was not easy for him. Since he was based in Cebu, showbiz opportunities didn’t come easy for Kenneth. Moving to Manila to fulﬁll his dream — and to eventually help out his family, particularly his mother — was a gamble that he did not know would pay off. “Lahat naman ito, ginagawa naming para sa pamilya namin,” he said. “Minsan mahirap. Minsan wala na kaming tulog dahil sa trabaho. Pero pamilya naming ang motivation namin.” He added, “Akala ng marami, gimikero kami. Ang hindi nila alam, kapag may free time kami, we make sure na we spend it with our family.” Just like Kenneth, Miggy is a simple teen “na patambay-tambay lang sa labas

Auditions for

‘MATILDA’

ATLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group holding Open Call Auditions for boys and girls ages 7 - 12 for roles in the West End and Broadway hit musical Matilda. Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards, and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world. Open Call Auditions for all kids roles including Matilda, Bruce, Lavender and the rest of her singing, dancing, high-energy young classmates will be held on March 18at the G-Force Dance Centre, Penthouse, Il Terrazzo, 35 Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Madriñan Street, Quezon City. Registration is from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. while auditions are from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.. Those who are auditioning should be prepared to sing one musical theatre song and bring with them 3R headshot photo, a copy of birth certiﬁcate, a CV, a guardian’s waiver/consent, and should ﬁll out a registration form upon arrival. Matilda will premiere in Manila in November with rehearsals beginning mid-September. For further inquiries, call 650-5144, (0917) 8381534 or email info@ategasia.com.

From left: Kim Last, Joel Palencia, Kenneth Medrano, Miggy Tolentino, Tommy Peñaﬂor, and John Timmons

ng bahay kasama ng mga kaibigan ko” before got into showbiz. Despite going to several auditions prior to becoming part of Eat Bulaga’s “That My Bae” contest, he admitted feeling like that’s all he could ever do — join auditions. Even when he was already in Eat Bulaga prior to the premiere of Trops, Miggy admitted feeling defeated since, unlike fellow Baes Kenenth, Jon and Kim, he wasn’t doing anymore than appear on the noontime show. “Meron time na gusto ko na mag-quit,” he shared. “Ang hinihiling lang naming

dati, magkaroon ng show na mag-extra kaming anim na magkakasama. Naisip ko, balik na lang ako sa bahay namin. Mag-stay na lang ako sa dati kong buhay, mag-quit na lang kami.” But his fellow Bae Tommy, a call center agent before joining showbiz, encouraged him to keep pushing forward. Their dream, after all, is no longer just for themselves, Tommy explained — it is also for their family, loved ones, and supporters who have been behind them since day one. “Yung mga tagumpay namin, yung mga achievements namin,

para yun sa lahat ng naniwala sa amin.” Clearly, they’ve gone a long way since then. “Before, when people would see us in public, they would say, ‘Uy, si Twerk It Like Miley,” said Kim, referring to the dance song their group was initially known. “Now they would say, ‘Uy, si Trops’.” This also means, as role models, that they share what they have learned from their experience in showbiz. One of the most important lessons they’ve learned recently, Joel said, is from Trops co-star Irma Adlawan. From the veteran actress, the Baes learned that there is no point in resting on their laurels. “Sabi ni tita Irma, ‘Mga anak, huwag ninyong iisipin na lagi kayong magaling. Ganun ako, Kasi kung magaling ka, wala ka nang patutunguhan. Pero kung iniisip ko na hindi ako magaling, marami akong natutunan, marami pa akong mapupuntahan,” he said. Of course, as one of today’s most popular boy groups, competition can’t be avoided. But the Baes know that there is more to showbiz than just a contest of popularity. As role models, the Baes know that despite their current success, they have to keep working hard. “Di ba may mga group na until now kilala pa rin kahit wala na sila. People would say na magaling yung mga members ng Sex Bomb Dancers or Streetboys. We want to people to say someday na, ‘That’s My Bae yan, magaling yan’,” Kenneth said. Kim added, “Sana we get to leave a mark, hindi yung isang bagsak lang, tapos wala na. We’re here for the long haul. We’re here to stay.”

Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Iza Calzado lead Fundraising Hour WWF-PHILIPPINES National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado shared their passion for the environment with mallgoers and encouraged them to support WWF’s Individual Donor Programme (IDP) during the recent Ambassador’s Fundraising Hour held in Greenbelt 1, Makati. Everyone can now directly contribute to the sustainability initiatives of WWF-Philippines by visiting WWF booths in selected malls all over the country or by going to the WWF-Philippines website at wwf.org.ph/donate. Potential donors can choose to make a one-time donation or monthly donations, which can help sustain various WWF-Philippines biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation programs all over the country. For as little as P500 per month, you can help provide portable solar lamps to families in communities that have no access to electricity, produce WWF workbooks that educate elementary students about species conservation, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, proper waste management and climate change or support the

training of teachers for sustained environmental awareness. Donations of P 700 monthly meanwhile, can help sustain our seas, support reforestation programs and encourage traditional and environmentally sound fishing methods for tuna fishermen, while donations of P1,000 can help save lives by boosting vulnerable communities’ resilience to climate change, help fishers affected by typhoons in building their own fiberglass boats and protect precious food resources like the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan. Supporters can also give one-time cash donations in exchange for WWF merchandise. Credit cards are accepted. As one of the newest WWFPhilippines Ambassadors, Iza admitted that her role truly transformed her lifestyle as she considers environmental issues in her everyday decisions. “I took this role as an opportunity to do more for the environment and become more aware about its pressing issues. Slowly, I am trying to help in a bigger scale but as of now, I do little things such as donating to causes instead of giving gifts,” Iza said. Meanwhile, longtime WWFPhilippines Ambassadors Marc and

WWF National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Iza Calzado, and Rovilson Fernandez encourage mallgoers to support sustainable initiatives of the nature conservation group.

Rovilson continue to channel their passion for great outdoors towards spreading more awareness about the country’s immense biodiversity and conservation issues. Founded in 1997, WWFPhilippines spearheads campaigns and solutions to help the country combat worsening climate change, secure food sources to alleviate poverty, conserve endangered species, secure fresh water sources, providing sustainable livelihood programs in communities, all of which transform lives of Filipinos, especially those in

sectors which rely most on nature for food and livelihoods. As of now it has 13 project sites including Tubbataha Reefs and Cagayancillo in Palawan, Donsol in Sorsogon, Mt. Iglit-Baco Mountain Range in Mindoro, Ipo Watershed in Bulacan and Hamilo Coast in Batangas. WWF-Philippines also conducted climate studies in dozens of cities around the country. If you wish to learn more about IDP and the other programs of WWFPhilippines, you may log on to wwf. org.ph.