Manila Standard - 2017 March 13 - Monday by Manila Standard

GOVT, REDS RENEW TRUCE; PEACE GAB REVIVAL SEEN By Florante S. Solmerin, Sandy Araneta

PARALYMPICS. Persons with disabilities join a baton run in support of the 9th Asean Paralympic Games to be held in Malaysia in September. The forthcoming event is an international multisports activity involving athletes with a range of disabilities including impaired muscle power ( such as paraplegia and quadriplegia, vision and intellectual impairment). NORMAN CRUZ

THE government agreed Sunday to reinstate a ceasefire with communists rebels despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier threat to step up attacks on the group. Negotiators for both the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front also agreed to resume collapsed peace talks, a joint statement said after the two sides met for informal talks in Utrecht, The Netherlands from March 10 to 11. The statement also said both sides reaffirmed all the agreements they had reached before the peace talks ended abruptly last month. “In the meantime, the parties agreed to reinstate their respective unilateral ceasefires,” as soon as both sides inform their armed units, the statement added. The document was signed by the chairman of the government panel, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III; Hernani Braganza, member of the government panel; Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the NDF panel; and Benito Tiamzon, a member of the NDF panel. Signing as witnesses were the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza; Efren Moncupa; Jose Ma. Sison, NDF chief political consultant; Wilma Tiamzon, secretary-general of the Communist Party of the Philippines; and Elisabeth Siattum, third party facilitator from the Norwegian government. Dureza said the ceasefires would serve as “a prelude” to an interim bilateral ceasefire, but more meetings would be needed to hammer out guidelines and mechanisms. The joint agreement on safety and immunity guarantees, which the President terminated, has Next page

Tourism board draws ﬂak By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

VOL. XXXI • NO. 31 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

FORMER actor Cesar Montano, chief operating ofﬁcer of the Tourism Promotions Board, is being accused of spending millions of pesos on nonrelated tourism projects and hiring 18 people consisting of his stuntman, friends, and relatives, who earn salaries between P14,000 and P80,000.

In a seven-page complaint ﬁled before the Presidential Action Center, a copy of which was obtained by Manila Standard, employees of TPB raised 30 points against Montano, detailing his nonwork-related domestic and international travels; his hiring of consultants, friends and relatives for redundant jobs; and his negligence. Next page

34 NGOs dump Gina Tokhang reloaded: 14 kills, 467 arrests By Rio N. Araja FOURTEEN drug suspects were killed from March 6 to 12 under its revived anti-illegal drugs campaign “Double Barrel Reloaded,” the Philippine National Police said Sunday. Police also arrested 467 suspects during the same period in the new “Tokhang” program that now requires barangay ofﬁcials to accompany the police as they knock on doors of homes of drug suspects to convince them to reform. Since March 6, police have visited 5,164 houses, the report said. One pusher and 18 users have also surrendered, it said. Under the previous Oplan Double Barrel, more than 2,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations from July 2016 to February 2017.

The program was suspended after anti-drug police officers were accused of kidnapping and killing a South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October 2016. On Sunday, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said he will convince lawmakers Tuesday that Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded would be bloodless when he testifies before the House committee on public order and safety. Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, the committee chairman, said Dela Rosa has confirmed his attendance to the panel where he is scheduled to brief them about the resumption of the administration’s nationwide anti-drug campaign. “The committee will hold a meeting this Tuesday on the Oplan Double Barrel, Reloaded. General Dela Rosa will face us to brief and explain the nationNext page

Rody urges PMA grads: Be vanguards of hope By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday told the Philippine Military Academy graduates to be vanguards of hope and catalysts for change and warned them about corruption. “It is not only your enemies but the entire world that will test, tempt, corrupt and pressure you,” Duterte said in his speech during the commencement exercises of the PMA class of 2017 at the Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar in Baguio City. “Remember your roots and remember the people. Be vanguards of [hope], be catalysts of change.” Duterte made his statement even as the valedictorian of the Class of 2017 urged her fellow graduates to never let their imperfections hinder them from striving for excellence. “I’m just an ordinary cadet, one who commits mistakes, who slept in class and has ﬂaws in my own ways. Nobody’s perfect, but be-

ing imperfect does not mean that you do not aim for excellence,” said 22-year-old Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez. “For as long as you’re doing your best in everything you do, that is excellence and cadets like us should always aim for that.” Martinez, the second woman to top her class in PMA history, also vowed that she and her classmates will serve the country honorably. “We will strive to become the best officers who are worthy of your respect and trust.” Duterte thanked all the Filipino soldiers for their loyalty to the flag. “Rest assured that the government will reciprocate your valor and your unwavering courage by providing you with all the necessary support and incentives,” Duterte said. “This administration will give you and your families the services, benefits and entitlements that you rightfully deserve.” Next page

Over joint venture with Palawan By Robert A. Evora

The co-management agreement covers around 731,710 hectares of forest lands, protected areas, manUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—A grove forest and coastal areas, and network of 34 environmental around 9,800 square-kilometers of coral reefs, Chan said in a press nongovernment organizations has statement. withdrawn its support for the confirmation of PNNI and other Palawan-based Regina Lopez as secretary of the Department of NGOs criticized the agreement as Environment and Natural Resources, an official “lacking scientiﬁc basis and public consultation.” They and other nonof the group said Sunday. proﬁt groups also said the agreement “deprived civil society orgaLawyer Robert Chan, execu- Lopez after she entered into an nizations of proper representation tive director of the Palawan NGO agreement with the provincial in its technical working group.” Network Inc., said they decided government to co-manage certain “Secretary Lopez’s allies sought to withdraw their support for areas in Palawan. Next page

Stop incursions into Benham—solons By Macon R. Araneta SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Sunday called on the Executive department to craft a comprehensive strategy to protect Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau off the coast of Aurora, from foreign incursion. Senator Win Gatchalian earlier

urged the Duterte administration to defend Benham Rise in the face of the reported Chinese intrusions into the area. “No ifs or buts. The government must have a Benham Rise Protection Strategy. A comprehensive strategy in holding on to and developing Benham Rise,” Recto said. “We cannot be caught unaware.

There should be no Pearl Harbor moment that will surprise us that other countries have installed themselves on what by law is part of our territory.” Recto issued the statement following reports that the Department of Foreign Affairs had sent a note verbale to the Chinese Next page

No to TRO on Leila’s drug case By Rey E. Requejo THE Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to deny the plea of detained Senator Leila de Lima to dump the arrest warrant against her and to stop the continuation of her trial on the illegal drug charges filed against her by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court. Solicitor General Jose Calida said De Lima was not entitled to the issuance of any writ of preliminary injunction to stop her arrest or the proceedings on the drug trafficking charges filed against her. De Lima is facing charges in connection with her alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison. Calida said that, under the Rules of Court, a preliminary injunction was an order granted at Next page

CLASS ACT. President Rodrigo R. Duterte hands over the Presidential Saber to top cadet Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez, during the graduation cer-

emonies for the Salaknib Class of 2017 of the Philippine Military Academy held at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City on Sunday , March 12, 2017. Martinez also received 10 other awards including the Philippine Navy Saber and the Australian Defense Force Award. PNA

News

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

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Du30 apologizes to Leni: Crowd bursts into applause PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday greeted Vice President Leni Robredo on his arrival at the Fajardo Grandstand on Borromeo Field for the graduation exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2017. Robredo was seated just a seat away from him, and he shook her hand and apologized to her for failing to mention her in his speech. Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana was seated in between them. Ahead of Duterte’s arrival, Robredo was seen in a huddle with National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. It was Duterte and Robredo’s second meeting in public since Robredo resigned as Housing

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our endorsement for her confirmation but we could not give it because of this agreement,” Chan said in Filipino. “Yung mga kaalyado ni Secretary Gina ay kumuha ng endorsement ng Palawan NGO Network Inc. Chan said his organization sent a letter to Lopez on Feb. 27 urging her to revoke the agreement. Most of the group’s members agreed to withdraw their support for Lopez in a recently held general assembly. Chan said his organization has sent a letter to Lopez last Feb. 27 urging her to revoke her decision on the MoA. Majority of the group’s members have agreed to withdraw their support to Lopez in a recently-held board and general assembly meeting of its members. “People only see Lopez as an anti-mining crusader, when in fact, that is only one of the many tasks of a DENR chief. There are other sectors of the environment to be considered, such as forestry and fishery, as well as climate change,” he said. “What we see is she’s good in handling mining issues, but it’s the DENR, it’s not just a Department of Mining,” he added. The co-management agreement is opposed by 340 indigenous people in Brooke’s Point, who say the project will intrude on their ancestral domain. Critics also question the program’s proposal to plant bamboo and napier grass as livestock feed as this would affect the area’s biodiversity. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday scored Lopez for failing to effectively address the opposing arguments against her confirmation and said she would be bypassed—her third time. “She till has a lot of learning to do… She had a hard time answering the issues [raised by] the [those who oppose her],” Barbers said. Earlier, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and A-Teacher Rep. Juliet Cortuna, both CA members, said Lopez may need a reappointment from President Rodri-

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any stage of an action or proceeding prior to the judgment or ﬁnal order, requiring a party or a court, agency or a person to refrain from a particular act or acts. On the other hand, a TRO is issued if the matter is of such extreme urgency that grave injustice and irreparable injury would arise unless it is issued immediately. A TRO issued by the Supreme Court is effective until further orders. Calida said the primary requirement in issuing a TRO or an injunction was the existence of a clear and unmistakable right in favor of the applicant. “Criminal prosecution may not be restrained or stayed by an injunction, whether preliminary or ﬁnal, because such prosecution is imbued with public interest,” he said in a statement.

secretary in December 2016 after she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings. The ﬁrst event they attended together this year was the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting in Malacañang in January. Duterte was reading his prepared speech when he said he failed to mention Robredo. “I apologize, ma’am. It was not done. Ang nagsulat ma’am dito hindi ka sinali. Bugbugin na lang natin,” Duterte said. “I would like to apologize and acknowledge the presence of this beautiful lady, the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines. Sorry ma’am, ha? Nawala na ako tuloy, ma’am.” The crowd applauded Duterte after his apology. Sandy Araneta

go Duterte because she is deemed to be bypassed. Under the CA’s new “threestrike” rule approved last week, the body must decide on an appointee’s fitness for the post if he or she has been bypassed thrice. Over the weekend, the Manila Mining Corp. chided Lopez for making false statements about their operations. “While under oath, Lopez showed pictures of open pits of Manila Mining Corp. [MMC] in Placer, Surigao del Norte which she said she took herself,” MMC said in a statement. It then quoted Lopez as stating: “You know the price of gold went down so they suspended it but they haven’t been taking care of it and they don’t even have the funds there to rehab it and my staff tells me that it is not acidic but it’s full of copper. Nevertheless, it’s a danger to the area.” The company said Lopez made a defamatory statement at a public forum in Butuan City where she described the water in its pits as acid, even though tests by the Environmental Management Bureau showed that it and the sea water adjoining the mine site had pH levels within the DENR standards. “It is not true that MMC has not been taking care of its open pits. We properly maintain our facilities on site to ensure that they do not harm the environment. Our compliance with environmental regulations are confirmed by the quarterly monitoring made by the duly-constituted Multi-partite Monitoring Team [MMT], the last of which was in November 2016.” The company also said her claim that MMC had no fund for the pit’s rehabilitation was false. “MMC has had mine rehabilitation funds since 1998 on deposit with a government bank. Those accounts are subject to quarterly monitoring by the MMT and found sufficient and in compliance with MMC’s MGBapproved Care and Maintenance Program. The last such monitoring was made on March 2-3, 2017,” the company said. “The open pits referred to by Lopez contain ore and are programmed for mining prior to rehabilitation. Adjacent areas, as the pictures indicate, are heavily forested and rehabilitated,” the company said. With Rio N. Araja

Last week, the Solicitor General ﬁled a comment saying that, although the exceptions to the rule that criminal prosecutions may not be stayed or restrained were laid down in the 1990 landmark case of Lino Brocka et al. v. Juan Ponce Enrile, not one of these exceptions was present in De Lima’s case. He said hould the high court grant De Lima’s application for a TRO or an injunction, it would essentially be deciding on the pending criminal case against her before the trial court. Calida said a full-blown trial was necessary to determine De Lima’s guilt for the drug charges against her. He insisted that it was the RTC that had jurisdiction over violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and that the warrant of arrest against De Lima was properly issued by Judge Juanita Guerrero. He said De Lima should be tried before the RTC and not in the Sandiganbayan.

Water firm shortlisted for global deal award O NE of the oldest waterworks sewerage services in Asia, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System is leading the way in the successful stewardship of Public-Private Partnership in the Asia Pacific.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco cited as example the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, which has been awarded to San Miguel Corp. in 2016, for having been shortlisted for the 2017 Global Water Awards for Water Deal of the Year. The award, given to projects that have made the biggest contribution for the improvement of the international water sector, will be handed out at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain on April 24, 2017 as part of the Global Water Summit, a global business conference for the water industry. Apart from BBWSS, other shortlisted projects are the Aqaba Desalination Plant Financing in Jordan, Barka 4 IWP Financing in Oman, and the Vista Ridge Pipeline Financing in the United States. BBWSS’ P16.32-billion proj-

ect services 21 municipalities and threes cities in Bulacan ―with two stages completed and another stage in the ofﬁng. The Bulacan Bulk Water was among the banner projects undertaken by Velasco’s predecessor Gerardo A.I. Esquivel. BBWSS is a joint venture of San Miguel Holdings (80 percent) and Korea’s K-water (20 percent). The prestigious annual Awards was established in 2006 by the Global Water Intelligence and recognizes the most important achievements in the international water industry in the water, wastewater and desalination sectors that are propelling the industry towards improved operating performance, innovative technology adoption and sustainable ﬁnancial models.

On 19 June 1971, through Republic Act 6234, MWSS was created to ensure the uninterrupted supply and distribution of potable water. In 1997, then-President Fidel V. Ramos passed into law Republic Act 8041, also known as “The Water Crisis Act” which led for the privatization of MWSS. FVR also called for the reorganization of the MWSS to encourage private sector participation in the privatization of the MWSS facilities and operations to address issues connected with the supply distribution, strengthening the government anti-water pilferage efforts and the ﬁnance privatization. In August 1997, the Ramos administration entered into a 25-year Concession Agreement with two private consortia comprised of international and local partners. This efﬁciently shifted the operational responsibilities of MWSS to Maynilad Water Services Inc. (for the West Zone) and Manila Water Co. Inc. (for the East Zone). “The public-private partnership [PPP] or more popularly known as the MWSS Privatization has proven well for our country and

Govt,...

ist who once boasted of his links to the communist rebels, had reopened stalled peace talks with the 4,000-strong communist rebel movement after taking ofﬁce in June. His government released captured rebel leaders and both sides had called separate ceaseﬁres to pave the way for peace talks overseas. But Duterte angrily called off peace talks in February after guerrillas—demanding he release more of their detained comrades—killed soldiers in a series of attacks. Last week, Duterte ordered the military and police to step up their attacks following a communist ambush that left four policemen dead on Wednesday. “This time, I’m using everything. I have encouraged the po-

lice to call in the air assets. Use our new jets. Make use of the rockets and bombs. Flatten the hills with bombs,” Duterte said. The joint statement said an NDF negotiator, arrested after talks collapsed, would be released. The next round of formal talks will be held in April with another round to be held in June, the two sides said. The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan welcomed the resumption of peace talks, but said it would “continue to resist intensifying state fascism under the Duterte government.” “The regime should now recall its all-out war declaration, stop the militarization of communities and end human rights violations. It should do

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been restored to enable NDF consultants and their staff who are in jail or in hiding to join the peace talks, Dureza said. “President Duterte himself closely monitored the efforts taken by the negotiators while in Utrecht in The Netherlands in bringing about an early breakthrough in the talks with the facilitation by the Royal Norwegian Government,” Dureza said. Earlier, in a press brieﬁng, Duterte ordered an all-out war against the communists and also told the military to “ﬂatten the hills.” Duterte, a self-described social-

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Duterte vowed that the soldiers will be provided with the proper equipment and weapons so they could defend themselves even when they were off-duty. In the next two to three years the AFP will have ﬂight simulators, radars, support, patrol and assault vehicles as well as new surveillance and ﬁghter aircraft so the soldiers could better guard the seas. Duterte said with the people’s continuing support, the soldiers would have an AFP that they could truly be proud of―an AFP that would be at par with the rest of the world.

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The complaint stated Montano had entered into an P11.2-million contract with Carat Philippines, an advertising company that organizes concerts and music festivals, where he usually performed as a guest singer together with his nieces. “It can be observed that COO Montano always enters into a contract with Carat Philippines as TPB’s partner in holding concerts and events where COO Montano is one of the performers and not representing TPB as chief operating ofﬁcer,” the complaint said. He also entered into a contract worth P16 million for different concerts where he sang, and sponsorship of a love-team concert tour, even though the TPB marketing and communication department advised against it. “TPB received quite a number of proposals for concerts and entertainment. These proposals are approved by him, without considering the recommendation of the proper department under its purview,” the employees said. The last concert where he sang was Feb. 25 at the Luneta, which cost P4 million. It has also sponsored concerts in the United States and the United Arab Emirates at a cost of P12 million, the complaint said. “These concerts… might just

“Therefore, to the Salaknib Class of 2017 and to the men and women of the AFP, I say this to you: Proceed with your heads held high, knowing that the government and the Filipino people are with you in every step of the way. Powered by our strong convictions and an unshakable faith in the Filipino, let us overcome the challenges that lie ahead and usher in a great future for our nation,” Duterte said. “Long live the Armed Forces of the Philippines! Long live our strong and beloved Republic of the Philippines!” Duterte also extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers who died for their country. “Let me assure the bereaved that bleed the coffers of the TPB dry,” the TPB employees said. Montano also brought in a team and consultants whose functions are already being fulﬁlled by incumbent TBP employees, the complaint said. He hired three co-terminus and conﬁdential members of his team: Priza Cinco, a relative; Rommel Montano, his brother; and Peter Domingo, his housemate. Also on the TPB payroll and their monthly salaries are Virgilio Collao, stuntman and actor, P16,984; Ma. Dianara Corcino, P16,984; Clifferson Mendoza, nephew of Rommel Montano’s wife, P48,516.65; Augusto Morcoso, Montano’s gardener, P14,697.64; Robertito Nipis, stuntman and actor, P16,984; Gregorio Quinal, his personal assistant, P14,697.64; Marivic Vargas, personal assistant, P33,019.35; Maria Anne Aguila, still for processing; Princess Elefante, P16,984; Gestine Kylie Olarte, daughter of Cesar Montano’s best friend, P21,099.49; and Perfecto Realino, messenger and Montano’s childhood friend, P14,697.64. Montano has also hired as consultants lawyers Marian Ivy Fajardo, Isidro Martin Reyes, and Ela Sangalang, with monthly salaries of P48,516.65 each. Bong Macasaet was paid P78,400 for a two-day marketing workshop.

for our people over the last 20 years,” says MWSS Administrator Velasco. “This promotes common beneficial and water advocacies anchored on what is right, fair, just and reasonable for all affected constituents. Definitely, we will continue to serve the interest of the public as well as our concessionaires.” In December 2006, the 84 -percent stake in Maynilad by MWSS was awarded to an all-Filipino partnership with a construction company DM Consunji Holdings Inc. and a telecommunications/ real estate company Metro Pacific Investments Corp. for a sales price of US$503.9 Million. Velasco vowed to pursue flagship projects such as the Kaliwa, Laiban at Kanan dam projects that would ensure sustainable water supply for Metro Manila and its adjoining provinces in the next 25-50 years. He has also encouraged concessionaires to look for other sources of water in support of the overall efforts of MWWS in ensuring sustainable water supply for the next generation. away with its so-called counter-insurgency program dubiously called ‘Oplan Kapayapaan’. Duterte is again called on to free all political prisoners as a matter of justice long overdue,” said Renato M. Reyes, Jr., Bayan secretary-general. Religous leaders from Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and Sowing Seeds of Peace in Northern Mindanao said they were elated over the resumption of peace talks. Before the resumption of peace talks was announced, the Philippine National Police ordered its regional offices to fortify their defenses against possible attacks by the NPA, which have been on the rise. With Francisco Tuyay, Bobby Lagsa, AFP

the valiant sacrifices of your loved ones will not be in vain. Your government will ensure that your needs will be taken care of. That is my commitment to you,” he said. Among those who attended the ceremony was Vice President Leni Robredo, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, General Eduardo Año, Lieutenant General Donato San Juan, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the foreign service attachés, the officials, faculty members and staff of the Philippine Military Academy, the parents of the PMA Class of 2017 and the cadet corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “This is the first time female cadets occupied eight of the Top 10 spots in their graduating class,” Duterte said.

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wide anti-drug campaign of the President,” he said. Acop is a former police comptroller. Acop said Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal sought Dela Rosa’s presence in the hearing and even demanded the panel issue a subpoena to compel his presence should he ignore the Tuesday schedule. “Congressman Oaminal wants a subpoena if General Dela Rosa will not come. But he has already conﬁrmed his attendance to me over the phone,” he said. The Antipolo City lawmaker said he would want to know from Dela Rosa if “Oplan Double Barrel, Reloaded” was overhauled to eliminate the involvement of scalawag policemen. “We want to know directly from the general if the Oplan Double Barrel, Reloaded will really help rid the national police of scalawags who extort money from their victims during operations and if this would be a bloodless campaign,” he said. Dela Rosa said the new anti-drug campaign has two parts—a revitalized Project HVT, the campaign to go after “high-value targets” or “bigtime drug personalities and groups,” and a reformed Oplan Tokhang, the controversial drive in which policemen knocked on doors of houses of suspected drug users and pushers.

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Embassy to clarify the reported presence of a Chinese survey ship near Benham Rise. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had reported the Chinese survey ship was seen plying the waters of Benham Rise for around three months. Without a protection strategy, Recto said, Benham Rise might easily fall prey not only to poachers but to foreign countries interested in exploring the plateau’s marine and mineral resources. “We have practically lost the seas west and north of us. We cannot be encircled. The Eastern side of the country should be defended as well,” he said. “I am not referring to one country,” Recto said, adding he was not singling out China but warning all countries that might be tempted by the riches underneath Benham Rise. Aside from its diverse marine life, Benham Rise is also believed to be a rich source of manganese and natural gas. “We should not allow that area to be partitioned like a frontier homestead. Or cut up into blocks to be controlled and exploited by others,” Recto said. “That area is crucial to our future. If there are gas deposits, those will power our future. It is a fishing area too. With large swaths of our western seas now declared a no-catch zone to our fishermen, this will provide an alternative venue.” Recto said the government must also focus its attention to the other areas on the Pacific side of the country that had been lagging economically. “The Pacific side has always been the unattended portion of our archipelago. There are many underdeveloped places there. It is time for us to pivot.”

Opinion

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

EDITORIAL

Keeping the peace

HE resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels is a welcome development, but both sides need to take steps to prevent skirmishes on the ground from negating the gains made at the negotiating table. The government and the National Democratic Front had already completed their third round of negotiations in January when the communist New People’s Army rebels launched attacks on government

Adelle Chua, Editor

forces, even before the expiration of their selfdeclared ceaseﬁre. This led President Rodrigo Duterte to cancel the government’s own unilateral ceaseﬁre and declare an end to the peace talks in February.

But backchannel talks facilitated by the Norwegian government have revived the peace initiative again, with both parties agreeing to reinstate their respective unilateral ceasefires. In a joint statement released Sunday, the parties agreed that the fourth round and fifth rounds of the formal peace talks would be held in the first week of April 2017 and in June 2017 respectively. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the unilateral ceasefires are a prelude to an interim bilateral ceasefire, the

guidelines for which will be determined in discussions during the first week of April. The agreement said each party will take into consideration concerns raised by the other side regarding the conduct of the unilateral ceasefires that collapsed earlier this year. Both sides also reaffirmed the validity of agreements already reached in previous rounds of talks, and the government has agreed to release NDF consultants who had been arrested after the negotiations collapsed in February.

The resumption of peace talks will also mean a reactivation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which enabled communist consultants to participate in the peace talks without worrying about being arrested and detained. What was left unsaid in the joint statement was what would become of the NPA demand that the government release some 400 more of their detained comrades, even before a peace agreement has been reached. The government’s

refusal became the impetus for the NPA to lift its unilateral ceaseﬁre in February—and to step up its attack on government forces. Something too must be done to ensure that what the NDF negotiators agree to is carried out on the ground by the NPA. Just as important, the communists need to speak with one voice— presumably that of the NDF negotiators. Having NPA propagandists stir up talk of war while the NDF seeks peace simply will not do.

Ageing

Evidence THE law student will immediately recognize it as one tough subject to wrestle with. But really, evidence has to do with everything we affirm and assert. It has to do with human knowledge. It is, in the discipline of philosophy’s hollowed categories, an “epistemological” concern. Epistemology is, to put it without frills, the study of human knowledge. The knowledge that judges claim to possess when they pass judgment and resolve issues of fact as well as of law is as much a concern of the theory of knowledge as any other claim that enunciates itself in the proposition “I know….” And because it has been my passion to imbue legal studies with philosophical depth on the graduate level, the subject I teach this semester is “The Epistemology of Evidence.” Since we are awash these days in all this bewildering talk of “alternate facts” and “fake news” what might at first blush come across as an impertinently abstruse question may turn out to be supremely practical. When one makes the claim:

“Lapu-lapu ordered the killing of Rizal” then, if one is a responsible speaker, one accepts the burden of establishing the claim by means that society recognizes as rational. This will include testifying as an eyewitness, or advancing the accounts of credible eyewitnesses or mustering a confluence of circumstances that inexorably point to the Mactan bully as the deed’s perpetrator—what lawyers call “circumstantial evidence.” In any case—and in respect to all assertions—one is responsible and has a right to be engaged in rational discourse only if one is prepared with evidence. And there is a social sieve, for while the confounding utterances of the Sibyl and the oracular pronouncements of seers and soothsayers were, at some time in the history of human thought, taken to be “rational,” we are more discriminating now— sometimes, too much so, that we virtually confine “knowledge” to what can be scientifically established! One concept central to certain departments of law—contracts

We can infer intent from overt acts.

and crimes, principal among them—is “intention.” When pleadings assert that a party “intended” x, or when a prosecutor alleges that the accused willfully and, with criminal intent, perpetrated y, then indeed this elusive concept occupies center stage— or should, unless it is sidelined by immediate recourse to maxims, pedestrian beliefs and commonly peddled opinions that are regrettably often conferred the status of “jurisprudence.” Beginning with Aristotle who Aquinas heavily leaned on, “intent” has commonly be taken to be an exercise of will, the latter being one of the superior powers

of the human person: A power of the rational soul. What was often overlooked though is that in both Aristotle and Aquinas, “soul” had very little to do with what Ryle derisively referred to as the myth of “the ghost in the machine”. The human soul, actuating the potentiality of matter, was what allowed a human being to be human and to act humanly—“intending” among the acts characteristic of being human. But when, largely because of Descartes and the whole tradition he spawned, “mind” was driven “inside”—“The thoughts are in my mind.” “I planned in my mind”—and the rest of the world kept “outside,” the ginormous problem reared its head: How does one know exactly what another intends? And that, of course, is merely a restatement of the basic problem: “Do I have access to another person’s mind?” One can go through Philippine Reports and Supreme Court Reports Annotated to confirm my claim that our Supreme Court has, by and large, contented itself

with a pathetically unsophisticated answer: We can infer intent from overt acts. The Court cannot be blamed. That was Descarte’s superstitious belief too: that the workings of the soul could be inferred from the movements of the body. But the devil is really in the details. What are the overt acts that assure me that a person has intended the terms of the contract? And when one charges that the accused acted with felonious intent, exactly what are the indicia of these? I am not saying that there have been no bases for inference. I am, however, making the bold—but, to my view, justified—claim that much of this has been guess work and conjecture. More fundamentally, I am asking whether or not the philosophical premise on which the supposed inference from overt act to intention rests might not be flawed. One very influential thinker who was convinced that the premise is flawed was Gilbert Ryle who set forth what he thought about it all in “The Concept of Mind.”

I HAD a recent stimulating interaction with the new director of the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center in Taiwan, Dr. KuoChing Lin, who was a former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and a council member of the National Sustainable Development Council. We discussed issues of food security both in Taiwan and the Philippines, together with his deputy, Akio Takenaka and the FFTC information officer, Ronald Mangubat, who comes from Batangas City and has been with FFTC in Taipei for almost a decade. While Taiwan’s agricultural productivity is miles and miles improved compared to ours, there is cause for worry, according to Dr. Lin. “We have an ageing farmer species,” he sadly observed. The average farmer’s age is past 60 in Taiwan. He himself is the son of a farmer, but none of his siblings went into actual farming. They all pursued different professions. I told him that we used to own a 142 hectare farm in Davao City, part of it planted to pomelos, but our parents decided to offer it to the Department of Agrarian Reform on voluntary sale because none of us siblings were interested in managing a farm. Up to now, we have inherited land from my maternal grandmother in Laguna and Quezon from which we barely earn enough to pay for the real estate taxes, or ameliar. And while the average age of Filipino farmers is 56, younger than their Taiwanese and Japanese counterparts, our rural folk also die younger than theirs. If you look at the student population of our premier agricultural school, you will note that there are less and less of our youth interested in agriculture, or forestry, or agricultural economics courses. Farming is simply no longer “sexy.” The phenomenon is a function of two realities in the Philippine situation: Farming is not lucrative enough; in fact in most cases, it is just for subsistence. The other reality being that farming parents want their children to become “titulado,” that is, they would work their butts off to get their children to finish a college course, so that they could find better employment and compensation. Unfortunately these days, better compensation comes in the form of overseas employment, which while currently the economy’s lifeblood, would eventually result in brain and brawn drain. In Taiwan and Japan, it is not low farm incomes. Their farmers Turn to A5

Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Opinion China’s ugly head rising in Benham AFTER turning the shoals, reefs and protruding rocks in the South China Sea into military installations, China is now rearing its ugly head in Benham Rise which was declared Philippine territory by the United Nations. The sightings of Chinese ships in the waters of Benham Rise was reported by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who ordered the Philippine Navy to accost the Chinese vessels and drive them away. The Chinese ships tracked by satellite surveillance taken by allies ,were seen to stay in the area for a month and then leave but would come back again. Lorenzana said he suspects the Chinese vessels were surveying the seabed under Benham Rise. Aside from expressing alarm, the Duterte administration sent a diplomatic note to China’s embassy in Manila protesting the Chinese’ ships presence in Philippine waters. But then as with most of Manila’s diplomatic protests, including the Chinese grab of Scarborough shoal, this latest protest was dismissed by the Chinese who claimed their vessels were doing innocent passage in international waters. What is it about the Chinese? Just because they have so far not been seriously challenged by superpower US and the countries in Southeast Asia, China thinks it can get away with imposing its dominant presence in the region. When will the US and its treaty allies, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan join forces to send a strong message to China that it cannot bully the other nations in the region like

the Philippines. What, where is Benham Rise? It’s 13- million hectare landmass (nearly the size of Luzon) under the sea 250 kilometers off the coast of Aurora province in the country’s northeastern seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean. Benham Rise is potentially rich in minerals and natural gas deposits. This could be the reason China is casting a covetous eye on this underwater landmass. It was proclaimed part of the Philippine continental shelf and territory in 2012 by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Yes, the same Unclos that ruled parts of the South China Sea—the West Philippine Sea—belongs to the country but which China ignored despite The Hague court ruling validating this demarcation line in favor of the Philippines. How did Benham Rise get its name? The strategic landmass under the sea was named after Admiral Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham who led a group of explorers who discovered the landmass under the Pacific Ocean. Benham Rise is still inhabitable but a glitch in geological shift of the seismic landmass could make it rise and be populated. The environmental group Oceana urged that an international framework management body protect the marine species and resource-rich Benham Rise to prevent it from being degraded by foreign pow-

ers. Undoubtedly Oceana is referring to China which reclaimed land from the South China Sea and converted the shoals and reefs into military installations to advance its aggressive claim over nearly the entire SCS. After fencing off the West Philippine Sea, does China now want to do the same in the Philippines’ eastern side? That’s a half circle on the country’s territorial waters. Despite the Scarborough territorial grab, the Duterte government is now even going into joint venture with Chinese companies on a national broadband deal with three firms bidding for the project. One of these companies is ZTE. Recall that ZTE was involved in the same overpriced broadband deal that was scrapped back in 2006. Train carriages manufactured by the Chinese firm Dalian is raising concern about safety and compatibility with the rails of the Metro Rail Transit. Should we not also raise security concerns about allowing a Chinese company to set up our national broadband system? The US has accused the Chinese of hacking the Pentagon’s network system. With an experienced and competent Secretary of Foreign Affairs named by President Duterte, let’s hope the DFA is given more room to form and chart a sound foreign policy for the country. Although named only in an acting capacity, career diplomat

Enrique Manalo is the right man for the job. He is experienced in international conferences and has ambassadorial postings in London, Geneva, Brussels and was deputy Philippine ambassador to the United Nations in New York. Before his appointment, Manalo held the position of DFA undersecretary for policy and planning in the department. Other career diplomats who held the SFA post were Domingo Siazon. Jr. and Delia Domingo Albert. What’s this we hear that deposed Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. is applying for the renewal of his regular Philippine passport.? If, as Yasay claimed he has a US passport but gave it up when he renounced his American citizenship , then he should first take the next step of reacquiring his Filipino citizenship before he is issued a Philippine passport. Secretary Manalo should, if he hasn’t already done it yet, block the issuance of a Philippine passport to an American citizen. If given a Philippine passport, Yasay can then claim such issuance validates his Filipino citizenship. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank Cimafranca said Yasay is still holding a Philippine passport valid up to 2018. Yasay’s application was put on hold pending the clarification by the proper court on his citizenship, according to DFA spokesman Charles Jose. It must be vexing for a stateless person; Yasay is presently nowhere here (Philippines) nor there (US). This, for wanting the best of both worlds.

MAIL MATTERS

Not from revenue contributions alone THIS is in reply to the items raised by Mr. Tony Lopez in his column titled, Grant the P2k pension hike that appeared in the January 06, 2017 issue of Manila Standard. We would like to correct Mr. Lopez in his belief that SSS can grow its revenues on members’ contribution alone. SSS benefits are paid at a cost higher than what was contributed by a member, at a return of P16 for every peso paid at present. This means the surplus of contributions will narrow considerably the moment the money that needs to be generated for benefit payouts becomes greater than the contributions coming in. It is also important to note that SSS coverage is only mandatory for workers employed in the private sector. Hence, regu-

lar inflow of contributions is only expected among the employed and productive Self-Employed segments of SSS total membership. We disagree with the assumption of Mr. Lopez that managing funds is like “a picnic or a walk in the park.” As public officials, SSS fund managers are expected to perform to their full potential, provide value for money in the provision of services, and instill public trust and Confidence in the government. The exercise of these qualities has brought SSS

to see remarkable growth in its assets base, which now stands at P474 billion, almost double the total assets of P298 billion in 2010. Mr. Lopez also failed to account the fact that SSS has other expenses for other benefits and loans which would invalidate the computation he showed in his column. A more reliable basis to discuss the impact of the proposed additional benefit are the actuarial studies of SSS that already considered new entrants, projected trends in the labor force and investment conditions.

SSS has a fiduciary obligation to its members of ensuring the viability and soundness of their social security system. As expressly required under the Social Security law, the actuarial soundness of SSS reserve fund must be guaranteed first to be able to increase benefits. The sovereign guarantee of government subsidy is SSS’ last resort only when all other means failed. Lastly, it seems that Mr. Lopez has forgotten that he is an SSS member. Should he wish to know the details of his records, he is welcome to visit our office.

Ageing...

lamps, and watered through hydroponics inside a “factory,” not even a greenhouse. The vegetables were very crispy, and flavored with salt and spices, courtesy of the magic of hydroponics. Unbelievable! Here in the Philippines, we cannot even irrigate our rice paddies and corn fields enough. Our Christmas goodies are not homegrown fruits. They are imported apples, oranges and grapes. What a country! But if the present situation is bad enough, think of how critical the future of food security is. With our population still growing by leaps and bounds, not because our libido is uncontrolled compared to that of the Japanese or the Taiwanese, but because our numerous church and its bishops keep preventing the State from preventing unwanted and un-programmed pregnancies, food security is such a huge problem and will soon engulf us in nightmarish proportions. The only consolation, if it is one, is that soon the Japanese and the Taiwanese will need young Filipino muscles to work on their farms. But here we compete with

Indonesians whose population is more than double ours. The obvious solution to food insecurity is to produce more food, to coax greater productivity from our land. This is easier said than done. It will take resources which are scarce in our yet developing economy. It will require technology which means we have to partner with foreign countries which have developed far advanced agricultural technologies, even as we fund and undertake our own research. It will require rational agricultural policies (and we are glad to note the DA under Secretary Manny Piñol is emphasizing a color-coded program that matches soil conditions with the kind of crops that should be planted), and above all, political will, to ensure, as Taiwan and Thailand and even Malaysia are doing, that their agricultural economy is given primacy. There are a thousand and one things that must be attended to, and quickly, to ensure food security for the present and future generations. Thank God and human ingenuity that agricultural technology can now be shared by countries.

Even then, there is a need to convince our young people that farming is “sexy” enough, but first we ought to make it financially rewarding. Countries like Japan and Taiwan may have ageing populations brought about by decades of zero population growth (where the number of babies born are as much if not less than the number of deaths), but they are way up there in technology that they will survive a lack of farming brawn. But countries like the Philippines have to grapple with little land, little water, and so many mouths to feed. With our youth turning their backs on agriculture, the future of food production and food security looks bleak.

former pushes a pawn two squares forward, and the latter, in imitation, moves his own pawn in similar fashion, we will say that it was the former whose move was “intelligent”—meaning “mindful,” accompanied by an act of mind, a quality we would deny the move of the latter. But Ryle convincingly argues that on closer examination, it is not to the hidden workings of some “ghost in the body machine”—called “mind”—that we really refer. Rather, the characterization “intelligent” when made of a chess player points out the fact

that there is so much he can do that one who does not know chess cannot: vary his moves, change his gambit, interpret a chess player’s book, criticize the moves of another chess player, admire the excellence and the subtlety in the maneuvers of a grandmaster. “Mind” then, argues Ryle,” is a repertoire of competencies. To say that the utterance of a woman is intelligent which the squawking of a parrot is not, I refer to so much that a woman can do with her utterance of which a parrot would never be capable!

From A4

earn more than enough, unlike their Filipino counterpart. The youth just prefer to migrate to the cities from the farm, where life is well…easier. And then ensconced in good paying jobs, they get to love the good life, travel, that they prefer not to marry and reproduce offspring. When farms are no longer tilled, what happens to food security? Who will plant or raise the food that we need to eat? This is a real problem that stares our next generation in the face. For the Philippines, with farm productivity either stagnant or declining, the spectre is upon us already. Days after, I had a lovely dinner with the CEO of one of the biggest Taiwanese investors in the Philippines, prepared by his gracious wife. Although they are big on electronics, their company has recently invested heavily on biotechnology. The vegetables in the salad we had were “manufactured,” not cultivated. Manufactured because they were products of artificial sunlight from LED

Evidence... From A4 To be sure, this was not the first time the philosophical world was introduced to though that ran this course. One finds parallel insights in Wittgenstein’s famed “Blue and Brown Books.” “Mind,” thought Ryle, does not refer to some covert accompaniment, taking place somewhere in an indeterminate “inside” of a human person, to his overt acts. So, when a chess player faces a chess ignoramus, and the

Marissu G. Bugante Public Affairs and Special Events Division Social Security System

Atty. Jimeno’s column will resume next week.

It inspires more trust in the workings of the judicial system, as well as greater faith in the law to move towards this manner of dealing with the crucial notion of “intent”. And while it may neither be practicable nor wise for legislation to spell out the “indicia” or the “table of performances” that must be checked so that “intent” may be affirmed or denied, it may be helpful for jurisprudence to move judges in the direction of articulating exactly what are the verifiable acts—or omissions—that justify the appella-

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

OPEN THOUGHTS OrlaNdO OxalES

Philippine-Australia ties: Challenges and opportunities AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is set to visit the country this week. The occasion is expected to bring to fore the challenges and opportunities that inform the long-standing relationship between the two countries. Trade, investment, and security are just some of the issues that will be raised, underscored by a shared interest in regional prosperity. It bears mentioning that Australia is the Philippines’ second largest grant partner, contributing a total of $567 million in 2015. Official Development Assistance from the Australian government is invested in reforming education, preparing for disasters, providing humanitarian response, strengthening institutions, and working toward peace and security. Government initiatives like the PublicPrivate Partnership, the establishment of the Philippine Competition Commission, and even the Bangsamoro Transition Commission have all benefited from technical support from Canberra. As far as trade goes, the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) has successfully eliminated over 95 percent of duties on imports. The trade deal has been instrumental in the 50-percent jump in bilateral trade since 2010, which had ballooned to some $3.16 billion in 2015. Despite the usual concerns regarding institutional and regulatory hurdles in the Philippine bureaucracy, Australian investment in the country is relatively robust, valued at over $10 billion and employing some 30,000 Filipinos. Areas like business process outsourcing, energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and mining all have significant capital infusion from Australia. No industry, however, better exemplifies the persistence of these hurdles than the beleaguered mining sector. Even before the The unstable and hullabaloo involving Department of Environment largely arbitrary and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez, a mining policy number of Australian firms have long lamented the nu- that these orders merous missed opportu- exemplify can only nities in the sector. Many have expressed disappoint- put off further ment over the deleterious regulatory environment, investments in the including the strong, often sector. simplistic, opposition to expansion activities and the prolonged impasse in the issuance of mining permits. Perhaps with the exception of China, no country in the Asean knows more about mining-related prospects than Australia. Mining is a primary engine of the Australian economy, generating some $138 billion annually and accounting for more than half of total produced goods and services. The country is a top producer of aluminum, copper, gold, iron, mineral sands, zinc, and coal, with giants like BHP Billiton, Newcrest, Rio Tinto, Alcoa, and Xstrata having long-term local operations. Altogether, the sector contributes up to 8.5 percent of the GDP and employs 187,400 Australians directly, equivalent to 2 percent of the workforce. Bishop, then, no doubt recognizes the historically vital link between industrialization and a vibrant extractive industry. Australia’s present state of development—no doubt spurring the general well-being of its citizens—serves to testify to the of the soundness of this path. In contrast, while the Philippines is widely considered to be among the most mineral-rich country in the world, these riches remain underground, idle and virtually untapped. By some estimates, only two percent of it’s the county’s minerals are being extracted. A miniscule amount by any metric. With crusading Regina Lopez entering the picture, the prospects have gotten even dimmer. After less than a year in office, she had managed to undermine years, if not decades, of investments in mining with the slew of closures and suspensions. Australian mining firm OceanaGold, which operates the Didipio gold mine in Nueva Vizcaya, had won no less than five mining awards, including the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award, the highest award conferred to companies with outstanding performances in environmental management. It too was suspended following the Lopez audit. The unstable and largely arbitrary mining policy that these orders exemplify can only put off further investments in the sector, which, as we know, is one of the most demanding in terms of capital infusion. About a decade long timeline is necessary before a mining site’s potential is fully realized hence anything that further weakens an already volatile regulatory environment is very dangerous. Few things discourage investors than an erratic and disjointed regulatory environment. Worse, this brand of oversight—and overreach—from the government can have similarly dire repercussions in other industries as well. As it is, news of the crackdown on mines have grabbed business headlines all over, diminishing the already diminutive role of the country in the global mineral sector and sends a disturbing alarm for investors in the President’s vision for a “Golden Age of Infrastructure.” As far as Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) go, the Philippines already lags behind its neighbors in the region. This, despite the otherwise sterling national profile: a young, educated, Englishspeaking workforce and abundant natural resources. The visit from the Australian foreign minister is only too fortuitous, then, if only to remind the government of the work that must be done in reforming the regulatory environment and the badly needed jobs that good investments will create for the people.

tion of “intent” or “intentional”. One should then be prepared to say that because the obligor did x, and said y, and exhibited z, and performed w, then he intended p, as one will declare in criminal law that the accused acted with the requisite mens rea or criminal intent because we have verified p, q, r and s! It will not do for judges to make use of the omnibus pretext—“it really depends on the particularities of a case”—because if law is to stabilize action in society and to give rise to reasonable expec-

tations on which social cohesion founds itself, then we cannot leave such pivotal legal concepts to the vagaries of judges’ insights. Though there is no doubting the fact that many who sit on the bench grace it with depth of insight, many are thrust into it as well—by fortune, guile or connection—who are woefully short of that useful commodity: thoughtfulness! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

News

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 A6 Standard Manila

TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Lawmaker bats for ROTC revival By Rio N. Araja

FIRE IN THE SKY. Fireworks from Pyrotex LTD of Great Britain light up the sky on the ﬁfth weekend of the 8th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition on Saturday. Norman Cruz

Court stops hotel piracy By Rey E. Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has directed Melco Crown Entertainment Leisure Corp., the operator of City of Dreams Manila, to stop pirating employees from its competitor, Solaire Resort & Casino. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 113, PASAY CITY CECILIA A. CATABAY-BOLANTE, Petitioner, -versus-

SUMMONS JOSE S. BOLANTE No. 4 J. Paredes St., cor. Encarnacion St., B.F. Homes Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City GREETINGS:

You are hereby required, within CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-16-24548 CV thirty (30) days after service of this FOR: Declaration of Nullity of summons upon you, to file with this Marriage Court and serve on the plaintiff your Answer to the Complaint, copy of JOSE S. BOLANTE which is attached, together with the Respondent. x-----------------------------------------x annexes and a Civil Case Information Statement. If you fail to answer ORDER within the time fixed, the plaintiff will An Ex-Parte Motion for Leave take judgment by default and may be of Court to Serve Summons by granted the relief applied for in the Publication was filed by the petitioner Complaint. thru his counsel, copy of which were furnished the Office of the Solicitor Moreover, pursuant to the IBP-OCA General, and the Trial Prosecutor. Memorandum on Policy guidelines, dated March 12, 2002, you are Allegedly, service of summons to the respondent cannot be served expected not to file a Motion to Dismiss personally, neither of substituted but instead, you are requested to service for the reason that the allege the grounds of such Motion as respondent is not residing at the given defenses in your answer. Likewise, you are expected to utilize the address. WHEREFORE, as prayed for, let deposition-recovery measures under the Summons in the above-entitled Rules 23, 25, 26, 27 & 28 of the Rules case be served through publication of Civil Procedure. Failure to resort to in a newspaper of general circulation deposition by written interrogatories chosen by raffle at least once a week under Rule 25 and the request for admission of facts under Rule 27 may for two (2) consecutive weeks. be prejudicial to your interest. SO ORDERED. WITNESS my hand under the seal of Pasay City, Metro Manila, March 1, the Court, this 1st day of March 2017. 2017. (Sgd.) RENATO C. OCZON (Sgd.) CARIDAD H. GRECIA-CUERDO (OFFICER-IN-CHARGE) JUDGE (MS-Mar. 13 & 20, 2017)

before this Court sitting at the Second Floor, Rm. 237, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City at which date, time and place, all interested persons are hereby IN RE: PETITION FOR THE cited to appear and show CORRECTION OF ENTRIES cause, if any, why said petition IN THE REPORT OF BIRTH should not be granted. CHILD BORN ABROAD OF Let this Order be published PHILIPPINE PARENT OR PARENTS PARTICULARLY at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general THE NAME OF THE CHILD circulation in the Philippines FROM MARK ALLAN GOMEZ once a week for three (3) TO MARK ALLAN MENDOZA consecutive weeks, to be VERIÑA, THE FULL NAME OF selected by raffle pursuant to THE MOTHER FROM GEMMA PD 1079. The Office of the F. GOMEZ VERIÑA TO IMELDA Clerk of Court is directed to ALEJANDRA MENDOZA report to the Court the result VERIÑA, NAME BEFORE of the raffle, with notice to MARRIAGE FROM GEMMA petitioner within ten (10) days from receipt thereof. F. GOMEZ TO IMELDA

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 216, Quezon City

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,

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

The appellate court reminded MCE to comply with the provisions of the compromise agreement it signed with Solaire’s operator, Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc., in 2014 prohibiting MCE from hiring any person formerly or currently employed by the latter for a period of six months from the date of termination of the said person’s employment. The said agreement was approved by the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque City on Dec. 2, 2014 and paved the way for the termination of a previous civil case between the two parties. In a 13-page decision, the CA’s Fifteenth Division, through Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, also ruled that the compromise agreement

also covered MCE’s parent companies and subsidiaries. The appellate court overturned and set aside an order issued by a Parañaque City court which dismissed the motion filed by BRHI seeking full implementation of the compromise agreement to cover MCE’s parent companies and subsidiaries. In its motion filed before the Parañaque RTC, Bloomberry accused MCE of violating the compromise agreement when it hired Fong Hio Lon, an employee of Solaire. In its motion filed on Sept. 4, 2015, the Solaire casino operator said it hired Fong as director for Premium and Player Development for Solaire on Sept. 1, 2013. As part of his duties, Fong was tasked with attracting and coordinating with persons or entities, known as junket operators, who are engaged in the business of organizing groups of foreign casino players from different countries, and bringing them to recognized casino destinations. It added that these casino

players and junket operators are crucial to BRHI’s business. According to Bloomberry, Fong’s employment contract incorporated a notice period which required him to give at least 120 calendar days prior written notice to the company before resigning. Fong’s contract also prohibits him from joining other companies engaged in the casino or hotel business in the country for a period of one year. On Jan. 8, 2015, Fong informed his immediate supervisor about his intention to resign from his post and requested to recognize his ofﬁcial law working date on Jan. 22, 2015 and to waive the notice period. His request was denied. On Feb. 8, 2015, Fong stopped reporting to work for Solaire and joined Crown Resort Limited as director for sales operations. BRHI stressed that City of Dreams-Manila, the casino-hotel business of Crown Resorts Limited, is operated by MCE. MCE Leisure is then the parent company of Crown, and is

thus covered by the compromise agreement, Bloomberry said. In opposing BRHI’s motion, MCE argued that the word parent in its compromise agreement does not apply to employees who are employed outside of the country and that it was impossible for it to prevent Crown Resorts Limited from hiring Fong. The CA, however, pointed out that there was no provision in the agreement that would support MCE’s contention. “No qualifying words were placed in the agreement to describe the ‘parent companies’ of respondent MCE Leisure Corporation. As we see it, the interpretation being advanced by respondents see to unduly restrict the scope of the compromise agreement, which it has entered into with petitioner,” the court said. “Respondent MCE Leisure Corporation speciﬁcally undertook to bind itself, together with its parent companies and subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of the compromise agreement,” it added.

Equal rights for informal workers pushed By Macon Ramos-Araneta tors, small and landless farm- eﬁts and under very poor workers are described as the ‘working SENATOR Sonny Angara is pushing anew for the passage of a bill that accords the same basic rights and provides access to social protection to informal workers. “Informal workers don’t have access to social protection and justice since they are not covered by law, they are almost not recognized by law. Oftentimes, they fell victims to extortion,” said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate labor committee. Workers in the informal economy include micro-entrepreneurs, home-based workers, vendors, small transport opera-

ers, ﬁsherfolk, non-corporate construction workers, garbage collectors and recyclers, petty retailers, barter traders, smallscale miners and quarry workers, entertainers, beauticians and hairdressers, laundry persons, on-call domestic helpers, barangay health workers and other volunteer workers, barkers, unorganized cargo handlers. These workers are not covered by the Labor Code and other legislation that could protect their rights, making them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers who make them work long hours and at very low wages, without ben-

ing conditions. Angara’s Senate Bill 309 or the Magna Carta of Workers in Informal Economy seeks to put an end to this by ensuring that informal workers enjoy just and favorable working conditions; a living wage and equal remuneration for work; safe and healthy working conditions; and rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours, among others. The proposed measure likewise ensures access to labor market programs and social protection, particularly Social Security System and PhilHealth coverage subsidized by the government. “Most of our informal work-

poor’—or those who are working but cannot work their way out of poverty because of very low earnings and very high risk. We have to help them,” Angara said. The Labor department estimates that 16.7-million workers in the informal economy stand to beneﬁt from the bill if it is passed into law. The bill further provides for special allocations for programs and services for workers in the informal economy amounting to at least 10 percent of the annual national budget and at least three percent of the development fund of each local government unit’s internal revenue allotment.

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 (MS-Feb. 27, Mar. 6 & 13, 2017)

CELEBRATING LOVE AND FERTILITY. Performers dance to an Indian song to mark the start of the 2017 Holi Festival in Pasay City. Ey Acasio

A LAWMAKER on Sunday called on Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to ensure the swift passage into law of a measure seeking to revive the mandatory Reserved Ofﬁcers Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools nationwide. Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu urged his fellow lawmakers to support House Bill No. 5113 that would “resuscitate” the ROTC. “I appeal to the House leadership to give priority on my measure in line with the President’s desire to revive the ROTC to promote the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people,” he said. Abu’s measure would amend Republic Act No. 7077 or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act to make ROTC mandatory. The bill would introduce basic military training for students in order to “motivate, train, organize and utilize them for national defense preparedness or civilmilitary operations.” “If implemented effectively and efﬁciently, it would have the potential to produce an entire generation of young Filipinos who would be proud of their Filipino heritage and are ready to give the entirety of their being to serve their countrymen, to defend the country at all cost, and in a collective effort to make the Republic of the Philippines a real Southeast Asian Superpower in the near future,” Abu said. “The inculcation of the spirit of nationalism, nation-building, and national preparedness among the country’s population is vital to the nation’s survival,” he added.

Executive session for Villa’s sis approved THE House committee on good government and public accountability is prepared to talk to veteran journalist Rosario Sofia “Charie” Villa in a closed-door session to find out what she knows about the suicide of her late brother who previously headed the bids and awards committee at the Energy Regulatory Commission. “We’ve invited Ms. Villa to Monday’s hearing. If she shows up and requests for an executive session, we will grant it. She could help provide us new insights when we resume our inquiry into the anomalies at the ERC,” said committee chairman Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel. Villa’s late brother, Francisco Jr., committed suicide on Nov. 9, leaving behind three letters indicating he was under extreme duress from ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar to endorse rigged contracts at the energy watchdog. His sister publicly revealed the handwritten suicide letters that Villa left, and apparently prepared three months before he took his own life. Pimentel said his panel has so far uncovered at least three irregularities in Salazar’s office that involved the performance of crooked contracts even before the competitive bidding process. “We are focusing our inquiry into the Office of the Chairman, where the fraud seems to be concentrated,” Pimentel said. Based on initial evidence gathered by the committee, Salazar ordered the renovation of his conference room without a public bidding, and simply demanded that he be reimbursed by the ERC. Salazar, an appointee of President Benigno Aquino III, on his own also obtained new pest control services for the ERC sans bidding, and despite the fact that the commission already has an ongoing service provider. The third anomaly involved the hiring of advertising agent Luis Morellos as ERC consultant for an audiovisual production meant for a promotional campaign featuring Salazar, who has apparently been nursing political plans, Pimentel said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Westbrook, OKC rip Jazz

WASHINGTON—Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook moved past Wilt Chamberlain for the second-most triple doubles in an NBA season on Saturday in the Thunder’s 112-104 win over visiting Utah. Westbrook collected his 32nd triple double of the 2016-17 campaign with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists -- his third triple double against the Jazz this season. That’s the most NBA games with doubledigit totals in three or more statistical categories in more than half a century. To match the NBA record, Westbrook has 16 games remaining this season to manage nine more triple-doubles and equal the alltime mark of 41 set by Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 campaign. That season by Robertson, known as “The Big O” in his heyday, was also the only campaign when an NBA player averaged a triple double over an entire season. Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists a game over 79 contests in the 1961-62 season. He narrowly missed the feat the season before as a rookie, managing 9.7 assists a game, and again in the 1963-64 campaign with 9.9 rebounds foiling his bid. AFP

Kasparov chessfest deadline March 24

NOT YOUR USUAL RUN. The Century Tuna Superbods: The Underpants Run returned to Subic Bay for a third year Saturday. Inspired by the tradition at Kona, home of the renowned Ironman World Championship, Century Tuna continued its own local fun tradition with the Superbods Underpants Run. Started as a pre-race activity for the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 back in 2015, it has since made headlines as it brought some of the world’s super athletes racing alongside Superbods finalists. This year’s event also raised money for the Philippine Red Cross Olongapo Chapter.

Locals seek rebound at LPGT R

OOKIE pro Pauline del Rosario hopes to ride the momentum of her big windup at Splendido last week as she banners the local challenge in the ICTSI Champion Tour at Malarayat beginning Wednesday at the Mt. Malarayat composite course in Lipa City, Batangas. Though she fell short of her title drive with a joint runnerup finish despite a closing 68 in the first of two Taiwan LPGA tournaments in Tagay-

tay, Del Rosario brims with confidence as she heads to the next $75,000 event, sponsored by Champion and also serves as the second leg of the ICTSI

Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. “I like my chances but unlike last week, I have to be consistent to get a crack at the crown,” said the former amateur hotshot, referring to her pro debut at Splendido where she opened with a 71 but faltered with a 78 in the second round. She did fight back in the final day but ran out of holes with Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul coming through with clutch birdies to seal the victory in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc .

Muangkhumsakul won’t be around to go for another crown to honor a previous commitment to play in China but the Thai contingent remains as formidable as ever with former LPGT leg winner Wannasiri Sirisampant, Narisara Kerdrit, Mookharin Ladgratok, Piyathida Ployumsri, Saranporn Langkulgasettrin and Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa all seeing action this week. There are actually 25 Thais in the 73-player field, which also includes former LPGT leg cham-

pion Hwang Ye-nah of Korea, who bested a tough international field at LPGT Southlinks in 2015, and Japanese Ai Asano, Ai Tanaka and Hidemi Nakamura. Focus will also be on Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong, who humbled Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Superal to snare the crown here in 2015, along with last year’s LPGT Beverly Place titlist Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, along with The Country Club teammate Mafy Singson and Sophia Blanco.

Ngu named PH team flag-bearer By Graham C. Lim IT’S official. Philanthropist and sportsman Angel Ngu is the Flag Bearer of the Philippine delegation to the 29th Summer Universiade to be held in Taipei City from Aug. 19 to 30 this year. David Ong, president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, announced the designation of Ngu, the president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.. Ngu’s designation came Ngu after much-respected sports patron Alvin Tai Lian accepted FESSAP Board’s offer for him to be the country’s Head of Delegation to the Taipei Universiade. “The FESSAP is very thankful of Businessman Angel Ngu and FFCCCII in their support of the country’s participation in the Taipei university games,” said David Ong. “It’s hard to find a legitimate sportsman/philanthropist whose sole motive is to help youth sports in our country. Businessman Angel Ngu is among the few. His advocacy to promote youth sports is noble as it enables our nationwide university

student athletes to showcase their skills in an international competition such as Universiade that is billed by many as the Olympics at the university level.” Alvin Tai Lian and David Ong both agreed added that Ngu is a perfect choice as the Philippine flag bearer in the Taipei Universiade not only because of his business intelligence but also his humanitarian activities with the FFCCCII. “These charitable projects have resulted in the upliftment of the poor and underprivileged with the establishment of various school rooms in the countryside and elsewhere, the holding of medical missions in the rural areas and the granting of scholarships to the less fortunate Filipinos,” said Ong. The formal acceptance by Ngu to the position will be held by the end of this month in a simple official ceremony to be held in Manila. Aside from the Taipei Universiade, the FESSAP looks forward to working with Ngu in international competitions other than the Taipei Universiade. This includes the World University Championship in the various sports and sports competitions in Asia and Asia-Pacific.

KASPAROV Chess Foundation Asia Pacific Director for Philippines Red Dumuk had announced that the deadline for the March 26 KCF Young Talents Rapid Chess Chess Championships at the well-appointed Alphaland City Center in Makati is on March 24. Interested boys and girls aged Under 8 years old, U10, U12, U14 and U18 can register with assistant tournament director Alex Dinoy (email address: alexandinoy@yahoo. com; mobile no. 09183705750). Entry fee is P100. Only 300 of the pegged 1,000 slots remain. Once the limit is reached, no more entry will be accepted. Meanwhile, pre-registration is ongoing for the other KCFAP event--the March 27 Chess in Education Training for Teachers, which aims to give the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ grassroots program, supported by Philippine Sports Commission, a shot in the arm. Chess teachers (in or out of the school system) can list up with Dumuk (email address: redumuk@gmail.com; mobile no. Sun-09258092353, Smart-09292396555 or Globe-09270534040) until March 23. Payment of the P1,000 registration fee may be made at the venue. CIE is limited to 200 participants. The Department of Education, along with the NCFP and Alphaland Corporation, stand as partners of the KCFAP in the twin initiatives celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Kasparov Chess Foundation. The Philippines is one of the only three countries (Myanmar and Indonesia are the others), aside from Guam where the trio of Kasparov Chess Foundation President Michael Khodarkovsky, KCFAP Director Ignatius Leong and KCFAP Projects Manager are visiting. Owing to the upscale character of the rapid championships and CIE venue, all participants are enjoined to observe the dress code—only shirts with collar, trousers (no shorts) and shoes (no sandals or slippers) are to be worn.

No. 25 stuns No. 1 Andy GOLF QUEEN. Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (second from right) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) Splendido Taal Golf Club general manager Teboy Javier, low amateur Yuka Saso and Chen Mei-chi, chairlady of the Taiwan LPGA after ruling the ICTSI Champion Tour, the kickoff leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and third stage of the TLPGA last Friday.

Shots ﬁred! Wozniacki slams Maria INDIAN WELLS—Maria Sharapova’s planned return from a 15-month drugs ban at Stuttgart next month is “disrespectful” to other WTA players, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki said Saturday. The tournament will already be underway when five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova’s suspension ends on April 26, and she’ll play her first match that day. “I think it’s very questionable, allowing -- no matter who it is -- a player that is still banned to play a tournament that week,” Wozniacki said. “I think it’s

disrespectful to the other players and the WTA.” Wozniacki said she had no problem with Sharapova, whose ban for a positive test for meldonium was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, returning to the game. But she said the Russian star, whose world ranking has been wiped out by her absence, should play her way back into tournaments. “I think everyone deserves a second chance, and I think that she’s going to come back and she’s going to fight her way back,” Wozniacki said.

“I’m sure she’s going to play well. But at the same time, I feel like when a player is banned for drugs, I think that someone should start from the bottom and fight their way back, because it’s different from an injury where someone is out because they had hurt themselves. “When someone has been banned for drugs and something that is performance enhancing, I think that you deserve a second chance like everybody else, people make mistakes. But I think you should fight your way back from the bottom.” AFP

INDIAN WELLS—Vasek Pospisil, playing tennis with renewed purpose after a tumultuous 2016, knew something big was coming, but a stunning triumph over world number one Andy Murray exceeded his expectations. “Amazing feeling,” Pospisil said after vanquishing Britain’s Murray 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the second round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters. “I feel like I’m on a comeback trail,” he added. “I felt like a big result was coming, because I believe in my abilities, but just kind of had to put the pieces together again. Obviously to beat the number one player in the world is incredible.” The 26-year-old from Vernon, British Columbia, was ranked as high as 25th in the world in 2014 and in 2015 captured the Wimbledon doubles crown with American Jack Sock. AFP

Hall of Famers Pacquiao, Nietes, top boxers to be feted at Elorde awards’ rites ELORDE Hall of Fame honorees Manny Pacquiao and Donnie Nietes will be honored with an Award of Distinction, while three others will share the highest honors as Boxers of the Year during the 17th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at The Tent of the Manila Hotel. Pacquiao, the current WBO World welterweight champion, and Nietes, the WBO world lightweight champion, will be honored for their continuing feat as world champions even after they have already been enshrined into the Elorde Hall of Fame. Pacquiao was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame in 2012 after he won seven straight world crowns, which he accumulated in a 10-year campaign starting 2000. At the end of that period, he received the honor as boxer of the decade from the four major boxing organizations – the WBO,

IBF, WBC and IBO – as well as the Boxing Writers of America and Yahoo, ESPN, and The Ring Magazine. Nietes became world champion in three divisions – the minimum weight, light flyweight and superflyweight – retaining all these titles against the very best in each division for seven years starting in 2007 and was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame in 2015. The Award of Distinction, one of the major awards of the Elorde Awards Night, is conferred to a Filipino boxer who have already been enshrined to the Elorde Hall of Fame and became world champion for seven consecutive years, matching the feat of Da Flash who was, in addition, enshrined separately into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame as the undefeated world junior lightweight champion for seven consecutive years, from 1960 to 67.

The main awards of the Elorde rites and Banquet of Champions, also held to celebrate the 82nd birth anniversary of Elorde, is the conferment of the Boxer of the Year awards to the world champions of 2016 – IBF world flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero, IBF World superflyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas and WBO world bantamweight king Marlon Tapales. The other major highlight of the Elorde Awards, to be presented by the Elorde family led by Da Flash’s wife Laura, is the casting of the fists, a ceremonial casting of the fists of current and former Filipino world champions still alive. They will form part of a rich, extensive collection of memorabilia of Filipino greats. For information and reservations for the Awards Night please call 09390617319, 09172504156 and 8250625. Look for Beth or Liza.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

Swiss, Czech win Ironman meet in Subic SUBIC—Swiss Ruedi Wild and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt were respectively crowned king and queen of the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay yesterday after unleashing a big finishing kick. Wild, a first-time campaigner in the Philippines, made a mighty effort in the last 10 kilometers of the run to steal the thunder from Aussie world champions Craig Alexander and Tim Reed and be the No. 1 in what’s largely considered a strong field in the premier triathlon event presented by Century Bangus, Department of Tourism, and Tourism Promotions Broad. The 34-year-old two-time Olympian finished the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race in 3:48:24, dethroning the legendary Alexander (3:48:57) and reigning world titlist Reed (3:50:17) for the men’s pro diadem in the race organized and produced by Sunrise Swiss Ruedi Wild (left) and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt celebrate after foiling last year’s winners Craig Alexander and Caroline Steffen to rule their respective sides in the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic yesterday. Events, Inc. Kahlefeldt forced a similar handover in the women’s side as she submitted a winning 4:22:13, a good three-minute and 43 seconds ahead of 2016 ruler Caroline Steffen of Switzerland. Dimity Lee-Duke was a far third at 4:41:57. August Benedicto and Jenny Guerrero shared the limelight as they ruled the men’s Asian Elite and Filipina Elite, respectively. The multi-titled Benedicto dished out top form in ruling his division in 4:25:42 while Guerrero stamped her class with a 5:14:23 effort. In pursuit of the lead pack after the bike stage, Wild turned up the heat in the closany deal for the bout to happen. OS ANGELES—Retired unbeaten ing run event and caught up with pacesetting “I don’t want to hear no more excuses about the money, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather about the UFC,” Mayweather said. “Sign the paper with the compatriot Sven Riederer at the 11K mark. Keeping up his pace, Wild took the lead goUFC so you can fight me in June. Simple and plain. Let’s says that when it comes to a possible ing to the last four kilometers and seized a fight in June. If you want to fight, sign the paperwork, let’s big-money fi ght with Irish mixed martial 10-second gap against the chasing Reed and do it.” Alexander. arts star Conor McGregor, he is “out of McGregor is on a break for the impending birth of his first “It took me a little while to get ready for child, a son with his long-time girlfriend Dee Devlin, who is retirement.” the run, put the socks on and those guys due to give birth in May. were starting really fast in the first two kiloIn a posting on the MMA website, the 40-year-old AmeriLast week, Mayweather taunted McGregor over his failmeters. But I knew it wasn’t about the first can said he wants to face McGregor, 28, in June. ure to agree terms on their potential superfight. two kilometers; it’s about the second half of “For Conor McGregor, I’m coming out of retirement, just “If Conor McGregor really wants this fight to happen, the run,” said Wild, who admitted to being a to fight Conor McGregor,” Mayweather told FightHype, acstop blowing smoke up everybody’s ass,” Mayweather told slow starter. cording to the posting. ESPN, accusing the Irishman of stalling on a deal. “When I broke away, I just kept pushing “Today, I’m officially out of retirement for Conor Mc“Sign the paper. Sign the paper. You said you were boss, without looking back, tried to stay as strong Gregor. We don’t need to waste no time. We need to make so just sign the paper and let’s make it happen.” as possible. I was 100 meters or so ahead and this... happen quickly. Let’s get it on in June.” Speculation of a fight between retired former boxing welI knew if I could keep the pace, I had a very Mayweather had matched Rocky Marciano’s iconic 49-0 terweight king Mayweather and McGregor has intensified good chance. I did that and now I celebrate a unbeaten career record when he walked away from boxing in recent months. great victory here against a strong field and as the welterweight champion in 2015. In February, a report in Ireland said the two sides had I’m very happy,” he added. Speculation of a Mayweather-McGregor fight has intensiagreed terms and were only awaiting the resolution of a Kahlefeldt and Steffen headed into the run fied in recent months, with the US star saying he is willing “third party hold-up” to confirm the deal. together then the former cranked it up, gainto meet McGregor in a boxing ring. The Nevada State Athletic Commission also confirmed ing a 25-second lead as they approached the McGregor, however, is under contract to the Ultimate it was aware of negotiations between Mayweather and Mc7K mark. Mayweather Fighting Championship series, which would have to approve Gregor. AFP

Mayweather unretires to take on McGregor L

Daily celebrations promised during SEA Games By Peter Atencio THE 29th Southeast Asian Games won’t be just be another celebration of the growing strength and cooperation of member nations. The entire country of Malaysia will also rejoice its 60th independence day when the two-week biennial meet ends on Aug. 31. Fireworks and a surprise show that will showcase Malaysian independence, culture and history is also in the works for the closing ceremonies. After this, Malaysia officially turns

FEU stays in 2nd spot Matches Thursday

(Moro Lorenzo Field) 2 p.m. – UST vs UE (Men) 4 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men)

FAR EASTERN University carved out a 2-1 victory over National University and stayed in second place yesterday in the UAAP Season 79 men’s football tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Audie Menzi’s 53rd-minute strike was enough for the Tamaraws to open their second round on a bright note, while halting the Bulldogs’ three-match winning streak. Alex Rayos scored to put FEU ahead in the 14th minute before Lawrence Colina delivered the equalizer for NU with a perfectly executed free kick eight minutes later. The Tamaraws climbed to 18 points, while the Bulldogs remained at 10 points.

over the hosting rights to the Philippines, which will host the 2019 Games. Malaysian Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Nik Abdul Kadir Bin Nik Mohamad said this yesterday following the conclusion of the Southeast Asian Games Rising Together-Baton Run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds. “We will celebrate a week before. And we hope to be champions before we celebrate nationally,” said Mohamad after he met with officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and Laos. He was with PSC chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee

vice president Joey Romasanta and Philippine delegation chef de mission Cynthia Carrion and Dato Razlan Abdul Rashid, the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines during a meeting at the Sofitel Hotel. Rashid later turned over the symbolic baton to Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Laos Ambassador to the Philippines. Laos is the next destination of the Baton Run. Like all countries competing in the Games, Mohamad said athletes in Malaysia are focused on their training and striving to earn the overall championship. Ramirez said that the support of the

PSC on the Philippine team is their way of drumbeating the success of the Games. Rashid got the Baton Run started in Malacanang when he passed the baton to Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella. Abella, in turn, passed it to Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz who carried the baton and led the run in the first stage (Malacanang) of the three-stage run. Other baton carriers were Josephine Medina-2016 Paralympics Bronze Medalist in table tennis; Olympians Marestella Torres-Sunang and Joy Tabal (athletics) and a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team.

TV5 shows that superheroes are real A NUMBER of superheroes were recently seen running around SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The heroes convened for the first ever TV5 Superheroes Run: Manila, a mission that will benefit the Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., the social development arm of TV5 which aims to help families during times of disaster and calamity. Participants from kids, teens to adults filled up the location early morning which made it look like a massive heroes’ assembly. They were all geared up in their running wear, wristbands and of course, their superhero attire. Runners joining the 16k run wore a Supergirl cape, 10k runners showed off their Arrow-like hood and 5k runners flashed their The Flash inspired headgear. Some participants stood out more with their colorful tutus, vibrant wigs, printed socks and something you don’t usually see in runs, stunning pumps. Not to be outdone were the adorable mini superheroes who joined the 200m dash. Some kids even showed up wearing full-blown Supergirl and The Flash costumes. No less than TV5 President and CEO, Chot Reyes was there to lead the event. The program was hosted by Rizza Diaz, who set the guidelines for the runners. Before the run, Sports5 Head, Patricia Bermudez led the group in prayer followed by warm-up exercises by Coach CJ from Takbo.ph. After these, the starter pistol was fired by Jinoe M. Gavan also from Takbo.ph. With the race off, the runners sprung into action just like superhe-

Participants of TV5’s Superheroes Run dressed in their Supergirl attire

roes off to save the day. Derek Ramsay brought star power to the event. TV5 stars Alwyn Uytingco, Shaira Mae De la Cruz and Mark Neumann were also spotted in the run along with PSL players, Jov Gonzaga (RC Cola Army Lady Troopers), Jeck Dionela (Cignal HD Spikers) and Royse Tubino (RC Cola Army Lady Troopers). During the awarding ceremony, Coach Chot expressed his appreciation for the people who made the superheroes run a reality. He also thanked the participants who made the effort to show up early and in their costumes. A total of 24 medals were awarded by Coach Chot, joined

by Derek Ramsay and Lloyd Manaloto, Media5 Head of Marketing. Following the awarding, part of the proceeds from the run were turned over the to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., represented by its Executive Director, Ms. Menchie Silvestre who thanked everyone who joined the run. She said that the donation will help families in need during calamities which made the runners, indeed, heroes for a day. And that is how on one Saturday morning, superheroes weren’t just a figment of imagination or just a part of a panel from comic books. Everyone got a taste of being a real one, thanks to TV5’s Superheroes Run: Manila.

Cone believes Ginebra is improving By Jeric Lopez BARANGAY Ginebra has won a championship and runner-up honors in the last two conferences. Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone believes that his squad can go further as they look forward to the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Still fresh from its 1-4 championship series defeat to three-peat champion San Miguel Beer, Ginebra might still be feeling some sting from that setback, but the team is looking on the positives moving forward. Entering his fifth conference as Ginebra coach, Cone is looking forward to continuing what the team has started. “Obviously, what we want is to continue improving and remain as title contenders this next conference though we know that won’t be easy,” said Cone. “We’ve accomplished things that we wanted in the last two conferences and we’re certainly hoping we can build on that.” The league’s winningest coach knows that the road ahead will even be harder for Ginebra given the early handicaps that it needs to face in the second conference. Choosing familiarity and proven worth over size, the Gin Kings opted to bring back Justin Brownlee for the next two tournaments.

DMCI, AC Energy not keen on Meralco B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

MNTC eyes P50-b expressway on C5 By Darwin G. Amojelar MANILA North Tollways Corp. said it will submit an unsolicited proposal to build a P50-billion elevated expressway along Circumferential Road 5, connecting Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City to the southern part of Metro Manila. MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said the company proposed to build more than 8.2 kilometers of elevated expressway from Commonwealth Ave. to Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway or Cavitex. “We will re-submit it to DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highwayts] maybe in the second

quarter. We need to rework the technical aspect,” he said. The company initially submitted the proposed elevated expressway to the Toll Regulatory Board, but the agency said the project should be submitted to DPWH. Franco said the company needed to complete ﬁrst the P8.6-billion NLEx-C5 Link project before undertaking a new elevated expressway along C5 under an unsolicited mode. The 7.85-kilometer NLEx-C5 Link will start from the end of Segment 8.1 of North Luzon Expressway at Mindanao Ave. and end at Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.

Govt seeks P348-b infra loans T By Julito G. Rada

HE government will require P348 billion in loans to support the construction of 15 infrastructure projects, including two major railways, according to the National Economic and Development Authority.

Neda listed 15 infrastructure projects around the country with a total amount of P348.21 billion for loan component. The bulk of the loans will be needed to construct the North-South Railway Project and the Mindanao Railway Project.

Data obtained from Neda showed that three were already prioritized for loan financing, including the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Region 2 worth P2.696 billion; New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Tanay, Rizal; and North-South Railway Project with an estimated cost of P151 billion. Others in the list are the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Zamboanga Fish Port Complex in Zamboanga City worth P1.387 billion; Mindanao Railway Project in Region 10 worth P128.079 billion; and nationwide fish port projects, worth P3.82 billion. The government will also require financing for Ilocos Norte Irrigation Project stage 2 in Region 1 and Cordillera Administrative Region, worth P14.994 billion; Regional Fish Port Project for Greater Capital Region in NCR, Region 3, and 4-A with a cost still to be determined; Gregorio del Pi-

lar Impounding Project in Ilocos Sur worth P3.45 billion; and Tumauini River Multipurpose Project in Cagayan worth P4 billion. Also in the list are Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project in Iloilo and Capiz, worth P14.76 billion; Asbang Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Davao del Sur, P1.2 billion; Bohol Northeast Basin Multipurpose Dam Project in Bohol, P4.134 billion; Subic-Clark Railway Project in Subic and Clark with a still to be determined cost; and the Bonifacio Global City- Ninoy Aquino International Airport segment of Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit- EDSA project with cost to be determined. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the department was planning to submit two bigticket infrastructure projects to China within the month for possible funding. These are the Chico

River Pump Irrigation Project in the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga and the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon. Consultations with China’s Ministry of Commerce began in January, when Dominguez led a mission to Beijing to meet with Commerce Minister Zhong Shan’s predecessor, Minister Gao Hucheng, to discuss details of the Philippine projects submitted to Beijing for ﬁnancing. A high-level Chinese delegation led by Zhong visited Manila last week and met with Cabinet ofﬁcials to discuss the details of the big-ticket infrastructure projects submitted by the Philippines to China for possible funding. Zhong suggested that both sides identify priority projects that could be completed within a two- to three-year period, to show “tangible progress” and results before the end of the Duterte administration.

Business

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Fed hike likely to sway local stocks By Jenniffer B. Austria

TOCKS are expected to move sideways this week, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting which may lead to a new interest rate hike in the world’s largest economy. Fed Chair Janet Yellen signaled the US central bank would raise the rates this month, once employment and other economic data held up. The Fed will meet March 14 and 15. “Attention will revert to the Federal Open Market Committee Meeting this week, even as fund managers have seemingly priced-in the possibility of three quarters of rate hike. What should be underscored, is the extent at

which FOMC officials will acknowledge the pace of US economic growth, starting with labor data expansion,” F. Yap Securities said. The brokerage firm said with the upcoming rate hike in the US, investors would also track local monetary authorities’ revised stance on borrowing costs and its effect on listed companies’ earnings growth. Analysts said the big drop in the stock market last week could open buying opportunities for bargain hunters, particularly on stocks that were expected to sustain growth amid current economic conditions. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 1.4 percent last week to close at 7,146.27 on March 10, while the all-share index declined 1 percent to 4,343.39, as investors took caution amid the certainty of an interest rate hike from the Fed. Except for the financials and services, all other sub-indices ended in the red, led by

holding ﬁrms which plunged 3.5 percent, industrials which ended down by 1.7 percent, property which dipped 0.3 percent and mining and oil which dropped 0.02 percent. Foreign investors were net sellers by P57 million last week, while the average daily turnover jumped to P7.4 billion from the previous week’s average of P5.5 billion. Top gainers were PLDT Inc. which climbed 6.1 percent to P1,535, First Gen Corp. which advanced 4.87 percent to P22.30 and Globe Telecom Inc. which climbed 4.1 percent to P1,910. Heavy losers included SM Investments Corp. which fell 8.7 percent to P599, Emperador Inc. which dropped 8 percent to P6.35 and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. which retreated 5.4 percent to P77.05. SM Investments Corp. was the biggest loser on Friday after its shares fell 9.2 percent on last minute selling.

SEC to impose 15% public float in Q2 THE Securities and Exchange Commission plans to impose the 15-percent minimum public float requirement for companies planning to conduct an initial public offering starting in the second quarter, a highly informed source said over the weekend. The source said the corporate regulator planned to issue a new ruling next quarter that would raise the minimum public float from 10 percent while the market conditions remained stable.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

MARCH 6-10, 2017 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.25 48.7 120.40 97.51 40.1 4.23 1.29 16.18 21 8.00 0.73 1.7 840.00 0.680 77.05 0.73 14.5 26.25 58.00 90 113 240 38.6 200 1790.00 79.20 1.22

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Cosmos Bottling Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Pilipinas Shell Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

43 5.55 0.82 1.44 19.22 0.270 97 15.06 8.6 16.7 165 94.5 9995 23.5 60.45 2.12 2.14 6.2 12.22 12.580 6.35 5.90 8.05 1.76 22.3 72.6 12.20 15.88 6.57 1.650 194.00 75.60 7.6 4.2 30 26.95 15.2 294.40 0.265 6.45 3.74 8.57 3.88 74.5 11.44 2.33 6.98 1.92 4.9 5.00 3 265 13.98 4.33 0.146 1.45 158.1 4.32 1.68 1.03

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings À’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.370 73.85 12.32 1.12 6.30 0.370 0.370 815 1001.00 8.58 12.46 6 7.93 0.184 1230 6.40 74.00 5.59 7.84 1.11 14.24 0.415 6.6 3.7 0.0570 1.100 1.980 2.49 106.10 3 599.00 1.53 88.00 185.00 272.000 0.2900 0.1950 0.250

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. À’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind.

6.800 6.10 0.98 2.470 1.510 35.500 3.75 5.13 5.92 0.500 1.30 1.300 0.159 0.550 53.4 0.700 0.163 0.98 1.66 1.26 3.68 0.168

Value

FINANCIAL 1,392,220.00 3,001,055.00 1,783,736,227 745,811,725.50 48,178,180.00 669,500.00 331,190.00 211,272.00 152,687,050.00 70,640 5,840 333,450.00 84,000.00 21,791,170.00 1,132,077,160.00 751,990.00 1,998,350.00 448,180.00 20,419,581.50 343,800.00 322,588.00 2,426,502.00 25,327,470 1,229,213,624.00 1,846,625 28,870,158.00 20,740.00 INDUSTRIAL 6,902,000 301,183,235.00 5,091,500 27,934,285.00 2,400,000 1,973,780.00 1,992,000 2,843,390.00 160,500 3,122,824.00 39,880,000 10,796,000.00 1,360 131,995.00 25,200 374,934.00 64,846,900 545,760,600.00 27,510,900 458,402,310 390 64,350.00 370 34,309.00 480 47,976.00 810,800 18,932,125.00 227,380 13,310,658 148,000 314,640.00 745,000 1,604,930.00 327,500 2,004,979.00 247,600 3,033,322.00 37,812,800 476,526,912.00 77,594,800 498,528,907.00 50,804,800 304,458,652.00 2,311,700 17,983,846.00 10,000 17,460.00 10,701,300 236,465,575.00 505,180 36,819,359.50 10,000 122,146.00 1,072,100 17,497,380.00 2,912,700 19,242,808.00 2,519,000 4,191,130.00 5,959,600 1,166,104,472.00 2,390 177,698.00 5,178,500 40,421,899.00 4,640,000 21,936,820.00 3,608,900 111,314,370.00 579,100 15,549,180.00 24,191,300 362,358,510.00 770,550 226,654,882.00 28,000,000 7,418,200.00 269,300 1,756,183.00 6,743,000 24,762,710.00 15,031,300 132,224,545.00 1,000 3,880.00 4,636,310 354,921,363.00 4,200 48,082.00 3,574,000 8,336,110.00 24,129,700 170,994,563.00 19,668,000 39,813,260.00 863,100 4,266,110.00 1,990,600 9,950,479.00 1,884,000 5,604,180.00 7,610 2,030,408.00 24,981,200 332,270,920.00 114,000 495,060.00 1,490,000 218,010.00 824,000 1,202,920.00 5,927,400 960,102,352 24,000 105,940.00 9,578,000 16,169,080.00 1,162,000 1,215,340.00 HOLDING FIRMS 12,500,000 4,648,500.00 4,626,970 339,836,686.00 33,652,900 422,238,818.00 20,000 22,820.00 86,400 526,742.00 11,690,000 4,362,050.00 520,000 193,250.00 1,867,760 1,531,554,875 20 20,020.00 9,784,700 85,536,762.00 34,444,100 433,565,798.00 45,900 280,037.00 1,020,600 8,163,781.00 1,150,000 210,530.00 557,090 675,791,670.00 1,160,800 7,502,284.00 6,388,060 491,091,363.00 42,000 223,682.00 2,876,500 22,697,533.00 48,495,000 54,673,150.00 46,418,000 672,666,254.00 270,000 112,950.00 113,108,200 762,357,183.00 303,000 1,100,010.00 1,107,480,000 66,549,510.00 16,000 17,600.00 791,000 1,566,180.00 25,000 62,290.00 648,580 68,900,737.00 18,671,000 68,447,940.00 2,859,340 1,810,658,685.00 1,054,000 1,625,750.00 9,000 7,950.00 210 38,850.00 72,060 19,385,398.00 2,890,000 846,900.00 1,170,000 222,520.00 2,860,000 721,000.00 PROPERTY 1,435,400 9,505,265.00 3,100 18,910.00 10,794,000 10,744,080.00 821,000 2,019,920.00 154,365,000 724,014,930.00 71,854,600 2,585,055,330.00 71,801,000 273,573,810.00 150,000 754,920.00 400 2,368.00 27,085,000 13,676,490.00 91,000 113,150.00 509,000 654,020.00 37,390,000 5,991,630.00 9,271,000 5,085,260.00 1,086,320 58,540,447.50 276,000 195,030.00 2,320,000 371,630.00 10,187,000 10,043,320.00 35,673,000 59,671,030.00 1,855,000 2,301,450.00 61,052,000 227,661,900.00 141,390,000 24,180,930.00 404,000 61,800 14,680,560 108,021,931 1,203,100 154,000 260,000 13,100 7,385,100 8,900 8,000 197,000 100 31,291,000 14,041,530 1,025,000 137,800 17,200 356,990 3,820 2,900 10,140 648,900 6,023,320 1,035 362,180 17,000

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 3, 2017 Close Volume Value 3.4 48.35 117.60 96.80 40 4.30 1.26 16 19.96 7.73 0.73 1.7 840.00 0.660 81.5 0.74 1454 26.30 57.25 89.2 113 239 39.65 198 1790.00 79.95 1.22

53,000 43,300 10,892,160 4,832,280 711,900 186,000 301,000 209,000 2,904,500 2,800 50,000 247,000 2,710 18,791,000 9,219,540 814,000 325,000 61,200 954,650 6,890 8,360 10,010 573,000 3,361,670 1,980 404,010 17,000

176,140.00 2,081,540.00 1,275,335,918 460,722,916.50 28,532,245.00 810,150.00 382,250.00 3,348,056.00 57,861,665.00 21,597 36,500 418,320.00 2,274,900.00 12,624,910.00 744,989,428.50 602,270.00 4,704,824.00 1,581,945.00 54,478,517.50 619,710.00 943,116.00 2,410,658.00 22,454,775 672,762,941.00 3,523,850 31,962,752.00 20,820.00

43.75 5.5 0.85 1.47 19.8 0.285 98.15 14.70 8.28 16.66 165.1 95

4,536,900 2,923,700 1,909,000 42,995,000 318,500 74,090,000 320 54,800 79,802,300 18,333,100 480 3,530

196,203,440.00 15,918,378.00 1,620,960.00 58,701,510.00 6,403,259.00 21,293,650.00 31,480.50 820,316.00 701,462,334.00 301,520,928 83,252.00 328,451.50

23.5 61.5

871,100 2,380

20,375,575.00 140,570

2.17 6.1 11.96 12.820 6.90 5.82 7.85 1.76 21.3 73.1 12.30 16.88 6.56 1.700 201.00 73.50 7.95 3.87 31.4 26.9 15.34 293.60 0.265 6.69 3.5 8.87 3.76 77.9 11.56 2.30 7.03 1.88 5.04 5.00 2.75 266.8 12.66 4.52 0.146 1.48 163 4.54 1.7 1.06

1,587,000 184,900 57,400 13,259,400 9,383,100 75,355,800 583,200 12,000 7,352,700 1,085,190 10,000 680,500 1,992,700 2,199,000 2,471,120 10,550 15,625,800 53,000 5,321,600 1,920,300 16,985,700 459,200 77,350,000 611,700 1,014,000 11,844,400 25,000 2,731,590 16,600 2,436,000 2,653,300 5,612,000 467,900 338,000 381,000 59,160 17,891,300 42,000 2,160,000 1,450,000 8,145,070 6,000 6,756,000 646,000

3,387,850.00 1,128,569.00 686,138.00 171,429,050.00 64,534,586.00 442,134,264.00 4,598,869.00 21,060.00 155,281,515.00 79,428,903.50 122,964.00 11,531,596.00 13,189,508.00 3,757,750.00 400,656,902.00 738,535.00 121,678,325.00 199,010.00 164,295,280.00 51,351,785.00 268,144,896.00 134,043,460.00 20,598,200.00 4,242,029.00 3,531,440.00 104,144,614.00 94,310.00 213,411,718.00 191,820.00 5,656,080.00 18,691,000.00 10,676,330.00 2,307,256.00 1,672,250.00 1,065,240.00 15,674,136.00 220,944,942.00 185,450.00 317,760.00 2,133,110.00 1,320,591,102 26,640.00 11,459,380.00 688,570.00

0.385 73.00 12.50 1.18 6.30 0.395 0.400 820

18,130,000 5,118,230 93,005,100 51,000 270,900 27,400,000 1,910,000 1,106,770

7,000,700.00 372,578,278.50 1,179,988,024.00 58,540.00 1,718,338.00 10,498,250.00 744,900.00 883,067,695

8.88 13.06 6.25 8.05 0.184 1210 6.09 77.20

10,734,500 18,262,200 200 12,400 3,540,000 671,165 51,100 4,226,650

95,112,017.00 236,466,564.00 1,250.00 99,663.00 659,300.00 812,999,460.00 308,788.00 322,540,817.00

7.88 1.15 15.28 0.420 6.88 3.11 0.0580 1.130 1.980 2.49 107.00 3.3 656.50 1.55 0.87

3,208,400 205,377,000 21,578,300 1,280,000 218,704,500 45,000 971,730,000 61,000 833,000 6,000 2,189,620 2,479,000 1,674,240 3,805,000 18,000

25,158,108.00 236,365,290.00 323,015,998.00 543,650.00 1,504,110,762.00 150,310.00 54,790,750.00 67,250.00 1,655,720.00 14,940.00 233,044,936.00 7,781,930.00 1,109,737,925.00 5,862,130.00 15,660.00

268.000 0.2900 0.1880 0.255

57,240 4,460,000 1,110,000 1,060,000

15,274,332.00 1,321,200.00 208,970.00 273,900.00

6.590

1,095,100

7,283,666.00

1.02 2.520 1.490 35.800 3.63 5.05 5.6 0.510 1.03 1.270 0.160 0.560 54 0.710 0.157 0.98 1.65 1.23 3.71 0.165

1,612,000 2,356,000 343,270,000 43,728,700 26,274,000 145,000 11,800 65,527,000 37,000 1,172,000 92,070,000 20,623,000 2,093,370 2,361,000 3,230,000 10,301,000 34,258,000 1,149,000 66,519,000 71,870,000

1,636,870.00 5,915,640.00 480,700,750.00 1,564,250,170.00 93,976,600.00 732,876.00 66,656.00 33,899,910.00 38,920.00 1,543,360.00 14,865,060.00 11,404,520.00 111,929,650.50 1,692,590.00 516,990.00 10,151,240.00 56,469,950.00 1,455,990.00 245,581,580.00 11,629,460.00

STOCKS

MARCH 6-10, 2017 Close Volume

Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.3000 0.570 27.75 4.75 23.10 1.71 3.28 29.00 1.02 6.99 0.930 4.850

2GO Group’ Aboitiz Transport ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. À’ IPeople Inc. À’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

7.88 7.9 46.15 1.45 0.550 0.057 11.3 5.5 8.00 0.0670 2.33 90.4 9.8 2.44 8.63 1000 1910 6.10 16.30 15.12 3.33 75.1 3.93 12.48 0.0092 9.07 0.191 1.3600 3.2 14.5 3.71 0.95 3.93 18.20 2.3 5.7 3.77 3.100 11.3 5.33 3.4 151.00 9.00 1535.00 0.405 1.520 45.00 81.20 6.16 2.36 1.160 3.19 0.385

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atlas Cons. `B’ Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0035 1.89 5.48 11.4 1.8500 1.9800 0.47 0.430 9.49 2.610 0.260 0.191 0.206 0.012 0.0110 1.95 6.4 2.18 0.4700 0.8800 0.0110 0.0110 4.09 9.26 3.24 0.0140 147.40 2.86 0.0089

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Alco Preferred B DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

45.2 530 539 106.1 106 108.3 113.3 508 538 5.87 1020 1031 1.05 105.2 1114 1018 106 106.9 77.9 81.25 76.75 78 81 77.75 79.45 79.75 2.1

LR Warrant SME Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

3.06 3.93 7.1 9.51

First Metro ETF

119.1

2.160

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 3, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

7,300,000 57,753,000 3,800 1,815,000 8,430,200 2,117,000 2,807,000 54,869,000 39,660,000 1,500 289,000 10,007,000

2,192,300.00 34,477,800.00 106,395.00 8,586,280.00 200,405,075.00 3,656,500.00 9,261,320.00 1,600,609,890.00 41,266,830.00 10,285.00 262,890.00 48,456,710.00 SERVICES 170,300 1,346,134.00 14,100 111,641.00 28,200 1,308,350.00 154,000 227,570.00 1,653,000 885,980.00 1,525,860,000 89,120,850.00 17,800 200,992.00 438,500 2,603,787 46,908,300 363,591,407.00 181,440,000 11,777,690.00 32,471,000 78,024,170.00 2,740,250 249,333,289.50 27,900 282,683.00 24,000 57,780 441,500 3,891,472.00 16,820 16,819,800.00 502,835 967,070,825 310,600 1,906,615.00 419,100 6,853,730.00 51,900 790,944 17,685,000 61,317,190.00 12,372,050 942,668,361.00 810,000 3,207,410 97,300 1,196,908.00 29,000,000 269,700.00 2,065,900 18,711,201.00 17,220,000 3,300,340.00 1,081,000 1,473,630.00 4,084,000 12,593,110.00 9,200 129,092.00 5,570,000 21,410,550 11,000 10,450.00 21,204,000 78,957,120.00 100 1,820 12,453,000 31,882,470.00 50,226,700 274,474,527.00 1,918,000 7,244,780.00 14,724,000 43,359,160.00 9,889,600 111,424,318.00 131,300 704,833 476,000 1,691,070.00 31,930 4,735,704.00 6,244,900 55,284,699.00 961,065 1,463,954,835.00 12,950,000 5,286,300.00 92,481,000 137,192,960.00 55,060,200 2,465,845,025.00 4,975,660 401,234,066.00 358,700 2,220,908.00 14,855,000 35,341,430.00 56,870,000 66,261,090.00 1,603,000 5,153,410.00 4,040,000 1,535,600.00 MINING & OIL 7,318,000,000 25,435,200.00 13,366,000 25,271,560.00 1,571,200 8,792,661.00 400 4,383.00 449,000 818,640.00 54,000 101,000.00 560,000 257,000.00 8,010,000 3,428,450.00 464,500 4,534,240.00 7,537,000 20,120,520.00 2,330,000 585,310.00 88,300,000 17,045,960.00 7,440,000 1,481,550.00 43,400,000 478,300.00 155,900,000 1,732,000.00 3,327,000 6,442,610.00 23,458,400 152,734,072.00 1,356,000 2,992,350.00 50,000 23,400.00 3,693,600 4,275,560.00 65,600,000 734,400.00 90,500,000 996,000.00 26,000 106,930.00 3,680,500 33,905,066.00 7,763,000 24,991,740.00 206,700,000 2,895,800.00 2,389,790 353,193,356.00 64,000 186,140.00 28,000,000 249,500.00 PREFERRED 1,049,200 48,277,610.00 2,420 1,280,500.00 40 21,560 109,790 11,637,449 91,260 9,628,963.00 100 10,872.00 5,040 575,050.00 2,000 1,016,000.00 2,100 1,129,000.00 909,300 5,325,254.00 500 510,170.00 4,550 4,695,970.00 255,000 265,220 52,430 5,520,891.00 510 568,420.00 5,065 5,166,180.00 40 4,240.00 2,400 256,750.00 15,050 1,172,395.00 92,920 7,623,054.50 6,150 471,637.50 36,950 2,879,317.50 45,580 3,653,245.00 280,220 22,264,284.00 21,100 1,649,920.00 587,940 46,777,289.00 2,000 4,200.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 249,000 541,610.00 15,000 44,620.00 2,228,000 8,782,730.00 577,200 8,146,421.00 32,770,700 298,709,831.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 42,680 5,135,810.00

0.3200 0.590

15,280,000 142,596,000

4,800,100.00 84,048,780.00

4.78 23.15 1.7 3.27 29.00 1.06 6.98 0.910 4.860

5,554,000 11,606,100 2,010,000 230,000 29,147,100 79,908,000 1,700 669,000 17,050,000

26,131,810.00 274,008,115.00 3,405,670.00 758,030.00 842,806,155.00 83,841,400.00 11,866.00 600,640.00 80,224,150.00

7.9

361,700

2,837,351.00

46.05 1.49 0.530 0.063 11 5.16 7.37 0.0650 2.44 90.95 9.82 2.38 9.00 950 1835 6.13 16.50 15.30 3.59 75 4.14 11.9 0.0093 9.06 0.192 1.3500 3.16 14.38 3.86 1.00 3.32 18.20 2.24 5.19 3.82 2.820 11.2 5.52 3.29 138.00 9.09 1447.00 0.410 1.420 45.50 80.00 6.17 2.44 1.130 3.22 0.385

130,900 112,000 4,270,000 4,093,580,000 797,800 15,000 26,466,300 16,930,000 13,769,000 1,477,920 32,200 137,600 2,042,700 2,900 215,530 1,077,700 322,800 1,300 34,649,000 12,627,570 4,632,000 11,700 63,000,000 2,217,100 81,150,000 1,413,000 586,000 2,500 18,147,000 57,000 7,405,000 4,200 3,744,000 12,503,900 3,380,000 7,491,000 2,292,300 75,900 262,000 450 2,097,500 419,225 15,210,000 39,462,000 15,705,100 5,336,640 698,500 16,375,000 80,022,000 1,228,000 3,950,000

6,160,935.00 165,580.00 2,377,460.00 284,839,670.00 8,758,766.00 81,045 193,024,542.00 1,103,960.00 34,099,280.00 135,956,976.50 314,819.00 493,620 17,951,880.00 2,759,000.00 390,643,880 6,571,520.00 5,328,798.00 19,968 117,657,350.00 952,760,889.50 18,898,670 140,260.00 584,000.00 20,067,076.00 16,091,600.00 1,924,380.00 1,818,560.00 35,188.00 70,149,650 57,080.00 23,753,110.00 72,790 8,899,900.00 62,963,492.00 12,800,170.00 20,717,170.00 25,673,108.00 412,283 839,890.00 62,100.00 18,961,509.00 594,543,060.00 6,228,500.00 55,928,230.00 724,207,635.00 429,224,068.00 4,340,422.00 39,827,280.00 88,166,750.00 3,973,660.00 1,562,050.00

0.0033 1.87 5.70

1,410,000,000 19,257,000 1,105,100

4,587,000.00 38,391,900.00 6,310,762.00

1.8300 1.9000 0.47 0.445 10.28 2.640 0.247 0.186 0.193 0.011 0.0110 1.95 6.76 2.38 0.4600 0.9000 0.0110 0.0120 4.13 9.30 3.28 0.0140 146.20 2.9 0.0090

172,000 121,000 1,460,000 1,220,000 203,000 18,979,000 7,530,000 39,820,000 1,320,000 13,100,000 49,600,000 6,194,000 8,412,000 601,000 250,000 3,276,000 64,800,000 2,700,000 103,000 3,705,500 12,853,000 253,400,000 6,193,490 197,000 12,000,000

319,030.00 231,090.00 685,950.00 548,600.00 2,136,458.00 47,359,260.00 1,491,400.00 7,548,380.00 256,900.00 144,100.00 545,600.00 11,691,460.00 57,054,626.00 1,456,430.00 113,950.00 2,971,920.00 736,400.00 32,400.00 432,220.00 34,630,062.00 42,881,400.00 3,577,000.00 888,622,702.00 560,700.00 106,100.00

46.9 528 529 106 105 108.2 115 515 530 5.85 1021 1031 1.03 104.3 1110 1020 107

594,200 4,860 790 7,750 188,430 100 10,000 530 1,800 9,334,400 25 1,930 107,000 247,100 10 14,520 1,700

27,804,055.00 2,579,970.00 417,910 821,455 19,720,860.00 10,820.00 1,150,000.00 272,850.00 954,000.00 54,604,781.00 25,525.00 2,003,410.00 110,310 26,137,699.00 11,100.00 14,756,170.00 181,900.00

77.9 82.45 76.55 76.6 80 79.45 78.1 79.4 2.06

236,880 75,580 104,700 81,500 489,550 26,990 142,800 1,736,130 23,000

18,255,796.00 6,182,128.50 8,016,755.00 6,290,028.00 39,541,534.00 2,130,166.50 11,152,680.00 137,755,972.00 46,600.00

2.150

1,135,000

2,393,060.00

2.95 3.55 6.82 8.34

48,000 1,081,000 732,500 28,132,900

141,580.00 3,834,100.00 5,124,490.00 237,877,024.00

119.1

40,630

4,830,837.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Apollo Global Pacifica À’ Philodrill Corp. À’ Boulevard Holdings Manila Mining `B’ Arthaland Corp. MRC Allied Ind. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Bank of PI

VOLUME 7,318,000,000 1,525,860,000 1,107,480,000 206,700,000 181,440,000 155,900,000 154,365,000 141,390,000 113,108,200 108,021,931

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Puregold SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’ PLDT Common Security Bank Jollibee Foods Corp. Metrobank

VALUE 2,585,055,330.00 2,465,845,025.00 1,810,658,685.00 1,783,736,227 1,600,609,890.00 1,531,554,875 1,463,954,835.00 1,229,213,624.00 1,166,104,472.00 1,132,077,160.00

The source said the new ruling would be prospective and would not cover companies with pending IPO applications with the corporate regulator. The SEC is also studying plans to gradually increase the minimum public float of all listed firms to 15 percent, then to 20 percent and eventually to 25 percent, which is the average in Asean. This move was postponed several times amid the volatile market conditions. As an initial move, the SEC will implement the higher public float requirement to companies that will debut at the local bourse, the source said. It will continue with its thrust to increase public ownership of listed firms until it reaches 25 percent. “We have been planing to go to 25 percent from 10 percent through increments because of Asean standard. But in the past two years, if you look at the performance of the index, it has been erratic. So we have not been able to impose the plan,” the source said. “But this year might be different because so far, the market has been moving flat between 7,200 and 7,300 level. Our target is to issue this new regulation within the second quarter of the year,” the source said. Jenniffer B. Austria

SMC selling P15-b bonds CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. plans to raise another P12 billion to P15 billion from the issuance of fixed-rate bonds to refinance dollar-denominated debts, banking sources said over the weekend. Sources said San Miguel was looking to immediately issue a second tranche from its P60-billion debt securities program, after it raised P20 billion from its maiden bond offering last month. Sources said the conglomerate may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a plan to issue a second tranche of bond sale within the next few days. San Miguel chief finance officer Ferdinand Constantino earlier said the conglomerate planned to issue “as soon as possible” another set of fixedrate bonds to pare down its remaining $500-million dollardenominated debt. Constantino said San Miguel units Petron Corp. and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Inc. also planned to borrow this year to refinance debt, given concerns over the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar and the increase in interest rates. “We want to refinance so we can avoid the volatility of the peso versus the dollar,” Constantino said. Constantino said from as high as $1.5 billion, the conglomerate was able to covert most of its debt to peso borrowings and reduce its dollar-denominated debt to $500 million. Several companies also plan to tap the bond market over the next two months to secure funds for their programmed capital expenditures. The SEC approved Megaworld Corp’s P30-billion bond shelf registration and its initial offering of up to P12 billion. STI Education Services Group also obtained SEC’s nod to register P5 billion worth of bonds with an initial tranche of P3 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business Mirror Image of a Great Leader PEOPLE always look for someone to look up to. We RAYMOND have great leaders in difANGELES ferent industries that we admire. These leaders serve REEN IGHT as our beacon of hope that another great leader will arise because of their influence, contribution and success stories. I believe that we become the people we look up to. In most cases, we act like them, think like them and emulate their actions to attain the same levels of success. Following our boss In job, our boss plays a big role in our development. Their decisions will affect the path that we are taking. Sometimes, our chances will depend on their approval. This means that we need to consider his side in terms of development. In my Operations Management class, my professor said that we can convince our bosses or sway their decisions at times, but at the end of the day, we follow our boss. Furthermore, the more we interact with them, they more that we become like them unknowingly. That means, you may need to leave the company if you think you got the wrong mentor. Mentorship is a very important connection to be established. If you know that you are learning something from your boss, then that would be very beneficial to your career because you get to interact with him/her most of the time. Overall, this means that your boss should be your idol. Emulating your idol Your idol will greatly affect your life especially when you invest so much time studying his ways. It might change your perspective in life that will eventually affect your decision-making in the future. In my opinion, you must know who you really are and what are the things you want to emulate from your idol. After all, we are all unique and we cannot be the exact copy of a different person. This means that we select the good and leave the bad. Always consider being ethical at all times. Another thing to consider is our time allocation in life. Is your job taking most of your personal time? Or is it the other way around? In my opinion, it should be balanced in order for us to develop holistically. Obeying Google’s rule However, as my professor had mentioned, successful people are the ones with extreme obsession on what they do that only them can understand. We may find ourselves in this position in the future, but always be ethical. As per Google’s rule, don’t be evil. In their business, they can do advertising and other services, but they always put their morals in doing business. In my perspective, we can all be great. All we need to do is find the right mentor, pick the good and leave the bad points from great leaders, and always be ethical.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal he keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit his blog at https://kamilahlimangeles.wixsite.com/raymondangelescsr. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

Broadband sales up by 10%—PLDT By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said home broadband revenues rose 10 percent to P29.3 billion in 2016, increasing its subscriber base by 14 percent as of the end of the year. PLDT Home pulled away from competition, adding 180 basis points of market share to over 60 percent, with its highly attractive broadband bundles. “Consumer demand for home broadband is growing and PLDT HOME is at the forefront of meeting this need. We are encouraged by the momentum that PLDT HOME has built through six consecutive years of accelerating growth and we are ready to serve a larger share of this expanding market,” PLDT first vice president and HOME Business head Enrico Reyes Jr. said. Along with the enterprise business, broadband for homes has been identified as one of the key growth drivers for the PLDT Group as it moves toward data and digital services. PLDT’s fiber-to-the-home service is now available in key urban areas in the country. The service is being delivered through PLDT HOME Fibr, the country’s most powerful broadband that can offer speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second and allow browsing of multiple websites, uploading of hundreds of photos and downloading of a full-length movie in seconds. “Beyond internet access, we are pioneering the Smart Home so Filipino families will feel safer, be more productive and enjoy the convenience brought about by our growing suite of digital solutions,” Reyes said. PLDT HOME’s new suite of Fibr plans makes its unmatched high-speed internet service available to households either on data volume or time-based allocations, with data speeds ranging from 3 megabit per second (Mbps) to 1 Gbps at affordable rates. To further extend the reach of its fiberspeed internet service, PLDT has started to deploy hybrid fiber technologies such as Huawei Technologies’ G.fast, which can provide data speeds of up to 600-700 Mbps per user. ‘ The technology solution works by connecting buildings and dwellings with fiber optic cables and using special equipment to enable the internal copper wiring of these structures to deliver fiber-like data speeds.

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

DMCI, Ayala unit not keen on Meralco stake By Alena Mae S. Flores

WO conglomerates are shying away from the sale of Philippine Long Distance Co.’s interest in power retailer Manila Electric Co. held by Beacon Electric Assets Holdings Inc. Officials of DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunjij Group and AC Energy Holdings Inc. owned by Ayala Corp. said they were not keen on acquiring Beacon’s interest, which PLDT plans to divest in the first half of 2017. PLDT has an 8.7-percent interest in Meralco through Beacon, which was valued last year at around “north of P26.2 billion.” Beacon is a special purpose company owned jointly by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures Inc.

“We have more than enough projects moving forward,” DMCI Holdings chairman Isidro Consunji said. AC Energy president John Eric Francia said the sale “is not within our radar.” Meralco president Oscar Reyes said the sale involved a portion of Beacon’s stake in Meralco. “Definitely it will be sold to an outsider but I’m not to privy,” Reyes said, adding the sale would not have an impact on the company’s plans. “It will not be sold within the group,” the Meralco official said. Meralco shares are owned by Beacon, JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific and the public. Meralco and PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan announced early this month plans to sell PLDT’s stake in Beacon, adding that there were “serious” talks with potential buyers. Pangilinan said there were “serious discussions with two potential buyers” with the sale expected to be closed in the first half. Pangilinan said in August last year the com-

pany was in discussion with a number of interested investors for the sale of Beacon’s shares. Meralco is the country’s biggest power distributor with over six million customers in its franchise area. It plans to sign up an additional 250 megawatts to 300 MW of interim power supply agreements to ensure adequate power during the dry months. “We’re trying to work out another supply agreement, about 150 MW to 200 but we’re talking to another, for summer... Then may be another 100 MW, “ Reyes said. He said the supply agreements, which could go up to July, would have to go through a competitive selection process. “We have to (undergo CSP). Because it’s for summer, hopefully approvals will come in because it’s going to give assurance of better supply at very competitive prices,” Reyes said. Meralco regularly secures interim power supply agreements when the supply is tight and demand is high. The Energy Department expects supply in the Luzon grid to become tight in May.

GENDER EQUALITY. The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. participate in the global “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative in celebration of the International Women’s Day. Over 40 stock exchanges worldwide took part in this event, which now on its third year. Shown (from left) are PSE treasurer Omelita Tiangco; Securities Clearing Corp. of the Philippines deputy COO Ma. Juanita Cueto; SCCP COO Renee Rubio; Capital Markets Integrity Corp.’s Daisy Arce; PSE Director Ma. Vivian Yuchengco; IFC Philippines country manager Jane Yuan Xu; PSE chairman Jose Pardo; Philippine country representative of the UN Population Fund Klaus Beck; PSE president and CEO Hans Sicat and IFC East Asia Paciﬁc corporate governance program operations ofﬁcer Anar Aliyev.

National Grid earmarks P80b for transmission projects GRID operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is allocating P80 billion for its transmission development projects from 2016 to 2020. National Grid division head for research and special studies division of the transmission planning department Vicente Loria, at a seminar sponsored held the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, said some projects were pending with the Energy Regulatory Commission. “I think the total is already P80 billion approximately. Most of them are already approved but (for) some projects, the approval is still pending. But the total is approximately P80 billion,” Loria said. He said the projects were subject to ERC evaluation, including the construction costs. “Because sometimes we submit a certain project, with this

amount, and then this amount will be reduced... So the ﬁnal amount is the result of ERC approval,” Loria said. He said the NGCP would submit the planned VisayasMindanao interconnection project to the ERC in May, from the previously announced target of April. National Grid earlier identiﬁed the most viable route— beginning in Cebu and terminating in Dipolog—for the Visayas and Mindanao interconnection. The project, which will unify the three grids and allow power sharing, is the biggest and most ambitious to be undertaken by the company to date. The project, estimated to cost P52 billion, has three components, a 92-kilometer submarine cable and overhead lines totaling 214 kilometers. “The target is to connect Vi-

sayas with Mindanao by 2020... Submission of the Visayas and Mindanao interconnection will be in May. And then it will take several months before the ERC decides... based on our experience...,” he said.

National Grid has built 2,472 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines since taking over the operations to manage the country’s transmission network in 2009. Alena Mae S. Flores

Manila

Standard

TODAY

A . SO R I A NO CO R PO R ATI O N

Not ic e of A nnu al M e et ing of Sto c khol d e r s N OTI C E I S H ER EBY G I V EN t h at t h e r e g ul a r A nnu a l M e et i n g of S to c k h o l d e r s of A . S o r i a n o C o r p o r at i o n ( “A N SC O R ” o r t h e “ C o m p a ny ” ) w i ll b e h e l d o n We dn e s day, 19 A p r i l 2 017 at 10:0 0 a.m. at t h e R i g o d o n B a llr o o m, M a ni l a Pe ni nsul a H ote l, Aya l a Ave nu e c o r n e r M akat i Ave nu e, 12 2 6 M akat i Ci t y, Phi li p p i n e s. T h e a g e n da f o r t h e m e et i n g i s as f o ll ow s: 1. A p p r ova l of t h e m i nute s of p r ev i o us m e et i n g. 2. Pr e s e nt at i o n of t h e C h ai r m a n a n d C hi ef E xe c ut i ve O f f i c e r ’s M e s s a g e to S to c k h o l d e r s. 3. El e c t i o n of m e m b e r s of t h e B o a r d of D i r e c to r s. 4. A p p o i nt m e nt of ex te r n a l au di to r s. 5. R at i f i c at i o n of a ll ac t s, c o nt r ac t s, i nve st m e nt s a n d r e s o lut i o ns of t h e B o a r d of D i r e c to r s a n d M a n a g e m e nt s i n c e t h e l a st a n nu a l m e et i n g. 6. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting. O n ly sto c k h o l d e r s of r e c o r d i n t h e b o o ks of t h e C o m p a ny at t h e c l o s e of b us i n e s s o n 2 0 M a r c h 2 017 w i ll b e e nt i t l e d to vote at t h e m e et i n g. T h e li st of sto c k h o l d e r s e nt i t l e d to vote w i ll b e avai l a b l e f o r i ns p e c t i o n at t h e of f i c e of A . S o r i a n o C o r p o r at i o n, 7t h Fl o o r Pac i f i c S t a r B ui l di n g, M akat i Ave nu e c o r n e r G i l Puyat Ave nu e, M akat i Ci t y, te n (10) days p r i o r to t h e A nnu a l M e et i n g. S to c k h o l d e r s a r e r e qu e ste d to c o m p l ete, date, s i g n a n d r et ur n t h e e n c l o s e d p r ox y f o r m to r e ac h t h e C o m p a ny as p r o m pt ly as p o s s i b l e n ot l e s s t h a n te n (10) wo r k i n g days p r i o r to t h e A nnu a l M e et i n g o r n ot l ate r t h a n 3 A p r i l 2 017. T h e g i v i n g of su c h p r ox y w i ll n ot af fe c t yo ur r i g ht to vote i n p e r s o n s h o ul d yo u d e c i d e to at te n d t h e A nnu a l M e et i n g. Pr ox y va li dat i o n w i ll b e h e l d at A . S o r i a n o C o r p o r at i o n, 7t h Fl o o r Pac i f i c S t a r B l d g., M akat i Ave nu e c o r n e r G i l Puyat Ave nu e, M akat i Ci t y o n 10 A p r i l 2 017 f r o m 11:0 0 a.m. to 12:0 0 n o o n. M akat i Ci t y, Phi li p p i n e s, 27 M a r c h 2 017. T H E BOA R D O F D I R ECTO RS By: LO R N A PATA J O - K A PU N A N C o r p o r ate S e c r et a r y

‘QUALITY MONTH.’ Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. celebrates “Quality Month” to further promote a quality mindset to ensure customer satisfaction. TMP president Satoru Suzuki (right) visits the Quality Exhibit at the Toyota Administrative Services Center Conference Room in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

R EG I S T R AT I O N O F S TO C K H O L D E R S W I L L S TA R T AT 9 : 0 0 a . m . Please bring identification, such as valid passpor t, driver’s license or Company I. D. (MS - MAR. 13, 2017)

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

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

Business

Strong jobs data bolsters economy WASHINGTON―The US economy had another strong month of job creation in February, the Labor Department reported Friday―a result sure to boost already high expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates this week. President Donald Trump’s White House also seized on the news as a validation of its economic agenda, though much of this has yet to take shape. Employers added a net 235,000 new positions last month, with the manufacturing, health care, mining and construction sectors all adding positions. That was well above analyst forecasts and just shy of the 238,000 new positions added in January. And in another sign that jobs markets are tightening, the already low unemployment rate fell a tenth of a point to 4.7 percent, leaving the unemployed population at 7.5 million. That decline came even as the labor force participation rate rose to 63 percent, a level not surpassed in almost three years, meaning people who had been on the sidelines, perhaps discouraged from looking for a job, are rejoining the labor market. With February’s robust job creation and an upward revision to January’s numbers, the world’s largest economy has added an average of 209,000 new jobs over the last three months. Wall Street closed modestly higher after the news, following a downward trend for much of the week. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 percent to 20,902.98. The Federal Reserve has sent strong signals this month that it is likely to hike rates, absent a negative surprise in economic data. Job creation, unemployment and inflation have all approached the central bank’s targets in recent months. Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said the latest jobs numbers virtually guaranteed this, “barring an asteroid strike on Washington.” Wages also accelerated in February, with average hourly earnings rising six cents, or 0.2 percent, to $26.09, following January’s five-cent increase― another sign employers are having greater difficulty filling open positions. AFP

SAFE RIDE. Hundreds of participants wearing underwear, body paint or nothing at all, ride bicycles through the city of Cape Town during the annual Naked Bike Ride on March 11, 2017. This event was organized to raise awareness for safe cycling, create enthusiasm for using bicycles as a mode of transport, and protest the ongoing use of fossil-fuel to power transport. This event is similar to many NBR events organized in other cities in the world. AFP

US Fed feels it’s time to hike rate this week W By Douglas Gillison

ASHINGTON―The US Federal Reserve this week is poised to raise its benchmark interest rate amid burgeoning job growth and a surge of market optimism since President Donald Trump took ofﬁce.

Central bankers on Friday likely got the ﬁnal push they needed, if they were in any doubt, after a strong employment showing 235,000 net new jobs created in February and the unemployment rate moving down a tenth of a point to 4.7 percent. Even before the jobs report, and despite lingering questions about Trump’s economic agenda, key ﬁgures on the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets the federal funds rate, were sending clear signals that a rate increase was likely. The FOMC is due to announce its decision at the end of the twoday meeting on Wednesday.

Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said recently that if there had been a “conscious effort” among Fed members to raise the public’s expectations, “I’m about to join it.” Analysts who are widely expecting a move note the central bank largely has met its targets for unemployment and inﬂation, despite some sour notes in other data. “They’ve virtually achieved their dual mandate,” Mickey Levy, chief Americas economist at Berenberg Capital Markets, told AFP. “This is really a simple decision.” On Friday afternoon, the Fed

fund futures market put the probability of a 25-basis-point increase at 93 percent. The world’s largest economy has steadily pumped out new jobs since mid-2016, with the three-month average for job creation at 209,000 for December through February. And the unemployment rate has remained below five percent since May. Meanwhile, in January the price index for personal consumption expenditures, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, hit its fastest annual pace in more than four years, reaching 1.9 percent, just shy of the two percent target. And consumer confidence in February was at a 15-year high. However, in remarks earlier this month, Fed Governor Lael Brainard, among the most dovish of FOMC members, said there could be “room for further improvement” in the economy. While generally supportive of raising rates, Brainard said so-called core PCE, an inflation

measure that excludes volatile food and fuel prices, has been below the Fed target for most of the past eight years. And too many prime-age workers remain outside the labor force and too many parttime workers were struggling to find full-time employment, she added. Steven Ricchiuto of Mizuho Securities agreed that, beyond hiring and inflation, some economic data were less than convincing. “To me, it makes the appropriate sense to wait until May” for a rate hike, he told AFP. Ricchiuto pointed to a sharp slowdown in fourth quarter growth, which hit a sluggish 1.9 percent, and a widening trade deficit, which is likely to weigh on growth this quarter. January also saw a decline in personal consumption, with warm weather depressing utility bills, and industrial production, not to mention disappointing auto sales and falling housing starts. AFP

China defends industrial program BEIJING―China on Saturday tried to downplay concerns it is reducing market access for foreign enterprises, days after a report by an EU group accused Beijing of trying to skew its business playing field towards domestic firms. The paper, released Tuesday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, slammed the government’s “Made in China 2025” plan―launched two years ago to champion local high-tech manufacturing. While officials have repeatedly said they welcome foreign firms’ investment in China, the country has erected barriers in a wide variety of sectors from automotive to finance while simultaneously subsidizing its own domestic companies. Even so, the EU chamber’s criticisms were a “misreading” of the government’s intentions, Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology, told reporters during a press conference on the sidelines of China’s annual gathering of the country’s top politicians in Beijing. The “original intention in formulating this policy was to prevent some companies from using loopholes in government policies to profit from government subsidies,” he said, adding that “domestic and foreign invested companies will all be treated equally.” Miao also refuted the report’s claims that China was putting “intense pressure” on foreign firms to hand over advanced technology in exchange for market access. “The government does not yet have this kind of ability to compel state-owned enterprises, how can you say it will compel foreign firms to hand over technology?” Miao said. Miao’s comments were echoed in a commentary by the official Xinhua News Service, which took the chamber to task for its concerns, saying that foreign firms have long enjoyed “super-national treatment,” including “privileges unimaginable to native businesses.” “Now the special treatment is being gradually repealed as the government lets the market... decide,” it said. China ranked 84th globally―behind Saudi Arabia and Ukraine―in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index for 2016, and second to last in an OECD report on the restrictiveness towards foreign investment. Since President Xi Jinping took over in 2012, the government has moved away from liberalization on several fronts, strengthening state-owned enterprises, increasing capital controls and tightening restrictions on free exchange of information and ideas online. AFP

In Montreal, mushrooms make the local economy go round By Julien Besset MONTREAL, Canada―While delivering oyster mushrooms to restaurants in the heart of Montreal, Lysiane Roy Maheu stops to get a bucket ﬁlled with coffee grounds from a barista friend. She needs it for her next crop. Mixed with residues from local micro-breweries, the grounds will provide rich nutrients for cultivating the sumptuous fungi. They are grown in pierced plastic buckets stacked two meters (six feet) high in a warehouse located in a former workingclass, but now quickly gentrifying, Montreal neighborhood. Three times a week, Roy Maheu and her friend Dominique Lynch-Gauthier, both 35, harvest about 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds) of mushrooms, which are delivered to area restaurants the same day. This is the so-called circular economy―one that looks to boost productivity by recycling and recovering resources, all while reducing waste and avoiding pollution—at work. Nothing is wasted By cultivating mushrooms from recycled resources, “we’ve eliminated waste,” explains Lynch-Gauthier, co-founder of the urban farm specializing in high-quality oyster mushrooms, Blanc de Gris.

“Waste is simply a resource that has been put in the wrong place,” she says, citing a founding principle of circular economies. The pair started the company three years ago, and they sing the praises of recycling as a way to signiﬁcantly reduce costs, as well as being environmentally sustainable. To make their product, a mushroom culture is mixed with the coffee grounds and brewery dregs recovered from neighborhood watering holes in buckets, rather than in disposable plastic bags used by most other mushroom houses. There is no delivery waste either. Plastic bins used to deliver the mushrooms are returned to the vendor and used over and over. “Any residue from the crop could be used as compost in vegetable gardens,” notes LynchGauthier. Roy Maheu has long worked in the restaurant industry and knows how important it is to personally approach chefs at Montreal’s best restaurants, to put the mushrooms in front of them to examine and taste. “We aim to partner with highend restaurants that share our values,” she told AFP. One kilo of mushrooms is sold to restaurant owners for Can$25

Lysiane Roy Maheu, co-founder of Montreal urban mushroom farming startup Blanc de Gris, is seen inspecting oyster mushrooms in one of the six greenhouses of the company on January 17, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec. While delivering oyster mushrooms to restaurants in the heart of Montreal, Lysiane Roy Maheu stops to get a bucket ﬁlled with coffee grounds from a barista friend. She needs it for her next crop. AFP

(US$19), including delivery. Walk-in orders are also sometimes accepted, for Can$15 per half-kilo. Despite these arguably steep prices, business is booming. “More and more people are willing to pay a little more for local food” that is associated with ecology or organic farming, ex-

plained Rene Audet, a sociologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal. ‘Ethics of life’ As soon as the mushrooms are harvested, they are delivered to the four corners of the city, to retain their freshness and ﬂavor. “They are more beautiful, fresher and ﬁrmer,” said Julien

Hebert Bouchard, chef at Les Fillettes restaurant, which put Blanc de Gris mushrooms on the menu in mid-2016. Roy Maheu and Lynch-Gauthier have invested “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in their company, including monies from friends and family. Despite their success at creat-

ing demand for their product, the company itself is struggling to reach proﬁtability. “We haven’t been paid in two years,” laments Roy Maheu, who was at one time juggling a nighttime waitressing gig in order to get by. Still she and her business partner are undeterred. Balancing demands on her time sometimes means picking up her eight-year-old daughter after school and bringing her along for deliveries. “I take her on my restaurant tour,” she says with a smile. In the future, the pair of entrepreneurs may diversify and add more types of mushrooms to their repertoire. But for now, they are focused on a single variety as they seek to improve production and ensure that their customers remain happy. The year they launched their mushroom business, Montreal saw the opening of its ﬁrst rooftop greenhouses in a warehouse district of the city, selling local organic produce. Although these greenhouses charge nearly double for fruits and vegetables compared to those shipped to grocery stores from abroad, demand for local produce is growing, fueled by eating trends such as the 100mile diet, in which everything you eat must come from within a 100-mile radius. AFP

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Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Graduates of the STAR Program applaud during their graduation rites, as beverage maker Coca-Cola is targeting to empower 200,000 Filipino women micro-entrepreneurs by the year 2020 through the Coca-Cola 5by20 STAR program, which started in 2011. Roland Jumawan

Biz training for 5k Davao women D By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO CITY – Five thousand women gathered here to show women empowerment and engaging themselves to entrepreneurship through the help of the Sari-Sari Store Training Access to Resources or STAR program of Coca-Cola Philippines.

The women from different pany’s STAR program. Each enprovinces and cities all over the tered the school through a scholregion graduated from the com- arship.

Lawyer Adel Tamano, Vice President for Public Affairs of Coca-Cola Philippines, said: “We are here in Davao to celebrate women’s month and we have these 5,000 women who graduated from STAR, we encourage some of them to be entrepreneur because we believe that if you invest in women communities become stronger, better and always good for business.” Tamano said the program teaches women to become a better entrepreneur, and widens the

opportunity for them by giving access to resources that they can use to start their small businesses. “STAR is a complete program, all hindrances were overtaken through our help and the determination of the women as well,” he added. Meanwhile, Mayor Sara Duterte, through a statement read by City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez, thanked CocaCola management for empowering women not just in Davao but

in the entire region. “You women are capable of engineering change not only in your families but also in the community,” Duterte said. Per Lopez, Coca-Cola’s STAR program is anchored through the 10-point priority agenda of Duterte, which is poverty alleviation by empowering women through entrepreneurial spirit. For this year, Coca-Cola aims to empower 40,000 women, including several sectors in the community, to give them opportunity to

Manila folk get ‘Gift of Smiles’

La Trinidad to serve big strawberry cake By Dexter A. See LA TRINIDAD, Benguet— Residents and visitors alike will have a chance to partake of a slice of the giant strawberry cake that will be served to the public as one of the highlights of the town’s 36th Strawberry Festival on March 19. Mayor Romeo Salda said this cake will be a replica of the giant strawberry cake that got the town into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004, capable of feeding at least 10,000 individuals. “We are now on the process of ironing out the details of the presentation of the replica of the giant strawberry cake to the public. We are optimistic that with the support of the town’s private sector, we will be able to provide our people with a quality strawberry cake which they could partake,” Salda stressed.

However, those interested in tasting this replica will be charged by the organizers P15 per slice to recover their expenses in preparing and serving the cake to the public. He added the presentation of the replica of the giant strawberry cake will be done in partnership with the various bake shops in the municipality, who will be pooling their resources to be able to serve the town’s “identity” to the residents and visitors wanting to partake of the strawberry cake. Salda said serving the cake is timely considering the festival organizers did not present the strawberry cake for the public in its previous festivities. He extended the invitation to the public to visit the town and join the various activities that were lined up for the 36th edition of the Strawberry Festival, which will be until the end of the month.

EARLY EDUCATION. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi talks to his grandson Neo Rapha during the Step Up Graduation Ceremony of Calla Lily Child Development Center last Thursday at Ayala Malls South Park, Alabang. Fresnedi advocates access to education for all Muntinlupa residents even in their young age, as part of a holistic approach to their inclusive development.

27 centenarians in Pampanga receive cash gifts SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—A total of 27 centenarians here have received cash incentives of P100,000 each and a plaque of appreciation from provincial government. Elizabeth Baybayan, chief of the Provincial Welfare Development Office, said 27 elderly residents received their incen-

tives from Gov. Lilia Pineda during a simple ceremony here. Baybayan said a total of 301 senior citizens have benefited from the incentive provided for by Ordinance Act No. 647, as amended by Ordinance No. 663 series 2014. Under the same ordinance, senior citizens

who are bedridden will also receive cash incentives of P1,000 a month, Baybayan said. Per the social welfare officer, the new set of recipients are also eligible to receive another P100,000 from the national government provided they submit the required documents. During the ceremony, Pineda ap-

plauded the recipients for reaching their age through “clean living.” The incentives given to the elderly is a pioneer program of Pampanga, which is being copied now by other provinces not only in Central Luzon but through the country, Baybayan added. Romeo Dizon

BDO CSR arm, UST donors build Tacloban schools BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, has constructed two school buildings in San Jose Central School in Tacloban City, Leyte in partnership with private philanthropists from the University of Santo Tomas Medicine Class ’79 and Soroptimist International Makati. The new two-storey, eight-classroom buildings were turned over on Feb. 17 in

start their own business. Coca-Cola is targeting to empower 200,000 Filipino women micro-entrepreneurs by the year 2020 through the Coca-Cola 5by20 STAR program that started in 2011. Since it was launched, the program now has 390 accredited facilitators teaching and training women retailers to become better entrepreneurs, the STAR program is also being implemented in over 47 locations in the entire country.

an event attended by BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, BDO Tacloban-Rizal Avenue branch head Lucille Yao, donors, local government officials and Department of Education heads. At the event, the donors also distributed food and toys to the pupils. The school building project is in keeping with BDO Foundation’s disaster response advocacy and rehabilitation program in ar-

eas affected by Typhoon “Yolanda.” Like many structures in Tacloban, the buildings of San Jose Central School were destroyed by the super typhoon. About 90 percent of its 98 classrooms have been damaged, and more than 120 students reportedly perished due to “Yolanda’s” storm surge. The structures built by BDO Foundation and its partners replace the ones destroyed by the disaster.

Through the donation of the school buildings, the partners aim to give underprivileged youth greater access to education and help rebuild the lives of their families. The new classrooms are furnished with teachers’ desks, school chairs, blackboards and fans. The new buildings could also serve as evacuation centers should calamities hit the area.

IN HIS continuing effort to provide medical aid to indigent Manileños, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has partnered anew with a US-affiliated charity organization to treat residents, particularly children, who were born with cleft lips and palates and other facial deformities. Estrada has inked a memorandum of agreement with Operation Smile Philippines on Feb. 24 for this year’s “Gift of Smiles” program intended to provide free surgery and rehabilitation to cleft-defective children. “The city government is giving much emphasis on this group of disabled individuals, especially children. We want to give them back their confidence so they would become responsible and productive citizens when they grow up,” Estrada said. Under the agreement, OSP, in cooperation with volunteer doctors and other medical professionals, will conduct free screening, surgery, and post-medical care to patients referred by the Manila Health Department. OSP is the local affiliate of Operation Smile International, a volunteer-based medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities since 1982. It is based in Virginia, US. OSP will conduct the reconstructive surgeries at the Manila Cleft Care Center at the city-run Sta. Ana Hospital.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 Standard C2 TODAY Manila

Vizcaya women make cash out of waterlilies D By Ben Moses Ebreo

IADI, Nueva Vizcaya—Women here have discovered that cleaning fishponds and other bodies of water can be a productive venture.

It all started with a massive clean-up of the waterlilies in the fish ponds and boating lagoon of the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park in Barangay San Luis in this town “These water lilies used to be a problem among the LMETP patrons and visitors. Now, the probManila

Standard

lem was turned into useful products by the Rural Improvement Club in this town,” said Nequita Castro, LMETP manager. The RIC’s slipper and shoulder bag making project started in 2010 after the conduct of the livelihood skills training by the Provincial Cooperative Affairs

Office to several women of Barangays San Pablo and Bugnay in this town. The training, funded with P50,000, focused on weaving skills using dried water lilies as raw materials. The participants were also given hands-on training to make their own product, said Rupert Manuel, a retired PCAO employee. In the training, capital assistance was also given to the participants amounting to P25,000 each for the two livelihood associations. Every month, RIC members

Republic of the Philippines

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Procurement of Testing Equipment

Procurement of Spares

AMR System Upgrade

scour the rivers of Barangays Bugnay, Butaw, and Escoting, including the LMETP in Barangay San Luis to gather their supply of water lilies. “In this way, our communal bodies of water are cleaned, causing smooth and regular flow of water which also supplies the irrigation systems for our farmers,” Manuel said. Municipal Agriculture Technologist Florentina Yarcia said the abundance of water lilies in Diadi can serve as stable supply of raw materials for the high demand for the unique products made of water lilies.

A copy of the compilation of he Detailed Project Discussion for the projects under Operations and WESM Support Projects is attached as Annex “B.”

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAM FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2017-2020, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

C. Non-Network Projects 9. To support in fulfilling of its mandate discussed above, NGCP seeks the approval of following similarly significant and indispensable projects: Non-Network Projects

ERC CASE NO. 2016-197 RC

Refurbishment of ODCmC, Establishment of DDCmCs and Acquisition of Geospatial Precision Data-Capture Equipment

Construction/Expansion of Control Building and other Facilities

Compliance to Environmental Requirements

Fire Protection System Project

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Acquisition of One (I) Airborne LIDAR Equipment

Notice is hereby given that on 12 December 2016, applicant National Grid Corporation of the Philippines ( NGCP) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of its capital expenditure program for the calendar years 2017- 2020, including therein a prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

Construction of NGCP’s Hangar at Mindanao

Procurement of Gimbal Camera for Airbus AS 350 B3 Helicopter

Procurement of Sling Cables for Helicopters

Tower Perimeter Fences

Electronic Security Access Door System

Installation of Security Surveillance System

Installation of Security Radio Communication System

Construction of a Multi-Level Parking Structure

Replacement of Fire Protection System at NGCP Main Building

Replacement of Centralized Air Conditioning System at NGCP Main Building

Construction of Generator Set Building and Purchase of 1.5 MVA Standby Generator Set

Replacement and Acquisition of Tools, Furniture, and Equipment

Physical Security Enhancement Project

ITD Infrastruscture and Equipment

Procurement of ICT Project

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)- Phase 3 Project

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES Applicant.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In the said Application, NGCP alleged the folIowing: The Applicant 1. NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.I.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to R.A. 9136, otherwise known as the: “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001” (EPIRA). It may be served with notices and other processes of this Honorable Commission through its counsel at the address indicated below. 2. Pursuant to R.A. 95111, NGCP was granted the franchise to operate, manage and maintain, and in connection therewith, to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through a high-voltage back-bone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, system operations, and other activities that are necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system2 and is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the Honorable Commission. 3. This Application is filed pursuant to paragraph d, Section 9 of the EPIRA, which direct· the transmission operator to seek prior approval from the HonorabIe Commission of any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities in the pursuit of its mandate to construct, install, finance improve, expand, rehabilitate and repair the nationwide transmission system and the grid.

I. Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Program for CY 2017-2020 6. NGCP has the legal mandate to ensure the non-discriminatory, reliable and high- performance operation of the transmission system; including a secured, reliable, and efficient management of the high-voltage grid of the Philippines. To perform such functions, NGCP submits to the Honorable Commission, for its approval, its CAPEX program for CY 2017-2020, together with their respective justifications.

2017-2020 Php Mn

Beyond 2020 PhP Mn

1. Grid Expansion and Reliability

71,869.08

23,881.70

2. Operations and WESM Support

15,056.66

0.00

3. Non-Network

2,428.88

0.00

4. Other Projects

192.10

0.00

89,546.72

23,881.70

Total

To provide the Honorable Commission an overview of the costs of the projects, NGCP hereby submits the 2017 2020 Total CAPEX attached as Annex “E.” Justifications for the Issuance of Provisional Approval

A. Grid Expansion and Reliability Projects

12. To reiterate, NGCP is required under paragraph d, Section 9 of the EPIRA to seek prior approval from the Honorable Commission of any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities in relation to its authority a d responsibility to construct, install, finance, improve, expand, rehabilitate and repair the nationwide transmission system and the grid .

7. One of the core mandates of NGCP is to improve and expand its transmission facilities3, and to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid4 to guarantee that grid meets: forecast demand, system reliability, demand market requirements, and capacity of new generators. Thus, NGCP is seeking approval for the following new projects: Grid Expansion and Reliability Projects 1

Relocation of Steel Poles along Hermosa - Duhat 230kVT/L

Mariveles - Hermosa 500kV Transmission Line Project

North Luzon Substation Upgrading Project

South Luzon Substation Upgrading Project

Luzon Voltage Improvement Project - 3

Luzon Voltage Improvement Project - 4

Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230kV Backbone Project Stage 3

Panitan - Nabas 138kV Line 2 Project

The total CAPEX program are as follows: Projects

PRAYER

Visayas Voltage Improvement Project

Baloi-Kauswagan-Aurora 230kV Transmission Line Project (Phase 2)

1. Immediately ISSUE an Order provisionally authorizing the implementation of the proposed CAPEX projects; and

Mindanao Substation Rehabilitation Project

Mindanao Substation Upgrading Project

Grid Replacement of Primary Equipment Project

Grid Replacement of Secondary Equipment Project

Line Tools & Equipment Acquisition Project

Line Equipment & Structure Installation Project

Line Structure Replacement Project

Spares Acquisition Project

Acquisition of Test and Measuring Equipment Project

Operations and WESM Support Projects 1

Fiber Optic and Microwave Radio Equipment Replacement

Teleprotection Equipment Replacement

Telecom Access and Remote Management Component Replacement

Power Supply and Auxiliary Equipment Replacement

Infra and IT Support Facilities Replacement

SCADA/EMS Facilities Replacement

SCADA Expansion-Added Interfaces/RTU’s and Monitoring Points

Telecom Access for Added Locations, Subscribers & Application Points

Fiber Optic and Microwave Radio Expansion

Cyber Security

Network Synchronization System

Network and Facilities Management System and IT Support Facilities

EMS Enhancements

Network Disturbance Monitoring Equipment & Power Quality Analyzer

Real-Time Monitoring and Control Equipment for Distribution Utilities and Monitoring Equipment for Generators

Expansion- Installation of New Metering Facilities

NGCP Station Service - Installation of Metering Facilities

Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Metering Assets

Relocation of Metering Facility to the Prescribed Connection Points

Programmed Replacement of Ageing Metering Assets

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php 100,000.00) OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AS INITIAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON “NINA” IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CALABANGA, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, DECLARED AS UNDER THE STATE OF CALAMITY, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM C.Y. 2017 EXECUTIVE BUDGET UNDER THE LOCAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FUND-QUICK RESPONSE FUND, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, Super Typhoon “NINA” (International name: Nock-ten), which according to PAGASA had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness at 180 kph, was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines in 2016; WHEREAS, this typhoon left devastating and depressing marks in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur on 23 December 2016. Trees were uprooted, buildings were stripped of their roofs, crops flattened to the ground, landslides and flash floods occurred and families were rendered homeless because their houses were crashed by strong winds; WHEREAS, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC) Situational Report dated 09 January 2016, the number of families affected in the said municipality reached to 647; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur, thru Resolution No. 205 Series of 2016 declared the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur as under State of Calamity; WHEREAS, Section 21 of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provides that: “Section 21. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). – The present Local Calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDRRMF to support disaster risk management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing, life-saving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disaster risk activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement on the LDRRMF based on the LDRRMP as incorporated in the local development plan and annual work and financial plan. Upon recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared under the state of calamity. Of the amount appropriated for LDRRMF, thirty percent (30%) shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. xxx” (Emphasis supplied.)

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of existing laws and considering the recommendation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of the City of Makati, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby appropriates the aforesaid amount to be used as initial relief assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur.

8. NGCP as the Transmission Service Provider, System Operator and Metering Service Provider (MSP) is required to operate the power system in accordance with the Philippine Grid Code (PGC) and the Wholesale Electricity Market (WESM) Rules. As such, it must fully comply with the requirements of the provisions of the PGC, the WESM Rules, and the WESM Metering Manual and Guidelines. Thus, NGCP proposes the implementation of the following operation and compliance programs:

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

14. Thus, to avoid distribution of operation and non-compliance with its mandate under the EPIRA as the transmission operator, it is imperative that the implementation of the proposed CAPEX projects be immediately approved . 15. In support thereof, NGCP submits the judicial affidavit of Engr. Darryl Lon A. Ortiz, Head of the Business Strategic Development and Regulatory Management Division of NGCP attached as Annex “F.”

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the proposed CAPEX projects.

NGCP prays for other equitable relief. The Commission has set the said Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 24 March 2017 at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

B. Operations and Wi SM Support Proiects

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

WHEREAS, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) of the City of Makati, pursuant to Resolution No. 2017-06 Series of 2017, recommended the appropriation of funds in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00), for the purpose of giving initial relief assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur;

Tagbilaran 69kV Substation Project

A copy of the compilation of the Detailed Project Discussion for the projects under Grid Expansion and Reliability Projects is attached as Annex “A.”

LnB President

13. Along with its responsibility for the planning, construction and centralized operation and maintenance of its high voltage transmission facilities, it is indispensable for NGCP to ensure a reliable and high-performance operation of the transmission system.

WHEREFORE, NGCP most respectfully prays this Honorable Commission to:

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

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-035 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina

A copy of the compilation of le Detailed Project Discussion for the projects under Other Projects is attached as Annex “D.”

5. Notwithstanding the absence of the Final Determination for the 4th RP, NGCP is mandated to ensure and maintain the quality, reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide grid. Hence, NGCP seeks authority from this Honorable Commission for the immediate implementation of various capital expenditure projects.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-035 on third and final reading.

D. Other Proiects 10. Lastly, these projects involve the wood poIe and the associated asset replacement program of sub-transmission assets that were reverted to NGCP’s Regulatory Asset Base pursuant to Table 5.4 of the 3rd RP Final Determination dated 22 November 2010.

11.

by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan— Ancheta said the ongoing opThe Mines and Geosciences eration of OceanaGold’s Didipio Bureau regional office here has Gold and Copper Project in Kaclarified the continued opera- sibu town in Nueva Vizcaya is tion of an Australian-Canadian “legitimate and does not violate miner in Nueva Vizcaya is “in the order of suspension” from accordance with the law.” the DENR. MGB Region 2 Director He said the company was alMario Ancheta has reacted to lowed to resume operation after misconceptions of some local it appealed to the Office of the government officials in Cagay- President in accordance with an Valley questioning the con- Administrative Order No. 22. tinued transport of concentrated In the continued operation ore by the OceanaGold to Poro OceanaGold, Ancheta cited Point in La Union province. AO 22 which states that “the Local government officials execution of the decision, resincluding environmental groups olution or order appealed from have expressed confusion on the is stayed upon the filing of the continued operation of Oceana- Notice of Appeal within the Gold despite suspension order prescribed period.” CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

By Brenda Jocson

ABSENT: Councilor FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ LUIS S. JAVIER JR. “ LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY “ ENRICO J. PUNO ==========================================================================

A copy of the compilation of the Detailed Project Discussion for the projects under Non-Network Projects is attached as Annex “C.”

4. NGCP’s Final Determination for the Third Regulatory Period (3rd RP) covering calendar years 2011 to 2015, as approved by the Honorable Commission in ERC Case No. 2009-180RC has already ended in December 2015 and under the Rules or Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTW ), the Final Determination for the Fourth Regulatory Period (4th RP) covering calendar years 2016 to 2020 shall commence immediately thereafter. However, NGCP has yet to undergo its regulatory reset for the 4th RP as it is still awaiting the Honorable Commission’s position paper to guide NGCP in the submission of its 4th RP Application.

MGB: Didipio mine resumption is legal

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to be made available is hereby appropriated as initial relief assistance to the victims of typhoon “Nina” in the Municipality of Calabanga, Province of Camarines Sur, declared as under the State of Calamity, funds of which shall be taken from C.Y. 2017 Executive Budget under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund-Quick Response Fund (LDRRMF-QRF), subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. Section 2. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), City Budget Department, Accounting Department, City Law Department and other departments, offices or agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference. Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Special Session held on 8 March 2017. HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

The petitioner’s name and address;

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

II.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

lll.

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of th case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) 2) 3)

The name and address of such person; A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of he Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent record filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

SICK LEAVE HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRlT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 28th day of February 2017 at Pasig City

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by: ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

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

2 3 4

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmiting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes; ld, Section 1; Section 9 d, EPIRA; Section 9, c, EPIRA; (MS-MAR. 5 & 13, 2017)

Approved by: MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-MAR. 13, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

Unpredictable Trump to meet with Merkel B ERLIN―Europe’s most powerful leader, Angela Merkel, meets for the first time next week America’s flamboyant President Donald Trump whose arrival in the White House has sent shockwaves across the Atlantic.

While former US president Barack Obama had labeled Merkel his “closest international partner”, there has been little known contact between the German leader and Trump since he took ofﬁce. Trump’s criticism of Germany over issues ranging from its record trade surplus to Merkel’s liberal refugee stance, as well as his backing for Britain to leave the European Union, have not gone unnoticed in Berlin. A month after US Vice President Mike Pence delivered a message to Europe underscoring the importance of transatlantic ties, Tuesday’s meeting will be scruti-

nized for clues on whether Trump fully endorses that message. The reserved German leader herself underlined that she is traveling to Washington not only as Germany’s leader, but also as an envoy of the EU. “I will of course point out that for us, our country and our membership in the European Union are two sides of the same coin,” Merkel said in Brussels ahead of the visit. The Washington meeting would also allow for “an exchange of bilateral and international topics, and transatlantic ties, as we have always stressed, are very important,” added Merkel’s spokes-

woman Ulrike Demmer. As in other similar tours, Merkel will be accompanied by an army of business leaders, but this time the delegation faces an uncertain reception as Trump preaches an “America First” policy. Siemens boss Joe Kaeser and BMW’s Harald Krueger will be part of the group, according to news weekly Der Spiegel, and both will likely be trumpeting the thousands of jobs linked to their investments in the US. Krueger will also be keen to persuade Trump, who has singled out BMW for hefty tariffs if it built a factory in Mexico, to reconsider the threat. But “if the government is serious about its new tax, the chancellery has already prepared a series of retaliatory measures,” said Der Spiegel. The meeting will also be closely watched for the dynamics between the two leaders who appear to stand far apart on content and

style. While Merkel is a firm believer in the European Union and globalization, Trump cheers Britain’s departure from the EU and scrapped the TPP free trade deal in his first days in office. The two also differ on immigration policies -- she slammed his ban on citizens from mainlyMuslim countries, while he criticised as “catastrophic” her liberal refugee stance that led more than a million asylum-seekers into Germany. And while Merkel, a trained physicist, rarely makes public statements deviating from a thoroughly researched text, Trump does not hold back on announcing US policy upheavals in 140-character Twitter messages. Merkel had already set the tone from the beginning, when in their first phone conversation, she reminded Trump of democratic values while offering cooperation. AFP

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ LUIS S. JAVIER JR. “ LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY “ ENRICO J. PUNO ==================================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-034 on third and final reading. CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-034 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php 50,000.00) OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AS INITIAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON “NINA” IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAGÑAY, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, DECLARED AS UNDER THE STATE OF CALAMITY, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM C.Y. 2017 EXECUTIVE BUDGET UNDER THE LOCAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FUND-QUICK RESPONSE FUND, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, Super Typhoon “NINA” (International name: Nock-ten), which according to PAGASA had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness at 180 kph, was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines in 2016; WHEREAS, this typhoon left devastating and depressing marks in the Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur on 23 December 2016. Trees were uprooted, buildings were stripped of their roofs, crops flattened to the ground, landslides and flash floods occurred and families were rendered homeless because their houses were crashed by strong winds; WHEREAS, according to the NDRRMC Situational Report dated 09 January 2017, the number of families affected by the typhoon in the said municipality reached to 1,055; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur, thru Resolution No. 205 Series of 2016, declared Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur as under the State of Calamity; WHEREAS, Section 21 of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provides that: “Section 21. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). – The present Local Calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDRRMF to support disaster risk management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing, life-saving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disaster risk activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement on the LDRRMF based on the LDRRMP as incorporated in the local development plan and annual work and financial plan. Upon recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared under the state of calamity. Of the amount appropriated for LDRRMF, thirty percent (30%) shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. xxx” (Emphasis supplied.) WHEREAS, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) of the City of Makati, pursuant to Resolution No. 2017-07 Series of 2017, recommended the appropriation of funds in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00), for the purpose of giving initial relief assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur; WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of existing laws and the recommendation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of the City of Makati, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby appropriates the aforesaid amount to be used as initial relief assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to be made available is hereby appropriated as initial relief assistance to the victims of typhoon “Nina” in the Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur, declared as under the State of Calamity, funds of which shall be taken from C.Y. 2017 Executive Budget under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund-Quick Response Fund (LDRRMF-QRF), subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures. Section 2. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), City Budget Department, Accounting Department, City Law Department and other departments, offices or agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

Section 1. Title – This Ordinance shall be known and cited as “The Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System Ordinance.” Section 2. Declaration of Policy – It is the policy of the City Government of Makati to continuously promote active citizenship and inspire Makatizens to draw a unified community of committed, competent and ethical volunteers as government partners in resilience building. The City will serve as model for the rest of local government units and other volunteer management organizations in the Philippines and the rest of the world. Section 3. Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Volunteer Management System – The Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System aims to build an enabling mechanism for channeling and organization of volunteers, whether they may be individuals or organizations. 3.1. Guiding Principles- The Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System shall adhere to the principles outlined below:

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING MAKATI DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (MAKATI DRRMC) RESOLUTION NO. 2017-08 SERIES OF 2017 ENTITLED AS “APPROVING THE REPROGRAMMING OF UNEXPENDED BALANCES AND CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE UNIMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES CHARGED AGAINST C.Y. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 AND 2016 LOCAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FUND (LDRRMF)”, SUBJECT TO ALL LAWS AND EXISTING LEGAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Section 21 of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, states that the Local Calamity Fund, also known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), which is not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources, shall be set aside to support disaster risk reduction and management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing life-saving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post disaster activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance; WHEREAS, the abovementioned law also provides that the unexpended LDDRMF shall accrue to a special trust fund solely for the purpose of supporting disaster risk reduction and management activities of the Local DRRM Council within the next five (5) years. Any unutilized amount after five (5) years shall be reverted back to the general fund; WHEREAS, Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2012-002 states that all unexpended/ unobligated balance of the LDRRMF for capital outlay shall be made continuing in the general fund books until the projects funded therefore are completed and any savings shall be available for use in the disaster risk reduction and management activities as provided in the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Implement Plan (LDRRMFIP); WHEREAS, Section 4.4 of the same Circular likewise provides that the members of the Local DRRM Council shall decide on the use of the unexpended balance of the LDRRMF;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ADOPTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ADOPTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The reprogramming of the unexpended balances and continuing appropriation from unimplemented programs, projects and activities charged against the CY 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) is hereby approved. Section 2. If for any reason, any part or provision of this Ordinance shall be found to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect Section 3. All existing ordinances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, or modified accordingly. Section 4. Let copy of this Ordinance and its attached Annexes be furnished to Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Makati-DRRMC), City Budget Department, Accounting Department, City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information and guidance. Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

SICK LEAVE HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

SICK LEAVE

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

Commitment – Volunteers shall be emotionally, physically, and psychologically bounded to the mission, vision and goals of the program and guiding principles of the City.

Competency – Trainings and workshops shall be conducted to build capacities of volunteers and staff. New and innovative activities shall also be organized to encourage dynamism and promote continuous learning. Profiling and skills matching shall be conducted to ensure efficiency and effective volunteers.

Ethical – Volunteers shall be expected to conduct themselves in adherence to guidelines and protocols of the City Government of Makati with respect to the people they serve.

3.2 Institutional Framework – The Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System shall be implemented by the Makati DRRM Volunteer Desk under the authority of the Makati DRRMO. The Makati DRRM Volunteer Desk shall be initially organized and composed of the following: a. b. c. d. e.

Focal Person Administrative Section Training Section Planning Section Public Relations and Information Section

The Makati DRRMO shall designate personnel to the Volunteer Desk. Functions shall be outlined in the Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System Manual. Office space and equipment shall be provided for the effective performance of these functions. 3.3. Accreditation – Individual volunteer and organized volunteer groups who intend to take an active role in DRRM activities shall subject themselves to an accreditation process. Profiling, mapping, skills matching, capacity building, among others shall be implemented to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of each volunteer. 3.4. Incentives and Recognition – all volunteers deployed under the Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System shall be entitled to enjoy fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as, but not limited to the following: a.

Logistic support (provision of clothing and/or personal protective equipment (PPE), food, transportation, medical assistance whenever necessary, among others); and

Insurance It shall be also the task of the Makati DDRM Volunteer Desk to institute an awards and recognition mechanism for outstanding volunteers and volunteer groups. Volunteers may be recognized through ceremonies and events to be identified and organized by the Makati DRRMO.

Section 4. Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Volunteer Management System Manual - The Makati DRRMO shall prepare the Makati DRRM Volunteer Management System Manual. It shall be submitted to the Makati DRRMC for review and adoption. The Manual shall be revised to ensure consistency with the provisions of R.A. 10121 and the guidelines to be formulated by the NDRRMC Section 5. Budget – Expenses incurred by the enforcement of this Ordinance may be charged against the LDRRMF as stipulated in R.A. 10121 and other funding sources, as may be appropriated through the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Section 6. Separability Clause – If for any reason, any part or provision of this Ordinance shall be found to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. Section 7. Repealing Clause – All existing ordinances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, or modified accordingly. Section 8. Let copy of this Ordinance and its attached Annexes be furnished to Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Makati-DRRMC), City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information and guidance. Section 9. Effectivity - This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval. ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Special Session held on 8 March 2017. HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

SICK LEAVE HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

Certified true and correct by: ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

Unity – Team building activities shall be conducted, and teamwork and cooperation shall be encouraged to build a sense of community among volunteers and city government personnel.

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, considering the necessity of espousing Makati-DRRMC Resolution No. 2017-08 Series of 2017, hereby adopts the aforecited Resolution and hereto attached as Annex “A”.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Special Session held on 8 March 2017.

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

WHEREAS, on 12 January 2017 Regular Meeting of the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Makati-DRRMC), the Members present agreed to approve the reprogramming of the unexpended balances and continuing appropriation from unimplemented programs, projects and activities charged against C.Y. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 LDRRMF through Makati-DRRMC Resolution No. 2017-08 Series of 2017;

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Special Session held on 8 March 2017.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

Sustainability – Continuous Information and Education Campaign (IEC) programs and recruitment of volunteers shall be done in order to raise awareness and build the City’s manpower complement. Awarding and recognition mechanism shall be established to acknowledge volunteers’ contribution and service.

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

Attested by:

Approved by:

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-MAR. 13, 2017)

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer Approved by: (MS-MAR. 13, 2017)

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-MAR. 13, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

World

Ivana the exemption to buy-American rule B EIJING―In his January inauguration speech, US President Donald Trump made a seemingly straightforward pledge: “We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American.”

His daughter is the exception: even as he spoke, at least eight shipments of Ivanka Trump-branded shoes, bags and clothes―more than 53.5 tons― were steaming towards American ports from China, according to US Customs bills of lading examined by AFP. Trump uses his presidential pulpit to censure manufacturers―both domestic and foreign―for using overseas labor to make goods for American consumers, but the Ivanka-branded orders have kept rolling in. More than two tons of ladies’ polyester woven blouses, 1,600 cowhide leather wallets and 23 tons of made-in-China footwear

were among at least 82 such shipments that passed US Customs―almost one per business day―from Trump’s November 8 election win through February 26, records showed. The goods were made in China by three US companies holding licenses to manufacture products for Ivanka Trump’s fashion line: garment maker G-III, Mondani Handbags and Marc Fisher Footwear. Marc Fisher told AFP it had no comment, while the others did not respond to requests. The ﬁrst daughter’s business has come under scrutiny since major US department store chain Nordstrom announced in February it would stop carrying her

products, citing poor sales. That provoked a scathing attack from Trump and his advisers and even prompted senior counselor Kellyanne Conway to urge Americans to go out and buy his daughter’s products. The Washington Post reported this week that many had done just that, with February proving a banner month for the brand, in terms of sales. More than 1,200 shipments of Trump-branded products have ﬂowed into the US from China and Hong Kong over the past decade, according to an examination of US import data last year by antiTrump political action committee Our Principles PAC. During his campaign, Trump defended the licensing of the Trump name for goods made in China―from shoes to ties to dress shirts―as smart business. But at the same time he frequently accused China of stealing US jobs through unfair trade practices and currency manipulation, while also

slamming US firms such as Ford and Nabisco for off-shoring. Since taking office, he has kept up the pressure, vowing to punish domestic and foreign companies that manufacture abroad with massive tariffs of as much as 45 percent. His frequent fusillades have led some companies to second-guess decisions to build production facilities overseas. In February, Japanese firm Nisshinbo Holdings, a leading global maker of automobile brake parts, dropped plans to open a factory in Mexico, saying it was due to Trump’s trade policies. But the president has been notably silent on his daughter’s products, which are sold in American retailers like Macy’s, Lord & Taylor and TJ Maxx. G-III alone sold $29.4 million of the goods in 2015, and sales in the first nine months of 2016 were up $13.3 million over the same period the previous year, according to the company’s public filings. AFP

ONSTAGE. Television personality Kim Kardashin speaks onstage at the Family Equality Council’s Impact Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on March 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Jackal goes on trial again in France

Stars keep tourism looking up in Europe

PARIS―Carlos the Jackal, the perpetrator of headline-grabbing attacks in the 1970s and early 1980s, goes on trial in France on Monday for the deadly bombing of a Paris shop more than 40 years ago. With attention in France now focused on the ever-present threat of jihadist attack, the trial in Paris will reach back to a time when Europe was repeatedly targeted by ruthless groups sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. Carlos, 67, a Venezuelan whose real name is Ilyich Ramirez Sanchez, describes himself as a “professional revolutionary” and was dubbed “Carlos the Jackal” by the press when he was one of the world’s most wanted terror suspects. The nickname came from a fictional terrorist in the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel, “The Day of the Jackal”, which was turned into a popular film. Arrested in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in 1994 by elite French police, Carlos is already serving a life sentence for the murders of two policemen killed in Paris in 1975 and that of a Lebanese revolutionary. He was also found guilty of four bombings in Paris and Marseille in 1982 and 1983, some targeting trains, which killed a total of 11 people and injured nearly 150. Carlos will be judged by three judges for the attack on the Drugstore Publicis, a busy shop once located in Saint-Germaindes-Pres in the heart of Paris. In the late afternoon of September 15, 1974, a grenade was lobbed into the entrance of the store, killing two men and leaving 34 people injured. Georges Holleaux, a lawyer representing the two widows of the men killed and 16 other people affected, said they relished the chance to finally see Carlos in court. “The victims have been waiting so long for Carlos to be judged and convicted. Their wounds have never healed,” he said. Carlos’s lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, said the trial was a waste of time and money. “What exactly is the point of having a trial so long after the events?” she said. Carlos denies the charges, which include “murders carried out with a terrorist organisation”. AFP

BERLIN―With urbanization gaining pace and air pollution clouding the view in the major cities, contemplating the stars in a pitch-black sky is fast becoming a rarity that tour operators are banking on as a new sellingpoint. From a total solar eclipse to the Milky Way to the Northern Lights, many experts at Berlin’s ITB, marketed as the world’s leading travel trade show, were making the case for astronomical experiences this year. “Astro-tourism is really an increasing business. We now see a lot of travel agencies which offer this kind of tourism,” Andreas Haenel, an astronomer and director of the planetarium museum in north-western Germany’s Osnabrueck, told AFP. While space tourism may be the holy grail for the most committed of stargazers, its astronomical price tag puts it out of reach for most, not to mention health and safety concerns over forays beyond the atmosphere. Enter astro-tourism, which allows enthusiasts of celestial movements to experience the natural phenomena with both feet ﬁrmly on planet Earth. With few places sufﬁciently dark for observations, some European and US national parks have now classed certain areas as “dark sky preserves”. Meanwhile, deserts in Namibia, Botswana and Iran are marketed as ideal stargazing sites that also offer the exoticism of sandy dunes. Keyvan Lankarani, the European representative of an Iranian tour company, said the sector started developing in his country due to domestic demand. “It really started within the Iranian market itself because of the vast central desert, we have pretty big spaces of darkness,” he said,. But beyond just searching for familiar favorites like Orion’s belt or the Big Dipper, Haenel says recent years have seen a boom in “event astro-tourism” -- travel to witness an eclipse, a meteor shower, or the Northern Lights. At the ITB show, the brochure promoting Canada’s Yukon sold the moment that “you will never forget” when skies suddenly light up with colorful streaks as a result of gaseous particle collisions. AFP

AWARDS. Model Heidi Klum and DJ Khaled speak onstage at Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards on March 11, 2017 in Los Angeles. AFP

Experts denounce Trump’s revised travel ban WASHINGTON―More than 130 US foreign policy experts have denounced President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, saying it undermines America’s national security and interests as much as the original order barring travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and refugees. “To Muslims―including those victimized by or ﬁghting against ISIS [Islamic State]―it will send a message that reinforces the propaganda... that falsely claim the United States is at war with Islam,” read the letter by former government ofﬁcials and experts.

“Welcoming Muslim refugees and travelers, by contrast, exposes the lies of terrorists and counters their warped vision,” added the document dated Friday. Among the 134 signatories who served in either or both Republican and Democratic administrations were former senior diplomat Nicholas Burns, ex-National Security Council counter-terrorism director Richard Clarke and exundersecretary of defense Michele Flournoy. Most served under Democratic presidents, including former secretary of state Madeleine Albright,

former Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, ex-national security adviser Susan Rice and ex-National Counter-terrorism director Matthew Olsen. Their comments echo those being made in court by US states claiming the modiﬁed measures discriminate against Muslims and are detrimental to US interests. “Bans like those included in this order are harmful to US national security and beneath the dignity of our great nation,” the letter read. The executive order “weakens this country’s ability to provide global leadership and jeopardizes

our national security interests by failing to support the stability of our allies that are struggling to host large numbers of refugees,” it added. The letter was also sent to Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Homeland Security chief John Kelly and Acting Director of National Intelligence Michael Dempsey. The revised directive temporarily closes US borders to all refugees and citizens from six mainlyMuslim countries. AFP

Life FOOD

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

CELEBRATING joys of eating

Happy Garden Café owner Annabel Tanco

HE Happy Garden Café at the Sunshine Place celebrates the joys of eating. Salads are Dazzling (figs and caramelized orange with aniseed dressing) and Gorgeous (quinoa with panko-crusted mozzaballs, pistachio and maple tahini dressing); pastas are Serene (palabok noodles with shrimp sauce topped with smoked fish, prawns, pork crackling) and Enthusiastic (mushroom stuffed pasta cooked in Alfredo Sauce); and sandwiches are Extraordinary (Chicken with sundried tomato) and Magical (brisket slices topped with caramelized onion and mushroom gravy served with salted egg yolk fries). It is, as its name implies, truly a happy place with comforting food that makes you feel good and happy about what you eat and yourself. Since it opened in 2015 at the Sunshine Place, which is part of SM’s Felicidad Sy Foundation, Happy Garden Café has been a haven for the health conscious and organic dishes lovers; an oasis in the bustling city of Makati with its charming interiors surrounded by flowers, greeneries and inspirational books. Its mission is to bring the freshest produce from the best farms in the provinces to Manila, and serve food that looks good,

tastes good and is good for the body and mind. Moreover, the menu is especially created for seniors who wish to enjoy a lovely meal without breaking their diets or the doctor’s orders. “It’s time for seniors to take care of themselves. Before it’s always their children, and their partners,” café owner, Annabel Tanco of the Bizu Group explains. Here, seniors can find food that answers the question—“What is good for me?” The idea that food and diet can help the body heal itself is a concept a thousand of years old. We’ve heard it from Hippocrates in one of his famous quotes, “Let

These fresh juice blends are not only refreshing, they are also potent sources of nutrients, making your body healthy

Fabulous (smoked beef brisket with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables)

Pure (harvest salad with pumpkin goddess, mixed greens, roasted pumpkin and Brussel sprouts, cranberries, pecans, apple slices served with pumpkin-yogurt dressing)

Adventurous (prawn cake served with soft shell crab fried in tempura batter)

Simple (turmeric rice porridge of chicken topped with crispy bagnet croutons)

Transformed (Spanish chorizo, organic egg, oregano, basil and mozzarella)

food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be food.” Ten years ago, Annemarie Colbin stood at the forefront of the food revolution with her book, Food and Healing, in which she says that what you eat determines your health, your well being and the quality of your life. Happy Garden Café is all about making conscious choices in our diets to maintain balance and vitality. And with the recent update of Happy Garden Café’s menu, everyone can choose to be happy about what they eat, and joyful about themselves. The menu gives you some happy and healthy choices. For starters, be Comforted with soft yolk scotch eggs wrapped in homemade sausage, breaded and fried on a bed of arugula drizzled with sweet chili sauce. Follow this with foods that are Thriving and Pure—pumpkin soup with cocoa cream and blue cheese croutons, and harvest salad with pumpkin goodness, mixed greens, roasted pumpkin and Brussel sprouts, cranberries, pecans, apple slices served with pumpkin yoghurt dressing, respectively. Your meal will be Complete with

freshly made brown rice pasta with lamb bolognese sauce, Grateful with truffle mushrrom pizza with cream cheese, truffle cream topped with oyster mushrooms, buttoned mushrooms and mozzarella cheese glazed with honey and kale; and Happy with a sandwich made from baked Vietnamese pork balls served with sriracha mayo, jalapenos sesame-carrot slaw and salted egg yolk fries. Pizzas are homemade from Italian caputo flour, while pastas are freshly made. Other great food choices: Humble, cauliflour rice with Korean beef bibimbap; and Immortal, Malagos chocolate champorado danggit tuile, Davao cacao rice porridge topped with chia seeds, dried cranberries, and almonds. Guests can begin their day and feel Energized with Filipino breakfast options—beef tapa, pork tocino, pork longganisa, and fried bangus served with garlic rice, tomato with white cheese and pesto. Or Ecstatic, Fulfilled, and Optimistic with various eggs benedict versions with smoked salmon and smoked ham; or Soulful and Blissful with delightful French omelette sets. Other breakfast

sets are Euphoric (homemade muesli, yogurt, and blueberry compote, and Radiant (rolled oats, cinnamon, dried fruits and a light bowl of fresh fruits). Fresh juice blends are also available: Red juice—a mix of beets, turnips, carrots, ginger, stevia, fiber; and Green juice—a mix of kale, green apple, lemon, celery, ginger, stevia, fiber). Bizu has always been known for its wonderful desserts, and here, you can take a pick from the cutest flower pot carrot walnut, banana and chocolate cupcakes that are gluten-free and non-dairy. Gluten-free cakes are also available, as are take-home gifts Bizu’s Macaron de Paris and the Honey-sweetened peanut spread, peanut crunch & salted coco caramel by First Harvest. Happy Garden Café is on the ground floor of Sunshine Place at #56 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City and is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m,, Monday to Sunday; and is also available for events and private parties. For more information, contact 2610115. Follow and like Happy Garden Café on Instagram @happygardencafe or on facebook at facebook.com/HappyGardenCafe.

A feast of new dining privileges FROM curated seasonal menus at exclusive restaurants, to complimentary wine and children’s dining privileges, Mastercard Platinum, World and World Elite cardholders now have access to the best of Asia Pacific’s culinary scene simply by paying with a Mastercard. Part of a larger refresh of its affluent platform, the range of new dining benefits connects cardholders to the things they cherish most. These include making meaningful use of their limited time to form connections and indulging in new experiences with the people they love. Jenn Ong, head, Consumer Credit, Asia Pacific for Mastercard, said, “With its melting pot of diverse cuisines, Asia Pacific’s consumers are united by their appreciation of good food. A cornerstone of Asian culture, mealtimes are when many form business partnerships or bond with their loved ones.” She added, “With this knowledge in mind, we are excited to announce our new suite of Affluent dining privileges, as we deepen our commitment to creating priceless moments for them.” Wielding greater spending power than previous generations, Asia Pacific’s affluent consumers devote a significant portion of their income to dining out. They are also keen to explore new cuisines and varied dining options. Ong said, “Mastercard’s research on consumer dining habits indicate that

Mealtime, during which many form business partnerships or bond with loved ones, is a cornerstone of Asian culture

Asia Pacific consumers’ appetite for dining out remains strong despite an uncertain economic outlook and revealed that they are increasingly seeking fine dining experiences.” With that in mind, Mastercard is offering the most rewarding dining experiences to its cardholders which include, Mastercard Epicurean Experiences where World and World Elite cardholders can enjoy priority reservations and exclusively crafted menus by avant-garde visionaries and Michelinstarred chefs at 20 top restaurants globally.

Together with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Mastercard cardholders are entitled to Kids Dining Perks which is complimentary dining for kids aged 12 years and below with every paying adult, across 26 participating restaurants in Asia and Australasia. Receive a complimentary bottle of wine when dining at more than 100 participating restaurants across China, Hong Kong and Singapore, with a minimum spend, thanks to Mastercard Wine Privilege. Know what dining benefits await you using your Mastercard. Visit www. mastercard.com for more information.

World and World Elite cardholders can enjoy priority reservations and exclusively crafted menus at 20 top restaurants globally

Life

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

An Appetite

for Sustainability

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

LOCAL firm based in Antique is poised to export Philippine slipper oysters to China within the first semester of the year. It will be a pioneering feat for Crystal Bay Oyster Co., and proof that striving to keep our seas clean is not only sustainable but makes for good business, too. “When we started in the Visayas about 16 years ago, the oysters were no good – they were too thin. We had initial difficulty persuading people to patronize our oysters,” said Colin Buckley in an interview with Manila Standard during an oystershucking event at New World Makati to promote the second year of the Sustainable Seafood Week Philippines.

The company currently supplies oysters to at least 80 local establishments, and is set to start exporting to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing in the next two to three months. “Doing it properly was key to improving our oyster production. It is not just about sustainability, but also about keeping our seas clean. If you allow commercial establishments to keep on dumping their wastes on our waters, then our seas become dirtier and our harvests dwindle,” Buckley added. Crystal Bay’s oysters are self-sustaining, able to feed on microorganisms already in the sea, thus cleaning and improving the quality of coastal waters in the process.

Seared tuna

“Hotels have a strong responsibility to ask their suppliers where their seafood is coming from. More than awareness, we need people to practice conscious buying. Oceans are getting more depleted and all stakeholders must do our part,” added Schmidradner. Vince Cinches, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said the government should have the same parallel effort as the industry to strongly implement the Philippines fisheries code, which has been amended to address illegal fishing and unregulated fishing in a bid to ensure continuous supply of sustainable seafood. “The Philippines is not a country in isolation in relation to seafood issues. We import a lot. We export a lot. The future of how we eat seafood really depends upon all sectors of all the industry – not only from the fishing communities or the commercial fishing fleets, or the government or NGOs, but also in all establishments and consumers,” he said. For Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Assistant Director Benjamin Tabios, improving and standardizing documentation and traceability systems will ensure that aquatic resources are sustainably managed. Tabios also underscored the need to ensure that sustainable seafood becomes accessible to a broader market. Cinches stressed all these efforts are crucial to allowing our seas to recover from overfishing and ecosystem degradation. “Sustainable Seafood Week Philippines, a first in Southeast Asia, shows how the Philippine hospitality industry is serious in their role to address the problems happening at sea, one plate at a time.” For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com Philippine slipper oyster, best enjoyed with a lemon wedge as accoutrement

New World Makati’s oyster martini with vodka, calamansi, ponzu sauce and raw quail egg

Bounty from the sea: freshly shucked oysters and mussels

According to Christian Schmidradner, general manager of seafood company Meliomar and one of the lead proponents of the Sustainable Seafood Week initiative, there are more participants in this year’s events, especially hotels and restaurants that account for a large portion of the total domestic seafood commercial consumption.

“This shows growing importance placed on the topic of responsible seafood sourcing, implemented traceability, legal fisheries, and improvement of fishery and aquaculture management. We started this movement with the involvement of all stakeholders, and with so many more organizations involved, we can draw more attention on the topic,” he said.

Shift to a healthier lifestyle with delicious guilt-free food WE COULD all benefit from eating healthier. But choosing a better diet doesn’t mean depriving yourself of all the delicious food you love to eat. Healthier alternatives are available and so easy to make yourself. In fact, making your own food is the better choice if you want to make sure that you’re getting a balanced meal. You don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen to make healthy meals. There are tons of simple recipes you can follow and alter to control what and how much goes on your plate. Whether it’s a lunch snack for you or a sweet treat for the kids, better food choices are surprisingly easy to make. Maya, the company behind well-loved baking mixes and kitchen essentials, is en-

Guilt-free Mini Cheesecakes topped with fruits

couraging everyone to go “Back to Baking”, especially if they want to shift to healthy eating. While most people would think of salads and lean meats when talking about diets, Maya offers delicious guilt-free desserts for you to make at home and even with your kids. Chocolate lovers will enjoy the Sugar-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting that uses isomalt sweetener made from beets. The Eggless Belgian Chocolate Cake with Caramel Sauce is surprisingly delicious and tastes like your usual indulgent chocolate cake. There’s also the Guilt-Free Mini Cheesecakes that you can top with delicious fruits of your choice. The Maya Kitchen, a culinary school that

Juicing is a quick way to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables

caters to different ages, helps you eat better with yummy ways to eat your veggies. Learn to turn standard sandwiches to healthy wraps. Get recipes for the Vegetable Wrap in Avocado Caesar Dressing, the Grilled Chicken and Veggie Wrapped in Tofu Dressing, and the Healthy Vietnamese Wrap. Go green and try out a variety of juicing recipes such as Simple Starter Detox Drink, Sooper Dooper, Detox Greens, Power Booster Juice. It’s a quick way to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Plus, they’re so delicious that even kids will want to drink. To learn more, check out www.themayakitchen.com, like Maya Kitchen on Facebook, and follow @Mayakitchen on Instagram and @TheMayaKitchen on Twitter.

Grilled Chicken Veggie Wrap with tofu dressing

B ITES

Among Philippines’ best DIAMOND Hotel Philippines’ Corniche and Yurakuen restaurants were included in Philippine Tatler’s 172 Philippine Best Restaurants. Corniche, the hotel’s prime destination for culinary creations and exquisite buffet dining experiences, garnered a stellar rating from restaurant experts. The restaurant offers a sumptuous spread of international dishes featuring the best of Asian, Western, Japanese and Chinese gastronomic treasures. Yurakuen, known as the hotel’s paradise of authentic Japanese favorites, also received an impressive rating. This is the 11th recognition

received by the restaurant, embarking over a decade of excellence in food and service. The restaurant serves familiar dishes of the freshest sushi and sashimi, and heavenlytempting and melt-in-your mouth wagyu with a refreshing ambiance taking you to a new world of dining experiences. Yakiniku and Teppanyaki are also available for a preferred style of cooking and taste. These recognitions are validations of Diamond Hotel Philippines’ commitment in delivering exceptional service through its food, setting, customer service and overall hotel experience.

Staff of Corniche restaurant

The Yurakuen team

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

No regrets Barbie didn’t star in

‘ANNALIZA’

SKY Cable and RunRio partner once more for SKYathon

8th year of SKYathon

BORACAY BEACH RUN W

ITH Boracay’s power to attract tourists and an undersea ecosystem as delicate as any, the island needs “heroes” that can share in sustaining its environmental health.

Shore cleanups initiated by the island’s various “stakeholders” happen seasonally, but its underwater life is of equal importance. This is where SKYathon, the annual beach run by leading cable and broadband provider, SKY Cable, ﬁnds a place for the ‘ “heroes” of the environment to offer their help. “As the reefs continue to need care and upkeep, we are heeding Filipinos, particularly our beach runners, to join our cause to help save the island through SKYathon 2017, thus our battle cry, be a hero for Boracay,” Delbert Santos, SKY marketing services manager said. Because of the debilitating condition of Boracay’s coral reefs, SKYathon will once again allocate a portion of the registration fees to support Boracay Foundation’s Coral REEFurbishment Program to help save the island’s coral reefs from dying. In fact, SKY is dedicated in supporting the advocacy on a long-term basis. “Boracay has given so much to Filipinos and it is only ﬁtting that we return the favor by helping the country’s world-class island remain beautiful. SKY is committed to uphold this advocacy through SKYathon,”

Jaynalen Redondo, SKY Cable’s airtime sales marketing head said. According to a DENR assessment conducted in September 2015, coral bleaching, unregulated diving, and the spread of crown-of-thorns starfish have caused damage on Boracay’s coral reefs. The rehabilitation project can help coral reefs to recover for Boracay to maintain a healthy coastal marine ecosystem. Together with coach Rio dela Cruz’s RunRio as race partner, SKYathon will once again gather tourists, runners, and sports enthusiasts for a day of running in the name of saving the island’s coral reefs from dying. The highly anticipated destination run will happen on April 22, 6 a.m., at the Epic Beach Front (station 2). Aspiring SKYathon runners can choose from a 3K (P500), 5K (P600), and 10K (P800) beach run. A race kit includes a singlet, timing chip, loot bag, and a finisher’s medal. Be a hero for Boracay this summer by joining the SKYathon beach run. For more information on registration, interested individuals can visit www.skyathon.com and www.runrio.com/skyathon-2017. Updates are regularly provided in its official Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/SKYathon. The online registration is open until April 10. Other registration venues include the Boracay Foundation Inc. office located on the 2nd floor of AKY Gasoline Station, Main Road, Manocmanoc, Boracay Island, Chris Sports branches in SM Megamall, SM North Edsa (Main), SM MOA, Glorietta 3, Robinsons Ermita, and D’Mall Boracay; as well as Rudy Project Branches in Alabang Town Center, The Podium Trinoma, SM MOA, SM Cebu, Robinsons Cebu, and D’Mall Boracay.

Binge watching on Lifetime THIS month, Lifetime brings the best original movies and series so you chance to win $100,000 and the title of Canada’s next MasterChef. Catch can binge watch. season 3 of MasterChef Canada, 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. On March 25, 9 p.m., get ready for the spine-tingling horror flick, Little Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch Girl’s Secret. As Molly and her family move into their new home – a 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44. converted old church which has a graveyard behind it – she suspects that her stepsister, Heather, befriended the ghost of a young girl. Molly must then save her troubled stepsister from a dangerous relationship with the desperate ghost before it’s too late. Get drawn into the lives of people who’ve put their love on the line as exciting television social experiment Married at First Sight returns for a second season. The hit Australian show features four more couples (Erin and Bryce, Christie and Mark, Clare and Jono, Simone and Javier) who agree to marry when they first meet. After living together for a month, will they stay married or call it a day? Married at First Sight S2 premieres 9 p.m. today. Terra Jolé and Joe Gnoffo’s captivating high-risk pregnancy story on the second season of Little Women: LA has been embraced by millions of fans. After receiving an overwhelming outpouring of support, they have made the courageous decision to document the impending birth of their baby. Though both living with the dwarfism condition, Terra and Joe are still passionate performers who have been together for seven years. Terra has even toured with top celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, while Joe is a drummer for the band Nirvanish. Witness their inspiring story as Little Women: Terra’s Little Family premieres 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. tomorrow. Esteemed judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile return to guide and mentor the aspiring home cooks as they battle it out through a grueling series of Mystery Boxes, Pressure Tests, and Team Challenges. The home cooks demonstrate their skill and passion for the Hit Australian show “Married at First Sight”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, March 13, 2017

ACROSS 1 Uses a ray gun 5 Rover’s friend 9 Sharif of the movies 13 Is that all — —? 14 Skunk’s defense 15 More wan 17 Its HQ is Brussels 18 Civil servant 20 Bayou dweller 22 Conceit 23 Ukraine’s capital 24 Ale serving 26 He wrote “Picnic” 28 Throb 32 Bordered 36 Claire or Balin 37 Gambling town 38 Golf links 39 Little foxes 41 Stallone tough guy 43 Bread for a gyro 44 Moral codes 46 Galileo’s home 48 Cartoon voice — Blanc 49 Bulrushes 50 Most turbulent 52 Still-active volcano 54 Fair (hyph.) 55 Proclaim

58 Mongrel 60 Agreed silently 64 Rabble-rousers 67 Modicum 68 Hitachi rival 69 Deli sandwich 70 Like some controls 71 Simpson kid 72 Bygone tyrant 73 Paul Drake’s creator DOWN 1 Nonrust coating 2 Microbiology gel 3 Rozelle of football 4 Bends down 5 Instigators 6 Ms. Lupino 7 Ruler of Venice 8 Roots 9 Make a choice 10 Raised the price (2 wds.) 11 Mountain range near China (var.) 12 Nerve network 16 Race the engine 19 Father’s lad 21 Fibber 25 Ike’s ex 27 College maj. 28 Tightwad 29 Consolidate

30 Wood turner’s machine 31 Energy 33 Dirt 34 Basso Simon — 35 Passed out the cards 38 Joint financial backer 40 Crabwise 42 Life histories 45 Austin hrs. 47 Lhasa — 50 Nabbed 51 Cloud-seeding

compound Sgt.’s status Commercial bits Tender meat All, in combos Is sorry about Unsmiling And others (abbr.) 63 Carnegie or Evans 65 — — few rounds 66 Pitcher’s stat 53 55 56 57 59 61 62

UNKNOWn to some, before she hit it big as a Kapuso talent, Barbie Forteza was supposed to play the main antagonist in ABS-CBN’s planned remake of the classic soap opera Annaliza originally starred in by the late Julie Vega. However, said project was put on hold in 2008 until the re-boot finally pushed through in 2013 and featured Andrea Brillantes. Looking back, many ask if she had any regrets that the soap had to be temporarily shelved then. “Well, honestly, I got disappointed because it was a huge project,” says Barbie. “It’s good that GMA gave me the break when they assigned me the part of the young Rhian Ramos in Stairway to Heaven that turned out to be a chart-topper. The rest, as they say is history. I’m happy that the management believed in my potential. It paved the way for me to establish my fan base.” For the petite young actress, loyalty is one strong success formula. “When the viewing public gradually took notice of me that was the time when ABS-CBN expressed their interest to get me back. Obviously, I chose to stay with GMA because they were the first one to tap my star potential. I guess, I made the right decision because the network is really taking good care of my career!” She stars in the consistent ratings winner Meant To Be. “I’m simply overwhelmed with the public’s support on our program since we started airing. So far, it’s doing very well. That’s why I’m always excited reporting to the set. It feels good!” Barbie is turning 20 and is aware of her impending transition as an actress. “That’s where I’m slightly worried. For sure, my mother studio will offer me more demanding and challenging roles that go with my age. Will I be able to deliver? So, as early as now, I prepare myself especially in the physical aspect!” Despite this mindset, the talented star swears she won’t have a drastic change of image. “I don’t want to have a 360 degree turn in my image because definitely, it would shock my fans. My wish is that the transition will be gradual. I don’t want to miss a stage. I want to maximize the experience I’ll get. Like the tween stage, I think I enjoyed its full swing.” Many observe that the critically-acclaimed young star is in an enviable position when it comes to the roles she plays on screen. “I’m thankful because there’s balance in what I do. My GMA projects are there for my avid fans but I’m lucky to appear in indie movies that bring me artistic fulfillment. I won acting plums for the Cinemalaya entry Mariquina in 2015 and Laut in 2016. In fact, the latter gave me my maiden international Best Actress trophy during the 36th Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal,” Barbie ends. ******** Roxanne Barcelo is both happy and proud to be part of the movie Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids with Monsour Del Rosario and Vincent Soberano. The latter wrote, produced and directed the action-fantasy-horror vehicle, which will be dubbed in English. “You’ll be seeing a different Roxanne here,” she states. “It’s my full-length action film where I play the role of an aswang slayer. It’s really a huge honor to be part of a grand production in which top martial artists are gathered together, the likes of Sir Monsour and Sir Vincent whose passion and accomplishments in the field cannot be underestimated. That’s why I really put my best foot forward in this project.” Surprisingly, her five-year exposure to Muay Thai only helped a bit in her action routines. “That’s right! Direk Vincent made it a point that the martial arts action sequences in Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids are so unique and have never been seen before. Simply put, it’s world-class so I had to undergo intensive training. The moves are far different from what I knew in Muay Thai. That’s why I never missed any of the training sessions. I’m happy that at the end of the day, I am able to deliver.” Roxanne stresses that what makes the fantasy-action-horror project interesting is that it would introduce in the international market some of our ancient Filipino folklore and superstitions. “Yes, we have lots of dark characters here like the aswang, kapre, duwende and diwata that would be seen by the foreign audience. Imagine, incorporating that with topnotch action! The CGI effects are even done in Korea to further enhance the film’s value. It would really make every Pinoy proud.” Despite the intention of exhibiting the film worldwide, the talented lass assures that the producers are determined to show it first in the Philippines. “They plan to enter it in the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival which I think is a smart move. I’m certain it will be a hit by then knowing the local viewers’ interest and fascination on this type of genre,” Roxanne avers.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

PIOLO and YEN’s adventure to LOVE A

NYONE can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. This is the premise of the upcoming ﬁlm by Regal Entertainment, Spring Films, and Star Cinema titled Northern Lights: A Journey To Love, starring Piolo Pascual and Raikko Mateo, and introducing Yen Santos.

recognized as the Most Trusted Entertainment/ Variety Presenter. “To everyone responsible for naming me the Most Trusted Entertainment Presenter, thank you very much for the trust. It’s something else to be recognized for your efforts ISAH V. RED and to be true to your work and to yourself,” said the Eat Bulaga host. The Readers’ Digest Trusted Brands Survey is conducted among approximately 8,000 consumers across key markets in Asia and has been celebrated in the industry for 19 years in “recognizing the brands Dondon Santos, who has directed numerous 2017 Readers’ Digest Trusted Brands Awards on and services Filipinos trust, above all others.” *** episodes of top-rating shows on ABS-CBN, like March 7 in Pasig City. The actors playing Sang’gre marked International The Kapuso Network received the Platinum Maalaala Mo Kaya, Komiks Presents, Ipaglaban Mo, and the primetime series Green Rose, and Award in the TV Network category, further Women’s Day as they play strong women in the topthe movies Dalaw and Noy under Star Cinema, validating its commitment to enriching the lives rating fantasy series Encantadia. The actors display women of power and strength directed the film shot partly in New Zealand from of Filipinos with quality entertainment and in the series, not only because they have in their responsible delivery of news and information. the creenplay written by Onay Sales. GMA personalities were also recognized for possession the diamonds that imbue them with Northern Lights: A Journey To Love is a heartwarming movie about a father, a woman, their continued excellence in their respective supernatural powers but also because they manifest and a child, and their journey toward finding true platforms. For the seventh consecutive year, strength of character and wisdom in facing the daily Jessica Soho was awarded Most Trusted News challenges that make their lives in the fictional world love. In the movie, Piolo plays a desolate man who Presenter. “Kapag naririnig ko yung salitang of Encantadia exciting. Gabbi Garcia, Sandya Lopez, and Glaiza de Castro is searching for the right path in his life, while trust, ‘yung tiwala, napakalaking bagay nun Raikko portrays a child who is longing for love kasi it’s something that you earn. Hindi mo ‘yan posted on their Instagram accounts a photo that hinihingi, kailangang ibigay sa’yo yan,” said show’s “Babae Power” captioning it with a reminder from his father. The film marks the very first big-screen Soho. “Maraming maraming salamat muli sa how important it is to be a woman and urging every collaboration of Piolo, the child actor Raikko, Readers’ Digest at sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa woman to fight for their rights. Mga Sang’gre, ginunita ang International Women’s and young actress Yen, as well as with director akin,” she added. Fellow GMA News anchor Mike Enriquez, Day Dondon Santos. Avisala Sang’gre Alena, Hara Pirena, at Hara It is also Piolo’s first full-length feature this who is also regarded as one of the most credible year since he starred opposite Dawn Zulueta and radio personalities in the country today, received Danaya! *** anew the Most Trusted Radio Presenter award Coleen Garcia in Love Me Tomorrow lin 2016. One of Abra’s biggest event took off this March Piolo, who is a real-life dad to 19-year for his news programs in DZBB, the flagship old young actor Iñigo Pascual, remains AM radio station of RGMA. “Kapag ikaw ay in celebration of the province’s Centennial Year the industry’s ultimate leading man who is pinagkatiwalaan ng mga nagtitiwala sa isa sa and what a way to celebrate it with the stars literally consistently showered with critical acclaim for his mga pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaang organisasyon coming down to this northern province. The celebration kicked-off with the Tingguan performances of flawed and conflicted characters tulad ng Readers’ Digest, mas lalong nabubuo ang loob mo sa propesyon mo,” said Festival on March 3 followed by Luminous Fun Run that he has portrayed through the years. and Zumba Day with Regine Tolentino on March 5. Raikko, on the other hand, is one of today’s Enriquez. Abrenos were treated to a night of spectacular street Kapuso TV most promising child stars whose most notable dancing competition highlighted by performances Ryan work is his starring role in ABS-CBN’s top-rating host of ABS-CBN’s stars headed by Pinoy Boyband primetime series Honesto while Yen has been Agoncillo Superstar, Jerome Ponce, and Mariz Racal gaining mainstream traction with her notable w a s on March 6. March 7 saw the coronation of Mr. performances in such ABS-CBN drama series as & Ms. Abra hosted by Derek Ramsey and 2013 Pure Love and All Of Me. Miss International Bea Rose Santiago with Together, Piolo, Raikko, Yen, and Direk performances by Dessa and Jason Dy. Dondon will show moviegoers of all ages hope Another highlight of the centennial for a heart used to being alone. Witness the celebration was the staging of Katutubong journey of a father who feels lost and a son who Fashion show with Abel Abra fabrics feels alone and discover if the light designed by famous Manila designers worn of love could bring them back by top Manila ramp models. Paulo Avelino home. and Sam Pinto added glamor to the event Northern Lights: A held onMarch 8. The Grand Day Parade Journey To Love is and rock icon Bamboo was the main event showing in cinemas on March 9 followed by the Pammadayaw nationwide on March Festival with special guest Kuh Ledesma. 29. The centennial celebration of Abra was *** spearheaded by Gov. Joy Bernos with the help GMA Network of all the municipal mayors of the province r e c e i v e d with Rico Ancheta of Artists Concept the highest Production as Overall Project Coordinator. recognition It was really a grand centennial among the celebration for Abra and the most trusted Abrenos! brands in the Philippines during the

Young star Yen Santos teams up with A1 actor Piolo Pascual in Star Cinema production “Northern Lights: A Journey to Love”

Philippines’

Top Model

RUNWAYS, go-sees, dashing outfits and a little bit of drama is just a peek of what’s in store for you as Philippines Next Top Model walks their way onto your TV screens. Philippines Next Top Model High Street (PNTM) is the local edition of the hit modeling competition – America’s Next Top Model. In this new cycle, the competition will reach new heights as it shows off the trendy yet wearable high street fashion trends for all the Filipina millennial fashionistas. Join the journey of the promising models of today and get a glimpse of the amazing and exciting behind the scenes of the fashion world as Philippines’ Next Top Model (PNTM) returns for a second season that will fiercely mark as the modeling competition for the next generation. In this cycle, PNTM will put the spotlight on high street fashion and trends that reflect the style of the millennials. Expect to see clothes that will inspire your daily OOTDs and up your Instagram game. The show will also bring back the original spirit of model mentorship from the early Top Model shows, emphasizing model skills training from industry experts. Expect to see the contestants walk the runway to top model status as they learn the skills needed to be at the top of the fashion game. From posing, creating the runway walk, characterization, art direction and many more, the show will be an educational experience for the models and an entertaining primetime show for the viewers as well. Cycle 2 will be hosted by Maggie WilsonConsunji, who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas World at the 43rd Binibining Pilipinas pageant. She was Philippines’ representative to the 57th Miss World pageant. More than just a pretty face, Maggie recently won the Amazing Race Asia, a competition of brains, wit and physical strength where only the best come out on top. Making the show even more exciting, the models will be mentored by current Miss International titleholder, Kylie Verzosa. The model contestants could definitely learn a thing or two from Kylie. Aside from being a beauty queen, she is also an active member of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) and had done various fashion and beauty spreads in different publications. She is also an advocate for depression and suicide awareness. Talk about beauty, brains and a golden heart. This season’s panel of judges include PMAP President, Raphael Kiefer, named Best Model of the World Philippines 2003 and MTV FashionistaBest Model of the World Philippine 2004. With a 12-year modeling career in Asia, he would surely know what to look for in a top model and bring out the best in the PNTM contestants. Another PNTM judge this cycle is Meg Magazine editor-in-chief, Rain Dagala. Find out who will wow and who will bow out fast in this world famous modeling competition. Catch Cycle 2 of the Philippines’ Next Top Model on March 21, on TV5.