Manila Standard - 2017 April 04 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

CHIEF SCOUT. President Rodrigo Duterte meets up with young scouts Monday in Malacañang, after gracing the Baden Powell Day or Founder’s Day of Boy Scouts. where he said he would protect the young generation of Filipinos from becoming victims of illegal drugs and urged them to eventually enter the Reserve Ofﬁcers Training Corps in college. (Story below) John Paolo Bencito

32 BI men quit; DoJ wary By Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano

VOL. XXXI • NO. 53 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

THE mass resignation of immigration personnel at the airport because of unpaid overtime could compromise national security, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.

Aguirre said 32 immigration personnel have already resigned, and 50 others have ﬁled a leave of absence for six months to look for other jobs. The lack of Immigration ofﬁcers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has led to long lines at immigration counters Next page

NDF asked: War or peace? Corruption charge smear job—Sueno By John Paolo Bencito and Rio N. Araja

of his undersecretaries. Sueno said he believed the attacks were initiated by John INTERIOR Secretary Ismael Castriciones, Jesus V. Hinlo and Sueno said Monday someone Emily Padilla. wanted him He claimed out of his dethat they made partment as the move after he denied the he clipped their allegations powers at the Inof corruption terior Department and abuse of following a redelpower in a egation of authorconfidential ity that he issued letter to Presilast week. dent Rodrigo “It appears Duterte that that from the was reportedly very start, they drafted and want[ed] my head sent by three DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno Next page

Graft raps vs printing officials By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE key executives of APOProductivity Unit or APO-PU, a state-owned printing company, may face graft charges for allegedly entering into a partnership agreement with a private corporation without authorization. The Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions, the group that requested to reduce the price of a passport to P650, said Monday it was poised to ﬁle graft charges against APO-PU’s key executives after presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo recommended to dump the joint venture APO-United Graphic Expression Corp. or APO-UGEC. “Clearly, this JVA [joint-venture agreement] had no basis whatsoever because at the time of its signing, the DFA had not yet appointed APO-PU as the government’s ofﬁcial printer of the passports. That appointment eventually came on Oct. 5, 2015 when the DFA and APOPU concluded a memorandum of agreement on the e-passport Next page

Duterte sets 4 conditions of truce with Reds By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told communist rebels Sunday that they must accept his four conditions for a bilateral ceasefire or risk going to war with the government again. “I am occupying a position with a burden of getting this country back to peace. That is a mission but there is a condition attached to it,” the President said in an interview in Cagayan de Oro City Sunday. “The four… I gave them. Otherwise, I would be telling the Filipino people we will just have to ﬁght. Until kingdom come,” he said. Duterte earlier laid out the four

conditions as: 1) an end to the rebels’ “revolutionary tax”; 2) the release of all prisoners held by the communists; 3) non-recognition of the communists’ territorial claims; and 4) a signed and binding ceaseﬁre agreement. Duterte said he still wanted peace with the rebels. “Just give me other enemies, not my countrymen,” he said. The National Democratic Front

said they are open to the President’s four conditions, but insisted that other issues regarding the bilateral ceaseﬁre should be discussed, including the eight-kilometer buffer zone between combatants, the role of the monitoring committee, and the deﬁnition of what constitutes hostile actions. “This cannot be rushed and requires extensive discussions,” said NDF senior adviser Luis Jalandoni, who said there was goodwill on both sides. On Monday, the President acknowledged that the peace talks may have encountered some problems because of the four conditions he set. “We are having talks in The Netherlands,” he said. “They have not made any progress because I have some conditions to

impose before we go back.” Bello said both sides would seek common ground amid a rocky start. He added that forging a ceaseﬁre agreement is not about giving in or giving up, but about giving all for peace. Duterte recently junked the immediate signing of a bilateral ceaseﬁre agreement with the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNational Democratic Front unless the rebel group agrees to halt its collection of revolutionary taxes and to release all prisoners being held by the New People’s Army. He also said government negotiators should come up with a signed document with the communists “establishing the parameters of the peace talks” and there Next page

Alvarez urges Aguirre: Void Tadeco land deal By Christine F. Herrera, Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has urged Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III to immediately declare as null and void the joint venture agreement entered into between a company owned by Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo

Jr. and the Bureau of Corrections for being “grossly disadvantageous to the government.” In a letter datSan Miguel Corporation and its ed March 30, president Ramon S. Ang said there 2107, a copy was no offer of P1 billion to man- of which was age a banana plantation inside the obtained by Manila Davao penal colony, contrary to a the report that came out in the Manila Standard, AlStandard. varez said “With due respect to all parties BuCor had concerned, Mr. Ang, along with the no authority rest of San Miguel Corporation, is to enter into unaware of this supposed offer, and has nothing to do with this particular a contract involving 5,308 issue,” SMC said in a statement. of SMC said it is not engaged in the hectares in business of managing banana planta- farmland Davao tions and has never had any interest the in doing so. Penal Colony Next page

BENCHMARK OF ADMISSIBILITY. Forensic experts from the National Bureau of Investigation arrange the

seized ﬁrearms and P120 million worth of shabu during the news conference Monday at NBI headquarters. The NBI said agents arrested two suspects Edris Macabalop and Arvin Zapanta after a two-day stakeout in Manila’s Tondo district. Norman Cruz

Lacson: Let court decide on Noy’s Kidapawan role

‘I’ll kill if only to end the drug menace’

SENATOR Panﬁlo Lacson on Monday said that only the courts have the authority to decide on the liability of former President Benigno Aquino III over the Kidapawan massacre last year. “There is only one duly constituted authority that can mete

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told children on Monday he will kill to protect them from the drug menace. In a Boy Scout uniform and speaking for the ﬁrst time as the new Chief Scout of the Boys Scouts of the Philippines, Duterte told his audience—some of them

out any form of penalty against anybody found violating the laws of the land, and that is a court of law of the Republic of the Philippines,” Lacson said. “Anybody else is unauthorized and therefore illegal…Hence, Next page

By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

as young as four years old—that he really killed people and would not hesitate to do so particularly if young people were at risk. “You know, those who are sitting right there will be the President in the future. If you won’t be President, you’ll be adults here because you will protect the next generation of Filipinos.” Duterte made his statement even

as the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday ﬁled charges against two men who were arrested over the weekend in a drug bust in Tondo, Manila, that led to the seizure of P120 million worth of illegal drugs and a cache of ﬁrearms. The agency said follow-up operations were still being conducted to determine the identity of the mastermind. Next page

News

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Army-Sayyaf clash: 32 hurt Z

AMBOANGA CITY—Thirty-two soldiers were wounded as the military operation against a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group entered its second day on Monday in Sulu province, ofﬁcials said Monday. Elements of the Joint Task Force Sulu launched the operation against the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in Talipao town on Sunday, task force commander Cirilito Sobejana told the Philippines News Agency.

“The firefight is still ongoing,” Sobejana said. He made the statement even as President Rodrigo Duterte said Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon might have died as a result of the military opperation against the anointed lead-

NDF...

reform. “Every farmer killed by AFP elements in cahoots with landlords and corporate plantation owners adds urgency to the long-term solution to landlessness, which breeds the armed conflict in the countryside,” said Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas. The Kapayapaan Campaign for a Just and Lasting Peace (Kapayapaan) said on Monday they were heartened at the upcoming fourth round of talks. “We commend both sides for overcoming the obstacles that threatened to derail the peace talks and undermine its achievements in the last six months. It is our hope and prayer that the talks continue to progress and that both sides keep on pushing for the attainment of a just and lasting peace,” Kapayapaan said in a statement. The group Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Mindanao urged the government to focus on peace and order after NPA rebels attacked banana plantations for not paying revolutionary taxes. “We ask the government to please step up its protection of farm workers and businesses and to go after these lawless elements. The safety of our families and our livelihood is threatened. If the government fails to address this problem, businesses can leave and we will lose our jobs,” said Eduardo Maningo, a spokesman for the group. Maningo said if the violent attacks and harassment in farms persist, Mindanao’s most lucrative dollar earner will be compromised and will hurt the national economy. The Philippines is the second biggest exporter of bananas in the world despite the small land area of the farms concentrated in Mindanao. An investor in the banana industry, who doesn’t want to be identified for security reasons, lamented that government has been neglecting the banana industry, which has more economic contributions and has been employing hundreds of thousands of workers. On March 30, the NPA attacked the facilities of Dole’s banana plantation in Barangay Sinawal in General Santos City, burning the cold storage and palletizing facilities, a container van and other materials within the compound estimated at a cost of P6.9 million. The company has stopped all farm operations leaving 56 workers and their families severely affected. Top management has yet to decide the fate of the business, depending on the security conditions of the almost 200-hectare banana farm. On Feb. 2, the day the NPAs announced it is terminating the unilateral ceasefire, communist rebels in Bukidnon killed three soldiers and paralyzed heavy equipment of a food processor in the province. Three days later, on Feb. 5, a banana processing plant in Pantukan, Compostela Valley was also burned by at least 10 unidentified armed men believed to be NPAs. The caretaker of the packing plant, Rodrigo Boyose was hogtied while the rebels poured gasoline and burned the building. On Feb. 25, about 80 members of the NPA burned down heavy equipment of a pineapple plantation in Bukidnon. With Maricel V. Cruz, Anna Leah E. Gonzales, PNA

From A1 should be a ceasefire agreement to be witnessed by the Norwegian government, which acts as third party facilitator in the peace talks. On Sunday, the start of the fourth round of peace talks was pushed back to Monday after Duterte told the government panel led by Labor Secretary and chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III and Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza of his lastminute instructions before signing a bilateral ceasefire. In Noordwijk in The Netherlands, Dureza said that the President’s first instruction is for the government panel to seal a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the communist rebels. “Let’s address the conflict on the ground first,” Dureza said. He said that the success of the fourth round of talks will depend on the outcome of discussions on the bilateral ceasefire agreement. “We will measure the success or the non-success of this round depending on the outcomes on the issue of bilateral ceasefire,” he said. Dureza also noted that the CPP/ NDF panel sees the fourth round of talks this week as the final opportunity for government and communist insurgents to forge an accord. “They say this is our last chance for a final settlement,” he said. Bello said he saw “very difficult and exacting” talks with no guarantees of a breakthrough. The fourth round of peace talks between the government and the communists was to be held at the seaside town of Noordwijk from April 2 to 6. Agreements on social and economic reforms, constitutional and political reforms, and an end to hostilities were among the issues left hanging after Duterte terminated peace talks following rebel attacks on police. Armed Forces chief Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Monday that operations against the NPA will continue until a binding joint ceasefire is signed between the insurgents and the government. “Until no official signing for a joint ceasefire, along with a third party mechanism to implement this between the government and rebels, the AFP and the police will not suspend operations against the NPAs,” he said in Filipino. Padilla said the AFP and the government had grown wary of unilateral ceasefires declared by the rebels as they could lift it anytime and strike military targets and civilians alike without any warning, as they did in February. He added that the third party mechanism, which will be tasked to monitor violations of both sides, is vital as they can conduct investigations and determine who among the two parties are guilty of violating the truce. “If they really want peace, it [will be demonstrated very] clearly in the signing of that joint ceasefire that they intend to have peace throughout the land and they intend to keep the interest of the people alive,” Padilla said. A member of the left-leaning Gabriela party-list group on Monday supported the peace talks while attacking the Armed Forces for supporting landlords who block agrarian

‘I’ll...

From A1 Duterte said children must be protected from the scourge of illegal drugs and exploitation. “From now on, I must guard you. I am really tightening the ranks. And as they say, I kill people. I really kill people if they touch our children. “I want you to grow up as boy scouts... ROTC, so that you can

Corruption...

From A1 and [were] out to discredit me because they want[ed] somebody else to head the Department,” Sueno said in a statement. He insists he is not clinging to his position and, just like any other Cabinet official, he serves at the pleasure of the President. He said the three were resentful because he had to reassign some of the workload and pro-

train how to use a gun, so that you know how to fight.” Duterte blamed the “libertarian attitude” for the lack of patriotism among the youth. He again criticized Senator Francis Pangilinan who principally authored the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Duterte claimed that the minors who were able to get away from the law in turn “produced people who are of criminal minds.” jects to the other undersecretaries since nothing happened to the programs given to them and nothing much was moving in terms of accomplishments. Reports of Sueno’s alleged corruption activities were made public Monday after a confidential letter was given by the group to President Duterte, including an alleged brandnew hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato; constructions in his South Cotabato farm; payment of firetrucks; authorizing a mayor to join the

er of the Islamic State in the country. In a speech before an audience that included four-year-old kids, Duterte said that the lack of reports about Hapilon raised hopes that the top ISIS man in the country is already dead. “I ordered his bombing of the house one month, two months ago. And we have not heard from him. So I suppose [he might be dead],” Duterte said. Sobejana could not determine the exact number of casualties on the side of the Abu Sayaff, saying “reports were still trickling in.”

“We will provide the data later,” he said. The group of Sawadjaan has been tagged for the string of abductions in nearby Malaysia in recent years. The elusive Abu Sayyaf subleader had been the target of the military’s manhunt operations against high value individuals in Sulu after Sawadjaan emerged as the new sub-leader of the bandit group. The military says Sawadjaan leads at least 150 bandits. The Abu Sayyaf are still holding 28 people, mostly foreigners, and it was not immediately

clear if the group of Sawadjaan is holding any of them. The Sulu task force has beefed up its operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which splintered into several groups following President Durterte’s order to finish them off in six months. The deadline will lapse on June 30. “Our troops on the ground continue to intensify the conduct of focused military operations in Sulu and adhere to the rules of engagement to contain lawless groups ,” said Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., head of the Western Mindanao Command. PNA, with John Paolo Bencito

32 BI...

law is approved. He said he tried to convince Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to approve the temporary arrangement, but he declined. Aguirre said he even issued a legal opinion that the funds may be taken from airlines and shipping firms under the Philippine Immigration Act, which says Immigration employees may be assigned to do overtime work at rates fixed by the commissioner, when the service rendered is to be paid by shipping companies and airlines or other persons served. The Budget Department, however, expressed legal reservations about the Justice Department’s position. “This [problem] will also affect our economy in general. That’s why we need to find an immediate solution,” Aguirre said. Aguirre said that although the DBM had allotted P200 million to pay for the extra work rendered by the immigration officers, the amount would only allow a maximum of P5,000 in overtime pay of each immigration employee. NAIA Immigration Port Operations Division chief Red Mariñas said his office has received information from the bureau’s headquarters in Manila that more personnel have filed requests to

secure a certificate of employment intended for job applications. He said some of the regular employees who resigned from their posts were lawyers. An immigration officer 1, Mariñas said, has a salary grade 11 with a basic pay of P16,000 a month, which works out to P13,000 after deductions, and if the employee has no loans. In February, an average of 20 immigration personnel at Naia went on official leave for financial reasons. There are also 900 contractual workers who have stopped receiving salaries and overtime pay since January this year, while overtime pay for some 1,600 organic personnel was also stopped. Diokno said since the 2017 budget has specific funding for ovetime pay of BI employees, there is no need to tap the express lane funds. But Mariñas said the manpower shortage could hurt their operations, especially this coming peak season. In an interview with GMA-7, Diokno said the old overtime pay system was illegal. “Under the law, your overtime pay cannot go over 50 percent of your regular pay,” Diokno said in Filipino. “They were getting five times their regular pay. That’s the issue here.”

From A1 with Floirendo-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco) because only agencies categorized as government-owned and controlled corporations have the mandate to do so. BuCor operates prisons and penal colonies under the auspices of the Department of Justice headed by Aguirre. At the same time, Alvarez said when the joint venture agreement was renewed on May 21, 2003, Floirendo, who was an incumbent congressman at the time, was one of the major stockholders of Tadeco and its subsidiary Anflo Management and Investment Corp. “It bears mentioning that [Floirendo] committed a blatant violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits government officials from having financial interests in government contracts, as provided in the 1987 Constitution,” Alvarez told Aguirre. Alvarez, who had a falling out with his erstwhile friend and close buddy Floirendo, filed graft charges against him with the Ombudsman. The falling out was traced to the bickering that started with their respective girlfriends. “I urge your office to perform the necessary actions to immediately remedy the grossly disadvantageous terms and conditions of subject JVA that are highly prejudicial to the Philippine government,” Alvarez said. Alvarez said the JVA was merely a renewal of the old JVA dated Sept. 26, 1979, which allowed Tadeco to lease government property for its banana plantation, and use inmates as its workers, for 25 years from Sept. 26, 2004 until Sept. 26, 2029. “When the JVA was executed in 2003, there was yet no specific rule or regulation on authorizing BuCor to execute a JVA with a private entity. The proper course of action for BuCor was for it to procure the services of a contractor, pursuant to RA 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act,” Alvarez said. “The act of renewing the former JVA was purposely done in manifest bad faith to avoid the proper

and lawful bidding process,” Alvarez said. Citing the JVA, Alvarez said BuCor shall receive profit shares and guaranteed annual production shares amounting to P26.54 million, which covers 5,308 hectares of government property. “However, this is based on low lease rates of around P5,000 per hectare per year as compared to the prevailing lease rates of at least P35,000 per hectare per year of undeveloped land, in the same area. Also, the term of the subject JVA was stipulated for a period of 25 years, or until 2029, contrary to the industry practice of only five to 10 years,” Alvarez said. “The JVA was entered into without legal basis and authority on the part of BuCor, the terms and conditions of which are grossly disadvantageous to the Philippine government, and is, therefore, void ab initio for being contrary to law and public policy,” Alvarez said. “In view of the foregoing, the subject JVA was entered into contrary to laws and public policy. This being so, there exist clear grounds for its immediate declarations as null and void,” Alvarez told Aguirre. Aguirre said Monday he would form a panel to review the deal. “We received this morning a letter from House Speaker Alvarez asking for a legal opinion on the legal status of the 5,300 hectares of part of the Davao Penal Colony leased to Tadeco. I told the Speaker that I will constitute a team, a panel to study the technical as well as the legal status of this,” Aguirre said, The Justice secretary said the panel will conduct a fact-finding investigation on the issue and he expects the team to complete the investigation in a short time since the DOJ has already conducted a similar probe during the previous administration. “I don’t think this will be difficult since there is already an opinion on this rendered during the previous administration, I think in 2014, by then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima,’ Aguirre said, without disclosing what the opinion rendered was. President Rodrigo Duterte said the row between Alvarez and Floirendo worsened because “their women” became involved. “Their partners are aggravated that’s why there’s a bad... atmos-

phere. That’s why their husbands are also fighting,” Duterte said in a media interview at Cagayan de Oro City Sunday. The falling-out between the two lawmakers was rumored to have started from a spat between their girlfriends, but Alvarez, who is married, denied that this was the reason he filed charges against Floirendo. Alvarez’s personal life was exposed after he filed a complaint against Floirendo before the Office of the Ombudsman. Duterte defended Alvarez following his admission that he has a girlfriend, even though he is married—a situation that opens him to a disbarment complaint before the Supreme Court. Alvarez has been unapologetic, saying that many people had girlfriends. In the House, Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela said Congress has a lot work to do and should not get caught in a circus following Alvarez’s admission of having a mistress. Brosas urged Alvarez to give priority to the passage of a proposed law legalizing divorce as a way out of tumultuous marriages. Gabriela filed for the fifth time a bill seeking to legalize divorce, but strong opposition from the Catholic Church has kept the bills from becoming law. “We are pushing for the passage of the divorce bill to help families who believe in the sanctity of marriage to allow women in troubled marriages to live a new life,” Brosas said. Earlier, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque warned against the disbarment of Alvarez over an extramarital affair, saying the issue could lead to a collision between the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives. Roque said the Supreme Court had disbarred lawyers for having extra marital relationships outside but this should not be the case for Alvarez, who has admitted having a mistress. “The Supreme Court has repeatedly disbarred lawyers in the past due to immoral conduct. However, it is my opinion that Speaker Alvarez should not be disbarred as this may lead the SC to a confrontation with a co-equal branch of government, which in turn may result in the possible impeachment of some justices. Immoral or not, the Office of the Speaker still commands numbers for impeachment,” Roque said. With John Paolo Bencito

Washington trip regarding illegal drugs; and an alleged all-expense trip by the Secretary and members of his family to Austria and other European countries. Sueno vehemently denied that he was abusing his power and position, adding that he had never used his position to enrich himself or pursue his personal interests. He said the hotel in South Cotabato mentioned in the letter belonged to his younger brother who was a long-time businessman, and the

trucks were owned by his daughter who was engaged in a trucking and rice business. He admitted that the farm reported in the confidential letter belonged to him and that because of his flourishing duck business, he was now able to improve the property. He also said the reports accusing him of collecting grease money from illegal gambling rings through a certain Senior Supt. Sintin were preposterous because he had always said no to illegal gambling.

He also said that Undersecretary Panadero, Assistant Secretary Ester Aldana, and Head Executive Assistant Josephine Leysa, who were mentioned in the letter, were all career officials and had been faithfully serving the Department for several years. He claimed that the appointment of the three undersecretaries in the DILG were not initially welcomed by the DILG organic personnel because they were “bullying and pushing people around.”

From A1 for arriving and departing passengers alike. Passengers now have to stand in line for an hour before reaching the counter. The 2017 national budget has stopped the practice of using funds collected from express lane charges to cover the salaries of casual and contractual personnel as well as overtime and health insurance. Under the budget, funds collected from use of express lanes will now be remitted to the National Treasury. Before the President issued the order last December, Aguirre said those manning the immigration lanes were getting as much as P48,000 a month in overtime pay. Aguirre, who oversees the Bureau of Immigration as Justice secretary, said he had been pushing for palliative measures to cushion the effect of the order, with the help of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. He noted that BI employees with Salary Grade 1 to 11 are receiving only P14,000 a month. Aguirre said he and Evasco will appeal to President Duterte to bring back the previous set-up for the express lanes until the new immigration

Alvarez...

10 dead in St. Petersburg metro blast ST. PETERSBURG, Russia— Around 10 people were feared dead on Monday after an explosion rocked the metro system in the country’s second city Saint Petersburg, according to authorities and news reports. “The Saint Petersburg prosecutor’s office has begun to investigate the blast in a train carriage” at the Technological Institute metro station’s platform, a prosecutors’ statement said. A source in the emergencies services told Russian news agencies that “around ten people were killed”, according to preliminary information. The station is a busy hub of the underground network in the centre of Russia’s second largest city. The Saint Petersburg metro said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it has closed two stations, Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad—two neighbouring stations on one line—and is evacuating all passengers. “Evacuation of passengers is ongoing, there are people injured,” it said. “An unidentified object supposedly blew up in a (train) carriage.” President Vladimir Putin, who is holding a meeting near Saint Petersburg in his official Strelna presidential palace, offered “condolences” to those hurt in the blast. Following the reports, the Moscow metro also announced that it is “taking additional security measures” as required by law in such situations, according to the network’s official Twitter account. AFP

Lacson:... From A1

they should be made criminally liable if and when they perform such criminal act,” he added. Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, made this statement after the National Democratic Front sought Aquino’s arrest for serious human rights violations in relation to the incident. On April 1, 2016, the farmers’ protest in Kidapawan City turned violent, leaving at least three people dead and 10 farmers and at least 99 policemen injured. Lacson pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP and all law-abiding citizens of this country to protect former President Aquino from “enemies of the state.” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella earlier said that there is only one government and one justice system in the Philippines and only the appropriate body could rule on the issue. He also said that security measures will be in place to protect the former President and other people mentioned by the NDF. The NDF on Saturday said that the revolutionary government had indicted Aquino and other officials including North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou TaliñoMendoza, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, North Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco and military and police officials over the violent dispersal. Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

Graft...

From A1 project,” PAFLU president Eleuterio Tuazon said. He invoked a finding by Panelo who said the joint venture agreement between APO-PU and UGEC, signed on Nov. 14, 2014, was illegal and void from the start. In a seven-page document dated Jan. 23, 2017, Panelo said the MOA mandated APO-PU to use its own facilities, equipment and machinery in printing the passports for Foreign Affairs. “APO is prohibited from directly or indirectly engaging private contractors to undertake the [passport] project, and may only implement the infrastructure project in-house, by job-order or through the pakyaw contracting system,” Panelo said. He said APO-PU could be held liable for violating pertinent rules and regulations, as well as Republic Act 9184, also called the AntiGraft Law, for subcontracting the printing of passports to UGEC. “Such subcontracting arrangement or assignment may subject the APO and/or UGEC officials responsible for the same to criminal and and administrative liabilities pursuant to RA Nos. 9184 and 3019, the Administrative Code of 1987, and other applicable procurement and criminal laws,” Panelo said.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Bar exams results out next month THE results of last year’s Bar examinations will be released early next month, according to a highly placed judiciary source. The source said the Supreme Court had tentatively scheduled a special session on May 2 during their decision writing break for the approval and decoding of the results. A total 6,831 law graduates took the grueling exams in November last year at the University of Sto. Tomas facilitated by the SC’s committee on the 2016 Bar exams chaired by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. SC spokesperson Theodore Te also denied reports more than 40 percent of the examinees would pass the Bar, saying only when the results had been approved by the high court would the passing rate be determined. In the 2015 Bar exams, a total 1,731 passed, representing 26.21 percent of the total 6,605 takers. In the last 10 years, the highest passing rate was during the 2011 Bar exams with 31.95 percent of 5,987 passers or a total 1,913. Rey Requejo

PCSO relieves 3 erring cops from Region 7 THE Philippine National Police has relieved three cops from the Police Regional Office 7 who were alleged protectors and collectors of protection money from illegal gambling in the area, the Philippine Charioty Sweepstakes Office said in a press statement. The policemen were identified by the Authorized Agent Corp. of the PCSO Small Town Lottery operations in the region. PCSO chairman Jose Corpus immediately brought to the attention of PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa the report about the alleged illegal activities by uniformed police in Region 7 PCSO expects P27 billion nsales from STL operations in 2017, which it said will generate “Serbisyo, Trabaho at Laro” nationwide.

Davao college president suspended THE Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman has ordered a six-month suspension without pay of the president of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Found guilty was president Jonathan Bayogan, along with Airma Ladera, chairman of the bids and awards committee; Vivian Labasano, ofﬁcer in chargedirector for administrative services, and Erlinda Patosa, bids and awards committee member. The Ombudsman directed the director of Region XI of the Commission on Higher Education to implement the suspension order. Bayogan and company were found administratively liable for failure to comply with the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9184 for a project undertaken in 2006. Rio Araja

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PARTNERSHIP.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (right) and Jose Ma. Concepcion III, founding president and chairman of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, show to media the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the GoNegosyo at the Casa Roces restaurant in Malacañang Monday. Lino Santos

LITERATURE MONTH. At the opening of the National Literature Month in April, which coincides with the 229th year of Francisco Balagtas, described as ‘Prince of Philippine Poetry,’ Orion, Bataan Mayor Antonio Raymundo (left) welcomes NCCA chairman Virgilio Almario, who also hails from Balagtas’ province of Bulacan. Teddy Pelaez

Supreme Court expected to rule on Torre de Manila controversy By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court is expected to resolve the controversial case involving the Torre de Manila condominium that destroys the iconic sight line of the monument of national hero Jose Rizal at the sprawling bayside Luneta Park. During its ﬁrst summer en banc session in Baguio City this year, the magistrates will rule on the petition ﬁled by the Knights of Rizal in September 2014 seeking to demolish the residential project of the Consunji-owned DMCI Project Developer Inc. The Torre de Manila case is among those included in the top agenda of the 15-member bench after its deliberations were reset last month. The DMCI has been asking the SC to resolve the case and lift the temporary restraining order it issued on the comple-

tion of the 49-story building in June 2015, citing business losses and damages to third parties —especially buyers of units in the condominium. The developer argued the government heritage agencies have no jurisdiction over Torre de Manila since it was built on private property outside of the Rizal Park or any heritage zone, and that the Rizal Monument was declared a national cultural treasure one year after the developer obtained all government permits and started construction of the building.

The DMCI insisted “no existing law or ordinance mandates a sightline, which is defined as the straight line along which an observer has an unobstructed vision, or a visual corridor, which is defined as an architectural opening or transportation corridor in the cityscape that frames a natural or cultural scenic feature, or even a vista point, which is defined as a more or less distant view through or along an avenue or opening, particularly one that applies to the Rizal Monument or other monuments.” It also stressed it stood to incur losses amounting to P4.27 billion in capital investments and unrealized profits, including the P1.28 billion it already spent for the construction of the condominium as of May 2015, should the Court grant the petition. It also warned that granting the petition would create a dangerous precedent and result in “economic havoc,” citing high-rise buildings that surround most of the monu-

ments in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Last February, the KOR asked the SC to order the inspection of the building to determine whether or not the developer violated the TRO, citing “persistent reports that finishing touches in the interiors of Torre de Manila are continuing and/or are nearly finished, if not already finished, by this time.” The DMCI already denied the allegation. In its petition, the KOR alleged that by defacing the visual corridors of the monument, DMCI violated several laws mandating the protection and preservation of the Rizal Monument. These laws include Republic Act No. 4846 (Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act), Republic Act No. 7356 (law creating the National Commission on Culture and the Arts) and Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act

of 2009 or an Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage). Petitioners also argued the project could be considered as an act of nuisance as deﬁned under the Civil Code of the Philippines. Article 694 of the law provides that “a nuisance is any act, omission, establishment, condition of property, or anything else which “annoys or offends the senses; or shocks, deﬁes or disregards decency or morality.” They pointed out the project also violated the zoning ordinance of the City of Manila, which they also accused of violating Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009) and Ordinance No. 8119 in issuing permit for the building. After holding oral arguments on the case in August 2015, the SC submitted it for resolution after submission of memoranda by parties a month after.

Duterte urged to address housing problem Trillanes to Du30: Prove misuse By Vito Barcelo

A CATHOLIC priest has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately address the housing problem as thousands of informal settlers forcibly occupy government housing projects in Bulacan because, he said, Duterte did not fulfill his campaign promise to provide housing for the poor. Fr. Pete Montallana, lead convenor of the Sikap Laya, Inc., said the government

must work on probable solutions to address the problems on housing. He said Duterte won because he promised housing assistance to informal settlers and addressed the problems faced by the urban poor. “But unfortunately, the National Housing Authority has been foot-dragging in its job,” Montallana said in a radio interview. The priest said housing and livelihood were the most common problem in almost all urban areas in the country.

Montallana is hoping Duterte would give due attention and provide probable solutions to particular problems. Thousands of families from Metro Manila have earlier occupied more than 5,000 government housing units in Pandi, Bulacan and the City of San Jose del Monte without permission of authorities. The housing projects were developed for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Labor group condemns contractualization order By Vito Barcelo LABOR manpower service providers and manpower cooperatives, not the workers, would beneﬁt from the new Department of Labor and Employment DO 174 that allows contractualization which starts this week, the labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said. In a statement, the ALUTUCP said some 5,200 manpower service providers who act as middlemen for labor contracting scheme would only ﬂourish and legalize the contracualization scheme, which it stressed was contrary to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to eliminate “contractualization”

and “endo” scheme. ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said,“The middlemen labor contractors who merely supplie workers to employers and companies will now continue to ﬂourish and will continue to economically gain from this new DO rather than the workers who contributed their labor. “Workers under the regime of DO 174 are mere commodity. Labor slavery is now legal and permitted under this new regulation.” Under the new DO 174, workers are now regular employees with the labor contractors but the same workers have no relationship with principal employers who needed the workers to produce certain products or service.

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to disclose to the public any proof the former had misspent the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program. The President reportedly threatened to expose how former President Benigno Aquino III and his allies, including Trillanes, misused the DAP. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled as illegal some provisions of the said government spending program. But Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte in the Senate, was unfazed by Duterte’s threat, saying all his allocations for projects had been listed on his website. “All my allocations for projects through PDAF/DAP have been listed on my website. All these have been audited by COA [Commission on Audit],” Trillanes said in a statement. PDAF was the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund, which was declared unconstitutional by the high tribunal.

Opinion

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

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EDITORIAL

HERE appears to be some kind of national pride that President Rodrigo Duterte is leading the online poll of TIME Magazine as of Monday. TIME 100 is a list of the most inﬂuential people in the world. Other prominent names in the running are Pope Francis, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Duterte is ahead of all of them at 5 percent of all votes.

The list of names was released March 24; online voting is allowed until April 16. The final list will be known April 20. The magazine’s editors will choose the final list, of course, but it said it wanted to give readers some say in the matter. Certainly it is remarkable that the President,

Adelle Chua, Editor

Influence

in office for less than a year after an unexpected electoral victory, would top the online poll. How many city mayors from down South, after all, have swept into the presidency so soon after declaring their intention to govern the entire nation? Just one—this one. Then again, it is not clear whether the name recall that Duterte inspires is a result of worldwide appreciation of his influence, an army of online support-

ers, or notoriety as a result of the controversial manner in which he fights the drug menace —and in which he conducts himself. Influence, too is a rather murky way to describe a personality especially when the basis of your information are the votes of just those who have internet access. What is influence, anyway, and how is it measured? How do you factor in the influence—or absence thereof—of the person on those who are not

able to say they have been influenced, or who are not even aware that such a poll exists in the first place? That Mr. Duterte has shot to international prominence so soon after he has taken office is an accomplishment in itself. Other leaders come and go, and millions from other parts of the world hardly know their names. It is foolhardy, however, to fall into the trap that this popularity contest validates the quality of how a per-

son conducts himself in the field he is in. In Mr. Duterte’s case, it is too soon to tell whether everything he is doing affects us all in the way we envisioned his brand of change would. Trumping all others is no reason to gloat. It must instead prompt one to evaluate whether the dent he is making is as good and as profound as that of the rest of the names on the list. The best, most effective personalities are not always the loudest or the most popular.

Choosing human rights and peace

Digong trains guns on DAP LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES I’VE OFTEN wondered when President Rodrigo Duterte would get around to looking into the late, unlamented Disbursement Acceleration Program, that novel method of spending government funds by seizing the budgets of agencies that had been given the money and allocating it somewhere else. Duterte, who has always tried to avoid directly confronting his predecessor about the scandals that bedeviled it, finally took aim at DAP last weekend. During a press conference in Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte said he has proof that former President Noynoy Aquino, his Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and at least one senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, abused DAP “like nobody’s business.” This happened, the President said, even after the Supreme Court had declared the program

unconstitutional. According to a suit for plunder earlier filed against Aquino, Abad and other officials involved in the controversial expenditure program before the Ombudsman, fully P142.23 billion was spent through DAP in the first three years of the previous administration. To put that in context, the so-called pork barrel scam ran by jailed businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles was supposed to have stolen P10 billion in government funds earmarked for projects identified by members of Congress. Even if it was true, as Aquino claimed shortly after the DAP controversy broke, that only 9 percent of the program’s funds were diverted to members of Congress to pay for their pet projects, the amount would still be more than all the pork allegedly stolen from the pork barrel funds by Napoles. And that still would not include the 91 percent of the money that was “impounded” by Aquino from agencies that could not spend the funds in as little as six months after receiving them that

has mostly been unaccounted for. What makes Duterte’s claim that DAP was illegally used even more compelling was the March 3 decision of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales clearing

Duterte shouldn’t make people believe that he is serious about DAP and then fail to follow through.

Aquino and all other officials except Abad of charges that they misused DAP. Morales gave Abad the equivalent of a slap on the wrist, finding evidence that the former budget chief could

only be held liable for usurpation of Congress’ power to legislate and demanding that he forfeit three months’ salary, even if he was no longer in government. Perhaps Duterte has had enough of Trillanes’ brand of criticism, which is why the President is only now threatening to present proof that the senator pocketed DAP funds. But that is a minor issue for me and many other Filipinos who have nearly given up the hope that Aquino, Abad and many other officials of the previous government will finally be haled to court to answer the very serious charges leveled against them. If Duterte really has the goods on DAP that could throw Aquino and his minions in jail and has decided to reveal them, I’ll even send a thank-you note to Trillanes for getting the president’s goat. After all, in many instances in the past, Duterte has expressed a palpable lack of interest in pursuing charges against his immediate predecessor. But just like the effort to impeach Vice President Leni Robredo cannot be stopped by Du-

terte, the move to hold Aquino accountable for the sins his administration committed is not really dependent on the desires of the incumbent. And Aquino must certainly be made to answer for DAP, now that he no longer enjoys immunity from suit. Duterte needn’t bother acting as the prosecutor of Aquino, just like Aquino made it his business to personally go after his own predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In fact, the focus on political vendetta during the Aquino years was largely responsible for the lack of any real accomplishment by the feckless only son of Cory. Duterte only has to turn over whatever evidence he has on DAP to the proper prosecuting authorities and he can continue doing the work that he needs to do to improve the economy and solve the problems of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. The courts will do the rest. What Duterte shouldn’t do is to make people believe that he is serious in making Aquino, Abad and, yes, Trillanes, among Turn to A5

SINCE its establishment in the late 70s to monitor the Helsinki Accords, which focused on violations of human rights in the Soviet Union and bloc, Human Rights Watch has been at the forefront in the fight against injustice and human rights violations throughout the world. I have followed its work in the last 40 years and, as a scholar and professor of human rights, I can say that HRW is an exceptional and exemplary organization that has been fair, credible, independent, objective, impartial, and consistent in implementing its mandate. It does not come then as a surprise that it decided to look at Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. In the excellently documented and written report entitled License to Kill, the Human Rights Watch investigated, from October 2016 to January 2017, 24 incidents of killings of alleged drug dealers and users, involving 32 victims, that occurred in Metro Manila, the National Capital Region of the Philippines, and nearby provinces since President Rodrigo Duterte took office on June 30, 2016. However, the report made clear that this is but a small percentage of the more than 7,080 such killings that the latest statistics from the Philippine National Police indicate have occurred between July 1, 2016 and Jan. 31, 2017. Following below are excerpts from the report. On the profile of most of the victims: “. . . the victims of drug-related killings by the police or unidentified gunmen were poor (the exception was a middle-class victim who appears to have been killed as a result of mistaken identity), and many were suspected drug users, not dealers at all.” I have personally validated this by reaching out to victims and their families, including media people covering the killings and Church people and other individuals helping loved ones of those who have been murdered. There is no doubt in my mind that what we are seeing going on in the Philippines is a massacre of the poor. On holding the president and his men accountable: “No evidence thus far shows that Duterte planned or ordered specific extrajudicial killings. But Duterte’s repeated calls for killings as part of his anti-drug campaign could constitute acts instigating law enforcement to commit the crime of murder. His statements encouraging vigilantes among the general population to Turn to A5

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Opinion

I DON’T know if President Duterte realizes it, but most of the controversies hounding his administrations are self-inflicted. We hear the President ranting about and cursing those who criticize his war on illegal drugs and the killings that accompany them. It seems that our President just likes to talk a lot. His audience likes listening to him and clamors for more. Does he not know about the adage “less talk, less mistakes”? Now comes his recent threat to two news organizations, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and ABS-CBN. In an expletive-laden speech, Mr. Duterte slammed the two media outfits and humiliated journalists who are critical of him. He said he would reveal details of their personal lives including those of their children, using the publicly funded television statement, PTV-4. “The media are getting too far,” he says. The President sends a chilling message. Santa Banana, I have been a journalist for more than six decades and I have heard presidents talk. Indeed some chief executives have had their quarrels with the media. But it is only now that a president has expressed the intention to use public resources to intimidate journalists. The President must understand the role of media. We are in a democracy, and there must be assent and dissent. Without these, there can only be tyranny. On many occasions, too, the President has attacked those critical of his approach to fighting illegal drugs. To the European Union, he said “I’ll hang you.” Of course this could be hyperbole, but it is still a threat. And then he vowed to pardon and even promote those cops involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa. Does it not look like the President is trivializing and making a mockery of the criminal justice system? He is a lawyer and a former prosecutor. The case against those who killed Espinosa may be resolved long after his term. Mr. Duterte must weigh his words when he speaks. He may be forgetting that anything a president utters in public is policy. *** No less than the Speaker of the House of Representatives flaunts the fact that he has a mistress. When he dares some groups to have him disbarred, he shows he could go so low and displayed his arrogance. He slurs women by displaying machismo. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Supreme Court may just really disbar him because the Code of Professional Conduct of Lawyers is clear about what lawyers can and cannot do. Just recently, the Supreme Court disbarred a female judge in Pasay City for sexual harassment and refusal to take on duty. And this is not as grave as flaunting a mistress. Alvarez’s mistress has in fact been seen in a photo taken inside a plane. It is logical to assume that since they were with other members of Congress, that trip was funded by public money. Alvarez should be disbarred and ousted as Speaker. *** Finally, it appears that a Korean who has made a mockery of our justice system for over 21 years now may soon be deported.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered last March 7 the arrest and deportation of the subject. Thanks also to the determined effort of lawyer Alex A. Tan of the A. Tan Zoleta and Associates Law Firm that filed a deportation complaint in 2014 against South Korean national Kang Tae Sik. During the Feb. 23 Senate hearing of the killing of another Korean, businessman Jee Ick Joo, Aguirre cited the possible involvement of a purported Korean mafia in the killing, and named Kang as somebody who “should be deported already.” He said Kang had been “trifling with the Philippine judicial system, especially the Bureau of Immigration.” Aguirre also wondered why a Korean consul vouches for Kang as a reputable businessman with no derogatory record with the embassy. He said that what the consul told him was the complete opposite of the information given to him by a high-ranking official. For the record, Kang was convicted by a Manila Regional Trial Court in January 1996 on two counts of violation of Batas Pambansa 22, or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law. Kang had issued two checks in 1993 with a total amount of half a million peso in payment of a personal loan extended to him by a certain Peter Sun. Both checks proved worthless when presented to the bank. The court sentenced Kang to a total of one year and eight months in jail for two offenses. He was also ordered to pay the lawyer’s fees, the litigation costs and the value of the checks, plus 12 percent interest per annum from the date of conviction until full payment. Since the offense involved moral turpitude, the conviction made him subject to deportation under our laws. But, Santa Banana, Kang successfully evaded jail for 21 years. Neither did he pay the money to Peter Sun nor shoulder the cost of the trial. And until last year, he also foiled several attempts by the Bureau of Immigration to deport him. He was able to do this by employing and manipulating all the processes available to him under our legal system, hiring a smart lawyer, who used various means of dilatory tactics to his advantage. Would you believe that Kang and his lawyer filed a total of 14 different petitions, motions, pleadings and appeals? These were filed before the Regional Trial Court, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Justice and up to Office of the President. In fact, several of these were filed even after his conviction became final and executory, having been affirmed by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. As his latest feat, Kang managed last year to convince former Justice Secretary Alfredo Caguioa, now Supreme Court associate justice, to reverse three earlier decisions of the entire Board of Commissioners of the BID that ordered his deportation. On Jan. 15 last year, Caguioa revoked the Warrant of Deportation against Kang and ordered his immediate release from detention—without bail. Lawyer Alex Tan filed a Motion for Reconsideration contesting Caguioa’s decision. Fortunately, Secretary Aguirre has put his foot down on Kang’s legal antics.

Digong... From A4

even how it was really a thinly-disguised venue to call for the installation of Bongbong Marcos as Vice President. I honestly don’t understand why the Yellows, whose last protest action was that miserable eyeball at the People Power Monument last February, can’t even judge a rally using the same standards that they use for their own. As I recall, that rally was not only embarrassingly poorly-attended, it was also marred by accusations among the organizers that money promised to the people who would attend had been pocketed by some enterprising Yellow leaders. The Yellows should really stop lying about the pro-Duterte majority already. They’re not even convincing themselves anymore.

Many in this administration just like to talk a lot.

others, account for DAP and then fail to follow through. That would be allowing the theft of government money—and Duterte knows that he can’t be accused of turning a blind eye to corruption. *** Speaking of Aquino, his remaining sympathizers are having a field day throwing shade at the rally held by the people who want to impeach Robredo held at Manila’s Rizal Park last Sunday. The Yellows have taken issue with everything that supposedly went wrong at the rally, from the alleged small size of the crowd, how government funds were reportedly used to fund it and

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Keep Manalo

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Self-inflicted controversies

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR THIS week, US President Donald Trump will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping for the very first time, in Florida. The agenda promises to be a daunting one: US trade deficits and job losses that Trump blames on the Chinese; potential flashpoints in North Korea and Taiwan; freedom of navigation in the seas surrounding the Chinese mainland. Such meetings also try to build personal rapport between the protagonists. But I don’t expect too much in that area between a volatile, instinctual dealmaker like Trump—who so far hasn’t been able to rein in even his own Congressional partymates—and a lifelong veteran of internecine Communist Party intrigues like Xi, and every other Chinese head of state before him. On trade, the US-China Business Council likes to point out that the bilateral trade and investment relationship with China created 2.6 million American jobs in 2015 and saved every American family $850 a year from cheaper imports. Even if protectionist Trump won’t acknowledge it, this is a textbook benefit from open trade that ought to be appreciated by people here who criticize Duterte for allegedly selling out national honor for pottage. Building a simi-

lar relationship with China promises to put more food on the table and more money in our pockets, not more of our young people in harm’s way in a shooting war. *** Having said that, though, we still ought to push back as often and as hard as we can on the issues that divide us from other countries, whether it be China, the US, the EU or anybody else. In our latest sortie, the President has asked DFA to look into renaming Benham Rise as the Philippine Rise, to emphasize our “sovereign rights” (NOT sovereignty) over that stretch of continental shelf to the east. As a matter of fact, the Chinese have been scrupulously observing the navigational conventions applicable in that area. And it’s pretty clear from any map that they’d first have to claim the entire island of Luzon before getting to the Benham Rise waters. But, it will help a lot to name what’s ours, ours. For all we know, China’s mapmakers today may be descendants of the ancient mapmakers who produced that “ninedash line” out of the blue centuries ago. Sometimes genetics can be funny that way. *** We’re now headed into a period of vast uncertainty in our foreign relations, as we continue to rebalance in unknown directions. We’re surrounded by a profoundly wily China, a certifiable lunatic in North Korea, an American ally in slow retreat, an amateurishly meddlesome Europe, and a still-

unreadable Russia. At the same time, back home, we’re led by a President who, for all his patent sincerity and instinctive grasp of grand strategy, likes to leave the details to his Cabinet. He’s humble enough to realize his own limitations (some of them the result of his uncensorable spontaneity) and, beyond them, trust the experience of others. He’s secure enough about himself to let himself, not just be spun, but even contradicted by the people who report to him. It’s a working situation that places even greater demands as usual on the perspicacity of his Cabinet members—including, perhaps foremost among them, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, who has to do a lot of spinning these days in addition to his already lengthy job description. Right now that position is filled in an acting capacity by Ambassador Ricky Manalo. It’s my considered opinion that this career diplomat is also the best man to fill that seat in a permanent capacity. *** For full disclosure, Amba Ricky was a classmate of mine in the MA Economics class that entered UP in 1975—an illustrious bunch that also produced public finance guru Dr. Chat Manasan at PIDS and the late Health Secretary Mario Taguiwalo. Ricky was a good-looking young guy, perpetually in denims, who with his generous mustache looked like a Mexican bandido. His parents were both career ambassadors, so diplomacy was

something he must have eaten and breathed every day while growing up. I haven’t seen him since graduation, so I had to go online to find out that his career has spanned ambassadorial postings in Europe and the United Nations, as well as being undersecretary for policy twice when he was off-post. It’s a background that should be very useful in managing Western antagonism to the unorthodoxies of our President, as well as steering foreign policy through the uncharted waters that lie ahead. *** I used to think the Executive Secretary was the most senior Cabinet member, until I was corrected by the estimable Senator Kit Tatad. It’s actually the Foreign Affairs Secretary who’s primus inter pares by tradition, because it is he after all who represents the President and the country to the rest of the world. Thus it’s not a position to be taken lightly as spoils of political patronage. Anyway there are two dozen other Cabinet seats available to be handed out to friends, patrons, and such. Even less should the top DFA post be left to seat-warmers in a game of musical chairs. Here’s hoping then that the President, who’s never let ego get in the way of what’s best for the country, will again do the right thing here and leave the professional in charge. Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Orbos’ latest idiotic idea HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority chief Tim Orbos never runs out of bad ideas. First, Orbos expanded the number-coding ban on the use of Metropolitan Manila’s roadways. The MMDA calls this ban the unified vehicular volume reduction program. Under the old system in force before Orbos assumed office, vehicles were not allowed on metropolitan roads once a week, during the rush hours, depending on the last digit of their license plates. Outside the rush hours, motorists were allowed to use the roads regardless of their license plates numbers. This period was called the “window hours.” Upon assuming office, Orbos tolerated many causes of traffic congestion. Orbos tolerated slowmoving vehicles and motorcycles which use any lane they please on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) and other major roadways. He also tolerated the indiscriminate misuse of concrete and nonreflectorized plastic roadblocks along important avenues—which often resulted in traffic jams at key areas of the metropolis. Orbos’ mismanagement aggravated the traffic woes of motorists in Metropolitan Manila. Instead of regulating those slow-moving vehicles and motorcycles, Orbos resorted to an easy way out—restrictions. Orbos believes that banning more and more vehicles from the roads, and not proper road use management, is the solution. Thus, Orbos got rid of the “window hours.”

Choosing... From A4 commit violence against suspected drug users could constitute incitement to violence.” “Furthermore, the doctrine of command or superior responsibility imposes criminal liability on officials for the unlawful acts of subordinates, where the superior knew or had reason to know of the unlawful acts, and failed to prevent or punish those acts.” “Finally, the president, senior officials, and others implicated in unlawful killings could be held liable for crimes against humanity, which are serious offenses committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population. The numerous and seemingly organized deadly attacks on the publicly targeted group of drug suspects could amount to crimes against humanity as defined by the International Criminal Court, to which the Philippines is a party.” I withhold judgement on who will be held accountable for the massacre of the poor, pending evidence and proof of complicity. I am with Human Rights Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana that so far there is no finding that President Duterte and his administration are responsible for the killings. HRW in fact affirms this. But definitely, what are going on in our country today are crimes against

As if Orbos’ added restrictions on the motorists is not objectionable enough, Orbos allowed motorcycles to stay exempted from the number-coding ban. It’s bad enough that Orbos’ idiotic solution is restrictive; he proudly claims it reduces traffic on the roadways. Of course it reduces traffic on the roadways! When twentypercent of the vehicles which use Metropolitan Manila’s streets are banned from using those streets, one should expect a reduction in the volume of vehicles on the roadways! Any high school student could figure that out. To repeat, resorting to prohibitions, like what Orbos resorts to, is unfair to motorists. As long as there are other measures that may be taken to solve the traffic mess short of banning vehicles, those options must be explored, especially because all motorists are required by law to pay a road users tax each time they register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office. Perhaps Orbos lacks a creative mind, which possibly explains why he resorts to prohibitions. Second, Orbos tolerated a scheme where rich motorists can buy special windshield stickers which will allow their vehicles to use the roads of military camps. That scheme is anti-poor and caters only to the rich who can afford those costly stickers. It is also irregular—why should motorists pay additional money to use a public road? Where will that fund go? Third, Orbos tolerated the misuse of “intimidation plates” bearing the names “Philippine National Police,” “National Bureau of Investigation” and the like. No MMDA traffic enforcer will dare accost vehicles bearing

these “intimidation plates.” As a result, the number-coding ban is rendered useless. Fourth, Orbos attempted to further restrict vehicles on Edsa by allowing them to use this major highway only at alternating twohour segments during the daylight hours, depending on whether the last digit in the license plates of the vehicle concerned is odd or even. Fortunately, public opinion killed that stupid proposal. Orbos latest bad idea is the exemption from the number-coding ban which he granted to physicians who are allegedly “responding to emergency cases.” Under this scheme, physicians need not apply for any exemption; all they need to do is to show to MMDA traffic enforcers their identification cards issued by the Professional Regulation Commission indicating that they are physicians, and to claim that they are “responding to an emergency.” In an attempt to justify this measure, Orbos said “we are optimistic that this new rule will not be abused by doctors and that they will be conscientious in using this privilege.” Good grief! That announcement indicates that either Orbos was born yesterday, or he expects the public to believe that hogwash! Does Orbos know what he is talking about? Physicians in urban centers no longer make house calls! These days, one who is sick must go to the physician at his clinic or at the hospital. It is not the other way around. Patients at the emergency rooms (ER) of hospitals are not attended to by physicians “who respond to emergency cases.” In reality, those patients are attended to by young and relatively inexperienced doctors and nurses assigned to the ER. After they finish ques-

tioning the patient (or his companions) at the ER, these junior, hardly experienced doctors contact the senior, experienced physicians (whether they are at home, at the golf course, or at the casino) by telephone and describe the patient’s condition to the latter. After weighing their options, the senior, experienced physicians dictate their instructions (including what medicine to administer to the patient) by telephone to the junior, inexperienced doctor. Having done that, the senior, experienced physicians show up at the hospital at their own sweet pace, and taking their own sweet time. Ask anybody who has brought a loved one to the emergency room of a major private hospital. They will confirm the foregoing ghastly scenario. In view of Orbos’ special exemption for physicians “responding to emergency cases,” countless doctors will now claim that they are on their way to “emergency cases” each time they are accosted by MMDA traffic attendants enforcing the number-coding ban. What a sham! Orbos’ special exemption for physicians discriminates against other professionals, like lawyers who may need to respond to their own nature of “emergencies.” How come lawyers are not exempted? Are dentists considered doctors within the context of the Orbos exemption? The Orbos special exemption for doctors also renders the number-coding ban useless. Many vehicles which are supposed to be off the roads once a week, can now remain on the roads as long as the motorist concerned has a physician’s identification card. What is the use of the number-coding ban if Orbos allows unwarranted special exemptions?

humanity. For sure, also the language of the President can be interpreted to both incite and condone the killings as well as encourage impunity to police officials by promising to support and pardon their illegal actions. The propagandists of this illegal campaign, using both social and traditional media, that targets the poor can be held accountable for inciting the crimes against humanity. Some recommendations by HRW: “President Duterte has a legal responsibility to publicly direct the Philippine National Police to end their campaign of extrajudicial executions of suspected drug dealers and users. The National Bureau of Investigation and Ombudsman’s Office should impartially investigate the killings and seek prosecutions of all those responsible. Congress should hold extensive hearings on the issue and adopt measures to prevent further such killings. Donor countries to the Philippines should end all assistance to the Philippine National Police until the killings cease and meaningful investigations are undertaken and consider redirecting that assistance to community-based harm reduction programs that are appropriate and effective.” These recommendations should be quickly implemented. There will be consequences to individuals and to the country if it turns a blind eye to this obligation under our Constitution

and under international law. Meanwhile, as I write this column in The Netherlands where the International Criminal Court is located (I am here for lectures to OFWs on leadership), events are unfolding nearby which also have a major impact on the future of human rights in the Philippines. In the Dutch city of Noordwijk, representatives from the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines are meeting to advance the negotiations for a political settlement of this longstanding civil conflict that has killed thousands of Filipinos for the last five decades. In this round of the peace talks, the agenda is the crafting of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and the forging of a bilateral ceasefire between the protagonists. I am with President Duterte on the urgency of a bilateral ceasefire agreement. Without this, the atmosphere of and progress in the peace negotiations will always be held hostage to events on the ground which the negotiators and leaders on both sides have no control of. But while supporting a ceasefire agreement, it is not helpful for the government to impose other conditions except to design formal mechanisms for a ceasefire to work. There is already a blood feud, a rido in Mindanawon terms, between the

New People’s Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I personally know individuals in both camps, having taught a number of rebels and military officials through the years, and they are all good people, definitely patriots, and committed to the poor and the country. A ceasefire would begin the healing our country needs. I do not think that the release of political prisoners should be a condition for a ceasefire agreement. I support such release for both humanitarian and legal reasons but this is not directly relevant to the ceasefire agreement and is more related to progress in the substance of the negotiations where early release of political prisoners can be a low hanging fruit that can accompany progress in the process. As for the CASER talks, I am optimistic about the possibility of agreement on the fundamental reforms needed by our society. I have reviewed the drafts of both parties and am convinced that the government and the NFDP are not very far from each other and that only language, based on ideology, remains an obstacle to a CASER agreement. I urge the negotiators to accelerate the process and to conclude this phase of the negotiations in two to three months. The Philippines is on a crossroads. Let’s choose human rights and peace. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

News

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PNP arrests three fugitive Koreans By Francisco Tuyay

MUTUAL AGREEMENT. Joel Otarra, postmaster general of the Philippine Postal Corp., (left) and National Bureau of Investigation Director lawyer

Dante Gierran affix their signatures during the Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement Signing between the PhilPost and the NBI, which has forged an agreement pertaining to the establishment of an NBI Satellite Office at the Central Post Office Building in Manila to serve as an NBI Clearance processing site. Lino Santos

THREE South Koreans, who duped their compatriots of about 6-billion Korean won in a lending scam, were arrested in separate operations by police Anti-Transnational Crime unit at their safe houses in Benguet and Makati City last week. The arrested Koreans were presented by Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, who identified the suspects as Yong Ho Jeon, 32 and husband-andwife Yam Sum and Yang Muyung Ock Yeo. Jeon was arrested at his temporary residence at Room 2304, Milano Residences in Century City, Makati City last March 25, while the Korean couple was nabbed at Kilometer 4, La Trinidad, Benguet last March 29. The Koreans were arrested by virtue of an Interpol Red Notice (a warrant of arrest issued on July 22, 2016 by the Jeonju District Court of South Korea) for fraud with a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment. Korean authorities said Jeon is a member of a criminal group of South Koreans whose modus operandi is to establish a call center

Bids for services, supply to push through—Comelec T HE Commission on Elections on Monday said the scheduled biddings for the acquisition of services and supplies for the October Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan will push through despite moves to postpone the electoral exercise.

According to Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, the bidding process will be conducted but the poll body can delay the awarding of the contracts. “Kung mag-start tayo sa bidding, pwede namang idelay yung award. Kumbaga pipili ka na para huwag ka

maubusan ng oras, pero the bidders will know that they will not get the award until clear na lahat,” he said in a forum in Manila Monday morning. The poll body official added, “So alam na nila na may nanalo [They will know if somebody wins, but] pero yung notice of

award which will trigger production, delivery, etc. can be held in abeyance.” Jimenez explained unless Congress passes a law postponing the Barangay and SK laws, they will continue with their preparations. “Hanggang hindi sila naglalabas ng tapos na batas, hangga’t wala ganun tuloy tayo. [Until they don’t come out with a new law, we’ll go ahead]. In fact late last week nagsimula na request for proposal sa mga suppliers,” he said. Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers filed House Bill 5359, which is seeking to postpone the scheduled polls to

May 2020. President Rodrigo Duterte had also proposed to delay anew the Barangay and SK elections and instead appoint village officials. The poll body, meanwhile, has opened the bidding process for the forwarding services of the deliverables in different regions in connection with the October polls. In its Invitation to Bid, the Comelec-Bids and Awards Committee revealed that the approved budget for the contract (ABC) is P79,077,479.40. The Comelec said a complete set of bidding documents is available until May 5. It can be purchased at P25,000 (non-

refundable) for each item. The Pre-Bid Conference will be held on April 17, at 2 p.m., at the Comelec Session Hall located at the Palacio del Gobernador Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila. The BAC noted that the deadline for the submission of bids is on or before 9 a.m. of May 5, adding that no late bids will be accepted. The opening of the bids will immediately follow at 10 a.m. also at the Comelec Session Hall. Last week, the poll body has started the bidding process for the supply and delivery of various supplies, with a budget of P164,389,542.14. PNA

PH govt should fund telecom sector—NTC THE Philippines is reportedly the only country in the Asean region where the government does not provide any infrastructure funding support for the telecommunications sector, leaving subscribers and industry players at a severe disadvantage when compared to their counterparts in the region. Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba of the National Telecommunications Commission reported in the recent Philippine Telecoms Summit that all other Asean countries have telecom networks that are either wholly-owned, partly financed, or operated by their respective governments. “It is only in the Philippines that the broadband networks are constructed, owned and operated by private companies,” Cordoba said. Cordoba said there is an urgent need for a national broadband network (NBN) to deliver fast internet service to far-flung areas. The program, recently approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, would establish a National Government Portal and a National Broadband Plan, as well as accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technology throughout the country. The cost of the project would

range from P80 billion to P200 billion, depending on the type of network to be built and on how it will be operated or managed. It would take about three years to complete the network, according to the DICT. Cordoba cited the example of Singapore, where the government finances the telco infrastructure and is constructing an ultra-high national fiber broadband network in partnership with the private sector. The National Broadband Plan in Malaysia, meanwhile, was deployed way back in 1998. Its NBN is operated by Telekom Malaysia, which is 80 percent owned by the government. Myanmar’s telecoms infrastructure is also government owned, while Thailand’s government is investing US$1.1 billion to enhance their national broadband network, which is being rolled out by government-owned companies. The principal telco in Cambodia, Telecom Cambodia, is a stateowned corporation. Likewise, major telecoms firms in Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Brunei are either partly or wholly-owned by their governments. Fiber optic cable networks are also expanded through public-private partnerships and are mainly funded by government. Francisco Tuyay

TRAFFIC CONCERNS.

Metro Paciﬁc Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo Franco announces the lineup of a number of Public-Private Partnership Projects and expansion projects worth P153 billion, in a bid to boost infrastructure and development programs and help the trafﬁc decongestion initiatives of the government and its plans for the Holy Week during a press conference held in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Gasoline, diesel prices up by P0.35; kerosene up by P0.30 By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil players raised gasoline and diesel prices by P0.35 per liter and kerosene by P0.30 per liter starting Tuesday. PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Eastern Petroleum Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Flying V issued

advisories of the price increase, ending the month-long back in March. The other oil firms are expected to follow suit. “PTT will increase prices of both diesel and gasoline products by P0.35 per liter effective 6am Tuesday April 4,” the company said in its advisory. Oil prices have been going up

due to bigger demand against a steady supply. At the same time, members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have shown discipline in complying on their previous agreement on production cuts which also pushed up prices. The oil firms, however, cut the price of cooking gas or liquefied

petroleum gas by P5 per kilo or P55 for 11-kilo tank effective April 1 to reflect the international contract prices of LPG for the month of April. “Petron will rollback Gasul and Fiesta Gas prices by P5 per kg effective 12:01 am, April 1. We will likewise decrease Xtend AutoLPG prices by P2.80/liter at the

same time,” Petron said. The oil firms cut the price of price of diesel by P0.25 per liter and kerosene by P0.15 per liter last March 28. LPG prices are adjusted on a monthly basis while pump prices are adjusted weekly. Prices vary depending on brand, location of the station and market forces.

and victimize those who need low-interest loans. During the course of the transactions “the suspects collects the victim’s account information through Short Messaging System (SMS), saying that a virtual transaction records for loan application is being made, and then ask for their check credit card.” Investigation showed that a total of 751 check credit cards were received from some 538 victims, while 487 personal information data base of the victims were generated by the said call center, according to PNP spokesman Sr. Supt Dionardo Carlos. After collecting vital personal information from the victims, the perpetrators will then use the generated database and would pretend to be staff of a Korean financial institution and collect or receive money as a requirement for loan processing from their unsuspecting victims, Carlos said. So far, more than 5.6-billion Korean won were swindled by the suspects from June 10, 2015 to July 8, 2016. Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said that Koreans perpetrating illegal activities in their homeland, is using the Philippines as a safe haven.

IN BRIEF Poe pushes bill on traffic crisis SAYING that ending the daily agony and sufferings of commuters is long overdue, Senator Grace Poe expressed hopes that the Senate will pass the proposed Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act before Congress adjourns in June. Poe, the principal sponsor of the measure, said she remains upbeat that Upper Chamber will conclude the period of interpellation soon after the resumption of session in May. She noted that any further delay in solving the traffic crisis is denying the commuters the basic rights and services they deserve to get from the government. “While we agree to the emergency powers, we shall ensure that such will be FOI-compliant, fiscally responsible and adhering to deadlines,” added Poe, also the chairperson of the Senate committee on public services. She, however. assured her committee will scrutinize the massive transportation projects. Malacañang and Congress officials recently met to list 10 priority measures which include the emergency powers to solve traffic in Metro Manila and other urban areas. “I have always been reminding and have always been talking in the plenary this [proposed measure] would be futile if not passed immediately. That’s why, this is called an emergency,” said Poe. Poe had sponsored the emergency powers bill as early as Dec. 14 last year. Macon Ramos-Araneta

2 Pinoy Muslims join Qur'ran competition TWO Muslims from Marawi and Cotabato cities will represent the Philippines in the International Qur’ran Reciters Competition in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia this year after the two retained the 2017 National Qur’an Reading Competition (NQRC) held recently in Quezon City. The Qur’an reading competition is hosted annually by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) as part of its mandate to promote, preserve, and enhance the Islamic heritage of Muslim Filipinos. NCMF Executive Director Tahir Lidasan Jr. said this year’s NQRC champions were Numan M. Pimbayabaya (male category) and Rahima P. Amerol (female category). The two won the NQRC champions in 2015. Both were natives of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Pimbayabaya is from Cotabato City while Amerol came from Marawi City. Lidasan said the Commission takes pride in holding the Islamic national contest, emphasizing it was “the culmination of hard work, dedication, love, and most of all, faith, that the contestants, their families, and all the people who made this event possible have tirelessly given.” Vito Barcelo

Sports National U, Far Eastern U capture chess titles NATIONAL University topped the men’s division for the second straight year, while Far Eastern University regained the women’s championship as the UAAP Season 79 chess tournament came to a close over the weekend at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall inside the De La Salle University campus. The Bulldogs amassed a 14-round total of 44 points to beat the Tamaraws, who settled for the runner-up honors with 39 points. IM Paulo Bersamina, who took home his second straight season MVP honors, powered NU to its fourth title overall. University of the East finished third with 33.5 points. The race for the women’s championship was too close to call between FEU and De La Salle. The Lady Tamaraws drew with the Lady Tamaraws, 2-2, in the final round to finish with identical 44.5 points, but the Morayta-based woodpushers won the title via tiebreak with the most number of wins, 12-11. Janelle Mae Frayna, the country’s first woman grandmaster, won her second MVP plum in three years to help FEU clinch its third title overall. The Lady Warriors, with 27.5 points, claimed third place. Bersamina, NU’s top board player, led the men’s gold medalists which include FEU’s Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano (Board 2), NU’s FM Austin Jacob Literatus (Board 3) and Vince Angelo Medina (Board 4), FEU’s Jose Carlo Castro (Board 5) and Ferdinand Aviles (Board 6). Ateneo’s Gavin Lloyd Ong emerged as the Rookie of the Year. Aside from Board 1 player Frayna, other women’s gold medal winners were FEU’s WFM Shania Mae Mendoza (Board 2), De La Salle’s Rowelyn-Joy Acedo (Board 3), FEU’s Venice Vicente (Board 4), De La Salle’s Mira Mirano (Board 5) and Ella Grace Moulic (Board 6). FEU-Diliman, meanwhile, retained juniors’ title in runaway fashion with 42 points. NM John Merili Jacutina won the MVP honors last year for the Baby Tamaraws.

2-month break for Federer MIAMI—Roger Federer, fresh from winning his third title of the year in Miami, said Sunday he will take a nearly two-month break from the sport before returning for the French Open in late May. Federer has won the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami since coming back from a six-month injury lay-off and he said he’ll skip some clay court tournaments, including Masters series events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. “I’m not 24 any more so things have changed in a big way and I probably won’t play any clay court event except the French. That is what it is going to look like, I need rest, my body needs healing, I need time as well to prepare, you will probably see me at the French again,” he told ESPN in an on-court interview. “I want to stay healthy and enjoy myself. Because when I am healthy and feeling good, I can produce tennis like this, when I am not feeling this good there is no chance I will be in the finals competing with Rafa. “That is why this break coming now in the clay court season and focusing everything now on the French, the grass and then the hard courts after that is going to be the key for me,” he added. AFP

Filipinos proudly display their medals after the award ceremonies. They are Rheza Aragon, Jenar Torillos, Laila Delo, Kristopher Robert Uy, Al Dela Cruz, Rhezie Aragon, Karen Cells, Ma. Kaye Shannelle Romuar, Noelyn Rose Campos, Joaquin Mendoza Jr.,Eldridge Justin Langit, Abram Cuvinar and Coaches John Paul Lizardo, Dindo Simpao and Jay Futalan.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Westbrook nears record

OS ANGELES—Russell Westbrook edged closer to NBA immortality with his 40th triple-double of the season on Sunday as LeBron James dug deep to help Cleveland clinch a double-overtime thriller against Indiana. Westbrook scored 40 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and provided 10 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to a 113-101 home loss against the Charlotte Hornets. The Thunder guard is now one triple-double away from tying Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson’s single-season record of 41, set in 1961-62 for the Cincinnati Royals. With six games left in the regular season, Westbrook can match the record when the Thunder host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Westbrook however was more

focused on the Thunder’s defeat than the latest chapter in his remarkable season. Asked for his thoughts about the possibility of tying Robertson’s long-standing mark on Tuesday, Westbrook replied: “We gotta win. That’s my thoughts.” “We were just making bad mistakes, bad decisions,” Westbrook said after a game that saw the Thunder hand over 24 turnovers. “Starting with myself, we have to take better care of the ball.” Oklahoma City now lie in sixth place in the Western Conference standings at 43-33. In Cleveland, the Cavaliers

looked to 2016 NBA Finals MVP James once again to secure a pulsating 135-130 win over the Pacers in double-overtime. James finished with 41 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists for his 11th triple-double of the season and the 53rd of his career in a crucial win for the Cavaliers. Pacers star Paul George led the scoring with 43 points including 19 in the two periods of overtime, adding nine rebounds and nine assists. Shouting match But James lost his cool in an oncourt shouting match with team-mate Tristan Thompson, the two trading barbs over a blown coverage. “I had good intentions but I was a little bit too demonstrative at that point in the game,” James said. “I can’t show up my teammates, that’s for sure, especially Double T (Thompson) worked hard for our team, he’s a big-time

player for our team so I had good intentions of what I wanted to happen, but the way it came out was ... it didn’t look good on TV.” The Cavs moved to 49-27 to stay a half-game behind the Boston Celtics, who are 50-27. The Pacers meanwhile fell to 37-40, leaving them in a tie for eighth place with the Miami Heat. Cleveland’s win sets the stage perfectly for what promises to be a titanic battle with Boston on Wednesday. The Celtics brought up their 50th win of the season, downing the New York Knicks 110-94, to maintain their grip on first place. “A couple of years ago I would have thought that would be something we would have to build for a while for,” admitted coach Brad Stevens, now in his fourth year with the rebuilding Celtics. “Obviously we have been lucky

to strike on a couple of guys. Everyone has a like mind, trying to compete every night. We look forward to the playoffs, then we will look back to what we have accomplished this season.” Stevens has overseen a steady rebuilding job in Boston, who finished 25-57 in his first season in charge in 2013-2014. Sunday’s blowout meant Stevens could rest his starters in the fourth quarter, including lategame powerhouse Isaiah Thomas. Thomas led the Celtics with 19 points and six assists in just 23 minutes on the floor. “I think we’re in pretty good shape from a legs standpoint,” Stevens said. “There may be a point or two in the next 10 days where we sit guys a little more, but right now we’re focused on playing good basketball.” AFP

PSC-PSA writing camp set

PTT at MIAS 2017. Curious visitors queue at the booth of PTT Philippines to join some fun games and have their photos taken with pretty PTT models at the Manila International Auto Show 2017 held over the weekend at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. PTT showcased its line of PTT Lubricants, processed and imported from its reﬁneries in Thailand, during the four-day event.

PCA Open pulls out of Philta calendar THE PCA Open, which features the country’s aces and rising stars, also withdrew its support for the Philippine Tennis Association following Philta’s decision to postpone the scheduled elections last March 24. Philta sec-gen Romeo Magat recently announced the postponement to the rest of the board members, prompting stakeholders to pull out their tournaments from the Philta calendar, including the PCA Open, the biggest annual tournament in the country. Palawan Pawnshop and Cebuana Lhuillier, which stage the two biggest age-groupers in the country, have earlier cut their ties with Philta with Toby’s Sports, Babolat, Dunlop, Tru Flex National Age-Group, Henry Sr. Memorial Age

Group and B-MEg following suit. Meanwhile, a group of stakeholders behind the unified tennis calendar, has announced the formation of six junior national teams—Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 for both boys and girls. The squads will be sponsored by these stakeholders to compete in International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) junior tournaments. The stakeholders will also be sponsoring representatives to the WTA Future Stars tournament in Singapore in coordination with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). “I am here to help our Filipino tennis players and the rest of the stakeholders. So we are moving on with programs such as the forma-

tion of the junior national teams, which we think will be beneficial to the development of tennis in the Philippines,” said long-time tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier, who is being groomed for the Philta presidency. “We will ensure that the growth of tennis in the Philippines will be continuous even with the pending issues of Philta,” he added. Lhuillier is also the Philippine Davis Cup team manager for more than 10 years and the man behind the decade-old Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis circuit. POC had earlier declared null and void the presidential elections held last July 2016 and Feb. 2017 which were contested by Lhuillier and Philta vice-president Randy Villanueva.

THE Philippine Sportswriters Association will be holding its 2nd Philippine Sports Commission-PSA Sportswriting Camp on April 4-5 at the Jaranuez, Indigo Village, Laguna. The seminar/workshop, also backed by San Miguel Corp and Philippine Airlines, will be handled by editors Lito Tacujan of the Philippine Star, Ted Melendres of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Jimmy Cantor of Malaya. They are expected to impart their knowledge of sportswriting both as an art form and a field in journalism. The sportswriting camp comes after the weekly PSA Forum on Tuesday morning at the Golden Phoenix Hotel. Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary-general Renato Unso will be appearing in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., to make his assessment of the Filipino athletes performances in the last PH National Athletics Championships. The second day will have the chosen participants being asked to use what they learned in the first day by writing a story from a live coverage of a sports event.

Arcilla, Clarice romp off with Brookside net crowns

Johnny Arcilla (second from left) and Clarice Patrimonio (second from right) hold their trophies as they pose with Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro and Brookside Hills Tennis Club president Allan del Castillo.

21 Jr... From A8

to the next phase of the Jr. NBA program. “Jr. NBA has provided world-class basketball instruction to communities across the country and produced a roster of athletes competing both on the local and international stage,” said NBA PH Managing Director Carlo Singson. Jr. NBA coaches led by Coach Chris Sumner and local Jr. NBA coaches headed by PBA legend Jeffrey Cariaso ran the camp and made the final selection for the regional finalists.

Two-time league MVP Willie Miller was also present to guide the close to 1000 participants through vitals tests, skills tests, and various drills on Day 1, while the 40 kids aged 10-14 that went on to the next round, experienced intensified drills, team activities and scrimmages. At the NTC, the top performing eight boys and eight girls will be culled from the finalists of the regional selection camps that were held in Cagayan De Oro, Lucena, Cebu, and Metro Manila and the Alaska Power Camp. The 16 All-Stars will then enjoy a unique NBA experience later in the year as they test their mettle with other Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

JOHNNY Arcilla kept his domination of PJ Tierro while Clarice Patrimonio likewise reasserted her mastery over sister Christine to share top honors in the PPSPEPP Brookside Open at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta late Sunday. But while Arcilla broke Tierro just once in each set to hack out a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the men’s finals, Clarice overwhelmed Christine early in each frame to fashion out a 6-2, 6-2 romp in their side of the title clash in the P300,000 event sponsored by PPS-PEPP and hosted by BHTC president Allan del Castillo. Arcilla, who has toppled his fellow Davis Cupper in a number of title duels in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Open circuit, broke Tierro in the ninth game of the opening set

then held serve at love in the next to seize the lead. It was more of the same in the second frame although Arcilla grabbed the lead early with a break in the fifth for a 3-2 lead then the duo held serve the rest of the way, enabling Arcilla to nail the victory worth P50,000. Clarice also imposed her will early, breaking Christine in the fourth and seventh games early then sustained her charge in the next set to wrap up the win and pocket the top P25,000 purse in the event backed by PPS-PEPP, Slazenger, Rep. Jack Duavit, Mayor Johnielle Nieto, Victoria Construction, Mitsubishi Mirage, Rublou Mall, 9 One 9 Security Agency, chairman Buboy Sauro, BHTC president Allan del Castillo, Phoenix 5R Solid Waste Enterprises and Se-

Filipino jins bag 5 golds in Asian tilt THE Philippine taekwondo team sparkled anew in another international tournament by bagging 16 medals —five golds, seven silvers and four bronzes —in the prestigious 2017ASEAN Championships held recently in Perlis, Malaysia. Carrying the colors of SMART/MVP Sports Foundation, the Filipino jins finished second overall in the six-country competition. The Filipino gold winners were Jenar Torillos, Christian Al

Dela Cruz, Kristopher Robert Uy and Leila Delo in the senior division and Romelle Pablo Jr. in the junior competition. The other Filipino medal-producers were: Silver—Karen Cells, Rheza Aragon, Rhezie Aragon, Noelyn Campos, Ma. Kaye Shannelle Romuar and Joaquin Mendoza Jr. (seniors) and Reign Charisse Ragutana (junior). Bronze—Eldridge Justin Langit and Abram Lance Cuvinar (seniors) and Sturdy Jay Gilbuena and

Catryn Janiella Gilbuena (juniors). Coaches John Paul Lizardo, Dindo Simpao and Jay Futalan (strength and conditioning) praised the Filipinos for their sterling performance. “Their splendid show was not surprising. Their long training and determination paid off,” the three officials chorused. The SMART/MVP Sports Foundation squad was supported by PLDT, Meralco, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

bastian Rice Mill. “Their victories should inspire the young players competing in the ongoing Brookside age-grouper with Johnny showing his staying power and Clarice enjoying top form,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. After yielding the opening game of the second set, Christine actually broke back in the fourth only to lose the next and Clarice went on to take two of the last three games to complete the sweep. Arcilla, who eased out No. 3 Leander Lazaro, 6-2, 6-4, in the semis, and Clarice, who held off Rachelle de Guzman, 7-6(1), 6-3, in the Final Four, also took the doubles plums with the former teaming up with Ronard Joven to repulse Tierro and Lazaro, 6-4, 7-6(1), and win the P20,000 purse.

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

So keeps hold on US chess leadership By Peter Atencio GRANDMASTER Wesley So tried to attack the queenside, but he still settled for a draw with Yaroslav Zherebukh in 30 moves last Sunday in the fourth round of the 2017 United States Chess Championship. The 23-year-old Zherebukh, who is from Ukraine, managed to dispatch So’s black knight and stay in control of his backrank in the 21st move The game equalized after both their rooks and queens kept a tight watch of their respective backranks nine moves later. As a result, the 2822 ELO-rated So kept his hold on the lead when it was over at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. The game that stirred the crowd’s fancy, however, was that of GM Alexander Onischuk playing world no. 3 Fabiano Caruana to a draw in 90 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game. Attention was also set on how Varuzkhan Akobian won over GM Samuel Shankland in 58 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined. Overall, So is now half a point ahead of Ray Robson, Zherebukh, Hikaru Nakamura and Akobian, who all have three points. Robson won over Alexander Shabalov in 31 moves of a Robatsch, while Nakamura split his point with Daniel Naroditsky in 65 moves of a Ruy Lopez. Akobian caught the crowd’s interest after his good knight move to e5 on the 18th push, a move that forced the black-playing Shankland to give up his bishops and develop his strategic advantage later on. Analysts also talked about Caruana using the King’s Indian Defense, which he hardly employs in a game. Onischuk was close to posting an upset over Caruana, who is the reigning champion. But a good rook to c5 move by Caruana saved him from defeat as he was able to play to a draw afterwards. With the rook move, Caruana decided not to push through with his attack and instead protected his king in the ensuing play.

JuneMar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen shoots against the shotblocking effort of Meralco’s Kelly Nabong in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Beermen, 99-92.

Daquel bucks injured arm, retains OPBF superfly title By Randy Caluag

UCKING an injured left arm, Filipino Rene Daquel relied on his heavy right hand to survive the tough Shota Kawaguchi and retain the Orient Paciﬁc Boxing Federation superﬂyweight title Sunday night at the Osaka Arena in Japan. Daquel, fighting under the banner of Ryuta Kato’s Team United, scored heavily on mostly booming overhand right hooks against challenger Kawaguchi on the way to a split decision. Daquel got the nod of two judges, who had it for the proud son of Abra, while the third judge saw it for Shota, who is also the current World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific champion. After the bout, Kawaguchi had his eyes nearly shut. He had a cut on his right eyebrow due to a solid right hook by Daquel in the 11th round

that had the Japanese buckling on his knees. “Akala ko babagsak na, ang tibay. Sayang kung hindi lang talaga masakit ung kaliwa ko, baka na follow-up ko for a knockout,” said Daquel, who improved his fight record to 19 victories, (6 KOs), 6 losses and 1 draw. Daquel, who trained for more than a month at the Highland Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet, under seasoned mentor Joven Jorda, complained of an aching left arm. He underwent an operation six months ago after suffering from an in-

jury in a fight held in Okinawa, Japan in September last year. Daquel beat Go Onaga for his first successful defense of the OPBF title he won over Rattaphon Sowangsoda in Bacolod in April. “Medyo hindi kinaya nu’ng bandage ko kaya sa lakas ng suntok ko, nabalian ako ng buto,” said Daquel, who will rest for the next six months to undergo another operation. “Pagkatapos nito, parang bago na daw uli ang kamay ko at handa na uling sumabak.” To rest his arms, Daquel said he had to slow down on his sparring sessions and made up for it with sprint and uphill running. It proved to be just enough to carry Daquel against Shuta, who poured it all in the 12th and final round. “Pero kahit masakit ang kamay ko, hindi ako tumakbo, ayaw akong sabihin ng mga hapon na ang champion tumatakbo.”

Rene Daquel raises his arms after keeping his OPBF superﬂyweight crown.

Daquel said his manager, Kato and international matchmaker Warren Evison, are preparing him for a crack at world title.

21 Jr NBA campers selected By Paul Duran

A participant of the JR. NBA Camp tests her skills and agility.

THE concluding leg of the NCR selection in this year’s Jr. NBA camp saw an outpouring of young and aspiring ballers flocking the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati over the weekend. Hosting a bevy of wide-eyed participants from around the Metro, the camp presented by Alaska concluded its penultimate two-day event Sunday before staging the National Training Camp on May 12-14 that will be held at the same venue and at the Mall of Asia Arena. This was the last chance for young hoopnuts in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to become one of the 16 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA 2017 All-Stars in the National Basketball Association’s youth development program that has been touring

different key cities and towns since January this year. Chosen were eight boys and 13 girls, who will represent Metro Manila during the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska National Training Camp on May 12-14 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute and SM Mall of Asia. John Dhel Austria, 14, of Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan; Joachin Echo, 14 of University of Santo Tomas High School; Ian Dominic Espinosa, 13, and John Michael Vicencio, 13, of Ateneo de Iloilo; Ronald Corj Trinidad, 13, of Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School; Ren Cobie Tolentino, 13, of Grace Christian College; Dietherd Torres, 13, of La Salle Green Hills and Clarence Andrei Ramos, 14 of Adamson University are the Jr. NBA representatives from the NCR at

the National Training Camp. Bonie Marylene Solis, 13, Jeehan Nikale Ahmed, 13 and Edel Jane Araza, 13 of Chiang Kai Shek College; Princess Bj Marie Villarin, 11 of De La Salle Zobel; Dianne Camille Nolasco, 14, of Miriam College; Lindsey Nacional, 13, of La Salle College Antipolo; Eriel Raven Lacanlale, 13 and Jazmine-ann Maniquis, 12, of St. Paul College Pasig; Yza Camila Shalea Alarcon, 12, of New Era High School; Abby Rose Ruiz, 13, of Palawan National School; Gabbie Angeline Wong, 14, of Fairhope Academy; Franzelle Angela Chelzea Besa, 12, of Divine Word College of Calapan Crizan Phiel Pangilinan,13, of the School of the Holy Spirit, Quezon City are the WNBA representatives Turn to A7

Sandcourt launched at Global City A BEACH volleyball court right in the heart of Bonifacio Global City. That is what Beach Volleyball Republic, together with the Aboitiz group, launched on Wednesday, at the AboitizLand’s Seafront Residences in Taguig City. The passion to grow the sport by bringing it closer to people is something that both BVR and Aboitiz share, according to John Amon, Vice President and Head of innovation for the Aboitiz group. “It fits the Seafront Residences’ lifestyle and we wanted to start a long-term relationship with Beach Volleyball Republic,” he said. “The Aboitiz Group Headquarters is in BGC. We wanted to make

a statement since it was our debut project in Luzon. We wanted to do something that no one had done before: Beach volleyball/beach party in the middle of BGC.” BVR founder Bea Tan shared that this has always been a dream for her and the group that includes former Ateneo stars Charo Soriano, Dzi Gervacio, Fille CaingletCayetano, and Gretchen Ho. “It has been our ultimate dream to host an event in BGC and having it done so soon gives us more affirmation that we are doing the right thing for the love of beach volleyball,” said Tan. The launch party had exhibition games played by the BVR founders, along with ex-collegiate standouts

like Melissa Gohing, Michele Gumabao, Mae Tajima, Amanda Villanueva, Amy Ahomiro, Ella de Jesus, and Kara Acevedo. BVR and Aboitiz, however, aren’t stopping yet, with a beach volleyball tournament and other beach sport activities in the horizon. “We’re very grateful that the sport is now starting to grow bigger and gain support from a company like AboitizLand of the Aboitiz Group,” Tan added. “It’s really fate and a shared goal that brought the partnership together. Getting traction like this is very good for the support and we hope to gain more support from the private sector.”

The girls of Beach Volleyball Republic with John Amon, Vice President and Head of innovation for the Aboitiz group

National games to be held every 2 years THIS time around, the Philippine National Games and the Batang Pinoy national games won’t be annual event. Sports officials are thinking of holding the regional eliminations of the multi-sport competitions once every two years. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez said this following Thursday’s Metro Manila Sports Caravan at the Shangrila Makati Hotel. Stretching the competitions to a two-year period will help the LGUs plan out their grassroots programs and participation in national meets. “The LGUs are complaining about their budget in joining such competitions. There are many competitions, including the Palarong Pambansa,” said Ramirez. The PSC chief said the agency will have limited subsidies on the participation of the athletes in the Batang Pinoy Games and the Philippine National Games. The subsidies coming from the government sports agency on the participation of athletes and coaches will just be at the regional and national level. Meanwhile, the PSC vowed its support to national athletes, who are in the thick of preparations for the forthcoming 29th Southeaast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. Ramirez made the assurance during their second consultative meeting with all the members of the national team held on Friday at the Philsports arena in Pasig City. Peter Atencio

MPIC readies P150-billion expressways B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

San Miguel bucks C3 Expressway IN BRIEF EastWest Bank’s personal loans rise EAST WEST Banking Corp., the ﬁnancial arm of the Filinvest Group, said it posted a 20-percent growth in personal loans in 2016. EastWest executive vice president and consumer lending cluster head Jacqueline Fernandez said in a statement 2016 was the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in personal loans extended by the bank. “This strong expansion can be attributed to sustained marketing and brandbuilding initiatives, larger third-party sales force and wider store network,” Fernandez said. “We provide our customers with easy access to funds for their diverse needs such as home renovations, travel, tuition fees, and even car repair,” she said. Fernandez said the bank’s personal loans offer ﬂexible payment terms and competitive rates. “Loan application is processed fast so that our customers can conveniently get funds when they need it,” Fernandez said. EastWest’s net income jumped 70 percent in 2016 to P3.4 billion from P2 billion in 2015. Total loans rose 29 percent to P202 billion, while deposits climbed 30 percent to P240 billion. Julito G. Rada

By Alena Mae S. Flores

AN Miguel Corp. is opposing the construction of the proposed C3 Expressway, a new elevated toll road that will connect the cities of Manila and Pasay through the Ayala central business district, saying this will cost the government more than P26 billion.

San Miguel president Ramon Ang said the government would have to pay the conglomerate over P26 billion once it approved an unsolicited proposal from Ayala Corp. and SM Investments Corp. to build an

8.6-kilometer, elevated toll road that could affect the viability of Naia Expressway. “If they approved anything affecting the viability of the concession, the government will have to pay us,” Ang said, refer-

ring to the P15.86-billion Naia Expressway that was built by SMC unit Optimal Infrastructure Development Corp. “It’s P11-billion [concession] plus P15 billion [spent for construction]. That’s P26 billion plus cost of money,” Ang said. AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala, and SMIC on Friday submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Public Works Department to design, ﬁnance, construct, operate and maintain for a period of 35 years a toll road called C3 Elevated Expressway. AC Infra president and chief executive Jose Rene Almendras said C3 Ex would provide an al-

ternative to Edsa, which was congested and improve access to the Manila Bay development areas, the Makati central business district and the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan and Manila. It will have interchanges in Sta. Mesa, the Circuit Makati, Ayala-Gil Puyat, Roxas Boulevard and the SM Mall of Asia complex. The project could cut the travel time from one hour to only 15 minutes from Quezon City to Makati City. The elevated toll road will run about 8.6 kilometers, linking Sta. Mesa, Manila to the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. “What I’m saying, they cannot build that project because it will cannibalize our Naia expressway

which we paid the government P11-billion premium just to be able to build that,” Ang said. Ang said he was conﬁdent that the Public Works Department and the Toll Regulatory Board would reject outright the Ayala-SMIC proposal “because it will be in conﬂict to us.” “There is material adverse government action to our concession…They will have to pay us damages…We will not do anything. We will wait for government to do something,” he said. Ang said he was invited to join the Ayala-SMIC consortium for the unsolicited proposal, but asked for more time to study the proposal.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing April 3, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,341.65 29.93

Manila Bulletin moves to extend corporate life THE Securities and Exchange Commission allowed listed Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. to continue its application for the extension of its corporate term. Manila Bulletin said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the SEC decision was subject to the filing and submission of certain documents and payment of appropriate filing fees within 15 days. “The company is preparing the documents as required anew by the SEC for submission to the SEC’s company registration and monitoring department,” Manila Bulletin said. The Philippine Stock Exchange on Sept. 29 suspended the trading of Manila Bulletin shares as the amended articles of incorporation approved by the SEC on Dec. 16, 2014 had not indicated any extension of its 50-year corporate term. Manila Bulletin earlier said it would submit with the PSE relevant information and documents to address the issue. It also asked the SEC to confirm that it had filed for an extension of corporate life. A company without corporate life has no juridical personality under the legal system. Manila Bulletin was founded as the Daily Bulletin on Feb. 2, 1900. Jenniffer B. Austria

PLDT, Fox team up in content By Darwin G. Amojelar THE PLDT Group on Monday signed an exclusive partnership with Fox Networks Group Asia to enable its subscribers to stream movies and TV programs from the extensive catalog of global entertainment leader Fox. “As we improve our network, we also continue to grow the library of popular video content that our subscribers can access. We are also cooking up special packages that will make video streaming more enjoyable for them,” said PLDT and Smart chief revenue officer Eric Alberto. “All these efforts – network improvement, content partnerships and the provision of value-packed service offers – have the goal of giving our customers a superior digital experience,” Alberto said. Smart is expanding its content portfolio via partnerships with iflix, Netflix, Cignal and ABS-CBN’s iWantTV. “Filipinos now have a growing appetite for relevant content that they can access anytime, anywhere. As they increase their consumption of digital content, we are making sure that our network is strong enough to support not just their current requirements, but their future needs as well,” Alberto said. He said Smart invested heavily in the accelerated deployment of long term evolution sites.

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing APRIL 3, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.120 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.105 LOW P50.185 AVERAGE P50.144 VOLUME 505.800M

P496.00-P756.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.85-P47.40 Unleaded Gasoline

BEST PRACTICES. Business leaders Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (left) and Erramon Aboitiz (second from left) cite the importance of

managing risks and share their appreciation for good risk management practices within their respective companies during a conference organized by Pan-Asia Risk and Insurance Management Association at Shangri La at the Fort in Taguig City. With them are (from left) Swiss Re South East Asia head Jonathan Rake, Asia Aon chief operating ofﬁcer Michael Gallagher and Parima general secretary Steve Tunstall.

Ayala completes purchase of Chevron assets AC ENERGY Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of conglomerate Ayala Corp. and other members of an Indonesian consortium, completed the purchase and acquisition of Chevron’s geothermal assets and operations in West Java. Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange the acquisition was made through the joint venture company Star Energy Geothermal (Salak-Darajat) B.V. The consortium consists of AC Energy (with 19.8 percent economic stake), Star Energy Group Holdings Pte. Ltd., Star Energy Geothermal Pte. Ltd. and Electricity Generating Public Company Ltd. or Egco.

The Indonesian assets and operations include Darajat and Salak geothermal ﬁelds in West Java, Indonesia, with a combined capacity of 637 megawatts of steam and power. Egco said in a separate statement it successfully completed the share transfer of 20.07-percent indirect ownership interest in Salak and Darajat geothermal power plants in Indonesia. “This investment is in line with Egco Group’s strategic plan to expand its business in renewable power generation in Asia Paciﬁc region,” Egco Group president Chanin Chaonirattisai said. The power plants secured long-term energy sales contracts with PT Pln (Persero), the Indo-

nesian government-owned electricity corporation. AC Energy president John Eric Francia said the completion of the acquisition of Chevron’s geothermal assets in the Philippines could take longer. The consortium that will acquire the Philippine assets consists of AC Energy and Star Energy Group, with the acquisition to be made through joint venture company Acehi-Star Holdings Inc. Chevron’s assets in the Philippines include a 40 percent equity interest in the Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc., which operates the Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal ﬁeld in Southern Luzon and supplies steam to power plants with a

combined name plate capacity of 700 MW. AC Energy earlier said the closing of the transaction was subject to the satisfaction of certain agreed conditions, including the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission for the Philippine assets. Francia also said AC Energy was still waiting for word from Chevron whether the SM Group would exercise its right of ﬁrst refusal over Chevron’s stake in PGPC, where it owns the remaining 60-percent stake. AC Energy is also looking at another investment in the Southeast Asian region over the next 12 to 18 months. Alena Mae S. Flores

P27.33-P38.49 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P32.85-P41.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, April 3, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.2190

Japan

Yen

0.008977

0.4508

Pound

1.254600

63.0048

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128687

6.4625

Switzerland

Franc

0.997805

50.1088

Canada

Dollar

0.751371

37.7331

Singapore

Dollar

0.715205

35.9169

Australia

Dollar

0.762000

38.2669

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

133.2069

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.3914

Brunei

Dollar

0.712657

35.7889

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029107

1.4617

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.6740

Euro

1.066600

53.5636

Korea

Won

0.000896

0.0450

China

Yuan

0.145167

7.2901

India

Rupee

0.015420

0.7744

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226040

11.3515

New Zealand

Dollar

0.699600

35.1332

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032987

1.6566 Source: PDS Bridge

Korean bank takes over Gaisano’s financial unit By Julito G. Rada WOORI Bank, South Korea’s second largest lender, sealed the acquisition of a majority stake in Wealth Development Bank, the ﬁnancial arm of the Gaisano family’s Viscal Development Corp. Vicsal Development formalized the alliance with Woori Bank through a ceremony in Makati City Monday. WealthBank president and chief executive Gregorio Anonas III said the partnership would broaden WealthBank’s market to include Korean small and medium enterprises and overseas Filipino workers, Korean businesses operating in the country and Korean citizens visiting and working in the Philippines. “Our vision in the new WealthBank is to be a truly world-class ﬁnancial institution with global presence. We aim to be able to provide full and 21st

century banking services to our customers,” Anonas said Woori Bank president and chief executive Kwang-Goo Lee said the company’s investment in WealthBank boosted their efforts to secure business opportunities outside Korea. “Tapping Vicsal Group as our partner is in line with our initiatives to dive deeper into overseas market,” Lee said. Wealthbank will have access to Woori Bank’s international network of 956 branches in South Korea and its 252 branches in 25 other countries. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved the application of Woori Bank to take over Wealth Development Bank in May 2016. The Korea Times earlier quoted Woori Bank as saying it got an approval from the “Central Bank of the Philippines to purchase a 51-percent stake in the Wealth Development Bank.”

RCBC’S INTERNATIONAL AWARDS. RCBC Bankard’s Your Cash! receives the best loan offering award and a high commendation for best card offering from Retail Banker International, the leading global publication for retail banking with a strong focus on Asia. Shown receiving the RBI Trailblazer awards is RCBC Bankard ﬁrst vice-president and marketing group head Angela Mirasol (center) from Richard Fahy, regional director for AsiaPaciﬁc of Globaldata Plc. (left) and Sandeep Bagaria, chief executive of Tagit Pte. Ltd.

Business

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; 2Go leads gainers GT Capital allocates S P47.3b for 2017 capex TOCKS rose Monday as it tracked Asian markets, following the best ﬁrst-quarter performance in ﬁve years and as several conglomerates made a move to diversify into the logistics sector.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 29 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 7,341.65, as all six sectors advanced. The heavier index, representing all shares, also went up 13 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 4,413.42, on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Advancers edged losers, 99 to 81, while 49 issues were unchanged. Thirteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by logistics company 2Go Group Inc. which jumped 47.4 percent

to P14. SM Investments Corp. said it was acquiring a 35-percent stake in the parent company of 2Go. Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third largest lender, picked up 2.3 percent to P103.50, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second largest, increased 1.9 percent to P81.50. Property developer Megaworld Corp. rose 1.8 percent to P3.44. Meanwhile, Asian markets climbed Monday with Tokyo boosted by a jump in business conﬁdence, but traders are cau-

tiously awaiting a meeting later in the week between the presidents of China and the United States. Last month saw the Donald Trump-fuelled equities rally stutter as the tycoon failed to push through key health care legislation, casting doubt over the prospects of implementing his tax-cutting and spending pledges. The meeting between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping in Florida will be closely followed by traders concerned about the global outlook, with the former reality TV star threatening to tear up trade agreements he considers unfair to the US. He has also hit out at China’s trade policies in the past and even accused it of manipulating its currency to boost its exports. At the weekend he warned

that the upcoming summit “will be a very difficult one in that we can no longer have massive trade deficits”. He also signed an executive order tasking staff to pinpoint countries and goods responsible for America’s nearly $50 billion a month trade deficit. Analysts said the talks would be the key event for investors this week, which will also see the release of US jobs figures and minutes from the most recent policy decisions of the US and European central banks. “The meeting between the two presidents has the potential to overshadow the data after President Trump’s tweets Friday about deficits,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader. With Bloomberg, AFP

By Jenniffer B. Austria GT CAPITAL Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon George Ty, earmarked P47.3 billion for 2017 capital expenditures primarily to fund acquisitions in the financial services and infrastructure sectors. GT Capital said in a regulatory filing it budgeted P25 billion for acquisitions at the parent level in the areas of financial services and infrastructure. The conglomerate also allocated P8 billion for land acquisitions of mass housing unit Property Company of Friends Inc. and P3 billion for cap-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.3 4,000 48.85 4,800 103.5 1,081,610 4 20,000 116.8 2,102,530 1.26 39,000 40.75 185,000 8.52 1,000 16.2 2,839,800 20.75 467,800 1.69 29,000 780 10 0.66 1,576,000 81.5 3,636,690 0.71 36,000 14.7 59,100 55 230,700 241.6 10 87 280 38.3 62,300 202.8 107,290 1,720 400 79.7 67,910

12,630 233,915 111,377,512 80,000 245,514,966 49,490 7,535,980 8,520 46,005,120 9,713,545 47,600 7,800 1,018,550 294,695,582 25,850 868,770 12,720,058.50 2,416 24,350 2,422,780 21,730,968 693,825 5,411,904

199,915 103,952,937 -102,731,291 2,560 24,420 -5,492,100 1,257,360 87,373,433 -687,960 -9,771,198.50 1,939,420 691,956 173,500 399,344

41 5.33 0.8 1.43 18 0.241 6.93 16.8 22.85 14.8 62.4 88.3 1.93 6 12.1 12.7 8.27 6.03 6.01 21.2 71.5 12.4 15 7.32 1.49 196 70.1 5.13 3.85 30.6 25.9 17.3 274 0.24 6.98 3.6 8.59 3.6 11.28 2.14 8.31 1.85 72 4.92 287.2 4.7 2.74 13.32 4.5 0.141 1.39 163.1 1.5 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 41.3 952,700 5.35 337,300 0.8 465,000 1.43 355,000 18.78 57,300 0.242 1,280,000 6.97 12,890,800 16.9 1,396,200 23.6 242,200 14.82 1,800 63 7,170 88.3 30 1.98 163,000 6.1 6,400 12.12 13,700 12.72 1,040,800 8.9 8,465,500 6.05 8,785,700 6.09 8,139,200 21.5 3,682,200 71.75 33,840 12.4 1,000 15.02 41,000 7.61 6,119,100 1.5 765,000 197 820,890 70.1 130 5.3 1,102,900 4.05 454,000 30.95 1,130,400 26 85,100 17.3 9,831,400 276 81,540 0.242 3,270,000 7.22 437,600 3.6 3,997,000 8.62 7,494,600 3.6 4,000 11.36 8,200 2.15 9,633,000 8.47 9,901,900 1.94 1,114,000 72.45 640,520 5.06 52,000 290 46,030 4.72 2,036,000 2.75 173,000 13.44 189,000 4.5 8,000 0.141 5,820,000 1.4 47,000 163.2 1,759,050 1.5 648,000 1.01 21,000

39,349,125 1,817,364 372,000 511,190 1,045,678 313,330 90,494,571 23,585,338 5,690,760 26,724 448,448 2,649 316,920 38,714 166,168 13,247,388 74,104,598 53,142,272 49,370,132 79,181,430 2,424,232.50 12,450 616,350 46,250,549 1,148,450 161,816,813 9,113 5,835,358 1,818,610 34,813,870 2,214,585 174,984,430 22,517,294 788,140 3,091,432 14,783,880 64,998,569 14,400 93,270 20,772,670 83,663,921 2,108,500 46,416,668 257,380 13,301,908 9,670,810 476,150 2,534,280 36,600 824,440 65,630 287,719,336 975,020 21,210

-257,460 209,722 160,000 12,684 2,500 2,429,132 4,796,070 -2,352,500 434,720 4,432,898 -1,348,132 -28,447,935 -13,719,984 33,992,305 618,045.50 -590,710 8,205,410 27,609,260 127,090.00 359,550 -1,145,910 7,310 -33,158,354 9,672,564 4,820 68,950 -9,112,481 14,660,540 17,381,569 888,910 -9,064,539 3,419,140 -81,030 -174,598 11,500 -5,363,747 -203,850 -

0.375 75 12.9 1.14 6.02 0.32 850 8.6 11.56 8 0.19 1,145 81.4 4.5 1.03 7.87 15.94 0.415 6.08 3.55 0.055 1.98 103.5 2.79 698.5 274 0.285 0.19 0.26

0.37 74.4 12.68 1.1 6.02 0.32 840 8.48 11.4 7.83 0.179 1,132 80 4.3 0.98 7.72 15.78 0.41 5.99 3.35 0.053 1.98 102.7 2.65 697 273.4 0.285 0.189 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 240,000 74.55 340,690 12.86 2,246,800 1.14 69,000 6.02 93,900 0.32 110,000 849 107,930 8.49 2,105,000 11.5 12,079,100 7.86 13,600 0.179 1,050,000 1,134 209,600 81 1,171,300 4.3 9,000 0.99 5,497,000 7.73 223,100 15.78 4,904,100 0.41 200,000 6 42,640,300 3.55 10,000 0.054 25,880,000 1.98 26,000 103.5 63,190 2.72 62,000 698.5 395,850 274 3,300 0.285 90,000 0.19 80,000 0.26 20,000

89,850 25,394,281 28,757,676 76,050 565,278 35,200 91,242,830 17,897,899 138,937,108 107,218 189,360 237,994,425 94,625,462.50 39,500 5,438,890 1,732,573 77,792,370 82,750 256,086,009 34,500 1,391,890 51,480 6,514,765 168,520 276,308,930 903,898 25,650 15,190 5,200

63,750 1,631,170.50 13,278,922 -52,820 -75,250 24,899,140 16,116,363 -50,113,190 5,700 -12,632,485 1,501,633 -24,750 1,445,106 11,604,422 -104,643,342 1,590 -3,401,677 119,759,855 -27,402 5,700 5,200

6.85 0.95 6.04 2.27 1.29 33.75 3.99 5.14 5.6 0.51 1.07 1.25 0.16 0.55 53.7 0.68 0.17 1.65 0.97 1.24 3.45

6.8 0.92 6.01 2.2 1.24 33.15 3.9 5.11 5.5 0.49 1.07 1.2 0.157 0.53 53.35 0.66 0.16 1.62 0.95 1.18 3.38

3,996,817 107,360 23,490 144,820 3,740,000 144,696,125 12,890,410 101,686 27,800 6,109,300 1,070 40,000 1,614,460 831,270 10,324,732 661,300 95,190 21,725,630 1,525,920 372,350 96,815,180

-3,634,501.00 77,060 -20,297,610 -1,864,630 74,530 -1,918,150 -1,070 4,840 3,140 69,430 -844,303.50 -33,510 -20,759,310 48,000 -15,032,580

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

3.11 48.6 101.3 4 117 1.28 40.7 8.52 16.2 20.65 1.61 780 0.65 80.2 0.72 14.7 55.8 241.6 86.9 37.9 202.2 1,740 79.65

3.3 48.85 103.5 4 117.6 1.28 40.8 8.52 16.5 20.9 1.69 780 0.66 81.5 0.72 14.7 55.8 241.6 87 39 203 1,745 79.7

3.11 48.5 101 4 116.1 1.26 40.65 8.52 16.2 20.6 1.61 780 0.64 80.2 0.71 14.7 55 241.6 86.9 37.7 201.2 1,720 79.5

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

41.6 5.38 0.8 1.44 19.48 0.25 7.06 16.9 23.7 14.8 62.4 88.3 1.97 6.14 12.1 12.72 8.27 6.09 6.02 21.2 71.6 12.9 15 7.32 1.49 197.5 70.1 5.18 3.92 30.8 26.1 17.64 274 0.241 6.98 3.7 8.9 3.6 11.38 2.2 8.4 1.89 72 4.93 288 4.8 2.76 13.6 4.6 0.145 1.39 163.6 1.5 1.01

41.7 5.4 0.8 1.46 19.5 0.25 7.17 16.96 23.7 14.96 63 88.3 1.98 6.14 12.3 12.78 8.9 6.11 6.12 22 71.75 12.9 15.22 7.65 1.52 197.8 70.1 5.42 4.19 31 26.4 18.42 277 0.246 7.28 3.71 8.9 3.6 11.38 2.2 8.56 1.95 73.35 5.06 292 4.8 2.76 13.6 4.6 0.145 1.4 164 1.51 1.01

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

0.375 74.5 12.76 1.11 6.02 0.32 845 8.49 11.56 8 0.19 1,145 81.35 4.5 1.02 7.72 15.94 0.415 6.08 3.35 0.054 1.98 103.5 2.79 697 273.8 0.285 0.19 0.26

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

6.8 0.92 6.01 2.2 1.25 33.6 3.99 5.11 5.6 0.49 1.07 1.25 0.16 0.54 53.65 0.68 0.168 1.63 0.95 1.18 3.4

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.22 0.31 0.58 4.81 23.1 1.76 28.3 0.96 0.86 5.06

0.231 0.31 0.6 4.86 23.5 1.8 28.85 0.99 0.86 5.08

0.213 0.29 0.57 4.76 23 1.76 28.2 0.96 0.86 4.98

0.223 0.295 0.58 4.83 23.2 1.8 28.7 0.97 0.86 5.08

91,310,000 720,000 6,745,000 846,000 2,302,000 519,000 23,087,900 4,538,000 3,000 4,474,200

20,342,310 213,450 3,920,870 4,081,990 53,273,350 933,250 661,716,655 4,433,410 2,580 22,441,489

239,540 6,200 23,200 -193,070 -19,917,065 514,856,015 -326,680 1,928,549

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

9.8 46.6 1.46 0.53 0.045 5.31 7.95 0.074 2.08 94.45 8.45 2.58 5.55 970 2,030 6.58 16.5 3.19 3.61 89.95 0.0094 9.02 0.179 1.28 3.69 14.76 4.18 3.83 2.59 6.68 3.64 2.9 5.3 3.06 170 7.8 1,645 1.58 0.43 43.9 77 6 2.14 1.08 3.2 0.39 5.33

14.24 46.6 1.46 0.53 0.047 5.31 8.17 0.075 2.1 94.9 8.63 2.59 5.55 970 2,052 6.8 16.5 3.28 3.63 91.3 0.0094 9.02 0.183 1.31 3.74 15 4.19 4.2 2.59 6.74 3.64 2.96 5.45 3.07 170 7.94 1,666 1.58 0.44 44.3 77 6 2.21 1.1 3.22 0.39 5.46

9.7 46.25 1.46 0.51 0.045 5.31 7.94 0.071 2.02 94 8.44 2.58 5.55 970 2,026 6.58 16.16 3.16 3.55 89.5 0.0093 9 0.179 1.28 3.57 14.76 4.13 3.83 2.45 6.59 3.56 2.89 5.3 3.06 166.8 7.71 1,626 1.56 0.425 43.7 75.5 5.92 2.14 1.07 3.2 0.38 5.32

SERVICES 14 46.25 1.46 0.51 0.046 5.31 8.07 0.071 2.04 94 8.63 2.58 5.55 970 2,050 6.7 16.5 3.2 3.58 90.5 0.0093 9 0.183 1.31 3.66 14.96 4.17 4.03 2.5 6.68 3.6 2.93 5.4 3.07 166.8 7.94 1,658 1.58 0.435 44 75.5 6 2.19 1.08 3.2 0.39 5.35

14,059,400 7,800 4,000 428,000 35,100,000 1,000 14,498,700 62,110,000 2,385,000 120,660 11,500 8,000 1,000 100 22,460 1,376,300 89,300 528,000 56,000 2,612,410 5,000,000 310,000 3,690,000 349,000 53,000 88,400 337,000 3,552,000 1,112,000 2,472,700 602,000 610,000 24,400 162,000 26,100 306,400 108,275 5,900,000 2,640,000 1,901,400 351,160 11,200 804,000 7,962,000 176,000 290,000 56,547,300

176,114,917 362,010 5,840 223,440 1,613,100 5,310 117,128,112 4,467,920 4,888,140 11,382,913.50 98,300 20,700 5,550 97,000 45,946,900 9,218,718 1,468,128 1,686,560 200,130 236,506,911 46,600 2,790,180 668,770 448,840 191,790 1,321,888 1,403,830 14,340,940 2,759,660 16,535,747 2,164,440 1,778,730 129,500 496,220 4,399,763 2,391,998 179,442,990 9,306,650 1,143,050 83,664,890 26,589,221.50 67,180 1,752,860 8,592,250 564,340 110,600 304,163,814

-263,626 85,170 73,200 -14,413,093 4,440 -124,600 1,498,670.50 37,980 10,472,380 7,200 -15,104,076 9,400 30,430 45,980 -1,729,680 4,626,339 -511,060 145,870 -92,300 -4,258,192 -133,540 56,042,860 31,400 -25,800 11,715,130 -12,074,706.50 -254,930 4,194,300 243,200 45,800 13,250,244

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

0.0032 1.49 5.62 1.81 0.56 0.395 9.29 2.85 0.25 0.181 0.2 0.011 0.012 1.7 6.05 2.18 0.86 0.011 4.01 0.014 8.38 3.33 147.6 2.74

0.0032 1.56 5.62 1.81 0.58 0.4 9.29 2.85 0.255 0.182 0.2 0.012 0.012 1.74 6.11 2.18 0.87 0.011 4.01 0.014 8.4 3.5 151 2.89

0.0032 1.49 5.19 1.81 0.56 0.395 8.8 2.79 0.25 0.181 0.198 0.011 0.012 1.66 6.03 2.07 0.86 0.011 4 0.013 8.36 3.33 147.6 2.72

MINING & OIL 0.0032 168,000,000 1.5 4,293,000 5.2 141,200 1.81 9,000 0.58 2,142,000 0.395 560,000 9.29 1,500 2.84 1,622,000 0.255 30,000 0.182 1,040,000 0.199 1,080,000 0.012 1,900,000 0.012 200,000 1.74 41,000 6.05 1,852,900 2.07 53,000 0.86 24,000 0.011 7,100,000 4 35,000 0.014 142,000,000 8.36 423,900 3.41 4,546,000 149.4 701,290 2.72 91,000

537,600 6,528,830 743,516 16,290 1,233,810 221,250 13,885 4,563,280 7,550 188,780 215,450 21,600 2,400 69,300 11,221,161 111,750 20,730 78,100 140,100 1,985,500 3,546,047 15,655,820 104,918,723 257,290

1,211,630 -7,818 630,770 5,000 193,530 2,400 -7,553,765 23,890 4,200 -1,194,547 -6,820 541,913 5,600

AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

534 528 107.5 105.1 113.8 525 6.08 1,035 1,075 1,149 1,019 106 76 80.1 80 78

534 528 107.5 105.7 113.8 525 6.22 1,035 1,075 1,149 1,019 106 76 80.2 80 78.5

534 527 107.1 103.5 113.8 525 6.08 1,035 1,075 1,149 1,019 106 76 80 80 77.9

PREFERRED 534 2,060 527 2,000 107.1 78,820 105.7 2,530 113.8 19,200 525 4,000 6.13 438,900 1,035 100 1,075 25 1,149 15 1,019 1,000 106 1,010 76 2,500 80.1 44,510 80 5,600 78.5 77,520

1,100,040 1,055,530 8,443,406 265,761 2,184,960 2,100,000 2,705,049 103,500 26,875 17,235 1,019,000 107,060 190,000 3,563,625.50 448,000 6,077,204.50

-1,100,040 -104,040 -1,556,528 -

LR WARRANT

2.24

2.25

2.15

WARRANTS 2.24 57,000

123,880

297,490 1,074,501 14,971,654

168,336 543,805

411,328

-111,596

NAME

PROPERTY 6.83 0.94 6.03 2.27 1.25 33.15 3.91 5.14 5.5 0.51 1.07 1.23 0.16 0.55 53.5 0.66 0.165 1.63 0.96 1.24 3.44

585,500 114,000 3,900 65,000 2,970,000 4,329,200 3,274,000 19,800 5,000 12,210,000 1,000 33,000 10,210,000 1,545,000 192,720 1,000,000 580,000 13,289,000 1,594,000 310,000 28,119,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.64 6.67 9.85

3.8 6.75 10.18

3.64 6.62 9.85

FIRST METRO ETF

121.3

121.5

121

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

12,879,642

INDUSTRIAL

120,150,269

HOLDING FIRMS

100,163,138

PROPERTY

217,833,838

SERVICES

229,424,736

MINING & OIL

337,965,085

GRAND TOTAL

1,020,153,599

SME

3.64 6.7 10.02

80,000 160,400 1,493,100

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.5 3,390

VALUE 1,834.62 (up) 14.06 786,459,294.55 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,949.65 (up) 1.21 1,499,086,420.599 HOLDING FIRMS 7,450.34 (up) 0.83 1,328,240,381.60 PROPERTY 3,148.63 (up) 22.70 1,563.17 (up) 11.02 1,175,872,077.865 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,051.02 (up) 78.81 1,283,686,045.21 PSEI 7,341.65 (up) 29.93 152,309,421.14 All Shares Index 4,413.42 (up) 13.71 6,242,408,737.46 Gainers: 99; Losers:81; Unchanged: 49; Total: 229

ital calls of joint ventures and office building developments of Federal Land Inc. Banking arm Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. will get P5 billion to fund branch expansion, renovation and systems enhancement. The remaining P6.3 billion would be for the expansion of automotive, insurance and dealership units. GT Capital said the 2017 expenditures would be funded by internal funds and debt. GT Capital’s net income increased 21 percent in 2016 to P14.6 billion from the previous year, boosted by a onetime gain from the sale of shares in power and insurance businesses. The conglomerate said minus the P3.2-billion extraordinary income from the sale of shares of stock in Global Business Power Corp. and Charter Ping An Insurance Corp., core net income grew 2 percent to P11.6 billion in 2016 from P11.4 billion in 2015. Consolidated revenues increased 44 percent in 2016 to P202.1 billion from P139.9 billion in 2015. “The year 2016 was very busy for us. We diversified our investment portfolio, shifting from power generation to infrastructure and utilities with our strategic investment into Metro Pacific. We consolidated our life and non-life insurance businesses in order to achieve scale and synergy. We invested in the affordable housing sector, boosting our landbank with over 1,600 hectares of prime property for future development,” GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista said.

Jollibee to open a store in Italy FASTFOOD chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. is setting foot in Europe, as it plans to open its first store in Italy. Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned unit Golden Plate Pte. Ltd. formed a 75:25 joint venture with Blackbird Holdings Pte. Ltd. to own and operate the first Jollibee store in Italy. Both parties committed to invest up to 1 million euros (P53.5 million) in the joint venture company that would be incorporated in Singapore. Jollibee will have full management control over the joint venture company and the operations of its first store in Italy. “JFC’s strategy is still to tap a territorial franchisee for Italy with the capability to develop and expand the brand in the market. The joint venture partnership will facilitate the opening of its first store and will create the desired market awareness for the Jollibee brand in the market,” the company said. Formed in 2014, Blackbird, a Singaporean firm, currently holds various investments in Singapore and the Philippines in food and beverage, agriculture and biotechnology sectors. The company earlier said it was looking at Milan as the potential site for the first Jollibee store in Italy. Jollibee wanted to go to Europe given the growing population of overseas Filipinos and Filipino migrants in the European country. More than 200,000 Filipinos live in Italy. Jollibee recently expanded in Canada and Oman and expressed plans to open stores in Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

New tax bill key to growth —author

SUN LIFE AWARD.

Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. is once again recognized as one of the top business taxpayers in the city of San Juan. Ranking ﬁfth among the city’s Top 10 Business Taxpayers for 2016, Sun Life is the only life insurance company in the list. Mayor Guia Gomez (center) and Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito Estrada (right) present a plaque of appreciation to Sun Life Tax Manager Donnabel Tan during the awarding ceremony held at the San Juan City Hall Atrium.

By Julito G. Rada

MPIC readies P150-b expressways

By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE tollway unit of Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp. is building expressways in Luzon and Visayas worth over P150 billion in the next three years.

Among the expressway projects in the pipeline are the P23.3-billion NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, the P55.9-billion CaviteLaguna Expressway and the P11.7-billion Cavitex C5 South Link to link expressways in the north and south of Manila. The company has also started construction of the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in the Visayas. MPTC is increasing the capacity of

NLEx by constructing additional lanes and exits, and expanding toll plazas and interchanges. MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco told reporters these “big projects” were set to start this year and next year. “With these projects in the pipeline, we will see a great improvement in traffic decongestion in Metro Manila as we embark on more infrastructure projects to connect the North and the South,” Franco added. The projects are expected to be completed in three to four years. Franco said the company expects a 15-percent increase in vehicle traffic this coming Holy Week for NLEx and Cavitex. The daily traffic at NLEX currently stands at 250,000 and 135,000 for Cavitex. For those going north, heavy volume of vehicles is expected in the afternoon

of April 12 until the late morning of April 13. Those traveling back to Manila may expect the surge in traffic in the afternoon of April 15 until the early morning of April 17. From April 7 to 17, additional patrol vehicles and enforcers will be deployed to assist motorists. Ambulant toll tellers equipped with portable toll collection gadgets will be fielded to speed up toll transactions. Also during this period, road works will be suspended to ensure smooth traffic flow. To better serve motorists, on April 7, 8, 12, and 13, the Balintawak Toll Plaza will open a maximum of 30 toll collection points instead of the usual 16, and the Mindanao Avenue Toll Plaza will also increase its toll collection points to 15 from 5. Toll collection points in Tarlac Toll Pla-

za will become 29 instead of 5, while the Tipo Toll Plaza will have 12 toll collection points instead of 4. Southbound motorists may also experience further convenience from April 15 to 16 as the Bocaue Toll Plaza opens a maximum of 53 toll collection points. On April 12 to 16, MPTC and its partners will provide free services such as free calls and Wi-Fi, free basic mechanic services and ﬁrst aid treatments in designated locations along NLEx, SCTEx and CAVITEx. Free towing services to the nearest exit will be offered to Class 1 vehicles from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free drinking water will also be available at SMSK Motorist Camps in SCTEX PTT Station, Floridablanca lay-by, Seaoil Station and CAVITEx Parañaque and Kawit toll plazas.

Dental group schedules conference on April 30 THE Philippine Dental Emergency Medicine in Dentistry, Association will hold its 108th which are used in dental schools Annual Convention and Scientific worldwide and have been Session from April 30 to May 5 translated into 15 languages. at the SMX Convention Center. Dr. Malamed has authored more Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia than 140 scientific papers and 15 Complex, Pasay City. chapters in dental journals and Themed “PDA: Challenging textbooks and is a well regarded the Next Generation speaker on these of Leaders,” the subjects. convention will In 1973, he joined feature foreign the faculty of the and local speakers Herman Ostrow during the scientific School of Dentistry meetings, which will of University of form the bulk of the Southern California, entire proceedings, in Los Angeles, where that will keep one’s today he is Professor dental practice of Anesthesia and abreast with Medicine. He was emerging trends and DR. MALAMED a recipient of the discoveries. Heidebrink Award A pre[1996] from the scientific convention seminar American Dental Society of “Anesthesiology & Management Anesthesiology and the Horace of Medical Emergencies” will be Wells Award from the International presented on April 30 at the SMX Federation of Dental Anesthesia Convention Center with eminent Societies, 1997 (IFDAS). dentist anesthesiologist and Pre-registration rate to the preauthor Dr. Stanley F. Malamed as convention seminar is P1,000 resource speaker. until April 15 and onsite is A Diplomate of the American P2,500. Payments may be made at Dental Board of Anesthesiology, the Philippine Dental Association Malamedis is the author of three Office in Makati or through the textbooks: Handbook of Local chapter presidents-elect, or call Anesthesia; Sedation: a Guide the PDA Secretariat, tel. nos. 899to Patient Management; and 6332 & 897-8091.

PH-UK RELATIONS. UK trade envoy Richard Graham (right) meets with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on March 23 to express his compliments on the successful chairmanship of the Asean this year. As the UK is currently the third largest investor in the Philippines, the trade envoy expressed the strong interest of the British government to continue the momentum of strong bilateral relations with the Philippines.

THE conversion of the current taxation system into a more progressive one will ensure the vibrant future for next generation of Filipinos, the main author of the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program in the Congress said in a statement Monday. Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who filed the first package of the CTRP as House Bill No. 4774 in the House of Representatives, sought the help of the business community and other sectors in generating widespread public support for the tax reform plan. CTRP aims not only to lower personal income tax rates but to also make the tax system simpler, fairer, equitable and more progressive through several policy and administration reform measures. Cua, who co-chairs the House ways and means committee, said the tax reform would empower ordinary Filipinos to make quality choices in life, such as where to send their kids to school and how they would want to chart a future for themselves and their families. “This is what we are trying to do here. We may talk about and debate the details of the bills on how to achieve the revenues that we want. We may talk about what taxes we want to impose and what to exempt. But at the end of the day, let’s not lose focus. This is about our future, about the next generation,” Cua said at the final leg of the tax reform roadshow organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the United States Agency for International Development. His senior vice chair in the House ways and means committee, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, also pitched in his support for the CTRP and said he “trust[s] the President and his team” to do well in implementing this tax reform program. Salceda, who filed a separate tax administration reform measure—House Bill 4888—that complements Cua’s HB 4774, said the proposed CTRP “is our best chance” of ensuring a stable future for the country’s future generations. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, meanwhile, stressed the importance of public diplomacy to win popular support for the CTRP by convincing ordinary Filipinos that an overhaul of the outdated tax system is the “key link” to “redeeming the country’s future.”

SM ends 2016 with most diversified retail operations

FROM its origins as a small shoe store, SM’s retail business has become the most diverse in the country today, following the signiﬁcant merger of its specialty stores under SM Retail in 2016. The merger has allowed the retail business to fully align with the direction of SM’s other core businesses in banking and property. All three core businesses are able to pursue and increase the momen-

tum of expansion across the country and provide a business mix that will better serve communities where these businesses operate. In February 2016, the SM board approved the merger of SM Retail with several leading local specialty retail stores, which received ﬁnal approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission in July 2016. SM Retail now comprises mar-

ket leading brands across food retailing, department stores and specialty retailing. Specialty retailing now includes a wide assortment of quality products offered through the stores such as Ace Hardware, SM Appliances, Homeworld, Our Home, Toy Kingdom, Watsons, Kultura, Baby Company, Sports Central, Pet Express and others. In 2016, SM Retail posted revenues of P276.5 billion, up eight

percent, while net income grew 7 percent to P10.6 billion from P9.9 billion in the previous year. The strong results reﬂected the impact of the merger where the performance of retail afﬁliates were largely fueled by discretionary spending on homes, and do-ityourself activities which track the strong consumption and overall economic growth of the Philippines.

Unemployment and inflation sending conflicting signals ECONOMIC theory has established a close correlation between employment (and its opposite, unemployment) and inflation. It tells us that when an economy is experiencing an upsurge, there is increasing pressure on the supply of factors of production—especially labor—and this leads to increases in the prices of such items as their users compete for diminishing supplies. Thus, the relationship between unemployment and inflation is an inverse one: as unemployment declines, inflation rises. Stated differently, as unemployment rises—and workers and other owners of factors of production are willing to accept reduced wages—inflation recedes. The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data on unemployment/

employment and inflation are sending conflicting messages about the state of the economy as it completes the end of 2017’s first quarter. The unemployment/employment data are contained in the January 2017 Labor Force Survey (LFS). The latest inflation figures have come from NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and cover the movement of selected consumer prices between January 2017 and last month. First, the unemployment rate. According to the PSA data, this rose to 6.6 percent of the labor force in January 2017 from 5.7 percent in January 2016. The reciprocal of the unemployment rate—the employment rate—declined from 94.3 percent of the labor force in January 2016 to 93.4 percent a year later. There were 40.6 million Filipino workers with jobs in January 2016; one year later

this number had gone down to 39.3 million. Neda said that fully two-thirds of the total employment loss was accounted for by the agricultural sector, a fact that the national planning agency attributed mainly to the natural disasters that had visited the country between January 2016 and January 2017. Neda pointed also to the gradual disappearance of jobs associated with the 2016 general election. With regard to the role played by educational attainment in the composition of the workers who lost jobs, Neda had this to say: “The increase in unemployed Filipinos came from the ranks of those with elementary education only (128,000 jobs lost), followed by those with high school education only (88,000 jobs lost).” And what was needed from the government by way of corrective in-

tervention? “(T)he government must focus intervention to diversify the sources of income of (agriculture sector workers), increase labor force participation of women and address youth unemployment,” Neda declared. Now for inflation. Neda reported that between January and February this year the inflation rate breached the 3 percent mark for the first time in two years. The February inflation rate was 3.3 percent; the January figure was 2.7 percent. The last time the inflation rate was above 3 percent was in November 2014, when it stood at 3.7 percent. The target inflation range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for 2017 is 2 percent to 4 percent. For February the target was 2.7 percent to 3.9 percent. BSP attributed the rise of the infla-

tion rate between January and February to the increases in food and electricity prices and the impact on domestic prices of the ongoing depreciation of the peso. These attributions are valid. Yet, there is no gainsaying the conflict in the signals that the movements in the unemployment rate and the inflation rate are sending. Inflation is not supposed to be rising when the demand for labor and other factors of production are declining. Is the Philippine economy headed in an upward direction, as indicated by the rising inflation rate, or is it headed downward, as indicated by the falling employment rate? Obviously, it cannot go in both directions. The next few months will tell what the correct direction is. E-mail:

rudyromero777@yahoo.

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Business Trump hails EU for ‘good job’ in uniting

White-collar workers enjoy their lunch break underneath cherry blossom trees at a park in Tokyo on April 3, 2017. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report—a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies—showed a reading of 12 among major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. AFP

LONDON―US President Donald Trump praised the EU for doing “a very good job” in uniting after Britain’s decision to quit the bloc, in a Financial Times interview published on Sunday. “I would have thought when it happened that more (countries) would follow, but I really think the European Union is getting their act together,” Trump said of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. The US president praised the bloc for doing “a very good job in bringing it back together” since the shock referendum result in June. He lauded the EU for adopting “a different spirit for holding together” in recent months. Trump’s comments are a departure from his prediction in January that “other countries will leave” the bloc following Brexit, which he then described as a “great thing.” His remarks in a joint interview to The Times and Bild newspapers came ahead of his inauguration, sparking an angry reaction among European leaders. The EU “has no need for outside advice,” French President Francois Hollande said bluntly, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time told reporters “We Europeans have our fate in our own hands.” Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump claimed Brexit would be positive for both sides of the negotiating table. “I actually think it is going to be a great deal for UK, and I think it is going to be really, really good also for the European Union,” he was quoted as saying. Trump was joined on the presidential campaign by Nigel Farage, a key player in the Brexit referendum who urged US voters last year to side with the anti-establishment candidate. Britain last Wednesday initiated the process for quitting the EU, a move that prompted a more formal response from the White House. “We respect the will of the British electorate and her majesty’s government in taking steps of departing the European Union. ... Whatever future the UK-EU relationship looks like, we want the UK to remain a strong leader in Europe,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. AFP

Japan business confidence up again

OKYO―Confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers has risen for the second straight quarter, a key central bank survey showed Monday, a welcome boost for the world’s third-largest economy. The report comes after a batch of government data on Friday showed inflation and factory output picked up in February while the unemployment rate dipped to a two-decade low. Japan has been struggling to mount a firm economic recovery and put years of on-and-off deflation in the rear view mir-

ror. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report―a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies –showed a reading of 12 among major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. That is the strongest level since the same reading for the ﬁnal quarter of 2015 report but

Nikkei, Topix climb but Toshiba plunges TOKYO―Tokyo stocks gained Monday after business confidence rose for the second straight quarter, although Toshiba plunged after reports it may again delay releasing its earnings. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report―a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies –showed a reading of 12 among major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. It comes after a batch of government data on Friday showed inflation and factory output picked up in February while the unemployment rate dipped to a two-decade low. Investors however remained cautious ahead of a summit later this week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping―the first face-to-face meeting between the heads of the world’s top two economies. “When it comes to risk sentiment... markets are likely to take their cue from the two-day meeting between President Xi and President Trump starting on Thursday in Florida with the US-China trade deficit at the top of the agenda,” Michala Marcussen, global head of economics at Societe Generale SA, told Bloomberg News. The meeting comes after the billionaire US politician has repeatedly blasted Beijing for its trade policies and reluctance to bring pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs. US stocks ended weaker on Friday after Trump signed an executive order tasking staff to pinpoint countries and goods responsible for his country’s nearly $50 billion a month trade deficit. Trump, on Twitter, predicted that the meeting with Xi “will be a very difficult one in that we can no longer have massive trade deficits.” Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.39 percent, or 73.97 points, to 18,983.23, while the Topix index of all first-section issues was up 0.29 percent, or 4.43 points, to 1,517.03. Toshiba bucked the trend, falling 5.46 percent to 228.2 yen after reports on Monday that the company may have to delay releasing of its earnings for the October-December period for a third time. The troubled conglomerate has delayed formally reporting its earnings over problems at US nuclear unit Westinghouse. Japanese financial regulators have given Toshiba until April 11 to publish results, which were originally due in mid-February. Toyota rose 0.06 percent to 6,046 yen but rival Nissan lost 0.23 percent to 1,071 yen. Sony dropped 2.70 percent to 3,664 yen but Canon jumped 1.09 percent to 3,509 yen. Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing, a market heavyweight, gained 0.80 percent to 35,200 yen while mobile phone carrier SoftBank gained 0.26 percent to 7,883 yen. In currency trading, the dollar stood at 111.49 yen compared with 111.31 yen in New York on Friday. AFP

fell short of the median forecast of 14 in a survey by Bloomberg News. “While today’s Tankan survey showed that business conditions for large manufacturers did not improve as much as most had anticipated, the survey suggests that growth will remain strong for now,” Marcel Thieliant, senior Japan economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note. The report, which is closely watched for being the broadest indicator of how Japan Inc. is faring, showed that businesses had estimated a weaker yen for the just ended ﬁscal year.

A weaker currency is positive for Japanese exporters as it makes their products more competitive abroad and inflates repatriated profits. The average predicted exchange rate by large manufacturers for the fiscal year that ended last month was 107.30 yen against the dollar, which is weaker than the 104.90 yen forecast in the previous report. The rate is what companies use internally for business planning and often deviates from current market exchange rates. The companies also forecast further weakness in the cur-

rency in the current fiscal year that started Saturday. They see the Japanese currency at 108.43 to the dollar. The yen was trading at 111.20 to the dollar on Monday, compared with 111.31 yen in New York on Friday afternoon and 111.87 yen in Tokyo earlier. Confidence among small- and mid-sized firms also strengthened in the latest survey. The BoJ’s report is likely to take some pressure off the central bank to launch more easing measures when its policy makers meet this month. The yen plunged in Novem-

ber against the greenback on hopes for US President Donald Trump’s economy-boosting agenda. Abe swept to power in late 2012 on pledge to cement a lasting recovery with a growth plan eponymously dubbed Abenomics. The scheme―a mix of aggressive monetary easing and huge government spending along with reforms to the economy―stoked a stock market rally as it weakened the yen and fattened corporate proﬁts, but the effect on the wider economy has been less dramatic. AFP

Tokyo set to remove thousands of utility poles By Tsuyoshi Inajima and Emi Urabe MAKING the world’s biggest city

beautiful is a task Japan’s beleaguered Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. is unlikely to relish. The company known as Tepco, which faces $144 billion in clean up costs for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown, has been assigned with removing hundreds of thousands of utility poles across Tokyo so visitors to the 2020 Olympics can enjoy uninterrupted views of its famous cherry blossoms and neon-lit streets. While this adds to the burdens of the embattled company, which is paying compensation to victims after a triple meltdown left it on the verge of default and in need of a government bailout, Yuriko Koike may not have sympathy. The Tokyo governor, co-author of the book ‘No Power Pole Revolution,’ wants to accelerate plans to remove the poles from the metropolis―a project that could cost as much as $6.8 billion. “The government and the public say Japan has too many power poles and cables compared to other countries and wonder ‘what’s wrong with Japan?’” said Makoto Imabeppu, a manager at Tepco’s power grid unit. “We think the current circumstances won’t allow us to say we don’t want to do it because of costs.” There are almost as many utility poles scattered across Japan as there are cherry trees―about 35 million―and a walk down any alley or side street will take you under a network of overhead cables held higher with

Power and utility cables hang from poles on a street in Hachioji in Tokyo, Japan. Japan’s regional power utilities have endured several years of mounting losses after turning off nuclear power since the Fukushima disaster of March 2011. Bloomberg

concrete, steel or wooden piles. This has raised criticism the city’s development is too far behind the likes of Paris, London and Hong Kong, where 100 percent of power lines are buried underground versus just 7 percent in central Tokyo. But it’s not just looks. Koike argues that the poles could exacerbate a catastrophe should a large earthquake hit Tokyo. There’s a 70 percent chance a magnitude 7 quake will hit the capital area over the next 30 years, according to the government. Koike, who experienced the magnitude 6.9 Kobe tremor in 1995 that killed over 6,000 people, warns that power poles tend to collapse during big quakes and block emergency vehicles from passing, causing ﬁres to sweep through the city. Zero pole goal “I want to reduce the number of poles in Tokyo to zero,”

Koike said in a speech to parliament in December. “As well as collapsing and holding up relief efforts in the event of a disaster, they’re damaging the scenery.” The Tokyo government plans to start or complete works to bury 916 kilometers of currently-overhead cables over ﬁve years through the end of the ﬁscal year ending March 2019 before eventually laying 1,442 kilometers of wires underground across the the city. Placing one kilometer of underground cables costs about 530 million yen ($4.76 million), according to an estimate by Japan’s land ministry, meaning costs could stretch to as much as 764 billion yen. Tepco added 0.5 percent to 438 yen on Monday after falling 7.6 percent this year through Friday. The benchmark Topix index increased 0.3 percent to pare this year’s losses to 0.1 percent. Though the central govern-

ment and municipalities will shoulder two-thirds of the bill, the rest will fall on utilities such as Tepco and Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp., according to Seigo Arie, a manager at the Tokyo metropolitan government’s construction bureau. About 5.9 million poles are in Tokyo and surrounding areas supplied by Tepco, according to Imabeppu. A major issue Tepco has agreed to help lay about 100 kilometers a year of underground cables by 2019, costing the company 16.5 billion yen a year, Imabeppu said. The longterm goal to totally rid the city’s poles has no deadline, according to the Tokyo government. “Building underground cables costs 10 times more than aboveground lines,” said Tepco’s Imabeppu. “That’s one of the major issues for us.” The other issue is logistics. There’s a long way to go for Koike to achieve her target, with as many as 15,000 new utility poles erected in areas supplied by Tepco every year, Imabeppu says. Often the utility also has to negotiate with landowners to put a transformer and other above-ground facilities on their property. For managers at Tepco, ﬁnding the time to bury cables while contending with the nuclear meltdown is another thorn in their side. But it’s also one they say they’re unable to refuse. “We are not against the Tokyo government’s plans,” said Kenichiro Matsui, a spokesman for Tepco Power Grid Inc. “But we have to ﬁnd the best way to do it as we don’t have inexhaustible funds.” Bloomberg

LGUs

Dagonoy Market facelift finished THE city government of Manila, under Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, has completed the P48.29-million renovation of the Dagonoy Public Market in San Andres Bukid. The refurbished market, located along Florentino Street (formerly Dagonoy), is the sixth city-run market to undergo major repairs under Estrada’s market rehabilitation program. “We are proud to report that the old Dagonoy Market has been renovated, repaired, and beautified for the convenience and safety of the vendors and market-goers. Many more will follow,” Estrada said. “When we say ‘palengke’, we would always think it is a dirty and smelly place, but not anymore here in Manila. Our newly renovated public markets would be like shopping malls and big private supermarkets. We don’t want a dirty and smelly one,” he added. With sole funding from the city government, the Office of the City Engineer had the entire Dagonoy Market repainted, power and water lines were replaced, and the drainage system improved, according to Engr. Henry Alcantara. The building’s dilapidated and leaking roof was also replaced with new steel trusses and galvanized iron sheets, while new tiles were put on the floor, especially the main isle. Alcantara said all the rolling doors of the 4,685-square meter building were also replaced with new ones. At the wet and dry sections, the market’s 456 stalls were repaired with new tiles. “The two toilets inside were also renovated. We replaced the old toilet bowls and put in new faucets, which could be hardly used before,” the engineer said, adding it was the first major renovation done at Dagonoy Market in recent years. Moreover, the sidewalk and road pavement near Dagonoy Market were also repaired, while a new culvert pipe was also installed to improve its drainage system, Alcantara said. The pedestrian walkways around the market, particularly along Florentino, Crisolita, and Onyx streets, have also been covered with canopies, he added. Jovita Lacson, the market master of Dagonoy, said this was the first time the market was renovated since it was constructed in 2005. She said the stall owners were elated the market’s facilities were finally renovated and improved. Sandy Araneta

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Stiffer fines for smokers By Sandy Araneta

HE City Council of Manila has passed a new anti-smoking ordinance that slaps up to P5,000 fine and three-day imprisonment to violators, following Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s recent move to impose a citywide smoking ban. “We don’t have to remind everyone, again and again, that smoking is bad for your health. Does this need to be memorized?” Estrada said. “But with this new ordinance that carries heftier fines and penalties, I’m expecting that smokers, at least, must think twice before lighting a cigarette,” Estrada said. “This is a warning.” While lauding the City Council for its swift action, Estrada said he hopes Ordinance No. 7812 would discourage smokers to continue with the bad habit and push them to start a healthier lifestyle, like what he has started when he quit smoking last December. Estrada, 79, has kicked smoking after he was briefly hospitalized last December due to asthma attacks. He said he has started chewing sugar-free medicated loz-

enges after being discharged from the hospital as an alternative. Last February, he directed the strict implementation of City Ordinance No. 7748 that prohibits smoking in all enclosed places like hospitals, schools, public buildings, shopping malls, and other public places in the city. During an en banc session last Thursday, the Sangguniang Panglungsod unanimously approved in third and final reading Ordinance No. 7812 or the “SmokeFree Ordinance of the City Government of Manila,” which takes effect 15 days after its publication in major newspapers. Authored by Councilor Casimiro Sison, the new ordinance is intended to support the implementation of the old law, Ordinance No. 7748, which has been in effect since 1991. That law prohibits smoking in all enclosed spaces and establishments such as bars, restaurants, public theaters, and malls; factories and plants, public utility vehicles, classrooms and school grounds, hospitals and clinics, and markets, among others. Sison’s ordinance limits its coverage to all public buildings, facilities and establishments “owned, used, or controlled or administered by the City Government of Manila.” “I think this is really to show a good example on the part of the city, that we are really serious about the prohibition [on smoking], strictly,” said Sison. He added Estrada asked for the speedy approval of

the new ordinance “so other sectors will follow.” Under the recently passed ordinance, apprehended violators are to be fined P2,000 and/or one-day imprisonment or both for the first offense; P3,000 and two-day prison term for the second; and P5,000 and/or three-day imprisonment or both for the third offense. This is a far cry from the measly P300 fine and a maximum of two-day imprisonment mandated in the 1991 ordinance. In addition, Ordinance No. 7812 also prohibits the mere possession of any tobacco products, including “vape” devices, “whether the smoke is being actively inhaled or exhaled.” The smoking ban in city government buildings is also not limited inside the buildings but also within the compound, and within 100 meters from such city government properties, per the new ordinance. For those who cannot control the unhealthy vice, the ordinance mandates the establishment of smoking areas outside each city government building provided it is not less than 10 meters away from where people pass or congregate and with visible “Smoking Area” and “Minors Not Allowed” signage complete with graphic health warnings. The purpose of the ordinance, it stated, is “to set an example to the private sector in promoting a smokefree environment and to safeguard the health of the public using such establishment from the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco consumption.”

Youth flock to SMART program

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (center, in blue dress) joins city councilors and sports personalities in launching the Sports, Music, Arts and Recreation Training (SMART) summer program held at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle. Manny Palmero

Pag-IBIG, Caloocan teachers break ground on village THE Pag-IBIG Fund and the Caloocan North Mentors Ville Association Inc. recently led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mentors Ville 1 housing project at Palmera Spring Ville, Camarin Road, Caloocan City, where 173 houses will be built on the 10,147-sq. m. lot. “This is Pag-IBIG’s first housing project in Caloocan in partnership with a developer specifically for teachers. The beneficiaries have already been identified for the housing project and we hope that this will be an inspiration to provide more housing for teachers,” said Pag-IBIG Acting Deputy CEO for Home Lending Operations Cluster Marilene C. Acosta. According to Pag-IBIG Acting Senior Vice President for Business Development Sector Benjamin R. Felix, Jr., there will be regular townhouse units and other units with firewalls. Each unit has a lot area of 35 sq. m. and a selling price of P1.2 million. “The housing project’s beneficiaries can avail of the units through Pag-IBIG’s End-User Home Financing program,” he explained. CNMVAI president Ma. Luisa S. Dannug thanked Pag-IBIG and project developer Hauwei Builders and Development Corp. for helping realize the long-time dream of teachers of having their own home. “We are blessed today because we were given the opportunity to fulfill our dreams as teachers,” Dannug said. DepEd Division of Caloocan Supervisor Connie Bunag also thanked both parties for giving teachers the opportunity to own a house. Pag-IBIG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education as early as Dec. 2, 2011 to give DepEd employees and teachers access to housing services such as housing loan counselling and pre-qualification screening, among others.

Pag-IBIG Fund Acting Senior Vice President Benjamin R. Felix Jr. (fifth from left) leads the groundbreaking of the teachers’ village in Caloocan. With him are (from left) Pag-IBIG Acting Vice President Engr. Elmer Gabriel D. Tugade, Manager Nanette T. Abilay, Hauwei Builders & Development Corp. Vice Presidents Edison Tan and Arnel Meily, Chairman William Young, Caloocan North Mentors Ville Association Inc. President Ma. Luisa S. Dannug, HBDC Managing Directors Sam David Young and Wan Ming, Department of Education Supervisor Dr. Connie Bunag, Barangay Chairman Ruben dela Cruz, LGU Caloocan Special Assistant Angeles Basconcillo, and Mary Rose S. Barrios of ISWEAR.

8 hurt as IED explodes in Tacurong City TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat— Eight persons were wounded in an explosion here Monday morning perpetrated by a man now being hunted by authorities, police said. Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said the suspect threw an improvised explosive device beside a fried banana vendor not far from the Valdez Mother and Child Hospital and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative main office at around 8:30 a.m. “It was an improvised bomb that will

explode when lobbed,” Supiter said. The police in Sultan Kudarat have been placed on heightened alert following the bomb attack, the seventh in Region 12 or Soccsksargen region since Tuesday last week. Police and bomb experts found cut nails and metal fragments in the blast site along the busy national highway in front of a private university. The injured include the banana vendor – Janice Alacdo, 34, a resident of Barangay New Carmen here – and seven workers of Sukelco, who were to attend a forum in an

open space fronting the cooperative’s office. The motive of the attack remained unknown but the Tacurong City police are following up a lead that could eventually arrest the perpetrators, said Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 12. Supiter said after the blast, the suspect fled on foot toward a waiting motorcycle driven by an accomplice. The cooperative’s employees sustained minor injuries and are now out of danger. PNA

MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay on Monday welcomed some 2,623 young enrollees of the city of Makati’s Sports, Music, Arts and Recreational Training or SMART 2017 summer program as they gathered at the City Hall Quadrangle for its official opening. Binay said the SMART program gives schoolchildren an enjoyable way to spend their summer vacation aside from the chance to develop and harness their potential talents. The mayor also said the city government will support participants who show potential in the field of sports and other events to help them reach their full potential. “Participants who have potential to excel in sports and other fields will be supported by the city government to further develop and enhance their skills and talents,” Binay said. Founded in 2002, the program has 22 events for the participants to choose from, and has always been free of charge. The participants are also given free t-shirts to serve as their uniform. The summer program will run from April 3 to May 25, 2017. Among those who also graced the opening ceremony were Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Rep. Luis Campos Jr., city councilors, department heads, basketball player Chris Tiu – who is also a barangay kagawad of Barangay Urdaneta – and UST volleyball player EJ Laure. For SMART 2017, the total number of enrollees are broken down as follows: aikido, 17; arnis, 52; athletics, 30; academic tutorial, 553; badminton, 86; basketball clinic, 170; chess, 63; classical ballet, 109; cooking and baking, 88; dance clinic, 122; drama and acting, 42; drawing and painting, 164; football, 75; guitar lessons, 143; karate, 60; muay thai, 34; personality development, 52; swimming, 374; table tennis, 35; taekwondo, 162; voice lessons, 114; and volleyball clinic, 78.

QC grants P500,000 to movie workers’ fund THE Quezon City Council has passed City Resolution 7014-2017, authorizing Mayor Herbert Bautista to extend P500,000 in assistance to the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc. or Mowelfund in support of the organization’s efforts in promoting the development of the movie workers. District 1 Councilor Lena Marie Juico authored the measure in response to Section 36 of the Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines. It says a local government unit may, through its local chief executive and with the concurrence of the Sanggunian (council) concerned, aid – financial or otherwise – such people’s and nongovernment organizations for economic, socially-oriented, environmental, or cultural projects to be implemented within its territorial jurisdiction. Rio N. Araja

LGUs

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Davao keeps support for bombing survivors By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO CITY—The educational assistance of the City Government for the children of the victims of the 2003 Sasa Wharf bombing continues, City Social Services Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermudo said over the weekend.

HIDDEN GETAWAY. Nueva Vizcaya is endowed with waterfalls

such as this one in Barangay Edralin, in Kasibu town. This attraction will draw local tourists in the heat of the summer season. Ben Moses Ebreo

Fourteen years after the incident that killed 15 civilians and injured 46 others, Bermudo said the city has sponsored over 500 scholars in the different colleges and universities in Davao. Bermudo said as long as the student shows willingness to continue his or her studies, the city will provide them educational assistance, especially if they will not stop schooling, change course, or transfer schools with-

out informing their office. “The beneficiaries of our educational assistance can choose their own school, whether it’s a public or a private school. They can even choose their own course. We won’t impose any course on them that they do not want,” she said. “They just need to follow the rules set by the city government, like when they change course they should immediately inform us. The family should continue monitoring their children, and they should not stop their studies,” Bermudo added. Over the years, the city has spent around P5 million for the educational assistance of the survivors of the Sasa bombing alone, whether severely or moderately injured, CSSDO records showed. On Sunday, the families and victims of the bombing gathered at the blast site to commemorate the anniversary of the incident. Joel Torrevillas, 30, a resident of Tibungco district here, was just 17 years old at that time. He was a porter at Sasa when the ex-

plosion occurred. “I was having a snack at a food stall then,” Torrevillas said in the vernacular. “A kid was playing behind me, and then I heard an explosion. I woke up a month after because of complications [from the blast].” Torrevillas was just a few meters away from the bomb when the explosion took place. He was saved by the child playing behind him, who died after the incident. In 2014, Torrevillas underwent another surgery because a splinter was left in his lungs. He could barely use his right arm after the incident. A year later, joint operatives of Police Regional Office 12, Military Intelligence Group 12, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Central Mindanao apprehended the suspect of the bombing, Abdul Manap Mentang. Mentang was allegedly behind both the Sasa Wharf blast and the 2005 Valentine’s Day bombing at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal.

Pangasinan parties for 437th ‘Agew’ By Dexter A. See LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The 437th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5 will be marked with various activities that will highlight the province’s rich and colorful history. Pangasinan’s founding anniversary will start with a thanksgiving Mass at 8 a.m. to be held at the Sison Auditorium. A commemorative program will then be held where Gov.

Amado I. Espino III, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr. and members of the Provincial Board will award prizes for this year’s winners of Kurit Panlunggaring Literary Contest. The commemorative program’s guest of honor and speaker will be Rebecca Bustamante-Mills, president of Chalre Associates who is also an ASNA awardee. Immediately after the program, the governor will open the Pangasinan Trade and Tourism Expo at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center. Various local products will be on display until the Pistay Dayat celebration. Street-dancing in Parada na Luyag will make the event festive with the performances of contingents from different towns and cities in Pangasinan, enlivening the province’s history, festivals and culture. A live concert dubbed Konsyerto ed Kapitolyo will feature the performances of Mitoy and the Draybers Band along with local talents like Banda ni Pogi, Renz Ruther Robosa, Arah May Robosa, and John Paul Dimaculangan, among others. Meanwhile, April 5 has been declared as a special non-working public holiday in Pangasinan by President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Acting Executive Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, who signed Proclamation No. 179 on his behalf. Earlier, a measure to institutionalize the holiday was made by former governor and current Fifth District Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr. and Second District Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil.

Lubao balloon fest set LUBAO, Pampanga—Thirty-five balloonists, including 18 from Europe, United States, and countries across Asia Pacific, will join the four-day annual Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival at the Pradera Verde, Prado Siongco slated from April 6 to 9 here. Noel Castro, chairman of the LIBMF, said this year’s festival includes international singers and performers to add more fun and excitement for both local and foreign tourists. The international balloonists participating in the festival come from countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Japan, Thailand, France, South Africa, Switzerland, Vietnam, The Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The most notable among the foreign balloonists is Sabu Ichiyoshi from Japan, the record holder for the most number of hours in a hot air balloon. Castro said the balloons in different sizes, forms and colors will grace the town of former President Diosdado P. Macapagal, who was born on Sept. 28, 1910 at Calle Cucu, San Nicolas 1st, Lubao. The balloon festival also includes an aerial show, land exhibitions, games, local food favorites, and other activities for the whole family to enjoy, Castro said. Romeo Dizon

IN BRIEF

La Union sets up own 911 hotline

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The provincial government of La Union, headed by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III, has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Smart Communications officially launching the Provincial Incidence Response Management 911 emergency hotline. “We will establish the 911 emergency hotline in La Union in partnership with DILG and PLDT. We will set up a command center at the capitol to receive calls, and from there we will immediately send responders to emergencies,” Ortega said. Ortega said PLDT will orient those who would be assigned as operators of the command center particularly those who will be answering calls. The center will be under the supervision of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. “Eventually, when we already have trained personnel [of command center and operators], we will cascade this down to the municipalities and the barangays. The public will be informed properly about the system,” Ortega said. Dexter A. See

Oral hygiene getting better in Pampanga

GUAGUA, Pampanga—Despite their known love for good food, Kapampangans lack awareness on the importance of oral hygiene and the development of healthy oral habits, especially among children. Dr. Joselito Ponio, dentist of the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital here, said oral health is not a priority among Kapampangans, particularly among low-income families. Ponio said this is shown by the 2011 statistics of the memorial hospital that prove 98 percent of the children in day care have tooth decay, which is higher than the World Health Organization mark of 90 percent in a worldwide report that year. However, the percentage in the province has dropped to 83 percent this year owing to the immunization program of Second District Rep. and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Gov. Lilia Pineda. Romeo Dizon

World IN BRIEF Tourist says she was raped in southern India NEW DELHI—A German tourist has accused two men of taking her captive and raping her in southern India, police said Monday, just weeks after the rape and murder of an Irish woman in Goa. The woman told police two men dragged her to a secluded spot from a private beach resort in the southern tourist town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu state and raped her on Sunday. “We have registered a sexual assault complaint and a manhunt has been launched to track the attackers,” the district police chief Santosh told AFP. “We are questioning suspects but no arrests have been made yet.” He said medical tests had confirmed sexual assault and the German embassy had been informed. A spokeswoman for Germany’s Foreign Office told AFP by email that its consul-general in the state capital Chennai was in close contact with local authorities about the incident. It comes barely three weeks after a 28-year-old Irish woman was raped and murdered in the popular tourist state of Goa. Danielle McLaughlin’s naked body was discovered in a field near a beach on March 16, with injuries all over her body. AFP

Thousands protest death of Chinese man PARIS―About 6,000 people took part in angry protests in Paris on Sunday against the death of a Chinese man shot and killed when police responded to a call at his apartment last month, police said. The rally was organized by several Chinese associations in France, and as with previous rallies held over the past week, there were sporadic skirmishes between protesters and security forces. Some of the demonstrators threw bottles, eggs and fruit, prompting the police to respond with tear gas during clashes that lasted more than an hour, according to an AFP photographer. On March 26, Liu Shaoyo, a 56-year-old father of five, was shot by a police team called to his apartment in northeast Paris over a suspected domestic dispute. Authorities say he attacked a policeman with a knife, causing injuries, and that another officer opened fire in self-defense, killing him. But the dead man’s family disputes the police version of the incident, saying that there was no domestic dispute and that he was shot without warning after a neighbor called the police about shouting. The police are investigating the incident, and Beijing has called on Paris to “guarantee the safety and legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens in France. AFP

Australia cleanup under way S

YDNEY―A “gut-wrenching” clean-up was in full swing Monday as floodwaters receded across parts of Australia, with fears the death toll could rise after a car was swept into a swollen river.

Critic of Islam cancels tour of NZ, Australia SYDNEY―Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born women’s advocate and leading critic of Islam, on Monday canceled a tour of Australia and New Zealand at the last minute citing security concerns. She was due to appear on an Australian Broadcasting Corporation current affairs panel show on Monday evening before speaking engagements later this week. But organizers Think Inc said in a statement that “Ayaan Hirsi Ali regrets that, for a number of reasons including security concerns, she must cancel her upcoming appearances in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland”. No further details were given. The former Dutch lawmaker is a controversial figure and has been threatened with death in the past for criticizing Islam. Born into an orthodox Muslim family in Somalia in 1969, she fled to the Netherlands in 1992 to escape an arranged marriage. She obtained political asylum, followed by Dutch nationality five years later. Hirsi Ali left the Netherlands for the United States in May 2006 following a bitter row which broke out when she admitted lying about her age and name in her Dutch asylum request. She says she broke definitively with Islam following the September 11 attacks in the United States and has since become a fierce defender of secularism and Muslim women’s rights. AFP

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Brittany Kerr poses as she arrives for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 2, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

At least two people were confirmed killed after cyclone-fueled rain and winds pummeled swathes of Queensland and New South Wales over the past week, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and causing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage. Six people are missing, including three who were feared dead Monday after a car plunged into the Tweed River in northern New South Wales. A young girl managed to escape but three others -- believed to be a mother and her two children -- had not been found. “A police operation is underway to recover the three occupants of a vehicle that entered the Tweed River, near Tumbulgum, this afternoon,” police said. While the worst of the weather is over as Cyclone Debbie moved out to sea on Saturday, the daunting task facing those affected is just beginning with residents returning to thick mud and ruined property. New South Wales State Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Mark Morrow said it would be a long haul for towns such as Lismore and Murwillumbah that were inundated by floods. “The mud, combination of chemicals, raw sewage, paint which gets into everything. Two to three meters above floor level. Nothing escaped this. It was a very, very big flood,” he said. Many of those who fled the area have begun heading back, with Morrow warning “it won’t be pleasant”. “It will be a lot of work for those people as they return today,” he said. Military and emergency per-

sonnel continued to work to restore essential services such as water and electricity in affected towns, where hundreds of homes have been deemed uninhabitable. The Insurance Council of Australia has estimated the damage bill could reach Aus$1 billion (US$770 million), as people braved mud-caked streets to begin clearing out homes and shops, with mountains of ruined possessions piled on pavements. Adding to their worries was the fear of looting, with New South Wales police charging one man with theft and moving on 16 more who were “acting suspiciously”. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said seeing the damage up close was heart-breaking, as he toured Lismore. “Seeing it first-hand and the impact, treasured possessions, all of a life’s work, all of the assets of a business flung out onto the pavement -- that is gut-wrenching stuff,” he said. The cyclone dumped more than a meter of rain on parts of Queensland and the huge volume of water is still slowly spilling down river systems, with Rockhampton next in the firing line. It was feared the town would be hit later this week by its worst flooding in more than 60 years, but authorities Monday said the estimated peak had now been revised down, although major flood warnings still exist. “We do want to stress to the people of Rockhampton that you still need to make your flood preparations,” said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. “We are not out of the woods yet, there is still a long way to go,” she added, stressing that 300 schools in the state had been damaged and needed repairs.

Police arrest dozens of protesters in Moscow MOSCOW―Russia’s interior ministry said Sunday that 31 opposition protesters had been arrested in Moscow, a week after hundreds were arrested during a rally organized by leading Putin critic Alexei Navalny. The ministry said the protesters were being held on charges of disrupting public order during a nonauthorized demonstration, while OVD-Info, a website that monitors detentions of activists, said at least 56 were detained, including four minors. Opposition supporters had begun to walk peacefully along Moscow’s main Tverskaya Street from a central metro station at

around 1030 GMT in an event coordinated via social media. Police in helmets and body armor swiftly moved to halt the protest that drew around 100 people. An AFP photographer at the scene said people were detained as they simply walked along the street, without shouting slogans. A man holding a poster was detained ﬁrst. Similar rallies were held in other cities across the country, but with the approval of local authorities: About 400 people demonstrated in Novosibirsk, Russia’s third-largest city, and 650 people in Samara. But the interior ministry said

one person was arrested at an unauthorized rally in Saint Petersburg. The latest detentions came after Navalny organized protests in cities across Russia on March 26, most of them unauthorized. The largest rally in Moscow saw about 500 people detained according to police, while OVD-Info put the total at almost 1,000. Navalny called the protest over his anti-corruption investigation into Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, linking him to huge mansions and vineyards in a video report garnering more than 16 million views on YouTube.

Among those protesting on Sunday was Pavel Dyatlov, a 16-year-old who became a symbol of youth protest in last week’s rally after he was photographed climbing up a lamppost and being detained by police. Dyatlov told AFP he had come back to protest on Sunday after reading about it on social media, saying the protest was “calling for the current government to stand down, or for early presidential elections.” “We were heading towards Red Square and the police started to push us back,” he said before police detained him again. Witnesses said ofﬁcers targeted

people photographed at the previous rally. “Right from the start I saw that they were detaining children and ‘faces from the media’ -- you could see they were acting in a targeted way,” said 70-year-old Natalya Ponomarenko from the Moscow region, who also attended last week’s rally. “I came here a second time to see what the result of March 26 would be,” she said, emphasizing that the participants were peaceful and “the plan was to go for a walk.” It was unclear who was behind the rallies, in which no major opposition ﬁgures participated. AFP

Japan to send its envoy back to S. Korea after row TOKYO―Japan said Monday it would send its ambassador back to South Korea after a diplomatic row had prompted his recall, because the countries should work closely together to counter threats from North Korea. The government ordered the envoy home in January over a statue placed by activists late last year outside its consulate in Busan. The statue symbolizes the plight of “comfort women” -- a euphemism for women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. Japan says the statue violates the spirit of a 2015 agreement meant to settle the hugely emotional and decades-long issue with a Japanese apology and payment of money to survivors. South Korea’s foreign minister said at the time that his government would “strive to solve” the issue of a similar statue that has stood across the street from Japan’s embassy in Seoul since 2011. That one, which has become a symbol for activists campaigning on behalf of the few surviving former sex slaves, still stands and Japan saw the new one in the southern port city of Busan as unacceptable. But intensifying concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile

development prompted Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to announce that ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine would return to Seoul on Tuesday. “Japan and South Korea need to closely exchange information at high levels and closely communicate in order to deal with North Korean issues,” Kishida told reporters. He said Japan would continue to urge South Korea to implement the “comfort women” accord after Nagamine returns. Also behind the decision to send the ambassador back, Kishida said, was South Korea’s election in May to choose a successor to ousted president Park Geun-Hye. The plight of the women -- mostly from the then-Japanese colony of Korea -- has marred relations for decades but the two governments reached an agreement in late 2015 to ﬁnally resolve it. Under that accord, which both countries described as “ﬁnal and irreversible,” Japan offered an apology and a one-billion yen ($8.97 million) payment to surviving South Korean comfort women. Critics said the deal did too little to hold Japan responsible for abuses during its 1910-45 rule over the Korean peninsula. AFP

ONSTAGE. Recording artists Lauren Daigle, left, and Reba McEntire perform onstage during the 52nd Academy Of Country Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on April 2, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

World

STRIKE. People gather outside the prefecture in Cayenne on March 30, 2017 ahead of the start of negotiations with the French overseas and interior ministers. Life in French Guiana has been disrupted for over 10 days, the conﬂict starting with a general strike that closed schools and shops and stoked fears of further instability in one of France’s overseas territories. AFP

Ruling party wins in Armenia YEREVAN-Armenia’s pro-Russian ruling party has won the first legislative elections held since the adoption of constitutional reforms that are transforming the country into a parliamentary republic, official results released on Monday showed. With votes tallied from 99.8 percent of precincts, the central electoral commission said President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party beat the main opposition coalition, led by wealthy politician Gagik Tsarukyan, by 49.15 to 27.37 percent. “According to the elections’ early results, the Republican Party has every chance of forming the new government,” the party’s spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, told a news conference. Another opposition coalition, Elk, and the Dashnaktsutyun nationalist party received 7.78 percent and 6.58 percent of the vote respectively and will also enter the parliament. Turnout was 60.86 percent, the electoral panel said. The West views Armenia’s election as a key democratic test for the landlocked nation of 2.9 million, which has no history of transferring power to the opposition through the ballot box. The pro-Russian Sarkisian has said his government “made enormous efforts so that (the) milestone vote is flawless.” Violence flared following his election in 2008, with 10 people killed in clashes between police and opposition supporters. But opposition politicians have reported violations at polling stations after previously warning that the government is preparing mass electoral fraud. “We have recorded numerous violations at polling stations -- violation of ballots’ secrecy and multiple voting,” Hovsep Khurshudyan, a leader of Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanyan, an opposition coalition, told AFP on Sunday night. Before the vote, the EU delegation to Armenia and the US embassy said in a joint statement they were “concerned by allegations of voter intimidation, attempts to buy votes, and the systemic use of administrative resources to aid certain competing parties.” The polls followed constitutional amendments initiated by Sarkisian in 2015 that his opponents say are designed to perpetuate the rule of the Republican party, which has been in power for the last two decades. AFP

Ecuador socialist wins presidency QUITO―Socialist Lenin Moreno was set to extend a decade of leftist rule in Ecuador on Monday after official results showed him winning the presidential election, as his conservative rival cried foul. Both candidates claimed victory on the basis of conflicting exit polls from Sunday’s runoff, but with 96.94 percent of districts reporting the National Electoral Council said that Moreno -- the designated heir to President Rafael Correa’s “21st-century socialism” -- won 51.12 percent of the vote against 48.88 percent for ex-banker Guillermo Lasso. The election was closely watched as a barometer of the political climate in Latin America, where more than a decade of leftist dominance has been waning. It may also decide the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy since 2012. Lasso however alleged fraud, claiming that his campaign had evidence of an attempt to rig the results. “We are going to defend the will of the Ecuadoran people in the face of an attempted fraud that aims to install what would be an illegitimate government,” Lasso said, setting up what could be a long and ugly fight. Some Lasso supporters protested outside election offices in Quito and other cities demanding transparency in the vote count. “We will continue this process that has changed Ecuadorans’ lives, especially for the poorest citizens,” the triumphant Moreno, a charismatic wheelchair-bound politico paralyzed in a 1998 car-

jacking, told supporters. He then launched into an exuberant victory party at which he regaled the crowd with his singing, belting out Latin classics alongside Correa. Correa presided over an economic boom that has recently gone bust. In Latin America, where a socalled “pink tide” of leftist leaders has been ebbing, the vote is seen as crucial. Argentina, Brazil and Peru have all shifted to the right in recent months, as the region has sunk into recession and leftist leaders have been tarnished by a string of corruption scandals. Boosted by high prices for its oil exports, Ecuador registered solid economic growth averaging 4.4 percent per year during the first eight years of Correa’s presidency, before tipping into recession in mid-2015. Correa won loyal fans among the poor with generous social benefits that helped reduce the poverty rate from 36.7 percent to 23.3 percent in this country of 16 million people. But he has also faced accusations of corruption and squandering the windfall of the oil boom. Moreno, 64, won the firstround vote on February 19 with 39 percent to Lasso’s 28 percent. But Lasso, 61, united much of the opposition vote behind his promises to create a million jobs, eliminate 14 different taxes and boost foreign investment in Ecuador. Correa was triumphant at Moreno’s victory party, where supporters chanted, “Correa, we’ll miss you.” AFP

Trump: US prepared to deal with North Korea on its own W

ASHINGTON― President Donald Trump warned in an interview published Sunday that the United States is prepared to act unilaterally to deal with North Korea’s nuclear program if China proves unwilling to help.

AIRBORNE. Pink ﬂamingos take ﬂight at the Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary on the outskirts of Dubai on April 3, 2017. AFP

Surprised at British tone on Gibraltar MADRID―Spain voiced surprise at Britain’s tone on the future of Gibraltar on Monday after a former British political leader compared the dispute over the Rock with the Falklands conﬂict. Michael Howard, a former leader of the ruling Conservative Party, noted on Sunday that former PM Margaret Thatcher took military action after Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands 35 years ago and said current leader Theresa May would “show the same resolve” on Gibraltar. Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said Madrid was taken aback by such comments. “The Spanish government is a little surprised by the tone which the United Kingdom has adopted, a country known for being phlegmatic. “On this subject, the traditional British phlegmatism is conspicuous by its

absence,” Dastis said. May on Sunday insisted she would “never” allow Gibraltar to slip from British control to allay the fears of visiting Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo. British foreign minister Boris Johnson added that “Gibraltar is not for sale.” He said Monday that London’s position was “very, very clear, which is that the sovereignty of Gibraltar is unchanged, and it’s not going to change.” With a population of just over 32,000, Gibraltar has been a British overseas territory since 1713 but Spain has long laid claim to it. Following Brexit, the European Union says Spain would have to agree to extend any trade deal between the bloc and Britain to Gibraltar, meaning Madrid could potentially block the latter’s access to a trade accord.

Commercially, the tiny territory is heavily reliant on its small land border with Spain and last year’s Brexit vote is a source of concern in Gibraltar, whose residents voted massively in favor of staying. Dastis said Madrid is not out to make things more difﬁcult at the frontier, telling the El Pais daily in an interview published Sunday there was “no intention to close the border.” Spanish dictator Francisco Franco closed the border with Gibraltar outright in 1969. Free travel between the two sides was only fully restored in 1985, ten years after his death. After Britain voted to leave the EU, Madrid proposed shared sovereignty, arguing that would allow Gibraltar to stay in the bloc. But Gibraltarians overwhelmingly voted down that idea in a 2002 referendum. AFP

“Well, if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. That is all I am telling you,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times of London. Trump’s comments come ahead of his meeting Thursday and Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Tensions have risen sharply as North Korea has stepped up ballistic missile tests and amid boasts by leader Kim Jong-un that his country was in the final stages of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. US-based analysts have warned that North Korea appears to be preparing a new nuclear test. It has staged five nuclear tests so far, two last year. “China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t,” Trump told the Financial Times. “If they do, that will be very good for China, and if they don’t, it won’t be good for anyone.” In a separate interview, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the United States is looking to China to take action against North Korea. “The only country that can stop North Korea is China and they know that,” Haley told ABC’s “This Week” in an interview broadcast on Sunday. “We’re going to continue to put pressure on China to have action.” The Mar-a-Lago meeting will be the two leaders’ first face-to-face encounter. On Thursday, Trump predicted a “very difficult” summit with Xi, noting the disputes over trade policy between the world’s two most powerful nations and leading economies. But Haley emphasized that at the Florida meeting “the most important conversation will be how we’re going to be dealing with the nonproliferation of North Korea.” Beijing, increasingly frustrated with Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile activities, has announced a suspension of all coal imports from the North until the end of the year. Haley deemed that measure -- which was in keeping with UN sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program and missile program -insufficient, saying that coal is “going in other ways.” “At some point, we need to see definitive actions by China condemning North Korea and not just calling them out for it,” she said. Since taking office, Trump has left open the possibility of military action against North Korea. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

CULTURE & MEDIA

Charo Santos-Concio shares the story of her life, from her childhood up to her retirement as ABS-CBN’s ﬁrst woman president, in her book ‘My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader’

PAGES

Former Kapamilya top gun shares life with readers in book

HARO SantosConcio never stops even after retiring as president of the country’s biggest media conglomerate where she remains the chief content ofﬁcer and host of the longrunning drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, or simply MMK to the staff and the audience.

Design competition recognizes student-innovators Alterchitecture, an annual architectural design competition organized by the United Architects of the Philippines-Student Auxiliary of University of the Philippines-Diliman, seeks to revolutionize perspectives on the development of the built environment through progressive sustainable architectural improvement. It has recently called for a change in designing the built environment by way of shifting our thought processes – challenging industry members to speculate, break, and innovate. With the theme “Buhay-Bahayan: A Relocation Development for the Multinational Riverside Community,” this year’s contest addressed the issue of housing, and challenged aspiring architects for a plan that features sustainable and innovative solutions on land access and housing that are ﬁt for the needs of a chosen locale. Among 43 entries from 16 schools from all over the country, Architecture students of De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) won the top prize during the recent awarding ceremonies. The team, composed of Paul John S. Carmona, Norman S. Piguing, Joana Krisette C. Gomez, Rhea Jane A. Ulip, and Ericha Golda G. Guzman won for their work entitled “Magkasalo.” Their proposal was based on a housing community concept that exempliﬁes joint unity among individuals to achieve a particular goal. The structure was inspired by the idea of salu-salo, wherein families share a common mini courtyard as a sign of Filipino culture having a strong sense of community and family.

When most lady executives reaching retirement age simply enjoys their private lives along with the hefty retirement remuneration and pension either traveling the world or opening a business, the former beauty queen-turned-actress-turnedmovie producer and later the highest lay executive in local broadcasting decided to share her story in a book that is also ﬁt for the big screen titled My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader. Many of us covering the entertainment and lifestyle beats witnessed how the simple girl from Baco in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro zoomed to become the most powerful lady in entertainment. While she admits she has remained that shy provincial lass, she has deﬁnitely come a long way from the farming village her family settled in when she was younger. Santos-Concio merges memoir with leadership advice. How does she do this? By relating, with endearing honesty, the stories throughout

her life that called for a certain self-awareness, made her realize her failings, and imbued her with a sense of purpose. My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader spans Santos-Concio’s childhood up to her retirement as ABS-CBN’s first woman president. Readers are given a peek into her years as a sheltered doctor’s daughter in Calapan on the island Mindoro, where her father first taught her how to stand up to thugs; her first brush with high society, wearing a dress painstakingly assembled by her mother; the compromises she had to make—and break— when she entered showbiz, and more personal experiences which gave her invaluable lessons in strength and grace. Television and movie fans of all kinds—be they curious about the stars, behind-thescenes production, or business side—will find a treasure trove of information in the book. As one of the few individuals who successfully made the transition from movie actress to producer to television executive (and made the loop to movie actress again), Santos-Concio provides industry anecdotes that are both entertaining and honest. Part biography, part self-help, this book is unique in its take on leadership. Santos-Concio treats the subject with a nurturing tone—a far cry from the aggressive stance that many believe is the defining quality of leadership. Santos-Concio isn’t afraid to admit her fears and foibles, and reassures the reader that there is power during times of uncertainty and self-doubt. While it is a treat to be given a firsthand look at the ins and outs of the lives of

celebrities, equal value should be given to the lessons learned during their most vulnerable times. Santos-Concio goes the extra mile in sharing these moments with the reader, and turns them into tips that the reader can apply to his or her own life. Some of the lessons the reader will pick up from the book are: * No matter who you are or where you come from, you all have your own story. It’s important that you tell and own your story because that’s how you find your sense of purpose. * Take your chance. Every leadership journey begins with fear, which you are invited to match with simple curiosity. If courage is hard to find, then just take a small first step. * A clear sense of purpose is what draws out the leader within you, and your heart is the best tool to find out what your true purpose and passion is. Leaders must be lifetime learners. * The ability to see possibilities where others only see difficulties is a very powerful leadership skill. It is this ability that separates the visionaries from mere followers. It takes a high degree of self-mastery not to give in to your anxiety when everyone else around us offers only doubts. * When you find yourself suddenly restless and beginning to look for something more meaningful, it could be that life is preparing a new path for you. Keep your eyes and ears open for possibilities that may change the course of your life. My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader is available at National Bookstore and Powerbooks outlets for P550.

Philippine art in Artistree pop-up gallery

The winning entry of Architecture students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde entitled ‘Magkasalo’

“We were really surprised and incredibly happy and even more blessed, honored, and thankful to have won ﬁrst place,” said Carmona, a member of the winning team.

NCCA recognizes industry inﬂuencers

SHANGRI-LA PLAZA collaborates with Artistree Gallery to showcase Philippine art at its ﬁnest with a pop-up gallery at the mall’s Level 3, Main Wing Hallway until May. Opening strong with an impressive presentation of a few of the masters, including Juvenal Sansó, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Aracelli Dans, and New York-based Isabel Diaz, the Shang & Artistree Art Festival culls the works of some of the country’s renowned and emerging artists. The festival is in line with Shangri-La Plaza’s thrust to support and drive more appreciation for arts and culture. Through the note-worthy pieces An artwork by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz to be featured in the gallery, all carefully selected by Artistree as spearheaded by its owner Vic Salta, mall guests are given the opportunity to view remarkable pieces done by acclaimed artists. Mall guests can look forward to seeing masterpieces by Impy Pilapil, watercolor portrait artist Onib Olmedo, prestigious New York Pastel Competition gold medalist Mario Panis (Bagobo Series), four-time Metrobank Art Petron grand prize winner Parker Encisa, Caloy

A Juvenal Sanso painting

A work by New York-based artist Isabel Diaz

Gabuco, Romulo Olazo, and Romulo Galicano. For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www. facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofﬁcial. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofﬁcial on Twitter: @shangplaza.

NCCA’s Ani ng Dangal recognizes dance students of DLS-CSB for their victory at a dance competition in Hong Kong

THE Ani ng Dangal Awards of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) recently recognized a total of 71 artists and works from different ﬁelds of the arts—36 for cinema, 16 for dance, 10 for visual arts, seven for music, one for dramatic arts, and one for literary arts. The Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) Award recognizes passionate artisans in their respective crafts who have earned international laurels and accolades during the past year. Among those honored were dance students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). Neil John Casagan, Renzo Arboleda, and Olivia Bugayong, all

members of the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBRDC), for winning gold medals at the Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition 2016. Casagan and Arboleda won for the Duo category in the Jazz/Contemporary division, while Bugayong triumphed in the Solo category in the Classical division. The Hong Kong Challenge Cup promotes dance culture, and provides a platform for practice and experience exchange for amateurs and professionals. Dancers from all over Asia, including the Philippines, participated in this annual meet. The recognition serves as the closing activity of the NCCA’s yearly celebration of the National Arts Month.

Some of the impressive creations by artist Aracelli Dans

Life

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

LITERATURE

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Portrait of La Miricioiu as singer and mentor By Pablo A. Tariman

orld-renowned soprano Nelly Miricioiu will perform in Manila on April 9 at the Ayala Museum at 6 p.m. with the country’s premier tenor Arthur Espiritu in an evening of favorite duets from La Traviata and Rigoletto, among others.

Singapore envoy marks World Poetry Day SINGAPORE Ambassador Madame Kok Li Peng joined award-winning poets Jose F. Lacaba and Marra Pl. Lanot on March 21 morning to celebrate UNESCO’s “World Poetry Day” at the Pandesal Forum of 78-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. The envoy also discussed Philippine-Singapore relations and Asean issues with the media and intellectuals at the two-hour forum. This artisanal café also gave away free coffee or tea drinks the whole day to all people who came to pay with their original poems, in a unique civic and cultural project. To celebrate “World Poetry Day”, Kamuning Bakery Café’s Wilson Lee Flores invited Singapore Ambassador Kok to recite one of her favorite poems entitled “The road not taken” by Robert Frost. Lacaba and Lanot both also each recited their original poems in the Filipino language. Ambassador Kok said both the late Lee Kuan Yew and President Rodrigo Duterte are similar in their “strong political will and being doers.”

The acclaimed soprano’s duet with the Filipino tenor is keenly awaited as she has sung Nelly Miricioiu in ﬁrst meeting with tenor Arthur Espiritu—the vocal team up of the year

Miricioiu with a special car on her way to the Bucharest Opera House where she received a life achievement award from her native Romania

earlier with the likes of Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Roberto Alagna, and Carlo Bergonzi, among others. By coincidence, both Miricioiu and Espiritu have sung at the venerable La Scala di Milan in Italy. Miricioiu was first heard in Manila in 1980 at the CCP followed by a return engagement at the Manila Metro Metropolitan Theater in 1984 and an another one at the Meralco Theater in 2015 all of which ended in a rousing standing ovation. She will also conduct master classes for Filipino singers from April 10 to 14 at the 5th ﬂoor, SJG Center, Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. A week before her Manila return engagement, she also conducted master classes at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Filipino tenor Nomher Nival said the famous soprano is just as excellent as teacher as she is as a singer. He stayed at the Lon-

don home of the Romanian diva where he received personalized lessons about correct posture, breathing and the like. “I also learned about body movements, how to sing stylistically based on muscle adjustments and many more. I just need to imbibe new concepts and get used to new sensations and vocal exercises that I still need to work on before I can totally grasp and master them. I like Maestra Nelly’s instincts and intelligence. She can easily demonstrate what’s written in the books and apply it to her singing very clearly. I would say my learning process is still ongoing.” For Nival, studying with tenor Arthur Espiritu was a big refresher course. “I have learned earlier lessons that I have forgotten and his presence made me work on them again with fresh perspective.” Miricioiu is also mentor for the Jette Parker Young Artists Program at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and visiting professor with the London Master classes, The Mediterranean Opera Studio Festival and Wales International Academy among others. Hailed as a singing actress, Miricioiu is one of the most versatile artists of our day. Her repertoire extends from Mozart and bel canto to Verdi, Puccini to the verismo and modern Italian opera Respighi and Zandonai. She has also sung the works of French and Russian composers. Michael Davidson wrote in Opera Magazine: “The highly individual timbre of Miricioiu’s voice, her imagination and intensity, her exceptional range and sense of timing make for a unique talent.”

A grand prizewinner of the Maria Callas International Voice Competition where she now frequently sits as member of the jury, Miricioiu was entrusted with reviving the infamous Tosca production for Maria Callas. The revival was a huge success and established her as one of the best Tosca’s seen on stage. Clive Hirshon wrote in the Daily Express: “Nelly Miricioiu had the requisite passion for the title role plus a melting pianissimo that ravished the house with its purity of tone.” The Financial Times’ Richard Fairman wrote: “Her Tosca is an artist down to her ﬁngertips, the kind who turns every wave in a theatrical event.” The April 9 Ayala Museum program includes Donizetti’s Spirto Gentil (from La Favorita), Bellini’s Casta Diva (from Norma), Mozart’s Un Aura Amoroso ( from the opera Cosi fan Tutte), Giordano’s La Mamma Morta (from the opera Andrea Chenier), Verdi’s Parmi, Veder le laguine (from the opera Rigoletto), Signor ne principe (duet from the opera Rigoletto), Donizetti’s Oh nube! che lieve per l’aria ti aggiri...Nella pace del mesto riposo (from the opera Maria Stuarda), Angelo, Casta e bel (from the opera Il Duca di Alba), Catalani’s Ebben? Ne andro lontana (from the opera La Wally) and Parigi o cara (from La Traviata). Four Filipino art songs are also in the program. For ticket inquiries, please call 5763132, 09065104270, or 09183473027.

Singapore Ambassador Madame Kok Li Peng joins the celebration of World Poetry Day at the Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe

Entries wanted to GSIS 2017 art tilt

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) welcomes entries to the 2017 GSIS National Art Competition, one of the country’s biggest and much-awaited art contests. According to GSIS officer-in-charge and Senior Vice President for NCR Operations, Atty. Nora Malubay-Saludares, Filipino artists both based here and abroad may join any or all of the contest’s three categories: representational (figurative), nonrepresentational (abstract), and sculpture. “The competition, which is now on its 13th year, has an open theme this year to encourage artists to conceptualize freely. We would like this art competition to continue recognizing and promoting the talent of aspiring Filipino artists here and abroad,” Atty. Saludares said. Cash prizes ranging from P30,000 to P300,000 await the winners, aside from taking the most prominent space at the exhibit of selected entries in the GSIS Museo ng Sining starting June 2. Entry forms and competition guidelines may be downloaded from the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph, or obtained from any GSIS office nationwide. Submission of entries is on May 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the GSIS Gymnasium, GSIS Head Office, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Questions regarding the competition may be directed to 859-3095 or 479-3588, or emailed to museum@gsis.gov.ph.

VISUAL ARTS

Mayie Delgado’s ‘Poetic Images’ THE Globe Art Gallery currently features Mayie Delgado’s Poetic Images. The ﬁnest abstract photographer in the Philippines and probably one of the best practitioners of the art in the world, Delgado is able to make the most mundane objects seem sublime and profound. Though known mostly for his abstractions, Delgado’s Poetic Images captures landscape images in New Zealand and Iceland. The Globe Art Gallery is located at the telecommunication provider’s headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. Globe Telecom’s support for contemporary art and the people in the art community in general speaks of its advocacy for creativity and innovation.

Mayie Delgado’s stunning photographs are exhibited at the Globe Art Gallery

Delgado is considered the ﬁnest abstract photographer in the Philippines and one of the best in the world

‘Poetic Images’ captures landscape photographs taken in New Zealand and Iceland

Delgado’s talent is proven through his ability to make the most mundane objects seem sublime

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

‘Eat Bulaga’ has big plans for Ultimate Music Hero

Music prodigy and "Eat Bulaga" music hero Blaster Silonga

FTER more than eight months of grueling competition, Eat Bulaga has a winner. Blaster Silonga — the 17-yearold who impressed judges and audiences alike with his electric guitar prowess — emerged as the winner of the noontime show’s “Music Hero: Battle of the Champions” on March 18. The budding musician from Marikina City bested seven other grand finalists for the title of Ultimate Music Hero. He also took home the P500,000 prize. “Music Hero” was a musical competition that began in August last year. Instead of focusing on singers, the segment gave the spotlight to instrumentalists. Musicians, ages 19 years old and below, competed against fellow musicians based on the instruments they played, until eight contestants were left for the show’s grand finals: Blaster (Electric Guitar Hero), Joaquin Rodrigo (Ultimate Drums Hero), Josh Espinosa (Ultimate Saxophone Hero), Zild Benitez (Ulitmate Bass Guitar), Brian Feliciano (Ultimate Flute Hero), Radlee Lacquian (Ultimate Acoustic Guitar Hero), Jim Tan (Ultimate Keyboards Hero), and Dominique Casacop (Ultimate Violin Hero). “Masaya saka humbled. Hindi ko inakala na mananalo ako. Alam kong competition ito and kailangan kong galingan, pero hindi ko na inisip na kailangan manalo ako. Wala na po yun. Ang inisip ko na lang is to enjoy and to play my music,” Blaster said after being named the Ultimate Music Hero. To win the title, Blaster had to survive two rounds of competition: a band round, where he performed Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” with Joaquin, Josh, and Zild; and a solo round, where he performed Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.” He offered the song and his eventual victory to God, saying, “Maganda talaga yung message ng kanta. Favorite ko yung kanta na yun, bata pa lang ako noon. Ang lakas ng dating sa akin. Yung ‘If I Ain’t Got You,’ kay Lord ko po kinakanta yan. Kahit anong meron ako ngayon, if I ain’t got you wala rin.” Blaster, a Grade 11 student at Berean Crosspointe International School in Marikina City, is a selftaught musician, learning how to play the electric via YouTube. It helped that his father is also a musician who became a finalist in a reality TV talent competition years ago. He considers Michael Jackson, John Mayer, and guitarists Eric Clapton and Paul Gilbert as his musical idols. After winning “Music Hero,”

Blaster said he wants to continue sharing his music. Despite getting attention as a guitarist, he wants to expand his knowledge in music. “Dati, gusto ko maging gitarista. Lately, na-realize ko na iba yung gitarista sa musikero. Pag gitarista ka lang, marunong ka mag gitara. Pero iba yung nasa kaluluwa mo yung music. Gusto ko marunong ako mag gitara pero naiintindihan ko rin kung paano gumana yung drums, yung bass,” he said. “Ngayon, patuloy lang sa pagshare ng music ko. Ayoko na dito lang magtatapos. Gusto ko tuloy-tuloy,” According to Jenny Ferre, senior vice-president for creatives and operations of TAPE, Inc, she had always wanted to do a music segment in Eat Bulaga that does not focus on singers. “Nobody has really paid attention to the genius of the Filipino musician,” she said. “Natakot kami noong una na baka walang batang magaling. Surprisingly, marami pala. It was a gamble. We never really realized na ang dami palang musikerong naghihintay lang ng pagkakataon. So ngayon, nalaman natin na ang talent natin hindi lang pala singing.” Ferre also said successfully mounting “Music Hero” made the show “a little more daring in trying out new things.” “You don’t underestimate the Pinoys. Noong una natakot kami, pero napakarami pala talagang magaling na Pilipino,” she added. Unfortunately, Eat Bulaga has no plans of immediately doing another edition of “Music Hero” right after its finals. But the show has big plans for Blaster and the other “Music Hero” finalists. Of course, viewers should expect Blaster and the seven other “Music Hero” finalists to become fixtures in Eat Bulaga. But beyond that, Ferre wants Blaster and those who joined ‘Music Hero’ to make a mark in Philippine music. “We have big plans for them. Medyo malaking pangarap, subukan natin, pero baka sila ang mag-redefine ng music of the millennials right now,” she said. “Ang dream namin, to see among them a new breed of musical directors, the best drummers in town. Essentially, we would want them to be the youngest, coolest band in the country.”

Viva renews contract with CJ Entertainment VIVA Communications Inc., recently renewed its film distribution contract with CJ Entertainment, South Korea’s leading entertainment company. Part of the deal is the release in July of CJ’s biggest film, the much-awaited Battleship Island which stars Song Joong Ki of Descendants of the Sun; rapper So Ji Sub; and Hwang Jung-Min of Ode to My Father. CJ Entertainment is involved with film production, investment, distribution and exhibition. Among its most successful releases are Ode to My Father and Roaring Currents. Viva Communications is a multi-platform Filipino entertainment company engaged in film production and distribution, talent management, concerts and events production and promotion and others.

Shown in photo are Eunji Kim, CJ Director of International Sales; Vic del Rosario Jr., Chairman of the Board and CEO of Viva; Yoonhee Choi, CJ Head of International Sales and Distribution; JP Mo Senior Vice President for CJ International Sales and Marketing; and Vincent del Rosario, President and Chief Operating Ofﬁcer of Viva.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, April 4, 2017

ACROSS 1 Woofs 5 Them there 10 Trapeze artist’s act 14 Doozie 15 Waterloo resident 16 Gluck of opera 17 Orchard product 18 Editor’s change 20 Strode to and fro 22 Web-footed animals 23 At great cost 25 Sloth’s hangout 26 Lakeside rental 27 Happy sighs 28 Falling-out 32 Unwelcome obligation 33 Blender button 35 Kind of salad 36 Ceiling 37 “She Done — Wrong” 38 Arith. term 39 Uno y dos 41 Road flare 43 Lockbox document 44 Just average (hyph.) 45 “We — not amused” 46 Shiny

48 Funny Imogene 50 Where beaches abound 51 Coach Knute — 54 Copies 55 Not to be trusted 57 Yen 61 Get by effort 62 Boneless fish 63 Urn homophone 64 Dross 65 Paddock youngsters 66 Viking letter DOWN 1 Matterhorn 2 Paris street 3 Gulf st. 4 Outshine 5 Man’s accessory (2 wds.) 6 Comfortable 7 Ran up a tab 8 Tokyo honorific 9 Approve 10 Most calory-rich 11 — Wiesel 12 Julio’s love 13 Makes into leather 19 Wolfed down 21 Indiana Jones quest 23 “Mad Dog and Glory” star

(2 wds.) 24 Chopin wrote dozens 25 Subject 26 Nasty shocks 27 Hop out of bed 29 Least ruddy 30 Gateway 31 Winter quaff 34 Lieutenant under Kirk 40 Walloping 41 Hockey game start (hyph.) 42 “Me” types 43 Spy’s file

47 Chocolatecolored dog 49 Que. neighbor 50 Harsh, plus 51 Tpks. 52 Spoken 53 Irene of “Fame” 54 Mixer for rum 56 Guanabara Bay port 58 Play about Capote 59 MSNBC rival 60 Start of a bray

24th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival launches competition FILIPINO Arts and Cinema, International (FACINE) announces its call for entries for the 24th Annual Filipino International Cinema Festival on Oct. 20 to 22 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. The FACINE festival is the longest-running festival in North America that showcases new works by Filipino filmmakers and media artists – from the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora. FACINE (Filipino Arts & Cinema, International), a nonprofit media arts organization, aims to support the interests of Filipino cinema, both from the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora. This year, FACINE re-launches its Competition Section with awards to be given to the Best Film, Direction, Screenplay, Actor, Actress, Cinematography, Editing, Musical Score and Production Design e chosen by a panel of jury. A special trophy has been designed by a Manila-based sculptor to be given to winners. If in a language other than English, all entries must be with English subtitles and shall be submitted in DVD or online. If on-line, send entries via Vimeo link or YouTube link to the address indicated: www.facine.org/callforentries/ All entries by media artists of Filipino descent, regardless of number of entries, genre, subject and style, will be considered. Entries shall be no more than 120 minutes in length. NonFilipino filmmakers may submit works however the subject must be on the Filipino. No submission fee. Submission Deadline is on April 30, 11:59 p.m. PDT. For inquiries email Mauro Tumbocon, Jr., director, FACINE, atmauro@facine.org or mtumbocon@gmail.com. Submit entries to www.facine.org/callforentries/ Send a Text: (415) 410-9566; www.facine.org Entries in DVDformat may be mailed to this address: Mauro Tumbocon, 537 Jones Street, PMB 2643, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA For further details, carefully read the “Rules of Entry and Screening License Agreement” at www.facine.org/ callforentries/

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

KathNiel’s

magic continues in ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’

HE long wait is finally over as the country’s premier love team of Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo returns to the silver screen in Star Cinema’s upcoming summer romantic movie titled Can’t Help Falling In Love. Directed by box-office director Mae Cruz-Alviar and with story and screenplay by Carmi Raymundo and Kristine Gabriel, Can’t Help Falling In Love is the follow-up to the Daniel- Kathryn mammoth hit Barcelona: A Love Untold last year. Can’t Help Falling In Love is lighthearted and heartwarming romance centered on Gab de la Cuesta (Bernardo) - a high-strung career woman engaged to her longtime boyfriend. Gab’s wellplaned life gets upside down when she discovers that she is married to a total stranger in the person of happygo-lucky trip leader Dos Gonzales (Padilla). The real conflict begins as Gab and Dos try to figure out how they ended up as a married couple, and in the process, Gab starts breaking her own rules to survive their confusing situation and finds herself falling for Dos. It should be noted that Can’t Help Falling In Love marks the sixth year of Daniel and Kathryn as the county’s premier love team. Through the years, KathNiel has been solidified by consistent string of well-received performances both on television and in film, covers in high magazines, a constant stream of product endorsements, and ultimately a steady record of critical

and box-ofﬁce success in the big screen, thus making Daniel and Kathryn two of the most inﬂuential role models amongst millennials. The entire nation has been witness to how the love team of Daniel and Kathryn blossomed and now that their countless fans have invested deeply on the tandem, it is a welcome surprise that KathNiel is entering the next level as they give life to an exciting new material in Can’t Help Falling In Love (as Dos and Gab) in solidifying their successful partnership as artists. Witness how two opposite people meet unexpectedly and see how their worlds collide. Will destiny take them to where their hearts should be? Find out if Gab will choose a well-planed life with her longtime partner or if she will take the leap of faith with Dos, who is a perfect stranger in her life. Can’t Help Falling In Love also stars Matteo Guidicelli, Cherry Pie Picache, Lito Pimentel, Lotlot De Leon, Dennis Padilla, and Joross Gamboa, with Janus Del Prado, Kristel Fulgar, Pinky Amador, Johnny Revilla, Hannah Ledesma, Devon Seron, Chienna Filomeno, Earl Ignacio, Nina Dolino, Belle Mariano, and Clarence Delgado. Cant Help Falling In Love hits cinemas nationwide on April 15.

Bernardo and Daniel Padilla star in this year's most anticipated summer ﬂick, "Can't Help Falling In Love"

‘Tunog Natin: Songs From Home’ bags two Silver Anvil awards

KOREAN dramas heat up Jeepney’s summer line up

IT’S a K-drama-ﬁlled summer on Jeepney TV as the cable channel premiered hit Koreanovela It’s Okay, That’s Love, Emergency Couple, and Winter Sonata. Keep up with the lovehate antics of an obsessivecompulsive bestselling author and radio DJ who meets his match in the person of a driven but compassionate psychiatrist in It’s Okay, That’s Love. Bickering soon turns into a relationship, but takes a blow when the other’s mental health issues are more serious than they initially suspected. Emergency Couple, meanwhile, features the story of a former husband and wife who end up as interns at the same hospital. Both have to work in the emergency room together for three months after their messy divorce six years before. In Winter Sonata, an accident separates lovers Janna and Jun, the former believing that the latter is already dead. Unknown to Janna, Jun is alive but recovering from amnesia. Years later, when Janna is engaged to another, destiny brings her and Jun—who has no memory of her—to work together. Don’t miss It’s Okay, That’s Love, Monday to Thursday at 9 p.m.; Emergency Couple, Saturdays at 9 p.m., and Winter Sonata, 11:25 a.m. from Monday to Friday.

THE BIGGEST LOVE TEAM IS BACK. Kathryn

Song Ji-hyo and Choi Jin-hyuk in "Emergency Couple"

Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo in "Winter Sonata"

Gong Hyo-jin and Song Dong-il in "It's Okay, That's Love"

“TUNOG Natin: Songs From Home,” an advocacy campaign for Original Pilipino Music (OPM) by Avida Land in collaboration with Insight 360 Consultancy Services, Inc., won two major awards at the 52nd Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal held last March 10 at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “Tunog Natin: Songs From Home” featured promising and established OPM artists, Jim Paredes— also the campaign’s creative consultant, Bloomfields, Davey Langit, Moira Dela Torre, Thor Dulay, Markki Stroem, Princess Velasco, Johnoy Danao, Jason Fernandez and Jaq Dionisio. The compilation album, launched in a concert in 2015, is composed of 10n tracks— one original (“Home is Here”) and nine covers of classic Filipino songs (“Tuloy Pa Rin Ako,” “Next In Line,” “Tuwing Umuulan,” “Hawak Kamay,” “Kaleidoscope World,” “With a Smile, Pinoy Ako,” “Cool Ka Lang,” and “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika). Songs were arranged by Jonathan Arnold Ong of Sonic State Studio, while Takayuki Sakamoto and Angel Jose Resurrection were the production managers of the album. Aside from the album, the songs were made available through music streaming platforms to reach a wider audience. Released in celebration of Avida Land’s 25 years of inspiring possibilities, Tunog Natin is the second OPM project of Avida Land, following the first Tunog Natin album and concert series in 2011, which also aimed at reigniting interest in OPM. The first Tunog Natin series featured OPM artists Tanya Markova, Arnee Hidalgo,

1:43, Tricia Garcia, Gloc9, MCoy Fundales, Barbie Almalbis, Sheng Belmonte, Medwin of True Faith, Jim Paredes, Faith Cuneta, Myrus, Princess Velasco, Kiss Jane, Pepe Smith, and Letter Day Story. Tunog Natin: Songs From Home bagged two Silver Anvil awards: one for the category ‘Public Relations Programs: Directed at Speciﬁc Stakeholders’ and the other for ‘Public Relations Tools: Multimedia/Digital’. According to Anvil Awards, the Silver Anvil is “given to PR programs and tools that meet the highest standards set in the categories.” Avida’s anniversary campaign had a single-minded proposition: to portray a lifestyle that inspires endless possibilities, where one’s home becomes a springboard for bigger life opportunities. With its anniversary tagline “Inspiring lives at 25 years”, Avida, a locally owned company, chose local music as one of its key instruments to keep its advocacy of inspiring and affecting

everyday moments alive for Filipinos here and abroad. “Tunog Natin is a great way of showcasing the creativity of Filipinos, and continuing the legacy of OPM for younger generations. Likewise, it promotes Filipino culture and provides opportunities for local talent to reach a wider audience,” says Tess Tatco, executive producer of “Tunog Natin: Songs From Home” and marketing head of Avida Land. Tatco, together with Anne Baylon-Jara, assistant producer of “Tunog Natin” and Avida marketing manager, and Patricia Abacan, Avida associate marketing manager, received the awards. Tatco afﬁrms that the awards inspire Avida Land to continue promoting OPM. “We are deeply honored and inspired by the recognition bestowed on our Tunog Natin advocacy. These awards serve as a validation of our efforts to promote OPM to the older and younger generation, further inspiring us to continue our advocacy of helping uplift Filipino culture,

talent, and the legacy of OPM in the country and abroad.” Public Relations expert Chris Cahilig of Insight 360 said he is thankful to have played a signiﬁcant role in the Tunog Natin campaign, as promoting OPM has always been one of his many advocacies. “I am beyond blessed to have been chosen to conceptualize and implement this brilliant campaign, all for the Filipino music industry. This is an advocacy I had from the very beginning. Our talented artists and our beautiful, unique music deserve to be heard by all Filipinos.” Presented every year by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the Anvil signiﬁes excellence in public relations, and is awarded to outstanding public relations programs, tools, and practitioners after careful screening by chosen PR professionals and judging by a respected and distinguished multi-sectoral jury. As for future campaigns related to OPM, Tatco gives this assurance, “We will always be supportive of efforts to promote OPM. ‘Our Tunog Natin’ program started in 2011. We continued with the second edition in 2015, and we are open to having more collaborations or projects in the future.”

Jim Paredes