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‘Bakwit‘: From flight to plight
VOL. XXXIII • NO. 336 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
BAREFOOT BUT BRAVE. Highly strung evacuees trudge along the heavily silted muddy road towards Tanauan
City (above) after unloading their valuables, while edgy residents at the foot of Taal (inset left) unload their belongings from an
outrigger canoe while the volcano spews ash as seen from Tanauan on Monday. Elsewhere, in Laurel town, residents clean their
mud-covered roofs of their homes (inset right)—with authorities warning Wednesday there might be hazardous eruption in the
next few days.
EAGER EVACUEES. Distressed residents (from left) of Barangay Sampaloc, Talisay Batangas are worried sick and shooting bullets in a gym, as are those evacuated at the PUP campus in Santo Tomas, Batangas from
Barangay Banadera, while evacuees from other towns affected by the eruption rest at an evacuation center in Tanauan town, also in Batangas. AFP
SPEWING STEAM. Taal
volcano spews steam as an ash-
covered village and vegetation
are seen in Laurel town, Batangas
on Wednesday. Authorities are
struggling to keep thousands
of evacuees from returning
home in areas threatened by a
feared massive eruption of Taal.
Inset, PHIVOLCS Undersecretary
Renato Solidum points at the
monitor as he gives updates on
Taal eruption, during a news
conference at PHIVOLCS office
in Quezon City. Manny Palmero
with AFP
Horse sense: Rescuing a livelihood
THE horses were still caked in grey
ash as they stepped off the boat, lucky
beneficiaries of a risky rescue mission
to ground zero of the Philippines’ Taal
volcano eruption.
Their owners are among many small
operators who rely on the modest mon-
ey generated by the beasts ferrying tour-
ists up the volcano, a popular attraction
ringed by a sweeping lake.
But when Taal exploded to life on
Sunday afternoon the community, who
own hundreds of steeds on volcano is-
land, had to flee without their prized
Kuwait deployment ban in effect
NEWS A2
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livestock and most of their possessions.
“Our lives are in our horses, they’re
how we make our living,” owner Alfre-
do Daet, 62, told AFP on Tuesday after
bringing three of his four animals to the
mainland.
“We love our horses... that’s why we
wanted to save them,” he added.
The creatures can generate $7 each
per trip up to the stunning panoramic
views above the volcano’s main crater,
a significant sum in a nation where mil-
lions survive on less than $2 a day.
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Joey Razon with AFP
Deadly calm: Taal in mind, Duterte wants
Main crater lake calamity-proof evac centers
drained of water ByandMJMacon
Blancaflor
Ramos-Araneta
By Rio N. Araja
A DESTRUCTIVE and deadly erup-
tion could still be in the works even
though Taal Volcano appeared calm on
Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology said.
“The explosive eruption scenario,
and this is the scenario we have been
preparing for together with the Batan-
gas Provincial Risk Reduction and
Management Office, is still possible
simply because… we still have a lot of
earthquakes and ground deformation
within the area,” PHIVOLCS director
Renato Solidum said in an interview
on ANC Headstart.
The agency also said the volcano’s
continued activity has drained its
main crater lake of water, as seen in
new satellite images and drone video
footage.p
Mariton Bornas, chief of PHIVOL-
CS’ Monitoring and Eruption Predic-
tion Division, said the dried lake was
related to the movement of magma up
the volcano, but said it was not a sign
Next page
No money for teachers’pay hike —Rody
By MJ Blancaflor
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has con-
ceded he will not be able to fulfill his
promise to increase the wages of public
school teachers, saying the government
does not have enough funds.
Residents seek access to no-go zones
despite threat of ‘big bang’ eruption
By MJ Blancaflor
A
UTHORITIES were struggling Wednesday to keep
thousands of evacuees from returning to homes in
areas threatened by a feared massive eruption of
Taal Volcano.
Some 40,000 people have taken ref-
uge in shelters since the volcano let
loose a towering burst of ash and jets
of lava on Sunday.
Police subsequently set up no-go
zones and mandatory evacuations in
at-risk towns around Taal, which is
about 65 kilometers south of Manila.
But days later locals are losing pa-
tience and demanding access, even
as the nation’s seismological agency
warns the volcano could unleash a
more powerful eruption at any time.
Cavite became the second province
after Batangas to declare a state of ca-
lamity following the eruption as ash
continued to blanket homes and farms,
including its famed coffee and pine-
apple plantations.
In a radio interview, Cavite Gov.
Jonvic Remulla said the provincial
board passed Resolution No. 1389-
Next page
President said the government should
give priority to the establishment of the
shelters in calamity-prone areas such as
WITH evacuees of the Taal Volcano Western Visayas.
eruption in mind, President Rodrigo “You build a very strong evacuation
Duterte has ordered the construction of center. Not as strong as the Titanic and
additional evacuation centers that can then saying that even God cannot sink
withstand calamities as strong as Su- this ship because God will really de-
per Typhoon “Yolanda” before his term stroy your evacuation center,” Duterte
ends in 2022. said.
At the Taal situation briefing in “Just have something really strong
Batangas City on Tuesday night, the Next page
PRESIDENTIAL PRESENCE. President Rodrigo Duterte leads Tuesday in
distributing family food packs to victims of the Taal Volcano eruption during his visit at
the Batangas City Sports Coliseum. Presidential Photo
‘ICC serves
“The teachers are shouting. That cannot
be. I don’t have that big money,” Presi-
as a forum
dent Duterte said Tuesday during a meet-
ing with Cabinet officials in Batangas.
to discredit
On June 16 last year Education Sec-
retary Leonor Briones said it was not
Duterte’
true she was against increasing the sal- NEWS A2
ary of public school teachers. Next page
A2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
ICC a forum to smear Du30—Palace
By MJ Blancaflor
M
ALACAÑANG on Wednesday insisted that
President Rodrigo Duterte could not face trial at
the International Criminal Court following the
withdrawal of one of the communications that linked him to
crimes against humanity.
“It should realize by now that it is be-
ing used by disgruntled and discredited
persons to advance their goal of besmirch-
ing the reputation of President Duterte and
achieving their impossible dream of bring-
ing down the Duterte presidency, Presiden-
tial Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
“Moreover, it should recognize the unal-
terable legal fact that it has no jurisdiction
over the President, and for that matter, the
Philippines.”
“Lawyer Jude Sabio was not pressured
by Malacañang nor paid by anyone in the
administration to withdraw the communi-
cation he filed in 2017 against Duterte be-
Escape from Iraq:
OFWs arrive home
SOME 13 Filipino repatriates from
Baghdad and Erbil arrived in Manila on
Wednesday afternoon, days after tensions
rose in the region and the Philippine gov-
ernment ordered a mandatory evacuation
in Iraq.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said
the first group from Baghdad, which com-
prises seven adults and two minors, was
supposed to arrive yesterday but was ini-
tially held by Iraqi immigration officials
at the Baghdad International Airport for
“baseless allegations of visa fraud.”
The second group, on the other hand, is
composed of four adults from Erbil, a city
located north of Baghdad.
Both groups will be transiting Doha,
Qatar before arriving in Manila.
Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatria-
tion of Filipinos in Iraq was raised on
Jan. 8 due to growing security threats in
the Middle East.
At present, the DFA-Office of the Un-
dersecretary for Migrant Workers
Affairs is coordinating the repatriation
of distressed Filipinos abroad.
“The repatriates arriving today com-
prise the first batch of Filipinos coming
home after the government ordered man-
datory repatriation,” DFA
Undersecretary for Migrant Work-
ers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.
She said more Filipinos from affected
areas were expected to come home be-
fore long.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
earlier announced that the DFA is deploy-
ing rapid response teams to the Middle
East, especially to Iraq and Iran, to help
facilitate the repatriation of Filipinos in
the region.
Asked about the number of Filipinos
scheduled for repatriation in the com-
ing weeks, DFA Assistant Secretary
Eduardo Menez said the Embassy is still
on the process of “seeking requests for
repatriation.” PNA
Horse...
From A1
Scores of other farm animals on the island,
like cows and goats, were killed in the erup-
tion.
In returning to the island, now blanketed in
a deep layer of fine volcanic ash, the men de-
fied a mandatory evacuation order and risked
their lives.
Still safe to eat
Meanwhile, the Department of Health said
fruits and vegetables covered with ash from
Taal Volcano were still safe to eat as long as
these were washed properly, adding unlike
animals, these could not ingest toxins from
the volcano.
Taal Volcano’s unrest has left P577.4 mil-
lion in initial damage to farming, including
some 2,700 hectares of farmland and almost
2,000 animals, said the Department of Agri-
culture.
Almost all the crops of Lemery, Batangas
overlooking Taal are set to go to waste due to
ash, Mayor Larry Alilio said.
There are also no available vehicles to
evacuate the livestock of local hog and poul-
try raisers, he said.
In neighboring Laurel town, the ash killed
tilapia in fishponds, a top source of livelihood
of the town, said Mayor Joan Amo.
At the same time, tourism businesses in ar-
eas affected by Taal Volcano’s activity were
advised to temporarily suspend operations as
a hazardous eruption is still being expected
within hours to days, according to the Depart-
ment of Tourism on Wednesday.
“The health, safety, and welfare of our
workers and tourists remain a top priority at
this time as authorities have not downgraded
the advisory on an imminent eruption,” it said
in a statement.
The DOT asked stakeholders to cooper-
ate to avoid “serious consequences that may
result from irresponsible behavior during this
natural disaster.”
Catastrophic eruption
Authorities have warned a stronger, poten-
tially catastrophic eruption could come at any
time, yet that has not stopped multiple groups
of desperate locals from making the trip. AFP
fore the ICC,” a source said.
According to lawyer Larry Gadon, Sabio
decided to withdraw the complaint against
Duterte after he realized it was all “part of
the political propaganda” of the opposition
to besmirch the reputation of the President.
“Malacañang has nothing to do with this.
President Duterte does not even mind this
case. He has even withdrawn the country
from the ICC last year,” Gadon said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday
underscored the need for heavier penalties
against lying witnesses like lawyer Jude
Sabio, Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula,
Rodney “Ninja Cop” Baloyo, Edgar Mato-
Deployment ban on Kuwait takes effect, DOLE says
By Rey E. Requejo
LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III on
Wednesday said the ban on Filipino work-
ers to Kuwait was effective immediately as
per the instructions of President Rodrigo
Duterte.
“Pursuant to that directive of the presi-
dent, the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration issued a resolution suspend-
ing the deployment of our OFWs to Kuwait,
which will cover all,” Bello said.
He made the statement even as Justice
Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednes-
day he favors a total ban on the deployment
of Filipino domestic helpers to Kuwait fol-
lowing the death of Jeanalyn Villavende.
“But it’s really up to the DOLE [Depart-
ment of Labor and Employment]. They’re
discussing it now,” Guevarra said in a text
message.
The Philippine government has ordered
‘Bakwit’:...
From A1
2020 on Wednesday to allow the local govern-
ment to tap its calamity funds.
One of the “bakwits” or evacuees, Melvin
Casilao, said he and his neighbors in the town
of Talisay need to feed their livestock, remove
the thick ash from their roofs and pull their
boats from the water.
Their community is on the shore of a vast
lake that rings Taal, a popular tourist attraction
despite being one of the nation’s most active
volcanoes.
“We want to visit our houses and clean the
roofs. They are smothered in thick ash and they
could collapse,” Casilao said.
“We left everything apart from what we’re
wearing,” said Robert Cadiz, a 47-year-old
fisherman among some 30,000 who took ref-
uge in shelters. “We were terrified.”
Gerald Aseoche, 30, who left with his four
young children and a few possessions, has
missed work to stay with them as the volcano
belches out lava, and earthquakes tied to the
eruption rattle the region.
“I am hoping this won’t go on too long be-
cause I will lose my job if I can’t report to work
immediately,” Aseoche, a house painter, told
AFP at an evacuation center.
Soldiers have been deployed at checkpoints
in some areas, including Talisay, with police
officer Sarah Jane Saballa saying: “It’s for the
safety of the residents.”
People around Taal had to leave at a mo-
ment’s notice, so many fled with just the
clothes on their back.
More than 4,000 schools across much of Lu-
zon were closed, halting education for 5.2-mil-
lion children, the Department of Education said.
And almost 40,000 people from the Taal area
were living in 198 evacuation centers with no
timetable for going home—and many never will.
“Farmers already lost everything to the
ash. They cannot return to the volcano island,
so they have to be relocated,” party-list Rep.
Lawrence Fortun said.
As the volcano has calmed slightly in the
past 24 hours and is spewing less ash, the
temptation to return has grown.
Seismologists have noted a string of earth-
quakes and fissures opening up in roads, in-
dicating magma is still on the move and Taal
remains very dangerous.
Taal...
From A1
that can withstand the...What’s the strongest
then? Yolanda, yes,” he added.
The President said the evacuation centers
should accommodate large numbers of evacu-
ees where comfort rooms for men and women
are segregated.
“It’s going to be like something 10 rooms
for the women and 10 rooms for the children
but separate and far from each other—at the
other end,” Duterte added.
He also said the evacuation centers that will
be built in Mindanao should have separate
kitchens for Muslims and Christians.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Deputy
Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte echoed the
President’s call for the construction of perma-
nent evacuation centers.
Gatchalian said it would avoid taking a toll
of students and teachers whose schools were
being used as evacuation centers, and Villa-
News
bato, Arturo Lascañas, Cezar Mancao II
and Mary “Rosebud” Ong.
“They are all reasons for the need for
a stronger law that would impose heavier
penalties on lying witnesses―including
public officials and employees who may be
behind them,” he said.
Panelo’s statement came a day after
Sabio withdrew his communications to
the ICC―a move which has no impact
on the ongoing preliminary examination
of the court to determine if it has juris-
diction over the matter, its Office of the
Prosecutor said.
The prosecutor’s office also said they
were obliged to register whatever informa-
tion they received.
In response, Panelo said the ICC must
“wake up from its stupor if not ignorance.”
Duterte had repeatedly said that the
ICC had no jurisdiction over him, argu-
ing that the Rome Statute―the treaty
that established the ICC―was not en-
forceable in the country.
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda started
a total ban on the deployment of Filipino
workers to Kuwait following reports that
Villavende was sexually abused and tor-
tured before she was killed.
The death of Villavende had initially
prompted the government to implement a
partial deployment ban on Filipino workers
to Kuwait, particularly the first-time house-
hold service workers.
Guevarra said the Philippine government
had already entered into an agreement with
the Kuwaiti government after the deaths of
several Filipinos in the Gulf state, including
Joanna Demafelis, who was found dead in a
freezer in 2018.
The agreement was intended to provide
protection to Filipino workers in Kuwait. It
also provides that the Filipinos there should
have a day off and at least seven hours of
sleep daily, and their passports free from
confiscation by their employers.
Guevarra said the Philippine government will
However, some areas have made conces-
sions, allowing people in for short periods,
despite the risks.
“These are residents appealing to us to allow
them to feed their pets,” said Gerry Malipon,
San Nicolas town police chief.
“But after they’ve fed them, they will have
to leave as soon as possible.”
The number of families affected by the vol-
canic activity continued to climb.
In its 6 a.m. Wednesday update, the Na-
tional Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage-
ment Council reported that the calamity has
so far affected 12,486 families or about 53,000
people.
This was significantly higher than the
10,455 families in its earlier update.
The report was signed and released by
NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad.
More than 43,000 people are taking tempo-
rary shelter in 217 evacuation centers, it said.
The NDRRMC added that the affected
families came from 24 towns and three cities
in Batangas, four towns and one city in Cavite,
and one town in Laguna.
The Department of Social Welfare and De-
velopment and Department of Health have so
far provided P4.97 million in assistance to the
affected families.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared that no
one should live on Taal Volcano island, which
is part of the 14-kilometer danger zone iden-
tified by authorities after the eruption Sunday
afternoon.
The President approved the recommendation
of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato
dela Peña during the situation briefing on Tues-
day night attended by Cabinet members and
Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ex-
pressed concern that many people might die if
the government did not evacuate everyone on
the island.
“I strongly believe and recommend that we
strictly implement the suggestion or recom-
mendation that Taal island will be declared a
no man’s land. Don’t let the people go back. In
case there is a more violent explosion, the peo-
ple there will perish on that island,” Lorenzana
said during the briefing.
He later told Palace reporters that Interior
Secretary Eduardo Año would carry out the
President’s orders in cooperation with local of-
ficials of Batangas.
Duterte assured Mandanas that the national
fuerte said they must be built in places highly
vulnerable to natural calamities.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, however, lamented
the reported overpricing and ghost deliveries
involving calamity funds despite President
Duterte personally supervising the govern-
ment’s anti-corruption campaign.
During the briefing, Defense Secretary Del-
fin Lorenzana told the President that the gov-
ernment has a standard model for evacuation
centers approved by the Cabinet last year.
The President reminded Cabinet members
not to initiate projects that cannot be completed
before his term ends.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III,
meanwhile, said they have issued a list of es-
sential medicines under automatic price freeze
in all areas affected by Taal’s eruption.
He said the DOH received reports of indi-
viduals and establishments that hoard and sell
essential commodities at jacked up prices.
Duque said the mandate of the Department
of Health to protect the Filipino people against
life-threatening situations, including those that
a preliminary examination of Sabio’s alle-
gations in February 2018.
Weeks later, Duterte announced the
Philippines was withdrawing from the
ICC, which took effect in March 2019.
Sabio claimed he withdrew his commu-
nication because he did not want to be part
of the “political propaganda” waged by the
members of the opposition such as Senator
Leila de Lima and former Senator Antonio
Trillanes IV.
“Put simply, the complaint against Presi-
dent Duterte, orchestrated by Trillanes, is
part of the vilification campaign relentless-
ly pursued by the incorrigible detractors as
well as the political opposition totally repu-
diated by the electorate, Panelo said.
He surmised that Trillanes “must be
squirming in his disgraced retirement by
Sabio’s turnabout.”
“Lies can only be sustained for some-
time. When conscience haunts and tor-
ments the peddler, it melts by the heat of
truth, Panelo said. With Rey E. Requejo
and Macon Ramos-Araneta
see how Kuwait acts on Villavende’s killing.
“If they don’t comply with their under-
takings or responsibilities under the gov-
ernment-to-government agreement, tala-
gang in my opinion, ‘di naman Kuwait lang
ang pwede mo puntahan,” Guevarra said in
a news forum in Manila.
“Marami pa namang ibang lugar na pwede
ka magtrabaho. Why go to a country where
you are disrespected, where you are abused?”
Nonetheless, Guevarra acknowledged
that incident like the case of Villavende
were also happening elsewhere.
An autopsy report by the National Bu-
reau of Investigation showed that Villav-
ende died of “multiple, severe, traumatic
injuries.” It also shows signs she had been
sexually abused.
Guevarra said he expected to receive the
laboratory results that may conclusively say
if Villavende had been raped.
With Vito Barcelo
government would assist in rebuilding houses
destroyed by the eruption.
During the briefing, the President also said
he was satisfied with the government response
on Taal’s eruption, noting their timely inter-
vention ensured public safety and prevented
loss of lives.
The Office of Civil Defense in Calabarzon
reported that the first casualty due to Taal erup-
tion was 65-year-old woman who died of a
heart attack while evacuating from Talisay on
Monday.
After the briefing, Duterte went to the
Batangas Provincial Sports Complex, which
houses hundreds of displaced families, and
handed over P11 million in livelihood assis-
tance to the farmers and fishermen affected by
Taal’s eruption.
The financial assistance extended by the
President came from the Department of Ag-
riculture’s budget, according to a press state-
ment from the Palace.
The President also led the ceremonial distribu-
tion of family food packs to five families there.
Duterte assured them that the government has
the resources to extend help to those in need.
“I am here to help you and all those affected
by eruption. And I will do everything so Batan-
gas, Cavite, Laguna, and other provinces will
go back to normal,” he said in a speech.
Communities affected by crisis like a ty-
phoon or earthquake must immediately get
back to normalcy, he said.
During his visit, he also jested that he want-
ed to hug all the beautiful leadies in the evacu-
ation center.
“I want to hug all of you but you are so
many. Maybe just the pretty girls there,”
Duterte said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Duterte also said that people in Taal should
make an offering to the deities of volcano to
prevent another eruption.
“Maybe you have failed to make some of-
ferings there. You should go there and say a
little prayer and offer something. Let’s go by
the primitive way of doing it just like what our
forefathers would do it.
You make some offerings. It was true then
but it might be true now,” he said.
Taal Volcano started spewing ash on Sun-
day, which prompted the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology to raise Alert
Level 4 over Taal Volcano, which means a
“hazardous eruption is possible within days.”
With AFP
prevent them from seeking the right and ad-
equate products and services when they need
it the most.
“It is abhorrent that there are people who
take advantage of public emergencies and
profit at the expense of our suffering of
countrymen,” said Duque.
He said the price freeze covers maintenance
medicines and essential drugs including anal-
gesics, anti-allergics, anticonvulsants, antisep-
tics, antidotes, and antibiotics, among others.
The DOH and the Department of Trade
and Industry have also recommended to the
Office of the President the imposition of
price ceilings on N95 and disposable face
masks, nebulizers and nebulization kits, oxy-
gen cannulas, and safety goggles.
On Tuesday, the President and his aide Sena-
tor Christopher Go visited an evacuation center
in Batangas City where 1,214 families affected
by the volcano’s eruption were taking refuge.
Together with other key officials, the Presi-
dent led the discussion on how to address and
mitigate issues that the country is currently
Deadly...
From A1
The lake’s waters had receded and dried
up portions of Pagsipit River, the lake’s only
drainage outlet, owing to the continious vol-
canic earthquakes, Bornas said at a press
briefing on Wednesday. This indicated a rise
or “uplifting” of the Taal region.
“It’s possible that the cracks seen in Le-
mery [in Batangas province] go straight to
Talisay [the town near the lake]. There could
be underwater fissures on the floor of the lake
and water has seeped into them,” she added.
In general, this is all related to the ground
deformation caused by magma pushing up
the volcano, Bornas said.
Meanwhile, the local governments of
Lemery, Agoncillo, and Laurel in Batangas
province shut off their towns on Wednesday
amid continued ashfall from Taal’s Sunday
eruption.
Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes told ABS-
CBN he ordered a lock down at 1 p.m., while
Laurel Mayor Joan Amo closed the area at 5 p.m.
Lemery Mayor Eulalio Alilio said the
town was placed under lockdown at 6 p.m.
except Barangays Gulod, Arumahan, Talaga,
Payapa Ilaya, Mayasang, Niugan, and some
portions of Brgy. Payapa Ibaba.
Paolo Reniva, PHIVOLCS resident vol-
canologist and Taal Observatory officer in
charge, also warned of threats of pyroclastic
density currents that could kill people and de-
stroy property along shoreline communities
near the volcano island.
In an interview over GMA-7’s Unang
Balita, Reniva also told residents of Laurel
and Agoncillo municipalities that a volcanic
tsunami could ensue.
“A strong eruption could cause some parts
of the volcano to collapse and displace the
water in it, then the water would plunge into
the shorelines,” he said.
Just like the 1965 Taal Volcano eruption, a
base surge and volcanic tsunami would affect
Laurel and Agoncillo, he added.
PHIVOLCS said a hazardous volcanic
eruption is when Taal Volcano would exhibit
horizontally moving clouds over 60 kilome-
ters per hour.
According to Solidum, the occurrence of
volcanic earthquakes is the primary param-
eter in raising the alert level for active volca-
noes, such as Taal.
A high level of sulfur dioxide cannot be
a good gauge if an explosive eruption could
happen soon, he added.
The quakes and ground fissures in several
barangays in Batangas indicated the continu-
ous magmatic intrusion beneath the volcano,
he said,
While Taal volcano is having a “general-
ly weaker eruption” at the main crater, the
cracks within its areas would only mean
the volcano is very much active underneath
with magma rising, he said.
With Francisco Tuyay
No money...
From A1
“I have been working with the economic
team in the Cabinet to find ways and means
to realize a salary increase for DepEd’s close
to 830,000 teachers,” Briones said.
“Last year, when this was taken up in the
Cabinet, the decision was to allow the fourth
and last tranche of the SSL this year, and for
DBM to come up with a study on how to ef-
fect the next salary increase. The next salary
increase is presently under discussion,” Brio-
nes added
Duterte had promised to double the teach-
ers’ wages when he ran for president in 2016.
While this has not yet been fulfilled, he re-
cently signed the fifth tranche of the Salary
Standardization Law that will provide a stag-
gered wage increase for government work-
ers, including school teachers.
Under the newly-signed law, an entry-
level teacher earning P20,754 under salary
grade 11 will now take home a monthly pay
of P22,316 or an increase of P1,562.
In the succeeding years until 2023, the
Teacher I salary will increase to P23,877,
P25,439 and P27,000.
The country’s financial managers had ear-
lier expressed opposition to the proposal to
double the salary of teachers.
“If there’s money, why not? My mother
was a public school teacher. My mother was
a retired school supervisor. If only there’s
enough money,” Duterte said.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition had pre-
viously said that while the group’s members
were “thankful” for the increase in the sala-
ries of government workers, they were also
dismayed that the amount was “far” from
what they expected, which is a P10,000
across-the-board hike for teachers and other
personnel of the Education department.
During the briefing, the President also de-
fended his decision to increase the salary of
the military and the police, saying they were
fewer than teachers and they played a more
critical role in helping the country.
facing, especially with the possibility of Taal
Volcano erupting again soon.
The senator also participated in the relief op-
erations and the situational briefing.
Go recently filed a bill providing for man-
datory construction of permanent evacuation
centers in all cities, provinces and municipali-
ties nationwide.
“The Philippines is highly vulnerable to
natural hazards, attributed primarily to the
country’s location. The country is positioned
along the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire,’ an
area where earthquakes and volcanic activities
are more frequent than in any other part of the
world,” Go said in his bill.
The Department of Education reported that
some 7 million students were affected by Taal
Volcano’s eruption. In a statement, the DepEd
said 7,094,165 students in 7,542 schools be-
longing to 57 divisions under four regions
were affected since classes were suspended in
all levels on Monday. With Rey E. Requejo,
Macon Ramos-Araneta, Joel Zurbano, and
Roy Tomandao

RESCUED CATTLE. A cow and its owner
walk along a volcanic ash-covered road as they
are brought to a safer place by their owners in FOOD LINE. Evacuees from Barangay Sampaloc, in Talisay, Batanngas in a gym in
Agoncillo town, Batangas on Jan. 15. AFP
MUD EVERYWHERE. This a bird’s eye view of roofs of houses covered with mud, as
Taal Volcano erupts in Laurel town, Batangas on Jan. 15. AFP
Use logbook
in transactions,
agencies told
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has
floated the possibility of requiring all
state departments and offices to use
a logbook to record their respective
transactions in a bid to fast-track the
release of government funds, especially
after Taal Volcano erupted.
He said this after Budget Secretary
Wendel Avisado on Tuesday told the
local officials of Batangas present
during the situation briefing to use
their respective calamity funds first
before seeking help from the national
government.
“Can you abbreviate the protocols?
Make it easy. For example, if the
request is there, you write it on a
logbook. Siguro after two or one day,
you can release the fund. If it’s there
and if it’s for the spending, when there
is really need to inquire with their—
what are you going to do with the
money and how are you spending it,”
President Duterte said.
The President, who called himself a
“very impatient man,” also lamented
over the slow government transactions
which delay public services, even in
times of calamity.
“I will require every department, all of
you Cabinet members, ask the bureaus to
have a logbook,” Duterte said.
“Tell them, you write all the things
that you need for a particular transaction
or paper or document in your office.
List it in the logbook when it was
submitted. Then, in another logbook or
across it, indicate when it was released
so I will audit it,” he added.
Avisado explained that local
government units need to show first
that their calamity funds have dried up
before seeking help from the national
government.
“This is our standard in the
DBM [Department of Budget and
Management] that before the national
government gives you help, you need
to show that you have spent your funds
first,” Avisado said. MJ Blancaflor
PUP Sto. Tomas, Batangas line up during the distribution of food.
EXODUS. Mask-clad residents ride in a
jeepney as they evacuate their homes in
Laurel town, Batangas on Jan.15. AFP
Drugstores vow not to raise prices of face masks
By Othel V. Campos
and Macon Ramos-Araneta
DRUG and medical stores gave their
commitment to the Trade department to
keep the prices of N95, surgical, and other
similar masks at pre-eruption level as the
country faces the effects of the phreatic
eruption of Taal Volcano.
Upon receipt of public reports about
the rampant selling of overpriced medical
masks in the market, the Department
immediately mobilized monitoring teams
in the affected areas of Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Quezon, and Metro Manila
to monitor the prices and supply of
these products, including prices of basic
necessities and prime commodities.
Monitoring reports revealed that N95
masks are sold at P120 up to P150 per
piece while surgical masks that were
priced at P1 per piece were sold at P4 per
piece after the Taal eruption.
Supplies were mostly sold out due to
an increase in public demand as ashfall
enveloped nearby cities and provinces
Meralco restores power in Tagaytay affected by Taal eruption
By Alena Mae S. Flores
POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. was
able to restore some circuits in Tagaytay
City affected by the Taal eruption thus
reducing the number of affected customers
by outages to 122,761 from around
150,000.
The Energy department said those
affected by the power outages will
continue to go down “as the linemen and
the other field personnel continue to clean
and restore the electricity services.”
Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga
said areas still affected by the eruption as
of 10 a.m. Wednesday includes portions
of Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba, Biñan in
Laguna, portions of Talisay in Batangas,
portions of Silang, Amadeo, Alfonso,
Mendez-Nuñez, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo,
Dasmariñas, Indang, Maragondon, Naic,
Trece Martirez in Cavite and portions of
Tagaytay City.
Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc.
and Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc.,
are also working to restore the electricity
News
CHECKPOINT. Policemen
inspect identification at a
checkpoint to deter volcano-
affected residents from returning
to their homes in Agoncillo town,
Batangas on Jan. 15. AFP
surrounding Taal.
“While we recognize that the N95,
surgical, and other similar masks as
medical supplies are under the jurisdiction
of the Health department, the Trade
department readily dispersed its teams
to monitor the prices and supply of these
masks to assist the Health department and
the consumers.
We understand that its utmost priority
is ensuring the lives and health safety of
those who are affected by the phreatic
eruption. Market surveillance and
monitoring is the best form of immediate
assistance that the Trade department can
provide. As the President constantly
underscores, A whole-of-government
approach is highly necessary and called
for especially during times of calamities
and disasters,” said Trade Secretary
Ramon M. Lopez.
The Trade department further clarified
that these masks are neither classified as
basic nor prime good under the Price Act.
Therefore, these have no Suggested Retail
Prices and were never part of the list of
products being monitored by the Health
services to areas surrounding the Taal
Lake.
Affected municipalities in the franchise
area of BATELEC 1 includes Agoncillo,
San Nicolas, parts of Calaca and Lemery,
Sta. Teresita, and parts of San Luis with
23,916 households for reconnection.
Affected municipalities of BATELEC II
includes Tanauan City, Talisay, and Laurel
with 19,989 household connections for
restoratio.
“The Department of Energy [DOE] is
closely coordinating with the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Operations Center [NDRRM], as well
as all the members of the energy family
for subsequent updates and information
pertinent to the status of energy facilities
and systems, or any other emerging
problem that may affect energy supply in
concerned areas,” the agency said.
It said state-run National Power Corp.
has activated its contingency forces,
which handles the close monitoring of
power plants’ status and operations, in
partnership with the DOE’s Electric
Communism,
drugs hinder
PH economy,
says Duterte
By MJ Biancaflor
T
HE Philippine economy’s growth is losing steam
because of the perennial problems of illegal drugs
and communism in the country, President Rodrigo
Duterte said on Tuesday.
In a speech delivered in Batangas City,
the President admitted that he was having
difficulty in improving the country’s
economy because he was spending
most of his time addressing the rampant
narcotics trade and the decades-long
insurgency in a situation briefing attended
by Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas
in the wake of Taal Volcano eruption.
President Duterte said the only way to
further boost the economy is to neutralize
all the big-time drug offenders, as well as
the members of the communist’s armed
wing, the New People’s Army.
“I cannot improve the standing of our
economy if marami akong kalaban, itong
mga droga at itong NPA (if we have so
many enemies, the drug personalities
and NPA insurgents),” he said during a
situation briefing on the effects of the Taal
Volcano eruption.
Since Duterte assumed office in July
2016 until Nov. 30, 2019, a total of
151,601 legitimate anti-drug operations
led to the arrest of 220,728 drug offenders
FISSURE. Motorists maneuver a huge fissure caused by Taal Volcano eruption, along a
highway in Lemery town, Batangas on Jan.15. AFP
department or any of the implementing
agencies of the said law.
However, the Price Act provides
that the National Price Coordinating
Council in which the Trade and Health
departments are part of, can recommend
to the President the inclusion of these
masks in the list of basic or prime goods.
When approved, the NPCC through
the recommendation of the Health
Department and in consultation with
relevant stakeholders can set an SRP, if
found necessary.
Since stocks of the medical masks are
depleted, the Trade department spoke
with local suppliers and major drug store
chains such as Mercury Drug, Watsons,
and Southstar Drug, to ensure that they
immediately restock and ensure constant
availability of supply in their branches,
especially those located in the affected
areas.
At the interim, current inventory in their
branches and warehouses in non-affected
areas will be distributed to their stores in
CALABARZON and Metro Manila while
waiting for the arrival of new stocks.
Power Industry Management Bureau and
the Task Force on Energy Resiliency.
As of Jan. 15, the department said several
plants are running below capacity or derated
as they were affected by ash fall.
These are Team Energy Corp.’s
Pagbilao coal-fired power plant unit 1 and
2, Pagbilao Energy Corp.’s Pagbilao coal-
fired power plant unit 3, Quezon Power
Philippines Ltd. coal-fired power plant,
San Buenaventura Power Ltd. coal-fired
power plant, KEPCO Ilijan Corp. Ilijan
Natural gas-fired power plant Block 1 and
Block 2.
Meanwhile, grid operator National
Grid Corporation of the Philippines is
implementing contingency measures,
as it continues monitoring the effects
of volcanic activity of Taal Volcano on
transmission facilities.
The following transmission lines are
still out as of Wednesday, namely Binan-
Calaca 230kV Line, Calaca-Malamig
230kV Line, Dasmariñas-Ilijan 500kV
Line and Tayabas-Dasmariñas 500kV
Line.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
A3
and the deaths of 5,552 drug suspects.
In his speech, Duterte reiterated that
Batangas remains to be a “red spot”
because it still serves as a “sanctuary for a
drug personality.”
Lashing out anew at drug personalities,
Duterte said it would be better to “kill”
them since they are already considered as
“useless idiots.”
“Drugs will destroy my country. I will
not allow it, at least not during my term.
Drugs will kill the youth of the land,” he
said.
“A good number of them would be,
alam mo ‘pag nabuang sa droga, nabuang
na talaga iyan (you know, they will get
insane because of drugs). Wala na (They
will be useless),” the President added.
Meanwhile, NPA insurgents continued
to launch attacks against government
troops, even after the President in
November last year expressed openness
to the possible resumption of moribund
talks with communists’ political wing, the
National Democratic Front.
2 months needed
to process prison
returnees—DOJ
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Bureau of Corrections has asked
for two months more to complete
the processing of the papers of the
remaining 410 former prisoners who
were prematurely released on account
of the Good Conduct Time Allowance
Law but opted to surrender upon orders
of President Rodrigo Duterte last year,
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
said on Wednesday.
Guevarra said that he had already
approved the request of BuCor
Director General Gerald Bantag to
give them until March to process the
remaining 410 returnees due to limited
resources.
“They said they don’t want to make
any mistake again, and DG Bantag
is very, very careful,” Guevarra told
reporters during the Kapihan sa Manila
Bay news forum.
“So I said okay. We’ll give you that
grace period that you are requesting
on one condition. And the condition
is during the interim, while these
PDLs [persons deprived of liberty] are
waiting for you to process their papers,
make sure that they are properly fed,
they are properly accommodated, and
they are safe,” Guevarra said.
A total of 2,352 CGTA’s released
prisoners returned to BuCor’s custody
last year to heed President Duterte’s
ultimatum for freed heinous crime
convicts to surrender and serve the
remainder of their sentences. The
PDLs were prematurely released due
to misapplication of the GCTA Law.
However, BuCor original list of
expected surrenderers turned out to
contain errors, and many of those who
surrendered are apparently qualified
for release after all.
In a recent report to Guevarra, the
BuCor chief said 410 returning PDLs
are staying in a covered court at the
New Bilibid Prison and 24 are at the
Correctional Institute for Women.
A4 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor

Nation-builders, heroes EDITORIAL

and patriots
(Part 3)
THIS IS the conclusion of my three-
part listing of the greats and near-greats
for the decade just past.
I begin with Manny Villar, often
called the “brown taipan” having been
listed as the richest Filipino, He is defi-
nitely a nation-builder, hero and patriot
for building low-cost and middle-cost
housing for Filipinos.
They truly love their
country.
Together with his wife, Senator Cyn-
thia Villar, he is an advocate of “Sipag
at Tyaga”—hard work and persever-
ance. They have made a name for them-
selves on mass housing, which is their
core business. They have also expand-
ed to retail, water and infrastructure.
Villar is the compleat businessman
and politician. He became Speaker of
the House of Representatives and the
Senate President. In 2010 he ran for
President; unfortunately, he lost.
I recall that at one time, Manny
sought me out to seek my advice. He
wanted to be Speaker. I told him that
the bottom line was money. Santa Ba-
nana, he must have taken my advice to
heart!
Next on my list is lawyer Felipe
“Henry” Gozon, part of the triumvirate
that bought out Bob Stewart’s Republic
Broadcasting System, which became
GMA 7. The other two in the triumvi-
rate were Menardo Jimenez and Gual-
berto Duavit.
Soon after taking over the GMA 7
radio-television network, Henry Go-
zon transformed it into a giant network,
competing with ABS-CBN. GMA 7 has
been rated as the most viewed network
by Nielsen.
I can believe that. I too prefer to
watch GMA 7 when it comes to news.
It has no biases, no prejudices and no
vested interests to protect. Gozon’s
management is legendary.
There is also the husband-and-wife
team of Lucio and Susan Co. They have
both made Puregold a truly national
brand.
I first met Lucio and Susan when they
started their duty-free shop in Clark.
Soon, Lucio bought the Philippine
Bank of Communications to become
chairman. Both he and Susan have re-
mained my good friends.
Also on my list is lawyer Alfonso
“Boy” Reyno, who partnered with the
Ayalas to build a mixed-use complex in
the Tayuman district, near Tondo.
Boy took over the biggest racing
club—the Manila Jockey Club—and
relocated it to Carmona, Cavite. Boy is
also in online cockfighting which gave
birth to the Manila Cockers’ Club, not
only for business purposes but to pro-
mote cultural gaming. History tells us
that cockfighting started in the Spanish
colonial days.
On the side, I made Boy Reyno chair-
man-president of the 365 Club which I
co-founded with the late Doroy Valen-
cia, the late Makati Mayor Nemesio
Yabut, businessman Pat Dayrit, BIR
Commissioner Joe Viterbo and Yabut’s
assistant, Biding Sibug. The 365 Club,
which now holds its meetings at The
Holiday Inn and Suites, is still alive and
kicking.
And then there is Joey Antonio,
founder of Century Properties, who
succeeded in using prominent names
for his developments—Trump Towers,
for instance, or Paris Hilton. Joey is
blessed with two sons who are now in
business with him.
The last, and certainly not the least,
on my list is George Yang. He revolu-
Turn to A5
A perilous position
U
S SENATORS begin an impeachment trial next
week, but from all indications, the Republican
Party to which President Donald Trump belongs
will use its majority to railroad a speedy acquittal. That is
a pity, given the damage Mr. Trump has done—not only to
America but to its allies.
Mr. Trump was impeached in De-
cember last year by the House of Rep-
resentatives on two counts: abuse of
power and obstruction of Congress.
Now he is scheduled to be tried by the
Senate, with the chief justice of the Su-
preme Court presiding.
Nobody expects the Republican-led
Senate to convict Mr. Trump, even
though it is clear that he abused his
power when he sought to pressure the
Ukraine into announcing an investiga-
tion into his political rival, former US
vice president Joe Biden, by threaten-
ing to withhold military aid that the
US Congress had already allocated—
assistance that was critical, given that
Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula
and annexed it in 2014, on orders from
Mr. Trump’s bosom buddy, President
Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Trump’s subsequent refusal to
permit any of his subordinates to tes-
tify during an investigation, and his
refusal to release any pertinent docu-
ments related to his pressure campaign
on the Ukraine make clear, too, that he
was guilty of obstruction of Congress.
None of this matters, however, to the
Republican senators headed by Sena-
tor Mitch McConnell, who had made it
abundantly clear that he does not intend
to conduct an impartial trial, and also
said he would be coordinating in lock-
step with White House lawyers. With
no interest in admitting an inconvenient
truth, the senator has even refused to
allow any new witnesses to be called
during the Senate process—surely a
mockery of the notion of a trial.
All this would be a purely domestic
American affair, had it not been for the
fact that in between his impeachment
and his trial, Mr. Trump ordered the
assassination of a top Iranian general
in a drone strike in Iraq.
Seeking to justify his decision, Mr.
Trump merely spoke of an “imminent
attack” and later seemed to conjure
up a plot to bomb American embas-
sies—a claim nobody else in the intel-
ligence community or the US Defense
Department has been able to confirm.
Given Mr. Trumps poor track record
in telling the truth, it is apparent that
he approved the attack as a way to
distract from his impeachment—and
to score political points with his base
of ignorant and jingoistic supporters.
But the unfortunate truth is that
Mr. Trump’s rash decision—regard-
less of how despicable his target of
assassination may have been—has
consequences, not only for the Unit-
ed States.
In the aftermath of the drone strike
he authorized, tensions rose world-
wide over the possibility of war.
When Iran shot down a Ukrainian
commercial jet killing all 176 people
on board, that was in response to Mr.
Trump’s belligerent warnings that he
would target Iranian cultural sites if
they tried to avenge their general’s
death.
Closer to home, the Philippines
scrambled to launch a massive effort
to bring home thousands of Filipino
workers in Iraq, whose lives were
now in danger—again thanks to Mr.
Trump’s rash actions.
If, as it seems, Mr. Trump sur-
vives his impeachment trial, we can
only hope that the American public
will finally wake up from its four-
year nightmare and gift the world
with a more rational US president
that will not put us in such a peril-
ous position.

So, where are the Americans?

of their military camps.
But since they no longer have imme-
diate interest at stake in the eruption of
Taal Volcano, their help could hardly be
felt.
And surprisingly, it’s again the Chi-
nese who were quick to the draw to ex-
tend assistance.
THE country is now facing a twin cri- Earlier this week, Chinese Coast
sis. First the threat of a full-blown war Vessel 5204 called port in Manila and
in the Middle East where over a million delivered relief goods like rice, oil, and
of our countrymen are currently work- N95 masks for evacuees affected by Ta-
ing. The second is happening in our al’s volcanic activities.
own backyard—the impending erup-
tion of Taal Volcano.
Whereas before, the Americans have
portrayed themselves as our Big Broth- They no longer have
er, ready to assist us anytime we are in
“dire need,” this time, they are nowhere immediate interest
to be found. at stake.
Of course, in the first case, we can’t
expect them to assist us in evacuating
Filipinos who could be affected should
a full-blown war erupt. After all, it is In both instances, the Americans nev-
they who are involved, following their er lifted a finger in assisting us. If ever
assassination of an Iranian military they had been busy aside from engag-
commander Qassem Suleimani last ing war with other countries, it is de-
Jan. 3, in Iraq where there are 1,640 monizing those who have been helping
Filipinos currently working. us, particularly China.
Much to the surprise of rabid ***
pro-Americans here, it is the Chinese Speaking of Taal Volcano’s unleash-
who have offered to help the Philip- ing its fury, while government officials,
pines bring home overseas Filipino especially from the LGUs, were again
workers in the Middle East to help caught unprepared by the volcanic
them escape a full-blown war that
could break out between the United
States and Iran.
This was confirmed no less by the
eruption (which is really surprising
considering Taal has been on Alert
Level 1 for months now, it was a good
thing there was Senator Francis “Tol”
Strong, substantial protection for OFWs
Chinese Embassy in Manila after Chi- Tolentino, a former mayor of Tagaytay LAST week, the remains of the slain ferior perception of their foreign
nese Ambassador Huang Xilian re- City, who readily called an Inter-Agen-
ceived a request from President Rodri- cy Coordination Meeting on Monday Filipina overseas worker arrived in employers towards them.
go Duterte for assistance in repatriating morning to coordinate all government Manila. Jeanelyn Villavende worked It can be recalled in 2018 that the
OFWs if it becomes necessary. efforts to cope with the disaster. as a domestic helper in Kuwait for Philippines signed a Memorandum of
Quoting Ambassador Huang, Liu Being a former chairman of the only five months before her death last Understanding with Kuwait for the
Yiqun, chief of the Media and Public Metro Manila Development Authority December. She died in a hospital from protection of our OFWs after Presi-
Relations Department of the Chinese during the previous administration and severe injuries after being reportedly Skilled women workers, however, dent Rodrigo Duterte issued a tempo-
Embassy to the Philippines: “As a close President Rodrigo Duterte’s pointman beaten by her employer. Local au- have seldom experienced discrimi- rary ban on deployment of unskilled
friend of the Philippines, China will, as in man-made and natural disaster which
always, provide necessary assistance to hit the country before, Tolentino is no topsy reports show that prior to her workers. This move was triggered by
the Philippines in times of need.” stranger to the job. death, she was also sexually abused. over
the discovery of the body of an over-
On the second issue, that of the Taal To ensure an effective and coordinat- Ms. Villavende is just one of the freez
seas Filipina worker stored in a freez-
Volcano erupting, it’s pretty much dif- ed action in response to Taal’s eruption, many Filipinas working abroad who They are not mere increas
er in the said country, and the increas-
ferent when Pinatubo erupted. Amer- Tolentino made sure of the presence suffered and died from the hands of statistics that we rely on ing cases of such women suffering
icans were almost on top of the relief of all agencies involved in the disaster their employers. Every year, tens of from assaults, inhumane treatment, or
and rehab operation in Central Luzon. mitigation effort—AFP, DSWD, DOH, thousands of Filipina household ser-
for economic growth. such horrible death from the hands of
But of course they had to, as among DPWH, NDRRMC, local government
those greatly affected by Pinatubo’s units of Batangas and Cavite, PHI- vice workers are deployed. For many their employers. The said agreement
fury were their bases in Clark and VOLCS, etc. years, the women are the common ensures that workers are given food,
Subic. They had to ensure then that Nice job, Sen! With the Taal eruption victims of maltreatment, sexual ha- nation, abuse, and harassment. The housing, clothing, health insurance,
operations not only in both camps re- registering zero casualty up to now, we rassment, poor working conditions, ill treatment is common among and a mechanism providing 24-hour
turned to normal. Nearby areas also had can say all the agencies have been de- and unfair labor practices. household service workers or do- assistance. The rights of workers to
to be secured as they cater to the needs livering as expected. Our OFWs live with that fact. mestic help workers due to the in- Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser
ManilaStandard can be accessed at: Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor
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 Opinion THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 A5
mst.daydesk@gmail.com

War at the CSC DOF must not be a recidivist

INFORMATION has it that the gov-
ernment’s principal watchdog in the
implementation of the Anti-Red Tape
Law, the Civil Service Commission, is
in itself mired in monumental red tape.
If I were these
individuals, I would be
very careful.
The commission en banc, which
is supposed to meet every week, has
apparently not met in months delay-
ing action on very important official
matters involving many current and
retired government officials. The rea-
son appears to be that the two associate
commissioners who were appointed by
the current administration are engaged
in an asymmetric war with the chair-
person of the commission who was ap-
pointed by the last administration.
It does not seem to be an open war-
fare, but it is war nonetheless. The
three top officials of the commission
are apparently not on talking terms.
According to DILG Secretary Eduar-
do Año, it would take three years or
more to rehabilitate Baguio City due
to the amount of environmental degra-
dation that the city has suffered in its
over 100 years of existence. The reha-
bilitation of Boracay may have been a
tremendous success, but it would pale
in comparison to the Baguio problem.
The Baguio rehab will almost certainly
take a lot longer. Clearing the two river
systems of the city of coliform alone
will be a tough undertaking because
of the thousands of houses built along
the river banks that are using the water
ways as an open sewer. Houses along
the Balili and Bued rivers together with
those along the creeks do not have sep-
tic tanks.
This is not the only problem. Reha-
bilitating the degraded tourist spots
will also be a major undertaking. Mines
View Park has been invaded by squat-
ters and the sidewalks have all but dis-
appeared, constricting the road. Wright
Park also will have to be cleared of
squatters. Mirador Hill, the Cathedral
Loop and the Baden Powell will also
need major clearing and rehabilitation.
This is not to mention the work that
needs to be done with the uncontrolled
squatting on government reservations
that is the major cause why pine trees
are fast disappearing.
In a few more months, the mountain
along Marcos highway will be full of
houses. The Burnham Park area maybe
TWO weeks ago, as I thought of the
then-impending enforcement of the
third phase of TRAIN (Tax Reform
and Inclusion Act) 2, a word associ-
ated with criminal law came to my
mind. The word was recidivist. In
criminal law a recidivist is a person
who commits an offense for which he
has previously been prosecuted and
convicted.
As my mention of TRAIN 2 sug-
gests, the recidivist that I was thinking
of was an institution, not an individ-
ual. The institution is the governmen-
tal entity charged with enforcing that
piece of fiscal legislation, namely,
DOF (Department of Finance).
In 2017-2018 this country experi-
enced its worst bout with inflation in
five years. At its peak, in July 2018,
the inflation rate, as measured by the
consumer price index (CPI), rose to
5.7 percent, bringing 2018’s average
monthly inflation rate to 2.5 percent.
The mismanagement of the nation-
al rice supply by NFA (National Food
Authority) has been held accountable
for the sharp rise in rice prices—to as
high as around P42 per kilo—by most
observers, but the weight of expert
opinion is on the increases in petro-
leum-products prices as the principle
cause of that inflation. In response to
the strong clamor from consumer and
labor groups for speedy and effective
action to contain the inflation, mem-
bers of Congress moved for the sus-
pension of the increases in the excise
taxes on petroleum products (diesel,
bunker fuel, lubricating oil, liquefied
petroleum gas, kerosene and gasoline).
DOF heeded the clamor and suspend-
ed the collection of the increases.
Not at the expense
of the poor!
Predicting the impact of the petro-
leum-products excise tax increases on
the CA was a no-brainer. Petroleum
products are key inputs unto three ma-
jor sectors of the economy—manufac-
turing, power and transportation—and
the movements of their prices have
substantial effects on the cost of living
of Filipinos on the lower reaches of the
income scale. The prices of food items,
electricity and transportation fares are
highly responsive to upward changes
in the prices of petroleum products. A
recent report of the PIDS (Philippine
Institute of Development Studies), a
government institution, indicated that
the national poverty ratio significant-
ly rose in the wake of the 2017-2018
inflation.
Back to the concept of recidivism.
Why did I think of recidivism when
the third round of petroleum-prod-
ucts excise tax increases kicked in
on Jan. 1? Because the latest round
of increases in excise taxes on petro-
leum products is bound to give rise
to another surge in consumer prices,
there having been no major chang-
es in the Philippine economy’s cost
structure.
If the context were criminal law,
that would make the DOF a recidivist:
It committed and was penalized for an
offense in the past and it is knowingly
committing that offense again.
The law abhors a recidivist; so does
the Philippine economy. DOF has em-
barked on the road to recidivism, but
it can still avoid being a recidivist.
This it can do by amending the petro-
leum-products excise tax by suspend-
ing or outright eliminating those that
are most inflationary in impact and
retaining those that are less so. The in-
crease in the excise tax on gasoline can
be retained; the other increases should
be let go.
An increase in government revenue
from excise taxes must not be obtained
at the expense of a rise in this coun-
try’s poverty rate. Inflation makes poor
people poorer.

Indonesia’s ‘mosque hunters’ count them

Even with so many complaints being a little easier to restore and bring back
received, commission work continues to its former glory but this will require
to move slowly, if at all. Obviously, professional planning. The park, even

this kind of situation cannot go on any
longer. Otherwise, one of the signature
programs of the President which he is
very passionate about will suffer.
The tenure of the head of the com-
mission is guaranteed by law but if
the conflict continues the way it is,
something will have to give. Either
the chairperson of the commission
or the two associate commissioners
will have to go. With the way things
stand, it is hard to see the appointees
of the current administration leaving
their posts notwithstanding the fact
that the tenure of the current chair-
person is protected.
Information coming from inside
the commission has it that the current
chairperson is a true-blue supporter
of the last administration. She was an
undersecretary of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development under
Dinky Soliman and used to manage the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Whether the CSC was given to her as a
reward for a job well done is anybody’s
guess but right now, the CSC is below
standard and needs someone to get it
moving if the agency wants to maintain
its credibility as the watchdog in im-
plementing the Anti-Red Tape Law. It
is not known whether the President is
aware of the CSC situation but if I were
those warring individuals, I would
watch out because if they do not, and
the President finds out about what they
are doing, they would be gone in no
time at all regardless whether their ten-
ure is protected or not.
***
The rehabilitation of Baguio City
appears to be really under serious con-
sideration by the national government.
in its degraded state, is still the number
one tourist draw of the city. This is the
reason why it must be preserved at all
costs.
Unfortunately, the area near the Ba-
guio City High School is slowly being
invaded by unwanted structures. This
case is interesting and different con-
sidering that the few buildings are not
houses but belong to the Lions Club.
It started with one club house but now
there are three. This began during the
time of the late Mayor Luis Lardiza-
bal when he allowed the construction
of the first Lions Club building there
because he was a member of the club.
If the current city government will
not look into this situation, before we
know it, that area will be full of build-
ings. Since that is still part of the Burn-
ham Park reservation, those buildings
should all be demolished and restored
as part of the park as it should be. Why
should be the Lions Club be given any
special treatment?
This goes to show how difficult
the problem of the city is. Año did
not mention the specific scope of the
rehab program to be undertaken and
the exact role of the local govern-
ment. Will it just be rehabilitating the
river system and the city government
the implementor? But just knowing
that the national government is seri-
ously considering rehabilitating the
city is encouragement enough to the
city government, the residents and
many tourists who flock to the city.
It is time to restore Baguio as truly
the summer capital of the country. It
will be a huge undertaking but if the
government can pull it off, that would
be something.
up one at a time
By Irwan Abdul Latif
with Haeril Halim
AS FRIDAY prayers wrap up at Suada mosque, worshippers
turn their attention outside where Fakhry Affan steers a drone
high above, snapping pictures of the building tucked in a cor-
ner of Indonesia's Sulawesi island.
Affan leads a government team of some 1,000 mosque
hunters who have spent years visiting every corner of the
5,000 kilometer (3,100 mile) long archipelago to answer one
question: how many mosques are there in the world's biggest
Muslim majority nation?
"Only God knows exactly how many mosques there are in
Indonesia," former vice president Jusuf Kalla quipped recent-
ly.
"Some say around one million and people will take it for
granted."
So far, Affan's team has registered 554,152 mosques and the
census—which kicked off in 2013—is only about 75 percent
done, Affan says.
Earlier government estimates pegged the total at more than
740,000 nationwide.
Nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 260 million people are
Muslim and it is home to Jakarta's Istiqlal mosque, Southeast
Asia's biggest with room for 200,000 worshippers.
So it's an Herculean task for Affan and his team at the re-
ligious affairs ministry as it scours a country of some 17,000
islands, where new mosques are going up all the time.
Monitoring radicalism
After getting key information about Mamuju city's 3,000
capacity Suada mosque—including building permit and
mosque committee details—Affan uploads his drone pictures
to a bulging online database.
"We did it manually in the past, but now we're going digi-
tal," he told AFP.
The government is also planning to launch an Android-based
app called Info Masjid (Mosque Info) so Muslims can use
their smartphone to find the nearest place of worship.
Nur Salim Ismal, who attends the Suada mosque, hopes the
move online will bring greater transparency.
"Mosques manage huge amounts of money from worship-
pers and it should be clear how it's being used," he said.
But the mosque hunt isn't just a counting exercise—it's also
a way to keep an eye on radicalism.
"Radical ideology can mushroom anywhere and mosques
are one of the easiest places for it to spread," Affan said.
"Why? Because you don’t need to invite people to the
mosque, they'll come anyway.
"We want to ensure that all imams and [mosque] commit-
tees are moderate because Islam in Indonesia is moderate,"
he added.
Indonesia's long-held reputation for tolerant pluralism has
been tested in recent years.
Muslim hardliners are becoming increasingly vocal in pub-
lic and the country is home to dozens of extremist groups loy-
al to Islamic State group's violent ideology.
'Endless job'
In 2018, Indonesia's intelligence agency said it had found
dozens of mosques that catered to government workers spread-
ing radicalism and calling for violence against non-Mus-
lims—in one Jakarta neighborhood alone.
The alarming figures came several months after Indonesia's
second-biggest city Surabaya was rocked by a wave of suicide
bombings carried out by families at churches during Sunday
services, killing a dozen people.
Members of an IS-loyal group tried to assassinate Indone-
sia's chief security minister last year, while in November a
militant suicide bomber killed himself and injured six others
during an attack at a police station.
Indonesia's new vice-president Ma’ruf Amin, a cler-
ic-turned-politician, has said the government would start cer-
tifying preachers and mosque congregations nationwide to
stamp out militants in their ranks.
"There is potential for mosques to be prone to radicalism if
they're not monitored," said Ali Munhanif, an expert on po-
litical Islam at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University
Jakarta
"The government has a responsibility to keep its eye on all
mosques in Indonesia."
In the tally so far, the team has counted 258,958 large
mosques and another 295,194 smaller ones, which fit 40 peo-
ple or fewer.
Affan and his team hope to finish the initial round of count-
ing this year.
"But this is an endless job and it'll never be finished," he
said.
"It's pretty rare for a mosque to close down, but one thing is
for sure: The number of new ones will keep going up." AFP

Strong,... Nation-builders... only 18 days on the job as co-chair of

From A4 From A4
tionized the Filipino taste for hamburg-
keep their passports and use their mobile phones are also protected. Legal and er and fries by bringing McDonald’s
repatriation assistance shall also be provided by the host country. here. The first store was on Morayta
Sadly, until now, the agreement has not effectively deterred foreign employ- Street in 1986. That was right after the
ers from abusing our Filipina workers. Edsa People Power Revolution. Mc-
Let us call to mind the significant contribution of our OFWs to the nation’s Donald’s is now a 50-50 enterprise with
progress. During the last quarter of 2019, the increased OFW remittances con- Andrew Tan.
If there is one common denominator
tributed to consumer spending which accounted for two-thirds of the country’s among these taipans, it’s their corporate
gross domestic product. As I have said before, OFWs remain one of the pri- social responsibility where they share
mary drivers of our economic growth. Being away from their loved ones is their blessings with the poor and the
already a big sacrifice for them. It is disheartening that aside from this, their needy. They are patriots and heroes, in-
plight is aggravated by the abusive treatment they receive from their employ- deed.
ers and foreign citizens. ***
I call for intensifying the protection of the rights and welfare of our OFWs, After criticizing President Rodrigo
Duterte’s war on illegal drugs as a mas-
especially the Filipina household/domestic workers. Let us not wait for another sive failure, Vice President Leni Robre-
Ms. Villavende or Ms. Demafelis before we boldly assert their rights. I strong- do now wants to appear in Congress
ly urge the government to step up and firmly uphold and defend the rights of to reiterate her allegations against the
our OFWs and seek the justice they truly deserve. Given the discrepancy in the administration’s fight against the drug
autopsy reports, I anticipate a proactive stance from the government. We must menace.
see to it that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be lawfully and rightfully Clearly, she has two intentions:
penalized. Moving forward, perhaps we should refine and enhance existing First, she wants to preempt a move at
the House to impeach her. Second, she
agreements and MOUs for more stringent provisions to pressure host coun- wants to portray herself as a critic of the
tries to faithfully implement and adhere to the agreements. Moreover, agencies President. She believes that the more
concerned with OFW welfare should strictly enact the policies established for publicity she gets, the more she will get
their protection. people to follow her.
Our OFWs are not mere statistics that we rely on for economic growth. To some extent, President Duterte
These Filipinos have families lovingly waiting and longing for them. They has succeeded in his fight against illegal
have dreams, mostly to lift their families out of poverty. Apart from preserving drugs. A survey shows that 75 percent of
Filipinos believe this partial success, too.
international relations, let us accord our OFWs priority in safeguarding their I think the President cannot com-
rights, safety, and overall welfare. The government should be magnanimous pletely eradicate the drug problem. Still,
in extending protection towards them. After all, they are the country’s modern Robredo’s claim that the campaign is a
heroes. Let them come home, head high, spirits whole, and hearts full. massive failure, after she herself spent
the Inter-Agency Committee Against
Drugs, is fake news.
Even after Duterte steps down in
2022, the illegal drug menace will con-
tinue. It’s a matter of supply and de-
mand. So long as there is demand, syn-
dicates will continue to provide supply
for that.
Similarly, Duterte’s campaign against
corruption will outlast him. Corruption
is embedded in the government system
where human discretion is involved.
***
I have a few questions on the move
of the President to have another con-
cession agreement by Maynilad and
Manila Water. This is supposed to be
crafted by the Department of Justice.
First, will the new agreement mean
fairer water rates for consumers? Will
there be assurance of water distribu-
tion?
Second, will Maynilad and Manila
Water now pay income and other tax-
es due government instead of passing
them on to consumers?
Third, will Malacañang make public
the new concession agreement for the
benefit of consumers?
I ask these questions in the wake of
Duterte’s threat to nationalize water dis-
tribution if Maynilad and Manila Water
do not accede to the new concession
agreement.
In fairness to Maynilad and Manila
Water, both Manny Pangilinan and the
Ayalas have already dropped their claim
from government, an amount close to
P11 billion, even though the arbitration
tribunal in Singapore had ruled in their
favor.
I also believe that the agreements
entered into with the concessionaires
during the time of Presidents Fidel
Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
were fair enough. But if Duterte wants
the terms renegotiated, the proper way
to go is to bring the case to court and
let it decide. That is due process and the
rule of law.
***
In the wake of Duterte’s move against
the oligarchs, perhaps it is time for gov-
ernment to review all the contracts it
had entered into even before the current
administration.
Times have changed, and normally
speaking, what was proper years ago
when government contracts were for-
mulated cannot in every sense be valid
and normal these days.
Along with this move of Malacañang
to review all government contracts, I
suggest that both Malacañang, govern-
ment anti-corruption agencies and the
Office of the Ombudsman should also
look at the anomalous—I’d even say
rotten—contract entered into by the
Bases Conversion Development Au-
thority with the Malaysian firm MTD
Capital Berhad in the construction of
sports facilities in Tarlac for the South-
east Asian Games.
This involves a joint venture agree-
ment.
It’s basic in JVAs that both partners
contribute equal shares. With this deal,
however, the BCDA gave so much to
the Malaysian firm.
 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com News

Police told: Profile possible ‘serial rapists’

By MJ Blancaflor the latest victim of which was an municipal police station on Wednes-

appoints P
eight-year-old girl from Candelaria day morning.

Duterte RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police

to profile persons who could be the possible “serial
town.
“Why are there are so many
young girls being raped? Otherwise,
rapists” preying on young girls in Quezon province. I’ll be forced to call upon the Army
to participate, go covert in civilian
clothes, and help,” Duterte said.
According to an initial report
from the Candelaria police, Burce
did not respond when a fellow in-
mate was trying to wake him up at
about 6 a.m. Inmates then noticed
that he was no longer breathing.

Paredes new
During the situation briefing in of government workers,” President For his part, Gamboa said the Police officers rushed the suspect
Taal Tuesday night, the President Duterte said, addressing police acting President’s directive was relayed to the Candelaria District Hospital
also said he might send government chief Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa. to the Quezon police director, since in Barangay Masin Norte but was

commander
troops “in civilian clothes” to resolve “I hate profiling. I do not like it Calabarzon police chief Brig. Gen. declared dead on arrival by the at-
the problem if the police could not ef- but we are forced to do it. These girls Vicente Danao Jr. was also present tending physician.
fectively improve the peace and order are innocent then somebody will rape in the briefing. Burce was accused of raping and

of Air Force
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte
on Wednesday appointed Maj.
Gen. Allen Paredes as the
new commanding general of
the Philippine Air Force, suc-
ceeding Lt. Gen. Rozzano
Briguez who will retire today,
Jan. 16.
Paredes will assume the
post Friday, as stated in an
appointment letter sent by the
President to Defense Secre-
tary Delfin Lorenzana.
Prior to his designation,
Paredes served as the chief of
Air Logistics Command.
He was also named as
Chief of Air Staff in July 2018
and was also donned to 2 Star
Rank at that time.
In 2016, he was assigned as
the commander of the 250th
Presidential Airlift Wing.
Paredes was a member of
the Philippine Military Acad-
emy Maringal Class of 1988.
This year, the Air Force is
set to announce its choice of
multi-role fighter aircraft for
defense and border protec-
tion, a big-ticket acquisition
project.
The PAF was also expected
to get its hands this year on
hew hardware that included
the Super Tucano light attack
aircraft, Black Hawk combat
utility helicopters and Gulf-
stream G-280 jet.
MJ Blancaflor
Department Administrative Order No. 20 - 0 1
Series of 2020
situation in Quezon. them. If you will let him alive, cut his As this developed, Ricardo Bon- killing the girl who had gone miss-
“Almost a good number of these penis. So that he will be sad all the galon Burce, 55, a suspect in the ing for one week and whose body
incidents happened in Quezon. So days of his life,” Duterte added. rape-slay case of the eight-year-old was found in a grassy area of a sub-
please inform the provincial command He also said the high number of girl in Candelaria, was found dead division in Barangay Masin Sur on
to come up with a surveillance system rape cases has become “intolerable,” inside the custodial facility of the Jan. 6.
Gov’t will
tap ADB
consultants
—DOJ chief
By Rey E. Requejo
THE government will tap consultants
from the Manila-based Asian Devel-
opment Bank to help in the revision
of the economic and financial terms
of the new concession agreement to
be offered to water concessionaires
Manila Water and Maynilad, Justice
Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on
Wednesday.
Guevarra said he was informed by
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez
III about the plan to engage the ADB
consultants.
The Justice Secretary noted that the
Department of Finance was heavily in-
volved even in the crafting of previous
contracts with the water concessionaires.
“In fact, they’re going to have a
meeting this afternoon in Malacañang
with the Department of Finance in the
Office of the President and I assume
that one of the matters that we are go-
ing to take up later is the engagement
NATIONAL SCIENTIST. House Majority Leader and Cornell Club of the Philippines president Martin of the ADB consultants for the purpose
Romualdez (left) hands over a simple token of gratitude and appreciation to fellow Cornellian Dr. Emil Javier of guiding the government side in the
(right), recently conferred by President Rodrigo Duterte a National Scientist Award in Malacañang Palace for matter of revision of the economic and
his promising contributions to the scientific community. Javier is a former president of the University of the financial terms of the water concession
Philippines (1993-1999), a former Chancellor of UPLB (1979-1985), UPLB’s 17th National Scientist and a PhD agreement,” Guevarra told the Kapihan
in plant breeding and genetics from Cornell University. Ver Noveno sa Manila Bay news forum.
Guevarra also revealed that it might
take six months to finish the draft con-
cession agreements and present it to the

BI waiving aliens’ overstaying fees

IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION FOR GENERAL
SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON THE
water concessionaires for comments.
IMPORTATION OF CERAMIC FLOOR “The whole process may last six
AND WALL TILES FROM VARIOUS
COUNTRIES
months. That is a conservative estimate
on my part . . . We’ll be sitting down
(Harmonized System
Subheading Nos. 6907.22 and
2017
By Vito Barcelo Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Me- with the water concessionaires, I know
6907.23) dina clarified that only those who overstayed that they are waiting,” Guevarra said.
x------------------------------------------x
IMMIGRATION Commissioner Jaime Mor- because their flights were supposed to depart Nonetheless, Guevarra admitted that
ORDER ente said the bureau was waiving the overstay- during the two-day closure will be exempted the legal and constitutional issues per-
On 13 December 2019, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) received the ing fees of aliens affected by the airport closure from paying overstaying fines. taining to the concession contracts have
Tariff Commission’s (Commission) Formal Investigation Report on the general He said that to be exempted from the charg- already been resolved by the DOJ.
on Sunday, following the eruption of the Taal
safeguard measure on the importation of ceramic floor and wall tiles from various
es, aliens must present at least one of the fol- In fact, Guevarra said the legal team
countries classified under Harmonized System 2017 Subheading Nos. 6907.22 and Volcano. is only waiting for the input of the DOF
6907.23. The period covered by the investigation (POI) are the years 2013 to 2017
Several international flights were at lowing to airport officers: boarding pass within
with updated data until 2019. on economic terms such as water rate-
the Ninoy Aquino International Airport the affected period, outbound ticket dated Jan. setting mechanism, factors to be consid-
The Commission, in accordance with the Safeguard Measures Act (RA 8800),
concluded that: on Sunday and Saturday, as aircraft were 12 or 13, 2020, or canceled immigration depar- ered such as inflation rate and exchange
unable to depart the airport, due to heavy ture stamp bearing the same date. rate, expenditures that can validly be in-
1. All current Philippine ceramic tile manufacturers are participants to the formal
investigation and compliance with the domestic industry requirement is fully met ashfall and volcanic debris in the airspace He clarified that those whose visas cluded in the concession agreement and
under Section 4(f) of RA 8800.
and runways. have long expired were not exempt from what can be and cannot be taxed.
2. Locally produced ceramic floor and wall tiles are “like” products to imported “This was a natural disaster that nobody penalties. The Department of Justice secretary
ceramic tiles falling under HS 2017 Subheading Nos. 6907.22 and 6907.23.
wanted to experience. To ease the burden of Classes in all levels and work in gov- earlier said the government was still
3. There was no increase in imports of ceramic floor and wall tiles, both in absolute our tourists whose flights were canceled during ernment in the affected areas of Calabar- open to discuss with Maynilad and Ma-
terms and relative to domestic production, during the POI. Total imports of ceramic
floor and wall tiles only increased in 2014 and stabilized thereafter. Imports of the closure, we are waiving the overstaying fee zon, NCR, and Region 3 were likewise nila Water the proposed amendments
glazed -ceramic floor and wall tiles, which constitute 87% of the total ceramic tiles for those affected,” the BI chief said. suspended on Jan. 13. on the concession contracts.
imported into the country, showed a declining trend starting 2015. Similarly, the
increase in the share of ceramic tile imports relative to local production was only
evident in 2014, which thereafter evened-out until the end of the POI.

4. Since it has been established that ceramic floor and wall tiles were not imported in

3 lucky lotto bettors win P97m in 2 days, says PCSO

increased quantities (whether absolute or relative to domestic production) during
the period of investigation, the determination of serious injury, or threat thereof,
causation, and unforeseen developments has become moot and academic.

Considering that ceramic floor and wall tiles were not imported in increased
quantities (whether absolute or relative to domestic production) during the period of
investigation, the Commission terminated its formal investigation and recommended THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of- Laguna won the P80.7 million jackpot prize prize of P32,090 after getting five out of the
that no definitive general safeguard measure be imposed on importations of ceramic
floor and wall ties falling under HS 2017 Subheading Nos. 6907.22 and 6907.23. fice on Wednesday announced that three of the Grand Lotto 6/55 on Jan. 8. six winning combinations of 25-54-04-22-
IN VIEW THEREOF, the application for general safeguard measures on the
lucky lotto bettors became new million- Meanwhile, 23 bettors won a consolation 55-24. PNA
importation of ceramic floor and wall tiles from various countries falling under HS aires in just two days after winning its lotto
2017 Subheading Nos. 6907.22 and 6907.23 is hereby dismissed. draws this month.
Section 13 of RA 8800 provides, “ x x x In the event of a negative final determination, PCSO General Manager Royina
x x x, the Sectary shall immediately issue, through the Secretary of Finance, a written
instruction to the Commissioner of Customs, authorizing the return of the cash bond or Garma said a lucky bettor from Man-
the remainder thereof, as the case may be, previously collected as provisional general daluyong guessed the winning combi-
safeguard measure within ten (10) days from the date a final decision has been made:
Provided, That the government shall not be liable for any interest on the amount to nation 16-17-05-30-29-21 of the Lotto
be returned. x x x.” 6/42 with a jackpot of P28,481,693 on
All cash bonds that may have been imposed on shipments of ceramic floor and Jan. 11.
wall tiles which entered or are withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for
consumption starting 08 August 2019, the date of the effectivity of CMO No. 42-2019, Garma said two bettors from Pateros and
-shall be immediately returned to the concerned importer/s. Tacloban City, Leyte got the combination
The DTI Order can be accessed at the DTI website: http://bit.ly/GSMceramicfloorwalltiles of 21-04-25-13-11-19 and bagged the Mega
The notification requirements under Article 12 of the WTO Safeguards Agreement and Lotto 6/45 jackpot prize of P68,523,435
Section 17 of RA 8800 and its IRR shall be complied with. Imports originating from
ASEAN Member states shall be governed by the provision of Article 11 of the ASEAN
last Jan. 10.
Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). To be able to claim their checks, bettors
Let this Order be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and let must go to PCSO’s main office in Manda-
individual notices be sent to all interested parties including the country members
concerned.
luyong City and present two IDs and the
winning ticket.
This Order shall take effect upon the issuance of the relevant Customs Memorandum
Order or fifteen (15) days after the publication of the Order in two (2) newspapers of Mega Lotto 6/45 is drawn every Mon-
general circulation, whichever comes earlier. day, Wednesday, and Friday while Lotto
SO ORDERED. 6/42 is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and
02 January 2020
Saturday.
Garma urged the public to play and sup- PROTEST RALLY. Health workers from different public hospitals in Metro Manila hold a protest
port all the PCSO games as the revenue action in front of the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City on Wednesday to criticize the
RAMON M. LOPEZ would go to the charity programs of the Duterte administration for what they call an insulting, deceptive and unjust Salary Standardization
Secretary
agency. Law of 2019. Manny Palmero
(MS-JAN. 17, 2020)
Earlier, a solo winner from San Pablo,
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
 Sports THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
A7

Spike in sex
trafficking as
Koepka: Iran tension not an issue
A
Comeback

Miami hosts
BU DHABI—World number one Brooks Koepka admits
Asked if he had more motivation and ex-
he was unsure about playing the $7 million Abu Dhabi pected similar results in his latest comeback,
Championship this week, but not because of heightened Koepka said: “I don’t know if it gives me

Super Bowl political tensions in the Middle East.

MIAMI—Every year, the American
football season ends with the vast spec-
tacle of the Super Bowl, drawing in
celebrity superstars, hugely expensive
advertising and 100 million viewers.
But the sporting mega-event also has a
darker side: a spike in human trafficking,
in particular a rise in sexual exploitation.
This year, Miami will host the Super
Bowl on February 2, but the party city in
southern Florida -- already the state with
the third highest rate of human traffick-
ing in the country, after California and
Texas -- worries that the combination of
the huge sporting event in proximity to
its world-famous beaches and clubs will
create a perfect storm of sex trafficking.
“The Super Bowl is going to expand
that as you have party events, large
events like this, it will attract these or-
ganizations to try to come here to try to
make more money,” said Anthony Salis-
bury, head of security investigations at
the Department of Homeland Security.
That was the experience of Katariina
The 29-year-old American was more
unsettled by the injury to his left knee that
required stem cell treatment and has kept
him out of competitive golf for over three
months.
Asked ahead of Thursday’s start
whether his appearance in Abu Dhabi
was in doubt following the killing of
Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani
in a US drone attack, Koepka said: “It
was not an issue. It was fine and I am
happy to be here.”
However, the rehabilitation process of
his damaged knee was different.
“I’ve been worried about my knee,”
he said.
“Just honestly, thinking about trying
to play, trying to get over here for this. I
don’t want to say this, but it was kind of
up in the air.
He said he started hitting balls just
before Christmas and “everything felt
good.”
“From that moment on, after a couple
days of hitting balls and not feeling pain,
I knew I could get back here and do this
and finally play.”
It was a second long lay-off for the
four-time major champion in the past
couple of years.
In early 2018, he took a 17-week
break after a wrist injury. He came back
in stunning fashion, finishing second in
the Fort Worth Invitational in his third
start and winning the US Open after six
weeks back.
more motivation. I don’t
think it does.
“I think when
you have some- thing you love
and it’s taken away from you,
it makes you appreciate it more and really
enjoy being out here.
“But I’m excited. I’m just excited to
hit balls. There is an enthusiasm to get out
there and play.”
Koepka, who finished tied ninth in the
tournament last year, headlines a stellar
field for the first Rolex Series event of the
European Tour season.
Koepka
Also in the field are his US compa-
triots, world number six Patrick Cantlay Kong, where he finished second.
and 16th-ranked Bryson DeChambeau. Koepka has been paired with two-
The reigning British Open champion time Abu Dhabi champion and world
Shane Lowry is the defending champi- number 10 Tommy Fleetwood and
on and comes off a good week in Hong Lowry for the first two rounds.
Davao Occ.
extends win

run; Manila,
Rosenblatt, who was forced, from the
ages of 13 to 17, to have sex with pay-
ing clients in a hotel in the tourist hub of

Miami Beach.
“I was sold for my innocence as an
American virgin girl, but I got out of traf-
ficking,” said Rosenblatt, who went on to
found an NGO called “There Is Hope For
Me” to help victims of sex trafficking.
She said that sex tourists came “from
other places to Miami Beach to pur-
chase sex.”
Look out for signs
The city’s authorities are training ho-
tel workers, security guards, Uber driv-
ers and truckers to spot the signs that a
person might be a victim of trafficking,
since these are the people most likely to
cross paths with them and have a chance
to alert police.
If a guest has an unusual number vis-
itors to their hotel room, if they ask for a
room close to the stairs, if they refuse to
let the cleaners in or have poor personal
hygiene, if they arrive with very little
luggage or are constantly asking for the
minibar to be restocked, these can all be
telltale signs that something is amiss,
police say. AFP
Basilan win
THE Davao Occidental Tigers
stretched their winning streak while
the Manila Stars and the Basilan Steel
bounced back in the Chooks-to-Go/
MPBL Lakan Season Tuesday at San
Andres Sports Complex.
Pouncing on Makati Super
Crunch’s listless plat, the Tigers pre-
vailed, 101-79, for their fifth straight
victory and a pacesetting 21-3 record
in the South division.
Flaunting depth and firepower, the
Frontrow-backed Stars pulled away in
the first quarter and proceeded to rout
the Paranaque-Yabo Sports Patriots,
106-78.
Basilan wasted a 20-point spread but
Ceres-Negros players celebrate after Robert Lopez Mendy’s goal against Shan United. kept its poise to thwart Cebu Casino
Ethyl Alcohol, 86-78.
Ceres edges Shan, advances to 2nd round The Stars and the Jumbo Plastics-
supported Steel dropped their pre-
vious games, 76-77, to the Bataan
Risers and 89-96 to Bacolod Master
NATIONAL team player OJ Porteria sparkled with a goal and an sessions so we were really tired but we just stuck in there and Sardines, respectively.

Mitra to talk
assist as PFL champion Ceres-Negros turned back Shan United got the win. We’re not fit thats why we wanted to keep the ball. Like the Tigers, the Steel are assured
of Myanmar, 3-2, last Wednesday night to advance to the second We just showed the heart to survive the game.” of a playoff slot in the South with their
round of the AFC Champions League preliminary round at Rizal Despite their dominance, the Busmen only grabbed their 17-10 slate.

on GAB’s plans
WHAT’S in store for the Games and
Amusement Board and its hard-work-
ing chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra
in 2020?
The answers will be known today (Jan.
16) when the Tabloids Organization in
Philippine Sports opens the new year with
its 51st “Usapang Sports” at the National
Press Club in Intramuros, Manila.
Mitra will talk about the plans of
Memorial Stadium.
Porteria set up Bienve Marañon for Ceres’ second goal, before
scoring what turned out to be the marginal strike in the 79th min-
ute as the Busmen forged a duel with Port FC of Thailand in the
next round in Bangkok.
Admittedly short on preparation, the Busmen came out
sharp with Senegalese striker Robert Lopez Mendy open-
ing the scoring in the fifth minute with a left-footed effort
to the bottom corner off a cutback from new signing Pika
Minegishi.
“We were pressuring them and we were unlucky not to get
more goals,” said Porteria. “We only had four or five training
second goal just before halftime as Marañon’s deflected effort Same with the Stars, who tote a 22-5
had Shan goalkeeper Thiha Sithu rooted to his spot. card in the North division.
The Busmen looked like they were in cruise control, al- Mark Yee produced 11 points and
though Mendy spurned a breakaway chance and Porteria was 12 rebounds while four others drilled in
denied by the crossbar with his long-range effort. double digits as the Tigers gave Super
Zin Min Tun pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute, but Crunch Beaujing Acot, who replaced
Porteria quickly restored the two-goal cushion by meeting Mike the resigned Cholo Villanueva, a rude
Ott’s pass inside the box to fire home. welcome.
Maximin Djawa set the stage for a thrilling finish as his Chester Saldua scored 14, June Ken-
87th-minute strike made it 3-2. But Ceres hung on to pick up neth Mocon and Yvan Ludovice 13
the victory, moving within two wins of reaching the group each, and Billy Robles 10 for the Coco-
stage of Asia’s most prestigious club competition. life-backed Tigers, who led from start to
finish and by as big as 75-48.
The also-ran Patriots dropped to

SEAG dancesports medalists to train in Europe

the government supervisory agency in
professional sports during the 10 a.m.
public service program sponsored by
the Philippine Sports Commission,
National Press Club, PAGCOR, Com-
munity Basketball Association and HG
Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
Also appearing in the session are the
main organizers of the MDC3X3 bas-
ketball tournament, led by Maricel Diaz
Clemente.
Joining her are Jessica Diaz Cle-
mente (vice president of MDC Sports
Inc.), Tobee Diaz Clemente (Vice Presi-
dent) and Coach Goy Bagares (MDC
3X3 basketball operation manager).
TOPS president Ed Andaya of Peo-
ple’s Tonight is requesting all officers
and members and friends from the sports
community to attend the session.
SOUTHEAST Asian Games Filipino
dancesports gold winners will undergo
a one-month European training camp in
February for this year’s World Dances-
ports Federation World Championship
Standard Adult competition in Nov. 21
in Vienna, Austria.
Sean Aranar, winner of the SEA
Games’ dancesports gold medal in the
Viennese waltz, tango and the five dance
mixed events, together with partner Ana
Nualla, said they are considering to train in
Lithuania, Germany or in Italy.
“We are still finalizing our training
camp in Europe and we’re considering
Lithuania, Germany or Italy as our train-
ing camp venue. We want to compete in
different dancesports events also, while
we’re there,” said Aranar, who is also
eyeing to improve their 103rd in the
world ranking.
“That European training camp will
serve as our preparation for the World
Championship.”
Aranar added that they will go to
Europe to train again just what they did
last year prior to the start of the 2019
SEA Games competition when they
trained in Lithuania, under coach Dona-
tas Vezelis and Lina Chatkeviciute.
Aside from Aranar and Nualla, SEA
Games’ gold winner in single dance
pasadoble and Latin dance events Mi-
chael Angelo Marquez and Stepha-
nie Sabalo, will also join them in
the training camp.
The Philippine Dancesports team,
formed by the Dancesports Council of
the Philippines Inc., headed by President
Becky Garcia, collected 10 gold med-
als in the last Southeast Asian Games
in Angeles, Pampanga.
8-18 despite the 15-point output of
Jemal Vizcarra and James Patrick
Abugan.
Refusing to go down without a fight,
the Cebu Sharks clustered six points to
threaten at 72-76.
Allyn Bulanadi, however, fired
back-to-back jumpers and handed
an assist to Jhaps Bautista to pad the
Steel’s lead anew, 82-74, entering the
last two minutes.
Bulanadi, a member of the Gilas
pool, wound up with 14 points, 5 re-
bounds and 4 assist as he combined
with Chris Dumapig (17 points), Jay
Collado (12), and Hesed Gabo (11) to
hand the Cebuanos their 12th loss in
25 games.

Smog...
From A8
However it said the “hit and miss”
nature of thunderstorms meant it was
difficult to predict exactly where the
heaviest rain would fall.
The fires have already destroyed
more than 2,000 homes and burnt 10
million hectares (100,000 square kilo-
metres) of land -- an area larger than
South Korea or Portugal.
The confirmed death toll rose to 28
on Wednesday when authorities said
they had confirmed a firefighter who
died in late November in a traffic inci-
dent had at the time been trying to con-
tain a blaze.
The fires have dominated headlines
around the world and led to an interna-
tional outpouring of aid for victims, as
well as animals that have been injured
in the blazes.
About one billion animals may have
died in the fires and driven many spe-
cies closer to extinction, according to
environmental groups.
Giannis shows no mercy as Bucks crush Knicks; Jazz prevail
LOS ANGELES—NBA Most Valuable Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and the
Milwaukee Bucks improved their league-leading
record with a 128-102 romp past the New York
Knicks on Tuesday.
Antetokounmpo was ruthless in leading the 36-6
Bucks to a fourth straight victory, connecting on 12 of 17
shots and 10 of 12 from the free throw line while grab-
bing nine rebounds with four assists and a blocked shot.
He did it all in just over 21 minutes on the court
as the Bucks, who never trailed and led by as many
as 35, turned things over to their reserves in the
fourth quarter.
“I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to be
aggressive, make plays,” Antetokounmpo said.
The victory was the Eastern Conference-leading
Bucks’ 13th of the season by 20 or more points.
Coach Mike Budenholzer was pleased to see
the Bucks maintain their focus against the lowly
Knicks, who dropped their sixth straight.
“The way we came out it’s a good sign for us,”
he said of a Bucks team on pace for a 70-win sea-
son. “The focus of the guys is impressive.”
Kawhi Leonard impressed in Los Angeles, scor-
ing 43 points in less than 29 minutes on court to
lead the Clippers to a 128-103 victory over the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Clippers led by as many as 36 points on the
way to their 28th win of the season.
Leonard scored 14 points in the second quarter
as the Clippers pulled away. He connected on 14
of 22 shots from the floor with six three-pointers
before sitting out the entire fourth quarter.
Jazz hot
The Utah Jazz continued to roll in the right di-
rection with a 10th straight win—118-107 over the
Nets in Brooklyn.
Aussie guard Joe Inglis scored a career-high 27
points and Rudy Gobert added 22 points and 18 re-
bounds for the Jazz, who improved to 28-12 and are
five games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for top
spot in the Western Conference.
Ingles hit 10 of 14 shots and made six of eight from
beyond the arc, tying his career-high for field goals.
Donovan Mitchell tallied 25 points—14 of them
in the fourth quarter.
Kyrie Irving, playing his second game since miss-
ing nearly two months with a shoulder injury, led all Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the
scorers with 32 points and dished out 11 assists, but the ball against the New York Knicks at the Fiserv Forum Center in
Nets were unable to win a third straight game. AFP Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AFP
 Riera U. Mallari, Editor;
Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor
sports@manilastandard.net
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Smog hits
Aussie Open
again, but rain
raises hopes

Sports
MELBOURNE—Bushfire smoke dis-
rupted the Australian Open build-up
Wednesday for a second straight day to
deepen concerns about the fate of the
year’s first tennis Grand Slam, but a
cool change late in the day raised hopes
of rain soaking the blazes.
The toxic haze that descended on
Melbourne, where the Australian Open
is due to begin next week, drifted down
from out-of-control fires that have
endured for months in eastern and
southern Australia.
The bushfires, unprecedented in their
duration and intensity, have claimed 28 A seller wearing a mask holds up the latest edition of the Big Issue featuring world number female player Ash Barty of Australia on it’s cover, as poor air quality from Australia’s
lives while raising awareness about bushfires hamper qualifying for the upcoming Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP
the type of disasters that scientists say
the world will increasingly face due to

Poor air quality halts Eala camp

global warming.
In Melbourne, a picturesque bayside
city famed as one of the most liveable
in the world, the bushfire smoke raised
pollution levels to “hazardous” at the
start of the week.
The bleak conditions continued on
Wednesday, with residents donning
face masks while dozens of flights were
cancelled at Melbourne airport because
of poor visibility.
Australian Open organisers pushed
ahead with qualifying rounds on
Tuesday.
But dramatic scenes of players drop-
ping to their knees and choking, and
one retiring due to the smoke, led to
complaints about them being forced to
stay out on court.
With the air still tasting and
smelling of smoke on Wednesday
morning, organisers suspended
qualifying rounds until 1:00 pm
(0200 GMT) on Wednesday.
Racing Victoria also cancelled two
horse race meetings on Wednesday.
With the pollution levels improving
slightly, Australian Open organisers
restarted play on Wednesday
afternoon under better but still hazy
conditions.
Rain hopes
Thundery weather then swept in
late on Wednesday afternoon, bringing
heavy rain that forced play to be can-
celled for the day but raised expecta-
tions of clearer air for Thursday.
There were also hopes that the
rain would extend to other parts of
By Peter Atencio
P
RACTICE for Filipino
junior standout Alex
Eala has been called off
for the time being.
Australian officials have warned that
smoke and haze from regional wild fires
have affected the playing conditions of
the 2020 AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Ju-
nior International Tennis Tournament in
Victoria, Australia.
The tournament is set to start this Fri-
day and Eala’s coach Daniel Gomez is
looking for ways to keep the 14-year-old
Alex in shape for the next two days.
Eala’s dad Mike said this as the Filipina
netter prepares for action in the girls’ di-
vision, where she is seeded fourth.
“They suspended practice and
matches due to poor air quality,” said the
elder Eala in an online message.
Gomez is with the Rafa Nad-
al Academy, where Alex and her
brother Miko are scholars.
Alex Eala
Eala was accepted into the RNA
after she won a tournament in France
back in 2018.
From there, scouts from the Acade-
my in Nadal’s hometown of Manacor
in Mallorca, Spain approached Eala’s
camp and discussed the possibility of
her becoming a scholar.
The AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Ju-
nior International Tennis Tournament
is meant to prepare Eala for her partici-
pation the 2020 Australian Open.
Elsa Jacquemont of France is seeded
first, followed by Robin Montgomery
of the United States in second.
Jacquemot is also among the players
to watch.
She has claimed junior titles in France
and Canada during the past 12 months.
And the 16-year-old Jacquemont
also earned a wildcard for the qualifiers
of the 2019 French Open.
Kamila Bartone of Latvia comes
in at no. 3, with Maria Bondarenko of
Russia in fifth.
Eala finished the 2018 season ranked
248th in the world, before a career-best
13th spot last October.
Her stint in a tournament in Braden-
ton, Florida last December allowed
her move into the top, with her world
ranking reaching no. 9 when the year
2020 started.
Eala earned 1,452.50 points from
her campaign last year, making her the
highest Southeast Asian tennis player in
the ITF junior rankings.
Williams
aims to end
long Slam
record quest
MELBOURNE—Serena Williams
is ominously back to winning ways
as she looks to finally complete her
long quest for a record-equalling
24th Grand Slam title at the Aus-
tralian Open.
The American has been on the
cusp of history since 2017, when
she won her 23rd Major trophy in
Melbourne, but after returning from
giving birth has suffered straight-sets
defeats in four Slam finals.
The signs are good for the 38-year-
old Williams, who broke a three-year
title drought at last week’s Auckland
Classic—a result that will not have
gone unnoticed by her younger rivals.
Australia’s world number one

Judiciary faces NHA at start of quarterfinals

southern and eastern Australia where
dozens of fires are still raging out of
control and threatening to devastate
many more rural towns.
Some bushfire and drought-hit
areas could see 50-100 millimetres
(2-4 inches) of rain, the Bureau of
Meteorology said. Turn to A7
Ashleigh Barty and defending cham-
pion Naomi Osaka are among her gen-
uine challengers, but pressure and ex-
pectation will also pose problems for
Williams as she pursues the 24 Grand
TWO-TIME champion Judiciary Slam titles won by the Australian Mar-
tries to extend its winning run to garet Court between 1960 and 1973.
five games when it battles National “That was really important for me
Housing Authority today (Thursday) and I just want to build on it,” Wil-
at the start of the quarterfinal round liams, now ranked ninth in the world,
said after triumphing in Auckland on

137 hopefuls
of the 8th UNTV Cup at the Paco
Sunday.
Arena in Manila. The former number one, who
Coming off a four-game sweep of celebrated on court with daughter
the second round elims that gave them

join D-League
Olympia, donated her US$43,000
a 6-3 mark, the Judiciary Magis are winner’s cheque to victims of the
slightly favored over the Builders in Australian bushfires.
Practice and qualifying have

Draft 2020
THE new batch of dreamers take their
first step of making it to the pros as
137 players have declared for the
PBA D-League Draft 2020.
Fil-Am high-flyer Jamie Malonzo
and Gilas pool member Jaydee Tung-
cab banner the list of hopefuls for
Monday’s Draft to be held at PBA Of-
fice in Libis.
The 6’6” Malonzo, 23, burst into the
scene in his short stint with La Salle that
saw him earning a spot in the Mythical
Team in the last UAAP season.
Tungcab, 22, is a 6’3” guard who
has played sparingly during his time
with University of the Philippines, but
caught the attention of the Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas that led to his in-
clusion in the national team pool.
The two are expected to be picked in
the first round.
For the fourth straight year, AMA
Online Education holds the right to the
no. one pick.
Also joining the Draft are former
Batang Gilas standout Jollo Go, ex-
UAAP Juniors MVP Jerie Pingoy, Ce-
buano standouts Darrell Menina and
Jaybie Mantilla, former CEU scorer
Judel Fuentes, and UE forward John
Apacible.
From the field, 17 are Fil-foreign-
ers, led by Malonzo, former La Salle
shooter Joshua Torralba, and UP’s
James Spencer, David Murrell, and JJ
Espanola.
Players from Maharlika Pilipi-
nas Basketball League have also
applied, including Yves Sazon and
King Destacamento.
their 4:30 p.m. showdown.
Mentored by former UST hotshot
Benneth Palad, the Builders also fin-
ished the round with a 6-3 record in the
event organized by UNTV President
and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon.
Clashing in the other game at 3:30
p.m. are Department of Agriculture and
PITC with the winner boosting its re-
cord to 6-4.
The four teams play a single-
round with the top two finishers
joining No. 1 and defending cham-
pion Armed Forces of the Philippine
and second-ranked Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
in the Final Four.
AFP and DENR advanced outright
to the semis after finishing 1-2 with 8-1
Chester Tolomia hopes to provide the offensive spark as Judiciary battles NHA today
in the UNTV Cup at the Paco Arena.
and 7-2 marks, respectively.
The chosen charity of the cham- the runner-up’s own foundation get-
pion in the annual event for public ting P4 million.
been disrupted in Melbourne this
week because of toxic air pollution
from the deadly fires, but organis-
ers are confident the tournament
will proceed as planned.
Williams has now won 73 WTA
titles over four decades and although
she is scaling back the number of tour-
naments she plays, there is no indica-
tion she plans to retire imminently.
Williams’s latest Grand Slam fi-
nal heartbreak came at the US Open,
where she was stunned by Canadian
teenager Bianca Andreescu.
Williams—the highest-paid fe-
male athlete in the world last year
with earnings close to US$30 mil-
servants get a tax-free P4 million with lion, according to Forbes—after-
wards played down her bid for
Court’s record. AFP
HERO OF THE NIGHT. Philippine
Basketball Association Commissioner
Willie Marcial and the league’s board
of governors awards the plaque of
recognition to SEA Games gold medalist
surfer Roger Casugay for his heroism in
the recent biennial meet. Casugay came
to the rescue of Arip Nurhidayat when
his Indonesian opponent broke his leash
and was swept away by waves during
the men’s longboard open competition.
The PBA’s ‘Hero of the Night’ was feted
in a simple ceremony at halftime of
Game 3 between Barangay Ginebra and
Meralco at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
last Sunday. Joining Marcial during the
presentation were Robert Non (San
Miguel), Al Panlilio (Meralco), Alfrancis
Chua (Barangay Ginebra), Bobby Rosales
(Columbia), Rene Pardo (Magnolia) and
Eric Arejola (NorthPor

IN BRIEF
Mandaluyong court
denies Angkas’ bid
A MANDALUYONG City Regional
Trial Court denied the petition of Angkas
to obtain a permanent injunction against
the revised guidelines governing the pilot
implementation of motorcycle taxis.
In a four-page order dated Jan. 10,
Judge Rizalina Capco-Umali of the Man-
daluyong City RTC Branch 212 dismissed
the petition lodged by Angkas against the
Department of Transportation and Land
Transportation Franchising and Regula-
tor Board for lack of merit.
“Since the Petitioner’s application
for issuance of injunctive writ involves
prayer to enjoin the enforcement of Sec-
tion 10 of Revised General Guidelines for
the Pilot Implementation of Motorcycle
Taxis, which is also the same action be-
ing sought in the main case of injunction,
the court is mindful that as much as pos-
sible avoid issuing writ which would ef-
fectively dispose of the main case without
trial and/or due process,” said the court in
the order.
Section 10 of the of Revised General
Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation
of Motorcycle Taxis states that a total of
30,000 riders for Metro Manila and 9,000
riders for Metro Cebu will form part of
the pilot implementation of motorcycle
taxis. Darwin G. Amojelar
Bamboo council eyes
19,000-ha plantations
THE Philippine Bamboo Industry Coun-
cil, an interagency group composed of
national and local government represen-
tatives, plans to convert at least 19,000
hectares of land into bamboo plantations
in 2020, including 13,000 hectares in
Western Visayas.
Trade Secretary and council chairman
Ramon Lopez said In a meeting on Jan.
9 the Trade Department was ready to pro-
vide shared service facilities to those in-
terested in bamboo processing.
Agri-business ventures, like bamboo
production and processing, are also part
of the Strategic Investments Priorities
Plan of the Department of Trade and In-
dustry, which entitles investors to tax in-
centives.
Lopez committed to include bamboo plan-
tations in the department’s Roads Leveraging
Linkages of Industry and Trade program with
the Public Works Department.
The program aims to build “plant to
market” roads to ease the delivery of
products, especially from remote areas.
Othel V. Campos
Unioil Group seeks
infra investments
A GROUP associated with the Unioil
Group plans to use Chemical Industries
of the Philippines in investing in indus-
tries related to the infrastructure program
of the government.
Based on the amended tender offer
report filed with the Securities and Ex-
change Commission, Quantumlink Re-
alty Corp., Citiworld Properties & Devel-
opment Corp., Exquadra Inc. and Lavish
Sources Ltd. are exploring the possibil-
ity of infusing assets and funding further
business projects for CIP, including in-
vestments in a new blending plant for lu-
bricants and construction of warehouses.
The group is also considering the po-
tential investment in industries related to
infrastructure, including the construction
equipment industry.
It is looking at the possibility of using
CIP in a reverse takeover.
Majority shareholders of CIP led by
businessman Antonio Garcia in Decem-
ber agreed to sell their controlling stake
in the company to a group associated with
the Unioil group of companies.
Jenniffer B. Austria
Airlines resume
normal operations
in and out of NAIA
By Darwin G. Amojelar
MAJOR airlines said their domestic
and international operations returned
to normal after the eruption of Taal
Volcano on Sunday.
“While flights have resumed, AirA-
sia continues to monitor the situation
and will update guests should there be
any changes to flight schedule,” AirA-
sia said in a statement.
AirAsia said it continued to imple-
ment precautionary measures for
guests, including a thorough assess-
ment of routes and aircraft.
“Guests whose flights had been can-
celled in previous days have been ad-
vised to make the necessary changes to
their flights,” the airline said.
Cebu Pacific said its operations in
and out of the Ninoy Aquino Interna-
tional Airport were back to normal.
“Passengers booked on cancelled
flights may manage their booking be-
fore their scheduled time of departure
through the Cebu Pacific website, bit.
ly/CEBmanageflight, with the follow-
ing options: Rebook flights within 30
days without penalties or refund tick-
ets in full,” the Gokongwei-led airline
said.
Philippine Airlines said it was grad-
ually reverting to normal operations at
NAIA, as atmospheric conditions im-
proved in the vicinity of Metro Manila,
following the safety-related airport
closure caused by volcanic ash emis-
sions from Sunday’s eruption.
“We are in the process of operating
replacement flights on certain routes
to assist passengers affected by recent
cancellations, and in a few cases we
are upgrading certain flights to larger-
capacity wide-body aircraft to deal
with the overflow of affected passen-
gers,” PAL said.
Business
November remittances
increased 2% to $2.37b
By Julito G. Rada
M
ONEY sent home
by Filipinos
working overseas
rose 2 percent in November
2019 to $2.37 billion from
$2.32 billion a year ago, the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
said Wednesday.
The latest figure brought cash
remittances in the first 11 months to
$27.23 billion, up 4.4 percent from
$26.094 billion a year earlier.
“By type of worker, cash remittances
from land-based and sea-based workers
FWD EXPANSION. FWD Life Insurance Corp., a part of pan-Asian FWD Group, opens a business hub in Binondo, Manila.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing insurance companies, FWD Insurance is expanding its geographic footprint to reach more
Filipino families. Formally unveiling the company’s newest office are (from left) FWD Insurance vice president and head of marketing
Roche Vandenberghe, chief financial officer Jasper Cheng, chief distribution officer John Johnson, chief life operations officer Judith
Baliton and vice president and territory sales director for Metro Manila and Luzon Eric Jayson Hernandez.
Taal Volcano eruption likely to push up food inflation—PNB research
THE Taal Volcano will likely push up
food inflation this month because the af-
fected area is a main contributor to the
supply of livestock and fish nationwide,
Philippine National Bank said in a re-
port Wednesday.
PNB cited the initial damage report by
government agencies showing that P74.5
million worth of crops were affected in
the CALABARZON region and 6,000
fish cages were at risk because of the high
sulfur content in Taal Lake.
CLARK DEVELOPMENTS. Clark Investors and Locators Association chairman
Dr. Irineo Alvaro Jr. is looking forward to more developments in Clark Freeport in the
long haul. Alvaro is bullish on future developments inside the Freeport, citing among
others the soon-to-open airport terminal and the influx of tourists that will spur more
business developments and expansions, and in turn create more job opportunities.
increased by 3.6 percent to $21.3 bil-
lion, and 7.3 percent to $6 billion, re-
spectively,” the BSP said in a statement.
The United States remained the top
source of remittances with 37.7 percent
of the total from January to November
2019. It was followed by Saudi Arabia,
Singapore, Japan, United Arab Emir-
ates, the United Kingdom, Canada,
Hong Kong, Germany and Qatar.
The combined remittances from these
countries accounted for 78.4 percent of
total cash remittances during the period.
Personal remittances, which include
non-cash items, also increased by 2
percent in November to $2.63 billion
from $2.58 billion a year ago, bringing
the 11-month figure to $30.252 billion,
up 4.1 percent from $29.1 billion in the
“We worry that the Taal eruption may
put pressure on food prices of livestock
particularly chicken and hogs [as well
as fish supply] since CALABARZON―
Taal’s location and region most affected,
is a significant contributor to local pro-
duction of livestock,” the bank said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority showed that CALABAR-
ZON was the second largest producer
of live chicken at 87,000 metric tons
(liveweight) out of the total 428,800 MT
same period in 2018.
“The steady growth in personal remit-
tances during the first eleven months of
2019 drew support from the remittance
inflows from land-based OF work-
ers with work contracts of one year or
more, which grew by 3.6 percent to
$23.1 billion from $22.3 billion in the
same period last year,” it said.
The combined remittances of sea-
based and land-based workers with
short-term contracts rose 7.3 percent
to $6.5 billion in the first 11 months of
2019 from $6 billion a year ago.
Cash remittances reached a record
$28.9 billion in 2018, up 3.1 percent
from $28.06 billion in 2017.
The BSP was eyeing a conservative
3-percent growth for 2019 remittances.
produced in the third quarter of 2019.
The region is also the second-largest
source of hogs at 17 percent of total hog
production of 551,600 MT in the third
quarter.
Inflation for fish picked up to 7.5 per-
cent year-on-year in December 2019 as
demand for pork substitutes went up
amid consumers aversion to African
swine fever.
PNB said high livestock food and fish
prices might be allayed by low rice pric-
E-cigs seen as less harmful relative
to cigarettes—WHO representative
A REPRESENTATIVE of the World
Health Organization who attended a
congressional hearing in the Philippines
acknowledged that electronic cigarettes
are less harmful than cigarettes.
Dr. Ranti Fayokun, a scientist in the
National Capacity-Tobacco Control
Prevention of Non-Communicable Dis-
eases, made the comment in response to
a question from a Filipino congressman
during the hearing on vaping regulation
conducted by the House of Representa-
tives in December last year.
Fayokun’s admission was made amid
the organization’s cautious stand on e-
cigarettes despite the mounting scien-
tific evidence that they are less harmful
than traditional cigarettes.
Public Health England has always
maintained that e-cigarettes are 95-per-
cent less harmful than tobacco and has
encouraged smokers who could not quit
smoking to switch to the less harmful
alternative.
Ray S. Eñano, Editor
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor
business@manilastandard.net
extrastory2000@gmail.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 B1
Chinese firm
plans refinery
in Cebu oilfield
By Alena Mae S. Flores
CHINA International Mining Pe-
troleum Co. Ltd., the operator of the
Alegria oilfield in southern Cebu, is in
talks with potential partners, including
East Asia Oil Engineering Group, for
the construction of a small oil refinery.
CIMP, a subsidiary of Polyard Pe-
troleum International Group Ltd., said
it started talks with potential partners
last year and recently gave an option
to East Asia Oil to invest in an on-site
refinery which could process 800,000
barrels a year as part of its drilling
agreement.
CIMP signed a turnkey drilling ser-
vice agreement with East Asia Oil for
six production wells.
“CIMP will offer land for the setup
and assist the contractor in securing all
relevant permits, clearances and ap-
proval from the national and regional
administrative agencies, local govern-
ment units for the construction and
operation of the refinery,” Polyard Pe-
troleum said in its report to the Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong.
Potential partners earlier contacted
CIMP to express their intention to
build a small refinery with an annual
output of 750,000 barrels in the well
site and completed a feasibility assess-
ment and preliminary plan.
“Further cooperation is under devel-
opment,” Polyard Petroleum said.
The Philippines has two oil re-
fineries, including Petron Corp.’s
180,000-barrel-per-day facility in
Bataan province and Pilipinas Shell
Petroleum Corp.’s 110,000-barrel-per-
day plant in Batangas province.
The Alegria oil field, which is under
Service Contract 49, is situated at the
southern part of Cebu.
CIMP acquired an 80-percent partic-
ipating interest in SC 49 and became
the operator the bloc in July 2009.
Polyard Petroleum indirectly ac-
quired 51 percent of CIMP’s issued
capital in October 2012, and an addi-
tional 12 percent in April 2014, bring-
ing the effective interest in the project
to 50.4 percent after the latest acquisi-
tion.
Potential partners contacted CIMP
in July 2019 to express their intention
to build a small refinery with an annual
output of 750,000 barrels in the well-
site and completed a feasibility assess-
ment and preliminary plan. Further co-
operation is under development.
Production and testing at the Alegria
oilfield in onshore southern Cebu is
ongoing and production is being read-
ied, the Energy Department said over
the weekend.
es. It said that if supply shortfall persist-
ed, the government might ease import
constraints on these commodities while
imposing regulatory price restraint mea-
sures in the affected areas.
“While it’s early days for official esti-
mates of damage to businesses, we sense
macro downside risk from this event
would take its toll on inflation rather
than on domestic demand that could un-
dermine GDP prospects,” PNB said.
Julito G. Rada
The National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering and Medicine in 2018 re-
leased a report stating that “completely
switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes
will reduce exposure to numerous toxi-
cants and carcinogens found in ciga-
rettes”.
“They [World Health Organization)
are saying if you are a country that
cannot produce regulation and can-
not enforce regulation, you must ban.
That, to me, is a contradiction. A coun-
try cannot regulate perfectly, but the
last thing it should do is ban because
the black market will proliferate. This
is an issue that is extremely important
to children. If we ban things, if we do
not regulate things, we create a black
market that does not care about chil-
dren, that does not care about elderly
people, that does not care about us at
all,” Dr. Andrew da Roza, an addiction
psychotherapist and lawyer said in the
congressional hearing.
B2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
extrastory2000@gmail.com Business

Stocks tumble; Meralco declines PSBank sells

T of bonds after
HE stock market
slumped Wednesday
in step with the rest
of Asia and on fears Taal
Volcano’s eruption could
disrupt livestock and fish
production in the Southern
Tagalog region and lead to
higher food prices.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index
plunged 128.85 points, or 1.6 percent, to
7,664.40 on a value turnover of slightly
over P7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 118
to 76, with 35 issues unchanged.
The Taal Volcano eruption will have
an impact on the trajectory of inflation
in the days ahead because the southern
Tagalog region is a main contributor to
the supply of livestock and fish nation-
wide, Philippine National Bank said in a
report Wednesday.
“We worry that the Taal eruption may
put pressure on food prices of livestock
particularly chicken and hogs (as well as
fish supply) since CALABARZON—
Taal’s location and region most affected,
is a significant contributor to local pro-
duction of livestock,” it said.
Manila Electric Co., the biggest re-
tailer of electricity, dropped 4.1 percent
to P292.40, while JG Summit Holdings
Inc. of the Gokongwei Group fell 3.9
percent to P73.50.
Major power producer Aboitiz Power
Corp. declined 3.8 percent to P32.50,
while Security Bank Corp., the sixth-
largest lender in terms of assets, was
down 3.6 percent to P185.
The rest of Asian markets fell Wednes-
day as investors took their foot off the
pedal following weeks of gains, with fo-
cus on the signing later in the day of the
China-US trade deal.
With few other catalysts to drive buy-
ing on Wednesday, regional markets
tracked a weak lead from Wall Street.
Tokyo and Shanghai both ended down
0.5 percent, while Hong Kong was off
0.6 percent in the afternoon.
Seoul and Singapore each dropped 0.4
percent, while there were also deep losses
in Mumbai, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta,
though Sydney and Wellington rose.
While the mood on trading floors was
broadly upbeat as tensions between the
economic superpowers ease, analysts
warned there will not likely be much
more progress on the next phase of talks
ahead of the November US presidential
election.
The mini pact, which has de-escalated
a two-year stand-off that has jolted the
global economy, saw the White House
halve tariffs imposed on September 1 on
$120 billion of Chinese goods and can-
cel another round set for December 15.
In return, Beijing pledged vast sums
to buy US products including pork and
soybeans.
P4.65b worth
Still, the next round of negotiations
is expected to be the toughest, with key
issues including China’s massive subsi-
dies for state industry and forced tech-
nology transfer proving key sticking
points.
strong demand
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
By Julito G. Rada
denied a report that it could include pro-
visions to roll back more levies on China
PHILIPPINE Savings Bank, the thrift-
after the presidential vote, with progress
on phase two the key to measures being
banking unit of the Metrobank Group,
raised P4.65 billion from the issuance of
removed.
peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds due
But he did tell Fox Business network:
to strong demand from investors.
“I think phase one is an enormous step
The bank said in a statement the
in the right direction.”
amount raised was significantly higher
Officials said full details would be
than the planned initial offer of P3 bil-
made public after the signing ceremony
lion. It said strong demand compelled it
in Washington.
to cut short the offering period to Jan.
“We should not expect further tariff
13, 2020 from Jan. 21, 2020.
relief until after the November presi-
“The three-year peso fixed-rate bonds
dential elections, suggesting that today’s
which was priced at 4.5 percent per an-
agreement is probably as good as it
num were almost two times oversub-
gets for 2020,” said National Australia
scribed. Interest payments will be paid
Bank’s Tapas Strickland. AFP
on a quarterly basis,” PSBank said.
The second tranche is part of the

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review

banks’s P40-billion funding program.
PSBank in July raised P6.3 billion from
the first tranche.
wedneSday, January 15, 2020 “Both issuances will give the bank an
opportunity to access long-term funding
NET FOREIGN NET FOREIGN as it further expands its consumer bank-
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VOLUME VALUE BUYING/(SELLING), NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VOLUME VALUE BUYING/(SELLING),
PHP PHP ing business,” it said.
The bond will be listed in Philippine
FINANCIALS SHANG PROP 3.24 3.24 3.24 3.24 20,000 64,800 -16,200
ASIA UNITED 53.6 53.9 53.6 53.9 960 51,594 - SM PRIME HLDG 40.9 40.95 40.5 40.7 14,451,500 588,151,950 -122,938,235 Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Feb. 4,
BANK PH ISLANDS 86.45 86.45 83.65 83.7 3,221,650 271,983,643.50 -113,385,332 STA LUCIA LAND 2.42 2.45 2.42 2.43 27,000 65,600 - 2020.
BDO LEASING 2.34 2.43 2.24 2.43 222,000 524,410 - SUNTRUST HOME 1.67 1.69 1.57 1.57 12,022,000 19,462,990 -
BDO UNIBANK 155 155.1 153.2 153.2 3,331,300 513,125,491 -40,205,248 VISTA LAND 7.46 7.46 7.4 7.4 8,099,800 59,971,622 -10,076,076 Standard Chartered Bank acted as
BRIGHT KINDLE 0.88 0.89 0.88 0.89 15,000 13,310 - VISTAMALLS 5.87 5.87 5.8 5.85 41,300 241,577 - arranger and selling agent, along with
CHINABANK 25.05 25.05 25 25.05 68,200 1,706,905 10,020
COL FINANCIAL 18.02 18.1 18.02 18.1 1,700 30,642 - SERVICES Metrobank, First Metro Investment
EAST WEST BANK 12 12.32 11.94 12.28 347,100 4,221,866 -195,324 2GO GROUP 9.85 9.85 9.6 9.6 3,800 37,075 -1,930.00 Corp. and PSBank.
FERRONOUX HLDG 3.75 3.95 3.71 3.93 75,000 291,650 7,540 ABS CBN 18.2 18.4 18 18.02 265,400 4,797,940 -
FILIPINO FUND 6.81 6.81 6.81 6.81 1,600 10,896 - ALLHOME 11.52 11.54 11.48 11.5 1,018,000 11,705,286 -1,651,958
Philippine Dealing and Trust Corp.
METROBANK 65.8 65.8 64.95 65 2,967,360 192,946,793.50 -96,530,816.50 APC GROUP 0.41 0.41 0.4 0.405 390,000 158,300 - will serve as the registry and paying
PB BANK 12.02 12.02 12.02 12.02 45,600 548,112 - APOLLO GLOBAL 0.045 0.047 0.045 0.047 8,700,000 399,200 - agent of the issuance. Picazo Buyco Tan
PBCOM 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 1,400 29,120 8,320 BERJAYA 3.65 3.9 3.56 3.56 2,946,000 11,005,540 113,610
PHIL NATL BANK 33.2 33.95 32.1 32.1 644,200 21,049,485 -12,081,255 BLOOMBERRY 10.9 11 10.74 10.84 1,499,700 16,258,910 8,383,134 Fider and Santos served as transaction
PHIL STOCK EXCH
PSBANK
178
58
178
58
174
58
177.8
58
420
170
73,538
9,860
-
-
CEBU AIR
CHELSEA
88.5
5.58
88.85
5.61
88.45
5.44
88.7
5.57
52,400
487,600
4,646,453
2,713,735
207,109.50
178,560
counsel and Development Bank of the
RCBC 23 23 22.6 22.6 13,400 305,420 -271,320 EASYCALL 8.54 8.85 8.54 8.6 9,200 79,395 - Philippines as trustee.
SECURITY BANK
UNION BANK
192
58.5
192
58.5
185
58.4
185
58.4
576,790
280
107,676,671
16,359
-50,728,181
-9,928
FAR EASTERN U
GLOBE TELECOM
890
1,996
892
2,066
890
1,996
892
2,062
50
93,230
44,530
191,912,740
-
52,391,940
PSBank is one of the biggest thrift
GMA NETWORK 5.41 5.45 5.41 5.45 176,800 960,306 - banks in the country in terms of assets,
INDUSTRIAL GOLDEN BRIA 435 449 429.2 438.6 47,190 20,717,766 - loans, deposits, and nationwide coverage.
ABOITIZ POWER 33.8 33.8 32.4 32.5 2,341,200 77,429,375 -46,338,045 HARBOR STAR 1.31 1.45 1.31 1.42 4,485,000 6,250,880 268,220
AC ENERGY 2.3 2.38 2.3 2.32 2,767,000 6,477,820 751,830 IMPERIAL 1.77 1.77 1.66 1.66 8,000 13,620 - PSBank in the third quarter of 2019
AGRINURTURE 12.78 12.8 12.6 12.6 901,500 11,485,384 -4,209,120 INTL CONTAINER 131.9 132.8 130.5 131.5 1,524,240 200,705,687 -85,437,782 posted a 20-percent jump in net income
ALLIANCE SELECT 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 578,000 313,560 - IPM HLDG 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 100 780 -
ALSONS CONS 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 11,000 13,640 - ISLAND INFO 0.102 0.11 0.102 0.106 4,480,000 474,810 - year on year to P813 million on the back
AXELUM 2.98 3.05 2.96 3 1,064,000 3,180,250 8,930 ISM COMM 4 4.1 3.92 4.1 6,845,000 27,665,250 352,340.00 of strong financial results from its core
BASIC ENERGY 0.234 0.236 0.233 0.236 490,000 114,960 - LBC EXPRESS 13.94 13.94 13.94 13.94 700 9,758 -
CEMEX HLDG 1.58 1.62 1.57 1.57 33,129,000 52,618,780 -34,899,420 LEISURE AND RES 2.45 2.52 2.45 2.45 101,000 247,660 -2,450 revenues.
CENTURY FOOD 15.14 15.14 15 15.02 23,100 349,030 34,968 MACROASIA 14.3 14.4 13.12 13.22 1,758,000 23,665,096 -10,266,902 The third-quarter performance
CIRTEK HLDG 7.15 7.25 6.53 6.6 4,663,400 31,778,482 209,580 MANILA BULLETIN 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.41 100,000 41,000 -
CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.7 18.78 16.6 18.78 7,400 123,458 - MANILA JOCKEY 3.2 3.2 3.18 3.2 122,000 388,700 - brought the first nine months’ net in-
come to P2.2 billion, up 8.4 percent

MS
CONCEPCION 32.2 32.4 32.2 32.25 5,100 164,510 138,590 METRO RETAIL 2.09 2.1 2.08 2.09 628,000 1,314,470 -551,680
CONCRETE B 68 71 67 71 470 32,000 - METROALLIANCE A 0.9 0.96 0.9 0.96 45,000 40,560 -
CROWN ASIA 2.12 2.16 2.12 2.16 32,000 68,080 8,520 METROALLIANCE B 1 1 1 1 5,000 5,000 4,000 over the same period in 2018.
DEL MONTE 4.8 5.15 4.8 5.15 400 2,025 - NOW CORP 2.68 2.68 2.53 2.57 1,633,000 4,242,990 2,780 Core revenues rose 9.3 percent on
DNL INDUS 9.48 9.48 9.29 9.34 1,622,000 15,148,688 13,040,544 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.34 2.34 2.2 2.3 95,000 213,660 -124,500
EAGLE CEMENT 13.66 14.18 13.66 13.7 186,100 2,550,078 67,392 PAL HLDG 7.5 7.85 7.3 7.85 6,200 48,305 - year, comprising of interest income and
EEI CORP 9.11 9.18 9 9 55,200 498,671 -135,318 PH RESORTS GRP 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 2,000 9,000 - fee-based income. The earnings trans-
EMPERADOR 7.24 7.3 7.2 7.22 5,923,700 42,769,447 -3,904,347 PHIL SEVEN CORP 138.1 138.1 137 137 370 50,755 -12,395
FIRST GEN 22.4 22.4 21.5 21.6 1,373,200 29,689,565 -14,136,680 PHILWEB 2.69 2.7 2.61 2.61 430,000 1,134,500 -18,470
lated into an annualized return-on-as-
FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.4 66.8 66.2 66.45 238,290 15,818,882.50 -8,181,211.50 PLDT 1,110 1,110 1,082 1,082 264,715 290,250,770 -44,004,610 sets of 1.2 percent.
FRUITAS HLDG 1.47 1.53 1.45 1.45 26,782,000 39,611,900 48,820 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.61 0.61 0.59 0.6 4,791,000 2,854,820 -439,800
GINEBRA 38.4 38.4 37.15 38.2 17,400 665,605 57,795 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.345 0.37 0.345 0.365 14,900,000 5,366,000 -120,900.00

Ayala Healthcare
GREENERGY 2.07 2.12 2.03 2.11 6,691,000 14,002,890 3,152,240 PUREGOLD 39.75 40.1 39 39.1 802,300 31,705,485 -2,156,815
HOLCIM 13.78 13.78 13.6 13.6 129,300 1,768,412 - ROBINSONS RTL 79.2 79.2 77.5 78 676,450 52,861,559.50 -33,989,217.50
INTEGRATED MICR 7.84 7.95 7.7 7.8 739,100 5,759,203 2,678,070 SBS PHIL CORP 9.45 9.45 9.28 9.44 4,200 39,585 -
IONICS 1.25 1.28 1.23 1.27 120,000 151,910 -10,240 SSI GROUP 2.73 2.74 2.7 2.71 1,586,000 4,303,730 130,290
JOLLIBEE
MACAY HLDG
MANILA WATER
211
6.96
10.42
212
7.21
10.48
206
6.96
9.99
206
7.05
10.04
308,320
35,900
5,549,900
63,980,130
253,335
56,268,410
-1,383,062
-1,894
4,722,893
STI HLDG
TRANSPACIFIC BR
WATERFRONT
0.6
0.27
0.61
0.61
0.28
0.63
0.6
0.265
0.61
0.61
0.27
0.62
21,857,000
2,830,000
591,000
13,116,530
765,500
362,620
36,920
-
- completes deal to
acquire Healthway
MAXS GROUP 11.36 11.38 11.18 11.28 106,700 1,205,238 351,342 WILCON DEPOT 18.48 18.7 18.4 18.6 7,111,000 132,127,994 41,245,806
MEGAWIDE 15.16 15.16 14.62 15 1,363,700 20,392,924 -18,045,288
MERALCO 304.8 306 287 292.4 254,360 75,078,194 -45,534,250 MINING & OIL
PEPSI COLA 1.91 1.91 1.8 1.84 710,000 1,327,820 -175,740 ABRA MINING 0.0014 0.0014 0.0014 0.0014 9,000,000 12,600 -
PETROENERGY 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 2,000 8,500 8,500 ACE ENEXOR 9.2 9.2 8.4 8.75 630,200 5,447,618 103,117
PETRON 4.03 4.03 3.95 3.99 1,198,000 4,780,110 -206,890 APEX MINING 1.03 1.06 1.03 1.05 732,000 762,290 - By Jenniffer B. Austria
PHINMA 10 10 10 10 11,200 112,000 - ATLAS MINING 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 256,000 640,000 -640,000
PHX PETROLEUM 11.8 12 11.8 12 30,800 366,500 -34,538 ATOK 10.9 10.9 10.9 10.9 100 1,090 -
PILIPINAS SHELL 33.05 33.4 32.9 32.95 123,700 4,084,845 732,385 BENGUET B 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 12,000 13,200 13,200 AYALA Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC
PRYCE CORP 4.8 4.8 4.75 4.8 354,000 1,698,880 -14,440 CENTURY PEAK 2.9 2.95 2.84 2.86 2,104,000 6,025,620 -206,640 Health), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
RFM CORP 5.3 5.3 5.2 5.29 12,900 67,880 -17,803 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 110,000 29,700 -
ROXAS AND CO 1.92 1.92 1.88 1.89 580,000 1,101,620 - DIZON MINES 7.19 7.19 7.08 7.19 900 6,396 - conglomerate Ayala Corp., completed
ROXAS HLDG
SFA SEMICON
1.76
0.97
1.76
1.01
1.76
0.94
1.76
1
1,000
325,000
1,760
313,810
-
-
FERRONICKEL
GEOGRACE
1.62
0.202
1.65
0.24
1.56
0.202
1.58
0.22
5,011,000
24,700,000
7,942,680
5,575,250
-1,217,380
-180,000
the acquisition of Healthway Philip-
SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.4 9.85 9.4 9.85 252,700 2,449,649 72,135 LEPANTO A 0.101 0.101 0.099 0.099 320,000 31,920 - pines Inc., one of the leading clinic net-
SMC FOODANDBEV
SPC POWER
79.5
8.78
79.6
8.84
73.5
8.78
75
8.81
269,240
206,300
20,473,882
1,816,020
-4,906,815
-208,582
MARCVENTURES
NICKEL ASIA
0.9
3.06
0.91
3.19
0.89
3.04
0.89
3.19
544,000
6,977,000
489,160
21,896,330
-
1,153,700
works in the country, for an undisclosed
SWIFT FOODS 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 240,000 28,800 - NIHAO 1.02 1.12 1.02 1.08 1,313,000 1,416,830 -50,180 amount.
TKC METALS 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 1,000 990 - OMICO CORP 0.42 0.425 0.42 0.425 40,000 16,950 -12,750 The parent company said in a disclo-
UNIV ROBINA 148.5 150 147.1 150 878,310 130,853,071 29,608,328 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.76 53,000 40,040 -
VICTORIAS 2.42 2.58 2.42 2.58 70,000 169,560 -2,580 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 16,200,000 184,800 - sure to the stock exchange the purchase
VITARICH 1.23 1.23 1.2 1.21 1,518,000 1,841,170 -410,860 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 23,200,000 255,000 - made AC Health the new sole owner of
VULCAN INDL 0.93 0.97 0.92 0.95 1,108,000 1,043,180 - PX MINING 3.05 3.05 2.96 2.96 699,000 2,107,330 -1,742,930
PXP ENERGY 9.62 9.62 9.2 9.33 450,400 4,220,460 -1,550,440 Healthway Philippines.
HOLDING FIRMS SEMIRARA MINING 21.9 21.9 21.55 21.9 1,173,700 25,555,915 -6,606,400 The acquisition is aligned with AC
ABACORE CAPITAL 0.9 0.92 0.89 0.89 2,746,000 2,471,280 -
ABOITIZ EQUITY 51.7 52.4 51.7 52.4 805,600 42,035,770.50 10,121,992 PREFERRED Health’s efforts to expand its reach
ALLIANCE GLOBAL 11.2 11.22 11 11 3,986,900 44,098,418 -11,379,730 ABS HLDG PDR 17.22 17.22 16.98 16.98 387,000 6,586,240 -3,062,840 across the healthcare industry.
ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.67 0.69 0.67 0.69 140,000 93,980 -44,230 AC PREF B1 501.5 501.5 501.5 501.5 5,210 2,612,815 -
ANSCOR 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.35 32,500 206,095 -7,560 AC PREF B2R 500 500 500 500 60 30,000 - “Healthway’s 7 specialty clinics
ASIABEST GROUP 12.04 12.06 11.2 11.2 27,700 322,386 - ALCO PREF B 101.5 101.5 101.5 101.5 860 87,290 - and 40 corporate clinics integrate with
ATN HLDG A 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.94 1,383,000 1,291,530 - ALCO PREF C 104.9 105 104.9 105 14,100 1,480,442 -
ATN HLDG B 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.94 619,000 582,850 468,150 CPG PREF A 101.2 101.5 101.2 101.3 3,080 312,293 -50,600 the healthcare ecosystem under AC
AYALA CORP 790 792 777.5 790 350,630 274,897,550 -10,512,830 DD PREF 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 180 18,090 - Health’s current portfolio of primary
AYALA LAND LOG 2.93 2.93 2.83 2.85 782,000 2,241,380 -137,570 FGEN PREF G 110.7 110.7 103.8 110 10,330 1,085,832 -
COSCO CAPITAL 6.54 6.75 6.54 6.71 426,800 2,854,408 75,534 GLO PREF P 501 502 501 501 12,020 6,029,020 - healthcare clinics, retail pharmacies,
DMCI HLDG 6.75 6.83 6.6 6.69 7,793,600 52,178,427 -25,241,428 GMA HLDG PDR 5.44 5.48 5.4 5.4 52,900 288,133 281,593 and health technology platforms,” the
FILINVEST DEV 13 13.18 13 13.16 35,200 463,336 -7,800 GTCAP PREF B 970 970 970 970 50 48,500 -
FJ PRINCE B 3.61 3.61 3.61 3.61 5,000 18,050 - HOUSE PREF A 99.05 99.75 99.05 99.75 6,910 689,265.50 -
company said.
GT CAPITAL 810 810 785 785 107,760 85,676,080 -46,434,745 MWIDE PREF 100.7 100.7 100.2 100.2 22,270 2,232,699 - “Through Healthway’s specialty
HOUSE OF INV 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 4,009,000 21,648,600 -39,420 PCOR PREF 3A 1,030 1,030 1,027 1,027 1,560 1,605,900 - clinics that offer a comprehensive
JG SUMMIT 78.1 78.3 73.5 73.5 3,664,770 273,169,355.50 -128,039,508.50 PCOR PREF 3B 1,055 1,055 1,055 1,055 10,120 10,676,600 -
JOLLIVILLE HLDG 6.51 6.62 6.51 6.62 103,000 677,800 - PNX PREF 3B 108.9 108.9 108.9 108.9 1,210 131,769 - range of out-patient services in-
LODESTAR
LOPEZ HLDG
0.5
3.76
0.5
3.76
0.49
3.72
0.5
3.72
33,000
71,000
16,200
265,830
-
-41,040
PNX PREF 4
SMC PREF 2C
1,029
78
1,030
78
1,028
76.8
1,028
77.6
4,835
93,810
4,976,405
7,234,082
-
-
cluding specialty consults, imaging,
LT GROUP 11.4 11.6 11.26 11.3 936,500 10,693,692 5,422,614 SMC PREF 2D 75.2 75.2 75.2 75.2 200 15,040 - laboratory, specialized diagnostics,
MABUHAY HLDG
METRO PAC INV
0.59
3.79
0.6
3.79
0.59
3.7
0.6
3.7
89,000
43,778,000
53,210
163,404,870
-
45,780,710
SMC PREF 2E
SMC PREF 2F
75
75.85
75
76
75
75.8
75
76
27,000
13,920
2,025,000
1,055,555
-
-
ambulatory surgical services, dental
PACIFICA HLDG 5.04 5.17 4.9 5 95,200 478,222 34,800 SMC PREF 2G 75.1 75.1 75.1 75.1 6,000 450,600 - services, and physical therapy, AC
PRIME MEDIA 1.26 1.26 1.18 1.18 152,000 179,930 - Health will be able to serve a broad-
SAN MIGUEL CORP 157 157.5 151.6 151.6 255,280 39,101,816 -11,470,438 WARRANTS
SM INVESTMENTS 1,076 1,076 1,056 1,060 119,465 126,742,525 -1,404,170 LR WARRANT 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 10,000 12,400 - er base of patients that require more
SOC RESOURCES 0.8 0.82 0.8 0.81 53,000 42,520 -16,000 than basic diagnostics and primary
SYNERGY GRID 190 195 190 195 130 25,240 - SME
TOP FRONTIER 213.8 213.8 203.2 207.2 360 74,936 35,588 ITALPINAS 4 4.12 3.92 4.05 152,000 603,420 - care,” it added.
WELLEX INDUS 0.21 0.216 0.202 0.206 240,000 51,500 - KEPWEALTH 10.24 10.24 9.7 9.84 255,900 2,529,296 -9,850 AC Health plans to tap into potential
ZEUS HLDG 0.212 0.24 0.212 0.218 6,380,000 1,442,720 2,200 XURPAS 0.88 0.89 0.85 0.86 2,831,000 2,472,670 -
synergies, including patient referrals,
PROPERTY EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS sharing of medical professionals and in-
8990 HLDG 14.72 14.74 14.72 14.72 501,800 7,386,556 - FIRST METRO ETF 116.6 116.6 115 115 11,810 1,365,246 41,450
A BROWN 0.71 0.73 0.71 0.72 57,000 40,770 - tegration of diagnostics and pharmacy
ARANETA PROP 1.44 1.44 1.4 1.4 6,000 8,550 - DDS services.
ARTHALAND CORP 0.84 0.88 0.84 0.87 4,030,000 3,478,140 -8,800 USD TECH B2 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 300 285 -
AYALA LAND 43.85 44 43.2 43.2 6,208,500 270,442,585 -41,222,545 With the acquisition, Healthway is
BELLE CORP 1.9 1.9 1.88 1.88 387,000 731,100 28,410 seen to supplement and expand AC
CEB LANDMASTERS
CEBU HLDG
CENTURY PROP
4.8
6.5
0.55
4.8
6.89
0.55
4.67
6.5
0.54
4.7
6.88
0.55
412,000
91,000
1,095,000
1,944,760
625,911
594,830
75,080
616,348
-52,800
Trading Summary SHARES VALUE
Health’s clinic portfolio, which cur-
rently includes 70 FamilyDOC commu-
CITYLAND DEVT 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 23,000 19,090 -
CROWN EQUITIES 0.184 0.184 0.181 0.181 290,000 52,520 -
nity-based primary care clinics and 10
DM WENCESLAO 9.22 9.66 9.22 9.65 87,600 840,895 -138,737 FINANCIAL 17,580,941 1,589,511,588.93 FINANCIAL 1,802.72 (DOWN) 34.00
corporate clinics.
DOUBLEDRAGON 18.26 18.6 18.26 18.3 230,000 4,239,830 -1,202,864 INDUSTRIAL 9,383.22 (DOWN) 149.86
EMPIRE EAST 0.43 0.43 0.43 0.43 20,000 8,600 - INDUSTRIAL 185,117,116 1,452,988,447.965 Healthway, which serves as a phar-
HOLDING FIRMS 7,493.46 (DOWN) 128.01
FILINVEST LAND 1.55 1.56 1.52 1.54 17,433,000 26,769,860 3,587,280
HOLDING FIRMS 107,523,254 1,439,733,245.51 PROPERTY
maceutical distribution channel, will
4,024.26 (DOWN) 43.21
GLOBAL ESTATE
MEGAWORLD
1.17
4.37
1.17
4.37
1.09
4.27
1.12
4.32
281,000
27,371,000
309,520
118,293,340
-
-15,690,240
also realize value in integrating with
PROPERTY 165,428,066 1,361,480,132.14 SERVICES 1,556.05 (DOWN) 22.04 AC Health’s pharma assets, such as
MRC ALLIED 0.243 0.26 0.243 0.247 59,250,000 14,860,770 -29,290
PHIL ESTATES
PHIL INFRADEV
0.41
1.21
0.41
1.21
0.41
1.18
0.41
1.18
30,000
558,000
12,300
661,390
-
-21,600 SERVICES 93,983,007 1,103,983,688.82
MINING & OIL 7,969.46 (UP) 18.22 IE Medica, MedEthix, and Generika.
PHIL REALTY 0.325 0.355 0.325 0.345 1,130,000 387,450 7,000 PSEI 7,664.40 (DOWN) 128.85 Healthway patients will benefit from
PRIMEX CORP 2.2 2.24 2.17 2.17 406,000 896,340 89,200 MINING & OIL 94,131,931 82,687,461.72 All Shares Index 4,539.30 (DOWN) 66.67 a wider variety of pharmaceuticals to
ROBINSONS LAND 27.75 28.1 27.25 27.6 1,752,300 48,466,105 5,546,275
ROCKWELL 2.09 2.11 2.09 2.11 52,000 109,290 - GRAND TOTAL 667,018,973 7,037,371,859.66 Gainers: 76; Losers: 118; Unchanged: 35; Total: 229 be made available across various price
points.

HOLY DIP. A Sadhu (Hindu holy man) arrives with devotees to take a holy dip during the Makar Sankranti festival at the annual Magh
Mela Festival at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad on January 15. AFP
Taiwan already independent, Tsai warns China
T
AIPEI―China must rethink its hard-line stance
towards Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said
Wednesday, as she warned the island was already
independent and that any invasion would be “very costly”
for Beijing.
Tsai won a second term over the
weekend with a record 8.2 million votes,
an outcome that was seen as a forceful
rebuke of China’s ongoing campaign to
isolate the self-ruled island.
China’s leadership had made no se-
cret of its desire to see Tsai turfed out
because she and her party refuse to ac-
knowledge their view that the island is
part of a “one China”.
IN BRIEF
Minister announces
paternity leave
TOKYO―Japan’s environment minis-
ter said Wednesday he would take two
weeks of paternity leave, the first time a
cabinet minister has publicly committed
to such a move in the country.
Shinjiro Koizumi, a media-savvy
38-year-old married to a former tele-
vision anchorwoman, told a ministry
meeting it had been a difficult decision
to balance his duties as minister and his
desire to be with his newborn.
“I want to take a total of two weeks
off flexibly, making exceptions for
important public duties,” he said, add-
ing he hoped his decision would help
change perceptions and encourage other
fathers to follow suit.
He will not take the weeks off con-
secutively and said he expected to work
remotely or have shortened days during
the leave period -- which will be spread
over three months from his child’s birth.
The government’s top spokesman
backed the move, saying it was “impor-
tant to create a conducive work-place
atmosphere and social acceptance and
support for men to ask for and take pa-
rental leave.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide
Suga told reporters that he hoped Koi-
zumi’s decision would have a positive
impact on attitudes to male parenting.
There are no official records on
whether cabinet ministers have previ-
ously taken parental leave, but Koizumi
is the first to publicly announce he is do-
ing so. AFP
Sudan pressed
for reparations
WASHINGTON―The United States
warned Sudan Tuesday that payment of
reparations for victims of terrorism is a
priority for Washington as it considers
removing Khartoum from a US blacklist.
The number three official at the State
Department, David Hale, met in Wash-
ington with Sudanese Foreign Minister
Asma Mohamed Abdalla.
They discussed “relevant policy and
statutory criteria for rescission of Su-
dan’s State Sponsor of Terrorism desig-
nation,” department spokeswoman Mor-
gan Ortagus said in a statement.
Since 1993 Sudan has been on the
list of countries the United States deems
backers of terrorism for having granted
safe haven to Osama bin Laden.
But in recent years Washington has
allowed progressively warmer relations
with Sudan, citing what it called prog-
ress in the fight against terrorism, until
in 2017 it lifted a 20-year-old economic
embargo.
Since the overthrow last April of
longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir and
the emergence of a transitional govern-
ment strongly backed by Washington,
the process of removing Sudan from the
blacklist could go even faster.
For Sudan officials, who see winning
Washington’s blessing as important for eco-
nomic growth, removal from the list is key.
Hale, whose title is under secretary
for political affairs, believes that “com-
pensation for the victims of terrorism
remains a priority for the US govern-
ment,” Ortagus said. AFP
Beijing regards Taiwan as its territory
and has vowed to one day seize it, by
force if necessary―especially if it de-
clares independence.
But in her first interview since Sat-
urday’s re-election, Tsai told the BBC
there was no need to formally announce
independence because the island al-
ready runs itself.
“We don’t have a need to declare our-
New trial opens
for disgraced
ex-leader Park
SEOUL―The retrial of ousted former
South Korean president Park Geun-
hye began Wednesday over the sprawl-
ing corruption scandal that saw her im-
peached, convicted and jailed, only for
the hearing to end after five minutes.
Park, the country’s first female pres-
ident, boycotted the session, Yonhap
news agency reported. She has refused
to take part in the judicial proceedings
against her for more than two years.
As a result, the Seoul High Court
adjourned and scheduled another ses-
sion for January 31, when it will move
straight to closing arguments, Yonhap
reported.
Park was brought down in 2017 af-
ter huge street protests triggered by
allegations that she and a close friend
took bribes from top conglomerates
for government favors.
She was convicted in April 2018 on
bribery and abuse of power charges
and sentenced to 24 years, later ex-
tended for an additional 12 months,
and 20 billion won ($17 million) in
fines.
She has also been sentenced to five
years’ jail for illegally taking money
from the country’s spy agency and two
years for election law violations.
The penalties apply consecutively,
meaning she is currently serving a total
of 32 years.
But the Supreme Court has ordered a
combined retrial of the corruption and
spy agency cases, saying some of the
bribery accusations should have been
dealt with as separate charges―which
may lead to a heavier sentence.
The corruption scandal exposed
shady links between big businesses
and politics in South Korea, with Park
and her close friend Choi Soon-sil ac-
cused of taking bribes from conglom-
erates including Samsung Electronics
in exchange for preferential treatment.
Park was convicted in April 2018
of receiving or demanding more than
$20 million, sharing secret state docu-
ments, “blacklisting” artists critical of
her policies, and firing officials who
resisted her abuses of power.
Her left-leaning successor Moon
Jae-in was swept to power by the pub-
lic backlash against her and her con-
servative party.
South Korean presidents have fre-
quently ended up in prison after their
time in power, usually once their po-
litical rivals have moved into the presi-
dential Blue House.AFP
World
selves an independent state,” she said in
the interview, which aired on Wednes-
day.
“We are an independent country al-
ready and we call ourselves the Republic
of China, Taiwan.”
Modern Taiwan has been run sepa-
rately from the mainland for the last 70
years.
For decades, it was a dictatorship un-
der Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalists fol-
lowing their 1949 defeat to the commu-
nists in China’s civil war.
But since the 1980s, it has morphed
into one of Asia’s most progressive de-
mocracies, although it is only diplomati-
cally recognized by a dwindling handful
SCREENING. Natalia Baca speaks during the BAFTA Screening of Investigation
Discovery’s ‘IN MEMORIAM’ at The London Hotel on January 14, 2020, in West
Hollywood, California. AFP
White rabbit woos world with niceties
PARIS―A giggly white rabbit called
Molang, who loves nothing more than
cuddles and helping his friends, has be-
come a global children’s megastar.
The ever-smiling character began
as an emoji in South Korea before the
French animation studio Millimages
gave him new life as the star of his own
quirky kids series four years ago.
It has since become a global sensa-
tion not just for pre-school children at
which it was first aimed, but also among
teenagers and adults who have been
swept up in its fluffball of cuteness.
“Molang” now shows in 190 coun-
tries including China and has been
picked up by both Disney and Netflix.
“Molang is a big round rabbit, who
is extremely positive, imaginative and
enthusiastic,” said Marie-Caroline Vil-
land, who developed the animated char-
acter from the emoji created by Yoon
Hye-Ji.
Hong Kong protest shoppers
seek to reward their backers
HONG KONG―Seven months of un-
rest have taken a heavy toll on many
Hong Kong businesses, but pro-democ-
racy protesters are now seeking to re-
ward the shops and restaurants that sup-
port their cause by building a “yellow”
economy.
In contrast, “blue” pro-government
and pro-China businesses are frequent
targets for vandalism or boycotts.
At Fu Kee Noodles in Wan Chai, din-
ers slurp wonton under the watchful
gaze of a gas mask-wearing Pepe the
Frog, which has become a mascot of the
pro-democracy movement.
“This is a yellow shop, the boss
supports the protesters, so we de-
cided to come,” said a 47-year-old
advertising employee calling him-
self Gilbert.
“The most important thing in Hong
Kong now is that we need to help each
other, especially when the government
does not help us.”
Posters and post-it notes with pro-
of countries.
Polls show growing numbers of Tai-
wanese reject the idea that the island
should be part of the Chinese mainland.
“We have a separate identity and
we’re a country of our own,” Tsai said.
“We deserve respect from China”.
China has greeted Tsai’s re-election
with anger, warning against any move to
push the island closer towards indepen-
dence.
“Splitting the country is doomed to
leave a name that will stink for eterni-
ty,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this
week.
Chinese state media also accused Tsai
of winning the election through cheat-
Molang and his best friend, a chick
called Piu-Piu, are kindergarten Laurel
and Hardys, forever getting themselves
into a tizz in bite-sized five-minute ad-
ventures that always end with a smile.
Piu-Piu is “smaller, a little more ner-
vous and shy,” Villand told AFP at the
Millimages Paris studio near the pictur-
esque Canal Saint Martin, where some
100 animators work on the series.
She also helped come up with the very
particular language that the characters
speak, which although utter nonsense is
actually quite easy to understand.
Molangese is a mix of French, Italian
and Russian with a smattering of gib-
berish, which means anyone anywhere
can understand it without need for dub-
bing.
“The words are very clearly said
and they come back all the time,” said
Villand, meaning fans quickly get the
drift.AFP
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
B3
democracy messages cover the wall by
the cashier.
Owner Kwong Chun-hin, 30, told
AFP he hopes the yellow-blue tagging
will become a trend “because this is
good for us. I mean not just my shop, I
mean all shops”.
Some businesses openly advertise
their sympathies, undeterred by the pos-
sible loss of revenues. Apps and web-
sites advise users on which way shops
and restaurants sway.
At her bakery in Sai Wan district,
Naomi Suen sells cookies and moon-
cakes decorated with protest slogans.
“I don’t know the exact definition
of the yellow economy. I am just do-
ing what I can to support Hong Kong
people,” Suen told AFP.
In Hung Hom, site of some of the
most violent clashes of the movement
in November, when students barricaded
themselves inside a university, diners
queuing outside Lung Mun Cafe ex-
pressed a similar sentiment. AFP
ing, without providing evidence.
On Wednesday, Beijing’s Taiwan Af-
fairs Office said there were no plans to
change policy towards the island after
the landslide election.
“Taiwan’s future lies in the unification
of the country,” spokesman Ma Xiao-
guang said, adding its future must be de-
cided by “all Chinese people”.
But Tsai said China should respect the
wishes of Taiwan’s electorate.
“I hope the Chinese side can under-
stand in-depth the opinion and will ex-
pressed by Taiwanese people in this
election and can review some of their
current policies,” she told reporters on
Wednesday. AFP
US Democrats
lock horns over
war and gender
DES MOINES―Leftist Bernie Sand-
ers attacked front runner Joe Biden
on foreign policy Tuesday but found
himself fighting accusations of sexism
in the final presidential debate before
Democrats begin choosing who chal-
lenges incumbent Donald Trump in
November’s election.
With no candidate yet to carve out
a clear lead less than three weeks to
go before the first votes in the nomi-
nations battle, the stakes were high for
the six presidential hopefuls on stage
in Iowa.
The largely civilized showdown de-
fied earlier expectations of fireworks,
with tensions largely held in check
during the two-hour debate.
But a rift between Sanders and fel-
low Senator Elizabeth Warren ap-
peared to widen afterwards when War-
ren declined to shake hands with her
long-time friend and fellow progres-
sive.
The candidates tangled over every-
thing from troop deployments and for-
eign policy to health care, international
trade, climate change and a woman’s
chance of winning the White House.
Sanders, 78, assailed former vice
president Biden, 77, over his vote in
support of the 2003 Iraq war as the
modern-day tensions in the Middle
East dominated the opening exchang-
es.
With Washington’s conflict with Iran
as the backdrop, non-interventionist
Sanders drew a sharp contrast, saying
that while he opposed an Iraq war that
was “based on lies,” former vice presi-
dent Biden trumpeted the effort.
“I thought they were lying,” Sand-
ers said of the Bush administration’s
justifications for war in 2002. “I didn’t
believe them for a moment. Joe saw it
differently.”
Biden said he had long acknowl-
edged the war was “a mistake” but
refrained from sparring with Sanders
over Iraq.
Instead, Biden appealed for unity in
preventing Trump from winning a sec-
ond term.
“The American character is on the
ballot,” Biden said. “Not what Don-
ald Trump is spewing out -- the hate,
the xenophobia, the racism. That’s not
what we are as a nation.”
Each candidate is desperate for a break-
out moment that could give them the vital
momentum heading into the Iowa caucas-
es on February 3 which begins the presi-
dential primary season. AFP
Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor
lgu@manilastandard.net
editor.lgustandard@gmail.com
B4 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
Manila Water tankers, initially carrying
a combined 248 cubic meters of water,
brought potable water to 19 evacuation
centers in Batangas and Laguna, and have
since been refilled thrice, serving a total of
10,000 evacuees to date. Roy Tomandao

Isko tells fish

vendors: Get rid
of ‘suki’ system
TO avoid shortage of fish supply, es-
pecially tilapia and bangus follow-
ing the Taal volcano eruption, Manila
Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso
told fish vendors Wednesday to get rid
of the “suki” (favored buyer) system.
Domagoso said some fish dealers
opted not to sell these fishes coming
from Batangas, Laguna and Cavite,
which were adversely affected by the
Sunday eruption of Taal Volcano.
In an interview over radio DZMM,
Domagoso said more products would

Ayala firms lead private aid relief

be coming in from Central Luzon and
the Cordillera Administrative Region to
cushion the impact of the lack of supply
of these fishes due to the eruption.
Domagoso said the additional fish
supply was assured by the Department
of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fish-

eries and Aquatic Resources.
Domagoso reminded fish dealers to
accept the fish supply from the north,
as he noted that some fish dealers have
only been accepting supplies from
their “suki.”
“We already gave a directive to
our market administrator, son our 17
markets to accept all kinds of supppy
coming from the north since there’s
the so-called suki-suki, but if the
‘suki’ supplier is absent, they wouldn’t
buy,” Domagoso said.
“So if they don’t get (fish supply
from the north), there will be shortage,
“ said Domagoso.
“But there’s enough supply, only
they come from othr places. So they
have no reason to jack up their prices,”
he added.
The mayor told fish dealers to re-
frain from increasing their prices amid
a a reported shortage of bangus and ti-
lapia products coming from Batangas,
Laguna and Cavite. Stacy Ang
A
YALA Corp. is
spearheading relief
efforts from the
private sector for victims of
Taal Volcano’s recent eruption.
Thirty water tankers containing a
total of 248 cubic meters of water have
been initially dispatched to 19 evacua-
tion centers in Batangas and Laguna.
These have been thrice refilled by La-
guna Water since Monday. A total of
10,000 evacuees availed of the free
drinking water from the tankers.
Manila Water, in coordination with
the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Office,
continues to provide clean drinking wa-
ter to evacuation centers in the town of
Sto. Tomas, Tanauan City, Lipa City,
Batangas City, San Pascual, San Luis
at Cuenca, including Tagaytay City and
Alfonso in Cavite.
Manila Water Foundation also dis-
tributed 2,000 five-gallon bottles of
drinking water in Sta. Teresita and
Bauan, Batangas for evacuees from the
towns of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lau-
rel, Taal and Talisay.
Meanwhile, Globe Telecom has set up
five Free Calls and Charging Stations in
Cavite (Brgy. Amuyong Covered Court,
Bagong Tubig Barangay Hall, Brgy. Kay-
bagal South Old Rehab Center, and Luk-
sihin National HS sa Brgy. Luksuhin) and
Batangas (Sto.Tomas City Evacuation
Center Poblacion 3).
Globe is also ready to set up addi-
tional Free Calls and Charging Stations
if necessary to ensure that people stay
connected during this time of calamity.
Globe continues to provide free and
unlimited Go WiFi internet connection
in all four terminals of the Ninoy Aqui-
no International Airport (NAIA) which
have cancelled thousands of flights due
to hazards posed by volcanic ash from
Taal Volcano.
The AC Health is also fully prepared
to give medical assistance to those who
have been affected by the volcanic
eruption. Branches of Generika Drug-
store, except for those in immediate
danger zones in Batangas and Cavite,
remained open until Monday to extend
assistance.
Ayala Group has been relentless in
coordinating with concerned local gov-
ernment units in order to assure aid for
affected communities.
According to the Philippine Disaster
Resilience Foundation, the communi-
ties urgently need donations including
N95 face masks, food, mats, hygiene
kits, gensets and generous amounts of
drinking water.
Meanwhile, community organiza-
tions like the Philippine Canadian
Charitable Foundation have started
relief operations for victims of the vol-
canic eruption.
According to Rosemer Enverga, the
organization’s president, the group is
headed to the Philippines to carry out
their humanitarian and relief mission.
Enverga said the organization is ap-
pealing for monetary donations to en-
able their volunteers to buy the neces-
sary supplies like face masks and eye
drops.
“Right now we’re appealing to the
public to help out. The next few days
are very critical. Right now they’ve
lost their houses, they have nothing.
They might have shelters for now but
after that they need more help. Now
they need food, masks and eye drops,”
said Enverga.
Megaworld Foundation has also or-
ganized relief operations for more than
400 families affected by the calamity.
The foundation said it has also
pledged to donate to relief efforts of the
ABS-CBN Foundation and two other
groups.

DPWH finishes P279-m slope

work for Taguig River flooding
By Vito Barcelo
THE Department of Public Works and
Highways has completed the P279.3-
million slope protection project along
Taguig River that will ensure safety of
residents from floods during typhoons.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar
said the river is prone to overflowing
during the rainy season and the con-
struction of protective structure will
help prevent flooding in the City of
Taguig and Pateros.
“As a tributary of Pasig River, Taguig
River bounds places in Taguig and Pa-
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin teros that are very susceptible to flood-
Magalong (center) stands with PLDT ing. With the speedy completion of this
Enterprise AVP Dennis Magbatoc
(left) and Smart Wi-Fi Head Ina
Pineda as they fired up the service
after inking an agreement to deploy
Smart Wi-Fi in more areas. Inset
shows PLDT-Smart representatives
turning over Smart Infocast to the
city government.
project, residents can be more relieved
knowing that a structure now safeguards
their lives and properties,” Villar said.
He said the project was completed in
six months as the slope protection pro-
ject with bank improvement was im-
plemented into several phases and sub-
projects situated along Taguig Bridge,
M.L. Quezon Bridge, and Taguig River
East and West Bank.
The project is funded under the 2018
and 2019 General Appropriations Act,
Villar said, adding the project was re-
ported to be a part of a proposed linear
park and roadway which will serve as
an alternate route that will decongest
traffic in Taguig.

PLDT boosts Baguio rehab with Smart Wi-Fi

RESIDENTS and tourists traveling to
Baguio City can look forward to more
areas with fast, free and reliable con-
nectivity as PLDT and its wireless sub-
sidiary Smart Communications, Inc.
(Smart) expand Smart Wi-Fi coverage
in the City of Pines this year.
PLDT and Smart recently signed an
agreement with Mayor Benjamin Mag-
along to roll-out fiber-powered, carrier-
grade Smart WiFi to cover more sites
across Baguio City, including Mines
View
Park, Burnham Park Reservation,
the Public Market, Malcolm Square,
Wright Park, Baguio Convention Cent-
er, Baguio General Hospital and addi-
tional sites on Session Road.
Smart WiFi is currently up in heavy
foot-traffic areas in the city, including the
City Hall of Baguio, The Camp, the Na-
tional Bureau of Investigation Regional
Office in Upper Session Road, Partas Bus
Terminal and Saint Louis University.
This rollout of Smart WiFi in Ba-
guio City complements the ongoing
expansion of Smart’s LTE network and
PLDT’s fiber-to-the-home services in
the city and the rest of the country.
Signing the contract with Mayor
Magalong were Smart WiFi Head Re-
gina P. Pineda and PLDT Enterprise
CRM Head Dennis G. Magbatoc.
DEAL FOR POOR. Quezon City Councilor Imee Rillo, the four government hospitals
and two funeral parlors recently signed an agreement to give health benefits and
burial assistance for free to poor families in the city. Photo shows (from left) Dr. Alfonso
G. Nunez, OIC Medical Center chief, East Avenue Medical Center; Dr. Joel M. Abanilla,
executive director, Philippine Heart Center; Dr. Epifania S. Simbul, CEO, National
Children’s Medical Center; former councilor Marvin Rillo; Dr. Evelyn Victoria R. Reside,
Medical Center chief, QMMC; Debra M. Navarro of Amber Green Funeral Services; and
Rodel N. Lobo of WYN Funeral Services. Manny Palmero

15 schools in Porac benefit from CDC’s CSR effort

CLARK FREEPORT―Fifteen schools
in Porac, Pampanga recently benefit-
ted from Clark Development Corpora-
tion’s Corporate Social Responsibil-
ity program aimed at improving the
educational facilities for students in its
neighbor communities.
Through its External Affairs Divi-
sion, the state-run firm donated vari-
ous construction materials to selected
schools in Porac.
These materials include paints, hol-
low blocks, cement, lumber, roofing,
and steel bars among others. The do-
nated materials were identified based
on the needs of each school as evaluated
by CDC–EAD personnel.
CDC president and CEO Noel F.
Manankil together with EAD assistant
vice president Rommel Narciso led the
activity and turned over the materials to
the selected schools.
Among the beneficiaries of the pro-
ject are Salu Elementary, Balubad El-
ementary, Jalung Elementary, Pulung
Santol Elementary, Palat Elementary,
Pias Elementary, Pio Elementary, Man-
catian Elementary, and Pulung Santol
High School.
Likewise, elementary schools in ba-
rangay Planas, Mitla, Sepung Bulaun,
Katutubo Village, Sapang Uwak and
Camias Resettlement in Porac also re-
ceived the same assistance from CDC.
The schools are the first batch of re-
cipients under the project.

Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Noel F. Manankil with CDC assistant vice president for External Affairs Rommel Narciso and
Porac Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil join the representatives of 15 schools in Porac who benefitted from the CDC CSR Program.
 Life HOUSEHOLD
Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor
manilastandardlife@gmail.com
@manilastandardlife
@MStandardLIFE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 C1

Increase productivity?
Work
from
home
HOME OFFICE. Several studies reveal employees who telecommute or work from home are more productive because they are less distracted and have more time and energy to spend for actual work.

By Steph Llarena

A
TWO-YEAR Stanford study revealed something many
employers in the Philippines don’t know yet: people who
work from home are more productive than those who
perform their tasks in the office.

Professor Nicholas Bloom’s study in-
volving a Chinese travel agency with
16,000 employees found that work-from-
home employees worked a “true full-
shift” or more, and were able to concen-
trate better versus working in the HQ.
Employee attrition also decreased by
50 percent among telecommuters, they
also had fewer sick days, they took shorter
breaks, and took less time off. The com-
pany saved almost $2,000 per employee
on rent by reducing its office space.
Telecommuting is seen as a viable
business/work model in the Philippines,
especially considering the worsening
traffic in Metro Manila. Computer? Check! Internet connection? Check! Coffee? Check! Pajamas? Check! Working from home provides telecommuters more flexibility.

In a report published in Manila
Standard, Maria Victoria Españo,
chairperson and chief executive of
P&A Grant Thornton, said telecom-
muting is an effective way employers
can attract and retain premier talent,
reduce overhead expenses, and in-
crease productivity.
“Many workers welcome this devel-
opment as it eliminates travel time and
costs, which has significantly increased
due to the worsening traffic,” Españo
was quoted as saying.
Work-from-home scheme allows
employees to save on expenses such
as public transport or fuel and park-
ing, food purchases, and clothing costs.
They are also less distracted, thus more
productive.
Offices, especially those with open-floor space plan, can be distracting and less conducive to Employers, meanwhile, save money
some employees. on office supplies, furniture, equip-
ment, coffee, and janitorial services.
But of course, while viable, Españo
said employers should first assess
whether this arrangement is suitable
for its operations or not. This means,
telecommuting is not suitable for
jobs that require face-to-face interac-
tions, while those that do not require
constant supervision and can be per-
formed in other places—so long as the
employee has access to the same re-
sources they have in the office—can
shift to this scheme.
“Telecommuting refers to working
from an alternative workplace with the
use of telecommunications and/or com-
puter technologies,” said Españo. Here
lies the importance of reliable technolo-
gies, as in Internet connection, gadgets,
and software and apps.
Employees who are telecommuting
must have stable, and ideally high-
speed, Internet connection. Communi-
cation apps are also helpful when work-
ing from home.
For instance, Viber offers free
group call for those meetings that
can be done remotely. Telecommut-
ers must also utilize applications that
handle file delivery even in large siz-
es. Google Drive, Dropbox, and Viber
send files such as documents, images,
and videos, without reducing their
quality and file size.
It is likewise recommended to use
apps that sync across all devices to pre-
vent gaps in communication and foster
efficient workflow. It comes in handy
when the employee needs to run a quick
errand, among other circumstances.
Now, who wants to put on their paja-
mas and start working?

5 ways to optimize the household Set intention

THE beginning of the year is the perfect time to enact change or update something
at home—they can be done any time of the year, though, but it certainly doesn’t
hurt to start another chapter with an optimized household.
These improvements do not require major renovations, not even minor.
Clean out pantry
One of the easiest parts of the
house to become cluttered is the
pantry. Unload kitchen shelves
and cabinets to see everything
that is stocked up in them.
Once unloaded, wipe down
dust and crumbs hiding behind
jars and containers. Toss out
any expired goods as well as
unused cookbooks and cooking
magazines. When putting back
the items, remember to keep the
Unload kitchen cabinets to see everything stocked most used products in front for
up inside. easy access.
Energy efficient
Premium Inverter
Wind-Free Plus.
Take control of energy consumption
Take control of the electricity bill this year by making energy-efficient changes.
The ways to do it range from consciously saving electricity by turning off the
lights or unplugging devices when not in use, to switching to appliances that
consume less energy.
Consider investing in an air conditioner with Digital Inverter Technology like the
Samsung Premium Inverter Wind-Free-Plus. It has a Wind-Free Cooling function
that maintains the level of temperature without the unpleasant feeling of cold wind.
Most importantly, it saves up to 68 percent energy compared to conventional models.
Before embarking on any project,
big or small, having a goal and keep-
ing checklists in order must be the first
step. A goal and a procedure laid out
enable faster completion.
Once changes and appropriate ac-
tions have been decided, one may begin
updating the home, such, among others,
as cleaning and optimizing kitchen, re-
arranging dining area to accommodate
more people, and changing a few items in
the rooms to make them more comfort-
able or aesthetically pleasing.
Determine which room will be cleaned and
optimized first.
Update
kitchen
appliances
Take a look at
the devices and
appliances in
the kitchen and
check for damdam-
ages. Carefully
assess the condi
condi-
tion and decide
which ones need
Keep condiments and spices together in one place. to be replaced. It helps if the
Organize and label new appliance matches the
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” It’s The sleek Samsung current theme or design of the
easy to misplace objects and end up with a cluttered home 3-Door Side by Side kitchen as it keeps the place
when there’s no appropriate place for each items in the refrigerator. looking sleek.
house. This is where baskets, crates, and trays come in For instance, Samsung Side
handy in keeping a clutter-free home. by Side No Frost Space Max
In addition to organizing them, categorize and use la- Interior, which features a Digi
Digi-
bels to make anything easier to locate. Use a label maker tal Inverter Compressor tech-
or just simply cut out tags and write on them. This is also nology that reduces wear and tear, is a stylish appliance.
the chance to determine which items to keep or put up for For a more accessible way to get food items, the Samsung
donation or throw out. Turn to C2
C2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
manilastandardlife@gmail.com Life
H
OMEOWNERS in a
residential community
enjoy sustainable
living “at its finest” with all the
comforts and upscale amenities
of a 21st-century lifestyle.
According to Greenfield Deluxe,
Trava in Greenfield City, Sta. Rosa, La-
guna, was designed to give life to the
concept of luxury green living. It of-
fers high-end nature-inspired residences
ideal for families.
Residential lots span an average of
550 square meters each. There are four
modern tropical architectural designs,
which ecologically blend with the com-
munity’s wide tree-lined roads, avail-
able to choose from.
The designs of these tropical luxury
green abodes are not only energy efficient
but provide homeowners a much-needed
respite and escape from the urban chaos

Redefining luxury green living

and stress of Metro Manila. “They are
warm and gracious as well as welcom-
ing and sophisticated, epitomizing Trava’s
modern tropical suburban architecture,
said the developer.
The bespoke houses in each of the
315 saleable lots punctuate the nature-
inspired landscape of the 33-hectare
premium residential village. “These Modern and sustainable tropical homes ecologically blend with the upscale community’s wide tree-lined roads.
residential enclaves showcase creative
configurations of architectural elements
that cater to the evolving cosmopolitan
and sophisticated tastes of discerning
homeowners.”
Facilities and amenities include dedicat-
ed bike lanes and jogging paths, fully un-
derground utilities, tennis and basketball
courts, swimming pools, function rooms,
a dance studio, a fitness center with state-
of-the-art exercise equipment, and solar-
powered areas in the clubhouse.
Almost half of the development is al-
lotted to wide open spaces where tree-
lined roads and lush landscaping are
integrated.
Greenfield Deluxe, as the premiere
property arm of Greenfield Develop-
ment Corporation, aims to transform
Trava into the heart and soul of the
Greenfield ecosystem anchored on sus-
tainable living and innovation. Residential lots in Trava span an average of 550 square meters each, while facilities include swimming pools and solar-powered clubhouse, among many others.

Campaign offers new year encouragement

MANY list down New Year’s resolu-
tions in hopes of improving themselves;
starting fresh and leaving old, bad hab-
its behind. Sticking with them, howev-
er, is not as easy as making them.
Insurer Manulife Philippines has re-
solved to help customers jumpstart their
New Year’s resolutions through its lat-
est video campaign that takes a humor-
ous spin on common resolutions and
looks at how everyone can ensure they
see them through.
“This is a good time for all of us to re-
examine ourselves and start taking positive
steps toward achieving both our short- and
long-term goals,” said Melissa Henson, sen-
ior vice president and chief marketing of-
ficer of Manulife Philippines.

Many Filipinos make New Year’s resolutions.

Henson added, “Manulife Philip-

pines has a wide range of life insur-
ance products that can help secure a
FWD Insurance president and chief executive Peter Grimes (right) lead the event.
better future for Filipino families. We

A celebration for all

also have professional financial advi-
sors you can consult with to find out
which product is best suited to help
you achieve your goals.”
In addition to this engaging boost,
Manulife Philippines is launching an
online contest to support those look-
ing to achieve their New Year’s reso-
lutions. All they have to do is share
their 2020 New Year’s resolutions on
www.manulife.com.ph. Four of the
best entries will each win an insur-
ance plan worth P2 million.
“We are thrilled to hear about your
New Year’s resolutions, and we look
forward to helping you take a step
towards achieving your best life,”
Insurer Manulife Philippines launches a campaign that takes a humurous spin on common said Henson.
New Year’s resolutions, while encouraging customers to actually see them through.
DURING the holiday season, FWD Life
Insurance Corporation celebrated the In-
ternational Day of Persons with Disabili-
ties with a Paskong Pinoy-themed event at
the University of the Philippines in Boni-
facio Global City, Taguig City.
Together with partners Special Olym-
pics Philippines and Humanity and In-
clusion, FWD Insurance—through its
Community Care program—marked
the occasion with a fun-filled afternoon
of all-time favorite Filipino traditional
games, team cheers and chants, as well
as exciting performances.
FWD Insurance president and chief
executive Peter Grimes led the event.
“We’re delighted to celebrate this
special occasion with our Community
Care partners Special Olympics Philip-
pines and Humanity and Inclusion for
the second year,” said FWD Insurance
vice president and head of marketing
Roche Vandenberghe.
“As we continue to empower more
people to live fulfilled lives, we will
continue to shine a light on the tal-
ents and abilities of persons with dis-
abilities, and advocate for their right
to equally access opportunities in the
community,” added Vandenberghe.

iPhoto

The company’s Paskong Pinoy-themed celebration of the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities.

Seminar tackles multiple intelligences

THE Philippine Center for Gift
Education, Inc., in partnership with
Promil Four, spearheaded the annual
National Week for the Gifted Con-
ference. Experts and keynote speak-
ers discussed multiple intelligences.
Participants included (from left)
PCGE advisor y board members
Dr. Liezel Angeles, Dr. Eliza-
beth Vivien Magbata, Dr. Mela-
nie Donkor and Professor Mauri-
cia Bor romeo, Mikaela Samson,
PCGE president Dr. Leticia
Peñano-Ho, Ryan Tumbocon, and
PCGE advisor y board members
Dr. Per r y Esguer ra, Professor
Hercules Calanta, and Annabelle
Sangalan.
5 ways... and preserves energy.
Meanwhile, the 3-Door Side by Side
From C1 No Frost Space Max Interior with Flex-
zone uses SpaceMax technology that
French Door has a Food Showcase allows extra food storage because of its
feature that allows minimal door thinner walls compared to traditional
opening so the refrigerator stays cool refrigerators.

Alicia Keys drops
‘UNDERDOG’
Alicia Keys has released a new single called 'Underdog,' co-penned with Ed Sheeran and co-produced with Johnny McDaid.
G
LOBAL music icon, 15-time Grammy Award
winner and returning Grammy Awards host Alicia
Keys, has released her new single and visual
for “Underdog” via RCA Records.
The new song features writing credits
from both Ed Sheeran and Keys and was
produced by the singer herself and Johnny
McDaid (Ed Sheeran, P!nk).
The music video was directed
by Wendy Morgan.
Good Morning America provided an
exclusive first look at the video last week
and the full video was premiered on MTV
Live, MTV U and BET Soul as well as on
ViacomCBS’s Times Square billboards
in NYC. The song premiered first on
iHeartRadio and is currently available
to purchase and stream across digital
platforms.
“Some people may think of the word
Last week, R&B star Alicia Keys shared the music video for the new track as the latest offering from her forthcoming seventh studio
album 'Alicia.'
Knowledge Channel’s ‘MathDali’ back with new season
HOST and Math enthusiast Robi
Domingo and his gang, Kuya Igi (Igi
Boy Flores), Kuya Vic (Vic Robinson),
and twins Ate Joj and Ate Jai (Joj and Jai
Agpangan), are back to bring the fun
in learning and solving math problems
as Knowledge Channel Foundation
Inc.’s (KCFI) MathDali returns for new
episodes this season.
MathDali is a program aligned with
the K-12 curriculum of the Department
of Education and aims to prove that
learning Math isn’t difficult as it uses
key strategies and practical classroom
approaches in making learning more fun
and enjoyable for each student.
KCFI developed MathDali in 2016
after years of familiarity with the
Philippine educational landscape.
Through the program, integral life
skills like critical thinking, creativity,
communication and collaboration and
the growth mindset, which Filipino
students need to develop, are honed. The
Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA) 2018 found these as
very strong skills-component in students
from top performing countries.
“Don’t be afraid of Math because with
it, we learn values that we can apply to
real life. We don’t just teach kids about
numbers and solving problems, we also
teach them to be more determined, more
Entertainment
underdog as a negative word but I see it as
a powerful word representing people who
may be underestimated and yet still rise to
the challenge and exceed expectations,”
said Alicia.
“I love this song so much because it’s
about real life and real people and our
experiences. We’ve all been in a place
in our lives where we’ve had to defy the
odds. It’s never easy. One of my favorite
lyrics in the song is, ‘They say I would
never make it but I was built to break the
mold.’ I don’t think there’s a person on
the planet that hasn’t felt that way,” the
38-year-old singer-songwriter added.
“Underdog” is the latest offering
By regularly watching 'MathDali,' Filipino students can improve their understanding
and practical use of Math concepts, and their scores in tests.
patient, and more creative,” Kuya Vic said.
By regularly watching MathDali,
Filipino students can improve their
understanding and practical use of Math
concepts, and their scores in tests.
The new season of MathDali airs every
Sunday on ABS-CBN at 9:15 a.m. and
everyday at 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and
1:30 p.m to 2:00 p.m. on Knowledge
Channel on SKY Cable, SKY Direct, and
from ALICIA, Keys’ forthcoming seventh
studio album. The previously-released
songs include “Time Machine,” a future
funk-inspired odyssey that celebrates
the liberation that comes with letting
go, and the sultry and vibey first single
“Show Me Love,” a duet with Grammy
Award winning R&B star Miguel and
meditation on the many ways we show
love to one another.
“Show Me Love” earned Keys a
record-extending 11th number 1 on the
Billboard Adult R&B Songs airplay
chart. ALICIA will be released globally
this spring.
This is just the beginning in what
will be an exciting year for the multi
hyphenate. On Jan. 26 Keys will return as
the host for the Grammy Awards for the
second consecutive year, following her
critically-praised stint in 2019.
The show will air on CBS. Keys’
book More Myself will release on March
31 via Flatiron Publishing.
ABS-CBN TV Plus.
A production of Knowledge Channel
Foundation, ABS-CBN Corporation, and
ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., MathDali is
a certified child-friendly in the 2019
AnakTV Seal Awards.
For more information on KCFI,
visit www.knowledgechannel.org or
follow @kchonline on Twitter and @
knowledgechannel on Facebook.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
Extra International...
From C4
Top-seller Lewis Capaldi,
breakthrough rapper Dave head
Brits shortlist
Scottish indie singer Lewis
Capaldi and rapper will go head to head
in this year’s Brits Awards, with both
shortlisted for the same four prestigious
awards.
The pair have been nominated in the
male solo artist, song of the year, new
artist of the year and album categories,
organizers announced late Saturday.
London rapper Dave, 21,
broke through last year with his
album Psychodrama, which topped
Britain’s album chart, while Glaswegian
Capaldi is up for Divinely Uninspired
To A Hellish Extent, the country’s best-
selling album of 2019.
The singer also received a Grammy
nomination for his single “Someone You
Loved”, which topped the US chart.
Grime rapper Stormzy, who
headlined Glastonbury Festival in 2019,
is shortlisted in three categories, as is
singer Mabel, daughter of Swedish
star Neneh Cherry.
The best international male award
David Orobosa Omoregie, 21, known
more commonly as Santan Dave, is a
British rapper, singer, songwriter, pianist,
record producer, and actor.
Malasimbo...
From C4
For sunrise and sunset sessions, breathe in
creative and transformative energy through
meditation, yoga, dance, and journaling
meant for energizing or winding down.
Participate in morning warm-up to mindful
hikes, dance meditations, and before bed
pampering.
Family activities will be held at the
swimming pool as well as a DJ party in
which attendees can enjoy in the middle of
the rainforest.
Under the shade of a hundred trees, a
music business conference is slated to happen
at the Drilon Orchidarium where artists from
the music industry together with music lovers
have the chance to exchange conversations.
The same area will also hold the silent disco
stage in the evening with bright festival lights
beaming the trees.
Listening to Quality Sound
Amphitheaters have been a staple of
Malasimbo in delivering great sound. With La
Mesa Eco Park’s amphitheater, Malasimbo is
set to produce, once again, quality sound as
attendees discover this paradise in the city.
“[La Mesa Eco Park’s amphitheater]
sounds good and reflects the exact same
conditions of our last amphitheater. Sound
travels in time and space at 343 m/s. It’s a
science which if neglected, leads to poor
sound and concert experience,” founder and
festival director Miro Grgic says.
In the past years, Malasimbo has seen
some of the world’s best jazz, soul, world,
and dance music legends and contemporaries
make their way into the country’s longest-
standing festival. This year, artists line-
up features a mix of international and
local acts with Snarky Puppy’s Cory
Henry and the Funk Apostles and Mike
Love headlining the festival.
Joining Malasimbo are Melbourne
hit-maker
keyboardist
Laneous,
Anomalie,
Canadian
Colombian
jazz pianist Jesus Molina Quartet,
Italian guitarist Matteo Mancuso,
andUncomfortable Science. Local
music artists include Brigada, jazz
ensemble Project Yazz, and Talata ni Tala.
Alongside these artists, Malasimbo
also brings in nine DJs with Up Dharma
Down’s Ean Mayor, She’s Only
Sixteen’s Roberto Seña, Deej Fabian, Bass
Relief, Norris King,Put3ska’s Bing
Austria, Rei Ka, DJ duo Bignay Sound
System, and Jigga Who.
Creating Conversations with Music
Industry Professionals
Since its establishment in 2011, Malasimbo
With a foundation rooted in the
spirituality and message-based music of
Reggae and Rastafari, Mike Love blends
the sounds of numerous music genres.
nickie.standard@gmail.com
C3
Scottish singer song-writer Lewis
Capaldi performs at the Glastonbury
Festival of Music and Performing Arts on
Worthy Farm near the village of Pilton in
Somerset, South West England, on June
29, 2019.
pits Bruce Springsteen against Nigerian
singer Burna Boy.
The winners will be announced during
the annual awards show at London’s O2
Arena on Feb. 18.
Rockers The 1975 stole last year’s
show, with US singer Pink also honored.
The awards have recognized the cream
of British pop music since they were
first held in 1977, and have often been
peppered with scandal and farce.
Pulp frontman Jarvis
Cocker stormed the stage in protest
while Michael Jackson performed
surrounded by children in 1996. In
1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert
Nobacondumped a bucket of iced
water over then deputy prime minister
John Prescott. And Madonna suffered
whiplash injuries at the 2015 edition
when she fell off the stage wearing a giant
cape and surrounded by dancers wearing
bondage-style costumes and horns on
their heads.
The British music industry contributed
£4.5 billion ($5.8 billion, 5.1 billion
euros) to the UK economy in 2015, and
British artists accounted for one of every
eight albums purchased worldwide. AFP
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles is
bringing its unique soul, jazz and gospel
music in this year's Malasimbo.
has been supporting the livelihood of artists,
especially musicians. For this year’s music
business conference, notable international
music business executives will be discussing
critical topics about the evolving knowledge of
how the music industry works.
In an outdoor set-up space surrounded by
a scene of nature, artists and professionals
from the music industry will be talking about
Royalties, Publishers & Collection Societies,
digital marketing and monetizing music,
the use and importance of record labels,
organizing sustainable festivals and events,
song quality and right volume, songwriting
versus performance, artist management and
booking agents, making it in the Philippines
versus overseas, creating and producing
music, and corporate funding.
Keynote speakers for the music business
conference include Rolling Stones tour
manager Sam Cutler together with Quincy
Jones MGMT, Jacob Collier MGMT, FKJ
MGMT, Warner Music, and Filscap.
“Since we live in the streaming age, some
revenue streams aren’t significant anymore.
It’s important to equip local musicians with
the knowledge to understand how to sustain
themselves in the music industry,” Grgic says.
Saving the last green space
Over the past years, Malasimbo has
been contributing strong efforts on cultural
and environmental conservation through
mangrove planting, reforestation, beach
clean-up projects, and supporting indigenous
people’s livelihood.
This year, Malasimbo is looking towards
one of the last few forested areas in Metro
Manila as a place to bring in local and
international performers and artists while
raising cultural and environmental awareness
through continuous listening, creating, and
discovering the Malasimbo music and arts
scene.
For the benefit of ABS-CBN Lingkod
Kapamilya Foundation’s environmental arm,
10 percent of tickets sold will be donated to
Bantay Kalikasan. In 1999, a campaign was
launched to rehabilitate the La Mesa Nature
Reservoir. This opened the area to a total of
680,000 more trees planted in the La Mesa
Watershed, covering 98.3 percent of its 2,700
hectares.
Through the help of donors, volunteers, and
partner agencies, Bantay Kalikasan reforested
1,522 hectares within the watershed. It was
also able to transform the 33-hectare land into
a natural park with an eco-academy facility.
Tickets for Malasimbo 2020 vary on the date
release schedules. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 1, two-
day passes are at (P8,000) and one day pass is
at (P4,500). From Feb. 1 to Feb. 29, two-day
passes are at (P9,000) and one day pass is at
(P5,000). Door prices for two-day passes are at
(10,000) and one day pass is at (P5,500).
 C4
Nickie Wang, Issue Editor
nickie.standard@gmail.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
‘Ain’t got no time to chill,’
rapper Cardi B considers political career
RAP superstar Cardi B is floating the
notion of a political career, saying she
could “shake the table” as a member of
US Congress.
“I think I want to be a politician. I really
love government even tho I don’t agree
with government,” the brash artist from
New York’s Bronx borough tweeted over
the weekend.
“I do feel like if I go back to school
and focus up I can be part of Congress.
Malasimbo has seen
some of the world’s
best jazz, soul,
world, and dance
music legends and
contemporaries
make their way
into the country’s
longest-standing
festival.
Malasimbo celebrates
a decade of music
PIONEERING music and arts festivals in
the country in the last decade, Volume Unit
Entertainment is on a mission to continue
uplifting the Filipino music and arts scene
at Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival 2020.
The first music and arts festival in the
Philippines is set to happen on Feb. 29 to
March 1 at its new home at La Mesa Eco
Park in Quezon City.
Discovering Paradise in the City
Whether held up in the mountains or
by the beach in Puerto Galera, Malasimbo
has continually opened up to a diverse
community of performers, artists, bands
and music lovers, elevating the local festival
experience not just in its backyard but in the
entire country. Now, it has found a bigger
home in the lush rainforest smack right in
the middle of the metro.
While maintaining its hallmark as a
key player in environmental conservation,
YUGEL
LOSORATA
Digging EDM
IF YOU think EDM (Electronic Dance
Music) is just repetitive groove clothed
in 21st century party outfit, think again,
especially if you are dealing with a Filipino
artist embracing the genre by being seriously
himself.
Frankly, Jace Roque is not your ordinary
party-going dude trying to be cool to be in.
He is authentic in his craft and the subjects
he deals with in his songs.
“It is my advocacy to bring to light the
issue of mental health,” said Jace while
discussing his songwriting process,” adding,
“One of my songs, ‘Sober,’ talks about
anxiety and depression.”
Considering his genre of choice, that’s
truly interesting to note. Perhaps that
undertone paved the way for listeners to
stream the song, thought to be Coldplay-
influenced, over 300,000 times on Spotify.
Here is a guy who in 2017 began releasing
songs in digital format seamlessly injecting
some human side to technology-driven
material by carefully writing, arranging,
and producing his own songs. Listeners dig
where he is coming from and it’s
really an added value that his
sentimentality as a Filipino is
felt in his music.
It does help that Jace has
more to offer apart from being
genuinely retrospective in
creating music. This guy had
considerable experience
acting on both big and
small screens prior to
focusing himself on
music. He appeared
in various hit ABS-
CBN shows and played
supporting roles in
movies like Across the
Crescent Moon and Tatay
Kong Sexy. Matteo
Guidicelli fans were first
Entertainment
I deadass have sooo much ideas that
make sense. I just need a couple of years
of school and I can shake the table,”
the rapper known for hits like “Bodak
Yellow,” “Money” and “I Like It” said.
The stripper-turned-rap superstar has
gotten political in the past, famously
encouraging her fans in an expletive-laden
clip to “vote for Daddy Bernie” in 2016,
warning that foreign women “gonna get
deported if Trump is president.”
Malasimbo celebrates its 10th year at one of
the few green spaces left in Metro Manila.
The La Mesa Eco Park has over one million
trees and various species of flora and fauna. It
is also situated beside the La Mesa Dam and
Reservoir which contains the primary source
of drinking water for over 12 million residents
in the metro.
Unearthing Activities for Everyone
Malasimbo is bringing in various family-
oriented programs in the park. To connect
with your inner self, different art and wellness
programs can be attended at the Narra Grove
Pavilion. Explore music inspirations and
its healing effects using various resonant
tools and musical instruments. Find
freedom and connection in mind and body
through cultivating deep curiosity, ultimate
compassion, and empathy. Envision, design,
and craft masks with tools and materials found
in nature or recycled trash. Continued on C3
Rising indie
act Talata ni
Tala is one of
the headliners
in this year's
Malasimbo
fest.
to notice him. Then he quickly developed his
own fan base as a musician.
While music logically runs in the blood
owing to a celebrity lineage that includes
balladeer Gino Padilla for an uncle and ex-
South Border frontman Luke Mejares as
a distant cousin, it was the help of character
actor-stuntman Boy Roque, first cousin of
his mom, that really guided his path to where
he is. Boy passed away April last year and
the shock affected him to the core.
Nonetheless he knew he had to move on
and Boy would have wanted him to. Thus,
he is releasing a new single titled “Day and
Night” on the 31st, with pre-orders okayed
by tomorrow, Jan. 17.
He related, “You can expect me to write
songs about grief or ones dedicated to loved
ones. It really matters that I write songs
based on personal experience.”
The lyric video for Jace’s latest single
Love had hit more than 100,000 views, with
the track released through the international
company Kobalt Music Group subsidiary
AWAL, stressing the global level of attention
his music gets.
A self-taught musician, Jace has diligently
done his homework, mastering the software to
deliver elements of EDM tracks, perfecting
his melodies and lyrics, and keeping his
listening playlist updated and progressing.
He added, “I want to help in modernizing
the sound of OPM (Original Pilipino
Music). EDM is just a millennial term.
My idea is to infuse different
genres like R&B, rap, and pop
with dance music.”
He does it day and
night.
Last year Cardi B, who was
born Belcalis Almanzar to a Stripper-
Dominican father and Trinidadian turned-rap
mother, went off on Donald Trump superstar
and the US government shutdown that Cardi B says
furloughed federal employees amid a she could
standoff between the US president and “shake the
Democrats in Congress. table” as a
“Our country is in a hellhole right now,” member of US
she said at the time. “I feel like we need to Congress
take some action.” AFP Continued on C3
On life after death and
‘NIGHT SHIFT’
Director Yam
Laranas (left)
with actress Yam
Concepcion on
the set of 'Night
Shift.' (inset)
The duo during
the film's press
launch.
W
RITER
and direc-
tor Yam
Laranas was clear
on his message
what his film Night Shift is all about. It’s a
cerebral horror that happens in just one day,
or one night as per the film’s title, and the
action takes place in just one location—a
morgue.
Yam Laranas has been praised for his previous horror movies,
such as Aurora (2018), The Road (2011), and Sigaw (2004), for
which he won a Special Award at the Brussels International
Festival of Fantasy Film (BIFFF).
In an interview conducted by thewrap.com on how to make a
horror movie, Laranas said, “I want to see what’s real out there
and I translate them into (a) real scary (story) because that has a
connection to a lot of people…It becomes relatable. And when
you translate that into something horrifying, it touches people’s
fears, nightmares and skeletons in their closet.”
This statement is well depicted in the movie trailer where
Yam Concepcion is seen all alone in cold hallways with
flickering lights, a room with rows of beds with cadavers, Yam
running from what appears to be a group of zombies, and more.
The director also points out the importance of music in
Yam Concepcion, known Director Yam Laranas— elevating the fear and enhancing the mood of the horror movie.
for ‘Dugong Buhay’ (2013), perhaps best known for his That’s why he has teamed up once again with the award-
‘Rigodon’ (2012) and ‘Nilalang’
2004 horror movie Sigaw—has winning gentlemen (Oscar Fogelström and Albert Michael
(2015), ventures into horror
been praised for numerous Idioma) that created the music and sound for “Aurora”.
films, a challenging task for an
horror movies he had written “I am impressed how efficient every single one is in the
actress who is too familiar with and helmed.
team,” wrote Yam Concepcion in one of her Instagram posts
drama.
that shows her in the set of their movie. She commends director
“The location is another character in a horror film. It is where Yam Laranas for being a good leader that runs the whole
fear and paranoia are created,” Laranas said of the creep factor of production. She further wrote, “So lucky to be part of this
Viva Films’ first horror presentation in cooperation with Alliud movie project and to be working with all of you.”
Entertainment for the year 2020. This is Yam’s first lead role in a horror movie. She was very
“Is there life after death? Or it’s already it? What will happen to convincing as a villain in the drama series Halik on ABS-
the things that surround you? That’s the question that the movie CBN, it’s about time she shows us her acting prowess in the
wanted to ask in this film,” Laranas added. horror genre, especially with the big twist that the movie has
Starring Yam Concepcion, Night Shift is set in a hospital in store.
morgue, the movie revolves around a pathologist’s assistant “It’s my first horror movie and when I learned direk Yam
named Jessie who’s working on a straight shift one stormy night. Laranas was directing it, I got excited. When he offered
She doesn’t believe in the afterlife, but she is suddenly creeped the project to me, he said it’s going to be a different kind of
out by the strange sounds that seem to be coming from the horror movie. And my character, hindi mo sure if she’s really
cadavers. She cannot shake off the feeling that they seem to experiencing all the terrifying things happening to her or she’s
be coming back to life. As her fear intensifies, Jessie begins to just imagining them,” the lead star said.
ponder on the idea of the Final Judgment. And if indeed the day Also featuring Michael de Mesa, Irma Adlawan, Mercedes
has come that people rise from the dead, she is tormented about Cabral, Epy Quizon, Soliman Cruz, and Ruby Ruiz, Night
meeting her own end. Shiftopens in cinemas on Jan. 22.