27 SEPTEMBER 2018

IT’S TRUMP
AGAINST THE
WORLD
YELLOW SPIN
DOCTORS
TAKE OVER
100 TH GIVES
ASTROS AL
WEST TITLE
BLACK
DIAMOND
PAGE 16
WORLD PAGE 4 COMMENTARY
PAGE 13 SPORTS
PAGE 20 LIFESTYLE
HK
narcos
fall
PAGE 8
Midas hits major
hurdle for SC bid
By Alvin Murcia
MANILA, PHILIPPINES THURSDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2018
No coup, just talk
DU30: Loyalty to Republic not me
It was Supreme Court Administrator
Jose Midas Marquez who Davao City
Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio referred
to when she pointed to SC Associate
Justice aspirant trying to win her favor
by allegedly working for the withdrawal
Turn to page 6
Red-hot patriotism Farmers present a Chinese flag made from chili peppers and corn on Longguan mountain in Lishui in Zhejang province to mark China’s National Day on 1 October. President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to instill the same patriotic
fervor in the military and the whole nation as well, saying that loyalty to the Republic is paramount.
AFP
‘Political gift’
to limelight
hog
By Kristina Maralit
and Alvin Murcia
Besieged Sen. Antonio
Trillanes IV should thank the
Palace for bringing him to court
through Proclamation 572 since
the senator should consider
it as a “political gift” with his
Turn to page 2
Duterte said members
of the armed services
should confront him if
they think he should not
continue with his job
By Mario J. Mallari
and Hananeel Bordey
Amid talks of a plot from
his opponents to oust him
next month, President Rodrigo
Duterte told the military
yesterday that loyalty should
begin and end with the Republic
of the Philippines and that if
soldiers believe he should be
removed, he would be happy
Safety as business Gears for motorcycle riders including helmets bedeck a
Marikina City store as the city government stresses road safety. ROMAN PROSPERO
“to oblige.”
Duterte said in a speech before
the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology personnel
Shabu in lifters slipped past BoC
By Mario J. Mallari and Gladys Mae Ablon
The P6.8-billion methamphetamine hydrochloride
or shabu weighing 1,000 kilograms which was
suspected to have been sneaked out of a warehouse
in Cavite inside four magnetic lifters seized in
General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite last month
escaped Bureau of Customs (BoC) detection,
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard
Gordon said.
In an interview after the Senate hearing on the
in Calamba City, instead of
mounting a coup against him,
soldiers and policemen should
just talk to him.
Wishing for lady luck Hope and fishing always go together as this patient
angler shows.
ROMAN PROSPERO
PET ruling
fails to end
shading row
Duterte said members of the
armed services should confront
him if they think he should not
continue with his job instead of
taking part in moves to remove
him from power.
“You should not nurture
personal loyalty to me. I don’t
need it. I was elected by the By Elmer N. Manuel
people, you have your mandate. and Alvin Murcia
If you think I do not deserve to
be there, just tell me. I am also A ruling of the Supreme Court
tired,” Mr. Duterte said. convened as the Presidential
“And if you think that I am Electoral Tribunal (PET) issued
old and I am no longer able to yesterday failed to settle the
articulate what I should be doing clash on shading threshold in
in government, just tell me,” the the protest case of former Sen.
President added.
“Do not go into such stupid Turn to page 6
Turn to page 2
incident, Gordon supported the claims of Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General
Aaron Aquino that the narcotics “went out.”
“So Aquino is correct and those who are saying
that there was no drug are wrong,” Gordon said.
“I don’t believe that there was no drug, it was
very clear, we showed that–the Chinese went inside
the warehouse, they stayed there for four hours,
then left and when the police arrived, the magnetic
lifters had holes...,” he said.
Turn to page 6
Building block
Officials of San Sebastian
Church in Quiapo, Manila are
against the construction of a
31-story dormitory behind it as
GANDA
NG
BACKGROUND!
Turn to page 6
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NEWS
2
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
From page 1
‘Political gift’
to limelight hog
penchant for being on the limelight, presidential spokesman Harry Roque
said yesterday.
“He loves it that he is now on the limelight. This is not political persecution.
This is a political gift for him because we have given him the limelight,” he
said.
Roque added Trillanes can’t complain about persecution, especially
since the filing of cases against Trillanes went through the correct process.
“It was decided by the courts and no one can dispute the integrity and
independence of the courts in the Philippines,” Roque said in a television
interview.
The Palace earlier had said it “will respect the decision of the judiciary.”
The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 on Tuesday afternoon
granted the motion filed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to issue an arrest
warrant and hold departure order against Trillanes on rebellion charges.
The former Navy officer is enjoying temporary freedom after posting a
P200,000 bail.
Perfect sight Sniper rifle on display gets a test from a police officer at an exhibit as arms manufacturers step up promotion of their hardwares amid the
government’s modernization and upgrading plans for both the military and the Philippine National Police.
AFP
No coup, just talk
From page 1
things as a coup d’etat. You’re wasting your time,” he said
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had bared earlier a
coalition of communist rebels and political opponents of Mr. Duterte
was formed and moving to oust him in a so-called “Red October” plot.
Loyalty check urged
Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday called on the leadership of the AFP
to conduct a loyalty check within its ranks amid reports of plots to
oust Mr. Duterte if only to thwart “more serious” problems.
You should not nurture personal loyalty to me. I don’t
need it.
Lacson, however, maintained that the President has the
“overwhelming support” of the 125,000-strong military organization.
A former chief of the Philippine National Police, Lacson said while
it is normal that some members of the uniformed services are not
100 percent satisfied with the Commander in Chief, it is better to
address their vulnerability.
Lacson expressed belief that the AFP leadership is already
conducting loyalty check.
“Even without the President directing it, the AFP leadership should
already be doing the loyalty check by way of counter intelligence and
other similar builtin mechanisms,” Lacson said.
“Failing to do so would create more serious problems for them,”
he added.
Lacson’s call came amid the AFP’s confirmation of an alleged plot
by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and groups allied
with the political opposition to oust President Duterte.
Support overwhelming
He stressed the President has the backing of majority of the
soldiers.
“The President should not worry. Based on our assessment, he
has the overwhelming support of the vast majority of the Armed
Forces,” Lacson said.
On Monday, the President lamented that some soldiers are in
communication with the Liberal Party — apparently to go against him.
“While we understand his frustration, after he poured everything
(to them), he doubled their salary, his all-out support in Marawi,
he even contributed at least P500 million for prosthetics but being
politically mature and having the experience he has in politics, I think
he should understand that he cannot have 100 percent support from
the Armed Forces,” Lacson said.
“Precisely, there will be some elements that will not be satisfied
or for some reason related to the advancement of their career. So
they are opening themselves up, they become vulnerable to possible
recruitment,” he added.
The AFP, through Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., assistant deputy
chief of staff for operations, revealed “Red October Project” with CPP
founding chair Jose Maria Sison as conductor to oust Mr. Duterte.
to know rather than dubious information that they think he would
like to hear. Billions are spent on intelligence funds for fabricated
information,” Pangilinan added.
Good information
Former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
said the public should believe the President if he said that there is
a destabilization plot.
“If the President believes that there is a threat, he is working
from good information. So we should believe whatever (he says),”
Arroyo told the reporters.
She emphasized that from her experience as the former head of
state, a President has access to information that is not accessible
to anyone.
Even without the President directing it, the AFP
leadership should already be doing the loyalty check.
During his tete-a-tete with Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador
Panelo in Malacañang Palace, the president announced that there is a
destabilization plot against his administration led by the Communist
Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the
Magdalo Group and he has evidence to prove this.
“Again, going from my experience as president, the President
really has access to information that not all of us have access to,”
Arroyo said.
The past leadership of Arroyo, who was President from January
2001 to June 2010, faced various threats which included widespread
protests and several mutinies.
Arroyo also refused to comment on the revival of the rebellion
case against Trillanes and the arrest warrant that came with it.
“No reaction,” replied Arroyo when asked for comment, even when
it was pointed out that the charges against Trillanes happened when
Arroyo was president.
Alliance of foes
Don’t look now, but the Magdalo partylist and the Liberal Party
(LP) are keen on joining forces to field in candidates for the mid-term
elections, according to Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano.
Alejano said in a radio interview that there were already talks
about the alliance of the Magdalo and LP to prepare for the coming
2019 elections, noting that other groups are also keen on joining the
alliance.
“The Magdalo and Liberal Party and even the Akbayan party and
other organizations, have agreed on an alliance to come up with an
opposition slate for the elections — not an ouster plot, the so-called
Red October that sounds like White Christmas,” Alejano said.
Elmer N. Manuel
Bigger trouble ahead
The DoJ is waiting for the decision of the Makati Regional Trial Court
Branch 148 in connection with the non-bailable case of coup d’etat against
the senator.
While the Makati RTC Branch 150 issued a warrant of arrest and hold
departure order against the senator he was allowed to post a P200,000 bail in
connection with the Manila Peninsula siege with his fellow Magdalo soldiers.
Trillanes was arrested but he was set free in a matter of hours after
paying the bail set by the court.
Rex Robles, Trillanes’ counsel, said his client will cross the bridge when
he gets there, adding Trillanes is ready for an unfavorable decision.
He said it is like waiting for a miracle to have a favorable second decision.
Bail final
Under the Revised Penal Code rebellion is generally non-bailable if the
judge finds the evidence strong, but Trillanes’ petition for bail was granted
in July 2010 when the case was still ongoing at Branch 150.
This was before Alameda dismissed the case in 2011 pursuant to the
amnesty.
Branch 150 Clerk of Court Diosfa Valencia said the bail for Trillanes has
become final because it was already granted and they held bail hearings.
Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said they will answer
the additional comment of Trillanes wherein he argued that it is not with
the DoJ to say that he failed to submit or follow the requirements for the
granting of an amnesty.
Trillanes filed last 24 September his supplement to the comment and
opposition or additional comment to the first manifestation against the
motion of the DoJ for the court to issue an alias warrant of arrest and HDO.
According to RTC Branch clerk of court Atty. Maria Rhodora Peralta the
court gave the DoJ panel five days to answer the supplement to the comment
and opposition of Trillanes.
The DoJ has to file its reply up to Friday, 28 September, before Judge Soriano
can render his decision on the motion of the government against Trillanes.
No double jeopardy risk
Roque also mentioned there is no risk of committing double jeopardy on
trying Trillanes for the same charges simply because no decision has been
handed down by the courts before the former Navy officer was granted
amnesty by the previous administration.
“We’re talking about a case that was then pending, that was only dismissed
because of an alleged amnesty given to him. If my memory serves me right,
they were already at the point where the court was ready to promulgate its
decision on guilt or innocence,” he said.
He added there is no need for another determination of probable cause.
“I think what Judge (Elmo) Alameda did in Branch 150 is a correct course
of action,” he said.
“This is the same case that has been pending. It will have to be
continued given that there was a determination that the grant of
amnesty was void ab initio,” explained Roque.
“Now, double jeopardy is only attached if a decision has already been
handed down – if he is guilty or not,” he added.
A separate coup d’etat case is pending before Makati RTC Branch
148 which is non-bailable. Should the court decide in favor of the
prosecution, ordering Trillanes to go straight behind bars will be,
according to Roque, the “reasonable conclusion.”
Democracy alive
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. branded the issuance
of warrant of arrest against Trillanes as a clear indication that democracy
is alive in the country under President Duterte.
This was contrary to the claims of Trillanes that his “arrest” signaled the
“defeat of democracy” in the country even as he continued to hurl tirades
at the President.
“To some they would say that democracy that is alive, rule of law that is
alive,” Esperon told reporters after the budget hearing for National Security
Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Tuesday.
“He (Trillanes) can say that it’s the death of democracy but the judge
himself will tell you that democracy is alive, that rule of law is governing the
country,” Esperon added.
Esperon said since the court already decided on Trillanes’ case, law
enforcers have no other recourse but to enforce the law.
Mario J. Mallari and Elmer N. Manuel
Bolshevik revolution
Parlade said the plot was set to be launched 11 October in
commemoration of the “Bolsheviks Revolution in Russia in October
1917.
He said the CPP initially brokered an alliance with Tindig Pilipinas,
an umbrella organization of groups and personalities identified with
the opposition Liberal Party, for the 21 September ouster plot against
the President but failed to muster support.
Parlade, however, stressed the AFP is 100 percent supportive of
Mr. Duterte.
Meanwhile, LP members dismissed “Red October Project” as nonexistent
and product of false intelligence reports.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said “this is an old familiar
tune and it sounds like a broken record. This opposition-communist
‘Red October’ destabilization plot is a discredited fantasy tale taken
from a Tom Clancy thriller and being peddled by those who wish to
undermine our democracy to justify the declaration of a so-called
revolutionary government.”
Do not go into such stupid things as a coup d’etat.
“We, in the Liberal Party, strongly deny being part of any
destabilization plot. We adhere to the rule of law and the supremacy
of the 1987 Constitution. We are loyal to our democratic system
where government leaders are chosen directly by the people through
peaceful, orderly and honest elections,” Drilon added.
LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan, for his part, said “whoever
is giving the President false and manufactured intelligence reports
must be fired.”
“They should be giving him accurate information that he needs
Game spoiler Prospective court heroes should have the right playground or basketball court to use and not the streets where they may find their future
cut short.
ROMAN PROSPERO

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
PAGE THREE
House assures
Bangsamoro of
plebiscite fund
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP) chief Jesus
Dureza on Wednesday echoed the statement of House Speaker Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo assuring a budget allocation for the Bangsamoro
plebiscite scheduled for January next year.
Dureza said the House Speaker has personally assured him funds
for the peace process is “not a problem.”
Amnesty for the members of the MILF will come at
the proper time, which is hopefully within the Duterte
administration, said Dureza.
“We’ll work on it. It’s necessary,” he recalled Arroyo telling him.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) this week told the Senate
Finance Committee it was not provided with P857 million for the
plebiscite, raising three concerns with the committee as the panel
approved Commission’s 2019 budget which has been cut by more
than half.
The Comelec initially proposed a P24.975-billion budget for 2019
but the Department of Budget and Management slashed it to P10.279
billion. This is P5.783 billion lower than the current P16.152 billion
budget of the Commission.
Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said the proposed 2019 budget
would result in a deficiency of P1.5 billion needed for the honoraria
and travel expenses of teachers, as provided under the Election Service
Reform Act (ESRA) of 2016, which provides for increased benefits for
teachers serving during elections.
Dureza clarified there was no allocation yet in the National
Expenditure Program submitted to Congress because the Bangsamoro
Organic Law (BoL) was not yet passed when the DBM drafted it.
The BoL, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July this year,
paves the way for a wider self-rule for the Muslim minority in the
south. It is one of the requirements under a 2014 peace agreement
between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the
country’s largest Muslim rebel group.
It will install a Bangsamoro political entity in place of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and is envisioned to grant
wider autonomy to predominantly Muslim provinces and cities.
Amnesty
Meanwhile, asked about the issuance of the warrant of arrest
on embattled Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Dureza said that the
nullification of the senator’ amnesty should serve as a reminder to
future recipients of the same privilege to comply with its requirements.
The proclamation signed by Duterte voiding Trillanes’ amnesty
was specific only to the former mutineer, according to Dureza,
adding that others who will apply for amnesty in the future should
not worry about it.
Dureza said the House Speaker has personally assured
him funds for the peace process is not a problem.
“No. That should even strengthen those who would like to avail
of the amnesty later to see to it that they comply to the letter of the
requirements of the amnesty,” said Dureza. “It’s a good guidance
already…It’s a good learning for everyone to not take the amnesty
for granted.”
Amnesty for the members of the MILF “will come at the proper
time,” which is hopefully within the Duterte administration, said
Dureza.
More than 100,000 MILF combatants and officials are expected to
be covered by an amnesty under Duterte, said Mohagher Iqbal, chief
negotiator of the rebel group.
Elmer Navarro
Thousands of jobs for thousands of applicants Jobseekers gathered at the Skydome, SM North
EDSA for the Government Job Fair organized by the Civil Service Commission. At least 24 companies are offering
more than 7,000 job vacancies during the two-day fair from 26 to 27 September.
ANALY LABOR
Japanese destroyers
in friendly visit
The Japanese ship JS Akebono (DD-108), a
Murasame-class destroyer, will arrive in Manila tomorrow
for a three-day friendly visit, the Philippine Navy (PN)
said in a statement.
According to the PN, the Japan Maritime Self
Defense Force’s (JMSDF) destroyer is complemented
by two SH-60K patrol helicopters and 200 officers and
enlisted personnel and will dock at Pier 13, Manila
South Harbor at around 8 a.m. The JS Akebono will
stay until 29 September.
“The Japanese delegation is headed by the commander
of JMSDF’s Escort Division 5, Capt. Josuke Nakamura.
DD-108 has about 200 officers and crew onboard and two
embarked SH-60K patrol helicopters,” PN spokesman
Commander Jonathan Zata said.
Philippine
Navy officials will
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte welcomes the Sangguniang Kabataan officials from Davao who paid a courtesy call on him at the Malacañang Palace.
Also in photo is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
MALACAÑANG PHOTO
welcome their Japanese counterparts and would provide a
customary welcome ceremony upon arrival of the vessel.
Earlier this month, JMSDF Escort Flotilla 4 docked
at Alava Wharf, SBMA, Olongapo City, Zambales for a
goodwill visit last 1 to 5 September.
The visiting Japanese ship is accompanied by
the helicopter carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) with five
embarked SH-60K patrol helicopters, an Akizuki-class
destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD-117) and a Murasame-class
destroyer JS Inazuma (DD-105).
Around 850 officers and crew compose the visiting
Japanese delegation headed by flotilla commander, Rear
Admiral Tatsuya Fukuda, Capt. Hideki Mizuta of JS Kaga,
Cmdr. Yuki Ochimizu, of JS Inazuma and Cmdr. Takeo
Kinuyama, commander of JS Suzutsuki.
Cusi promotes
green energy
The Department of Energy (DoE) is pushing
the development of green energy efficiency
strategy at a two-day forum in Pasig City. With
the support of the Access to Sustainable Energy
Program (ASEP) of the Energy Union, the
Forum on Energy Efficiency Technologies and
Best Practices to Support Government Energy
Efficiency Projects commenced in Pasig City
yesterday.
The event aims to promote the available energy
efficiency (EE) strategies that could be implemented
in the design, construction and operation of
government building projects, as well as provide
government agencies with the latest developments
on EE technology options and best practices.
DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi noted that while
government agencies stand to gain immensely from
pursuing EE strategies, the lack of awareness and
information on EE opportunities serves as major
barrier to its incorporation in government projects
and even in government-owned and operated
buildings.
“This is a good opportunity for our government agencies
to learn more about the concept of ‘green buildings’
and its increasing role in our country’s energy future.
Imagine the amount of savings we would generate if all
SC OK’s reinvestigation
of Peter Lim’s case
The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed
the petition of suspected drug lord
Peter Go Lim to block the Department
of Justice’s (DoJ) order to investigate
the alleged involvement in illegal
drug trade.
In a two-page decision, the SC
Third Division said it resolved to
dismiss the petition of Lim for
failure to show any grave abuse
of discretion by Justice Secretary
Menardo Guevarra ordering the
reinvestigation of the charges against
him, co-accused Kerwin Espinosa
and others.
The High Court said the DoJ’s
probe “appear to be in accord with
the facts and the applicable law and
jurisprudence.”
Lim ran to the SC after losing his
appeal to stop the reinvestigation into
his alleged links to the Visayan drug
trade, in order to clear his name.
In a 47-page petition for certiorari
filed with the Supreme Court on
30 May, Lim asked the High
Tribunal to issue a temporary
restraining order against the
ongoing DoJ probe and to
reinstate the first decision
of prosecutors that cleared
him of drug charges.
His basis for the
government buildings were built and operated with
energy efficiency as a major consideration,” Cusi said.
The event aims to promote the available
energy efficiency strategies that could be
implemented in the design, construction
and operation of government building
projects.
The forum features several sessions on
EE topics which include policy, equipment,
lighting, building structure, information,
monitoring and metering systems, as well
as renewable energy technologies.
Present
were officials
from the DoE,
ASEP, PNOC,
DoF, NEDA,
PEZA, DPWH,
NEA, Energy
Service
Companies,
and EE product
manufacturers
and suppliers. CUSI
petition is his Constitutional right to
due process and argued the public
uproar over the dismissal of his
charges was not a legal basis for
former Justice Secretary Vitaliano
Aguirre ll to reinstate the charges.
The High Court said the
DoJ’s probe appear to be
in accord with the facts
and the applicable law and
jurisprudence.
Lim’s lawyers told the court the
DoJ had grossly and blatantly violated
his right to due process and speedy
disposition of cases when it reopened
a new investigation.
The petitioner said the Justice
Department gravely abused its
discretion in vacating the first
panel of prosecutors’ resolution
based merely on perceived
nationwide uproar and public
outrage over the dismissal of
the case against him.
But the uproar
according to Lim, is
like a mob rule thus he
appealed to the SC to
determine whether mob
rule may prevail over the
rule of law. Alvin Murcia
CA confirms
Rody’s brod,
Kho, Devesa
The powerful Commission on
Appointments (CA) yesterday
confirmed the ad interim
appointments of Commission on
Elections (Comelec) Commissioner
Antonio Kho Jr. and Army Maj. Gen.
Roy Devesa.
Kho will take over the vacancy
left by Comelec chief Sheriff Abas,
who was named by President
Duterte chairman last May. He
will be serving at the Commission
up to February 2022.
During the hearing at the
CA committee on constitutional
commissions and offices, Kho assured
that the Comelec is prepared for the
Bangsamoro plebiscite and next
year’s mid-term polls.
Kho is President Duterte’s fourth
appointee in the poll body. He is a
member of the San Beda University-based
Lex Talionis Fraternitas.
Meanwhile, Devesa is the
incumbent commander of the Army
Training and Doctrines Command
based at Camp O’Donnel in Capas,
Tarlac.
A member of the Philippine
Military Academy Sandiwa Class
of 1985, Devesa previously served
as senior military aide to the late
Angelo Reyes during his
time as Armed Forces
of the Philippines
chief and defense
secretary. MM
JAPANESE ship JS Akebono (DD-108).

COMMENTARY
4 Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
Daily
Tribune
WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
Crispin G. Martinez
Chito Lozada
Dinah Ventura
Aldrin Cardona
John Henry Dodson
Jun Vallecera
Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
Larry Payawal
Komfie Manalo
Patricia Ramos
Board Chair
Willie Fernandez
Publisher and President
Founding Chair
Executive Editor
Managing Editor
Associate Editors
Business Editor
Central Desk
Special Reports
Yellow spin
doctors take over
“The
seemingly
synchronized
efforts
among big
American
media outfits
to drum
up adverse
reports on
Rody as a
result of the
arrest order
on Trillanes
are helped
along by
the so-called
Columbia
connection.
It should have been game over for the forces of opportunism after
the arrest of their icon Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on revived rebellion
charges but the court order that got him off the Senate building appears
to have signaled the start of the stepped-up bid to remove President
Rody Duterte from power.
The foreign media which crave for anything against Rody or any serving
popular leader sewed up in news stories the weakening peso, Trillanes’ trip
to the police headquarters for booking, detained Sen. Leila de Lima and
the alleged killings attributed to the war on drugs in one swoop.
The false reports included one stating that public support for Rody
is “weakening.”
New York Times (NYT), which is highly critical of Rody, use data
exclusively from the yellow mob in the stories it prints.
The NYT spin was exceptionally creative, saying Trillanes “is
the second senator to be jailed after challenging Duterte.”
Trillanes is out on bail
and continues to take
sanctuary at the Senate.
It added Rody previously
retreated from an arrest order
on the hiding
senator.
“This came after Trillanes said that senior
military commanders stood behind him and
were concerned about the order,” it said.
The report added Rody claimed
“there had been a plot among
military officers, political
opponents and communist
insurgents to oust him in
October but “he never
elaborated on that
purported threat.”
The story slant was obvious since the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) had provided details of the ouster move.
Other US publications cited “persecution” on Trillanes and that
“multiple Philippine lawmakers” spoke out against the arrest.
The senators who were quoted, however, are only those from the
yellow bloc such as Liberal Party (LP) president Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
and Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
The spin then goes more imaginative, saying Rody is fast losing
his sky-high approval ratings due to the rising prices of commodities
such as rice and frustrations, “compounded by the impact of
cropland damage caused by summer storms and the recent typhoon.”
“Snags in the deadly anti-drug war and questions about ties
with China, along with inflation, appear to be chipping away at the
President’s image,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
The once-popular anti-crime campaign is also wearing thin, the
report claimed.
The seemingly synchronized efforts among big American media
outfits to drum up adverse reports on Rody as a result of the arrest order
on Trillanes are helped along by the so-called Columbia connection
which is lavishly funded by New York-based Filipino-American billionaire
Loida Nicolas Lewis through her sister Imelda Nicolas who is an alumna
of Columbia University.
The US-based anti-Duterte group also included Sheila
Coronel who is the sister of Noynoy’s peace negotiator Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer, United Nations (UN) special rapporteur Agnes
Callamard, CNN and Time reporter Rishi Iyengar, NYT reporter
Ainara Tiefenthailer and Financial Times contributor Panos
Mordoukutas.
All of them are connected to Columbia University in
“The
spin then
goes more
imaginative,
saying
Rody is fast
losing his
sky-high
approval
Upper Manhattan in New York City where they either
studied or taught in.
Iyengar wrote the Time magazine article “Night
falls on the Philippines” regarding extrajudicial
killings (EJK) related to the war on drugs,
Tiefenthaler interviewed self-confessed Davao
Death Squad assassin Edgar Matobato even before
the Senate hearing on EJK where Matobato was
exposed as a fraud.
Coronel is a known yellow journalist and is dean of
Academic Affairs at the Columbia Journalism School.
Callamard had insisted on conducting a probe on
ratings.
the war on drugs on Rody but later backed off after Rody demanded
a public debate on her findings.
The Columbia connection should be the conduit of foreign news
outfits in getting sensational stories adverse to Rody.
The reality, however, is that Trillanes’ ordeal was the result of a
court decision on a Palace order seeking the proper implementation
of the law regarding the grant of amnesty and that Rody’s ratings
remain comparatively higher than all previous Presidents, including
the yellow Noynoy Aquino.
The Pulse Asia survey conducted from 1 to 7 September showed 75
percent of 1,800 gave approval to Mr. Duterte while 72 percent trust him.
The yellow muse Vice President Leni Robredo managed only to get a
61 percent approval and an even lower 56 percent trust rating in the poll.
The spins and twists are expected to get more desperate from
here on.
“How was
democracy
lost, as
the lying
Trillanes
charged,
when there
was due
process
granted
him by the
court.
“In
the case
filed by
Aquino’s
DoH
secretary
there is a
definitive
recognition
of deaths
from
reckless
imprudence.
Spinning the arrest
order of Makati Court
judge against Sen.
Antonio Trillanes
as the death of
democracy and the
rule of law, along with
the Human Rights
Watch (HRW) claiming
that Trillanes’ arrest is
meant to silence the
critics of President
Duterte is absolute
idiocy coming as it
does from the usual critics of the
Chief Executive. Trillanes even
claimed, without basis as usual,
that the judge was pressured by
Duterte to rule against him.
Silencing critics by jailing them is
a moronic claim, given the fact that
the detained Leila de Lima has been
criticizing Duterte daily—sometimes
even twice a day—from her cell,
which criticisms have been published
and read by the media—including her
fake and invented claims of Duterte
having ordered the killing of 20,000
drug addicts and pushers. So have
the criticisms of HRW been published
and aired. Isn’t this what free media
do under a democracy?
How was democracy lost, as the
lying Trillanes charged, when there
was due process granted him by the
court and even as an arrest order
was issued, the judge still granted
him bail. If this isn’t democracy,
then what is democracy and the
rule of law all about?
There is no democracy and no
rule of law when the yellows are
not made accountable even when
laws are broken as long as it
is the yellows and
the yellow
There are curious
twists to an unprecedented
scandal already spinning
with falsehoods and
misconceptions mixed in
with truth.
One, the admission of
deaths due to homicide
directly attributed to a
controversial vaccine
by the secretary of the
Department of Health
(DoH) under Benigno
Aquino III is the latest in
a continuing albeit tragic saga.
The belated admission is especially
important. The DoH official was a
principal player as was Aquino. Both
share charges of colossal corruption and
what might amount to mass murder.
Coinciding with initiatives
to exculpate Aquino but not his
subordinates the admission gives us
rare insights into Dengvaxia’s political
dynamics. When thrown under a bus
one’s perspective narrows.
Two, recent legal counteroffensives
filed inadvertently reintroduce us to
the subject of “informed consent”
particularly critical to Sanofi Pasteur’s
Dengvaxia and its adverse effects.
Three, in a curious twist of fate,
a vaccinated physician, one of many
at the government hospital that bulkpurchased
Dengvaxia, recently died of
dengue within three days.
In a case filed recently by Aquino’s
former Health secretary who oversaw
the spawning of the Dengvaxia
immunization program in the final
months of the Aquino administration
and continued during the campaign
for Aquino’s chosen successor, the
principal charge was “reckless
imprudence resulting in homicide.”
Idiotic yellow spin
FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
BYSTANDER
Dean de la Paz
tainted opposition
breaking the law, even
when the facts are
that these same yellow
senators, charge their
yellow President’s
foes with trumped-up
charges, then claim
that this bodes well
for democracy and
the rule of law? What
hypocrites these
yellows and the present
crop of opposition
are, which is why the electorate
appears determined to rid the
country of them electorally.
As Makati Judge Elmo Alameda
stated, his September 2011 decision
dismissing the rebellion case
against Trillanes should be treated
as if it never existed.
In his ruling,
“Truth
is, despite
the yellow
spin, the
government
has a very
strong
case
against
Trillanes.
Alameda said like
Trillanes’ amnesty, his
own September 2011
decision dismissing
the rebellion case has
also been rendered
void ab initio.
“The order... being
a void order, it has
no legal and binding
effect, force or efficacy
for any purpose. In
contemplation of law, the order dated
7 September 2011 is non-existent
and therefore cannot attain finality,”
Alameda said.
The judge also said former
Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin had an “erroneous belief”
that Trillanes had complied
with the requirements when
he (Gazmin) issued a
Homicide is the
equivalent of seconddegree
murder under
US laws. Under those
charges, basically two
accusations were made.
One was that upon the
incumbency of an acting
DoH secretary succeeding
Aquino’s, the Dengvaxia
program shifted from
being a school-based
program to a communitybased
program under the
Duterte administration that inherited
but quickly halted it.
The second accusation is that
by shifting, the community-based
immunization under the Duterte
government simply required implied
consent.
These finer distinctions highlight
critical and deadly aspects where one
government agency has identified at
least 87 reported child deaths related
to Dengvaxia. While that number is
disputed, Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia
anomalies are not.
It is a deadly scandal spawned
by a drug company accused of data
manipulation and the failure to
appropriately label and forewarn
of substantial adverse downsides
where its controversial drug was
blindly administered to young children,
including those for whom dangers and
the chances of severe infection to death
exponentially increase by simply being
inoculated.
With Sanofi Pasteur at the center
it is a scandal that could not have
attained epidemic proportions as a
continuing mass killer without official
complicity, both derelict and corrupted,
personally and politically motivated.
certificate of amnesty to the
senator.
Truth is, despite the yellow
spin, the government has a very
strong case against Trillanes,
and the braggadocio and legal
moron that he is, it was he who
had convicted himself with his
“secondary evidence,” wherein he
stated in a video his admission that
he did not admit committing the
crime of rebellion and coup d’etat
against the government, claiming
he only broke the rules.
What really did him in court is
the fact that neither he nor the
defense department could produce
the amnesty application form and
affidavit of admission to the crimes
Trillanes committed in the past.
For all his braggadocio, there
went Trillanes, taking the cowardly
way out by insisting on staying
put in the Senate despite the fact
that he has posted bail and is free
from arrest, at this time, until and
unless of course, he jumps bail and
goes underground to again plot
yet another ouster move against
Duterte.
Why the Senate allows Trillanes
to transform his room in the
Senate into a hotel room and
the Senate halls a hotel lobby is
unacceptable, considering the
fact when the yellows were in
power and position, with even
then Senate President Franklin
Drilon refusing to fight for the
independence of the Senate when
he quickly acquiesced to the illegal
order of the queen of selective
justice, Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio-Morales, suspending the
three opposition senators, Juan
Ponce-Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and
Ramon “Bong” Revilla. It is the
Senate alone that has the power
to suspend a member.
Worse, while they rejected the
plea of these three political foes
of the yellow President to be able
to hold committee hearings, this
was never fought
for by Drilon. Yet
when it came to
a similar plea from
De Lima, why, the
yellow senators
fought tooth and
nail to get her out
with even a plea for her before
the High Court to argue their case
against Duterte’s withdrawal of
the country’s membership from
the International Criminal Court.
If this is not hypocrisy, what is
this then? Sincerity? The best of
intentions from these “honorable”
yellow shits?
But let’s wait for his even more
cowardly ways to surface when
another court handling the other
case of coup d’etat orders his arrest,
since the crime is non-bailable. He
can’t forever be holed up in the
Senate to hide from authorities.
And the Senate president should not
allow a fugitive senator to use the
Senate as his hotel.
The admission of Dengvaxia deaths
Details span from reckless
imprudence to the malversation of
funds; from withholding adverse
information to data manipulation.
Between officials and a drug
company, both saw a political milieu
so loose and lax millions could be
made in a single swoop. Never mind
the children. And never mind their
deaths.
In the case filed
“It is a
deadly
scandal
spawned
by a drug
company
accused
of data
manipulation.
by Aquino’s DoH
secretary there is a
definitive recognition
of deaths from
reckless imprudence.
The complaint’s
verbiage alleges
recklessness was
caused by relaxing
protocols for securing
prior consent to
authorize immunizations. It contends
that under community-based programs
consent is implied when parents bring
their children in for inoculation.
Unsaid, however, was the fact that
under Aquino’s school-based program
there was similarly no proper informed
consent required from parents. The
consent form was silent on Dengvaxia’s
adverse effects, the vaccine was not
adequately labeled for substantive
downsides and, worse, under a schoolbased
program, requisite patientphysician
protocols were absent as
critical pre-screening to determine serostatus
was systemically denied. It is
important to remember that Dengvaxia
is dangerous for seronegative children.
Indeed second-degree murder
is an appropriate charge. But the
murder spree started with Aquino’s
school-based scheme. Not at the
tail-end.
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Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
COMMENTARY
5
“It is fine
that the
government
should now
strictly
implement
regulations
in health
and
sanitation.
Before we write “finito” to
the Boracay environmental and
tourism issue, we should also
consider the issue of development
justice for the island and its
residents.
Boracay is a jewel, the brightest
of the pearl of the Orient. It has
been considered as the best
beach in the world in many ways
than one — not only because of
its more than a mile of broad
white sand that doesn’t heat up at
noontime but also because of a little-known
fact that the sand is coral sand made from
parrotfish poo.
I visit it often, the first time in 1995 when
it still had its charm — not overcrowded,
had a good choice of resorts and inns, a
sandy baywalk for strutting one’s stuff and
sampling the food and souvenirs. And you
get to visit the indigenous people who live
in the barren hills of the island, eking out
a living from bananas and cassava and from
panhandling among the tourists.
Boracay has since been destroyed by
overdevelopment and a government that
gave way to corporate interests.
Then the local government prohibited
Development justice for Boracay
four-wheel vehicles, now we
have trucks plying the narrow
streets. There was a ban on
large resorts — now we have
five star mega resorts.
Don’t get me wrong — we
may decide that the jewel
must be exploited for the good
of the people and the island
and the whole country. But for
it to be good to everyone, there
should be a proper balance
whose responsibility is with
the barangays, the town and the authorities
above. There should be development justice
that considers the elements of a) social
justice for the residents, the farmers, workers
and the Ati community, b) environmental
justice for the ecosystem of the island and
c) gender justice for all the women.
We can say that the investors and
businessmen, Filipino and foreign, as
stakeholders along with the tourists who
are also Filipino and foreign, are the
interested consumers. We can add the
workers and small retail vendors who come
with the businesses. They are guests of the
island and should pay fees and taxes for
the maintenance of the island.
CROSSCURRENTS
Antonio Tujan
“I visit it
often, the first
time in 1995
when it still had
its charm — not
overcrowded,
had a good
choice of resorts
and inns, a
sandy baywalk
for strutting
one’s stuff
and sampling
the food and
souvenirs.
It is fine that the
government should
now strictly implement
regulations in health
and sanitation, including
sewage and garbage,
besides putting in
place the infrastructure
for utilities and
transportation. But there
should be proactive
financial support for the
long-time residents to
abide by regulations
such as sewage that is
destroying the beaches.
This means subsidies for
the households besides loans for the small
inns.
But there must be a cap on the island’s
development — no large casinos and
hotels, no airports and the like which can
easily be located in the mainland in the
town of Malay. The ambiance of Boracay
should be preserved — which makes it the
best beach in the world. So you also see
broad beaches in Waikiki, Long Beach or
Sao Paolo — but there are all fringed by
high rises and large streets. Thus there
is no island charm that is found only at
its best in Boracay.
Development justice demands that
there should be a comprehensive attention
to environment — not just the marine
environment but the rest of the island
which is starting to become a concrete
jungle. On the other hand, we see the
displacement of the original tillers of the
land, including the Atis of Panay, some of
whom have a community in Boracay.
It is fine that the government is now conducting
a survey of the residents — but where will
this survey lead to? Unbelievably part
of the lands of Boracay is controlled by
landlords who would only be willing to
sell the lands to investors — but about the
tenancy rights of the peasants. Would the
Department of Agrarian Reform act on the
rights of the peasants and indigenous
and protect and ensure their right to
self-determination of their farming
lands and territory that big investors must
respect and abide by?
All of these issues should be tackled
if an Executive Order is to be crafted for
Boracay — one that is comprehensive in its
attention to development justice for the
people and the island.
That would be Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV as the ghosts of his
rebellious past have returned to haunt him ahead of Halloween.
What started as a bad omen with the discovery of his bogus
amnesty for his failed attempt to topple the administration of then
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now a full-blown nightmare
for the seditious lawmaker.
Proclamation 572 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on 31
August that declared as void ab initio the amnesty granted to
him by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2011 first spooked
Trillanes forcing him to hole up in his Senate office like a dracula
hiding from the morning light and vampire
hunters. The refuge was short-lived,
however.
Ghost-busters are helpless
in fending off Trillanes’ selfinflicted
curse as he was
served Tuesday a warrant
issued by Makati Regional
Trial Court (RTC) Branch
150 Judge Elmo Alameda for
the 2007 Manila Peninsula
putsch he led. National Capital
Region Police Office chief Director
Guillermo Eleazar led a team of police
officers and a court sheriff in arresting the senator and
escorting him to the Makati City Police Station for his mugshot.
Trillanes posted bail avoiding detention and immediately
returned to his hideout but not unscathed.
Reeling from a wounded pride,
the P200,000 bond he gave
for his temporary freedom
was also a wallet shocker
for the certified poorest
senator. Another shock
is expected when his
second arrest warrant
is issued by Makati
RTC Branch 148 Judge
Andres Soriano this
time for his 2003
Oakwood mutiny. The
amnesty for that putsch
was also void.
While the incubus of
the impending second
arrest hounds his soul,
the more frightening horror
house looms. Suspense is
building up for
the possibility
of returning to
his former cell
at the Philippine
National Police
Thrilla-ness
Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City where a colleague’s
soul is also being tormented by her evil past.
There is no one else to blame if Trillanes ends up in the dark
abyss. That is the price for reprising his 2003 and 2007 adventurism
with President Rodrigo Duterte as his new target. The fear may
not be showing in his poker face but it was evident when he
called for a miracle.
“As it is, a miracle is what we’re waiting from Branch 148,”
Trillanes said in a briefing at his office Tuesday referring to the
court that is studying his case.
There’s a premonition though as
he said “we have to expect for the
worst.”
Unbeknown to Trillanes, miracles don’t happen
as Nora Aunor’s Elsa character declared in the
award-winning 1982 film Walang Himala.
As if Trillanes’ Halloween is not thrilling
enough, the senator continues to create trouble by
badmouthing Duterte and inciting to sedition. He
also has threatened to get back at the President and
caused his arrest aside from accusing the latter’s
son and son-in-law of shabu smuggling.
“I hope he’s watching this now because he
will go through the same procedure soon,”
Trillanes was quoted as telling reporters while
under arrest, referring to the President.
Such conjuring by the Navy officer-turned-politician
“While
the incubus
of the
impending
second arrest
hounds
his soul,
the more
frightening
horror
house
looms.
may just open another Pandora’s box and worsen his predicament that
it would take exorcism to free his mind and spirit from the hate
and politicking infecting it.
“Housing
is also a
concern
that
both the
government
and the
public
sector are
amply
addressing.
SHELTON, Connecticut — At
first glance any first-time
visitor to the United States
will surely be impressed by
their great interstate highway
network, massive farmlands and
low-priced food products and
perhaps their public and private
housing program making the
country very inviting to many.
Since our arrival here two
weeks ago, these are the marks of
this country that truly impressed
us as a visiting newspaper columnist from
the Philippines. Mind you, we were not
even impressed by their railway system
which is nothing compared to Germany’s.
But their interstate highway network is
very impressive.
Land travel by car is thus the next best
option in America after their aviation
transportation. One will truly be encouraged
to travel by land to any state given the kind
of interstate highways they have backed
up by peripheral highways in every State.
That’s what we exactly did when we went
to Owensboro, Kentucky to attend our
daughter Tiara’s wedding last 22 September
to Joel Collishaw.
We traveled from Chicago to Owensboro
for over six hours covering 360 miles, which
VOX POPULI
Jesse E.L. Bacon II
Lack of political will
is equivalent to 576 kilometers
and yet that trip was short by US
standards. However, it gave us a
taste of what interstate highway
travel in the US is.
For nearly five hours while
cruising the interstate highway
in Indiana down south to
Kentucky we saw huge tracts of
land planted to corn and a few
crops. Looking at those huge
farmlands gave me the concrete
idea on how to achieve food
security making me conclude we are still
far, far behind in this regard.
When visiting Malaysia and Indonesia
a few years back, their palm plantations
mesmerized us. But the palm plantations
we saw in both countries were nothing
compared to the cornfields we saw in
Indiana and the parts of Kentucky that we
passed by. To think the Americans are not
corn eating people.
Their use for corn is primarily for animal
feeds and secondarily for human food such
as corn flakes, yet they have made sure
its supply is ample. While Filipinos are
dyed-in-the-wool rice-eating people, one
administration after another up to the
present have not endeavored to ensure the
supply of this staple food is ample year
round, hence the current crisis due to its
scarcity in the market.
Food security in America is
“One will
truly be
encouraged
to travel
by land to
any state
given the
kind of
interstate
highways
they have
backed
up by
peripheral
highways
in every
State.
not only assured by producing
them locally, it is also cheap
or shall we say affordable to
almost everyone. Those who
are hard up are extended
support by the government
just to make sure no one goes
hungry in this country.
Those in the vulnerable
sector category are assured
they will not die of hunger
though this does not mean they
are better off compared to the
Philippines’ vulnerable sector.
In fact, to a certain extent our
country’s vulnerable sector
can be considered better off
than their counterparts here
in the US who face the possibility of dying
during winter due to extreme coldness of
the weather which we don’t experience in
our country.
Housing is also a concern that both the
government and the public sector are amply
addressing. As long as one earns his keeps
through the sweat of his brow he is assured of
owning a modest house or renting a modest
apartment. In our case, housing, even the so-
called socialized ones, is hardly affordable to
so many, hence their only choice of housing
is what we call as barong-barongs in urban
poor communities.
We may argue, however, that we can never
compare our country with the US for the
disparity between the two is unbridgeable.
But if we think of the billions of pesos
of government funds lost to corruption,
perhaps we will not be as impoverished as
we are now. Just think of this. When we
were in college, Central Visayas was rocked
with what was then known as the highways
scandal in that region.
The then public works and highways
department reported that all the national
highways in the region were already
cemented. This was found to be a big flat lie.
And no one could ever believe this happened
only in Central Visayas for corruption was
and is a fact and a reality even up to now.
If every centavo of government fund was
not lost to corruption we would have built
massive highways as well. If money was not
lost to glaring government apathy like the
P2 billion lost daily due to traffic in Metro
Manila, that amount would have pumped
prime the economy and made our country
economically better than what it is now.
When will we ever wake up so we can
uplift our own state as a nation?

6 NEWS
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
PET ruling fails to end shading row
Sunshine kid Commuters day brightens up as a baby flashes a smile inside a jeepney in Cubao, Quezon City. ROMAN PROSPERO
From page 1
Midas hits major hurdle for SC bid
of a 2011 disbarment case on her.
The disbarment case stemmed from Duterte-Carpio’s
act of punching a court sheriff during the demolition of
squatter shanties in Davao City that incensed her.
The Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines Inc.
(SCOPHIL) filed the disbarment case against Duterte-
Carpio.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter filed a formal
opposition to Marquez’s nomination to become a member
of the SC bench which was revealed during an interview
that the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) conducted on
Marquez.
A vacancy was created at the SC following the early
retirement of Associate Justice Samuel Martires who
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed as Ombudsman in
place of Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Duterte-Carpio’s opposition to Marquez cropped up
when JBC member Milagros Fernan-Cayosa asked the
aspirant his comment on it to which Marquez said he
thought he had said more than enough on the issue.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter filed a
formal opposition to Marquez’ nomination to
become a member of the Supreme Court bench
which was revealed during an interview.
Marquez was prompted to restate his position after
JBC member, retired Judge Toribio Ilao Jr., asked a
follow-up question with regards to the case.
Marquez pleads case
He described as inaccurate Duterte-Carpio’s statement
that he did something or maneuvered and manipulated
in favor of Duterte-Carpio on the disbarment case.
Marquez vehemently denied that he told the sheriff
to withdraw the disbarment case against Duterte-Carpio
since SCOPHIL had decided to file the case in an April
meeting in Tagaytay City months before September when
he talked to them about the issue and the sheriffs asked
him if they should withdraw the case.
Marquez said his answer during that meeting was
that it was up to the sheriffs to decide but he reminded
them that withdrawal of a disbarment case is not up to
the court.
From page 1
it will spoil the background of
the mini basilica. They argued
the University Home Recto tower
along San Sebastian Street to be
built by Summithome Realty Corp.
will “photobomb” the only all-steel
church in the Philippines which is
Building block
a National Historical Landmark
and a National Cultural Treasure.
Like the 40-story residential
condomium along Taft Avenue
that faced objection from heritage
conservationists because it was
photobombing the Rizal Monument
in nearby Rizal Park, opposers of
the Summithome project appealed
Hard knocks Two students late for their classes try the tree route with the school
gates shut for delinquents.
AL PADILLA
From page 1
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice
President Leni Robredo.
The PET, through a resolution penned
by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin
Caguioa, said it “partially” granted
the motion filed by the camp of
Robredo asking to set aside its
earlier decision upholding
the 50-percent
threshold over the
25-percent
threshold
which
she
said
A meeting with the Davao City mayor was also sought
by the sheriffs but it failed to push through.
Marquez was also asked about a Gemma Sotto, leading
him to explain that he had met the woman and her son
on official business in London last year.
Marquez later hired the son, a young lawyer, as
a contractual law clerk at the Office of the Court
Administrator.
He was asked by Integrated Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) lawyer Milagros Fernan Cayosa if he knew Sotto
went to Davao City purportedly to intercede on his behalf
to which Marquez said he did not exactly know what
Sotto was up to in approaching the President’s daughter.
Marquez alluded to well-meaning friends or even
acquaintances who had offered him help in seeking the
SC post.
Aside from Marquez, seven associate justices of the
Court of Appeals (CA) were shortlisted for the vacant SC
position and will all undergo interviews.
Earlier, the SC en banc had voted the top four for
the vacant positions of CA justices, namely CA Associate
Justices Manuel Barrios, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari
Carandang and Japar Dimaampao.
CJ vouches for bet
Marquez, however, received a major boost
from Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De
Castro who vouched for him on his supposed
role in the alleged misuse of World Bank loan
allotted for the SC.
The chief justice said during the interview
based on her personal knowledge, Marquez
“had nothing to do with the disbursement of
the proceeds of the World Bank loan.”
Marquez said the questioned funds did
not pass through his office. He was accused
of questionable acts in relation with the
Court’s Judicial Reform Support Project,
which was funded by a World Bank loan worth
$21.9 million before the JBC in an earlier
application to succeed retired associate
justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.
Marquez was shortlisted for the post but
lost the appointment to Court of Appeals
Justice Jose Reyes Jr.
to the Manila city government and
the National Historical Commission
of the Philippines (NHCP) to stop
the building of the University Home
Recto even though it has yet to
break ground.
The complainants explained
the building, once built, will
cause traffic congestion in the
area, damage other nearby
residents, decrease property
value and create unhealthy
dust, dirt and toxic waste
during construction.
Initial reaction from
the NHCP was that the lot
where the building will be
constructed is a vacant
lot that is not located in
a historical place and has
no heritage building. The
commission has referred the
complaint to the National
Commission for Culture
and the Arts for study and
decision.
From the outcome of
the Taft Avenue tower
complaint that failed to
stop the construction of
the building, the same
may happen in the case of
the San Sebastian Street
high-rise. As in basketball,
in conservation-versusdevelopment
disputes,
height is might.
Look-see Technicians of the Metro Rail Transit 3 check the system’s railway near North Avenue as the Department
of Transportation continues to improve the once notorious transport service.
ANALY LABOR
Shabu in lifters slipped past BoC
From page 1
was used by the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) during the 2016 elections.
“After assiduously going through the parties’
comments and arguments, the Court herein
resolves to partially grant the subject motion
insofar as setting aside the use of 50-percent
threshold in the revision proceedings is
concerned,” the PET said.
The camps of both Robredo and Marcos
said PET ruling went in their favor as the Vice
President’s representatives said the 25-percent
ballot shading threshold was favored in the
recount of the 2016 vice presidential race.
Marcos counsel Vic Rodriguez said Robredo’s
camp is peddling lies when it claimed that the
PET has ruled in favor of Robredo’s earlier plea
for the 25 percent shading threshold.
Aside from Robredo, the Comelec also held
that the shading threshold should be 25 percent.
But Marcos has repeatedly insisted that the
shading threshold should be 50 percent.
“They are speaking lies to twist the ruling
of the Tribunal,” Rodriguez said, as he insisted
that the PET 18 September resolution favored
Marcos and not Robredo.
“It’s on the ruling of the Tribunal that the
correct interpretation is 50 percent as regards
the threshold and not 25. In fact in the ruling,
the Tribunal said never did it grant a resolution
stating that 25 percent would be the shading
threshold.”
It is clear in the ruling that the correct
interpretation is 50 percent as regards the
threshold and not 25 as they claimed.
The Tribunal explained that it initially
junked Robredo’s plea because it was not
informed of any act of the Comelec setting the
threshold at 25 percent but that it reversed its
position after the poll body filed its explanation.
Comelec sent PET a copy of its September
2016 resolution stating the valid vote threshold of
25 percent for the manual counting of the votes
for the 2016 national and local elections that was
the same threshold used by the Vote Counting
Machines (VCM) used in the same polls.
Refer to ER
In the same resolution, the PET decided
to abandon the use of numerical threshold in
segregating votes and instead directed revisors
to refer to elections returns (ER) generated by
vote-counting machines (VCM).
An ER is a document in electronic and
printed form directly produced by the VCM
showing the date of the election, the province,
municipality and the precinct in which it
was held, and the votes in figures for each
candidate in a clustered precinct where a VCM
was utilized.
Under the new guidelines, the segregation
and classification of ballots will be done by
referring to the ER generated by the machine
in the elections.
“In this way, the reading of the VCM is
mimicked and verified/confirmed. Also in using
“They (Chinese) got it out,”
Gordon added.
Gordon said the BoC
“deliberately (did) it or they
lack the skill” in detecting the
drugs. “I think I have proved
that,” Gordon said.
PDEA tracked the P6.8-billion
shabu a day after two magnetic
lifters were seized and which
were later found to be loaded
with 355 kilograms of shabu
worth P4.3 billion.
Gordon called for an indepth
investigation of the
shabu shipment to have those
responsible held criminally
liable.
Liability up to police
“At this point, ascribing
liability would be up to the police
force, the DoJ (Department of
Justice) and the Ombudsman but
the evidence is there,” Gordon
said.
“The Customs is still weak in
fighting drugs and smuggling,”
he added.
During the hearing, dismissed
Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto
acceded to the subpoena issued
against him and appeared before
the committee.
Acierto was tagged as the
handler of Customs intelligence
agent Jimmy Guban, who is now
detained at the Senate after
being cited in contempt by
Gordon for refusing to cooperate
with the committee.
“We have enough on Guban…
he has threatened others and
he cannot clarify his role why
he gets himself involved in the
investigation,” Gordon said.
Gordon vowed to grill Acierto
during the next hearing which he
hopes would be the last before
a committee report would be
released.
Death penalty needed vs drugs
As long as there is still no
death penalty in the Philippines,
drug syndicates will create more
the ER generated by the VCM used in the 2016
elections and not merely adopting a specific
threshold, the Tribunal’s revision procedure will
be more flexible and adaptive to calibrations of
the voting or counting machines in the future,”
the PET said.
“So far, the PET Resolution is lengthy and
rather complicated. From what can be gleaned
from it, the PET wanted to expedite the revision
of ballots by reference to the election returns
in every box,” lawyer and University of the
Philippines (UP) professor Chito Avecilla said.
As noted by the PET, however, there are
missing election returns, he added.
“In my opinion, since the purpose of the
revision is to physically count the ballots,
resorting to a shortcut may raise serious
objections,” he added.
Avecilla said the ballots should be physically
counted by the revisors in the presence of
representatives of the opposing parties.
“Since the protestant paid a fee based on
the number of ballot boxes contested, it is the
protestant’s right to have the ballots in those
ballot boxes concerned physically counted,”
Avecilla said.
The PET, through a resolution penned
by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin
Caguioa, said it “partially” granted the
motion filed by the camp of Robredo.
“That is what the revision of ballots
is precisely for. An electronic shortcut as
suggested in the Resolution defeats the purpose
of a revision,” he added.
No comment
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said
the Palace would not comment on the PET
ruling, saying President Rodrigo Duterte was
not a party to the electoral case.
“The President is not a party to the electoral
protest and that is the decision of the PET so
be it,” Roque said. “We will implement the
decision of the PET. That is why we let the
PET do its job.”
Robredo, whom Duterte earlier had
described as “incompetent,” is facing an
electoral protest before the PET after Marcos
accused the Vice President of cheating in the
May 2016 elections which also catapulted
Duterte to the presidency.
The Vice President’s camp, which sought the
use of Comelec ballot shading threshold, said
the ruling was a “victory.”
“It feels as if we can now all breathe,” said
Robredo regarding the ruling. “We hope this
will go all the way so that the election protest
can be fast-tracked and we can all move on.”
In the 2016 national elections, Marcos
lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes, making the
vice-presidential race the tightest in recent
Philippine history.
The former senator alleged that various
irregularities led to his defeat.
laboratories and continue the
proliferation of illegal drugs,
Aquino said.
Aquino said on radio foreign
drug syndicates also prefer to
operate in the country thinking
that it is easy for Filipinos to fall
prey to corruption.
PDEA tracked the P6.8-billion
shabu a day after two magnetic
lifters were seized.
“I have spoken with some
chemists, mostly Chinese and
they said that they will still build
drug laboratories in the country
because we don’t have the death
penalty on illegal drugs,” Aquino
said.
The PDEA chief added
corruption is also a factor that
keeps illegal drug traders keen
on building drug laboratories.
“In spite of the iron fist being
hammered upon illegal drugs by
President Rodrigo Duterte, they
continue to build because of their
reason that Filipinos are easy to
corrupt,” he said.

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
Lifting of deployment ban
to Micronesia eyed
NATION
7
By Raymart T. Lolo
Department of Labor and
Employment (DoLE) Secretary
Silvestre Bello III may order
the lifting of the deployment
ban of overseas Filipino workers
(OFW) to the Federated States of
Micronesia in spite of reports of
abuse and maltreatment.
According to Bello, the total
deployment ban was a drastic act.
“I received messages from
workers in Micronesia, [and] they
said they were alright. They said
if they are being abused, they
will want to come back [to the
Philippines],” he said.
The advocate group
Migrante stated that
this may result in the
increased vulnerability of
Filipino workers to human
trafficking and illegal
recruitment.
Early this month, the
Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) ordered
a deployment ban to Micronesia
upon the recommendation of the
Department of Foreign Affairs
COMMENTARY
Leading ladies in Senate polls
RED PILLS &
RABBIT HOLES
Paul Farol
“I still
struggle to
figure out
why more
Filipinos
appear to
support
certain
politicians
over others.
Five women occupy the top five slots in the most
recent Pulse Asia senatorial survey for the 2019
elections, led by also-ran presidential candidate
and Sen. Grace Poe.
Following Poe is Sen. Cynthia Villar, former Sen.
and Taguig Second District Rep. Pia Cayetano,
Sen. Nancy Binay and Davao City Mayor Sara
Duterte-Carpio.
Even after decades of closely watching elections
along with professional political campaigners, I
still struggle to figure out why more Filipinos
appear to support certain politicians over others.
The choices they make seem as random as stars.
How Poe landed in the top spot in the Pulse
Asia survey is easy enough to figure out.
The most common explanation you’ll find
among skeptics is that surveys, especially ones
commissioned for publicity/mind conditioning,
are influenced or even rigged.
I am not saying this is the case with Poe,
Villar, Cayetano, Binay and Duterte-Carpio. All
five women have served well as public officials.
A friend from Poe’s camp commented on my
Facebook post saying, “I think the masses identify
with her because she has very high integrity and
comes from a good background and that’s why
they trust her plus she could unify this country
(DFA) due to reports of Filipino
health workers being abused,
overworked and underpaid.
The resolution states that the
ban would remain in effect until
Micronesia “settles the unresolved
cases and improves the working
conditions of OFW.”
Meanwhile, about 300 Filipino
migrant workers lost their jobs
after the Philippine government
imposed a total ban on deploying
workers to Micronesia.
The advocate group Migrante
stated that this may result in the
increased vulnerability of Filipino
workers to human trafficking
and illegal recruitment like what
happened to numerous domestic
helpers during the deployment
ban in Kuwait and the United
Arab Emirates.
The group noted that abuses
will continue even after the ban
is lifted.
Overseas workers who returned
to Philippines for vacation will not
be allowed to fly back to Micronesia
because of the labor ban.
Records show that there are
currently about 2,000 Filipino
workers in Micronesia.
Fuel cards distribution continues
The Land Transportation and
Franchising Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) under its Pantawid
Pasada Program (PPP) continues
to distribute fuel voucher cards
to operator-drivers in its regional
offices nationwide.
The LTFRB encourages operatordrivers
of public utility jeepneys
(PUJ) who are named in the
franchise to claim their free PPP
cards from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This government program
intends to alleviate the effect of the
recent series of oil price increases
and higher excise taxes due to the
Tax Reform for Acceleration and
Inclusion Law.
According to
Jay Sabale,
media officer
of the
LTFRB,
a lump sum subsidy of P5,000 will
be provided to 179,852 legitimate
PUJ franchise holders until the
end of 2018.
A budget of P977 million has
been allocated to the fuel subsidy
program for its implementation
this year. Around P3.86 billion will
be allocated to provide a P20,515
yearly subsidy.
Landbank is the official fuel card
distributor through its accredited
gasoline stations including Caltex,
Shell and Petron.
The fuel card is intended only
for gas consumption.
Anybody who attempts to cash
the amount will be blacklisted
and can no longer use the card.
Mina Diaz
Time out This woman catches some shut-eye by the Marikina Riverside.
because we are so polarized because she knows
how to listen.”
As much as I am fond of my friend, I have to
point out here that the same can be said of the
other potential senatorial candidates in Pulse
Asia’s survey. Does this mean that Poe possesses
these qualities more evidently and in greater
measure than the other senatoriables?
Moreover, how have these qualities been
demonstrated?
One news report titled “Grace Poe trumpets
accomplishments as senator” seems to answer this
by pointing to press statements issued by Poe’s
office where claims are made that she initiated
improvements in areas under the Executive Branch
through the issues she investigated.
But perhaps the people whom I know that
worked as staff for a legislator or Cabinet secretary
will tell you that the word “initiated” doesn’t
really mean anything.
One claim in the news report that made me
wince was: “Poe saw to it that the necessary
basic facilities repairs and upkeep are pursued
accordingly.”
If the reporter really wanted to do her job, she
should have asked, “How exactly did Poe SEE to it
that these things were done?” But alas! You can’t
interview a press statement, can you?
My point here is that legislators
“The word
“initiated”
doesn’t
really mean
anything.
Prison vehicles delivery The 250 new transport units for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology were formally turned over at Camp
Vicente Lim for distribution to jail facilities around the country.
YUMMIE DINGDING
By Kristina Maralit
President Rodrigo Duterte
on Wednesday turned over 250
transport units to the Bureau of
Jail Management and Penology
(BJMP) for distribution to
different facilities nationwide.
Said vehicles will be used
to service detainees awaiting
conviction from the detention
facility to the court house.
The bureau has been harshly
criticized particularly on
social media for the lack of
proper vehicles in transporting
prisoners.
“The BJMP is confronted
with mobility. That’s what I
want to correct. Many of you
are sometimes killed when
ROMAN PROSPERO
legislate, they file bills and
together with other legislators,
pass laws. They can appear to
hold officials in the Executive
Branch accountable for their
performance in Senate hearings,
but they cannot themselves take
credit for the performance of departments and
government agencies under the Executive Branch.
A better way of assessing the performance
of Poe as well as Villar, Cayetano and Binay as
legislators would be to get a list of the bills and
resolutions they filed. Then, perhaps, we could
have a better basis for determining if they deserve
our support — because, why should we support
non-performers?
Jail transport units turned over in full
transporting prisoners from
one jurisdiction to another. The
BJMP staff are defenseless. I
do not want you dead,” the
Commander-in-Chief said
during the turn-over ceremony
held at the Camp Vicente Lim
in Calamba, Laguna.
“Every incident that results
in death or injury, your family
suffers. There’s a loss of income.
The problem of law and order is
wide. I will give you what you
need, but you also have to do
your part. Be assured that I am
always behind you as you fulfill
your duty in accordance with
law,” Duterte added.
In December last year,
Duterte allotted P299-million
for the procurement of a
The Iglesia Ni Cristo’s
(INC’s) local and international
outreach program providing
free livelihood assistance to
needy communities successfully
held two milestone “Aid To
Humanity, Fight Poverty”
activities at separate locations
in New York and Connecticut.
These were part of its
continuing mission to positively
and concretely affect the lives of
people and raise human dignity
in depressed and needy areas all
over the world.
The latest “Aid To Humanity”
drive last 14 September chose
Queensbridge, Long Island in
New York City as the epicenter of
the humanitarian campaign after
it came to the INC’s attention
that 48 percent of Long Island’s
residents are rent-burdened and
19 percent live along the poverty
threshold, thus barely able to
scrape a decent living.
“Poverty is poverty, whether
you’re in America, the
Philippines or elsewhere,” INC
general auditor Glicerio Santos
said, adding the INC’s current
drive was to “make even a small
dent, through these acts of
assistance, in the global fight
against poverty.” Mina Diaz
total of 322 transport units,
enabling the BJMP to acquire
in one procurement more than
the total number of vehicles
purchased for the bureau in the
past two decades.
A bulk of the vehicles, worth
around P900,000 each, will go
to Region IVA (36), Region III
(27), National Capital Region
(26) and Region VI (21).
Last July, 72 vehicles were
already awarded to respective
facilities.
The President also promised
jets for the BJMP — whose
use will be attached with the
Philippine Air Force (PAF)
since the bureau doesn’t have
an aviation department — and
new Glock firearms for its
Cayetano: OFW assistance tripled this year
By Mario Mallari
The Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA)
has released more than P1.5
billion during the first seven
months of the year in assistance
to some 42,000 overseas Filipino
workers—three times more than
the number of OFW assisted in
2017.
DFA Secretary Alan Peter
Cayetano branded the Assistance
to Nationals program of the
department as an effective tool in
taking care of the welfare of OFW.
“As of July 2018, P1.510
billion has been obligated;
42,000 overseas Filipino workers
have benefited from it. This is
triple the number from 2017,”
said Cayetano during his predeparture
speech Monday.
“The President has told us to
be more sensitive and that’s why
we’re able to accomplish this,”
he added.
Cayetano is currently in the
United States as representative
to the United Nations General
Assembly.
During the past year, Cayetano
INC’s outreach
program opens
out in US
said the DFA has expanded
programs to assist OFW even
during natural and man-made
disasters like the recent typhoon
“Ompong” and the paralysis at
the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport.
“Whenever there are stranded
OFW, they can avail of the
assistance,” Cayetano said.
The DFA is providing P5,000
cash assistance to each of the
entitled OFW which can be
claimed from DFA help desks and
field offices.
For the welfare of distressed
OFW from abroad, apart from the
cash assistance, Cayetano said
that the Duterte administration
has initiated the door-to-door
repatriation – fetching troubled
Filipinos from their host countries
and bringing them to their homes
in the Philippines.
“Before, they had to find their
way to the airport or embassy
Almost P7B in infra damage
from ‘Ompong’
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on
Wednesday reported that the initial cost of damage to infrastructure
due to typhoon “Ompong,” which hit Northern Luzon two weeks ago,
is close to P7 billion.
In a statement, the department said, “Partial cost of damage to
infrastructure of typhoon “Ompong” has reached P6.948 billion.”
It added that the biggest damage was recorded on flood control
structures which amounted to P5.278 billion.
“Combined from P1.539 billion damage to roads, P52 million to
bridges and P78.30 million to public buildings,” the DPWH said.
WE ARE HIRING!
Looking for highly motivated and result-oriented
individuals for the following posts:
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personnel’s added security
when transporting detainees.
Duterte likewise assured the
BJMP that he will gradually
provide it with the necessary
upgrades in facilities and
hardware.
Duterte allotted P299-million
for the procurement of a
total of 322 transport units,
enabling the BJMP to acquire
in one procurement more than
the total number of vehicles
purchased for the bureau in
the past two decades.
Aside from the vehicles, 117
facilities are currently being
constructed to help address
the congestion in jail cells
throughout the country.
(where they are)…now, if they
need to be fetched and brought
directly to their homes, the DFA
will do it,” Cayetano said.
The DFA is providing P5,000
cash assistance to each of
the entitled OFW which can
be claimed from DFA help
desks and field offices.
From January to 31 July 2018,
Cayetano said a total of 10,231
OFW have been repatriated from
other countries.
“Before they were pointing at
each other where to get the funds;
now we have good coordination
with Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) and
the Department of Labor and
Employment,” Cayetano added.
Under the current setup,
documented distressed OFW
are being handled by OWWA,
while the DFA takes care of the
undocumented.
Applicants may email their resumé
to dailytribune@tribune.net.ph or bring them to
Concept Bldg., 3450 Florida St., Makati City
with phone (02) 8337085

8
METRO
John Henry Dodson, Editor
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
HK narcos fall
Condo drug lab shuttered
PDEA suspects 14K group, Triad behind
shabu smuggling
Four Hong Kong nationals were arrested by operatives
of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
in Parañaque and Manila for possession of millions of
pesos’ worth of suspected shabu.
PDEA estimated the total worth of the drugs seized
from the suspects at P540 million. Nabbed were Lam
King Wah, 35; Wong Ka Lok, 38; Lam Wing Bun, 52 and
Lang Min Sun, 56.
Lok and Wah were arrested Tuesday morning in a
gasoline station close to the Aseana Power Station along
Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque.
Seized from them were two kilos of suspected shabu
with an estimated street value of P13 million and 16 liters
of chemicals used in the production of the drug – a mix
of methanol and acetone.
PDEA Chief Aaron Aquino said Lam and Wong are
suspected of being the handlers of the chemist found
operating a kitchen-type drug laboratory at Unit 16-G of
Tower Oceanaire Residences in Pasay City.
The condo unit on the 16th floor featured an industrialtype
blower, according to reports, to dissipate the strong
chemical smell during the production of shabu.
Bun and Sun, the chemists, were collared at 9 a.m.
Tuesday in front of the Red Planet Hotel in Manila. A
drug buy-bust operation netted from them a kilo of
7 hurt
in MRT-3
accident
An accident involving two service vehicles
of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 at dawn
yesterday injured seven railway workers and
held up the deployment of trains for over an
hour, stranding commuters.
The service vehicles called unimogs
collided between the Guadalupe and Buendia
Stations at 3:15 a.m., according to MRT-3
management.
In a radio interview, Transportation
Undersecretary for Rails Timothy John Batan
said the accident happened as the workers
were doing a routine check of the rail tracks.
The injured were brought to the Victor
Potenciano Medical Center in Mandaluyong
City, Batan said.
Two of the injured, lineman team leader
Roger Piamonte and driver-technician Eric
Anthony Cabbab, suffered fractures and
were put under the intensive care unit of
the hospital.
Service vehicles collide at blind spot
between Guadalupe and Buendia.
The accident caused the deployment of the
train to be moved to 5:30 a.m. from its usual
4:30 a.m. operation commencement, said
MRT-3 director for operations Mike Capati.
But actual train runs started at 6 a.m. with
only eight trains, increasing to 14 trains by
6:40 a.m. To help stranded passengers, the
Department of Transportation deployed buses.
Miscommunication between the unimogs’
drivers and control personnel led to the
accident, Capati added.
“It appears that the maintenance vehicle
driver who crashed the OCS was not able to
able to announce via radio. But we are still
finalizing the report, because we couldn’t
talk to some of them as they lacked sleep,”
he added.
The accident happened at a blind spot
although the driver of one of the unimogs
was able to apply the brakes to no avail as the
weight of the vehicle added to its momentum.
The MRT-3 management said they will add
checkpoints and more people at the
control facility when repair works are
being done to avert a repeat of the
accident. PVD
shabu worth P6.8 million.
On Monday, another Hong Kong national, Lin Hua
Sen alias Ivan Go Santos, was arrested in a drug sting
along the service road of Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
Seized from Lin was P136 million worth of shabu.
He and four other Hong Kong nationals apprehended
Tuesday are believed to be members of an international
drug syndicate like the 14K group or the HK Triad.
Lin, 42, is a resident of Antipolo City.
Aquino said they are investigating
how the Chinese were able to bring
shabu into the country.
“We noticed they were bringing
in luggage inside this condo
unit,” the PDEA chief said.
“Our conclusion was that
they are smuggling into
our country crystalized
shabu. They then
repackage it here.”
Aquino said they
suspect the drugs
are coming in
via Mindanao.
PVD
By Anthony Ching
Drug ‘kitchen’ Despite the stench of shabu being ‘cooked’ using chemicals like acetone, a condominium in Pasay City hosted a clandestine laboratory
for the illegal drug.
RAFAEL TABOY
Mystery man Las Piñas police investigators are facing a blank wall on the killing of
a still unidentified man found with a gunshot wound in the head inside a sports utility
vehicle with license plate UOA-550.
BOB DUNGO JR.
‘Salisi’ collared at NAIA 3
Members of the Airport Police Department
(APD) arrested a notorious member of the
“Salisi Gang” operating at Terminal 3 of the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Joseph Pascasio was collared the other
night following a complaint by a woman
passenger that the suspect took her passport
last 23 September by misrepresenting himself
as an immigration officer.
The victim, Alvina Aragat, a native of Davao
City, narrated that the suspect first took P500
from her and then texted her asking for P3,000
for the return of her passport.
APD operatives recovered from Pascasio
Aragat’s passport and a sachet of shabu. He
was charged with theft, usurpation of authority
ang possession of illegal drugs.
Unlike at Terminals 1 and 2, the
public can freely enter
NAIA’s Terminal 3 building because it has
stores and restaurants inside.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI)
has opened a satellite office in Las Piñas City
to ease the volume of foreigners transacting
business at its main office in Intramuros, Manila.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said they
aim to widen the bureau’s reach with the
opening of the field office at the SM Southmall
which, he described, as very accessible.
The BI Las Piñas Field Office is part of
the Government Service Express (GSE) area
located at the ground floor of the mall which
hosts other government offices.
Morente said they will open the Palayan
City Business Hub in Nueva Ecija within
the year and their new main office along
the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in
Pasay City by
2020.
SK chair tagged
in bomb threat
2 other persons of interest
being tracked by MPD
By Pat C. Santos
A female student who is also a
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman
was arrested by the Manila Police District
(MPD) for allegedly perpetrating at least
one of the bomb threats made against
several Metro Manila universities recently.
The threats caused the suspension
of classes at the University of Santo
Tomas and the Mapua Institute of
Technology. Similar threats were made
against Far Eastern University, Lyceum
and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Aside from the suspect, Lezlie Anne
Orteza Bolo, 18, MPD operatives are also
tracking two more persons believed to be
behind the bomb hoaxes earlier blamed
on the New People’s Army.
Bolo, a student at National
Teachers’ College and SK chairman
of Barangay 259 Zone 23 in Tondo,
was tagged by the Barbosa Police
Community Precinct as being behind
one of the bomb threats.
The phone that was used in making
the NTC threat was traced to Bolo with
the police coordinating with the National
Telecommunications Commission in
tracking her for a week.
The same phone was also used in
creating Bolo’s Messenger account, said
MPD public information office chief
Supt. Carlo Manuel.
Suspect’s phone used in hoax
call to National Teachers
College.
According to investigation, the bomb
threat was just a “trip” by the suspect.
At least two other persons of interest
are being traced by MPD operatives,
Manuel said.
Those making bomb threats are
liable under Presidential Decree 1727,
which prescribes a jail term and a fine
of P40,000. With NSB and KMB
Special students
get P5K each
A total of 780 special education (SPED) students from various public schools
in Makati City each received an allowance of P5,000 from the “SPEED for
SPED” project launched by Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay yesterday.
Makati to hire occupational therapists for children with special
needs.
Binay told the beneficiaries and their parents in a ceremony at the Makati
Science High School that even as a member of the House of Representatives
she already had a soft heart for SPED students.
“I realized that parents or guardians of special children need all the support
they can get in bringing them up, including financial assistance,” the mayor said.
“This is why we started giving out P5,000 cash as educational assistance
for SPED learners in 2017,” she added.
Binay said she plans to hire occupational therapists and developmental
paediatricians to look after the health and development of children with
special needs in the city.
Based on the memorandum of agreement signed by the mayor and DepEd
Makati, represented by Superintendent Rita Riddle, the SPEED for SPED
program will be marked by school-based training and work immersion
proper.
Triumphant The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA) arrived yesterday from a whirlwind three-month campaign that saw them emerge victorious in chorale competitions in Italy, Germany and Spain.
With them is businessman Mon Abad (rightmost) who has been supportive of UPSA as a patron of the arts for over 20 years now.
ANTHONY CHING

Contretemps
seen in gab
P14
On higher
grounds
P19
What’s next
for Instagram as
founders leave
P12
Jun Vallecera, Editor
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
BUSINESS
9
2018 growth seen slower than anticipated — ADB
The central bank has lifted the policy
rate by 100 basis points and that’s
expected to slow down credit growth
By Joshua Lao
The economic managers remain hopeful the
Philippines would continue to expand this year and
the next five years at a rate ranging from 7 percent
to 8 percent in terms of the gross domestic product
(GDP), Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said
in a statement sent from London on Wednesday.
This developed even as the Manila-based Asian
Development Bank (ADB) recalibrated its growth
projections for the $314 billion Southeast Asian
economy and concluded that growth should not be
as expansive this year as it was in the recent past.
According to Kelly Bird, ADB country director
for the Philippines, local expansion measured as
the gross domestic product was likely to slow down
this year instead to 6.4 percent or significantly
slower than its earlier forecast of 6.8 percent.
He also announced a recalibration of next year’s
projected growth path for the Philippines seen
averaging 6.9 percent in 2019 to only 6.7 percent.
At these rates, the Philippine growth story
should still be among the most compelling stories
in the region, right up there with some of the
fastest-growing like China, for instance.
“Six point four is still a very robust growth rate,”
he told financial reporters. “This is in line with
the Philippine long-term growth and it is driven
by investments,” Kelly added. The last remark
has much to do with the government decision
to help ramp
up local output by an ambitious infrastructure
buildup program costing trillions of pesos over a
given time span.
As for next year’s projected growth path,
Kelly said the GDP at 6.7 percent should also be
investment-driven as more of the government’s
so-called flagship projects come on stream.
In Malacañang, presidential spokesman Harry
Roque issued a statement saying the government
actually anticipated the slowdown in economic
activities: “We expected this slowdown vis-àvis
our growth target for the year, given that
certain policy decisions, such as the closure
of Boracay and the full implementation of our
comprehensive tax reform package which would
benefit the country in the long-run, contributed
to the deceleration.”
Budget chief Diokno reiterated the
country’s growth target this year is
consistent with projections of multilateral
institutions and global think tanks.
This pertains for the most part to revenue
reforms carried under the Tax Reform for
Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law that
took effect on 1 January this year which scaled
back the personal income tax but ramped up and
widened the excise tax net.
The revenue reforms under TRAIN, however,
have been blamed for helping push commodities
prices past the roof in recent months as its
ostensibly ill-timed excise measures, in tandem
with supply restraints and inefficiencies, only
succeeded in pushing
inflation still higher
in August to 6.4
percent.
“We assure
the public that our macroeconomic fundamentals
are resilient, strong and stable. Per ADB’s updated
outlook, the Philippines’ growth remains the
second highest in Southeast Asia,” Roque said.
Back at the ADB, Kelly said the multilateral
lender continue to see cost-push factors that
contribute to high-flying headline inflation, such
as the elevated price of oil that the Philippines
imports in vast quantities every month.
“We also know that many of the food prices also
increased,” Kelly said.
He pointed out the Philippines has a “stagnant
agriculture sector” and observed that in some areas
of the country the production of the rice staple and
other food sources declined
He said rising food demand and cost-push
factors like significantly more expensive imported
oil in combination with “restrictions on the import
side” formed the perfect recipe for elevated
headline inflation.
Still, he lauded the government, particularly
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for taking
a very proactive stance on inflation.
“The central bank has lifted the policy rate by
100 basis points and that’s expected to slow down
credit growth. It usually takes a few months before
(its impact) starts to kick in,” Kelly said of the rate
at which the BSP borrows from or lends to banks on
short term basis.
A
recalibration
in the central
bank’s policy
rates triggers a
commensurate adjustment in the loan rates of
the various banks in the country, slowing or
accelerating credit activities as the case may be.
The ADB favorably looks at the decision of
the government economic cluster to remove the
administrative restrictions on imports covering a
particular range of commodities, especially on rice.
Kelly likewise heaped praise on the government
decision to further ramp up farm-to-market
infrastructure and warehousing facilities that boost
the capacity of markets to silo or warehouse key
commodities as well as plans to boost unconditional
cash transfer program that enhances the ability of
poor households to spend.
Back in London, Budget chief Diokno
reiterated the country’s growth target this year
“is consistent with projections of multilateral
institutions and global think tanks. With higher
public investments, we are confident our growth
target is achievable. Government spending will
remain sustainable and supportive of economic
growth and development. With our sound,
prudent and sustainable economic blueprint, we
assure that the Philippines will continue to be
a bright spot for UK investments.”
Diokno joined Finance Secretary Carlos
Dominguez III, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa
Guinigundo, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Ernesto Pernia and Transportation Secretary
Arthur Tugade at an investment roadshow in
London seeking the support of policy and
business people in the United Kingdom in
the country’s bid to attract foreign
participation in one of the
fastest growing economies
in Southeast Asia.
The agency heads
addressed questions
from the British business
community, especially
those in relation to the ease
of doing business in the
Philippines. It was noted
President Duterte signed into
law earlier this year the Ease
of Doing Business Act.
ALTHOUGH the country’s infrastructure buildup program is helping boost local output, food inflation and externalities like rising oil prices and interest rate adjustments are some of the risks hounding sustained expansion, the Asian
Development Bank said on Wednesday.
ROMAN PROSPERO
Aboitiz lender teaches
financial discipline
Since it was founded back in 1965, City Savings Bank (CitySavings) has
been true to its founders’ vision of “helping people of moderate means.”
From sari-sari store vendors, to jeepney drivers or to public school
teachers, the bank has helped fulfill dreams through simple financial
products and straightforward banking services. Today, the bank is regularly
thanked by teachers for helping them send their children to school or
build their homes through the loans that they avail.
However, the sad reality today is despite the financial assistance
through loans, the goal of securing a financially stable future
remains a challenge. To address this, CitySavings intensified its
advocacy on financial discipline through its signature corporate
social responsibility initiative, Project Per@parasyon (Peraparasyon),
a practical wealth management program for public school teachers
and non-teaching personnel from the Department of Education.
This initiative is also in line as the whole nation celebrates National
Teachers’ Month from 5 September to 5 October.
Across the country, the bank actively teaches simple steps on
saving, investing and managing debt. “It’s a fruitful and productive
session. I came to realize that the key to achieve financial freedom is
to handle our finances wisely. Savings must come first rather than too
much spending. I’m now more determined to save early in preparation
for my family’s future” said Maylene Baldovino from Adlas Elementary
School in Silang, Cavite.
“It was a very informative seminar on utilizing one’s financial
means. My key takeaway was learning that expenditures like a loan
can be turned into assets once used in investments like education or
setting up a business,” Rancy Balitar from Hoyo Elementary School
also in Silang, Cavite, said.
Across the country, the bank actively teaches simple
steps on saving, investing and managing debt.
Florie Jean Marco from San Pablo Central Elementary School
in San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur is grateful for the opportunity to
learn more about managing her finances. “Thank you CitySavings for
empowering us. It is indeed nerve-racking to think how crucial it is
to prepare financially. But with Peraparasyon, I know we can plan
well. May you empower and educate others who are in need,” added
Marco at the conclusion of the session she attended.
To date, the bank has conducted more than 320 Project Per@parasyon
(Peraparasyon) sessions to over 32,600 educators. According to the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), promoting financial education
and consumer protection is a shared responsibility among financial
institutions, the BSP and consumers.
Developer tops off office complex
SM Prime Holdings Inc,
(SM Prime), one of the largest
integrated property developers
in Southeast Asia, expands its
office portfolio by launching
its latest office building, the
ThreeE-Com Center.
It is also scheduled to and top
off the FourE-Com Center at the
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City,
this Friday, 28 September.
Both are designed by the
globally renowned architectural
firm, Arquitectonica.
The two new office buildings
have distinct architectural
designs that add 114,000 square
meters (sqm) and 190,000 square
meters of gross floor area (GFA),
respectively, to the company’s
fast-growing office building
footprint.
“The launching of ThreeE-Com
Center and the topping off
of FourE-Com Center mark
another milestone for SM Prime
as these uniquely designed
business centers add to the
already captivating architectural
landscape in the Mall of Asia
Complex, as well as offering
ample office space suitable
for the growing needs of the
outsourcing industry and other
businesses. We are happy to
share that other than being
PEZA-accredited buildings,
ThreeE-Com Center is a Gold
LEED certified building as well,
while FourE-Com Center is also
in the process of joining the
ranks of ‘green’ office buildings
in the Philippines,” SM Prime
president Jeffrey Lim said.
The ThreeE-com Center is a
15-storey, semi-circular twin-tower
commercial building offering
SM Prime should soon complete construction of a three-tower office complex at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay
City.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
large, continuous office
floor plates and innovatively
designed to address specific site
constraints.
ThreeE-Com Center, which
will open with 97 percent of its
space leased out, is a Philippine
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
accredited and Gold Leadership
in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certified office
building.
PEZA accreditation means
the structure meets particular
government-prescribed
parameters making it eligible
for certain tax perks. A LEED
certification, on the other
hand, means the building meets
certain ecological standards.
State-of-the-art facilities
and environment-friendly
features highlight the function
and aesthetic of this new
office building similar to its
predecessors.
The launching of ThreeE-Com
Center and the topping off
of FourE-Com Center mark
another milestone for SM
Prime as these uniquely
designed business centers
add to the already captivating
architectural landscape in
the Mall of Asia Complex.
Taking up a whole block at
the corner of Harbor Drive and
Bay Shore in the Mall of Asia
Complex, ThreeE-Com Center
has a four-level parking podium
originating in the basement
and continuing to the second
to fourth floors while office
spaces are situated in the fifth
to 15th floors. E-Com Centers’
signature podium development,
the Prism Plaza, will be located
on the fourth level, adorned by
pocket gardens and enhanced
by a picturesque, river-like
amenity. The ground level
will be home to various retail
offerings, including BdO, Alfa
Mart, Starbucks, Tim Hortons
and Mei Yu Restaurant.
FourE-Com Center: SM Prime’s
biggest commercial building to
date SM Prime should soon
complete the FourE-Com Center
at Harbor Drive corner Bay Shore,
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City,
its biggest office building project
to date. Depicting a crystal-like
design, FourE-Com Center will
be a 15-storey, three-tower office
building offering a typical 3,000
sqm floor plate suited for various
companies, most specially tech-based
offices. FourE-Com is set to be
launched in 2019.

10 BUSINESS
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
ADB flags risks in otherwise expanding Asia
Growth in the region has held up
to external challenges, helped by
strong domestic demand in the
People’s Republic of China and
India
Growth remains stable across most of
developing Asia due to robust domestic
demand, buoyant oil and gas prices and a
consolidation of India’s growth rebound. But
escalating trade tensions will test the region’s
resilience, underscoring the importance
of efforts to bolster trade ties among its
countries, says a new Asian Development
Bank (ADB) report.
In an update of its flagship annual
economic publication, Asian Development
Outlook (ADO) 2018, ADB maintains its
forecast that the region’s gross domestic
product (GDP) will grow at 6 percent in 2018.
The growth forecast for 2019 is trimmed by 0.1
percentage points to 5.8 percent.
“Growth in the region has held up
to external challenges, helped by strong
domestic demand in the People’s Republic
of China (PRC) and India,” said ADB chief
economist Yasuyuki Sawada. “The biggest
risk to continued growth comes from the
disruption of international production
linkages caused by a further escalation of
trade tensions, but Asia’s growth should
remain resilient to the direct effects of the
trade measures taken to date.”
Strong domestic demand is driving the
region’s largest economies, while buoyant
prices for oil and gas are fueling growth at
energy-exporting countries like Kazakhstan.
However, emerging headwinds cast uncertainty
on the region’s future growth trajectory.
In addition to escalating trade tensions,
tightening global liquidity could further cloud
prospects over the coming year.
Industrial economies’ growth will reach
2.3 percent in 2018 and 2 percent in 2019,
maintaining the April 2018 forecast. Consumer
spending and job creation is driving strong
growth in the United States. However, recovery
in the euro area and Japan was sluggish early in
the year, prompting slight downward revisions to
their 2018 growth projections. The US is expected
to normalize monetary conditions further to
preempt inflation.
Solid domestic consumption and rapid
expansion of services helped to deliver strong
economic performance in the PRC over the
first half of the year. The growth outlook for
2018 remains unchanged at 6.6 percent but is
revised down to 6.3 percent for 2019, reflecting
lower demand growth and the risk of escalating
trade tensions. Supply-side reform supported by
monetary and fiscal measures will help to keep
growth on track, the report notes.
Emerging headwinds cast uncertainty
on the region’s future growth
trajectory. In addition to escalating
trade tensions, tightening global
liquidity could further cloud
prospects over the coming year.
India’s economy continues on a robust
growth path. Its growth forecasts are
unchanged at 7.3 percent for 2018 and 7.6
percent for 2019 as the temporary effects of
the demonetization of large banknotes and the
introduction of the national goods and services
tax abate as expected. The impact of rising
oil prices is offset by robust domestic demand
and rising exports, particularly manufactured
goods. Depreciation of the rupee and volatile
external financial markets pose challenges, as
does accelerating inflation though tighter fiscal
policy will help quell inflationary pressures.
Growth is moderating in six of the 10
countries of Southeast Asia, which is now
expected to grow by 5.1 percent in 2018,
a drop of 0.1 percentage points from the
previous forecast. Net exports moderated
growth in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand
and Vietnam as imports surged to support
government infrastructure investments.
Growth should register 5.2 percent in 2019,
consistent with the April 2018 forecast, though
downside risks have intensified.
Higher prices for oil and natural gas,
coupled with rising exports and investment are
driving slightly higher growth in Central Asia,
which is expected to hit 4.1 percent this year.
Conversely, the Pacific is expected to expand
by just 1.1 percent, half the previous forecast,
due to disruptions from an earthquake in Papua
New Guinea and public spending shortfalls in
Timor-Leste.
Risks to the region include financial shocks
if the US Federal Reserve needs to raise interest
rates faster than currently expected to stave
off inflation. But the biggest risk is the impact
of worsening trade conflict on cross-border
production networks as business ties are severed
and investment plans canceled. While some
economies, particularly in Southeast Asia, could
gain over the medium term as trade is redirected
to them, indirect fallout could lower confidence
and investment throughout the region. As such,
ongoing efforts by Asian countries to forge
trade agreements within the region and beyond
provide an important counterpoint to rising
protectionism.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous,
inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and the
Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate
extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned
by 67 members — 48 from the region. In 2017,
ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including
$11.9 billion in co-financing.
TRADE activities in Asia best illustrated by loads of containers at this port in Shanghai, China should allow the region to grow at the forecast rate of 6 percent in terms of the gross
domestic product this year, according to the Asian Development Bank.
AP
WEDNESDAY
26 SEPTEMBER 2018
PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
FINANCIALS
BANKS
ASIA UNITED 59.5 59.5 57.7 59.3 2,360,401.50
BDO UNIBANK 117.3 118 114 114 225,805,819
BANK PH ISLANDS 85 85.05 81.05 81.05 151,858,200
CHINABANK 29.85 29.9 29.5 29.5 2,506,950
CITYSTATE BANK 7.79 7.79 7.79 7.79 779
EAST WEST BANK 12.72 12.74 12.64 12.64 8,700,628
METROBANK 68.6 68.6 66 67.45 157,639,701
PB BANK 11.5 11.52 11.5 11.5 489,920
PHIL NATL BANK 44.1 44.1 43.2 43.2 2,298,385
PSBANK 84 84 84 84 26,040
RCBC 26.2 26.45 25.3 25.35 3,759,170
SECURITY BANK 168.8 168.8 156 156 172,193,785
UNION BANK 67.95 67.95 67.5 67.6 456,549.50
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
BRIGHT KINDLE 1.47 1.47 1.47 1.47 14,700
BDO LEASING 2.5 2.54 2.5 2.54 37,980
COL FINANCIAL 16.2 16.2 16.2 16.2 43,740
FERRONOUX HLDG 4.46 4.75 4.46 4.5 6,278,680
IREMIT 1.64 1.65 1.64 1.65 8,240
MEDCO HLDG 0.52 0.55 0.52 0.55 3,700
MANULIFE 845 845 845 845 42,250
NTL REINSURANCE 0.94 0.94 0.93 0.94 303,760
PHIL STOCK EXCH 189.1 192.8 189.1 190 68,454
SUN LIFE 1,865 1,865 1,864 1,864 18,645
INDUSTRIAL
ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, POWER & WATER
ALSONS CONS 1.29 1.32 1.27 1.27 206,730
ABOITIZ POWER 36.2 36.2 35 35 75,345,650
BASIC ENERGY 0.225 0.225 0.225 0.225 2,250
ENERGY DEVT 7.06 7.07 7.06 7.06 5,993,411
FIRST GEN 16.86 16.88 16.76 16.88 9,594,046
FIRST PHIL HLDG 64.6 64.6 63.3 64.5 2,288,914
PHIL H2O 5.05 5.1 5 5 1,328,953
MERALCO 358 358 348 348 89,337,372
MANILA WATER 23.7 24.05 23.7 24.05 5,788,305
PETRON 9.1 9.1 8.8 8.8 8,210,597
PETROENERGY 4.09 4.27 4.09 4.12 1,685,000
PHINMA ENERGY 1 1.01 1 1 173,210
PHX PETROLEUM 10.68 10.68 10.28 10.5 4,328,828
PILIPINAS SHELL 53.5 53.5 53 53.25 3,855,560.50
SPC POWER 5.76 5.76 5.6 5.6 551,796
FOOD, BEVERAGE & TOBACCO
AGRINURTURE 17.9 18.1 17.76 17.9 7,608,706
CNTRL AZUCARERA 18.66 18.66 17.36 18.48 157,914
CENTURY FOOD 13.96 13.96 13.96 13.96 3,448,120
DEL MONTE 7.57 7.57 7.35 7.35 74,257
DNL INDUS 10 10.1 9.9 10 12,878,445
EMPERADOR 7.01 7.1 7.01 7.04 50,732,644
SMC FOODANDBEV 96.85 96.95 95.3 95.75 32,136,873
ALLIANCE SELECT 1.1 1.1 1.04 1.04 9,458,140
GINEBRA 27.95 27.95 27.8 27.8 1,149,615
JOLLIBEE 268.8 268.8 265.4 266.2 35,366,650
MACAY HLDG 11.52 13 11.52 13 6,352
MAXS GROUP 11.9 11.9 11.7 11.74 453,764
PEPSI COLA 1.84 1.88 1.84 1.88 127,420
SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.14 12.14 11.9 11.92 3,322,026
ROXAS AND CO 2.67 2.79 2.67 2.78 9,053,950
RFM CORP 4.8 4.84 4.8 4.84 15,297,880
ROXAS HLDG 3 3 3 3 27,000
SWIFT FOODS 0.128 0.128 0.124 0.124 32,320
UNIV ROBINA 150.9 150.9 146 147.2 160,374,620
VITARICH 2.07 2.13 2.06 2.06 13,709,750
CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRU CTURE & ALLIED SERVICE
CONCRETE A 67.5 67.5 67.45 67.45 6,747.50
CEMEX HLDG 2.65 2.65 2.3 2.4 13,382,370
EAGLE CEMENT 15.34 15.68 15.1 15.56 7,564,104
EEI CORP 8.45 8.5 8.45 8.5 6,081,105
HOLCIM 6.93 6.93 6.88 6.9 638,614
MEGAWIDE 15.68 15.9 15.5 15.5 17,403,546
PHINMA 8.6 8.7 8.6 8.7 210,865
TKC METALS 1.02 1.02 1 1 135,060
VULCAN INDL 2.26 2.26 2 2 76,419,370
CHEMICALS
CHEMPHIL 194 194 194 194 13,580
CROWN ASIA 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.74 1,740
LMG CHEMICALS 4.91 4.93 4.9 4.91 206,380
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT
CONCEPCION 39.65 39.65 38 38 348,080
INTEGRATED MICR 12.1 12.2 11.9 12 15,685,434
IONICS 1.92 1.92 1.88 1.88 1,722,160
PANASONIC 6.39 6.39 6.39 6.39 23,004
SFA SEMICON 1.51 1.58 1.51 1.58 131,680
CIRTEK HLDG 34 34.25 33.45 33.5 15,753,090
HOLDING FIRMS
ABACORE CAPITAL 0.435 0.44 0.41 0.425 3,727,200
ASIABEST GROUP 26.95 29.45 26.6 28.75 20,641,605
AYALA CORP 920 940 917.5 940 447,239,130
ABOITIZ EQUITY 51.15 51.15 48.6 50 62,111,069.50
ALLIANCE GLOBAL 12.7 12.7 12.44 12.6 15,520,750
ANSCOR 6.11 6.11 6.11 6.11 611
ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.9 0.94 0.9 0.94 3,680
ATN HLDG A 1.13 1.21 1.06 1.15 57,402,970
ATN HLDG B 1.13 1.22 1.06 1.15 9,771,470
COSCO CAPITAL 5.9 5.9 5.8 5.83 1,834,309
DMCI HLDG 11.98 12 11.8 11.98 18,568,844
FILINVEST DEV 7.13 7.2 7.13 7.2 152,007
FORUM PACIFIC 0.203 0.205 0.201 0.205 74,780
GT CAPITAL 856 856 800 805 98,417,835
JG SUMMIT 55.8 55.8 53.65 55.2 27,547,245
JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.55 5.55 5.53 5.53 9,429
LODESTAR 0.57 0.58 0.53 0.57 21,560
LOPEZ HLDG 4.72 4.72 4.53 4.53 4,202,740
LT GROUP 15.2 15.46 15.1 15.14 102,681,216
MABUHAY HLDG 0.61 0.61 0.58 0.58 951,190
METRO PAC INV 4.95 4.97 4.62 4.65 379,946,820
PACIFICA 0.039 0.039 0.038 0.039 304,400
PRIME ORION 2.52 2.52 2.48 2.5 2,715,460
PRIME MEDIA 1.23 1.23 1.21 1.21 24,420
SOLID GROUP 1.42 1.42 1.38 1.4 86,920
SM INVESTMENTS 866 873.5 852.5 873.5 439,175,855
SAN MIGUEL CORP 169.7 169.7 167.5 169 60,251,191
TOP FRONTIER 280 281 275 281 1,263,746
WELLEX INDUS 0.285 0.29 0.27 0.27 1,141,250
ZEUS HLDG 0.195 0.2 0.187 0.2 192,270
PROPERTY
ARTHALAND CORP 0.67 0.67 0.66 0.66 34,330
ANCHOR LAND 11.98 12 11.96 11.96 17,958
AYALA LAND 40 40.45 40 40.45 181,849,675
ARANETA PROP 2.04 2.12 2.04 2.09 159,140
BELLE CORP 2.69 2.69 2.62 2.64 6,264,780
A BROWN 0.85 0.86 0.84 0.84 1,338,990
CITYLAND DEVT 0.94 0.94 0.92 0.92 145,630
CROWN EQUITIES 0.223 0.228 0.222 0.223 133,950
CEBU HLDG 5.25 5.25 5.25 5.25 31,500
CEB LANDMASTERS 4.36 4.45 4.3 4.33 725,410
CENTURY PROP 0.45 0.45 0.44 0.45 2,186,500
CYBER BAY 0.4 0.4 0.385 0.39 113,500
DOUBLEDRAGON 21.3 21.3 19.5 19.62 33,780,959
DM WENCESLAO 8.53 8.67 8.51 8.51 1,101,728
FILINVEST LAND 1.43 1.43 1.41 1.42 6,335,140
GLOBAL ESTATE 1.14 1.14 1.1 1.11 1,501,300
8990 HLDG 7.21 7.4 7.21 7.4 2,201,816
IRC PROP 2.36 2.37 2.22 2.22 23,509,010
CITY AND LAND 0.9 0.96 0.9 0.96 288,220
MEGAWORLD 4.4 4.48 4.35 4.4 63,718,040
MRC ALLIED 0.72 0.73 0.64 0.64 184,623,890
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
PHIL ESTATES 0.465 0.465 0.455 0.46 123,350
PRIMEX CORP 4.44 4.58 4 4.01 44,137,680
ROBINSONS LAND 19.42 19.7 19.18 19.62 31,435,486
PHIL REALTY 0.44 0.44 0.43 0.44 160,900
ROCKWELL 1.94 1.98 1.92 1.94 114,090
SHANG PROP 3.19 3.2 3.18 3.2 181,560
STA LUCIA LAND 1.16 1.16 1.12 1.15 599,890
SM PRIME HLDG 36.4 36.85 35.5 36.85 374,898,490
STARMALLS 6.55 6.55 6.39 6.4 1,363,403
SUNTRUST HOME 0.75 0.78 0.75 0.75 147,780
VISTA LAND 6.17 6.17 5.97 6.05 22,660,337
SERVICES
MEDIA
ABS CBN 21.1 21.1 20.9 20.9 5,001,180
GMA NETWORK 5.35 5.39 5.34 5.38 386,194
MLA BRDCASTING 16.36 16.36 16.36 16.36 9,816
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GLOBE TELECOM 2,180 2,200 2,066 2,066 69,509,700
PLDT 1,412 1,412 1,363 1,365 51,841,810
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
APOLLO GLOBAL 0.044 0.044 0.043 0.044 249,200
DFNN INC 9 9 8.83 8.85 445,057
ISLAND INFO 0.119 0.119 0.116 0.117 143,930
ISM COMM 3.05 3.05 2.81 2.87 17,753,000
JACKSTONES 3.33 3.58 3.32 3.58 130,410
NOW CORP 7.61 7.66 7.28 7.3 10,484,628
TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.51 0.54 0.51 0.52 8,294,990
PHILWEB 4.31 4.45 4.31 4.4 682,420
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
2GO GROUP 11.66 11.66 11.56 11.64 416,450
CEBU AIR 72 72.2 71.9 72.1 8,079,903
CHELSEA 5.51 5.77 5.49 5.5 13,066,674
INTL CONTAINER 91 91.5 90.5 91.5 49,812,907.50
LBC EXPRESS 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.2 200,220
LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.01 1.01 0.93 0.95 155,480
MACROASIA 16.1 16.2 16 16.06 14,070,126
METROALLIANCE A 1.54 1.54 1.41 1.49 140,650
METROALLIANCE B 1.52 1.52 1.46 1.48 96,600
PAL HLDG 8.9 8.9 8.4 8.4 24,572
HARBOR STAR 3 3 2.6 2.72 12,301,900
HOTEL & LEISURE
ACESITE HOTEL 1.36 1.43 1.35 1.43 11,210
BOULEVARD HLDG 0.06 0.061 0.06 0.061 590,620
DISCOVERY WORLD 2.23 2.23 2.23 2.23 6,690
WATERFRONT 0.68 0.69 0.67 0.67 1,191,150
EDUCATION
CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.95 7.95 7.95 7.95 7,950
STI HLDG 0.91 0.91 0.84 0.86 13,448,390
CASINOS & GAMING
BERJAYA 2.05 2.07 1.92 1.93 11,700,510
BLOOMBERRY 8.91 8.91 8.57 8.7 55,310,570
PACIFIC ONLINE 11 11.04 10.8 10.8 999,696
LEISURE AND RES 3.74 3.74 3.6 3.62 2,423,400
MANILA JOCKEY 5.79 5.79 5.35 5.6 3,291,210
MELCO RESORTS 7 7.02 7 7 36,329,340
PREMIUM LEISURE 0.89 0.89 0.87 0.87 926,320
TRAVELLERS 5.2 5.25 5.17 5.2 4,511,208
RETAIL
METRO RETAIL 2.5 2.5 2.45 2.46 502,690
PUREGOLD 45 45.7 44.05 45.7 34,829,375
ROBINSONS RTL 79.5 79.55 78.7 79.4 97,379,442.50
PHIL SEVEN CORP 102 102 101.9 101.9 83,599
SSI GROUP 2.19 2.23 2.16 2.2 11,447,950
WILCON DEPOT 10.3 10.4 9.98 10.04 23,627,677
OTHER SERVICES
APC GROUP 0.485 0.49 0.475 0.48 815,200
EASYCALL 23.4 23.4 20.15 22.15 1,650,060
GOLDEN BRIA 314 314 308 313.8 297,528
IPM HLDG 7.75 7.75 7.7 7.7 77,250
PAXYS 3.08 3.08 3.04 3.05 1,245,450
PRMIERE HORIZON 0.39 0.405 0.375 0.375 1,678,250
SBS PHIL CORP 7.99 8 7.99 8 19,986
MINING & OIL
MINING
ATOK 18 18.48 18 18.3 261,468
APEX MINING 1.48 1.5 1.46 1.48 1,375,590
ABRA MINING 0.0023 0.0023 0.0023 0.0023 11,500
ATLAS MINING 3.12 3.12 3.08 3.08 296,840
BENGUET A 1 1 1 1 9,000
BENGUET B 1.01 1.04 1.01 1.04 27,480
COAL ASIA HLDG 0.295 0.295 0.295 0.295 32,450
CENTURY PEAK 1.93 1.93 1.92 1.92 351,950
DIZON MINES 7.3 7.36 7.21 7.21 95,322
FERRONICKEL 1.88 1.88 1.84 1.85 5,321,900
GEOGRACE 0.202 0.206 0.201 0.203 95,140
LEPANTO A 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 11,000
LEPANTO B 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.113 1,130
MANILA MINING A 0.0073 0.0073 0.007 0.007 484,300
MANILA MINING B 0.0073 0.0073 0.0073 0.0073 14,600
MARCVENTURES 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 20,700
NIHAO 1.11 1.16 1.11 1.14 103,410
NICKEL ASIA 4.55 4.59 4.41 4.43 975,410
OMICO CORP 0.7 0.73 0.63 0.65 3,228,470
ORNTL PENINSULA 1.13 1.16 1.09 1.09 1,171,150
PX MINING 3.39 3.4 3.36 3.39 6,844,390
SEMIRARA MINING 27.45 27.6 26.75 26.95 10,852,610
UNITED PARAGON 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 45,500
OIL
ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 1,935,900
ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 60,000
PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 480,000
PHINMA PETRO 3.69 3.69 3.5 3.5 342,920
PXP ENERGY 15.9 15.9 15.38 15.58 15,048,214
PREFERRED
HOUSE PREF A 95 96 95 96 78,220
AC PREF B1 485 485 485 485 2,003,050
AC PREF B2 493 495 493 495 217,280
DD PREF 101.5 101.5 100.4 100.5 1,525,393
SMC FB PREF 2 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 5,000
FGEN PREF G 101.1 103 101 103 385,777
GLO PREF P 490 490 490 490 137,200
GTCAP PREF B 945 945 945 945 9,450
LR PREF 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 3,120
PNX PREF 3B 104 104 104 104 1,758,640
PCOR PREF 2B 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 20,200
SFI PREF 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.85 3,700
SMC PREF 2B 75.15 75.15 75.1 75.1 491,156
SMC PREF 2C 78.15 78.15 78.1 78.15 639,973.50
SMC PREF 2D 72.05 75 72.05 75 81,632
SMC PREF 2F 75 75 75 75 75,000
SMC PREF 2H 74.55 75 74.55 75 2,395,822.50
SMC PREF 2I 74.9 75 74.6 75 2,650,350
PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
ABS HLDG PDR 19.5 19.8 19.42 19.7 579,752
WARRANTS
LR WARRANT 2.43 2.43 2.35 2.43 577,010
SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING
ITALPINAS 5.55 5.64 5.35 5.35 7,792,438
XURPAS 2.28 2.55 2.28 2.42 22,413,610
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
FIRST METRO ETF 110 110.1 108.2 108.5 919,502

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
Samsung
supports
latest telco
service
Customers using the latest Samsung
handsets can soon enjoy the benefits of Wifi
Calling as PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart
Communications Inc. (Smart) partners
with Samsung in rolling out Voice over
Wifi (VoWifi) services. This will be initially
available to selected subscribers by October
after Samsung releases its latest firmware
over-the-air update.
Smart customers can make VoWifi calls
using Samsung smartphones such as the
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, Galaxy S9
and S9+, Note 8 and Note 9 via any Wifi
connection like Smart Wifi and PLDT Home
Wifi.
Apart from improved calling and
messaging experience, Wifi Calling
also offers extended network
coverage, as customers can make
and receive voice calls, as well as
video calls, wherever there is Wifi
connection.
BUSINESS
11
“In addition to constantly innovating to be
able to deliver more services to our customers,
we are also happy to be working hand-in-hand
with device manufacturers like Samsung in
bringing technologies like VoWifi closer to our
subscribers,” said Mario Tamayo, PLDT-Smart
senior vice president for Network Planning and
Engineering.
“At Samsung, we aim to inspire the world
with our innovative technologies, products,
and design that enrich people’s lives by
creating a new future,” said Jerry Mañus,
Samsung Philippines business unit head for
IT and Mobile.
“We are excited as we take part in this new
endeavor to shape the future of communication
in the Philippines,” Mañus added.
VoWifi or Wifi Calling lets customers
make and receive calls and text messages
over a Wifi connection using their
smartphone’s native dialer, without having
to install a third-party app.
Apart from improved calling and messaging
experience, Wifi Calling also offers extended
network coverage, as customers can make
and receive voice calls, as well as video calls,
wherever there is Wifi connection.
Wifi calling will also be available soon to
other select Samsung devices.
Earlier this month, Smart and its
technology partners Huawei Technologies
Inc. and Samsung made the first successful
VoWifi call over a live network in Cebu, a
first outside Metro Manila.
IN the latest issue of the Asian Development Outlook published by the Asian Development Bank, elevated property development prices were flagged as one of several pockets of vulnerability
in the region.
RAFAEL TABOY
Asia has tools to address
vulnerability pockets
A more flexible exchange rate can better insulate economies
against adverse external shocks but monetary authorities may
need to take actions to smooth the large volatilities
Policymakers in Asia and the Pacific
have a wide range of options at their
disposal to ensure that heightened
global uncertainty due to monetary
policy normalization in advanced
economies and rising global trade
tensions does not undermine decades of
continuous growth, according to a new
Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
The special theme chapter
in the Asian Development Outlook
(ADO) 2018 Update examines how the
region can navigate the uncertain
global environment by deploying wellcoordinated
and proactive policies
The digital divide in Asia
designed to shore up macroeconomic
stability. ADO is ADB’s flagship
economic publication.
“Developing Asia has prospered since
the Asian financial crisis 20 years ago,
but new challenges pose threats to its
resilience and growth,” said Yasuyuki
Sawada, ADB’s chief economist.
“Multiple pockets of vulnerability can
be managed, however, if they are closely
monitored and the policies to tackle
them are well designed and carefully
implemented.”
Emerging pockets of vulnerability
that can undermine stability include
elevated debt levels, volatile capital
flows, sharp currency depreciation,
high housing prices and cross-border
contagion. Countercyclical fiscal
policies can help stabilize an economy
but require ample fiscal space, the
report notes. Besides reducing debt or
widening the tax base, governments can
invest in countercyclical fiscal buffers
such as well-governed sovereign wealth
funds in resource rich economies and in
social safety nets to protect vulnerable
communities. Monetary policy should
pay attention to the credit cycle as
well as the business cycle since the two
cycles do not always coincide.
A more flexible exchange rate can
better insulate economies against
adverse external shocks but monetary
authorities may need to take actions to
Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
(Kagawaran ng Enerhiya)
INVITATION TO BID
smooth the large volatilities. Another
option is to set controls on capital
flows, which can reduce pressure on the
exchange rate. Macroprudential policies
such as caps on loan to value and debt to
income have become more popular since
the Global Financial Crisis. Asia became
the world’s most intensive user of
macroprudential measures, particularly
to stabilize housing markets, the report
notes.
In addition to such options, measures
to strengthen macroeconomic and
other fundamentals remain important.
Continued efforts are needed to ensure
sound fiscal policy, independent central
banks which engage in domestic policy
coordination, deep financial sectors,
market-oriented structural reforms, and
adequate social safety nets.
The DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (DOE-BAC) invites
prospective bidders duly registered with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement
System (PhilGEPS), to participate and bid through public bidding for the procurement of items
listed below:
ABC (PhP) End- Cost of Bid
DESCRIPTION Inclusive of User Documents (Php) Cash
VAT)
Payment Only
The countries of Southeast Asia
are young — more than half of its 643
million people are under 30 — and
together they live in an economy of
$2.8 trillion. The ten countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) are moving toward greater
economic integration and the region
should be at the tip of the digital spear.
But it’s not that simple.
Hundreds of millions of young
people are eager to join the digital
revolution.
The International Monetary Fund’s
chart of the week from the latest issue
of Finance and Development magazine
shows a digital divide in the region.
Some 1,500 participants composed of farmers, students,
extension workers and researchers from Luzon participate
in this year’s Lakbay Palay Wet Season (WS) program at
PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Maligaya, Science
City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The facility is operated by the
Philippine Rice Research Institute.
Lakbay Palay is a field day held by PhilRice twice a year
(during the dry and wet seasons) to showcase its rice and
rice-based farming technologies to a wide range of rice
stakeholders.
With the theme “Sa tag-ulan, I am ready,” the two-day
While the Internet has reached most
people in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia,
and Singapore, more than 70 percent
of people in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao
P.D.R. and Myanmar remain offline and
can’t fully participate in the digital
economy. High-speed broadband is
even more scarce. ASEAN trails China,
Japan and Korea. Singapore is the sole
exception.
Growing the digital economy
depends on five key priorities:
• Internet connectivity must be
universal and affordable
• The business climate must
encourage competition, which spurs
innovation
• Education systems must adapt
workers’ skills to new demands for a
digital future
• Countries need stronger safety
nets to protect those displaced by
automation
• Southeast nations should improve
financial inclusion through technology
and adapt their regulatory frameworks
to manage the risks associated with
fintech.
As a regional bloc, ASEAN is the
fifth largest economy in the world,
and with hundreds of millions of
young people eager to join the digital
revolution, there’s no better time to
close the digital divide.
PhilRice program showcases wet season technologies
event that started on Wednesday focused on the promotion
of tips and technologies that helped minimize and manage
crop losses during the wet season.
Activities for this season’s event include farm visits,
distribution of seeds and rice knowledge products, exhibits
and onsite expert dialogue/consultation. Lakbay Palay
WS 2018 also included field tour featuring four main
stations: FutureRice Farm, Palayamanan Plus, breeder
seed production and the newly launched Rice Science
Museum that offers revolutionary “phygital” (physicaldigital)
experience on rice-farming.
REBIDDING
Supplies and Materials
1 A. MFO Technical and 651,000.00 MFO 1,000.00
Scientific Equipment
2 B. VFO Technical and 549,000.00 VFO 1,000.00
Scientific Equipment
Goods and Services
3 A. Pick-Up Motor Vehicle 4,290,000.00 VFO
EPIMB - REAMD 5,000.00
4 B. Passenger Service Vehicle 1,650,000.00 EPIMB - REAMD 5,000.00
5 C. CY2018 Shuttle Services 3,475,000.00 AS-GSD 5,000.00
6 D. DOE CY2018 Computer 2,500,000.00 ITMS-ISD 5,000.00
Maintenance Service
1st Bidding
Technical and Scientific Equipment
7 A. Gas Chromatograph 15,000,000.00 OIMB-RMMSCD 25,000.00
Open competitive bidding will be conducted using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” All
particulars relative to this bidding including Eligibility Checking, Bid Security, Evaluation and Post-Qualification Procedures and Award
of Contract shall be governed by R.A. 9184 and its Revised IRR.
The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements including bid details (specifications/Terms of Reference) can be downloaded
from the website of the Phil-GEPS and DOE website at www.doe.gov.ph . Complete set of Bidding Documents can be purchased by
interested Suppliers upon payment of a non-refundable fee.
For the Pre-Bid Conference, bidders are encouraged to send their authorized technical representatives or personnel who are familiar
with the bid requirements and will prepare the documents for them.
1 Sale and Issuance of Bid Documents Mondays to Fridays, starting Procurement Management
27 September 2018 Division
8:00AM to 4:00PM only
3/F DOE Main Bldg.,
Energy
Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio
Global City, Taguig City
2 Pre-Bid Conference 04 October 2018, 9:00AM DOE –Audio Visual Room
Thursday
Energy Center, Rizal Drive,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
3 Submission of Bids Mondays to Fridays 8:00AM Procurement Management Division
to 5:00PM only
3/F DOE Main Bldg., Energy
Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global
City, Taguig City
4 Deadline of Submission 18 October 2018, 9:00AM Procurement Management Division
Thursday
3/F DOE Main Bldg., Energy Center,
Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig City
5 Opening of Bids 18 October 2018, 9:30AM DOE –Audio Visual Room
Thursday
Energy Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio
Global City, Taguig City
The DOE reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid proposals, to annul the
bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without
thereby incurring any liability subject to Section 41 of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

PESO-DOLLAR RATES
51.00
52.00
53.00
54.00
55.00 54.264
26 SEPTEMBER 2018 26 SEPTEMBER 2018 26 SEPTEMBER 2018
BUSINESS
12
25700
25200
24700
24200
DOW JONES
69.84
7900
7700
STOCK MARKET
7500
7300 63.96
29 SEPTEMBER 2018
INDEX SUMMARY
INDEX VALUE CHANGE % CHANGE
PSEi 7,268.21 63.96 0.87 ▼
All Shares 4,460.47 34.43 0.77 ▼
Financials 1,590.40 59.41 3.60 ▼
Industrial 10,844.93 183.78 1.67 ▼
Holding Firms 7,135.03 20.40 0.28 ▼
Services 1,480.87 23.21 1.54 ▼
Mining and Oil 9,043.50 118.76 1.30 ▼
Property 3,660.22 60.41 1.68 ▲
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
What’s next for Instagram as founders leave
Not only did Instagram reach 1 billion users faster than its parent company, it
also succeeded in cloning Snapchat’s popular “Stories” feature
When Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger sold
Instagram to Facebook in 2012, the photo-sharing
startup’s fiercely loyal fans worried about what
would happen to their beloved app under the social
media giant’s wings.
None of their worst fears materialized. But now
that its founders have announced they are leaving
in a swirl of well wishes and vague explanations,
some of the same worries are bubbling up again
— and then some. Will Instagram disappear? Get
cluttered with ads and status updates? Suck up
personal data for advertising the way its parent
does? Lose its cool?
Worst of all: Will it just become another
Facebook?
“It’s probably a bigger challenge (for Facebook)
than most people realize,” said Omar Akhtar, an
analyst at the technology research firm Altimeter.
“Instagram is the only platform that is growing.
And a lot of people didn’t necessarily make the
On his first assignment as principal, Gregorio Legal, 31, an educator with over eight
years of teaching experience in public schools in Masbate, was assigned to the Mary
Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Brgy. Tigbao, municipality of Milagros.
It is not unusual for new public school teachers and school heads to be sent to the
most challenging communities on their first appointment. To some it is a rite of passage;
to others, a test of endurance.
To Legal, it was both. Before this, he had worked at the Department of Education’s
division office in Masbate City and the bulk of his work was administrative in nature,
although it required a lot of trips to last mile communities in the province as well.
His new assignment, however, was far more challenging: he will manage a school
that lacked classrooms and access to basic utilities such as electricity.
“One of the problems I found was the absence of electricity. We, teachers, know
how hard it is to teach without power. We cannot create instructional materials because
we could not use a computer or a printer. Submitting reports is also arduous; we would
wait until the evening when electricity is available in our village,” he shared.
“I almost cried when I saw the situation of our school. I thought to myself: finding
ways to improve the condition of our school would be a huge challenge on my part,”
he added.
Without paved roads connecting it and the rest of the municipality, Brgy. Tigbao
has become isolated geographically. This is one of the main reasons why electrical
facilities could not yet reach the community.
As a temporary solution, the government provides limited power supply from a
generator operated by the National Power Corporation. Unfortunately, it could only
be run for a limited period each day, from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. For the rest of
the day, most residents deal with their day-to-day tasks without the help
of electricity, while the very few who can afford it either draw power from
their own small generators or solar panels.
Since classes are held during the day when there is no power, Legal
and his teachers fulfill their duties sans the aid of modern teaching tools
such as computers, since these require electricity.
“We still employ traditional teaching methods here [because we
don’t have electricity]. Even if we used our laptop, its battery power won’t
last long. Then, we will have to wait until the evening before we could
charge it,” explained Legal.
For subjects like Mathematics and the languages,
traditional style of teaching may not be much of a
problem but for Science and ICT - especially in the K
to 12 curriculum which encourages the integration
of computer technology in pedagogy - the chalkand-board
approach may not be enough.
“Our students lack the motivation to
study because we lack the tools required
to teach them modern concepts such as
technology,” he said.
With help from the community, Legal
was able to crudely build a generator out
of a donated engine from a broken farm tractor
and an alternator which the school had bought.
“Our generator is also unreliable. Its
voltage often fluctuates, and this damages
the appliances we use,” added the teacher.
“It is also costly to operate since it requires
a large amount of diesel fuel to be able to
run the entire day. Fuel is expensive here
because we’re quite far,” he explained.
Legal realized that with the school’s limited
funds, he has to find a more sustainable
solution elsewhere. He turned to the Internet
for clues.
“I learned over the Internet about One
Meralco Foundation’s electrification program
for schools without access to electricity. Since
our school has a big student population, I was
confident that we would pass OMF’s criteria,”
he recalled.
“I messaged the Facebook page of OMF and
inquired about the requirements for applying for its
school electrification program,” added Legal.
connection between Instagram and Facebook.”
Instagram had just 31 million users when
Facebook snapped it up for $1 billion; now it has
a billion. It had no ads back then; it now features
both display and video ads, although they’re still
restrained compared to Facebook. But that could
quickly change. Facebook’s growth has started to
slow and Wall Street has been pushing the company
to find new ways to increase revenue.
Instagram has been a primary focus of those
efforts.
Facebook has been elevating Instagram’s profile
in its financial discussions. In July, it unveiled a
new metric for analysts, touting that 2.5 billion
people use at least one of its apps — Facebook,
DepEd officials and principals of the four off-grid schools recently energized by One
Meralco Foundation’s school electrification program in Masbate receive, on behalf of
their schools, multimedia packages donated by Meralco employees during a lighting
ceremony held at the Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School.
After completing the requirements, Legal did not leave anything to chance. He
hopped on a “RORO” (roll-on, roll-off) bus, and travelled more than eight hours
to Manila.
“I personally submitted the documents to OMF in Ortigas and was glad that
[the manager in charge of the program] accommodated me. He explained to me
how candidate schools are evaluated. I returned to Masbate full of hope that our
school would soon have power,” he said.
Convinced that the school badly needed electricity, OMF sent a team to
Masbate to assess the readiness of the school and the community for a full-blown
solar electrification project.
“We were glad that not only did the activity achieve positive results, it also led
us to discover three more schools in the province that had the same need and were
also qualified,” explained Jeffrey O. Tarayao, president of OMF.
Last July, OMF completed the installation of 1-kilowatt solar photovoltaic
(PV) systems in Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School, Amotag
National High School, Cantil Elementary School and Magcaraguit
Elementary School.
Apart from the solar photovoltaic equipment, OMF also turned
over multimedia packages consisting of a 49-inch LED TV, a laptop
computer and a printer-scanner-photocopier machine to each of
the newly energized school. These were donated by employees
of Meralco through their monthly contributions to the Meralco
Employees’ Fund for Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), a non-profit institution
founded by Meralco employees for charitable purposes.
“My gratitude to Meralco and One Meralco Foundation is beyond
words. I cannot fully express my joy because they gave us more than
what we had asked for,” Legal said.
A lighting ceremony was held at Legal’s school in August to
signify OMF’s official turnover of donations to the four beneficiary
schools. It was attended by Meralco and One Meralco Foundation
representatives and the schools division superintendent of DepEd
Masbate province, Jose L. Doncillo.
“For years, we have been looking for partners in the private sector
to help us address this challenge affecting mostly remote schools,
and we are fortunate that One Meralco Foundation has reached out
to us with its school electrification program,” said Doncillo.
“We believe that electrification will improve the learning conditions
in these schools. Hopefully this will translate to better performance by
the students,” he added.
OMF’s school electrification program began in 2012 as a core advocacy of
the foundation. It has since electrified 223 off-grid public schools nationwide
through solar power, of which 102 are located in Luzon, 64 in the Visayas and
57 in Mindanao.
Gregorio Legal, Principal, Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School.
Aside from electricity access, Legal’s school also needs more classrooms as enrolment has been steadily increasing through the years.
Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger — each month.
While not particularly revealing, the measurement
underscores the growing importance Facebook
places on those secondary apps.
Zuckerberg touted Instagram’s success as
a function of its integration with Facebook,
claiming that it used parent-company
infrastructure to grow more than twice as
quickly as it would have on its own.
Facebook doesn’t disclose how much money
Instagram pulls in, though Wedbush analyst
Michael Pachter estimates it’ll be around $6 billion
this year or just over 10 percent of Facebook’s
expected overall revenue of about $55.7
billion.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has long
seen Instagram’s promise. At the time, it
was by far Facebook’s largest acquisition
(although it was dwarfed by the $19 billion
Zuckerberg paid for WhatsApp two years
later). And it was the first startup allowed
to operate mostly independently.
That has paid off big time. Not only
did Instagram reach 1 billion users faster
than its parent company, it also succeeded
in cloning Snapchat’s popular “Stories”
feature, dealing a serious blow to that social
network upstart and succeeding where
Facebook’s own attempts had repeatedly
failed. Instagram also pioneered a long-form
video feature to challenge YouTube, another
big Facebook rival.
Recently, Instagram has been on a roll. In
June, Systrom traveled to New York to mark
the opening of its new office there, complete
with a gelato bar and plans to hire hundreds
of engineers. Only a month earlier, Instagram
had moved into sparkly new offices in San
Francisco. In a July earnings call, Zuckerberg
touted Instagram’s success as a function of
its integration with Facebook, claiming that
it used parent-company infrastructure to
grow “more than twice as quickly as it would
have on its own.”
But Instagram has also been a case study
in how to run a subsidiary independently —
especially when its parent is mired in userprivacy
problems and concerns about election
interference, fake news and misinformation.
And especially when its parent has long
stopped being cool, what with everyone and
their grandma now on it.
AP
Trade wars,
debt weigh on
Asia’s growth
Trade conflicts, rising debt and the
potential impact from rising interest rates
in the US will likely dampen growth in the
coming year, the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) said Wednesday in an update of its
regional economic outlook report.
The Manila, Philippines-based regional
lender said Wednesday that it expects
economic growth in Asia to remain at a
robust 6.0 percent in 2018 but to slip to 5.8
percent next year.
China’s economy is expected to expand
at a 6.6 percent annual pace this year but
slow to 6.3 percent in 2019.
The tariffs now cover nearly half the
goods and services China sells America
and nearly 60 percent of what the
United States sells China.
It cited looming financial and trade
shocks as the biggest sources of potential
trouble. If the US economy shows signs
of overheating, interest rate hikes by the
Federal Reserve, including one expected
Wednesday to take the benchmark rate to
2 to 2.25 percent, could disrupt currency
markets and other capital flows, leading
to problems with bad loans.
Overly high housing prices also are risks
for China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South
Korea, the report said.
But it said the bigger threat comes from
potential damage to supply chains caused
by trade conflicts, especially between the
US and China.
President Donald Trump pushed ahead
Monday with higher tariffs on $200 billion
of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated by
imposing penalties on $60 billion of US
goods.
The conflict stemming from US
complaints Beijing steals or pressures
foreign companies to hand over technology,
has the potential to shave 0.5 percentage
points off of China’s growth and 0.1
percentage points off of growth in the US,
the report said.
China and the United States earlier
imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion
of each other’s goods. Combined, the
tariffs now cover nearly half the goods and
services China sells America and nearly
60 percent of what the United States sells
China.
AP

Adamson
drifts,
sinks UP
P15
Pinoy short
film competes
in Austria
P17
Cooking
(and dining)
for the planet
P18
Aldrin Cardona, Editor
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
SPORTS 13
CHICAGO White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez (left) scores as Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes catches the ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday in Chicago. The White Sox won 5-4.
AP
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
American League
AL East W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Red Sox 106 51 .675 - 55-21 51-30 5-5
Yankees 97 60 .618 9 53-28 44-32 100%
Rays 87 70 .554 19 48-28 39-42 0.0%
Blue Jays 71 87 .449 35.5 39-41 32-46 0.0%
Orioles 45 111 .288 60.5 27-50 18-61 0.0%
AL Central W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Indians 88 69 .561 - 49-32 39-37 100%
Twins 72 84 .462 15.5 43-32 29-52 0.0%
Tigers 64 93 .408 24 38-43 26-50 0.0%
White Sox 62 95 .395 26 30-50 32-45 0.0%
Royals 55 102 .350 33 30-47 25-55 0.0%
AL West W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Astros 100 57 .637 - 46-35 54-22 100%
Athletics 95 63 .601 5.5 50-31 45-32 100%
Mariners 86 71 .548 14 42-34 44-37 0.0%
Angels 77 81 .487 23.5 39-38 38-43 0.0%
Rangers 66 91 .420 34 34-47 32-44 0.0%
National League
NL East W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Braves 89 68 .567 - 43-38 46-30 100%
Phillies 80 78 .506 9.5 40-40 40-38 0.0%
Nationals 78 79 .497 11 47-31 31-48 0.0%
Mets 73 84 .465 16 33-43 40-41 0.0%
Marlins 62 95 .395 27 38-43 24-52 0.0%
NL Central W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Cubs 91 66 .580 - 47-29 44-37 99.9%
Brewers 91 67 .576 0.5 48-30 43-37 99.9%
Cardinals 87 71 .551 4.5 43-37 44-34 38.8%
Pirates 80 76 .513 10.5 44-36 36-40 0.0%
Reds 66 92 .418 25.5 36-41 30-51 0.0%
NL West W L Pct GB Home Away L10
Dodgers 88 70 .557 - 44-37 44-33 94.6%
Rockies 87 70 .554 0.5 43-33 44-37 66.7%
Diamondbacks 80 78 .506 8 39-41 41-37 0.0%
Giants 73 85 .462 15 42-35 31-50 0.0%
Padres 63 95 .399 25 29-49 34-46 0.0%
League in trouble after fan death
PSSI has promised it would take
a firm action (in the past), but
nothing happened
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia has
suspended play in its top professional football
league after supporters of a rival team
clubbed a fan to death with iron bars and
planks, a football association spokesman said
Wednesday, plunging the crisis-prone league
into another scandal.
The decision follows the weekend death of
Haringga Sirla, a 23-year-old Persija Jakarta
fan, who was beaten by a group of Persib
Bandung supporters outside a stadium in the
city of Bandung, 150 kilometers (93 miles)
southeast of Jakarta.
Sunday’s incident was the latest in a
spate of football-related deaths in Southeast
Asia’s biggest nation. The police said they
have detained 16 people in connection with
the killing.
“We decided that we are halting the Liga
1 competition for an indefinite period of
time,” Gatot Widagdo, media director for
the Football Association of Indonesia
(PSSI), told AFP.
“We’re focused on solving this
problem.”
Widagdo said the break
in competition would allow an
investigation into the fatal
beating and a review of security
procedures among the 18 clubs
in the top flight, fans and
the league operator, PT Liga
Indonesia Baru.
We decided that we are
halting the Liga 1 competition
for an indefinite period of time.
The PSSI said it would also consult with
FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation,
partly as a way of avoiding sanctions,
Widagdo added.
AFP
IN CRUSHING JAYS
100th gives Astros AL West title
The Astros need three wins in
their final five games to break
the franchise record for victories
in a season set in 1998
TORONTO, Canada — Houston is heating up
as October approaches.
The Astros clinched another American
League West title and reached 100 wins for the
second straight season, beating the Toronto Blue
Jays 4-1 Tuesday night behind Alex Bregman’s
two-run homer.
Houston improved to 100-57 and was assured
of first place hours later when second-place
Oakland (95-63) lost at Seattle.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch, said he would
not stay up to watch the outcome of the
Athletics game.
“I’m going to go to bed,” he said. “Do you
hear my voice? I’ll wake up in the middle of the
night and figure it out.”
The Astros need three wins in their final five
games to break the franchise record for victories
NEW YORK — With the playoffs around the corner and the
Atlanta Braves rolling along, the last thing the National League East
champions need is an injury to their starting shortstop.
Dansby Swanson exited Tuesday night’s 7-3 victory over the New
York Mets and was sent for tests on his sore left wrist — the same
one that gave him trouble earlier this season.
“Something in his wrist bothered him after a swing,”
Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
The slumping Swanson, drafted No. 1 overall by
Arizona in 2015, lined out to center field in the second
in a season, set in 1998.
“I’m proud of this team and they’re not done
yet,” Hinch said. “To be at 100 and climbing is
remarkable for this team, and we should be
very proud.”
Houston is 18-4 in September and 54-22 on the
road, both best in the major leagues.
“We really haven’t played our best baseball
until lately,” Bregman said. “That’s a good sign
heading into the postseason. I think we’re in a
good spot right now.”
Roberto Osuna needed just six pitches in
the ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances. Earlier
Tuesday, assault charges against Osuna were
dropped because the complainant, who lives in
Mexico, made clear she would not travel to Toronto
to testify. Osuna agreed to stay away from the
alleged victim for one year and continue counseling.
Traded from Toronto to Houston in July,
Osuna was booed by Blue Jays fans for the
second straight game, starting with when he
entered and then in between pitches. Speaking
through a translator, Osuna said he was
untroubled by the negative reaction.
“When I came into the game I was focused on
what I had to do, so it didn’t affect me,” he said.
Josh James (2-0) allowed one run and four
hits in five innings in his third big league start.
“It was probably the least efficient outing of
his young career,” Hinch said. “He had to battle
through some delivery issues.”
Bregman went 2 for 5 and extended his
club-record streak of reaching base safely on
the road to 53 games, then longest since 59 in
a row by the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter in
2006 and 2007.
We really haven’t played our best
baseball until lately. That’s a good
sign heading into the postseason. I
think we’re in a good spot right now.
Bregman hit his 31st homer, a two-run drive
in the first off Sam Gaviglio. Billy McKinney’s
sixth homer cut the gap in half in the third, but
Houston widened its lead in the sixth when Tyler
White chased Gaviglio with an RBI single and
pinch-hitter Evan Gattis had a sacrifice fly off
Danny Barnes.
AP
Braves clinch 6th straight triumph
ORTIZ
inning and was replaced at shortstop by Charlie Culberson. The team
said Swanson was removed as a precaution.
“It was enough that he had to come out, so that’s a concern,”
Snitker said.
Swanson was on the disabled list in May and missed 13 games
with left wrist inflammation.
“I haven’t had a chance to get in the training room yet to see
where he’s even at. Just hope it’s good,” Snitker said.
Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning,
Ozzie Albies homered in the eighth and the Braves rallied
from a three-run deficit for their sixth straight victory. AP
Former WBC champ
charged with rape
OXNARD, California — Former World
Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight
champion Victor Ortiz has been charged
with raping a woman inside a home in
March.
Police in Oxnard say the 31-year-old
Ortiz turned himself in to Ventura
County Sheriffs on Tuesday
afternoon. Police say the district
attorney filed charges after
a months-long investigation,
and Ortiz surrendered after
a warrant was issued for his
arrest.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s
website shows that Ortiz posted
$100,000 bail and was released. He faces charges of
forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and forcible digital
penetration when he appears in court on 10 October.
It could not immediately be determined whether
he has an attorney.
AP

14 SPORTS
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
OVER MONEY, LEADERSHIP
Contretemps
seen in gab
By Julius Manicad
A show of force is expected when the group aligned with former
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco
comes in full force as the Olympic council holds a special board meeting
and general assembly today at the 13th floor of the Lopez Bldg. at the
Meralco compound in Pasig City.
POC treasurer Julian Camacho confirmed their attendance, saying
serious talks are to push to shed light on the $59,963 fund that POC
president Ricky Vargas claimed they have yet to liquidate to the Olympic
Solidarity Movement.
Camacho said he will prove that $22,500 remains intact as former
POC secretary general Mark Joseph never carried out his project during
Cojuangco’s presidency.
He said the rest, which went to the country’s participation in the Rio de
Janeiro Olympics in 2016, is ready for liquidation. The Olympic Solidarity
Movement refused to accept their report due to technicality, however.
“Before, they accept liquidation via email. But now, they require NOCs
(national Olympic councils) like us to liquidate online through their
system,” said Camacho, adding that no fund is missing and everything
was done with transparency and in good faith.
“It’s just sad that they came up with a published article about this
instead of talking to us. We could have explained it properly before they
could reveal it to the public,” Camacho said.
Aside from Camacho, also confirming their attendance are POC first
vice president Joey Romasanta, second vice president Jeff Tamayo, auditor
Jonne Go and board member Robert Mananquil.
Cojuangco has yet to formally disclose whether to attend, but Camacho
hinted of his presence.
“I think he will attend,” said Camacho, one of the most vocal supporters
of the former POC chief.
Intense discussion
The proposed settlement of the Olympic Solidarity fund is just one of
the main points in the first POC expanded board meeting following the
country’s participation in the 18th Asian Games.
Also set to be tackled is the country’s intention to bid for the 2030
Asian Games, the development of a new POC logo as proposed by the
International Olympic Committee, creation of a national sports association
(NSA) affairs and forming a group of deputy secretary generals to be
deployed in regional offices.
A veteran POC official said the creation of regional office could be a
subject of long and intense debate in what looms to be an action-packed
convention.
“We don’t see the reason why we need to appoint deputy secretary
generals in various regions. Promotion and coordination in various
provinces are already the job of the NSAs,” said the insider.
The source added that the controversial transaction with the
supplier of track suit and competition uniforms used in the 29th
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur last year will also
be touched as well as reports on the previous Asian Games, update
on the Youth Olympic Games and the 30th SEA Games, which the
country will host next year.
BROOKS Koepka of the US throws some balls back to his caddie during a practice round for the
Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France on Wednesday. The
42nd Ryder Cup will be held in France from 28-30 September at Le Golf National.
AP
UST, NU still clean
University of Santo Tomas and National
University stayed perfect by sweeping two
matches Tuesday in the UAAP Season 81
beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM
By The Bay.
Reigning MVP Sisi Rondina and Babylove
Barbon bested Ateneo’s Ponggay Gaston
and Jules Samonte, 21-9, 21-15, before
returning in the afternoon session with a
21-14, 21-14 conquest of De La Salle’s Tin
Tiamzon and Michelle Morente to extend the
defending two-time women’s champion UST’s
undefeated run to three games.
Rookies Klymince Orilleneda and
Antonnete Landicho toppled University of
the Philippines’ Isa Molde and Justine Dorog,
21-19, 21-10, and University of the East’s Rhea
Manalo and Lyen Shan Ritual, 21-15, 21-15, for
NU’s third consecutive win.
In the men’s division, Far Eastern
University became the only undefeated team,
as Jude Garcia and Kevin Hadlocon repulsed
UST’s Krung Arbasto and Jaron Requinton,
21-19, 21-18, for a 3-0 card.
Sadorra,
Gomez score
in Olympiad
Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and
John Paul Gomez pulled off hard-earned
victories while International Master Jan
Emmanuel Garcia escaped with a draw from
an inferior position to lift to the Philippines
to a 2.5-1.5 win over Slovakia and stay on
top after the second round of the 43rd
World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia
Tuesday night.
The United States-based Sadorra caught
GM Christopher Repka on his opening
preparation to gain material advantage and
hammer out a 37-move win of a Slav Defense
while Gomez fought his way out of a difficult
position to eke out a 63-move triumph over
GM Tomas Petrik of a Ruy Lopez.
The Philippines remained in a
huge 41-country group on top that
included powerhouse United States,
which has Cavite-born GM Wesley So
as board two player, with four match
points.
For Garcia, an Olympiad newbie, he
came into the endgame a pawn down but
managed to create disturbing bishop and
queen threats for a 65-move draw of a Dutch
Defense with IM Viktor Gazik to help seal the
pulsating win for the Filipinos, ranked lower
than the 48th-seeded Slovakians at 54th.
FIDE Master Joseph Mari Turqueza,
a last-minute replacement to IM Haridas
Pascua, who was complaining of headaches
and sinusitis in the second round, ran out
of opening tricks and lost to IM Martin
Nayhebaver in 41 moves of a Sicilian battle.
The Philippines, supported by the
Philippine Sports Commission, remained in
a huge 41-country group on top that included
powerhouse United States, which has Caviteborn
GM Wesley So as board two player, with
four match points.
The win came a day after the Philippines
destroyed San Marino, 4-0, in the opening
round Monday.
It will play No. 18 Croatia, which crushed
Monaco, 3.5-.5, in the third round being
played at press time.
The women’s squad, in contrast, lost to Slovenia
despite a smashing victory by WGM Janelle Mae
Frayna over WIM Laura Unuk on top board.
WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM
Marie Antoinette San Diego lost their way
and suffered painful defeats at the hands
of WGM Jana Krivec and WFM Teja Vidic,
respectively, on the last two boards.
Meralco starts Champions bid
FLYERS to recruit volunteers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and
Paralympics are pictured as they are distributed to passersby
at a station in Tokyo on Wednesday. Some 80,000 unpaid
volunteers to staff many of the venues are needed. AP
Halep knocked
out of Wuhan
WUHAN, China-- World number one Simona Halep was the
biggest casualty on a day of upsets at the Wuhan Open in
China on Tuesday, with the Romanian toppled in straight sets
by Dominika Cibulkova.
The sparse crowd watching the late-night clash was stunned
as the decidedly off-color Halep failed to win a single game
against the hard-hitting Slovakian in the first set.
The French Open champion suffered a back injury
during a practice session on Sunday and failed to fully
recover for her opening match in Wuhan against the
31st-ranked Cibulkova, despite two days bed rest.
“It was tough at the beginning to play... (but) I
didn’t want to (retire) and I just pushed myself to
play better and better,” Halep said.
Despite the injury and needing treatment several
times during the match, she put up a strong fight
in the second set, breaking Cibulkova’s serve three
times before eventually succumbing 7-5.
Even with the injury, “I was close in the second set,
so this match just gives me confidence that my level is
really, really good”, said the top seed, who was cheered
every time she ran back after treatment to resume play.
Halep, playing her first match since her early exit from the
US Open last month, added that she expects to recover from the
back injury “in a few days”.
She was the biggest casualty on a day of upsets at the 2018 Wuhan Open, a
$2.7-million tournament which features nine of the WTA top 10.
World number four Caroline Garcia was knocked out by qualifier Katerina
Siniakova in a gruelling clash, with the second and third sets decided by
tie-breakers.
By John Bryan Ulanday
PETRA Kvitova of the Czech Republic serves
against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia
during their women’s singles third round match
of the WTA Wuhan Open tennis tournament in
Wuhan on Wednesday.
AFP
Philippine bet Meralco goes up against
home team Mono Vampire in the opener of
the 2018 Fiba Asia Champions Cup today at
the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Action kicks off at 3:30 p.m. with the Bolts
looking to seize a quick 1-0 lead in the Group
B of the prestigious eight-team tourney set 27
September to 2 October.
Tapped by the Philippine Basketball
Association (PBA) Board to represent
the country, the back-to-back Governors’
Cup runner-up Meralco has a mission of
surpassing Chooks-to-Go—Pilipinas’ fifth
place finish after a 4-3 slate in last year’s
Champions Cup held in China.
But the wards of coach
Norman Black troop to battle
with a shorthanded line-up.
Meralco departed for
Thailand on Tuesday without
key veterans Ranidel De
Ocampo (calf injury) and Jared
Dillinger (bone spur and quad
injury), leaving the fort to
Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge,
Baser Amer, KG Canaleta and
two-time Best Import Allen
Durham.
However, the Bolts might
encounter another hurdle as the
eligibility of Filipino-Americans
Newsome and Hodge as locals is
yet to be discussed in the managers’
meeting on Wednesday night.
Helping Meralco is import
By Jon Develos
Liam McMorrow who will be pairing up
with Durham in their bid to advance to the
next round.
The 7-2 Canadian cager was the
former import of Barako Bull back in the
2015 Governors’ Cup when Asia’s oldest
professional league still allowed bottomranked
teams to field imports with unlimited
height.
Meralco departed for Thailand
on Tuesday without key veterans
Ranidel De Ocampo (calf injury) and
Jared Dillinger (bone spur and quad
injury), leaving the fort to Chris
Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Baser Amer,
KG Canaleta and two-time Best
Import Allen Durham.
Standing on their way are Chitchai
Ananti, Teerawat Chanthachon, Filipino-
American point guard Jason Brickman
along with imports Moses Morgan and Mike
Singletary of Mono Vampire who were coming
off a runner-up finish against San Miguel-
Alab Pilipinas in the 2018 Asean Basketball
League (ABL) earlier this year.
After Mono Vampire, Meralco takes on
Japan B. League champion Alvarck Tokyo
on Friday before wrapping its group phase
campaign against reigning Champions
Cup titlist Al Riyadi of Lebanon on
Saturday.
The top two squads after the elimination
round will advance directly to the knock-out
semi-finals while the bottom two will be
kicked out of contention.
Davao 3-on-3 finalists
DAVAO CITY – Assumption College of Davao and Daniel R.
Aguinaldo National High outplayed separate rivals to emerge
as co-champions at the close of the 2018 Samahang Basketbol
ng Pilipinas (SBP) 3-on-3 basketball regional eliminations at the
Felcris Centrale.
Assumption College of Davao with Francis Jan Dagpin, John
Ray Pasaol, Wilfred Khim Remollo and Clayton John Avelano,
bested Ford Academy of the Arts, 10-6, to win the Boys division
title. Their road to the finals included a 15-13 squeaker over Rizal
Memorial Colleges and an 11-10 pipping of Davao Jones Academy
in the quarterfinals.
In the distaff side, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High nipped
Assumption College of Davao, 11-9 to claim the title. DRANHS
was bannered by Aleah Clapano, Rea Ong, Mecca Gumapac and
Erica Bedia.
Both teams earned tickets to the national finals set this
October in Manila.

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
STILL UNSCATHED
SPORTS
15
Adamson drifts, sinks UP
Sean Manganti capped his solid second-half performance with the
game winner with 0.7 of a tick left as the Soaring Falcons remained
on top with 4-0 mark and handed the Fighting Maroons their third
straight loss in four matches
By Joel Orellana
Games on Saturday (FilOil Arena)
1 p.m. Adamson vs. NU
4 p.m. UST vs. Ateneo
Adamson University rallied from a
double-digit hole and stunned University of
the Philippines, 69-68, to stay unscathed in
Season 81 University Athletic Association
of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball
tournament on Wednesday at the FilOil
Arena in San Juan City.
Sean Manganti capped his solid
second-half performance with the game
winner with 0.7 of a tick left as the
Soaring Falcons remained on top with 4-0
mark and handed the Fighting Maroons
their third straight loss in four matches.
It was a tough loss for UP, which was on
its way to inflict Adamson its first loss after
leading 61-51 with 8:29 left in the game.
But Manganti spearheaded the Soaring
Falcons’ uprising and ignited a 16-6 exchange
capped by Jonathan Espeleta’s triple to
reclaim the lead at 67-66 with 1:38 left in
the game.
Bright Akhuetie followed up the missed
three-pointer by Paul Desiderio to put the
Fighting Maroons ahead once more, 68-67,
with 5.7 seconds remaining. Manganti then
recovered the loose ball as his pass to Papi
Sarr was deflected by Akhuetie and hoisted
a floater to peg the final score.
Manganti finished with 18 points, 16 in the
second half, while Jerrick Ahanmisi added 15.
Also, defending champion Ateneo de
Manila University posted another dominating
win, this time over University of the East
(UE), 89-62, for its third straight victory.
Raffy Verano led the Blue Eagles’
balanced attack with 12 points on 6-of-8
shooting from the field before leaving the
game with a sprained right foot early in
the final period while transferee William
Navarro added 11 markers for Ateneo,
which improved its win-loss standing to 3-1.
Jolo Mendoza and Anton Asistio each
had nine points for the Loyala-based squad
while Thirdy Ravena, Mike Nieto and Angelo
Kuoame netted eight apiece for the team of
head coach Tab Baldwin.
The six-foot-10 Kuoame also grabbed 15
rebounds as Ateneo used its heft and size
over the Red Warriors, who dropped their
fourth straight loss in as many games.
“Coming into this game, we wanted to
make sure of two things, one to control the
rebounds because UE is the No. 1 offensive
rebounding team so that’s one of the points
of emphasis,” said Blue Eagles assistant
coach Sandy Arespacochaga, whose team
outrebounded the Red Warriors, 54-26.
“Second, we knew UE fights hard. They
played hard regardless of
the score. We wanted to
make sure we match
their intensity from start
till the end. We made sure we didn’t let up in
this regard and then we also executed well
offensively against their defense,” he added.
UE had a promising start, scoring the first
four points of the game. But Ateneo, which
came from a 72-46 demolition of National
University, ended the first quarter with a
24-6 run to seize control of the game, 24-10.
And behind Verano’s perfect 5-of-5
shooting from the floor in the first half, the
Blue Eagles carried a 43-31 halftime lead
before Ravena did most of his damage in the
third period and gave the reigning titlists a
58-36 lead with 5:20 left in that stage.
UE responded with a quick 8-0 blast
courtesy of Chris Conner and JC Cullar, to
cut the lead to 44-58.
But that’s the closest the Red Warriors
could get as the Blue Eagles scored the last
10 points of the quarter for a 68-44 advantage
entering the final frame.
They were never threatened since then as
they erected their biggest lead at 84-52 on
Gian Mamuyac’s drive with 4:02 remaining
in the game.
Alvin Pasaol led all scorers with 17 points
but was hardly factor in the game, thanks to
Ravena’s stifling defense early in the game.
“We wanted to try to minimize his
(Pasaol) his touches and make things
difficult for him,” said Arespacochaga of the
explosive UE forward, who was averaging 24
points entering the game.
It was a tough loss for UP, which
was on its way to inflict Adamson
its first loss after leading 61-51 with
8:29 left in the game.
Will Bartolome was the only other Red
Warrior in double figures in scoring with 12
as UE had more turnovers (21) than assists
(15) in the one-sided contest.
Ateneo registered a season-high 24 assists,
eclipsing the 22 by Far Eastern University in
its 89-73 win over UP last weekend.
Meanwhile, defending four-time champion
National University extended its winning
streak to three while Far Eastern University
grabbed solo second Wednesday in the
women’s side at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Lady Bulldogs fashioned out a 74-66 win
over De La Salle to extend their remarkable
perfect run to 67 games overall, while the
Lady Tamaraws subdued Ateneo, 54-45, for
a 3-1 card.
In other games, University of Santo Tomas
routed Adamson University, 85-55, while
last season’s runner-up University of East
entered the win column after three straight
losses with a 49-40 decision of University of
the Philippines.
The Tigresses posted their second win in
three contests to join the Lady Archers in
third place, while the Lady Eagles crashed
out of the top four after absorbing their
second defeat against two losses.
The Lady Maroons remained winless
in four starts.
SEAN Manganti of Adamson gets hugged by a teammate shortly after sinking the winning shot that buried University of the
Philippines in the UAAP men’s basketball game yesterday at the FilOil Arena.
JOAQUIN FLORES
Guiao gets triumphant welcome
By John Bryan Ulanday
NLEX gave head coach Yeng Guiao a fitting welcome
from national team duty with a big 124-106 win over
previously unbeaten Blackwater in the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup last night
at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coaching in his first game this season-ending
conference, the tireless mentor Guiao saw his wards
come up with a huge third quarter rally to give the
Elite their first loss.
Leading by just 10 points, 55-45 at the half, the
energized Road Warriors unleashed a quick 24-15
blitz capped by Bong Galanza’s baseline trey to
break the game wide open, 84-60, in the 4:27 mark
of the third period.
“Blackwater is really for real. So, we made
sure that we were prepared for this game,”
said head coach Yeng Guiao who is coming
from a long national team duty in the 18th
Asian Games and the 2019 FIBA World Cup
Asian Qualifiers.
“We’re really excited to play after a long break.
I was excited to coach to have a feel of PBA game
again fresh from the national team duties.”
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer tapped former
National Basketball Association player Kevin
Murphy to serve as standby import for injured
reinforcement Arizona Reid in their PBA Governors’
Cup campaign.
Beermen coach Leo Austria confirmed Murphy,
a former Utah Jazz, is arriving today to join team
practice.
“AZ is not at one hundred percent right now.
We’ll see,” Austria told Daily Tribune.
Reid, a two-time Best Import, suffered a sprained
ankle injury in SMB’s game against Columbian last
Wednesday.
LPU aims to rise from fall
By Donnawell Maturingan
Lyceum of the Philippines University seeks to quell
Arellano University and move closer to a semifinals
berth in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying
V Centre, San Juan City.
After seeing their winning streak busted by
the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta,
81-83, the Lyceum Pirates are determined to
regain their bearing and lash at the Chiefs who
hold a 4-8 win-loss record.
“We just have to learn from (the loss) and try to
improve every game,” said LPU coach Topex Robsinson,
adding that losing hope is never entertained by their
team.
After seeing their winning streak busted by
the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta,
81-83, the Lyceum Pirates are determined to
regain their bearing and lash at the Chiefs
who hold a 4-8 win-loss record.
Lyceum star-players Mike Nzeusseu, Jaycee and
Jayvee Marcelino and reigning MVP CJ Perez are
expected to step up as they face the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, co-leader San Beda College (12-1) seeks to
continue its solid run as it tackles San Sebastian College
Recoletos at 4 p.m.
Currently holding a 4-9 win-loss mark, the Recto-based
squad continues to accumulate wins as they recently
prevailed over Jose Rizal University, 82-75.
ROI Sumang of Blackwater
tries to release a shot before
he gets sandwiched by this
group during their PBA
Governors’ Cup game last
night at the Araneta Center.
ROMAN PROSPERO
UAAP Season 81 is already
several gamedays on. And though
most of the favorites have played
true to form, one school has defied
expectations and risen to the top.
That team is the Adamson Soaring
Falcons, who are living up to their
moniker and are currently the only
ones remaining unbeaten as of this
writing.
So sizzling has this start to the
season been for Adamson that it’s
only the first time since Imperium
stats took care of the UAAP’s
statistical consolidation that the
Falcons have gone 4-0.
Falcons soaring
Hot Take Hoops
Enzo Flojo
And don’t scoff at the competition they’ve beaten,
too. Right off the bat on opening day, Adamson shocked
the entire field when it upended no less than defending
champion Ateneo, 74-70.
The Falcons followed that up with a decisive win
over UE, 90-76, and then outlasted upstart UST,
79-71, for their third straight win of the young
campaign.
The biggest factor for their rise? No
doubt it’s defense. Adamson is the secondbest
defensive team in the league right now,
allowing their opponents to score just 86.8
points-per-100-possessions, which is bested only
by their Day 1 victims, the Blue Eagles, who
allowed just 82.6 points per 100 possessions.
Apart from that, the Falcons also force their
opponents to commit a league-best 21.7 turnovers
per game mainly due to their stingy full court press – a
hallmark of all Franz Pumaren teams.
Three Falcons, in fact, are among the season’s top
10 in steals: Simon Camacho averages 1.3 per game,
while newcomer Vince Magbuhos and
veteran Jonathan Espeleta get two swipes
per contest. That’s mainly why Adamson is
the current league- eader in steals with 9.3
per outing.
Apart from airtight defense, though,
the Falcons have also been potent on the
offensive end, thanks mainly to arguably
the tournament’s best shooting guard right
now, Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Ahanmisi had a pretty good rookie
campaign in Season 79, scoring 13.1 points per
game and shooting 36.3 percent from beyond
the arc, but he struggled in Season 80, with his
scoring dipping to just 12.4 points per game
and his three-point shooting also slipping to 34.2 percent.
Now, Ahanmisi is on fire. He is second overall in scoring
with 20.0 points per game right behind UE’s Alvin Pasaol,
while also leading the entire competition in triples with 3.0
per contest. His accuracy has also spiked to 41 percent!
The Adamson Soaring Falcons are living
up to their moniker and are currently the
only ones remaining unbeaten as of this
writing.
Another guy who has stepped up big time is Sean
Manganti. The third-year 6’5 forward has been a revelation
for coach Franz, upping his production from 6.5 points
and 0.6 steals per game last season to 10.3 points and 1.0
steal per outing now.
Clearly, the Adamson Soaring Falcons are flying
high among the bright blue skies, but with a lot more
elimination round games to go, they are still far from
being installed as title favorites. If their current form
holds, however, then don’t be surprised if they make it
to the Final Four as among the teams to beat.

"
16
WORLD
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
AS LEADERS LAUGH AT HIM
It’s Trump against the world
He lambasted the UN
Human Rights Council
and the International
Criminal Court and
rejected a global pact on
the rights of migrants
UNITED NATIONS — A gaping
ideological divide cuts through
this year’s gathering of world
leaders at the United Nations.
It’s not between capitalists and
communists, rich and poor, East and
West. It’s between multilateralists
who advocate nations working
together and unilateralists
who are pushing for
national sovereignty.
Despite near
universal hand
wringing about
the UN’s failings,
it was clear
who was in the
minority on
Tuesday.
President Donald Trump stood
alone in his unashamed defense of the
“America First” agenda that helped
propel him to power — an isolationist
worldview that questions the worth
of international organizations and
is embraced by a small but growing
number of populist governments.
Trump was surrounded by
multilateralists, many of them
traditional US allies, who want
more cooperation, not less, to tackle
global ills such as climate change,
poverty and mass migration.
“America is governed by Americans.
We reject the ideology of globalism and
we embrace the doctrine of patriotism,”
the US leader said.
Although it was Trump’s chance
to speak to the world, he appeared
to play to a domestic audience and
struck a triumphalist tone.
He boasted that America is
a “stronger, safer and a richer
country” than when he took
office. He defended his trade
protectionism and said the
US is taking a “hard look”
at its foreign assistance to
countries that don’t have
American interests “at heart.”
He lambasted the UN
Human Rights Council and the
International Criminal Court and
rejected a global pact on the rights
of migrants.
“We will never surrender
America’s sovereignty to an
unelected, unaccountable, global
bureaucracy,” he said.
Trump didn’t mention climate
change. He said the US stands
ready to export “our abundant,
affordable supply of oil, clean coal
and natural gas.”
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, who heads the 193-member
UN, warned of the dangers of
nations turning inward in a speech
that was the inverse of Trump’s.
America is governed by
Americans.
“Multilateralism is under fire
precisely when we need it most,”
Guterres said.
“In the face of massive,
existential threats to people and
planet ... there is no way forward
UNITED NATIONS —
Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, a
longtime hardliner
on North Korea,
said Tuesday he
was willing to
meet Kim Jong
Un after the once
reclusive
leader’s
historic
summit with
US President
Donald
Trump.
Abe,
who one
year ago
warned at
the United
Nations
that the
window for
diplomacy
but collective, common-sense action
for the common good,” he added.
The US leader got some laughter
when he addressed world leaders. It
wasn’t intentional.
The President was highlighting US
gains under his watch as he opened his
address to the UN General Assembly.
He said the American economy was
“booming like never before” and that
his administration has accomplished
more in less than two years than
almost any other administration. AP
Abe willing to meet Kim
with North Korea was closing, took a
more open but still cautious tone in
his latest address to the world body.
But he said that any summit
would be devoted to resolving a
decades-old row over North Korea’s
abductions of Japanese civilians — a
deeply emotive issue for much of
the Japanese public on which Abe
built his political career.
“In order to resolve the
abduction issue, I am also
ready to break the shell of
mutual distrust with North
Korea, get off to a new
start and meet face to
face with Chairman
Kim Jong Un,”
Abe said in his
UN address.
AFP
On the hot seat Waiting for his
turn to speak, the unpredictable
Donald Trump faces his foes and
increasingly uneasy allies at the
UN General
Assembly in
New York.
AFP
Twitters Birds sit in their cages during an avian-singing competition in Narathiwat, Thailand.
Saudi rejects Iran’s false claims
RIYADH — A senior official at the
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
has stated the Kingdom completely
rejects the deplorable false accusations
by Iranian officials regarding the
Kingdom’s support for the incidents that
occurred in Iran last Saturday.
The Saudi Press Agency quoted the
official as saying that the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia’s policy is clear regarding its
non-interference in the domestic affairs
of other countries and its rejection to any
interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs.
“The Iranian regime, in contrast,
interferes in the affairs of its neighbors
and is the leading sponsor of terrorism
in the region and the world. The Iranian
regime since its inception has spread
chaos, destruction, sectarianism and
extremism. The regime has wasted its
people’s resources in its aggression
and reckless behavior that has brought
nothing but chaos and destruction to the
region,” the official said. WAM
Why is Macedonia changing its name?
SKOPJE — On 30 September
Macedonians will head to the polls to
vote on whether to add “North” to their
country’s official name.
The name-change is an effort to
overcome a 27-year-old argument with
neighboring Greece, which has refused to
recognize Macedonia’s name since the
Balkan country declared independence
from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Athens
argues
that the
name belongs solely to its northern
province called Macedonia, accusing
Skopje of harboring territorial ambitions.
In protest, Greece has blocked Macedonia
from NATO and the European Unions.
Athens has also forced the country
to use the clunky name FYROM (Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) in
the UN.
AFP
Cosby in cuffs Bill Cosby is escorted out of the Montgomery County Correctional
Facility in Eagleville, Pennsylvania following his sentencing from three to 10 years in
prison for sexual assault.
AP
BRIEFS
Spy falls
CHICAGO — A Chinese who came to the
US on a student visa was arrested Tuesday in
Chicago and accused of helping Beijing attempt
to recruit American scientists and engineers.
Ji Chaoqun was allegedly tasked with
providing Chinese intelligence with biographical
information about eight American citizens — some
of whom were US defense contractors.
The 27-year-old, who first arrived in Chicago in
2013 to study electrical engineering on a student
visa, was charged with one count of knowingly
acting as an agent of a foreign government without
prior notification to the US Attorney General. AFP
Muzzling hate speech
SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter on Tuesday
reached out to users for help crafting a ban
on comments that dehumanize people and set
the stage for real-world violence.
JI
A policy change that Twitter has been
working on for several months is intended to
broaden hateful content restrictions at the
service to include barring tweets dehumanizing
people based on race, religion, sexual
orientation or other social grouping.
“Language that makes someone less than human can have
repercussions off the service, including normalizing serious
violence,” Vijaya Gadde and Del Harvey of the Twitter trust
and safety team said in a blog post.
AP
Wrong door
MUMBAI — An Indian passenger sparked panic in mid-air
when he tried to open a plane door, apparently mistaking it for
the toilet, the airline and reports said.
The man was traveling on a GoAir flight from New Delhi to
Patna on Saturday when he attempted to open the aircraft’s rear
exit, the carrier said.
“A co-passenger raised the alarm
and he was intercepted by the crew,”
GoAir said in a statement emailed
to AFP on Tuesday.
Indian media reports said he
was a first time flier in his late 20s.
When fellow passengers asked him what he was doing he told
them he “needed to use the washroom urgently and kept tugging
at the exit door,” The Telegraph, a Kolkata-based newspaper,
quoted an airport official as saying.
GoAir said the passenger was handed over to the authorities
for further investigation after the plane arrived safely at its
destination.
AFP
BEIJING — China plans to of the Moon at the end of 2018, which
land on and explore the southern is expected to become the world’s
and northern polar regions of the first soft-landing, roving probe on
Moon by 2030, according to an the Moon’s far side. A relay satellite,
official of the China National Space named Queqiao (Magpie Bridge), for
Administration (CNSA).
Chang’e-4 has entered a Halo orbit
Li Guoping, director of the around the second Lagrangian (L2)
Department of System Engineering point of the Earth-Moon system, about
of the CNSA, said at the World 65,000 km from the Moon in June.
Conference on Science Literacy 2018 Three other missions include
recently held in Beijing that China is bringing lunar samples back to
planning four missions for the fourth Earth for the second time, landing
stage of its lunar exploration program. on the South Pole region and the
China’s lunar exploration program, North Pole region, Li said.
named after the legendary Chang’e, a The exploration to the South
moon goddess accompanied by a jade Pole aims to study the age of the
rabbit, started in 2003 and the first lunar soil and the composition of the
three stages of the program include solar wind’s isotopes of hydrogen,
orbiting and landing on the Moon, carbon, helium and oxygen; while
and bringing samples back to Earth. the exploration to the North Pole
Li said the fourth stage of the aims to find out whether ice exists
program will include sending the in the permanent shadow area, Li
Chang’e-4 lunar probe to the far side added.
Xinhua
======================================
==================================
China eyes Moon
exploration by 2030
Case Law
By VICTOR C. AVECILLA
People v. Aquino
G.R. No. 203435, April 11, 2018 / Third Division /
Martires, J.
Criminal Law; Frustrated Homicide. — The
elements of frustrated homicide are: the accused
intended to kill his victim, as manifested by his use of
a deadly weapon in the assault; the victim sustained
fatal or mortal wounds but did not die because of
timely medical assistance; and none of the qualifying
circumstances for murder under Article 248 of the
Revised Penal Code, as amended, is present. If the
victim’s wounds are not fatal, the crime is only
attempted homicide. Thus, the prosecution must
establish with certainty the nature, extent, depth,
and severity of the victim’s wounds.
(VOLUME I NUMBER 54)
==================================
AFP
==================================

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
SPOTLIGHT 17
YOUKI, which “offers an important
platform for showcasing young
Austrian and international
filmmakers,” was first held in
1999 as part of the KINOVA
film festival
THE movie tackles the story of a fat girl named Trixie who is afraid to attend her class reunion due to the bitter experiences she’s had from bullies.
‘FAT You’ director Thirdy Rivera.
NEA Crossword Puzzle
© 2018 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS
ACROSS
1 Loses strength
6 Makes flat and
smooth
11 Bauxite
processing giant
12 Matterhorn echo
13 Kind of sale
(2 wds.)
15 Look out!
16 Diminished in
intensity
18 “The - Squad”
19 Hair goop
21 – Beta Kappa
22 Salt or pickle
23 Finalize a
contract
25 Home-heating
fuel
28 Marmalade
chunks
Pinoy short film competes in Austria
A short film about a fat girl, who is afraid to show up in her class reunion after being
bullied by her former classmates due to her physical appearance, will compete in the
annual International Youth Media Festival YOUKI in Wels, Austria, from 20 to 24 November.
“Fat You,” written and directed by Far Eastern University (FEU) senior Communication
student and FEU Film Society treasurer Ronnel “Thirdy” Rivera III, is among the
short films officially selected from about 500 entries to “Austria’s biggest up-and-coming
media festival with an international focus.”
The film, which bagged first prize in the 19 to 21 age group category of
the Manila Student Film Festival, stars Marry Grace Yagi, Lexcel Quina,
Robby Delgado, Ron Christian Alos of FEU Theater Guild and FEU
courtside reporter Sydney Allison Crespo.
Rivera shot the film with the help of director of photography/
editor PJ Muñoz, production manager Jamilla Chua, production
designer Winter De los Reyes, assistant director Diana Manguiat,
associate producer Neo Torres and location manager
Roselene Ariola.
YOUKI, which “offers an important platform for showcasing
young Austrian and international filmmakers,” was
first held in 1999 as part of the KINOVA film festival.
Previously called Young KINOVA, it screens outstanding
films from directors aged 10 to 26.
30 Once called
31 I, to Caesar
32 Lime cooler
33 Mork’s planet
35 Diner freebie
37 Unseld of the
NBA
38 Like a rain forest
40 Como – usted?
41 Ill wisher
42 Golf peg
A panel of judges awards prizes in three different age categories
(10–14/15–20/21–26). The winners for the three groups will get cash
prizes of 700, 1,100 and 1,500 euros, respectively.
In addition, the jury will also select the winner of an Innovative
Film Award, which focuses more on theme, content and current
media developments rather than cinematic perfection, to receive
800 euros in cash.
43 Sort
46 Fling
48 Prepares to
sail
50 Admires
oneself
54 Ran in place
55 Out of
commission
56 Leaks slowly
57 Iffy attempts
DOWN
1 Tolstoy title
word
2 Henri’s island
3 Kind of PC
screen
4 Beyond repair
5 Swedish
import
6 Got a load of
7 Oath
8 Party tray
cheese
9 Orchid
lovingWolfe
10 Go downhill
fast
14 Blank spaces
SUDOKU
15 Neutral shade
17 Calls to mind
(2 wds.)
19 Handbook
20 Sea eagles
22 Gizzard
24 Cornhusker st.
25 Gaggle
members
26 Rock tumbler
stone
27 Seltzer
29 Earth’s star
34 Elizabethan
collars
36 Back off
39 Jalopy
43 White wader
44 A big vein
45 Garden green
46 Explains further
47 Exasperates
49 Gym iteration
51 Ecol. bureau
52 Kernel
53 Blvds.
Answer to previous puzzle
by Ramon Lorenzo
Write a numeral from 1 to 9 in each box so that each appears
only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.
Answer for yesterday’s puzzle
RIVERA claims the film aspires to empower the plus-size community by uplifting its
self-esteem.
Searching for Southeast
Asia’s toughest!
It is not just a battle of the body, but also the
mind, and we encourage all tough participants to
join and show us what they’ve got
Are Filipinos the toughest in Southeast Asia? We will find out
soon. With the support of Fisherman’s Friend, Kix is bringing back
its annual R U Tough Enough? competition on an even bigger scale
this year. Finalists from six countries in Southeast Asia — Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — will be
competing for the title of “Southeast Asia’s Toughest” and a grand
prize of $15,000!
Fisherman’s Friend and Kix are seeking male and female
participants who have the physical strength, the mental endurance,
and the emotional resilience to take on contestants from five other
countries and prove that he or she is the toughest. Southeast Asia
will be accepting applicants until 15 October via its official website:
www.KIX-TV.com/tough. Applicants can also sign up via Tough Trooper
activations in their cities.
“R U Tough Enough? has grown in scope, size and participation
every year, and now we are excited to take this competition to a
regional level,” said Betty Tsui, vice president, Programming of Kix.
“We are looking for Southeast Asia’s toughest and we are thrilled to
invite everyone with an inspiring tough story to join us! It is not just
a battle of the body, but also the mind, and we encourage all tough
participants to join and show us what they’ve got!”
It has attracted thousands of participants in various countries
and crowned many deserving contestants.
R U Tough Enough? Southeast Asia is open to all Philippine
residents aged 18 and above. To participate, apply online at www.
KIX-TV.com/tough by 15 October or at the Tough Trooper roadshows
in Metro Manila, Cebu and Pampanga. Shortlisted candidates will
be invited for closed-door auditions and a total of four finalists will
be chosen to represent the Philippines together with the previous
winner Renz Lou Lagria. The finalists will be flown to Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, to take part in the Final Showdown at Sunway Pyramid
on 2 December.
Since its launch in Malaysia in 2014, R U Tough Enough? has
expanded to the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. And this year,
the competition launched for the first time in Singapore and will
be introduced to Vietnam as well. In the course of its run, it has
attracted thousands of participants in various countries and crowned
many deserving contestants, a testament to how well the competition
has been received in Southeast Asia.
More details including terms and conditions of the competition
can also be found on the official website www.KIX-TV.com/tough. Stay
updated on the competition through KIX HD’s social media platforms.
KIX is available on Cablelink Ch. 31, Cignal TV Ch. 264, Destiny Cable
Ch. 10, Gsat Ch. 117, and SKYcable SD Ch. 63 and HD Ch. 242.
D A I L Y G O S P E L
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Herod the tetrarch heard
about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed
because some were saying,
“John has been raised from
the dead;” others were saying,
“Elijah has appeared;” still
others, “One of the ancient
prophets has arisen.”
Luke 9: 7-9
But Herod said, “John I
beheaded. Who then is this
about whom I hear such
things?” And he kept trying
to see him.

18
LIFESTYLE
Cooking (and dining)
for the planet
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
TANIGUE
with dill.
A sociologist friend of mine once told me that a hundred years
ago, we, Filipinos, ate vegetables, beans and grains, but somehow
because of our colonial history, our diets changed. Being
sustainable, for us, is actually going back to basics. We were like
that before and we can do that again now
By Lourdes Florian M. Hernandez,
Contributor
Growing up in the province, I treated food
as simply something that has to be present
and appreciated when I am hungry. I took for
granted where it came from, how it is grown
and how it ends up in my plate. As a sickly
child, I was encouraged to eat plenty to put
on weight to the point that the sight and smell
of food bothered me. Food meant tears, mild
threats and not leaving the table until my plate
was all clear.
As a grownup, food has somewhat turned
into an enemy, something to avoid and that
needs to be taken in measures of calorie counts
and fat content or suffer the consequences of
indulging too much like bloating and weight gain.
Food intake also shows in check-ups and there’s
no mistaking one’s medical tests results. Thus,
the irony of food for me.
This is a fairly common experience for my
generation. But earlier Filipinos were known
to eat well and healthily. And, it is common
knowledge that they ate more vegetables and
fruits, rarely eat meat or livestock and only do
so on special occasions like fiestas and holidays.
But diets today have changed and have
become much more complex. People are more
conscious and sophisticated in their food
choices. But unlike before when food were
aplenty, with a smaller population then and
more land for food production use, the issue
now is sustainability in food production.
“A sociologist friend of mine once told me
that a hundred years ago, we, Filipinos,
ate vegetables, beans and grains,
but somehow because of
our colonial history,
our diets changed.
Being sustainable, for us, is actually going back
to basics. We were like that before and we
can do that again now,” Joel Palma, CEO and
president of WWF-Philippines, candidly shares
this anecdote whenever he’s talking about
sustainable food in the context of our country.
As he mentioned, this is nothing new
to Filipinos. Before all these fads on food
sustainability, reduced carbon footprint and
the whole back to nature-ism came to light, the
earlier generations of Filipinos cultivated their
own gardens, raised farm animals and were
practicing food self-sufficiency.
The arrival and successive influences of
foreign countries changed all this, particularly
our food sourcing, production and
sufficiency. Filipinos
proper education. It means parents can
devote more time to work and making a
living, instead of walking long distances to
fetch water or also getting weak and sick.”
Delantar was instrumental in
facilitating Waves for Water’s initial work
THE resulting glass (right) has been filtered with 0.1
micron absolute filter, which keeps bacteria, viruses
and cysts that cause common water-borne diseases
such as cholera, typhoid and salmonella.
in the Philippines seven years ago, in the
aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. The lack of
access to safe drinking water post-disaster
opened his eyes to the gaps still present in
communities across the country.
Waves for Water aims to make clean
water more accessible to more Filipinos,
through using a lean, collaborative
approach to installing community-based
water systems, restoring wells and
providing rainwater catchments in areas
where groundwater is unavailable.
Interested donor-volunteers can sign
up to their Clean Water Courier program
to distribute water filters to an area.
began consuming canned, processed and
packaged food and this started the detachment
or lack of curiosity of where we source our food.
Then there’s also that problem on food
wastage. People are wasting so much food while
ironically, there is food shortage and hunger in
some parts of the world. This great imbalance
towards food needs to be corrected.
In Metro Manila alone, some 2,175 tons of
food end up in trash bins daily, a development
partly caused by the proliferation of food service
establishments.
“Another fact, one-third of the food produced
globally is wasted, so that’s about 1.3 billion tons
of food wasted every year. By 2030, if we don’t do
anything about this, the world’s annual food waste
can increase to 2 billion tons,” Palma reiterates.
Sustainable consumption
In line with this, WWF-Philippines’ pioneer
project pushes sustainable consumption and
production through the “The Sustainable Diner:
Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism.” As part
of this project, the event gathered participants
to “Savour Planet: Cooking with a Purpose”
recently at the Nurture Wellness Village in
Tagaytay City.
The said workshop, the third in a series,
aims to empower and educate Filipino diners,
partners from the media, the academe, as well
as fellow non-government organizations and
food security projects on the importance of
sustainable food systems and sustainable dining.
The main focus of the event was the Healing
Kitchen cooking session, where the participants
were grouped and given their own stations.
Initial realization: I was surprised to learn
that one can still use discarded vegetable parts
such as potato peelings, tomato seeds, or the
hardened parts or the stems of broccoli or
cauliflower. During our cooking session, these
leftover parts were all boiled together and used
as stock for purees and soups. (This, however,
reminded me when my mother would boil these
discarded parts and leftovers as meal for our
pigs. It didn’t sit well with my sensibilities,
and there was a slight resistance in my mind
though, in hindsight, it does make sense.)
During the cooking session, we were
given access to the Nature Farm’s
garden to pick herbs to garnish or
flavor the dishes we were cooking
as well as the edible flowers
to decorate and make the
presentation more colorful.
With our tummies
already churning with
hunger, and all the while
being tempted with the
smells and aromas wafting
from the meals we were
preparing, we had to hurry
cooking since it was way
past lunch time.
The menu was
composed of bruschetta;
sweet potato and carrot
soup; roasted vegetable
and salad with local
vinegar dressing; tanigue
with dill served with
potato mash and sidings of
broccoli and cauliflower;
mango buko sundae and
pandan tea.
After lunch, guests
were given a tour of
Clean water for healthier lives
How important is water in helping
children live healthier lives? Recent data
from the World Health Organization and
the United Nations’ Children’s Fund’s Joint
Monitoring Programme for Water Supply,
Sanitation and Hygiene shows that while
91 percent of Filipinos have access to basic
drinking water services, only 61 percent
are using drinking water facilities that are
accessible on their premises.
Waves for Water organizes
education sessions for children,
parents and community members to
help them appreciate the value of
water, sanitation and hygiene.
In rural areas, this number drops to
47 percent, calling into question how
many Filipinos have reliable access to safe
VOLUNTEERS visited the community to learn about their needs
and teach members how to install, clean and maintain water filters.
HERBS and plants have corresponding medicinal
uses to different parts and organs of the body.
drinking water.
“Hydration is one of the key habits
necessary to living a healthier life,” noted
Nestlé Philippines senior vice president for
Communication, Marketing and Innovation
Paolo Mercado. “In a country where
millions of schoolchildren are battling
malnutrition, we need to ensure that
families and communities across the
country can provide their children
with clean drinking water. Non-profit
organization Waves for Water aims to
bridge this gap and provide access to
safe drinking water to communities
across the Philippines.”
As one of the contributing
organizations under the Nestlé
Philippines’ United for Healthier
Kids program, Waves for Water aims to
make drinking water more accessible
so schoolchildren
can retain nutrients
critical to their
growth, development
and long-term health.
“Access to clean
water plays a vital
role in addressing
malnutrition,” shared
Waves for Water country
director Carlo Delantar.
“A family with access
to clean water and
nutritious food will
mean kids not having to
excuse themselves from
school due to sickness,
therefore receiving
They then undergo basic
training on the use and
maintenance of filter and go
through a ‘Train the trainers’
session so they can pass on
their knowledge to partner
communities.
Each filter can serve
up to 100 people and
filter as much as one
million gallons of water
for up to five years. Their filter
uses one of the highest filtration
rates available and at 0.1 micron
absolute, it keeps out bacteria,
protozoa and cysts which could
lead to waterborne diseases such
as cholera, botulism, typhoid, E.coli,
salmonella, streptococcus and
amoebic dysentery.
In addition, Waves for Water
organizes education sessions for
children, parents and community
members to help them appreciate the
value of water, sanitation and hygiene
(WASH) and WASH facilities.
To date, some 10,000 water filtration
systems have been distributed across the
country, covering areas such as Bohol,
Siquijor, Palawan, Leyte, Baguio, Mindoro,
Bicol, Samar, Batanes and the Calayan
Group of Islands, benefitting around one
million Filipinos.
“Since we started, our partner
communities have reported a decrease in
classroom and workplace absenteeism,
increased school attendance, reduced
physical injuries from heavy lifting and
ROASTED vegetable salad.
SWEET potato and carrot soup with roasted veggie salad.
the Nurture Farm wittingly called Nurture
Farmacy that featured all kinds of herbs,
vegetables and medicinal plants. What
struck me the most is how all the herbs and
plants have corresponding medicinal uses
to different parts and organs of the body. A
bokashi composting tour showed how Nurture
Wellness Village manages the bio-waste to
further nourish the soil for farming.
“Sustainability practices have been
integrated in our operations with holistic living
in mind. Our restaurant serves vegetables from
its own organic garden which uses compost
from our kitchens as fertilizer. As part of the
Locavore movement, most of our ingredients
are sourced, if not from our own gardens,
from nearby areas to guarantee freshness
and to support our local communities,” says
Leslee Benitez, Operations Manager of Nurture
Wellness Village.
Filipinos began consuming canned,
processed and packaged food and
this started the detachment or lack
of curiosity of where we source our
food.
For the part of WWF-Philippines, the project
gives one a look at the bigger food sustainability
issue.
“From our experience in conducting The
Sustainable Diner project, we have discovered
that a lot of Filipino diners are still having
difficulties relating sustainable dining with
environmental protection. Did you know that
about 70 percent of biodiversity is lost when
producing and consuming food? That food
production and consumption contributes to
global greenhouse gas emissions?” explains
Melody Melo-Rijk, project manager of The
Sustainable Diner project.
“Because dining is a constant part of our
daily lives, we often overlook how much our
food choices affect the planet. And with how
much Filipinos love food, changing the way
they look at food can be quite a challenge,”
she reiterates.
DEMONSTRATIONS have helped reduce the cost of
maintenance and replacements, therefore improving
the lifespan of the water filter.
even household savings, as they no longer
have to purchase water for drinking,
bathing and cleaning,” said Waves for
Water director of Operations Jenica
Dizon. “For the children, it allows them to
stay in school and actively participate in
their education. For the adults, they can
reallocate the time they spend fetching
clean water to their livelihood or to
community work.”
Hydration is one of the key habits
necessary to living a healthier life.
For 2018, Waves For Water is looking
at expanding to more coastal areas and
mountain regions. With the rainy season
bringing about floods and typhoons,
Delantar and Dizon hope to help more
communities secure regular access to safe
drinking water.
Interested donor-volunteers can purchase
an MVP filter and a water bucket for P2,750
and donate P27,250 for 10 water filter systems
for a community. They can email Jenica
Dizon at jenica@wavesforwater.org and
Carlo Delantar at carlo@wavesforwater.org.

Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
LIFESTYLE 19
On higher
grounds
By Roel Hoang Manipon
Except for the monument of the
historic Battle of Bessang Pass,
Cervantes is not usually on the
radar of many tourists. The town
sits on the southwestern edge of
Ilocos Sur with the Cordillera
mountain range straddling
the area and the Abra River
winding through it, the geography
providing for a dramatic and
picturesque backdrop.
Here, a small retreat resort
village was developed by Master
Del Pe, considered as a “guru
of higher consciousness” by
many people. The MDP Village
is perched on the foothills of the
Cordilleras, lush with vegetation
and built with amenities such as
accommodations, sports facilities
and spaces for meditation, seminars
MDP Village in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
and other social functions.
A resident of Cervantes,
Master Del Pe returned to
establish the retreat village
after years of being an overseas
worker. A near-death experience
launched a search for the
meaning of life, which took Del
Pe to many parts of the world. He
said he was personally mentored
by four advanced masters, one of
whom is an immortal yogi in the
Himalayas. His learnings he wrote
in nine books and teaches to his
students. He is also frequently
invited to talk on spirituality,
higher consciousness, social
entrepreneurship, healing and
esotericism, among others.
Master Del Pe built MDP Village
as a place of enlightenment and
rejuvenation. Upland Cervantes
serves as the perfect place, being
quiet, cool and charmingly rustic,
with several thermal hot springs,
streams and waterfalls as well as
forests and rice fields. The village
has organic fruit and vegetable
gardens with panoramic views of
mountains and rivers.
He also envisions the village to
be a gathering place for spiritual
leaders and for students who
want to learn. Thus, he organizes
the International Convention on
Higher Consciousness (ICHC),
which will be on its second
edition from 28 September to
1 October. He hopes that the
ICHC will serve as a platform
to launch ideas, programs and
projects in a nurturing and
natural environment. He also
says that the convention is a way
to put Cervantes on the tourism
map, especially for those seeking
spirituality and retreat.
The Second ICHC will
gather visionaries, thinkers,
philanthropists, psychics,
spiritualists, New Age advocates,
self-help gurus, social impact
investors and humanitarians
for a four-day rejuvenating,
awakening and enlightening
retreat. The retreat convention
will also provide benefactors and
philanthropists with an arena
to find advanced causes and
pioneering projects to fund. Part
of the proceeds of the Second
THE retreat village is set against a picturesque background of the Abra River and the Cordilleras.
ICHC will benefit six charitable,
non-profit programs.
The retreat convention will
cover four tracks—consciousness
and inner awakening, a conscious
path to an enlightened life, longevity
and well-being consciousness and
actualizing the inner awakening.
“We aim to cultivate the ability
to achieve a more balanced and
enlightened life,” says Master Del
Pe, “and equip our delegates with
advanced tools to develop the
conscience in entrepreneurship
and wisdom in leadership.”
The Second ICHC offers eight
key takeaways that integrate
Eastern spirituality with Western
practicality. Invited are speakers
A LIFE mentoring session with Master Del Pe.
and panelists who espouse higher
principles and values from North
America, Africa, South America,
Europe and Asia.
A near-death experience
launched a search for the
meaning of life, which took
Del Pe to many parts of
the world.
Speakers include Dr. Alfredo
Pascual, CEO of the Institute
of Corporate Directors and the
20 th president of the University
of the Philippines; Dr. Alfonso
Lagaya, first director general
of the Philippine Institute of
Traditional and Alternative Health
Care (PITAHC); John Gage, cofounder
of JavaOne and board
member of the Human Needs
Project; Frederick Marx, Oscarand
Emmy-nominated producerdirector
and founder of Warrior
Films; Mamadou Toure, founder
of Africa 2.0 Foundation and
one of Forbes’ 10 Most Powerful
Men in Africa; Diana Nunez,
international branding expert
from Peru and a professor at the
Peruvian University of Sciences;
Moni Platt, medical intuitive and
a BEwell Science Expert at MDP
BElife; Anne Martine Kappel,
founder of True North Leadership;
Dr. Marivic Villa, medical director
at The Villages, Florida; Dr. Toni
Eternity is the endless prolongation of
time, and it keeps oneself without limit.
Eternity in religious aspect is a timeless
realm, and it exists beyond the capacity
of the human mind. Thus, we all desire a
moment in eternity.
This idea is visualized as ArtistSpace
of Ayala Museum presents “A Moment of
Eternity,” the second solo exhibition of Manila
based Korean visual artist, Christina Cho.
In Cho’s previous exhibition,
“Harmony,” her paintings were realistic
sceneries and architecture. However,
she tries out a new approach, expressed
through emotions regardless of logic.
In “A Moment of Eternity,” the artist
transforms the Ten Korean Traditional
Symbols of Longevity — sun, moon,
mountain, water, pine tree, rock, deer,
crane, turtle and elixir plant — into
Shangri-La, the unknown world, adding
mystery to it.
Cho’s new collection is created through
simplifying inanimate objects, yet using
strong and reverberating tones. She veers
away from doing realistic paintings and
composed new works with free and strong
colors, adding mystery to the subjects.
Francis, BEwell Science Energy
Medicine specialist, Europe, at
MDP BElife; Jen Viloria, founder
and Impact Investor of IISLA
Ventures; Dr. Alessandra Zambelli,
founder and managing director of
Aquarian Trinity Solutions; Rega
Stellar, co-founder of MDP Village
and a seer; Angelica Umali, founder
of Aquarius Naturals and former
global brand manager for MNCs);
and Sunee Kay, philanthropist and
administrator at BElife Institute for
Higher Consciousness.
Interested parties may join
the retreat convention.
He also envisions the
village to be a gathering
place for spiritual leaders
and for students who want
to learn.
“Invest not only in your material
success but also in your soul
awakening,” says Master Del Pe.
“The Second ICHC is perfect for
individuals who wish to expand
their consciousness, get healed and
experience balance in life.”
He adds: “It will be an opportunity
for the more advanced souls and
leaders to mentor or guide the
delegates with new paradigms and
breakthrough strategies.”
For inquiries, visit www.ichc2018.
org, email ichc@gmail.com or
call 0927-9561773, 0928-8432802 or
+1-213-769-9669.
Intimations of eternity
SHADOW of Kalachuchi (Oil on canvas, 53
by 41 cm, 2018)
Although she had a strong desire for the arts,
she was not able to pursue this due to various
reasons. After getting married, she studied
interior design and perspective drawing
while raising a child. In 2004, she joined her
husband, who was assigned in Manila for
work. She started painting and joined the
PTA Painting Club of International School of
Manila. In 2006, she enrolled in art classes
when she returned to Korea and became a
member of Modern Art Institute and Korean
Art Museum in Seoul, Korea.
TEN Longevity (Oil on canvas, 73 by 61 cm, 2018)
A PEACEFUL Landscape (Oil on canvas,
53 by 65 cm, 2017)
James Hilton’s novel entitled Lost
Horizon depicts a mystic and calm
earthly paradise called Shangri-La, where
happiness and immortality exist. Through
this exhibition, the artist hopes you will
feel the peace and calmness in your hearts
which you have been searching for even
just for a while.
Born in 1960, Cho grew up in Seoul, Korea.
While growing up, she has been exposed by
her parents to classical music and visual arts.
Cho’s new collection is created through
simplifying inanimate objects, yet using
strong and reverberating tones.
In 2013, she returned to the Philippines. She
is now a member of Mon Art Zen in Makati
City, and L’ Arc en Ciel Atelier in Alabang,
Muntinlupa City. In 2015, she held her first solo
exhibition at the ArtistSpace, and she has since
joined 15 group exhibitions. Cho is currently
living in Makati City with her husband, while
her two sons are living in the United Stated.
“A Moment of Eternity” is on view at the
ArtistSpace from 19 September to 1 October.
ArtistSpace is located at the Ayala Museum
Annex, Ground Level, Makati Avenue corner
De La Rosa Street, Makati City. It is open
from Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is free. For more information, call
or e-mail Jane Salvador at (02) 759-8288 or
artistspace@ayalamuseum.org.

20
LIFESTYLE
Dinah S. Ventura, Editor
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Daily Tribune
SIZZLING Black Truffle Bulalo from LUMU Filipino
Kitchen.
There’s something sparkling in the kitchens of restaurants at
Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, sparkling like black diamonds
in the night. Truffles. An edible fungus. A type of rare and highly
prized mushroom that levels up even the simplest food, such as
fries, to gourmet status. It is the star ingredient in the ongoing
Truffle Festival at Newport Mall, where participating restaurants
are serving truffle dishes from 1 to 30 September 2018.
It is the first time in the Philippines that a food promotion
focuses on truffles as the featured ingredient in a mall-wide
gastronomic event. While it is not a remote possibility that
certain malls, hotels and/or restaurants have already thought
of having a truffle festival in the past, it has not come to fruition
up until now because truffles are not an easy ingredient to work
around. Being an imported commodity, they are not as readily
available as, say, oyster mushrooms in the local market. Truffles
are also very expensive because it takes great effort to find
them and bring them to the market, especially since they are
in high demand in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
That being said, truffles are such a treat for the
palate that Resorts World Manila decided to hold
a truffle festival at the Newport Mall this entire
month of September, so there is still time to
catch it.
Often referred to as “the diamond of the kitchen,” truffles
are highly prized in French, Italian, Spanish and Middle Eastern
cuisines, in particular. They come in different species, but not
all are edible. For food purposes, the most popular species are
white truffles and black truffles. White truffles are rarer and pack
in more exquisite flavors than black truffles, so they are more
expensive, too. Their use as food dates back to the ancient Roman
civilization, whose cuisine held truffles in high esteem. Even then,
they were not something to indulge in because of their price and
therefore appeared only on the dining table of great nobles.
After all, truffles cannot be easily “cultivated.” They occur
naturally, with spore dispersal being done by fungivores (or
animals that eat fungi), in Europe, North America, Asia and
North Africa. They can be fund concentrated in certain places,
such as the French countryside and the Italian countryside.
Black truffles are found in abundance in the Périgord region
BLACK DIAMOND
TRUFFLE Ramen from Mr. Kurosawa.
Truffles grow among
the roots of certain
trees, particularly
oak trees, and their
fruiting bodies grow
underground. This
growing habit of truffles
makes them difficult
to find so that hunters
have to be dispatched
to find them
ITALIANNI’S Truffle Mushroom Pizza.
GARLIC Crab with Truffled
Mushroom Rice from Red Crab.
COLD Angel Hair Pasta with Black Truffle Ponzu and Caviar from Impressions.
of France, while white truffles
have made the Langhe and
Montferrat areas of Northern
Italy around the Piedmont
region, the countrysides of
Alba and Asti, and the hilly
terrain of Tuscany their
favorite breeding ground.
Truffles grow among the
roots of certain trees, particularly
oak trees, and their fruiting bodies grow underground. This
growing habit of truffles makes them difficult to find so that hunters
have to be dispatched to find them. Most hunters in Europe use
female pigs or truffle dogs to help them hunt for truffles. Female
pigs can detect the strong smell of ripe and mature truffles. But
since pigs like to constantly eat, using them to help ‘discover’ truffles
put these rare diamonds at risk of being eaten, or at the very least
bitten, by the pigs that helped find them. So dogs are preferred, and
WORLD OF FLAVORS
Dolly Dy-Zulueta
GET a taste of true luxury in this gastronomic celebration filled with truffle-infused cuisines, delicacies and treats as Resorts World Manila celebrates the
first-ever Truffle Festival.
their already sharp noses, which are able to detect the strong smell
of mature truffles even when they are underground, are trained
further. These hunting dogs are extremely important, since truffles
are best harvested when they are mature and ready. The dogs are
also trained to dig out these mounds of black culinary diamonds
from the ground once they catch the distinct odor of truffles. And
the thing about them is that once a truffle is collected from the
base of a certain tree, the truffle hunter can keep coming back
to the same place in the next few years to collect more.
Hunting season for truffles is from September to May in
Europe and, unlike other mushrooms or fungi, truffles come in
mounds, big or small, in mostly black variant. They are roundish,
but not symmetrically; some are small, while some are as big
as a fist, others even bigger.
Most truffles are bought by restaurants and hotels, who can
well afford the price. They shave off thin slices of truffles into
soups, salads, pasta, main courses, even fries and certain desserts,
to give these dishes an exquisite flavor. For use in home cooking,
most housewives who personally prepare food for their respective
families are usually contented with drizzling truffle oil on what
they are cooking. Depending on the brand, truffle oil is generally
less expensive than the fresh truffle, and they achieve the strong,
exquisite aroma and taste that only truffles can give a dish.
That being said, truffles are such a treat for the palate that
Resorts World Manila decided to hold a truffle festival at the
Newport Mall this entire month of September, so there is still
time to catch it. For the festival, participating restaurants at the
mall are offering their own truffle dishes for diners to enjoy.
Participating restaurants and their limited-time-only truffle offerings
include Italianni’s (Truffle Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
and Truffle Mushroom Pizza), Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria
(Fettuccine al Funghi) , LUMU Filipino Kitchen (Sizzling Black
Truffle Bulalo), The Red Crab (Garlic Crab with Truffle Mushroom
Rice), Impressions (Chilean Seabass with Black Truffle,
Cold Angel Hair Pasta with Black Truffle Ponzu and Caviar
and Mixed Mushroom Soup with Black Truffle Duck Liver
Ravioli), Mr. Kurosawa (Truffle Ramen) and UCC Café Terrace
(Black and White Truffle Fries and Truffle Mushroom Pasta).
It’s an impressive truffle menu that opens diners’ palates
to the wonders of truffles and serves as an avenue for them to
enjoy the exquisite treat.
Games and gastronomy at the Garage
Set to be a thrilling attraction for millennials and
family outings, The Garage will feature a lineup of
games at the VR Zone
The entertainment and leisure
complex City of Dreams Manila
will soon introduce a virtual reality
(VR) zone and food park
that put into spotlight
a new generation
entertainment.
The Garage will bring
top of class VR technology
operated by Bandai
Namco, a renowned
and leading video game
development company
hailing from Japan and a
curated selection of food
and beverage trucks and
trailers.
Situated in a
2,714-square meter, air-conditioned
space, marked with striking graffiti
artworks and modern industrial
GARAGE is strategically located at the heart of Entertainment
City of City of Dreams Manila.
interiors, The Garage is designed
by award-winning, Paris-based
creative design agency, Malherbe
Design. The new facility promises
to deliver a startling realistic
experience with virtual reality
games combined with gustatory
delights offered by some of the
hippest and contemporary food
trucks and trailers
that will cater to a
563-seating capacity.
The Garage,
situated at the upper
ground towards the
end of The Shops at
the Boulevard, will
be the latest unique
entertainment
facility at the luxury
integrated resort
after DreamPlay, the
only DreamWorksinspired
play space
in the world.
Set to be a thrilling
attraction for millennials and
family outings, The Garage
will feature a lineup of games
at the VR Zone in partnership
with Bandai Namco: Mario Kart
Arcade GP VR, Hospital Escape
Terror, and Ski Rodeo alongside
enticing gastronomic delights
which have been curated
to redefine casual dining,
consisting of Japanese, Filipino,
American, Vietnamese, Mexican
and Italian fares; a chocolate
shop; and separate bars for
coffee, juices and spirits.
Food tenants set to open
are Hokkaido Ramen Santouka,
Pink’s Hotdog, Little Flour,
Farmacy, Katsusora,El
Chupacabra, Pizza Grigliata,
Chocol8, Juiced and The
Roaster.
FOOD trucks at the main dining area.
Strategically located at the
heart of Entertainment City,
The Garage at City of Dreams
Manila is easily accessible in
close proximity to the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport,
SM Mall of Asia and other key
destinations. For the ease of
guests, the new facility offers the
resort’s customary free parking
spaces.
For more information, visit
cityofdreamsmanila.com.