DT_20190709

A SHANGHAI
SOJOURN
GROUP BARRED
FROM CATHAY FLIGHT
BATTLE OF LOS
ANGELES
MOST
INNOVATIVE
BROADSHEET
2018
44TH
PHILIPPINES
BUSINESS
EXPO
6.9 QUAKE ROCKS
INDONESIA
PAGE C17 DIVERSITY PAGE B13 WORLD
PAGE A8 METRO
MANILA, PHILIPPINES TUESDAY, 9 JULY 2019
CAYETANO, VELASCO HALVE SPEAKERSHIP
CHALLENGES
AHEAD
PAGE D21 SPORTS PAGE A5 COMMENTARY
New chief looks
into PhilHealth mess
Following the outrage sparked by the
discovery of the anomalies in the Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), its
new president vowed on Monday to investigate
“each and every” impropriety committed by
agency officials and staff which has reportedly
cost billions.
Newly-appointed PhilHealth president
Turn to page A6
Rody caves in to ‘sharing’
The Duterte Coalition was still hoping to
find a “unity candidate” as of late yesterday
afternoon before the Chief Executive
dropped the bomb
By Hananeel Bordey and Kristina Maralit
Just as the newly-formed Duterte Coalition was working
for a united decision, President Duterte on Monday went
against the wishes of his children and declared his
approval to a term-sharing of the speakership of the
House of Representatives.
Mr. Duterte’s announcement
about the shared speakership
between Taguig Rep. Alan
Peter Cayetano and
Marinduque Rep.
Lord Allan Velasco
earned a stern “no
comment” quip
from his daughter,
Davao Mayor Sara
Duterte.
Sara Duterte
leads the Hugpong
Turn to page A2
CAYETANO ROMUALDEZ VELASCO
Manila probes Estrada fund misuse
By Pat C. Santos
The City of Manila will chase its former mayor
for the missing money that left what was once the
“Pearl of the Orient” bankrupt and mucky.
Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna on Monday
announced that the City Council, inspired by the
changes brought forth by the new leadership, will
probe former Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada
for leaving the city with a huge debt of P4.4 billion.
Turn to page A2
ISRAEL’S Ambassador to the Philippines, Honorable Rafael Harpaz, shares a light moment with Daily Tribune editors Jojo Silvestre (left) and
Komfie Manalo during yesterday’s Straight Talk session.
AL PADILLA
Bike hunt
BRUSSELS, Belgium
— Thieves in Brussels early
Sunday made off with a very
special bike with even the city
mayor enlisted in the hunt to
find it. Turn to page A6
Want war? Be
prepared for one!
By Elmer N. Manuel
Newly-elected Sen. Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa on
Monday lashed at his critics and so-called “keyboard
warriors” trolling his push to restore the Reserve Officers’
Training Corps (ROTC) for Grade 11 and 12 students,
stressing that exposure to military discipline will instill
patriotism among the youth.
The rookie lawmaker also pointed out that while his
critics are against the restoration of the ROTC, their call
to bear arms against China over the issues concerning the
country’s claim over several islands in the West Philippine
Sea is ridiculous as they have no prior military training.
“Most of the youth today are raring to get into a war
with China,” De la Rosa said. “But how can they if they
don’t want to have the ROTC back? How can we fight
the Chinese?”
Turn to page A6
Second
time’s
sweeter
By Hananeel Bordey
The second time should be
sweeter for Bb. Joyce Bernal. And
yes, she prefers the customary
Ms. Before her name.
Like her romantic-comedy
movies with happy endings, Ms.
Bernal wants her second chance
at directing President Rodrigo
Duterte’s fourth State of the
Nation Address (SoNA) to finish
with the sangfroid reserved for
the Chief Executive.
That aplomb was snatched
from Mr. Duterte last year, when
before his speech, the House of
Representatives was locked in a
leadership battle that effected
a last-minute change in the
speakership.
Ms. Bernal expects the
affair to be “grand” and with a
“hopeful” atmosphere this time.
Turn to page A2
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A2 NEWS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
DEEP in debt and in trouble, former Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada has a lot of explaining to do with the new City
Council at the Manila City Hall.
YUMMIE DINGDING
Rody caves in to ‘sharing’
Sara Duterte leads the Hugpong ng Pagbabago which initially supported
Velasco’s bid for the speakership
From page A1
ng Pagbabago which initially supported
Velasco’s bid for the speakership, which
was challenged by Cayetano, who offered
the term-sharing deal, with him taking
the first 15 months and Velasco the last
21 until the 18th Congress closes.
Cayetano’s term-sharing proposal
became a thorny issue among the rivals,
including Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez
who settled for the majority leadership.
With this as a backdrop, the Davao
City leader forged what is called as
the Duterte Coalition with her brother
1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte of the
Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod and threw
their support to Davao City 3rd District
Rep. Isidro Ungab.
The Duterte Coalition was still hoping
to find a “unity candidate” as of late
yesterday afternoon before the Chief
Executive dropped the bomb.
“It’s about time I talk,” the President told
This time, we would like to set the people’s mood to hey, don’t
fight here, bashers
From page A1
This, she said, would
erase the gloom set in the
same stage by last year’s
wrangling.
The President is
coming into his speech
with some 80 percent of
adult Filipinos giving him
a stamp of approval.
Mr. Duterte’s
performance for the second
quarter of the year has
remained high, with only
12 percent of Filipinos
dissatisfied with his
leadership, according to
the latest survey released
by the Social Weather
Stations (SWS).
The SWS classified the
President’s net satisfaction
rating of +68 percent as
his audience composed by some members
of his Cabinet and several members of the
House of Representatives. “So, your Speaker
will be Cayetano and he will share the term
with Velasco. Romualdez will be the Majority
Floor Leader.”
Mr. Duterte’s announcement
about the shared speakership
between Taguig Rep. Alan Peter
Cayetano and Marinduque Rep.
Lord Allan Velasco earned a
stern no comment quip from
his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara
Duterte.
Presidential spokesman Salvador
Panelo claimed the three hopefuls sought
the assistance and help of the President
to settle their conflict.
“To save the unity of the alliance
and avert its fragmentation, the
President obliged to the request of
the three candidates, who to their
“very good. That number
is also Mr. Duterte’s new
personal high, surpassing
his previous +66 recorded
in June 2017 and March
2019.
There is going to be
a more inviting vibe, Ms.
Bernal assured. This year’s
SoNA should have all the
elements to make the
Filipino feel “excited to
watch their father” speak.
“I want it hopeful and
good. I wanted last year’s
affair to be jolly, but what
happened? So, this time,
we would like to set the
people’s mood to ‘hey, don’t
fight here, bashers!,’” Ms.
Bernal said.
Bernal inspected the
Plenary Hall of the House
of Representatives on
Monday, two weeks before
the SoNA takes place.
“We want it grand. I
hope to have live music
at the venue. That’s my
dream, if there’s going to
be a budget for this, why
not?” Ms. Bernal added.
“But when you dream
big, it entails an additional
budget to pull off a program
like this one. But if we
can do something about
it, we will,” added the
multi-awarded director.
Bernal disclosed that
she wants to showcase a
weave from Mindanao or
the Mountain Province
near the podium to show
“a more Filipino” side of
the program.
She added that the
president wanted the SoNA
credit, agreed to respect the
choice of PRRD,” Panelo said.
Although the President did not
announce any formula, Panelo said
Cayetano will serve as speaker for 15
months while the remaining months will
be for Velasco.
“We thank the President for the
announcement,” Cayetano said. Let’s all
work together.”
Cayetano also disclosed that he will
coordinate with Velasco to determine
their roles while waiting for the transfer
of the speakership.
“I called them here. They came
because this (bitter rivalry) has to stop,”
Mr. Duterte said. “I avoided (the issue),
but it was creating so much uncertainty.”
Velasco’s party, the Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino, will regroup in a meeting to
discuss the development, according to PDP
spokesman Ron Munsayac.
Cayetano is a Nacionalista Party
stalwart.
Second time’s sweeter
to be a short one. But it will
depend on Mr. Duterte’s pacing.
“I cannot direct him (to do
that) but I’ll tell him about small
things,” Bernal said.
Her team will set up 20
cameras inside the Plenary Hall,
saying she wants a “broadcast
quality” coverage.
Bernal reiterated that her
service is pro bono work, saying
that she is very willing to direct
this year’s SoNA and do “something
for him (Mr. Duterte).”
Staff and employees of the
House of Representatives are
now busy in the preparations for
the program with the venue now
being repaired and repainted as
the event is fast-approaching.
The 18th Congress will
officially open on 22 July.
The last SoNA was marred with
infighting among Congressmen
who replaced former Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez with
outgoing Speaker Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
Manila probes Estrada fund misuse
Estrada earlier claimed to have left the City with a P2 billion
fund intact
From page A1
Lacuna was acting on Daily Tribune’s
front page banner on the same day
which quoted documents released by the
Commission on Audit (CoA) citing Manila’s
debt deficit of P4,393,795,846.99 billion.
This was the amount missing from
the city coffers despite Estrada earlier
claiming to have left the City with a P2
billion fund intact.
But as presiding officer of the City
Council, Lacuna disclosed that the
Committee on Ways and Means headed
by 3rd District Councilor Manolet Zarcal,
along with four other councilors who are
lawyers, will gather the financial records
of the previous administration.
Estrada’s team had denied the new
leadership of copies of these documents.
Contrary to practice, city funds were
previously administered by the chief
executive under Estrada rather than the
legislative which should have determined
the city’s financial transactions.
Among those who will be called to
explain their takes on the CoA report to
city council will be the Manila City budget
officer, accountant and treasurer.
Lacuna, who served as vice mayor
to Estrada, even lamented that Estrada
banded with allied councilors to control
the city’s financial operation during his
term.
“They had control over the funds,
including the budget for City Hall
employees. That’s why salaries had been
delayed for up to four months,” Lacuna
claimed.
Estrada claimed Manila is debt-free in
his campaign speeches.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno”
Domagoso said the CoA report should
speak for itself.
Estrada was once elected President
of the Philippines but was ousted on
corruption charges only after a year in
office.
He served six years under house arrest
and was subsequently pardoned by former
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who
replaced him in Malacañang.
INSPECTORS do their daily chores at the MRT Line 3 to prevent stoppage of operations.
YUMMIE DINGDING

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
PAGE THREE
Sandigan resets Jinggoy trial
By Hananeel Bordey
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division Court
has reset the continuation of the plunder
case against former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as
the court awaits the prosecution’s comment
on the defense’s supplemental motion for
reconsideration (MR).
The supplemental motion for
reconsideration was filed by Estrada’s
counsel last 1 July in addition to their first plea
submitted last 19 June which asked the court
to review the junking of the former Senator’s
demurrer to evidence.
State prosecutors, who just received the
copy of the supplemental MR last Thursday,
were given five days to give their comment.
The Court will hear the said motion on
5 August.
The anti-graft court junked Jinggoy
and Napoles’ demurrer to evidence,
saying it is convinced that the prosecution
has presented sufficient evidence on the
plunder case.
“With the above discussion and based
on the evidence on record, this Court
is convinced that the prosecution
presented sufficient evidence both
testimonial and documentary,
which established each element of
the crime of plunder against the
accused,” the Sandiganbayan said
in a resolution released last 13 June.
Last 13 March, the Sandiganbayan
has allowed Estrada and Napoles to
file their motions for leave to file a
demurrer to evidence.
Granting their demurrer means
allowing them to challenge the sufficiency
of evidence presented by the prosecution in
relation to the P183-million plunder case filed
against them.
The anti-graft court junked
Jinggoy and Napoles’ demurrer
to evidence, saying it is
convinced that the prosecution
has presented sufficient
evidence.
However, the Sandiganbayan said
that the prosecution was able
to establish that both accused
agreed to funnel Estrada’s
Priority Development
Assistance Fund
allocation through
Napoles’ bogus NGO
for a percentage
commission ranging
from 40 to 60
ESTRADA
percent of PDAF, in exchange for kickbacks
and commissions which will be divided among
themselves.
Estrada was among three senators
named for involvement in the pork barrel
scam.
He was tagged along with recently-elected
Senator Bong Revilla Jr. and former Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile.
The former senator, who lost in the 2019
national elections, is currently out on bail.
Meanwhile, Napoles is currently
detained at the Correctional Institute for
Women in Mandaluyong.
She was convicted 7 December 2018 in
a plunder case involving Revilla and his
former aide Richard Cambe.
Cambe was also convicted but his
former boss, Revilla, was acquitted by
Sandiganbayan First Division.
Barangay term
extension bill filed
Expressing his empathy for barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials who wish
to execute their programs fully in their respective
constituencies, Sen. Christopher Lawrence
“Bong” Go filed a bill seeking to extend the terms
of office of the local officials to give them “ample
time and continuity to pursue and implement
the programs they have set in their respective
jurisdictions.”
As committed during the senatorial
campaign, Go has filed a bill calling for
the postponement of the barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections slated this
May 2020 to October of 2022 to give barangay
officials ample time to finish their respective
programs and projects.
Go said that as the assistant of the President
Rodrigo Duterte for several years, he is familiar
with the kind of work that barangay officials
render to their communities and they must be
given enough time to implement them.
“I also came from the local government. And
I must say that barangay officials indeed carry
out basic services and keep peace and order for
their constituents,” he said.
The term of incumbent barangay officials
was reduced to two years after the Republic Act
10952, approved on 2 October 2017, deferred the
2017 barangay and SK elections and moved it to
the second Monday of May 2018.
The law further stipulated for the next polls
to be held on May 2020, reducing the terms
of candidates who won the May 2018 elections
to only two terms, instead of the three years
mandated by the previous law.
If passed into law, the bill will move the next
barangay and SK elections to the second Monday
of October 2022 and every three years thereafter.
Transport holiday
fizzles out
Some ride-sharing drivers and operators cut short their
“transport holiday” after government officials sat down with
them for a dialogue
By Elmer N. Manuel
Despite the transport holiday staged by
disgruntled Transport Network Vehicle Services
groups, Grab Philippines on Monday said the
number of TNVS vehicles available and their
operation during rush hour remained normal.
In a statement, Grab Philippines’
communication manager Fiona Nicolas
said their operations remained normal
despite the participation of
some groups in the transport
holiday which stemmed from
the “problematic” permit
application process in the
Land Transportation
Franchising and
Regulatory Board
(LTFRB)
and the ban
on hatchback
vehicles.
“Based on
our monitoring
during rush
hour, the
number
of TNVS
remained normal,” said Nicolas, noting that
despite the strike, some of the TNVS drivers still
consider their responsibility to the passengers.
“That means operations are normal,
and drivers know they cannot ignore their
responsibilities to passengers,” Nicolas said.
Meantime, some ride-sharing drivers and
operators cut short their “transport holiday”
after government officials sat down with them
for a dialogue.
The drivers’ “holiday” was cut short after
drivers operating TNVS service units had a
dialogue with the Civil Service Commission,
Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Department
of Transportation (DoTr).
But other TNVS drivers and operators
decided to remain offline as the protest action
started at 6 a.m. and lasted until 6 p.m.
LTFRB has scheduled a dialogue with
the drivers and operators a day after the
“transport holiday” to address their issues
with the agency.
In a televised interview, Grab spokesman
Nicka Hosaka said the company wants to work
with LTFRB and DoTr to determine the safety
of hatchbacks.
“Grab’s stand here is we actually want to
work with LTFRB in coming up with studies
that will show the safety of hatchbacks.
Recently, the pilot test of two-wheels was
allowed for public transport and we want to
call for that as well,” Hosaka said.
The sixth-month test
run of motorcycles as transportation providers
began last month.
Hosaka added: “We want to do further
studies, not just isolated ones, to show that
there are hatchbacks that cam comply with
the safety standards of TNVS.”
Last year, LTFRB issued a memorandum
temporarily allowing the use of hatchbacks
as TNVS providers until 2021 and only within
Metro Manila to help meet commuter demands.
KAPA officials
charged
By Alvin Murcia
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
and three investors of the Kapa Community
Ministry International Inc. (KAPA) yesterday
filed a criminal complaint against the religious
group before the Department of Justice (DoJ).
Included in the eight counts of syndicated
estafa are KAPA founder Joel Apolinario and 13
officers and employees of the religious group.
The NBI-National Capital Region also
sought the prosecution of Apolinario and
other KAPA personalities for violation of
the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) on
the so-called investment scam.
Affidavits of the three private individuals
who apparently invested P500,000, P45,000
and P30,000 in the group was secured by
the NBI-NCR.
The three were made to believe that they
would earn monthly lifetime interest equivalent
to 30 percent of the principal money they
invested in the religious group.
The interest received by members was
described as “blessing” by the group.
DoJ prosecutors have been
conducting investigation against
some Kapa officials after they were
charged by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) of
violating the SRC.
The case was filed by the SEC
before the DoJ only recently.
KAPA was found by
the SEC selling and/or
offering securities in
the form of investment
contracts in the guise
of a donation in
exchange for a monthly
interest of 30 percent.
Walking the talk Sen. Bong Go, shown here getting enthusiastic welcome from fire victims
in Bacoor Cavite over the weekend, wants to extend the term of barangay officials nationwide
through his bill.
ALFONSO PADILLA
Suicide cases alarm Church
By Raymart T. Lolo
A Catholic Archbishop on Monday expressed
concern over increasing suicide cases in the
country.
In a pastoral statement, Capiz Archbishop
Jose Advincula called on the faithful to pray
for those suffering from mental illness, the
main trigger of suicide. He asked the public
to understand and refrain from judging
those who choose to end their lives through
suicide.
Instead of ridiculing and mocking suicidal
individuals, the archibishop advised the public
to just pray and entrust them to the mercy and
love of God.
“It is not right to play god and judge these
persons who died by suicide. What we can
do is pray and entrust them to the mercy
and love of God,” Archbishop Advincula said.
Advincula said people need to know that
individuals who choose to end their lives are
suffering from serious problems.
He said that it may be because of lack
of family support, friends, or the individual
is experiencing bullying and other problems
in his personal relationships.
Advincula pointed out that support from
families, schools, governments and churches
are essential for those experiencing depression.
The archbishop noted that listening to
depressed people and engaging them in
conversations are needed to determine if a
family member is suffering from any mental
issues which could lead them to making harsh
decisions such as suicide.

A4 COMMENTARY
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Tribune
WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR
“ Rody
had made
it clear that
the war on
drugs in his
final three
years
in office
will remain
relentless
despite the
calls for
international
intervention.
Daily
WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR
Chito Lozada
Aldrin Cardona
Dinah Ventura
John Henry Dodson
Roy Pelovello
Larry Payawal
Komfie Manalo
Geraldine Datoy
Patricia Ramos
Board Chair
Willie Fernandez
Publisher and President
Executive Editor
Managing Editor
Associate Editor
Digital Editor
Central Desk Editor
Central Desk
Advertising
and Marketing
Serves
them right
The Philippine delegation to the 41st session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland
delivered the most effective message yet to the critics of the
war on drugs of President Rody Duterte when they walked out
in protest of the Iceland resolution.
Yellow liberal European leaders have banded behind the
call of Iceland for a probe of the war on drugs and what they
alleged as extrajudicial killings (EJK) resulting from the antinarcotics
campaign.
The numbers being cited in the UN meeting varied and go as
high as the 27,000 EJK deaths manufactured by chief Duterte
critic Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
The Iceland-led bloc sought a UN investigation into the EJK
allegations and demanded that the UN require the Philippines
to submit to the visit of Special Rapporteurs who all harbor a
grudge against Rody.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch which has strong
ties with the yellow mob and had long been instigating UNHRC
to meddle into the domestic affairs of the country is now
protesting against the actions taken by the Philippine delegates.
The show of protest was led by Undersecretary Severo Catura
who delivered a long, blistering attack against the resolution, in
which he accused Iceland and others of bullying the Philippines.
Catura in an interview with the Daily Tribune said the
Iceland resolution goes to a vote around 11 or 12 July.
Catura questioned the draft resolution’s intention, which he
said Iceland claims to be a progression from the joint statements
issued in previous HRC sessions.
“We heeded the concerns raised in the resolution by
informing the delegations on accountability mechanisms
in the Philippines. However, Iceland insists that it wants to
know the truth, but we do not know by which qualification,
given that efforts are made by the government to cross-verify
data and establish facts in its presentations. Iceland seems
to have its own version of ‘truth,’” Catura said.
In last year’s UNHRC assembly,
“The numbers
being cited
in the UN
meeting
varied and
go as high
as the 27,000
EJK deaths
manufactured
by chief
Duterte critic
Sen. Antonio
Trillanes IV.
the Philippines already protested the
“confrontational attitude” of the same
group.
The government panel offered to engage
with the countries “in a positive manner,
whether bilaterally or multilaterally in stark
contrast with the needlessly confrontational
attitude they have taken in (the Human
Rights) Council.”
The irony is that despite the incessant
attack on the Philippines and other
developing countries using the weaponized
human rights issues, it is in developing
countries where 80 percent of the world’s
refugees are hosted while developed
countries try to keep their eyes shut.
The point is that the problems being raised involving
rights which have been used since the start of the Duterte
administration appear always politically loaded.
With a working judiciary system, despite being imperfect to
a certain degree, respect for international rights obligations
is maintained.
Thus, the question that should be asked is, why the need
for concern over rights which are already fully protected in
the country?
The local delegation had complained against bullying from
the anti-Duterte group led by Iceland and the weaponization of
the EJK allegations to demonize the President and the country.
Among the allegations thrown in a cavalier fashion against
Rody is that he instigated the police killings, incited the
public’s response in urging the drug war killings and assured
law enforcement officers that those implicated in abuses will
have his protection.
Also cited was his promise to pardon police officers who
are convicted in the exercise of their duty in the anti-narcotics
campaign.
Rody had made it clear that the war on drugs in his final
three years in office will remain relentless despite the calls for
international intervention.
“Do not destroy my country for the three years that I am still
here,” Duterte said. “Do not produce drugs for our children to
eat and go crazy. I will really kill you,” he added.
The President’s spokesman Salvador Panelo called the UN
resolution an interference, saying other nations may have been
misled by “false news” on the drug war because the supposed
EJK were deaths caused by suspects resisting arrest.
The walkout of the Philippine delegation from such biased
UN meeting which caters to the yellow opponents of Rody
should have been done a lot sooner.
“That should
not be the
penalty.
They should
be charged
and detained,
just as
Morales and
her deputies
and
investigators
should be
charged and
convicted
for their
dereliction of
duty, while
convicting
the innocent
political foes
and freeing
the guilty
yellows.
“Corrupt
policemen
operating
in Pasig
City have
been
reported
to extort
money from
motorists
caught
unwittingly
violating
the “oddeven”
restriction.
Back to College of Law, yellows
Even if one — or
any yellow — tries to
portray Ombudsman
Samuel Martires’
withdrawal of
the earlier case
filed before the
Sandiganbayan
against former
President Benigno
“Noynoy” on claims of
his holding a grudge
against him, the fact
is that the weak
charges of usurpation filed earlier
by his yellow protector, former
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-
Morales, were intended for her
yellow political patron to walk free
immediately with the court quickly
dismissing the charges.
On the grudge Martires
reportedly holds against Aquino,
it was mainly on the decision
of the Second Division, where
Martires served, to uphold the
plea bargain deal sought by former
army comptroller Carlos Garcia,
which caused the downgrading of
the criminal charges against the
accused from P300-million plunder
and money laundering, to indirect
bribery and facilitating money
laundering.
So what is wrong with approving
a plea bargain, as this is part of the
justice system to shorten the time
in deciding court cases?
But with the vindictive Aquino,
anyone who goes against him is a
foe — judicial or political.
What is more probable is that
it is Aquino who continues to
FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
The new mayors of
Pasig City, Manila and
Quezon City, are in the
news.
Vico Sotto, the young
and charismatic new
Pasig City Mayor has
lived up to his campaign
promise to do away with
the unfair, arbitrary
“odd-even” vehicle
use restriction policy
dictated on the people of
Pasig by his predecessor,
Mayor Robert Eusebio. Last 1 July, Sotto
suspended the unpopular “odd-even”
scheme in his first executive order as
the new city mayor.
Approved by the Pasig City
Council in 2016, the “odd-even” rule,
euphemistically called by Eusebio’s
stooges in the city council as the
“modified vehicular volume reduction
scheme,” prohibits four-wheeled motor
vehicles from using certain streets of
the city on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, or on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays, depending on the last
digit of a vehicle’s license plates.
Sotto was the solitary city councilor
who voted against the “odd-even”
restriction. One of his campaign
pledges in the last election is the
abolition of the restriction.
Motorists traversing the Pasig City
roads complained that the “odd-even”
scheme conflicted with the number
coding restriction currently being
enforced by the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority. It created an
undue restriction on motorists who
needed to use the city’s roads to get
to destinations other than Pasig City.
Corrupt policemen operating in
Pasig City have been reported to
extort money from motorists caught
unwittingly violating the “odd-even”
restriction. Motorists also lament that
hold a grudge against
Martires, not the other
way around.
Besides, yellow
or not, it can hardly
be denied that the
charges the yellow
Ombudsman filed
against her political
patron were definitely
deliberately patterned
for the court’s
dismissal.
Even non-lawyers
could see that the charges filed by
Caprio-Morales were made for this.
But it’s a different Ombudsman
today and he is moreover not
beholden to the former president.
Besides, he does know his law.
Martires has, however, opened
the door for the filing of criminal
charges against the former
president.
It is clear that Martires is open
to his pursuing homicide charges
against the former president, even
when Morales junked the homicide
complaints filed earlier by private
citizens. Instead, she came up with
charges against her yellow patron
which ensured their dismissal
by the court, as those charges of
usurpation and graft raps were
without merit.
And to think that Carpio-Morales
is a former senior associate justice
of the Supreme Court! One would
have expected her to know that
the charges she filed were much
too weak and clearly intended to
be easily dismissed by the courts,
which would mean the yellow
president’s
instant
acquittal.
Usurpation
and graft criminal
charges were filed
against former President
Aquino over the deaths of
the 44 Special Action Force
(SAF) police commandos in
2015 during an anti-terrorism
operation against a wanted
international terrorist
Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, in
Mamasapano.
Armed Muslim rebels, especially
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
secessionists and the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters came to
the fore and started to massacre
the SAF commandos, all 44 of
them who pleaded for help with air
power from Aquino, who however
did nothing to save his brave SAF
men whom he knew, in real time,
were being massacred by the very
Muslims who were in peace talks
with the yellow president.
He did
nothing
because he
believed he would
city officials and
favored employees
are exempted from
the “odd-even”
restriction.
The Eusebio
political dynasty,
which controlled the
city for 27 years, lost
its 27-year control of
the city upon being
defeated in the May
2019 election.
After suspending
the “odd-even” scheme, Sotto happily
announced that “Everyone is now
welcome in Pasig.”
Over in the City of Manila, Francisco
“Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced
that the 2.1-hectare Arroceros Forest
Park along the south bank of the
Pasig River, a stone’s throw away
from city hall, will be preserved for
public enjoyment. Environmentalists
call the forest park “as the last lung
of the city.”
Past city mayors wanted to demolish
the forest park and replace it with a
city building. Analysts say that corrupt
politicians often resort to construction
projects to profit from them.
During his time, Mayor Joselito
Atienza tore down 200 trees,
or approximately one-third of the
population of trees in the forest park, to
make way for a building. The park’s thick
canopy of shade trees was obliterated
almost overnight.
Mayor Atienza also ordered the
demolition of the iconic and historic
Jai-Alai Building along Taft Avenue near
Rizal Park. The building was a showcase
of art-deco architecture pre-war Manila
was known for. A high-rise building now
stands on the site.
Domagoso’s decision to preserve
the Arroceros Forest Park distinguishes
himself from his predecessors.
win the Nobel Peace Prize for his
pact with these murderous Muslims.
The selective and partisan
Ombudsman Carpio-Morales knew
just what went on, as the media
faithfully reported on these and there
was also a Senate hearing, where, if
one harks back to the time of the
probe on the Mamasapano massacre
of the 44 SAF and where the yellows
and their allies, especially the chair
of the investigating panel, cleared
their yellow idol Aquino of charges.
One remembers that then
Justice chief now detained
senator, Leila de Lima, defended
her yellow president, even saying
that Aquino is blameless since he is
not the commander in chief of the
Philippine National Police (PNP).
Going by the present
Ombudsman’s statements, any
justice would be stupid to convict
Aquino on usurpation, or for that
matter, which justice chief would
indict Aquino on such charges, or
even buy the brainless defense of
De Lima that her yellow patron
was not the commander in chief
of the PNP when the Constitution
states this clearly and therefore he
is innocent.
As Martires
put it before the
court where he
once served as
Sandiganbayan
justice: “This
court knows my
grudge against
the former
President, but I
have to set aside
my personal
differences
with respect to my job. No President
of Republic of the Philippines will
ever be liable for usurpation.
Anyone who would think otherwise
should go back to the College of
Law.”
Defending his stand, Martires
stressed that there is no president
that can usurp any official order
and that the 3019 provision on
persuasion, won’t fly either since
the president can call any civilian
to assist and help him.
But there is a case of
disagreement I have with
Ombudsman Martires. Morales
and others like her who bowed in
obeisance to the yellow president
and dumping the law should
not get off by going back to the
college of Law.
That should not be the penalty.
They should be charged and
detained, just as Morales and
her deputies and investigators
should be charged and convicted
for their dereliction of duty,
while convicting the innocent
political foes and freeing the
guilty yellows.
More: For perjury and passing
off fake bank documents as real.
The new Pasig, Manila and QC mayors
THE SCRUTINIZER
Victor Avecilla
“With the
vindictive
Aquino,
anyone who
goes against
him is a
foe — judicial
or political.
Over in Quezon City, the new
mayor, Joy Belmonte, looks forward
to a wonderful time at city hall. She
is a member of the Belmonte political
dynasty which held power in the city
since 2001.
Last week, the news media reported
that Belmonte will have at her
disposal P26.27-billion in the city’s
treasury. That’s a lot of money. In fact,
it’s the biggest treasury fund among the
cities of Metropolitan Manila.
Despite all that money in the treasury,
Quezon City residents are asking why the
Quezon City government still increased
real estate taxes by a whopping 5 times
more than the current rate. The city
intends to collect the higher real estate
taxes before year’s end.
Actually,
the higher real
“Domagoso’s
decision to
preserve the
Arroceros
Forest Park
distinguishes
himself from his
predecessors.
estate taxes
were supposed
to be collected
earlier this
year but Mayor
Herbert Bautista
suspended the
collection in
the meantime.
Collecting the
higher real
estate taxes in the months prior to the
May 2019 election would have created
bad political publicity for Belmonte, who
was the Bautista’s anointed successor.
Belmonte cannot deny her role in the
increase in real estate taxes. As the vice
mayor, she was the presiding officer of
the Quezon City Council which ordained
the higher real estate taxes.
Despite the city government’s
overflowing treasury chest, will
Belmonte do a Bautista by selling
more of the city’s valuable real estate
to private real estate developers? This
column will be monitoring developments
at city hall.
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Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
COMMENTARY
A5
“Just because
we disagree
with the
President’s
decisions
doesn’t
make those
decisions
unconstitutional.
“There is a
likelihood that
there could be
former child
warriors who had
been brainwashed
by the Abu Sayyaf
and who are
willing to take
similar suicide
bombing tasks in
the next days.
Justice Antonio Carpio is a
staunch critic of this administration.
That, in itself, is fine.
However, I find it interesting
that in support of his argument
that a joint fishing agreement
between China and the Philippines
is unconstitutional, Justice Carpio
has also said that in case of conflict,
the Constitution should prevail over
international law.
Off hand, this remark contradicts
Justice Carpio’s ponencia in the
case of Magallona vs Executive
Secretary. In that case, where I represented my
former law Dean Merlin M. Magallona, I argued
that the Treaty of Paris, and not the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), should define the breadth and scope
of the Philippine national territory.
The Supreme Court (SC) did not agree with
me. In the decision he wrote, Justice Carpio
President Rodrigo Duterte has just
breached the first days of the last half of
his six-year term, but with the dawn of peace
he had set in Mindanao is being pulled by
a new wave of terror never before seen in
the country.
Peace should have provided the Duterte
story with a lovely backdrop. But the case
of a second Filipino offering himself as a
suicide bombing sacrifice had tainted that
otherwise serene picture.
This year will mark the smooth
decommissioning of more than 10,000
combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF), along with their weapons and
the transitioning of what were once rebel
strongholds to peace camps.
It was made possible by completion by
the government and the MILF of the first two tasks needed
before the former rebel group takes the track towards the
normalization of the lives of its former combatants, their
families and followers.
Returning to normal will not be easy. Our Muslim brothers
have fought nearly half-a-century for causes ranging from
autonomy to secession — two calls now considered by some
Muslim youth as too tame compared with the new inviting
religious ideology of an establishment of a world caliphate
order through terror.
But it has to be done as old and young warriors have agreed
to put down their arms to give peace in Mindanao a chance.
The MILF, once the young splinter of the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF), had seen and accepted the better
track to peace. And with a Mindanaoan
steering the country
in Mr. Duterte, the
MILF is banking
on his offer of
genuine peace
by agreeing
to stopping all
A sovereign state may share an exclusive right
BRIEFING ROOM
Harry Roque
opined that the principle of
pacta sunt servanda — or the
principle that treaties should be
upheld in good faith — should
prevail over the literal provisions
of our 1987 Constitution. Our
Constitution provides that the
Philippine territory comprises
our “archipelago with all waters
and islands embraced therein.”
The UNCLOS limits our
territorial seas to 12 nautical
miles, reckoned from our
basepoints. We lost vast areas
of internal waters and territorial seas because,
according to Justice Carpio’s logic, it was more
important to comply with treaty obligations than
to hew to the plain text of our Constitution and
preserve our national territory.
So why is Justice Carpio making a 180
degree turn from his ponencia? From his
statements and behavior, I cannot but
Challenges ahead
conclude that it is because he (a jurist I have
previously held in high esteem) has opted to
join the fray of partisan politics.
It appears that anything and everything
that President Rodrigo Duterte does is
unconstitutional to Justice Carpio’s mind.
Now, to address the
“Beware
of frustrated
politicians
disguised as
disinterested
magistrates.
hostilities which had claimed thousands of lives, displaced
families, wrecked their children’s future and denied the region
of its chance to develop.
The Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement
on the Bangsamoro is now in place, and some international
bodies have placed their focus on us, seeing the country as
willing to embrace its brothers and sons back and hopefully
forge a lasting peace.
The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and
establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao have all been done with both parties agreeing
to iron out the kinks before these would lead to the total
decommissioning of MILF soldiers and arms.
Two weekends ago, the government and MILF panels have
agreed to take the second track of normalization by sending
the former combatants back to their families and making
their weapons as tools for peace. Six MILF camps will also be
transformed into becoming peaceful and resilient communities.
Joint Peace and Security Teams will clear unexploded
ordnance, private armed groups will be disbanded and
government soldiers will take over camps near communities
for their protection.
Amnesty and pardon may be given to MILF members
convicted of crimes related to their roles with the former
rebel group.
But as the sun begins to set for the old warriors, the young
turks who have split from the MNLF and the MILF have risen.
And with them, the child warriors they have developed into
fighters have grown fiercer and bolder.
Among them is Norman Lasuca, a former child warrior for
the Abu Sayyaf who had volunteered to become the first in
his batch to complete as suicide bombing mission.
Lasuca was not the first Filipino suicide bomber
as it is now claimed by the media. A
33-year old tricycle driver had
beat him to that murderous
distinction in 2002.
Lasuca is the first
question squarely: can
an exclusive right to fish
be waived by a sovereign
state? Under international
law and our Constitution,
the answer is yes!
Why? Because as
a sovereign state, the
Philippines can share
what the law says is exclusive. It is no
different from having food earmarked
for your consumption. Can you share it?
Obviously yes, if you want to!
Whether you should share is another
question entirely.
among the first former child warriors who have received a
more violent indoctrination and training in this age of life
like video games and the Internet — technologies used to the
hilt by the terror groups for indoctrination and recruitment.
That makes suicide terrorism no longer rare in the
Philippines. There is a likelihood that there could be former
child warriors who had been brainwashed by the Abu Sayyaf
to take similar suicide bombing tasks in the next days.
The Islamic State (IS) had taken over the
minds of some young Muslims, and it has
“ This year will
mark the smooth
decommissioning
of more
than 10,000
combatants of
the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front,
along with their
weapons and the
transitioning of
what were once
rebel strongholds
to peace camps.
In any case, although our entitlement is up to
the 200 nautical miles comprising our exclusive
economic zone, we have inevitable overlaps with
the entitlements of other states. The UNCLOS
provides that these overlaps must be resolved
initially through agreements. Thus far, we have
only concluded a delimitation agreement with
Indonesia.
The joint fishing agreement proposed by
the President would be an interim executive
agreement, which would be valid until China
and the Philippines resolve their many
territorial disputes.
Such an agreement would not need
concurrence of the Senate because — as the
SC has explained many times — executive
agreements are not the same as treaties.
My point in two sentences: just because we
disagree with the President’s decisions doesn’t
make those decisions unconstitutional. Also,
beware of frustrated politicians disguised as
disinterested magistrates.
lured not only the very young, poor minors
but also the young professionals.
The recent capture of Mohamad Reza
Kiram, a Muslim descendant of a sultanate
family, and his wife Ellen Barriga, an Ateneo
de Davao mathematics wizard graduate with
an M.B.A., in Syria is proof.
They were a model of a modern interfaith
marriage until they joined the IS in 2015.
Kiram had led the beheading of a
hostage while being filmed for the group’s
propaganda war, while Barriga had used her
Christian name to funnel foreign funds to
local terror networks.
Overseas Filipino workers who had run
afoul with their host countries’ laws had
been recruited by the IS in jails.
The IS has lost considerably on many
fronts over the last years. Since the fall of the al-Qaeda following
Osama bin Laden’s killing by the US Navy Seals on 2 May 2011
in Pakistan, the IS had taken over the terror leadership.
But the IS is seeing Asia as its next battlefront. It has invited
new warriors to join its fighters in the Philippines if they cannot
afford to travel to Syria, where its bases have wilted under
heavy fire.
This will be a challenge for President Duterte and the future
presidents to succeed him. Because there will be no real peace
in Mindanao when these fighters keep on spawning just as their
fathers begin to see the uselessness of their wars. It is a cycle
that has to stop.
BYSTANDER
Dean de la Paz
Dean de la Paz will resume writing for Daily
Tribune soon.
Dear Editors,
Let me call your
attention for giving
too much emphasis on
everything Sen. Grace
Poe has to say about
Metro Manila’s transport
problem.
It is either you buy
her statements from the opening word
to the last punctuation mark, or your
paper is playing it safe for the possible
presidential hopefuls in 2022, for which
Poe is obviously grandstanding by using
the MRT and the LRT and Metro Manila’s
issues.
Poe should have her data checked
as I am a commuter and a witness to
the improvements introduced by new
management to the MRT-3, which I take
days in and out, five days a week, as it is my
preferred way to commute from my house
in Quezon City to my workplace in Makati.
Earlier, Poe’s Senate Committee on
Public Services asked the Department of
Transportation why the MRT-3 service had — as
she claimed — deteriorated over the years.
She had demanded an explanation,
which she should have seen and
experienced first hand had she
continued using the MRT-3 for her daily
commute to her home and workplace at
the Senate in Pasay City.
But Poe had only found riding
the MRT-3 convenient when she was
campaigning for the presidency in 2016.
She never took the trains again after
she lost.
The worst experiences I had with the
MRT-3 happened at the time of the old
dispensation, when trains had bogged
down almost daily and without letup.
Well, they don’t anymore. There had
been a few times when some trains
had conked out, but not as many and
frequent as before.
That is an improvement already. And
we are looking forward to more.
Sen. Poe can spare us of her stunts.
She can have her small audience for
her antics, but she can’t fool everyone.
And my advice as a reader, save ink
and paper for better news. We need
them badly.
Angelou Matic
134-B Income St, Novaliches,
Quezon City

A6 NEWS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
RAINBOW warriors belonging to the LGBT community support the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor’s programs.
New chief looks into PhilHealth mess
The PhilHealth said that it has allegedly lost P154
billion since 2013 due to the ghost dialysis scam
and several other fraudulent schemes and the
existence of a supposed mafia in the agency
From page A1
Ricardo Morales also stressed
that the anomalies could not have
happened without assistance by
people from within PhilHealth.
He noted that he will get into the
bottom of these incidents.
“Some of these anomalies,
if they are true, cannot happen
without inside assistance. So,
it’s very suspicious. But I intend
Want war? Be prepared for one!
Netizens who are using keyboards are just that,
they do not know how war works
From page A1
“Netizens who are using keyboards
are just that, they do not know how
war works. So we need to prepare
for it, if that’s what they want,”
he added.
The former Bureau of
Corrections chief also noted that
the Philippines needs a reserve
force which can be called upon in
times of emergency.
He stressed that he would
rather restore mandatory
military
to investigate each and every
report of these anomalies and
get to the bottom of each one,”
Morales said.
To recall, the PhilHealth said
that it has allegedly lost P154
billion since 2013 due to the
“ghost dialysis” scam and several
other fraudulent schemes and the
existence of a supposed “mafia”
in the agency.
“It’s easier said than done but
I want to rely on a bulletproof,
service for Filipino youth but admitted
it will encounter stiff resistance from
the students.
“They don’t like ROTC, how much
more the mandatory military training?”
De la Rosa quipped.
The Senator also reiterated his
call for the re-imposition of the death
penalty, especially for cases involving
illegal drugs.
The senator is one of the
lawmakers pushing for the return
of capital punishment for drug
traffickers, adding that “protectors
and coddlers” of the narcotics trade
are included in his death penalty bill
for drug traffickers.
“That’s included in the bill. For
example, if we prove that a Bureau
of Customs employee is in cahoots
with drug traffickers, then
he is considered a principal
conspirator. The offense of
one is the offense of all,”
De la Rosa said.
He also said he wants
death delivered by firing
squad for convicted
drug traffickers to
deter criminals from
involvement in the illegal
drug trade.
The former Philippine
National Police Chief also
airtight, robust information
system that will help us reduce
corruption. By the way, there’s no
system in the world that’s totally
free of corruption,” Morales said.
Morales — who was appointed
last month — emphasized
the importance of reducing
corruption in the agency in light
of the implementation of the
Universal Healthcare Law.
“In the other healthcare
systems in the world, the first
apologized for his remarks over the
death of a three-year-old girl in a
buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal
last week.
He drew flak from commenting
that “sh*t happens” when asked for
a statement on Myka Ulpina’s death
during a sting operation last 30 June.
“I apologize to the family for
the comment that I made. It was
wrong. Those words are for the
police community only and not
for the general public since it may
be given another meaning,” De la
Rosa said.
“I apologize to the family. No
one wants any person to die. Even
criminals and especially innocent ones,
innocent children like a three-year-old
kid. It’s very painful to lose a child like
that. It was really an unacceptable
situation,” he added.
So we need to prepare for it, if
that’s what they want.
To recall, police claimed that
the toddler was used as a human
shield by his father Renato
Ulpina who was killed in the
operation along with another
companion and an undercover
officer, Police Senior Master Sgt.
Conrad Cabigao.
The three-year-old’s mother,
however, denied the police’s story,
saying they were asleep when the
incident happened.
few years were a learning curve,”
Morales said. “In the UK, they
had to put a cap after three years
because the cost spiraled out of
control. I anticipate something
similar with our universal
healthcare. It’s not going to be
easy but it’s important to get the
fundamentals right.”
I intend to investigate each
and every report of these
anomalies.
The new PhilHealth chief is
also keen on overhauling the
agency, saying that he is “keeping
his options open.”
“If that is what is needed then
yes. There might be some major
changes that we’ll have. It will
be sometime before I have clear
answers to this but I’m keeping
my options open right now,” said
Morales, also a retired Army
general.
“I’ll have to put together a team.
There are many good people in
From page A1
The bike stolen from the Tour
de France fanzone was part of a
campaign by charity Qhubeka to
raise money all over the world
to provide under privileged
women and children with bikes,
helmets and training.
“We made four bikes in the
colors of the jerseys (yellow,
green, polka-dot and white), so
when the riders are presented
with them after a race, those
bikes are there on the stage
with the winners,” Qhubeka’s
Jeremy Ford told AFP.
“The yellow jersey, which
is the most prestigious one,
was stolen from a stage in the
Bike hunt
PhilHealth. I just have to identify
them, bring them into line, provide
them with leadership, so we can
accomplish our goal.”
In addressing fraudulent
claims, Morales said PhilHealth
would be working with the
Philippine Statistics Authority
in getting the population’s birth
and death information and noted
that the agency also plans to hire
more investigators and lawyers
to help with probing fraudulent
claims.
“Maybe we need more lawyers
and investigators than doctors
because PhilHealth does not
do diagnosis or cures. It’s
administrative, it’s management.
And a lot of these management
function is investigative, so we
might need more lawyers and
investigators,” Morales added.
“Technology is going to
solve a lot of the manpower
requirements, it will simplify
it but we might need more
manpower.” Elmer N. Manuel
fanzone last night despite lots
of security.
“So we are running a
campaign with as many riders
in the peloton as we can to get
the bike back,” says Ford.
The charity worker was with
Colombian rider Rigoberto
Uran of Education First at the
team bus paddock in downtown
Brussels with a sign reading
#GiveItBack.
“Everybody is trying to
get the bike back, we have
had Bradley Wiggins and Tom
Dumoulin and even the Mayor
is looking for it,” he said.
“So far we have distributed
96,000 of these bikes, mainly in
South Africa,” Ford added . AFP
SENIOR high school students will be reintroduced to military training through the Reserved Officers Training Corps, which newly-elected Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is actively campaigning for.

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
METRO
A7
Audit Guia, Zamora asks CoA
Mayor ‘not accusing anyone of corruption’
By Neil Alcober
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Monday
called on the Commission on Audit (CoA) to look
into how the funds were used by the previous
administration of Guia Gomez.
“I am inviting the CoA central office to review all
the transactions made by the previous administration,”
Zamora said in an interview.
He claimed that based on their internal audit the
previous administration had left behind P1.3 billion
but the amount cannot be considered as savings as
it was already obligated.
“We are just doing this to know exactly how
much fund was left by the previous administration.
The truth is that the P1.3 billion was already
obligated,” Zamora said.
The newly elected mayor also stressed
that he is not accusing
anyone of corruption and
irregularities.
“I am not accusing
anyone of corruption,
anomaly or plunder.
What I am saying is that
this is the data which we
saw, and only CoA can
say if the funds were utilized
properly. Let’s see what they will
see once they audit,” he explained.
Zamora said the move is part of his campaign
promises to provide the people of San Juan a
government free from corruption.
“This is part of our promises to have an honest,
transparent, and accountable local government
in the City of San Juan,”
he said.
Zamora also
issued an
executive order institutionalizing the city
government integrity system.
The executive order serves as an
internal pre-audit system to ensure that
all transactions of the city government are
done properly.
“This is part of our transparency and
accountability in a governance,” Zamora
said.
SAN Juan Mayor Francis Zamora says he wants an accurate picture of the city’s financial standing.
Heads roll
at MPD
Danao backs Isko’s drive
By Pat C. Santos
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno”
Domagoso yesterday announced the relief of nine
Manila Police District (MPD) station 11 officials
on the order of P/Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao.
The action was in line with the new mayor’s
campaign against illegal vendors along Claro M.
Recto, Soler and Juan Luna streets in Divisoria.
Those taken out of MPD station 11 were Lt.
Col. Antonietro Eric Mendoza, Majors Robinson
Maranion and Alden Lee Panganiban, Captains
Jerry Garces, Bernardino Venturina and Manuel
Calleja, and Lieutenants Jerry Caneda, Maricel
Pili and Maribel Fiedacan.
Lt. Col. Noel Calderon Aliño takes the helm
in the said police station.
Domagoso said he expects full cooperation
from the police in his campaign to bring back
order in Manila and that those who cannot
deliver will be replaced.
“Where can you see a (police) major being
ordered around by a barangay chairman. Either
they do not see (the illegal vendors) or they are
not doing anything,” Domagoso said in Filipino.
He said he doesn’t believe in the ningas-cogon
(grass fire) mentality and that the people of
Manila can bank on his bringing back law and
order in the city.
“I haven’t done anything yet. This is only the
beginning. I cannot do it alone. This is for the
people of Manila,” he added.
Where can you see a (police) major
being ordered around by a barangay
chairman. Either they do not see (the
illegal vendors) or they are not doing
anything.
Domagoso did in 48 hours what his predecessor
failed to do in six years — clear the sidewalks
and streets of Divisoria of illegal vendors and
unauthorized terminals of pedicabs and tricycles.
He also cracked down on illegal gambling by
destroying several video karera and fruit game
machines. The mayor also tore down a barangay
outpost blocking a street.
He ordered that all city measures be
made public within hours of their enactment
or passage even as he mandated that all
public biddings be streamed live online for
transparency.
By Alvin Murcia
Joy aids fire victims
Financial assistance was given by
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to 57
families who lost their houses in a fire
in Barangay Bahay Toro on 5 July. The
assistance was made through the City Social
Services Development Department.
During her inaugural speech, Belmonte
vowed a faster delivery of assistance to
fire victims within three to five days of
social workers identifying the rightful
beneficiaries.
“This year, there are many fire incidents
in Quezon City and I took pity on those who
are affected since they are not asking for
No one hurt A commercial truck carrying goods from Taguig bound for Valenzuela rams a tree on
the side of C5 Road in Pasig City on Monday. The driver and crew escaped injuries. ALFONSO PADILLA
WITH the vendors already off the streets of Divisoria, another challenge for Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is to discipline jeepney, bus, tricycle and
pedicab drivers causing heavy traffic.
YUMMIE DINGDING
food but materials so they can build their
homes again,” Belmonte said.
Assistance comes four days after
big fire.
“We decided to exhaust all means to
address the plaints of our brothers and
sisters here in Quezon City and we were
successful in four days,” she added.
Mayor Belmonte has instructed the QC
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Office and requested the Bureau of Fire
Protection and Philippine Red Cross to
give extensive education to the barangays
on fire prevention.
QC bomb threat
a hoax
The Quezon City Police
District (QCPD) is taking
seriously and is investigating
a bomb scare reported
at the office building of
Golden ABC Corporation
(GABC), located along
EDSA-Balintawak.
One Regine San Felipe,
24, reported finding a note
in the ground floor female
restroom with a threat
that bombs were set to
explode in the building.
“GABC, one big
explosion will take place.
MAYOR Joy Belmonte maintains that within three to five days of a fire,
affected Quezon City residents can expect financial assistance from her
administration.
ANALY LABOR
You pray for your lives.
The bombs are scattered
all over the building,”
read the note written in
Filipino.
The threat was relayed to
the La Loma police station
which sent bomb-disposal
operatives led by CMSgt.
Rizza Rodriguez to scour
the 12-story building for
explosives.
No bombs were found
by the explosives and
ordnance team of the
QCPD.
FTW
164 in Munti
get P2.9M
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the
distribution of cash assistance amounting
to P2.9 million to 164 beneficiaries of his
administration’s Tulong Negosyo Program.
Members of batch 105 and 106 of
the program received zero-interest
loan assistance ranging from P3,000 to
P150,000.
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa will tap
different stakeholders to improve waste
management and disposal in the city.
Fresnedi said various departments at
city hall will be tasked to compete in waste
management initiatives. Alvin Murcia

A8
METRO
Group barred from Cathay flight
Bound for HK, passengers found with fake boarding passes
By Anthony Ching
Not so fast. Alert Cathay Pacific
ground crew at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) prevented
on Monday 13 passengers from
boarding a flight bound for Hong Kong
for possession of fake boarding passes.
The passes bore the same fake security
numbers that did not correspond with
any ticket sold by the airline. All 13 were
turned over to Bureau of Immigration
(BI) officials for investigation.
Of the 13, Loreta Adelan Leynes
was tagged by the other passengers as
the one who arranged all airline and
hotel bookings. But Leynes said she
herself did not know the flight passes
to be fake.
She said was only instructed to
send the copies of the self-printed
boarding passes to her companions
John Henry Dodson, Editor
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
for presentation. Some of their hotel
accommodation were also canceled.
Leynes pointed at one Jenifer Salud
as the point person in all transactions.
The passengers were all instructed
to wear a herbal company’s T-shirt
to facilitate their being cleared for
departure at the NAIA.
BI officials expressed belief the
12 at least were victims of human
trafficking, thus were turned over
to the Inter-Agency Council Against
Trafficking.
No booking Thirteen apparent victims
of human trafficking were barred from
boarding their Hong Kong flight. AFP
CoA: Remit,
use Green
Fund now
QC pressed on unused fees
LGU, not retailers, should hold environmental
budget
By Hananeel Bordey
The Commission on Audit
(CoA) has pressed the Quezon
City government to collect
P341,428,658 in so-called Green
Fund from retailers who levy
customers the fee for not bringing
with them reusable bags.
The Green Fund created by a
QC ordinance (SP-2350, S.2014)
was declared by the CoA in
December 2018 as a public fund
subject to CoA examination to
ensure their proper utilization.
Malls, supermarkets and
department stores, as well as
similar establishments, collect
the amounting to two pesos
Plastic Recovery System Fee
to encourage the public to
bring along reusable bags when
shopping.
The fees collected are held
by the retailers to support
environmental initiatives of the
city government. However, CoA
noted the marginal utilization
of the fund which as of end 2018
stood at P341 million.
Unused
Of the said amount,
P24,830,307.52 was spent by
the retailers for various
environmental projects, leaving
a balance of P316,598,350.48.
For 2012, 2013 and 2015, the
Green Fund collected was not
used for any environmental
projects of the local government
in Quezon City.
In 2018, P17,508,174.72 was
spent, the highest expenditure
13 fall in
drug sting
for the green programs of the city.
CoA pushed the local
government of Quezon City to
order the immediate remittance
of the remaining Green Fund
maintained by retailers, with
the city government proposing
to amend the ordinance that
created it.
TWG created
The proposed amendments
will undergo deliberations
in a technical working group
(TWG) which will review the
implementation and enforcement
of the ordinance.
In a rejoinder, CoA said that
state auditors are still waiting
for the demand letters issued to
the retailers for the immediate
remittance of the Green Fund.
CoA recommended the
amendment of section 14 (1) of
the city ordinance to increase
the penalties on retailers not
remitting the fund to the local
government’s coffers.
The ordinance imposed a
P1,000 fine for the first offense
of non-remittance, P3,000 for
the second offense and P5,000
and cancelation of the business
permit for the third offense.
The audit body wanted a
definite schedule of remittance,
either monthly or quarterly, to
be recorded under the General
Fund, under the Trust and
Liabilities Account.
CoA also asked the local
government unit to be decisive
in using the fund to ensure the
welfare of its constituents.
At the rate the police are arresting people
linked to the illegal drugs trade, jails all over the
country will continue to break at the seams.
In Marikina, 13 suspected drug pushers were
arrested in a lone buy-bust operation in Barangay
Fortune.
Collared were Jinoben Reyes, alias Timtim, 18;
Mark Josel Malda, alias Aldog, 25; Luzviminda
Mendoza, 55; Roy Ramos, 27; Arturo Naanep, 41;
Emy Ponado, 54; Kristian Gumarao, 29; Ferdinand
Licudan Jr., 30; Joshue Silva, 44; John Patrick
Ignacio, 26; Jeric Nalda, 24; Justin David, 20;
and Myra Mendoza, 40; all residents of Barangay
Fortune.
Prior to the drug sting, a report from a
confidential informant was received by the drug
enforcement unit of Marikina City Police Station
about the illegal drug trade of alias Timtim.
An undercover cop then bought a sachet of
shabu from alias Timtim and his two cohorts,
which signalled the entry of the other cops into
the picture.
The 10 other suspects were also nabbed while
in the act of buying shabu from the three, said the
police.
Neil Alcober
Life-threatening “Botcha” or double-dead chicken and pork meat are intercepted bound for Divisoria, thereby saving from harm those who
could have unwittingly bought and cooked them.
Pinaglabanan Shrine
up for rehab
By Neil Alcober
The San Juan City government on
Monday broke ground for its P188-million
one-stop shop government center in
Barangay St. Joseph.
The ceremonies were graced by newly
elected Mayor Francis Zamora, his father,
Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, city council and
department heads.
San Juan’s one-stop shop breaks
ground.
The six-story facility, which will be
constructed just across the present city
hall, will house all offices of national
agencies for easier transactions.
“This is a one-stop shop wherein we
will provide offices for national agencies
like the PCSO (Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office), SSS (Social
Security Service System), DFA
(Department of Foreign Affairs),
THE Pinaglabanan Shrine will be refurbished to the tune of P50 million.
NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),
LTO (Land Transportation Office) and BIR
(Bureau of Internanal Revenue). We will put
them together in one building to fast-track
the process,” Zamora said.
Zamora also started on Monday the
complete rehabilitation of the historic
Pinaglabanan Shrine located near the city
hall.
“This is a P50-million site development
and complete rehabilitation project aimed
at reinvigorating the Pinaglabanan Shrine,”
he said.
The project covers the repair and
installation of new walkways, lights,
landscaping, overall design and perimeter
fences.
“We will also install a 10-seater
comfort room and a drinking fountain,”
the mayor added.
The construction of the government
center and the rehabilitation
of Pinaglabanan Shrine are
funded by the Department of
Public Works and Highways
through Rep.
Zamora.
“Ardales stripped
of gun, badge”
Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo
Eleazar said yesterday SMSgt. Arnulfo Ardales of
the San Juan City police will be disarmed and his
badge confiscated.
Ardales, the other day, was ordered relieved by
Philippine National Police (PNP) director Gen. Oscar
Albayalde after he was seen on a viral video cursing
and threatening a man over a tiff over a store queue.
Eleazar assured that Ardales will be meted
out the necessary sanctions if it’s proven he went
out of bounds in acting like a raging bull against
complainant Aaron Estrada.
Ardales had been restricted to the Eastern Police
District headquarters during the pendency of his
investigation.
The incident happened in a store along Aurora
Boulevard at the corner of R. Lagmay Street in
Barangay Ermitaño, San Juan City.
Eleazar said as “public servants”, policemen
should go the extra mile “to assist, help, and
accommodate citizens beyond the call of duty.”
“Also, as public servants, patience should be our
virtue,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar, at the same time, guaranteed the safety
of the complainant and his family even as he urged
them to file charges against the police officer.
At the time of Eleazar’s visit at the San Juan City
Police Station on Sunday, where the cop is assigned,
Ardales was on day-off and could not be contacted.
Eleazar then directed the chief of police of San
Juan City to have Ardales report to the NCRPO
immediately.
He added that Albayalde himself ordered that
Ardales be stripped of his badge and firearm. FTW

JOLLIBEE RIDES
PANDA EXPRESS
B11
IRAN
ADMITS
CAP
BREACH
B13
MERALCO LOWERS
POWER RATES AGAIN
B12
WB FINANCING BATAAN
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD
Jun Vallecera, Editor
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
B11
BUSINESS
B9
Travel between Phl, Israel
needs further boosting
ISRAEL Ambassador to the
Philippines Rafael Harpaz.
By Joshua Lao
ICC: Fake info & training on Incoterms
CHAMBER LANE
Jess Varela
COMMENTARY
Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz said that to have
a more booming tourism industry in Israel and in the Philippines,
direct flights from both countries should materialize
By Elmer N. Manuel
Fascinated by the tourism boom in
the Philippines, Israel Ambassador to
the Philippines Rafael Harpaz is keen on
AL PADILLA
“ It may be
worthwhile to note
that transactions
should be agreed
upon in writing
before goods are
shipped and never be
automatically filled
by invoicing software.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has
issued a warning on fake info and training sessions on
Incoterms 2020 being offered by groups not affiliated
with ICC. Since its inception 80 years ago, ICC has been
the sole trademark owner, producer and publisher of
Incoterms rules which are amended and/or updated
every 10 years. Incoterms 2010 continues to be the most
current version of Incoterms rules and websites or other
platforms created to inform the public of updates on
Incoterms 2011, 2012, 2013 all the way to 2019 do not exist.
What are Incoterms?
A series of pre-determined international commercial
terms published by the ICC, Incoterms are a set of rules
under sales contracts which define respective obligations,
costs and risks involved in the delivery of goods from
seller to buyer. Currently, the 11 terms better known
with their acronyms are: CIF-cost insurance freight;
CFR-cost & freight; CIP-carriage &insurance paid to; CPTcarriage
paid to; DAP-delivered at place; DAT-delivered
“copying” the programs and the projects of
the Philippine government regarding tourism.
In an online interview with “Straight Talk
with Daily Tribune,” Harpaz pointed out that
while he knows that majority of Filipinos visit
Israel to go to the Holy Land, he stressed that
Filipinos do not need visas to enter Israel,
noting the bilateral relations between the
Philippines and Israel.
He also said that aside from tourism,
investments and joint ventures are also in
store for the relations of the two countries
and even noted that “Filipino is a brand name
for hospitality and great service in Israel.”
“Tourism is a major component and it goes
both directions,” Harpaz said. “Filipinos are
telling me it’s in the bucket list of every Filipino
to visit the Holy Land, I had the honor to be the
official escort of President Duterte in his really
historic visit to Israel last September… and you
don’t need visa… this is really, really unique… I
know that Filipinos need visas to European
countries — Australia I
think, to the US…
no visa for
Filipinos.”
P5B revenues from fuel marking eyed
With its implementation to begin
in the second half, the fuel marking
program is expected to generate at
least P5 billion in revenues for the
national coffers for this year, Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said
on Monday.
“The implementation of the
fuel marking program is expected
to boost government revenue by
at least P5 billion in 2019. The
issuance of the circular is a product
of extensive preparations that started
in November 2018,” Dominguez said.
“With the issuance of the circular
and under the terms of reference with
the French consortium that won the
bid, at least 95 percent of all marking
sites will be operational by the end
of the year,” he added.
According to him, the consortium
will deliver the necessary equipment
over the next few weeks as marking
operations are expected to start
within this quarter.
Moreover, the Finance chief noted
that the joint circular was crafted
through consultations with various
stakeholders and partner agencies
such as the Departments of Energy
and of Environment and Natural
Resources.
To recall, the government
estimated a massive P20 to P40 billion
in additional revenues from the
program but with its implementation
to start by this quarter, it was
reduced to at least P5 billion.
According to the circular,
only petroleum products for
local consumption with proof of
payment of taxes will be subject
for marking.
at terminal; DDP-delivered duty paid; ExW-ex works;
FAS-free alongside ship; FCA-free carrier and FOB-free
on board.
These terms are recognized by governments, legal
authorities and practitioners the world over. It is
important for traders to master these terms as they
will indicate the Tasks, Costs and Risks associated with
the transportation and delivery of goods and likewise
determine responsibilities in all points of transit.
Knowing and understanding your Incoterms reduces,
if not eliminate, disputes and misunderstandings
during the transportation of goods. Users are given
a better perspective in the execution of transactions
and interfacing with logistics, finance and insurance.
Moreover, it becomes clearly critical in marine insurance
claims as they will define who has the insurable interest
at different points of transit.
It may be worthwhile to note that transactions should
be agreed upon in writing before goods are shipped and
never be automatically filled by invoicing software.
The past 80 years since the adoption of this rulesbased
international trade system in 1936, Incoterms rules
continue to remain relevant to business and governments,
making it the language of cross border trade.
To date, ICC has not released any material on the new
updates or amendments for Incoterms 2020. Its official
release is scheduled on September of this year where
the ICC national committee in the Philippines, the ICCP,
will launch an information drive through a series of fora
it will conduct starting October. The new amendments
for Incoterms 2020 will take effect on 1 January. Falling
for non-ICC affiliated training sessions or misuse of
Incoterms rules may get businesses and other users
run the risk of spending resources for false information.
This could be a costly mistake. The public is advised to
check on the official ICC website or get in touch with
ICC Philippines for the correct information.
Harpaz also stressed that to have a more
booming tourism industry in Israel and in the
Philippines, direct flights from both countries
should materialize.
“In order to have very successful tourism
relations, you need to have direct flights
— which we still don’t have — and a visa
waiver, which we have both with Israelis and
Filipinos,” Harpaz said.
One anecdote you know, when
somebody passes away in Israel
they put an obituary in the paper, I
remember this all my life… they put
his wife, his son and you see at the
end — a Filipino caregiver and his
name.
The envoy narrated that the number of
Filipino tourists in Israel during the first
quarter of 2019 went up to 35 percent and
even with that progress, Harpaz stressed that
they are still campaigning to attract more
Filipino tourists in Israel.
“We are doing here campaigns in the
Philippines to bring more Filipinos to
Israel… because Filipinos come to tell me,
‘Ambassador what about the paperwork?’ I
tell them “walang paperwork,” not necessary.
And we see them not only as for pilgrimage,
because the tourists usually, when they come
to Israel, the Filipinos, if they come in groups,
they go to Jerusalem, my hometown where
I was born, and they go to the Dead Sea, to
Masada, to the sea of Galilee to Nazareth,
but there’s much more to see,” Harpaz said.
The Ambassador also recounted that
Israelis are also flourishing in the Philippines,
noting that there are already two synagogues
in the country.
“We see Israelis coming here by the
thousands… here in Makati we have already two
synagogues… there’s one in El Nido… in El Nido,
because of the Israelis tourists,” Harpaz added.
“I see the numbers are growing dramatically.
When it comes to this tourist exchange and it
will be just more and more.”
Harpaz also pointed out that the
Philippines is more like a paradise and
stressed the similarities between the two
countries.
“What is so common between Israelis
and Filipinos… mainly two things and I think
that’s what gets so close to Pinoys… the heart
of Israeli society is the family and the heart of
the Filipino society is the family. The second
element is Israelis are very friendly and it
goes the same,” Harpaz said.
“There’s a tradition in this country with
Jews. We’re always accepted historically,
there’s no anti-Semitism, I see the growing
Jewish and Israeli population here, I
mentioned it, you have cultural restaurants
in Manila… you can eat anywhere.”
The envoy also reiterated that Israelis
have a lot to emulate from Filipinos and
extended his gratitude to the countless
Filipino workers who are taking care of their
elderly, stressing his love for the Filipinos and
that they are part of the Israel society.
“We love them, they are part of us, we treat
them well, they get paid well, they have their
churches. I mentioned earlier you can go to
Tel Aviv and have halo-halo and balut. There’s
a culture and Filipinos are part of our society.
I just want to say thank you,” Harpaz said.
“One anecdote you know, when somebody
passes away in Israel they put an obituary
in the paper, I remember this all my life…
they put his wife, his son and you see at the
end — a Filipino caregiver and his name. This
is a phenomenon,” he added.
Asked what can Israel learn from the
Philippines, Harpaz said that the Israelis are not
merely assisting the Philippines, but rather sharing
its technology and innovation with the country.
“We are not assisting you… we are sharing
our experience with you… that is how it
goes… and we have areas of strength, and
there are things that we can learn from
you… I mentioned caregivers, tourism and
others… and from our perspective, there
are the traditional things that we did all the
years, which is mainly agriculture and water
technologies,” Harpaz said.
“I think I see the young generation of
Filipinos — smart, motivated, highly educated.
Philippines can become, I believe, a cluster
of innovation, a cluster of startups. And I see
the Israeli companies are already arriving
here, especially after the President’s historic
visit,” he added.

B10 BUSINESS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Declining rates prompt
full award on T-bills
Rates for the 91-day day tenor
dropped 50.2 basis points to
3.883 percent from the posted
4.385 percent week-ago
By Joshua Lao
A significant drop in treasury bill (T-bill)
rates across the board coupled with strong
market demand allowed the Bureau of
Treasury (BTr) to award the securities in
full on Monday.
National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon
expressed satisfaction with the T-bill auction
noting on market expectations of another cut
in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key
policy rates.
“We have an excellent turnout in terms of
the volume that we received given the following
tranche of the RRR (reserve requirement ratio)
cut,” De Leon told reporters.
According to her, the accelerated demand
observed in the recent auction can be traced
to the reduction in T-bills volume for the
quarter in addition to market anticipation of
cuts both from the BSP and the Fed.
“We have downsized our T-bills issuance so
the demand is higher but supply is lower and
then of course, an anticipation of a possible
rate cut of the monetary board given the
inflation print of 2.7 (percent) last June,”
the Treasury chief said.
“Also, the Fed talk about a possible cut
during their FOMC (Federal Open Market
Committee) meeting this July,” she added.
Rates for the 91-day day tenor dropped
50.2 basis points to 3.883 percent from the
posted 4.385 percent week-ago.
Likewise, yields for both the 182- and 364-day
benchmarks stood 4.238 percent and 4.737 percent
respectively, a 48.5 basis point and 25 basis
point improvement
from the
registered 4.723 percent and 4.986 percent
on the same.
In all, the BTr was able to raise its full
P15 billion offer after bids reached P50.5
billion, oversubscribing the original amount
more than thrice.
Meanwhile, the timeline to which the eyed
Samurai bond issuance is yet to be finalized
as the Treasury chief noted that they are yet
to find out its tenors while in terms of volume,
they will issue up to $1 billion.
“We are looking around sometime late July
or early August (2019), basta before the ghost
month, yung Obon (festival). I think it starts
around mid-August,” De Leon said.
Phoenix
Petroleum price
advisory
Phoenix Petroleum Philippines (PPP)
yesterday increased the price of gasoline by
P0.25 per liter.
PPP is an independent
oil company. Its core
businesses include
petroleum products,
aircraft refueling,
liquified
petroleum. Other
businesses include
PNX Petroleum
Singapore, Phoenix
Fuel Masters and
Family Mart.
New Clark: The
country’s most
sustainable city
PHOENIX gasoline rates up by just 25 centavos.
MONDAY
8 JULY 2019
PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE
BCDA is building access roads
to and from New Clark City
that will provide access and
connectivity to everyone
New Clark City, within the Clark Special
Economic Zone, promises to be the most
sustainable and inclusive city in the
country, according to a report by Bases
Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA).
For one, BCDA said it owns the land.
There are no declared ancestral domains
or certificates of ancestral domain titles
(CADT) in the area.
Thus, Aeta families are not displaced.
New Clark City is creating opportunities
for everyone especially for the indigenous
people (IP) groups and farmers who may
be affected in the development of roads
and other infrastructure. BCDA also
holds regular dialogues with the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
and the communities to assure that they
are part of the development.
Credible institutions such as the
University of the Philippines and
the Asian Development Bank
worked with BCDA to study and to
master-plan to ensure sustainability
and inclusivity of New Clark City.
Out of the 9,450 hectares, only 3,500
hectares are buildable, leaving 6,000
hectares or 60 percent of green and open
spaces for upland farming and forest
reserves. Less than 40 percent will be
developed.
BCDA is building access roads to and
from New Clark City that will provide access
and connectivity to everyone, especially IP,
residents and farmers for their livelihood.
The roads will benefit all stakeholders. They
will be the first and biggest beneficiaries of
these developments.
Financial assistance packages
amounting to P300,000 per hectare (or
P30/sq.), have also been made available
to all project-affected people, including IP/
farmers. This is the highest compensation
package provided by government to
project-affected people. Relocation sites
have also been provided by BCDA within
New Clark City for those whose residential
structures were affected.
Credible institutions such as the
University of the Philippines and the
Asian Development Bank worked with
BCDA to study and to master-plan to ensure
sustainability and inclusivity of New Clark
City.
The University of the Philippines
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and
Photogrammetry did the aerial mapping
for this project to ensure that the
masterplan is aligned with the natural
contours and usage of the land, allowing
maximum benefits for the government
and all stakeholders.
The development of the 1.4-kilometer
River Park Corridor follows the natural flow
of the Cutcut river as advised by the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The ADB is
also conducting a Biodiversity Assessment
and Hydrology Study to conserve the flora
and fauna and ensure the sustainability of
water in New Clark City.
BCDA has yet to receive a copy of the
study by the University of Glasgow and the
University of the Philippines. BCDA is very
eager to dialogue with the group to further
ensure inclusivity and sustainability of New
Clark City.
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
FINANCIALS
BANKS
ASIA UNITED 58.5 58.9 58.5 58.9 286,623
BDO UNIBANK 139 143 139 143 353,321,494
BANK PH ISLANDS 79 79.35 78.6 78.6 134,948,677.50
CHINABANK 27.25 27.25 27.05 27.15 2,714,725
EAST WEST BANK 12.14 12.2 12.1 12.12 27,672,474
METROBANK 71.9 72.35 71.7 71.75 192,822,286
PB BANK 13.24 13.24 13.24 13.24 190,656
PHIL NATL BANK 54.5 56.15 54.5 55.8 14,390,670
PSBANK 58.1 58.1 58.05 58.05 285,610.50
RCBC 27.3 27.7 27.15 27.15 2,294,555
SECURITY BANK 171.5 172.6 171.4 172 224,524,597
UNION BANK 62 62.3 61.9 61.95 2,513,566.50
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
BRIGHT KINDLE 1.28 1.28 1.2 1.26 379,730
BDO LEASING 2.44 2.44 2.31 2.43 728,500
COL FINANCIAL 18.7 18.76 18.7 18.76 30,010
FERRONOUX HLDG 4.85 4.9 4.75 4.84 199,060
FILIPINO FUND 7.84 7.84 7.71 7.71 13,893
IREMIT 1.34 1.34 1.34 1.34 2,680
MEDCO HLDG 0.52 0.53 0.49 0.5 354,440
NTL REINSURANCE 0.98 0.99 0.98 0.98 253,990
PHIL STOCK EXCH 189.1 190 189.1 190 34,182
SUN LIFE 1,800 1,800 1,750 1,750 421,150
INDUSTRIAL
ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, POWER & WATER
ALSONS CONS 1.39 1.39 1.36 1.36 1,235,910
ABOITIZ POWER 37 37 36.6 37 13,960,695
BASIC ENERGY 0.27 0.27 0.255 0.26 1,244,300
FIRST GEN 27 27.05 26.95 26.95 142,301,535
FIRST PHIL HLDG 90 92.5 89 91.65 141,435,242
MERALCO 381.2 386 381.2 386 21,088,168
MANILA WATER 25.55 25.55 25.1 25.45 15,346,490
PETRON 5.9 5.95 5.86 5.87 8,924,819
PETROENERGY 4.64 4.75 4.6 4.75 563,450
PHINMA ENERGY 2.37 2.38 2.2 2.2 73,139,700
PHX PETROLEUM 12.08 12.08 11.96 12.08 160,460
PILIPINAS SHELL 38.95 39 38.75 38.8 11,910,315
SPC POWER 6.56 6.58 6.54 6.58 207,244
VIVANT 16 16 16 16 1,600
FOOD, BEVERAGE & TOBACCO
AGRINURTURE 14.96 14.96 14.58 14.58 7,030,392
CNTRL AZUCARERA 17.48 17.48 17.46 17.46 26,204
CENTURY FOOD 14.4 14.5 14.3 14.48 6,917,138
DEL MONTE 6.27 6.45 6.27 6.4 3,340,882
DNL INDUS 10.54 10.54 10.48 10.5 24,674,786
EMPERADOR 7.68 7.68 7.56 7.62 9,685,431
SMC FOODANDBEV 105.1 105.2 103.9 104.1 5,468,119
ALLIANCE SELECT 0.84 0.86 0.84 0.85 1,298,410
GINEBRA 61 61.1 57.4 57.4 42,737,611.50
JOLLIBEE 285.8 286 284.6 285 95,619,752
MACAY HLDG 9.8 9.85 9.2 9.59 413,060
MAXS GROUP 14.7 14.76 14.5 14.56 3,916,502
MG HLDG 0.186 0.187 0.186 0.186 375,990
PEPSI COLA 1.94 2 1.9 1.91 28,214,940
SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.7 14.04 13.7 14 2,497,298
ROXAS AND CO 1.4 1.4 1.38 1.38 164,880
ROXAS HLDG 2.07 2.1 1.91 1.91 56,280
SWIFT FOODS 0.127 0.127 0.127 0.127 1,270
UNIV ROBINA 172 176.9 171.3 176 173,682,987
VITARICH 1.26 1.28 1.25 1.28 4,147,030
VICTORIAS 2.5 2.55 2.48 2.48 161,920
CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE & ALLIED SERVICES
CONCRETE A 105.5 107.8 95 100.5 2,828,856
CONCRETE B 115.2 121 110 110.3 737,752
CEMEX HLDG 3.11 3.14 3.05 3.07 44,702,250
EAGLE CEMENT 15.6 15.6 15.56 15.58 38,613,958
EEI CORP 11.04 11.16 11 11 6,545,096
HOLCIM 13.6 13.6 13.5 13.6 5,420,314
MEGAWIDE 18.3 18.3 17.94 18 53,847,090
PHINMA 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 1,953,000
TKC METALS 1.21 1.24 1.2 1.23 691,710
VULCAN INDL 1.47 1.49 1.43 1.43 15,679,210
CHEMICALS
CROWN ASIA 2.09 2.09 2.09 2.09 96,140
EUROMED 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 34,000
MABUHAY VINYL 3.3 3.44 3.3 3.44 13,480
PRYCE CORP 5.1 5.1 4.91 4.91 42,245
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT
CONCEPCION 40.15 41 40.15 40.6 381,590
GREENERGY 2.59 2.6 2.55 2.59 12,299,380
INTEGRATED MICR 10.32 10.32 10.24 10.24 2,641,836
IONICS 1.74 1.75 1.69 1.7 3,488,630
PANASONIC 5.87 5.87 5.87 5.87 2,348
SFA SEMICON 1.16 1.17 1.14 1.14 1,491,650
CIRTEK HLDG 17.98 17.98 16.3 16.5 11,784,848
HOLDING FIRMS
ABACORE CAPITAL 1.05 1.1 0.99 1.02 133,227,260
ASIABEST GROUP 13 13.22 12.9 12.98 196,406
AYALA CORP 901 915 900 910 262,368,475
ABOITIZ EQUITY 56 56 55 55.5 104,881,745.50
ALLIANCE GLOBAL 15.68 15.78 15.56 15.7 89,358,866
AYALA LAND LOG 3.94 3.95 3.83 3.86 10,715,070
ANSCOR 6.55 7.1 6.55 7 227,919
ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.8 0.8 0.74 0.77 1,517,210
ATN HLDG A 1.3 1.31 1.29 1.29 5,509,520
ATN HLDG B 1.31 1.34 1.3 1.3 1,099,940
BHI HLDG 1,251 1,251 1,251 1,251 12,510
COSCO CAPITAL 6.82 6.87 6.82 6.87 57,055,567
DMCI HLDG 10.3 10.38 10.22 10.22 44,094,726
FILINVEST DEV 14 14.02 13.9 14 1,441,938
FORUM PACIFIC 0.225 0.242 0.223 0.24 130,640
GT CAPITAL 878 878 855 855 56,443,825
HOUSE OF INV 6.42 6.42 6.39 6.4 1,922,131
JG SUMMIT 68 68.75 66.8 68.75 41,845,930.50
LODESTAR 0.495 0.495 0.485 0.485 14,750
LOPEZ HLDG 4.1 4.25 4.1 4.24 6,070,900
LT GROUP 15.76 15.92 15.72 15.88 80,835,872
MABUHAY HLDG 0.63 0.65 0.62 0.64 917,780
MJC INVESTMENTS 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 11,560
METRO PAC INV 4.8 4.82 4.74 4.78 70,010,620
PACIFICA 0.039 0.04 0.039 0.04 310,300
PRIME MEDIA 1.5 1.68 1.48 1.51 27,693,440
SOLID GROUP 1.44 1.44 1.37 1.37 490,320
SYNERGY GRID 433.2 465.6 433 465.6 47,960
SM INVESTMENTS 978 992.5 978 983 68,913,325
SAN MIGUEL CORP 176 177 174.8 174.9 61,282,341
SOC RESOURCES 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.82 135,300
TOP FRONTIER 266 267 260.2 260.2 349,940
WELLEX INDUS 0.232 0.24 0.231 0.237 830,090
ZEUS HLDG 0.34 0.34 0.325 0.335 1,258,400
PROPERTY
ARTHALAND CORP 0.97 0.97 0.94 0.97 3,843,930
AYALA LAND 51.5 52.45 51.5 52.2 655,803,535.50
ARANETA PROP 2.01 2.05 2.01 2.05 314,940
BELLE CORP 2.34 2.37 2.34 2.35 1,433,640
A BROWN 0.84 0.85 0.84 0.85 1,504,200
CITYLAND DEVT 0.91 0.94 0.9 0.93 208,710
CROWN EQUITIES 0.239 0.24 0.238 0.238 302,590
CEBU HLDG 6.06 6.1 6.06 6.1 240,160
CEB LANDMASTERS 5.19 5.23 5.17 5.17 7,916,854
CENTURY PROP 0.63 0.64 0.62 0.63 24,295,960
CYBER BAY 0.45 0.47 0.45 0.46 615,950
DOUBLEDRAGON 25.2 25.5 24.9 25.2 10,342,710
DM WENCESLAO 10.18 10.66 10.18 10.58 11,815,952
EMPIRE EAST 0.475 0.475 0.47 0.475 835,150
FILINVEST LAND 1.88 1.93 1.88 1.9 183,506,060
GLOBAL ESTATE 1.4 1.41 1.38 1.38 3,182,860
8990 HLDG 15.62 15.62 15.3 15.3 3,538,188
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
PHIL INFRADEV 1.81 1.84 1.8 1.8 4,508,630
CITY AND LAND 0.85 0.85 0.83 0.85 276,480
MEGAWORLD 6.16 6.18 6.09 6.1 60,714,781
MRC ALLIED 0.345 0.35 0.34 0.34 3,738,250
PHIL ESTATES 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 230,400
PRIMEX CORP 2.25 2.25 2.19 2.24 2,440,510
ROBINSONS LAND 26.5 27.2 26.1 27 77,355,275
PHIL REALTY 0.405 0.415 0.405 0.405 210,950
ROCKWELL 2.22 2.26 2.22 2.22 775,410
SHANG PROP 3.12 3.2 3.12 3.14 1,909,050
STA LUCIA LAND 1.95 1.96 1.93 1.96 1,411,260
SM PRIME HLDG 38 38.4 38 38.25 190,304,725
STARMALLS 6.43 6.48 6.27 6.32 194,473
PTFC REDEV CORP 46 46 46 46 23,000
VISTA LAND 7.14 7.26 7.12 7.23 55,143,440
SERVICES
MEDIA
ABS CBN 18 18.18 17.5 17.5 1,636,722
GMA NETWORK 5.35 5.46 5.35 5.46 2,435,864
MANILA BULLETIN 0.51 0.53 0.51 0.53 389,970
MLA BRDCASTING 14.6 15.4 14.5 15.4 20,420
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GLOBE TELECOM 2,260 2,260 2,236 2,258 74,384,970
PLDT 1,246 1,267 1,240 1,240 85,350,875
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
APOLLO GLOBAL 0.045 0.046 0.045 0.046 171,300
DFNN INC 6.23 6.23 6.18 6.18 318,534
IMPERIAL 1.99 1.99 1.91 1.98 261,620
ISLAND INFO 0.117 0.12 0.116 0.12 77,370
ISM COMM 6.74 6.88 6.73 6.79 37,611,736
JACKSTONES 3 3 3 3 15,000
NOW CORP 2.66 2.7 2.45 2.5 11,189,440
TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.39 0.39 0.385 0.39 1,582,750
PHILWEB 4.03 4.11 3.88 3.88 28,058,390
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
2GO GROUP 11.22 11.6 11.22 11.3 129,348
ASIAN TERMINALS 21.5 21.5 21.05 21.5 730,955
CHELSEA 8.38 8.63 8.38 8.59 23,759,632
CEBU AIR 91.2 92.9 91.1 92.75 31,250,619
INTL CONTAINER 145.9 146 144 144.7 50,504,513
LBC EXPRESS 14.78 14.78 14.08 14.08 35,534
LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.86 0.86 0.83 0.85 85,190
MACROASIA 19.5 19.52 19.4 19.44 3,861,702
METROALLIANCE A 1.55 1.6 1.54 1.55 296,580
METROALLIANCE B 1.6 1.6 1.56 1.56 326,240
PAL HLDG 9.05 9.12 9.01 9.01 228,941
HARBOR STAR 2.24 2.24 2.21 2.21 2,473,560
HOTEL & LEISURE
BOULEVARD HLDG 0.058 0.058 0.056 0.057 713,710
WATERFRONT 0.75 0.78 0.75 0.77 2,669,280
EDUCATION
CENTRO ESCOLAR 7 7 7 7 8,400
IPEOPLE 10.1 10.1 9.8 9.8 46,066
STI HLDG 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.76 3,057,560
CASINOS & GAMING
BERJAYA 2.75 2.77 2.68 2.74 600,740
BLOOMBERRY 11.6 11.74 11.58 11.66 63,426,860
PACIFIC ONLINE 3.08 3.08 3.03 3.04 913,380
LEISURE AND RES 3.76 3.8 3.72 3.8 2,298,340
MANILA JOCKEY 3.16 3.16 3.16 3.16 3,160
PH RESORTS GRP 5.3 5.55 5.3 5.53 322,135
PREMIUM LEISURE 0.78 0.79 0.74 0.75 13,371,540
TRAVELLERS 5.49 5.54 5.45 5.49 15,023,864
RETAIL
METRO RETAIL 2.63 2.67 2.61 2.65 9,059,460
PUREGOLD 44 44.15 43.8 43.8 60,454,705
ROBINSONS RTL 76.85 77.3 76.85 77 35,658,867
PHIL SEVEN CORP 136 136 136 136 6,800
SSI GROUP 3.3 3.37 3.27 3.36 16,809,970
WILCON DEPOT 16.94 17 16.92 16.94 4,167,458
OTHER SERVICES
APC GROUP 0.54 0.54 0.51 0.53 3,258,940
EASYCALL 10.46 10.46 10.04 10.06 513,456
GOLDEN BRIA 426 443 410 420 1,022,774
IPM HLDG 5.85 5.85 5.75 5.75 92,950
PRMIERE HORIZON 0.91 0.93 0.89 0.89 34,592,460
SBS PHIL CORP 9.1 9.27 8.98 8.98 646,946
MINING & OIL
MINING
ATOK 12.48 12.48 12.48 12.48 6,240
APEX MINING 1.23 1.23 1.15 1.18 4,826,720
ABRA MINING 0.0018 0.0018 0.0018 0.0018 1,800
ATLAS MINING 2.78 2.78 2.68 2.78 103,710
BENGUET B 1.2 1.2 1.19 1.19 56,180
COAL ASIA HLDG 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 143,400
CENTURY PEAK 2.75 2.75 2.73 2.73 1,923,890
DIZON MINES 7.82 7.85 7.82 7.85 4,701
FERRONICKEL 1.5 1.52 1.47 1.47 20,679,270
GEOGRACE 0.226 0.226 0.22 0.222 238,260
LEPANTO A 0.107 0.11 0.105 0.11 303,130
LEPANTO B 0.12 0.121 0.12 0.121 6,010
MANILA MINING A 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 22,500
MANILA MINING B 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 7,600
MARCVENTURES 1.22 1.3 1.17 1.18 3,277,110
NIHAO 1.04 1.04 1 1.02 42,140
NICKEL ASIA 2.27 2.28 2.24 2.25 4,627,050
OMICO CORP 0.54 0.54 0.53 0.53 15,390
ORNTL PENINSULA 0.87 0.9 0.87 0.87 97,760
PX MINING 3.59 3.59 3.51 3.51 734,320
SEMIRARA MINING 22.8 23.1 22.5 22.7 25,417,690
OIL
ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 167,700
PHILODRILL 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 109,000
PHINMA PETRO 4.95 4.95 4.65 4.84 1,403,040
PXP ENERGY 7.39 7.4 7.3 7.35 3,378,168
PREFERRED
HOUSE PREF A 94.15 94.15 94.15 94.15 2,824.50
ALCO PREF B 100 100 100 100 1,000
ALCO PREF C 98 98 98 98 49,000
DD PREF 99 99 98.1 98.1 627,642
SMC FB PREF 2 965 965 960 965 8,001,950
GLO PREF P 496 500 496 500 6,989,390
GTCAP PREF A 899.5 900 899.5 900 44,990
LR PREF 1 1 0.98 1 47,960
MWIDE PREF 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.7 5,982
PNX PREF 3A 100 100 99.5 100 1,488,980
PNX PREF 3B 107.5 107.5 107.5 107.5 10,750
PCOR PREF 3A 1,011 1,011 1,011 1,011 2,011,890
PCOR PREF 3B 1,012 1,012 1,010 1,010 237,580
SMC PREF 2B 75 75 75 75 1,500,000
SMC PREF 2C 76.1 76.1 76 76.05 5,303,413
SMC PREF 2D 72.5 72.5 72.5 72.5 2,175
SMC PREF 2E 73 73 73 73 2,044,000
SMC PREF 2F 73.9 74 73.75 74 1,007,195
SMC PREF 2H 72.05 73.9 70.8 73.9 1,003,935
SMC PREF 2I 73.7 73.7 73.7 73.7 103,917
PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
ABS HLDG PDR 17.1 17.22 17.1 17.1 2,399,854
WARRANTS
LR WARRANT 1.87 1.92 1.85 1.86 197,750
SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING
ITALPINAS 4.83 5.04 4.83 5.01 2,237,650
MAKATI FINANCE 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 12,400
XURPAS 1.18 1.19 1.15 1.18 6,703,050
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
FIRST METRO ETF 120.9 121.7 119.6 121.7 1,683,062

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
BUSINESS B11
Scheduling issues delay EU, FTA talks
By AJ Bajo
The Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) pointed at problems
in scheduling
meetings as a
factor behind
the suspension
in the
free
trade
CHINESE workers manufacture heavy trucks at the auto plant of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Corp in Jinan Industrial Park in
Jinan, East China's Shandong province. Exports, a broader portfolio, after-sales service in Sinotruk's focus for edge abroad. CHINA DAILY
Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC)
and California-based Panda
Restaurant Group, Inc. have
entered into a joint venture
allowing the former put up
an initial five Panda Express
restaurants in Metro Manila.
Panda Express serves
American Chinese food. It
opened the first Panda
Express store in Glendale,
California in 1983 and is now the
largest family-owned and
operated
Chinese
food
Gokongwei-led Universal Robina
Corp. (URC) is expecting to take a
larger bite of the Oceania snack
food market through a strategic
partnership with European firm
Intersnack Group.
Listed food and beverage company
URC, through its wholly-owned British
Virgin Islands (BVI) subsidiary
URC Oceania Co. Ltd., entered
into the agreement by selling a 40
percent stake in URC’s consolidated
businesses in Australia and New
Zealand to Intersnack.
The company’s international
sales declined by 3 percent
to P10.2 billion in the period
owing to foreign exchange
devaluation in Australia and
New Zealand ranging from 8
to 10 percent.
URC did not disclose the amount
of the transaction.
URC said the consideration for
the transaction will be a mix of cash
as well as shares of Yarra Valley
Snack Foods Pty. Ltd., Intersnack’s
Australia snack food unit offering
“organic and gluten free snacks.”
“Leveraging on URC and
Intersnack’s know-how from their
respective markets will yield best
practices in manufacturing, supply
chain and sustainability practices,
setting the groundwork for an even
larger and more efficient Oceania
operations,” URC said in a disclosure
to the stock exchange on Monday.
“Through this transaction, URC
Jollibee rides Panda Express
It opened the first Panda Express store in
Glendale, California in 1983 and is now the largest
family-owned and operated Chinese food chain in
America with over 2,000 locations
chain in America with over
2,000 locations.
In a disclosure to the stock
exchange on Monday, JFC said
that the 50/50 joint venture
with Panda was incorporated
on 3 July and is initially
equipped with an authorized
capital stock of the Philippine
monetizes some of the synergies
it has generated from its early
investments in Australia and New
Zealand, while still retaining control
and its ability to further create value
within and beyond ANZ,” URC added.
The deal will be closed once
the companies obtain necessary
approval from the Australian
Foreign Investment Review Board
and the New Zealand Overseas
Investment Office.
Privately-owned Intersnack
Group has operations in 24 countries,
where it stands as a top market player
with its line-up of snacks including
potato and tortilla chips, puffed and
other corn snacks, baked products,
popcorn and nuts.
Intersnack generates about
$3 billion, or P158.6 billion, in net
sales across Europe, URC said. Its
presence in Australia is currently
limited to Yarra Valley.
URC has earmarked up to P9
billion in capital expenditures
this year, the bulk of which will
go to increasing its manufacturing
capacity in the Philippines.
URC’s net income attributable
to the parent rose 3 percent in the
first three months of the year, to
P3.04 billion from P2.952 billion
in the same period in 2018, on the
back of a s7 percent increase in net
sales, to P33.3 billion.
The company’s international
sales declined by 3 percent to
P10.2 billion in the period owing
to foreign exchange devaluation in
Australia and New Zealand ranging
from 8 to 10 percent. Aj Bajo
peso equivalent of $5 million.
The joint venture has been
officially been named JBPX
Foods Inc.
JBPX Foods received its
certificate of incorporation
from the Securities and
Exchange Commission on 5
July.
“With proven track records in
providing great tasting food at a
great value, JFC and Panda join
hands to introduce American Chinese
food, a globally-influenced cuisine
inspired by authentic Chinese
culinary principles, to the
A BUZZING bee meets the Americanized panda as Jollibee is set to introduce another fast-food chain in the country,
the Panda Express.
URC, Intersnack firm up
Oceania presence
By Jonas Reyes
The FTA is seen to propel investments from the EU, one of the
country’s largest trading partners by economic bloc
BALANGA CITY, BATAAN — The World
Bank is set to finance the P94-million
rehabilitation of a 5.2-kilometer farm-tomarket
road in this city, the local government
of Bataan announced.
Once rehabilitation is complete, farmers and
traders will have easier access when transporting
produce from Sitio Nazareno to Culis.
This was made public by the Office of
the Provincial Agriculturist last week as
Philippines,” JFC said in the
disclosure.
JFC noted that the profits
from JBPX Foods will be equally
divided between the companies,
in accordance to the 50/50
ownership. JBPX Foods will also
have its own management while
JFC will provide assistance.
It opened the first Panda
Express store in Glendale,
California in 1983 and is now
the largest family-owned and
operated Chinese food chain
in America with over 2,000
locations.
Homegrown food giant JFC
ended March with 4,543 stores
across the globe, 3,141 of which
are in the Philippines where it
also runs food chains Chowking,
Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang
Inasal, and Burger King. This year,
it plans to open 500 more local
and overseas stores, with capital
investments of P17.2 billion.
JFC registered a 14.7 percent
drop in net income in the first
quarter of 2019, to P1.535
billion from the P1.799 billion
it recorded in the same period
last year, owing to losses from
US-based chain Smashburger,
which it acquired in 2018.
Shares of JFC were sold for
P282.20 apiece as of 11:59 a.m.
on Monday, down 0.98 percent.
AJ Bajo
agreement (FTA) negotiations with
the European Union (EU).
According to Trade Secretary
Ramon Lopez, the EU did not
officially communicate the reasons
behind the pause in the FTA talks,
the scope of which was established
as early as 2013.
“I don’t know their priorities but
we’re just having problems on the
scheduling — on the continuation
of the third round of talks,” Lopez
told reporters at the sidelines of the
opening program for the MSME Week
in Pasay on Monday.
The first formal meeting between
EU and the Philippines was held
in Brussels, Belgium in May 2016,
followed by another round in Cebu
City in February 2017.
As part of the FTA talks, the
country has proposals in seven areas
including services, investment, trade,
and sustainable development.
On the other hand, the EU has nine
proposals including rules of origin,
small and medium enterprises, custom and
trade facilitation, state-owned enterprises,
intellectual property, sanitary and
phytosanitary measures, public
procurement and trade remedies.
By Maria Romero
Having experienced a
cyclical downturn in 2018,
engineering and infrastructure
conglomerate Megawide
Construction Corporation
expects to have a stronger
year this year as construction
activities rebound.
In a statement over the
weekend, the wholly-owned
construction business said
the impact of amortization
and devaluation charges
and interest expenses on
airport operations, will push
consolidated net income by
more than 50 percent and
boost net income attributable
to shareholders.
Citing its latest data,
Megawide reported it is
currently on track in the
first quarter of the year,
with revenues reaching P3.56
billion, 10 percent higher than
the posted income in the last
quarter of 2018.
In terms of segment,
revenues from the construction
business picked up to P2.57
billion in Q1, 10 percent higher
than 2018’s last quarter while
the airport operations already
recorded P892 million income
provincial agriculturist Engineer Johanna
Dizon said that Governor Albert Garcia
has approved the implementation of the
World Bank-funded road project. Dizon
said that this is in line with the provincial
government’s plan to improve road network
in Bataan.
Dizon noted that 80 percent of the total
project cost will be funded by the World
Bank while the remaining 20 percent well be
shouldered by the Department of Agriculture
with the local government unit as their
The FTA is seen to propel
investments from the EU, one of the
country’s largest trading partners
by economic bloc. Currently, the
Philippines also benefits from the
Generalized Scheme of Preferences
(GSP+) granted by the EU.
Under the program, 6,274 local
products enter the EU without tariff
on condition that the country complies
with the 27 core international
conventions involving environmental
protection, good governance and
human and labor rights.
The EU has been a staunch critic
particularly of the government under
president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody
campaign against illegal drugs.
It has earlier on said that the “war
on drugs,” on top of other factors such
as proposals to reinstate the death
penalty and efforts to lower the age
of criminal responsibility to 9 years
old, poses a threat to the benefits
the country receives under the GSP+
scheme.
Data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority indicates that exports to EU
declined by 12.1 percent to $666.5
million in April 2019 from $732.41
million in the same month, 2018.
Likewise, imports from EU dropped
1.7 percent during the month to
$667.11 million from $678.42 million
a year ago.
Megawide
bounces back
during the same period, up 9
percent from Q12018.
Megawide chairman and
CEO Edgar Saavedra said he
expects construction revenues
this year to go back to the 2017
consolidated level where it
peaked at P1.08 billion.
“We are expecting an
upturn in 2019 especially in
the construction business, with
the completion of new projects
towards the second half of
2019,” he said.
He further noted that with
the secured “healthy pipeline
of new projects” in the first
quarter of the year amounting
to P6.2 billion, the company
remains optimistic to sustain a
healthy order book of projects
moving forward.
However, he explained
that the company’s full-year
consolidated revenues may be
flat due to one-off depreciation
expenses from the Airport
business.
As of June 2019, Megawide
has signed and received
Notices to Proceed for seven
new projects valued at P9.8
billion and is on track to hit
the P20 billion new contracts
target, mostly from residential,
office and commercial projects.
THE farm-to-market road is located in Balanga City, Bataan. Its rehabilitation will cost P94 million, of which 80 percent will be funded by the World Bank.
WB financing Bataan farm-to-market road
counterpart.
“The infrastructure plan of Governor
Garcia is focused on the development of
agricultural sector to achieve food sufficiency
and security for the growing number of
constituents, taking into account the growing
number of local and foreign investors and
employees inside the ecozones, including
the industrial estates of Bataan,” she said.
She added that the rehabilitation of the
road is a precursor to the possible expansion
of the Hermosa Economic Zone.

51.00
52.00
53.00
54.00
55.00
PESO-DOLLAR RATES
8 JULY 2019
51.32
25700
25200
24700
24200
DOW JONES
8 JULY 2019
43.88
7900
7700
STOCK MARKET
7500
7300 56.55
8 JULY 2019
8 JULY 2019
INDEX SUMMARY
INDEX VALUE CHANGE % CHANGE
PSEi 8,061.39 -55.56 -0.70 ▼
All Shares 4,917.60 -28.08 -0.57 ▼
Financials 1,730.57 -11.44 -0.66 ▼
Industrial 11,966.84 -21.48 -0.18 ▼
Holding Firms 7,722.24 -74.97 -0.96 ▼
Services 1,679.13 -19.91 -1.17 ▼
Mining and Oil 7,477.60 38.31 0.52 ▲
Property 4,366.22 -13.53 -0.31 ▼
B12 BUSINESS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
The downward adjustment of P0.1068 per kWh will mean a
decrease of around P21 in the total bill
By Alvin Murcia
The Manila Electric Company
(MERALCO) announced yesterday
the third consecutive month of lower
power rates, as overall electricity rates
for a typical household consuming
200kWh decreased to P9.9850 per kWh
this July from last month’s P10.0918
per kWh.
According to a statement released
by Meralco, the downward adjustment
of P0.1068 per kWh will mean a
decrease of around P21 in the total
bill. This third straight month of
electricity rate decrease represents a
total downward adjustment of around
P0.57 per kWh since May 2019.
From P5.4158 per kWh last month,
generation charge for July slightly
went up to P5.4227 per kWh, a slight
increase of only P0.0069 per kWh.
The slight generation charge
increase is primarily due to higher
charges from the Wholesale Electricity
Spot Market (WESM), but this was
mostly offset by the lower charges of
Independent Power Producers (IPP)
and stable charges of Power Supply
Agreements (PSA).
WESM charges increased by P1.8794
per kWh due to tight supply conditions
in the Luzon grid. Plant capacity on
outage increased as demand for power
Meralco lowers power rates again
in the grid peaked at 11,344 MW in June.
With limited supply, the number of days
on Red Alert as declared by the National
Grid Corporation of the Philippines
(NGCP) increased to 5 from 2 in May
and about one-third of the days in June
were under Yellow Alert. The share of
WESM to Meralco’s supply needs went
down to 8.1 percent.
On the other hand, cost of power
from IPP decreased by P0.2239
per kWh largely due to the peso
appreciation. About 97 percent of
IPP charges are dollar-denominated.
Cost of power from PSA is stable with
a slight increase of P0.0414 per
kWh. IPPs and PSA
provided
41.4 percent and 50.5 percent of
Meralco’s supply needs, respectively.
The overall reduction this month
was mainly brought about by a lower
transmission charge for residential
customers, which decreased by
P0.0788 per kWh, primarily due to
lower ancillary service charges.
Taxes and other charges also
decreased by P0.0349 per kWh. This
includes a reduction of P0.0731 per
kWh, in compliance with the ERC’s
directive to implement a one-time
decrease in rates for reset cost
adjustment and reflect the same as
a separate line item in electric bills.
This month’s rate also includes
an increase in the universal
China to act on cigarette
making machine smugglers
Based on previous raids conducted by the BIR, counterfeiters
manufacture fake versions of popular brands by using smaller versions
of the machines
The customs agency of China has
committed to help the Bureau of Customs
(BOC) in its efforts to stop Chinese exports
of unauthorized cigarette making machines
from entering the country.
Based on BoC Commissioner Rey Leonardo
Guerrero’s report to Finance Secretary
Carlos Dominguez III, the Commissioner
had reiterated the country’s concern over
the machines to Chinese Vice Minister of
the General Administration of Customs of
China (GACC) at the sidelines of the 28th
ASEAN Customs Directors-General Meeting
held recently in Laos.
“I asked them if they could stop such
exportations on their part because this is
creating problems as far as we’re concerned,”
said Guerrero in his report to Dominguez
during a recent Department of Finance (DoF)
Executive (Execom) meeting.
Guerrero said the Chinese customs
officials have agreed “to look into the
matter.”
Earlier, Dominguez directed the BoC
and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Commissioner Caesar Dulay that the illegal
tobacco trade
EVEN cigarette brands are being counterfeited now, but the DoF with the help of the BoC and BIR,
won’t have any of it.
Caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade
war, Chinese students are looking for alternative
study destinations — threatening to turn off
an important source of revenue for American
universities.
China accounts for nearly a third of foreign
students on US campuses who pour billions of
dollars into the economy, but in March their
numbers dropped for the first time in a decade.
Visa delays, concerns over being shut out of
research projects and safety fears have turned off
Chinese students, according to several admissions
consultancies and nearly a dozen parents and
students interviewed by AFP.
Rival education powerhouses such as Britain,
Australia and Canada are the biggest beneficiaries,
a survey by New Oriental China’s biggest private
education provider said.
Japan and South Korea — traditional study abroad
destinations for the Chinese elite — and parts of
Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavian
countries with strong engineering programs, have
also seen an uptick in applications, the survey
found.
The chilling effect started mid-last year, after
President Donald Trump’s administration slashed the
visa duration of students in science and technology
fields from five years to one in some cases.
“Now there’s a lot of uncertainty on whether
they can even finish their studies,” said Gu Huini,
founder of boutique college consultancy Zoom In.
Over one third of the roughly 360,000 Chinese
students in the US study in “STEM fields” — science,
technology, engineering and mathematics — according
to the Institute of International Education in New
York.
But the number of Chinese students in the US
dipped by two percent in March compared to the
previous year, the first drop since 2009, data from
the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows.
Melissa Zhang, a high school senior in Beijing,
said she has abandoned plans to go to the US and
was instead taking German lessons, in the hope of
getting into a robotics program in Dresden. AFP
has shifted from smuggling cigarettes to
producing locally counterfeit brands using
undocumented cigarette-making machines
acquired from China.
Based on previous raids conducted by
the BIR, counterfeiters manufacture fake
versions of popular brands by using smaller
versions of the machines.
Just last 29 May, the BIR Strike Team
tasked to crack down on illicit tobacco trade
conducted an inventory of machines, finished
goods, raw materials and counterfeit tax stamps
seized by the National Bureau of Investigations
(NBI) at a factory in Marilao, Bulacan.
Erring traders have apparently switched to
manufacturing their own counterfeit cigarettes
in lieu of smuggling legitimate products
following the heightened BIR-BoC drive
against suppliers of tobacco products with
fake tax stamps, which was in compliance
with Dominguez’s earlier orders.
Dominguez has underscored the need for
heightened government vigilance against
the illicit manufacture and sale of tobacco
products, given the increase in excise tax
of tobacco products which has compelled
illegal traders to resort to smuggling and
evading taxes.
He said the destruction last January of
several machines used for manufacturing
is part of President Duterte’s
administration’s relentless campaign
against manufacturers of these products.,
as effectively demonstrated in 2017 when
the DoF, through the BIR and BoC, cracked
down on the “biggest fish,” namely, Mighty
Corporation.
Taking down Mighty Corporation for
using counterfeit excise stamps led to a
tax settlement amounting to P30 billion,
which was the biggest tax settlement in
the country’s history.
Consequently, Mighty Corp. was
forced to get out of the cigarette
business.
Joshua Lao
charge-stranded contract cost amounting
to P0.0543 per kWh to be recovered for
12 months. This was recently approved
by the ERC.
Meralco’s distribution,
supply, and metering
charges, meanwhile, have
remained unchanged for
48 months, after these
registered reductions in
July 2015.
In a statement,
THE Meralco headquarters in Mandaluyong City. The lower electricity rates were brought about by a lower transmission charge for residential customers.
Chinese students eye other universities
Meralco reiterated that it does
not earn from the pass-through
charges, such as the generation and
transmission charges. Payment for
the generation charge goes to the
power suppliers, while paymen for the
transmission charge goes to the NGCP.
Taxes and other public policy charges
like the FIT-All rate are remitted to
the government.
Asian markets retreat
Asian markets retreated Monday and the dollar held gains after
a blockbuster US jobs report dashed hopes that the Federal Reserve
would slash interest rates this month.
Labor Department data showed that despite recent disappointing
indicators, the world’s top economy continues to show resilience as
it created far more posts than expected in June.
The news took traders by surprise and sent all three main indexes
on Wall Street falling from record highs, while the dollar bounced
against its main peers.
But the strong labor market has many questions whether
we will see just two rate cuts in 2019 and not what some
call the required three to see US stocks make another 3-5
percent push higher into uncharted territory.
Investors had been hoping the Fed would cut borrowing costs by
as much as 50 basis points at its next policy meeting at the end of
the month but Friday’s report reduced the chances of that happening.
And Asian investors extended the selling, with Hong Kong down
1.8 percent, Shanghai 2.4 percent lower and Tokyo off 0.9 percent.
Sydney shed one percent, Seoul dropped 1.7 percent and Singapore
was off 0.9 percent. Manila, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta were
also lower.
“Markets remain convinced the Fed will cut rates at the end of
the month,” said OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya.
“But the strong labor market has many questions whether we will
see just two rate cuts in 2019 and not what some call the required
three to see US stocks make another 3-5 percent push higher into
uncharted territory.”
He added that the focus will now turn on Fed boss Jerome Powell’s
congressional testimony this week, with investors hoping he will
provide some forward guidance on the bank’s plans.
“The testimony this week will be crucial around how they are
seeing the evolution of the US economy,” Anne Anderson, at UBS
Asset Management, told Bloomberg TV.
Also, up this week is the release of minutes from the Fed’s June
meeting, while US and Chinese officials are working to schedule
top-level trade talks.
On currency markets the dollar-maintained Friday’s gains against
the yen, pound and euro.
And it surged more than 3 percent on the Turkish lira after
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked the head of the country’s
central bank following months of tensions over high borrowing costs.
Erdogan, who is battling to boost the struggling economy, has
repeatedly railed against high interest rates and called for them to
be lowered to stimulate growth.
The removal of Murat Cetinkaya at the weekend filled speculation
the bank will slash borrowing costs.
Win Thin, global head of currency strategy at Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co, wrote in a note: “Deputy governor Murat Uysal was
named as the replacement, though we all know who really controls
monetary policy now.”
AFP
BUSINESSMEN walk in front of an electronic stock indicator flashing Tokyo’s closing rate. Tokyo was off 0.9 percent,
Hong Kong down 1.8 percent, Shanghai 2.4 percent lower.
AFP

"
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
WORLD
B13
CLOSER TO SANCTIONS
Iran admits
cap breach
The Islamic republic also threatened to
abandon more commitments unless a solution
is found with the remaining parties to the
landmark 2015 agreement after Washington
unilaterally pulled out
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said
Sunday it was set to breach the
uranium enrichment cap set
by an endangered nuclear deal
within hours as it seeks to press
other parties into keeping their
side of the bargain.
The Islamic republic also
threatened to abandon more
commitments unless a solution
is found with the remaining
parties to the landmark 2015
agreement after Washington
unilaterally pulled out.
US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo tweeted Sunday that
Iran would face “further
isolation and sanctions,”
adding to a raft of biting
economic measures imposed
by Washington, and
President Donald Trump
warned that Iran “better
be careful.”
The 2015 deal was
reached between Iran
and six world powers — Britain,
China, France, Germany, the
United States and Russia -- and
saw Tehran agree to drastically
scale down its nuclear program
in exchange for sanctions relief.
US Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo tweeted
Sunday that Iran would
face further isolation and
sanctions.
Washington began reimposing
sanctions in August
2018 and has
targeted
crucial
sectors
including oil exports
and the banking system,
fueling a deep recession.
Even after the US
pullout, experts said Iran
had been complying with
the agreement, until early
this month when it exceeded
a limit on its enriched uranium
reserves.
Iranian Foreign Minister
Mohammad Javad Zarif said
Tehran could further scale back
its commitments to the deal, but
“all such steps are reversible” if
European partners deliver
on their part.
The move to start
enriching uranium above
the agreed maximum
purification level of
3.67 percent comes
despite opposition from
countries backing the
nuclear deal. AFP
PROTESTOR belonging
to the National Council
of Resistance of Iran
chant slogans at the
Brandenburg Gate in
Berlin.
AFP
Migrant centers’
media tour
I’m going to start showing some of these detention
centers to the press
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Sunday said
migrant detention centers that have come under criticism for
overcrowding and poor conditions will be opened to visits by
journalists.
“I’m going to start showing some of these detention
centers to the press. I want the press to go in and see
them,” Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.
“We’re going to have some of the press go in
because they’re crowded, and we’re the ones who were
complaining about their crowding,” he added.
I want the press to go in and see them.
His comments came after The New York Times and
The El Paso Times on Saturday published an article
describing a Border Patrol station in Clint, Texas as
filled with hundreds of children wearing filthy
clothing and packed into disease-ridden
cells — a story Trump called a
“hoax.”
“The stench of the children’s
dirty clothing was so strong
it spread to the agents’ own
clothing — people in town would
scrunch their noses when they
left work. The children cried
constantly,” the article said.
The article echoed a Department
of Homeland Security watchdog
report released last week warning
of “dangerous overcrowding”
in multiple detention facilities,
which hold thousands of migrants
seeking to remain in the United
States, most
of whom are
fleeing violence
and poverty in
their Central
American
homes. AFP
TOURISTS in a tea garden at the Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China’s Hubei Province enjoy the view as they walk a path towards a pagoda.
JERUSALEM — An Israeli Lieutenant Colonel M was also
army officer killed in a 2018 killed.”
undercover raid into Gaza was An army spokeswoman
shot in error by a comrade clarified to AFP that the fatal
during a firefight with Hamas, shot was fired by A “in error”.
the army said Sunday.
The 11 November special
A statement giving partial forces operation, which Israel
conclusions of a military enquiry said was an intelligencegathering
mission, turned deadly
into the November incident said
that the dead man was hit by a when the undercover soldiers
stray shot, as another officer fired were spotted near Khan Yunis,
at Hamas fighters who had stopped in the southern Gaza Strip.
the Israelis for questioning. The ensuing firefight claimed
“Lieutenant Colonel A opened the lives of the Israeli special
fire at a group of Hamas terrorists forces officer and seven Palestinian VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro (right) heads the joint graduation ceremony
who were there,” the statement said. militants, including a local Hamas of command and technical officers of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces in Caracas,
“During the exchange of fire military commander. AFP Venezuela on Sunday.
AFP
==============================================
======================
Friendly fire kills
Israeli soldier
The dead man was hit by a stray shot as
another officer fired at Hamas fighters who
had stopped the Israelis for questioning
Case Law
By VICTOR C. AVECILLA
Villarosa v. Ombudsman
G.R. No. 221418, January 23, 2019 / Third Division / Peralta, J.
Constitutional Law; Criminal Procedure; Preliminary Investigation;
Probable Cause. — A finding of probable cause needs only to rest
on evidence showing that, more likely than not, a crime has been
committed and was committed by the suspects. Probable cause need
not be based on clear and convincing evidence of guilt, neither on
evidence establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt and, definitely, not
on evidence establishing absolute certainty of guilt. It demands more
than bare suspicion, it requires less than evidence which would justify
conviction. A finding of probable cause merely binds over the suspect
to stand trial. It is not a pronouncement of guilt. (VOLUME 2, NUMBER 132)
========================================
=========================
SYDNEY, Australia — Facing a
wobbly ally in the United States and an
increasingly bellicose China, Australia’s
military strategists are cautiously debating
whether the country needs to consider
developing its own nuclear deterrent.
For a long time, the country’s defense
forces had relatively little to worry about.
A century-old alliance with the
United States brought bankable security
guarantees, while mineral exports to China
ensured 28 recession-free years at home.
But Donald Trump’s limited regard
for alliances and Xi Jinping’s quest for
primacy in the Pacific have put both pillars
of Australian security in doubt.
Donald Trump’s limited regard
for alliances and Xi Jinping’s
quest for primacy in the
Pacific have put both pillars of
Australian security in doubt.
“Far from being in a strategic
backwater, Australia is very much now
a state in the front line,” said Malcolm
Davis, a military planner who has long
called for a rethink in Australia’s defense.
So far, the response from Canberra
Venezuela talks
gear anew
XINHUA
CARACAS, Venezuela — Dialogue between Venezuela’s
opposition and President Nicolas Maduro’s government
will resume in Barbados, self-declared interim president
Juan Guaido said on Sunday, after previous negotiations
in Norway petered out.
“In response to the mediation of the Kingdom of Norway
(the opposition) will attend a meeting with representatives
of the usurper regime in Barbados, to establish a
negotiation on the end of the dictatorship,” Guaido said
in a statement, without giving a date for talks to resume.
Maduro’s government suggested talks would resume
this week.
Delegations representing the Venezuelan rivals met
face-to-face in Oslo for the first time in late May, in
a process begun two weeks earlier under Norwegian
auspices to find a solution to the South American country’s
economic and political crises.
Oil-rich Venezuela has been ravaged by five years of
recession marked by shortages of food, medicine and other
basic necessities.
It plunged deeper into political turmoil in January when
National Assembly speaker Guaido declared himself acting
president in a direct challenge to Maduro’s authority. AFP
Should Aussies go nuclear?
has been cautious: trying to preserve
the alliance with the United States
while trading with the world’s rising
economic power.
But Hugh White — former adviser to
prime ministers, and a doyen of Canberra
military analysts — believes it is time to
get off the fence.
Amid arcane discussions about
strategic autonomy, interests and
capabilities, his book “How to Defend
Australia,” published this month, has
ignited a firestorm of debate with one
simple question: “What about nuclear
weapons?”
AFP

B14 WORLD Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
TSUNAMI WARNING LIFTED
6.9 quake rocks Indonesia
The Southeast Asian nation is one of the most disaster-hit on
Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring
of Fire, where tectonic plates collide
Tianjin has established
a complete autonomous
information industry
including high-performance
chips, autonomous control
system, high-performance
server and database,
setting up a model on the
transformation of technologic
innovation achievements
BEIJING, China — China has built
six National Supercomputing Centers
(NSCC) since 2009, serving as a new
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A strong
magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off
Indonesia on Sunday, the US Geological
Survey (USGS) reported, triggering a
brief tsunami warning that sent panicked
residents fleeing to higher ground.
The Southeast Asian nation is one of
the most disaster-hit on Earth due to its
position straddling the so-called Pacific
Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.
Earthquakes and tsunamis have
claimed thousands of lives in recent years.
Sunday’s quake struck at a depth of
24 kilometers in the Molucca Sea, 185
China supercomputing advances
driver for the country’s innovation,
according to the NSCC in north China’s
Tianjin Municipality, which celebrated
the 10th anniversary of the founding of
the center on Saturday.
Since the establishment of the NSCC
in Tianjin was approved by the Ministry
of Science and Technology in May 2009,
other five supercomputing centers were
founded one after another in Shenzhen,
Jinan, Changsha, Guangzhou and Wuxi,
respectively.
As the first supercomputing center
in China, the NSCC in Tianjin is not
only where China’s first petaflop
supercomputer the Tianhe-1 is located,
but also responsible for developing
China’s new generation of the exascale
supercomputer the Tianhe-3.
Tianjin has established a
complete autonomous information
industry including high-performance
chips, autonomous control system,
high-performance server and
database, setting up a model on
the transformation of technologic
innovation achievements, said Li
Xiang, vice president of the National
University of Defense Technology.
“The supercomputer has become a
symbol of power reflecting the innovative
capabilities of China. Next, we will
connect these supercomputing centers
and share the resources nationwide,”
said Mei Jianping, deputy director-general
of the Department of High and New
Technology of the Ministry of Science and
Technology.
Xinhua
kilometers southeast of Manado, between
Sulawesi and Malkuku islands, according
to the USGS.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency issued a
tsunami warning for coastal communities
nearby, where residents were advised to
stay away from the coast.
The warning was later lifted by the
agency and there were no immediate
reports of damage or casualties.
Residents of Ternate in the Maluku
island chain described panic as the
quake hit.
AFP
ROHINGYA children walk around a landslide area at Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhia on Sunday. Monsoon-triggered landslides have killed one person and left more than 4,500
homeless.
AFP
AFGHAN security personnel arrive at the site of a car bomb attack that targeted an intelligence unit in Ghazni on Sunday. A Taliban car
bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores, officials said.
AFP
While fighting was going on
some of the villagers started
running away from their
houses at the time the fighter
jet was bombarding the
terrorists
KANO, Nigeria — At least 13 civilians
were killed in an air raid as the military
repulsed a jihadist assault in northeast
Borno state, residents and a security
source said Sunday.
Multiple inhabitants of Gajiganna
village, 50 kilometers (30 miles) from
state capital Maiduguri, told AFP
Afghan peace in the works
Washington has said it wants
to seal a political deal with
the Taliban ahead of Afghan
presidential polls
DOHA, Qatar — Dozens of powerful
Afghans including bitter rivals met the
Taliban in Doha on Sunday, discussing a
possible ceasefire and the future of women
and minorities after 18 years of conflict.
Stakes are high for the talks which
follow a week of US-Taliban negotiations
with both sides eyeing a peace deal.
Washington has said it wants to
seal a political deal with the Taliban
ahead of Afghan presidential polls due
in September to allow foreign forces to
begin to withdraw.
Security was tight at the luxury hotel
Nigeria air strike kills 13 civilians
a military jet on Tuesday targeted
jihadists from the Islamic State West
Africa Province (ISWAP) after they
attacked a nearby military base.
The Nigerian air force, however, said
it had no reports of civilian casualties.
Fleeing residents were caught up
in the bombing, residents said on
condition of anonymity over fears for
their personal safety.
“We lost 13 people in the bombardment
as many people tried to escape the
fighting between the insurgents and
troops,” a resident said.
“Many people were injured in the
attack,” he said.
The military jet was deployed around
7:30 p.m. (1830GMT) to support troops
in the base who were trying to fight off
the militants, residents said.
“Many residents were too scared to
remain in their homes and ran out to
escape from the village as the fighting
raged between the troops and the
insurgents,” a second resident said.
“They were mistaken for the
attackers by the jet which fired on
them, killing 13 and injuring many,”
he said.
Nigerian air force spokesman
Ibikunle Daramola told AFP “there
has been no such report” of civilian
casualties from forces on the ground.
“What I can assure you is that
the Nigerian Air Force responded to
provide close air support to our troops
that were under attack by the Boko
Haram terrorists and everything that
was done was in coordination with the
army,” he said.
But a security source in Maiduguri
confirmed the incident to AFP and
blamed residents for flouting military
orders to remain indoors.
“The villagers were warned not to step
out of their homes before the terrorists
attacked because there was intelligence
they were planning an attack,” said the
source.
“While fighting was going on some
of the villagers started running away
U.S. losing
insurance
market lead
China consolidated its
position as the second
largest insurance
market globally in 2018,
with total premiums
reaching $575 billion
BEIJING, China — China is expected
to surpass the United States to become
the world’s largest insurance market
in the mid-2030s, according to a report
from Swiss Re Institute.
China consolidated its position as
the second largest insurance market
globally in 2018, with total premiums
reaching $ 575 billion. However, the
Chinese market is currently still
less than 40 percent of the size of
the US market and is also smaller
than the three largest markets in
Europe — Britain, Germany and
France — combined.
The shortfalls serve to highlight
the catch-up potential. Swiss Re
Institute forecast that the Asia-Pa cific
region will account for 42 percent of
the global premiums by 2029, mainly
driven by China.
China’s share of the global
premiums went from zero in 1980
to 11 percent in 2018 and is forecast
to reach 20 percent over the next
decade and then surpass the US as
the biggest market in the mid-2030s.
Global insurance premiums
passed the $5 trillion mark for
the first time in 2018, equivalent
to more than 6 percent of the
world’s gross domestic product,
the report said.
Led by the emerging markets,
global insurance premiums are
likely to grow by 3 percent in real
terms over the next two years.
Life premiums will increase by 2.9
percent, well above the 0.6 percent
annual average of the previous 10
years, with a bounce back in China
as the main driver. Xinhua
CHILDREN play in a water park in Bozhou, Anhui Province as summer officially starts in
China.
XINHUA
hosting the intra-Afghan summit
as around 70 delegates, who were
required to surrender their phones,
filed into the hall. They sat in a
vast semi-circle facing a large video
screen and the hosts from Qatar and
Germany.
Taliban negotiator Abbas Stanikzai
had a brief altercation with a security
guard as he attempted to enter the
secure conference area.
But he and the rest of the Taliban
delegation, which included Suhail
Shaheen, the group’s Doha office
spokesman, took their seats in the
expansive ballroom shortly before the
talks began at 0630 GMT.
The discussions concluded just
after 1500 GMT, two delegates said,
and were due to resume on Monday
morning.
AFP
from their houses at the time the
fighter jet was bombarding the
terrorists,” said the security source
who asked not to be named for fear
of sanction.
“I learned between 13 and 16
people from the village died and
some others were wounded”, he said.
A military officer said ISWAP
fighters in nine pickup trucks fitted
with machine guns attacked the
base around 17:00 GMT, engaging
troops in a gunbattle.
The jihadists were subdued with
the support of the fighter jet which
destroyed six trucks and captured two
others, the officer said. AFP

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
NATION
Osmeña sued for
stripping office bare
B15
Former Cebu
City Mayor
Tomas Osmeña
Hefty penalty opposed
By Andrio Atienza
PUERTO PRINCESA — Opposition Councilor Peter Maristela has asked
his fellow city councilors to convince Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo
Bayron to reduce the P3,000 penalty against traffic violators in the city.
Maristela said it was Bayron who “ordered” the increase of the
penalty to P3,000.
“I know that it was an order of the mayor to increase the penalty...”
City Ordinance 909 amends the City Traffic Management Code and
imposed P3000 penalty for traffic violators. The ordinance, which took
effect last April 2018 aims to ease traffic congestion in the city.
For his part, Councilor Elgin Robert Damasco said he wants to lower
the penalty especially on tricycles that ply in the city.
Damasco also said he accepted the challenge to lead the committee
on transportation as no one would want to lead the committee formerly
led by Rolando Amurao.
“I believe that whatever amount is not enough to discipline them. It
depends on how they will follow the law,” Damasco said.
The councilor said public consultations among different organizations
of tricycles and operators must be organized first before they amend
the ordinance.
“I would like to suggest that if the violators would commit four or five
times, their franchise would be revoked. Then maybe they will follow
the rules on our traffic.”
“I think they will not commit mistakes to avoid reaching the maximum
number of violation because they fear that their franchise will be
canceled,’’ Damasco said.
Meanwhile, Damasco has also urged the new
administration to pass an ordinance that will increase the
salary of job-order employees in the
city government.
Osmeña lost to then vice mayor Edgardo Labella in the May elections
Former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña
is facing charges before the Office of the
Ombudsman-Visayas for stripping his office bare
when he left the city hall last month.
Complainant Mejelito Cajes from the city’s
Building Maintenance Office, in his complaint
filed yesterday said Osmeña and his staff “willfully,
unlawfully, feloniously destroyed and demolished”
the mayor’s office when they removed the tiles,
pipes, toilet, lavatory, faucet and the mayor’s seal
before the new mayor assumed office.
Osmeña was accused of theft malicious
mischief, grave misconduct, grave neglect of
By Rico Osmeña
The Environmental Management Bureau-Department
of Environment and Natural Resources in Central
Visayas yesterday conducted its investigation on the
allegations raised by Biga Barangay officials against the
blasting activities of Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC)
in Toledo City, Cebu.
The Barangay Council of
Biga, in its complaint letter
to Mines and Geosciences
Bureau Regional Director
Efren Carido said two recent
blasting activities of the CCC
allegedly caused cracks on
the walls and floors of houses
within 350 meters away from
the mining site.
The council said the
issuance of notices were
not consistent with the
blasting activities and
duty, conduct unbecoming of a public official and
conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Osmeña’s executive assitants Raymund Paul
Climaco Taboada and Fransisco Fernandez; an
architect of the City Planning Office; heads of
a private security firm; security officers; the
contractor of Dakay Construction and 32 of its
workers were also named respondents in the
complaint as they “conspired” with the former
mayor.
“Respondent Tomas Osmeña is the mastermind
after having readily admitted before the press that
he ordered Pericles Dakay owner and president
Blasts probed
For his part, Biga Barangay Captain Pedro Sepada Jr. insisted that
the blasting activities greatly affected the lives of the residents in the
barangay
A MAN selling
bananas along
Commowealth
Avenue in Quezon
City. ANALY LABOR
further complained that the groundwater spring
which is the source of water of the residents
dried up because of the blasting activities.
For his part, Biga Barangay Captain Pedro
Sepada Jr. insisted that the blasting activities
greatly affected the lives of the residents in the
barangay.
of Dakay Construction and his staff at the Office
of the Mayor to take out his personal property
or everything he paid for when he renovated
the Office of the Mayor after the Sangguniang
Panlungsod denied his request to renovate the
eight floor back in 2016,” Cajes said.
In the complaint, Cajes argued that under
Republic Act 386 or the Civil Code of the
Philippines, officials who introduce improvements
to their office out of private funds lose what they
built without right to compensation.
Osmeña lost to then vice mayor Edgardo Labella
in the May elections.
KAC
“We will work at ensuring that mine wastes
are not dumped anywhere, that our human
rights are respected and that the barangay’s
income will improve from mine wastes fees,”
Sepada added.
According to the barangay around 60-70 families
in Sitio Danawan and Hag-it have been affected due
to the blasting activities.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in an
interview said the local government would act
on the complaint of the Biga Barangay officials
only if they will file a complaint before her office.
Suspect in footbridge
By Aldwin Quitasol
death found
The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) will file criminal charges against the man who
hit a pedestrian as the latter was going down a footbridge in Baguio City.
Allan Rae Co of the BCPO on 8 July said they will definitely file a homicide case
against the suspect identified as Marc Calical.
On 1 July, Calical was seen in a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) hitting the
victim Colin Akinchang as the latter was going down the stairs at an overpass in Magsaysay
Avenue in the city.
The victim was outbalanced and fell facedown hitting his head against the
concrete. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment but later died.
The CCTV footage that went viral since led to the suspect’s identification.
Co said Calical went hiding at his house in Bauko,
Mountain Province after the CCTV footage went viral
in social media.
Co disclosed that through the family and relatives
of Calical and the efforts of the local government
of Bauko, the suspect surrendered to the Bauko
police. He said the Bauko Municipal Police Station
contacted the BCPO for the safe transfer of Calical
to the city.
Before the flood An official from the Department of Public Order and Safety checks the condition of this banca in preparation for the
rainy season.
ANALY LABOR

B16 NATION
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
With the ECC, Silvertides
Holdings can now proceed
in developing a 2,070-hectare
area in the coastal Barangays
of Bambang and Taliptio in
Bulakan town
By Maricris Guerrero
ECC for P734-B
airport project OKd
The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) has issued an
environmental compliance certificate (ECC)
to a private company that will pave the
way for the construction of a P734-billion
international airport in Bulacan province.
Lormelyn Claudio, director of
DENR-Central Luzon, approved the ECC
applied by Silvertides Holdings, on 14
June — clearing the way of any negative
environmental impact of the massive
infrastructure project.
An ECC is issued to certify that a proposed
project will not cause significant negative
environmental impact, as validated by
DENR’s environmental impact assessment
review committee.
With the ECC, Silvertides Holdings, a
contractor of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), can
now proceed in developing a 2,070-hectare
area in the coastal Barangays of Bambang
and Taliptio in Bulakan town.
Claudio, however, stressed that under the
ECC, Silvertides Holdings is required to strictly
observe preventive measures as presented
during the environmental impact assessment.
According to Claudio, the company is
tasked to properly manage and dispose of
the debris and spoils of the construction to
prevent any harmful effect.
Philkairos Inc., which conducted the
environmental impact assessment, also
recommended the building of drainage canals
during land development to prevent flooding
as the site is situated on a low ground.
Earlier, SMC announced it was readying
construction teams for its proposed
international air gateway in Bulacan.
The project was branded as the company’s
answer to the worsening air traffic congestion Enlightened Former members and supporters of the New People’s Army are welcomed
at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. by the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion in Surigao del Norte.
Robin promotes peace
For us to have peace, we
should be united
Branding Islam as a religion of peace,
veteran actor Robin Padilla is encouraging
fellow Muslims to despise violence and
instead promote amity to all.
Speaking before 800 participants
of the Sulu Youth Empowerment for
Preventing-Countering Violent Extremism
on Sunday, Padilla shared how Islam
transformed him to be a “peaceful” man.
“The Islam that I know is a peaceful
religion,” Padilla said as he recalled the
values he learned
after becoming
a Muslim and
the change it
brought from
his old
rebellious life.
“This is the religion that taught me to
become pro-people, pro-God and it is why
I love the Philippines,” he added.
Padilla converted into Islam while
serving a two-year prison term for illegal
possession of firearms at the New Bilibid
Prison. He was granted conditional pardon
in 1998 and was subsequently freed.
Prior to this, Padilla earned the
moniker “Bad Boy” for his series of movies
with the same title and is known for his
tough guy image.
During his speech, Padilla lamented
the bomb attack last 28 June in Sulu that
caused the death of three soldiers,
two civilians and two bombers, and
the wounding of 12 other soldiers.
Padilla’s message touched
15-year-old Mariam Ahmad, one of
the 800 youth participants in the
forum, who branded his message
as inspirational.
“For us to have peace, we should be
united,” Ahmad said.
Meanwhile, the Army leadership
welcomed Padilla’s desire to become a
reservist.
Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon
Zagala thanked Padilla for his time and
effort to advocate peace and unity being
pursued by the military to thwart violent
extremists.
“We welcome his desire to join
the Army Reserve Component and
contribute more to the Army’s thrusts
of nation-building,” Zagala said.
“All citizens, whether
celebrity or ordinary, are
highly encouraged to join us
in serving the people and
securing the land,”
he added.
396 leave NPA
Peaceful resolution of conflict is the best way to address issues.
We are very elated because not only the people are awakened
but leaders are openly taking a stand against the NPA
PLACER, Surigao del Norte — A total
of 396 members and supporters of the
communist New People’s Army (NPA)
from the different towns of this province
surrendered to the Army’s 30th Infantry
Battalion (IB) recently.
The surrenderers were composed of 37
Sangay sa Partido Lokal (SPL) or local party
members, 46 Militia ng Bayan (MB), 146
Underground Mass Organization (UGMO)
members and 167 mass supporters.
The mass surrender happened on
Thursday in two separate occasions — 244
yielded to authorities in Malimono town
while the other 152 surrendered at 30th IB
headquarters in Barangay Sta Cruz, Placer.
They were all persuaded by a certain
alias “RD,” a known NPA leader in Surigao
who voluntarily surrendered to the military
earlier.
Col. Maurito Licudine, commander
of the Army’s 402nd Brigade, said that
“RD” explained to his followers how the
government supports rebel-returnees.
He said that “RD” also made the new
surrenderers understand the deception
and manipulation he had done in order to
recruit them and support the NPA cause.
“Peaceful resolution of conflict is the
best way to address the pressing issues
confronting us today. We are very elated
because not only the people are awakened
but leaders are openly taking a stand
against the NPA,” Licudine said.
Licudine also cited as huge factor
President Rodrigo Duterte’s whole of
nation approach in addressing insurgency
through Executive Order 70.
“Concerted efforts among stakeholders
is gaining headway in our campaign to
end local communist armed conflict,”
Licudine said.
Joint personnel of the 30th IB and the
local government of Malimono conducted
deradicalization seminar on the 244 NPA
supporters who pledged allegiance before
Mayor Wallace Senaca.
The 46 MB members brought along 11
assorted firearms when they surrendered
to Senaca and 30th IB commanding officer
Lt. Col. Allen Tomas.
Meanwhile, 152 NPA supporters from
Surigao City, Tagana-an, San Francisco
and Sison towns voluntarily surrendered
to 30th IB headquarters.
“The massive surrenders of NPA
supporters were attributed to the combined
efforts of the development programs of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) thru
its Community Support Program, creation
of Peace and Development Zone to counter
insurgency in CARAGA,” Tomas said.
“The intensified campaign of local
government units in leading their
constituents to stop supporting the NPA
and its failed ideology, urging them instead
to support the government in the fight to
end insurgency” he added.
Low-income Pag-IBIG members
get P4.5-B housing loans
The figure represents nearly 30 percent of the total number of housing
loans financed by the agency during the first six months of the year
One in peace Actor Robin Padilla prods Muslim youngsters to spurn violence and embrace amity.
Drilon optimistic over teachers’ pay hike
We should provide teachers with the right incentives to encourage
them to remain in the noblest profession of educating and molding
our youth to become productive citizens of this country
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
is optimistic that the coming 18th Congress
will pass the proposed salary increase for
public school teachers — citing the growing
bipartisan support for the measure.
Drilon acknowledged the need to raise
the monthly salary of the teachers to keep
them in the government service.
In Senate Bill 19, Drilon seeks to set
the entry-level salary of public school
teachers to not less than P30,000 a month,
from the current P20,754 monthly salary
of Teacher 1.
The proposed measure also seeks to
adjust the minimum basic salary received
by entry level teachers in state universities
and colleges to P31,000. The salaries of all
other teaching personnel occupying higher
positions will also be adjusted.
“We should provide teachers with the
right incentives to encourage them to remain
in the noblest profession of educating and
molding our youth to become productive
citizens of this country,” Drilon said.
“This proposed salary increase will
invigorate our teachers as they help build
the nation, one student, one classroom at
a time,” he added.
While the Department of Education
receives the largest share in the national
budget, Drilon noted that the salary of
teachers remains to be low compared to
the salaries received by other professionals.
“The proposed measure is geared
towards improving the performance of our
educators, thereby resulting to a better
quality of education, and ultimately, a
better Philippines,” Drilon stressed.
The minority leader said that with
the bill getting bipartisan support in
the Senate, there is a chance that the
much-awaited and long-sought increase
will finally be given to the country’s
hardworking teachers and
teaching personnel.
Nearly 12,000 Pag-IBIG Fund members
coming from the minimum-wage and
low-income sectors were granted with
P4.52 billion socialized housing loans
during the first six months of the year.
Secretary Eduardo del Rosario,
chairman of the Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC) and Pag-IBIG Fund Board
of Trustees, said that the socialized
housing loan program is part of the
administration’s advocacy for BALAI
program or Building Adequate, Livable,
Affordable and Inclusive communities.
According to Del Rosario, a total of
11,894 Pag-IBIG Fund members were
granted with P4.52 billion socialized
housing loans from January to June
this year.
The figure represents nearly 30
percent of the total number of housing
loans financed by the agency during
the period.
Pag-IBIG Fund financed record-highs
of 41,746 housing loans amounting to
P37.07 billion in the first half
of this year to assist
members
acquire or improve their homes.
“Socialized housing is designed
especially for minimum and low-wage
workers. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
directed that there be government
programs catering to this underserved
sector, hence, we have this housing
program that is suited for their financial
capacity,” said Del Rosario.
“This is the essence of the BALAI
program towards providing decent
shelter for every Filipino family,” he
added.
Under its socialized housing
loan program, Pag-IBIG provides up
to P580,000 for a 32 square-meter
residential unit in a horizontal housing
project.
Pag-IBIG Fund also maintains the lowest
interest rate in the market of 3 percent
per annum — a special rate it has
provided for minimum and
low-wage workers since
May of 2017.
Clear and present danger! Motorists in Sumilao, Bukidnon are at risk of ramming a portion of a mountain in passing through this bridge
over Atugan River. The structure has been completed years ago but left unused due to absence of an access road. PERSEUS ECHEMINADA

ARTS IN
BUSINESS,
AND VICE
VERSA
MUSIC LIKE NO OTHER
MICHAEL V,
DIRECTOR
WARRIORS
FETE
IGUODALA
C18
C19
C20
D22
Dinah S. Ventura, Editor
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
LIFESTYLE
C17
You’ll find something worthy in every corner, be it a piece of
technology or history
Text by Pauline L. Songco
Photos by Nick Olayao
There are endless reasons why Shanghai is a must-visit for every
traveler. Being the most populous city of China, there’s so much
to see, eat, learn and experience in this modern metropolis, from
sunup to sundown.
Being China’s financial hub and home to 18.41 percent of the
world’s total population, in Shanghai one can never run out of things
to do. Without a doubt, you’ll find something worthy in every corner,
be it a piece of technology or history.
It goes without saying Shanghai is quite a busy city. Sky-high buildings with
huge billboards on its façade greet you everywhere you go, not to mention the
hop-on, hop-off buses taking tourists around to experience the city’s hustle
and bustle. A tip for shopaholics: Some shops don’t accept cash as payments;
they prefer transactions made through WeChat Pay or Ali Pay.
The city has gone far in terms of cuisine, too. As they say, one can’t
leave Shanghai without dining at Michelin-star restaurants to taste
authentic Peking Duck and Xiaolongbao.
From Yuyuan Garden (the only surviving garden from the Ming
Dynasty), to the shopping districts
of Xintiandi and Nanjing Road,
Shanghai bustles with activity.
MERCHANTS sell different kinds of food.
Water town
A famous historical and cultural town
in China, the water town of Zhuijiaojiao,
serves as the transportation hub of two
provinces, Jiangsu and Zheijang.
The earliest ferry terminal in the
city, it is where merchants gather to sell
and exchange goods. Nine long streets
wind their way along the riverside, with
buildings dating far back as Ming and
Qing Dynasty. Alleys are filled with
ZHUIJIAOJIAO is the best
preserved ancient water town
in the city.
largest stone arch bridge
in Shanghai, while riding
the pagoda.
Oriental Pearl
TV Tower
Get a bird’s eye view
of the city at the peak
of the Oriental Pearl TV
Tower, the first building to
define Shanghai’s skyline.
Enjoy sumptuous food
and breathtaking views of DISCOVER all sorts of traditional snacks when you pass by its alleys.
Huangpu River as you dine
in their Revolving Restaurant, also considered as Asia’s highest revolving
restaurant. Meanwhile, its sightseeing galleria offers a panoramic view of
the riverside that surrounds the city.
Shanghai is bustling with activities for its tourists and locals,
morning ‘til night.
Test your wits at the glass-bottomed sky walk before dining at the
Coca Cola Happiness Restaurant located near the History Museum.
To get to Oriental Pearl TV Tower, take the Metro Line 2 and get
off at Lujiazui Station.
WATCH the majestic skyline of Shanghai aboard the cruise ship along the Bund.
banks, spice stores, rice shops
and ancient post offices.
As you explore the area,
feel untouched by time
as you pass under Fang
Sheng Bridge, the
The Bund
Originally an embankment along a muddy waterfront, The Bund
or Waitan has since transformed from being the first port of
call to Shanghai’s most iconic spot.
A cruise at night aboard the LED-lit boat gives you a unique
view of Shanghai’s city skyline, from Baroque architecture,
Neoclassical, Gothic, Beaux-Art style to the city’s famous
landmarks including Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World
Financial Center, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower.
To get to the Bund, take the Subway Line 2 or Subway Line
10 and get off at East Nanjing Road Station. Walk 15 minutes from
the exit.
Experience vivid energy as you go through skyscrapers and
towers when you visit Shanghai. What’s a better time to visit than
now? Cebu Pacific offers daily flights between Manila and Shanghai
with its new route launched last April. Flights are scheduled six
times a week, from Mondays to Saturdays.
ORIENTAL Pearl TV Tower, the world’s third tallest TV and radio tower.

C18
LIFESTYLE
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
The first MIPAS, happening
from 19 to 22 September, is
making room for performers
to meet 150 local and
foreign firms to be hooked
up by the Department of
Trade and Industry’s Center
for International Trade
Expositions and Missions for
the purpose
By AJ Bajo
The Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP) is taking
steps to merge the contrasting
and complementing elements
of arts and business to lift the
industry beyond the local stage and into
the global market.
“We’ve taken pride in having wonderful
singers, actors and designers but we
haven’t really looked at how to engage
seriously with the business side of
things so that it makes performing arts a
sustainable activity,” vice president and
artistic director for CCP Chris Millado
said at the sidelines of a briefing for the
Manila International Performing Arts
Summit (MIPAS).
In a sentiment reminiscent of Andy
Warhol’s when the American artist
famously said that “business art is the
step that comes after art,” Millado
noted that companies have not yet
fully navigated through the potential
impact of the arts in helping bring the
practicality of the businesses’ purpose
to the public.
The same applies for performances
which, beyond showcasing the romance,
color and glamour of putting passion into
a medium, must also tend to the nitty-gritty
— the pay for designers, artists, stage
props, ticket systems, carpenters and all
that jazz.
“We’re not only looking at the
dimension of sponsorship (or) selling
tickets. We’re looking at more of a
medium- to long-term engagement with
businesses that will cover such things
as businesses actually utilizing creative
or artistic strategies to advance their
missions,” Millano expounded.
The first MIPAS, happening from 19
to 22 September, is making room for
performers to meet 150 local and foreign
firms to be hooked up by the Department
of Trade and Industry’s Center for
Surian
ng Sining
launched
On 6 July, the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP) hosted the
official launching of Surian ng Sining
(SUSI) at the Main Lobby of the CCP
building.
SUSI is a nongovernment cultural
institute, whose formation was
acclaimed during the three-day
Sigwa/Pambansang Pista ng Sining
at Panitikang Bayan in conjunction
with the 49th commemoration of the
First Quarter Storm of 1970. Held
last January in Quezon City, about
100 people’s artists, writers, cultural
workers and guests from all over the
Philippines attended the festival.
Composed of artists, writers,
cultural workers and their organizations
dedicated to the development of
people’s art and literature for genuine
social transformation, SUSI aims to be
a center for research, study, training,
production and sustainability of the art
and literary movement as an integral
part of the people’s mass movement in
the Philippines.
It aims to be a center for
research, study, training,
production and sustainability of
the art and literary movement as
an integral part of the people’s
mass movement in the Philippines.
The launching event consisted
of many activities, including the
reading of the SUSI manifesto and the
oath-taking of its board of trustees.
Additionally, it featured performances
and video presentations. Performers
came from at least 15 community-based
cultural organizations in the National
Capital Region and adjoining
provinces. National Artist Bienvenido
Lumbera, among others, delivered a
talk.
SUSI is a nongovernment cultural
institute, whose formation was
acclaimed during the three-day
Sigwa/Pambansang Pista ng
Sining at Panitikang Bayan.
Any questions or concerns can
be directed to the Intertextual
Division through number 551-5959,
cell number 0919-3175708 and email
ccpintertextualdivision@gmail.com.
STRING section of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
International Trade Expositions and
Missions for the purpose.
The multi-platform summit will bring
together the arts and business sectors
from the Asia Pacific and other parts of
the world.
The multi-platform summit will
bring together the arts and
business sectors from the Asia
Pacific and other parts of the
world.
But apart from tapping the private
sector, Millado admitted
that the government,
especially, has to
actively take hold
of the systems
backstage
to keep the
lights on for
the local
National Museum director Jeremy
Barns received on behalf of the nation
gifts from Dr. Arthur Saldivar-Sali
recently. These included crude oil
samples, oil reservoir rocks and oil well
drilling implements.
Dr. Saldivar-Sali is a geologist who
provided the key studies and field data
that subsequently led to the growth of
the local oil industry and eventually, the
whole energy program of the Philippines.
The turnover of specimens and artifacts
took place during the signing of Deed of
Donation ceremony held on 14 June at
the National Museum of Natural History
(NMNH) in Manila.
Oil discoveries, represented by these
specimens and artifacts, jumpstarted
the development of indigenous energy
sources that are now powering the
nation.
During the ceremony, Dr.
Saldivar-Sali expressed his family’s
appreciation to Barns and assistant
director Ana Maria Theresa Labrador
for recognizing the significance of the
specimens and artifacts. He mentioned
that the NMNH reiterates the role
of museums as more than mirrors
performing arts scene.
The surefire way
to do this? Through
the government’s
buzzing “Build,
Build, Build”
flagship
infrastructure
program.
Stakeholders in
the arts industry
are seeing a rise
in the number of
small, independent
of history but as catalysts in the
development of a country. He hoped
that in donating these specimens and
artifacts, a renewed interest in oil and
energy resource exploration follows
as the country still has respectable,
potential sources of oil.
Dr. Saldivar-Sali also
accorded proper
recognition to
the pioneer
Filipino
petroleum
geologists
and engineers
who contributed to
attaining successful energy
independence of the country.
Some of them, who also served
as witnesses during the signing and
turnover ceremony, were the first
Filipina geologist Griselda Garcia-
Bausa, former PNOC president Rafael
del Pilar, petroleum engineer Bert
Garcia, geochemist Raymundo Reyes
Jr., geophysicists Philip Rimando and
Rene Rieza, petroleum geologist Benny
Gan, paleontologist Marietta Moraledade
Leon, and former Department of
art spaces in and outside of the metropolis
— so much so that the MIPAS 2019 is
dedicating a lecture on it — that the
government’s infrastructure support
would go a long way to support the
industry.
Data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) tells a curious story.
In the recently released preliminary
results of a 2017 report on the industry,
the PSA said that out of the 310
establishments in the arts, entertainment
and recreation industry during the
year, only 6.5 percent of the
total establishments were
engaged in creative arts
and entertainment
activities.
LOCAL and international
performances will fill the CCP
stage for MIPAS.
National Museum strikes black gold
Oil discoveries, represented by these specimens and artifacts,
jumpstarted the development of indigenous energy sources
that are now powering the nation
PIONEER Filipino petroleum geologists and engineers who contributed to attaining
successfully the energy independence of the country.
Environment and Natural Resources
undersecretary Dr. Guillermo Balce.
In response, Barns conveyed his
gratitude for the donations which
are hardly seen in museums even
abroad. He stressed the Institution’s
commitment in promoting and
protecting the specimens and artifacts
entrusted by Dr. Saldivar-Sali and
assured the audience of properly
communicating to the public the legacy
of the donated objects.
NMNH reiterates the role of
museums as more than mirrors
of history but as catalysts in
the development of a country.
Dr. Saldivar-Sali also presented Barns
his book, Black Gold: The Search for
Oil to Power a Nation, which narrates
in detail the birth and development of
the energy industry of the Philippines.
For his various contributions in geology
and engineering, Dr. Saldivar-Sali
received The Outstanding Young Men
(TOYM) Award in 1978, the National
Engineering Award in 1996, the
Outstanding Professional Geology
Award in 1998, and the Energy
Trailblazer Award in 2011.
CRUDE oil samples,
oil reservoir rocks and
oil well drilling implements.
VICE president and artistic director for
CCP Chris Millado.
This is a stark contrast from the
29.4 percent share of establishments
engaged in gambling and betting
activities, which is also the group that
had the highest number of workers,
and paid out the top average annual
compensation of P708,000 per employee.
Employees engaged in creative arts and
entertainment activities were paid an
average of P245,500 per worker in the
year.
“I think if the BBB program seriously
takes into consideration into its
masterplan the building of arts and
culture facilities, if not art and culture
districts — when I say districts, these
are complexes — I think it will be a big
boom to the economy,” Millano said.
And what this perhaps could also
mean is that life imitates art more
than art imitates life, as Irish poet
and playwright Oscar Wilde put it, and
in bringing art closer to the public
through businesses the way roads and
railways do, the country might just have
a better shot at improving its people’s
way of living.
Fine
watches,
cocktails and
libation
The Palacio will be home
to one of the most unique
timepieces available in the
country
Vintage Grail, Manila’s specialized
watch retailers, presents a curated
collection of distinct timepieces at the
Palacio de Memoria, the restored
pre-war mansion on Roxas Boulevard,
from 17 to 21 July.
The five-day event will highlight
passions and pursuits for the Filipino
connoisseur, with whisky and wine flight
tastings to compliment the search for the
ultimate timepiece, hence “grail” for the
growing number of watch enthusiasts.
“We are very happy to work with
Vintage Grail to present a selection of
horology to very discerning collectors
at the Palacio. The home and its rooms
provide the perfect ambiance for this
five-day event. What better place to
imbibe such works of wearable art and
craft, while enjoying whisky and wine
from our partners as well,” noted Camille
Lhuillier, marketing manager.
During that time, the Palacio will
be home to one of the most unique
timepieces available in the country. The
mid-week schedule includes by-invitation
cocktails on 17 July. Chivas presents
a whisky flight experience on Friday,
19 July, and Vino Enoteca will host a
selection of wines for Saturday, 20 July.
Poblacion’s local neighborhood cocktail
bar, Run Rabbit Run, makes the Palacio
their home with craft drinks and hors
d’oeuvres.
“The old world setting and the
grandness of the mansion is the
ideal venue for events like these.
Complementing our auctions, the
watches presented are coveted items
that one should not miss, even to simply
hold them are, like our lots, present a
true passage of time,” said Angelique
Lhuillier.

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
SPOTLIGHT
C19
Celebrating
music like
no other
Yabes to launch
new novel
Fête de la Musique 2019 was a one-of-a-kind music
experience
ALLIANCE
Francaise
de Manille
executive
director
Jean-Pierre
Dumont.
ACROSS
1 Tired of it all
6 Tournament of
yore
11 Habituated
13 Licked
14 Mystify
15 Proclamations
16 Photo
17 Boggy lowland
18 Tank
20 Deteriorate
22 Tenet
25 Tote with
difficulty
26 Cowboy
nickname
27 Gold-orange
gem
29 Bullfight cheer
30 Psst!
31 Battery post
By Louise Lizan
Fête de la Musique, one of the
most attended and popular
French-inspired events in the
country, boosted the month
of June with free concerts and
shows, which also featured
Filipino music.
With many years of
featuring Filipino artistry
and culture, Fête de
la Musique has been
introducing a wide
array of musical genres
to audiences through
several main stages,
in over 50 pocket
venues with
thousands of
artists.
Together
with B-Side
production and the
Embassy of France
to the Philippines,
the 2019 Fête de la
Musique (#FetePH25) marked
its 25th anniversary in the
Philippines vowing to continue
to bring people closer together
through one-of-a-kind, cross-cultural
experiences combining Filipino
music scene and French
culture.
“It is a big year for Fête de la
Musique, and we wanted to make
sure that this year’s event will be a
special one,” said Jean-Pierre Dumont,
executive director of Alliance
Française de Manille.
#FetePH25 had three main
venues across Makati and Manila
for the month-long celebration.
NEA Crossword Puzzle
© 2018 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS
32 Where Greek met
Greek
34 Toothpaste type
36 Luge surface
37 The One-L Lama
38 First lady?
39 Refrain syllables
40 Hwys.
41 Collected sayings
42 Venomous snake
43 Dick Tracy or Dirty
FÊTE de la Musique Intramuros stage.
Besides the main events and the
pocket stages, stories of Fête de la
Musique were recognized for the
first time. Fans all over the country
posted 25-second videos of their
memories of the Fête de la Musique
through the years for chances to win
round-trip tickets to France.
Despite the inclement weather,
Fête went on to bring to all a
taste of how the French celebrate
music.
Prologue
The event kicked off with
Music Heals: Fête de la Musique
Pop-Up that highlighted how music
heals, inspires and gives hope
on 8 June in Makati City. The
beneficiary was the children of
Virlanie Foundation.
On 15 June, three Pre-Fête de la
Musique parties simultaneously
took place — the Sunset
Collective Stage at KMC Skydeck
in Bonifacio Global City, the
Rockeoke Stage at Salon de
Ning in the Peninsula Manila in
Makati City and at the SX Manila
Stage at Rizal Park Open-Air
Auditorium in Manila.
Main Stages
In A-Venue Makati, on 21
June, festival goers witnessed a
#GlobeFete production number,
a special 25-minute performance
with a multi-genre medley led by
Francis de Veyra, featuring artists
such as Bituin Escalante, Aia de
Leon, Vic Facultad, Cookie Chua,
Bayang Barrios, Tarsius, Kat
Agarrado, Jensen Gomez, Bea
Lorenzo, Zsaris and Brass Pas
Pas Pas Pas.
The 22 June event was the
greatest Fête de la Musique 2019
Harry
45 New socialite
47 Pinball palace
50 Draws forth
54 As good as new
55 Turn aside
56 Immeasurable
depth
57 Pantyhose
brand
DOWN
1 Clothing
protector
2 United
3 Daiquiri need
4 Break out
5 — Arnaz
6 Green mineral
7 Personal view
8 Checkout scan
9 Treat fractures
10 Some NFL
scores
12 Command
13 Out in — field
18 Crude
SUDOKU
19 Ancient (hyph.)
21 Astronaut’s
supply
23 Goes rancid
24 Reckless
25 Laundry
amount
26 Siamese, now
27 Unlikely story
28 Alphabet
enders
33 “Our Gang” kids
35 Got around by
cleverness
41 Imitated
42 In the sky
44 Lyric poems
46 Malicious
47 Gleeful cry
48 Yankee foe
49 Low-lying island
51 Nail container
52 Unit of work
53 City rtes.
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
experience. Music enthusiasts
flocked to the Greenbelt Main
Stage and 52 pocket stages, which
catered to every music taste.
On 28 June, the Intramuros stage
featured rock band Sandwich, and
a special all-female, French-Filipino
medley led by Filipino musician
Radha in collaboration with many
artists like Fatima Paola-Loo and
Vanessa Monot.
Fête de la Musique continued
to inspire wonder and use
the beauty of music to forge
friendships among communities.
On 29 June, stages were set in
Baguio City, Batangas, Bulacan,
Laguna, Palawan and Pampanga.
Capping off the festivities
with a bang, a closing party on
the same night was held with
DocDef and Gabi Na Naman
Productions at 20:20, La Fuerza
Plaza 1 Chino Roces Avenue,
Makati.
Celebrated French composer
and music journalist Maurice
Fleuret, together with France’s
then-Minister of Culture Jack
Lang, organized the first Fête de
la Musique in Paris in June 1982.
Fête de la Musique started to be
held in the Philippines in 1994.
The multi-genre and multi-stage
format was introduced in 2000
by Len Francisco as tribute to
Filipino artistry and to gather
local musical acts together.
Since then, Fête de la
Musique has become an
international phenomenon that
promotes diversity, camaraderie,
collaboration and shared
experiences among people in
over 700 cities in 120 countries
through the language the whole
world knows, music.
She will share her experiences about writing a
novel in a town on the island of Cebu during the
aftermath of typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan
Journalist Criselda Yabes’ second novel Broken Islands, published
by the Ateneo de Manila University Press, will be launched on 13
July, Saturday, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., at the DLSU Libraries, Learning
Commons, sixth floor, Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University
(DLSU), 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila.
During the event, Yabes will give a lecture to craft and literature
graduate students of DLSU. She will also share her experiences
about writing a novel set in a town on the island of Cebu during
the aftermath of typhoon “Yolanda” or “Haiyan.”
Broken Islands follows Below the Crying Mountain, which
won for Yabes the University of the Philippines Centennial Literary
Award in 2008 and was nomination for the Man Asian Literary Prize
in 2010. This year, the Penguin Southeast Asia edition of Below the
Crying Mountain will also be released. Yabes is more known as an
investigative journalist writing books on the Philippine military and
Mindanao such as Boys from the Barracks and Peace Warriors.
The book launching and lecture are organized by the Office of the
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the Literature Department
of DLSU in cooperation with the Ateneo de Manila
University Press and the Bienvenido
N. Santos Creative Writing Center.
The event is open to the public.
For reservations and inquiries,
email may.raquepo@
dlsu.edu.ph.
GMA Heart of Asia unlocks
another first as it airs the
highly-anticipated Indian series
Aladdin (You Would’ve Heard
The Name).
The live-action fantasy
series follows the intriguing yet
enchanting story of Aladdin
(Siddharth Nigam) who disguises
himself as the Black Thief of
Baghdad, robbing wealthy
people to provide for
the impoverished
communities of their
city. Aladdin’s life
changes the moment
he gets assigned by
Zafar (Aamir Dalvi), a
minister of Baghdad, to
look for a magical lamp.
Accidentally, he frees the
genie locked inside.
As the story
progresses, he will meet
his childhood love, the
WE ARE HIRING!
CRISELDA Yabe (left)
with writer and professor
Dr. John Iremil Teodoro
and journalist and editor
Yasmine Arquiza.
Indian series airs locally
The live-action fantasy series follows the intriguing
yet enchanting story of Aladdin
FOLLOW the
adventures of
Siddharth as the
hopeless romantic
and rogue Aladdin
in this Indian
fantasy series.
beautiful princess of Baghdad,
Yasmine (Avneet Kaur), who is
arranged to marry Zafar. While
being caught in a love triangle,
Aladdin goes on a quest to find
his long lost father. Will the genie
help him in his search?
Join the adventures of the
Black Thief of Baghdad in Aladdin
(You Would’ve Heard the Name)
from Monday to Friday at 9:20
a.m. on GMA Network.
Looking for highly motivated and results-oriented
individuals for the following posts:
Admin Assistant
Page Editors
Reporters
Digital Assistant Editors
Video Production Crew
Applicants may bring or email their resumé to the Daily Tribune
at 3450 Concept Bldg., Florida St., Makati City.
dailytribune@tribune.net.ph / 8337085

C20 SPOTLIGHT
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Michael V.
directs first
full-length
feature film
The comedic genius has since proven that he’s not just a rapper,
but a multi-talented artist with a passion for entertaining as
an impersonator, comedian, composer, voice artist — and now
as a film producer and director
By Stephanie Mayo
Bubble Gang funny man Michael V.,
also known as Bitoy, directs his first full-length
feature film, the familial drama Family
History, which will be out in theaters
24 July. He also serves as the film’s
screenwriter, producer and star.
Co-produced by GMA Network and Mic
Test Entertainment (owned by Michael
V. and wife Carol Bunagan), Family
History boasts of a star-studded cast,
which includes Dawn Zulueta, Miguel
Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, John Estrada,
Paolo Contis, Nonie Buencamino, Kakai
Bautista, Ina Feleo, Mikoy Morales, Nikki
Co, Jemwell Ventenilla and Vince Gamad.
Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and
multi-awarded comedienne and TV host
Eugene Domingo are also included in
the ensemble.
Family History centers on family
man Alex dela Cruz (Michael V.) and his
wife, May (Zulueta), whose seemingly
stable and blissful family life suddenly
derails in the advent of life-changing
events.
The trailer for the film provides little
information, except someone getting
diagnosed with a terminal illness, plus
a hint of extra-marital affair, with scenes
of Michael V. flirting with a woman
played by Feleo (known for her character
Odessa in GMA’s romantic-horror-drama
Hanggang Makita Kang Muli.)
The trailer also shows young actor
Tanfelix in a heated, violent argument
with Michael V’s Alex, and some tension
with his girlfriend, played by his long-time
love-team, Umali.
Michael V. was mum about the movie’s
story during the film’s press conference
last 3 July at Novotel, Cubao to prevent
giving away spoilers, but reveals that his
debut film is, in essence, a family drama,
but still injected with humor.
“Comedy will always be part of my
work – whether it be a song, a TV show or
a movie,” Michael V. said in Filipino.
BiDawn
Family History is promoting a new loveteam
dubbed as “BiDawn” (Bitoy-Dawn).
Zulueta, at the said presscon, shared her
experience working for the first time with
Michael V. as co-actor — specifically in
dramatic scenes.
“He was a revelation to me,” said
the still stunning 50-year-old actress in
Taglish. “There were many scenes which
required him (Michael V.) to show his
sensitive side. Actually, I should not
even be surprised because even as a
comedian, he’s already so creative. But,
of course, it was a pleasant surprise to
learn that as a straight drama, as an
actor, he really has it. And now I’m so
glad that his audience will be able to see
him in a different light.”
A NEW love team is born: Dawn Zulueta and Michael V in a light moment at the movie’s launch.
Bitoy as producer and film director
Bitoy, whose real name is Beethoven
Michael del Valle Bunagan (his father
named him after the German composer
and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven), started
in showbiz as a rapper in 1991, with his hit
single “Maganda ang Piliin,” which was a
“COMEDY will always be part of my work – whether it be a song, a TV show or a movie.”
response to Andrew E.’s wildly popular
“Humanap Ka ng Pangit.”
But Michael V. has since proven that
he’s not just a rapper, but a multi-talented
artist with a passion for entertaining
Filipinos as an impersonator, comedian,
composer, voice artist — and now as a
film producer and director.
The 49-year-old comedic genius
confessed that directing a movie for
the first time was quite a challenge.
His entire cast, however, revealed that
as a director, The King of Philippine
Parody is serious and truly dedicated
to his work.
Comedy will always be part of my
work — whether it be a song, a TV
show or a movie.
“I realized it is not easy. At first, I
thought it would be easy, so I was raring
to do it,” admitted Michael V. in Filipino.
“But when you are there already, you will
know the financial side, the limitations.
But with the help of everyone around
the whole production, we were able to
finish it.”
Michael V. also talked about his nature
as a producer during the production of
Family History, confessing that he liked
overspending, but was grateful for his
wife Carol for “talking sense” to him and
who also played a big role in helping him
achieve his directorial vision.
“I’m extravagant, she (wife, Carol) is
prudent,” Michael V. laughed. “I’m the
type who wants to change something I
don’t like. But she talks sense into my hard
head,” he mused.
Comeback for Bitoy
GMA reported that Felipe Yalong,
the network’s executive vice president
and CFO, has been “immensely
excited” for this Family History marks
the return of the comedian on the
big screen.
“We are so excited, because
after several years it is only now
I think that Bitoy returns to the
big screen,” Yalong said.
Family History will
indeed serve as Michael V.’s
comeback in the movie
world. Although the
actor and dad of four
kids has starred in
numerous films, the
last time he appeared
on the big screen
was seven years ago,
as MMDA traffic
enforcer in 2012’s
D’ Kilabots Pogi
Brothers Weh?! along
with Jose Manalo,
Wally Bayola, Solenn
Heussaff, Pokwang,
Paolo Ballesteros and
Gina Pareño.
Meanwhile, Zulueta
last graced the silver
screen in the 2017 Metro
Manila Film Festival entry
Meant to Beh, where she
and comedian Vic Sotto
played husband and wife.
A ‘Saucy’
comeback
Get ready to sauce it up as
the Good Kid$ return with their
comeback single “Saucy.”
With their debut track “Show
Me” (featuring TALA) hitting its
first million streams on Spotify,
the boys (rapper Gaby Singson and
producer Bernie Margulies) bring
the heat further in this latest track
released under mustard music.
“Saucy” brings back the Good
Kid$ magic, mixing fun, upbeat,
and memorable elements in one
track, as they bring the titular
slang word to life in song. The term
saucy pertains to something or
someone that is “cool and stylish;
being confident without having too
much bravado.”
“Saucy” brings back the
Good Kid$ magic, mixing
fun, upbeat, and memorable
elements in one track, as
they bring the titular slang
word to life in song.
That is exactly what the hip-hop
duo want to embody, as they go
about their daily lives as young
kids. Talking more about the
track, Singson says, “It’s all about
being yourself — being cool despite
all the hardships that gets in your
way, and just stayin’ saucy.”
More than just bringing a cool
slang word into song, the Good
Kid$ also use this track to explore
a new groove, wanting to put a
vibe that hypes people up. With
its release, the Good Kid$ hope to
sauce the music scene up, bringing
a memorable summer anthem to
fans and new listeners alike.
“Saucy” is now available on
iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify,
Deezer and Amazon Music under
Mustard Music.
GOOD Kid$
duo, Gaby
Singson (left)
and Bernie
Margulies.
Back-to-back
love stories
As part of GMA Heart of
Asia’s 16th anniversary, U Prince
Series offers two Lakorn love
stories that will surely tickle the
heartstrings of Filipino viewers
in The Handsome Cowboy and
The Gentle Vet, beginning Monday
(July 8).
The Handsome Cowboy follows
the story of two people who are
connected in the past and will
reunite in an unlikely setting. It
stars Bella (Esther Supreeleela)
LAKORN grace Philippine
television anew with fresh
series starting Monday.
and Steve (Push Puttichai
Kasetsin).
Meanwhile, The
Gentle Vet will make
you believe that love will
rise above differences.
Stacy (Punpun Sutatta
Udomsilp), a girl who is
afraid of the rain, will
catch the attention of
Jason (Kang Vorakorn
Sirisorn), who is an
adventurous second
year veterinary student.
Catch these Monday
to Friday, 9:50 a.m. on
GMA-7.
An award-winning poet and professor
at De La Salle University, Mesándel
Virtusio Arguelles, launched his book
about his research and ruminations on
prostitution — Mujeres Publicas
— independently published by
Balangay Productions at independent
book bar Kwago at Warehouse Eight
in Makati City on 28 June. During the
event, he and his editor and publisher
Ronald Verzo gave a short talk about
the process of making the book.
The whole book consists of
short monologues, with the
persona of a prostitute based on
fictional characters.
Arguelles’s works and interests
encompass books, conceptual
writing, translation, film and video,
installation, found object and textbased
experimentation. His erasure
projects continue to explore and
expand on the concepts of, among
others, time and memory, language
and loss, identity and anonymity and
sex and intimacy.
A recipient of multiple national
awards such as the Don Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature and Maningning Miclat
Poetry and prostitutes
The collection of poems, Mujeres Publicas, is about Ayer
Arguelles’ research and ruminations about prostitution
Poetry Award and fellowships from
UP National Writers’ Workshop and
Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing
Center National Workshop on Art and
Cultural Criticism, Arguelles is the
author of 19 books of and about poetry,
and a co-editor of hal., a journal of new
writing in Filipino. A finalist for the
National Book Award twice, he works as
a book editor and translator, and teaches
literature and creative writing at the De
La Salle University in Manila, where he
also earned his doctoral degree
in literature. His most recent
books include Walang Halong
Biro (DLSU Publishing House,
2018).
“The whole book consists
of short monologues, with the
persona of a prostitute based on
fictional characters such as Nana
from Jean Luc Godard’s Vivre sa
vie and Jenine/Alberta Muñoz
from Lav Diaz’s Melancholia
and also based on accounts on
the lives of real persons who
worked as a prostitute like
Sien Hoornik (Clasina Maria
Hoornik, Van Gogh’s partner)
and the Japanese Sada Abe
who was famous/infamous for
killing his partner and cutting
off his penis. Her life was also
the basis of the controversial
film In the Realm of the Senses
done in 1976 by Oshima,” the
author shared.
The book is part of a trilogy,
Talik, where Arguelles examines
the body, intimacy, relationships
and sex.

AFGHAN
PEACE
IN THE
WORKS
NATIONAL
MUSEUM
STRIKES
BLACK GOLD
STAR DUO ADVANCES
SUPERAL,
MALIXI
MAKE
WAVES
B14
C18
D22
D23
Julius Manicad, Editor
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
CLIPPERS, LAKERS EMERGE
SPORTS
D21
Battle of Los Angeles
The Clippers were pushed into the
deal because they risked losing
Leonard to the Los Angeles Lakers
LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard and Paul
George are joining the Los Angeles Clippers
and the NBA balance of power has shifted to a
club that has never even reached a conference
final.
As NBA teams began signing contracts
Saturday with free agents negotiated over the
past week, spinning heads were still trying to
MAJOR
LEAGUE
BASEBALL
National League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Atlanta 54 37 .593 —
Philadelphia 47 42 .528 6.0
Washington 47 43 .522 6.5
New York 40 50 .444 13.5
Miami 33 55 .375 19.5
Central Division
Chicago 47 43 .522 —
Milwaukee 47 44 .516 0.5
St. Louis 44 44 .500 2
Pittsburgh 44 45 .494 2.5
Cincinnati 41 46 .471 4.5
West Division
Los Angeles 60 32 .652 —
Arizona 46 45 .505 13.5
San Diego 45 45 .500 14
Colorado 44 45 .494 14.5
San Francisco 41 48 .461 17.5
Sunday’s Games
(Monday in Manila)
Tampa Bay 2, N.Y. Yankees 1
Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 5
Washington 5, Kansas City 2
San Francisco 1, St. Louis 0
Arizona 5, Colorado 3
San Diego 5, L.A. Dodgers 3
American League
East Division
W L Pct GB
New York 57 31 .648 —
Tampa Bay 52 39 .571 6.5
Boston 49 41 .544 9
Toronto 34 57 .374 24.5
Baltimore 27 62 .303 30.5
Central Division
Minnesota 56 33 .629 —
Cleveland 50 38 .568 5.5
Chicago 42 44 .488 12.5
Kansas City 30 61 .330 27
Detroit 28 57 .329 26
West Division
Houston 57 33 .633 —
Oakland 50 41 .549 7.5
Texas 48 42 .533 9
Los Angeles 45 46 .495 12.5
Seattle 39 55 .415 20
Sunday’s Games
(Monday in Manila)
Toronto 6, Baltimore 1
Philadelphia 8, N.Y. Mets 3
Boston 6, Detroit 3
Texas 4, Minnesota 1
Houston 11, L.A. Angels 10
Chicago White Sox 3, Chicago Cubs 1
Cleveland 8, Cincinnati 1
Oakland 7, Seattle 4
cope with a talent shakeup detailed in media
reports all week that could reset the league’s
top teams for several seasons to come.
Leonard agreed early Saturday to a
four-year deal worth $142 million with the
Clippers, but only after they sent five draft
picks plus Italian Danilo Gallinari and
Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to
the Oklahoma City Thunder to get George.
ESPN reported Leonard sought to have
Kevin Durant join him with the Clippers but
the Golden State star, who will miss next
season rehabilitating from a ruptured right
Achilles tendon, had already agreed to a deal
sending him to the Brooklyn Nets along with
Boston’s Kyrie Irving.
Leonard then sought out George, who
stunned the Thunder by asking for a trade. The
Clippers had enough draft picks stockpiled to
deal away future talent to create an instant
contender without losing the nucleus of a
team that reached the playoffs in 2019.
“This has been the craziest NBA summer
ever,” tweeted free agent swingman Jamal
Crawford.
The Clippers were pushed into the deal
because they risked losing Leonard to the Los
Angeles Lakers, where he would have joined
LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a super
team lineup that would have been clear title
favorites.
Leonard, a 28-year-old forward, took less
money than Toronto offered to play alongside
George, a 29-year-old forward, in their hometown.
By beating out the Lakers and a pitch
from Toronto to stay with the Raptors team
he made into a champion, the Clippers made
themselves an odd-makers darling in a league
that saw Golden State reach the past five finals
and Cleveland in four until James departed
last July for the Lakers.
Las Vegas Caesars Sportsbook made the
Clippers a 5-2 favorite for the 2020 NBA crown,
up from 10-1 contender, with the Lakers and
Milwaukee Bucks next at 4-1.
The Clippers, who also agreed to a two-y ear deal
with Croatian center Ivica Zubac added superstar
skills to an already solid team that went 48-34 last
season.
The Clippers lost to Golden State in the first
round of last season’s playoffs. They have never won
an NBA title or even reached a conference final.
“Gotta love free agency.” Clippers guard Sindarius
Thornwell tweeted.
Leonard was named Finals Most Valuable Player
RUSSELL Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts
against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the first
round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy
Arena in Oklahoma City.
AFP
LEBRON James of the Los Angeles Lakers (left) and Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors fight for position at Scotiabank Arena
in Toronto, Canada in this file photo.
AFP
(MVP) in leading the Raptors to the crown and
becomes the first Finals MVP to switch teams for the
following campaign. He also won the award in 2014 in
leading San Antonio to the title.
Leonard averaged a career-best 26.6 points this
past season along with 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists a
game. In the playoffs, Leonard lifted his averages to
30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a contest.
George averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists
and an league-best 2.2 steals a game last season.
The Lakers spent their remaining salary cap funds
to surround James and Davis with supporting talent
to ensure they will challenge for supremacy with the
Rockets want Westbrook
The Rockets are interested in a deal for the point
guard even though one source told ESPN it
was a ‘long shot’ because of the difficulty in
making such a move
NEW YORK — NBA All-Star guard Russell Westbrook,
who suddenly finds himself on a rebuilding Oklahoma
City Thunder squad after they traded away Paul George,
could be traded to the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets are interested in a deal for the point
guard even though one source told ESPN it was a “long
shot” because of the difficulty in making such a move,
involving multiple other teams or obtaining talent
the Thunder desire.
The Athletic also reported Houston’s
interest in Westbrook, saying that Miami
and Detroit were hopefuls in making a deal
for the versatile 30-year-old playmaker.
Oklahoma City turned to rebuilding
thoughts after George asked for a
trade and the Los Angeles Clippers
Clippers, who share Staples Center arena.
The Lakers agreed to terms on a one-year deal
with Golden State center DeMarcus Cousins worth
$2.3 million and a two-year deal with guard Rajon
Rondo to stay, ESPN reported Saturday.
Rondo helped Boston to the 2008 NBA title while
Cousins recovered from a torn left Achilles tendon
last season after four consecutive All-Star seasons.
Also joining James and Davis are swingman Danny
Green, an ex-Clipper who played for Toronto last
season, on a two-year deal worth $30 million, and
Golden State guard Quinn Cook on a two-year deal
worth $6 million.
AFP
assembled a deal involving five first-round Draft picks plus
Italian forward Danilo Gallinari and Canadian point guard Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander.
The shock move completed early Saturday leaves Westbrook
on a team looking to rebuild and likely looking for a trade deal
himself.
NBA scoring champion James Harden, last year’s Most
Valuable Player (MVP), and Chris Paul have already made the
Rockets into a title contender, but adding Westbrook could tip
the league’s delicate balance of power in their direction.
It would require all three players to change in order for them
to co-exist given the amount of time each likes with the ball
and might even force more moves from the Rockets, especially
given the remaining $171 million over four years remaining on
Westbrook’s contract.
Paul has $125 million remaining on a three-year deal.
Westbrook was the 2017 MVP after averaging a full-season
triple double of a league-best 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4
assists, joining 1960s legend Oscar Robertson as the only players
to accomplish the feat.
Westbrook did it for a third consecutive season in the
2018-19 campaign, averaging 22.9 points, a career-high 11.1
rebounds plus a career-high and NBA-best 10.7 assists a game
for Oklahoma City.
AFP

D22 SPORTS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Nurse moves on
You can’t blame a guy for
wanting to go home
DRAMATIC FINISH
Wolff runs wild
LOS ANGELES — Toronto Raptors
coach Nick Nurse said he is disappointed
that he won’t have Kawhi Leonard back
when his club tries to defend the NBA
title next season, but understands why
he departed.
Nurse, speaking late Saturday at the
NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, will
not have the NBA Finals Most Valuable
Player (MVP) in the lineup for Toronto
next season after Leonard, according to
multiple reports, agreed to a four-year
deal worth $142 million to join one of
his hometown teams, the Los Angeles
Clippers.
“You can’t blame a guy for wanting to go
home,” Nurse said. “That’s what he texted
me. ‘I’m going home.’
“And I just said, ‘You’ve changed a lot
of lives, man, by what you’ve accomplished
in Toronto. Mine especially.’ And thanked
him for what he did.”
“And we’ll look to the future and we’ll
look to do it again.”
That could prove extremely difficult for
the Raptors, who lost not only Leonard,
but swingman Danny Green, who played
a key supporting role in the Raptors’
championship run but will join the Los
Angeles Lakers.
Leonard, who also took 2014 Finals MVP
honors for leading San Antonio to the title,
averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9
assists and 1.7 steals a game in the playoffs
for Toronto in his lone season with the
Raptors after being obtained last July in
a trade with San Antonio.
Nurse said he was hoping to have
Leonard and much of the roster back
in a bid to repeat after becoming the
first team from outside the United
States to capture the NBA crown.
“It’s certainly
disappointing,”
Nurse said. “I think,
first of all, he’s a
great person. He was
unbelievably fun to
coach, just locked in
and loaded and ready
to go.” AFP
I knew I could win. This week I just
believed in myself. It’s still settling in
BLAINE, Minnesota — Matthew Wolff, a 20-year-old
American in only his fourth US PGA event, sank a 26-foot
eagle putt on the last hole Sunday for a dramatic 3M
Open victory.
Reigning United States college champion Wolff became
the second-youngest US PGA winner in 80 years by firing
a six-under par 65 in the final round to edge compatriots
Bryson DeChambeau and Colin Morikawa by a stroke.
“I just proved to myself I can be out here,” Wolff said.
“I knew I could win. This week I just believed in myself.
It’s still settling in.”
Wolff finished 72 holes on 21-under 263 at TPC Twin
Cities to earn a PGA spot through the 2020-21 campaign
and a berth in the 2020 Masters.
DeChambeau sank a six-foot eagle putt at the par-5
18th to seize the lead at 20-under with only Morikawa and
Wolff, each one shot back, remaining.
The former Southern California high school rivals, each
playing on a sponsor exemption, gave themselves long
eagle putt opportunities.
Wolff, just shy of the green, rolled in his
tension-packed putt to reclaim the lead and
leave Morikawa, a former world amateur
number one, a 22-foot eagle putt to
MATTHEW Wolff
celebrates after a
eagle putt on the
18th green to win
the 3M Open at TPC
Twin Cities in Blaine,
Minnesota. AFP
force a playoff.
Morikawa’s putt rolled just past the left side of the
cup to give Wolff the victory, although he tapped in to
share second.
Canada’s Adam Hadwin was fourth on 266 with Mexico’s
Carlos Ortiz and American Wyndham Clark sharing fifth
on 267.
American Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open winner,
matched the course record with a 62, matching the low
round of his career and shared seventh on 268.
The only player younger than Wolff to win a PGA event
since 1939 was Jordan Spieth, who captured the 2013 John
Deere Classic at age 19.
Only four players in PGA history have won with fewer
starts than Wolff, who attended Oklahoma State.
Wolff shared 50th at the Phoenix Open in February as
an amateur, 80th at last month Travelers Championship
in his PGA pro debut and missed the cut last week in
Detroit.
DeChambeau was denied a sixth career US PGA title
and second win of the year after the European Tour’s
Dubai Desert Classic in January.
Morikawa was making only his sixth US PGA start and
made a run of five birdies in six holes late to stay in the
hunt to the end.
I just proved to myself I can be out here.
A back-nine last-day shootout was assured when the
last group made the turn and 12 players were within two
shots of the lead.
Ortiz grabbed the clubhouse lead with Hadwin, Clark
and Wolff level on 17-under.
DeChambeau sank a three-foot birdie putt at 13 to join
the co-leaders.
Morikawa, in the last duo, made it a six-way logjam
at the top with his third consecutive birdie, rolling in a
10-footer at 13 to reach 17-under.
Wolff made a nine-foot birdie putt at the 14th to grab
the lead and put his approach three feet from the cup at
15, setting up a birdie to reach 19-under.
But Morikawa, who put his approach inches from the
hole, tapped in to stay one back of his playing partner.
DeChambeau sank a 16-foot birdie putt at 16 to reach
18-under but Morikawa made his fifth birdie in six holes
on a 13-foot putt at 16 to match Wolff at 19-under.
Hadwin took the clubhouse lead by closing with a
three-foot birdie putt as the tension built.
Morikawa lipped out on a 27-foot birdie putt at the
par-3 17th and Wolff was just short from 23 feet to set up
the last-hole thriller.
AFP
Warriors fete Iguodala
He has been absolutely vital to our success
during five consecutive appearances in the
NBA Finals and three championships
SAN FRANCISCO, California — Andre Iguodala will have
his number nine jersey retired by the Golden State Warriors,
the NBA club announced Sunday in confirming his trade to
the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 35-year-old swingman and a projected first-round
Draft pick were sent to Memphis in exchange for forward
Julian Washburn and a traded player exception, giving them
future help under NBA salary cap rules.
Iguodala helped the Warriors reach the past five NBA Finals
with Golden State taking the title in 2015, 2017 and 2018 and
Iguodala earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Award in 2015, largely due to his defensive work on LeBron
James and without having started a regular-season game.
Warriors co-chairman Joe Lacob said Iguodala played
I feel good and am happy
to be alive in this
LONDON, United Kingdom — Superstar
duo Andy Murray and Serena Williams
breezed into the second round of
the mixed doubles at Wimbledon on
Saturday, beating Germany’s Andreas
Mies and Chile’s Alexa Guarachi, 6-4,
6-1.
Murray and Williams, who are
both former world number ones and
a greater role than the team expected when signing him
in 2013.
“We envisioned him becoming a vital part of a young,
up-and-coming team with championship aspirations. As we
look back six years later, we actually underestimated what
his value would be to our team, both on the court and in
the locker room,” Lacob said.
“Andre sacrificed for the betterment of our
team and, in one of the best stories of this journey,
earned NBA Finals MVP honors in 2015. He has
been absolutely vital to our success during five
consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals and
three championships. We thank Andre for all of his
contributions and look forward to seeing his number
in the rafters at Chase Center.”
Lacob announced a similar number retirement tribute
to Kevin Durant a week ago when reports unveiled the
injured superstar would leave Golden State for the
Brooklyn Nets.
AFP
Star duo advances
singles champions at Wimbledon,
had little trouble in dispensing their
opponents.
“Obviously I had lost in the
doubles earlier (with Pierre-Hugues
Herbert) so all my energy is focussed
on the mixed but it was a good start,”
Murray said.
Murray said physically he felt fine
after two matches in one day, save for
a stiff back.
The hip he had “life-changing
surgery” on earlier this year had not
given him any trouble.
“I feel good and am happy to be
alive in this,” Serena said.
There was an element of farce
when they let slip a set point in the
opener as Williams ended up tumbling
over and landing unceremoniously on
her backside at the net.
They, however, closed out the
set and took control of the next
by breaking their opponents
immediately.
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon
singles champion, said there was no
boss in the team.
AFP
ANDY Murray (left) and Serena Williams celebrate a point against Germany’s Andreas Mies and Chile’s Alexa Guarachi
during their mixed doubles first round match of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club
in London.
AFP
ANDRE Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during their
game at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
AFP
Bucks eye Giannis’ bro
It will be the second time that
Thanasis tries his luck in the NBA
ATHENS, Greece — Thanasis Antetokounmpo
is negotiating with the Milwaukee Bucks and
could join his younger brother Giannis, the
NBA regular-season Most Valuable Player,
on the team, a European basketball website
reported Sunday.
Eurohoops said Thanasis was finalizing
a two-year deal that would give the Bucks
two pairs of brothers: Thanasis and Giannis
Antetokounmpo and Brook and Robin Lopez.
SACHSENRING, Germany — Honda rider
Marc Marquez tightened his grip on a
possible sixth world title with a seventh
consecutive victory at the German MotoGP
on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, who had earlier
seen his younger brother Alex win the Moto2
race, led from start to finish to cross the
line over four seconds ahead of the Yamaha
of Maverick Vinales and Cal Crutchlow on
another Honda.
It is Marquez’ fifth victory in nine races
this season which takes him to 185 points
in the championship standings, 69 clear of
the Italian Andrea Dovizioso, who took fifth.
“The race went to plan. I was riding out
The site said Thanasis’ contract would be in
the neighborhood of $3 million.
Thanasis played the last two seasons with
Athens club Panathinaikos but refused to sign
a new contract.
It will be the second time that Thanasis tries
his luck in the NBA. In 2014 he was drafted by
the New York Knicks and spent two seasons
playing in the G-League, the NBA’s minor league.
He signed with Panathinaikos in 2016 and
the forward played in 62 EuroLeague games
averaging 3.9 points and two rebounds.
A third brother in Kostas is a power forward
for the Dallas Mavericks.
AFP
Marquez nears 6th title
in front and enjoying myself,” said Marquez.
“At the end I was thinking about my
brother. I am very happy with this victory
and very happy to have the summer break
in these conditions.”
It was a ruthless performance from
Marquez who has now won at each of his
last 10 races at Sachsenring.
He first won here in 2010 in the 125cc
race and followed that in 2011 and 2012 with
wins in Moto2. He has won every MotoGP in
Germany since 2013.
Vinales followed up his win in Assen last
week with a feisty battle with Crutchlow,
which only ended when the Briton eased off
near the end.
AFP

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
SPORTS
D23
U.S. WINS WORLD CUP
Goal unlocked
It’s unbelievable
LYON, France — The United States
retained the women’s World Cup as a Megan
Rapinoe penalty and a superb Rose Lavelle
strike gave the reigning champion a 2-0
victory over a battling Netherlands side in
the final in Lyon.
Having been kept at bay by the brilliant
Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal
throughout the first half, the US finally
went ahead just after the hour as Rapinoe
stroked home from 12 yards to end the
tournament as joint top scorer on six goals.
There was an air of inevitability about
the pink-haired 34-year-old, the star of this
World Cup on and off the field, putting the
US ahead.
It also seemed inevitable that the
breakthrough goal here should come from
a VAR-awarded penalty with French referee
Stephanie Frappart initially giving a corner
before pointing to the spot following a review.
The whippet-like Lavelle, another
standout performer over the last month,
got the second in the 69th minute, killing
off Dutch hopes of a comeback.
The victory underlines the US’ status
as the dominant force in international
women’s football as it claims the World
Cup for the fourth time in eight editions.
“It’s unbelievable. Everybody in our
group put in so much effort. I don’t know
how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous,”
Rapinoe told the BBC.
She ended the tournament with the
Golden Ball for the best player ahead
of England’s Lucy Bronze and teammate
Lavelle while also winning the Golden Boot
as her six goals came from fewer minutes
on the field than teammate Alex Morgan
or England’s Ellen White.
The US was already the first team to
appear in three consecutive finals and
Jill Ellis becomes the first coach to win
Superal, Malixi
make waves
Ace took a gamble on No. 7,
crossing the lake off the mound
that left her with 180 yards to the
green and made the birdie
Two Filipina rising stars primed up for
the Junior World as Eagle Ace Superal
and Rianne Malixi ruled their respective
age-group divisions in varying fashions
in the 12th FCG Future Champions Golf
International Championship at the Singing
Hills Golf in El Cajon, California over the
weekend.
Superal showed some spunk and pulled
through in a pressure-packed finish, hitting
a clutch birdie on the par-5 No. 7 for a huge
three-shot swing to salvage an even-par 71 and
foil Chinese-Taipei’s Chun-Wei Wu by three in
the girls’ 13-14 division with a 141 total.
Wu, who double-bogeyed the seventh,
ended up with a 74 for a 144.
Malixi earlier completed a wire-to-wire
triumph in the 11-12 play as she fired a 69 and
71 for a 140 and routed United States-based
Thai Natrada Pongsasin (70-74) and Arianna
Lau (71-73) of Hong Kong by four.
Wu matched Superal’s opening 70 and the
duo, teeing off at the backside of the par-71
Willow Glen, remained tied with eight holes
left in the 36-hole championship before the
Taiwanese pounced on the Filipina’s bogey
on No. 2 to take command.
But after both traded bogeys on No. 5,
Superal birdied the par-3 No. 6 from six feet
and surged ahead as Wu three-putted for
bogey. Gaining control and momentum, Superal
hacked a solid drive on the next hole to set up
It’s really special
because we built
something together
RIO DE JANEIRO — Depleted
Brazil held on to win the Copa
America on home soil despite
Gabriel Jesus’s dismissal with a
3-1 victory over Peru on Sunday.
Jesus scored the decisive goal
after a penalty from Peru captain
Paolo Guerrero canceled out
Everton’s opener for hosts
Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s
Maracana stadium.
A last minute penalty
from substitute
Richarlison sealed
a win for Brazil,
which handed
the South American
giants their ninth Copa
triumph and first since 2007.
Jesus’s evening went sour 20
minutes from time as he was sent
back-to-back World Cups since Italy’s
Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.
The US was the only non-European
team to make it to the quarterfinals, but
it had already ended the hopes of the host
and England before denying the Dutch a
dream double success, two years after they
won Euro 2017 on home soil.
Whether the Americans can continue
this domination on to the next World Cup
remains to be seen, not least because
Rapinoe is already in the twilight years
of her career.
Everybody in our group put in so
much effort. I don’t know how to
feel right now. It’s ridiculous.
After sitting out the victory over
England in the last four due to a
hamstring problem, Ellis brought
Rapinoe back to the starting lineup.
She later went off to a loud ovation from
the massed ranks of US fans.
At a tournament, which has showcased
the improving standards of goalkeeping
in women’s football, the excellent Van
Veenendaal prevented the US from winning
by a greater margin.
The 29-year-old, who has spent the
last four years at Arsenal, had already
excelled in her team’s win over Sweden
in the semifinals.
Here, she allowed her team to withstand
an onslaught from the holder towards
halftime, saving well from Julie Ertz and
bettering that by producing two superb
stops in quick succession in the 38th
minute, keeping out a Samantha Mewis
header and then turning the ball onto the
post when Alex Morgan diverted Rapinoe’s
low centre towards goal.
Morgan was thwarted again moments
later as she tried her luck from 20 yards
and the European champions held out
until the interval.
AFP
EAGLE Ace Superal displays her trophy after
ruling the 13-14 division of the 12th FCG Future
Champions Golf International Championship at
the Singing Hills Golf in El Cajon, California.
an easy birdie then watched her rival succumb
to pressure and holed out with a 7.
“Ace took a gamble on No. 7, crossing the
lake off the mound that left her with 180
yards to the green and made the birdie. It
was a bold move but she did it and earned
a three-stroke lead,” said Team The Country
Club coach Nestor Mendoza.
Not even a three-putt miscue on the 17th
could shake off Superal, who hit a perfect
drive on No. 18 and set up an easy par to
wrap up her first major junior crown which
Princess also won back in 2010.
Superal and Malixi’s victories should
augur well for their campaign in the Junior
World, which gathers the world’s leading and
rising age-groupers, starting Tuesday.
Brazil lifts Copa crown
off for a second booking.
The Manchester City striker was in tears
as he left the field, making obscene hand
gestures, angrily kicking a water bottle and
almost knocking over the VAR booth.
Brazil’s players rallied after the dismissal
however to claim a battling victory.
“It’s really special because we built
something together,” enthused captain
Dani Alves.
Earlier, after a minute’s silence was
held for bossa nova legend Joao Gilberto,
who died on Saturday, underdog Peru
made a confident start and didn’t
appear overawed by either their
opponents or the occasion.
But it quickly became
apparent that they were up
against more accomplished
players.
AFP
DANI Alves of Brazil lifts the trophy
after defeating Peru in the final
match of the Copa America football
tournament at Maracana Stadium in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AFP
PLAYERS of the United States celebrate after winning over Netherlands in the Women’s World Cup football finals at the Lyon
Stadium in Lyon, France.
AFP
Foton to extend hot streak
It’s good that we’re back on
track, but it’s still too early to
celebrate
BACOOR CITY — After posting
back-to-back victories, Foton
marches to warpath anew as it
tackles dangerous Cignal in the
Philippine Superliga All-Filipino
Conference Tuesday at the Bacoor
Strike Gym here.
Action kicks off at 7 p.m. with the
Tornadoes hunting their fourth win to
keep their spot at the upper half of the
standings of this prestigious women’s
club tourney.
Meanwhile, Petron and Generika-Ayala
If he makes a return to the U19
World Cup in 2021, I expect him to
be a monster
Future Gilas stars
Gilas Pilipinas Youth team lost its final game
to New Zealand, 70-76, to finish 14 th in the FIBA
U19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece
over the weekend.
It was such a heart-breaking loss considering
how our boys led, 68-63, in the final minutes
before th Kiwis unleashed a searing 13-2 finish
kick to douse the Filipinos’ hopes of ending the
tournament on a winning note.
Despite the setback, Gilas Youth squad’s Grecian
campaign will be remembered not for how many wins
it notched, but for the barriers it broke.
Let us remember that not since 1979 has any
Philippine team made an appearance in the FIBA U19
World Cup. This crew snapped 40 years of nothingness
and that alone is worth celebrating, no matter what
rabid detractors or haters want to say.
That’s an indication that this current generation of
players born from 2000 to 2002 has the potential to be
quite special.
I mean, this generation of players has actually sent
two teams to world-level tournaments, which are the
U17 World Cup in Argentina last year and the U19 World
Cup this year.
There’s actually a good chance this generation
will send another team to a world level competition if
next year’s U18 Gilas Youth qualifies through the U18
Asia Cup.
Guys like Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano,
and Terrence Fortea were there for both the U17 and
U19 World Cups, and Kai is expected to banner next
year’s U18 team as well. The 7-foot-2 center may actually
play in the next U19 World Cup. Imagine that.
But aside from Sotto, there are some players who
made a big impression in Greece.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Carl Tamayo of
National University (NU).
At 6-foot-7, Tamayo has the size to be a center in
local leagues, but in Gilas Youth, he was mostly a stretch
four, who uses his quickness to blow by bigger foes and
his shooting to punish defenders who would be foolish
enough to leave him open.
Tamayo has the chance to be a superstar, for sure.
This early, he is a Most Valuable Player favorite
for the coming University Athletic Association of the
Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Juniors tournament,
where the Bullpups are expected by many to go backto-back.
Tamayo will be among the blue chip recruits
for the summer of 2020, and it won’t be shocking if
his college decision makes headlines everywhere.
I saw flashes of his potential last year in Argentina, where
despite injuring his ankle in a tuneup game against
Canada, he continued to showcase his on-court brilliance.
This time around, he was healthy and really
impressed, averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6
triples per game while serving as Kai’s chief frontcourt
partner.
Tamayo was second overall in scoring for the team
right behind fellow NU stalwart Dave Ildefonso.
The second-generation basketball star-in-the-making
had a good rookie season for the Bulldogs in UAAP
Season 81, but he has definitely shown the growth in
his game in Greece, where he put up 16.6 points, 5.4
rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.7 triples per contest.
Ildefonso is poised to be NU’s top dog in Season 82, and
I expect he will get a call-up to the senior Gilas squad
clash for the solo second spot in the 4:15
p.m. battle.
With Filipino-American Kalei Mau
doing damage, F2 Logistics remains
on top of the standings with six
straight victories while Petron and
Generika-Ayala are tied for second
with a 4-1 win-loss mark.
Foton is at third with 3-3 while
Cignal and PLDT Home Fibr are trying
to catch up with 2-3 and 2-4 cards,
respectively.
That makes the battle between
Foton and Cignal very exciting as
the Tornadoes are looking to stretch
their winning streak to three to
join the heavyweights on top of the
leaderboard as this tourney enters
the crucial stretch of the first round
Hot Take Hoops
Enzo Flojo
of eliminations.
Tornadoes’ coach Aaron Velez said
they won’t take the HD Spikers lightly,
knowing that they have a deadly brew
of veterans in Rachel Anne Daquis and
Jovelyn Gonzaga and young guns in
Mylene Paat, Alohi Robins-Hardy, May
Luna and Norielle Ipac to carry the load.
“We’re taking it slowly and surely.
We don’t want to rush ourselves or get
top excited,” said Velez, who will bank
anew on his tall frontline bannered by
Jaja Santiago, Elaine Kasilag, Dindin
Manabat and Maika Ortiz.
“It’s good that we’re back on track,
but it’s still too early to celebrate.
What we need is to put in work and
the results — be it good or bad — will
surely follow.”
in a few years’ time.
Look out for him in the
PBA as well, where his size
(he stands around 6-foot-4),
quickness, shooting, and
explosiveness make him a
really tantalizing prospect.
Tamayo’s teammate at
NU, Gerry Abadiano, also
stepped up.
To be honest, I expected
Abadiano to play second
fiddle to Rome-based Dalph
Panopio at the point guard
spot, but he played beyond
expectation.
The 5-foot-11 scoring guard showed laser-like focus on
offense all tournament long, scoring 8.4 points per game
while shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc.
He was severely tested on defense by bigger guards
throughout their campaign, but Abadiano could clearly
hold his own offensively speaking.
Like Tamayo, expect Abadiano to be a highly recruited
player after UAAP Season 82 is done.
One kid who didn’t get a lot of hype but who also
delivered was Ateneo de Manila University big man
Geo Chiu.
The burly 6-foot-9 center played more minutes than
expected, especially after AJ Edu’s injury, but he showed
his value, especially on the defensive end.
Billed as the “Bulldozer,” Chiu was a veritable great
wall for coach Sandy Arespacochaga’s second unit. Yes, he
didn’t score in bunches, but his size, heft, and IQ made
him invaluable on defense.
Against China, in particular, Chiu was a delight,
practically nullifying the presence of United States
National Collegiate Athletic Association player Michael
Wang while also grabbing nine rebounds and swatting
away two shots.
That’s an indication that this current generation
of players born from 2000 to 2002 has the
potential to be quite special.
He will be a great addition to the Blue Eagles’ frontline
in Season 82, where he is expected to play backup to
Angelo Kouame and Isaac Go.
Lastly, how about Sotto?
The 17-year-old beanpole didn’t exactly dominate
the way some people wanted him to, but he still gave a
strong account of himself considering how he had to carry
much of the frontline load after Edu’s injury and how
he battled against older guys who have been plying their
trade in the United States or in Europe the past few years.
This was the kind of competition and experience Sotto
needed to better gauge his own development against
other world-class talents.
Scouts everywhere got a glimpse of both his strengths
and weaknesses, and there is no doubt in my mind Sotto
will keep on improving as he commits to training harder
on the international stage.
Will he stay in the US or play in Europe? Your guess
is as good as mine, but I foresee that he will be even
tougher and stronger in the years to come.
If he makes a return to the U19 World Cup in 2021, I
expect him to be a monster. All these point to a bright
future for Gilas basketball, and I am pretty sure more
than a few guys from this U19 squad will be added to the
possible pool for the 2023 World Cup that we will co-host
with Indonesia and Japan.
By then, Edu and Ildefonso will be 23, Tamayo, Chiu,
and Abadiano will be 22 and Sotto will be 21 — all ripe and
ready to mix it up with the big boys at the senior level.

D24 SPORTS
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
PENDING G.A. APPROVAL
Sarmiento to chair POC polls
The POC executive board nominated former
Comelec Rene Sarmiento as chairman,
Rev. Fr. Victor Calvo as member and one
representative from the PDRCI
By Julius Manicad
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner
Rene Sarmiento is strongly being considered to serve as
chairman of an independent committee that will
oversee the special elections of the Philippine
Olympic Committee (POC) on 28 July.
In the special board meeting
yesterday, the POC executive council
named Sarmiento as a nominee in
the chairmanship of the powerful
elections committee (Elecom)
with Fr. Victor Calvo and another
nominee from the Philippine
Dispute Resolution Center
Inc. (PDRCI) as members.
International Olympic
Committee (IOC) member
Frank Elizalde headed the
elections panel when the
local Olympic council chose
its leaders in 2008, 2012,
2016 and the court-ordered
polls last year.
But Elizalde is still in
a personal trip in Spain
following a business meeting
Irving seals Nets deal
Kyrie is one of the NBA’s elite
guards and has won at the
highest level
NEW YORK — Six-time NBA All-Star guard
Kyrie Irving signed a contract with the
Brooklyn Nets, finalizing a deal unveiled last
weekend to revamp the club that includes
obtaining superstar Kevin Durant.
The Nets, who inked center DeAndre
Jordan on Saturday, added top talent to a
solid young playoff team and figure to be
even tougher with Durant, who will miss next
season after undergoing surgery to repair a
ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Irving averaged 23.8 points, career highs
of 5.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals over
67 games for the Boston last season.
“Kyrie is one of the NBA’s elite guards
and has won at the highest level,” Nets
general manager Sean Marks said.
“His championship pedigree, coupled
with his gifted scoring and playmaking
abilities, will make him an outstanding
addition to our team.”
Irving helped the Cleveland Cavaliers
win the 2016 crown and was a member of
the United States team that won the gold
medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
“The entire coaching staff is
excited to have the opportunity
to coach a player of Kyrie’s
caliber,” Nets coach Kenny
Atkinson said.
“He’s as talented and
accomplished as any
point guard in our game
and we are enthusiastic
about integrating him
and our other new
roster additions into our
returning core.”
Over eight seasons with
Boston and Cleveland,
Irving has averaged 22.2
points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7
assists and 1.3 steals over
508 career games. AFP
Czech, Aussie shine
Jakub Langhammer of Czech Republic
flashed his superb biking skills to check a
long search for local crown while Dimity Lee
Duke of Australia dominated the women’s
side in the pro division of the first Penong’s
5150 that was reduced to a duathlon event
late Sunday in Davao City.
Langhammer charged back from fourth
after the first leg of the 2.5km run-40km bike-
10km run event with a strong showing in the
middle stage then cruised to victory in 1:46:00
to complete his first triumph in the country
after a number of failed bids.
Originally set as over the Olympic distance
1.5k swim-40K bike-10K run race, organizers
D-League
graces Forum
The upcoming Philippine Basketball
Association D-League second conference
and the men’s boxing team preparing for the
30th Southeast Asian Games will share the
spotlight in Tuesday’s session of the Philippine
Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie
Hotel-Manila.
D-League officials Mauro Bengua and
Rosc Teotico will accompany Derek Pumaren
of Centro Escolar University, Potit de Vera of
Technological University of the Philippines
and representatives of Sumisip Basilan-St.
Clare and Marinerong Pilipino in the 10 a.m.
session as they talk about what to expect
in the coming tournament set to kick off
on 23 July.
Meanwhile, boxers Eumir Marcial, John
Marvin, and Ian Clark Bautista together
with coach Roel Velasco make up the other
half of the session presented by San Miguel
Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel and
the Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation to discuss the boxing team’s
preparation for the Southeast Asian Games
this December.
Also extended invitation is Alliance
of Boxing Association of the Philippines
secretary-general Ed Picson.
FORMER Elections commissioner Rene Sarmiento is being eyed to chair an independent
panel that will oversee the staging of the Philippine Olympic Committee special elections
on 28 July.
scrapped the opening leg
due to concerns over the
quality of water in the
swim stage on the eve of
the event, citing safety of
the participants as their
top priority.
Although a duathlon
competition, the Czech still
seized the moment, posting
the fastest time of 00:57:28 in
the bike to take control on his way to
beating Kiera McPherson of New Zealand
by over three minutes for top honors worth
$2,000 purse.
at the IOC headquarters in Switzerland, prompting the
POC to tap Sarmiento as his replacement.
Aside from being a former Comelec commissioner
for seven years, framer of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution and negotiator with communist rebels,
Sarmiento also served as chairman of the Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting before retiring
after suffering a head injury.
“The POC executive board nominated former
Comelec Rene Sarmiento as chairman, Rev. Fr. Victor
Calvo as member and one representative from the PDRCI,
the adjudication board which is similar to the
arbitrations committee in sports,” said board
Robert Mananquil, adding that the PDRCI has
yet to formally submit its nominee in the
elections panel.
“As of now, there is no name yet as
the PDRCI has yet to submit to the
(POC) board who will represent the
organization.”
Mananquil said the names of
the members of the elections
committee would be raised
to the general assembly for
ratification in an extraordinary
meeting at the Kamagong
Room of the Manila Golf and
Country Club on 18 July.
A representative from the
IOC and Olympic Council of
JAY Baron is tipped to make his presence felt when the ICTSI Manila
Southwoods Championship golf tournament fires off Tuesday at the Legends
course in Carmona, Cavite.
Asia will be flying in to
stand as observer.
Once they have been
ratified, Sarmiento and his two members can now start working as
the POC executive council will forward its constitution and by-laws as
well as other pertinent election-related documents for them to review.
Let’s wait for the Elecom members to be ratified by the
general assembly.
POC membership committee chairman Robert Bachmann will
also provide them with a list of qualified voters in accordance to the
membership rules of the organization.
So far, there are 45 voting members, but insiders claimed that it
would be reduced after it was found out that some national sports
associations are operating with revoked Securities and Exchange
Commission registration.
“The Elecom would have to go through it,” said Mananquil.
“They will meet and issue the guidelines and criteria of
the elections as well as the qualifications of the candidates.
They will also screen the list of qualified voters based on the
recommendation of the membership committee chairman.”
There are four vacant positions to fill: POC president, POC
chairman and POC board member.
Reports have it that former POC chairman Abraham
Tolentino of cycling will be gunning for the POC presidency
against former POC board member Clint Aranas of archery. The
names of Robert Aventajado of taekwondo, Steve Hontiveros of
handball and Monico Puentevella of weightlifting also cropped
up as candidates for the chairmanship position while the likes
of Lani Velasco of swimming and Princess Kiram of pencak
silat are said to be eyeing board positions.
But Mananquil said it’s still too early to speculate.
“Let’s wait for the Elecom members to be ratified by the general
assembly. From there, the Elecom will take over and decide when
will be the filing of candidacy and campaign period.”
Stags open hunt
With RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi at the helm, the Stags aim to
capitalize on their off-season buildup
San Sebastian College opens its bid against a young Jose Rizal University (JRU) squad
in Season 95 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball
tournament today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
With RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi at the helm, the Stags aim to
capitalize on their off-season buildup in their 4 p.m. match following
battle between Mapua University and Perpetual Help System Dalta
at 2 p.m.
Despite losing last year’s Most Valuable Player Prince Eze,
the Altas still look ready to compete under the mentorship
of head coach Frankie Lim, who led San Beda University
during its glory years.
But the Altas will have a tough opening-day
assignment as the Cardinals are tipped to go all out
with Randy Alcantara calling the shots.
Alcantara, the former Mapua star, guided the
Red Robins to a pair of titles in the juniors
division, giving the Cardinals a different
outlook and a change of culture this
KYRIE Irving
season.
of the Boston
Still, focus will be on San
Celtics reacts in
Sebastian.
the third quarter
Ilagan and Bulanadi made
of Game 1 of their 2019
a lot of heads turn with their
NBA Eastern Conference
impressive performance in
Playoffs first round series
the Philippine Basketball
against the Indiana
Association D-League,
Pacers at TD Garden in
putting the Stags in
Boston, Massachusetts
a good position to
in this file photo.
contend for a coveted
Final Four spot.
Ilagan, for one, is coming in with fire in
his eyes after a major blunder last season when
he was caught playing in ligang labas that led to the forfeiture of
the Stags’ victories in the first two rounds.
On the same note, JRU also seeks to rise again with a new coach
in Louie Gonzales at the helm.
Gonzales, the former De La Salle University mentor, will spearhead
the Heavy Bombers who are trying to rebuild around MJ de la Virgen
and Aaron Bordon.
Stars clash in Southwoods
The course looks tough, especially
with the erratic weather conditions
CARMONA, Cavite — Notwithstanding the
unpredictable weather, softened fairways,
thick roughs and sleek putting surface, a
star-studded international field of 112 pros
set out for an explosive start in the ICTSI
Manila Southwoods Championship Tuesday
at the Legends course here.
A select pro cast tested the bunker-laden
layout in the heat and rain in yesterday’s pro-am
tournament, most hinting at a run of under-par
scores, some intimating of a tougher, challenging
outing and others remaining wary of what lies
ahead in the next four days of this $100,000
championship.
“The course looks tough, especially with
the erratic weather conditions,” said Jay
Bayron, who ruled this event serving a leg of
the Philippine Golf Tour Asia with a whopping
26-under total last year.
But what concerns most of the bidders in this
third leg of the region’s emerging circuit is the
depth of the competing field with the likes of
Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena taking time out
from their campaigns abroad to beef up the local
roster headed by the red-hot Juvic Pagunsan.
“It’s difficult to feel so confident. The field
is strong, anybody can go low at any given day,”
said Clyde Mondilla, who is on a comeback from
a recent injury that hampered his campaign
after emerging the surprise winner in the Solaire
Philippine Open at The Country Club last April.
“I’ll just play my game,” added the Del Monte
ace, who also hopes to recall the form that
netted him a one-stroke victory over Tabuena
and Tony Lascuña here in 2017.
“It’s going to be interesting. Despite
the condition of the course, especially the
thick roughs, I think a 20-under score will
win here,” said American Lexus Keoninh,
a three-year local campaigner due for a
big finish.
Jobim Carlos also joins the hunt for the top
$17,500 purse as he marches into the 72-hole
championship brimming with confidence with
a form toughened up by a recent stint in Japan.
Namchok Tantipokhakul and Wisut
Artjanawat are also expected to stir up
interest in the next four days, both looking
to sustain Thailand’s big start.
But none could be as celebrated as
Pagunsan, easily the hottest player from
among the stellar cast, who is coming off a
sweep of three events in the Visayan swing of
the PGT last month.
The region’s former No. 1 skipped the
pro-am event but remains a top favorite given
his talent and skills that won him a pair of
runaway triumphs in Bacolod and a playoff
feat over Michael Bibat in Iloilo.
Pagunsan drew Malaysian ace Nicolas
Fung and former PGT Asia leg winner David
Gleeson of Australia at 7:10 a.m. on No. 1
with Tabuena, out to finish on top in his
first local tournament this year, following
suit at 7:20 a.m. in the company of Thai
Tawit Polthai and Fidel Concepcion, also
from Australia.