DT_20190719

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PAGE C17 LIFESTYLE PAGE B13 WORLD
PAGE B9 BUSINESS
LAST LAUGH
PAGE A5
COMMENTARY
Duterte rating
‘not surprising’
Kristina Maralit
RUMBLE
READY
PAGE D21
SPORTS
Malacañang on Thursday disclosed that
officials working closely with President Rodrigo
Duterte were not surprised with the continuing
trust of Filipinos to their leader.
The Chief Executive remained the most
trusted government official based on the latest
Turn to page A6
SPEAKERSHIP DECIDER
MANILA, PHILIPPINES I FRIDAY, 19 JULY 2019
Sara’s absence, signal to vote?
It’s the newly-coined name for what
used to be loyalty check
By Hananeel Bordey
“Data mining” is now the
buzzword at the Batasang
Pambansa complex. It’s equal
to a “loyalty check,” just given a
more millennial feel as the 18th
Congress is set to usher in a new
set of young leaders.
President Rodrigo Duterte
is set to speak before a joint
gathering of the 24 senators
and 306 congressmen for his
fourth State of the Nation
Address (SoNA).
The lawmakers
will convene at
3 p.m. with
both houses
hopeful to
Turn to page A2
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte march as principal wedding sponsors to Police Staff Sgt. Galileo Mascardo and PNP Lt. Daphne Buenaflor.
By Hananeel Bordey
First Family skips SoNA
President Rodrigo Duterte
will miss three members of the
First Family when he delivers
his fourth State of the Nation
Address (SoNA) before a joint
A HOUSE divided.
session of the Senate and
House of Representatives at the
Batasang Pambansa complex.
The President’s daughter and
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte
informed Daily Tribune late
Wednesday that she will skip the
SoNA, saying she is on leave due
to health reasons.
“No, (I am not attending the
SoNA). I am on a special medical
leave for 60 days. It’s a gyne
(gynecological) condition,” Mayor
Duterte said.
Turn to page A2
By Alvin Murcia
The Philippine National Police-Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group
Kiss catcher
DHAKA, Bangladesh — A
Bangladeshi lawmaker was
been slammed online for
calling the police on teenage
lovers kissing in a park and
Turn to page A6
Gordon: U.S. ‘Build’ booster
By Mario J. Mallari
The possible entry of American
companies into President
Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build,
Build” program will not only
offer employment opportunities
to Filipinos but a sense of
security for the nation.
Turn to page A2
MALACAÑANG PHOTO
Sedition raps against Robredo, et al.
(PNP-CIDG) has filed charges of
inciting to sedition against Vice
President Leni Robredo and several
other prominent personalities,
GORDON
including lawyers and members of the
clergy, for conniving to discredit and
destabilize the Duterte administration.
Turn to page A6
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A2 NEWS
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Sara’s absence, signal to vote?
Malacañang quickly doused cold
water to that celebration. The Palace
said it will not meddle with an
independent House
DAVAO City Mayor Sara
Duterte (middle), her mom
Elizabeth Zimmerman
and brother Sebastian will
not attend the opening
of the 18th Congress
and President Rodrigo
Duterte’s fourth SoNA for
various reasons.
From page A1
It will not be the first time
that Mayor Duterte will miss her
father’s SoNA. She also skipped
the President’s inaugural SoNA in
2016 due to health reasons.
Aside from her, Davao City Vice
Mayor Sebastian Duterte said in
a press conference that he will
also not be attending his father’s
SoNA. He said he has to attend to
his duties as an elected official of
Davao City.
“I can’t attend the SoNA
because we have a session the
following day, it’s tiring to go back
to Davao early and then attend the
regular session,” said Vice Mayor
Duterte.
He added that he will just watch
the affair on television in his house
in Davao City. He said he expects
the President to talk about his
administration’s key platforms,
such as the war against drugs and
From page A1
have settled with their respective
leaders by then.
The Senate is not problematic. It
assured that Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto
III will continue with a fresh term as
Senate President.
It is the House which is
fractured, with each of the
three speakership hopefuls
making last ditch efforts
to ensure their victory.
President
Duterte had earlier
endorsed
the “15-21
Magellan
formula.” It
First Family skips SoNA
I am on a special medical
leave for 60 days. It’s a
gynecological condition
poverty alleviation.
“Probably he will talk about the
drugs issue, poverty alleviation
and his platform of government
that he promised during his
campaign” he said.
President Duterte’s former
wife Elizabeth Zimmerman will
also skip the event as confirmed
by Mayor Duterte, herself.
“No. Because she will take care
of my children,” Mayor Duterte
told Daily Tribune when asked if
Zimmerman will grace her former
husband’s SoNA.
Only Paolo
As an elected member of the
House of Representatives, the
President’s firstborn and Davao
City First District Representative
Paolo Duterte is expected to
attend the event.
During the past three SoNA of
the President, the First Family was
present to support the patriarch.
Aside from being a political
affair, past SoNA have been
an opportunity for government
officials to take their families to
attend the occasion.
was the term-sharing proposal to
which only Taguig Rep. Alan Peter
Cayetano was eager to commit.
Cayetano would have the first 15
months, while Marinduque Rep. Lord
Allan Velasco would steer the last 21
months under the formula. Leyte Rep.
Martin Romualdez, reportedly settled
for the House’s Majority leadership for
three years.
‘Your own choices’
But the Chief Executive could not
compel the House’s membership to
follow his wish to break the impasse.
He said he will let the congressmen
decide for themselves on Monday.
Cayetano has the least supporters
among the three. Even his celebration
at the Luna Restaurant (which he
reportedly owns) in Taguig was
sparsely attended.
But Malacañang quickly doused
cold water to that celebration.
The Palace said it will not
meddle with an independent
House.
Vice President Leni Robredo,
who currently leads the opposition
Liberal Party, confirmed her
attendance.
The President’s daughter
and Davao City Mayor Sara
Duterte informed Daily
Tribune late Wednesday
that she will skip the SoNA,
saying she is on leave due to
health reasons.
Former President Benigno
Aquino III will again skip the SoNA.
Former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, who just stepped
down as House Speaker of the 17th
Congress, previously said that she
will attend the occasion.
Traditionally, the House of
Representatives sends invitations
to members of both houses of
Congress, members of the Executive
department, the judiciary, diplomats
and other elected officials.
Acting House Secretary General
Dante Roberto Maling said they
prepared 1,500 seats for invited
guests, and they have already sent
the invitations out to the officials.
Before that, Velasco had dinner with
more than 150 of his Congress peers
in Malacañang, including presidential
son Paolo Duterte, the Davao City First
District Representative.
In between, Romualdez also hosted
his own affair with about 130 in
attendance.
The Senate is not
problematic. It assured that
Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
will continue with a fresh
term as Senate President.
Cayetano is now busy pounding at
his smartphones to quash a “coup,”
to which a political analyst retorted
by asking, “What coup? Cayetano has
yet to be elected speaker!”
But that is “data mining.” And
Cayetano wants a sure win.
The congressmen, however,
according to multiple sources, will
wait for a sign for their final choice.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s
absence — for health reasons, she said
— could be it, one of them disclosed.
Also missing the event is Sara’s
mother and brother Sebastian, and
this fuels further talk about a possible
First Family statement.
That leaves the President’s other
son Paolo, Davao City First District
Representative, as the only Duterte
offspring to attend his SoNA. It was
also earlier claimed that Paolo would
flash which choice to take.
The Duterte siblings have endorsed
Velasco to become the House Speaker.
That was until Cayetano’s formula.
Mr. Duterte’s children then
regrouped to offer Davao City Third
District Rep. Isidro Ungab in place
of the three. His selection would not
have been painful had the hopefuls
agreed to step aside, according to a
Congress insider.
But no one is budging. The last
72 hours, one congressman opined,
would be “bloody” for sure.
Gordon:
U.S. ‘Build’ booster
I am in favor of opening ‘Build,
Build, Build’ up
From page A1
This was the assessment made by Sen.
Richard Gordon during the weekly online
program “Straight Talk with Daily Tribune” on
Wednesday.
Gordon noted how protective the United States
(US) government is to its citizens and interests
abroad, which he said is likely to be extended to
the Filipinos. Both countries have a long history
as allies.
At the same time, Gordon stressed that the
Duterte administration should also welcome other
interested parties to its massive infrastructure
program under the “Build, Build, Build” banner.
“Everybody is welcome. If America has
interests here, we cannot be just pushed around
by other countries,” Gordon said, citing how the
US government takes care of its interests outside
of America.
“I am in favor of opening it (Build, Build,
Build) up,” he added.
Apart from these, Gordon also noted the high
standard of salary offered by US companies.
“Even in Subic, people preferred American
companies because of the bigger pay,” said
Gordon, who also served as chairman of the
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and mayor of
Olongapo City.
In a statement issued during the recently-concluded
8th US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue
in Manila, US State Department Assistant
Secretary David Stilwell stressed the need for
more economic cooperation between Manila and
Washington.
Stilwell particularly mentioned the Duterte
administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program
as an opportunity for American companies to
set up interests in the Philippines.
Everybody is welcome. If America has
interests here, we cannot be just pushed
around by other countries.
He said the US is specifically keen on the energy, trade,
intellectual property and science and technology sectors
as avenues to a better partnership with the Philippines.
Currently, the Duterte administration is
banking on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
to complement the “Build, Build, Build” program.
Mr. Duterte was an active participant during
the last BRI conference in Beijing upon the
invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
TIGHT security is implemented around the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, including the use of bomb-sniffing
dogs to check all cars coming in before Monday’s big political event.
ANALY LABOR
BASKETBALL and the sea don’t mix, but not for this bunch of teeners who traverse a break wall in Navotas.
ROMAN PROSPERO

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
We have a very popular president
with an 85 percent popularity and
trust rating
By Elmer N. Manuel
With the majority of the members of the
House of Representatives backing the Duterte
administration, the Liberal Party (LP) is mulling to
join the majority before the 18th Congress formally
opens on Monday.
In a television interview, LP national executive
council member and Caloocan Rep. Egay Erice
said that while they are keen on joining the
majority, the LP will remain true to its principles
should it “jump ship” to the majority.
“Just like a bamboo, we’re bowing a little bit,”
Erice said. “Our advocacy on certain issues
like extrajudicial killings, death penalty,
the lowering of age of criminal liability
and the anti-chacha will remain.”
The Caloocan Representative also
noted that moving to the House
If you can’t beat them, join ‘em
LP mulls joining
House majority
majority will allow their members to participate in committees
and deliver projects to their districts.
“We have a very popular president with an 85 percent
popularity and trust rating. I empathize with many of our
members, especially the first and second-termers, they would
want to win in the next elections,” Erice said. “In terms of
getting projects in our districts, it will be better to join the
majority.”
The lawmaker stressed that the House majority could
use the input of 18 LP lawmakers on issues such
as charter change.
“Maybe by being part of the majority,
although we haved yet to decide,
we can provide some
inputs that the
administration could use,” Erice said.
“For example, I’m particularly interested in Charter
change. We can experiment by converting Metro Manila
into a metropolitan government. Maybe Davao and Cebu,
independent autonomous regional governments.”
He added that all three House Speaker aspirants have
agreed to allow LP members to remain true to their stand
on certain issues if they join the majority.
“They all agreed, they said they’re willing to give us
leniency when it comes to our core principles,” he said.
The lawmaker, meanwhile, said
he is eyeing the chairmanship of
the Metro Manila Development.
“I would pursue my
advocacy on creating a more
responsive metropolitan
government,” Erice said.
PAGE THREE
DU30
invoking
MDT legal,
sarcastic
— Roque
President Rodrigo Duterte’s
recent comments on invoking the
Mutual Defense Treaty with the
United States may be sarcastic,
but it has legal basis, according
to former presidential spokesman
Harry Roque.
Roque believes that the
President has legal basis in making
the statement citing the incident
in 2014 when the Philippines lost
Scarborough Shoal, saying that
China had sent at least three
warships in the area that forcibly
removed coast guard and navy
personnel, as well as excluding
Filipino fishermen from fishing
in the area.
“It’s both sarcastic and with
legal basis. The Philippine president
is basically saying if you really
want an armed confrontation with
China, let’s remove all this palabok,
let’s go to it. If you want an armed
confrontation, you have a legal basis,
do it, I’ll support you. But meanwhile,
since you’re not willing to do it, let
me conduct my foreign relations in
the manner that I think will benefit
the national interest,” Roque said in
a television interview.
The former spokesman also
noted that China also built three
artificial islands in what the
United Nations Convention for
the Law of the Sea tribunal has
ruled as part of the Philippine
exclusive economic zone.
Elmer N. Manuel
Eye catcher A solid steel frame building being constructed stands out along Dagat-dagatan road
in Malabon.
ROMAN PROSPERO
High Court rejects
Robredo motion
By Alvin Murcia and Elmer N. Manuel
The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential
Electoral Tribunal (PET), has denied the motion
of Vice President Leni Robredo for the immediate
resolution of former Sen. Bongbong Marcos’
election protest against her.
In a resolution dated 2 July but only released
last Thursday, the PET found the motion filed
by Robredo’s lawyers “premature”. Robredo’s
camp claimed that her victory in the 2016 vice
presidential race has been confirmed by the
manual recount of votes from Camarines Sur,
Iloilo and Negros Oriental.
The Vice President’s legal team presented
their own computation of the total national votes
for Robredo and Marcos — figures that reflected
a larger winning margin but were dismissed by
the Marcos camp as “self-serving” in the absence
of official numbers from the PET.
The petition also asked the PET to immediately
resolve all pending incidents after the recount
of ballots from the three pilot provinces, which,
according to the Court, in effect sought the
immediate resolution of the case.
However, the PET said that it has yet to
complete the proceedings involved in the election
protest, which it said includes judicial recount,
revision, and appreciation of the votes cast in
Marcos’ chosen pilot provinces.
“The figures submitted by protestee are merely
speculative. In arriving at the figures, protestee
Broken ride Having problems
with parts of his pedicab, a young
man carries his vehicle to a nearby repair
shop in Malabon.
ROMAN PROSPERO
presumes that all her claims will be admitted
by the Tribunal,” the PET said. “This premise is
fundamentally flawed as the Tribunal is still in
the process of appreciation of the revised ballots
and ruling on the respective objections and claims
made by the parties thereon,” it added, noting
that its final tally “has yet to be completed and
released.”
For their part, Marcos’ spokesman Vic
Rodriguez, said they are “very pleased” with the
resolution. He also expressed confidence Marcos
will eventually be proclaimed vice president.
“The PET has finally put an end to Robredo’s
fallacious claim of victory despite the fact that
the entire process had not yet been concluded.
She should stop misleading the public with her
impetuous pronouncements,” Rodriguez said in
a statement.
Judges cautioned
on TRO issuances
By Alvin Murcia
The Supreme Court (SC) has reminded all trial court
judges to be mindful of the existing court issuances and
ordered them “to exercise with utmost caution, prudence,
and judiciousness” the issuance of temporary restraining
orders (TRO) and writs of preliminary injunctions.
The reiteration came in light of President Rodrigo
Duterte’s earlier statements questioning the purported
issuances by courts of TRO on his administration’s
infrastructure projects, as well as the approval
of plea bargaining in drug cases.
SC spokesman and Public Information
Office Chief Atty. Brian Hosaka said that Chief
Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has directed Court
Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez to look
into the matters mentioned by the President.
“The SC is encouraging anyone who
may have been affected or aggrieved by
the alleged issuance of questionable
TRO to immediately inform the
Supreme Court and file a formal
complaint before the Office of the Court
Administrator. Also, considering that plea
bargaining is not allowed in drug cases
when the quantity of the dangerous drugs is one
kilo, we ask the proper authorities to report to
the SC the trial judge who approved the plea
bargaining for possible administrative sanction. As
always, the SC will not take this matter lightly. All trial
judges must strictly adhere to all related issuances and
circulars on plea bargaining framework in drugs cases,”
said Atty. Hosaka who underscored that the Court has
been incessantly addressing these matters with the
issuance of pertinent circulars.

A4 COMMENTARY
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Tribune
Daily
WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR
Enemy within
“ CHR
gets public
money to
advance
the
interest
of foreign
detractors
of Rody.
Where is
fairness in
that?
Who complained when the House of Representatives, in a
vote of 119-82, slashed the budget of the Commission on Human
Rights to P1,000 in 2018? They are the same characters in the
hot pursuit of booting out Rody, such as Communist Party of the
Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, bogus Vice President Leni
Robredo, Senators Riza Hontiveros and Leila de Lima and United
Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard.
A recounting from Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the
Senate Blue Ribbon panel, said despite the public money spent
on the agency, it never cooperated in the release of data primarily
related to what is claimed as extrajudicial killings (EJK).
Gordon said EJK allegations that started when Rody was still
Davao City Mayor were never proven despite De Lima being the
CHR head during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo, then Secretary of Justice under yellow President Noynoy
Aquino and now as detained senator.
Witnesses were obviously stooges of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
at the Senate investigations instead of hard data.
The same way, the CHR relied on allegations of foreign rights
groups which, in turn, were also fed by the usual critics of Rody.
On the Dengvaxia scandal, which is relevant now with the
rising cases of dengue, the CHR warned public officials against
politicizing the inquiry into the government’s anti-dengue
vaccination program, instead of looking into the
possible violations of rights of those inoculated
through the racket of the Aquino officials.
The CHR said public officials should
refrain from causing “further public
anxiety with premature statements about
anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia that are not
backed by scientific evidence.”
“It is to the best interest of the children
and their families that this issue be
insulated from political noise that distracts
from providing genuine and durable solution
to the problem at hand,” the statement read.
The statement came as odd since it would
have been more appropriately issued by the
Department of Health (DoH), but at that time
main yellow personalities being accused of irregularities
in the government contract with French pharmaceutical firm
Sanofi Pasteur such as Noynoy and his Cabinet members, mainly
former Health Secretary Janet Garin, were under assault and
badly needed help.
No such CHR statements appealing for non-politization were
issued in relation to the war on drugs using wrong figures being
generated by the opponents of Rody.
The CHR said in its statement the Dengvaxia issue deserves
the government’s utmost attention given that the future of the
nation depends on the children’s welfare, which only obfuscate
the current efforts to seek accountability on what is turning out
to be a high-level fraud that risked the lives of 800,000 Filipinos
mostly children.
“Executives of the DoH during the Aquino administration
are now subject of an investigation in connection with the
immunization of children with anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
While DoH is presumed to have the sincerest intentions in
fulfilling its mandate to protect the people through a policy that
seeks to prevent all kinds of illnesses and diseases including
dengue, there has been lapses in the implementation,” it added.
The CHR also frequently advances an assessment about the
presumption of regularity on Noynoy instead of initiating a probe
on the issues that hound the former President, including his
involvement in the Mamasapano debacle.
Senate hearings on the Dengvaxia scandal indicated the P3.5
billion contract for the mass immunization vaccine was rushed
during the last few months of the Aquino administration and
months prior to the May 2016 presidential elections.
Rody also lashed out at the rights agency after demanding a
probe on allegations of abuses in the military operations to retake
Marawi City from Islamic State (IS) sympathizers.
While admitting that it has not recorded
“No such CHR
statements
appealing for
non-politization
were issued in
relation to the
war on drugs
using wrong
figures being
generated by
the opponents
of Rody.
any rights violations since Mindanao was
placed under martial law in 23 May last year,
it said it wanted to look into allegations of
military abuses.
Rody said he would not allow security
personnel to be investigated and would rather
have CHR abolished.
Rody said he was the one who implemented
martial law and is taking full responsibility
for all military actions.
“When the time comes, the CHR, its office
here, you are better abolished. I will not
allow my men to go there to be investigated.
Remember this, Human Rights Commission, you address your
request through me because the Armed Forces is under me and
the police is under me. So, if you question them for investigation,
you have to go to me first,” Rody said.
The CHR gets public money to advance the interest of foreign
detractors of Rody. Where is fairness in that?
“All the
PET seems
to do is to
wait out
the term of
the sitting
president
or vice
president,
after which
the Tribunal
comes up
with a
decision
that finds
the case.
“If the
crowdfunding
is not
done through
the electronic
online
platform,
the
crowdfunding
rules
would
not apply.
Another win for Marcos
A recent Supreme
Court sitting as the
Presidential Electoral
Tribunal (PET) issued
a resolution giving
2016 vice presidential
candidate Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos a
win as the SC junked
the urgent motion
filed by protestee,
Vice President Leni
Robredo.
Leni’s motion asked
the court to resolve the pending
election protest that was filed by
Marcos against her. It was dismissed
on account of being a premature
motion.
It’s a small win for Marcos,
but a win nevertheless, since this
translates to Marcos and his lawyers
going forward in their protest
against Robredo, whose lawyer,
losing yellowed Otso Diretso Romulo
Macalintal with his usual propaganda
style, had been making it appear that
the case of Marcos is almost over and
that Leni is the legitimately elected
vice president of the Philippines.
The PET resolution states that
“the Tribunal has yet to complete the
proceedings following Rule 65 of the
2010 PET Rules, which entail judicial
recount, revision and appreciation of
the votes cast in the protestant’s pilot
provinces. The figures submitted by
protestee are merely speculative.
FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
The Roman Emperor Marcus
Aurelius once said, “The object
of life is not to be on the side of
the majority, but to escape finding
oneself in the ranks of the insane.”
In today’s tech-driven world, where
the ability to adapt and innovate
spells the difference between death
and survival of business, perhaps
it may not really do well to simply
have “great” ideas; the ideas should
indeed be “insane” enough to capture
a sufficient market and resonate with
them long after the product has hit
the market.
But assuming that you have an
“insane” idea, a market-shifting one
as you describe it, how do you get
that idea off the ground and into the
consumer market, not to mention the
high probability of your product’s
mortality within the next five years?
Traditionally, Juan de la Cruz would
have gone to a bank and presented
his idea. Chances are, Juan de la
Cruz would leave the bank’s premises
empty-handed for lack of sufficient
credit history and/or collaterals to
protect the bank in taking a business
risk. Another would have been to get
funding from a limited number of
friends and relatives. But just how
far could that amount take to make
Juan’s idea a reality? Maybe not that
far. Lastly, Juan de la Cruz could call
on high heavens and wait for the
stars to align so that the following
day he could bump into an angel
investor who is equally “insane”
enough to buy his idea. But what are
the chances? Fortunately, these are
things of the past.
With today’s ubiquitous
technologies, one could reach a far
wider audience to ask for help and get
the funding necessary for one’s cause,
be it commercial or non-commercial
in nature. Simply, the Internet has
not only helped democratize ideas
but even an ordinary individual’s
access to available funds to make
some of those ideas a reality.
Thus, the idea of crowdfunding.
“In arriving at
the figures, protestee
presumes that all her
claims will be admitted
by the Tribunal. This
premise is fundamentally
flawed as the Tribunal
is still in the process
of appreciation of the
revised ballot and
ruling on the respective
objections and claims
made by the parties
thereon. The Tribunal’s
final tally of votes after recount and
appreciation has yet to be completed
and released.”
The junking of Leni’s motion
stemmed from her counsel
prematurely seeking the immediate
resolution of the election protest.
The motion came with a claim
that was without basis, as Robredo’s
lawyer claimed that in the revision,
recount and reappreciation of ballots
from the three pilot provinces chosen
by the protestant, Leni had gained as
much as 15,000 votes.
A figure such as 15,000 votes are
enough for Leni and Macalintal to
claim victory and more than enough
to shut up the Marcos camp as well
as for the protestant to give up his
protest against Leni.
Leni and her lawyer appear to
be out of luck, as even her camp’s
figures may have been plucked from
thin air.
This has been noted by the PET
as its resolution also zeroed in Leni’s
camp’s computations on the figures
being “speculative.”
“In protestee’s Motion, she prays
that the Tribunal immediately
resolve all pending incidents after
the revision and recount of the
ballots.
“Protestee presented her own
computation of the total national
votes for protestant and protestee
‘after revision, recount, and reappreciation,’
claiming that her
victory as Vice President has been
confirmed.
“In effect, what protestee seeks
is the immediate resolution of
the instant protest. Protestee’s
Motion is likewise premature,”
the Tribunal’s resolution said.
While the resolution has
given Marcos and his
camp a bit of reason
to cheer, it’s still
a long wait
for them
to have
their
SEC’s crowdfunding rules
Through an Internet
platform, one could
fund someone’s medical
or even legal needs,
or support a social
endeavor. One could
also fund a promising
project, or a creative
or inventive product
expecting nothing in
return, except perhaps
a sample of the finished
product. The former is
called donation-based crowdfunding,
where the funds are essentially
given in gratis. The latter is called
rewards-based crowdfunding, where
the backer/funder’s expectation is
essentially just a token consideration
as may be agreed upon. Since the
backers/funders do not really expect
to profit in these kinds of activities,
these are not the “risky” endeavors
that would require government
intervention. For all we know, it
could be purely out of charity or
plain curiosity that the funds in these
activities were doled out.
On the other hand, there
are crowdfunding activities
where backers/funders expect
something more valuable in return,
a high-yielding interest or a stake in
the company. And this seems perfectly
human nature. Psychologists even
call this the Rule of Reciprocity. It
is in these kinds of crowdfunding
activities that the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC)
decided to intervene as regulator
and supervisor of the securities
market. Thus, the new crowdfunding
rules, SEC Memorandum Circular 14
(Rules and Regulations Governing
Crowdfunding), govern only
“equity-based” and “lending-based”
crowdfunding.
According to the SEC’s press
release lending-based crowdfunding
is where individuals lend money to a
company and receive the company’s
legally-binding commitment to repay
the loan at pre-determined time
protest finally resolved.
It has been all of some three
years, and the PET is still on just that
resolution stage of dismissing the
protestee’s motion. However, even
this PET resolution is just a small
step in the Tribunal resolving the
important issue of the real choice
of the electorate.
Just how long does it take the
PET to resolve election cases? And
why does it take too long to resolve
a protest case?
Even more importantly, why has
the record of PET not really resolved
each and every presidential and
vice-presidential protests?
All the PET seems
“It is
wrong for
the PET
to virtually
twiddle
its thumbs
and wait
for the
protestants’
terms to
end before
coming up
with a
decision.
A DOSE OF LAW
Dean Nilo Divina
intervals and interest
rate, while equity-based
crowdfunding is where
individuals invest
in shares sold by a
company and receive
a share of the profits in
the form of a dividend
or distribution, subject
to the company’s
discretion.
The crowdfunding
rules defined the term
crowdfunding as “the offer or sale
of securities of a limited scale
usually for startups, micro, small and
medium enterprises, done through
electronic platform” (Whether the
subject of the offering is a “security”
or not however is not covered by this
article). If the crowdfunding is not
done through the electronic online
platform, the crowdfunding rules
would not apply.
Unlike in the
United States,
where a federal
law — the
Jumpstart our
Business Startups
Act (JOBS Act of
2012) — compelled
the US SEC to
create its current
crowdfunding
regulation, in the
Philippines, the
SEC appears to
have taken a more
proactive approach
to do is to wait out
the term of the
sitting president or
vice president, after
which the Tribunal
comes up with a
decision that finds
the case moot, as the
term is over.
What PET seems
to do every time is
not to do anything
but wait, usually for
three years until
such time that a
losing presidential
or vice-presidential
protestant decides to run for a
Senate seat. With that, the PET goes
into action with a decision that says
the protestant has abandoned his or
her protest, having decided to run for
a lower elective seat.
It even takes a longer time to
resolve cases when the protestant is
a vice-presidential and presidential
candidate, as it takes the PET all
of six years to wrap up the protest
and all because the term of a
president and vice president is all
of six years.
Tens of millions are spent by
these candidates who may have
won but lost the elective seat that
would have been his or her had the
PET done its bound duty to decide
which candidate has been honestly
elected by the voters to be their
officials and for that protestant to
rightly take that seat years before
the term ends.
It is wrong for the PET to virtually
twiddle its thumbs and wait for the
protestants’ terms to end before
coming up with a decision.
It is highly unfair, especially since
the PET or the Senate or the House
electoral tribunals just sit back and
wait for terms to lapse or get into
another election for them to decide
these protests.
It is time for these tribunals,
especially the PET, to start
giving the Filipino electorate
the candidate who is the real
choice of the people to take his
legitimate seat, not the fraudulent
machine vote.
“Through
an Internet
platform,
one could
fund
someone’s
medical or
even legal
needs, or
support a
social
endeavor.
in issuing the crowdfunding rules. The
rough counterpart of the JOBS Act of
2012 in the Philippines, which is the
Innovative Startup Act, is yet to be
signed by the President, reportedly
since April 2019. It is quite noticeable
though how the JOBS Act of 2012,
and the JOBS Act Title III equity
crowdfunding rules of the US SEC
influenced our own crowdfunding
rules.
To be continued
Email: cabdo@divinalaw.com
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Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
“If
attacking
this
administration
is so
necessary
to him,
perhaps
he should
consider
surrendering
his seat on
the bench
first.
I have previously written
about the contradictory
statements made by Associate
Justice Antonio Carpio as
regards which should prevail:
our Constitution, or our
obligations under international
law. I did not intend to write
about Justice Carpio again so
soon, but after some headlines
that ran this week, I feel
compelled to respond.
Speaking at a public event,
Justice Carpio reportedly listed the “non-war
options” that he suggested the Philippines
undertake to enforce the country’s victory
against China before the arbitral tribunal.
This list was premised on his statement
that “the Filipino people should not be
intimidated by national leaders who peddle
Unable to shake off President Duterte’s
immense popularity three years into his term,
powerful forces opposed to his reformist agenda
have reportedly turned to a multi-million-dollar
international campaign to turn the tide of the
public opinion battle in their favor.
Blunted at every
opportunity locally by the
strong support of the Filipino
people, liberal neo-imperialists,
according to reports, have
poured a considerable
amount of resources on an
anti-Duterte black propaganda
internationally, meant to
weaken Duterte’s popularity
and make it easier for them to
oust him from power.
“We are
mandated
by the
Constitution
to hold the
SoNA on
Monday,
and with
all the
request for
invitations,
the
Batasan
complex
will be
filled to the
brim.
BRIEFING ROOM
Harry Roque
QUO VADIS
Darren M. de Jesus
a false option that either we go
to war with China or submit to
China.”
I agree that there is a false
option here, but it is one of
Justice Carpio’s own making.
“Submitting to China” has
never been a choice for the
Philippines. The fact that he
does not agree with how the
government has been handling
our disputes with China
does not warrant such gross
mislabeling of this administration’s efforts.
The government has continuously been
engaging the Chinese government over our
disputes; if the approach is more careful and
less abrasive than before, there is a reason
for that. Questioning the wisdom of our
government’s actions in a public forum is,
to put it frankly, not Justice Carpio’s place.
This brings me to why I am again writing
about Justice Carpio. I feel the need to address
Justice Carpio’s remarks, and not the remarks
of the other critics on the handling of the West
Philippine Sea issue, because his remarks come
from a magistrate of our Supreme Court (SC).
Any freshman law student would be able to tell
you: The SC does not meddle in foreign affairs.
Under Rule 5.10 of the Canons of Judicial
Ethics, while a judge is entitled to entertain
personal views on political questions, he or she
is encouraged not to deliver political speeches
to avoid suspicion of political partisanship. In
other words, judges — more so justices of the
SC — speak best through their decisions. When
they make partisan statements elsewhere, they
shed their neutrality and undermine their own
authority. Now that he has made himself known
as a staunch critic of this administration,
COMMENTARY
Are SC justices allowed to engage in partisan politics?
“Duterte can
choose to ignore
the resolution,
move on and
bank on his
widespread
popularity to
do what he is
supposed to do.
The amount of money and the extent of the
open conspiracy revealed in an expose by a
retired diplomat
are shocking
mainly because
of the immensity
of various
anti-Duterte
operations.
Sadly, for
them, however,
none of it has
worked so far.
Halfway into his
term, Duterte’s
popularity
remained high
with a net
satisfaction
rating of 68
percent in the second quarter, surpassing a
previous high of 66 percent in the January-March
period as per the latest poll.
His performance defies a trend among
past presidents whose ratings deteriorated
as they wrapped up the first half of their
terms of office. Not only that. His chosen
candidates won by a landslide in the last
midterm polls.
The recently-adopted United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
resolution, which lays out
several key actions
against so called
rising killings
in the country
under Duterte’s
war on drugs, has
been viewed as a
desperate attempt
by anti-Duterte
forces to weaken
his base of
support.
Eighteen out
of 47 member
countries (15
abstentions)
backed the
Labeled as the Academy Awards
of Philippine politics, Monday’s
State of the Nation Address (SoNA)
is promising to be nothing short
of spectacular considering that
the line between what is politics
and showbiz has been thinning
throughout the years. With all the
political intrigue surrounding the
4th SoNA of President Rodrigo
Duterte, the people can honestly
say that anything can happen on
Monday depending on the mood of
the President when he wakes up on that day.
Despite all the fanfare and political
intrigue building up for the big day, we should
emphasize the importance of the SoNA and its
significance in governance and policy-making.
It is the President’s accomplishment report,
not just in the year that passed, but on all the
administration has done since 2016, otherwise
known as the first half of President Duterte’s
term. The speech also serves as an open
declaration on how this administration reached
record-breaking approval and trust ratings that
other world leaders can only salivate about.
Obviously, the President has been testing the
public with comments that some people find
racy and offensive, but the fact of the matter
is that he remains well-loved by the people. We
may expect some these on Monday depending
Iceland-proposed resolution, which asked UN rights
chief Michel Bachelet to write a comprehensive
report on the Philippine situation and present it
to the council.
Malacañang has called the resolution
“grotesquely one-sided’ and an insult to Filipinos.
“It reeks of nauseating politics completely
devoid of respect for the sovereignty of our country,
even as it is bereft of the gruesome realities of
the drug menace in the country,” says presidential
spokesman Salvador Panelo.
Why an insult? The Palace cited that majority of
Filipinos have expressed satisfaction with Duterte’s
governance in local surveys.
“The overwhelming majority of the Filipino
electorate, who mercilessly crushed the
intellectual and nationalist pretensions of
those who peddled the bogus news, untruthful
accounts and vicious propaganda on the
President’s campaign against illegal drugs, are
grossly and thoroughly insulted by the resolution
that echoes such falsities,” says Panelo.
As far as the Palace is concerned,
the resolution was “designed to
Last laugh
SoNA buildup
again on his mood that day.
It is also perhaps the most
significant policy-laying speech
where the President reveals his
priorities both in the second and
final half of his term, and, in the
short-run, what he wishes to achieve
until before his next SoNA next
year. We shall see which national
issues are of concern to him, and
his words will have ramifications
on local businesses, industries and
international businessmen.
Some questions that we seek answers
for: Is Federalism, one of the campaign
promises that propelled him to the Presidency,
still a key priority? Is the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao on
its way to living up its promise to deliver
peace and prosperity in Mindanao? What about
the tax reform packages? Will there be a tax
package passed every year until 2022? Will the
Philippines maintain its stance in geopolitics,
particular on the issue of the West Philippine
Sea? And will the war against drugs continue
in spite of all the reported deaths, including
the innocent lives lost?
We may learn the answers on Monday as
the lawyers from Malacañang work over the
weekend to finish his speech.
On the part of the House of Representatives,
embarrass the Philippines before the international
community and the global audience.”
Even Sen. Panfilo Lacson
rejected the UN move,
saying the Philippines has a
functioning criminal justice
system that deals with erring
law enforcers and that the
government regularly provides
funding for the Commission on
Human Rights.
“Obviously, we can manage
without the intervention of the
UN Human Rights Council,”
says Lacson, who headed
Acting Secretary General Dante Roberto
Maling and the rest of the House Secretariat
will likewise be busy this weekend to finalize
preparations for the SoNA. Director Joyce
Bernal is also working on the scenes and
Radio TV Malacañang is expected to install
additional cameras to improve the visuals in
what the Bernal hopes to be a joyful SoNA, as
compared to last year.
It is therefore a pity
“It is also
perhaps
the most
significant
policy-laying
speech where
the President
reveals his
priorities
both in the
second and
final half of
his term.
“Halfway
into his term,
Duterte’s
popularity
remained high
with a net
satisfaction
rating of 68
percent in the
second quarter.
the Senate Committee on Public Order and
Dangerous Drugs and had led investigations
into the drug war.
Former Philippine Permanent Representative
to the UN Lauro Baja Jr., meanwhile, is of the
opinion that even with a resolution,
the UNHRC cannot force its way to
investigate the human rights situation
in the country, saying the decision still
that Davao City Mayor Sara
Duterte will be missing the
SoNA. The void she will be
leaving is significant, given
her extensive influence in
Philippine politics today. Her
absence may be given meaning
by commentators, perhaps
distaste in who is expected
to be Speaker, but all that
remains hearsay for the time
being. With the work put in by
the putative and presumptive
Speaker Rep. Alan Peter
Cayetano, in past weeks since
the presidential endorsement, his election is
written in the stars.
Latest news on the SoNA is that signing
of a number of bills into law just this week,
including the “Bawal Bastos” law. Senator Risa
Hontiveros dared President Duterte to follow
A5
how are we to trust that any decision Justice
Carpio makes in a case involving the Duterte
administration was made with the cool
impartiality required of judges?
I am not commenting
“Questioning
the wisdom
of our
government’s
actions in a
public forum
is, to put
it frankly,
not Justice
Carpio’s place.
on the value of Justice
Carpio’s criticism, mind
you. I also appreciate
the spirit of patriotism
in which I perceive his
statements were made. I
am simply pointing out the
impropriety of him making
such criticism so public, in
a fashion more akin to a
politician than a member
of the judiciary. If attacking
this administration is so necessary to him,
perhaps he should consider surrendering his
seat on the bench first.
depends on the Duterte government.
“It’s a judgment call by the administration,”
Baja says.
In times like this, Duterte can choose to ignore
the resolution, move on and bank on his widespread
popularity to do what he is supposed to do. With
a combination of persistence, an unwavering
commitment to delivering on key policy matters
and a loyal public, the fiery Chief Executive, we
believe, can surmount the odds.
Meantime, his diehard supporters can use
his remaining years in office to encourage him
to go forward with federal and parliamentary
reforms. If it is possible for him to retain and in
fact gain popularity in spite of the literal global
conspiracy against him, it is also possible to fight
what remains of the old guard on all sides of the
broken political system.
We’re pretty confident he will have the
last laugh.
the law. We should anticipate an interesting
handshake between the two on Monday, similar
to the encounter of President Duterte and
Senator Leila de Lima back in 2016 — we all
know where Senator de Lima ended up after
that.
Speaking of the Senate, it is also a question
whether Senator Manny Pacquiao will make it
on Monday. It was said that Senator Pacquiao
will have a private jet ready so that he can leave
after his fight against Keith Thurman in Las
Vegas this Sunday (Manila time). Depending
again on the fight turnout, Senator Pacquiao
may end up as the biggest star this SoNA.
There is a ton of possibilities this Monday,
some of which I’d rather not write in this
column. But one thing’s for sure, we are
mandated by the Constitution to hold the
SoNA on Monday, and with all the request
for invitations, the Batasan complex will
be filled to the brim. Notably, we are not
constitutionally mandated to hold the SoNA
in Batasan, which can only occupy around
1,500 people. Perhaps, the President, with
all his popularity, can hold the next SoNA
in a bigger venue next year. Say, SM Mall of
Asia Arena or Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Not a bad idea, eh?
Email: darren.dejesus@dejesuslegal.com
or tweet @darrendejesus

A6 NEWS
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
BOATS are docked in a fishing community in Navotas as typhoon “Falcon” brings incessant rains in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
ROMAN PROSPERO
Duterte rating ‘not surprising’
Critics attacked the President on his
stand on the Recto Bank sinking of
a Filipino fishing boat by a bigger
Chinese vessel
From page 1
survey released by Pulse Asia, and presidential
spokesman Salvador Panelo said it is “not surprising.”
Panelo also said the President’s consistent high
approval and trust ratings are proof of the people’s
confidence in him “despite the criticisms thrown at
him by his detractors.”
“Not surprising. It keeps on increasing, simply
because the President is a very transparent leader,”
Panelo said.
“His political will shows in every measure or step
he has undertaken. It shows how sincere he is, and the
people are satisfied with his method of governance,”
he added.
A poll released by Pulse Asia earlier this week
yielded the President has an 85 percent approval
From page 1
In its the letter-complaint, the PNP-CIDG
recommended that the respondents be
prosecuted for inciting to sedition, cyber libel,
estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction
of justice.
Named as witness is Peter Joemel Advincula,
the self-confessed “Bikoy,” the hooded figure in
the viral “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, which
tagged some family members of President
Duterte in illegal drug activities.
Others named as respondents aside
from Robredo are Senators Ana Theresa
Hontiveros-Baraquel and Leila M. De Lima,
former senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, Otso
Diretso candidates Gary C. Alejano, Florin
T. Hilbay, Romulo B. Macalintal, Jose Manuel
I. Diokno, Paolo Benigno A. Aquino, Samira
Gutoc-Tomawis, and Lorenzo R. Tañada III.
Archbishops Pablo S. Virgilio S. David
and Socrates B. Villegas, Bishop Teodoro C.
Bacani and Honesto F. Ongtico, Bro. Armin
Luistro, and clergy members Robert Reyes
and trust rating, miles ahead of Vice President Leni
Robredo (55 percent).
In the same Pulse Asia poll, Senate President
Vicente Sotto III got 77 percent, former House Speaker
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had 22 percent, and Supreme
Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin garnered 41
percent.
“People keep on expressing their support to awaken
the critics and the detractors from their slumber,”
Panelo said.
“All the criticisms against this President relative to
drugs vis-à-vis the West Philippine Sea and other issues
of national interest are all wrong – no basis,” he added.
The Palace official also expressed confidence that
the Chief Executive will maintain his high ratings, until
his last day in office in 2022.
“For every issue that is thrown at him with such
negative force, the detractors and the opposition keep
saying the ratings will go down,” Panelo said.
“But the more they say that, the more it goes up. If
that is not a powerful language to them, I don’t know
what is not,” he asserted.
Not even Mr. Duterte’s unpopular stance on the
Sedition raps against Robredo, et al.
Named as witness is Peter Joemel
Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy,”
the hooded figure in the viral “Ang
Totoong Narcolist” videos.
and Albert E. Alejo were likewise included
in the charge sheet.
Other respondents are former Integrated
Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president
Abdiel Dan Elijah S. Fajardo, incumbent IBP
president Egon Q. Cayosa, lawyers Minerva
Ambrosio, Theodore O. Te, Serafin Salvador
and Philip Sawali.
The sworn statement of Advincula detailing
his supposed meetings with the respondents
and how they planned the so-called “Project
Sodoma” was submitted by PNP-CIDG.
“Project Sodoma” allegedly sought
to publicly discredit the President and
destabilize his government by implicating
him, his family, and other government
officials in drug syndicates.
It was allegedly planned as early as
August last year to derail the senatorial
bid of the candidates under the Hugpong
Pagbabago in the last election and, at
the same time, prop up those from the
opposition Otso Diretso.
The letter-complaint noted
that the harboring of criminal/
obstruction of justice complaint
was committed in the Jesuit
Communication Building,
Philippine Province Society
of Jesus, Ateneo de Manila
Recto Bank incident and the Philippines’ territorial
row with China dampened his popularity.
According to Panelo, this only shows that the
public understands and supports the administration’s
foreign policy with the President as its chief architect.
“Isn’t it that every time that issue is raised, he gets
hit hard? That survey was done at the height of the
Reed (Recto) Bank incident, so that was factored in
among those asked,” he said.
Critics attacked the President on his stand on the
Recto Bank sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a
bigger Chinese vessel.
Both countries have investigated the
incident.
Mr. Duterte’s 85 percent trust rating
basically keeps the same output as that of
the March survey. It technically remained
unchanged despite a drop of 2 percent from
University compound among other places.
Advincula first surfaced at the office of the
IBP on 6 May to ask for legal assistance to file
charges against members of the syndicate he
formerly belonged to.
Later that month, Advincula surrendered
to the PNP over estafa charges and tagged
the Liberal Party as the one behind “Project
Sodoma.”
Justice Secretary Menardo
Guevarra will form a panel
of state prosecutors
to conduct the
preliminary
investigation.
RED carpets are out and ready to receive visitors for the opening of the 18th Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth SoNA on Monday.
It shows how sincere he is, and the
people are satisfied with his method of
governance.
ANALY LABOR
87 percent that month, but an error margin of ±2.8
percent makes the slight dip insignificant.
Support to the President remains rooted in the
poorest sector of Filipinos, but those in the higher
economic strata also gave the Chief Executive high
trust numbers.
Mr. Duterte’s largest geographical base remains
in Mindanao, which gave the President a 91 percent
trust rating. Luzon and the Visayas responded without
changes.
Metro Manila respondents also gave Mr. Duterte
a high trust rating of 83 percent from 77 percent
in March.
From page 1
Kiss catcher
posting their photos on
social media in the socially
conservative country.
Ekramul Karim
Chowdhury posted photos of
the 18 teenagers to Facebook,
where they quickly garnered
thousands of comments.
But most users
criticized him for his
attempt at moral policing
and for publishing images
of the teens on the
Internet.
“It’s not an MP’s duty
to police people roaming
in the parks,” Facebook
user Fakhrul Islam wrote
shortly after their images
appeared on Tuesday.
The lawmaker, who
represents southern
Noakhali district, later
deleted the post, saying he
did not “understand social
media well” and should
PANELO
have hidden the couples’
faces.
“I saw some of them
kissing in the public
park while I was passing
by. That’s obscenity I
will not tolerate in my
constituency,” he told AFP.
Chowdhury defended
his actions, saying he did
the right thing and would
continue his “campaign.”
“I welcome the
criticisms. Otherwise, I
wouldn’t know what people
are thinking,” he said.
Local police chief Nabir
Hossain said the students
were handed over to their
parents.
“We told the students
not to go to parks and skip
school... It’s not good for
them,” he added.
Kissing in public is a
big social taboo in the
Muslim majority nation.
AFP

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
METRO
A7
Water woes. A boy
fills a plastic container
with water in a suburb
of Manila as water
services are still being
addressed. AFP
By Alvin Murcia
‘Murky water’ isolated
case — Maynilad
Milk tea-like water is just an isolated case
By Elmer N. Manuel
Following the outrage sparked by murky water
coming out from consumer’s faucets in various areas
in Metro Manila, Maynilad spokesman Jennifer Rufo
stressed that these incidents are “isolated cases.”
In a statement, Rufo clarified that the water
concessionaire is conducting flushing operations in
areas where severe water discoloration was reported
and advised consumers not to drink their water if it
appears to be discolored.
“Those are isolated incidents that we have to really
address. We will not tell our customers to drink it of
course,” Rufo said. “We hear our customers, we hear
their concerns and we are doing something about it.”
The Maynilad spokesman also explained that
they are already isolating the areas where water
discoloration is present.
“By flushing the network, we are also removing
the mineral deposits on the flow of water,” said Rufo.
“That way, the water network will be cleaned and for
our consumers who were affected, we will replace
it with water delivered through our water tankers.”
she added.
Rufo further said that the situation concerning
the discoloration of its water supply in some areas
“should improve in the coming days as we flush out
all mineral deposits that have been scoured in our
pipelines.”
“We have already isolated the areas where the
discoloration has been severe, and are intensifying
our flushing operations to clear out the water supply,”
Rufo said.
Maynilad — which supplies water to the west zone
of Metro Manila — was also challenged on Thursday
by enraged consumers to drink the turbid water from
their tap as they lamented the subpar service of the
water concessionaire.
Angry consumers pounded the gates of the
company’s office in Ermita while carrying buckets
and cups of murky water collected from their homes.
Maynilad officials, however, assured that flushing
operations are being carried out to address the
problem.
MMDA, NLEX set rerouting scheme
The Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) and the North Luzon
Expressway (NLEX) management will
spearhead plans to reroute traffic for
light vehicles in the cities of Caloocan,
Malabon and Navotas.
In a statement, the MMDA said
that it is already coordinating
with the Department of
Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) and
local government
units of the cities
to plan a new traffic scheme due to partial closure
of C3 Bridge starting 20 July for the construction
of the NLEX Harbor Link Segment.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.
“We are advising motorists to plan their
trips ahead and at the same time, seek their
understanding as the partial closure of C3 Bridge
is necessary to complete this project on time,” said
MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia.
The MMDA and NLEX Corp. will deploy traffic
marshals to manage the flow of vehicles and
minimize traffic gridlock within the construction
area and alternate routes.
To enable NLEX to construct the elevated road
crossing over Navotas River along C3, one bound of
C3 Bridge will be temporarily closed starting at 11
p.m. on Saturday until the project completion of the
works at the bridge in November 2019.
In the partial closure, light vehicles coming from C3
Road going to Radial Road 10, and vice versa, will be
rerouted along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue and Lapu-Lapu
Avenue, while heavy vehicles may still use the two-way
traffic route at the remaining bound of C3 Bridge.
Directional traffic signs will also be placed at
strategic locations to better guide the public and
traffic updates at the NLEX will be posted on
electronic variable message signs and announced
via social media accounts.
Family
of raped
toddler cries
for help
By Korinah Saromines
After the gruesome rape-slay of
a one-year-old boy by a construction
worker in Makati City the other day,
the family of the victim is asking
for financial support for the burial
of the child and according to the
grandmother of the boy, about
P36,000 is needed for the funeral
services fee.
In a statement, the
grandmother said that her
grandson cannot be buried unless
they settled the payment.
Aside from calls of justice,
the family is also asking
financial help.
“We are asking for help for
my grandson, we don’t have the
means to pay for the funeral
service,” said the grandmother
as the family is set to visit
the Manila South Cemetery
on Thursday to inquire for
interment fees and processes.
The child’s wake is located
on a sidewalk in Brgy. La Paz in
Makati City, and barangay officials
provided free tents for the wake,
while relatives and neighbors of
the child who visited the wake on
Wednesday chipped in for the food
and drinks for visitors.
Makati Police chief Colonel
Rogelio Simon said the suspect,
Gerard Riparip, is set to undergo
inquest proceedings and will be
facing a complaint of rape with
homicide at the City Prosecutor’s
Office.
Riparip was arrested
Wednesday morning after
police found blood stains on his
underwear.
Initial examination on the
child’s body showed sperm
cells were discovered inside his
anus and that it was already
“deteriorated.” It was also
discovered that the victim’s body
had several hematoma.
Neighbors said the boy was
last seen with Riparip, and the
family believes the child went with
Riparip after the suspect enticed
the victim to buy biscuits.
Bumper to bumper President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address is expected to cause heavy traffic.
By Neil Alcober
QCPD: Expect heavy
traffic during SoNA
The Quezon City Police District
(QCPD) on Thursday reminded
motorists to take alternate routes or
leave home early as heavy traffic is
expected along Commonwealth going
to Batasan Complex on Monday in
relation to the fourth State of the
Nation Address (SoNA) of President
Rodrigo Duterte on 22 July.
In a statement, QCPD Director
Police Brig. Gen. Joselito T Esquivel
Jr. said that heavy traffic will be
expected, particularly in roads
leading to and from the Batasang
A Pasig City prosecutor was not
spared from thievery as robbers broke
into his home and carted several jewelries
and other valuable items worth P500,000,
according to police reports on Thursday.
The victim, identified as Prosecutor
Alvin Joseph Porte and a resident at No.
4 AC Tadeo St., Marriela Romeo Village,
Pambansa Complex where the
President Duterte is set to deliver his
SoNA, thus the need for temporary
vehicle traffic rerouting.
“The public is therefore advised
to take note of the suggested
alternate routes which have been
earlier identified. It would also be
best advised to just stay home, if
possible until after the activity,”
Esquivel said.
He added those who will travel on
Monday are advised to take alternate
routes.
Prosecutor falls prey to thieves
Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, said
that he discovered his belongings in
disarray when he entered his home at
about 11 p.m.
Police said that unidentified suspects
were able to gain entry at the main
door of the prosecutor’s house and took
assorted wrist watches, set of jewelry, a
pair of Geox shoes and different coins
with an amount of more or less P500,000.
By Pat C. Santos
Vitas slaughterhouse slated for rehab
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko
Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday
announced his plans to rehabilitate
the 22,000-square meter lot of the
Vitas slaughterhouse in Tondo,
Manila, citing the need to have
a better local government-run
slaughter house.
Domagoso cited the sad state
of the very first slaughterhouse
in the country that is being run
by the city government for more
than six decades and vowed to
Total makeover The Vitas slaughterhouse in Tondo is slated for a much-needed refurbishing.
YUMMIE DINGDING
fast-track the construction of a new
slaughterhouse which is sanitary.
“Just imagine this present
state of our slaughterhouse very
filthy and the structure had been
neglected for several years and the
workers here are very demoralized
that they have to go to other
slaughterhouse just to work while
their original place is here in
Vitas,” Domagoso said.
The Manila mayor also promised
its constituents that the new
slaughterhouse will provide clean
and safe meat products before it
will be delivered to various markets
in the city.
Domagoso also announced that
he will be putting up medium rise
building inside the Vitas compound
as housing to slaughterhouse workers
as well as qualified poor resident who
are homeless and street dwellers.
The local chief executive revealed
that it will have the Office of the
Veterinary Inspection Board, Manila
city pound and slaughter house.

A8
METRO
John Henry Dodson, Editor
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Give it back The Botong Francisco mural as displayed in the National Museum, left and the Manila City Hall, right.
Labor at
30,000 feet
Woman passenger labors while
on board plane to Manila
Moreno supports
Botong mural return
The mural was discovered by city engineering to have been
damaged by seeping water as a result of water leaks at the
upper floor of the Bulwagan on 2012
YUMMIE DINGDING
Cabonillas was lying on the
plane’s floor and being attended
by two nurse passengers when the
medical team arrived
By Anthony Ching
The baby in a woman passenger’s womb
could hardly wait for the plane to touch down
Wednesday.
The woman, identified as Kaye Joyce
Cabonillas, 32, started laboring when the
Saudia Airlines where she was aboard, was
still 30,000 feet up in the air approaching
Manila.
Luckily, there were two nurse passengers
on the same flight, SV862, who were able to
attend to Cabonillas while she was undergoing
abdominal pains and contractions. There
was also vaginal bleeding, according to the
medical team of the Manila International
Airport Authority (MIAA) who fetched the
passenger when the plane touched down
at 1:39 p.m.
Cabonilas was lying on the plane’s floor
and being attended by two nurse passengers
when the medical team arrived.
“The passenger was already in active
labor,” the team said. “She was complaining
of abdominal contractions occurring every 5
to 10 minutes although she was conscious,
coherent and not in cardio-respiratory
distress.
The medical team immediately hooked
her to intravenous fluid and placed on
oxygen support at 1 to 2 L/min before she
was transferred to San Juan de Dios Hospital
via MIAA ambulance and endorsed to OB
residents on duty.
Upon reaching the emergency room, her
bag of water spontaneously ruptured, hence
she was immediately brought to the delivery
room and gave birth to a pre-term baby.
Valenzuela backs
DoTr projects
The LGU of Valenzuela is 101 percent supportive of the projects
of the DoTr
VALENZUELA CITY — After having briefed on projects and programs by officials
of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) led by Secretary Arthur Tugade, the local
government here gave a thumbs up and gave its overwhelming support.
“The LGU (local government unit) of Valenzuela is 101 percent supportive of the
projects of the DoTr. We know that they are good for Valenzuela and the country. What’s
good for the city is good for the country. Permits, you won’t have a problem with us. Call
me anytime you need me,” assured city mayor Rex Gatchalian during a courtesy call by
DoTr officials at the Valenzuela City Hall.
Also present was Rep. Wes Gatchalian.
During the visit, the DoTr presented and gave updates on projects and programs of
mutual concern.
“Sa issue ng ISF, the units are ready, the families are ready, and the LGU is ready to
pick them up and transfer to the houses,” the local chief executive said.
Tugade and Mayor Gatchalian assigned point persons from the DoTr and the City of
Valenzuela for a faster, direct, and more efficient coordination for concerns, issues and
queries related to projects.
Valenzuela City houses the depots of PNR Clark Phase 1 and Metro Manila Subway
projects of the DoTr. The Philippine Railway Institute shall also be constructed in
Valenzuela.
Also in attendance at the meeting were DoTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry de
Guzman, Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Undersecretary for Road
Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon, Assistant Secretary for Procurement and
Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and
I-ACT Chief Manny Gonzales, Northrail Chairman Eddie Quintos, LTFRB Board Member
Antonio Gardiola Jr. and DoTr Road Sector Consultant Alberto Suansing.
THIS Andres Bonifacio painting is part
of the mural depicting Filipino struggle
through history.
2 Customs
posers nabbed
By Raymart T. Lolo
Two suspects allegedly involved
in the unauthorized sale of seized
items from the Bureau of Customs
(BoC) were arrested Thursday.
The joint operation of the
BoC-Customs Intelligence and
Investigation Service (BoC-CIIS),
BoC-Enforcement and Security
Service (ESS) and the Philippine
National Police-Criminal
Investigation and Detection
Group (PNP-CIDG) led to the
apprehension of two persons
identified as Primo Baldon and
Richard Lagrolia.
According to the BoC, the
combined elements of CIIS and ESS
coordinated with Police Lieutenant
Colonel Cesar G. Paday-os, Chief,
CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit
(ATCU) on 12 July, regarding the
illegal activities of several individuals
posing as BoC employees in order
to victimize.
Initial report of the BoC
Intelligence Group showed that the
group’s modus is to post vehicle for
sale on social media at a very cheap
price to “lock-in” the agreement for
immediate meet up.
QC free from
swine virus
By Alvin Murcia
Mutual concern DoTr officials, led by Secretary Arthur Tugade, explains the progress of
their projects to the Valenzuela local government executives headed by Mayor Rex Gatchalian.
The Quezon City Veterinary
Department has assured residents that
city markets are free from the African
Swine Fever (ASF) virus.
“I can safely say that the city is free
from ASF because we have inspected
all markets selling frozen meet,” City
Veterinarian Dr. Ana Maria Cabel said.
In May, the Food and Drug
Administration released a list of
countries whose pork meat products
are contaminated with ASF.
Pork meat products from Russia,
Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia,
Poland, Romania, China, South Africa,
Zambia, Japan, Mongolia, and Vietnam
are temporarily banned in the country
as they are suspected to be affected
by ASF.

Jun Vallecera, Editor
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
HONEST
AETA AT
CLARK
PETROL tankers are transporting crude oil at a crude storage depot in Qingdao,
Eastern China's Shandong province. China's purchases of Omani oil reached 70
percent of total Omani oil exports in June, the monthly report of Oman's Ministry of Oil
and Gas said on Wednesday.
CHINA DAILY
B16
PACKAGING INDUSTRY
UNDERTAKES SUSTAINABILITY
By AJ Bajo
Rice Law needs
no review
B11
GREATER URGENCY
NEEDED VS AIDS
BOHOL EYES CARRYING
CAPACITY FOR TOURIST
SPOTS B16
B12
BUSINESS
ICTSI snags Brazil terminal concession rights
ICTSI will assume the operational,
development and other responsibilities under
the current concession contract
Razon-led International Container Terminal Services Inc.
(ICTSI) on Thursday said that it won the concession rights
bidding for Brazil’s Terminal de Contêineres 1 (T1Rio) in the
port of Rio de Janeiro City through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
ICTSI Americas B.V. on 17 July.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, ICTSI said it was
declared the winning bidder to acquire the 100 percent
share of Libra Terminal Rio S.A.’s (Libra Rio) from Boreal
Empreendimentos e Participações SA.
Libra Rio held the concession rights to operate, manage
and develop T1Rio since 1998. It was extended in 2011 to last
until 2048.
B9
“ICTSI will assume the operational, development and other
responsibilities under the current concession contract,” the
port operator said.
“The transfer of the facilities to ICTSI management is
expected to take place after all conditions precedent and
required regulatory approvals have been obtained,” it added.
ICTSI noted that the parties are expected to sign a share
purchase agreement in due course.
T1Rio Among T1Rio’s container terminal assets are
five ship-to-shore gantry cranes as well as a yard handling
equipment including over 16 rubber-tired-gantry cranes.
The terminal has a total land area of 18.8 hectares and
715 meters of quay wall with a design water depth of up to 16
meters, ICTSI said. This allows it to receive large container
vessels from global shipping lines.
ICTSI’s revenues from port operations grew 18 percent to
$383.8 million in the first quarter this year from $325.4 million
in the same period in 2018 owing to operational improvements
and higher contributions from its ports.
Regular milled rice improved by P7.19
to P38.56 a kilo from the posted
P45.75 a kilo in the same comparable
period
By Joshua Lao
Review for the Rice Tariffication Law is needless,
according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III
noting on the significant improvement on rice prices
in the market since its implementation.
This was in response to outgoing Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol’s
statement about
the law in line
with farm
A SURGE in imported rice has left farmer leaders
disgruntled.
DBCC revises
macroeconomic
outlook
The inflation assumption for 2019
is revised downward to the range
of 2.7 to 3.5 percent due to the
government’s decisive steps to
stabilize the general price level
The country’s most senior economic officials
bared on Thursday a new set of macroeconomic
projections for the country while retaining some of
it, given recent economic developments both local
and international.
Department of Budget Officer-in-Charge Janet
Abuel relayed the Development Budget Coordination
Committee’s (DBCC) latest economic forecasts,
which showed a lower inflation outlook for the year
while retaining the same rate for the succeeding
years.
“The inflation assumption for 2019 is revised
downward to the range of 2.7 to 3.5 percent due
to the government’s decisive steps to stabilize the
general price level,” Abuel said.
“Meanwhile, the inflation assumption for 2020
to 2022 is retained at 2 to 4 percent,” she added.
In terms of peso exchange rate against the dollar,
the Budget executive said that the Committee
decided to adjust it from the previous P52 to P55
range to P51 to P53 band while calibrating P51
to P55 from 2020 to 2022, reflecting the possible
strengthening of the local unit amid easing price
pressures and positive market sentiment.
Assumptions for Dubai crude oil prices were then
retained at $60 to $75 per barrel for 2019 to 2022.
In terms of revenue collections, the DBCC
penciled a massive P3.15 trillion for 2019, which
equates to 16.4 percent of the country’s gross
domestic product (GDP). For 2020, the government
is expected to grow its income to P3.54 trillion,
equivalent to 16.7 percent of GDP.
Government disbursements on the other hand,
are targeted to reach P3.77 trillion for 2019 while
some P4.21 trillion was programmed for 2020.
Moreover, the committee decided to keep its
deficit target at 3.2 percent of GDP from 2019 to
2022 “to sustain the government’s investments on
infrastructure and human capital development.”
“Accounting for the aforementioned factors, the
GDP growth target is maintained at 6 to 7 percent
in 2019, 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2020 and 7 to 8 percent
in 2021 and 2022,” the DBCC said.
JL
leaders and industry stakeholders’ call for President
Rodrigo Duterte to review the Rice Tariffication Law.
In his Facebook post last Wednesday, Piñol said
that farmers noted the steep decline in farm gate
prices of palay to diminish farmers’ income by as
much as P114 billion.
According to the Agriculture chief, stakeholders
likewise complained on the jacked-up rates being
charged to them by rice importers and traders despite
the reduced farm gate prices.
Citing a report from the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP), the Finance chief dismissed the
industry stakeholders’ comment that “some areas
reported a drop of only P1 to P2 a kilo, even with the
deluge of imported rice.”
Data from the report showed market prices for
well-milled rice dropping from P49.06 per kilo in
September 2018 to just P42.92 per kilo in June 2019.
Similarly, regular milled rice improved by P7.19
to P38.56 a kilo from the posted P45.75 a kilo in the
same comparable period.
To recall, the tariff law lifted quantitative
restrictions (QR) which have been limiting the
annual volume of rice imports to the country, a
scheme initially adapted to protect local farmers but
over the decades also weighed in on the price of the
staple grain.
Instead of the QR, tariffs will be imposed
on private importers under the new law, the
revenues of which will be used by the government
on programs to enhance the local rice industry’s
competitiveness.
Hot money
dipped in June
The country’s foreign portfolio investments,
also known as hot or speculative money, slowed
for the month of June, the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) said on Thursday.
“Transactions for the month yielded net
outflows of $36 million, resulting from gross
outflows of $1.44 billion and gross inflows of $1.41
billion,” the BSP said.
Also, the latest number translates to an
improvement from the posted net outflows of
$749.84 million in May 2019 and $516.12 million
in June 2018.
“Outflows for the month ($1.4 billion) were
lower compared the level recorded for May 2019
($2.0 billion or by 27.2 percent),” the BSP said.
Bulk of the investments for the month exited
to US, which took the lion share of 69 percent.
Meanwhile, gross inflows for the month of
June witnessed a 14.1 percent increment at $1.41
billion versus the posted $1.23 billion monthago.
Majority of these investments reaching 73.6
percent were heavily placed in securities listed in
the local bourse while the remaining 26.4 percent
went to peso-denominated government papers.
By country source, the United Kingdom,
Malaysia, Singapore, the US and Hong Kong were
the top five investor countries for the month,
comprising the bulk of the overall figure at 82.2
percent.
JLao
2 broadcast franchises renewed
Malacañang disclosed that the proposed bills
actually lapsed into law on 22 April
WIGMAKERS in Juancheng county in China’s Shandong province are cashing on the popularity
of wigs with human hair and synthetic fiber.
CHINA DAILY
ALTHOUGH the rainy weather has further slowed down the rush hour traffic, it hasn’t interrupted work on the
MRT-7’s sublevel portion that stretches along Commonwealth Avenue in Philcoa, Quezon City. ANALY LABOR
By Kristina Maralit
The bills renewing the
broadcast franchise of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBP) and TV5
Network for another 25 years have
lapsed into law following President
Rodrigo Duterte’s inaction within
the period prescribed in the
Constitution.
Republic Act (RA) 11319 and
11320 extends, respectively, the
franchise of the CBCP and TV5
allowing them to construct, install,
establish, operate and maintain
radio and or television broadcasting
stations in the Philippines for
religious, cultural, and commercial
purposes.
Malacañang disclosed that the
proposed bills actually lapsed into
law on 22 April. Official copies of
the documents, however, were only
made possible yesterday.
Under the 1987 Constitution,
any bill that is neither signed
nor vetoed by the President will
automatically lapse into law 30
days after it was forwarded by
Congress.
Presidential spokesman
Salvador Panelo, in a news
conference, clarified that Mr.
Duterte not signing the proposed
measures is nothing personal even
with his past verbal attacks against
the Catholic Church and some
media entities and personalities.
“If he let it lapse, it only means
it’s okay with him. Effectively, it’s
like he has also signed it,” said the
Palace official.
The Chief Executive has been
criticized by some leaders of the
Catholic Church over his policies,
particularly his unforgiving
campaign against illegal drugs.
He also drew flak for saying God
is “stupid” and that “90 percent of
priests are gay.”
TV5, meanwhile, had its
franchise renewed while the fate
of another media conglomerate,
ABS-CBN, remains hanging in the
balance.
Mr. Duterte in the past has
repeatedly said he would not renew
the franchise of the Lopez-owned
franchise which is expiring at the
end of 2020.
The President on occasion has
publicly called out ABS-CBN for not
airing his 2016 campaign ads for its
alleged biased reporting against his
administration.
EMPLOYER’S
CORNER
Ed Lacson
Ed Lacson’s column will
resume next week.

B10 BUSINESS
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Recent monetary pause deemed appropriate
Monetary policy settings are deemed to be
appropriate with latest baseline inflation forecasts
By Joshua Lao
The recent pause undertaken
by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) in its key interest rates
last 20 June this year was eyed
as appropriate by its Monetary
Board (MB) given economic data
at that time.
“The MB deemed the prevailing
monetary policy settings to be
appropriate with latest baseline
inflation forecasts settling within
the target range of 2 to 4 percent
for both 2019 and 2020,” the BSP
said on Thursday.
“At the same time, the MB
observed that the risks to the
inflation outlook are broadly
balanced for 2019 and 2020,” it
added.
According to the central bank,
the softening global economic
prospects amid possible easing
in global demand and increased
trade tensions continue to offset
inflation outlook.
In line with expectations that
price pressures will continue to
decline, the BSP decided to revise
its inflation forecast for the year
to 2.7 percent from the previous
2.9 percent. Likewise, inflation
outlook for 2020 was penciled at
ALLHOME is the home depot of the Villar group. Its
stores are located in the Vista Malls which are also
owned by the Villars.
Villar’s AllHome
eyeing P20.7B IPO
Net proceeds from their initial
public offering will be used for
capital expenditures and initial
working capital to fund store
expansion and for debt repayment
By AJ Bajo
Manny Villar’s home furnishings and
construction supplies retailer AllHome Corp.
plans to go public this year with a maiden offer
worth P20.7 billion.
In a 17 July preliminary prospectus posted
on the company’s website, AllHome said
that it will sell up to 1.125 billion primary
and secondary common shares with an
overallotment option of up to 168.75 million
common shares for P16 per share.
The company said the net proceeds from
their initial public offering (IPO) will be used
“for capital expenditures and initial working
capital to fund store expansion and for debt
repayment.”
AllHome is set to be the first company
to concretize plans to go public in
2019 just as the local bourse has
been trading positively on improving
market conditions.
According to AllHome’s initial timeline,
it aims to be listed at the Philippine Stock
Exchange under the trading symbol “HOME”
on 1 October following the final pricing on 16
September and the offer period from 18 to 24
September.
AllHome’s net profit surged to P207.1 million
in the first three months of 2019 from P43.6
million in the same period in 2018. It currently
has 22 stores nationwide with plans to expand
its footprint in other key cities such as Davao
and Bacolod.
“Looking at (AllHome’s) preliminary
prospectus, the financials are solid. Perhaps
many will push through with their plans should
the positive sentiment continue this year plus,
(if) AllHome proves to be successful in its
launch,” head of sales for local brokerage firm
Luis Limlingan said.
AllHome is set to be the first company to
concretize plans to go public in 2019 just as
the local bourse has been trading positively on
improving market conditions. The PSE index
entered bull market territory on Monday at
8,365, up 2.7 percent.
Research associate for Philstocks Financials
Japhet Tantiangco said the companies
“could be waiting for the time being to see
if the market can hold its ground in the bull
territory.”
Other firms that have expressed interest on
conducting an IPO include The Big Chill Inc.,
AirAsia, and Cal-Comp Technology Philippines.
“At the same time, they may want to
confirm first if the economy would bounce back
from its growth slowdown in the first quarter
of 2019,” Tantiangco said.
a slightly lower rate of 3 percent
versus the last 3.1 percent.
Moreover, the BSP noted on the
risks to global economic prospects
to remain on the downside as per
view of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF).
“The IMF continues to view
the balance of risks to the global
outlook as being on the downside,”
it said.
“Policy uncertainty such as
the state of regulatory and fiscal
policies in the US, spillovers from
tighter global financial conditions
and geopolitical risks as the
primary downside risks to global
growth over the medium term,”
it added.
To recall, the MB decided to
maintain the rate to which it
borrows from and lends to banks
at 4.5 percent while keeping its
overnight deposit and lending
rates at 4 percent and 5 percent,
respectively.
In all, the central bank noted
on this pause as prudent, allowing
them to “observe and assess
the impact of prior monetary
adjustments,” which includes
its decision of phased reduction
in bank deposit reserves to be
completed by the end of July.
PASSENGERS are seen in the Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing Jiangsu province. Nanjing is the second biggest city in eastern China and the transportation
hub of the region.
AFP
THURSDAY
18 JULY 2019
PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
FINANCIALS
BANKS
ASIA UNITED 58.5 58.9 58.5 58.9 1,302,285
BDO UNIBANK 147.9 150 147.7 147.8 165,259,838
BANK PH ISLANDS 90 92.35 90 92 741,051,616
CHINABANK 27.6 27.65 27.5 27.65 2,642,230
EAST WEST BANK 12.64 12.74 12.52 12.58 8,331,752
METROBANK 77 78.5 76.85 77.4 171,010,277.50
PHIL NATL BANK 55 55.45 53.9 54 11,702,760
PSBANK 58.05 58.4 58.05 58.4 124,193.50
PHILTRUST 115 115 115 115 34,500
RCBC 27.5 27.6 27.5 27.5 754,000
SECURITY BANK 182.1 187.5 182.1 187.4 73,656,726
UNION BANK 60.5 61.95 60 60 1,022,766
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
BRIGHT KINDLE 1.2 1.21 1.2 1.21 146,340
BDO LEASING 2.34 2.36 2.32 2.36 1,402,530
COL FINANCIAL 18.6 18.7 18.6 18.7 85,780
FERRONOUX HLDG 4.79 4.8 4.65 4.8 451,340
IREMIT 1.39 1.39 1.37 1.37 5,500
MEDCO HLDG 0.465 0.465 0.465 0.465 46,500
MANULIFE 789.5 789.5 789.5 789.5 39,475
NTL REINSURANCE 1.01 1.03 1 1.02 355,800
PHIL STOCK EXCH 194.9 195 189.5 194 98,875
SUN LIFE 1,765 1,810 1,755 1,810 459,700
INDUSTRIAL
ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, POWER & WATER
ALSONS CONS 1.34 1.34 1.33 1.33 21,290
ABOITIZ POWER 37.5 37.5 37 37.2 96,566,630
BASIC ENERGY 0.265 0.275 0.265 0.275 695,500
FIRST GEN 26.3 26.5 25.75 26.5 59,451,070
FIRST PHIL HLDG 90.2 90.6 90.1 90.1 13,689,935.50
MERALCO 378.6 383 378.6 379 37,626,574
MANILA WATER 24.6 24.65 24.5 24.6 43,515,260
PETRON 5.85 5.9 5.81 5.81 8,099,881
PETROENERGY 4.84 4.84 4.81 4.81 178,250
PHINMA ENERGY 2.59 2.6 2.52 2.55 21,381,270
PHX PETROLEUM 12 12.06 11.8 12.06 699,730
PILIPINAS SHELL 39.9 39.95 39.4 39.5 5,465,800
SPC POWER 6.51 6.6 6.5 6.51 913,821
VIVANT 16.1 16.1 16.1 16.1 6,440
FOOD, BEVERAGE & TOBACCO
AGRINURTURE 14.46 14.48 14.24 14.32 8,148,828
CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.7 16.7 16.48 16.7 63,330
CENTURY FOOD 14.72 15.1 14.72 14.8 10,832,280
DEL MONTE 6.3 6.3 6.26 6.26 170,728
DNL INDUS 10.3 10.4 10.3 10.34 11,112,744
EMPERADOR 7.5 7.55 7.5 7.54 341,529
SMC FOODANDBEV 104 104.9 102 104.9 27,495,604
ALLIANCE SELECT 0.83 0.83 0.82 0.82 934,040
GINEBRA 60.9 60.9 59.1 60.5 20,457,789.50
JOLLIBEE 282 282 279.4 280 92,683,352
MACAY HLDG 9.1 9.28 9.06 9.28 12,718
MAXS GROUP 14.42 14.46 14.1 14.2 3,982,188
MG HLDG 0.186 0.197 0.186 0.196 182,510
PEPSI COLA 1.79 1.8 1.72 1.73 12,548,230
SHAKEYS PIZZA 14.8 14.8 14.46 14.46 1,427,358
ROXAS AND CO 1.45 1.48 1.45 1.47 1,085,780
RFM CORP 5.09 5.1 4.9 5.09 1,029,407
ROXAS HLDG 2.11 2.3 2.11 2.3 624,660
SWIFT FOODS 0.129 0.129 0.129 0.129 6,450
UNIV ROBINA 171 171.4 168.8 169.1 58,314,351
VITARICH 1.29 1.32 1.28 1.31 9,587,950
VICTORIAS 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.53 35,420
CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE & ALLIED SERVICES
CONCRETE A 83.2 85 83 83.2 469,800
CONCRETE B 95 95 93 94.4 93,157
CEMEX HLDG 2.78 2.85 2.78 2.81 6,625,870
DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.5 5.5 5.32 5.32 399,329
EAGLE CEMENT 15.46 15.66 15.2 15.2 7,444,218
EEI CORP 11.1 11.2 11.1 11.1 1,795,766
HOLCIM 14.1 14.38 13.9 14.34 2,347,636
MEGAWIDE 18.62 18.62 18.5 18.58 12,015,644
PHINMA 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 51,520
TKC METALS 1.15 1.19 1.15 1.18 304,080
VULCAN INDL 1.41 1.41 1.38 1.39 2,635,240
CHEMICALS
CHEMPHIL 115.8 117.2 108.1 115.8 162,057
CROWN ASIA 2.04 2.04 2.02 2.04 154,520
EUROMED 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.71 1,710
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT
CONCEPCION 41 41 41 41 2,410,800
GREENERGY 2.44 2.45 2.32 2.35 13,025,250
INTEGRATED MICR 9.5 9.74 9.5 9.61 1,507,518
IONICS 1.7 1.7 1.68 1.7 468,310
PANASONIC 5.76 5.76 5.76 5.76 362,880
SFA SEMICON 1.1 1.14 1.1 1.14 111,040
CIRTEK HLDG 18.5 18.98 17.3 17.5 31,151,478
HOLDING FIRMS
ABACORE CAPITAL 0.99 1.01 0.98 1 10,944,370
ASIABEST GROUP 15.52 18.98 15.3 17.7 18,288,408
AYALA CORP 942 949.5 940 948 227,220,575
ABOITIZ EQUITY 56.35 57.15 56.35 56.5 54,671,706.50
ALLIANCE GLOBAL 15.64 15.74 15.48 15.58 47,741,554
AYALA LAND LOG 4 4.01 3.85 3.97 10,247,950
ANSCOR 7 7.01 7 7 1,098,336
ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.76 0.76 0.74 0.74 48,130
ATN HLDG A 1.29 1.31 1.28 1.29 914,040
ATN HLDG B 1.31 1.32 1.31 1.32 191,310
COSCO CAPITAL 7.18 7.2 7.14 7.18 31,247,239
DMCI HLDG 10.5 10.58 10.46 10.5 10,686,754
FILINVEST DEV 14.04 14.18 13.9 14.18 579,154
FORUM PACIFIC 0.238 0.238 0.238 0.238 2,380
GT CAPITAL 914 930 914 930 111,572,210
HOUSE OF INV 6.45 6.49 6.41 6.49 2,609,329
JG SUMMIT 69.5 69.95 69.15 69.9 56,750,804.50
JOLLIVILLE HLDG 6.36 6.39 6.36 6.39 42,759
LODESTAR 0.52 0.53 0.51 0.52 68,130
LOPEZ HLDG 4.6 4.64 4.59 4.6 3,819,490
LT GROUP 15.94 15.98 15.64 15.64 25,250,726
MABUHAY HLDG 0.65 0.66 0.63 0.65 453,390
MJC INVESTMENTS 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 5,220
METRO PAC INV 4.75 4.76 4.72 4.75 50,332,650
PACIFICA 0.04 0.04 0.039 0.039 1,324,700
PRIME MEDIA 1.74 1.75 1.63 1.68 7,563,950
REPUBLIC GLASS 2.9 2.93 2.85 2.93 192,080
SOLID GROUP 1.4 1.4 1.38 1.38 34,900
SM INVESTMENTS 980 1,000 980 985 71,785,910
SAN MIGUEL CORP 175.6 176.9 175.1 175.1 94,800,883
SOC RESOURCES 0.83 0.85 0.82 0.84 191,620
TOP FRONTIER 260.2 264.4 260.2 263 903,214
WELLEX INDUS 0.237 0.246 0.237 0.245 711,340
ZEUS HLDG 0.295 0.3 0.29 0.3 510,900
PROPERTY
ARTHALAND CORP 1.09 1.09 1.03 1.07 10,658,930
ANCHOR LAND 11 11.4 10.62 11.38 16,464
AYALA LAND 52.2 52.5 52.1 52.35 540,514,795.50
BELLE CORP 2.32 2.34 2.32 2.34 81,570
A BROWN 0.9 0.9 0.87 0.88 2,879,240
CITYLAND DEVT 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 1,840
CROWN EQUITIES 0.243 0.243 0.242 0.242 1,002,320
CEBU HLDG 6.1 6.2 6.08 6.2 129,270
CEB LANDMASTERS 5.25 5.38 5.2 5.26 20,064,663
CENTURY PROP 0.63 0.65 0.62 0.63 16,869,290
CYBER BAY 0.48 0.5 0.465 0.47 1,994,250
DOUBLEDRAGON 25.2 25.25 24.85 25.2 2,589,900
DM WENCESLAO 9.9 9.9 9.77 9.77 2,417,462
EMPIRE EAST 0.48 0.49 0.475 0.475 4,611,700
NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P)
EVER GOTESCO 0.133 0.133 0.133 0.133 13,300
FILINVEST LAND 1.98 2.02 1.96 2.01 130,796,750
GLOBAL ESTATE 1.4 1.41 1.39 1.4 3,164,790
8990 HLDG 15.8 15.9 15.78 15.86 1,052,164
PHIL INFRADEV 1.74 1.75 1.71 1.73 3,928,510
CITY AND LAND 0.81 0.83 0.81 0.83 119,290
MEGAWORLD 6.25 6.36 6.24 6.25 56,725,137
MRC ALLIED 0.355 0.375 0.355 0.37 30,095,500
PHIL ESTATES 0.51 0.54 0.5 0.51 13,417,610
PRIMEX CORP 2.13 2.14 2.1 2.14 1,447,470
ROBINSONS LAND 26.4 27.1 26.3 27 34,246,490
PHIL REALTY 0.43 0.43 0.415 0.415 259,600
ROCKWELL 2.27 2.29 2.26 2.29 468,570
SHANG PROP 3.19 3.2 3.19 3.2 159,920
STA LUCIA LAND 2.03 2.08 2.03 2.08 1,038,740
SM PRIME HLDG 38.95 38.95 38.3 38.3 261,988,685
STARMALLS 6.35 6.4 6.3 6.32 764,811
SUNTRUST HOME 0.81 0.85 0.81 0.81 506,010
VISTA LAND 7.84 7.87 7.65 7.79 113,367,926
SERVICES
MEDIA
ABS CBN 17.44 17.6 17.28 17.34 5,907,124
GMA NETWORK 5.39 5.41 5.38 5.4 296,297
MANILA BULLETIN 0.54 0.55 0.53 0.55 87,650
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GLOBE TELECOM 2,212 2,232 2,182 2,230 112,573,740
PLDT 1,200 1,200 1,176 1,180 209,434,355
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
APOLLO GLOBAL 0.05 0.05 0.046 0.049 779,150
DFNN INC 6 6.3 6 6.3 238,197
IMPERIAL 1.9 1.93 1.85 1.85 94,040
ISLAND INFO 0.117 0.121 0.117 0.121 104,760
ISM COMM 5.79 5.81 5.68 5.75 11,534,771
NOW CORP 2.59 2.62 2.52 2.57 8,203,000
TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 982,800
PHILWEB 4.3 4.3 3.9 4.19 31,056,930
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
2GO GROUP 11.06 11.1 11.06 11.1 178,650
CHELSEA 8 8.07 7.8 7.84 14,090,072
CEBU AIR 95.5 95.75 95.3 95.4 20,529,919.50
INTL CONTAINER 141.5 145 141.2 142.7 100,304,216
LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.88 0.89 0.88 0.89 160,980
MACROASIA 19.46 19.52 19.44 19.5 7,934,354
METROALLIANCE A 1.51 1.51 1.5 1.5 43,750
METROALLIANCE B 1.54 1.54 1.54 1.54 4,620
PAL HLDG 9.39 9.43 9.39 9.42 598,537
HARBOR STAR 2.21 2.21 2.16 2.2 3,930,860
HOTEL & LEISURE
ACESITE HOTEL 1.43 1.51 1.42 1.51 650,330
BOULEVARD HLDG 0.062 0.064 0.06 0.064 2,555,460
WATERFRONT 0.84 0.88 0.83 0.87 12,639,010
EDUCATION
CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.19 7.19 7.19 7.19 1,438
IPEOPLE 9.7 9.7 9.52 9.52 261,200
STI HLDG 0.8 0.8 0.78 0.8 3,679,140
CASINOS & GAMING
BERJAYA 2.55 2.62 2.55 2.59 905,710
BLOOMBERRY 11.9 11.96 11.78 11.9 52,018,338
PACIFIC ONLINE 2.97 2.98 2.95 2.98 181,020
LEISURE AND RES 3.82 3.88 3.71 3.8 1,590,900
MANILA JOCKEY 3.8 3.95 3.75 3.78 1,282,330
PH RESORTS GRP 5.25 5.35 5.25 5.35 164,880
PREMIUM LEISURE 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.74 2,757,890
TRAVELLERS 5.5 5.52 5.43 5.49 5,399,129
RETAIL
METRO RETAIL 2.85 2.85 2.75 2.76 6,095,600
PUREGOLD 45.55 46 45.25 45.3 76,223,330
ROBINSONS RTL 75.6 77.8 75.6 77 17,365,232 4
PHIL SEVEN CORP 141 142 141 142 2,802,530
SSI GROUP 3.6 3.63 3.38 3.42 44,120,590
WILCON DEPOT 16.36 16.36 15.68 15.7 206,037,754
OTHER SERVICES
APC GROUP 0.55 0.56 0.54 0.56 3,049,650
EASYCALL 10.38 10.38 10 10.22 467,962
GOLDEN BRIA 427.6 427.8 427 427.8 34,190
IPM HLDG 5.75 5.75 5.7 5.75 88,825
PRMIERE HORIZON 0.83 0.84 0.81 0.82 26,629,620
SBS PHIL CORP 9.18 9.28 9.18 9.28 13,133,964
MINING & OIL
MINING
ATOK 14.84 14.84 13.58 14 504,410
APEX MINING 1.23 1.25 1.19 1.2 6,631,570
ABRA MINING 0.0017 0.0017 0.0016 0.0016 398,800
ATLAS MINING 2.71 2.71 2.7 2.7 27,020
COAL ASIA HLDG 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 173,600
CENTURY PEAK 2.8 2.84 2.78 2.84 475,190
DIZON MINES 7.83 7.83 7.63 7.82 14,614
FERRONICKEL 1.47 1.48 1.45 1.47 30,621,000
GEOGRACE 0.22 0.223 0.218 0.222 293,580
LEPANTO A 0.108 0.109 0.108 0.108 198,730
LEPANTO B 0.118 0.12 0.118 0.12 10,740
MARCVENTURES 1.17 1.24 1.16 1.18 915,530
NIHAO 1.06 1.09 1.06 1.08 256,880
NICKEL ASIA 2.33 2.44 2.33 2.43 26,792,700
ORNTL PENINSULA 0.86 0.87 0.85 0.87 334,380
PX MINING 3.85 3.85 3.74 3.78 2,182,700
SEMIRARA MINING 23.5 23.8 23.35 23.75 27,510,980
UNITED PARAGON 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 12,600
OIL
ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 389,200
ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 7,200
PHILODRILL 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 121,000
PHINMA PETRO 6.1 6.42 5.7 5.71 14,477,813
PXP ENERGY 9.15 9.58 9.15 9.26 47,326,178
PREFERRED
HOUSE PREF A 97.5 99 97.5 97.5 538,726
AC PREF B2 493 493 492 492 14,026,930
ALCO PREF B 101 101 101 101 80,800
ALCO PREF C 100 100 100 100 50,000
DD PREF 99.5 99.5 99.1 99.5 208,198
SMC FB PREF 2 988 990 988 990 870,500
FGEN PREF G 105.5 105.5 102.1 103 1,561,545
FPH PREF C 449.8 450 449.8 450 17,996
GLO PREF P 498 498 498 498 488,040
GTCAP PREF B 940 945 940 945 18,850
LR PREF 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 368,280
PNX PREF 3A 101.2 101.2 100 100 2,264,495
PNX PREF 3B 107.5 107.5 107.5 107.5 3,225
PCOR PREF 2A 993 993 993 993 526,290
PCOR PREF 2B 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 5,000
PCOR PREF 3A 1,011 1,011 1,010 1,011 6,323,705
PCOR PREF 3B 1,012 1,014 1,012 1,014 561,670
SMC PREF 2C 76.9 76.9 76.5 76.7 297,868.50
SMC PREF 2D 73.85 73.85 73.5 73.85 590,100
SMC PREF 2E 74 75 73 75 4,916,120
SMC PREF 2F 75 75 75 75 2,497,500
SMC PREF 2G 74.45 75 74.45 75 1,018,769.50
PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
ABS HLDG PDR 16.8 16.8 16.72 16.8 4,767,790
GMA HLDG PDR 5.37 5.37 5.37 5.37 55,848
WARRANTS
LR WARRANT 1.86 1.87 1.81 1.81 933,610
SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING
ITALPINAS 5.4 5.4 5.17 5.37 2,616,978
XURPAS 1.13 1.13 1.1 1.11 2,709,910
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
FIRST METRO ETF 124 124 123.6 123.8 403,989

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
BUSINESS B11
New law provides support to startups
It is geared towards giving incentives for new businesses
that foster an innovative entrepreneurial culture in the
Philippines
By Kristina Maralit
A new law encouraging Filipinos to
form startup companies by providing
incentives and business assistance has
been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Republic Act (RA) 11337, or the
Innovative Startup Act, enacted by the
Chief Executive on 26 April but was only
By Maria Romero
GCash bags BSP awards
released by Malacañang on Thursday,
is geared towards giving incentives
for new businesses that “foster an
innovative entrepreneurial culture in
the Philippines.”
As stated in the new charter,
the Departments of Science and
Technology (DoST), Information and
Communications Technology (DICT),
At the BSP Awards ceremony were (from left) V. Bruce Tolentino,
BSP Monetary Board Member; GCash officials Ian Camara chief
complianceofficer; Greg Igaya, chief tchnology; JF Darre, chief data
officer; and Chris Manguera, chief marketing officer; and BSP Governor
Dr. Benjamin Diokno.
For its innovative and responsive digital financial services, the
Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas (BSP) recognized G-Xchange Inc. as
its Outstanding Partner for Digital Transformation and Outstanding
Partner for Innovative Financial Services for 2019.
On top of bagging the two awards, G-Xchange, the registered
entity for GCash, was also a finalist for Outstanding Partner for
Digital Excellence and Top Instapay Volume Contributor, which
recognizes InstaPay participants that contributed significantly
toward the realization of the BSP’s 20 percent by 2020 vision under
the National Retail Payment System project.
The 16th Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for BSP
Stakeholders was held on 10 July to recognize banking and nonbanking
institutions who have supported the BSP’s initiatives and
advocacy programs. This year’s theme was “One Team One Goal:
Resilient Partnership Towards Inclusive Economic Growth.”
The BSP also chose G-Xchange Inc. as Outstanding Partner for
Innovative Mobile Financial Services — Non-Bank because it “provides
mobile financial services that are responsive to the needs of its
customers, offers the widest range of options through the mobile app,
and uses innovative solutions to manage account security.”
GCash is known for its financial services, which include the
first fully mobile credit line through GCredit; the highest interest
earning on savings through GSave and accessible insurance and
investment options through Invest Money and GCash Insure.
Microsoft empowers PAL workforce
To increase employee productivity and customer satisfaction
while reducing costs, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Kaizala to
the business operations of the flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL)
by streamlining communication channels.
Microsoft Kaizala is a phone-number based, simple, and secure
mobile chat app that enables seamless connection and work
coordination across all networks– from the organization to vendors,
partners, suppliers, and customers.
PAL is keen to digitally transform internal business operations
as it modernizes paper-based systems and reduces delays in
communication times. The application has allowed it to enhance
security, reduce carbon footprint, and improve communication
channels with over 8,000 employees across the globe.
“As Philippine Airlines continues to provide better services
overall, Kaizala has allowed us to understand the needs of our
workforce such that a healthier work environment is cultivated,”
says Rosie Domingo, assistant manager of Integrated Operations
Control at Philippine Airlines.
“By streamlining communications channels, we not only reduce
unnecessary work but also increase employee satisfaction. In effect,
this increases customer satisfaction that gives us the opportunity
to increase our rating in terms of global air travel standards.”
and the Trade and Industry (DTI) are
mandated to formulate the Philippine
Startup Development Program, which
details benefits for startups.
Said agencies are also to oversee
the research and development of
startups, promote the access to startup
development programs, and support the
participation of startups in international
competitions and conferences.
“It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to foster inclusive growth through
an innovative economy by streamlining
government and nongovernment initiatives,
in both local and international spheres, to
create new jobs and opportunities, improve
production, and advance innovation and
trade in the country,” the RA 11337 stated.
Startup businesses may be
provided the following incentives
under the new law: full or partial
subsidy for the registration and cost
in the application of permits and
certificates required for business
registration; endorsement for
prioritized processing of applications
with other government agencies; full
or partial subsidy for the use of
facilities and spaces to be provided
by the government; and grant-in-aid
Developing Asian economies immune from trade war
Trade tensions between the
United States and China won’t
be affecting some 45 developing
countries in the Asia-Pacific
region, where steady growth is
being forecast for this year and
2020.
Even as the trade conflict
continues, the region is
set to maintain strong but
moderating growth.
Dubbed collectively as
“Developing Asia,” the 45 countries
will reflect a combined 5.7 percent
regional gross domestic product
(GDP) growth in 2019 and 5.6
percent in 2020, according to the
Asian Development Bank’s (ADB)
June Asian Development Outlook
(ADO).
The figures were consistent
from its April forecast but slightly
curtailed from the region’s 5.9
percent growth in 2018.
However, if the newly
industrialized economies of
Hong Kong, China; the Republic
of Korea; Singapore and Taipei,
were taken out of the outlook
computation, the remaining
countries in the region could
register an overall 6.1 to 6.2
percent growth in 2019 and would
maintain that rate in 2020.
“Even as the trade conflict
continues, the region is set to
maintain strong but moderating
growth. However, until the world’s
two largest economies reach
an agreement, uncertainty will
continue to weigh on the regional
outlook,” ADB chief economist
Yasuyuki Sawada said.
Sawada noted that the trade
spat between the two economies
remains to post a great risk
to their outlook despite the
supposed truce in late June
that would have allowed trade
negotiations to resume.
In East Asia, growth
projections were reduced to
5.6 percent in 2019 after the
Republic of Korea posted a
“slower than expected activity.”
Its 2020 growth forecast remains
stable at 5.5 percent, however.
“Growth for the subregion’s
largest economy, People’s Republic
of China, is also unchanged, with
forecasts of 6.3 percent in 2019
and 6.1 percent in 2020, as policy
support offsets softening growth
in domestic and external demand,”
the ADB said.
BRIEFS
A WOMAN looks at socks displayed by a vendor at a shopping district in Seoul on 18 July 2019. South Korea's
central bank on 18 July, cut its key interest rate for the first time in three years as the economy struggles to rebound
at a time of sluggish global growth and with the country embroiled in a trade spat with Japan.
AFP
Moreover, ADB’s South
Asia economic outlook is
stout with growth proposed
at 6.6 percent in 2019 and 6.7
percent in 2020, higher than
its April projection.
Meanwhile, India’s growth
outlook was trimmed to 7
percent in 2019 and 7.2 percent
in 2020 after its 2018 fiscal
output weakened.
For Southeast Asia including
the Philippines, the economic
growth prospect marginally
dropped to 4.8 percent in 2019
and 4.9 percent in 2020 as the
trade and electronics cycle
slowed.
Packaging industry
undertakes sustainability
Among the challenges that all enterprises have to face is the issue of
sustainability. Local companies have now placed sustainability and the
environment among their priorities
The Philippine packaging industry is bracing
itself for changes as it prepares to face the
challenges of sustainability and the growing micro,
small, medium-sized enterprises (MSME) market.
In his report at the ProPak Asia 2019 Global
Packaging Forum in Bangkok, Packaging Institute
of the Philippines (PIP) president Stefano Paolo
Buñag reported that the packaging industry in the
Philippines is alive and well.
“The Philippine economy is doing well and the
government has embarked on an aggressive move
to improve the country’s infrastructure, ways to
improve doing business, and is supporting the
MSME sector,” Buñag reported.
He explained that out of 924,721 business
enterprises operating in the Philippines in 2017,
920,677 of these are MSME, stressing that this
market is underserved. “Concerns we have for the
MSME include the costs of production and the
MOQs (minimum order quantities) for packaging
materials of these small operations,” he said.
He noted that the country’s MSME have steadily
improved their packaging — both aesthetically and
functionally. But he insists more can be done
Among the challenges that all enterprises
have to face is the issue of sustainability. Local
companies have now placed sustainability and the
environment among their priorities. And some of
them are starting to partner with government and
other organizations to address the retrieval and
reduction of post-consumption packaging waste.
The use of
plastic, in
particular,
LOCAL packaging companies are now prioritizing sustainability and the environment.
is a global issue. “Total bans are looming in
Canada, some EU countries, as well as in the
Philippines,” said Buñag, while mentioning that
research and development is already being done by
government institutions as well as the academe to
find alternatives to this most common of packaging
materials.
He shared, for example, that the Department
of Science and Technology has developed a
biodegradable thermoplastic polymer made of
starch and nanoparticles.
The private sector is also getting involved.
Manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods are
deploying innovative methods of dispensing their
products by utilizing refilling stations with reusable
or repurposed containers. A beverage company has
partnered with local organizations to recycle plastic
waste into benches, apparel, bags, chairs and decor.
“A food manufacturer has even partnered with
local organizations to address the retrieval of
post-consumed packaging waste by creating a
raffle draw — giving out raffle tickets in exchange
for a certain number of used packaging,” shared Buñag.
The move to reduce and retrieve post-consumed
packaging materials is now a global mission. The
European Union, in fact, has already drafted a new
regulation dubbed the Circular Economy Package,
which is targeted at improving the efficient use
of materials, including rules for packaging and
packaging waste.
These new rules include increases in the
recycling rates for all packaging materials. Plastic
packaging, in particular, has to reach a recycling
rate of 55 percent in 2030 and all plastic packaging
needs to be recyclable 100 percent in 2030.
“Major investments in recycling capacity and
infrastructure will be needed to fulfill the targets
of recyclability,” Buñag said.
for research, development, training
and expansion projects.
To help boost the startups in the
country, the Philippine Economic Zone
Authority in consultation with the DoST,
DICT, and DTI, meanwhile, is tasked to
promote the creation of the Philippine
Startup Econzones or Special Economic
Zones.
Funding for the initial implementation
of the new law shall be sourced from the
current budget of the DoST, DICT and
DTI and thereafter will be included in
the succeeding General Appropriations
Act.
Online
courses for
BoC, BIR execs,
employees
The Philippine Tax Academy (PTA)
has completed the development of
14 competency-based mandatory
online studies required for
new hires at the Bureau of
Customs (BoC) as well as
refresher courses for existing
BoC employees, the Department
of Finance (DoF) has said.
Finance Undersecretary Gil
Beltran said the PTA is also
completing training courses for
the Bureau of Local Government
Finance (BLGF) Institute as well
as executive courses on revenue
mobilizations for officials of the
BoC and the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR).
Our resource persons for
these executive courses will
be former and present DoF
officials as well as industry
experts.
For the competency-based
mandatory online courses for
new and existing BoC employees,
the topics cover Custom
Management and Administration;
Tariff, Customs and Related
Laws Rules and Regulations
and Procedures Implementation;
Assessment and Revenue
Collections; Intelligence and
Enforcement; Trade Facilitation;
Border Patrol and Security; and
Use of Technology, Beltran said
in a report to Finance Secretary
Carlos Dominguez III.
“We have also identified 23
courses as drivers of revenue
mobilization to be delivered
half-day as executive lecture
series for regional directors
and above of the BIR and BoC,”
Beltran reported during a recent
DoF Executive Committee
(Execom) meeting.
These executive courses
will focus on Assessment and
Revenue Collections; Customs
Management and Administration;
Tax Administration; International
Tax Affairs; Fiscal Policy
Formulation; and Public Finance
Management Compliance,
Beltran said.
“Our resource persons for
these executive courses will be
former and present DoF officials
as well as industry experts,”
Beltran said.
Dominguez directed Beltran
during the Execom meeting to also
prepare courses for treasurers of
local government units who are
under the supervision of the DoF,
through the BLGF.
Beltran said the PTA has
already scheduled an induction
program for newly hired local
treasurers and BLGF employees
in August to September.

B12
GLOBAL GOALS
Elmer N. Manuel, Editor
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
AT the UNICEF supported Regional AIDS Center in Osh in Southern Kyrgyzstan, a female doctor explains proper doses of ARV treatment for HIV.
UNICEF PHOTO
Greater urgency needed vs AIDS
The United Nations (UN) program leading the
global effort to end AIDS is calling for greater
urgency and more funding in the fight against the
disease, with data showing that the pace of progress
in reducing new HIV infections is slowing, and some
countries experiencing a rising number of cases.
The news comes in a new UNAIDS report,
Communities at the Center, launched
on Tuesday at a community event
in Eshowe, South Africa, which
also shows that the global
resources available for the AIDS
response have declined
“significantly” by
nearly $1 billion.
The gap between the resources needed and
those available is widening, as donors provide less
funding, and domestic investments grow too slowly
to compensate for inflation.
UNAIDS estimates
that some $26.2
billion is needed
by 2020: The
2018 amount
available for
the AIDS
A PAKISTANI health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a polio vaccination
campaign on a railway station in Lahore.
AFP
‘Heart of efforts’ should be bigger
The world’s people are demanding
“transformative change that is fair and
sustainable,” Secretary General António
Guterres said, calling on government leaders
to use the upcoming slate of key United Nations
meetings in September to “kickstart a decade
of delivery and action for people and planet.”
His call for concrete action was the
cornerstone of his address to ministers
attending the High-level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development (HLPF) — the main
UN platform monitoring follow-up on states’
actions towards the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG).
Guterres observed that the HLPF was
“zeroing-in” on the power of SDG action
“to support empowerment, equality and
inclusion,” and urged the participants to
“ratchet up the ambition and highlight the
imperative of inclusion.”
“The evidence is clear: Development is not
sustainable if it is not fair and inclusive — and
rising inequality hinders long-term growth,” he said.
Alongside the impacts of globalization
and rapid technological change, “inequality
Ahead of a key expert meeting convened by
the United Nations to decide whether to declare
the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) an international
health emergency, the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF
warned that the epidemic “is infecting more
children” than earlier outbreaks.
raises economic anxiety, erodes public trust,
and undermines social cohesion, human
rights, peace and prosperity,” according to
the UN chief.
Meanwhile, “mounting evidence” illustrates
the “transformative
results of equality and
inclusion” particularly
of women, in higher
gross domestic product,
greater stability and
enhanced private
sector performance
and institutional
effectiveness, he
pointed out.
“For all these
reasons, the 2030
Agenda places the
goals of inclusion,
empowerment and
equality, leaving no
one behind at the
heart of our efforts,”
Guterres stated.
response was approximately $7.2 billion short of
that figure.
The report reveals that, from 2010 to 2018, the
number of new HIV infections declined by 16 percent,
with around 1.7 million people infected in 2018. The
drop is driven mostly by steady progress across
most of eastern and southern Africa.
However, the picture looks very different — and
far less positive — in other regions, which have seen
a rising number of cases: In eastern Europe and
central Asia, AIDS-related deaths have risen by five
Children more susceptible to Ebola outbreaks
A CAREGIVER at the Ebola Treatment Center of Butembo, kisses a
seven-month-old baby whose mother died of Ebola just days earlier.
Speaking in Geneva, UNICEF spokesman
Marixie Mercado said that “there have been 750
infections among children. This represents 31
percent of total cases compared with about
20 percent in previous outbreaks… The latest
data I have is that the case fatality ratio for that
under-five group was 77 percent.”
To date, there have
been more than 2,500
cases of infection and
nearly 1,670 people have
died in the provinces
of Ituri and North Kivu,
according to WHO,
making it the worst
outbreak the country
has ever faced and the
second largest epidemic
on record.
Highlighting the
vulnerability of the
very youngest children,
Mercado added that of
the 750 cases identified
UN PHOTO
percent and, in the Middle East and North Africa, by
nine percent, since 2010. “Key populations” — which
include people who inject drugs, gay men and other
men who have sex with men, transgender people,
sex workers and prisoners — now account for more
than half of new HIV infections globally.
In eastern Europe and central Asia and in the
Middle East and North Africa, that figure rises
dramatically to around 95 percent, which highlights
that key populations are still being marginalized
and being left behind in the response to HIV.
‘Complacency’ factor in stagnating vaccination rates
More than one in 10 children — almost 20 million
worldwide — failed to receive potentially lifesaving vaccines
in 2018, the United Nations (UN) said, citing obstacles
including conflict, cost and complacency.
According to a joint study by the World Health
Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
10 countries accounted for 11.7 of the 19.4 million under
and non-vaccinated youngsters in the world, in particular
Nigeria (three million), India (2.6 million) and Pakistan
(1.4 million).
At the same time, global protection against four diseases
that are regarded as a gauge of overall coverage — diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis and measles — has “stalled” at around 86
percent since 2010, the study found.
A far higher level of coverage is needed to protect against
vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, UN health experts
insist, noting that 118 countries achieved a 90 percent
coverage threshold last year. Ideally, it should be 95 percent
across countries and communities globally, they maintain.
“Vaccines are one of our most important tools for
preventing outbreaks and keeping the world safe,” said
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
He added that while most of the world’s children are
being vaccinated, “far too many are left behind... It’s
INGA Rhonda King, president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and María
Fernanda Espinosa, General Assembly president, speak at the podium of the opening of the
High-level Segment of the ECOSOC and the Ministerial Segment of the High-level Political Forum
on Sustainable Development.
UN PHOTO
among youngsters, those
under five years old
represented 40 percent
of the total.
The UN report showed that the number of cases of
the highly infectious disease doubled from 2017 to
2018, to more than 340,000.
often those who are most at risk — the poorest, the most
marginalized, those touched by conflict or forced from
their homes — who are persistently missed.”
Data shows that the best regional performer for
vaccine reach in 2018 was Europe, whose more than
90 percent rate was 18 percent higher than Africa, the
lowest-performing region.
Worryingly, of the 19.4 million children worldwide who
have not received three doses of vaccine to protect against
diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis — two-thirds “didn’t even
receive an initial dose” the UN report noted, underscoring
that this points to a lack of basic immunization services.
Most unvaccinated children come from the world’s
poorest countries and a disproportionate number live in
fragile or conflict-affected states.
Almost half of these at-risk youngsters are in 16
countries: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic,
Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia,
Haiti, Iraq, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South
Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“If these children do get sick, they are at risk of the
severest health consequences, and least likely to access
lifesaving treatment and care,” WHO/UNICEF said in a
joint statement.
Citing major gaps in measles vaccine coverage across
countries at all income levels, from Ukraine to the DRC
to Madgascar, the UN report showed that the number of
cases of the highly infectious disease doubled from 2017
to 2018, to more than 340,000.
FOR proper development and good health in later life, the World Health Organization spells out
that children should be breastfed, exclusively, for the first six months.
AFP
High-Sugar baby
foods revealed
Proper nutrition for newborn babies into early
childhood is key to development and good health in
later life, according to the Regional Director of the
United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) in
Europe, as she launched two new studies recently.
The studies from WHO Europe show that a
high proportion of baby foods are incorrectly
marketed as suitable for infants under the age
of six months, when in fact much of it contains
inappropriately high levels of sugar.
WHO’s long-standing recommendation spells
out that children should be breastfed, exclusively,
for the first six months. Moreover, its 2016 global
Guidance on Ending the Inappropriate Promotion
of Foods for Infants and Young Children explicitly
states that commercial complementary foods
should not be advertised for infants under six
months of age.
“Good nutrition in
infancy and early childhood
remains key to ensuring
optimal child growth
and development, and to
better health outcomes
later in life — including the
prevention of overweight,
obesity and diet-related
non-communicable
diseases — thereby making
United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal 3 to
ensure healthy lives
and promote well-being
for all at all ages much
more achievable,” said
Zsuzsanna Jakab.
To determine which
foods are inappropriate
for children between the
ages of six and 36 months,
WHO developed a draft
Nutrient Profile Model
(NPM), which it submitted
to member states and
others to assess.

"
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
WORLD
B13
US President Donald Trump addresses his supporters at a rally in North
Carolina on 17 July.
AFP
UN decries killing
of Turkish diplomat
I urge for maximum restraint and intensified efforts
by the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation,
apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice
BAGHDAD — The United Nations (UN) top envoy in Iraq has
strongly condemned the killing of a Turkish diplomat in an armed
attack in Iraq’s northern city of Erbil, urging for a thorough probe
into the attack.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative of the UN
Secretary-General for Iraq, said “this heinous attack cannot
be justified under any circumstance and must be soundly
condemned.”
“I urge for maximum restraint and intensified efforts by the
authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, apprehend the
culprits and bring them to justice,” the UN Assistance Mission for
Iraq chief said.
Earlier in the day, a Turkish consulate employee and a civilian
were killed while another person was wounded when gunmen opened
fire at a restaurant in the northern city of Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s
semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.
A local security source said security forces have cordoned off
the area, intensified security measures at the city’s entrances and
launched a search campaign looking for the attackers who fled the
scene immediately.
The Kurdish security service, known as Asayish,
issued a statement condemning the attack, saying
the regional Kurdish government has
launched a full investigation into the
shooting incident.
“We assure our citizens and foreign
diplomats in particular that all necessary
precautions will be taken to ensure the safety
and security of the Kurdistan Region and its
peoples,” the Asayish statement said. Xinhua
One dead
in Japan
arson attack
KYOTO — A suspected arson attack on
an animation studio in Japan yesterday left
one person dead and dozens injured, the
emergency services said.
The blaze in the city of Kyoto appeared to
have been started deliberately, police said,
but there was no immediate information on
a possible motive.
“At least one unidentified person was
confirmed dead,” a fire department spokesman
told AFP, adding that 37 others were hurt
including 10 in serious condition.
Police said they were treating the
fire as a suspected arson.
The fire department said it began receiving
calls around 10:35 a.m. (0135 GMT) about
the fire at the studio belonging to Kyoto
Animation. The blaze was still burning two
hours later.
“Callers reported having heard a loud
explosion from the first floor of Kyoto
Animation and seeing smoke,” a fire
department spokesman said.
He said the fire department had dispatched
35 fire engines and other fire-fighting vehicles
to the site.
Police said they were treating the fire as
a suspected arson.
“A man threw a liquid and set fire to it,” a
Kyoto prefectural police spokesman told AFP.
Local media said a man had been detained
in connection with the blaze, but there were
no immediate details on the suspect.
The suspect had been taken to hospital
after suffering injuries in the fire.
There was no immediate statement
from the company, which produced several
well-known television anime series, including
“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” and
“K-ON!”
AFP
EDUCATION officials from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative
display their calligraphy works at Beijing’s National Art Museum of China
on 17 July.
CHINA DAILY
Rally crowd chants
‘send her back’
NORTH CAROLINA — A fired-up
Donald Trump took aim once
more at Democratic lawmakers
who “hate” America as he hit
the campaign trail Wednesday,
hours after an opposition bid to
impeach the United States (US)
president over “racist” attacks
was shot down in Congress.
Egging on a sea of supporters
in Greenville, North Carolina,
Trump reeled off the names of the
ethnic minority congresswomen
whom he has urged to “go back”
to their countries of origin in a
series of incendiary tweets.
“These left-wing ideologues
see our nation as a force of evil,”
charged Trump — whose tweets
were condemned as “racist”
a day earlier by the House of
Representatives, although a
subsequent attempt to launch
impeachment proceedings failed
in the chamber.
“Send her back!” the crowd
roared when Trump cited Ilhan
Omar — one of just two Muslim
women in Congress, whose
criticism of Israel has been
deemed anti-Semitic by
many lawmakers.
“The way they
speak so badly of
our country,” Trump told his
supporters, decked out in the
colors of the US flag and “Make
America Great Again” caps.
“They want to demolish our
constitution. Eliminate the
values that built this magnificent
country.”
Send her back! the crowd
roared when Trump cited
Ilhan Omar — one of just
two Muslim women in
Congress, whose criticism
of Israel has been deemed
anti-Semitic by many
lawmakers.
Pouring scorn on all four
congresswomen — known as
“The Squad” — Trump aimed
perhaps his harshest taunts
at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
the outspoken New York
lawmaker who has likened
migrant detention centers
at the Mexican border
INDIAN residents drive their vehicles along a flooded road following heavy monsoon rains at Sitamarhi district in the Indian state of Bihar.
WU Tsun-hsien, the artist behind the graffiti village in Taiwan.
AFP
==============================================
=========================
to concentration camps.
“I don’t have time to go with
three different names. We will
call her Cortez,” he mocked, to
the crowd’s delight.
Trump’s attacks have widely
been seen as a bid to rally his
right-wing base as the 2020 White
House race heats up — at the risk
of inflaming racial tensions and
deepening partisan divisions in
America.
He himself has given
credence to the notion, telling
reporters he was “enjoying” his
battle with the congresswomen
“because I have to get the
message out to the American
people.”
Democratic leaders
have rallied around their
colleagues — Ocasio-Cortez,
Omar, Rashida Tlaib and
Ayanna Pressley. All are
American citizens and all
except Omar, who is
Case Law
By VICTOR C. AVECILLA
Magsino v. Magsino
G.R. No. 205333, February 18, 2019 /
Second Division / Reyes, J., Jr., J.
of Somali origin, were born
in the United States.
But even as anger simmered
in Democratic ranks, many in the
party joined Republicans in the
House of Representatives in voting
to block an attempt to launch
impeachment proceedings against
Trump — illustrating divisions
in the Democratic-controlled
chamber.
Trump meanwhile put a
victorious spin on the evening’s
news as he arrived in Greenville,
pumped up for his first rally since
announcing his 2020 re-election bid.
“We have just received an
overwhelming vote against
impeachment,” he told reporters,
calling it a “most ridiculous
project.”
“And that’s the end of it. Let
the Democrats now go
back to work,”
Trump said.
AFP
Taiwanese ‘graffiti village’ eases elderly loneliness
RUAN CHIAO — Nestled in the mist-covered
foothills of Taiwan’s central mountain range, Ruan
Chiao village is virtually devoid of young people,
but artist Wu Tsun-hsien is coaxing the Instagram
generation back by transforming local homes into a
canvas of color.
Dipping his brush into a tin of beige emulsion,
he carefully applies new layers of paint to his latest
production — a vibrant rural scene depicting farmers
in traditional weave hats tending to a flock of animals.
Behind him an elderly villager with a walking
stick shuffles his way down the main street, which
is plastered with Wu’s colourful paintings.
“This village is full of old people,” the
55-year-old laments, explaining how the vast
majority of youngsters — including his own
children — have moved to the city, leaving elderly
residents listless and lonely.
But paintings have started to bring young
visitors — always keen for a selfie in a photo-friendly
location — back.
This village is full of old people.
Iran FM at UN accuses
U.S. of ‘economic terrorism’
WASHINGTON — After months of soaring tensions, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad
Zarif came to New York for a United Nations (UN) session on sustainable development,
where he denounced unilateral sanctions imposed by United States (US) President
Donald Trump.
Iranians are “subjected to the most brutal form of ‘economic terrorism’ — deliberately
targeting innocent civilians to achieve illegitimate political objectives,” Zarif said from
the rostrum.
The “unlawful, extraterritorial” sanctions “represent
the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable
development goals of Iran and many of our neighbors,”
he said.
Trump last year withdrew from a multinational accord
negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama under
which Iran drastically scaled back its nuclear program.
Trump, a staunch ally of Iran’s rivals Saudi Arabia and
Israel, instead imposed sweeping sanctions, including
seeking to ban all Iranian oil exports in a bid to reduce
the clerical regime’s regional clout.
The US, as the host country of the UN, heavily
restricted Zarif, confining him to the blocks around the
UN, the Iranian mission and the Iranian envoy’s residence.
Zarif, speaking to reporters, said that the move was
“certainly not a friendly action” and caused hardship
for the families of mission workers.
“But for me it’s fine because I don’t have any work
anywhere other than the three buildings,” Zarif said.
Russia’s deputy ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told
reporters that UN Security Council members would
discuss their concerns about US treatment of Zarif. AFP
“These drawings attracted many tourists to come
visit. The old people who were left here are no longer
so bored. This was my biggest gain,” he beams.
Taiwan’s 23 million population is rapidly ageing.
The birth rate has plummeted — only 180,000 children
were born last year, an eight-year low.
The Wu family has
experienced this flight
first hand.
The ancestral home
is occupied by his
wife’s father, 81, and
Remedial Law; Evidence; Testimony of Expert. — When a
court allows an expert to testify, it does not mean that the court is
bound by the testimony of the expert. It falls within the discretion
of the court whether to adopt or not to adopt testimonies of
expert witnesses, depending on the court’s appreciation of the
attendant facts and applicable law. (VOLUME 2, NUMBER 140)
========================================
AFP
mother, 72, who still work a few plots of land in the
hills above the village growing organic vegetables.
But Wu’s own children both went to university and
have left, one to Australia, the other to a nearby city.
Wu’s wife Fan Ai-hsiu explains their bid to draw
Instagram-happy crowds of youngsters was less
about economics and more about giving her parents
something to look forward to.
“They want to have conversations with people,
that’s what they miss, it’s not about money,” Fan says.
But it was not initially an easy task to persuade
fellow villagers to use their houses as a canvas. AFP
======================

B14 WORLD Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Murder conviction
overturned using DNA
FIRE fighters inspect an animation company which caught fire in Kyoto. AFP
China relaxes visa
requirements
The regulation also expanded the scope of
long-term visa and residence permits, for example,
foreign researchers, business-people and assistant
personnel can apply for two-to-five-year visas or
residence permits
BEIJING — China will expand
preferential immigration and entry
policies to attract more foreign talent
to more free trade zones across the
country starting 1 August.
The decision was announced
at a press conference Wednesday
by the Ministry of Public Security
in Beijing.
It will be implemented
to create a better business
environment, according to a
statement the ministry sent to
the Global Times.
The policies include 12 clauses
which provide convenience to
acquire permanent residence
permits by foreign talent including
those who benefit China’s
development, their spouses and
children, according to the statement.
The regulation also expanded
the scope of long-term visa and
residence permits, for example,
foreign researchers, business-people
and assistant personnel can apply for
two-to five-year visas or residence
permits.
Support services will be
provided to foreign graduate
students who start up a business
in China or excellent foreign
students invited by domestic
companies and institutes.
The policy demonstrates China’s
determination at openness and the
country’s efforts to build its image
not only as the tourist destination
but also the hub of creativity and
high technology, Song Guoyou,
director of Fudan University’s Center
for Economic Diplomacy said.
Wang Huiyao, founder and
president of Beijing-based
independent think tank the Center
for China and Globalization said
that “as a major talent exporting
country, China is also making
efforts to become a talent importing
country as well, to meet the demand
of national development and
the nation’s effort to become a
technology power.”
China believes in openness
of trade and investment, as well
as to talent.
Foreign talent will also assist
globalizing Chinese companies
and the development of
high-tech companies,
according to Wang.
The preferential immigration
policies were already applied since
2015 in 16 provinces and cities
including Beijing, Shanghai and
South China’s Guangdong Province,
Chen Bin, head of the Foreigners
Administration Department of the
State Immigration Administration,
said at the press conference.
According to Chen, local
immigration authorities across
China have issued 133,000
visas and residence permits to
foreign entrepreneurs, investors
and professional technical
personnel and other talents.
Immigration service centers can
be established in places where
foreigners concentrate to provide
consultancy in policies, travel,
legal assistance and language, the
statement read. Global Times
IDAHO — An American man was
exonerated for a decades-old murder he did
not commit, using evidence based on DNA
and a genetic family tree, the first such result
using a revolutionary investigative technique.
Christopher Tapp, 43, had served 20 of
his 30-year sentence for the 1996 rape and
murder of Angie Dodge.
On Wednesday, a court in the state of
Idaho completely overturned his conviction
based on evidence found with “genetic
genealogy” — the technique used to identify
the suspected “Golden State Killer” by
making DNA matches with his distant relatives.
“It’s a new life, a new beginning, a new
world for me, and I’m just gonna enjoy every
day,” Tapp said at the end of the hearing,
local media reported.
Tapp’s exoneration came after police
arrested another suspect, Brian Dripps, in
May. Dripps, who was identified using genetic
genealogy, confessed to the crime.
Genetic genealogy first made headlines
in April 2018, after it was used to find the
alleged “Golden State Killer” in California who
is blamed for 12 murders and more than 50
rapes dating back to the mid-1970s.
Tapp’s exoneration came after police
arrested another suspect, Brian
Dripps, in May.
In that case — as well as about 70 others
that have been solved since — DNA found at
crime scenes was compared to the databases
for genealogy websites.
The websites — widely advertised in the
United States -- allow users to post DNA test
results and then generate a list of people
with similar genomes, enabling users to find
distant relatives.
The databases also allow police officers
IPR protection boosts
tech innovation
BEIJING — China will further strengthen
the protection of intellectual property rights
(IPR) as part of its effort in effectively
protecting the lawful rights and interests of
all types of market actors, fostering a more
enabling business environment, boosting
technological innovation and deepening
international cooperation.
This was decided by the State Council
in its executive meeting chaired by Premier
Li Keqiang on Wednesday.
Li pointed out that strengthening the
IPR protection is the consistent position
of the Chinese government.
All companies registered in China, be it
domestic or foreign-invested, will be treated
as equals and the lawful rights and interests
of foreign businesses will be safeguarded.
Strengthening intellectual property
protection across the board was clearly set
out in the Government Work Report this year.
Recent years have seen China’s notable
progress in IPR protection.
Since 2012, the National Intellectual
Property Administration has commissioned
a third-party survey every year, inviting the
public to rate government performance in
IPR protection. Results show the level of
public satisfaction has been going up year
after year.
In the Global Innovation Index published
by the World Intellectual Property
Organization in 2018, China moved up
the ranking to No. 17 from No. 22 in 2017,
making its way to the world’s top 20 for
the first time.
“Further enhancing the protection of
intellectual property rights is crucial to
improving our property rights protection
system. It is required by scientific and
technological innovation and essential for
China’s greater opening-up,” Li said.
The Wednesday meeting decided to
intensify IPR-related law enforcement and
stressed that all types of market actors must
be treated as equals.
Efforts to formulate and improve the
criteria for determining, checking and
verifying infringements and counterfeits
of patents, trademarks and copyrights will
be accelerated.
Li pointed out that strengthening
the IPR protection is the consistent
position of the Chinese government.
Special campaigns against violations of
IPR-related laws will be further carried out
and severe punishment involving hefty fines
will be meted out. International cooperation
on IPR protection will be enhanced to make
it easier for companies to seek the grant of
IPR and their protection overseas.
The process of revising the Patent Law
and the Copyright Law, the new round of
comprehensive revision of the Trademark
Law, and the revision of the Implementing
Regulations of the Patent Law will be
advanced. The cost for breach of law will
be significantly raised. Xinhua
Recruitment agents sentenced to jail
BEIJING — Officials urged tough regulation of foreign
teachers at Chinese schools after three Chinese agents
were each sentenced to 1 to 2 years’ imprisonment for
helping recruit foreign kindergarten teachers without
teaching qualifications or work visas.
Beijing Number 3 Intermediate People’s Court Tuesday
sentenced and fined the agents up to 10,000 yuan
($1,490) each for introducing the foreigners to
Beijing kindergartens in the full knowledge they
had no work visa or teaching qualifications,
the Beijing Daily reported on Wednesday.
The agents organized foreigners with travel
or study visas to work at the kindergartens
and lied to some foreigners that they could
still work there without work visas. They also
told the kindergartens to hide foreigners
without qualifications to shield them from
police examination.
The three were charged with
“organizing people to secretly cross the
national boundary” as they fabricated
an entry reason for the foreigners and
severely disturbed the government’s
border management, said the report.
The case attracted wide social media
attention, especially among parents
enthusiastic to have their children
learn English.
Some schools and kindergartens
even hired foreigners from non-English
speaking countries.
Foreigners engaged in
language teaching in China
must obtain a work visa and
have a bachelor’s degree or
A FOREIGN teacher at a kindergarten school in Guangzhou, South China’s
Guangdong Province, teaches his students how to play golf. GLOBAL TIMES
higher, at least two years of teaching-related experience and no
criminal record.
An Australian graduate who teaches English in a Beijing-based
kindergarten told the Global Times that he was hired with a tourist
visa but obtained the work visa after about one month’s work at
the kindergarten, a common process at kindergartens.
To work as an English tutor, the applicants must come from nations
with English as their mother tongue, the employee said.Global Times
to search through people with similar genetic
profiles to DNA found at crime scenes. Tracing
back through family trees and seeing where the
DNA crosses can lead investigators to a suspect.
But Tapp’s case is the first in which genetic
genealogy has been used to prove innocence.
In 1998, Tapp was sentenced to 30 years in
prison based solely on his confession, which
he then retracted.
In 2018, his defense team obtained the
right to test sperm traces found in Dodge’s
bedroom. Genetic genealogy led investigators
to Brian Dripps.
Dripps, who in 1996 lived just across the
street from Dodge, confessed to the crime
after officers tested a cigarette butt he had
thrown away against the crime scene DNA.
The Idaho Bonneville County prosecutor
withdrew the charges against Tapp and filed
a motion to exonerate him, which a judge
endorsed on Wednesday.
AFP
U.S. Congress
blocks Saudi
arms sales
WASHINGTON — The United States (US)
House of Representatives has voted to block
$8.1 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and
other allies, a rebuke of Donald Trump that
will likely lead to a veto by the president.
Lawmakers, many of whom are outraged
with the kingdom over Riyadh’s role in the
murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
last year, approved three resolutions that
would prevent the controversial sales
announced under emergency measures
earlier this year by Trump.
The resolutions blocking the sales have
already cleared the US Senate, and now go
to the White House, where Trump is expected
to issue a veto, the third of his presidency.
While the House blocked the sales with a
comfortable majority, it was about 50 votes shy of
the two-thirds needed to override Trump’s veto.
Trump is seeking 22 separate sales of
aircraft support maintenance, precisionguided
munitions and other weapons and
equipment to Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates and Jordan at a moment of
heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Critics say the arms sales would aggravate
the devastating war in Yemen, where Saudi
Arabia is leading a US-backed coalition in a
battle against the Iranian-supported Huthi
rebels, and which the UN said has triggered
the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
While the House blocked the sales
with a comfortable majority, it was
about 50 votes shy of the two-thirds
needed to override Trump’s veto.
“When we see what’s going on in Yemen,
it’s so important for the United States to take
a stand,” House of Representatives Foreign
Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel said
on the House floor.
The veteran Democrat concurred that the
threats from the Iranian-backed Huthis were
real, “but that doesn’t mean we should just
look the other way in the face of violence
and the slaughter of civilians.”
Trump’s administration took the
extraordinary step of bypassing Congress to
approve the sale in May, as his administration
declared Iran to be a “fundamental threat”
to the stability of the Middle East.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said
the administration was responding to an
emergency caused by Saudi Arabia’s arch
foe rival Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels
in Yemen.
Lawmakers including some Senate
Republicans have said there were no legitimate
grounds to circumvent Congress, which has
the right to disapprove arms sales.
Last month Senator Lindsey Graham
delivered a stinging rebuke of the arms sales
and Riyadh, saying he hoped the vote would
“send a signal to Saudi Arabia that if you act
the way you’re acting, there is no space for
a strategic relationship.”
The senator was referring to last year’s brutal
murder of Khashoggi in Turkey at the
hands of Saudi agents, an incident
that triggered a full-blown crisis
in Riyadh’s relations with
the West. AFP
THE San Marco bell tower and the “Palazzo Ducale” in front of the Venice lagoon in Italy.
AFP

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
PCG first offshore
vessel launched
in France
It will be utilized in patrolling the West Philippine
Sea, Benham Rise and for other anti-piracy and
terrorism campaigns of the government in the
southern Philippines
The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) was
formally launched at the OCEA shipyard in France on Wednesday.
The OPV, which will be commissioned in the PCG as Barko Republika
ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gabriela Silang, is the first vessel fully designed as an
offshore patrol vessel. It has a contract cost of P5,593,623,382.06.
To finance the implementation of this project, President Rodrigo Duterte
issued Presidential Authority on 10 January 2017 authorizing Department of
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to enter into a financing agreement
with BNP Paribas (France).
The vessel incorporates characteristically modern design with low radar
cross section to minimize reflectability and a modern hull design capable of
ocean voyage and operations in rough sea condition.
It will be utilized in patrolling the West Philippine Sea, Benham Rise
and for other anti-piracy and terrorism campaigns of the government in the
southern Philippines.
This 83.6-meter long vessel has a maximum speed of 20 knots, and an
endurance that will take up to 22 days long. It can accommodate 64 crew
onboard.
The OPV is also capable of responding to marine environmental pollution
such as oil spills using its onboard containerized anti-pollution equipment.
Its hyperbaric chamber will be useful for treating diving sickness and its
survivor room is capable of accommodating rescued persons.
It is equipped with a mission management system (MMS) with dedicated
command and control center, which integrates vessel’s sensors such as
radars, automatic identification system (AIS), communications equipment,
and surveillance equipment, and day and night vision camera.
The MMS utilizes advanced technologies in computer and radio
techniques to signify improve operational efficiency of users providing a
multi-user system that can compile and maintain a tactical Common Operation
Picture, allowing even the onboard rigid inflatable boats to have access to the
situation picture and to improve the control of operations. It is also capable
of situation awareness, target detection, tracking and information, record
and replay, information display, and exchange of information with other units.
NATION
B15
New home Members of a Maranao family, one of those displaced by
the 2017 Marawi City siege, can now start with a new life after receiving
this temporary shelter provided by the US.
America allots P234-M
more for Marawi
To bolster relief and recovery efforts in war-torn Marawi City, the United
States government is providing an additional $4.5 million or P234 million
in humanitarian assistance
for Maranaos affected by the
conflict.
In a statement, the US
Embassy in Manila said
that the new contribution LOCAL
WEATHER
to the Marawi humanitarian METRO MANILA
response brings the
US government’s total
31°C
commitment to Marawi
recovery to more than P3.4
billion or $63.6 million.
The additional
funding from the US
Agency for International
Development (USAID) will
help approximately 50,000
internally displaced persons
in Marawi and 9,000 in
Maguindanao.
“The US government
remains committed to
supporting the Philippine
government in helping
restore normalcy in the lives
of the Filipinos affected by
the Marawi conflict,” said US
Ambassador Sung Kim.
“This new assistance
reflects the strong bond
between the US and the
Philippines as friends,
partners, and allies,” he
added.
D A I L Y G O S P E L
Friday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Jesus was going through a
field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads
of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw
this, they said to him, “See,
your disciples are doing what
is unlawful to do on the
sabbath.”
He said to them, “Have you
not read what David did when
he and his companions were
hungry,
how he went into the house
of God and ate the bread of
offering, which neither he
nor his companions but only
the priests could lawfully eat?
25°C
METRO CEBU
32°C
25°C
METRO DAVAO
33°C
25°C Partly
INTERNATIONAL
SINGAPORE
34°C
25°C
CLEAR SKIES
Matthew 12: 1-8
Sydney
AUSTRALIA
CLEAR SKIES
Cloudy skies w/rainshowers
and thunderstorm
Partly cloudy skies w/
rainshowers and thunderstorm
cloudy skies w/
rainshowers and thunderstorm
Seoul
S. KOREA
20°C
7°C 34°C
23°C
CLEAR SKIES
Or have you not read in
the law that on the sabbath the
priests serving in the temple
violate the sabbath and are
innocent?
I say to you, something
greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant,
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’
you would not have condemned
these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord
of the sabbath.”

B16 NATION
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Honest Aeta at Clark
Her honesty is even more glaring since what she found was
an untraceable envelope. Her good deed is truly worthy of
emulation by all airport employees
By Jonas Reyes
CLARK AIRPORT — A member of the
Aeta indigenous people’s (IP) group,
who works as a janitress at the Clark
International Airport (CIA), returned
an envelope containing $1,000 she
found at a waiting area inside the
terminal.
Grace Laxamana, 42, said she never
hesitated to turn over the envelope she
found last 14 July at the airport’s second
floor waiting area to her superior.
It turned out that the envelope
contained 10 pieces of $100 bills.
“I immediately took the envelope
and turned it over to airport operations
officer Raymund Salazar who examined
the contents,” Laxamana said.
Upon reviewing the footages of
security cameras in the area, airport
authorities discovered that one of the
passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 5371
bound for Singapore dropped the white
envelope while about to board.
Jaime Melo, CIA Corp. President, cited
Laxamana for her honesty.
“We’re proud of what Ms. Laxamana
did. Her honesty is even more glaring
since what she found was an untraceable
envelope. Her good deed is truly worthy
of emulation by all airport employees,”
Melo added.
As of yesterday, no one has claimed
ownership of the money, the airport
chief said.
“We assure passengers of our strict
policy to immediately turn over or return
lost or abandoned items to their rightful
owners,” Melo added.
Laxamana started working as janitress
at CIA in 2006.
Aboitiz Group plants
95K seedlings
Our regreening efforts and
the care we exert to our
ecosystem demonstrate our
core value of responsibility
A simultaneous tree-planting activity
was launched by the Aboitiz Group
involving 5,000 of its personnel in 22
sites nationwide where they planted
about 95,000 seedlings.
Erramon Aboitiz, president and
chief executive officer of Aboitiz Equity
Ventures Inc., said the activity was part
of the group’s commitment to protect
the environment and promote social
responsibility.
“Our regreening efforts and the care
we exert to our ecosystem demonstrate
our core value of responsibility,” Aboitiz
told volunteers across multiple planting
sites via live feed from Camp O’Donnell in
Capas, Tarlac where Manila-based Aboitiz
team members planted approximately
20,000 seedlings of narra, guyabano
and mango.
“The responsibility we have for each
other and the generation we will bequeath
our planet to,” he added.
About 5,000 Aboitiz team members
from various parts of the country joined
in the activity held last Saturday.
The single-day initiative was part
of A-Park, the Aboitiz Group’s largest
environmental program that supports the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources’ (DENR) Expanded National
Greening Program (ENGP).
Philippine Army Mechanized Infantry
Division commander Maj. Gen. Robert
Dauz said the ENGP paved the way for
a harmonious relationship between
government agencies and the private
sector in protecting and preserving the
country’s ecosystem.
“Our simultaneous tree planting
with the Aboitiz Group as lead agency
in partnership with Pilmico, DENR, and
Training and Doctrine Command is a
demonstration of our strong commitment
to the ENGP… your Armed Forces of the
Philippines is one of your active partners
in this very important undertaking
towards a greener Philippines,” Dauz
noted.
Launched in 2010, the initial goal of
A-Park was to plant three million trees by
2015. Aboitiz readily surpassed that goal
and raised its target to nine million trees
by 2020. As of 2018, the group has planted
6.6 million trees all over the Philippines.
The program is also aligned with
the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to
environmental stewardship, particularly
focused on carbon emission reduction
while providing livelihood opportunities
to its host communities. Aboitiz usually
taps locals to monitor the survival rate
of the planted seedlings.
The planting of nine million trees
would mean the conversion of an
estimated 189,000 tons of carbon dioxide
into oxygen or the equivalent of about
9,000 hectares of lush reforested areas, or
more than 37 times the size of Bonifacio
Global City.
“We are truly proud of our A-People,
all of you, for the positive impact you
make on our host communities through
our reforestation activities,” Aboitiz said.
Happy to be honest Grace Laxamana, of the Aeta community, smiles after seeing the $1,000
found inside the envelope she returned to her superiors at the Clark International Airport.
‘Falcon’ displaces
thousands in Lanao Norte
Local government units were advised to continuously gather and
disseminate advisories from monitoring agencies throughout
their areas of responsibility and coordinate with proper agencies
Care for Mother Earth Erramon Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., and Maj. Gen. Romeo
Dauz lead the tree-planting activity at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.
Dengue death
toll now 202
The death toll brought about
by dengue rose to 202 people from
various parts of the country, the
National Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (NDRRMC)
reported yesterday.
Of the 202 reported deaths, the
NDRRMC said Cebu in Region 7
registered the most number of fatalities
with 36 and 5,935 dengue cases followed
by Negros Occidental in Region 6 with
23 reported deaths and 3,266 cases.
The NDRRMC said a total of
38,804 dengue cases were reported
in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Regions
6, 7, 8 and 12 from 1 January to 13
July 2019.
The council said Region 6 has the
most number of dengue cases with
15,813, followed by CALABARZON with
13,032, by Region 7 with 9,594 cases,
Region 12 with 308 cases and Region 8
with 57 cases.
The NDRRMC reported that Iloilo
(Region 6) reported 20 deaths and 5,327
dengue cases; Cavite (CALABARZON)
with 20 deaths and 3,756 cases; Bohol
(Region 7) with 19 deaths and 1,816
cases; Capiz (Region 6) with 15 deaths
and 2,590 cases; Aklan (Region 6) also
with 15 deaths and 2,095 cases, and
Rizal (CALABARZON) with 12 deaths
and 1,529 cases.
FTW
By Daniel Yap
TAGBILARAN CITY — A Bohol
representative is eyeing a bill to determine
the respective carrying capacities of
major tourism attractions in the country
— apparently to prevent abuse like what
happened to Boracay Island.
Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor (3rd District)
said she plans to file the bill as soon as the
18th Congress opens on Monday.
Tutor said each tourist spot should have
The National Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (NDRRMC)
yesterday said that more than 3, 000
families from Lanao del Norte were
evacuated to safer grounds due to the
effects of tropical storm “Falcon.”
NDRRMC Executive Director and Office
of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator
Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said the
local government of Lanao del Norte
conducted preemptive evacuations to
prevent casualties.
The proactive measure was done as
strong winds and heavy monsoon rains
enhanced by “Falcon” prevailed in the
province since Wednesday.
Jalad said a total of 159 families
were evacuated from the municipality
of Salvador, specifically in Barangays
Mindalano, Calimodan, Pansur and Curva
Miagao, due to bad weather.
Other municipalities in Lanao Del Norte,
such as Lala, Kapatagan, Sapad and Sultan
Naga Dimaporo, have also evacuated 3,044
families who were affected by flooding.
Jalad said the Department of Social
Welfare and Development has standby
transportation and logistics while stockpiles
of family food packs and other food and
non-food items have been pre-positioned.
He said that standby funds amounting to
P1,984,745,767.19 were also readied in case
of the need for humanitarian assistance.
Jalad said that through its Regional
DRRM Councils, officials are closely
monitoring the situation and facilitating
response.
Local government units were advised
to continuously gather and disseminate
advisories from monitoring agencies
throughout their areas of responsibility and
coordinate with the OCD regional offices.
Prior to the landfall of the weather
disturbance, the Department of the Interior
and Local Government coordinated with
their regional offices to take proactive
measures, including preemptive evacuation
if necessary.
FTW
Bohol eyes carrying capacity for tourist spots
The standards may be jointly developed and studied by the
Departments of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources
and Interior and Local Government
a carrying capacity distinct to the others
and the government must not adopt a
one-size-fits-all policy.
She said that the standards may be
jointly developed and studied by the
Departments of Tourism, Environment
and Natural Resources and Interior and
Local Government.
“They can do the groundwork if they
want to,” Tutor said.
The data obtained from the study will
help determine the steps in achieving
sustainable tourism as it is integrated
with other major concerns such as tourist
arrival data, waste management, water
quality and land use plan.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Yap and Rep.
Edgar Chatto (1st District) expressed
support to Tutor’s move.
Yap reiterated his administration’s focus
on tourism and a carrying capacity study
is a critical part in preserving the tourism
sites in Bohol.
For his part, Chatto said the carrying
capacity study is important in
identifying the challenges and
propose solutions to the problems
of tourist areas like Panglao Island.
Chatto said he is optimistic that
the agencies can
complete the study as soon as possible with
the help of local government units in Bohol.
Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte
ordered the closure of Boracay Island to
pave the way for its rehabilitation after
years of abuse. The government also set
the island-paradise carrying capacity to
promote sustainability.
After Boracay Bohol leaders are one in pushing for the establishment of a standard carrying capacity for each of the province’s tourist spots like Panglao Island.

JOURNEY
THROUGH
THE LENS
SPLENDID
REMAKE
ENCOURAGING
ATTENDANCE AT
3RD EDDYS
SPANISH
CONQUISTADOR
C18
C19
C20
Dinah S. Ventura, Editor
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
LIFESTYLE
D22
C17
Phl media in local news
Show-stopping
mega event
Text and photos by Kathleen A. Llemit
“You’re going to Durban July?”
I was met with an incredulous look by my beautiful spa attendant,
Bongeka. We were casually talking about South Africa with me asking
about how she does her waist-length, gorgeous braids. For me, she
and most of many South Africans I’ve seen, have one of the most
gorgeous-looking hairdos in the world.
Bongeka said it took two hours to make and she had it
done for practical purposes. She explained that unlike my
“silky” hair, hers was thick so she braided it.
As our conversation went on, she asked why we were
visiting South Africa. I was part of the Asian contingent
that went to the spa that afternoon for our much-needed
beauty boost a day before the event.
And so when I casually said I was attending
Durban July, she could not help but stare at me
like I was the luckiest person in the world. When
I asked her if she was going, she gave me a sweet
smile then shook her head, adding she hopes to
attend one day because she would love to party and
dance the night away.
Prior to the invitation from Durban Tourism, most in
the group only had an inkling of what Durban July is
through photos of past editions. Searches on the Internet
would yield photos of attendees in their most stylish and
flamboyant attires while flashing their megawatt smiles.
One would get the impression that this was a grand
event that South Africans look forward to every year.
Further research also revealed that most of
South Africa, and even most of the continent’s elite,
converge in Durban every first Saturday of July just
for this annual event. Entry to the event could cost
over a thousand rand, which is already a lot of
money for most.
But alas, just looking at the photos is
different from actually experiencing it.
Thus, early morning the next day, 6 July,
the ladies of the Philippine contingent were
dropping by a room at the ninth floor of
Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani. They
were to be styled by the “Sea Princess” herself,
Tessa Prieto-Valdes, who was generous
enough to offer her fashion know-how and
FLAMBOYANT and colorful
just like the couple in a
matching Indian sari outfit
(above) and a model garbed
in a flamingo-inspired
costume (below).
lend some of her accessories and Banaca
wraps by Dita Sandico-Ong.
The end result was a trackstopping
Philippine team, said to
be the first to join a Durban July
gathering. The team was composed
of writers from the country’s top
dailies and news outfits: Tessa
Prieto-Valdes (Philippine Daily
Inquirer), Pepper Teehankee
(The Philippine Star), Anne
Jambora (Philippine Daily
Inquirer), Pinky Icamen
(Allure/The Philippine
Star), Buddy Cunanan
(TraveLife), Clarisse
Inao (Inquirer Mobile)
and this author.
While the team
was there to cover the
event, it turned out
that they became
the subject of interest
of other event attendees,
and even the media. We
were asked to pose for a
group photo or got interviewed
for a telecast. Star’s Pinky and
I, while busy being paparazzi
to people walking around and
snapping photos of fashionable
people, were stopped on our tracks by
some of our subjects and were asked
what we were wearing. Dita Sandico
Ong must be proud by now.
Most were fascinated by our
outfits. Pinky mixed a South African
wraparound and turban with one of
Dita’s creations while I was wearing
an woven skirt with another magenta
number by the same designer around
my shoulder which was paired with a
South African beaded necklace.
It was a surreal experience for
most as we were used to be the ones
asking people who and what they were
wearing, not the other way around.
We were such show-stoppers that
Tessa and Pepper landed on the pages of
South Africa’s Sunday Times. They were
named by its columnist, Craig Jacobs, as
one of the festivities’ best dressed. Pinky
and I found our pictures posted in a local
celebrity website.
Just what is Durban July, one might
ask.
“Durban July is a mega event that
started 17 years ago. It’s actually Vodacom
Durban July. It’s the biggest sporting event
in the horse-racing (category). It’s a fusion
as well. It’s not just horse-racing but it
has fashion element,” Winile Mntungwa,
deputy head of Durban Tourism, said
to Tribune and Star at the sidelines of
the festivities.
The present iteration, Vodacom
Durban July, started in 2002 but the
event’s history can be traced back to
1897 when the first thoroughbred race
called Durban July Handicap was held
in July that year. Presently, it is held
in the 2,800-meter pear-shaped turf of
the Greyville Racecourse in Durban,
KwaZulu-Natal.
“People actually prepare for Durban
July a year in advance to actually
showcase their fashion. It showcases
lifestyle in terms of what is trendy, what
is in, what is fashionable at a given time,”
added Mntungwa.
Truly, the Philippine contingent saw
for themselves how big the festivities were.
The gates started to open at 11 a.m. What
they saw upon entering the grounds was
a more festive, colorful and fashionably
set racehorse event. There were activities
everywhere.
The grandstand was full of people
waiting for each of the races, which we
were told were 16, to commence and end,
hoping that their bets would win.
Beyond the grandstand and the race
tracks, there were airconditioned tents
where the sponsors held their own
programs, be it a fashion show or their
own DJs’ booth (DJs are apparently more
popular in the country because we were
informed and would later find out that
South Africans love dancing).
Entry to each tent came with a price
which were inclusive of the activities, food
ALL well-dressed for the highly anticipated annual event.
NEWSMAKERS. Philippine scribes (from left) Pinky Icamen, Anne Jambora, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Pepper Teehankee, the author and Clarisse Inao made the news in some of Durban’s media outfits. The
group caught the attention of the attendees and media alike for a well-put ensemble fusing Philippine fiber by Dita Sandico Ong and South African clothing and accessories.
PEPPER TEEHANKEE
EXPERIMENTAL fashion.
and beverages. There were also stages
where fashion shows and programs were
held. Tables were set-up for a picnic
experience. All while fashionably dressed.
“Everybody now looks forward to
the staging of a state-of-the-art stage,
entertainment, dress code, the designers.
The biggest beneficiaries of this are
the fashion designers, most of them
are from Durban, Gauteng and Cape
Town. Through our Durban Fashion
Fair program, local designers have
actually benefited in a significant way.
Most of them were small businesses,
but because of Vodacom Durban
July, they are able to showcase in
the mainstage of the festivities.
So that’s what really made the
difference. They are given exposure
and they get more business. It
becomes an economic cycle for us,”
she enthused.
She added that out of the
55,000 capacity of Vodacom
Durban July, 13,000 are visitors
who come during the weekend.
READY to kill it. Attendees were dressed to kill at this year’s Vodacom
Durban July like the group of friends (above) and the fashionable revelers
at the picnic grounds (below).
SPORTING
a matching,
tailored suit
and a fur-lined
coat.
In this period, which is inclusive
of the days prior and after the first
Saturday of July, the “total spend”
amounts to R100 million income
from businesses. In terms of gross
domestic product, the week-long
festivities contribute to about R300
million to the economy of Durban.
“Immediately after this one, we
go back to the drawing board to
prepare for the next one. There’s a
lot of work that actually goes into
this one. And what’s exciting is that,
each year, it’s very different and
each year, the bar is raised. And you
can never, ever take it for granted.
We always want to put our best foot
forward,” Mntungwa ended.
The group began preparing to
leave the party before midnight.
Though it would have been more
exciting to stay, they had to freshen
up to attend the after party in another
venue. Some of them caught up, with
another round of booze, EDM and
boxes of Nando’s goodies amid the
chilly winter midnight.
The others opted to catch some
shuteye because the party was not yet
over. They would find out that the after
party, there was another one the next
day, which the locals call the shutdown
party that also starts at noon, and
expected to end the next day. South
Africans party hard and in style!

C18
LIFESTYLE
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Text and photos by Louise Lizan
International photographer Zack
Arias describes his latest ‘weapon
of choice’ as “… everything of the
medium format put into a price point
that a working photographer can get
their hands on.”
Everyone knows a good instrument
is crucial in coming up with quality
work. A photographer may have the
so-called “eye,” for example, but if he
is limited by his camera’s features,
his talent will not shine as brightly
as it should.
Arias says the new, highest-class
resolution mirrorless digital camera
ever produced, the Fujifilm GFX100,
is something to be grateful for. “I,
for one, am just thankful to Fuji
for bringing the medium format to
a wider audience,” he shared.
I’m thinking about what is the
final photograph that I want
to make and how can I get my
subject to come along with me
and make that photo (happen).
So, I end up more directing
the shoot and directing my
subjects than simply just
taking pictures of them.
Fujifilm’s much-anticipated
102-megapixel large format camera
was launched in Tokyo last May
and has then redefined medium
format photography. It is the latest
installment of the GFX series and
was unveiled in the Philippines
last 13 July.
The brand aims to develop a
camera to pursue the essence of
photography through deep, best
Zack Arias:
Journey
through
the
lens
Arias started liking photography when he was about 15 years
old, armed with an old Canon A1 camera that his father
gave him
image quality — a practical camera
great for active shooting situations,
never missing out on moments,
every little detail captured and
immortalized.
Arias is an Atlanta-based editorial
and commercial photographer who
belongs to the growing circle of
photographers enthused by the new
camera. “What Fuji has done is take
the camera into the know, a DSLR
kind of feeling camera, packed it
with a massive sensor, gave the
auto-focus, the auto-stabilization,
the color… the dynamic range,”
he said.
Being in the profession for 20
years, Arias says he has always
looked for medium-format cameras
and that GFX100 is, in so many
words, “the one.”
ZACK Arias, an international photographer, talked about his new favorite
camera.
Childhood passion
Arias started liking photography
when he was about 15 years old, armed
with an old Canon A1 camera that his
father gave him.
“In high school, I got on the
FUJIFILM, along with their team, launched the newest installment of the GFX series,
the GFX100.
yearbook and (was) a newspaper staff
just to make use of that (camera) for
fun. So, in college, just trying to get
some normal, whatever degree and I
was failing,” he shared.
He took a photography class to
get his grades up — but started to
venture on the route of photography
instead. “After school, I assisted
photographers. I was an assistant. I
managed a studio for a little while.
I went out with my freelance; failed
miserably. I’ve been up and down in
this industry.”
Arias fi rst second-shot weddings
with his friend for about seven years
then jumped to shooting local bands on
the side for a nice change up until it
was falling apart. He saw his transition
in the business as more of a necessity
than want.
“The photographs are usually a
little different. A wedding photo is
different than a band promo shot, and
it’s different from a headshot of a CEO
— but at the end of the day, it’s about
directing your subject and making
them feel comfortable in front of the
camera,” he said about the differences
between each shoot.
The Atlanta-based photographer
also expressed his contentment in
the editorial, commercial world. But
as much as possible, he tries for his
work to be different from his editorial
work and stated that his work is very
much ‘him’ at the moment. He also
considers himself as a director rather
than a photographer.
“I’m thinking about what is the
final photograph that I want to make
and how can I get my subject to come
along with me and make that photo
[happen]. So, I end up more directing
the shoot and directing my subjects
than simply taking pictures of them,”
he shared.
Devil in the details
Every little detail is important
— especially for Zack Arias and his
recent works.
The GFX100 is helpful when it
comes to the element that Arias has
been working on lately for his personal
work: Water.
“Personal work is kind of coming
out in a time of depression and anxiety
that I’ve been struggling on. In so (far
as) that feeling of drowning and the
feeling of being overwhelmed that you
can’t catch your breath, and it’s just
constantly raining down on you and
never stopping, never relenting,” he
explained the theme.
The photographer has mentioned
his love for the simple details that
the camera can capture.
Arias first second-shot
weddings with his friend for
about seven years then jumped
to shooting local bands on the
side for a nice change up until
it was falling apart. He saw
his transition in the business
as more of a necessity than
want.
Along with Zack Arias present at
the exclusive launch of the digital
camera was Jan Gonzales, a Fujifilm
PH X-Photographer.
Photographers can also apply
the Film Stimulation modes for
Fujifilm’s characteristic color and
tone reproduction. “There are so
many new features I can talk about,
but all of these were developed for
three key things: image quality,
mobility and durability. These are the
three features you need in a camera
to preserve images for the future,”
said Toshihisa Iida, general manager
of Optical Device and Electronic
Imaging Products Division.
Zack Arias also conducted a
workshop on 14 July for aspiring
photographers and enthusiasts for
the benefit of Bahay Aruga.
Functionally stylish
Uniq, a Singaporean
brand, designs functional
and fashionable gadget
accessories and travel
essentials to ensure you
stay in style at home or
away
Macpower Marketing Corp.
launched recently at F1 Hotel
another brand that would dress
up different gadgets
Uniq, a Singaporean
brand, designs functional and
fashionable gadget accessories
and travel essentials to ensure
you stay in style at home or
away. Its products are driven
by the shared belief that good
design should be beautiful,
functional and subtle. They craft
experiences with their products
to make lives better.
“Each Uniq design went through
stages of prudent planning and
development, with scrupulous
STAY in style with Uniq’s designs.
sourcing and careful selection
of quality materials, textiles and
craftsmanship to produce the kind
of premium goods we are proud to
call ours,” said David, head of Design
and Development.
For charging
Solid elegance meets full
practicality in the form of Aereo,
a three-in-one fast wireless
charging pad bundled with QC 3.0
fast charger. Enjoy streamlined
charging by powering up iPhone,
Airpods and Apple Watch
simultaneously on one single
platform.
A stylish space-saving solution,
Aereo is designed to be simple that
it blends right in.
Enjoy effortless on-the-go
charging with Vertex, a wireless
charger from the Lithos Collective
that defies the rules of
functional design.
Designed for ultimate
convenience, its
simple folding
mechanism and
three-coil design allow
for easy flat-lay and
upright charging at
any angle, all without
compromising on style.
Crafted with a
unique texturized finishing that
is granular to touch, this portable
wireless charger makes for a clever
elegant piece on any workspace
you place it on.
W i t h
compatibility
in over 150
countries,
including
America,
Australia,
Europe, United
Kingdom and
Asia, Voyage
helps you stay
charged and
connected,
no matter
which part of the world you’re at.
Equipped with USB-C fast charging
technology and is able to charge
up to five devices simultaneously.
It comes with a travel pouch to
store product.
Channel the right energy with
Versa Slim Kit, the power adaptor
bundle with fast charging USB-C to
C tough cable. Built with 18W Power
Delivery and slim enough for those
hard to reach wall sockets, Versa
lends your charging experience a
contemporary edge in both speed
and style.
A desktop classic upgraded
in form and power, Surge is a
charging station equipped with two
USB-C PD Ports at 90W Max Power
and two Quick Charge 3.0 USB
ports for simultaneous charging
of all devices at full speed. It is
designed in flat-lay orientation
to ensure clean cable lines for
complete charging ease.
Designed for those who work
on their smartphone and gadgets
all day, Fuele is equipped with
USB-C power delivery to charge
and recharge them 30 percent
faster and up to three devices
simultaneously. It is encased in
premium leatherette with an
ultra-slim profile to turn ordinary
everyday charging into a refined
and delightful experience.
FUNCTIONAL and fashionable for yuppies and professionals.
Cables
Simple, understated design
methodology backs the overall
aesthetics for Halo. Intentionally
created to look clean, sleek,
and uncluttered, its slender and
featherweight size makes it perfect
for on-the-go usage. It comes in
Lightning and USB-C cable.
Flex USB-C to Lightning cable
supports 18W Power Delivery
to charge your iPhone at the
fastest speed available — up to 60
percent in 30 minutes. It is made
ultra-durable with military-grade
material and Xtreme360 Strain Relief
design for incredible flexibility, and
completed with a slim charging tip
that fits most cases.
Cases
Add the contemporary
robustness and touch of genuine
leather to your Airpod case with
Terra, a protective casing crafted
with full-grain quality leather. It
is designed to shield your Airpod
case with a premium pop of color
and comes with a bottom cutout
for charging ease.
Get full functionality out of your
smart device with an integrated
stand. Whether you’re texting,
video-calling or watching your
favorite movies, you can now enjoy
protection that comes with hands-free
connectivity.
Inspired by the idea of finding
safety and security from nature,
the Element series is a splendid
showcase of exquisitely crafted
case designs made contemporary
with refined natural materials.
Like the naturally occurring
phenomenon found in nature, no
two Element cases are the same.
Flaunt your device in a case
where style and protection
amalgamate. With flexible luxe
material and absolute protection,
you’ll be ready to take on the day’s
challenges on the chin.
Uniq opened its first kiosk
in the Philippines on 22 June at
fourth-floor Cyberzone, The Annex
Building, SM City North EDSA.
CINEMATIC experience within reach.
Changing views
Movie enthusiasts can now bring the cinema experience to the
comfort of their homes with the launch of the world’s smallest 3LCD laser
projector, Epson’s new sleek-looking Epson EF-100 laser
projectors that can project brilliant images
anywhere within the home.
With a projection of up to 150
inches in size, the innovative
new projectors combine large
screen viewing with flexibility
and usability, and are set to
PORTABLE cinema projector. be a game-changer in home
projection.
With a slim and minimalist design, the portable projectors
come in tailored black (EF-100B) and classy white (EF-100W)
looks. Designed for style-conscious users, they blend seamlessly
into the home environment aesthetics and complement
the lifestyle of the user. The projectors are compact and
lightweight, measuring at just 23cm along its longest edge
and weighing at 2.7kg, making it easy for users to carry and
position them easily anywhere within the home.
The projectors have the ability to project at any angle with a
360-degree flexibility, opening up many possibilities for projection,
from watching movies on the living room wall to even projecting
on the ceiling from the bed.
Accessing content from a phone, tablet, DVD player, games
console or laptop is easy by inserting a cable into the HDMI port.
Streaming devices can be plugged in the back.
Even in daylight, the projector’s laser light source delivers
bright and vibrant images and there is no need to turn lights off
or close the windows. With the EF-100 laser projectors, movie
buffs can enjoy their movies at 2,000 lumens of brightness and a
high contrast ratio of over 2,500,000:1, delivering exceptionally
rich and vivid images.
The projectors need minimal maintenance. With its long-lasting
maintenance-free laser light source, there is no need for any
projector lamp changes for the lifespan of the projector.
These home projectors have a user-friendly interface and are
designed for beginners in projection. Set up is easy with minimal
technical installation required. Users simply follow a quick start-up
guide to get going. A key feature includes geometric keystone
correction that enables easy adjustment of projections.

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
REVIEW | The Lion King
He respects the
sacredness of the
animated musical
classic, opening the film
with a carbon-copy of the
original, shot by shot,
giving you goosebumps
and an overpowering
sense of nostalgia
FILM CHECK
Stephanie Mayo
Let’s cut to the chase
— The Lion King 2019
remake is a work of
staggering beauty.
See it. Of course, it does
not surpass the original 1994
animated film, but Jon Favreau’s
computer-generated retelling is
visually and emotionally rich on
its own.
This 2019 version literally relives
the cartoon — transporting you to
SPOTLIGHT
C19
Splendid
Remake
NEA Crossword Puzzle
© 2018 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS
1 Hoist
ACROSS
5 Near-grads
8 Bit of news
12 Wheel shaft
13 Ooh companion
14 Back of the neck
15 Lascivious glance
16 Wonders
18 Mystery writer —
Paretsky
20 Skip over water
21 Large parrot
22 More than enough
25 Boise’s st.
28 Hog meat
29 Pointed arch
33 Fingers and toes
35 Take it easy
36 Bread unit
37 Caustic solution
39 Goes wrong
40 Sea barrier
42 Hot beverage
43 Kitchen herb
46 Masseuse
employer
49 Shoe color
50 Cameron —
53 Yellow spice
56 San — Obispo
58 Qatar ruler
59 Handy abbr.
60 Trim
61 Dry riverbed
62 Lawyer’s thing
63 Kind of jockey
DOWN
1 Sci-fi computer
2 Alimony getters
3 Tiny jumper
4 — cotta
5 Actor — Shepard
6 Viking, maybe
7 Got smaller
8 Business mag
9 Discussion
10 Thrust-and-parry
sword
11 Butte kin
17 Well-chosen
19 Dr.’s visit
23 Spanish article
24 Egg part
SUDOKU
25 Lazing about
26 Name in fashion
27 Food additive
30 Farm bleater
31 La femme
32 Director — Kazan 48 Needing rain
34 In that case
(2 wds.)
37 Police blotter info
38 Allow to use
40 More expensive
41 Kindle
44 Country addr.
45 Stopped a squeak
46 One-pot dinner
47 Mountain lion
51 German car
52 Sharp turns
54 Hosp. scan
55 Vaccine amts.
57 Jiffy
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
YOUNG Simba is voiced by JD McCrary.
stunning African vistas,
with the original songs
from Elton John and
lyricist Tim Rice and
a score by Hans
Zimmer, recreating
the spellbinding
atmosphere of the
original.
It’s astonishing
how you already
know what’s
going to happen
next, yet you are
still affected
when it
happens. You
fear for the
lives
of young Simba (JD McCrary)
and young Nala (Shahadi Wright
Joseph) in the gorge, you get
anxious by the wildebeest
stampede, you shiver from the
evilness of the Machiavellian Scar
(Chiwetel Ejiofor) and you are
moved to tears by a whimpering
young Simba beside a lifeless
Mufasa (the return of the original
voice actor James Earl Jones).
Favreau wisely follows the
phrase, “If it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it.” He respects
the sacredness of
the animated
musical classic,
DISNEY’s “The Lion King” live action
remake is showing on 19 July.
opening the film with a carbon
copy of the original, shot by
shot, giving you goosebumps
and an overpowering sense of
nostalgia.
He not only replicates 97
percent of the cartoon frame for
frame, reproducing its brilliant
camera angles, but he knew
which elements of the original
to tinker with. By now, we know
that Disney’s live-action remakes
tend to tweak the narrative a little,
and this remake (which is half an
hour longer than the cartoon)
most of the time knows which to
take out and which ones to spice
up a little.
The hyenas have a more
sinister vibe here — the humor
gone among Scar’s political
weapons and are effectively
more in character to their
greedy nature. This is a clever
decision, as keeping the goofy
personalities of the animated
hyenas is risky, and which might
have the tendency to fall into
slapstick territory.
With new perspectives and
additional humor in this remake,
the best perhaps is the tandem
of Timon and Pumba and their
timelessly humorous problemfree
philosophy. Excellently
voiced by Billy Eichner and funny
man Seth Rogen, respectively,
Timon and Pumba provide the
most unforgettable lines, even
making the iconic best friends
even more lovable.
Favreau’s mastery in giving
soul to CGI animals has
already been proven in the
2016 photorealistic remake
of The Jungle Book, and he
even does a better job in The
Lion King. We have come to the
point of wondrous technological
advancement in moviemaking,
and The Lion King is a testament
to it. This remake is seamless, so
hyper-realistic that it feels like
watching a National Geographic
nature documentary or BBC Earth
— a close and intimate encounter
of a royal family faction among
the lions of Pride Lands, focusing
on a young cub and meticulously
filming his journey into adulthood.
But Favreau does not merely
give us a lifelike reimagining
of one of the best entries in
Disney’s Second Golden Age. It
is a wildlife documentary, yes,
but it’s sprinkled with Disney
magic as well.
The lighting, the mood and the
atmosphere are glorious, with a
strong sense of mystique in some
sequences, particularly Rafiki’s
scenes. Seeing this mandrill
shaman come to life feels like
reuniting with a long-lost friend
from 25 years back.
Scar, even without Jeremy
Iron’s arresting voice, is still
imposing. Designed to be
scarred and dirty to distinguish
him from Mufasa, he reeks of
evil — a gazillion times more
threatening than Marwan
Kenzari’s very human Jafar in
the sub-par (but nevertheless
entertaining) Aladdin remake
earlier this year.
The obvious marketing ploy
in The Lion King is Beyoncé
Knowles-Carter, who voiced the
adult Nala. I like Beyoncé, and she
can very well voice-act, given some
movie experiences, such as the
2012 Austin Powers Goldmember.
But Seth Rogen reigns supreme
here, even with his less-thanperfect
warbling. His comedic
timing is perfect.
Queen Bey drowns Donald
Glover in their rendition of “Can
You Feel the Love Tonight.” But
what sank my heart with sheer
disappointment is the additional
song by Beyoncé taking over the
very important and dramatic
scene of the adult Simba running
back home to reclaim his rightful
place in the throne. Because the
song is a forgettable, emotionless
blah. This is the only part where
Favreau erred.
But overall, The Lion King
is a triumph. A visually splendid
and tender remake of a beloved
childhood movie experience. Given
the excellence that Favreau
displayed in his anthropomorphic
animals in The Jungle Book, The
Lion King’s quality is already
expected, anyway. But it exceeded
my expectations.
4 out of 5 stars
WE ARE HIRING!
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
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Encouraging attendance at
3rd EDDYS
Simply Red
Isah Red
PRESENTERS Empoy and Claudia Barretto.
It is beyond my
comprehension why
most people in the local
entertainment industry can’t
seem to have that spirit of
being in a community of film
artists and technicians and
show support for awards
shows, like The EDDYS,
unless they are certain they
will be the recipients of the
honor
RISING Producer awardee Piolo Pascual.
Dingdong Dantes, Kathryn Bernardo, Arjo
Atayde, Max Collins and Joel Lamangan
were the editors’ choices for Best Actor,
Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress and
director, respectively, at last Sunday night’s The EDDYS
(Entertainment Editors’ Choice), the annual awards
given by the members of the Society of Philippine
Entertainment Editors (SPEEd).
Unfortunately, only Dantes was around to pick up
his Best Actor trophy for his role in Sid & Aya. The
others were anywhere but at the New Frontier Theater
(now officially the home of The EDDYS) to receive their
awards. Lamangan, who won for Best Director for the
film Rainbow’s Sunset, was at the theater earlier but
left before the announcement of the category’s winner
towards the end of the ceremony.
It is beyond my comprehension why most people in
the local entertainment industry can’t seem to have
that spirit of being in a community of film artists and
technicians and show support for awards shows like
The EDDYS unless they are certain they will be the
recipients of the honor. That seems to be the only
time they will attend the ceremony. This culture has
become the norm since the days of the FAMAS Awards
in the 70s.
I remember an anecdote
of a dear departed movie
reporter about a very
popular star in that era
who was nominated for
Best Actress in what is
now known as the Star
Awards for Movies. The
actress was in her van
while the ceremony
was ongoing at one of
the venues at the CCP
Complex. Apparently, she
had someone inside the
venue fishing for leakage
VIVA superstars (from left) Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo
and Nadine Lustre will headline the first Vivacon in
August.
if she would win over her closest competitor. If she
didn’t win, she’d tell the driver to turn around and
proceed back home. Her snoop seemed to have zealous
friends among the members of the awards organizers
so she got word the actress would be called the winner.
Finally, when the nominees were being called out, the
actress slowly glided to the door of the venue and,
when her name was announced, entered the door as
if she had been there all along. At that time, movie
scribes described the situation as “dramatic entrance
of the Best Actress winner.”
On leakage and attendance
In more recent times, awards organizers have been
compelled to leak the names of the winners to ensure
their ceremonies are well-attended and star-studded.
However, with that, the element of surprise has been
totally reduced.
When SPEEd was established and held The EDDYS
for the first time in 2017 at then Kia Theater (now New
Frontier Theater), only a handful of winners were there
to accept their trophies, but most winners in the major
categories were a no-show. The members agreed, in
the first place, not to leak the names of the winners.
Yet, even as the outcome was pretty disheartening,
the members of the group were not discouraged. They
had anticipated it, so they said they’d probably come
at the next awards show.
Yes, at the second The EDDYS, the group saw more
actors and writers, producers and technicians in the
crowd. Still, most winners in the major categories
were not among those.
Last Sunday’s ceremony was the third for the
group. Attendance was surprisingly better than in
the two previous years. With the cooperation of and
encouragement from Film Development Council of
the Philippines chair Liza Diño-Seguerra, the awards
ceremony of the entertainment editors’ group seems
to be moving forward and in the right direction.
Ethel Ramos, considered doyenne of entertainment
writing and recipient of The EDDYS Manuel Pichel
Memorial Award, said, “Keep up the good work. Last
Sunday’s show was far better than your two previous
shows. The EDDYS is definitely evolving.”
For someone as popular as Piolo to make
time to accept an award given by a group
of journalists, it affirmed my respect for
actors that acknowledge compliments given
by journalists.
Encouraging words from a friend who some time
five years ago, when I attempted to organize the
editors into a group, told me straight to my face
that such a group wouldn’t last a day. Today, she has
nothing but admiration for its tenacity.
The acceptance speech of fellow journalist, now
TV and radio show host and recipient of the group’s
Joe Quirino Memorial Award, Cristy Fermin, was more
urging for the group to work harder and keep the
integrity of awards show.
It was also very touching
to see the more senior in
the industry take the time to
attend the show (Boots Anson
Roa, Senator Ramon “Bong”
Revilla and wife Mayor Lani
Mercado, Rustica Carpio, Nova
Villa, Eddie Gutierrez, Dante
Rivero, Elwood Perez, Pepito
Rodriguez, Christopher de
Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Tirso
Cruz III, Lorli Villanueva,
Tommy Abuel, director Carlitos
Siguion-Reyna, producer Digna
Santiago, cinematographer Romy Vitug).
Even the younger ones showed support, including
Eric Quizon, husband and wife Gladys Reyes and
Christopher Roxas, Rep. Alfred Vargas, former Mayor
Herbert Bautista, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada,
Ricky Davao, Pinky Amador and others who
agreed to be performers or presenters like
Kuh Ledesma, Empoy, Claudia Barretto, Kit
Thompson and beauty queens, thus raising
the level of anticipation of the
members for the 4th The EDDYs
next year.
The EDDYS is Rated K
With Korina Sanchez-Roxas
hosting The EDDYS last
Sunday, I felt the awards
show was really “Rated
K,” and why not?
Apart from one of the
most popular news
and public affairs
JAMES Reid and Nadine aka Jadine will also bring the kilig
to the fanfest.
personalities, she also hosts Rated K, the top-rated
Sunday news magazine program on ABS-CBN.
It was not easy to convince her to do the show, but
being one among media celebrities that recognizes the
invaluable work editors do in newspapers to make sure
the manuscripts are readable and attract the interest
of the readers, having been in the business herself, we
anticipated she would agree, and she did.
Also, Sanchez has been known not to mince words
when it comes to what she believes or what she
doesn’t. In accepting the invitation by the editors
to host the 3rd The EDDYS, it affirmed her belief
in the group’s purpose to help an industry amid the
lingering competition from both outside forces and
DIRECTOR Elwood Perez accepts his Lifetime Achievement
Award.
the advancing technology that allows the streaming
of films via the Internet.
Piolo and Dingdong at The EDDYS
It was also heartwarming to see Piolo Pascual
(apparently coming from another event as his outfit
showed) come up the stage to accept the Rising
Producers of the Year along with Rex Tiri of T-Rex
Entertainment.
For someone as popular as Piolo to make time
to accept an award given by a group of journalists,
it affirmed my respect for actors who acknowledge
compliments given by journalists.
My admiration for Dingdong Dantes is overflowing,
as he appeared to accept his award (I know he wasn’t
even sure if he’d win), as he promised during the
Nominees’ Night. His acceptance speech was even
more touching when he said he regrets not having
been able to work with the late Eddie Garcia who,
in my opinion, was perhaps the greatest actor the
Philippine film industry has ever had.
I hate comparing the local film industry with
Hollywood. But I am amazed by the American
and British actors and film workers’ spirit of
being in a community that I see most (if not all)
of them in most award ceremonies (Hollywood
has also several award shows and not just the
Oscars) and it even flabbergasts me to no end
seeing them applaud for their colleagues who are
named winners.
It had always been an aspiration for me to
help establish some kind of a film community
in this country where actors support each and
every actor in every endeavor, whether they are
in different networks, and the producers help
out each other to create masterpieces and not
compete among each other. That’s the kind of
community I’d like to see in the local movie
industry.
And SPEEd could help the industry
achieve that through the annual
The EDDYS. It is not for the glory
of the editors but for the film
industry’s development.
For the complete list of
winners, refer to Daily
Tribune, 16 July 2019.
Vivacon 2019
The first entertainment
convention featuring the Viva
group of companies, Vivacon
2019, happens on 3 and 4 August at the World Trade
Center in Parañaque City from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The
admission price is only P550 per person. Tickets are
available at SM tickets online.
The ticket will give attendees entrance to the
venue and the chance to be present in all of the
activities of their choice featured in the event.
All of the activities, live shows and auditions are
open to the public but will be on a first come,
first served basis.
To better manage your visit to Vivacon, it would
be best to check out the Viva online sites for the
schedules. For guaranteed slots at the auditions,
log on to www.viva.com.ph/vivaauditionsmain.
‘Dragon Lady’ ends tomorrow
Top-rating GMA Afternoon Prime series Dragon
Lady is set to conclude its run this Saturday, 20
July, after months of suspenseful antics and
riveting rivalry between families of Filipino-Chinese
descent.
Under the helm of esteemed director Paul Sta.
Ana, Dragon Lady delves on the tale of a young
lady born with dragon-like features. Her physical
traits and mystical power unleash the independent
and fierce lady boss in her.
Bannering the show and their first team-up
in a series, sought-after Kapuso stars Janine
Gutierrez and Tom Rodriguez shared their
unforgettable experiences on set and what they will
miss the most while filming the drama series.
Janine, who portrays the role of Celestina/
Scarlet, said she is mostly grateful for the
memories that she and her co-stars shared during
TOM Rodriguez and Janine Gutierrez.
taping.
Tom, who breathes life into the character of
Michael, expressed his admiration towards
his co-stars and their professionalism
whenever on set.
Diana Zubiri, who plays Almira,
shared the inseparable bond that
blossomed between the cast while
working together.
Joyce Ching, who has convincingly
given justice to her kontrabida (antagonist)
role as Astrid, expressed her sentiments over
the viewers and netizens who have bombarded her
social media accounts with hate comments.
Meanwhile, Edgar Allan Guzman, who plays
Goldwyn, shared that working with Janine has
helped him hone his craft even better.
JOYCE Ching, Edgar Allan Guzman
and Diana Zubiri.

‘DRAGON LADY’
ENDS
TOMORROW
CANADIANS’
HOT START
CELTICS’
PRIDES
FURUKAWA NEARS CROWN
C20
D22 D23 D24
Julius Manicad, Editor
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
MAJOR
LEAGUE
BASEBALL
National League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Atlanta 58 39 .598 —
Washington 50 44 .532 6½
Philadelphia 49 46 .516 8
New York 44 51 .463 13
Miami 35 58 .376 21
Central Division
Chicago 52 44 .542 —
Milwaukee 50 47 .515 2½
St. Louis 48 46 .511 3
Pittsburgh 45 50 .474 6½
Cincinnati 43 50 .462 7½
West Division
Los Angeles 63 34 .649 —
Arizona 49 47 .510 13½
San Francisco 47 49 .490 15½
San Diego 46 49 .484 16
Colorado 46 50 .479 16½
FIGHT DRAWS NEAR
SPORTS
D21
Ready to rumble
Games Wednesday
(Thursday in Manila)
Milwaukee 5, Atlanta 4
N.Y. Mets 14, Minnesota 4
St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 5
Chicago Cubs 5, Cincinnati 2
San Francisco 11, Colorado 8
San Diego 3, Florida 2
American League
East Division
W L Pct GB
New York 60 33 .645 —
Tampa Bay 56 41 .577 6
Boston 52 44 .542 9½
Toronto 36 61 .371 26
Baltimore 29 66 .305 32
Central Division
Minnesota 58 36 .617 —
Cleveland 54 40 .574 4
Chicago 42 50 .457 15
Kansas City 35 62 .361 24½
Detroit 29 62 .319 27½
West Division
Houston 60 37 .619 —
Oakland 55 41 .573 4½
Texas 50 46 .521 9½
Los Angeles 50 47 .515 10
Seattle 39 60 .394 22
Games Wednesday
(Thursday in Manila)
Oakland 10, Seattle 2
Baltimore 9, Washington 2
Cleveland 7, Detroit 2
Boston 5, Toronto 4
Arizona 19, Texas 4
Kansas City 7, Chicago White Sox 5
Houston 11, L.A. Angels 2
MANNY Pacquiao (left) braces for an all-out war against Keith Thurman in their WBA welterweight title fight.
I get to punch a senator in the face and
he’s going to feel it
Manny Pacquiao has been used to the barbs being
thrown by Keith Thurman that they no longer affect
his mindset going into their World Boxing Association
welterweight title fight this Sunday (Manila time) at
the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
In a pre-fight news conference Thursday morning
(Manila time), Thurman repeated it again.
And all Filipino did was to roll his eyes and flash
a sarcastic smile
“I get to punch a senator in the face and he’s
going to feel it,” said Thurman, who will march into
the battle as the undefeated “super” welterweight
champion.
“And if he’s going to be upset about it, he can
do something about it Saturday night. It is called
FLOYD Mayweather (left) confirms that he has “zero interest” in facing Manny Pacquiao in another
megabuck fight.
AFP
‘swing, swing,’ baby.”
It’s no secret that Pacquiao is the world’ s only
senator who fights for a living.
But the future Hall of Famer remains on top of
his game and had beaten some quality foes in more
than two decades of slugging it out inside the ring.
Pacquiao had sent the likes of Ricky Hatton,
Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya and Erik Morales
into retirement while nearly becoming the first
boxer to tarnish the immaculate mark of Floyd
Mayweather Jr.
In his previous fights, he clobbered Lucas
Matthysse of Argentina and Adrian Broner of
the United States to become the WBA regular
welterweight king at the age of 40.
Now, he gets a chance to fight Thurman, who has
yet to absorb a single loss in his professional career.
“You know, Manny Pacquiao is a tremendous
fighter. He’s a legend. He has accomplished many
things in the sport,” said Thurman, who has been
a world champion since 2013 with a stellar 29-win
record, 22 coming by way of knockouts.
“Most boxers, if they accomplish half of the things
Manny Pacquiao had accomplished, they will go down
as someone who had a successful career.”
With the fight day drawing near, the Filipino ring
idol is already tapering down and has no plan of going
through grueling training and sparring sessions.
Instead of regular morning runs, he plans to just
walk around as he doesn’t see any problem by the
time he tip the scales on Saturday morning (Manila
time).
Thurman said he’s not intimidated with the
stature of Pacquiao and vowed that he would
pepper him with head and body punches from afar
to neutralize his speed.
“I’m not here to hug Manny Pacquiao. I’m not
here to pat him on the back. I’m here to fight him,”
said the Florida native.
“For me, it just puts me in fight mode when I let
him know that he ain’t going to do nothing. With
those T-Rex arms, he’s about to get beaten up.”
Pacquiao, however, refused to get provoked by
Thurman’s verbal jabs.
After all, most of the fighters who ran their
mouths against him ended up kissing the canvass.
“Let’s ignore him. Maybe he’s just getting
nervous,” Pacquiao said.
“What I can see is that we did our best in training
and we’re 100 percent ready for this fight. I believe
we are prepared physically, mentally and, of course,
spiritually.”
“I’m sure my opponent also worked hard, trained
hard for Saturday so I’m expecting a good fight.”
No ‘Money’ for Manny
Floyd has no interest
LOS ANGELES -- Floyd Mayweather has “zero
interest” in coming out of retirement for a rematch
with Manny Pacquiao after their money-spinning 2015
superfight, close confidante Leonard Ellerbe said.
Ellerbe, the chief executive of Mayweather
Promotions, told the boxingscene.com website that
not even the prospect of another lucrative payday
would tempt Mayweather back into the ring.
Mayweather, who is also dubbed as “Money, ” is
believed to have earned an estimated $300 million
from the points victory over Pacquiao, which remains
the most lucrative fight in history and generated
more than $600 million revenue.
Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach
AFP
said last week he would be keen for the Filipino
icon to set up a rematch with Mayweather after
a frustrating defeat in the first meeting.
But while Mayweather will be at ringside for Pacquiao’s
world title fight against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on
Saturday, Ellerbe says there is no chance of a rematch.
“Floyd has no interest,” Ellerbe told boxingscene.
com.
“He has zero interest. He’s been doing this all
his life. And after a while, you get burned out. He’s
given the sport everything.”
Ellerbe said Mayweather was instead happy in his
retirement.
“He’s very content,” Ellerbe said. “He’s living his best
life. I just talked to him earlier today. We went over some
business stuff. He’s traveling, spending time with his kids,
spending time with his family.”
AFP

D22 SPORTS
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
RAHM’S ULTIMATE GOAL
Spanish conquistador
JON Rahm
seeks to
become the
first Spanish
to win in the
British Open
in 40 years.
AFP
Rory banks on
home crowd
I think it’s probably easier this week because it’s such
a big tournament
PORTRUSH, United Kingdom — Rory McIlroy said he is not feeling
extra pressure this week as the British Open returns to Northern Ireland
for the first time since 1951 and is hoping home fans can help him end
a five-year major drought.
The world number three is the bookmakers’ favorite to lift the Claret
Jug for the second time, despite not having claimed a major title since
the 2014 PGA Championship.
He said in the past he struggled being the focus of attention at Irish
Opens, although he did win that tournament in 2016.
“I think it’s probably easier this week because it’s such a big
tournament,” said McIlroy, who opens his title tilt at Royal Portrush on
Thursday along with US Open winner Gary Woodland and England’s
Paul Casey.
“You’ve got the best players in the world here, and I don’t feel like
I’m the center of attention.
“I’m here to enjoy myself. Hopefully it doesn’t take another 68 years
for the tournament to come back here. But at the same time, I might not
get an opportunity to play an Open Championship here again.
“I’m really just treating it as a wonderful experience and one that I
really want to enjoy.
“I’m going to love being out there and having the crowds and having
the support. If that can’t help you, then nothing can.”
McIlroy fired a course-record 61 on the Dunluce Links at the age of
just 16 in 2005, and is one of three Northern Irish major champions in
the field along with Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.
He said his first memories of Portrush came as a child when watching
his father play.
“I remember chipping around the chipping green, being seven
or eight years of age, my dad out playing on the Dunluce,”
added McIlroy, who played a practice round on Tuesday.
“Portrush. At least the golf club has been a big part of
my upbringing. It’s sort of surreal that it’s here.
“Even driving in yesterday, when you’re coming in
on the road and you look to the right and you’ve got
the second tee. I don’t know who was teeing off, maybe
(American player) Tony Finau and someone else, (it was)
sort of strange to see them here.”
“But it’s really cool.”
AFP
Qatari rules
Silky Way
DUNHUANG, China — After traversing Russia’s forests, the
Mongolian steppe and the deserts of northern China, Nasser Al-
Attiyah of Qatar finally claimed victory in the “big and beautiful”
Silk Way Rally on Tuesday.
Unchallenged after the eliminations, Al-Attiyah and French
co-driver Mathieu Baumel cruised to victory, winning all the stages
of a grueling competition.
His first victory in the Silk Way adds to Al-Attiyah’s three wins
in the Dakar rally.
China’s Wei Han and Liao Min were second with Frenchmen
Jerome Pelichet and Pascal Larroque third.
“It was important to me because it is a big and beautiful race,”
Al-Attiyah said.
The ninth edition of the rally started from Irkutsk in Russian Siberia
on 6 July and ended 10 days and 5,000 kilometers later in China’s Gobi
desert crossroads of Dunhuang, the Silk Road outpost famous for caves
adorned with ancient Buddhist statues and frescoes.
The rally introduced a two-wheel category this year and Britain’s Sam
Sunderland, who rides for KMT and won the Dakar in 2017, became the
first ever Silk Way motorbike champion.
AFP
It would be an honor to be the next Spanish player to
win an Open. I would very much love to
PORTRUSH, United Kingdom — Jon
Rahm said he would “love” to become
the second Spaniard to win the British
Open this week, 40 years on from
Seve Ballesteros’ first major victory
at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The late Ballesteros won the Claret
Jug three times, but Spain has yet to
have a second champion with Jose Maria
Olazabal twice finishing third while Sergio
Garcia is a two-time runner-up.
In-form Rahm is hoping he can be the man
to end the wait as he enters the tournament at
Royal Portrush full of confidence after his Irish Open
triumph at Lahinch two weeks ago.
“Obviously, it’s an event that’s really important
as a European and as a Spaniard,” said the
24-year-old Rahm.
“And it would be really incredible to do
something that great players after him
(Ballesteros) haven’t been able to do at
the Open.”
“Olazabal came close quite a few
times. Sergio has come close quite a
As a Mexican, it’s a responsibility
and an honor to represent
my country in both May and
September
LOS ANGELES — Canelo Alvarez scrapped
plans to fight in September after failing
to line up a suitable opponent, the world
middleweight champion announced.
Alvarez, the World Boxing Association,
World Boxing Confederation and International
few times. It would be an honor to be the next Spanish player to win an
Open. I would very much love to.”
Ballesteros was known for his swashbuckling style and incredible
recovery shots, but world number eight Rahm unsurprisingly says he
would settle for winning ugly.
“The inspiration, there’s a lot to look up to,” he said.
“None of the game play I would like to emulate, really. I don’t think
I have the talent to do what he did, to play the way he did.
“Although honestly, like I said, I don’t care how it looks, if it looks
pretty or not, as long as I win the event.”
Rahm also won the 2017 Irish Open at Portstewart, which is just 6.4
kilometers down the Causeway Coast from Portrush.
He is yet to win a major, but posted his best result at one of the big
four events when finishing tied-third at last month’s US Open.
“Ever since the first time I played here, well, in Portstewart two years
ago, the Irish crowd is treating me very, very specially,” said Rahm, who
is from Barrika in the Basque Country.
Although honestly, like I said, I don’t care how it looks, if it
looks pretty or not, as long as I win the event.
“I’ve had great support. And it’s the closest I’ll ever feel to playing
at home, without being at home, really. That’s what I think makes it so
special.”
“When I’m walking around my hometown in Spain, for the most part
of the year we get similar weather.”
“We’re right on the coast, fishing villages. It’s just a very similar feel
to what I had growing up.”
AFP
Canelo skips September fight
FOR lack of quality opponent, Canelo Alvarez decides to skip fighting this September. AFP
BROOKE Henderson connives with fellow Canadian
Alena Sharp to wage an early rally in the Dow Great
Lakes Bay Invitational tourney.
AFP
Boxing Federation champion, had been
provisionally due to fight on 14 September,
maintaining a tradition of fighting on or around
Mexico’s Independence Day holiday.
But the 28-year-old from Guadalajara,
whose last fight in May was a unanimous
decision win over Daniel Jacobs, revealed he
would now fight later in the year.
“As a Mexican, it’s a responsibility and an
honor to represent my country in both May
and September,” Alvarez said in a statement
released by Golden Boy Promotions.
“Those are my dates. However, as a world
champion in multiple weight classes, I also
have the responsibility of delivering the most
exciting and competitive fights possible.”
“That’s why Golden Boy and my team have
decided to postpone the date in order to do
right by my fans by promoting the best fight
possible and with the best opponent possible.”
Alvarez had been in talks about a possible
title defence with light heavyweight Sergey
Kovalev.
Alvarez’s camp is also reported to be
lukewarm about the prospect of a third battle
with former middleweight champion Gennady
Golovkin, whom he defeated last year in a
bruising 12-rounder in Las Vegas. AFP
Canadians’ hot start
At the beginning, it was a bit
nerve-wracking to get going
LOS ANGELES — Canadian
duo Brooke Henderson and
Alena Sharp took the first
round lead at the LPGA Tour’s
inaugural Dow Great Lakes
Bay Invitational tournament
with a five-under-par 65.
In the first ever two-player
team event in LPGA Tour history,
Henderson and Sharp recovered
from a dropped shot on the
opening hole to rattle off five
birdies and only one more bogey.
“At the beginning, it was
a bit nerve-wracking to get
going,” Sharp said.
“Then once we got a good
game plan, we helped each
other read some putts. We
got on a nice roll and a nice
rhythm and hit some shots,
made some putts, and really
Koreans
collide
KUALA LUMPUR — North and South Korea
will face off in politically charged World Cup
qualifiers after being drawn in the same
group Wednesday while archrivals Iran and
Iraq will also meet.
Heavyweights Iran, Japan, South Korea,
Australia and Saudi Arabia, who all played
in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, were drawn
in different groups for the Asian qualifiers of
the 2022 edition of the tournament in Qatar.
China, which is seeking to qualify for the
World Cup for only the second time, look to
have a promising fixture against lower-ranked
opponents including war-torn Syria and tiny
Guam.
The country and its 73rd-ranked team have
grand ambitions to host and win a World Cup
under football-fan President Xi Jinping.
South Korea is one of Asia’s best sides and
should easily beat the North, but the matches
between the neighbors on the divided Korean
peninsula promise to be bitter. AFP
never got into huge trouble.”
The tournament at Midland Country Club in Midland,
Michigan got under way a day earlier than traditional LPGA
Tour events in order to allow players time to travel to next
week’s Evian Championship in France.
Under tournament rules, Wednesday and Friday’s first
and third rounds will be alternate shot, while Thursday
and Saturday’s second and fourth rounds are best ball.
Seventy-one two-player teams are in the field with 35
advancing past the cut.
Henderson and Sharp lead by one shot from American
duo Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, who carded a
four-under-par 66 on the 6,599-yard layout.
The highlight for Creamer and Pressel came on the
par-five third hole, with the duo combining for an eagle
three.
A cluster of four teams were a further shot back
on three under after posting opening 67 in Australia’s
Minjee Lee and South Korea’s Ko Jin-young, Robyn
Choi and Jaclyn Lee, Cydney Clanton and Jasmine
Suwannapura, and South Korea’s Lee Mirim and Amy
Yang.
Five pairings were tied for seventh on two under,
including Thailand’s Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras and
Pajaree Anannarukarn.
Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn were tied for
20th after carding an opening even-par 70. AFP

Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
SPORTS
D23
KEMBA, ENES ARRIVE
Celtics’ prides
Getting Kemba was a top priority in
free agency
BOSTON — Enes Kanter took a playful
swipe at him.
Kemba Walker will try to replace him.
Kyrie Irving is no longer with the Celtics, but
his brief flameout in Boston is still on the minds
of fans in the city and even, apparently, players
who have yet to play a minute for the team.
On the day that the Celtics introduced
Walker as their point guard of the future, Kanter
said he chose the No. 11 last worn in Boston
by Irving in part because it was his number in
Oklahoma City in 2016-17. But he also quoted
a commercial in which Irving aspired to have
the number retired in his honor.
“I want to be the reason no one else wears
it,” Kanter said, cracking up himself and the
media at the introductory news conference he
shared with Walker. “I had to say it.”
Irving was the Celtics’ big free agency splash
two summers ago when he asked the Cleveland
Cavaliers to trade him and they shipped him
to Boston for the immensely popular Isaiah
Thomas.
The Celtics, who had just lost to Cleveland
in the conference finals, returned to the
East finals the next year — when Irving was
injured — but bowed out in the second round
this season, when he was healthy.
General manager Danny Ainge took pains
to stress that he doesn’t blame Irving for the
team’s disappointing season.
“The last point guard, it didn’t end like we
wanted this year, but it certainly wasn’t his
fault,” Ainge said.
Irving, who had spoken about his desire
to finish his career in Boston — and have his
number retired — opted out of his contract and
signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Fans were mostly
glad to see him go, and Walker played along
on Wednesday, joking with a reporter about
the Earth being flat — a reference to another
famous Irving comment.
Al Horford also jumped ship, meaning the
Celtics had lost their biggest acquisition from
two of the last three off-seasons.
I want to be the reason no one else
wears it.
Instead of adding role players to make
another run at an 18th NBA title, they needed
replacements for their stars. But coach Brad
Stevens said he never spent any time worrying
about whether the roster was in need of a
multi-season rebuild.
“We always go through every scenario,” he
said. “But nobody was looking at what we
weren’t going to be. We don’t ever look at it
that way.”
That’s when Ainge went to work.
Walker was signed to a four-year, $141 million
deal — the most Boston could offer, but $80
million less than the Charlotte Hornets could
have paid him over five seasons.
“This was our Plan A,” Ainge said,
sitting between Walker and Kanter for the
news conference at the team’s practice
facility. “Getting Kemba was a top priority in
free agency.”
Walker won the NCAA championship at
Connecticut, beating Stevens’ Butler team
in the 2011 title game. He referred to the
championship banners hanging from the ceiling
at the Auerbach Center, and the new Boston
Garden, and said he hoped to have a chance
to win again after reaching the playoffs just
twice, losing in the first round both times, in
eight seasons with the Hornets.
“Charlotte is all I’ve known,” he said.
“It all came down to my happiness and how
I want to compete night in and night out. My
time was up there. I’m ready to start a new
chapter.”
AFP
Angels ‘escalate’ row
When there’s retaliation like that
and the ball is thrown up, I think
there needs to some price to pay
LOS ANGELES — Houston Astros president
Jeff Luhnow demanded Major League Baseball
(MLB) to take action after Jake Marisnick was
struck by a fastball from Los Angeles Angels
pitcher Noe Ramirez in what seemed to be a
continuation of a feud.
A 90mph pitch hit Marisnick on Tuesday
as he faced the Angels for the first time since
returning from a two-game suspension for a
collision that injured their catcher Jonathan
Lucroy.
Angry Astros manager A.J. Hinch said
Ramirez’s pitch, which flew close to Marisnick’s
head before striking him on the shoulder, was
an act of retaliation.
Luhnow told Houston radio station KBME-AM
on Wednesday that baseball authorities should
consider sanctions following the incident.
SENSEI Danilo “Bong“ Mojica (right) has been appointed as country director
of the International Shotokan Karatedo Federation (ISKF). Also shown are
ISKF chairman and chief instructor Shihan Hiroyoshi Okazaki (left) and
Sensei Joji Mercado of ISKF San Francisco.
Ewan reaps reward
It took me half the Tour de France to get my win, but
I got it in the end
TOULOUSE, France — Australian Caleb Ewan picked up his
first Tour de France stage win in a mass sprint at Toulouse while
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe kept the overall lead.
Ewan said at the winning post that victory “almost” made up for
leaving his country, his wife and his baby daughter behind to race
his first Tour de France.
With defending champion Geraint Thomas and his Ineos teammate
Egan Bernal also finishing in the pack, there was no change in the
overall top three after a 167-kilometer run from Albi to Toulouse.
Ewan timed his explosive burst to perfection, catching and
overtaking Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen right on the line after
a long home straight. Elia Viviani was third on a finish designed for
the pure sprinters.
“It took me half the Tour de France to get my win, but I got it in the
end,” Ewan said.
“I let him go, caught his wheel and just had him on the line,” explained,
the stocky 25-year-old, in his first season with the Lotto-Soudal team.
Ewan insisted the stage win was a dream come true, and emotionally
rolled off people to whom he owed his win.
“When I started cycling at 10-years-old, I used to pretend that I was
racing in the Tour de France, and winning it,” he said. AFP
“It’s BS that the ball was thrown up,”
Luhnow said of the high pitch.
“When there’s retaliation like that and the
ball is thrown up, I think there needs to some
price to pay, and not from us, but from Major
League Baseball.”
Luhnow insisted Marisnick’s base-running
collision with Lucroy earlier this month,
which left the Angels catcher requiring
surgery to repair a broken nose, was
accidental.
“He had no intention of running over
Jason Lucroy, it was an accident, and
unfortunately he was injured,” Luhnow said.
“For whatever reason MLB decided to
suspend him. Both teams were talked to
and told not to escalate it. And last night it
escalated.”
Astros skipper Hinch was also unhappy
that the umpires did not punish Ramirez. He
said after Tuesday’s game the team expected
Marisnick to be targeted, complaining that
the Angels had been given a “free shot” at
the player.
AFP
Given the above considerations,
the following questions remain:
Where did the fund to cover the
participation of QTA swimmers
come from
My years with the Philippine Sports
Commission (PSC) were both a challenge
and a blessing.
I was only 31 years old when former
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
appointed me. It came during the point
when I was still very active with the
swimming association as its national head
coach so my thoughts were on how I could
help Philippine sports, especially the field
where I came from.
I led the PSC for almost five years.
During those times, I made sure that
the board of commissioners would approve
all the possible support I could give to
the swimmers regardless if it’s for their
participation in the Southeast Asian
Games, SEA Age Group or other major
international tournaments.
I was very thankful to my fellow PSC
board members for appreciating my love
for the sport.
After my PSC stint had ended,
by kumpadre in William “Butch” Ramirez
was appointed as my successor and he
continued my support to swimming.
He really made sure that our national
swimmers would be taken care of.
But in the case of the recent 43 rd SEA
Age Group in Cambodia, where swimmers
were asked to cough out $1,700 each for
the 50 non-standard qualifiers, $1,190 for
the 10 Qualifying Time B (QTB) standard
swimmers and supposed to be free for the
eight Qualifying Time A (QTA) tankers, I
had to ask: Where did the support for the
QTA come from?
KEMBA Walker and Enes Kanter vow to lead the Boston Celtics to glory.
Simmons declines World Cup
I wanted to let everyone know that after
consulting with my representation, I’ve
made the difficult decision to forego
playing in the World Cup in China
BEN Simmons begs off from representing Australia in the FIBA World Cup.
Do the maths
One Stroke At A Time
Eric Buhain
If the fund for the QTA swimmers comes
from PSC, the same would have to be
requested for by the Philippine Swimming,
Inc. (PSI).
Once the PSC approves it, the financial
assistance would be drawn and all PSI has
to produce is an official receipt (OR) as a
requirement by the Commission on Audit for
those who receive government money and, of
course, by the Bureau of Internal Revenue as
the PSI is supposed to be an entity registered
in the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Did the PSI issue an OR?
That has yet to be determined.
Assuming that the PSC released fund to
PSI for QTA swimmers, I still can’t do the
math on how the PSI arrived at the excessive
amount of $1,700, which the non-standard
and QTB swimmers had to pay before they
could go to Cambodia for six days.
Last year, when the Philippines hosted the
42 nd edition of the SEA Age Group tourney,
PSI asked swimmers to shell out P32,000
each.
It was held in Los Baños, Laguna and
swimmers also had to pay for their hotels,
uniforms, swimsuits, shuttle services and
other things.
The only difference this year was the
airfare going to Cambodia.
Does a round-trip ticket to Cambodia cost
P55,000?
I seriously doubt it because at that
price, you could have already gone to the
LOS ANGELES — Ben Simmons, newly signed to
a five-year, $170 million contract extension with the
Philadelphia 76ers, confirmed he won’t play for Australia
at the World Cup.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Melbourne-born
star said he wouldn’t make the trip to the
FIBA championship that tips off in China
on 31 August.
“I wanted to let everyone know that
after consulting with my representation,
I’ve made the difficult decision to forego
playing in the World Cup in China,”
Simmons said.
“Ultimately, we decided it was best that
I use the time in September to return to
Philadelphia to acquaint myself with my new
teammates and prepare for the upcoming
NBA season.”
Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, had already
indicated in comments to ESPN on Saturday
that it was “doubtful” Simmons would play
for the Boomers in the tournament, even
though the 22-year-old said in May he was
looking forward to representing his country.
“I will still be heading back home to
Australia to host my camps as well as
train and play with the Boomers in the
upcoming exhibition games,” Simmons
said, referring to the 22 and 24 August
friendlies against the United States in
Melbourne.
“I’m really excited about the talent we
have on the Boomers squad, especially
moving closer to 2020 where I will be
honored and humbled to represent my
country on the world’s biggest sporting
stage at the Olympics in Tokyo.”
Simmons was the top overall pick
in 2016 and after injury saw him miss
the 2016-17 NBA season he was named
Rookie of the Year in 2017-18.
He averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds
and 7.7 assists for the 76ers last season,
when he was named an NBA All-Star for
AFP
the first time.
AFP
United States.
For the benefit of the QTA swimmers
who truly deserve all the support, the
PSC may or may have received a request
from PSI for support for that Cambodian
tournament.
If they did not, the question as to
who covered the expenses for the QTA
swimmers remains to be unsettled.
I am also curious about the case of 12
coaches who went to Cambodia.
Does a round-trip ticket to
Cambodia cost P55,000?
What are they? Are they the personal
coaches of 70 swimmers who went there?
Again, who shouldered their expenses?
When we were still with the national
team, we had a maximum of three
coaches in any international competition.
Back then, both the official and
personal coaches coordinated well with
each other so there was no disruption
in the preparation of the swimmers for
international competitions.
The three coaches could also handle
the job of the 12 coaches and could even
deliver more gold medals for the country.
Given the above considerations, the
following questions remain: Where did
the fund to cover the participation of QTA
swimmers come from?
Who paid for the travel expenses of
12 coaches?
Why were the QTB and non-standard
swimmers excessively charged?
Maybe the correct math here is that
all the non-standard swimmers and QTB
tankers pooled their money to pay for the
trip of the QTA swimmers and 12 coaches
to Cambodia.
If so, I would raise the ultimate
question: Is it fair?
You do the maths.
AFP

D24 SPORTS
Friday, 19 July 2019
Daily Tribune
G.A. GIVES GREEN LIGHT
All set for POC polls
I’m satisfied with the
proceedings. All members
cooperated
Aces, Bolts
in game
of death
I just told my players to
continue to build on the win
By Joel Orellana
By Miguel La Torre
Save for some minor humps, the Philippine
Olympic Committee (POC) general assembly
agreed to hold special elections to replace
resigned officials in the wake of controversy
in the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast
Asian Games.
A total of 43 regular members will be
allowed to cast their votes in the special
elections on 28 July at the Century Park Hotel
Manila to choose their new POC president,
chairman and two board members.
The POC presidency became vacant
when Ricky Vargas tendered his irrevocable
resignation after the POC board questioned
his involvement in the Philippine Southeast
Asian Games Organizing Committee
Foundation Inc., a body that aimed to serve
as chief organizer of the SEA Games without
POC board resolution.
Aside from Vargas, also deciding to step
down were POC chairman Abraham Tolentino
and board members Cynthia Carrion and
Clint Aranas.
Tolentino stepped down to show his intention
to run for POC president while Carrion and Aranas
resigned following a stormy POC general assembly
meeting last month where all members of the
executive board were urged to relinguish their posts.
With four vacancies to be filled up, the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of
Asia issued directives to the remaining POC board
members to call for orderly and fair elections.
Narinder Batra of the Indian Olympic Committee,
who served as IOC observer, said he liked what he
saw and the elections would go as planned.
“I’m satisfied with the proceedings. All members
cooperated,” said Batra, adding that the only cause of
delay was the debate whether the weightlifting group
of Monico Puentevella would be allowed to vote since
its membership status is just provisional in nature.
POC membership committee chairman Robert
Bachmann said Puentevella has to show a
recognition certificate from his international
federation before he could be allowed to vote
while the karate group of Joey Romasanta and
Ricky Lim would be barred from voting since the
Olympic council has yet to decide on who is its
rightful member.
Also discussed were the cases of ice hockey,
judo and sepak takraw, which reportedly has a
revoked Securities and Exchange Commission
registration.
They, however, were eventually allowed to
cast their votes as well as IOC member Mikee
Cojuangco-Jaworski and athletes commission
representatives Henry Dagmil and Hidilyn
Diaz.
Prominent election lawyer Teodoro Kalaw
IV, Fr. Victor Calvo and Rep. Conrado Estrella
would serve as members of the powerful panel
that would oversee the elections.
KALEI Mau and F2 Logistics make a light workout against Sta. Lucia in the PSL All-Filipino
Conference.
ROMAN PROSPERO
Furukawa nears crown
I struggled with my short game but
the wind was not so strong unlike
in the first round
Japanese Mayuna Furukawa came out virtually
unscathed in wicked conditions, dispatching
erstwhile co-leader Chonlada Chayanun of
Thailand and Taiwanese Hsuan-Ping Chang
with a gutsy finish to salvage a 71 in the ICTSI
Pradera Ladies Classic at the Pradera Verde Golf
and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga yesterday.
Two birdies in the last six holes shoved
Furukawa past a charging Thai Wanchana
Poruangrong for the lead at four-under 140
as Chayanun and Chang faltered at the front
trying to buck the rain, the heat and the wind
in another challenging day in the $80,000 Ladies
Philippine Golf Tour event sanctioned by the
LPGA of Taiwan (LPGT).
“I struggled with my short game but the
wind was not so strong unlike in the first
round,” said Furukawa, who fired four birdies
from as far as 20 feet against a bogey on No.
5 and a double bogey on the par-3 11th where
she hit out-of-bounds. But after surviving two
days of battle and emerging on top with 18
holes to play at the all-weather layout, the
22-year-old ace from Nagoya looks forward to
hoisting the trophy today.
“But it depends on the weather condition.
The course becomes difficult because of the
rain and you have to play extra cautious out
there,” Furukawa said.
But with Poruangrong charging back from
joint 13th to within one at 141 after a 69
and compatriot Chamchoi also moving from
the same spot to third at 142 with a 70 in
a tie with local bet Daniella Uy and steady
Taiwanese amateur Hou Yu-Chiang, who both
carded 72s, the title chase could go down to
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee board member Prospero Pichay (right) and International Olympic Committee observer Narinder
Batra of India preside the general assembly that will pave the way for the special elections on 28 July. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG
the last shot and putt and to the one with
the poise and character in such demanding
playing conditions.
Thai Jackie Chulya likewise put herself
in contention after a 75 as she shot the
tournament-best 68 to threaten at joint sixth at
143 with compatriot and Manila Golf leg winner
Arpichaya Yubol, who carded a 71.
The course becomes difficult because
of the rain and you have to play extra
cautious out there.
Unlike Furukawa, Poruangrong lost her
momentum at the back after a solid start of
four birdies in the first five holes, bogeying
Nos. 10, 14 and 16 against birdies on Nos.
13 and 15, but struck a solid approach shot
on the 18th to within four feet for birdie
and the lead until Furukawa grabbed it
late in the day.
“Strong wind caught me in the back nine,”
said Poruangrong.
“I’ve been campaigning her the past two
years but no success. Hopefully, I make it this
time,” said the 25-year-old Poruangrong, hinting
at a closing five-under card to realize a dream
LPGT championship.
Despite her scrambling round that featured
three birdies against the same number of bogeys,
Uy also remained upbeat of her chances for a
breakthrough win.
Princess Superal, birdied Nos. 3 and 4 as the
former LPGT Order of Merit winner, pressed her
title bid.
But after birdying No. 13 to negate her bogey
on the sixth, Superal dropped three strokes on the
par-4 14th and failed to check her skid as weather
conditions kept changing in a flash, bogeying Nos.
15 and 17 to end up with a 75.
She fell to joint 11th at 145, now six strokes off
Furukawa.
The committee would convene to decide on
the criteria, date of the filing of candidacy and
campaign period.
“They will now scrutinize the qualifications and
come up with the rules,” said POC board member
Prospero Pichay, who presided the assembly.
“Four vacancies would be filled up.”
Aside from Tolentino, also said to be gunning
for elective positions are Robert Aventajado
of taekwondo, Lailani Velasco of swimming,
Princess Jacel Kiram of pencak silat, Steve
Hontiveros of handball and Puentevella.
They will now scrutinize the qualifications
and come up with the rules.
Philip Ella Juico of athletics was also
rumored to be seeking an elective position, but
he has yet to formally throw his hat into the
political arena.
Cargo Movers bury Realtors
I was surprised. I didn’t expect that
huge rout in the second set
F2 Logistics brushed off a rusty start before
catching fire in the second set to massacre Sta.
Lucia, 25-22, 25-3, 25-12, in the Philippine Superliga
All-Filipino Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying
V Centre in San Juan.
With Kalei Mau anchoring the offense, the Cargo
Movers turned a 10-19 deficit in the first set into a
rout to remain flawless in this prestigious women’s
club tournament.
Mau finished with 13 points while Ara Galang had
11 points and 15 digs and Majoy Baron asserted her
might at the defensive end with five blocks for nine
markers for the Cargo Movers, who have yet to lose
in eight matches.
Dawn Macandili was also instrumental with 24 digs
and seven excellent receptions for F2 Logistics, which
committed only four errors in the entire ballgame.
After trailing by nine, 10-19, F2 Logistics stepped
on the gas and captured the first set at 25-22.
Then, it was all Cargo Movers from there as they
destroyed the sluggish Lady Realtors on both ends to
finish the second set with 25-3 count — the biggest
margin ever tallied in the six-year history of this
tourney.
Alaska and Meralco collide to stay
alive in the Philippine Basketball
Association Commissioner’s Cup today
at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 7 p.m. with both
the Aces and the Bolts figuring in a
sudden-death showdown to determine
the rightful owner of the eighth slot in
the quarterfinals.
Import Delroy James kept the
Bolts’ flickering hopes alive when he
delivered down the stretch to lift the
Bolts to a heart-stopping 95-91 win over
San Miguel Beer late Wednesday.
The victory knocked Phoenix Pulse
out of contention due to inferior quotient,
setting the stage for a kill-or-be killed
duel with the Aces.
Alaska, for its part, claimed its
fourth win in 11 games after creaming
Blackwater, 112-104.
Meralco coach Norman Black
said they are delighted over their
chances to crash into the playoffs
despite a sluggish performance in the
elimination round.
“Before the game, we were pretty
much dead so at least we have a
new breathe of life now,” said Black
following their victory over the
Beermen.
“They (Alaska) have been struggling,
but not as much as us. I just told my players
to continue to build on the win.”
The survivor in this game of death
will take on top seed TNT KaTropa,
which is marching to the quarter
finals armed with a twice-to-beat
advantage.
Sta. Lucia’s three points in the second set came
from an ace by Andrea Marzan, a successful challenge
by head coach Babes Castillo and an attack from
skipper Pam Lastimosa.
“I was surprised. I didn’t expect that huge rout
in the second set,” said F2 Logistics coach Ramil de
Jesus, whose wards turned the second set into a virtual
workout against the lowly, uninspired Lady Realtors.
“We didn’t have a service error in the second set
and Sta. Lucia failed to pass the ball.”
From trailing 10-19 in the opening set, F2
Logistics unloaded a 12-2 run capped by Aby
Maraño’s back-to-back aces.
Then, Galang delivered two consecutive attacks
to take the lead, 22-21, before Amanda Villanueva
stopped the bleeding.
But the Cargo Movers completed the first set
comeback with a service error from Rebecca Rivera
followed by a block from Majoy Baron and Galang’s kill.
“All of them were waiting Sta. Lucia to commit an
error in the first set that’s why I told them we can’t
play like that. We have to be aggressive,” De Jesus said.
”We cannot rely on Kalei alone, everyone should
be reliable. Luckily, the lead was not that huge and
eventually we got it sparked by Aby.”
Andrea Marzan and Roselle Baliton came through
with eight and seven points, respectively, for the Lady
Realtors, whose lone win in nine matches came from
rookie team Marinerang Pilipina.
Hotshots stay positive
Magnolia suffered its fourth consecutive loss, but
head coach Chito Victolero remains optimistic over their
chances in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball
Association.
Victolero, who led the Hotshots to the Governor’s
Cup crown last year, failed to rally his wards against
TNT KaTropa late Wednesday to absorb their fifth loss
in 11 games.
The Hotshots landed fifth and will face fourth-seed
Ginebra in the next round.
“We’re still blessed,” said Victolero, who suffered
losses to Blackwater, Ginebra, Rain or Shine and TNT
in the past couple of weeks.
“Even though we have a four-game losing streak, we’re
MAYUNA Furukawa hits a 71 to inch closer to the ICTSI Pradera Ladies Classic title.
still included in the quarterfinals. I told my players not to
dwell on our last four games, move forward and prepare
hard for the quarterfinals.”
Against the KaTropa, the Hotshots paraded their new
import in Rakeem Christmas.
But the former Indiana Pacer struggled, finishing with
only eight points on a sour 8-of-20 shooting from the field.
Still, Victolero refused to be disheartened.
“He’s still adjusting and adapting to our system,” he
said.
“He just arrived last Monday so it’s pretty understandable.
The next two days are going to be big for us. We really have to
prepare and be familiar with our defense, run of our offense
and know our opponents better.”
MLT