Dinagyang Festival teaser set Friday

January 9, 2020 | 7:36 pm

THE 14 groups that will compete in two events in this year’s Dinagyang Festival will give a sneak peak of their dance performances on Friday, Jan. 10, during the opening salvo of Iloilo’s biggest annual fiesta, to be held at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. Jobert A. Peñaflorida, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., said the teaser event is also intended as a test run for the festival’s logistics, and overall organization. Eight “tribes” will be participating in the new Dinagyang360 competition on Jan. 26, wherein performances will have to be choreographed in consideration of a 360-degree audience. The traditional Dagyang sa Calle Real street dancing competition, scheduled Jan. 25, will have 6 groups from different villages. Friday’s opening event will be capped off with a fireworks display. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Ordinance proposed declaring Arroceros Park as permanent forest area

January 9, 2020 | 7:35 pm

AN ORDINANCE has been proposed declaring Arroceros Forest Park , dubbed as the last lung of Manila, as a permanent forest park. Draft Ordinance No. 7981, filed in September last year and published on Jan. 9, mandates the city government “to protect and conserve the integrity of the last environmental frontier of the city.” The 2.2-hectare land located in Arroceros Street beside the Pasig River is considered significant for “scientific, educational and recreational use.” The forest park was developed in 1993, following a memorandum of agreement signed by then mayor Alfredo S. Lim and the Winner Foundation, Inc. for the creation and enhancement of an ecological environment of the nation’s capital. Republic Act No. 5752 or the Local Autonomy Act states that each municipality or city must initiate the establishment of a permanent forest tree parks in their jurisdiction equivalent to 2% of the entire area. Arroceros Park came under threat when former mayor Joseph E. Estrada planned to build a gymnasium inside it in 2017. The plan did not push through. Another ordinance, approved in November last year, already closed for public use a land near the park for future expansion. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

To visit the tarsier sanctuary in Tupi, you got to plant trees

January 9, 2020 | 7:35 pm

THOSE WHO want to visit the tarsier sanctuary in Tupi, South Cotabato will have to sign up for the “Voluntourism” program, wherein they will have to help plant trees to get the chance to see the smallest primates in their natural habitat. In a statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 12 (DENR-12) office said walk-in visitors are no longer allowed as part of the conservation efforts. The sanctuary is located within the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL). “Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, hence they sleep during the day and are active only during the night, like owls. Hence, visitors are enjoined to avoid disturbing these animals in their natural habitat or when visiting the Tarsier Sanctuary,” said Gabriel M. Baute, the Protected Area superintendent of the 13,947-hectare MMPL. DENR-12 also noted that tarsiers are known to commit suicide when in captivity and exposed to such stressors like camera flash, human touch, and other sources of disturbance.

PROTECTION
The Voluntourism program was developed by the Tupi municipal government. Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Rolando T. Visaya said they want to attract visitors who have “high regard and motivation for the protection and conservation of biodiversity, especially the tarsiers.” The Philippine tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) has been declared a “specially protected faunal species” of the country through Proclamation No. 1030 signed on June 23, 1997 by then President Fidel V. Ramos. — MSJ

Those who want to visit the sanctuary may contact the Tupi MENRO at (083) 226-2800 or the MMPL PASu at (083) 228-1404.

Cebu hotels lament Sinulog Festival lower occupancy due to vacation home rentals that don’t pay taxes

January 9, 2020 | 7:33 pm

HOTELS IN Cebu City usually enjoy full or almost full occupancy in the run-up to the Sinulog Grand Parade every third Sunday of January, but not this year. The Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) said members’ average occupancy rate is currently at 60%, one of the lowest in recent years. HRRAC President Carlo Suarez said they attribute this mainly to the proliferation of vacation home rentals, which he said are mostly unregulated and do not pay taxes. “Legitimate hospitality businesses follow the rules, pay taxes, and other duties, while an increasing number of rooms are floated online,” he said. Mayor Edgardo F. Labella, on the other hand, said hotels may have themselves partly to blame. “You know, there are already many condos (condominium) and (online booking site) Airbnb competing with the hotels,” said Mr. Labella. He added that some visitors opt to stay with their relatives instead of getting hotel accommodations due to high rates. “That’s why I am really advising hotel owners not to take advantage of the influx of people, make sure your rates are reasonable,” the mayor said. Mr. Suarez denied that hotels in Cebu are bloating their room rates to take advantage of the Sinulog Festival season, noting that their businesses are guided by market forces. — The Freeman

Nationwide round-up

January 9, 2020 | 7:32 pm

Gatchalian pushes for law on parking regulation

REPRESENTATIVE Weslie T. Gatchalian has renewed his call for the immediate passage of the bill seeking to protect consumers against security threats in parking spaces as well as regulate the imposition of “unreasonable and exorbitant” parking fees by various establishments, including shopping malls, schools, and hospitals. Mr. Gatchalian of Valenzuela City’s 1^st District made the call after ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Rowena Niña O. Taduran’s belongings worth around P240,000 were stolen after thieves broke into her vehicle while it was parked at a Quezon City mall last January 6. In the explanatory note of House Bill (HB) 3262, or the Parking Fees Regulation Act, Mr. Gatchalian said operators of parking facilities “undermines the trust given to them by consumers” by imposing a waiver of liability in case of loss property or damage to the customer’s vehicle. Mr. Gatchalian also noted that operators “have abused the lack of regularization in the commercial parking industry,” adding that these operators have been charging “exorbitant fees.” The proposed law aims to standardize rates. — Genshen L. Espedido

PHL bars 160 foreign sex offenders in 2019

A TOTAL of 160 foreign sex offenders were denied entry to the country in 2019, the Bureau of Immigrations (BI) said in a statement on Thursday. BI said Americans accounted for the highest number at 128, followed by 11 Britons, six Australians, four Chinese, and two New Zealanders. Also listed is a Cameroonian, a Canadian, a German, a Guatemalan, an Irish, a Korean, a Malaysian, a Russian, and a Taiwanese, the bureau said. BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina said the number of registered sex offenders who were not allowed in was slightly higher than the 145 barred in 2018. Mr. Medina said they were immediately returned to their port of origin. Registered sex offenders are those who were convicted of sex crimes, including rape and molesting of minors, in their country and have finished serving sentence or are currently out on parole or probation. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nation at a Glance — (01/10/20)

January 9, 2020 | 7:30 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Barangay Ginebra goes for 2-0 lead on the road

January 9, 2020 | 6:11 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel Kings seek to double up on the Meralco Bolts in their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals series in Game Two today on the road in Lucena City.

Happening at the Quezon Convention Center at 7 p.m., the Kings go for a 2-0 series lead after outlasting the Bolts, 91-87, in the series-opener on Tuesday.

Barangay Ginebra banked on their collective depth to buck their early struggles in the contest before going on a strong finish to draw first blood against Meralco in the finals of the season-ending PBA conference where they are meeting for the third time in the last four years.

The Bolts had control for much of Game One but just could not take it all the way as they faltered in the end.

Import Justin Brownlee led Barangay Ginebra with 38 points and 16 rebounds, with Japeth Aguilar adding 16 points and six rebounds in the win.

Mr. Aguilar also had three blocks, the last one off Meralco import Allen Durham in the dying seconds which helped preserve the victory for them.

LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle had 14 and 10 points, respectively, while big man Greg Slaughter came off the bench for the Kings and produced eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Mr. Durham, meanwhile, had a triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with four blocks in a losing cause for the Bolts.

Chris Newsome had 24 points and eight rebounds while Raymond Almazan added 20 points and 13 boards for Meralco.

While happy to have gotten the early series lead, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone is not going too high on it, underscoring the need to continue to work on their part as Meralco could only be expected to make the necessary adjustments and play better as the series progresses.

“It’s going to be a grind-out, fight-to-the-end type of a series,” Mr. Cone said at the postgame press conference following Game One at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Meralco is so disciplined in the way they play it’s hard to really get them out of their tempo and so you have to play at max tempo all the way and that’s not really a comfortable tempo with us. And it really just comes down to each possession; everything’s riding on one possession throughout the game you feel like if you blow one possession you might blow the game” he added.

For the Bolts, they lamented not being able to put away Game One in their favor and vowed to do better come the next game.

Meralco is hoping that its bench gets to do its share in support of their starters for it to put up a sustained fight throughout.

“We need to get more production from the bench. I haven’t studied the statistics yet but we really have to get production from our bench. That is something we have to fix in Game Two,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

Adding, “I still have to get my starters out to rest and when we do that we want to maintain whatever advantage that we have or even build on it if possible. So our bench really has to play better in Game Two.”

In the ongoing series the Kings are looking to secure their 12^th PBA title while the Bolts are gunning for a first-ever league championship.

Speculation rife over Brady’s future: Patriots or new team?

January 9, 2020 | 6:10 pm

NEW ENGLAND — Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady looks poised to return in 2020 — where he will play, however, has emerged as one of the NFL post-season’s biggest talking points.

While many fans of the New England Patriots may be unable to bear the thought of the quarterback wearing another team’s jersey, that reality could potentially come to pass, with the 20-season veteran heading into free agency.

The Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins are among the numerous teams picked by experts as possible landing places for the 14-time pro bowler, after a devastating 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the wild card round.

The 42-year-old has faced regular speculation about his possible retirement, despite having previously expressed an interest in playing until his mid-forties.

He appeared to put to rest any lingering doubts about continuing in the sport on Wednesday, writing on Instagram, “I know I still have more to prove.”

“In both life and football, failure is inevitable,” said Brady in a lengthy post that racked up over a million likes in 10 hours. “You can, however, learn from that failure, pick yourself up with great enthusiasm, and place yourself in the arena again.”

But while he was effusive in his praise for his fans in New England, he didn’t clarify whether he would return to the team that famously drafted him in the sixth round two decades ago.

And speculation over his next steps has grown rampant among fans, analysts and oddsmakers.

John Murray, the executive director of Race & Sports Operations at the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, told Reuters he believed Brady would likely stay with the Patriots, but said the Chargers, who have struggled to cement a fan base since leaving San Diego had plenty of incentive to court him.

Westgate is not legally allowed to offer betting on Brady’s possible new team, but Murray suggested hypothetical odds of 4/1 for Brady joining the Chargers, 10/1 for the Raiders and 40/1 for the Panthers — with New England the 1/10 favorites to retain the quarterback in the 2020 season.

Around the NFL, speculation was mixed.

“It sounds like Tom Brady is saying goodbye to New England in today’s post,” tweeted analyst Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless).

“Hopefully after all cards are played [owner Robert Kraft] can get both sides to reach an agreement,” tweeted former linebacker Tedy Bruschi (@TedyBruschi), who won three Super Bowl championships alongside Brady. “Brady belongs in New England.” — Reuters

NCAA Season 95 women’s volleyball begins today

January 9, 2020 | 6:10 pm

WOMEN’S volleyball action in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) begins today with defending champions Arellano Lady Chiefs headlining the opening-day proceedings against the Lyceum Lady Pirates.

Led by last year’s most valuable player Nicole Ebuen, Arellano enters the Season 95 tournament looking to notch a four-peat after claiming the title in the three previous seasons.

First to test the Lady Chiefs is Lyceum in the scheduled 12 noon match at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Also on tap today is the clash between Season 94 runners-up University of Perpetual Help Lady Altas and the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Completing the field are the Colegio De San Juan De Letran Lady Knights, Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals, Jose Rizal University Lady Bombers, Mapua University Lady Cardinals, San Beda University Lady Red Spikers, and the San Sebastian College — Recoletos Lady Stags.

Season 95 women’s volleyball action can be seen over iWant. They are also live-streamed over the ABS-CBN Sports Website (sports.abs-cbn.com).

Beginning the semifinals though, action will be broadcast over ABS-CBN S+A. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Tonelle Racasa to play in World Youth Rapid and Blitz chess championship

January 9, 2020 | 6:09 pm

THE Philippines’ youngest Woman Fide Master Antonella Berthe “Tonelle” Murillo Racasa will head to Greece with hopes of improving her world ranking aside from bringing more honor for the country.

Accompanied by his father/coach Roberto Racasa who is also an International Memory Sports champion, fondly called Tonelle in the chess world will see action at the World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship slated from April 12–16, this year in Heraklion, Creta, Greece.

Tonelle is also scheduled to represent the country in the HD Bank Chess Championship to be held on March 6–12, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Her campaign locally and internationally were supported by D. Edgard A. Cabangon of ALC group of companies, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Chairman Andrea D. Domingo, Mayor Menchie Abalos and Councilor Charisse Abalos-Vargas of Mandaluyong City, Rogelio SP Lim, President of RSP Lim Construction Co., Inc. owner and developer of Boni Tower, immediate past president of Makati Med Rose Montenegro and Jean Altobano of Multi-Modal Security and Investigation Agency, Inc.

Prior to Greece and Vietnam international chess competition, Tonelle will compete for next month National Capital Region Palarong Pambansa qualifying round.

Tonelle is also fresh from winning the 2020 National Age Group Chess Championships-Visayas Leg (Under 14 Girls) held in SM Seaside Cebu City last Jan. 3 to 5.

It was a slow start for her by drawing the first game against Yzabelle Nabor. Then, like a heated diesel relinquished her remaining six opponents namely: Queen Rose Pamplona, Aeralyn Sinining, Casey Manlosa, Nathalie Liscano, Edelyn Vosotros and Arnie Joanne Suravilla to score 6.5 out of possible 7 points.

It shall be recalled that Tonelle won the 19^th ASEAN International Age Group Chess Championship held last June 2018 in Davao City. She bagged the gold medal in the standard competition and at the same time captured the coveted WFM title for her effort. Thus, Tonelle became the country’s WFM at the age of 11. — Marlon Bernardino

Jokic outduels Doncic late as Nuggets edge Mavericks

January 9, 2020 | 6:09 pm

DALLAS — Nikola Jokic scored 33 points, including a go-ahead layup with 7.9 seconds left, and the visiting Denver Nuggets beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-106 on Wednesday night.

Jokic added seven assists and six rebounds. Jerami Grant scored 15, Jamal Murray had 14, while Mason Plumlee and Malik Beasley scored 10 each for Denver.

Luka Doncic had 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, Dwight Powell scored 16, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15, Seth Curry 14 and Maxi Kleber had 13 for the Mavericks.

Dallas played its fifth straight game without Kristaps Porzingis (knee), while the Nuggets were without two starters, guard Will Barton (personal reasons) and Paul Millsap (knee).

The game was tied at 101 when the Mavs’ Dorian Finney-Smith hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 left, and Jokic missed on the other end. Hardaway’s bucket made it a five-point lead, but Jokic hit a shot in the lane, and Grant hit two free throws to make it 106-105 with 1:27 to play.

After trading misses, Denver got the ball back with 23 seconds left. Jokic got the ball in the post, backed down Finney-Smith and hit a layup with 7.9 seconds left.

The Mavericks called timeout, but the Nuggets trapped Doncic to force him to pass, and their scrambling defense prevented Dallas from getting a shot up before the horn.

The Mavericks opened up a seven-point lead in the third quarter, but Jokic got hot, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and feeding Beasley on another shot from deep to rally the Nuggets to tie it at 86.

Jokic scored nine of his 21 third-quarter points in a span of 2:12.

Justin Jackson and Curry combined to hit a trio of 3-pointers to allow Dallas to take an 89-86 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Kleber scored the first four points of the final period to stretch the lead to 93-86, but with the starters on the bench, Denver rallied to take a 97-96 lead on Michael Porter Jr.’s dunk.

Beasley hit another 3-pointer to make it 100-98 Nuggets, and Curry answered with a long jumper to tie it, where it stayed entering the game’s final five minutes. — Reuters

Junior Philippine golfers impress US NCAA Division 1 coaches

January 9, 2020 | 6:08 pm

US NCAA Division 1 coaches Andrew Larkin of UCLA, Richard Mueller of Columbia University and Christopher Massoleti of UC Berkeley expressed admiration for the 35 young Filipino golfers who joined the DreamBig Gold Series Golf Camp at Orchard Golf & Country Club, Dasmariñas, on Dec. 16 and 17.

Besides the skills that the junior golfers showed, the coaches said it was their attitude towards the game that impressed them the most.

“Filipino players, compared to other players we’ve conducted the camp with are more eager and willing to learn. They’re more open to instruction and also to criticism. I never had to repeat myself because no one was interrupting. Everybody was eyes on when I was giving a demonstration. There was instantaneous attention to detail and they also asked very intelligent questions. To me, that was very impressive. There are a lot of talented players that will definitely play high level golf in the US,” said UC Berkeley’s Massoleti.

Meanwhile, Akshay Maliwal, Founder/CEO of DreamBig Events said, “It was a brilliant opportunity for golfers in the Philippines to get an evaluation about their golfing ability and whether they would have a chance to get recruited to one of these colleges in the future. We have many more events coming to Philippines annually. Stay tuned!”

DreamBig continues its premier camps with the Gold Series Tennis Camp set to this month at the Manila Polo Club.