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All hands on deck for voter education

The late controversial politician Ernie Maceda seems to have been right. Any publicity, favorable or unfavorable is good for politicians. The list of leading senatorial candidates in the latest polls affirms this sad reality. Several notorious candidates are ahead of the “good guys.” Ex-detainees on plunder charges Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla are in the likely to win top 12. So, it seems, will Bato dela Rosa of the drug suspect killing sprees. Meanwhile, serious legislators like Bam Aquino and even JV Ejercito are barely making it And Erin Tañada and Gary Alejano are dangling down there. Even Lito Lapid who, last I heard, had not passed a single legislation in all his forgettable senate days is up there among the topnotchers.
The senatorial elections are less likely won by patronage; and more by media power. Voters are hardly likely to encounter the candidates in person; and will make their choices based on what media information and illusion or heavy spending reaches them.
Shall we therefore just shake our heads and wring our hands?
There are a few volunteer organizations that are mobilizing to campaign for voter education. Every little bit counts. The Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) and PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) are mobilizing, with little funding. These and other volunteer groups could use some money, and more people to help with the nationwide campaign.
Since the Lower House seems to be a huge trapo conglomerate controlled by those who decide on budget allocations, overt and covert, we need the Senate as a counterbalance to the creeping authoritarianism and irresponsibility of this regime. The small minds in the Lower House need to be balanced with a more intelligent and responsible Upper House, which, in theory, having national constituencies, is more likely to prioritize the national interest in policy making, over their parochial patronage needs.
We cannot underestimate what a more responsible and independent Senate can do for our country which seems to be descending more and more into authoritarianism that ironically seems to be ceding or in fact has ceded our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea despite our hard fought victory in the UN Arbitration Court. We must be the laughingstock among our ASEAN neighbors with our extreme about-face on this sovereignty issue.
We do not have a shortage of exemplary candidates. The other night I ran into exemplary senatorial candidate Chel Diokno at the Mactan airport. Gary Alejano’s courage and Samira Gutoc’s determination would strengthen the Senate’s backbone. Bam Aquino continues to work hard and consistently on pro-people legislation, with nary a spot on his reputation. Pray, tell me, why should Imee Marcos become a senator? Her family has not returned all of the ill-gotten Marcos wealth. It looks like the President’s protégé Bong Go who is probably the biggest campaign spender among all the candidates is definitely going to make it. Even the ABS-CBN network, whose legislative franchise is expiring, is producing a documentary on the (remarkable?) life of Bong Go. Well, the President himself has publicly stated that Bong Go comes from a billionaire family. I guess that explains it.
I hear that the business community has become donation shy; especially when it comes to opposition candidates. If they are constrained by their business interests, they can at least be generous with their money and time, by contributing to voter education campaigns. There are enough qualified candidates. We need to help voters make the right choices.
Otherwise, what for did we march all those years against authoritarianism? Do we care at all for a responsible and responsive democracy? The business community must straighten their backbones and help in whatever way they can.
 
Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of Management and an independent development management consultant.
tsabesamis0114@yahoo.com

On running for senator

How does one win in a senatorial election where 63 candidates are fighting over 12 seats? The advertising geniuses at the watering holes in Makati insist that name recognition is vital. But the harsh reality may be that money, which is also known as “the root of all evil,” is the foundation of Philippine elections. No money. No votes.
Some idealists still hope in vain that a meaningful platform of government geared to public service, based on a sound ideology should influence the choice of candidates. But that doesn’t seem to apply in the Philippines. Cynical voters no longer believe the high-falutin’ promises of politicians. In the first place, there is no longer such a thing as an ideological underpinning for candidates, according to a senior citizen friend who longs for those days when senators were brilliant, respectable, dignified and were guided by principles and ideology.
“Candidates don’t stand for any party ideology or even a philosophy of governance,” explains my hoary friend, who still longs for the two-party system of old.”There was a time when there were only two dominant political parties, the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party. And they were guided by respective ideologies.”
According to him, there were also no political butterflies then, flitting from one party to the other, depending on who was in power.
Well…yes and no. In the 1965 presidential elections, Liberal Party Senate President Ferdinand Marcos flitted to the Nacionalista Party to become its official candidate against reelectionist President Diosdado Macapagal. Adds one pundit, Marcos made “butterflying” more rampant than “Noynoying.”
Well…yes. But Marcos did not invent the political butterfly or its fruity equivalent, the balimbing. This political reality has been around for a long time.
For instance, the Liberal Party broke away from the Nacionalista Party when Philippine independence from the United States became imminent (after the Japanese had been defeated by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the Philippine Commonwealth was reestablished). Senate President Manuel Roxas founded the Liberal Party and pushed for a presidential election, apparently to contest the high office then occupied by President Sergio Osmeña. Roxas won.
Indeed, political ambition was not a post-Marcos phenomenon. NP Congressman Jose Romero, had some harsh words for the Roxas “Liberal wing” at the opening of the convention that decided on the presidential election.
According to Wikipedia, Romero, who delivered the keynote speech, accused Roxas and his followers of “fanning the flames of discontent among the people, of capitalizing on the people’s hardship, and of minimizing the accomplishment of the [Osmeña] Administration. These men with the Messiah complex have been the bane of the country and of the world. This is the mentality that produces Hitlers and the Mussolinis, and (in) their desire to climb to power. they even want to destroy the party which placed them where they are today.”
“But, at least the two parties had distinct ideologies,” insists the hoary political observer.
Well…yes and no. The Nacionalista Party did have a distinct ideology because, having been founded in 1907, in the wake of the colonization of the Philippines by the United States, the NP actively campaigned for independence. But the stated ideology of the LP was pure motherhood and could have been crafted by the Boy Scouts.
According to Wikipedia, “The (LP) currently espouses liberalism as its main ideology. According to its values charter, the self-described values of the party are freedom, justice and solidarity (bayanihan).”
They could well have added the whole Boy Scout code: The LPs are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, brave, clean reverent.
“But, at least the candidates had distinct platforms of government which they enunciated during their campaigns,” persists the nostalgic political observer.
Well…yes and no. In the 1959 senatorial elections, LP candidate Estanislao A. Fernandez, Jr. had nothing to say for himself except about getting a Filipina named Lydia Dean acquitted in a criminal case, reportedly sparing her from death row.
Fernandez’s campaign slogan was: “Savior of Lydia Dean.” He won.
His party-mate and the only other LP senatorial candidate who won was a congressman from Batac, Ilocos Norte, named Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos also had motherhood promises in his campaign materials but depended more on film drama to communicate his purported brilliance. His campaign commercial showed him reviewing for the bar exams while in prison, accused of killing a political opponent. Marcos not only won, he was the highest vote-getter in that senatorial contest.
I clearly remember that because I wrote the script of that LP campaign film for Lamberto V. Avellana’s production company, Documentary, Inc. Incidentally, Bert also produced the NP campaign film and I also wrote the script — and I wasn’t even old enough to vote.
And talk about writing scripts, I wrote the screenplay of the bandit bio-pic, Nardong Putik, that revived the movie career of Ramon Revilla, Sr. and catapulted him to the Senate. Sadly, his detractors refer to his senatorial stint as being a perennial member of the “Committee on Silence,” whatever that means.
Did Revilla run on principles or ideology? Not at all. He literally won on the basis of putik (mud).
“But, at least, the senatorial candidates then had meaningful campaign promises that resonated with the voters,” my old friend insists, not showing any signs of giving up.
Well…yes. After all motherhood promises always resonate with the voters. Nothing could be more motherhood than Erap para sa Mahirap — although I can’t recall if he also used this line for his senatorial campaign (aside from his presidential campaign).
Another classic motherhood campaign promise made by a senatorial candidate was, “Ipaglalaban ko ang katarungan para sa mahihirap!” (I will fight for justice for the poor).
That promise got Juan R. Liwag elected to the Senate. It was coined by my boss at Advertising & Marketing Associates (AMA) Tony Cantero. I can never forget that because I produced the radio tags in Tagalog and all the major dialects, using Liwag himself.
(The trouble was, my assistant used a defective audio tape and the recording was spoiled. To avoid being fired, I re-recorded the spiel with radio personality Fernando Fernandez, imitating Liwag. That went on the air without Liwag knowing. Anyway, he won.).
“At least they did not have every Pedro, Juan and Pablo running for senator,” my hoary friend persists. “There weren’t 63 candidates then, unlike now. It was easier for the voters to make an intelligent choice.”
Well…yes and no. Easier choice, maybe. Intelligent choice, not necessarily There were also so-so senatorial candidates then — well below the caliber of Claro M. Recto and Lorenzo Tañada.
At any rate, assuming that name recognition is essential in winning a senatorial contest, a mnemonic device or memory aid like Otso Deretso (the slogan of the opposition slate) could help. But, so far based on the surveys, it looks like money and party machinery are the most important ingredients for victory.
I have a feeling that my hoary friend will wish for the good old days in vain.
 
Greg B. Macabenta is an advertising and communications man shuttling between San Francisco and Manila and providing unique insights on issues from both perspectives.
gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

Democratizing the electoral contest

In both colonial and post-colonial periods, political contestation in Philippine society has always been dynamic, in which elites and the masses engage in a particular exercise called elections.
Since the 1990s, however, the explicatory mechanism has involved new and emerging perspectives from the classic interpretation of patron-client relation that traditionally governed electoral contests. Aside from the changing dynamics of patron clientelism, the understanding of electoral dynamics has been complicated by the acknowledgement of the importance of political machinery, transactional politics, and social media.
In terms of the political and legal environment under which elections are held, the phenomenal EDSA Uprising of 1986 has enabled a non-authoritarian landscape that boosted the democratic spirit in the conduct of elections.
The personalistic character of Philippine elections has also persisted alongside other undemocratic tendencies and practices — political turncoatism, pragmatism, populism, elitism, and the use of “guns, goons and gold” that promote money-politics, vote-buying, dagdag-bawas tactic, and other political machinations that undermine the power of the ballot.
As such, however grand the objective of democratizing the electoral contest is, any effort or action to democratize the process would never be amiss. Specifically, democratizing Philippine elections hinges on three fundamental challenges.
Educating the electorate is one of the enduring solutions in order to democratize elections in the country. It is the role of civil society, in general, and think tanks, NGOs, the academe, and other social formations, in particular, to expose nuisance and undesirable candidates. On the other hand, the electorate should also take the initiative of knowing the respective candidates, participating in political debates and engaging in political mobilizations that promote the democratic conduct of elections.
In particular, the electorate should also be keen on sloganeering as a strategy of populist leaders. For instance, the current administration has unveiled the long-term vision of development dubbed as “Ambisyon 2040,” which is supposed to represent the aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years. Appealing to the sentiments of the people, who would not find it hard to not be enchanted with living a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag ng buhay” (strongly-rooted, comfortable, and secured life)?
Unfortunately, we hardly hear populist candidates openly discuss these specific measures for the Philippines to reach “Ambisyon 2040.” Unless the necessary institutional measures have been laid out, this vision of development will remain to be a slogan.
Another second strategic solution is the meticulous adoption of institutional reforms. Undemocratic political recruitment, socialization and mobilization has been undertaken under a weak party system that is primarily responsible for the promotion of political exclusion in the country. It is only by reforming and strengthening our party system that we could engender inclusive politicization. By making our party system program-based instead or elite-based, we could inspire the electorate in particular and the population in general to actively and fruitfully reengage in the political process.
A reformed party system would further ostracize nuisance political parties that are based on personality politics and operate on the principle of pragmatism. In turn, political recruitment, socialization and mobilization of the people would also be program-based and would lift their political awareness.
Thirdly, as the electoral contest is by and large influenced by broader processes in society, the continuing advocacy and action for reforms is a must. Corruption in all its forms and at all levels should be addressed; for it is that rust that corrodes not only the very credibility of any electoral contest but the essence of institutions as well.
Economic reforms are likewise imperative. Through economic empowerment in the form of combating poverty and job creation, the population is provided with the means to live decently and this insulates them from political manipulation by the elites.
A particular civil society organization is currently working along these lines of democratic political engagement. Founded in 2014, Democracy Watch Philippines or democracywatch.ph, is a “citizen-led democratic initiative that envisions a mature and reformed Philippine Republic that delivers effective and responsive governance with an inclusive economic prosperity and a truly democratic political system.”
This organization aims to promote honest, fair and free elections; eradicate corruption by instilling electoral integrity; and advocate reforms to strengthen political party systems.
The humongous task of democratizing the electoral contest needs like-minded organizations and formations that share and advance the political ideals of Democracy Watch Philippines.
In this age of Philippine political development, a continuous and virtuous search for political alternative and change could never be amiss.
 
Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the founder and managing director of the Stratbase group and president of its policy think tank, the Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ADRi).

Who is the ‘real’ owner?

In an effort to increase transparency in the beneficial ownership and control of domestic corporations — and to prevent their misuse for money laundering, organized crime and terrorists financing purposes, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), pursuant to its mandate to assist in the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (“AMLA”), issued Memorandum Circular No. 17, Series of 2018 (“MC No. 17”) on Nov. 27, 2018 which essentially changed the form of the General Information Sheet (“GIS”) to be regularly submitted to the SEC. Effective March 1, 2019, the SEC will only accept the new GIS form, which now includes information on the beneficial owners of shares in the corporations, among others. Under MC No. 17, any failure by a corporation to submit the GIS under the required form shall be considered non-filing thereof. Accordingly, all Philippine domestic corporations, whether stock or nonstock, will soon need to disclose their beneficial owners.
Similar to AMLA, MC No. 17 defines a beneficial owner as any natural person who: (1) ultimately owns or controls the corporation; or (2) has ultimate effective control over the corporation. It appears that any natural person who has ownership of or control over at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the shares of a corporation or of the ownership interests over a business entity is considered a beneficial owner. MC No. 17 further defines “ultimate effective control” as any situation in which ownership or control is exercised through actual or a chain of ownership or by means other than direct control.
Ultimate effective control may be achieved in three ways. First, direct or indirect ownership of at least twenty-five (25%) of any category of voting shares or capital. Please note that under the AMLA, any natural person who owns at least twenty percent (20%) or more shall be considered the beneficial owner. Second, the ability to elect a majority of the board of directors. Third, any situation in which a person has the ability to exert a dominant influence over the management or policies or a situation in which a majority of the members of the Board are accustomed or under obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with a given person’s directives.
A person shall be deemed to have an indirect beneficial ownership interest in any security which is: (a) held by members of his/her immediate family sharing the same household; (b) held by a partnership in which he/she is a general partner; (c) held by a corporation of which he/she is a controlling shareholder; or (d) subject to any contract, arrangement or understanding which gives voting power or investment power.
A person shall not be deemed to be a beneficial owner held by him/her for the benefit of third parties or in customer or fiduciary accounts in the ordinary course of business, for as long as such shares were acquired by such person without the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the issuer.
Further, where a corporation is owned through multiple layers, any intermediate layers of the company’s ownership structure should be fully identified. Such information should be declared in the GIS and illustrated in an ownership chart to be attached to the GIS showing the intermediate layers with their respective ownership amounts.
This early, corporations affected are facing various challenges in reporting the beneficial owners of the companies as required by MC No. 17. For instance, for corporations with multiple layers owned by multiple foreign and/or listed corporations, it would be taxing for the corporate secretary, if not almost impossible, to identify the natural persons who ultimately own the corporation. It is all the more challenging for listed corporations, since it would be difficult to identify the beneficial owners as the natural persons who own the shares change regularly. The ultimate question is, up to which layer shall beneficial ownership be reported? Practically speaking, the corporate secretary would not know, in most instances who the beneficial owners are, beyond the legal owner.
MC No. 17, as written, appears to render more questions that make it difficult to comply with the regulation. Perhaps we could look at the guidelines issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (“AMLC”) on identifying beneficial ownership for all banks, insurance companies, and other covered persons (the “AMLC Beneficial Ownership Guidelines”) to give direction. It is worth noting though, that any individual who has “significant” responsibility to control, manage or direct the corporation may be considered as the beneficial owner, i.e. the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Managing Member, President, Vice-President or Treasurer. The officers and directors may have certain exposures by reason of this provision.
We can only wait and see how some of these issues will be addressed by the SEC through clarifications, subsequent amendments to MC No. 17 and supplemental regulation.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This article is for general informational and educational purposes, and not offered as, and does not constitute, legal advice or legal opinion.
 
Mara Kristina O. Recto is an associate of the Corporate and Special Projects Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).
morecto@accralaw.com
(632) 830-8000.

Aces, E-Painters seek to keep winning form

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
VICTORIOUS heading into PBA Philippine Cup action today at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Alaska Aces and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters try to keep their winning form before the league takes a two-week break.
The Aces (1-1) play the Blackwater Elite (1-5) in the 4:30 p.m. curtain-raiser while the league-leading Elasto Painters (6-1) meet the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (0-2) in the main game at 7 p.m.
Today’s matches will be the last before the Philippine Basketball Association shuts down for a while to give way to the campaign of the PBA-backed Philippine men’s national basketball team in the sixth and final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas Pilipinas (5-5) will play in two away matches — Feb. 21 against Qatar and Feb. 24 versus Kazakhstan — where it hopes to get favorable results to boost its chances of making it anew to the high-profile quadrennial basketball tournament.
Alaska bounced back in their last game after losing in its debut in the Philippine Cup.
The Aces defeated Columbian, 94-72, on Feb. 6, banking on a firmer footing and steady attack to chalk up their first victory in the season-opening PBA tournament.
Carl Bryan Cruz came off the bench to help undermanned Alaska to the win, finishing with 20 points to go along with nine boards.
Jake Pascual had 13 points while Ping Exciminiano and Chris Banchero had 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Alaska, which continued to play sans Vic Manuel, Simon Enciso, JVee Casio and Kevin Racal because of injuries.
The effort of the team was not lost to Coach Alex Compton, who hopes such continues for them as they continue to adjust to the setup they are made to deal with.
“I really appreciate my guys’ efforts. I thought pretty much the whole game, of course there were spots, but I thought pretty much the whole game we were energetic, all over the place, covering grounds, getting to the loose ball. The things that really matter,” said Mr. Compton following their first win.
He went on to share that they are still far from playing with a full complement but believes they can compete nonetheless with the players they have.
Looking to derail Alaska is Blackwater, which is still struggling with its new-look lineup and has lost three straight entering today’s game.
GUNNING FOR FIFTH WIN
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine is the hottest team in the league right now and is looking to stretch its current winning streak to five with a win today.
The latest of the victories of the Elasto Painters was against the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, 98-94, on Feb. 10 in their battle of league-leaders.
Displaying anew their free-flowing attack with contributions coming from different directions, the Elasto Painters held tough amid a stiff challenge from the Fuel Masters to will themselves to the top of the standings.
Beau Belga and Kris Rosales led Rain or Shine with 16 points apiece with Maverick Ahanmisi, Raymond Almazan and Rey Nambatac adding, 13, 12, and 10 points, respectively.
With the victory, Rain or Shine assured itself of another playoff spot in the All-Filipino tournament.
But for Elasto Painters Coach Caloy Garcia, the work continues for their team even with the postseason spot already in the bag.
“We can’t be complacent. We know it gets harder every game. We cannot make being tired as an excuse. We hope to continue working as a team,” said Mr. Garcia.
Waiting for Rain or Shine today is Magnolia, which is the only winless team left in the Philippine Cup.

Globe Telecom furthers games, Esports program with pro team

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
IN LINE with its push to do its share in the development of the growing Esports scene in the country, Globe Telecom stepped things up by assembling a professional Esports team.
Partnering with local Esports pioneer Mineski, Globe made what it hails as “the next big move in the competitive Esports arena,” unveiling a professional team called “Liyab.”
Team Liyab is composed of carefully selected gamers from world-renowned Esports titles League of Legends, Hearthstone and Arena of Valor.
Incidentally, Arena of Valor will be one of the featured titles in Esports, which will make its debut in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the country later this year.
Globe and Mineski said Liyab will be competing in various tournaments both here and abroad.
“Liyab will be the symbol of the country’s burning passion and pride in global Esports events,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO, during Liyab’s unveiling on Feb. 7 at the Globe Tower at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Adding, “Liyab, which translates to ‘Blaze,’ represents the team’s intense passion and focus in the realm of Esports.”
The creation of the professional team continues the direction that Globe started with the launch of the Globe Games and Esports Program in April last year that has seen the group organize and host international Esports tournaments such as the Globe Philippine Pro Gaming League, Globe Conquerors Manila, and Valor Cup.
Mr. Cu said Liyab will complement greatly what they want to accomplish as far as Esports in the country is concerned, in particular enhancing gaming responsibility among Esports stakeholders.
“We are now positioning gaming and Esports like a real sport for Filipino gamers to follow. By focusing on the total development of the Esports athlete such as physical wellness, nutrition, discipline and cognitive development, this provides gamers an avenue to progress to a professional level,” said Mr. Cu, whose group also underscored that with the growth of Esports, it, too, is challenged to step up its game in providing the necessary infrastructure and ideal connection.
For Mineski, the creation of a pro team like Liyab was timely considering how Esports has evolved in recent years.
“With the proper management system, we strongly believe we can overcome the hurdles and set an example for many to follow suit as well so to make each country competitive with each game and also to promote a stronger region overall,” said Mineski CEO and President Ronald Robins also at the launch.
He went on to say that the partnership with Globe for Liyab was an “ideal one.”
“The value of this partnership is more than monetary value. And that’s the most important. What Esports is today, we usually come up with decisions where we see a lot of opportunities. But the more we work out is what value is being added in the partnership. And in this case, our weaknesses are the strength of Globe, creating a strong partnership. We usually say one plus one equals two. But in this case it’s one plus one equals three. And we really work together,” Mr. Robins said.
Team Liyab is composed of the country’s most promising gamers known for their skills, demeanor, discipline, and competitiveness.
Among the members’ accomplishments representing Southeast Asia together with the Malaysian and Thai teams in the 2018 League of Legends Rift Rivals against Japan and Oceania regions as well as They also represented the Philippines in the Globe Conquerors Manila, the most prestigious League of Legends esports event in Southeast Asia for 2018.

Chooks 3×3 teams show unity during Vigan-hosted gathering

FIVE DAYS before the first leg of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup opens its doors, all 12 pioneering teams joined hands to celebrate the staging of the first-of-the-kind league.
Vigan Baluarte Wolves playing owner Christian Singson hosted the fellowship gathering held at SS Happy Life docked at the Manila Yacht Club Monday afternoon.
“So, sa labas mag tropa tayo pero sa loob, magkalaban tayo,” quipped Mr. Singson. “For tonight, let’s all just enjoy before returning to our practices tomorrow.”
It was a night filled with stories and laughter as almost 60 representatives from each team feasted on the food served by Dario Ristorante Italiano.
Seeing how united the team owners are, league owner Ronald Mascariñas and commissioner Eric Altamirano emphasized that each team are also stakeholders for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3. Moreover, they emphasized the goal of the league which is to contribute points to the country’s Olympic dreams in 3×3 basketball.
“First of all, thank you very much Christian for hosting this fellowship. We wanted the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league to be a model on how a league should be ran. A league that will be operated like a family with all respect to the members. Just like how we run BAVI,” said Mascariñas, the president of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc.
“Just to share with you, we have billions and billions pesos of investments in the country. Contract farms, processing plants, and the likes, to be honest with you, we don’t own anything of those — those are all investments from our business partners. This is the same mindset we want to have in our league.”
“We would like to thank Christian for hosting this gathering. A few more days, we are about to start our first conference. For sure, you are all excited and we as well are. Just want to echo what Boss Ronald said, we are doing this for the country,” added Altamirano.
“I hope that you embrace the mission that Chooks-to-Go has which is to help the country reach the 2020 Olympics.”
The President’s Cup begins on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the SM Megamall Events Center.

George (47), Westbrook (10th straight triple-double) propel Thunder

LOS ANGELES — Paul George had a 47-point triple-double, and Russell Westbrook set an NBA record for consecutive triple-doubles as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 120-111 on Monday night.
George’s 3-pointer with 3:52 to play came on the 10th assist by Westbrook, who clinched his 10th consecutive triple-double. Westbrook finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Going into the game, Westbrook and Wilt Chamberlain were the only players in NBA history with nine consecutive triple-doubles. Chamberlain set the mark in 1968.
However, it was George who drew “MVP” chants as the game wound down, as he contributed 12 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with his point tally. George has scored 92 points over the last two games.
It was George’s third career triple-double and his first since 2014. He capped off the triple-double in the final minute with a pass to Westbrook for a 3-pointer, the last of treys for Oklahoma City.
The win was the fourth consecutive and 11th in 12 games for the Thunder. It also clinched the season series for Oklahoma City, which is 3-0 with one meeting left.
The Trail Blazers took their third loss in four games.
Damian Lillard led Portland with 31 points, making 8 of 12 from the field in the second half as the Trail Blazers cut what was a 20-point deficit down to as little as five.
Oklahoma City was short-handed, playing without starting forward Jerami Grant and backup point guard Dennis Schroder. Grant missed the game after sustaining a right ankle sprain late in the Thunder’s win at Houston on Saturday. Schroder missed the game due to a personal issue.
The players who took over the majority of the missing regulars’ minutes had a big impact early.
Raymond Felton, playing in Schroder’s role and appearing in a game for the first time since Dec. 30, scored 15 first-half points on six-of-seven shooting. Felton had not scored more than 12 points all season. He missed all three of his second-half shots and did not score after the break.
Deonte Burton, a rookie getting added playing time off the bench with Grant out, scored a season-high 18 points. His previous best was 11 points, and he hadn’t scored a point since Dec. 3
ANTETOKOUNMPO DOES IT ALL AS BUCKS BEAT BULLS
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game rest to score a game-high 29 points Monday night, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Chicago.
The win was the Bucks’ third straight over the Bulls this season after Milwaukee had taken victories by 19 and three points at home in November.
Antetokounmpo was a healthy scratch from Saturday’s 103-83 home loss to Orlando. He returned with his fifth straight game with 29 or more points, a stretch during which he has averaged 33.6 points per game.
The Bucks led by just one at halftime before using 7-0 and 8-0 scoring bursts early in the third period to go up by as much as 65-53.
Milwaukee retained a 79-71 lead at period’s end, then held on as Chicago closed within 100-97 on two free throws by Lauri Markkanen with 2:55 to play.
Eric Bledsoe countered with a 3-pointer and added two free throws 55 seconds later to help the Bucks pull away.
Antetokounmpo hit nine of his 13 shots and completed a double-double with a game-high-tying 17 rebounds. He also led the Bucks with eight assists.
Bledsoe (19 points), Malcolm Brogdon (17), Khris Middleton (16) and Ersan Ilyasova (12) also scored in double figures for Milwaukee, which has won six straight on the road.
The Bucks outshot the Bulls 47.5 percent to 38.5 and enjoyed a 24-16 advantage in free-throw points.
Zach LaVine had a team-high 27 points for the Bulls, who lost their 11th straight at home.
The scoring total was LaVine’s 24th this season of 25 or more points and his fourth in a row. He had scored 28, 26 and 26 in his previous three games.
Lauri Markkanen had a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double for Chicago, while Otto Porter Jr. had 18 points and Robin Lopez 17.
HARDEN’S 30-POINT STREAK HITS 30 AS ROCKETS TOP MAVS
Hampered by a strained left shoulder, James Harden nearly had his streak of consecutive 30-point games come to an end before coming alive down the stretch as the host Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-104 Monday.
Harden finished with a game-high 31 points on nine-for-23 shooting and rounded out his stat line with eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
The Rockets relied on a collective effort to build a lead against Dallas, with four others scoring in double figures, including guard Gerald Green, who poured in 19 points in 22 minutes off the bench while drilling five of eight 3-pointers.
After the Mavericks sliced what was once a 21-point deficit to 109-100 on a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer with 2:52 left to play, Harden drilled back-to-back treys to mute the rally.
Harden added two free throws and then hit another 3-pointer with 52.9 seconds left to give him 31 points and extend his streak to 30 games, the third-longest in NBA history.
Harden has paced the Rockets in scoring in every game since Dec. 1, a span of 35 contests.
Eric Gordon scored 18 points, while Chris Paul and Kenneth Faried added 17 apiece for the Rockets. Paul finished with 11 assists, moving past Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton for eighth place in league history. — Reuters

MPBL Datu Cup: San Juan Knights keep 4th spot; Caloocan Supremos stay alive

SAN JUAN and Caloocan pulled off contrasting wins in the MPBL Datu Cup and fortified their aspirations ahead of the playoff round.
In front of its hometown crowd, San Juan Knights easily disposed of depleted Quezon City Capitals, 68-50, at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Knights took advantage on the absence of four key players from the Capitals on their way to take their 18th win in 23 games and stayed at the No. 4 spot of the standings in the tough northern division.
Quezon City played without guards Hesed Gabo and Andoy Estrella and didn’t field in center Jeff Morillo while sparingly utilized big man Jay Collado.
Gabo, the team’s starting point guard, was not in the game and team owner Onyx Crisologo told BusinessWorld that he has prior commitments in Japan. Estrella, on the other hand, is sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Morillo is also nursing an injury as his shoulder has been bothering him while Collado was battling flu.
Collado, one of the leading rebounders in the league, played only six minutes and ended up scoreless.
Without the usual production of these four key players, the Black Mamba-supported Capitals had a lousy output. Their free throw shooting was an eye sore as they hit only 24% from the line on eight-of-33.
Quezon City absorbed its 11th loss in 21 games, but remained in sixth spot of the northern division.
In the first game, Caloocan Supremos kept its flickering playoff hopes alive following its 76-62 win over Laguna Heroes.
By winning over the Heroes, the Supremos notched their 10th win in 24 games and stayed at No. 9 spot. With only one game left, they need to wrap up their elimination round campaign with a win and hope that Quezon City, Navotas, and Pampanga won’t exceed 10 wins.
Almond Vosotros finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists while Damian Lasco ended up with a career-high 21 markers for the Supremos.
Following its latest loss, Laguna dropped to 10-14 to stay at ninth spot of the southern division of this tournament. — Rey Joble

Standout trades

The recent player trade stretch in the National Basketball Association proved to be an active one with reports putting it at 57 players changing uniforms by the deadline on Feb. 8 (Manila time). The number beat out significantly the 35 from last year and the previous high of 53 players in 2015.
While the movements did not include what supposedly was the headlining departure of New Orleans All-Star Anthony Davis from the Bayou, still there were noteworthy trades consummated by the deadline that should alter the landscape of the NBA-dom moving forward.
One of the standout trades that happened, for this space, was that between the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers that saw the former get forwards Tobias Harris and Mike Scott and center Boban Marjanovic in exchange for Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Landry Shamet and a couple of future first and second-round picks.
The arrival of Harris fortifies the starting crew of the Sixers as he joins forces with All-Stars Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler, along with shooter JJ Reddick.
Philadelphia gets a bona-fide 20-point scorer in Harris as well as an efficient three-point maker (62.5%) to give its attack more flexibility.
The Sixers gave away some serviceable players in the exchange but Marjanovic and Scott, along with other additions James Ennis III from Houston and Jonathon Simmons from Orlando, should help the team as backstoppers.
On the flipside, the Clippers get quality backcourt support in Wilson and Shamet plus picks that they could use to dangle in a deal to lure potential free agents in the offseason. They also got big men Jamychal Green (Memphis) and Ivica Zubac (LA Lakers) and wingman Garret Temple (Memphis) to work something on.
Another deal worth noting was that sending currently injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks from the New York Knicks.
Going along with Porzingis were Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke vice Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first-round picks.
While Porzingis is not expected to play this season as he continues to recover from an ACL injury, the thought of him joining forces with rising Dallas star Luka Doncic has me in major anticipation.
Both gifted athletes in their respective positions and can do a lot, they could potentially revolutionize the NBA game further much like Dallas great Dirk Nowitzki has done in his Hall-of-Fame career.
It also helps the Mavericks that both Porzingis and Doncic seemingly welcome the linkup and willing to work together, something to look forward to if you are a Mavs fan.
For the Knicks, with the relationship between Porzingis and management turning south, the deal made sense even as it got further cap space to be a major player in free agency in the offseason (not saying it is you, KD) and a solid floor general for the future in Smith.
Milwaukee, Toronto, and Chicago, too, I think did well during trade week.
The Bucks got Nicola Mirotic; the Raptors have veteran Marc Gasol now; and the Bulls acquired do-it-all Otto Porter Jr.
Mirotic came to Milwaukee by way of a three-team deal, involving Detroit and New Orleans, and is expected to give the league-leading Bucks another steady offensive threat, especially from the outside, to make a serious push for at least a finals appearance.
Gasol for Jonas Valanciunas, on the other hand, gives the Raptors a playmaker in the center position, not to mention a proven winner and playoff performer to help “We The North” in its championship aspirations.
Chicago, meanwhile, got a stat-stuffer in Porter who should complement better the young Bulls core of Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen than Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis, whom the team traded in exchange.
Other trades that had my fancy were those of Harrison Barnes to Sacramento from Dallas, Markelle Fultz from Philadelphia to Orlando, and Markieff Morris to New Orleans from Washington.
There were no Anthony Davis deal consummated on trade deadline alright but still it was an eventful one for The Association. Many interesting deals went down, leaving us fans with a lot to keep tabs on.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com

George leads Thunder

When Paul George opted to stay with the Thunder in the offseason, not a few quarters found cause to shake their heads. It wasn’t simply because he backed out of a plan to move to the hometown Lakers at the earliest possible opportunity. More importantly, it was because his decision meant he would continue his far-from-perfect partnership with far-from-perfect Russell Westbrook. He had just come off a campaign in which the Thunder failed to advance past the first round, with the Jazz, headlined by a rookie, showing in no uncertain terms their propensity to underwhelm when the going got tough.
Fast forward to the present, and George isn’t merely laying all the second-guessing to rest. He’s doing so emphatically, leading the Thunder to a heady 37-19 slate that has them third in the West and sporting a point differential only the powerhouse Warriors can trump. The operative word, to be sure, is “leading,” because it’s no easy feat given Westbrook’s ubiquitous presence. The former Most Valuable Player’s ball-dominant style of play has been both good and bad — and, as Kevin Durant’s departure in 2016 proved, frustrating — for fellow All-Stars. And yet he stayed, gladly.
In justifying the career move, George pointed to the Thunder’s commitment to winning and, significantly, to Westbrook’s giving nature. The triple-double machine, he argued, was misunderstood and miscast as a selfish headliner who sucked the air out of everybody else. In this regard, he expressed confidence that time would make the truth apparent. Which brings fans to the present, basking in the success the one-two punch has engendered and confidently eyeing more. And, yes, the pecking order has changed.
Perhaps George would have wrested alpha-dog status regardless of circumstance. His progression into a bona fide MVP contender has been so marked as to lend it an air of inevitability. Yet, it’s fair to contend that the changing of the guard would not have been as smooth were Westbrook unwilling to cede the reins. In any case, his is the head that wears the crown, the responsibility to produce in the crunch and, at the same time, stop the opposition’s best from doing the same. And, to his credit, he has delivered on his promise.
The numbers don’t lie. The Thunder have claimed 11 of their last 12 outings, with George putting up remarkable stat lines. Yesterday, they blitzed the Blazers, invariably rude hosts, on the road off triple-doubles from their two stalwarts. The Team Giannis starter’s output was highlighted by 47 points, upping to an astounding 36 his per-game norm during their run. Little wonder, then, that he’s all smiles when he says he’s right where he should be: on the red carpet that Westbrook rolled out, en route to the throne that bears his name.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Comebacking old guard:All-new Toyota RAV4 to target ‘niche’ market

Text and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) continues to beef up its portfolio of sport-utility vehicles with the introduction of the all-new Toyota RAV4. Unveiled at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater in Taguig City on Feb. 8, the fifth generation of the compact SUV first seen in 1994 comes at a time when the global appetite for the ute continues to drive sales (one in every three vehicles sold worldwide is an SUV).
Meanwhile, TMP first vice president Ma. Cristina Fe N. Arevalo shared in a speech during the launch program that, as of the close of last year, commercial vehicle sales in the country accounted for almost 70% of total auto sales. In the Philippines, one in four vehicles sold in 2018 was an SUV (which belongs in the commercial vehicle segment).
Standing for “Recreational Activity Vehicle: 4-wheel drive,” the latest iteration of the RAV4 available in three variants locally is nonetheless bereft of an all-wheel drive option. But it is expected to appeal to car buyers familiar with the nameplate — and/or attracted to its new styling, which has been described as having an attention-grabbing “visual flair.”
Utilizing the so-called Toyota New Global Architecture gives the RAV4 improved agility, stability, and visibility, according to a TMP statement. The platform also leads to a lower center of gravity and a more rigid body.
“The wait is finally over,” declared TMP president Satoru Suzuki, who added that the RAV4 is “designed to defy expectations” while staying true to its “proud heritage as the world’s bestselling SUV.”
The RAV4 now touts a “lower belt line, repositioned outer mirrors now mounted on the door, and thinner, low-set instrument panel that has sleek horizontal lines flowing into the door panels [in aid of] driving visibility,” reported TMP.
Supplanting the RAV4’s old 2.5-liter dual VVTi engine is a similar-displacement yet newer proprietary Dynamic Force Engine with dual variable valve timing intelligent system controlled by an electric motor. This promises heightened performance for less fuel consumption. Horsepower output has grown to 203hp from 177hp, and torque climbs to 243Nm from 233Nm. Drivers can access the grunt through a familiar direct-shift eight-speed automatic transmission, which now features a multi-plate lock-up clutch “that provides a wider lock up range allowing shifting and acceleration to be smoother and faster.”
Toyota said the transmission allows more power and torque when accelerating from standstill while “suppressing engine speeds at high speed cruising for a quieter cabin.”
NICHE MODEL
Ranged against the entry-level Toyota Rush and the popular Toyota Fortuner SUV, TMP marketing officer for product planning Jovie M. Roqueza said in an interview with BusinessWorld that the RAV4 occupies a niche market.
“From a pricing point of the view, the one that clearly overlaps with the RAV4 is the Fortuner,” he shared. “We’re trying to cultivate the market for the RAV4 [as what] we’re seeing is that Fortuner buyers are ones with the big families. They have small children, and they want the practicality of a diesel. But we still feel that there are customers [who lean] more towards the emotional, [who] want the active lifestyle, [who] want the performance of a gasoline car, and these are the customers that we are appealing to with the RAV4.”
The five-seat model is well appointed with new technology and more upscale accoutrements — niceties that Mr. Roqueza insisted are appreciated by the vehicle’s target market. “All the small details that our customers appreciate, such as wireless charging, panoramic moonroof — these are exclusive to the RAV4. We don’t have these in any of our other SUVs.”
This primary target market, he continued, is composed of “young, tech-savvy people… a growing market that [the company can] continue to tap in the future as our economy continues to improve.”
The new RAV4 comes in six standard colors: white pearl, red mica metallic, silver metallic, gray metallic, Urban Khaki and cyan metallic. Three new colors are available on special order (with a three-month wait): super white, Attitude Black and dark blue mica metallic. Variants and pricing are as follows: LE (P1.638 million), XLE (P1.870 million) and LTD (P2.188 million).

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