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Corrosive Foreign Direct Investments: The case of Offshore Gaming

President Duterte may have flip-flopped on his stance on several issues, but he has been consistent in his accommodation of Chinese investments and loans. And understandably so. Chinese money has filled the gap vacated by Westerners and has covered the funding requirements of developing nations. Critics, however, argue that China may use its economic foothold to gain political influence in its host country.
For the Philippines, Duterte’s overtures towards China have resulted in a surge in Chinese investments. While the Philippines counts the US, Japan, and the four Asian tigers as traditional sources of foreign direct investments (FDI), a new narrative emerged when Duterte stepped into office. In 2016, FDI from China only amounted to USD 10.77 million, with almost 80% amassed during the second half of the year. By 2018, Chinese investments have ballooned to USD 195.25 million, accounting for almost 10% of total foreign investments.
For the duration of Duterte’s presidency, Chinese FDI already amounted to USD 232.24 million, surpassing the inflows in the last two administrations combined. This figure does not even include FDI from Hong Kong, through which a significant share of funds from the mainland is also coursed.
Nowhere has the effects of the rapid inflow of Chinese capital been more visible than in metropolitan areas. Unfortunately, most Filipinos do not share Duterte’s affinity for China. According to a Pulse Asia survey conducted at the end of 2018, Filipinos remain wary of China, with our northern neighbor earning the highest distrust rating among the countries included in the list.
On February 21, 2019, Stratbase ADR Institute hosted non-resident fellow, Mr. Alvin Camba, as he presented his research exploring whether Chinese capital, particularly foreign direct investments, is corrosive to the Philippines during the current administration. Mr. Camba defines FDI as corrosive if it “bypasses and transforms preexisting procedures, concentrates profits in specific groups, and strengthens existing and generates new patronage networks.”
Rapidly expanding Chinese capital in Duterte’s Philippines, Mr. Camba argues, fits this definition.
The emergence of the offshore gaming industry, in particular, exemplifies his central thesis.
cards chips dice
The online gaming industry’s rise was driven by both push and pull factors. Xi Jinping’s crackdown on corruption and state centralization of capital hurt the gambling industry in Macau. This coincided with the current administration’s efforts to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling. President Duterte signed Executive Order 13 in 2016, which effectively transferred the regulation of gambling and online gaming facilities to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Before this, offshore gaming operations were largely limited to special economic zones. In that same year, PAGCOR issued 35 licenses, allowing these firms to operate more openly. To date, there are already 57 licensed operators.
The first corrosive effect is the migration of illegal workers, with operator groups preying on innocent recruits and promising them thousands of dollars.
Responding to concerns over the deluge of Chinese workers in the country, the Senate launched an inquiry on the issue. During the hearing, it was revealed that half of alien employment permits issued in 2016 and 2017 were given to Chinese nationals, of which a significant share comprised of those involved in offshore gambling. The hearings also unearthed how these workers were able to skirt local laws, initially coming in as tourists before obtaining work permits. Many others have also overstayed or do not have work permits altogether.
The influx of workers has also pushed real estate prices upwards. In several instances, floors and even entire condominium buildings have been rented out to Chinese nationals. While a win for the real estate industry, the average working Filipino has been priced out of prime real estate, and forced to look for more affordable options elsewhere.
Another corrosive effect is that these offshore gaming companies are not taxable. According to Mr. Camba, these companies are supposedly domiciled in another country — a technicality that allows these firms to be exempt from taxes on goods and services, a 5% franchise tax, among others.
Moreover, the Finance Secretary estimated that the country loses roughly Php 3 billion in revenues each month from workers employed in the offshore gaming industry.
Other corrosive impacts of Chinese FDI include kidnapping, sex work, and money laundering.
Mr. Camba concludes that the government is moving in the right direction, particularly in increasing taxation, clarifying juridical boundaries, and bringing Chinese workers under the Philippine law. He contends, however, that the Philippines’ lack of a coherent and sustainable development strategy for its economic growth provided the opening for offshore gambling to thrive in the first place. It is clear then that more efforts should be expended to diversify and strengthen the economy.
 
Weslene Uy is an economic fellow at the Stratbase ADR Institute.

A peek into the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines

On 20 February 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (the “New Code”), which may be considered as a landmark legislation updating the 38-year-old Corporation Code of the Philippines (the “Old Code”) to adjust to modern times.
The New Code aims to improve ease of doing business and modernize procedures to improve and elevate the standards in the country’s corporate setting in line with existing international best practices. According to Senator Franklin M. Drilon, the principal sponsor and author of the Code, the amendments are focused on “removing barriers hindering the entry of both small and large enterprises into the Philippine market” as it aims to foster smoother transactions in pursuing business in the Philippines.
Some notable amendments under the Code are: (1) One Person Corporation; (2) Perpetual Existence; (3) Minimum Capital Stock; (4) Incorporators, Directors, Trustees, and Officers; and (5) Remote Communication and In-Absentia Voting.
ONE PERSON CORPORATION
The Old Code required at least five (5) stockholders to form a corporation.
Under the New Code, a one person corporation (“OPC”) may now be formed by a single stockholder, who may be a natural person, trust or an estate. However, banks and quasi-banks, pre-need, trust, insurance, public and publicly listed companies, and non-chartered government-owned and controlled corporations may not incorporate as OPC. Further, as defined, it appears that a juridical entity, such as a corporation, may not be the stockholder in an OPC.
Similar to all other corporations, as provided by the New Code (unless a special law requires otherwise), an OPC is not required to have a minimum capital stock. It does not need to adopt corporate by-laws unlike an ordinary corporation. In lieu of the meetings, an OPC may simply prepare written resolutions, signed and dated by the single stockholder.
The single stockholder will act as the president and sole director of the OPC. He may also act as its treasurer, upon submission of a bond to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and a written undertaking to faithfully administer its funds, disburse and invest the same according to its registration. However, he may not act as its corporate secretary.
It is important to note though that the New Code requires the single stockholder to prove that the OPC is sufficiently financed, and its assets are independent from his personal property, in order to claim limited liability. Otherwise, he shall be jointly and severally liable for the liabilities of the OPC.
PERPETUAL EXISTENCE
Under the Old Code, a corporation has a term limit of 50 years, unless extended. Its existence is deemed dissolved upon expiration of the term.
Under the New Code, the default rule is that a corporation shall have perpetual existence, unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Incorporation. As transition, corporations existing prior to the effectivity of the New Code shall have a perpetual term unless the corporation, upon the required vote of its stockholders, notifies the SEC that it elects to retain its specified term.
In this connection, the New Code incorporates a “Lazarus” provision which allows the revival of a corporation whose term has expired by filing an application with the SEC. Upon approval, the corporation shall be deemed revived together with all the rights and privileges under its certificate of incorporation and subject to all of its duties, debts, and liabilities existing prior to its revival, giving it perpetual existence unless otherwise specified.
MINIMUM CAPITAL STOCK
The Old Code required that at least 25% of the authorized capital stock must be subscribed, and at least 25% of the total subscription must be paid by the stockholders, provided that the minimum paid-up capital shall not be lower than Php5,000.00.
The New Code removed the aforementioned 25% subscription, payment and minimum paid-up capital requirements. The New Code states that “stock corporations shall not be required to have a minimum capital stock, except as otherwise specifically provided by special law.”
INCORPORATORS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES, AND OFFICERS
The New Code removed the minimum number of incorporators, directors and trustees, which stood as five (5) under the Old Code.
Section 10 of the New Code states that “any person, partnership, association or corporation, singly or jointly with others but not more than fifteen (15) in number, may organize a corporation for any lawful purpose or purposes.” It appears that the New Code allows juridical persons to act as incorporators unlike the Old Code which limits incorporators to natural persons.
Moreover, the New Code reiterated the requirement to elect independent directors in corporations vested with public interest such as: (a) public companies, (b) banks and quasi-banks, non-stock savings loan associations, etc., and (c) other corporations as may be determined by the SEC. The independent directors shall constitute at least 20% of the entire board membership.
The New Code also allows the creation of an “emergency board” when the vacancy in the board prevents the remaining directors from constituting a quorum and emergency action is required to prevent grave, substantial, and irreparable loss or damage to the corporation. During an emergency, the remaining directors or trustees may fill the vacancy temporarily from among the officers of the corporation to pass the necessary emergency action.
Section 24 of the New Code retained the officers and its qualifications under the Old Code, except for the treasurer, who is now required to be a resident of the Philippines. In addition, corporations vested with public interest are now obliged to appoint a compliance officer.
REMOTE COMMUNICATION AND IN ABSENTIA VOTING
Following the concept of allowing board meetings by way of videoconferencing, teleconferencing, or other alternative modes of communication which have been made explicit under the New Code, the New Code took a step further by allowing stockholders or members to exercise their right to vote through remote communication or in absentia when authorized under the by-laws, subject to the rules and regulations to be issued by the SEC. With this amendment, it appears that the stockholders and members need not be physically present or represented by proxies in meetings, as required in the past.
Existing corporations affected by certain provisions of the New Code are given a period of two (2) years from its effectivity within which to comply with the requirements thereon.
With the aforementioned significant changes introduced under the New Code, we anticipate that the SEC will issue supplemental regulation specifying the requirements and detailed procedure to comply with its provisions.
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.
 
Renz J. Pagayanan is a Senior Associate of the Corporate and Special Projects Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).
rjpagayanan@accralaw.com
(632) 830-8000

Blurring right versus wrong

To be fair, the Duterte administration will leave some positive legacies, perhaps on the economics side, because the President has made a few creditable appointments to govern this sector. To name a few, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, NEDA Secretary General Ernesto Pernia, and the late Nestor Espenilla of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. I guess because he expressly values utang ng loob as a high value, he basically gives Dominguez, the leader of this group, a lot of leeway, and basic policy autonomy. Dominguez, after all, is from Davao, and was one of his early campaign supporters. Besides, Dominguez did not accept the job right away; and reports indicate that President Duterte practically begged him to take the job.
However, aside from the virtually treasonous surrender of our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea despite our UN-accredited victory in The Hague, the incredible extrajudicial killings in the obsessive “drug war,” the brute force applied against the human rights of outstanding women (e.g., Leila de Lima, Patricia Fox, et al) and public and ungentlemanly insults against other women including the duly elected Vice-President, perhaps the greatest harm that the Duterte administration will leave as a legacy is the blurring of lines between right and wrong. This is truly a serious crime because its potential impact can last for generations.
The sin of lying is being denigrated publicly by the President and his daughter who it is said, is being groomed to succeed him. To make matters worse, honesty is being downgraded as a value in defense of brazen lies perpetrated on her website by the campaign of senatorial candidate Imee Marcos. My mother often told me that lying and stealing are cousins, and that they often go together. What gall, to claim college degrees earned from the University of the Philippines and the Ivy League Princeton University, and what greater gall, to claim fictitious honors! It sounds like the 27 heroic medals fable claimed by her father Ferdinand Marcos. Or, perhaps, by extension, the claim of Bongbong Marcos that he was cheated in the 2016 vice-presidential race.
Sara Duterte publicly stated that lying should not be a campaign issue in the coming elections because, according to reports, she says all politicians lie anyway. OMG, if that is true, why hold elections anyway? Is she saying that whoever we choose, they lie (and steal) anyway? These are words from our potential next president? And her own father, our current elected leader actually said that there is no evidence that the Marcoses have illegally acquired wealth?
Thank God international civil servant Ruben Carranza, former deputy of the late Haydee Yorac in the PCGG, who actually did most of the work to recover over US$700 million of hidden Marcos money in Swiss banks (now worth over a billion dollars which hopefully is in process of being distributed to human rights victims of the Marcos government) took the trouble on international cable television to refute Duterte’s wild statement. There is enough evidence, Carranza firmly asserted; and that has been acknowledged by the Swiss depository Banks for aliases William Saunders and Jane Ryan, et al. It makes one wonder what it is that motivates the Dutertes to go this far to defend lies, with more lies. Is it the much vaunted value of utang ng loob? What is the utang ng loob of the Dutertes to the Marcoses? Can it possibly be great enough to supersede honesty as a value?
We as citizens, and even more, as parents need to be more mindful in the midst of social and traditional media tsunamis that can blur our vision. Shall we bear with downgrade of our moral values for the sake of higher GNP and Build Build Build, if it does happen, and at reasonable cost? (Never mind honesty, because everyone cheats, anyway?)
What kind of people shall we and our descendants become? Are we to be led by liars and cheats, because everyone lies and cheats, anyway? OMG, I have never yearned to live overseas; but now I am glad that my son and his children are living in America as honest “legals”. Well, Trump and his people are at least being investigated by a special prosecutor.
Shall we continue to accept his apologists’ explanations that our President is only joking when he makes his wild statements, or tells lies, or makes crude remarks unbecoming of a national leader? How did we get here? Remember his campaign promise to ride a jetski and plant the Philippine flag in the West Philippine Sea? So, he was only joking? He was not lying, or he was lying but doesn’t everyone anyway?
The business community, as usual, being happy with the economic numbers and Build, Build, Build opportunities has hardly issued any public objections to the downgrading of long-held Filipino family values of honesty. Are they acquiescing to this, or just not mindful of what harm this is doing to our culture and civilization? The culture and civilization in which our descendants will live?
What about our educational institutions? Are they going to tolerate the erosion of basic moral values without clarifying the issues for the sake of the generations of Filipinos they are helping to develop? How about parents and grandparents? Are they just going to sit by and turn a deaf ear?
Alas, are we going to just go mindlessly downhill as a people?
 
Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of Management and an independent development management consultant.
tsabesamis0114@yahoo.com

Anyone can be president

The late great comedian Dolphy had the most sensible response to the question, why he wasn’t considering running for president. Was it because he was afraid that he might lose?
“No,” Dolphy reportedly replied. “It’s because I’m afraid I might win and I won’t know what to do.”
Sadly, not everyone is as pragmatic as Dolphy. Rumors are rife that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte wants to succeed her father as president. And the other rumor is that Senator-boxer Manny Pacquiao plans to contest that and run for the highest office himself.
And why not?
Qualifications for a job in a private firm are more stringent than those for president. Article VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution merely requires the following: (a) Must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; (b) must be a registered voter; (c) must be able to read and write; (d) must be a least 40 years old on the day of the election; and (e) must have been a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years.
Just to clarify: being born cesarean does not disqualify you. You are still considered natural-born under the Constitution.
Of course, there are other requirements that the Constitution has prudently not listed such as having a private army, having billions in the bank, and having a battalion of online trolls.
There are other presumed qualifications such as honesty and integrity but Sara Duterte recently declared those irrelevant.
In a media interview, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter defended her earlier assertion that all politicians lie (she was telling the truth). She insisted that there is no provision in the Constitution that prohibits liars from running for president.
Sara (and, perhaps, her father) may not have heard about “moral turpitude,” defined in Bouviers Law Dictionary as “everything which is done contrary to justice, honesty, modesty, or good morals.” The term, according to Google, was first introduced in 1901 in Act 190, otherwise known as the Code of Civil Actions and Special proceedings. It has been applied to cases involving the disqualification of members of the bar and those running for any elective position.
In other words, moral turpitude is the opposite of good manners and right conduct. The trouble is, in the Duterte administration, good manners and right conduct have been redefined. Thus, maybe Sara is right. In the current moral environment, liars can run for president or any elective office. So can thieves, plunderers, convicted felons and killers.
In any case, Pacquiao won’t be the only pugilist to want to throw his hat in the presidential ring. Oscar de la Joya, whom Pacquiao TKO’d some years ago, believes he can KO President Donald Trump in 2020 – assuming that Trump does not finally get the wall he deserves. Meaning a prison wall.
According to De la Joya, if Arnold Schwarzenegger could be elected governor of California and a reality TV show host like Trump could become president, why not an Olympic gold medalist like him?
In Ukraine, former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko also seriously considered running for president but decided instead to support the candidacy of businessman Petro Poroshenko. Klitschko was a member of Parliament.
If Dolphy had decided to run for president, he would not have been the first comedian to do so. In the U.S., Gracie Allen, wife and comic foil of George Burns, ran as a nominee of the Surprise Party which had a kangaroo as mascot and the slogan, “It’s in the bag.” This was at the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential run.
Unlike then President Fidel Ramos who had Erap Estrada as his vice-president, Allen reportedly refused to have a vice-presidential running mate because she did not want to tolerate any vice in her administration.
In the 2012 U.S. election, TV comic Roseanne Barr actually filed her candidacy for president with the Federal Election Commission as candidate of the Green Tea Party, As part of her platform, she vowed to send the bankers of Wall Street to re-education camps or have them executed by beheading.
Another American comedian, Pat Paulsen, who made a name in the Smothers Brothers TV series, filed his candidacy for president in 1968 because “the job has a good pension plan and I’ll get a lot of money when I retire.”
At least, Paulsen was honest about his motivation, which may be why he came in second to Bill Clinton in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary. Most candidates claim to want to rid the country of corruption and promote national progress and development and all that motherhood stuff. The truth, they just want to provide for their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and….
But there is one qualification that only one presidential candidate proudly claimed to have: an official clearance from the Philippine Mental Hospital. Pascual Racuyal.
About Racuyal, historian Ambeth Ocampo wrote:
“Racuyal made history by vainly challenging all presidents from Manuel L. Quezon in the Commonwealth elections of 1935 to Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in the 1986 snap election. He was declared a nuisance candidate only in the 1986 election even if he signed his certificate of candidacy with a quill, using his own blood as ink. One of his campaign promises in 1969 and 1986 was that he would govern via remote control or satellite, whatever that meant.
“In 1969 the Manila Times reported on Racuyal challenging President Marcos and Sen. Sergio Osmeña to a 12-hour debate in Plaza Miranda. Ignored, he then threatened to deliver a six-hour speech in Plaza Miranda, which promised to be the longest in modern Philippine history! It was also reported that when the election returns from Rizal province came in, Racuyal actually placed third after Marcos and Osmeña with ‘79 solid votes.’
“In 1952 he invited Ramon Magsaysay, Arsenio Lacson, Lorenzo Tañada and Trinidad Legarda to be his running mate as vice president. Naturally, all of them refused…”
There is only one other perennial presidential candidate that I know of and that is former San Francisco lawyer Ely Velez Pamatong. Pamatong once pursued an appealing cause, which was for the right to US citizenship of Filipinos born while the Philippines was under US rule, just like Puerto Rico. He ran for president in the 2004 and 2010 presidential elections, although the Commission on Elections declared him a nuisance candidate. But Pamatong has already gone ahead and proclaimed himself president of the Philippines.
Indeed, it takes all kinds of characters to run for president. There used to be really qualified candidates vying for the highest post in the Philippines. But ever since the dismantling of the two-party system, the field has been left wide open for anyone who meets the minimum qualifications.
In fact, our former house help, Ping, could qualify. After we enrolled her in adult education, she learned how to read and write. She now has all the other qualifications mandated by the Constitution.
All she needs are a few billions, a private army and a battalion of social media trolls.
 
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

Columbian, Magnolia in key PHL Cup match

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WITH their spots in the playoffs of the PBA Philippine Cup still anything but assured, the Columbian Dyip and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok enter their 4:30 p.m. encounter today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with much urgency.
Currently sporting middling cards of 4-5 and 2-4, respectively, Columbian and Magnolia try to go for that important win against one another that would give their push in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament a huge boost.
The Dyip, at seventh place as of this writing, were victorious in their last game, defeating the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 85-82, on March 6.
Columbian got balanced contributions from the rest of the team in said contest allowing it to get the better of the Elasto Painters while also boosting their playoff hopes.
Guard Rashawn McCarthy paced Columbian with 22 points with Jackson Corpuz adding 12 of his own.
Top rookie CJ Perez, for his part, had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“This win was an important one in our hopes of making it to the quarterfinals. We are happy with the four wins we have right now as they are an improvement from our showing in the previous seasons in the All-Filipino. But we want to enter the quarterfinals,” said Columbian coach John Cardel in the vernacular following their last game.
Also coming off a win is Magnolia, a 103-86 winner over the Alaska Aces on March 9.
Cranking things up in the second quarter, the Hotshots were just too much to handle for the Aces the rest of the way as they cruised to the dominant victory.
Ian Sangalang stood tall in the win, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
Paul Lee came off the bench to score 20 points and grab eight boards while Mark Barroca had 19 points and five steals.
Jio Jalalon and Rodney Brondial also wound up in double-digits scoring for the Hotshots with 12 points apiece. Mr. Brondial also grabbed 10 boards.
“We talked about treating each of our remaining games as do-or-die matches. With the kind of record we have, it’s already the playoffs for us,” said Mr. Sangalang after their win over Alaska.
“This will be our mindset moving forward and we now on focus on Columbian,” he added.
Playing in the second game today at 7 p.m. are the Alaska Aces (3-3) and NLEX Road Warriors (2-5).
Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel is the latest recipient of the PBA player of the week honors after showing the way for the streaking Beermen.
Averaging 33.5 points, 16 rebounds and 2.5 assists in their last two victories against NLEX and Northport Batang Pier, in that order, “The Kraken” was a hands-down winner of the weekly plum, beating out Columbian’s Perez and McCarthy, Meralco’s Baser Amer, TNT’s Roger Pogoy and Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Aljon Mariano.

Ateneo tries to extend lead on the leader board

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
CURRENTLY in solo lead in the standings in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament, the Ateneo Lady Eagles try to create further separation from the chasing pack when they suit up for action today at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Soared to their fourth straight win on March 10 with a commanding straight-sets victory over the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 25-21, 25-15 and 28-26, the Lady Eagles (4-1) go for win number five for the season in their matchup today at 2 p.m. against the Adamson Lady Falcons (1-4) in the UAAP’s “avian war.”
Ateneo was steadier over UP in their last game, banking on a balanced attack and taking every opportunity presented to it.
It took the first two sets clinically before hanging tough in the third frame to complete the shutout win.
Veteran Maddie Madayag led the Lady Eagles with 14 points, six off blocks, with Kat Tolentino adding 12.
Ponggay Gaston finished with 10 points and Jules Samonte eight points.
The win was the fourth in a row for Ateneo, which opened its UAAP Season 81 campaign with a loss to defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers.
“We just have to continue trusting the system of coach [Oliver Almandro] and play our game,” said Madayag after their win of the mindset that they should have moving forward.
On the other hand, Adamson seeks to build on its fine play of late.
While they lost in their last game, the Lady Falcons have been playing far better following a coaching change that saw erstwhile deputy Onyok Getigan take over from American Air Padda.
They stretched the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws last time around but just fell short in five sets, 25-18, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25 and 15-8.
Veterans Eli Soyud, Joy Dacoron and Bern Flora are leading the “not going down without a fight” mentality of the Lady Falcons, making them a tough customer each time.
In the second game at 4 p.m. of the double-header in women’s play, UP (3-2) plays the National University Lady Bulldogs (1-4).
In separate news, rookie Eya Laure of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses was named UAAP player of the week.
Laure normed 17.5 points in their twin wins over La Salle and NU last week to merit the award given by media covering the league.
The UST rookie sensation won over teammate Sisi Rondina, Ateneo’s Tolentino and FEU’s Lycha Ebon and Heather Guino-o.

AFC Cup: Kaya hosts Home United at Panaad Stadium

KAYA FC-Iloilo treks back to AFC Cup action today as it hosts Home United FC of Singapore in a Group H match at 3 p.m. at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.
Playing at fellow AFC Cup participant Ceres-Negros FC’s home turf, Kaya tries to improve on its draw performance in its opener and finally barge into the win column of the tournament.
Kaya, the Copa Paulino Alcantara champion, is playing its home matches at Panaad after the Iloilo Sports Complex where it plays was ruled short of the stadium standards required to host an AFC event “despite exhausting all efforts to prepare the venue.”
The team nonetheless vowed to do its best in today’s game with the Iloilo fans on its mind and expressed hope that down the line “it will be able to give Iloilo a firsthand experience of the excitement of hosting AFC matches.”
Kaya settled for a 1-1 draw with Lao Toyota FC in its 2019 AFC Cup opener in Laos on Feb. 27, depriving it of the full three points.
Seemingly on its way to a victory last time around when Jovin Bedic scored a goal in the 18th minute, Kaya saw itself forced to a draw by home team Lao when defender Sayfa Aphideth managed to break through in the 87th minute.
Kaya got off to a flying start at the Laos National Stadium, forcing Lao’s defense to work early.
Mr. Bedic’s goal put more pressure on their opponent while also propelling Kaya’s motor all the way to the break.
But Lao was not to go out easily, capitalizing on the opportunities presented to it.
Its efforts paid off late in the contest as Mr. Aphideth found himself in great scoring position and delivered accordingly with three minutes left in regulation time after catching a pass from captain Kazuo Honma.
Kaya still tried to salvage a win after but was unsuccessful in doing so and just settled for a point from the draw.
It was an outcome that left Kaya ruing and something it hopes to make up for today.
“We were unlucky not to get all three points. We played well in the first half. We were able to control things. But we didn’t play so well in the second,” said Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida after their match against Lao.
“Moving forward we need to learn to be switched on for the full 90,” the coach added.
Home United, for its part, was also held to a 1-1 draw by SM Makassar of Indonesia in its opener, leaving all teams in the group with a point each entering Group H matches today and making the Kaya-Home United game more important for group leadership. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Enhanced Salomon Xtrail event set at Timberland

THE annual Salomon Xtrail event in the country has been enhanced this year to keep participants with something fresh to look forward to.
Unlike the past seven years where it offered two gruelling race categories, the 2019 edition of the much-awaited outdoor event has an all-new race pattern — dubbed the Ultra50 — when it happens on the weekend of April 28 at The Glades in Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal.
The Ultra50 will require participants to conquer five different mountains in Sierra Madre. It joins as race offering the Xtrail Run and Xtrail Kids Race.
Organizers said the Ultra50 category is a great opportunity for seasoned trail runners to test their limits.
The Ultra50 category starts from The Glades at Timberland Heights and will cover six areas which include Purro, Campananan, Malemod, Ayaas, Parawagan, and Maarat.
It consists of 80% single track, 20% gravel/dirt road, fire trails, and some river crossings. The route will cover paths, ridges, and trails that have never been used in any other race as well as old local trails that have been forgotten because of newer and wider trails.
Those interested in joining have until April 17 to register at www.salomonxtrailpilipinas.com.ph. All participating runners will receive a Salomon Technical Jersey, a Salomon Trucker Cap, as well as gift items from the event sponsors.
Meanwhile, those who finish within the cutoff time will receive a Mountain Run Finishers medal as well as a finisher’s shirt for the Ultra50 runners. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Escueta-Pantig tandem wins Prima badminton men’s open doubles plum

PHILIP Joper Escueta and Paul John Pantig won the men’s doubles open title while Gelita Castilo and Eleanor Christine Inlayo ruled the women’s doubles open of the 12th Prima Pasta Badminton Championships recently at the Powersmash badminton courts in Makati City.
Escueta and Pantig displayed great teamwork to crush former men’s doubles open champion Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Alvin Morada, 22-20, 21-11, in the finale while Castilo and Inlayo outplayed Patricia Barredo and Descka Calimlim, 21-14, 21-17, for women’s crown.
In other doubles finals results, Anggy Sepdianto and Christian Bernardo bashed John Matthew Bernardo and Mike Minuluan, 21-11, 17-21, 17-14 (retired) to claim the men’s doubles A plum while Jochelle Alvarez and Missy Cervantes whipped Dainelle Aubrey Masongsong and Jellene Geviane De Vera, 21-19, 21-11, for the women’s doubles B championship.
Andrea Abalos and Ghiselle Erica Bautista scored a come-from-behind win over Palma Maria Assumpta Cruz and Mikaela Joy Miranda De Guzman, 14-21, 21-14, 21-14, to take home the girls’ under-19 doubles crown.
Jeno Carino and Nestojan Tapales defeated Zed Angel Monterubio and Mark Anthony Velasco, 22-24, 21-13, 21-16, to capture the boys’ U-19 doubles diadem of the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association.
Other level doubles champions were Joffre Arollado and Christian Bernardo (men’s B), Gilly Chavez and Almira Kristel Ramos (women’s C), Jeff Monton and Nephtali Pineda (men’s C), Myra Francisco and Aiza Pelagio Garcia (women’s D), Mark Lacson and Jeff Monton (men’s D), Erlene Bello and Ma. Luisa Gregorio (women’s E), John Russel Oliveros and Benjo Resurreccion (men’s E), Judith Espanola and Mariane Paez (women’s F), Mike Alayon and Jordan Lastimosa (men’s F) and Honey Ray Ambait and John Ray Balorio (men’s G).
Other age-group doubles champions were Patricia De Leon and Angel Valle (girls U-17), Maeve Paz and Kahrene Zapanta (girls U-15), Munir Bartolome and Nestojan Tapales (boys U-17) and Maverick Alcala and Zeth Javier Quiambao (boys U-15).

MPBL: Batangas City, Imus set up playoff tiff after beating rivals

BATANGAS CITY — The Batangas City Athletics is back at the upper half of the playoffs, but it didn’t come the easier route just as it did last time around.
Pushed to the limit by a gritty General Santos City Warriors side, the Tanduay-backed Athletics held on to preserve a 92-86 win and officially secure the No. 2 seat of the southern division of the MPBL Datu Cup playoffs here at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Athletics will face the Imus Bandera, who secured the seventh place in the division following a 107-90 triumph over the already ousted Mandaluyong El Tigre.
Both Batangas City and Imus ended up in a tie with another team at the end of the elimination round.
The Athletics wound up in a tie with the Muntinlupa Cagers, both of them wrapping up their elims campaign with a 15-10 card. The Bandera, on the other hand, ended up with an 11-14 record, the same slate held by the Cebu Sharks.
But by virtue of the win over the other rule, the Athletics and the Bandera will get the higher seeding.
Batangas City got big games from the usual suspects before putting away its hard-fighting opponent.
Jeff Viernes, Jhaymo Eguilos and Denice Villamor came up with the big baskets when needed to endure a gutsy stand by the Warriors, who will end up at No. 4 in the southern division.
The three players conspired in a huge 10-2 run in the fourth period to calm down the Athletics. Behind their baskets, they were able to shatter the game’s final deadlock at 73-all and turned it to an 83-75 advantage.
Viernes finished with 21 points and six assists to lead the charge for the Athletics. Eguilos, last season’s Finals MVP, had 18 points on top of six rebounds and two blocks while Villamor added 16, including a steady three-of-four shooting from beyond the arc. — Rey Joble

Lou makes history off the bench as Clippers top Celtics

LOS ANGELES — Lou Williams scored 34 points to become the most prolific bench scorer in NBA history as the Los Angeles Clippers continued their charge toward the playoffs with a 140-115 victory over the visiting Boston Celtics on Monday.
Danilo Gallinari scored 13 of his 25 points in the opening quarter, and Montrezl Harrell added 20 points as the Clippers won their fifth consecutive game and improved to 9-3 since their roster was restructured at the trade deadline.
With the victory, Los Angeles moved into sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference.
Williams, who leads the NBA in points off the bench this season, passed Dell Curry as the highest scoring player off the bench of all time and now has 11,154 as a reserve in his career. Curry had 11,148 points as a reserve.
It was Williams’ eighth game of the season with at least 30 points, all since Dec. 28.
Terry Rozier scored 26 points for the Celtics, who saw their three-game winning streak end. Boston went 3-1 on a four-game road trip, all against California teams. Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, and Kyrie Irving added 18 and 11 assists for the Celtics.
Unlike the Clippers’ 123-112 victory at Boston on Feb. 9, when Los Angeles set a franchise record by rallying from a 28-point, first-half deficit, the Clippers took control of this one early.
Los Angeles led 25-19 after one quarter and had a 62-49 lead at halftime after shooting 72.2 percent from the field in the second quarter. The Clippers shot 61.6% from the field for the game as seven players scored in double figures.
Ivica Zubac had 14 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 12 for the Clippers, who tied their longest winning streak of the season, first done in November. Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet added 11 each for Los Angeles.
Marcus Morris had 11 points and Al Horford added 10 for the Celtics.
Wilson Chandler made his Clippers debut in the fourth quarter and scored two points. He was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade-deadline move that cost Los Angeles leading-scorer Tobias Harris, but had not played with his new team because of a quadriceps injury.
The Celtics were playing without forward Jayson Tatum, who missed his first game of the season because of right shoulder soreness. — Reuters

DSCPI holds 2019 first-quarter ranking and SEA Games selection

THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines, Inc. (DSCPI) will host the 2019 DSCPI first quarter competition and selection for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games dance athletes at the Ballroom Hall of Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City on Saturday.
DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 400 participants all over the Philippines will compete in the ranking and selection competition.
The World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators are Foo Yoong Chen “Vivian” of Malaysia, Valeriy Gulay of Russia, Yoshikazu Inazawa of Japan, Marcel Keijzer of Netherlands, Jae Ho Kim of South Korea, Hong Thi Nguyen “Kathy” of Vietnam, Lubos Novotny of Czech Republic, Galina Gulay of Russia, Jun-De Jiang, Sheng-Wei Lin “Boris” of Taiwan and Karl Olivier Alba of Canada.

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