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Duterte wants paper work moving on 3rd telco player

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has instructed two government agencies to pave the way for the application of a third telecommunications provider in the Philippines, which “will be up and about by the first quarter of 2018.”

“I have instructed the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to fast-track the entry of the third telecom player to foster competition in the market. I want this implemented during the first quarter of 2018,” Mr. Duterte said in his directive, as read by Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., in his press briefing on Tuesday.

He also ordered the NTC to start putting together the terms of reference for the bidding of all the remaining telco frequencies, and instructed national and regional government agencies and local government units to issue the required permits within seven days once all requirements have been submitted.

“If it is not approved within seven days, it is deemed approved. That’s how serious the President is on the entry of a third telecoms player,” Mr. Roque said.

Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar had earlier announced that China Telecom had been chosen to operate as the third telco player in the Philippines in an industry currently dominated by PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc.

Asked whether the government is rushing the application for the entry of the third player, Mr. Roque said: “It is being rushed because we need, desperately, to have better telecoms in this country.”

Mr. Duterte for his part had said: “I do not want the courts to interfere and prolong this process. Do not issue any TROs (temporary restraining orders) or injunctions. This is a matter of national interest for the benefit of the public.”

For his part, Mr. Roque said constitutional restrictions and security concerns will be observed: “Right now, all I can say is we’re beefing up. We’ve given priority to our cybersecurity and I’m sure there would be measures to protect us, to protect our privacy and our national security interests.”

He also assured transparency in the bidding process on the watch of DICT: “The public will know what’s happening. So, the OIC, [Officer-in-charge Eliseo M.] Rio has assured me only this morning of absolute transparency in this regard.”

In a statement, Mr. Rio affirmed that the DICT and NTC can have the third telco player operational by early March 2018.

“It would help a lot if a strong statement comes from the President that for the benefit of the people, he wants the third player to compete ASAP,” he said.

As a disclosure for this story, MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, has a unit — Hastings Holdings, Inc. — that maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — RAZ

Navy chief replaced 3 months before retirement

PHILIPPINE NAVY Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph S. Mercado was relieved from his post as the Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command on Tuesday. Mr. Mercado, who assumed leadership in Nov. 2016, was supposed to retire in March 2018. Rear Admiral Robert A. Empedrad has taken over command of the navy. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Edgar A. Arevalo said the reason for the change of command “will be explained in due time.” — philstar.com

See full story on https://goo.gl/Uc7Gco

Jose Rizal gets a birthday bath

WHILE it seems that the Rizal Monument’s photobomber will be a permanent stain on the view, the dirt and grime that have accumulated over time on the iconic landmark itself can be easily wiped out thanks to a cleaning restoration project.

An the initiative of Kärcher, a German cleaning equipment brand, in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the Rizal Monument has received a free makeover thanks to a two-day restoration project on Dec. 14 and 15.

The project is part of the “Kärcher Cleans the World” campaign, which is a global initiative that supports the free restoration and preservation of important landmarks, buildings, and historical mementos around the globe including the London Eye, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Mount Rushmore in the United States of America, the Merlion in Singapore, Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s colonnades in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, and Matsudagawa dam in Japan.

“For this year, Kärcher has chosen the Philippines as its beneficiary for the campaign with the cleanup of the Rizal Monument which, throughout the years, has seen its fair share of wear and tear. Its (no longer) white granite obelisk, together with the bronze statue of Rizal, is unfortunately a far cry from its original look as streaks of black dirt collected over the decades tarnishes its once-regal appearance,” said the brand on its Facebook page.

Without the aid of soap, detergent, or any other chemical, Kärcher cleaned the unpolished granite of the obelisk and the base of the monument with hot water (140°C), while high-pressured hot water was used to clean the floor tiles. The bronze statue of the National Hero was to be spared, said NHCP chair Carminda Arevalo during the event’s launch on Dec. 14.

The Rizal monument was approved by US President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 under the United States Philippine Commission Act No. 243, which called for an international design contest to encourage famous artists around the globe to design the blueprint of the iconic landmark.

Unveiled in 1913, the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park was designed by the contest’s second-placer Swiss sculptor Richard Kissling, who got to do the project after the winner, the Italian sculptor Carlo Nicoli, was disqualified because of his overpriced project proposal, said NHCP’s senior history researcher Rommel R. Aquino.

Kissling’s winning project was called the “Motto Stella” or “Guiding Star,” which was unveiled to the public on the National Hero’s 17th death anniversary.

The nation will celebrate the 121st Rizal Day on Dec. 30 this year.

Kärcher said it would donate the cleaning machine after the Rizal Monument project was completed so the NHCP could use it. Kärcher’s country manager Zurich Fernandez recommends a quarterly cleansing of the landmark. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Retooled Alaska Aces begin ‘redeem’ season

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAD it rough in Season 42 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Alaska Aces are looking to redeem themselves in the just-started 43rd edition of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

The Aces, retooled with new additions in its roster and coaching staff, begin their campaign in the season-opening Philippine Cup today against the Magnolia Hotshots in the scheduled main game at 7 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Serving as an appetizer to the game is the joust between Kia Picanto and NLEX Road Warriors at 4:15 p.m.

Labored for much of last season that saw it failing to advance to the playoff round in the last two conferences and had to endure a 14-game losing streak spanning two conferences and five months, Alaska now hopes to start fresh and make its way back to the high level of competitiveness that the league has gone accustomed to seeing from it.

Joining the Aces this season are rookies Jeron Teng and Davon Potts, who the team picked in last October’s draft. Free-agent Ronald Pascual has also been signed up.

They are joining the Aces core of Calvin Abueva, Chris Banchero, JVee Casio, Carl Bryan Cruz, Vic Manuel, Simon Enciso, Kevin Racal and Sonny Thoss as they try to turn things around this year.

Also part of the team now is the coaching trio of Eric Altamirano, Danny Ildefonso and Tony dela Cruz, joining the staff of head coach Alex Compton and replacing erstwhile deputies Louie Alas and Topex Robinson who are now with the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters.

“I’m excited for the start of the new PBA season. Last year was a tough one for us and hopefully we get to bounce back this around,” said Alaska coach Compton in the lead-up to the start of the Philippine Cup.

“Key for us is to regain our identity as a defensive team, bringing back the ferocity and toughness that helped us previously,” he added.

NEW NAME
Meanwhile, the newly named Hotshots are also looking to set their own campaign to a good start.

Now playing under the Magnolia brand of San Miguel Foods, Inc., the Hotshots intend on building on it as an inspiration.

“This only inspires us to be better. I’m happy with the roster with have right now. And I’m sure they are happy as well to play under Magnolia,” said Hotshots coach Chito Victolero, whose squad used to play under Purefoods Star.

Marc Pingris and Paul Lee are once again tasked to lead the team, which made it to the semifinal round of each of the three conferences last season.

Rookies Robbie Herndon and Gwyne Capacio are also now part of the team, which still has Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang and Aldrech Ramos in the roster.

“We expect to continue to have our work cut out for us. We have been preparing our players and hopefully we stay healthy to be able to compete. I trust my players and I am very positive that we can compete with anybody,” Mr. Victolero said.

Exiled for his sense of humor, poet Ovid has last laugh

ROME, ITALY — Two thousand years after being banished from Rome, Ovid has been rehabilitated in a victory for the famous poet whose cheek riled one of history’s most powerful emperors.

Rome council unanimously approved a motion to “repair the serious wrong” suffered by Ovid, best known for his Metamorphoses and Ars Amatoria, or the Art of Love, who was exiled by the Emperor Augustus to Romania in the year AD 8.

The reason for his banishment to the town of Tomis on the Black Sea coast is one of literature’s biggest mysteries, as there are no surviving contemporary sources which give details about it, so all historians have is Ovid’s word.

The poet rather cryptically claims it was due to “carmen et error,” or “a poem and a mistake” — the poem being the “Ars Amatoria,” a subversively witty poem instructing men how to get and keep a girlfriend.

Augustus is assumed to have been less than pleased, having recently passed a series of laws against adultery.

AN 1887 statue by Ettore Ferrari commemorating Ovid’s exile in Tomis (present-day Constanta, Romania). — WIKIPEDIA

SCANDAL IN THE SENATE
“Although the poem doesn’t overtly advocate adultery, it sails quite close to the wind,” Rebecca Armstrong, a Fellow in Classics at Oxford University, told AFP.

“It definitely displays an irreverent tone towards traditional moral attitudes as well as the emperor and his family.

“For example, Ovid recommends several of the public monuments built by Augustus and his family as excellent spots to pick up girls,” she said.

It is unlikely to have been the poem alone that angered Augustus enough to drive Ovid out, as it was published several years before he was sent away.

But after irritating the emperor, experts believe the poet’s mysterious “error” was the last straw.

“It’s quite often suggested that it might have been something to do with the scandal surrounding Augustus’ granddaughter, Julia, who was exiled in AD 8 for an adulterous affair with a Roman senator,” Armstrong said.

The writer hated the “wild frontier” of Tomis and pleaded endlessly to be allowed to return to Rome — to no avail.

‘FROM SHAKESPEARE TO DYLAN’
He did not help himself by partly apologizing for the “Ars Amatoria” in the poem “Tristia II,” but “making it clear that he believes Augustus to be an unsophisticated reader of poetry and someone who can’t take a joke.”

“An interesting strategy for someone hoping to be recalled!” Armstrong said.

The decision to revoke Ovid’s exile comes on the 2,000th anniversary of the poet’s death in AD 17. It was approved Thursday in the presence of officials from the poet’s hometown of Sulmona in central Italy.

Rome said it had restored “the freedom and dignity” of a man who had “inspired writers of calibre such as Dante, Boccaccio, Shakespeare, Joyce, Kafka and Pope, as well as modern artists such as Bob Dylan.”

Ovid is not the only famous figure to whom Italy has recently apologized: In 2008 Florence asked forgiveness for persecuting the poet Dante, who fled into exile after he was sentenced to death for his political beliefs.

Armstrong said she thought Ovid “would have been pleased” by the ruling, particularly “by the knowledge that people care who he was and are still reading his poetry so many years later.”

And not only has his jocular guide to dating been avenged, he may also have pulled one of the biggest pranks in history.

Most critics are dubious, but “on the basis that there is so little evidence available, some have even argued that Ovid was never exiled at all, and that his exile poetry is, rather, a kind of experimental literature.” — AFP

P2 billion set for 52 tourism road projects in Region 6

ABOUT P2 billion has been allocated for 52 tourism road projects in Western Visayas for 2018. The infrastructures will form part of the road convergence program of the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways. DoT Region 6 Director Helen J. Catalbas said of the total projects, 22 will be in Iloilo. “In a list of the national expenditure programs of the Office of the President released during the budget hearing, 52 road projects are included in Region 6,” she said. Ms. Catalbas said the projects are among the priority programs of the regional office next year. “We want to provide easier access to our roads leading towards our tourist destinations located in far-flung areas, especially in mountainous areas,” she said. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Celtics edge Pacers on Rozier’s steal and layup

LOS ANGELES — Terry Rozier’s steal and layup with 1.2 seconds remaining Monday gave Boston a 112-111 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers after the Celtics squandered a 19-point lead.

Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with 30 points while Al Horford scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and passed off nine assists.

Jayson Tatum contributed 16 points and Marcus Smart added 15 and the Celtics made their first 10 shots and improved the best record in the Eastern Conference to 26-7.

“That was one hell of a of a game to be a part of,” Irving said.

Victor Oladipo led the Pacers (17-14) with 38 points, 30 in the second half. His 3-pointer and layup on back-to-back possessions gave Indiana a five-point edge with 31 seconds to play.

An Irving 3-pointer pulled Boston within 110-109 with nine seconds remaining. Rozier followed by intercepting a Bojan Bogdanovic pass intended for Oladipo and raced the opposite way for the winning layup.

“It’s a tough, tough loss,” Oladipo said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win and we competed with the best team in the Eastern Conference. We can be that good. We just have to keep on getting better.”

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook scored a season-high 38 points on 16-of-28 shooting from the floor and sank the winning free throw after being fouled later in the host Thunder’s 95-94 victory over Denver.

The Houston Rockets stretched their win streak to 14 games with a 120-99 rout of visiting Utah as Eric Gordon scored 33 points, making a career-high seven 3-pointers, and James Harden added 26 points, six rebounds and six assists with Chris Paul contributing 18 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

Rockets center Clint Capela returned from injury and had 24 points and 20 rebounds while Rodney Hood led Utah with 26 points.

Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler, who scored 37 points, hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left and Damian Lillard missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer as the host Timberwolves held off Portland, 108-107. Lillard had 17 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds while Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum each scored 20 for the Trail Blazers.

Nikola Mirotic and Kris Dunn each scored 22 points and Justin Holiday added 20 to power the host Chicago Bulls to their sixth consecutive victory, a 117-115 triumph over Philadelphia. Dario Saric led the 76ers with 27 points while Australian rookie star Ben Simmons added 19 points.

Kent Bazemore’s two late baskets among his 16 points halted a Miami rally as the host Atlanta Hawks beat the Heat, 110-104. Taurean Prince matched a career high with 24 points and Dennis Schroder added 21 for the Hawks. Josh Richardson had 26 points for Miami.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points and Tony Parker added 16 as the San Antonio Spurs cruised past the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 109-91 while T.J. Warren scored 19 points and Isaiah Canaan added 17 to power the Phoenix Suns over host Dallas, 97-91.

At Charlotte, reserve Frank Kaminsky scored 24 points and the host Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 109-91 victory over New York. — AFP

LPA east of Mindanao being monitored as storm Urduja exits

A LOW pressure area (LPA) located 1,710 kilometers east of Mindanao as of Tuesday morning could possibly enter the Philippine area today, Dec. 20, according to weather bureau PAGASA. This LPA was earlier forecasted to likely develop into a storm, but has since weakened. Meanwhile, tropical storm Urduja (international name: Kai-Tak) exited the country yesterday, leaving at least 40 people dead and a still undetermined number of missing with the count up to at least 45, based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s report yesterday. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, for its part, said some 11,670 families or 53,448 individuals were still staying in 365 open evacuation centers in Regions V, VIII, and Mimaropa as of Tuesday.

10 stocking stuffers for motorists

By Kap Maceda Aguila

CHRISTMAS is right around the corner and you’re still clueless about what to give your friends and family? Well, if they drive their own set of wheels, that’s a good lead right there. Here are a few essentials that motorists will definitely appreciate getting.

DASHBOARD CAMERA
Protect yourself from imbeciles on the road claiming it was your fault. Procure a quality dash camera like the DDPAI M4 for added peace of mind. The wireless product is easy to install via a magnetic interface, and even provides a social community platform for “users to share videos and photos on the road.” If you’re looking for bare functionality, we suggest to at least get a unit that returns good images even at night.

CUBBY/ORGANIZER
As we are spending an inordinate amount on the road, some of our cars have now become our veritable bedroom — and sometimes in a bad way. Lugging a lot of our stuff (including on-the-go munchies) into the vehicle often means a lot of mess. Get an organizer for your friends. There are ones that hang from the back of the seats, or tray-type products that can be slid under the driver or passenger seat. Trunk organizers are also a good idea, as with the slim pockets that slide beside the car seat and prevent items from falling into the virtual twilight zone that’s just (almost) impossible to reach.

CAR WAX
This is perfect for DIY-ers who prefer to wax their own car. Caveat: Make sure that it’s the type he/she wants; fish for information.

CLEANING CLOTHS
Who wouldn’t love a pristine set of cleaning cloths? Go for the soft, non-abrasive microfiber type that won’t scratch exterior and interior surfaces.

CAR VACUUM CLEANER
Neat freak or not, friends or family members will surely appreciate a portable vacuum cleaner. There’s actually a dearth of these lifesavers that conveniently draw power from the 12-volt socket of the car. Choose one from a reputable maker so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

AIR IONIZER
This helps fight those undesirable odors in the vehicle — destroying them, instead of masking the stink like ordinary air fresheners do. A good-quality ionizer will also neutralize mold, bacteria and viruses. Now, isn’t that just wonderful?

DETAILING SESSION
Show your beloved just how much you care by taking him/her to the local detailing shop for some precious pampering for the auto.

STEREO HEAD UNIT
You don’t really have to break the piggy bank if you choose wisely. Take advantage of yuletide offers on slightly older (but quality) models. Should you have some funds left over, use them to upgrade speakers, too. Your motorist will love you for it.

PILLOWS
How about a neck pillow, or one that a driver can slip behind his/her lower back? These are crucial areas that need support as driving-related pain is on the rise from all the hours we’re logging behind the wheel.

PHONE MOUNT
Unobtrusive phone holders have now become a must — especially with the implementation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Law. Get the type that relies on a strong magnet and can be easily installed outside the line of sight.

Russian firms plan Surigao mineral processing investments

TWO RUSSIAN COMPANIES are planning to put up mineral processing plants in the Surigao provinces, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said.

MGB officer-in-charge Wilfredo G. Moncano told reporters on Tuesday that the bureau expects final signing with one of the companies signed by January. He did not identify the companies nor specify where in the Surigao region the plants will be built.

“Actually, the first signing was with one [Russian] mining company —  I do not want to mention the name — in October and [another] to sign early January,” he said.

Mr. Moncano said a mineral processing facility typically costs about $200 million, but the two Russian investments could be worth $600 million.

Mr. Moncano also said there have been other expressions of interest from Australian companies.

“We want [the investments to go into mineral] processing [because] that’s what the President has said,” he added.

Mr. Moncano said he expects the mining industry to bounce back in 2018, noting that the first half of the year prior to the appointment of the current Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu was an “unstable” period for the industry.

“I would expect that there would be increase in production, I would also expect that there would be major issues on mining that would be solved, I am very confident [it can be achieved].” — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Glass protegee finds music’s emotion in technology

NEW YORK — Wearing a dress made of 100 speakers might seem to be a fashion statement. But for composer Pauchi Sasaki, the aesthetic goes deeper — it is a way to express humanity.

The Peruvian artist and chosen protegee of Philip Glass, one of the world’s most influential living composers, had first covered herself with amplification equipment when she played her violin in the ancient Pachacamac temple near Lima and found herself without an electrical outlet.

She has since developed the concept into the “speaker dress,” a shoulder-to-knee wall of 100 speakers the size found on shelf stereos, and made it an instrument itself.

She performed on speaker dress as she recently premiered her latest piece, GAMA XVI, in the presence of Glass at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

“I realized that it had a very iconic power and people want to reduce the object and say, ‘Oh, that looks cool,’” Sasaki said of the speaker dress.

“But I really wanted to bring out the spirit of the instrument because every instrument, like a violin or a piano, has a spirit,” she told AFP.

The speaker dress does not in itself have an acoustic capacity; it is connected to programming by Sasaki.

Yet she plays it with pitch, tone, and intensity variations like a classic instrument, with a mouthpiece or physical touch triggering software, which in turn sends back processed sounds to speakers on her body.

She finds the layer of computerization especially apt for the 21st century, when so many human experiences and interactions are filtered through smartphones, speakers, or other technology.

“I don’t create an object that makes things; I build extensions for human gestures,” she said.

“I want to be able to deliver nuances through the instrument. And what I mean with that is that human emotion is not only about randomness or about will, it’s also about fragile moments, it’s about doubt and it’s about strength — a wide range.”

The speaker dress was all too real the first time she performed it — her hair caught fire. She has since fine-tuned the wiring and is confident about its safety.

YEAR WITH GLASS
Sasaki has composed film scores in Peru and worked extensively in Japan, where she traces her ancestry, and had been considering an academic career until a year ago.

Then, under a mentorship program sponsored by luxury watchmaker Rolex, she was selected to spend a year in New York studying with Glass, who interviewed her to make the final cut.

Performing GAMA XVI, her new work, at Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra, Sasaki explored not only the physicality of her instrument but also that of her performance.

Sasaki entered the hall from the back, with the initial blurt from the speaker dress causing much of the audience to look around in befuddlement, fearing perhaps that someone had not turned off a cellphone.

Instead, Sasaki slowly made her way to the stage, the electronic sounds and the strings gradually merging together into a nebulous unison, with flickering projections of slender rectangles reinforcing the sense of being in a space out of time.

By the third movement, in a structural nod to Glass, GAMA XVI builds into full balance as a melody emerges, a repeating motif inspired by Andean folk music played by violin soloist Tim Fain.

Glass, addressing the audience after the premiere, described Sasaki’s compositions as “music that people should hear.”

“It’s work that’s inspired, it’s very natural and it has its own sound. You can’t be taught to write that music,” the composer said.

Glass credited his own musical relationship in the 1960s with sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar as critical to his career. But the 80-year-old composer said he was still figuring out how to be a mentor.

“I suppose that I never doubted her or her talent,” he said of Sasaki. “But I doubted my ability to do anything about it.” — AFP

SNAP to add 500 MW in capacity by 2027

THE SN ABOITIZ Power (SNAP) group is looking to add 500 megawatts (MW) to its existing installed power capacity by 2027 as it plans to build new hydroelectric power plants in northern Luzon, while studying the commercial viability of solar energy and battery storage.

“We’d like to add 500 MW by 2027,” Joseph S. Yu, SNAP president and chief executive officer, told reporters. “We’d like to think we’re strong in the north.”

“One of the tough things for hydro is it’s a seven to 10 years gestation. During those seven to 10 years, so many things can happen in terms of policy, market pricing, how many new plants get built. So it’s a fairly risky endeavor,” he said.

SNAP currently has at least 600 MW of installed capacity, more than half of which comes from SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. The unit owns and operates the 380-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant at the border of Isabela and Ifugao. Its 8.5-MW Maris Main Canal 1 hydroelectric power plant started commercial operation in November.

Another unit, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc., owns and operates the 105-MW Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant in Bokod and the 140-MW Binga hydro plant in Itogon.

Mr. Yu said the company came up with the 500-MW target in part from the forecast demand in the next 10 years.

“It’s really a feel of where the market is going and what would be a reasonable yet aggressive market position for SNAP in 2027. So you draw a line and you pick a point and say that’s where we are going to aim,” he said.

Asked about the capital outlay for the additional capacity, Mr. Yu cited a $3-million to $4-million cost per megawatt or a total of around $1.75 billion for the 500 MW.

Mr. Yu said SNAP was also looking at venturing into other renewable energy sources, specially solar power, although the assessment is at “very early stages.”

“If you look at where the industry is going, if you look at the prices of [solar] panels and where it’s gone, it’s becoming increasingly more and more competitive,” he said. “As this evolves at some point, solar is going to become a very big force in the generation mix.” — Victor V. Saulon