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Skidding Hotshots seek to reverse losing trend

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAVING lost their last two games in the PBA Philippine Cup, the Magnolia Hotshots are out to reverse the trend and get back to winning when they take on the GlobalPort Batang Pier today in the 7 p.m. main game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Winners of five straight matches in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) tournament at one point, the Hotshots (6-3) have hit a road block and dropped two consecutive matches which have stymied their assault on a top two finish in the eliminations and earn the twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it in the next round.

Magnolia lost to the defending champions San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in that order with the last one coming last weekend in an out-of-town contest in Pangasinan.

The Hotshots never really got much headway in said match, trailing the E-Painters throughout en route to a 101-95 defeat.

Aldrech Ramos paced Magnolia against Rain or Shine with 27 points with Rome Dela Rosa and Jio Jalalon chipping in 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Mark Barroca was the other Hotshots player who scored in double-digits with 10 points.

“We have to have the proper mind-set heading into the playoffs. Our goal is to get to the top two and to achieve that we have to stay focused in our games,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero as they hit the homestretch of their elimination round campaign where they are currently in joint second place with the idle Alaska Aces (6-3), behind league-leading San Miguel (6-2).

SHORT TURNAROUND
Looking to keep the Hotshots grounded are the Batang Pier, who are playing in a short turnaround after playing their last game on Wednesday, a win over the TNT KaTropa, 99-84.

The win improved GlobalPort to 4-4, in good position to claim a playoff spot with three games remaining in its elimination round schedule.

Guard Nico Elorde had a solid all-around game in the win finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Stanley Pringle had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds while Bradwyn Guinto and Yousef Taha added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“The players really want to enter the playoffs and this win certainly helps our push. We started aggressively and made sure to make it hard for TNT by being physical on defense,” said winning coach Pido Jarencio of the mind-set they had last time around.

Meanwhile in the opener at 4:30 p.m., the Blackwater Elite (3-5) and Kia Picanto (1-7) tussle.

The Elite, who had a good start to the conference before stumbling midway, will try to save their campaign by winning as many games as possible in their remaining assignments, hoping to book a spot in the tail end of the playoff race.

Kia, for its part, tries to wiggle out from a three-game losing streak and earn a respectable finish in yet another rebuilding campaign in the PBA.

Also today the voting for the PBA All-Star Game begins both online and in various PBA playing venues.

The first phase of the voting ends after the semifinals of the Philippine Cup and resumes thereafter until the first week of the eliminations of the Commissioner’s Cup.

Just like last year, the PBA All-Star festivities will be island-hopping from May 23 to 27 with events set in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Winter Olympians Martinez, Miller plunge into action

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

PHILIPPINE bets in the ongoing 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, plunge into action in their respective disciplines in events set for this weekend.

Figure skater Michael Martinez, a returning Winter Olympian, will compete in the men’s single skating event set for 9 a.m. today where he hopes to go far and improve on his 19th place finish in the last Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

Mr. Martinez, 21, got into the PyeongChang Games by way of a late call-up following the pullout of Sweden’s Alexander Majorov for the quadrennial games.

His name was inserted in on the strength of finishing eighth in the final Olympic qualifier in September last year at the Nebelhorn Trophy Competition.

The finish was just a spot away from advancing as the top seven in the tournament earned Olympic berths.

Despite given the short notice, Mr. Martinez expressed readiness to compete as he has been training consistently with his coach and choreographer in the United States.

He also vowed to give his best as he represents the country anew.

The other Filipino bet, Alpine skier Asa Miller, will see action on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the men’s giant slalom.

Run 1 of the event is set for 9:15 a.m. while Run 2 is at 12:45 p.m.

This marks the first time that Filipino-American Miller will represent the country in the Olympics.

The 17-year-old Miller, who resides in Portland, Oregon, and traces his roots to Manila by a Filipino mother, competed in last year’s Junior World Championships in Sweden and is using the Olympic Games to further carve his niche as an Alpine skier.

For Philippine chef de mission to the PyeongChang Games Tomas C. Carrasco, to have two representatives in this year’s Olympics from one last time around (Martinez) is a great achievement for a tropical country like the Philippines.

“In 2014, we had only one participant and to have two now from a tropical country is very significant because it shows we are expanding our horizons and going to the Winter Games,” said Mr. Carrasco in an interview with BusinessWorld prior to their departure.

He was quick to say though that they have tempered expectations, recognizing that this is still part of the early steps for the Philippines in its Winter Games journey.

“We’re not really expecting much but what we are hoping to get from it is the experience and long-term development of our athletes especially those like Asa. We are actually surprised that we have an athlete competing in Alpine skiing. Hopefully they could inspire more young athletes to develop their talent and compete for the country,” the chef de mission said.

Filipinos can see Messrs. Martinez and Miller in action over ESPN5.

Netflix, Amazon billions lure Hollywood hitmakers to jump ship

NETFLIX, INC.’s surprise $300-million deal to poach Ryan Murphy from 21st Century Fox, Inc. shows just how easy it’s getting for rich tech companies to steal Hollywood’s top talent.

Netflix, which released its first original series just six years ago, has now lured two of the most successful producers in TV — Murphy and Shonda Rhimes — from two of the industry’s most valuable companies. Rhimes, the producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, bolted from Walt Disney Co.’s ABC in August.

No longer content to license shows from other media companies, Netflix and fellow technology giant Amazon.com, Inc. are throwing money at Hollywood’s top talent to lure them away from those studios. They are upending the TV business in the process, driving up the cost of talent and weakening many of the traditional powers.

Hollywood studios have endured threats from outsiders before, but the list of talent making the jump grows by the day.

HORROR STORY
Netflix, with an annual budget of $8 billion, is paying Murphy, the producer of American Horror Story, about $300 million over five years to make shows and movies for the streaming service. The money will support overhead for Ryan Murphy Productions along with his fees for writing, directing and producing.

Murphy was in the process of negotiating a new deal at Fox when Disney agreed to buy its crosstown rival for more than $52 billion. Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger made a personal call to Murphy, assuring him that “the reason Disney was interested in buying Fox is they believed in the assets and the executives and their creators,” the producer recalled. “He was very sweet and transparent and kind.”

SHONDALAND
Rhimes was the biggest name to leave traditional TV for streaming when she announced she was signing a long-term deal with Netflix. She’d worked at ABC for more than a decade, becoming one of the few showrunners and TV writers known to the public.

Rhimes is also one of the few prominent black showrunners in Hollywood, and has led the way in creating more diversity onscreen. Netflix gave her more than $100 million to ease the transition in a multiyear deal.

ZOMBIES
Robert Kirkman, the creator of cable TV’s biggest hit, The Walking Dead, signed a two-year deal with Amazon last August, days before Netflix announced its deal with Rhimes. Amazon spent an estimated $4.5 billion on video programming last year and plans to increase its budget this year. Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won the Golden Globe award for best TV comedy.

MILLARWORLD
Netflix knows its customers love comic book movies and TV shows thanks to a pair of deals with Disney, owner of Marvel Studios. So last year it acquired the company that published graphic novels Wanted and Kick-Ass, both of which were adapted into hit movies for Universal Pictures.

Netflix and Millarworld founder Mark Millar will jointly produce films, series, and children’s shows based on comic-book characters for the streaming service, while the publisher will also continue to make comics under the Netflix label. The streaming service will turn some of Millar’s other creations into film and TV properties that can replace Marvel when its deal with Disney ends.

NEW GOLDEN BOY
Shawn Levy rose through the ranks of Hollywood by directing comedy films for major studios, including Cheaper by the Dozen and Night at the Museum. Yet he has since been reborn as one of the hottest producers in TV thanks to Stranger Things, the surprise Netflix fantasy hit. The streaming service locked up Levy’s TV business last year, and now funnels all kinds of high-concept projects his way.

Amazon has also allied itself with Sharon Horgan, the British comic and actress who created its critically beloved comedy Catastrophe. Though Horgan has a show on HBO (Divorce), Amazon gets first dibs on all future work. — Bloomberg

Arellano and San Beda begin best-of-three NCAA women’s volleyball finals

THE defending champions Arellano Lady Chiefs and San Beda Lady Red Spikers get their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 93 women’s volleyball championship encounter going with Game One of their best-of-three series today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

After two rounds of competitive play, left standing are the Lady Chiefs and Lady Red Spikers, who incidentally were the top two teams at the end of the elimination round with identical 8-1 cards.

The two teams had twice-to-beat advantages in the Final Four but saw no need to use them as they dispatched their respective opponents at the first instance last week.

Arellano is making its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA finals and is looking to come out triumphant anew.

The Lady Chiefs had it dominant from the start of Season 93, winning their first seven matches before being derailed by the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers in their penultimate outing in the elimination round.

They faced the Jose Rizal University Lady Bombers in the semifinals, defeating the latter in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20 and 25-17, to barge into the finals.

Setter Sarah Verutiao stepped up for Arellano in the win, dishing out a career-best 39 excellent sets.

Leading the way for the Lady Chiefs, meanwhile, was Regine Arocha with 15 points, 12 coming from spikes, to go along with 15 digs and five excellent receptions.

“We will try our best to defend the title. San Beda is making its first appearance in the finals and we are sure they want to win and we have to be ready for them,” said Arellano coach Obet Javier.

FIRST-TIMERS
On the part of San Beda, its debut finals appearance in the NCAA is something it is taking with special pride as it sees it as a product of their collective effort.

“This is the product of the team’s hard work. This team endured a lot of things,” said San Beda coach Messio Gavino after they booked a ticket to the championship.

The Lady Red Spikers won six straight to start their campaign until they were stopped by Arellano.

They immediately picked up the pieces and won their last two assignments in the classification phase before getting the better of the Perpetual Help Lady Altas in the semifinals in three sets, 25-21, 25-15 and 25-23.

San Beda drew strength from twins Maria Nieza and Maria Jiezela Viray, who fired 16 and eight points, respectively, while combining for 22 digs, in the big win.

Captain Cesca Racraquin struggled but still managed to have nine hits.

Game One of the best-of-three finals between Arellano and San Beda is set for 4 p.m. It will be shown live over ABS-CBN S+A. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Taylor Swift shakes off lawsuit over hit song

LOS ANGELES — A lawsuit accusing singer Taylor Swift of stealing lyrics for her song “Shake It Off” was thrown out on Tuesday by a judge, who ruled the phrases in question were not sufficiently original to merit copyright protection.

Swift’s 2014 song reached No. 1 on the pop charts and marked her evolution from country to pop music.

Two songwriters said in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles last year that Swift’s song was based on the phrase “players, they gonna play, and haters, they gonna hate,” that they coined for a 2001 song “Playas Gon’ Play” by R&B girl group 3LW.

Swift’s lyrics from the chorus of “Shake It Off” are, “the players gonna play, play, play, play, play, and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.”

Attorneys for Swift asked US District Judge Michael Fitzgerald in January to dismiss the case.

“In order for such short phrases to be protected under the Copyright Act, they must be more creative than the lyrics at issue here,” Fitzgerald ruled, according to court papers.

The songwriters who sued Swift — Sean Hall and Nathan Butler — did not allege Swift’s song stole musical elements, the judge said, and phrases about players and haters existed in pop culture before 2001.

“In short, combining two truisms about playas and haters, both well-worn notions as of 2001, is simply not enough,” the judge said in his ruling.

The judge left the door open for Hall and Butler to file a revised lawsuit.

But Gerard Fox, the attorney for the two songwriters, said he had no intention to file an amended complaint and would instead appeal Fitzgerald’s ruling to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Fitzgerald made a mistake by assessing the originality of the lyrics for himself, instead of relying on experts, Fox said.

“He cannot make himself an expert in the music industry, I‘m sorry it’s actually embarrassing,” Fox said.

A representative for Swift did not immediately return a call or e-mail seeking comment.

Hall is a songwriter and producer for artists such as Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, and Butler has worked with artists such as Backstreet Boys and Luther Vandross.

Swedish producer and songwriter Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster, another Swede who is known professionally as Shellback, are credited as co-writers, along with Swift, on “Shake It Off.” — Reuters

DeAndre Jordan stars as Clippers down Celtics

LOS ANGELES — DeAndre Jordan scored a career-high 30 points as the Los Angeles Clippers sent the Boston Celtics spinning to a fourth defeat in five games with a 129-119 victory at the TD Garden on Thursday.

Jordan — the Clippers’ de facto team leader — produced an inspirational performance that included 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals to give his side a deserved road victory heading into the All-Star break.

The win left Los Angeles firmly in the hunt in the Western Conference playoff race, taking them to 30-26.

Boston leaned heavily on a 33-point haul from Kyrie Irving but it was not enough to stop them from a third straight loss.

The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference on 40-19, trailing the Toronto Raptors, who crushed the Chicago Bulls, 122-98, elsewhere on Thursday.

The Clippers had Boston on the back foot almost from the outset, leading by 14 points in the first half before the Celtics hit back to close within four points at 61-57 at halftime.

A see-saw second half saw the lead change hands repeatedly, with Irving firing Boston ahead with a superb three-pointer late in the third.

The Clippers, however, rattled off 10 unanswered points in the fourth to take an unassailable lead.

“We got so many guys who draw a lot of attention,” Jordan said afterwards. “I was able to roll. My teammates did a really good job of finding me tonight.

“I was just really confident tonight.”

All five of the Clippers starters cracked double figures, while Lou Williams came off the bench to deliver 19 points.

“Everybody has a job to do on this team,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to keep it up and stay healthy.”

But while the Clippers battled to a deserved win, there was no such luck for their city rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, who were demolished 139-117 by an Anthony Davis-inspired New Orleans Pelicans.

Davis conjured another hefty exhibition of scoring, pouring on 42 points with 15 rebounds and three assists to take his team to 31-26.

However, the action was overshadowed by a stormy contest which saw the Pelicans’ Rajon Rondo and the Lakers’ new signing Isaiah Thomas — former team-mates with the Boston Celtics — ejected after a fracas in the first quarter.

Lakers coach Luke Walton was also given his marching orders, sent to the locker room in the second quarter after an expletive-laden tirade at the officiating crew following a foul against Kyle Kuzma.

In other games Thursday, James Harden had 28 points as the Houston Rockets maintained their pace at the top of the Western Conference with a 100-91 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Houston are now 44-13, neck and neck with the Golden State Warriors who are playing later Thursday. — AFP

Feng shui masters predict claws out in Year of the Earth Dog

HONG KONG — As the Chinese zodiac switches into the Year of the Dog today, Hong Kong feng shui experts predict anything but a walk in the park for global leaders.

Born in another dog year, 1946, United States president Donald Trump faces a run of bad luck, according to soothsayers, as his zodiac animal clashes with 2018’s canine theme.

Feng shui — literally meaning “wind-water” — is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and carefully position items such as a cup of wine or pieces of crystal in offices and homes to maximise their luck and wealth. The philosophy says that all events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Trump’s birth date makes him a “fire dog,” but 2018 is an “earth dog” year, a mismatch of elements. The fire in Trump’s own birth chart will foment and affect his health, says feng shui master Thierry Chow, while his words — the fire element also represents speech — may bring about “real problems” and tangible consequences.

“The elements are too much fire and too much earth, so that’s going to be causing him imbalance in his fortune,” Chow told AFP.

Chow uses the “flying star” system to make her predictions based on constellation positions, foreseeing more tensions between the US and North Korea, which is afflicted by the most malevolent number five star. She also warned of the risk of crossed wires between Trump and China on the thorny issues of trade and the economy.

“The seventh star is falling onto the east side — the star affects communication, it causes gossip and misunderstanding,” says Chow.

‘DUTY AND LOYALTY’
Feng shui runs through life in Hong Kong, with many people seeking advice from masters before making important life decisions, from picking a wedding date to choosing a new home. Major companies also employ their own feng shui consultants to dictate interior designs and give investment advice.

Each year, brokerage firm CLSA comes out with its own Feng Shui Index, predicting what the next 12 months holds for the business world.

In 2018, it divined that the internet, utilities and technology sectors would perform with flying colors. All are categorized as “fire-related” industries, and will do particularly well between May and July, feng shui experts said.

However, with the city’s bourse going through a rollercoaster of highs and lows, the brokerage masters advised a cool head to navigate the earth dog market.

“The dog represents duty and loyalty and is a sign of defence and protection,” it said in its public predictions. “Entrepreneurs should stick with their most loyal clients, and investors are advised not to bite off more than they can chew.”

Away from politics and finance, Chow predicted a happy wedding for Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who will tie the knot in May.

The earth element represents royalty in the Chinese calendar and combined with the image of a candle associated with May in the traditional almanac the elements are aligned for a day of celebration.

“I think it will be very smooth — it will bring very good things to the country and good energy to the world,” Chow said of the marriage. — AFP

Manalo’s appointment explained

By Arjay L. Balinbin

FILIPINO WORKERS’ worsening conditions abroad had prompted President Rodrigo R. Duterte to appoint Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo as his special envoy for the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Thursday, Feb. 15.

According to Mr. Roque, the government and the OFWs will benefit from Mr. Manalo’s appointment because of his “established network,” saying the INC leader has existing projects that cater to both members and nonmembers of the religious group.

Mr. Roque said Mr. Manalo, as a special appointee, will not receive any compensation from the government.

The spokesman stressed that Mr. Manalo’s appointment does not violate the separation of the Church and State doctrine.

Mr. Roque also emphasized that Mr. Manalo’s appointment is not political payment (“bayad politikal”) for his role in Mr. Duterte’s election victory in 2016.

“Hindi po iyan bayad-politikal. Siguro po itong mga pangyayari ngayon na nagiging biktima ng pag-aabuso ang ating mga OFWs ay nag-udyok na maitalaga itong si Mr. Manalo,” he said.

(That is not a political payback. Perhaps, the main factor for his appointment is the current condition of our OFWs who have become victims of abuses.)

Mr. Roque also said, “I’d like to think that the long-term Filipino-Kuwaiti relations will not be affected,” in response to Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah’s remarks Tuesday that Mr. Duterte’s call to evacuate OFWs from Kuwait could damage ties between the two countries

As of this reporting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano was scheduled to meet with Kuwait’s ambassador to the Philippines.

Mr. Roque said the President’s instruction to Mr. Cayetano is to “get a commitment from the Kuwaiti government on how they will protect the Filipino nationals” who currently work in their country.

Mr. Cayetano, according to his office, is set to hold a press conference on Friday, Feb. 16, to discuss issues concerning Kuwait, including his meeting with Kuwait’s ambassador.

Where eagles dare: lagging North Korean skier wins Olympic hearts

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA — A plucky North Korean skier earned the biggest cheer of the day at the women’s giant slalom Thursday after a display that brought back fond memories of glorious Olympic no-hopers.

Kim Ryon Hwang churned her way down the PyeongChang course in a time of one minute, 40.22 seconds — just under half a minute off the top times set by Italy’s Manuela Moelgg and American Mikaela Shiffrin.

It was a performance reminiscent of British ski jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, who stole the hearts of fans around the world with his all-too-brief attempts at getting airborne during the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Roared on by around 150 of North Korea’s famed “Army of Beauties” cheerleaders sporting red and white puffer jackets and dark glasses, the 25-year-old Kim punched the air as she crossed the line in one piece.

“I was greatly supported by our cheer group,” said the diminutive North Korean.

“I had confidence that North Korea could one day compete in international competition. In the future I hope to be able to win a medal.”

North Korea is said to have just one ski resort, the brainchild of the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, although it is often empty except for the nursery slope, according to media reports.

But the secretive state has sent 22 athletes, including alpine skiers, to take part in the Olympics in South Korea as part of a charm offensive after months of bellicose rhetoric and provocative missile launches.

Of the 22, only pairs skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik reached the Olympic qualifying standard with the rest — including slalom skier Kim — getting a special invite.

North Korea’s female cheerleaders have appeared at venues, serenading local fans with nostalgic love songs being “one nation” while waving the blue unification flag.

The skier Kim is set to try again in Thursday’s second run, when she could potentially finish a combined minute outside the top times.

However, in the Olympic spirit embodied by Edwards and Equatorial Guinean swimmer Eric “The Eel” Moussambani, who clung for dear life to the pool rope at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in his first dip in a 50-meter pool, Kim will at least feel the love. — AFP

Metallica wins 2018 Polar Music Prize

STOCKHOLM — American heavy metal band Metallica was awarded Sweden’s Polar Music Prize on Wednesday, drawing a delighted response from the group which has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, publisher and manager of the Swedish band ABBA, the Polar Music Prize has become a coveted accolade in both classical and popular music. “Receiving the Polar Music Prize is an incredible thing,” said Metallica’s drummer and cofounder Lars Ulrich in a statement on the band’s Web site. “It puts us in very distinguished company. It’s a great validation of everything Metallica has done over the last 35 years. At the same time, we feel like we’re in our prime with a lot of good years ahead of us.” Previous winners of the Polar Music Prize include Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, the Kronos Quartet, Patti Smith, and Björk. The prize committee lauded Metallica for their virtuoso ensemble playing and the reach of their music. “In Metallica’s world, both a teenage bedroom and a concert hall can be transformed into a Valhalla. The strength of the band’s uncompromising albums has helped millions of listeners to transform their sense of alienation into a superpower,” the committee said. Founded in 1981 by drummer Ulrich and guitarist and singer James Hetfield, is one of the most commercially successful rock acts in history, having sold 110 million albums worldwide. Two prizes are given out each year, traditionally to one classical and one pop musician. The committee also rewarded the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and its founder Ahmad Sarmast. The winners will receive their awards, including a check of 1 million Swedish crowns ($124,000), at a gala in Stockholm on June 14. — Reuters

MIWD calls for integrated approach to address siltation at Iloilo’s main water source

ILOILO CITY — An integrated watershed program is being proposed to address the heavy siltation at the Maasin watershed, the main supply source of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

The Metro Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Corp. (MIB), a joint venture company of MIWD and private firm MetroPac Water Investments Corp., appealed for a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach in managing the watershed, which has never undergone desilting.

Engr. Rolixto V. Jodieres Jr., MIB general manager, reported that the continuous accumulation of silts has led to obstruction of raw water intake.

“Heavy siltation has reduced the raw water extracted at the dam, which affected the production of the Sta. Barbara water treatment plant,” Mr. Jodieres said in an interview.

Of the 35,000 cubic meters (cu.m.) to 40,000 cu.m. produced by the dam daily, about 1,000 cu.m. is lost due to heavy siltation, he said.

The 6,150-hectare Maasin watershed supplies 55% of potable water to MIWD.

MIWD serves around 38,000 consumers in Iloilo City and seven towns in Iloilo province.

To minimize silt flushing, MIB implemented a desilting project at the dam in May 2017 worth P3.699 million.

However, Mr. Jodieres said the situation has become alarming as the sediments replenish after three months.

“It’s like a recurring problem. If we do not take care of the environment, our supply will be affected,” he said.

Mr. Jodieres appealed to other stakeholders to provide assistance, may it be technical or financial.

MIWD General Manager Imelda T. Magsuci, in the same interview, said there are three present issues that the watershed is facing: siltation, water quality, and sustainability.

While a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) already exists, Ms. Magsuci said they are proposing a multi-sectoral integrated watershed program, which is seen as a long-term approach to the problem.

MetroPac Water is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Robinsons Land to open three office buildings this year

ROBINSONS LAND Corp. (RLC) plans to open three new office buildings this year, as it targets to end 2018 with around half a million square meters (sq.m.) in leasable space.

Scheduled to open this year are Exxa and Zeta Towers, located inside RLC’s 30-hectare IT park called Bridgetowne in C-5 Road, Ugong Norte, Quezon City. 

The company on Thursday topped off the Zeta Tower, which will be operational by the second half of the year. At 20 storeys, Zeta offers around 35,000 sq.m. of leasable space. Around 3,000 to 4,000 sq.m. is allotted for retail space on the ground level, open to a total of 20 food and service outlet tenants.

Meanwhile, RLC is currently finishing construction of the Exxa Tower. The building is similar to Zeta, with 20 storeys and a floor plate of 2,489 sq.m.

Also set to open this year is the Cyberspace Gamma, located along Topaz and Ruby Roads in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The tower stands 37 storeys high and will be connected to the company’s other building in the area, Cyberspace Beta.

All the buildings are registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Rental rates in the office buildings will average P750 per sq.m., which the company said is in line with current prevailing rates in Quezon City.

“(We are targeting) BPOs (business process outsourcing), offshore, outsourcing industry, plus serviced offices and traditional offices,” RLC General Manager for the Office Buildings Division Faraday D. Go told reporters after the topping off ceremony for Zeta Tower on Thursday.

With the three towers having a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of 113,000 sq.m., RLC will end 2018 with 518,000 sq.m. under its portfolio, with 20 operating office buildings. This is 28% higher than the 405,000-sq.m. GLA the company had in 2017.

RLC has also lined up five more office developments in Bridgetowne IT park in the coming years. The company is currently completing the fourth tower in the project called Giga, and is now planning to launch three more.

“With this park it’s very close to the east, that’s Antipolo, Cainta, Pasig… Marami silang talent na makukuha from here (They can recruit a lot talent from the area). That’s why it’s preferred by a lot of BPOs (business process outsourcing companies). And the accessibility here, it is very convenient because there’s a lot of public transport right along Ortigas and C-5,” Mr. Go said, adding the location serves as an alternative to the Ortigas business district.

Mr. Go said they are looking to build office towers in the provincial areas as well.

“We are looking at provincial sites in VisMin (Visayas and Mindanao), and also in North Luzon and South Luzon,” Mr. Go said.

The office segment accounted for P2.14 billion or 14% of RLC’s total revenues for the January to September period in 2017.

RLC’s net income attributable to the parent stood at P4.57 billion in the first nine months of 2017, slightly higher than the P4.5 billion recorded in the same period in 2016, as revenues dipped 2% to P16.6 billion during the period.

Shares in RLC lost 65 centavos or 3.15% to finish at P20 each at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday. — Arra B. Francia

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