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NLEX Road Warriors out to ‘repair’ Philippine Cup bid

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAVING seen their promising start to the PBA Philippine Cup do an about-face of late, the NLEX Road Warriors are out to do some “repair” and get back on the winning track when they hit the court anew today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After winning two straight to open their campaign in the season-opening conference of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Road Warriors (2-3) have slumped to three losses in a row, sending them a couple of rungs back in the race.

It is a trend they hope to stop when they collide with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their matinee match at 4:30 p.m. to get back in the swing of things and put themselves on better footing to compete moving forward.

The most recent of the losses of Yeng Guiao-coached NLEX was dealt by the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, 109-98, last Friday in a match that was highly competitive that turned chippy in the end.

The Road Warriors fought well throughout the contest, keeping in step with the Beermen and even taking control in various points.

They, however, would lose their grip on the game down the stretch as San Miguel started to put added muscle to its push.

It did not help either that during that key stretch NLEX seemingly lost focus with big man Michael Miranda being ejected by kicking San Miguel guard Chris Ross on the groin.

Even Mr. Guiao had a fiery verbal altercation with Mr. Ross late in the game.

Rookie Kiefer Ravena led the NLEX thrust against San Miguel with 15 points to go along with six assists and two blocks.

Alex Mallari, JR Quiñahan and Raul Soyud had 12 points each while Mr. Miranda had 10 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks before being sent off the court.

“We have to fix our problems on both ends of the court. It must be a team effort for us as we adjust,” said Mr. Guiao as he made his assessment of the struggles they are currently having.

Out to keep NLEX with its struggles is Rain or Shine (2-3), itself still on shaky ground in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The Elasto Painters are coming off a tough 98-94 loss at the hands of the tailending Kia Picanto last Saturday and are itching to make up for it.

Rain or Shine pretty much had control of the game versus Kia but lost steps in the second half that proved to be costly.

Rookie Rey Nambatac led the Elasto Painters with 12 points, while veteran James Yap added 11 points.

Chris Tiu and Jewel Ponferada each had 10 points for Rain or Shine.

Incidentally, both NLEX and Rain or Shine will be missing the services of key players in today’s game.

The Road Warriors will be sans Mr. Miranda while the Elasto Painters will be without Raymond Almazan.

The two were meted one-game suspensions by the league — Mr. Miranda over the Ross incident in their last game and Mr. Almazan for the physical altercation he had with Kia’s Eric Camson also in their last game.

Meanwhile in the main game at 7 p.m., skidding teams Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (2-2) and Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (2-3) take on each other.

Abra congressman hurt, two police dead in grenade attack

A PHILIPPINE congressman and ally of President Rodrigo R. Duterte was slightly wounded early Thursday in a grenade attack that killed two police officers, police said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast that wounded Representative Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos, who sits in the House of Representatives for the lone district of Abra, an impoverished northern province notorious for political violence.

Thirteen other people were wounded including Mr. Bernos’s wife, La Paz town Mayor Menchie Bernos, in the explosion that police said occurred as the couple watched a pre-dawn fireworks display in La Paz, located about 350 kilometers north of Manila.

Both the congressman and his wife were treated for minor injuries before being sent home, while two wounded police officers died in the hospital, said regional police spokeswoman Carolina Lacuata.

The congressman’s office in Manila told AFP it will issue a statement later Thursday, while declining to discuss the attack.

Mr. Bernos belongs to Mr. Duterte’s ruling PDP-Laban party, the congressman’s aides said.

The wounded included the La Paz police chief and one other police officer, Ms. Lacuata said in a statement.

She said police investigators found two hand grenade levers at the crime scene, though it was unclear if there was more than one explosion.

A study conducted by Manila-based Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism listed 31 Abra politicians murdered allegedly by gunmen hired by rival politicians in a six-year period between 2001-2006.

The most prominent of the victims was Representative Luis Bersamin, Jr., whose House seat Mr. Bernos now holds.

Mr. Bernos’s older brother, Ysrael Bernos, was also assassinated in 2006 while sitting as mayor of La Paz.

Mr. Bernos beat three rivals for the House seat in the 2016 elections. — AFP

Wozniacki to meet Halep at Australian Open finale

MELBOURNE — World number one Simona Halep quelled a tenacious Angelique Kerber fightback and saved two match points to reach her first Australian Open final with a 6-3 4-6 9-7 victory in a compelling scrap on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

A wildly unpredictable match veered one way, then the other, before Halep finally broke Kerber’s resistance to claim victory on her fourth match point when her exhausted opponent fired a backhand over the baseline.

When Halep won the first five games it seemed the expected battle royal between two of the game’s most ferocious competitors would turn into a damp squib.

But Kerber roared back and had two match points at 6-5 in a brutal deciding set before Halep turned it around with some brave hitting to seal victory in two hours and 20 minutes.

The 26-year-old plays Caroline Wozniacki in Saturday’s final when both players will be gunning for their first grand slam title and the world number one ranking.

Caroline Wozniacki is one match away from ending her Grand Slam title drought after overcoming a late wobble to beat unseeded Elise Mertens and reach the Australian Open final yesterday.

The Danish world number two won 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) in one hour 37 minutes after almost allowing the world number 37 a way back when serving for the match at 5-4, and seemingly in complete control.

Two double faults enabled Mertens, in her first semi-final at this level on her Australian Open debut, to level at 5-5.

Serving to take it to a tie-break at 5-6, Wozniacki then needed to save three set points before sealing the match in the tie-break.

“It means so much to me,” she said after reaching her maiden Australian Open final and her first Grand Slam decider since 2014, where she will play either top seed Simona Halep or the 2016 Melbourne Park champion Angelique Kerber on Saturday.

“I got really tight at 5-4. I thought ‘calm down it’s all good.’ It wasn’t good anymore. Served a couple of double faults.

“Normally I am really calm so once I started feeling really nervous, it felt like my legs were shaking a bit.

“I just took a few deep breaths and once she had set point, I said: ‘Well, I guess it is a third set. Just need to go forward.’”

Wozniacki has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors — this will be just her third Grand Slam final appearance, nine years after her first at the US Open in 2009.

The 27-year-old rose to the top of the world rankings in 2010 but has only made the title match at a Grand Slam once since then, also at Flushing Meadows in 2014.

Mertens, in only her fifth Grand Slam appearance and Australian Open debut, signaled her intent to attack from the start, standing inside the baseline to receive Wozniacki’s second serve. — Reuters/AFP

Filinvest-JG Summit proposal for Clark airport to go before ICC

THE GOVERNMENT may rule on the unsolicited proposal of Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) and JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGS) for the long-term development of Clark International Airport (CIA) by the end of the month.

Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Vice-President and Chair of the Special Bids and Awards Committee Joshua M. Bingcang said the BCDA is currently awaiting the decision of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) which will likely be ready before the month ends.

“The ICC [Investment Coordination Committee] will decide. We are awaiting the policy of the economic managers,” Mr. Bingcang said in a phone interview, though he did not discuss the recommendation of BCDA or the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

FDC and JG Summit submitted in November an P839-billion proposal for the long-term development of the airport, which includes the expansion of terminals and runways, along with the operation and maintenance of passenger terminals.

The companies also proposed to develop, operate and maintain the commercial assets of the CIA, which include facilities for general aviation and fixed-base operations, and real estate.

FDC and JGS tapped Singapore’s Changi Airports International as the technical partner for the project.

DoTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters earlier this month that the department has submitted its decision to NEDA and is awaiting the agency’s approval.

The consortium has said that its new proposal is different from its earlier P186.64-billion proposal for the expansion of CIA’s passenger terminal building.

At that time, the DoTr rejected the unsolicited proposal and opted to build the infrastructure, and bid out the operations and maintenance contract to the private sector.

The government awarded the contract for the construction of the new terminal building to the consortium of listed builder Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based airport operator GMR Infrastructure Ltd.

The consortium submitted the lowest financial proposal of P9.36 billion in an auction on Dec. 14, which is about 25% lower than the P12.55-billion auction ceiling, beating four other contenders.

Clark International Airport has long been singled out as a potential alternative gateway to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which accommodated over 39.5 million passengers in 2016, well above its 30.5 million designed capacity. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

Senator tells DFA to make public Benham Rise permit given to China

SENATOR MARIA Lourdes Nancy S. Binay has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the details of the permit given to Chinese oceanographers to conduct scientific research in Benham Rise.

“In the interest of transparency, it would be best for the DFA to share to the public the extent of the study, research and exploration of China in Benham Rise. And since it is the DFA which approves or disapproves scientific researches in both the West and East Philippine Seas, it is only appropriate if they could provide a list of all Filipino- and foreign-led expeditions in our waters since 2010,” she said in a statement Thursday.

The DFA earlier granted the request of the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) to conduct a maritime scientific research in Benham Rise together with the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).

Benham Rise became part of the Philippines’ continental shelf in 2012 following the ruling of the United Nations that the country has sovereign rights over the 13 million hectare resource-rich underwater plateau off the country’s eastern coast.

It has been renamed to Philippine Rise by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 to assert the country’s jurisdiction over the area.

Ms. Binay said her request to DFA regarding permits given for maritime research is in connection with the senate’s job to review the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreements (FTAA) entered into by the Philippine government.

She added that the Philippines must be “cautious and sparing in giving approval for explorations,” taking note that the interest of the Filipino people should be prioritized.

“Our foreign partners should first acknowledge and recognize our territorial integrity and sovereignty over our waters — and that’s non-negotiable,” she said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Skater Martinez gets last-minute call-up for Winter Olympics

FILIPINO figure skater Michael Martinez gets to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea after all. This following the late call-up he received bearing the go-ahead for him to participate.

Following the pullout of Sweden’s Alexander Majorov for the quadrennial games happening from Feb. 9 to 25 in Pyeongchang, the name of Mr. Martinez 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 earned Olympic berths.

Being the first in the “wait list” though, Mr. Martinez’s name was elevated to the roster of competitors in the Winter Games by the International Skating Union.

The Pyeongchang Games will mark the second time Mr. Martinez will compete in the Olympics after making history in Sochi, Russia, in 2014, as the first Southeast Asian to participate in the competition.

He joins alpine skier Asa Miller in the team representing the Philippines in this year’s edition of the Games.

BusinessWorld tried to reach Mr. Martinez to get his reaction on the good news but he has yet to reply as of press time.

Reports have it though that Mr. Martinez said he and his team were “happy and excited” about the chance given him and that they would not waste much time preparing to give a solid performance during the competition.

Mr. Martinez finished 19th overall in a field of 24 at the men’s figure skating event in Sochi four years ago.

He represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Malaysia and brought home a silver medal. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PHL ranks 71st out of 159 countries in freedom index

By Arjay L. Balinbin

THE Philippines ranks 71st out of 159 countries in the 2017 Human Freedom Index (HFI) by the Fraser Institute.

Based on 2015 data, the 2017 global index on personal and economic freedoms (collectively human freedom) places the Philippines with a human freedom score of 6.97 (in a range of 0-10), with personal freedom at 6.46 and economic freedom, 7.47.

The country ranks 39th in terms of economic freedom, and 104th, personal freedom.

Worldwide, the index shows Switzerland as the freest in the world, replacing Hong Kong, followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Finland, Norway, and Denmark.

According to Fred McMahon, HFI project editor, “Hong Kong’s fall from the top of the Human Freedom Index this year could indicate China is encroaching on its one-country, two-system relationship and the people of Hong Kong are materially less free because of it.”

Netherlands and United Kingdom are tied for 9th place.

HFI noted that people in freer countries earn more money than those who live in less-free countries, adding: “Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significantly higher average per capita income ($38,871) than those in other quartiles; the average per capita income in the least-free quartile is $10,346.”

This indicates that “when people are free, they have much greater opportunity to prosper,” Mr. McMahon said.

The 10 least free countries are Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Venezuela, and Syria.

The HFI is a joint project of the Fraser Institute, Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Cato Institute in the U.S.

Award winning indie film gets limited SM run

JASON PAUL Laxamana’s science fiction movie, Instalado, is playing at the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Cine Lokal theaters starting Jan. 26.

Instalado, a film set in the near future where people can install chips into their brains and gain knowledge instead of going to school, was one of the entries of last year’s ToFarm Film Festival where it won Third Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Francis Magundayao, and Best Supporting Actress for Barbara Miguel alongside several technical awards — Best Production Design and Best Sound — and the Audience Choice Award.

“I think what [Mr. Laxamana] did [with the film] was very innovative as he approached the advocacy… it was given entertainment value and novelty,” Maryo J. de los Reyes, film director and ToFarm’s festival director told the media in vernacular during a media conference on Feb. 23 at the FDCP.

He then added that he hoped that more films from the two-year-old film festival will be given screenings at Cine Lokal but acknowledged that it’s going to be the FDCP’s decision.

Another big winner at last year’s ToFarm Film Festival was What Home Feels Like by Joseph Abello which won Best Actress for Irma Adlawan, Best Director, Best Story, Best Screenplay, and Best Music.

“The concept of the film has been with me for a few years and I submitted it to various film festivals but I think the idea was a bit too far-fetched at the time,” Mr. Laxamana said at the press conference, adding that upon learning that ToFarm was accepting entries that year he decided to try and enter his film since it was about a farming city and a boy wanting to be an instalado.

The film stars McCoy de Leon alongside Junjun Quintana, Barbara Miguel, and Francis Magundayao.

Instalado will be running for a week starting this Friday in the eight Cine Lokal cinemas in SM malls: SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Bacoor, and SM Southmall.

Cine Lokal was an initiative launched by the FDCP and SM Cinemas last April, to build a culture of support for films and in order to address the difficulties of independent films when it comes to marketing and distribution.

“[Cine Lokal] is a new cinema line that will house independent, award-winning films and FDCP programs in select SM Cinema branches,” is the explanation in its official Facebook page.

Instalado will be screened starting Jan. 26 at the eight Cine Lokal cinemas at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CineLokal.ph. — Zsarlene B. Chua

Reserves Ganuelas-Rosser, Heruela play breakout game in place of injured Cabagnot

RESERVES Brian Heruela and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser waited for the perfect opportunity to come up with a breakout performance.

With veteran guard Alex Cabagnot sidelined by a foot injury, the two players plucked from the bench stepped up big time and delivered in helping the reigning three-time Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beermen in notching their fifth straight win and remaining undefeated in the tournament.

Mr. Heruela finished with 17 points, stole the ball six times and dished out five assists in 23 minutes of playing time. His overall impact in the game can be seen based on his plus-minus performance where he had a total of 25.

Long-time teammate and reigning four-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo wasn’t surprised at all with Mr. Heruela’s performance.

“He’s been doing that for a long time,” said Mr. Fajardo, who played alongside Mr. Heruela in University of Cebu. “He just needs minutes to play and showcase what he can do. He’s always ready, keeping himself in tip-top condition and Coach Leo (Austria) is aware of that.”

Mr. Austria could only agree with Mr. Fajardo as Mr. Heruela was the star of the show — for the time being.

“He stole the show from June Mar, Arwind (Santos) and Marcio Lassiter tonight,” added Mr. Austria, who hopes to see games like this one from their reserves, knowing it would take a few more weeks for Mr. Cabagnot before he gets back to action.

“According to the doctor, he will be missing three to four weeks. Probably, he’ll see action in the second week of February. We’ll do our best to fast-track his recovery, although we’re not on a rush to have him back.”

Like Mr. Heruela, Mr. Ganuelas-Rosser had his most productive game in a San Miguel uniform, finishing with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The former Gilas standout admitted he waited for this moment to happen.

“That’s how I felt, it’s only a matter of time. I always had this in me, but with Alex (Cabagnot) being down, I just have to step up. That’s what Coach (Leo Austria) is telling us. We don’t know how long Alex won’t be playing. So me, Brian (Heruela) and Von (Pessumal), everybody is waiting for our time. When our name is called, we have to play hard and step up,” said Mr. Ganuelas-Rosser.

The hardworking forward is looking to play more productive games such as this one.

“It was fun. I’m excited for the rest of the conference. This is definitely a confidence-builder for me, personally. So I just have to keep moving forward and keep getting better,” added Mr. Ganuelas-Rosser.

His performance was obviously an upgrade. Last season, the reed-thin swingman struggled to find his mark with his new squad, but is now getting himself accustomed to the scheme of the things of an overloaded squad like the Beermen.

“When they traded for me, that’s my role. Some days I’ll score, some days I won’t score. I get rebounds, get steals, get assists. I like this role. I embrace it. My teammates, they give me confidence, the coaches, they give me confidence. Management, they give me confidence. I’m super comfortable. They just let me do the things I’m comfortable with. I’m playing with the four-time MVP, that helps. It’s fun,” added Mr. Ganuelas-Rosser. — Rey Joble

Arrest warrants issued for cops in teen slays

THE CALOOCAN Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued warrants of arrest against the two police officers charged for the killing of 19-year-old Carl Angelo M. Arnaiz and 14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” D. de Guzman. The capture of Jeffrey S. Perez and Ricky E. Arquilita, both with a police officer 1 rank, was ordered for two counts of murder, three charges of planting evidence, and two counts of torture. No bail was recommended for the two cops. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

NEDA hopes aggressive RH push will reduce poverty incidence to 9%

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will submit to the President a draft Executive Order (EO) calling for the “intensive” implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act by local government units (LGUs).

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said that the more active roll out of family planning services is expected to reduce poverty beyond the government’s target.

“The intensive and extensive implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health is important. We’re going to submit that to the next cabinet meeting,” Mr. Pernia told reporters on Wednesday.

“Fully implementation” means “all LGUs and not just certain regions. So we need an Executive Order to mandate local governments to be active in implementing. There’s a demand for it especially from the poor because they have limited access to family planning services,” he added. 

The prospective order comes on top of EO No. 12 which President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed in January 2017 ordering the accelerated implementation of the RPRH by the Health department and other LGUs.

“If we do that within the term of the President we can bring down poverty. Poverty could be reduced from 19% now to 9%. That’s our preliminary estimate.”

The 9% estimate compares with the government’s 13% poverty rate target in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

Mr. Pernia said that poor families have an average of five to six children.

“Naturally there will be fewer poor not immediately but slowly. So the EO that we’re drafting will be submitted for implementation,” he said.

“It’s a very powerful tool. Reducing poverty through family planning program is the cheapest way to reduce poverty,” Mr. Pernia added. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Lav Diaz returns to Berlin with musical movie

TWO YEARS after winning the Alfred Bauer Silver Bear prize for his film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery), Filipino auteur Lavrente “Lav” Diaz, is returning to and competing in the 68th Berlinale or the Berlin International Film Festival with his newest work, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil).

“Here we are again, this electrifying feeling of completing a film after sleepless nights, rushing to complete festival and sales agent deliverables and getting ready to have the film shown in the Main Competition of one of the biggest film festivals in the world,” said Bianca Balbuena, one of the film’s producers, on her Facebook page on Jan. 22.

The Berlinale is one of the leading international film festivals alongside the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Venice International Film Festival.

Touted as a musical/rock opera shot in black and white and set during the martial law period, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw brings together actors who previously worked with Mr. Diaz, notably Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis, including Piolo Pascual, Angel Aquino, Joel Saracho, Bart Guingona, and Hazel Orencio.

Joining the ensemble are Shaina Magdayao, Pinky Amador, Bituin Escalante, Don Melvin Boongaling, Lilit Reyes, Ian Lomongo, Noel Sto. Domingo, Bradley Liew, Junji Delfino, Dub Lau, and Gan Hui Yee.

Compared to many of his films which have very long running times — Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis was over eight hours long — Ang Panahon ng Halimaw runs for three hours 50 minutes.

Mr. Diaz’s movie will be competing against 24 other films including Unsane by Steven Soderbergh.

“May this film remind you to fight for your freedom, for your voice, for your right, for your country,” said Ms. Balbuena in the same post.

This year’s Berlinale will run from Feb. 15 to 24 and will be opening with Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, a stop-motion animation film about a Japanese city filled with banished dogs and a 12-year-old who goes to the city to find his lost pet. — Zsarlene B. Chua

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