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Bourse operator’s net profit grows 18% in 2017

EARNINGS of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) grew by 18% in 2017, propped up by higher trading activity in the bourse as well as one-time gains from the sale of its Tektite office in Ortigas district.

In a statement issued Monday, the PSE said it recorded a net income of P825 million in 2017, higher than the P702 million during the same period in 2016. The PSE generated P1.63 billion in operating revenues and other income, up 10% year on year.

The PSE attributed its positive performance due to increased trading, as it saw a 3% climb in average daily turnover to P8.06 billion in 2017. The use of the PSE’s online trading platform as well as introduction of new products pushed subscription fees and market data income higher by 26% for the period.

“The Exchange’s successful execution of its major initiatives in 2017 resulted in this positive financial performance of the Company. The new products and services that were introduced provided more mechanisms for capital raising and supported our thrust of expanding the retail investor base,” PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Monzon was quoted as saying in a statement.

The PSE saw three issuances of dollar-denominated securities last year, raising $370 million for Del Monte Pacific Ltd. and Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp.

Operating income, however, dropped by 3% as less companies went public last year. To recall, four firms conducted initial public offerings in 2017: Wilcon Depot, Inc., Eagle Cement Corp., Cebu Landmasters, Inc., and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp.

This year, the bourse operator looks to introduce more products, as the guidelines for short selling is now pending with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The name-on-central-depository, creation of new indices, and launch of structured warrants and derivative products are also in the PSE’s lineup of new products for the year.

“Discussions with the SEC are on going on many of these programs to ensure that we are able to provide the most suitable model for the Philippine market,” Mr. Monzon said.

The company said it is also on track with its stock rights offering, which will bring down broker ownership in the PSE to less than 20%. The offering, set to run from Feb. 26 to March 2, is essential in moving forward with its acquisition of the Philippine Depository System Holdings Corp. (PDSHC).

“We have set even bigger targets and milestones for the Exchange in 2018. With our stock rights offering proceeding within schedule, we hope to finally get the exemptive relief from the SEC for our acquisition of PDS. The consolidation of the equities and fixed income markets will result in a bigger and more efficient capital markets for the country,” Mr. Monzon said.

This year, the PSE is moving to its new office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Together with its expected merger with the PDS, Mr. Monzon said these will lead to higher expenses for 2018.

“We are continuously studying how to restructure and rationalize the operations of PDS to enable us to realize the operating and cost synergies that can be had in this acquisition. We’re always looking for ways to improve our operating efficiencies and reduce our operating expenses,” Mr. Monzon added.  — Arra B. Francia

Film fest welcomes the new lunar year with drama, comedy, and monsters

CELEBRATE the Lunar New Year with a host of contemporary Chinese-language films at this year’s Spring Film Festival, running from Feb. 13 to 18 at the Shang Cineplex in Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City.

Now on its 12th year, the annual festival — organized by the Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies of the Ateneo de Manila University — presents six films with the aim of promoting the “Chinese language and culture in mainstream Philippine society, particularly among young Filipinos,” said Jubilee G. Ong, acting director of the Ricardo Leong Center, during the launch on Feb. 2.

Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 4.

Included in this year’s film lineup is Our Shining Days (2017) by Ran Wang. The film festival’s opening film on Feb. 13, this is a story about misfits and cosplaying outcasts who band together to form a Chinese music ensemble. What was initially a reluctant alliance slowly becomes a journey of self-discovery and, finally, a quest to revitalize the aging musical tradition.

A family-centered comedy-drama, What a Wonderful Family (2017) by Lei Huang, tells what happens to a family when the mother, after a marriage spanning 50 years, suddenly asks for divorce as her birthday present.

Walking Past the Future (2017) by Ruijun Li, is a drama about the daughter of an aging migrant worker who dreams of a better future while coping with the harsh reality in an era of drastic changes in China. In a last-ditch effort to secure her family’s future, she decides to take part in a series of highly paid medical experiments, with tragic consequences. The film won the Prize of Un Certain Regard at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival

The only musical in this year’s festival, Office (2015) by Johnnie To, sees Hong Kong megastar Chow Yun Fat playing the chairman of a billion-dollar company that is poised to go public. But as the company prepares for the IPO, company secrets are revealed as a neophyte enters the company with his youthful ideal and dreams.

Cold War 2 (2016) is the follow-up to the 2012 police thriller film by Sunny Luk and Longman Leung. The sequel, directed by Mr. Leung (without Mr. Luk) takes place after the events in the first film where the rescue operation of five police officers was deemed a partial success. Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok) who led the rescue was promoted to police commissioner. He then faces a personal crisis when his wife is kidnapped and her release is conditioned on the freedom of the leader of the criminal group involved in the previous case.

Finally, there is the fantasy film Monster Hunt (2015) by Raman Hui, about a world where monsters rule and humans fight to seize the land. Driven out after a long war, the monsters plot their return and overthrow the current monster regime, forcing the monster queen to flee. Humans get wind of a bounty on the queen’s head and the chase begins.

Aside from the Spring Film Festival, Shangri-La Plaza mall will also host a Chinese Painting Exhibit at the mall’s grand atrium on Feb. 13 featuring works by students and masters of the Ateneo Confucius Institute. The exhibit will run until the 18th and will culminate with a Chinese Painting workshop (Paint your Jeans) where Chinese traditional paintings will be done on several pairs of jeans at 2 p.m. The event is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chinese New Year on Feb. 16 will be welcomed with the annual mall-wide Chinese Dragon and Lion walkthrough starting at noon. The following day, visitors will get the chance to listen to a Chinese Music concert at 2 p.m. at the grand atrium which will include a performance by the Philippine York Lin School Chorale, among others.

For more information on, and the schedule of, the film festival and other events in celebration of the Lunar New Year, call 370-2597 to 98 or visit facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. — Zsarlene B. Chua

Want to know what’s in store in the Year of the Earth Dog?

FEB. 16 WILL be a day of lion and dragon dances, fireworks, placing a variety of round fruits on the dining table, singing “Gong Xi, Gong Xi” (the Chinese New Year song), eating tikoy (a glutinous rice cake), and, of course, getting a forecast of what’s in store for 2018 — all part and parcel of a Chinese New Year celebration in the Philippines.

In line with Resorts World Manila’s Imperial Festival celebrations for the occasion, the “world leading authority in the field of Chinese Metaphysics” and chief consultant of the Joey Yap Consulting Group, Dato’ Joey Yap will hold the Manila leg of his Feng Shui and Metaphysics world tour on Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m., at the Manila Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel Manila at Pasay City’s Resorts World Manila (RWM). Mr. Yap will discuss forecasts on health, wealth, career, and relationships, the 2018 global economic outlook, and the use of auspicious dates (for weddings, renovations, opening a business, etc.) in 2018.

“We are not fortune-tellers… we do destiny analysis,” Joey Yap Consulting Group master consultant Iverson Lee said at a press briefing on Jan. 18 at RWM’s Passion restaurant.

Mr. Lee elaborated that the practice of metaphysics guides one on how to take action to fulfill one’s destiny. “In order to become successful, [we] are not just dependent on luck alone. Luck is just one portion of the success equation. We also talk about the five formulas to success. Luck is one of them… Then, the second one is skills… We never stop learning. The third [thing] is choices. Fourth, look for strategy. Fifth, [the] environment — choosing the people we spend time with.”

Mr. Lee also added that the seminar will tackle one’s personal opportunities, and obstacles and how to solve them. “Do not underestimate what we can do in one year. It will make [a] huge impact,” he said.

A typical analysis of one’s life potential may be read using a BaZi (astrology) chart which helps one realize opportunities and focus on solutions. A personal BaZi chart may be plotted after entering one’s complete name, birthdate, and time of birth through the following link — http://bazi.masteryacademy.com/App/Basic/Default.aspx.

During the press briefing, Mr. Lee explained how to read one’s opportunities in wealth, relationship, and health. Mr. Lee said that wealth opportunities can be checked through visible animal signs in one’s chart such as the horse, ox, goat which fall under four columns — year, month, day, and hour. “The best animal sign [falls] in the month because it represents [your] career of business.”

For relationship opportunities, the animal signs are pig, snake, and rabbit. “The rabbit in 2018 represents passion in the relationship,” Mr. Lee said. As for the pig animal sign, it represents a happy event related to a relationship such as getting married, and/or having children or grandchildren. Lastly, the rooster, dog, and rat animal signs focus on maintenance on good health. “The chart does not cause you sickness… [It’s just] to notify you so you can take precaution.”

The BaZi chart may also be used to forecast the fortune of companies, businesses, and the country. For a company or business, the chart is traced from the founding date and time, while a country’s is traced from its independence date.

When asked how the practice of Chinese metaphysics is beneficial to companies, Mr. Lee told BusinessWorld that the analysis varies per the company’s department and employee designation. Mr. Lee added that it is used “to select people for the right job,” for “analysis and strategy” in the marketing department, and “to see the blind spots in the market” for the executive level.

For tickets to Joey Yap’s Feng Shui and Astrology Live Seminar 2018, visit http://joeyyap.com/fsaseminar/. For more on RWM’s Imperial Festival celebrations, visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hot line at 908-8833. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

No Pacquiao but Ancajas on right path to stardom

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FILIPINO Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas made an impressive United States debut last Sunday as he successfully defended his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight title against Mexican challenger Israel Gonzalez via a 10th-round knockout.

And as expected, much praise was thrown the Panabo City native Ancajas’ way for the dominating performance he had, with some underscoring his standing as the next biggest thing in Philippine boxing after eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

But while undeniably Mr. Ancajas is very deserving of all the success he is reaping as a prized fighter, local fight analyst Nissi Icasiano believes that boxing fans must not be too caught up with comparing Mr. Ancajas to Mr. Pacquiao and instead appreciate the former for the special boxer that he is, whose best years are still ahead of him.

“Definitely, he is not Manny Pacquiao. We should really stop the comparisons. Now that he is on the global stage, we should be happy that Jerwin Ancajas is his own man. Ancajas is more of a methodical pugilist like former Filipino champion Gerry Peñalosa. Most of the Filipino boxing fans are still used to Manny Pacquiao’s relentless style, but Jerwin Ancajas presents a different flavor,” said Mr. Icasiano when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts following Mr. Ancajas fight at the weekend in Corpus Christi, Texas.

“At the moment, I won’t change a single thing in his current stature as he is methodical and exciting. He’s not the kind of pugilist who will burn up the punch numbers. He is an enduring tactician who is most interested in getting the win. Although he maps out his victory in a systematic manner, he has a packed power in his fists that can bring his opponents to their knees,” added the analyst, who writes and talks about boxing and mixed martial arts for various media platforms in the country.

Mr. Icasiano went on to say that Mr. Ancajas’ overpowering performance against Mr. Gonzalez, who the Filipino knocked down three times during the fight, was a testimony to what he is as a fighter.

“In his title defense against Gonzalez, his methodical approach paid dividends in dismantling his challenger, consistently jabbing to stop the Mexican on his tracks and firing a series of damaging lefts straight and hooks that had Gonzalez bleeding in the nose,” he said.

“Gonzalez courageously proved that he wouldn’t easily bend against the Filipino champion. But the left hand wrote the final sentence. He is methodical in approach, but how he marinates his opponents with his surgical style adds a touch of excitement. Simply put, he is a cerebral assassin,” Mr. Icasiano added.

The analyst, however, rued that Mr. Ancajas was not able to show much of his body-punching in his latest title defense, something that he is very capable of doing, as Mr. Gonzalez chose to be more cautious to engage after being dropped in the opening round.

Nonetheless, Mr. Icasiano said it hardly diminished the scintillating performance that Mr. Ancajas had.

Moving forward, the analyst said bigger things should come for Mr. Ancajas, now sporting a 29-1-1 record after the win, after a successful first foray in the US and that his handlers should play their cards correctly.

“It’s a high time for Jerwin Ancajas to take a big step by joining HBO’s second installment of “Superfly” this year, taking on the best pugilists of the division like Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Naoya Inoue. I believe he is ready to share the squared-circle with either of the two,” Mr. Icasiano said.

Personally, though, he would like to see Mr. Ancajas take on compatriot Jonas Sultan, something that is a welcome bout considering rarely does it happen.

“I would also like to see Jerwin Ancajas face Jonas Sultan, who is IBF’s mandatory no. 1 contender. If an Ancajas-Sultan title bout pushes through, it will be the first time in nearly 93 years that two Filipinos will clash for a world boxing crown. The last all-Filipino title boxing match was in May 1925 when Pancho Villa beat Clever Sencio to retain his world flyweight championship in Manila,” he said.

Cheating encouraged in new Monopoly version

WASHINGTON — Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200: Just steal it.

A new version of the decades-old board game Monopoly encourages players to cheat, but plastic handcuffs will leave them “locked up” if they are caught.

The aim of the game remains as it has been since its creation in 1935: to become the richest player through buying properties and collecting rent.

But a recent study “revealed that nearly half of game players attempt to cheat during Monopoly games, so in 2018, Hasbro decided it was time to give fans what they’ve been craving all along,” a statement from Monopoly’s manufacturer said.

The “Cheaters Edition” will be available this autumn.

It adds 15 cheat cards covering the most common types of traditionally unsportsmanlike play such as moving tokens more spaces than allowed by the dice, avoiding rent, or stealing money from the bank.

If they can get away with it before the next players’ turn, the “cheaters” will be rewarded with Monopoly money, a hotel, or $200 from the bank.

“But get caught and you’ll pay the consequences! Pretend handcuffs will leave offenders “chained” to the board until they are released,” Hasbro says.

In another change, there is no longer a designated banker. Each player controls the central money pool during his or her turn — making it easier to pull off a heist.

While Hasbro says it “has finally decided to embrace our less-than-honest fans by encouraging them to partake in those iconic (yet sometimes unspoken) Monopoly moments,” the new version has its detractors.

“Monopoly is a horrible game,” and a cheaters’ monopoly would be even more so, Edward Castronova, a specialist in media and games at the University of Indiana, told AFP on Friday.

More broadly, the game is “a completely inaccurate simulation of real economies. If Monopoly’s model were accurate, there would only be one company in the world, instead of billions and billions.”

More than 275 million copies of Monopoly, in various versions, have been distributed in 114 countries. — AFP

Eagles soar past Pats for 1st Super Bowl title

MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time, the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions.

A Hail Mary pass attempt by Tom Brady fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired, and the New England Patriots fell to the Eagles, 41-33, on Sunday in Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Jake Elliott nailed a 48-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining to give the Eagles an eight-point edge.

Philadelphia defensive end Brandon Graham punched the ball out of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s clutches with 2:09 left, and Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett recovered the fumble.

Graham told NBC of the strip-sack, “Just kept going, you know? We said we needed a play. If we got one more opportunity, we were going to give everything we got — and I just so happened to get there.

“I’m just thankful because we’ve got a team that’s resilient. You know, we’re gonna stick around for a long time — cause we (are) world champs, baby, and it feels so good.”

Moments before Graham’s key play, tight end Zach Ertz lunged over the goal line for a touchdown with 2:21 remaining, giving the Eagles a 38-33 edge.

On the go-ahead, 11-yard scoring play, Ertz made the grab of a Nick Foles pass at the two-yard line, then dived in front of Patriots safety Devin McCourty to cross the goal line.

Replay review confirmed the score and prompted Philadelphia to go for a two-point conversion, but the attempt — a swing pass to Eagles rookie running back Corey Clement — failed.

Foles finished 28 of 43 for 337 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. Brady completed 28 of 47 passes for 505 yards and three TDs.

Clement caught four passes for 100 yards, while the Patriots had three players hit triple digits in receiving yards: Danny Amendola, eight catches, 152 yards; Chris Hogan, six catches, 128 yards, one touchdown; and Rob Gronkowski, nine catches, 116 yards, two TDs.

The 1,151 total yards in the game — 613 by New England, 538 by Philadelphia — represented an NFL record for any postseason game.

New England surged ahead, 33-32, when Gronkowski caught Brady’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 4-yard toss with 9:22 left. Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point put New England on top for the first time in the game.

The Eagles took a 32-26 lead 51 seconds into the fourth quarter on a Elliott field goal, creating a bit of breathing space after Brady threw two third-quarter TD passes.

Brady’s 5-yard scoring toss to Gronkowski and 26-yard TD pass to Chris Hogan sandwiched the Eagles’ lone third-quarter score, a 22-yard catch by rookie running back Corey Clement of a Foles throw.

The Clement catch was reviewed because he appeared to slightly bobble the ball near the back of the end zone, but the officials ruled that he had both feet inbounds with possession.

Through three quarters, the teams already had set a Super Bowl record for total yards.

A gutsy trick play on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line staked the Eagles to a 22-12 halftime lead.

Foles caught the fourth-down touchdown toss from backup tight end Trey Burton. Lined up on the left side, Burton got the ball from Clement in the backfield and threw to a wide-open Foles on the right side.

Clement ping-ponged through the Patriots’ defense to set the Eagles up for first-and-goal at the 8, and on fourth down, coach Doug Pederson went for it.

Patriots running back James White plowed through the Eagles’ defense to make it at 15-12 game with 2:04 remaining in the half, but New England missed the extra point.

Gostkowski nailed a second field goal to trim the deficit to nine.

New England regained possession when cornerback Stephon Gilmore tipped the ball away from wide receiver Alshon Jeffery at the New England 7-yard line and Patriots safety Duron Harmon secured Foles’ pass attempt.

Jeffery hauled in a 34-yard score over Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe late in the first quarter to push the Philadelphia lead to 9-3. Elliott missed the extra point.

Philadelphia received the opening kickoff and began the scoring with Elliott punching in a 25-yard field goal to cap the game-starting drive.

New England knotted the score 3-3 with 4:20 left in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Gostkowski.

Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks left the game with 12:59 left in the second quarter due to a head injury. He caught a pass over the middle, turned back to run and was hit helmet-to-helmet by Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, whom Cooks never saw coming.

Cooks was escorted to the locker room by medical personnel for New England, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The Eagles won the NFL’s championship for the first time since they beat the Green Bay Packers for the 1960 title in the pre-Super Bowl era.

New England trailed, 28-3, in Super Bowl LI last February in Houston but rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. — Reuters

Passing, receiving star Foles named Super Bowl LII MVP

MINNEAPOLIS — Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles was selected the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LII after throwing for 373 yards in leading the Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Minneapolis.

Foles capped one of the more improbable storylines for a Super Bowl MVP, completing 28 of 43 passes while also becoming the first quarterback in Super Bowl history catch a touchdown pass.

“Unbelievable,” Foles said on the field after the game. “We felt confident coming in, and we just went out there and played football. We played this game since we were little kids, we dreamed about this moment.

‘WE’RE VERY BLESSED’
Foles took over the starting job after regular-season MVP candidate Carson Wentz sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 14. Foles went 2-1 as a starter to finish the regular season, but the Eagles entered the postseason with serious question marks on offense after being shut out 6-0 by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 while Foles completed 4 of 11 passes for 39 yards and an interception.

He answered his critics by completing 77.8% of his passes for 598 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Eagles to victories over the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings to reach the Super Bowl.

Coach Doug Pederson vowed to remain aggressive with Foles under center, and that included calling for two successful fourth-and-1 plays Sunday. The first was a touchdown pass to Foles from tight end Trey Burton on a trick play, and the second was a 2-yard completion from Foles to tight end Zach Ertz from Philadelphia’s own 45-yard line with the Eagles clinging to a five-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“My mentality coming into the game was, listen, I’m going to stay aggressive with Nick and let him use his playmakers to make plays,” said Pederson. — Reuters

Del Toro wins top Directors Guild prize

LOS ANGELES — Guillermo del Toro’s bid for Oscars glory was boosted Saturday as he took top prize at the Directors Guild of America honors — a key predictor for the Academy Awards.

The Mexican filmmaker was crowned best director for his Cold War-era fantasy romance The Shape of Water, a month ahead of the glittering culmination of Hollywood’s annual awards season.

The 53-year-old has already scooped a Golden Globe for directing the movie, starring Sally Hawkins as a janitor in a top secret government laboratory who falls in love with a mysterious merman-like sea creature.

“This movie particularly took me to do things I was very afraid of,” Del Toro told fellow filmmakers at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. “It was a movie that was full of many reasons why it shouldn’t work, and those are the reasons why it works.”

A feature of speeches during the awards season has been defiant rejection of the culture of sexual harassment and gender inequality, and the DGAs were no different.

“What Harvey Weinstein ruined was robes. If I wear one now, my wife says ‘ewww,’” quipped host Judd Apatow — a reference to the mogul’s habit of appearing before young actresses in his hotel room wearing only a bathrobe.

Dozens of Hollywood women — including Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale and Salma Hayek — have accused Weinstein and numerous other powerful men of acts ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

‘GRATEFUL AND PROUD’
Comedian Amy Schumer said she was “so grateful and proud” of victims of sexual abuse who had spoken out, singling out Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman, who accused Weinstein in an interview published Saturday of attacking her and threatening her career.

Del Toro, who lives in Los Angeles, has alternated between big-budget Hollywood popcorn fare such as Blade II and more personal Spanish-language projects such as Love Lies (1989) and Cronos (1993).

Monsters and the supernatural have been a recurring theme of his movies, which include Mimic (1997), both Hellboy films and his 2006 masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth.

The Shape of Water was nominated for seven Golden Globes in January, eventually taking home two, and was awarded best picture by the Producers Guild. It is up for 13 Oscars.

Del Toro edged out Christopher Nolan, nominated for World War II thriller Dunkirk — another film seen as a top contender for Oscar glory on March 4.

The DGA Awards are seen as a reliable bellwether of Academy Awards success — particularly the best director prize, as 13 of the last 14 winners went on to win the Oscar for best director.

‘WHEN EVERYTHING ALIGNS’
Presenters at Saturday’s star-studded event for 1,600 guests included Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Kevin Bacon, Allison Janney, and Damien Chazelle, who won the top prize at the last ceremony.

The other nominees for best director were Greta Gerwig for coming-of-age story Lady Bird, Martin McDonagh for dark crime comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and Jordan Peele for racial satire Get Out.

Peele walked away with a medallion for best first-time feature, and said the reaction to the movie had made for “the best year of my life, hands down.”

“The fact that I had never seen a film that addresses the fears of the modern African-American experience was a signal to me that the conversation about race was broken,” he said.

On a night of expressions of solidarity for women, Reed Morano was a popular winner in the dramatic series category for directing “Offred,” an episode of Hulu’s dystopian sci-fi series The Handmaid’s Tale, about the subjugation of women in a totalitarian near future.

“They were trying to get this show made for a long time, like way before we knew what the political climate was going to be,” she told AFP.

“It is just a very odd moment. In this business things don’t get going right when you want them to, they get going when everything aligns.” — AFP

K-pop group Kard visits Manila on Asian tour

SOUTH KOREA’s popular co-ed group Kard is holding its second fan-initiated tour, kicking off the 2018 Wild Kard Tour in Asia in Bangkok on Jan. 19. Presented by MyMusicTaste, the tour includes stops in Singapore, Manila, Taipei, and Hong Kong. The Manila leg will be held at the KIA Theater in Cubao, Quezon City, on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Like its first Europe tour last year, Kard’s first Asia tour was initiated by fans who created a viral movement on www.mymusictaste.com, an online service that brings together music fans to request their favorite artist’s concert.

The group — which was selected as one of Billboard’s “Top 5 K-Pop Artists to Watch in 2017” — released its first single, “Oh NaNa,” in December 2016, quickly hitting No. 2 on the US K-pop iTunes chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart. The group’s follow-up single, “Don’t Recall,” peaked at No. 1 on the US K-pop iTunes chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart. Kard’s recent second EP, You & Me, has already been topping the K-pop iTunes chart in nine countries.

Having debuted in July 2017, the group performed in 25 cities, including London, New York and Brazil, on its first world tour.

Fans who requested that Kard have a Manila show on MyMusicTaste can purchase their tickets at a 20% discount. Further information about the tour and tickets can be found on www.mymusictaste.com and MyMusicTaste’s social media channels.

La Salle’s Baron earns UAAP player of the week honors

FOR stepping up when her team needed her most in their season debut last weekend at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), reigning league most valuable player Majoy Baron of the De La Salle Lady Spikers was named the first recipient of the player of the week honors in women’s play in Season 80.

Tallying 19 points, 12 off attacks, five from blocks and two service aces, graduating player Baron led the defending champions Lady Spikers to a gutsy five-set victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-8, on opening day last Saturday.

With the team’s starting opposite hitter Kianna Dy hampered by a hyperextended left knee, La Salle turned to Baron to lead and she delivered accordingly, providing the needed steady play and leadership to get the better of the spirited and fiery Tigresses.

“We made a lot of adjustments since Kianna was not a hundred percent and good thing Majoy played consistent throughout the match,” said La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus following their win as he spoke of the stepped-up play of her veteran.

“Majoy is one of the veterans of the team and she already knows her responsibilities. As a team captain, I guess it comes natural for her, knowing some of her teammates are still young,” he added.

While she felt happy to have helped in steadying the ship for them in their opener and coming up with a win, Baron was quick to point out that they still need to work on their game, especially since bigger challenges are still ahead of them which they have to be ready for.

“For me, we still have to work on some things as the season progresses, like team chemistry. We know we can still be better and maybe this five-setter against UST could help us improve as a team,” Baron, who is a middle blocker, said.

In winning the player of the week award, Baron beat out National University’s Jaja Santiago, University of the Philippines’ (UP) Diana Carlos, and Far Eastern University’s Toni Rose Basas, all of whom also led their teams to victories in their season debuts at the weekend.

La Salle (1-0) next takes the floor on Saturday, Feb. 10, against UP (1-0). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Higher pay for tax collectors

With the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) earning a net of P14,000 in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will receive a little more this month, but with a higher revenue collection goal of P2.039 trillion for the year.

After police officers received a pay hike and more administrative reforms being implemented to complement and support the comprehensive tax reform of the Duterte administration, it may now be argued that our tax collectors need a higher pay.

There are two compelling reasons to do this now.

First, if we want to attract more competent professionals — lawyers and CPAs — to join the BIR, the government needs to offer a competitive package on a par with the private sector.

Second, if we really want to stop corruption in BIR, then aside from fully implementing the Attrition Law, the government must help protect the integrity of its personnel by providing competitive compensation and benefits.

This is owing to the fact that BIR collects almost 80% of the total government funds with less than 3,000 examiners conducting audit and investigation nationwide while operating with more or less 10,000 vacancies.

How can we hire the best and the brightest in the so-called “most corrupt” government agency if we will not invest in hiring the right people who can provide good and honest public service?

A genuine tax reform must address all issues of inequity, injustice, and inefficiency. If we want a simpler, fairer and more efficient tax system, we cannot leave our tax collectors behind.

Up to this day, we hear stories of examiners harassing or accepting bribes to settle BIR audit.

This, despite the campaign of Commissioner Caesar “Billy” Dulay in promoting integrity and honesty in the BIR and in paying taxes in our country through the Seal of Honesty (SoH) Certification Program.

We can keep increasing our taxes but unless we collect the right taxes from honest or at least compliant and conscientious taxpayers, it will still not be enough to fund the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government.

To stop corruption in the BIR seems impossible but there’s a slight chance we can achieve it.

We need to bring on board more honest and competent professionals to institutionalize reform in the Bureau while we incentivize and encourage more honest and compliant taxpayers.

If all things fail, we may have to privatize and automate the entire tax administration to increase its less than P8-billion budget to collect more than P2 trillion to fund the government.

In the meantime, let’s all do our fair share to help each other pay the right taxes to help build a better Philippines. To know more about the Seal of Honesty Certification Program, visit www.sealofhonesty.ph or call (+632) 622-7720.

The article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP.

 

Popularly known as the Philippine Tax Whiz, the author is one of the 2016 Outstanding Persons of the World, one of the 2015 The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM), and founder of the Abrea Consulting Group and Center for Strategic Reforms of the Philippines (CSR Philippines). He currently serves as Adviser to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue of the Philippine government on tax administration reform in promoting inclusive growth.

Follow Raymond A. Abrea on Twitter @askthetaxwhiz

https://www.facebook.com/askthetaxwhiz

consult@acg.ph

map@map.org.ph

Mandalay Entertainment and Golden State Warriors exec Peter Guber coming to Manila

MANDALAY Entertainment chairman and CEO and Golden State Warriors (GSW) executive chairman and co-owner, Peter Guber, will be coming to the Philippines on March 20 as the featured speaker in ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel’s Leadership Series at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

The media and sports mogul will talk in front of the country’s business executives, sports and entertainment industry leaders, and members of the academe about his experiences as an executive and entrepreneur in various industries.

Prior to founding Mandalay Entertainment, Guber was chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, chairman and CEO of Polygram Entertainment, Co- Founder of Casablanca Record & Filmworks and President of Columbia Pictures. Guber produced or executive produced (personally or through his companies) films that garnered five Best Picture Academy Award nominations (winning for Rain Man) and box office hits that include The Color Purple, Midnight Express, Batman, Flashdance, The Kids Are All Right and Soul Surfer.

In addition to his ownership of the Golden State Warriors, Guber is an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and an owner and executive chairman of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). He is chairman of the Strategic Advisory Board and an investor in NextVR. Guber is an owner and co-executive Chairman of the new esports ownership group, aXiomatic, which purchased the controlling interest in Team Liquid, one of the most successful global esports franchises. Guber is also a member of the University of California Board of Regents and has been a professor at UCLA for 40 years.

Guber, the #1 New York Times’ best-selling author of the business book “Tell to Win,” is the third featured speaker in the ANC Leadership Series. In 2016, ANC brought Virgin Group founder Richard Branson in the Philippines, followed by former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2017.

The ANC Leadership Series is part of the country’s premier all-English cable news channel’s efforts to raise the level of discourse on global affairs and business issues in the country by bringing renowned international speakers for a one-day speaking engagement.

Watch and learn from Media Mogul and Sports Owner, Peter Guber as he talks about “Telling Stories, Winning Games” at the ANC Leadership Series, moderated by ABS-CBN news and sports anchor TJ Manotoc, on March 20, 2 pm, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.  Tickets are priced at Php 20,000, and Php 10,000. For inquiries and reservations, visit www.ktx.com.ph or call TicketWorld at 8919999 or log-on to its website at ticketworld.com.ph.

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