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Melindo seeks to end ‘memorable’ 2017 with title unification

FILIPINO world boxing champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo has had a memorable 2017 and is seeking to finish it with a bang as he guns for a unification of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) world junior flyweight titles this weekend.

Happening on Dec. 31, Mr. Melindo (37-3, 13 KOs), the current IBF titleholder, tries to add the WBA belt held by Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi in their scheduled 12-rounder at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Cagayan de Oro native Melindo is coming off two successful fights early this year, beating Japanese Akira Yaegashi to claim the IBF junior flyweight title by way of an impressive first-round technical knockout win in May in Tokyo before making a successful title defense over South African Hekkie Budler by split decision in September in Cebu City.

Now he channels his focus on Mr. Taguchi (26-2-2, 12 KOs) to complete a hat trick in the about-to-end year.

“The Year 2017 has been memorable so far for me as I was able to capture the IBF light flyweight belt and after that successfully defended it. Now my aim is to unify it with the WBA title currently held by Taguchi,” Mr. Melindo said in an online correspondence with BusinessWorld.

“It’s important for me to win this fight and unify the IBF and WBA titles so that I can give honor to the country and make the Filipinos happy on New Year’s Eve,” he added just as he said that he is dedicating the fight as well to his team of handlers and coaches who has stuck with him throughout his boxing journey.

Fighting in Japan anew, Mr. Melindo said he is bracing for a tougher fight than the last time he was there against erstwhile IBF champion Yaegashi, who the Filipino dropped three times in the opening round en route to the win.

“The last time I fought in Japan against Yaegashi the result was nothing I expected. I mean, to knock down the great Akira three times was just amazing and came as a surprise. For this fight, I will have the same aggressive mindset and hopefully with the help of God I can succeed on my mission and defeat Taguchi who I expect to be coming in prepared and aggressive as well,” Mr. Melindo said.

Twenty-nine-year-old Mr. Melindo went on to share that they have trained well entering this yearend fight.

“I trained very well for this fight. Just a couple of weeks after the Budler fight, I already started conditioning training after which I began boxing drills and sparring,” he said.

Adding, “I had lot of sparring partners, including long-time Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes and up-and-coming Jonas Sultan.”

He also assured his supporters that the cuts he absorbed in his last fight against Mr. Budler are already healed and that he is ready to go and give his best.

“You can expect me to give my best and put up a good fight. Let’s all hope and pray for a win and celebrate after,” Mr. Melindo said.

Like Mr. Melindo, hometown bet Taguchi is coming off a successful defense of his WBA belt over Colombian Robert Barrera in July by way of a ninth-round TKO. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Now 80, actress Jane Fonda says she didn’t think she’d live to 30

LOS ANGELES — Actress Jane Fonda, who celebrated her 80th birthday last week, says that growing up she never expected to reach 30.

“I never pictured 30,” Fonda told People magazine in an interview published on Wednesday.

“I assumed I wouldn’t live very long and that I would die lonely and an addict of some sort. I didn’t think if I did live this long, that I would be vibrant and healthy and still working. I’m grateful,” she added.

Fonda’s mother committed suicide when she was 12 years old and the same year her actor father, Henry Fonda, remarried. She has spoken in the past about suffering from bulimia, taking hallucinogenic drugs, and being abused as a child.

Fonda won her first Oscar in 1972, at age 35, for the movie Klute and went on to win her second for the 1978 Vietnam War drama Coming Home. She became an anti-war and women’s activist, launched a fitness craze with her 1980s workout videos, married three times, and is nominated at January’s Screen Actors Guild awards for her lead role in TV series Grace and Frankie.

The actress turned 80 on Dec. 21.

“I’m thankful that I’ve gotten better over the 80 years,” she told People. “I’m less judgmental. I’m forgiving. It wasn’t always true. I’ve really worked hard to get better as a human being.” — Reuters

PBA chair Ricky Vargas expects new commissioner not later than 2nd conference

PRESSED for time, newly installed PBA chairman Ricky Vargas expects the league to have a new commissioner on or before the start of the second conference.

“My own goal is no later than the beginning of the second conference or earlier,” wrote Mr. Vargas in a text message to BusinessWorld.

This means that anyone among Charlie Cuna, Rebo Saguisag, Atty. Ariel Magno, and multi-titled coach Joel Banal and current University of the Philippines coach Bo Perasol can be tapped as the next commissioner.

Mr. Banal, who won championships as coach in the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA, said he’s interested in the position of commissioner and hopes to share his vision if ever he’ll be chosen.

“If ever I will be commissioner, I’m going to make sure that I will be a fair commissioner. A commissioner’s job is to make sure that you’re going to have a balance league,” added Mr. Banal, who also served as commissioner of the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League.

But while the PBA is now in search for the next commissioner, the board will also need to tackle another sensitive issue when the governors convene in the last Thursday of January 2018.

That’s because the league will need to vote whether to allow another sister team in the pro league following the acquisition of Kia by Phoenix, which bought the company’s lock, stock and barrel.

“This is a board matter for discussion,” added Mr. Vargas, board governor of Talk ’N Text.

San Miguel Corp. and the MVP Group of Companies have three teams each in the PBA.

San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia Chicken from the old Purefoods franchise are the teams from San Miguel Corp. while Talk ’N Text, Meralco and NLEX are the teams being bankrolled by the MVP Group of Companies. — Rey Joble

Military officers, militia commander to face charges for murder of Italian priest

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) will be filing murder charges against two military officers, a militia commander, and several others over the 2011 killing of an Italian priest in Arakan, Cotabato after the National Bureau of Investigation asked to withdraw the original case it filed before the provincial prosecutor.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the complaint filed by the NBI had to be withdrawn “kasi po merong (because there were) fall guys” named in it.

Once withdrawn, “the next step is to file a new complaint against the recommended people,” Ong said.

These are:

Lt. Col. Joven Gonzales

Major Mark Espiritu

Jimmy Ato

Roberto Ato

Jan Corbala

Nene Durado

Kaing Labi

Joseph Basol

Edgar Enoc

Romulo Tapgos

William Buenaflor

Several “Richard Does,” soldiers operating near the Arakan Elementary School at the time of the murder and “John Does” and “Jane Does” were also recommended to be included in the charge sheet.

Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions was shot dead inside the compound of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish on Oct. 17, 2011 as he was about to leave for a meeting at the bishop’s palace in Kidapawan City.

A known lumad and environmental advocate who helped organize indigenous people’s communities campaigning against the entry of large-scale mining into their communities, Tentorio had earned the ire of local militias and the military, who suspected him of supporting communist rebels.

Despite this, Ong said the DoJ is ruling out any political angle in Tentorio’s murder.

“You have no reason to kill a person who is not a combatant. It is plain murder. No politics here. This has nothing to do with the NPA (New People’s Army). This is simple murder,” he said.

Ong, who said he finished in November the re-investigation he started in May, quoted witnesses as saying Tentorio’s killing was planned seven days before the hit.

“When I met 30 witnesses in July sa Arakan, very spontaneous pa rin ang kwento nila (in Arakan, they were very spontaneous in their accounts),” he said. “They aren’t worried. They are willing to testify.”

A key witness, Danilo Bayawan, told the DoJ he attended a meeting called by Corbala, a leader of the “Bagani Special Force,” to plan the hit on Tentorio.

At the meeting, Corbala allegedly said he had been ordered by the military to kill Tentorio and given money and a motorcycle to carry out the plot.

Bayawan backed out of the plot and later decided to tell authorities what he knew. — PNA

La Salle Greenhills eyes NCAA Jr. title repeat

FOR coach Marvin Bienvenida, the road to La Salle Greenhills’ title-retention bid in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 94 Junior basketball starts now.

Bienvenida, 37, said the Saint Benilde-La Salle Greenhills Baby Blazers had joined the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) last Dec. 16 before joining the Got Skills tournament next year to prepare the team for a bigger battle next NCAA season.

“We are expecting Season 94 to be tougher and more difficult that’s why we joined season tournament like PSSBC and then next year the Got Skills tournament. Right now, we are competing in the MMBL (Metro Manila Basketball League) and we’re 2-1 there,” said Bienvenida, an alumnus of La Salle Greenhills in 1998.

“I’m testing also some of the players here in these tournaments prior to the formation of the pool next year.”

After those preseason tournaments, the ex-University of the Philippines (UP) guard will form the La Salle-Greenhills pool by March to determine the composition of the team. Bienvenida said the players from Team B are expected to replace graduating players Jacob Lao, Joshua Marcos, JM Pedrosa, Kairl Beljica and Albert Boldeos.

Finals heroes Joel Cagulangan and Josh David will once again anchor the team’s campaign next season along with Jared Lao, Inand Fornilos, Nikki Perez, Sidney Masqueda, Diego Morales, Joshua Dela Cruz, 6’9 Ladis Lepalam and Mark Daniel Sangco.

Bienvenida added his team will be the target next season of all teams.

“Last season, we were ranked no. 7 but now we’re expecting Season 94 to be tighter in terms of the competition that’s why we really need to prepare seriously,” added Bienvenida, whose team survived an exhausting four knockout games to win its first-ever NCAA junior title since 1998.

After finishing with an 11-7 win-loss record, La Salle Greenhills knocked off San Sebastián in the playoff round for the last spot in the final four before defeating many-time champion San Beda High School twice in the semifinal round to land in the finals and meet Mapua.

La Salle Greenhills took Game 1 in the finals before losing in Game 2 but found a way to nip Mapua in Game 3 to capture the crown last Nov. 24.

“The players will cherish this unforgettable experience forever. But now, we have to prepare for another chapter — our title defense — next season,” said Bienvenida, who thanked all the players, coaching staff, the school community and the management who support the school through ups and downs last season.

Meanwhile, a grand victory party celebration for La Salle Greenhills Greenies starting 4 p.m. will be held on Jan. 19, 2018 at the La Salle Greenhills football field. All the alumni and students of La Salle Greenhills are invited.

IFC could invest in telecom ‘3rd player’

THE International Finance Corp. (IFC) said it may back with investments a third player in the telecommunications industry, citing the new entrant’s potential for raising inclusivity by increasing broadband access.

“If you get an appropriate partner, we can add value to them. We have investments in telecom in almost every country in the world,” Vivek Pathak, IFC regional director for East Asia and the Pacific, said in an interview earlier in the month.

Asked whether the agency is open to working with a Chinese company — the government’s preferred path for introducing a third player, Mr. Pathak said: “The way we view it is, as long as it creates more competition, and a level playing field, I think it’s very important.”

IFC is a part of the World Bank Group.

PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc. are the incumbents in the telecommunications industry, and President Rodrigo R. Duterte is seeking to introduce more competition.

Malacañang said this month that the Chinese government has chosen China Telecom Corp. Ltd., to be its representative when the telecom industry is opened up.

Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has indicated that it is in talks with China Telecom to be its partner — as the law only allows 40% foreign ownership in telecoms.

Mr. Pathak said a third player could help develop disruptive technology for small businesses.

“I think that’s a very critical sector. The number of jobs, the amount of business to be conducted with disruptive technology and more financial inclusion, that is critical. But also that you need good broadband availability,” he said.

“Transparency is critical. We think a third player will enhance connectivity,” he added.

The Philippines has one of the slowest and most expensive Internet services in Asia Pacific, paying $40.96 for 13.41 Mbps according to an Akamai Technologies report.

“There’s nothing but competition that would help drive increase usage, reduce costs. So we’d love to see more competition in that,” said Mr. Pathak.

However, the third entrant has only limited spectrum to work with, and may need to base its business model on cell site construction or providing Internet to underserved areas, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has noted.

The Philippine Competition Commission estimates that about 12.8% of spectrum will be available for a new entrant.

IFC’S overall committed portfolio in the Philippines was about $550.53 million as of July. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Last Jedi toy sales outshining Force Awakens

FUNKO, INC., the toymaker that went public last month, isn’t seeing signs of Star Wars fatigue.

The company’s sales of Star Wars products are above what they were in 2015, when the last major installment of the sci-fi series came out, according to Chief Executive Officer Brian Mariotti.

The toy industry has fretted that demand for Star Wars products would peak quickly and then fade after the franchise’s renaissance under Walt Disney Co. The Force Awakens, the seventh episode in the series, debuted in 2015, followed by The Last Jedi this year. And there was a spin-off movie, Rogue One, in 2016.

Even with that saturation, Funko’s Star Wars products are surging, Mariotti said in an interview.

“We are definitely up,” he said. “That is a little bit of surprise, because of just how pent-up the demand was on episode seven after not having Star Wars movies for so long.”

Funko, which is best known for its large-headed Pop figurines, has over 1,000 licenses of entertainment brands. Its catalog spans from big franchises like Star Wars and Marvel to more niche titles such as The Golden Girls.

The company had a rocky market debut, with the stock falling about 50% since its initial public offering. But Funko sees international sales helping fuel growth.

Its business model relies on speed, and the company often puts out items based on characters or plot lines that it didn’t know about until seeing the film. That was the case with The Last Jedi.

“We’re rushing right now on a few,” said Mariotti, who has seen the film twice and planned to go again this weekend. “We think we are going to have a long tailwind with this movie.” — Bloomberg

House committee eyeing higher pensions for retired military personnel

THE House of Representatives is looking to raise pensions received by retired military and uniformed personnel (MUPs) by 2019, one of its committees said. “The commitment of Malacañang, which is the guiding policy of the House of Representatives that possesses the power of the purse, is to adjust the pension of retirees in the MUP sector by 2019,” House appropriations committee chair and Davao City Representative Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said. “We’ve been preparing for the pension indexation as early as this year. So we definitely don’t intend to disappoint our retirees in 2019,” Mr. Nograles said. Mr. Nograles said the pensions will be calibrated to be on a par with the increased compensation of their active counterparts and is seen to benefit 200,000 retirees and will cost the government an estimated amount of P38 billion. The House and the Senate approved the hike of the base pay of MUPs before their one-month holiday break. The base pay of the officials with the rank of police officer 1 in Philippine National Police and private in Armed Forces of the Philippines were doubled and the compensation for officials in higher ranks was also increased accordingly. — Minde Nyl dela Cruz

First-ever AOV All-Star tourney this weekend

GARENA Philippines, publisher of the Arena of Valor (AOV) 5v5 Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) currently making waves in the country, will hold its first-ever All-Star Tournament in the country this weekend, featuring up-and-coming stars in the local gaming community.

Done in partnership with Generation Hope, Garena has assembled four teams consisting of local celebrities and personalities who will vie for the P80,000 prize pool and the title and bragging rights as AOV’s first All-Star champion.

Among those participating in the Dec. 30 event are musician and streamer Ashley Gosiengfiao, content creator and aspiring oppa, Emman Nimedez, and the #FitGamer himself, Eric “Eruption” Tai.

Part of the prize pool will be going to Generation Hope, a social enterprise with the goal of furthering education through the building of public school classrooms.

Released in October last year in Taiwan, AOV has since seen its popularity grow upon its introduction in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Early this year, its developers added the Philippines to AOV’s growing market. AOV is available on both the App Store and Play Store.

Gamers who want to catch the finals of the AOV All-Star Tournament tomorrow can do so live over its official FB page: facebook.com/GarenaAOVPH. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Tillerson defends US foreign policy record at year’s end

WASHINGTON — The United States’ top diplomat defended his country’s foreign policy record on Wednesday, saying progress had been made in the last year to rein in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and to counter the “immense challenges” posed by Russia, China and Iran.

In an opinion piece in The New York Times, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said some 90% of Pyongyang’s export earnings had been cut off by a series of international sanctions after the Trump administration “abandoned the failed policy of strategic patience.”

Tensions have escalated dramatically on the Korean peninsula this year after the isolated but nuclear-armed regime staged a series of atomic and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests — and as US President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un traded personal insults.

Washington wants North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and has spearheaded three rounds of UN sanctions against the isolated regime, restricting crucial exports of coal, iron, seafood and textiles from the cash-starved state.

Pyongyang has hit out at those sanctions, calling the latest round “an act of war,” and has vowed to never give up its nuclear program.

In his piece Mr. Tillerson said “a door to dialogue remains open” for Pyongyang but warned “until denuclearization occurs, the pressure will continue.”

At the same time he called on China — Pyongyang’s only major ally — to “do more” to pressure North Korea.

Mr. Trump’s administration has been dogged by allegations his campaign team colluded with Russia to help him win last year’s election.

Addressing relations with Moscow, Mr. Tillerson said the Trump administration had “no illusions about the regime we are dealing with” and that they were “on guard against Russian aggression.”

But he added that Washington needed to “recognize the need to work with Russia where mutual interests intersect” citing Syria civil war where the two countries have backed opposing sides but pushed for peace talks.

On Iran he struck a less conciliatory tone.

“The flawed nuclear deal is no longer the focal point of our policy toward Iran,” he warned. “We are now confronting the totality of Iranian threats.”

He also defended his cuts to the State Department and USAID budget, saying they were designed to “address root problems that lead to inefficiencies and frustrations.”

Critics say Mr. Tillerson’s first year in office has seen scores of key diplomatic posts go unfilled, embassies hampered by cuts and many veteran staff leave the foreign service altogether. — AFP

Shakira cancels tour, hopes for June return

NEW YORK — Colombian pop star Shakira on Wednesday canceled the remainder of her world tour because of a problem with her vocal chords and said she hoped to be back on stage in June of next year. “Though I very much hoped to be able to recover my vocal chords in time to pick the tour back up in January, and after exploring many options to that effect, I have accepted that this is an injury that simply needs more time and care to heal,” Shakira said in a statement on her Web site. The “Hips Don’t Lie” star canceled the European leg of her El Dorado World Tour in November. She said she hoped to resume the tour in June 2018 with concerts in Europe, the United States and Latin America. It’s currently due to conclude Sept. 6 in San Jose, California. “I feel for all of you who planned ahead to come to these shows and who have been so patient as I took the time needed to figure out the best course of action with my doctors,” Shakira said. “I really can’t wait for June!” she added. “I promise to give you all of me and more from the minute I get on that stage and I am counting the days till showtime!” — AFP

Police warn against indiscriminate gun-firing

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar D. Albayalde warned police officers on Thursday against indiscriminate firing, noting that two cops have already been caught in violation of the order and are now facing dismissal. “There will be no mercy for those caught firing their guns indiscriminately,” Mr. Albayalde told reporters in Filipino during a televised press briefing. Meanwhile, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay also called on the police and local government units to prevent firecracker-related casualties and injuries in the traditional merrymaking to start the New Year. Authorities should make “zero casualties at injuries” for the New Year a reality, she said in a statement. “Most of the victims of illegal firecrackers are children.” Ms. Binay has filed in the last two Congresses a bill (Senate Bill 367) which seeks to “reduce the number of injuries sustained by children by prohibiting the selling, giving, or in any way sharing of firecrackers.” For its part, the Office of the Executive Secretary also announced that “firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices which contain gunpowder exceeding two (2) grams or 1.3 teaspoons or those using sulfur and/or phosphorus mixed with chlorates are strictly prohibited to be sold, manufactured, distributed, and used. Also prohibited are Piccolo; Super Lolo; Whistle Bomb; Goodbye Earth; and Atomic Big Triangulo. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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