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SC sought for TRO on martial law in Mindanao

By Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

OPPOSITION lawmakers petitioned the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Dec. 27, for a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction against the re-extension of martial law in Mindanao as recently approved by Congress.

In the petition filed by Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Akbayan party-list Rep. Tomasito S. Villarin, Caloocan Rep. Edgar R. Erice, Ifugao Rep. Teddy B. Baguilat Jr., Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano, and Capiz Rep. Emmanuel A. Billones, they argued that Congress moved to extend the martial law for a year “by relying on the mere say-so of the military and police authorities on the purported ’continuing rebellion’ by remnants of terrorist groups in Mindanao.”

The lawmakers added that the extension “defies the Constitution’s unmistakable mandate of a limited duration of the declaration of martial law and its extension.”

“Verily, the approval of the extension of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao utterly lacks sufficient factual basis because there is no actual rebellion in Mindanao and the re-extension is extremely long even as the approval was made with undue haste and unscrupulous imprudence,” the petition further stated.

They said the continued enforcement of martial law in Mindanao “emboldens government forces to indiscriminately attack and kill perceived enemies of the State and conduct warrantless arrests, searches and seizures even as the civilian courts are functioning.”

The petitioners also asked the high tribunal to restrain the disbursement of funds for the implementation of the martial law extension.

With a vote of 240-27, Congress in a joint session on Dec. 13 approved the extension of martial law from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018, as sought by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who cited the continued presence of rebellion and terrorism in Mindanao despite the end of the Marawi clash last October.

Named respondents in the petition are Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Smaller contractors eyed for gov’t infrastructure projects

THE Department of Public Works and Highways will seek to increase the participation of smaller contractors in the government’s big-ticket infrastructure projects next year, possibly by setting aside quotas.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group Ruth B. Castelo said that the program will identify the pathways to increase the role of domestic contractors in the wake of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to involve them in infrastructure projects.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez reiterated that DTI is open to the  liberalization of the equity requirement for contractors applying for a category of license eligible for the infrastructure program. The current floor for equity is P1 billion.

“Many [contractors] are saying that there should be a liberalization… [lowering of the equity requirement will mean] that there will be more players,” he added.

“In effect there will be a reserve [set aside] for local contractors — those who have an equity of below P1 billion… But for bigger projects, we’re open to foreign [companies].”

Ms. Castelo said the infrastructure program has the potential to stretch the resources of the construction industry, raising the possibility that small and medium-sized companies could play a part.

“The bigger companies will be able to give opportunities to our smaller contractors for them to develop in terms of their expertise, their technology [and] manpower,” she told BusinessWorld in an earlier interview. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

PDEA chief’s first 100 days: 1,321 arrests, P228.81M seized, 0 deaths in 3,476 operations

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted 3,476 operations, seized P228.81 million worth of drugs and “non-drug” evidence, and arrested 1,321 suspects but recorded no deaths, in a report released Wednesday, Dec. 27, on the first 100 days of its director general, Aaron Aquino. The report covers the period from Sept. 12, when Aquino took over the PDEA from now Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, to Dec. 20. — interaksyon.com

See full story on https://goo.gl/8ckvEA

Phoenix Fuel Masters rise, beat Kia Picanto

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters got on the winning track in the PBA Philippine Cup after beating the Kia Picanto, 125-102, yesterday in the curtain-raiser at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Tripped in their debut in the season-opening tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Fuel Masters got up and used a strong start to the game to defeat the Picanto and book their first win.

Phoenix opened things with an 8-2 blast in the first three minutes of the contest.

It would steadily build on the cushion behind solid ball distribution and balanced scoring to establish a 24-14 advantage at the end of the opening frame.

The Fuel Masters continued to pound on the Picanto in the second canto as Matthew Wright, Justin Chua and JC Intal began hitting their shots.

They built their lead to as high as 20 points a couple of times, the last one at 51-31, before Eric Camson provided some boost for Kia with 11 straight points to finish the quarter and trim their deficit to just 13 points, 53-40, by the halftime break.

Led by forward Jackson Corpuz, the Picanto were able to narrow the gap some more to seven points, 55-48, in the first three minutes of the third quarter.

But Phoenix would eventually find its bearing to respond, going on a 6-2 run thereafter to give itself some distance anew, 61-50, at the 7:51 mark of the frame.

It would sustain control the rest of the way, even building up its lead to 22 points, 86-64, with 36 seconds to play in the quarter before settling for an 88-69 advantage at the end of the third.

Despite pretty much in command, the Fuel Masters continued to be aggressive in the payoff period.

The Picanto tried to make up for lost ground but the Fuel Masters would not allow them to have much space to work on, continuing to be on top of things.

Phoenix extended its lead to 25 points, 104-79, with 7:19 remaining on the game and then set out to the big win.

Messrs. Wright, Chua and Intal each had 15 points to lead Phoenix with Gelo Alolino. RJ Jazul, Jason Perkins, Doug Kramer and Joseph Eriobu scoring 11 points or better.

Rashawn McCarthy, meanwhile, paced Kia with 22 points with Messrs. Camson and Corpuz contributing 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“Following our loss in our first game against San Miguel, I told the players not to change their mind-set and continue to be aggressive. We worked hard in practice and entered the game not underestimating Kia and the result was very positive,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas in the postgame press conference.

Phoenix (1-1) next plays on Jan. 7 against the league-leading NLEX Road Warriors while Kia (0-2) takes on the Magnolia Hotshots on Jan. 10.

Food security deteriorating in conflict-hit Mideast, Africa — UN

FOOD SECURITY in the Middle East and North Africa “is fast deteriorating” because of conflicts in countries from Syria to Yemen, the United Nation’s (UN) food agency said Thursday.

Violence in nations that also include Libya, Iraq and Sudan are leading to “a widening gap in well-being” compared with other parts of the region, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report.

“The level of undernourishment in the conflict countries is now six times larger than that in non-conflict countries,” it said.

Yemen is suffering the worst food insecurity and malnutrition of all the conflict-hit countries in the region, followed by Syria and Sudan, it said.

For more than two years, Yemen has been locked in a devastating civil war between the Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels who swept into the capital in 2014.

More than 8,750 people have been killed since a Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government in March 2015.

Nearly a quarter of the population of Yemen suffers from severe food insecurity, according to the FAO.

Mark Lowcock, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said in November that unless the coalition ends a blockade of the country, Yemen will face “the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims.”

The FAO said the conflict-hit countries may not have sufficient resources to achieve the UN-adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The goals include to “eliminate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030.

As “expenditures on violence crowd out other government spending, the likelihood of progress” on targets related to “reducing hunger and food insecurity and malnutrition becomes ever more remote,” it said.

Between 21% and 67% of the conflict-hit countries’ gross domestic product was spent on committing, containing or preventing acts of violence, or on dealing with their consequences, it said.

The FAO reported “elevated levels of stunting” in the region and said many of the poorer countries have severe levels of anaemia in children under five years old.  — AFP

Customs’ Collectors Association signs manifesto of support for Lapeña

THE Collectors Association of the Philippines, the group of customs collectors of the Bureau of Customs (BoC), has expressed support for the current customs chief Isidro Lapeña on the occasion of his 100 days in office, the group said in a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 27. A manifesto of support was signed on Dec. 15 by the association’s acting president, lawyer Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, and 45 other customs collectors, and the group presented this to Mr. Lapeña last Friday. The group cited the Commissioner’s Five-Point Priority Program and his leadership by example. Mr. Lapeña, for his part, was quoted in the statement as saying: “I am humbled by their support. At the same time, I am expecting them to help me bring change in the Bureau and that we all lead by example. The effort to rebuild not only the image of the BoC but to implement policy reforms is not the sole task of the Commissioner but everyone in the Bureau.”

Woman shot dead in her sleep in Tondo

DEBBY MERCADO, 36, went to bed in her home on Pacheco Street in Tondo, Manila Tuesday night and never woke up. Three masked gunmen barged into Mercado’s house and shot her as she slept before they escaped in an SUV. Her mother, Patricia, said the household was wakened by the sound of gunshots. Patricia admitted her daughter was a drug user but stressed she did not peddle narcotics. She added that she constantly told Debby to quit drugs because she feared the fate that might befall her. Debby promised to do so after the New Year’s. — News5

See full story on https://goo.gl/2icKUL

Ice hockey: Building on the ‘Miracle on Ice’

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games proved to be a tough one for the Philippines as it ended up in sixth place in the 11-nation field with 24 gold medals to show for, missing its target of winning at least 50.

But while Team Philippines had it rough in the biennial regional sports meet, some bright spots emerged, one of which is the country’s gold-winning ice hockey team.

Played in the SEA Games for the first time, the Philippine ice hockey team proved itself to be a groundbreaker as it showed dominance throughout the duration of the competition, a showing fondly referred to by local media outfits as the “Miracle on Ice.”

The Philippines completed a sweep of its four-game assignment, beating Indonesia, 12-0, in the opener before following it up with 7-2 and 8-7 victories over Singapore and host Malaysia, respectively, in the round-robin phase.

It capped its performance by edging Thailand, 5-4, in a thrilling final match that earned it the gold medal.

Forward Paul Sanchez emerged as the competition’s top scorer with 14 points, with teammates Steven Fuglister (11), Lenard Rigel Lancero II (9) and Carl Michael Montano (7) figuring in the top 10.

Goaltender Gianpietro Issepi was top in his position with a 91.67% save percentage and teammate Paolo Spafford (88.14%) at third.

With the Federation of Ice Hockey League, Inc. (FIHL), the local federation for the sport still in its formative years, members of the team underscored the importance of winning the gold in the SEA Games as a way of creating awareness for the sport which they hope would eventually inspire more Filipinos to pick it up.

“It’s very important for us to win the gold especially since ours is a young federation in the country. Every positive news we can get is a big help in what we are trying to do for the group and the sport in general. Had we not won I don’t think we would be getting the same attention that we are getting now. Hopefully we were able to inspire people, especially kids, to take up the sport,” said team captain Fuglister in an interview with BusinessWorld days upon their return from their SEA Games conquest.

“Ice hockey is a team sport. You really have to work as a group. We showed that it is something that we can excel in provided we put in the work and put our hearts into it,” added Filipino-Swiss Fuglister.

GAINING GROUND
For FIHL President Christopher Sy, to see the team continue to improve only serves to inspire them to grow more and further the development of the sport in the country.

“Ice hockey has been in the country for 10 years and there were already teams even before we put up a federation. It was not easy gathering different stakeholders but we were able to do that,” said Mr. Sy in a separate interview as he shared what they had to go through as a group.

“We understand that it will take time before ice hockey is fully embraced here but the interest is there. It’s a fun and fast sport. It’s adrenaline-filled that Filipinos should really enjoy,” the FIHL added.

He went on to say that challenges persist but they hope their win in the SEA Games would give the sport the boost that it needs to develop in the Philippines.

“In ice hockey you need the rink and equipment. We have been self-funding ourselves and hopefully with the SEA Games win we were able to open the team to more people and groups for support,” said Mr. Sy even as he shared that they plan to take the sport to another level, even maybe introducing it collegiate leagues down the line to create further awareness.

Next stop for the Philippine ice hockey team is the 2018 Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia which the country is hosting in April.

Ang Larawan: The way we are

By Menchu Aquino Sarmiento

Movie review
Ang Larawan
Directed by Loy Arcenas

ANG LARAWAN, directed by Loy Arcenas, is the musical film adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s 65-year-old play Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. It is more accurately a portrait of Filipino society itself, warts and all, than of any artist and his idiosyncrasies, and yet it is a thing of beauty in itself. The play’s longevity may be due to the currency of its great truths about the power of the patriarchy and the cruelty of our social class structures. Its unflinching depiction of the human condition remains relevant. Like a precious jewel, different facets are illuminated in its every incarnation, whether as the original English Portrait or several Filipino translations as Larawan, or in Spanish as Retrato. Each one shines, and casts its own light.

Over the decades, Joaquin’s original stage play has morphed into varied iterations such as the 1965 Lamberto Avellana film of the play itself. The 2002 Sambalikhaan staging even had men playing the disempowered leads: Anton Juan as Candido and the late Behn Cervantes as Pablito. Most recently, it was a three-hour Filipino stage musical with a libretto by Rolando Tinio and music by Ryan Cayabyab. That is the version adapted for the Arcenas film.

However Ang Larawan is more than a mere musical. Its soaring sound track reaches the heights of grand opera, beyond the more plebeian Hollywood-type song and dance extravaganzas, or our own Filipino sarsuela. The delightful opening tertulia song reminds us of a time when poetry mattered. “Kay Sarap ng Buhay Nung Araw” has the elegiac melancholy of kundiman. The setting in pre-World War II Intramuros is essential, for that was a gracious period in our history whose passing we must remember, to remind ourselves of what we might be in our future.

The Marasigan’s with their greedy bickering, and bullying of their weaker members, are still a relatable model of modern family dysfunction. Patriarchy is portrayed in all its terrible glory even as the patriarch himself is mostly off-screen. Though unseen, he holds his two youngest daughters Candida (Joanna Ampil) and Paula (Rachel Alejandro) in thrall. Tellingly, their fondest memory of themselves is as eternally prepubescent girls, dressed in virginal white for the Feast of the La Naval. The middle aged Paula wears an adult version of a sailor dress, while Candida dresses in dull shapeless sacks. Filipino social mores laud their self-sacrifice as noble while at the same time, looking down upon their genteel poverty.

The complexity of Ang Larawan’s characters makes them come alive and keeps them real. The two older Marasigan siblings: Manolo (Nonie Buencamino) and Pepang (Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo), members of the alta sociedad, may seem like the heavies with their money-grubbing pragmatism. Yet they are not cardboard villains. Manolo is painfully torn: an alternately impatient, callous, and compassionate brother; a frivolous playboy with the ambiguous legacy of being the only (albeit estranged) son of a temperamental genius of a father. Lauchengco-Yulo gives a formidably intelligent reading of Pepang who must importune her husband for money to support her father and sisters — an obligation which Manolo continually fails.

Tinio’s witty libretto preserves the essence of Joaquin’s original play, and then some. There is an added hilarious riff by La Elsa Montes (Zsa Zsa Padilla), Queen of the Conga, whose only take-away after viewing the Marasigan masterpiece is to pattern her new costume after a Greek toga. It is a sly commentary on how popular culture trivializes high art. Robert Arevalo as Don Perico, gives another powerful, standout performance, reminiscent of his turn as the wronged older brother in Sakada (1976; directed by Behn Cervantes). He was the erstwhile poet who sold out to become a factotum of the regime.

Celeste Legaspi as Doña Loleng, the senator’s wife and society doyenne, is a force of nature, and in great voice. There is the risk she will take over the room, but all the performers manage to hold their own. Dulce lends her richly textured contralto to Doña Upeng while Nanette Inventor is a spunky and vibrant Doña Irene. Even the “minor” supporting roles shine, just as smaller gemstones in the setting of a precious jewel, for truly Joaquin’s Portrait as Ang Larawan is among our national treasures.

The polish and naturalness of the performances is the result of a year’s worth of rehearsals, many while in their costumes. Legaspi as one of the producers forbade ad libs. Only another national artist (Rolando Tinio for Theater and Literature) was given the imprimatur by the original author (Nick Joaquin for Literature) to adapt his work thusly. Amazingly, the director shot the film in just 15 days, though post-production took another year.

Ang Larawan’s more restrictive PG rating by the MTRCB is a puzzlement. Surely, it was not the tame, sexual innuendo of the shrill showgirls’ (Cris Villongco and Aicelle Santos) Betty Boop bodabil version of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket.” The noontime variety TV shows offer far racier fare. This remake of a classic ought to be seen by a wider audience. It should not be treated as a pearl cast before swine and trodden into the mud. Given the chance, our people are capable of so much more than the usual lame, inane film fodder. They also deserve better.

MTRCB Rating: PG

Holiday road trips and PPP projects

For the third straight year, I drove my family from Makati City to Iloilo City via roll-on roll-off (RoRo) vessels during the holidays.

The road trip came with its own set of inconveniences that were nevertheless offset by several benefits: It allowed my family to carry more cargo (compared to flying) and also allowed my two daughters to enjoy boat rides.

In December 2015 and 2016, I drove days before Christmas, to avoid the long queues of vehicles at the ports of Batangas and Roxas or Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro. This year, I drove early morning of Dec. 25 and I noticed two improvements.

First, toll fees were no longer collected that day (or at least in early morning) in the three tollways — South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), the SLEx extension, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and I wish to thank the tollway operators for that Christmas gift.

As expected, travel was smooth and safe on these tollways, indicating once more the beauty of privately operated infrastructure and user-pay principle.

Last but not the least, only a few cars queued at the Batangas and Roxas ports although there were also fewer boats that day.

Roads from Calapan to Roxas in Oriental Mindoro are generally good although motorcycles and tricycles — especially in big municipalities like Calapan, Naujan, and Pinamalayan — delayed travel.

Likewise, the highways in Aklan province were smooth. In Capiz, roads have generally improved but several portions have remained bumpy. Motorcycles and tricycles on these roads have also increased significantly, extending travel time.

These bring up two important subjects.

First, the need to expand and modernize our roads via tollways, constructed and operated by the private sector through the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Existing roads will remain and will be maintained by the DPWH and local governments but there should be an alternative thoroughfares for motorists who are willing to pay for faster and safer travel.

Here is a list of potential new tollways that currently have big vehicle traffic volume. I am not sure if there are already unsolicited proposals for these tollways.

1. Calapan-Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. This covers 126 kilometers with additional entry/exit in larger municipalities such as Naujan and Pinamalayan. Vehicle volume has practically exploded with the 24/7 operations of RoRo boats between Batangas-Calapan and Roxas-Caticlan. Many tourists and visitors from Metro Manila and nearby provinces are travelling to the islands of Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental provinces) and Panay (Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo provinces).

2. Caticlan or Kalibo, Aklan-Iloilo City. Caticlan hosts the main seaport and airport for hundreds of thousands of yearly visitors who go to Boracay. Panay island has many tourist attractions besides its already substantial population.

3. Escalante-Bacolod-Dumaguete, Negros island. The Escalante-Bacolod route connects the two provincial capitals of Negros Occidental and Cebu while the Bacolod-Dumaguete route connects the two provinces’ capitals. There are four sea connections from Negros to Cebu with rising commerce and investments between the two islands. Escalante-Tabuelan, San Carlos-Toledo, Guihulngan-Tangil, and Dumaguete-Bogo or Oslob.

Second, the Duterte government shouldn’t have reversed the previous policy of integrated PPP (building/construction + operation and maintenance, O&M are under a single entity) and change to hybrid PPP (building/construction and O&M done by two separate entities, the former usually China-owned firms via China ODA).

Many Philippine-based construction companies need more experience and infrastructure portfolio that further strengthen their technical and financial capability to do more PPP nationwide and regionwide. Our emerging economic neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have started some large projects in the past and will soon undertake even bigger developments — provincial tollways, city skyways, big airports, and seaports, water, and power projects, school buildings and other civil structures.

ASEAN-based infrastructure and construction firms will have the advantage compared to those outside the region.

And pretty soon, fast-developing countries outside the region like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan will also embark on large-scale infrastructure development via PPP as the scheme will significantly free their fiscal resources while having big, capital-intensive projects at the same time.

Philippine-based construction firms with large portfolio of finished and on-going projects in the Philippines and ASEAN neighbors will have some advantage because of evolving trade and investment partnerships among Asian countries.

It may have been wrong for the Duterte government to reverse previously planned integrated PPP and change to hybrid PPP just to accommodate China ODA and firms.

After all, there should be less government intervention in sectors and activities where market competition and innovation is present and can be further strengthened. Bigger government is reserved for promoting the rule of law and respecting and enforcing contracts and obligations between and among competing and regulated entities.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is President of Minimal Government Thinkers, a member-institute of Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com.

DTI gets extra funding for shared-services facilities

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is getting a P1 billion budget in 2018 for shared-services facilities (SSFs), one of its channels for promoting the emergence of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The 2018 SSF budget represents a drastic upgrade from P70 million this year.

Shared-service facilities are typically given over for use by cooperatives, including farmers, small-scale food processors, or other entities engaged in light industry, to improve their productivity or add value to their output, thereby helping them increase their income or tap new markets.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters that he expects the department to receive P5.8 billion overall, against P4.8 billion in 2017, and less than the requested funding of P6 billion.

“Of course, we would have wanted more because that would mean that we can help more people, we can support trade promotion, we can support exporters, we can do many programs on packaging,” Mr. Lopez said.

Mr. Lopez said that the increased budget for the SSF means more MSMEs and cooperatives will be receiving equipment needed to sustain their operations.

“It’s a vital ingredient for the micro-operations especially cooperatives. If they’re a group that harvests calamansi, you need a processor for it. If it is left to the entrepreneurs buy them, it will be too expensive for them,” he added.

“A machine worth P5 million will be too much for them. So that’s what the government will give them.”

Part of the SSF budget will also be used for maintenance or for spare parts for machinery already in use.

Mr. Lopez said the SSF funding is separate from the P1 billion set aside for other MSME programs and the P1 billion for the Small Business Corp.’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program.

“Total borrowers under the P3 have increased to more than 30,000 — most are micro-entrepreneurs from the provinces. The loan would usually range from P5,000 to P50,000 but as you know, the amount could be up to P100,000,” he added. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Jr. NBA Philippines back for an 11th straight year

JR. NBA Philippines, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) global youth basketball participation program, ushers in a new decade of conduct in the country as it returns for an 11th straight year in 2018.

To kick off on Jan. 13 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, the Jr. NBA Philippines program will run till May with the aim of reaching more than 250,000 participants and 900 coaches across the country.

Started in the Philippines in 2007, the Jr. NBA program teaches the fundamental skills and core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to enhance the youth basketball experience for players, parents and coaches.

This year the program, still presented by Alaska Milk, remains free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 throughout its four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.

Since its launch in 2007, Jr. NBA clinics have been implemented in 110 cities and municipalities across the country and the 2018 program will return to key provinces including Agusan del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cavite, Misamis Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod (Feb. 10-11), Butuan (Feb. 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and Metro Manila (April 7-8), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing for the National Training Camp in Manila in May, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.

The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

Prior editions of the Jr. NBA Philippines program have featured notable alumni including Aljon Mariano, Kobe Paras, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Sotto.

The 2018 edition of Jr. NBA Philippines will also include the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year program, led by Jr. NBA Head Coaches Carlos Barroca and Alaska Power Camp Coach Jeff Cariaso, to provide training for 14 Jr. NBA coaches during the National Training Camp, with two Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year awarded with an NBA experience trip.

“For the past 10 years, Jr. NBA Philippines has established itself as a platform to improve the youth basketball experience and promote an active and healthy lifestyle among the Filipino youth,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson as they announced the return of the program in 2018. “Together with Alaska, we are committed to providing proper guidelines to how the game should be played and taught to more youth, coaches and parents in the country,” he added.

“As part of our long-standing partnership with the NBA, Alaska Milk Corporation is proud to play an active role in shaping the basketball players of tomorrow through good nutrition and proper life values,” said Alaska Milk Corp. Marketing Director Blen Fernando.

“We look forward to making a lasting impact on the lives of aspiring athletes on and off the court through the Jr. NBA program,” he added.

For more information on how to register and other particulars, log on to www.jrnba.asia/philippines or check out the Jr. NBA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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