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Malacañang assures BBL part of legislative priority

THE draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) remains an executive priority, Malacañang assured on Tuesday, Sept. 5, citing President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s meeting the previous day with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella in a press briefing said of the BBL, “The President assures this is high priority and vital to the future of Mindanao and the nation.”

To recall, the MILF forged a peace agreement with the government in 2014, on the watch of President Benigno S.C. Aquino III. From that agreement, a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would have led to the organization of a new Bangsamoro political and geographic entity, in place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. But the BBL was derailed in Congress in the aftermath of the Mamasapano killings of Jan. 25, 2015, amid an encounter with police forces and members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Last July, Mr. Duterte formally received the new draft of the proposed BBL. Although the draft law itself is not listed among the legislative priorities of the 17th Congress as identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, the move toward federalism, which is complementary to the BBL, tops the said list, or what is called the Common Legislative Agenda.

If passed, BBL will focus on developing Mindanao’s “agricultural potential” and its mining industry, which can be “mid-term or long-term activities” and will be “co-managed” by the national and future Bangsamoro government.

In his meeting with MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal, BTC Chair Ghazali Jaafar, BTC Commissioner Abdulra of Macacau, and BTC Executive Director Esmael Pasigan, Mr. Durtete said he will ask Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez to facilitate the legislative process on the BBL.

Mr. Abella for his part said: “The President also thanked the MILF for its strong support in the fight against violent extremists in Mindanao. He has cited the humanitarian efforts to save civilian lives in Marawi and the continuing operations against armed groups and enemies of the state throughout Mindanao.”

Mr. Duterte in his meeting with the MILF and BTC, was also joined by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr., Acting Interior Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, and Mr. Abella. — Rosemarie A. Zamora

San Miguel tries to put brakes on losing skid

GRAND slam-seeking San Miguel Beermen try to regroup and arrest a two-game losing streak when they collide with the hot Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup action today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel tries to put brakes on losing skid
The San Miguel Beermen look to get back on the winning track after dropping their previous two games in the PBA Governors’ Cup. — ALVIN S. GO

Scheduled at 7 p.m., the Beermen (3-3) look to finally rebound after losing back-to-back in their main game against the Elasto Painters (4-2), one of the ascending teams right now in the season-ending PBA tournament.

Preceding the night cap is the battle between the Meralco Bolts (5-1) and TNT KaTropa (4-3) in the curtain-raiser at 4:15 p.m.

Following a strong 3-1 start to their Governors’ Cup campaign, the Beermen suddenly have found themselves reeling after two successive losses that even prompted them to change import.

The last of San Miguel’s losses was dealt by erstwhile struggling Alaska Aces (1-6) last Saturday, 90-79, in Pampanga.

Prior to that, the Beermen bowed to the highly improved NLEX Road Warriors, 103-100.

Against the Aces, San Miguel never got to recover after a slow start to the game, going down 19-9 at the end of the first quarter and trailed throughout the match.

Making matters worse for the Beermen, debuting import Terik Bridgeman, who replaced the steady Wendell McKines, produced a dud of two points, six rebounds and an assist with six turnovers in 22 limited minutes.

But while San Miguel is hitting a rough patch, a bright light for them is one-time PBA most valuable player Arwind Santos, who has been stepping up his game of late.

Forward Santos has upped his tournament averages to 17.4 points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists and was solid in their game against Alaska last time around, finishing with 29 points and nine boards.

San Miguel can also bank on the slowly return to form of erstwhile injured MVP June Mar Fajardo, who had a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds to compensate for the shortcomings of import Bridgeman.

But despite the struggles they have been having, San Miguel is still bullish of turning things around.

“It has been disappointing so far but we vow to make up for it and get back to winning,” said San Miguel guard Chris Ross, who has been averaging 3.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists in the tournament.

FLUID ROS
While the Beermen have been laboring of late for a win, their opponent, the Elasto Painters, have been fluid and have won three games in a row to make their way to the top half of the standings.

Replacement import J’Nathan Bullock is proving himself to be a good fit for Rain or Shine with averages of 20 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes of play.

Also doing their fair share are guards Maverick Ahanmisi, Jericho Cruz and Chris Tiu while the return of Gilas Pilipinas players Gabe Norwood and Raymond Almazan should only make the Elasto Painters better moving forward.

In their first game back from national team duty, Messrs. Norwood and Almazan helped their team to a 92-88 win over the Star Hotshots while also combining for 28 points and 25 rebounds.

“The return of Gabe and Raymond will be a big help to us especially with the energy and defense they bring,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

Meanwhile, in the first game, the Bolts, currently second in the standings, are out to string up a new win streak while at the same time keep in step with the league-leading Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (6-1).

Out to foil Meralco are the KaTropa, who fell in their previous game and are eyeing redemption. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Suu Kyi under pressure as Rohingyas flee

SHAMLAPUR, BANGLADESH/DHAKA — Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under pressure from countries with large Muslim populations including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan to halt violence against Rohingya Muslims after nearly 125,000 of them fled to Bangladesh.

Reuters reporters saw hundreds of exhausted Rohingyas arriving on boats near the village of Shamlapur in Bangladesh near the Myanmar border. The village, facing the Bay of Bengal, appears to have become the newest receiving point for the refugees after authorities cracked down on human traffickers in a different part of the Teknaf peninsula.

Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi was due in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, on Tuesday after meeting the Nobel peace laureate and army chief Min Aung Hlaing to urge that Myanmar halt the bloodshed.

“The security authorities need to immediately stop all forms of violence there and provide humanitarian assistance and development aid for the short and long term,” Ms. Retno said after her meetings in the Myanmar capital.

The latest violence in Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine state began on Aug. 25, when Rohingya insurgents attacked dozens of police posts and an army base. The ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive have killed at least 400 people and triggered the exodus of villagers to Bangladesh.

The treatment of Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s roughly 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya is the biggest challenge facing Suu Kyi, who has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out for the minority that has long complained of persecution.

Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against “terrorists” responsible for a string of attacks on police posts and the army since last October.

Myanmar officials blamed Rohingya militants for the burning of homes and civilian deaths but rights monitors and Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh say the Myanmar army is trying to force them out with a campaign of arson and killings.

“Indonesia is taking the lead, and ultimately there is a possibility of ASEAN countries joining in,” H.T. Imam, a political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters.

He was referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations that groups both Myanmar and Indonesia.

“If we can keep the pressure on Myanmar from ASEAN, from India as well, that will be good.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a visit to Myanmar later on Tuesday, during which he will meet top officials, including Ms. Suu Kyi.

Turkey called the violence against the Rohingya “genocide” and offered Bangladesh help with the refugee influx. Pakistan, home to a large Rohingya community, has expressed “deep anguish” and urged the world body, the Organization of Islamic Countries, to act.

New arrivals and residents in Shamlapur said hundreds of boats had arrived on Monday and Tuesday with several thousand people, after a crackdown on traffickers at an island about 50 km (31 miles) south.

Reuters reporters saw men, women, children and their belongings, even live chickens, disembark from one boat.

“We fled to a hill when the shooting started. The army set fire to houses,” said Salim Ullah, 28, a farmer from Myanmar’s village of Kyauk Pan Du, gripping a sack containing his few remaining belongings, as he gazed exhausted at the beach.

“We got on the boat at daybreak. I came with my mother, wife and two children. There were 40 people on a boat, including 25 women.”

The latest estimate of the numbers who have crossed the border into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, based on calculations by UN workers in the south Asian country, is 123,600.

That takes to about 210,000 the number of Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since October, when Rohingya insurgents staged much smaller attacks on security posts, triggering a major Myanmar army counteroffensive and sending about 87,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh. — Reuters

Typhoon Kiko maintains strength

TROPICAL DEPRESSION Kiko is expected to exit the Philippine area by late evening Wednesday, Sept. 6, or early morning Thursday, but not before dumping moderate to heavy rains in the northern parts of Luzon, Batanes, and the Babuyan islands. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 5 p.m. bulletin yesterday, alerted residents of possible flash floods and landslides. The capital Metro Manila is forecasted to have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and occasional heavy rains and lightning due to thunderstorms.

Manila comes alive with The Sound of Music

WHO IS NOT familiar with Julie Andrews’ movie The Sound of Music? The lines “The hills are alive, with the sound of music” and “I am sixteen going on seventeen” are ingrained in many a listener’s brains. The song “Do Re Mi” (“Doe a deer, a female deer”) has been used many times to teach the basic notes of music.

While one can always see the movie version, Manila audiences will have a chance to see the stage musical thanks to Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila who are bringing the London West End production of The Sound of Music to Solaire.

The partner producers already have an excellent track record when it comes to knowing what will tickle the Filipino’s fancy when it comes to musical – through the years they have brought in Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Chicago, Cats, and We Will Rock You. The question to ask, then, is if the stage musical can deliver something as iconic as the original movie.

To find the six younger Von Trapp children (the roles are cast in each of the touring production’s stops), an audition was held which attracted over 400 hopeful young actors. Jonny Bowles, the children’s director, came from London to oversee three days’ worth of acting, singing, and dancing tests. They ended up with three alternates per role, choosing 18 of the best child actors they could find.

Meanwhile, the lead role of Maria – the novice nun who becomes the governess of a widower’s wild brood of children, capturing their, and their father’s heart, at the cusp of world War II – falls to Carmen Pretorius of South Africa. At age 16, the actress toured Japan and Singapore as a vocalist for the nonprofit organization, Faith Harmony. She has since performed in several musicals including Footloose The Musical, Mamma Mia!, Cabaret, and Jersey Boys. She has also appeared in three South African TV series.

THE VON TRAPP CHILDREN: 18 children were selected to play as the Von Trapp children, with three alternates for each role: 1st row (L-R): Princess Aliyah Rabara, Alysha Mari Africa, Jia Ruth Lauren Condino, Faline Dorando, Leani Columna, Samantha Lagman; 2nd row: Krystal Brimner, Sophia Isabella Reyes, Rayne Yssibel Cortez, James Christian Hess, Dean Adhiel Angelia; 3rd row: Kyle Robert Rafanan, Tory Gil Emilio Cortez, Gwyneth Jearei Dorado, Orenci Ken Soleta, Angelica Mabuting

Ms. Pretorius was no stranger to the staged version of The Sound of Music she had earlier played Liezl Von Trapp, the eldest of the Von Trapp children (and the singer of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”), and was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical in the 2015 Fleur de Cap Theatre Awards for her work. Ms. Pretorius has acknowledged that this experience prepared her for eventually taking on the role of Maria.

THE KIDS
At the recent the press conference for The Sound of Music, 16 of the 18 child actors performed “The Hills are Alive” with Ms. Pretorius. The children – who range in age from 16 to six – seemed very well-trained. They were focused on the task at hand: no giggling, no horseplay. They were able to get their counterpoint singing in sync: they would not have been able to do that if they were not disciplined in their rehearsals.

As the children’s voices faded and Ms. Pretorius began to sing solo, all the children looked at her with full and honest smiles, suggesting that they would have good chemistry with her once the main show goes onstage.

Ms. Pretorius performed perfectly in both pitch and the difficult art of dynamics, wowing everybody in the room with her well-chosen crescendos and diminuendos.

While she does speak with a hint of her South African-Dutch (Afrikaans) accent, Pretorius sings perfectly fine. – Gideon Isidro

The Sound of Music runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 15 at The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort & Casino, 1 Aseana Ave., Entertainment City, Parañaque City. Tickets, priced from P1,500 to P7,000, are available through TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-999).

From Cubao to Stuttgart

By Kap Maceda Aguila

ONE thing’s for sure: The cover of pop princess Taylor Swift’s “1989” album hardly ever appears anywhere as a serious presentation graphic.

And yet there it was in its full glory right behind and above the grinning resource speaker. To be clear, he was referencing the compilation merely for its nomenclature (the year Ms. Swift was born) and not its musical virtues. The year 1989 proved an extremely pivotal point in the life of one Winifredo “Wini” Camacho. It has thus far been a long, event-filled journey taking Mr. Camacho from the Philippines to become the senior exterior designer for premium car maker Mercedes-Benz in Germany.

‘OUTLIER’
Speaking at the “Masters of Design Executive Talks” sponsored by First Pacific Leadership Academy and held on Aug. 14 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City, Mr. Camacho also cited Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book Outliers to help explain how he bucked the odds and landed no less than a dream job. “Outliers are successful people who do things out of the ordinary, and outside of the normal experience,” he explained to the audience largely comprised of college students from various universities. “[Mr. Gladwell] hypothesized that talent and hard work alone are not enough to achieve access. Being born in a particular year, and being in the right place and time are just as important. In this particular sense, I can be considered an outlier.”

Born in 1965, Mr. Camacho’s path to the Stuttgart-based car maker veritably began very early. At age seven or eight, Mr. Camacho was already rendering impressive sketches of airplanes and spaceships, and “occasionally, dream cars… but back then I was more interested in planes than cars.” He averred, “I knew even when I was a little kid that I would be pursuing some kind of design career.”

After completing primary and secondary education at the Victoria School Foundation in Cubao, Quezon City, Mr. Camacho took up Industrial Design at the University of Santo Tomas. He furthered his innate skills there, which culminated in a design for a compact folding bike as his thesis. “It was a challenging and complex project,” he recalled, but he excelled and completed the course cum laude.

SEEKING STUTTGART
Before this, Mr. Camacho had attended a design seminar held at the National Museum during a summer break, and was riveted by the presentation of the guest speaker, “a prominent industrial designer from Germany… who showed images of this remarkable southern city where he was based.” That city, he learned, was Stuttgart. Mr. Camacho, admittedly a “chronic and obsessive dreamer,” then latched on to visions of reaching the capital of southwest Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg state.

A slew of odd jobs followed his graduation from UST, first with a furniture firm as designer, then a junior industrial designer for a graphic and product design company. Mr. Camacho then tried his luck on starting his own design practice along with two former classmates. Among their clients was Procter & Gamble, for which they designed a packaging for its famous Tide detergent product. On the side, Mr. Camacho “dabbled in product design like a Walkman cassette player… and early attempts at transportation design, such as a reimagination of the Mitsubishi Lancer.

In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests, which later degenerated into a massacre of democracy seekers, had a chilling effect on many Hong Kong residents. “[It] was still a British protectorate due to be handed back to Chinese rule in 1997. After this incident, thousands of terrified HK residents feared for their future and left the territory,” narrated Mr. Camacho. “It created a void of skilled professionals. Because of this I got an opportunity to work there.”

He described his first place of residence there as a “shoebox,” a 1.5-meter by 3.0-meter windowless room at Causeway Bay. Mr. Camacho nonetheless soldiered on and worked for a merchandising company, then for a toy maker. It was the first time he had a chance to work with a digital modeling software called Alias — designing pre-school toys and remote-controlled vehicles. “I was probably one of the first in Asia to use that,” he said.

Despite the large shadow then of China looming over Hong Kong, Mr. Camacho has fond memories of that time. “Hong Kong is such a dynamic and vibrant place that opened my eyes to endless possibilities of what I can do and what I can be,” he shared.

DESIGN DESTINY
Following the discovery of an intense passion for car design, Mr. Camacho applied for and was accepted to the prestigious Art Center Europe, located in beautiful Vevey in Vaud, Switzerland. He entered the transportation design program where, among other projects, Mr. Camacho submitted an impressive, modern-day interpretation of the iconic Vespa scooter. His stint in the school would crystallize the designer’s preference for “pure, absolute, and distinctive shapes.”

In 1996, Mr. Camacho moved to the Pasadena, California, campus of the Art Center as the Swiss facility was shuttered due to the lack of funds. Despite initially missing the serenity of Vevey, Mr. Camacho was eventually taken by “the endless sunny days and live-for-the-moment attitude.” In the US, he continued to flex and hone his design muscles at the institution that is the first in the world to offer a course in transportation design and understandably “supplies a sizeable chunk of car designers worldwide.”

Two issues vexed him there, though. First was a lack of funds — which his mother addressed; and the prospect of getting a job after graduation. “During that time, only the top 20–30% of the graduates would get a car design job. There were simply a lot more car design students than available jobs. Competition was really fierce.”

But the stars aligned anew for the self-confessed outlier. “I was one of the lucky few. After interviewing with several companies, my dream finally came true. I got hired by Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, California.” Mr. Camacho said that one of the job clinchers was his proposed design for a Callaway GT race car to run at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This is the part where things get more familiar. Mr. Camacho cultivated his reputation and renown in the Stuttgart company, and he acquired experience and expertise from postings in Sindelfingen, Germany; Turin, Italy; Yokohama, Japan; and Beijing, China. Now Germany-based again with his wife and daughter, Mr. Camacho’s portfolio with Mercedes-Benz include work on the BDNT Denza and the MB G-Code, along with the X-Class pickup concept and C-Class.

Significantly, he never forgets how lucky he is, where he comes from. “Ako po si (I am) Wini Camacho, and I’m very, very proud to be a Filipino,” he closed, earning enthusiastic applause from the obviously inspired students.

DMCI founder David Consunji passes away

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

CONSTRUCTION tycoon David M. Consunji died on Monday at the age of 95.

David M. Consunji
David M. Consunji

The founder and chairman of DMCI Holdings, Inc. was surrounded by close family and relatives at the time of his passing, his family confirmed on Tuesday.

“A beloved husband and father, DM built landmarks and redefined cityscapes for generations of Filipinos. He transformed the local construction industry by valuing not the quick profit but the satisfaction of doing one’s work well, honestly and proudly,” according to the family’s statement.

Mr. Consunji was a consistent name in the Forbes Philippines Rich List, ranking 6th in the 2017 edition with an estimated fortune of $3.68 billion.

He had graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in civil engineering in 1946. He passed the board exam on the same year.

He started his career as a teacher in Bataan and then as a concrete inspector for Streiff and Kuenzle. Mr. Consunji’s first major project was to design the four-storey Marcelo Rubber Co. building in Malabon in 1948.

In 1954, the engineer founded his own contracting business called DM Consunji, Inc., just eight years after his graduation. With just P3 million in capital at the time of its establishment, Mr. Consunji grew the company into what is now a conglomerate with construction, engineering, mining, and real estate interests.

In 1995, he founded DMCI Holdings, Inc. in order to consolidate all his businesses. Its subsidiaries include the original company, DM Consunji, Inc. as well as DMCI Project Developers, Inc., Semirara Mining and Power Corp., DMCI Power Corp., and DMCI Mining Corp. The company is now valued at around P205 billion and is listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Mr. Consunji, known as “DM,” stepped down from the company’s operations in 2014, handing down the reins to his son Isidro A. Consunji as chairman and president, but was still given the honorary title of chairman emeritus.

The elder Consunji garnered various awards during the span of his career. He was named as Meralco Awardee in the field of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In 1982, he joined the roster of 10 outstanding civil engineers awarded by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, and then received an honorary doctorate by his alma mater the year after.

Most recently, Mr. Consunji was given the most distinguished alumnus award by the UP Alumni Association in 2016. 

Other than his business accomplishments, Mr. Consunji also lent his services to the government, serving as the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways for five years during the term of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. 

Mr. Consunji’s remains now lie at the Capilla de San Francisco of Sanctuario de San Antonio Parish, McKinley Road, Forbes Park in Makati City. The family has advised that viewing will be allowed until Friday, Sept. 8.

His body is scheduled to be interred the following day at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City after the 9:30 a.m. mass at the aforementioned church. 

In addition, Mr. Consunji’s family requested that rather than sending flowers to the deceased, donations be made instead to the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. and Orani Suhay Foundation, Inc. in Mr. Consunji’s name.

Government makes full award of Treasury bonds

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez,
Senior Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT made a full award of reissued seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) offered yesterday, with strong demand driving yields lower as market players park their excess funds in the debt papers.

The Bureau of the Treasury raised the entire P15 billion that it wanted to sell yesterday from the auction of reissued T-bonds with a remaining life of six years and seven months.

The offering saw tenders reach nearly triple the offer at P42.364 billion, which in turn drove the average rate to 4.395%, well below the 4.51% fetched when the papers were last offered on Aug. 8 and the original 4.5% coupon quoted when the seven-year notes were first issued back in April. The debt papers will mature on April 20, 2024.

Deputy Treasurer Erwin D. Sta. Ana told reporters after the auction that strong market appetite drove interest rates down.

“The market is still flushed with liquidity. We had some maturity in the past few weeks so maybe it’s repositioning on the part of investors as well,” Mr. Sta. Ana said.

The average rate fetched was also lower than the 4.3802% quoted for the seven-year debt at the secondary market as yesterday noon.

At the close of trading, the yield on the paper went down to 4.3582%.

Sought for comment, a bond trader said ample market liquidity as well as developments offshore spurred investor appetite for local instruments.

“This is just a reflection of sustained demand of investors for peso-denominated investments or assets,” the trader said in a phone interview after the Treasury auction.

“If you look at numbers of the central bank’s interest rate corridor facilities, you can see that we are really flush with liquidity. It’s just waiting to be deployed properly.”

Some P800 billion in cash are held under the weekly term deposit auctions as well as the reverse repurchase and overnight deposit facilities administered by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, as the monetary authority eyes to mop excess money supply in the financial system to bring market rates closer to its benchmark.

She noted that the faster inflation print at 3.1% in August — which was the highest since April’s 3.4% — may have likely pushed demand for government-issued debt.

Asked whether the decline in fetched yields will likely be sustained, the trader said that interest rates will remain “guided by market conditions,” as she pointed out that local yields likely mirrored the decline in US Treasury rates as well as other global bond yields.

The government plans to borrow as much as P195 billion from the domestic debt market this quarter, more than the P180 billion programmed in the April-June period.

Borrowings fund the country’s budget deficit, which in July stood at P50.5 billion, almost flat from the prior year’s P50.5 billion, as both revenue collections and expenditures increased.

For the first seven months of the year, the government’s fiscal position settled at a P205-billion deficit, higher than the previous year’s gap of P171 billion.

The government has capped this year’s budget deficit at 3% of gross domestic product.

From rivals to allies: Cardona, Tanchi forge partnership thru CCF

REMEMBER Paul Tanchi, the combo guard from Ateneo?

From rivals to allies: Cardona, Tanchi forge partnership thru CCF
Mac Cardona feels he’s like a rookie again after one year of absence in the PBA. — REY JOBLE

He is now playing a big role in the life of his former collegiate rival, Mac Cardona, who is now making a PBA comeback.

Mr. Tanchi is now the spiritual and life adviser of Mr. Cardona, the newest member of the GlobalPort Batang Pier and the veteran cager is thankful to have his old rival as now one of his closest allies.

“I’m surprised that Paul Tanchi became my spiritual adviser,” Mr. Cardona said. “He’s my mentor. Whenever I go to the church, he’s there. I didn’t expect that to happen.”

Both Messrs. Tanchi and Cardona met several times in the heated Ateneo-La Salle rivalry in the UAAP.

Unlike Mr. Cardona, who became one of the best players the league has ever produced for the past 10 years, Mr. Tanchi didn’t pursue a career in the PBA. Instead, Tanchi devoted his time with the Christian Commission Fellowship (CCF) where he became a speaker.

When Cardona entered one of the darkest chapters of his life by attempting suicide, he found hope in getting his life back on track thru Mr. Tanchi.

Mr. Cardona is on a comeback trail and on Sunday, he played his first game for the GlobalPort Batang Pier. He scored four points in barely eight minutes of playing time.

For Mr. Cardona, being idle for over a year makes him feel like a rookie again.

“I feel like I’m a rookie again, especially now that I’m reunited with Coach Franz (Pumaren),” said Mr. Cardona. “I’m thankful for the opportunity of being able to play again in the PBA. This is something I didn’t expect.”

Mr. Cardona has gone full circles playing under Mr. Pumaren, his old coach with the La Salle Green Archers. Their partnership brought the Green Archers to four straight championships from 1998 to 2001. — Rey Joble

Transforming the Mining Industry

This week, mining industry stakeholders will again gather for the annual mining conference, organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP). This year, COMP has come up with the theme “Responsible Mining: Moving Beyond Compliance.”

By giving this name to the regular gathering of miners and allied industry players, the industry is showing its emphasis on responsible mining, and its aim to go above and beyond mining laws and other pertinent environmental regulations. The theme communicates a desire to shift from “business as usual” to a level of commitment that addresses mining-related environmental and socioeconomic issues in a way that anti-mining activists will find difficult to tarnish.

Indeed, Gina Lopez’s brief stint as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary served as a bitter wake-up call to the mining industry. Some miners even claim that the industry’s very survival came under threat with the anti-mining policy pronouncements and orders issued by then Secretary Lopez.

One can only surmise the value of Sen. Ping Lacson’s observation in one of the Commission on Appointment’s hearings regarding the eventual fate of Lopez’s designation in the DENR. The Senator categorically stated that the problem lies in the unilateral changing of the rules when mining companies had supposedly adhered to what are written in the laws. This was a damning comment, but why does it seem that Lopez was the victim environmental crusader of “evil” miners? Why does it seem that the public sees that hers was a noble cause against perceived corporate greed?

Perhaps the source of strength of the anti-mining message is based on the fact that there really are errant mines.

Thus, COMP’s avowed adherence to mining laws is weakened or betrayed by its member and nonmember miners who violate environmental regulations and give critics even more ammunition against the industry.

In addition, legacy issues such as the Marcopper disaster Marinduque, along with the other abandoned mines, continue to haunt the industry.

Despite these flaws, however, there exists a momentum in the rejection of Gina Lopez that must be seized.

For the good miners out there, now is the time to prove to government and the other stakeholders that responsible mining exists, and that COMP, as the industry’s leader, can guarantee that its members practice what they preach. It is only through this scenario will the industry be able to overcome its negative image and all the other consequential challenges, especially those from the anti-mining bloc.

There are a lot of models that seek to define responsible mining through the identification of indicators or guiding principles against which the performance of a mining company or mining operation is measured.

For example, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has adopted Aboriginal and Community Outreach, Energy and GHG Emissions Management, Tailings Management, Biodiversity Conservation Management, Safety and Health, Crisis Management and Communications Planning as “assessment protocols” in order for MAC to gauge the adherence of its members to responsible mining. Likewise, the Australian government has laid down the principles of responsible mining as Sustainable Development, Efficiency, Precaution, Accountability and Transparency, Polluter Responsibility, Community Consultation and Involvement, and Equity and Equality.

Another way to move towards responsible mining is by adopting the “endpoint perspective” espoused by Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla of the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Geological Sciences.

For Dr. Arcilla, the assessment of mining projects should not be limited to their net present value, but should primarily consider the end of mine life or post-closure.

According to him, such an approach will allow the proponents to visualize proactive methods to address inevitable issues, such as tailings disposal, mine rehabilitation, and the sustainability of the host and surrounding communities, as mining operations wind down. His views are encapsulated in a recent study published by the Stratbase ADR Institute, entitled “Mining in the Philippines: Problems and Suggested Solutions.”

In any case, all members of COMP must be required to undergo the responsible mining assessment using the indicators or principles to be established. This compulsory arrangement would be similar to that of MAC’s Towards Responsible Mining (TSM) program. Certification mechanisms should also be devised to reward those exhibiting excellent performance as well as to assist those striving to meet the standards, much like that of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance’s (IRMA) prospective “Certified” and “Candidate” statuses.

The abovementioned endeavor will signal a transition into a self-regulating mining industry, which monitors its members compliance with legal, ethical, environmental and safety standards under the tutelage of COMP.

Certainly, the ability to vouch for a mine’s practice of responsible mining is a testament that mining is not bad per se and that it can be done properly in the Philippine setting. More importantly, the undertaking will naturally discriminate illegal and noncompliant operations from responsible ones, and perhaps, this can even pave the way for COMP and the anti-mining groups to have a common objective in cracking down on these delinquent miners.

Call that transformation.

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the founder and managing director of the Stratbase Group and president of its policy think tank, Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ADRi). Prof. Manhit is a former chair and retired associate professor of Political Science of De La Salle University. He has authored numerous papers on governance, political, and electoral reforms.

Smarter car stereo in the smart phone age

By Kap Maceda Aguila

THE logic is undeniable. People shell out wads of hard-earned money to procure powerful, feature-laden smartphones. They rightfully should be able to experience a seamless experience with these mobile devices even when aboard their vehicles. This, asserted Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre (PEA) product manager Danny Quek, is the reason the Japan-headquartered electronics giant has deigned to up its game.

In the Philippines, Pioneer is arguably principally known for a rich history in car audio. Before its current logo (which debuted in 1998), Pioneer’s omega and tuning fork symbol was widely synonymous to affordable yet quality car after-market audio upgrades. The company is also responsible for in-car entertainment innovations such as the automobile CD player and the detachable-face car stereo.

Today, while the brand retains undoubted recall among automobile audiophiles, Pioneer Corp. has had to fight for its place and share of the pie against a myriad of companies. Bloomberg reports that North America is set to be the “largest market for in-vehicle infotainment systems by 2022.” Understandably, the United States “will be at the heart of this growth as the country has one of the highest installation rates of infotainment units in the world,” and that “the increasing demand for premium vehicles will drive the market growth as infotainment systems are offered as standard equipment in premium and luxury cars.” Pioneer Corp. is indicated as among the actors expected to make a play for this significantly growing market.

PEA and Zamony Venture Corp. (the latter being the exclusive distributor of the Pioneer brand in the Philippines) recently unveiled new multimedia head units in the Pioneer Z Series — reflecting the earnest and determined push into the future for the brand obviously out to get back in the thick of the aftermarket game.

The 1-DIN AVH-Z7050BT (P41,999), 2-DIN AVH-Z5050BT (P39,999), AVH-Z2050BT (P27,999), and AVH-Z1050DVD (P25,999) represent quick, definitive upgrades over stock infotainment systems that can sometimes be found lacking in performance capability and connectivity. “Our primary target market are owners of more affordable cars who want to upgrade their stock head units,” said Zamony Venture Corp. sales head Gregg Alina to this writer. “Coincidentally, the Z Series’ new features jibe with the recently enacted Anti-Distracted Driving Law.”

The Z-Series head units boast connectivity with Apple CarPlay, AppRadio Mode+, and the Android Auto (yet to be officially launched in the region, although beta versions are available) from the AVH-Z2050BT upwards. They are Bluetooth-ready and can accommodate up to five devices simultaneously. Users can access their media library of videos and songs, use certain apps such as Waze (launched from Pioneer’s new AppRadio Mode+), and even stream online videos (via the AppRadio LIVE app). Music-streaming app Spotify is also available.

The Z Series heralds a “seamless user experience” through plug-and-play convenience. The head unit automatically detects and retrieves available content from phones, a thumb drive, or even a 1-TB external hard drive. Video playback supports full-HD quality (1080p) and, perhaps more importantly, numerous codecs such as WMW, Xvid, H.264, H.263, and MPEG-4 — opening the door for more content to be used.

Pioneer also upgrades the Z models to promise better sound. In a statement, the company says the line banners a “newly developed circuit board which eliminates external interference to enhance audio signal integrity,” and “performance is further improved by leveraging premium audiophile-grade components for maximum listening pleasure.” Finally, all models have been “professionally tuned” by sound engineers. For increased customization, users can access a 13-band graphic equalizer, auto equalizer, auto time alignment, and Pioneer’s proprietary Advanced Sound Retriever. Hands-free functions are also provided.

Mr. Alina reminds buyers to procure only from licensed or authorized dealers, as there are gray-market suppliers hawking smuggled and/or out-of-region units which can prove problematic for owners later — aside from the fact that they lose their warranty.

ERC clears NGCP plan to link Visayas, Mindanao grids

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has granted provisional authority to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to implement the interconnection between the Visayas and Mindanao power grids for around P51.7 billion.

ERC’s initial approval deepens the tug-of-war between the privately owned grid operator and state agency National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), which is also proposing to handle the project.

“The provisional approval granted to NGCP to implement the Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project will enable power supply importations among the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids,” said ERC Commissioner Alfredo J. Non in a statement on Tuesday.

The project covers the linking of the power grids via Cebu and Dipolog City as the landing points of the undersea cable. The converter stations in Visayas and Mindanao will be located in Sibonga, Cebu and Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, respectively.

Mr. Non, who is also the ERC’s officer-in-charge, said the deficiency of supply in Visayas may be supplied by importing power from Luzon or Mindanao.

“Hence, this Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection will help address the insufficient power supply and will also help optimize the available power supply in the Philippine Grid,” he added.

The project, according to the NGCP estimates, is expected to be completed in 46 months or nearly four years, or still within the term of the current political leadership, which ends in 2022. The estimated cost is P51.6967 billion.

The ERC said the provisional authority was issued under its order dated July 11, 2017. It said the project is in support of the government’s vision to link the country’s major grids into a single national grid.

With an interconnected grid, overall power supply security is expected to improve as sharing of reserves will be possible.

The project also aims to support the operation of the electricity market “by maximizing the use of available energy resources and additional generation capacities in Visayas and Mindanao which include the renewable energy resources,” the ERC said.

The agency said its action on NGCP’s proposal is subject to certain conditions.

“The proposed project shall be subject to optimization based on its actual use and/or implementation during the reset process for the next regulatory period,” it said.

It also said NGCP is required to conduct competitive bidding for the purchase of major materials in the implementation of the project, and to pay the permit fee.

The ERC statement comes after TransCo last month told reporters that the agency wants to take over all of the country’s power grid interconnection projects at a cost of around P90-P110 billion. It said it was looking at the government’s share in the revenue of the Malampaya offshore gas find to fund these projects.

Melvin A. Matibag, TransCo president and chief executive officer, said the interconnection projects include the proposed Visayas-Mindanao link as well as those of Antique and Mindoro, Bohol and Cebu, and Panay and Negros.

He said TransCo had used as benchmark the cost cited by NGCP, which he said previously presented plans to build the transmission facilities. — Victor V. Saulon

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