From the finale of "GMA Gold" aired last June 17, 2000 on GMA-7.
In February 1998, the GMA management decided to reformat the show, introduce new segments and add new hosts. On its first anniversary, the show’s title Sobrang Okey Pare was shortened to SOP and introduced a new, lively theme song that says it all: "S-O-P dito sa GMA!"
Beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez and young stars Angelika dela Cruz, Dingdong Dantes, KC Montero and Antoinette Taus were some of the latest additions in 1998. But what made SOP inch closer to rival ASAP in the ratings was the inclusion of Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez in the roster of SOP hosts and performers. Regine immediately blended with Janno, Ogie and the rest of the SOP gang as they started to conquer the Sunday noontime scene with aplomb like no other.
“Fitness.Fashion” also scored a coup with the runway debut of fitness enthusiast and sports advocate Sen. Pia Cayetano. Other guest models were Akiko Thompson, Amanda Carpo, Rina Go, Paolo Abrera, Phoemela Baranda, Svetlana Osmeña, Jeena Lopez, Enchong Dee, Ruby Gan, Fely Atienza, Trishan Cuazo, catwalk queens Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez and Apples Aberin-Sadhwani, and Inquirer’s own Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Leica Carpo.
Plus co-guest models are Willie Nepomuceno, Candy Pangilinan, Jon Santos, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Joy Viado, Klaudia Koronel, Mystica, Raffy Rodriguez, Marissa Sanchez, Selina Sevilla, Madeline Nicholas, Leo Martinez, Pekto, Ate Shawie, Ate Guy, Lorraine Baretto, Maribeth Bichara, Lara Fabregas, Jerome John Hughes, Melisa Henderson, Everly Locsin, Glydel Mercado, Cody Moreno, Marissa del Mar, Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Erik Santos, Mike Chan, "Spicy" Susan Quinico, Hyubs Azarcon, Luane Dy, Angelica Jones, Dominic Ochoa, Bobby Yan, Cacai Velasquez, Amanda Page, Gabby Eigenmann, Bernadette Allyson, Mo Twister, Lalaine Edson, Jake Roxas, Ruffa Gutierrez, Angelika dela Cruz, Antoinette Taus, Jaya, Lani Misalucha, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, Jolo Revilla, Karylle, Angel Locsin, Nina, Danica and Oyo Boy Sotto, Kevin Vernal, Champagne Morales, Cogie Domingo, Roxanne Barcelo, James Blanco, Richard Gutierrez, Brad Turvey, Chynna Ortaleza, Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Herras, Yasmien Kurdi, Rainier Castillo, Cristine Reyes, Maxene Magalona, Dennis Trillo, Gab Valenciano, LJ Reyes, Lovi Poe, EB Babes, Karel Marquez, Isabella Gonzalez, La Diva, You've Got Male, Sugarpop, Chris Cayzer, Martin Escudero, Marina Benipayo, Patty Betita, Annette Coronel, Suyen Chi, Wilma Dassent, Marky Cielo, Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, Stef Prescott, Rich Asuncion, Jesi Corcuera, Kiko Junio, Paulo Avelino, Sheena Halili, Jan Manual, Ailyn Luna, Paolo Bediones, Pia Guanio, Raymond Gutierrez, John Lapus, Mel Tiangco, Jay Sonza, John Lesaca, Fides Cuyugan-Asencio, Kata Inocencio, Lyn Ching, Suzi Entrata, Ryan Agoncillo, Mickey Ferriols, Mon Isberto, Arnold Clavio, Miriam Quiambao, Eagle Riggs, Hans Montenegro, Dina Bonnevie, Patricia Javier, Jimmy Santos, Manilyn Reynes, Dingdong Avanzado, Aiza Seguerra, Ruby Rodriguez, Jaime Garchitorena, Lady Lee, Eric Quizon, Jose Manalo, Allan K., Donna Cruz, Maricel Soriano, Valentin Simon, Jenny Syquia, Mitoy Yonting, Kristine Florendo, Camille Ocampo, Mausi Wohlfarth, Mike Zerrudo, Rosanna Roces, Gladys Guevarra, Lana Asanin, Steven Claude Goyong, Dindin Llarena, Sherilyn Reyes, Gemma Fitzgerald, Aji Estornino, Nadine Schmidt, Teri Onor, Diana Zubiri, Michael V., Keempee de Leon, Lana Jalosjos, Pauleen Luna, Alicia Mayer, Sugar Mercado, Ciara Sotto, BJ Forbes, Julia Clarete, Edgar Allan Guzman, Mark Ariel Fresco, Ryan Julio, Cindy Kurleto, Ho and Ha, Daiana Menezes, Ariani Nogueira, Vivian Velez, Gina de Venecia, Love Anover, Christian Esteban, Pia Arcangel, Drew Arellano, Tonipet Gaba, Jigs Mayuga, Avi Siwa, Ramon Bautista, Angel Rivero, Tado Jimenez, Hero Angeles, Sandara Park, Roxanne Guinoo, Joross Gamboa, Melissa Ricks, Michelle Madrigal, Joseph Bitangcol, Neri Naig, Raphael Martinez, Errol Abalayan, Kiray Celis, Katrina Legaspi, Mikylla Ramirez, Eliza Pineda, Kristel Fulgar, Sharlene San Pedro, Miles Ocampo, Angel Sy, Nikki Bagaporo, Julia Montes, Alfred Labatos, John Manalo, Iggy Boy Flores, Kobe Vidanes, EJ Jallorina, Carl Barrameda, Steven Fermo, Yong Chiu, Angel Aquino, Daphne Osena-Paez, Amanda Griffin, Iya Villania, Cheska Garcia, Iya Yotoko, Manu Sandejas, Archie Alemania, Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, Laura Jean, Tim Yap, KC Montero, Miggy Eugenio, Rico Barrera, Chiqui Alcala, Jayson Gainza, Nene Tamayo, Jun Bob dela Cruz, Cass Ponti, JB Magsaysay, Racquel Reyes, Uma Khouny, Jenny Suico, Franzen Fajardo, Bettina Carlos, Reema Chanco, Bianca King, Inah Estrada, Alynna Asistio, Winwyn Marquez, Megan Young, Benj Punzalan, Ailyn Luna, Carmina Villarroel, Kat de Castro, Alex Gonzaga, Badjie Mortiz, Bangs Garcia, Joem Bascon, Charee Pineda, Timmy Boy Sta. Maria, Eda Nolan, Janelle Quintana, Mikel Campos, Blumark Roces, Jana Pablo, Kontin Roque, Smokey Manaloto, Kristoff Abrenica, Jamilla Obispo, Keanna Reeves, John Prats, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Yeng Constantino, Jay-R Siaboc, Ronnie Liang, Panky Trinidad, Irish Fullerton, Chad Peralta, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Grace Lee, Christine Jacob-Sandejas, Cheche Lazaro, Janno Gibbs, Anjo Yllana, Raymart Santiago, Oscar Orbos, Winnie Monsod, Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Cruz, Eric Fructuoso, Susan Lozada, Assunta De Rossi, Jackie De Guzman, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Diego Llorico, Shirley Fuentes, Alma Concepcion, Myka Flores, Luis Alandy, Aya Medel, Ara Mina, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Wowie De Guzman, Maureen Larrazabal, Francine Prieto, Regine Tolentino, Renford Alano, Aria Cariño, Isabella Dayto, Romina de Jesus, Mikee de Vega, Caleb Gotico, Ella Guevara, Nikki Liu, Sam Turingan, Rob Pengson, Mico Aytona, Lucky Mercado, Andrea Torres, Monica Verallo, Lolit Solis, Butch Francisco, Lorna Tolentino, Maybelyn dela Cruz, Trina Zuñiga, Biboy Ramirez, Sherwin Ordoñez, Joseph Izon, Danilo Barrios, Jason Red, Erwin Aquino, AJ Eigenmann, Roanna Ruiz-Jamir, Railey Valeroso, Karen delos Reyes, Tricia Roman, Valerie Concepcion, Charina Scott, Denise Laurel, Mitzi Borromeo, JC de Vera, Lester Llansang, Crystal Moreno, Fred Payawan, Sam Concepcion, Kevin Lapena, Cheska Ortega, Miguel Aguila, Kamae de Jesus, Dino Imperial, Bianca Manalo, Sam YG, Say Alonzo, Joaqui Mendoza, Aaron Juantas, Japoy Lizardo, Nica Calapatan, Tim Polero, Anton Asistio, Sara Castaneda, Pauline Lopez, Katrice delos Reyes, Michael Christian Martinez, Carlos Yulo, Micco Sollano, Marielle Infantado, Kyle Arrieta, Rafael Olbes, Eugene Herrera, Nash Aguas, Prince Carlos, Lukas Magallano, Marian Buitre, Fille Cainglet, Princess Gaiser, Dzi Gervacio, Mika Reyes, Alyssa Valdez, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, Mikee Reyes, Ricci Rivero, Jeron Teng, Matteo Guidicelli, Tyson Sy, Mark Bumgarner, Javi Benitez, Enzo Pastor, Illac Diaz, Ginggay Joven-dela Merced, Paco Magsaysay, Maggie Wilson, Divine Lee, Camille Villar, Mons Romulo-Tantoco, Zanjoe Marudo, Jake Cuenca, Victor Basa, Jon Avila, Rayver Cruz, Richard Gomez, Dingdong Dantes, Diether Ocampo, John Estrada, Priscilla Meirelles, Kristine Hermosa, Johnny Litton, Anton San Diego, Tomy Florencio, JC Buendia, Jojie Lloren, Ito Curata, Anton Mendoza, Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, Tony Abad, Sander Tantoco, Santi Picornell and Michelle Pantoja.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Into the sunset
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| A security guard checks a list during the last day of Harrison Plaza’s commercial operations on Tuesday. The iconic mall built in 1976 is set to be transformed into a mixed-use development complex. |
Harrison Plaza sees last day as 2019 ends
Harrison Plaza ceased commercial operations on the last day of 2019, as the SM Group - one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates - is set to begin to transform the capital city's first major mall into a mixed-use development.
SM Prime Holdings earlier entered a long-term joint development agreement with the Manila government to modernize the 7-hectare Harrison Plaza complex that has been lagging behind newer entertainment centers in the capital region for decades.
The Malate mall was built in 1976 and was thriving up to the early '90s as mallgoers flocked to its in-house skating rink, bowling center, and upscale stores.
The city government of Manila will continue to keep and "protect" its interests in the iconic shopping center that was bid out to private firms by the previous city administration, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier said.
"We are looking into how we are going to protect the interest of the city government of Manila we still have semblance of ownership in the area,” Moreno told reporters in a chance interview in August 2019.
"We will study it further on how it is going to be economically viable for the city government of Manila," he said.
ABS-CBN News tried to get a fresh statement from Moreno's office but has yet to receive a response.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/31/19/harrison-plaza-sees-last-day-as-2019-ends
SM Prime Holdings earlier entered a long-term joint development agreement with the Manila government to modernize the 7-hectare Harrison Plaza complex that has been lagging behind newer entertainment centers in the capital region for decades.
The Malate mall was built in 1976 and was thriving up to the early '90s as mallgoers flocked to its in-house skating rink, bowling center, and upscale stores.
The city government of Manila will continue to keep and "protect" its interests in the iconic shopping center that was bid out to private firms by the previous city administration, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier said.
"We are looking into how we are going to protect the interest of the city government of Manila we still have semblance of ownership in the area,” Moreno told reporters in a chance interview in August 2019.
"We will study it further on how it is going to be economically viable for the city government of Manila," he said.
ABS-CBN News tried to get a fresh statement from Moreno's office but has yet to receive a response.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/31/19/harrison-plaza-sees-last-day-as-2019-ends
NUJP urges Filipinos to uphold press freedom amid attacks vs ABS-CBN
The group also decries President Rodrigo Duterte’s fresh tirade hurled against broadcast giant ABS-CBN
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called independent Filipino journalists and the public to defend press freedom amidst President Rodrigo Duterte's attacks hurled against broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
This came after Duterte told ABS-CBN that it would be better to "just sell" the network as he reiterated that it was unlikely that Congress would renew its franchise months before the expiration of the media titan's franchise. (READ: Duterte to ABS-CBN: Better to sell the network)
In a statement released on Monday, December 30, the NUJP challenged the public "who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken."
“The alternative— the death of freedom of the press and of free expression— is too horrible to contemplate,” NUJP added.
During his term, Duterte has intimidated and harassed media networks through different ways.
Aside from his threats to ABS-CBN, he has also warned other media outlets, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, for their alleged biased reporting about him. In 2018, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was banned from entering Malacañang Palace as well as from covering other presidential events after almost two years of constant coverage.
For NUJP, the latest rant against ABS-CBN “bears all the signs of a shakedown and raises questions over his real intentions for seeking to block the renewal of the broadcast network’s franchise.”
In his speech before the earthquake victims of M'lang town in Cotabato on Monday, Duterte also told ABS-CBN, “Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan (You try to renew, let’s see if anything happens).”
NUJP added that these words looked “marching orders” in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte's defeated running mate and now the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Cayetano has admitted having “personal objections” to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest.
Because of Duterte’s statements, NUJP said this leaves the network owners, the Lopez family, with a stark choice between selling or losing everything.
“But sell it to whom and for whose benefit?” the group asked.
This is not the first time that the President had been slamming the network. He did so at the start of his presidency as the network supposedly did not air his political ads during the 2016 campaign.
“The fact is Duterte has already shown a propensity for coercion, as he did in 2017 when he publicly told ABS-CBN to support his federalism drive and he would agree to settle his difference with the network,” NUJP cited.
He also slammed Inquirer on Monday, accusing it of being a "mouthpiece" of oligarchs. He also threatened the Ayala family and businessman Manny Pangilinan for alleged corruption in their water distribution operations in Metro Manila, which both have denied.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/248271-nujp-uphold-press-freedom-duterte-attacks-abs-cbn
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called independent Filipino journalists and the public to defend press freedom amidst President Rodrigo Duterte's attacks hurled against broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
This came after Duterte told ABS-CBN that it would be better to "just sell" the network as he reiterated that it was unlikely that Congress would renew its franchise months before the expiration of the media titan's franchise. (READ: Duterte to ABS-CBN: Better to sell the network)
In a statement released on Monday, December 30, the NUJP challenged the public "who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken."
“The alternative— the death of freedom of the press and of free expression— is too horrible to contemplate,” NUJP added.
During his term, Duterte has intimidated and harassed media networks through different ways.
Aside from his threats to ABS-CBN, he has also warned other media outlets, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, for their alleged biased reporting about him. In 2018, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was banned from entering Malacañang Palace as well as from covering other presidential events after almost two years of constant coverage.
For NUJP, the latest rant against ABS-CBN “bears all the signs of a shakedown and raises questions over his real intentions for seeking to block the renewal of the broadcast network’s franchise.”
In his speech before the earthquake victims of M'lang town in Cotabato on Monday, Duterte also told ABS-CBN, “Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan (You try to renew, let’s see if anything happens).”
NUJP added that these words looked “marching orders” in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte's defeated running mate and now the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Cayetano has admitted having “personal objections” to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest.
Because of Duterte’s statements, NUJP said this leaves the network owners, the Lopez family, with a stark choice between selling or losing everything.
“But sell it to whom and for whose benefit?” the group asked.
This is not the first time that the President had been slamming the network. He did so at the start of his presidency as the network supposedly did not air his political ads during the 2016 campaign.
“The fact is Duterte has already shown a propensity for coercion, as he did in 2017 when he publicly told ABS-CBN to support his federalism drive and he would agree to settle his difference with the network,” NUJP cited.
He also slammed Inquirer on Monday, accusing it of being a "mouthpiece" of oligarchs. He also threatened the Ayala family and businessman Manny Pangilinan for alleged corruption in their water distribution operations in Metro Manila, which both have denied.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/248271-nujp-uphold-press-freedom-duterte-attacks-abs-cbn
Harrison Plaza ceases operations
Only a few visitors drop by inside the 43-year-old Harrison Plaza in Ermita, Manila on Monday, December 29, 2019. Considered as the first modern shopping mall in Manila, Harrison Plaza will cease operations on December 31, 2019. Danny Pata
Duterte to ABS-CBN owners: Just sell it
For President Rodrigo Duterte, the clock is ticking on media giant ABS-CBN Corp.
Mr. Duterte on Monday told the Lopez family, controlling owner of the publicly listed company, to just sell off the media network.
In a speech during a visit to earthquake victims in M’lang town, Cotabato province, the President railed anew against the TV network, whose franchise will lapse on March 30, 2020.
“This ABS (CBN), your contract (franchise) will expire. If you renew it, I don’t know what will happen to you,” Mr. Duterte said.
Television and radio broadcasters in the country are required to get a franchise from Congress under Republic Act No. 3846.
Mr. Duterte went on: “If I were you, just sell it. Because it’s only now that the Filipino can retaliate against your abuses. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever.”
The President made the remarks nearly a month after he vowed to see to it that ABS-CBN would lose its battle to renew its franchise.
There was no immediate comment on Monday from the network, which in 2018 employed close to 11,000 workers and had assets worth P84.6 billion.
Water concessionaires
On Dec. 3, Mr. Duterte spent most of his speech on two occasions in Malacañang railing against what he claimed were onerous provisions of the concession agreements of Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to distribute water in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal and Cavite provinces (See related story on Page A3).
The President on Monday also renewed his attacks on the owners of Manila Water and Maynilad.
Earlier this month, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House decided to prioritize hearing the 2020 national budget rather than the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Cayetano vowed that the House would be fair in deliberating ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise, even if he, too, had a “personal complaint” against the TV network.
Mr. Duterte has vowed to block the franchise renewal, amid his previous accusations that the TV network swindled him by not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential election.
Dennis Uy media group
The President’s fresh attack on the TV network came as his friend, Davao City businessman Dennis Uy, is expanding into the media and entertainment business with the founding of Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp.
Since Mr. Duterte came to power, Udenna, Uy’s holding company, has rapidly expanded into several business areas. It is into oil product distribution and convenience store business, shipping and logistics, property development and leasing and even educational institutions and restaurants. In addition, it is into infrastructure, tourism and gaming.
Uy recently acquired Chevron’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas-to-power project.
Life without franchise
On Dec. 18, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said ABS-CBN Corp. would survive even if its franchise was not renewed.
Andanar noted that ABS-CBN was not in the business of television alone. It was also into delivering content online, producing magazines and investing in movies, he said. “I’m sure ABS-CBN can find a way how to distribute their content if they lose their franchise,” Andanar said.
ABS-CBN also operates radio and cable television.
Over the years, the Lopez family has diversified into power generation and property development.
Should ABS-CBN fail to renew its franchise, it would be the second time that the Lopezes would not be able to operate the broadcast network.
The Marcos regime shuttered ABS-CBN during martial law. It was only after Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986 that the Lopezes regained control of the television network. —JULIE M. AURELIO
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1207575/duterte-to-abs-cbn-owners-just-sell-it
Mr. Duterte on Monday told the Lopez family, controlling owner of the publicly listed company, to just sell off the media network.
In a speech during a visit to earthquake victims in M’lang town, Cotabato province, the President railed anew against the TV network, whose franchise will lapse on March 30, 2020.
“This ABS (CBN), your contract (franchise) will expire. If you renew it, I don’t know what will happen to you,” Mr. Duterte said.
Television and radio broadcasters in the country are required to get a franchise from Congress under Republic Act No. 3846.
Mr. Duterte went on: “If I were you, just sell it. Because it’s only now that the Filipino can retaliate against your abuses. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever.”
The President made the remarks nearly a month after he vowed to see to it that ABS-CBN would lose its battle to renew its franchise.
There was no immediate comment on Monday from the network, which in 2018 employed close to 11,000 workers and had assets worth P84.6 billion.
Water concessionaires
On Dec. 3, Mr. Duterte spent most of his speech on two occasions in Malacañang railing against what he claimed were onerous provisions of the concession agreements of Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to distribute water in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal and Cavite provinces (See related story on Page A3).
The President on Monday also renewed his attacks on the owners of Manila Water and Maynilad.
Earlier this month, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House decided to prioritize hearing the 2020 national budget rather than the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Cayetano vowed that the House would be fair in deliberating ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise, even if he, too, had a “personal complaint” against the TV network.
Mr. Duterte has vowed to block the franchise renewal, amid his previous accusations that the TV network swindled him by not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential election.
Dennis Uy media group
The President’s fresh attack on the TV network came as his friend, Davao City businessman Dennis Uy, is expanding into the media and entertainment business with the founding of Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp.
Since Mr. Duterte came to power, Udenna, Uy’s holding company, has rapidly expanded into several business areas. It is into oil product distribution and convenience store business, shipping and logistics, property development and leasing and even educational institutions and restaurants. In addition, it is into infrastructure, tourism and gaming.
Uy recently acquired Chevron’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas-to-power project.
Life without franchise
On Dec. 18, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said ABS-CBN Corp. would survive even if its franchise was not renewed.
Andanar noted that ABS-CBN was not in the business of television alone. It was also into delivering content online, producing magazines and investing in movies, he said. “I’m sure ABS-CBN can find a way how to distribute their content if they lose their franchise,” Andanar said.
ABS-CBN also operates radio and cable television.
Over the years, the Lopez family has diversified into power generation and property development.
Should ABS-CBN fail to renew its franchise, it would be the second time that the Lopezes would not be able to operate the broadcast network.
The Marcos regime shuttered ABS-CBN during martial law. It was only after Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986 that the Lopezes regained control of the television network. —JULIE M. AURELIO
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1207575/duterte-to-abs-cbn-owners-just-sell-it
Ahead of franchise battle, ABS-CBN sells 49% stake in provincial TV network
ABS-CBN Corp. quietly disposed of a 49-percent stake in the provincial television network that aired its Sports+Action channel, as it girded for battle with President Rodrigo Duterte over the renewal of its congressional franchise.
Like ABS-CBN, the franchise of the provincial network, Amcara Broadcasting Network, Inc., which has 32 TV and two radio stations, will expire in 2020. The sale indicated that both networks would lobby for new franchises from Congress under separate ownership structures.
Documents submitted to corporate regulators showed that ABS-CBN sold the Amcara stake on Jan. 24, 2019 to one of the majority shareholders, Rodrigo V. Carandang. The book value of the sale was P40.6 million.
ABS-CBN has also stopped paying blocktime fees to Amcara, based on its third-quarter 2019 financial report. ABS-CBN paid P36.5 million to Amcara in 2018, P27.6 million in 2017 and nearly P35 million in 2016, financial disclosures showed.
Amcara, which broadcasts the clearer ultra high frequency (UHF) television signals (as opposed to very high frequency or VHF), had aired ABS-CBN Sports+Action through 23 stations: Cebu, Davao, Dagupan, Naga, Batangas, Laoag, Bacolod, Zamboanga, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Botolan, Isabela, Koronadal, Olongapo, Iligan, Palawan, Roxas, Baler, Camarines Norte, Kalibo, Dipolog and Lucena. It had also aired ABS-CBN content in Iloilo through a VHF station.
The corporation is 51-percent owned by the heirs of Arcadio M. Carandang, one of the pioneers of Philippine television who had worked for ABS-CBN since the time of its original owners, James Lindenberg and Judge Antonio Quirino. Rodrigo Carandang now owns 49 percent.
As a result of the sale, ABS-CBN officials, led by Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and veteran network executive Federico Garcia, stepped down as president and managing director, respectively. Rodrigo Carandang became chairman and Jose Antonio Veloso, a former vice president at GMA Network, Inc., was named president, documents showed.
Amcara was formed on April 11, 1994 and secured a 25-year franchise, under Republic Act (RA) 8135, the following year. President Fidel V. Ramos did not sign the franchise but allowed it to lapse into law. It will expire in July 2020.
The representative of the lone district of Camiguin, Xavier Jesus Romualdo, filed House Bill 3279 on July 31, 2019 to renew Amcara’s franchise, arguing that it was a “pioneer in the digital broadcast service” and had made “appropriate use of its franchise, complied with the provisions thereof, invested significantly in its stations and equipment, and intends to continue and expand its operations[.]”
Ten lawmakers, including Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, a former movie and television star, have filed separate bills to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, RA 7966, which expires in March 2020.
Sought for comment, a spokesman for ABS-CBN declined, saying he did not have details of the Amcara sale. An official of Amcara has yet to respond to a request for an interview as of posting time.
On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte, who had vowed to block the ABS-CBN franchise, told its owners to just sell the TV network.
Duterte regularly lashes out as ABS-CBN, calling it the mouthpiece of oligarchs and his political opponents, and has a lingering dispute with the Lopez-led network over its refusal to air his 2016 election advertisement responding to an attack ad sponsored by his arch-critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Your contract is about to expire. You will try to renew it but I don’t know what will happen to that,” the president said on Dec. 30 in M’lang, North Cotabato, where he visited earthquake victims.
“Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan. Kasi ang mga Filipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan (If I were you, I would sell it. It’s only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at you for your wrongdoings). And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added. (PressONE.ph)
https://pressone.ph/ahead-of-franchise-battle-abs-cbn-sells-49-stake-in-provincial-tv-network/
Like ABS-CBN, the franchise of the provincial network, Amcara Broadcasting Network, Inc., which has 32 TV and two radio stations, will expire in 2020. The sale indicated that both networks would lobby for new franchises from Congress under separate ownership structures.
Documents submitted to corporate regulators showed that ABS-CBN sold the Amcara stake on Jan. 24, 2019 to one of the majority shareholders, Rodrigo V. Carandang. The book value of the sale was P40.6 million.
ABS-CBN has also stopped paying blocktime fees to Amcara, based on its third-quarter 2019 financial report. ABS-CBN paid P36.5 million to Amcara in 2018, P27.6 million in 2017 and nearly P35 million in 2016, financial disclosures showed.
Amcara, which broadcasts the clearer ultra high frequency (UHF) television signals (as opposed to very high frequency or VHF), had aired ABS-CBN Sports+Action through 23 stations: Cebu, Davao, Dagupan, Naga, Batangas, Laoag, Bacolod, Zamboanga, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Botolan, Isabela, Koronadal, Olongapo, Iligan, Palawan, Roxas, Baler, Camarines Norte, Kalibo, Dipolog and Lucena. It had also aired ABS-CBN content in Iloilo through a VHF station.
The corporation is 51-percent owned by the heirs of Arcadio M. Carandang, one of the pioneers of Philippine television who had worked for ABS-CBN since the time of its original owners, James Lindenberg and Judge Antonio Quirino. Rodrigo Carandang now owns 49 percent.
As a result of the sale, ABS-CBN officials, led by Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and veteran network executive Federico Garcia, stepped down as president and managing director, respectively. Rodrigo Carandang became chairman and Jose Antonio Veloso, a former vice president at GMA Network, Inc., was named president, documents showed.
Amcara was formed on April 11, 1994 and secured a 25-year franchise, under Republic Act (RA) 8135, the following year. President Fidel V. Ramos did not sign the franchise but allowed it to lapse into law. It will expire in July 2020.
The representative of the lone district of Camiguin, Xavier Jesus Romualdo, filed House Bill 3279 on July 31, 2019 to renew Amcara’s franchise, arguing that it was a “pioneer in the digital broadcast service” and had made “appropriate use of its franchise, complied with the provisions thereof, invested significantly in its stations and equipment, and intends to continue and expand its operations[.]”
Ten lawmakers, including Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, a former movie and television star, have filed separate bills to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, RA 7966, which expires in March 2020.
Sought for comment, a spokesman for ABS-CBN declined, saying he did not have details of the Amcara sale. An official of Amcara has yet to respond to a request for an interview as of posting time.
On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte, who had vowed to block the ABS-CBN franchise, told its owners to just sell the TV network.
Duterte regularly lashes out as ABS-CBN, calling it the mouthpiece of oligarchs and his political opponents, and has a lingering dispute with the Lopez-led network over its refusal to air his 2016 election advertisement responding to an attack ad sponsored by his arch-critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Your contract is about to expire. You will try to renew it but I don’t know what will happen to that,” the president said on Dec. 30 in M’lang, North Cotabato, where he visited earthquake victims.
“Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan. Kasi ang mga Filipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan (If I were you, I would sell it. It’s only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at you for your wrongdoings). And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added. (PressONE.ph)
https://pressone.ph/ahead-of-franchise-battle-abs-cbn-sells-49-stake-in-provincial-tv-network/
TV5 open to block-time agreement with ABS-CBN amid franchise row
The chairman of TV5 Network Inc. is open to the possibility of a block-time agreement with ABS-CBN Corp. if Congress refused to renew the franchise of the Lopez-led broadcast network.
“We have lots of highways, setting aside the politics, if they want to block time ... We don’t have much entertainment content after all,” TV5 chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan, however, said there were no ongoing discussions between the two networks.
“They haven’t approached us. Nobody was talking to us,” he said.
“I don’t want to be presumptuous, to come and talk to us. We don’t want to think about it. We don’t want to take the first step,” he said.
Pangilanan, however, said he was “reluctant” to any possible agreement with ABS-CBN because of the political issues.
ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.
Five bills were filed in Congress to seek the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise.
President Duterte earlier said ABS-CBN’s franchise would not be renewed once it expired on March 2020. Duturte accused ABS-CBN of not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Under Republic Act No. 3846, radio and television stations are required to seek franchise from Congress.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through RA No. 7966 on March 30, 1995.
ABS-CBN earlier reported a 53-percent increase in net income to P2.26 billion in the first nine months of 2019 from P1.48 billion in the same period last year.
ABS-CBN generated consolidated revenues of P32 billion as advertising and consumer sales increased 8.6 percent.
Advertising revenues went up 15 percent, on the growth of political placements and regular advertising. Excluding political placements, regular advertising rose 5.6 percent.
Consumer sales also reached P302 million on the back of higher TVPlus Boxes sold and subscription revenues from Sky Cable.
https://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/mobile/article/313708
“We have lots of highways, setting aside the politics, if they want to block time ... We don’t have much entertainment content after all,” TV5 chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan, however, said there were no ongoing discussions between the two networks.
“They haven’t approached us. Nobody was talking to us,” he said.
“I don’t want to be presumptuous, to come and talk to us. We don’t want to think about it. We don’t want to take the first step,” he said.
Pangilanan, however, said he was “reluctant” to any possible agreement with ABS-CBN because of the political issues.
ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.
Five bills were filed in Congress to seek the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise.
President Duterte earlier said ABS-CBN’s franchise would not be renewed once it expired on March 2020. Duturte accused ABS-CBN of not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Under Republic Act No. 3846, radio and television stations are required to seek franchise from Congress.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through RA No. 7966 on March 30, 1995.
ABS-CBN earlier reported a 53-percent increase in net income to P2.26 billion in the first nine months of 2019 from P1.48 billion in the same period last year.
ABS-CBN generated consolidated revenues of P32 billion as advertising and consumer sales increased 8.6 percent.
Advertising revenues went up 15 percent, on the growth of political placements and regular advertising. Excluding political placements, regular advertising rose 5.6 percent.
Consumer sales also reached P302 million on the back of higher TVPlus Boxes sold and subscription revenues from Sky Cable.
https://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/mobile/article/313708
Hindi lang ABS-CBN: Lopez’s Sky Cable may shut down if franchise not renewed
The Lopez family could suffer a “double whammy” from President Rodrigo Duterte’s wrath at the beginning of the new decade since not only broadcast giant ABS-CBN will cease its operations if it fails to secure renewal of its franchise from Congress, but also its sister company Sky Cable.
Sky Cable Corporation which is under the Lopez Holdings Corporation (formerly Benpres Holdings) needs to secure the passage of their congressional franchise on or before March 30, 2020—the expiration date set by its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7969—or the said entity will have to cease operating as company involved in broadband, cable and satellite television services if Congress fails to act on the franchise bill.
As of January 2017, the company had 1.4 million customers across the country, 200,000 of which are broadband internet subscribers.
Sky Cable also owns at least 26 local/provincial television cable utilities in the country.
Last August, North Cotabato Rep. Jose “Ping” Tejada filed House Bill No. 3121, seeking to grant a 25-year franchise to the Lopez entity “to establish, construct, maintain and operate for commercial purposes cable/community antennae television systems in the Philippines.”
Just like ABS-CBN, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez has yet to tackle the proposed legislation in connection with the franchise renewal of the cable television giant.
The Lopez family might lost two of their “crown jewels” at the same time by March 2020, since the existing legislative franchises of both ABS-CBN (under R.A. 7966) and Sky Cable are set to expire at the same time on that said period.
On Monday, President Duterte who have accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and of “swindling” him said that the executives of the media conglomerate should just sell the network rather than face closure.
“Itong ABS-CBN, mag-expire ang contract ninyo, mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung mangyari. Ako pa sa’yo, pagbili na ninyo ‘yan,” said Duterte during a speech in Davao City on Monday.
https://politics.com.ph/hindi-lang-abs-cbn-lopezs-sky-cable-may-shut-down-if-franchise-not-renewed/
Sky Cable Corporation which is under the Lopez Holdings Corporation (formerly Benpres Holdings) needs to secure the passage of their congressional franchise on or before March 30, 2020—the expiration date set by its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7969—or the said entity will have to cease operating as company involved in broadband, cable and satellite television services if Congress fails to act on the franchise bill.
As of January 2017, the company had 1.4 million customers across the country, 200,000 of which are broadband internet subscribers.
Sky Cable also owns at least 26 local/provincial television cable utilities in the country.
Last August, North Cotabato Rep. Jose “Ping” Tejada filed House Bill No. 3121, seeking to grant a 25-year franchise to the Lopez entity “to establish, construct, maintain and operate for commercial purposes cable/community antennae television systems in the Philippines.”
Just like ABS-CBN, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez has yet to tackle the proposed legislation in connection with the franchise renewal of the cable television giant.
The Lopez family might lost two of their “crown jewels” at the same time by March 2020, since the existing legislative franchises of both ABS-CBN (under R.A. 7966) and Sky Cable are set to expire at the same time on that said period.
On Monday, President Duterte who have accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and of “swindling” him said that the executives of the media conglomerate should just sell the network rather than face closure.
“Itong ABS-CBN, mag-expire ang contract ninyo, mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung mangyari. Ako pa sa’yo, pagbili na ninyo ‘yan,” said Duterte during a speech in Davao City on Monday.
https://politics.com.ph/hindi-lang-abs-cbn-lopezs-sky-cable-may-shut-down-if-franchise-not-renewed/
11 solons push for ABS-CBN franchise renewal in face of Duterte opposition
In the face of President Rodrigo Duterte’s determined opposition to the extension of the legislative franchise of media giant ABS-CBN, also known as the “Kapamilya” network, 11 of the most influential members of the House of Representatives want the network to continue operating beyond the March 30, 2020 franchise expiration.
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has also guaranteed due process for ABS-CBN’s bid to fight off its demise, saying that congressional hearings for the application of their franchise extension will be held some time after regular sessions resume on Jan. 20, 2020.
Nine separate legislative measures filed by 11 House members are set to be heard by the House committee on legislative franchises chaired by Palawan Representative Franz Alvarez.
The cast of authors include four deputy speakers, one a member of the influential commission on appointments (CA); the head of the House contingent to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET); and two committee chairpersons. The others are vice chairpersons of various committees.
Requesting anonymity, a senior opposition lawmaker said that in the coming session days prior to March 20, the fate of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise application will provide the answers to questions nagging political observers.
“One, what the Lower House will tell us [about] the extent of President Duterte’s influence on us congressmen. It will also tell us the real extent of the president’s hatred of ABS-CBN,” the solon said.
Notwithstanding the filing of several franchise extension measures, the oldest being submitted as early as July 23, Alvarez has not called for a committee hearing to take up the bill.
The Palawan solon admitted that he has been waiting for a go signal from “upstairs” although he refused to say whether that meant Cayetano or Duterte.
In a media interview early this month, Cayetano allayed fears that the Kapamilya network will cease to exist after March 30, saying that Congress still has time to act on the franchise renewal.
The House leader explained that their consideration of the franchise bills was temporarily set aside because in the past months congressmen had to act on priority measures of the Duterte administration that included passage of the 2020 national budget and several tax measures.
The legislative franchise of the ABS-CBN network granted under Republic Act No. 7966 will expire on March 20, 2020, unless extended by Congress.
Common among the nine bills filed is the grant of a 25-year renewal of the expiring franchise.
The authors include Reps. Micaela Violago, vice chairperson of the House committees on appropriations, on housing, and on information and communications technology; and Joy Myra Tambunting, vice chairperson of the House committee on games and on information and communications technology.
PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Jonas Nograles, brother of Secretary Karlo Nograles, filed House Bill No. 3064.
Former Kapamilya star Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos filed HB 4305 while former ABS-CBN reporter and now Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, chairperson of the House committee on tourism, filed HB 3947.
Deputy Speakers Rose Marie Arenas, Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, and Johnny Pimentel also filed separate bills, as did Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments.
Mindoro Oriental Rep Doy Leachon, HRET contingent head, co-authored a bill with Pimentel and Gonzales.
The latest filing was that of HB 5723 which was submitted to the House docket section only last Dec. 11 by Mindoro Occidental Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato, a member of the powerful CA.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/30/11-solons-push-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-in-face-of-duterte-opposition/
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has also guaranteed due process for ABS-CBN’s bid to fight off its demise, saying that congressional hearings for the application of their franchise extension will be held some time after regular sessions resume on Jan. 20, 2020.
Nine separate legislative measures filed by 11 House members are set to be heard by the House committee on legislative franchises chaired by Palawan Representative Franz Alvarez.
The cast of authors include four deputy speakers, one a member of the influential commission on appointments (CA); the head of the House contingent to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET); and two committee chairpersons. The others are vice chairpersons of various committees.
Requesting anonymity, a senior opposition lawmaker said that in the coming session days prior to March 20, the fate of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise application will provide the answers to questions nagging political observers.
“One, what the Lower House will tell us [about] the extent of President Duterte’s influence on us congressmen. It will also tell us the real extent of the president’s hatred of ABS-CBN,” the solon said.
Notwithstanding the filing of several franchise extension measures, the oldest being submitted as early as July 23, Alvarez has not called for a committee hearing to take up the bill.
The Palawan solon admitted that he has been waiting for a go signal from “upstairs” although he refused to say whether that meant Cayetano or Duterte.
In a media interview early this month, Cayetano allayed fears that the Kapamilya network will cease to exist after March 30, saying that Congress still has time to act on the franchise renewal.
The House leader explained that their consideration of the franchise bills was temporarily set aside because in the past months congressmen had to act on priority measures of the Duterte administration that included passage of the 2020 national budget and several tax measures.
The legislative franchise of the ABS-CBN network granted under Republic Act No. 7966 will expire on March 20, 2020, unless extended by Congress.
Common among the nine bills filed is the grant of a 25-year renewal of the expiring franchise.
The authors include Reps. Micaela Violago, vice chairperson of the House committees on appropriations, on housing, and on information and communications technology; and Joy Myra Tambunting, vice chairperson of the House committee on games and on information and communications technology.
PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Jonas Nograles, brother of Secretary Karlo Nograles, filed House Bill No. 3064.
Former Kapamilya star Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos filed HB 4305 while former ABS-CBN reporter and now Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, chairperson of the House committee on tourism, filed HB 3947.
Deputy Speakers Rose Marie Arenas, Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, and Johnny Pimentel also filed separate bills, as did Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments.
Mindoro Oriental Rep Doy Leachon, HRET contingent head, co-authored a bill with Pimentel and Gonzales.
The latest filing was that of HB 5723 which was submitted to the House docket section only last Dec. 11 by Mindoro Occidental Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato, a member of the powerful CA.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/30/11-solons-push-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-in-face-of-duterte-opposition/
Duterte threatens to arrest water tycoons, tells ABS-CBN to ‘sell’
PRESIDENT Duterte on Monday threatened to have the businessmen behind the two water concessionaires—Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala for Manila Water Co. and Manuel V. Pangilinan for Maynilad Water Services Inc.—arrested for “non-bailable” offenses of syndicated estafa or plunder, saying he would love to see billionaires in jail.
Duterte said he won’t be letting go of this “issue of corruption” as this would be his “last shot” at life.
“Two years, I’ll be out. So these two years, I will use this for the people. You are asking, ‘Where’s the big fish? Where’s corruption?’… I will deliver to you now: Ayala and Pangilinan,” he said in a speech while visiting earthquake victims in M’lang, Cotabato.
“If those f****** commit a mistake, I will have them arrested. Look at them, when I insulted them, they are not responding anymore. That’s for sure. Syndicated estafa,” he added.
Manila Water is a publicly listed company and a subsidiary of Ayala Corp., while businessman Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) owns a controlling stake in Maynilad.
Despite Cabinet members telling him to negotiate the contracts, Duterte argued that there is nothing to negotiate as the contracts were already “null and void” from the very beginning.
“Because in that contract, the Philippines agreed to waive sovereignty. You cannot do it. And the tax‚corporate income tax, they will pass it on to consumers.
That’s a rip-off,” he said.
Sought to clarify the President’s statement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have yet to find out what the President wants to do with the agreements with the water concessionaires after the Cabinet meeting on January 6.
“This matter is in the agenda for the Cabinet meeting on January 6. The OSG [Office of the Solicitor General] will present a new government version of the water concession agreements, with inputs from the MWSS [Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System], OGCC [Office of the Government Corporate Counsel], and DOJ [Department of Justice]. The DOF [Department of Finance] will also provide inputs on the financial aspect,” Guevarra said in a text message to BusinessMirror.
Just sell, Lopezes told
With three months left before the franchise of local broadcast network ABS-CBN expires, Duterte on Monday advised owners of the TV giant to just sell the network.
“Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo, ipagbili niyo na ‘yan [This ABS-CBN, your contract is about to expire. If you ask for a renewal, I don’t know what’s going to happen. If I were you, I would just sell it],” Duterte said in a speech in North Cotabato.
“Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan [Because it’s only now that Filipinos can seek redress for your misconduct]. I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added.
On December 4, Duterte said he is bent on not granting the renewal of the 25-year congressional franchise to ABS-CBN, still irked by the network’s supposed bias including alleged unfair reports about him and failure to run his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential race.
He said he would not change his mind, despite the news outfit’s persistence to come to him “begging.”
Unless the Congress grants its renewal, ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
Several bills have been filed at the House of Representatives, seeking the renewal of the ABS-CBN congressional franchise.
A congressional franchise bill needs to be first approved by the House before it can be transmitted to the Senate.
Once approved by both chambers, it will be submitted to the President to be signed into law. Duterte, however, has the power to veto bills that Congress approves.
Radio and television broadcast firms in the country are required to seek a franchise from Congress, pursuant to Republic Act 3846.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, however, said ABS-CBN still has other options, should it fail to renew its congressional franchise.
“I’m sure ABS-CBN can find a way how to distribute their content if they lose their franchise,” Andanar said.
Rival TV5 has indicated it is open to the notion of having the Lopezes, owners of the network, to buy block airtime at TV5 and air their content there, but Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of TV5’s parent firm, denied they were selling their network to the Lopezes.
Wawa, Kaliwa
In a related development, the President in another speech on Monday also said he will order authorities to go ahead with the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project as well as the controversial Kaliwa Dam projects, but vowed to pay and relocate the locals who will be affected by the construction.
“I can give you a little bit of elbow room to move. Those who are living there, of course, they are all natives and they are trying to delay the project. We need water,” Duterte said in a speech in Digos City on Monday. “Without Wawa and Kaliwa Dam….this will be the last resort to have water for Manila. I will order them to go ahead.”
The construction of the Chinese-funded P12.2-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project has been opposed by environment groups, citing the damage it will pose to the Sierra Madre and its biodiversity, as well as the displacement of the Dumagat indigenous tribes.
The Kaliwa Dam is also a 600 million liter per day water reservoir project in Rizal and Quezon.
On the other hand, the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, a joint venture between billionaire Enrique Razon’s Prime Infra and businessman Oscar Violago’s San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group, is eyed to supply 80 million liters per day of water in 2021 and more than 500 million liters per day in 2025.
The President has been lambasting the water concessionaires after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore ordered Manila to pay east zone concessionaire Manila Water P7.4 billion for the nonimplementation of water-rate increases that occurred prior to his presidency. The PCA had also ruled on a similar case filed by west zone concessionaire Maynilad, ordering the State to pay P3.4 billion for Maynilad’s losses from March 2015 to August 2016.
The water concessionaires have since said they will no longer seek payment for the arbitral award from the government.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/12/31/duterte-threatens-to-arrest-water-tycoons-tells-abs-cbn-to-sell/
Duterte said he won’t be letting go of this “issue of corruption” as this would be his “last shot” at life.
“Two years, I’ll be out. So these two years, I will use this for the people. You are asking, ‘Where’s the big fish? Where’s corruption?’… I will deliver to you now: Ayala and Pangilinan,” he said in a speech while visiting earthquake victims in M’lang, Cotabato.
“If those f****** commit a mistake, I will have them arrested. Look at them, when I insulted them, they are not responding anymore. That’s for sure. Syndicated estafa,” he added.
Manila Water is a publicly listed company and a subsidiary of Ayala Corp., while businessman Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) owns a controlling stake in Maynilad.
Despite Cabinet members telling him to negotiate the contracts, Duterte argued that there is nothing to negotiate as the contracts were already “null and void” from the very beginning.
“Because in that contract, the Philippines agreed to waive sovereignty. You cannot do it. And the tax‚corporate income tax, they will pass it on to consumers.
That’s a rip-off,” he said.
Sought to clarify the President’s statement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have yet to find out what the President wants to do with the agreements with the water concessionaires after the Cabinet meeting on January 6.
“This matter is in the agenda for the Cabinet meeting on January 6. The OSG [Office of the Solicitor General] will present a new government version of the water concession agreements, with inputs from the MWSS [Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System], OGCC [Office of the Government Corporate Counsel], and DOJ [Department of Justice]. The DOF [Department of Finance] will also provide inputs on the financial aspect,” Guevarra said in a text message to BusinessMirror.
Just sell, Lopezes told
With three months left before the franchise of local broadcast network ABS-CBN expires, Duterte on Monday advised owners of the TV giant to just sell the network.
“Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo, ipagbili niyo na ‘yan [This ABS-CBN, your contract is about to expire. If you ask for a renewal, I don’t know what’s going to happen. If I were you, I would just sell it],” Duterte said in a speech in North Cotabato.
“Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan [Because it’s only now that Filipinos can seek redress for your misconduct]. I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added.
On December 4, Duterte said he is bent on not granting the renewal of the 25-year congressional franchise to ABS-CBN, still irked by the network’s supposed bias including alleged unfair reports about him and failure to run his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential race.
He said he would not change his mind, despite the news outfit’s persistence to come to him “begging.”
Unless the Congress grants its renewal, ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
Several bills have been filed at the House of Representatives, seeking the renewal of the ABS-CBN congressional franchise.
A congressional franchise bill needs to be first approved by the House before it can be transmitted to the Senate.
Once approved by both chambers, it will be submitted to the President to be signed into law. Duterte, however, has the power to veto bills that Congress approves.
Radio and television broadcast firms in the country are required to seek a franchise from Congress, pursuant to Republic Act 3846.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, however, said ABS-CBN still has other options, should it fail to renew its congressional franchise.
“I’m sure ABS-CBN can find a way how to distribute their content if they lose their franchise,” Andanar said.
Rival TV5 has indicated it is open to the notion of having the Lopezes, owners of the network, to buy block airtime at TV5 and air their content there, but Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of TV5’s parent firm, denied they were selling their network to the Lopezes.
Wawa, Kaliwa
In a related development, the President in another speech on Monday also said he will order authorities to go ahead with the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project as well as the controversial Kaliwa Dam projects, but vowed to pay and relocate the locals who will be affected by the construction.
“I can give you a little bit of elbow room to move. Those who are living there, of course, they are all natives and they are trying to delay the project. We need water,” Duterte said in a speech in Digos City on Monday. “Without Wawa and Kaliwa Dam….this will be the last resort to have water for Manila. I will order them to go ahead.”
The construction of the Chinese-funded P12.2-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project has been opposed by environment groups, citing the damage it will pose to the Sierra Madre and its biodiversity, as well as the displacement of the Dumagat indigenous tribes.
The Kaliwa Dam is also a 600 million liter per day water reservoir project in Rizal and Quezon.
On the other hand, the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, a joint venture between billionaire Enrique Razon’s Prime Infra and businessman Oscar Violago’s San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group, is eyed to supply 80 million liters per day of water in 2021 and more than 500 million liters per day in 2025.
The President has been lambasting the water concessionaires after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore ordered Manila to pay east zone concessionaire Manila Water P7.4 billion for the nonimplementation of water-rate increases that occurred prior to his presidency. The PCA had also ruled on a similar case filed by west zone concessionaire Maynilad, ordering the State to pay P3.4 billion for Maynilad’s losses from March 2015 to August 2016.
The water concessionaires have since said they will no longer seek payment for the arbitral award from the government.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/12/31/duterte-threatens-to-arrest-water-tycoons-tells-abs-cbn-to-sell/
Binibining Pilipinas ‘opens a new era’ with 2020 search for new queens
After 56 years, Binibining Pilipinas, in its words, is opening a “new era” as the national pageant announced over the weekend the launch of its 2020 search for new queens.
On its social media channels, pageant organizer Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) said applications for the next year’s competition are now open.
BPCI teased that fans can look forward to “a bigger and better edition of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country.”
The announcement came with an image of four titlists of the 2019 pageant: Patch Magtanong, who represented the Philippines in Miss International; Leren Bautista, Miss Globe; Emma Tiglao, Miss Intercontinental; and Resham Saeed, Miss Supranational.
Also included in the image is Aya Abesamis, who finished first runner-up in the same batch.
The 2020 pageant of Binibining Pilipinas will mark the first time, it will crown a Miss Universe-Philippines and Miss World-Philippines winners, hence the “new era.”
In the last half-century, the Stella Araneta-led BPCI had been sending winners, from the same pool of annual candidates, to various international pageants, including Miss Universe, Miss International, and at one point, Miss World.
Under BPCI, the country produced four Miss Universe winners — Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018 — nine runners-up, and ten top 20 finishes.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/30/19/binibining-pilipinas-opens-a-new-era-with-2020-search-for-new-queens
On its social media channels, pageant organizer Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) said applications for the next year’s competition are now open.
BPCI teased that fans can look forward to “a bigger and better edition of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country.”
The announcement came with an image of four titlists of the 2019 pageant: Patch Magtanong, who represented the Philippines in Miss International; Leren Bautista, Miss Globe; Emma Tiglao, Miss Intercontinental; and Resham Saeed, Miss Supranational.
Also included in the image is Aya Abesamis, who finished first runner-up in the same batch.
The 2020 pageant of Binibining Pilipinas will mark the first time, it will crown a Miss Universe-Philippines and Miss World-Philippines winners, hence the “new era.”
In the last half-century, the Stella Araneta-led BPCI had been sending winners, from the same pool of annual candidates, to various international pageants, including Miss Universe, Miss International, and at one point, Miss World.
Under BPCI, the country produced four Miss Universe winners — Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018 — nine runners-up, and ten top 20 finishes.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/30/19/binibining-pilipinas-opens-a-new-era-with-2020-search-for-new-queens
Have fun, stay safe; here's how
By Dona Pazzibugan, Carlito Pablo and Juan Escandor Jr. PDI Southern Luzon Bureau
WHEREVER New Year frolickers plan to party tonight--Ayala, The Fort, Rizal Park and Quezon Memorial Circle--seasoned partygoers advise that the regular party ''rules'' don't apply.
Here's how to stay safe while having the fun of the century based on the rules culled by the INQUIRER from party animals, the police, organizers of the various public parties and other groups concerned with the safety of the end-of-the century bashes.
o One should never be caught alone in millennium party.
o Don't wear drop-dead fashion. Come in something silver and gray, the millennium colors but come comfortable, not provocative. You could end up walking for miles as no vehicles will be allowed inside the party areas.
o Don't tempt the thieves; don't wear expensive jewelry.
o Don't drink too much. Stay alert for anything untoward that may happen.
o Bring small handbags just enough to accommodate a cellphone, extra cash, and maybe first-aid medicines.
o Bring picnic food as food will not be given free. Food, drinks and souvenirs will be sold at different booths at the Ayala party to be set up by Makati's five-star hotels. So, your cash will come in handy.
o You may bring alcoholic beverages as long as they are in plastic containers. Bottled drinks, water, juice, soft drinks, beer, liquor are strictly prohibited.
o Don't bring a gun, firecracker or any pointed objects. Roving members of the Western Police District at the Rizal Park will make sure that you don't. They will screen all suspicious objects seen on your person.
Enjoy life
Despite the dos and don'ts, enjoy the privilege of being there to witness the turn of a century.
Scientists have a simple advice to people who fear the unknown with the changing of the millennium.
''Live your daily life . . . Enjoy life!'' said Edmund Rosales, astronomy instructor at the Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development at the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Leonila Bautista, seismology division chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the countdown was ''just a man-made thing.''
''The course of nature continues and we can't force nature to obey our rules,'' Bautista said.
According to Rosales, the only difference in today's eve of the New Year is that it's one in a thousand years.
He noted that each year, self-styled visionaries and seers would predict deaths and destruction due to health reasons, natural and man-made events, and even the destruction of the world.
''But these are normal occurrences,'' Rosales said. ''Not even God revealed in the Bible when the world is going to end.''
Dealing in his area of specialization, Rosales said no giant asteroid was about to hit the earth like what happened 65 million years ago when one did and wiped out the dinosaurs.
Rosales noted that one asteroid, called the Tautotis, which is three kilometers in diameter was expected to pass by near the earth in the year 2028.
This asteroid will pass at a distance of seven times farther the distance between the Earth and the moon, the latter having a diameter of about 4,000 kilometers.
''But this won't have any effect on us,'' Rosales said. ''So what's there to worry about?''
Biggest party ever
No one's worried down Bicol where the local governments of Naga City and Camarines Sur are geared to host the biggest party today in two separate occasions to welcome the advent of the new century.
In Naga City, the central business district will be closed starting 1 p.m. today to give way for three outdoor concerts and the festivities.
Mayor Sulpicio Roco Jr. said the major streets near Plaza Quezon will be laden with long tables filled with native food and pastries for everybody during the media noche.
A lantern parade will snake down the main streets in Naga called kiri-kiti followed by rock concerts in three designated areas in the city.
At 11 p.m. tonight a fireworks display will be held near Plaza Quezon. The Misa de Milenyo will follow.
Street dancing
In the morning, the Baraylehan sa Tinampo (Dance in the Street) will be held until the first sunrise of year 2000.
Some 15 minutes away from Naga, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte will also host the provincial government-sponsored festivities at the Freedom Sports Complex in Pili town.
The festivities will include singing, dancing and fireworks display to last until the next morning of the first sunrise of the last year of the 2010s decade.
The Filipinas Broadcasting Network will honor 120 persons in Camarines Sur who have contributed to the development of the province for the past 1,000 years.
Oragon Award
Henry Briguera, the organizer of the occasion, dubbed the awarding as the Oragon Award of the Millennium which recognizes individual contribution of persons in Camarines Sur in the field of science, art and music, economic development, leadership, heroism and politics.
Briguera said the Oragon Award was one way of popularizing the unique Bicol term, oragon, to mainstream it as a positive trait of the Bicolanos in this millennium.
''Oragon for Bicol has two meanings depending on what context one is using. But basically oragon means greatness and excellence, if not, the word can also mean shrewdness, wiliness, cunning and craftiness,'' Briguera explained.
Among the awardees are Rep. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Raul Roco, Gov. Luis Villafuerte, former Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo, the 15 martyrs during the 1898 Philippine Revolution, and the founding datu of the settlements in Camarines Sur.
The Oragon Award was held last night at the University of Nueva Caceres Gymnasium.
WHEREVER New Year frolickers plan to party tonight--Ayala, The Fort, Rizal Park and Quezon Memorial Circle--seasoned partygoers advise that the regular party ''rules'' don't apply.
Here's how to stay safe while having the fun of the century based on the rules culled by the INQUIRER from party animals, the police, organizers of the various public parties and other groups concerned with the safety of the end-of-the century bashes.
o One should never be caught alone in millennium party.
o Don't wear drop-dead fashion. Come in something silver and gray, the millennium colors but come comfortable, not provocative. You could end up walking for miles as no vehicles will be allowed inside the party areas.
o Don't tempt the thieves; don't wear expensive jewelry.
o Don't drink too much. Stay alert for anything untoward that may happen.
o Bring small handbags just enough to accommodate a cellphone, extra cash, and maybe first-aid medicines.
o Bring picnic food as food will not be given free. Food, drinks and souvenirs will be sold at different booths at the Ayala party to be set up by Makati's five-star hotels. So, your cash will come in handy.
o You may bring alcoholic beverages as long as they are in plastic containers. Bottled drinks, water, juice, soft drinks, beer, liquor are strictly prohibited.
o Don't bring a gun, firecracker or any pointed objects. Roving members of the Western Police District at the Rizal Park will make sure that you don't. They will screen all suspicious objects seen on your person.
Enjoy life
Despite the dos and don'ts, enjoy the privilege of being there to witness the turn of a century.
Scientists have a simple advice to people who fear the unknown with the changing of the millennium.
''Live your daily life . . . Enjoy life!'' said Edmund Rosales, astronomy instructor at the Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development at the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Leonila Bautista, seismology division chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the countdown was ''just a man-made thing.''
''The course of nature continues and we can't force nature to obey our rules,'' Bautista said.
According to Rosales, the only difference in today's eve of the New Year is that it's one in a thousand years.
He noted that each year, self-styled visionaries and seers would predict deaths and destruction due to health reasons, natural and man-made events, and even the destruction of the world.
''But these are normal occurrences,'' Rosales said. ''Not even God revealed in the Bible when the world is going to end.''
Dealing in his area of specialization, Rosales said no giant asteroid was about to hit the earth like what happened 65 million years ago when one did and wiped out the dinosaurs.
Rosales noted that one asteroid, called the Tautotis, which is three kilometers in diameter was expected to pass by near the earth in the year 2028.
This asteroid will pass at a distance of seven times farther the distance between the Earth and the moon, the latter having a diameter of about 4,000 kilometers.
''But this won't have any effect on us,'' Rosales said. ''So what's there to worry about?''
Biggest party ever
No one's worried down Bicol where the local governments of Naga City and Camarines Sur are geared to host the biggest party today in two separate occasions to welcome the advent of the new century.
In Naga City, the central business district will be closed starting 1 p.m. today to give way for three outdoor concerts and the festivities.
Mayor Sulpicio Roco Jr. said the major streets near Plaza Quezon will be laden with long tables filled with native food and pastries for everybody during the media noche.
A lantern parade will snake down the main streets in Naga called kiri-kiti followed by rock concerts in three designated areas in the city.
At 11 p.m. tonight a fireworks display will be held near Plaza Quezon. The Misa de Milenyo will follow.
Street dancing
In the morning, the Baraylehan sa Tinampo (Dance in the Street) will be held until the first sunrise of year 2000.
Some 15 minutes away from Naga, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte will also host the provincial government-sponsored festivities at the Freedom Sports Complex in Pili town.
The festivities will include singing, dancing and fireworks display to last until the next morning of the first sunrise of the last year of the 2010s decade.
The Filipinas Broadcasting Network will honor 120 persons in Camarines Sur who have contributed to the development of the province for the past 1,000 years.
Oragon Award
Henry Briguera, the organizer of the occasion, dubbed the awarding as the Oragon Award of the Millennium which recognizes individual contribution of persons in Camarines Sur in the field of science, art and music, economic development, leadership, heroism and politics.
Briguera said the Oragon Award was one way of popularizing the unique Bicol term, oragon, to mainstream it as a positive trait of the Bicolanos in this millennium.
''Oragon for Bicol has two meanings depending on what context one is using. But basically oragon means greatness and excellence, if not, the word can also mean shrewdness, wiliness, cunning and craftiness,'' Briguera explained.
Among the awardees are Rep. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Raul Roco, Gov. Luis Villafuerte, former Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo, the 15 martyrs during the 1898 Philippine Revolution, and the founding datu of the settlements in Camarines Sur.
The Oragon Award was held last night at the University of Nueva Caceres Gymnasium.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Duterte tells troubled media conglomerate owners to sell out
MANILA: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (Dec 30) told owners of a media conglomerate that has drawn his ire to sell the company ahead of the network's franchise expiry.
The mercurial leader has a rocky relationship with the media, especially with those critical of his bloody anti-narcotics campaign, and he has threatened numerous times to block the franchise extension of ABS-CBN Corporation
"This ABS-CBN, your contract will expire, and you try to renew. I don't know what will happen to you," Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in the province of Cotabato.
The broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN, the country's largest media conglomerate with dozens of local and national radio and television stations covering news, entertainment and public affairs, will expire in March 2020.
"If I were you, just sell it," Duterte said of the network, which he had accused of not airing his paid advertisement during the presidential race in 2016.
A Bill to extend its licence is pending in congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
ABS-CBN did not immediately respond to request for comment on a public holiday.
Duterte, in numerous public speeches, has lashed out at the media, while his office has at times accused media companies of bias or distorting his statements.
The Philippine leader enjoys a high approval rating and is wildly popular on social media. His supporters, including bloggers, fiercely defend him and his policies, and have targeted journalists.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-abs-cbn-corp-media-sell-out-12220574
The mercurial leader has a rocky relationship with the media, especially with those critical of his bloody anti-narcotics campaign, and he has threatened numerous times to block the franchise extension of ABS-CBN Corporation
"This ABS-CBN, your contract will expire, and you try to renew. I don't know what will happen to you," Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in the province of Cotabato.
The broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN, the country's largest media conglomerate with dozens of local and national radio and television stations covering news, entertainment and public affairs, will expire in March 2020.
"If I were you, just sell it," Duterte said of the network, which he had accused of not airing his paid advertisement during the presidential race in 2016.
A Bill to extend its licence is pending in congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
ABS-CBN did not immediately respond to request for comment on a public holiday.
Duterte, in numerous public speeches, has lashed out at the media, while his office has at times accused media companies of bias or distorting his statements.
The Philippine leader enjoys a high approval rating and is wildly popular on social media. His supporters, including bloggers, fiercely defend him and his policies, and have targeted journalists.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-abs-cbn-corp-media-sell-out-12220574
Duterte to ABS-CBN: Better to sell the network
'Magrenew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan,' President Rodrigo Duterte tells the media giant
Months before the expiration of the media giant's franchise, President Rodrigo Duterte told ABS-CBN that it would be better to "just sell" the network as he reiterated that it was unlikely that Congress would renew its franchise.
Duterte made his latest tirade against ABS-CBN as he spoke to earthquake victims of M'lang town in Cotabato on Monday, December 30.
"Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Magrenew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo, ipagbili 'nyo na ‘yan (ABS-CBN, your contract will expire. You want to renew, but I don't know if that will happen. If I were you, I'd sell it)," Duterte said.
ABS-CBN's legislative franchise was approved through Republic Act No. 7966 on March 30, 1995. It is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
In his latest rant, Duterte said that it was about time that the Filipino people "get back" at ABS-CBN, even though it was the Chief Executive who had an axe to grind against it. He had been slamming the network since the start of his presidency as it supposedly did not air his political ads during the 2016 campaign.
"I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever," Duterte said on Monday, referring to ABS-CBN.
Several bills have been filed at the House of Representatives to renew the ABS-CBN franchise, but the lower chamber did not tackle them before the Christmas break.
If the bill is not passed and signed into law, ABS-CBN will have to close down its radio and television operations. House committee on legislative franchises chairman Franz Alvarez earlier said that the chamber would tackle the bills in early 2020.
Opposition lawmakers such as Senator Leila de Lima have urged Congress to renew the franchise, saying that doing otherwise would make them complicit in the death of democracy in the country.
Renewed threats
Duterte's rant against ABS-CBN was part of his usual diatribe against oligarchs he accused of "screwing over" the government.
On Monday, he again threatened to "jail" the Ayalas and Manny Pangilinan, for alleged corruption in their water distribution operations in Metro Manila, which both have denied. (READ: Look back: Duterte's tussles with big business)
Duterte started hitting the water concessionaires after the Ayala-led Manila Water won in an arbitration case against the Philippine government in a Singapore court, which ordered the latter to pay Manila Water P7.4 billion. After Duterte threatened to scrap the 1997 water deal with Manila Water and Pangilinan's Maynilad, both said they would no longer demand payment from government.
Duterte also lambasted the Inquirer Group on Monday, accusing it of being a "mouthpiece" of the oligarchs. He even "invited" the earthquake victims in the audience to join him in "attacking" the Inquirer office in Manila. (READ: Duterte's target: The Philippine Daily Inquirer)
"Hintayin ko kayo sa Maynila. Sabay-sabay tayo, sugurin natin 'yan sila. Kaya 'nyo? (I'll wait for you in Manila. Let's do it together, lets attack them. Can you do that)?" Duterte said, as his joke drew cheers and laughter from the audience.
In 2017, business tycoon and Duterte's friend Ramon Ang bought the majority shares of the Inquirer Group from the Prietos.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/248223-duterte-abs-cbn-sell-network-than-renew-franchise
Months before the expiration of the media giant's franchise, President Rodrigo Duterte told ABS-CBN that it would be better to "just sell" the network as he reiterated that it was unlikely that Congress would renew its franchise.
Duterte made his latest tirade against ABS-CBN as he spoke to earthquake victims of M'lang town in Cotabato on Monday, December 30.
"Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Magrenew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo, ipagbili 'nyo na ‘yan (ABS-CBN, your contract will expire. You want to renew, but I don't know if that will happen. If I were you, I'd sell it)," Duterte said.
ABS-CBN's legislative franchise was approved through Republic Act No. 7966 on March 30, 1995. It is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
In his latest rant, Duterte said that it was about time that the Filipino people "get back" at ABS-CBN, even though it was the Chief Executive who had an axe to grind against it. He had been slamming the network since the start of his presidency as it supposedly did not air his political ads during the 2016 campaign.
"I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever," Duterte said on Monday, referring to ABS-CBN.
Several bills have been filed at the House of Representatives to renew the ABS-CBN franchise, but the lower chamber did not tackle them before the Christmas break.
If the bill is not passed and signed into law, ABS-CBN will have to close down its radio and television operations. House committee on legislative franchises chairman Franz Alvarez earlier said that the chamber would tackle the bills in early 2020.
Opposition lawmakers such as Senator Leila de Lima have urged Congress to renew the franchise, saying that doing otherwise would make them complicit in the death of democracy in the country.
Renewed threats
Duterte's rant against ABS-CBN was part of his usual diatribe against oligarchs he accused of "screwing over" the government.
On Monday, he again threatened to "jail" the Ayalas and Manny Pangilinan, for alleged corruption in their water distribution operations in Metro Manila, which both have denied. (READ: Look back: Duterte's tussles with big business)
Duterte started hitting the water concessionaires after the Ayala-led Manila Water won in an arbitration case against the Philippine government in a Singapore court, which ordered the latter to pay Manila Water P7.4 billion. After Duterte threatened to scrap the 1997 water deal with Manila Water and Pangilinan's Maynilad, both said they would no longer demand payment from government.
Duterte also lambasted the Inquirer Group on Monday, accusing it of being a "mouthpiece" of the oligarchs. He even "invited" the earthquake victims in the audience to join him in "attacking" the Inquirer office in Manila. (READ: Duterte's target: The Philippine Daily Inquirer)
"Hintayin ko kayo sa Maynila. Sabay-sabay tayo, sugurin natin 'yan sila. Kaya 'nyo? (I'll wait for you in Manila. Let's do it together, lets attack them. Can you do that)?" Duterte said, as his joke drew cheers and laughter from the audience.
In 2017, business tycoon and Duterte's friend Ramon Ang bought the majority shares of the Inquirer Group from the Prietos.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/248223-duterte-abs-cbn-sell-network-than-renew-franchise
Philippines' Duterte tells troubled media conglomerate owners to sell out
MANILA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday told owners of a media conglomerate that has drawn his ire to sell the company ahead of the network's franchise expiry.
The mercurial leader has a rocky relationship with the media, especially with those critical of his bloody anti-narcotics campaign, and he has threatened numerous times to block the franchise extension of ABS-CBN Corp.
"This ABS, your contract will expire, and you try to renew. I don't know what will happen to you," Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in the southern province of North Cotabato.
The broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN, the country's largest media conglomerate with dozens of local and national radio and television stations covering news, entertainment and public affairs, will expire in March 2020.
"If I were you, just sell it," Duterte said of the network, which he had accused of not airing his paid advertisement during the presidential race in 2016.
A bill to extend its licence is pending in congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
ABS-CBN did not immediately respond to request for comment on a public holiday.
Duterte, in numerous public speeches, has lashed out at the media, while his office has at times accused media companies of bias or distorting his statements.
The Philippine leader enjoys a high approval rating and is wildly popular on social media. His supporters, including bloggers, fiercely defend him and his policies, and have targeted journalists.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/philippines-duterte-tells-troubled-media-conglomerate-owners-to-sell-out-2019-12-30
The mercurial leader has a rocky relationship with the media, especially with those critical of his bloody anti-narcotics campaign, and he has threatened numerous times to block the franchise extension of ABS-CBN Corp.
"This ABS, your contract will expire, and you try to renew. I don't know what will happen to you," Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in the southern province of North Cotabato.
The broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN, the country's largest media conglomerate with dozens of local and national radio and television stations covering news, entertainment and public affairs, will expire in March 2020.
"If I were you, just sell it," Duterte said of the network, which he had accused of not airing his paid advertisement during the presidential race in 2016.
A bill to extend its licence is pending in congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
ABS-CBN did not immediately respond to request for comment on a public holiday.
Duterte, in numerous public speeches, has lashed out at the media, while his office has at times accused media companies of bias or distorting his statements.
The Philippine leader enjoys a high approval rating and is wildly popular on social media. His supporters, including bloggers, fiercely defend him and his policies, and have targeted journalists.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/philippines-duterte-tells-troubled-media-conglomerate-owners-to-sell-out-2019-12-30
Duterte tells ABS-CBN owners to just sell the TV network
Three months before the expiration of ABS-CBN's franchise, President Rodrigo Duterte Monday said the television network should just be sold as he vowed to give its owners an episode they won't forget.
Duterte, who has accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and of "swindling" him for not airing his campaign commercial, said there is no assurance that the network's franchise would be renewed. The Lopez-owned network's franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
"Your contract is about to expire. You will try to renew it but I don't know what will happen to that," the president said during his visit to earthquake victims in M'lang, Cotabato.
"Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na 'yan. Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan (If I were you, I would sell it. It's only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at your wrongdoings). And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever," he added.
Duterte claimed previous presidents did not act against the interests of some businesses because they were afraid of ABS-CBN.
Duterte had claimed that ABS-CBN did not return the money he paid for campaign commercials even if the advertisements did not air. He had also accused the network of magnifying "garbage" stories peddled by his critics.
Earlier this month, Duterte vowed to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.
"I will see to it that you're out," he said in a speech delivered in Malacañang last December 3.
Duterte blasts Inquirer
Duterte also accused broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer of being a "mouthpiece" of oligarchs.
"You son of a b****, Inquirer, everyone. You are silent. Because you are the mouthpiece of oligarchs in the Philippines. You son of a b**** Inquirer, you are on the take," the president said.
"You are no better than a prostitute. You sell your talent to the rich. Against the poor. Yan. That's why I have always been angry with the rich," he added.
Duterte claimed owners of the broadsheet have used their influence to evade taxes.
"They did not pay taxes, just like donut, just like Inquirer," the president said, apparently referring to the Prietos, the family that owns the broadsheet and the exclusive Philippine franchisee of Dunkin' Donuts.
Duterte had claimed that the Prietos only paid P8 million to settle a P1 billion tax deficiency of Dunkin Donuts during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/30/1980834/duterte-tells-abs-cbn-owners-just-sell-tv-network
Duterte, who has accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and of "swindling" him for not airing his campaign commercial, said there is no assurance that the network's franchise would be renewed. The Lopez-owned network's franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
"Your contract is about to expire. You will try to renew it but I don't know what will happen to that," the president said during his visit to earthquake victims in M'lang, Cotabato.
"Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na 'yan. Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan (If I were you, I would sell it. It's only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at your wrongdoings). And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever," he added.
Duterte claimed previous presidents did not act against the interests of some businesses because they were afraid of ABS-CBN.
Duterte had claimed that ABS-CBN did not return the money he paid for campaign commercials even if the advertisements did not air. He had also accused the network of magnifying "garbage" stories peddled by his critics.
Earlier this month, Duterte vowed to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.
"I will see to it that you're out," he said in a speech delivered in Malacañang last December 3.
Duterte blasts Inquirer
Duterte also accused broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer of being a "mouthpiece" of oligarchs.
"You son of a b****, Inquirer, everyone. You are silent. Because you are the mouthpiece of oligarchs in the Philippines. You son of a b**** Inquirer, you are on the take," the president said.
"You are no better than a prostitute. You sell your talent to the rich. Against the poor. Yan. That's why I have always been angry with the rich," he added.
Duterte claimed owners of the broadsheet have used their influence to evade taxes.
"They did not pay taxes, just like donut, just like Inquirer," the president said, apparently referring to the Prietos, the family that owns the broadsheet and the exclusive Philippine franchisee of Dunkin' Donuts.
Duterte had claimed that the Prietos only paid P8 million to settle a P1 billion tax deficiency of Dunkin Donuts during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/30/1980834/duterte-tells-abs-cbn-owners-just-sell-tv-network
Duterte tells ABS-CBN execs to sell company
President Rodrigo Duterte again vented his anger at ABS-CBN Corporation in his latest speech, even suggesting a way out for the hard-pressed major television network.
"Itong ABS-CBN, mag-expire ang contract ninyo, mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung mangyari. Ako pa sa'yo, pagbili na ninyo 'yan," Duterte said in a talk to earthquake victims in Cotabato Monday.
[Translation: ABS-CBN, your contract is set to expire. I don't know if it will be renewed. If I were you, I'd sell the company.]
In a series of tweets Monday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Duterte's latest statement bore "all the signs of a shakedown and raises questions over his real intentions for seeking to block the renewal of the broadcast network’s franchise."
"Words that appear to be marching orders to his minions in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, who has admitted having “personal objections” to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest," they said.
NUJP added, "We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists and on citizens who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken."
The franchise of the embattled media company will expire in March 2020, unless Congress and Duterte approve its extension.
Congress was unable to tackle five pending bills to extend ABS-CBN's franchise for another 25 years in 2019.
Duterte has also consistently stood firm against the network and its executives.
The President's primary objection stemmed from the network's alleged failure to run his paid campaign advertisements during the 2016 election.
ABS-CBN is one of the major TV networks in the country, with around 6,730 regular employees, 900 non-regular employees and 3,325 talents at the end of 2018, according to its report to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/12/30/duterte-abs-cbn-franchise-sale.html
"Itong ABS-CBN, mag-expire ang contract ninyo, mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung mangyari. Ako pa sa'yo, pagbili na ninyo 'yan," Duterte said in a talk to earthquake victims in Cotabato Monday.
[Translation: ABS-CBN, your contract is set to expire. I don't know if it will be renewed. If I were you, I'd sell the company.]
In a series of tweets Monday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Duterte's latest statement bore "all the signs of a shakedown and raises questions over his real intentions for seeking to block the renewal of the broadcast network’s franchise."
"Words that appear to be marching orders to his minions in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, who has admitted having “personal objections” to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest," they said.
NUJP added, "We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists and on citizens who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken."
The franchise of the embattled media company will expire in March 2020, unless Congress and Duterte approve its extension.
Congress was unable to tackle five pending bills to extend ABS-CBN's franchise for another 25 years in 2019.
Duterte has also consistently stood firm against the network and its executives.
The President's primary objection stemmed from the network's alleged failure to run his paid campaign advertisements during the 2016 election.
ABS-CBN is one of the major TV networks in the country, with around 6,730 regular employees, 900 non-regular employees and 3,325 talents at the end of 2018, according to its report to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/12/30/duterte-abs-cbn-franchise-sale.html
BREAKING: Duterte tells ABS-CBN to just sell the network
After threatening television giant ABS-CBN with closure by not renewing its franchise, President Duterte on Monday gave an unsolicited advice to the network — put it on sale.
Duterte made the proposal with little over two months left until ABS-CBN’s broadcast rights expires. It is congress that is mandated by the constitution to enact franchise bills pending before it.
If the franchise is not granted, the country’s largest network would have to close down its TV and radio operations by March 20, 2020.
“Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato.
“Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added.
Duterte has several times in the past threatened to block the franchise renewal of the Kapamilya network after what he claimed to be unfair treatment of him during the presidential campaign period.
The President has also repeatedly accused ABS-CBN of estafa for supposedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for during the May 2016 presidential elections.
He has also slammed the network for airing what he deemed to be unfair or slanted reports about him.
The proposed sale of ABS-CBN came on the heels of reports that Duterte’s friend, Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy recently formed the Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp, which expands his business to media and entertainment sector.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1207388/fwd-breaking-3-months-before-franchise-expires-duterte-tells-abs-cbn-to-just-sell-the-network
Duterte made the proposal with little over two months left until ABS-CBN’s broadcast rights expires. It is congress that is mandated by the constitution to enact franchise bills pending before it.
If the franchise is not granted, the country’s largest network would have to close down its TV and radio operations by March 20, 2020.
“Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato.
“Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added.
Duterte has several times in the past threatened to block the franchise renewal of the Kapamilya network after what he claimed to be unfair treatment of him during the presidential campaign period.
The President has also repeatedly accused ABS-CBN of estafa for supposedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for during the May 2016 presidential elections.
He has also slammed the network for airing what he deemed to be unfair or slanted reports about him.
The proposed sale of ABS-CBN came on the heels of reports that Duterte’s friend, Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy recently formed the Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp, which expands his business to media and entertainment sector.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1207388/fwd-breaking-3-months-before-franchise-expires-duterte-tells-abs-cbn-to-just-sell-the-network
Three-month countdown: What are ABS-CBN’s chances of renewing its franchise?
PANGASINAN, Philippines — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is rallying for public support to defend press freedom after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered fresh blows against media giant ABS-CBN, whose congressional franchise is set to expire in three months.
“Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo, ipagbili niyo na ‘yan...And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” Duterte said in a Monday speech while visiting earthquake victims in North Cotabato.
(ABS-CBN’s contract is about to expire. Try to renew your franchise, let’s see what happens. If I were you, I might as well sell the network.)
Admin-led Congress
The NUJP described Duterte's statement as a veiled threat with “[w]ords that appear to be marching orders to his minions in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, who has admitted having ‘personal objections’ to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest.”
ABS-CBN's franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020, after which its broadcast services will cease operation.
At least five bills have been filed to extend the media network’s broadcasting operations for another 25 years.
The House of Representatives, meanwhile, has not acted on the pending legislation to renew the said franchise.
An administration-recognized super majority stands in the House with about 290 members. It is helmed by Speaker Cayetano who was the president’s running mate in the 2016 elections and Cabinet appointee prior to speakership.
Duterte also brokered the initial "term-sharing" agreement between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco that saw the former rise to the speakership.
President’s signature needed
Broadcast companies, including radio and television networks, in the Philippines are required to seek a franchise from Congress under Republic Act 3846.
“No person, firm, company, association or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio station within the Philippine Islands without having first obtained a franchise therefore from the Philippine Legislature,” RA 3846 reads.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was granted a term of 25 years under Republic Act 7966, approved on March 30, 1995. It states:
“The ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assigns, is hereby granted a franchise to construct, operate and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, television and radio broadcasting stations in and throughout the Philippines.”
A congressional franchise bill needs to be approved by the House of Representatives before it is transmitted to the Senate. The version of the bill approved by both chambers would then still need the president’s approval.
Duterte, however, has repeatedly criticized ABS-CBN and stated that he is determined to block the renewal of its franchise.
“Ang inyong franchise mag-end (your franchise will end) next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew 'yan (its renewal), I'm sorry. You're out. I will see to it that you're out,” the president said earlier this month.
Last year, the president said he disapproves of the renewal of the media company’s franchise but would not meddle in renewal talks.
“Now, ABS-CBN, their franchise is due for renewal... But I will never also intervene. But if I had my way, I will not give it back to you,” Duterte said in August 2018.
ABS-CBN’s future
Global watchdog organizations have since taken to ABS-CBN's side amid the franchise renewal issue, denouncing the Philippine government's alleged attack on press freedom and democracy.
Labor group Defend Job Philippines also said that the politicking is threatening the livelihood of thousands of ABS-CBN employees.
NUJP has asked Congress to act independently on the franchise renewal issue, estimating that between 10,000 to 11,000 are at risk of losing their jobs.
The hashtag #ABSCBNIsNotForSale trended on Twitter toward the year’s end with citizens reacting at the president’s tirades.
“We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists and on citizens who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken,” the NUJP said in a statement posted New Year’s Eve.
“The alternative— the death of freedom of the press and of free expression— is too horrible to contemplate.”
Detained Sen. Leila de Lima also related the franchise renewal issue to what she said is a pattern of government repression against its critics.
“The closure of a media outlet over a personal whim and political vendetta has no place in a free, democratic and just society,” the senator said in a statement earlier this month.
“Clearly, the President’s attacks on Rappler and Inquirer, and recently, his renewed threats of blocking ABS-CBN’s franchise, are part of his regime’s blatant crackdown, broader propaganda, and misinformation against media outlets, opposition leaders and organizations who criticize and challenge his crooked and brutal policies.”
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/31/1981058/three-month-countdown-what-are-abs-cbns-chances-renewing-its-franchise
(ABS-CBN’s contract is about to expire. Try to renew your franchise, let’s see what happens. If I were you, I might as well sell the network.)
Admin-led Congress
The NUJP described Duterte's statement as a veiled threat with “[w]ords that appear to be marching orders to his minions in Congress, led by Alan Peter Cayetano, who has admitted having ‘personal objections’ to renewing the franchise in a clear conflict of interest.”
ABS-CBN's franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020, after which its broadcast services will cease operation.
At least five bills have been filed to extend the media network’s broadcasting operations for another 25 years.
The House of Representatives, meanwhile, has not acted on the pending legislation to renew the said franchise.
An administration-recognized super majority stands in the House with about 290 members. It is helmed by Speaker Cayetano who was the president’s running mate in the 2016 elections and Cabinet appointee prior to speakership.
Duterte also brokered the initial "term-sharing" agreement between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco that saw the former rise to the speakership.
President’s signature needed
Broadcast companies, including radio and television networks, in the Philippines are required to seek a franchise from Congress under Republic Act 3846.
“No person, firm, company, association or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio station within the Philippine Islands without having first obtained a franchise therefore from the Philippine Legislature,” RA 3846 reads.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was granted a term of 25 years under Republic Act 7966, approved on March 30, 1995. It states:
“The ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assigns, is hereby granted a franchise to construct, operate and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, television and radio broadcasting stations in and throughout the Philippines.”
A congressional franchise bill needs to be approved by the House of Representatives before it is transmitted to the Senate. The version of the bill approved by both chambers would then still need the president’s approval.
Duterte, however, has repeatedly criticized ABS-CBN and stated that he is determined to block the renewal of its franchise.
“Ang inyong franchise mag-end (your franchise will end) next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew 'yan (its renewal), I'm sorry. You're out. I will see to it that you're out,” the president said earlier this month.
Last year, the president said he disapproves of the renewal of the media company’s franchise but would not meddle in renewal talks.
“Now, ABS-CBN, their franchise is due for renewal... But I will never also intervene. But if I had my way, I will not give it back to you,” Duterte said in August 2018.
ABS-CBN’s future
Global watchdog organizations have since taken to ABS-CBN's side amid the franchise renewal issue, denouncing the Philippine government's alleged attack on press freedom and democracy.
Labor group Defend Job Philippines also said that the politicking is threatening the livelihood of thousands of ABS-CBN employees.
NUJP has asked Congress to act independently on the franchise renewal issue, estimating that between 10,000 to 11,000 are at risk of losing their jobs.
The hashtag #ABSCBNIsNotForSale trended on Twitter toward the year’s end with citizens reacting at the president’s tirades.
“We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists and on citizens who cherish democracy to band together and protect the free arena of ideas that the closure or forced sale of ABS-CBN would severely weaken,” the NUJP said in a statement posted New Year’s Eve.
“The alternative— the death of freedom of the press and of free expression— is too horrible to contemplate.”
Detained Sen. Leila de Lima also related the franchise renewal issue to what she said is a pattern of government repression against its critics.
“The closure of a media outlet over a personal whim and political vendetta has no place in a free, democratic and just society,” the senator said in a statement earlier this month.
“Clearly, the President’s attacks on Rappler and Inquirer, and recently, his renewed threats of blocking ABS-CBN’s franchise, are part of his regime’s blatant crackdown, broader propaganda, and misinformation against media outlets, opposition leaders and organizations who criticize and challenge his crooked and brutal policies.”
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/31/1981058/three-month-countdown-what-are-abs-cbns-chances-renewing-its-franchise
Rizal Day part of millennium bash
AN AWARD-WINNING film based on the life of national hero Jose Rizal and a musical based on his novel ''Noli Me Tangere'' will be presented today at the Rizal Park as part of the millennium celebrations and to mark the 123rd anniversary of his death.
Rizal was executed by firing squad at the same park, which was then called Bagumbayan.
A day later, the park will also be the center of the millennium celebrations, starting with a special concelebrated Misa Milenya (Millennium Mass) to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
The millennium celebration frenzy will be repeated in several other parts of the country, from Metro Manila to as far north as Benguet and as far south as Davao Oriental.
Celebration organizers have issued helpful tips for enjoying and living through the revelry, including bringing your own survival kits.
Today's Araw ng Dakilang Bayani (Day of the Great Hero), which is part of the Pistang Milenyo Filipino (Filipino Millennium Festival), will also include a retracing at 5:30 a.m. of Rizal's last footsteps from his prison cell at Fort Santiago to the execution site.
The retracing will be done by the members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.
At 7 a.m., President Duterte is expected to lead the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying at the Rizal Monument.
''Rizal,'' the 1998 movie directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Rizal Park's open-air auditorium, according to Tourism Director Romulo de los Reyes, festival chair.
''Kanser,'' the musical, will be staged at 6 p.m. at the same place. It is directed by Tony Espejo.
Also at 6 p.m., a light and sound show on the martyrdom of Rizal will be presented.
At 7 p.m., designer Lito Perez will hold a modern kimono fashion show at the park's Japanese garden.
All the Rizal Park shows are open to the public for free.
The millennium celebrations at the Rizal Park, which kicked off on Thursday, will be capped by a grand fireworks display tomorrow at midnight.
The Department of Budget and Management allocated P30 million for the festivities at the Rizal Park and in other parts of the country.
Vigor and commitment
Yesterday, only two days before the world bids goodbye to 2019, President Duterte urged the people to greet the new year ''with renewed vigor.''
Speaking on his weekly radio-TV program "Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa," Mr. Duterte promised to ''further intensify my commitment to ensure good governance and provide the people, especially the poor, with better services.''
He said that like in most Filipino homes, he and his family would pray together on New Year's Eve, aside from joining the Rizal Park festivities.
The President and other members of the First Family will attend the 5 p.m. Mass to be said by Cardinal Tagle at the Quirino Grandstand tomorrow.
Representatives of labor, women and children, fishermen, farmers, indigenous communities and other sectors will join them in the offertory procession.
Bro. Mike Velarde, Servant-Leader of El Shaddai, earlier announced he expected about 500,000 flock members to also attend the millennium Mass.
Pope's message
Pope Francis message to the Filipino people will be read during the Mass at the Quirino Grandstand and in selected Marian shrines in other parts of the country, according to Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who chairs the Committee on the Turn of the Century Celebration.
The Mass, which will project the Philippines as a pilgrimage destination in Asia, will be covered live by the national multi-media.
The President will then welcome the new millennium by leading a symbolic kapit-bisig (linking of arms), which will be replicated all over the country.
People joining the celebration at the Rizal Park are advised to bring food.
''People should bring their own food as if they're going on a picnic because, unfortunately, we can't offer them any,'' said De los Reyes.
He also advised people to bring raincoats or umbrellas.
They should also be on alert for petty criminals such as holdup men and pickpockets, although policemen and security men will be roving around the park, he said.
He predicted that the Dec. 31 crowd at Rizal Park alone could swell to at least 5 million.
House watch
People at the Rizal Park will be screened for guns, firecrackers and drugs by about 1,000 roving members of the Western Police District before and during the celebration with the President, according to Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, WPD director.
''Make sure somebody stays home to keep watch against burglars who might take advantage of the situation,'' said Razon. ''Nonetheless, there will be enough patrol units going around the other parts of the city to discourage criminals during the celebration.''
A concert and a huge dance party will follow the 50-minute fireworks display.
''On a happy note, there are no high-risk areas and no serious threats to the celebration,'' the WPD chief added.
What not to bring
Organizers of the millennium party on Ayala Avenue in Makati City also have tips for frolickers.
o Bring some cash. ''You don't have to bring anything, just cash,'' said P/Chief Insp. Candido Ruiz, traffic commander of the Ayala party.
Food, drinks and souvenirs will be sold at different booths to be set up on Ayala by Makati's five-star hotels, restaurants and Ayala Center merchants.
o Bring protection from the rain.
o Don't bring guns.
''No one with a gun will be allowed to enter the party premises,'' said Ruiz. ''Only those who are authorized to bring guns (policemen, security force) will be allowed to do so.''
o Don't bring pointed objects such as knives, ice picks and the like.
o Merrymakers will be allowed to bring alcoholic drinks as long as they are in plastic containers. Bottled drinks--juice, soft drinks, beer, liquor--are strictly prohibited.
Ruiz said organizers had not decided if they would allow beer in can.
The party will be free for all, so everyone is invited to attend. ''You can come in any attire you want,'' he said.
o Vehicles will be barred from the avenues, but not revelers, said traffic Executive Director Ernesto Camarillo of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Star-studded
Why should people choose the Ayala party over those at The Fort in Fort Bonifacio, Rizal Park in Manila and Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City?
''Because top celebrities, show biz personalities will be there to perform live before the crowd, which is expected to be more than 100,000,'' said Ruiz.
Camarillo said party organizers had been receiving feelers that President Duterte would proceed to Ayala after the official millennium party at Rizal Park.
With the theme ''One with the World,'' the Makati party will be hosted by Ayala Land's Ayala Malls in cooperation with GMA-7.
It will be telecast worldwide as part of the 26-hour Millennium Day broadcast of Britain's BBC and the US-based ABC networks.
The party will start at 5 p.m. and will build up at about 10 p.m. when entertainers perform musical numbers on a giant stage at the intersection of Ayala and Makati avenues.
People in the Ayala party can watch the different millennium celebrations around the globe starting at 8 p.m. through giant TV screens on the two intersecting avenues.
From 11:50 p.m. to midnight, and again at 1:30 a.m., about 800 million viewers around the world will be tuning in on the Ayala millennium celebration.
''We want to showcase the Philippines as a world-class entertainment center and we've gathered our best talents to achieve that,''' said Ayala Land marketing manager Tina Esguerra.
The Ayala party will end with fireworks, laser shows and a confetti shower.
Pollution and firecrackers
Though likely to be ignored by millennium revelers, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned against burning tires and the wanton use of pyrotechnics for these are dangerous to health and the environment as well as to property.
In a statement, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said burning tires and pyrotechnics give off ozone-depleting sulfur dioxide, heavy metals and their oxides.
As of yesterday, one man had been killed and more than 150 injured, mostly by firecrackers, in pre-millennium celebrations, said police.
The first death was recorded on Tuesday when a motorcycle ridden by a man who had just bought a bunch of firecrackers turned into a high-speed firebomb in Valenzuela, Metro Manila.
The package exploded and ignited the vehicle after coming in contact with the exhaust pipe, killing a bystander and injuring three motorists including the motorcycle rider who had both legs amputated, said Supt. Nemesio Neron.
Elsewhere in the country, 150 people were injured in firecracker blasts and 10 wounded by stray bullets, said Senior Supt. Rodolfo Tor, chief of the firearms and explosives unit of the Philippine National Police. With reports from Norman Bordadora, TJ Burgonio, Carlito Pablo, Michael Lim Ubac, AFP
Rizal was executed by firing squad at the same park, which was then called Bagumbayan.
A day later, the park will also be the center of the millennium celebrations, starting with a special concelebrated Misa Milenya (Millennium Mass) to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
The millennium celebration frenzy will be repeated in several other parts of the country, from Metro Manila to as far north as Benguet and as far south as Davao Oriental.
Celebration organizers have issued helpful tips for enjoying and living through the revelry, including bringing your own survival kits.
Today's Araw ng Dakilang Bayani (Day of the Great Hero), which is part of the Pistang Milenyo Filipino (Filipino Millennium Festival), will also include a retracing at 5:30 a.m. of Rizal's last footsteps from his prison cell at Fort Santiago to the execution site.
The retracing will be done by the members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.
At 7 a.m., President Duterte is expected to lead the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying at the Rizal Monument.
''Rizal,'' the 1998 movie directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Rizal Park's open-air auditorium, according to Tourism Director Romulo de los Reyes, festival chair.
''Kanser,'' the musical, will be staged at 6 p.m. at the same place. It is directed by Tony Espejo.
Also at 6 p.m., a light and sound show on the martyrdom of Rizal will be presented.
At 7 p.m., designer Lito Perez will hold a modern kimono fashion show at the park's Japanese garden.
All the Rizal Park shows are open to the public for free.
The millennium celebrations at the Rizal Park, which kicked off on Thursday, will be capped by a grand fireworks display tomorrow at midnight.
The Department of Budget and Management allocated P30 million for the festivities at the Rizal Park and in other parts of the country.
Vigor and commitment
Yesterday, only two days before the world bids goodbye to 2019, President Duterte urged the people to greet the new year ''with renewed vigor.''
Speaking on his weekly radio-TV program "Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa," Mr. Duterte promised to ''further intensify my commitment to ensure good governance and provide the people, especially the poor, with better services.''
He said that like in most Filipino homes, he and his family would pray together on New Year's Eve, aside from joining the Rizal Park festivities.
The President and other members of the First Family will attend the 5 p.m. Mass to be said by Cardinal Tagle at the Quirino Grandstand tomorrow.
Representatives of labor, women and children, fishermen, farmers, indigenous communities and other sectors will join them in the offertory procession.
Bro. Mike Velarde, Servant-Leader of El Shaddai, earlier announced he expected about 500,000 flock members to also attend the millennium Mass.
Pope's message
Pope Francis message to the Filipino people will be read during the Mass at the Quirino Grandstand and in selected Marian shrines in other parts of the country, according to Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who chairs the Committee on the Turn of the Century Celebration.
The Mass, which will project the Philippines as a pilgrimage destination in Asia, will be covered live by the national multi-media.
The President will then welcome the new millennium by leading a symbolic kapit-bisig (linking of arms), which will be replicated all over the country.
People joining the celebration at the Rizal Park are advised to bring food.
''People should bring their own food as if they're going on a picnic because, unfortunately, we can't offer them any,'' said De los Reyes.
He also advised people to bring raincoats or umbrellas.
They should also be on alert for petty criminals such as holdup men and pickpockets, although policemen and security men will be roving around the park, he said.
He predicted that the Dec. 31 crowd at Rizal Park alone could swell to at least 5 million.
House watch
People at the Rizal Park will be screened for guns, firecrackers and drugs by about 1,000 roving members of the Western Police District before and during the celebration with the President, according to Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, WPD director.
''Make sure somebody stays home to keep watch against burglars who might take advantage of the situation,'' said Razon. ''Nonetheless, there will be enough patrol units going around the other parts of the city to discourage criminals during the celebration.''
A concert and a huge dance party will follow the 50-minute fireworks display.
''On a happy note, there are no high-risk areas and no serious threats to the celebration,'' the WPD chief added.
What not to bring
Organizers of the millennium party on Ayala Avenue in Makati City also have tips for frolickers.
o Bring some cash. ''You don't have to bring anything, just cash,'' said P/Chief Insp. Candido Ruiz, traffic commander of the Ayala party.
Food, drinks and souvenirs will be sold at different booths to be set up on Ayala by Makati's five-star hotels, restaurants and Ayala Center merchants.
o Bring protection from the rain.
o Don't bring guns.
''No one with a gun will be allowed to enter the party premises,'' said Ruiz. ''Only those who are authorized to bring guns (policemen, security force) will be allowed to do so.''
o Don't bring pointed objects such as knives, ice picks and the like.
o Merrymakers will be allowed to bring alcoholic drinks as long as they are in plastic containers. Bottled drinks--juice, soft drinks, beer, liquor--are strictly prohibited.
Ruiz said organizers had not decided if they would allow beer in can.
The party will be free for all, so everyone is invited to attend. ''You can come in any attire you want,'' he said.
o Vehicles will be barred from the avenues, but not revelers, said traffic Executive Director Ernesto Camarillo of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Star-studded
Why should people choose the Ayala party over those at The Fort in Fort Bonifacio, Rizal Park in Manila and Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City?
''Because top celebrities, show biz personalities will be there to perform live before the crowd, which is expected to be more than 100,000,'' said Ruiz.
Camarillo said party organizers had been receiving feelers that President Duterte would proceed to Ayala after the official millennium party at Rizal Park.
With the theme ''One with the World,'' the Makati party will be hosted by Ayala Land's Ayala Malls in cooperation with GMA-7.
It will be telecast worldwide as part of the 26-hour Millennium Day broadcast of Britain's BBC and the US-based ABC networks.
The party will start at 5 p.m. and will build up at about 10 p.m. when entertainers perform musical numbers on a giant stage at the intersection of Ayala and Makati avenues.
People in the Ayala party can watch the different millennium celebrations around the globe starting at 8 p.m. through giant TV screens on the two intersecting avenues.
From 11:50 p.m. to midnight, and again at 1:30 a.m., about 800 million viewers around the world will be tuning in on the Ayala millennium celebration.
''We want to showcase the Philippines as a world-class entertainment center and we've gathered our best talents to achieve that,''' said Ayala Land marketing manager Tina Esguerra.
The Ayala party will end with fireworks, laser shows and a confetti shower.
Pollution and firecrackers
Though likely to be ignored by millennium revelers, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned against burning tires and the wanton use of pyrotechnics for these are dangerous to health and the environment as well as to property.
In a statement, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said burning tires and pyrotechnics give off ozone-depleting sulfur dioxide, heavy metals and their oxides.
As of yesterday, one man had been killed and more than 150 injured, mostly by firecrackers, in pre-millennium celebrations, said police.
The first death was recorded on Tuesday when a motorcycle ridden by a man who had just bought a bunch of firecrackers turned into a high-speed firebomb in Valenzuela, Metro Manila.
The package exploded and ignited the vehicle after coming in contact with the exhaust pipe, killing a bystander and injuring three motorists including the motorcycle rider who had both legs amputated, said Supt. Nemesio Neron.
Elsewhere in the country, 150 people were injured in firecracker blasts and 10 wounded by stray bullets, said Senior Supt. Rodolfo Tor, chief of the firearms and explosives unit of the Philippine National Police. With reports from Norman Bordadora, TJ Burgonio, Carlito Pablo, Michael Lim Ubac, AFP
DFA at OWWA Rescue Office, bubuksan sa Palayan City
Inaasahang bubuksan sa Marso ang satellite office ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) Rescue Office sa Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
Ayon kay Palayan City Mayor Rianne Cuevas, nag-uusap na sila ng mga opisyal ng DFA at OWWA para maglagay ng satellite office sa kanyang probinsiya upang hindi na mahirapan ang kanyang mga kababayan na OFW sa pagkuha at pag-renew ng kanilang pasaporte.
Sinabi ng Alkalde, maging ang mga OFW sa Aurora province at iba pang kalapit na lugar ay maaari ng kumuha ng kanilang passport sa Palayan City at hindi na kailangan pang lumuwas ng Metro Manila sa oras na mabuksan ang mga nabanggit na opisina.
“Nais lang po nating pagaanin ang mga buhay ng ating mga bayaning OFW habang nilalakad nila ang kanilang mga papeles, clearance at kontrata,” anang Alkalde.
Maging ang seaman’s book at iba pang requirement ay maaari ng kunin sa Palayan City “One Stop Business Hub” sa oras na maging ‘full operation’ na ito.
Sa ngayon, anang Alkalde ay inaalam na ng Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) kung gaano karami ang mga marino sa Nueva Ecija at Aurora para sa kanilang paglalagay ng processing office sa lungsod.
Para naman sa mga maiiwang pamilya ng OFW, maglalagay na rin ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) satellite office, maging ang “Go Negosyo” para sa maaaring pagkakakitaan ng mga ito habang nasa abroad ang kanilang kaanak.
Ayon pa kay Mayor Cuevas, libre ang pag-print, xerox, paggamit ng computer at internet sa One Stop Shop Center for OFW (OSSCO) office.
https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2019/12/30/1980751/dfa-owwa-rescue-office-bubuksan-sa-palayan-city
Ayon kay Palayan City Mayor Rianne Cuevas, nag-uusap na sila ng mga opisyal ng DFA at OWWA para maglagay ng satellite office sa kanyang probinsiya upang hindi na mahirapan ang kanyang mga kababayan na OFW sa pagkuha at pag-renew ng kanilang pasaporte.
Sinabi ng Alkalde, maging ang mga OFW sa Aurora province at iba pang kalapit na lugar ay maaari ng kumuha ng kanilang passport sa Palayan City at hindi na kailangan pang lumuwas ng Metro Manila sa oras na mabuksan ang mga nabanggit na opisina.
“Nais lang po nating pagaanin ang mga buhay ng ating mga bayaning OFW habang nilalakad nila ang kanilang mga papeles, clearance at kontrata,” anang Alkalde.
Maging ang seaman’s book at iba pang requirement ay maaari ng kunin sa Palayan City “One Stop Business Hub” sa oras na maging ‘full operation’ na ito.
Sa ngayon, anang Alkalde ay inaalam na ng Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) kung gaano karami ang mga marino sa Nueva Ecija at Aurora para sa kanilang paglalagay ng processing office sa lungsod.
Para naman sa mga maiiwang pamilya ng OFW, maglalagay na rin ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) satellite office, maging ang “Go Negosyo” para sa maaaring pagkakakitaan ng mga ito habang nasa abroad ang kanilang kaanak.
Ayon pa kay Mayor Cuevas, libre ang pag-print, xerox, paggamit ng computer at internet sa One Stop Shop Center for OFW (OSSCO) office.
https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2019/12/30/1980751/dfa-owwa-rescue-office-bubuksan-sa-palayan-city
TV5 open to let Lopezes buy block airtime if ABS-CBN doesn’t get franchise
WHILE TV5 Network Inc. is reluctant to take any step toward helping save ABS-CBN Corp.—in danger of closure unless it gets it’s a new franchise by March—the former is open to allowing the latter to buy block airtime to stream its content.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs TV 5’s parent PLDT Inc., also debunked online reports that the Lopez-led network is in talks to buy TV 5.
“No one is talking to us,” he said. “I don’t think they want to buy into a losing company.”
Pangilinan stressed his group’s cool reception to the prospect of being acquired.
“We’re not offering them anything, we’re not suggesting anything to them. We don’t want to take the first step,” he said.
ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise will expire on March 30. President Duterte has made it his mission to “block” the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, claiming that the company had been remiss in its duties as a media platform.
With this, Pangilinan said his group remains open to negotiating for terms not related to any form of equity acquisition.
“We have lots of highways on 5. Setting aside the politics, if they want to [buy] block time, we’re prepared to talk. We don’t have a lot of entertainment content, anyway. So, it’s up to them,” he said.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/12/30/tv5-open-to-let-lopezes-buy-block-airtime-if-abs-cbn-doesnt-get-franchise/
Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs TV 5’s parent PLDT Inc., also debunked online reports that the Lopez-led network is in talks to buy TV 5.
“No one is talking to us,” he said. “I don’t think they want to buy into a losing company.”
Pangilinan stressed his group’s cool reception to the prospect of being acquired.
“We’re not offering them anything, we’re not suggesting anything to them. We don’t want to take the first step,” he said.
ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise will expire on March 30. President Duterte has made it his mission to “block” the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, claiming that the company had been remiss in its duties as a media platform.
With this, Pangilinan said his group remains open to negotiating for terms not related to any form of equity acquisition.
“We have lots of highways on 5. Setting aside the politics, if they want to [buy] block time, we’re prepared to talk. We don’t have a lot of entertainment content, anyway. So, it’s up to them,” he said.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/12/30/tv5-open-to-let-lopezes-buy-block-airtime-if-abs-cbn-doesnt-get-franchise/
Pangan: Addressing the job mismatch
A BIG boost to addressing jobs mismatch with employers' demand is the entry of Asian Development Bank via a $400-million policy-based loan to support the Philippine government's efforts to increase youth employment.
At present, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) offices of local government units provide employment to the youth through its Special Program for the Employment of Students during vacation, or precisely in April every year and grant them salaries for 20 days of immersion in government offices and fast food chains.
At least, the salaries received by the students can augment funds for their tuition and other school needs.
I understand that Asian Development Bank has a long standing partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regarding youth employment programs and it has plans to continue helping generate more job opportunities for young Filipinos.
I hope private Filipino entities would follow suit and give opportunities for employment to Filipino compatriots. ADB has a list of unemployed Filipinos, particularly the women sector and supports our labor policy referral including introduction of unemployment insurance.
ADB loan aims to address the skills mismatch between young job seekers and the competencies required by employers and I hope it will be used for this purpose.
* * *
Budget delays and boo-boos. There are apprehensions that the General Appropriations Bill for 2020 may suffer the same delay as last year's budget. Oh no!
But Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed confidence that there would be no sad repeat of the Senate-House impasse over the 2019 national budget, blaming the P95 billion worth of post-ratification insertions by the lawmakers. Mahilig yata ang mga kongresista natin sa insertions!
The bad effect on the economy was witnessed by us, caused by the delay. Ayayay!
* * *
A bit of good news for seniors. Some 100 senior citizens in Pasay City were hired as temporary airport ushers by way of an agreement between the local government unit of Pasay City, the Manila International Airport Authority, Ang Probinsiyano party-list and Dole.
Reportedly, they will perform manageable tasks such as guiding airport passengers to their seats and to offices the patrons need to go to or which lanes to queue in.
The seniors will work for three hours in the morning and another three hours in the afternoon for 15 days with a salary of P537 daily wage rate.
I just hope other local government units will employ seniors in their turfs.
* * *
Non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise. It is sad to hear that this entertainment giant network has been the target of the President's ire that its franchise will not be renewed by Congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
Whatever will be the fate of the franchise, so many of its stars, artists and other workers will suffer the loss of their respective jobs just because of Duterte's tantrums and vindictiveness. Whew!
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1837974
At present, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) offices of local government units provide employment to the youth through its Special Program for the Employment of Students during vacation, or precisely in April every year and grant them salaries for 20 days of immersion in government offices and fast food chains.
At least, the salaries received by the students can augment funds for their tuition and other school needs.
I understand that Asian Development Bank has a long standing partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regarding youth employment programs and it has plans to continue helping generate more job opportunities for young Filipinos.
I hope private Filipino entities would follow suit and give opportunities for employment to Filipino compatriots. ADB has a list of unemployed Filipinos, particularly the women sector and supports our labor policy referral including introduction of unemployment insurance.
ADB loan aims to address the skills mismatch between young job seekers and the competencies required by employers and I hope it will be used for this purpose.
* * *
Budget delays and boo-boos. There are apprehensions that the General Appropriations Bill for 2020 may suffer the same delay as last year's budget. Oh no!
But Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed confidence that there would be no sad repeat of the Senate-House impasse over the 2019 national budget, blaming the P95 billion worth of post-ratification insertions by the lawmakers. Mahilig yata ang mga kongresista natin sa insertions!
The bad effect on the economy was witnessed by us, caused by the delay. Ayayay!
* * *
A bit of good news for seniors. Some 100 senior citizens in Pasay City were hired as temporary airport ushers by way of an agreement between the local government unit of Pasay City, the Manila International Airport Authority, Ang Probinsiyano party-list and Dole.
Reportedly, they will perform manageable tasks such as guiding airport passengers to their seats and to offices the patrons need to go to or which lanes to queue in.
The seniors will work for three hours in the morning and another three hours in the afternoon for 15 days with a salary of P537 daily wage rate.
I just hope other local government units will employ seniors in their turfs.
* * *
Non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise. It is sad to hear that this entertainment giant network has been the target of the President's ire that its franchise will not be renewed by Congress, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
Whatever will be the fate of the franchise, so many of its stars, artists and other workers will suffer the loss of their respective jobs just because of Duterte's tantrums and vindictiveness. Whew!
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1837974
Saturday, December 28, 2019
SM Supermalls ChriSMs 2010 TV Commercial
Lets have happy times good cheers are here!
Lets have some greeting and kissing my dear
Lets have a happy Christmas all
Shopping, Shopping, Shopping at SM Malls!
Santa Claus in reindeer and sleighing
Mistletoeing, Wrapping, and rolling
All the Christmas things we do
Shopping, shopping, shopping, me and you!
All you kiddies both naughty and nice
Playing, Gaming, Zillion Surprises!
Toys and gadgets are waiting for you
Shopping, shopping, shopping all fun and new!
Gifts are here, gifts are there
One giant spirit every where
Christmas, Christmas, great big fun
SM Supermalling and were not done!
Skating snowing, movie screening
Wrapping, rolling, feasting rushing and
Christmas, Christmas sights and sounds
Shopping shopping shopping round and round!
Gifts are here, gifts are there!
Great big loving everywhere
Christmas, Christmas here to stay
Shopping shopping shopping SM Supermalling
Merry Christmas ChriSMs all the way!
Congress fails to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal in 2019
By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN
With just three months remaining before its current franchise lapses, efforts to secure franchise renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN failed to prosper this 2019.
Not a single of the franchise renewal bill of ABS-CBN filed in the House of Representatives under the 18th Congress has been tackled by the Committee of Legislative Franchises under Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez with only two days remaining before the end of the decade.
Nine proposed legislations seeking to give the broadcast giant a fresh start were already pending before the Lower House.
Prior to the congressional break earlier this month, two more proposed legislations that seek to to give the Kapamilya network a fresh 25-year franchise starting this coming March were filed by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) and Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Mindoro Oriental) under House Bills 5705 and 5753 respectively.
ABS-CBN needs to secure the passage of their congressional franchise on or before March 30, 2020—the expiration date set by its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7966—or the network will have to cease operating as a broadcast network if Congress fails to act on the franchise bill.
Earlier in December, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said there is still hope that the franchise application of broadcast giant ABS-CBN may hurdle congressional approval before it expires by March 2020.
The House leader sadi there is “more than enough time” for the franchise panel to tackle it by “January (or) February.”
“March pa naman ‘yung expiration ng franchise,” said Cayetano.
But Cayetano admitted that uncertainty still remains over the status of the ABS-CBN’s franchise application amidst President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest threat to block its renewal.
“Depende sa kalalabasan ng hearing. I cannot preempt the committee or the issues that will be taken,” said Cayetano’s response when asked if Congress can approve the Kapamilya network’s franchise bill ahead of its expiration
https://politics.com.ph/congress-fails-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-in-2019/
With just three months remaining before its current franchise lapses, efforts to secure franchise renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN failed to prosper this 2019.
Not a single of the franchise renewal bill of ABS-CBN filed in the House of Representatives under the 18th Congress has been tackled by the Committee of Legislative Franchises under Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez with only two days remaining before the end of the decade.
Nine proposed legislations seeking to give the broadcast giant a fresh start were already pending before the Lower House.
Prior to the congressional break earlier this month, two more proposed legislations that seek to to give the Kapamilya network a fresh 25-year franchise starting this coming March were filed by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) and Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Mindoro Oriental) under House Bills 5705 and 5753 respectively.
ABS-CBN needs to secure the passage of their congressional franchise on or before March 30, 2020—the expiration date set by its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7966—or the network will have to cease operating as a broadcast network if Congress fails to act on the franchise bill.
Earlier in December, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said there is still hope that the franchise application of broadcast giant ABS-CBN may hurdle congressional approval before it expires by March 2020.
The House leader sadi there is “more than enough time” for the franchise panel to tackle it by “January (or) February.”
“March pa naman ‘yung expiration ng franchise,” said Cayetano.
But Cayetano admitted that uncertainty still remains over the status of the ABS-CBN’s franchise application amidst President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest threat to block its renewal.
“Depende sa kalalabasan ng hearing. I cannot preempt the committee or the issues that will be taken,” said Cayetano’s response when asked if Congress can approve the Kapamilya network’s franchise bill ahead of its expiration
https://politics.com.ph/congress-fails-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-in-2019/
Thursday, December 26, 2019
SM Prime Harrison Plaza Property
Current State of Harrizon Plaza Area and Shopwise: (26 December)
The only things left in Shopwise are like pretty much dated items.
The dilapitated mall was also featured in Vice Ganda's Movie "The Mall, The Merrier", the filming was done while National Bookstore was open which closed last October. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGCIP-FdeD4
I asked some few people in SM and I got a few tidbits of information:
1. The mall may start construction in late 2020 and it may take around 5 years to complete.
2. First mall in city of Manila to bear the Premier flagship.
3. The new complex will host 2 or 3 condominiums similar to Light Residences. The mall will have 4 stories of commercial stores that house nearly 300-600 shops and IMAX theatres.
4. The Hypermarket part of Harrison plaza will remain and will undergo integration as soon as the mall section is completed. Transport terminal may be possible as well. Century Park hotel stores nearby as not included in the plan.
1. 2025 completion? Mukhang doable la laki ng complex.
2. So should we call this development SM Harrison Premier or in my own terms, Republic of Shoemart Harrison Premier?
3. Ugh, the ugly SMDC condos...
4. Pwede nang maging permanent terminal ng mga Vito Cruz jeepneys, UV Express at multicab na pa-CCP yung transport terminal. Yung huling sentence, yan ba yung Village Square?
The only things left in Shopwise are like pretty much dated items.
The dilapitated mall was also featured in Vice Ganda's Movie "The Mall, The Merrier", the filming was done while National Bookstore was open which closed last October. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGCIP-FdeD4
I asked some few people in SM and I got a few tidbits of information:
1. The mall may start construction in late 2020 and it may take around 5 years to complete.
2. First mall in city of Manila to bear the Premier flagship.
3. The new complex will host 2 or 3 condominiums similar to Light Residences. The mall will have 4 stories of commercial stores that house nearly 300-600 shops and IMAX theatres.
4. The Hypermarket part of Harrison plaza will remain and will undergo integration as soon as the mall section is completed. Transport terminal may be possible as well. Century Park hotel stores nearby as not included in the plan.
1. 2025 completion? Mukhang doable la laki ng complex.
2. So should we call this development SM Harrison Premier or in my own terms, Republic of Shoemart Harrison Premier?
3. Ugh, the ugly SMDC condos...
4. Pwede nang maging permanent terminal ng mga Vito Cruz jeepneys, UV Express at multicab na pa-CCP yung transport terminal. Yung huling sentence, yan ba yung Village Square?
AKLAN READIES BIGGEST ATI-ATIHAN FOR NEW DECADE
Almost everyone in the province of Aklan is pre-occupied with one thing: the first Ati-Atihan festival in the new millennium.
The “Ati-Atihan” festival, which is the biggest, most colorful and internationally known mardi gras in the Philippines, is held to coincide with the feast of the “Sto. Niño” (Holy Child) on the third week of January.
“All the 17 towns, including Kalibo, are preparing for the festival which is expected to be the biggest, noisiest, most hilarious and exciting we’ve ever staged,” said Aklan Gov. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores, chairman of the Aklan Tourism Development Council.
Kalibo is not the only place in the coutnry which will see Ati-Atihan revelry. In Metro Manila, the Metro Manila Visayan Association (MEMVA) in coordination with the United Aklanon Association of Metro Manila (UNAAM) and Protect Aklan Movement (PAM) groups will hold their Ati-Atihan in Tondo, Paco and Pandacan, Manila; Quezon City and Caloocan City, according to MEMVA spokesman Jose Lazarito.
President Duterte, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas are among government officials invited to Ati-Atihan festivals in Aklan and Metro Manila.
The non-stop street dancing will culminate on January 19, 2020, the feast day of Sto Niño. The Ati-Atihan will get extensive coverage from local and international newspapers, wire service agencies, and Philippine and international TV networks.
The “Ati-Atihan” festival, which is the biggest, most colorful and internationally known mardi gras in the Philippines, is held to coincide with the feast of the “Sto. Niño” (Holy Child) on the third week of January.
“All the 17 towns, including Kalibo, are preparing for the festival which is expected to be the biggest, noisiest, most hilarious and exciting we’ve ever staged,” said Aklan Gov. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores, chairman of the Aklan Tourism Development Council.
Kalibo is not the only place in the coutnry which will see Ati-Atihan revelry. In Metro Manila, the Metro Manila Visayan Association (MEMVA) in coordination with the United Aklanon Association of Metro Manila (UNAAM) and Protect Aklan Movement (PAM) groups will hold their Ati-Atihan in Tondo, Paco and Pandacan, Manila; Quezon City and Caloocan City, according to MEMVA spokesman Jose Lazarito.
President Duterte, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas are among government officials invited to Ati-Atihan festivals in Aklan and Metro Manila.
The non-stop street dancing will culminate on January 19, 2020, the feast day of Sto Niño. The Ati-Atihan will get extensive coverage from local and international newspapers, wire service agencies, and Philippine and international TV networks.
Uncertainties of 2019
Uncertainties played a definitive role throughout the year and had a decisive effect on the country’s economic growth as measured through its gross domestic product (GDP).
Delays in the passage of the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act well into April and the ban on infrastructure projects extending to the May 12 election pulled GDP growth way below economic projections for the period, and posed serious challenges to the whole-year targets.
With the government’s Build Build Build program seriously delayed, doubts were cast on whether the original intention of relying chiefly on Official Development Assistance (ODA) could deliver the goods, and if there was a need to tweak the original methodology to achieve the target of spending P8.7 trillion by 2022.
The controversial Rice Tariffication Law was, likewise, not resulting in the desired benefits: retail rice prices were not budging lower even with the glut in imported rice or the low farmgate palay prices; and more importantly, rice farmers and mill owners were losing heavily with the delays in the release of government funds as promised by the rice law.
A presidential approval or veto on the proposed anti-contracting labor law met with sighs of relief by the business sector, which had mounted a last-minute lobby to persuade the President from totally banning contractual work.
Of course, the veto did not sit well with labor groups who had supported the President during his election bid on the promise that endo, or the end-of-contract labor practice that was being abused by some companies, would be totally stopped.
Mixed signals
Low water levels during the summer months unleashed a backlash on Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System concessionaires Ayala-led Manila Water and Pangilinan-led Maynilad after the President publicly declared that the Philippine government would not pay for promised rate increases stipulated in contracts.
Additionally, the President called for a review of the 25-year contracts signed in 1996, tagging them as onerous, and with a threat of not renewing them. Manila Water and Maynilad have since waived their claim on the P11 billion estimated rate increases that they had not received, and agreed to revisit the alleged onerous terms.
In Congress, lawmakers questioned the extension of Manila Water and Maynilad’s concessions granted in 2009 for another 15 years, from 2022 to 2037. This prompted the MWSS Board to repudiate the extension, potentially paving the way for new companies to take over.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has been quick to dispel fears of any negative impact on investor confidence on what had been seen by some sectors as squeeze play and arm-twisting tactics by the Duterte government on the private sector.
It must be pointed out that Manila Water and Maynilad have, by large, kept to their commitments by extending water coverage in their designated areas to roughly 100 percent on a 24-hour basis, with significantly reduced water leakages.
If there had been any recent water shortages, it was because MWSS failed to secure the water supply that the concessionaires needed to distribute in their areas. To date, the promised new water source from the proposed Kaliwa Water Dam in Infanta, Quezon continues to be delayed.
Yellow and red alerts
During the summer months too, Meralco was forced to issue successive yellow and red alerts after power reserves from Luzon-based electricity generation plants dipped to low levels.
In this case, the Energy Regulatory Board had failed to facilitate the construction of new power generators for a variety of reasons, including its inability to implement the retail competition and open access provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 because of a Supreme Court ruling.
Recently, the Supreme Court again issued another ruling that resulted in further delays in getting power plants off the ground, this time by insisting that Meralco undertakes a competitive selection process (CSP) in choosing partner power plants.
To date, Meralco’s ability to deliver electricity in the coming months is again threatened by more delays after the CSP it conducted recently failed because only one bidder had participated.
Coincidentally, Congress has opted to delay discussions on the extension of ABS-CBN Corp.’s operating franchise to next year, just a few months away from its expiry date of March 30, 2020. ABS-CBN is currently operating on a 25-year franchise secured through a law passed on March 30, 1995.
The worst that could happen if ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed would be the shutdown of its radio and television operations, founded in 1946 by the Lopez family, and now regarded as having the most extensive reach in the country and largest in earnings.
During the dictatorship years of former president Ferdinand Marcos, the Lopezes were political rivals persecuted for their ownership of ABS-CBN as well as Meralco. The latter, though, is now under the MVP Group of Companies led by Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Lone bidder
Late last year, the much-prolonged selection of the much-awaited third telecom company to challenge the duopoly of PLDT-Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecommunications yielded to a lone bidder: Mislatel Consortium led by businessman Dennis A. Uy’s Udenna Corp. and China Telecom.
Mislatel has been renamed as Dito Telecomunity, and recently posted a report as being on track during its first year of operations to initially cover 37 percent of the whole Philippines delivering a minimum internet speed of 27 Mbps through a P150-billion capital and operational expenditure budget.
Uy, a Davao-based businessman and regarded as a close friend of the President, is also on track to expanding his business interests, which initially involved petroleum and shipping, but has now diversified into real estate and telecommunications.
Facebook and Twitter
We are actively using two social networking websites to reach out more often and even interact with and engage our readers, friends and colleagues in the various areas of interest that I tackle in my column. Please like us on www.facebook.com/ReyGamboa and follow us on www.twitter.com/ReyGamboa.
Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/12/26/1979735/uncertainties-2019
Delays in the passage of the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act well into April and the ban on infrastructure projects extending to the May 12 election pulled GDP growth way below economic projections for the period, and posed serious challenges to the whole-year targets.
With the government’s Build Build Build program seriously delayed, doubts were cast on whether the original intention of relying chiefly on Official Development Assistance (ODA) could deliver the goods, and if there was a need to tweak the original methodology to achieve the target of spending P8.7 trillion by 2022.
The controversial Rice Tariffication Law was, likewise, not resulting in the desired benefits: retail rice prices were not budging lower even with the glut in imported rice or the low farmgate palay prices; and more importantly, rice farmers and mill owners were losing heavily with the delays in the release of government funds as promised by the rice law.
A presidential approval or veto on the proposed anti-contracting labor law met with sighs of relief by the business sector, which had mounted a last-minute lobby to persuade the President from totally banning contractual work.
Of course, the veto did not sit well with labor groups who had supported the President during his election bid on the promise that endo, or the end-of-contract labor practice that was being abused by some companies, would be totally stopped.
Mixed signals
Low water levels during the summer months unleashed a backlash on Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System concessionaires Ayala-led Manila Water and Pangilinan-led Maynilad after the President publicly declared that the Philippine government would not pay for promised rate increases stipulated in contracts.
Additionally, the President called for a review of the 25-year contracts signed in 1996, tagging them as onerous, and with a threat of not renewing them. Manila Water and Maynilad have since waived their claim on the P11 billion estimated rate increases that they had not received, and agreed to revisit the alleged onerous terms.
In Congress, lawmakers questioned the extension of Manila Water and Maynilad’s concessions granted in 2009 for another 15 years, from 2022 to 2037. This prompted the MWSS Board to repudiate the extension, potentially paving the way for new companies to take over.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has been quick to dispel fears of any negative impact on investor confidence on what had been seen by some sectors as squeeze play and arm-twisting tactics by the Duterte government on the private sector.
It must be pointed out that Manila Water and Maynilad have, by large, kept to their commitments by extending water coverage in their designated areas to roughly 100 percent on a 24-hour basis, with significantly reduced water leakages.
If there had been any recent water shortages, it was because MWSS failed to secure the water supply that the concessionaires needed to distribute in their areas. To date, the promised new water source from the proposed Kaliwa Water Dam in Infanta, Quezon continues to be delayed.
Yellow and red alerts
During the summer months too, Meralco was forced to issue successive yellow and red alerts after power reserves from Luzon-based electricity generation plants dipped to low levels.
In this case, the Energy Regulatory Board had failed to facilitate the construction of new power generators for a variety of reasons, including its inability to implement the retail competition and open access provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 because of a Supreme Court ruling.
Recently, the Supreme Court again issued another ruling that resulted in further delays in getting power plants off the ground, this time by insisting that Meralco undertakes a competitive selection process (CSP) in choosing partner power plants.
To date, Meralco’s ability to deliver electricity in the coming months is again threatened by more delays after the CSP it conducted recently failed because only one bidder had participated.
Coincidentally, Congress has opted to delay discussions on the extension of ABS-CBN Corp.’s operating franchise to next year, just a few months away from its expiry date of March 30, 2020. ABS-CBN is currently operating on a 25-year franchise secured through a law passed on March 30, 1995.
The worst that could happen if ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed would be the shutdown of its radio and television operations, founded in 1946 by the Lopez family, and now regarded as having the most extensive reach in the country and largest in earnings.
During the dictatorship years of former president Ferdinand Marcos, the Lopezes were political rivals persecuted for their ownership of ABS-CBN as well as Meralco. The latter, though, is now under the MVP Group of Companies led by Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Lone bidder
Late last year, the much-prolonged selection of the much-awaited third telecom company to challenge the duopoly of PLDT-Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecommunications yielded to a lone bidder: Mislatel Consortium led by businessman Dennis A. Uy’s Udenna Corp. and China Telecom.
Mislatel has been renamed as Dito Telecomunity, and recently posted a report as being on track during its first year of operations to initially cover 37 percent of the whole Philippines delivering a minimum internet speed of 27 Mbps through a P150-billion capital and operational expenditure budget.
Uy, a Davao-based businessman and regarded as a close friend of the President, is also on track to expanding his business interests, which initially involved petroleum and shipping, but has now diversified into real estate and telecommunications.
Facebook and Twitter
We are actively using two social networking websites to reach out more often and even interact with and engage our readers, friends and colleagues in the various areas of interest that I tackle in my column. Please like us on www.facebook.com/ReyGamboa and follow us on www.twitter.com/ReyGamboa.
Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/12/26/1979735/uncertainties-2019