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Thursday 18, 2014 Vol. No. 40 Friday, September 11,102015 Vol. 10 No. 337
P25.00 nationwide | 6 sections 32 pages | 7 days a week
PRESIDENT AQUINO NOTES IMPORTANCE OF CEBU ACTION PLAN TO CONTINUED APEC, GLOBAL GROWTH
‘CAP to breed inclusive economies’ By Butch Fernandez & Cai U. Ordinario
M
actan, Cebu—President Aquino on Thursday backed the Cebu Action Plan (CAP), saying that the 20-year road map will lay the foundations for the continued growth of countries belonging to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
INSIDE
CONSTRUCTION BOOM A woman
walks past a tarpaulin poster of a soonto-be-constructed skyscraper at The Fort Global City in Taguig. NONIE REYES
By Bianca Cuaresma
T
dylan scorches The kind of person
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EAR Lord, help us be the kind of person You want us to be. Loving, caring, persevering, understanding and prayerful. Help us to pass on the legacy of faith, hope and charity, the foundation of the kind of person you want us to be. Make us the children who will follow the examples You have lived with the disciples. We seek Your Kingdom we are destined to go. Amen. LIVING WATER, L. PALMERSTON AND LOUIE M. LACSON Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com
Life
ON THE MENU: CHICKEN BRAISED WITH PANCETTA AND TOMATOES »D3
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T the start of The Maze Runner—the first film based on James Dashner’s hit young-adult novel series—Dylan O’Brien’s character Thomas awoke in the center of a mysterious maze, with no memory of his past, and found himself trapped with a gang of teens desperate to escape their concrete prison. He reprises the role in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (which is now in theaters around these parts from 20th Century Fox), in which Thomas, having escaped the maze, learns that the world outside its walls may not by the idyllic freedom he had hoped. The New York City-born actor will be instantly recognizable to the millions of fans of MTV’s Teen Wolf. The 23-year-old plays Stiles in the hit show, which is loosely based on the 1985 comedy film of the same name. With The Maze Runner, which clocked up global box-office receipts in excess of $340 million, O’Brien has become one of the most popular actors of his generation. He grew up in New Jersey, but moved with his family to Hermosa Beach when he was 12. He started posting short comic videos to the then-nascent YouTube platform at 14, and landed a role on a web series that led to an offer of management. O’Brien had been pursuing a dream of becoming a sports broadcaster when he found acting, which he says changed his life. As Thomas, O’Brien is the eyes of the audience in The Maze Runner, forced into an impossible solution and working tirelessly for his fellow “Gladers”—as the group calls themselves. As Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials begins, Thomas and the Gladers find themselves in the titular Scorch—a desolate outside world that holds as many terrors as the maze they escaped, if not more. Where do we find Thomas at the start of this movie? What challenges lie ahead? A lot, basically. He thought it was over, and that it would be over, but he’s finding out that it’s not and that actually it could be worse. He led them out of the maze, and they’re out, having lost some of their own, but the fact that it’s not what they thought at all is weighing heavily on him, basically. It does something to a person’s mind, I think, and it makes you a little more fragile. Thomas just has to fight that. It becomes about him being able to maintain that strong leadership presence and keep everyone moving, despite the fact that he feels at fault and bad about the situation. For Thomas it’s a lot of guilt. A lot of questioning himself and trying to pocket that and stay strong in his beliefs, most importantly. He still wants to protect everyone and he can’t handle the idea of losing anyone else. When Chuck died in the first movie it killed him, and it’s something he’s never going to forget. It’ll absolutely effect every decision he makes from here on in. It’ll completely influence how he goes about leading these guys.
DYLAN SCORCHES THE SCREEN ONCE MORE
What about Thomas’s relationships? In the first film he has a clear history with Teresa, but are his affections divided this time? What I like about it is that it’s not a quintessentially romantic storyline, but there is something there that I think audiences will root for. It’s an interesting thing for the readers of the book: they know that in this one the decisions that Teresa makes cause her to butt heads with Thomas a little. At the same time, there’s a new girl character, Brenda, who comes in to provide a connection, as well. We’re very cautious of being too romance-y, because the story doesn’t call for it, but that’s what makes it interesting to me. How was the mood on set? Was it different from the first film? Yeah, it was miserable. [Laughs] No, it’s great—that is what’s so brilliant about
Friday, September 11, 2015
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coming back and doing this. We all had such a great time on the first one and it became truly such a family. Coming back and doing the second one was awesome; the mood was great. There were certain things about it that were so familiar. Everyone’s back together, we’ve got Wes again. We stayed at the same hotel chain we did in Baton Rouge, and things like that made it feel the same. When it came down to being on set and working those days it was so different. It felt like a bigger version of what we did the first time around. It just opens up more characterwise and scope-wise. For the audience, I think it will feel insanely different. Was there a welcoming ritual for the new actors? No, everyone just fit right in, as if they were with us since the first one. It’s been great to have Jacob Lofland and Rosa Salazar with us, and all of our newer adult actors like Giancarlo Esposito and Alan Tudyk. It’s a great vibe—it always is and hopefully always will be. It makes it easier to work. How do you think Wes Ball (the director) has evolved into his second feature film? Does he have more confidence? I think what’s so funny about Wes is he’s exactly the same. He hasn’t changed at all. I think maybe he has a little bit more confidence, but you know, if so, you don’t even notice it. It’s subtle if that’s the case. He’s always been the same tempered and relaxed guy. He knows what he wants and he knows what he’s looking for. And he knows what to do, quite frankly, from a performance standpoint and a visual standpoint. He knows how to make the film move, and he knows how to keep it interesting. It’s great to see him on the second go-around, because it’s just little polishes. He’s already got it—he’s already great—and he’ll just continue to have a great career. I’ve gotten to be in his first two movies—that’s so cool. Is the movie different visually? You shot the first in Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, and now we’re in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You couldn’t imagine two different locations. Right. It’s insanely different. It looks like a completely different world. The whole world opens up and where we were in the first one was very much a confined environment. It was a constructed environment, and in the first movie you don’t really see what the world is like at all outside, or what has gone on. You find that out here. It’s cool because it’s not just the Scorch. We’re not just in a desert the whole movie, you know. We have the Scorch, we have WCKD, we have the mansion, and the mall. We’re in a different location every week. That’s cool, because there’s a lot more variety visually in this one. Wes nails that stuff, so it looks awesome. We would always joke, each week, that it’s like we’re shooting a different movie. It’s so funny. But it’s still The Maze Runner and it still feels like the story. It just opens up entirely. How has life changed for you since being part of the big blockbuster world? It’s art imitating life a little bit, coming out of The Maze Runner. The work hasn’t changed, really. I’ll always be the same person as an actor. I’ll never necessarily have a ton of confidence depending on things that I’ve done, and also I’m never just like, “Man, I can’t do this at all.” We’re just having fun and I’m trying my best every day. I don’t feel any more pressure or anything like that. But I’m happy the movie did well and I guess there are more fans, but you don’t think about that. It’s hard to think about that. Again, we’re just all here, having fun, trying to make this the best it can be. If you focus on that, it’s just a lot easier. ■
life PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN RUSSO
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lady’s choice Motoring
Speaking before Apec finance ministers in Cebu, Mr. Aquino also voiced hope that the Leaders’ Meeting, which will be held in Manila in November, would produce “more inclusive economies.” “I am told that CAP ticks all the right boxes: better financial integration among Apec members fosters an environment ripe for investment; greater transparency as regards gov-
ernment funds maximizes efficiencies and, more important, the benefits enjoyed by our peoples; and a renewed commitment to improve and finance infrastructure that will lay the necessary foundations for continued growth,” he said. “Not to mention, the CAP will also help equip us to respond to some of the gravest threats to our economies Continued on A2
BusinessMirror
Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame
Editor: Tet Andolong
DON’T CUT RATES WITHOUT BROADENING TAX BASE–IMF
Friday, September 11, 2015 E1
By Cai U. Ordinario
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By Tet Andolong | Photos by Nonnie Reyes
N every home, women are in charge of such issues that range from what groceries to buy to what furniture and appliances to use. Female buyers may be picky and demanding, but it is an accepted fact that they mostly make all the calls, and buying cars is no exception.
Nowadays, women are not only gaining power in the corporate and political world, but they are also overtaking men on the fast lane. According to a recent study published by iSeeCars.com, women buy more than half of the new wheels on the market and they influence 80 percent of all car purchases. These are the reasons automakers and their marketing research teams value the importance of female buyers. They pay close attention to exactly what women are looking for in a car and the top 4 issues they consider important are safety, comfort, practicality and value. There are a lot of cars out there with these features and this writer, who is a veritably fussy driver, adds to more that she looks for in an automobile: versatility and fuel efficiency. During a recent test-drive, this writer found one particular vehicle that offers all of the aforementioned qualities: the new BMW 218i Active Tourer. Despite being a
front-wheel drive multipurpose vehicle (MPV), the 218i Active Tourer has the soul of a car. It has a radiant appearance that is evident when viewed from the front, thanks to its low windscreen and high hood that immediately catch your eyes. The high roof line and large doors ensure ease of access to all seats and makes getting in and out a cinch. The refined rear design with large L-shaped lights and 17" light alloy double-spoke style wheels contribute to the 218i Active Tourer’s sporty look. The double kidney grille with the LED headlights is the unmistakable BMW stamp of style and exclusivity. It also features bright and efficient biLED light that can be switched between low and high beams, as well as cornering lights that optimally illuminate the road, making night driving more safe and relaxed. And if the sunlight is too bright, you can just simply close the roller sunblind. The Panorama glass roof
provides a variety of options for great ventilation. If the glass roof is put into the venting position, the sunblind is automatically rolled back to allow the desired airflow. And the integrated wind deflector automatically springs into action to minimize turbulence when driving with the roof open. More surprises await inside the five-seater 218i Active Tourer. It has a windshield that has the best rain sensing wipers and a dashboard, which is brightly visible, as well as smart displays—some of the few things that I look for in a vehicle. With its high-class look and feel, the free-standing LCD display adds to the modern, light feeling inside the car. The equipment option ConnectedDrive Services give a wide range of information, entertainment and service features while driving, including BMW Online, which provides information such as weather, news and office functions powered by
GoogleTM. In the “Applications” menu, it is also possible to assemble an individualized array of services, such as webcams, parking information, travel and hotel guides. T he Act ive Tourer is a lso equipped with keyless engine start/ automatic start/stop function; two-zone air conditioning, aux-in connection, seat adjustment electrical with memory, additional 12volt power socket, CD player, media and Hi-Fi loudspeaker system. The top-quality interior is mixed with finished wood surfaces and selected cloth with Sensatec leather upholsteries that bring you to a sophisticated lounge atmosphere. For women, ample space is one of the important factors when buying a car, especially if you have children. The Active Tourer has plenty of room for functionality, as well as numerous storage possibilities, such as a lockable compartment for smartphones or glasses as well
as stowage space for cups and large bottles. The optional foldable passenger seat increases the flexibility factor. The almost entirely flat floor in the luggage compartment guarantees easy loading and the rear seat bench, which accommodates three people—adjustable and can be folded down in a 40:20:40 split with its contactless opening of the tailgate when my hands are full. This feature definitely makes my life easier. The 218i Active Tourer is powered by BMW’s three-cylinder 1.5-liter TwinPower turbo petrol engine, which has a maximum output of 136 hp between 4,500 to 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 220 Nm at 1,250 rpm and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic. TwinPower Turbo technology combines high performance with sterling fuel efficiency. In simple terms, the Active Tourer’s powertrain allows it to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in
9.2 seconds, and reach a top speed of 205 km/h. The Servotronic power steering creates a direct steering experience while simultaneously improving agility and comfort. It makes parking, turning and maneuvering easier and comfortable. For small steering angles, the system provides excellent directional stability and a very high degree of precision. One of the special things that BMW is known for is its BMW EfficientDynamics. Every time you hit the brakes, kinetic energy is generated and brake energy regeneration takes over. It harnesses the coasting energy that is generated, whenever the driver brakes or takes his or her foot off the accelerator, and turns it into electricity, which means that the alternator no longer needs to run constantly, reducing the strain on the generator. As a result, the performance is increased and fuel consumption is reduced.
Motoring Continued on E4
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ACTAN, Cebu—The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday said the Philippine government should first broaden its tax base before it undertakes policy reforms that would lower income-tax rates. IMF Executive Resident Representative to the Philippines Shanaka Peiris said the national government must pursue a comprehensive tax reform that would allow it to lower tax rates while increasing revenue-collection efficiency. “We can have tax reform for raising the revenues
but also making the system more efficient, because, you know, rates are quite high, [but] tax collections are low; so you want to raise efficiency, as well,” Peiris said. “You would want a comprehensive tax reform, because there are many areas that have been identified in previous reports—including Article 4, which [tells us] that [the tax system has] lots of exemptions and rates are quite high. You could have much more broadening of the tax base. While lowering the rates, you have to broaden it,” he explained. In January the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) formally submitted to Congress its
Consumer confidence improved in Q3 survey
proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform program. The proposal provides that individual taxpayers with a taxable income of P300,000 and below shall be exempt from income tax. The maximum tax rate for individual taxpayers was proposed to be reduced from the current 32 percent to only 30 percent, while the tax base on which such maximum rate shall be imposed was proposed to be increased to a taxable income of over P2.5 million. Under the TMAP’s proposal, a tax base of over P2.5 million shall be imposed a fixed tax of P495,000, plus an additional tax of 30 percent for income in excess of P2.5 million.
he availability of more jobs, rising family income and receding concern over debt, as well as prospectively less instances of perceived corruption in the public sector, pushed consumer confidence still higher in the latest survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The results of the BSP’s thirdquarter survey show consumer enthusiasm improving to minus 11.6 percent, from minus 16.2 percent a quarter earlier. The latest on consumer sentiment bodes well for the $285-billion Southeast Asian nation looking to expand this year at a more moderate 7-percent clip in terms of local output, or the gross domestic product. There is a general consensus among various economists and observers for local output averaging lower at more or less 6.2 percent. Apart from an increasing likelihood in finding employment among Filipinos, consumers pointed to better harvests and production of goods, as well as stronger economic activities down the line, for the marked improvement in consumer sentiment during the period. Also cited as a key driver of consumer optimism was the anticipated economic boost expected from the continued government implementation of its Conditional-Cash Transfer Program—locally dubbed as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program— which adds a measure of liquidity to an already liquid financial system. Continued on A2
PESO exchange rates n US 46.8150
n japan 0.3887 n UK 71.9687 n HK 6.0399 n CHINA 7.3403 n singapore 33.0475 n australia 32.9242 n EU 52.4562 n SAUDI arabia 12.4900 Source: BSP (10 September 2015)