Businessmirror september 27, 2015

three-time rotary club of manila journalism awardee 2006, 2010, 2012

U.N. Media Award 2008

BusinessMirror

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A broader look at today’s business

n Sunday, September 27, 2015 Vol. 10 No. 353

P25.00 nationwide | 3 sections 16 pages | 7 days a week

Lawmaker favors court settlement of San Miguel-PSALM dispute

week ahead

ECONOMIC DATA PREVIEW Foreign exchange

n Previous week: The peso has been moving steadily across the 46 territory in the previous week amid a depreciation trend.

The peso traded at 46.47 to a dollar at the start of the week, then depreciated to 46.59 to a dollar on Thursday. The peso suffered its biggest decline for the week on Wednesday, when it hit 46.83 to a dollar. The peso ended the trading week at 46.86 to a dollar.

Total trading volume reached $2.58 billiion.

n Week ahead: The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) told its clients that the peso would likely continue to depreciate in the week ahead due largely to the expected strength of the dollar.

“In light of the expected US-dollar rally, we expect the Philippine peso to trade downward, barring any strong positive local mover that would cap the continuing dollar outflow from foreign selling,” BPI said. It remains to be seen whether Fitch Ratings’s “positive” outlook for the Philippines would have an impact on peso-dollar trading.

August money supply

September 30, Wednesday

n July money supply: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the July domestic liquidity—broadly measured as M3 by the central bank—grew at 8.5 percent in July this year relative to the level seen in the same period last year. The total absolute value of cash in the economy is at P7.7 trillion as of July. M3 growth in July was slightly lower than the revised 9.3-percent expansion recorded in June.

n August money supply: Economists expect no surprises in M3 growth in August. First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific Capital Markets Research said domestic liquidity growth will likely be at single digit. The BSP has also said earlier that domestic liquidity conditions continue to be supportive of growth and that they will monitor any developments that may arise from this. See related story.

Bianca Cuaresma

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By Lenie Lectura

he chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy is confident that the ongoing dispute between the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) and San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) power arm would soon be resolved, and that the disagreement over an interpretation of power contracts would be best addressed by the court.

“It’s a valid dispute. It has got to do with the way the contract was drawn up. This is just a contractual dispute. It’s not a violation of a contract. Pagkakaintindi ko ay ganito, while ikaw naman ganito ang pagkakaintindi mo. So, let the courts decide,” said Sergio R. Osmeña III in an interview after he presided a Senate budget hearing.

In all kinds of businesses,

Osmeña said, it is normal for business partners to have disagreements over a contract.

“You know, we can never cover everything in a contract, even in a law,” he said, adding that even laws and policies are amended, repealed and improved through issuance of implementing guidelines.

During last Thursday’s Senate Continued on A6

M3 growth to remain tame in the near term

By Bianca Cuaresma

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he pace of the country’s money-supply growth will likely remain tame in the near term, despite expectations that consumer demand will pick up toward the latter part of the year.

In a research note in The Market Call, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Capital Markets Research said the country’s domestic liquidity— broadly measured as M3—will

likely expand by single digit.

“Money growth will remain single digit, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas [BSP] continues to sell excess dollars as they come in, as part of its effort to stem further large depreciations of the peso,” FMIC and UA&P said.

A growing cash supply is beneficial for an expanding economy, as it gives fuel to productive economic sectors to boost growth.

However, an excessively slow cash-supply growth in the economy may be bad for a nation, especially if it does not provide enough financing to keep productive activities going.

The peso, meanwhile, has See “M3,” A6

VW Scandal Spreads Trouble From IPOs to Credit Markets A Greenpeace activist holds a protest poster in front of a Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Friday. AP/Michael Sohn

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week after it admitted to cheating on US emissions tests for years, Volkswagen AG’s pain is beginning to spread throughout Europe’s credit markets.

The Bank of France stopped trading two securities backed

by Volkswagen auto loans on Friday, while executives of parts supplier Schaeffler AG find themselves fielding questions about their biggest customer as they drum up support for an initial public offering (IPO), according to people familiar with the matters.

Since Volkswagen admitted on September 18 that it had cheated on US air pollution tests since 2009, the CEO resigned, the company became the target of a joint investigation by 27 US states and the stock price tumbled 28 percent.

Matthias Mueller, the former Porsche chief who was ap-

pointed Volkswagen’s CEO on Friday, said his most urgent task is to win back trust for the company. “Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry,” he said in a statement.

The two Volkswagen-related securities weren’t on an updated list the Bank of France distributed on Friday after being included in the original version sent to investors earlier this week, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The Paris-based bank is buying asset-backed securities under a European Central Bank purchase program designed to help boost lending in the euro area. A Bank of France official declined to comment on the purchase-offer list.

Volkswagen Financial Services has €22.8 billion ($25 billion) of outstanding asset-backed debt, according to a September presentation on its web site. Marc Siedler, a spokesman for the finance unit, declined to comment in an e-mailed statement.

Herzogenaurach, Germany-based Schaeffler announced IPO plans on Monday, three days after the scandal broke.

Concerns about the impact of the scandal, as well as Chinese and global market volatility, could affect investor views on the IPO valuation, according to the two people.

A representative for Schaeffler declined to comment.

The company is planning to set a price range for the offering as soon as Monday as it crisscrosses Europe to market the shares to investors from London to Zurich, the people said.

Bloomberg News

Nick Joaquin Literary Awards: Matter of the soul

By Joel Pablo Salud Special to the BusinessMirror

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CIRCA 1990: National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin (left) spends a light moment with Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua during the early years of the Philippines Graphic.

Joaquin was the magazine’s first editor in chief.

PESO exchange rates n US 46.7380

t all began during the heyday of the printed word. The turn of the 20th century saw American Thomasites coming in droves to Philippine shores to build a system of education largely founded on the English language.

The effort blossomed in less than two decades, creating a gen-

eration of readers which was by and large at home with English.

The Roces Group of Publications, which founded in 1923 the Tagalog magazine Liwayway (around the same year Time magazine was first published), took steps to cater to this burgeoning readership base by giving birth to a one-of-a-kind English magazine, The Graphic, in 1927.

Small as its readership was at the beginning, it boldly introduced a

format that was popular at the time with many foreign publications: half dedicated to news analysis for the week, the rest for literature.

First editors

In order to accomplish the goal of featuring pieces penned with extraordinary flair, the owners chose its first editors from a young and impassioned group of Filipino literary authors who were by this time

making a name for themselves.

Novelist Agustin C. Fabian, best known for his novel Timawa, took the helm and kick-started what was to be a tradition in local weekly magazines: the publication of literature. With the help of short-story writer Rosario Ladia Jose, the editors picked from weekly manuscripts mailed to their newsroom.

Continued on A6

n japan 0.3887 n UK 71.2568 n HK 6.0310 n CHINA 7.3212 n singapore 32.7802 n australia 32.7871 n EU 52.2624 n SAUDI arabia 12.4628 Source: BSP (24 September 2015)

NewsSunday

A2 Sunday, September 27, 2015 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Logistics posted fastest Apec eyes MSME online marketplace I decline in Sept–study

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By Roderick L. Abad

SLOWDOWN in global trade, together with China’s slowing economy and general weakness in emerging markets, has pulled down further the performance of logistics industry across Asia, America and Europe, according to a study.

Transport Intelligence (Ti) reported that the Stifel Logistics Confidence Index in September fell to 51.5 points—a fourth consecutive month of decline this year.

While it’s still more than the neutral 50-point mark, the numbers alone indicated that times may be gloomier.

Not only has it reached its lowest point in some 26 months. It, likewise, registered a rapid pace of decrease since June 2014, a 2.6-point loss compared to 54.1 points recorded in August.

This month also saw the Logistics Situation Index (LSI) dropping to 49.4 points, indicative of a continued erosion in confidence.

What’s more alarming is the sixmonth outlook as a 3.3-point decline brought the Logistics Expectations Index (LEI) to 53.6 points, or a loss of 9.6 index points in the last four months alone.

The International Air Transport Association said that the measured air freight volumes marginally went

down in July by 0.6 percent.

As a result, almost all the trade lanes, except for one, were below the neutral 50-level point for this month.

Europe to Asia was affected the most with a decrease by 3.7 points to 44.7 points, while the reverse lane lost 3.1 points to 47.5 points.

Even though the US to Europe lane gained a 1.3-point over August, it remained below the 50 mark at 49.6 points.

Settling at 54.4 points for September, Europe to the US seemed robust although this was 3.4 points lower than the 57.8 mark seen in August.

Overall, the LSI for airfreight at 48.9 points in September 2015 was 2.4 points lower than the previous month and 4.1 points down compared with the same period of last year.

Similarly, the LEI saw even more rapid declines, losing 3.1 points in August to end at 54.2 points as all lanes saw falling confidence.

Shedding most points was the Asia to Europe lane, which decreased

by 4.4 points to 53.8 points, while the reverse lane realized a four-point dip to 51.8 points.

A 2.3-point drop showed that the US to Europe lane ended at 52.8 points this month, while a loss of 1.8 points had the Europe to US lane capping September at 58.3 points.

After two months of expansion, the LSI for seafreight went back below the neutral 50 mark to 49.8 points, representing a 1.4-point fall.

Only the US to Europe lane gained confidence this month, which rose 0.4 points to 48.2 points.

The Europe to Asia and Asia to Europe lanes both had a 2.3 point decline to 48.7 points and 54.1 points, respectively. The Europe to US lane fell 0.9 points to 47.6 points.

A l l t hese seaf reight lanes dropped in September’s LEI as the total index was down 3.5 points to 52.9 points.

The Asia to Europe lane fell 5.3 points to 52.8 points, as the opposite Europe to Asia lane also lost 5.3 points, ending at 52.5 points.

A 2.2-point drop pulled the Europe to US lane down to 55.9 points, while a loss of 1.0 points meant the US to Europe lane recorded a mark of 50.1 in September.

Combining the logistics situation and situation indices for sea freight clearly showed that container lines were operating in an unhealthy industry.

Ti is one of the leading international providers of expert research and analysis dedicated to the global logistics industry.

Gods of Prosperity

The three Gods of Prosperity are on display at the Lucky Chinatown mall in Manila to highlight the culmination of the traditional Chinese celebration of the mid-Autumn festival around the world. Also called the “Mooncake Festival,” the thousand-year-old tradition is regarded as the Chinese version of Thanksgiving in the US. Nonie Reyes

Davao kidnapping won’t make a dent on PHL tourism–solon

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

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espite the kidnapping of a Filipino and three foreigners from an island resort in Davao del Norte, a lawmaker on Saturday has expressed confidence that foreign visitors to the Philippines will continue to increase in the months ahead, mainly because of the heavily discounted tours brought about by falling aviation jet fuel prices.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty of LPG Marketers’ Association said that amid the plunge in jet fuel prices, airlines and travel agents around the world are now selling bargain basement-priced tours.

“At $60.10 per barrel, the price of jet fuel has nose-dived 46.9 percent compared to a year ago [level], and air fares everywhere are going down,” said Ty, who speaks for the minority in the House energy committee.

“Cheaper air fares and tours are bound to bring in a greater number of

foreign vacationers. This should more than offset any negative publicity from a single untoward incident,” he said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing 5.5 million foreign visitors this year, up from 4.8 million in 2014.

The department is aiming for up to 10 million foreign visitors in 2016.

Meanwhile, Ty said that under the proposed P3.002-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2016, the DOT intends to spend another P4.6 billion to sell the Philippines as a foreign tourist destination. “The national government is also spending another P24 billion next year to build new infrastructures meant to make tourist destinations more accessible to visitors,” Ty said.

Meanwhile, the September 21 kidnappingofNorwegianresortmanager Kjartan Sekkinstad, 56; Canadian guests John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50; and Hall’s 40-year-old Filipina companion, Maritess Flor, has prompted the Canadian government to warn its citizens against travelling to Mindanao.

LOILO CITY—The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) targets to establish an online portal that will allow Apec membereconomies to promote cooperation and linkages to develop micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Called as Apec MSME Marketplace, this is a component of the Iloilo Action Initiative, which is an interactive repository of information initiated by the Philippines’s Department of Trade and Industry.

The Iloilo Action Initiative was also the result of the 22nd Apec SME Ministerial Meeting concluded here on Friday.

The Apec MSME Marketplace focuses on three pillars.

The first pillar is to facilitate business networking and matching involving MSMEs. This aims to strengthen MSME partnership with large enterprises

through providing relevant information on MSMEs and large companies to encourage business matching among these enterprises.

The second pillar is to enhance MSME awareness and feedback on trade regulations in order for MSMEs to access information on new nontariff measures.

The third pillar is to improve mechanisms for knowledge sharing on trade facilitation, business

support, partnerships, and capacity building activities for MSMEs. This pillar eyes to share best practices in the region such as programs and success stories of helping MSMEs to participate in the global value chain.

The Apec SME Working Group will start the establishment of the Apec MSME Marketplace next year while implementation is eyed by 2017. PNA

WB-WSP, PPP Center set guidelines on water supply, sanitation contracts

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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UBLIC-PRIVATE Partnership (PPP) Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao underscored the need for a standardized set of guidelines in order to consistently establish criteria when water districts and local government units (LGUs) select private partners for infrastructure projects.

Such guidelines, she said, will “facilitate consistency in establishing the technical, financial and operational criteria” for water PPP deals.

Hence, the PPP Center and the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) jointly initiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among government agencies to harmonize interventions by various PPP institutions and to reconcile processes and requirements for PPP initiatives in the water sector.

Among those who were covered by the MOU are the Local Water Utilities Administration; National Water Resources Board; Philippine Associate of Water Districts; the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and the PPP Center.

Under the MOU, a PPP Technical Working Group composed of said agencies will work together for a focused set of training, technical assistance, as well as policy process guidance to water districts and LGUs pursuing PPPs in the water and sanitation sector.

“This will ensure a level playing field for prospective private

briefs

house leader says legislators need more time to scrutinize blbar

The leader of the House of Representatives Independent Minority bloc over the weekend said that the lower chamber should not be pressured in passing the proposed Basic law on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBar) as both chambers of Congress have set new deadline for the passage of the so-called peace measure.

House Independent Bloc Leader and Lakas Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte said the BLBar, or the House Bill 5811, should not be passed without allowing lawmakers to review, study and scrutinize the measure.

“Lawmakers need more time to study the BLBar because we want to guarantee that what we would be passing will be legal and constitutional,” Romualdez said after the House and Senate leaders agreed to pass the bill in December to give way to deliberations on the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.

“The peace process is always an issue of trust. Congress should not be threatened. All of us here support peace, but we need sincerity to end the armed conflict and ensure that we will pass a constitutional and not a half-baked said,” he said.

Centrist Democratic Party Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, chairman of the 75-man ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro basic law, said that 25 members of the lower house are still set to interpellate the BLBAR. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has already virtually declared said a “dead” bill because of lack of material time. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

group pitches call for marine products ‘export holiday’ Instead of pushing for amendments to the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has pitched calls for a marine products “export holiday” to address the domino effect

partners,” Canilao said.

She added that the agencies covered by the MOU acknowledged that they needed help in navigating through viable and legally appropriate PPP options for the water and sanitation sector, and how the pact will serve as the appropriate platform for their shared objective of having water districts and LGUs pursue properly structured and competitively procured PPP projects.

The memorandum is part of the PPP Center’s mandate to initiate PPP policy and process reforms, as well as the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to implementing agencies.

It is currently assisting a few local water projects, such as the Baggao Water Supply PPP Project, which is now in the procurement stage for a private partner.

At the national level, its pipeline includes the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project and the New Centennial Water Source (Kaliwa Dam) Project, both also under procurement stages.

The government has awarded 10 contracts since it launched the PPP Program in late 2010, namely: The P2.2-billion Daang HariSouth Luzon Expressway project bagged by Ayala Corp. in 2011; T he P16.42-bi l l ion f i rst phase of the PPP School Infrastructure Program (PSIP), which went in 2012 to the consortium formed by Megawide Construction Corp. and Citicore Holdings Investment Inc., as well as the BF Corp.-Riverbanks Development Corp. Consortium;

The P15.68-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway, given to San Miguel Corp. unit Vertex Tollways Development Inc. in 2013; and The P3.86-billion PSIP Phase II contract, partially awarded in 2013 to Megawide and the BSP & Co., Inc.-Vicente T. Lao Construction consortium; The P5.69-billion Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center project that went to the Megawide-World Citi Inc. consortium also in 2013.

The P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System contract awarded to the AF Consortium of Ayala and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) in 2014; The P17.5-billion Mactan Cebu International Airport New Passenger Terminal project bagged in 2014 by Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructures Ltd.; The P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension deal, awarded in 2014 to Light Rail Manila Consortium of Ayala and MPIC; The P2.5-billion Integrated Transpor t System Sout hwest Terminal, won by Megawide and partner Walter Mart Property Management Inc. of billionaire and retail magnate Henry Sy in January; and The P35.42-billion CaviteLaguna Expressway bagged by MPCALA Holdings Inc. of MPIC in June.

It intends to plug the gap in the country’s transportation facility in the next decade by rolling out massive infrastructure projects that are seen to spur economic growth.

of overfishing in the country.

Pamalakaya believes that the Fisheries Code of the Philippines must be repealed and replaced with a law that will empower small fishermen rather than fishing companies that export fish to other countries.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to allow the importation of fish to augment the supply coming from small fishermen who have been complaining of dwindling fish catch resulting in price hikes, making fish less affordable.

In a news statement, Pamalakaya said the illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is not the primary problem on the country’s fishing industry but overfishing to supply other countries of fish. “It is the country’s export oriented policy that resulted to the IUU fishing because it seems like we are always on the race when it comes to catering the needs of the foreign markets like the European Union, the United States and Japan,” Pamalakaya Vice Chairman Salvador France said. Jonathan L. Mayuga

bill allows p.i.t.c. to import low-priced medicines

A lawmaker has recently filed a measure allowing the government-owned Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) to import low-priced medicines.

House Bill 6114, authored by United Nationalist Alliance Rep. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque, seeks to provide the Filipino people a greater access to affordable medicines. The bill also seeks to amend Executive Order 442, designating the PITC as the lead agency to make quality medicines available, affordable and accessible to a greater number of Filipinos.

The measure allows the PITC to import low-priced medicines of the same quality or prescriptions from reputable and reliable suppliers and local sourcing of medicines using as basic component indigenous or endemic materials prevalent in the Philippines. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

NewsSunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BusinessMirror

Sunday, September 27, 2015 A3

ERC urged to reject CSP for distribution utilities, power co-ops Citicore sets year-end completion date of 70-MW Calatagan solar-power project

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By Lenie Lectura

iticore Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings, a joint venture between Megawide Construction Corp.’s sister firm Citicore Power and Solar Philippines, will meet the target completion of the 70-megawatt (MW) solar-power project in Calatagan, Batangas, by the end of the year. “[The] Calatagan project is under construction. Everything has been ordered and will be onsite no later than the fourth quarter of this year, allowing us to commission the project by the end of the year, well in advance of all other projects racing for the feed-in-tariff [FiT],” said Leandro Leviste, Solar Philippines president.

The company has to finish the project soon so it can avail the P8.69-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) FiT under the second wave of solar-installation target by March 2016.

It can be recalled that the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved an increase in the solar-installation target to 500 MW from 50 MW at an approved a FiT rate of P8.69 per kWh for the additional 450-MW installation target for solar projects. “We’re looking at in excess of 500 MW being installed but many of these projects targeting a March completion date.

So we believe that to be a slam dunk to make the feed-in-tariff, you need to be finished by end of this year,” Leviste said.

In all, Citicore Solar wants to complete 250 MW of solar projects by 2016 at an estimated cost of $2.4 million to $2.5 million per MW. The 250 MW solar projects will create 10,000 construction jobs, alleviate the power shortage, and displace polluting fossil fuels.

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

former party-list lawmaker has urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to reject a controversial Department of Energy (DOE) circular mandating all distribution utilities (DUs) and electric cooperatives (ECs) to undertake competitive selection process (CSP) in securing their power-supply agreements.

Former Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (Agham) Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said that DOE Circular 2015-06-0008, which being pushed by former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, may result to higher electricity rates.

He said the circular was issued purportedly without the benefit of public consul-

tation. Petilla signed DOE Circular 201506-0008, which was released on June 30.

According to Palmones the circular mandates all electric cooperatives nationwide to forcibly enter into a bidding procedure for all their power contracts after the implementing rules are approved by the ERC, which is set within 120 days from effectivity of the circular.

“We fear that with this situation, electricity cooperatives will be forced by the DOE to bid for their requirements. This is an injustice and this circular has no legal leg to stand on. It is legally infirm on all aspects,” said Palmones, who is also president of Agham.

“We urge Energy OIC Zenaida Monsada to recall this circular and for ERC Chairman Vicente Salazar to reject DOE Circular 201506-0008,” Palmones added.

The former lawmaker, citing a news report, said that Agham members based in Central Luzon could have struck a better deal if they were not held down by the competitive selection process.

“The news report further stated that they should have been allowed to explore and negotiate directly with various suppliers to ensure they got the price they wanted. With CSP, however, they were reportedly limited to the three gencos [generation companies] that bidded and the ECs had no control over their prices,” Palmones said.

He added that it seems the DOE wants to pull a fast one on the ERC without it taking responsibility in case this mechanism fails.

“Unfortunately for the ERC, since they

will be the ones who will issue the implementing rules, the responsibility for any fiasco in case this fails will fall on them. Agham urges a total and unequivocal rejection of this flawed and anticonsumer circular. If needed, we will urge all our members to troop to the ERC and manifest their opposition to this circular,” Palmones said.

Earlier, the BusinessMirror reported that the DOE has asked the International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, to conduct a study on the said agency’s circular.

Resigned Petilla said the study would focus on “the rule drafting for CSP.” The circular basically requires all DUs and ECs to bid out their power requirements— instead of entering into negotiate contracts with power producers—which, Petilla said, is a more transparent way to do it because it involves pass-through cost, meaning consumers are paying for it.

Petilla said he expects industry stakeholders to oppose this all the way to the courts.

Under the circular, the bidding will be conducted by a third party duly recognized by the DOE and the ERC.

Alcatel eyes 50% of online smartphone sales in PHL

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obile-phone developer Alcatel aims to be the king of online smartphone sales in the Philippines as it recently launched its newest smartphone model.

Yogi Babria, Alcatel Flash Business Development director, said his company aims to capture at least 50 percent of the online

sales market, hence, the Alcatel Flash 2 will be made available exclusively in Lazada Philippines starting September 30.

“I think, the way we look at it, we want to dominate the online sales. This phone is only going to be sold online. We want to dominate in that arena, maybe get at least 50 percent of it,” he said. Babria explained that the propo-

sition behind this target lies in highlighting his company’s value of customer satisfaction.

“We can bring the product faster to [the] market so customers can get hold of the phone much faster. The sales process is very long, imagine it takes about weeks before customers can get a hand on their phones.

But with an online transaction, it can go as

fast at two days,” he said.

The Alcatel Flash 2, boasts of a 13megapixels ƒ/2.0 rear camera provides sharper and clearer pictures. The accompanying RealTone Dual Flash gives an extra advantage in low-light conditions while maintaining the colors as true as possible to real life. Lorenz S. Marasigan

SundayV

Busine

A4 Sunday, September 27, 2015

editorial

Philippine workers face bleakest retirement in Asia

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HE news that circulated a few days ago on the insecurity of Philippine workers after retirement truly disturbed us. In a survey of 10 countries in 2014, the East Asia Retirement Survey revealed that, (a) only two-thirds of today’s Filipino workers expect to receive pension benefit from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) when they retire; the remaining one-third expect to receive no retirement benefits of any kind; (b) retirement insecurity is growing in the Philippines even if almost all retirees could depend on family support; and (c) retirement prospects in most Asian countries are bright except in the Philippines.

The main concern of Filipino workers is being poor in retirement, having no one to care for them and being a burden to their children. Although a great majority of workers expect to live with their grown children when they retire, the traditional concept that the family should take care of a retiree is weakening.

The other countries surveyed were China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

This should serve as a wake-up call to public officials and leaders of the private sector concerned, to take appropriate action to improve the lives of our retirees.

There will also be the standard opposition of free marketers, who will say that this will be a setback to employment creation.

In general workers in the informal sector (including construction helpers, gardeners, street hawkers, pedicab drivers) escape the coverage of the public safety-net system for the reason that social-security laws are not enforced strictly in this sector. One can add workers employed in formal enterprises and be dismissed after five months so that the employer is relieved from coverage of security laws. After two months or so, most of these workers are rehire, only to be terminated again after five months, and so on, with no security liability for the employer.

All these cases must be brought within the ambit of our social-security system. We should review our entire social-security system, but in the meantime, we can carry out a number of important measures, as follows: For those covered by SSS and GSIS, increase benefits by 100 percent within the next 10 years. If this would entail raising individual contributions, so be it. Informal-sector workers must report their presence to any appropriate government agency “to be counted.” The government must shoulder the contributions of the informal-sector worker. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. program must be made universal to all retired workers and must also cover at least 80 percent of all attendant medical costs. The senior citizens program must be expanded in the rights and privileges it grants to senior citizens.

Pending the completion of the evaluation of the entire social-security system, these are some of the measures that people concerned might carry out to deal with this humiliating problem. As to the free marketers, they can be described as representing only themselves, not the progressiveminded companies that now dominate the industrial landscape.

Why Putin wants to meet Obama I Bloomberg View

By Leonid Bershidsky

Gospel

Sunday, September 27, 2015

F you listen to the press secretaries of Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, you’ll get conflicting versions of what the US and Russian presidents will talk about when they meet next week at the United Nationals General Assembly. For all their differences, though, the meeting need not be a waste of time.

Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has portrayed Obama as eager for the opportunity to discuss Syria, where Russia has been stepping up its military presence.

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest, by contrast, has said that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine will be high on the US president’s agenda. He has portrayed Putin as “more desperate,” even waxing sarcastic about the Russian leader’s body language during a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—“less than perfect posture, unbuttoned jacket, knees spread far apart to convey a particular image.”

Puerile as the public tit-for-tat may seem, both sides offer a grain of truth.

Obama wouldn’t be meeting with Putin purely out of politeness or condescension (the bad chemistry between the two is well-known), and there’s nothing new to say about Ukraine that couldn’t be said on the phone. It is true that Putin needs the meeting more than Obama does.

Apart from showing he’s still an influential player, not a universally ignored local tyrant suffering a harsh comedown from an oil high, the Russian leader must try discussing a situational alliance in Syria.

Acting alone in Syria would be extremely risky for Russia. Putin can ill afford an unsuccessful military operation. Coordination with the US would greatly increase the chances of success.

J

The meeting between Obama and Putin will undoubtedly be about Syria. Ukraine will be an afterthought, not even a bargaining chip: Putin cannot count on Obama to make any concessions there, because Russia is negotiating from a position of weakness.

At the same time, the language from the White House indicates that it would be wrong to get one’s hopes up about the meeting: It would be strange to stress Ukraine and avoid mentioning Syria if Obama and his people expected the talks to achieve a breakthrough in the Middle East.

For the US, though, an alliance with Putin comes with strings attached: Once Islamic State is defeated, Washington would need to discuss the post-war setup with Moscow, and they have a poor record of agreeing on anything.

Also, if Obama retreated on his commitment to bring down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and agreed to a smooth transition of power in Damascus, he would give Republicans a new pretext to accuse him of weakness.

The meeting will undoubtedly be about Syria. Ukraine will be an afterthought, not even a bargaining chip: Putin cannot count on Obama to make any concessions there because Russia is negotiating from a position of weakness. At the same time, the language from the White House indicates that it would be wrong to get one’s hopes up about the meeting: It would be strange to stress Ukraine and avoid mentioning Syria if Obama and his people expected the talks to achieve a breakthrough in the Middle East.

OHN said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My Name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the Name of Christ, will, by no means, lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he

Given Obama’s reluctance, it’s interesting that Putin still wants to talk. He’s done a lot of homework, talking in quick succession with Saudi King Salman, Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who came to Moscow for the opening of a large new mosque.

He’s making sure the cease-fire holds in Ukraine. He hasn’t acted in Syria, apart from bringing in some hardware and a limited number of troops (there have been no confirmed reports of the Russian forces doing any fighting). He has also found an unlikely ally in German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has suggested talking to Assad, as well as his allies in Iran and Russia, to resolve the conflict.

Merkel needs peace in Syria to help her deal with the refugee crisis that threatens to undermine her in Germany.

Putin must demonstrate to all these leaders that he has tried to find a negotiated solution before he takes military action on Assad’s side.

Obama, for his part, can’t assume that Putin’s move into Syria is merely a bluff. Rebuffing the Russian leader might mean exacerbating the situation both in Syria and in Ukraine.

The US president wouldn’t have to concede much—just to signal that he might be prepared to “rethink Syria,” as his former Middle East coordinator Philip Gordon suggested on Friday in a lengthy Politico article. Gordon’s idea is for the US to stop insisting on quick regime change and look for a compromise, which would involve coordination with Russia and Iran.

On the surface, the meeting will pit Obama’s obstinacy against Putin’s desperate machismo. Yet, it might be the beginning of a peace process that would benefit everyone—Putin, Assad, Obama and Merkel.

were thrown into the sea.

“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

—Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Voices

essMirror

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph • Sunday, September 27, 2015 A5

Reflection, not reaction A

Free Fire

By Teddy Locsin Jr.

S opposed to denominations partial to literal readings of ancient texts, the Catholic religion has always fearlessly enlarged with the force of reason the empire of knowledge.

This in the confidence that God gave men reason to honor Him by uncovering the mechanisms of His creation.

In 1865 Catholic Spain established the Manila Observatory to push aside astrology, in favor of astronomy, to substitute supersitition with observation, and rain dancing with the cool study of weather

patterns by fully clothed clerics.

They tracked the heavens not for signs of the times but something harder: The exact time of day everywhere on the planet. This was critical in coordinating commerce and communication.

They looked up at the heavens for its influence on the weather and not on fate. Now they use radar.

They looked down at the Earth not for powers hidden in its features, but to anticipate, if possible, its immovable temper.

All that and more was done to promote a deeper appreciation of

creation by a wider comprehension of its ways. This endeavor continued largely unnoticed, except by commerce and industry which profited from research into time, tide and weather, and by Admiral Dewey, anticipate the climate in the battle of Manila Bay, and to study for purposes of conquest a terrain meticulously mapped by Spanish Jesuits for the sake of pure knowledge.

The Japanese did the same with far less cooperation from American Jesuits. The best work is always done by those without a care in the world except forthe advancement of

learning. In short, by priests and priestlike academics. Amid the raging sea of public ignorance, in the flying foam of political talk, sheltered in the groves of academe, the Manila Observatory has gone about advancing knowledge for its own sake and so for the public good.

In this world, when you set out ostensibly to do something good, you achieve the opposite. The road to hell is paved concretely with realized intentions.

But when you advance knowledge just for its own sake, you end up doing good. A lot of what’s wrong today

comes from the impulse to attack problems like they were enemies, hence, the metaphorical war on poverty that is always lost. The thing is to study the problem first, weigh the solutions, pick the best, and only then, make the attempt.

The Jesuit ethic is knowledge first and good follows. That is because after every stage of creation, God paused to check that it was good, before going on to the next stage. He expects us to follow His example of reflection before action because we are not animals. He made those for dinner. Keep well.

Pope Francis’s profound message at UN and 9/11 museum

By Bob Keeler Newsday TNS Forum

O

N his whirlwind full day in New York—a city that offers views of both the world’s wealth and its poverty, its powerful and its homeless—Pope Francis had an agenda of stunning breadth.

At the United Nations General Assembly and at the 9/11 museum in Lower Manhattan, his concerns were global: Peace, better lives for the poor and environmental protection. In East Harlem, his focus was the local, a poor neighborhood whose parish church, Our Lady Queen of Angels, has closed—like so many others in this country— though its school clings bravely to life, serving mostly Latino and black children.

Typical of Francis, before he strode to the General Assembly rostrum, he spoke with UN staff in a warmly personal way. He remained true to his concern for everyday people, mentioning not only the experts and the translators, but also the cleaners and cooks, maintenance and security workers. He urged them, in addition to their daily duty of worrying about the future of the whole planet, to care for each other.

“I will pray for you and your families, and I ask each one of you please to remember to pray for me,” he said, again making clear his own need for prayer, as he has done since he stepped out on that balcony in Rome in 2013 as the newly elected pope. And to those on the UN staff who might not be believers, he said, to applause and laughter, “I ask you to wish me well.”

The speech to the General Assembly continues a tradition started by Pope Paul VI in 1965 (my first opportunity to write about a pope). In that speech, he minced no words: “No more war, war never again.” His

successors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, also addressed the General Assembly (John Paul twice), and both spoke forcefully against war. John Paul opposed the disastrous AngloAmerican invasion of Iraq and didn’t back down from reminding President George W. Bush of that opposition, when Bush visited the Vatican a year after the invasion.

This pope’s UN speech seemed less gritty, more lofty and, even academic, than the one he gave to Congress. Let’s not forget, though: He was addressing a room full of highly educated diplomats, as opposed to a legislative chamber brimming with climate-change deniers. And, of course, he’s a Jesuit—usually a reliable sign of intellectual rigor, of lofty ideas, of scholarly phrases like “declarationist nominalism.” He even mentioned the need for an examination of conscience, a delicate echo of a key element of the Jesuit order’s Ignatian spirituality: the daily examen, an evening reflection on the events of the day and God’s presence in them.

But his 45-minute speech offered its share of deeply human touches and some profound remarks on the environment, the arms trade, the need for total nuclear disarmament. In addition to laying down broad philosophical principles, he reminded the diplomats that those who suffer are real people.

“Not only in cases of religious or cultural persecution, but in every situation of conflict, as in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan and the Great Lakes region, real human beings take precedence over partisan interests, however legitimate the latter may be,” Francis said. “In wars and conflicts, there are individual persons, our brothers and sisters, men and women, young and old, boys and girls who weep, suffer and die.”

In his long appeal for environmental protection, Francis

delivered a pithy description of belief that ought to be on the wall of every member of Congress: “We, Christians, together with the other monotheistic religions, believe that the universe is the fruit of a loving decision by the Creator, who permits man respectfully to use creation for the good of his fellow men and for the glory of the Creator; he is not authorized to abuse it, much less to destroy it. In all religions, the environment is a fundamental good.”

Speaking to an organization that has set out elaborate international definitions of human rights, the pope offered a simple formulation of what government leaders must do to make sure that families live in dignity and flourish. “In practical terms, this absolute minimum has three names: lodging, labor, and land; and one spiritual name: spiritual freedom, which includes religious freedom, the right to education and other civil rights.”

Another candidate for engraving on congressional walls.

Once again, the pope spoke out against the international arms trade. He didn’t have to say, but it is true, that the US is the largest exporter of conventional arms in the world. And the US is launching a project to upgrade its nuclear arsenal that could cost nearly $1 trillion over the next three decades.

On nuclear weapons, the pope went well beyond what the US Catholic bishops said three decades ago in their war and peace document, “The Challenge of Peace.”

The dominant theory of nuclear weapons possession has been deterrence, or Mutual Assured Destruction, aptly abbreviated as MAD. The bishops left the room for a strictly conditioned acceptance of deterrence—but only on the way to full disarmament. That, of course, has not come about.

“An ethics and a law based on the

Pope Francis’s United Nations message seemed less gritty, more lofty and even academic, than the one he gave to Congress.

Let’s not forget, though: He was addressing a room full of highly educated diplomats, as opposed to a legislative chamber brimming with climate-change deniers. And, of course, he’s a Jesuit—usually a reliable sign of intellectual rigor, of lofty ideas, of scholarly phrases like “declarationist nominalism.”

He even mentioned the need for an examination of conscience, a delicate echo of a key element of the Jesuit order’s Ignatian spirituality: The daily examen, an evening reflection on the events of the day and God’s presence in them. threat of mutual destruction—and possibly the destruction of all mankind—are self-contradictory and an affront to the entire framework of the UN, which would end up as ‘nations united by fear and distrust,’” Francis said. “There is urgent need to work for a world free of nuclear weapons, in full application of the nonproliferation treaty, in letter and spirit, with the goal of a complete prohibition of these weapons.” Yes! Within hours after he was greeted, among others, by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who voted against the deal to slow Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon, the pope spoke out in favor of it: “I express my hope that this agreement will be lasting and efficacious, and bring forth the desired fruits with the cooperation of all the parties involved.”

This pope’s visit comes at a crucial moment for the UN: A horrific refugee crisis arising from the Syrian civil war; a vote on sustainable development goals for the next 15 years; and preparation for a climate summit in Paris in December.

The UN is a flawed institution.

Its peacekeeping forces have been accused of rape in Africa, of spreading cholera in Haiti, of failing to stop genocide in Rwanda. But its agencies—such as United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the High Commissioner for Refugees—do good work around the world.

And Francis clearly believes in that work. He ended his speech with a prayer that the UN and its officials “will always render an effective service to mankind, a service respectful of diversity and capable of bringing out, for sake of the common good, the best in each people and in every individual.”

From there, Francis traveled to the National September 11 Memorial Museum for a deeply moving interfaith service, at a place now emblematic of the senseless violence that grows from ideology. Here, the pope was one of many faith leaders to speak. Briefly he spoke in English, and later, before he gave a longer talk, he apologized for his lack of facility in that language.

In his native Spanish, Francis spoke movingly of those who died, of those who risked their lives, of tears, of the “pain that leaves us speechless, but screams to heaven.” And he concluded with a lovely call for peace, leading to a moment of silence, then an exchange of hugs and handshakes on the stage, much like the kiss of peace at Mass—a practice that some Vatican liturgists would like to tame.

“Peace in our homes,” Francis said, “in our families, in our schools, in our communities, peace in all the places in which war seems to be endless, peace in the faces of the people who have only seen pain, peace in this wide world that God has given us as a home for all. Only peace.”

That powerful sentiment should be framed, too—and lived.

China to US Congress: This is how you tackle climate change S

CIENCE, economics and even the Holy See have failed to persuade the US Congress to tackle climate change. Now, perhaps, an even more powerful influence may come to bear: The determination not to be outdone by China.

On Friday the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases announced it will begin a national cap-and-trade program in 2017. It will limit total emissions and let individual emitters, including power, steel, chemicals and other industrial producers,

trade emissions allowances— effectively putting a price on carbon.

Though this is promising news, it would be unwise to leave skepticism at the door. Cap-and-trade schemes in Europe and a handful of US states have struggled to have a significant effect on emissions, mainly because of lousy execution. They have, for example, set caps too high, covered too narrow a set of polluters or given the emission allowances away. China already has seven regional cap-andtrade pilot programs that have had

mixed results. One question will be whether China’s national program gets the details right.

Another reason to suspect this won’t work perfectly: Environmental data from China isn’t always reliable.

It’s been difficult to tell, for example, just how much the country has been able to reduce its coal consumption.

Any future claims that the cap-andtrade program is working will need to be verified.

That said, there are big reasons to be hopeful. China’s alarming air

pollution, which kills an estimated 4,000 people each day, gives the government good reason to make its policy work—beyond any concern for global climate. And one of the chief drawbacks of cap-and-trade—its reliance on heavy regulation—is less of a concern in China’s mix of a command and market economy.

What’s more, the proposed program addresses one of the main reasons to question China’s promise, last November, that its greenhousegas emissions would peak in 2030.

Theoretically, cap-and-trade allows a country to set an emissions goal and work backward from there.

China’s announcement also demonstrates its determination to lead in the development, manufacture and deployment of clean-energy technologies, to remain in the forefront of a growing industry. At this point, rather than continue to ask why the US should be first to act against climate change, Congress might well worry whether it can afford to be second. Bloomberg editorial

News BusinessMirror

A6 Sunday, September 27, 2015

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Nick Joaquin Literary Awards: Matter of the soul Continued from A1

The Graphic & martial law

During the early 1970s, the ownership of the publication went through a change of hands and under the Araneta family, the magazine was renamed The Weekly Graphic.

It was at this juncture that a young Ninotchka Rosca, famed author of the novel State of War, sat as managing editor of the magazine immediately after college. The tradition of publishing exemplary literary pieces continued under her watch.

It didn’t take long for the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to catch up with the publication’s bold stance against his regime’s abuses.

On the day Marcos declared Proclamation 1081, placing the whole archipelago under martial law, soldiers stormed into the newsroom of The Weekly Graphic, padlocked the publication and jailed its editors, including Luis Mauricio, the editor in chief.

George Sison, one of The Weekly Graphic’s controversial columnists, was later incarcerated for his “Pamulinawen” exposé, the sex scandal between Marcos and American actress Dovie Beams.

He wrote under the nom de plume, Conde de Makati.

Reviving the Graphic

There was hardly any question that The Weekly Graphic’s news and literary pages played a role in the fight against Marcos’s abuses. From 1972 to 1990, the magazine remained closed, but hardly in the dungeons of forgetting. Four years after Marcos was ousted in a popular People Power Revolution, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua was offered the

magazine’s title.

As if driven by the Fates to uphold the publication’s longstanding literary tradition, the ambassador chose National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin as its first editor in chief, together with local literary giants Greg Brillantes, Jose “Pete” Lacaba and Adrian Cristóbal. The ambassador sat as its publisher, renaming the magazine the Philippines Graphic.

The Graphic Literary Awards

Nick Joaquin lost no time creating a venue for young and seasoned writers. It was an agreement between the national artist and the ambassador: They would use the magazine to train young yet promising pens, be it in journalism or literature.

The run-up of its first few years saw writers from all over the country competing for recognition in what was called the Philippines Graphic Literary Awards.

It had been a transformative experience for a number of writers who, for years, searched for a venue for their works. The Philippines Free Press stood as the Graphic’s only “rival” in the publishing of literature for decades.

In the world of Philippine letters, no publication came up to par with the two in terms of deference and esteem from fellow writers.

The Philippines Free Press closed its doors recently, leaving the Philippines Graphic as the only publication of its kind in the Philippines.

First winners

A young Charlson Ong stood as the Philippines Graphic’s first winner in 1990 for his short fiction, A Tropical Winter’s Tale. He has moved on to

become one of the country’s most esteemed novelists, winning the South East Asia Write Awards, Asiaweek, National Book Award and Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence.

His novels Blue Angel, White Shadow, Banyaga: A Song of War and An Embarrassment of Riches and other books are being translated and read all over the world. He now sits as resident fellow of the University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing.

After Nick Joaquin’s death in April 2004, the contest was renamed Nick Joaquin Literary Awards in honor of the magazine’s editor in chief.

For the last 25 years, our literary contributors and winners have moved past their initial wins to become some of the country’s most venerated authors, including: Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (Gawad Balagtas awardee and former director of the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House with more than 15 books under her name); Jose “Butch” Dalisay (author of 15 books, recipient of five Cultural Center of the Philippines Awards, and a Fulbright, Hawthornden, David TK Wong, Rockefeller, and British Council Fellow); Andrea Pasion Flores (author and former executive director of the National Book Development Board); and multiawarded novelist Menchu Aquino Sarmiento, among others.

The magazine owes much of its literary prestige to contest judges and its literary editors, who themselves are distinguished writers: Adrian Cristóbal, Alfred Yuson, Susan Lara, Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Gemíno Abad, Charlson Ong, Marra PL Lanot, Lakambini Sitoy,

and currently, Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winner and judge Alma Anonas-Carpio.

It should be recognized, too, in equal measure the support of companies like Pru Life UK and friends Belle Tiongco and Reena Villamor who supported the literary awards for the last five years, and Acer for its continuing vision to supply the writers with the writing tools they need.

This year’s awards will be held at the F1 Manila Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City, thanks to Twinkle

Lacsamana and Pau Esmedilla.

88 years and counting

This year the Philippines Graphic celebrates its 88th year as a title and 25 years (silver anniversary) under the publishing leadership of Aliw Media Group Chairman Emeritus Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua and his son, T. Anthony C. Cabangon (publisher of the Philippines Graphic and the BusinessMirror).

As Carpio said in her piece, it is for courage as well as skill that lit-

erary works see print in the publication. That such a wealth of talent is out there waiting to see the light of day is proof undeniable that literature will always be part of the Graphic’s march into the future.

After all, being guardians of the national memory is no mean feat. More to the point: Where literature plays a role in society’s preservation, it is and will always be a matter of the soul. *Joel Pablo Salud is the editor in chief of the Philippines Graphic.

Lawmaker favors court settlement of San Miguel-PSALM dispute Continued from A1

hearing where officials of PSALM were present, the state-run firm’s president, Lourdes Alzona, said she is not worried about being sued

by SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp.

(SMEC).

“It’s up to them if they will file a case against me or anyone from PSALM. We are just going by what the contract states,” Alzona said, adding that any decision issued by PSALM was done with the board’s approval.

The PSALM board is headed by Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima. Its other members include the secretaries of the departments of Energy, Budget and Management, Justice, and Trade and Industry.

SMC President Ramon Ang earlier said he received a text message from Purisima who said that he has no knowledge of the termination letter issued by PSALM to SMC Global Power. To which, Alzona commented, “Secretary Purisima was informed by his staff.

The board is fully informed of the unpaid account and actions being taken on Ilijan administration agreement.”

Ilijan dispute

The dispute between the two was publicized when South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC), a unit of SMC Global Power and the administrator of the Ilijan power plant, sought a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) from a local court against PSALM’s termination of the power firm’s Independent Power Producer Administrator (Ippa) contract.

The TRO was later extended up to September 28, pending a hearing of a preliminary injunction by the Regional Trial Court in Mandaluyong City.

PSALM claimed that the local court has no jurisdiction over the case and only the Supreme Court can issue a TRO because of a provision of Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira). Court hearings are still ongoing.

PSALM terminated the Ippa contract over SPPC’s alleged failure to pay the outstanding generation payments from December 26, 2012 to April 25, 2015, amounting to P6.46 billion.

According to Alzona, PSALM demanded SPPC’s immediate payment of the generation fees but the company “consistently refuses to settle all its contractual obligations to PSALM for the relevant period.”

“We sent them demand letters. We decided to terminate the contract when they still did not pay us,” Alzona said in reaction to the claim of the other party that the

M3…

OSMEÑA: “There was nothing violated in the contract. It’s a simple contractual dispute, as I’ve said. No, they won’t be discouraged.”

issuance of the termination letter was abrupt.

As part of PSALM’s decision to terminate the contract, the staterun firm also moved to seize the $60-million performance bond of SPPC. But Ang said PSALM’s financial claims were “erroneous” and that SMC Global Power will sue PSALM management for “intentional breach of contract.”

SMC Global questioned why PSALM is pushing Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rates to determine the obligations of the Ilijan Ippa instead of using the rates approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“That raises the point again of what is the agenda behind the termination of the Ilijan Ippa. Since the termination is obviously not for the protection of the power consumers, whose interest is PSALM advancing?” the power firm asked.

“SMC Global believes that Ilijan is baseload and its output must not be traded in the WESM to protect power consumers. That’s the reason SMC Global cannot understand PSALM’s insistence on its erroneous interpretation of the Ilijan Ippa contract provisions,” the company added.

The company further noted this is not the first time PSALM has admitted that they erroneously interpreted provisions of the Ilijan Ippa contract.

“The first was during the 2011 Malampaya shutdown when PSALM billed the Ilijan Ippa a liquids event price [LEP] of P30,710.47 per kwh,” it said.

The Ilijan Ippa then disputed the billing. PSALM acknowledged the LEP was erroneous and then billed the administrator the correct sum of P6.37 per kwh, or an 80-percent reduction.

Sual dispute

As the dispute on the Ilijan contract remains unresolved, PSALM could be sued yet again for another “illegal” power contract, Ang said.

“Actually, mayroon pa kaming isa pang dispute. ’Yung Sual [power plant],” said Ang, who added that the goverment’s contract when the plant was built was 1,000 megawatts (MW). “In 2009 biglang sabi ng nagtayo ng planta ay 1,200 MW na kahit 1,000 MW lang.”

SMEC is the Ippa of the 1,218-

MW Sual power plant. It was built

by Team Energy Corp. under a buildoperate-transfer arrangement with the government which will expire in 2024.

PSALM and Team Energy signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) covering the Sual power plant’s excess capacity.

When the output of the plant was bidded out, PSALM imposed the same agreement on SMEC as the IPP administrator. Starting November 2009, Team Energy used the agreement as basis to claim payments for excess generation from SMEC.

If there was any excess capacity from the Sual plant, SMEC said it should be the government who should benefit and not the IPP of the plant.

The company has a pending request with PSALM to review the legality of the agreement with Team Energy.

PSALM has yet to fully act on SMEC’s request to review the MOA. The state firm is expected to raise the matter to the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

Alzona said PSALM has already sought comment from Team Energy and that this will be included in the filing of a letter before the OGCC. From the start, she said Team Energy has the right over the excess capacity because the contract between the government and Team Energy only covered up to 1,000 MW. “At the time the plant was being constructed, there were already several agreements pertaining to excess capacity. But we pay them a capacity fee of up to 1,000 MW only. It’s as simple as that,” the PSALM official said.

Alzona questioned SMC’s move to register in the market the excess capacity. She added that the company should have turned over to Team Energy any revenues generated from the excess capacity.

“Dapat ibigay sa Team Energy.

These are legal and technical issues,” Alzona said.

When sought for comment, Department of Energy Officer in Charge Zenaida Monsada said there are dispute mechanisms stated in the contracts between the government and the private sector. Those contracts, she said, should be honored.

“We are not yet dragged into the issue. I believe both parties will resolve this soon. It may be just a matter of misunderstanding,” she said.

Meantime, Osmeña said the legal tussle between PSALM and SMC will not discourage local and foreign investors to continue doing business here. “There was nothing violated in the contract. It’s a simple contractual dispute, as I’ve said.

No, they won’t be discouraged.”

Continued from A1

indeed suffered from a depreciation trend in recent months due largely to the markets’ reaction to the developments in other parts of the world particularly in China and in the United States.

Data from the BSP showed that the peso currently averages at 46.729 to a dollar. The peso, meanwhile, ended 2014 with an average value of 44.688 to a dollar.

FMIC and UA&P also said the

increased placement of trust entities into the BSP’s special deposit account facility helps keep M3 growth “in check.”

“Sustained demand for credit continued to add money into the banking system. Banks channeled the bulk of credit to key production sectors such as real-estate activities; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;

and manufacturing, among others,” the research note read.

The BSP’s most recent report on domestic liquidity showed that it grew by 8.5 percent yearon-year in July.

With the expansion, the total absolute value of cash in the economy is at P7.7 trillion as of July this year.

The BSP will be releasing the August M3 values at the end of the month.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life

BusinessMirror

Sunday, September 27, 2015

A7

MEGAN YOUNG

Megan, a hit with prime-time viewers

M

Rita Ora doesn’t care what’s said about her

B

By Allison Stewart | Chicago Tribune

RITISH pop singer Rita Ora says she has stopped paying much attention to the things people say about her, which is probably why she didn’t know about the backlash surrounding her latest single, “Body on Me,” a collaboration with Chris Brown.

Brown, of course, was convicted of felony assault for his 2009 attack on Rihanna, an incident for which he seems largely unrepentant. Tell Ora that her Brown cosign has caused an uproar among many on social media, including feminists, and she seems amazed.

“Really? I think that’s hypocritical, because being a feminist means giving women the same opportunities as men, so women shouldn’t turn around and try and take men’s opportunities away,” Ora says. “I think it’s [time] for me to go and reevaluate the term of ‘feminism’ if they think that’s what that means. I just think he’s a great artist. I don’t think anything else matters, really. He’s great, he’s a really, really great guy and a great actor.”

The night before this phone interview, Ora played a splashy, celebrity-filled gig at

the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Photos from the gig, which were splashed all over tabloid web sites, show Ora wearing a sheer turtleneck with star-shaped pasties covering her relevant bits, and a miniskirt that leaves much to chance. Nobody’s talking about her music very much—“I don’t mind it. People will always comment on what I wear”—but at least they’re talking.

For a European pop star trying hard to get traction in America, any attention is a positive. “In America you have to work all the different territories, and it takes a bit more time, but I don’t mind. I’m just chilling.

Yesterday it was sold out, but it was like, 750 people, and in the UK I’ve done, like, Glastonbury main stage.”

Ora is 24 and constantly on the verge of happening. This year she will likely release

Dancing with one voice I N the 29 years Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) has been in existence, yesterday marked the first time a ballet company performed onstage with opera stars alongside finalists from The Voice Philippines—an interesting mix indeed.

PBT’s Cofounder Julie Borromeo smiles at the fact that that was “the first time that our ballet company collaborated with opera stars and The Voice stars in a concert style production. Approaching our 30th year, we have a lot to celebrate —and to reflect on. PBT is excited to spread its wings as it glides through the horizon of its future, and wants to bring the PBT family together in the process. We’re thankful for the opportunity to have helped

those who became a part of our institution and left us to continue onward and upward.”

“Moreover, we want to get back to our original goal, which was to widen the appreciation of ballet while keeping it entertaining, meaningful and relevant to our lives. After all, art in all its forms is truly a reflection of who we are and how we view ourselves. With this reminder, our board of trustees and directors do everything possible to keep opportunity open to our youth who are passionate and motivated to excel along this career path,” says Sylvia Lichuaco-de Leon, PBT current president.

Dancing in One Voice was conceptualized

by PBT Cofounders Borromeo and Timmy

her first album since 2012; her team hopes and expects it will make her as famous in America as she is in Europe. She’s currently in a dangerous place, one of those people who is vaguely understood to be famous, even if no one is sure for what.

She is everywhere: on the cover of magazines, in movies, on red carpets, as a spokesmodel, performing at the Academy Awards, in a guest run on Empire, on British incarnations of both The Voice and X Factor.

An impressive group of people have conspired, or at least it feels like it, to make Rita Ora happen. She’s signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation conglomerate. She guested on Iggy Azalea’s hit “Black Widow.” She had small acting roles in Fifty Shades of Grey and the Jake Gyllenhaal movie Southpaw, and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has taken her under his wing.

“I met Harvey, who produced [Southpaw] through Georgina, his wife, who’s a designer.

She was the first one to give me a dress for the red carpet. He’s great. He’s very smart.”

She once dated superstar DJ/current Taylor Swift boyfriend Calvin Harris, who wrote one of her biggest hits, “I Will Never Let You Down,” then blocked her from performing it when things went badly between them. Ora also collaborated with Prince on a song that may not make her new disc. “He’s really a great guy, and he’s helped me out a lot. He’s taught me a lot.”

Ora was born in Kosovo and raised in London. She signed to Roc Nation when she

was a teenager, on the strength of a few guest appearances and backup vocalist slots. Her debut, Ora, went platinum in the UK. Its impending follow-up will be Ora’s first release since becoming a celebrity, something she has kept in mind during the songwriting process.

“If it means something to me, or if there’s something I haven’t addressed in the press, I’d rather say it through a song,” says Ora, who has the polite, slightly distracted air of somebody who’s probably surreptitiously texting. “I sit there and brainstorm, and I keep a diary, too. I look back on moments that meant something to me, to provoke some sort of message I want to communicate along the way. I want my music to be positive and inspiring to people.”

There’s no reason Ora shouldn’t eventually happen: Her songs are perfectly appointed, better-than-usual pop, and her voice is as formidable as her drive. Her clothing, hair and boyfriends have for years made her a much-commented-upon fixture in British tabloids like the Daily Mail. Her music just needs to catch up.

“It’s been like, four or five years now, so I’m not as affected by it,” she says. “There’s no point in reading the stuff on the bottom anyway, what they say in the comments. You have to subscribe to be able to write on that thing. It’s like, who are those people? None of my friends do that. I can’t relate to their comments, so I’d rather just not read them, and talk to people I get on with.”

Pavino, pop balladeer, former finalist of The Voice Philippines and a rising star himself.

“The idea behind Dancing in One Voice was to give artists from different fields an opportunity to come together and give light to the quiet unsung heroes at PBT who have committed and continue in their commitment to supporting youth in performing arts—the instructors, the producers, the choreographers, and, of course, the dancers.

As fellow performers, we can totally relate to their dedication to craft. And by coming together for this show, we show our solidarity and support, and hope our audiences come to appreciate them just as we do,” Timmy explains. Lisa Kircher Lumbao, PBT vice

president, shares her excitement: “I love the idea of having finalists from The Voice Philippines performing onstage with our dancers. This should be fun.”

Dancing in One Voice premiered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theatre for a limited run of only two performances: last night at 8 pm and tonight at 6 pm.

Tickets are also limited, and are on a “first come, first served” basis at P1,500 for premium seating (box and front-center orchestra), P100 for students, and a range of prices in between to suit everyone’s tastes and budgets.

For tickets, call 832-3704, 891-999, or 632-8848.

ultitalented beauty queenactress Megan Young expresses her happiness for the overwhelming support of the TV public and netizens for the GMA prime-time drama Marimar, where she plays the title role. Since its pilot episode, the soap directed by Dominic Zapata has been a trending topic in social media and consistently registers solid ratings nationwide. It airs weeknights after 24 Oras.

“Natutuwa ako. To be honest, hindi ko talaga ine-expect. Basta ang nasa-isip ko lang ay gagalingan na lang namin at ie-enjoy namin ang experience. I’m very thankful sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta. Ang dami pang nakaka-excite na mangyayari,” Megan says.

One of the highlights to look forward to in the series is the beginning of Sergio (Tom Rodriguez) and Marimar’s journey as a married couple. Sergio starts to feel guilty about his selfish plan, especially when he sees how Marimar is deeply in love with him.

Meanwhile, Señora Angelika (Jaclyn Jose) and daughter Antonia (Lauren Young) will persist in plotting against Marimar.

But behind the trouble and pain Marimar is experiencing because of Señora Angelika, Megan feels grateful of having a great working relationship with the seasoned actress. “It’s fun. Tita Jane [Jaclyn Jose] is very nice. She always gives me pointers. She’s always there to support whatever’s happening in the set,” Megan says.

BROADCAST journalist Atom Araullo (second, from right) with the MTRCB Uncut team composed of (from left) Executive Director Atty. Ann Marie Nemenzo and Board Members Joey Romero, Gladys Reyes, Keats Musngi and Manny Buising

Atom Araullo guests on ‘MTRCB Uncut’

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NYONE can never be too prepared when it comes to nat ura l c a l a m it ies — especially in the Philippines where countless of despairing stories about typhoons and earthquakes take over the headlines.

Tonight, on MTRCB Uncut, TV news reporter Atom Araullo recounts his harrowing experience in covering the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda. The Red Alert host opens up in a one-on-one Klik interview with Gladys Reyes.

Prangkahan gets serious about preparing for the so-called The Big One. Joining the panel for a very informative discussion are Undersecretary Alex Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council; and Ruel Kapunan, managing director of Pilipinas 911, together with Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Board Member Atty. Tony Veloso.

Meanwhile, in response to a viewer’s query, MTRCB Chairman Atty. Eugenio Villareal explains the protocol when certain programs commit violations. Catch his answer on IShare Mo Kay Chair segment.

Hosted by Bobby Andrews and Jackie Aquino, MTRCB Uncut airs every Sunday, 7 pm, on Net 25.

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 | S

unday, September 27, 2015 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

CLYDE SNATCHES CROWN C

LYDE MONDILLA pulled through in a tight, pressurepacked finish and stunned fancied Tony Lascuña and a slew of veteran rivals with a clutch eagle on No. 15 to snatch the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Tournament Players Championship crown by one at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite, on Saturday.

Mondilla’s late-hole brilliance put a perfect ending to ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour’s 2015 season where the young Del Monte ace worked his way back from two strokes down in second-to-last flight with an early burst of birdies then bounced back from a bogey mishap on No. 12 with a birdie on the next and a six-foot eagle off a solid 6-iron second shot from 196 yards to claim the hotly contested crown and the top P650,000 purse.

“I just hung in there with my iron game and putting,” said Mondilla, whose closing 67 capped a run of under-par scores

that included a 70 and back-toback 69s for a 13-under 275 in the P3.5-million event sponsored by ICTSI. “This is a big birthday gift and I’ll save the money for my future,” said Mondilla, whose winnings was five times more than what he earned when he scored a breakthrough win at Canlubang last year. He turns 22 on November 27.

True to his worth, Lascuña eased out erstwhile coleader Michael Bibat early and shook off Orlan Sumcad’s gritty frontside stand with a solid three-under card after 10 holes. But the veteran shotmaker sputtered with a bogey on No. 11 and flubbed a couple of birdie chances down the stretch, including a 10-foot downhiller on the 18th to the delight of Mondilla’s supporters but to the chagrin of Lascuña’s fans.

“I misread the putt and failed to come up with the right allowance to the right,” said Lascuña, who

A MAIA BALCE advances to the women’s singles championship.

also finished with four under-par rounds of two 70s and two 68s for 276 total worth P430,000. But his bogey and seven pars in the last eight holes typified his finalround struggle in the last three legs of the circuit that saw him limp with a 79 in the last day at the ICTSI Open at Wack Wack, blow a four-shot lead and lose by four to Miguel Tabuena.

He also faltered in the final day at Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) Open, carding a 72 and finishing a dismal 12th that cost him the Order of Merit (OOM) title.

Tabuena also took the CAT crown and nailed his first OOM title.

“I actually had a good start and was on target but missed a couple of birdie putts in the closing holes. I gave it my best but that’s golf,” said Lascuña, who has dominated the last three seasons of the circuit organizing

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. but had to settle for second overall with the young Tabuena

emerging as this year’s No. 1.

ICTSI Head of Public Relations Narlene Soriano awarded the trophies and prizes for the year’s top achievers, including Tabuena, represented by uncle and renowned singer Martin Nievera, who finished the season with P3,051,917 in winnings and took another P50,000 for winning the OOM crown.

While at least four to five players moved in contention midway of the final round, only Lascuña and Mondilla carried the fight into last nine holes with Lascuña keeping Mondilla at bay behind with a birdie on No. 10 to regain a twostroke lead.

He, however, bogeyed the next, but retook a two-shot edge as Mondilla dropped a stroke on No. 12.

But as Lascuña missed birdie putts on two of the next four holes, Mondilla buried a birdie from eight feet on No. 13 to move within one then surged ahead with that grab-leading eagle on the 15th.

STENSON HIKES LEAD TO 3 SHOTS

TLANTA—Two years after Henrik Stenson sailed to victory at the Tour Championship, he has another comfortable lead after 36 holes at East Lake and Jordan Spieth is chasing him.

Back then, Spieth was a 20-year-old rookie.

Now he’s the Masters and US Open champion, and he found a spark in a steady drizzle on Friday.

Stenson overcame a few mistakes off the tee and was solid on the back nine for a two-under 68, stretching his lead to three

shots over Spieth going into the weekend and moving closer to his first win of the year—and a $10-million bonus for claiming the FedEx Cup. Stenson, who went wire-towire in the Tour Championship in 2013, was at nine-under 131.

Spieth has made only one bogey over two rounds, and a pair of par saves on consecutive holes on the front nine felt just as valuable as his four birdies in a round of 66. The average score was 71.6 on a wet day that yielded only four rounds under par.

Paul Casey made bogey from the bunker on the 18th for a 70 and was four shots behind, while British Open champion Zach Johnson birdied three of his last four holes to overcome a double bogey on the par-5 ninth. He had a 70 and was at four-under 136.

Jason Day, in his first event as No. 1 in the world, finally looked human. He felt flat, wasn’t sharp off the tee or into the greens, and shot a 71. It was his third round over par in his last 10 tournaments, and it left him nine shots behind. AP

NONOY LACZA

Clarice-Maia in PCA finals

NATIONAL University’s Angelo Alolino (left) is a picture of intensity as he tries to protect the ball against University of the Philippines’ Andrew Harris. ALYSA SALEN

BULLDOGS PREVAIL

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By Joel Orellana

ATIONAL University (NU) continued to rise as University of the Philippines (UP) fell for the third straight game after a promising 2-0 start in Season 78 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball action on Saturday at the Mall of Asian Arena.

The Bulldogs returned to the .500 mark in the team standings after demolishing the free-falling Fighting Maroons, 68-52, for their third-straight victory.

Gelo Alolino went four-of-four from the three-point zone in the second period to help NU break away from a tight contest, hiking the defending champions’ record to 3-3 won-lost.

Alolino’s explosion late in the first half allowed the Bulldogs to post a 38-27 cushion going to the break. NU was never seriously threatened by the Fighting Maroons, who dropped their third straight game.

“We knew going into this game that it will be a defensive battle because UP also plays good defense,” Bulldogs Head Coach Eric Altamirano said.

“All throughout this game, it’s our consistency with our defense. We locked down their shooters and Gelo’s three-point shots gave us the cushion and the confidence in the game,” he added.

Alolino finished with 16 points, while Alfred Aroga had a solid

GILAS BATTLES JAPAN IN PRELIMS’ PHASE TWO

T

OP-SEEDED Clarice Patrimonio and No. 4 Maia Balce pushed hard to halt their rivals’ supercharged rallies to clinch their spots in the ladies singles finals of the 34th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event on Saturday at the PCA clay courts in Paco, Manila.

Patrimonio dug deep in her arsenal in booting out No. 3 Edilyn Balanga, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

“Gumanda yung laro ni Eds [Balanga].

Nakuha niya ang game ko sa second set kaya nag-adjust lang ako and luckily I got it,” said the 21-year-old Patrimonio, who is itching to get her first title after finishing second in 2011 and 2013 in the event, supported this year by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

The task of breaking the Patrimonios’s PCA title curse now falls heavily on Clarice’s shoulder after her older sister Christine failed to keep up with the 17-year-old Balce, falling 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Balce’s ability to keep calm under intense pressure gave her the edge over the 23-yearold Christine.

“Hindi ko ipinakita ang frustrations ko every time na may error ako. Mas naging patient ako lalo na sa second set, sinabayan ko lang siya then pag may chance na umatake saka ko papaluan,” said Balce, a college senior Saint Paul University-Pasig.

The Patrimonio-Balce finals is set at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

“Isang beses ko pa lang siyang [Balce] nakalaban. We’ll see. I’ll just do my best,” said Clarice, the reigning Most Valuable Player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Patrick John Tierro, meanwhile, defends his men’s singles crown against boy wonder Alberto “AJ” Lim at 1 p.m. also on Sunday.

Tierro and Lim earned automatic tickets to the main draw of the 2015 Manila International Tennis Federation Men’s Futures Leg 2 set on October 12.

performance of 12 points and a season-high 22 rebounds. Mohammad Salim and Raph Tansingco added nine points for NU, which goes into a long break before squaring off with their finals victim last season, Far Eastern University, on October 7.

Jet Manuel paced the Fighting Maroons with 16 points, while Andres Desiderio contributed 10.

UP was in the thick of the fight midway the second period before Alolino found his rhythm and sank all of his four three-pointers for that 11-point NU lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs padded their lead to 14, 4935, before UP unleashed its lone run, an 8-2 exchange, to slice the deficit to 43-51 entering the final canto.

But Aroga was unstopable in the fourth period and together with Alolino and Kyle Neypes, NU scored the first eight points of the quarter to put the game out of reach, 59-43, with seven minutes remaining.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) rallied from 16 points down to stun Ateneo de Manila, 68-58, to share the lead with Far Eastern University with a 4-1 win-loss record.

The Growling Tigers held the Blue Eagles without a field goal in the final six minutes and leaned on the three-point shooting of Kevin Ferrer and Karim Abdul's inside incursions to steal the game from Ateneo, which dropped to 3-2.

Ferrer tallied a game-high 27 points, including three triples in the fourth period that helped UST erase a 46-57 deficit and finish the stretch with a 19-1 run.

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THE Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws pose with their third-place trophy. KEVIN DE LA CRUZ

ATENEO LADY EAGLES EYE V-LEAGUE CROWN A TENEO takes a shot at not one, but two titles against a National University (NU) side that hopes to bounce back strong in the Shakey’s V-League finals, with its top guest hitter back in the fold in the Spikers’ Turf playoff with a fired-up crew out to foil the Eagles’ record sweep.

Two topnotch duels for volley supremacy are on tap on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City with the Ateneo fans bracing for a big double celebration and the NU supporters gearing up for a pair of spoilers.

That only guarantees a slam-bang face-off between the country’s top volley schools also priming up for the University Athletic Association of the Philippine wars with Game Two of the V-League finals set at 12:45 p.m. and that of the Spikers’ Turf championship slated at 3 p.m.

Both leagues are presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

The Lady Eagles swept the Lady Bulldogs in the opener of their best-of-three series, 25-19, 25-13, 25-23, last Sunday, but Alyssa Valdez and company did it without Dindin Manabat on the other side of the court. With NU’s top spiker back, the Bustillos-based school is only expected to get better, fiercer and tougher.

Like their counterparts, the Blue Eagles brace for a big Bulldogs comeback following a 25-17, 25-18, 25-19 romp in last week’s Game One of the Spikers’Turf finals, although the former will have added motivation to go for the kill—a sweep of the entire tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera. Far Eastern University (FEU), meanwhile, reasserted its supremacy over University of Santo Tomas (UST), 25-16,

25-23, 25-17, to complete a sweep of third place.

Jovelyn Gonzaga fired 15 hits while fellow guest player Honey Royce Tubino and Bernadeth Pons added 12 points apiece for the Lady Tamaraws, who pounced on a listless UST side in the first set then went on to fashion out a follow-up to their 17-25, 25-17, 25-10, 25-20 victory in the opener of the best-of-three series last week.

Skipper Pam Lastimosa and Ennajie Laure made 10 hits each for UST, which also drew seven and six points from Carmela Tunay and Jessey de Leon, but just could neutralize FEU’s power game and superb blocking.

The Lady Tams produced 40 attack points against UST’s 29 and came through with 10 blocks, twice over the Tigresses effort upfront.

ILAS Pilipinas begins its campaign in the second phase of the preliminary round in Group E against Japan on Sunday, hoping to gain momentum for its crucial tiff against Iran on Monday in the International Basketball Federation Asia Men’s Championship at the Changsa Social Work College Gymnasium in Hunan, China.

The match is set at 4:45 p.m., with both reams entering the second phase with 1-1 winloss records. The Philippines and Japan finished the first round with identical 2-1 mark, but the win they got from the eliminated team in their group won’t be carried into the second phase of the preliminaries. Gilas started the Rio de Janeiro Olympic qualifier with a stunning 73-75 loss to unranked Palestine, but redeemed itself with two lopsided wins against Hong Kong, 101-50, and Kuwait, 110-64, in Group B. Japan went the same route as the Filipinos, losing its opening Group A assignment to Iran, 48-86, but bounced back with resounding victories over Malaysia (119-48) and India (83-65).

Jayson Castro, the top guard in the 2013 Asian Championship in Manila, emerged as the team’s top scorer with 15.7 points per game, while naturalized player Andray Blatche, still finding his form, was next with 15.3 points on top of a team-best 9.3 rebounds per contest.

Gilas Head Coach Tab Baldwin’s second unit was solid in the first round, led by Gilas newcomers Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva.

Romeo was the team’s third best scorer with 13.7 points per game, while Abueva averaged 7.3 points, 7.7 rebounds (second on the team) and 1.7 assists (No. 1 on the team) in just 15 minutes of exposure. The Philippines has beaten Japan in six of their last 10 meetings—including a 90-71 demolition in the 2013 championships.

The second-round results would determine Gilas’s ranking in the knockout quarterfinal round, where the No. 1 in Group E faces the No. 4 in Group F, No. 2 in Group E meets the No. 3 in Group F, No. 3 in Group E takes on the No. 2 in Group F and the No. 4 in Group E battles the No. 1 in Group F. After Japan, the Filipino dribblers will face Iran on Monday at 11:45 a.m. and India on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Joel Orellana