The Standard - 2015 Macrh 17 - Tuesday

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK VOL. XXIX NO. 33 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESday : MaRCH 17, 2015 www.manilastandardtoday.com editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Usman coddler Tambako falls in GenSan

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Cyclone-hit Vanuatu seeks aid

‘pnoy heads pnp command chain’ Next page

Tension in Makati. Policemen stand in formation outside the Makati City Hall as they wait for representatives from the Interior Department who will serve the suspension order against Mayor Junjun Binay. (Story on A3.) Danny PaTa

Top pageant’s winners crowned The winners of the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas 2015 beauty pageant pose for photographers after they were chosen Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. They are, from left, Anne Lorraine Colis (Miss Tourism), Christi McGarri (Miss Intercontinental), Pia Wurtzbach (Miss Universe), Janicel Lubina (Miss International) and Rogelie Catacutan (Miss Supranational). Danny PaTa

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Checkmate? Members of the group Kilusang Mayo Uno or May First Movement slammed President Benigno Aquino III on Monday, saying he was responsible for the Mamasapano debacle in which 44 police commandos were killed on Jan. 25. Danny Pata

‘PNoy on top of the chain’ PH dealing with rebels with ‘dual personality’ THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an insincere and “dual-personality” organization and the government should be wary of dealing with its leaders, according to former interior secretary Rafael Alunan III “We’re talking to a Jekyll and Hyde.

They’re talking peace but waging war,” Alunan, interior secretary under former President Fidel V. Ramos, said in an interview with CNN Philippines which went on air Monday.

“We are not dealing with a sincere party,” Alunan said, noting that they may not even represent the majority of Muslims in Mindanao.

Alunan even questioned the nationalities of MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Mohagher Iqbal, the rebel group’s chief peace negotiator with the government, and suggested that they were only agents of Malaysia.

“The significance of that is that, if they’re indeed Malaysian, what does that make of the MILF? Is that a foreign invading army? Is Malaysia waging an undeclared war? Why would we give up Philippine territory to another country?” Alunan asked.

But chief government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer defended the MILF leaders and claimed Ebrahim, Iqbal, and Jaafar are Filipino citizens.

“Their parents were born in Mindanao. They were born in Mindanao.

They were raised in Mindanao. What else do we need to, you know, certify that they are Filipino citizens?” Ferrer said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines.

“I’m really concerned how a mere Facebook message can be broadcast without any investigation being done at all,” she said. “This is really just part of a demolition being done on the peace process and it’s unfair. It’s unfair to all those concerned.”

Ferrer was referring to Alunan’s ad-

mission that he raised the citizenships of the MILF leaders because he was purportedly informed via Facebook that the MILF leaders do not use Philippine passports in their frequent travels.

But Ferrer revealed that Ebrahim and Iqbal were not the real names of the MILF leaders and were only noms de guerre only. Iqbal later admitted that he, Ebrahim and Jaafar are only using pseudonyms. “Ï am carrying an official Philippine passport,” Iqbal said. “But the name I have there is not Mohagher Iqbal but my real name. And I use this passport in my travels abroad.”

“I can also vouch that Chairam Murad has an official Philippine passport. But that does say Hadji Murad Ebrahim,” added Iqbal, who presented a passport with his picture but with the name and other personal details stricken out.

Malacañang also defended the MILF leaders and said there were never questions on their citizenships in the 17 years that they have been negotiating for peace.

“In fact, both houses of Congress have recognized their legitimate roles in the peace process by inviting them to appear in congressional hearings,” said Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma.

Ferrer, on the other hand, dismissed the allegations of foreign citizenship as merely “part of the demolition job that’s being done against peace process.”

“It’s very unfair to everyone concerned...When we traveled to Malaysia, we know that they’ve lined up under foreign citizens entering Malaysia, not for Malaysian nationals,” Ferrer said.

“We know that Mohagher Iqbal is not the real name, we’ve known it all along. He even has a pen name. But it is his legal name that is in his passport,” she added.

FORMER Senator Panfilo Lacson criticized Malacañang on Monday for trying to wiggle out of the Mamasapano controversy by arguing that the principle of chain of command does not apply to the Philippine National Police.

“From the very start, from the time the PNP was created in 1991, the President has always been regarded as the commander-inchief,” said Lacson, who was himself PNP chief from 1999 to 2001 before he became senator.

“Even in real life, there is a chain of command. I myself am only Number Two at home,” Lacson joked during a radio interview.

But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV again defended President Benigno Aquino III and said only Napeñas was responsible for the incident and the relieved Special Action Force commander should be man enough to admit his mistakes and ask for forgiveness from the families of the slain policemen.

“Did the President violate the chain of command?” Trillanes said. “That’s absurd. The whole world will laugh at us.”

But aside from Executive Order No. 226 of 1995 which instituted command responsibility in the PNP and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Lacson explained that the principle of command responsibility is ingrained in the PNP. “The chain of command is present even in business organizations.

What does chain of command mean? It’s the formal line of authority, responsibility in communication. This is the relationship of superior and his subordinate. So you cannot say that the PNP is not

covered by a chain of command,” he said.

Lacson disputed the claim of Palace spokesmen and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that the PNP board of inquiry contradicted itself in its report on the Mamasapano incident that resulted in the death of 67 people, including 44 police commandos.

The senator agreed that President Benigno Aquino III indeed had the prerogative to directly order Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas, but Malacañang will be hard put to explain why former PNP chief Alan Pursima was issuing orders when he was already suspended.

Lacson made the remarks after Malacañang argued that Aquino does not have any liability for the incident because the PNP was a civilian agency not covered by the principle of chain of command.

But Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reiterated that the root cause of the chaos and even the deaths that resulted from the secret operation was mainly because President broke the chain of command.

“There was chaos because the normal chain of command, the whole command structure, was bypassed, and President Aquino made his own chain of command,” Marcos told reporters on Monday.

Marcos said the chain of command during the Mamasapano

incident consisted only of Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas. “So there were only three of them who planned and talked about this. So that is certainly significant,” Marcos said.

But Marcos noted that it will be hard to make Aquino answer for the incident because of the presidential immunity from suit.

“How do we make him answer? I don’t know. We’re just hoping that he acknowledges the need. That’s what the people are waiting for.

What’s his reason for breaking the chain of command,” said Marcos.

On the other hand, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc in the House of Representatives, slammed the Palace from trying to discredit the BOI report after it criticized Aquino for violating the chain of command.

“It is preposterous, absurd, ridiculous, and outrageous for Malacanang to discredit a government-sponsored inquiry,” said Romualdez, also president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).

“They even told the public to wait the results of the investigation and after the findings were made public, they are now assailing the PNP-BoI, that’s illogical,” Romualdez added.

Instead of washing his hands of the issue, Romualdez said President Aquino should explain why he allegedly violated the chain of command and why he should not be held liable over the Mamasapano incident.

“Like what I had been saying in the past, the President should admit full responsibility,” Romualdez said.

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Marcos wants MILF report before resumption of hearings

By Macon R. araneta SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said he will not resume hearings on the controversial Bangsamo Basic Law (BBL) without the report of from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) regarding results of its investigation on the Mamasapano incident.

In a media briefing, Marcos

said the committee on local government, which he chairs, is now ready to resume its deliberations on the BBL on April 13.

“But to proceed with that hearing, on that subject, I really need to see the MILF report, which they mysteriously sent to Malaysia instead of the Philippines, which until now, I cannot understand,” said Marcos.

“[And] they will not give.

They told the Department of Justice to ask from Malaysia, and not from them,” said Marcos.

Marcos said he wrote a letter to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and the DOJ, the MILF, and the Malaysian team to ask for a copy, but have not yet received any reply.

Without the report, he said

there is no point in having hearings since the MILF side would not be presented.

“That’s the whole point, the coordination of the MILF and the PNP and AFP. We cannot find out what went wrong if there’s no report from the MILF,” he said.

From the government side, the senator said, they have already established that the AFP withdrew their

forces noontime due to the ongoing ceasefire, but the MILF continued with the firefight.

“So we have to find out what happened there. Why did coordination fail? “ he said, adding that although he can compel the production of a report by issuing a subpoena, that is not practical since the MILF report is in Malaysia.

Drama in Makati. Makati Mayor Junjun Binay holds up a copy of an appellate court order stopping the Ombudsman’s suspension order against him, while at right Vice Mayor Romulo Peña takes his oath as acting mayor following Binay’s suspension. Danny Pata anD ey acasio

Typhoon Betty hits East Luzon today AFTER Super Cyclone “Pam” devastated Vanuatu, Tropical Storm “Bavi” remained outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday, but threatened to enter the country Tuesday morning although it had weakened and was apparently changing movement, according to the weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Bavi was spotted 2,100 km east of Bicol region on Monday and the ridge of a high pressure area caused it to weaken and change direction.

As of Monday afternoon, Bavi had maximum winds of 75 kph which decreased from 85 kph on Sunday. Its gustiness of up to 90 kph also decreased from 100 kph.

According to weather forecaster Alvin Pura, Bavit changed direction from west northwest to west southwest at 35 kph, but is expected to enter the PAR on Tuesday morning when it will be renamed “Betty.”

The tropical storm is not directly affecting the country and is expected to continue to weaken as the ridge of the HPA continues to affect Northern Luzon.

Pura said most parts of the country will continue to experience generally fair weather as the whole archi-

pelago will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Pagasa said light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

Meanwhile, Super Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu on Sunday after the island state declared a state of emergency on Sunday as relief agencies scrambled to get help to the remote Pacific nation.

Story on Page B7 The official death toll in the capital Port Vila stood at six on Sunday, although aid workers said this was likely just a fraction of the fatalities nationwide, with communications still down across most of the archipelago’s 80 islands.

The government said it was still trying to assess the scale of the disaster unleashed when Super Cyclone Pam, a maximum category five system, vented its fury on Friday night, with winds reaching 320 kilometers an hour.

The UN had unconfirmed reports that Super Cyclone Pam had killed 44 people in one province alone and Oxfam said the destruction in Port Vila was massive, with 90 percent of homes damaged.

Appeals court stops Binay’s suspension

By Joel e. Zurbano

THE Court of Appeals on Monday granted Makati Mayor Junjun Binay’s petition asking it to stop the Ombudsman’s order suspending him in connection with the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. “The appellate court issued a 60-day temporary restraining order and we are very thankful for this,” Binay told reporters after receiving a six-page resolution issued by the appellate court’s 6th Division.

“Now I’m going to meet the members of the city council to discuss our plan.

We have to move on and work together.”

As a result of the appellate court’s resolution, Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. on Monday became Makati’s shortest-serving acting mayor after he served as mayor for only three hours.

The resolution said the Office of the Ombudsman would have to comment on Binay’s petition and set oral arguments on March

30 and 31.

The United Nationalist Alliance welcomed the Court of Appeals’ order, with interim president Toby Tiangco saying the court’s order would bring normality to the Makati City Hall.

Rep. Silvestre Bello III said the appellate court’s order was “a welcome development.”

Senator Nancy Binay said the Interior Department’s order against her brother was not binding, while Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Junjun Binay should stop his drama.

Tension gripped the Makati City Hall around 4 am on Monday following the arrival of more than 2,000 policemen, including 200 members of the

Special Action Force, who barricaded all entrances resulting in the disruption of city hall operations and services for more than eight hours.

Around 8 am the policemen escorted representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government who posted Binay’s suspension order in front of City Hall.

A few hours later, Vice Mayor Romulo Peña took his oath as acting mayor in a simple ceremony at the Old Museum Building in Barangay Poblacion.

Around 2:30 pm Binay went outside city hall and went up the stage to thank the thousands of Makati residents who had stood by him since Wednesday.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of residents whose unwavering support has been our source of strength and courage all this time,” Binay said.

“To show our gratitude, we in the city government will immediately get back to our duties and resume our normal operations and services for the benefit of the people of Makati.”

But Binay slammed Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II who, he said, used the police force for his “selfish political ends.”

“We understand and sympathize with the members of the PNP and the SAF. They are being used as pawns in political maneuverings. We know full well that DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is behind these moves,” Binay said.

He reminded Roxas that the filing of his petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals was part of the legal process that Roxas should recognize and respect.

“We are questioning a suspension order that has no basis and is not consistent with the law,” Binay said.

“Secretary Roxas claims they are just doing their job. We do understand this, but we also know of many instances when the DILG allowed the entire legal process due course on cases involving party mates in the Liberal Party,” Binay said. With Rey e.

Requejo, Macon Ramosaraneta and Maricel V. cruz

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Usman coddler Tambako falls

By Florante S. Solmerin

A TEAM of soldiers and policemen captured Mohammad Ali Tambako, the coddler of terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, and five other people Sunday night in General Santos City, officials said Monday.

Armed Forces spokesman Joselito Kakilala and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group spokeswoman Elizabeth Jasmin confirmed Tambako’s capture.

They said Tambako was captured together with five of his security aides around 9 pm in Calumpang village.

“Tambako together with his five companions were riding in a tricycle going toward the Seaport area in General Santos City when our operatives together with police personnel flagged them down,” an intelligence report said.

“Seized during their arrest were fragmentation grenades and short firearms,” the report added.

Armed Forces Chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Tambako had contacts with the Islamic jihadists abroad, but with his arrest his group Justice for the Islamic Movements was history.

Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte of the CIDG said they decided to bring Tambako to Manila because he was a high-value target.

“We will do the inquest here and let the court decide where he will be detained,” Villacorte said.

Tambako had been wanted for murder and double frustrated murder in connection with his group’s series of attacks against civilians and their beheading of two farmers in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Tambako is the nephew of Ameril Umbra Kato, the founder of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front before the MILF leadership expelled him and his men for sabotaging the peace talks with the Aquino administration.

Still, the MILF and BIFF together with some armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindao, waylaid the withdrawing combatants of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force after they neutralized Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan on Jan. 25, resulting in the killing of 44 police commandos.

In the arms of justice. Suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter leader Mohammad Ali Tambako is escorted by the authorities out of the Air Force plane that brought him from General Santos City where he was arrested Sunday evening. MANNY PALMERO

Massacre survivors won’t talk to CHR

By Rio N. Araja SOME survivors of the Mamasapano incident have grown weary talking about the secret police operation that resulted in the death of 67 people and have refused to speak with the Commission on Human Rights about the matter, an official said on Monday.

CHR spokesperson Marc Titus Cebreros said they sent a team of investigators to speak with PO3 Robert Lalan and other other police commandos who survived the massacre, but they appeared

“irritable” and instead asked them to speak with the Philippine National Police’s board of inquiry.

“That’s understandable because of their physical condition. They were still suffering from severe pains. They did not want to issue separate statement anymore,” Cebreros said, adding that the probers attempted the interview last February 27.

Despite their refusal, however, Cebreros said the CHR team is still determined to interview the SAF survivors.

“If they can grant media interviews, why can they not grant us, too? We need

their direct statements, and not just statements based on the report of the board of inquiry,” he said.

On Wednesday, the CHR investigators will visit Lalan and the other SAF survivors at Camp Crame in Quezon City and Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City, Cebreros said.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. There are just some clarificatory questions that need to be answered,” he said. “We are optimistic Lalan and the rest could now give their own statements to us, hoping they are now physically okay.”

Congressmen press call to restart probe

By Maricel V. Cruz CONGRESSMEN have again renewed the call for Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to re-open the House probe into the Mamasapano incident because several critical questions have remained unanswered even after the submission of an offcial report.

House Minority Leader and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora said among the critical issues that have yet to be answered

are the “evidentiary value” of text messages between the Special Action Force troopers and their families recorded during the battle itself.

This information, Zamora said, would help enlighten lawmakers in seeking justice for the families of the ‘Fallen 44’ as the testimonies of the family members of the massacred police commandos were not even heard in any of the public hearings conducted on the matter.

Other congressmen said the report

submitted by the board of inquiry created by the Philippine National Police avoided pinpointing of direct command responsibility and accountability of President Aquino III over the bloody incident that led to the death of 44 police commandos.

“There is a deliberate attempt to divert our attention from the real issue. Iniiwasan yung pananagutan ni Pangulong Aquino and so it failred to pursue the direct command responsibility angle,” said Gariela Rep. Luz Ilagan.

The heat is on. A traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan

Manila Development Authority sports the new summer uniform that they are allowed to use until May 27 because of the humidity of the season. MANNY PALMERO

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IN BRIEF Pump prices down by 85c OIL prices slid by as much as P0.85 per liter effective Tuesday, a reversal of the previous week’s price increase.

Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Eastern Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines issued separate advisories of the price cut.

These reflect the movements in the international oil market, Petron said.

Last March 3 and March 10, the oil firms adjusted prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Prior to the rollback, diesel sells from P28.05 to P30.25 per liter and gasoline from P38.90 to P43.10 per liter in Metro Manila.

Alena Flores

Sandigan lets Estrada attend son’s graduation THE Sandiganbayan on Monday gave detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada three hours to attend and spend time with his son’s high school graduation today for the sake of the child’s well-being.

The anti-graft court’s 3rd Division presiding Justice Roland Jurado said Estrada was allowed to leave his cell for three hours starting at 2 p.m. to attend the commencement exercises of his son at OB Montessori in San Juan.

The actor-senator, who is detained at the Philippine National police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, is facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.

Estrada thanked the members of the 3rd Division saying that the once-in-alifetime event is important to his teenage son.

Nelson Flores

Sokor parliamentarians. President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the 19th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Delegation headed

by National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (March 16, 2015).

MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Working poor can’t afford cost of basic goods—TUCP

By Vito Barcelo

AT LEAST 20 million poorest of the working poor nationwide can no longer afford the P293 daily cost of food and other basic commodities needed by a Filipino family of five to survive, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCPNagkaisa) said on Monday.

The TUCP urged the Aquino administration to take steps to ease the workers’ burden following a survey showing poverty erodes the poor workers’ take home pay and has now overtaken minimum wage earners’ in Metro Manila and in all other regions in the Philippines since last year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s

2014 survey released March 6, poverty incidence among Filipino families worsened to 20% in the first half of 2014 from 18.8% in 2013 while the subsistence incidence rose from 7.5% in 2013 to 7.6% this year.

The result also showed incomes of poor families were short by 27% of the average poverty threshold of P8,778/

month or P293/day for a family of five in the first semester of 2014. This means, on the average, an additional P2,370 was needed by a poor worker and his family with five members in order to move out of poverty.

“With its 400 days left in office, President Noynoy Aquino must refocus and re-devote his remaining time, energy, and political capital if he still he wants to make a direct impact to Filipino workers and their families.

Rather than being kept busy by sexy political issues, he has to address one of the core issue of growing and escalating poverty incidence,” TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

In the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, the highest minimum wage in all 17 regions, government said the real value of the current P466

minimum daily wage is P356.64 or P7,846.08 a month or P932 short of the poverty threshold. The same survey showed 10.5% of the working population whose income cannot afford even the food threshold alone.

The poorest is in Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas region with 2.2 milion families who cannot afford the minimum amount of P293/daily amount. The current real value of the P280 daily minimum wage is P184/day.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) cited the rapid rise in food prices and the lingering effects of typhoon Yolanda as key reasons poverty worsened. Rice prices alone increased to 11.9% in the first semester of 2014 to 1.7% in the same period of 2013.

AFP vows no let-up vs BIFF

By Florante S. Solmerin

Unrelenting. AFP chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. (left) and his spokesman, Brig.

Gen. Joselito Kakilala, discuss some points before they face the media for a news conference on Monday at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. FLORANTE S. SOLMERIN

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MILITARY chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Monday vowed unrelenting offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and its terrorist allies led by Abdul Basit Usman as he announced that the government has earmarked P67 billion in social services for thousands of residents displaced by the armed conflict.

Catapang quoted his commander-inchief President Aquino as having approved the second phase of the military campaign against the BIFF and terrorists. We will not stop our offensives against them until they will be decimated and defeated,” Catapang told reporters during a news conference at the Villamor Air Base (VAB) in Pasay City.

Catapang said that while the military operations continue, the AFP would also provide

assistance to government agencies in bringing development projects in the conflict areas.

“Actually, we already started to allow a good number of evacuees to return to their homes.

With the earmarked initial funds of P67 billion, we will provide the necessary security assistance for all government agencies and will not allow anymore these BIFF bandits and terrorists to sow terror in these communities,” he said.

Around 30,000 residents were displaced by the fighting between government forces and the BIFF for about two weeks now.

Catapang said the BIFF has already incurred casualties of about one-third of its 300-strong fighters since it was founded in 2008 by Ameril Umbra Kato, former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The BIFF is said to be a breakaway faction of the MILF. “We’ve already killed one-third of them. So we’ve to intensify our operations,” he said.

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PH seeks int’l help on sea row

By Vito Barcelo

The Philippine government called anew on the international community to press for the stop to the massive reclamation activities by China in the South China Sea. “Such unbridled reclamation activity worsens an already sensitive geopolitical situation and raises the specter of increasing militarization,” Foreign affairs Undersecretary Evan

P. Garcia said at the 17th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in New Delhi.

The DFA official said China is constructing a permanent building as

large as the Mall of Asia in Burgos reef in the West Philippine Sea, citing surveillance photos shot last February.

Reports said the building is now at least three to four levels complete, has a pier and an airstrip.

The structure, according to the government, could compromise the freedom of navigation and flight in the West Philippine Sea. Indian Minister of External Affairs Anil

Wadha thanked the Philippines for providing India with updates on developments in the South China Sea. Noting that an important dimension of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership is its increasing relevance to the political security of the region, Wadha assured the Philippines that India will encourage the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

The 17th ASEAN-India

SOM undertook a comprehensive review of the ASEAN-India relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The importance of improving connectivity, of expanding economic and commercial ties, of deepening cultural bonds and of Indian engagement in ASEAN efforts to build regional political and security architecture was emphasized.

The Philippines welcomed New Delhi’s new “Act East” policy as an expression of India’s enduring commitment to closer cooperation with ASEAN. The overall theme of the meeting, which was co-chaired by Minister Wadha and Brunei Permanent Secretary Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof and attended by all ASEAN Member States, was “ASEAN-India: Progress and Prosperity.”

Explosives found in 2 vehicles, 8 arrested

By Alvin T. Guanzon

Wind-swept toys. A passerby stops to buy colorful windmill toys being peddled in Silang, Cavite on Sunday, March 15. DANNY PATA

JV Ejercito wants to probe purchase of P1.2-b choppers

By Macon R. Araneta SENATOR Joseph Victor Ejercito on Monday filed Senate Resolution No. 128 which seeks to investigate the alleged P1.2-billion chopper deal involving 21 UH-1 combat helicopters purchased by the Department of National Defense (DND).

Ejercito said he wants the Senate to dig deeper on news reports about the “tailor-fitted” procurement of 21 units of the refurbished Huey helicopters by DND for a “favored bidder.”

He added that the quality of the delivered and accepted parts of the purchased helicopters should also be investigated.

Ejercito said the Senate should ascerain if any violations were committed in the procurement law in the purchase of the 21 helicopters.

“We have to look into this deal because P1.2billion worth of choppers that cannot be used and have obsolete parts are disadvantageous to the AFP Modernization Program,” said Ejercito, a member of the Senate committee on national defense and security.

Reports had said that the contract was awarded to the Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc and Eagle Copters, Ltd. on December 28, 2013 for a bid price of P1.25 billion, which Ejercito said were “non-

compliant” wit the project contract’s Terms of Reference (TOR).

He also noted that the helicopters have limited use due to some defects which he said defeats the purpose of its acquisition.

Aside from the prima facie wastage of taxpayers’ money, Ejercito noted that with the alleged defects of the delivered helicopters, the lives of the country’s Air Force men and women, who are the end users, are put at risk.

Citing reports, the senator said only seven of the 21 UH-1D helicopters have been accepted, one is undergoing testing and acceptance, and thirteen are still in various stages of testing and assembly.

Total wreck. A Cotabato City-bound Toyota Hi-lux pick-up truck ended up in a total wreck after it skidded off the road and slammed into a school barrier along Sinawilan Elementary School in Barangay Sinawilan, Libungan, North Cotabato on Sunday, March 15. The driver, his female companion and a young hit by the vehicle were killed on the spot, while two other passengers were seriously injured. OMAR MANGORSI

BUTUAN CITY—Two hundred ten (210) pieces of 25 mmv/125 superdyne brand of explosives contained inside a sack were discovered by authorities last Friday, March 13, in Barangay Bitan-agan, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, which is 90 kilometers away from Butuan City.

Report from Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office said intelligence operatives of the provincial police discovered the explosives following tips from civilians.

The operatives immediately conducted monitoring operation in the area that led to the discovery of the explosives.

The explosives were immediately brought to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Municipal Police Office for recording and safekeeping while follow-up investigations are now being conducted by joint operatives from San Francsico Police and intelligence units of the provincial police office to identify personalities who left the explosives in the area.

This is not the first time that explosives were intercepted and seized by authorities.

Last February 1, 2014, two truckloads of the same kind of explosives (Superdyne) were intercepted and confiscated by authorities in Trento, Agusan del Sur. The explosives were discovered inside two vehicles, a a six-wheeler KIA forwarder and a pick up Mitsubishi Strada who were traversing the national highway from Davao and Compostela provinces.

At least eight persons who accompanied the explosive cargo, including two drivers and helpers, were arrested.

But reports said the two vehicles involved in the illegal shipment were allegedly released and the explosives, which would have been used as evidence, mysteriously disappeared.

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NEWS

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF SM, BDO turn over renovated health facility

Swim at your own risk. Despite warnings not to take a dip into the polluted waters of Manila Bay, residents still flock to the place to swim to beat the summer heat along in a stretch along Roxas boulevard in Pasay City in this photo taken on Sunday March 15. DANNY PATA

Minors used as drug couriers in Butuan

By Alvin T. Guanzon

BUTUAN CITY—Two minors on Saturday were caught in possession of sachets of illegal drugs (shabu) that they said they were supposed to deliver to a suspect detained inside the Surigao City Police detention cell.

The minors, one aged 9 and the other 14, said an unidentified person paid them P40.00 to deliver 10 sachets of shabu to a detainee identified as Rolyn Patinga Liran.

The Police Regional Office-13 here said the minors, who are both residents of Barangay Washington in Surigao City, were about to delver illegal drugs shabu

contained in ten small sachets inserted into a milk pack to Liran.

Police said they were able to intercept the illegal drugs at the lobby of the Surigao City Central Police Station on Saturday, March 14, at around 4 p.m. from the two minors who were about to visit the detainee.

Investigation said the mi-

nors were playing in the street of Barangay Washington, Surigao City when an unidentified person approached them and offered P40.00 (forty pesos only) to bring the milk pack that contained the shabu sachets to Liran.

In a press statement, the PRO-13 said minors were eing used as illegal drugs courier or other criminal activities in some areas in the region because under Republic Act 9344 known as the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006” minor offenders had no criminal liabilities.

The police said they plan to launch a massive information drive to warn parents and minors against being victimized

by criminal syndicates who are using this scheme.

The police is now on the lookout for the unidentified person who gave the money to the minors for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. Charges are now being prepared against Liran for possible violation also of Republic Act 9344.

The other week a tricycle driver was also arrested for peddling the illegal drug shabu.

Police arrested Claro Juntillo Bero alyas “Inchong”, 37, married of Barangay 10, Poblacion, Dapa, Surigao del

Norte in a buy-bust operation.

Juntillo was arrested along Saint Mary Street, in Barangay 4, Poblacion Dapa, Dapa, Surigao del Norte after weeks of surveillance by the police in coordination with PDEA Caraga regional office.

After receiving trips from concerned citizens and parents who pointed to Bero as allegedly selling shabu to passengers while driving his tricycle, the police drew a plan to apprehend Bero.

Confiscated by authorities from Bero’s possession were nine sachets of illegal drugs shabu, which has a total estimated weight of 1.5 grams valued at P17,700.

Baguio solon, 3 others charged

By Dexter A. See TUBA, Benguet March 16—The long wait is over for environmentalists and concerned local officials and sectors after the justice department recommended the filing of charges of violations of Presidential Decree (PD) 705 against Baguio City Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. and three property developers.

The Justice department it found probable cause against Aliping, William Go of Goldrich Construction, Engr. Romeo Aquino of RUA Construction and Development Corporation and Bernard Capuyan of BLC Construction and Aggregates and recommended the filing of cases nine months after the Benguet Provincial

Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) prosecutor’s office filed charges against them in June 6,2014 for conspiring to commit illegal cutting of trees and illegal excavation within the Mt. Sto. Tomas forest reservation areas here.

Benguet prosecutor William Bacoling, however, has inhibited himself from hearing the case because Capuyan happens to be a relative of his late wife, while Aquino is his “brother” in the masonic brotherhood.d Regional State Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar Rojas also inhibited himself from determining probable cause on the cases because his office stands to benefit from a bill filed by Aliping creating a Regional State Prosecutor’s Office in the Cordillera.

Storm of protest. Typhoon victims held a “People Surge” protest organized by SAGUPA-Sinirangan Bisayas and held a noise barrage in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office-8, Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City, 100 days after Typhoon Ruby hit Eastern Visayas. MEL CASPE

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet March 16—The SM and Banco de Oro (BDO) foundations turned over to the municipal government a newly-renovated rural health facility in Poblacion here to contribute to improving and enhancing the delivery of basic health services to local residents here.

Coney Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director, said the renovation of the health facility is the 8th joint project of both foundations in their aim to benefit more people in the area.

The newly refurbished La Trinidad rural health unit is also the 102nd health facility in the country that has received adequate attention and support by SM Foundation.

The health facilities were christened as the Felicidad Sy Wellness Center as a tribute to the wife of Henry Sy, the owner of the country’s giant chain of malls.

The 102 health facilities are composed of hospitals, rural health centers and elderly centers.

Angeles said the program to improve health facilities nationwide is their contribution to help decongest private and public hospitals of patients who could be given immediate medical attention in the much-improved rural health centers, especially in remote communities.

“SM and BDO foundations want to contribute in improving the delivery of health care services to the people, especially those from the countryside. We want our rural health centers to be able to provide the first line of treatment to our fellow Filipinos seeking medical assistance instead of seeking medical treatment in hospitals,” Angeles explained. Dexter A. See

Mayor lauds police, task force unit in Zambo ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga Sibugay—City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar recently hailed the 2014 achievement of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) under Police Chief Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro and the commendable support extended by Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) headed by Col. Andrelino Colina.

With this development, Climaco said she had increased the city government’s logistic aid for the CPO from P113.5 million in 2013 to over P200 million in 2014.

She also disclosed the upcoming construction of a new multi-million two-storey ZCPO building at the 500-square meter lot behind the City Hall formerly occupied by the Zamboanga Barter Trade market, as she underscored that security has remained her administration’s priority thrust together with health and education.

Stressing the significance of the cooperation among the police, military and other law enforcement units as vital to public safety and security, Climaco said she has also directed the immediate procurement of 157 hand-held radio units, seven motor vehicles,62 motorcycles, 50 firearms and a van complete with equipment and accessories for the city police and TFZ. A. Perez Rimando

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OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

VULNERABILITY AND INEQUALITY IT WAS not long ago that the United Kingdom-based risk analysis organization Verisk Maplecroft released a study naming Port Vila in Vanuatu as the city, among more than 1,300 surveyed, most vulnerable to natural hazards.

Philippine cities—Tuguegarao, Lucena, Manila, San Fernando in Pampanga and Cabanatuan – also figure prominently in this list.

Validating the findings, the 80-island nation archipelago of Vanuatu was battered by tropical cyclone Pam on Friday, which brought winds of up to 320 kilometers per hour. In the capital Port Vila, it is reported that nearly 90 percent of all houses have been heavily damaged.

There are no estimates yet for the number of dead, injured and missing – Vanuatu has a population of roughly 267,000. Relief agencies however say they could face extreme logistical challenges with the significant percentage of the population affected.

The Vanuatu cyclone happened just as global disaster experts – governments, academicians, civil society and other stakeholders converged in Sendai, Japan for the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

During the conference, the president of Vanuatu made a plea for his country especially as it is ill-equipped to handle disasters of such great scale.

Aid from other countries started pouring in Monday as the airport opened.

Still, as we know too well from what happened with Haiyan nearly a year and a half ago, external help only addresses people’s immediate needs.

Eventually, donations stop, supplies run out and people are faced with the daunting task of building their lives over after losing their loved ones, their property and livelihood.

Who will be key at this latter stage are the local and national leaders who should have, from Day One, implemented a disaster risk reduction and management plan to keep the casualties and the damage to a minimum.

It’s not going to get any better. In fact, it’s going to get worse. With climate change melting ice caps, warming oceans and breeding monster storms, extreme weather episodes are ceasing to be extraordinary events.

People in turn must stop being surprised that such weather patterns could be so strong and so frequent.

Unfortunately, the quality of a community’s response to disaster is determined by things other than a resilient spirit. Inequality becomes so glaring when seen through the lens of mitigating and preparing for disasters. Inequality in turn is dictated not only by a lack of resources, but also the predisposition of leaders and a strong disaster consciousness.

The weaker ones need all the help they can get and their leaders need to anticipate the worst, even before the next weather disturbance is forecast.

FIASCO IN MAKATI LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES TOO bad the chain of command in the aborted Makati Massacre is even harder to trace than the one that led to the killing of 44 Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano. But perhaps it is just as well that the Court of Appeals stepped in and made the term as mayor of one Romulo “Kid” Peña probably the shortest in history – because now

it’s back to the drawing board for the people who want to get Vice President Jejomar Binay through whatever means possible and to simultaneously divert attention away from the involvement of President Noynoy Aquino in the actual bloodbath that took place last Jan. 25.

The sideshow in Makati, which ended bloodlessly with the appellate court’s action, executed as it was in the slipshod, unthought-out manner for which the Aquino administration is now famous, had nothing to do with corruption, legally speaking. The Ombuds-

man’s precipitate issuance of a six-month suspension order was not even a punitive measure but a preventive one, ostensibly to preserve “evidence” that had already been presented long ago to the Senate, which is now nearly into its 20th hearing of supposed corruption charges against Binay and his kin.

The charges against Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay were not even criminal in nature but administrative. They included such half-baked accusations such as grave misconduct, which certainly did not merit a half-year’s suspension on the year before an election.

The preventive order was is-

Peña was sworn in as acting mayor, in consonance with a “time-on-target” script worthy of Purisima.

sued pending the investigation of formal charges which have yet to be filed. And yet, Peña, in a severe case of premature assumption into the glory of the mayor’s

office of the richest city in the country, was already backed up by a force of 2,500 SAF commandos (yes, them again) as early as 4 a.m. yesterday, waiting for the service of an order from the Department of Interior and Local Government that was eventually overturned by the CA’s restraining order.

As soon as the DILG team had posted the order in front of city hall, Peña was in fact sworn in as acting mayor, in consonance with a “time-on-target” script that was worthy of General Alan “Chief Adviser” Purisima. Then, by early afternoon, while Pena (a member of the administration Liberal Party led by presidential wannabe and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas)

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

ADDRESSING DISASTERS IN SENDAI

was still licking its chops about the prospect of the Makati mayorship, the appeals court had to act like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and rudely slaughter his dreams of glory, power and much pelf.

So, who ordered the embarrassing spectacle of Pena’s rout so soon after he had claimed victory by supposedly cutting off the finger or Junjun Binay —or the hand that he uses to sign documents, really? There is no Napenas that can readily be blamed here, but the commander-in-chief was certainly

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monitoring the situation and standing by, ready to claim that a serious blow had been struck against the Holy Terrors of Makati, had success been achieved.

But just like in Mamasapano, the attacking force in Makati is now in full retreat and its commanders are pretending to have had no knowledge at all about what happened, or that their orders were violated by over-eager ground commanders. Let the lying—and the blame-tossing—begin.

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

*** Speaking of clowning around, it amused me to listen to that paragon of machismo, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, demand that dismissed Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas “act like a man” and take full responsibility for the Mamasapano massacre. I can only guess that Trillanes was recalling his stint in jail, where he decided to spend several years instead of pointing to the people Continued on A11

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THIS week promises to be a watershed moment for global cooperation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) as thousand of officials, academics, citizen leaders, and stakeholders from all regions of the world converged in Sendai, Japan from 14 to 18 March 2015 for the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The conference will review the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) that has been the guiding document for the United Nations from 2010 up to this year. In the same conference, it is expected that the government present (practically all) will adopt a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. This new framework has been under discussion and negotiation for over a year now and countries are ready to move forward to the next stage.

The Sendai conference actually started dramatically, last Saturday. It convened, with the Emperor of Japan present and opening statements from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon. But, as an Oxfam blog observed, the most anticipated speech was that of Mr. Baldwin Lonsdale, the President of Vanuatu, an island state in the Pacific which was hit hard by Tropical Cyclone Pam on Friday.

The Oxfam blog goes on to describe the speech: “President Lonsdale, visibly fighting back tears as he delivered his opening statement to the conference, came close to breaking down as he spoke of the tragedy that had stricken his small island nation. ‘I speak to you today with a heart that is so heavy… I do not know at this time what impact the cyclone has had on Vanuatu. I stand to ask you to give a lending hand to responding to this calamity that has struck us.’”

In an interview with BBC, the Vanuatu President pointed out: “This monster cyclone Pam is the worst ever to hit our country. We are a resilient hard working people but this is a heavy burden to bear. It is a major setback to our plans for the development of our country. We will need assistance to meet the humanitarian needs of the people. Hundreds have lost their homes. Roads and bridges have been washed away. The airport is damaged.

Schools and health facilities will have to be rehabilitated. It will be like starting over again in many ways.”

Vanuatu’s experience is of course familiar to us having seen the wrath in the last ten years Typhoons Ruby, Yolanda, Pablo, Sendong, Ondoy, Pepeng, Frank, Reming, and Milenyo. That is why we sent to Sendai a 79 person contingent, led by Senator Loren Legarda (UN DRR champion for the Asia Pacific) and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman. It has also been reported that PAGASA Administrator Continued on A11

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Jojo Estabillo Publisher A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A.L.Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/RayJoel S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor Francis Lagniton CityCity Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Arman Armero Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Roberto Cabrera Chief Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

NO TAX EVASION

FORKED TONGUES AND TEMPORARY AMNESIA

I FIND it strange that up to now, neither Social EMIL P. Weather Stations JURADO nor Pulse Asia has come out with its usual poll surveys on President Aquino’s trust and acceptance ratings.

It would be interesting to know how Filipinos are reacting to the big web of lies the President and his cohorts are spinning in the aftermath of the Mamasapano encounter.

President Aquino is blaming everybody but himself, when it is clear he bears the ultimate responsibility. The more he talks, the bigger his web of lies becomes.

Recall that he kept saying we must all wait for the report of the Board of Inquiry before making any conclusions. Now that the BOI has released its report, the President and his mouthpieces are defending him and assailing the report.

A friend told me that the Palace has stopped the release of poll surveys because the numbers would show that people no longer trust the President. He has been found lying through his teeth just to protect himself, when he should be decent enough to own up to his mistakes and apologize. *** There are reports that Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders are in fact Malaysians, going in and out of the Philippines with Malaysian passports.

This would be easy for the Bureau of Immigration to verify. If they carry both Philippine and Malaysian passports, then it would also be easy to find out if indeed they hold dual citizenship.

Santa Banana, if these MILF personalities are indeed Malaysian citizens, it would follow that the Philippine government is dealing with Malaysian who have nothing to do with the peace process in Mindanao.

In fact, the status of Malaysia as peace facilitator of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF is questionable. The peace process is purely internal to the Philippines. Why the Philippine government allowed this to happen is also questionable.

This could explain why the MILF would rather submit its report on the Mamasapano clash to Malaysia. *** The pathetic duo of Senators Peter Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes, salivating for higher positions and waging a demolition job against Vice President Jojo Binay, has gone on a fishing expedition again.

Unable to come out with solid proof against Binay, the duo claims there was a deal between Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines to enable the vice president to get kickbacks to finance his 2010 campaign.

This allegation is baloney considering the fact that the BSP’s contribution was only P600 million and has since ballooned to over P3 billion with the buildings of Alphaland’s Makati Place.

Cayetano and Trillanes are now accusing Alphaland of evading taxes.

Roberto V. Ongpin, chairman of Alphaland, stated that the 5 percent given to Mario Oreta was an incentive for him to join the company.

THE President’s men, referred to smoke-and-mirror tactic by trying ARE WE as minions by some quarters, have to redefine the application of the THERE YET? principle of the chain of command been scrambling all over themselves to regain the upper hand in in the police hierarchy. The valiant BONG C. the ongoing public relations nightAUSTERO attempt of the justice secretary is mare that the Aquino government noteworthy in one aspect – it tries has found itself mired in. Unfortunately, there’s to deflect presidential accountability by legal really not much anyone can do to prop up the gobbledygook. The honorable justice secretary image of someone seemingly determined to con- was mercifully silent on a critical issue: What tinuously shoot himself in the foot. So it must be happens to the much-avowed moral ascendancy frustrating for Mar Roxas, Leila de Lima, Sonny of this administration?

Coloma, Edwin Lacierda and company trying to But then again, the justice secretary’s bouts of keep a straight face and maintain their convic- temporary amnesia has been recurring more oftions in an effort to defend the indefensible and ten in the last few weeks. When celebrity lawyer correct the “unrightable”. We find the efforts piti- Amal Alamuddin Clooney recently drew attenful but also sometimes hilarious. tion to the plight of former President Gloria MaRoxas and Coloma tried last week to redirect capagal Arroyo who has continued to be denied the focus of the Board of Inquiry report on the bail despite her medical condition and despite Mamasapano incident. What was surreal was the fact that the legal cases against her have been the way they crowed about parts of the report falling apart, de Lima was quick to assert that the that nailed down SAF Director Leo Napenas, government has no hand in Arroyo’s continued but turned critical and disparaging on the parts persecution. She tossed the blame to the judiwhere the BOI cited the President’s role in the ciary. There’s just one glaring problem – and it whole series of events that eventually led to the is a humongous one. For the longest time, and death of the 44 police officers. One is tempted up until Sunday when de Lima’s boss delivered a to admonish these cabinet members to make up speech at the graduation rites of the Philippine their minds as to what the government’s official Military Academy, this government has not made position is on the BOI report – they cannot both any effort to deny that putting Arroyo behind slam and praise the report. bars is its major preoccupation, nay, obsession.

In fact it might be instructive to remind them Aquino has been talking about it incessantly that up until Thursday last week when the BOI since he started having a moist eye on the Presifinally released their report, the same cabinet dency. In fact, he has not made secret of the fact members have also been admonishing people to that Arroyo’s continued detention is one of the accord the board the benefit of the doubt that major achievements of his presidency. they are able to function independently and obGiven the actions of the cabinet leaders, can jectively. As an offshoot of the President’s sudden we blame Senator Nancy Binay for ranting about garrulousness during a dialogue with religious the selective application of justice on her famleaders in Malacañan where he played Pontius ily? Binay last week decried the speed in which Pilate by washing his hands of culpability and by the suspension order for his brother, the mayor crucifying Napenas, the cabinet members were of Makati, was issued. Ordinarily, the job of one in assuring the people that there would be no a senator in this country is to uphold the law whitewash and that the BOI was duty-bound to (since they create them) and to see to it that jusseek and report the truth “as a minimum require- tice is served quickly. But as can be expected ment.” But since BOI has apparently missed or when other interests other than the common ignored the mandate to shield the President from good come into play, public officials tend to put further fallout, Roxas et al has suddenly found loyalty to family, party, and to superiors over fault with the BOI and its methods. and above all other considerations, even reason De Lima even tried to conjure the classic and logic.

TO THE POINT

It was not taxable compensation; Foreign Direct investments to this has no basis in fact. It was the Philippines. just carried interest.

Net inflows mean there To me, the continued hearings were more investments into The pathetic duo of and investigations by the Yellow the country than divestments.

Ribbon sub-committee com- Cayetano and Trillanes Big deal. posed of only three senators-Still, read this and weep: in Koko Pimental as chairman, and has sent out on a fishing 2013, Singapore received the Cayetano and Trillanes as memmost FDIs in Southeast Asia expedition again. bers, is a farce. with $60.6 billion, followed How can these three men repby Indonesia with $18.4 bilresent all the 17 members of the lion, Thailand with $12.99 bilBlue Ribbon Committee? The lion, and Malaysia with $12.29 very fact that the sub-committee billion, according to data is now on its 16th hearing makes it in “aid of per- from the Association of Southeast Asian nations secution” rather than “in aid of legislation.”

(Asean) secretariat.

This is a record holder as the longest investigaThis simply means that in the form of FDIs, the tion by the Senate. Tama na, sobra na!

Philippines remains a laggard in this part of the *** region.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas made a big thing The only countries that the Philippines beat in of the reported 2014 net inflows of $6.2 billion, this region are Laos Republic and Nepal. Myanup by two-thirds from 2013’s $3.7 billion FDIs or mar (Burma) may even soon beat us!

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s advisers on the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) currently pending approval in Congress obviously did not read up on history. Had they done their homework before embarking on the draft BBL, Aquino’s advisers would have realized the folly in giving Malaysia a key role in the so-called peace process in Mindanao.

Contemporary history teaches that Malaysia should not be trusted by the Philippines in the resolution of Manila’s political and social problems.

Malaysia never was and will never be a true friend of the Philippines. The sooner the Philippine government resigns itself to this truth, the better it will be for Filipino interests.

A recollection of those history lessons is in order.

The real name of the territory called Sabah currently under the illegal jurisdiction of Malaysia is North Borneo.

This territory belongs to the Philippines by historic right and legal title. Back in 1878, a British company leased North Borneo from the Sultan of Sulu. In 1906 and in 1920, the United States, which was at that time the colonial authority in the Philippine Islands, reminded London that North Borneo belongs to the Sultan of Sulu. This advisory was ignored. In 1946, London annexed North Borneo.

When Malaysia obtained its independence from the British in September 1963, London gave North Borneo to its former colony. Thereafter, the deceitful government in Kuala Lumpur gave North Borneo a new name – Sabah. When the Philippine government under President Diosdado Macapagal and later, President

Addressing... From A9 Dr. Vicente Malano, Climate Change Commissioner Lucille Sering, Assistant Secretary for Education Reynaldo Laguda, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Dick Gordon, and Project Noah Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay are in Sendai as well. Academic institutions such as Ateneo de Manila University (two of my Ateneo School of Government colleagues Dr. Mary Jean Caleda and Atty. Pauline Caspellan are attending the conference), research centers like Manila Observatory and citizen organizations such as the Disaster Risk Reduction Network Philippines (DRRNetPhils) are also represented in the delegation.

Backstopping our presence is of course the brilliant and strategic minded National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Pama and his staff. I talked to Usec. Pama a few weeks ago and I am very comforted that he knows what is at stake in Sendai and is focused about the positive outcomes we want from this important multilateral process.

I must also of course mention our team from the Department of Foreign Affairs who has followed this process closely from home, through the United Nations and International Organizations Office headed by Assistant Secretary Gary Domingo who is assisted on this issue by one of the most diligent diplomats I have worked with, Mr. Val Roque. And from Geneva, our Permanent Representative to the United Na-

A11

MALAYSIA’S VESTED INTERESTS IN THE BBL Ferdinand Marcos, invited international attention to the Sabah claim, Malaysian media pilloried Macapagal and Marcos as land grabbers.

Today, Malaysia continues to insist that Sabah is Malaysian territory, and refuses to have the issue settled before the United Nations. Despite this assertion, Malaysia continues to pay rent to the Sultanate of Sulu – an implicit acknowledgment that Sabah does not belong to Malaysia.

Residents of Sabah who are of Filipino ancestry are treated by the Malaysian government as second class individuals and are maltreated. Only those with Malaysian heritage are entitled to state subsidies such as free education.

As early as 1969, Malaysia embarked on a policy of destabilizing the Philippine government by funding and arming Muslim separatist guerillas in Mindanao which later became known as the Moro National Liberation Front. Kuala Lumpur believes that by keeping the Armed Forces of the Philippines occupied in Mindanao, Manila will lay off Sabah.

In 2013, attempts by the family of the Sultan of Sulu to make President Aquino take steps to recover North Borneo from Malaysia proved futile. Left with no other recourse, relatives and friends of the Sultan of Sulu launched an incursion in Sabah.

The Malaysians retaliated with brute, savage, barbarous force. Instead of protesting the manner by which the Malaysian authorities treated the Filipinos who were fighting for the Sultanate of Sulu, the Aquino administration filed criminal charges against the fighters. It was bad enough that Aquino refused to help his countrymen. What was worse was that Aquino tions, Ambassador Cecile Rebong is attending Sendai to chair the Group of 77 and China, the negotiating bloc of developing countries.

Delivering yesterday the Philippine statement, Senator Legarda cited how we have leveraged our experiences and lessons learned from Typhoon Yolanda and continue to improve on the gaps and challenges. She pointed out: “During Typhoon Ruby (which hit us last year, our government has demonstrated significant improvement in executing prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response measures. Our efforts were implemented with the enhanced cooperation of the government and the people. The government ensured that the enabling environment includes policies, structure, resources, and systems for DRRM are in place including early warning and logistics for disaster preparedness and response.”

Senator Legarda did point out that while we have accomplished a lot, much remains to be done. She said: “We need to double our efforts for DRR, in tandem with our national and local development and climate change adaptation policies and programs. We need to complement DRR action with the rest of the DRRM spectrum, with a more robust system for disaster preparedness, and strategic, systematic and efficient recovery and rehabilitation of communities hit by disasters.”

I watched via live stream the speech of Senator Legarda and I must say listening to her made me proud of being a Filipino.

She spoke with mastery of the subject mat-

sided with the Malaysians.

Last year, a Malaysian company launched an advertising campaign to discredit the Philippines as an investment haven and urged investors to consider Malaysia instead. It was only after concerned Filipinos protested the insult that the Malaysian company retracted.

With all that put forth, the role of Malaysia in the so-called peace process must be subjected to scrutiny, particularly now that the controversial BBL stands a very good chance of getting disapproved in Congress, thanks mainly to the mounting public opinion against it, and the increasing revelations about its wholesale unconstitutional provisions.

Now is the time to make additional revelations.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a break-away Muslim separatist guerilla group which has killed many Filipino soldiers in Mindanao in its quest to create an Islamic state in this part of the world. This rebel group was largely involved in the massacre of the 44 special action force policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January. So far, the MILF refuses to acknowledge its fault in the massacre.

Malaysia is the principal financier and supplier of the MILF. This is manifested by the special role a Malaysian was given in the peace panel, and by the presence of the Malaysian prime minister himself when the Bangsamoro framework agreement was signed in Malacañang.

Likewise, the Malaysian interest in the BBL was recently confirmed when the MILF said that it would submit its official findings on the Mamasapano massacre to the Malaysian government, and to

ter, with authority, and passionately. She was able to communicate clearly our commitment “to continue working for safer, sustainable, climate change-adaptive and disaster-resilient communities aimed toward building a stronger nation and world, ending with an impassioned plea and a solid assurance: “As we commit ourselves to addressing these enormous challenges, we, together with other countries in similar situations, need the support of the international community. In this regard, the Philippines calls on the international community to strengthen international cooperation and global partnership to assist developing countries, particularly those in vulnerable situations, the least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked countries and African countries, by providing them with enhanced means of implementation, through the provision of finance, technology transfer and capacity building in order for them to achieve a culture of resilience in all aspects.

There are those in Philippine Delegation who have been recognized by the UNISDR as Champions for the Asia-Pacific, legislative, local government, business and other sectors. But the 3rd WCDRRR, and the people of Sendai, Japan are assured that the entirety of the Philippines, our 100 million voices, are all Champions of Disaster Risk Reduction.”

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylav

the Malaysian government alone.

The MILF’s refusal to submit its report to the Philippine government is an insult to the Filipino people. Unfortunately, President Aquino and his advisers in the peace process seem too afraid to protest this slap on the face. It appears that Aquino and his advisers are not only incompetent; they are spineless as well.

Be that as it may, suffice it to say that in the BBL controversy, the MILF has clearly demonstrated that it is a mere puppet of the Malaysian government, and that the Philippine officials involved in the peace process are agents of Kuala Lumpur. Filipinos suspect it, and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the people’s suspicion when he asked these officials whose side they are on in the peace negotiations.

Having established that the BBL is a proposed law characterized by obvious Malaysian interests, it is incumbent on Congress to reject the BBL outright.

The Philippines can do without the interference of Kuala Lumpur in its internal concerns.

Rejecting the BBL does not necessarily mean that war is the inevitable result.

If President Aquino correctly stated that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is “a failed experiment,” then Congress should consider appropriate legislation to make the ARMM a continuing catalyst for peace in Mindanao.

That way, constitutional objections and other legal impediments can be properly and openly addressed by the law-making branch of the Philippine government.

This will likewise prevent Malaysia and its minions in the MILF from imposing their will on the Filipino people.

Fiasco... From A8 who bankrolled his Magdalo group’s takeover of the posh Oakwood Hotel a decade ago, when he made his unusual statement.

But like most things that he dabbles in—including the K-12 program and our relations with China—Trillanes has once again proven that he is totally clueless about what he is talking about in the matter of Mamasapano. Why would Napeñas accept all the blame for something that was planned and executed by his President and his boss, even if the former’s sycophants now deny that he was ever commander-in-chief of anything and the latter has long claimed that he was only giving advice because of his inconvenient suspension for corruption?

If I were to ask Napeñas to man up, I’d demand that he stop defending the CIC who, as the general said recently, left his men hanging in the air in Mamasapano. I know it’s pointless to ask Purisima, who is totally embedded in Malacanang as one of the closest friends of Aquino, to spill the beans; Napeñas must do the deed.

And if I were Trillanes, I’d not wait for so long a time to pass before he comes to the defense, once again, of Aquino. Ever since the Mamasapano incident happened, nothing was heard from the brilliant senator—who finally breaks his silence to suddenly demand that Napeñas, a decorated, battle-tested and academically accomplished officer respected by all his peers and subordinates, act like a man.

Trillanes just sounds like a jukebox with his sudden ejaculation against Napeñas, whose conduct, experience and intelligence he will never come close to, if he served 100 years in the military. Perhaps the appropriate coins have been inserted, which is why Trillanes is now singing his usual pro-Aquino songs.

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PH boxer’s Aussie foe dies after decision loss

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

ERSTWHILE unbeaten Australian Braydon Smith, who lost a one-sided decision to 20-year-old Filipino John Vincent Moralde, also unbeaten, has passed away as a result of a blood clot in the brain, with doctors at the Brisbane Princess Alexandra Hospital unable to stop the swelling, according to Australian promoter Peter Maniatis.

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a backhand in his match against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina during the BNP Parisbas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. AFP

A breeze for Federer, Nadal INDIAN WELLS—Former champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal breezed through their Indian Wells openers and Serena Williams stepped up her comeback from a 14-year boycott with a similar crushing victory Sunday.

Second seed Federer opened his bid for a fifth Indian Wells title by easing to a 6-4, 6-2

second round victory over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman. Nadal also opened his campaign on a successful note, blitzing Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-2 in the joint WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament.

Federer, who is making his 15th appearance in the California desert, advances to the third round, where he will face

Italy’s Andreas Seppi, who beat Federer earlier this year at the Australian Open.

“It was important to get a good start. I had to stay focused and try to stay aggressive on the return which isn’t always easy,” Federer said.

“It was a bit breezy and I had to be careful at times but it is good to get the first win.”

The 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer is ranked second in the world and has a shot at reclaiming the top ranking with a good showing at Indian Wells.

Federer said he is looking forward to getting another shot so soon at Seppi who beat him in four sets at the Australian Open in January.

AFP

Rockets, Harden spoil Griffin’s return LOS ANGELES —James Harden scored 34 points and the Houston Rockets spoiled Blake Griffin’s NBA return from a right elbow injury by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 100-98 on Sunday.

Harden, the league’s second-best scorer behind former Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, also contributed seven rebounds

and seven assists as the Rockets solidified their grip on fourth place in the Western Conference.

Houston improved to 44-22 while the Clippers slid into a share of fifth with the Dallas Mavericks at 42-25.

Griffin scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds, passed out eight assists, made two steals

and blocked a shot in 41 minutes on the court after missing the Clippers’ previous 15 games since February 6 with an infection in his right elbow.

The Clippers went 9-6 since Griffin, averaging a team-best 22.5 points a game, underwent surgery last month.

Houston beat the Clippers last month to

snap a six-game losing streak in the rivalry and snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Deadlocked at 96-96, the game turned on Terrence Jones’s 3-pointer that gave the Rockets a 99-96 lead. Matt Barnes answered with a layup for the Clippers but the hosts could not equalize. AFP

The 23-year-old Smith was reportedly smiling, while shaking hands with the referee and coaches at the venue after his loss to Moralde, who won the WBC Asia Boxing Council Continental feather weight title at Rumours International in Smith’s hometown of Toowoomba, Queensland by wide margins of 99-91, 9892 and 97-93 on the judges scorecards.

Maniatis said the fight was a family promotion and expressed the view that Braydon’s father/trainer Brendon Smith “will not be involved in boxing anymore.”

The Toowoomba Chronicle said “A life which promised so

much was brought to a tragic end today with the death of Braydon Smith. The popular young boxer and law student, who collapsed some hours after stepping out of the ring at Rumours International in Toowoomba on Saturday night breathed his last, surrounded by family and close friends at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane early this afternoon (Sunday.)”

Close family friend James O’Shea had been with Braydon, who would have turned 24 next month, after he collapsed at Toowoomba Hospital, before he was airlifted to Brisbane about 4 a.m. Sunday.

An emotional O’Shea spoke on behalf of the family just moments after Braydon’s death, which had devastated his family, his many friends and the close knit local boxing community.

Angara, Nocos bag Palawan net titles EDGARDO Angara survived a grueling showdown with local ace Ceasar Salimbangon to capture the boys’ 12-and-under crown while Tiffany Nocos cruised to 10-unisex victory in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group presented

by Technifibre at the Consolaction Tennis Club in Laray, Cebu yesterday.

Angara, son of Sen. Sonny and one of NCR’s rising stars, broke Consolacion’s top player once in each set to pound out a 6-4, 6-4 decision in two hours and 20 minutes while Nocos, also from Cebu, dominated Ethan Quino, 4-0, 4-2, as they led the winners in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center.

Ma. Dominique Ong, also from Manila, bucked a scare from Zethley Alferez, 6-3, 7-5, in the semis then hung tough to repulse Shyne Villareal, 6-4, 6-3, to pocket the girls’ 18-U title while La Car-

lota’s Tracy Llamas trounced Bless Coderos, 6-1, 6-1, and settled for the 14-U crown after a two-title romp in the Lapu-Lapu leg last week.

The Cebuano bets, meanwhile, stamped their class in the rest of the categories with the third-ranked Norman Enriquez from Pardo beating Rey Toledo, 6-1, 6-0, for the boys’ 18-U plum; Carl Zudie Balundo from Consolacion toppled Dale Estanillo, 6-4, 6-2, for the 16-U title; Vhenz Alforque from Naga City, Cebu, upending top seed Sebastien Lhuillier, 6-4, 6-2, in the semis then thwarting Adrian Kinaadman, 6-4, 6-2, for the 14-U diadem.

Naga City, Cebu’s Alferez took the girls’ 16-U title with a 6-3, 6-3 reversal over top seed Villareal; and Lyra Mae Repollo, also from Naga City, rolled past Febbie Abayan, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the girls’1 2-U plum in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

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Golden Wheel Awards honor top PH karter

SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera dislays his Golden Wheel trophies.

Fil-Am shatters SEAG hammer throw mark

By Peter Atencio

EXPECT Manila-bound Fil-American bet Caleb Stuart to make a splash in the 2015 Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics meet later this week.

The 24-year-old Stuart heaved 68.86 meters to earn the gold medal in the hammer throw event of the Ben Brown Athletics’ meet at the track stadium of the California State University-Fullerton campus in the United States last Friday.

He finished ahead of American foes Tyler Merkley, who

had 67.56 meters for the silver, and Kody Robison, who took the bronze in 62.82 meters, according to official results released by the organizers.

According to pinoyathletics. info, Stuart’s throw was six meters higher than than the current record set by Thantipong Phetchaiya of 62.33 meters

in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

That year, Phetchaiya beat Filipino bet Arniel Ferrera, who settled for the silver in 61.18.

Stuart’s performance was also seven meters ahead of Ferrera’s existing Philippine record of 61.69 meters His previous record was 67.24 meters, which Stuart set on March 28 last year in a Riverside, California meet.

During the Ben Brown meet, Stuart had four attempts, fouling twice before making 62.82 meters on his third try.

In the coming national open, Stuart is suiting up for

Philippine Air Force and will join the discus throw, the shot put and the hammer throw events. He is also expected to win a medal in the shot put, with a personal-best heave of 17.88 meters in another US meet last year.

His 17.88-meter feat, according to records, is higher than the gold-medal finish of Thailand’s Thawat Khachin in the 2013 SEA Games.

It was noted that Ferrera has won the SEA Games’ hammer throw event four times, from 2003 to 2009, before Phetchaiya lorded it over in 2011 and 2013.

SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera, who graced the 12th Golden Wheel Awards held recently at SM Aura, was the youngest driver among the 12 motorsports champions, who were given the coveted Golden Wheel trophies for excelling in their respective disciplines last year.

Backed by DC, Point Zero Project, Media Magic and Gold’s Gym, Cabrera rose from the ranks in karting history as the only junior driver to stamp a perfect record by topping time trials to finals in the entire 7-leg ROK series for both ROK Junior and ROK Overall events, hence upstaging senior and veteran karters.

“Early in my career, some said I was not a consistent driver. Some even said I would never become a champion. But I believed life is about risking everything for a dream that nobody can see but you.

I allowed myself to lose races and won the lessons behind it,” he said.

He was also the one who ended the Philippines’ 7-year title drought by winning in the Junior Class of the Asian Karting Open Championship.

“A great driver is not just somebody who wins a lot. He’s somebody who can change someone’s life. I am humbled that my journey has inspired kids to pursue karting, push my advocacy for road safety and drive tourism by promoting our race tracks,” said Tayao Cabrera.

The 15-year-old multi-titled karter is slated to be seen in action this week in his debut as the youngest contender in the Petron Series’ premier Shifter Class.

US coaches grace Forum TWO running coaches from the US invited by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association to come over will make a rare guesting appearance in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Dick Beardsley and Bill Schnier are gracing the 10:30 a.m. public sports program to talk about their visit in the country as they try to impart their knowledge to local coaches and trainors.

The weekly forum is aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The other half of the session will have Paragliding Philippines president Albert Mendoza and Air Sports Adventure Philippines’ Buko Raymundo as they discuss the Sarangani International Paragliding Accuracy Cup set March 27 to 29 at the Safi Ranchi in Maasim, Sarangani.

Rivera, Tugade rule Davao leg of net tilt SHAIRA Hope Rivera and Vince Tugade ruled the first leg of the Globe 17th HEAD Graphene XT Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit’s first leg in Davao City yesterday by winning two division crowns each at the Ecoland 1 and 2 tennis clubs.

Rivera outlasted Nicole Bautista in the finals, 6-3, 6-1, to earn the girls’ 18-under singles’ title, before defeating Patricia Velez in the finals of girls’ 16-under division, 6-3, 6-1, to win her second crown in the competition supported

by Globe Telecoms and HEAD Philippines.

Tugade, for his part, clipped Stephene Tubbs in the boys’ 16-under singles finals, 6-4, 6-0, to capture the title. He also conquered the boys’ 14-under singles’ division by beating JD Velez, 6-1, 6-2, to bag his second crown in the tournament organized by the Dynamics Sports.

The tournament is supported

by Chris Sports, Head ATP Tennis Balls, Graphene XT, Toalson, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Tennis Association, along with Sports Radio 918AM, Home Radio 97.9FM Natural, Boracay In-

former, Todo 88.5FM Aklan, Radyo Inquirer990AM, Power Wheels Magazine, Motorcycle Magazine, Balikbayan The Asian Journal Magazine, Wazzup Pilipinas, Reach Magazine, Oishi and AMAX Inn Makati.

Elwin Centillas bashed Jafarry Cariga in the boys’ 18-under singles championship round, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, to clinch the crown, while Danna Maeil Abad swept Jessica Mae Carcueva in the 14-under girls’ finals, 6-0, 6-0, to get the title. zAndre Kenny Sing defeated Juliana Carvajal, 6-1, 6-2, for the 10-under unisex crown.

Winners and participants of the HEAD Jr. Tennis Davao City Leg are shown here.

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St. Louis U bet leads N. Luzon team to Jr. NBA camp

By Reuel Vidal BAGUIO CITY—The best young basketball players from North Luzon, led by Magnus Gabriel Ines of St. Louis University Laboratory High School, advanced to the National Training Camp of the 2015 JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented

by Alaska.

The 13-year-old Ines, who led the Cordillera Autonomous Region basketball team in the 2013 and 2014 Palarong Pambansa, stood out from among the batch of young players 10 to 14 years old.

Alaska Sports Development Head Dicky Bachmann expressed satisfaction at the public support to the program.

“This is the first time of the JrNBA/ JrWNBA in Baguio. I was shocked with the enthusiastic response of the boys and girls who attended. It is a good turnout. I am happy with the way the children embraced the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska,” said Bachmann.

“I am glad that we found a group of boys and girls here in Baguio who are good enough to compete with the children in the National Training Camp in Manila,” added Bachmann.

The other boys selected are Jan Zyrus De Ayre, 13, Baguio; Christian Allen Magno, Dagupan and Manuel Andrey Ober, 13, Dagupan. The girls are Christine Angela Venterez, 13, Baguio; Kristine Cayabyab, 12, Dagupan and Rose Marie de los Santos, 13, Dagupan.

The next Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod City at St. John Institute on Mar. 21-22, Davao City at the University of the Immaculate Conception on Mar. 28-29 and Manila at the PICC Forum on April 11-12.

The NTC finalists from North Luzon were chosen by the Jr. NBA evaluation committee composed of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA coaches Rodney Santos, John Ramirez, Christian Luanzon and Junjun Alas of Alaska, Louie Gonzalez and Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob and Lhen Flormata of Perlas Pilipinas.

MTN-Qhubeka’s Youcef Reguigui (second from left) became the overall champ of the 20th edition of the Le Tour de Langkawi.

He is shown here with Healthcare’s Kiel Reijnen (third from left), the king of the mountains, and Japan’s Tomihiro Hayakawa (right) of Aisan Racing Team, the top Asian rider.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Magnus Gabriel Ines (left) leads the regional qualifiers from North Luzon. With him are, from left: Manuel Andrey Ober (Dagupan), Christian Allen Magno (Dagupan), Jan Zyrus De Ayre (Baguio), Christine Angela Venetrez (Baguio), Kristine Cayabyab (Dagupan) and Rose Marie De Los Santos (Dagupan).

Tyson: Floyd will be hit, hurt by Pacman

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FORMER world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson believes that undefeated pound-for-pound No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. is going to be hit and hurt when he battles eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Boxing Scene quoted an interview Tyson gave reporters at the Champs’ premier in which he said Mayweather “has never been really tested. Whatever happens in this fight, I really think Floyd is going to be hit and hurt more than he has been ever before. We are

going to see how tough he is.”

In what appeared to be a gameplan for the fight, Tyson said: “You need to put pressure on Floyd. Be in front of him all the time, but moving side to side and punching from angles.”

The youngest heavyweight

champion of all time predicted “Manny is going to feint Floyd out of position a lot and make him throw more punches than he is used to and that will open Floyd up.”

Meantime, Pacquiao said he complied with the requirements of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for an eye checkup and blood testing, which were done last Wednesday, while he revealed that they once again took his blood and urine samples as required under the random, drug-testing protocol he and Mayweather agreed to.

“I can pass all these tests,” Pacquiao told philboxing.com, adding he hadn’t taken any

Guardini...

From A16

three teammates to food poisoning a day earlier, had to sprint early with 200 meters to go and completed the stage in a time of 2:00.27s.

The final stage saw Reguigui crowned as the overall winner of LTdL 2015 after the Algerian sprinter chose not to take too many risks in challenging Guardini and Ewan as he did in the earlier stages and finish 10th on the day.

Reguigui clocked a total time of 28 hours 12 minutes and 04 seconds to emerge the overall winner over the eight stages contested this time around.

He finished 9 seconds ahead of Astana’s Valerio Agnoli and 10 seconds ahead of third-placed Sebastian Henao.

The red jersey for the mountains’

substances that would hurt his body.

GMA 7 News reported on Sunday that Pacquiao gave urine and blood samples to a medical technician, who arrived unannounced at the Pan Pacific Park, where Manny has been training every morning.

Pacquiao said he had no problem with the extra drug test after he and Mayweather agreed to take part in a US Anti Doping Agency Olympic-style testing program.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart commended the two fighters “for their stand for clean sport and the message it sends to all those who want to compete clean at the highest level of all sport.”

classification remained in the hands of United Healthcare’s Kiel Reijnen, who took charge of the lead from the first stage in Langkawi and brought it to the finish to be crowned the king of the mountains of this edition.

The Asian riders classification was won by Japan’s Tomihiro Hayakawa of Aisan Racing Team.

The surprise of this edition was the rise of Indonesia’s Pegasus Cycling Team, which bagged both the Asian and overall teams classification title.

Guardini thanked his two remaining teammates—Agnoli and Maxat Ayazbayev—for the effort they put in for him to bag his fourth win of this edition.

“It was tough by this was a race that I wanted to win and I also wanted to help Agnoli get second place in the general classification and we achieved both,” said Guardini.

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Bolts try to keep lead

By Jeric Lopez

LEAGUE-LEADING Meralco and second-running Purefoods will look to strengthen their bids for a Top 2 finish as they aim for another win against separate foes in the resumption of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup elimination round today.

Back on track, the Bolts (6-2) are looking to solidify their standing when they face a stiff test against Alaska (3-5) at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Opening the show are Purefoods (6-3) and Barako Bull (4-5) as they like-

wise figure in a crucial tiff at 4:15 p.m.

Currently enjoying a stellar campaign this conference, Meralco doesn’t want to be contented with what it accomplished thus far. ‘’The goal for us now is to finish in the Top 2 and we

need to keep playing hard to achieve that,’’ said Bolts’ coach Norman Black.

Following a two-game skid, Meralco got its bearings back after it trounced the Energy Colas, 98-85, last Friday to reclaim the league leadership.

As for Alaska, it badly needs to win the remainder of its games to have a crack at making the Top 8 and the quarterfinals. Inconsistent all tournament long and bugged by several injuries, the Aces couldn’t get any momentum going and they hope they can follow up their 82-68 drubbing of Blackwater last week in their last game.

A win over the struggling Aces will al-l o w

Meralco to keep its spot at the top and enhance its chances of finishing in the Top 2. If it loses, it might slip to second place, depending on the outcome of the Hotshots’ game against the Energy Colas.

Should the Hotshots win, they’ll give themselves a chance to be the league leader.

Purefoods is coming off a morale-boosting 118-117 triple-overtime victory over erstwhile league-leader Talk ‘N Text in a thrilling encounter in Davao City last Saturday, with streaking import Denzel Bowles hitting the game-

winner with under 10 seconds left to lift the Star Hotshots, who are currently tied with the Tropang Texters and Rain or Shine in a three-way tie for second.

Slowly, Purefoods is gaining steam once more, having won its last two games after a three-game slide in the middle part of the conference.

The Star Hotshots will play a slumping Barako Bull team that have lost five of its last six games after starting 3-0.

Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - Purefoods vs.

Barako Bull 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. Meralco

Santos named week’s top cager ALTHOUGH San Miguel Beer’s plays predominantly revolve around young center June Mar Fajardo, there’s no doubt that veteran forward Arwind Santos still has a place in the team’s offense under coach Leo Austria.

After struggling during the first half of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination, the 6’4” Santos managed to regain his confidence in playing a major role in the Beermen’s resurgence as of late.

Displaying his usual quiet, but effective effort, the former Far Eastern University banged in 22 points, going four-of-five from the three-point arc, while adding 13 rebounds to lead San Miguel to a morale-boosting 102-91 win over Barako Bull, just before the All-Star break.

Santos sustained his solid game after the All-Star break, firing 18 points and conniving with import Arizona Reid and Fajardo in a strong secondhalf surge to power San Miguel to a high-scoring 129-114 victory over Rain or Shine on March 13.

“Dikit-dikit din kasi ang mga teams sa standings, kahit nga Blackwater puwede pa pumasok sa quarterfinals kung magtatatalo ‘yung ibang teams sa itaas. So kami, may tsansa pa naman,” said Santos, who earned his first Accel-PBA Press Corps. Player of the Week for the period of March 3-15, beating out teammate June Mar Fajardo and NLEX’s Asi Taulava and Nino Canaleta.

Although the team won for just the third time in nine games, Santos remains hopeful that the Beermen, the new Philippine Cup champions, can hurdle their last two eliminationround assignments and hopefully, book a playoff seat.

“Basta naman mag-stay together lang kami, gaya ng laging sinasabi ni coach. Kahit paano, may konting liwanag pa,” he added.

San Miguel continues its fight for a playoff spot when it faces powerhouse Talk ‘N Text on Wednesday, before closing its single-round elimination against GlobalPort next week.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Beau Belga of Rain or Shine scores against Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Elasto Painters, 82-79. NUKI SABIO

Ateneo, La Salle spikers make up PH core

By Peter Atencio SIX members of the Ateneo Lady Eagles and La Salle Lady Spikers team will make up the core of the national women’s team seeing action in the Asian Under-23 Women’s Championship.

National coach Roger Gorayeb said this a few days after the end of the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament.

“Marami akong candidates. Pero

ito na ang core,” said Gorayeb.

He named season MVP Alyssa Valdez to the roster with setter Jia Morado and Bea de Leon, along with La Salle’s Mika Reyes and Kim Fajardo.

Ace spiker Ara Galang is also listed. But she will have to sit it out while she recovers from her injury.

Gorayeb and Sammy Acaylar are already working double time to secure the players’ commitment so they can start their training next week.

They are set to see action in the

Asian under-23 meet which the country will host from May 1 to 9.

Gretchen Soltones of San Sebastian College, sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago of National University are also included.

They are included in a list of 20 players who will comprise the national pool.

The pool will undergo extensive training in Japan before being trimmed down to the final 12 at least a week before the start of the competition.

Belga, the ultimate villain REY JOBLE

THE LINK

AS passionate as Filipinos are in basketball, Pinoys also love watching movies and telenovelas.

They treat their daily lives much like what’s happening to soap operas or local flicks, so it’s no surprising if they sometimes associate basketball players with their idols appearing on TV and on the big screen.

Basketball, just like in movies or television, have similarities. On the court, there are hard-court heroes and villains, too.

Take the case of Beau Belga, once a plain enforcer, who has blossomed to become one of the key players of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

To many, particularly those cheering for the PBA’s popular teams Ginebra and Purefoods, Belga is the one hated the most.

On Sunday, he tormented the Gin Kings with his rugged, highly physical plays. He engaged every important player from the Ginebra side either in a verbal dispute or put them at the receiving end, using his bulk and size, leaving Mark Caguioa or pint-sized guard Eman Monfort helpless.

Belga was the ultimate villain in that game. Gin Kings fans hated him. To them, he was like the PBA’s version of a villain, much like Paquito and Romy Diaz, Rocco Montalban, Joaquin Fajardo, Max Alvarado, Vic Diaz and Bomber Moran, to name a few.

But the 6’5” burly frontliner doesn’t mind. He would gladly relish the role as the villain if that’s what it takes to help his team win.

On Sunday, Belga did his villain role to perfection as he got into the head not just of the Gin Kings, but also the fans who were constantly booing him. Suddenly, Ginebra’s once insurmountable 18-point lead was cut down to 10, and then 5, until Rain or Shine had overtaken them and didn’t look back.

In the end, he silenced the most popular team cheered on by the league’s most boisterous crowd.

He made sure they went home disappointed.

Belga’s numbers proved he did more than just play the enforcer role.

He finished the game with 11 points, while helping his team defend the Gin Kings’ giants, beefed up by seven-foot slotman Greg Slaughter, 6’9” import Michael Dunnigan, 6’9” forward Japeth Aguilar and 6’7” veteran slotman Dorian Pena.

Head coach Yeng Guiao, who himself has some resemblance with Yul Bryner, son of the pharaoh and the villain from the 1956 Cecile de Mille classic film Ten Commandments, had seen the evolution of Belga from just a mere enforcer to becoming a good, all-around player.

“The perception of many fans is that, Beau Belga is a dirty player. Belga is a big player and he uses his bulk and size to make him an effective player.

But through the years, his game has evolved. Now, you can see him shooting, dribbling, passing and even making big plays down the stretch,” said Guiao. “He’s one guy every coach would want to have on his team.”

Love him or hate him, Belga is one player who plays an important role in the PBA, much like the villains who play important characters that make our local idols like Fernando Poe Jr., Rudy Fernandez or Robin Padilla get adored by the public.

So which character villain suits Belga best?

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS Guardini makes it 18 wins; Reguigui is LTdL champion KUALA LUMPUR—Astana’s Andrea Guardini added another victory to his collection after ending the 20th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi the same way he started it, with a win in a bunch sprint ahead of Orica GreenEdge’s Caleb Ewan n the final stage from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Kuala Lumpur today.

It was Guardini’s 18th ever LTdL stage win, coming on a day when MTNQhubeka’s Youcef Reguigui confirmed his first ever overall victory as a professional as he emerged with the yellow jersey he won on the decisive Stage 7 yesterday.

When he tried hard to stop Ewan and third-placed Michael Kolar of TinkoffSaxo in the final sprint, Guardini, who lost Turn to A14 Astana’s Andrea Guardini celebrates another victory, his 18th ever LTdL stage win.

Azkals get manpower boost

By Peter Atencio

FOUR new faces, prospects who play professionally in Australia, England, Austria and in Kuwait, have been invited to join the Philippine Azkals’ national football team.

Team manager Dan Palami announced this as the Azkals start their buildup for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers with a training camp and a friendly match in the last week of March in Bahrain.

Players like Fil-Australian left midfielder Ian Ramsay, FilAustrian defender S t e p h a n Palla, Fil-Spanish central

defender Alvaro Silva Linares and Fil-British midfielder Luke Woodland have been sent invitations by the Azkals.

“All the players are with their clubs. We are embarking on a training camp in Bahrain to prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers. Team will get to know each other with new players com-

Belga, the ultimate PBA villain TURN TO A15

ing,” said Palami, who discussed the camp during the launch of the Azkals’ mobile service at the F1 Hotel in Taguig City.

Palami was with coach Thomas Dooley and members of the team when organizers unveiled the Azkals’ mobile service, an app, which handles content involving information, photos and other matters on the Azkals during games, events and other matters through 2626 for Globe and 2263 on Smart and Sun. The 27-year-old Ramsay plays for Melbourne Heart in the ALeague as a left midfielder. He has previously made competitive appearances for Sydney FC, Sydney Olympic and Adelaide United FC.

Internationally, he is eligible to represent Australia, Scotland or the Philippines.

The 27-year-old Palla is an Austrian footballer, who plays as a left back for Wolfsberger AC and was part of the under-19, under-18 and under-17 national teams of Austria.

The 30-year-old Linares currently plays for Kuwaiti club AlQadsia and the Philippines’ national team as a central defender.

Woodland is with the Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.

Currently, he is on loan to Oldham Athletics.

Pacman will hurt, hit Floyd, says Tyson TURN TO A14

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Dooley, who just returned from Germany early this month, has yet to name the new members of the team.

Palami

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

TUESDAY: MARCH 17, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

ALI to develop Balintawak

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc., the secondbiggest property developer, is earmarking P25 billion to transform an old textile mill area in Balintawak Quezon City into a mixeduse complex.

Ayala Land senior vice president and head of strategic lank bank management group Mean Dy said in a press briefing Monday the 11-hectare project, called Cloverleaf, would require an initial investment of P15 billion over the next five years to cover the construction of eight buildings, including eight residential towers, a regional mall and a hospital.

Ayala Land in 2013 purchased the site of the former Central Textile Mills in Balintawak.

The company will invest another P10 billion in the second phase of the project, which involves the construction of seven additional buildings for office developments, additional residential towers and more retail developments.

“Our vision is to create a pocket urban development. Cloverleaf will give people access to refreshing retail, business, lifestyle and residential possibilities-elements that create an ideal urban lifestyle,” Dy said.

Dy said Cloverleaf is conveniently located along Edsa and A. Bonifacio Ave. and is accessible through the LRT 1 Balintawak station. The property is just 200 meters away from the end of Skyway Stage 3, or the NLEXSLEX connector road project.

For the residential component of the project, Ayala Land plans to bring two brands, namely Avida Land, which is set to offer a total of 2,000 residential units, and Alveo Land, which will launch a total of 600 condominium units.

The residential towers are expected to be completed by 2019 and 2020 Meanwhile, the mall occupying two hectares of land will have 40,000 square meters of gross leasable space. The P2.4-billion shopping complex will serve the Caloocan, Valenzuela and Malabon markets. The mall is slated to open by fourth quarter of 2017.

Meanwhile, the the 250-bed hospital under the group’s QualiMed brand is scheduled for completion by 2017. The 25,000 square-meter QualiMed Balintakwak hospital will be the group’s flagship branch in the northern part of Metro Manila.

6840 7500 6180

7000

5520

6500

4860

6000 4200 3860 5500

7,730.95 78.59

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MARCH 16, 2015 45

P44.415

44

CLOSE

41

HIGH P44.365 LOW P44.430 AVERAGE P44.402 VOLUME 444.200M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.95-P43.30 Unleaded Gasoline P27.50-P30.80 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P36.75-P43.42 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, March 16, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate

GSIS selling 4 properties worth P32b—Vergara

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

8000 7500

42

Security Bank cash management division head Dennis Joy Ejercito (middle) receives the award for Asia’s Leader in Merchant Partnerships from Financial Insights Innovation Awards during the Asian Financial Services Congress 2015 held on March 6 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore.

Joining him are IDC Financial Insights Asia/Pacific managing director Cyrus Daruwala (left) and Silverlake Axis chief executive and group managing director Raymong Kwong.

Security Bank Corp. was cited as Asia’s Leader in Merchant Partnerships in recognition of its Sweep Card, after introducing ‘the first open-loop payment solution in an otherwise close-loop ecosystem in the Philippines.’

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System said Monday it will sell some medium-sized properties to take advantage of the high demand for real estate in the market.

GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara said the fund’s real property board was reviewing four properties.

“These are the MMDA property along Edsa, the 1.8-hectare [lot] along Vargas St. in Ortigas, a building in Legaspi Village, Makati, and the former GSIS building,” he said.

Closing March 16, 2015

43

Asia’s leader.

By Jennifer Ambanta

PSe comPoSite index

Vergara said the combined total amount of the properties could hit P32 billion, or about six percent of the pension fund’s real estate portfolio.

He said property market remained a good business prospect, especially with the recent success of the sale of its Bonifacio Global City lot.

“The property market is still very strong. We continue to receive interest for our other properties,” Vergara said.

Earlier, Vergara said GSIS was not keen on deploying funds abroad as the local market remained more attractive.

The pension fund manager

posted a net income of P140 billion in 2014 from P44 billion in the previous year based on its new accounting system.

Total revenues or premiums paid to GSIS by members stood at P230 billion last year from P135 billion in 2013.

B3

Meanwhile, Vergara said the fund’s investment portfolio remained predominantly in fixed income, which covers about 48 percent of the total. About 85 percent of the holdings were in government paper while the rest were in corporate bonds.

Benitez petitions for rehab of PWU

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.2710

Japan

Yen

0.008247

0.3651

UK

Pound

1.489900

65.9594

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128755

5.7001

Switzerland

Franc

0.998004

44.1826

Canada

Dollar

0.788146

34.8920

Singapore

Dollar

0.724061

32.0549

Australia

Dollar

0.771010

34.1334

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

117.4297

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

11.8043

Brunei

Dollar

0.721449

31.9393

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030488

1.3497

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.0531

Euro

Euro

1.063800

47.0955

Korea

Won

0.000892

0.0395

China

Yuan

0.159683

7.0693

India

Rupee

0.016022

0.7093

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.271076

12.0008

New Zealand

Dollar

0.740576

32.7860

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031673

B4

1.4022 Source: PDS Bridge

Workers remitted just $20b in January

TUESDAY: MARCH 17, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Monday, March 16, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 2.3 4.2 63 19.6 31.6 22.5 890 1.01 92.9 1.65 30.5 75 99 140 392 59 146.8 1700 130 2.8

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

42.6 6.1 1.66 2.3 17.98 148 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 2.5 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 0.98 199.8 10.98 79 30 90 14.7 317 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03 6.68 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 2.17 0.7 61.6 31.85 7.39 2.7 3.29 2.05 747 11.34 84 5.34 0.23 1060 7.1 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.84 2.9 88 866 2.2 156 0.285 0.245 0.510 9.03 1.99 2.07 0.375 35.3 6.15 6.1 7.1 2 2.51 0.201

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 1.9 1.1 50 14.5 23.2 6.84 625 0.175 69.35 1.2 20.45 58 76 119 276 41.5 105.1 1281 116 2.25

Close 6.72 70 114.50 100.00 2.36 2.40 47.05 16.6 25.25 8.84 720.00 0.520 92.5 0.98 18.50 31.50 82.00 95.20 352.4 46 163 1350.00 69.50 3.08

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.19 6.65 69.95 68.15 115.50 110.20 99.85 99.00 2.26 2.25 2.43 2.38 47.3 47.1 17 16.5 25.3 24.9 8.35 8.25 715.00 715.00 0.540 0.520 92.85 91.8 0.97 0.95 18.78 18.38 31.50 31.00 82.75 81.05 95.20 95.20 354 350 46.3 46 165 161.2 1359.00 1350.00 69.50 69.50 3.1 3.07 INDUSTRIAL 46.25 45.9 1.69 1.69 1.1 1.09 2.15 2.07 8.35 8.16 85.00 85.00 19 18.72 22 21.65 60.2 59 1.8 1.75 13.48 12.1 20.650 20.05 11.68 11.40 8.45 8.24 9.93 9.79 1.33 1.31 21.5 19.62 29.75 29.2 104 101.4 14.78 14.08 0.4800 0.4600 14.76 14.52 6.67 6.51 0.650 0.620 212.40 210.60 10.16 10.02 37.95 35.00 27.4 26.15 29 28 8.190 8.050 280.00 275.00 4.48 4.3 10.42 10.26 5.45 5.03 11.98 11.68 3.93 3.90 2.91 2.86 4 1 5.88 5.85 6.3 6.3 206 205 1.78 1.74 0.196 0.188 2.26 2.24 218 213.4 4.5 4.5 0.73 0.71 1.54 1.51 HOLDING FIRMS 0.475 0.460 58.50 56.80 26.15 25.70 7.12 7.07 1.71 1.71 2.70 2.50 2.65 2.65 757.5 749 9.31 9.1 15.40 15.14 4.70 4.62 0.410 0.375 1340 1315 6.28 6.24 65.70 64.50 9.1 8.94 0.74 0.7 16.06 15.86 0.65 0.64 4.92 4.72 5.15 5 0.700 0.700 2.41 2.4 75.40 73.00 910.00 900.00 1.32 1.24 102.10 101.00 0.5900 0.5500 0.2600 0.2500 0.350 0.315 PROPERTY 9.760 9.000 1.06 1.00 1.340 1.340 0.265 0.265 37.70 36.85 4.43 4.35 5.11 5.05 6.48 6.48 0.97 0.95 1.25 1.25 0.151 0.148

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

6.65 69.95 112.80 99.50 2.25 2.38 47.3 16.98 24.95 8.30 715.00 0.520 92.7 0.96 18.38 31.00 81.60 95.20 352 46.15 162.8 1350.00 69.50 3.07

-1.04 -0.07 -1.48 -0.50 -4.66 -0.83 0.53 2.29 -1.19 -6.11 -0.69 0.00 0.22 -2.04 -0.65 -1.59 -0.49 0.00 -0.11 0.33 -0.12 0.00 0.00 -0.32

469,600 25,200 1,583,150 1,564,680 43,000 183,000 32,000 21,200 398,200 22,600 50 1,290,000 3,142,070 4,045,000 191,400 958,300 22,750 2,000 4,820 311,100 263,920 80 238,898 21,000

310,240.00 566,444.00 -10,165,738.00 -1,301,044.50

46.15 1.69 1.1 2.13 8.9 85.00 18.9 22 59 1.8 13.14 20.300 11.40 8.26 9.80 1.31 20.7 29.45 102.8 14.08 0.4800 14.76 6.56 0.650 211.00 10.14 37.95 26.95 28.05 8.060 275.40 4.3 10.30 5.3 11.78 3.90 2.87 2.6 5.85 6.3 205 1.76 0.188 2.25 214.4 4.5 0.71 1.52

0.54 0.00 0.00 1.91 7.62 -2.30 -0.53 0.00 0.00 -0.55 10.23 0.00 -2.40 -2.25 0.00 -1.50 5.50 -0.51 -1.06 0.00 -1.03 0.00 -1.65 6.56 0.09 0.40 -0.13 -2.00 -3.28 0.12 -1.64 -5.29 -2.65 1.92 0.86 -1.27 -1.37 -85.56 -0.85 -3.08 0.00 -1.12 -1.57 -0.88 -1.47 -3.85 -2.74 -1.30

3,540,700 3,000 435,000 3,931,780 3,300 110 1,204,300 417,900 79,220 246,000 1,272,800 3,053,500 4,406,700 41,521,900 1,408,500 20,000 387,400 3,305,300 358,540 10,600 110,000 16,000 1,384,000 298,000 385,460 1,961,200 400 23,525,700 185,700 5,122,200 -6,311,656 435,000 3,342,900 16,800 46,100 531,000 1,942,000 6,790,000 334,200 200 4,110 19,000 6,300,000 1,688,000 713,030 67,000 627,000 2,399,280

56,030,075.00

0.475 57.40 25.95 7.12 1.71 2.64 2.65 751 9.1 15.18 4.62 0.375 1331 6.28 65.40 8.95 0.72 15.88 0.65 4.74 5.05 0.700 2.4 73.00 902.00 1.31 101.00 0.5600 0.2600 0.315

0.00 0.70 -0.57 -0.70 -1.16 -3.30 -8.62 -0.92 -2.15 -1.43 -3.95 -7.41 0.08 -0.32 0.62 -0.56 0.00 -0.75 1.56 -3.07 -4.36 -2.78 -0.41 0.00 -1.96 2.34 -1.94 -5.08 -1.89 -3.08

510,000 1,394,890 5,770,900 23,100 303,000 564,000 16,000 1,448,460 3,395,000 5,305,900 51,000 7,100,000 169,820 38,700 2,434,570 6,210,400 1,299,000 3,325,300 1,091,000 23,856,000 134,700 26,000 10,000 62,730 395,970 128,000 28,820 21,350,000 32,500 500,000

9.050 1.00 1.340 0.265 37.00 4.35 5.11 6.48 0.95 1.25 0.148

-7.27 -2.91 0.00 -3.64 -1.20 -1.14 0.20 -0.15 -2.06 0.00 -1.99

5,436,800 2,872,000 16,000 50,000 12,456,100 1,332,000 122,500 3,000 3,772,000 15,000 7,010,000

-7,290.00 1,259,335.00 132,930.00 -2,707,890.00

119,274,888.50 200,640.00 286,872.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

0.98 1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 4.88 0.180 0.74 4.45 24.8 2.06 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

0.47 0.87 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 2.75 0.070 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.09 12.46 14 0.1640 4.05 71 3.28 9 1700 2008 9.04 33 2.02 118.9 18.4 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.85 2.2 4.32 1.97 2.45 14.46 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.6 2.85 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.59 10 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 1.99 4 1080 1580 7.12 30 1.2 94.4 5 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.15 1.1 1.9 0.485 1.42 10.14 0.35 0.36 14.54 5.2 1.85 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Close

Cyber Bay Corp.

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld Corp.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

High

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.475 0.900 0.214 1.62 1.80 1.50 5.63 0.125 0.5000 7.4 28.50 1.76 19.80 0.94 7.29 1.060 7.500

0.480 0.465 0.465 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.220 0.211 0.211 1.64 1.60 1.60 1.81 1.76 1.76 1.54 1.48 1.54 5.61 5.45 5.45 0.128 0.125 0.125 0.4600 0.4600 0.4600 7.44 7.33 7.33 29.00 28.50 28.80 1.77 1.75 1.77 19.88 19.28 19.28 0.95 0.92 0.92 7.29 7.29 7.29 1.050 1.020 1.050 7.490 7.250 7.420 SERVICES 9.9 10.2 8.65 8.67 63.8 63.8 62.7 62.8 0.690 0.690 0.680 0.680 14 14.88 14 14 10.58 10.88 10.52 10.56 0.1090 0.0112 0.1090 0.1100 4.08 4.08 4.98 4.07 87.5 88.95 83.6 85.2 1.66 1.66 1.64 1.64 6.42 6.50 6.45 6.48 1000 950 950 950 1943 1950 1920 1936 6.83 6.99 6.77 6.83 24.20 29.95 29.95 29.95 1.59 1.67 1.57 1.61 111.5 112.9 111.5 112.3 4.21 6.10 6.00 6.00 0.014 0.015 0.014 0.015 0.330 0.340 0.320 0.320 1.3300 1.3500 1.3200 1.3200 2.69 2.8 2.53 2.56 8.96 9.08 9.08 8.96 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.5 1.46 1.43 1.43 2.28 2.26 2.26 2.26 0.690 0.710 0.690 0.690 1.97 2 1.94 1.94 10.18 10.22 10.06 10.08 0.365 0.375 0.355 0.375 0.520 0.540 0.510 0.510 18.02 18.04 18 18.04 4.55 4.70 4.45 4.46 3.33 3.32 3.32 3.32 105.00 109.80 106.00 109.00 13.80 13.76 13.34 13.76 2950.00 2938.00 2888.00 2900.00 0.600 0.590 0.590 0.590 1.590 1.600 1.560 1.570 41.75 41.55 41.00 41.00 87.00 87.00 85.30 85.90 10.80 10.82 10.60 10.64 0.72 0.73 0.70 0.73 7.35 7.35 7.1 7.2 0.365 0.370 0.375 0.365 1.420 1.450 1.310 1.450 MINING & OIL 0.0061 0.0060 0.0057 0.0058 2.98 2.85 2.85 2.85 9.46 9.45 9.35 9.36 10.80 10.80 10.80 10.80 0.260 0.265 0.260 0.260 7.0100 7.4100 7.01 7.0100 1.11 1.1 1.07 1.07 0.95 0.94 0.9 0.9 8.00 8.19 7.92 7.92 2.52 2.53 2.18 2.21 0.350 0.350 0.345 0.350 0.245 0.245 0.242 0.244 0.255 0.250 0.248 0.250 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 5.7 5.7 5.3 5.3 28 27.95 27.05 27.2 3.8 4 3.68 3.69 0.7600 0.7600 0.7300 0.7300 2.300 2.340 2.250 2.250 0.0140 0.0140 0.0120 0.0130 5.85 5.85 5.85 5.85 7.86 7.9 7.77 7.77 3 3.3 2.87 2.89 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.015 156.00 156.00 152.10 154.30 4.39 4.37 4.24 4.24 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0100 PREFERRED 65.7 64.8 61 63.15 512 517 512 512 520 521 520 521 110 118 118 118 114.1 115 114.1 115 508.5 510 508 510 6.79 6.54 6.54 6.54 1.06 1.09 1.06 1.09 108.5 108.5 108.2 108.5 1050 1050 1050 1050 1065 1075 1075 1075 1039 1035 1030 1030 76.7 76.7 76.1 76.1 82 82.5 82 82.5 83.5 83.5 83.4 83.5 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.020 4.030 3.980 3.980 SME 7.8 8.08 7.8 7.93 71.05 84 72 74 11.1 11.34 10.78 10.8 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.9 127 125.8 126.1

-2.11 0.00 -1.40 -1.23 -2.22 2.67 -3.20 0.00 -8.00 -0.95 1.05 0.57 -2.63 -2.13 0.00 -0.94 -1.07

3,400,000 113,000 1,600,000 5,202,000 8,629,000 260,000 57,747,800 3,410,000 520,000 169,100 1,131,500 557,000 5,209,000 2,582,820 2,000 537,000 9,490,600

-13,925.00 -27,000.00 -10,600.00 -7,076,200.00 -1,546,170.00

-12.42 -1.57 -1.45 0.00 -0.19 0.92 -0.25 -2.63 -1.20 0.93 -5.00 -0.36 0.00 23.76 1.26 0.72 42.52 7.14 -3.03 -0.75 -4.83 -1.32 0.00 -4.67 -0.88 0.00 -1.52 -0.98 2.74 -1.92 0.11 -1.98 -0.30 3.81 -0.29 -1.69 -1.67 -1.26 -1.80 -1.26 -1.48 1.39 -2.04 1.37 2.11

2,727,400 26,250 341,600 254,500 6,668,100 27,480,000 222,000 1,301,490 73,000 42,700 1,320 17,885 116,200 100.00 1,512,310 3,627,360 8,000 83,300,000 56,220,000 767,000 544,000 1,530,900 505,000 150,000 5,000 32,000 73,000 3,862,100 340,000 587,000 1,900 93,000 16,000 1,630 156,900 158,750 383,000 5,065,000 1,453,900 723,130 4,820,500 398,000 1,489,100 250,000 118,000

-4.92 -4.36 -1.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.60 -5.26 -1.00 -12.30 0.00 -0.41 -1.96 7.14 0.00 -7.02 -2.86 -2.89 -3.95 -2.17 -7.14 0.00 -1.15 -3.67 -6.25 -1.09 -3.42 -9.09

1,140,000,000 1,000 163,000 -202,564.00 1,000 200,000 7,900 -53,940.00 1,407,000 215,000.00 1,697,000 99,700 -67,200.00 73,283,000 5,391,930.00 30,000 7,690,000 690,000 5,000,000 5,100,000 75,000.00 1,999,700 -311,912.00 2,703,300 -29,695,116.00 14,250,000 3,697,100.00 310,000 432,000 21,200,000 1,000 897,500 -275,025.00 1,978,000 -102,610.00 49,400,000 27,000.00 282,560 -18,981,927.00 55,000 6,200,000

-3.88 0.00 0.19 7.27 0.79 0.29 -3.68 2.83 0.00 0.00 0.94 -0.87 -0.78 0.61 0.00

35,620 1,150 10,220 10 1,750 4,710 5,000 1,514,000 26,450 50 5,795 5,305 32,430 5,100 145,660

-136,217,097.00

9,747,745.00 -123,100.00 -51,168,308.00

MST 31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 15 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 1.01 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 0.32 150.8 8.55 48.5 20.35 12 10.1 246 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ 4.88 RFM Corporation 2.28 Roxas Holdings 210 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 1.7 Splash Corporation 0.102 Swift Foods, Inc. 1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 111.3 Universal Robina 1.58 Victorias Milling 0.550 Vitarich Corp.

1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

45.9 1.69 1.1 2.09 8.27 87.00 19 22 59 1.81 11.92 20.300 11.68 8.45 9.80 1.33 19.62 29.6 103.9 14.08 0.4850 14.76 6.67 0.610 210.80 10.1 38.00 27.5 29 8.050 280.00 4.54 10.58 5.2 11.68 3.95 2.91 18 5.90 6.5 205 1.78 0.191 2.27 217.6 4.68 0.73 1.54

0.46 45.75 21.95 6.3 1.550 1.8 1.04 508 7.470 47.25 4 0.144 706 5.3 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.355 2.36 54.5 680 1.04 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.475 57.00 26.10 7.17 1.73 2.73 2.9 758 9.3 15.40 4.81 0.405 1330 6.30 65.00 9 0.72 16 0.64 4.89 5.28 0.720 2.41 73.00 920.00 1.28 103.00 0.5900 0.2650 0.325

5.51 0.99 1 0.185 23.7 4.41 5 4.6 1.22 1.21 0.068

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Crown Equities Inc.

9.760 1.03 1.340 0.275 37.45 4.4 5.1 6.49 0.97 1.25 0.151

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 13,672,139 98,225,215 90,425,890 133,855,337 213,735,344 1,335,740,087 1,891,575,656

-353,660.00

-5,311,835.00 -19,982,642.00

-110,000.00 -12,600.00 8,299.00

12,316,230.00 314,985.00

1,553,834.00 38,342,355.00 19,668,104.00 -230,626,596.00 -8,474,859.00 -26,220.00 97,760.00 -14,815,155.00 -7,711,578.00 -102,838.00 9,200.00 221,400.00 626,591.00 32,240.00 -29,632,558.00 4,588,144.00

-384,520.00 -321,930.00 -61.00 316,700.00 -4,060,332.00 823,610.00 -267,910.00 648,600.00 431,269.00 -544,250.00

-57,640.00 22,600.00 -65,959,588.00 301,500.00

-16,918,493.00 68,179,445.00

422,228,600.00 -5,052,219.00 23,239,286.00 139,500.00 22,500.00 23,569,460.00

-83,067,391.00 -1,719,336.00 -12,240.00 21,409,620.00 635,840.00 -60,843,180.00

-2,033,586.00 -93,955,030.00 -32,500.00 5,618,120.00 85,500.00

-9,886,191.00 20,000.00 -153,187,005.00 2,906,740.00

0.87 11.46 0.435 1.6

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group 0.59 STI Holdings 7.78 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

1.04 Yehey

0.0086 5.45 17.24 25 0.325 12.7 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 1.72 11.48 9.43 0.225 6 0.5 0.76 4.93

0.46 0.455 0.730 0.024 0.026 8.2 48.85 3.35 1.030 3.06 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.042 420 9 0.016

0.385 0.3000 0.2950 0.012 0.014 1.960 14.22 1.47 0.220 1.24 0.016 4.02 7.8 6.5 0.031 123 4.3 0.0087

44.1

26.3

60 118 116 511 9.04 9.67

30 101 102 480 6.76 5.82

77.3 78.95 81.85

74.2 74.5 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C

2.42

0.0010 LR Warrant

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

119.6

94

First Metro ETF

1,563,030.00 -7,300.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

T op g ainerS VALUE 713,399,706.75 1,286,856,827.425 2,449,478,123.445 1,078,087,971.07 1,975,493,898.81 383,324,787.631 7,950,101,528.73

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,793.84 (down) 8.47 INDUSTRIAL 12,634.93 (down) 131.82 HOLDING FIRMS 6,892.37 (down) 57.92 PROPERTY 3,076.92 (down) 55.10 SERVICES 2,136.04 (down) 22.88 MINING & OIL 15,692.91 (down) 281.02 PSEI 7,730.95 (down) 78.59 All Shares Index 4,497.59 (down) 47.46 Gainers: 47; Losers: 142; Unchanged: 34; Total: 223

20,400.00 -15,031,021.00 -173,734.00 -24,270.00 3,740,226.00 -68,274,935.00

96,750.00 -2,820,730.00

2,995 104,656,570.00

26,400.00

-114,490.00 2,072,038.00 275,430.00

-141,000.00

108,498.00 370,734.00 -185,741,460.00 -904,100.00 7,650,000.00 3,894,873.50 -6,713,442.00 2,123,625.00

1,420.00

-2,104,949.50

493,730.00 -1,990,975.00 -52,500.00

247,960.00

-1.00

569,000

1.67 4.15 -2.70

1,266,400 13,360 4,629,100

-109,230.00

-0.63

12,780

91,988.00

-5,231,716.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Imperial Res. `A'

6.00

42.52

Pryce Corp. `A'

2.6

-85.56

Grand Plaza Hotel

29.95

23.76

2GO Group'

8.67

-12.42

Del Monte

13.14

10.23

Ferronickel

2.21

-12.30

Asiabest Group

8.9

7.62

United Paragon

0.0100

-9.09

First Gen F

118

7.27

ATN Holdings B

2.65

-8.62

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.015

7.14

Phil. Realty `A'

0.4600

-8.00

Manila Mining `A'

0.0150

7.14

Forum Pacific

0.375

-7.41

Ionics Inc

0.650

6.56

8990 HLDG

9.050

-7.27

Federal Res. Inv. Group

20.7

5.50

Oriental Pet. `A'

0.0130

-7.14

IRipple E-Business Intl

74

4.15

Marcventures Hldgs., Inc.

5.3

-7.02

TUESDAY: MARCH 17, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Benitez petitions for rehab of PWU

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE matriarch of the Benitez family, former senator Helena Benitez, has filed for involuntary rehabilitation of Philippine Women’s University after STI Holdings Inc. of businessman Eusebio Tanco initiated foreclosure proceedings against the school.

“The foreclosure and sale of any of the properties will extremely prejudice PWU and endanger its existence or survival since the properties are vital to its operations and rehabilitation,” Benitez, who is also PWU chairman, said in her petition filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Benitez, who is also a long-time creditor of the university, said the foreclosure proceedings would prevent PWU from paying its debts and render it insolvent.

“The foreclosure proceedings.. will also drastically disrupt and stop PWU’s school operations,” she said.

PWU media director Lyca Benitez-Brown said in an interview Benitez filed for rehabilitation as a long time creditor of the university.

PWU owes Benitez P33.6 million.

PWU is a non-stock, not-forprofit institution, which has been supported by the Benitez family for the past 96 years.

Benitez submitted a proposed rehabilitation plan for PWU to enable it to meet its obligations to creditors, including STI, without disrupting the conduct of its business.

It involves a rehabilitation pe-

riod calling for the sale of assets to cover part of the debts of PWU and other debt payments according to a projected cashflow over a 10-year period.

STI Holdings in February filed separate foreclosure petitions against PWU properties, the Taft and Indiana campuses in Manila, the JASMS Quezon City campus, and a lot in Davao under the name of Unlad Resources Development Corp., the corporate arm of the Benitez family, due the school’s failure to settle its obligations worth nearly P1 billion.

STI Holdings filed the foreclosure proceeding after rejecting a P513-million settlement offer from the Benitez family.

Benitez, in her petition for rehabilitation, asked the court to issue a commencement order and a stay or suspension order which will “suspend all actions or proceedings... for the enforcement of claims against PWU and against third party mortgagers.”

The order, if granted, will suspend the extrajudicial sale of lands currently occupied by PWU in Manila and JASMS in Quezon City worth well over P1.2 billion.

Settlement bank. The Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines signed an agreement with Asia United Bank to officially mark the accreditation of AUB as a settlement bank that will support the SCCP in the timely processing of payments and disbursement of funds with clearing members. Shown at a ceremony welcoming the agreement are (from left) AUB vice president Jacob Ng; AUB executive vice president Isabelita Papa; AUB president Abraham Co; Philippine Stock Exchange and SCCP president and chief executive Hans Sicat; PSE and SCCP director Alejandro Yu; and SCCP chief operating officer Renee Rubio.

Aboitiz eyes Mindanao coal plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. has expressed interest to participate in the bidding for the independent power producer that will administer the contracts of the 210-megawatt Mindanao coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza told reporters Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. wanted to auction the Mindanao coal contracts this year. PSALM has not yet issued the invitation to bid for the Mindanao coal contracts.

“This year, they want to do Steag. We definitely want to participate in that,” Moraza said.

Germany’s Steag State Power Inc. operates the Misamis Oriental plant under a build-operate-transfer agreement with the government. Steag, which is principally owned by Steag GmbH, is a leader in advanced coal power

generation technology and one of the pioneers in operating and maintaining a highly efficient and reliable coal-fired power plant in the country.

Other shareholders are Aboitiz Power Corp. and La Filipina Uygongco Corp.

“Casecnan [hydro] also, if that pushes through, we want to participate. I don’t know about CBK [Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan hydro-electric power plant], again we will participate in that,” Moraza said.

The official said the company may also participate in the auction for the selection and appointment of the independent power producer administrator for the bulk energy of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants in August.

“Yes, we’ll study it,” Moraza said.

PSALM, in a published invitation to bid, said interested parties for the Unified Leyte bulk energy

Market tumbles; Ayala, Megaworld decline THE stock market dropped Monday in broad profit-taking, with blue-chips leading the retreat as the US dollar hit another 12-year high against the euro, ahead of a closely watched Federal Reserve policy meeting this week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 78.59 points, or 1 percent, to 7,730.95 on a value turnover of P8 billion. Losers routed gainers, 142 to 47, with 34 issues unchanged.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, lost 1.7 percent to P2,900, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy fell 2 percent to P902.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. slipped 0.9 percent to P751, while unit Ayala Land Inc. dropped 1.2 percent to P37.

Enrergy Development Corp., the largest producer of steam energy, declined 2.2 percent to P8.26, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces,

tumbled 3.2 percent to P5.45.

Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. sank 12.3 percent to P2.21. The mining company said Monday it terminated plans to acquire Ferrochrome Resources Inc., a company that holds two operating mining agreements in Zambales.

Global Ferronickel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange said it was no longer keen on pushing through with the acquisition of FRI due to the nonfulfillment of the conditions in an earlier agreement.

Global Ferronickel earlier had planned to acquire 100 percent ownership of FRI, which holds two operating agreements with Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., covering an area of 3,765 hectares, and with Zambales Chromite Mining Co. Inc. covering about 540 hectares.

Shanghai, meanwhile, was the standout stock market in the region, extending last week’s gains after Chinese Pre-

mier Li Keqiang said the government had enough in its armoury to support the world’s number two economy.

In afternoon trade, Shanghai was 1.99 percent higher, while Hong Kong put on 0.38 percent.

Tokyo’s Nikkei, which on Friday closed above 19,000 points for the first time in 15 years, edged down 8.19 points to finish at 19,246.06.

Sydney ended down 0.29 percent, or 16.8 points, at 5,797.7 while Seoul was marginally higher, adding 1.54 points to 1,987.33.

Investors are keeping their focus on the Fed’s policy meeting Wednesday, hoping it will give a clearer timeline for when it will raise interest rates as the US economy strengthens.

World markets took a hit last week and the dollar rallied in reaction to a strong US jobs report that increased the likelihood of a summer rate rise. With AFP

contracts must submit letters of interest by March 24.

PSALM said it would issue the bidding procedures from March 30 to April 15. It set the due diligence period on March 30 and the prebid conference on May 6.

Bid submission deadline is set on August 12.

PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. earlier said the independent power producer contracts up for bidding were scheduled for the second semester.

PSALM privatized the bulk energy of the Unified Leyte Power Plants in November 2013 but the sale was affected following the damage suffered by the plants from super typhoon Yolanda.

Unified Leyte Geothermal owned by the Lopez Group tendered a bid of P215 million for the bulk energy to emerge as the highest bidder. It withdrew the bid citing damage of the plants from typhoon Yolanda.

B4

BUSINESS Global Ferronickel abandons plan to acquire Ferrochrome

By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL Ferronickel Holdings Inc. said Monday it terminated plans to acquire Ferrochrome Resources Inc., a company that holds two operating mining agreements in Zambales.

Global Ferronickel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it was no longer keen on pushing through with the acquisition of FRI “due to the non-fulfillment of the conditions enumerated in the memorandum of agreement” dated November 2014.

Share price of Global Fer-

ronickel sank 12.3 percent Monday to close at P2.21 apiece from Friday’s close of P2.52.

Global Ferronickel earlier had planned to acquire 100 percent ownership of FRI, which holds two operating agreements with Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., covering an area of 3,765 hectares, and with Zambales Chromite Mining Co. Inc. covering about 540 hectares.

FRI is one of the two mining companies that GFRI planned to acquire to boost its mining operations.

The other is Southeast Pala-

wan, which owns a 90 percent stake in Ipilan Nickel Corp., a company engaged in nickel mining in Brookes Point, Palawan.

Global Ferronickel is currently the third largest nickel producer in the country by operating two open pit deposit sites, known as CAGA 2 and CAGA 4, within its lateritic nickel mine in Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte, known as the Cagdianao mine.

The mining firm has pending plans raise as much as P31 billion to fund exploration and acquisition projects.

Global Ferronickel had

planned sell up to 7.089 billion in primary and secondary shares, including 924.723 million shares to cover overallotment at a maximum price of P4.38 per share.

The share sale is slated during the first half of the year.

Half of the shares will be primary shares while the other half are secondary shares to be sold by existing shareholders.

Up to 80 percent of the total offer shares amounting to 4.931 million shares will be sold to overseas investors, while the balance totalling 1.232 million shares will be allotted for domes-

tic investors.

In July, new investors, mostly shareholders of Platinum Group Mining Corp., acquired an 89.82 percent interest in Southeast Asia Cement Holdings Inc., a move seen as a backdoor listing strategy.

The new shareholders conducted a tender offer to acquire the remaining stake owned by minority investors in Seacem.

The Seacem board in September approved an increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to P12.55 billion and a change its corporate name to FRHI.

Workers remitted just $2b in January THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday personal remittances from migrant Filipinos workers in January hit $2 billion, up just 0.2 percent year-on-year.

Bangko Sentral Amando Tetangco Jr. said remittances from land-based workers with contracts of one year or more registered inflows of $1.5 billion.

“Meanwhile those from seabased and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year totaled $0.5 billion,” he said in a statement.

Cash remittances coursed through banks reached S1.8 billion in January, up 0.5 percent on-year Cash remittances from land based and sea-based workers, meanwhile, posted inflows of $1.4 billion and US$0.5 billion, respectively.

The central bank said the bulk of cash remittances came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Ernirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada.

“Continued demand for skilled Filipino manpower contributed to the steady inflow of remittances. Preliminary reports by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration indicated that 26.3 percent of total approved job orders of 77,009 in January 2015 were processed

during the period,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Processed job orders were intended mainly for service, production, and professional, technical and related workers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The POEA reported that workers with processed contracts increased 6.7 percent to 2.4 million in 2014.

Remittances from Filipinos working abroad, which account for about 8.5 percent of the economy, are expected to keep growing in the coming years but its contribution to the expansion of gross domestic product will decline, Standard Chartered said in a recent report.

“While overseas workers’ remittances are likely to remain important to the economy, we expect them to make only a small contribution to future domestic consumption growth,” the British bank said.

“We expect domestic employment to become more important to domestic consumption and GDP growth in the next five years,” it said.

CropLife visitors. CropLife Philippines led by executive director Simeon Cuyson (left) and Syngenta Philippines corporate affairs head Noel Borlongan (right) pay a courtesy call on Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization and Secretary Francis Pangilinan. Croplife is an association of companies that help improve the productivity of Filipino farmers through innovation, research and development in agriculture. CropLife promotes the benefits and responsible use of products of the plant science industry, such as crop protection and modern agricultural biotechnology.

Bicol co-ops oppose Bicol Light’s bid ELECTRIC cooperatives in the Bicol region are opposing a House bill granting a private company a franchise to establish and operate a distribution system “for the conveyance of electric power to the endusers in the entire Bicol region.”

Members of the Bicol Electric Cooperative Association Inc., in a resolution submitted to the lower chamber, said granting a franchise to Bicol Light and Power Corp. as mandated by House Bill 4935 posed “a serious and present danger” to the cooperatives.

It said the passage of the bill might lead to a massive displacement of workforce, wastage of assets funded by the government, depress growth in rural areas and render the National Electrification Administration irrelevant.

“The passage of HB 4935 would surely result in higher power rates

in the Bicol region because the Bicol Light and Power Corp., being a private company, is profitoriented and is expected to add on profit to its power rates on top of its recovery of the cost of development and maintenance of its power infrastructure and operation and management of the company,” the cooperatives said.

HB 4935 was filed on September 1, 2014 and later referred to the Committee on legislative franchises on September 3, 2014.

BECA, composed of 12 electric cooperatives in the region, said the cooperatives through NEA had been the pioneering implementing arm of the government in its banner program of countryside development through total electrification of the rural areas for more than four decades now.

BECA said unlike private firms,

the cooperatives measure their power rates strictly on the basis of their monthly operating cost, without any provision for net margins.

They are also service-oriented and missionary in nature, serving even the thinly populated areas and geographically dispersed consumers in Bicol.

The group said the passage of HB 4935 would pave the way for the “corporatization” of all power utilities under the “opulent and powerful.”

“The passage of HB 4935 would deny extension of lines to heretofore unenergized areas and could even cut off electric lines to energized but far-flung barangays and sitios due to high maintenance cost vis-à-vis zero profit margins, which could result in stunted growth and development of the Bicol region,” BECA said.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

B5

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Do more with Dropbox MORE than 100 million users today keep their files synCHIN WONG chronized across several computers, tablets and smart phones, simply by using Dropbox (www.dropbox.com), an online storage service.

Dropbox’s ability to use the Internet to synchronize files can be a real convenience. Save your files into your Dropbox folder at the office and they’re waiting for you on your home computer or laptop in the evening.

There are more creative uses of the service, too.

In 2010, just for fun, I sent up a simple surveillance system on my home computer with a webcam and a program that would take still photos every time it detected motion. I configured the program to save the images to a subdirectory inside my Dropbox folder so I could monitor what was going on from afar. You could set up a similar system to take a photo with a webcam at regular intervals (like Chronolapse, a free and open-source application that works in Windows and Linux) and save the output to a Dropbox folder.

There are many less esoteric uses, too. Here are just a few: 1. Use Dropbox to remotely start a download. As a rule, I only download large files on my Linux desktop (using Deluge, a BitTorrent client) because it has copious storage. Sometimes, however, I stumble upon a file I want to download when I am away from home. With Dropbox and the right BitTorrent Client, this is not a problem. Just configure your BitTorrent client (like uTorrent or Transmission) to regularly check a specific directory inside your Dropbox folder and automatically start downloading files found there. Then, if you find a file you want to download when you are away from home, you can do it remotely by saving the torrent file into the specified Dropbox directory. That way, the file will already have been downloaded when you get home.

Digital life

Govt expanding ecozone in Leyte

By Othel V. Campos

THE proposed integrated copper economic zone in Isabel Leyte province will be expanded to accommodate other heavy industries, copper roadmap private sector leader Angel Veloso said Monday.

“The zone will not be limited to copper-based industries. The concept now is to expand it to all ‘dirty industries.’ These are medium to heavy industries that will include steel manufacturing,” he said.

The government now plans to make all manufacturing economic zones environmentally sound, after earlier urging the private sector to put up investments in copper and related industries.

Veloso said the technical work-

ing group assigned to assist the copper industry sector roadmap was looking at options on how to gain access to green technology for the so-called “dirty industries.”

“The assumption is that if and when the locator is ready to locate within the zone, it is already ‘green.’ The zone will make sure that you are green. It’s only a matter of technology,” he said.

A recent forum that sought to upgrade the local manufacturing sector into green industries iden-

tified several roadmaps, including copper and its allied sector.

The creation of copper-based industries within a domestic economic zone is one of the objectives of the copper roadmap.

“Unfortunately, the roadmap has been discussed and approved two years but has not been moving. We were the first to finish but nothing has really moved on.

For the copper roadmap, the ultimate thing is the integration, then moving on a clustered integrated approach for an ecozone,” Veloso said adding, the sector was frsutrated on the slow response of the government.

He added the industry development council had already endorsed the proposal to the National Development Co. for implementation. NDC owns and operates the 600-hectare Leyte Industrial and Development Estate.

2. Transfer photos you take on your phone automatically. Install Dropbox on your Android phone or iPhone and configure it to upload all existing or new photos on your mobile device to a special Camera Uploads folder in your Dropbox account. This gives you access to your photos without having to transfer them by Bluetooth or data cable, and also gives you a handy backup.

3. Host your own website from Dropbox. With a service like DropPages (http://droppages.com), you can use your Dropbox account to house your own webiste. The advantages over the traditional setup is that you can edit your files on your computer and simply save them, and all your work is automatically synchronized using Dropbox. There are no files to FTP—just save them to your directory. As a bonus, there are no passwords to remember. You can also use Pancake (http://pancake.io) to do the same thing.

4. Let people upload files to your Dropbox. Dropbox is great for sharing files among Dropbox users, but what if you’d like to receive files from someone who doesn’t have the program installed? The answer is Dbinbox (https://dbinbox.com) or DROPitTOme (http:// dropittome.me), which set up a special webpage where anyone can use drag and drop to upload files directly into a subdirectory in your Dropbox folder. Both services can also be configured to send you email alerts every time somebody uploads a new file.

PAL goes paperless.

Philippine Airlines started using electronic tickets Monday in compliance with the mandate from the International Air Transport Association to go paperless. The PAL e-tickets will initially be honored at NAIA Terminal 2. Other forms of tickets such as paper and printed boarding pass will still be honored during the transition period.

5. Send e-mail attachments to Dropbox. With Send to Dropbox, emailed attachments go straight into a folder inside your Dropbox folder.

6. Create a survey and have the results uploaded into your Dropbox account. JotForm (www.jotform.com) helps you create an online form for people to fill out, which then gets saved to your Dropbox.

7. Stream your own music from your Dropbox. With an application (or Web app) like Droptunes (http://droptun.es) you can be your own music streaming service. Simply point the web application to the folder with your songs and it will stream them. You can download an iOS application, but there’s no version for Android.

8. Backup your Dropbox files to another online service. With Mover (http://mover.io), you can connect your cloud accounts and back up your files from Dropbox into another online storage service such as Google Drive. The backups can be done manually, or you can schedule them to run unattended. Very useful for those of us with a paranoid streak.

Columna archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

BDO Unibank issuing P5-b LTNCDs BDO Unibank Inc. is set to issue another tranche of up to P5 billion in long-term negotiable certificates of deposit in a bid to lengthen the maturity of funding sources and support growth objectives. BDO last issued P5 billion worth of LTNCDs in December 2013.

The latest tranche of LTNCDs will have a term of five and one half years with the indicative pricing to be finalized at the end of the offer period. Interest will be paid quarterly in arrears.

The bank placed the minimum investment at P100,000 with increments of P50,000. The offering period is slated from March

16 to 27, with the issue date set on April 6, 2015. The bank said it reserved the right to adjust the timing of the offer.

LTNCDs are negotiable certificates of deposit with a designated maturity, and represent a bank’s obligation to pay the face value upon maturity, with periodic coupon or interest payments during the life of the deposit.

LTNCDs are considered an attractive investment, especially for individuals, as interest income is exempt from withholding taxes if the LTNCDs are held for at least five years.

They are also covered by deposit insurance with the PDIC up

to a maximum of P500,000 per depositor.

BDO tapped ING Bank N. V. Manila Branch and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead arrangers and selling agents for the issue. BDO and BDO Private Bank are the other selling agents.

BDO, a full-service universal bank, provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services and products. These include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust and wealth advisory, investment banking, private banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards and credit card services.

TUESDAY: MARCH 17, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@thestandardtoday.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

John Hay firm liable to lessees

By Othel V.Campos

The state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority reiterated Monday that Camp John Hay Development Corp. is liable to the sub-lessees, sub-locators and buyers who signed contracts with the private developer.

BCDA legal head Peter Paul Andrew Flores said CJHDevCo was misleading the sub-lessees, sublocators and buyers of Camp John Hay when the developer informed them that BCDA was aware of and would honor their contracts.

“Contrary to what the CJHDevCo has claimed, the BCDA is not privy to the contracts so how could the BCDA honor it,” Flores

said in a statement.

He said as early as August 2011, the agency has requested CJHDevCo to furnish copies of all contracts and other documents related to the development of all infrastructures within the leased area. CJHDevCo refused to release the documents.

Flores cited the letter of refusal

by CJHDevCo chief operating of-

ficer Alfredo Yñiguez III to John Hay Management Corp. president and chief executive Jamie Eloise Agbayani in 2011 .

“Owing to the nature of all these contracts which outline sensitive and confidential commercial, contractual and financial information, and which are not to be disclosed to anyone without the express written authorization of the parties involved, we regret to inform you that CJHDevCo is under no clear obligation to furnish JHMC such copies,” the letter read.

Flores said CJHDevCo concealed the contracts of the sublessees and sub-locators to JHMC and BCDA, making CJHDevCo liable. The sub-lessees and sublocators should go after CJHDev-

Co, he said.

Flores said the sub-lessees, sublocators and buyers should start realizing they were being misinformed by CJHDevCo to prevent them from running after the company controlled by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña.

Flores called on the sub-lessees,

sub-locators and buyers not to accept legal services being offered

by CJHDevCo that would allow the private developer to evade liability and legal cases.

Earlier, BCDA and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova advised the sub-lessees, sublocators and buyers to seek legal counsel to ensure their rights and interests would be protected.

Casanova also urged the sublessees, sub-locators and lease buyers to run after the CJHDevCo. He said the only way for the CJHDevCo’s tenants to recover their investments and protect their interests was to lay claim to the P1.42-billion lease refund that the BCDA would remit to the private company.

Farm wastes as sources of renewable energy WHENEVER they ponder alternative energy sources, most people usually think of energy derived from geothermal resources, the sun, wind and waves. They hardly ever think of a renewable energy source that, because of the abundance of its raw material, is one of the least expensive alternatives to oil. I am referring to methane gas derived from animal wastes.

Sometime in the 1980s, when I was doing investment-banking-type work, I was introduced to a German company that specialized in energy projects powered by methane gas generated from farm wastes. The company was looking for a Philippine partner for a methane gas project, with technology as their contribution thereto. Unfortunately, with Filipino alternativeenergy mindsets oriented at that time towards geothermal and solar power, I was unable to package a project for the German company.

The technology for generating energy from farm wastes is relatively uncomplicated. Farm wastes – fecal matter from farm animals as well as residue from coconut and crop stalks – are collected, mixed and placed in containers so as to generate methane gas, which then goes into small turbines to produce electricity. The German executives said that with the methane gas generated by its animal and crop wastes, an average Philippine farm would be able to produce enough energy to light up the farmhouse and drive appliances and farm implements.

Given the promise that it offers, it is a great pity that renewable energy from farm wastes has not yet attracted many investors. As already pointed out, the needed raw materials are abundant in Philippine farms. This makes the production cost of farm-waste-generated methane gas probably the lowest among renewable energy sources.

A steady rise in the share of methane gas in total renewable-energy supply is not going to just happen. Much proselytizing will have to be undertaken by both the government and the private sector.

On the government side, the Department

RUDY ROMERO

BUSINESS CLASS

of Energy obviously will be the lead agency.

More specifically, it is the Energy Development Corporation that will have to be in the forefront of development of a farm-waste-based methane gas industry. Because farm wastes are involved, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform also will have to play major roles in the effort. The Department of Science and Technology also will be a key player.

On the private-sector side, it is the agricultural-industry organizations that will have to be depended upon to spread the message about the attractiveness of farm wastes as a source of energy. Particularly important will be the farmers’ and farm workers’ organizations in the coconut, sugar, rice and corn industries.

These industries account for most of the farm wastes in this country. For the sugar and coconut industries the farmers’ organizations concerned are the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters and the Philippine Coconut Federation, respectively.

Just how abundant and powerful methane gas can be as a source of renewable energy can be seen from the gas fumes emanating from city and municipal garbage dumps. Before it was redeveloped, Smokey Mountain used to emit a lot of methane gas from all the recyclable and non-recyclable wastes dumped there by the local authorities. Indeed, small flames would erupt when mistakes were thrown at the dumps.

A vibrant methane gas industry based on farm wastes: that is something to be fervently wished for. It can happen. For the more stable development of the Philippine countryside and the rapid progress of the Filipino farmer, it should happen.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

10 stockholders of iRipple sell shares

MAJORITY shareholders of listed iRipple Inc. agreed to sell their combined 89.49 percent interest in the company to two businessmen for P305.48 million.

The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange 10 shareholders signed an agreement to sell their shares to Alfonso Anggala and Conrado Rafael Camus Alcantara.

The selling shareholders sold a

total of 13.93 million shares for P305.48 million, translating into P21.92 per share.

The acquisition price represents a 68-percent discount to the stock’s closing price of P69 apiece Friday.

The share price of iRipple jumped 4.15 percent to close at P74 following the disclosure.

“The sale effectively transferred control of the company to the buyers, subject to the completion

of the mandatory tender offer as prescribed by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other closing conditions,” iRipple said.

Among the selling shareholders are KLG International Inc., Victor Javier, Hubert Dy, William Yao, Edward Lee, Annie Chew Guay Choon, Benedicta Agasid, Lea Marianne Ang, Anita Chua and Joanna Co. Jenniffer B. Austria

(TNS-MAR. 9/10/11/12/13, 2015)

GENERAL BALANCE SHEET As of October 31, 2014

Assets International Reserves Deposits with foreign banks Other cash balances Investments Foreign securities purchased under agreements to resell Loan to International Monetary Fund Gold International Monetary Fund special drawing rights Due from/(to) broker Investment in government securities Loans and advances Other financial assets Acquired assets held for sale Investment property Bank premises, furniture, fixtures and equipment Revaluation of foreign currency accounts Other assets Total Liabilities and capital Liabilities Currency in circulation Foreign currency borrowings Government deposits Deposits of banks and other financial institutions Securities sold under agreements to repurchase Special deposit accounts Allocation of special drawing rights Other financial liabilities Other liabilities Total

P

P

P

Capital Capital Surplus Unrealized gains/(losses) on investments Capital reserves Undivided profits/(loss) from operations Total

3,540,583,710,818.51 587,770,080,237.79 216,801,341.77 2,517,550,510,886.86 47,746,014,115.23 2,879,930,586.68 328,156,510,252.19 56,155,264,169.07 108,599,228.92 222,372,824,799.13 84,922,994,562.62 151,645,507,186,42 4,627,338.68 15,025,742,022.74 17,978,046,826.93 13,258,154,184.98 16,622,509,180.64 4,062,414,116,920.65

751,909,120,922.21 23,142,045,724.41 470,405,675,480.79 1,388,670,053,544.77 300,864,707,749.92 1,013,103,232,513.78 55,605,310,437.20 2,955,813,244.88 6,364,069,674.64 4,013,020,029,292.60 50,000,000,000.00 (70,062,988,434.42) (3,563,450,553.34) 78,019,442,316,47 (4,998,915,700.66) 49,394,087,628.05

Total liabilities and capital

P

4,062,414,116,920.65

Other information : Revaluation of foreign currency accounts is presented in the asset section in accordance with Section 45, R.A. 7653 of the New Central Bank Act. For the COMMISSION ON AUDIT:

(Sgd.) MA. TERESITA R. GOJUNCO SA V - Supervising Auditor

(Sgd.) NENITA C. MARCOS Officer-In-Charge, CoSS

(Sgd.) VICENTE S. AQUINO Officer-In-Charge

t u e s D aY : M a r c H 17, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Archbishop: Thousands to rally in India over nun gang-rape CALCUTTA—Thousands are expected to join a rally led by priests in India’s Kolkata later Monday in support of a 71-yearold nun who was gang-raped at her convent school, the city’s archbishop said.

The rape by a gang of robbers late on Friday is the latest in a series of highprofile sexual assaults in India that have intensified outrage over high levels of violence against women.

“We expect three to four thousand people to attend the rally. In fact we have asked all the city parishes to join the rally,” Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas

Women key in tackling disaster, say UN officials SENDAI, Japan—Women are far more exposed to disasters than men given their front line roles in the home and in health care, the UN says, arguing that improving gender equality is key to saving lives.

Globally, women and children are up to 14 times more likely than men to die in a disaster, according to UN Population Fund account executive Lamar Dawson.

“Women are more exposed to disasters,” United Nations Development Program Administrator Helen Clark told AFP on the sidelines of a once-ina-decade UN conference on disaster risk reduction in Japan.

“There is a range of reasons,” said Clark, a former New Zealand Prime Minister. “They may be trapped at home, they may be caring for sick or disabled family members, young children.

“In some societies where these disasters hit, the culture may be that the woman doesn’t leave the home. So if she can’t leave the home how can she escape?”

Clark was speaking as aid agencies and governments scrambled to get help to Vanuatu, where dozens are feared dead after the Pacific nation was raked by a huge cyclone on Friday.

A state of emergency was put in place over the weekend amid reports entire villages had been “blown away”.

The calamity in the Pacific gave greater resonance to the Sendai meeting, which runs until Wednesday, where Clark said policymakers must work on improving the lot of women.

“The issues will (be) how we make sure that women are fully engaged, and (the conference should) argue for women’s empowerment and full equality, because why should they suffer?” she said.

“It’s a huge issue” and has to “be integrated in the Sendai outcome”.

Remi Sogunro, who represents the United Nations Population Fund in Liberia, said women bore the brunt not only of natural disasters like that unfolding in Vanuatu, but in human catastrophes like the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

“Women are caregivers at home, and when their...families are sick, they take care of them,” he said.

Around 25,000 people are known to have been infected with Ebola since the latest outbreak began in December 2013. Around 10,000 of them have died.

In Liberia, one of the worst-hit countries, thousands of people were infected including 300 health workers, said Sogunro.

“Half of (the health workers) died.

Most of them are nurses, some of them are midwives, a few of them are senior medical doctors. Many of these were women,” he said.

“The women were trying to help the country to stop the Ebola virus and they died in the course of duty. So you can see why it’s really very important to talk about women in the Ebola forefront,” he said. AFP

D’Souza told AFP. “We also expect common people to participate and express their solidarity to the victim.”

The archbishop stressed the rally was not aimed at condemning any political party over the attack, which comes amid concern in India’s Christian community at a spate of recent attacks mostly on churches.

Priests and other Christian leaders have blamed those attacks on religious hardliners who have become emboldened since Hindu nationalist Prime

Minister Narendra Modi swept to power at general elections last year.

D’Souza said hymns and prayers for the nun would be encouraged at the rally, which would culminate in a candlelit vigil on Monday evening.

The nun, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked after the robbers ransacked the convent school at Ranaghat, 70 kilometres (45 miles) from Kolkata, and stole cash and other items.

The woman, who needed surgery from injuries suffered during the attack, is recovering in hospital in Ranaghat.

Police have detained eight men for questioning but no arrests have been made even though the faces of some of the attackers were captured on CCTV footage.

The incident adds to a grim record of sexual assaults in India. It comes amid raging debate over the banning of a documentary about a December 2012 gangrape in New Delhi that sparked national and international outrage.

The attack has also intensified fears among the Christian minority after a series of vandalism and arson attacks on in-

stitutions mostly in Delhi since December.

Modi in February pledged a crackdown on religious violence and freedom of worship for all faiths in the wake of the attacks.

Modi had been strongly criticised for not speaking out earlier, despite growing concern at the actions of Hindu hardliners including a spate of mass “re-conversions” of Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.

Around 80 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population is Hindu but it is also home to large numbers of Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. AFP

Kerry, Zarif in crunch round of nuke talks LAUSANNE—Iran nuclear talks entered a critical week Monday with US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart sitting down in Switzerland seeking an elusive breakthrough after 18 months of intense negotiations.

Fashion week. A hair and makeup artist prepares a model for the “byU” brand show by Japanese designer Hiroki Uemura during the Fashion Week Tokyo 2015-16 autumn/winter collection in Tokyo on March 16. AFP

Time is running out, however, with Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif aiming to agree the outlines of an agreement by the end of the month. A full accord is then due by July 1.

Both men, who began meeting soon after 0700 GMT in a luxury hotel in the lakeside city of Lausanne, are also under intense pressure from domestic hardliners worried they will give too much away.

Speaking in Egypt before traveling to Switzerland, Kerry sought to ease such concerns, saying that the aim is “not just to get any deal, it is to get the right deal”.

“If (Iran’s nuclear program is) peaceful, let’s get it done. And my hope is that in the next days, that will be possible,” Kerry told CBS television.

There were, however, “important gaps,” he said.

“Several questions need to be discussed, those where we haven’t found a solution yet and also those where we have found solutions but where we need to discuss certain details,” Zarif said on Sunday.

Zarif was later Monday due in Brussels to meet his British, French, German and EU counterparts before returning to Lausanne.

Negotiators from the other five powers involved in the talks -- Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- were to be involved from Tuesday, according to Iranian officials.

The US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations for 35 years but the 2013 election of President Hassan Rouhani resulted in a minor thaw and a diplomatic push to resolve the more than decade-old nuclear standoff.

Under a landmark November 2013 interim deal with the “P5+1” powers, Tehran stopped expanding its activities in return for minor sanctions relief.

Since then the parties have been pushing for a lasting accord.

But to the alarm of Iran’s foe Israel, US Republicans and Washington’s Gulf allies, the US looks to have abandoned insisting that Iran dismantle all nuclear activities. AFP

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17, 2 0 1 5

B8

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD Anti-polio drive.

Afghan health workers prepare to administer polio vaccine drops to a child on the second day of a vaccination campaign in Kabul on March 16.

Nearly nine million children throughout Afghanistan will be immunized during a three-day national polio immunization drive launched on March 15. The immunization campaign comes shortly after Afghanistan reported its first case of polio virus for 2015, in Helmand, in the Southern Region.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world to have reported cases of the crippling polio virus in the past eight months and it is increasingly likely that these are the last two countries on Earth with active polio transmission.

AFP

World asked to help Vanuatu Eccentric US tycoon held in old murder case NEW YORK—An eccentric US tycoon linked to two killings has been arrested in connection with a third murder, just a day before the airing of a television documentary in which he says that he “killed them all.”

Robert Durst, the scion of a wealthy New York real estate family, was taken into custody on Saturday at a New Orleans hotel at the request of Los Angeles police investigating the 2000 killing of his friend Susan Berman, and was being held on a murder warrant, US media reports said.

The arrest came just one day before the HBO television network broadcast the final in a six-part documentary series about Durst called “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.”

In that final episode, Durst, 71, is heard muttering to himself, “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course,” apparently unaware that a wireless microphone remained switched on while

he used the bathroom.

It was a sensational development in Durst’s case, which has been widely followed in the United States.

Durst was wanted over the 2000 unsolved killing of Berman, a daughter of a Los Vegas mobster who was shot dead execution-style in the back of the head in Los Angeles a day before police were to question her over the disappearance of Durst’s wife.

Durst had long been under suspicion over his wife’s death in 1982, but has denied any involvement.

The wealthy real estate mogul was also charged in 2003 in the murder and dismemberment of his 71-yearold neighbor in Texas two years earlier, but was found not guilty after a trial in which he claimed self-defense.

The Los Angeles Times said authorities did not comment on what led them to accuse Durst now. But a source told the newspaper that the documentary had played a role. AFP

PORT VILA—Vanuatu’s president Monday pleaded with the world to help the cycloneravaged Pacific nation rebuild as aid agencies warned conditions were among the most challenging they have ever faced with fears of disease rife.

An emotional President Baldwin Lonsdale said the need was “immediate” after Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam tore through the country on Friday night packing wind gusts of up to 320 kilometers an hour, leaving massive destruction.

“The humanitarian need is immediate, we need it right now,” he told AFP as he readied to fly home from a disaster conference in Japan, adding that the poverty-stricken island chain also desperately required longer-term financial support.

“After all the development we have done for the last couple of years and this big cyclone came and just destroyed... all the infrastructure the government has... built. Completely destroyed.

“We need international funding to

(re)build all the infrastructure.”

Many world leaders have pledged support and military planes from Australia, New Zealand and France were arriving loaded with food, shelter, medicine and generators, along with disaster relief teams.

The official death toll in the battered capital Port Vila, where relief workers said up to 90 percent of homes have been damaged, stands at six with more than 30 injured, although aid workers believe this is likely a fraction of the fatalities caused by the storm.

While the aid missions continued landing in Port Vila, workers on the ground said there was no way to distribute desperately needed supplies across the archipelago’s 80 islands, warning it would take days to reach remote villages flattened by the monster storm.

Oxfam country director in Port Vila Colin Collett van Rooyen said a lack of enough clean water, temporary toilets, water purification tablets and hygiene kits needed to be addressed rapidly.

“Friday night was the first emergency with the arrival of Cyclone Pam, disease will be the second emergency without clean water, sanitation and hygiene provision,” he said.

“There are more than 100,000 people likely homeless, every school destroyed, full evacuation centres, damage to health facilities and the morgue.”

Charlotte Gillan, an Australian

paramedic who lives in the village of Tango on the outskirts of Port Vila, said the front part of her house had collapsed.

“I fought tears seeing that devastation,” she told the Australian Associated Press news agency, adding that disease was now her main concern.

“With all the rain and rubbish around, there’s going to be malaria and dengue, as well as diarrhea and vomiting with water contamination.

People here are reliant on their gardens for food. But all that’s gone.”

Save the Children’s Vanuatu director Tom Skirrow told AFP the logistical challenges were even worse than for Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,350 people dead or missing and ravaging an area as big as Portugal.

“I was present for the Haiyan response and I would 100 percent tell you that this is a much more difficult logistical problem,” he said.

“The numbers are smaller but the percentage of the population that’s been affected is much bigger.”

Aurelia Balpe, head of the Pacific office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, agreed that the task facing aid agencies was likely unprecedented in the region.

“I don’t think there has ever been destruction on this scale in one place,” she told AFP. AFP

Dubai tops London in cars per person

Strike. A man stands by trucks parked at the entrance of the A84 highway during a French truck drivers’ strike on March 16 near the northwestern French city of Caen. AFP

DUBAI—The number of vehicles in Dubai has doubled over the past eight years giving the Gulf emirate more cars per person than New York or London, official figures showed Monday.

The bustling city state now has 1.4 million vehicles for a population of 2.4 million, equivalent to 540 for every 1,000 people, according to the Roads and Transport

Authority figures.

That compares with 305 vehicles per 1,000 people for New York and 213 per 1,000 for London.

The number of registered vehicles has risen from just 740,000 in 2006, an average annual increase of 8.2 percent.

If that trend continues, the number of vehicles registered could reach 2.2 million by 2020,

when the emirate is due to host the five-yearly world trade fair, Expo.

Dubai has invested heavily in public transport infrastructure in recent years, opening a metro rail network in 2009 and the first phase of a tram network last year.

But car remains king and, despite massive road expansion projects, traffic jams are frequent.

AFP

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17 : 2 0 1 5

C1

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE FAMILY

MCDONALD’S CELEBRATES 3RD NATIONAL BREAKFAST DAY Last March 9, McDonald’s treated Filipinos to a free breakfast for the third year in a row in celebration of National Breakfast Day. Close to 400 McDonald’s breakfast stores nationwide celebrated the “region’s biggest breakfast activation” where participating McDonald’s restaurants in the Philippines and other countries in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa each gave away 1000 free McMuffin sandwiches to customers. Continued on C4

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T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17 : 2 0 1 5

C2

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS

EASTER STAYCATION PACKAGES

FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AT MAKATI SHANGRI-LA, MANILA

SAFETY IN THE KITCHEN THE SOLANE WAY

P

eople put on different hats in the kitchen—a thinking cap for the budget and perhaps a toque while cooking. But no matter what type of hat you’re wearing, there’s one important thing you need to keep in mind: safety. This is especially true when you’re cooking using LPG. The most convenient and easy way to create homemade meals, cooking using LPG or liquefied petroleum gas gives you peace of mind when you know the product itself. Like anything that involves fire, one must know how to use and store it properly.

Solane, the LPG brand that adheres to a high level of safety standards, has dished out useful information so anyone cooking with LPG can be protected by warning signs and proper storage of cylinders.

“It is our aim to minimize or totally eliminate incidents that put our customers, neighbors or facilities at risk,” said Isla LPG chief executive officer Ruben Domingo. “We hope to arm people with the knowledge they need to keep their loved ones safe.”

Makati Shangri-La, Manila offers Easter room packages exclusive to Philippine residents for stays between March 27 and April 5, 2015.

Guests may experience the Easter holidays at Makati Shangri-La with family and loved ones with special Easter room packages for local residents for stays from 27 March to 5 April 2015, starting at Php 8,200 per night or Php 15,800 for two nights in a Superior Room with breakfast buffet for two (2) adults and two (2) children below 12 years old.

Add on lunch or dinner buffet at Circles Event Café along with the room package, starting at Php 11,800 per night or Php 18,800 for two nights in a Superior Room with breakfast for two (2) adults and two (2) children below 12 years old. Guests may

LPG IS REALLY ODORLESS AND COLORLESS So what is that pungent smell from the LPG tank? These are sulphur compounds that belong to the Thiol class added to LPG for humans to detect leakage. Because the flammable component of LPG is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it does not emit odor.

But with the compounds acting as “warning” agents, they help warn you of a gas leak due to an accident or if the valve is not closed properly.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

If you ever get a strong pungent smell from the kitchen, check if the stove is off. Then open the windows. Do not switch on any electrical appliance like an electric fan because the spark may ignite the gas.

also opt to have an all-day dining experience along with the room package starting at Php 13,800 per night or Php 23,800 for two nights in a Superior Room, including breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet at Circles Event Café for two (2) adults and two (2) children below 12 years old.

All room rates include applicable charges. To view a complete listing of Makati Shangri-La’s Easter room and dining offers, log on to www.bit. ly/MakatiShangEaster. For inquiries or reservations, please call (632) 813 8888 or e-mail reservations. slm@shangri-la.com.

Get updates through Makati Shangri-La’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @MakatiShangriLa.

LPG VAPOR IS HEAVIER THAN AIR LPG leaks tend to settle in low spots and flow along floors because it is heavier than air. These accumulations can blow up a house.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Never store LPG cylinders in basements because potential gas leaks will sink to the ground. Choose a secure, wellventilated space where you can store your LPG tank, preferably outdoors and away from direct sunlight, heat, and other sources of ignition. Always turn off the cylinder valve and regulator when not in use.

UNSCRUPULOUS LPG SUPPLIERS Whether it is because of greed or neglect, there are LPG suppliers who do not bother to take extra measures in ensuring the quality of the cylinders.

And due to the LPG’s low limit for flammability, even a small leak from these illegitimate and corrosive cylinders can have serious results.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Try purchasing Solane that comes with a safety cap and seal made of high-grade plastic that completely plugs the gas to prevent leaks before installing the tank with a hose. It has an automatic shut-off feature when the regulator is removed. It comes with a serial number and unique embossed markings. You can rip off the tab from the safety cap and log on to Facebook. Go to Solane’s page (www.facebook.com/Solane.PH) and click on Apps to use the Solane Authenticity Checker. Enter the serial number to verify if the tank came from a licensed Solane dealer.

These are a few important things you need to know about that innocentlooking LPG cylinder in your kitchen.

To learn more about LPG safety at home, visit www.solane.com.ph.

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

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Multiple Intelligence International School founding directress Joy Abaquin (5th from right) and MI parent council president Joel Aguada (extreme right) pose with the Multiple Intelligence awardees: (from left) Climate Walk campaign representatives, Jay Michael Jaboneta, Dr. Josette Biyo, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, Maria Ressa, Noel Cabangon, and Paulo Alcazaren.

NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY The 6th Multiple Intelligence Awards recognizes individuals who change lives through their remarkable smarts

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ultiple Intelligence International School, an advocate of the Multiple Intelligence (MI) framework implemented in the United States and other countries, recently recognized individuals who have used their particular “intelligence” to succeed in their fields of expertise and affect the lives of others.

The awarding ceremony was held during the “Green MOVEment #4GreenPH” run-by-any-means fun run last March 8, at the University of the Philippines Diliman Academic Oval. The Multiple Intelligence Awards, in line with the theme of shared responsibility for the environment, are recognizing individuals who make a difference in helping advocate for sustainability.

Now on its 6th year, the MI awardees included Senator Pia Cayetano, singer-composer Noel Cabangon, blogger-philanthropist Jay Michael Jaboneta, educator Dr. Josette T. Biyo, Architect Paulo G. Alcazaren, social entrepreneur Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, journalist Maria A. Ressa, and the lone non-individual recipient “Climate Walk: A People’s Walk for Climate Justice.”

Senator Pia S. Cayetano, awardee for Interpersonal Intelligence, is a woman who wears many hats. She’s a lawyer, triathlete, businesswoman, champion of women’s rights, health, and education, and a mother.

The youngest woman elected in the history of the Philippine Senate, Cayetano has pushed for the passage of laws benefitting

women, children, and the elderly. Her efforts to improve public health services and make education accessible to all have made her a role model for the youth, her peers, and the ordinary Juan dela Cruz.

Awardee for Musical Intelligence, Noel Cabangon is easily recognizable as the voice behind the popular folk pop song “Kanlungan.” With local and international concerts, five solo albums, and multiple awards to his name, Cabangon has also championed the creation and popularization of alternative Filipino music with songs and hymns that go beyond trivial subjects and instead speak of about social, political, and cultural issues which includes the call to protect the environment.

Jay Michael Ortuoste Jaboneta, awardee for Intrapersonal Intelligence, has used his internet savvy to create awareness and raise funds to enable underprivileged children to go to school. Jaboneta currently serves as Head for New Media under the Presidential Communications Operations Office of President Benigno Aquino III. He is best known for coming up with the idea that paved the way for the founding of the charitable organization Philippine Funds for Little Kids. Yahoo! Southeast Asia recognized Jaboneta as one of their “7 Modern Day Pinoy Heroes.”

Dr. Josette T. Biyo, awardee for Naturalist Intelligence, is widely known in the world of Science for having an asteroid, 13241

Biyo (1998 KM41), named after her by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. She is also hailed for her innovations in teaching science research called Biyo Science Research Teaching Method which won for her the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award.

Architect Paulo G. Alcazaren, awardee for Spatial Intelligence, has placed the Philippines on the international map in the field of architectural design. Armed with a master’s degree in Urban Design from the University of Singapore, Alcazaren has completed over 200 projects in 14 countries while based in Singapore and from his Manila consultancy office, PGAA Creative Design. He also dabbles in journalism and photography; an author of several books on design, architecture, and urban history.

He is an advocate for greening our urban Philippine landscape.

Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, awardee for Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, grew up with a missionary mother. She used her background and influences to seek solutions to alleviate poverty that lead to her co-founding Rags2Riches, an organization that helps train people to become social entrepreneurs. This year, she was the only Filipina included in the Forbes 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneurs.

Maria A. Ressa, awardee for Linguistic Intelligence, studied molecular biology and theater from Princeton University. She

then applied for a Fulbright Fellowship with which she completed her Masters in Journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her sterling credentials include a two-decade stint at CNN wherein she served as Manila Bureau Chief and as Jakarta Bureau Chief. Ressa also headed ABS-CBN’s news and current affairs department. Currently, She is an author-inresidence at the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. She also runs her own website and contributes stories to CNN.com and Wall Street Journal.

The campaign “Climate Walk: A People’s Walk for Climate Justice,” awardee for Bodily Kinesthetic Intelligence, hosted a 40-day, 875-km walk from Manila to ground zero in Tacloban. Organized by climate advocates from different civic groups, the activity served to remind everyone about the tragedy of super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines and to raise awareness on the ill effects of the global climate crisis.

At the Green MOVEment fun run, Multiple Intelligence International School, in cooperation with Smart Communications, celebrated the individuals and efforts that clearly define the diversity of intelligences that can be used to make a difference in society and in the lives of others.

THE NEW YORK FANTASY IN POP CULTURE

BY ED BIADO

If you follow the blog “Humans of New York” or have seen a copy of the book of the same name, you’ll think of New York City as a vibrant culturally diverse town filled with quirky people that express individuality like no other. The city has been nicknamed with plenty of superlatives, positioning it as “the greatest city in the world.”

For those who haven’t been to “the city that never sleeps,” the only point of reference are movies and TV shows set in and songs inspired by it. Take Sex and the City for example. The newspaper column-turned-bookturned-TV show-turned-movie romanticizes Manhattan as a place of endless parties, club openings and impossibly rich and beautiful people, treating it like the fifth star of the franchise. Carrie insists she’s in a relationship

with the city, going as far as abruptly ending a conversation with a handsome sailor who characterized her “boyfriend” as seedy, chaotic and dangerous.

It’s a “concrete jungle where dreams are made of,” according to Alicia Keys in her hit song with Jay Z, “Empire State of Mind.” There are hundreds upon hundreds of songs written with New York serving as inspiration, each a sort of homage or love letter to a specific location or time in the city.

One of the most culturally influential of which is “New York State of Mind,” in which Billy Joel sings about his pride in coming home to the city after living in Los Angeles for a few years. “Some folks try to get away / Take a holiday from the neighborhood / Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood / But I’m takin’ Greyhound on the Hudson River line / I’m in a New York state of mind,” the singer-songwriter professed.

Lines like these—emotions expressed as poignantly as this—are the reason that New York continues to be a popular tourist destination. And it’s not just Manhattan.

We all want to be Jenny From the Block, we all want to funk for Jamaica (N.Y.). We all want to know what’s Across 110th Street. We’re all wishing that as soon as we get off the plane, everyone at JFK will be singing, “Welcome to New York / It’s been waiting for you!”

While a lot of New Yorkers will agree that life in the city is not a walk in the park (Central Park, that is), a trip to the Big Apple is a bucket-list item for most outsiders.

And why not? The illusion of a perfect city is alive, thanks to depictions in pop culture. Where else where you meet the man of your dreams or land your dream job or get to dine at the same restaurant as your favorite celebrity or have breakfast at Tiffany’s? New York City, naturally. Or at least, that’s the fantasy.

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LIFE g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

MCDONALD’S CELEBRATES 3RD NATIONAL BREAKFAST DAY

FAMILY

From C1

At 6:00 a.m., Filipinos flocked to participating stores to enjoy their free breakfast treat. Nearly 400,000 McMuffin sandwiches were given away this year, making more customers nationwide say “Hooray for Today!”

The much anticipated celebration of National Breakfast Day was headed by McDonald’s Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang. McDonald’s Chief Happiness Officer Ronald McDonald was also present, along with numerous celebrities from the two major TV networks. Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe, Rocco Nacino, Alden Richards, Drew Arellano, Matteo Guidicelli, Enrique Gil, Alex Gonzaga, Xian Lim, and Bianca Gonzales each visited a different McDonald’s store around the Metro. The famous Kikay Barkada of Monster RX 93.1 also joined the celebration by once again broadcasting their radio show, The Morning Rush live at McDonald’s El Pueblo.

Netizens were also in full swing as they shared their National Breakfast Day experiences on social media with the hashtag #McDoBreakfastDay. With the sheer volume of happy customers nationwide, National Breakfast Day became a trending topic on Twitter for the third year in a row.

Other social networking sites were also filled with photos of happy customers’ moments celebrating the one-of-a-kind breakfast experience at McDonald’s.

Apart from sharing the goodness that a McDonald’s breakfast can offer, McDonald’s wanted to make sure that this year’s National Breakfast Day was made bigger and even more special for Pinoys by extending the celebration to the country’s Early Risers— people who wake up earlier than everyone else in service of their community, like PUV drivers, barangay tanods, traffic enforcers, security guards, and public health workers.

All participating National Breakfast Day stores each gave away 100 more free Sausage McMuffins to their chosen group of Early Risers.

This initiative is McDonald’s way of saying “thank you” for the great work that they do.

“On our third year of National Breakfast Day, the entire McDonald’s family is happy that even more Filipinos were able to join the celebration. We hope that both our customers and our Early Risers enjoyed the goodness of a McDonald’s breakfast,” said Kenneth S. Yang, McDonald’s Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer.

Got a special National Breakfast Day story to share? Like the official McDonald’s Facebook fan page facebook.com/McDo.ph and tell everyone about it! You can also share your National Breakfast Day experience on Twitter by tagging @McDo_PH and using the official hashtag #McDoBreakfastDay.

SCAN THIS ICON TO WATCH MC DONALD’S HOORAY FOR THE EARLY RISERS VIDEO

KIDS CLUB Kids stay and eat for free at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila for Summer Wonder Treat by Piccolo Kids

Manila’s newest child-friendly hotel – Marco Polo Ortigas Manila - welcomes the vacation season with its Summer Wonder Treat by Piccolo Kids Room Package. For only Php 5,500 net, let the kids wander on a different welcome experience with their own Piccolo Check-in Desk, a kiddie passport to record their hotel memories and personalized hotel room amenities to complete the children’s royal treat. This room package also includes a choice a of lunch or breakfast buffet for two (2) adults and two (2) kids ages 12 years old and below, complimentary access to the Piccolo Kids Club play area, surprise turn-down gift for the little ones, free use of the hotel’s indoor infinity pool, scheduled

shuttle service around Ortigas malls and Greenhills Shopping Centre, and a late check-out of up to 4:00 PM. The Summer Wonder Treat room package is available for Sunday and Monday bookings only from March 22 to May 31, 2015. Extend the hotel stay on the second night and your birth year rate charge shall apply.

Book on or before March 18 for a stay on March 22 and get a Php 200 off on the room rate.

For more information contact (632) 720 7777 or book online via www. marcopolohotels.com or email: manila@marcopolohotels.com. Visit facebook.com/MarcoPoloOrtigasManila or follow @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter or Instagram.

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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FROM TONDO, PALAWAN TO SM MEGAMALL D isaster survivors, indigenous people (IP), and other communities trained in the art of sculpture under a livelihood program of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will showcase their best works in a selling exhibition at the Art Center in SM Megamall on March 27.

Landas: Mga Iskultor ng Bayan mula Tondo hanggang Palawan will also feature the works of the communities’ trainers – renowned sculptor Rey Paz Contreras and the Daambakal Sculptors of Tondo, Manila.

Proceeds of exhibit, which will run until April 7, will be used to expand the livelihood program and to purchase more tools and equipment for production.

The exhibit is curated by art critic Reuben Canete and Marinel Isla Contreras.

Landas is presented in collaboration with the municipal government of Pontevedra, Capiz; Zoological Society of London; local entrepreneur Tony Morente; C3; Maynilad Water Services; and Manila North Tollways Corp.

Smart started to organize sculpture trainings in 2005, when it saw an opportunity for displaced fisherfolk of Banglos, Quezon to literally sculpt a new livelihood out of the driftwood and felled logs that littered the area following four consecutive typhoons in 2004. The logs were then being turned into charcoal by some members of the community.

Four months after the trainings, the Banglos Sculptors mounted an exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines – a record of sorts in the Philippine community art scene.

More exhibits in Manila, Cebu, and Bacolod followed, which brought in more than P1 million in proceeds in just the first two years of operation.

Seeing how the program has improved the Banglos residents’ lives, Smart decided to replicate it in other typhoon-ravaged communities, as well as in watershed areas. And in a classic case of “paying it forward,” the former trainees have become the trainers of other communities, like Yolanda survivors from Capiz and Palawan and IP from South Sierra Madre.

So far, 150 people in eight communities have undergone sculpture training under the Smart program.

To help link the communities to potential markets, Smart has been organizing selling exhibits in different areas such as Makati City and Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

“We are inviting everyone to visit the Landas exhibit so they could better appreciate the transformative journey these communities have embarked on. We are happy that the livelihood program has helped our partners realize that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary creations. Creativity resides in each of us; it just needs to be awakened,” said Smart community partnerships head Darwin Flores.

“The program has also instilled in them a deeper respect for the environment. It teaches the sculptors to work with nature – to ‘listen’ to what the raw materials want themselves to look like. It also leads them away from work that harms the environment, such as illegal logging and charcoal making,” he added.

Smart started to organize sculpture trainings in 2005, when it saw an opportunity for displaced fisherfolk of Banglos, Quezon to literally sculpt a new livelihood out of the driftwood and felled logs that littered the area following four consecutive typhoons in 2004

Darwin Flores (left), head of Smart Public Affairs, initiated the training of disaster survivors from simple folks to sculptors with the help of Rey Paz Contreras (right).

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

B. Gutterez with BFPC’s Nino Bautista, extreme left, Red Gatus, 2nd from right, and model John Spainhour

RUFFA GUTTIEREZ IN BARGN FARMACEUTICI’S 9TH ANNIVERSARY

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n a glitzy affair, guests at the SM Mall of Asia were treated to a night of fun, beauty tips, prizes and entertainment as new products were unveiled and time-tested brands were reintroduced to the public.

Recognizing the growing demands of beauty and wellness consumers, Bargn Farmaceutici Phils. Co (BFPC)put up a weeklong beauty fair and set up a runway right at the atrium.

Gracing the runway show is one of the hottest hunks in Philippine fashion today, John Spainhour, who now endorses the food supplement for men – New Euphoria Maxx. It is a premium energy booster and muscle enhancer, formulated to give extra edge and maximum performance.

Top-rate models paraded down the runway, and teased the audience with the products. Beauty queens lent glamour and reigning Mister International Neil Perez showed the chops that won him the title.

Jodi Sta. Maria, endorser for Cosmo Body—the country’s premier, safe and effective weight loss supplement, apparently did not make it to the event, but she did make an effort to greet the company on video.

Directors Nino Bautista and Red Gatus refused to reveal the new endorser for their Non-Acidic Vitamin C brand, Cosmo Cee.

And in a fitting finale, Cosmo Skin Brand Ambassador Ruffa Gutierrez, walked her way down to introduce Cosmo Skin Glutathione, country’s premiere whitening capsule that has Advanced Skin Whitening Formula and contains a more potent form of Glutathione, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C. Jody Sta. Maria endorses Cosmo Body

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 40 41 42 44 45 46 50 52 53 54 55 57 58 59

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Speck of dust 5 Film terrier 9 Hack 14 Comics penguin 15 Kind of lens 16 Stan’s cohort 17 Freely 19 Any old things 20 Wheel buy (2 wds.)

21 Newsman — Abel 22 Keats’ saint

ISAH V. RED

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Dwelled 25 One-sidedness Width of a cir.

Big woolly animal Ruminated Blender button 911 responder Late tennis great Emulated a siren Running wild Drink with scones

Violin parts — Rose Lee Like new shoes Do Easter eggs M, to Einstein Oater hero Pool dimension Numbers game Give it — — Condor nest Ski turns Roebuck’s partner Rate of movement “Rule, Britannia!” composer 60 Debit opposite 61 Indigo plant 62 Movie mogul DOWN 1 Grinding tooth 2 Put one’s two cents in 3 Band horns 4 Wind dir.

5 Flowering shrub 6 Well-built 7 Enameled metal 8 Singer — Grant 9 Sting, e.g.

(2 wds.)

10 Maria Conchita — 11 Eye shade

Gutierrez also revealed the latest and the only anti-ageing oral drink in the market that contains 20,000 mg Collagen, Cosmo Skin Premium, a formula that totally defy age and can diminish fine lines and wrinkles, another breakthrough to the BFPC’s line of products.

Indeed, with a roster of celebrity endorsers from the company’s top networks to its name, and brand new advanced formula, BFPC is actually beginning to rival other health, wellness and beauty companies when it comes to industry cachet and glamour.

BFPC was founded in 2006 by Niño Bautista and Red Gatus. The erstwhile online company selling pharmaceuticals and supplements has since then earned the respect and trust of their peers and the buying public. “Although we were very confident of our company’s potential, we never really thought that after nine years, BFPC will be where it is now—a serious industry contender that has made its presence felt in the health and wellness segments of the industry,” says Bautista, adding that they focused on industry excellence and servicing clients first and foremost.

Now on its 9th year, the company boasts several product lines that cover nutraceuticals, vitamins and now, even cosmetics. For this year alone, BFPC is introducing new items, that will no doubt be as popular to a public hungry for what’s new and most importantly, effective. “We are actually, introducing several new products.

These are Cosmo Skin Sun Protect, a non-greasy sunblock, Cosmo Skin Facial cream and Elite Collagen Capsule,” says Gatus.

“One of the goals of BFPC is to empower the consumer, most especially women. And as we are celebrating Women’s month this March, we are taking part in empowering them to look good and feel good about themselves” explains Bautista, adding that judging from the public’s response to BFPC’s ninth-year anniversary celebration, the public seems to have realized that BFPC keeps them in mind when developing products—hence the affection that they seem to have returned.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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Flour holders Da or ja Started over Targeted — fixe Makes public Hazy Short-term worker MD employers Bathroom item Makes the most of Hoops nickname Ice hockey gear Upper atmosphere Pet shop buy Nay opposites Least messy Pita treats Sports official Mr. Fahrenheit Danke, in Dijon Split — (nitpick) Booster rocket Unlucky gambler Ruby and Sandra Historical periods Genghis — — — matter of fact Tax pro Trim a doily

CNN PHILIPPINES DELIVER NEWS, NOT OPINIONS CNN Philippines, the historic joint partnership between Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific and Nine Media Corporation.

CNN Philippines, is the only predominantly English news channel on free-to-air TV, offering news and information that adheres to the CNN standards of journalism. News, not opinion, is reported in a fair, accurate, and sober manner.

In a statement by Jeff Zucker, CNN Worldwide president, “The global newsgathering power of CNN combined with the local perspective Nine Media Corporation brings, enables us to provide first-class news and information to millions of Filipinos in a way that we have not been able to previously.

I couldn’t be happier to welcome CNN Philippines to the CNN family.”

At the heart of the newscasts are the faces of CNN Philippines. Anchors Jing Magsaysay, Pia Hontiveros, Amelyn Veloso, Gani Oro, and Mitzi Borromeo lead the team who will bring news reporting back to its fundamental principles.

Highly acclaimed veteran anchor Jing Magsaysay returns to viewers’ screens after a long period of time. Jing Magsaysay is currently senior vice-president for News and Current Affairs for CNN Philippines. With more than two decades in the media industry, Jing started out as a broadcast journalist in another news organization before becoming its News Director. He was one of the first hosts of Solar News Channel’s Daybreak.

Now in CNN Philippines, Jing can be seen on Newsroom together with Mai Rodriguez.

Jing Magsaysay now anchors Newsroom on CNNPhilippines

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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MOST AWARDED TV NETWORK

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BS-CBN Corporation bagged a total of 20 recognitions at the 13th Philippine Quill Awards. It won the most number of awards among TV networks. The Kapamilya network was declared Company of the Year 2nd runnerup in the annual awards program that recognizes the best communication programs and works in the country.

The “Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na” campaign, which was conducted to bring relief and rehabilitation for the victims of typhoon Pablo, Bohol quake, and typhoon Yolanda, was feted in three categories, namely Advocacy Communication, Marketing Communication and Multi-Audience Communication. The campaign included initiatives such as selling of Tulong shirts and star-studded Tulong fund-raising concerts with the country’s leading artists performing pro bono and raising funds from the public to help the victims.

ABS-CBN’s mobile telephony service, ABS-CBNmobile was awarded in the Advocacy Communication category for its “Yolanda Story: Becoming a relief SIM all in the service of the Filipinos” campaign that gave away 100,000 SIM cards for free to the Yolanda survivors to help them connect and communicate with their loved ones.

SKY Cable Corporation was also recognized for its effort to serve, enrich and uplift the spirit of the Yolanda survivors by providing them with free TV viewing stations in Tacloban and Villamor Air Base. SKY received an award in the Special Events - External category.

“Mga Kwento ng Kasiyahan: The ABSCBN Grand Kapamilya Weekend” won in the Special Events - External category for its historic, star-studded two-day event in 2013 that provided thousands of Kapamilya fans public service, fun activities, and the opportunity to meet and greet the network’s biggest stars in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Philippine television.

“60 Years: Kwento Natin Ito,” the event that preceded the Grand Kapamilya Weekend, bagged recognition in the Employee Engagement category. It was the kickoff of the yearlong celebration of the 60th anniversary of Philippine TV that featured ABS-CBN employees who shared their ex-

ABS-CBN wins 2nd runner up at Quill Awards for Best Company

ABS-CBN Marketing baged six Quills

periences, insights, and significant contribution as Kapamilya.

The hit Facebook app that expanded the “PBB” experience for fans—“Pinoy Big Brother Online Bahay ni Kuya,” a first of its kind in the history of the international Big Brother franchise, bagged awards in Advertising Campaigns, Marketing Communication, and Digital Communication Channel categories.

DZMM’s “RED Alert 2014” campaign won in the Multi-Audience Communication category for empowering its listeners

and viewers by teaching them educational and experiential survival and emergency response and disaster preparedness tips.

ABS-CBN’s commuter safety mobile app, “PasaHero” earned a distinction in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for protecting the passengers by broadcasting trip details via social media and sending emergency notifications and location to the user’s trusted circle.

ABS-CBNmobile won in the Social Media Programs category for its Facebook page that became the most influential telco

brand in the country based on engagement and reach through effective real-time digital marketing and social media content.

The “Pamilya OnGuard” campaign was awarded in the Advertising Campaigns category being the first and only health news advisory on ABS-CBN that brings holistic and essential information on health and protection.

Kapamilya Network’s 2013 Christmas Station ID themed, “Magkasama Tayo sa Kwento ng Pasko (Pagbangon version)” received a Quill Award in the Audio/Visual category.

ABS-CBN also stood out in the Digital Communications Channel category as its internal online contest for employees dubbed as “Heartthrobs on 30” received an award for successfully putting the spotlight on ABS-CBN employees considered as heartthrobs but aged 30 and above and engaged the whole ABS-CBN workforce via an online voting competition.

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Spotlight Series: The Music of Ryan Cayabyab” was cited in the Special Events - External category for its achievement in planning and execution of a special event for an external audience.

ABS-CBN Global Ltd. subsidiary E-Moneyplus, Inc.’s remittance brand myREMIT took home its first Philippine Quill Award in Marketing Communication for its campaign, “Pamilya Ko, Buhay Ko” that exemplified the excellent use of communication in terms of the management of its communication tools from marketing peripherals, broadcast content to public relations.

Lastly, ABS-CBN’s 2013 Annual Report took home a Quill award in the Publication category for effectively providing its intended audience with comprehensive, accurate, and timely reporting of the financial and operating performance for the year in line with the general principles of fairness, accountability, and, transparency.

The prestigious annual Philippine Quill Awards is presented by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines to honor excellent communications programs and tools that exhibit clear objectives and strategies, creative executions and measurable benefits.

From C8

RITA DE GUZMAN IS NOW RITA DANIELA GMA Artist Center star Rita Daniela, also known as Rita de Guzman, begins a new chapter in her career as she takes on a new venture. She inked a recording contract with GMA Records on March 11.

Rita was the Pop Star Kids grand champion. Today, she is dropping her sweet and charming image and moves on as an edgy and mature artist.

According to Rita, it is a dream come true for her to come up with an album where she can be herself.

“The album has a dance and RnB sound, the rest are for chilling out.

That’s really my sound. The era of Rita na Pop Star Kid is over. This time Rita Daniela, edgy and mature, is taking over,” she says.

Rita feels ecstatic over this new project. She has long been waiting for this. “I am really happy because I can now share with my

fans the album that I have always been dreaming of.”

Rita has already recorded the single entitled “Fly High,” which will be released in April.

HHHHH Motorized banca racers as well as dragon boat clubs that took part in the 2015 Manila Bay Seasports Festival on March 14-15 were treated to performances by 6 Cycle Mind and Sassy Girls in a concert along Baywalk during the awarding ceremonies capping this year’s event.

Deejays from 90.7 Love Radio – Kristine Dera and Tanya Chinita – were on hand as well to provide comic banter and entertain the crowd.

Races started 8 a.m.

The 2015 Manila Bay Seasports Festival was presented by Manila Broadcasting Company and the City of Manila.

Rita Daniela signs record deal with GMA Records, wither from let, GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, GMA Records Managing Director Rene A. Salta,and Anna Puno

6 Cycle Mind and Sassy Girls were featured in a concert along Baywalk

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T U E S D AY : M A R C H 17 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

KAPAMILYA NETWORK WELCOMES BACK

The megastar with ABS-CBN President and CEO Charos Santos-Concio

SHARON CUNETA The Megastar has come home. Sharon Cuneta’s return to ABS-CBN has long been anticipated especially after her contract with TV5 expired last year.

It had been a favorite topic in coffee shops and restaurants among show business observers for nearly a year, some even betting she’d be back.

And, last week, ABS-CBN announced that Cuneta is finally back. She, as initial project, is one of the jury members of Your Face Sounds Familiar, ABS-CBN’s newest variety show.

For the first time in her career, the Megastar sits as a member of a jury to critique the live performances of eight celebrity performers impersonating popular local and international music icons.

Before the announcement, Sharon signed a contract signifying her return to the Kapamilya network. ABS-CBN President and CEO Charo Santos-Concio, COO Carlo Katigabk, free TV Head Cory Vidanes, Chief Financial Officer Aldrin Cerrado, TV Production Head Laurenti Dyogi, and Business Unit Head Lui Andrada were among the network officers present.

Filipinos have been witnesses to the Megastar’s versatility as a singer and actress, on TV and in film, as well as on stage and on records. In her 34 years in the industry, she has proven that to both her admirers and followers, not to mention her critics.

Apart from experience as an entertainer, she has also endeared herself to audiences because of her fun personality and credibility. She is also to many Filipinos a real person, something very rare in show business.

Those qualities are the important things that the network considered when she gave hints she wanted to come “home” and which will surely add to the unique entertainment experience the audience will have while watching Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Sharon can’t contain her excitement over her latest TV project on social media, arousing the curiosity of her millions of fans.

“I love you all from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering love and support,” she posted on her Facebook page.

Sharon will be joined in the jury by champion singer Jed Madela and Mr. Pure Energy Gary VaISAH V. RED lenciano.

Your Face Sounds Familiar, which premiered on March 14 and 15, allows its celebrity performers total transformation to look like the music icons they will impersonate as well as an hour of concert-like experience. ★★★★★ Sarah Geronimo, long-time Cebuana Lhuillier endorser, stars in a new TVC for the micro-financial giant, Cebuana Lhuillier.

The TVC features the story of a jolly kaCebuana and his story of how Cebuana Lhuillier’s services helped him provide a secure and comfortable life for him and his family.

The company has established itself as the premier pawnshop in the country, providing easy, affordable, and convenient collateral loans to the masses, with one of the highest appraisal rates in the country.

Going along with the demands of the market, the pawnshop giant evolved into a one-stop financial solutions provider specializing in diverse financial services.

Apart from pawning, Cebuana Lhuillier also offers convenient domestic and international money remittance -- thanks to more than 1,700 branches locally and more than 100 remittance partners worldwide; affordable microinsurance products, convenient bills payment and electronic load for all telecommunication networks.

Select Cebuana Lhuillier branches operate on a 24/7 basis to further provide convenience to clients. It was also the first in the industry to provide incentives to its clients with its 24k Rewards Program. “Enjoy po yung shoot! Sobrang nakakatuwa po kasi naka-relate ako sa story ni Boyet. Personally, suking client po kami ng Cebuana Lhuillier, nung times na nagsasangla si mommy para makatulong sa family namin. Hindi po namin inaalala ang pera nuon dahil sa pagsisikap namin at sa tulong ng Cebuana Lhuillier, kaya na-a-appreciate ko po yung nagagawa nilang tulong para sa mga tao,” the Pop Princess said.

SIMPLY RED

Sharon’s return to ABS-CBN was a favorite topic in coffee shops and restaurants among show business observers for nearly a year. Her return was highly anticipated and expected Sarah Geronimo is featured in Cebuana Lhuillier’s TV commercial

Action star Robin Padilla kicks old habits and embraces an organic lifestyle that catches the attention of Pascual Laboratories that signed him to endorse the herbal cough remedy ASCOF Lagundi