The Standard - 2015 March 28 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 44  2 Sections 24 Pages P18  SATURDAY : MARCH 28, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Comelec gets ready for manual count

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Co-pilot had history of depression

PNOY SETS REVIEW OF BANGSA LAW Next page

Preparing for Palm Sunday. Two women turn palm leaves into attractive palaspas that will be brought to church by the Catholic faithful for the traditional blessing tomorrow, Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. SONNY ESPIRITU

Pacman bloodies sparmate

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P11-b loan for Panay Power OK’d

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PNoy orders own BBL review

By Sandy Araneta

EVEN as Congress considers the Palace’s proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday called on “citizen leaders” to convene a national peace summit to review the measure that lawmakers have found to be replete with constitutional infirmities.

Aquino made the call in a national television address marking the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that the government signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is one of the most important proposed bills of our administration,” Aquino said in his address where he also warned lawmakers to pass the bill or start counting “body bags.”

He warned it would be difficult to restart peace talks if the current process failed and the MILF leadership lost its influence among its members to more radical elements.

Aquino said he is fully aware that the Mamasapano incident last January 25, where 44 Special Action Force troopers died, have sowed doubt in the minds of Filipinos and has supposedly pushed aside the objective evaluation of the BBL. “To address this, I am inviting citizen leaders known for their wisdom and integrity to stand as independent convenors,” said Aquino.

He named those who will be convening the peace summit as Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Ambassador Howard Dee and peace advocate Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman.

Aquino said they will gather other responsible and respected leaders to spearhead the national peace summit to “deliberate on and discuss the BBL” which is already being considered by legislators who have criticized many provisions as unconstitutional.

“If the proposed bill is lacking, it can be addressed by pushing through with the debates on it. With the continuation of hearings about the BBL in Congress, each one is given an opportunity to understand the proposed bill,” he said.

“We believe an initiative that arose out of good intentions can be fixed by those who likewise have good intentions towards their fellowmen,” said Aquino.

The citizen leaders, Aquino said, will “dissect the proposed law in a calm and reasonable manner that will not incite anger and hopelessness.”

“This way, the BBL can be improved. They will write a report that will be made public, so that everyone may be informed, and so that more of our countrymen may understand the matter. In this manner, we will be able to advance a reasonable decision as regards the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Aquino said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the national peace summit was meant to “enrich the quality of the democratic dialogue and hopefully lead our representatives in Congress to a deeper understanding of the imperative of promoting the peace process in Mindanao.”

Coloma said the summit was envision to be “a private sector initiative that will be funded by them, too.”

But neither Aquino nor Coloma specified how the proposed national peace summit would affect the ongoing congressional deliberations on the measure.

Instead, Aquino said lawmakers should pass the bill or they would start counting “body bags”.

“I do not pursue peace just to add to my legacy. What we are pursuing is a genuine peace that truly addresses the roots of the problems that led to violence. At this point in our history, I say to all of you: The BBL will make this a reality,” Aquino said.

Aquino had wanted the bill, which would give autonomy to the majority Catholic nation’s Muslim minority in the south, passed this month.

But Congress suspended debates on the proposed law in the face of public outrage over the killings of 44 police commandoes by Muslim guerrillas in a botched antiterror raid in January.

“This is the crossroads we face: we take pains to forge peace today, or we count body bags tomorrow,” Aquino said in a nationwide television address.

“Perhaps it is easy for you to push for all-out war,” he said, hitting out at critics who have condemned the peace deal with the MILF. “But if the conflict grows, the number of Filipinos shooting at other Filipinos will grow, and it would not be out of the question that a friend or loved one be one of the people who will end up inside a body bag.” – With AFP

Another speech. President Benigno Aquino III delivers a speech during the opening ceremony Friday of the 30th convention of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the SM Mall of Asia. MAlAcAñAng Photo

Senate blasts ‘usurpation’ by new body

By Macon R. Araneta and Maricel V.cruz SENATORS on Friday criticized President Benigno Aquino III for creating a Council of Elders to look into the Malacanang-drafted Bangsamoro Basic Law that is now being reviewed by both House of Congress, but was temporarily stalled due to the Mamasapano incident in which 44 police commandos were killed on Jan. 25.

“Isn’t it the job of the Senate and the House of Representatives to review the BBL?” Senator JV Ejercito said in a text message.

He said whatever the findings of the proposed Council of Elders, the BBL would still need to be approved by Congress.

In a separate text message, Senator Ferdinand Marcos

Jr., chairman of the Senate’s local governments committee who is conducting public hearings on the Malacañang-drafted Bangsamoro Basic Law, strongly reacted to the President’s move.

“It seems to be an attempt to sway the public to support the BBL,” Marcos said.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Reps. Rufus Rodriquez and Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the inputs from citizens on the BBL would be of great help.

But Reps. Rodolfo Albano III, Silvestre Belo III and Jonathan de la Cruz said getting inputs from other sectors of society was useless.

Senator Grace Poe said she agreed on the move of President Noynoy Aquino in creating a Council of Elders, but noted that Congress must be given first the opportunity to

come up with a constitutional version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Poe said Manila Archbishop Cardinal Antonio Tagle, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and businessman Jaime Zobel, who are among the members of the commission who would enlighten the Filipinos on the provisions and goals of the BBL, had the credibility and trust of many.

“By having respected leaders of society analyze, suggest amendments if any and objectively present the BBL, the public may be more inclined to keep an open mind, understand and perhaps even support the measure,” Poe said.

However, before these eminent people were given the chance to help in communicating to all Filipinos

the goals and the practical necessity of a political settlement toward peace and development in Muslim Mindanao, the BBL must go through Congress.

But Ejercito echoed Poe’s view that it could help increase the people’s awareness on the specific provisions of the BBL Marcos said the BBL would be useful if the discussions were objective. In this way, he said, the public would see the pros and cons of the BBL “It will allow them to form their opinion,” he said in a text message.

Ejercito said he believed the main issue on the BBL was trust.

“The BBL has to do a lot of things to bring back the people’s trust on them,” Ejercito said.

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Senators urge public to support Earth Hour

By Macon R. Araneta SINCE the Philippines was named the top country most affected by climate change in 2013, senators have called on the public to support global movement to simultaneously switch off lights for one hour from 8:30 p.m. today in observance of the 2015 Earth Hour.

Senator Sonny Angara filed a resolution reaffirming the support of the Senate for the objectives of Earth Hour and Earth Day after the country was tagged as the country most affected by climate change by the 2015 Global Climate Risk Index study of the environmental organization German Watch.

The Philippines was followed by Cambodia, India and Mexico in the list of countries most affected by weather-related disasters such as storms, floods, and heatwaves.

“This year, Earth Hour has a global focus on climate change. Given our vulnerability to natural disasters, the objectives of these celebrations are particularly relevant to our country,” Angara said.

Legarda, author of the Climate Change Act, encouraged all Filipinos to show our solidarity with the rest of the world in an effort to save energy, reduce carbon emission and raise awareness on sustainability and environmental challenges.

“People are oftentimes overwhelmed with the gargantuan task of protecting the environment, without realizing that the small acts ignite greater action and result in significant achievements,” she said.

Even shopping malls has been joining Earth Hour with the number of malls taking part in the hour-long lights our increasing every year. This year, it will be a a night of stargazing at 58 SM malls all over the Philippines and in China in celebration of Earth Hour.

For one hour, lights at 58 SM Supermalls all over the country and six in China will be switched off in celebration of Earth Hour.

During the switch off, participants will be able to gaze at the stars, planets and constellations through the telescopes that will be placed in strategic areas in some of the participating malls.

Angara said our support for Earth Hour and Earth Day should not waver.

“I call on the public to show once again to the world our solidarity in combating climate change. More importantly, we must go beyond one hour in showing our commitment to the planet by taking accountability for our ecological footprint and engaging in dialogue and resource exchange to provide real solutions to our environmental challenges,” Angara said.

By participating in Earth Hour, Lsgarda said we are showing our commitment to create more sustainable and resilient communities. We only have to take that one important step, which is to take action, to save and protect our planet.

She said the Earth Hour campaign shows us what each citizen can do. It tells us that every individual is capable of protecting our planet. Small acts cannot be underestimated because these small acts, when put together, create big changes.

Prescription for PNoy. Members of health workers’ organizations stage a protest outside the University of the Philippines Manila campus Friday to call on President Benigno Aquino III to resign. DANNY PATA

Manual count readied despite impeach threat DESPITE the threat of impeachment for failing to automate the 2016 elections, the Commission on Elections said on Friday reverting to manual polls is still more preferable than postponing the elections scheduled for May next year.

“Manual elections is better than no elections,” said acting Comelec chairman Christian Lim “Having no elections will be unacceptable to many.”

Lim reiterated the possibility of reverting to manual elections after the Supreme Court stopped the controversial P268-million diagnostic and repair deal the Comelec awarded to the Smartmatic-TIM consortium.

Lim said deferring the national elections might trigger a “civil war” even as Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who has been supportive of Smartmatic, said going back to manual voting is unacceptable and Comelec officials may be impeached.

Rodriguez said reverting to manual elections will bring back the dark ages of dagdag-bawas [vote shaving and padding] and such as scenario would violate the election automation law, a basis to impeach the Comelec commissioners.

But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body will do everything possible to ensure automated elections in May next year.

“A return to manual elections is not as rosy as some may think. It is not a nostalgic return to paradise as one would like to believe,” Jimenez said.

He said reverting to manual polls would mean additional costs to pay public school teachers, poll clerks and administrative staff, among others.

“This is aside from the return of the threats of vote-buying, ballot-snatching and vote-padding and shaving,” Ji-

menez said.

The SC ruling stopped the refurbishment of at least 81,000 old precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, which are supposed to serve as the primary automated election system next year, supplemented by additional optical mark reader machines.

Members of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms have already warned against the possibility of returning to manual polls if the SC fails to resolve the issue surrounding the implementation of the extended warranty contract signed by the Comelec and Smartmatic.

Rodriguez had earlier said the temporary restraining order issued by the SC effectively put the Comelec’s preparations for 2016 elections to a standstill, including the procurement of the lease contracts for new voting machines.

“If we delay the bidding of PCOS machines any further, there’s a possibility that we’ll go back to manual elections next year. That will be like going to the dark ages of Dracula, where there’s dagdag-bawas,’” he said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, who also supports Smartmatic, said the TRO practically ties the Comelec’s hands since it also cannot hold the bidding for transmission technologies and other allied services.

“With the TRO, the hands of the Comelec are practically tied. All the preparations for the 2016 national elections are in suspended animation. Elections, which is the bedrock of democracy, might be in grave peril, most especially the automated election system,” he said.

The poll body’s preparation for next year’s presidential elections has already been set back a few months after the Comelec failed to bid out the lease contracts for new voting machines and the transmission solutions.

The Comelec wants to lease an additional 23,000 optical mark reader machines for the 2016 elections to supplement the existing 82,000 PCOS machines used in previous polls.

The number of voters in a clustered precinct would be reduced from 1,000 in 2013 to 800 next year if the additional voting machines can be leased.

No clemency for death row convict

By Vito Barcelo

Protecting themselves. Members of the Manila Police Department cover their heads during an earthquake drill Friday at their headquarters. SONNY ESPIRITU

INDONESIA’S Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a Filipina on death row for a judicial review of her case, bringing her closer to being executed along with several other foreign drug convicts.

But in a bid to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso, Vice President Jejomar Binay renewed his appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo for the commutation of the death sentence of Veloso who was caught carrying a suitcase containing illegal drugs in Indonesia.

Binay and the Department of Foreign affairs vowed to exert all efforts to save the life of Veloso whom they believe was innocent of the crime and was a mere victim of a drug smuggling syndicate.

“I am once again appealing to President Widodo’s good heart for the commutation of the death sentence of our kababayan, Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, who is scheduled be

executed in Yogyakarta,” Binay said in a statement.

Veloso’s request for clemency was among the 16 rejected by Indonesia’s newly elected leader, President Widodo, on January 9.

“I ask this, with the deepest bond of brotherhood and friendship of our peoples, a bond that I am confident will only grow stronger in the years to come,” Binay said.

“We are saddened that the Indonesian Supreme Court has chosen not to grant Mary Jane’s lawyers’ request for a judicial review of her case. Nonetheless, we reiterate the Philippines’ full awareness and respect for Indonesia’s laws and legal system,” the Vice President said.

In their appeal for judicial review, Veloso’s lawyers argued that the Filipina was not provided with a capable translator during her trial.

“It should have been court appointed translator. Maybe he is not qualified during that time. That might have had an impact on the

proceedings that happened before in relation to the accuracy of the translation,” Jose said.

Binay stressed that Veloso, a widowed mother of two, was not part of any organized drug syndicate, saying she, too, was a victim.

“She was unwittingly taken advantage of by a person whom she gave her complete trust and confidence when the latter asked her to hand carry a piece of luggage containing illegal drugs,” Binay said.

The Vice President previously wrote Widodo earlier this month to “convey to Widodo the Filipinos’ hope and prayer that the Supreme Court of Indonesia will look kindly and with compassion on the circumstances surrounding the case of Veloso.”

The United Nations human rights office has previously called on Indonesia to refrain from executing convicted drug smugglers, saying the death penalty won’t stop the trafficking of illegal drugs.

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‘Give justice, not speech’ THE public outrage over the Aquino administration’s mishandling of the Mamasapano operation will continue in light of President Benigno Aquino III’s supposed last speech on the debacle, opposition lawmakers said Friday.

Fighting fire. Firemen

attempt to extinguish a burning target during the recent Second Fire Olypmics in Cebu City. Regular and volunteer firemen from 23 barangays in the city showcased their skills during the competition.

RAlph piezAS

Pay increases for special ed teachers approved THE Makati City Council approved on Friday an increase in the monthly allowances of special education teachers and teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Depatment of Education-Makati effective January 2015 and of Makati Science High School scholars effective April 2015.

Councilor Marie Alethea Casal-Uy said Vice Mayor Manila Romulo Peña, who is claimStandard ing to TODAY be the duly installed mayor of Makati, was absent

from the session.

She said some 28 SPED teachers, 2,846 teachers and 67 nonteaching personnel of DepEd Makati, and over 800 students of the MSHS will soon enjoy increased financial benefits from the city government.

Under City Ordinance No. 2015-015, the incentive allowance of SPED teachers in Makati will be increased from P1,500 to P4,000 per month while the allowance of teaching and nonteaching staff will be increased

from P1,000 to P1,500 under City Ordinance No. 2015-017.

Over 800 city scholars at the Makati Science High School in the coming school year will also be receiving P1,500 monthly stipend, up from the current P1,000-stipend, under City Ordinance No. 2015-016.

The said ordinances were authored by Uy and Councilors Leo Magpantay, Virgilio Hilario, Arnold Magpantay, Nelson Pasia, Nemesio Yabut, Jr., Ferdinand Eusebio and Vincent Sese.

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Uy said the City Council has prioritized the approval of the ordinances in recognition of the invaluable services being rendered by the educators to the youth of Makati. The increase in stipend of MSHS students is also intended to help their parents cope with inflation, she said.

Aside from the two ordinances, Uy also said Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay also signed two ordinances approved by the council in the said session.

Aquino: Make Holy Week travels safe PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III directed concerned government agencies on Friday has to assure the safety and convenience of the public going to the provinces during the Holy Week celebration even as the national disaster agency and the Philippine National Police went on alert.

“The reminders and instruction of the President to the government agencies are to assure the safety and convenience of the people who will be going to the provinces during the Holy Week,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. For the Toll Regulatory Board, the President directed them to assure smooth and orderly payment of toll fee in major expressways.

The President said the Department of Transportation and Communications and its attached agencies should make sure that there are enough numbers of public vehicles and no overloading particularly the ships.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has also been directed to assure that all roads are clear and safe for all public vehicles.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, a member of the House minority bloc, said for as long as there was an absence of justice for the victims, families and widows of the 44 police commandos who died on Jan. 25, intense anger and frustration against the government will continue.

“There must be justice for the death of our fallen heroes,” said Bello, a former peace negotiator and former justice secretary.

He made his statement even as Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said the acronym MILF meant “Mga Iilan na Lolokohin lang and mga Filipino.”

He said he coined the term based on the MILF’s 35-page report on the encounter between the police commandos and Muslim rebels after the policemen brought down a terrorist in the rebel territory.

“Can we trust the MILF as peace partners?” Cayetano said.

He warned that if the government gave the Bangsamoro Basic Law to the MILF, the group will separate Mindanao and Sulu from the country.

CYAN MAGENTA The head of the National Com- YELLO mission for Muslim Filipinos and the government peace panel, meanwhile, denied the allegations that the government is providing the MILF funds through the Bangsamoro Transition Commission or BTC. “We don’t know where the critics are getting all the information that they have been announcing to the media,” NCMF chairwoman Bai Yasmin Busran-Lao said.

Government peace panel member Senen Bacani said the P100million operational expenses of the BTC was subject to regular accounting and auditing.

The anti-crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Friday slammed what it called the “string of lies, lies and lies” from President Aquino who, it said, was trying to evade the real issues in the Mamasapano incident.

Group chairman Dante Jimenez said they will form a team of legal luminaries to file criminal charges against Aquino, SAF Director Getulo Napeñas and former PNP Chief Alan Purisima over the incident.

“We will file the charges against the two PNP officers anytime soon,” Jimenez said.

“For the President, he will be made to answer for the Mamasapano debacle next year when he turns over the command of the Armed Forces to his successor.” Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Sandy Araneta and Francisco Tuyay

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Heighten standards, Sereno tells law schools

By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno exhorted the administrators of the country’s law schools to adopt higher standards in producing high-caliber graduates following a declining passing rates of the Bar in recent years.

Sereno made the appeal after the passing rate in the 2014 Bar exams dropped to 18.82 percent from 22.18 percent in the previous year.

The country’s first lady chief magistrate expressed belief that it is high time for law school deans to revisit their respective programs.

“I think what should be the concern of everybody, especially the law schools, is whether quality of the instruction is improving at all levels,” Sereno said, when interviewed by reporters during a business forum in Makati City last Thursday following the release of the Bar exams results.

The lowest passing rate in recent years was in the 2012 Bar exams where only 949 of 5,343 law graduates passed the exams or a passing rate of just 17.76 percent.

According to her, there is a need for the deans “to undertake an extensive review on how their courses are being taught and how they recruit the faculty and even the students who are applying to take up law.”

“We cannot also allow (Bar) applicants who are unable to answer very basic questions, and who aren’t able to articulate in an appropriate fashion,” she stressed.

The Chief Justice warned that law graduates who lack practice before the courts and competence would only cause “injustice to their clients.”

“We must assure their clients a credible level of competence,” Sereno said.

Still friends. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua greets President Aquino upon his arrival at the opening of the 30th Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Beijing escalates word war on disputed waters BEIJING—Beijing escalated its war of words with the Philippines over the South China Sea on Friday, decrying Manila as “hypocritical” for criticising its land reclamation works in the area.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying’s denunciation came one day after the Philippine foreign secretary accused Beijing of “accelerating its expansionist agenda” and maintained that Manila would resume its own construction in the South China Sea.

“The Philippines criticized China’s normal construction on our own islands, but in the meantime it claims to resume its construction, such as airstrips on Chinese islands it has illegally occupied,” Hua said at a regular briefing.

“This does not only violate China’s territorial sov-

ereignty but also reveals (the Philippines’) hypocritical nature,” she added.

Beijing insists it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the resource-rich sea, even areas approaching the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, based on a 1940s Chinese map with segmented dashes outlining its territory.

But the dashes, now nine in number, are in some places more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the nearest major Chinese landmass and well within the exclusive economic

zones of its neighbors.

The dispute -- with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claiming parts of the sea -- has for decades been a source of deep regional tension and occasional military conflict.

Tensions have escalated sharply in recent years as China has moved to increase its presence and assert its authority in the waters.

On Thursday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said China was trying to undermine a United Nations tribunal that is due

to rule early next year on a challenge by Manila to Beijing’s claims.

“China is accelerating its expansionist agenda and changing the status quo to actualise its ninedash line claim and to control nearly the entire South China Sea before... the handing down of a decision of the arbitral tribunal on the Philippine submission,” del Rosario said.

China maintains that it does not accept the UN’s arbitration of the dispute, which it insists should be handled directly between Beijing and Manila. AFP

Korean envoy feted at farewell call

Kamsahamnida. President Aquino confers the Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Korean Ambassador Lee Hyuk during his farewell call at Malacañang on Thursday. Also at the call were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Korean diplomats Lee Jaw-wan, Kwon Won-jik and Yang Dong-han. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Lee Hyuk during the latter’s farewell call, held at the Music Room of Malacañang Palace.

Lee received the prestigious Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on Thursday afternoon for his important contributions in further strengthening and deepening bilateral relations between Korea and the Philippines.

The Order of Sikatuna,

established in 1953, is conferred by the President on individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines and to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

The Korean envoy was honored for his outstanding and dedicated service in the field of international relations and for having been an exceptionally worthy and competent rep-

resentative of his government to the Philippines.

The Korean diplomat was also recognized for his valuable efforts in facilitating the various cooperation agreements in the fields of defense between the Department of National Defense and the Korean Ministry of National Defense; and sports between the Philippine Sports Commission and the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; as well as various exchanges of notes for the grant of aid and loan projects in the Philippines. Sandy Araneta

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Share profits, PNoy tells firms

By Sandy Araneta

President Benigno Aquino iii yesterday urged private companies to share part of their profits to their employees to help them during hard times.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the 30th Biennial Convention of the Federation of the FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) delivered at SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Aquino said the FFCCCII members had always reached out to communities through scholarship funds

or medical missions.

“Today, however, I am inviting you to do even more to help us empower the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

Aquino recalled that when he was in the Legislature, he proposed a measure that called on businesses to share part of their profits with their employees.

“Our business environ-

ment had reached a point where management and labor had become too adversarial. Where labor wanted more benefits, management wanted to minimize costs, leading to a seemingly endless tug-of-war, often at the expense of potentially lucrative opportunities for all. My intent was to make the antagonistic ‘you’ versus ‘I’ into a ‘we,’ and the methodology was a system that rewards productivity, that allows all stakeholders to benefit from increased profits,” said Aquino.

The President said he does not expect the bill to be passed anytime soon, but

perhaps “companies can take the initiative: make the effort to give your employees a little more, and it will serve to drive them to be even more productive, while at the same time spurring a virtuous cycle of trust, confidence, and sustained growth in terms of our economy.”

Aquino also noted that the the Chinese are known to place great value in family ties, very much like the typical Filipino. “In fact, the Chinese usually expand the idea of family to cover multiple generations.”

The President also urged the private sector to continue working together, the

way the private companies and government did in the aftermath of Yolanda, and in solving the problem of the port congestion.

“Moving forward, I hope you will continue to partner with all our fellow countrymen and help steer our ship of state towards its rightful place in the sun,” he said.

Aquino said that since he assumed office in 2010, the federation has been one of those he has met with regularly.

Over the past few years, however, “they have spoken less about what they intend to do, and more about what has been done.”

Women’s March for Peace. Peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer waks alongside PNP and civil society representatives around the Quezon City Circle. MANNY PALMERO

Bishops: Divorce a ‘quick fix’ AMId clamor for the passage of a divorce law, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the teachings of the Church on marriage cannot be changed to suit the wishes of the modern world.

In a statement, CBCP president and Lingayen-dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said some people who support the passage of a divorce law do so because they want “another go at marriage,” likening the situation to a person who gets a replacement car if the first one proves to be unsatisfactory.

“It is plainly dehumanizing to both spouses to allow for a test-run, through a first marriage, and then grant the possibility of a replacement of spouses should the test fail,” Villegas said. “divorce is a deterrent to working on differences. Marriage is and ought to be a work in progress.”

“When the expedient of divorce is readily available, a couple will be less likely to work on differences, dialogue and reasonably work out solutions because there is a quick fix to ‘incompatibilities,’” he added.

Villegas said setting grounds for divorce is a slippery slope as “it assumes that one is in a position to grade degrees of misery or difficulty, and to say of some that they are worthy of the ‘relief’ of divorce while others are not.”

“A divorce law will either grant divorce on any ground —in which case marriage becomes a mockery—or on some grounds. But if it is granted on some grounds, irreconcilable differences, for example, who is to say that a person is more greatly challenged by irreconcilable differences than by the snoring of a spouse at night?” he said.

Villegas said the fact that the Philippines is the only country in the world that has yet to pass a divorce law is not something that Filipinos should apologize for.

Immigration foils traffic try

By Vito Barcelo IMMIgrATIOn authorities foiled a human smuggling syndicate’s attempt to traffic 16 Filipino travelers to Malaysia as they were about to leave the ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The passengers, whose names have been withheld for their safety, presented themselves as a tour group. They were supposed to depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week via Air Asia Flight Z2940.

Immigration Officers gliziel Joy diaz and Jeathone Largo noticed inconsistencies in the passengers’ statements upon interview. They were then referred to Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Officer Joyce Arianne Laurel for further inspection.

A check with the airline revealed that the passengers only booked their tickets the day before. They could not present accommodation arrangements in Malaysia or explain their travel itinerary. They also did not have a return ticket

during the interview, the passengers admitted that they did not know each other and that each of them paid P20,000 each to a certain “Ms. Weng” and “Ms. riza” who introduced themselves as legitimate manpower agents helping them find work abroad. The women’s names were unknown to the 16.

One of the victims, a 29-year-old former security guard, claimed that he was promised work in Malaysia.

He became suspicious of the recruiters because he knew the process of acquiring legitimate work documents. When he asked for a copy of his POEA clearance and his Pre-departure Orientation Seminar Certificate, “Ms. riza” assured him that these would be provided before departure.

He only learned that he would depart as a tourist on the day of the flight.

Two female victims were former repatriated OFWs from Libya.

They admitted planning to go back there via Malaysia. They also pad P20,000 each.

Because of the incident, BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison reminded aspiring OFWs not to be “satisfied with flowery words from illegal recruiters. They must be vigilant at all times, and exert all efforts in ensuring that the agencies they deal with are legitimate manpower agencies.”

“They will most likely be victims of human trafficking as soon as they set foot abroad, where they will have no one to turn to. We implement the law to protect the interest of our kababayans and their families,” Mison added. graduates of Talipan national High School (formerly TBHS) in Pagbilao, Quezon will have a grand alumni homecoming in April 11 at the Pagbilao Patio. details of the event may be obtained from Melinda Alejandro Castilla (0912-3224943), rommel roperez (09287062414) and girlie Tinana guerra (0921-2790988)

Not all is lost. A young Yolanda survivor, Charisse, helps her grandmother earn a living by drying fish along the shores of Carigara, Leyte. The girl lost her parents during the typhoon. MEL CASPE

s at u r d ay : m a r c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

USAID builds more classrooms in Palo

PALO, Leyte—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday turned over two school buildings with 14 classrooms in Palo, Leyte -- the third classroom building project completed by the said agency this year.

Palo was one of the municipalities ravaged by ty-

phoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Andrew Holland, USAID supervisory contracting/ agreement officer who led the turn-over ceremony of two buildings with 14 classrooms in Palo I Central School, said: “The United States government and other countries in the world have great determination to rebuild your lives

after Yolanda.”

Holland added that aside from schools, the U.S. government is also keen on its livelihood and health care assistance to the Yolanda affected communities.

Melfe Grance Sanchez, school principal of Palo I Central School, said: “This project, which started last year, is a testimony to our

conviction that has turned into reality” as she thanked the USAID and Education officials.

Students of Palo I Central School used to occupy temporary learning spaces without water and electrical facilities. Sixth grader Shan Abril, 11, said he was happy about the changes in his school.

“We are now comfortable inside the classroom. It feels good that our school is beautiful again,” added Queency Tobilla, another pupil.

According to Engr. Carlos Tan, USAID Rebuild Deputy Chief of Party for Infrastructure, USAID-Rebuild is targeting the completion of over 250 classrooms by January 2016. This is under

their medium-term disaster rehabilitation program in Leyte municipalities.

USAID is working with local governments in building the classrooms.

“These classrooms will be earthquake and typhoon-resilient, taking the lesson after the powerful storm Yolanda,” he said.

Ronald Reyes

Thank you! School children in Leyte wave American flaglets as a gesture of gratitude to the USAID for its school rebuilding project. RONALD REYES

Travel group: Albay is top destination for summer LEGAZPI CITY—The Philippine Travel and Operator’s Association (Philtoa) again named Albay province its top summer destinations.

Philtoa President Cesar Cruz said that local political leadership and commitment to a sustainable tourism program formed part of their criteria aside from a destination’s “sights and activities”.

In 2014, the province recorded a 7.1-percent share in foreign tourist arrivals. The previous year, it was declared the fastest-growing tourism area in the country with a 66% growth rate to 339,000 tourists, higher than the national figure’s.

Albay has been dubbed as a “tourism powerhouse” by the Tourism Department, which said it “will likely lead in the next major wave of the country’s tourist inflow.” The DOT has often showcased Albay in many international tourism expositions.

SC suspends Olongapo judge for bribery raps

By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court has ordered the preventive suspension of a judge in Olongapo City following allegations of attempted bribery, inefficiency and conflict of interest.

Sarag mi, we can. A girl views paintings depicting women, all done by women.

This art exhibit in Lingayen, Pangasinan will be open until April 16. JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB.

The High Court’s Third Division suspended Judge Norman V. Pamintuan of Olongapo City Regional Trial Court, Branch 73.

The SC also directed Pamintuan to answer the complaints filed against him and explain why no disciplinary action should be taken against him for acts which result in conflict of interest on his part.

Aming these acts are following up on a case with the municipal trial court involving his Korean friend, soliciting contributions for a concert and a shootfest, and holding his wife’s birthday celebration at a resort owned by someone with a pending trafficking case at the RTC.

The judge was also asked to explain his failure to resolve 16 cases within the mandated period despite his minimal caseload.

The preventive suspension against Pamintuan arose from the complaints of the other firstand second-level court judges of Olongapo City raised during the judicial audit conducted in January by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).

The tribunal said the allegations against Pamintuan will be treated as an administrative complaint.

The Court said the suspension is effectively immediately and designated Judge Jose L. Bautista, Jr. as acting presiding judge.

A8

opinion [ EDI TORI A L ]

Good, Grand, Great ThIS country continues to have a high regard for lawyers, as shown by the attention to Thursday’s release of the list of those who passed the 2014 bar examinations.

Out of the 6,334 takers, 1,126 passed what is considered the toughest professional test here, translating into a passing rate of 18 percent.

Perhaps what occasions the high regard is the rigorous preparation for the exam. It may be the difficult four or five years of studies – memorization of statutes and details of jurisprudence, spanning several decades, on every legal issue imaginable, and the recitation of these before an unforgiving professor.

The eight subjects covered by the Bar exam include Political and Public International Law, Labor and Social Legislation, Civil law, Taxation, Mercantile Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law, and Legal and Judicial Ethics.

The near-reverence may be because it is lawyers who run governments, craft and interpret its laws. They are influential and powerful, able to make history or rewrite it.

Most likely, the respect comes from the notion that lawyers are out to defend the defenseless, correct injustice and generally make the world – the country, at least – a better place.

We remain optimistic despite our experience with some lawyers deliberately using their expertise to advance their own or agenda, or twist the law for their purposes.

They are the still the exceptions rather than the rule – and this is why we are as interested to read about the Bar passers as though we were their own parents or friends. That a fresh, untarnished batch of lawyers will join the so-called real world gives us a sense of hope that there will be more to advance justice than those to pervert it.

The bar is not only a test of intellect but also of determination and willpower.

The stories of some of the passers have amazed and inspired us. Remember there are 1,126 success stories to discover.

The US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell holmes is quoted prominently on a hall of the UP College of Law. A law school’s business, Wendell said, is to teach law in the grand manner, and to make great lawyers.

But grand teaching and great lawyering can only be seen if the products, not just of UP but all those who passed that tough test, quite simply and categorically, do good things, and well.

That is the ultimate exam, not of legal mastery, but plain character and humanity.

Fall guy For Fallen 44 BaCK CHanneL aLeJandro deL roSarIo RELIEvEd PNP-SAF General Getulio Napenas won’t be a fall guy for the Fallen 44 commandos. In a recent Tv interview, Napenas said the secret police operation was executed through suspended PNP dG Alan Purisima which, from all indications,

clearly came from the top.

By that, he meant Purisima’s role had the green light from President Aquino who’s known to protect friends loyal to him. Napenas is no longer as hesitant to point to the President as ultimately responsible for the bungled Mamasapano mission. In a voice quivering with emotion, Napenas recalled to ANC’s Karen davila how his men after taking down terrorist Marwan

were left defenseless while withdrawing from the scene. said no reinforcement or artillery support came for his beleaguered police commandos. The police official’s statement tended to support both the Senate and police Board of Inquiry findings on the Mamasapano incident that preserving the ceasefire agreement with the MILF was more paramount for the President than providing extra firepower to save the besieged PNP-SAF commandos. Earlier in his testimony before the Senate committee on public order, Napenas was careful not to implicate the President.

napenas is no longer as hesitant to point to the President as ultimately responsible for the bungled Mamasapano mission.

But he seemed to change his mind because he was being made the fall guy who allegedly gave the President

wrong information about the situation on the ground.

The Senate and the BOI reports were contradicted by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s separate report submitted to Malaysia, the third-party broker in the peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine government.

The 20 senators who signed the 120-page Senate report are standing by their findings and impugned the MILF report, particularly the portion on as to who fired first while the commandos were retreating. The MILF also claimed they were unaware of the presence of

S aT u R d aY : M a R c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A9

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

Of graduates and leadership

Marwan and homegrown terrorist Basit usman in their area, adding the encounter happened because the authorities did not coordinate the operation with the MILF. But doing so would have tipped off Marwan and usman who had informers in all the villagers in the vicinity.

How can they not know that these high-profile fugitives were in their locality?” this was how incredible the senators and the PNP

Standard TODAY Manila

saw the MILF version of the incident. senator Grace Poe who chaired the senate committee inquiry maintains the killing of the police commandos was a massacre. she said that it may have begun as a gun battle but turned into a carnage when MILF and BIFF guerillas finished off the policemen while they were already defenseless. autopsy performed on the victims showed they were shot in the face at close

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range; some of them were even mutilated. the outrage over Mamasapano will continue to simmer even if Congress passes a revised Bangsamoro Basic Law when it resumes session. the MILF has made clear it will not accept anything less than what government peace panelists Miriam Coronel Ferrer and teresita deles already gave away in the framework agreement.

Continued on A11

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Graduates, congratulations!

You successfully weathered the required courses to go up that stage in a most precious toga, shake hands and briefly exchange pleasantries with school and other important officials, receive your (mock) diploma, and have your pictures taken in full regalia. How cool is that?

Keep your head high. You earned it.

You are through with years of countless sleepless nights of coffee and reviewers for exams, anxiety of waiting for grades, the beating of deadlines for the seemingly unending required researches and papers, and the endless chats with classmates figuring out how best things could be done, simultaneously with the latest campus “chismis”, and who was dating whom.

You worked hard. take pride in this. and proud is how your family, especially, your parents feel for your achievement. they should be equally congratulated for supporting you all the way.

For putting up with the stress levels, for finding ways to make sure that your tuition fees get paid. In short, for giving you the best possible education no matter what. so, hats-off to you, parents! therefore, bear with your parents and family as they happily flood your timeline and FaceBook page with your graduation pictures and sentimental posts. Let the world know that you are now to embark on a new phase of your life. dear graduates, this is going to be an exciting adventure. Now, you will primarily call the shots. Your decision-making capacities will be tested.

There will be no grades but there will be consequences. remember that your decisions will impact not only on yourself but on others as well. do not forget that you are a part of this community, this country, no matter how frustrating things can be at times. Your country also invested in you no matter if you went to the most exclusive of schools. You used your country’s resources, your country trained your teachers so that they, in turn, could mentor you.

While things can be difficult here, please seriously consider staying and helping out, a least for a few years. Far too many of our bright and skilled citizens have left in search of better opportunities in other lands. We need the best, the brightest, and wellintentioned to help our dear country get out of this rut.

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

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Shaming the republic BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Part I

WhEN Newsbreakcame out with an article dated March 18, 2013 to mark the 45th commemoration of the so–called “Jabida Massacre,” authors Marites Danguilan Vitug and Glenda M. Gloria claimed that at least 23 Muslim trainees were summarily gunned down. Nobody asked where they got their story and what made them conclude that a massacre took place in Corregidor Island. To them, destroying the image and memory of Marcos and the integrity of the Republic does not matter. All that is important is they succeed in ingratiating themselves to their foreign patrons.

Maybe we can speculate, but when writing crosses the line of objectivity, speculation is automatically reduced to propaganda of the worst kind because the authors allowed themselves to be made accomplice to the shaming the Republic. To quote their canard: “Arula’s memory of this day remains vivid: We went to the airport on a weapons carrier truck, accompanied by 13 (non-Muslim) trainees with their M-16 and carbines.

When we reached the airport, our escorts alighted ahead of us. Then Lt. Eduardo Nepomuceno ordered us to get down from the truck and line up […]. As we put down our bags, I heard series of shots. Like dominoes, my colleagues fell. I got scared. I ran and was shot at, in my left thigh. I don’t know that I was running towards a mountain…By 8 am, I was rescued by two fishermen on Caballo Island, near Cavite.”

A presidential helicopter swooped down on Corregidor shortly after the killings. Officers and men belonging to the Army Special Forces leaped out of the aircraft and engaged in a clandestine cover-up mission to erase traces of the massacre.”

When they landed, the teams of soldiers found burned bodies tied to trees, near the airstrip, on the island’s bottom side. The order from Army chief Gen. Romeo Espino was to clean up the place and clear it of all debris. From afternoon till sunset, they collected charred flesh and bones and wrapped them in dark colored ponchos. They could not keep track of how many bodies were there. They also picked up bullet shells lying on the airstrip. The trainees had been shot before they were tied and burned.”

At the crack of down the next day, they loaded the ponchos in the helicopter and flew over Manila Bay. They tied heavy stones to the ponchos before dumping them all into the sea. The remains sank, weighed down by the stones.

The soldiers made sure nothing floated to the surface.”

One need not contradict that fantasy. All that a reader should do is read the privilege speech made

by Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. delivered on March 28, 1968 in the Senate hall barely a week after the incident. Compare Ninoy’s narrative of the events and their version. To quote him: “Jibin Arula, in his sworn statement, said that upon reaching the airstrip they were told to get off their weapons carrier. They were told to form a line.

With all the stored-up suspicion in mind, Jibin Arula must have thought that his time to be killed had come.

We can only conjecture at this point that happened.”

Arula must have made a dash for his life, thinking that they had been brought to the airstrip to be ‘slaughtered.’

“Told to halt by his escorts, he kept running. his escorts shot him in the leg to force him to stop. he kept going – and the rest is history.

What happened to his eleven companions?

Were they really ‘massacred’?

“Some say that when the firing started with Jibin Arula, his companions ducked. So that Arula was correct when he said that he saw his companions fall to the ground.

But were they shot? Or did they duck because of the firing?

The army says that the eleven are alive. As soon as the army authorities produced the other eleven recruits, the sorry mess of Corregidor should find its end. *** “Meanwhile, in Jolo yesterday, I met the first batch of 24 recruits aboard RP-68. This group was earlier reported missing or even worse, believed “massacred”.

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

a year of mercy

ThE 15th-century painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is an iconic depiction of the dismay expressed by the twelve apostles when Jesus Christ revealed that one of them would betray him. The painting shows the varying reactions of the apostles to the dire news of betrayal. While all the apostles expressed shock, Judas, who would betray the Savior, is seen leaning forward with anger all over his face while clutching the purse which contains the thirty pieces of silver.

Traditionally, Christians believe that the Last Supper or the Lord’s Supper occurred on holy Thursday. It was on this day that Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of the holy Eucharist when he transformed the bread and wine into to his body and blood. For us Catholics he is really, truly, and substantially present in the holy Eucharist which is not merely a sign as other Christians believe but the real presence of God. The Gospel of John continues that Jesus took this occasion to wash the feet of his disciples. After he finished washing their feet, he resumed his place, and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. The apostles, especially Peter, could not fathom the significance of this gesture. They believed that Christ, the messiah, would present himself as their savior from the Roman oppressors and restore the glory days of King David.

Instead here he is preaching not as an early king or a conqueror but as a servant who humbly and willingly serves his disciples.

The Lord’s Supper teaches us of God’s abiding presence and mercy. Through the holy Eucharist, Christ’s real presence to commemorate and renew for all time the sacrifice of the cross. Indeed, he is a faithful God who remains with his people throughout human history. he humbled himself even to the point of suffering a most scandalous kind of death – death on the cross – in order to save us from the slavery of sin and free us from eternal death. In washing the feet of his disciples, Christ gives us an example on how to live. he teaches us the virtue of humility and service. And by this we are exhorted to live not for ourselves alone but to be of service to others. To be humble - not proud and arrogant, even when one finds himself in a position of power. This is a very good guidance to the leaders of our society; our political leaders, business leaders and even the heads of every household. To be like Christ is

to serve the weak and the poor amongst us selflessly.

What he asks of us is genuine service and self-effacing and unconditional love especially to those who are ignorant, poor, disabled, oppressed, and even those who oppose or do not agree with us.

On this occasion, Jesus Christ shows his disciples the meaning of infinite mercy and love. he died for us all sinners even for Judas; yes, even Judas who would betray him. It is said that Judas would be forgiven had he asked for forgiveness and not succumbed to despair to hang himself. Perhaps, we can take into account these reflections when dealing with people and happenings around us especially in the aftermath of the Mamasapano tragedy and the ensuing political turmoil. It behooves us to treat this particular incident and other similar occurrences in the light of the Gospel of John which underscores God’s mercy and love for all mankind, notwithstanding our unworthiness.

Beginning December 8 2015, and ending on November 20 2016, Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year for the Church, calling it a “holy Year of Mercy” in order to give stress on the Church’s mission of being a witness of mercy. In his address announcing the holy Year of Mercy” the holy Pontiff said that this journey starts with a spiritual conversion. It is a year to “rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are all called to give consolation to every man and every woman of our time.” At the start of this holy Year, the holy Father stated: “This is the time of mercy. It is important that the lay faithful live it and bring it into different social environments. Go forth!” This proclamation is timely. Seeing what is happening in Syria, Libya, Iraq, the Crimea and other parts of the world including here in our country, particularly on peace in Mindanao, where prejudice competes in our hearts with Christ’s love, mercy and compassion.

The Jubilee year is an invitation to draw our undivided attention to the merciful God who invites all men and women to genuine repentance for it is only the One True God that can heal the deep wounds that today inflict untold suffering to humanity.

As holy Week gets under way tomorrow, I ask for myself and for all of my readers the special grace of solitude and prayer. So in the silence of our hearts, we will recognize the loving mercy of God -- and turn that around to mercy for others.

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylav

William Patarasa, 16 years old, All that is heard from them is that we one of the leaders of the petitioners, approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law in effect corroborated all the points (BBL) to give peace a chance. raised by Jibin Arula. But he denied To make their canard sound knowledge of any massacre.” savvy, the authors claim that it was When writing crosses Comparing the two versions of the from a Presidential helicopter that the line of objectivity, General Espino alighted and immestory, one could say that even if Senator Aquino was motivated by his habit diately the soldiers ordered to clear speculation is of making a political grandstanding, and clean the place of the debris. he nonetheless tried to verify the state- automatically reduced They emphasized the word “Presiment made by Arula by interviewing to propaganda of the dential” helicopter to insinuate that the trainees, and found out that indeed President Marcos had knowledge worst kind. they were sent home to Jolo. In the that a massacre would take place, case of the two “seekers of the truth”, and the visit by General Romeo they came out with their own concluEspino was to make sure that the sions that several Muslim trainees were “order” was carried out to the letter. gunned down, tied their dead bodies to But in Ninoy’s own account, the a treed, burned, and given the burial by alleged visit made by General Esdumping their charred remains at Manila Bay wrapped in pino took place months before the alleged massacre, to ponchos and tied to big stones to make sure they will sink quote him again: and forever forgotten by history.

Shortly before Jabidahs landed on Corregidor (in They committed the worst act of disinformation be- January 3), a top level team of defense officials led by cause they came out with a story that was meant to shame, then Defense Undersecretary Manuel Syquio and Brig. embarrass, humiliate and put the republic in bad light. Gen. Romeo Espino, commander of the Philippine They violated the sacred rule of journalism by maliciously Army, inspected the campsite. The old Corregidor hosand intentionally presenting to our people contemptible pital was cordoned off and declared a restricted area.” canard that our soldiers could commit such a heinous Ninoy never mentioned that the two defense officials crime of killing supposedly one of their own. To this day, came on board a Presidential helicopter or that their the same investigative journalists had not come out with visit took place immediately after the alleged massacre a single article telling our people how our badly injured to insinuate that Marcos have an advance knowledge of Special Action Forces were finished off by the MILF rebels what happened, and that the surprise visit was to make by shooting them on the head with a handgun. As if to be sure the ghastly order was carried out. proud of their dastardly crime, they had their act of brutality videoed and posted on the Internet for all of us to see. rpkapunan@gmail.com

S aT u R d aY : M a R c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

The MILF’s eMpTy ThreaT; p’Noy Is NoT pNp CIC

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA Leaders of the pro-Malaysia Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and misguided supporters of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) insist that the only alternative to the BBL is an all-out war in Mindanao. That threat is devoid of legal and factual bases.

The organic act of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (arMM) may have been subjected to numerous amendments but it remains a valid law because Congress has not repealed it. With the demise of the BBL a virtual certainty owing to the ever-increasing public opposition to it, Congress should focus its attention instead to the arMM organic act and how it may be improved without violating the Constitution. This is the only win-win option outside of war.

If the leaders of the MILF and the proponents of the BBL expect the armed Forces of the Philippines (aFP) to get intimidated by the threat of war, they should take another look at their strategy. since the Filipino soldier is the first to lay down his life in the defense of the nation, he is the last person to want a war. Nonetheless, when war breaks out, he will not renege on his sworn duty to defend the country. The historical record shows that the insurgency in Mindanao has been around since the early 1970s, and that the aFP has continuously and repeatedly disrupted past secessionist overtures of the MILF and its forebear, the Moro National Liberation Front led by Nur Misuari. even the abu sayaff, the notorious kidnap-for-ransom bandit organization, fears the aFP. Moreover, the aFP intelligence center knows where

Of graduates..From A9 You may not earn as much money by staying, but definitely, there will be other perks and highs. I speak as someone who has been in the development world for a number of decades and I continue to get that happy feeling when people approach to say that what we have done has helped them. There is no price tag for this.

You don’t have to be in my field to help, dear graduates. Just practicing your profession here, minimizing brain-drain, using your knowledge to help develop an enabling environment for growth, these are very important things you can contribute to by staying. The ways by which to help is only limited by your desire to do it.

While I say this, you should, of course do what is best for your full development. If you must leave, just do not forget that you have a home to come back to. While you are out, your country will help take care of your family. On the other hand, you can still help your home even while away.

Learn what you can outside, come back home, and invest some here.

We will welcome you with open arms.

In school, you had to live by its rules. Now, you can live by your own. In pursuing your dreams using your own rules, be guided by

A11

the troublemakers are.

Look what happened to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) group which helped the MILF butcher the 44 special action Force policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January. after aFP Chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. declared an all-out offensive against the BIFF, and after aFP troops stormed known BIFF hideouts, the so-called “freedom fighters” went scampering in different directions.

Perhaps its fear of the aFP is the unexplained reason why the MILF did not include a representative from the aFP in the peace panel which drafted the ill-fated BBL. another important consideration is that the United states has branded the terrorist organizations al-Qaeda and Islamic state of Iraq and syria enemies of america. since these terrorist organizations conduct covert operations in the jungles of Muslim Mindanao, it is certain that american military leaders will take steps to annihilate these organizations, even if it means by-passing the aFP in the process. Look what happened to Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. By the time the Pakistani authorities learned about the lightning american raid at Bin Laden’s hideout in their country, the architect of the 911 disaster in New York City had been buried at sea from an american vessel.

In fine, the MILF threat is hardly intimidating. It may cause some inconvenience and annoyance, but it will not intimidate the aFP. Once the MILF and its masters in Malaysia realize this fact, they will have to change their approach in dealing

the values of fairness and justice, of upholding rights, and caring for others and the planet. succeeding in your chosen field and helping make this world a little better are not mutually exclusive. Consider both as in fulfillment of our responsibilities to the future generations, including your own children, should you decide to become parents.

The world has become much more competitive. Inequalities are more pronounced. Not everyone will complete a college education like you.

In fact, the big majority will not get a college diploma. This gives you a distinct advantage over many in your generation especially in this world that puts premium in the letters that come before or after one’s name.

This does not however, mean that things will be easy. Far from it. There will be challenges, big an small. There may even be failures. But the fact that you have hurdled the university means that you should have acquired the discipline needed to rise up and weather the storm, so to speak.

If you work hard, nothing can stop you from achieving more. But, as you push forward in life, do not forget the others who do not have the opportunities you have. They, too, have the right to a decent, humane, way of life. as you go up the ladder, help some of them also go

with the Philippines at the bargaining table. * * * * * although the Constitution provides that President Benigno aquino III is the Commander-in-Chief of the aFP, it does not vest in him the same title as regards the Philippine National Police (PNP). The President cannot be considered the commander-in-chief of the PNP because the latter is not part of the aFP; it is a civilian unit of the national government. Police officials may be in uniform but their uniforms are different from those worn by military officials.

The PNP is under the department of the Interior and Local Government which, in turn, is under President aquino. This means that aquino has ultimately authority over the PNP as chief executive. any marked difference between being the commander-in-chief and being the chief executive is largely titular, as demonstrated by the conspicuous presence of the President in the commencement ceremonies of the Philippine Military academy and the Philippine National Police academy.

Is there really a big difference between being commander-in-chief and being chief executive in figuring out if the president is competent or otherwise to lead the nation? Both the soldier and the policeman will have to salute President aquino whenever they encounter him, anyway. Inevitably, whether or not aquino is the “commander-in-chief ” of the PNP is immaterial for the purpose of ascertaining if he bungled his duties and responsibilities as the president of the country. since he is the public official vest-

up a little. again, you will not have a shortage of ways to do this.

Graduates, the next big names will come from your ranks, whether it be in politics or economics. In ten years or so, a new breed of leaders will rise and your leadership will be more effective if you remain rooted in the people. Please do not lose the connection with the masses. This will make you better rounded persons, more grounded, and pragmatic leaders.

My generation will continue to help out as we were admonished way back then. But we also look forward to witnessing the birth of a new kind of leadership. We need leaders who care enough, who will do things to make this complicated, deteriorating, sometimes cruel and chaotic world a bit more livable for the coming generations. dear graduates, much rests on your shoulders. enjoy the adventure, you have the time. dare and take risks, you will learn from these. experience failure, and get-up triumphant. define yourselves and respect others as they do the same. eventually, rise up to the challenges of leadership and take charge.

For now, congratulations! bethangsioco@gmail.com and @ bethangsioco on Twitter

ed by the Constitution and by law with the ultimate authority over the PNP, President aquino cannot avoid the blame for the Mamasapano Massacre in Maguindanao on the lame excuse that he is not the commanderin-chief of the PNP. * * * * * The official result of the senate probe on the Mamasapano Massacre should add to the legal worries of exPNP chief alan Purisima. according to the senate report, Purisima usurped the powers of the PNP chief while he was suspended from office by the Office of the Ombudsman. In particular, Purisima convinced President aquino about “Operation exodus” and he was directly involved in the operation. Just recently, aquino lamented that Purisima deceived him about the operation.

Purisima’s participation in Operation exodus was anchored on his being the top, albeit suspended, policeman in the country. By involving himself in the operation, Purisima violated the suspension order issued against him. raps for usurpation of authority should be filed against Purisima immediately. If Purisima is allowed to go free with just a slap on the wrist, suspension orders issued by the Office of the Ombudsman will become meaningless. When that happens, the provisions of the Constitution and the laws governing the accountability of public officers will be rendered inutile. Lawlessness will ultimately prevail, and that will be the beginning of the end of honest government in this country.

The Ombudsman should do something about this affront to the law by a law enforcer.

Fall..From A9 draw your own conclusion what the MILF ‘s next step would be if it doesn’t get what it wants.

Back to manual poll count?

Commission on elections spokesman James Jimenez said the 2016 elections might revert to manual counting if the supreme Court strikes down the controversial deal between Comelec and the smartmatic supplier of the 82,000 precinct count optical scan machines.

That would pose a problem not for the conduct of elections which used manual counting before but for the brilliant Comelec officials who managed to swing a P268-million last minute deal with the Venezuelan company to extend the contract for the refurbished PCOs machines stored in a warehouse since the 2013 senatorial elections. smartmatic might have a problem asking for a refund of the commission paid to certain officials if its equipment is discarded. The supplier, however, cannot claim it paid kickbacks to certain parties without implicating itself. The recipients, of course, will also deny there was such payment. That’s between the two of them. But the supplier of the PCOs machines might not really care if they had already been paid. The only losers are us poor saps--the taxpayers.

Other advanced countries, including highly industrialized Japan, have junked electronic voting and reverted to manual count because of questionable results. Cheating can still be done in manual count but it is more difficult than the push-button PCOs that pulled off wide scale cheating in the 2010 presidential and 2013 senatorial elections.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Region Branch 46, Manila In the matter of the Petition For Rehabilit at ion of Philippine Journalists, Inc.,

“A s p r o v i d e d u n d e r S e c t i o n 7 o f A . M . N o .

12 - 12 - 11 - S C F i n a n c i a l R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R u l e s o f P r o c e d u r e ( 2 0 13 ) P e t i t i o n e r i s h e r e b y given a period of five (5) working days from receipt of the notice of this Order to amend or supplement the petition or to submit such documents as maybe necessar y or proper to put the petition in proper order b a s e d o n t h e a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n .”

S P - P R O C . N O . 14 - 13 2 8 6 2

A L M E G A M A N AG E M E N T A N D I N V E S T M E N T C O R P. , Petitioner COMMENCEMENT ORDER B e f o r e t h i s C o u r t i s t h e P E T I T I O N F O R I N V O L U N TA R Y R E H A B I L I TAT I O N f i l e d b y A L M E G A M A N AG E M E N T A N D I N V E S T M E N T C O R P a s P e t i t i o n e r.

The Petition alleged in substanc e the following: The debtor corporation is Philippine Journalists Inc. ( PJ I ) a c o r p o r a t i o n d u l y o r g a n i z e d a n d e x i s t i n g u n d e r Philippine laws, with principal of fice at Journal Building, R a i l r o a d S t r e e t , b e t w e e n 19 t h a n d 2 0 t h S t r e e t s , P o r t Area, Manila.

PJ I w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d o n 0 2 N o v e m b e r 19 7 2 w i t h a c o r p o r a t e t e r m o f f i f t y (5 0) y e a r s .

It was primarily established to carr y on a business as operator and/ or proprietor of mass media communication such as newspapers, journals, magazines, books and literar y works and under taking, radio and television broadcasting s t a t i o n s o n a c o m m e r c i a l a n d /o r s u s t a i n i n g b u s i n e s s .

PJ I i s m a i n l y e n g a g e d i n p r i n t i n g b u s i n e s s a n d publication of newspapers and magazines, such as P e o p l e ’s J o u r n a l , P e o p l e’s To n i g h t a n d W o m e n’s J o u r n a l .

T h a t B a s e d o n i t s a u d i t e d f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t s , PJ I h a s t h e f o l l o w i n g a s s e t s f o r t h e y e a r s e n d e d 2 013 a n d 2 012 : A s set s Cash Trade and other Rec eivables N et Inventor ies Prepayment & other deposits Tot al Cur rent A s set s

2013

2012 1,026,6 5 6

1,18 6, 5 02

14 0,74 4,6 9 2 2 9, 20 5, 823

128,70 4, 3 8 9 28,674, 3 5 8

170,97 7,171

825,127 15 9, 3 9 0, 376

3, 8 6 8, 3 51 5 03, 376 3,921,7 75 8, 320, 5 02

3, 8 6 8, 3 51 1,0 9 5,4 4 5 3,921,7 75 8, 8 8 5, 571

179, 2 97,673

16 8, 275,9 47

N on - c ur rent A s set s Available for sale sec ur ities Proper t y & Equipment- net O ther non - c ur rent A s set s Tot al - non - c ur rent A s sets Tot al A s sets

PJ I has the following liabilities for the year s ended 2012 and 2013 as follows: Liabilities Trade and O ther payables Inc ome Ta x Payable Retirement Benef it O bligation D ue to related par ties Tot al Liabilities

76 0,75 9, 5 41 18, 5 8 3,021

74 4,179,151 17,93 9, 824

9 9,76 6, 28 9 615,4 4 6, 3 9 8 1,49 4, 5 5 5, 249

8 3,76 4,127 615,4 4 6, 3 9 8 1,4 61, 32 9, 5 0 0

PJ I has a tot al c apac it y def ic iency for the year s ended 2012 and 2013 as follows: Capit al D ef ic iency Capit al Stoc ks Treasur y Sto c ks D ef ic it Tot al Capit al D ef ic iency

2013

2012

4, 324, 5 0 0 (91, 5 0 0) (1, 319,49 0, 576) (1, 315, 257, 576)

4, 324, 5 0 0 (91, 5 0 0) (1, 2 97, 28 6, 5 5 3) (1, 2 93,0 5 3, 5 5 3)

As to the GROUNDS for initiating the Involuntar y R e h a b i l i t a t i o n b y t h e P e t i t i o n e r, i t a l l e g e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : Almega is a creditor of Philippine Journalist, Inc. ( “ PJ I ” ) w i t h a n a g g r e g a t e c l a i m o f a t l e a s t O N E M I L L I O N F I V E H U N D R E D T H O U S A N D P E S O S ( P 1, 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) S o m e t i m e i n F e b r u a r y 2 014 , A l m e g a w a s a p p r o a c h e d b y PJ I t o b o r r o w m o n e y, w h i c h w o u l d b e u s e d b y PJ I t o s e t t l e i t s a r r e a r a g e s w i t h S o c i a l S e c u r i t y S y s t e m (S S S) i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l a t t e r ’s c o n d o n a t i o n p r o g r a m b u t its f inancial position was not liquid in the meantime.

H o w e v e r, PJ I m a d e t h e a s s u r a n c e t h a t i t w a s e x p e c t i n g to collect some of its receivables from its clients within a shor t period of time. Thus, it requested Almega if the l a t t e r c a n a c c o m m o d a t e PJ I b y e x t e n d i n g a b r i d g e l o a n f a c i l i t y t o b e p a i d w i t h i n t h i r t y (3 0) d a y s .

A f t e r A l m e g a a n d PJ I n e g o t i a t e d t h e t e r m s a n d conditions of the bridge loan agreement, Almega a c c o m m o d a t e d PJ I ’s r e q u e s t t o b o r r o w O n e M i l l i o n F i v e H u n d r e d T h o u s a n d P e s o s ( P 1, 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0) ( “ S u b j e c t L o a n ” ) . A l m e g a a n d PJ I f o r m e r l y e x e c u t e d a b r i d g e l o a n n o t e o n 0 4 M a y 2 014 , i n w h i c h PJ I p r o m i s e d A l m e g a t o p a y P 1, 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 w i t h i n t h i r t y (3 0) d a y s f r o m t h e s a i d date, without the necessity of demand.

Af ter the Subject Loan was executed, the proc eeds w e r e r e l e a s e d t o PJ I i n t h e f o r m o f m a n a g e r ’s c h e c k a m o u n t i n g t o P 1, 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 o n 0 7 M a y 2 014 .

I n M a y 2 014 , PJ I m a d e u s e o f t h e p r o c e e d s o f t h e S u b j e c t L o a n t o s e t t l e i t s a r r e a r a g e s w i t h S S S . PJ I w r o t e a let ter to SSS manifesting its intent to pay its liabilities.

O n t h e s t i p u l a t e d d u e d a t e o f 0 4 J u n e 2 014 f o r t h e p a y m e n t o f t h e S u b j e c t L o a n , PJ I f a i l e d t o s e t t l e i t s o b l i g a t i o n . Fr o m J u n e t o A u g u s t 2 014 , A l m e g a h a d b e e n t r y i n g t o c o l l e c t f r o m PJ I b u t t h e l a t t e r w o u l d d e l a y t h e p a y m e n t f o r t h e a l l e g e d r e a s o n s t h a t PJ I h a d d i f f i c u l t y collecting its receivables and that it was in the middle of v a r i o u s l i t i g a t i o n s . A f t e r PJ I f a i l e d t o s e t t l e i t s o b l i g a t i o n despite repeated demands by A lmega, the lat ter for mally s e n t a d e m a n d l e t t e r d a t e d 10 S e p t e m b e r 2 014 .

I n i t s l e t t e r- r e p l y d a t e d 2 0 S e p t e m b e r 2 014 , PJ I requested Almega for the modification of the maturity d a t e t o 0 4 M a y 2 015 . PJ I e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t s f i n a n c i a l c o n d i t i o n i s a t a s e v e r e l o s s . M o r e o v e r, i t h a s s e v e r a l pending litigation f iled against it and is heavily indebted to employees and other suppliers.

P e t i t i o n e r, A LM EGA M A N AG EM ENT I N V E S T M E N T C O R P O R AT I O N p r a y s t h a t :

b. c.

d.

e.

f. g.

h. i. j. k.

Af ter a c areful review of the PETITION FOR I N V O L U N TA R Y R E H A B I L I TAT I O N f i l e d u n d e r R u l e 2 ( A) (2) o f t h e F i n a n c i a l R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R u l e s o f P r o c e d u r e b y P e t i t i o n e r A L M E G A M A N AG E M E N T A N D I N V E S T M E N T C O R P. i t s v e r i f i e d a l l e g a t i o n s a t t a c h e d a n n e x e s and suppor ting documents this cour t finds the same S U F F I C I E N T I N F O R M A N D I N S U B S TA N C E a s p r o v i d e d under Section 7 of the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of P r o c e d u r e (2 013) .

The Philippine Journalist, Inc., the debtor c o r p o r a t i o n i s h e r e b y d e c l a r e d U N D E R R E H A B I L I TAT I O N .

The Petitioner is directed to cause the publication of the notice of Commencement order and the Commencement Order in a newspaper of general c i r c u l a t i o n i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s o n c e a w e e k f o r t w o (2) consecutive weeks, with f irst publication to be made within seven (7) days from the time of its issuanc e.

The Petitioner is hereby directed to ser ve by personal deliver y a c opy of the Petition on the debtor within f ive (5 ) d a y s f r o m t h e i s s u a n c e o f t h i s o r d e r.

Petitioner is hereby directed to ensure that foreign creditors with no known address in the Philippines be ser ved a c opy of the Commencement Order at their foreign addresses in such manner that will ensure that the foreign creditor will receive a c opy of the order at l e a s t f i f t e e n (15 ) d a y s b e f o r e t h e i n i t i a l h e a r i n g .

O n t h e m a t t e r o f t h e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R e c e i v e r, t h e C o u r t h e r e b y a p p o i n t s F L O R E N C I O Y. R O J A S , J R . a s R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R e c e i v e r, o n e o f t h e N o m i n e e s o f t h e P e t i t i o n e r.

Creditors are hereby directed to f ile their verif ied n o t i c e s o f c l a i m s w i t h t h e c o u r t a t l e a s t f i v e (5 ) d a y s before the initial hearing date, and hereby war ns that their failure to do so on time will bar them from par ticipating in the rehabilitation proceedings but will not prejudice their right to receive distributions if rec ommended by the rehabilitation rec eiver and approved b y t h e c o u r t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S e c t i o n 12 o f t h i s R u l e .

All the Creditors, the BIR, and all interested par ties (including the regulator y agencies c onc er ned) to f ile to this Cour t and ser ve on the debtor a verif ied comment on or opposition to the petition, with suppor ting a f f i d a v i t s a n d d o c u m e n t s , n o t l a t e r t h a n f i f t e e n (15 ) days before the date of the first initial hearing.

Philippine Jour nalist , Inc. suppliers of goods and ser vic es are hereby prohibited from withholding the supply of goods and ser vices in the ordinar y course of b u s i n e s s f o r a s l o n g a s t h e d e b t o r m a ke s p a y m e n t s f o r the ser vices or goods supplied af ter the issuance of the Commenc ement Order Payment of administrative expenses is also hereby author ized as they bec ome due.

The c ase is hereby set for initial hearing on Apr il 2 2 , 2 0 15 a t 1: 3 0 P. M . R m . 4 5 9 , 4 t h f l o o r, C i t y H a l l o f Manila, of this Cour t, for the purpose of determining w h e t h e r t h e r e i s s u b s t a n t i a l l i ke l i h o o d f o r t h e d e b t o r t o be rehabilitated.

Creditors and all other interested par ties may examine or reproduc e the Petition for Rehabilitation which is available with this Cour t.

A ny creditor or debtor who is not the petitioner may submit the name or nominate any other qualif ied person t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f r e h a b i l i t a t i o n r e c e i v e r a t l e a s t f i v e (5 ) days before the initial hearing.

A ll c ontracts not c onf ir med in writing by the debtor w i t h i n n i n e t y ( 9 0) d a y s f o l l o w i n g t h e i s s u a n c e o f t h e commencement order shall be considered automatically terminated.

T h e C o u r t a l s o i s s u e s a S TAY O R D E R a s f o l l o w s : (i) (ii) (iii)

(iv)

Waive the requirement of ser vic e of pleadings, and i n l i e u t h e r e o f, o r d e r t h a t t h e n o t i c e o f s u c h f i l i n g and availabilit y thereof be ser ved on the interested p a r t i e s h e r e t o; Issue a Stay Order; Directing the creditors and interested par ties to secure from the cour t copies of the Petition and its annexes within such time as to enable them to f ile their comment on or opposition to the Petition and t o p r e p a r e f o r t h e i n i t i a l h e a r i n g o f t h e P e t i t i o n; Staying the enforc ement of all claims, whether for money or other wise and whether such enforc ement is by c our t action or other wise and whether such enforc ement is by c our t action or other wise, a g a i n s t PJ I a n d t h e i r t h i r d p a r t y m o r t g a g o r s ; Prohibiting PJ I from selling, encumbering, transfer r ing or disposing in any manner any of its prosper ities exc ept in the ordinar y c ourse of business; P r o h i b i t i n g PJ I f r o m m a k i n g a n y p a y m e n t o f i t s liabilities outstanding as of the date of filing the p e t i t i o n; P r o h i b i t i n g PJ I ’s s u p p l i e r s o f g o o d s a n d s e r v i c e s from withholding supply of goods and ser vices in t h e o r d i n a r y c o u r s e o f b u s i n e s s f o r a s l o n g a s PJ I m a ke s s i m u l t a n e o u s p a y m e n t s f o r t h e s e r v i c e s and goods supplied af ter the issuanc e of the stay order; Directing the payment in full of all administrative expenses incur red af ter the issuanc e of the stay order; and Other matters as set for th in Rule 2, Section 8 of F i n a n c i a l R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R u l e o f P r o c e d u r e o f 2 013 (a . m . N o . 12 -12 -11 - S C) Set this Petition for initial hear ing; D i r e c t PJ I t o c a u s e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e S t a y Order pursuant to the Financial Rehabilitation Rule o f P r o c e d u r e o f 2 013 ;

T h i s C o u r t i s s u e d a n O r d e r d a t e d J a n u a r y 12 , 2 015 directing the Petitioner the following:

SUSPENDING all actions or proceedings in cour t or other wise, for the enforcement of all claims against the debtor; SUSPENDING all actions to enforc e any judgment, at tachment or other provisional remedies against the debtor; PROHIBITING the debtor from selling, encumbering, transferring or disposing in any manner any of its proper ties exc ept in the ordinar y course of business; and PROHIBITING the debtor from making any payment of its liabilities outstanding as of the c ommenc ement date exc ept as may be provided herein.

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Loreto wants to unify titles

By Randy Caluag

AFTER a successful mandatory defense of his International Boxing Organization junior flyweight belt, Rey Loreto now has the luxury of choosing his next opponent and his manager, Brico Santig, is eyeing World Boxing Council king Pedro Guevarra for a unification bout.

Loreto and his trainer Joven Jorda quietly arrived back in Manila recently following the former’s stunning first-round knockout against South African Nkosinathi Joyi at the Mdantsane Gymnasium on Sunday in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, where he successfully defended the crown he stole against the same foe more than a year ago.

“Hinog na si Loreto for greater fights.

We will try to reach the camp of Guevarra to arrange the bout,” said Santig, who failed to join his wards in South Africa due to a visa problem.

Guevarra won his last six fights, three of them by KO, and the last was against Japanese Yaegashi to claim the WBC lightflyweight title. His fight record of 24 wins (16 KOs), 1 loss, 1 draw does not intimidate Loreto.

“Sanay na si Loreto na underdog, kaya wala sa kanya ‘yang records pagakyat ng ring,” said Santig.

Loreto, a native of Davao del Sur, had a record of 8 losses and 11 wins before hooking up with Santig and trainer Joven Jorda in La Trinidad, Benguet to become a mature fighter the he is now. He won 12 of last 14 fights for a total fight record of 20

wins (12 KOs) and 13 losses.

In fact, his credentials were even questioned by some boxing observers before his title fight to Joyi in February last year, saying he could be entering the lion’s den against the two-time world champion.

He, however, silenced his critics by knocking out Joyi and repeated the same feat in their rematch despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

His trainer recalled how they cried together at the dressing room before going out to the arena. They arrived in East London two days before the fight, with nothing much but their faith in God. “Hindi kami nakapag-ensayo ng husto dahil sa injury nya. Dahil wala si boss (Brico) doon, hindi naasikao ‘yung tamang pagkain namin. Umiiyak kami pareho sa dressing room before the fight, sabi ko kay Loreto, kahit naman pareho tayong buwang-buwang (crazy), ito ang isa sa mga oras na talagang sa Diyos lang tayo aasa,” said Jorda.

Loretosaid he will use the purse to build his dream house in Davao. Problem is, the prize money he was promised has not yet been given to his manager.

Brico did not elaborate but said they are still waiting.

The issuanc e of this stay order does not af fect the right to commence actions or proceedings in order to preser ve ad cautelam a claim against the debtor and to toll the running of the prescriptive period to f ile the claim.

For this pur pose, the plaintif f may f ile the appropriate c our t action or proc eeding by paying the amount of One H u n d r e d T h o u s a n d P e s o s ( P h p 10 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0) o r o n e - t e n t h (1/10) o f t h e p r e s c r i b e d f i l i n g f e e , w h i c h e v e r i s l o w e r.

The payment of the balanc e of the f iling fee shall be a jurisdictional requirement for the reinstatement or revival of the case.

This Commencement Order has the following EFFECTS as provided in Rule 2, Sec. 9. of the Financial R e h a b i l i t a t i o n R u l e s o f P r o c e d u r e ( 2 0 13 ) T h e e f f e c t s o f t h e c o u r t ’s i s s u a n c e o f a C o m m e n c e m e n t Order shall retroact to the date of the filing of the petition and, in addition to the ef fects of the stay or suspension O r d e r, s h a l l : (A)

AND

I m m e d i a t e l y w i t h i n f i v e (5 ) d a y s f r o m t h e f i l i n g o f t h e Petition, this Cour t: a.

Petitioner f iled Compliance and submits the Amended Proposed Rehabilitation Plan in compliance with the O r d e r o f t h e C o u r t d a t e d J a n u a r y 12 , 2 015 .

A12

Satu rday : M arc h 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

(B)

(C)

(D) (E)

(F)

vest the rehabilitation receiver with all the powers and functions provided for under the Act, such as the right of access, and the right to review and obtain records to which t h e d e b t o r ’s m a n a g e m e n t a n d d i r e c t o r s h a v e access, including bank accounts of whatever n a t u r e o f t h e d e b t o r, s u b j e c t t o t h e a p p r o v a l b y the c our t of the per for manc e bond posted by the rehabilitation receiver; prohibit or other wise ser ve as the legal basis for rendering null and void the results of any ex trajudicial activit y or proc ess to seize p r o p e r t y, s e l l e n c u m b e r e d p r o p e r t y, o r o t h e r w i s e attempt to collect on or enforce a claim against the debtor af ter the commencement date unless other wise allowed under these Rules, subject to t h e p r o v i s i o n o f S e c t i o n 4 9 o f t h i s R u l e; ser ve as the legal basis for rendering null and void any set- of f af ter the c ommenc ement date of any debt owed to the debtor by any of the d e b t o r ’s c r e d i t o r s ; ser ve as the legal basis for rendering null and void the per fection of any lien against the d e b t o r ’s p r o p e r t y a f t e r t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t d a t e; c onsolidate all legal proc eedings by and against t h e d e b t o r t o t h e c o u r t : P r o v i d e d , h o w e v e r, T h a t the c our t may allow the c ontinuation of c ases in other cour ts where the debtor had initiated the suit; and exempt the debtor from liabilit y for ta xes and fees, including penalties, interests and charges thereof due to the national government or the LG U a s p r o v i d e d i n s e c t i o n 19 o f t h e A c t .

The Commencement Order shall be in full force and ef fect for the duration of the rehabilitation proceedings u n l e s s : (1) l i f t e d b y t h e C o u r t ; (2) t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p l a n i s s e a s o n a b l y c o n f i r m e d o r a p p r o v e d; o r (3) t h e rehabilitation proceedings are ordered terminated by the c our t pursuant to Section 73 of the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure.

N o t i f y a l l t h e p a r t i e s o f t h i s C o m m e n c e m e n t O r d e r.

N o t i f y t h e l i s t e d c r e d i t o r s o f t h i s o r d e r.

S O O R D E R E D. M a n i l a , P h i l i p p i n e s , M a r c h 2 0 , 2 015 .

( S G D .) R A I N E L D A H . E S TAC I O - M O N T E S A Presiding Judge ( T S - M A R . 2 8 , 2 015 )

IBO boxing champ Rey Loreto with manager Brico Santig (left) and trainer Joven Jorda upon their arrival in Manila.

Que ties Tabuena at helm ANGELO Que made a scorching start and a blazing finish to card a six-under 66 then watched Miguel Tabuena flub a birdie putt from close range on the 18th to forge a tie and a showdown for the P3.5 million ICTSI Manila Masters crown at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.

Que finally made the most of the preferred lies rule, birdying the first four holes in impressive fashion then holing out with two more birdies for that 66 and a seven-under 209 aggregate and a crack at the first-ever crown in four years for the three-time Asian Tour champion.

A flight behind Que, Tabuena actually looked headed to regaining

the lead he lost to Clyde Mondilla in the second round as he headed to the par-5 18th, which he birdied in the first two days. But he misread the putt from around five feet, the ball stopping short of target for a 69.

Tied at 209, Tabuena and Que will thus dispute a Philippine Golf Tour championship for the second straight week after the former outlasted the latter to claim last week’s ICTSI Splendido Classic crown by one.

The duo also clashed in the final flight in last year’s Solaire Open but Tabuena fumbled with a 76 and wound up joint seventh and Que skied to an 82 and ended up joint 21st.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Seaoil karter dominates opening day

Gabriel Tayao Cabrera scoots home to victory in the 2015 Petron Blaze 100 ROK Karting Super Series at the Carmona Race Track. Inset shows the SEAOIL karter displaying his trophy.

Sharapova shocked by no. 97 Gavrilova MIAMI—World number two Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Miami Open hardcourt tennis tournament on Thursday, ambushed by 97thranked Daria Gavrilova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

The upset, biggest so far at the combined WTA and ATP Masters event, took one hour, 49 minutes and marked the worst defeat fivetime Grand Slam winner Sharapova has endured in Miami since she lost in the first round on her debut in 2003.

“It’s sport, and I happened to lose the match,” Sharapova said of dropping her second-round opener after a first-round bye. “Of course it’s a bit of a surprise ... I’m expected to win.

“But that’s one of the reasons

why we play the matches -- you still have to go out and win it no matter if you’re the favorite.

“Today I didn’t,” added the former world number one, who has never lifted the trophy in Miami despite five trips to the final.

Gavrilova, who only broke into the top 100 on Monday, let out a squeal of delight upon sealing the win.

“I still can’t realize that it’s my dream,” said Gavrilova, who said she had dreamed of beating Sharapova ever since she saw her countrywoman beat Serena

Williams in the Wimbledon final in 2004.

The surprise defeat of the second seed opens the door for a possible move by Romanian Simona Halep from number three to number two in the world rankings behind Williams.

Too far behind Sharapova lost the opening set after nearly an hour and quickly found herself trailing the former junior world number one 4-1 in the second.

Sharapova clawed a break back but was then broken to love as Gavrilova set herself up for the win with a 5-3 lead.

She calmly closed out the biggest win of her career on her first

match point.

“I thought I was very composed and just did my best,” Gavrilova said. “I was believing. When I sat down with my towel (at the end), I was crying a little bit.”

Sharapova said she simply left herself too much to do in the second set.

“I had little times where I did come back, but I was always behind,” said Sharapova, who was broken four times in the contest. “I put myself in a situation that was too far behind to come back from.”

Gavrilova lives and trains in Australia, where she is coached with funding from the Australian federation and is pursuing Australian citizenship.

SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera outdueled Lean Linao in a tight finish to capture the leg crown at the start of the 2015 Petron Blaze 100 ROK Karting Super Series at the Carmona Race Track.

Driving the new ROK Shifter for the first time, the multi-titled 15-year-old dished out top form to clinch top honors in the event.

As the youngest contender in the country’s premier karting class, Cabrera placed second in the time trials with 44.048 seconds, but bounced back in the qualifying heat and pre-finals.

True to his reputation as one of the few drivers in Asia who can drive well in a wet track, Cabrera held his ground with superb defensive moves in the pouring rain to hold the top spot in the final five laps en route to victory.

“There’s a saying that a good driver can drive well in a dry track, but the best ones drive well in the rain and I believe that.

Winning races isn’t all about being the fastest. It’s how much you are in control of your kart,” said Cabrera.

Backed by DC, Gold’s Gym, Media Magic, R’s Design and Point Zero Project, Tayao Cabrera is prepping up for a very busy schedule next month.

With two local races in Batangas and Palawan, he is also set to fly to Malaysia to represent the country in the 2015 Asia Max Challenge.

Apart from that, he is also slated to receive honors from the Automobile Association of the Philippines after being awarded with multiple titles at the recently concluded Golden Wheel Awards as well as the PSA Tony Siddayao Award for being one of the nation’s most outstanding athletes.

Shopinas edges Mane N Tail bets Games Sunday (MOA Arena) 2:30 p.m. Philips Gold vs Shopinas 4:30 p.m. Mane N Tail vs Cignal

BINAN, Laguna- La Salle sophomore Kim Dy joined veteran spiker Stephanie Mercado in delivering the big points for the Shopinas Lady Clickers Thursday at the Alonte Sports Arena here.

Dy unleashed 17 points, including 10 on attacks as the Lady Clickers got past the Mane N Tail Lady Stallions, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-12, in the 2015 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference. Peter Atencio

Hoffman leads Texas Open with a 67

Trimac was victorious once again at the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 at Subic, Zambales last March 8. The team was led by Coach Jojo Macalintal (fifth from left), Trimac founder and head coach Jay R Avecilla (center) of Lighthouse Marina hotel and Paulo Legaspi (fourth from right), President Healthwell Nutraceuticals Inc.(Nice Day Coffee), together with the Trimac delegation from all over the Philippines.

SAN ANTONIO—Charley Hoffman fired five birdies in a five-under par 67 on Thursday to take the lead by one shot after the windwhipped first round of the US PGA Tour Texas Open.

Australia’s Aaron Baddeley also had five birdies with one bogey in a four-under 68 at TPC San Antonio.

He was one stroke in front of American Max Homa, who closed with back-to-back birdies to grab sole possession of third place on a three-under par 69.

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson was tied for fourth with 70, despite an equipment malfunction that saw the head of his eight-iron break off on a shot from a fairway bunker.

He was joined at two-under by fellow American Ryan Palmer, whose round included an eagle and a double-bogey.

Only 12 golfers broke par as the gusty winds pushed scores up.

“It was really challenging, really difficult,” said American Matt Kuchar, who was happy to get off the course after an even par 72 -more than six strokes better than the morning scoring average of 78.61.

US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany had two triple bogeys in an 82, while defending champion Steven Bowditch of Australia opened with an 80.

Hoffman’s bogey-free effort looked even more impressive under the circumstances, although

he did benefit from playing later in calmer winds.

He hit eight of 14 fairways in regulation and needed just 24 putts.

Baddeley’s round included an unlikely birdie at the par-four 17th, where he hit his tee shot into the woods, took an unplayable lie and went back to the tee.

His second effort went straight, and as he started walking he heard the gallery roar -- his third shot had gone in for a birdie three from 336 yards.

“I just thought I’d just hit it straight and so I hit it and started walking and then heard the crowd going nuts,” he said. “it was like, ‘wait, I just made birdie.’” AFP

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PLDT HOME Marketing Head Gary Dujali (center) with the Philippine volleyball superstars from Amihan and Bagwis.

PLDT HOME Ultera tour gets boost from volleyball stars ILOILO CITY—The volleyball fever spread to Iloilo residents as PLDT HOME Ultera Install Patrol brought to them the Philippine volleyball superstars from the women’s team Amihan and men’s team Bagwis.

Touring a number of cities nationwide, the Install Patrol program of PLDT HOME Ultera, which delivers ultra-fast LTE for the home of up to 10 Mbps, brings LTE broadband access to more homes in the country. This includes the Install Patrol celebrity crew comprising reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Pia Wurtzbach, Bb. Pilipinas-International Janicel Lubina, Miss Universe 2014 Top 10 Finalist MJ

Lastimosa and top noontime variety show Eat Bulaga’s Wally, Jose and Paolo Ballesteros, among others.

The full-day volleyball showcase kicked off on March 21 with a motorcade comprising the volleyball superstars and a simultaneous volleyball clinic conducted by the Amihan and Bagwis team coaches at the University of San Agustin Gym. As the Philippine volleyball superstars arrived at the gym, they were welcomed by thousands of fans including existing and new subscribers of PLDT HOME Ultera, who were given a chance to meet and greet the well-loved players. These included Rachel

Anne Daquis, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Mika Reyes, Peter Torres, Ran Ran Abdilla, John Vic De Guzman and Iloilo’s very own Jovelyn Gonzaga. The event was also graced by Ateneo Lady Eagles volleyball standout Gretchen Ho. “We are excited to bring the PLDT HOME Ultera Install Patrol to the wonderful province of Iloilo,” PLDT VP and HOME Marketing Head Gary Dujali said. “On top of honing the talents and passion of young aspiring athletes around the nation, this is an opportunity for us to democratize broadband by making it more accessible to homes in far-flung areas, with the help of our Philippine volleyball

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau

Republic of the Philippines MUNICIPALITY OF CABUGAO Ilocos Sur

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No. (+63 2) 928-8642 / 928-8937 Fax No. (+63 2) 920-1635 E-mail: central @ mgb.gov.ph

Invitation to Bid for the

INVITATION TO BID FOR 2015 No.2015-03-06

Construction of Sitio Beckes Small Reservoir Irrigation Project @ Brgys. Aragan, Alinaay & Carusipan Cabugao, Ilocos Sur 1.

2.

The Local Government Unit of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, through the Trust Fund intends to apply the sum of Twenty Four Million, Three Hundred Ten Thousand, Eight Hundred Thirty Four Pesos & 08/100 (Php. 24,310,834.08) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Contract No. 15-04-001. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Local Government Unit of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur now invites bids for the Earth Cut and Fill Including Excavation, Rubbel Concrete, Concrete Works, Plumbing Works, Plastering/ Rubbed Concrete, Construction of Catch Basin @ source area (Excavation, Rubbel Footing, Concrete Works & Slope Protection), Second Handling of Materials, Support/Pedestal of Plumbing Works, Construction of Cut-off Wall @ the Catch Basin (Excavation & Concrete Works) & Second Handling of Materials. Completion of the Works is required within 293 calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in General Conditions of Contract.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Local Government Unit of Cabugao and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only (Php. 25,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

6.

7.

Two (2) lots Geo-Technical Equipment P.R. No. 2015-03-266 P and 2015-03-267 P

1.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2015 intends to apply the sum of Twenty Eight Million Pesos (PhP28,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Two (2) lots Geo-Technical Equipment. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The MGB now invites bids for the Supply and Delivery of the following GeoTechnical Equipment: Lot No. Qty. Item ABC Portable Magnetometer PhP4,000,000.00 1 1 set System Advance Portable Logging 2 4 sets PhP24,000,000.00 Equipment Delivery of the Goods is required within Ninety (90) calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within Five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

4.

Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post Qualification Notice of Award Signing of Contract Notice to Proceed 8.

9.

March 26, 2015 – April 21, 2015 until 10:00 a.m April 8, 2015, 10:00 a.m. @ Conference Hall, Mun. Hall, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur April 21, 2015 @ 02:00 p.m @ Conference Hall, Mun. Hall Cabugao, Ilocos Sur April 23, 2015 April 24, 2015 April 27, 2015 April 28, 2015 April 30, 2015

The Local Government Unit reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: ENGR. HERMES A. ASIT LGU-BAC-Secretariat Tel No. 077-728-5128, Fax No. 077-728-5565

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the address given below during office hours, from March 30 to April 16, 2015 between 9:00AM to 4:00PM and may inspect, purchased a complete set of Bidding Documents upon payment of a nonrefundable fee in the amount of Four Thousand Pesos (PhP4,000.00) per lot.

Preview of specifications can be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

5.

The MGB will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 06, 2015, Monday at 3:00PM at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

6.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on April 17, 2015, Friday on or before 1:30PM. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or any other bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

The Local Government Unit of Cabugao will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 8, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Conference Hall, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before April 21, 2015 until 10:00 a.m at BAC-Secretariat. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on April 17, 2015, Friday at 2:00PM, at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau reserves the right to accept or reject and bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to: Roberto D. Caseros Overall Head, BAC Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. 6676700 loc. 153 E-mail: bacems_minesbureauco@yahoo.com Website: www.mgb.gov.ph (Sgd.) JUANCHO PABLO S. CALVEZ Chairman, BAC

(SGD.) ENGR. CRESCENCIO MARCOS C. FORMOSO Mun. Engineer/ BAC- Chairman (TS-MAR. 28, 2015)

superstars and the local government units.”

Iloilo is one of the many areas powered by PLDT HOME Ultera. The Install Patrol tour will continue to Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan; CAMANAVA and more. For a chance to win free tickets to the biggest sporting events this summer, create a myHome ID, linked to your Ultera account.

PLDT HOME Ultera delivers UltraFast LTE for a Happy Family with Internet speeds of up to 10 Mbps for as low as P999 a month. It is currently available in PLDT Sales and Service Centers, Smart Stores, and PLDT HOME Booths nationwide. For more information, log on to pldthome.com.

(TS-MAR. 28, 2015)

“It’s our pleasure to host these lady professionals from around the world and to showcase their talents within the first class facilities of our property.”

The three-day event will see the elite of women’s professional pool playing 10-ball action in singles, doubles, triples, and 4-on-4 formats. The first team to win 10 matches takes home the coveted title as well as bragging rights on this epic continental clash between women billiards’ best.

The AM8.com Queen’s Cup is sponsored by Andy Cloth and Viking Cue and is hosted by premier lifestyle destination Resorts World Manila. The Queen’s Cup is a Dragon Promotions production.

To know more about tournaments and events at RWM, visit www.rwmanila.com or call Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (02) 908-8833.

Resorts World Manila (RWM) is the first onestop, non-stop entertainment and leisure destination in the Philippines that features recreational thrills, world-class performances, unique events, and exciting lifestyle options. Conveniently located across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, RWM is an instant gateway to world-class Philippine hospitality.

This integrated lifestyle hub is home to three international lodging brands: the all-luxury suite MAXIMS Hotel; the five-star brand MARRIOTT Hotel Manila; and REMINGTON Hotel which offers cozy and superb accommodations for great value.

Two more hotels—SHERATON Hotel Manila and HILTON Hotel Manila—are currently being constructed which will effectively make RWM a five-hotel integrated resort.

Also home to RWM is The NEWPORT Mall which features international luxury brands. Experience a unique viewing experience at The Newport Cinemas with stadium seating and state-of-the-art cinema technology. Watch grand-scale performances at the 1,500-seater, ultra-modern Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT), which boasts state-of-the-art lights and sounds innovations, and the largest LED wall in all of Southeast Asia, or relax in the cozy surroundings and enjoy 24/7 entertainment provided at Bar 360.

Dine in one of almost 50 restaurant outlets offering a diverse selection of local and world cuisine, paired with a wide selection of the finest wines and popular liquors.

Savor the culinary offerings of Filipino and foreign chefs who have mastered their craft through extensive experience in top establishments of major cities all around the world.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacman bloodies sparmate’s nose

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao picked up the tempo in sparring seven rounds at the Wild Card Gym yesterday with two tough sparring partners, who gave him all he could handle.

The Filipino ring icon ended up blooding the nose of Kenneth Simms Jr. in four ferocious rounds.

Simms has been described as a “burly and wily” 5’10” young welterweight from Chicago, with a record of 5-0, with 2 knockouts.

Pacquiao also

sparred four more rounds with undefeated toughie Keandre Gibson, a welterweight with a record of 12-0 with 5 knockouts.

Publicist Fred Sternberg told the b o x i n g m i r r o r. c o m that Pacquiao “looked tremendous and was improving by the day.”

He said Pacquiao’ skills were evident although he cautioned the Pacman is not there yet, but was brimming with confidence.

In the face of Pacquiao occasionally getting cramps in his legs, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune stopped the high altitude runs in Griffith Park and instead focused on short bursts of speed on the track of the University of California in Los Angeles, which he said was aimed at enhancing Manny’s speed, strength and footwork.

Philboxing reporter Aquiles Zonio quoted Fortune who said:

“Manny has no problems when it comes to stamina. He can last up to 15 to 20 rounds so the Griffith Park run is no longer useful. We would like to focus more on further improving his speed and strength.”

Zonio reported that Pacquiao ran eight laps around the track at UCLA before two sets of sprints from the lowest section to the top of the bleachers.

Fortune predicted that Pacquiao’s conditioning level will further improve by May 2 and added that Mayweather “will be shocked once he tastes the power of Pacquiao.”

Manny Pacquiao (right) in a joyful mood during the press conference drumbeating his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. CHRIS FARINA/TOP RANK

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Cray betters SEA games’ record

By Peter Atencio ERIC Cray, one of four FilAmerican bets, who missed the 2015 National Open Athletics’ meet, proved that he deserves to see action in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

The 27-year-old Cray took the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles in 50.93 seconds during the 2015 University of Texas-El Paso Springtime meet at the Kidd Field in El Paso, Texas last March 21.

He finished ahead of UTEP

bet Robert Camacho, who had a 50.93-second clocking for the silver, while Kyle Robinson of South Plains, settled for the bronze in 53.05 seconds, according to results provided by the meet’s official website.

Cray’s clocking was close to the national record of 50 seconds he set in the Asian Games last year, but according to pinoyathletics.info, it was faster than the 51.29 seconds he made in winning the gold during the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

There are four Fil-American tracksters who did not join the

National Open, according to Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association secretarygeneral Renato Unso.

But the athletics’ body is monitoring their performances abroad to see if they can make the cut.

This includes Bryan Mercado, who came up with personal best times in the 100m (10.56) and 200m (21.48, good for fifth) sprints during the Cal State Los Angeles Invitational on March 8.

Also under evaluation are sprinters Princess Griffey and Kayla Richardson.

The triumph of a common cause inside sports ronnie nathanielsz

IN what must surely be recognized as a television coup of the highest order, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and his longtime partners at Solar Sports, headed by its amiable CEO Wilson Tieng, have worked together tirelessly to fulfill Manny’s dream of unifying our country and people and using bitter rivals in the broadcast and telecommunications industry to prove it can be done.

Pacquiao’s hope has always been to use his fights to serve as a unifying force in our country amidst the daily, debilitating divisions that mark our lives and erode our hopes.

Manny has parlayed his persuasive powers anchored on his charisma and a straightforward approach to helping get things done, to hammer out an agreement between the three major television networks—ABS-CBN, TV 5 and GMA 7, as well as GMA Radio’s dzBB and several other platforms, to telecast his eagerly anticipated multi-million dollar showdown with undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. on a slightly delayed basis on free TV, but with the radio coverage as well as the pay-per-view accessible on a live basis.

As Tieng of Solar Sports confessed, it was no easy task

getting an agreement acceptable to all the TV networks and that in pursuit of Pacquiao’s unification dream— both in the ring as far as the titles of the various boxing organizations are concerned— and all across our land with May 3 the starting point, he spent “sleepless nights.”

The only time we recall that an event was simulcast on television was the Dolphy Special, which was a tribute to the quintessential Filipino comedian and President Marcos’ public affairs program “Pulong Pulong sa Kaunlaran.”

The multi-network deal in the Marcos era was agreement which the broadcasters had to comply with as it was hammered on the anvil of Martial rule, unlike the deal on the Pacquiao-Mayweather telecast which was, by all accounts, a gift to the Filipino people crafted by parties ready and hopefully willing, to allow Pacquiao his moment of glory and our people, their opportunity to witness an epic “Battle for Greatness.”

In the end, it didn’t turn out to be a case of the highest bidder winning out. but rather the triumph of a common cause to reach out to a projected audience of 90 million Filipinos from Aparri to Jolo.

Nobody could have done this other than a genuine national sports hero, whose remarkable concern for his people, especially the poor, has characterized his journey in life.

It is one more compelling

example of the wide difference in character of Pacquiao and Mayweather and effectively seals Manny’s place in the hearts and homes of millions of his countrymen and millions around the world.

But while we give all praise to Manny, who in turn will surely look up to the heavens and praise and worship God for His infinite wisdom and goodness in helping make this happen, there are two other entities that need to be given the credit they richly deserve for making this happen.

The first of course is Solar Sports and CEO Tieng. They have had the exclusive rights to Pacquiao’s fights for the past 12 years and they were under no obligation to share what was lawfully theirs with their competitors in a sense since Solar Sports also has its own TV platforms.

The other is GMA 7, which also had an agreement with Solar Sports for exclusive telecast of the Pacquiao fights on the network.

That the leaders of GMA 7 agreed to a multi-network deal instead of holding on to their inherent rights which, from a business and TV ratings standpoint could have been huge, speaks well of individuals like executive vice president Felipe Yalong, who put it very simply when he said “we owe it to the Filipino people” and conceded the fact that they reached out “in deference to the request of Manny Pacquiao.”

One cannot exclude ABSCBN and Manny Pangilinan’s TV 5 from the resulting gratitude of our people, because it was a tough ask for them and ultimately agreeing to be part of an unprecedented tie-up, reflects their own commitment to a common cause articulated by Pacquiao.

Now that the deal has been done, it’s time for everybody who cares for Pacquiao and wish him success in the awesome task of ensuring that “Mayweather’s 0 has got to go” to give him space to train without hindrance or distractions and to refrain from bothering him for tickets and similar favors that take up his time and undermine his focus.

Manny Pacquiao is surely one of the heroes of our time and his heroism has been further enhanced by his commitment to bringing our broadcast entities together so that as many Filipinos as possible can witness the “Battle of the Greatest.”

Many years ago when he was beginning to carve a niche in boxing, Manny told his manager and father-figure Rod Nazario in our presence that he wanted to enter public service. The late Rod brushed it off, but Manny insisted.

We clearly recall his words which ring in our mind to this day— “I want to help my people, especially the poor people in our country.”

Congressman Manny Pacquiao—unquestionably a hero of our time.

NOTICE OF LOSS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

Notice is hereby given to the public that Zuellig Pharma Corporation’s Collection Receipts with OR No. 149001L-149050L, 425001L-4205050L, 00000543010000054350 were lost.

Any transactions covered by these OR Nos. would not be honored by the company.

Zuellig Pharma Corporation Km. 14, West Service Road, South Superhighway Corner Edison Avenue, Sun Valley, Paranaque City

(TS-MAR. 28, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Oriental Mindoro M U N I C I PA L I T Y O F P I N A M A L AYA N ooOoo B I D S A N D AWA R D S C O M M I T T E E I N V I TAT I O N T O A P P LY F O R E L I G I B I L I T Y A N D T O B I D I T B 2 0 15 – 18 1.

The Municipal Gover nment of Pinamalayan, Provinc e of Oriental Mindoro through its joint B i d a n d A w a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B A C) i n v i t e s b i d d e r s / s u p p l i e r s t o a p p l y f o r t h e e l i g i b i l i t y a n d to bid for the hereunder project:

Name of the project Location Approved Budget 2.

: P r o c u r e m e n t o f 1 u n i t T C M 75 B -1 - W h e e l L o a d e r : Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro : P h p 3 , 6 5 6 , 9 0 0 . 0 0 (G e n e r a l Fu n d )

B i d d e r s s h a l l d e l i v e r t h e f o l l o w i n g s e r v i c e s /a c t i v i t i e s , t o w i t ;

Item No. 1

Item Description

Quantity

Unit

T C M 7 5 B -1 W h e e l L o a d e r Japan Reconditioned Te c h n i c a l S p e c i f i c a t i o n: Operating weight:

12 , 3 0 0 k g .

S t d . B u c ke t C a p a c i t y : 2 . 3 0 c u . m PD604 Diesel Engine R a t e d O u t p u t : 16 0 / 2 2 0 0 P S / r p m No. Of cylinder: 6 Cylinders Tr a n s m i s s i o n : 4x 4 T i r e: 2 0 . 5 x 2 5 M i n . Tu r n i n g R a d i u s : 5 6 2 0 m m D u m p i n g C l e a r a n c e: 2 6 5 5 m m D u m p i n g R e a c h: 9 8 0 m m Max. Digging depth .225mm Ar ticulated Closed Cabin Brand New Batter y

2.

1.

2.

3.

4.

P a i n t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a g e n c y ’s specification

The c omplete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Issuance of Bid Documents Pre- Bid Conference

–

M a r c h 2 0 , 2 015 t o A p r i l 9 , 2 015

-

M a r c h 31. 2 015 a t 2 : 0 0 P M a t t h e M a y o r ’s E x t e n s i o n O f f i c e Opening of Bids – A p r i l 10 , 2 015 a t 2 : 0 0 P M a t t h e M a y o r ’s E x t e n s i o n O f f i c e B i d s m u s t b e d e l i v e r e d t o t h e a d d r e s s b e l o w o n o r b e f o r e A p r i l 10 , 2 0 15 a t 2 : 0 0 P M . A l l Bids must be ac c ompanied by a bid secur it y in any of the ac c eptable for ms and in the amount stated in Invitation to Bid as follows:

FORM OF BID SECURIT Y

Minimum Amount in % of Approved Budget for the Contract to be Bid

C a s h , c e r t i f i e d c h e c k , c a s h i e r ’s , m a n a g e r ’s check, bank draf t or irrevocable let ter of credit

Tw o p e r c e n t (2 %)

Bank Guarantee

Tw o P e r c e n t (2 %)

Surety Bond F i v e P e r c e n t (5 %) 5.

T h e M u n i c i p a l G o v e r n m e n t o f P i n a m a l a y a n r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o a c c e p t o r r e j e c t any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liabilit y to the af fected bidder or bidders.

6.

F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n p l e a s e r e f e r t o: M R . E N R I Q U E N . M O C L I N G , H R M O / B AC S e c r e t a r y, L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t o f P i n a m a l a y a n , O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o .

Cc: O f f ic e of the Municipal Mayor This Municipality C o m m i s s i o n o n A u d i t ( C O A) Suppliers Posted at: Municipal Bulletin Board M u n i c i p a l P u b l i c M a r ke t B u l l e t i n B o a r d Website

(S G D.) M A U R O P. H E L E R A Municipal Administrator BAC Chair man

( T S - M A R . 2 8 , 2 015 )

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 2 8 , 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 Bolts close in on semis seat

Filipino WorldChampion Rubilen Amit will represent the country in the coming AM8.com Queen’s Cup 2015 to be held at The Plaza in Resorts World Manila’s Newport Mall from April 16 to 18.

By Jeric Lopez

MERALCO used a balanced scoring assault to cruise to a 9782 drubbing of NLEX in Game 1 of their 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Top women players vying in AM8.com Queen’s Cup PREMIER lifestyle destination Resorts World Manila sets the stage for the world’s best women pool artists to shine as it hosts this year’s AM8.com Queen’s Cup. From April 16 to 18, at The Plaza in Newport Mall, the second installment of the Queen’s Cup is ready to once again showcase the standing rivalry between Asian cue artists and their American and European counterparts in a tournament format similar to the Ryder Cup in golf or Davis Cup in tennis. This year’s tournament

will feature pool greats from different countries all over the world under their respective East and West banners.

Made up of top rank talent, the four-woman West Team is composed of USA’s Jennifer Barretta and Vivian Villareal, and Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famers Sweden’s Ewa Laurance and Northern Ireland’s Karen Corr. The East Team, on the other hand, is comprised of South Korea’s Eunji Park, Taiwan’s Jennifer Chen, former World Number 1

Pacman bloodies sparmate’s nose TURN TO A15

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

China’s Siming Chen and the Philippines’ own, World Champion Rubilen Amit who helped steer the East Team to a win in the tournament’s maiden run last year also held at RWM. “Resorts World Manila is once again thrilled to host this year’s Queens Cup. With a collection of talents this rich, this is arguably the country’s biggest women’s sporting event of the year,” said RWM’s director for Special Events and Promotions Francis Bonnevie.

Turn to A14

The Bolts now lead their best-of-three series, 1-0, and can march into the semifinals with another win in Game 2, scheduled tomorrow in the same Games Today (Quarterfinals - Mall of Asia Arena) venue.

3 p.m. • Talk ‘N Text (Twice-to-beat) T h e vs. Barako Bull wealth was 5:15 p.m. • Rain or Shine (Twice-to-beat) vs. Barangay Ginebra well spread for Meralco, with six players in double-figures.

Hot-shooting Mark Macapagal came off the bench to light up a team-high 22 points on 5-of-10 shooting from downtown, while Josh Davis was his steady self, tallying a burly double-double of 16 points and 21 rebounds. ‘’Tonight, we did a good job sharing the basketball. It made life easy that we made our outside shots,’’ said Meralco coach Norman Black. ‘’It will be challenge for us on how we’ll move into Game 2.’’

The other four other Meralco chargers in twin-digits were Sean Anthony with 14 markers, also off the bench, Gary David (13), and Mike Cortez and Reynel Hugnatan, who each added 10 more.

Right from the get-go, Meralco showed it had ample power supply as it raced to a sizable 34-19 advantage at the end of one.

NLEX then started the second with a 9-0 run to slice its deficit to only six points, 28-34, at the 9:20 mark of the period.

But determined to regain command right away, the Bolts stormed back and finished the first half on 13-8 run that gave them another double-digit lead, 47-36, at halftime.

From there, Meralco held on the rest of the way and even led by as much as 23 points, 93-70, after Anthony’s jump shot with 3:33 remaining.

Al Thornton once again led the Road Warriors with his game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, but the support from his locals weren’t enough to give NLEX a chance in this one.

The Bolts did their cruising despite losing Jared Dillinger, one of their key components, in the first period after spraining his left knee.

Dillinger left and did not come back.

Sharapova LOTTO RESULTS bows to P0.0 M+ Gavrilova 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 TURN TO A13

4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK SATURDAY: MARCH 28, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

PSE ComPoSitE indEx Closing March 27, 2015

7,877.96 6.86

PESo-dollar ratE

Closing MARCH 27, 2015 45

P44.760

44

CLOSE

43 42 41

HIGH P44.760 LOW P44.830 AVERAGE P44.796 VOLUME 458.500M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.27-P42.82 Unleaded Gasoline P27.40-P31.70 Diesel

oPriCES il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B1

Panay Energy, banks sign P11-b power loan

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PANAY Energy Development Corp. signed an P11-billion loan agreement with a consortium of local banks to finance the construction of a 150-megawatt coal plant in the Visayas set for completion next year.

First Metro Investment Corp. acted as lead arranger of the loan facility from a group of 11 local banks.

“It is in response to the looming power shortage in the country, particularly the Visayas area. We raised P11 billion from a consortium of banks,” FMIC president Roberto Juanchito Dispo said.

He said the consortium comprised of “almost the entire banking industry,” including Philip-

pine National Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Metropoliyan Bank & Trust Co. “... we raised P11 billion from a consortium of banks... to expand by another 150 MW the existing clean coal project in Panay,” Dispo said. “It’s a 15-year project finance structure.”

Panay Energy, a unit of Global Business Power Corp., the power inverstment arm of the Metrobank Group, owns the new 150-MW coal

plant in Iloilo City and another 164MW coal plant in the same city.

“Completion is targeted on June 2016,” Global Business executive vice president Jaime Azurin said.

Panay Energy this month held a groundbreaking ceremony on the project. The expansion project can serve the power requirements of the entire Visayas area, including the islands of Panay, Boracay, Negros, Cebu and Leyte, at a rate of P5.05 per kilowatthour for long-term supply agreements.

Global Power last year switched on the new 82-MW coal-fired power plant of subsidiary Toledo Power Corp. in Barangay Daanlungsod in Toledo City, Cebu.

The Toledo plant now supplies the power requirements of Carmen Copper Corp.’s mining expansion projects.

The expansion project, mean-

while, can help ease the power situation in the Visayas grid and serve the requirements of major industries in western Cebu.

Global Business is one of the leading independent power producers in the Visayas. Its power plants are strategically located in areas where high growth is expected.

Global Business Power’s parent, GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty, earlier raised $222.9 million (P9.84 billion) though a share sale.

GT Capital said Titan Capital Holdings Inc. and the Ty family sold 8.715 million common shares to foreign and domestic institutional investors at a price of P1,130.00 apiece. The selling price represents a 4.2 percent discount to GT Capital’s closing price of P1,180 on Feb. 2.

SATURDAY: MARCH 28, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Friday, March 27, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.7 75.3 99.4 105.2 63 2.3 4.2 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 China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources 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 17.98 113 148 17.2 15.8 56.8 4.57 39.5 14 12.98 8.15 12.34 17 27.1 90.5 27 0.014 15.74 9.4 0.98 199.8 10.98 79 5.2 30 90 14.7 317 6.49 5.37 14.48 7.5 14.5 7.03

1.55 63.5 67.5 82.5 50 1.9 1.1 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 7.51 70.45 119.90 101.00 46.6 2.34 2.29 16.8 24.5 9.40 740.00 0.450 97.6 0.95 18.32 31.00 78.10 95.20 332.4 45.6 171.7 1385.00 69.25 3.02

Low

FINANCIAL 7.88 7.05 70.45 68.7 121.50 119.70 101.30 100.00 46.6 46.6 2.34 2.25 2.35 2.15 16.78 16.54 24.95 24.6 9.50 9.00 746.00 746.00 0.440 0.430 97.5 95.2 1.08 0.95 18.40 18.34 31.00 31.00 78.50 77.90 95.30 95.00 332 330 45.95 45.6 173 169.9 1449.00 1392.00 69.25 69.10 3.03 3.03 INDUSTRIAL 45.7 44.5 1.79 1.64 1.1 1.1 2.36 2.19 14.3 12.68 55.85 50 90.00 85.00 20.55 20 29.2 28.15 64.9 63.45 1.87 1.76 11.98 11.3 20.900 20.3 11.64 11.36 8.59 8.37 10.30 10.04 24.25 23.45 30.2 29.45 100 99 15.00 14.00 0.4700 0.4600 14.60 14.50 6.7 6.6 0.620 0.620 219.60 215.60 9.62 9.51 35.00 34.10 3.01 2.71 27 26.5 28.55 27.95 7.800 7.660 272.00 268.40 4.18 4.15 4.15 4.12 10.00 9.81 5 5 11.70 11.48 4.00 3.86 2.97 2.91 3.2 2.86 5.48 5.40 6.48 6.2 205 203.4 1.74 1.67 0.174 0.170 1.46 1.36 2.23 2.22 223 218 4.72 4.5 0.71 0.69 1.52 1.49 HOLDING FIRMS 0.475 0.465 57.30 56.55 27.30 26.38 1.43 1.34 7.07 7.00 2.84 2.73 2.71 2.7 780.5 777 9.1 8.97 15.72 15.22 3.15 3.15 4.55 4.54 0.335 0.320 1352 1321 71.70 71.20 8.84 8.6 0.82 0.77 16.78 16.36 0.67 0.64 4.93 4.88 5.2 5.2 0.0400 0.0400 69.00 67.00 2.95 2.90 900.00 887.00 1.25 1.24 100.00 99.15 0.4650 0.4350 0.2470 0.2390 0.315 0.316 PROPERTY 8.950 8.850 10.02 10.02 0.95 0.95 1.370 1.350 0.250 0.250 37.80 37.20 4.35 4.25

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.2 70.45 121.50 101.30 46.6 2.32 2.32 16.74 24.6 9.00 746.00 0.430 97.3 1.05 18.34 31.00 77.90 95.00 330 45.7 170 1440.00 69.10 3.03

-4.13 0.00 1.33 0.30 0.00 -0.85 1.31 -0.36 0.41 -4.26 0.81 -4.44 -0.31 10.53 0.11 0.00 -0.26 -0.21 -0.72 0.22 -0.99 3.97 -0.22 0.33

166,200 15,390 2,723,920 849,210 16,300 103,000 402,000 2,100 518,700 168,000 5,750 820,000 4,375,110 89,500 2,100 22,700 365,240 147,595 4,300 137,400 528,070 60 12,470 20,000

44.5 1.79 1.1 2.27 12.68 50 90.00 20.55 29.2 63.7 1.78 11.7 20.300 11.36 8.50 10.30 23.5 30.2 99.6 14.98 0.4600 14.60 6.67 0.620 217.40 9.6 34.10 3.01 26.9 27.95 7.800 269.00 4.15 4.12 9.84 5 11.48 3.97 2.93 2.94 5.40 6.25 203.4 1.67 0.172 1.42 2.23 212.2 4.72 0.7 1.50

-1.98 9.15 0.00 4.13 0.96 -10.47 5.88 1.73 3.18 1.11 -2.73 3.72 -0.98 -1.05 0.12 2.59 0.43 2.37 -0.80 6.24 0.00 0.55 -0.45 0.00 -0.37 -0.21 -2.71 3.08 -0.37 -3.45 1.83 -0.44 2.22 -0.24 -1.11 0.00 -1.20 -0.50 -1.01 -10.37 -1.46 -3.40 -0.29 -0.60 0.00 5.19 0.00 -2.66 4.89 1.45 -0.66

4,034,100 3,900 1,000 41,406,000 345,400 4,130 1,140 166,600 645,400 5,010 5,400 222,700 1,254,000 3,679,500 43,193,100 1,013,100 267,900 3,669,400 626,680 41,200 60,000 19,800 355,100 9,400 1,001,100 178,100 600 248,000 1,203,200 374,900 351,900 141,320 9,000 765,000 3,492,200 100 59,400 617,000 3,870,000 357,800 247,200 20,300 21,410 8,600 8,830,000 216,000 51,500 3,594,730 82,000 317,000 98,000

0.470 57.05 26.95 1.43 7.07 2.74 2.71 780 8.98 15.58 3.15 4.54 0.335 1321 71.30 8.75 0.78 16.54 0.64 4.89 5.2 0.0400 67.00 2.93 888.50 1.25 100.00 0.4350 0.2400 0.315

-1.05 0.09 -1.10 -0.69 1.00 -0.72 -3.21 0.00 -0.44 1.17 0.00 -1.30 1.52 -0.75 -0.56 0.00 0.00 0.98 -1.54 -1.21 0.00 -2.44 -0.96 2.81 0.00 0.00 0.86 -3.33 0.84 0.00

230,000 1,635,760 10,123,700 99,000 35,000 379,000 34,000 529,290 1,970,700 5,856,000 25,000 79,000 1,260,000 50,225 2,357,230 2,382,300 2,223,000 3,593,600 27,000 25,329,000 105,000 600,000 808,920 59,000 282,550 34,000 3,090 14,880,000 230,000 130,000

8.880 10.02 0.95 1.370 0.250 37.60 4.27

-0.89 -0.79 -1.04 5.38 4.17 0.00 0.00

2,000,500 2,200 20,000 12,000 440,000 7,873,400 2,616,000

690,658.50 57,556,121.00 11,708,187.00 -4,660.00 86,380.00 -6,688.00 -5,657,155.00 -23,231 4,214,900.00 -3,613,846.00 27,620.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

6.1 5.6 2 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.370 2.25 1.77 1.6 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.74 4.45 24.8 2.06 3.6 19.62 1.02 6.66 1.96 6.5

5 2.8 1.22 0.068 0.47 0.87 0.175 1.22 1.18 1.19 2.75 0.070 0.325 0.4 2.5 18.72 1.45 2.9 14.1 0.58 3.05 0.87 4.37

3.25 43.7 1.43 1.09 12.46 14 0.1640 4.05 71 9 1700 2008 9.04 2.02 118.9 0.017 0.0653 2.2800 6.99 9.67 2.85 2.2 4.32 1.97 14.46 0.62 1.040 6.6 107 11.3 3486 0.710 2.01 48.5 74

1.55 27 0.92 0.59 10 8.28 0.0960 2.97 44.8 4 1080 1580 7.12 1.2 94.4 0.012 0.026 1.560 1.95 5.82 1.15 1.1 1.9 0.485 10.14 0.35 0.36 5.2 81 4.39 2572 0.250 0.26 32.2 48

Close

Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

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

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

High

Low

Close

5.3 5.6 0.94 0.156 0.465 0.900 0.200 1.49 1.80 1.47 5.53 0.122 0.3550 0.5400 7.77 30.10 1.79 3.16 19.90 0.85 7.27 1.100 7.700

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

5.35 5.29 5.29 5.8 5.8 5.8 0.96 0.93 0.95 0.158 0.154 0.154 0.460 0.455 0.455 0.900 0.890 0.890 0.200 0.196 0.196 1.50 1.48 1.50 1.81 0.18 1.80 1.50 1.45 1.49 5.53 5.46 5.52 0.125 0.122 0.124 0.3500 0.3400 0.3400 0.5900 0.4800 0.5100 8.05 7.8 8.01 31.80 30.10 31.30 1.79 1.77 1.77 3.22 3.16 3.22 20.20 19.90 20.15 0.85 0.83 0.83 7.41 7.25 7.3 1.110 1.060 1.100 7.760 7.650 7.700 SERVICES 6.8 6.87 6.5 6.6 63 63.15 62.9 63 1.25 1.25 1.12 1.2 0.690 0.710 0.690 0.700 14 14.3 14 14.3 10.36 10.56 10.32 10.40 0.1100 0.1210 0.1100 0.1200 3.95 4.06 3.96 3.96 85.3 85.4 84.9 84.95 7.10 7.07 6.95 7.00 1000 1000 1000 1000 2024 2040 2002 2002 6.48 6.55 6.45 6.49 1.59 1.56 1.54 1.54 110.5 111.3 109.5 109.5 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.255 0.260 2.400 0.242 1.2900 1.2900 1.2700 1.2700 3.05 3.19 2.61 2.94 8.50 8.88 8.45 8.78 1.98 2.05 1.98 1.98 1.32 1.35 1.35 1.35 2.30 2.29 2.10 2.29 0.680 0.680 0.680 0.680 9.02 9.3 9.02 9.06 0.360 0.390 0.355 0.370 0.500 0.530 0.400 0.530 4.55 4.60 4.60 4.60 108.00 110.00 107.10 110.00 13.50 13.48 13.10 13.46 2838.00 2844.00 2824.00 2830.00 0.580 0.590 0.580 0.580 1.460 1.550 1.470 1.520 41.40 41.75 40.10 41.00 84.80 86.50 84.50 84.55 10.24 10.50 10.24 10.26 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 6.95 7.09 6.97 6.97 0.355 0.355 0.335 0.355 1.440 1.390 1.390 1.390 MINING & OIL 0.0058 0.0058 0.0055 0.0056 3.00 2.84 2.84 2.84 9.00 9.00 8.96 9.00 0.260 0.260 0.260 0.260 1.13 1.15 1.13 1.13 0.91 0.94 0.91 0.91 8.63 8.70 8.06 8.08 2.25 2.29 1.99 2.01 0.430 0.465 0.420 0.450 0.230 0.233 0.230 0.230 0.239 0.239 0.236 0.236 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 4.88 5.1 4.88 4.98 27.95 28.75 27.9 28.15 3.96 4.08 3.96 3.96 0.7500 0.7600 0.7300 0.7300 2.130 2.130 2.070 2.070 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.85 5.85 5.70 5.85 7.5 7.66 7.57 7.57 2.59 2.59 2.56 2.59 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 161.50 162.00 161.40 161.50 4.18 4.18 4.1 4.1 PREFERRED 64.5 64 63 63 510 510 507 507 523 522 522 522 115 115 115 115 500 500 500 500 515 515 506 506 6.31 6.31 6.22 6.22 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 111 111 111 111 1085 1080 1080 1080 1085 1100 1085 1100 1046 1046 1030 1045 76.1 76.1 76 76.1 84 84 84 84 84.5 84.5 84 84.4 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.710 4.120 3.710 3.910 SME 9 9.55 8.71 8.76 74.4 74.5 68.55 68.95 10.74 11 10.4 10.4 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127.9 128 127.9 128

-0.19 3.57 1.06 -1.28 -2.15 -1.11 -2.00 0.67 0.00 1.36 -0.18 1.64 -4.23 -5.56 3.09 3.99 -1.12 1.90 1.26 -2.35 0.41 0.00 0.00

3,892,500 195,000 155,000 15,970,000 620,000 46,000 4,290,000 922,000 46,568,000 545,000 22,978,900 1,390,000 280,000 1,127,000 2,846,400 8,562,800 68,000 84,000 8,480,600 366,700 19,109,500 596,000 5,420,500

-6,318,277.00

-2.94 0.00 -4.00 1.45 2.14 0.39 9.09 0.25 -0.41 -1.41 0.00 -1.09 0.15 -3.14 -0.90 0.00 -5.10 -1.55 -3.61 3.29 0.00 2.27 -0.43 0.00 0.44 2.78 6.00 1.10 1.85 -0.30 -0.28 0.00 4.11 -0.97 -0.29 0.20 0.00 0.29 0.00 -3.47

556,100 19,730 312,000 342,000 27,900 5,571,100 627,710,000 938,000 1,047,030 58,200 30 68,950 102,600 486,000 1,193,860 15,300,000 21,200,000 533,000 948,000 292,900 10,000 15,000 19,000 36,000 1,329,600 4,980,000 582,000 19,000 2,470 965,400 138,455 1,717,000 18,489,000 1,078,100 1,242,340 2,969,300 1,871,000 668,100 1,060,000 5,000

-3.45 -5.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -6.37 -10.67 4.65 0.00 -1.26 -6.67 0.00 2.05 0.72 0.00 -2.67 -2.82 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.91

465,000,000 10,000 350,900 691,296.00 230,000 1,062,000 -23,940.00 860,000 279,400 -24,700.00 61,226,000 15,262,450.00 17,770,000 5,060,000 1,240,000 238,000.00 18,400,000 4,800,000 1,481,000 -3,112,750.00 12,844,700 -94,875,815.00 2,483,000 407,010.00 329,000 1,252,000 347,740.00 74,100,000 2,000,000 -28,000.00 6,100 252,500 -1,098,086.00 514,000 -257,280.00 55,000,000 24,000.00 523,310 40,896,679.00 27,000

-2.33 -0.59 -0.19 0.00 0.00 -1.75 -1.43 0.00 0.00 -0.46 1.38 -0.10 0.00 0.00 -0.12

159,800 4,350 100 9,730 2,600 4,200 11,000 2,277,000 70 150 835 19,785 445,900 30,030 240,300

-289,440.00

-110,220.00

782,090.00

-1,185,000.00 56,548,090.00 23,685,003.00 123,000.00

MST Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI 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 LMG Chemicals Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

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. 1.6 TKC Steel Corp.

1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 111.3 Universal Robina 1.58 Victorias Milling 0.550 Vitarich Corp.

1.33 Vulcan Ind’l.

45.4 1.64 1.1 2.18 12.56 55.85 85.00 20.2 28.3 63 1.83 11.28 20.500 11.48 8.49 10.04 23.4 29.5 100.4 14.10 0.4600 14.52 6.7 0.620 218.20 9.62 35.05 2.92 27 28.95 7.660 270.20 4.06 4.13 9.95 5 11.62 3.99 2.96 3.28 5.48 6.47 204 1.68 0.172 1.35 2.23 218 4.5 0.69 1.51

0.7 61.6 31.85 2.16 7.39 3.29 2.05 747 11.34 84 3.3 5.34 0.23 1060 59.8 6.55 0.9 19.9 0.75 5.4 5.35 0.0550 88 3.5 866 2.2 156 0.285 0.245 0.510

0.46 45.75 21.95 1.6 6.3 1.8 1.04 508 7.470 47.25 2.51 4 0.144 706 36.7 3.95 0.58 12.96 0.580 4.06 4.5 0.027 54.5 1.5 680 1.04 58.05 0.158 0.150 0.295

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.475 57.00 27.25 1.44 7.00 2.76 2.8 780 9.02 15.40 3.15 4.60 0.330 1331 71.70 8.75 0.78 16.38 0.65 4.95 5.2 0.0410 67.65 2.85 888.50 1.25 99.15 0.4500 0.2380 0.315

9.03 26.95 1.99 2.07 0.375 35.3 6.15

5.51 12 0.99 1 0.185 23.7 4.41

8990 HLDG 8.960 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 10.10 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.96 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.300 Arthaland Corp.

0.240 Ayala Land `B’ 37.60 Belle Corp. `A’ 4.27

6.68 8.1 275 2.25 0.191 2.5 2.68 188.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

High

31.75 2.51 0.88 1.25 9.58 40.2 15 14.6 9.82 21.5 0.82 17.3 5.98 9.05 4.25 8.68 8.61 12.2 48.9 16 0.0097 12.8 2.05 0.32 150.8 8.55 48.5 2.8 20.35 12 10.1 246 3.37 4 11.56 5 9.94 4.33

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

SHARES 12,177,662 259,323,666 76,356,303 166,606,094 717,715,273 727,151,096 1,977,440,211

-17,430,283.50

539,730.00 -30,983,362.00 43,380.00 -126,506.50 -92,637,665.00

-270,420.00 6,422.00

459,260.00 -290,000.00 -634.50 -43,180.00 739,188.00 11,509,630.00 666,126.00 -88,667,726.00 7,883,366.00 -70,530.00 9,786,020.00 -34,064,182.50 11,020.00 23,000.00

-94,846.00 57,040.00 -94,120,612.00 -639,714.00

14,604,540.00 -632,750.00 485,672.00 -9,597,700.00

547,960.00 -9,711,650.00 -90,480.00 1,005,520.00 29,300.00 -21,940.00 -185,878.00 2,541,320.00 -1,680.00

-68,820.00 489,191,176.00 26,780.00 4,830.00 -1,490.00

-14,204,159.50 -45,377,175.00

242,903,170.00 2,723,315.00 54,038,458.00

195,200.00 -10,369,325.00 77,154,462.50 7,966,478.00

9,101,782.00

3,171,990.00

-34,882,416.00 84,400.00 -148,948,910.00

119,745.00

0.87 11.46 0.435 1.6

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

PAL Holdings 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 0.325 1.2 1.73 10.98

0.0028 1.72 11.48 0.225 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 0.023 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.042 420 9

0.385 0.3000 0.2950 0.012 0.014 1.960 14.22 1.47 0.220 1.24 0.016 0.017 4.02 7.8 6.5 0.031 123 4.3

44.1

26.3

60 116

30 102

511 9.04 9.67

480 6.76 5.82

77.3 78.95 81.85

74.2 74.5 75

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G FPH Pref C 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

-950.00

10.96 35

2.4 7.74

Double Dragon IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

-2,956,045.00 6,146,110.00

119.6

94

First Metro ETF

5,107,032.00

T op g ainerS VALUE 992,377,063.87 3,607,595,694.16 1,705,389,119.56 1,245,344,668.16 1,307,029,410.4075 620,562,414.76 9,651,878,107.9175

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,857.52 (up) 4.67 INDUSTRIAL 12,738.04 (up) 28.90 HOLDING FIRMS 7,014.15 (down) 15.20 PROPERTY 3,161.34 (up) 18.78 SERVICES 2,098.33 (down) 6.48 MINING & OIL 15,903.83 (up) 21.27 PSEI 7,877.96 (up) 6.86 All Shares Index 4,546.40 (up) 0.20 Gainers: 69; Losers: 100; Unchanged: 52; Total: 221

-968,185.00 75,718,735.00

62,115,625.00 -8,300.00

96,300.00 -37,444,987.00 48,099.00

370,046.00 -9,117,944.00 1,049,300.00 -40,819,981.50 68,865,800.00

6,304,281.00 245,900.00

54,000.00 -528,960.00

2,855,853.00 73,000.00 231,796.00 5,117,694.00 51,135,760.00 -371,200.00 -12,639,065.00 22,707,769.50 -11,535,146.00

-37,060.00 170,000.00 -1,390.00

-1,768,515.00

-1,300,000.00

-14,285,719.00

5.39

1,285,000

-2.67 -7.33 -3.17

14,519,300 1,128,615.00 4,680 3,582,100 4,611,358.00

0.08

3,920

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

1.05

10.53

Ferronickel

2.01

-10.67

Agrinurture Inc.

1.79

9.15

Bogo Medelin

50

-10.47

Boulevard Holdings

0.1200

9.09

Pryce Corp. `A'

2.94

-10.37

Ginebra San Miguel Inc.

14.98

6.24

IRipple E-Business Intl

68.95

-7.33

NOW Corp.

0.530

6.00

Manila Mining `A'

0.0140

-6.67

C. Azuc De Tarlac

90.00

5.88

Dizon

8.08

-6.37

LR Warrant

3.910

5.39

Phil. Realty `A'

0.5100

-5.56

Araneta Prop `A'

1.370

5.38

Apex `A'

2.84

-5.33

TKC Steel Corp.

1.42

5.19

Island Info

0.242

-5.10

Victorias Milling

4.72

4.89

MEDCO Holdings

0.430

-4.44

SATURDAY: MARCH 28, 2015

B3

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

Aboitiz selling P25-b bonds Market hits new record STOCKS rose for the third day to close at a new record Friday, led by property companies, a day after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to keep interest rates unchanged, given the stable inflation.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 6 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 7,877.96 on Friday. It was also up 9 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, was nearly unchanged at 4,546.40 on a value turnover of P9.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 100 to 69, while 52 issues were unchanged.

Developer Robinsons Land Corp. emerged as the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it climbed 4 percent to P31.30. Retailer Starmalls Inc. advanced 1.9 percent to P7.41 while power producer First Gen Corp. gained 1.9 percent to P20.05.

Manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. added 1.6 percent to close at P221.40.

Miner Nickel Asia Corp. rose 0.9 percent to P28.80.

Meanwhile, Asian markets were mixed Friday in edgy trade as investors track the crisis in Yemen, with fears that unrest in the country could turn into a wider Middle East conflict.

Wall Street provided another negative lead while the euro struggled to regain its recent strength after tumbling in New York from levels above $1.10 earlier in the day.

Oil price also dipped a day after surging in reaction to the unrest in Yemen. With AFP

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said Friday its board approved the sale of up to P25 billion worth of retail bonds to finance future acquisitions and infrastructure projects.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the P25billion bond sale, inclusive of an oversubscription option, would be issued in one or more tranches, depending on market conditions.

“The bonds will be registered under the Securities Regulation Code and is expected to be offered to the general public in the second half of 2015,” AEV

said.

The bonds will be listed with Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

AEV said its board delegated to management the final determination of the offer price, tenors, and other terms and conditions of the bonds.

Proceeds from the bond offering will be used to finance

planned acquisitions, future investments and other general corporate requirements, the company said.

AEV chief finance officer Stephen Paradies earlier said the company remained interested in various publicprivate partnership projects the government might bid out, including the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike project and the LRT 2 operation and maintenance project.

AEV is a part of a consortium composed of Ayala Land Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Megaworld Corp. For the LRT 2 project, AEV forged a 60-40 joint venture with Singapore-based SMRT International.

The conglomerate is also studying other PPP projects including the bundled airport projects, particularly the BacolodSilay Airport (P20.26 billion) and Iloilo Airport (P30.40 billion) as bundle 1 and the New Bohol (Panglao) Airport (P2.34 billion), Laguindingan Airport (P14.62 billion) and Davao Airport (P40.57 billion) as bundle 2.

AEV in partnership with J.V. Angeles Construction Corp. early this month signed a P10-billion bulk water supply agreement with the Davao City Water District.

The project t involves the construction of the country’s largest private bulk water supply facility together with a fully renewable energy-powered water treatment plant.

Light Mall. SM Development Corp. opened its newest residential mall dubbed Light Mall at Light Residences in Mandaluyong City, becoming the first to offer a digital cinema experience for residents and neighboring communities. Shown cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony of Light Mall are (from left) SMDC executive vice president Jose Mari Banzon, SM Prime Holdings Inc. chairman Henry Sy Jr., Father Andy Lim of San Roque Parish, Mandaluyong councilor Charisse Marie Abalos and Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo.

Crown Asia’s P222-m maiden offering cleared

Katha awards. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (center) together with Undersecretary Ponciano

Manalo Jr. (fourth from left), Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions executive director Rosario Virginia Gaetos (fourth from right) pose with the winners of the Katha Awards during the 61st edition of the Manila Fame on March 13, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Receiving the awards are (from left) designer Vito Selma of Vito Selma, visual artist Patricia Perez-Eustaquio and architect Tisha de Borja-Samson of E. Murio Inc., designer-entrepreneur Carissa Cruz-Evangelista of Beatriz Accessories, designer Maricris Floirendo-Brias of Tadeco Home, and social entrepreneur Bryan Benitez-McClelland.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P222-million initial public offering of Crown Asia Chemicals Corp., a company engaged in the production of plastic compound and pipes.

The maiden offering of Crown Asia Chemicals is the first IPO application approved by the PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission this year.

Crown Asia will offer 158 million common shares, representing 25 percent of the company’s outstanding capital stock, at P1.41 per share.

Offer period will be from April 10 to 17, 2015 while listing date was set on April 27.

Proceeds from the IPO will be used to fund the construction of a manufacturing plant, debt retirement and modernization of existing compounds and pipe plants.

The company hired Abacus Capital as the issue manager and underwriter for the offering.

Crown Asia is primarily engaged in the production of plastic compounds, pipes and related products for direct and indirect use in the construction and telecommunications industries.

The company generated revenues of P850.7 million and net income of P65.38 million in 2014.

It had total assets of P829.05 million and total shareholders’ equity of P562.90 million. Jennifer B. Austria

SATURDAY: MARCH 28, 2015

B4

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

In BrIef GSIS paintings stay

THE Government Service Insurance System said Friday it will not sell its prized paintings collection.

GSIS general manager Robert Vergara said the agency had sufficient resources to cover the pension fund’s operation.

“The system has enough liquidity to support its operation, we do not need to sell paintings,” he said.

Vergara added the fund does not have the appetite to acquire more art pieces.

He said the growing number of GSIS pensioners was proof that the agency was expanding its assets.

“The benefits we are paying is continuously growing, of course, that is made possible by the good returns we are making,” he said.

Vergara said the system capped 2013 with 54,000 retirees. Jennifer Ambanta

Belle nets P2.56b

BELLE Corp. said net income in 2014 declined 30 percent to P2.56 billion from P3.64 billion in 2013 on lower recurring income.

Belle said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the lower profit income was due to higher net non-recurring gains of P1.5 billion in 2013. Excluding nonrecurring items, Belle’s consolidated net income would have increased 81 percent to P1.04 billion from P572 million in 2013.

Operating revenues in 2014 hit P3.16 billion in 2014, up 21 percent from P2.62 billion in 2013.

Belle realized approximately P1.4 billion in recurring operating earnings in 2014, up 62 percent from approximately P857 million in 2013.

The company attributed the positive operating revenues in 2014 to higher revenue from its lease of the City of Dreams Manila property to Philippine entities controlled by Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. Jennifer B. Austria

Earth Hour backed

MANILA Electric Co., the Philippines’ largest power distributor, expressed full support for Earth Hour 2015, an international campaign calling for serious and sustained action on global warming and climate change.

The Earth Hour campaign urges people from all walks of life to turn off essential lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. today.

Organizations representing civil society, the business community, the religious sector, the youth, national agencies and local governments are also extending support for the event.

The Philippines earned the title of Earth Hour Hero Country after topping participation records from 2009 to 2013.

Neda visitors. Members of the US Department of Treasury paid a courtesy call on Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and

Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan (right) on March 23 in Pasig City. The delegation led by Harry Tether (second, left row), advisor from the Office of Technical Assistance, asked about the current needs of the Philippines and expressed the US intention to offer technical support and expertise in public-private partnerships. With Tether are (from left) Milosz Mogilnicki, resident advisor to Indonesia, and David Schnier and Kyle Fisher of the economic section of the US Embassy.

Creba proposes 2 mortgage institution nd

By Othel V. Campos

THE country’s biggest group of real estate developers is urging the government to create a secondary mortgage institution to manage some P220 billion in funds once the proposed bill on housing and urban development is approved.

The Chamber of Real Estate & Builder’s Associations Inc. has pushed for the creation of the Centralized Home Financing Program using annual investment in bonds worth P25 billion from the Social Security System, P25 billion from the Government Service Insurance System and P70 billion by the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Another P100 billion will come from the unused agri-agra funds of banks.

“We’ve been pushing for this for the longest time. What is encouraging now is the support we get from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” Creba president Charlie Gorayeb told reporters at the sidelines of the group’s third

monthly meeting at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City.

He said the real estate sector was in talks with Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo to help low-income earners gain access to low-interest financing from commercial banks.

The group suggested to banks an interest rate cap of 3 percent on lending to secondary financial institutions, which in turn will extend to homebuyers at 4.5 percent for socialized housing and

6.5 percent for economic housing loans.

Socialized housing covers residential subdivision and mediumrise condominium units below P1.2 million each, while economic housing covers subdivisions and medium-rise buildings sold above P1.25 million but not more than P3.2 million.

Creba wants to resolve the 5.5 million housing backlog and build as much as 500,000 units each year over the next 20 years.

It said the government should

support the creation of as much as 10 million housing units by 2025, adding the backlog was taking its toll on the people’s economic and social growth.

Under the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act of 1994, a set of non-budgetary funding sources will be used to augment the annual national housing appropiration that includes unused agri-agra allocation funds from banks which “shall be invested in socialized and low-cost housing.”

Higher renewable energy rate bucked

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMER advocacy group CitizenWatch has joined the call to stop the implementation of the feed-in tariff allowance, or FIT-ALL, which translates into an additional P0.0406 per kilowatt-hour charge on power consumers to encourage the production of renewable energy.

CitizenWatch sought Thursday a temporary restraining order with the Supreme Court against the implementation of FIT-ALL “We are not against the use of renewable energy and are in fact encouraging its use as an alternative source. What we are questioning is the manner in which

Supreme Court asked to stop FIT-ALL rate.

FIT-ALL is being collected and how the money will be spent,” said Tim Abejo, CitizenWatch coconvenor in a statement.

The FIT-ALL took effect in January this year. It was conceptualized to offset the high development costs of developing cleaner renewable energy, provide investors with extra financial cushion and guarantee the recovery of their capital in a

reasonable amount of time.

“But it is as if we are saying to investors, ‘Your risk is guaranteed.’ With the current set-up of the collection scheme, this is equivalent to collecting money without a purpose. This makes it unconstitutional,” Abejo said.

Abejo said the characteristic of the FIT-ALL made it similar to the Priority Development Assistant Fund, or PDAF, which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional.

“This is very dangerous, because it gives the collecting agency a free hand on how to spend the money without prior guidelines on where and how the money shall be disbursed,” he said.

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

B5

CeSAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

‘China faces a million deaths’ Airplane co-pilot suffered depression

BEIJING—China faces a million deaths a year from antibiotic-resistant super bugs and a loss of $20 trillion by 2050, an economist and former top Goldman Sachs executive said Thursday.

BERLIN—The Germanwings co-pilot said to have deliberately crashed his Airbus with 149 others aboard into the French Alps suffered serious depression six years ago, German daily Bild reported Friday.

The co-pilot sought psychiatric help for “a bout of heavy depression” in 2009 and was still getting assistance from doctors, the newspaper said, quoting documents from Germany’s air transport regulator Luftfahrtbundesamt.

Andreas Lubitz, 28, was receiving “regular private medical” treatment, Bild reported, adding that Germanwings’ parent company Lufthansa had transmitted this information to the LBA. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said that Lubitz had suspended his pilot training, which began in 2008, “for a certain period,” but did not give more details. Lubitz later continued and was able to qualify for the Airbus A320 in 2013.

Bild said that during the period of his training setback Lubitz had suffered “depressions and anxiety attacks.”

The pilot’s records were due to be examined by experts in Germany Friday before being handed to French investigators, Bild reported.

Two properties used by Lubitz in western Germany were searched by police late Thursday as officials seek clues into how the outwardly level-headed pilot could have decided to commit what is thought to have been suicide and mass murder. AFP

Beijing should “take ownership” of antimicrobial resistance or AMR when it hosts the G20 summit next year, said Jim O’Neill, the leader of a British government-commissioned review on the subject.

“Here is an issue that doesn’t distinguish between religion, color, race,” he said.

“Whether you’re Sunni or Shiite, you’re going to get killed by AMR if we don’t do something about it.”

O’Neill, former chief economist at the US investment bank and chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said that the threat put “China’s remarkable economic performance in the last decade and its enormous future potential” in jeopardy.

“Drug-resistant infections could cost the Chinese economy 20 trillion USD by 2050, and even more shockingly, cause an additional one million deaths per year,” he said.

The review, announced last year by British Prime Minister David Cameron, has found that by 2050, drug-resistant infections could cut global gross domestic product by 2.0 to 3.5 percent and kill 10 million people a year around the world.

In comparison, cancer now accounts for about 8.2 million deaths a year, according to the review.

Several novel diseases have emerged from China in recent years, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and human outbreaks of different strains of bird flu.

Beijing has come under criticism in the past for its state-run hospital system, in which medical institutions are heavily dependent on antibiotics sales for their revenue.

Experts say the system gives incentives to doctors to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics, thus exacerbating the problem of drug resistance.

O’Neill—who is known for having coined the BRIC acronym to refer to emerging powers Brazil, Russia, India and China—acknowledged the issue, telling reporters: “You’ve got to think of better ways of compensating the medical profession.” AFP

Poetry in motion.

Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam of Canada compete in the ice dance competition during the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on March 27. AFP

Mahathir mourns ‘strong leader’ Lee KUALA LUMPUR—Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he was “saddened” by the death of Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew despite their often strained relationship, adding that Southeast Asia had lost a strong leader.

“I cannot say I was a close friend of Kuan Yew. But still I feel sad at his demise,” Mahathir, 89, wrote on his blog. “No matter how friendly or unfriendly we are, the passing away of a man you know well saddens you. “[The Association of Southeast Asian Nations] lost a strong leadership after president Suharto and Lee Kuan Yew,” he added, referring to the former Indonesian leader who died in 2008.

The three contemporaries were robust leaders who played vital roles in

steering their nations from post-colonial uncertainty to economic success.

“Now Kuan Yew is no more. His passage marks the end of the period when those who fought for independence led their countries and knew the value of independence,” Mahathir wrote.

Lee died on Monday aged 91 after half a century in government, during which the city-state was transformed from a poor British colonial outpost into one of the world’s richest societies.

Malaysia-Singapore ties have been testy for much of their history after Lee led his nation to independence in 1965 following a brief and stormy union with Malaysia.

The federation broke up amid race riots pitting Malays against Chinese, who made up Singapore’s majority group.

The relationship between Mahathir, a Malay, and the ethnic Chinese Lee mirrored this tension, with each of them occasionally lobbing criticisms at each others’ nation.

But in his blog posting, Mahathir, who led Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and still exerts political influence, recounts first meeting Lee in 1964 when Singapore was still part of Malaysia.

He said they disagreed on “most” issues, but that each of them reached out when the other suffered health problems.

The two men shared a similar governing template that combined an uncompromising position toward dissent—which sometimes landed their political opponents in jail—with policies that helped develop their nations into successful “Tiger” economies. AFP

Wild fires. A woman takes pictures of the wild fires raging through Los

Alerces National Park, near the Futalaufquen village in the Patagonian province of Chubut, some 1,900 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires, on March 24. Wildfires raging in southern Chile have wiped out hundreds of plant species and are now threatening animal life as well. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE (FM) EVENT REGULATED FM PASS THROUGH FOR TYPHOON YOLANDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2014-163 RC

Applicant. x--------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on November 5, 2014, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the approval of Force Majeure (FM) event regulated FM pass through for Typhoon Yolanda in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), with prayer for provisional authority.

In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following:

2.

It is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA);1 Under Republic Act No. 9511 , it was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines; 2

3.

On January 15, 2009, it assumed transmission functions of TRANSCO including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electrical grid;

4.

On or about 6 November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of 230 kph. On November 7, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda intensified at 235 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 275 kph;

P/kW-mo.

6.

7.

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda made its first landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar around 4:40 a.m., its second landfall over Tolosa, Leyte around 7:00 a.m., its third landfall in Daanbantayan, Cebu around 9:40 am, its fourth landfall over Bantayan Island, Cebu around 10:40 a.m., its fifth landfall in Concepcion, lloilo around 12:00 nn., and its sixth landfall over Busuanga, Palawan around 8:00 p.m. On November 9, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda exited the PAR. A copy of the Certification dated February 4, 2014 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is attached to the application as Annex “A”;

Immediately, after the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, it started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in order to restore the transmission of electricity in the Visayas area. As a result, it incurred additional cost for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said transmission assets damaged by Typhoon Yolanda;

Pursuant to the Certification dated February 4, 2014, Yolanda is referred to by the PAGASA as “Typhoon Yolanda” and that it is one of the strongest and disastrous tropical cyclones that entered in the PAR. Thus, in relation to Section 1.3 of the RTWR, Typhoon Yolanda falls within the definition of a FME;

11. Therefore, within three (3) months after the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Yolanda, it filed before the Commission an FME Notice Regarding Typhoon Yolanda dated January 21, 2014, pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR. A copy of the FME Notice Regarding Typhoon Yolanda dated January 21, 2014 is attached to the application as Annex “B”; 12. Thereafter, the Commission issued its Letter dated March 7, 2014 acknowledging receipt of NGCP’s FME Notice Regarding Typhoon Yolanda dated January 21, 2014. A copy of the Commission’s Acknowledgment Letter dated March 7, 2014 is attached to the application as Annex “C”; 13. Within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Yolanda, it hereby files the instant FME Claim Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR; Force Majeure Event Computation 14. It must be noted that it has not recovered any amount from its Industrial All Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2013 as compensation for the damage and cost it incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda. Thus, it is but proper for it to file the instant application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda; 15. According to the PAGASA Certification dated February 4, 2014, the estimated total cost of damage caused by the FME Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines is EightyNine Billion Five Hundred Ninety-Eight Million Pesos (Php89.598Bn).3In relation to this, the cost NGCP incurred as additional Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda, including the recoverable values of the assets destroyed is Two Billion Five Hundred Sixty-Nine Million Two Hundred Seventy Thousand Three Hundred Twenty and 87/100 Pesos (PhP2,569,270,320.87) 4; 16. It proposes the FM Pass Through Amount, in P/kW-month, as additional network charges in the Visayas starting the billing period of January 2015 to December 2020 or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, computed as shown in the table below:

3

2020

10.0732 9.5042 8.9608

Justification for the Issuance of Provisional Authority

22. It needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. It must be emphasized that the occurrence of the aforementioned FME Typhoon Yolanda required massive capital infusion, thus, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in its operation and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers; 23. In addition, the timely implementation of the FM pass-through amount will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost; 24. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant application, is attached to the application as Annex “F”; and Prayer 25. It most prays of the Commission to: a.

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes” Republic Act No. 9511 entitled, “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Backbone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes.”

Please see Annex “A” of the application.

Grant provisional approval to implement and bill the FM Pass-Through Amounts to Visayas customers starting January 2015 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered: Visayas P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

2015

2016

2017

2018

84.3797 11.3429 10.6888 10.0732 0.1874

0.0257

0.0241 0.0227

2019

2020

9.5042 8.9608 0.0214 0.0201

b.

Declare the Typhoon Yolanda as Force Majeure Event (FME);

c.

Approve the CAPEX it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to the FME Typhoon Yolanda;

d.

Approve, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM Pass Through Amount to be collected from the Visayas customers starting January 2015 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered as shown in the table below: Visayas P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

2015

2016

84.3797 11.3429 0.1874

0.0257

2017

2018

2019

2020

10.6888 10.0732

9.5042 8.9608

0.0227

0.0214 0.0201

0.0241

e.

Approve and allow the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda in the amount of One Billion One Hundred Fourteen Million Six Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Two Hundred Eighty-Two and 90/100 Pesos (PhP 1,114,677,282.90) as part of the FM Pass Through Amount given that the said amount would have been fully recovered by it if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda as FME; and

f.

Exclude the proposed Pass-Through Amount from the side constraint calculation.

Under Section 1.3 of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), a Force Majeure Event (FME) is defined as follows:

10. In relation to the occurrence of the FME Typhoon Yolanda, pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the same RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda;

2

2019

21. It moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FME Claim pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure;

Due to the strong winds and heavy rainfall of Typhoon Yolanda, its transmission assets and other related facilitates in the Visayas area were severely damaged causing massive and widespread power interruption over the area;

“(a) A typhoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; x x x’:

1

84.3797 11.3429 10.6888

2018

20. Also, it considered the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Yolanda in the calculation of the FM Pass-Excluding Permit Fees Through Amount given that it would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by the FME Typhoon Yolanda;

“Force Majeure Event

9.

2017

19. Further, due to the extent of damage to its transmission assets and other related facilities which required massive repair and restoration activities in the Visayas, the FME Claim under this application breached the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0336/kWh. A copy of the FMTA Computation is attached to the application as Annex “E”;

Force Majeure Event Claim 8.

2016

P/kWh 0.1874 0.0257 0.0241 0.0227 0.0214 0.0201 17. It proposes the FM Pass Through Amounts for the years 2016 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX incurred relative to the FME Typhoon Yolanda should there be a delay in the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth (4th) Regulatory Period (RP);

Statement of facts and of the case

5.

2015

18. Although the instant FME Claim is not included in its Third (3rd) Regulatory Reset Application, the same can be recovered during the 3rd RP pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where it is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of the FME. A copy of the FME Claim Computation is attached to the application as Annex “D”;

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP),

1.

Visayas

Finding the said application sufficient in form and substance with the required fees having been paid, the same is hereby set for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre- trial conference and evidentiary hearing on the following dates and venues: The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on the following dates and venues: DATE

TIME

VENUE PARTICULARS ERC Visayas Field Jurisdictional Hearing April 22, 2015 Nine o’clock in the Office, St. Mary’s and (Wednesday) morning (9:00 A.M.) Drive, Banilad, Cebu Expository Presentation City Pre-Trial Conference May 13, 2015 Nine o’clock in the ERC Hearing Room, and Evidentiary Hearing (Wednesday) morning (9:00 A.M.) 15 th Floor, Pacific Center Building, May 14, 2015 Nine o’clock in the San Miguel Avenue, Continuation of (Thursday) morning (9:00 A.M.) Evidentiary Hearing Pasig City

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson, ZENAIDA G. CRUZ-DUCUT, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, and JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 9th day of March, 2015 at Pasig City.

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III

The New Standard – March 21 & 28, 2015

Pilots who crashed planes PARIS—Investigators believe the co-pilot of a German airliner deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps earlier this week, killing all 150 people aboard.

While rare, there have been previous such incidents in which a pilot or copilot have brought down an aircraft.

Mozambique Airlines November 29, 2013: Mozambique Airlines flight TM 470, flying from Maputo to Luanda, goes down in northeastern Namibia killing 33.

Investigators said the captain had a “clear intention” to crash the plane.

They said flight recorders showed the Embraer 190 went down while Captain Herminio dos Santos Fernandes manipulated its autopilot in a way which “denotes a clear intention” to bring the plane down.

EgyptAir October 31, 1999: EgyptAir flight 990, a Boeing 767 en route from New York to Cairo, crashes into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff, killing all 217 on board.

An analysis of the black boxes showed that the pilot caused the accident and declared shortly before the crash: “I have just taken my decision. I put my faith in God’s hands”.

Egyptian authorities, however, rejected the explanation of pilot suicide, disputing among other things the interpretation of what he said in the black box recording.

SilkAir December 19, 1997: A Singaporean SilkAir Boeing 737 plunges into a river in Indonesia on route from Jakarta to Singapore. All 104 passengers and crew aboard were killed.

US investigators say the captain probably crashed the plane on purpose, while the main investigation led by Indonesia was inconclusive, though it did say pilot suicide was a “plausible hypothesis”.

A report by Singaporean accident investigators at the time said there were indications the flight had been deliberately downed and that the pilot had been in financial difficulties.

However, Singaporean police investigated the claims and found that no member of the crew had any financial problems, and “no evidence that the pilot, co-pilot or any crew member had suicidal tendencies or a motive to deliberately cause the crash”.

Royal Air Maroc August 21, 1994: The pilot of a Royal Air Maroc jet crashes the plane into the Atlas mountains shortly after taking off from Agadir for Casablanca.

All 44 aboard are killed.

The probe, based on the last words of the co-pilot, quickly concluded it was suicide.

Japan Airlines February 9, 1982: A Japan Airlines DC-8 crashes into Tokyo Bay on approach to Haneda Airport. Twenty four people are killed.

A probe concluded that the pilot, who survived, was mentally unstable.

Pilot suicide is also among the various hypotheses considered in last year’s disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard. The communications system was deliberately deactivated and the flight changed course. AFP

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PROPERTY jdlacsamana@gmail.com

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

B7

SM PRIME DRAWS BEAD ON SURGING BPO SECTOR

S

M Prime Holdings Inc. is aggressively setting up e-commerce (E-Com) centers in the country to address the growing demand for offices from the fast-growing business processing outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines David Rafael, SM Prime’s senior vice president, said the company is building more E-Com centers at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex in Pasay City, in particular, because of the sustained expansion of this industry, one of the top drivers of the Philippine economy.

WINNING STREAK “We are investing heavily on mixed-use infrastructure to cater to the demand of the BPO sector, which is on a winning streak,” he said.

The local BPO industry continued to shine1 last

year, recording a 19-percent growth in revenues to $18.4 billion, fuelled by the rising demand for outsourced services from the healthcare information management, gaming and animation and global inhouse center segments.

A total of 1.03 million outsourced professionals were employed in 2014.

This year, the industry is expected to hit $21.3 billion in revenues, and employ a total of 1.18 million agents.

“This is a clear sign that more and more players will be coming into the Philippines. These companies would require office spaces in prime and strategic locations such as the MOA Complex,” Rafael said.

BAY AREA SPRUCE-UP SM Prime is banking on the 67-hectare MOA Complex as a suitable location

for outsourcing companies that are in need of office space. This year, the office space at the Bay Area will only be supplied by Five E-Com, which is already 50-percent pre-leased.

Targeted to start commercial operations in April, Five E-Com center is a 15-storey building that is designed by Miami-based architectural company Arquitectonica.

Aside from office businesses, the E-Com centers are envisioned to become a prime entertainment complex that could host conferences, meetings, and social

and corporate events and gatherings.

Five E-Com joins the company’s nationwide portfolio of properties, which include: Two E-Com center, SM Makati Cyber One, SM Makati Cyber Two, SM Cyber Baguio and SM Cyber West in Quezon City.

Rafael said SM Prime is planning to build more E-Com centers at the Mall of Asia Complex, namely: Three E-Com, which is currently being constructed (target date of completion is 2017), and Four E-Com, which is scheduled for ground breaking in 2019.

MIXED USE HUBS. At 15 storeys apiece, the planned E-Com centers will serve as iconic business, lifestyle hubs for BPOs, and other enterprises that require office space.

PITCHING THE ‘LIVE-WORK-PLAY’ CONCEPT. SM Prime senior executive David Rafael was bullish on developments in the outsourcing industry in the Philippines, “one of the top players in the global outsourcing arena.”

AMAIA STEPS LAUNCHED IN BACOLOD CITY

TURNING THAI IN DAVAO. Real estate developer Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (Torre Lorenzo) is building four luxury developments in the next five years, beginning with Siam 8000, the company’s first masterplanned luxury residential community in Davao City. The Php 2-billion project is a partnership venture between Torre Lorenzo and Asian hospitality brand Dusit International. Siam 8000, located along Maryknoll Drive in Lanang, underpins a tremendous vote of confidence in Davao as an emerging tourism and property destination. Torre Lorenzo’s real estate project pipeline will also include property ventures such as the Dusit D2 Hotel and the exclusive Lubi Plantation Membership Club, both in Kopiat Island, Davao.

‘ALL-SUITES’ CONDO LIFESTYLE IN UPTOWN BONIFACIO

SIGNATURE TOWNSHIP. Uptown Ritz Residence will be in the middle of Fort Bonifacio’s newest corporate playground, Uptown Bonifacio. The township will offer office sites and a commercial centre at the doorstep of its residential condominiums.

Uptown Bonifacio, the 15.4-hectare integrated urban township in Fort Bonifacio, recently introduced an ‘all suites’ residential condominium concept with Uptown Ritz Residence.

Real estate developer Megaworld, conceptualized the ambitious layout in Uptown Bonifacio.

In Uptown Ritz Residence, all units offer two- to four-bedrooms (ranging from 78 sq. meters to 167 sq. meters), at six units per floor.

This all-glass and aluminum tower will have a bi-level podium amenity deck with a fitness center overlooking a swimming pool and spa complex, children’s playground, nursery and function rooms. set the bar higher in luxury living,” said Noli D. Hernandez, Megaworld’s senior vicepresident for sales and marketing. “What we are offering at Uptown Ritz are spacious units that overlook the views of the Fort Bonifacio and Makati central business district,” Uptown Bonifacio is one of Megaworld’s 15 townships in its portfolio. The company has allocated P65-billion to develop the township within 10 to 20 years.

Ayala Land recently launched a new mixed-use development in Bacolod City called Capitol Central. The residential component of the Capitol Central development is Amaia Steps Capitol Central - a mid-rise project with nine floors and 288 residential units for its North Building. Ayala Land subsidiary, Amaia Land Corp, is the group behind this project which is located along San Juan St., Brgy. 8.

Capitol Central is the first master-planned, mixed-use community in Bacolod, stretching across 9 hectares of prime land and is envisioned to be the growth center of the province.

“We are truly excited to bring Ayala Land’s expertise in developing communities to Bacolod,” said Bobby Dy, Ayala Land president during the ground-breaking ceremonies. “Bacolod is a key development area, and a city facing rapid growth.”

“This marks a historic event for Negros Occidental as we break ground on one of the biggest development projects in our province,” said Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. “What used to be an idle piece of land for many decades will now be transformed into a center of economic activity.”

SPRUCING UP BACOLOD. Bobby Dy (fourth from right), Ayala Land president leads the launch of Capitol Central, Ayala Land’s first mixed-use estate in Bacolod City. From left to right: Ricky Celis, Amaia Land president; Jun Bisnar, Ayala Land vice President; Emilio Tumbocon, Ayala Land senior vice president; Mayor Monico Puentevella; Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr; Dan Abando, MDC president; Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land vice president; and Al Legaspi, Ayala Land vice president.

B8

PICK OF THE LOT

S AT U R D AY : M A R C H 2 8 : 2 0 1 5

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

If you live in Quezon City, you would want a condo in the pick of perfection by way of amenities, services and of course, location. Rockwell Primaries’ first project, 53 Benitez, located at P. Tuazon corner C. Benitez in Quezon City, could very well fit those needs to a tee. The development can be reached through major thoroughfares, and is close to key schools and universities, hospitals, retail shops, and churches in town. With seven residential floors in two towers, 53 Benitez is big enough for young families. Best of all, the two and three-bedroom designs present possibilities for homeowners to transform their units to any flexible permutation they deem necessary. Now that’s living the Quezon City dream.

GREEN ROOFS BY LAFARGE

T

ON TREATED POND. The LLDA building features an engineered pond which serves as a representation of the Laguna Lake, and a catchment for treated water.

he Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) recently unveiled a twowing, four-storey building in Quezon City that features the Philippines’ first Bio Roof—an enhanced green roof system that mitigates the negative effects of urban land use.

A pioneering idea from Lafarge Republic Inc. both the building, and the green roof, reflects the mandate of the LLDA to protect the country’s largest freshwater lake. The 5,600-square-meter facility features its own water treatment facility, materials recovery facility, and a rain collection system that can hold 60,000 gallons of water.

Rapid urbanization in the Philippines has given rise to many challenges as increasing infrastructure developments continue to reduce open spaces and increase energy consumption.

Both the public and private construction sectors have responded by reshaping the cityscape and building structures that are as environmentally responsive as they are beautiful

and compact. Now, buildings should not only be sturdy and spacious—they should also be “green”, efficient in energy consumption and adaptive to the changing environment.

ing layer of natural lightweight aggregates called the BioLite™, which promotes healthy plant growth by allowing good drainage and preventing asphyxiation of the roots.

RE-IMAGINING GREEN ROOFS

BREATHING SPACE

The LLDA building features a 150-square-meter Bio Roof that helps reduce cooling needs through shading and insulation.

The Bio Roof, unlike container gardens where plants are grown in pots, is integrated within the building’s structure. Its vegetative layer protects the waterproofing membrane from climatic extremes, UV exposure and mechanical damage, and increases the life span of the roof.

Engineer Erickson De Guzman, Facilities Manager of LLDA, said the Bio Roof helps them become more efficient, particularly with water conservation. “The aggregates in the Bio Roof hold the water and nutrients for the plants and reduces our watering cycle to only three times a week,” he said.

Bio Roof also has an underly-

De Guzman is upbeat that in future, government offices would adopt the Bio Roof. “We hope to open the building, once it’s fully completed, to school and private tours, to increase public awareness,” he said.

Lafarge vice president for marketing Victor Janolino likewise expressed optimism for Bio Roof in a tropical country like the Philippines. He said it contributes many benefits to a building’s aspects, including improved cooling, better energy efficiency and water management, and the conversion of idle roofs to green spaces.

“It is a reflection of our commitment to build better cities— a complete construction solution to help address some of the many challenges of urbanization,” Janolino said.