The Standard - 2015 April 21 - Tuesday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 65  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  TUESDAY : APRIL 21, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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MNLF not happy with OIC position

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Mindoro gov, top PNoy ally, convicted

MANILA SLAMS CHINESE ADVANCE Next page

Balikatan 2015. Philippine and US officials salute the flags during the opening ceremonies for the Balikatan 2015 exercises in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday. AFP

Cavaliers, Clippers clip rivals

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A Madrid Fusión Preview

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PH, Vietnam eye strategic partnership vs Beijing By sandy Araneta THE Philippines and Vietnam are now trying to forge a strategic partnership in the face of the ever-expanding territorial claims of China in the South China Sea. Both countries will take the process a step further when they hold bilateral talks at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next week, officials said on Monday.

“The details of the proposed strategic partnership are still being defined and worked out by the two countries. That’s the current status,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. during a press briefing in Malacanang.

In a separate press briefing, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Luis Cruz said the strategic partnership will be one of the items to be discussed in the bilateral meeting between Manila and Hanoi during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia next week.

President Benigno Aquino III and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang had earlier agreed to crafting a road map for the strategic partnership.

“We agreed to convene the joint committee in December to start discussions on the roadmap towards a strategic partnership with Vietnam, which will essentially focus on improving trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had said.

“We also agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture and to look for ways to strengthen maritime cooperation, such as in search-and-rescue and marine environment protection, oil spills preparedness, among others,” Del Rosaio also said.

So far, the Philippines only has two strategic partners, namely the United States and Japan.

Del Rosario said the venue for the joint committee meeting has yet to be firmed up.

Del Rosario had said the strategic partnership agreement was “mostly driven by our close ties with Vietnam.”

“We actually have entered into a strong commitment to be able to bring our relations closer, and the way to do this is through some form of a comprehensive strategic partnership. We still have to craft exactly what we mean by that,” del Rosario said.

“But I think there’s enough of a history in terms of our relations and the fact that we have very close ties to get us to where we want to go,” he added.

The Foreign Affairs chief said an inter-agency meeting will be convened ahead of the December joint committee dialog to firm up the Philippine inputs for the road map.

Del Rosario said both Aquino and Truong have agreed to mutually support each other’s chairmanship of APEC – Philippines

Conditioned response. Members of left-leaning groups chant slogans as they march toward the United States Embassy in Manila to denounce the Balikatan 2015 joint exercises that started on Monday. Ey ACAsio

Manila raises alarm over Chinese ‘aggressiveness’ By sandy Araneta and Florante s. solmerin

THE government voiced alarm Monday about Chinese “aggressiveness” in disputed regional waters as it launched giant war games with the United States that were partly aimed at warning China.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang released what he said were satellite photos of recent Chinese construction over seven reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea. “We have compelling reasons to raise our voice to tell the whole world the adverse effects of China’s aggressiveness,” Catapang told reporters, describing the reclamation and construction activities as “massive.”

Catapang said this was causing concern “not only because it would deter freedom of navigation, but also due to its possibility of military purposes”.

China claims sovereignty over most of the resource-rich and strategically important sea, including areas close to other Asian nations, using vague demarcation lines that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

China has expanded its presence in disputed parts of the sea in recent years by embarking on giant reclamation work on reefs and islets, turning some into islands capable of hosting military aircraft landing strips.

President Benigno Aquino III said last week the world should fear China’s actions in the disputed sea, warning they could lead to military conflict.

In efforts to deter China, the militarily weak Philippines has encouraged longtime ally the United States to increase its presence on Filipino soil and coastal waters through expanded and more frequent war games.

This dovetails with US plans to re-build its military presence in the Philippines, where it had naval and air bases until the early 1990s.

The Balikatan war games are the biggest annual exercises between the allies, which signed a defense treaty in 1951 committing each to come to the others’ aid in the event of external aggression.

This year’s event involves about 12,000 troops, double last year’s number, and officials from both sides made unsubtle references to the South China Sea in opening ceremony speeches at military headquarters in Manila.

“I am sure that this Balikatan exercise will... likewise zero in on enhancing our combined capacity to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster response as well as in dealing with maritime secu-

rity challenges,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg offered reassuring comments to the Philippines.

“We make no pretense that we are helping the Philippines as it builds a minimal credible defense and protects its maritime security,” Goldberg said.

“Let us be clear: the US is committed to its alliance and in the case of the Philippines, our oldest in the region, that commitment is, as President (Barack) Obama has said, is ironclad,” Goldberg added.

“At the same time, the US will defend the important principles of freedom of navigation in the air and the sea and the peaceful resolution of disputes through legal, diplomatic and peaceful means.”

The term “freedom of navigation” is loaded in the context of the South China Sea, which hosts roughly 40 percent of all the world’s shipping trade.

The United States has repeatedly expressed concern about the territorial rivalries threatening “freedom of navigation”, which angers China as it insists it will always allow ships to sail freely.

China also believes US complaints on the issue are a way for the superpower, which has no territorial claims in the sea, to become involved in the power struggle.

The war games, which last for 10 days, will be held from various military bases around the Philippines.

On Tuesday, marines will conduct beach landing exercises from a naval base facing the South China Sea just 220 kilometers from a Philippine-claimed shoal that China has controlled since 2012.

The is year’s Balikatan will also includes 70 Australian defense force personnel, Philippine officials said at the opening.

South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, East Timor and Vietnam also sent observers, they said.

The Palace said Monday that the military continues to patrol areas under dispute.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said these patrols were aimed at increasing the country’s “maritime domain awareness.”

He also confirmed Monday afternoon reports that Filipino fishermen were harassed in the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal but could not say how many fishermen were involved.

Coloma said the Coast Guard has sent its report to the Foreign Affairs and National Defense departments.

He said the government is working to improve the Navy and the Coast Guard’s capacity to patrol the disputed waters and protect Filipino fishermen.

In a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Catapang said the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States could be used to help modernize the Armed Forces.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta, AFP

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BIFF launches new attacks on police, military stations CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao—Members of the terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters launched a series of attacks against police and military stations in three Maguindanao towns Sunday night, police and military officials said.

But no one was hurt in the attacks in the towns of Shariff Aguak, Datu Hofer and Datu Salibo, said Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao police director.

He said the first attack occurred at the detachment of police commandos near the Maguindanao police provincial office in Camp Datu Akilan Ampatuan.

Two rifle grenades landed near the detachment, Jocson said. Policemen immediately fired back toward the site where the rifle grenades were believed launched.

Jocson said that about 20 minutes later, the BIFF again fired six

rounds of 60 mm mortars toward the 43rd Special Action Company detachment near the Maguindanao provincial Hospital in Datu Hoffer town.

Policemen stationed at the back of the health facility, already alerted on the earlier attacks in Camp Akilan Ampatuan, fired back, forcing the attackers to flee under the cover of darkness.

At 7 p.m. another band of BIFF fighters harassed the detachment of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion stationed in Datu Salibo town with rifle grenades. It was the same detachment that the BIFF harassed Thursday last week that wounded six soldiers.

Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, said they carried out the attacks to send the message the BIFF was still there despite the military pronouncement that the group was a “spent force.” PNA

Courtesy call. President Benigno Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani during his courtesy call in Malacañang Palace on Monday. Malacañang Photo Bureau

OIC backs unchanged Moro law

By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A TOP official of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) warned Monday that the peace agreement between Muslim rebels and the government would be meaningless if the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is watered down by Congress.

“As an observer, we think the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro will be meaningless if BBL is diluted,” said OIC Secretary General Iyad Bin Amin Madani at a forum at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

“If the BBL is diluted, the peace agreement will be voided. The BBL should be improved rather than diluted, solidified [rather] than dismantled,” Madani said.

A watered down BBL would render the peace agreement an empty shell and bring about despair, he said.

“Anywhere in the world, when there’s

a peace process that doesn’t bear fruit, it creates a feeling of despair. Hope takes a backseat,” he said.

Madani also warned that a failure in the peace process would create a good environment for Islamic radicalism to take hold and lead to more conflict.

“You give these radical elements the ammunition to say, ‘I told you so.’ So it is important for us to make sure that this won’t happen,andalsothatweeliminatetheprospectof radicalization,”Madanisaid.

But Madani said that the commitment of congressional leaders to pass the draft law was “encouraging,” and that he was optimistic that the BBL would

be passed during the term of President Benigno Aquino III. Madani also said he hoped the bungled police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in which 44 police commandos were killed would not derail the peace process.

“The Philippine peace process is a domestic process, but the OIC can only hope the BBL is passed by Congress in a timely fashion,” he said.

He added, however, that his fiveday visit was not aimed at pressuring Congress to pass the draft law.

Madani, who took office as the 10th OIC secretary general in January 2014, led an eight-man delegation for a four-day visit to the Philippines to reaffirm its support for the Mindanao peace process.

On Friday, Madani met with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deless on the ongoing peace processes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front

(MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Deles said the visit of Madani shows the OIC’s firm commitment to help in the current peace efforts in Mindanao.

“OIC has contributed so much to the peace process since the Tripoli accord and now more than ever, Filipinos both Muslims and Christians look to you for guidance and support to open a new era of social peace and progress in Mindanao,” she told Madani during the meeting.

Madani expressed the OIC’s full support and commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process. He said their mission is to boost their role in the peace process, saying that the OIC has long been involved in the effort to address the conflict in Mindanao and secure the welfare of Muslims in the country.

Before arriving in the Philippines on Thursday, Madani had a three-day visit in Malaysia where he met with the Malaysian prime minister. With Sandy Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

BBL hearing. Members of the Tiruray tribe from Mindanao attend the hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law in the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday. Manny Palmero

MNLF not happy with support for rival group

By Francisco Tuyay THE Moro National Liberation Front said on Monday it was dismayed that visiting Organization of Islamic Cooperation secretary general Iyad bin Amin Madani expressed support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law when the law would cause further division and violence in Mindanao.

“We are disappointed,” said MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza, who admitted that the MNLF leadership was surprised at the remarks of an official of the OIC which brokered the peace agreement that the MNLF claims has not been fully implemented.

“We reject the BBL,” Cerveza said. “The BBL is a betrayal of the Jakarta accord becase the government has not implemented the Jakarta accord and it entered into another agreement. That is a betrayal.”

Cerveza surmised that the OIC changed its position because of the Office of Presidential Affairs on the Peace Process because it is trying to get support for the BBL which has met stiff resistance in Congress because of purportedly unlawful provisions.

“It is the handiwork of OPAP,” Cerveza said, adding that several provisions of the BBL will likely be removed because of the legality of some of its provisions.

Cerveza made the remark after MNLF leaders met with Madani at the Seda Hotel in Davao City on Saturday, but he said that meeting was about the reunification of the three factions of the MNLF.

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IBP hits Senate judiciary inquiry

By Rey E. Requejo THE leader of the 40,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Monday voiced his strong objection to a Senate plan to investigate allegations of bribery in the judiciary, saying this would violate the Constitution.

“The plan of the Senate to push through with the investigation is a circumvention of the Constitution. In the first place, what would be the purpose of the investigation?” said Vicente Joyas, IBP president.

Joyas was reacting to a statement by Senate President Franklin Drilon that the judiciary is not exempted from Senate investigations.

“They must observe the constitutional provision that only the Supreme Court has the authority to probe the CA justices and lower court judges,” Joyas said, noting that the Senate cannot compel any judges to appear before it.

If the senators push through with the inquiry as sought by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, then they would be violating the constitutional provision on the separation of powers, the IBP president said.

He added that the Senate cannot disguise its investigation as being under the aid of legislation, nor can it justify it on the basis of checks and balances.

“Checks and balances is defined in the Constitution. It pertains to the power of the President over the legislation, the power of the Senate to remove justices by impeachment,” he said.

Backing legal process. Employees of the Court of Appeals wear white during the flag ceremony on Monday to protest Sen. Antonio Trillanes’ assertion that the Senate can investigate claims of corruption in the judiciary, a task reserved for the Supreme Court. Association of Court Appeals Employees Union president Amel de Vera said Trillanes “is full of lies.” DANNY PATA

Mindoro gov convicted

By Rio N. Araja

THE Sandiganbayan sentenced Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali and ex-governor Rodolfo Valencia to up to 10 years in prison over a P2.5-million illegal loan contract to a private person in 1994.

The two officials were already convicted of the crime in 2008 after the anti-graft court denied a demurrer to evidence that was submitted with the permission of the court. The two were each sentenced to six to 10-year in prison with perpetual disqualification from public office.

But the Sandiganbayan agreed in December 2009 to reopen the case so that Valencia and Umali could present their evidence.

However, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division apparently did not find any reason to change the original finding that Valencia and

Umali approved a P2.5-million loan contract to private engineer Alfredo Atienza for the repair, operations and maintenance of the M/V Ace transport vessel for a private purpose.

“For all intents, the credit agreement is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the finances of the provincial government, it is in violation of the law as it was undertaken for a private purpose,” the graft court’s April 20 decision read.

In its 36-page resolution, the division, headed

by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez, ordered the imprisonment of Umali, Valencia and exboard member Romualdo Bawasanta to prison term of six years and one month to a maximum of 10 years.

Aside from the prison term, division chairman, Associate Justice Jose Hernandez, also meted accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of retirement and other gratuity benefits. They were also ordered to indemnify the government P2.5 million.

Valencia said they will ask the court to reconsideration its decision.

“The welfare of the people is the supreme law. It is therefore very unfortunate that we are being persecuted for doing our job to put the welfare of the people first especially in times of calamities and emergencies,” his emailed statement read.

Valencia said the main reason for the loan agreement was that the province was hit by four successive typhoons in December 1993, during which 149 people were killed and over P1 billion worth of properties and infrastructure were destroyed.

The Standard tried, but failed to reach Umali, also Liberal Party treasurer, who was recently accused of trying to block the arrest of Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee. Umali admitted that he called then PNP chief Alan Purisima, but only to ask about the basis for Lee’s arrest. He said he did it as a favor to Lee’s lawyer Gilbert Repizo, who is also from Mindoro.

Maliksi named Sweepstakes head

By Sandy Araneta AS PREDICTED by Palace insiders, President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Cavite Governor Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi as chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office which has been vacant since May last year.

The appointment was announced on Monday as Palace officials released a letter Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. wrote to Acting PCSO Chairman Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II last April 17.

The 76-year-old Maliksi is considered one of the political kingpins of Cavite province, having served as mayor of Imus, Cavite congressman and governor.

Maliksi will serve the un-

expired term of Margarita P. Juico who resigned in May last year after her husband, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Philip Juico, had an acrimonious disagreement with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Philip was president of the Wack Wack Country Club when the club suspended Roxas for verbally abusing two employees.

Philip had served as secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform during the administration of Corazon Aquino, the late mother of President Aquino.

Palace insiders had then claimed that Roxas was eyeing the PCSO post for Maliksi, who is also a leader of the ruling Liberal Party, but the appointment could not be consummated because Maliksi was charged with graft for purchasing medicine

without a bidding and favoring a supplier in the process.

But last March, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the case against Maliksi because of the inordinate delay in resolving the case although it had been pending for nine years.

The graft rap of Maliksi stemmed from an allegedly irregular procurement of medicines worth P2.5 million in 2002 when Maliksi allegedly gave unwarranted advantage to Allied Pharmaceutical Laboratories Inc. The Sandiganbayan ruled that the nine-year delay violated Maliksi’s constitutional right to a speedy trial because the Ombudsman took six years to investigate the case while the field investigation took another three years.

Price watch. A representative of the Department of Trade and Industry puts up a price advisory for dressed chickens at the MegaQ-Mart in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

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HK exec branded as ‘racist’

A senior Hong Kong politician is under fire after she accused some Filipina domestic helpers of seducing their male employers, in comments branded “racist” and “offensive” by critics.

There are 300,000 maids in hong Kong, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, with concern growing among rights groups over their welfare following a string of abuse cases.

But lawmaker Regina Ip, a close adviser to the city’s leader Leung Chun-ying and tipped as a future chief executive, cast the maids as marriage wreckers.

In an op-ed article in Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao on Friday, Ip told how jilted expatriate wives had complained to her that their maids had led their husbands astray.

“I have received complaints from expatriate women... that Filipina domestic helpers seduce their husbands,” Ip wrote.

“I could only tell them that under the current laws it is quite difficult to regulate,” she said.

Ip said she had learnt of “families wrecked because of relationships between Filipina maids and male employers”.

“Rather than reporting improper behaviour by local employers, should we pay more attention to Filipina maids becoming sexual resources for foreign men in hong Kong?” she questioned.

In her article Ip linked her theory to the recent case of a 15-year-old girl, with a British father and Filipina mother, who fell from a luxury apartment block in an apparent suicide earlier this month. although police said there were no suspicious circumstances around the fall, the teenager’s mother herminia Garcia -- a former domestic helper -- and her British businessman father, nick Cousins, were arrested.

Garcia was charged with overstaying her visa and “neglect” of an unnamed 14-year-old child. Cousins is on bail for neglect and abetting the overstay, but has not been charged.

Ip cites their case as a “reflection” of what she describes as “abnormal relationships” between maids and employers.

“It is racist to stereotype a particular nationality,” said Eman Villanueva of the hong Kong-based asian Migrants’ Co-ordinating Body. AFP

Immigration eases rules for Koreans

By Vito Barcelo Thousands of Korean nationals living in the country stand to gain permanent resident status in the Philippines with the approval by the Bureau of Immigration of a policy to that effect.

Immigration commissioner siegfred Mison said the BI has begun processing applications of Koreans seeking to make the Philippines their new home country.

This developed after Justice secretary Leila de Lima approved BI Memorandum Circular no. sBM-2015005, pursuant to section 13 of Commonwealth act no.

613, as amended, granting immigrant status to qualified Koreans living in the country. over 100,000 Koreans have found home here, each of whom are estimated to be spending an average of $800-$1000 per month, an amount which adds up to almost $1 billion in consumer spending each year, according to Mison.

The BI chief said Korean nationals may be granted Permanent Resident Visas (PRV) if they have familial ties to Philippine citizens; have viable business investments; and possess qualifications, skills, scientific, education or technical knowledge benefiting the national interest of the Philippines.

“That means Koreans who have invested in the Philippines, married to a Filipino citizen, married to a permanent resident alien or is the son or daughter of a permanent resident alien parent, is eligible to apply for immigrant visa,” Mison said.

BI records showed that the local Korean community grew from 90,000 in 2009 to more than 100,000 in 2014.

Most Koreans living here are attracted to the low cost of Englishlanguage education and housing, both significantly cheaper than those offered in their native south Korea.

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Reclamation, China style. Military chief General Gregorio Catapang points to aerial photos of Chinese construction over reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago during a press briefing in Manila on April 20, 2015. The Philippines expressed alarm about China’s reclamation activities in the disputed South China Sea as Manila launched war games with the United States to signal its intent to deter Chinese actions. Related story on A2. AFP

Estrada quizzes judge’s action on Napoles dETaInEd senator Jose “Jinggoy’ Estrada on Monday questioned the alleged presence of department of Justice prosecutors in the sala of Makati City Judge Elmo alameda, who handed down a 40-year prison term on Janet Lim napoles for serious illegal detention. after his bail hearing before the Fifth division, Estrada alleged that alameda had entertained some prosecutor in his office. “somebody saw

Iconic

stamps. A philatelist, Don Mauro Pabor of Angono,Rizal shows some stamps featuring boxing icon Manny Pacquiao he brought at Philippine Postal corporation office in Lawton Manila on Monday April 20 barely two weeks before the much awaited fight of the century against undefeated US fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. The stamps cost P10 each.

DANNY PATA

the doJ representatives having coffee inside the judge’s sala. What were they doing there? That’s during the trial.

What was their business there in the sala of the judge?” Estrada asked. he said Branch 150 had “no way out,” but to hand down a conviction on napoles. “This is only my humble opinion. There’s no way out, but for the court to convict Janet Lim napoles so they could just certify that the credibility of Benhur Luy is intact,” said Es-

trada, who is a co-accused in the P10billion pork barrel scam.

Meanwhile, the sandiganbayan said it had garnished P291, 205.62 in bank assets under the name of senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, charged with plunder in relation to the pork scam, and his wife Rep. Lani Mercado.

The graft court said it got hold of Revilla’s accounts in five banks although it expected to seize P224.5 million from the couple.

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Binay sets last-ditch bid to save OFW from death

By Vito Barcelo

Vice President Jejomar Binay will leave for indonesia to make an appeal to President Joko Widodo in his last-ditch effort to save the life of convicted drug mule Mary Jane Veloso. the Vice President will leave for indonesia on april 22 to attend the asian–african Summit in Bandung but will use the visit to appeal to Widodo to spare the life of Veloso who said she was a victim of a drug smuggling syndicate. “i am hoping that we will be given the opportunity to personally appeal to His excellency’s kind heart for the commutation of the sentence of Mary Jane,” Binay said in a statement. “i intend to bring to His excellency our people’s hope

for compassion, given the circumstances surrounding the case,” Binay said.

Widodo had appealed to the King of Saudi arabia not to execute an indonesian domestic worker. “i am certain His excellency understands why we in government are doing all we can to save the life of our kababayan. it is the responsibility of governments to come to the aid of their countrymen, especially those in difficult circumstances,” he said.

Veloso was caught carrying heroin after she arrived

at the indonesian airport on an airasia flight from Kuala Lumpur. the heroin was found in her traveling bag.

Binay was saddened by the indonesian Supreme Court for not granting Veloso’s first request for a judicial review of her case.

But the Philippine government reiterates its respect for indonesia’s laws and legal system.

Binay said he hopes indonesia will look on Veloso with compassion since she is not part of any organized drug syndicate. “She, too, was a victim,” he said. the Vice President said a person whom Veloso trusted and knew personally “took advantage of her trust when she asked Veloso to hand carry a luggage containing illegal drugs.”

Binay will attend the summit that will gather leaders from 29 countries “to discuss

peace, security, and economic development in the midst of emerging problems in many parts of the world.”

While in indonesia, the Vice President will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, on issues concerning Philippines and indonesian relations. the Vice President is also set to attend activities hosted by indonesian President Widodo, including a 20-minute historical walk from Savoy Homann Hotel to Gedung Merdeka.

Binay, who concurrently serves as Presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, is also scheduled to hold a dialog with the Filipino community in indonesia.

Meanwhile, two Filipinos were sentenced to three months in jail by a united arab emirates court for try-

ing to steal electronic gadgets, including an iPad tablet, from the store they worked in last February. the two pleaded guilty before the Dubai Court of First instance.

“We are guilty, but we want to pay for the items that we took and settle this dispute,” said one of the Filipinos. the two will be deported and banned from returning to that country after serving their sentence. the two OFWs, whose identity were withheld, stole items worth Dh13,381 and tried to smuggle them out of their workplace in February, according to reports. in another development, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos called on President aquino to stop the deployment of Filipino workers abroad by creating more jobs in the country.

With Sara Fabunan

Members of the family of Mary Jane Veloso and sympathisers flock to the Indonesian embassy in Makati to call on President Joko Widodo to stop the execution of Veloso. DANNY PATA

Makati probes ex-vice mayor over P2-b project

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMeR Vice Mayor ernesto Mercado is part-owner of a firm that clinched a P2-billion construction project in Makati HomeVille in Calauan, Laguna but abandoned its works at the resettlement site, according to a statement released Monday by the Makati City information office. the city government obtained documents from the Securities and exchange Commission confirming that Mercado is listed as one of the incorporators of twin Leaf Group, inc. while he was still vice mayor. “aside from the first phase of Makati Homeville in Calauan with total contract price of P505 million, twin Leaf also cornered the site development contract for the resettlement site in San Jose del Monte, Bu-

lacan amounting to P322 million in 2008 to 2009,” the statement said.

Mercado is the principal witness in the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on corruption charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son and incumbent Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and other city government officials. the city government started investigating the ownership of the firm in 2011 after it abandoned construction works and did not complete its projects with the city, including the site development in Laguna. according to its GiS (general info sheet) filed with SeC, twin Leaf Group inc. began operations in March 2005, engaging in general construction, such as building of houses, condominiums, roads, land bridges, airfields, piers, railroads, among others.

Pint of life. The World Mission Society Church of God in collaboration with the Lung Center of the Philippines held a blood-donation campaign at the main lobby of the Lung Center in Quezon City entitled “1 Pint 4 Lives, The 449th Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover.” At least 500 members of the church took part in the event. MANNY PALMERO

‘Air Force suffers setback with deal abolition’

By Florante Solmerin Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado, the air Force chief, said the scrapping of the P1.26- billionhelicopter contract dealt a big blow to the service unit’s transport capability. “actually, only seven of the delivered eight units are retained and the rest are dropped,” Delgado told the Standard in an interview at the sidelines of the formal opening ceremony of the 2015 Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and united States armed forces at Camp aguinaldo in Quezon City. the joint venture of uSbased supplier Rice aircraft Services inc. and eagle Copters Ltd. was supposed to deliver 21 refurbished uH-iH (Huey) helicopters to PaF. “Certainly, 14 more Hueys are a big factor in PaF’s capability. Wala e, tinerminate na ‘yung kontrata. Wala tayong magagawa, (the contract has just been terminated. We can’t do anything)” Delgado said.

Senator JV ejercito, a member of the committee on national defense and security, had filed Resolution no. 1238 seeking the blue ribbon to look into the helichopper contract.

Delgado refused to comment on the Senate blue ribbon investigation on the Huey contract.

He clarified that the contract was a done deal between the DnD-BaC and the supplier before he became PaF chief.

Based on the recent inventory of PaF, the 205th tactical Helicopter Wing has more than 80 units.

Of the number, 33 are beyond economical repair and 22 are recoverable. there are only less than 30 operational. the Huey project, which went through three failed biddings and ended up with a negotiated one, was handled by undersecretary Fernando Manalo and assistant Secretary Patrick Velez, then chairman and member of the Bids and awards Committee (BaC) of the Department of national Defense. it had the approval by the end-user then led by former PaF chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz (retired).

Manalo lost his post as DnD-BaC chairman in favor of Marine Major General natalio ecarma.

Last week, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin partially scrapped the project.

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Drunk driver in Butuan hurts 5

Museum in the making. A pedicab driver passes by Compania Maritima—known as ruins by many—in Cebu City. The three-level building has stood since 1910 and will be made into an art or maritime museum before the end of the year. RALPH PIEZAS

Use of hybrid seeds raises Nueva Ecija’s rice harvest

By Ferdie G.Domingo

STO. DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija—This province—the country’s long-established rice granary—is also emerging as its hybrid seeds capital, with farmers raking in huge harvests of up to 380 cavans per hectare using varieties from SL Agritech Corp.

Mayor Leonido de Guzman said the advent of hybrid seeds has played a crucial role in improving the quality of life and the income of rice farmers, particularly in this northern Nueva Ecija town.

Crispulo G. Bautista Jr., Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 3 assistant regional director, said that based on official figures, Nueva Ecija registered an average yield of 6.07 metric tons (MT) per hectare in

2014, up from the 5.30 MT per hectare average yield it posted in 2013.

This is higher than the national average of 3.9 MT per hectare.

At a recent hybrid rice harvest festival, the DA and the municipal government recognized farmers Angel Morales (380 cavans/hectare), Antonio Martin (224 cavans/ hectare) and ten others for their harvests .

Bautista agreed with the mayor that hybrid rice is one of the reasons for the increase in the region’s yield and production. The re-

gion’s hybrid rice planting expanded to nearly 84,000 hectares this current dry season, around 33,000 hectares more than the 51,000 hectares used in last year’s dry season.

The DA also urged local farmers to abide by the regular rice planting calendar to maximize harvest. Bautista said farmers should religiously stick to the recommended planting calendar for the dry season in Nueva Ecija covering the third week of December to January.

Doing this, Bautista said, would shield farmers from

the cold spell (from December to early February) during rice pollination. Cold spell is suspected to block pollination and cause low yield that has reportedly hit some Nueva Ecija farmers this cropping season.

Extremely cold night temperature may cause rice’s flowers not to open up for pollination.

“If a farmer starts planting from the third week of December to the month of January—during the cold weather—his plants wouldn’t yet be at the flowering stage by February,” he added.

BUTUAN CITY—Five people were seriously hurt after a Ford Everest SUV collided with a tricycle with four passengers and then with a motorcycle driven by a police officer along J.C. Aquino Avenue on the evening of Saturday, April 18.

The five victims, all seriously injured, were tricycle driver Benjamin Bergonia Apego, resident of Luz Village, Butuan City and his three passengers namely; Geraldine Pantilla Ordaniel, 30, resident of Buhangin, Davao City; Florian Faith Bayawa, 28; and her husband Jovani Galte Bayawa, 33, both residents of Crown Villa, Barangay Bayanihan, Butuan City.

The police officer has been identified as PO1 Jojo Banaigaso Juarbal. He underwent major operation.

Investigators said the driver of the white Ford Everest was Rommel Sonot de Asis, 38 and a resident of Bgy Villa Kananga.

Police said they discovered that De Asis had been drunk at the time of the accident and cases would be filed against him for violation of Republic Act 10586 known as AntiDrunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The driver will also undergo mandatory drug testing.

According to witnesses, it was providential that the accident took place near the Butuan Doctors Hospital such that the injured passengers were immediately given medical attention.

Alvin T. Guanzon

Pangasinan board will look into river-drowning incident LINGAYEN—The provincial board has directed three committees to investigate the river drowning incident that killed five children on April 14.

Provincial resolution no. 1300-2015, which was referred to the committee level, directed the Committees on Environment, Natural Resources and Energy; Good Government and Accountability of Public Officers, Justice, and Human Rights; and Children, Women, Senior Citi-

zens, Family Affairs and Social Welfare to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the river drowning incident of five children in Bgy. Hacienda, Bugallon town.

The resolution said the Board was saddened over the tragic incident which likely happened because the children did not immediately realize the depth of the water and the strength of the current.

The Board noted that the incident shall

not be allowed to just pass without any action being undertaken by the provincial government.

The resolution authors, board members Raul Sison, Liberato Villegas, and Alfonso Bince Jr., noted that the three committees are the proper committees to conduct an inquiry and find out legislative measures that are needed to further protect the safety of individuals, especially children.

Johanne Margarette R. Macob

Not your usual flavors. Sili, pili, luya, malunggay and tinutong flavored ice creams from Colonial Grill based in Legazpi City, Albay are showcased at a trade fair in Pasay City. DANNY PATA

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ADELLE CHUA EDITOR T U E S D AY, A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A BLANK SLATE AT THE COMMISSION AS QUIETLY as his predecessor stepped down upon her retirement last February, lawyer Michael Aguinaldo assumes the chairmanship of the Commission on Audit this month.

Aguinaldo placed 7th in the 1993 Bar examination, practiced the profession specializing in mergers and acquisitions and projects related to infrastructure, telecommunications and energy. He was a law professor and was deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, holding office in Malacañang since March 2011 before being appointed to the commission.

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Aside from these vague sketches from the items on his resume, nobody outside of his circles really knows the inclination, temperament and priorities of Aguinaldo.

Commission employees and the rest of us are wondering what kind of chairman Aguinaldo will turn out to be.

This is, after all, the COA that has become more visible to the public after its special audits on the use of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund. Under the previous chairman, Maria Gracia Pulido Tan, the commission enjoyed an improvement in public perception as an independent government agency tasked to examine how public funds are used.

Pulido Tan had many times said she would not allow her agency to be used for selective justice or political persecution amid talk that the commission was clamping down on the administration’s political enemies while keeping silent on its allies.

Outside the glare of media coverage, the COA has, in fact, made tangible gains in the past few years. It tried to weed out auditors who abused their positions for

personal gain. It opened up the audit process, or at least part of it, to citizen participation. It even got itself named external auditor of the International Labour Organization.

Aguinaldo will occupy the post for the next seven years. This is significant given the view that audit issues against the current administration, especially its use of public funds, are likely to be raised when President Aquino steps down next year.

That we know little about Aguinaldo is perhaps a good thing, because he now enjoys a blank slate on which his leadership would write the commission’s record for the next seven years.

The new chairman will begin his day-today duties at the constitutional commission today. We hope he will do so quietly and without fanfare, but effectively and LOWDOWN without color.

JOJO A. The next ROBLES few weeks and Mr. Robles’ column months will be will resume tomorrow. worth watching.

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

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

A10 A FINAL EXAM FOR GRADUATES THE next three columns are based EAGLE on a commenceEYES ment speech I delivered last March DEAN TONY 27, 2015 for the LA VIÑA college graduates of the Father Saturnino Urios University of Butuan City. In this season when commencement exercises abound, I offer these to all graduates, especially to those who are from Mindanao and those graduating from Christian universities.

When I look at graduates in their majestic togas, so handsome and so beautiful, so young, I remember how the late Fr. Horacio de la Costa of the Society of Jesus, started a 1953 commencement speech he delivered in Ateneo de Davao. Let me quote from this great Jesuit: “When a brand-new plane taxies up to the runway and pauses for a moment before the take-off, one question is uppermost in the minds of everyone on board. Will it fly?

Tonight, you are like a row of brand-new planes ranged at start of a runway. And all of us, your loved ones, your teachers, are asking the same question.

Will you fly?

There is no doubt at all, of course, that you will. You will streak down the runway like a streak and glide into the wide blue sky, flashing your silver wings, and we shall all be very proud of you. However, you have probably noticed one thing about take-off. Before a pilot starts his run, he revs up his motors and takes a final check. Gas tanks filled? Engines turning over properly? Oil pressure at the right level? Rudder and wing flaps working? If everything checks – fasten your seat belts, here we go.

The pilot’s check doesn’t tell him whether his aircraft will actually fly or not. But is does tell him that it has everything it should have, nothing that it shouldn’t have. It tells that it ought to fly. It All of us, your him might not be a bad idea to loved ones, your do something of the sort teachers, are here. Let’s take a quick and see whether asking the same check you have everything that question. Will you should.”

So every graduate you fly? should do a final check, a last exam: Do you know your basics? Do you have writing and speaking skills? Can you do and understand some kind of math, at the very least to understand budgets?

Can you make presentations? Do you have the skills for the professons you will be entering –whether as teachers, nurses, accountants, engineers, lawyers, criminologists, natural and social scientists, counselors, business and corporate people, governemnt employees, and information technology workers? Do you know how to innovate, a skill that modern university emphasizes?

For those of you who need to take profesional license exams, are you ready for them?

This has not been a good year for bar exam takers all over the country. Even with the Supreme Court lowering the passing grade to 73, only 18% of the more than 5,000 examinees made it. Many of my students in the various law schools I am teaching in failed and my heart goes out of them.

I mention the results of the bar exams because there is one more item in the final check list before you fly that I must ask: Has your university prepared you for life, for the world, and that includes being ready to meet, accept, and rise up from failure.

Let me be bold enough to say that the final test of graduates will not be in their campuses and will not be taken once only. It is a continuing test, one you will take everyday and bring everywhere. And this is the question you must ask: Have you made the light of Lord shine in your family, my workplace, in the

T U E S D AY, A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

MY 65 YEARS AS A JOURNALIST (1) I WOKE up the othtune, and my wife and I could afford to buy a house at TO THE er day realizing that I Philamlife Homes, Quezon City. I acquired the house POINT had spent 65 years as at P1,800 when the former houseowner could not pay a journalist. the monthly installment of P350.

EMIL P. I have gone full As business editor, I met the many taipans and tyJURADO circle in print, radio coons of today when they were still struggling busiand television. Those nessmen. I got to know Henry Sy Sr., now the richest long years, more than half a century in fact, were bro- Filipino, and John Gokongwei. The later was a trader ken only briefly when I taught at Ateneo de Manila for from Cebu and soon made good in Manila. Now he is four years, completed my law studies and took the Bar. the second-richest Filipino.

I also got married to the woman of my dreams. I I also knew Lucio Tan, the Ayalas headed by Don met her when she was only 18 years old, on vacation in Jaime Ayala and his sons Jaime Augusto and Fernando, Cotabato – then the capital of an undivided Cotabato Andrew Gotianun of Filinvest, the Del Rosarios, the province – from her studies at Philippine Women’s Elizaldes, the Aguinaldos of old, and the father of bilUniversity. She later on went to the University of the lionaire Ricky Razon, Pocholo Razon, and many othPhilippines. ers. Al Yuchengco of RCBC and Malayan Insurance I got my feet wet in journalism in 1950. With my was my good friend. I know the Sycips-Don Albino former classmate and best friend, the and Alfonso, the Puyats and the Jacintos late Rudy Tupas (who later on became of Security bank. In fact, I knew all the Manila Times magazine editor and then bank presidents and chairmen. ambassador to Libya), I volunteered to I was twice the president of the Business help the Oblates of Many Immaculate in Writers Association of the Philippines.

The printer’s their provincial weekly “The Mindanao *** Cross,” which is still going strong up to ink, as they say, As a business editor of the Philippines, this day. Those were still the days of the has always been my main beat at that time was the Central Moro “juramentados.”

Bank, with the late Miguel Cuaderno as in my blood.

After two years living among Moros in governor. Those were memorable years Cotabato, I came back to Manila. But I because of dollar allocations given to imnever forgot my experience as a provinporters by import and export directors. cial editor of a weekly even as my origiThe main focus of the economy then nal dream was to become a lawyer—perhaps a judge was on import quotas. As usual, the president and and later on a justice of the Supreme Court, the culmi- administrators, especially members of Congress, nation of every lawyer’s career. took advantage of their powers to enrich themselves I was actually a working law student, having taught through quota allocations, which they peddled. at the Ateneo High School and Philippine Law School I consider those days memorable because I exposed law subjects like Introduction to Law, Insurance and the devaluation of the peso during the Macapagal Agency and Corporation Law. administration by the Central Bank at an initial rate Still, I felt unfulfilled. The printer’s ink, as they say, of P4 to P1. Soon, in order to avoid speculations, the was already in my blood.

Central Bank adopted the so-called “floating rate” of I applied at the now-defunct Philippines Herald, the currency. which was owned at that time by Don Vicente Madrigal.

Another memorable moment I had while covering And with the help of my elder brother, Willie (now de- the Central Bank was my exposé of three members of ceased) and of people around Don Vicente, I got a job the Monetary Board then committing anomalies by at that publication. playing the stock market, and getting import quota I was fortunate because when I first presented my- allocations for their favored companies or their own self to the late editor-in-chief Felix Gonzales, who was companies. The exposé I wrote started a congressional called “judge,” the business editor was taking his leave investigation, but got me in trouble. I was kidnapped! of absence to study for the Bar exams. Thus, I became a During those days, I never told my wife that I had business editor of a newspaper which was at that time been getting death threats. I just dismissed them. I bein the same league as the Manila Times of the Prietos lieve then as I do now that if there are those would like and Roceses, and the Manila Chronicle of the Lopezes. to terminate journalists or others, they do not write Aside from being business editor, I covered nor call you to warn you that your life is in danger.

Malacanang, the Foreign Affairs Office and the justice They just do it, as is being done in the many instances department whenever the reporters on the beat were off. when journalists, especially provincial commentators Santa Banana, our editor-in-chief really made me and opinion writers are killed. earn my pay of P250 a month.

One evening, as I was going down the stairs of the Those were trying years because my wife and I could Philippines Herald, two men poked guns on my side afford to only rent an apartment. We had a newborn and almost immediately I saw a black car waiting outbaby at that time. side. I was told to get inside the car, and the car sped Soon enough, I was made an editorial director, writ- off. The security guard obviously did not notice what ing editorials for the newspaper, and got a P1,500 pay happened since it happened so fast, gangster-style. check a month. At that time, P1,500 a month was a forContinued tomorrow world, in our country, in this great island of ours?

Have you allowed yourself to be an instrument for His light to shine in the peripheries of world, nation, and island?

By peripheries, I borrow the meaning that Pope Francis gives to it: “The Church is called to come out from itself and to go to the peripheries, not just the geographical but also the existential peripheries: those of the mystery of sin, of suffering, of injustice, of ignorance and lack of religion, those of thought and those of every kind of misery.” My understanding also is that what Pope Francis believes we are called to bring to the peripheries is the central message of God: that is, Mercy.

If you are able to answer this question in the affirmative most, if not all, of the time – if you are able to say I have brought mercy and compassion wherever I go, then your university can truly be proud of you.

So if you go out to the world, become an OFW, driven by need, ambition or adventure, these are the questions you must ask? What do I do with my family back home? If I have a husband or wife and/or chil-

dren, what are my responsibilities to them if I leave them behind? In my new country whether I am there temporarily or permanently, what are my responsibilities to me fellow Filipino OFWs, to my new community and city. Should I still care for what happens in the Philippines, to your city, to your island?

Some of us think that going abroad is an escape from out problems in the Philippines. Actually, no.

I have been an OFW twice – as a volunteer caregiver for one year in Italy when I was 20 years old, right after College, and as an international lawyer for eight years in Washington DC a decade ago. Your family, city, and country will follow you everywhere. There is no escape and like what you are faced with here, you either embrace, confront and overcome the challenges they bring or you deny them to your peril.

And if I may add, if you go abroad, depending on where you are, you will also have to face global issues such as climate change or the religious terrorism practiced by groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda.

But do you have to go far to go to the peripheries?

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

T U E S D AY, A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

BREAKING THE CULT OF PERSONALITY

ARE WE THERE YET? BONG C. AUSTERO WE know the countdown to next year’s national elections have started because politicians who think they deserve consideration for national posts have intensified their efforts to get noticed.

I was in Davao City for a few days the other week where all the telltale signs of a movement to launch Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for a national post was pervasive.

There were tarpaulin signs all over proclaiming Duterte as everyone’s champion (“Atin To” or in Cebuano - “Ato ni, Bai”). I was told by relative and friends that a tri-media campaign in Mindanao was already operational. At the Davao International Airport on my way back, I was on the same plane with a horde of Duterte campaigners. They were all wearing yellow shirts that displayed Duterte’s unsmiling mug on the front and a smashing fist at the back.

They were carrying all kinds of campaign materials including rolled up tarpaulin posters. In the past, Duterte would immediately and openly squash rumors or suggestions about his interest in the Presidency;

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he has not clearly confirmed his candidacy, but he has not denied that he is seeking the highest post in the land either.

Vice President Jejomar Binay continues to be a strong contender for the presidency despite the massive vilification campaign directed at him. We all know Binay still wants to run for President because he has continued to fortify his political base. I met members of the powerful fraternity that Binay is part of and they swore there is a silent but serious campaign effort that is continuing.

There will be people in this country who will campaign and vote for Binay even if the man becomes unrecognizable underneath all the muck that has been thrown at him. Thus, all those tarpaulin posters hanging all over Makati in the houses of loyal supporters nationwide that says “Binay Pa Rin” (we’re still for Binay).

We all know Senator Alan Peter Cayetano really wants Filipinos to consider him for the presidency because he has been doing everything to be noticed. The poor guy has

displayed all possible shades and variations of anger – from indignation to being livid to being openly confrontational – in a desperate bid to be recognized as a nationalist firebrand in the wake of the Mamasapano massacre. He has tried to balance things off by resurrecting a television ad that packages him as a cuddly pro-people leader.

Nobody outside his rabid supporters seems to be seriously considering Senator Antonio Trillanes for the presidency but that has not stopped the man from floating himself as a possible candidate. This is the only possible explanation for the senator’s recent idiotic attempts to engage the whole Judiciary and the law profession in a brawl.

The two other putative candidates, Senator Grace Poe and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, have not publicly declared their political plans for 2016 but there is no doubt that there are efforts to sustain public awareness about them. Thus, despite the general absence of positive confirmation from either, they continue to be consid-

ered strong contenders for the Presidency next year.

I know it is still too early to expect anyone among the six contenders to spell our their platforms and plans of action for the country, but one hopes that we begin to see efforts to put in place mechanisms to examine candidates beyond the cult of personality that they and their supporters have built.

Duterte is being packaged as an invincible local executive who cleaned Davao of insurgents, instilled order and discipline, and in the process, transformed the city into a modern Utopia. Binay is still widely regarded as a benevolent champion of the masses, a modern day Robinhood who fought the rich to benefit the poor. Cayetano is being packaged as a staunch defender of nationalist ideals in the mold of Claro M. Recto.

Trillanes continues to draw strength from his revolutionary background as a military officer who stood up against a supposed corrupt regime.

Poe continues to leverage on the epic popularity of his late father. Roxas as the possible

administration candidate, is banking on deflected glow of the supposed successes of the Aquino administration.

These are obviously not enough. We must start convincing the electorate that there is more to leadership than perceptions about character and personality. We must start educating voters to see beyond the sheen and polish of imaging and public relations packaging. We have to push the discussion beyond motherhood statements and generalities. We need to put in place the structures that will enable the electorate to objectively examine the competencies of those aspiring for national positions. And we need to do all these now while the campaign has not officially started.

If we do not, we will repeat the mistakes we have made in the past. Unless we break the cult of personality that permeates our electoral system, we shall continue waking up midway through a term of a sitting president wondering how we were all mistaken about the real worth of the person we voted into office.

IQBAL’S ALIASES—WHAT WILL BSP, DBM, COA DO? MOHAGHER Iqbal, the representative of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the peace deals with the government, admitted before the Senate that “Mohagher Iqbal” is an alias, one of many he used in opening bank accounts in the Philippines. Iqbal also admitted to Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that the use of an alias in opening a bank account violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and other banking laws.

Iqbal said he used an alias for safety reasons because he is a revolutionary. As expected, peace talks chairman Miriam Coronel Ferrer, Iqbal’s staunch defender, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, agreed with Iqbal. They cited politicians who use aliases. De Lima added that the peace deals with the MILF are valid even if “Mohagher Iqbal” is an alias because it is the practice of revolutionaries to use pseudonyms for their safety.

Sure, many politicians use aliases, but unlike Iqbal, the real names of these politicians are duly registered with the government agency concerned, and their real names are accessible to the public. As to the “revolutionary” argument, mere practice is not enough. Republic Act No. 6085 prohibits the use of an alias except in cinema, television, literature, and similar fields. A self-serving claim to being a “revolutionary” is not one of those exceptions authorized by law. Secretary de Lima has not cited any law to support her argument.

Since Iqbal admitted violating Philippine banking laws, what is the government going to do about it?

Will the government disregard the law to accommodate Iqbal simply because it is so desperate to save the BBL? Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, the realities must be addressed.

Since Iqbal has admitted having opened different bank accounts under several aliases in clear violation of the banking laws, it is the duty of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to order the corresponding

investigation, identify the said bank accounts, HAIL TO freeze the funds, and THE CHAIR cause the criminal prosecution of Iqbal.

VICTOR The banks harboring AVECILLA the accounts of Iqbal had better take steps to identify these accounts, too, or they can be considered liable for their failure to observe due diligence in the identification of their potential depositors. These banks simply need to take a look at the photograph profile of their clientele. They have to, or civic advocates can file cases against these banks.

Actually, the BSP and the banks concerned have no choice in this matter. The mere fact that Iqbal is a key figure in the peace talks does not exempt him from complying with Philippine banking laws.

The BSP has been strict in its regulation of the banking industry. It orders the closure of banks which do not comply with banking laws. Will the BSP rise up to this challenge and take legal action against Iqbal?

For his work in the peace talks, Iqbal has been paid a compensation and an allowance taken from the public treasury – public money in short. Unless the anti-graft laws are repealed, no public money may be spent to pay the salary of a fictitious person. Since Iqbal is not who he really is, and he has been paid with public money, this gives rise to a likely violation of the anti-graft laws.

Moreover, if it is established that certain government officials responsible for the payment of public funds to Iqbal knew for a fact that Iqbal is not who he really is, and they went on to pay him anyway, these officials can also be criminally liable.

Since this alleged Mohagher Iqbal is paid public money under a false name, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should order an end to the payment of any more public funds to him.

Presidential Adviser Teresita Deles should step in and recommend an end to this illegal disbursement of public money. If Deles refrains from doing so, she is

deemed to countenance the violation of the anti-graft laws, and could be held just as liable as Iqbal himself.

The Commission on Audit should also take steps to disallow the expenditure of public funds to pay for the salary of a fictitious person like Iqbal.

At the end of the day, the primordial consideration should be that public money should not be spent for the benefit of a person who refuses to reveal his real name to the government, the Senate included, but goes on to sign a document of far-reaching political and economic implications to the people; to defend the MILF in the massacre of the 44 special action police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao; and to threaten the State with the prospect of a protracted war in the event that the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not approved in its original form

by Congress. Incidentally, this fictitious person does not even represent all Muslim interests in Mindanao.

The MILF does not need the BBL? A lawyer in the peace panel behind the BBL announced in a forum organized last week by THE STANDARD that the MILF does not need the BBL in order to secede. The statement was designed to give the impression that the BBL is not a vehicle which the MILF will use to establish its own sub-state in Mindanao. For whatever that statement is worth, it is another one of many veiled threats from the MILF calculated to intimidate the government into agreeing to what is obviously a lop-sided deal, one which violates numerous provisions of the Constitution, and which is characterized by unprecedented stealth from the non-government side.

If the MILF does not need the BBL in order to secede, then why has it failed to succeed in its separatist agenda in the decades prior to the drafting of the BBL? From the start, soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) aborted the separatist objectives of the MILF throughout Mindanao. The MILF’s inability to put one over the AFP is the real reason why the MILF has decided to negotiate at the bargaining table.

t ue s day : a p ri l 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Nadal eyes 9 Barcelona title th

MADRID—Rafael Nadal has a return to winning ways on clay in his sights as he targets a ninth title at the Barcelona Open this week.

The Spaniard was beaten in straight sets by world number one Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday, but insisted he was pleased by his progress after a poor start to the year after a long injury layoff in the second half of last season.

“For me, it’s a very positive week. The most positive week of the season, without any doubt,” said Nadal.

“If I am able to keep doing that in the next tournament in Barcelona, and I have a tough draw, I will say that I am very well again.”

Nadal is only seeded second despite leapfrogging top seed and defending champion Kei Nishikori to move back to fourth in the world with his run in Monte Carlo.

The 28-year-old was beaten for just the second time in his career in Barcelona last season as a shock defeat to compatriot Nicolas Almagro ended a 41-match winning streak stretching back to 2003.

However, despite an unusually unsteady start to his clay campaign, Nadal still went on to reign once more in Paris by win-

ning a ninth French Open last May. And the king of clay acknowledged that he is approaching the most crucial stretch of his season.

“The most important thing, what’s helping me really, is that I have the right motivation to play tennis, the right motivation to work hard every day, and with the right attitude. That’s why I was able to play better this week than the previous weeks,” added Nadal.

“I have been working hard since I came back, but everything is a process. I arrive in a very important moment in my season and I need to make that click that I need to be competitive again at 100 per cent. AFP

Furyk halts long drought HILTON HEAD ISLAND American Jim Furyk birdied the par-three 17th hole to beat Kevin Kisner in a playoff and win the PGA Tour’s Heritage tournament on Sunday.

Furyk, who played in the third to last group, made birdie on both playoff holes after firing a closing round eight under 63 to finish at 18-under-par 266.

Though he trailed entering the final round, Furyk had blown nine 54-hole leads since his last win on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Tour Championship.

“I’ve let so many slide by, I really kind of dug deep today and happy I got it done,” said Furyk.

Kisner closed with a sevenunder 64 as he birdied the final hole of regulation to force the playoff at the Harbour Town golf course.

The pair returned to the 18th for the first extra hole. Both players found the fairway off the tee and Furyk landed his approach just inside eight feet. AFP

BEST sets more clinics

Fed Cup. The Philippines’ Anna Clarice Patrimonio returns to India’s Prarthana Thombare during the Fed Cup-Oceana Group II Tennis Championship

finals at Fateh Maidan Tennis complex in Hyderabad. Thombare beat Patrimonio, 6-3,6-1. Patrimonio is the daughter of Philippine Basketball Association great Alvin. AFP

THE award-winning Best Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center) has lined up more provincial clinic sorties this summer.

A few more slots are being offered in the Sunday-only classes at the Lancaster New City courts in Imus, Cavite. Applicants for Levels 1 and 2 may contact Ali Quimado at 0925-803-4159.

Also set are the Baguio clinics for students in Preparatory Levels 1 to 4 at the Easter College gym.

Interested students may contact Russel Go (0919-992-3350).

Joanne Solon (0943-634-1010) and Jed Soto (0929-522-1909) will handle Best Center Bacolod clinics for students in Preparatory Levels 1, 2 and 3 at the St. John’s Institute.

Angeles, Pampanga’s Best Center activities will be held at the Angeles University Foundation, with Eddie Velasquez (0927554-3254) as contact person. The Pampanga clinics offer classes in Preparatory Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Hsieh boosts ICTSI golf cast CHINESE Taipei’s Hsieh Chi-hsien signed up for the Asian Development Tour’s ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic, firming up the crack international cast that features a slew of local aces and the region’s leading players in the $60,000 event firing off tomorrow at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.

Hsieh, the current Asian Development Tour’s Order of Merit leader, didn’t see action in last week’s ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational won by Malaysian Arie Irawan but is all-primed up for this week’s event, seeking no less than a victory and a continued hold of the ADT OOM lead.

The 24-year-old winner of Yeangder ADT crown last month joins 25 other pros and a slew of amateurs in today’s traditional pro-am, hoping to familiarize himself with the tough par-72, hazard, wind-raked layout and get himself into the groove against the

equally talented field vying for the top $10,500 purse in the event sponsored

by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Irawan, who beat Miguel Tabuena by four at Eagle Ridge to claim his second ADT win this year and close in on Hsieh in the OOM race, will not be around to go for a second straight victory on ADT’s twoweek swing in the country, but the likes of Poosit Supupramai, Panuwat Muenlek, Annop Tangkamolprasert, Itthipat Buranatanyarat and Atthaphon Sriboonkaew of Thailand, Japanese Masaru Takahashi, Swede Nils Floren, Wilson Choo of Malaysia, and Americans Casey O’Toole and Micah Shin are in the fold, ensuring a spirited chase for top honors in the 72-hole championship co-organized by ADT and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

10 Miler. Michael Ong (right), Manager Sales and Planning Department of Yakult Philippines Inc. is shown with Akira Onose (center), Executive Vice President and Rudy Biscocho as they seal the 26th staging of the Yakult 10 MILER on May 24 at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. The Yakult 10 MILER will have 3K and 5K side events and is expected to attract 3,000 runners. Registration is ongoing at Mizuno Outlets at the Trinoma Mall; SM Mega Mall; Bonifacio High Street and the SM Mall of Asia.

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Loreto still unpaid by African promoter

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE image of the International Boxing Organization and the South African Boxing Association has been damaged by the failure of boxing promoter Siphatho Handi to keep his commitment to pay Filipino world light flyweight champion Rey Loreto, as well as another boxer Jetly Purisima, who fought in the undercard.

Sportsfest opener. Former Philippine Basketball Association player Alvin “Robocop” Teng makes the cer-

emonial toss to open the Kingsville Homeowners Association Board 2015 Sportsfest. With Teng and the players are KHA Board Vice President Marivic Goy, Chairwoman Joyce Meneses, Chairman Rodrigo Cordova, Chairwoman Lorna Peredo and Dr. Kurt Ferrer. Supporting the event are the KHA Board of Directors, headed by President Gerardo Sullano, Secretary Eulalia Asis and auditor Vicente Idanan.

PAL jr world qualifying resumes THE Philippine Airlines Junior World qualifying series resumes Tuesday with those in the 9 to 10 years age-group vying for slots at the short, but tricky Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club course in Diliman, Quezon City.

There will be five slots to be disputed over 54 holes in the event, which is the second leg of the three-part qualifying that will select the country’s repre-

sentatives to the IMG Junior World this coming July.

There are 20 entries in the boys’ and girls’ side who will be contesting the free tickets to Los Angeles the country’s national carrier Philippine Airlines is awarding to the champion.

PAL is joining hands with the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation and the Junior Golf Founda-

tion of the Philippines in choosing the best players to carry the country’s colors in the Junior World.

Siblings Venice and Vince Tiamsic, Anya Cedo and Ricco Pineda secured the first four PAL tickets to Los Angeles when they won the Class E (6 years and under) and ClassF (7-8 years) at the Riviera Sports Club course in Silang, Cavite.

Their purses totaled a balance of $45,000.

Handi had promised the IBO, the SABA and the boxers’ representative, former North Cotabato governor and broadcast journalist Manny Pinol to transfer the funds to Pinol’s bank account in the Philippines by April 17.

In a communication to IBO president Ed Levine, whose office The Standard has called several times for the sake of the boxers, Pinol informed said that Handi hasn’t kept his promise. Pinol revealed he sent Loreto a modest sum, after he called and said he needed the money to finish the construction of a small house he is building for his family.

In the face of promoter Handi’s failure to pay the boxers, Pinol has asked the IBO “what action they would take to give these boxers what is due them.”

Pinol, who hired a panel of South African lawyers to file the necessary cases against Handi to recover the fighters’ purses, had put the legal action on hold in the face of the promoter’s promise to pay. But because of the third failure of Handi to keep his commitment, he will be “forced to elevate the matter to the South African courts.”

“I know this would be embarrassing not only for the promoter but also for Boxing South Africa and the IBO, but I believe this should be done to protect the interests of the Filipino boxers.”

Tiamsic siblings, Cebo dominate junior golf tournament SIBLINGS Vince and Venice Tiamsic led the first batch of qualifiers by topping their respective divisions in runaway fashion in the Philippine Airlines Junior World golf qualifying tournament recently at the pitch and putt Riviera Sports Club course in Silang, Cavite.

Venice Tiamsic was impressive in her rounds of 69, 67 and 64 for a 54-hole total of 200, far

ahead of Izabella Friis (88-8366-247) for the girls’ 6-under plum. Tiamsic also bounced back from a slow start to post scores of 62, 59 and 58 for 179 and a 15-stroke win over Santino Pineda (61-66-67-194), with Izabella’s elder brother Sean Friis (74-63-63-200) coming in third in the boys’ 7-8 years of the tourney backed by the country’s national carrier

Philippine Airlines serving as the third leg of the ICTSI-JGFP Summer Circuit.

For their feats, PAL will be providing the Tiamsics and the two other division winners -- Anya Cedo and Rocco Pineda -- with free tickets to the IMG Junior World Championships this coming July in San Diego, California.

Cedo accounted for the most exciting win when she nipped

Alexi Blanco in a sudden-death playoff for the girls’ 7-8 years’ division, while Pineda’s 84-74-79237 was good for an eight-shot win over Julien Lhuillier (84-8279-245).

Cedo (74-63-64) and Blanco (68-69-64) ended up tied at 201 after regulation play of the tourney also sponsored by the Philippine Golf Foundation, Martin Lorenzo, Golf Depot, Crystal

Catx and Inquirer Golf.

The Tiamsics, Pinedas, Sean Friis, Lhuillier, and Cedo, will represent the country in the lower divisions of the Junior World. A total of 33 junior golfers will make up the Philippine contingent, but only the winners of each age group will be flown free by the national flag-carrier to San Diego, USA for the world championships this July.

Cabrera, Ang edge karting rivals YOUNG aces Jacob Ang of Eagle Cement and Gabe Tayao Cabrera went through tough struggles, but ended with sweet victories in their respective classes recently in the second leg of the 2015 Petron Blaze 100 ROK Karting Super Series at the Batangas Racing Circuit, Ang staged a rousing rally from a seventh-place finish in the qualifying heat to capture the KF Junior Blaze 100 crown in this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Petron, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4, Petron XCS, Petron Ultron, Petron Xtra, Petron Sprint, Magnolia Pure Water and Yokohama, the official tires.

Cabrera had a hard time trying to wrest the lead from veteran 2013 Karter of the Year VJ Suba, but his persistence and determination led to his second consecutive triumph in the new premier class -- the ROK Shifter Senior Max Diesel.

Their wins preserved their holds on solo leaderships in their respective divisions.

After the qualifying heat, Ang took a big leap to fourth place in the pre-finals and continued his surge to the top in the final race to emerge the KF champion over runner-up Tai Zulberti and third placer Mikey Jordan, with John Dizon and Larco Cortez of Formula-E Racing winding up fourth and fifth respectively.

Cabrera, on the other hand, refused to give up and stayed close with Suba, who controlled the early goings with a wide lead. As time ran out, Cabrera instead stepped on the gas to trim the gap and add more pressure on Suba, who likewise packed more speed to preserve his post.

But the pressure took its toll on Suba, who failed to control his speed as he overshot the hairpin and caused his engine to stop. The incident forced Suba to quit with only two laps to go and settled for third place, while Cabrera quickly took over the front seat to secure his second ROK Shifter Max Diesel triump over Wayne Darvin.

Jacob Ang (second from left) won and kept the KF Junior solo lead and was joined by (from left) runner-up Tai Zulberti, third placer Mikey Jordan, fourth placer John Dizon and Petron local station Marketing Associate Jojo Manalo.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Pacman-Khan bout talks revived

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WITH Floyd Mayweather Jr. indicating he plans one more fight in September to fulfill his six-fight $200 million deal with Showtime and showing no inclination for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, the possibility of a Pacquiao-Amir Khan bout in the Middle East is being revived.

Driver of the Year. Automobile Association Philippines President Augusto “Gus” Lagman (left) and AAP Motorsprorts Committee Chairman Armando “Mandy” Eduque (right) hand the metal silver Plaque of Recognition, declaring new Philippine Touring Car Championship champion Paolo Mantolino as 2014 AAP Driver of the Year in the recently concluded 20th AAP Awards Night.

Roach: Fight will be won and lost on the ropes EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Many Pacquiao sparred 12 rounds on Saturday and looked better than ever.

Working on a game-plan to attack early and relentlessly and to push undefeated pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the ropes, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said: “The fight will be won and lost on the ropes.”

Roach’s theory that Mayweather’s legs are shot was given added credence by a report from Matthew Fellows of the Daily Telegraph that the American boxer’s people were worried because he was supposedly having trouble

with his hands, as well as his legs.

Roach told Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail: “If he goes to the ropes and tries to rest his legs, he will get beat. “ However, Roach conceded that if Mayweather “has good movement the entire night and his legs don’t give out on him. He’ll probably win.”

Simply put, it’s about outscoring Mayweather and Roach believes if the American sits on the ropes, Pacquiao can outscore him.

“If he stays in the middle of the ring and boxes all the time, he could possibly outscore us,” said Roach.

Following his sparring this week after a one-week layoff ordered by Roach to prevent Pacquiao from being over-trained, he said Pacquiao is in the best shape of his life.

“He is moving faster and punching harder than ever before,” said Roach.

Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN reported that Pacquiao sparred 12 rounds yesterday and later told her that Roach was very happy with his performance.

“He had very good, explosive movement from Rounds 1 to 12,” aid Castillejo.

The parade of Hollywood super-

stars, who visit Pacquiao continued on Saturday when popular Sylvester Stallone visited him at the Wild Card Gym. Meanwhile, Mayweather Promotions CEO and Floyd’s spokesman Leonard Ellerbe was quoted in a Boxing Scene story that he “expects to see a knockout. Floyd will seize the opportunity and finish him (Pacquiao) off.”

“A lot will play out from the way the fighters come out from the opening bell,” said Ellerbe, predicting that Mayweather “will be able to come out and dictate the pace, based on Pacquiao’s style.” Ronnie Nathanielsz

In fact, a planned showdown between the former stablemates and occasional sparring partners was agreed upon during a meeting in London between Pacquiao and the current World Boxing Council welterweight silver champion Amir Khan before Khan fought and beat Devon Alexander in a fine showing.

During their meeting at a historic, but rundown gym in London when Pacquiao was in the British capital for a private dinner with Prince Harry, the Filipino’s adviser Michael Koncz suggested a Khan fight in case the Mayweather showdown didn’t push through.

The Standard/boxingmirror. com was informed that Pacquiao himself was keen on facing Khan and wanted the fight to be staged at Wembley Stadium sometime in the last quarter of 2015 or the first quarter of 2016.

Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail said that Khan will be at ringside for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

“Win or lose, Pacquiao could await Khan come winter,” said Powell, who reported that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum realizes the box office potential of a Pacquiao-Khan fight in the Middle East with a choice between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Powell quoted Amir Khan who said: “I want this fight. I would love to box Manny. We have been looking at an event in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is only a short drive away. It’s a dream of mine to fight in that part of the world.”

Arum recognizes both the box office potential of the fight since the huge number of Filipino workers in the region and the qualities of Khan as a fighter.

Davao del Norte Palaro backed THE provincial government of Davao del Norte and top corporations in the Davao region sealed their partnership to fuel the success of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa set from May 3 to 9.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario led the contract signing ceremony for the marketing partnership, which has generated a total of P7.9 million.

He was joined by Antonio “TonyBoy” Floirendo, Jr., chairman of ANFLOCOR Group of Companies, and Alexander Valoria, President of Tagum

Agricultural Development Company, Inc., which is the main partner for this year’s Palaro.

Key officials of major sponsors and donors also signed their respective marketing contract offering financial backing for the Palaro.

The major sponsors include Davao Light and Power Corporation and CocaCola FEMSA Philippines.

The donors are TYR Mindanao, Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, Provincial Government of Compostela Valley, Smart Communications, Calian Agri-Ventures,

Inc., Holiday Garden Island Development Corporation, Mindanao Agri-Banana Ventures Corporation, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., Tagum Cooperative, Rely Construction and Supply and the City Government of Mati.

Del Rosario stressed that since the staging of the Palaro is a very complex undertaking, sponsor support is very vital to the success of the national games.

“Your support fuels the success of the national games,” del Rosario said, as he acknowledged the sponsors after the signing ceremony.

Govenor Rodolfo del Rosario (center) signs the marketing contract, with Antonio “Tony Boy” Floirendo Jr. (right) and Alexander Valoria.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Philips Gold boosts bid Games Thursday (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:15 p.m. -- Cignal vs Mane ‘N Tail 6:15 p.m. -- Foton vs Shopinas

Abigail Praca (left) of Mane ‘N Tail attacks and scores against the defense of Desiree Dadang of Philips Gold as Iris Tolenada looks on.

ROMAN PROSPERO

Guiao: Toothless Lee laying guts on the floor

By Dennis Principe

OBSERVERS were startled when Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao decided to field back an injured Paul Lee in the dying minutes of Game 3 Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Midway through the third quarter, Lee lost a tooth while two others got pushed back up into his gums after his mouth got hit by a wayward elbow from Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson in their 109-97 victory.

After spending some minutes inside their locker room, Lee rushed back to their bench hoping that he would be of help

in neutralizing a potential last push by the Texters.

Lee was eventually fielded in by coach Yeng Guiao at the 4:15 mark of the final canto, wherein he scored nine of his 17-point total output, while playing one less tooth the rest of the game.

“Sinabihan niya ako, gusto daw niyang maglaro. I asked him kung kaya ba niya? He as-

sured me ok lang daw siya,” said Guiao.

Guiao admitted that he was already confident of a win around the time when Lee’s teeth got mangled, but the fiery Pampanga congressman felt that his star point guard wanted to make a statement that night.

“It’s a message to the other team, the audience, his teammates and to myself that they are here laying their guts on the floor for something they value, which is winning a championship,” said Guiao.

Guiao said what Lee did personified the kind of determination the rest of the E-Painters

Narvasa next PBA Commissioner?

IS Chito Narvasa being groomed as the next Commissioner and first-ever Chief Operating Officer of the PBA? This cropped up after the name Narvasa was included in the league’s latest shortlist as possible replacement to Chito Salud, who is now the PBA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

A source contacted by The Standard revealed that Narvasa was persuaded to allow his name to be included in the latest list and that he was also being convinced to eventually accept the position.

Narvasa, who once led the now defunct Shell to the PBA Finals, was one of the personalities contacted by the league’s head-

hunter Global Executive Solutions, but eventually backed out just before the first batch of official candidates was announced two weeks ago.

“All candidates are deserving and the PBA Board sees no problem in getting anyone among the four as their next commissioner. They just feel that Narvasa has the personality that will, at least, maintain the credibility that Salud established during his term,” said the source.

Among the four, Santos is considered the most qualified in terms of experience as he has been working with the league since the mid-1990s.

Adalem, who is the president of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges

and Universities, is also a worthy prospect but his low profile personality is turning out to be a drawback.

Hizon meanwhile may well be the most popular choice, but his experience pales in comparison with the three other contenders. Hizon is the current commissioner of the Filsports Basketball Association, a newly-formed league backed by the SBP. After coming up with six names, the PBA trimmed down the list to four contenders namely Narvasa, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas treasurer Jay Adalem, retired player Vince Hizon and current PBA Operations Director Rickie Santos. Dennis Principe

have, noting that most of his players are playing hurt.

“Si Jeff (Chan), one hour before every game the last three games, he’s been taking antipain injections just so he will not feel the pain of his plantar fasciitis and we’re talking of big needles. Hindi ‘yung pang bakuna lang,”said Guiao.

Aside from Chan, point guard Jonathan Uyloan is also being bothered by a torn ligament on his shoulder.

“It’s a collective determination to win a championship. May ganu’n man na nangyari, mas mataas pa din ‘yung determination namin,” added Guiao.

PHILIPS Gold blasted Mane ‘N Tail, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20, to remain in contention for one of the two outright semifinal slots in the 2015 Philippine Superliga women’s volleyball tournament All Filipino Conference yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Rossan Fajardo and Myla Pablo led the balanced assault to help the Lady Slammers close their eliminationround campaign on a high note in this inter-club tournament organized by Sports Core and supported by Asics, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller Sports Medicine, Via Mare, LGR and Heathway Medical.

It was Philips Gold’s fifth win in 10 games, keeping it in contention for one of the two outright semifinal slots together with Shopinas (5-3) and Foton (4-4).

Cagayan Valley takes on Army CAGAYAN Valley hopes to recover lost grounds as it tangles with winless Coast Guard while Army tries to firm up its hold of solo second as it faces unfancied but resurgent Baguio in the Shakey’s VLeague Season 12-Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Two days after bowing to the powerhitting PLDT Ultra Fast Spikers in four, the Lady Rising Suns set out against the Lady Dolphins in their 4 p.m. encounter the heavy favorites owing to their starstudded roster and experience.

Like Cagayan, Army is also expected to roll past Baguio in the 2 p.m. opener although the Summer Spikers are coming into the event upbeat of their chances following their five-set win over Coast Guard last Thursday.

Barbosa, Gomez are best Pinoy finishers

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO grandmaster Oliver Barbosa played Lyna Sunilduth to a draw in 60 moves Sunday in the final round of the 2015 Bangkok Open Chess Championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand.

Barbosa emerged as one of the two highest finish Filipino entries, with another Filipino GM John Paul Gomez, who defeated International Master Junta Ikeda.

Barbosa shares fifth to 18th places with Gomez, and both have 6.5 points.

English Grandmaster Nigel Short won the crown after a nail-biting final round, according to the tournament’s official website.

Short emerged as the unlikely champion after top seed Wang Hao fell to Indian sixth seed Surya Ganguly in an exhausting 69 move encounter.

Wang spoiled an endgame which appeared headed for a draw.

Instead of tying for first and winning his first Thai Open title, Wang dropped to fourth place. He was overtaken by Ganguly and Short, who downed Diptayan Ghosh, Poland’s Kamil Dragun also overtook Wang after he upset second seed Paco Vallejo.

The Top 3 players shared 220,000 Baht, with Short edging out Ganguly for the title.

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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

Cavaliers, Clippers clip rivals as playoffs begin Kyrie Irving (no. 2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass while under pressure from Avery Bradley (0) and Brandon Bass (30) of the Boston Celtics in the second half during Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics, 113-100. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Kyrie Irving made the most of his playoff debut Sunday, scoring 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 113100 in the opening game of their first round series.

Guard Irving played with the poise of an NBA veteran as he drained his first five shots from beyond the arc. He was backed up

by LeBron James 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Kevin Love’s 19 point and 12 rebound performance as Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

“Having four days of preparation and being with my brothers in the war room going over film, going into the game, you feel prepared,” Irving said. “I’m just glad I got game one out of the way.”

In other playoff action Sunday,

Philips Gold boosts bid TURN TO A15

Kyle Korver finished with a gamehigh 21 points to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a 99-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets in game one of their East series.

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 100-86 to open their series and the Los Angeles Clippers surprised the defending league champion San Antonio Spurs 107-92.

Irving scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half. He had 12 in the second quarter, including a buzzer-beater to give the second-seeded C a v s

a 62-54 halftime lead after they trailed by eight.

“He’s our floor general,” said James.

“He set the tone early with his ability to shoot the ball and to get in the lane.”

Love also got his first taste of the postseason, following 439 regular season games with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland.

Finds his groove After a slow start Sunday he caught fire in the third, scoring eight points in the first seven minutes of the quarter. He said once he got the early jitters out of the way he was able to find his groove.

“My first playoff game was just a little anxiousness,” Love said.

“More than anything, I just wanted to stay aggressive. From the second quarter on, I settled myself and was able to play my game.”

In Atlanta, Jeff Teague and

DeMarre Carroll added 17 points each for the top-seeded Hawks and Dennis Schroder scored 13 off the bench.

Brook Lopez scored 17 points with a game-high 14 rebounds and Joe Johnson also tallied 17 points for the Nets, who clinched the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season.

“A lot of credit goes to them for closing on us and putting us in tough spots,” said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer. “But I think defensively our hands and our activity were good and created some turnovers.”

Blake Griffin posted 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and Chris Paul had 32 points, seven boards and six assists for the Clippers, who entered the postseason having won 14 of 15. DeAndre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds and had four blocks. AFP

Nadal seeks 9th Barcelona net crown TURN TO A12

NBA playoffs first-round results Eastern Conference at Cleveland Cleveland 113 Boston 100 (Cleveland leads series 1-0)

at Atlanta Atlanta 99 Brooklyn 92 (Atlanta leads series 1-0)

Western Conference at Memphis Memphis 100 Portland 86 (Memphis leads series 1-0)

at Los Angeles Los Angeles Clippers 107 San Antonio Spurs 92 (Los Angeles leads series 1-0)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

TUESDAY: APRIL 21, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Ayala mall to rise in Aseana

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc.

plans to build a huge shopping mall at the Aseana City complex in Parañaque City that is expected to be bigger than Mall of Asia complex of SM Prime Holdings Inc. The city government of Parañaque said in a statement Ayala Land had filed an application for a locational clearance with the city’s local zoning board of adjustments and appeals, indicating its plan to build a huge mall complex, a business process outsourcing center and a hotel within a ninehectare property adjacent to Pagcor Entertainment City.

Parañaque City’s business permits and licensing office head Melanie Malaya, who is also a member of city’s local zoning board, said Ayala Land’s specific application was for the construction of a mall along Macapagal Avenue, which would be bigger than the nearby SM Mall of Asia complex.

The SM Mall of Asia is listed as having 407,000 square meters in

gross floor area.

Malaya said Ayala Land’s planned shopping mall, once completed, would become Parañaque’s largest commercial complex.

Ayala Land also plans to develop a business process outsourcing building and a 12-story hotel with at least 325 rooms within the leased property, Malaya said.

Ayala group has secured a 45year lease for the 9.2-hectare property from the Wenceslao group, owner of the Asean Business Park complex, for the project.

The property is located right across the new City of Dreams Manila, a casino and hotel complex also owned by the SM group in partnership with the

Melco Crown group of Macau.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the decision of Ayala Land to invest in Parañaque was a huge vote of confidence for the city, which in 2014 was adjudged the country’s most competitive city in terms of economic dynamism and was now dubbed the Mega City by the Bay. “This is another affirmation of Parañaque’s emergence as a new economic and business hub,” Olivarez said.

“We welcome with open arms Ayala Land’s investment which we estimate should create at least 10,000 new jobs for our people and help sustain the country’s robust economic growth,” he said.

Ayala Land’s application for a locational clearance was approved by the board last week.

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 20, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,865.27 81.62

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing APRIL 20, 2015 46

P44.195

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.190 LOW P44.280 AVERAGE P44.230 VOLUME 585.700M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.40-P52.05 Unleaded Gasoline P26.90-P43.80 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

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

Benefit run.

State-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., Miss Earth Foundation and Gawad Kalinga teamed up for this year’s benefit run to raise more funds to build shelters for the PDIC-Gawad Kalinga Village in Lawaan, Eastern Samar. Shown during the launching of “Takbo 2: Tungo sa Kalusugan Para sa Kalikasan” are (from left) PDIC general counsel Romeo Mendoza Jr., PDIC first vice president Elizabeth Oller, reigning Miss Earth Jamie Herrell, PDIC president Cristina Que Orbeta, Philippine Information Agency director-general Jose Mari Oquiñena, GK partnership manager for PDIC project in Lawaan Angela Monique Angelo, PDIC executive vice president Imelda Singzon and senior vice president Sandra Diaz. Takbo 2 will be held on May 10, 2015 at the CCP Grounds in Pasay City.

Customs collection fell P11b short of Q1 target

By Jennifer Ambanta THE Bureau of Customs said Monday collections grew 6.6 percent in the first quarter to P92.2 billion from P86.5 billion a year ago, but fell P11.1 billion short of the target for the period, on lower oil prices.

Data showed the agency missed the first-quarter collection target of P103.3 billion.

Cash collection rose 1 percent in the January-March period to P87.3 billion from P86.5 billion collected in the same period in 2014.

Non-cash collection, representing revenue from imports of government agencies and paid through credits to the BOC’s account, reached P4.9 billion, com-

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

pared to zero in 2014.

It said the 53-percent decline in oil prices from the first quarter was the main factor in the slowdown in collection growth.

Oil import volumes rose 19.5 percent, but the 53-percent decline in oil prices and shift in the import mix toward higher crude oil imports at the expense of higher-value finished products, led to a 38-percent decline in collections from oil products.

The bureau said collections from imports apart from oil products continued to rise strongly, partly offsetting the fall in collections from oil.

Collection from non-oil imports grew 24 percent, as imports of motor vehicles, food, iron and

steel, machinery, and chemical compounds all showed strong growth.

“Developments in global oil markets are obviously out of our control. We are confident that collections from imports apart from oil will remain robust,” said Customs Commissioner John Sevilla.

“However, it is difficult to

B3

imagine a scenario under which oil prices will recover sufficiently to restore collection growth to last year’s levels of 20 percent and above,” he said.

The agency said it had been expecting a decline in its collection from oil products since last year, after prices of petroleum products dropped in the international market.

DMCI’s core income falls 3%

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, April 20, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

44.3370

Japan

Yen

0.008410

0.3729

UK

Pound

1.496300

66.3415

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129006

5.7197

Switzerland

Franc

1.050751

46.5871

Canada

Dollar

0.818331

36.2823

Singapore

Dollar

0.743329

32.9570

Australia

Dollar

0.776518

34.4285

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653928

117.6672

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

11.8232

Brunei

Dollar

0.740576

32.8349

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000078

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030902

1.3701

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.0724

Euro

Euro

1.080900

47.9239

Korea

Won

0.000925

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.161348

7.1537

India

Rupee

0.016013

0.7100

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.275938

12.2343

New Zealand

Dollar

0.766989

34.0060

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032232

B6

1.4291 Source: PDS Bridge

SEC watches 12 more firms

TUESDAY: APRIL 21, 2015

B2

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Monday, april 20, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 104 63 2.49 4.2 18.48 31.6 9.5 890 1.01 99.4 30.5 75 94.95 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9 3.26

2.5 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 1.97 2.03 12.02 23.55 6.3 625 0.225 78 18.02 58 76.5 276 45 107.6 1200 66 2.65

AG Finance 7.5 Asia United Bank 70.8 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 118.50 Bank of PI 106.00 China Bank 46.2 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.35 Bright Kindle Resources 2.16 COL Financial 15.28 Eastwest Bank 22.85 Filipino Fund Inc. 8.44 Manulife Fin. Corp.

775.00 MEDCO Holdings 0.415 Metrobank 96.2 PB Bank 18.26 Phil Bank of Comm 31.00 Phil. National Bank 78.00 PSE Inc. 334 RCBC `A’ 44.95 Security Bank 166.4 Sun Life Financial 1405.00 Union Bank 70.30 Vantage Equities 3.02

35.6 1.6 1.41 7.92 14.6 62.5 10.08 29.15 1.04 10.72 8.44 9.79 5.43 9.54 1.06 8.61 18.06 67.9 0.0076 3.12 0.395 168 8.65 34.1 2.3 1.63 24.4 16.2 7.62 250.2 3.87 9 9.94 3.03 2.22 1 4.72 6 201.6 1.67 0.122 2.01 143.4 4.28 0.670 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

First Holdings ‘A’ Greenergy Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

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

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

42.5 1.66 1.99 11.78 18.64 194 34.95 62 1.75 13.48 19.300 11.48 7.98 9.52 1.84 18.96 28.95 94.5 0.4500 6.2 0.580 213.40 9.5 36.05 2.85 2.54 27.5 24.75 7.600 265.40 4.12 9.79 11.58 4.05 2.44 2.6 4.85 6.5 201.4 1.66 0.167 2.17 216 4.47 0.67 1.46

59.2 31.85 7.39 2.27 3.4 800 11.06 84 0.66 1380 72.6 5.29 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.0670 0.84 87 3.5 934 2.2 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

48.1 20.85 6.62 1.210 1.4 600 7.390 14.18 0.144 818 46.6 3 4.43 0.59 12 0.580 4.22 4.5 0.036 0.450 66.7 1.5 709.5 1.13 0.93 85.2 0.200 0.173 0.310

Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Forum Pacific GT Capital JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

Minerales Industrias Corp.

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

58.50 25.55 7.10 1.60 0.28 793 8.17 15.40 0.300 1296 72.65 5.2 8.86 0.79 16.08 0.64 4.88 5.1 0.0400 0.770 69.40 2.83 931.00 1.22 0.86 101.40 0.3850 0.2350 0.315

10.5 1.99 2.07 0.375 40 6.15 5.4 1.54 1.97 1.48 0.201

6.01 0.91 1.29 0.192 29.1 4.1 4.96 0.89 1.1 0.97 0.083

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

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

8.750 0.85 1.300 0.250 40.00 4.2 5.2 0.92 1.20 1.01 0.160

47 5 2.36 15.3 20.6 125 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 0.820 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 3.95 4 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5.25 13.04 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 8.1 253 3.28 0.315 2.68 226.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 8 7.5 70.8 70 117.50 116.30 107.00 104.50 46.2 46 2.38 2.30 2.15 2.15 15.98 15 23 22.45 8.94 7.53 787.00 785.00 0.415 0.395 97.2 95 18.30 18.26 30.70 30.70 78.20 77.00 330 325 46 44.95 166 160 1400.00 1400.00 70.20 69.20 3.09 3.09 INDUSTRIAL 42.5 41.6 1.67 1.67 2 1.99 11.86 11.12 18.62 18.26 185 141 35.5 33 62.5 62 1.78 1.74 13.48 13.2 19.200 18.4 11.48 11.18 7.96 7.65 9.64 9.42 1.8 1.65 19.3 17.44 28.95 27.95 94.26 92.1 0.4400 0.4400 6.2 5.96 0.590 0.590 213.80 211.00 9.5 9.35 36.75 35.00 2.69 2.51 2.55 2.52 27.5 26.75 24.8 23.6 7.800 7.560 265.80 263.00 4.12 4.07 9.80 9.75 11.58 11.40 4.05 4.00 2.44 2.35 3.14 2.5 4.94 4.84 6.45 6.45 201.4 198 1.73 1.66 0.167 0.165 2.17 2.10 219 212 4.5 4.47 0.69 0.67 1.45 1.44 HOLDING FIRMS 58.50 56.10 25.50 24.10 7.10 7.00 1.60 1.56 0.28 0.27 788.5 760 8.17 8.01 15.60 15.18 0.290 0.265 1299 1235 72.65 70.50 5.5 5.5 8.86 8.56 0.85 0.79 16.18 15.6 0.67 0.64 4.87 4.66 5.1 5 0.0390 0.0390 0.800 0.780 70.25 68.15 2.82 2.92 939.00 901.00 1.22 1.21 0.89 0.89 100.50 100.00 0.3950 0.3700 0.2340 0.2150 0.325 0.310 PROPERTY 8.620 8.450 0.90 0.85 1.310 1.290 0.255 0.240 40.05 39.05 4.19 4.12 5.19 5.19 0.92 0.91 1.62 1.21 1.07 1.01 0.163 0.154

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.7 70.75 117.00 107.00 46.2 2.37 2.15 15.2 22.5 8.51 787.00 0.395 97.2 18.30 30.70 77.50 325 46 160.1 1400.00 69.50 3.09

2.67 -0.07 -1.27 0.94 0.00 0.85 -0.46 -0.52 -1.53 0.83 1.55 -4.82 1.04 0.22 -0.97 -0.64 -2.69 2.34 -3.79 -0.36 -1.14 2.32

109,800 5,970 2,926,310 2,358,670 9,400 51,000 176,000 70,800 208,300 9,100 190 550,000 7,400,980 47,800 500 112,530 16,980 56,500 1,086,580 45 22,660 2,000

42 1.67 2 11.5 18.44 185 34.95 62.5 1.77 13.24 18.600 11.48 7.72 9.52 1.79 17.6 28.5 92.8 0.4400 6 0.590 212.00 9.46 36.65 2.68 2.52 27.3 24.5 7.600 265.00 4.08 9.79 11.58 4.02 2.40 3.01 4.91 6.45 199.1 1.68 0.166 2.13 216.6 4.5 0.68 1.44

-1.18 0.60 0.50 -2.38 -1.07 -4.64 0.00 0.81 1.14 -1.78 -3.63 0.00 -3.26 0.00 -2.72 -7.17 -1.55 -1.80 -2.22 -3.23 1.72 -0.66 -0.42 1.66 -5.96 -0.79 -0.73 -1.01 0.00 -0.15 -0.97 0.00 0.00 -0.74 -1.64 15.77 1.24 -0.77 -1.14 1.20 -0.60 -1.84 0.28 0.67 1.49 -1.37

2,257,400 10,000 1,201,000 4,600 483,200 60 1,030,500 74,880 57,000 371,000 2,702,800 789,800 35,891,700 447,100 181,000 353,700 2,089,400 137,190 190,000 598,800 78,000 537,120 195,600 1,200 32,000 14,000 826,800 235,600 99,800 249,160 88,000 1,553,000 41,700 331,000 600,000 14,314,000 60,000 28,600 21,420 543,000 2,700,000 4,813,000 1,804,550 20,000 121,000 56,000

57.00 24.15 7.10 1.56 0.28 780 8.09 15.60 0.275 1243 72.00 5.5 8.65 0.81 15.7 0.65 4.85 5.11 0.0390 0.780 69.55 2.82 930.00 1.21 0.89 100.30 0.3850 0.2240 0.310

-2.56 -5.48 0.00 -2.50 1.82 -1.64 -0.98 1.30 -8.33 -4.09 -0.89 5.77 -2.37 2.53 -2.36 1.56 -0.61 0.10 -2.50 1.30 0.22 -0.35 -0.11 -0.82 3.49 -1.08 0.00 -4.68 -1.59

1,041,420 15,246,600 11,300 42,000 590,000 838,730 1,650,300 4,888,100 4,460,000 491,235 1,289,360 100 310,300 4,110,000 1,902,700 132,000 10,178,000 141,200 3,000,000 1,303,000 854,470 6,000 240,650 30,000 30,000 15,100 2,030,000 6,800,000 340,000

8.490 0.85 1.290 0.255 39.65 4.12 5.19 0.92 1.25 1.04 0.154

-2.97 0.00 -0.77 2.00 -0.88 -1.90 -0.19 0.00 4.17 2.97 -3.75

491,800 924,000 240,000 520,000 9,764,700 97,700 70,000 498,000 398,000 251,000 48,200,000

135,493.00 398,980.00 -45,733,004.00 149,500,335.00

-661,666.00 -1,833,805.00 149,290.00 262,363,216.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 4.88 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 3.6 20.6 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 2.75 0.090 0.325 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 3.38 1 5.69

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 12.3 9 1700 2090 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 1.97 2.46 15.2 0.62 22.8 6.41 4 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 2.95 10.2 0.490

1.97 32.5 1 0.6 10 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 10.14 5.88 830 1600 5.95 1.36 105 3.01 8.72 0.012 0.036 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 0.490 1.8 8.7 0.34 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 1.71 6.45 0.305

0.0098 17.24 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98 4.2 0.48 0.455 0.475 0.023 0.026 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 8.65 6.98 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 0.014 3.660 20.2 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

70 553 120 515 8.21 12.28 111

33 490 101.5 480 5.88 6.5 101

1047 76.9 84.8

1011 74.2 75

6.98 2.2

0.8900 0.74

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6

Close

Cyber Bay Corp.

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

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

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

0.455 0.900 0.195 1.40 1.89 1.46 5.33 0.125 0.3500 7.29 29.20 1.76 3.25 19.80 0.8 7.22 1.070 7.970

0.450 0.450 0.450 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.202 0.192 0.201 1.45 1.40 1.41 1.88 1.80 1.81 1.44 1.40 1.44 5.46 5.28 5.33 0.125 0.121 0.124 0.3550 0.3350 0.3450 7.4 7.23 7.28 30.00 29.00 29.45 1.76 1.75 1.76 3.40 3.18 3.40 19.82 19.02 19.06 0.8 0.79 0.8 7.22 7.15 7.15 1.060 1.030 1.060 7.960 7.880 7.960 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 6.5 6.65 6.31 6.31 ABS-CBN 61.4 63 61.15 61.5 Acesite Hotel 1.05 1.04 1.03 1.04 APC Group, Inc. 0.690 0.690 0.670 0.680 Asian Terminals Inc. 13.5 13 12.52 12.52 Bloomberry 11.80 11.80 11.10 11.14 Boulevard Holdings 0.1120 0.1160 0.1110 0.1120 Calata Corp.

3.3 3.4 3.26 3.37 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 81 81.5 80.7 81 Centro Esc. Univ.

10.06 10.18 10.18 10.18 DFNN Inc. 7.00 7.08 7.08 7.08 FEUI 995 995 888 995 Globe Telecom 2240 2210 2040 2196 GMA Network Inc. 6.50 6.60 6.47 6.51 Harbor Star 1.48 1.49 1.45 1.47 I.C.T.S.I. 106.7 107.4 106 106.3 Imperial Res. `A’ 8.00 7.90 7.90 7.90 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11.96 11.1 11.1 11.1 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 Island Info 0.229 0.227 0.225 0.225 ISM Communications 1.2700 1.2600 1.2400 1.2600 Jackstones 2.81 2.81 2.6 2.74 Leisure & Resorts 8.59 8.65 8.57 8.58 Liberty Telecom 2.03 2.08 2.03 2.08 Lorenzo Shipping 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Macroasia Corp.

2.25 2.29 2.25 2.29 Manila Bulletin 0.690 0.680 0.680 0.680 Manila Jockey 2 2 1.92 1.99 Melco Crown 9.93 9.93 9.55 9.65 MG Holdings 0.370 0.360 0.360 0.360 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 18.74 18.4 18.4 18.4 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.55 4.55 4.55 4.55 Paxys Inc. 3 3.05 3.05 3.05 Phil. Seven Corp.

110.00 110.00 110.00 110.00 Philweb.Com Inc. 14.48 14.48 14.30 14.46 PLDT Common 2912.00 2930.00 2850.00 2912.00 PremiereHorizon 0.610 0.610 0.600 0.610 Premium Leisure 1.590 1.590 1.550 1.570 Puregold 39.30 39.95 38.70 39.00 Robinsons RTL 84.00 84.00 82.30 83.00 SSI Group 9.80 9.80 9.50 9.50 STI Holdings 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.67 Transpacific Broadcast 1.89 1.99 1.99 1.99 6.38 6.74 6.4 6.74 Travellers Waterfront Phils.

0.350 0.350 0.330 0.350 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0058 0.0057 0.0056 0.0057 Atlas Cons. `A’ 8.03 8.09 7.90 8.00 Benguet Corp `B’ 6.5000 6.5100 6.5100 6.5100 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.07 1.1 1.1 1.1 Coal Asia 0.9 0.9 0.88 0.89 Dizon 8.00 8.38 7.98 8.09 Ferronickel 1.9 1.94 1.85 1.88 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.375 0.390 0.375 0.385 Lepanto `A’ 0.231 0.232 0.228 0.230 Lepanto `B’ 0.243 0.243 0.243 0.243 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 4.23 4.26 3.96 4.16 Nickelasia 19.2 20 19.14 20 Nihao Mineral Resources 3.75 3.88 3.76 3.78 Omico 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 0.7300 Oriental Peninsula Res. 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 5.50 5.80 5.50 5.50 Philex `A’ 6.37 6.59 6.4 6.41 PhilexPetroleum 1.95 2.02 1.9 2 0.016 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.016 0.016 0.015 Semirara Corp.

159.40 160.50 158.20 160.50 TA Petroleum 4.11 4.18 4.11 4.18 United Paragon 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 62.4 64.5 62.3 63.75 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 522.5 525 519 525 First Gen G 116 120 115 118 GLOBE PREF P 511 525 511 525 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.3 6.51 6.3 6.3 Leisure and Resort 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.09 MWIDE PREF 111 111 111 111 PCOR-Preferred B 1100 1100 1098 1100 PF Pref 2 1050 1050 1047 1050 SMC Preferred A 76.35 76.3 76.25 76.25 SMC Preferred C 85.45 85.4 85.1 85.4 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 3.960 3.970 3.840 3.950 Megaworld Corp. Warrants2 3.53 3.54 3.54 3.54 SME Double Dragon 9.1 9.25 8.7 8.95 Makati Fin. Corp.

6.9 10 6.1 8.9 IRipple E-Business Intl 72.85 72.85 69.5 72.85 Xurpas 9.02 9.02 8.78 8.94 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 128.8 129.4 126.8 127.9

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

-1.10 -2.22 3.08 0.71 -4.23 -1.37 0.00 -0.80 -1.43 -0.14 0.86 0.00 4.62 -3.74 0.00 -0.97 -0.93 -0.13

840,000 58,000 210,000 2,045,000 45,583,000 542,000 39,859,200 4,820,000 1,000,000 476,600 3,872,500 502,000 179,000 23,930,900 506,000 28,900 12,000 5,003,300

-90,000.00 -17,600.00

-2.92 0.16 -0.95 -1.45 -7.26 -5.59 0.00 2.12 0.00 1.19 1.14 0.00 -1.96 0.15 -0.68 -0.37 -1.25 -7.19 -6.67 -1.75 -0.79 -2.49 -0.12 2.46 0.00 1.78 -1.45 -0.50 -2.82 -2.70 -1.81 0.00 1.67 0.00 -0.14 0.00 0.00 -1.26 -0.76 -1.19 -3.06 0.00 5.29 5.31 0.00

104,000 9,230 2,000 1,113,000 -680,690.00 900 18,703,200 -43,542,730.00 6,150,000 555,000 230,909 -5,111,725.50 5,100 2,000 2,410 90,115 36,048,270.00 228,000 378,000 3,235,810 9,119,599.00 7,600 2,200 314,300,000 2,340,000 -232,890.00 399,000 524,000 1,114,100 6,145,771.00 3,000 2,000 4,000 43,000 251,000 -297,150.00 6,206,300 8,363,027.00 270,000 97,200.00 200 1,000 13,000 70 4,400.00 84,200 584,616.00 70,860 -50,419,930.00 1,212,000 13,646,920.00 55,838,000 13,646,920.00 5,508,500 29,839,040.00 999,750 -2,638,998.50 2,328,100 10,199,640.00 174,000 64,990.00 1,000 1,413,500 -130,241.00 380,000

-1.72 -0.37 0.15 2.80 -1.11 1.13 -1.05 2.67 -0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.65 4.17 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.63 2.56 0.00 0.69 1.70 0.00

90,000,000 955,100 2,000 3,000 3,665,000 14,900 21,975,000 1,480,000 2,700,000 10,000 58,600,000 500,000 969,000 6,536,400 1,153,000 15,000 178,000 6,700,000 33,300 468,600 436,000 10,800,000 455,250 239,000 200,000

2.16 0.48 1.72 2.74 0.00 0.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.13 -0.06

15,010 10,660 79,230 11,620 35,400 1,000 280 2,970 1,000 29,000 3,560

-0.25 0.28

227,000 5,000

-34,740.00

-1.65 28.99 0.00 -0.89

3,332,300 62,400 710 710,200

3,810,984.00 -890.00

-0.70

63,480

67,305.00

42,000.00 -2,449,410.00 -115,758,352.00 124,000.00 83,750.00 26,491,645.00 645,750.00 -19,829,408.00

MST

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

SHARES 170992029 82601877 62074835 192523833 424656113 208245843 1145263708

3,228,154.00 -481,800.00 506,210.00 -32,198,151.00 -63,000.00

97,858,965.00 227,240.00

4,307,010.00

-161,000.00 2,701,200.00

4,030,752.00 -11,579,166.00 -873,728.00 -139,326,684.00 1,260,091.00 33,000.00

-2,702,335.00 175,795.00 -200,300.00

-27,927,874.00 -367,651.00

13,210,980.00 -134,750.00 -203,750.00 27,380,368.00 -114,240.00 9,635,184.00 239,000.00 9,120.00 92,390.00 32,250.00 83,500.00

-82,157,732.00 44,700.00

-31,049,889.50 -206,965,875.00

-48,632,330.00 1,613,920.00 43,498,806.00 -340,119,310.00 -29,416,733.00

608,966.00

6,558,468.00

-8,079,690.00

63,220.00 3,793,667.00

-85,049,710.00

-311,150.00

448,000.00

-2,365,669.00 103,200.00 89,403,390.00 -682,590.00 -91,990.00 -10,500.00

T op g ainerS VALUE 11478932997.49 1441679028.79 2305172635.71 1351942932.556 1675949484.75 271274704.978 18569614698.17

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,851.94 (down) 5.07 INDUSTRIAL 12,292.81 (down) 93.84 HOLDING FIRMS 6,989.35 (down) 109.24 PROPERTY 3,162.02 (down) 57.65 SERVICES 2,130.40 (down) 14.48 MINING & OIL 14,369.08 (up) 143.82 PSEI 7,865.27 (down) 81.62 All Shares Index 4,494.17 (down) 42.69 Gainers: 62 Losers: 114; Unchanged: 38; Total: 214

152,295.00 -8,148,079.00

192,880.00 -13,020.00 44,500.00 -14,485,980.00

7,500.00 -956,580.00 69,193,152.00 -286,780.00

-39,900.00 172,476.00

5,387,119.00 4,180.00 662,620.00

-177,900.00

2,021,322.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Makati Fin. Corp.

8.9

28.99

Forum Pacific

0.275

-8.33

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.01

15.77

Asian Terminals Inc.

12.52

-7.26

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.5

5.77

IPeople Inc. `A'

11.1

-7.19

Travellers

6.74

5.31

Federal Res. Inv. Group

17.6

-7.17

Transpacific Broadcast

1.99

5.29

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.014

-6.67

Shang Properties Inc.

3.40

4.62

LMG Chemicals

2.68

-5.96

Nickelasia

20

4.17

Bloomberry

11.14

-5.59

City & Land Dev.

1.25

4.17

Alliance Global Inc.

24.15

-5.48

South China Res. Inc.

0.89

3.49

MEDCO Holdings

0.395

-4.82

Ever Gotesco

0.201

3.08

Wellex Industries

0.2240

-4.68

TUESDAY: APRIL 21, 2015

B3

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

DMCI’s core income falls 3%

By Jenniffer B. Austria

E NG I N E E R I NG

conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc. said core net income fell 3 percent in 2014 to P10.3 billion from P10.6 billion in 2013, on weaker operating results of power and construction subsidiaries.

DMCI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income contribution of the power business dipped 42 percent to P2 billion from P3.5 billion in 2013 as technical problems and commissioning delays forced the extended outage of power unit 2 of SEM-Calaca Power Corp.

This exposed the company to high Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prices for its replacement power in the first half of the year.

Earnings from construction subsidiary D.M. Consunji Inc. also slid 42 percent in 2014 to P479 million from P1.3 billion in 2013, dragged down by cost overruns in engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a power plant and the delayed implementation of major public infrastructure projects due to right-of-way and utility relocation issues.

The group’s mining, real estate and water businesses posted strong results in 2014, which helped offset the income declines in the other segments.

“The resilience of our engineering diversification strategy was apparent in 2014. Despite the weaker-than-expected results of two business segments, we were able to stabilize the overall profitability of our investment portfolio,” said DMCI chairman and president Isidro Consunji.

DMCI said the mining businesses rebounded from last year’s drop and showed significant growth in net income contributions due to the combined effect of higher sales volume and better average prices.

Net income contribution of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. jumped 125 percent to P2.3 billion from P1 billion in 2013 while net income contributions of DMCI Mining Corp. surged 114 percent to P362 million from P169 million in 2013.

Property arm DMCI Homes also continued to deliver positive growth, with a 22-percent increase in net income, mostly coming from gain realized on sale of lots. From P2.7 billion, net income contributions from real estate grew to P3.2 billion.

Continued improvement in the operational performance of affiliate Maynilad Water Services Inc. also pushed net earnings share from the water business, rising 6 percent to P2 billion from P1.9 billion in the previous year.

School donation. President Benigno Aquino III (second from right) witnessed the ceremonial turnover of additional P3-billion funding for the “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan” school building project at the Tarlac National High School on April 17, 2015. The P3-billion mock check was turned over by (from left) Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. directors Eric Nuguid and Eugene Manalastas, president and chief operating officer Jorge Sarmiento and chairman and chief executive Cristino Naguiat Jr. to Education Secretary Armin Luistro (third from right) and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson (right).

Stocks market slides as fears over Greece resurface STOCKS retreated Monday, following losses on Wall Street as fears over Greece resurfaced, while Shanghai and Hong Kong tumbled after Chinese authorities unveiled restrictions on dealers borrowing cash to trade shares.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 81 points, or 1 percent, to close at 7,865.27. Despite Monday’s loss, the gauge was still up 8.8 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 42 points, or 0.9 percent, to settle at 4,494.17, on value turnover of P18.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 114 to 62, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Five of the six counters ended in the red, with only the mining and oil sub-index posting an increase. The 20 most active stocks also fell Monday, led by casino operator Bloomberrry Resorts Corp. which shed 5.6 percent to

P11.14.

Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, dropped 4.9 percent to P24.30 while developer Filinvest Land Inc. retreated 4.8 percent to P1.80. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. lost 4 percent to P761.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also traded lower Monday.

The mainland clampdown, announced Friday, offset news at the weekend that the Chinese central bank had reduced the amount of

Philex set to buy out Forum minority

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHILEX Petroleum Corp. may offer to acquire the shares of minority shareholders of Forum Energy Plc of the UK for 20 pence per share.

Philex Petroleum, including subsidiary FEC Resources Inc and FEC’s nominee Ferlim Nominees Ltd., owns around 60.57 percent of Forum Energy.

Forum Energy, in turn, owns a 70-percent stake in service contract 72, viewed as rich in petroleum reserves located at the Recto Bank in the disputed West Philippine Sea. “As the company is unable to make a tender offer for its shares due to having negative reserves, it has explored other alternatives. It is currently in discussions with Philex,” Forum Energy said in a disclosure to the London Stock Exchange.

Forum said the discussions were about “Philex potentially making an offer to minority shareholders to acquire their shares for cash prior to the cancellation taking effect so that shareholders have the option of selling their shares rather than retaining shares in an unlisted company.”

The board of Forum said the company’s shares

moved following its announcement on March 2 of the decision of the Energy Department’s grant of a force majeure on SC 72.

The board said because of that, it is “considering applying for the cancellation of admission to AIM of the company’s ordinary shares,” which would require a shareholder resolution at the company’s forthcoming annual general meeting in June.

Forum Energy’s shares are currently listed at the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, the international market for growing companies.

Philex Petroleum, on the other hand, is listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“The company has been exploring options to allow its minority shareholders the ability to trade out of their shares prior to the cancellation taking effect,” Forum Energy said.

It said Philex was currently considering whether such an offer would be made “and there is no certainty that such an offer will be made.”

“However, Philex has indicated to the company that, were such an offer to be made, Philex would offer minority shareholders cash consideration of 20 pence per share,” it said.

cash lenders must keep in reserve, in a bid to boost loan activity.

In late trade, Shanghai sank 1.45 percent and Hong Kong was 2.12 percent lower and Sydney shed 0.76 percent, or 44.8 points, to close at 5,833.1.

Tokyo was marginally lower, easing 18.39 points at 19,634.49 but Seoul 0.15 percent higher, adding 3.21 points to 2,146.71.

The People’s Bank of China Sunday announced it would cut one percentage point off the reserve ratio requirement, the second reduction this year and the latest monetary easing measure aimed at kickstarting growth in the world’s number-two economy.

It has also cut interest rates twice since November.

However, on Friday the China Securities Regulatory Commission’s decision to tighten rules on margin trading -- where investors buy shares mostly with borrowed money -- which has helped propel the recent rally.

At the same time authorities made it easier to short sell, or bet against stocks.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai share markets have been soaring as investors speculate that Chinese leaders will continue to loosen monetary policy to counter a sharp slowdown.

“Chinese shares have risen too fast and it’s no surprise to see huge volatility in the market going forward,” Castor Pang, the head of research at Core PacificYamaichi in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News.

With Bloomberg, AFP

B4

BUSINESS Petilla proposes nuclear regulatory body to study Bataan plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department is pushing for the creation of a nuclear regulatory body that will decide on the fate of the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said he wanted the body to decide on whether the Bataan nuclear facility should be revived.

“I don’t want to decide on it. We must have a nuclear regulatory body to decide on it because this is a very sensitive issue,” Petilla told reporters.

He said the proposed body would not only address the safety concerns, but also the cost of rehabilitating the facility estimated at $400 million to $600 million “because the structures are older.”

“No one will sell uranium to us if we have no nuclear body. This is a big task,” Petilla said.

Petilla earlier said the Energy Department would come out with a recommendation on BNPP before the end of President Benigno Aquino III’s term in 2016.

“Whether it will be mothballed,

activated or scrapped totally, my thrust is this administration will decide on it,” he said earlier.

Aquino made an announcement shortly after assuming the presidency in 2010 that he would not revive the operations of BNPP due to safety considerations.

Aquino also shelved any new plan for BNPP, following the Fukishima nuclear power disaster in 2011.

His mother, former president Cory Aquino mothballed the Bataan Nuclear power plant in 1986, also citing safety concerns.

The plant is said to be sitting on a fault line.

Petilla, however, said the department would conduct a study on the social impact and safety considerations of nuclear power, before making its recommendation to Aquino.

“BNPP, basically, that is a decision the president will have to take rather than myself. Of course, he will ask for recommendation but we’re actually studying, looking at the angle, what will be the effect. But in the end it will be given to the people to decide,” he said.

Petilla said nuclear “is one of the possible resource” that could help secure the country’s power needs and assured that nuclear would be given “a level playing field” in determining its viability as a fuel source.

“I will give everybody a level playing field, in terms of technology that we will use.

[I] am not condemning it,” the energy chief said.

The ownership and title of the BNPP is now in the name of the Republic of the Philippines under the control of the Finance Department.

March BoP reverted to deficit of $244m

By Julito G. Rada

THE country’s balance of payments position, a key indicator that supports the peso and international reserves, swung to a deficit of $244 million in March from a $985-million surplus in February, after the government settled a part of its foreign debt.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the March deficit was lower than the $340-million deficit incurred in the same month last year.

Bangko Sentral said despite the March deficit, the BoP position in the first three months remained in surplus at $877 million, a turnaround from the $4.475-billion deficit recorded in the same period last year.

“The BoP for March showed a deficit of $244 million, after sustaining surpluses since December 2014 on account mainly of debt payments by the national government,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a statement.

“Even as we continue to reassess our BoP projections for 2015 and 2016, the current trends point to at least $1 billion surplus in the BoP. The current account position based on our October 2014 projections is expected to turn in at least $6.8-billion surplus while the capital and financial accounts are expected to recover significantly from 2014’s external payments ‘bloodbath’

following large volatilities in the global financial markets in relation to the taper tantrum,” Guinigundo said.

Latest data showed that registered foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow in March.

BoP summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a surplus indicating that foreign exchange inflows outstrip withdrawals.

Persistent surpluses help build up the country’s gross international reserves, an ample supply of which prop up the peso against the US dollar and keep domestic inflation at bay.

Guinigundo said in a previous statement the strong BoP position in the early part of the year confirmed the central bank’s initial forecast.

BoP recorded a $1.121-billion surplus in the first two months.

Guinigundo said the current account would continue to be resilient particularly exports, tourism, business process outsourcing revenues and remittances.

SM awards. Conglomerate SM Investments Corp. and its subsidiaries recently received awards from Hong Kong-based publication Corporate Governance Asia during the 5th Asian Excellence Recognition Awards 2015. SM and its subsidiaries SM Prime Holdings Inc., BDO Unibank Inc. and China Banking Corp. were chosen as awardees from the Philippines. Shown receiving the award on behalf of SM is senior vice president for investor relations Corazon Guidote from Corporate Governance Asia director and publisher Aldrin Monsod.

San Miguel to start building MRT 7 in 2016

By Darwin G Amojelar CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. expects to start the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7, linking Quezon City and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, by the middle of 2016.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the construction of the $1.54-billion MRT 7, which was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority as early as November 2013, “is targeted to begin by middle of 2016.”

San Miguel, through unit San Miguel Holdings Corp., is a part owner of Universal LRT Corp., the proponent of MRT7 project.

ULC received the performance undertaking for the MRT7 project from the government in

October 2014. A performance undertaking represents a recognition of the obligation of the Philippine government through the Transportation Department under the concession agreement, particularly the remittance of semi-annual amortization payment in favor of ULC. The issuance of the PU triggers the obligation of ULC to achieve financial close within 18 months from the date of receipt of the PU. The construction of MRT 7 project has not yet started.

San Miguel earlier awarded the engineering procurement contract for MRT7 to the joint venture of Marubeni Corp. and DMCI, but president Ramon Ang later said the new contractor would no longer be the MarubeniDMCI joint venture.

The MRT7 project involves the construction of a 22.8-kilomenter rail system from North Avenue at the corner of Edsa in Quezon City, passing through Commonwealth Avenue, Regalado Avenue and Quirino Highway up to the proposed intermodal transportation terminal in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. The project will cover 14 stations.

It also includes the construction of a 22-kilometer road that will connect to NLEX at the Bocaue exit.

The railway is expected to serve an estimated 2 million commuters in the northern parts of Quezon and Caloocan cities.

ULC also plans to develop 900,000 square meters of commercial space throughout the concession period.

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 5

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

Privacy tools IT seems almost old fashioned these days to speak of online privacy, CHIN WONG when most people carelessly share so much of their personal details on Facebook and other social media.

If you still value and want to protect your privacy, however, it is good to know that there are free and open source tools available to help you do this.

At the most basic, you can choose to use your browser’s capability to forget your browsing history on the computer you’re using.

Firefox, for example features a private browsing mode that will not remember what sites you’ve visited, what searches you’ve performed, what files you’ve downloaded, any online forms you’ve filled up, as well as cookies and temporary Internet files on your computer.

Google Chrome has a similar feature called incognito mode.

It is important not to be lulled into complacency by the words “private” or “incognito,” however. Neither of these modes will make you invisible on the web. Websites you visit, your employer, or your Internet service provider can still see your browsing activity.

To gain true anonymity on the web, you’ll need a tool like Tor Browser, which is really a modified version of Firefox with several security (NoScript and HTTPS Everywhere) and Tor-specific extensions (TorButton and TorLauncher) activated.

The Tor Browser automatically routes traffic through a free, volunteer network made up of more than 6,000 servers worldwide that work like a middleman to conceal your location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis.

Tor Browser hides your IP address every time you send or request data on the Internet by bouncing these through the vast network of Tor servers around the world before they reach their destination-never by the same data path.

Tor Browser also lets you visit websites that might be blocked to users in your location, which is a useful way to circumvent censorship in parts of the world where the state controls Internet usage.

When you use Tor, websites or anyone doing network surveillance will be unable to track your physical location or your IP address or keep track of what you’ve been viewing online.

When I first tried to use Tor a few years ago on my Linux desktop, I had to struggle with proxy settings and eventually gave up. These days, it’s much easier to install and use. Simply download Tor Browser for your operating system (versions are available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux) (https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser. html.en) and install it. The software will take care of establishing connections to the Tor network and everything else.

To check if your Tor Browser is configured correctly, visit https:// check.torproject.org/. Try visiting this site with a Tor Browser and a non-Tor browser. The page will report a different IP address in each case.

Another tool that you can use to protect the privacy of your e-mail is encryption.

The most common these days is based on PGP (short for Pretty Good Privacy), a program written by Phil Zimmermann in 1991 to encrypt digital information. In 1997, to keep the technology from being locked down by patents, Zimmerman and his team drafted the OpenPGP standard. Two years later, Richard Stallman’s Free Software Foundation released the GNU Privacy Guard (GPG), a free, OpenPGP-complaint encryption program that has become a popular alternative to PGP. The idea of here is to encrypt your message before sending it, so that anyone who intercepts it will see nothing but gobbledygook.

The recipient, on the other hand, will have a key to unlock the encrypted message to decode it back into something intelligible once again.

While this concept seems simple, the actual execution is a bit complicated because you want the key to be secure.

The achieve this, PGP uses a pair of keys – one private and one public – for every user. The private or secret key, as the name suggests, only you will have, and can be used to decrypt messages. The public key, on the other hand, can be exchanged over the Internet and is used to by others to encrypt messages to you. Those messages encrypted with your public key can only be decoded with your private key.

You can use the following free software to set up an encyrpted e-mail system: 1) Thunderbird, an e-mail client; 2) Enigmail, an add-on to enable encryption on Thunderbird; and 3) A version of GPG—GPG4Win for Windows (http://www. gpg4win.org/), GPG Suite for Mac (https://gpgtools.org/); or GnuPG for Linux.

There are a number of guides online to show you how to do this, with each platform being slightly different from the other.

The downside of encrypted e-mail is that both sender and receiver must have GPG for the system to work, and that is not something that everyone in your contact list is likely to want. In the choice between ease of use and security, the path of least resistance is still often the default setting.

Digital life

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

B5

Cathay Life infuses P17.92b in RCBC

By Julito G. Rada

CATHAY Life Insurance Corp. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. on Monday closed a P17.92-billion investment deal that gave the Taiwanese company a 20-percent stake in the Philippine bank.

“This is to advise the exchange that Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Cathay Life Insurance Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd., today closed the equity investment deal for a 20-percent stake in RCBC,” the bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The key terms of the transaction involved Cathay Life acquiring 280 million common shares in RCBC for P17.92 billion ($402 million) through subscription to 124.242 million primary common shares at P64 per share.

Cathay Life acquired 119.034 million existing shares at P64 per share from CVC Asia Pacific Ltd. and 36.724 million shares from International Finance Corp. also at P64 per share.

“The strategic investment by Cathay Life, raises P7.95 billion of new core equity tier 1 capital for the bank, is part of RCBC’s current capital-raising strategy in order to comply with the more stringent capital adequacy rules under the new Basel 3 framework and is expected to enable RCBC to be comfortably above the minimum CET1 requirements of

the BSP,” the bank said.

It said the deal would bring RCBC’s CET1 from 11.83 percent to 14.17 percent. In addition, the proceeds from the investment will continue to support the continued growth of RCBC’s loan book and increased expansion into the SME and consumer segments to improve margins and risk diversification/actuarialization.

The transaction is also in line with Cathay’s strategy to expand its businesses in the Asean region.

“The introduction of Cathay as a strategic partner with Pan Malayan Management and Investment Corp. and RCBC marks a landmark milestone in the history of RCBC and the new strategic partnership positions both RCBC and Cathay well for future growth opportunities,” the bank said.

RCBC said the completion of the agreement would happen in the first quarter this year.

New SSS branch.

The Social Security System has opened another full-service branch in Parañaque City to cater to 338,044 employees and 3,643 employers in the area. Located at the third floor of Airport Global Plaza along NAIA Road in Barangay Tambo, SSS Parañaque Tambo covers seven barangays including Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, Sto. Niño, La Huerta, Vitalez and San Dionisio from District 1 as well as the various first class casinos and gaming resorts constructed in the area. Shown during the ribbon cutting ceremony are SSS president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr. (right) and Angapat Reality Corp. corporate secretary Annie Kho. With them are (from left) SSS senior vice president for NCR Jose Bautista, St. Joseph Parish Deacon Fr. Kevin Crisostomo and SSS Parañaque Tambo Branch head Rhuena Anne Marie Ocampo. Inset shows the facade of SSS Parañaque Tambo.

MPIC increasing capital stock to P40b

By Jenniffer B. Austria METRO Pacific Investments Corp. is increasing its authorized capital stock by P10 billion to P40.05 billion from P30.05 billion in preparation for additional fund raising activities.

Metro Pacific said in a regulatory filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange the proposed increase in the company’s authorized capital stock would be one of the major items subject to shareholders approval during the company’s annual stockholders meeting next month.

“The increase in authorized

capital stock of the company will enable the company to carry out further equity fund raising,” Metro Pacific said.

Metro Pacific, which has investments in toll roads, hospitals, power generation and water distribution, is currently on expansion mode as it plans to bid for more infrastructure projects under the public-private participation program.

Metro Pacific said it would seek shareholders approval to reclassify 150 million Class B preferred shares with par value of P1 per share into 15 billion Class A preferred shares with par value

of P0.01 apiece.

This will decrease the number of Class B preferred shares to 1.35 billion from 1.5 billion and correspondingly increase the number of Class A preferred shares to 20 billion from 5 billion.

“The purpose of the reclassification is to broadly maintain the historical ratio of preference shares relative to each class and the common shares of the company following recent capital raising exercises, as well as reduce the number of outstanding preferred shares that are convertible to the common shares,” Metro Pacific said.

TUESDAY: APRIL 21, 2015

B6

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

SEC watches 12 more firms The sad history of Makati’s mayorship THE allegations of corrupt official RUDY ROMERO activity that have been made against the mayor of Makati City is not the first such allegations that have been made against that Makati official. In point of fact, the corruption allegations that have been leveled at Jejomar Binay Jr. is by no means the first time that the chief executive of the Philippines’ leading financial center has been indicted for corruption or placed under a cloud of suspicion for allegedly having stolen public funds.

Makati City, which might as well be renamed because its phenomenal rise has almost entirely due to the Ayala conglomerate’s development work, has had four mayors in the last half-century. The past mayors were Maximo Estrella, Jose Luciano and Nemesio Yabut Jr. Max Estrella, a portly man of less than fair complexion, was mayor of Makati during most of the 1960s. Estrella ran Makati – then a municipality – like a private fiefdom. He dispensed goodies right and left and was the original KBL (the first letters of the Filipino words for wedding, baptism and funeral) man. Like mayor Binay’s father, Vice-President Binay, Estrella tried to attend every K, B and L in the wealthy municipality. Given his immense popularity among Makati’s low-income population, Estrella handily won re-election in 1963 and 1967.

Estrella’s political opponents, particularly the Makati Citizens’ League for Good Government, sought ways to remove him from office, but without success. Without success, that is, until the government of Makati entered into a contract for the installation of mirrors at all major Makati street intersections. Suspicions of overpricing were investigated and subsequently criminal charges were filed against Estrella and the members of the municipal council. Found guilty by the court, Estrella was removed from office and went to jail.

Vice-mayor Jose Luciano succeeded to the mayor’s chair. With the end of the Estrella era, Makati’s citizens thought that a better, brighter day had begun to dawn on their municipality. They expected that there would now be less talk about – and a reduced incidence of – corruption within the municipal government. Their expectations proved to be forlorn, for before very long rumors began to circulate about hanky-panky in the Luciano administration. The rumors, though strong, were never validated, and Luciano went on to finish his term.

In the succeeding election, Luciano was defeated by Nemesio Yabut Jr., who owned the successful customs brokerage firm Guacodo.

Mesio Yabut was not a KBL type of local executive; on the contrary, he projected a tough-guy, no-nonsense kind of image. This meshed with the authoritarian regime that President Ferdinand Marcos imposed on the nation less than a year after the start of Yabut’s term.

Yabut was in office for a long time because no local-level elections were held during the remainder of the Marcos era, which ended in February 1986. Yabut ingratiated himself with Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, and he came to be regarded as the Marcoses’ man in Makati.

There was a lot of talk about corruption in the mayor’s office, but, because of the widespread impression that Nemesio Yabut was close to Malacanang, the prevailing general atmosphere of media repression and Yabut’s tough-hombre reputation, no investigation were ever conducted and no charges were ever filed.

When the Edsa Revolution came, all of the nation’s local officials were removed from office and replaced by officers in charge by President Corazon Aquino by virtue of the powers bestowed upon her by Revolutionary Constitution. Yabut was replaced by Jejomar Binay, a human rights lawyer who had actively participated in the EDSA Revolution.

The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

The Binay family has been in power in Makati – now a city – ever since, with Jejomar Sr. being succeeded, first by his wife and later by Jejomar Jr. A Binay daughter represents one of Makati’s congressional districts.

As the above account shows, today’s corruption allegations against Jejomar Binay, pere et fils, are nothing new. The reputation of the mayorship of this country’s leading financial center has been tainted by corruption – one conviction and an endless stream of allegations – during the last 50 years.

Will vice mayor Romulo Pena, if he manages to dislodge the Binays, change the manner and direction of the administration of Makati’s affairs? Let me answer the question by saying, simply, that there is a lot of honey in this country’s second richest city hall.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

BUSINESS CLASS

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY– The Securities and Exchange Commission has placed 12 more companies under its watchlist for allegedly enticing the public to invest their hard earned money in exchange for skyrocketing interests for a short period of time.

Lawyer Annie Gonzales Tesoro, director of SEC Baguio extension office, said the twelve companies were not registered with the SEC and were not authorized to solicit funds from the public.

She said the companies were soliciting investments in exchange for lucrative interests that seemed to be too good to be true.

The companies are not engaged in a business that would warrant the offering of high interests, she added.

Tesoro named ten of the 12 companies reportedly involved in Ponzi schemes and with branches in the different parts of the region, including United

Wellness Hub, Unlimited Wellness Hub, PC Wellness, DLC, FKC International, Supreme Unlimited Network, Swiss Golden Ads-Hub.Com, Infinitwealth Touchstone, Receinte International, Wisdom Express Wealth Trading and Marketing and Green Wealth Gold.

She claimed United Wellness Hub had already closed its operations and investors had sought the assistance of law enforcers to facilitate the filing of charges against the owners to recover their huge investments.

“While it is true that an entity is registered with SEC, it is not true that the scheme or modos it is practicing is allowed by law

since it must pass through sufficient scrutiny by experts whether their schemes are viable or not,” Tesoro said.

She said the names of the companies involved in alleged Ponzi schemes were taken from the testimonies of individuals who sought the assistance of law enforcers verifying the validity of their operations.

The SEC official said the agency was currently validating whether or not the companies were registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, considering that their inquiry was already referred to the DTI central office for approval.

One company was reportedly offering clients to double their money in 45 days, meaning an investment of P40,000 would become P90,000 after the said period.

Tesoro said the companies involved in soliciting securities from the public did not have a license from the agency and had no products or services to offer that would justify offering high interest rates.

Customs collection.

Customs Commissioner John Sevilla discusses the results of the bureau‘s first-quarter revenue collections with members of the media. Sevilla said the bureau’s collection reached P92.2 billion in the first quarter, up 6.6 percent from P86.5 billion recorded in the same period of 2014.

See related story on B1.

Govt allots P30.8b to hire 86,994

By Jennifer Ambanta THE Budget Department said Monday it allocated P30.8 billion to fund 86,994 unfilled positions in government, including teachers and nurses.

The agency, in the staffing summary of the 2015 national expenditure program, said of the 1.433 million permanent positions in government, 86 percent or 1.245 million were filled while 188,255 remained unfilled.

It said of the unfilled positions, only 86,994 could be accommodated this year, based on the funding requirements of agencies in 2015.

Lodged under the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund, the 2015 national budget can provide funding for unfilled

The national government needs to employ more teachers and nurses.

positions of select agencies, which primarily cover education and healthcare.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the administration was committed to providing people with job opportunities, especially during the period of robust growth, requiring the support of a skilled and able workforce.

“The national government needs to employ more teachers,

nurses, and other crucial personnel in order to maximize the delivery of social services,” he said.

Data showed the unfilled positions were under educational institutions (74,134), hospitals (8,681) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (4,179).

The report said more than half or 44,602 were for teaching and non-teaching personnel in the Education Department. This is followed closely by agencies in charge of safety and security and healthcare personnel.

Meanwhile, the Budget Department allotted P16.7 billion for the creation of 65,204 positions, covering various agencies such as DepEd, Health Department and Interior and Local Government Department.

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WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Legend of Gallipoli lives on SYDNEY—The chaos and carnage

of the bloody Gallipoli defeat helped to forge the identity of Australia and New Zealand as independent nations, with the exploits of those who fought and died still finding relevance 100 years on.

When more than 60,000 Australian and New Zealand troops joined an allied expeditionary landing on the peninsula in what is now Turkey a century ago this week, the objective was for a quick strike.

But the ill-fated plan to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders and 11,500 of them never returned.

The 1915 battle had a profound impact on those back home, culminating in Australia and New Zealand’s most important national occasion on the anniversary of the landings on April 25—the Anzac Day public holiday.

Many view the bloodshed at Gallipoli as the foundation moment for both of the former British colonies, who were eager to establish their individual reputations.

It was the first time they had fought on such a scale as Australia and New Zealand, with Anzac troops hailed

for their comradeship and courage. sacrifice and mateship (camaraderie),” she added.

“Yes it was, in a sense, the crucible in which our na“Hence, in a highly materialistic society, Anzac serves tional identity was forged, but it left horrific scars,” the important social purpose of validating any sacrifiAustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in the lead- cial behavior, be it by police officers, civil defense forces up to Anzac Day this year. or firefighters, who voluntarily expose themselves to “Gallipoli was, obviously, in a critical sense our nation’s risk and subordinate their personal interest to those of baptism of fire and 8,000 Australians didn’t come back.” the collective good.” AFP Today the word Anzac is a national symbol and the legend of Gallipoli a cornerstone of modern Australia and New Zealand, with the values exhibited a century ago taking on a myth-like quality.

“The Anzac legend has changed REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES with Australian society,” said Joan Beaumont, from the Strategic TARIFF COMMISSION and Defense Studies Center at the Australian National University.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/ “It is no longer simply a story of solCONSULTATION diers, although it continues to honor the service of the men and women of the Australian Defense Force and, thereby, Pursuant to Sections 401 and 402 of the Tariff and Customs Code making public criticism of their deployof the Philippines (TCCP), as amended, the Tariff Commission will conduct public hearing/consultation on Philippine participation in the ment in current conflicts difficult.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) specifically “Today the core vales of Anzac are ciwith respect to its impact on Philippine tariffs imposed on products falling vilian ones of compassion, endurance, under Chapters 1 to 97 of the TCCP. RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the six countries with which ASEAN has existing FTAs. Interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence in support of their positions.

The hearing is on 08 May 2015, 9:00 A.M. at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 5th Floor Philippine Heart Center Building, East Avenue, Quezon City.

For particulars, please inquire with the Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Services (RIITAS) at telephone numbers 926-87-31 or 928-84-19.

Issued this 20th day of April 2015, Quezon City, Metro Manila

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Commissioner Officer-in-Charge (MST-APR. 21, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY National Capital Region Office of the Regional Director INVITATION TO BID REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Name of the Project: FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF EXHIBIT BOOTH MATERIALS FOR OUTCOME 2 “ENTERPRISE DEVELOMENT” FOR 2015 NSTW CELEBRATION Location of the Project: DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region, through the GAA CY 2015 and its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/contractors/service providers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects: Name of Project FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF EXHIBIT BOOTH MATERIALS FOR OUTCOME 2 “ENTERPRISE DEVELOMENT” FOR 2015 NSTW CELEBRATION Location DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila Brief description Supply for the Fabrication and Installation of Exhibit Booth Materials for Outcome 2 “Enterprise Develoment” for 2015 National Science Technology Week Celebration Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Total ABC = PhP3,000,000.00 Contract Duration May 18, 2015 to June 17, 2015 Delivery Period 30 CD upon signing of contract Bidding Activities: April 21, 2015 to May 10, 2015 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm) 1. Issuance of Bid Documents May 11, 2015 (9:00 am – 10:00 am) 2. Pre-bid Conference April 28, 2015 3. Opening of Bids May 11, 2015 (10:00 am)

New PETA program. US model Kelly Chin poses with a body painting to advertise a new pro-

vegan Earth Day by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia in Beijing on April 20. In the advertisement (Fight Climate Change: Go Vegan), Kelly's body is painted with the Earth's oceans and continents to draw attention to the fact that animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change and a major contributor to resource depletion, pollution and world hunger. AFP

Most dangerous area for activists SAN FRANCISCO—Latin America was the most dangerous place for environmental and land activists, accounting for three quarters of all killings last year, according to a report Monday.

A total of 116 activists were killed around the world last year, with 87 taking place in Latin America, according to the report

from Britain-based watchdogs Global Witness.

Honduras was the most dangerous country for land and environmental activists, with the highest per capital death rate in the world.

There were 111 killings reported in the country between 2002 and 2014, according to the report,

titled “How Many More?”

“In Honduras and across the world environmental defenders are being shot dead in broad daylight, kidnapped, threatened, or tried as terrorists for standing in the way of so-called ‘development,’” said Billy Kyte, campaigner at Global Witness. AFP

Prospective bidders should have an experience in undertaking a similar project which was satisfactorily awarded by the end users, within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

Prospective must bid the whole lot. Bids received in excess of any or all of the ABCs of the lots shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Bidding is restricted to organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, as specified in Republic Act 5183 (R.A. 5183). Only bids from Bidders who pass the preliminary examination of the eligibility and technical components in the technical envelope will be opened. The process for the preliminary examination of bids is described in Section II of the Bidding Documents, ITB. The bidder with the lowest calculated bid (LCB) shall advance to the post-qualification stage in order to finally determine his responsiveness to the technical and financial requirements of the project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who has been determined as such during the post-qualification procedure.

All particulars relative to Eligibility and Technical Requirements Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Php 3,000.00.

The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

Approved by:

(TS-APR. 21, 2015)

(SGD.) ENGR. ARMAN P. BIONAT BAC Chairperson

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

In the spotlight. This undated photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on April 20 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un reviewing an honor guard of air and anti-air force of the Korean People’s Army in Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province. AFP

Crisis talks on migrant horror ROME—European Union minis-

ters headed into crisis talks Monday under pressure to act over people smuggling as Italian and Maltese authorities grappled with the grim aftermath of the Mediterranean’s deadliest migrant disaster.

More than 700 people are feared dead following Sunday’s capsizing off Libya of a fishing boat that had been crammed with migrants trying to reach Europe. One survivor has told Italian authorities that there were as many as 950 people on board and that some of them had been locked below deck by the smugglers.

Italian and Maltese navy boats continued to scour the waters off Libya as a first group of survivors and 24 corpses arrived in Malta aboard an Italian coast guard vessel.

The Bruno Gregoracci docked at Boiler Wharf with 24 body bags laid out on its deck.

They were then carried into waiting hearses for transfer to a morgue.

Survivors on board the ship were to be taken

on to Sicily later in the day. Italian authorities say only 28 people survived the disaster, at least one of whom are already in hospital in Sicily.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has vowed that every effort will be made to salvage the capsized boat and ensure those who perished on board are given decent burials.

Refugee and rights bodies have described the disaster as one that could have been avoided and say European governments have to beef up rescue operations and address the underlying causes of the surge in asylum-seekers and migrants trying to reach Europe.

“The world needs to react with the conviction with which it eliminated piracy off the coast of Somalia a few years ago,” said Wiliam Lacy Swing, director general of the International Organization for Migration.

“All of us, especially the EU and world’s powers can no longer sit on the sidelines watching while tragedy unfolds in slow motion.”

Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the EU had to address the chaos in Libya which allows smugglers to operate out of the troubled north African state with impunity. “The name of the game is Libya and the securing of Libya,” Muscat said. AFP

In Japan, android robot smiles, greets shoppers TOKYO—She can smile and she can sing, and this robot receptionist who started work in Tokyo on Monday never gets bored of welcoming customers to her upmarket shop.

“My name is ChihiraAico. How do you do?” she says in Japanese, blinking and nodding to customers in the foyer of Mitsukoshi, Japan’s oldest department store chain.

Clad in an elegant traditional kimono, ChihiraAico—a name that sounds similar to a regular Japanese woman’s name—breaks into a rosy-lipped smile as would-be shoppers approach.

Unlike her real-life counterparts—almost always young women who welcome customers to shops like this—ChihiraAico cannot answer questions, but simply runs through her pre-recorded spiel.

The android, with lifelike skin and almost [but not quite] naturallooking movements, was developed by microwaves-to-power stations conglomerate Toshiba, and unveiled at a tech fair in Japan last year.

“We are aiming to develop a robot that can gradually do what a human does,” said Hitoshi Tokuda, chief specialist at Toshiba.

“The standard of customer service in this Mitsukoshi flagship store is top quality and this is a great opportunity to see what role our humanoid can play in this kind of environment.” AFP

US condemns IS ‘atrocity’ in Libya

Handover ceremony. A helicopter carrying French Defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrives ahead of a handover ceremony for a shipment of French weapons to the Lebanese Army at Beirut International Airport on April 25. Lebanon received the first French weapons in a $3-billion Saudi-funded program intended to bolster the country’s army to take on jihadist threats, particularly along its border with Syria. AFP

TRIPOLI—The United States on Sunday condemned the “brutal mass murder” of 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya following a video released by Islamic State militants purportedly showing their execution.

The 29-minute IS video appears to show militants holding two groups of captives, described in text captions as “followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church”.

National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan decried the killings

and called for stability in Libya, which has been mired in political chaos and unrest since the 2011 uprising that toppled former strongman Moamer Kadhafi.

“The United States condemns in the strongest terms the brutal mass murder purportedly of Ethiopian Christians by ISILaffiliated terrorists in Libya,” she said, using another name for IS. “This atrocity once again underscores the urgent need for a political resolution to the conflict in Libya to empower

a unified Libyan rejection of terrorist groups.”

Ethiopia said its embassy in Egypt was trying to verify the video to ascertain if those murdered were indeed its nationals.

“We strongly condemn such atrocities, whether they are Ethiopians or not,” Communications Minister Redwan Hussein told AFP. The video portrays a masked fighter in black brandishing a pistol, who makes a statement threatening Christians if they do not convert to Islam. AFP

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

LIFE

TAPAS NIGHT

A Madrid Fusi贸n Manila Preview

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TUESDAY : APRIL 21 : 2015

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

WHAT IS TAPELLA?

BY TSS / TSS

T

apella by Gaudi is a Spanish restaurant located in Greenbelt 5.

It has a modern dining area indoors as well as a relaxed, comfortable outdoor bar — a place to enjoy the modern day Spanish lifestyle experience.

Tapella has a menu of tapas, paellas, salads, seafood, pastas and deserts, all prepared in the way they are served in Spain.

For starters, go for traditional plates of Iberian cold cuts, cheese, and home made Pate.

You can also go for the Smoked Salmon on fluted bread; the Camembert and caramelized onions on fluted bread; , scallops, and shrimp skewers are served right off the grill. There’s the traditional Spanish omelet or the fried eggs scramble with potatoes and Chistorra sausage. Aside from traditional fried delicacies in olive oil like Spanish salami croquettes, the fresh ensalada Tapella, or the octopus with paprika, salt and virgin olive oil; you can also be a bit more creative with the tripe and chick pea stew, the certified Angus Beef Chulleton rib eye steak cooked over a Clay plate which is the house signature, and the beef tenderloin “salpicado” Down all this with your choice of wine.

For reservations, call 757-2710 to 11, or visit Tapella at the Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City.

FOODIE FILMFEST WITH A SPANISH FLAVOR The Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, together with Ayala Malls and Greenbelt, has organized the Spanish Foodie Film Festival, which runs from April 21-26 in Greenbelt.

The film festival is a fitting accompaniment to the Madrid Fusion Manila gastronomy event taking place later this week. The films slated to be screened at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas promise to give viewers another kind of fusion: that of Spanish cinema and gastronomy, two fields where Spanish chefs and filmmakers are lauded for their creativity, as well as for their role as pioneers.

Among the full-length films in the fiveday line up are: Mugaritz B.S.O.

by Felipe Ugarte & Juantxo Sardon, 2011 El Somni (The Dream)

by Franc Aleu, 2014 3055 Jean Leon by Agusti Vila, 2006) El Pollo, el Pez y el Cangrejo Real (The Chicken, the Fish and the King Crab)

by Jose Luis Lopez-Linares, 2008 There are also shorter films on show: Taba, el juego en la mesa (Taba, The Game on the Table)

by Pep Gatell & Eloi Colom, 2013 Nerua, un viaje a la esencia (Nerua, A Journey to the Essence)

by Ivan Minambres, 2013 And for a culinary road trip, don’t miss Cooking Up a Tribute, which documents the Roca Brother’s last journey in South America, by Luis Gonzalez & Andrea Gomez (2014). This movie debuted last February at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Two Filipino films compelte the line up: Namets! by Jay Abello, 2009 Rekados by Paolo Herras, 2006

TAPAS NIGHT

Tapas Night, an invitation-only food event at the Green Sun Hotel to kick off Madrid Fusion Manila, was a mouthwatering prelude for the much anticipated culinary gastronomic event scheduled on April 24-25, 2015.

The main players of the evening were the most prominent chefs of the country specializing in Spanish cuisine: Chef José Luis “Chele” Gonzalez and Chef Ivan Saiz (VASK Gallery and ArroZeria), Chef Juan Carlos de Terry (Terry´s), Chef Pepe López (Ramblas), Chef Carlos Garcia (The Black Pig), Chef Nicolas Diaz (Barcino) and Chef Pablo López (Donosti). They dished up an array of unconventional and familiar tapas representing the different regions of Spain.

True to their promise, they showed how Spanish tapas can provide the perfect mixture of modernity and tradition that Madrid Fusion Manila represents. They succeeded in bringing to Manila the charming experi-

ence of touring and eating one’s way through a region and tasting the different tapas and wines of Spain. It was a very tasty night!

Here are just some of the filling and flavorful highlights of the night: wTortilla de Patatas Líquida (liquid potato Omelette) Pulpo a la Gallego (octopus with potato) Fideuá Negra (black noodles) Churros con Chocolate Caliente (churros with hot chocolate) The desserts to end the night left us with wanting more!

Tapas white almonds, chocolates, chocolates with nuts, dessert, churros, dessert cookie Watch out for impending food affairs, food tours, roving bar trucks, bar crawls and more! (http://www.madridfusionmanila.com/).

TUESDAY : APRIL 21 : 2015

LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

glweekend @ gmail.com

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IMPRESSIONS HOSTS FILIPINO CHEESE AND WINE NIGHT Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) French fine dining restaurant Impressions, the country’s first and only dining establishment with an executive chef that has been recognized and honored by the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (MCF) or Master Chefs of France, proudly hosts Filipino Cheeses & Wine Night.

Diners are in for a gastronomic treat as executive chef Cyrille Soenen presents a smorgasbord of the country’s finest cheeses. Among the Filipino cheeses that will be served are Fresh Chevre with Dried Mango, Blue Goat Aged Davao, Blue Peppato with Peppercorn, Queso Rustico, and La Maria Camembert, among others.

Complementing these is an array of cold cuts ranging from Bayonne, Pancetta Arrotolatta, Copa, Russette Duc Coise, Chorizo Iberico Reserva Sierra Grande, and Salchichon Iberico Reserva Sierra Grande, plus a cheese fondue station with a choice of marble potatoes and fresh fruits.

Completing the evening is a selection of some of the world’s finest wines such as the Montes Alpha Chardonnay, Montes Classic Merlot, and Gerard Bertrand Pinot Noir, to name a few.

For just PHP1,200 Net per person, guests may enjoy unlimited servings of this delicious spread of Filipino cheese and choice wines from 7PM to 10PM. For more details on Impressions, visit www.rwmanila. com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 908-8833.

DIAMOND HOTEL TAKES GUESTS ON A GUSTATORY TRIP TO SPAIN In conjunction with the first Madrid Fusion Manila, Diamond Hotel Philippines celebrates the world’s biggest gastronomy event with a Spanish Food Festival dubbed La Fiesta Española at its in-house restaurant, Corniche. Preparing authentic Spanish cuisine until April 26 will be Catalan guest chef Edgard Sanuy Barahona from Lleida, Spain.

Begin your culinary journey with a Spanish cold soup Gazpacho then follow it with the appetizing Watermelon Sangria Infused or Arbequina Olives Marinated in Thyme and Orange. Few of the delicious salad options are Seafood Salad with Avocado and Lime Mayonnaise and Russian Potato Salad and Salmon Roe. Servings of T-bone with Chimichurri Sauce and Mustards as well as Strip Loin, Mojo Rojo and Mojo Verde are also aplenty. Avail of the lunch buffet for P1,988 nett per person or dinner buffet for P2,550 nett per person.

Should you prefer to indulge in an exclusive degustaćion 8-course menu paired with fine Spanish wines, partake of the wine dinner on April 22 at the Constellation on the 27th floor for only P4,500 nett per person.

For reservations call (632) 528-3000 ext. 1121 or email restaurant_ rsvn@diamondhotel.com

WHO ARE THE PHILIPPINES’ TOP TOURISM MARKETS?

BY ED BIADO

Over a quarter of a million Koreans flew to the Philippines between January and February 2015, making South Korea our country’s top tourism market. That’s a rate of three in every 10 foreign visitors.

This is based on a report from the Tourism Department’s research and statistics office released Friday. Data gathered from the first two months of the year also shows a steady annual growth rate in terms of total earnings gained from tourism activities. In February, visitor receipts were estimated to have reached Php 19.35 billion, or 4.25 percent higher than the same month last year. On average, an international visitor spent around Php 4,150 daily.

“For the month in review, visitors from Korea provided the highest contribution

with Php 7.36 billion, while the second biggest spent was recorded by visitors from the United States of America with Php 3.01 billion. This was followed by Japan with Php 913.33 million and Canada (Php 857.53 million). Australia with Php 836.43 million provided the 5th biggest visitor receipts for the month,” the report says.

According to the DoT, international visitors also tend to stay in the country longer this year than in 2014. Average Length of Stay for the period was registered at 10.4 nights versus last year’s 10.25 nights.

In February 2015, the country welcomed 456,524 visitors, which is 8.02 percent higher than the February 2014 arrivals of 422,631 (and more than 40 percent more than figures from 2011). The

DoT considers this a massive success, considering that “the increase was achieved despite the fact that the Chinese New Year in 2014 was celebrated in February, hence, this month’s volume is coming from a big base in 2014.”

East Asian markets are credited as top contributors to the growth. All territories in the region, except for China, recorded double digit gains: Hong Kong (37.58 percent), Taiwan 924.91 percent), Macau (22.00 percent), Korea (18.23 percent), and Japan (12.62 percent). Meanwhile, the number of mainland Chinese visitors declined by 15.5 percent.

“Countries from North America produced a combined growth rate of 7.55

percent with USA recording a growth of 7.21 percent while Canada registered a growth of 8.71 percent. On the other hand, Mexico recorded a 52.60 percent increase,” the researchers add.

In descending order, the top 10 countries of origin in February are South Korea with 268,381 entries, the US (142,226 entries), Japan (83,489), China (62,976), Australia (40,906), Canada (31,068), Singapore (27,274), Taiwan (27,002), Malaysia (23,444), and the United Kingdom (23,341).

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LIFE

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

g l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

MADRID FUSION MANILA 2015 AT SM

egendary chefs from Spain and Asia are set to captivate Manila with their culinary virtuoso in Madrid Fusion Manila 2015 on April 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Andoni Luis Aduriz, Elena Arzak, Quique Dacosta, Ramón Freixa, Francis Paniego, Paco Roncero, Mario Sandoval, Paco Torreblanca, André Chiang, and Alvin Leung will showcase their culinary innovations, cutting edge techniques, ingredients, and recipes.

Filipino chefs Fernando Aracama, Margarita Forés, J Gamboa, José Luis “Chele” Gonzalez, Pepe Lopez, Rob Pengson, Bruce Ricketts, Myrna Dizon, Claude Tayag, and Juan Carlos de Terry will join them by presenting our own diverse and imaginative epicurean traditions.

Taking centerstage at the congress will be this exciting encounter between Spain’s legendary Michelin-star chefs and the Philippines’ very own culinary stars. A trade exhibition will focus on the finest Spanish and Filipino products from Spanish wines and cheeses, to the Philippines’ world-class exports such as rice, cacao, coffee, mango, coconut, and liquors.

After all, the Philippines and Spain share a deep and colorful history and what better way to celebrate these two cultures than through their vibrant and intertwined culinary traditions. The world’s most anticipated epicurean event celebrates the two countries’ 300 years’ worth of shared connection through food in one global event. If one wants to see the future of food, this is the place to be in.

SM plays host to this historic event and welcomes Madrid Fusion as it comes to Asia for the first time and puts Manila in the heart of culinary interest worldwide.

“SM is proud to be the venue of the historic Madrid Fusion Manila 2015,” says SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Steven Tan. “We want to bring the its excitement, particularly Spain’s strong influence on our food and culture to our mall goers by taking these culinary festivities to our mall.”

SM will host a Welcome Night at the scenic SM by the Bay for the official delegates on April 24, highlighting the best of Philippine food, art, and culture.

To help create further awareness for this cultural milestone, the official Madrid Fusion Manila 2015 TV commercial is being shown at all SM Cinemas nationwide.

SM has also prepared exciting foodie activities in its premier malls for its shoppers: • A Gourmet Weekend Market at the SM Mall of Asia, where a premium selection of Spanish and Filipino cheese, tapas, wine, ingredients, local finds, and special bundles. This is will be held from April 24 to 26 in partnership with the SM Markets – SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarket.

• New food concepts that reflect culinary innovation and technique at select SM Mall of Asia restaurants. Special dishes with Spanish influence or cooked with the finest local produce, ingredients, and produce will be offered in specialty restos this April.

• A Spanish-themed Fiesta with music, dancing, food, and drinks at the SM Aura Premier Sky Park Lawn on April 26.

• Irresistible dining deals from April 24 to 26 at SM Megamall’s flagship and first in the country dining destinations and the newly opened Mega Food Hall.

SM recently gave their friends from the media a glimpse of the future of food during a as three of the participating chefs showed their culinary skills using some of the Fusion Madrid ingredients: rice, coconut, chocolate, coffee, and fruit at the Sarsa Restaurant at the SM Mall of Asia. Chef Claude Tayag demonstrated the versatility of adobo in his ‘Adobong Puti’ and his Adobo ni Juan Tamad’, Chef Bruce Ricketts with his “Seared praws with crispy marinated Saba, avocadeo and burnt coconut vinegar’, and Chef Rob Pengson with his ‘Mango Tapioca Surprise’. Guest Chef from Sarsa also showed how to cook one his recipes ‘Bangus Rolls with Talangka Vinegar and Batulon Mang Tomas Sauce For the complete schedule of events at SM malls, visit SM Supermalls on Facebook or @smsupermalls on Instagram.

For more information on how to register for Madrid Fusion Manila 2015, visit www.madridfusionmanila.com.

The Madrid Fusion Filipino chefs Rob Pengson, (third from left, ) Claude Tayag (center) , Bruce Ricketts (third from right), with chef guest Sarsa’s JP Anglo. They are joined by (from left) SM SVP for Marketing Communications Group Millie Dizon, Madrid Fusion Project Director and Department of Tourism’s Verna Buensuceso (second to the right) and SM SVP for Operations for Premier Malls Steven Tan.

SM SVP for Marketing Joaquin Agustin in his welcome remarks.

Chef Claude Tayag with his dry Adobo ni Juan Tamad. He presented two types of adobo in his short talk.

One of the youngest chefs in Manila Bruce Ricketts prepares his recipe.

Adobong Puti, Chef Claude’s saucier version of the Filipino dish he calls “the most popular, but also the most controversial”.

Seared prawns with crispy marinated Saba, avocado and burnt coconut vinegar by Chef Bruce Ricketts The Goose Station’s chef Rob Pengson will be one of the speakers during the Madrid Fusion Congress.

Chef Rob Pengson’s Mango Tapioca Surprise

Sarsa’s Chef JP Anglo also shares his recipe.

Chef JP Anglo’s Bangus Spring Rolls with Talangka, Vinegar and Batikulon and Mang Tomas Sauce.

Chef Claude Tayag at the Vegetable section of SM Hypermarket at SM Mall of Asia.

Chef Claude Tayag checks the fish section at the Hypermarket at SM Mall of Asia.

Philippine based chefs speakers for Madrid Fusion Bruce Ricketts (second to the left), Claude Tayag (second to the right), Rob Pengson (right) and chef guest JP Anglo from Sarsa.

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SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Hennan Resort at Alona Beach on Panglao Island in Bohol is the newest destination with facilities of up to 400 rooms

HENANN RESORT ALONA BEACH OPENS IN BOHOL

I

t’s the perfect time to book your summer vacation in picturesque Bohol.

To celebrate the soft opening of Henann Resort Alona Beach, the Henann Group of Resorts is offering up to 40 percent cash discount on room rates.

Book now and enjoy first-rate luxury accommodation in the following room types: superior, deluxe, premier, premier with direct pool access, and family room. Bookings are good for two persons per room and inclusive of daily buffet breakfast and dinner. Travel period is from May 01 to 31.

Henann Resort Alona Beach is a sprawl-

ing 6.5-hectare property in Panglao Island, Bohol. It will operate as many as 400 rooms with coastal-inspired modern interiors.

Each has a private terrace, wireless internet access, bath tub with separate shower area, individually-controlled air conditioning, cable television, direct dial phone, in-room safe, coffee and tea-making facilities and personal refrigerator.

Currently under construction is a threestory, 2,160 square-meter convention center that can house up to 1,000 guests. Other amenities include three massive swimming pools, an open air venue for weddings, VIP lounge for special guests, fitness and busi-

ness centers, and a mini shop.

Other famous Henann brands will also be operational by the second quarter of the year. These include the Kai Spa, Sea Breeze Cafe (an all-day buffet restaurant), and Christina’s (Western fine dining).

The Henann Group of Resorts also owns Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa (soon to be called Henann Regency), Henann Lagoon Resort, and Henann Garden Resort in Boracay.

For reservations and inquiries, please call Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol at (63) (2) 775-6734, email manila.hbl@henann.com, or visit www.henann.com/bohol.

Henann Resort Alona Beach is a sprawling 6.5hectare property in Panglao Island, Bohol.

It willoperate as many as 400 rooms with coastal-inspired modern interiors

NEWEST MEMBERS OF OAKLEY FAMILY

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here’s the bad, the mad and all that’s great in Oakley’s polarized Madman™ and Badman™ sunglasses from their renowned X-Metal® collection. The two new men’s sunglass models have finally arrived in the market, following a highly successful US debut.

As with all models of the X-Metal collection, Madman and Badman carry the industrial design language and durability that distinguishes Oakley sunglasses.

Innovative design coupled with cuttingedge materials like lightweight diecast aluminium with O Matter™, a durable stress-resistant frame material, highlight the Madman and Badman models.

High Definition Optics® is also integrated into Oakley sunglasses. This is a group of patented technologies that allow Oakley eyewear to meet or exceed the testing standards of the American National Standards Institute for optical clarity, visual fidelity, and impact resistance.

Both sunglasses feature Plutonite® Lens, one of the best materials for optical purity and clarity in eyewear today.

They filter out 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light, with UV protection derived from the lens material itself, and not just from a coating. Oakley

HDPolarized® lenses further contribute to sun protection by filtering 99% of reflected glare without the haze and optical distortion that can come with polarized lenses made with conventional manufacturing techniques.

Aside from sun protection, Oakley performance eyewear is renowned for protection against high-velocity and high-mass impact. This can be attributed to the unique architecture and advanced premium materials used for Oakley lens and frame combinations.

And then of course, there’s the Oakleyregistered Unobtainium, a soft hydrophilic synthetic material that increases adhesion when wet. Used for earsocks and nose pads, this makes the frame grip better when a wearer perspires.

All these innovations would be for naught without Oakley’s unique design aesthetic evident in the new Madman and Badman sunglasses.

Madman gives off a frenetic energy with its roundish lenses, while Badman is its lighter but no less crazy good cousin with a slightly different silhouette.

“No other eyewear brand comes near in design and innovation with Oakley,” said Carlo Dionisio, Marketing manager of

Oakley unveiled its latest collection in eyewear – Madan and Badman

Factory Pilot for Oakley in the Philippines.

“Madman and Badman also come in Ferrari limited edition variants so we invite enthusiasts to check out these new Oakley sunglasses now, while they’re available.”

Musicians Kessenth Cheng and Oakley brand ambassador Jay Ortega presented these new editions with a special performance to launch Madman and Badman in the Philippines.

PHOTOS BY TEDDY PELAEZ

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 : 2 0 1 5

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SHOWBITZ

EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

NEW MOVIES TO CATCH ON HOLLYWOOD EXPRESS The sequel of the Marvel comics The Avengers: Age of Ultron will be on the big screens this week. The story begins with Tony Stark trying to start a peacekeeping program called “Ultron” which is a self aware, self-teaching; artificial intelligence after S.H.I.E.L.D. was destroyed. Unfortunately, Stark’s plan fails and Ultron turns against humans making them the enemies and destroys the planet Earth. Because of this, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye with Nick Fury and Maria Hill work together to save the planet. Battling to save the Earth, the Avengers meet the powerful twins - Pietro and Wanda Maximoff and the Vision, making their mission more difficult.

Get an inside look in two films that are also set to premiere, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Unfriended.

Comedian Kevin James is back as Paul Blart, a mall cop who finally gets a vacation after years of non-stop work. While on vacation with his daughter in Las Vegas, he smells trouble at the Wynn Hotel prompting him to answer to the call of duty. See how he defends the famous hotel from the bad guys in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

Unfriended is a teen horror film about a high school student, Laura Barns, who committed suicide after being bullied by six of her classmates because of a video footage that went viral. A year after the death of their classmate, the six classmates engage in a Skype call to catch up.

The bullies are caught off guard when a seventh person joins their Skype call using Laura’s account. The unidentified person threatens the group to continue talking or else someone will die. Catch this thrilling film as the bullies go through attacks and threats and secrets are revealed about the viral video footage.

For release this week are The Age of Adaline and Little Boy. Gossip Girl star Blake Lively plays the lead in The Age of Adaline, which tells the story of a young woman who was born

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Blues street in Memphis Novelist — Grey Pecs’ partners Fossil resins Side by side Causes distress Yawned Vocalist — Sumac Essay byline Ran easily Unhearing Ingested

GET FRONT-SEAT ACCESS TO PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER FIGHT

Unfriended is a teen horror thriller

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Blake Lively doesn’t age in The Age of Adaline

Little Boy is a heartwarming comedy-drama about a seven -year-old boy

in the 20th century and stops aging after meeting a car accident. Stuck at looking 35 years old, she meets a handsome young man and she begins to ponder if he is worth losing her mortality for.

Little Boy is a heartwarming comedydrama about a seven-year-old boy who is willing to go through everything and anything to bring his dad back home from the World War II. Discover how this little boy’s innocence and great love for his father moves viewers as it highlights faith, hope and love.

Watch Hollywood Express for more updates about the latest in the film industry every Wednesday at 7 p.m. only on CNN Philippines.

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The Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather match is the highly anticipated event. You can watch it on your phones via Viewstream, a Smart’s app

Paul Blart is back.

Kevin James reprises the security guard role

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Fallback strategy (2 wds.)

6 Fruit tree 10 Zwieback 14 Tybalt’s slayer 15 Auel heroine 16 Offshore 17 Mountaineer’s tool (2 wds.)

18 Beatles’ hit 20 Word in a recipe 21 Tenet

ISAH V. RED

Dangerous woman “Shut up!” (2 wds.)

Widely scattered Reef builders Estuary Tea clipper Seer’s deck Skyrockets Kimono accessory Waves Gentles Pledge P&L gurus Sports venue Lodge Cuba, to Castro Flax product

DOWN 1 Stiffly formal 2 Focal points 3 Visa rival 4 Teachers’ org.

5 Freight movers 6 Check endorser 7 Ogled 8 In addition 9 Chinese zodiac animal 10 Least common 11 Meat-grading org.

12 Close securely

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

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Ms. Ballard Flowed back HMO staffers Catherine — -Jones Grew older In the future Vitamin lead-in To the point Not live Sign on a door Veld scavenger PC message Rides the rapids Bloodshed Mona — Pub missile Hotel offering Beachfront Bubbling Many a URL ender — nova Low cards At the drop of — — Gam or Rudner Ray gun blasts Hyalite, in geology Shaman’s quest Nota — This — — outrage!

201, to Cato Jackie’s tycoon

here will be no heavy traffic on May 3, and why?

Filipinos will be watching the Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. match. It is, affter all, the “Boxing Fight of the Century.”

But if, for some reason, you can’t watch the fight on television or cinemas, or public viewing areas, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has made available the Viewstream app for LIVE and ad-free streaming of the fight on your Android device for just P499.

“Once again, Manny Pacquiao will unite the entire Philippines as he faces Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in the world’s most anticipated boxing match,” said Mellissa Limcaoco, head of the Innovation and Product Development Group at Smart.

“Along with all Filipinos, Smart is throwing its support behind Pacquiao through this affordable livestreaming offer via Viewstream, which is our way of ensuring that each and every Filipino, wherever they may be in the country, can get front-seat access and be part of this historic event through their mobile phones,” Limcaoco added.

FRONT-SEAT ACCESS Witness history unfold before your very eyes. Subscribe to the Pacquiao-Mayweather livestream package for a limitedtime price of only P499. Smart, Sun Cellular, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers can pay to view the livestream using their prepaid loads or charge the fee to postpaid accounts.

To make sure you’re ready before the fight, simply download the Viewstream

app on your Android phone or tablet and register using your Smart, Sun, or TNT number. Once done, subscribe to the Pacquiao-Mayweather livestream package and get a LIVE and ad-free stream of the world’s most anticipated boxing fight on May 3 via the Front Seat channel in the Viewstream app.

EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO But even before that day, Viewstream users can get pumped up and ready to support Manny Pacquiao as he takes on Floyd Mayweather, Jr. through exclusive access to Pacquiao’s pre-fight training videos-on-demand. Subscribers can have access to the behind-the-scenes of how Pacquiao is preparing for the fight of the century.

Apart from these exclusive footage, users will also be able to get livestream feeds from TV5 from the Viewstream app, as well as select video-on-demand content, free-of-charge.

Standard data charges may apply when using Viewstream on a mobile Internet connection to view the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. In areas without a nearby WiFi connection, ViewStream can be enjoyed on a 3G or 4G-LTE connection. Because you’re on the country’s biggest and strongest network, the app will load the games with minimal buffer, giving you a seamless, enjoyable livestreaming experience.

To know more about Viewstream and how you can subscribe to the PacquiaoMayweather livestream package, simply visit smart.com.ph/viewstream

T U E S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

MARIAN RIVERA

C7 Alamid’s Gary Ignacio passes on, will be interred today

QUITS UPCOMING SOAP

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From C8

he news shocked fans of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera and the rest of the Filipinos who follow talents on television.

Rivera said he was quitting the soap opera The Rich Man’s Daugher in which she was supposed to play a beautiful woman who is attracted, strangely, to another woman. When we met her weeks before her announcemen of quitting the upcoming drama series, she said that the role was something different and it was a challenge for her to play such a character.

The newly wed though will no longer be challenged by such a role as she will nurse in her womb hers and Dingdong’s first baby.

In relation to her dropping the assignment, the GMA management has issued a statement. We quote, “Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera has withdrawn from her upcoming program The Rich Man’s Daughter and her GMA Pinoy TV guestings abroad due to her delicate condition. GMA Network fully supports Marian’s decision and strongly believes that Marian and her baby’s safety is first and foremost. We would like to assure her supporters that Marian will still be seen in various shows in the Kapuso Network. We pray for a healthy and happy pregnancy for our dear Marian.”

So, there goes, Marianites and Dongya-natics. Now, you’ll have a Marian-Dingdong baby watch to do in the next eight months of the year.

HHHHH Gary Ignacio,, whose iconic voice was behind the hit songs “China Eyes”, “Sama-Sama” and “Your Love” passed on April 7, 2:50 p.m.

The frontman of the popular band Alamid had been battling with stage-4 renal cancer discovered in September last year.

“He died very peacefully, surrounded by

March Ventosa, ABS-CBN head of Narrowcast and OIC of Access Group

his family and friends,” Buena Ignacio said, wife of Gary for 22 years. “He gave a good fight and did not give up until the very end. Since his diagnosis in 2014, he radiated strength and optimism, unwavering in his desire to live and continue making music for us and his fans.”

Gary entered the band scene with Alamid where they made waves with their unique and compelling songs. His voice will always be remembered for the immortal rock ballad, “Your Love” which he co-composed with Alamid guitarist Dexter Facelo. The band was formed in the early ‘90s with Perry Jocson, Thallie Facelo, Efryl deDios, deDios and Jay Dominic Tomas. The band was discovered by then Sto Tomas Warner Music executive Eugene Villaluz during a gig in Mayric’s along España.

“Kuya Gary touched many lives with his music. He had pure vocal talent, raw passion, and poured his heart out with youngeach performance,” shared Gail, the young est brother, who later joined Alamid as drummer. “We are deeply grateful to the outpouring of support from his fans and friends since day one of his battle with cancer. He may be gone but his music will continue to live and inspire us.” comGary was also active in his com munity, co-founding the Malabon Musician’s Alliance in 2009, where he put together his love for music and anconcern for the environment. The an nual Basurock, an annual rock and dance concert in Malabon advocated a “plasticfree” Malabon. chilGary is survived by his wife Buena; chil dren, Ashley, Sean and Gavin; his father Gerry; siblings, Gewang, Gerilyn, and Gail.

Marian Rivera quits new soap The remains will be interrred today.

Dino Laurena, head of ABS-CBN Integrated Sports

RIGHT CONTENT FOR CONSUMER

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BS-CBN President and CEO Charo Santos-Concio highlighted the importance of matching the right content for the right consumer in producing excellent and value-oriented shows that reflect the culture, aspirations, and values of the Filipino cable TV audience.

“At ABS-CBN, we have the privilege to first know the consumer very well before we develop content. We invest a lot in knowing even the hidden desires of every segment of

the market,” said Concio in a special message at the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) convention.

She said ABS-CBN is able to develop highest-rating shows because of the company’s dedication to understanding consumer knowledge and taste that are mirrored in ABS-CBN programs.

“Our shows that do not even have big stars have turned into big hits just like the Jodi-Richard starrer, Be Careful with My

Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN President and CEO

Heart because we value the interest of our consumers,” she elaborated.

The PCTA convention is the annual largest gathering of the cable TV industry where cable operators and broadcast practitioners learn more about current practices and trends in the industry. The convention’s theme for this year was “Content, Connectivity, Consumer,” where speakers provided insights to innovations that the cable TV industry can utilize to continuously adjust to the demands of the times.

In her message, Concio also said that the PCTA is the authority in knowing what the relevant content for the Filipino is and suggested that cable operators must choose content that resonates with good Filipino values.

ABS-CBN Head of Narrowcast and OIC of Access Group March Ventosa said that understanding the Filipino audience is key in developing the best stories.

“The Filipinos inherent storytelling trait is something that we at ABS-CBN imbibe in our culture. We start by listening to the Filipino audience and strive to be the best

storytellers,” he said.

Ventosa, who heads the Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI) arm of ABS-CBN that include cable channels Cinema One, Balls, Hero, Jeepney TV, Lifestyle Network, and Myx, told the delegates that extensive research about what lies deep in the hearts of audiences are reflected in the various programs of the channels.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN head of Integrated Sports Dino Laurena shared with delegates that content can evolve throughout the years through effective and innovative ways and that the broadcast industry can connect more people to enriching sports content.

According to Laurena, sports programming in the Philippines has changed because channels such as ABS-CBN Sports + Action and Balls Channel have crafted their programming in an entertaining manner that has engaged, educated, and exposed more Filipinos to the world of sports.

ABS-CBN subsidiary Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI) was the co-presenter of the PCTA convention.

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T U E S D AY : A P R I L 2 1 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Ai-Ai de las Alas returns to her former home, GMA Network, and signs a two-year exclusive contract. Witnessing the contract signing are GMA Network officers Lilybeth Reasonable, Gilberto Duavit, Atty. Felipe Gozon, and Redgie Magno

COMING HOME SIMPLY RED ISAH V. RED

Ai-Ai delas Alas is home, at last. After 14 years as a Kapamilya talent, the comedian has moved back to where her career got a boost.

On Thursday last week, she was all dressed up like a real (comedy) queen in a Maxie Cinco green ensemble with matching crown as headgear and green stockings. The comedian was overwhelmed by the warm reception the network gave her. She cried and nearly choking, she declared, “I have returned.” The statement was met with applause from members of the press who gathered at the network’s executive lounge to witness the contract signing between her and the big guns of the Kapuso network including, of course, GMA Network and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and COO Gilberto Duavit.

The contract Delas Alas inked with the network makes her an exclusive Kapuso artist for two years.

Delas Alas previously worked with GMA-7 as a co-host on noontime shows such as Lunch Date and Salo-Salo Together.

She moved to ABS-CBN in 2000 and, until last years, tayed with the Kapamilya network where her manager Boy Abunda is also a talent.

After signing the contract Delas Alas, fighting tears, said, “ Ngayon po babalik na po ako sa totoo kong bahay.” Explaining, she likened her return to GMA7 to

the time she asked her biological mother to stay with her. “The only difference,” she explained, “my mother was already suffering from Alzheimer’s and she could no longer recognize me. Here in my true home, the people are glad to see me back, including Atty. Gozon and Mr. Duavit.”

“Tayo ay nagagalak na bumalik si Ai-Ai sa kanyang pinanggalingan,” said Gozon.

To which Delas Alas retorted tearfully, “Hindi nila ako kinalimutan. Masaya ako na masaya kayo...Ipagpapatuloy kong pasayahin pa kayo.”

In her return, the network has cast her in Let The Love Begin, the drama series with Ruru Madrid and Gabbie Garcia. It is based upon the hit movie of the same title. The film starred two stars no longer connected with the network – Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez.

De Las Alas said that she will be in three more projects including a sitcom, a morning talk show, and a movie with Vic Sotto.

Meanwhile, the Kapamilya network has already declared during the press con for Nathaniel that Pokwang is the new comedy queen.

HHHHH Be one of the first to experience Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest super hero film of all time, as leading telecommunications company and purveyor of digital lifestyle Globe Telecom gives its customers another exclusive experience with a special advanced screening on April 22 12 midnight in IMAX theaters in SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia and SM Southmall.

Following the success of the biggest Super Hero movie The Avengers, which pre-

miered three years ago, the earth’s mightiest heroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, will now be put to an ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in balance because of the villainous Ultron. It is up to the Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic global adventure.

Register to any GoSURF promo, avail of the Samsung Galaxy S6 on myLifestyle Plan or subscribe to any Tattoo Home Broadband Plan to get first dibs to this much-awaited movie of the year.

“Globe is making another pioneering move in the entertainment scene as it brings Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron to the Philippines with a special advanced screening in select IMAX theaters. We want to give our customers an access to wonderful experiences this summer by giving them the exclusive privilege to watch one of the biggest films of 2015 just by using their favorite Globe services. Just register to your Globe product of choice and get a chance to win passes to summer’s most exciting entertainment, music, and sporting events and together, let’s take over summer with Globe,” says Rina Siongco, Globe Director for Content and Value Added Services.

Finally, Tattoo Home customers who will subscribe to any of the new Tattoo Home Broadband Bundle such as the Regular Home Broadband (Plan 1299 to 2999) or Platinum Home Broadband (Plan 3749 to 9999) until April 24 get automatically four tickets to the free movie weekend screening on April 25-26

at select IMAX theaters. Existing Tattoo Home customers who will upgrade to the new Tattoo Home Broadband Bundles will also get sixfree tickets to the screening.

For more information on the promo mechanics on Avengers, visit www.globe.com.ph/avengers.

Continued on C7

All dressed up like a real (comedy) queen in a Max Cinco green ensemble with matching crown as headgear and green stockings, the comedian was overwhelmed by the warm reception the network gave her.

She cried and, nearly choking, she declared, ‘I have returned’