The Standard - 2015 July 02 - Thursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 132 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSday : JULy 2, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Marshall Plan for Mindanao proposed

binay stEPs down ‘I cannot allow more to get hurt,’ mayor says By Joel E. Zurbano

MAKATI City Mayor Jejormar Erwin Binay Jr. vacated his post Wednesday to serve the six-month preventive suspension order against him in connection with the alleged irregularities in the construction of Makati Science High School. Binay said he vacated his post to avoid further disruption and other untoward incidents similar to Tuesday’s violence in front of city hall where several supporters of his family and members of the anti-riot police squad were injured. “I cannot allow more people to get hurt. I will leave city hall temporarily with a heavy heart. We have filed a petition with the Court of Appeals for us to get a temporary restraining order, and this is not the end,” said Binay in a speech before hundreds of supNext page porters.

Marquez to succeed Purisima at Crame?

ERC head charged for pork scandal

Out of city hall. Makati Mayor Junjun Binay is flanked by his parents Vice President Jejomar Binay and Dr. Elenita Binay after he stepped down from city hall on Wednesday following his suspension by the Ombudsman. Ey AcAsiO

Public services remain suspended at city hall By Joel E. Zurbano PUBLIC services will remain suspended in the country’s financial capital until Thursday because police are searching for bombs in the Makati City Hall vacated by

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., who was suspended by the Ombudsman. Vice Mayor Romulo Peña, who took over as acting mayor, postponed a meeting with division heads of the city government and

city councilors, and met with barangay leaders instead. No reason was given for the postponement. “We were not allowed to use the building because of the ongoing inventory there. But this is

temporarily, we have to respect it and wait for the police to give us a clearance. As I was saying, we are not eager to move in and for me, my priority is my constituents,” Peña said during a press Next page conference.

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Binay From A1...

UNA congress. Vice President Jejomar Binay and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao flash the UNA sign during the party’s congress on Wednesday at the Makati Coliseum. DANNy PAtA

Veep slams Aquino govt at UNA launch By Vito Barcelo

VICE President Jejomar Binay tore into the Aquino administration Wednesday for failing to solve the country’s problems, including widespread poverty and the worsening state of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system, at the launching of his United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) as a political party before thousands of supporters. A key supporter, ousted President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was a no-show as Binay assumed the chairmanship of the newly formed political party. Also elected were Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco as UNA president, Senator Gregorio Honasan as vice president, JV Bautista as secretary general, and former finance secretary Gary Teves as treasurer. Estrada’s son, Senator JV Ejercito, former senator Ernesto Maceda, former Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, and incumbent UNA lawmakers, including Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao were in attendance. The Binay camp said Estrada was not at the launch because he had to attend to an important commitment—without saying what it was. In his speech before thousands of supporters at the Makati coliseum, Bi-

Public From A1...

Peña said he will instead use the old city hall building until the police finish their “paneling” of the city hall’s 23 floors. Police said paneling is standard operating procedure in which they search for bombs and other explosive devices to ensure the safety of the occupants. Work in local courts and government offices was suspended since Tuesday because of the two-day ten-

nay said the Filipinos were fed up with the lack of basic social services. “We are already fed up with a callous and inept government. We are fed up with the blame game, harassment, and deceit. We are already fed up with progress, which only benefits the few,” he said. “The nation is asking, where is the government?” Binay said in Filipino, enumerating areas in which the Aquino administration has failed. “In more than five years, many are still without jobs, are hungy and lack medical support. Crime and the use of illegal drugs continue to rise,” he said. Binay, who has resigned from the Aquino Cabinet last week, went on: “Poverty is still widespread so the people want to know, where is the government?” Binay said UNA was formed to correct all the wrongs of the Aquino administration. “UNA is not a party of inept and callous government. This is not a party of slow, turtle-placed and dilly-dallying officials. In facing the problems of the country, we have enough experience and we are not newbies who must learn the ropes before governing the country,” he said. “Unlike the current administration, an UNA-led government will admit to its faults and will not pin the blame on others,” Binay said. Nor would it overstep the boundaries set by the separate branches of government like the current administration did. He then called on the people to join him in fulfilling his dream to improve the lives of every Filipino. Earlier, at a forum, Bautista lam-

sion and disruption at city hall. Violence also erupted in front of city hall Tuesday when supporters of Binay tried to prevent policemen and personnel of the Department of Interior and Local Government from serving his suspension order. At least eight supporters and a female police officer were injured during the scuffle. Last March, Peña also used the old building as his office when the Office of the Ombudsman issued the first preventive suspension order against Binay over the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.

basted Ombudman Conchita CarpioMorales as an attack dog of the Liberal Party, after she issued a second preventive suspension order against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., the Vice President’s son. He attacked Morales as being selective in the way she handled cases, and attacked whoever is the enemy of the Liberal Party. “The Ombudsman should be the tribune of the people – I think she forgot that. I think she is the ‘tribune’ of the Liberal Party because she is going to attack whoever is the enemy of the Liberal Party,” said Bautista “If you are a BFF of Noynoy and Mar Roxas, the Ombudsman won’t touch you – I assure you that! But if you’re in opposition to them – if the first suspension order won’t stick, they’ll give it another try,” Bautista said. The Ombudsman earlier suspended the younger Binay for the second time over graft charges in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati Science High School building. The complaint alleged that Binay, in his first term as Makati mayor, rigged the procurement process during the construction of the building. The first suspension order over the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II was stopped by the Court of Appeal pending a decision on Binay’s case. “If at first you don’t succeed, you try and try again! Never have I seen in my entire experience [a government that] will do everything just to remove you from office,” he said. – With John Paolo Bencito

The first suspension order was stopped by the Court of Appeals, however. In the Senate, Senate Antonio Trillanes IV, who has led a campaign to jail Vice President Jejomar Binay, said his son’s suspension would allow the Senate to gather more proof connecting his family to corruption. “The stepping down of Mayor Junjun Binay w’ill have a big effect on our investigation because we can gather more evidence from the Makati City Hall,” said Trillanes in a text message to senate reporters. He also considered Binay’s deci-

On Tuesday, violence erupted when Binay supporters tried to prevent policemen and personnel of the Department of Interior and Local Government from posting the suspension order in front of city hall. “As I always said, because my father is a human rights lawyer, don’t emulate our enemies in politics who are breaking the law. We will show them that we respect and have faith in the rule of law,” Binay said. Binay hugged his father Vice President Jejomar Binay after his speech. Vice Mayor Romulo Peña took over as acting mayor but work in local courts and government offices in city hall remain suspended. He called a press conference at 2:30 p.m. “We are not eager to take over the main building of city hall and right now we have to talk first with department heads and members of the city council,” he said. Pena said his office also sent a letter to Councilor Virgilio Hilario Sr., who he said, would be designated as acting vice mayor. He added he has at least five directives aimed at bringing city hall back to normal, especially in the delivery of basic services to the constituents. Pena directed Makati City police chief Ernesto Barlam to maintain peace and order by clearing the city hall quadrangle to give access to the public, particularly those who have transactions with the city government. Mayor Binay failed to win a temporary restraining order Wednesday when the Court of Appeals opted to hold off delierations on his plea, and instead required the Office of the Ombudsman and the DILG to explain why it should not enjoin the suspension order issued against the Makati City mayor. The resolution was written by Associate Justice Melchor Sadang, with Associate Justices Celia Librea-Leagogo and Amy Lazaro-Javier concurring. The appeals court also ordered Binay to give his reply, after receiving a copy of the

sion a challenge Peña to step up and perform the duties expected of him. “This is also a big challenge to acting mayor Kid Peña to show Makati that there will be more and bigger benefits if their leaders will not be corrupt,” Trillanes said. Trillanes, along with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Blue Ribbon subcommittee chairperson Senator Aquilino Pimentel III have been leading the Senate investigation on the alleged anomalies committed by the Binays. The subcommittee has conducted a total of 21 hearings since last year. It

comment, in five days. In his petition, Binay argued that he cannot be held accountable for the alleged anomaly since three of the seven construction phases of the MSHSB were done when he was not yet the city mayor. He also said any liability in the subsequent phases was expunged by his reelection in 2013 under the condonation doctrine. Binay also said the Ombudsman relied only on hearsay testimony as a basis for issuing the suspension order. The Palace on Wednesday said there was “no place for mob rule in modern civil society.” “We welcome the decision of Mayor Junjun Binay to heed the call of Secretary Mar Roxas for the rule of law to prevail. Indeed, today is a good day for the rule of law and there is certainly no place for mob rule in modern civil society,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a text message to the Malacanang Press Corps. Members and officers of the Makati Business Club, a supporter of President Benigno Aquino III, expressed concern at the developments at city hall. “While we recognize that the mayor has decided to leave city hall as ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman, we note that it took a significant period, two orders from the Ombudsman, and instances of near-violence between the mayor’s supporters and law enforcement officers before the mayor made his decision, when such an order was immediately executory,” the MBC said in a statement. “MBC believes that no one should be above the law—and the demand to respect the rule of law is more heavily levied on elected public servants. Indeed, affected officials are free to avail themselves of all remedies provided under our system. However, they must ultimately and immediately submit themselves to the demands of the law at the first instance an order is given,” it added. “Now that the case is in the judiciary, it is our hope that the courts will render a fair decision swiftly and in accordance to its merits.” – With Rey E. Requejo and Sandy Araneta

has also co me out with a partial report that recommended the filing of plunder charges against the Vice President and his son and other personalities. Also on Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of work at all trial courts in Makati City effective 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. In an advisory, Court spokesman Theodore O. Te said that a skeletal force would be on call at the Enhanced Justice on Wheels buses. Makati City court employees were advised to wait for further advice on work resumption. – With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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ERC’s Ducut indicted for involvement in pork scam By rio n. araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday indicted Energy Regulatory Commission chairwoman Zenaida Ducut and five former representatives for their alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork-barrel fund scam. Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales identified the five former lawmakers as Rozzano Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa City, Rodolfo Valencia of the First District of Oriental Mindoro, Marc Douglas Cagas IV of the First District of Davao del Sur, Arrel Olaño of the First District of Davao del Norte, and Arthur Pingoy Jr. of the Seconde District of South Cotabato. Morales indicted the six even as she challenged her critics to have her impeached, saying she gets irritated each time she is accused of filing cases only for political considerations. “I am apolitical. I don’t take sides,” Morales said. Malacañang said it was good that the wheels of justice were moving after Morales made her announcement. “It is good that the wheels of justice and the legal process are moving,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters after the Ombudsman said it would file charges against the second batch of individuals named in the NBI complaint on the pork-barrel scam. “Former representatives are also given the chance to explain their side and answer these charges,” Coloma said. In five separate resolutions, Morales ordered the filing of charges against Biazon, Valencia, Cagas, Olaño and Pingoy as well as against other individuals from the Department of Budget and Management, Technology Resource Center, National Business Corp. and other non-government organizations. Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles was also charged with the same offenses. She is the alleged mastermind behind the P10billion pork-barrel scam and is now detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City for the serious illegaldetention case filed against her by her whistle blower Benhur Luy. The five cases stemmed from the separate complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and Levito Baligod, Luy’s former counsel. With Sandy araneta

moRAlES

68 and counting. President Benigno Aquino III checks out a scale model of an FA 50 aircraft from South Korea as part of an exhibition during the celebration of the Philippine Air Force’s 68th anniversary. Malacañang Photo Bureau

Purisima to be replaced by Marquez, sources say By Francisco tuyay

THE appointment of a new commander of the 150,000-member police force loomed after the four-star rank was declared vacant following the dismissal of resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima by the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday. President Benigno Aquino III was in a huddle with Police Director Ricardo Marquez, head of the Directorate for Operations and a strong contender for the position, hours before the dismissal order of Purisima and 10 of his lieutenants. Malacañang said the dismissal of Purisima and 10 other police officials was proof that there was no selective justice in the Aquino administration.

But Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that while the Ombudsman had dismissed Purisima from the service, he still had to account for the botched Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25 in which 44 police commandos were killed. “Purisima has to face all the criminal charges filed against him for what he did as PNP chief. He must also pay a separate price for illegally taking part in the Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of the SAF 44,” Marcos said. Senator Grace Poe said it was now time for Aquino to appoint a permanent police chief. “We have to respect the decision of the Ombudsman. It was mandated by the Constitution to scrutinize evidence before imposing appropriate punishment on violators of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Poe said. Marcos agreed with Poe and said the President’s appointment of the next PNP chief should go beyond friendship. Senator Teofisto Guingona said the dismiss-

als meant the rule of the law was taking place. He said the findings of the Ombudsman spoke for themselves. Informed sources said that Aquino and Marquez were in a formal huddle at the Palace, seriously in discussion apparently on police matters, but no specifics were made available. Wednesday was Marquez’ second talk with Aquino after he was summoned by the President last week along with Police Director Danilo Constantino, the newly-installed deputy chief of the Directorial Staff on police matters. Marquez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, has one more year and a month before his mandatory retirement in August 2016. But as of press time, there had been no official word from Malacañang if, indeed, they have chosen a new PNP chief to replace Purisima, who was ordered dismissed over an anomalous deal. With Sandy araneta and Macon ramos-araneta

PhilHealth president details eye surgery scam By Macon r. araneta PROSPECTIVE eye patients are first asked it they are PhilHealth members, and if so they are then brought to an eye clinic to undergo a cataract operation that is often not needed, PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla said on Wednesday. Padilla was testifying in the Senate on the findings of PhilHealth’s own investigation on the modus operandi of the syndicates that led to the P2-billion PhilHealth claims for cataract operations in 2014. He said he had suspended payments to two eye centers—Pacific Eye Institute and Quezon City Eye Center—which accused of engaging in the racket. PhilHealth had paid P325 million worth of suspicious claims that allegedly went to the two eye

clinics for cataract operations, and for which each PhilHealth member received P16,000. Internal auditor Robert So showed that the insurance claims of Pacific Eye jumped from P69.58 million in 2013 to P169.49 million in 2014. The same claims of Quezon City Eye Center increased from P92.5 million in 2013 to P156 in 2014. Padilla said some doctors in those clinics were misinforming patients that they needed an eye surgery for free even if they did not really need it. “What’s important for them is to be able to get the money at the end of the process and not really to help. Oftentimes, patients do not know any better. The eye centers reap the benefits of claiming reimbursements from such activities,” Padilla said.

He said that, sometimes, the procedure was injurious as in the case of a patient who lost his vision after a doctor punctured his eye. “We can only imagine the risks the patients of these facilities are being subjected to,” Padilla said. He said they had identified 26 scam artists or “seekers” from six health facilities who had been named by patients who were lured to undergo cataract operations to deceive PhilHealth. “The evidence gathered has shown that they demand kickbacks and commissions amounting to as much as P1,000 to P2,000 per eye per cataract surgery or laser from the surgeon and as much as P6,300 per eye per cataract surgery from Eye Center in exchange for bringing patients,” Padilla said. “There have been reports of misinformation being propagat-

ed by certain seekers that entice PhilHealth members to undergo procedures that they are not well aware of.” But David Gosiengfiao, the owner of Pacific Eye Institute, slammed PhilHeatlh for allegedly basing the fraud charges against the clinic on the Code of Ethics. He said they were now going through a difficult time because their reputation had been destroyed and payments had been stopped. He said there was abuse of authority and trial by publicity. Raymond Evangelista, the owner of Quezon City Eye Center, insisted that the insurance claims rose because even the professional fees of doctors were being coursed through it. Before 2011, he said, PhilHealth paid doctors separately. “Naturally, our reimbursements ballooned,” he said.

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‘Mini-Marshal’ plan eyed By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has proposed a mini-Marshal plan for Mindanao to transform the island into a hive of modernization and achieve long-lasting peace. Speaking before members of the Philippine Constitution Association at the Manila Hotel, Marcos said the program he envisions includes a full-scale pacification and law enforcement program, infrastructure modernization, a railway system and modernization of the civil service and public services. “It was the historic Marshall Plan in post-war Europe that got me thinking of modernization as possibly the best strategy for Mindanao in the aftermath of secessionist conflict,” the senator said. “We cannot just keep on talking

of one small slice of what was once called ‘our land of promise.’ We must now deal with the whole – all of Mindanao and Sulu, and all the people there. Our planning, our actions, our strategies, and our labors must measure up to that challenge,” he said. “Mindanao’s modernization is the vision that I will introduce in either my substitute bill for the BBL or an amendment of the organic act for ARMM, which I will submit to Congress,” he said. Marcos, who is the Senate’s chairman of the committee on local government, said the amount of money

that the Aquino administration was prepared to commit to its BBL experiment was enough to design the equivalent of a mini-Marshall plan for Mindanao. On the first year of its operation, the proposed Bangsamoro entity would get an estimated total funding of P75 billion. “If we combine internal funds with financial assistance from international institutions and foreign countries, we can mobilize funds on a scale that will not fall short of effecting the full transformation of Mindanao into a hive of modernization and productivity for the nation,” he said. “If we get the private sector – domestic and foreign investors ― fully involved, there’s no telling what we can accomplish. As we unleash the full potential of Mindanao for development, the investments and resources will follow.”

“This of course needs full study and planning. This must involve planners and managers in Manila, and planners and managers in Mindanao,” the senator added. Marcos also enumerated some key findings on the draft BBL that he said will be reflected in substitute bill that he will present to the Senate when it resumes session on July 27 and in his committee’s report on the BBL. “The first of these findings is that in the peace negotiations leading to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the presidential peace adviser and the government peace panel did not consult with all the stakeholders in Mindanao,” Marcos sai Marcos cited the example of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu who was excluded in consultations.

Outside the box. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association, listen to a comment of a Philconsa member during the group’s regular meeting at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday. Marcos proposed that instead of spending P75 billion for another bureaucracy, the money would be better spent for a “mini-Marshal Plan” for Mindanao. VER NOVENO

SC unites 6 petitions vs K-12 program By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has consolidated the petition filed by teachers and students of the Manila Science High School (MSHS) with five other pleas seeking to stop the government’s controversial K-to-12 program, which would add two more years to the current 10-year basic education curriculum. “In the matter of G.R. No. 218465 (Ma. Dolores Brilliantes vs President Benigno Aquino III and Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro), the Court ordered that this case be consolidated with G.R. Nos. 216930, 217752, 218045, 218098 and 218123, all of which challenge Republic Act No. 10533 or the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum,” the SC said, in its en banc resolution. The SC also ordered President Aquino and Sec. Luistro to “comment on the petition and the applications for injunctive relief within 10 days from notice.” In their petition the Manila Science High School Teachers Association and students questioned the legality of RA 10533 and DepEd Order No. 31 Series of 2012 which paved the way for the K to 12 program.

Corona’s absence in hearing miffs court By Rio N. Araja THE Court of Tax Appeals on Wednesday directed former chief justice Renato Corona to explain why he must not be cited for contempt of court for failure to appear in his arraignment in connection with the six tax suits against him. But Corona’s lawyer Reinhard Sanchez apologized to the court and assured Associate Justice Amelia Manalastas that the former chief justice did not intend to delay the proceeding but he had to seek immediate medical attention for his swollen legs. “He is willing to be arraigned at the soonest possible opportunity,” Sanchez said. But Manalastas gave the

camp of Corona only five days to explain his absence and present a medical certificate while his arraignment was reset to July 22. Corona was initially charged with 12 counts of tax evasion cases and is facing a tax liability of P120.5 million for failure to file income tax return and attempt to evade payment of taxes. In Febuary, the ex-chief justice argued that he should only be arraigned for failure to file income tax return because the charges of failure to file return and attempt to defeat tax collection constituted the same act of tax evasion under the NIRC. The Court denied the bid, but arraigned Corona only on six counts for violation of Section 255 but deferred the ar-

raignment on the other six. Arraignment was set on April 15 then moved to May 6 and eventually July 1. The charges rose from Corona’s alleged failure to file income tax returns with deficiencies of P3,944,275.58 in 2003, P5,824771.58 in 2004, P5,700,037.57 in 2005, P7,269,149.37 in 2007, P10,861,770.37 in 2008, and P16,980,059.48 in 2010. Aside from the bank deposits, he also did not declare two real properties he acquired during his stint in government: a condominium unit at the Columns, along Ayala Avenue that he bought for P3.6 million in 2004 and a property in Fort Bonifacio that he bought for P9.16 million in 2005.

Royal empathy. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands talks with pineapple farmers in Tagaytay City in Cavite ahead of meetings where she will serve as the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. AFP

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Military upgrade paying off — Aquino By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said that he once recalled a Philippine Military Academy graduate who stated that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) did not only have “air”, but also “force” after it continues to be modernized during his administration. In his speech at the 68th anniversary of the PAF held in Clark Air Base, Pampanga crowed about the gains achieved by the military modernization program implemented by his administration, which he said did more than the three past administrations have done combined. Aquino said these gains were made possible by the policy of “Daang Matuwid (Straight Path)”, which PAF as well as the entire military should continue even after a new administration takes the helm after the 2016 elections. “Just think about it, during the past five years, we have completed our modernization program in 55 (projects). We have surpassed the 45 projects done by the three administrations,” said Aquino. Aquino also lambasted the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo accusing her government of neglecting the Armed Forces during her time. “The bad thing is, instead of reciprocating your hard work, my predecessor has given you a status quo of neglect,” Aquino said.

Aerobatic. Pilots perform aerobatic demonstration and opener pass during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at the Air Force

City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01, 2015). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corp, which was established in 1941. MAlAcAñAng PHoto BureAu

Kentex told to pay 57 workers’ claims The Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region has ordered Kentex Manufacturing Corporation to pay 57 workers an aggregate amount of P1.4 million in money claims even as the Social Security System settled funeral benefits to relatives of 67 workers-victims of the fire that razed the company last May 13. DOLE said the financial award is included in the compliance order issued by DOLE-National Capital Region Director Alex Avila based on the general labor standards and occupational safety and health investigation at the company . “I have issued the Compliance Order to Kentex Manufacturing Corp. and Messrs. Beato Ang and Ong King Guan in their capaci-

ties as Chairman/CEO and Chief Finance Officer of Kentex, respectively, ordering them to pay the total amount of P1,440,641.39 million to 57 workers who executed affidavits before the DOLE. Of the awardees, five are also included in the Compliance Order issued by Director Ana Dione last June 8,” Avila said in his report to DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Based on the order, the amount represents underpayment of basic wages; underpayment of premium pay on rest day; non-payment of cost-of-living-allowance; nonpayment of regular holiday pay; underpayment of overtime pay on regular day; underpayment of night shift differential pay on regular day; non-payment of 13th month pay; unauthorized deduction of cash bond; and non-payment of service incentive leave pay. Of the 57 workers, Jay-Ar Dayon has the biggest claim and is expected to receive P228,444.16, while Virgilio Raro has the smallest amount of claim of P557.65. Other workers with six-digit money claims are Celso Clemena,

P138,076.43 and Ace Pagonsaga, P100,892.53. The claims of the other workers range from tens of thousands to hundreds of pesos only. “Failure to pay said workers within ten days shall cause the imposition of the penalty of double indemnity pursuant to R.A. 8188, otherwise known as “An Act Increasing the Penalty and Imposing Double Indemnity for Violation of the Prescribed Increase or Adjustment in the Wage Rates,” he said. Baldoz noted the financial awards paid for claims for general labor standards and did not include other claims that the workers had arising from the criminal and civil cases they may have filed or to be filed against Kentex.

Comelec taps SK funds for info drive By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Health fraud. Philippine Eye Bank president Ma. Dominga Padilla, PHILHEALTH president & CEO Alexander Padilla, Quezon City Eye Center owner Dr. Raymond Evangelista testify before Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Joseph Victor Ejercito during the maiden hearing on the allegedly fraudulent claims of hospitals and clinics with the Philipine Health Insurance Corporation amounting to P2 billion. EY ACASIO

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ThE unused P1-billion funds from the scrapped Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will be utilized for the 2016 election preparations including an information campaign on the use of biometrics, Comelec ChairmanAndres Bautista said on Wednesday. The confirmation was made after Senate President pro-tempore Ralph Recto suggested the Comelec to use the P1-billion unspent budget from the postponed SK elections. Comelec commissioner Luie Tito Guia supported Bautista’s statement saying that all available resources from their savings will definitely be usedf for the 2016 election preparations.

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Probe fails to resolve Rizal Park brouhaha By Maricel V. Cruz

PCSO outlet. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office executives led by Vice-Chairman and General Manager lawyer Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, Board of directors lawyers Francisco Joaquin III and Mabel Mamba, Betty Nantes and Misamis Gov. Herminia Ramiro buy Lotto tickets at the newly-installed terminals of the PCSO Ozamis City branch office on Monday, which the PCSO directors inaugurated on the same occasion. The office space, located in a public building in Bgy. Aguada, was lent to PCSO for free by City Mayor Reynaldo O.Parojinog. The directors also turned over 15 ambulances under the PCSO Ambulance Donation Program: one to Ozamis City and 14 to various municipalities in Misamis Occidental (six), Misamis Oriental (five), and Bukidnon (two). JOSEPH MUEGO

Protect Camp John Hay investors, court prodded By Rey E. Requejo

THE Camp John Hay Development Corporation has appealed to the Court of Appeals to protect the interest of the more than 1,600 third- party investors inside the 247-hectare former American recreational facility in Baguio City. During the summary hearing conducted by the CA’s Special Fifth Division on its plea for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction that would indefinitely enjoin the the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from evicting it as well as its sub-lessees from

the property, CJHDEVCO lawyer Gilbert Reyes argued that the final arbitration award issued by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. is binding only between the BCDA and CJHDEVCO, who are the parties in the case and not on their tenants.

According to Reyes, CJHDEVCO, the developer of Camp John Hay, is ready to comply with the PDRC’s order for it to vacate the leased premises in exchange of P1.42 billion payment from BCDA provided that the rights of third parties are respected. “There is no dispute that all the third parties, they are in good faith and they acquired the property in good faith,” Reyes said, during the hearing presided by Associate Justice Noel Tijam. “They have valid contracts that should be respected by the respondent (BCDA),” the lawyer added. Associate Justices Myra

Garcia-Fernandez and Victoria Isabel Paredes were also present during the proceedings. The CJHDEVCO lawyer noted that under the original lease agreement it signed with BCDA in 1996 for the purpose of developing Camp John Hay into a wholesome family-oriented public tourism complex, CJHDEVCO has been authorized to sublease its properties. It was also expressly stated under the original lease agreement that the ownership of the improvements will remain with CJHDEVCO until 2046. Reyes said the demand of

BCDA for their tenants to vacate the premises prior to the payment of the arbitral award violates the decision of the arbitration panel. “It was not there, it was not intended, it was not contemplated in the arbitration panel’s decision,” Reyes stressed. He said that the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction is warranted to avoid irreparable damage to third party investors who have invested their money in good faith. The CJHDEVCO also raised the possibility of more suits being filed in connection with the dispute if its prayer for a writ of injunction ill not be granted.

Immigration agents arrest 18 Taiwanese

Priority on safety. Militants troop to the MRT Kamuning Station and wear safety gear such as helmets and elbow pads to illustrate the danger posed by riding the poorly maintained MRT3. They urged the MRT management to give priority to the safety of elderly PWD and students. LINO SANTOS

EIGHTEEN Taiwanese nationals were arrested by immigration agents for working without permits in the country, the Immigration bureau said on Wednesday. The Taiwanese, who came to the Philippines with tourist visas were earning as much as P100,000, the bureau said. Immigration intelligence group headed by lawyer Carlito Licas said the arrest came after a raid on the foreigners’ office in Manila. The 18 were working as

executives for a company that distributes mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets, the bureau said. One of the arrested Taiwanese presented a document but it turned out that his supposed job here was a teacher and not as an executive. No one from the workers’ company faced the BI agents during the raid, the bureau said. All the arrested 18 Taiwanese will be deported, the bureau said. Vito Barcelo

AN administration lawmaker on Wednesday offered a solution to the Rizal Monument ‘photobomber’ controversy: Reposition the statue of Jose P. Rizal. “Many are wondering why Jose Rizal had his back against Manila. May we know the historical basis for this?” Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing asked in Filipino at a congressional hearing. The House special committee on Metro Manila Development, chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, conducted a probe of the construction of the 46-storey Torre de Manila condominium in Manila which has been criticized for spoiling the backdrop of the Rizal Monument. But Bagatsing got no response from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines chair Ludovico Badoy even as some lawmakers dismissed Bagatsing’s line of questioning as a comic relief. Also present during the hearing was former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim who blamed the incumbent Manila mayor and former president Joseph Estrada for giving real estate developer DMCI Homes, Inc. the necessary permits to construct the high-rise condominium Torre de Manila. Lim said that DMCI Homes managed to construct 45 out of the 49 floors of the condominium during Estrada’s term. For his part, Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza said it is the city council who should be the one to blame as its members have given the go signal for the DMCI Homes to continue with the project despite opposition from the public. Atienza said the city council “flip-flopped on its decision to stop the construction.” The DMCI Homes, through Resolution No. 5, had been given exemption from the provisions of Ordinance No.8119 barring the real estate developer from constructing a building with a floor area of 97,000 square meters. Under the ordinance’s floor to area ratio provision, DMCI could only construct a building with a maximum floor area of 27,000 in the 7,000 lot. The DMCI Homes Inc. earlier said it saw no basis for the demolition of Torre de Manila. “Our company firmly believes that cultural heritage and progress can co-exist, DMCI Homes project development manager Florence Loreto earlier said. Last June 16, The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order halting the building’s construction.

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Reg X workers get P12 wage hike The Regional Wage and Productivity Board of Region 10 has approved a P12 daily wage increase for all private sector minimum workers in the Northern Mindanao effective July 3, according to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. “This is the 18th wage increase in Region 10 since R.A. 6727, or The Wage Rationalization Act, became a law on 9 June 1989,” Baldoz said. Board chairman Raymundo Agravante said the minimum wage in the region was raised to P318 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and to P306 for workers in the agricultural sector under Category I, which covers the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. It also raises the minimum wage rate to P313 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and P301 for workers in the agricultural sector under Category II, which covers the cities of Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador, and Ozamiz and the municipalities of Maramag, Quezon, and Manolo Fortich. In Category III, the new minimum wage rate of P308 applies to workers in the nonagricultural sector and P296 for the agricultural sector in the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub and the municipalities of Lugait, Opol, and Mambajao. Included in this category are all the establishments employing ten workers or less. For other areas not covered by the three categories, hence falling under Category IV, establishments shall now pay a new minimum wage rate of P303 to workers in the non-agricultural sector and P291 to workers in the agricultural sector. Baldoz said that all the minimum wage rates in region 10 were already above the poverty threshold, a key goal of the DOLE this 2015. “Under the second-tier of the two-tier minimum wage system reform, the RTWPB has already issued an Advisory on the Implementation of Productivity-Based Incentive Scheme for the Bus Transport Industry which shall serve as guidelines for private establishments to set the range of productivity bonuses and incentives that an enterprise or industry may provide based on the agreement between workers and management,” Agravante said. Under the reform, the minimum wage is viewed as a social safety net, as it is, to protect the most vulnerable sectors, while the productivity-based pay is regarded as the more appropriate mechanism of rewarding workers’ productivity as their progressive contribution to enterprise growth and competitiveness.

Parade of lights. Tacloban comes alive again a year and a half after super typhoon Yolanda with the return of the city’s Sangyaw festival. ELMER ECLIPSE

Marinduque clears airport of animals By Rudy C. Santos MARInDUQUE Airport including its immediate periphery has been declared as an “animal-free area” by virtue of Provincial Ordinance approved by the Sanguniang Panlalawigan on June 19 to ensure safe landing and takeoff of all commercial aircraft. The ordinance was created after several meetings with Marinduque Gover-

nor Carmencita Reyes, a technical team from the Philippine Airlines and Director General William Hotchkiss III of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines regarding stray animals roaming the airport including its runway. The CAAP invoked safety issues while PAL reiterated that the presence of stray farm animals. These animals pose safety risks to passen-

gers and crew members on board aircraft. The CAAP has directed aerodrome operators in all of its 41 commercially run airports to develop and implement safety directive action plan and programs. This is to address the issue of unauthorized entry by pedestrians and animals into the aerodrome safety area (runway, taxiway and the ramp and apron). Hotchkiss added that

runway incursion has become a major safety issue for airport operators and aviation related organizations. He also said that airport safety programs should specifically address runway incursion as it relates to the safe operations of aircraft, traffic management, vehicle pedestrian movement on the maneuvering area and aerodrome management.

Shelter aid release in Leyte town slowed by paper requirements By Ronald O. Reyes

Spotting a gem. A woman holds a gold ingot weighing around 40 grams with a market value of P70 thousand. DAVID CHAN

JERICO Dulosa, 44, of Palo, Leyte is still wondering what went wrong with his complaint about the non-release of his emergency shelter assistance promised to them by the government after his house was completely destroyed by typhoon Yolanda in november 2013. Dulosa says he was not able to receive the ESA during the scheduled release of the funds in their town last May 8,. Town officials, he said, demanded many documents from him before he could avail the one-time P30,000 financial assistance to rebuild his totally destroyed house. ESA has been designed by

the national government for storm victims living in safe areas and who have no permanent source of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region. Dulosa, in his letter complaint to the Ombudsman office in Tacloban City, said that he along with other three claimants, “never received any official communication or official notice that we won’t receive such benefits that day (May 8), although our names appear in the master list, clean list and payroll.” According to Dulosa, the official release of ESA with most of the beneficiaries in their village in Cavite West was done last May 8, yet he said they were denied of their benefits “for simple reason that we only

complied the documentary requirements cited in the national guidelines and in the letter of the DSWD Regional Director nestor Ramos. Ramos, director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in Eastern Visayas, said that Dulosa and other ESA claimants have to present their green card and valid ID only. Dulosa however said in his complaint that the mayor’s action towards them “is a clear indication that the undersigned were whimsically and intentionally deprived of such privilege and benefits thru the manipulative action of your office which is contrary to purpose for which the guidelines were formulated.”

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A more bAsic concern THIS early, and months before the filing of certificates of candidacy for national elections, the political circus has begun and has dominated news headlines and street conversations in the country. The recent break of vice President Jejomar Binay as member of the Aquino Cabinet is a sign that all gloves are off . every decision made, every word uttered in government may be taken to have political meaning and repercussion. Look at the standoff now happening at the Makati City Hall. The combinations and permutations of personalities that would make the most winnable tandem for 2016. The residency and citizenship qualifications of Senator Grace Poe are now being scrutinized just because she has emerged as a highly acceptable option to voters, according to surveys. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is still plotting how to make its putative presidential bet, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, improve his poll figures. The party is hoping Roxas could still evolve into a formidable candidate between now and election day. Yet another personality, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, seems to be still calculating his options and vacillating between running and not running for a national post. He is best know for his tough act, which some say could just be what the country needs to get its own act together. Amid all this activity is the news that the Commission on elections has declared a failure of bidding for the contract for the refurbishment of the precinct count optical scan machines after two firms withdrew from the bidding; yet another simply failed to show up. The former head of the commission, lawyer Sixto Brillantes, led the commission in approving a refurbishment contract with Smartmatic soon before he retired; this was later struck down by the Supreme Court. The new chairman of the Comelec, former Dean Andres Bautista, is now in the thick of finding solutions to the commission’s challenges less than a year before the 2016 polls. Bautista admitted that with these setbacks, they are racing against time to put in place a credible election system for next year. More than to the posturing of potential candidates, reluctant or not, the public should pay attention to how the Comelec makes do with the time it has to establish the manner of voting, counting and canvassing. Regardless of who is in the running, our main concern should be that an efficient and credible election system is running, at all. Personalities come and go. Their popularity is volatile, dependent on their spin doctors, handlers, and the public pulse. What is fundamental, however, is the how of the elections. We should not forget this as we keep an eye on the constitutional commission tasked with ensuring the bedrock of democracy does exactly that.

Purisima to DiLG? LowDown jojo A. robLes HAve we really seen the last of that really, really close friend of President Noynoy Aquino, suspended and now dismissed Director General Alan La Madrid Purisima? I wonder. The Camp Crame scuttlebutt says we haven’t, and that the disgraced general will be given a new, high-profile civilian job before the end of Aquino’s term. Given the famous longstanding friendship between Aquino and

Purisima, I tend to believe the rumors of a comeback. I know that the Ombudsman has dismissed Purisima for his alleged involvement in the case that got him suspended, which involved hiring a private outfit to deliver gun licenses even if a courier service had already been contracted for the job. And I am also aware that Malacanang Palace has issued a statement saying that the administration will follow “the rule of law” as far as Purisima’s case is concerned and let the legal process run its course. But I also know that Aquino has always stood up for his best

pal in the national police – and probably among all the people in uniform that he has met, alltime. Not only did Aquino give Purisima an important role in the operation that would later be known as the Mamasapano Massacre, the President has also always defended him from any and all accusations of impropriety and wrongdoing since then. Indeed, Aquino’s legendary loyalty to his friends has always been on full display in his long relationship with Purisima, who entered his life during the police officer’s stint with the Presidential Security Group during the term of President Cory Aquino.

Purisima’s eventual position will depend on whether or not DiLG secretary mar roxas will resign and run for President.

Purisima was there when Aquino’s convoy was attacked by rebel soldiers outside of Malacanang; those who know Cory’s son says he has felt eternally grateful to the police officer (who was assigned as his bodyguard) since then. But that’s all in the past. In the near future, I’m told, Purisima will return for a top post as a civilian in the Department of Interior and Local Government. According to a very reliable source, what Purisima’s eventual position will be will depend on whether or not DILG Secretary Mar Roxas will resign and run for President in the elections next May. If Roxas runs, Purisima will be appointed as his replacement; if Roxas

doesn’t run, Purisima will become DILG undersecretary, with particular focus on police matters. Of course, whether or not Roxas resigns depends on Aquino. If Aquino backs Roxas’ candidacy, then he will leave DILG to Purisima; if Aquino supports someone else, like Senator Grace Poe, then Roxas will stay on, leaving with Aquino at the end of the latter’s term. “Don’t count out Puring,” my informant told me, using the preferred nickname of Crame denizens for the

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

cashiered PNP chief. “He knows where the bodies are buried and he will never be abandoned.” I’m not. If Aquino can appoint a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal to the Commission on elections, he can certainly spare a government post for the man he believes saved his life – in more ways than one, if you believe what they say over at Crame. *** The University of the Philippines sociology professor who gained ques-

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tionable social media fame for bashing summa cum laude BS Biology graduate Tiffany Grace Uy has come up with a longer, more academically-couched reason for his trolling of a mere student. But despite his references to Weber, Maslow, einstein and the sixties existentialists, Gerry Lanuza still came off as an envious attention-getter. For those who may have been deluded into thinking that Lanuza, as he explained, only “meant to provoke a public discussion” on grade-consciousness, Continued on A10

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I AM not as bold as either Former Chief Justice Panganiban or Dean Antonio La vina to say that Grace Poe is definitely a natural born Filipino. Both posit that the so-called incorporation clause which states that generally accepted principles of international law is the legal basis for the so-called “presumption” that the senator is a natural born Filipino. Offhand, I find this odd since as a student and teacher of international law for the past 25 years, there is no definition of who a “natural-born” Filipino is under international law. It is the Philippine Constitution that defines a natural born Filipino as one who does not have to do any act to perfect his Filipino citizenship. This is sufficient basis to conclude that international law is irrelevant to the issue of whether the Senator is a natural born Filipino. In any case, what international law provides is the presumption against statelessness and the right of a child to have a citizenship. While we are not yet a party to the first convention, I do agree that there is already widespread and virtually uniform state practice and opinion juris, the belief that it is the law, that no person shall be stateless. The Convention on the Rights of the Child in turn provides that all children should have a nationality. Hence, the presumption that children have the nationality of their parents. But this is different from a presumption that one is a natural-born Filipino. Again I reiterate, only natural born Filipinos can aspire to be members of Congress and the Presidency. All other Filipinos can seek only local elective posts. Is there a valid constitutional interest to be achieved by this outright discrimination? Certainly. When one is a naturalborn Filipino, one cannot have any other nationality. This is why the Constitution presumes that such a Filipino will exclusively love this country to the fullest. That is why the same Constitution says that dual citizenship is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law. After all, multiplicity of citizenship means multiple allegiances. In case of a war with the United States and the Philippines, do you expect dual-citizen Filipino Americans to support the Philippines? Probably not. In any case, the deliberations in the House of Representatives would clearly show that the issue of whether a naturalborn citizen who lost it through naturalization and acquires a dual citizenship hence revert to the status of a natural born Filipino is still to be defined by the courts. As Teddy Boy Locsin, author of the dual citizenship law, said in the floor of Congress: “Your guess is as good as mine”. My position is that this is a lacunae in the law which just be addressed by legislation. Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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Purisima’s eventual position will depend on whether or not DiLG secretary mar roxas will resign and run for President.

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A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Legacies the President can Leave us to the point emil p. jurado PRESIDENT Aquino has less than 365 days in office. What has he done for us to remember him by? The change he had promised us when he assumed office in 2010 did not come. The reforms he had talked about did not materialize. Eradicating corruption? It has remained at all levels of government. The more Mr. Aquino intones “Daang Matuwid,” the more things remain the same. If the son of the late Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino would be remembered for anything, it would be for his vindictiveness. Imagine, he would resort to bribery just to get rid of his political enemies. Look at what happened with former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Look what is happening to former President Gloria Arroyo, long suffering from a debilitating bone ailment. She is still under hospital arrest. President Aquino will be remembered for his selective justice. He has one set of standards for his political enemies – and quite another for his friends and allies. For him, they can do no wrong. An example of this is the case of minority senators like Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, who are still in detention at Camp Crame. And yet, we also know that some members of the Aquino Cabinet, his allies and friends who are linked to the Janet Lim Napoles’ P10 billion pork barrel scam, are still scot-free. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the President’s attack dog who is now salivating to become a senator, has not acted on their cases of plunder and corruption. Yes, we do remember what the President did with the PDAF or Priority Development Assistance Fund and that mongrel called DAP or Disbursement Acceleration Program. He not only misused and abused people’s money, but used them to oust a Supreme Court Chief Justice and bribe members

of Congress to do his bidding. We now come to the slaughter of 44 police commandos by a combined force of Moro rebels. What do think the President did? Santa Banana, he made a suspended (now dismissed) police chief and a four-star police general take charge of that botched operation. Surprisingly, he took ultimate responsibility and yet, he never apologized for it. This is just like when he refused to apologized for that August 2010 Luneta hostage crisis, where eight hostages from Hong Kong were killed. This incident brought us into a crisis with Hong Kong and Beijing. Until now, De Lima has not filed cases against those responsible for that Mamasapano slaughter. Such cases would endanger his peace process with the Moro rebels. Mr. Aqui-

he will be remembered for his vindictiveness and selective justice.

no and his peace advisers are so in love with the MILF that they would do anything for them. But will peace with only the Moro Islamic Liberation guarantee final peace in Muslim Mindanao? I don’t think so – not with a constitutionally flawed Bangsamoro Basic Law, and not with Mr. Aquino talking only with the MILF when there are many other stakeholders involved. Santa Banana, it’s all ineptitude (“palpak,” in Tagalog) that the President has displayed during his five years in office. While he talks about economic progress with an improving GDP or Gross Domestic Product, the poor have in fact become poorer and hungrier. Joblessness has gotten worse.

the changing worLd JUST about a week ago, the United peror Constantine II in 342 AD. What duty States, the most powerful and arguably prompted the change in attitude? Percalls the most influential country on earth, haps morals changed because of relilegalized same-sex marriage. People gion. It is hard to say. Alexander the florencio Great also had a constant male comwith conservative moral and religious fianza views must now be asking what is happanion which has prompted many to pening to the world today. believe that he was gay. The US is joining 17 other countries around the In the Philippines, as the news of the US Supreme world to become the 18th country to recognize same- Court decision was made public, the Speaker of the sex marriage. With the US in the bandwagon, this has House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte issued a given the LGBT community around the world the add- statement saying that same sex marriage would be imed incentive to work harder in the hope that eventu- possible in this country. This was echoed by Fr. Anton ally, in the not-too-distant future, a lot more countries Pascual of CARITAS. including the Philippines would follow suit and give Given the stranglehold of the Catholic Church here, equal civil rights to all people regardless of religion, I would tend to agree that it would take a miracle for race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. same-sex marriages to be allowed in this country. Yet, In spite of tremendous strides in recent years, there miracles they say do happen. And if a miracle does hapare still a lot of obstacles to overcome. There are many pen, maybe it should include the issue of divorce becountries whose cultures and laws do not allow same- cause we are the only country in the world today that sex marriages. But change is in the air. does not have a divorce law. Ireland and Poland, two Even those countries which were so against same- staunchly Catholic countries, have it, together with Itasex marriages in the past are slowly relaxing their laws ly, the seat of Roman Catholicism. to a degree that same-sex couples are accorded certain While the world around us is rapidly changing, our limited rights. China for instance no longer classifies country seems to be stuck in a time warp on social ishomosexuality as a disease. The Netherlands was the sues. But there is hope because we cannot simply refirst country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. main an island in a sea of change. Denmark, however, was the first country to recognize ***** legal relationships between same-sex couples by alAnother of the changes happening all over the world lowing them to register as partners. Denmark became is that there is no longer any safe place anywhere anythe second country to legalize same sex marriage. For more. We only have to see what has happened around us Filipinos, it is interesting to note that the country the world these past few days. Thirty-eight people vacathat brought us Roman Catholicism, Spain, recognized tioning in a beach in Tunisia were killed by a deranged same-sex marriage in 2005. Mexico, the other country man. Twenty-seven people praying in a mosque in in which we have long historical ties recognize same- Kuwait were also killed by a Saudi national and people sex marriages in 31 of its states but is performed in working quietly in a factory in France were attacked by only four. Of the 18 countries that recognize same sex a man brainwashed by Islamic militants. Even people marriage, there is only one in Africa and none in Asia. enjoying a day in a park in Taiwan were hurt because There is judicial approval in Nepal but no legislated of an explosion. recognition. Vietnam allows gay weddings but those These are not the only cases in recent months. Take who enter into wedlock are not entitled to any legal the case of the unstable airline co-pilot of a Lufthansa rights. Thailand and Taiwan have pending bills to legal- plane who decided to kill himself and took about 270 ize same-sex marriages but have not moved forward. It innocent and unsuspecting passengers to their untimemaybe that Thailand will be the first Asian country that ly deaths. This is something that we only associate with will legalize same-sex marriages. Some suggest that the suicide bombers in the Muslim world. bill pending in the Thai parliament might be enacted In the US, nine people were murdered in a historical by the strongman, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. church by a young white male with ties to a white suMany people think that same-sex marriage is a re- premacist group. Yet, in spite of this kind of killing hapcent phenomenon. But there were same-sex marriages pening with regularity, people there are still shocked. To reported in the ancient world and if we believe some many people around the world, the solution to this probof the written stories, it would appear that the ancients lem is obvious, simple and clear: Limit the proliferation had a more liberal view on the issue than their modern of firearms. But nothing is simple in the US. Firearms counterparts. can still be bought like screwdrivers and there will be In Imperial Rome for example, there were histori- similar killings in the future. The gun lobby is so strong cal reports of same-sex marriages. The Emperor Nero that even the US President cannot do anything about it. was reported to have married men two times. Same The advice therefore is, wherever you are, take presex unions in Rome however, were banned by the Em- caution, be careful and be on guard all the time. Meanwhile, his friends— the taipans and business conglomerates—have become richer. These are the legacies of President Aquino. *** A menace to society, which could become a national threat, is drug trafficking and addiction. According to police records, in Metro Manila alone, 92 percent of all barangays are involved in illegal drug trafficking. Addiction has worsened. Santa Banana, this is alarming when we consider the fact that the Philippines has become a transshipment point for illegal drugs going to the West. Even the dreaded Mexican Sinaloa is now operating here. What is President Aquino doing? Nothing. He is more concerned with the 2016 election year when he hopes his

anointed candidate could be the next President. The drug menace affects the very core of society. I hope the President realizes this. *** The most pathetic figure in the 2016 national polls is Senator Antonio Trillanes, who appears determined to run for the vice presidency, with or without any endorsement by the Nacionalista Party. Can’t the senator, whose only credentials is his failure (not once, but twice) to mount a coup against then-President Arroyo, admit he has no chance at all? My gulay, if Trillanes could not even succeed in a coup attempt, what can people expect from him? Poor Senator Trillanes. He is trying to improve his zero ratings by going against the Binays. So what else is he good at?

purisima.. From A9 here’s his original Facebook post on the matter. I’ll let the readers decide if Lanuza wasn’t just a troll: “Hindi dahil naka uno (1.0) ka sa lahat halos ng klase mo sa UP Diliman ay ‘matalino’ ka na! Ang ibig sabihin lang nyan ay: masipag kang gumawa ng reaction papers kahit di required, mabait ka sa klase, di mo inaway ang teachers mo, di ka sumama sa walkouts laban sa TOFI [tuition and other fee increases] kaya wala kang absences, pati diarrhea mo ng isang araw ginawan mo pa ng medical certificate para ma-excuse ka, nabili mo lahat ng requirements at books at matyaga kang nagpa-xerox. Now, tell me: by doing those things made you intelligent? Not necessarily. Intelligence means what you do when everything that you know become useless! In short, you’re a worthy puppy of your parents! Pagawa ka na ng tarp sa harap ng bahay nyo para complete na! But when I see that tarp, I have to ask: “FOR WHAT AND FOR WHOM ARE YOU DOING THOSE THINGS FOR? [capitals – and grammatical errors – his.]” Well, I guess Lanuza wanted some FB fame. So, let’s give it to him.

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OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

poe’s.. From A9 the Lapid bill in this regard is the right remedy. Grace Poe should ensure passage of this bill into law prior to the 2016 elections. anent the issue of residency, much weight has been given to the case of Imelda Marcos who was declared by the Court as not having lost her domicile in Leyte solely by reason of her marriage to the late President. But the Marcos case cannot be applicable if only because Imelda Marcos, for all her faults, was never a foreigner. Likewise, our entire jurisprudence on domicile is necessary if we are to have a Congress. this is because 95 percent of all members of our house of Representatives are actually residents of Metro Manila. the intent to return – the so-called animus revertendi – has enabled Manila residents to be elected as residents of their home provinces. But it should be inapplicable to one who has opted to be a foreigner, or one with multiple loyalties. In Jalosjos vs Comelec , the Supreme Court ruled that the abandonment of a home in australia, renunciation of australian citizenship, reacquisition of Philippine citizenship and settling down in Zamboanga Sibugay show an “intent to change domicile for good.” applied to Poe, this would mean that she only acquired residency in 2010 when she renounced her american citizenship. It is unclear what the effect would be of the fact that under american law, she was only deemed to have actually lost her US citizenship in 2012. In any case, as I have written previously, the ruling in Maquiling requires both the oath and renunciation as twin requirements for those with dual citizenship to occupy public posts. The implication is that the law’s requirements are satisfied only on the date the dual citizen does both acts: the oath of allegiance and the renunciation. In any case, the political question is how a former american can be President of the country. I restate the oath of allegiance taken by Grace Poe when she became an american: “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of america against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.” President Grace of the Philippines? Maybe of the USa!

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The ineviTabiliTy of divorce ing rainbow filters on their Facebook profile pictures. also as expected, those not in favor of the ruling, mostly the jEnny religiously inclined, posted on ORTuOsTE social media Bible verses against What are the chances of a homosexuality and interpretasame-sex marriage law being tions of scripture that declare the passed in the Philippines when “end times” are nigh. divorce isn’t even legal here? It should be pointed out that The issue of same-sex mar- the SCOtUS ruling and others riage galloped to the fore of glob- like it are legal concerns, and al consciousness when, on June have nothing to do with religion. 26, five out of four justices of the What is also emerging, howSupreme Court of the United ever, from the myriad postings States legalized, in Obergefell v. of the netizens, is the clamor for hodges, same-sex marriage in all the passing of a divorce law first, 50 US states. before one legalizing same-sex Prior to this ruling, same-sex marriage. marriages were already being perThe Philippines is the only formed in 37 states and the Dis- country in the world – aside trict of Washington. The SCOtUS from the Vatican City - without a ruling extends equality of mar- divorce law. Opposition from the riage across the entire country. Roman Catholic Church has in a What’s not more widely large part prevented various diknown is that the US is only the vorce bills pending in Congress 18th country to legalize same- from making any headway tosex marriages nationwide. The ward approval. first such bill was signed into law The Reproductive health law, by Queen Beatrix of the Nether- another one that spent a long time lands on 21 December 2000. in lawmaking limbo, also encounas expected, the LGBtQ tered heavy counterstrikes from community and their supporters church and conservative groups celebrated the SCOtUS decision before it was passed. in various ways, from joining The Constitution mandates Pride rallies (like the one held the separation of church and in Manila on June 27) to plac- state; the reality, however, is that

pOp gOEs ThE wORlD

both are inextricably entwined. Many government agencies still make Catholic Masses and blessings an integral part of their official activities. Some lawmakers make decisions based on their religious affiliations. The Iglesia ni Cristo is famous for its “bloc voting” practice that gives them political clout as an organization. The opposition to progressive laws and policies is rooted in religion and culture, tradition and politics. But history shows that shifts in the world’s cultural mindset comes around eventually, although at different paces. For example: it wasn’t until 2013 that we formally adopted the K-12 educational system that the rest of the world has been using for decades; prior to that, only international schools operating in the Philippines used the global curriculum. It was when aSEaN integration was implemented that we felt the pressing need to get in step with the rest. In 2011, only the Philippines, Djibouti, and angola had a primary to secondary educational system of less than 12 years. In other words, it takes us longer to get there, but we eventually get there. The culture of a society is so-

cially constructed, meaning that the members of a society agree on its norms, values, and traditions via a consensus based on what works and what doesn’t. Our society has been limping along since after World War II without a divorce law. The only legal remedy is annulment, and because of its high cost is accessible only to few. Others of the elite take advantage of divorce laws in hong Kong or the US. The majority of people in irreparably shattered or crumbling marriages who do not possess the same resources resort to cohabiting with new partners or engaging in clandestine affairs. a divorce law will help put an end to the hypocrisy and misery, and give many people a chance to make a fresh start and a new life. The adoption of divorce and same-sex marriage laws in the Philippines will take years, even decades, but history shows that it is inevitable because it is necessary, and because the old ways no longer serve the people, nor make sense, nor are fair, egalitarian, and just. *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

china iS a communiST SucceSS STory. Kinda. which is wholly government-owned. In reality, Baoshan is a state-owned enterprise, but hERE’S a fairly common discussion you see in the official figures it’s counted as a private company. on twitter or hear at cocktail parties: Then there are murkier cases. For example, Libertarian: “Communism doesn’t work!” Qingdao haier—one of China’s most famous acquaintance: “Oh, yeah? What about appliance makers—is 46.5 percent stateChina?” owned. Theoretically, that’s a minority stake, Libertarian: “China, communist? ha! They though it seems to stretch credibility to think started to succeed when they opened up to that the remaining 53.5 percent could ever free enterprise, and then they kept it going by overrule a government decision. The comprivatizing the state-owned enterprises. Chipany has reportedly been forced to acquire na is a capitalist success story!” unprofitable companies on occasion, which is Our libertarian friend has a point. China’s the kind of thing you would expect a statedramatic growth began in the 1980s, just after the government’s sweeping program of pro- owned enterprise to be forced to do. PC manmarket reforms. China decollectivized agri- ufacturer Lenovo is majority-owned by priculture, allowed private business and opened vate investors, and its chief executive officer insists that it is a “market-oriented” company, up to trade—and the economy took off. But while we shouldn’t downplay the impor- but the Chinese academy of Sciences owns a tance of the private sector in China’s success, significant minority stake. So the “privatized” SOEs are often not rewe shouldn’t overplay it, either. Our libertarian ally privatized. But this hasn’t stopped them friend’s case isn’t quite as persuasive as he thinks from doing well—Baoshan, for instance, it is. In particular, we need to take a closer look made a $940 million profit in 2014. at those state-owned enterprises, or SOEs. as for the SOEs that were closed after That’s exactly what economists Chang-tai 1999, hsieh and Song find that many were hsieh and Zheng Song do in a new working pashut simply because they were unprofitable. per, “Grasp the Large, Let Go of the Small: The Many smaller SOEs were allowed to survive, transformation of the State Sector in China.” and many larger SOEs were consolidated into The title of the paper is taken from a Commuconglomerates. This isn’t the free market— nist Party slogan coined in 1999, when China this is central planning. began transforming the SOE sector. hsieh and and central planning appears to have Song find that the reality of SOE privatization is worked, at least for a while. Following the refar different from the potted free-market anecforms, the labor productivity of the remaining dote that we like to tell ourselves. SOEs rose to equal that of private-sector compaFirst, many of China’s state-owned businies. although the SOEs continued to use their nesses weren’t actually privatized at all! What capital very inefficiently, total factor productivhappened was that they were listed as private ity—a measure of companies’ overall efficiency companies, allowing outside investors to own —rosefaster at SOEs than at private companies! stock in them. But the government retained In other words, the history of China’s statemajority ownership, meaning that the govowned enterprises is actually a success story ernment could always call the shots. For exfor communism, not capitalism. Once in a ample, Baoshan, a Shanghai steel manufacwhile, it seems, a government really is nimble turer, is at least 75 percent owned by BaoSteel,

by noah Smith

enough and motivated enough to manage a big chunk of the economy. Our libertarian friend isn’t going to be happy to hear that. But he can take comfort in the fact that eventually, free markets will beat centralized control. In his 2000 book “Can Japan Compete?,” harvard strategy professor Michael Porter and his Japanese co-authors recounted the story of Japan’s industrial policy in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. They found that Japan’s government often engaged in industrial policies much like those of China’s government with its SOEs—encouraging companies to merge, trying to direct which markets they entered and so on. While these industrial policies met with some success for a while, eventually they almost all backfired, causing Japanese companies to lose market share once their costs rose. China is no doubt a model to many people and governments who hope that the logic of capitalism can be overcome. But it may be a mistake to regard it as a communist success story, because the story isn’t over. China’s per capita GDP is only about $13,000 per person —still much lower than in Japan, the U.S. and other rich countries. When you’re poor, catchup growth is easy—just force your people to save money, force those savings into investment and copy foreign technology. Even with a partly communist system, you might not do too badly. But once you reach the point where copying becomes harder and the return on physical capital falls, that might be when central planning starts breaking down, and some form of free markets—whether the Japanese form, the French form or the american form—becomes the only way to go. In other words, before we hail China as a model, let’s see how rich it can get. If the continuing dominance of the SOEs slows China down before it reaches the income of rich countries, then our libertarian friend will have reason to smile after all. Bloomberg

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

US ready to bury World Cup heartache MONTREAL—Carli Lloyd lifted the United States to a dramatic 2-0 win over Germany in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals and warned a record third title was within their grasp. In Frankfurt four years ago, Lloyd was one of three US players who missed in the shoot-out as Japan won the final 3-1 on penalties after the scores were locked at 2-2 at the end of extra-time. But on Tuesday night, with the passionate cheers of 51,000 largely US fans resounding around Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, Lloyd sank her penalty to open the scoring in a win that sent top-ranked Germany packing. It set up a final showdown in Vancouver on July 5 with either champions Japan or England, who play their semi-final on

Wednesday. And Lloyd warned: “We didn’t come here to make the final, we came to win it and we’ve going to go after it in the next game.” Lloyd followed her 67th-minute penalty by setting up substitute Kelley O’Hara to score six minutes from time. It was Lloyd’s third goal in three games and the first ever international goal for defender O’Hara. The evening was even more dramatic as Germany’s Celia Sasic -the tournament’s top scorer with six goals -- missed a penalty on the hour-mark.

“I think I’ve been taking PKs (penalty kicks) after training for the last seven to eight months,” explained Lloyd. “Just repetition after repetition. I don’t know what was going on around me. I put the ball down and I knew I had to sink this PK.” - ‘Dream come true’ Lloyd was a teenager when she watched the United States win their last title at home in 1999. They won their first in 1991 in China. “I was a young girl at the time. I remember at Giants Stadium watching the women play, thinking to myself ‘this would be a dream come true to be a part of a team like this’,” said the 32-year-old. “Never did I think it was really possible, let alone doing it for the last 10 years on this team. “It’s really an honour and win-

ning a World Cup would be an absolute dream come true.” European champions Germany had a golden chance when US defender Julie Johnston pulled down Alexandra Popp in the box and was lucky not to see red. But Sasic send her low spot-kick just wide of the US goal, to tears of relief from Johnston. “It’s a team sport and today my team saved me. I messed up, and they got me out of it,” said Johnston, 23, who is playing her first World Cup. The Americans were then awarded a contested penalty when Alex Morgan was brought down by defender Annike Krahn in a tackle that looked outside the box. And Lloyd made no mistake as Nadine Angerer dived the wrong way in the Germany goal. AFP

USA players celebrate after winning the semifinal football match between USA and Germany during their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. AFP

Boston reaffirms Olympic 2024 bid

LOS ANGELES—US Olympic officials reaffirmed Boston as America’s 2024 Summer Olympics bid candidate despite more opposition than support from area citizens, hopeful a revamped plan from organizers will win public support. US Olympic Committee (USOC) chief executive Scott Blackmun and USOC chairman Larry Probst said Tuesday after a quarterly USOC board meeting that they have not spoken with any other losing finalist as a backup plan ahead of September’s deadline to submit bids to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “We’re focused exclusively on Boston,” Blackmun said. “We haven’t had conversations with Los Angeles, Washington or San Francisco. Boston is our partner.” But Boston 2024 is a partner under siege with opponents polling greater support than backers of the project. Americans nationwide back the idea of hosting the Summer Olympics for the first time since Atlanta in 1996, but that support vanishes at the notion of having the Olympics staged near them. “We obviously want to see a positive trend and the sooner the better,” said Blackmun, citing Boston support numbers in the low to mid 40-percent range. “We would like to see it get over 50 percent really soon and ultimately get into the mid 60s range, certainly before the IOC vote in 2016.” AFP

Nike founder steps down as chairman

Hawks promote coach to top exec ATLANTA—Mike Budenholzer, voted the NBA Coach of the Year this past season, was promoted Tuesday to president of basketball operations and coach while Wes Wilcox was named general manager. The moves were the first undertaken by the club since the Hawks were sold June 24 to a group led by billionaire Tony Ressler. Budenholzer, who took over as coach of the Hawks in May of 2013, guided Atlanta to a 60-22 mark this past season, the best record in the Eastern Conference. His new duties give him control over deciding the talent he will manage on the court. Wilcox spent the past three seasons as assistant general manager to Danny Ferry, who resigned June 22 in the aftermath of a controversy about him repeating racial insults from a scouting evaluation in a conference call last year. AFP

Warriors, Curry are top jersey sellers NEW YORK—Golden State star guard Steph Curry and the NBA champion Warriors have moved into the top-selling spot in NBA merchandise based on sales during the playoffs, the league announced Tuesday. Curry, last season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, topped the player jersey sales list at the NBA sales website for the first time in his career after the Warriors defeated Cleveland in the NBA Finals. Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who led jersey sales after the regular season, was second overall followed in order by Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Golden State’s Klay Thompson. The Warriors were the top-selling club for overall sales, with the Cavaliers also overtaking the Chicago Bulls, who settled for third, just ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers with San Antonio fifth. The top-selling jersey from beyond US borders or territories was that of Cleveland guard Matthew Dellavedova at 14th overall. The Australian’s gritty performances in the playoffs for Cleveland, notably in the finals, caught the attention of fans worldwide. Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova, whose gritty play and determination won fans worldwide in the NBA Finals, was among three players who received qualifying offers Golden State draft pick Kevon Looney displays a Warriors’ jersey at the Barclays Center. AFP Tuesday from the Cleveland Cavaliers. AFP

NEW YORK—Phil Knight, who built Nike from a modest US shoe company into a global sports giant and marketing juggernaut, will step down as chairman next year, the company announced Tuesday. No departure date was set for Knight, a former track standout at the University of Oregon who launched Nike in 1968 after first selling sneakers out of his car and now has a massive headquarters campus in Portland, Oregon. “For me, Nike has always been more than just a company -- it has been my life’s passion,” Knight said. Knight, 77, recommended that chief executive Mark Parker succeed him as chairman when he steps down sometime in 2016, the company said. Nike has grown into a sports marketing behemoth, rivalling the much older German company Adidas. The company’s swoosh logo and “Just Do It” motto are ubiquitous in sports. Today, Nike sponsors many of the world’s most iconic athletes, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Rory McIlroy, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Last week, Nike -- which was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2013 -reported fiscal 2015 earnings of $3.3 billion on $30.6 billion in revenues. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Watch out! Eduardo Nunez of the Minnesota Twins ducks to avoid a pitch in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Minnesota defeated Cincinnati 8-5. AFP

Gwangju host bullish despite fears of MERS SEOUL —The World University Games will open in Gwangju Friday with defiant organisers predicting a record participation despite the backdrop of a deadly respiratory disease sweeping host nation South Korea.

he outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) last month, which has so far killed 33 out of 182 infected patients, coupled with North Korea’s sudden decision to boycott the Universiade have cast a cloud resulting in waning ticket sales. But organisers remain bullish and said that more than 13,000 athletes and officials from 145 countries are expected to participate from July 3-14 in Gwangju, a southwestern city 280 kilometres (168 miles) from the capital Seoul. “Despite the recent outbreak of MERS, the level of participation and encouragement is higher than ever,” Anna Jihyun You, spokeswoman for the Gwangju Universiade organising committee, told AFP. The Universiade, held every two years and run by the International University Sports Federation, is a multi-sport event for university athletes and

often serves as a stage for future Olympic stars. The MERS virus has caused widespread public anxiety, with more than 120,000 overseas visitors cancelling planned trips to South Korea since the otubreak. - ‘Ray of hope’ Organizers admitted they were very anxious but vowed to ensure a safe and secure competition with stringent hygiene protocols. Nevertheless some athletes have pulled out with a third of Hong Kong’s 100-strong team -in gymnastics, rowing, diving, golf and fencing -- opting to stay at home after the southern Chinese city issued a South Korea travel warning to its citizens. “We will protect athletes and officials thoroughly from arrival to departure,” Gwangju mayor Yoon Jang-Hyun, president of the organising committee, said. Medical staff with advanced equipment will guard and conduct meticulous checks on all venues and other facilities to monitor athletes and visitors. “The organising committee has not only turned around such challenging circumstances, but also sparked a ray of hope throughout the nation,” You said. AFP

Argentina thrashes Paraguay, makes final CONCEPCION, Chile—Lionel Messi produced a scintillating individual performance as Argentina destroyed Paraguay 6-1 to reach the final of the Copa America here Tuesday. The Barcelona superstar tormented Paraguay mercilessly as the favorites produced their best display of the tournament and advanced to a showdown with Chile in Saturday’s final. Although Messi failed to end his run of more than 900 minutes without an international goal from open play, he turned creator as Argentina tore Paraguay apart. Goals from Angel Di Maria (2), Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain completed an emphatic rout for the South American giants. A satisfied Messi was delighted Argentina’s potent collection of attacking talent finally appears to have clicked

with Saturday’s final looming. “We’ve been playing well — we knew once we scored one goal, many more would come, and that’s what happened,” said Messi as he collected his manof-the-match award. “We got an early goal and then found more space, and then we got the second. We continued to play the same way and more goals came.” Argentina, who finished runners-up in last year’s World Cup, are determined to clinch a first major title in 22 years at the Copa America. “The important thing is that we’ve achieved our first objective by reaching final. Now we need to win it,” Messi said. Manchester United defender Rojo and Paris Saint-Germain’s Pastore had given Argentina a 2-0 lead midway through the first half before Paraguay pulled one back through Lucas Barrios. AFP

Multi-titled Indian boxer turns pro By Ronnie Nathanielsz INDIA’S popular, multi-titled amateur boxer Vijender Singh has turned pro and signed a lucrative, multi-year promotional contract with Queensberry Promotions that will see him ﬁght a minimum of six times in his ﬁrst year. The Times of India newspaper reported that Singh, who has the looks of a Bollywood star and in fact had a role in the movie

“Fugly” and was also one of the judges in the reality show, will be based in Manchester and will train under coach Lee Beard, who previously trained International Boxing Organization welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton. In what is regarded as a sensational career, Singh won silver medals at the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games; a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games and the 2008 Olympic

Games in Beijing, 2009 World Amateur Championships, 2010 Commonwealth Games besides winning a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games and was ranked the world’s No. 1 middleweight among the amateurs in 2009. His coach Jagdish Singh who taught Singh how to punch during his formative years, said the boxer’s decision is “very disappointing because the Rio Olympic Games are just a year away.”

Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi (right) is marked by Paraguay’s defender Pablo Cesar Aguilar during their Copa America semiﬁnal football match in Concepcion, Chile. AFP

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Red Lions welcome Adeogun Games Today (The Arena, San Juan) 10 a.m. • EAC vs San Beda (jrs) 12 nn. • San Sebastian vs Mapua (jrs) 2 p.m. • EAC vs San Beda (srs) 4 p.m. • San Sebastian vs Mapua (srs)

By Peter Atencio NIGERIAN big man Olaide Adeogun will be around when reigning five-peat champion San Beda seeks the solo lead today in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City. They will go against a revamped Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in their 2 p.m. encounter. Adeogun, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, was absent when the Red Lions posted a 102-89 win over the Mapua Cardinals in Saturday’s opener. On the other hand, point guard Baser Amer will need two to three weeks to recover from a shoulder injury he sustained in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore playing with the Gilas cadets. “A lot of guys stepped up in our first win and we will need to summon the same spirit again for us to keep it going,” said Red Lions coach Jamike Jarin. In the second game, San Sebastian will open its campaign with a new mentor in former pro Rodney Santos, who succeeded now Lyceum coach Topex Robinson as it tackles Mapua at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, the NCAA Management Committee chaired by Melchor Divina of Mapua upheld the recommendation of commissioner Arturo “Bai” Cristobal forfeiting La Salle-Greenhills’ 88-49 win over Letran Tuesday due to uniform violations. LSGH’s Jesmar Pedrosa, Alain Madrigal and Ladis Lepalam wore Nos. 20, 28 and 27, respectively, which violated a league rule limiting players to Nos. 4 to 19. At presstime, LSGH has yet to appeal the decision. Without Adeogun, Donald Tankoua filled the vacuum the last time out with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Ranbill Tongco and Roldan Sara also stepped up by combining for 24 points, four assists and three steals. “Ola (Adeogun) playing while Baser (Amer) could be out two to three weeks,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

Ferdie Aunzo posted a flawless round of 65, spiked by four straight birdies from No. 1, but Michael Bibat (inset) beat him with a solid 64, capped by three straight birdies.

Bibat sizzles with a 64 DAVAO—Michael Bibat relived his fling with the Rancho Palos Verdes layout where he recorded his maiden victory two years ago, firing a bogey-free eight-under 64 to show up the stellar field, including the favored local aces, at the start of the P1.5 million ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes Classic here yesterday.

Bibat, long in search of the form that netted him a twostroke victory over Tony Lascuña and Elmer Salvador when the tour last made a stop here in 2013, finally regained his touch, rhythm and confidence to turn in a career-best round capped by three straight birdies that closed out 31-33 card at the front. “I didn’t expect to shoot this low but I really liked the course and it also helped that I won here two years ago. I sort of recalled my best shots on some holes,” said Bibat, who preserved his bogey-free round with a 20-foot putt on the par-3 No. 3 where he dumped his tee-shot into the greenside bunker. But despite his brilliant start,

Bibat could only post a onestroke lead over homegrown bet Ferdie Aunzo, another player hungry for title who also posted a flawless round of 65 spiked by four straight birdies from No. 12. Davao-based American Micah Shin and Miguel Tabuena also turned in a pair of solid 66s with the former finishing with an eagle-spiked 34-32 and the latter gunning down four birdies at the front en route to a 32-34 card as the par-72 layout, softened up by rain the past few days, took a severe beating under preferred lie rules. Clyde Mondilla bucked a soso backside start and fired three birdies at the front to tie Jhonnel Ababa, Zanieboy Gialon, Orlan Sumcad and Korean Anthony

Kim at fourth with 69s, matched later by last week’s ICTSI Riviera Classic winner Salvador, who birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to joint the fifth group. Lascuña failed to sustain a two-birdie start at the front with a closing 36 and settled for a 70 in a tie with Nilo Salahog, Christopher delos Santos, Miko Alejandro, Mhark Fernando and Randy Garalde while ICTSI Tournament Players Championship winner Mars Pucay birdied two of the last four holes to salvage a 71 for joint 15th Keanu Jahns, Rene Menor and Koreans Park Gyuha and Park Jun Song. Six others matched par, including Jay Bayron, Tonton Asistio, Paul Echavez, Anthony Fernando, Reymon Jaraula and Japanese Yuta Sudo as the field braced for a low-scoring week in the eighth leg of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Bibat, who only had one top 10 finish—at ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational last May—and

had one missed cut after seven legs, set the tone for a low scoring day at the back where he gunned down three birdies from a combination of long and short putts while saving pars twice. Sustaining his form, he birdied Nos. 1 and 5 then rattled off three straight birdies, including a 30-footer on the ninth, to complete that 64. It was, however, not a one-way traffic for the fancied men on the tour. Cassius Casas, winner of two events last year, including The Country Club Invitational, struggled with a 73 together with ICTSI Luisita leg winner Charles Hong, Robert Pactolerin, Solomon Gines, Nelson Huerva, Rolando Marabe and Koreans Thomas Kim and Lee Hyun Woo. Last year’s leg winners Rufino Bayron (ICTSI Orchard Championship) and Arnold Villacencio (ICTSI Summit Point), meanwhile, faced the specter of missing the 40-plus cut with 77 and 78, respectively.

Nietes getting quality sparmates By Dennis Principe EVERYTHING is moving well within the Cebu training camp of world minimumweight champion Donnie Ahas Nietes. According to chief trainer Edito Villamor, conditioning and regaining his rhythm is the least of Nietes’s problems since the Murcia-native champion has been getting quality sparmates, led by former world

champion Rocky Fuentes. The 33-year-old Nietes will defend his World Boxing Organization 108-lb belt against mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico in a 12-round title fight on June 11 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. Aside from conditioning, Team Nietes is alsao studying the ring habits of Rodriguez, who once reigned as world mini-

mumweight champion. “Maganda na ang training kaya nakaka-focus kami ngayon sa strategy,” said Villamor. Nietes (35-1-4, 21 by knokcouts) will be making the sixth defense of his crown, which he snatched from another Mexican Raul Garcia last October, 2010 in Bacolod City. Villamor, meantime, said that Nietes should try to move

around and use the size of the ring to his advantage come fight night, noting that Rodriguez is known for his aggressive style. “Sugud nang sugod ‘yung kalaban kaya dapat maingat din si Donnie. Pero ready naman kami sa adjustments kung maging brawl ang laban,” added Villamor. The 21-year-old Rodriguez will parade an equally impres-

sive record of 17 wins, where he stopped 11 foes within the distance while suffering only two defeats in his young, four-year pro career Meantime, Nietes now remains as the only world boxing champion in the Philippines and Villamor is hopeful that this will spur his prized ward to do his best and prevent the Mexican from snatching the belt away from the country.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Beermen, Painters begin semifinal war By Jeric Lopez

TWO powerhouses are set to go toe-to-toe as loaded teams San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine kick off their highly interesting semifinal series in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The No. 2-seeded Beermen McKines to lead the way for the and the No. 3-ranked Elasto Painters against the Beermen. Painters begin hostilities in “We like our chances. The Game 1 of their bestchemistry of the Game Today of-five clash at 7 p.m. team has gotten bet(Game 1, Semifinals today at the Smart ter and our import Smart Araneta Coliseum) Araneta Coliseum. 7 p.m. - San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine McKines has stepped This will surely be up and he’s been a series with a lot of fireworks very consistent with his tenacity ahead as these two squads are and energy. Wendell is gonna be looking to out-grind each other a key factor for us to be successful. just to get to the finals. That’ll help us a lot. We’ll see what Coaches from both sides are happens,” said Guiao. also gearing up for this clash of On the other hand, San juggernauts. Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria Rain or Shine coach Yeng wants a lot from his wards as he Guiao expressed optimism and expects this series against Rain is looking at his import Wendell or Shine to be a grinder.

‘’I ask the players to give all their effort and focus. This will be a very tough series against Rain or Shine,” said Austria. There’s also an interesting storyline on the side as San Miguel Beer import Arizona Reid is set to once again cross paths with his former coach Yeng Guiao and the Painters, who he had a verbal altercation with during a game in last conference’s Commissioner’s Cup, Both teams are heading into the semis with a lot of momentum. Dating back to the elimination round, Rain or Shine is the league’s hottest team, riding high on a seven-game winning streak. San Miguel Beer won nine of its last 11 outings. Though they were both favored in the quarterfinals, both teams didn’t exactly have the easiest time as they had to dig deep in order to shake off their pesky opponents.

The Elasto Painters needed two overtime periods to shrug off gritty Barako Bull, 134-132, last Saturday to advance and avoid a do-or-die situation, while the Beermen lost their first game against the Meralco Bolts and regrouped in the second, knocking out Meralco, 102-86, last Monday in their sudden-death game. Lim fined P50,000, suspended Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra coach Frankie Lim was fined P50,000 and suspended one game, to be served next season, by the Commissioner’s Office for hitting Alaska star Calvin Abueva in a skirmish last week during the quarterfinal tussle between the Gin Kings and the Aces. Lim was caught giving Abueva a sneaky kick in the back when the latter stumbled in front of him in a heated exchange with Ginebra import Orlando Johnson in the third quarter of the said game.

PH record catches. Anglers Rico Gueco (left) and Bong Nery (right) broke the Philippine records for catching huge tuna during the recent Standard Insurance Sportsfishing Tournament held offshore of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and hosted by Philippine Game Fishing Foundation. Gueco broke the record by catching 95-kg yellow fin tuna on an 80-lb class line. A new record was also made by Nery for a 123-kg swordfish on a 130-lb class line. Gueco and Nery are topnotch Filipino anglers having won multi Angler of the Year awards and other local record catches as well.

Promoter wants boxers’ bad Thailand experience discussed By Ronnie Nathanielsz IN THE face of the disgraceful actions of Thailand’s International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng, who resorted to all sorts of illegal actions in the ring in a foul-filled, ugly title defense against mandatory challenger and former light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero at the Hua Mark Stadium in Bangkok last Saturday, Filipino promoter

and boxing manager Dante Almario has requested a meeting with chairman Ramon Guanzon of the Games and Amusements Board to discuss the recent activities in Thailand. Almario made the request after consulting some managers, promoters, matchmakers and boxers and in the wake of a series of articles by American boxing writers and commentators and their Filipino counterparts blasting Ruenroeng for his foul tactics and American

referee Larry Doggett, whose performance was a disgrace. “We feel it is about time to discuss with each other what is really happening to our boxers fighting outside our country. More particularly in Thailand,” Almario wrote in his letter to Chairman Guanzon. “You may have noticed and observed that a majority of our Filipino who fight in Thailand receive a very small purse, and experience very unfair and bi-

ased decisions at the hands of the Thai judges and referees.” Almario added: “We must unite and do something to stop these practices that have been a problem of Filipino boxers for more than a decade.” He suggested that these issues be raised at the various annual conventions of the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization, IBF and International Boxing Organization.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Lively happenings at the Bridge Clubs BY WAY of background the weekly Alejandro Duplicate Game which I direct and manage began in November of 2005 at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park. The attendance at the game was noteworthy with manyprominent and top bridge players including Mesdames Ising Vazquez, Bea Zobel, Angelina Cockrell and Nene Quimson. Gradually the attendance started to diminish with the death of our aging players such as Navy Commodore (ret.) Sid Codera and Air Force Gen. Rudy Estrellado and the late Atty. Ike Belo. The transfer of the game in 2013 to the Cameron Hall at Forbes Park was due to the hefty increase in the fees by Manila Polo to continue holding our games at Polo Club. Currently it is now with heart warming satisfaction that the Alejandro Duplicate Game continues with the steady attendance comprising locals and expatriate residents. The game has served to nurture partnerships who go on to play and win in the other games like the Manila Peninsula and the Cambridge Club in Forbes Park. I had written up the wins at the game such as Julie Guthrie. Harumi Ieda, Margaret Kwok, Justo-Winston Arpon partnership. Last week Joli Kansil, a long time American resident and myself won at the Manila Pen Wednesday game. Justo Manlongat-Winston Arpon both senior Philippine Navy ofﬁcers (ret.) had won in the East-West at Cambridge Club last June 25, 2015. But best of all the win by a new partnership Hector TarrazonaAbe Rivera in the North-South axis. Hector and Abe started at my game early this year having met by fortunate chance at a gasoline station and they started about bridge games. The fortuitios result is an ongoing consistent bridge partnership. A new excitement in our bridge community is the Thursday games hosted and directed by Madame Chris Tweddell, the ever gracious lady of Australian ambassador Bill Tweddell. The game’s venue is the embassy residence on Cambridge Circle in Forbes Park, hence the name Cambridge Club. The game last 25th Jne had a record 8 ½ tables attended by 34 keen and enthusiastic players. -oOoUNBLOCKING I feature an interesting hand in which I played with my regular partner Golfermike on Bridge Base Online, I present his account and importance of the unblocking play. “Unblocking is possibly the least talked about subject in Bridge, here is simple, but very effective example in a team on BBO my partner and I played this week. SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO

North ♠Q3 ♥AKQ6 ♦73 ♣A8754 West Sylgen 1 ♠J962 ♥732 ♦A652 ♣Q73

East Golfermike ♠K8754 ♥102 ♦104 ♣J6 South

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo.com

A16

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 2 , 2 0 1 5

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 Big 3 cruise as Bouchard, Halep wilt Britain’s Andy Murray serves against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin during their men’s singles ﬁrst-round match of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club. Murray won, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4. AFP

Shooters eye berths in Olympics By Peter Atencio FILIPINO shooters Jayson Valdez and Amparo Acuna are seeking universality slots, or wildcard seats for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Philippine National Shooting Association president Danilo Gamboa said this after the two came up with minimum qualifying scores during the ISSF World Cup in Changwon, Korea two months ago. Valdez saw action in the 3-positions’ event of the men’s air rifle competitions, while Acuna joined their 3-position and prone position events of the air pistol action. A total of 390 quota places were distributed in shooting for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Minimum Qualification Score is the score that an athlete must have recorded at least once in the set timeframe. This has to be achieved in order to become eligible to take part in the Olympic Games or in the Youth Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee will inform the ISSF of the qualifiers by December.

LONDON—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray swept into the Wimbledon second round Tuesday but women’s third seed Simona Halep and 2014 runner-up Eugenie Bouchard slumped to defeat in sweltering London. Second-seeded Federer, bidding to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon titles and take his majors tally to 18, enjoyed a 67-minute, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia, the world number 88 he beat at the French Open last month. Federer will face Sam Querrey of the United States for a place in the last 32. Two-time champion Nadal, defeated in the second, first and fourth rounds in the last three years, enjoyed a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Thomaz Bellucci, his fifth win in five meetings against the 42ndranked Brazilian.

Warriors, Curry top jersey sellers TURN TO A12

Tenth-seeded Nadal, at his lowest ranking for a decade, faces Germany’s Dustin Brown for a place in the last 32. Brown beat him on grass at Halle in 2014. Temperatures on Tuesday rocketed to around 30 degrees Celsius but Wednesday could top the Wimbledon record of 34C set in 1976. Organizers say the heat rule, which allows for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets of women’s matches, can be used when temperatures rise above 30.1C. However, the rule, which has been adopted by Wimbledon after lobbying from the WTA, does not apply to men even though they

have to slug it out over the best of five sets. - Nadal basks in the sun Nadal, who hails from in sunkissed Mallorca, said he would be happy to see the sun keep shining. “In Australia it can be much, much worse so it’s no comparison but actually it’s beautiful,” said the Spaniard. “When you have this weather here in Wimbledon it’s probably one of the best places in the world.” Murray, the 2013 champion, enjoyed a comfortable 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin, the world number 59. The Scot next faces Dutchman Robin Haase. “It was very hot. That changes the way the court plays and the way the match plays out,” said Murray. “I was glad to get off in three sets, a couple of hours, because ideally you don’t want to be playing extremely long matches in those

Bibat sizzles with a 64 TURN TO A14

conditions,” said Murray. Defending women’s champion Petra Kvitova, the second seed, barely had time to work up a sweat, taking just 35 minutes to reach the second round in a 6-1, 6-0 win over Kiki Bertens, the world number 108 from the Netherlands. - ‘No expectations’ for Halep Kvitova, also the 2011 champion, dropped just one point on serve and next meets Kurumi Nara of Japan for a place in the third round. Her win was the fastest on the women’s tour in five years. But Halep, a semi-finalist in 2014, became the tournament’s biggest casualty so far when she lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to Jana Cepelova of Slovakia. The 22-year-old Cepelova, ranked 106 in the world, had won only one match on the tour all year before Tuesday but had big match experience by beating world number one Serena Williams in Charleston last year. AFP

THURSDAY: JULY 2, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Bare all guarantees, IMF tells govt By Karl Lester M. Yap

The International Monetary Fund said the Philippines hasn’t reported all its financial guarantees and urged the government to properly disclose its obligations. Authorities have issued noncentral bank guarantees equal to 47 percent of gross domestic product but have only reported those equal to 31 percent of GDP, the IMF said in its Fiscal Transparency Evaluation report prepared by a staff team based on information as of May 2014. “There is a range of other guar-

antees on issue that could cause a problem,” the IMF said in the report released June 30, citing guarantees to homeowners by state agencies and on old privatepartnership projects. The mission discovered additional obligations through an incomplete survey of state-owned companies’ annual reports, it said.

The Finance Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the IMF report. Still, President Benigno Aquino’s efforts to boost fiscal transparency are beginning to bear fruit, the IMF said. Since taking office in 2010, Aquino has undertaken closer scrutiny of spending plans and has cut the validity of most project approvals to one year from two. The government should survey all agencies and state-owned companies on outstanding contractual guarantees and create a regularly updated guarantee register, the IMF said. Issuance of guarantees should be considered within the budget

process with a ceiling covering domestic and foreign currency guarantees, it said. The IMF, however, cited the government’s public financial management reform strategy, which has helped initiate a wide variety of reforms, which are beginning to bear fruit.” “In light of this, the evaluation against the 36 principles of the draft Fiscal Transparency Code… is broadly favorable. Fiscal reporting is relatively comprehensive, frequent and timely, with many areas of good and advanced practices,” IMF said. It said the coverage of public sector units’ stocks and flows was

well-developed. However, it said the coverage of the public sector as a whole lacks consolidated data for the public sector and general government sub-sectors. “Comparability of fiscal data from various reports and of budget out-turns against the original budget is not always possible, reflecting a fragmentation of agencies involved,” it said. It also said that while audits of individual agencies’ financial reports were undertaken, there was no separate independent audit of the consolidated Annual Financial Reports, which is different from the international practice. With Julito G. Rada

PSe comPoSite index Closing July 1, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,575.15 10.65

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JULY 1, 2015 42

P45.110

44 45 46

HIGH P45.040 LOW P45.120 AVERAGE P45.074 VOLUME 453.200M

P480.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P41.20-P47.85 Unleaded Gasoline P28.85-P32.20 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

Robinsons Land’s award. The country’s leading property developer, Robinsons Land Corp. under the helm of president Frederick

Go, received another prestigious recognition as The Sapphire Bloc bagged the coveted Best Residential High-Rise Development in the Philippines award from the Asia Paciﬁc Property Awards, the regional counterpart of the International Property Awards. One of the prime projects under RLC’s urban lifestyle brand Robinsons Residences, The Sapphire Bloc is a four-tower complex located in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Shown during the awarding ceremony held at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur are (from left) chairman of the judges Lord Courtown from the House of Lords of the British Parliament, Robinsons Residences and Robinsons Luxuria head of business optimization unit Jeng Dela Torre, Grohe’s Nishant Grover and International Property Awards chairman Stuart Shield.

R-II Builders may offer P4b for Smokey Mountain By Gabrielle H. Binaday

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, July 1, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.2000

Japan

Yen

0.008161

0.3689

Pound

1.573600

71.1267

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128986

5.8302

Switzerland

Franc

1.080147

48.8226

Canada

Dollar

0.806972

36.4751

Singapore

Dollar

0.743108

33.5885

Australia

Dollar

0.767519

34.6919

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653928

119.9575

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

12.0540

Brunei

Dollar

0.740357

33.4641

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029583

1.3372

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.3067

Euro

1.123900

50.8003

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0404

China

Yuan

0.161064

7.2801

India

Rupee

0.015694

0.7094

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.264368

11.9494

New Zealand

Dollar

0.683387

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032394

30.8891 1.4642 Source: PDS Bridge

BUSINESSMAN Reghis Romero II said Wednesday his company, R-II Builders Inc. is prepared to offer up to P4 billion to settle a dispute with state-run Home Guarantee Corp. over the controversial Smokey Mountain development and reclamation project. Romero said in a news briefing R-II Builders, in a letter to Vice President Jejomar Binay, the incumbent HGC vice chairman and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima who acts as chairman, offered to pay the obligations of HGC amounting to P2.9 billion and pay P1.1 billion to Social Security System. Finance assistant secretary Teresa Habitan said while the HGC board

met last week, the settlement was not part of the agenda. “While the P2.9-billion offer may seem to benefit HGC in the short term because of the cash flow, we think it is likely to result into a more complicated outcome - such as a possible slew of court cases where the HGC might get caught in the middle,” Habitan said in an e-mail. R-II Builders signed a contract with the National Housing Authority in 1993 for the development of Smokey Mountain, with HGC as the government guarantor. The project was not completed, prompting HGC to file a case against Romero’s company. Romero said his offer would help HGC meet its debt obligations in the face of mounting interest

expenses. “In order to help the government from further incurring expenses in shouldering the cost of interest expenses amounting to P500,000 per day and assist in the reported liquidity issues of HGC, we are offering this settlement proposal to the government for consideration,” R-II Builders said. Romero cited the Commission on Audit report in 2012 showing that HGC’s current liabilities hit P16.855 billion, exceeding its current assets of P3.430 billion. Romero said he was confident the HGC would accept his offer. “HGC should convey all the SMAP assets including National Housing Authority receivables, its titles and other pertinent documents to R-II,” Romero said in the latter.

Romero said he could offer more than the initial P2.9 billion for the 10-hectare property as long as it was justified by supporting documents. “We can offer more than that. Actually we are ready up to P4 billion,” Romero said. He said beneficiaries of the SMDRP would be given their housing unit titles if the settlement pushed through. Romero denied HGC’s claim that the SMDRP is a ‘failed project’. He cited a Supreme court decision saying “Smokey Mountain asset pool agreement and the agreement on Phase 1 as well as all other transactions which emanated from the project, have been found to be valid, legal and, constitutional.”

THURSDAY: JULY 2, 2015

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

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Wednesday, July 1, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26 47 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 125 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 79 3.95 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.65 234 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 0.66 1455 7.5 76 6.5 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.65 7.21 73.35 72.8 108.80 106.00 94.60 94.00 45.4 45 2.50 2.50 1.72 1.71 15.96 15.88 19.44 19.32 6.41 6.41 0.74 0.7 0.390 0.385 93.5 92.8 0.98 0.98 18.50 18.10 68.90 65.50 305.6 305 40.15 38.9 165 159 1470.00 1470.00 60.80 60.80 3.15 3.15 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 45.5 45.9 44.5 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.04 1.05 1.03 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.9 1.94 1.9 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.32 10.62 10.32 40.3 Bogo Medelin 56.95 53 51.15 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 90.00 91.50 91.50 15.32 Century Food 18.3 18.4 18.3 62.5 Chemphil 107 100 100 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 26.8 27 26.8 29.15 Concepcion 57.05 57 55.1 1.5 Crown Asia 2.54 2.58 2.5 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.47 1.48 1.45 10.72 Del Monte 11.52 12.2 11.56 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 19.420 19.580 19.16 9.04 Emperador 8.60 8.95 8.30 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 7.48 7.45 7.35 8.86 EEI 9.82 9.85 9.60 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.77 1.75 1.7 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 11.96 11.9 11.7 20.2 First Gen Corp. 27 26.5 26.5 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 81.25 83 81.05 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.40 13.40 13.40 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.82 5.82 5.7 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 197.30 197.10 195.00 8.65 Lafarge Rep 10.2 10.2 10.1 34.1 Liberty Flour 29.00 29.10 29.00 2.3 LMG Chemicals 2.19 2.15 2.15 33 Macay Holdings 59.50 60.00 60.00 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 23.95 24.4 23.85 17.3 Maxs Group 24.6 25.05 24.6 5.88 Megawide 5.96 6.1 5.97 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 291.20 292.00 288.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.95 3.95 3.95 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.89 4.83 4.8 8.45 Petron Corporation 8.85 9.03 8.87 10.04 Phinma Corporation 12.00 12.00 11.84 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.48 3.50 3.36 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.98 2.00 1.94 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 3.18 3.65 3.19 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.15 4.18 4.15 1.65 Roxas and Co. 1.94 1.98 1.87 5.9 Roxas Holdings 6.25 6.3 6 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 172.4 170 163.8 1.55 Splash Corporation 1.6 1.61 1.6 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.140 0.141 0.140 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.15 2.16 2.14 152 Universal Robina 194 193 190.2 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.75 0.76 0.74 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.29 1.23 1.23 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.475 0.480 0.470 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.0500 57.6000 56.8000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 21.70 22.30 21.80 6.62 Anscor À’ 6.90 6.90 6.80 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.246 0.245 0.225 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 790 788 770 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.8 7.8 7.6 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.20 13.70 13.02 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.208 0.290 0.206 837 GT Capital 1366 1391 1346 5.3 House of Inv. 6.69 6.88 6.56 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 71.70 71.95 70.45 3.43 Jolliville Holdings 3.71 3.73 3.7 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.1 7.18 6.95 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.67 0.67 0.66 12 LT Group 13.92 13.98 13.8 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.73 4.72 4.62 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 6.05 6.6 6.07 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0340 0.0330 0.0330 0.550 Prime Orion 2.050 2.140 2.000 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.65 2.67 2.67 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 59.50 60.00 59.50 751 SM Investments Inc. 895.00 903.00 885.00 80 Top Frontier 81.450 81.500 81.350 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3350 0.3350 0.3200 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1900 0.1900 0.1900 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.285 0.300 0.290 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 7.250 7.390 7.120 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.70 0.69 0.63 1.2 Araneta Prop À’ 1.200 1.200 1.200 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 37.30 37.30 37.00 3.36 Belle Corp. À’ 3.3 3.38 3.27 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.16 5.16 5.1 0.79 Century Property 0.82 0.84 0.82 1.1 City & Land Dev. 1.24 1.24 1.24 0.97 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.00 1.03 1.03 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

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

SHARES 11,137,592 61,639,676 64,906,755 99,815,067 138,938,824 366,976,910 746,000,134

7.6 73 108.40 94.50 45.3 2.54 1.75 15.9 19.44 6.41 0.7 0.390 94 0.99 18.16 68.90 305.6 40.1 161.5 1465.00 60.00 3.15

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.54 73.1 108.30 94.30 45.4 2.50 1.72 15.88 19.4 6.41 0.7 0.390 93.5 0.98 18.48 67.00 305 39.1 165 1470.00 60.80 3.15

-0.79 0.14 -0.09 -0.21 0.22 -1.57 -1.71 -0.13 -0.21 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.53 -1.01 1.76 -2.76 -0.20 -2.49 2.17 0.34 1.33 0.00

42,300 27,010 2,875,240 1,073,670 67,400 4,000 40,000 36,500 1,493,900 300 107,000 160,000 2,320,990 21,000 8,800 261,000 490 371,900 426,730 10 5,040 43,000

45.75 1.05 1.94 10.32 53 91.50 18.4 100 26.8 55.1 2.52 1.48 12 19.540 8.95 7.42 9.75 1.7 11.8 26.5 82.15 13.40 5.79 195.40 10.2 29.00 2.15 60.00 23.9 25.05 5.97 292.00 3.95 4.8 8.88 12.00 3.38 1.97 3.52 4.16 1.94 6.3 163.8 1.61 0.140 2.16 192.2 0.75 1.23

0.55 0.96 2.11 0.00 -6.94 1.67 0.55 -6.54 0.00 -3.42 -0.79 0.68 4.17 0.62 4.07 -0.80 -0.71 -3.95 -1.34 -1.85 1.11 0.00 -0.52 -0.96 0.00 0.00 -1.83 0.84 -0.21 1.83 0.17 0.27 0.00 -1.84 0.34 0.00 -2.87 -0.51 10.69 0.24 0.00 0.80 -4.99 0.63 0.00 0.47 -0.93 0.00 -4.65

1,755,300 326,000 442,000 2,900 710 1,000 248,000 10 542,600 540 9,367,000 6,000 531,200 2,084,400 2,265,600 15,518,400 82,500 4,000 24,900 2,677,400 254,590 5,300 595,100 2,936,980 221,600 3,900 100,000 10 1,842,200 44,300 2,301,100 78,190 1,000 265,000 746,500 10,000 1,433,000 804,000 7,640,000 487,000 20,000 44,700 155,140 48,000 1,010,000 505,000 2,409,890 1,311,000 10,000

0.475 57.5500 22.30 6.90 0.245 788 7.62 13.50 0.206 1384 6.56 71.35 3.7 7.18 0.66 13.8 4.67 6.35 0.0330 2.040 2.67 59.60 900.00 81.350 0.3350 0.1900 0.290

0.00 -0.86 2.76 0.00 -0.41 -0.25 -2.31 2.27 -0.96 1.32 -1.94 -0.49 -0.27 1.13 -1.49 -0.86 -1.27 4.96 -2.94 -0.49 0.75 0.17 0.56 -0.12 0.00 0.00 1.75

160,000 1,130,780 10,546,500 25,500 680,000 286,550 661,900 8,393,200 440,000 79,910 3,900 1,580,730 10,000 1,546,600 220,000 756,400 7,782,000 2,150,000 100,000 19,622,000 2,000 143,610 240,480 22,300 560,000 100,000 200,000

7.350 0.69 1.200 37.10 3.32 5.1 0.83 1.24 1.03

1.38 -1.43 0.00 -0.54 0.61 -1.16 1.22 0.00 3.00

68,900 1,529,000 30,000 8,862,100 11,042,000 17,400 812,000 9,000 6,000

796,003.00 24,058,329.00 -12,971,322.50 -2,151,950.00 -51,400.00 548,150.00 -883,914.00

87,415,013.00 5,965,802.50 9,168.00 -4,560,075.00 -16,892,620.00 -79,040.00 -15,480,745.00 52,000.00 1,910.00

-459,836.00

85,720.00 5,385,872.00 12,617,662.00 55,923.00 -39,007,050.00 10,589.00 -70,800.00 -12,658,340.00 -3,930,586.00 -16,080.00 146,069,094.00 1,226,878.00

-301,325.00 372,750.00 3,055,663.00 7,400,756.00 -235,850.00 855,274.00 10,080.00 120,030.00 195,380.00 1,140,210.00 21,639,329.00 6,440.00 -215,000.00 -109,168,972.00

-18,110,397.00 28,067,240.00 -55,200.00 -36,515,440.00 36,322.00 -11,477,382.00 -7,848,735.00 -17,749,796.50 -4,893,333.00 -888,720.00 -7,955,150.00 -620,660.00 -228,700.00 -437,631.00 63,935,525.00 -1,336,842.00

-45,690.00 13,600.00 6,000.00 -224,035,740.00 141,213,890.00 -57,340.00 11,160.00

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

0.201 0.69 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

0.083 0.415 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. 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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1 11.6 0.85 10 1.9

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 5 1.14

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Basic Energy Corp. Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553 525 120 515 12.28 111 1060

33 490 500 101.5 480 6.5 101 997

1047 76.9 78.95 84.8 1.34

1011 74.2 74.5 75 1

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

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15 12.88

2.4 3.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp. Xurpas

High

VALUE 927,198,864.04 1,620,080,615.30 1,372,948,393.57 1,109,852,112.87 1,168,102,657.76 233,460,950.373 6,460,995,628.91

FINANCIAL 1,723.78 (DOWN) 1.09 INDUSTRIAL 11,516.55 (DOWN) 38.02 HOLDING FIRMS 6,819.20 (UP) 16.13 PROPERTY 3,029.73 (UP) 3.62 SERVICES 2,083.87 (UP) 20.04 MINING & OIL 13,631.24 (UP) 57.14 PSEI 7,575.15 (UP) 10.65 All Shares Index 4,330.37 (UP) 10.78 Gainers: 87 Losers: 78; Unchanged: 46; Total: 211

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.130 0.440 0.880 0.174 1.22 1.86 1.30 4.99 0.115 7.17 29.30 1.7 3.34 19.98 0.75 6.6 0.820 6.350

0.130 0.129 0.129 0.450 0.440 0.440 0.880 0.860 0.880 0.174 0.174 0.174 1.22 1.21 1.21 1.90 1.83 1.88 1.31 1.29 1.31 4.92 1.76 4.88 0.115 0.108 0.110 7.2 7.17 7.2 29.70 29.05 29.35 1.71 1.69 1.71 3.35 3.33 3.35 20.10 19.60 20.00 0.75 0.74 0.75 7.18 6.62 6.98 0.840 0.820 0.820 6.400 6.080 6.400 SERVICES 5.95 6 5.71 5.95 62.3 62.5 62.25 62.25 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.14 0.620 0.630 0.620 0.630 13 13.02 13.02 13.02 8.61 9.10 8.61 9.10 0.0810 0.0850 0.0800 0.0830 3.78 3.76 3.5 3.7 85 85.2 84.65 85 940 945 940.5 945 2510 2512 2498 2502 6.50 6.50 6.35 6.48 1.31 1.31 1.26 1.31 110.2 113 109.6 113 11.88 12 11.3 12 0.011 0.012 0.010 0.012 0.204 0.203 0.200 0.201 1.3000 1.3400 1.2600 1.3400 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 9.05 9.30 9.05 9.30 2.51 2.75 2.50 2.74 1.20 1.22 1.21 1.21 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.01 48.00 47.90 46.00 47.50 0.650 0.690 0.650 0.690 2 2 1.95 2 5.12 5.81 5.16 5.8 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.465 0.455 0.455 0.455 4.50 4.59 4.50 4.50 3 3.3 3.3 3.3 120.00 118.50 118.50 118.50 18.90 18.90 17.40 18.80 2810.00 2830.00 2794.00 2808.00 0.670 0.680 0.660 0.660 1.180 1.290 1.200 1.280 37.00 37.20 36.80 37.00 74.45 75.50 73.00 75.50 9.88 9.70 9.50 9.58 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.64 5.19 5.3 5.18 5.25 1.940 2.020 1.700 1.750 MINING & OIL 0.0050 0.0051 0.0049 0.0051 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 6.58 6.54 6.20 6.41 0.240 0.239 0.227 0.239 1.01 1 0.93 0.94 0.79 0.79 0.78 0.79 6.93 7.00 6.92 6.95 1.62 1.68 1.62 1.63 0.320 0.325 0.310 0.310 0.221 0.223 0.221 0.222 0.228 0.228 0.226 0.228 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 3.11 3.22 3.1 3.22 23.2 22.95 22.5 22.75 3.83 3.86 3.77 3.82 2.0400 2.0500 2.0200 2.0200 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 4.30 4.30 4.28 4.28 6.13 6.3 6.13 6.2 1.79 1.850 1.700 1.79 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.014 142.50 146.00 139.00 145.00 10.8 11.1 10.3 11.04 0.0090 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 PREFERRED 62.7 62.5 61.5 62 525.5 526 526 526 548 531 531 531 119.5 120 118 118 520 521 520 521 1.09 1.11 1.11 1.11 111.5 112 111 112 1057 1080 1080 1080 1149 1149 1149 1149 1050 1050 1050 1050 75.15 75.25 75.2 75.2 85 85 85 85 89 89 88.95 89 2 2 2 2 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.670 3.890 3.600 3.890 SME 10.08 10.14 9.95 10.06 6.89 6.63 6.01 6.63 11.04 11.4 10.9 11.4 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.2 124.1 122.1 123

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-0.77 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.82 1.08 0.77 -2.20 -4.35 0.42 0.18 0.59 0.30 0.10 0.00 5.76 0.00 0.79

440,000 300,000 12,000 40,000 553,000 15,363,000 103,000 22,745,000 470,000 9,100 1,929,000 28,000 8,000 23,765,500 496,000 45,200 38,000 11,084,900

567.00

0.00 -0.08 0.88 1.61 0.15 5.69 2.47 -2.12 0.00 0.53 -0.32 -0.31 0.00 2.54 1.01 9.09 -1.47 3.08 0.00 2.76 9.16 0.83 0.00 -1.04 6.15 0.00 13.28 0.00 -2.15 0.00 10.00 -1.25 -0.53 -0.07 -1.49 8.47 0.00 1.41 -3.04 -1.54 1.16 -9.79

106,300 13,440 6,000 433,000 17,000 18,414,600 7,410 2,267,000 297,530 40 74,435 29,800 86,000 754,850 20,200 10,000,000 1,830,000 215,000 6,000 614,900 475,000 4,000 2,000 700 27,000 135,000 7,608,500 30,000 10,000 38,000 1,000 10 200,100 161,415 2,923,000 75,342,000 392,000 49,280 1,481,000 3,878,000 2,110,400 896,000

2.00 0.00 -2.58 -0.42 -6.93 0.00 0.29 0.62 -3.13 0.45 0.00 7.69 0.00 3.54 -1.94 -0.26 -0.98 0.00 -0.47 1.14 0.00 0.00 1.75 2.22 11.11

178,000,000 100,000.00 5,000 393,800 -477,452.00 230,000 3,712,000 35,720.00 202,000 23,400.00 3,800 90,811,000 220,000 530,000 130,000 -4,520.00 12,800,000 2,000,000 302,000 -196,050.00 603,200 -4,319,035.00 574,000 76,000.00 429,000 671,390.00 200,000 19,000 21,500.00 187,900 -34,707.00 3,194,000 357,770.00 70,700,000 -14,000.00 338,000 -2,058,719.00 218,500 -44,000.00 1,000,000

-1.12 0.10 -3.10 -1.26 0.19 1.83 0.45 2.18 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00

216,520 5,000 500 1,400 8,620 1,000 14,750 20,000 2,600 1,050 172,870 14,040 126,320 1,000

5.99

335,000

-0.20 -3.77 3.26

416,700 200 2,162,800

-0.16

5,610

-4,300.00 18,300.00 -7,586,850.00 13,165,240.00 -64,800.00 -13,936,185.00 -12,573,025.00 -225,080.00 9,130.00 -42,594,880.00 -30,705.00 31,500.00 -221,340.00 -44,063,195.00 820.00 55,950.00 3,657,886.50 -84,798,080.00 5,419,361.00

5,540,370.00 66,860.00

9,900.00 -13,711,643.00

-944,764.00 -39,900,640.00 66,330.00 5,886,470.00 -2,365,755.00 -256,159.50 97,492.00 -1,950,000.00 973,555.00 -14,850.00

-11,991,815.00

-552,754.00 -1,850,968.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Melco Crown

5.8

13.28

Bogo Medelin

-6.94

United Paragon

0.0100

11.11

Century Peak Metals Hldgs

0.94

-6.93

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.52

10.69

Chemphil

100

-6.54

Paxys Inc.

3.3

10.00

San Miguel'Pure Foods `B'

163.8

-4.99

Liberty Telecom

2.74

9.16

Vulcan Ind'l.

1.23

-4.65

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.012

9.09

MRC Allied Ind.

0.110

-4.35

Premium Leisure

1.280

8.47

Euro-Med Lab

1.7

-3.95

Manila Mining `A'

0.0140

7.69

Makati Fin. Corp.

6.63

-3.77

Manila Bulletin

0.690

6.15

Concepcion

55.1

-3.42

LR Warrant

3.890

5.99

Geograce Res. Phil. Inc.

0.310

-3.13

THURSDAY: JULY 2, 2015

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

Mitsubishi buying Asian bank By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen

TWO years year after spending about $5 billion buying a Thai bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. is looking for a similar Asian investment.

Japan’s biggest lender is considering acquiring a bank in Indonesia, the Philippines or India that has expertise in consumer banking, said Go Watanabe, chief executive officer of the main lending unit’s Asia-Oceania arm. “We’re looking for a bank that is very strong in both corporate and retail consumer finance” akin to Bangkok-based Bank of Ayudhya Pcl, Watanabe, 56, said in an interview on Monday in Singapore. The company ideally wants a majority stake in a “relatively big-sized bank,” he said. Mitsubishi UFJ has been the most aggressive of Japan’s banks in seeking to tap Asia’s consumers as sluggish growth and shrinking loan margins hamper prospects at home. Regulators in Indonesia, the Philippines and India are at various stages of easing rules on ownership of their banks by foreign lenders. “Doing business with corporates isn’t enough,” Watanabe said. “Having a retail business is something we want, to capture the high growth of the Asian economy.” Watanabe said he seeks double-digit growth in revenue from Asia during the three years that started in April. Economic expansion in the region is reflected in Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.’s loan book. Average loans outstanding in Asia to non-Japanese borrowers climbed 10 percent from a year earlier to 7.6 trillion yen ($62 billion) in the six months ended March, company data show. That excludes Bank of Ayudhya’s loans. Loosening of bank ownership restrictions may favor Watanabe’s aspirations to obtain a majority stake in one of the target countries. India nows allow overseas holdings of as much as 74 percent, up from 49 percent previously. Indonesian regulators in June allowed South Korea’s Shinhan Bank to buy two lenders and merge them, providing an exception to a 40 percent foreign- ownership limit. The Philippines eased its rules last year to let international companies fully own a domestic bank. Bloomberg

PSE’s pitch. Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. encouraged over 200 business owners, employees and students based in Cagayan de Oro and nearby provinces to invest in equities and consider raising funds through the capital markets. PSE made the pitch during the third Philippine Capital Markets Investment Conference held June 25, 2015 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro. Shown (from left) are the plenary speakers of the 3rd Philippine Capital Markets Investment Conference: Capital Markets Integrity Corporation Surveillance Department head Grace Calubaquib, First Metro Asset Management Inc. president Augusto Cosio Jr., Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong, Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. president Cerael Donggay and SEC Markets and Securities Regulation Division director Vicente Graciano Felizmenio Jr.

Ayala Land Premier sees P9b in Nuvali sales By Jenniffer B. Austria AYAL A Land Premier, the luxury real estate unit of Ayala Land Inc., said it expects to generate close to P9 billion in sales from the newlyintroduced residential development in Nuvali, called Riomonte. ALP head of sales Mike Jugo said the company recently launched two of the five pockets of residential communities within the Riomonte development, which generated P2.7 billion in reservation sales. Lot sizes in Riomonte range from 480 to 890 square meters with prices hovering between P18,250 and P26,650 per square meter.

Riomonte’s average lot costs P10.3 million. “Our sales take up in Riomonte has been exceptionally strong over the past few weeks. We are seeing almost P100 million in sales per day since our launch last May 31,” said Jugo. ALP plans to increase the lot price for the succeeding neighborhoods. The company is set to launch 175 more lots for Riomonte’s third neighborhood this month and the other two by the third quarter of 2016. A total of 884 lots will be offered to potential buyers for this project, with an average of 10 lots per hectare, or only about 160 homes in

each pocket of neighborhood. ALP is targeting empty nesters, entrepreneurs and investors for the development. Riomonte is the seventh residential development launched by ALP in Nuvali over a period of nine years. Since launching its first project in Nuvali in 2007, ALP has launched 3,131 units encompassing 484 hectares. The company has also raised P30 billion in sales with at least 70 percent take-up on every launched project. “The average selling price of an ALP Nuvali lot in 2007 was P9,000 per sq. m. That figure has now appreciated to as much as P30,000

per sq. m. in 2015 or an equivalent of 91 percent increase,” ALP project development head Catleya Moya said. ALP attributes the growth in Nuvali to knowing and serving its distinctive market segment well. Nuvali is a 2,200-hectare masterplanned development that spans the cities of Sta. Rosa, Calamba and the municipality of Cabuyao in Laguna, which is being touted as the country’s first and largest eco-community development. To date, approximately 50 percent of the total land area of Nuvali has already been developed, along with the road networks surrounding the commercial and residential developments.

Stock market up slightly; Bloomberry, Alliance Global advance THE stock market rose slightly Wednesday as investors shrugged off Greece’s default. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 10.65 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,575.15 on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Gainers beat losers, 87 to 78, with 46 issues unchanged. Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan climbed 2.8 percent to P22.30, while unit Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, advanced 2.5 percent to P4.88. Bloomberry Resorts Corp.,

which operates a casino on a reclaimed part of Manila Bay, surged 5.7 percent to P9.10, while DMCI Holdings Inc., which is into construction, water distribution, power generation and mining, rallied 2.3 percent to P13.50. GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty rose 1.3 percent to P1,384. Tokyo, meanwhile, was lifted by an upbeat survey on business confidence, but Shanghai’s volatile run continued, plunging more than five percent.

The euro edged down against the dollar after Athens failed to service its debt to the International Monetary Fund, and analysts warned of continued uncertainty, even after Greeks vote in a weekend referendum, which is effectively a poll on eurozone membership. Tokyo rose 0.46 percent, or 93.59 points, to end at 20,329.32, Sydney climbed 1.04 percent, or 56.70 points, to 5,515.70 and Seoul added 1.14 percent, or 23.69 points, to end at 2,097.89. Shanghai collapsed in the last

hour to end 5.23 percent, or 223.52 points, lower at 4,053.70. The benchmark index gave up all Tuesday’s gains, resuming a downward spiral that has seen it drop more than 20 percent in just over two weeks. Hong Kong and Bangkok were closed for public holidays. As expected, Greece defaulted on its 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7-billion) IMF loan Tuesday after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras shocked creditors and broke off bailout reform talks at the week-

end, calling a July 5 plebiscite on creditors’ proposals. The deadline to pay came and went after European leaders rejected a last-minute compromise from Tsipras, meaning five months of fraught talks had failed and making Greece the only developed country ever to default with the IMF. The Fund froze its loan program to the government, while European Commission-European Central Bank liquidity assistance also expired on Tuesday. With AFP

Climate change workshops.

The Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc., in partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Smart Communications and Philex Mining Corp., will conduct four regional seminar-workshops for journalists, called ‘Climate Change: Gets mo na ba?’ in Legazpi City, on July 30 to Aug. 1. Shown after the signing of the memorandum of understanding are (from left) MPIC vice president for media and corporate communications Melody del Rosario, Smart Communications vice president and head of public affairs Ramon Isberto, MPIC president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim, PAJ vice president Noel Reyes and Philex vice president for corporate affairs and MVP Group media bureau chief Michael Toledo.

Filinvest bags second Cebu lot By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST Land Inc., the property unit of the Gotianun family, said Wednesday it bagged the contract to develop a 19.2-hectare reclaimed land in South Road Properties in Cebu, after submitting a bid of P6.7 billion. Filinvest Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange lots 7 and 17 at South Road Properties would be developed and owned by the company together with its office development subsidiary, Cyberzone Properties Inc., its central business district affiliate Filinvest Alabang Inc. and other possible strategic partners. “The property will be devel-

oped in accordance with the required minimum development plans of the Cebu City government as specified in the bidding guidelines, wherein 70 percent percent of the buildable area is intended for commercial and/or office use and the remaining 30 percent for residential use,” Filinvest Land said. FLI did not disclose its win-

ning bid. However, sources said FLI submitted a bid of P6.7 billion. FLI reportedly bested Robinsons Land Corp. in the bidding for the 19.2 hectare property. “The new development will complement the ongoing City de Mare project of FLI in SRP,” the property firm said. The lots 7 and 17 are beside the City de Mare. City de Mare is a 50-hectare lot envisioned to become Cebu’s new lifestyle capital, creating dynamic mix of live, work and play. Filinvest Land recently increased its planned spending for City de Mare to P35 billion to incorporate more residential developments, as well as office and hotel components into the project. Under the plan, 70 percent of

the land allotted for development will be for residential projects, 20 percent for retail and the remaining 10 percent for office and hotel projects. The company is still finalizing details for the planned office and hotel projects. The city government of Cebu on Tuesday conducted a bidding for the two lots with a combined area of 45.2 hectares. The 26-hectare lot was won by a consortium of property developers SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Ayala Land Inc. with a winning bid of P10 billion. SM-ALI was the lone bidder for a 26-hectare lot. Other companies that earlier expressed interest in bidding for the SRP lots were Rockwell Land Corp. and Aboitizland Inc.

Apex Mining hikes spending to P1.9b this year By Jenniffer B. Austria APEX Mining Company Inc. said Wednesday it will spend P1.9 billion this year primarily for exploration and mine development. Apex chief financial officer Renato Migriño said in an interview the bulk of the capital expenditures would go for the acquisition of property and equipment as well as mine development while a smaller portion would be allotted for exploration activities. Apex Mining’s capital spending reached P914 million in 2014. It said funding for this year’s capital spending would primarily come from the P2.2-billion

We feel it has the potential of another Lepanto

host term loan that it obtained from BDO Unibank Inc. as well as cash generated from operations. Apex Mining president Walter Brown said the programmed spending for the year would be on top of the expenses for the recently-acquired Itogon mine

in Benguet, which would need about P150 million to restart operations and about P500 million to P600 million to make it profitable in three to four years. Apex Mining acquired 98 percent of Itogon Suyoc Resources, a mining company in Benguet province, for P182.67 million or P0.007456 per share. It will pay for the acquisition with P32.67 million in cash and P150 million worth of shares. ISRI has mining claims and owns the mill and production facilities in Sangilo, Itogon, Benguet. Apex said it would infuse at least P238 million in new equity in ISRI to pay down its debts and

reopen its mining operation in Sangilo. Brown said Apex Mining could bring the Sangilo mine to produce a small amount of ore by the end of the year but it would take three to four years to bring up capacity to 1,000 tons. Sangilo has previously been mined but ceased operations because of low gold prices. “But it has a substantial amount of ore there. It’s right next to Benguet. It has a lot of potential. We feel it has the potential of another Lepanto but we think that it will take us three years to get established and seven to 10 years before it contributes,” Brown said.

DENR endorses regular car care drive By John Almerc Dy THE Environment Department on Wednesday launched a new public information campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care and use of clean fuel. “Konting Abala refers to simple acts like proper vehicle maintenance and the use of clean fuel, while Laking Ginhawa refers to benefits like less harmful smoke being emitted by vehicles, which in turn, cause less health and financial burdens. We believe that summing up doing even little acts, goes a long way,” said Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones during the Seventh Annual Clean Air Forum at the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City. Leones asked various government agencies, civil society, private sector, academe and media to help disseminate information on the said campaign. “The campaign will escalate in the coming month with more newspapers advertisements, billboards and celebrity endorsements,” Leones said. The Clean Air Forum was established to review on a yearly basis the progress of Republic Act No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act.

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 2 , 2 0 1 5

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

New airport needed—IATA By Darwin G Amojelar

THE Philippines needs a new international gateway in Manila, as a number of safety and operational issues tarnish the image of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday. IATA, which represents some 250 airlines accounting for 84 percent of total air traffic, said in a report it was “gravely concerned” with a number of operational issues that might compromise safety of airline operations in Naia. “Naia is routinely characterized by airlines as one of the top high-risk airports in ASPAC [Asia Pacific],” IATA said. IATA said the predominant concerns raised by member airlines from 2010 to 2013 involved air traffic management issues including extended holding, vectors and delays, non-standard air traffic control procedures,

among others. IATA’s report came after the European Union removed all Philippine carriers from a list of countries with safety concerns. In April 2014, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the Philippines’ aviation rating to Category 1 from Category 2. IATA said to address these safety concerns, it proposed optimizing the current capacity of Naia through more efficient air traffic control and improvements in the runway system, particularly addition of rapid exit taxiways. “IATA has provided considerable input to MIAA [Manila In-

ternational Airport Authority], CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] and DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] in this regard to increase the throughput from the existing 40 movements per hour to 51 or even 56 movements per hour.,” IATA said, adding an increase of 40 percent in capacity will go a long way in reducing the congestion issues at the airport. IATA also urged the Philippines to build a new greenfield airport with sufficient capacity to meet Manila’s aviation needs that is situated no greater than 50 kilometers from the city center. as a long-term solution. “This would make Manila a bonafide contender for the leading aviation hub in the region and meet its obligation to be the gateway for tourism and business into the Philippines,” it said. IATA said it was not supporting any restriction on airline ownership of airports as it unfairly discriminated airline owners.

PDIC center. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. launched its public assistance center on June 22, culminating the commemoration of the 13th Depositor Protection and Awareness Week. Shown cutting the ribbon during the launching of the center at the third floor of SSS Building along Ayala Ave. in Makati City are Civil Service Commission commissioner and acting chairman Robert Martinez and PDIC president Cristina Que Orbeta.

Court’s coco levy ruling to delay reforms

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

PRESIDENTIAL assistant for food security and agricultural modernization Francis Pangilinan said Wednesday opposing the use of the coco levy fund is an “unimaginative way of confronting the coco levy issue.” Pangilinan made the statement, following the Supreme Court’s decision to stop the implementation of two executive orders directing the privatization and reconveyance or transfer of P73.4 billion in coconut levy funds to the government. President Benigno Aquino III earlier issued EO 179, which ordered the inventory and privatization and reconveyance or transfer to the government of all coconut levy assets. EO 179 also required that all money and funds constituting the coconut levy, or accruing from the coco levy assets, be deposited into a special account in the general fund for coco levies. EO 180 orders the immediate transfer of the

coconut levy assets to the government so it could use them after the approval by President Aquino of the “Integrated Coconut Industry Roadmap and the Coconut Roadmap for Coco Levy.” The Supreme Court earlier issued a temporary restraining order against the two orders. “While we will respect the decision to issue the restraining order, we hope the matter can be resolved with dispatch. For nearly four decades the coco levy fund has been entangled in legal disputes and this latest case has prolonged the dispute further,” Pangilinan said. “Opposing the use of the funds has been the mantra for the last 40 years and a number of critics have failed to reinvent themselves, refused to take risks and look for out-of-the-box solutions to address the plight of our coconut farmers,” he added. Pangilinan said EOs 179 and 180 were meant to ensure that the coco levy funds would be used judiciously.

APO Production fights off detractors STAT E- CONTROLLED APO Production Unit is fending off what appears to be a well-orchestrated d i s i n for m at ion campaign against its credentials as a top-notch printer. Several quarters, according to APO chairperson Milagros Alora, had questioned the transfer of the printing contract from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to the state company, claiming the latter was not qualified to provide security printing services to the Philippine government. “If only those attack dogs had done even the most basic research, they would not have made such an erroneous statement, that APO is a private printing company or that it has no experience or facilities for security printing,” fumes Alora. Alora said while it was true that Philippine passports were printed by the Bangko Sentral at its security plant complex in Quezon City, several people might have been misinformed that the central bank “is the only government-owned printing facility that had the capability and the necessary security features required in producing such vital travel documents.” She also belied assertions that the company had no established track record for printing security documents, saying APO currently produced the excise stamps for the Bureau of Internal Revenue and was not delayed in its production schedule as claimed by some. APO also maintains the Internal Revenue Stamp Information System, a security software that tracks and traces tobacco products. Alora wondered where some people got the information that led them to conclude that “given its outdated printing equipment, the APO Production Unit is not even considered a top commercial printer.” APO Production’s contract to print e-Passports for the Department of Foreign Affairs aims to address the country’s need for increased passport production capacity over the next 10 years, as well as upgrade the security and integrity of the electronic travel document to comply with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. APO is one of the three recognized government printers, as reflected on the General Appropriations Act and reaffirmed by the Governance Commission for Government Controlled or Owned Corporations. The two others are the Bangko Sentral and the National Printing Office. Now under the supervision of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, APO was created in 1974 and had in the past been under different government agencies like the National Economic and Development Authority, Office of the Press Secretary and the Philippine Information Agency. Modernization program APO sought to meet the urgent need for capital projects through lease-purchase agreements when the present board took office in November 2010. The move enabled the company to immediately acquire new equipment and machinery for high value contracts from the BIR, DFA, Social Security System, and the Land Transportation Office, among others. Alora said APO had been servicing the various printing needs of the DFA since 2012, providing technical support for the Document Management System of the DFA’s Office for Consular Affairs. But the DFA in February 2014 began experiencing major delays in the delivery of passports as a result of an outdated and deteriorating system. Due to considerable costs involved in maintaining the original passport system that was installed in 2009, the DFA decided to outsource the passport booklet production and personalization of the passport with increased security features. The DFA, in order to address the increasing demand for passports, signed an agreement with APO on January 15, 2015 for the maintenance and repair of the old system, which was handled by a foreign contractor. APO repaired several problems arising from the old system, but operational issues continued to persist. In July 2014, APO opened its new security printing facility at the LIMA Technology Center in Malvar, Batangas to enable it to address the specific the needs of the DFA. APO developed the three-hectare property exclusively as a high security printing facility to enable the company to achieve its mandate to provide accountable forms and high security printing services for the national government and its agencies. Filipinos, thus, will get a much-improved travel document with the use of superior technologies, adopting high end security features and employing end-to-end printing solution at a secured facility. APO, meanwhile, kept the price so as not to burden the traveling public, especially the migrant Filipino workers. Prior to APO’s assumption of the job, passport printing posed a big threat to the national security because highly restricted data was handled by Oberthur Technologies SA of France. Live passports were being stolen and fugitives being able to take refuge in other countries using real passports. APO’s job has secured the control of printing e-passports from end to end, says Alora. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com or business@thestandard.com.ph

THURSDAY: JULY 2, 2015

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

Queen Maxima: Include the poor By Julito G. Rada

QUEEN Maxima of the Netherlands on Wednesday asked the Philippine government to fully implement a national strategy for financial inclusion as a vital step in reducing poverty and creating jobs.

“Everyone has something vital to bring to the table…. It [NSFI] can be a tool for combating poverty and creating jobs for Filipinos,” Queen Maxima, who serves as the United Nations secretary general’s advocate for inclusive finance, said in a speech during the launch of the national strategy for financial inclusion at the Philippine International Convention Cen-

ter in Pasay City on Wednesday. “Financial inclusion [also] means integrating everyone into the formal economy… It also requires a high level of political support. Government agencies must join hands in supporting this,” she said. Queen Maxima cited the Philippines’ efforts in financial inclusion, which is already recognized worldwide as the best model of best practices for financial inclusion. She said despite the country’s efforts on financial inclusion, much remained to be done to improve the current condition. Data from the national baseline survey on financial inclusion conducted recently by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed only 43.2 percent of Filipino adults had savings, 32.3 percent used to save in the past and 24.5 percent never saved. Of those with savings, 68.3 percent kept

SEC stops two firms on sale of securities

their savings at home, 32.7 percent saved in banks, 7.5 percent in cooperatives, and 2.6 percent in group savings or paluwagan. Meanwhile, 65 percent cited the lack of money as the main reason for not having a bank account. The survey also showed that Filipino adults were most aware of banks (98.3 percent), pawnshops (95.7 percent), and automated teller machines (93.5 percent). However, there was low awareness of other access points such as microfinance NGOs (30.5 percent), e-money agents (25.6 percent), and non-stock savings and loans associations (13.6 percent). Financial inclusion is defined as a state wherein there is effective access to a wide range of financial products and services. It is considered as a multi-dimensional objective that can be achieved through combined effort of a broad range of stakeholders.

British businessmen.

British Chambers of Commerce director General John Longworth met some leading business organizations and entrepreneurs in the Philippines in a bid to boost UK-Philippine trade relations and explore areas of possible collaboration. Shown are British Chamber of Commerce Philippines chairman Chris Nelson (left) and Longworth, after the breakfast meeting with the British business community at the BCCP office in Taguig City.

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a cease and desist order against two companies that were allegedly found selling unregistered securities to the public. SEC issued a CDO against Baguio-based Satarah Wellness Marketing which had been soliciting funds from the public on a promise of interest rates ranging from 4 percent to 26 percent, depending on market rates. The company also promised investors with referral rates of 4 to 12 percent on the placement fees of new investors, according to SEC. SEC said based on its investigation, Satarah Wellness and its affiliates, Satarah Wellness International and Satarah Investment Group Inc. were not authorized to solicit investments from the public as they did not obtain prior registration to secure permit to sell securities from the SEC. SEC directed the officers, agents and representatives of Satarah to immediately cease and desist from offering, soliciting or selling unregistered securities in the form of investment contracts to the public. SEC also issued a CDO against Bacoor Doctors Medical Center, for allegedly selling securities in the form of common shares of stock without secondary license from the corporate regulator. SEC said BCMC was offering one block of shares, comprising of 25 shares, for P300,000. It said the company’s articles of incorporation showed that its common share of stock had a par value of P1,000. Thus, one share of stock is being sold by BCMC at P12,000 which is contrary to its articles of incorporation. SEC also said BCMC was not a registered issuer of securities and did not have a pending application for a secondary license to offer or sell securities to the public.

Reasons for IMF’s firm stance on Greece UPON its failure to settle its $1.73-billion indebtedness by midnight of June 30, 2015, Greece now has the distinction of being the first developed country – it is a member of the developed countries’ club, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development – to have defaulted on its debt to the 71-year-old IMF. The Washington-based international financial institution has maintained a firm stance vis-à-vis Greece’s financial troubles and more so since the advent to power of the Syriza political party led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. There are two reasons for that stance. One could add a third reason, but this relates more to style and tone rather than substance. The first and foremost reason is that the IMF is not the personal piggy bank of Managing Director Christine Lagarde. The IMF, which is one of the pair of financial institutions founded by the international

community at the end of World War II, is a chartered corporate entity owned by 190plus stockholders and managed by a board of directors elected largely on a regional basis. The IMF operates on the basis of a corporate mandate reflective of its status as the central bank of central banks. In the natural course of things some country-stockholders will encounter economic problems and seek recourse to the IMF’s resources. Those who approach the IMF, seeking one form of stabilization program or another, are not always developing countries. Some major developed countries – including the Southern European countries – have had occasion to avail of the IMF’s rescue facilities. Although the rescue requirements of IMF’s developedcountry stockholders tend to be less severe and more tractable than those of its developing-country stockholders, every rescue package must be evaluated and approved by the IMF board of directors in accordance with the Fund’s lending and

borrowing guidelines. Christine Lagarde and the members of the IMF board of directors are required to treat all requests for assistance with the same degree of objectivity and fairness, regardless of the identity of the borrowing stockholder. The same financial yardsticks are brought into play. Thus, it is very difficult for Christine Lagarde and her Board to display biased or preferential treatment to any borrowing stockholder. That is why they could not treat Greece with kid gloves even if they had wanted to. But in Greece’s case the IMF board of directors appear to have been not disposed to treat Alexis Tsipras and his government in a preferential manner. Tsipras and his party waged an electoral campaign this year on the basis of opposition to the austerity program that the IMF and Greece’s other international creditors had imposed as a condition for the grant of a 2009 financial bailout package. Tsipras declared that the Greek people had suffered so much already and were unwilling

to undergo any more outside-dictated pain. Tsipras’ platform prevailed in the ensuing election. None of the promised tax increases, spending cuts and government asset sales took place. So how could the IMF, the European Central Bank and the other international creditors be disposed to regard Tsipras and his government with sympathy? A third reason for Christine Lagarde’s nondisposition to look kindly at Greece’s deepening financial crisis was, as stated above, more a matter of tone and style than substance. Tsipras and his colleagues, especially his Finance Minister, were too brash and conceited, even arrogant, in their dealings with Lagarde, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other international financial notables. The Greeks’ attitude seemed to be one of let’s-see-who-blinks-first. Well, the IMF did not blink. Too bad for the suffering Greek people and too bad for Greece’s prestige and credibility. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

t H u r s D aY : J u LY 2 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Protesters seek new direction HONG KONG—Tens of thousands joined a prodemocracy march on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China Wednesday in what organizers said was a chance to work out the movement’s next step as momentum wanes. Crowds gathered in Victoria Park in the afternoon, many carrying yellow umbrellas, symbol of the democracy movement. More protesters were expected to join en route with the march set to end in a rally at the government’s offices. “The most important thing is to express disapproval to the Hong

China targets control of Web BEIJING—China passed a wide-ranging new national security law Wednesday, expanding its legal reach over the Internet and even outer space as concerns grow about ever-tighter limits on rights. Since President Xi Jinping came to power, the ruling Communist Party has overseen a wide-ranging crackdown on activists, while unrest related to the mainly Muslim region of Xinjiang has worsened and spread. “China’s national security situation has become increasingly severe,” said Zheng Shuna a senior official at the National People’s Congress, the rubber-stamp parliament. China was under pressure to maintain national sovereignty and at the same time handle “political security and social security, while dealing with internal society”, she said. It would “not leave any room for disputes, compromises or interference” when protecting its core interests, she added. The standing committee of the NPC passed the law by 154 votes to nil with one abstention, officials at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing said. The legislation was both wide-ranging and couched in general terms, with few exact details such as sentences for violators. AFP

Kong and Chinese communist government for suppressing the freedoms of Chinese people and real elections for Hong Kong people,” protester Wong Man-ying, 61, told AFP. The turnout was expected to be lower than in previous years after almost 12 months of rallies in the politically divided city, with campaigners admitting fatigue had set in. Last year’s march saw huge numbers gather as discontent surged over restrictions by Beijing on how Hong Kong chooses its next leader, and organizers said a record 510,000 had attended. The government’s plan to allow the public to vote for the city’s chief executive for the first time in 2017 was derided as “fake democracy” by the opposition as it stuck to Beijing’s ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.

That ruling sparked mass street rallies for more than two months at the end of last year and the bill was finally voted down by pro-democracy lawmakers last month. “Everyone anticipates a lower turnout than last year... because the momentum has slowed down after the veto over political reform,” said Johnson Yeung of the Civil Human Rights Front, the march organizers. But Yeung insisted numbers were not important and that this year’s march was a chance to reshape the democracy movement’s message, which has splintered since the end of the mass street rallies in December. “Right now people are asking ‘what next?’ after the veto. We hope the march can set the political agenda and give citizens a chance to discuss how to bring the democratic movement forward.”

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Local Government Unit of Catanauan, Quezon, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project: NAME OF PROJECT

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT (414 Motor Grader)

P4,800,000,00

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF LABOR AND THE PROJECT CONCRETING OF 120-M FMR WITH 20-M RETAINING WALL, BRGY. MADULAO, CATANAUAN, QUEZON

P2,499,049.74

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

P2,652,432.02

LOCATION Brief Description Source of Fund

: : :

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and 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 Regulations (IRR). The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

1. Publication

06 July 2015

2. Activation of Publication

07 July 2015

3. Submission of Letter of Intent and Issuance of Bid Documents

07 July 2015

4. Pre-bid Conference

13 July 2015 @ 2:00 pm, SB Session Hall

5. Opening of Bids

20 July 2015@ 2:00 pm, SB Session Hall

7. Submission of Additional Eligibility Requirements

21-23 July 2015

8. Bid evaluation and Post Qualification

23-24 July 2015

9. Notice of Award

27 July 2015

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount in form at the Office of Municipal Treasurer of Catanauan, Quezon. The cost of bidding documents shall correspond to the ABC range as indicated in the table below. This shall be the maximum amount of fee that procuring entities can set for the acquisition of the bidding documents.

500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

( T S - J U N E 18 , 2 5 - J U LY 2 , 2 015 )

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE – HEAD OFFICE

1. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement: Name of Requirement/ Brief Description

Supply and Delivery of 98 Sets Three-Seater Sofa (S-1b) for the BSP Main Complex, as per BSP Specifications

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Php2,842,000.00, VAT inclusive

Approval Process and Delivery Period Schedule

Activity

Within fifteen (15) calendar days (cd) after receipt of a copy of the Notice to Proceed (NTP)

Submission of shop drawings for perfection of seat/backrest configuration to comply with ergonomic requirements and prototype sample per BSP Supplied Evaluation Matrix.

Within ten (10) cds after approval of Submission of corrected seat/backrest segment (to shop drawings incorporate the approved shop drawings) for BSP approval. The seat shall be mounted on steel beam or similar structure for actual testing of ergonomic compliance. Within fifteen (15) cd after approval of Submission of perfected prototype for S-1b complete with corrected seat/backrest segment upholstery and powder-coated steel beam. Within one hundred twenty (120) Delivery of units cd from approval of the perfected prototype for S-1b complete with upholstery and powder-coated steel beam. 2. Bidders should have completed from Y2010 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/ fail” criteria. 3. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country, the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens. 4. All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidder’s, Bid Security, Performance Security, Prebid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Activity a. Issuance of Bid Documents

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents 500.00 1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75,000.00

The Local Government Unit of Catanauan, Quezon assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. Approved by: Sgd. JERRY M. MENDOZA Municipal Assessor BAC Chairman (TS-JUL. 2, 2015)

SeedWorks India Pvt. Ltd. Philippine Representative Office with office address at 1775 Gov. San Luis Rd. Brgy. Puypuy, Bay, Laguna has filed its petition to the Securities & Exchange Commission for the withdrawal of its license to operate in the Philippines.

INVITATION TO BID

Catanauan, Quezon Heavy Equipments and Const. Project General Fund and LGSF

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last 2 years, with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-Qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

Approved Budget for the Contract

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

cratic reforms. “As the experience of some European democracies shows, democratic systems and procedures are no panacea for economic and livelihood issues,” he said. A small group of protesters near the ceremony carried a cardboard coffin marked “Grave of Hong Kong—Date of Death: 1997” and burned a portrait of Leung. One was arrested for burning a Hong Kong flag, police said, but later released on bail. The democracy camp has struggled to stay united since last year’s rallies failed to win concessions on the reform package. Some support a newly emerging “localist” stance that semi-autonomous Hong Kong should seek increasing independence from Beijing, rather than campaigning for democracy in China. AFP

Notice to the Public

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Standard Form Number:SF-Good-05 Revised on: July 28, 2004

This year is the 18th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China by Britain in 1997 and the march is traditionally an outpouring of protest directed at both China’s communist government and the local leadership. It comes at a time when Hong Kong is deeply polarized with fragmentation in both pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps. Pro-Beijing groups also separately held anniversary events including lion dance performances and a street parade. In a speech Wednesday at a ceremony for the handover anniversary, city leader Leung Chun-ying criticized lawmakers who had rejected the government’s reform package. Leung used instability in Europe to argue that other issues should now take precedence over demo-

Schedule

Venue

Starting 02 July 2015 Procurement Office, Room 212, (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. only) 2/F, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila Tel./ Fax Nos. 306-2832; 708-7115

b. P r e - b i d C o n f e r e n c e

10 July 2015, 4:00 p.m

c. Opening of Bids

22 July 2015, 2:00 p.m.

MR2A Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 5-Storey Bldg., BSP Main Complex, Malate Manila

5. The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov.ph). Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee in the amount of Php5,000.00, at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids. 6. The pre-bid conference shall be open to interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. To ensure completeness and compliance of bids, bidders are advised to send not more than two (2) technical and/or administrative representatives who will prepare the bidding documents. 7. The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid. 8. The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders. Further, the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defects or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the agency. (SGD)SILVINA Q. MAMARIL-ROXAS Chairperson ( T S - J U LY 2 , 2 015 )

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 2 , 2 0 1 5

ceSAR bARRioqUinTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

‘Nanny’ brings crocodiles back BARRA DE SANTIAGO, El Salvador—The hungry baby crocodiles wriggle in Jose Antonio Villeda’s hand. One by one, he squeezes open their jaws and uses a plastic tube to prod pieces of fish down their gullets. Villeda is a park ranger working to save the local population of Crocodylus acutus, also known as the American crocodile, here in the mangroves of the Barra de Santiago nature reserve on El Salvador’s Pacific coast. Once a common site on muddy riverbanks and in the water, numbers crashed as a result of hunting. “They were massively sought by hunters who wanted their skin,” said Villeda, 53. At one point in the 1980s, only five of the scaly creatures remained. From 1990, rangers at this popular park started to monitor nesting

sites of the few remaining crocs. Conservation efforts were complicated, at least initially. About 26,000 people live on the reserve and many of the ranches and homes in the area exhibit stuffed crocodiles as trophies. Impoverished locals collect mollusks and crabs and, during nesting season, will also take crocodile eggs to eat. Villeda now knows a lot about crocodile reproduction, and six years ago, thanks to educational outreach efforts, the locals started to bring him any eggs they found. That’s when he took on the unusual position of being a crocodile nanny. “Taking care of a nest with eggs is a big responsibility,” he said, explaining how the temperature affects how long it can take for the eggs to hatch—usually about 85 days. AFP

Crunch time. Pensioners queue outside a national Bank branch as banks only opened for the retired to allow them to cash

up to 120 euros in Athens on July 1. The European Union will decide whether to grant Greece a last-minute bailout package to avoid pushing it further towards an exit from the eurozone. Greece failed to make a 1.5-billion euro ($1.7 billion) payment to the International Monetary Fund, becoming the first industrialized country to do so. AFP

137,000 in perilous journey GENEVA—A record 137,000 people made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe in the first half of 2015, most of them fleeing war, conflict and persecution, the United Nations said Wednesday “Europe is living through a maritime refugee crisis of historic proportions,” the UN refugee agency warned in a report. The numbers flooding across the Mediterranean, often in rickety boats and at the mercy of human traffickers, have swelled 83 percent compared to the first six months of 2014, when 75,000 people made the journey, it said. The situation is expected to dete-

riorate further as more clement summer weather allows ruthless people smugglers to dispatch more people. The arrivals in the second half of 2014 were for instance nearly double those of the first half, UNHCR said. The immigration crisis is a burning issue for the EU, where member states have been wrangling over the best ways to tackle human trafficking and arguing over how to share the burden of helping new arrivals, many of them ill, starving and destitute. The soaring numbers arriving in Italy and Greece, before moving on to other northern European states in the hope of finding jobs, has sparked outcry and growing antiforeigner rhetoric in many countries. The report hailed Brussel’s decision to distribute 40,000 Syrian and Eritrean asylum-seekers who have already arrived in Europe among

EU members, but called for greater solidarity between countries to help both the migrants and the states worst affected by the crisis. UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres stressed most of those attempting the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean are not economic migrants. “Most of the people arriving by sea in Europe are refugees seeking protection from war and persecution,” he said in a statement. A third of those who have arrived by sea in Italy or Greece this year came from war-ravaged Syria, while people fleeing violence in Afghanistan and Eritrea’s repressive regime each made up 12 percent of arrivals. The other top countries of origin include conflict-wracked Somalia, Nigeria, Iraq and Sudan, the report said. This year has also seen a sharp increase in the numbers of people

dying as they try to cross the Mediterranean. So far 1,867 have been killed—1,308 of them in April alone. The unprecedented number of deaths that month spurred European leaders to significantly broaden search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, cutting fatalities to 68 in May and 12 in June. “With the right policy, backed by an effective operational response, it is possible to save more lives at sea,” Guterres said. Still, “for the thousands of refugees and migrants who continue to cross the Mediterranean every week, the risk remains very real,” he added. Many of those fleeing to Europe first seek safety in overburdened neighboring countries such as Lebanon, where a quarter of the inhabitants are now Syrian refugees, the report said. The UN also noted a shift in migration patterns, with the num-

ber of people traveling the eastern Mediterranean route from Turkey to Greece now surpassing the route from north Africa to Italy. Italy, which last year had 170,000 people land on its shores—more than three quarters of all maritime arrivals in Europe—saw that slump in the first half of 2015 to 67,500. In Greece, however, arrivals have more than doubled to 68,000 so far this year compared to 43,500 in all of 2014, the report said. Greece has fewer than 2,000 reception places, and many refugees and migrants push on, aiming often for northern and Western Europe, particularly Sweden and Germany, which are seen as offering better protection and support. But getting there often requires a long and dangerous journey, often at the hands of smugglers who route migrants through the Balkans and onwards through Hungary. AFP

Last day of June a second longer

Recovery. Yupik children help recover a snow mobile that sank when its

owner attempted to drive across a pond on June 30 in Newtok, Alaska. AFP

WASHINGTON—Many people didn’t notice, but the last day in June was just a little bit longer than in years past. A “leap” second was added Tuesday to compensate for the slowing speed of the Earth’s rotation around the sun. “Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing down a bit, so leap seconds are a way to account for that,” said Daniel MacMillan from NASA. A typical day lasts 86,400 seconds, but June 30 got a little extension because of a gravita-

tional brake being applied by the moon onto the Earth’s orbit, scientists said. That force means the rotation of the Earth around the Sun actually has been two milliseconds slower for hundreds of years. Scientists add in a leap second to compensate for the delay, and keep high-precision timekeeping systems synchronized, either on June 30 or December 31. Such additions, which occur about once every three years, can be complicated due to com-

puter systems’ reliance on exact time measurements. Debate has intensified in recent years over making the addition of seconds to Coordinated Universal Time more predictable, particularly following technology disruptions after the last modification in 2012. But experts say that level of predictability may be hard to achieve. “In the short term, leap seconds are not as predictable as everyone would like,” said Chopo Ma at NASA. AFP

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 0 2 : 2 0 1 5

BING PAREL A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS WRITER life @ thestandard.com .ph

LIFE

Each Time’s Return

Aeon of the Pleroma

That Each May Be Greater

Within Her Holding

The One That Is Both

ENCHANTRESS

Unveiling the mystery of Camille Dela Rosa BY NOEL BARCELONA

or the spectator to fully understand Camille Dela Rosa’s aesthetics is to communicate with her subjects. It is not enough just to appreciate her paintings, but the audience should “know” and “feel” why they are beautiful. Perhaps, the audience may feel that this task is only for the art critic – to go more deeply into the details of what is called “artistic process.” However, Camille’s works cannot be treated as mere products of the artist’s imagination; they have life and soul of their own, speaking directly to the audience, asking to be understood. Every time one views her latest works which were unveiled last June 26 at the Art Underground, one is compelled to stop and deeply reflect on the hidden meaning each work of art wants to convey. Needless to say, the ingenuity of Camille lies not only in how she creates the images presented on the canvas, but on how she breathes life, intellect and soul into each one of them. Camille had woven intricate symbols that represent the intricacy of the human and the world psyche (collective consciousness.) Each painting connotes semiotics and alchemy, transforming the “lower” self to the “higher” self, transporting one from the mundane to the spiritual. Psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung discussed the four feminine archetypes and their association with the development of the human soul or psyche. It is very interesting as Camille had presented the “evolution” of the feminine principle in her new body of work. For Jung, the female principle could be the Queen, the Mother, the Lover, and the Wise Woman. These four are ever present in each and every aspect of creation. Without the feminine principle, or the anima, the entire universe will suffer from imbalance. Since the animus or the male principle is considered aggressive, the anima will counterbalance it. Like in Taoism, balancing the Yin will require the Yang, and vice versa. In Filipino mythology, the Malakas-Maganda (the Strong and the Beautiful) story also operates on the same principle. In her “Persephone Unveiled,” Camille presents the wonderful and terrible power of change. Persephone, the goddess of the underworld and of spring, is the catalyst of change. For immortality to arise, mortality should be sacrificed—hence the power of

death to unleash man’s immortal spirit. Spring, on the other hand, is the “resurrection” of everything that was dead throughout winter. Her veil is similar to fish scales symbolizing abundance, depth, wisdom and mystery. The pendant of her necklace is the Flower of Life and Merkabah which to the alchemists are both symbols of creation and the ascension of the Consciousness of Man. The rubies symbolize the sun—the primordial source of power in our solar system and the one that causes the change of seasons. “Emperatriz” represents feminine power, the Queen. In the Tarot she represents the power to create, recreate and procreate. She is also the epitome of beauty, creativity and love. The pearl and ruby necklace hanging on her neck is the affirmation of these powers. Ruby is the stone for stability, protection and wealth. The Bible considers a good wife, “more precious than rubies.” The pearl on the one hand, represents wisdom, the Sophia – thus the expression, the “pearl of great price.” “In the Stillness of Time” goes beyond the concept of time and space. In Hinduism, the female principle is part of the primordial and ever changing force. She is often represented by the trinity of Lakshmi (the creation, representing love, delight and beauty); Saraswati (knowledge and learning); and the ferocious Kali (Parvati, destruction, power and transformation). Among the Greeks, this principle was represented by Hebe, Hera and Hecate. And the list goes on and on and on. The diamonds that adorn the character in the painting represent the perfected being inside Man and Woman, the Soul which goes beyond the concept of space and time. In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important philosophical and spiritual writings in India, the individual human soul is depicted as unbreakable and insoluble, and can neither be burned nor dried. Soul is everlasting, is everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same. “The One That Is Both” represents the unity of the opposites. In the dialectical principle, the negative and the positive, the generative and degenerative forces always complement each other. These two always cause the change in everything, though the changes may be so subtle that one can never notice, unless observed closely and carefully. Continued on C2

THURSDAY : J ULY 02 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

TAAL THROUGH TIME ENCHANTRESS From C1

“That Each May Be Great “ portrays a warrior, reminiscent of the legendary Joan of Arc donned in shining armor. Surrounding her is an astrolabe, “an elaborate inclinometer used by astronomers, navigators and astronomers.” The three geckos clinging to her metallic collar affirm the attempt of Camille to show the continuity of life. These animals undergo molting, or the change of the outer skin but they remain the same animal. This works with the soul during the process of transmigration or reincarnation. While the soul assumes a different body, the essence remains the same. Nevertheless, one of the most interesting among Camille’s works is “The Other’s Hidden Center.” The artist integrates esoteric symbols such as the sacred geometry, the golden symmetry and the angels. The goat in the middle of the pillar is likewise intriguing. In astrology, the goat (Capricorn) being ruled by Saturn is considered as one of the most powerful among the zodiac signs as it rules both earth and water. For those who are interested in magic, the Moon (female) in Capricorn (which is both male and female, represented by the horn of the goat and the fins of the siren), brings forth wealth, increase of personal power, and growth. On the other hand, Camille depicts Mother Gaia or the Earth Goddess of antiquity on her “Within Her Holding.” Gaia represents growth, rejuvenation, and even death. No one can escape the cycle of birth, old age and death. The woman holding a rabbit, “The Fulfillment of Each,” and “Endless Beginning,” the one holding a chicken, both suggest fertility, abundance and resurrection. “Each Time’s Return” that shows a woman with a gastropod shell headdress embedded with aquamarines represents perfection and beauty. The color aquamarine at the background, however, is associated with meditation and revelation, and the precious blue diamond embedded in her crown is used to allow the person to “explore the darkest depths of our souls, face to face with ourselves, and with others.” Camille’s skill in interconnecting images is again revealed in “Aeon of the Pleroma” where the central figure wears the tiara with a Maltese cross. The cross symbolizes four Cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude. Such virtues are akin to the Christian Mama Mary. Her white lace veil is smoothly rendered that it almost blends with the background. Her crown or headdress resonates the designs of her dress. Two paintings emit a lighter vibration, perhaps to give us a breathing space. Simply hedonistic, both works break the heavily esoteric and mystical symbolism that dominate Camille’s exhibit: “One with Nature” where a youthful lass with a floral headdress holding a grasshopper seductively looks at her audience; and the “Lily of the Valley” wherein in a woman, perhaps a mother, is surrounded by an iris flower in full bloom with an orchid mantis serving as the pendant of her floral necklace. Both works attest to their spiritual as well as physical connection with Mother Earth. Camille Dela Rosa, as a surreal artist, is now being noticed in the international art scene. She is the only Filipino artist to be invited to an International All Women Exhibit dubbed as “Phantastische Venus” which will open this July 24 and will run until November 4, 2015 in the Altes Rathaus (Old Townhall) of Viechtach, Germany (Stadtplatz). For more details, please visit http://www. phanart.info/2015-1/ Camille Dela Rosa’s art exhibit will run until July 7, 2015 at Art Underground, 814 Balagtas St., Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, Tel.# 7210745; Mobile #0917-523 7463; Email: artundergroundmanila@gmail.com

If you’re up for a little walk through time in Taal, Batangas, here’s a great treat. The Ortigas Foundation Library is holding a historical tour of Taal, Batangas this July 18 with heritage, architecture, great dining and local shopping included. Taal is definitely thrilling – its long narrow uphill streets flanked by well-preserved houses take you back in time. The first stop: Manny Inumerable’s Galeria Taal, an ancestral house that has been transformed into a museum. You’ll definitely be amazed at his collection of vintage cameras, some of which he repaired lovingly and all of them working! He’s also quite a dashing storyteller, which makes a leisurely lunch of heavenly cuisine at his courtyard even more enjoyable.

Then it’s off to the Apacible House Museum right across the street then on to the nearby Cathedral – resplendent but fraught with controversy over its makeover. The Agoncillo House where Felipe Agoncillo was born is next. Agoncillo was Ambassador for Aguinaldo’s government and was sent to the United States and France, but unfortunately failed to get himself included in the Treaty of Paris negotiations. Then it’s shopping for souvenirs and of course, food, glorious food! A definite bargain at P2,000 – all in – because the Library is not in it to make money but to enlighten and encourage everyone to know more about Batangas history.

MY CITY, MY SM, MY CUISINE Cookbook wins 2 Gourmand Awards

President Edouard Cointreau poses with SM Senior Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon during the awarding ceremonies.

Here’s delicious news for foodies: The My City, My SM, My Cuisine cookbook recently won two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards during recent ceremonies in Yantai, China. The book, which was honored with a Prestige Award by the International Jury, and placed third in the Local Cuisine category, qualifying it to be among Gourmand’s Best in the World, takes readers on a virtual tour of the Philippines through a presentation of the best recipes in the region handed down through generations. Founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards is sometimes described as the Oscars of Food Awards. It celebrates cookbook and wine publishing, and features many renowned chefs every year. This year’s awards drew more than 12,000 entries from 205 participating countries. “It is a big success to be in the list,” says Gourmand Awards President Edouard Cointreau, adding that the quantity and quality of entries has reached a new high this year. “All the books listed are truly excellent in very different ways.”

TOYCON PH 2015

Bringing out the inner child in everyone

WORDS AND IMAGE BY JAY AGONOY

he Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention has been responsible for gathering fans and collectors of toys, comics, animation and games in the country since its inception in 2002. It has since grown to become Asia’s biggest and longest-running convention where people of all ages and genders, who share the same love for the hobby, attend annually. For its 14th installment this year, the Philippine ToyCon held at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City aimed not just to convene fans and hobbyist of all ages but to bring the inner child in every attendee through its exhibits, contests, merchandise and more activities. Highlights of the three-day Philippine ToyCon 2015 last June 19 to 21 included a showcase of locally-produced DC Comics-licensed hoodies, an exhibit of Lego creations, and the introduction of smartphone-controlled robots. The DC-licensed hoodies by Authority Hoodie are made of breathable fabric and come in different styles for different uses. The Superman and Wonder Woman hoodies are perfect for DC fans who are into sports, while the Green Lantern and Batman designs are suitable for those who don’t want to freeze in the office. These hoodies are available at Authority Hoodie popup stores set up in various events in the metro (check out their Facebook page for more information). Piquing the curiosity of ToyCon attendees were Sphero and Ollie, the new toys that harness smartphone technology. These “connected toys” use bluetooth technology through a complementary smartphone application available for selected iOS and Android devices. These smartphone-controlled toys were built for racing and more. Sphero runs up to 4.5 miles (7.24 kilometers) per hour while Ollie goes as fast as 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) per hour. Aside from speed and shape (Sphero is spherical; Ollie is tubular), another difference between the two is that the Sphero is more customizable than the Ollie. And you can actually program games for it, one of which is Sharky, an app that utilizes Augmented Reality technology to make Sphero look like a beaver on your smartphone. Another highlight of the three-day event was the Toy Gallery, which opened on Day 2. The gallery featured the

Philippine Lego User Group’s (PhLUG) exhibit of miniature versions of Sydney Opera House, Taj Mahal and the Death Star from Star Wars, among others. Founded in December 2012, PhLUG is a group for AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) which aims to host a Lego convention in the country. Prior to their exhibit at ToyCon, the group also showcased various Lego series such as City, Space, Cars, Mecha, Robotics, Mosaics, Star Wars, Military and pop cultureinspired designs during BrickXhibit and Abrickadabra at the Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. Both events received a “tremendous” audience reception, according to its co-founder Stan “Manilabrick” Lao. We asked Stan if Lego inspired members into becoming architects and if the group has members who are involved in this field. “Although I am not an architect, I could say that Lego can definitely inspire future architects. Lego, being a very versatile toy, has very limitless options for building. Thus, even when a kid cannot still draw, he or she can already start creating structures out of Lego,” he said. So what’s next for PhLUG? “Having already fulfilled the dream of hosting a Brick convention, PhLUG plans to have regular building contests in the group to encourage more people to build original creations. Also, with the wealth of talented builders the Philippines has, PhLUG plans to showcase their creations not just here but abroad,” shared Lao.

One of the exhibits in the gallery shows works of the Philippine Lego User Group featuring miniature versions of the Sydney Opera House, the Death Star from Star Wars and Taj Mahal all made of Lego bricks.

THURSDAY : J ULY 02 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

HIGHEST-PAID ENTERTAINERS REVEALED BY ED BIADO

Zmack

With $160 million in earnings, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao is named by Forbes as the second top celebrity moneymaker in the world this year. He is bested only by his most recent opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who cashed in $300 million within the same period, securing the all-time highest annual sum for an athlete. The duo’s 2015 riches are largely due to their highly anticipated and much publicized match, which sold 4.4 million pay-per-views and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue for both fighters, as well as partnerships and endorsement deals. This is one of the few times in Forbes’ Celebrity 100 history that athletes hold the top two spots. This is also the first time that the list is international and not US-centric, a decision that was made due to the “profound changes in the entertainment world.” “The result is a more accurate reflection of the current entertainment landscape, a 21st century reality where Bollywood’s biggest stars (Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, $33.5 million apiece) earn more than some Hollywood A-listers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Channing Tatum, $29 million apiece),” explains Forbes’ Zack O’Malley Greenburg. The third and fourth positions on the tally are occupied by musicians. Forbes reasons that this is because of the strength of lucrative world tours that are seeing a growth in popularity in emerging markets “spurred by the rise of the global middle class.” The year’s top musician is Katy Perry, amassing $135 million, followed by the UK’s One Direction with $130 million. Both acts were on tour during the Celebrity 100 scoring period. Radio and podcast personality Howard Stern makes the top five with an estimated $95 million that he earned for being the biggest star on Sirius XM and for judging on TV’s America’s Got Talent. Garth Brooks is at number six, earning $90 million in concert ticket sales. The American country music legend may not be a familiar name outside the US, but he’s huge and very much in demand in his home country. According to Nielsen, he is the best-selling albums artist in the US in the SoundScan era (since 1991); and Recording Industry Association of America data places him in second place on the list of top-selling music artists in the US with 135 million albums sold, after The Beatles with 178 million. Author James Patterson banked $89 million during the scoring period, which puts him on the seventh spot. While his books are not massive worldwide bestsellers, he out-earned every other writer for releasing as many as 16 books a year. The first actor on the list is Robert Downey Jr., who continues to command big bucks – $80 million this year – playing Iron Man on the screen. Tying him is Taylor Swift, whose most recent album, 1989, sold over 3.6 million copies. Rounding out the top 10 is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese football star’s $79.5 million total is due to a $50 million annual salary from Spain’s Real Madrid plus sponsorship contracts and his own apparel line. See the full Celebrity 100 list here: www.forbes.com/celebrities. Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao

Robert Downey Jr.

Taylor Swift

Katy Perry

Beijing Collective

ImproMafia

MANILA IMPROV FESTIVAL 2015 Still crazy after all these years BY GABE MERCADO

ith my phone held up in the air like a magic wand, I searched the hotel room for the strongest signal. I put in the numbers and held my breath, waiting for Washington DC to pick up. I heard the distinct voice of Dr. Mary Tyszkiewicz on the line, a voice I had heard a few dozen times on the YouTube video of her talk on how improvisation might help people prepare for unimaginable disasters. I made my pitch and two months later she made her way to the Philippines on the wings of donations from SPIT (Silly People’s Improv Theater) fans and improvisers from all around the world. Together, SPIT and Dr. Mary rolled out the Heroic Improv program to 15 groups all over the country, including groups in Yolanda-hit Tacloban and Tanauan in Leyte, sharing just how improvisation can help in developing the attitude and the mindset to respond to unforeseen disasters. Admittedly, teaching workshops in disasterstruck towns and cities was furthest from my mind when we started SPIT 13 years ago. I had just wanted an alternative to the kind of comedy that was prevalent in the local scene. I wanted to be a pioneer in a field that I could be good in. I took a workshop, gathered a few friends and SPIT was born. The past decade or so has seen tremendous growth for SPIT. We’ve proudly represented the country at the Hong Kong, Beijing, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Amsterdam improv festivals. We’ve travelled the country, doing shows in state of the art theaters, swanky resorts, smoky bars, massive convention centers, sports arenas and even the dried goods section of a public market. We’ve done workshops and have helped spawn more improv groups so that now we actually have a vibrant local improv community. We’ve shared to countless corporations the lessons non-theater people can learn from the practice of improvisation. While we’ve had much fun and much success, crafting scenes, songs and stories from suggestions our audiences make, somehow the question has always bugged me. What was all of this for? In a struggling country with a population of over 100 million people, just how important is the practice of improvisation in the grand scheme of things? What was the point of being silly, playing games and having fun in the midst of all the serious things going on around us? That was the question bearing heavy on my mind when I made that call to Dr. Mary Tyskiewicz a few weeks after Yolanda hit the Philippines. As an eminent disaster research professional who had just retired from her job at FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management

Agency of the United States), Mary had pioneered a program that bet heavily on the power of improvisation to help citizens think on their feet, make better decisions and practice distributed and fluid leadership in the face of sudden and catastrophic circumstances. Improv training could teach all those lessons AND do it in a fun and engaging manner. We piloted her program in what Mary calls “the benevolent greenhouse” of the Philippines in early 2014 and in May of 2015, an international development organization started talks with us to roll this program out on a wider scale to vulnerable communities in the Philippines. And there, perhaps, is the answer to my question. We improvise all the time! No matter what we do, no matter how we plan, predict, constrict and control, life and nature has a way of throwing a monkey wrench into our best laid plans. Improvisation is important because it teaches us how to be ready for anything and everything, and it teaches us to have fun while doing it. It’s an essential life skill that everyone needs. We’ve seen how Filipinos love fun and laughter and can manage to find something to smile and laugh about even in the most challenging of circumstances. “It’s all just fun and games until someone gets hurt,” my old teacher used to say. But the reality is, people do get hurt all the time. Everyone goes through suffering, everyone goes through grief, each one of us has his own battles to fight. But that shouldn’t stop the spirit of deep play and fun we can use for even the most difficult of battles. The moment we stop having fun, stop being a little bit silly, stop laughing at ourselves and stop finding and figuring out the game that life has thrown our way – that’s the true moment of tragedy. This July 2015, we will be celebrating life and finding the game when 19 groups from all over the world come to Manila for five days of workshops, performances, talks and most importantly of all, fun and games. We’ve got groups from as far away as Poland, Australia and the United States coming over as well as groups from Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro and from our lovely neighbors in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taichung, Tokyo and Singapore, among many others. We’re all excited to share the fun, the laughter, the insights that improv can offer from July 8-12 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Have a fun and crazy time with us. To paraphrase an old Apple commercial, “The ones who are crazy enough to change the world, are the ones that do.”

T H U R S D AY : J U LY 0 2 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

EXHIBIT ROUNDUP:

OF SIMPLE RURAL LIFE, POETRY IN WALLS AND THE JOURNEY OF WOMEN

he month of July opens with exhibits in and out of Metro Manila that celebrate the grandeur of simple life, the charms of living in the countryside, the deeper meaning in random objects and the life stages and challenges women go through in their lifetime.

RURAL: Zaniel Mariano

ANITA MAGSAYSAY-HO GALLERY AND MUSEUM, CASA SAN MIGUEL, ZAMBALES

Ongoing until July 30, 2015

In this art exhibit that celebrates the parochial and simple charms of rural life, San Antonio, Zambales-born artist Zaniel Mariano shows everyone a glimpse of a place and time untainted by the fast-paced living brought by globalization and rapid growth of technology. Mariano’s body of work focuses on the act of remembering life experiences with the intent to portray his idea of “slowing things down,” of selfevaluation, of unlearning and relearning the meaning of “progress” through pictures of what seem to be a simpler life in the Zambales countryside. For more information, contact Casa San Miguel at 0917-8382752.

Women of Curiosity: The Journey is the Destination

GENRE By Roberto M.A. Robles

GALLERIA DUEMILA, 210 LORING STREET, PASAY CITY

ARTISTSPACE, AYALA MUSEUM ANNEX, MAKATI CITY

Ongoing until July 8, 2015

Intrigued by the wonderful life stages and challenges that women go through in their lifetime, Nimfa Ursabia showcases interesting collages of women in her second solo exhibit. Ursabia, who spent her younger years in Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa, creates a body of surreal artwork that celebrate the mystery, elegance and resilience of women depicted by a mélange of Madonnas, Mona Lisa, 18th century Filipinas and Medieval ladies. These women symbolize the female, who albeit in different serious phases of her life, remains elegant, timeless, refined, Sweet Embrace, Nimfa Ursabia, 2015, mixed media collage mysterious and looking good. “Yet in all their seriousness, [women] are wrapped in colorful shapes, textures, patterns; [and are] all intertwined with each other in a very symbolic way,” says Ursabia. For inquiries, dial 759-8288 or email hello@ayalamuseum.org

July 4 to 29, 2015

Roberto Robles breathes new life and meaning yet again to random objects in his solo show. In Genre, the walls are seamlessly hung with a selection of Robles’ striking reliefs – squares and rectangles of piercing yellow and orange, earthy brown and moss green. True to his form, everything is simple, modern, and spare as seen in fragile and seemingly discontinued sketches on white paper. Reciting Poetries At approximately six by four feet, the main work Reciting Poetries, an off-white Rauschenberg-esque relief belies simple forms with dramatic combination of protruding surfaces of woodwork, paint and squarish patches of tonal values in gray, black and blue. As with most of Robles’ work, one sees not just randomness (including debris on the street) that could be the component of art, but that of art desiring to be attractive – underscoring that poetry exists even in consumer surplus. For more information, dial 831-9990 or email gduemila@gmail.com

Narratives – Life & Times on Canvas ART CORRIDOR, AYALA ALABANG COUNTRY CLUB, MUNTINLUPA CITY

July 8 to 31, 2015

Sining Binhi

The environment and life’s simple moments take center stage at Sining Binhi Art Group’s latest art collaboration. The exhibit will showcase art pieces depicting the country’s celebrations of life and tribulations, retelling of lost passions, and narrating the grandeur of life’s simple moments. Sining Binhi, led by the Dulay family of artists, advocates the preservation of environment through arts and social involvement. It has been holding exhibits since 2006 after its inception in 1994. Jun Dulay (co-founder of Sining Binhi), Nick Dulay, Rey “Bigay” Dulay, Matthius “Mat” Garcia, David “Baste” Justimbaste and James Acosta, lead the artists who will showcase their wares at the month-long exhibit. A grand opening will happen on July 11 at 6 pm.

T HUR S DAY : J ULY 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

EDITOR

Scenes from the gripping thriller, American Heist

ADrien BroDy, HAyDen CHristensen in ‘AmeriCAn Heist’

cademy Award Winner Adrien Brody and “Star Wars” actor Hayden Christensen play brothers embroiled in a bank robbery that would make or break their bond in the exciting and gripping action thriller American Heist. In the movie, James (Christensen) owes his life to his older brother, Frankie (Brody) after he took the rap and landed in prison. However, now Frankie is out and James’ guilt sets in while James is simultaneously trying to revive his relationship with Emily (Jordana Brewster). With promises of a new future and money, they turn to Frankie’s underworld connections, Sugar (Akon) and Ray (Tory Kittles), in the hopes that one last job would be the answer to change both their lives. Sarik Andreasyan directsAmerican Heist. He is from Yerevan, Armenia and by the age of 29 has become one of the top three highest grossing Russian directors, according to Variety Rus-

ISAH V. RED

sia. Andreasyan’s previous hits include the successful remake of the Russian cult classic Office Romance and the widely beloved box office hit Moms, making him one of the most talented and profitable directors in his country. The sequel to Moms - Happy New Year, Moms! sees Sarik working with the ensemble cast studded with the legend himself - Alain Delon. In 2013, along with the establishment of Glacier Films, the American chapter of Sarik’s career began. That summer, his creative collaboration with the incredible talents of Brody and Christensen resulted in the highly anticipated action drama American Heist. Sarik and the creative minds at Glacier Films produced three more films within their first year – one of which was a Sundance hit - Cooties starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson. From Crystalsky Multimedia, American Heist opens on July 22 in cinemas nationwide (simultaneous with its US release). Watch the film’s trailer here - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Cfx9BY5zYRc

The Vatican Tapes is the latest horror film to hit the big screen with Olivia Taylor Dudlley playing an important role

A hAunting desCent into dArkness

ewriting the horror genre, The Vatican Tapes” began when Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment received the haunting spec script that took the classic horror concept of demonic possession and elevated it to an even more chilling level by introducing the anti-Christ. Mark Neveldine directs The Vatican Tapes from a screenplay by Chris Borelli and Michael Martin about a woman who has been consumed by the anti-Christ. Neveldine had a personal grasp on the world of The Vatican Tapes having gone to Catholic school. After discussing the project with producers Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi, he jumped aboard the project. “I’ve always wanted to do a possession film. Something supernatural, but grounded in reality,” says Neveldine. Neveldine collaborated with Lakeshore on the script, focusing on how to balance fantastical elements and reality. They found that equilibrium by developing the main female protagonist, Angela, and her relationship with her father. “Angela is the everyday girl that we all know. While she hasn’t done anything wrong, this possession befell her and as we follow her chilling journey,

we are rooting for her to overcome the devil,” explains Borrelli. “We try to ground the film in reality and add a human element to the story,” says screenwriter, Michael C. Martin. “We found that human emotion by developing the relationship between Angela and her father, Roger.” Along with incorporating the human emotion to the film, the filmmakers looked for ways to rewrite the rules of the horror-thriller genre. “There are no decapitations, there are no blood sprays, and there aren’t any knives stabbing eyeball scenes. There are none of the normal grab-bag of tricks that you use in a horror film. This is more about subtlety. This film demonstrates the slow build and the slow escalation of dread,” explains Wright. “This is a film about demonic possession that can consume anybody. We don’t try to pull any punches,” says Neveldine. “We’re not trying to look for any jump scares. Instead, I want to get under peoples’ skin.” The Vatican Tapes opens July 22 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films. Check out the film’s chilling trailer here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=GU8rweOt79c

T HUR S DAY : J ULY 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

CRIStIna GOnZaLES IS makInG a COmEbaCk GLEn REGOnDOLa After eighteen years, former sexy actress Cristina “Kring Kring” Gonzales is staging a comeback in showbiz via a movie on Yolanda victims and how they are actually moving on after the storm surge. Her last film was Bagamundo in 1997. She is a councilor in Tacloban City and also the wife of incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez. When prodded by a group of entertainment writers whom they invited for the Sangyaw Festival on June 28 and 29, Kring Kring excitedly announced, “I’m actually doing a movie snd the title is Yolanda. This one’s different from what Nora Aunor did here in Tacloban. It’s not totally about the surge. It’s all about the lives of the people, before and after Yolanda. The producer is actually a group that decided to do it.” She added, “It’s the story of

three women before the storm. Their lives will be changed after the storm. I play the role of a mother with a retarded child whom I lost during the storm. There goes the twist of the story.” Gorio Vicuña is directing the film. He has already taken shots of the city using a drone. Does this mean she’s bent on going back to her previous career, which, she admits, she misses very much. “If it’s something like this, yeah, I’m willing to act again. But to go fulltime, I’m not very keen on it yet. I’m occupied with the livelihood projects we’ve initiated, so, I guess I’ll take acting depending on the project,” she mused. She’s glad that some of her batchmates are going back to showbiz. Meanwhile, some quarters are asking if she’s plunging into the mayoralty race considering that this is the last term of her husband. She said there’s no definite plan yet. Right now, she’s playing it by ears. If ever I decide to run, my husband might want it because I could continue his projects. “We talk about it casually, but

nothing’s definite. I’ll let you know and would you help me?” she asked jokingly. Even the rumors that Mayor Alfred is running for a higher position remain a enigmatic. “I’m still waiting for the sign” Mayor Alfred quickly told us with a sigh. His focus right now, he added is to further the tourism industry in Tacloban which generate more income for the city. The influx of tourists for the Sangyaw Festival (especially the Parade of Lights on June 29) was an affirmation that the city is on its way to recovery. More so, the sight of the ongoing construction of roads, houses and buildings gives the glimpse of what the city is now. The story of Tacloban is nothing different to what happened in Borongan, Samar when it was badly hit by Typhoon Ruby last year. Now on it’s road to a normalcy, Boronganons are extremely grateful for the good governance of their incumbent mayor, Mayor Fe Abunda, the eldest sister of Boy Abunda. Her will power, together with the resilience of its people, proves that recovery can be achieved when ev-

UnpreCedented aCtion in martial arts film

ndependent filmmaker Fabien Garcia, a martial arts enthusiast who’s been training in Judo since he was six helms and stars in the action movie to beat in Die Fighting, about a team of Shaolin-trained kung fu actors about to make their big break in Hollywood buta shady director forces them through a gauntlet in Los Angeles, forcing them to act and react in a brutal action reality movie, filming their every move as they are pitted against a gallery of thugs. To make their way out of the movie and keep their families alive, they must

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eryone would act as one. Congressman Ben Evardone, who treated us for lunch while on vacation with Walang Tulugan segment host (also a Boronganon herself) with a group of writers, revealed to us that their goals couldn’t be achieved without the cooperation of everyone involved in the rebuilding of their city. Former Vice Governor Leander Geli said the same thing to us. By the way, he provided the entertainment for us along with comedian/TV host Shalala. Meanwhile the LGBT community his side of the country is prodding Boy Abunda to run for governor in 2016. Abunda expressed his plan last year but had to cancel it because of the health condition of his mother.

face every death-defying challenge ers were all former Wushu nathe director throws at them or be tional champions. They were the killed in the filming process. best and knew how to help you A fan of Jackie Chan and Jean improve fast without killing your Claude Van Damme films among body. We trained two years in others, Garcia grew up in France the Sport University and became with a love for martial arts films. friends with a national Wushu Garcia further shared on his champion and Beijing Wushu training in the martial arts be- team member, Wang Xiao Na. She fore being caught in producing was our private teacher until she films, “After Shaolin, living in the became pregnant, so we went to Beijing Sport University was par- Beijing Shi Cha Hai Sport School. adise. The training was different, That’s where the Beijing Wushu only two to three hours a day, but Team and a young Jet Li trained.” the quality of the teaching was Die Fighting opens July 15 in cinealso more efficient, as the teach- mas from Crystalsky Multimedia.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Wild party 6 Labor Dept. division 10 Smidgen 14 Pep 15 Blemish 16 Raise cane? 17 Bell tower 18 Falafel bean 19 Frighten a fly 20 It repels moths 21 Take the first step (2 wds.)

With members of the press invited for this year's Sangyaw Festival

Part of WWW Bridal notice word Cow’s bellow “Lost Horizon” role Gnat Bullring yell “Mondo Cane” theme Goes rancid Dinosaur and gnats (2 wds.) Fission alternative Desires

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— kwon do Last box to check Ice sheet Sock hop locales Just scrape by Lobster eggs Bored note-takers Portrait Door post Seine vistas Like a tablet Hodgepodge Groovy Between, in Paris — noire Screws things up Ready to bake

DOWN 1 Autumn pear 2 Long, easy stride 3 In the thick of 4 Flop down 5 Over yonder 6 Switch positions 7 Chair-back piece 8 Cuba’s capital 9 Plugged-in 10 In that case (2 wds.) 11 Molokai neighbor

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015

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Pony’s gait —, amas, amat Lures — up (inflated) Successful, on Broadway Walrus hunter Cardiff natives Electric bridge Ms. Streep Debt memo Grubby Faint flicker Snake shapes At anchor Less bananas Kind of detector Help-wanted abbr. Antenna Sign after Taurus “Dave” actor Tanker Cartoon chipmunk Jump over Plaintive reed Tail end Mach 1 breakers Formic acid producers “Primal Fear” star Utopia Income source

Tacloban City Councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and husband, Mayor Alfred Romualdez

T HUR S DAY : J ULY 2 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

dennis Trillo hiTs The waves wiTh solenn and iya

Dennis Trillo rides the waves with Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villain in Taste Buddies

From C8

his Saturday, Taste Buddies’ Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villania go with the flow together with Dennis Trillo as they ride the waves at Flowhouse Manila to try the coolest sport in town: flow boarding. Their challenge? To learn the sport that is a combination of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding so they won’t get “wiped out,” or fall off the board while riding the waves. Solenn and Dennis also try Flowhouse’s café bestseller for the perfect refreshment for hungry flow riders. Meanwhile, Lauren Young checks out Sentro 1771 in Capitol Commons and discovers how its signature dish called “Corned Beef Sinigang.” It’s time for another fresh, fun and fab weekend with Solenn and Iya on Saturday, 8:45 p.m. on GMA News TV.

HHHHH 2016 PresidenTial asPiranTs With less than a year remaining before the 2016 National Elections, politicians have started to make plenty of noise. Some already expressed their desire to seek a higher post, while others stay mum about the matter. And when you go to the polls in May 2016, you would have to shade at least 39 names of candidates on the ballot. The position of President (1), Vice President (1), Senators (12), House of Representatives (1 district representative and 1 Party List Group), Provincial Governor (1), Provincial Vice Governor (1), Board Members (1 to 7), City Mayor (1), City Vice Mayor (1), and District Councilors (4 to 12) must be filled up. The presidency is the most coveted of all government positions. Among the names that

have emerged are Senator Grace Poe, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Do you already have a candidate in mind? What qualities are you looking for? CNN Philippines’ News.PH host, chief correspondent Pia Hontiveros talks to political personalities at the center of the news. In the past weeks, politicians eyeing the presidential post have been invited to the program. They were given the chance to confirm whether they’re running for President and share their insights and plans for the country. Among those interviewed were Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. News.PH with Pia Hontiveros airs 9:3o p.m. every Wednesday. Replays are on Sundays at 7:30 PM on CNN Philippines.

Sheppard performS Live for free

M Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. and Music Management International (MMILive) bring the multi-awarded, indie pop band Sheppard to the Philippines for a free concert at the SM Mall of Asia on Aug. 11. Performing their hit single “Geronimo,” and their latest release, “Let Me Down Easy”, Sheppard will be dropping by the Philippines for a meet and greet and CD signing event with their fans. The indie pop band has overtaken the music charts, garnering radio

play in 50 countries, and reaching the Top 10 on the singles chart in over 12 countries. “Geronimo” was the highest selling single of 2014 in Australia, where it is certified five times platinum. The track has since achieved platinum sales in the USA in excess of 1,000,000 sales, and impacted American Top 40 radio, making Sheppard the “third Australian group to impact Top 40 in the 21st century” alongside 5 Seconds of Summer and Jet. The single currently exceeds 138 million Spotify streams worldwide.

Indie band Sheppard performs in Manila for free

GLobe booStS GoSUrf data pLan

Globe free Facebook is still available to subscribers

he country’s no. 1 mobile brand and purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle Globe Telecom continues to enrich the customer experience as it now offers its GoSURF consumable data plan with free access to Facebook, allowing its mobile customers to access the social networking site without data charges. Globe is the only telco in the country to offer free access to Facebook with a complete browsing experience by registering to any GoSURF data plan. The full experience includes viewing of photos, streaming of videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as posting, liking, sharing and making comments on the social networking site. Access to the Messenger app, excluding calls, is also free. Available to Globe Prepaid and TM customers with a GoSURF subscription and to Globe Postpaid customers who will optin to the free Facebook promo

starting, free access to Facebook works on any mobile platform, including the Facebook Android and iOS app and browsers (via m.facebook.com), without any maintaining balance. Postpaid customers can access Facebook for free without any purchase requirement while Prepaid and TM customers will automatically get access upon purchase of any GoSURF promo. The validity of the free access to Facebook offer is the same as the subscribed GoSURF promo. Customers who have successfully registered on GoSURF will receive a text message notifying the availability of the free access to Facebook service, and will also see the “No Data Charges” banner at the top of the mobile site or app once the free access to Facebook promo is activated. “We continue to move towards cementing our authority in the digital space with the return of our free access to Facebook promo. We have been

working very closely with Facebook to bring the best and the fullest Facebook experience for free to Filipinos, photos and video streaming included. With this full experience, our customers can definitely enjoy Facebook the best way possible without additional data charges for as long as they are registered to a GoSURF data plan. Our customers can look forward to more exciting and wonderful Facebook innovations from Globe soon,” says Jil Go, Vice President for Content at Globe Telecom. Globe was first to launch a partnership with Facebook in November 2013, allowing its customers to have free access to the social networking site using the Globe data network. The company shared its technological capabilities and modernized network infrastructure to drive the ambitious commercial offer, which was aimed at increasing mobile browsing adoption in the country.

For the past two years, Globe has achieved success working closely with Facebook to increase internet usage in the Philippines with free access to Facebook. This key partnership has led Globe to become the leader in creating a digital lifestyle for Filipinos, evidenced by a 64 percent revenue market share in the Philippine mobile data market in 2014. Globe Telecom has maintained its dominance in mobile data business in the first quarter of the year after posting mobile data revenues of P4.4 billion, double the combined revenues of its competitors at P2.2 billion. As of March 2015, Globe mobile data revenues significantly grew by 58% from previous year’s P2.8 billion and by 8% from previous quarter’s P4.1 billion. Free access to Facebook is available to all Globe Prepaid and TM customers and Globe Postpaid customers by texting FREE FB ON to 8888.

T HUR S DAY : J ULY 2 : 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Drew ArellAno

Drew Arella no with Sun executives

Drew Arellano is the new face of Sun post paid

reveAls prAgmAtiC siDe ISAH V. RED Multi-faceted television personality Drew Arellano goes for better choices in life. As the new face of Sun, Drew is proud to be the voice of the fastest-growing mobile brand in postpaid. Drew, who loves to travel and is a triathlete, said he is supporting Sun’s #ChooseBetter thrust for very good reasons. “One of the reasons why I’m happy and proud that I’m now with the Sun family is because of the value-rich benefits Sun provides its subscribers – that’s what we want to push. It’s also about associating myself with a very good brand, a trusted brand,” said Drew. The travel show host recalled how he’s always opted for intelligent choices, making the decision to support Sun’s campaign an easy slide. “Before, when I was in college, you wanted to have that value for money and uso yung group messages. Like don’t call me with other networks. That’s how it is. It’s weird because right now we believe the market now is highly intelligent, very resourceful. They do checkout the deals for them. You know the amount of budget they use. So with Sun, it’s pretty much all about getting more than what you pay for.” Choose better Like Drew, Sun’s #ChooseBetter campaign rationalizes the importance of knowing your options because there are ways to make the most out of what we pay for, the backbone of this new campaign that calls on mobile subscribers to weigh their options carefully because it’s only through making better choices do they get the best

value for their money. Sun Vice President Joel Lumanlan underscored the brand’s solid business performance, “Sun’s stellar performance in the postpaid segment has been hugely driven by feature-packed plans that give subscribers unbeatable value for their money. We are optimistic about sustaining this momentum of double-digit growth throughout the year as we continue to introduce highly competitive products under an insightful marketing campaign that appeals to the wise spender in every Filipino.” Sun’s #ChooseBetter campaign is seen to sustain the gains posted by the brand in 2014, which saw Sun emerging as the country’s fastest growing postpaid brand in terms of subscriber base. Sun Cellular set the pace for the mobile industry by posting 16-percent year-on-year growth in its subscriber base, according to the yearend disclosure of PLDT. Sun is pushing for Best Value Plan 450, an entry-level postpaid plan which already comes with a free Android handset plus a monthly pack of unlimited calls and texts to Sun; 250 texts to all networks; and 20 hours of mobile surfing. On the other hand, Sun offers broadband users with Non Stop Surf Plan 450, which comes with Non-stop surfing, data streaming and access to Spinnr music app. “With all their inclusions at very affordable prices, Sun Best Value Plan 450 and Non Stop Surf 450 are clearly the best-value postpaid plans in the market today,” noted Lumanlan. Sun emerged in 2014 as the fastest growing postpaid brand in the country after posting a remarkable 16 percent year-on-year growth in terms of subscriber base, compared to the 12 percent growth

posted by rival Globe Telecom Inc., over the same period. HHHHH Febulous Fe Many people who see Fe for the first time, are amazed with her energy, and ability to switch from funny girl to broadway singer, and prance across the stage and break into choreographed dance, all without missing a beat (unless that’s part of the comedy routine). Such talent, these same people marvel, and they are genuinely surprised to learn how long she has been a professional entertainer. A multimedia artist, Fe started her professional career in 1979 as a member of Music and Magic, the Philippine’s premier show band in the 80’s, credited with highly successful performances in Manila, the Asian circuit and North American cities. She turned solo in 1987 and became much sought for her unique one-woman comedy cum dance-musical acts, acts that she updates and performs to this day. She’s appeared in top venues like Carnegie Hall, MGM Grand, SF Civic Center, Shrine Auditorium, and many more. Staying true to her filipino roots, she’s reached out to a diverse world audience, easily wowing crowds from 200 to 20,000. Fe is arguably the Philippine’s top female singer-comedienne, a parody paramour who in 1993 left her flourishing showbiz career and home in Manila, to come to the US to search for a sister she has never met, start a family of her own and pursue a dream of making it in America. No small goals. Along the way, Fe had to contend with US Immigration, and those experiences are given new life in her show “Amerikana ...Made in the Philippines” , a stage musical comedy production based loosely

Fe de los Reyes is still the country's inimitable comedienne/ singer

on her life story now on its third version and still developing. Fe is no stranger when it comes to making light of things bigger than herself, things she clearly does not understand or at least pretends not to. This musical told a tale about uprooting from Manila and coming to America, in search of fame and fortune and finding --- a sister that she learned about and has not met. If that wasn’t remarkable enough, Fe also portrayed illegal immigration -- hardly a topic to poke fun or sing about ---- based on her own experience with her lapsed immigration status in the 90s. In a dramatic real-life twist ---you can’t make this up--- Fe found an appreciative audience in

no less than the US government, who in 1995, granted her permanent residency status in the US as a person of Extraordinary Ability. She became a citizen in 2002. Fe’s ongoing project is Fe’s bookher inimitable take on a topic of truly worldwide proportion --Fe’s Book is a collection of spiels, spoofs and song parodies in typical Fe fashion, about the social networking phenomenon and the world ‘wild’ web. Fe’sbook has been staged in several cities including San Francisco, Arizona , Los Angeles and New York. Today, a busy artist and homemaker Fe continues to do what she loves best... and that is making people happy. ➜ Continued on C7