The Standard - 2015 August 09 - Sunday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 173  3 Sections 24 Pages P18  SUNDAY : AUGUST 9, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

BINAY: NO WAY TO TREAT SAF 44

LRT REHAB HITS SNAG AUDIT DEMANDS EXPLANATION FROM DOTC, LRTA By Christine F. Herrera

THE P1.314-billion allocation from the illegal Disbursement Acceleration Program for the repair and maintenance of Light Rail Transit 1 and 2 was released in full but not used in the Aquino administration’s “stimulus program,” the Commission on Audit said in a report.

“Despite the full release of the P1.314 billion Stimulus Fund in January 2014, the projects lined up for the rehabilitation of LRTA Lines 1 and 2 have not been implemented due to several project revisions, thus defeating the purpose of the grant of the Stimulus Fund, which was to accelerate economic growth, and also delaying the de-

livery of an improved railway services to the riding public,” the COA report, dated June 5, 2015 showed. The 87-page COA report, a copy of which was furnished The Standard, was signed by COA Supervising Auditor Mayola Paredes-Salita. The COA also questioned the propriety of the decision of the Department of Transportation and Commu-

nications to engage in the procurement and bidding of the equipment needed for the repair, instead of the LRTA, the implementing agency. The COA also required the DOTC and LRTA to explain the cause of delays in the multi-year projects of LRTA for System Lines 1 and 2, which underwent several revisions. Next page

ROLLING SARDINES. Passengers dash inside an LRT coach during rush hours because of the lack of serviceable coaches despite reports from the Commission on Audit that said that P1.3 billion from the Disbursement Acceleration Program had already been allocated for the repair and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2 but were not used by the Aquino administration.

WILLIE’S NEW LEASE OF LIFE ON TV

GOLDEN KINGDOMS THRIVED IN PH

‘BUDGET PRONE TO ABUSE’ By Joel E. Zurbano

THE proposed P3-trillion national budget for next year is vulnerable to abuse in the critical 2016 election year, according to the IBON Foundation Inc. The group found large lumpsum suspiciously allocated for local governments in the national budget and claimed theere was an

apparent attempt to give the administration greater flexibility to declare savings and transfer funds in the middle of the year. The result of the study came days after a member of the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives expressed the possibility that the Aquino administration will use the 2016 Next page

S U N d ay : a U g U S t 9, 2 0 1 5

A2 BUDGET From A1...

budget as a war chest for the May 9, 2016 presidential polls. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate believed that the administration would maximize the use of government resources to make its candidates under the ruling Liberal Party win and pass its priority measures such as the Bangsamoro Basic Law. “These are all valid concerns and we urge the public to keep their vigilance on the historic P3- trillion national budget for 2016,” Zarate said. Based on the study conducted by IBON Foundation, the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Aquino administration to Congress has greatly increased the amount of special purpose funds (SPFs), which the group described as notorious for having large lumpsum amounts that do not undergo congressional or public scrutiny. “SPFs increased by a substantial P61.7 billion to reach P430.4 billion in the proposed 2016 budget,” IBON stated in its official website. The research group said among the items is a “conspicuous 69% increase (P23.1 billion) in the allocation to local government units (LGUs) to P56.5 billion.” The new SPF for LGUs includes an almost 500% increase (P15.3 billion) in a so-called local government support fund to P18.4 billion, from being just P3.1 billion in 2015. It is widely accepted that LGUs, up to the barangay level, are the base in ensuring electoral victories for national candidates especially in presidential races. IBON also noted that the Department of Interior and Local Government under the supervision of Manuel Roxas II, who was recently endorsed by President Aquino as his presidential bet in the 2016 polls, also has budget items which appear inconsistent with its mandate to promote peace and order, ensure public safety, and strengthen local government capability. “The proposed 2016 budget includes P8.3 billion for DILG housing, water and other community projects that are presumably the purview of other government agencies,” the group stated. This includes P643 million for housing in the National Capital Region, P1.8 billion for water supply projects nationwide, P1.8 billion for community projects in armed conflict-affected areas, and P4.1 billion for bottom-up budgeting projects for water supply and other projects, IBON said. Increased SPFs for LGUs and redundant DILG allocations disprove the administration’s claim that pork barrel items no longer exist in the national budget, the group added. A number of lawmakers said that during elections, government resources and machinery are usually coursed through LGUs, which can be counted upon to deliver 20 percent of the votes. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc, vowed to “exercise to the fullest” their role as legislators and fiscalizers in scrutinizing the 2016 national budget. Romualdez said his bloc will check how next year’s national budget will be distributed to various programs. “It’s our role to scrutinize the national budget for next year to guarantee that no funds are misused. We will dissect and analyze the contents of the national expenditures,” he said. Last month, former senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that at least P424 billion in discretionary funds or lump-sump, which he said prone to corruption, can still be found in the 2015 budget.

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BINAY HITS TREATMENT OF 44 SLAIN COMMANDOS By Vito Barcelo

VICE President Jejomar C. Binay expressed sadness over the removal of the names of the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers involved in the Mamasapano operation who were to be awarded during the 114th anniversary of the police force. “That is saddening,” Binay said during an interview in his visit to San Quintin, Pangasinan after the names of PO2 Romeo Cempron and Superintendent Raymund Train, who were to receive two of the Philippine National Police’s highest awards, were removed from the list of awardees. Cempron was to be conferred the Medalya ng Kagitingan (Medal of Valor), while Train was to be awarded the Medalya ng Kabayanihan (PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal).

Binay said he, like many Filipinos, is also wondering why the names have been removed. “What could be the reason? When Colonel [Train] was the leader and he was among those who were able to get evidence [to identify Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir,” Binay said. A news website reported that the names were ordered removed by Malacañang. President Benigno Aquino reportedly did not want to be reminded of the Mamasapano operation, the report said. Binay noted that President Benigno Aquino III was criticized many times for failing to acknowledge the SAF44. But Malacañang insisted on that Aquino has always recognized the heroism of the 44 police commandos who were killed in the Mamasapano operation last January 25. “We want to stress that President Aquino has on several occassions recognized the heroism and courage of our SAF 44,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said on Saturday. He also stressed that the Aquino administration has been helpful to the needs of the family of the SAF 44.

“The administration has done enerything proper to help address the needs of the families [of the SAF44]. We have addressed their livelihood needs, education of their children, housing and other matters,” Coloma said. But during the annual SAF Memorial Day held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Saturday, the survivors of the SAF 44 themselves expressed dismay at how the Aquino administration has treated the deceased policemen. “[Aquino] did not even mention them [in his State-of-the-Nation Address. He did not even thank them, even if only to thank them. That is all we want,” Nita Cadiang, aunt of SAF member Police Officer 2 Joseph Sangonoy, said in a television interview. Other relatives said they were disappointed that none of the 44 commandos were recognized during the PNP anniversary. “We were treated like garbage. [Aquino] not only failed to mention them, he has also failed to deliver the justice that we have been awaiting for a long time. There is still no justice. He has even deprived them of the Medal of Valor,” another SAF relative said.

MeMorial day. Philippine National Police chief Ricardo Marquez meets with survivors of the 44 police commandos who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. daNNy PaTa

LRT

From A1... “The Project Status Report as of March 31, 2015 showed that most of the projects were only in the process of preparation of the Terms of Reference,” Salita said. Salita attributed the delay to the numerous changes/revisions on the projects to be undertaken delayed the scheduled rehabilitation of Lines 1 and 2. “After more than a year since the fund was released, there was not a single significant accomplishment involving rehabilitation of System Lines 1 and 2,” Salita pointed out. The original rehabilitation and repair projects were the rail replacement at LRT 1 and systemat-

ic replacement of Gantry Anchor Bolts at 1 Revenue Line and connecting line. “The purpose of the grant of the Stimulus Fund was defeated and there was delay in providing the riding public with efficient railway service. The opportunity to address promptly the commuters’ complaints made known in daily news from radio, TV and newspapers was overlooked or lost,” Salita said. “With the fund already made available for more than a year, we found no more significant reasons to further hinder the implementation of the projects,” she said. The COA also questioned the DOTC’s decision to allow the winning bidder not to conform to the requirements such as the sub-

mission of pertinent documents. Salita said the COA recommended to the LRTA management to immediately implement the planned rehabilitation projects for the improvement of facilities and services. “Management had not submitted their written comments, however, during the exit conference on June 1, 2015, they explained that the changes in the line-up of rehabilitation projects for LRTA Lines 1 and 2 were due to the prioritization of projects. They justified that they have to prioritize projects based on the validity of the subsidy they received. They also informed that those changes were properly communicated with the DBM and approved by the LRTA Board of Directors,” Salita said.

“As our rejoinder, the projects originally lined up which were the basis of the DBM in approving the grant of the Stimulus Fund should have been carefully planned and studied,” Salita said. The frequent changes of the projects for implementation just to accommodate which subsidy will be utilized constitute realignment of funds requiring the approval of the Department of Budget and Management, she said. “These actions resulted in the non-implementation of the original projects lined up for rehabilitation of Lines 1 and 2 when the requested funding was already approved by the DBM and needed to provide the riding public efficient railway transport system,” Salita said.

s u n d ay : a u g u s t 9, 2 0 1 5

NEWS

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INDIA JOINS CALL FOR RESTRAINT IN MARITIME ROW by sara susanne d. fabunan

After the rAin. After being stuck at home because of the rain, five children play around a decommissioned commercial aircraft along Sucat Road in Parañaque City on Saturday.

SEASONAL RAIN HITS THOUSANDS SEASONAL rain intensified by Typhoon Hanna has affected almost 4,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The disaster agency said a total of 923 families, or 3,843 individuals, in the Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Soccsksargen regions with 245 families, or 1,100 people, staying in evacution centers. Local officials in the Central Mindanao had earlier reported that as many as 70,000 people have been affected by heavy rain due to the intertropical convergence zone that was enhanced by the southwest monsoon and Hanna. Although Hanna, continued on Saturday to move toward China after killing at least four people and leaving a trail of destruction in Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Metro Manila will continue to experience moderate

rains in the next four days. “We therefore expect lessening rain in Metro Manila towards the middle of next week,” said weather forecaster Gladys Saludes. “Metro Manila can have moderate rains of 2.4 millimeters to 7.5 millimeters on Sunday,” she said, adding that precipitation in Metro Manila will likely ease beginning Monday with occasional rain until Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hanna [international name: Soudelor] moved towards China on Saturday, weaker but still packing a punch, after killing at least four people and leaving a trail of destruction in Taiwan. The typhoon ripped up trees and triggered landslides in Taiwan, and knocked out power to 1.5 million homes. Rivers broke their banks un-

der torrential rain and towering waves pounded the island’s coastline. In mainland China, which faces Taiwan across a narrow strait, at least 250,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang ahead of the typhoon’s arrival which is forecast for Saturday evening. Already, strong winds and heavy rain have cut off power and destroyed farm crops along China’s eastern coast, state media reported. Taiwanese authorities said four people had died in the storm including a firefighter in southern Pintung county and a man in the coastal town of Suao who was hit by a falling billboard. An eight-year-old girl and her mother had become the first fatalities when they were swept out to sea and died as the storm approached on Thursday. The dead girl’s twin was also missing in the same incident, while another nineyear-old girl was injured but survived. Dramatic images showed

an elderly man who was buried up to his waist in another mudslide being hauled out by emergency workers in the picturesque hot spring area of Wulai, just outside the capital Taipei. Tatung township in eastern Yilan saw the most rain, with more than a metre (40 inches) falling since Thursday. “I’ve never seen such a powerful typhoon in my 60 years of life,” one elderly woman in eastern Taitung told Formosa TV. China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) predicts Soudelor will make landfall on Saturday evening in Fujian, somewhere in a band roughly between the cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen. Late Saturday afternoon, the typhoon was still around 125 kilometres (80 miles) from Fujian, it said. “When it makes landfall in Fujian, it will be significantly weaker, basically the strength of a typhoon or severe tropical storm,” the government agency’s chief forecaster Qian Chuanhai told state television.

MALACAÑANG on Saturday disputed the claim of China that its reclamation in the South China Sea has not threatened regional peace or freedom of navigation and insisted that many countries have already called Beijing to task for endangering regional peace. Coloma made the remark as India also warned China that territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means as it did with Bangladesh in their maritime dispute. Responding to China’s statement that the Philippines and Japan were conniving against Beijing, Coloma said the Philippines and Japan have the right to work together on security issues that mutually affect them because of the strategic partnership between them. Coloma also said that when President Aquino visited Japan last June, he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed how the current strategic partnership could be strengthened further. Part of it is ensuring freedom of navigation and easing the tension in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, he said. Asked to comment on China’s statement that it has no plans to impede freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea, he said China’s recent ac-

tion has raised tensions in the region. China’s reclamation activities in the contested territories are not constructive as many countries opposed such moves, he said. The US, the European community, G7 as well as Japan do not support changing the status quo in the region as a result of China’s reclamation works. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had asked China to stop its reclamation, the construction of projects, and deescalate the tension in the region. Aside from Japan, India also warned China during the 5th East Asia Summit foreign ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur that territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means. India’s junior foreign minister V. K. Singh said India has also had similar maritime dispute with Bangladesh, but it was discussed using the mechanisms provided by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea. “India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Singh said. “We further support efforts for the early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea on the basis of consensus,” he added.

VILLANUEVA TO STAY AT TESDA by sara susanne d. fabunan JOEL Villanueva will remain as the director general of the secretary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority despite the graft complaint against him in connection to the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. In a radio interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that it is not mandated for Villanueva to take a leave despite cases filed against him. “Under the prevailing law, elected officials who are facing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman, are not mandated to resign or file a leave,” Coloma said in a radio interview over a state-owned Radyo ng Bayan. Coloma said that it will leave

the matter to Villanueva, President Benigno Aquino III’s political ally, to decide if he wants to take a leave from his duty. Coloma said that the Aquino administration believes that the cases file against Villanueva will not affect his job as TESDA chief. “We know Secretary Joel Villanueva as a conscientious public servant and in all occasions we saw his determination to implement various programs for our people through offering technical and vocational skills),” Coloma said. He assured the public that despite the case he is facing, Villanueva’s decision will consider the interest of the public and he will not neglect his job. On Friday the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges against Villanueva and several others for cor-

ruption involving pork barrel funds. In an executive summary released by the Justice Department, the NBI said there is sufficient basis to refer the allegations of malversation, direct bribery and graft and corrupt practices against Honasan; Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Manila 5th District Rep. Amado Bagatsing; former congressman Conrado Estrealla III of Pangasinan; former party-list congressman Robert Raymund Estrella (Abono); former congressman Manuel Ortega of La Union; 1st District of La Union Rep. Victor Francisco Ortega; former congressman Isidro Real, Jr. of Zamboanga del Sur;, and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Public heAlth AdvocAtes. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (center) greets Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar (left) during the general assembly of barangay health workers at the Cebu Sports Complex. The two lawmakers were guests of honor at the gathering that was presided by Hermilinda Abadiano (right)

S U N D AY, A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION NOT SO EMPTY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

LET’S HEAR IT THE Commission on Elections said it would hold presidential debates to have a way of exacting accountability from candidates with regard to their promises. Chairman Andres Bautista said the debates, which would be held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, would help voters make up their minds on whom to vote for in May 2016. In the past, debates have been organized by various organizations but not all of those in the running agreed to participate. They offered various reasons, but whether these were valid or not, they deprived the electorate of getting to know them beyond the clever slogans, catchy jingles and photoshopped posters produced by their handlers. These days, voters should know better than vote for candidates on the strength of their promises. By promises we mean the illusion planted in the minds of the people that there would be more food and more jobs, and life would generally be better under the rule of this or that presidential hopeful. There are numbers with which to measure whether these promises have materialized. There are metrics, too, that would help the people choose perhaps not the best looking, or the most articulate candidate, but the one who, by his or her track record, apparent inclinations, behavior and demeanor would seem to possess the qualities required of a chief executive of the land. And what a land we have, holding so much potential but beset by administrative problems that a good statesman, leader and manager should be able to straighten out within years. By all means, let the debates begin as soon as those bent on running for the highest post have made their intentions official. Only through spontaneous debates would the people know that the candidate understands, appreciates and knows what to do with issues affecting Filipinos on all fronts. We can’t wait to hear them, and decide from what we hear. We’ve been duped before but now won’t have any of the bull.

CHAROT VS CHAKA

GAYSPEAK is in the news, and sadly, for the wrong reasons. Malacañan Palace and the Office of the Vice President have been trading barbs, using gayspeak. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda started the catfight by calling Vice President Jejomar Binay’s recent True State-of-the-Nation Address “charot” - which is gaypeak for something that should

not be taken seriously such as a joke, a frivolous action or statement, or a charade. Binay’s camp through spokesperson Joey Salgado came back with a more catty response done in more colorful gayspeak: “Imbey ang fez ni Secretarush dahil trulalu ang spluk ni VP. Pero ang SONA ng pangulo, chaka ever sa madlang pipol dahil hindi trulalu” (roughly, “Secretary Lacierda is annoyed because what the VP said was the truth. But the President’s SONA was derided by the masses because what he said was not true.”) Aside from Lacierda and Salgado and their rabid supporters,

When heterosexuals appropriate gayspeak for their own purposes, particularly as a political tool to denigrate or dismiss the worth of others, it is far from ennobling. It contributes to marginalization.

I don’t think anyone else was amused - not even the local gay community. There were lots of eyebrows raised. In general, al-

most everyone thought that the exchange was unbecoming of mature statesmen. Of course the bright boys in

Malacañan Palace tried to give the whole thing a positive spin. The usually earnest Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma tried to deflect criticism of Lacierda - and the Palace because darn it, Lacierda is the official spokersperson of the President of the Republic - by saying that the Palace allows gayspeak or any form of communication as long as “it speaks the truth.” I hope the Palace remembers Coloma’s wise counsel the next time someone takes the President to task for unfulfilled promises such as those he made to the widows and families of the Fallen 44 and the victims of

super typhoon Yolanda by using colorful language. To begin with, I don’t think anyone believes that Lacierda and Salgado used gayspeak as a means of promoting the language, or granting it legitimacy, or as a way of recognizing the gay community as a valid source of commentary. Lacierda used “charot” to illustrate the extent of his condescencion towards Binay; the choice of word and language was deliberate. He picked gayspeak to give his message the required level of derision. The subtext was clear: Just

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like gayspeak, you are not to be taken seriously. If Lacierda, Coloma and company disagree, I dare them to describe the President’s next speech or activity in gayspeak - they can start by defending the government’s actions towards the Yolanda victims as “keribels,” or describing the conditional cash transfer program as “bonggacious.” Sige nga! Salgado’s retort may have been provoked, but the fact that he responded in form proved that the VP’s camp is no different. They are all insensitive.

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It is also important to point out that while gayspeak is used by the local gay community, it has a specific context. Not even gay people use gayspeak in public occasions! When heterosexuals appropriate gayspeak for their own purposes, particularly as a political tool to denigrate or dismiss the worth of others, it is far from ennobling. It contributes to marginalization. *** When Joseph Estrada ran for office as mayor of Manila, he made a lot of Continued on A6

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

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Ma. Isabel “Gina” P. Verzosa Head, Advertising Solutions Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

I FOUND myself coming home to a quiet house one evening a couple of weeks ago. Quiet is not something usual in my family. I have four kids: two young adults and two teenagers. Normally there are music, movies/tv series, games, and friends -- the latter they seem to have an abundance of. I often fall asleep with some sort of activity in the background. But on that Thursday night, only the tenth grader Sophia was home, and she was already asleep, tired from school and her commute. The oldest, Beatrice, had just left for the airport, on her way to Singapore for some regional youth event. The second, Josh, had extended his stay in Baguio with his friends who also happened to be his bandmates. Their jazz group was invited to play at a bar there. The youngest, seventh grader Elmo, was at boarding school in Makiling and would not be due home until the weekend. This was something new. I decided to get a massage. Before stepping out, I posted a related status on my Facebook wall. When I returned, I found messages from several friends saying that I should be prepared for the actual empty-nest stage in my life. It will be a lonely time, some of them suggested, something I should prepare for as early as now. Empty-nest is that period in one’s family life when the children you bore and raised are just about ready to strike out on their own. It’s supposed to be a sad and humbling stage. All of a sudden, you who used to be so busy and so dependable would now find yourself not needed. Nobody’s asking for your help anymore -- even as nobody’s making your house dirty or your wallet empty. And whereas you used to complain about the noise and the clutter, the house is now silent and in perfect order. And somehow that’s not as perfect as it sounds. Not even 40, I may be quite young to worry about going through the emptynest stage. Nonetheless, the one-night glimpse got me thinking: Is it really as scary and sad as it is made out to be? ••• I suppose the empty-nest stage will have different effects on different people. Parents who relish their role as providers, care-givers, cheerleaders and allaround supporters of their children will likely experience a shock at not being needed anymore. Those who spend their days claiming they live for their families will find it odd that they no longer have anybody to live for. The same is also true for those who thrive in company and activity. For them, so long as they are surrounded by people, they would be all right. When they find themselves alone, they would be lost. Continued on A6 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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S U N D AY, A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION NOT SO EMPTY

[ EDI TORI A L ]

CHAROT VS CHAKA

I don’t think anyone else was amused - not even the local gay community. There were lots of eyebrows raised. In general, al-

most everyone thought that the exchange was unbecoming of mature statesmen. Of course the bright boys in

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

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S U N D AY, A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

SINGAPORE AT 50 NEEDS TO RELAX A LITTLE SINGAPORE is throwing itself a grand 50th-anniversary party this weekend, and it has plenty to celebrate. Its income per capita has grown from roughly $540 in 1965 to more than $55,000 in 2014. That’s about the same as the US and on par with the richest countries in Europe. If ever there was an economic miracle, Singapore is it. Led by the visionary Lee Kuan Yew, the founders of the newly independent city-state had to make a country out of virtually nothing. That was difficult, all right, but the challenge for their successors may be almost as hard -- to take that miracle and recast it for the next half-century. Pragmatic and nimble leadership has been critical to Singapore’s success. State efforts built both the physical infrastructure needed to attract multinational companies and the soft infrastructure—low taxes, clear rule of law, orderly labor relations and an educated, skilled workforce—that make Singapore one of the world’s best places to do business. The country’s very success, however, has created problems. The rapid buildup in the immigrant population, from 5 percent in 1980 to 29 percent in 2014, has spurred a fierce backlash. Rising living standards have led to plunging fertility rates and longer lifespans: Singapore is now one of the fastestaging societies in the world. The emphasis on big multinationals and government-linked companies has held back the development of small and middle-sized enterprises. In education, standards are world-class -- except when it comes to creativity and

collaboration. To their credit, Singapore’s leaders have acknowledged these issues and have begun to address them. But the government could stand to go further and faster. Meeting the demographic challenge requires expanded funding for retirement. Rather than simply rewarding young couples for having more children, open more day-care centers and grant more time off for new mothers and fathers. Spending on education should be broadened to include more

The country should take a chance on lightening up. Look at it this way: Too much of an instinct for the orderly can harm productivity.

support in early childhood for disadvantaged youth: Money spent there saves a lot of money later. Small and medium-sized companies need better access to finance. It would also make sense to consolidate different efforts to help such firms in a single coordinating agency. Recent efforts to spur entrepreneurship seem to be working: Almost one in 10 Singaporeans is now employed in a startup company,

and 20 percent of graduates say they hope to start their own business. But Singapore continues to lag behind its peers in innovation. Progress there will require schools that develop initiative and teamwork. Singapore’s reputation as a repressed nanny state is often exaggerated—but its timid media and fondness for rules do inhibit the flow of ideas and limit its appeal as a place to live and work. The country should take a chance on lightening up. Look at it this way: Too much of an instinct for the orderly can harm productivity. The same goes for Singapore’s political system, which the ruling People’s Action Party has dominated since independence. Punditsexpect the government to call an election soon after the celebrations to capitalize on goodwill toward the PAP and Lee Kuan Yew, who died earlier this year. Those feelings are both genuine and largely deserved. After a scare in the last elections, the PAP has tried to be more responsive to voters’ concerns. Efficient and incorruptible as the government has been, though, it would benefit from a bit more dissent. Critics warn that the civil service is too aligned with its political masters, while the country’s pliant media mute the needed debate on policy. They’re right: The danger is groupthink, and it’s mounting. After 50 years of ceaseless striving, Singapore can afford to relax just a little. If it wants to keep amazing the world, and to extend its miracle into a new era, it may have to do just that. Bloomberg

Not so... From A5 But the empty-nest stage is also a perfect opportunity to reconnect with one’s spouse or partner. It is likely that over the many years spent raising children and earning a living, one or both may have felt that they have lost whatever it was that brought them together in the first place. It would be good, then, to find a common hobby. Start living healthy. Travel. Get to know each other as though the past years of everydayness did not drive a wedge between the two of them. Single parents, on the other hand, will be able to conquer fears and try things they may not have had the courage or even the time to do before. Travel alone. Write a book. Read all the books lying on the shelves. De-clutter and keep only the things that spark joy, as one author advises. And after decades of bearing huge responsibilities on their shoulders, they can finally rest and do nothing, only the things they love. It also opens them up to surprises the universe may spring. Finally, empty nest is a good way to witness a change in relationships with the children. We can treasure them as friends and let them see us as their mentor, not as judge or protector. Allow them to get to know us for who we are, warts and all -- not only the stern, strong, superman or superwoman who took care of them when they were young. We can tell them a secret we’ve been wanting to get off our chest. Laugh like crazy, or seek their advice. Let them roll their eyes and say, “Mom!!!” As an introvert I believe I would have an easier time dealing with the empty-nest stage when it does come. Imagine the peace and quiet, the absence of clutter, all that blank space and free time! But for parents of all stripes, remember: the time for kids leaving the nest would come for sure. Just because we’re young parents does not mean we should not start preparing for this phase right now. It also does not have to mean feeling empty, or being sad. On the contrary, empty-nest could yet be another wonderful stage in our charmed life. adellechua@gmail.com

Chaka... From A5 promises - essentially, he said that he was going to be a better mayor than Alfredo Lim. Estrada’s first term as mayor is almost ending and there’s very little improvement in the city. I live in Manila so I am familiar with the aggravations on a daily basis. Traffic in Manila has gone from bad to worst. Gridlock along areas where there is a major construction such as in San Andres, Paco, and Nagtahan may be understandable - but they can be alleviated by some deliberate traffic management efforts. But bedlam in areas where there are no construction

projects is unacceptable, such as in Vito Cruz Street, which is caused by buses that use the two-lane street as terminal and by the presence of too many colorum tricycles. In fact, there seems to be more of these colorum tricycles everywhere in Manila. Our neighborhood has been sleepless in the last month because of a major public works project being done on our street. The problem is that the contractors do their heavy equipment work at midnight when everyone is trying to rest. This is because of that darn truck ban in the city the contractors can only haul the concrete and the rest of the debris only at midnight.

SURVIVOR RECALLS LIFE IN INTERNMENT CAMP FOR JAPANESE-AMERICANS

AT AGE 15, Rosie Maruki Kakuuchi became a prisoner in the blink of an eye, in her own country. Now 88, she recalls the three miserable years she and her family endured in one of the concentration camps the United States set up for Japanese-Americans after Tokyo attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. “We were treated like enemies,” Kakuuchi told AFP from her home in Las Vegas, speaking ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb drop in Japan on August 6, 1945. Here was a government taking extreme measures that reflected fears that such Americans—some 112,500 were interned in the camps—could not be trusted as the country waged war in the Pacific. The executive order signed

by President Franklin D. Roosevelt—No. 9066—in February 1942 created military exclusion zones along the West Coast and elsewhere, allowing for Japanese-Americans to be rounded up and held in camps run by the military. “The successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage,” said the order signed by Roosevelt. Camps were set up in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This is now regarded as one of the most disgraceful chapters of US history. Kakuuchi remembers initially trusting the very government that had imprisoned her. “This is my country, so I thought they knew what was best for us,” she

said. Kakuuchi and her relatives ended up in a camp called Manzanar, in the Sierra Nevada mountains of eastern and central California. The name is deceivingly bucolic—it is Spanish for apple orchard. But life at Manzanar was far from pleasant. The weather was like an oven in summer and a freezer in winter. Time dragged, the hours seemingly endless. The camp held up to 10,000 people, who turned it into a virtual city: it had a nursery, a school, shops, a hospital and even a cemetery. The guards overseeing the facility were strict, though, as they enforced life in confinement. Most of the adults worked and earned a small wage, with which they could buy things by

catalog. People tried to entertain themselves, Kakuuchi said. They held dances and movie nights, and the camp even founded its own newspaper. But conditions were harsh. The barracks-like housing was awful. The wind would blow dirt in the through the doors and windows. Families were crammed together. “We lost our freedom and got used to horrible conditions,” Kakuuchi said. It was not until 1988, when Ronald Reagan was president, that the government paid reparations to the camp survivors. Each got $20,000. “This is one of the most shameful chapters in US history,” said Alysa Lynch, curator of a museum set up at what used to be the Manzanar camp.

It also has three replicas of the barracks. Jason Adler, an American in his 40s visiting Manzanar, said he had known nothing about the camps. “I think we need to do more and tell what happened. People need to know this, that we had 10 concentration camps in our country,” Adler said. Kakuuchi has mixed feelings about the compensation paid by the government. “It’s not really enough, but at least by doing this they were accepting they made a mistake,” she said. When the gates of Manzanar finally opened in 1945, Kakuuchi said the government gave her a bit of money and a ticket, supposedly to go home. “They gave us $20 and a ticket to go somewhere. We had nowhere to go,” she said. AFP

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

NEWS

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HAZARD PAY FOR RURAL MEDICS PRESSED

HERITAGE SITE. The old Bureau of Customs building has been turned over to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines which has declared it as one of the many heritage structures in Manila. DANNY PATA

YOLANDA VICTIMS STILL CRITICAL OF REHAB PLAN By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN CITY—Nearly two years after super typhoon Yolanda leveled this city on November 8, 2013, Esperanza Merin, 49, widow of two children, remains troubled when she is going to finally see her destroyed house fully restored. “I am alone on this. The government should have been there for me since day one to help me recover, but it didn’t happen,” Merin said. Although employed in the city government as a rank-andfile worker, Merin said that recovering her house and property needs more assistance. “I hope I will receive soon

the promised shelter assistance for us. But since this is not yet happening, I remain frustrated, especially that I also have to continually look for money for my school children,” she added. Janet Macawile, another widow of a storm victim in nearby town of Palo, Leyte, said she has had enough of govern-

ment’s broken promises. Unable to wait for the separate housing assistance for government workers hit by Yolanda, Macawile, like any other state employees, incurred debts to rebuild her house. “There is nothing to be commended of this government in its response to the Yolanda calamity,” said Efleda Bautista, convenor of People Surge, an alliance of Yolanda survivors. “The promised relief by this government was not only delayed; it was inadequate,” she added. According to Bautista, the recovery in Eastern Visayas almost two years after the “were never meant to be sincere, serious and effective response to the urgent needs

ROMUALDEZ GROUP BACKS 2016 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE By Maricel V. Cruz THE House Independent Bloc on Saturday backed the Commission on Elections’ plan to hold a presidential debate nationwide for the 2016 presidential derby. Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that such a proposal of the Comelec would educate the electorate about the candidates’ platform of government. “Let us promote voter education about platform of government that candidates may offer to the people and put an end to mudslinging. This will help the

electorate discern who to vote for and will also expose candidates on their positions about pressing issues that may affect the country,” Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa). Romualdez also pointed out as the presidential debates would provide a mechanism for exacting accountability with regards to candidates’ campaign promises. Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, member of Romualdez’s the Bloc, said the conduct of presidential debates in the country is necessary. “It is imperative that the same

should be undertaken so the public gets to appreciate the plans and programs, and the personalities involved,” de la Cruz said. An administration ally, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez underscored the importance of presidential debates to promote positive campaign instead of political mudslinging. Benitez, chair of the House committee on housing and on urban development, stressed “voters deserve better” in the coming polls by allowing them to watch and listen presidential debates that would “encourage candidates to focus on substantive issues and public policies.”

of a devastated people.” “One must only tour around Eastern Visayas region, especially in cities and political centers and see for himself the direction of the so-called ‘Reconstruction Programs and Projects’—new municipal and barangay halls, malls, department stores, hotels not to mention newly established subdivisions plus road widening and renovations happening here and there – while thousands still languish in rotting bunkhouses and temporary shelters built by local and international aid groups and foundations without a better and secure future in sight,” she told The Standard. “Moreover, the construction of houses as well as public school buildings and

classrooms were left in the hands of aid groups and foundations thereby freeing this government of its paramount obligation to its people to the young survivors. Is this the government’s version of policy of Public-Private Partnership?” she asked. “We see these policies as antipeople and pro-big business. The signs of disaster capitalism were evident,” she added. Bautista also attacked the government’s Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). “The ESA based on a master plan drafted 10 months after Yolanda funded with almost P170 billion shows the government’s failure to see the urgency of the assistance,” she said.

A VETERAN lawmaker has filed a measure granting additional incentives and benefits to rural doctors. Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando G. Andaya, Jr. said in his House Bill 5725 that rural doctors, in addition to other incentives granted under existing laws, shall be entitled to hazard allowance in an amount to be determined by the local health board of the local government unit (LGU) concerned. They shall also be entitled to subsistence allowance which is equivalent to the meals they take in the course of their duty which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances as determined by the LGU concerned, Andaya said in his explanatory note. The former budget secretary explained that rural relocation incentive should likewise be granted to doctors who are not original residents of the rural or remote area community, which they serve, in an amount to be determined by the local health board. He pointed out that rural doctors shall also be granted continuing medical education in the form of tuition fee subsidy and stipends as well as isolation travel assistance for visiting physicians to provide medical services in eligible rural areas and isolated communities to be determined by the local health board. “The grant of these financial incentives and benefits will attract, recruit and retain rural physicians across the country and make serving as a healthcare professional in the areas attractive and motivating,” Andaya said. In pushing for the bill, Andaya said the lack of attractive financial incentive had discouraged many doctors from working in rural communities. This, Andaya said, had resulted in the unequal distribution of health workforce, especially of doctors in the country. The Bicolano solon said based on the study, “Assessment of factors influencing retention in the Philippine National Rural Physician Development Program,” only 10 percent of health professionals in the country are found in rural communities where more than majority of the people resides. PNA

SATELLITE CENTER.

A nurse at a satellite treatment center injects medicine into a multi-drug resistant TB (MDRTB) patient. MDRTB has been on the rise in recent years, but doctors say it can be cured with 18-24 months of daily treatment. MANNY PALMERO

SUNDAY: AUGUST 9, 2015

editorial@the standard.com.ph

NEW ANTI-CRIME TACK BARED By Joel E. Zurbano

THE government’s approach to fight crimes now needs a deeper participation of the community and local leaderships, according to the National Police Commission.

ART BOULEVARD.

A man arranges paintings that he sells for as much as P200 apiece along the busy stretch of Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Saturday. DANNY PATA

PAY HIKE FOR STATE WORKERS PUSHED By Maricel V. Cruz A MEMBER of the oppositionist United Nationalist Alliance on Saturday batted for an across-theboard salary increase for 1.6 million state workers in the country. Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting urged the Aquino government to provide a decent pay to the country’s state workers to help them cope with the rising cost of living. “I am in favor of a wage hike for government workers. It is about time they get a much deserved increase,” Tambunting told The Standard. Tambunting said he intends to file a bill in Congress that would

provide mechanisms as to how the government would go about his proposed across the board salary increase for the country’s millions of state workers. Earlier, two opposition leaders in the House of Representatives, Reps. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte and Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela stressed that the Aquino government should be able to prioritize the grant of a reasonable increase to the salaries of government workers. “Let us make the government compensation system competitive with the private sector,” Romualdez, leader of the House Independent Bloc, said.

“We should attract competent civil servants and prevent exodus of professionals seeking better paying jobs abroad,” he added. Romualdez said he is hopeful that the proposed salary increase for state workers will materialize at proper time, saying a good promise “is easier said than done.” For his part, Albano said the wage increase is one of the commitments made by President Aquino III to his “Bosses” when he assumed office in 2010. “Making good on his commitment to the country’s 1.6 million state workers as he ends his term next year would be one of many fitting accomplishments of Presi-

dent Aquino that would concretely prove that he cares and is sensitive to the plight of his “Bosses,” Albano, House contingent head for the minority bloc of the Commission on Appointments, said. Albano expressed optimism and confidence that the Aquino government would give a generous amount of the much-needed pay hikes to the government employees next year. “A decent and reasonable amount of pay increase will inspire and encourage all government workers to work harder and with utmost dedication and shun corruption in keeping with the “Daang Matuwid” program of the Aquino government.”

HOUSE OKAYS FOREIGN UNION BILL THE House of Representatives has passed a measure allowing foreign individuals or organizations to engage in trade union activities in the Philippines. House Bill 5886 which had been deliberated before the House committee on labor and employment, chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles seeks to promote the solidarity of workers and their organizations, whether inside or outside the country, or both, said the bill’s author, TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza. “The Philippines should adhere to the principle of equal treatment of migrant workers and national workers as regards to trade union membership and collective bargaining,” Mendoza said. The bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines. “The right to self-organization is a universal human and worker’s right. The Philippines recognizes the right to self-organization, with the ratification of ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association,” Mendoza said. Under the measure, all aliens, natural or juridical, as well as foreign organizations with valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), may engage directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities but only through normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and recognized international labor centers. The bill provides that foreign workers in the country with valid permits issued by the DOLE may exercise the right to self-organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of collective bargaining. Maricel V. Cruz

CITY LIFE.

A girl takes delight in a jet of water squirting from a fountain near the amphitheater at the Fort Bonifacio Global City. SONNY ESPIRITU

The new anti-crime method dubbed as “Community and Service Oriented Policing” will be enforced through “teamwork” between local executives, the citizenry, and the integrated law enforcement agencies by way of program or project complementation and sharing of funds, personnel and logistics. Eduardo Escueta, Vice Chairman and Executive Officer of Napolcom, said this approach builds and strengthens collaborative partnerships between the law enforcers and the community to promote peace and order, ensure public safety and strengthen local government for the effective delivery of basic services. “It will facilitate the transition from traditional reactive incident-driven model of police service to a proactive style of which seeks to identify and dynamically resolve community and development problems,” he said. On July 21, the Napolcom approved Resolution No. 2015-342 empowering the National Police to perform its role as a community and service-oriented agency through the adoption of CSOP system. “The system shall encourage community and service-oriented activities in the locality and thereby gain the trust and support of the local government and the community towards better cooperation and coordination for local development,” he said. Escueta said the local chief executives, as deputies of the Napolcom, will formulate and adopt a mechanism for the collaboration and cooperation involving the local executives, citizenry and law enforcement agencies as well as other agencies existing and operating in the locality. “The faithful compliance by the PNP with its third mandate will bring the police closer to the community and it will be regarded by the people as partner in community development,” he said. Escueta said that the enhanced framework of the CSOP system is being pilot tested in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The CSOP is in line with the government’s major reforms in strengthening the justice system and the rule of law in the country through the assistance of the European Union under the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme II. PNP records showed that theft, physical assault, and robbery were the most common crimes reported to local authorities in 2014. Other common criminal activities include pickpocketing, confidence schemes, acquaintance scams, and credit card fraud. Carjacking, kidnappings, robberies, and violent assaults also happen sporadically, police said.

SUNDAY: AUGUST 9, 2015

Roderick T. dela Cruz EDITOR business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

GOLDEN KINGDOMS

THRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES GOLDEN kingdoms had thrived in the Philippines, before the Spaniards came, as Filipino ancestors designed, forged and wore intricate gold treasures that are now part of the collections of Ayala Museum and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Kenneth Esguerra, the senior curator and head of conservation at Ayala Museum, says while Filipino ancestors did not build concrete structures such as temples during the pre-colonial period, they left priceless artifacts such as gold necklaces, ear ornaments, chains, waistbands, bangles, ritual bowls, implements and weapons. The existence of the treasures proves that complex and sophisticated Filipino civilizations had thrived before the first Western contact, he says. “These [gold treasures] are the material evidence that the Philippines had a complex civilization [during the pre-colonial period]. When you look at the artistry, when you look at the metallurgy, when you look at the goldsmith [skills], it shows that a complex brain produced these gold objects. They were used for every day lives,” Esguerra says, during a luncheon hosted by Asia Society at Ayala Museum to announce an exhibit of Philippine gold treasures in New York later this year. Asia Society and Ayala Museum, with a special participation

of BSP, will hold the exhibit Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, featuring over 120 gold objects in New York on Sept. 11, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016. The gold objects were dated between the 10th and 13th century, on loan from the collections of BSP and Ayala Museum. Esguerra says during the precolonial period, gold was a natural resource people had. He says the Boxer Codex, or the 16th Century manuscript which came into the possession of Prof. Charles Ralph Boxer, shows the intricate costumes with gold pieces of the Tagalogs, Visayans, Zambals, Cagayanes and Ibanags. “Gold was common among them,” he says, referring to the treasures of different tribes or kingdoms in the country. Esguerra says one of the reasons why the Spaniards conquered the Philippines was the abundance of gold in the archipelago. “The reason why they [Spaniards] decided to conquer the nation was they saw a lot of gold. In fact, we paid gold to them,” he says. He says history should be re-

ear ornaments

waistband bangle with semi-precious stones

written about Ferdinand Magellan discovering the Philippines in 1521. “No, Magellan got lost in the Philippines and landed in Cebu. He saw an overwhelming presence of gold,” says Esguerra.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amado Tetangco Jr., Asia Society Philippines chair Doris MagsaysayHo and Ayala Corp. president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala attend the press presentation/conference on Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms exhibit that will be held in New York on Sept. 11, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016. REVOLI CORTEZ

Esguerra says up to now, the Philippines is one of the world’s top producers of gold. Asia Society says the Philippine gold exhibition in New York will bring to the world stage a fascinating yet little known aspect about the Philippines’ rich heritage. These rare artifacts reveal the sophisticated civilizations that flourished before the Spaniards arrived at Philippine shores. The gold pieces also portray the thriving maritime trade in the region, exemplifying the influence of Indians, Indonesians, and the Chinese, among other peoples, on the Philippine culture, Asia Society says. Asia Society will host a gala dinner at Asia Society Museum on Park Ave. on Sept. 10, and among those expected to attend are Ayala Corp. president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Asia Society Philippines chair Doris Masaysay-Ho, Filipino-American business leader Loida Nicolas Lewis and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. Nina Capistrano-Baker, curator at Ayala Museum and Adriana Proser, John H. Foster senior curator for traditional Asian art at Asia Society New York, will cocurate the Philippine gold treasures at the New York exhibition. Magsaysay-Ho says the Phil-

ear ornaments

ippine gold exhibition is timely just as the Philippines hosts the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in November. “While the Philippines has a lot of press coming out on economic issues, we thought there could also be a cultural story,” says Magsaysay-Ho. “These artifacts are also very little known scholarship-wise, so with the opportunity to bring them to New York, we are holding symposiums that place the collection in the whole realm of historical scholarship in the Austronesian context,” she says. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to exhibit this exceptional Filipino 10th to 13th century gold from the Ayala Museum and Bangko Sentral collections at the Asia Society in New York,” says Zobel de Ayala. “It will give Americans and visitors to New York the opportunity to get to know more about our rich culture and I have no doubt that it will also give Filipino Americans great pride to see these pieces from their country,” he says. Tetangco, on his part, says the exhibit is an excellent opportunity to “showcase our pre-colonial cultural heritage.” “This is going to be the first time that the Philippine preCONTINUED ON B3

B2 THERE are poll firms and there is Gallup, a researchbased, global-performance management consulting company that announced it is opening a division in the Philippines. Gallup, a US-based pollster established by George Gallup in 1935, made the announcement several months before the national elections in the Philippines and as more Filipino companies seek advice on expansion plans amid the sustained growth of the economy. “We want to help companies with the right decision,” says Andrzej Pyrka, a senior consultant and data analyst at Gallup Singapore. Pyrka, who describes himself as a “professional nerd”, addressed a group of business leaders and human resource professionals who attended the launching of the Philippine division of Gallup at Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City. He summed up findings from 80 years of research conducted by Gallup, which he says, can unlock full human potential and help organizations perform at their best. “In Gallup, we study numbers, we study human behavior,” he says, in explaining what Gallup does. Gallup, one of the world’s leading sources of intelligence, hopes to make its mark in the Philippines, through analytics and advice, he says. Chee Tung Leong, Gallup manager for Singapore and Southeast Asia, says Gallup’s vision is to “change one individual, one company, one country at a time.” “We want to help companies with the right tools, with the right advice, to make the right decision. We believe that the right time is now,” Leong says. He says Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Gallup, manned by 2,000 economists, scientists, psychologists, bestselling authors, researchers and professionals, claims to know the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Gallup is also known for its global polls. A recent study by Gallup found that Filipinos are the second most optimistic citizens among 130 countries in terms of job hunting. In a separate study, the Philippines scored above the global average in most of the categories of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being 5, a measure of overall satisfaction with life and work conditions. Quoting the results of a study by British academicians, Pyrka says an adult makes 35,000 decisions a day, most of them semiconscious decisions. He says making the right decision will spell the difference for companies and organizations. Pyrka released the results of analyses and 80-year case studies on three keys of unlocking full human potential during the launching of the Gallup Philippines division. Gallup tapped Pia Nazareno-Acevedo, chief execu-

SUNDAY: AUGUST 9, 2015

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GALLUP COMES TO FEEL THE PULSE OF FILIPINOS

Gallup Singapore senior consultant and data analyst Andrzej Pyrka, Gallup manager for Singapore and Southeast Asia Chee Tung Leong and The OneCore Success Center Inc. founder and chief executive Pia Nazareno-Acevedo. is creating a strong emotional connection with employees and customers. Gallup studies have shown that the true drivers of employee performance and customer attachment are emotional. If a company manages to create such emotional engagement, this has a very strong impact on the bottom line, he says. Data from the study show that fully engaged customers spend 23 percent more than indifferent customers, according to Pyrka. Organizations with highly engaged employees suffer up to 65 percent less turnover. In 2014, only 30 percent of employees in the Philippines were engaged, pointing to a large unused potential of improved workplace performance, he says. “When an organization engages both their customers and employees highly, we find that companies can boost their sales by 85 percent and increase their gross margin by more than 25 percent,” the study says. Gallup executives announce the formation of Gallup Philippines division. Donald Clifton, a former Galtive and founder of The OneCore out of Singapore. Singapore is “Our accelerated strengths for lup executive, invented the ClifSuccess Center Inc. as the point our regional headquarters. We example is a very highly package ton StrengthsFinder, which found person in the Philippines. are merely starting a division of offering that can help someone that there is infinite potential in “I am nervous because I am consultants, some of which will become a strength coach,” he says. developing what is right with peoexcited. I have courted Gallup be based in Singapore, some in “We also have the high-profile ple versus fixing what’s innately in order to make a difference for Manila.” management program that takes wrong with them. our country. With great pride, Leong says Gallup looks at all the research we have done The Clifton StrengthsFinder we launch Gallup Philippines the corporate sector as the and present it in two-day pro- measures a person’s natural talents division and we look forward to main client, instead of politi- gram for managers to improve within 34 themes and then idenassisting and supporting you,” cians. “Some offerings of Gal- their ability to manage people. tifies their top themes. Among says Acevedo. lup are company-specific. They We have a very much different these 34 themes are strategic, Acevedo, one of the country’s are mainly targeted at enterprise space from other market re- achiever, arranger, harmony, anfirst certified strengths coach by clients. It is only recently that search companies,” he says. alytical, futuristic, woo, input, Gallup, a member of the Inter- we opened up some of our tools Pyrka, during the presenta- positivity, empathy, discipline, national Coach Federation and to retail individuals,” he says. tion, introduced Gallup Path—a individualization, competition, the author of best-selling book He says Gallup aims to help behavioral economics ecosys- self-assurance, responsibility, deBorn to be a Hero, says the en- companies improve productiv- tem developed by Gallup to help veloper, consistency, adaptability, try of Gallup in the Philippines ity by finding the strengths of organizations perform at their significance, ideation, relator, fois “so timely because of the elec- employees and understand their best. cus, belief, includer, intellection, tion.” customers to improve customer “The first key to unlocking activator, restorative, command, Leong, however, explains that experience. the full human potential is by communication learner, maxiit is not the first time of Gallup “We are exploring the mar- understanding people’s unique mizer, context, connectedness in the Philippines. “We have had ket. We work with companies talents and strengths for the and deliberative. clients in the Philippines before across industries. Within the greatest human ROI [return “Investing in organizational and we continue to work with Philippines, obviously the BPO on investment], that most self- talent and engagement pays off. multinational companies that industry is very large. Our base improvement and development Overall, the effect of focusing on exist and have presence in the in Southeast Asia so far is in fi- programs focus on fixing weak- strengths, great managers and Philippines,” he says. nancial services, and that is one nesses, which often leads down an engaged and talented work“Pia is now a part of the Gal- area we can be very helpful. We the path of mediocrity,” says force can result in a 59-percent lup staff. It is the first time that also look at logistics, transpor- Pyrka. increase in revenue,” says Pyrka. we actually have staff in the Phil- tation, government, healthcare, He says it is better to focus on “Unlocking the full human ippines. We are now thinking hospitality,” he says. developing a person’s strengths potential will help lead industry of launching the division more Leong says while Gallup also and make world-class perfor- leaders and organizations perdeliberately than in the past,” he has market research products, “we mance possible. form at their best,” he says. says. “It is still going to be run offer a lot more than research.” Pyrka says the second key Roderick T. dela Cruz

SUNDAY: AUGUST 9, 2015

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BRETT Haylock is a talented ringmaster, who puts up a show to entertain people. Eleven years ago, Haylock, an Australian, was working as a club manager in Edinburgh, Scotland where he patronized several individual acts or performance. He started an experiment, teamed up with Mark Rubinstein and Mick Perrin and brought together those individual acts to create a two-hour theatrical experience like no other. He created a unique and alternative variety show, a fusion of cabaret, burlesque and circus with amazing stunts and physical comedy. It was first called La Clique and later renamed La Soirée, with Haylock as the creative producer. “We didn’t know what we were doing. It was purely instinctive. Nobody has done it before,” he says. “I was a chancer. I have been running night clubs and running venues, working in festivals. It was purely instinctive and I guess I was lucky and in the right place and the right time.” La Soirée has become a success and toured major cities around the world. It is coming to Manila in September 2015, with event organizer Concertus Manila promoting the event. “It [La Soirée] started as a little alternative midnight cabaret in Edinburgh at the Fringe which is the biggest arts festival in the world. It kind of ignited from the very first performance. We could never ever imagine that we would still be here, with the same group of people. Now, five and half million people have seen the show. We have been around the world many, many times,” Haylock says in an interview at Diamond Hotel in Manila. “I have been working in Edinburgh for a number of years. Edinburgh is the mecca for new shows. It is a very, very top marketplace....We are one of the great success stories of Edinburgh Fringe [Festival]. This little show that came out of nowhere, and at midnight, an alternative cabaret, went on to play in all major cities in the world. We won the Lawrence Olivier Award for most unique theatrical experience in New York City. It went on from a small, humble beginning,” he

La Soiree creative producer Brett Haylock

HOW A CHANCER FORMED AN AWARD-WINNING SHOW says. The show garnered various awards along the way, including the Olivier Award for best entertainment in London, best cabaret at Perth Fringe World 2015, best unique theatrical experience at New York’s Off-Broadway Alliance Awards in 2014, best show at London’s 2012 Cabaret Awards and Pick of the Fringe at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2012. Haylock says La Soiree is “very sexy, very funny” but there is real danger playing in such a small stage. “We made the variety format relevant to the new genera-

tion,” he says. “The show was ahead of its time. It really pioneered a whole new genre. When we went into London, there was no cabaret section. In response to something like La Soiree, they created something like a cabaret listing,” he says. Haylock says La Soiree has no pretensions and offers shameless entertainment. “It is really entertaining. It feels old-fashioned but the show is very contemporary, with very hard-hitting statement. We do not have a narrative. It is a great party that lasts for two

hours. It is very sexy... People come and leave all their troubles at the front door. We really try to create a unique theatrical environment. People can just come in and get swept away. It is just pure fun,” he says. Haylock says they are excited to be in Manila. “It has taken us over 10 years to get here and it is very exciting.” “This is my first time in Manila, so I cannot profess to be an expert, but I know the international perception about what is happening in Manila. The show is largely physical, language is not very im-

portant. It is a very visual, physical show. All the comedy comes from the physicality. But the language in Manila makes it a little bit easier for us. I think Manila is certainly on the rise. Internationally, there is a perception that the economy is in great shape. People are feeling good. It is the right time,” he says. He says the Manila tour is the smallest engagement in the history of the show. “This is very much a kind of test. It is a great opportunity for us to come, for Manila to experience La Soiree. It will be over before we know it. People will still be talking about it, one month later. Perhaps, 12 months later. Everything going okay is an opportunity for us to come back,” he says. “The show has achieved great success in every city where it played. I am grateful for that. The theme is very universal. It is funny, it is sexy and it is dangerous. Overall, it is an heartwarming experience,” says Haylock. He says the show is cheeky and playful. “There is nothing offensive in the show. I suggest you leave the children at home with the baby sitter. Feel free to bring grandma. It is perfectly safe,” he says. Performers play on a very small stage breathtaking, often sexy stunts. “Solaire will be one of the biggest theaters we play. We perform on a 2.5-meter round stage, a very tiny stage. We will be reconfiguring Solaire Theater. So it will be a different to any experience people had at Solaire Theater,” he says. Haylock says the stage will be rearranged to recreate the La Soiree atmosphere. “We won’t play to full capacity. One of our signatures, at the core of the show, is intimacy. It is important for people to see the detail on stage. One single performer doing on stage something you have never seen before. It is kind of important that you engage with his eyes, see the muscles ripple, see the beads of perspiration. La Soiree will play on Sept. 23 to 27 at The Theatre at Solaire. “I know the show will not disappoint. Most unique theatrical experience, that is what Manila can expect,” says Haylock. Roderick T. dela Cruz

GOLDEN KINGDOM THRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES Hispanic gold will be seen in the States. This is an opportune time for other people to know more about the Philippines and get to know the rich cultural heritage of our country,” says Tetangco. The exhibition will present spectacular gold objects primarily discovered over the past 40 years in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The majority of the gold treasures recovered from different sites throughout the Philippines were saved from the melting pots by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the late collectors Leandro and Cecilia Locsin, whose collection now forms the Ayala Museum’s gold collection.

The exhibition, co-organized by Ayala Museum and Asia Society Museum in New York, is the first time that the gold objects from both collections will be displayed together and for the first time in the United States. With additional loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, the Lilly Library in Indiana, and a few objects from the personal collection of Locsin family, Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms sheds light on the sophisticated cultures that flourished in the Philippines before colonization by Western powers,

according to the curators. The exhibition also focuses on the ancient Philippine polity known as Butuan in northeastern Mindanao during the 10th to 13th century, and other political entities in the neighboring islands of Samar, Cebu Leyte, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, and Luzon. Asia Society says the exhibition title uses the word “kingdoms” in its descriptive sense, not as an anthropological term referring to specific social structures such as “tribes,” “chiefdoms,” “kingdoms” and “states.” The curators say the amazing gold works in the exhibition “attest to robust cultural connections

and maritime trade in Southeast Asia during what was an early Asian economic boom.” “The diverse and sophisticated gold treasures are evidence of a lost history of prosperity and achievement of early communities in the Philippines that flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries, long before Spanish contact and colonization,” they say. The curators say the ancient gold ornaments, implements, containers and ritual sculptures are invaluable for the information and evidence they provide on early Philippine polities and their role in Asian trade networks some

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500 years before Spanish colonization of the islands. “Philippine culture tends to be perceived by others, and by ourselves, in terms of our Spanish and American colonial histories. This exhibition is important because it provides stunning evidence that the Philippines had a sophisticated culture before Western contact. The superior quality of the gold ornaments also dispels the Western stereotype of pre- colonial Filipinos as ignorant and primitive savages before the civilizing influences from Spain and America,” according to the curators. Roderick T. dela Cruz

B4 Saudi foreign miniSter to viSit ruSSia SAUdI Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir will visit Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Syria conflict and the Islamic State group with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign ministry said Saturday. The two ministers last met in Qatar on August 3 when Lavrov, Jubeir and US Secretary of State John Kerry held a three-way meeting, with the situation in Syria topping the agenda. The ministers will continue “a discussion on ways to resolve the crisis in Syria,” the Russian foreign ministry said. Moscow said topics would include the “sharp growth in strength of various extremist groups, primarily the so-called Islamic State”. “The ministers will discuss the possibility of Russia-Saudi cooperation in fighting terrorism, which is in the interests of both countries,” the ministry said. It said they would discuss Russia’s proposal to create a “broad international coalition to fight the Islamic State gunmen inside Syria.” Moscow said the ministers would also pay “great attention” to the conflict in Yemen where a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia is fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels and discuss strategies for a “speedy resolution”.

world

mULTIPLE BOmBINGS ROCK KABUL; 36 DEAD

Multiple bombings rocked Kabul Friday, killing at least 36 people and wounding hundreds more in the deadliest day in the Afghan capital since the end of the NAtO combat mission in December.

The explosions, which devastated buildings and overwhelmed hospitals with casualties, are the first major militant assaults on Kabul since the announcement of Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s death. In the first attack, a powerful truck bomb tore through the centre of Kabul just after midnight on Friday, killing 15 civilians and wounding 240 others. Less than 24 hours later, at least 20 Afghan cadets were killed when a suicide attacker dressed in police uniform blew himself up at the entrance of Kabul Police Academy. The Taliban distanced themselves from the first bombing that struck near a Kabul military base—as they usually do in attacks that result in a large number of civilian casualties. But the insurgents were quick to claim responsibility for the second attack, which marks a serious breach of security at a premier training institute for Afghan security forces. Explosions and gunfire also erupted when Camp Integrity, a base near the airport housing US special

international and afghan security forces inspect damage outside camp integrity, a base housing uS special forces that was attacked by militants, in Kabul. the attack resulted in the death of one nato service member whose nationality was not revealed. multiple bombings rocked Kabul on august 7, killing at least 36 people and wounding hundreds more in the deadliest day in the afghan capital since the end of the nato combat mission in december. AFP

forces, came under attack late Friday, killing one nATO service member whose nationality was not revealed. Military jets were heard flying over the centre of Kabul shortly after the explosions. The carnage underscores the volatile security situation in Afghanistan amid a faltering peace process with the Taliban as Afghan forces face their first summer fighting season without full nATO support. Friday’s bombings are the first major attacks after Mullah Akhtar Mansour was last week named as the new

Taliban chief in an acrimonious power transition after the insurgents confirmed the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar. Observers say the escalating violence demonstrates Mullah Mansour’s attempt to boost his image among Taliban cadres and drive attention away from internal divisions over his leadership. “The new wave of attacks is a tactic by the Taliban’s new leadership to show they are capable, potent and operational,” said security analyst Abdul Hadi Khaled. “The demise of Mullah

Omar divided the movement and affected the morale of their ground fighters. Hitting Kabul with a wave of powerful attacks is a way of showcasing their strength.” Police academy attack On Friday evening, a suicide attacker dressed in police uniform blew himself up at the entrance of Kabul Police Academy, killing at least 20 Afghan cadets who were returning after their two-day weekend. The bomber managed to place himself in a queue as police trainees were waiting to be searched before entering the academy, said a se-

nior Afghan intelligence official, requesting anonymity. “The attacker was wearing police uniform... when he detonated his explosives, 20 cadets were killed and 20 more were wounded,” the official told AFP. Anguished relatives of cadets gathered near the academy, which was cordoned off by heavily-armed security officials as ambulances with wailing sirens rushed to the scene. Another police official confirmed that toll while a third senior security source told AFP that 25 cadets were killed. AFP

24 million watched uS preSidential debate

republican presidential candidates arrive on stage for the republican presidential debate on august 6, 2015 at the Quicken loans arena in cleveland, ohio. from left are: new Jersey gov. chris christie; florida Sen. marco rubio; retired neurosurgeon ben carson; wisconsin gov. Scott walker; real estate magnate donald trump; former florida gov. Jeb bush; former arkansas gov. mike huckabee; texas Sen. ted cruz; Kentucky Sen. rand paul; and ohio gov. John Kasich. AFP

A STAggERIng 24 million viewers tuned in to Fox news to watch the first major Republican US presidential debate, the highest-rated non-sports telecast in cable television history, nielsen figures released Friday showed. The viewership of the prime-time 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm debate, in which frontrunner donald Trump squared off against nine of his top Republican challengers for the nomination, is by far the highest rating of any presidential primary debate. “Fox had 24 million viewers last night. That is an ab-

solutely monster number,” tweeted Fox media commentator Howard Kurtz. Ratings monitor nielsen Media Research said that among the telecast’s viewers, 7.9 million were in the 25-54 age range, the key advertising demographic. By comparison, the first Republican debate of the 2012 primary season, on May 5, 2011, averaged 3.3 million viewers. numbers were also huge for the second-tier debate which took place at 5:00 pm Thursday and featured the seven low-polling candidates who failed to make the cut

for the prime time event. Some 6.1 million people watched the preliminary debate, nielsen said. The debate night appears to have been a multi-platform smash. Facebook, which cosponsored the showdowns, said 7.5 million people in the United States made 20 million debate-related interactions on Facebook, including likes, posts, comments and shares, the social media giant said Friday. Twitter reported that tweets about the two debates were viewed a whopping 1.1 billion times. AFP

S U N D AY : A U g U S t 9, 2 0 1 5

WORLD editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Foreigners rescued as Mali hotel siege leaves seven dead FIve foreigners have been evacuated and a «number» of hostages freed after they were trapped by gunmen in a hotel standoff with soldiers in central Mali that left at least seven people dead, military sources said early Saturday. “We can not say that everything is finished, but a number of hostages” were freed by Malian forces deployed around the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, a source told AFP. Another military source said Malian Special Forces had rescued the hostages, including five foreigners “who were evacuated to Bamako”. The source was unable to specify their nationalities. The attackers had stormed the hotel, frequented by foreign visitors and troops, at around 7:00 am (0700 GMT) Friday, according to the government. Malian forces cordoned off the area but their efforts against the gunmen were made “sensitive” by the presence of hostages, a military source said Friday. It was not clear how many people were still being held by the attackers. Part of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA) was also staying in the hotel, the government said. The government statement Friday evening gave a provisional toll of “five dead, two injured” on the Malian army side and “two killed” on the insurgent side. Seven suspects had been detained, it added. MINUSMA said a member of its associate international staff was killed in the “terrorist attack”, without giving the victim’s nationality. It was not clear if that death was included in the government toll. AFP

Palestinian and foreign activists confront Israeli soldiers on Route 60, mainly used by settlers, north the West Bank city of Hebron on August 8, 2015 during a demonstration to condemn the firebomb attack on the Dawabsha home last week. The father of a Palestinian toddler killed last week after their home was firebombed by suspected Jewish extremists has died of his injuries in an Israeli hospital, a Palestinian official. AFP

PALESTINIAN TODDLER, PA DIE IN fIREbOmbINg

Hamas called saturday for «open and comprehensive confrontation» with Israel after the father of a Palestinian toddler killed in a firebombing by Jewish extremists last week died of his burns. “Nothing will stop these murderous settler attacks and... we cannot wait until they come into our villages and our homes,” Hamas spokesman Hossam Badran wrote on Facebook from his base in Qatar. “Our people in the West Bank

have only one choice: that of open and comprehensive confrontation against the occupation.” Saad Dawabsha died earlier on Saturday in hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba where he was being treated for third degree burns, Palestinian

official Ghassan Daghlas said. Dawabsha’s wife Riham Dawabsha and four-year-old son Ahmed are still fighting for their lives in hospital after the arson attack which killed 18-month-old Ali on Friday of last week. The family’s small brick and cement home in the occupied West Bank village of Duma was gutted by the fire and a Jewish Star of David spray-painted on a wall along with the words “revenge” and “long live the Messiah”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack as “terrorism in every respect”, and vowed to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice. He ordered a crackdown on Jewish extremism that has seen three suspects detained. Israeli public radio reported on Saturday that the army was on the alert for possible unrest in the West Bank and for “Palestinian revenge attacks.” AFP

tYPhoon ‘soudelor’ Kills Four in taiWan TyPHOON Soudelor ripped up trees, snapped wind turbines and triggered landslides in Taiwan Saturday where it left at least four people dead before heading for mainland China. Rivers broke their banks under torrential rain and towering waves pounded the coastline as the storm left a trail of destruction, with 1.5 million homes without power Saturday afternoon. One mountain village in the northern region of Taoyuan was left almost submerged in mud. “Flash mudslides surged into the village. About 10 of the homes were half buried but people were evacuated last night and are in safe shelters,” a spokesman for Taoyuan fire agency told AFP. Dramatic images showed an elderly man who was buried up to his waist in another mudslide being hauled out by emergency workers in the

picturesque hot spring area of Wulai, just outside the capital Taipei. Media reports said that he had died, but authorities were unable to immediately confirm his death. Although the centre of the typhoon had left Taiwan, as the storm pushed towards the eastern mainland Chinese province of Fujian, heavy rains were still forecast for the south of the island. At least 250,000 people have already been evacuated from Fujian and the neighbouring province of Zhejiang ahead of the typhoon’s arrival. Taiwan’s authorities said four people had died in the storm including a firefighter in southern Pintung county and a man in the coastal town of Suao who was hit by a falling billboard. An eight-year-old girl and her mother had become the first casualties when they were swept out to sea and

died as the storm approached on Thursday. The dead girl’s twin was also missing in the same incident, while another nineyear-old girl was injured but survived. There were also unconfirmed reports of another death in southern Kaohsiung, where a man was said to have been hit by a tree. A total of four people were missing and more than 60 injured, the Central emergency Operation Center said. Thousands have been evacuated with more than 4,000 in temporary shelters across the island. All schools and workplaces were shut on Saturday. Tatung township in eastern yilan saw the most rain, with more than a metre (40 inches) falling since Thursday. “I’ve never seen such a powerful typhoon in my 60 years of life,» one elderly woman in eastern Taitung told Formosa Tv. AFP

a motorcyclist rides past a damaged roof as typhoon soudelor hits taipei on august 8, 2015. Typhoon Soudelor battered Taiwan with fierce winds and rain leaving four people dead and a trail of debris in its wake as it takes aim at mainland china. AFP

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

REUEL VIDAL EDITOR

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SHAKEY’S V-LEAGUE

VOLLEYBALL ACTION HEATS UP

National University’s Eldridge Capal (5) fires away as he spikes the volleyball through the blocking hands of Far Eastern University blocker Jude Garcia (11) during their Spikers’ Turf duel at The Arena in San Juan. National University spiker Francis Saura (11) towers over the net just before he spikes the volleyball against University of the East defender Edward Camposano (11) and Ronjey Adviento (2) during their Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference clash at The Arena in San Juan.

St. Benilde’s Jannine Navarro (1) goes up for a kill against a double block wall of Ateneo’s Kim Gequillana (18) and Amy Ahomiro (16) during their Shakey’s V-League clash at The Arena.

By Ray Vidal

THE Shakey’s V-League elimination rounds—in both men’s and women’s competition—are almost complete and the cream has risen to the top with the likely title contenders all but determined going to the quarterfinal playoffs. The women’s competition Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Collegiate Conference has shaped up to be a four-cornered fight with defending champion Far Eastern University as well as challengers Ateneo, National University and Arellano looking capable of winning the title. The men’s Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference on the other hand has found UAAP rivals Ateneo and La Salle leading the pack and looking like championship contenders. Expected to challenge them are National Collegiate Athletic Association champions Emilio Aguinaldo College and National University. FEU already has a capable team with stars Geneve Casugod and Remy Palma but add reinforcements in national players Jovelyn Gonzaga and NCAA allstar Honey Royce Tubino and you have a formidable squad capable of winning it all again.

FEU also has an attentive coach in Shaq delos Santos who addressed his team’s perceived weaknesses at service and reception. The result was a complete and utter domination of University of the Philippines in their past game to preserve FEU’s unbeaten record. Reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion Ateneo de Manila University is also unbeaten. The Lady Eagles got a scare from College of Saint Benilde before Alyssa Valdez completely took over the game. Valdez exploded 26 spike points, and 32 overall, to power her team past Benilde. The Lady Eagles wind up their elimination round schedule against lightweight Technological Institute of the Philippines and will probably advance to the quarterfinals without a loss. UAAP runner-up National University Lady Bulldogs are aching to gain

revenge on Ateneo with a victory here at Shakey’s. They are the Shakey’s V-League’s number spiking team. No surprise there especially if you have attackers like Jaja Santiago and Jorelle Singh. Add

Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Myla Pablo, who will return after a stint with the national team, and you get the league’s most fearsome frontline. The Arellano University Lady Chiefs were tipped to

be among the title contenders but they have not played to their potential. The Lady Chiefs seem to play to the level of their competition. They nearly lost a set to University of Batangas before getting a lift from

University of Santo Tomas attacker Pam Lastimosa (6) finds her spike stuffed at the net by a double-block by Ateneo’s Kim Gequillana (18) and Amy Ahomiro (16) during their Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference match at The Arena in San Juan.

CJ Rosario and Menchie Tubiera who powered their team to victory. The Lady Chiefs better shape up because at this stage every mistake could cost them big. The league could be looking at a potential box office blockbuster production over at the men’s competition Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference. Leading the teams are Ateneo De Manila and De La Salle University. Expect a blockbuster box office and a spike in ratings if these two teams bring their storied rivalry to league competition. The two squads were the first to advance to the quarterfinals. The Green Archers, who joined the league despite the absence of their counterpart ladies team, will be led by team captain Raymark Woo and John Arjay Onia NCAA champion Emilio Aguinaldo will lean on high scoring attackers in the power-hitting Eddimar Kasim and Aldin Bin. The Generals however will need to get solid contributions from their other players notably Aidam Adam, Wilbert Sapida, Paul Castro and Daniel Benitez if they hope to compete against powerhouses Ateneo and La Salle.

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B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a - M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e (Energization at 230 kV) Substation Baloi

2-230 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

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E R C C A S E N O. 2 015 - 07 9 R C

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N AT I O N A L G R I D C O R P O R AT I O N O F T H E P H I L I P P I N E S ( N G C P) , Applicant. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

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4 -230 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HE ARING 15 .

T O A L L I N T E R E S T E D PA R T I E S : N o t i c e i s h e r e b y g i v e n t h a t o n A p r i l 2 7, 2 015 , t h e N a t i o n a l G r i d C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s ( N G C P) f i l e d w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 K V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e P r o j e c t , w i t h p r a y e r f o r t h e i s s u a n c e o f a p r o v i s i o n a l a u t h o r i t y. In the said applic ation, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: 1.

It is a c or poration created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, w i t h p r i n c i p a l o f f i c e a d d r e s s a t N G C P B u i l d i n g , Q u e z o n Av e n u e c o r n e r B I R R o a d , D i l i m a n , Q u e z o n C i t y. I t i s t h e c o r p o r a t e v e h i c l e o f t h e consor tium which was awarded the concession to assume the power t r a n s m i s s i o n f u n c t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l Tr a n s m i s s i o n C o r p o r a t i o n ( T R A N S C O) p u r s u a n t t o R e p u b l i c A c t N o . 913 6 ( R . A . 913 6) , o t h e r w i s e k n o w n a s t h e E l e c t r i c P o w e r I n d u s t r y R e f o r m A c t o f 2 0 01 o r t h e E P I R A ; I t w a s a l s o a w a r d e d b y C o n g r e s s a f r a n c h i s e u n d e r R . A . 9 511 ( N G C P Fr a n c h i s e) , e n t i t l e d “A n A c t G r a n t i n g t h e N a t i o n a l G r i d C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a F r a n c h i s e t o E n g a g e i n t h e B u s i n e s s o f C o n v ey i n g o r Tr a n s m i t t i n g E l e c t r i c i t y T h r o u g h a H i g h - Vo l t a g e B a c k - b o n e S y s t e m o r I n t e r c o n n e c t e d Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e s , S u b s t a t i o n s a n d R e l a t e d Facilities, and For Other Purposes ” to operate, manage, and maintain the nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines;

One of its functions and responsibilities enumerated in Section 9 of the E P I R A i s t o “ i m p r o v e a n d ex p a n d i t s t r a n s m i s s i o n f a c i l i t i e s , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e G r i d C o d e a n d t h e Tr a n s m i s s i o n D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n ( T D P ) t o be promulgated pursuant to this Act, to adequately ser ve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission s e r v i c e a n d / o r a n c i l l a r y s e r v i c e s t h r o u g h t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n s y s t e m: P r o v i d e d , T h a t T R A N S C O (n o w N G C P ) s h a l l s u b m i t a ny p l a n f o r ex p a n s i o n o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f i t s f a c i l i t i e s f o r a p p r o v a l by t h e E R C ”; I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s m a n d a t e t o e n s u r e a n d m a i n t a i n t h e q u a l i t y, r e l i a b i l i t y, a d e q u a c y, s e c u r i t y, s t a b i l i t y a n d i n t e g r i t y o f t h e G r i d , i t seeks authorit y from the Commission to immediately approve the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e P r o j e c t , ( P r o j e c t) , w h i c h a i m s , a m o n g o t h e r s , t o m e e t t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n c apacit y requirements of c apacit y additions and load centers;

The detailed components and justifications of the Project is are shown in the Project Descr iption and Justif ic ations of the Project at tached as A nnex “A” o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n;

S y s t e m S i m u l a t i o n i f t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e would not be implemented 16 .

T h e e x i s t i n g 13 8 k V M a t a n a o -To r i l - D a v a o t r a n s m i s s i o n c o r r i d o r i s not suf ficient to cater the full dispatch of the additional generation. C o n s e q u e n t l y, o n l y a l i m i t e d a m o u n t o f p o w e r c a n b e d i s p a t c h e d i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e s y s t e m;

17.

B a s e d o n N G C P ’s s i m u l a t i o n , t h e D a v a o -To r i l 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l a l r e a d y e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 4 . 5 % d u r i n g n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n b y 2 0 21; w h i l e d u r i n g N -1 c o n d i t i o n , i t w i l l e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 7 0 % , 7 9 % , a n d 10 5 % b y 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; •

18 .

D u r i n g n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n , t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l e x p e r i e n c e o v e r l o a d i n g b y 8 % a n d 10 % i n 2 018 a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; w h i l e , d u r i n g N -1, s a i d l i n e w o u l d b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 5 2 % , 9 9 % , a n d 10 9 % b y 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ;

19 .

Fu r t h e r, f r o m 2 017 t o 2 0 21, t h e p o w e r g e n e r a t e d b y S a n M i g u e l C o r p o r a t i o n w i l l b e c u r t a i l e d b y 3 3 5 M W t o 4 8 5 M W, w h i l e t h e 3 0 0 M W c a p a c i t y o f T S I w i l l n o t b e d i s p a t c h e d; S y s t e m S i m u l a t i o n i f t h e B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a - M a r a m a g Bunawan transmission corridor will not be energized at 230 kV

20.

In the scenario that ail the power plants located in Nor thern Mindanao will be fully dispatched, it foresees the following c onsequences:

S TAT E M E N T O F T H E C A S E 3.

21.

The power plants located in Southern Mindanao cannot be dispatched in their maximum capacity;

The transfor mers in BaloiSubstation will be over loaded by 3 6%, 48%, a n d 6 2 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y ; a n d

The occurrence of voltage violations per PGC in some substations w i t h o u t t h e 2 x 3 5 M VA R r e a c t o r i n V i l l a n u e v a S u b s t a t i o n a r e a l s o f o r e s e e n;

On the other hand, should all the power plants located in Southern Mindanao be fully dispatched, it foresees the following : a)

Power plants located in Nor thern Mindanao cannot be dispatched in their maximum capacity;

The development of the transmission c orridors in Mindanao is an essential project for NGCP to ensure a stable power net work and power supply on the island. With both supply and demand continuously increasing, the c apacities of the existing transmission lines and s u b s t a t i o n s w i l l n o l o n g e r b e a d e q u a t e b y 2 017. To m e e t t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n capacity requirements and to facilitate the entr y of additional base load power plants in the island, it is nec essar y to upgrade the existing and c onstr uct new substations and transmission lines;

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e a n d t h e 2 x 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V t r a n s f o r m e r s i n B u n a w a n S u b s t a t i o n w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d;

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 11% , 10 % , a n d 15 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y, i f o n l y a 2 x 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V t r a n s f o r m e r s i n s t a l l e d i n t h e B u n a w a n Substation, and the Baloi -Villanueva - Maramag - Bunawan line will r e m a i n e n e r g i z e d a t 13 8 k V; a n d

The present set-up of the Mindanao Grid is that the bulk of power supply c omes from hydro and c oal power plants loc ated at the nor ther n por tion of Mindanao, while the load centers in Davao, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos are all located at its southern por tion. Power is transmit ted through the Baloi - Villanueva M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n , B a l o i -Ta g o l o a n - M a r a m a g - K i b a w e , a n d B a l o i - A g u s 2 - K i b a w e 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s ;

T h e D a v a o - B u n a w a n 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e w i l l b e o v e r l o a d e d b y 11% , 10 % , a n d 15 % i n 2 017, 2 018 , a n d 2 0 21, r e s p e c t i v e l y, i f t h e b a c k b o n e w i l l n o t b e f u l l y e n e r g i z e d a t 2 3 0 k V;

S TAT E M E N T O F FAC T S Brief Background 5.

B e g i n n i n g 2 016 u p t o 2 018 , 2 , 4 0 0 M W a r e e x p e c t e d t o b e i n j e c t e d t o t h e above - mentioned transmission lines coming from commit ted generation c apacities, as follows:

POWER PL ANT

C A PAC I T Y

The other violations on various conditions and scenarios in relation to the nonenergization of the backbone to 23 0 kV level are fully tabulated in the Project Details a n d J u s t i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e P r o j e c t a t t a c h e d a s A n n e x “A” o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n . System Simulation Upon the Entr y of the Project 22.

L O C AT I O N

Nor thern Por tion of Mindanao FDC Power Plant

4 0 5 M W b y 2 016

Misamis Oriental

GN Power Coal

4 5 0 M W b y 2 017 15 0 M W b y 2 018

Lanao del Nor te

Therma South Coal

23.

3 0 0 M W b y 2 015 15 0 M W b y 2 017 15 0 M W b y 2 018

Davao del Sur

SMC Davao Coal

15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0

Davao del Sur

Southern Mindanao

200 MW

MW MW MW MW

by by by by

2 015 2 016 2 017 2 018

Sarangani

Thus, additional transmission facilities are absolutely necessar y to transmit these generation c apacities;

It is envisioned to implement 23 0 kV transmission facilities from the nor thern to the southern por tion of the island to accommodate the entr y of the above - mentioned new power plants;

10 .

T h e M a l i t a - M a t a n a o t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e i n i t i a l l y e n e r g i z e d a t 13 8 k V i s proposed to be energized at 23 0 kV voltage design level joining the M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e . I t w i l l r e l i e v e t h e o v e r l o a d i n g o f t h e e x i s t i n g D a v a o -To r i l - M a t a n a o 13 8 k V t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e d u r i n g s i n g l e o u t a g e c o n t i n g e n c y ( N -1) ;

11.

l t p r o p o s e s t o i n s t a l l a n e w 5 0 M VA , 2 3 0 / 6 9 k V p o w e r t r a n s f o r m e r i n M a l i t a S u b s t a t i o n t o r e p l a c e t h e i n i t i a l l y i n s t a l l e d 5 0 M VA 13 8 / 6 9 kV power transformer which will then be relocated to Kidapawan S u b s t a t i o n;

12 .

The Baloi -Villanueva - Maramag - Bunawan transmission line is proposed to be energized at 23 0 kV by the installation of the following: (i) power t r a n s f o r m e r s i n V i l l a n u e v a a n d B u n a w a n; ( i i ) p o w e r c i r c u i t b r e a ke r s in Baloi and Maramag Substations; and (iii) reactors in Villanueva S u b s t a t i o n; Upon its completion, the new power plants can already be dispatched a t t h e i r m a x i m u m c a p a c i t y. C o r o l l a r i l y, t h e a d d i t i o n a l c a p a c i t i e s c a n already be transmit ted throughout the whole island of Mindanao. It will fur ther strengthen the existing transmission system, thus ensur ing the s t a b i l i t y, r e l i a b i l i t y a n d e f f i c i e n c y o f p o w e r i n t h e e n t i r e M i n d a n a o G r i d;

Brief Project Description 14 .

The proposed major components and description of the Project are, as follows: M a t a n a o - To r i l - B u n a w a n 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e

Tr a n s m i s s i o n L i n e M a t a n a o - To r i l

2 3 0 k V, S T- D C , 4 -7 9 5 M C M A C S R , 3 4 k m s

To r i l - B u n a w a n

2 3 0 k V, S T- D C , 4 -7 9 5 M C M A C S R , 4 0 . 2 k m s

Substation Malita

1 - 5 0 M VA 2 3 0 / 6 9 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment

Matanao

2-23 OkV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

To r i l

2 - 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment and secondar y equipment1 10 - 2 3 0 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y devices 6 -13 8 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y devices

Bunawan

W i t h t h e e n e r g i z a t i o n o f t h e M a t a n a o -To r i l - B u n a w a n a n d B a l o i - V i l l a n u e v a M a r a m a g - B u n a w a n b a c k b o n e a t 2 3 0 k V, a n a d d i t i o n a l h i g h - v o l t a g e transmission corridor will be made available for the incoming plants in the southern par t of the Island. There will also be no transmission constraints and capacity limitations enabling the full dispatch of the power plants in the area, thus maintaining the reliabilit y of the system even during single outage contingency; P r o j e c t C o s t E s t i m a t e a n d Ta r g e t C o m p l e t i o n :

Southern Por tion of Mindanao

13 .

1- 69 kV PCB and associate equipment and secondar y devices

T h e e s t i m a t e d c o s t o f t h e P r o j e c t i s P h P 6 , 8 5 8 , 414 , 5 3 2 . 4 3 a n d t h e t i m e o f c o m p l e t i o n i s y e a r 2 017; Allegation in Suppor t of the Prayer for Provisional Approval

24.

Consider ing the sc arcit y of power being exper ienc ed in Mindanao, a d d i t i o n a l p o w e r g e n e r a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y. C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e r e a d i n e s s o f the Mindanao grid to accommodate such huge capacity is also essential. The sudden entr y of significant generation consequently requires immediate upgrading of transmission facilities to be able to distribute the much needed p o w e r i n M i n d a n a o;

25.

The upgrading of the transmission lines will complement the additional capacit y in addressing the shor tage of power in the island. It will deliver the much needed power generated by the new power plants and will be t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e I s l a n d o f M i n d a n a o;

26.

The immediate issuance of a provisional authorit y would allow it to procure the necessar y substation equipment, including hauling, installation, testing and commissioning in time for the commercial operation of the new power plants;

2 7.

A c o p y o f t h e J u d i c i a l A f f i d a v i t o f E n g r. F e r n a n d o S . J a v i e r, t h e H e a d o f t h e Mindanao System Planning Division of NGCP in suppor t thereof is attached t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n a s A n n e x “ B ”;

28.

I t p r a y s t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n: a. b.

Issue, immediately upon f iling of the application, a provisional a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n Backbone Project; and Approve, af ter notice and hearing, the application for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e M i n d a n a o 2 3 0 k V Tr a n s m i s s i o n B a c k b o n e Project and render judgment making provisional approval permanent.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, e x p o s i t o r y p r e s e n t a t i o n , p r e - t r i a l c o n f e r e n c e a n d e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g o n A u g u s t 2 7, 2 0 15 ( T h u r s d a y ) a t t w o o ’c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n ( 2 : 0 0 P. M .) a t t h e E R C , M i n d a n a o F i e l d O f f i c e , M e z z a n i n e F l o o r, M i n t r a d e B u i l d i n g , M o n t e v e r d e c o r n e r S a l e s S t s . , D a v a o C i t y. A ll persons who have an interest in the subject mat ter of the proc eeding may b e c o m e a p a r t y b y f i l i n g , a t l e a s t f i v e (5 ) d a y s p r i o r t o t h e i n i t i a l h e a r i n g a n d s u b j e c t t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h e E R C ’s R u l e s o f P r a c t i c e a n d P r o c e d u r e , a v e r i f i e d p e t i t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n g i v i n g t h e d o c ke t n u m b e r a n d t i t l e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g a n d s t a t i n g : (1) t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’s n a m e a n d a d d r e s s ; (2) t h e n a t u r e o f p e t i t i o n e r ’s i n t e r e s t i n t h e s u b j e c t mat ter of the proc eeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is af fected by t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g ; a n d (3) a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r e l i e f d e s i r e d . A ll other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject mat ter of the proc eeding may f ile their opposition to the applic ation or c omment thereon at any stage of the proc eeding before the applic ant c oncludes the presentation of its evidence. No par ticular form of opposition or c omment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. A ll such persons who may wish to have a c opy of the applic ation may request the applic ant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be fur nished with a c opy of the applic ation. The applic ant is hereby directed to fur nish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of r e a s o n a b l e p h o t o c o p y i n g c o s t s . L i ke w i s e , a n y s u c h p e r s o n m a y e x a m i n e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n and other per tinent records filed with the Commission during the usual of fice hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORI A VICTORI A C . YA P -TA R U C , J O S E F I N A PAT R I C I A A . M AG PA L E - A S I R I T a n d G E R O N I M O D . S TA . A N A , E n e r g y R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n , t h i s 2 0 t h d a y o f J u l y, 2 015 a t P a s i g C i t y.

AT T Y. F R A N C I S S AT U R N I N O C . J U A N E xecutive Director III

2 - 3 0 0 M VA 2 3 0 /13 8 k V P o w e r Tr a n s f o r m e r a n d associate equipment and secondar y equipment 10 - 2 3 0 k V P C B a n d a s s o c i a t e e q u i p m e n t a n d secondar y equipment

( T S - A U G . 2 & 9 , 2 015 )

PH BAGS 4 GOLDS IN ASIAN WUSHU THE Philippines has collected four golds so far in the ongoing eighth edition of the Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Ken Alieson Omengan from Baguio City successfully defended his nanquan (Southern fist) title and ruled the nandao (curved, one sided sword) he dominated in the 2012 junior worlds to capture two gold medals. Omengan, who is competing in his last junior continentals, duplicated his two-gold medal feat before a hometown crowd in the previous Asian juniors where he could only finish eighth in nandao. Agatha Chrystenzen Wong, likewise prevailed anew in her favourite taijijian 42 forms to make it a back-to-back gold performance in this event using a doubleedged sword with taijiquan movements. N e w c o m e r Spencer Bahod made the taijijian 42 forms a Filipino preserve by copping the gold medal in the boy’s side of the premier wushu competition in Asia for 18 years and under. Aleca Breana Dumseng added a bronze, placing third in qiangshu (flexible spear). Wushu Federation Philippines secretary general Julian Camacho said, “Our boys and girls are proving that winning six gold medals in the 7th Asian Junior Wushu Championships we hosted two years ago was no fluke.” “This can only mean our junior development program is as strong as ever,” Camacho added. The Asian juniors ends today (Sunday) with more medals for Philippines forthcoming.

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 9, 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALLARI EDITOR sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Sunrise Events and Alaska Milk President Wilfred Steven Uytengsu speaks about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. JAMIL BUERGO

And they’re off! Boys 13-14 years old dive into the water as they lead the ﬁrst wave of competitors at the start the 2015 Alaska IronKids Triathlon Cebu at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa last weekend.

ALASKA

IRONKIDS

HOLD WEEKEND OF FUN IN CEBU By Reuel Vidal

CHILDREN were treated to four days of fun in the sun and sand during the 2015 Alaska IronKids Triathlon Cebu at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa last weekend. Tara Borlain, Nicole Danielle Eijansantos and Juan Francisco Banigued again ruled their categories while Yuan Chiongbian won for the first time in the event that was not so much competition as teaching children the value of exercise and a healthful diet. Saturday last week Sunrise Events Inc. and Alaska Milk President Wilfred Steven Uytengsu led Alaska IronKids participants and Cobra Energy Drink IRONMAN 70.3 competitors as they went to Punta Engaño Elementary School

to teach students the value of exercise followed by a healthy breakfast. “Alaska IronKids is all about adopting a healthy lifestyle. Children have fun as they swim, bike and run. We are also advocating the Gatas for Breakfast campaign. I invite everyone here to start the day with exercise and then have that healthy breakfast which includes Alaska Milk. You will grow strong and healthy. One day soon I hope you may even be part of the Alaska IronKids or even race in the IronMan,” said Uytengsu to 1,200

students from Grade 1 to 6 of the elementary school who joined a dance exercise to the tune of MagGatas for Breakfast and then had a healthy nutritious breakfast of champorado with Alaska milk. The activity teaches the importance of starting the day right with a combination of exercise and a healthy breakfast. It is Alaska’s way of helping the government reduce the increasing number of obese children and adults in the country. Last Sunday Borlain came out of the water behind Raven Faith Alcoseba but overhauled that deficit to finish ahead of Catherine Angeli Yu, Alcoseba, Ma. Nicole Seares Del Rosario and Micaella Barlin in the girls 11-12 category. Eijansantos trailed Samantha Borlain out of the water, still trailed Borlain during the bike ride but eventually pushed ahead in the run

to win the girls 13-14 category. Following Eijansantos were Borlain, Sam McInnes, Lorraine Hann and Andrea Marie Pagay. Chiongbian led from the start to win the boys 13-14 years old category. He was out of the water first and protected his lead to finish ahead of Lucian Antonio Alejo, John Caleb Barlin, Sabino Czar Manglicmot IV and Joe Bernard Sarmiento. Banigued won the boys 1112 category. Others are Bernard Miguel Sy, Victor Andrew Boherom, Josh Andrei Plariza and Xanz Riggie Portullano. Lorayne Leoncioco and Moira Frances Gabri Erediano finished one and two in the girls 9-10 category as they submitted better times than boys their age. Trailing them are Emma Bertel, Ezrah Beatrice Campo and Isabella Diehl. Justin Christopher Yu won the boys 9-10 category. Others are Vince Joaquin Kais, Xeemon Villo Cuyos, Jiullano Jose and Eughan Neo Faelnar. Michael Gabriel Lozada won the boys 6-8 years old category. Others

are Juan Alessandro Suarez, Ythnmtw Orellana, Jesus Antonio Garcia and Xisco Villo Cuyos. Ma. Chelsea Faith Lozada finished first in the girls 6-8 years old category. Others are Maria Michaela Recilla, Franchezka Borlain, Zurielle Kenzie Galo and Dhexia Myle Bersabal. The 2015 Alaska IronKids Triathlon Cebu is primarily a weekend of fun, excitement and competition for boys and girls, six to 14 years old. It is more than just a race. It is a venue for families to bond in a shared activity and gives parents the chance to show their children being physically fit and healthy is more fun. To encourage participation rather than just competition the race had three categories: Race Category (with Podium Medals) with four age groups; Play Category (with finisher’s medal but no age categories) with short and long distances to promote outdoor play and increase participation for non-competitive participants; and the Relay Category (with Podium Medals) with two mixed age groups.

Cobra Energy Drink IRONMAN 70.3 and Alaska IronKids participants join students of Punta Engaño Elementary School in the Gatas for Breakfast activity at the school. JAMIL BUERGO

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 9 : 2 0 1 5

TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

S U NDAY L IF E

LIFE

The drops of blood on the “I AM AN HIV POSITIVE POSTER” are drawn from Faustine Angeles Jr.; photos by Sonny Espiritu.

Photo courtesy of GoPro and Felt Bicycles

THE COMPELLING STORY OF FAUSTINE, A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV Meet a young man who pedals his way to raising awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and bravely battles the ignorance, the discrimination, the prejudice and the stigma attached to individuals living with a potentially debilitating and fatal condition. BY BING PAREL Faustine with sportscaster Dyan Castillejo.

et’s be perfectly honest here. Even in this day and age when a surfeit of information tells us that the human immunodeficiency virus is spread through sex, sharing of needles with an infected person, or transmission of certain bodily fluids that include breast milk – none of us “normal” persons would readily and unhesitatingly shake hands or even do the polite besobeso (kissing of the cheek) with a person who has HIV. There is, after all, that “cringe” and “fear factor” that many of us have to overcome – and it is this fear and misconception that 27-year-old Faustine Luell Tupas Angeles Jr. is valiantly trying to break down. “I am the by-product of a broken family, and the youngest of three children,” he tells us. He didn’t finish school, yet was able to work for JPMorgan Chase as a mortgage banker and at Wells Fargo as a phone banker, indicators that this young man has the kind of innate intelligence that allows him to go around obstacles that would ordinarily faze others. An outdoor and extreme sports enthusiast, he was, in a manner of speaking, enjoying life. And as a young adult, he frequented

Faustine pedals his way around the country to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS; photos courtesy of Pedal for HIV.

places where most partygoers gravitate during certain weekends or whenever there are big events. “I have profiles in different networking sites such as downelink, PlanetRomeo (formerly known as Guys4Men), MIRC,” he reveals. The hammer came down crashing on November 16, 2012, when he was diagnosed as HIV positive. “My case was an early diagnosis,” he shares, revealing that his immediate reaction was rather unusual for someone who had just been given what others would consider a death sentence. “Right there and then I accepted my condition,” he continues, keen to know the dos and don’ts about HIV. It was a few months before depression hit him badly. “I realized the repercussions of my condition and the consequences of my previous actions and lifestyle,” he admits, attributing his previous party-going activities as the underlying reason why he

contracted the virus. “It must be noted that during those years, HIV and AIDS were not given much importance by the government unlike today where there are several programs and groups that address HIV and AIDS awareness through various campaigns,” he avers. His family, of course, was “saddened by the news. After all, who wouldn’t be saddened if someone get’s diagnosed with a disease that’s incurable up to this day?” Faustine reasons. It was a simple conversation with his mother though that got him back on track, so to speak, and signaled that he was “bound to do greater things for my community through an HIV awareness advocacy. I took the courage to get back where I started which was cycling. After a bout of depression, I hit the trails and started Pedal for HIV.” Last May, what was originally slated as a fun ride event in Marikina for the International AIDS Candlelight

Memorial gave birth to a cycling team named PedalForHIV that has since received overwhelming support both from the national and local governments (such as Marikina, San Fernando City in La Union and many others), with supporters that include The Medical City, ABS-CBN, Felt Bicycles, SUPACAZ, NUUN Hydration Tablets, Bonk Breaker Energy Bars, DAN’S Philippines, Light’n Up Marketing, Spyder Philippines, Vamos Socks, PAU Sports Spray and Premiere Condoms. “Team PedalForHIV is composed of young athletes #RaisingForAGreaterCause. Only one from among the team members tested positive for HIV – and that would have to be me, their team manager,” Faustine discloses, adding that athletes bear the title “Ambassador of HIV Awareness” through sports. While there are other advocacy groups, their efforts as well as the methods employed are not adequate and sufficient to address the need for Filipinos in becoming more aware of HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, a consequence of, and the final stage to HIV. “Yes, there are HIV testing campaigns being conducted by the government but this does not suffice

if we don’t address the wrong notions about HIV and AIDS being a deadly disease. For the longest time, we have been trapped as a nation as to how HIV and AIDS are portrayed in mass media. If this isn’t properly addressed, there will still be people out there practicing unsafe sex without knowing the consequences of such, or on the other hand people will be left out there with their fear of getting tested for HIV because of the fear of the possibility of death,” explains the “bike warrior” with understandable passion. “Death is in fact inevitable, but being diagnosed with HIV shouldn’t be treated as a death sentence anymore, but merely a redirection for a second shot at life,” Faustine philosophizes. One could not help but admire the courage and passion that goes with his advocacy, biking around the country to spur awareness about the condition and to serve as an encouragement that indeed, being tested positive for HIV should not be received like a death toll. On the other hand, there is also that need to straighten out that irrational fear and prejudice among many that they should not even be within speaking distance of persons diagnosed as HIV-positive. Continued on C2

SUNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

THE COMPELLING STORY OF FAUSTINE, A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV From C1

Which is why, when Faustine found out about that brilliant awareness campaign started by a Brazilian group named Grupo de Incentivo a Vida through posters designed by Ogilvy Brazil that declared, “I AM AN HIV POSITIVE POSTER” that contained a drop of blood from an HIV-positive person, he did not hesitate to bring the campaign over to the Philippines. The poster, with the words printed all in red and with a big red dot on the upper right side speaks thus: “My measurements are 40 by 60 centimeters. I was printed on high brightness paper. And my weight is 250 grams. I’m just like any other poster. Except for one thing: I’m HIV positive. “It’s exactly what you’ve just read. I’m living with the virus. At this point you may be taking a step back, wondering if I offer any danger. My answer is: No way. “HIV can’t survive outside the human body for more than one hour. Therefore, the blood that I

carry is harmless. Just as living with someone who is HIV positive. “You contract HIV by having unprotected sex, sharing needles and syringes with infected blood. “Yes, you can live with me without any problem. I can play my role in society perfectly. And I dare say that if I haven’t revealed that I have the virus you wouldn’t have noticed. “Because being HIV positive does not determine who you are. Whether you are a poster or a human being.” The poster then ends with a powerful, thought-provoking message: “If prejudice is an illness, information is the cure.” Upon watching the video that came after the posters were released, Faustine contacted the group to ask for permission to have the same posters released in the Philippines, with PedalForHIV as the exclusive organization with the right to release the posters. “The Brazilian group and I share the same vision – and that is to end the stigma concerning HIV

Faustine gets support for his advocacy from local government units such as Marikina City.

and AIDS. People living with HIV deserve to be respected, accepted, and above all, to be loved. People living with HIV are ordinary humans and we just live with the virus. Today, you wouldn’t even know if the person you’re dealing with is HIV positive unless he/ she discloses his/her status. PLHIV come from all social strata; professionals down to students and even infants (through an infected mother’s breast milk),” he shares, noting that HIV does not make distinctions – “which makes it an important issue that must be addressed not only by people who are infected but everyone as it concerns all of us, in fact the entire world,” he states.

“Forgiving oneself maybe the hardest thing to do but when you’ve done it yourself, it’s a lot easier to get people’s acceptance, respect, and understanding about our condition being an HIV positive individual,” he says in retrospect. Asked if he sometimes looks back, and if there are things that he wishes could have been done differently, he considers. “You shouldn’t keep yourself busy regretting and thinking of what other people might possibly say. Life is too short to be wasted thinking and keeping ourselves inside the box of shame”, Faustine says. He admits, however, that “there may be things that I wish I could have done differently, and that

includes doing well in school and lesser time for partying and gimmicks. However, this does not imply my regret in life, as I don’t regret any that I have done. I may have had my share of faults and failures, but they are what make me human, imperfect as all others. No one can ever be perfect, but we can be better. In my case, I have chosen to be better by combining my passion for sports through cycling and HIV awareness advocacy. Today, as I look back, I can say that I am definitely a better person from who I was before. There’s always a choice – look back and regret or look back, move on, and live life with purpose,” Faustine Luell Tupas Angeles Jr., HIV positive, concludes.

CAN I JUST CLONE ME? CAROTID ARTERY BY TATUM ANCHETA At 4:00 a.m., I feel like I finally need to turn all the switches off, but my mind just keeps on wandering. Instead of counting sheep, I’m counting responsibilities – “What’s going to be on next week’s line-up,” “Reply to the text earlier!” “Don’t forget Monday, 10:00 a.m. press con – okay, fine, I will just eat breakfast on the road – 12 noon lunch event, 4:00 p.m. advertising briefing, 6:00 p.m. closing, 8:00 p.m. event, 9:00 p.m. – Oh, I gotta mail the interview questions!” “Don’t forget the book layout…” “Confirm the shoot details,” “Bring the car to the shop,” “Pay the bill!” “Shucks, who will bring my dog to the vet…” “Oh I almost forgot the towering laundry.” “I need to go back to the gym…” And as I’m about to snooze, “Call Mom!” Thinking of the day ahead just makes me feel tired and looking forward to sleep again. “Oh sleep, I gotta sleep sometime!” Oh God, and to think I don’t have a kid! I wonder how moms do it! I don’t remember the last time I ate lunch without fidgeting on the computer keyboard or my phone, fork on the left, keyboard on the right. Thank God I finally got a driver because I might end up banging my car while checking mails or replying to texts while on the road.

Multitasking has been my everyday life; I don’t know how I will survive the day without having to do two to four things at the same time. I guess in today’s fast paced life, multitasking has become more of a need than a choice. “We really have no choice! We had to learn. Back then, women were expected to stay home and care for the home, and that in itself is a lot of multitasking from taking care of the kids, budgeting, cooking and whatever. In this day and age, take that and add trying to climb the corporate ladder and still be able to enjoy life – we really have no choice but to learn to do several things really well and all at once,” shares Erica Paredes, editor-in-chief, Calyxta. com. She’s one of the many women I know who juggles work while being a mom, and yet still gets to live a life of travel and adventure. “I wake up at 5:45 a.m. just to work out. I have a trainer come over and when I have time I go to yoga after work hours. I leave work at 4:00 so I can come home and make dinner, and then I spend time with my daughter at dinner and af ter,” she recounts her d ai l y multitasking d u t i e s . “We e ke n d s are sacred, as in don’t bother me – although I still do find myself working, but I try to limit it just so I have

time to go to Salcedo Market, or the mall to run errands or go shopping – but honestly, online shopping is where it’s at!” Have you checked your friends’ Twitter or Instagram descriptions lately? It will probably say something like – A dreamer, a traveler, a drama queen, a writer, an entrepreneur, a foodie, a mom to a kulit baby boy and to my two Chihuahuas and a Pom, and a loyal partner to my hubby. Familiar? Yes, these are some of the many multitasking women in your social feed. “My definition of a multitasker is a person doing a lot of things all at the same time. A multitasker could be male or female but stereotypically a woman. You could see it in working moms or just moms. You can see it in all SECs: moms who take care of their home as well as sidelines,” explains Lizette Santos, FCB Philippines chief strategist.

Some studies show that women fare better at multitasking than men. We’re just cut out differently. And I guess because we need to be. Even Hollywood personifies these women in movies because a lot of women tend to relate. Remember Sarah Jessica Parker’s I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011) movie? Almost all women I know who saw the movie, scream, “That’s me!” Even brands and advertisers acknowledge the huge multitasker market. I have sat on so many strategy briefing and brand reviews talking about this huge demographic. “Our society has become a multitasker’s haven. Manufacturers make it easy from all-in-one detergents to seven benefits of face cream, and most of all our gadgets are multitasking enablers: phones that can take pictures, search on the net, communicate at one go with different people. Every brand that sells ‘convenience’ and ‘convergence’ is a multitasker’s dream,” explains Lizette. Google “multitasking” and you end up with gazillions of articles telling you to stop multitasking, or that it is a myth. Some researchers say it is a compulsion, the need to be one in order to be a modern human being. We all know that doing so many things at the same time

eventually makes us miss things and sometimes doesn’t really get things done properly. “There are multitaskers who believe that this is their way of life. They actually feel superior because they feel they are being efficient. I think you should really minimize multitasking because it means you are splitting your focus and the output looks rushed or hurried. It’s ideal to focus on something first then move on to another thing,” shares Lizette. Guilty? Yes, I feel you. “In life, we should really live things fully, not in a rushed way. I think this is what the Mindfulness movement is trying to change, ”adds Lizette. The Mindfulness movement is becoming a revolution in the US, and the Philippines is catching on. You’d see meditation spots all around the Metro including hotels frequented by business travelers, and yoga studios are popping up everywhere. Mindfulness isn’t just about clearing away thoughts; it’s about focusing your mind and being aware of these thoughts. According to Art Markman, author of Smart Change, “We judge how much we are getting done by how busy we feel,” but really, we are our worst judge. “All the areas of your brain that would help you to monitor your performance are getting soaked up by the multitasking, so they’re busy.” With all the things we’re trying to accomplish in one go, I guess we feel more empowered if we get things done. But in anything, focus is really the key to accomplishing goals and finishing tasks really well. “Wait, what time is it? Oh God, I forgot to pick up my dog from the groomers!”

SUNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

COMMITMENTS

The couple poses with a car at the Universal Studios Singapore; Maverick collects cars and toys ‘like crazy’

MAVERICK AND SHARIZA: The love duo BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

nthony Relova, better known as Maverick of the comedy duo Ariel and Maverick, is an eccentric comedian who even in his own wedding did not stray from his character: blonde hair, oversized sunglasses and flashy accessories all check. With his quirky and exuberant persona, he could easily be misconstrued as a funny and vain guy, but in reality he’s a serious man who loves to stay at home, and a loving husband to hotel executive Shariza for seven years and counting. But before Shariza got to know Maverick better, she thought he was “a big time player” with a pompous personality. The two met in 1998 at a party in a bar in Makati. “My friend and I were dancing when he and his celebrity friend approached us and asked for my calling card,” relates Shariza. Shariza admits she wasn’t really into him the first time they met but Maverick was persistent, he called her at work almost every hour. His determination paid off after three months when she finally went out with him for dinner. Their second meeting went on until 3:00 am, and that night was the turning point for both of them. “He asked me to come with him to the parking lot and told me to choose my favorite car,” narrates Shariza. She continues, “I chose the 68 Monaco parked near the entrance. I had no clue it was his. He drove me around CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) and said, ‘I’ve found my girl’.” They were both young when they first met – Maverick was 24 and Shariza was 21 – but what they felt was real that they chose “to grow up with each other.” They got so serious with their relationship that they lived in together for 10 years before they decided to tie the knot on January 28, 2008. Suffice it to say, this allowed them to know themselves better, but they also felt like they robbed each other of their youth by being together as boyfriend-girlfriend for a decade. “We never had the chance to go out with other people,” says Shariza. But perhaps it was for the best because it allowed them to mature individually and together. “We went

Maverick and Shariza at The Peak Hongkong

After 10 years of being together as boyfriendgirlfriend, Maverick and Shariza tied the knot on January 28, 2008.

The Relova couple goes out of town with their dog Cotton in Subic

through rough patches in our lives, surpassed them, and I think we know how to handle our relationship better now.” Seventeen years since they first met in that bar in Makati, their relationship is stronger than ever. But this doesn’t mean that challenges no longer bother them. As Shariza puts it, “What’s important is that you both have strong faith and solid commitment to each other.” The Relova couple puts God in the center of their relationship and Shariza especially adores her husband’s Christian values. “He may lose sight of what is proper, but he easily gets back [to the right track] and is not hesitant to say that he is sorry. He also forgives easily,” she shares.

Maverick and Shariza go to Hong Kong Disneyland with family

Shariza, on the other hand, has become more understanding, considering her husband’s line of work, character and the public’s perception of him. For her, Maverick is a kind, caring and thoughtful man – almost “like a kid trapped in a grown man’s body” – but his big heart “with so much love to give” has always been misinterpreted by many as flirting. Shariza admits it used to irritate her but she has since cooled down. “My principle is very simple: I can’t control his mind and emotion but I can control what I say and how I will react.”

Shariza says each challenge they went through added spice to their relationship, and perhaps every rough patch is the thing that keeps them together and prepares them for more obstacles that would come their way. They also make sure to keep the flame of their love fueled with even the simplest, yet important, things like calling each other just to say “I love you” everyday. Maverick and Shariza prove that love needs more than laughter and comedy, although those are also vital factors to keep a relationship. With the right amount of love peppered with understanding, they make a romantic duo that could last forever.

S U N D AY : A U G U S T 9 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The iconic Lotus Elise was unveiled by San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, Willy Tee Ten, Senator JV Ejercito and Benita Tee Ten.

The iconic Elise S 220 was a crowd favorite.

(From left) Russel Tan, Eric Yap, Jessie Tan, James Lewis, Senator JV Ejercito and Willy Tee Ten, President of the Autohub Group

Lotus Cars Manila General Manager, Lito Jose.

ARE YOU READY TO FULFILL YOUR NEED FOR SPEED?

Businessman Rich King Teh with Autohub Group’s VP for Administration Christine Chua.

Images captured by PHILDIZ Photo Gallery (www.phildiz.com)

#INTHEMOMENT BY FRANCIS DE LEON

“W

ait a minute – that’s a Lotus Esprit!” a young and fired up Julia Roberts said in the classic move Pretty Woman, referring to the silver sports car the character of Richard Gere attempted to drive at the beginning of the movie. “Have you ever driven a Lotus?” asked the gentleman, handing over the steering wheel to the leading lady. To which she replied: “Fasten your seat belt. I am taking you for the ride of your life. I’m gonna show you what this car can really do. Are you ready?” She then geared to high-speed and cut through the boulevard in a speeding frenzy! This adrenalin-pumping scene in the classic ’90s movie established Julia Roberts as one of Hollywood’s A-list stars. To boot, this made the Lotus an iconic car known for its high velocity! Now, are you ready to drive a Lotus?

LOTUS CARS INVADES MANILA

All roads headed North of Manila for the grand opening of Lotus Cars Manila. Speed enthusiasts got an awesome showcase of the globally renowned automobile brand through an exclusive event to launch its new showroom located at North Greenhills, San Juan City. Lotus Cars Manila is the newest brand being managed by the automotive giant Autohub Group headed by its president, Mr. Willy Tee Ten. “It is with great pleasure that we’re given the chance to be part of this revolution to keep pace with the increasing customer demand and deliver the unique Lotus pure driving experience here in the Philippines,” shared Mr. Willy Tee Ten. Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing automobiles renowned for its Esprit, Elan, Europa, Evora, Exige, and Elise sports cars, and for the group’s highly successful Team Lotus in Formula One. “Lotus has its own racing heritage. Its speed is never negotiable. The thrill and the excitement

Team Lotus Cars Manila, Owee Cruz and General Manager Lito Jose with Francis de Leon

Sports car enthusiast, Senator JV Ejercito welcomes guests at the showroom.

Sports car fans Giovanni Tan, Luis Gono, Carlos Gono, Willy Tee Ten, Maurice Laude, and Ali Yu.

of owning a Lotus will always be there. This can be your car in the track and at the same time it can also be your everyday car,” stated the public relations head of Lotus Cars Manila, Owee Cruz. According to Owee, Lotus embodies the philosophy of intense passion, tremendous individuality, a sense of fun and determination. In essence, it is all about speed, handling and sophistication – making it an exceptional car brand of choice. She added, “We will carry the whole model line-up of Lotus from Elise, Exige to Evora. This range will definitely cater to the Sports Car enthusiast.” Personally, out of the three, the Elise caught my eye for its compact and sleek design. It has a timeless style and fun vibe while its lightweight composite body is attached to a light aluminum alloy chassis-tub at its base. Not to mention, how many compact sports cars can blast from 0-60 mph in just 6.0 seconds? That’s 0-100 kph in 6.5 seconds (just the thought put shivers down my spine)! This sexy beast is fast and I like it! It comes in five model variants so you may choose how your baby photo-bombs to your heart’s desire. The launch of Lotus Cars in Manila was absolutely a milestone worthy of an exclusive celebration that was attended by businessmen and sports car fanatics alike. And fun-atics they were, as the Lotus sports cars were unveiled (mind you, I felt pulses throbbing in the air or maybe that was the ambient music?) to an exhilarated crowd. “We are very happy for this milestone again of the Autohub Group. I hope our clients

Keith Bryan Haw photo-bombed by the Lotus Evora.

A toy with the big boys! Chris Dizon and Dexter Go at the Lotus Cars Manila launch.

What’s your eye-candy? Ingrid Chua-Go liked the Evora while Sandor Simon picked the Elise.

and friends will still continue to patronize Autohub’s brands. I hope they are excited with the Lotus as much as we are,” expressed Mr. Willy Tee Ten, marking this new phase of the group, which brought into the Philippines other famous British car brands such as the Rolls-Royce and the Mini. From the energy of the testosteronedominated crowd, Lotus Cars seems to be the ultimate luxury automobile that satisfies every businessman’s need for speed. Check it out, test drive, and be up to speed in experiencing what the frenzy is all about –sans Julia Roberts, of course. Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8.

Wilbros Live’s Winston Llmas was spotted inspecting the Lotus.

S UNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Victor Basa raises tHe Black flag

PLDTVP and HOME Marketing Head Gary Dujali with volleyball athletes Alyssa Valdez, Jaja and Dindin Santiago, Rachel Daquis, Ara Galang, Mika Reyes, and Peter Torres at the launch of Ultera's new ambassadors

Top volleyball aThleTes Team up wiTh plDT home ulTera

Victor Basa is the Axe Black man

e is one of the new Axe Black Men, a collective of understated stylish men who represent the Axe Black motto, Less Effort More Style. Together with fellow Axe ambassador Slick Rick, the ever-cool Victor Basa plans to put up an Axe Black Bar with an attitude. Axe Black is the latest scent by the no.1 fragrance brand, designed for the discreet, confident man who exudes their Less Effort More Style ideal. This light and fresh fragrance has citrus notes infused with cedar wood and mint undertones for a sophisticated and subtle effect, a fragrance that suites the quietly charming model Victor Basa. As part of the Axe Black Bar series, 3 teams of 2 Axe Black ambassadors each will be putting up a pop-up bar spread

apart over three months. Each bar is an original concept by the ambassadors as their interpretation of the Axe Black lifestyle. The bars will compete against one another based on criteria of hype, execution, and votes by the Axe Black Council, to be the ultimate Axe Black Bar. Teaming up with poster couple of the hip scene Coco Quizon and Julius Valledor, Victor and Slick Rick plan to create a bar that celebrates a fusion of culture and spunk. Designed like an underground 70’s bar with a touch of sophistication, this bar celebrates Whiskey as the quintessential Axe Black Man’s drink of choice, and presents their signature The Black Flag cocktail, which uses whiskey as a base and a touch of chocolate to give it attitude. “An art space slash performance area and a lot of [places]

where you can relax and experience different kinds of music,” Victor explains when asked about his concept. “We want to leave lasting impressions.” Named The Explorers Social Club, Basa’s entry to the series will have art and music as its main theme and will be in full-gear on Aug. 25 at Quantum Makati. On sampling the understated Axe Black fragrance, Victor is looking into washroom attendants, “like in traditional restaurants. Very nicely done. [It’s] a gentlemanly way of sampling.” They aim to keep all aspects of the pop-up bar relaxed and comfortable, much like the fragrance itself. “[Axe Black] is more curated and refined. It doesn’t overwhelm you. It’s lasting. Constant.” On how this relates to himself, Victor states simply his belief in less is more.

oday, PLDT HOME unravels the faces behind ultra fun Ultera Barkada by presenting its brand new ambassadors that hails from the ranks of the country’s top volleyball celebrities, all superstars in their own right. Ultra-fast LTE brand PLDT HOME Ultera takes all out fun to another level with the launch of its new brand ambassadors: the talented and fun-loving volleyball players Alyssa Valdez, Jaja and Dindin Santiago, Rachel Daquis, Ara Galang, Mika Reyes, John Vic De Guzman and Peter Torres. Each of these young athlete-celebrities has been making waves in their field, with a fan base that multiplies by the day. “I am so excited to officially represent PLDT HOME Ultera,” Valdez said. “I’m the type of person who goes all out in everything I do, not just in court, but also at home with family and friends. I value moments where I can stay home and have fun with my three brothers and PLDT HOME Ultera lets us siblings go all out with movie marathons and video game play-offs.” Multi-award-winning athlete Valdez is one of the country’s top volleybelles, the UAAP Season 77 MVP and the Shakey’s V-League 2015 Conference MVP. Joining her in the PLDT HOME Ultera family are “Twin Towers” Dindin and Jaja Santiago, who have garnered impressive titles to their names from Shakey’s V-League 2015. They are close friends on top of being sisters and even now that Dindin is married, they are still able to keep in touch and maximize their bonding moments with the help of PLDT HOME Ultera. Among the skilled bunch is the Philippine Super Liga 2015 Finals MVP Rachel Daquis, who comes from a close-knit family of seven people and is decided to being an ideal role model for her two younger siblings, niece and nephew. UAAP Season 77 MVP Ara Galang makes the most of her free time

through movie nights with her parents and with older brother. UAAP standout Mika Reyes spends time at home taking care of her younger siblings and catching up with relatives through social media. Completing the Ultera barkada family are top male volleyball icons Peter Torres, who is constantly protective of his four younger siblings, and John Vic De Guzman, who cherishes karaoke nights at home with his mom and siblings. Not only do these ambassadors excel in their sports and at home, but they are all friends off the court, making them the perfect Ultera “barkada family” who epitomize all out fun through their bonding moments. With existing partnership with major volleyball leagues, PLDT HOME Ultera is a strong advocate of sports excellence among the country’s youth. It is thus more than fitting to strengthen the association of the country’s prominent volleyball players to the brand. “This is the power roster that represents what PLDT HOME Ultera is all about.” PLDT VP and HOME Marketing Head Gary Dujali said. “Each of them has gone all out in volleyball, rising to excellence through hard work and dedication. Now, we’re showing the side of them that goes all out at home with family and friends. The Ultera lifestyle is about going all out in anything you do and we apply that mantra to our home-based Internet connection. When it comes to the Internet, some think that WiFi hotspots and Internet cafes are as good as it gets. But PLDT HOME Ultera offers ultra-fast LTE connection and affordable broadband to enable all out fun at home so you don’t settle for anything less. Our Ultera barkada family embodies this message perfectly.” PLDT HOME Ultera delivers Ultra-Fast LTE for a happy family with internet speeds up to 10Mbps. Plans start at P999 a month. Log on to pldthome.com for more ultra fun offers.

S UNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

AnDREA O. VEnERACiOn intERnAtiOnAL ChORAL FEStiVAL 2015 WinnERS

t the closing ceremonies of the 2nd Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival on July 25, the Indonesian choir from Jakarta, The Archipelago Singers led by conductor Ega O. Azarya, won first prize in the Chamber Choir Competition category with the choir’s rendition of Wilkin’s See, See the Shepherds Queen, Brahms’ Dem Dunkeln Schoss der heiligen Erde, Yohan’s Negros Fantasmas and Saunder Choi’s Ang Tren, the obligatory piece commissioned by the CCP for the Festival. The choral work was based on the poem of the same title by Philippine literary giant Jose Corazon de Jesus. The same choir also won the third prize in the Folk Song Competition where they premiered

Filipino composer Nilo Alcala’s Kusinilo si Bao. The second prize in the Chamber Choir Competition category went to University of the Visayas Chorale led by Anna Tabitha Abeleda Piquero and the the third prize to the University of the Philippines Los Baños Chorale conducted by Romel Lomarda. The choirs received cash prizes of $5,000, $3,500 and $2,500, respectively. The winners of the Vocal Ensemble Competition held on July 23 were as follows: Boscorale, Alvin Paulin, conductor (first); University of Baguio Voices Chorale, Bienvenido Constantino Jr., conductor (second); and Philippine Vocal Ensemble, Jose Emmanuel D. Aquino, conductor (third). The choirs

received cash prizes of $4,000, $2,500 and $1,500 respectively. The winners of the Folk Song Competition held on July 22 were University of the Visayas (UV) Chorale, Anna Tabitha Abeleda Piquero, conductor (first); \Koro Ilustrado, Edmund Alan Piquero Jr, conductor (second); and The Archipelago Singers, Ega O. Azarya, conductor (third). The choirs received cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively. The jury was composed of Brady Allred from the United States, Jānis Liepiņš from Latvia, Silvana Vallesi from Argentina, Andre van der Merwe from South Africa and Mark Anthony Carpio from the Philippines.

Boscorale

University of the Visayas Chorale

iPhOtO

LG joins Metro ManiLa shake DriLL

G Electronics Philippines (LGEPH) has provided mobile communications technology to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Digital team for use in the recently held Metro Manila Shake Drill. In photo during the turnover of the LG smartphones at the MMDA headquarters are

LG tunrs over 10 smartphones to MMDA Digital team

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 1917 abdicator 5 Struck out 11 Bubbles 17 Onetime Montreal athlete 21 Queen’s colony 22 Sugar cane rodent 23 Wish undone 24 Osso buco base 25 Left Bank chums 26 Kind of scholar 27 Glamour 28 Indigo dye 29 Alert (hyph.) 31 Ike’s missus 33 Kerchief 35 Curly lock 36 “The Luncheon on the Grass” artist 37 Wheel spokes 38 Family MDs 41 Is, to Fritz 42 Deices the roads

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Mae West role Sweater style (hyph.) Most undercooked Tows Koan discipline Cyclades locale Croce’s “I Got — —” Tea holder Honcho Hwy. Deli meats Syrup source Grittier Toy on a string DJ gear Maudlin Charging ahead Sleeveless blouse Gomer Pyle’s hometown — compos mentis U.K. part Traps

71 72 73 74 75 78 79 80 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 109 110 112 115 116 120 121 123 125 126 127 128 129 130 131

BMW rival Sty matriarch Joule fraction Miner’s find Andre of tennis Carbondale sch. ER staffers Memento Uses bath powder Botched Corn shucks Max opposite Weakness Joined the parade Golfers’ rides Expressway Compass pt. Lush fabrics Trot and canter Prefix for media “The Bathers” painter Hosp. areas Makes turbid Snoopier Quilt fabrics Yes, to Angus They may be wee Hare’s hair Citrus cooler — -pocus Steamy dance Measured off distance Kind of penguin Bogus Very smart Lounge about Destructive insect “Becket” actor Bauhaus master Type of food Charlotte or Emily Andress of film Depot info Medea sailed on her Pulled

LGEPH Corporate Marketing Head Ana Salapantan (second from right) and officers and members of the MMDA digital team. With data powered by Globe SIM cards, the MMDA digital team utilized the LG smartphones to deliver real-time updates during the metro-wide Earthquake Drill.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

132 Dry twigs, e.g. 133 Organize DOWN 1 Melt 2 — Valley, Calif. 3 Eager 4 Fix the clock 5 Louis L’Amour setting (2 wds.) 6 Speechless 7 Alcoves 8 Pantyhose shade 9 Monsieur’s summer 10 With a long face 11 Optician’s wares 12 Mended the fire 13 Gawk at 14 Play about Capote 15 Plant book 16 Home finisher 17 Dodging, as taxes 18 TV’s “Warrior Princess” 19 Discomfort, plus 20 Clay pot 30 Come from 32 Aardvark’s diet 34 “The Pink Panther” actor 36 Bea Arthur sitcom 37 Chiming 38 Kind of cracker 39 Canal of note 40 Good for gators 42 — mistaken 43 Kind of library 45 More creepy 46 Ranch herd 47 Bows down 49 911 responder 50 Cheerful 51 Sharp retorts 52 Make public 54 Blue Grotto isle 55 Topeka loc. 56 Violin part

59 60 61 63 64 65 67 68 70 72 73 74 75

— Gras Bask on the beach Mongol rulers “If I Ran the Zoo” author Moo Fabric samples Tack Zeros Looks for Openhearted Finale Goose-down items Politely or rudely

76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 90 91 92

Kind of hen or pig Climb Polls Autumn color Vonnegut et al. First name in flying Like many Scots Whole Checkbook amt. Guitarist — Paul Flags down Debussy subject Nile city Urban transport

94 95 96 98 100 101 103 104 105 108 109 110

Cap brim Remove with a chisel (2 wds.) Gourmet mushroom Desdemona’s love Perlman and Silver Atomic — borealis Ceased Ribbed silk Mild cheese Preference Haughty

111 Embankments 112 Bride in “Lohen grin” 113 Where heather grows 114 Stop a leak 115 Bad mood 116 Warrant off. 117 Countertenor’s counterpart 118 Close 119 Trial balloon 122 Pull a fast one 124 Prefix for pod

S UNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Senator Grace Poe misses her father, Fernando Poe, Jr, dearly. Da King would have been 76 on Aug. 20

From left, Cignal TV COO Oscar Reyes Jr., Viva Communications Inc. Chairman and CEO Vic del Rosario Jr., MediaQuest Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, Cignal TV President and CEO Emmanuel C. Lorenzana and Viva Communications Inc. President and COO Vincent del Rosario III

Jessica Sanchez

GrAce Poe miSSeS dAd

enator Grace Poe is missing Fernando Poe Jr. terribly these days. The Senator admits this particularly with the recent developments in her political career, particularly now that she is faced with making a big decision for the 2016 elections. She says if her dad were alive she’d consult him on what she might do as the pressure is getting heavier with different people from all walks of life are encouraging her seek the presidency in the coming elections. She is also faced with weighing things as several people are also trying to woo her to be her running mate if she decides to run. “It is a known fact that I have an independent mind. I have made decisions on my own. Certainly, I miss FPJ because I could have shared with him what I am now,” says Poe. “The issues they threw at my

father then are the same issues other camps are tossing at me, I wonder what FPJ would have said if he were alive?” On Aug. 20, FPJ would have turned 76, that’s the reason the Senator is missing him a lot. HHHHH

New eNtertAiNmeNt chANNel On the last quarter, a new star in the entertainment horizon rises with the launch of Sari-Sari Channel – a 24/7 entertainment channel designed to deliver today’s finest movies and tele-dramas to Filipino audiences both here and abroad. This joint venture between Cignal TV and Viva Communications, Inc. promises to offer a variety of programs that will cater to all types of audiences, be it drama, suspense or thriller with new shows like Tabi Po, Class 3-C Has a Secret, Barrio Kulimlim, The Feb 15 Club, Kuya

From c8

and Me and Sa Ngalan ng Anak. The contract signing was led by the industry’s most respected bigwigs: MediaQuest Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP), Cignal TV President and CEO Emmanuel C. Lorenzana, Cignal TV COO Oscar A. Reyes Jr., Viva Communications, Inc. President and COO Vincent del Rosario III, and Viva Communications, Inc. Chairman and CEO Vic del Rosario Jr. Viewers are expected to fall in love again with original movies produced by Studio5 including Alice Dixon’s The Lady Next Door, Superstar Nora Aunor’s When I Fall In Love (a reunion with perennial onscreen partner Tirso Cruz III), Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Daniel Matsunaga’s Replacement Bride, Angel Aquino and Derek Ramsay’s Bawat Sandali, Sarah Lahbati’s More Than Words and Jasmin Curtis-Smith and David Archuleta’s

Nandito Ako, among others. Moreover, Filipino movie fans will have more reasons to watch Sari-Sari Channel’s classic collection of Viva Films’ box office hits such as Vice Ganda’s Petrang Kabayo, Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo’s Hating Kapatid, Anne Curtis’ Who’s That Girl?, among others. On top of these heart-warming Pinoy movies and series, Sari-Sari Channel commits to showcase other line-up of fresh and unique programs with a mixture of brave, brilliant, dramatic and extraordinary flavors that will suit every viewer’s taste. HHHHH

JeSSicA SANchez JoiNS SuNdAy PiNASAyA Pilot American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez is back in town for a spot duet with Christian Bautista in the premiere episode of the latest comedy-variety show Sunday Pinasaya!

on 12 noon, on GMA-7 today. Jessica will spend the afternoon of fun and laughter with the new show’s other mainstays as well like Ai-Ai de las Alas, Marian Rivera, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, Barbie Forteza, Valeen Montenegro, Jerald Napoles and Joey Paras. Jessica, who is half-Filipina, easily became a Pinoy favorite after showing the world her tremendous talent in the international singing search. Her local following even doubled when she staged a major concert in Manila. She has not been to the country since then due to her international singing career and so, her Pinoy fans have missed Jessica so much. But the long wait is over for Jessica will be performing live and in person in Sunday Pinasaya! on GMA Network today.

TV5 ConTinues driVe for happiness

lmost two months after it was launched, TV5’s happiness-on-wheels, Happy Truck Ng Bayan, remains unstoppable in its journey to bring happiness and cheer to millions of Filipinos all over the country. From its first stop in Tondo to its most recent location in Pampanga, the program proves that its actual presence in various barangays is still the most genuine way to inspire people and make them smile. A brainchild of TV5’s Chief Entertainment Content Officer Wilma V. Galvante, Happy Truck Ng Bayan was designed with the audiences in mind. Instead of asking the audiences to leave their homes and go to the studios, Galvante thought of literally bringing the show to the barangays – a first-ofits-kind on Philippine TV. “We want the audiences to let TV5 come closer to their homes and make us a part of their daily lives. Of course, the way to do that is to literally go where they live and knock at their doorsteps,” said Galvante. Hence, TV5’s most ambitious project for 2015 was born. Happy Truck Ng Bayan pooled together TV5’s biggest stars to ensure that the Happy Network delivers its promise of bringing Sunday noon-

time happiness. Leading Happy Truck Ng Bayan’s powerhouse ensemble of stars is Kapatid singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, who also got a taste of happiness as he himself became reunited with long-time friend and partner-incrime Janno Gibbs in the show. “It’s always a pleasure working with him in a project,” Alcasid shared. “It feels good to collaborate with a good friend like him. We complement each other. Apart from the game part, the program has its music segments as well so Janno and I can have song numbers together. I’m glad that he has joined TV5.” The other hosts include Derek Ramsay, Gelli de Belen, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Empoy, Tuesday Vargas, Kim Idol, Eula Caballero, Martin Escudero, Alwyn Uytingco, Ritz Azul, Valeen Montenegro, Toni Aquino, Tom Taus, and TV5’s kilig stars Mark Neumann, Shaira Mae, Akihiro Blanco, Chanel Morales, Sophie Albert, and Vin Abrenica. As the show covered more barangays week by week, more celebrities joined the happiness bandwagon. Some of the featured guest hosts who have journeyed with Happy Truck Ng Bayan were Rufa

Mae Quinto, Ruffa Gutierrez, Bianca King, Carl Guevarra, Randy Santiago, and Bituin Escalante. To further contribute to the much-awaited Sunday fun, Happy Truck Ng Bayan has also introduced more segments along the way. Recently, netizens went gaga over macho blue-collar workers in the show’s personality search called OCW: Oh, Construction Worker! Meanwhile, the show also encourages communities to nominate and vote for their most deserving neighbors in Barangay Bayani. Still, the main highlight of the program remains to be the jackpot round Kwarta or Kwartruck, where contestants choose a lucky capsule and get the chance to bring home up to P300,000.00. The program also opened various media opportunities to advertisers. Aside from the on-air values gained from the program, advertisers reach more audiences for their brands and campaigns through various on-ground and below-the-line activation opportunities in Happy Truck Ng Bayan. Each episode are shot with hundreds to thousands of audiences coming from ten barangays covered by the program per location. These eyeballs are guaranteed audiences that will

Gelli de Gelen, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Mariel Rodriguez

Ogie Alcasid in Antipolo for Truck ng Bayan

surely increase awareness for the brands. The same hundreds to thousands of audiences drawn by this “happiness-on-wheels” also allows the brands and potential sponsors to do sampling activities and merchandising. These creative media solutions offered by TV5 prove that the Happy Network is not only great at bringing cheer to its viewers, but also the best when it comes

to making advertisers happy. TV5 also brings the good news that Happy Truck Ng Bayan is set to do episodes outside Metro Manila, starting from its most recent venture in Pampanga. Producers are already planning to go to key cities in Northern and Southern Luzon, as well as populous areas in Visayas and Mindanao. Happy Truck Ng Bayan airs every Sunday, 11:30AM on TV5.

S UNDAY : AUGUST 9 : 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Revllame faces members of the press to announce the extension and the continued airing of Wowowin

Willie Revillame is happy Wowowin has been given 15 minutes more on the air every Sunday

Willie revillame’s neW lease of life on tv ISAH V. RED Many were predicting Willie Revillame’s Wowowin would fade to black sooner than expected. Au contraire, as the French would say it, the former drummer boy who rose to fame like a televangelist until his former network cast him out leading him to seek greener pastures at a fledgling TV network that also disengaged from him later has been given a new lease of life, so to speak, on GMA Network. Wowowin, the show he mounted at his new home, ran for a month or so, an hour every Sunday until rumors spread that it has been axed. No, not yet, it seems. The show is on and today it is the post-programming of another new show on the Kapuso network, Sunday Pinasaya. Revillame faced members of the press recently and announced the good news for him that Wowowin will continue to be on the air and at an earlier timeslot. It will go on air at 2 p.m. after Sunday Pinasaya. Revillame expressed optimist that his show’s pre-programming would be an important factor in encouraging advertisers to buy spots on his show. “I believe so, and when this happens, I can focus on making

the show air on a daily basis. I am making negotiations right now. I am truly grateful to GMA Network for allowing me to be part of its programming,” he said. In the revivified Wowowin, there will be two main games and each game will have both elimination and a jackpot rounds. The first game “Bigyan ng Jacket Yan” is for the studio audience with five of them chosen to participate. They will be asked several questions and the player who gets the wrong answer will be eliminated. The last player standing will proceed to the jackpot round “Jacket Jackpot’ and has the chance to win bigger prizes. Meanwhile, his staple segment “Willie of Fortune” is considered to be the program’s heart and soul. In the game, three teams will be asked several trivia questions from different categories or guess the title of the song. The first team with five points proceeds to the jackpot round called “The Wil to Win.” The winning team has the chance to win P1 million, a brand new car or a house and lot. With an extended timeslot, Willie expressed his sincerest gratitude to the people who never fail to support him. “Noon pa man ay handog ko na ang Wowowin sa mga taong walang tigil na sumusuporta sa atin, kaya para sa kanila ay wala rin tayong tigil sa pagtulong at sa

pagbibigay kasiyahan. Nakakatuwa na mapapanood na nila kami sa mas maaga at mas mahabang timeslot dahil paniguradong mas marami pang kasiyahan at papremyong hatid ang programa.” HHHHH

Cooking a la restaurant Planning to eat out with the family this weekend? Why not give in to Kapuso award-winning actress Alessandra de Rossi’s invitation to keep her company instead and just stay at home to prepare delicious dishes—restaurant style— with the help of Idol sa Kusina? Tune in as Chef Boy Logro and Bettinna Carlos team up with Alex in cooking dishes that are as yummy as the restaurant favorites. Join the gang as they start off with some Grilled Shrimp with Basil-Lime Vinaigrette as appetizer. Next, indulge in a great serving of Chicken Parmigiana Pasta. Add in some nutritious Saluyot Burger plus tips on how to make the family meal healthier. Lastly, satisfy that sweet tooth with the dessert department’s Choco-Peanut Butter Bars. There’s no need to go out anymore to enjoy good food because Chef Boy, Bettinna, and Alex are going to bring the resto menu straight to the viewers’ homes. All these and more this Sunday at 7:15 p.m in Idol sa Kusina on GMA News TV. ➜ Continued on C7

GMA News TV’s Chef Boy Logro cooks up yet another delectable dish