The Standard - 2015 August 10 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 180 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 mONday : auguSt 10, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Govt buys P500-m worth of ‘bad’ salt

‘abaya must resiGn over mrt debacle’ By Macon R. Araneta

AN opposition spokesman called on Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to resign Sunday, deriding him as the poster child for the Aquino administration’s incompetence and insensitivity. “The best advice we can give is for you to resign, Secretary Abaya, and leave the problem to competent people who are better-suited to the job,” said Rico Quicho, a spokesman for Vice President Jejomar Binay, in response to Abaya’s challenge to his critics to offer solutions to the problems at the MRT, including accidents and stalled trains, and long queues in deteriorating stations. Quicho also ridiculed Abaya’s latest plan to hire four different companies on six-month renewable contracts to handle different parts of the MRT maintenance. Next page

Foundling Poe files bill to help found kids By Macon R. Araneta

Looking back. At least 19 people were injured after a defective MRT coach crashed through the Taft Avenue station in this file photo taken on August 13 last year.

roxas eyes Petilla, Qc’s bautista in senate slate

SENATOR Grace Poe, whose status as a senator has been challenged on the basis of her citizenship because she was a foundling, has filed a bill to protect abandoned children. Poe’s bill seeks the inclusion of foundlings in the list of children in need of special protection and mandates their registration within 60 days of their being in custody. Next page

cHed says college not for every Hs grad

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‘Govt spent P500m for expired salt’ By Christine F. Herrera

AN opposition lawmaker demanded an investigation Sunday into the importation of salt fertilizer imports worth P500 million yearly after hundreds of bags of the expired mineral were found dumped in the province of Siquijor.

Useless. These expired fertilizers were sent to the LP-dominated Siquijor. CHristine F Herrera

Abaya From A1...

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that you don’t give shortterm contracts to four different entities to handle a complex process,” Quicho said. A consumer group, the Train Riders Network, supported the call for Abaya to resign. “As early as last year, we have already called for the resignation of Secretary Abaya as he is not able to address the problems faced by commuters,” said James Relativo, a spokesman for the group. “He has proven himself to be incompetent in improving the mass rail systems in Metro Manila. If he does not have the delicadeza to resign, the President Aquino should take action and fire him.” Quicho also took a jab at Abaya’s predecessor at the Transporation Department, Secretary Manuel Roxas II, saying that “no amount of excessive foreign schooling can guarantee competence in public service.” Quicho said the correct action is to give the maintenance contract back to Sumitomo and Mitsubishi, who have proven their ability to do the job. “No search for the cheapest company, or one owned by party mates from LP [Liberal Party]. Just choose the proven and competent company. And do it fast,” Quicho said. He noted that accidents have happened, and just recently, two trains stopped during rush hour. “Do we wait for something worse to happen?” he said. Quicho also urged Abaya to explain and apologize to the thousands of MRT commuters, instead of using precious time that may cost lives bashing the Vice President for the facts he

Foundling From A1...

“I am doing this no longer for myself but for the thousands of children who were abandoned, who might grow up never knowing their biological parents and whose dreams and aspirations may be limited because of their status,” said Poe in a statement Sunday. Poe said she does not want abandoned children to be considered as second-class citizens just because they were left by their parents. Poe, a first-term senator, was a foundling adopted by movie stars Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces after she was left as a baby in a church in Jaro, Iloilo. While abandoned children are included in the list of children in need of special protection, Poe said exist-

raised in his True State of the Nation Address. “It did not come as a shock when Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was one of the first people to react to The True State of the Nation Address. It was clear that the Vice President’s words hit him where it hurts. We Tagalogs have a saying: The first to squawk is the one who laid the eggs,” said Quicho Earlier, Abaya suggested that Binay was “blind to the realities” of the MRT and in no position to provide solutions to a problem he did not understand. Quicho contested Abaya’s statement, however, and said the Vice President understands how long thousands of commuters have waited for Abaya to comprehend and offer solutions to the problem. “This is the reality: Secretary Abaya has been in his position for two years, there are billions of pesos in the budget for MRT, there are thousands of employees under the department; but to this day, Secretary Abaya is still looking for people to pass the blame to and pointing fingers at people who he thinks should provide solutions to the problem,” Quicho said. The Vice President said in his True SONA that the reason behind the MRT-3 mess is the cancellation of a successful, working contract. This paved the way for an unknown, untested newcomer, PH Trams, headed by Mario de la Cruz, a top Liberal Party fundraiser and Arturo Soriano, who is the uncle-in-law of former MRT general manager Al Vitangcol, and former IT consultant to Roxas. “A leader, such as a Cabinet Secretary, should find creative solutions to any major obstacle, regardless of legal and other types of bottlenecks. Patience, determination, executive experience in looking for a reasonable compromise and having the interest of the public as a primordial concern will

enable us to address huge problems such as the MRT-3 at the soonest,” Quicho said. He added: “Two things should be done now: specialized technicians expert at their assigned functions must be hired and trained immediately, and substantial stocks of spare parts not only for regular maintenance but also for unexpected breakdowns be purchased ASAP.” Also on Sunday, Senator Francis Escudero said the P43.5 billion budget request of the DOTC should allow it to field more trains, end long queues at the MRT stations, and start the longdelayed line extenstion projects. “The DOTC says it will speed up transfer time in stations from 10 minutes this year to five minutes next year. The first question that should be asked--is the waiting time at the MRT 10 minutes now” Escudero said. The DOTC also vowed that overloading in MRT trains would go down to 157 percent from to 171 percent. “Is this decrease in load factor doable? How many new trains are coming to ease congestion? Escudero said. He said these pledges are among the MRT-related performance indicators the DOTC has spelled out in the national budget. With these deliverables, the DOTC is asking Congress to appropriate P7.09 billion in MRT-related expenses broken down as follows: P1.96 billion for operation and maintenance; P1.5 billion for rehabilitation and capacity expansion; and P3.63 billion as subsidy for “mass transport.” The latter would cover deficiencies in “settling prior and current years’ obligations for equity rental, maintenance fees and others obligations. Escudero added that the Senate’s “strict scrutiny of rail-related appropriations” should extend to other lines, including the Philippine National Railways.

ing rules call for a separate registration process for foundlings. She said this often resulted in confusion and discrimination for the child. “As a vulnerable and disadvantaged group, CNSP are in greater need of the state’s protective arm. The non-registration of their births makes them more invisible to the state’s developmental radar that could otherwise include them in priority programs on health, nutrition, education and protections,” she said. Poe’s bill provides that persons in custody of a foundling should bring him or her within 48 hours to either barangay or police officials, a childcare foundation, or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The receiving agency will then determine if the child has, indeed, no caregiver or guardian. If no guardian

is found, the DSWD or custodian should register the child within 60 days and obtain a Certificate of Live Birth for the foundling. The DSWD will submit every month a list of registered foundlings and other CNSP. According to UNICEF, 1.7 million children in the Philippines do not have birth documents, and are deprived of access to basic health, educational and protection services “An unregistered child not only will have diminished access to medical, educational and social benefits provided by the state; he or she is likewise susceptible to the abuses on account of minority such as commercial and sexual exploitation, abuse and human trafficking,” Poe said. In 2010, the DSWD served 4,749 children who were victims of abuse and exploitation. Of these, 1,433 were abandoned.

“It is very possible that other coconut producing provinces may have been given expired fertilizers as well, which can only exacerbate the already sad plight of our coconut farmers,” said Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz. Dela Cruz said concerned citizens from Siquijor have asked Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Food Security czar Francis Pangilinan to inquire into the shipment and distribution by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) of expired fertilizers to farmers in the province under the agency’s Salt Fertilization Project operations. The PCA is under Pangilinan’s Office of the‎ Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Modernization. Dela Cruz said some 30 to 50 bags of such fertilizers allegedly imported directly from Australia were initially distributed to coconut farmers in the six towns of the province. “The said products were reportedly expired as ‘..stickers with 2017 markings were used to cover up the actual expiry date [of] April 3, 2014,” he said. Coconut farmers and agriculture officials were at a loss when they found hundreds of 50-kilo bags of salt fertilizer whose color had turned brown from the original crystal-white. Dela Cruz’s resolution directed the House committee on agriculture and food to investigate, in aid of legislation, the procurement and distribution of expired fertilizers by the PCA. “Given the increasing use of salt fertilizer to increase the production of our aging coconut trees, the PCA has been importing loads upon loads of such inputs worth billions of pesos even as it has reportedly been encouraging local salt producers to step up and supply our increasing requirements,” Dela Cruz said. To enhance production from the standing coconut trees, a good number of which are in the calamity visited areas of Regions 8, 9 and even Region 4, Dela Cruz said, it was imperative that the availability of critical inputs such as salt fertilizer provided by PCA be truly useful and not wasted as it was in Siquijor. While the fertilizers were meant to increase production from standing trees by at least 25 percent in the first year of application, their use had to be stopped to avoid any damage from their use. Dela Cruz said the supplier of the expired fertilizer, Arvin International Marketing, has yet to come out with a solid and believable explanation for this serious breach, which may have cost the government millions of pesos. “We do not want another fertilizer fund scam like during the Arroyo administration. We are in fact quite surprised that we got

expired fertilizers when we have a government that is headed by Liberal Party officials in the province,” Dela Cruz said, quoting Siquijor coconut farmers. The province is dominated by LP members led by Gov. Zaldy Villa and Vice Gov. Fernando Avanzado and represented in Congress by Marie Anne Pernes. Pangilinan himself is an LP candidate for senator in next year’s elections. PCA administrator Euclides Forbes said the Philippines imports between 800,000 to 900,000 50-kilogram bags of salt fertilizer from Australia. The PCA then bids for the supply of salt fertilizer, spending about P500 million annually, Forbes said. The agency provides salt fertilizers to coconut farmers under its Salt Fertilization Program, a component of PCA’s drive to increase domestic coconut production. Forbes said the agency has begun tapping several provinces for the supply of salt fertilizer. The PCA, for instance, recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government of Palawan for the supply of 300,000 bags of salt fertilizer annually beginning 2015, provided the product meets the minimum specifications set by the PCA. Forbes said the local government of Palawan, through Gov. Jose Alvarez, agreed to put up salt beds for the production of salt fertilizers. The provinces also agreed to put up nurseries for coconut seedlings that would be used for replanting in the province. Several coconut cultivation areas in Palawan were also damaged by Typhoon Yolanda, which hit the Visayas in November 2013. The salt fertilizer produced in Palawan would be bought by the PCA at a minimum price of P300 per 50-kilogram bag through government-togovernment procurement. “These moves intend to revive the salt-production industry locally, thus creating jobs in the province,” said Forbes. He said PCA is forming partnerships with more local government units to produce salt fertilizer. “We are now looking at other provinces in western Philippines like Mindoro Oriental. Eventually we can localize the production of salt fertilizer,” Forbes said. It is the cheapest and best source of chlorine which helps increase coconut yield and boosts the tolerance of trees to drought. It also boosts resistance to pests and diseases. After super typhoon Yolanda demolished 10 percent of the country’s coconut tree population, the local coconut industry faces a 13.5-percent decline in domestic copra supply until new trees are planted and ready to bear fruit. It takes between six to eight years for coconut trees to mature and bear fruit.

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Dynasties backing LP campaign, says Binay THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday said the Liberal Party machinery that is supposed to carry Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to the presidency is oiled by local political dynasties. Binay spokesman Joey Salgado slammed what he called presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s hypocrisy. He said while Lacierda cited the Aquino administration’s support for the anti-dynasty bill, the LP’s local network was made up of politicians belonging to dynasties. Salgado was reacting to Lacierda’s Facebook post in which he said the Aquino administration was supporting the anti-dynasty bill. “Whenever Secretary Lacierda speaks, we hear a master class in misdirection and obfuscation. We can only give props to the master,” Salgado said. In reaction, Lacierda called Salgado “pikon” [thin-skinned]. “ Why should I react to their press release? I choose to post in my FB what I deem is best,” Lacierda said. “Two things are apparent: one, they are so desperate they will even respond to an FB post, but let me say to VP Binay, thank you for the attention but seriously, you don’t have to. Second, VP Binay, one cardinal rule, don’t shoot the messenger. Halatang pikon na po kayo. “It is my personal account. How can one interpret it other than that? My official statements are issued by [the] OPS [Office of the Presidential Secretary.]” But Binay’s camp reminded the Liberal Party that “nothing is forever.” “Still, you must applaud the hubris,” Salgado said in a statement. “An administration that proudly proclaims to the world that it took five years to build a two kilometer road is one that displays its incompetence as a badge of honor. That is the kind of governance they want to in-

flict on the Filipino people for the next 20 years.” Salgado was also reacting to the public comments made on Facebook by Lacierda. “In his FB post, the good Secretary talks repeatedly about ‘what we want.’ Sir, that’s what you and the LP want. What the people want is a government that is not manhid at palpak, a nation where people have jobs and food on the table, where the sacrifices of ordinary people like the SAF 44 are recognized,” Salgado said. “What the people do not want are candidates of the elite who treat the nation as their hacienda: where serfs produce the wealth but receive only crumbs and are expected to be eternally grateful to their master; where the haciendero through his encargado enforces his will with the whip.” Salgado said the people “do not want six more years of an uncaring haciendero leaderhip. They surely do not want 20 years of an inept and uncaring government. “The Secretary and his Liberal Party patrons should realize one thing: walang forever.” Salgado also chided Lacierda for using the 1986 EDSA Revolution to justify their agenda to stay in power. He described it as “an insult to the memory of the countless unnamed men and women who gave their lives for freedom and democracy. “Indeed, there are those in the administration who claim Edsa 1986 as their birthright, including their anointed one,” Salgado said, referring to Roxas. “The truth is that these personalities who now hijack Edsa 1986 were nowhere near the picket lines and barricades during the dictatorship. They were partying in New York or wherever it is rich haciendero families party in the United States during martial law.” Macon ramos araneta and Sandy araneta

Collective effort. Volunteers clean up the bay area near the US Embassy in Manila on Sunday. Sonny ESPiritu

Palace can’t say if SAF troops will get medals MALACAÑANG said Sunday it could not assure the families of the 44 police commandos killed in an encounter with Muslim rebels in Maguindanao on Jan. 25 this year that it can give belated awards to those deserving them, adding the PNP was the one in charge of selecting the candidates for the awards. The Palace said the Philippine National Police had a process being followed in choosing the recipients for any awards. “The PNP has a policy on following a process in selecting the recipients of awards,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. He made the statement even as Sen-

ate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the PNP should state what would be awarded, who would be awarded and when they would be awarded to stop all speculation on the giving out of medals of honor. He said the PNP should also make sure that when the date was set, it would push through “time on target.” “They must make the announcement soon before someone nominates them for a Medal of Vacillation or a Medalya ng Kabagalan, which I think they don’t deserve,” Recto said. “Only by releasing the above information immediately will the people believe that the date of awarding of the medals was merely reset and was not totally rescinded.” Recto said the waiting period was hurting the families of the commandos’ widows. “Posthumous na nga, postponed pa,” Recto said He said in the eyes of the public the SAF 44, including their colleagues who survived the encounter, had long been

acknowledged as heroes. “This belief is not based on speculation but on transcripts, official reports, photographs, communications and telephone logs that came out in the media and in the Senate hearings,” Recto said. Malacanang last Friday stressed that it had no participation in the selection of the police personnel who were awarded during the 114th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police. It made the statement even as President Benigno Aquino III again received criticism for snubbing the troopers of the 44 SAF in the PNP program. The names of slain SAF trooper PO2 Romeo Cempron and survivor Supt. Raymund Train were allegedly included in the original list of awardees but were removed from the program. Cempron was supposed to posthumously receive the Medal of Valor, the highest service medal of the PNP, for sacrificing himself so that PO2 Christopher Lalan, the lone survivor from the 55th Special Action Company, could escape. Sandy araneta and Macon r. araneta

Mar eyes Petilla, Bistek for Senate

Service interruption. A resident fills up empty gallons of water in Binondo, Manila, on Sunday following Maynilad Water Services’ announcement of a rolling water service interruption. Danny Pata

FORMER Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista are among those being eyed to join the senatorial slate of the administration coalition for the 2016 polls, according to Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II. During the distribution of 150 fire trucks in Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna, last Friday, Roxas said up to 24 names were being eyed by the LP’s search committee to join him in continuing Aquino’s so-called straight path. “Under consideration, we have just maybe 22, 24 names. But we all know that it’s just 12. We do have, at the moment, coalition partners

with various parties, so we need to give them space under our senatorial line-up,” Roxas said. Roxas has openly endorsed Petilla—a former Leyte governor and Energy secretary under the Aquino government as Senator on two different occasions—most notably during the 6th General Assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines in Ortigas last Thursday. “[Petilla] is from Eastern Visayas and has track record of professionalism and good governance,” Roxas said. “So I laid down the idea [of him being Senator] even without Secretary Icot’s [Petilla’s] approval, even to our Governors (in the Gov-

ernors’ League) so they can extend their support to him.” Roxas also floated the idea of having Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista in the LP slate “to give voice to the local government” sector. “Well, I mean he is one of the best in his stint as mayor of Quezon City. I think most of his constituents would want him still to be mayor, others would have wanted him to graduate [as mayor] and be Senator to give voice to local governments in the Senate. It’s up to him,” Roxas said. But Roxas dismissed the claims that presidential sister Kris Aquino was included in the LP line-up as senator or even vice president. John Paolo Bencito

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CHED: College not for everyone By John Paolo Bencito

The chairman of the commission on higher education admitted that not every student should go to college, adding that there are other options that graduates can take after completing high school. “We don’t think that every student really should go to college. There are very good programs in the technical and vocational areas or in the area of middle-level skills, and you get jobs when you finish these programs,” Dr. Patricia Licuanan said in an interview over the weekend. “That option of going into technical-vocational and middlelevel jobs is attractive, but in our culture, we have that notion that

everyone should get a college diploma. I don’t think that’s necessary,” Licuanan added. Under the K to 12 program, trumpeted as the “greatest key reform initiative of the Aquino government,” students are given options to pursue specialized tracks that will be fully implemented by next year. Among the different tracks are academic, technical-vocational,

sports and arts and design. Last July, the commission released a memorandum wherein undergraduate students who stopped schooling are given until academic years 2016-2017 to 2017-2018 to complete their unfinished bachelor’s degrees before the complete roll-out of the new Outcomes-based education Curriculum and the revised General education Curriculum. Students, who will return to higher education institutions after 2018 will have to go back to senior high school. “First of all, we do have as part of our transition plan, we will allow students who are out of school and those who have graduated before 2016, this is your last chance, get into college now. And that’s why

we’re going through some kind of a campaign to encourage those who are truly interested to go to college, or may not be interested right now but given this opportunity might change their minds,” Licuanan said. Licuanan also asked the public to bear with the “transition pains” of the K to 12 program, saying that it would definitely worth it. “Part of our challenge now is to spread the message that, yes, there will be growing pains, transition pains, but it will be worse if we don’t do it. What we’re doing now is trying to tackle those transition pains so people at that point don’t throw out a good program,” Licuanan said. “We have to ease that transition and that’s what we’re working on,” she added.

Aussie donation. A Navy man performs guard duty at the Navy Headquarters near the Cultural Center of the Philippines in front of one of two Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels donated by the Australian government to Philippines on Sunday. The vessels will be blessed in the presence of President Benigno Aquino III today. DANNY PATA

AFP chief defends junking of missile plan By Florante S. Solmerin ArmeD Forces chief of staff General Hernando Irriberi defended his decision not to acquire a shorebased missile system despite reports of unabated Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea. Former National Security Adviser and now Paranaque City rep. roilo Golez had accused Irriberi of incompetence for electing to purchase Israeli-made helmets, armored vests, rifles and other similar equipment over a missile system. “I respect his opinion. As I said during my interview after my assumption, my record will speak for itself,” Irriberi said. Golez said the missile project could have jumpstarted Aquino’s promise for the military to achieve a “minimum credible external defense capability” before he steps down in 2016. The project was originally scheduled for implementation in October and was to be completed before the end of 2016. Golez questioned Irriberi’s ability to lead the military based on his decision on the procurement of equipment. “He obviously does not understand external defense and is unfit to lead the AFP now, when we are facing a grave external threat,” Golez said. Irriberi said that Golez could have been “misinformed.” Irriberi’s appointment also became controversial after reports surfaced that President Benigno Aquino III had allegedly been made to believe that the general’s mandatory retirement was in August 2016. Irriberi retires in April 2016.

Guingona proposes hiked pensions for SSS members By Macon ramos-Araneta ABOUt 2 million retired members of the Social Security System will enjoy a P2,000 across-the-board increase in their monthly pensions once a proposed measure sponsored by Sen. teofisto “tG” Guingona is enacted into law. retirees from the private sector who are SSS members were last given a 10-percent raise in their monthly pensions 18 years ago. “the current pension system is insufficient to meet rising costs of basic goods,” Guingona said. Guingona’s Senate Bill No. 2888 seeks to amend Section 12 of republic Act 1161 (as amended by rA 8282, known

as the Social Security Act of 1997) by raising the minimum pensions to be received by retiring SSS members. From P2,400, Senate Bill No. 2888 proposes a monthly pension of at least P4,400 for members with 20 credited years of service. Also, the monthly pension of those with a minimum 10 credited years of service will be increased from P1,200 to P3,200. Guingona is hopeful that the proposed legislation raising the monthly pensions of SSS retirees will be passed into law since a similar measure, House Bill 5842, had already been passed by the Lower House on third and final reading.

Labor issues. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez answers questions from around 500 labor leaders during the Associated Labor Unions and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Council of Leaders meeting at the Mariners’ Court Building in Cebu City. Ver NoVeNo

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Pipeline stopper. Personnel from Maynilad Water Services Incorporated install a water pipeline stopper in Manila on Sunday August 9, 2015. DANNY PATA

Manila asserts territorial rights Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario said the Philippines will continue to have a principled, independent and law-based approach to assert its right over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Del Rosario said the Department of Foreign Affairs will assert the rightful place of the Philippines in the community of nations, in the same way former UN General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo asserted the right of the country to be included in the United Nations seal in 1949. “We are at the threshold of history, taking a principled, consistent position on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue, depending on what is legitimately and rightfully ours. The ultimate purpose of this case is our national interest. This is what we, as a nation, conveyed ...before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague,” del Rosario said during a recent roundtable

discussion on “Foreign Policy in an Evolving World Order” organized by Stratbase ADR Institute in Makati City. The roundtable discussion at the Tower Club, Philamlife Tower was led by distinguished foreign policy experts like Prof. Rene de Castro, Prof. Alma Salvador, Dr. Raul Pangalangan, a new judge to the International Criminal Court and publisher Jose “Babe” Romualdez. “Our maritime dispute with China, a friend and a valued partner in the region, is but one of the many complex challenges confronting 21st century international diplomacy. The Asia-Pacific region, in particular, is in a state of flux as governments are faced with multiple security issues, punctu-

ated further by the rise of non-state factors,” Del Rosario said. “The Philippine foreign policy will continue to evolve in relation to our history, identity and aspirations as a people. It will be defined by our national leadership, the institutional arrangement, and the ever-changing international environment,” the country’s top diplomat said. Prof. Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of ADR Institute, said there is a need to re-examine existing foreign policy to determine whether it remains responsive to changing times. “In this connection, examination on the shifts and challenges faced by our existing foreign policy should be made,” Prof. Manhit said. Prof. Renato De Castro, former Chairman of International Studies Department at De La Salle University and a trustee of ADR Institute, said the South China Sea is not a simple territorial dispute as it has become what has been called a ‘dangerous ground’ or even the ‘future of conflict’.

Water service disruptions in parts of MM start today By Rio N. Araja STARTING today, customers of the West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. will experience rotating water service interruptions ranging from 12 hours to 41 hours to give way to a flood control project of the Department Public Works and Highways. In its official website, the water firm said they have to realign their seven-foot-tall (2,200-mm diameter) primary line along the corner of Juan Luna Street and Hermosa Street in Tondo, Manila. “The activity will involve exposing, dewatering, realigning, and energizing the seven-foot-tall water pipeline, which will take almost five days to complete,” the water company further said. Maynilad will be implementing a three-day gap between its scheduled water supply interruptions (Aug. 10 to 13 and then Aug. 17 to 18) to allow their customers to replenish their stock of water be-

fore the project is resumed.” Affected area are portions of Metro Manila’s Caloocan City, Manila, Pasay City, Makati City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City and Las Piñas City, and Cavite’s Cavite City, Bacoor City, Imus City, and the towns of Kawit, Rosario at Noveleta. The water firm is realigning its water pipe because it is in the path of the interceptor drainage line of DPWH, which will be laid along Blumentritt St. so it can direct floodwaters from the northern parts of Metro Manila out to Manila Bay. Maynilad will have 35 water tankers on standby to serve areas that will experience prolonged interrupted supply. Customers may call the Maynilad Hotline 1626 or text Maynilad’s Text Hotline 0998-8641446. Grace Laxa, Maynilad spokesperson, appealed to the customers to stay calm as the company resorts to water rationing in the affected areas.

P3-trillion budget up for House scrutiny By Rio N. Araja THE House Committee on Appropriations will take up today the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 and brief members of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), and inter-agency body that determines the overall economic targets, expenditure levels and budget of the government. Rep. Isidro Ungab of Davao City, appropriations committee chairman, said his panel fol-

lowed the same calendar and sequence to come up with the timetable of committee hearings and deliberations, except that it took into consideration the schedule of the filing of certificates of candidacy (CoC) on Oct. 12 to Oct. 16 for the May 2016 elections. “Hopefully, the plenary debates and voting on second reading on the national budget by that time (filing) are already finished,” he said. If the need arises, Congress

could extend the Monday-toThursday budget hearings to Friday, he said. Ungab urged fellow legislators to do their share in studying and scrutinizing the proposed national budget to determine if the allocation for each agency is justified. “We would like to encourage our colleagues to actively participate in the deliberations, as we will allow free and full debates on the proposed national budget for 2016,” he said in a statement.

Food crisis? Attendants serve food to customers at a Manila sidewalk. Stakeholders from the agriculture industry, nutrition research sector, the academe, religious groups and other civil society groups convene to discuss the country’s food and nutrition gaps that could lead to what they fear as ‘food emergency situation’. EY ACASIO

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Lawmakers pressured to support 2016 candidates, labor rep bewails After Congress failed to muster a quorum early this week, a former congressman slammed on Thursday what he called the “misguided priorities” of administration and opposition parties, and urged party leaders to pressure their members to support urgent legislation instead of the parties’ respective presidential candidates. “Walang tao, walang quorum, sa Kongreso, pero puno ang Club Filipino at Gloria Maris. Ang ibang kongresista naman ay naroon sa Tsona ni VP Binay sa CavSU. Imbes na hilahin ang mga congressman na magpakita ng suporta para sa mga tatakbo sa 2016 ay dapat hikayatin ng mga namumuno ang mga ito na mabilisang ipasa ang mga importanteng batas tulad ng Security of Tenure Bill, Anti-Dynasty Bill, Freedom of Information Bill, at iba pang mga mahalaga para sa masa,” said former party-list Rep. Renato Magtubo. (There was a quorum in Club

Filipino and Gloria Maris, but none in Congress. There were also congressmen during the Tsona of VP Binay in CavSU. Rather than pressure congressmen to show their support for those running in 2016, they should be encouraging them to pass important legislation like the Security of Tenure Bill, Anti-Dynasty Bill, and Freedom of Information Bill, among others.) On Friday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas was anointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in the 2016

presidential elections in an event attended by the whole cabinet, legislators, and local government officials. Magtubo, who represented Partido Manggagawa (PM) in Congress, said that it was obvious that the administration would exert all pressure to ensure the victory of Roxas, who was lagging in polls behind other presidential contenders like Sen. Grace Poe, Vice President Binay, and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. At the same time, VP Binay is mobilizing opposition lawmakers to join him in his daily sorties and in organizing his party nationwide to prop up his chances for 2016. Magtubo lamented that there were rumblings in the House that “loyalty checks” were being conducted to single out legislators who were absent during the anointment of Roxas in Club Filipino, as well as those not present in

Gloria Maris, like House Speaker Sonny Belmonte. Rumors of a plot to unseat the Speaker came out last month after he issued statements perceived as supportive of Poe’s presidential candidacy. “Ang balita ay may mga kaso na inihahanda para ipitin ang mga mambabatas para ma pressure sila na suportahan si Mar. Pilit pinapabyahe sa sinasabing Daang Matuwid para maitawid ang kandidatura ni Roxas.” (The reports are there are now cases being prepared to pressure lawmakers into supporting Mar. They are being forced to take the socalled Daang Matuwid to ensure the successful candidacy of Roxas.) An incumbent congressman who requested that his name be withheld for fear of reprisal acknowledged that there was pressure on legislators to support the Administration candidate.

QC spends P1.01 B for garbage By Rio Araja QUEZON City has been spending so much to address its garbage problem, according to the Commission on Audit. In a consolidated statement of income and expenses dated July 29, the city government “burned” P1,014,195,457 for its waste management and disposal last year, COA said. The city government budgeted P338.06 for each one of its estimated three million residents for garbage management, CoA said, citing a P110.48-million increase from two years ago when the hauling contracts cost the city P903.715 million. Quezon City, the biggest local government unit in Metro Manila, is spending almost twice the amount on garbage hauling contracts compared to Manila whose CSIE showed it paid out P512.564 million. Makati City, the country’s business and financial hub, came in at third at P440.15 million. “That’s really the amount needed to haul and manage a city with 3.1 million residents that produce 2,000 metric tons to 2,500 metric tons of wastes daily,” Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista told The Standard in a text message.

Operation Smile. Volunteer doctors onboard the USNS MERCY ship get into the act. The volunteers have

conducted 110 surgeries for free to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformitiesof children-residents of Zambales and Bataan for the past five days. The USNS MERCY is docked in Subic Bay as part of the Pacific Partnership with Capt. Christopher Engdahl as mission commander. REVOLI CORTEZ

Court upholds pre-need firm’s revival By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has sustained its decision casting aside the petition of the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to liquidate the troubled pre-need firm PET Plans Incorporated due to its failure to meet the goals under its court-approved rehabilitation plan. In a two-page resolution, the CA’s Former Eight Division through Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez ruled that the SEC failed to raise new arguments that would warrant

the reversal of its decision issued on October 31, 2014. “A perusal of the motion for reconsideration filed by petitioner of this Court’s decision promulgated on October 31, 2014 shows that the issues raised and arguments in support thereof have already been given due consideration and resolved,” the appellate court stressed. “Thus, this Court finds no new or substantial matters presented to justify a modification or reversal of the assailed decision,” the CA said. Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Francisco

Acosta concurred with the ruling. In its October 31 ruling, the CA upheld the order issued by Judge Cesar Untalan, presiding judge of Branch 149 of the Regional Trial of Makati City, which allowed the modification of PET Plans’ rehabilitation plan and subsequently granting its request to exit rehabilitation proceedings. The appellate court stressed that under Section 22, Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure on Corporate Rehabilitation allows alteration or modification of an approved rehabilitation plan if necessary to

achieve the desired goals. It said Judge Untalan did not err in relying on the recommendation of the rehabilitation receiver in approving the modification of PET Plan’s approved rehabilitation plan. The CA noted that the rehabilitation receiver had explained before the trial court that the second provision of PET Plans’ rehabilitation plan requires the company to contribute for the next 10 years 15 percent of its income after tax to the enhanced value fund (EVF) in order to enhance its financial growth.

Salceda joins Mar campaign LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, a Liberal Party member, has accepted his party’ assigned task for him to join their presidential campaign on full-time basis and shelve his plan to seek his province’s second district congressional seat as he earlier announced in next year’s elections. The governor whose third term ends in 2016, may also be named interim Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary which position anointed LP presidential bet and incumbent Secretary Mar Roxas will vacate shortly. Salceda served nine years as congressman of his province. Asked by media about his decision, Salceda said: “For me, it is better than yielding to suggestions to run for a national office. My decision is a vicarious way of almost running nationally,” adding that returning to Congress seems now a limited task for him. A noted economist who had served as economic adviser to former Chief Executives, Salceda said “the next President must have the intellectual handle to stir the country to a socially expansive economy, broaden the middle class and empower the lower income classes.” He explained that the primordial challenge for the next President is to make the economy more socially expansive, by creating a robust and broad middle class, and reducing the vulnerable poor from 11.4 million disadvantaged families at present (4.2 million poor + 7.2 million near-poor), down to 5.7 million. The next President, he added, “should work hard to lift the Philippines from its 127th rank in GDP per capita to at least rank 99th; and from rank 113 in Human Development Index to rank 90; that way the country becomes more competitive.” A multi-awarded local government executive, Salceda has been recognized for his creative and responsive local governance style, particularly in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction, which is deemed vital for next administration. Under Salceda, Albay’s outstanding DRR program has reaped three consecutive Gawad Kalasag Awards for “Best Province” from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and a Hall of Fame niche in the agency. Republic Act 10121 tasks the DILG as lead agency for disaster preparedness, the Department of Social Welfare and Development for relief assistance response, and the National Economic Development Authority (NED) for rehabilitation.

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Ombudsman fines ex-Abra mayor for misconduct

Pricey veggies. The prices of highland vegetables have hit new highs. DAVID CHAN

Bishops say Yolanda rehab efforts shameful By Sara Sussane Fabunan An officiAl of the catholic Bishops’ conference of the Philippines said the Aquino administration’s rehabilitation efforts for the victims of typhoon Yolanda was shameful, citing that only 2,100 houses have been completed as against the targeted 205,128 shelters. CBCP and Caritas Philippines executive secretary Rev. Edu Gariguez said he had seen the plight of the people devastated by the typhoon that swept the central Philippines on November 8, 2013 as he stressed that implementation was more important than the fund release that was being claimed by Department of Budget and

Docked.

USNS Millinocket is at the Port of San Fernando City in La Union to conduct medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action programs. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Management Secretary Florencio Abad. “The release is one thing, the implementation is another. Even if they say funds have already been released, what we should measure is what they have actually done,” Gariguez said. The prelate added that the plight of the people in the Visayas has not changed since the deadly

storm. “If you go around and ask the people there, their situation is still devastating.” With so much money and donations received from different countries and international organizations, people are still living in bunkhouses and temporary shelters without any means of livelihood, Gariguez said. Gariguez added that the government even loaned an additional P126 billion from international financial institutions to augment the rebuilding efforts, bringing the total assistance to P199 billion as of November last year. He fears that money may be used by politicians for their campaign instead of for the good of the people. Gariguez called on the public to be proactive in monitoring the funds to avoid such incident.

The head of Caritas Philippines, Archbishop Rolando Tirona, said that aside from the slow pace of rebuilding, the government has also consistently failed to be transparent on how “Yolanda” funds were used. Tirona, said the government has failed to ensure transparency in the disbursement of the multibillion funds for the project. “It’s now up to them to explain,” Tirona said. “ It’s just sad that the help from those who are supposed to lead the program is so slow.” Tirona also reiterated how politics continue to hamper the speed of the government’s rehabilitation program and how some politicians use the survivors to promote themselves. “You (politicians) don’t have to advertise your names for government projects,” he said.

BANGUED, Abra—The Office of the Ombudsman recently found a former municipal mayor of BaayLicuan town of simple misconduct during his term and ordered him to pay the fine equivalent to his threemonth salary after an investigation. In a recent decision, Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales identified the penalized former local chief executive as Christopher Millare, Sr., 55 of Baay-Licuan town. The complaint stemmed from the ex-mayor’s misuse of the town’s 20 percent Development Fund in 2011 and 2012 for the rehabilitation of the municipal hall. During his term, Millare used P3.2 million of public funds for purposes different from what had been appropriated. The Ombudsman said she found “substantial evidence” against Millare and said the penalty was payable to the Office of the Ombudsman immediately upon receipt of the same. The Ombudsman further directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement her decision immediately upon receipt. Millare lost his re-election bid in 2013 but, despite the numerous cases and findings against him, he is reportedly eyeing a comeback in the 2016 polls. Millare could not be reached for comment on the matter as of press time.

Premier hospital to open soon in Meycauayan City THE first state-of-the-art hospital in Bulacan, expected to serve thousands of residents of the province, and spare them the travel to Metro Manila to seek medical treatment, is set to open soon in Meycauyan City Meycauayan City Mayor Joan Alarilla said the Meycauayan General Hospital (MGH), which is set to open in the coming weeks, will have 200 beds and is furnished with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility, CT scan equipment, and full-diagnostic laboratories. She said major and minor sur-

geries can be done at the MGH located at Brgy. Malhacan. The local chief executive said “what is unique and reassuring” in the MGH is the fact that it operated with the expertise of doctors from the Makati Medical Center. “This modern medical facility is just the start of the efforts of your local government to improve the welfare of residents,” Alarilla said. The MGH was funded through a bond flotation that was approved by the city council and supported by barangay chairpersons of Meycauayan City.

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SEEINg THE CARAbAO IN A NEw LIgHT

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onE of the supreme ironies of the aquino administration’s so-called straight path policy is that it cannot even keep the city trains running on track. By now, the public is well aware of the nightmare that is the MRT. We have seen trains run off the tracks or stall between stations, forcing thousands of weary passengers to trudge to the next stop. long queues of suffering commuters must battle it out every day for a dwindling number of trains and cars, which are not even safe to run at full speed—the bitter fruit of years of gross mismanagement and neglect under managers that President Benigno aquino III put in charge. Mr. aquino likes to lay the blame on the previous administration and the MRT’s private partners, but fails to answer one obvious question: Why is it that none of these problems made headlines before this President came to power? Why too, was the maintenance contract suddenly transferred from an internationally recognized and proven entity to a company whose only claim to fame was that it was owned by members of the President’s liberal Party? up until now, the city’s other major urban train line, the lRT, has been less problematic—but a Commission on audit report completed in June signals trouble ahead on this front, too. The audit report showed that P1.314 billion that the administration allocated for the repair and maintenance of lRT 1 and 2 has already been released in full but has still not been used, delaying the delivery of improved railway services to the riding public. “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,” the report said. The Coa also questioned the propriety of the decision of the Department of Transportation and Communications to engage in the procurement and bidding of the equipment needed for the repair, instead of the light Rail Transit authority, the implementing agency. The audit commission also questioned the DoTC’s decision to allow the winning bidder not to submit pertinent documents required in the bidding process. a government that truly hewed to the straight path surely would not have allowed these audit exceptions in the lRT. nor would it have allowed public funds to be so loosely squandered on what from all appearances was an anomalous maintenance contract in the MRT. While the President stubbornly refuses to take any of the responsibility for these failures, he should realize that Filipinos are not as gullible as he thinks. More than five years in power, Mr. aquino and his minions in the Cabinet are running out of viable culprits to blame for the mess in our public transport system.

THE CURSE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS think that the present translation of the Mass texts, following fr. ranhilio Pope Benedict’s rejection of the principle of “dynamic callangan equivalence” that undergirded an aquino earlier rendition of the Missale DonalD Trump considers Romanum is just superb! It is political correctness a scourge. unabashed in its use of “man” at a recently televised debate by which it includes “women” of Republican aspirants for the (instead of the politically correct presidency, Trump made no “humankind”). There are no attempt at disguising his contempt circumlocutions about God for the obsession with political as Father, and no concessions correctness. I share the feeling— made the importuning about and the contempt. This is why I the motherhood of God. Prayer

pensées

is the time to be fervent, not politically correct! My first issue with political correctness is its concealment of ugly truths. It is bad to be blind, which is why medical science is challenged to find a way of restoring sight to those who are afflicted by it. It is also the reason that every achievement in this direction, no matter how modest, is loudly applauded. unwilling to deal with the ugliness of blindness, however, the prophets of political correctness would have us use

my first issue with political correctness is its concealment of ugly truths.

instead “visually impaired”. But one can be visually impaired for a number of reasons—a cracked windshield, impenetrable fog, complete darkness, cataracts, etc. “Jesus made the blind man see” is a powerful statement of Divine mercy in the face of human misery. “Jesus restored sight to the visually impaired” is bland, insipid, in fact,

as insipid as is the whole movement of political correctness. and so shall we mask the horror of death by recourse what should be the politically correct “life-deprived”— or will that be “life-denied”? The other issue I have with it is that it comes in handily as a cheap substitute for true solidarity and due respect. one

can be obsessed with using politically correct terms and then rest in the foolishly comforting thought that one has been just and compassionate. all that one has done is make concessions to the crazy niceties of contemporary fads. It is true compassion for the blind, the deaf, the crippled, and championing the rights of women, minorities and children that is the real thing! That is where one gets his hands truly dirty, not in the nonsensical preference for misleading phrases! Politically correct terms come

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in handily when one falls woefully short of the demands of genuine solidarity. “Children in conflict with the law” is yet another example of verbosity and terminological hypocrisy. What was wrong with “juvenile delinquent”? In fact, studies in sociology and anthropology bear “juvenile delinquency” in their titles—and none the worse in scholarly quality for it. If children are in conflict with the law, like the Philippines is in conflict with China, either side may be blamed, and that has, in fact, been

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the sickening inclination of some: to blame the injunctions of the law for the fact that some youngsters violate them! I have no quarrel with eliminating terms borne out of disparagement and prejudice. These have to go. But it would be virtuous for our nation to develop a loathing for this hypocrisy called “political correctness”. rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

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ThouGh their number is dwindling, if you ask a farmer who his BFF is, chances are it is still his carabao. he won’t mention any of the mudslinging “presidentiables” as the one who can help him. he will point to that half-ton beast who loves mudbaths as his reliable ally. Though this land is a Babel of languages, carabao traits are used in describing the strength or the folly of the person’s character in whatever dialect. For example, no phrase better describes hard work than “kayod kalabaw.” and to a person whose conceit is fed by his association with a big shot, he is brought back to earth by the classic put-down of “parang langaw na nakatungtong sa kalabaw.” Slow in movement and stout in built and soiled in appearance, the carabao does not fit the stereotype of a suave, swift or sassy kind of animal that admakers would choose as a national icon. Elegant the carabao is not. Cuddly like a panda it will never be. and a carabao is not wrapped in flowing mane or marshmallow-soft fur which makes it huggable. But we Filipinos chose our national animal not on the basis of cuteness but on reliability. We dumped aesthetics for function, traded beauty for utility. We did not our put our national animal on some altar for worship; we put it instead to work. and work he does. It is through the gentle carabao’s unli-labor which allows us to sustain this love affair with unli-rice. But work is not the only thing the carabao does best. It also gives us meat, for famines or feasts, and milk. The lactating carabao is the original local padede girl. In Central luzon, fresh carabao milk over salt-sprinkled rice remains the breakfast of champions. as to their hide, these are tanned and end up as bags and belts. Except for those in the legs and feet which are simmered to softness to become smouldering bulalos or balbacuas. or processed into the latest snack craze called “chicharabao.” But carabaos are no longer numerous as they once be. In fact, the amorsoloesque rendition of farm life—smiling damsels in colorful bandanas winnowing the palay with a carabao languorously chewing grass in the background—is gone. More of the beasts of burden of today are no longer grass-fed but gasolinefed, whose strength is measured, to the carabao’s chagrin perhaps, in horsepower. During land preparation, these machines pull contraptions—plow and Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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my first issue with political correctness is its concealment of ugly truths.

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A10 THE WATCH FOR CREDIBLE ELECTIONS THE 2016 election fever is spreading fast. The “common tao” are now RITA LINDA animatedly debating V. JIMENO about who should be the next president. What they do not realize is that their choice—the people’s choice—may not be the declared winner unless they help ensure that what happened in the 2010 and 2013 national and local elections would not happen again. In a talk delivered before the Philippine Constitution Association last week, lawyer/CPA Glenn Chong presented pieces of evidence gathered in separate studies saying that there was massive fraud in the last two national and local elections. He explained that the Automated Election System Law (R.A.9369), requires four security features to be installed to ensure Is it true that the transparent and Filipino people have credible elections. no other option but to These are: the accept Smartmatic’s digital signature of PCOS machines? the voters, a source code review, the voter verification paper audit trail and the ultra violet lamp. All these security features were suspiciously disabled and not implemented by Comelec in the last two elections, Chong said, adding that the machines were clearly primed for massive fraud. He then presented the evidence that fraud happened in the 2010 and 2013 elections based on two mathematical studies conducted separately by Dr. Lex Muga of the Ateneo de Manila University and Dr. Millard Manhot of Silliman University. The common findings show that there was a consistent 60-30-10 uniform pattern in the election results, that is, 60 per cent for LP candidates, 30 per cent for UNA and 10 per cent for others. This uniform pattern is grossly abnormal, according to the studies, because every town, city, province and region has its own respective biases for or against particular candidates. Another evidence of fraud, found by the mathematical experts, Chong said, was, there were more votes than voters. In the clustered precincts of Pasay City, for instance, the first to be transmitted to the Comelec central, the total voter turnout was 7,547 yet the votes counted were 9,045. One other evidence of fraud uncovered was the changing vote totals. All election results were directly transmitted from the PCOS to the Comelec central and the KBP Parties Citizens’ Server, which was a duplicate mirror server. Rappler.com reported a total of 39.899 million votes cast as of May 18, 2013. About 10 days later, the Comelec central office reported only a total of 31,569 million votes cast or 8.330 million votes fewer. This discrepancy supports the proposition that there was a deliberate reduction of votes in the second batch of Certificates of Canvass to prevent the total number of votes canvassed from overshooting the total votes cast, Chong explained. For the 2016 elections Comelec appears bent on continuing to favor Smartmatic which will cost the taxpayers the whopping amount of P12.641 billion to procure new PCOS machines.

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CONSIGNING THEM TO A FUTURE THE New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff wrote about his friend Rick Goff this week. Known for his commentary on international humanitarian issues, Kristoff rarely gets personal. When he does, it is usually about something compelling. “Talent is universal but opportunity is not,” Kristoff mused, referring to the life of his friend whom he had known since childhood in Oregon, and who had died last month of a heart attack. “Goff was smart, talented and hard working, but he faced an uphill struggle from birth.” Goff ’s mother died when he was five, and his father, an alcoholic, abandoned Rick, his brother and two sisters. Their grandmother took care of them and the kids took to hunting and fishing so they could have something to eat every day. Kristoff described Goff as having a terrific mind, but he had a then-undiagnosed attention deficit disorder and their teachers punished him, eventually pushing him to drop out altogether. Then followed a series of odd jobs, accidents, two marriages and two divorces. He raised his own kids and was a good friend to everyone in need – including an ex-wife, for whom he gave up buying his own medicine. She needed to get her car back – it had been towed. Not taking the medicine made him even sicker, and eventually led to his death. “Too often the best predictor of where we end up is where we start,” Kristoff said, as he cited that 77 percent of those in the upper crust of US society earn

CHASING HAPPY ADELLE CHUA their college degrees by age 24. In contrast, only 9 percent of those from the lower rung manage to finish their studies. *** Particulars aside, I found the story compelling – and true – enough for the situation here in the Philippines. Two years ago I wrote about a boy named Tomtom (http://manilastandardto day. com/2013/04/19/tomtomshouse/) who lived across the street. Tomtom’s family life was anything but peaceful. There were several of them children in the house, and the silence of the neighborhood was shattered by the sound of any of the children crying – wailing, actually. None of the kids also knew how to talk much. They usually just stared at the neighbors, a penetrating gaze that you could either take for a plea for help, or plain stoicism. And yet they tugged at your shirt asking for “piso.” You had to be careful, though, lest their mother or father see you. The father is a worker by day and a drunkard by Saturday night. Get ready for the sound of glasses breaking, or a monologue of bitter feelings, faulting you for doing relatively better in life than he was. Once or twice, some of the neighbors actually called the barangay to report his disruptive behavior. But forget the father. Were the children crying out of hunger? Were their parents beating them? Was their older brother taunting

Is it true that the Filipino people have no other option but to accept Smartmatic’s PCOS machines? Truth is, there are options but Comelec refuses to consider them. One, we could revert to manual elections. Two, we can use the better alternative which is the TAPAT automated election system machines. TAPAT, which was developed by Filipino IT professionals, is a voting system that uses lottostyle ballots that are scanned by the voting machine. This machine provides each voter with a verification receipt and conducts automated counting as part of the process. The election returns that TAPAT produces will then be digitally-signed by the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) prior to electronic transmission. These machines were presented, tested and demonstrated to Comelec officials and were proven to have the security features missing in the Smartmatic PCOS machines. The TAPAT AES machines cost so much less too or only P5.6 billion for the 2016 elections versus Smartmatic’s P12.641 billion. But as we, Filipinos, are fond of saying, “Hindi

them? What other secrets were hidden behind the walls of that dark house? The situation is tragic enough, but their prospects, even more so. How can you imagine those children attending school, developing talents, contributing to the community and obtaining gainful jobs? At this early age, they feel entitled that you give them anything when they ask you. They do not go to school. They run around half-naked on the streets. What sort of situation awaits them ten, 20 years from now? Jail? Early pregnancies? Destructive addictions? Sicknesses? On the day I moved out of that house, I called the kids to the gate to say goodbye. “We’re leaving soon,” I said. “Be good. Take care of each other. Don’t fight. Study hard.” I got no response whatsoever, just blank stares that make you wonder whether they even understood what you were saying at all. When I handed them some biscuits, they grabbed it swiftly from my hand, turned around and ran home. They hid the biscuits behind the window – and I wondered why. I wondered too if I would ever see them again, and whether they would be able to stray from the future that seems to have already been defined for them. I hoped so. I am still praying they would. Kristoff lamented the situation some more as he ended his column. “That’s what the presidential candidates should be discussing,” he said. Amen. adellechua@gmail.com

pa tapos ang boxing” (The fight is not yet over.) Five archbishops, a former senator, former congressman, Glenn Chong, and Greco Belgica filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking that the contract of Comelec with Smartmatic be declared void as it will entail the unconstitutional juggling of public funds. The petitioners said that the new purchase by Comelec of 93,977 PCOS machines would cost P12.641 billion which, they say, is in gross violation of the 2015 General Appropriations Act because it means Comelec will totally discard the 81,000 PCOS machines that were used in the 2010 and 2013 national elections. It also means that Comelec will source funds meant for other approved expenditures such as the Sangguniang Kabataan elections and others. Because what is at stake here is not just taxpayers’ money but the credibility and reliability of the 2016 elections, every freedom-loving citizen of this country must keep a watchful eye on what happens next. Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

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ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A11

THE OUTLIERS CLEARLY, both Mar Roxas and Jojo Binay would want to frame the 2016 electoral fight as a “mano a mano,” a one-on-one contest. Mar’s speeches as well as advertorials speak of continuing “daang matuwid” against those who want “kurakot” to return and “daang baluktot” to triumph. Even the instant billboards that have sprung in the countryside, about MARangal…MARapat, echo this, and on a sea of yellow at that, the same color he eschewed when he was running as PNoy’s vice-presidential candidate in 2010, favoring his Ateneo blue. Correction, “royal” blue, como un verdadero hijo de buena familia, de los ilustrados de alta sociedad. He now wants to show the public the “real” Mar, a re-invention of public persona, but Serge Osmena doesn’t believe it will sell. And Manong Ernie Maceda thinks his best bet is to get Kris Aquino to be his running mate by October 16. Binay wants to frame the fight as a class war, the many poor versus the few who are rich. The landless versus the landed. The “hijos de la hacienda contra los hijos de pesantes”. The “manhid” versus the “wa-pansin”. And as a sideshow, the “daang maayos” versus the “daang palpak”. Binay loves to talk about his poor origins, as an orphan who had to tend to a lower middle-class uncle’s backyard piggery in order to fend for his studies. That he graduated into a multi-billion “air-

conditioned” piggery owner (a rather exaggerated accusation coming from his detractors) ensconced in a country estate with a version of the Kew Gardens beside it, all of which he denies, is omitted in his stories of how he triumphed over poverty. Meanwhile, he goes to every town, as far east as San Quintin and as far west as Anda, pumping flesh, while looking so distant, so disturbed, hoping that everyone who sees him in the flesh will vote for him. And for good reason do they want the contest all to themselves. The contrasts are striking; the choices, at least in their minds and their handlers, quite clear-cut. Unfortunately for them, hindi sila nag-iisa. There are “outliers”, waiting in the wings. These outliers have yet to formally declare their intentions, leaving some opening to “change their mind.” That of course is balderdash. They only wait for the right time, weigh the odds, and in the case of the Grace of many surprises, because the ghosts (such as Rizalito David?) are wandering her earth. In the case of Duterte of Davao, the seeming indecision is a play. Mar and the Liberals boast of a strong machinery, plus the presidential endorsement. Binay and his gaggle of supporters from all stripes and colors think they have commitments forged when his survey ratings were stratospheric, plus a “firm” hold on the lower D and E income levels, the sector

SEEING... From A9 harrow—and sport a Japanese name. Come harvest time, the carabao who tramples on the stalk is now replaced by a box-like shredder spewing hay. But still there are still legions of Bubalus bubalis here, which by the way were our earliest OFWs – or overseas farm workers— brought to our shores by Malays in 200 BC. As of January this year, there were 2.85 million of them, enough for 18 congressional seats if these four-legged hard workers were given slots in the house of pork instead of two-legged show horses. Seriously, we need to ramp up our carabao population for the sake of our food security and to cover nutritional deficit.

#FAILOCRACY

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO referred to as the “masa.” But is the Liberal machinery, nay, the “Daang Matuwid” coalition, really that strong? If it were, then Mar and Frank and even PNoy would not need to woo Grace so publicly, and be humiliated by her hemming and hawing. How come there’s no long line to be Mar’s VP? Even Vilma and Leni are uninterested. And Veep Jojo? Last I heard the retinue of politician hangers-on wherever he engages his “masa” in boodle fights has thinned down to a few—our fellow columnist Danny Suarez, an occasional Lito Atienza, and newly-minted senatoriables Alma Moreno and Princess Jacel Kiram. Who would Jojo’s VP eventually be? Grace has declined, and so has Digong. Vilma as well, why, even President-Mayor Erap. Now he publicly woos Bongbong Marcos, and lately, Senadora Miriam as well. Compare this situation to last year, when everybody and his mother would line up at the Coconut Palace for a photo-op. It’s pretty obvious the electorate is asking, “Are there no other choices?” Hence, the outliers. But Grace seems for now

On beef, our per capita consumption is 3 kilos a year. This is not to advocate, however, that we shovel beef into our plate the way a burger factory does. But certainly this is way, way below healthy standards . With fish catch dwindling, we need to boost other protein sources, more so in inland areas far from the sea, where the multitasking carabao could supply not only draft power but meat and milk as well. On milk, we import something like P34 billion a year, a fraction of which can end the plight of homeless Iskolars ng Bayan, and I am not referring to those who had pitched camp in the grassy knolls of Diliman alone. Carabao milk is said to have less fat and lower cholesterol content than cow’s milk,

bogged down with two problems: one, there seems to be quite a bit of resistance to the lady’s choice of Chiz as political partner; and two, her citizenship and residency qualifications are now under scrutiny. As the filing of candidacy nears, these seeming uncertainties will bear down on her final decision. I heard that Sonny Trillanes, the man who would be Numero Dos no matter what, has pledged to support the amazing Grace. Nothing amazing about that—he cannot pair with Binay, and Mar prefers female company. If not Grace, then Vilma or Leni, not macho Sonny. As for Duterte, the guy is playing it cool and coy, while watching in amusement how the declared protagonists lunge at each other’s throat. Occasionally, he spews statements that can only be characterized as “nanghahamit” in Tagalog, or “nang-aasar” in Metro Manila patois. Clearly, this “pilyong Bisaya” is enjoying himself. Watch him when he eventually joins the fray. If Grace is amazing, this guy will amaze the electorate more. He has a cabinet-full of true stories to tell, narratives to match the movie tales of FPJ that are the stock-intrade of the senadora. Are there any more outliers? Bongbong Marcos is testing the waters. Miriam has expressed some interest. Ping Lacson is still hoping for the ratings game come September to give him a “bump”.

the same traits present in its meat. In fact, taste-wise, there’s no marked difference between say, a bistek, made from the carabao or cow sirloin. Instead of funding pork or carving slabs of it from the budget, Congress should increase funding for carabao breeding, propagation and dispersal. The knowledge and supply infrastructure are already present. For one, the people of the Philippine Carabao Center are working as hard as the animal they are trying to propagate. Marshalling science, PCC has improved our carabao’s genetic pool, resulting in stronger and bigger breeds which are disease-resistant, yield more milk, and deliver higher draft power. Is carabao dispersal costly ? Here’s a memo to presidentiables. The agriculture

And so is Alan Cayetano, who has recently changed his tune about going for Numero Dos, where six months before, he eschewed plans of a slide. But lurking in the shadows is Erap himself, who still longs to recover the throne that was stolen from him in 2001. Already he has confessed to confidantes about that aching in his heart, that yearning to get back. Privately he waxes about an ErapGrace tandem, if only the lady would lower her sights from the top of Mount Olympus. If he does, where goes Binay’s 20 percent? Don’t count these outliers out. There’s still some 70 days from now until Comelec receives the certificates of candidacy, and after the release of the Pulse Asia survey results right after the Chinese ghost month unravels, watch the feverish frenzy of backroom deals and party caucuses. Those will be four weeks of suspense in Philippine political circus. Like the drumbeats before a double trapeze. And when the outliers finally lay down their cards, and there should be two more of them at the least, then the electorate will have more choices. No longer will they be limited to the proclaimed heirs of “daang matuwid” who call the present competition “kampon ng kurakot”; or conversely, those who proclaim the daang matuwid as “palpak at manhid”. About time the voters saw real debates on real issues—not between two, but among more.

sector budget for 2016 is something like P90 billion plus, or P1 million times 90,000. A yearling in cattle auctions costs P10,000 each, which is what we give a CCT family in eight months. So for just P1 million, you can buy 100 young carabao calves for dispersal to 100 farming families. Sadly, the low-profile carabao is not the darling animal which peppers developmentspeak. They’re absent in the lexicon of the MDGs and sustainability blah-blahs. But in a land where hunger is lacerating stomachs in rural areas, where high prices of fuel are eating on farm income, where milk is a luxury, and the biggest slab of meat now comes in matchbox-size bouillons, the carabaos are the food-giving, milk-vending machines, green sources of energy, that can be our cavalry in our war fight against poverty.

CHONG ARDIVILLA

m o n day : augus t 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A12

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Rose seizes share of WGC lead AKRON—England’s Justin Rose roared home with four birdies in his last six holes to fire a bogey-free 63 to grab a share of the lead after the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Rose is tied with second round leader Jim Furyk, of the US, through 54 holes at nine-under 201 at the Firestone Country Club course. Rose, the 2013 US Open champion whose only title in the World Golf Championships came in the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, capped his sevenunder 63 round Saturday with a 38-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“I didn’t make any birdies yesterday, but I have played well all week and felt there was a low score out there,” said Rose. “I birdied the first two holes (Saturday) and it was nice to see a couple finally go in. Then I had that hot spell on the back nine. “I went out there today with the mindset of making some birdies right from the beginning and it got

me right back into the tournament.” Rose tied for fourth at the 2014 WGC-Bridgestone tournament. Furyk, who has finished second twice among nine top-10 finishes in Bridgestone without winning, sank an 11-foot par putt on the 18th hole to finish a 69 and keep a share of the lead. Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a 67 and was two shots back in solo third. Steven Bowditch of Australia matched Rose’s 63, taking his only bogey on the 13th hole, and was four strokes behind in a tie for fourth with Bubba Watson (69), England’s Ian Poulter (65) and Swede Henrik Stenson (68).

Brooks Koepka and Robert Streb, who both had 68s, were tied for eighth with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell. Players champion Rickie Fowler shot a 70, good for a share of 15th. Reigning Masters and US Open champ Jordan Spieth was tied for 17th after a 72 and Zach Johnson, who claimed the Open Championship at St. Andrews, was tied for 26th after a 71. Phil Mickelson, who opened with a 76 in the no-cut event, carded a 71 and still has not broken 70 in three rounds, leaving him well back in 58th. AFP

Vengeful win. Kei Nishikori of Japan returns a shot to Marin Cilic of Croatia during the Citi Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, DC.

Nishikori avenged his loss to Marin Cilic in last year’s US Open final, defeating the Croatian 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 Saturday to reach the final. The 25-year-old Asian number one rallied to oust the reigning US Open champion and advanced to Sunday’s title match against US eighth seed John Isner, who fired 31 aces and saved three match points to edge American Steve Johnson 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (11/9). AFP

2 more PH boxers win opening tiffs TWO more female boxers from the four-women PLDT-ABAP team competing in the 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Continental Championships in Wulanchabu, China have won their opening bouts to join opening-day winner Irish Magno, who defeated AIBA World Youth champion Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei. AIBA said that the best women boxers across Asia are competing for gold-medal glory. Seasoned campaigners Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, showed their class beating their rugged Uzbekistan opponents handily. Gabuco, the 2012 AIBA world champion took three rounds to overcome Atakulova Gulasal, taking charge from the opening bell and although Gulasal tried to make a fight of it she paid dearly as Gabuco nailed her several times with solid left hooks. Ronnie Nathaneilz

Juvic routs field, bags title by 8 shots JUVIC Pagunsan stamped his class over Pijit Petchkasem and Angelo Que with an early burst of birdies, turning what was expected to be a wild finish into a runaway eight-shot romp in the Aboitiz Invitational at Southwoods’ Legends course here yesterday. Tied with the Thai ace and one up on the three-time Asian Tour winner after 54 holes, Pagunsan needed just four pars to seize control in the early going then flashed his vaunted shotmaking and iron game to fire four birdies in the next five holes which Petchkasem and Que failed to match to virtually settle the outcome. He wound up with a six-under 65, another bogey-free round that has marked his solid start in the $100,000 event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, for a 72-hole aggregate of 20-under 264. “It’s a nice win. I was able to string up a good game this week,” said Pagunsan, who pocketed the top $17,500 purse for his maiden victory on the Asian Development Tour, a farm league of the Asian Tour, which he dominated in 2011 by winning the coveted Order of Merit title. It was also Pagunsan’s first victory on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, which he was forced to skip the last two-and-a-half years after being sacked by the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. for abandoning a tournament without prior notice. As a former Asian Tour OOM winner, Pagunsan gained a card in the lucrative Japan PGA Tour which he made as base during his suspension that saw him post

Juvic Pagunsan receives his trophy and replica of his cheque worth $17,500 from Aboitiz Corporate Marketing Communications manager Victoria Vicente after ruling the 2015 Aboitiz Invitational via an emphatic 8-shot romp at Southwoods’ Legends course.

seven top 10 finishes, including a runner-up finish in Mizuno Open last year. More importantly, the Japan stint further honed his talent and skills, which he put in full display in all four days this week, spiked by a bogey-less nine-under 62 in the second round that put him in the lead of a tightly-fought

Manila softbelles miss finals

DELAWARE—After three impressive wins and topping its Pool in group competition, Team Manila–Philippines buckled with errors and not only suffered its first loss in four games to USA Southwest Champion District 5–Louisiana, 8 – 3, but missed the finals in the 2015 World Series Girls Big League Softball Championship at the Layton Field of the Pyles Center in Lower Sussex County here. A total of eight errors were committed by the Manila softbelles in seven innings which started at the top of the first on back-to-back throwing and catching errors by third baseman Shaira Damasing and starting pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao for a run by center fielder Bobbi Smith of Louisiana to make it, 1 – 0. At the top of the second, three fine defensive stops were completed by short stop Edna Mae Severino, left fielder Chrystal Yamut and Damasing putting a halt to another surge by the Southwest batters. But it was at the top of the third inning alone that Louisiana scored a total of six runs, four of which were unearned off errors by the 2012 World Series Champion to the dismay of the coaching staff, coupled with Antolihao’s lackluster performance, yielding a total of seven runs and four hits in three innings, far from her skillful display in the Team’s first and second game wins.

Pacman still wants Floyd By Ronnie Nathanielsz EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao indicated he’d like to face undefeated pound-forpound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch sometime next year. Pacquiao, who was in Tokyo as part of the Philippine delegation that made a bid to host the 2019 World Cup of basketball in Manila but lost to China, told Japan’s boxing Hall of Famer Joe Koizumi in a brief interview: “I’d like to concentrate my efforts on working as a politician this year, and want to fight Mayweather in a rematch. I’ll be ready for that mentally and physically next year. I’ll show a better performance against him than in the first encounter.” Asked for his thoughts about the May 2 Fight of the Century against Mayweather, Pacquiao remarked: “He was running away all the time. I was making the fight by stalking him and believe that I deserved a victory.”

m o n day : augus t 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A13

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Tennis donation. Babolat Philippines donates old tennis racquets to the Lagro Tennis Club as part of the Babolat corporate social responsibility. Onyok Anasta also participated in the handover of old Babolat racquets to inspire the young and underprivileged aspiring tennis players. Babolat also donated old racquets in Tagum City and Las Pinas. Coach Tom Falcis and Gilbert Tafalla seal the donation with a handshake, while at the back are the LATEC board of directors and members, including ball boys.

Cobras turn back Wildcats, 69-64 By Mikey Izumi

CEBU CITY - Defending champion Southwestern University Cobras escaped the upset axe by overcoming a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Cebu Institute of Technology University Wildcats to fashion an 69-64 win before an enthusiastic crowd at the Cebu Coliseum in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. last Saturday. The depleted Cobras, who only had a nineman lineup, lost their opening game against the University of San Carlos Warriors last Sunday. Against the Wildcats, they raced to a 35-17 lead with 3:25 left in the opening quarter. The Wildcats cut the lead to ten points at the half, 39-29. The SWU Cobras regained their composure in the third quarter and late in the fourth when they led, 64-53, on a big triple by Melvin Holper. The CIT Wildcats sliced the lead to

four, 66-62 with 1:52 remaining in the game after exploding a 9-2 run. Two sorry misses from the free throw line by Steven Bucao with 1:23 left to play stalled the Wildcats rally. Back-to-back MVP Mark Jayven Tallo scored with his patented crossover, spin move to cushion the Cobras’ lead to 68-62 with 53 seconds remaining in the game. Jose Allen Dimco countered with a driving layup to cut the lead to four with 34.8 seconds left to play. This was the

closest the Wildcats got. Tallo missed two free throws with 20 seconds left before Holper came to the rescue with a block on Jose Marlo Pono’s attempted layup with eight seconds to go to seal the deal for the Cobras. SWU now totes a 1-1 win-loss slate. The Viva Sports television panel of Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo picked Tallo, who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists as the “Best Player of the Game” in the IBC Prime Time coverage.

Melvin Holper also finished with 14 points, while Jovanie Luz contributed 10 points. Last year’s Cesafi leading scorer Joshua Dela Cerna had 20 points and Allan Dimco had 10 for the losing Wildcats. CIT dropped their second game in a row to go down 0-2 in the standings. In the juniors’ division, the Cebu Eastern College Dragons came from behind to beat Don Bosco Technology Center Greywolves, 60-42. The USJ-R Baby Lancers drubbed the University of Visayas Baby Lancers, 65-43, while the USJ-R Junior Webmasters survived a fourth-quarter rally by the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters to win, 76-67.

Filipino paratriathletes ready for Asian tourney SIXTO Ducay, Godfrey Taberna, Arnel Aba, Andy Avellana and the visually impaired twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida of the Philippines are all set to engage with their foreign counterparts in their quest for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games as the ASTC Asian ParaTriathlon Championships 2015 fires off on Aug. 16 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. In the race sanctioned by Asian Paralympic Committee and Philspada, the Filipinos will challenge crack paratriathletes from Japan, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hongkong and Korea in designated categories of competitions that will cover a 750 meter swim18 Km bike-5 Km run. Paratriathlon has categories of Tri1, Tri2, Tri3, Tri4, Tri5 and Tri6 for newcomers. The event, supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Philippine Sports Commission, ASTC, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, SPEEDO, Philippine Olympic Committee, Standard Insurance, DZSR Sports Radio 918, Channel 4’s TeleDyaryo Program, RaceDay, SBR.ph, Kikay Runner and PinoyFitness.com, got a boost as Asian

Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Officer and Acting Secretary General Tarek Souei certified the APC as a Rio 2016 Paralympics qualifier, where participants can earn the points needed. In addition, there will also be a sprint and mini sprint distances (750 M swim-20 Km bike-5 Km run and 300m/9km/2.5km) triathlon as a aside event, which will be joined by members of the national triathlon and duathlon teams. Each competition will start at the Sands of Triboa and end at San Bernardino Street. Sands of Triboa is also the venue for the awarding ceremony which will take place at 9:30 a.m. Team relays will also be held for most beginners. The day before the race, there will be race briefings for paratriathlon and sprint and mixed relay participants at the Subic Holiday Villas at 4 p.m. Race packets will be distributed all day at the lobby. A paratriathlon technical course for all officiating staff will be conducted by technical delegate Daniel Sng of Singapore. Late entries for the sprint and minisprint distance triathlon are still accepted until Saturday 12 p.m. and inquiries

Tigresses send Lady Stags to the brink UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas toughened up for the quarters, repulsing a stubborn San Sebastian College side in the opening set before cruising to a 25-22, 25-15, 25-17 victory to finish second to unbeaten Ateneo at the close of the Group B elims in the Shakey’s VLeague Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday. The Tigresses banked on their superb net defense to frustrate the Lady Stags, coming away with 11 blocks while skipper Pam Lastimosa uncorked a 14-hit game, spiked

by 13 attacks, and Ennajie Laure and Chlodia Cortez combined for 22 points to power UST to a 4-1 campaign in the single round elims of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s. It was a tough loss for SSC, which came out strong in a bid to nail the all important win for a spot in the next round of the tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera. But with a 1-4 card, the Lady Stags dropped to joint fifth with the TIP Lady Engineers with the two teams awaiting the result of the La

Salle-Dasmariñas-St. Benilde encounter being played at presstime. At 1-3, La Salle-Dasma hopes to steal a win and the last quarters berth but a St. Benilde victory will pave the way for a three-way tie for fourth. The standoff will be broken via the quotient system. Jolina Labiano topscored for SSC with 11 hits after a gritty stand in the first set, the Lady Stags failed to keep in step with the Tigresses’ power game and superb blocking and reeled to their fourth setback in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Diana Mae Carlos of University of the Philippines tries to score against Christine Joy Rosario and Jovielyn Prado of Arellano University during the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference at The Arena on Saturday. SONNY ESPIRITU

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

M ONDAY : AU G U ST 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Customer Class Residential

(FCRk,t/ FQk,t) - St

(CRk,t-1/ AQk,t-1) St-1

% Increase

Status

1.4447

1.4486

(0.27)

WithinSide Constraints

13.8 kV

0.8078

0.8316

(2.86)

WithinSide Constraints

230 V

0.8878

0.8800

0.89

WithinSide Constraints

0.9585

1.3518

(29.09)

WithinSide Constraints

Public Bldgs./ Street Lights 13.8 kV

0.7841

0.8061

(2.73)

WithinSide Constraints

13.8 kV

0.7981

1.0741

(25.69)

WithinSide Constraints

230 V

0.7694

0.7368

4.43

WithinSide Constraints

230 V Hospitals/ Radio Stations

ERC CASE NO. 2015-089 RC BOHOL LIGHT COMPANY, INCORPORATED (BLCI), Applicant. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that on April 30, 2015, Bohol Light Company, Incorporated (BLCI) filed an application for approval ofthe Maximum Average Price (MAP RY2015) and its translation into distribution related rates of different customer classes for the Fourth Regulatory Year of the ERC-approved Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) under the Performance Based Regulation (PBR) for the Regulatory Period 2012-2015. In the said application, BLCI alleged, among others that:

In support of this application, it submits the following:

Schedule

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

It is a corporation duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal address at R. Enerio St., Poblacion 3, Tagbilaran City.It is a private distribution utility (DU) with Franchise and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate electric light and power service in Tagbilaran City, Bohol;

Information Provided

Computation of the MAP for the Regulatory Year Ending September 30, 2015

Computation of the Change in Weighted Index (CWI)

Computation of the Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT)

Computation of the Differential Amount (DA)

Computation of the Correction Factor (K)

Computation of the S-Factor (S)

Annual Historical and Forecast Data

Side Constraint Testing

Side Constraint Simulations

Proposed Rates

Comparison of Proposed and Existing Rates

11. Thus, it prays that the Commission approve: 11.1 The recalculated MAP for the Fourth Regulatory Year 2015 in the amount of PhP1.0827/ kWh; and

Pursuant to the Final Determination dated July 6, 2011 issued by the Commission in ERC Case No. 2010-117 RC2, it has calculated the MAP RY2015 of the Fourth Regulatory Period at PhP1.0827/kWh with an X-factor of 0.0465;

11.2 The distribution-related rate structure and rate schedule, as follows: Distribution Customer Class

The resulting MAP RY2015, without the application of side constraints, is as follows:

Residential

MAP2015

[MAP2014 x {1 + CWI2015 - X}] + S2015 - K2015 + ITA2015

Distribution

Residential

Supply

PhP/ kW

PhP/ kWh

PhP/ Cust./ Mo.

PhP/ kWh

1.0261

51.38

5.00

0.2150

70.10

51.33

51.38

75.78

0.0658

0.7848

51.38

64.53

89.77

0.3301

51.38

52.12

0.1606

0.7466

51.38

64.13

174.68

0.3204

51.38

82.93

0.0824

0.7554

51.38

64.53

Commercial 13.8 kV 230 V Public Bldgs./ Street Lights 13.8 kV 230 V Hospitals/ Radio Stations 13.8 kV 230 V

The conversion was effected in accordance with the Uniform Filing Requirements (UFR), the RDWR, as amended and the methodology described in Article V of the DSOAR. It used in its calculations the information contained in the aforementioned Final Determination;

The Side Constraint Calculation for the Second Regulatory Period approved by the Commission is CWIt + SCt. The value of SCis twelve percent (12%) while CWI2015 was calculated at 4.15%. Thus, SC2015 is 16.15%;

230 V

Metering

It has determined that the resulting MAP2015 and the converted distribution rates from said MAP2015 would not result in the breach of the rates for all customer classes.The computation of Side Constraints per Customer Class pursuant to Section 6.4 of the RDWR, as amended, is as follows:

PhP/ Cust./ Mo.

PhP/ kW

PhP/ kWh

1.0261

51.38

5.00

0.2150

70.10

51.33

51.38

75.78

0.0658

0.7848

51.38

64.53

89.77

0.3301

51.38

52.12

0.1606

0.7466

51.38

64.13

Hospitals/ Radio Stations 13.8 kV 230 V

174.68

0.3204

51.38

82.93

0.0824

0.7554

51.38

64.53

The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on August 27, 2015 (Thursday) at one o’clock in the afternoon (1:00 P.M.) at the Governor’s Mansion, CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 20thday of July, 2015 at Pasig City.

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III rvm/BLCI/PBR/ARR/translation/2015-089 RC/nph

((FCRk,t/ FQk,t) - St) - ((CRk,t-1 / AQk,t-1) - St-1)≤ (CWIt + SCt)

_________________________________________________________

≤

(CWIt + SCt)

≤

(4.15% 12%)

≤

16.15%

(CRk,t-1 / AQk,t-1) - St-1

In the Matter of the Application for Approval of the Maximum Average Price (MAP RY2014) and Its Translation Into Distribution Related Rates of Different Customer Classes for the Third Regulatory Year of the ERC-Approved Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) for Bohol Light and Power Company, Incorporated (BLCI) Under the Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) for the Regulatory Period 2012-2015, BLCI – Applicant

In the Matter of the Application for Approval of the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Performance Incentive Scheme (PIS) in Accordance with the Provisions of the Rules for Setting Distribution Wheeling Rates (RDWR), BLCI – Applicant

(TS-AUG. 10/17, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

It reported that 32 winners of major city marathons -- London, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin and Tokyo -- should have faced investigation over potential blood doping following test results -- a quarter of the overall total. The newspaper did not provide dates for when its statistics allegedly apply or identify the athletes involved. London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said in a statement Sunday that organisers were “very concerned” by the allegations and said the race had a “zero tolerance policy” on doping. “We believe there are people in our sport who are cheating and everyone has a part to play to protect those who are not,” he said. “We continue to be at the forefront

of anti-doping measures for marathon runners as we are determined to make marathon running a safe haven from doping but we cannot do it all on our own and rely heavily on the IAAF.” In a separate development Britain’s Mo Farah -- who won Olympic gold medals in 2012 for the 5,000m and 10,000m -- is one of eight athletes who have agreed to release their own blood test data, the newspaper reported. His coach Alberto Salazar has faced doping allegations but both he and Farah deny any wrongdoing. “The decision to release my results is a personal one -- I’ve always said that I’m happy to do what it takes to prove that I’m a clean athlete,” he was quoted as saying. AFP

MVP and his vision

Public Bldgs./ Street Lights 13.8 kV

Based on the said Final Determination and the Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR), specifically, the conversion of the MAP into different rate elements per customer class, it has converted the computed MAP2015 (without the application of the side constraints) into a distribution rates structure, as follows:

Customer Class

13.8 kV

PhP1.0827/kWh

The MAP of PhP1.0827/kWh was a result of the updates in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), under-recovery, and the price-linked incentives under the Performance Incentive Scheme (PIS);

Metering

PhP/ Cust./ Mo.

Commercial

[1.0674 x {1 + 4.15% 0.0465}] + 0.0194–(-0.0012) +0

MAP2015

Supply

Drug scandal rocks London Marathon

LONDON—Seven London Marathon winners in 12 years have recorded blood level results which suggested they may have been doping, the Sunday Times newspaper reported in the latest set of allegations to have rocked athletics.

10. The approval of this application will enable it to fulfill its obligations under the PBR to timely implement its capital expenditure program and operating and maintenance programs for the Fourth Regulatory Period, specifically, for RY2015and to avoid deterioration of its services to the prejudice of its customers and the public; and

In a Decision dated December 9, 2013 in ERC Case No. 2013-183 RC1, the Commission approved the said application with modification and it was directed to implement the approved Distribution, Supply and Metering Charges and the revised lifeline levels, discounts and subsidy stated therein;

MAP2015

sports@thestandard.com.ph

Commercial

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MAXIMUM AVERAGE PRICE (MAP RY2015) AND ITS TRANSLATION INTO DISTRIBUTION RELATED RATES OF DIFFERENT CUSTOMER CLASSES FOR THE FOURTH REGULATORY YEAR OF THE ERC-APPROVED ANNUAL REVENUE REQUIREMENT (ARR) FOR BOHOL LIGHT COMPANY, INCORPORATED (BLCI) UNDER THE PERFORMANCE BASED REGULATION (PBR) FOR THE REGULATORY PERIOD 2012-2015

A14 SPORTS

WE may have lost the bid to host the FIBA World Cup in 2019, but in watching the event last Friday, I could not help but wish Philippine politics would emulate that process in a lot of ways. Before I elaborate, allow me to congratulate the Philippines’ bidding team led by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, whose people did a remarkable job in presenting our proposition. As for the bidding proper, it was so refreshing to see a group of Filipinos proudly telling the world how we can be a great country in the near future, so great that we deserve to host an event of this magnitude. It was actually the best 20 minutes of my life as a Filipino. Perhaps, most people would think it would be pathetic of us to consider basketball as our best way to rise from the doldrums and be economically competitive in the world stage. The hosting of a FIBA World Cup, from how I understand it, is an event that requires economic stability from its host country. After all, next to the sporting aspect of FIBA basketball is the business side of it. That is why during the FIBA bid proper, both China and the Philippines reiterated each country’s political and financial stability by 2019. And in doing so, our team in a lot of ways showed our people there is still hope for our country which was deemed hopeless by thousands of our countrymen who saw bright future in working abroad.

Sorry to say that, but it’s a reality that I fully understand, knowing that some of us consider employment here as a matter of life and death for their families. How I wish our politicians would be like SBP President Manny V. Pangilinan who, instead of looking at faults of their competitor, focused on what can be done to help our country’s gain a robust economy in the coming years. MVP and his men had this firm belief that we can deliver what FIBA officials wanted since day one of this procedure happened, and that is a quantum leap hosting. SBP hierarchy went on with the bid despite being aware about serious issues that is plaguing our country and one of them is the degenerating state of our transport system. For Team Philippines in Tokyo, Japan last Friday, to believe we can have an effective infrastructure by 2019, be it in transport, accommodation and even peace and order only show their faith not only with our government but also with our people by that time. Isn’t that uplifting if we compare it with our politicians of today, who exert unbelievable effort just to discover (sometimes fabricate) each other’s debaucheries and expose it to the public? With the 2016 national elections just around the corner, we Filipinos deserve the best presentation from our politicians and give us hope in the coming years. All it will take for our aspiring government leaders is to watch SBP’s 20-minute FIBA bid presentation which is readily available on Youtube. Twenty minutes is all it will take for us to realize how our country can be great again.

M O N DAY : AUGUS T 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Cebuano spikers rule PH Superliga By Peter Atencio

TWO Cebuanos playing with new partners held off separate rivals, tamed the breezy winds of Manila Bay and took the men’s and women’s titles of the first PLDT Home Ultera PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 Saturday at The Sands of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Gilligan’s, led by Cebuana Danika Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz, got past an aggressive Foton Tornadoes’ side of Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain, 19-21, 21-14, 15-11, for the women’s title. Cebuano spiker Jade Becaldo and teammate Hach Gilbuena, led Team SM By The Bay A to a 21-17, 23-21 victory over Louijie “Tippy” Tipgos and Marjun Alingasa of Champion Infinity B, 21-17, 23-21, to claim the men’s honors. It was Gendrauli’s second crown at the expense of Ceballos since they last met in the 2013 Nestea region’s with different partners, while she was still with Southwestern University. Gendrauli and Diaz found the winds too breezy at Manila Bay and

took care not to unleash strong spikes. “Binabaan namin iyung hataw dahil sa lakas ng hangin. Kapag nasa north kami, pakanan ang palo namin,” said Diaz. With the wind blowing the ball westward, Gendrauli and Diaz struggled to get the proper timing after Ceballos and Orendain took the first set, 21-19. Earlier, Cignal HD-B’s April Rose Hingpit and Wensh Tiu prevailed over Foton Hurricane’s Pau Soriano and Bea Tan, 21-18, 21-18, to settle for third in the women’s action. Cignal HD A’s Sandy Montero and Edmar Bonono won by default over Center Stage’s Rence Melgar and John Carlo Lozada to take third place. Diaz scored twice on attacks

in the latter part of the second set, handing them a decisive 17-11 lead after her balls landed behind Orendain. “We changed our targets to Patty, because Fiola was scoring more,” said Gendrauli, who fought off fever and a cold over the last three days. Getting their timing right in the third set, Gendrauli and Diaz scored on a net error, on a kill and a drop shot to grab a 13-9 spread in the final set. On the other hand, it was a close game for Becaldo and Gilbuena due to errors at the frontline. With the count tied at 21-all, it was Gilbuena’s drop shot and Alingasa’s miscue at the net, which allowed SM by the Bay to claim the crown.

Fiola Ceballos of Foton Tornadoes smashes one in against Gilligan’s Jane Diaz and Danika Gendrauli. ROMAN PROSPERO

Referee Bruce McTavish (left) rushes to stop the fight after Prince Albert Pagara knocked out his Mexican foe Jesus “Chito” Rios in the first round.

Pagara brothers win By Ronnie Nathanielsz INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara crushed his overweight and overmatched Mexican opponent Jesus “Chito” Rios to win by a technical knockout in just two minutes of the very first round before an enthusiastic crowd of Filipinos at the Dubai International Trade Center late Friday night. Rios, who initially came in at 3.8 pounds over the 122-pound limit, but managed to shed off some of the excess weight and came down to 124 pounds or two pounds over the limit, which meant that even if he won, he would not get the title, was initially dropped with a vicious left hook to the jaw. Pagara, who had an intense look in his eyes, went after the Mexican and when Rios’ his right hand got entangled in the ropes, the Filipino pounced on him with another cracking combination to knock him out cold, with referee Bruce McTavish calling a halt without even bothering to count. Dubbed “Duel in Dubai II,” in the widely acclaimed Pinoy Pride series edition 32 of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN, the fight could hardly be considered a duel as the 21-year-old Pagara hardly broke into a sweat, before disposing of Rios, who entered the ring with the reputation of a puncher behind a record of 25 knockouts in 31 wins, with 7 losses and one draw. But he was clearly no match for Pagara, who is ranked no. 5 in the world by the IBF, and No. 12 by the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization. With the win, the undefeated Pagara improved to 24-0 with 17 knockouts and earned the right to make his

Lim captures 2 net titles in Jiangsu, China By Peter Atencio TOP seeded Alberto AJ Lim swept the boys’ singles and doubles’ crown of the International Tennis Federation-Nanjing Junior Championships in Jiangsu, China. Lim, ranked no. 67th in the world, outplayed third seed Wu Yi Bing, 6-0, 6-3, in the boys’ singles finals. His title conquest came a month after Lim reached the second round of the 2015

Wimbledon juniors. To reach the finals, Lim won over Chengze Lu of China, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, while Wu made it after he upset second seed Wu Tung-Lin, , who retired (1-0) after one game. In the quarterfinals, Lim put away Ching Lam of Hong Kong, 6-1, 6-0. In taking the doubles’ crown, Lim teamed up with India’s Ravikumar Ballekere and stopped Wu Yibing and Wu Tung-Lin by default.

Earlier, Lim turned back Vorachon Rakpuangchon of Thailand, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3, in the third round. Lim and Ballekere made it past the semis after they won over Yi Zhou Lin and Chu Kang Wang, 6-2, 6-3. In the quarterfinals, they prevailed over Chengze Lu and Hao Wu, 3-6, 7-5, 10-5. They defeated Kittirat Kerdlaphee and Phongsapak of Thailand, 7-6, (7-1), 6-0, in the third round.

American debut at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California in ALA Promotions’ initial offering in the US set for Oct. 17. His elder brother Jason “El Nino” Pagara, the light welterweight ranked No. 2 by the WBO, had a much harder time against Ramiro Alcaraz, before winning by an eighth-round technical decision. The ringside physician ruled that a nasty cut suffered by Pagara above his left eyelid, following an accidental clash of heads in the opening round, for which referee Ver Abainza slapped Alcaraz with a one-point deduction, worsened enough to blur his vision as the blood streamed into his eye forcing the referee to stop the contest on recommendation by the ringside doctor. Pagara won, 77-73, on the scorecard of Robert Dale Bridges, 78-72 on Dan Nietes, and, 76-74, by Greg Ortega. As expected, southpaw Jimrex Jaca and Mexican slugger Pablo Lugo Montiel engaged in a war, with the latter dropping the Filipino in the fourth round, with referee Samson Libres mistakenly ruling it a slip. Montiel refused to be thwarted and sent Jaca to the canvas for a second time in the round with a left hook before the Filipino, who was in deep trouble, kept spitting out his mouthpiece to buy some time for which he received a warning by Libres. Jaca, who appeared to be a spent force at the end of the fourth round, made an amazing comeback in the very next round and nailed Montiel with a thundering left hook. He followed this up with a big left hook and an uppercut that wobbled Montiel in the last few seconds of the round. He helped seal the win with a series of big lefts in the eighth round to earn the nod of all three judges. Jaca improved to 40-8 with 22 knockouts.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK m o n day : augus t 1 0 , 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERa u. maLL aRI EDITOR

REuEL vIdaL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

x 10 cm

How do you ant your news erved today?

Spieth’s rise as smooth as his swing

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AKRON, OH—Jordan Spieth hits off the second tee during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron, Ohio. AFP

KOHLER—Jordan Spieth’s rise from obscurity to global stardom at the age of 22 has been as seamless as it has been meteoric. Just two years ago, few outside of US golfing circles had heard much about the fresh-faced teen from Dal-

las, Texas, who barged his way into the Open at Muirfield at the last minute on the back of a win in the John Deere Classic the previous week. He tied for 44th on that occasion, but gained an eye for links golf and two years later at St Andrews he came within a whisker of becoming just the second player to win the first three majors of the year. His win at the John Deere back

in 2012 had not gone unnoticed. Two weeks short of his 20th birthday, he was the first teenage winner on the US PGA Tour since Ralph Guldahl in 1931. His precociousness was there for all to see and that had been the case for some time. Born and raised in Dallas, Spieth attended St Monica Catholic School and Jesuit College Preparatory School, graduating in 2001.

5 col x 14 cm

He played college golf for the University of Texas and was a key member of the 2011 Walker Cup team that played and won at Aberdeen. He used that occasion to try out, in passing, the Old Course at St Andrews for the first time. Tall and lanky, blessed with a steely mindset, an innate sense of course management and a wonderful putting technique and touch, Spieth was a natural for

golf from the day he first picked up a club. He joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win multiple US Junior amateur titles and before he turned 19 he was ranked top junior in the United States. He even delved into the world of the pros, turning heads by skipping school and earning a share of 16th as a 16-year old at the Byron Nelson Championship. AFP

Meralco gets shot in the arm By Jeric Lopez

How do you want your news served today? Games tomorrow (San Juan Arena) 10 a.m.—Jose Rizal vs San Beda (jrs) 12 nn. —Arellano vs Perpetual Help (jrs) 2 p.m. —Jose Rizal vs San Beda (srs) 4 p.m. —Arellano vs Perpetual (srs)

www.thestandard.com.ph

MERALCO coach Norman Black believes that the Bolts will be a lot better with the entry of two returning players in the Philippine Basketball Association. For a team that lacks size and leadership, having veteran Jimmy Alapag and erratic but talented big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini back in action is definitely a huge boost for Black’s Bolts. Alapag, who is now training with the national team, officially came out of retirement and was traded to the Bolts by Talk ‘N Text last Friday in a three-team deal which also involved Blackwater. Talk ‘N Text sent Alapag, who retired early this year, to Blackwater in exchange for forward Larry Rodriguez while the Elite immediately shipped the many time national team skipper to Meralco for veteran playmaker Mike Cortez and big man James Sena. After suddenly going AWOL in the middle of last season and leaving Meralco to go to Kuwait, AlHussaini is back and will be offered a new contract by the Bolts after his live contract expires at the end of the month. The veteran mentor welcomed both cagers with open arms as he is aware of what they can bring to the table having coached them for a stretch before. Black, who coached both players at Talk ‘N Text less than two years ago, believes that Al-Hussaini’s size and capabilities offensively will address Meralco’s lack of ceiling.

MONDAY: AUGUST 10, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 7, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,532.52 57.43

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 7, 2015 42

P45.740

44 45 46

BUSINESS

PAL soars, registers P5.94-b net income By Darwin G Amojelar

HIGH P45.735 LOW P45.820 AVERAGE P45.779 VOLUME 521.400M

P475.00-P675.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.10-P45.35 Unleaded Gasoline P25.30-P28.55 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, August 7, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

45.7820

Japan

Yen

0.008017

0.3670

Pound

1.551800

71.0445

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129019

5.9067

Switzerland

Franc

1.019680

46.6830

Canada

Dollar

0.762428

34.9055

Singapore

Dollar

0.722804

33.0914

Australia

Dollar

0.734700

33.6360

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657666

121.6733

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.2082

Brunei

Dollar

0.720202

32.9723

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028433

1.3017

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.4652

Euro

1.092900

50.0351

Korea

Won

0.000860

0.0394

China

Yuan

0.161038

7.3726

India

Rupee

0.015711

0.7193

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.256148

11.7270

New Zealand

Dollar

0.654493

29.9640

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031611

1.4472 Source: PDS Bridge

THE operator of Philippine Airlines said net income jumped in the first semester of the year on higher international and domestic passenger traffic and reduced fuel prices. PAL Holdings Inc. said consolidated total comprehensive income amounted to P5.94 billion in the January-to-June period, up 1,500 percent from just P362.4 million year-on-year. PAL Holdings posted a total comprehensive income of P2.16 billion in the second quarter, up 49 percent from P1.45 billion on year. Total revenues in the first half totaled P55.95 billion, up 14 percent from P48.95 billion on year. Revenues in the second quarter

reached P28.09 billion, up 2.9 percent from P27.23 billion. “The increase was attributable mainly to higher passenger revenues and other revenues generated during the period,” PAL Holdings said. PAL Holdings said the 37-percent increase in the number of passengers for the Americas, Australia, Japan and Middle East routes, coupled by the effect of interlining arrangement with PAL Express in the domestic sectors, contributed

to the favorable revenue performance during the period. Total operating expenses in the first six months rose 5.5 percent to P50.60 billion from P47.97 billion last year. The airline operator attributed the higher expenses to higher costs related to maintenance, passenger service, reservation and sales and general and administrative offset by the reduction in flying operations. Passenger service expenses rose 13 percent against last year’s total of P3.794 billion, mainly due to higher costs related to cabin crew benefits and passenger food due to the increase in number of passengers as a result of more flights. Fuel cost amounted to P19.05 billion in the first six months, down from last year’s P19.24 billion, as the average jet fuel price

per barrel declined from $129.71 in 2014 to $88.37 in 2015. PAL earlier said it was not in a hurry to get a strategic investor as the flag carrier was focusing on enhancing its valuation. “We have not talked to any possible strategic investor, maybe I think this is not the time to talk to them,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista had said. “I think it will be better for the present shareholders of PAL to make PAL more profitable before talking to [a] strategic investor, so that the value of the company would be better when we talk to them,” he added. Tycoon Lucio Tan last year bought back a 49-percent stake in PAL that San Miguel Corp. purchased from him in 2012.

Globe begins restructuring BayanTel workforce GLOBE Telecom Inc. has started restructuring the workforce of Bayan Telecommunications Inc. as part of the merger between the two telecommunication companies. “We are beginning to plan for the integration of both companies,” Gil Genio, the new president of BayanTel, said. Genio said as part of the process, some employees of Bayan had been transferred to Globe as early

as last week. “That’s really the tip of the iceberg. Between now and the end of the year, we will go through an integration plan across all the functions between Globe and Bayan respecting the fact that they really have a good franchise area of landline, broadband and enterprise data,” Genio said. Genio did not disclose the number of BayanTel employees that

would be affected by the integration plan, “I don’t want to preempt the work that we are doing,” Genio said. A source, however, said Globe would unlikely absorb all 1,100 BayanTel employees nationwide. “It really depends on the integration plan,” the source said. Genio expressed optimism about BayanTel’s profitability out-

look, saying it had a “very good running business.” Bayan posted P5.6-billion revenues in 2014, down by 3.4 percent from P5.8 billion in 2013. Its broadband and fixed-line voice subscribers last year stood at 144,100 and 174,400, respectively. Globe’s move to merge with BayanTel came after it acquired nearly all shares in the Lopez-led telecom company. Darwin G. Amojelar

MONDAY: AUGUST 10, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW STOCKS

AUGUST 3-7, 2015 Close Volume

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

3.9 70.8 102.00 92.10 43.5 2.51 1.47 10.1 16 20.9 7.71 1.74 770.00 0.425 88 0.98 19.00 26.00 64.80 95 305 39 142.6 1495.00 59.00 3.29

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Bogo Medellin C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp. Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

42.95 1.52 0.97 1.87 11 50.2 92.95 18.64 27.3 54.95 3.04 1.61 12.52 22.300 9.44 7.18 9.65 1.7 12.84 25.9 80 13.30 13.56 5.91 0.500 188.30 10.1 30.00 2 2 55.90 24.9 27.1 6.47 302.00 3.88 4.61 7.68 4 11.80 3.35 2.40 3.61 4.43 1.9 6.05 161.9 4.49 1.82 0.148 1.17 2.12 190.6 4.26 0.68 22.50 1.12

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.460 58.0000 22.95 1.22 6.90 0.249 0.25 769.5 7.33 11.86 3.2 4.30 0.197 1388 6.50 72.85 3.8 7.15 0.63 15.16 0.57 4.99 7.72 3.6 0.0280 1.100 2.060 2.8 55.80 2.23 900.50 1.26 0.69 77.600 0.3600 0.1880 0.255

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `B’ Centennial City City & Land Dev. Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate

7.100 8.39 0.72 1.280 0.235 38.70 3.75 5.13 6.41 0.81 1.06 0.130 0.435 12.72 0.870 0.171 1.24

Value

FINANCIAL 9,034,710.00 5,926,163.50 1,208,210,211.00 621,507,684.50 26,325,160.00 207,700.00 70,710.00 20,700.00 2,085,930.00 36,495,800.00 695,744 120,230.00 109,150.00 605,400.00 2,018,777,330.00 289,120.00 8,367,368.00 754,000.00 26,523,110.50 19,695.00 34,593,148.00 16,048,625.00 470,378,619.00 1,364,320.00 3,622,003.50 1,281,470.00 INDUSTRIAL 10,385,100 449,114,255.00 529,000 824,720.00 751,000 745,700.00 2,004,000 3,770,130.00 139,100 1,530,302.00 210 10,586.00 320 27,364.00 5,397,400 98,429,754 1,918,700 50,064,475.00 579,480 32,194,084.00 38,307,000 112,957,480.00 2,674,000 4,268,570.00 81,300 1,034,274.00 27,888,800 625,001,355.00 12,449,400 115,819,127.00 77,042,100 553,075,738.00 1,682,000 16,525,579.00 26,000 44,360.00 363,900 4,812,460.00 14,416,300 382,254,795.00 568,910 46,400,716.50 9,600 127,692.00 101,200 1,374,580.00 1,041,000 6,228,991.00 35,000 17,470.00 3,685,830 703,887,961.00 24,077,800 241,895,890.00 800 23,025.00 77,000 154,180.00 902,000 1,986,880.00 7,260 377,005.00 1,810,600 45,217,380.00 3,830,100 104,495,180.00 1,184,000 7,549,530.00 3,908,140 1,191,600,984.00 9,000 34,920.00 1,496,000 6,988,080.00 18,759,000 144,964,428.00 1,000 4,000.00 34,200 394,684.00 1,923,000 6,553,950.00 3,561,000 8,472,860.00 25,809,000 100,512,350.00 9,029,000 40,911,430.00 40,000 74,090.00 62,200 354,762.00 64,610 10,519,396.00 7,000 31,160.00 2,743,000 5,066,860.00 36,240,000 5,577,110.00 57,000 69,150.00 4,947,000 10,586,570.00 16,200,330 3,177,708,412.00 1,606,000 6,849,090.00 1,906,000 1,329,540.00 355,500 7,999,820.00 1,667,000 1,629,560.00 HOLDING FIRMS 440,000 199,950.00 5,571,860 325,556,812.00 35,754,300 815,102,145.00 569,000 677,420.00 483,700 3,354,705.00 3,920,000 976,940.00 570,000 141,940.00 1,084,430 850,976,210.00 20,059,700 147,675,608.00 22,938,700 273,695,424.00 127,000 382,900.00 50,000 211,470.00 2,440,000 500,320.00 895,160 1,260,303,060.00 310,200 2,013,282.00 10,165,830 741,045,406.00 4,000 15,200.00 13,163,200 93,385,238.00 1,380,000 892,410.00 32,954,600 505,111,722.00 918,000 532,810.00 227,041,600 1,132,300,594.00 2,986,900 22,626,108.00 6,000 21,600.00 1,700,000 49,100.00 53,000 57,980.00 10,898,000 22,623,310.00 90,000 250,150.00 1,870,890 104,671,824.50 52,000 118,140.00 1,184,460 1,071,325,005.00 280,000 352,140.00 20,000 13,800.00 22,140 1,735,296.00 86,650,000 31,154,250.00 2,310,000 432,300.00 600,000 155,950.00 PROPERTY 3,768,400 26,967,129.00 3,000 24,087.00 1,149,000 811,730.00 281,000 363,240.00 170,000 38,400.00 56,790,600 2,130,521,455.00 15,316,000 56,917,720.00 118,300 600,720.00 2,000 12,820.00 6,496,000 5,334,150.00 28,000 30,320.00 15,820,000 2,008,870.00 3,250,000 1,400,150.00 8,675,000 116,461,984.00 510,000 438,750.00 2,260,000 388,250.00 6,316,000 7,897,600.00 2,479,000 81,860 11,731,230 6,577,890 573,000 82,000 48,000 2,200 129,500 1,701,700 89,800 71,000 140 1,450,000 22,878,940 296,000 439,200 29,000 408,720 210 113,340 407,800 3,198,590 920 60,940 389,000

JULY 27-31, 2015 Volume Value

4 73.2 100.40 95.00 46.3 2.52 1.47

1,495,000 64,450 18,896,430 5,361,800 304,400 51,000 606,000

6,515,480.00 4,675,148.00 1,891,999,797.50 511,060,148.50 14,020,265.00 127,640.00 924,700.00

16.28 21.65 7.20 1.79 780.00 0.395 88.35 0.97 19.00 26.10 63.50 94.9 310 39.5 148.9 1450.00 59.30 3.27

1,605,000 4,191,900 30,000 103,000 230 1,170,000 26,850,360 1,267,000 3,179,400 17,700 150,810 680 124,390 332,800 4,647,980 3,065 285,960 2,943,000

26,121,068.00 85,986,500.00 211,772 177,870.00 179,900.00 471,150.00 1,558,416,851.50 1,260,090.00 60,782,412.00 460,310.00 9,553,731.00 63,750.00 38,215,024.00 12,851,155.00 687,662,240.00 4,360,495.00 17,092,925.50 9,735,630.00

43.7 1.76 1.03 1.89 10.56 50.6 80.00 18.1 26 55 2.8 1.58 13 21.550 8.81 7.17 9.83 1.7 14.86 25.85 82.8 13.88 13.16 6.1 0.500 190.00 10.3 30.00 2 2.6 53.95 24.95 25.4 6.18 299.00 3.90 4.77 10.00 4 11.50 3.40 2.26 3.89 4.30 1.85 5.72 165

15,762,200 487,000 1,733,000 5,335,000 53,700 40 483,820 2,968,300 1,570,400 607,780 27,429,000 11,437,000 299,500 23,088,700 4,016,500 76,667,300 3,760,300 11,000 98,100 14,433,400 1,505,910 3,500 212,100 2,828,500 6,000 2,951,470 3,131,500 7,700 152,000 18,000 38,040 23,443,900 533,300 2,072,800 3,304,700 25,000 1,547,000 27,562,600 366,000 39,000 1,247,000 6,102,000 36,224,000 15,721,000 30,000 9,600 8,390

691,374,470.00 795,040.00 1,762,430.00 10,103,480.00 551,332.00 2,024.00 44,008,050.00 53,734,094.00 41,143,095.00 33,557,086.00 73,527,870.00 19,942,240.00 3,784,446.00 497,744,665.00 35,680,819.00 556,214,680.00 37,383,244.00 18,850.00 1,459,174.00 382,431,575.00 122,900,207.00 48,366.00 2,804,184.00 17,262,734.00 3,100.00 596,535,289.00 32,632,238.00 231,000.00 305,130.00 46,800.00 2,018,535.50 585,572,285.00 13,922,885.00 12,512,282.00 984,467,580.00 97,500.00 7,272,280.00 219,107,641.00 1,338,940.00 452,588.00 4,238,850.00 14,406,640.00 138,167,170.00 67,448,460.00 56,080.00 54,912.00 1,377,821.00

1.71 0.151 1.22 2.14 191.3 4.4 0.7 23.50 1.19

1,239,000 6,860,000 38,000 20,114,000 8,860,290 74,000 1,459,000 3,500 200,000

2,192,180.00 1,020,430.00 52,010.00 44,476,670.00 1,691,877,374.00 322,070.00 1,017,920.00 82,250.00 240,560.00

0.470 58.8000 22.60 1.20 6.84 0.255 0.250 780 7.4 11.90 3.11 4.15 0.194 1400 6.44 72.50 3.95 7.21 0.65 14.86 0.56 4.85 7.5 3.8 0.0300 1.100 2.110 2.75 56.30 2.50 893.00 1.18

1,270,000 5,954,880 25,754,600 138,000 264,900 3,580,000 350,000 1,412,520 17,521,600 37,801,000 133,000 93,000 1,590,000 920,000 46,900 13,814,390 3,000 13,523,300 1,208,000 17,323,300 4,820,000 105,063,000 1,951,000 10,000 5,700,000 416,000 21,158,000 170,000 862,360 26,000 1,397,270 325,000

592,600.00 347,086,885.50 578,444,620.00 168,030.00 1,810,857.00 891,970.00 87,500.00 1,093,386,915.00 131,783,635.00 454,738,334.00 413,630.00 397,620.00 316,440.00 1,277,878,690.00 302,056.00 999,358,788.50 11,830.00 96,263,719.00 802,040.00 260,694,932.00 2,806,200.00 495,884,740.00 14,611,013.00 37,940.00 90,100.00 455,260.00 43,736,240.00 464,390.00 49,393,796.00 61,660.00 1,242,267,325.00 384,260.00

79.850 0.3100 0.1870 0.260

6,610 1,470,000 4,090,000 2,490,000

509,804.50 452,200.00 758,220.00 669,150.00

7.200 8.03 0.71 1.200 0.220 37.40 3.7 5.15

4,011,300 3,100 2,168,000 319,000 50,000 43,946,800 10,256,000 190,700

30,014,048.00 24,769.00 1,533,860.00 383,750.00 11,000.00 1,647,094,225.00 36,551,310.00 968,538.00

0.83 1.03 0.129 0.430 13.5 0.860 0.181 1.25

6,645,000 66,000 11,900,000 550,000 21,055,600 628,000 4,630,000 9,642,000

5,467,220.00 71,380.00 1,533,190.00 236,650.00 281,818,548.00 540,120.00 853,880.00 12,251,850.00

STOCKS

AUGUST 3-7, 2015 Close Volume

Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Corp. Megaworld Prop. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

1.92 1.30 5.75 4.65 4.77 0.102 0.2850 0.3700 23.00 7.38 29.00 1.65 3.30 21.80 0.74 7.16 0.820 7.270

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons Retail SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

9.08 61.7 1.12 0.620 13 9.55 0.0790 3.75 96.6 9.79 1.7 5.52 925 2650 6.54 1.27 108.5 0.011 0.202 1.3000 2.25 9.64 2.16 1.20 2.08 40.00 0.650 2 7.5 0.300 0.460 20.7 4.60 3 9 100.00 18.90 2756.00 0.650 1.510 37.85 77.40 8.43 0.64 1.7 5.54 0.320 2.500

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

0.0057 2.35 5.35 11.84 0.225 6.6500 6.7800 0.7 0.75 6.76 1.41 0.300 0.205 0.229 0.013 0.013 2.72 10.36 3.9 0.6000 1.9400 0.0095 0.0110 4.12 5.40 1.64 0.011 116.20 8.34 0.0110

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

63 529 535 118 500 520.5 6.4 1.12 111 1052 1085 1018 75.55 80 81 1.81

Leisure & Resort Warr.

3.840

Makati Fin. Corp. Ripple E-Business Intl Xurpas

6.2 69.5 11.98

First Metro ETF

122.4

Value

233,492,000 459,917,020.00 1,263,000 1,334,730.00 12,000 65,430.00 89,439,000 427,285,030.00 100,382,000 489,794,820.00 9,270,000 947,050.00 2,010,000 565,500.00 110,000 40,850.00 223 5,000.00 938,800 7,162,351.00 7,295,400 208,215,875.00 1,385,000 2,275,700.00 106,000 350,630.00 77,451,600 1,697,629,810.00 974,000 715,140.00 7,400 52,766.00 1,486,000 1,215,080.00 19,263,100 138,834,635.00 SERVICES 4,494,900 39,420,991.00 84,090 5,163,074.50 4,000 4,560.00 3,166,000 1,947,210.00 330,400 4,295,200.00 36,962,000 357,745,988.00 64,910,000 5,142,960.00 4,064,000 14,446,620.00 6,902,290 664,438,308.50 3,900 39,596.00 54,000 89,800 721,900 3,809,889.00 1,380 1,333,750.00 906,945 2,413,835,270 731,100 4,613,041.00 1,498,000 1,907,860.00 5,535,240 606,856,903.00 22,500,000 255,400.00 26,840,000 5,453,260.00 8,494,000 11,176,460.00 17,000 38,220.00 9,065,400 91,564,674.00 2,891,000 6,226,840.00 15,000 18,000.00 92,000 191,170.00 4,400 173,260.00 154,000 102,350.00 243,000 485,580.00 31,362,000 237,880,399.00 1,450,000 442,100.00 500,000 222,200.00 48,122,510 1,005,577,430.00 174,000 818,860 35,000 105,280.00 500,000 4,500,000.00 8,810 907,525.00 303,200 5,705,266.00 880,030 2,485,882,190.00 3,706,000 2,444,530.00 44,787,000 68,520,690.00 11,509,300 434,787,500.00 4,241,630 326,943,718.00 11,958,000 102,422,879.00 82,869,000 54,329,510.00 14,000 23,890.00 10,353,700 56,810,030.00 1,240,000 405,150.00 8,585,000 23,529,240.00 MINING & OIL 16,013,000,000 96,648,700.00 370,000 892,740.00 903,700 4,941,073.00 9,800 107,214.00 650,000 140,910.00 53,900 358,819.00 12,200 83,100.00 11,240,000 7,980,960.00 2,358,000 1,768,300.00 202,900 1,415,449.00 87,889,000 114,914,010.00 810,000 241,700.00 26,250,000 5,304,760.00 2,400,000 514,260.00 42,000,000 546,100.00 64,100,000 834,300.00 9,464,000 27,246,030.00 7,109,300 73,566,118.00 22,151,000 87,015,440.00 205,000 126,650.00 258,000 501,100.00 27,000,000 257,100.00 47,200,000 520,100.00 334,000 1,392,740.00 1,608,100 8,585,937.00 4,547,000 7,443,390.00 147,700,000 1,614,500.00 4,720,120 556,078,926.00 3,499,000 30,866,370.00 18,000,000 174,000.00 PREFERRED 538,560 32,858,140.50 35,400 18,667,800.00 2,910 1,558,850 28,830 3,395,940.00 7,990 3,995,000.00 23,200 12,066,070.00 280,000 1,793,269.00 758,000 840,450 43,900 4,878,263.00 1,800 1,892,910.00 6,680 7,289,810.00 34,475 35,292,050.00 355,330 26,839,975.50 46,700 3,766,300.00 224,990 18,824,333.00 4,000 7,240.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,157,000 4,578,100.00 SME 4,600 27,820.00 1,120 72,628.00 9,227,500 113,891,592.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 34,940 4,315,427.00

JULY 27-31, 2015 Volume Value

1.89 1.27

81,771,000 376,000

156,679,180.00 487,270.00

4.64 4.74 0.103 0.2850 0.3700 23.00 7.37 28.15 1.64 3.33 21.45 0.75 7.16 0.810 7.080

61,430,000 60,056,000 4,970,000 90,000 130,000 1,700 143,200 6,591,000 1,239,000 130,000 69,504,800 2,449,000 24,000 449,000 26,605,700

283,997,020.00 280,001,930.00 517,700.00 25,800.00 48,900.00 38,400.00 1,042,879.00 186,034,800.00 2,034,850.00 429,490.00 1,471,953,360.00 1,788,700.00 171,600.00 359,570.00 185,278,281.00

8.1 60.8 1.12 0.630 13 9.70 0.0790 3.35 93 10.36 1.68 5.51 970 2580 6.45 1.31 109.9 0.011 0.208 1.3900 2.21 10.38 2.17 1.20 2.10 42.95 0.680 2 8 0.310 0.470 19.88 4.74 3.2 8.62 110.00 18.90 2886.00 0.660 1.570 37.00 75.40 8.69 0.65

5,139,700 111,680 233,000 2,305,000 249,300 31,227,600 72,030,000 831,000 4,431,330 652,300 2,000 2,315,700 24,610 785,665 1,352,000 854,000 5,458,670 24,100,000 14,020,000 4,649,000 149,000 10,217,500 9,911,000 21,700 2,095,000 4,000 219,000 740,000 60,270,900 360,000 310,000 5,300 25,000 70,000 257,600 1,800 938,300 1,018,740 10,268,000 140,636,000 9,348,100 2,521,450 13,198,000 20,062,000

35,420,036.00 6,845,760.00 261,320.00 1,421,670.00 3,240,900.00 303,744,751.00 5,760,460.00 2,763,880.00 411,756,109.00 6,380,744.00 3,350 12,978,015.00 24,107,900.00 2,001,108,010 8,672,181.00 1,106,480.00 596,691,880.00 265,300.00 2,897,600.00 6,584,910.00 344,340.00 107,323,356.00 21,846,840.00 34,980.00 4,338,830.00 164,680.00 146,130.00 1,466,120.00 466,069,369.00 110,950.00 139,350.00 105,450.00 112,980 224,000.00 2,443,868.00 196,175.00 17,618,620.00 2,945,412,430.00 6,986,580.00 215,824,420.00 349,040,910.00 194,341,636.50 114,461,836.00 13,172,200.00

5.33 0.320 2.840

7,370,000 250,000 8,561,000

39,506,733.00 80,000.00 24,123,910.00

0.0068 2.50 5.50 11.50 0.220 6.7000 6.8800 0.71 0.75 6.75 1.3 0.300 0.202 0.215 0.014 0.013 3.03 10.54 3.83 0.6300 1.9500 0.0095 0.0110 4.15 5.39 1.64 0.011 119.40 8.4 0.0090

11,749,000,000 997,000 747,400 3,300 90,000 38,200 500 7,228,000 5,280,000 19,600 37,509,000 4,380,000 32,370,000 13,490,000 234,800,000 315,400,000 4,307,000 9,867,700 3,556,000 508,000 422,000 125,700,000 72,800,000 194,000 2,451,600 4,161,000 471,500,000 11,283,550 7,771,900 10,200,000

79,892,800.00 2,495,800.00 4,120,677.00 35,924.00 19,750.00 262,350.00 3,440.00 5,319,650.00 4,022,270.00 131,632.00 50,690,600.00 1,304,650.00 6,665,810.00 3,009,970.00 3,137,200.00 4,150,600.00 13,680,890.00 104,516,010.00 13,567,190.00 315,720.00 827,650.00 1,243,660.00 836,000.00 810,520.00 13,421,262.00 6,893,740.00 5,181,100.00 1,345,368,102.00 68,815,461.00 93,800.00

60.5 528

883,710 17,570

54,001,308.50 9,272,505.00

118 505 525 6.4 1.11 111.5 1080 1105 1030 75.5 84.9 84.5

40,000 10 8,900 4,669,100 73,000 1,610 4,940 4,090 12,600 598,430 4,780 189,240

4,720,100.00 5,050.00 4,646,100.00 29,884,107.00 80,790 179,415.00 5,335,200.00 4,499,885.00 12,998,770.00 45,159,654.00 405,822.00 16,050,084.50

4.060

2,290,000

9,912,580.00

6.5 68.65 12.1

1,100 2,210 9,472,100

7,040.00 152,126.50 61,265,410.00

123

43,470

5,339,716.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Filinvest Land,Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Philodrill Corp. `A’ Megaworld Prop. Megaworld Corp. Ferronickel Unioil Res. & Hldgs STI Holdings SM Prime Holdings

VOLUME 16,013,000,000 233,492,000 227,041,600 147,700,000 100,382,000 89,439,000 87,889,000 86,650,000 82,869,000 77,451,600

STOCKS Universal Robina PLDT Common Globe Telecom Ayala Land `B’ Metrobank SM Prime Holdings GT Capital Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VALUE 3,177,708,412.00 2,485,882,190.00 2,413,835,270 2,130,521,455.00 2,018,777,330.00 1,697,629,810.00 1,260,303,060.00 1,208,210,211.00 1,191,600,984.00 1,132,300,594.00

MONDAY: AUGUST 10, 2015

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

SMB’s income rises to P6.9b By Jenniffer B. Austria

BEER manufacturer San Miguel Brewery Inc. said over the weekend consolidated net income in the first half of the year rose 10 percent, on higher revenues from the domestic market.

City of Dreams Manila reduces workforce CITY of Dreams Manila has started laying off some of its employees just seven months since it opened to the public in Parañaque City in December 2014. The casino-resort, located on a 6.2-hectare property at the Entertainment City project of state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., had a soft opening in December and a formal opening in February this year. One of the affected employees working for one of the high-end restaurants at City of Dreams Manila said she was among dozens of employees, including restaurant staff and casino dealers, who lost their jobs. She was indirectly hired by City of Dreams through a recruitment agency. City of Dreams of Manila, a joint venture of Macau’s Melco Crown Entertainment and Belle Corp. of the SM Group, confirmed that some of the employees were let go, apparently as a part of cost rationalization. “With the gaming business not ramping up since City of Dreams Manila soft opened in December last year and officially opened in February, the management of Melco Crown [Philippines] Resort Corp. has taken proactive means to ramp up the business and undertake initiatives that would rationalize cost effectiveness and efficiency in the interest of the company and all the stakeholders, primarily its employees,” the operator of casino-resort said in a statement to MST Chatter. “In line with this, the company has taken a step towards rightsizing, and has to temporarily suspend employment with certain employees. This proactive stance, though a tough and difficult decision affecting less than 2 percent of its total manpower, will contribute to the sustainability of business, which when it picks up, will enable these employees to resume employment,” it said. Melco Crown (Phils.) Resorts Corp. said it remained optimistic that the gaming market would rebound and make the company well positioned to play a key role in further enhancing the Philippines as a leading leisure and tourism destination in the region. Roderick T. dela Cruz

SMB said in a statement net income in the six-month period reached P6.9 billion, up from P6.3 billion recorded in the same period last year. Consolidated first-half revenues grew 5 percent to P39.8 billion from P37.7 billion posted in the first half of 2014. SMB said it implemented brand-specific and off-take generating programs to strengthen leadership and spur consumption in the local market. Net income for Philippine operations rose 18 percent to P6.9 billion in the January-June

period. The company did not provide other details including the performance of the international business. SMB, the beer unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., operates breweries in the Philippines and four other Asian countries. San Miguel Brewery Hong Kong Ltd., a unit of SMB for Hong Kong and China operations, earlier reported that it posted a net loss attributable to equity shareholders of HK$13.9 million, a turnaround from net income of HK$21.5 million re-

corded in the same period a year ago. The group’s consolidated turnover amounted to HK$272.3 million, down by 23.5 percent from the same period in 2014. SMBHK in July issued a profit warning, saying the company could post a net loss in the first six months of 2015 due to the non-renewal of distribution agreements with AnheuserBusch InBev China Sales Company Limited and AnheuserBusch InBev International GmbH & Co. KG in 2014. SMBHK said despite the weak performance in the first half, it had an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year “We are confident that the programs we have in place, together with the commitment of our employees, will continue to bring our brands great success,” SMBHK said.

Investment banker ventures into movies

Investment banker Roberto Juanchito Dispo, president of First Metro Investments Corp., denies that he has been hiding after FMIC was linked into the alleged “wash sale” transactions of Development Bank of the Philippines. According to Dispo, he has not been as visible in the business circles lately because he is busy making a movie. Yes, you read it right. He is currently planning an Indie film, that will star top-notch actors Aga Muhlach, Eddie Garcia and Edu Manzano. “Hopefully this movie [will be] the comeback film for Aga Muhlach,” Dispo says. The film, which will be based on an original screenplay written by Dispo himself, is actually a suspense-thriller about Filipino workers overseas. With a working budget of P15 million, Dispo hopes to complete the film for showing by December this year in time for the Metro Manila Film Festival. The movie will be co-produced by Viva Films. When asked why he is venturing into movie production, Dispo says making a movie from an original screenplay and publishing books have always been in his “bucket list.” Dispo says if the Aga Mulach starrer becomes successful, a second movie is possible—a comedy film, with a working title of “Spirit of the Baso.” Jenniffer B. Austria

Viva revives IPO plan

Speaking of Viva, the film producer and entertainment outfit owned by Vic Del Rosario is reviving plans to raise funds through an initial public offering sometime next year. Viva Communications Inc. in 2007 submitted an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a bid to raise as much as P1.2 billion through a share sale. The planned IPO was deferred due to the global financial crisis. With the positive performance of recent “bite-size” IPOs, the movie outfit is reportedly interested in reviving its listing plan. Viva’s IPO plan in 2007 was handled by BDO Unibank Inc. This time, it hired First Metro Investments Corp. as the underwriter. Apparently, this is how Dispo and Viva met and agreed to co-produce an Indie film. Proceeds from the IPO are expected to enhance the company’s cable TV channels, including PBO (Philippine Box Office), which is one of the top three cable channels in the country. Other Viva Cable TV channels are Viva Channel, Lifetime, History, Comedy Central, The Biography Channel and Crime & Investigation. Viva Communications also has a library of films and teleseryes worth at least P5 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

ePayments. Voyager Innovation and Smart eMoney vice president and head of financial innovations, digital inclusion and alliances Lito Villanueva (center) emphasized the relevance of digitizing payments and driving electronic transactions to propel the government’s advocacy on inclusive growth during the Annual Conference of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines. With Villanueva are (from left) United States Agency for International Development ePeso chief of party John Owens, Globe GXI vice president Grace Castillo, RuralNet president Daniel Arcenas and Auto Top-up Ventures Inc. managing director Patricia de Villa.

Stock index seen trading above 7,600 STOCKS are expected to remain on consolidation mode this week because of concerns over interest rate hike in the United States, but corporate results may become the catalyst for upward movement, analysts said over the weekend. Market analyst Luis Limlingan said he expected the PSEi, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, to trade between 7,467 and 7,660 this week, with a slight bullish bias due to improved technical readings and solid higher low base. “However, we have to be watchful of possible support breakdowns because failure to hold initial support of 7,467.13 will pull prices back to 7,272.36,” Limlingan said. F. Yap Securities analyst Jason Escartin said foreign funds were expected to continue to move their investments out of emerging markets like the Philippines, due to a possible US interest rate hike. Overseas investors have been net sellers for four consecutive months.

“Regardless of the timing of the Fed rate hike, this downtrend could prevail, giving locals the opportunity to position at bargain prices,” Escartin said. The PSEi last week closed lower by 0.23 percent to 7,532.52 on Friday, while the broader all- shares index went down by 0.12 percent to 4,320.60. BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market rallied to as high as 7697.33, brought about by the generally positive second-quarter earnings results and subdued inflation data. Ravelas the said index failed to sustain its momentum, as profit taking ensued on renewed fears of a hike in interest rates in the US as early as next month. “Chartwise, the failure to stay above 7,600 continues to cast doubts on the market’s ability to rise to 7,800. A break below 7,450 will reinforce our view of a test of the 7,000 levels,” Ravelas said.

The performance of major subindices were mixed, with holdings companies rising 0.2 percent and property sector gaining 2.2 percent. Financial companies fell 0.9 percent; industrial, 0.8 percent; services, 1.8 percent; and mining and oil, 1.7 percent. Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P320 million as total overseas selling reached P20.32 billion while overseas buying amounted to P20 billion. Top gainers were Keppel Philippines Properties Inc., which climbed 74.2 percent to P5.75; United Paragon Mining Corp., which jumped 22 percent to P0.011; and Central Azucarera de Tarlac, which gained 16.2 percent to P92.9. Heavy losers were Petron Corp., which shed 23.2 percent to P7.68; Mabuhay Vinyl Corp., which dropped 23 percent to P2; and Abra Mining and Industrial Corp., which lost 16 percent to P0.0057. Jenniffer B. Austria

Philex eyes two oil prospects By Alena Mae S. Flores Philex Petroleum Corp., a unit of Philex Mining Corp., wants to acquire two Philippine oil and gas prospects amid the inability of unit Forum energy ltd. to explore service contract 72 due to a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. Philex Petroleum chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the acquisitions, especially oil and gas prospects nearing the production stage, could bring the company to profitability. Philex Petroleum’s loss widened to P86 million in the first six months compared with P40.7 million year-on-year.

“Production was down in the first half. Of course, crude oil prices were down from more than $100 per barrel to something like $60 average. I don’t foresee Philex Petroleum going in the black for the next year. You just have to wait for developments on the exploration side,” Pangilinan said. He said Philex Petroleum was

expected to generate losses now because “that is the nature of the beast because it is basically in exploratory stage.” Pangilinan said an acquisition of oil and gas prospects nearing the production phase was likely to change the game for Philex Petroleum. “We’re prepared to go for that. We have to make an investment case to the board. It makes senses for cash flow purposes,” he said. Pangilinan, however, conceded the two assets his company planned to acquire were also within the disputed areas. “Yes, unfortunately,” he said. Philex Petroleum holds a 60.49-percent voting stake and a 48.76-percent economic interest in Forum Energy, which owns

majority of service contract 72. The Energy Department granted a force majeure to SC 72 due to the suspension of exploration activities within certain areas of the West Philippine Sea for the duration of the ongoing arbitration case between the Philippines and China. The force majeure took effect from December 15, 2014 until advised by the department to start drilling in the area. “Certainly you can’t proceed with this political [issue] hanging. We’d like to [explore SC 72], but if we’re not allowed to do anything,” Pangilinan said. Forum Energy owns a 70-percent stake in service contract 72, viewed as rich in petroleum reserves, over Recto Bank in the

disputed West Philippine Sea. SC 72, which covers an 8,800-square-kilometer area west off Palawan, is estimated to contain prospective resources of as much as 16.6 trillion cubic feet of gas and 416 million barrels of oil. Philex Petroleum earlier made a firm offer to acquire shares of minority shareholders in Forum Energy for 20 pence per ordinary share. It said it made the offer in response to Forum Energy’s announcement it would seek shareholders’ approval for the cancellation of admission to trading of Forum’s ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, the international market for growing companies.

Toyota woos Peza auto parts makers By Othel V. Campos

Upgraded laboratory. Japanese first secretary and Agricultural Attaché to the Philippines Kenji Terada (left) unveils the marker of the

upgrading of the National Pesticide Analytical Laboratory at the Bureau of Plant Industry. The Japanese government donated P92 million for the upgrading of the analytical equipment to enable the BPI to improve its capabilities in analyzing pesticide residues. With him is Assistant Agriculture Secretary Paz Benavidez II (partly hidden) and executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Ariel Cayanan.

PTT of Thailand favors LNG as transport fuel BANGKOK, Thailand—PTT Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand plans to introduce liquefied natural gas to the Philippine transport industry, instead of LNG for power generation. PTT Thailand vice president for international marketing Wisarn Chawalitanon told reporters here a team from PTT Thailand recently completed a study on the feasibility of putting up LNG facilities for power generation in the Philippines. Wisarn, however, said the study showed LNG facilities for power were not feasible due to the competitive advantage of coal. The Philippines is building several coal power projects in the next fews years. A coal-fired power plant is cheaper to build than an LNG station. Wisarn, who was previously president of PTT Philippines, earlier announced that PTT planned to invest in an LNG facility in the

Philippines because of its expertise in operating an LNG terminal and power plant. “[LNG] is still in our plan because we would like to introduce clean energy to the country. LNG is the clean energy we would like to introduce to our neighboring countries. We know it’s good for the environment. We try to show that we really care for the environment,” Wisarn said. He said while diesel prices were much low in the Philippines today, he expects the situation to change and make vehicular LNG more competitive. “Comparing LNG to diesel, which has a low price because the Philippine government did not impose any taxes. During the time that oil prices were over $100 per barrel, the government imposes 3 percent duty. Now the price is lower, the government does not impose a 3 percent duty yet. But I think this situation will not last,” the official said.

Wisarn said PTT Thailand would put up an LNG facility for transport in Cambodia set to be operational by next year. “One day, the [Philippine] government will recognize and the price [of diesel] will grow. That’s why we took a look at Cambodia... We are doing budgeting this year and hopefully, next year we will be in operation because it is easy to build the station. We already have terminal in Thailand and we’ll just transport the product from Thailand to the border,” he said. He said PTT was looking at LNG for trucks and buses “because they consume a lot.” “With the model we’ll use in Cambodia, we can show that in three years your distance of running, you can get return [on investment] already. The benefit of LNG is you can control the fuel consumption, you cannot bring it out to sell to others,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. urged the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to encourage automotive suppliers operating in the economic zones to participate in the newly approved Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program. The company said the agency could provide assistance to improve the capability of suppliers through technical cooperation agreements between local parts makers and Japanese companies. Peza’s role in promoting investments into the Philippines extends to inviting foreign companies to set up manufacturing operations in the country. Toyota and the Toyota Group of Export Suppliers recently convened to update Peza about its performance, as well as industry prospects and challenges. The Toyota units hailed the Philippine government in efforts to make local production more competitive with other manufacturers in Southeast Asia. The CARS program promotes investment opportunities by granting incentives to the industry and giving new direction to expand to the region through exports. Earlier, Toyota said the company was willing to bring in more parts manufacturers to the Philippines in support of the CARS program. The company is finalizing talks with the mother unit in Tokyo on the magnitude of investments needed to roll out new localized car parts for its enrolled model in CARS. Toyota plans to enroll Vios as its preferred platform in the CARS program and expand local contents to as much as 50 percent for the new model that the company plans to introduce possibly in 2016.

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

Climate Change: Gets Mo Na Ba? THIS was the theme at the recent Philippine Agricultural Journalists seminar workshop held in Legazpi City, Albay involving agri journalists on the issues of climate change, agriculture and food security where this columnist was tasked to deliver an opening message. As we noted in our message, the objective of the workshop was to stress the importance of “laymanizing” climate change process and terminologies – a no mean feat – in order to inform and educate our fellow Filipinos better. This task, of course, largely falls upon the shoulders of members of the print and broadcast media who have it in their power to influence the mindset of the people. I certainly believe the workshop was timely given the fact that we are experiencing the effects of global warming and climate change—and the severity of its impact on agriculture. According to the National Economic Development Authority, agriculture accounts for 30 percent of employment and 10 percent of our total gross domestic product in 2013. As we have seen for ourselves, the series of natural disasters wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and others— have significantly affected crops and livestock—resulting in severe losses not only in terms of agriculture production but human lives. Co-sponsored by Philex Mining Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Smart Communications, the

Department of Agriculture in partnership with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, the Agriculture and Food Security Regional Program for Southeast Asia, the International Rice Research Institute and the World Agroforestry Center, the seminar workshop—which will be conducted in other areas across the countryside—underscores the great responsibility each one of us have in spreading awareness about the impact of climate change and global warming, and how business and media can work together towards this end. As we shared with the participants during the event, quoting the favorite quote of MVP Group chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, “We must teach our children that the ground beneath our feet is the ashes of our grandfathers. Tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our brothers. Teach your children what we have taught our own children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit on the ground, they spit upon themselves.”

During the PAJ and MVP Group MOU signing with (from left) Melody Del Rosario- VP, Corporate Communications, Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Ramon Isberto, Jr., First VP and Head, Smart and PLDT Public Affairs; Jose Ma. Lim, President and CEO, Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Noel Reyes, Vice President, Philippine Agricultural Journalists.

Eco-friendly schools. Nestlé Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Environmental Management Bureau, renewed a partnership to recognize schools that are leaders in water stewardship in this year’s National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools. Shown sealing the agreement are (from left) DENR–EMB chief Ellen Basug, DENR Undersecretary and EMB director Jonas Leones, Nestlé Philippines former chairman and chief executive Suresh Narayanan and head of corporate affairs Ernie Mascenon. The search program aims to inspire academic institutions across the country to become more actively involved in environmental issues at a practical and local level.

Remittance target stays–Guinigundo By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the 5 percent growth for remittances this year remains “realistic” despite a weak peso that could trigger more money sent home by Filipinos working overseas. “It is possible that some OFWs could take advantage of the weak peso and send more FX [foreign exchange],” Guinigundo said in a text message over the weekend. But he said reduced remittances from migrant workers was also possible because their beneficiaries would be getting the same peso amount with less foreign exchange. “My own view remains that on balance, a 5-percent growth in remittances continues to be realistic. We continue to deploy more workers in response to sus-

tained demand for Filipino workers,” Guinigundo said. The peso on Aug. 6 fell to a five-year low of 45.79 against the US dollar as investors’ anticipation of a stronger US jobs report over the weekend buoyed the greenback against most currencies. It was the peso’s weakest level since the 45.90 on July 28, 2010. Economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a report last week the peso would depreciate further against the greenback as the US economy continued to recover and the

Federal Reserve was expected to increase interest rates in the latter part of the year. The economists predicted the peso averaging at 45.43 to a dollar in July, and weakening to 45.51 in August. They expect the local currency to slightly recover in September, averaging at 45.356 to a greenback. Remittances fuel private consumption and are one of the backbones of economic growth. Cash remittances in 2014 posted a record-high of $24.308 billion, up 5.8 percent from $22.968 billion in 2013. They accounted for 8.5 percent of the gross domestic product in 2014. The Bangko Sentral this year is aiming for a conservative 5-percent growth in remittances. Central bank officials said the target could still be reviewed and adjusted in the coming months, along with other economic data.

Datem plans IPO to raise P5b By Jenniffer B. Austria (Seated from left) Dr. Leo Sebastian; Dir. Abelardo Bragas; this columnist; DA Undersecretary Fred Serrano; Dr. Cedric Daep of the Albay Climate Change Academy; and Noel O. Reyes, PAJ VP for internal affairs. Behind us are the other resource speakers, PAJ officers, government information officers, regional media and guests.

Dr. Leo Sebastian, CCAFS-SEA program leader, talks on climate change, agriculture and food security challenges in Southeast Asia.

Delivering the opening message during the two-day PAJ seminarworkshop.

ANOTHER construction company, Datem Inc., plans to raise at least P5 billion through an initial public offering slated in the last quarter of 2015, one of the underwriters hired to handle the deal said over the weekend First Metro Investments Corp. president Roberto Juanchito Dispo said his company and BPI Capital Corp. had been tapped as the lead underwriters of the offering. “We are targeting November-December this year for listing,” Dispo said. He said Datem, one of the progressive construction companies in the country, planned to raise fresh funds to finance its venture into related businesses, like water utility and low-cost housing projects. D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc. last

week also filed an IPO application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise as much as P21.7 billion in proceeds. Datem currently has 22 ongoing construction projects and contracts worth P30 billion. Dispo said the Datem would have a public float of between 20 percent and 30 percent after the IPO. “This is the perfect window [to conduct an IPO] since 2016 is an election year. There is also dearth of IPOs, and equity and capital market transactions. It is like having a clear window and clear market between now and election year 2016,” Dispo said. Datem was earlier pre-qualified to bid for the P4-billion Integrated Transport System South Terminal before pulling out from the auction.

MONDAY: AUGUST 10, 2015

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Neda: Infra spending picks up On suicide posts, ethical Internet behavior and power distance IN December 2008, my beloved brother jumped to his death from the deparPAZ ESPERANZA ture building of the TESORO-POBLADOR Hong Kong International Airport. A brilliant, noteworthy and sociallyresponsible global citizen, he was 36 years old and had gone too soon. His last post on Facebook timeline—“Jose Manuel Tesoro is dreaming about buying a mountain retreat in Virginia.” In her article on rising suicide rates, Alixandra Vila mentioned that according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, “in the Philippines, the suicide rate from 1984 to 2005 went up from 0.46 to seven out of every 200,000 men; up from 0.24 to two for every 200,000 women. While the figures might seem insignificant compared with those from neighboring countries that recorded the highest suicide rates, the increase in numbers is noticeably high.”

GREEN LIGHT

Not about suicide

Last month, the 15-year old daughter of my family friends passed away by her own hand as well. She was a multi-talented, erudite and delightful teen actress who starred in a daytime soap opera, and left over 63,000 Instagram followers. An active netizen since 2009, she promptly posted her suicide note on her Tumblr feed. As I am not a psychologist, nor an expert on the subject, this article is not about suicide mind you, rather it is about what was made of that note after her death. Soon after the news broke, another friend of mine, a popular showbiz gossip blogger with over 4,000 Facebook and 62,000 Instagram followers, eagerly reposted the note, which subsequently made it viral. The victim’s parents and siblings implored the press and the public to let them grieve in private, and even when her final message was taken down from her Tumblr feed, my blogger buddy’s screenshots remained online for all the world to see and share. I don’t know about you, but I found this to be very disturbing. So disturbing that I requested my buddy to please take it down as a sign of respect for my mourning friends. He contended that the mere fact that the victim was a showbiz personality who left her letter on a social media platform, immediately made it public property. Now that, I believe, is a debatable topic: When should ethics in communication come into play in what James Webster (2014) calls ‘the marketplace of attention’, a.k.a. the Internet?

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

GOVERNMENT infrastructure spending in the second quarter was “much better” than that in the first quarter, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority said over the weekend. Neda deputy director-general Rolando Tungpalan told reporters there was evidence that infrastructure spending picked up pace in the second quarter. “I don’t remember the exact figures, but I got feedback that it’s picking up and there are number of procurement already on stream, and contracts awarded,” said Tungpalan. The lower-than-expected public spending was being blamed for the disappointing 5.2-percent GDP growth in the first quarter, which was below the target range of 7 percent to 8 percent for the year. The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the secondquarter GDP figures later this month. Tungpalan said Neda’s focus now was on the implementation of

the projects, instead of proposing new projects. “I think the focus now is not so much on new project approval, but getting us to accelerate implementation of even large infrastructure projects that have been approved under this Neda board,” he said. Data from the website of the Public-Private Partnership Center showed the government had awarded 10 projects under the program while 13 other projects were in different stages of procurement, three projects were for rollout, six projects were up for government approval and five projects had on-going studies. The awarded projects were Daang Hari –South Luzon Expressway Link Road, PPP for School Infrastructure Project (Phase 1), Ninoy Aquino Interna-

tional Airport Expressway Project (Phase 2), Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, Automatic Fare Collection System, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension and Operation and Maintenance, as well as the Integrated Transport SystemSouthwest Terminal Project. Four projects were recently approved by the Investment Coordination Committee and awaiting the nod of the Neda board. These were the P64.71-billion LRT Line 6 project, the P11.7-billion Batangas-Manila (BatMan) 1 Natural Gas Pipeline Project, the P74.56billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport Development Project and the P50.15-billion OrtigasTaytay LRT Line 4 project. The government aims to increase infrastructure spending to at least 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2016. The Budget Department earlier said total government spending in the second quarter rose 12.4 percent to P505.17 billion from a year ago.

Power distance

As a marketing professor, I teach consumer behavior to undergraduate business students, and one of the topics we cover under consumer culture, is “Core Societal Values [CSV] or cultural values [as a] commonly agreed-upon consensus about the most preferable ways of living within a community” (Babin & Harris, 2011, p.150). There are five factors that make up the CSV, namely: individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and power distance. In this case, I choose to discuss power distance, which is “the extent to which authority and privilege are divided among different groups within society and the extent to which these facts of life are accepted by the people within the society” (Babin & Harris, 2011, p.151). In cyberspace society, power and authority lie within those with the most followers. They are the privileged few who were able to serendipitously soar to micro-celebrity status, only because their opinions were tracked and liked by many, and possibly even shared by most. In the realm of user-generated content, these personalities have risen above the rest to exemplify ‘the wisdom of crowds’. When anonymous users suddenly become famous, an intermediary such as a talent manager or publicist, for instance, is often absent from the equation. The decision to publish is made solely by the micro-celebrity. As ‘power-users’ these content providers have the sway of opinion leaders, of marketing mavens, of online movers and shakers, if you will. In their article, The Role of Social Media in Transforming Governments and Nations, Pryor, et al. (2014) further explains their market reach: “Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of social media is that it is being adopted by a higher percentage of the world’s youth. When this aspect of social media is mixed with the demographic realities of many developing countries, the high potential of social media as an enabler of influential power is realized” (p.21).

Ethics in cyberspace

My blogger buddy has since taken down the screenshots of my young friend’s final words. I am deeply grateful for his cooperation, but I still question motivation. Has the marketplace of attention so consumed these power-users to further amass followers, likes, and shares so much so that they have become utterly indifferent to the condition of the bereaved? Her mother was in so much pain that I could hardly hear her speak at the wake. I agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion in a free cyber society, but what of compassion for those left behind? A few days after the funeral, I asked my friend about her thoughts on the matter and she said, ”Yes, of course we are disturbed about how my daughter’s note was made viral, but you know Nina, at the end of the day, if it has become a catalyst for public discussion on taboo topics such as suicide, then that can only be a good thing.” I can only hope to be as open-minded and graceful if the same were done to me. Just like terrorists, are we here to propagate fear and despair, or is there a better way to incite meaningful, objective and even empirical online discussion? When power users post so indiscriminately on this no-man’s land a.k.a. the Internet, does that not instigate the same behavior in their followers? These users are called ‘followers’ for a reason, are they not? This incident, in my opinion, has given creative destruction a new meaning. Micro-celebrities produce content which create communities of people who range from those who hang on to every post to those who just want to be kept in the loop. Regardless of follower motivation, these content providers have enough clout to incite emotion, and even provoke action in their respective groups. They can choose to either create a clique which revels in the mediocrity of gossip, or develop a community that is concerned about the greater good of a young and impressionable generation. *** Paz Esperanza Tesoro-Poblador is a faculty member of the Marketing Management Department of De La Salle University’s Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. She is currently taking her Doctorate in Business Administration. Her fields of interest are sustainable development, entrepreneurship and digital marketing. The views expressed in this article are the author’s, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the DLSU administration and faculty.

DMCI gensets. Off-grid electricity supplier DMCI Power Corp. delivered 11 additional generator sets

to Palawan to help address the rotational load shedding problem in the province. DPC is investing over P100 million to acquire and lease the additional power generating units, which have a total dependable capacity of 7700KW. The gensets were deployed to Irawan, Aborlan, Quezon and Roxas from May to July. Shown are two of 11 gensets delivered to Palawan in the last two months.

PLDT’s enterprise business expands 14% By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. said revenues from corporate data and other network services rose 14 percent to P5.3 billion in the first half of 2015. “The upward momentum of our enterprise business group continues, driven by revenues from data-rich business solutions and our world-class data centers, as well as from emerging cloud and big data services,” PLDT president and chief executive Napoleon Nazareno said. “As a result, PLDT has further strengthened its position as the country’s leading digital enabler of businesses, large and SMEs,” he said. The PLDT Group bolstered its portfolio of enterprise digital solutions with recent announcement of Big Data services and so-

lutions which allow enterprises to analyze openly available data and gain insights that drive predictive and data-driven decision-making in their businesses. It said through PLDT’s Big Data services, SMEs could acquire the data processing capabilities that rival those of large enterprises at a fraction of the cost. Large enterprises can get to know their consumers and think like an SME through insights that they receive at the micro level, it said. PLDt also heavily promoted Cloud-enabled services under PLDT Cloud to enterprises housed in the PLDT Group’s existing network of six data centers. Its subsidiary, ePLDT, will soon open two more data centers which will bring PLDT’s total rack capacity up to 8,000 by end2016, the largest in the country.

“To meet the fast-growing requirements of Philippine businesses, we invested heavily in ICT infrastructure and technologies that have empowered the country’s enterprises to compete successfully with more advanced IT economies. A case in point is our thriving business process outsourcing sector,” said PLDT executive vice president and ePLDT president Eric Alberto. Banking on ICT services, the IT-BPO industry has grown rapidly over the past decade. The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines said the industry employed over 1.03 million Filipinos and had over $18 billion in revenues in 2014. The industry is also on track to hit its target of 1.3 million BPO workers by 2016 and $25 billion in revenues, the association said.

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Nagasaki remembers bomb TOKYO—Japan on Sunday marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki that claimed more than 74,000 lives, even as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under fire for his attempts to expand the military’s role. Bells tolled and tens of thousands of people, including aging survivors and the relatives of victims, observed a minute’s silence at 11:02 am (0202 GMT), the moment the bomb from a US plane devastated the port city on August 9, 1945. Abe laid a wreath at the ceremony, which was attended by representatives from 75 countries including US ambassador Caroline Kennedy. “As the only country attacked with an atomic bomb in war, I am renewing our determination to lead the global effort for nuclear disarmament, to create a world without such weapons,” Abe said in his speech. He promised that Japan would continue to abide by its long-held principles: not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese territory. Abe was criticized for failing to mention the three principles at a ceremony days earlier in Hiroshima, alarming atomic bomb survivors—particularly when the nationalist leader is trying to push through legislation to extend the military’s role. Nagasaki survivor Sumiteru Taniguchi, 86, lashed out at Abe’s government for trying to revise the pacifist constitution, accusing it of returning Japan to the state before the end of World War II. “The security bills which the government is trying to push through would jeopardize our long-time movement for nuclear abolition and hopes of hibakusha (atom-bomb survivors),” he said in a thin voice. “I cannot tolerate the bills.” Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue also criticized the government as Abe listened. “Worries and anxieties are now spreading among us that this pledge made 70 years ago and the principle for peace in the Japanese constitution may be now undermined,” he

said to loud applause. Abe has faced criticism and opposition for his attempts to expand the role of his pacifist country’s so-called SelfDefence Forces. These would allow them to engage in combat—in defense of an

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Estate of Maria C. Luna (“Decedent”) was settled under the terms set forth in the “Affidavit of Adjudication of Estate with Deed of Absolute Sale” executed by Aurelio C. Luna and registered as Doc. No. 06106 Series of 2015 with the Consulate General of the Philippines, New York, New York, United States of America with Notarial Certificate of Vice Consul Khrystina P. Corpuz.

TS-AUGUST 3,10,17, 2015)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC This is to inform the public that: Mr. Lorenzo D. Lasco has been appointed as the new President of Cirrus Global, Inc. effective June 18, 2015.

ally which comes under attack—for the first time since the war. A constitution imposed by a post-war US occupation force prevented the military from engaging in combat except in the nation’s self-defense. AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

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

(TS-AUGUST 10, 2015

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources

MINES AND GEOSCIENCES BUREAU Regional Office No. V

R e g i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t C e n t e r , DENR Annex Bldg., Rawis, Legazpi City Telefax No: (052)482-1056, Tel. No: (052)482-1156 / 480-1084 E - m a i l A d d r e s s : m g b r 5 @ y a h o o . c o m , We b s i t e : w w w. r e g i o n 5 . m g b . g o v. p h

invitation to bid As is, Where is, For Confiscated Processed Iron Ore inParacale, Camarines Norte The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. V (MGB RO V), by virtue of confiscation Orders dated September 1, 2014 and March 10, 2015 intends to sell 47,196 metric tons of iron ore containing gold for a total amount of $1,682,553.52 being the Approved Sales Value (ASV) for the payment under the contract for the sale of Confiscated Iron Ore in Paracale, Camarines Norte numbered MGB ROVSOG-2015-01. Bids received less than the ASV shall be automatically rejected at the bid opening. 1.

The MGB RO V now invites bids for 47,196 metric tons of processed iron ore with average grade of 60.03% Feand 1.53% Au. Full payment for the goods is required by 2:00 PM of the 3rd working day from the date of the award. Failure to pay in full shall render the award null and void and the bid security forfeited in favor of the DENR. Bidders should be at the time of bidding, be an MPSA, FTAA contractor/Permittee or a Mineral Processing Permit holder, or duly Accredited Mineral Trader/ Dealer/Retailer of mineral products and by-products.

Bidding shall be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations/ corporations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the MGB RO V, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on July 27, 2015 to August 25, 2015 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the MGB RO V, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The MGB RO V will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 11, 2015, 2:00 PM at the Office of Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), Daet, Camarines Norte, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 12:00 noon on August 25, 2015. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of a Manager’s Check payable to the DENR Secretary in the amount equivalent to 10% of the ASV. The bid security shall be returned to the losing bidder after the bid is announced. In case of the awardee, the deposit will serve as a partial payment. Bid opening shall be on August 25, 2015 at 2:00PM at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. V, Rawis, Legazpi City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ authorized representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7. 8.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. Vreserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to:

INVITATION TO BID Cavite State University, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites all interested bidders to bid for the following project: Project

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Contract Duration

PhP41,186,062.37

270 CD

1. Construction of Five Storey Interdisciplinary

Prospective bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained tn the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the ‘Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Govemment Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizen of the Philippines. Bidding Documents may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Govemment Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) and CvSU Website, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The schedule of activities is listed as follows: 1. Issu.ance of Bidding Documents

August 3,2015 (8:00 AM)

2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Submission and Opening of Bids

August 12,2015 (3:00 PM) at S. L. Lasap Hall, CvSU, Indang, Cavite August 24, 2015 (3:00 PM) at S. L. Lasap Hall, CvSU,.lndang, Cavite

All particulars relative to Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of Contract shall be govemed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Interested bidders may purchase a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address below upon payment of the following nonrefundable fee: Project Construction of Five Storey Interdisciplinary Research, Phase I

Amount of Bidding Documents PhP30,000.00

Pre-bid Conference shall be open only to all interested bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the Office of the BAC Chairman, Administration Building, CvSU, Indang, Cavite on or before the above mentioned date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forins and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ authorized representatives who choose to attend the bidding. Late bids shall not be accepted. Cavite State University assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. Cavite State University reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. (SGD) MA. AGNES P. NUESTRO, Ph.D. BAC Chairman 1F Administration Building Don Severino delas Alas Campus Cavite State University Indang, CaVite . (046~ 862-0806 I 862-0853 I 415-0014 loc. 270 or 209

( T S - A U G U S T 3 & 10 , 2 015 )

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2015 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts: Ref. No.

2015 -08-138

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Projects

Repair Works for Vitas Katuparan Housing Project. Tondo, Manila

11,997,805.28 Corporate Receipts

Duration (c.d.)

180

Required PCAB License

Atleast Cat. “C” and “D” & Small “B” for Bldg.

Work Description Removal and Replacement of rusted and dilapilated steel, stairs and railing along hallways and roof decks and painting of exterior walls of 15 buildings

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited projects. Completion of the works is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed a single contract similar to the project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/ authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific project, Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P30,000.00 for Ref. Nos. 2015-07130 & 2015-07-131 and P6,000.00 for Ref. No. 2015-07-132 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting on August 10, 2015. The BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/Fax No. 928-8272. The NHA will hold a Pre-bid Conference on August 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN ONLY to bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date specified below. Schedule of opening of bid September 08, 2015

Ref. No. 2015-08-138

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount as stated in Bid Data Sheet (BDS). Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. The NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.

DANIEL S. SOMBANON CBACMP Secretariat Mines and Geosciences Bureau R.O. No. V Regional Government Center, Rawis, Legazpi City Tel No. (052) 482-1056/482-1156 Email Address: mgbr5@yahoo.com Website: www.region5.mgb.gov.ph (SGD) RICARDO P. NACIONAL CBACMP Chairman

(TS-JUL. 27, AUG. 3 & 10, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines C AV I T E S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y (C v S U ) D o n S eve r i n o d e a l a s C a m p u s I n d a n g , c av i t e (0 4 6) 415 010 /415 - 0 011 415 - 0 012 w w w.c v s u .e d u c . p h

(SGD.) VICTOR C. BALBA Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City (TS-AUG. 10, 2015)

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

ceSAr bArriOqUiNTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Day’s end. A general view of the sunset during The Surfrider Foundation Two Coasts: One Ocean on August 8 in Montauk, New York. AFP

Suffering in Greece’s shadow 9 dead, 3 missing after Soudelor ravages China BEIJING—Typhoon Soudelor killed nine people in eastern China after parts of the country were hit by the heaviest rains in a century, state media reported Sunday. Another three people are missing after the storm caused landslides in rural parts of eastern Zhejiang province, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing local disaster relief officials. Wencheng county saw downpours of 645 millimeters in 24 hours—the heaviest rain in 100 years—after the typhoon made landfall on Saturday night, it said. The storm has caused at least 248 million yuan ($40 million) in economic damage and cut power to more than two million homes, Xinhua said. More than a quarter had electricity restored by Sunday

morning. Billed as the biggest typhoon of the year earlier in the week with winds of up to 230 kilometers an hour, Soudelor—named after a legendary Micronesian chief— has since weakened. China’s National Meteorological Center forecast the typhoon will be downgraded to a tropical depression by Sunday night as it moved further inland. Soudelor left six people dead in Taiwan, where it ripped up trees and triggered landslides, damaging electricity lines and knocking out power to a record four million households. Almost half a million homes were still without power Sunday, Taiwan Power Co. said, as blocked roads hampered efforts to restore supplies in some areas. AFP

PARIS—Greece has been hogging the headlines lately, but emerging markets have also had their share of tribulations with the Chinese stock market in convulsions and the Brazilian economy and currency hitting the skids. China’s stock exchange has been in free fall since mid-June, undergoing a 30-percent correction after having posted a dizzying 150-percent rise the previous 12 months. Failure to stop the slide has crushed small investors—who account for most of the market—and rattled confidence in Beijing’s government. But it has transpired as China’s economic growth has slowed and manufacturing surveys show contraction, rippling across the globe as more and more companies depend on the world’s number two economy. The powerful Federation of German Industries recently noted that “German companies were definitely prepared for a slowdown in Chinese growth but were nevertheless surprised by the extreme

jolts on the stock market.” Both Volkswagen and BMW have warned the slowdown in China— the world’s top auto market and key source of growth for Western automakers in recent years—could undermine sales this year. The Chinese slowdown has also hammered commodity prices, weighing on the fortunes of countries which produce and export key raw materials. That has complicated the situation for Brazil, which not so long ago had been hoping to ride the commodities boom to top rank economic status, but has instead found itself stuck in a seven-year stretch of zero or negative growth. The Brazilian real has tumbled to a 12-year low against the dollar,

forcing the country’s central bank to jack interest rates up to 14.25 percent to stabilize the currency and curb inflation. The government, meantime, has had to scale back its fiscal savings plans in order to prop up the economy. Standard and Poor’s last month switched the outlook on Brazil’s ‘BBB-’ rating to negative, which means the country’s investmentgrade ranking is at risk. Brazil is in good company in having its money pummeled, with fellow emerging markets like Mexico, South Africa, Colombia and Turkey also witnessing their currencies slide to multi-year lows. Russia’s central bank has stopped its controversial purchases of foreign currencies to expand its reserves due to a renewed decline of the ruble in recent weeks. The slump in the value of emerging market currencies is in large part due to falling prices of commodities—affecting oil and metals alike— which figure heavily in the exports of many emerging market nations. AFP

Seagulls terrorize UK holidaymakers BRIGHTON, United Kingdom—A familiar presence at Britain’s seaside resorts, seagulls have this summer spread fear after ambushing holidaymakers as they tuck into their fish and chips, and even attacking pets. The country’s tabloid newspapers have had a field day, with headlines including: “Seagull stole my iPhone” (The Sun), “Moment killer seagull turns cannibal” (The Daily Mail), and “Psycho seagulls keep out illegals” (Daily Express). Even the broadsheets have joined in, with The Sunday Times warning that “Gull gangs learn new

tricks to steal your seafront snacks”. The squawking menaces have always had a bad reputation as scavengers. But the gulls are now apparently growing in audacity and rather than feeding on leftovers, are deliberately targeting people’s fish and chips, the battered haddock or cod combination traditionally eaten by holidaymakers, as they tuck in. “They’ve been trained by terrorists, I’m sure,” said Cliff Faires, owner of a seafood kiosk in the historic south coast resort of Brighton. A sign outside his Brighton Shellfish and Oyster Bar warns:

“Seagulls will snatch your food. Please be aware. We don’t take any responsibility for this action”. Local witnesses described a common plan of attack used by the birds, whereby a lone assailant pounces on an unsuspecting diner, forcing them to drop their food. At this point, hordes of reinforcements arrive to feast on the spilled remains. “They’ll eat everything except lemon and tabasco,” one added. “I see gulls grabbing food from people three or four times a day, more when it’s sunny,” said Chris, who works at a fish-and-chip kiosk on Brighton pier. AFP

There for prayers. Pilgrims climb the Azro Nethor peak in the

Djurdjura Mountain range, 1,884 meters above sea level, in Algeria’s eastern Kabylia region on July 31, 2015, to reach “el-Jammaa Oufella” (“the upstairs mosque”). Thousands of people climb the peak every year to perform prayers hoping “the saints” will answer their pleas. AFP

M O N D AY : A U G U S T 1 0 : 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

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu

Villa Likha, Shangri-La's Boracay Resort & Spa

HOW TO KEEP THE RAINY DAY BLUES AWAY

Vu's Sky Lounge, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

he wind is getting cooler and the sky is overcast most of the time. Yes, summer is definitely over. But just because it’s damp and wet outside doesn’t mean that we should just hole up at home and snooze under our sheets. Though extended hibernation sounds really comforting especially during this monsoon weather, there are a whole lot of other things we can do to enjoy the rainy days. In some parts of the Philippines, the rainy weather can be one of the most beautiful of seasons. During the rainy months, mountains present a majestic hue of green, creating some of the most picturesque landscapes. A visit to hot springs at this time is also very therapeutic and

relaxing. From Laguna to Palawan, there’s a whole list of hot springs to visit. Waterfalls are also best to enjoy during the rainy season as they conjure relaxing and graceful views of water trickling down from the mountaintops. Surfing in Baler or La Union is usually enjoyed at this time as the waves inspire more fun and adventure rides. Hotels and resorts are usually the best sources of R&R during this time. Aside from the low season rates, there are a lot of perks to take advantage of especially if you’re more into the relaxing, pamper-me and slow-me-down kind of mood. We talked to some of the hotels and resorts frequented during the monsoon season and here is a list of things you can enjoy from their amenities:

SHANGRI-LA’S BORACAY RESORT & SPA

“At Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, the habagat season is a special one. Cool winds and warm waters are a splendid treat for nature lovers, best enjoyed at our private beaches. While outdoor activities are limited during this period, we have a host of fun activities for guests cocooning in the resort. Dining, of course, is aplenty with many international culinary options to explore, including unique private dining setups in intimate, picturesque venues or even in guest villas. We also have a slew of fitness and recreation activities – among them are private yoga, Pilates and kickboxing sessions, unlimited KTV, a smorgasbord of arcade games, movie nights in private theatres with a myriad of snacking options. And then there is our Adventure Zone for kids. Especially popular with our guests now is our Habagat Spa Cuisine. It is our Chi Buffet at Chi, The Spa, where they may choose from among various spa specialties and enjoy a few hours of bliss at special rates.” – Cristina del Carmen, Director of Communications

DISCOVERY COUNTRY SUITES (TAGAYTAY)

“Guests of Discovery Country Suites are mostly people who are looking for a place to rest and recharge. During summer, guests tend to go out during daytime exploring new places of interest within the ridge. In terms of room occupancy during monsoon season, Discovery Country Suites will soon start various activities such as craft making sessions, baking and cooking lessons. These can be tailor fit depending on the guests’ interests, as added value offerings. But most still prefer to stay in our spacious suites, enjoying the cool climate, getting a massage, enjoying quiet moments over wine and cheese, reading a good book or even mastering the art of doing nothing. And we recently partnered with local crafters, so our guests can enjoy various craft activities such as taka making. Cooking and baking lessons will also be made available, which I will be personally conducting.” – Rhea Sycip, Discovery Country Suites Resident Manager.

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA

“A visit at our 22nd floor, Flow, will surely melt any rainy day blues. We have developed the entire floor as a perfect venue for rest and relaxation regardless of the season. Inside Flow you will find the heated indoor infinity pool and steam rooms, as well as the fully equipped Fitness Centre with well-trained instructors ready to create a program for you. And the spa, which has a good range of massage services, body and facial treatments. Aside from our facilities, our guests will surely enjoy a dining safari with our signature dining outlets inside the hotel. Cafe Pronto whips up gourmet coffees, fresh sandwiches and the best selection of desserts and pastries. Cucina is our all-day dining buffet restaurant which boasts of diverse and equally sumptuous spreads from the world’s culinary capitals. Lung Hin is our authentic Cantonese restaurant with dedicated Hong Kong chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants in HK. And Vu’s Sky Lounge which has an unobstructed view of the skyline from the 45th floor with good cocktails and tapas.” – Beth Gokauchi, Marketing Communications and Public Relations Manager

MÖVENPICK HOTEL MACTAN ISLAND CEBU “We make sure there’s no room for boredom for anyone. And when we put together our room deals and specials for a particular period, we consider value add-ons that are suited to the needs of our guests. We package our offers with benefits and discounts to select facilities which guests can enjoy even when there’s rain. If you want to dine with a view, Ibiza Beach Club has an indoor dining space called the Conservatory where guests can have dinner and enjoy our Balearic-style Churrasco. If you’re up for some indoor

challenge, kids and parents alike are welcome to our game area complete with a pool table, chess board, an Xbox and foosball set. Beat the blues and hit the gym for some body movement and energy boost. Part of our Mövenpick tradition is the Chocolate Hour, everyone gets free chocolate treats from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. And for that much needed R&R, try any of the treatments at the Spa del Mar.” – Meghann Sta. Ines-Hernandez, Marketing and Communications Manager

CROWNE PLAZA MANILA AND HOLIDAY INN MANILA GALLERIA “Since our hotels are right in the middle of a business district, we make it a point to offer staycation packages that reflect what we offer as a city hotel. Crowne Plaza is identified as a business hotel so when we create the packages for staycation for this particular hotel, it would have someone who has a fast-paced lifestyle in mind, so it would be a discount in the spa or a special rate during the weekends when there is a big sale. For Holiday Inn, the staycation package has a family in mind so we offer welcome packs for kids; our program Kids Stay and Eat Free with nutritious meals for children. Everything is designed to make sure families are

comfortable and taken care of in an affordable package since the parents probably have a working budget. We also make it a point to partner with visiting attractions such as what we did before with Hi5, Peppa Pig, and the like. In monsoon weather like this, what better way to spend it than in a room with a view, and everything you need is just a phone call away? You already have the options laid out for you when you are at a hotel; you can either stay in a really soft bed with crisp sheets, go down the hotel bar for a drink, or go to the spa, or a movie at the mall.” – Karmina De Ungria, Manager, Public Relations and Marketing Communications.

So pack your bags, get the best airfare deals and experience what the rainy season has to offer.

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

BAUAN’S NOT-SO-HIDDEN GEM

f you’re on your way to Anilao for diving, make sure to stop by Pascua’s Freestyle Kitchen in Bauan, Batangas for a good old-fashioned Batangueño meal with a twist. Described as a casual dining restaurant, Pascua’s, THE GIST conceptualized by the Pascua BY ED BIADO family’s oldest child Harley, offers homegrown favorites that are made modern, refined and a whole lot of interesting. Barely 10 months old, the restaurant is already a force to be reckoned with, having amassed a dedicated local following as well as avid fans from Manila. To understand what ignited the hype and what’s driving the popularity of the place, The Gist spoke with Chef Marga Espino, who developed the menu.

Three-Pepper Cream Cheese with Capers and Tomatoes

Owner Harley Pascua and Chef Marga Espino

Egg-wrapped Miki

Pascua's Freestyle Kitchen

Prawns Thermidor

local biscuit and a family favorite. While eating, I thought that the biscuit would be good with a cheese pimiento dip. That gave me the inspiration to recreate local dishes and serve it with a twist.

The Gist: What makes Pascua’s different from other restaurants in the area?

cooked bulanglang and then we blended the vegetables and created Cream of Bulanglang Soup.

TG: The menu changes Chef Marga: We periodically, right? What are the know that most of the latest additions to it? customers, aside from the locals, are expats who work Cajun-inspired CM: New additions to the in Bauan and those who have Roast Chicken menu would be the Stuffed traveled to Bauan from Manila for TG: What kind of Squid in Garlic Olive Oil, vacations and to go diving. What twists are we Dory Nuggets, Creamy makes us different aside from our talking about? Chicken Mushroom unique take on local dishes, is the kind and Arroz ala Cubana. of service and the environment that CM: We used the we create in the restaurant. original dishes and TG: Which dishes When you enter the restaurant, we recreated them into would you say are the we want to make you feel like you completely new dishes, must-try’s? Stuffed Squid in Olive Oil were invited inside the Pascua family’s served in a different way. We and Garlic dining room. Our servers know our changed the build of the dish CM: You definitely have to try regular customers’ names, they ask and we introduced other ingredients, the Sinaing na Tulingan Pasta, Pascua’s about the customers day. Harley’s tweaked or added cooking techniques Spanish Style Tulingan, Baby Back Ribs, mom is always at the restaurant and to recreate the dish but without Adobong Bulalo, Home Style Callos, she has been known to sit with and sacrificing the original flavor. Tuna on Cilantro Ginger Chili Oil, and entertain the guests. We also ask An example would be our Stuffed Squid in Garlic Olive Oil. guests for dish suggestions, Sinaing na Tulingan Pasta. and we try to include Sinaing na Tulingan is This writer has had the privilege to them in the Chef 's a staple meal here in dine at Pascua’s twice – the first one, specials for the month. Bauan. They cook right after it opened last year and the bullet tuna fish the second, one, just last month. TG: What’s the wrapped with banana And the improvement we noticed, inspiration behind leaves on kamias in clay in terms of taste, serving size and the menu? pots for 24 hours until the presentation, was commendable. juices come out. What we Now we can confidently say that you Sinaing na Tulingan CM: The menu is a in Olive Oil Pasta did is we used the Sinaing na really, really have to go try it yourself. collaborative effort between Tulingan fish flakes and the Harley’s mom and I. She loves to cook fish sauce to create a new pasta dish. Pascua’s Freestyle Kitchen is located and so we thought of including these Another local favorite would be at F. Mangobos St., Poblacion family favorites in the menu. During the simple bulanglang, or boiled 1, Bauan, Batangas. Go to our first test kitchen, Harley invited vegetables in a broth. Vegetables pascuasfreestylekitchen.ops.ph for me to do it in their home in Bauan. that are used for this dish are green more details. While we were there, we stopped by papaya, malunggay leaves, squash Follow me on Twitter and Instagram a local bakeshop to buy “tiping,” a and eggplant. What we did is we @EdBiado

Looking at Wine as Art Last Friday, I was asked to deliver a talk about the similarities between art and wine. This was in SIP BY SIP conjunction BY SHERWIN A. LAO wit h t he opening of the Art x Wine Exhibition at the Rockwell Center, featuring the works of acclaimed local artists Charlie Co and Cezar Arro. This event is primarily an art and wine appreciation occasion, drawing art buyers, art collectors, art enthusiasts, artists, media people and wine enthusiasts together – as eloquently stated by event conceptualizers Jonathan Gee and Bryan Depano. When I was contemplating what to say, I got to realize that indeed, art and wine could be viewed at a similar realm, but with some striking nuances.

WINEMAKERS LIKENED TO ARTISTS

From empty canvases to beautiful masterpieces – these are what gifted painters and artists do. They use their imagination, creativity, vision and timely strokes from their paintbrushes and color palettes to make “eye feast” paintings.

Winemakers on the other hand have, as their given, the vineyards, the grape varietals, the “terroir” (or micro-environment), and winemaking tools from fermentation tanks to oak barrels as their “paintbrushes.” Still, amidst so much “given” and “tools,” similarly winemakers’ imagination, creativity, vision as well as their timely intervention in every step of the winemaking process contribute to the finished wine. This parallelism alone makes winemakers artists in their own right. An exceptional painting can catch attention and resonate in one’s mind for a long period of time. The same could be said of a surreal wine that upon initial whiff, and then sip, can leave a person totally enamored. And even after every single drop of this wine is consumed, the memory of such hedonistic sensation will linger for an extended period. Many will argue that wines are produced in huge quantities while a painting could be uniquely individual. The argument may hold true, but ask any seasoned wine drinker, and it is not only

believed, but also verified that no two bottles of even the same wine, when opened will taste exactly the same… the reason being that wine components from tannins, acids, residual sugar to alcohol once intertwined with oxygen affect the wine in different ways, resulting in subtle or sometimes obvious changes.

THE CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD PIONEERING ART LABELS

As early as their 1924 label, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, then still a second growth, used Jean Carlu, a French graphic designer specializing in posters, to design their wine label. But it was two decades after, reprised in the 1945 vintage, that art in the Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s wine label became a tradition. This set Chateau Mouton Rothschild apart from every other chateau in Bordeaux and perhaps everywhere. Chateau Mouton Rothschild has therefore brought together a rich ensemble of the most celebrated artists starting from the 20th century,

The Bodegas Altanza Artist Collection featuring Gaudi for Reserva vintage 2005.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2009 vintage featured the work of Indian-Briton Anish Kapoor.

including Picasso, Miro, Dali, Francis Bacon to a surprising artist in Prince Charles, who was responsible for the 2004 vintage label. The artists pre-chosen to do the Mouton labels were given a freehand in creating their artworks, though themes revolving around the vines, the wine drinking and the Mouton Rothschild emblem (the ram), were the common denominators among the different labels released throughout the vintages since 1945. In fact, the Mouton Rothschild wine labels are as sought after and as collectible as the Chateau wines they represent. Continued on C3

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

LOOKING AT WINE AS ART From C2

TIPPLE TALES BY ICY MARIÑAS

@LIFEatStandard

COCKTAILS OF DREAMS

The Art x Wine art exhibit at the Rockwell Center

BEST OF SPANISH PAINTINGS IN FULL DISPLAY

Bodegas Altanza, a relatively young winery from Spain’s most renowned wine region of Rioja, released their first wines with the 1998 vintage in the late 21st century. The winery is one of the fastest growing wineries in the Rioja region and Spain in general, with flourishing business in both the domestic and international fronts. One of Bodega Altanza’s most cherished wine ranges is the limited release Lealtanza Spanish Artist Collection series. Similar to a certain degree to the Chateau Mouton Rothschild label concept, Bodegas Altanza was able to get exclusive rights to feature in their top premium Reserva wines the paintings of Spain’s biggest artists as the wine labels. Unlike the Mouton Rothschild’s one label, one vintage concept, Bodegas Altanza features three acclaimed masterpieces in three different labels of the same wine from the chosen Spanish artist. The three labels are also packed in a special wooden case containing the three bottles and engraved with the signature of the Spanish artist. For the 2001 vintage, it was the artworks of Joan Miro; in the 2004 vintage, it was from Salvador Dali; in the 2005 vintage, it was Antoni Gaudi; and the more recent release, the 2008 vintage, is from Francisco Goya. For the upcoming 2010 vintage release, it will be from the creations of Joaquin Sorolla. All these labels are only used on Bodega Altanza’s best Reserva wines from the most reputable vintages only. Reserva wines in the context of the Rioja wine region means that wines have to undergo 100 percent oak-barrel aging for a minimum of 12 months, and another 24 months of bottle aging, prior to commercial release. In the case of Altanza, the winery only releases the vintages after several tastings and evaluation to ensure optimum wine appreciation upon its commercial availability. And true to its vision, all Lealtanza Artist Collection wines received the highest scores and grades from the authoritative international wine critics and industry specialized publications. So indeed, wine and art can mesh together. The question now is if wine intoxication can improve appreciation of artwork, or on the other hand, if a nice artistic label can cover for the less than stellar quality of a wine it is representing. For comments, inquiries, wine event coverage and other wine related concerns, please e-mail me at protegeinc@yahoo. com. I am a proud member of the Federation Internationale des Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin et des Spiritueux or FIJEV since 2010. You can also follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/sherwinlao.

The Rosita with lemon peel

Cocktail dream maker Sam Jeveons

hen one thinks of where to get good cocktails, hotels and casinos are not the first places that come to mind in the Philippines. Hotels are where you go to for business meetings, or spend some family time during Sunday brunch or to hide your affair/s. And casinos usually offer subpar cocktails and don’t offer areas to drink exclusively; people don’t really go there to drink (there are other matters to attend to, like hitting the jackpot, going for broke, or bringing the house down. Haha!). So it’s such a pleasant surprise to find that City of Dreams has definitely not left this area of hospitality in the backburner. Finally, someone is paying attention! They have done their work and offer exciting, new and engaging cocktails. They definitely have aces up their sleeves, and it comes in the form of the cocktail creations of Sam Jeveons, their head bar consultant. With a huge space that houses nine bars and around 65 cocktails, City of Dreams has something for everyone. I met with Sam in Center Stage, the bar on the casino floor, to get a taste of some of his creations. He comes across as very affable, confident, and neat; wearing a suit, cufflinks and glasses. He looks like Jason Statham. He says he gets that a lot, most specially after having a few of his cocktails! But he is more than just an actor look-alike. A Russian politics, history and English major, he aspired to be a speechwriter, but instead chose to pursue bartending. Lucky for us that he did. He prepared four drinks for us: two from the Crystal Lounge of the Tasting Room (their premier bar focusing on re-interpreted classic cocktails) and two from the food pairing dinner (to be held in The Tasting Room a couple of days after this meeting). We had a lovely chat about cocktails, current and future trends, and tales behind the bar. The first drink he made is called Treacle (a British term for something really sweet; think caramel or honey). An old-fashioned style stirred cocktail available at the Crystal Lounge, it’s made of Ron Zacappa rum, maple syrup, (a dash of) apple juice and angostura bitters, served over a perfect ice ball and topped generously with a creamy apple foam that just made this drink slide

The Treacle with apple and egg white foam

way too easily down my throat. That’s just the beginning of the presentation. I knew right away I was in for a treat! He presented the drink beside a little bowl of dehydrated apple chips, which he suggested we dip in the foam like you would a nacho with guacamole. Whoever said food pairings with cocktails could not be done is lazy and has no imagination. I agree with him that this is a unique, very approachable cocktail. I can see why this is very popular at the Crystal Lounge. The next cocktail he made was a take on the classic Clover Club… one of my favorite prohibition era cocktails. The recipe sounds girly, but fair warning, this packs a happy punch! Using Tanqueray 10, homemade honey raspberry reduction syrup, lemon juice, a tiny dash of crème de cacao, egg white and served with chocolate shavings on top and chocolate with raspberry-chocolate ganache on the side, this cocktail was poured in a beautiful crystal Schott Zweisel glass and placed on top of a black marble slate. It’s clear that he paid a lot of attention to detail. It’s approachable (a word used numerous times during this meeting), light, and easily my favorite drink of the day. The third cocktail is a riff of the Negroni. The Rosita (to be paired with blue fin tuna seared in chorizo spice) contrasts with the spice and acidity of the dish and is made with tequila instead of gin (“Gin’s a classic, but tequila is better!”). He used Don Julio Reposado tequila,

Clover Club with choco shavings

Aperol (switched from Campari) and sweet and dry vermouth and was served with star anise and iris flowers. I like the use of the star anise. The nose and the star anise itself lent its sweetness to cut the bitterness of the Aperol. This drink is like a symphony in that each layer of flavor is distinguished from the rest, but they blend in harmony. The last drink on the list is the unusual, yet delectable Hot Buttered Rum (to be paired with braised pork). This time, instead of contrasting the dish, he decided to complement it (match the fat instead of cutting through it). Made with a shot of rum, a shot of Gran Marnier (for an orange nuance and added sweetness), a dabble of chardonnay (for that buttery mouthfeel), chamomile-infused sugar syrup, honey, unsalted butter, angostura bitters, it is steamed in a coffee maker (steam stretches the fat) and served table side with a cinnamon stick and chamomile buds. This drink was a pleasant surprise. It felt like Christmas! Heated drinks hit you differently as it gets absorbed into the bloodstream quicker. This really was the best ending to our cocktail flight. By this time, I was properly buzzed. The roster of cocktails at City of Dreams is definitely one more reason to keep coming back. And it’s great that now a casino-hotel bar is one of my top picks for places to go for a great cocktail (or four). Follow me on Instagram @sanvicentegirl

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

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

A MONUMENT OF LOVE? Lording it ove r t he southern bank of the Ya m u n a R ive r in Agra, India MERCURY RISING is one of the Seven BY BOB ZOZOBRADO Wonders of the Modern World, a celebrated structure, a shimmering proof of India’s rich history. The Taj Mahal, regarded as the world’s most beautiful building and widely recognized as the best example of Muslim art in India, is actually a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess and the dearly beloved third wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Made of pure white marble, with some parts inlaid with jade, crystal, amethyst and turquoise, this architectural masterpiece, which was designed by a team led by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, took 20 years to build by approximately 20,000 laborers and a fleet of 1,000 elephants. Making this icon of Mughal architecture truly spectacular are its decorative elements which have reached a new level of refinement. A dainty latticework made of pure white marble dominates one area of the building’s interiors, while an intricate pierce work dressed in pure gold is showcased in another section. The windows in each balcony banner an intricate screen inlaid with semi-precious stones, making them even more attractive. Those who are familiar with various types of architecture will notice that the Taj Mahal showcases a perfect blend – the giant dome in the center is reflective of Persian influence, while the arches and windows are typical Indian designs, and the four minarets that frame the structure squarely speak volumes of Islamic heritage. Coming face-to-face with all these beautiful design details outside and inside the building sometimes makes one forget that this glistening structure of pure white

The majestic Taj Mahal

Dainty lattice work made of pure white marble

Colorful Indian designs on walls and railings

An artist’s sketch of Mumtaz Mahal

marble is a tomb, originally, for Mumtaz Mahal, but shared later with Shah Jahan when he died. Since Muslim tradition shuns elaborate decoration on graves, the bodies of the couple are kept in a plain crypt beneath the inner chamber of the mausoleum, with their faces turned right, facing Mecca. There is something else that makes the Taj Mahal a “wonder of the world.” The sun reflecting on its walls somehow gives the structure a different hue at different times of the day. Looking at it from the benches across the reflecting pool, at early morning, it is all white. Towards noontime, the structure assumes a yellowish hue. Late afternoon gives it a pinkish color and, at nighttime, moonlight gives it a bluish shade, a beautiful sight for the hopeless romantic. However, together with the beautiful eyecatching details attached to this architectural marvel are some interesting, nay, controversial stories that have made the rounds with some historians. One tale says Shah Jahan originally wanted a black Taj Mahal, as pieces of black rubble were found in the banks of the Yamuna River. Further investigation many years later revealed that the pieces found were actually discolored white marble stones that turned blackish. Another story said that a governorgeneral of India started to demolish the Taj

Mahal and sell the pure white marble to the highest bidder. It was proven decades later that a governor-general did sell the unused leftover marble as a fund-raising to help the country’s poor. But the loudest whisper is about the reported deaths and mutilations caused by Shah Jahan on the architects and craftsmen after they built the tomb. It says that the Emperor wanted to be sure these persons will no longer be able to build a similar structure anywhere else. Until now, nobody has surfaced to dispute these allegations, thus, the loose talk continues. So, what does this “Wonder of the Modern World” really mean to me? Well, we know Shah Jahan built it as a symbol of his true love for his third wife who died while giving birth to their 14th child… 14 children with one wife! (He had two other children with his other two wives). Fast forward to present day realities, what woman at this day and age would allow herself to give birth to 14 children? If you ask me, the Taj Mahal is not really just a Monument of Love, it’s more of a majestic tribute to one woman’s superb childbearing skills and highly efficient, wellcoordinated anatomy which, unfortunately, malfunctioned during the 14th procedure. Nevertheless, I raise my glass to Mumtaz Mahal, a heroine of sorts, for having been a shining example of subservient pulchritude! For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Pierce work in the building’s interiors made of pure gold

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: A preacher went up the pulpit one Sunday and announced to his congregation: “I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it’s still out there in your pockets.”

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

Cosmo skin and RuFFa GuTieRRez hosT a BeauTy soiRee Red Gatus and Niño Bautista of BFPC throw a party for Ruffa

or Nine Years, Cosmo Skin has been the secret to many women’s beautiful, younger looking and immaculate complexion. Its highly effective formula and Advanced Skin Whitening Technology cemented Cosmo Skin’s status as an ultimate “Must-Haves” beauty product for everyone. Recently, Watsons Personal Care Stores gave awards to the two innovations from Cosmo Skin line – Cosmo Skin Glutathione and Cosmo Skin Premium Collagen – as the Best Whitening and Anti-Aging products. And to celebrate its enduring success, Cosmo Skin hosted a Beauty Soiree at Fairmont Hotel in Makati with members of the media, industry leaders, influencers met Cosmo Skin’s Beauty Ambassador Ruffa Gutierrez. “Choosing a beauty product with the right ingredients and quality materials is all-important to achieving the results that you desire most” said Niño Bautista, BFPC founder and managing director. “We pride ourselves to observing a strict quality control when it comes to manufacturing” added Red Gatus, also Founder and at the same time managing director.

During the event, Ruffa said she is obsessed with having a luminous skin and that she is more confident to face anyone if she has a radiant-immaculate complexion. “Both Cosmo Skin Glutathione and Cosmo Skin Premium Collagen contain key components that will give your skin the glow and moisture it needs, it allows your inner radiance to shine through” said Ruffa. The Innovative ingredients in Cosmo Skin Glutathione (500mg Glutathione plus ALA and Vitamin C) gives intensive glow and Ten Times Whitening Power than the competing brand. While the concentrated 20,000 mg Marine Collagen in Cosmo Skin Premium is in hydrolyzed form, which makes it easily absorbable by the body. The result is a lighter, soft, smooth, wrinkle-free and touchable skin. For more information about Cosmo Skin visit www.cosmo-skin.com

iPhoTo

Boholanos CeleBrate sandugo

housands trooped to the Sandugo Festival 2015. Foreign and local tourists joined the Boholanos in celebrating the Sandugo Festival, one of the major Philippine festivals featured in the Visit the Philippines Year 2015 (VPY2015) calendar. The month-long celebration is held annually in Tagbilaran Ciy and features colorful parades, trade fairs, street dancing, beauty pag-

eants, sports competitions, and cultural activities. The Sandugo Festival commemorates the sandugo or blood compact between Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Bohol chieftain Datu Sikatuna on March 16, 1565 to seal their friendship as part of a tribal tradition. Today, it is recognized as the first International Treaty of Friendship between the Filipinos and Spaniards.

Street dancers at Sandugo Festival

Ruffa Gutierrez renews her ties with Cosmo Skin with a soiree at Fairmont Hotel last Thursday Buddy Valastro hosts Cake Boss

Buddy Valastro is BaCk

LC, the no.1 travel and lifestyle channel in the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, will premiere the new season of Cake Boss starring famed baker Buddy Valastro and his cake crew family. The team is back and whipping up amazingly crazy cakes and confections. Over the years, the team has successfully made their bur burgeoning bakery, Carlo’s Bakery, a household name. And as the business has grown, so have their responsibilities. But at the end of the day, Buddy wants to be true to his roots: cake and family. Whatever the challenge, the Valastros prove that no

matter how sticky the situation, the family that bakes together stays together! Cake Boss is now a partnership between Discovery Networks International (DNI) and TLC in the United States with seasons seven and eight produced by original series producer Jon Sechrist, High Noon Entertainment and Valastro’s own Cakehouse Media. The new partnership enables more creative control globally, giving the show a truly international flavour and appeal. Catch Buddy Valastro and his team create the cakes of your dreams, starting Aug. 12, airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on TLC.

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

HaPPy anD COntEntED Dennis Trillo says he's happy with his life

pressure. I will jump into it the moment I feel I’m ready,” ends Dennis.

The award-winning actor points to Jen’s positivism when asked what change did he see in her this time. “Yes, she’s never been this positive. She’s more calm and bubbly. The positive energy she possesses is infectious. Because of her, the working ambience on the set is light and convenient.” Speaking of maturity, the handsome star has his share of levelling-up as well. “I think I’m more understanding now on a lot of things. I also learned how to become more patient and truly value the things I do. And of course, I became more grateful for all the blessings I’m showered with day by day.” Lastly, now that he and Jen are okay and given his new-found maturity, many ask if he is already open to the topic of mariage. “I’m still not. I know that I’m already of age but it’s something I don’t want to hasten. I don’t want to be under

According to Lorna Tolentino, it’s just fine with her if she would grow old alone. It’s been seven years since her husband Rudy Fernandez passed away and during those times, she never got romantically involved with another guy. “Honestly, I’m already prepared to become single for the rest of my life. I’m already in my early ‘50s and marrying again hasn’t entered my mind...not at all! I haven’t totally moved on from Daboy’s loss. Until now, I’m still adjusting. There are still things that you miss,” she reveals. What happened to those who expressed interest in her when Daboy left? “Oh, them? They all stopped already. Ha-haha! I guess they diverted their attention to other women. But as I’ve said, it’s just fine with me. No regrets whatsoever. For one, apart from taking care of my grandchild, I’m also busy with our farm in Batangas. Yes! I’m enjoying it so much.” The critically acclaimed actress has a new sitcom on TV 5 titled Misterless Misis. “I share the spotlight here with Ruffa Gutierrez, Gelli de Belen, Mitch Valdes, Ritz Azul and a newbie, Andy Gomez. I chose a comedy project this time and it excites me to the hilt. I’m resting from doing drama in the meantime,” LT says.

HHHHH

JOSEPH PEtER GOnZaLES Dennis Trillo admits he is very happy with his life at this point. “Yes, that’s true...in all aspects. There are so many positive developments: from my family, career, relationship, everything! I’m really happy. I couldn’t ask for more,” he says. He and Jennylyn Mercado have a new soap for the Kapuso titled My Faithful Husband. “That’s right! It’s directed by Joyce Bernal. It has a very interesting and engaging story. I’m quite sure the viewers will like it. The characters for one are sympathetic and relatable. Hope they will support the show because we are promising to do our best to give them quality entertainment.” How would he describe his relationship with Jen? “It’s perfectly fine. On and off cam, we’re doing well. Our friendship is great nowadays.” At this time when they are rumored to have reconciled as lovers once again, kibitzers say that even if there’s no formal admission from both of them, their actions speak louder than words. “Well, let’s just say that I’m the type of person who really don’t focus much on the love life side. As I’ve said, I’m just happy with all

Lorna Tolentino still misses Rudy Fernandez

the good developments happening in my life of late. I’m confident with our new show, we were given another chance to work together, we’ve no problem. Simply put, Jen and I are very okay.” According to Dennis, he and Jennylyn have a different perspective now when it comes to love life issues. “Perhaps, we’re happier that it’s quiet and peaceful. We prefer it this way. We don’t want it to be totally exposed that the public would feast on what’s happening on our personal lives. I guess, we’re too old for that already Let’s just leave it to the younger wannabes in the ‘biz who want to create a name for themselves. “Jen and I have already passed that stage. Whatever we share right now, we just want it to be peaceful and free from controversy. Over the years, we’ve grown as individuals. We’re thankful that we’ve matured since it helped for us to work better in our new project,” he avers.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 40 41 42 43 44

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Deceived 6 VIII, to Virgil 10 Equal to the task 14 Form a butte 15 Matty of the diamond 16 Eventful periods 17 Unrehearsed (hyph.) 18 Litter’s little one 19 Big umbrella 20 Steamboat inventor

Jennylyn Mercado is Hip Culture's model

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Incidentally (3 wds.) Louis XIV, e.g. Sandbars Minimally (2 wds.) Lightning by-product Yellowish pink Gregorian — Terrier threat Vanish — thin air

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Toothy predator Essayist’s pen name Last degree Verse Musician Bela — Sigma follower Most Vassar grads Fireside feeling Dry, as champagne Parson Specters Viking name Henri’s aits Dive Tel. or elec. Robin beaks Prefix for “below” Latin I verb Capricorn Purplish flower

DOWN 1 Fell on — ears 2 Karachi language 3 Gather opinions 4 Fix a manuscript 5 Actress — Kerr 6 Bireme mover 7 Triple-decker sandwich 8 Drama awards 9 Leap ahead with the mind

MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015

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Crete’s sea Barroom action Prayer-wheel turners Catch sight of Votes against Catcall Like dandruff Neat as — — Pavilion Strip of wood Green prefix Rye partner Survey findings Campbell of country music Costa — Yard tool Latching Horror-flick street Prow projections Vivid color Flirt Journey stage Flags Writer — Nin Sun, in combos Wry face “Fancy” singer Holds the deed Cushiony Zoomed Galleon need Mach 3 flier

Jennylyn is Hip Culture’s CHiC CHiCk

f there is a saying that fits Jennylyn Mercado, FHM’s Sexiest Woman of the Year 2015, it’s “strong is the new sexy.” With her fit bod and stunning looks, it’s easy to understand why this hot mama bagged this year’s most sought after title. Thanks to her discipline in following a healthy diet, and maintaining an active lifestyle, Jennylyn will always look gorgeously toned and glowing. It’s no secret she also joins various triathlons and tries out combat sports like Muay Thai and Jujitsu, to keep her body in tip-top shape. But Jennylyn isn’t only brawn. She’s talent as well. The young actress has played different and contrasting roles—whether it’s for heavy drama, or light romantic comedy. For her acting chops, she has brought home several accolades such as the 6th ENPRESS Golden Screen Television Awards,31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies, and forher light comedy blockbuster ‘English Only Please’, the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival best actress award. And she’s not stopping anytime soon. She is starring in GMA’s new soap My Faithful Husband along former flame, Dennis Trillo.

For her fashion sense, Jennylyn is a fashionista in her own right. She likes to keep her look as chic and comfortable as possible. “My no.1 rule when it comes to dressing up is to make sure I am comfortable with whatever I’m wearing. I usually go for pieces that allow me mobility since I’m very active. Fun prints and flirty short shorts are a favorite,” Jennyln shares. With her beauty, talent, and knack for fun and trendy apparel, Jennylyn embodies the stylish youthfulness that Hip Culture exudes. “Hip Culture has exactly what I want. They offer cute and trendy outfits that are comfortable. Whether it’s for a special event or a casual get-together with friends, they have a wide array of colorful and hip pieces I can choose from. By endorsing Hip Culture, I show others that there’s no need to sacrifice comfort in order to look good,” Jennylyn says. Hip Culture caters to young and modern Filipinas and provides them hip and trendy options. Its fashion line includes tops, skirts, shorts, dresses, shades and accessories. Hip Culture is at major malls in Metro Manila.

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

Barbi Forteza and Thea Tolentino in The Half Sisters

not fUlly ripe, bUt not Acrid

enator Grace Poe may not be ripe to the fullest politically as what her detractors say, but she assures everyone she is not acrid. In fact, the Senator has spent enough time in government service to help her decide whether or not to run for presidency in the coming elections. She’s not as raw as her detractors want everyone to think because she has had experience. She was chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRC) for several years before she launched her senatorial candidacy. And she adds, she’s not rotten unlike the more experience politicians who had amassed wealth in the pretext of public service. “Sabi nga nila hinog na nga raw (sila) pero ako naman, kahit yung nahihinog pa lamang minsan pinipili rin ng tindera at ng mamimili sapagka’t mas tumatagal,” says the Senator. “Sa tingin ko, hindi naman ako mapakla.” As the Liberal Party tries to woo Senator Grace to be Mar Roxas’ running mate, some party members continue to throw garbage at her, even if she had expressed not making any definite decision for 2016. Caloocan Congressman Edgar Erice, a high-ranking Liberal Party officer, likens Senator Grace Poe to an acrid (mapakla) fruit. “That;s from their camp. That’s natural for them to say that. That’s his decision if he wants to eat it or not, right? We don’t really know,” says Poe. Poe doesn’t understand Erice’s interpretation of the possibility she may not go along with the MarPoe tandem that she’s taking her

from c8

own path. According to Erice, it’s no longer “daang matuwid” but already she’s taking the private road. “I don’t get that interpretation. What we are saying here is that everyone has to make some sacrifice,” explains the Senator. “Running for an elective position is not something easy to do. That’s a big sacrifice. Perhaps we have to base our decision partly on what our fellow Filipinos say,” she adds. In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Senator Grace Poe leads among the names mentioned as presidentiables with 30 percent, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 22. DILG Secretary Mar Roxas trails with 10 percent. According to the survey conducted by Bloomberg, Senator Poe is “best choice” for 2016. The respondents in this surevy were bankers and investors. “Flavor of the month,” that’s what Congressman Erice says about Senator Poe. “Whatever it is you tell the media, what is important really is the truth and what our fellow Filipinos need,” concludes the young Senator. HHHHH

GMA Still no.1 in UrbAn lUzon And MeGA MAnilA Driven by its strong performance in the daytime blocks, GMA Network fortified its dominant position in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila in the month of July, according to the industry’s leading ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. Urban Luzon and Mega Manila account for 77 and 59 percent, respectively, of all urban TV households in the country.

For the covered period (with the dates of July 26 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA continued to lead competition in Urban Luzon with a 35.7 percent total day household audience share, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 33.3 percent by 2.4 points and TV5’s 8.9 percent by 26.8 points. GMA likewise outranked competition in Mega Manila, posting an average share of 37.4 percent, up 7.7 points from ABS-CBN’s 29.7 percent and up 28 points from TV5’s 9.4 percent. The Network also dominated the list of top-rating regular programs in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila. Multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) was the highest-rating Kapuso program in the two areas as well as in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement). Besides KMJS, GMA programs Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga, Pepito Manaloto, Kapuso Movie Festival, Ismol Family, 24 Oras, Pari ‘Koy, Celebrity Bluff, The Half Sisters, and Let the Love Begin also drove the Network’s ratings in July. In NUTAM, GMA sustained its ratings advantage in the afternoon block with 37.1 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 33.5 percent and TV5’s 8.7 percent. GMA’s coverage of President Benigno Aquino III’s sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 was the most watched coverage in NUTAM. Based on overnight people shares, GMA News’ SONA 2015 special coverage posted an average of 37.1 percent; beating ABSCBN’s coverage, which registered 36.2 percent.

Gabbi Garcia and Ruru Madrid in Let The Love Begin

Carla Abellana in Ismol Family

Grace Poe answers her critics saying she may not be ripe but she's not acrid

Inglot: the SeCret of beauty queenS

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2015 candidates at the Inglot store

o you wonder how beauty queens got their gorgeous looks? Aside from their natural beauty, healthy lifestyle, great personality and positive outlooks, the art of makeup is one of the best beauty boosters. In celebration of the 47th anniversary of Mutya ng Pilipinas, Inc. (MPI), one of the pageantry pioneers in Asia partnered with Inglot Cosmetics. A 30-year old brand and one of the world’s leading manufacturers in colour cosmetics, Inglot was the official make-up provider to the 2015 Mutya ng Pilipinas delegates. All the 30 aspiring beauty queens, including the ones who came all the way from the overseas communities visited the Inglot branch at SM Megamall (other boutiques at Mall of Asia and Glorietta 5). Each one tried and tested the best beauty tools of their international make-up sponsor, which is available in 57 countries on six continents. At the moment, it is found at over 450 boutique stores, stands

and retail locations worldwide. These cosmetics are paraben free, lead free, non comedogenic and are not tested on animals. Inglot products are manufactured in the European Union. Inglot is best known for its Freedom System, which allowed the Mutya candidates to mix and match varied combinations of palettes with face powder, blush, eye shadows and lipsticks. One of the best sellers is the revolutionary patented O2M Breathable nail enamels which are made of contact lens polymer. The young ladies tried the different vibrant colors while the store manager explains the healthy method. “This formula allows oxygen and water vapor to pass through the nail enamel coating into the nail plate which in turn allows your nails to “breathe” and stay healthier”, she said. All Inglot nail products are free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toulene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

M ONDAY : AUGUST 10 : 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ 1

Meet GMA Network’s ‘Beautiful StrangerS’ ISAH V. RED Tonight on Philippine television, GMA Network introduces Beautiful Strangers to its loyal followers. It is the network’s newest series premiering tonight (along with My Faithful Husband) taking over the timeslots vacated by The Rich Man’s Daughter and earlier Let The Love Begin. Beautiful Strangers is a story of two women who start off as friends and end up as fierce rivals. It likewise validates how powerful a woman is, to bring about joy or to cause heartbreak in every person’s life. Beautiful Strangers features the country’s most talented artists in plum roles. It is headlined by Heart Evangelista as Kristine and Lovi Poe as Joyce/Lea. Both actresses are very excited for their reunion project on GMA. GMA Network is proud to present a stellar cast of the country’s most respected artists in film and television: Christopher de Leon as Ronaldo, the owner of Castillo Realty who is a philanderer; Dina Bonnevie as Alejandra, Ronaldo’s wife who cleans up her husband’s dirt for her family, especially her son, Lawrence, whom she loves dearly; Rocco Nacino as Noel, a mechanic who loves Joyce so much however he falls for Kristine; Benjamin Alves

as Lawrence, the only son of Alejandra and Ronaldo Castillo, and the half-brother of Kristine. Playing equally important roles in the series are Emilio Garcia as Nestor, the supportive father of Noel; Ayen Laurel as Lourdes, the mother of Kristine who loves her and Ronaldo so much; Lovely Rivero as Imelda, the mother of Joyce, who depends on her for survival; Kier Legaspi as Rigor, the Castillo family’s efficient henchman; Gab de Leon as Rex, the troublemaker Fil-Am cousin of Noel; Dyanin Cruz as Hannah, the ex-girlfriend of Lawrence; Nar Cabico as Shakira, a street wanderer and a friend of Joyce; Diane Medina as Monica, the secretary and protective best friend of Kristine; Mariel Pamintuan as Leslie, the cute and kikay but dependable cousin of Kristine; Renz Valerio as Jason, the younger brother of Joyce. Beautiful Strangers is about the interconnected lives of Joyce (Lovi) and Kristine (Heart). Joyce is a woman motivated by her big dreams. She applies at the Castillo Realty, one of the biggest real estate companies in the Philippines, to establish her name in Interior Designing so that she may start a family with Noel (Rocco) and provide for her family. But all her dreams are shattered into pieces when Ronaldo Castillo (Christopher) rapes and accidentally pushes her down the stairs. All along, Ronaldo thinks that he killed Joyce. Fortunately, Joyce is able to survive everything

but she suffers from selective amnesia. She crosses paths with Kristine and will be called Lea. What will happen if Lea regains all of her memories? How will she fight back and seek revenge against the people who abused her? Can Joyce/Lea and Kristine’s friendship heal their wounds and stop them from seeking vengeance? Can they be at peace once more? See how Heart and Lovi become sweetest friends then fiercest rivals in Beautiful Strangers on GMA Telebabad.

➜ Continued on C7

Beautiful Strangers is a story of two women who start off as friends and end up as fierce rivals. It likewise validates how powerful a woman is, to bring about joy or to cause heartbreak in every person’s life

1 Benjamin Alves is the son of Christopher de Leon and Dina Bonnevie 2 Heart Evangelista plays a cosmetic surgeon 3 Real life sweethearts Lovi Poe and Rocco Nacino; Lovi Poe is one of the Beautifu Strangers premiering tonight on GMA7 and Rocco Nacino plays Lovi’s boyfriend 4 Couple again: Christopher de Leon and Dina Bonnevie