The Standard - 2015 August 14 - Friday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 183  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  FRIDAY : AUGUST 14, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Gozon agrees to return Ang’s P1b

PH DEBT HITS RECORD P6.4T Budget hearing. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad is joined by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Treasurer Roberto Tan Jr. during a Senate hearing on the proposed 2016 national budget on Thursday. EY ACASIO

By Christine F. Herrera

THE country has incurred some P6.422 trillion in total debts, up P1.7 trillion from the Arroyo government’s P4.718 trillion, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said Thursday.

Comelec OKs lease deal for PCOS machines

At a hearing on the 2016 national budget, members of the House appropriations committee demanded that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad disclose the loan contracts that the Aquino government has entered into during the last five years. “We demand to know why the country’s debts have been increasing? What kinds of loans have you contracted and where did all these money go?” Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said.

The total revenues to be collected for 2016 are pegged at P2.696.8 trillion with the Bureau of Internal Revenue contributing P2.025 trillion, Bureau of Customs P498.7 billion, other offices with P19 billion and non-tax revenues amounting to P151.4 billion. Expenditures are expected to reach P3.005 trillion, Purisima said. He said the interest payment-to-revenue ratio has declined by almost half resulting in more funds being channeled into productive spending. “Proactive debt management has decreased the debt burden on expenditures, creating more fiscal space to fund social commitments,” Purisima said. Purisima, Tan and Abad failed to give details of the domestic and foreign loans contracted as demanded by Hicap. but the Budget chief said they would provide a list of loans next week.

MILF seeks Senate meet on alternate BBL By Florante S. Solmerin

Mar reprises old role as ‘Mr. Palengke’ in Mindanao

But Tan said the debt burden has been lessened due to the government’s improved revenue collection and better expenditure program. Tan said the deficit is projected at P308.7 billion next year or 2 percent of gross domestic product. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said only a third of the national government’s outstanding debt is foreign. For this year, Tan said, of the P5.8 trillion being serviced, domestic debts account for P3.8 trillion while foreign loans account for the balance of P1.976 trillion. “Further consolidation of debt created a sustainable fiscal environment and improving the debt metrics resulted in lower reliance on foreign debt,” Purisima told the panel. Purisima said revenues continued to move up in 2015 at double-digit rates with a revenue growth of 16 percent for the first six months of 2015.

THE chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hinted Thursday that they can meet with the Senate to hammer out a version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would be acceptable, backing away from their outright rejection of the version drafted by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, had earlier rejected the draft BBL prepared by the MILF and government peace negotiators as unconsti-

tutional. Ghadzali Jaafar, vice-chairman for political affairs and chief negotiator of the MILF had initially said the MILF would not accept the Senate version of the bill, but told a TV interview Thursday that they wanted to make sure that the measure would be acceptable to the Bangsamoro people. “It may be constitutional but will it serve the purpose why BBL was created? The other concern is-- will it be accepted by the people? That’s the important question,” he told the ANC news channel.

“We will try to change the provisions that they changed. At the end of the day, if the Muslims didn’t get what they wanted, at least we did everything we could,” he added in Filipino. The BBL faced rough sailing in Congress after the Mamasapano massacre of 44 police commandos at the hands of Muslim rebels, including fighters belonging to the MILF. Marcos on Thursday said he is ready to defend his draft of the bill next week when the period of interpellation begins.

Marcos’ committee led hearings on the Malacanangproposed BBL which aims to end decades of insurgency in Mindanao. He wrote a substitute bill after finding the Palace draft riddled with constitutional infirmities. Asked if he expects to have a tough time defending his substitute bill, Marcos said: “No, not in the slightest. I’m looking forward to it so I can explain what we did.” But Marcos said he is unsure if the measure can be enacted before the term of the current administration ends. Next page

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Livelihood program. Maranao women gather under a tent during a sustainable livelihood program organized by Social Welfare in Lanao Norte on Thursday. Lance Baconguis

MILF From A1...

“It is also hard to predict how the bicameral conference committee proceedings would go after the Senate and the House of Representatives approve their own versions of the measure,” Marcos said. In his sponsorship speech, Marcos said the substitute measure addresses the constitutional flaws of BBL, protects the country’s interest and sovereignty, and also promotes the interest and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. He noted that many Filipinos feared the original proposed BBL could lead to separation of the Bangsamoro territory from the republic. By including a provision in the substitute bill to ensure against possible secession, Marcos said these fears were allayed while making the idea of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region more palatable to the public and to government leaders. He noted that such a provision should not be taken as an insult to the MILF leaders or a sign of distrust of their declaration to abandon secessionist plans. “My contention is although we trust our partners in peace in the MILF now, we do not know who will be their leaders in the future and perhaps they will not have the same assurances for the Philippines about not separating,” he said. Despite his efforts to address the infirmities of the BBL, Marcos still expects a lively debate on the substi-

tute measure next week. “In a measure as contentious as this one, you can expect many of the other senators to propose amendments that we can introduce to further refine the provisions of the bill,” Marcos said. He said that while 17 senators have signed his committee report, several of them have expressed their intention to interpellate and introduce their own amendments to the measure. By his own reckoning, Marcos thinks the debates on the proposed law will take about six weeks. The duration of the process will depend on the decision of the Senate leadership. “The Senate President, I think, will have to assess how the deliberations are proceeding so he can decide if we need to speed things up—if we need to have morning sessions, things like that,” Marcos said. He said there are other priority measures up for deliberation in the Senate, including the proposed 2016 budget. The filing of the certificate of candidacy in October for candidates in the 2016 elections could also get in the way of the deliberations on the measure. Still, Marcos said it is encouraging to note that the MILF has expressed its assurance that it would continue to work for peace even if the proposed measure fails to pass under the current administration. Marcos has dedicated his substitute bill to the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force slain in Mamasapano and the families they left behind.

UN rep slams military for wrong reporting By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-araneta

THE UN special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons slammed the Armed Forces Thursday for its “incorrect” portrayal of hundreds of such displaced persons in Davao City as victims of human trafficking. Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani described an Aug. 7 press release from the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command as “incorrect, unacceptable and a gross distortion” of his views. The press release said the hundreds of Lumads staying at the United Church of Christ of the Philippines in Haran, Davao City, were “trafficked” and held against their will. But Beyani, who visited the Philippines last month, said this was not what the lumads told him. “When we asked them about the circumstances [and] why they left their areas, they said they were at risk of forced recruitment into Alamara,” Beyani said, referring to a paramilitary group supported by the Armed Forces. “Let me be absolutely clear, the indigenous persons in Davao are not victims of human trafficking. I was explicit in my discussions with the senior AFP representatives on multiple occasions, and indeed at my press conference that the indigenous persons concerned should under no

circumstances be considered to fall into the category of trafficked persons,” he said. Beyani said he had called for a peaceful resolution of the situation “in full consultation with the indigenous peoples concerned and their legitimate leaders.” “It is essential to avoid any form of manipulation of their situation by any party, governmental or non-governmental. The human rights, security and wishes of the indigenous peoples themselves must be the highest priority. No attempts should be made to forcibly remove the people from the UCCP facility,” he said. Beyani said indigenous people have long been vulnerable to “conflict-induced displacement,” especially in Mindanao due to the conflict between the military and the New People’s Army. “I heard from the AFP its assertion that it is seeking to protect the communities and provide services to them in conflict regions; however the displaced IPs made it clear that it is their presence and that of the

paramilitary groups in their communities that continues to create anxiety amongst the indigenous communities,” he said. “The community wishes to return to its lands but stressed to me that they will only feel safe to do so if the long-term militarization of their region comes to an end and they can return with guarantees of safety, dignity and protection,” he said. The Lumads described to him their concerns including their alleged forced recruitment into paramilitary groups, known as Alamara, under the auspices of the AFP and harassment in the context of the on-going conflict between the AFP and the communist rebels. “Schools have reportedly been closed or occupied by the AFP or Alamara, hampering the access to education of indigenous children,” he said. “I urged the government, in consultation with indigenous peoples themselves, to give greater attention to addressing the causes of displacement whether it be due to the militarization of their areas or due to development projects,” Beyani said. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday said the Senate should investigate the displacement of some 700 indigenous people in Mindanao, allegedly due to military activities in their area. “We cannot ignore the plight of indigenous peoples,

who are the ultimate victims of skirmishes between the military and rebels,” said Santiago. “What is more alarming is that now we are being told that the military or their operatives are the ones terrorizing these communities,” she added. The senator particularly pointed to the indigenous people sheltering at the UCCP compound in Haran, Davao City, amid the presence of armed entities in their ancestral lands. Some government agencies insist that the evacuees have been deceived by militant groups who are now holding them at the church compound against their will. There have even been controversial attempts to “rescue” the displaced indigenous people. Santiago issued her statement after Beyani slammed the AFP for distorting his pronouncements to make it appear that he believed the IPs at UCCP Haran have been displaced by human trafficking and not by militarization. “The military is in bad faith if indeed it is twisting the report of the UN special rapporteur to spread false information about the situation in Davao City,” Santiago said. Santiago said the Senate probe must determine whether the armed groups who forced the IPs out of their homes are government troops, communist rebels, or members of paramilitary organizations due to the conflicting claims.

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Trillanes: I’m immune from Binay’s charges SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday invoked his parliamentary immunity and asked the Department of Justice to dismiss the libel complaint filed against him by suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Trillanes accused Binay of bribing Court of Appeals justices in exchange for an injunction stopping a suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against him in March. But on Thursday he invoked his parliamentary immunity before the Justice Department’s prosecutors during the preliminary investigation of the case. Trillanes made his move even as the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday accused the ruling Liberal Party of orchestrating dirty tricks against their political opponents and branded the LP of having a track record of doublespeak. Binay’s spokesman Rico Quicho said that, for five years, the LP had elevated its dirty tricks and mudslinging to an entirely new level matched only by its largescale raid on the national treasury. “They have misused the powers of government in their demolition work against the vice president. But with their chosen one [Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II] still lagging behind the surveys, we expect them to raise the level of dirty tricks to a higher level,” Quicho said. He said August 20 this year would mark the first anniversary of the Senate probe against the vice president, “a year of lies and false evidence.” He said they would not be surprised should the LP come out with further dubious documents and statements on the Aug. 20 and 26 hearings. “We know these will all be scripted,” Quicho said.

Trillanes said there was nothing libelous in his statements and that he was only doing his job as a duly elected senator when he uttered the statements cited by Binay as “libelous” in his complaint. “The alleged statements or assertions ascribed by complainant against the respondent do not constitute libel,” Trillanes said. “Moreover, since the subject statements were made by the respondent in the performance of his public duties as a duly elected senator, the same are clearly covered by his parliamentary immunity as expressly provided in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.” Trillanes said he acted in “good faith” when he made the statements during his media interviews on April 7, and that he did not even speculate on the details despite repeated proddings from the members of the media. He said it was only in his official resolution that he specifically identified those who were allegedly involved and provided details regarding the anomalous transactions after he validated the information provided by his informants, and that it was from that resolution that the media pick up the names of those involved and the details of the purported transactions. “As a senator to whom an emerging scandal was reported, respondent believes in good faith that it is part of his public duties to report this scandalous affair regarding a matter of public concern, i.e., bribery of the highest order purportedly committed by a public official and magistrates of a superior court to stop his suspension from public office involving scandalous sums of money, to the people through the media and to initiate an investigation on the matter as part of his oversight and investigation duties,” Trillanes said. Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

Mar reprises former role as Mr. Palengke VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON—Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Thursday brought back his “Mr. Palengke” or Market Man campaign gimmick as he started his tour of Mindanao. “Being Mr. Palengke never left my character even if my responsibilities may have changed,” Roxas said. “I always remember that our markets need vitality because these are the centers of trade in our locales. They picture our community.” People greeted the Liberal party’s standard bearer as he went around the largest trading post in Bukidnon, and it was reminiscent of his early years as trade secretary under the Estrada administration. Roxas also highlighted the changes brought about by the “bottoms-up budgeting” initiative in the public market that

started under the leadership of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. “I would like to thank everyone for their warm greetings here at the Valencia City Public Market,” Roxas said. “I remember the days when I first introduced myself as Mr. Palengke, and now we’re seeing the BUB. The improvement of this public market as the project chosen by the people of Valencia are well-realized,” Roxas said. Valencia serves as the commercial capital of Bukidnon while nearby Malaybalay serves as the capitol and government center. “Not only the vendors benefit from a robust public market, but also the tricycle drivers, porters, cooks and others. I will and always look back to our markets,” Roxas said. John Paolo Bencito

Comelec opts to rent Smartmatic’s PCOS SMARTMATIC-Total Information Management Corps. Will still be the lone technical provider for the coming national and local elections on May 9, 2016, after it won the P10.1-billion lease contract of Optical Mark Reader machines. Citing cost, time line and technical risk, the Commission on Elections finally decided to lease more than 93,977 OMR units to be deployed in some 80,000 polling precincts nationwide. “After exhaustive consultation with stakeholders and with due consideration of the current circumstances, particularly issues relating to cost,

timeliness and technical risks, the Commission unanimously decided to choose the more prudent approach of leasing all new 93,000+ machines for the 2016 elections,” Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista told reporters. He made his statement even as Malacañang said the Comelec’s decision to lease new Optimal Mark Reader machines for the 2016 elections was in fulfillment of its constitutional mandate to ensure the conduct of orderly and credible elections. “We note that, according to Chairman Andres Bautista, this decision took into account timely delivery, adequate time for testing the new machines and the need to address the problems encountered in the past two elections,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

“Citizen vigilance and support will go a long way toward enabling the Comelec to fulfill its mandate.” Bautista said they decided to choose leasing new machines due to the assurance of the technical provider that it could manufacture and deliver the first batch by October 2015 and to deliver all 93,977 OMR units by January 2016. He said if they had chosen to refurbish refurbish and upgrade the old PCOs machines, the technical provider might deliver only 10,000 units by January 2016. “The commission believes that this is the most viable, practical and safest option to pursue in our efforts to ensure the credibility of the 2016 elections,” Bautista said. “Rush jobs are more expensive and present greater technical risks.” Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Sandy Araneta

No. 07-03-2015

ADDITIONAL NAMES OF MEMBERS WITH UNCLAIMED REFUNDS NOW ON WEBSITE The list of additional names of PhilHealth members who may have unclaimed refunds of benefits from various accredited health care institutions may now be accessed through www.philhealth.gov.ph/unclaimedrefunds. The unclaimed refunds will be released by PhilHealth to the concerned members. These amounts have already been turned over to us by the accredited providers. Instructions on the release of the unclaimed refunds may be found on our website. For further questions, members may call our Action Center at (02) 441-7442.

ALEXANDER A. PADILLA President and CEO

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Raps for SAF 44 still hang By Maricel V. Cruz and Francisco Tuyay AFTER continued expressions of dismay from the families of the 44 police commandos slain in the controversial Mamasapano incident, the charges against those involved in the January 25 attack will only be filed “in a month’s time.”

Dangerous insecticide. Members of the Ecowaste Coalition along with Manila City Hall’s health and sanitation

officials inventory the unregistered household insecticides that they seized at the Divisoria Market in Manila after they were found to be hazardous to human and animal health. DANNY PATA

DOJ: No more pork charges By Maricel V. Cruz JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima said Thursday the third batch of “pork barrel” charges earlier filed against some public officials, including allies of President Benigno Aquino III, would be the last for now. “There is nothing on our table at the moment,” de Lima told reporters at the sidelines of the hearing of the Department of Justice before the House committee on appropriations, chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab. “Unless the Inter-Agency AntiGraft Council assigns us to pursue other possible [Priority Development Assistance Fund] cases, particularly those outside the scope of the Commission Audit’s special audit report on PDAF from 2007 to 2009,” De Lima said, referring to the composite team that includes the National Bureau of Investigation, DoJ, Civil Service Commission, CoA, and the Ombudsman.

De Lima attending the budget hearing at the House of Representatives to defend her department’s proposed 2016 budget of P12.8 billion. De Lima said the Commission on Audit report was the main basis for the DOJ’s filing of the third batch of charges against nine former and current lawmakers last week. At the moment, De Lima said said there would be no more investigation being conducted by the department and its attached agency, the National Bureau of Investigation, in connection with the pork barrel scam. Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon asked de Lima why only a handful of public officials were charged in the alleged pork misuse when many of them should have been held accountable for the alleged misuse of congressional appropriations. But De Lima said the DOJ could

not initiate an investigation on the matter without new evidence, such as an audit report from the CoA. “Some quarters are asking why there are only nine names. Those were the remaining names covered by COA special audit report of 2007 to 2009. We simply can’t build up cases if in the first place there has been no CoA report yet,” she said. But she was quick to say that the the field investigation office headed by the Ombudsman is “continuously working on PDAF cases.” Last week, the DoJ recommended before the Ombudsman the filing of graft malversation charges against the accused officials, to presidential allies Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Secretary Joel Villanueva, a former party-list representative, and Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who sits as chair of the House ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“We will be filing criminal cases concerning the Mamasapano incident in a month’s time,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told congressmen during a budget hearing of the House committee on investigation. De Lima had earlier said DOJ probers have already recommended the filing of charges but explained it took the government almost seven months to file the cases because she deemed it fit to wait for the results of the second part of the investigation. “We are awaiting the results of part two of our investigation. This would include the alleged involvement of some Americans,” she said. She said the first part was focused on the killing of the members of the 55th Company of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force in Brgy. Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Part Two, on the other hand, covers the supposed involvement of Americans, whether or not they breached the Constitution, and the allegation that PO2 Christopher Lalan was responsible for the killing of three to four civilians, De Lima said. De Lima explained the delay in the filing of cases amid repeated complaints from the families of the slain commandoes and President Benigno Aquino III’s lack of acknowledgement of the heroism of the police commandos who were part of a Palace-run operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir.

Aquino particularly drew criticism for thanking in his State-of-the-Nation Address 86 people he worked with, including his hair stylist and nanny, but failing to acknowledge the heroism of the SAF 44. The Palace was also slammed for supposedly removing two SAF 44 cops in the list of medal awardees in this year’s PNP anniversary celebration. But the PNP held a memorial day at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City shortly after the PNP anniversary and released on Thursday educational assistance for the children of the slain policemen. Out of the 89 requests from relatives of the policemen, 43 were granted scholarships from the Presidential Social Fund and 17 from the Commission on Higher Education while 25 are still completing documentary requirements and four have deferred or withdrawn their request. The National Police Commission also amended its education assistance program and the rules and laws were liberally interpreted to accommodate illegitimate children as beneficiaries of the education assistance. The PNP said in a statement that 46 children were granted Educational Assistant Certificates along with raising cash assistance for children in kindergarten (P10,000); elementary (P18,000); secondary (P24,000); and per semester in vocational ((18,000) and college (P30,00).

Transport woes scored By Christine F. Herrera DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte has vowed to fix the mess in airports, Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways that were the subject of public outrage and dared his potential presidential rivals “not to seek office if they cannot hack it.” Addressing the Bankers Institute of the Philippines at the Dusit Hotel, Makati City, Duterte said airplanes and trains must not just arrive on time but must arrive safely. He added that airports should be renovated and make train rides safe. Duterte lamented that all these improvements should have been done decades ago. “You are business executives. You cannot go to your board of directors each time and say you did not meet your targets because of the mess you inherited when

you assumed your positions,” Duterte pointed out. “You should know what you are getting into. If you can’t hack it, be honest… don’t seek the office,” Duterte said. Duterte said leadership must be a strict taskmaster and that if a cabinet member or head of agency cannot deliver, leadership must politely show him the door. “And if the inefficiency is coupled with corruption, then prosecution must follow,” he said. “It should not take a leader months of agonizing to choose a PNP chief, or to replace a jail warden who allows drug lords to continue with their deadly trade inside prison, abetted with luxurious lifestyles at that. It should take no more than 24 hours,” Duterte said, obviously taking a dig at President Benigno Aquino III, who was known for his slow action and response to natural and man-made calamities and slower still in making executive decisions.

Contraband rice and sugar. Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Jessie Dellosa inspects rice and sugar imports there were found to be contraband worth P40 million. DANNY PATA

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One Dream execs shy away from DOJ probe By Rey E. Requejo

Historic. Comelec commissioners announce their historic decision to lease 93,000 Optical Mark Reader units for the 2016 polls. From left: Sheriff Abas; Arthur Lim; Al Parreño; Andres Bautista; Christian Roberl Lim; Rowna Guanzon; and Luie Tito Guia. (Story on A3) SARA FABUNAN

UP dorm shortage traced to funding cuts in SUCs By Vito Barcelo

The Aquino administration’s underspending has caused “dormitory shortage” for hundreds of incoming freshmen of the University of the Philippines, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay. The continues underspending, Binay said, is one of the ill-effects of the administration’s policy to cut funding for state colleges and universities (scUs). lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs, has expressed alarm that the government savings of P303 billion from its P2.4 trillion budget in 2014 will be used as a campaign “war chest” to boost sec. Mar Roxas bid for the 2016 presidential elections. “While the UP administration and students grappled with the dormitory crisis, the administration continues to waste taxpayers’ money by underspending for education, pegged at P2.2 billion in 2014,”

he said. “as a UP graduate, i am both saddened and outraged by the dormitory crisis. i am sad that incoming freshmen had to go through this ordeal and outraged by the fact that the administration had P2.2 billion in unreleased budget for education,” he said. Binay said the “underspending” of P2.2 billion for education showed the administration’s lack of efficiency and competence, adding it highlights the impact of the administration’s policy of slashing funds for scUs as part of its so-called reform program. “By cutting the budgets of scUs, it has been difficult for the school administrations to provide for the

basic needs of students,” the Vice President said. “i learned that the dormitories can no longer accept students because there are a lot of students who need a place to stay. The reason the school can not build more dormitories is because their budget is not enough,” Binay said. The Vice President also scored the administration’s incompetency to put priority on social services especially education.. While few scUs were given small increases, most of them had to make do with a small budget, Binay said. He also observed that the government failed to come up with a comprehensive education plan to ensure that social service is actually provided. “While it is true that the education sector is one of the departments that get the biggest budget, but it still small,” he said. He also belied the claim of budget secretary florencio abad that the government did not slash

the budget of scUs. UP’s budget was slashed four times under the aquino administration - in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016 as proposed. in 2013, UP submitted a budget proposal of P18,411,006,000 but received only P9,529,497,000. in 2014, it requested for a P17,098,213,000 budget but got P9,373,382,000. it experienced the same huge budget cut in 2015 when it asked for P25,496,983,000 but only got P13,143,000,000. The country’s premier university will also experience the biggest cut in its budget next in 2016. from P13.14 billion in 2015, the Department of Budget and Management is proposing a P10.9 billion budget for UP in 2016. That is a big cut for one of the universities that produces the nation’s leaders and movers in various fields, Binay said. “if the budget is small, state universities and colleges cannot meet its needs, like its facilities and salaries of its teachers,” he said.

Officials of One Dream Global Marketing inc. failed to show up before the Department of Justice to answer the syndicated estafa charge filed against them by victims of their alleged investment scam. One Dream president arnel Gacer and 10 other officers did not attend the preliminary investigation hearing, but the respondents sent their lawyer Elmo Triste. “We were not able to submit counter-affidavit because the copy of the complaint affidavit was only given to us just this morning. They (Gacer and others) don’t even know the specification of the complaint,” Triste told reporters after the hearing. The DOJ investigating panel chaired by assistant state Prosecutor susan Villanueva gave the respondents more time to answer the charges and set the next hearing on september 1. in the next hearing, Gacer and other respondents are already submit counter-affidavits on the complaint filed against them by 18 victims from lipa city, Batangas who lost P15 million in investments. The other respondents are One Dream vice president Jobelle de Guzman and other officers identified as ariel Gacer, Richard Ramos, Jay-ar de Guzman, Marlon de Guzman, Judith itoh, Jun de Guzman, lui de Guzman, linda de Guzman and Joel de Guzman. complainants alleged that they duped by the company into investing their savings into the multi-level marketing scheme since May this year. They said One Dream’s operation and recruitment of prospective investors were administered using the system profit scheme. Under the scheme, an investment or “pay-in” of P888 was supposed to grow to “pay-out” of P1,300 after just four days.

Corona indicted of perjury over SALN By Rio N. Araja THE sandiganbayan on Thursday indicted former chief justice Renato corona of perjury over his failure to declare his actual assets in his statements of assets and liabilities and net worth (salN) from 2004 to 2012. The anti-graft court’s Third Division, chaired by Presiding Justice amparo cabotaje Tang, junked corona’s motion for judicial determination of probable cause. corona will face eight counts of perjury and eight counts of violation of Republic act 6713 or the code of conduct and Ethical standards for Public Officials and Employees. four of five magistrates composed of Tang, and associate Justices alex Quiroz, Jose Hernandez and Ma. Theresa Dolores Estoesta voted to deny the motion. Only associate Justice samuel Martires voted to grant corona’s plea and issued a dissenting opinion. corona was able to post bail in all of the 16 cases filed against him.

The anti-graft court has set his arraignment in October. a court source said a “special division of five” must be created over Martires’ disapproval, considering that decisions of he sandiganbayan must be unanimous. By procedure, in cases of dissent, two more magistrates are called to join the voting in order to be able to arrive at a majority decision. Martires, in his dissenting opinion, said the cases lodged against corona should be dismissed. “after a careful review of the law and the records of this case, it is my respectful submission that there is no probable cause against the accused corona for the following reasons,” his dissenting opinion read. “Based on the records of this case, the accused corona was denied this “protection” which was guaranteed by law to every public official or employee. The Ombudsman simply disregarded the clear directive of section 10 to let the accused corona correct the inaccuracies or deficiencies in his salN.”

Online Appeal. Filipino Catholic faithful flock to a church in Manila on August 13, 2015. Filipinos have joined hundreds of thousands in an online appeal for Pope Francis to back conservatives in their fight against same-sex marriage and communion for remarried divorcees. AFP

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TONDO TENEMENT DWELLERS

Eviction feared more than massive quake By Christine F. Herrera

SOME 1,664 families living in 12 tenement buildings in Tondo that are set to be declared condemned by the Manila City government on Thursday expressed fears of eviction even before the “Big One” or a massive earthquake could displace them. The residents of Katuparan Village in Vitas, Tondo sought the National Housing Authority’s intervention to conduct tests to find out if the buildings could withstand the “Big One.” “The tenement residents fear eviction way ahead of the Big One,” according to Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus.

The NHA assured the residents the testing would commence in October, she said. Accompanied by De Jesus, the tenement residents of Katuparan Village pressed the NHA to fast track its promise to carry out the long delayed tests to declare their row houses still fit for quake proofing before the feared quake render

their 12 buildings unsafe. “The residents fear plans by the City of Manila to condemn the medium rise structures for which they are paying regular amortizations to the NHA,” De Jesus said. De Jesus said the Katuparan tenements have 1,664 units in 12 buildings that were erected in 1990. The residents started to move in and pay for monthly amortizations in 1991. The tenement buildings are located along Road 10, Pier 18 in Vitas, Tondo. “Kinakatigan ko ang kahilingan ng Katuparan residents sa NHA na madaliin na ang pangakong testing para pinal na madeklarang walang bisa ang deklarasyong con-

demned na mula sa City Building Inspector,” De Jesus said. Leaders of the Gabriela chapter in Tondo said the NHA must also repair the buildings as part of its mandate to provide socialized housing for the poor and help strengthen their position against the City of Manila’s plans to evict them. “How NHA resolves the demands of the longtime residents of Tondo to keep them in the city is a test case of Aquino’s touted inclusive growth programs that supposedly channels the resources of the State accumulated after a few years of nominal GDP surpluses that economists say did not filter down for the benefit of the forgotten poor,” De Jesus said.

Community relations. Manila North Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo E. Franco (left) receives a plaque of appreciation from Police Senior Supt. Alex B. Sintin and Supt. Elsa Miranda, DPD for administration, during the 20th Police Community Relations Month celebration held at Camp Macabulos, Tarlac. Francos, guest of honor and speaker at the Tarlac event, cited the importance of maintaining a harmonious partnership between MNTC, builder and concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway, and its host communities including local authorities like the Tarlac Provincial Police Office. Franco said “MNTC conducts extensive community consultations and regular dialogues on designing and operating the best expressway to serve public interest. MNTC has won a number of awards for its CSR programs while the Tarlac Police Provincial Office, recently awarded Best Police Community Relations in Central Luzon, is competing for the national award.

Transport ‘grabs’ own premium taxi app By Rio N. Araja WITH the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board opting to roll out its “premium taxi service,” Metro Manila will be flooded with 5,000 new taxicabs. Ariel Enrile Inton Jr., a board members of LTFRB, said the agency issued a memorandum circular to accept the applications for new franchises under the agency’s premium taxi service, “a service like that of app-based transportation providers Uber, Grabcar, and GrabTaxi.” “The circular was already published in different newspapers for bidding. We are now accepting applications,” he told The Standard. An operator of the premium taxi

service must have a minimum of 25 taxi units, he said. At least 5,000 additional vehicles that use the mobile apps would ply the roads of metro, he added. When asked if more vehicles would cause bottleneck, he echoed the stance of Chairman Winston Ginez that “they will not always be on the road to get passengers, but only when there is a demand from a passenger.” “That remains to e seen,” he said. “Personally, I think there is a need to look into the matter (possible traffic).” In the draft memo posted on the agency’s website, it said the premium taxi service should be in accordance with Department Order No. 2015-011 with the following operation char-

acteristics: should be a four or five door sedan automobile, with engine displacement of 2000cc or higher (or its equivalent, if electric-, hybrid-, or alternate fuel-powered vehicle); airconditioned; with no fixed route; the fare will be as authorized by LTFRB, and seating capacity for four people, excluding the driver. “The memorandum circular has already been finalized. In fact, it was even published,” Inton said. According to its website, Pre-Qualification Committee was also created, with Atty. Roberto P. Cabrera III as the chairman. The premium taxi service of the LTFRB may be rolled out before 2015, as per the timetable posted on the draft of the memorandum circular.

HK court drops kid neglect rap vs Filipina THE Filipina mother of a teenager who plunged to her death from an upmarket Hong Kong apartment saw a charge of child neglect against her dropped Thursday. Herminia Garcia, 53, still faces a charge of “breach of condition to stay” in Hong Kong. Her British businessman partner, Nick Cousins, faced fresh charges of helping her to stay in the city illegally, plus two counts of failing to register a birth. The 58-year-old is the managing director of the Hong Kong office of British multinational Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), one of the world’s leading insurance brokers. Their 15-year-old daughter fell 21 storeys from the apartment block in Repulse Bay in April. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene after a security guard heard a loud noise and she was found lying on the ground. Police said at the time she had been upset about “daily life issues”. Her younger sister was initially taken to a children’s home following the incident, but was shortly released back into her family’s care. There was “no suspicious element” to the tragedy, police added, but they detained both parents on suspicion of neglect. Garcia was charged soon after and Cousins released on bail pending a police investigation. He was finally charged Wednesday for “aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring breach of condition of stay by another person” and two charges of “failing to register birth”. Giles Surman, who represented the couple Thursday, said outside the courtroom that the charge of child neglect against Garcia was dropped “because there is no evidence”. Garcia is reported to have been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong from 1990 and began living with Cousins in 1994. The South China Morning Post had previously reported that the girls’ births had never been registered, despite attempts by the immigration department to track them. There were also reports that they had never been to school, although the defence countered they had received a “proper education”. AFP

PNP shake-up covers 4 groups, 7 officers By Francisco Tuyay AT LEAST seven ranking police officials have been reassigned in a top- level reshuffle at the Philippine National Police, a spokesman said on Thursday. The revamp covered the Command Group, Directorial Staff, Police Regional Office and the National Operation Support Unit . The latest changes in the PNP formed part of PNP Chief Ricardo Marquez’s move to institute reforms aimed at ensuring effective and effi-

cient delivery of police services to the community and the public as a whole. PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Wilbern Mayor said the reshuffle was approved by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) upon the recommendation of the PNO Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board. Marquez has elevated Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. formerly the deputy chief for operations, to the number two post in the PNP being the new PNP Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA).

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‘Build road before closing runway’ By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to fund the construction of the alternate road leading to communities at the opposite of the Loakan airport before closing the runway to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Domogan said that the construction of the alternate road was supposed to be funded in 2010. For unknown reasons, however, CAAP officials allegedly realigned the said funding

that resulted in the non-fulfillment of the concreting of the proposed road. While it is true that vehicular and pedestrian traffic are not allowed within the runway of

airports, Domogan pointed out it is an accepted fact that there were already existing communities across the Loakan airport which had been in the area for several decades now. Thus, there is a need for concerned government agencies to provide the basic needs of the people for the convenience of the public and those availing of the services of the airport. “CAAP should look for available funds to replace the previous funds that it realigned in order to construct the alternate road before pushing through

with plans to permanently close the airport to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. If CAAP used the previous appropriations for its prescribed purpose, then it would be easy to convince the people living in the communities to accept the use of the alternate road,” Domogan stressed. He said the city government was already able to locate the owners of two private properties that will be traversed by the proposed alternate road. These owners. he said, had expressed willingness to support the building of the road leading to the

communities across the airport. However, he admitted that one of the controversial issues that must be addressed by the CAAP and the city government is the demand of the property owners for just compensation pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations. Earlier, thousands of residents living in several villages across the airport expressed their vehement opposition to the pronouncement of local CAAP officials that the runway of the Loakan airport would be permanently closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Police arrest Abu Sayyaf’s ransom courier

Display. Vendors arrange newly harvested seasonal fruit marang along the highway of Barangay Malasila, Makilala in North Cotabato. OMAR MANGORSI

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Police have arrested a suspected ransom courier of the Abu Sayyaf Group involved in the kidnapping of an Australian man in Zamboanga Sibugay, a top police official disclosed Thursday. Senior Supt. Celso Bael, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, identified the arrested suspect as Edeliza Ulep alias Gina Perez. Bael said Ulep was arrested during a manhunt operation around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at Purok 7, Villana Street, Trento, Agusan del Sur. Bael said Ulep had a standing warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping with ransom issued by a court in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. He said Ulep was tagged as the ransom courier in the kidnapping of former Australian soldier Warren Rodwell. Rodwell was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf brigands from his residence in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on December 5, 2011. He was freed on March 23, 2013 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Bael said Ulep was taken to the province of Zamboanga Sibugay for her to stand trial in court. PNA

Supplier sues Pangasinan town vice mayor for refusal to pay By Johanne Margarette R. Macob LINGAYEN—The Vice Mayor of Mapandan town in Pangasinan has been charged for oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority for allegedly objecting to pay a private supplier. In her complaint before the provincial board received last July 22, businesswoman Fe Reyes claimed that Vice Mayor Catalino Morales had objected to release the payment for a smoke blind in the amount of P20,719. Reyes, owner of SOFERJED Enterprises, noted, “All documents prepared and presented to Morales were duly signed and approved by him without objection until the presentation of disbursement voucher.”

As stated in the complaint, Morales allegedly did not like where the smoke blind was installed—at the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan Secretary. The complaint stated, “On May 18, 2015, Vice Mayor Morales, Jr. sent a letter addressed to SB Secretary Garry Estrada, directing the latter to submit this justification why this subject item (smoke blind) was installed in a place whereit was not necessary. He replied: “The mere fact that you have already signed the purchase request and the purchase order, and signed even the request for quotations signifying your okay to the quotation submitted applied for by the SOFERJED Enterprises are indicative that you have already lost your personality from questioning the propriety of payment in favor of the supplier.”

Selfie. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez smiles for a photo taken by Quezon province Governor David Suarez, after the former congratulated the latter for a successful ‘Niyogyugan’ festival. VER NOVENO

F R I D AY, A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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OPINION

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

RELEASE ENRILE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

STRUGGLING YUAN THE world economic order has vastly changed since China became the world’s second-biggest economy a few years ago. The world now catches the cold when China sneezes. China roiled the global financial markets Wednesday when it reduced its currency’s value for the second consecutive day, fueling speculations the yuan could depreciate further. Global stock markets dropped while regional currencies, including the peso, tumbled. China’s move to cut the value of the yuan to 6.3306 to a US dollar from 6.2298 Tuesday signaled Beijing was moving to a more market-determined exchange rate from a de facto peg that had propped up the value of the currency for so long. The devaluation was China’s recognition that its exports were losing competitiveness in the world market and the overall economy was not growing as fast as it should. The peso tumbled to a five-year low of 46.26 against the US dollar Wednesday in a knee-jerk reaction before recovering to 46.15 Thursday. Other Asian currencies, including the yen, retreated on fears the Chinese economy was faltering. The yuan and the Chinese economy will eventually recover and get stronger as global financial markets become calmer. A more competitive yuan will drive the Chinese economy to be more efficient and maintain its clout over the rest of the world. The rest of the Asian economies, meanwhile, will be forced to match China’s initiative to preserve and improve its exports market. Southeast Asian economies have also been struggling with tepid growth and slowing exports amid the weak economic expansion in Europe and Japan. A more competitive yuan will pose a dilemma for Asian monetary authorities. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, for one, kept the interest rates unchanged again as it measures the impact of the yuan devaluation and the timing of an interest rate increase in the United States. The Philippines will soon digest the impact of the yuan devaluation on the economy and its neighbors. Manila may be forced to liberalize the economy further to attract more foreign investments and stay competitive. The current and next political leaders should recognize the world’s changing economic landscape.

BONGBONG ARRIVES LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES LOOK how Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has grown. And now, as he nears the end of his first six-year term, I’m happy to report that the Senate education of Bongbong is coming along nicely. Marcos has shown that a gaudy family name shouldn’t necessarily be a mere passport – important only to get into the Senate, where the holder can just proceed to vegetate until the next

election. And there are so many of them there, the non-performing dynastic spawn of political orders past. If only because of what Marcos did to revise and revisit the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, which he dedicated to the 44 slain Special Action Force commandos, I think Marcos has come into his own as a senator. And he has really come full circle, since the first advocacy he supported as a rookie senator coinciding with the advent of this current Aquino administration. That was the time when Marcos decided he would go full-bore into opposing the postponement of the scheduled election of the

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which he failed to block because he was overwhelmed by the numbers of propalace senators four years ago. That in itself is a story that bears retelling. The Ilocano senator, in his role as chairman of the Senate committee on local governments, had received support and advice from a senior senator in his quest to stop Malacanang’s plan to postpone the polls and to appoint officers-in-charge of ARMM so that the election may be synchronized with the midterm 2013 political exercise. But, to Marcos’ chagrin, this same

Marcos has found his stride as a senator, and he did it with persistence and constant study of the Moro problem.

senator suddenly went the other way, expounding on the constitutionality of deferring the polls, just like Senate President Franklin Drilon and the palace wanted. After submitting an adverse committee report, Marcos soldiered on, calling on his Malacanang-allied peers to “once again prove to be beyond and above partisan politics” during the voting on the postponement bill. He lost both the vote, 13-7, and his bid to have the bill archived, after it was resuscitated by his peers and eventually approved by President Noynoy Aquino. Still, I think Marcos learned an important lesson in the ARMM elections debacle. And

now, he has returned with a vengeance to stop the passage of a draft BBL almost entirely dictated on Congress – and the people – by Malacanang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. *** Many senators have made political hay out of the controversial draft BBL and its evil twin, the Mamasapano massacre, which was born soon after the Aquino administration decided to implement a full-court press on the MILF-sponsored proposed legislation. Some of these senators are now con-

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sidered, like Senator Grace Poe, candidates for higher office merely because they appeared to be disapproving of the botched police operation that killed so many police commandos last January. But it was only Marcos who took on the task of using a fine-toothed comb to go over the BBL, with a view to making it less of a hurried, all-embracing exercise in appeasement to the MILF, after linking it inexorably to Mamasapano. And this time, both the Senate and an outraged populace were on Bongbong’s side.

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Fully 17 senators, including many who once appeared to be unable to breathe until the President approved, signed Marcos’ substitute BBL, which incorporated many of the changes that all right-thinking Filipinos wanted, even before Mamasapano happened. These include consultations with the rival Moro National Liberation Front and the abandoning of the onerous “opt-in” provision that threatened to make the Moro areas grow far beyond their already-expanded original borders. Continued on A11

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

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

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

MAY I appeal to our good men—and women—of the Judiciary: Release Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. Grant him bail. Release him. One of the Philippines’ longest-serving public servants, Enrile is 91, and ailing. We are supposed to have a law that discourages suspects who are above 70 from being jailed. Enrile had wanted that his prosecutors give him a bill of particulars – meaning clarify exactly the crime he is accused of committing, when and how he supposedly committed it, and what the evidence is to prove such a crime. If the crime is plunder resulting from the use of his pork barrel, it is a crime that requires a series of acts. Enrile wants to know what are those acts are – when and how those acts were committed, how much the amounts involved in each act are, and whom he dealt with in committing such acts. In July 2014, the anti-graft court Sandigan denied this petition. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the Supreme Court voting 8-5, granted JPE’s appeal and directed the anti-graft prosecutor Ombudsman to submit such a bill of particulars to the Sandiganbayan. However, the high court did not grant the other half of JPE’s petition – that he be allowed to post bail and thus released from jail. Enrile had said the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division committed grave abuse of discretion when it denied his request for the bill of particulars, that is why he went to the Supreme Court to seek relief. Enrile has been in a national police headquarters jail since his arrest last year. Two other senators, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, are also in jail, also for the alleged plunder of their pork barrel. Please note that at least 22 senators committed abuses of one kind or another with their pork barrel. Plus at least 200 other congressmen. They include senators who today are portraying themselves as the epitome of honesty and good governance. Yet, these people are not in jail. Only Enrile, Revilla, and Jinggoy. Why? Because the three happen to be in the opposition and President BS Aquino III wants no opposition, especially opposition of the kind Enrile, who is cerebral and has a mind of his own, and of Revilla and Jinggoy who should be running for president or vice president in 2016 and dimming the Yellow Army’s Mar Roxas’ chances of grabbing the presidency. We have selective justice in this country. According to surveys here and abroad, the Philippines has among the most corrupt judiciary systems in the world. 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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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY, A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

RELEASE ENRILE

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Marcos has found his stride as a senator, and he did it with persistence and constant study of the Moro problem.

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

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

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

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY, A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE LAW’S EMPIRE

WORTH IN DOLLARS

SURE, the title that the laws, PENSEES is from Dworkin however, do not and the rest of this proscribe? The FR. RANHILIO newspapers repiece is not about CALLANGAN ported Justice Dworkin, but it AQUINO does ask about Carpio as enunthe reaches of the ciating a prinlaw’s domain. The Supreme Court’s ciple of legal philosophy to which hearing on the Torre de Manila is- at least he, if not the entire Court, sue made this bit of philosophy subscribes: What is not prohibited an immediately practical concern. is allowed! The positivity of modThere was furor when the floors ern law requires that an action started to rise and the Torre pro- norm that takes on the character truded into the skyline. Many felt of law be passed or promulgated by something was not right. Some a body (that need not be the legisput it more dramatically: A nation- lature) duly constituted ultimately al shrine, they shrieked in dismay, by the people’s discursive power to was being desecrated. Then, as so legislate or to regulate. very often happens in our litigious Law and jurisprudence are about country, someone went to the Su- predictability, and predictability is preme Court to ask that the con- good both for fairness as well as for struction be halted. And there was business. Laws are basically about applause when the court stopped predictability. They are an attempt further work on the Torre -- leaving to rein in the “unpredictables” of investors and buyers as confused human existence by stabilized beand as bewildered havioral expectaas the people of Bations. The Torre bel when the tower case is one example that they thought of a situation where would reach to some gut feeling the very throne of says that obstructWhat does God would rise no ing the view of a one do with more, stopped dead revered monument in its arrogant preis just not right... gut feelings tension by Divine but one cannot find of impropriety decree! a law that supports if not wrong Then, the difthat position. Beficult questions havioral expectathat the laws, came. Exactly what tions can be stable law was it that was however, do not only if all know how proscribe? transgressed? The all are supposed to petitioners should act—and this rehave expected that quires that laws be because they had set forth, posited. sought relief before One feature of a court of law, but it does seem they modern law is its positivity, and quite did not. Aside from groping no matter how insistent the feelabout from one vaguely applicable ing, if there is no law that provides provision of the Constitution to the the warrant, there is no basis for other, there was some mumbling a legal claim. True, rule-making about one principle or other of the will always be hued to the contours National Historical Institute and of a particular situation and the the National Commission on Cul- concrete permutation of facts, but ture and the Arts. This prompted there still has to be predictability, recourse to what Hart called “the and the crafting of “ad hoc” norms rule of recognition” and, Justice to placate popular indignation is Antonio Carpio barely containing just not the way to go. his annoyance, grumbled: “These are not laws.” rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph What does one do with gut feel- rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph ings of impropriety if not wrong rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

THE drafters of the Social Security Law cannot be faulted for not having laid down a comprehensive national policy to guide the Social Security System. This they did when they declared into Republic Act No. 1161 on June 18, 1954 that “It is …the policy of the Republic of the Philippines to develop, establish gradually and perfect a social security system which shall be suitable to the needs of the people throughout the Philippines, and shall provide protection against the hazards of unemployment, disability, sickness, old age and death.” Subsequently, this national policy declaration was improved to clearly define that what we must have is “a sound and viable tax-exempt social security system.” But if we think that this policy was permanent or would last long, we are mistaken. It was amended and diluted even before SSS could open up on September 1, 1957 to collect its first peso of contribution. Republic Act 1792 that was passed on June 21, 1957 deleted unemployment among these hazards. Eventually, though, maternity was added, leaving out unemployment and family allowance as the only unimplemented among the nine internationally recognized social security programs. The 1957 amendments also provided explicitly that “to carry out the purposes of this Act, the Social Security System …is hereby created.” But SSS never became the sole institution in charge of the country’s social security program. As it turned out, SSS evolved into limiting its coverage to those working in the private sector while the Government Service Insurance System - established 20 years earlier - continued to take care of those in the public sector. Yet, the original 1954 legislation meant SSS to expand its scope of coverage by providing that “any individual in the employ of the Government, or of

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO any of its political subdivisions, branches, or instrumentalities, including corporations owned or controlled by the Government, as well as any individual employed by a private entity not subject to compulsory membership under this Act may join the System … Any other individual may likewise join the System.” At the least, SSS could have been the exclusive administrator of all nine branches of social security for those working in the private sector. But as things turned out, SSS ended up as implementor only of maternity, disability, sickness, old age and death, preferring to focus in lending loans to members. SSS administers the workmen’s compensation program but its policy-making and oversight functions are being done by the Employees’ Compensation Commission with the labor secretary as chairman. The medical care program—first administered by SSS for the private sector—has become completely independent and is now administered by PhilHealth under its own board chaired by the health secretary. A de facto family allowance program for poor families is now being implemented by the welfare department under a conditional cash transfer program. With no legislative mandate, it is funded annually by Congress on an ad hoc basis. Has SSS failed to carry out its full legal mandate? We note that the Social Security Law does not specify that SSS shall be the only institution that will implement the nation’s social security programs. Neither does it mandate that GSIS would be absorbed eventually by SSS. Unmindful of this legal mandate, SSS developed during the time of Administrator Renato Valencia statements of

vision and mission which still guide SSS to this day. These statements, unfortunately, tended to set aside the statutory declaration of policy. Instead, they committed SSS into becoming “a viable social security institution providing universal and equitable social protection through world-class service.” What these statements want SSS to become is a difficult balancing act. To be equitable, SSS must continue to collect P110 of contributions monthly from poor members. For it to be viable, it must pay out a monthly pension of P1,200 only. This would guarantee maybe that its reserves would last for a hundred years, but it would definitely make SSS a useless social security institution. Is SSS able to deliver worldclass service? Maybe, SSS is delivering fast and efficient service by employing the latest in technology and processes that are certified as international operating standards. Its offices are decentralized and located inside shopping malls, and perhaps they are easily accessible. But at retirement, the amount of pension is the one that really matters. There is little joy receiving meager pensions via the banking system’s automated tellering machines if they could only buy basic necessities such as rice and fish that last only for a few days. Can they buy pensioners a kilo of NFA rice daily for a month? That minimum pension of P1,200 can’t. It is thus time that SSS dropped its delusion of providing world-class social security service because millions of Filipinos know what it is. Having worked across the world from Asia, Europe, Arabia and America, they know that SSS is miles away from achieving it. Even if they contributed only a few pesos, they can easily convert at today’s prevailing exchange rate the average SSS retirement pension of P3,540 to $76.71 and belittle it.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THE YOLANDA RECOVERY? By Titon Mitra THERE is an enduring adage that “the whole is only the sum of its parts”. Recent press and commentary on the statement of Professor Beyani, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, underlines the problems with highlighting certain issues in the absence of the whole. Beyani was complementary about the Yolanda recovery and rehabilitation efforts. He commended the institutional and policy structures and frameworks that have been put in place, noting that the Philippines has much valuable experience that should be shared

internationally. This is a view UNDP shares. Our then Senior Recovery Coordinator said that from his experience in many different disasters, he had never seen a recovery happen so quickly and so effectively. But there is no question that significant challenges remain to be resolved in areas affected by Yolanda. This is neither surprising nor unusual. Remember that two years following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was in far worse shape. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, 230,000 people today are still in temporary shelters. Clearly the baseline in the Visayas (and for that matter nationally) relating

to economic development, infrastructure, local capacity, financial resources, systems and processes for emergency and recovery management, were far below that of New Orleans and Japan. Benchmarking progress is important in managing expectations. The multilateral community had anticipated that reconstruction in Yolanda-affected areas would take at least 4-5 years. The usual period of time it takes for areas in similar circumstances to recover. The issues highlighted in recent press coverage reflect a number of structural challenges that need to be addressed to expedite recovery from future disasters. Addressing these challenges re-

quires the collaborative effort of the Legislature and the Executive and of national and local governments. It is far too convenient to point the finger in one direction, when collective responsibility and action is required. Let me comment on a few of these structural challenges. The Department of Budget and Management has already released P88.96 billion for Yolanda operations. The total amount covers the releases from the end of 2013 to the first semester of 2015. For the second half of 2015, DBM plans to release P14.05 billion more. The transparency and accountability provisions within the law in part dictate the pace of release. Money

from the center does need to move quickly. But as UNDP’s key mantra is good governance we certainly will not be urging haste at the expense of appropriate financial controls. The structural challenge then is whether the public financial management system is “fit for purpose.” Stringent procurement processes prescribed under RA 9184, the Government’s Procurement Law, are well intentioned, meant to ensure transparency and quality assurance. But it should be reviewed and amended, to include provisions on fast-track processes that will allow quicker recovery and rehabilitation following disasters. This requires legislative action. Continued on A11

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EVERYMAN

COAL IS KING—NO MATTER THE COST

By Renee Juliene Karunungan THERE is no point denying it: climate has changed. We experience it in our everyday lives — the heat has become unbearable and strong typhoons have extended their stay in the country. Our fisherfolk are having more difficulty in catching fish because of warmer waters while farmers are having a hard time re-learning which crops to plant since weather has become more unpredictable. The Philippines, in fact, has always been on the list of most vulnerable countries to climate change. Even those who do not know what climate change is feel its impacts. In the past six years we have experienced extreme weather events such as Ondoy, which battered Metro Manila, and Yolanda, which devastated most of Eastern Visayas. We have seen the photos, heard the news, and watched the videos, but the question is, despite being climate change vulnerable, why has our government approved more coalfired power plants to be put up? According to Commissioner Heherson Alvarez of the Climate Change Commission, in his article published in Responding to Climate Change (RTCC), “At the moment, a major difficulty is that many of our policymakers appear to be swayed by conventional macroeconomic goals dependent on coal and fossil fuels.” Have we become so fossil fuel- and coal-dependent that we can no longer see a future without them, despite their environmental, health, and even human rights implications? A coal power plant in Bataan operated by

Petron has been reported by residents to have been bringing toxic coal ash in the area which has already caused skin diseases and respiratory problems. The expansion of coal power plants in the area being made by San Miguel Corporation has brought about land grabbing issues where 110 families face eviction from their own land. So why do we keep on investing in dirty energy and in dirty companies instead of clean and renewable energy? Has our government become so blinded by money that coal is supposed to bring in to the country? Has our government not counted coal’s real costs like environmental degradation, health hazards, and human rights violations? With more than 40 approved coal power plants in the country, our government has made its stand: coal is king — no matter the cost. According to a report by the UN-led Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), data from 1998-2009 reveals that in the Asia Pacific region, the Philippines already ranks as the second-highest in terms of the number of people exposed to storms and floods (12.1 million) and the fourth-highest in terms of GDP value losses ($24.3 billion). So can we still afford a coal and fossil fuel dependent economy, given the climate impacts we have been facing? The answer is no. Coal and fossil fuel use has led us to our situation today where we face climate impacts we have not foreseen and where we will face a future of uncertainty. Other countries have committed in lessening their carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy, with ambitious targets. Morocco,

vulnerability data and land zoning. Where appropriate Releases also have to be land is identified, it needs calibrated to the capacity of to be purchased (at a fair local governments and na- price) or allocated and the tional agencies to effectively land prepared by putting in disperse allocations. Tech- place basic infrastructure nical capacity to effectively including, roads, electricplan, program and deliver ity and water. Housing and is limited – if it weren’t, infrastructure has to be built UNDP with our national back better. That is, re-engiand international partners, neered to withstand stronger would not be working in the hazard events than the last Philippines with programs one experienced. This all infocused on building that ca- evitably takes time. pacity. While families are in Families still have to be temporary accommodation, relocated from bunkhouses. appropriate protection meaAt least 2,000 families re- sures need to be in place. main in temporary shelters. Protection is a basic right, Government aims to move but the draft bill on protect70 percent of the 2,000 fami- ing the rights of displaced lies into permanent concrete has languished in the Senhomes by year-end. But ate. Its’ appropriate formurelocation is contingent lation and passage would on availability of land that provide a clear framework is not vulnerable to future and accountable measure disasters. This requires ef- for support to the displaced. fective use of hazard and Importantly, it will ensure

Where.. From A10

#FAILOCRACY

that the UN Guiding Principles on displaced, which are based on key instruments of international human rights law, are enshrined in the national legal framework. There is still much to do not only for those affected by Yolanda but also to prepare the systems and processes for any future event. The recovery process must continue apace. Now is also the time to examine closely what worked and did less so and make the structural fixes required to further enhance capacity to respond and recover in the future. This is a time for shared responsibility in building resilience to the new normal of a world affected by rapid climate change. Titon Mitra is the Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines.

for example, has targeted a 42-percent renewable electricity generation by 2020. But here we are, the Philippines, a country most vulnerable to climate change and a country that has been asking other countries to mitigate carbon emissions, investing in dirty energy. By continuously investing in coal, we prove our insincerity in dealing with climate change. We also do a disservice to Filipinos who are dealing with climate change impacts. The government is digging the graves of their own countrymen, the people they promised to serve, their “bosses.” Margaret Atwood, in her article “It is not climate change, it is everything change” in Medium, said, ”…in the coal energy culture — a culture of workers and production — you are your job. ‘I am what I make.’ In an oil and gas energy culture — a culture of consumption — you are your possessions. ‘I am what I buy.’ But in a renewable energy culture, you are what you conserve. ‘I am what I save and protect.’ We aren’t used to thinking like this, because we can’t see where the money will come from. But in a culture of renewables, money will not be the only measure of wealth. Well-being will factor as an economic positive, too.” It is time for our government to rethink where it invests its resources. It is time for the government to prove that it is indeed sincere in dealing with climate change. Renee Juliene Karunungan, 25, is the advocacy director of Dakila, an organization that has been campaigning for climate justice since 2009. She is also a climate tracker for Adopt A Negotiator.

Bongbong.. From A9 Marcos found his stride as a senator, and he did it with his persistence and constant study of the Moro problem. And Marcos did not have to create a controversy or pick a fight with a perceived rival to do it. I don’t know if Bongbong Marcos really intends to run for higher office now that his first six years as a senator are coming to a close. But I look at the current crop of people who are openly or covertly seeking the presidency or the vice presidency and I wonder if any of them can prove that they can be as consistently issue-oriented and willing to learn as Marcos is proving to be. (Yes, I’ve seen that “Bongbong” television ad that seems to extol the virtues of taking selfies. But I’ll let that pass as an attempt to court the youth vote that is necessary in any election.) After suffering five years under an administration that talks a good game but does nothing, I think it’s time the political pendulum swung back to people like Marcos, who can actually get things done. There’s a lot under the hood for anyone who cares to look beyond the Marcos badge, I think. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see more of Bongbong Marcos in the future. And I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised if we do.

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Release.. From A9 According to Transparency International, judges and justices rank just behind policemen (bow!) and politicians (bow!) in corruption. So when our justices look at Enrile, Revilla and Jinggoy as men of corruption, shouldn’t they be looking at themselves first? Enrile is a veritable national hero. As defense secretary, he led the February 1986 People Power that ended Ferdinand Marcos’s 14 years of martial rule and his 20-year reign. Because Enrile (together with Fidel Ramos) ousted Marcos, Corazon Aquino became president, without the benefit of winning an election properly, in 1986, and her son, BS Aquino III, became president, with the benefit of the muchmaligned PCOS machines. One man died, Ninoy Aquino, and a family gains two presidencies extending for 15 and a half years. Under Cory, Enrile was fired and was almost cheated of his senatorial victory the second time he ran for senator. Under BS Aquino, JPE has been charged, arrested and jailed. Yet, BS Aquino wants to extend the Yellow Army’s rule for another 12 years – six under Mar Roxas, plus six, under presumably, Grace Poe if she agrees to be Mar’s vice president. Grace Poe is under some kind of duress. She must agree to be Mar Roxas’s VP and thus ensure Daang Matuwid Part II. If she does not agree, suspected henchmen of Roxas will run after her, piling up cases emanating for her not being allegedly a natural-born Filipino (required of all presidents) and not having resided for ten years before election for president (required of all presidents). The previous front-runner for president, Vice President Jojo Binay, is just waiting for his jailers to come and arrest him and put him behind bars – on corruption allegations. With Grace Poe and Binay both out of the way, the path clears for Mar Roxas for 12 more years of the Aquino regime and for quite possibly lifetime imprisonment for Enrile et al. What a country!

CHONG ARDIVILLA

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Spieth re-thinks his goals KOHLER—Two major triumphs in one year and a shot at the number one world ranking have Jordan Spieth rapidly recalculating his career goals.

Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return against Tommy Robredo of Spain during day three of the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Andy Murray defeated Tommy Robredo 6-4, 7-5. AFP

Murray beats Robredo after delay MONTREAL—Andy Murray took care of some unfinished business as the second seed advanced to the third round of the ATP Tour’s Montreal Masters on Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Tommy Robredo. The Scot ended the match, which was postponed because of heavy rain Tuesday, by executing a drop shot which bounced on the top of the net before falling onto Robredo’s side of the court for the winner. But there was disappointment for French Open winner Stan Wawrinka who was unable to carry on due to apparent back problems, with the Swiss quitting to hand a 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 4-0 victory to Australian Nick Kyrgios. Wawrinka, who did not play after Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury, called for the trainer as he trailed two breaks in the third set. After speaking with the trainer and his coach Magnus Norman, the 30-year-old third seed decided to

give up the match. Murray set up a meeting with Gilles Muller—whom he has defeated twice this season—as he finished his second round contest with 24 winners and 30 unforced errors and breaking four times. The pair resumed play Wednesday after standing 4-4 in the opening set when the rain stopped play on Tuesday night. “It was a very tough match, there were a lot of nerves near the end of the first set,” said Murray. “I won two close games to take it. “Conditions today were a lot different, there was a lot of wind. It was difficult to attack and play aggressively. I had to chase down a lot of balls and got lucky a few times as well. “It was a long day hanging round with the rain, I’m glad I managed to finish it off in two because it’s been quite a long couple of days.” Rafael Nadal made an encourag-

ing start to the summer hard-court campaign as the Spaniard recovered to defeat Sergiy Stakhovsky 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. The seventh seed had to wait for two hours before his match at the Uniprix stadium could begin, after a morning rain shower was followed by a towel-drying effort and repairs to bubbles on the rubberized surface. But once down to business, Nadal made the most of his opening contest on the cement, winning the first set in a tiebreaker and sweeping the second to reach the third round and a date with Mikhail Youzhny, who beat French ninth seed Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-4. Nadal is playing in Canada for the first time since winning his third title here in 2013. The world number nine improved to 40-12 on the season. “I go day by day. Today is a victory that I am happy with,” said Nadal. AFP

Heading into the PGA Championship that tees off at Whistling Straits on Thursday, the 22-yearold Masters and US Open champion is closing in on Rory McIlroy’s number one world ranking much sooner than his meticulous career plan forecast. “I did not have a timeframe set for that,” Spieth said of reaching number one. “Given everything that’s happened, I believe now that I would like it obviously to be sooner rather than later—and then to be able to hold on to it,” he told reporters at a press conference. “As I’m sure Rory knows, Adam Scott knows, Luke Donald knows, there’s Tiger,” he said. “There’s a number of them that understand what it’s like. I don’t know what that feels like -- yet.” Spieth earned his first major title in historic style at Augusta National in April, deftly handling the final-round tension to hold off Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose to win the Masters by four shots. He edged fellow Ameri-

can Dustin Johnson for the US Open title at Chambers Bay, to arrive at storied St. Andrews with the third leg of a possible calendar grand slam in his sights. “Of course, after winning the first leg—let alone the first two legs—that talk, that noise, starts to come about, but it’s still a whole ‘nother animal just to win a major in general,” Spieth said. “I wasn’t coming (to the British Open) trying to win a grand slam. I knew the history of it. I knew what we possibly could have done. “But at the same time, my frustration was only that we were tied for the lead with two holes to go —with one of them being a birdie hole —and we didn’t close it out. We didn’t even get into a playoff.” - Work to do That disappointment has fueled Spieth’s appetite for a PGA Championship win even more than the knowledge that he could join Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win three major championships in the same year. AFP

2 Fil-Chinese teams gain semis in Kuching cage tourney KUCHING, Malaysia—The two teams of the Filipino-Chinese Veterans Basketball Association easily advanced to the semis of their respective divisions in the 24th ASEAN Seniors Basketball Tournament Wednesday here. The 50-years’ squad was the first to

make it to the Final Four after a 67-49 rout of Indonesia’s Pontiana in Group B action that saw streak shooter Achit Kaw exploding for 28 points at the MBKS Stadium. The win came after a scary 62-56 victory over fellow title contender Kuala Lumpur

in the opener last Tuesday. Kaw, who made most of his baskets through the help of crafty guard in former Letran star Jerry Gonzales and Andrew Ongteco, was ably supported by former Philippine Basketball Association player Sonny Cabatu and Benet Palad, who com-

bined for 22 points. The 40-years’ squad scored an 83-66 win over Kuala Lumpur for its second straight victory in Group B. Both teams are already assured of semis berths even if they drop their last game in their respective group elims.

Rivera, Moreno, Santos top slalom MILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing Team once again bagged the production and overall best time in the 2015 National Slalom Series at the Robinsons Nova Market. Rivera clocked 46.42 to beat Team Big Chill’s Dr. Peewee Mendiola, who had a time of 46.72. Rivera’s brother and teammate Estefano placed third with 47.60, while Jevoy Moreno of AF Racing Team and MSM Motorsports’ Mike San Miguel placed fourth and fifth, respectively, with 48.44 and 51.56. For the first time in slalom history, organizers had to do a runoff for the Front Wheel best time between Moreno and San Miguel, with the former taking the title with a clocking of 50.04. San Miguel

had 56.10. Paolo Santos won the novice best time of the day with a clocking of 48.96. The 2015 National Slalom Series is sponsored by Shell Helix motor oils, Federal Tyres, Outlast Battery, Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, Robinsons Nova Market and media partners Stoplight TV, Inside Motoring, DZRJ-Am, Pinoy Speed sa mga Pahayagan, Spin.Ph (Sports Interactive Network) and C! Magazine. All events are sanctioned and affiliated by the Automobile Club of the Philippines. The ninth leg will be held on Sept. 13 at Riverbanks Marikina. For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at tel. nos. 09178119337 or 09228165344, or email racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com. Some of the official results.

Milo Rivera of Tough Gear Racing Team bagged the production and overall best time in the 2015 National Slalom Series at the Robinsons Nova Market with a clocking of 46.42.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Malig, jr keglers eye world meet

Biboy Rivera (left) with players (from left) Ivan Malig, Louis Cantorna, GJ Buyco and Merwin Tan

FRESH from winning two silver medals in the 16th Asian School Tenpin Bowling Championships in Hong Kong last week, the Philippine Junior Bowling team is eyeing another strong finish in the 14th World Youth Championship to be held next year in Nebraska, USA. Ivan Malig, 17, who took home the boys’ masters’ silver medal and the boys’ team-of-four event silver during the Hong Kong event, said his recent performance will definitely serve as inspiration for him to work harder and pursue his dream. “We just came up short for a gold, but those two silver finishes will give us enough courage to play better in international competitions next time,” said Malig, a student at the University of the Philip-

pines in Diliman, Quezon City. “If given a chance next year, I’m willing to become part of the Philippine delegation in the 14th World Youth Championship in Nebraska, USA,” he added. Malig lost to Singapore’s Kuek Qi En in the two-game title showdown (183-216) to settle for silver in the boys’ masters’ event. Malig and his teammates Cebuano GJ Buyco, rookie international campaigner Louis Cantorna and Merwin Tan took the silver in the boys’ team. The nationals stood at ninth place after the first block of 3 games in the boys’ team event, but rolled 880 on the fourth game to advance to sixth place. Their 952 and 868 scores in the fifth and sixth games catapulted them to second place.

Cuello’s title shot in Sulaiman’s hands By Ronnie Nathanielsz FACED with the problem of former minimum weight champion Raul Garcia’s decision to pull out of a final eliminator against No. 1 contender Denver Cuello because of the former’s inability to make the weight, World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman will decide early next week on whether to order a title shot for the Filipino against champion Wanheng Menayothin or Thailand or have either No. 2-ranked Byron Rojas or No. 3 ranked Carlos Buitrago replace Garcia in a final eliminator. In a conversation with The Standard/boxingmirror.com, Sulaiman who said he would be back in Mexico City on Monday, indicated he would

look at the options and make a decision early next week. The 29-year-old Menayothin is undefeated with a record of 38-0, with 13 knockouts and

is coming off a ninth-round knockout in his last title defense against Filipino Jerry Tomogdan on Feb. 5. Rojas has a record of 15-2-3 with 8 knockouts, while Buitrago has a record of 28-1-1, with 16 knockouts. The 23-year-old Buitrago figured in a split draw with then World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Merlito Sabillo in a title fight on Nov. 30, 2013 and is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Mario Rodriguez to win the WBA/ NABO title last March 21. Rojas scored a fifth-round TKO in a scheduled eight-round bout against Julio Mendoza on Oct. 25, 2014. The 28-year-old Cuello has a record of 36-5-6 with

24 knockouts. He won the WBC Silver title with a stunning first-round knockout of Carlos Perez in Mexico on Oct. 15, 2011, and successfully defended the title with a second-round TKO over fancied Ganigan Lopez on May 19, 2012. Cuello’s only loss in the last five years was in a title fight against China’s Xiong Zhao Zhong in Dubai on June 28, 2013, when he suffered a torn rotator cuff early in the fight and fought the rest of the way with one hand, but still managed to hold the champion to a majority decision win. Cuello underwent surgery and returned to the ring after one year and four months of therapy and won three fights in a row, all by stoppage.

Azkal Rota joins Football for a Better Life ITALIAN—RAISED Filipino Simto Buklod Kalinga, where they played one Rota, a member of the Philipfootball with some of the kids from pine Azkals Men’s National Football the home and students from nearby Team and the Stallions FC, joins Pru Don Bosco Canlubang. Life UK Football for a Better Life Spending a day with Rota, Thomas when the grassroots program goes to was inspired by the latter’s journey Laguna on Aug. 15 and 16. from orphan to athlete. The 30-year-old Rota teams up with He declared: “Like Chieffy, who former Azkals’ skipper and current is from humble roots, Simone is a Azkals U-16 coach Chieffy Caligdong true inspiration not only to me and and Football for a Better Life Grassto the youth of the Philippines, but roots Development Director Chris to humanity. I am extremely excited Thomas in conducting clinics and to work alongside them on our next tournaments for the youth in Laguna. tour.” Calauan in Laguna is the current Thomas, Rota and Caligdong are site of Buklod Kalinga, an orphanage bringing Football for a Better Life’s run by Franciscan sisters. brand of “good ol’ football fun” to When Rota was a baby, he was left Laguna. in the care of Buklod Kalinga’s sisters Thomas said: “We have chosen a set until he was adopted by an Italian of drills and exercises that will hone Football for a Better Life Grassroots Development Director technical skills while also maximizcouple. Asked why he decided to collabo- Chris Thomas (left) with Simone Rota ing the players’ enjoyment.” rate with Pru Life UK, Caligdong and Footballers ages 6 to 12 are welThomas, Rota said: “I know how it feels to have struggles all day come to join the free clinics that will be held on Aug. 15 in Buklod and everyday. I want to give the children an opportunity to be Kalinga/Don Bosco Football Field in Calauan. Meanwhile, the happy, to not focus on the hardships but to have fun and laugh tournaments will be held the following day at the Laguna Sports and have fellowship with other children.” Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Teams from Laguna and other Thomas, a British football development consultant, and Rota places in southwestern Luzon are expected to participate in the went to Laguna in late July to ocular the site and make a side visit U-8, U-10, U-10, U-14, U-16 and Women’s Open divisions.

Black wants big man, point guard By Robbie Pangilinan MERALCO Bolts coach Norman Black will pick a big man and a ball handler in the coming Philippine Basketball Association Annual Rookie draft. The team finished with an even 21-21 record last season and owns the fourth and seventh picks this year. “Last conference, we had a good start. We beat big teams like SMB, Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text, and Purefoods. The only teams that beat the Bolts are Rain or Shine and Alaska in crucial games. Why? Because we ran out of ball handlers,” said Black. Black said that the Bolts were pressed from start to finish. Coach Black’s plan is to get one big man and one point guard or power forward. The 11-time PBA champion coach is confident of his team, with Jimmy Alapag and returning Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Alapag has a good track record in the PBA and in Gilas Pilipinas. “I think he’ll (Alapag) be a big help to the team as far as his talent. Although he’s older now, but he can shoot the ball well, he’s a very steady point guard, who takes good care of the basketball and he executes the plays well,” added Black. Al-Hussaini is coming back after a one-year sabbatical. The latest additions to the team, who Coach Black thinks would be big assets are San Beda star Art dela Cruz and Letran’s Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Blatche returns to practice today By Jeric Lopez

SMART Gilas Pilipinas got some good news that naturalized player Andray Blatche doesn’t have any serious injuries. Initially, many feared that Blatche might be in sick bay for quite a stretch after suffering an injury late last week in practice Thursday night. He was forced to miss the team’s next three practices with the

injury bothering him. What was initially thought as a groin injury turned out to be actually just an infection called prostatitis which affects the prostate. The infection is a minor

concern with Blatche responding well to medication. After being sidelined from practice for almost a week, Blatche was reportedly cleared to get back to training with the National Team, which resumes its practice tonight at the Meralco Gym in Mandaluyong City as Smart Gilas continues its preparations for the FIBA Asia Championship. Meanwhile, Smart Gilas management, National coach

Tab Baldwin and the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas are now swiftly looking for an alternative option for the scrapped Turkey training camp for the National team. They are looking forward to the experience the team will get in several pocket tournaments. The original plan was for Smart Gilas to undergo an intensive camp in Turkey, but that fell apart early this week as several players in the

pool were unable to secure the requisite visas. The team would’ve left yesterday had it pushed through. Instead, Smart Gilas is now set to focus first on a three-team pocket tournament in Estonia where it will be slated to play a set of games against Estonia, the Netherlands and Iceland. At the moment, the tournaments that Smart Gilas will participate in are the Estonia tournament, the annual Wil-

Bill in support of athletes backed

3/F, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, Phillippines 1226

By Peter Atencio

INVITATION TO BID The Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) invites all interested PhilGEPS registered consultancy firm to submit bids for the following projects: Purchase Request No.

Project

Approved Budget for the Contract (Php)

Bid Document Fees (Php)

Submission of Eligibility Documents

Pre-Bid Conference Schedule

Opening of Bids Schedule

15-07-0113

Consultancy Services (firm) for the Development of the GCG Whistleblowing Program

P 12,000,000

P 25,000

24 Aug. 2015 10:00 am

03 Sept 2015 10:00 am

14 Sept. 2015 10:00 am

15-08-0126

Procurement of Training Provider for Workshop for Strategic Workforce Analysis

P 1, 100,000

P 1,000

24 Aug. 2015 11:00 am

03 Sept 2015 11:00 am

14 Sept. 2015 11:00 am

Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before 24 August 2015 at GCG Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Eligibility Documents/Expressions of Interest and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of five (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

A BILL which seeks to increase incentives and benefits given to athletes and coaches who win medals in international meets, finally got the support of the Senate Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports. Committee Chairman Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said in a privilege speech last Wednesday that he is sponsoring Senate Bill 2898 co-authored by Senators Tito Sotto, Ralph Recto, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Bong Revilla back in 2011. Angara said the passage of the bill will help national athletes, coaches and trainers overcome hurdles in ERRATUM There was an error in the ad placement of Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) dated August 13, 2015. The Pre-Bid Conference for the above projects will be held on 24 August 2015 and not Augsut 21, 2015 as published.

the way of Philippine sports. “Minamandato po nito ang pagbigay ng mas mataas na insentibong pinansiyal para sa ating mga national athletes. Kasama po dito ang mga insentibo para sa kanilang mga coach at trainer. Ito’y para mas marami po sa atin ang maenganyong lumahok at magtagumpay sa mga internasyunal na kompetisyon, bilang kinatawan ng Pilipinas,” said Angara in a statement. Angara noted that there are athletes who are not official members of the national training pool who have represented the country in international competitions. An example is the Philippine Army Dragon Boat team which

won medals in the world championships five years ago. “Kung naipasa ang batas na ito noong 2011, nabigyan sana ng nararapat na gantimpala ang Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team,” he said. Under the proposal, athletes will receive P10 million for an Olympic gold medal, P5 million for an Olympic silver medal, P5 million for a gold in the Youth Olympic and the Paralympic Games and P2 million for champions in the Asian Games and Winter Games. Gold medal winners in the Asian Paragames and Asian Indoor Games will get P1 million along with the winners in the Martial Arts Games and Worldlevel competitions.

For fast ad results, please call Advertising Department 832-5547 (DL); 832-5550 (Telefax);

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT-Metro Manila VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

a) Applicable Experience 30% b) Qualification of principal and key staff 50% c) Current workload to capacity 20% “Applicable Experience” pertains to the firm/consultant’s overall experiences and the individual experiences of its principal and key staff including the times when employed by other firms.

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com

“Qualification of Personnel” pertains to the personnel who may be assigned to the job and their expertise vis-à-vis the extent and complexity of the undertaking;

Invitation to Bid for UPGRADING OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF VMC

“Job Capacity” means the absorptive capacity of the Applicant to do additional works other than those currently undertaken. The “Rating” multiplied by their respective “Weights” gives the weighted “Scores”. These are added to determine the total points for the Applicant. The Applicants shall then be ranked according to their “Total Points” which will qualify them for the short listing and to bid for contract.

The Valenzuela Medical Center , through the INCOME/GAA/GOP intends to apply the sum of Ten Million Six Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Seven and 11/100 Pesos Only (P 10,699,957.11) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Procurement of Upgrading of Electrical System of Valenzuela Medical Center. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.

The Valenzuela Medical Center now invites bids for Upgrading of Electrical System of Valenzuela Medical Center.1 Completion of the Works is required one hundred eighty days (180). 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 in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in 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”.

(i) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation/ Selection (QCBE/QCBS). The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders. The Pre-Bid Conference for the above two projects will be held on 03 September 2015 at the GCG Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. All prospective bidders are encouraged to attend. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the GCG Office at the address given upon payment of the nonrefundable Bid Document Fees. Opening of Bids and Deadline for the submission of the Bid/Tender Documents/Forms are on 14 September 2015 at the GCG Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding, using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at the Opening of Bids. Bidders will be subjected to eligibility criteria to determine completeness of bid and post qualification.

DIR. NOEL P. LUNA BAC Chairman (TS-AUG. 14, 2015)

liam Jones Cup from Aug. 29 to Sept. 6 in Taiwan before coming home for another pocket tournament, the MVP Cup, where the Nationals will play Lebanon, Taiwan and the Wellington Saints, one of the top teams in New Zealand. The Nationals will start their campaign in the FIBA Asia tilt on Sept. 23 against Palestine. The Philippines will be in Group B, along with Palestine, Hong Kong and Kuwait.

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. 4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Valenzuela Medical Center and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from April 14, 2015 to September 4, 2015, 9:00am to 4:00pm at the VMC BAC Office.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only (P25,000.00).

The Valenzuela Medical Center will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 19, 2015, 10:00 am at VMC Conference Room 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 September 4, 2015 at 10:00am at Valenzuela Medical Center, 4th Flr. VMC Conference Room. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of cash, Manager’s check or Cashier’s check of two (2%) percent, one point five percent (2%) if Bank Draft or Bank Guarantee, 5% Surety Bond and Bid Securing Declaration (notarized), of the total amount of bid. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER MARIO C. PANAY, MD, MHA, CESE Medical Center Chief II Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Tel no. 294-4625

(TS-AUG 14, 2015)

(sgd) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN BAC Chairperson

Petecio bows to Thai bet By Ronnie Nathanielsz IT was a heartbreaking day for Nesthy Petecio and the Philippines when the power-punching bantamweight, who was the lone survivor among the four members of the PLDT-ABAP boxing team competing in the ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships lost by a split decision in the finals to old foe Pieamwilai Laopeam, the former Asian Indoor Games winner in the finals on Thursday at the ultramodern Wulanchabu Sports Gymnasium in Wulanchabu, China. ABAP executive director and delegation head Ed Picson told The Standard/boxing mirror.com that Petecio, who had prevailed in a hard-fought semifinal bout over India’s Maisnam Meena Kumar Devi, was “doing the pressuring and landing some big bombs,” but that the Thai girl was “clever enough, waiting in ambush and holding her own in exchanges.” Picson said it was a close fight, but that he felt Petecio “did enough to win.”

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A15 LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

What should be in mind of Gilas bets South rallies in singles, keeps Duel crown. Members of Team South pose with their trophy after edging North with a dominant showing in singles to retain The Duel – North vs South 4 at Wack Wack. They are (front row, from left) Elmer Salvador, Rufino Bayron, Marvin Dumandan, assistant team captain Zanieboy Gialon, Jhonnel Ababa, Ferdie Aunzo and Tony Lascuña, (back row, from left) Arnold Villacencio, Jay Bayron, Clyde Mondilla, Orlan Sumcad, skipper Jerome Delariarte, Cassius Casas and Charles Hong. Outplayed in team play, South banked on its individual talent and skills, whipping North in singles, 9-3, to turn a losing bid into a winning act, 12 1/2-11 1/2, and retain The Duel – North vs South diadem.

Chito: I will be fair, but firm in handling games TOKYO—Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Chito Narvasa said his priority is the league and next are the ball clubs, as he looks forward to helping improve games with fair and firm judgment. Narvasa intends to work hand in hand with all the coaches, players and teams in crafting officiating guidelines that will make the games more exciting. “It’s not me alone. The coaches, the players and teams will be more involved. How it’s going to be done? We have plans. I will explore that with the coaches,” said Narvasa, present here in his first participation in the league’s annual planning session. As the league’s ninth commis-

sioner after Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala, Sonny Barrios and Chito Salud, Narvasa appointed Rickie Santos as deputy commissioner and brought along Pacita Dobles as executive assistant. “I will be fair but I will also be firm,” said Narvasa in handling the games. The first former player and coach to become PBA commissioner, Narvasa’s basic officiating

guideline is to take away the referees’ discretion. “You make a call or not. No judgment call. Judgment call is whether you make a call or not. It’s a lot easier to see later on, allow me some time,” he said, hopeful PBA games will be more exciting. “It will still be physical but not a wrestling match.” With everybody on board in officiating, Narvasa expects complaining on calls will be less than before. “If we agree on something to help each other, (complaining) will be much less. You’ll see the effort on my part. If you see that effort is not enough, just let me know. Let’s help each other. You help me and I will help you. Eventually that will be ad-

dressed,” he said. He stressed he’ll put order in the playing court. “Can you imagine the referees, just three and without relief for 48 minutes. A coach we’ll talk to him, then the assistant coach, the 12 players and even the ball boy. Then comes the governor. It shouldn’t be done. There has to be some order restored,” he pointed out. “All the coaches are my friends and they know me. They know I will do it. I will spare no one,” said the former Ateneo stalwart with his PBA coaching stints with Shell and Purefoods. He is confident he can deal with the fierciest and feistiest, mentioning coach Yeng Guiao, who is a longtime friend.

Veterans, young turks clash in Olivarez Cup

Top seed PJ Tierro sets up for a forehand return against Bryan Otico

FANCIED PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla overwhelmed their respective rivals with their power game and rolled into the semifinals against two young bloods ready to take over in the sixth Olivarez Cup Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque City yesterday. The top seeded Tierro eased out Bryan Otico with a 6-3, 6-1 victory to seal a Final Four duel with a surging Jurence Mendoza of Olongapo, who added No. 10 Arvin Ruel to his growing list of seeded victims via a 6-3, 6-2 triumph in their side of the quarters clash in the event presented by Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala through COO Bobby Castro and sanctioned by Philta.

Arcilla, who has lorded it over Philippine tennis for a long time, scored a 6-2, 2-1 (ret.) win over Ronard Joven to arrange a semis clash with wild card Francis Alcantara from Cagayan de Oro, who upended No. 4 Mark Alcoseba, 6-2, 6-2, in the quarters then stunned fifth ranked Rolando Ruel Jr. 6-2, 6-0. Though they boast of experience on top of their talent, Davis Cuppers Tierro and Arcilla face formidable semis rivals with the 23-year-old Mendoza, from Oklahoma State, raring to mix it up with Tierro shot for shot and stroke for stroke. Alcantara, who honed his skills playing for the Pepperdine U, is also itching to put one over Arcilla in today’s featured matches starting at 11 a.m.

GILAS Pilipinas head coach Tab DENNIS PRINCIPE Baldwin wants SPORTS CHAT his players to realize they are a different breed of players, that’s why they are part of the current national training pool. And Baldwin’s message came in a rather stern manner when the American-Kiwi guru raised his voice a bit as his players could not execute a simple five-man weave drill, a common exercise in regular basketball practice sessions. The incident took place Tuesday night at the Meralco gym although nothing escalated after only one sequence of that drill. Still, Baldwin made mention of what kind of attitude he is expecting from his 16-man training pool that is slowly being bugged by injuries. “With the national team, you hope you don’t have to use too heavy a hand with players, but sometimes you do,” said Baldwin. “But I’m not overly concerned about having to step in and play tough guy every now and then. They understand the job and the task at hand.” After two weeks of practice Baldwin sees some improvement on offense but such cannot be said on the other side of the court. “There is progress. In some things we’re looking better and in some things we don’t look at all like we’re ready yet and we’re not ready yet. We paid more attention to the offense so our defense looks a little bit sloppy to me,” admitted Baldwin. Baldwin, who first worked as a special consultant last year before being tapped to replace Chot Reyes revealed he is not worried about how to choose his Final 12 that will compete in next month’s FIBA Asia tournament. One of his main concerns is how to have warm bodies that will complement naturalized center Andray Blatche, Asi Taulava of the NLEX Road Warriors and Sonny Thoss of the Alaska Aces during their training sessions. “No question we need reinforcements. Our numbers are thinning out because of injuries. If you have Asi and Sonny out there, virtually with no substitutions and having to go against each other the whole practice that’s kind of a recipe for disaster,” said Baldwin. Blatche became a casualty of the national pool’s dearth of big men when the former NBA player complained of pain near his groin area during Monday’s practice. “It’s nagging him. He can’t really extend when he’s running. So because we don’t know what it is, I don’t want to aggravate it any further so I told him to stay out of practice,” revealed Baldwin. Former Gilas member JuneMar Fajardo, who Baldwin wanted to make as the team’s centerpiece backed out of the pool claiming injury to both his feet. Another Gilas stalwart Marc Pingris is on vacation but was set to join practice last night, while plans are said to be proceeding in declaring with FIBA Fil-Tongan player Moala Tautuua as the country’s naturalized player. Under FIBA rules, a foreign-born player with lineage to two countries must acquire the passport of the country he plans to represent before turning 16, which makes Tautuua disqualified from playing as a nonnaturalized player since he got his Philippine passport beyond the required age limit. Still, Baldwin seems excited about the prospect of having Tautuua join his pool. “He’ll act as backup to Andray as a naturalized player. Obviously, he can’t play in the roster if Andray is playing, but if something happened to Andray, that’s the direction we would like to go in now with Mo,” said Baldwin.

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 , 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

Cavs play Dubs on Christmas Day

LeBron James of the USA Men’s National Team participates in a mini-camp at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. His Cavaliers’ team faces reigning NBA champion Golden State on Christmas day. AFP

Red Lions catch Knights at top of NCAA standings By Peter Atencio

DEFENDING champion San Beda Red Lions held their ground, withstood a big rally in the fourth period and repulsed the San Sebastian Stags, 92-81, yesterday at the Arena in San Juan. Ryusei Koga and Roldan Sara scored crucial baskets in the last three minutes to lift the Red Lions to their seventh triumph in eight matches of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament. With the victory San Beda tied the Letran Knights at the top of the standings. Earlier, the Lyceum Pirates took charge inside the paint and flogged

Murray beats Robredo after delay TURN TO A12

the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 69-55, to post their second win in nine games. Cameroonian Jean Ngudjol led with 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates, who tied the Generals in seventh spot. A drive from San Beda’s Sara and a floater from Koga in the last 2:13 gave the Red Lions an 82-79 advantage. Ryan Costelo and Michael Calisaan hit 18 and 17 points. They com-

bined for 11 points in underneath with 57 Games today the final period and rebounds. (The Arena, San Juan) led the Stags to a 14-0 10 a.m.In the junior diviMapua vs Letran (jrs) run in the last 6:20. 12 nn.- Arellano vs St. Benilde (jrs) sion, Germy Mahinay Calisaan capped 2 p.m.- Mapua vs Letran (srs) made 14 points for the the rally with two 4 p.m.- Arellano vs St. Benilde (srs) defending champion charities as the Stags San Beda Red Cubs, threatened, 75-78. who smashed the San Sebastian Olaide Adeogun tallied 28 Staglets, 85-60, to post their eighth points but he was held to two in the consecutive victory. final canto. The Lyceum Junior Pirates “We missed a lot of free throws. banked on the triple of Kobe CaThat’s one key here. They came macho and a split charity from back, and we went out of the sys- Generoso Cecilio in pushing back tem,” said Red Lions coach Jamike EAC-ICA, 79-76. Jarin as they handed the Stags their Cecilio banged in 19 points to seventh setback in nine matches. carry the Junior Pirates to their Joseph Gabayni backed up sixth triumph in nine outings. This Ngudjol with 11 poinst and nine pushed them to solo fourth and in boards, as the Pirates took charge contention for the Final Four.

Blatche returns to practice today TURN TO A14

NEW YORK—LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will visit the defending champion Golden State Warriors in a Christmas Day rematch of last season’s National Basketball Association final, the league announced on Wednesday. The NBA unveiled the 2015-16 schedule and the Christmas Day contest between James’ Cavs and Stephen Curry’s Warriors is just one of five holiday contests planned. The Christmas showcase starts with the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the Miami Heat followed by the Cavaliers playing in Golden State and then the Chicago Bulls at the Oklahoma City Thunder. The final two tilts are the San Antonio Spurs at the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers meeting Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. The season begins October 27 with Golden State receiving their championship rings before facing the Pelicans. Cleveland visits Chicago who will be guided by Fred Hoiberg in his NBA coaching debut. Also on opening weekend will be Kevin Durant, who missed most of last season with injuries, and the Thunder playing host to the Spurs, Bryant returning to the Lakers for a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and first overall entry draft pick KarlAnthony Towns, and DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers battling the Dallas Mavericks. Other noteworthy matchups include the Clippers and Jordan visiting Dallas on November 11 to face the Mavericks. Center Jordan verbally committed during the offseason as a free agent to Dallas and then backed out to remain in southern California. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY: AUGUST 14, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

South Harbor upgrade.

Port operator Asian Terminals Inc. has commissioned more cargo handling equipment at Manila South Harbor as it continues to prime up the international gateway port in support of the expanding Philippine economy. Joining ATI’s growing cargo handling ﬂeet are two reach stackers, six empty container handlers and four forklift units, all manufactured by industry leader Konecranes. Shown ATI engineering personnel, led by vice president Chris Styles, during the commissioning rites at Manila South Harbor.

PSe comPoSite

index

Closing August 13, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,439.80 55.63

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 13, 2015 42

P46.150

44 45 46

HIGH P46.030 LOW P46.200 AVERAGE P46.129 VOLUME 747.700M

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 Thursday, August 13, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.2140

Japan

Yen

0.008055

0.3723

Pound

1.562200

72.1955

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128949

5.9592

Switzerland

Franc

1.026273

47.4282

Canada

Dollar

0.770594

35.6122

Singapore

Dollar

0.714031

32.9982

Australia

Dollar

0.737790

34.0962

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651113

122.5185

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

12.3205

Brunei

Dollar

0.711491

32.8808

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.028354

1.3104

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.5821

Euro

1.116700

Korea

Won

0.000852

0.0394

China

Yuan

0.156568

7.2356

India

51.6072

Rupee

0.015440

0.7135

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247678

11.4462

New Zealand

Dollar

0.662778

30.6296

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031172

1.4406 Source: PDS Bridge

Ang withdraws P1-b estafa case vs. Gozon By Darwin G. Amojelar

Japan set to invest in Clark Green City

BUSINESSMAN Ramon Ang said Thursday he dropped the syndicated estafa case against GMA Network Inc. chairman Felipe Gozon and other network executives after they By Othel V. Campos agreed to return the P1-billion downpayment JAPAN is investing in Clark he paid for a minority stake in the broadcast Green City to make it a major economic hub in Southeast Asia, company. state-run Bases Conversion and Ang, the president of San Miguel Corp., said he and the Gozon Group had resolved their differences and reached an amicable settlement. Ang said he had agreed to withdraw the complaint filed before the Justice Department against Gozon, Felipe Gozon Jr., Anna Teresa Gozon-Abrogar, Ismael Agusto Gozon, Belinda Madrid, Ma. Erlinda Gana, Jaime Javier Gana, Florencia Gozon Tarriela, Edgar Tarriela and Tricia Tarriela Valderrama. Gozon also agreed to return P1-billion to Ang. Ang earlier filed an estafa case against the Gozon Group for allegedly terminating the negotiations and failing to return the P1-billion downpayment for a 34-percent stake in GMA Network. Gozon also claimed his group had the right to retain the P1-billion downpayment made by Ang, who allegedly breached the con-

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

tract to purchase a minority stake in the broadcast company. Gozon also said he did not consult with the other members of the Gozon Group in making the decision to retain the downpayment. Ang had accepted Gozon’s explanation about the non-involvement of the other members of the Gozon group in the retention of the downpayment. The Gozon, Jimenez and Duavit families own a combined 79-percent stake in GMA Network, which operates GMA-7. The Jimenez and Duavit Groups, which were not included in the estafa case filed by Ang, waived their rights and interests over their shares in the downpayment and expressed willingness to return such shares. Gozon earlier said he was in talks with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecom Inc. for the distribution of media content.

Development Authority said Thursday. Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. for Transport and Urban Development, or Join, signed a cooperation agreement with BCDA to develop and build Clark Green City as a major economic center in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova and Join president and chief executive Takuma Hatano signed the agreement. “By investing in Clark Green City, the government of Japan will help transform it into a major economic center of the Asean economic bloc,” Casanova said. Join is a Japanese government corporation formed to invest and participate in urban development projects, involving Japanese companies, such as bullet trains, airports and green cities. It aims to invest 30 trillion yen

across the globe by 2020. Clark Green City, which covers 9,450 hectares in Pampanga and Tarlac, is envisioned to be the first smart, disaster-resilient and green city in the Philippines. Under the partnership, BCDA and Join will study the establishment of a joint venture company to conduct the feasibility study and another joint venture company for granting of concession rights of the various individual projects that make up the Clark Green City project. The involvement of Join is expected to lead to multiple joint venture partnerships that will serve as a vehicle for the formation of Japanese consortium and investments in the field of power, transportation, tollways, industrial zones and economic centers in the area. The memorandum of agreement also involves the collaboration of BCDA and Join to craft a project implementation framework to ensure the economic, financial and commercial viability of building and operating the government project.

FRIDAY: AUGUST 14, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, augusT 13, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 100 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 78 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Metrobank PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

3.33 71.95 102.00 91.65 43.15 2.47 1.46 15.9 20.65 7.23 1.79 87.6 18.80 25.85 62.75 306.6 38.75 140.1 1514.00 58.90

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 241 12.5 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 6.75 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 8.61 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 173 8.65 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 3 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 161 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group 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 Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

43.15 1.45 0.95 1.88 11.1 92.95 18.16 27.6 53 3.11 1.48 12.56 21.800 9.50 6.96 9.45 1.8 14.8 25.75 77.1 13.30 13.30 5.97 192.20 10.08 1.8 52.95 24.45 25.65 6.1 300.00 4.56 8.51 4 3.32 2.26 3.53 4.25 160 1.85 0.143 1.17 2.09 195.5 0.68 1.15

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 4.5 0.030 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

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. GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings À’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. Pacifica À’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.440 57.4500 22.30 1.20 6.83 0.250 0.26 763.5 7.33 12.78 3.2 4.18 1352 6.40 71.65 5.6 6.99 0.63 15 0.57 5 8 0.0280 56.00 2.25 901.00 1.26 77.800 0.3100 0.1850 0.255

10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 7.1 1.44 0.201

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 4.6 0.79 0.083

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property Crown Equities Inc.

7.030 0.70 1.280 38.30 3.38 5.06 6.41 0.81 0.125

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

SHARES 10,264,295 54,303,122 95,977,236 161,497,698 292,741,237 883,125,284 1,498,737,962

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.48 3.25 71 70.2 103.00 99.50 92.50 90.00 43.45 43 2.44 2.44 1.46 1.45 16 16 20.9 20.5 7.79 7.27 1.79 1.79 87.7 86.2 18.84 18.84 25.80 25.80 62.80 62.50 306.6 304 39 38.6 140.5 138 1505.00 1505.00 59.00 58.50 INDUSTRIAL 43.5 42 1.43 1.4 0.95 0.94 1.88 1.85 11.3 10.92 92.95 92.50 18.1 17.9 27.55 27 52 50 3.17 2.99 1.53 1.45 12.54 12.1 22.450 21.1 9.50 9.35 6.94 6.63 9.69 9.45 1.79 1.78 14.88 14.34 26 25.3 78.6 76.1 13.48 13.48 13.30 13.30 6.04 5.95 192.00 187.00 10.14 10.08 1.73 1.73 52.95 50.00 24.5 23.65 25.65 24.95 6.11 6.05 304.00 295.00 4.56 4.55 8.62 8.19 4 4 3.36 3.25 2.25 2.18 3.75 3.59 4.26 4.15 161 161 1.86 1.81 0.145 0.142 1.18 1.15 2.10 2.06 196.1 190 0.7 0.67 1.15 1.13 HOLDING FIRMS 0.455 0.455 57.6000 57.4000 22.60 22.20 1.17 1.15 6.90 6.85 0.260 0.255 0.26 0.26 765 751 7.39 7.32 13.12 12.14 3.09 2.77 4.19 4.19 1343 1301 6.50 6.50 72.10 69.50 5.6 5.6 7.15 6.94 0.69 0.62 15.12 14.78 0.57 0.57 5.12 4.96 8.11 7.99 0.0290 0.0280 56.00 55.80 2.25 2.25 917.00 899.00 1.29 1.26 77.800 77.800 0.3150 0.3050 0.1850 0.1750 0.255 0.255 PROPERTY 7.050 7.000 0.70 0.69 1.230 1.220 38.55 37.60 3.45 3.3 5.07 5.06 6.1 6.1 0.81 0.8 0.125 0.120

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.25 70.3 103.00 92.50 43.1 2.44 1.46 16 20.7 7.27 1.79 87 18.84 25.80 62.50 305 38.7 138.4 1505.00 59.00

-2.40 -2.29 0.98 0.93 -0.12 -1.21 0.00 0.63 0.24 0.55 0.00 -0.68 0.21 -0.19 -0.40 -0.52 -0.13 -1.21 -0.59 0.17

58,000 26,270 5,553,110 767,040 76,100 1,000 9,000 900 172,300 2,200 31,000 2,812,650 2,000 2,500 129,840 900 187,900 390,080 5 41,000

42.65 1.43 0.94 1.87 11.12 92.95 18.1 27.55 50 2.99 1.52 12.1 21.800 9.40 6.65 9.45 1.78 14.58 25.4 76.1 13.48 13.30 5.95 188.10 10.12 1.73 52.90 24 25.2 6.1 299.00 4.55 8.50 4 3.32 2.21 3.68 4.18 161 1.82 0.145 1.15 2.07 190.8 0.69 1.13

-1.16 -1.38 -1.05 -0.53 0.18 0.00 -0.33 -0.18 -5.66 -3.86 2.70 -3.66 0.00 -1.05 -4.45 0.00 -1.11 -1.49 -1.36 -1.30 1.35 0.00 -0.34 -2.13 0.40 -3.89 -0.09 -1.84 -1.75 0.00 -0.33 -0.22 -0.12 0.00 0.00 -2.21 4.25 -1.65 0.63 -1.62 1.40 -1.71 -0.96 -2.40 1.47 -1.74

2,241,600 7,000 1,119,000 833,000 10,900 1,850 197,000 325,900 68,420 4,597,000 421,000 19,800 4,357,500 445,100 1,516,300 131,100 25,000 39,700 1,766,600 50,820 100 600 351,100 451,950 1,113,200 2,000 44,050 1,127,100 241,300 572,300 682,160 955,000 5,138,700 2,000 56,000 575,000 2,639,000 757,000 70 528,000 2,050,000 42,000 1,645,000 2,968,890 396,000 89,000

0.455 57.5500 22.30 1.15 6.90 0.260 0.26 755 7.36 12.66 3.09 4.19 1318 6.50 70.00 5.6 6.95 0.62 15.12 0.57 5.08 8.02 0.0290 56.00 2.25 914.50 1.26 77.800 0.3050 0.1820 0.255

3.41 0.17 0.00 -4.17 1.02 4.00 0.00 -1.11 0.41 -0.94 -3.44 0.24 -2.51 1.56 -2.30 0.00 -0.57 -1.59 0.80 0.00 1.60 0.25 3.57 0.00 0.00 1.50 0.00 0.00 -1.61 -1.62 0.00

20,000 2,993,540 3,886,600 69,000 13,700 470,000 70,000 431,350 1,343,400 10,600,100 1,003,000 1,000 523,810 100 1,869,230 100 3,039,600 716,000 333,200 100,000 48,792,800 1,038,100 5,800,000 107,060 15,000 246,530 64,000 560 1,120,000 2,400,000 10,000

7.050 0.70 1.220 38.00 3.37 5.06 6.1 0.81 0.120

0.28 0.00 -4.69 -0.78 -0.30 0.00 -4.84 0.00 -4.00

582,500 60,000 72,000 10,846,500 4,079,000 18,200 3,000 902,000 18,040,000

-39,000.00 237,566.50 19,439,705.00 -18,137,868.00 1,048,080.00

280,810.00 -75,656,840.50 -6,465,398.50 -4,586,280.00 -15,570,080.00 7,525.00 -59,707,305.00 2,860.00 -1,056,400.00 -333,080.00 -2,232.00 159,644.00 -2,198,355.00 147,130.00 -20,697,610.00 338,549.00 -48,338,734.00 -1,166,970.00 -15,351,055.00 -2,009,021.00 5,980.00 -45,382,386.00 -886,380.00 -12,926,665.00 -1,744,000.00 500,640.00 -22,423,762.00 132,240.00 8,348,035.00 16,200.00 49,440.00 50,960.00 -15,550.00 17,160.00 -98,347,047.00

-18,540,500.00 21,955,375.00

-175,069,060.00 -149,687.00 -28,036,462.00 -378,180,555.00 -37,570,987.00 -4,444,347.00 -939,140.00 137,954,063.00 161,471.00 -2,954,135.00 79,914,925.00

-2,695,790.00 -58,957,080.00 1,567,440.00 -243,000.00

52 Weeks

High Low 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 4.88 0.180 0.470 27 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 2.75 0.090 0.290 23 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 1 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

1.97 35.2 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 0.650 1.8 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

High

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, 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 Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. 7.59 SSI Group 0.63 STI Holdings 5 Travellers 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 1.14 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À’ 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’ Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum

70 553 525 8.21 12.28 111 1060

33 490 500 5.88 6.5 101 997

1047 76.9 84.8

1011 74.2 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

15 88 12.88

3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Makati Fin. Corp. IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,637.71 (up) 3.00 INDUSTRIAL 11,231.28 (down) 207.53 HOLDING FIRMS 6,777.39 (down) 13.74 PROPERTY 3,086.37 (down) 50.58 SERVICES 2,032.34 (down) 23.93 MINING & OIL 11,756.74 (down) 171.71 PSEI 7,439.80 (down) 55.63 All Shares Index 4,263.77 (down) 34.78 Gainers: 53 Losers: 111; Unchanged: 45; Total: 209

Cyber Bay Corp. 0.485 Double Dragon 13 Empire East Land 0.850 Ever Gotesco 0.170 Global-Estate 1.21 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.92 Megaworld Corp. 4.52 MRC Allied Ind. 0.099 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.2850 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 23.00 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.80 Rockwell 1.65 Shang Properties Inc. 3.25 SM Prime Holdings 21.75 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.74 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.800 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.100

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

0.490 0.460 0.460 13.2 12.84 12.86 0.840 0.830 0.830 0.170 0.170 0.170 1.27 1.20 1.22 1.94 1.85 1.88 4.62 4.5 4.55 0.099 0.098 0.099 0.2900 0.2800 0.2900 23.00 23.00 23.00 29.00 28.35 28.35 1.65 1.64 1.65 3.30 3.25 3.25 21.75 20.85 20.95 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.800 0.770 0.790 7.110 6.900 7.000 SERVICES 9.99 11.14 9.84 10.72 64.35 65.1 63.45 63.45 0.610 0.620 0.600 0.600 8.95 9.05 7.98 7.98 0.0770 0.0780 0.0750 0.0750 4.07 4.1 3.9 4.05 93.5 95.45 93.5 93.95 10 10 10 10 1.62 1.62 1.6 1.62 5.30 5.59 5.15 5.15 920.5 985 920 985 2600 2670 2600 2656 6.46 6.60 6.47 6.47 1.30 1.36 1.29 1.32 105.9 105.8 102.1 103.6 0.011 0.013 0.010 0.012 0.199 0.199 0.185 0.193 1.3000 1.3300 1.3000 1.3000 2.33 2.34 2.34 2.34 9.40 9.42 9.31 9.34 2.17 2.18 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.22 2.06 2.06 39.95 39.50 39.00 39.50 0.670 0.650 0.640 0.640 2 2 1.99 2 6.75 6.71 6.21 6.21 0.300 0.310 0.290 0.310 0.435 0.430 0.430 0.430 20.95 19.9 19.8 19.8 5.12 5.15 5.02 5.02 3 3 3 3 99.00 108.00 100.00 100.00 18.90 18.90 18.72 18.88 2700.00 2716.00 2696.00 2708.00 0.640 0.650 0.640 0.640 1.480 1.460 1.390 1.420 37.75 37.70 36.40 36.50 78.50 79.10 74.95 75.00 5.36 5.64 5.05 5.49 7.99 8.21 7.88 7.90 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.63 5.28 5.31 5.16 5.18 0.320 0.325 0.320 0.320 2.460 2.900 2.500 2.660 MINING & OIL 0.0060 0.0060 0.0059 0.0060 2.40 2.30 2.30 2.30 4.97 4.99 4.90 4.93 11.80 11.78 10.00 11.78 0.220 0.220 0.210 0.210 6.5000 6.4500 6.4500 6.4500 0.65 0.68 0.66 0.67 0.72 0.73 0.71 0.73 6.52 6.90 6.52 6.90 1.31 1.32 1.28 1.3 0.300 0.310 0.300 0.300 0.202 0.207 0.203 0.205 0.229 0.210 0.210 0.210 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.013 0.140 0.014 0.014 2.72 2.77 2.69 2.69 9.45 9.69 9.4 9.4 3.73 3.85 3.7 3.75 0.5900 0.5900 0.5900 0.5900 1.8800 1.9000 1.9000 1.9000 0.0092 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 5.35 5.410 5.270 5.27 1.60 1.600 1.580 1.59 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 130.00 132.50 126.00 127.40 8.37 9.3 8.65 9.16 PREFERRED 64.05 67.4 63 64.8 527 527 527 527 534 531 530 530 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.4 1.12 1.1 1.1 1.1 111 111 109 109 1051 1050 1045 1045 1080 1080 1080 1080 1020 1021 1020 1020 75.5 75.5 75.45 75.45 80 81 80 80 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.730 3.700 3.600 3.600 SME 6.2 5.11 5.01 5.11 69.5 69.5 60.25 69.5 12.1 12.1 11.88 11.96 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 122.2 122 120.8 121.2

T op g ainerS VALUE 955,410,055.66 1,365,800,400.74 2,201,761,948.28 1,227,602,087.37 1,943,103,427.57 341,134,221.322 8,045,560,029.94

Low

-5.15 -1.08 -2.35 0.00 0.83 -2.08 0.66 0.00 1.75 0.00 -1.56 0.00 0.00 -3.68 -4.05 -1.25 -1.41

3,870,000 719,100 32,000 30,000 8,458,000 49,289,000 31,808,000 460,000 30,000 200 3,440,700 148,000 8,000 15,289,100 1,746,000 1,249,000 7,568,500

234,900.00 -3,135,488.00

7.31 -1.40 -1.64 -10.84 -2.60 -0.49 0.48 0.00 0.00 -2.83 7.01 2.15 0.15 1.54 -2.17 9.09 -3.02 0.00 0.43 -0.64 0.00 -5.50 -1.13 -4.48 0.00 -8.00 3.33 -1.15 -5.49 -1.95 0.00 1.01 -0.11 0.30 0.00 -4.05 -3.31 -4.46 2.43 -1.13 0.00 -1.89 0.00 8.13

2,883,800 4,767,645.00 57,890 5,131,000 -601,290.00 61,490,100 90,688,447.00 10,540,000 259,000 637,330 -19,857,483.00 300 100,000 76,700 -29,150.00 1,860 74,525 12,470,670.00 377,600 660,000 1,589,690 -2,354,046.00 122,000,000 8,060,000 -1,118,350.00 379,000 -168,970.00 10,000 210,500 81,523.00 352,000 103,000 400 1,070,000 120,000 9,644,000 -11,841,400.00 60,000 6,200.00 10,000 4,300.00 54,000 47,000 22,000 100 240,900 -1,796,652.00 185,575 -101,885,550.00 1,252,000 17,475,000 -8,210,620.00 1,869,100 28,772,035.00 671,530 -15,162,033.50 33,822,100 -102,201.00 6,654,400 -8,602,118.00 158,000 -49,920.00 1,145,300 -31,550.00 60,000 2,387,000 -62,640.00

0.00 -4.17 -0.80 -0.17 -4.55 -0.77 3.08 1.39 5.83 -0.76 0.00 1.49 -8.30 -7.69 7.69 -1.10 -0.53 0.54 0.00 1.06 0.00 -1.50 -0.63 0.00 -2.00 9.44

715,000,000 9,011,000 279,000 -944,310.00 12,500 50,000 2,900 863,000 429,820.00 622,000 7,700 4,730,000 -129,010.00 220,000 4,450,000 20,000 104,700,000 100,000 376,000 -245,960.00 4,161,800 -13,888,845.00 690,000 420,000 5,000 2,000,000 223,100 -494,618.00 624,000 1,580.00 30,700,000 1,897,880 74,844,054.00 1,798,100 5,277,226.00

1.17 0.00 -0.75 -3.03 -1.79 -1.80 -0.57 0.00 0.00 -0.07 0.00

95,160 530 1,260 145,400 200,000 40,100 1,960 870 3,060 35,800 75,000

-3.49

356,000

-182,480.00

-17.58 0.00 -1.16

1,100 350 820,100

-308,436.00

-0.82

7,540

36,300.00

-4,073,250.00 -44,389,740.00 -22,522,410.00 29,400.00 6,276,925.00 -82,500.00 -21,289,440.00 -17,655,796.00

901,092.50

-27,917.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

TA Petroleum

9.16

9.44

Makati Fin. Corp.

5.11

-17.58

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.012

9.09

Bloomberry

7.98

-10.84

Yehey

2.660

8.13

Lepanto `B'

0.210

-8.30

Manila Mining `B'

0.014

7.69

Melco Crown

6.21

-8.00

2GO Group'

10.72

7.31

Manila Mining `A'

0.012

-7.69

FEUI

985

7.01

Concepcion

-5.66

Dizon

6.90

5.83

Macroasia Corp.

2.06

-5.50

Pryce Corp. `A'

3.68

4.25

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

19.8

-5.49

ATN Holdings A

0.260

4.00

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.460

-5.15

Pacifica `A'

0.0290

3.57

Cebu Prop. `B'

6.1

-4.84

FRIDAY: AUGUST 14, 2015

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

Market retreats; Bloom, URC fall

Globe awards.

Globe Telecom Inc. is named Telecom Service Provider of the Year and Mobile Service Provider of the Year for 2015 by Frost and Sullivan Philippines following a remarkable performance due to efforts and initiatives in the past year. Shown at the awarding ceremony are (from left) Frost and Sullivan vice president for ICT Practice Ajay Sunder, Globe chief financial officer Albert de Larrazabal and Globe head for investor relations Jomari Fajardo. The awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.

Vista Land bullish, plans P15-b projects By Jenniffer B. Austria

VISTA Land and Lifescapes Inc. said it plans to launch at least P15 billion worth of real estate projects in the second half of the year after posting strong first-quarter financial results.

Vista Land president and chief executive Manuel Paolo Villar said in an interview the company was launching more projects, especially in Evia City in Daanghari following the opening of the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway last month. Vista Land in the first half of the year unveiled 27 projects with total sales value of P20.7 billion. Villar said the company planned to forge

several joint venture partnerships that would boost its land bank. It is also “seriously looking” at Clark Green City, which the government-run Bases Conversion Development Authority plans to bid out this year. Villar said the company was attracted to Clark Green City because of its potential to be transformed into a hub for commercial activity and the infrastructure in the area. Meanwhile, Vista Land reported a 10-percent year-on-year growth in the first six months of 2015 in both net income and revenues. Net income in the January-to-June period reached P3.1 billion from P2.8 billion yearon-year, while revenues amounted to P12.2 billion from P11 billion in 2014. Reservation sales increased 9.5 percent to P28.3 billion from P25.9 billion a year ago. “Vista Land remains firmly on a solid

growth path driven by the sustained momentum in our housing business,” Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar said. “Demand for housing continued to be strong, particularly in the price segment dominated by our Camella brand. Our continued expansion in the provincial areas is taking advantage of the rising middle class in the country and has solidified Vista Land’s dominant position in the housing in the Philippines,” he added. The company is on track to hit P1 billion in rental revenues by 2017 as more commercial and office projects are being built to meet the 200,000 gross leasable space by 2017. At least 80 percent of the P1-billion rental revenues target will come from retail and commercial developments, while 20 percent will be accounted by planned office developments for business process outsourcing companies.

SSI Group unit ventures into travel retail market SSI Group Inc., the specialty retailer owned by the Tantoco family, said it ventured into the travel retail market with the acquisition of a 50-percent stake in Landmark Management Services Ltd. Landmark is a company with supply and management agreements with travel retail stores in the Philippines. SSI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned subsidiary SKL International Ltd. signed agreements to purchase a 50-percent equity stake held by shareholders Regent Asia Group Ltd. and Prime (Duty Free Distributors) Ltd. in Landmark.

The two shareholders will hold the balance of 50 percent in Landmark following the entry of SSI. “We are very happy to be part of the development of the travel retail industry. We believe that with SSI’s retailing experience and Landmark’s deep understanding of the unique shopping requirements of travelers, we can expand our market to cover tourists and business travelers,” SSI president Anthony Huang said. SSI did not disclose the acquisition cost, noting that the purchase was less than five percent of the company’s book value. Meanwhile, SSI said it posted

a net income of P586 million in the first six months of the year, up 20 precent from P486 million recorded in the same period last year. Net sales in the six-month period increased 18 percent to P7.9 billion from P6.6 billion in 2014, driven by the expansion store network and brand portfolio as well as sustained consumer demand for the brands in the group’s portfolio. SSI expanded its store network by a net of 48 stores and 8,876 square meters in the first six months of 2015. The group’s store network as of

end-June consisted of 771 specialty outlets covering 142,516 square meters. The group’s brand portfolio consisted of 115 brands consisting of 46 luxury and bridge names, 13 casual wear, 11 fast fashion, 24 footwear, accessories and luggage, and 21 brands under the others category. The company in the second quarter also added several brands, including Joe Fresh, a Canadian fast fashion brand, Castell, a Spanish footwear brand, and Coach, an American luxury name, to its portfolio. Jenniffer B. Austria

THE stock market declined Thursday on disappointing corporate earnings, bucking the regional trend and ignoring China’s reassurance it would not allow the yuan to plummet after a surprise devaluation this week. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 55.63 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,439.80 on a value turnover of P8 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 111 to 53, with 45 issues unchanged. GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty fell 2.5 percent to P1,318, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, lost 2.4 percent to P190.80. Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. sank 10.8 percent to P7.98, after reporting a loss of P1.3 billion in the first six months of the year, a reversal of the P2.3-billion profit it registered year-on-year. SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr., the largest property developer, tumbled 3.7 percent to P20.95. The dollar, meanwhile, inched higher, after taking a knock in New York from speculation the US Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates following China’s devaluation of the yuan. Tokyo closed up 0.99 percent, or 202,78 points, to 20,595.55 and Sydney rose 0.11 percent, or 5.82 points, to 5,387.9. Seoul rose 0.4 percent, or 7.99 points, to 1,983.46 after the South Korean central bank left its key rate at a record low. Hong Kong added 0.53 percent and Shanghai rose 0.12 percent in afternoon trade. China cut the reference point for the yuan against the dollar for the third consecutive day Thursday, reducing the rate by 1.1 percent from the previous session. The cut, which was smaller than those in the previous two days, and news the central bank intervened to stabilize the yuan on Wednesday reassured dealers Beijing would not allow its currency to plummet. People’s Bank of China assistant governor Zhang Xiaohui further supported markets Thursday when he said there is no basis for extended depreciation and the central bank can keeping the yuan at an equilibrium. “It’s likely the worst is over,” Patrick Bennett, a strategist at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News. “PBOC intervention has calmed the market. There is not a sense that the onshore yuan will weaken forever.” Two previous cuts to the reference rate sparked concerns that China’s economy is weaker than previously thought and fears that a fall in the yuan could spark a race to the bottom in forex markets. The reductions came after China on Tuesday adopted a more market-oriented method of calculating the currency rate, widely seen as a devaluation, which sent ripples through global financial markets. With AFP

FRIDAY: AUGUST 14, 2015

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

IN BRIEF Bloomberg TV up THE media arm of Philippine Long Dis-

tance Telephone Co. has invested more than P200 million to launch Bloomberg TV Philippines, the ﬁrst 24-hour business channel in the country. Emmanuel Lorenzana, president of PLDT unit MediaQuest Holdings Inc., said the company expects to recover its investment in Bloomberg TV Philippines within a year. Lorenzana said the company had so far signed 10 advertising deals for the show. “We need at least 10 advertising deals more to recover our investment. Within a year, we can recover it because it’s a very good brand,” he said. “Let’s not look at it from buying advertising, but let’s look at it just helping nation building through business,” Lorenzana said. Lorenzana said Bloomberg TV Philippines would start airing by mid-September this year through Cignal TV Channel 8 SD and Channel 127 HD. Cignal TV chief operating ofﬁcer Oscar Reyes Jr. said during the trade launch that Bloomberg TV Philippines would help the company increase its subscribers. “In only six years, Cignal has become the number one pay TV provider in the Philippines,” Reyes said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ayala spending $50m CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Thursday it will invest $50 million in healthcare and education over the few next years to take advantage of the growing population and rising consumer spending. Ayala Corp. head of corporate strategy Paolo Borromeo said in a news briefing the conglomerate was interested in growing the two sectors. “These are two sectors we feel we should look at more closely because many people talk about demographic dividend, consumer story and consumer spending, but we feel healthcare and education is what is going to drive the demographic dividend in the future,”Borromeo said. Ayala Corp. so far invested $20 million in both healthcare and eduction business with the recent acquisition of a 50-percent interest in pharmaceutical chain Generika group and 60-percent stake in University of Nueva Caceres in Naga, Camarines Sur. Aside from healthcare and education Ayala Corp. chief finance officer TG Limcaoco said the conglomerate was also on the lookout for possible investments that would flourish amid rising incomes and growing population. Jenniffer B. Austria

Govt wants to stop sugar exports soon By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE Philippines will likely stop exporting sugar to meet the rising domestic demand, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said Thursday. SRA, which regulates the sugar industry, said it would allocate 100 percent of the sugar production in the coming crop year for domestic consumption. The sugar crop year begins September and ends August of the following year. SRA administrator Ma. Regina Martin said 100 percent of the production for crop year 20152016 would be used for domestic

consumption to address the increasing demand. Martin said the agency was studying if it would allow the export of the leftover stock from the current crop year ending August. She said the country would likely end with an excess of 200,000 metric tons of sugar, which could be allocated for the US market.

The Philippines is one of the preferred countries which have a regular US sugar quota of 138,827 metric tons. Data from SRA showed that sugar production in the crop year 2015-2016 would reach 2.25 to 2.35 million metric tons. Martin said this would be just enough to cover domestic consumption of around 2.2 million metric tons. “Production will be wholly allocated to domestic market because we have anticipated that output will be the same level as the demand,” Martin said. Martin, however, said the SRA voard would still decide on the final sugar allocation before the start of the crop year in Septem-

ber. Martin said if the SRA board approved the allocation of whole domestic production for the domestic market, the country would no longer ship sugar to the world market. She said SRA was crafting a scheme in order to meet its export commitments to the US. “We are still crafting and studying a program on how we will comply with the US sugar quota,” Martin said. Martin said sugar production in the crop year 2014-2015 reached 2.316 million MT, which fell short of the 2.46 million MT target, because of adverse weather that affected most sugarcane producing provinces.

EDC’s proﬁt falls 14% ENERGY Development Corp. said

Thursday consolidated recurring net income attributable to parent company fell 14 percent in the first half to P4.7 billion from P5.4 billion a year ago. EDC, an affiliate of First Gen Corp., said the lower core income was due to the outage of the 112.5-megawatt Tongonan geothermal power plant, trading losses on the Unified Leyte geothermal power plant strip business, higher operating expenses, typhoon repair works and lower output of 112-MW Pantabangan-Masiway hydro power plant. Consolidated revenues rose 10 percent to P16.8 billion from P15.2 billion recorded in the same period in 2014, on higher energy sales from the newly rehabilitated 130-MW Bacman geothermal power plants and the newly commissioned 49.4-MW Nasulo geothermal and 150- MW Burgos wind power plants. Revenues from Bacman’s Unit 1, 2 and 3 power plants increased by P700 million while Nasulo and Burgos wind power plants contributed P700 million and P900 million, respectively. “Our first half 2015 results fell short of target due to reliability issues at Tongonan geothermal power plant,” said EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco. Alena Mae S. Flores

Bloomberry loses BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp.,

owner and operator of the Solaire Resort & Casino, incurred a net loss of P1.3 billion in the first half, a reversal of the P2.3-billion profit it booked a year ago, despite a 10-percent increase in gaming revenues. “Well into our second year, Solaire continues to experience steady and continuous growth especially in all gaming segments. That this is happening despite new competition gives credence to our conviction that the Philippines is a prime market for gaming for both local and foreign players. We’re on the right track,” said Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. Gross gaming revenues and non-gaming revenues in the first half hit P15.57 billion and P839 million, up by 10 percent and 40 percent, respectively. Total expenses surged 47 percent to P12.474 billion, with the additional expenses incurred as a result of the opening of Sky Tower in November 2014 and the consolidation of Solaire Korea in the second quarter.

DHL award. Go Negosyo recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary with the theme 10 Years of Building a Country of Enterprising Filipinos, held at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City. Shown is Go Negosyo president and chief executive Joey Concepcion (third from left) awarding a plaque of appreciation to DHL Express Philippines country manager Yati Abdullah (fourth from left), together with the DHL Express Philippines senior managers.

Bangko Sentral keeps interest rates steady By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday kept the benchmark interest rates unchanged for a seventh straight meeting since October 2014, as policy makers gauge the impact of China’s currency devaluation. Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a news briefing the board left the key policy rates steady at 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending. The interest rates on special deposit accounts and banks’ reserve requirement ratios were also retained. “The Monetary Board’s deci-

sion is based on its assessment that prevailing price and output conditions support maintaining current monetary policy settings. Latest baseline forecasts show that inflation could settle slightly below the target range for 2015 but is likely to remain within the target range of 2 to 4 percent over the rest of the policy horizon,” Tetangco said. “Inflation expectations also continue to be anchored within the inflation target band,” he said. China’s decision to let the yuan weaken by the most in two decades is presenting a dilemma for policy makers struggling with slowing growth and exports. The Philippines has refrained from joining more than 30 cen-

tral banks that have provided monetary stimulus this year and Tetangco said this week they remained wary of financial market volatility and the possibility that inflation might quicken. “There’s been quite violent moves in the financial markets and BSP could be in a wait-andsee stance as they assess the impact on the economy,” Michael Wan, a Singapore-based economist at Credit Suisse Group AG, said before the decision. “They could also be potentially a bit worried about the impact of El Nino,” even with a “strong macro story.” Inflation in July slowed down to 0.8 percent from 1.2 percent in June. This brought average inflation in the first

seven months to 1.87 percent, below the lower end of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year. Tetangco said that the Monetary Board noted the upside risks coming from pending petitions for power rate adjustments and the impact of stronger-than-expected El Niño dry spell on food prices and utility rates. “Over the policy horizon, inflation is projected to rise gradually and stabilize within the lower half of the inflation target range. At the same time, the Monetary Board noted that recent developments on the global front require careful monitoring, as they could pose threats to financial stability,” Tetangco said.

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

ceSAR bARRIoqUInTo EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Gold rush’s mines are threatening the Amazon LIMA—Seen from above, the Amazon resembles a huge billiards table—a field of intense green pockmarked by brown stains. These are the sites of illegal mines, and they reveal the scope of a gold rush that threatens the lungs of the planet. “The loss of our natural resources is incalculable,” says Antonio Fernandez Jeri, Peru’s high commissioner on illegal mining. “Each lost hectare represents unique flora and fauna species,” he told AFP. In his country, a new, unprecedented operation has shut down 55 illegal mining sites since mid-July. Those sites are in the Madre de Dios region, where approximately 150,000 acres (60,000 hectares) of forest have already been lost due to illegal mining. Peru leads South America in gold production and ranks fifth globally, but authorities there say 20 percent of its exported gold comes from these clandestine mines. But this mining, which first began in the 1980s, extends beyond Peru. In every Amazon country, the largest forest in the world is being slowly eaten away by an explosion of tiny, unreported mines. According to a study published in January in the British journal Environmental Research Letters, approximately 415,000 acres of tropical forest were cleared for potential gold mining sites in South America between 2001 and 2013. “Although gold mining deforestation is usually less extensive than deforestation for agriculture, it happens in some of the most biodiverse tropical regions,” said lead author Nora Alvarez-Berrios of the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. She says up to 300 different species of trees can be found in a single hectare of Peru’s Madre de Dios region. Her study refers to the region as “one of the most biologically rich areas on Earth.” “Like drug trafficking, illegal mining activity is widespread,” Fernandez Jeri said. “That’s why we need to find strategic allies and do something. We have a technical commission with Ecuador as well as with Bolivia and Colombia. We still need to sort out the question with Brazil.” AFP

world China explosions leave 44 dead, many injured TIANJIN, China—Enormous explosions in a major Chinese port city killed at least 44 people and injured more than 500, state media reported Thursday, leaving a devastated industrial landscape of incinerated cars, toppled shipping containers and burned-out buildings.

Arrival. Actress Serinda Swan arrives at The Carondelet House on August 12 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

An AFP reporter in Tianjin saw shattered glass up to three kilometers from the site of the blast, a storage facility for dangerous goods where the detonation unleashed a fireball that lit up the night sky and rained debris on the city. The explosion was felt several kilometers away, even being picked up by a Japanese weather satellite, and images showed walls of flame enveloping buildings and rank after rank of gutted cars at an import facility. “When I felt the explosion I thought it was an earthquake,” resident Zhang Zhaobo told AFP. “I ran to my father and I saw the sky was already red. All the glass was broken, and I was really afraid.” Other residents, some partially clothed, ran for shelter on a street strewn with debris. “The fireball was huge, maybe as much as 100 meters tall,” said 27-year-old Huang Shiting, who lives close to the site. “I heard the first explosion and everyone went outside, then there was a series of more explosions, windows shattered and a lot of people who were inside were hurt and came running out, bleeding,” he told AFP. Paramedics stretchered the wounded into the city’s hospitals as doctors bandaged up victims, many of them covered in blood. Citing rescue headquarters, the official Xinhua news agency said 44 people were killed, including 12 firefighters. Scores of firefighters were already on the scene before the explosion, responding to a fire, and at one city hospital a doctor wept over a dead firefighter still in uniform, his skin blackened from smoke, as he was wheeled past along with two other bodies. Xinhua said 521 people had been hospitalized, 52 of them in critical condition. At least 21 more were missing. Mei Xiaoya, 10, and her mother were turned away from the first hospital they went to because there were too many people, she told AFP. “I’m not afraid, it’s just a scratch,” she said pointing to the bandage on her arm. “But mum was hurt badly, she couldn’t open her eyes.” AFP

Court overturns Nestle noodle ban, orders new tests BOMBAY—An Indian court on Thursday overturned a government ban on Nestle’s hugely popular Maggi noodles brand, but ordered further tests before the product can go back on sale. Nestle had gone to the court to challenge the nationwide ban ordered by India’s food safety watchdog in June after tests by some states supposedly found lead levels exceeding the statutory limits.

The Swiss food giant has always maintained the product is safe to eat, and has continued to sell it in other countries. In its judgment, the high court in the western city of Bombay called the ban “arbitrary” and said it violated the “principles of national justice”. “We have examined the evidence in great detail. Since the petitioner Nestle has already agreed not to make and sell Maggi until

the food authorities are satisfied, we see no reason to allow any relief to food authorities,” Justice Vidyasagar Kanade told the court. “We direct that Nestle send five samples from each batch of Maggi for testing to three labs and only if the lead is found to be lower than permitted will they start manufacturing and sale again.” Shares in Nestle India rose nearly four percent after the ruling, which came a day after India

said it was seeking damages of nearly $100 million from the company for “unfair trade practices”. The government filed a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking 6,400 million rupees in damages. In response, Nestle said its noodles went through stringent testing at laboratories both in India and abroad. “Each one of these tests have

shown lead to be far below the permissible limits,” it said. It also said it does not add monosodium glutamate to its products, and that the substance occurs naturally in many ingredients. The government’s food safety watchdog had said traces of MSG were detected in Maggi noodles and criticized the company for failing to include the substance in the list of ingredients. AFP

Nestle has sold i

F r i D aY : a u G u s t 14 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

IS bomb kills 38 in Baghdad market BAGHDAD—A truck bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 38 people in a Shiitemajority area of Baghdad Thursday, in one of the deadliest single attacks in the city in months. The blast, which was likely aimed at undermining confidence in the government and stoking sectarian tensions, came after the outgoing US army chief warned that reconciliation in Iraq was becoming increasingly difficult and that the country may ultimately have to be partitioned. The bomb went off in a wholesale vegetable market in the Sadr City area of north Baghdad at around 6:00 am (0300 GMT), peak time for shops buying vegetables for the day. At least 80 people were also wounded. Medics collected human remains at the scene of the blast, an AFP photographer said. The bombing devastated the market, killing horses used to transport vegetables, burning vehicles and leaving produce strewn in the street. IS claimed responsibility for what it termed the “blessed operation” in a statement posted online. IS frequently targets the members of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority,

whom it considers heretics, and often strikes areas where crowds of people gather, such as markets and cafes, in a bid to cause maximum casualties. Bombings such as the Sadr City attack are a significant source of tension in Iraq and have worsened the country’s sectarian divide. General Raymond Odierno, who served as the top US commander in Iraq from 2008 to 2010, said Wednesday that Iraq may ultimately have to be divided up. Asked if he saw any possibility of reconciliation between Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites, Odierno said that “it’s becoming more difficult by the day” and pointed to a future in which “Iraq might not look like it did in the past”. Asked about partition, he said: “I think that is for the region and politicians to figure out, diplomats to figure out how to work this, but that is something that could happen.” “It might be the only solution but I’m not ready to say that yet,” said Odierno. Iraq has three main communities that would likely form the basis for the partition of the country if that were to occur: the Kurds, who already have an autonomous region, and the Sunni and Shiite Arabs. But for now, “we have to deal with (IS) first and decide what it will look like afterwards,” Odierno said. IS overran large parts of Iraq in June 2014 and also holds significant territory in neighboring Syria. AFP

China extends cuts on currency

Final tour. Alice Cooper performs onstage during Motley Crue: The Final Tour “All Good Things Must Come To An End” at the Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 12 in New York City. AFP University of the Philippines Manila The Health Sciences Center BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE 3

2nd Floor, BAC Conference Roon, Damian Hall University of the Philippines Manila P.Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Manila Telefax # 525-43-22 / 526-22-76

SECURITY PLANT COMPLEX BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID 1.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Bids and Awards Committee-Security Plant Complex (BAC-SPC), invites bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder requirement: Requirement/Brief Description

Supply and Installation of 1 lot Centralized Clock System, per BSP Scope of Works and Specifications

Approved Budget for the Contract

PhP2,220,000.00, VAT inclusive

Completion Period

Within fifty (50) calendar days reckoned from the date stipulated in the Notice to Proceed to be issued by the Department of General Services

INVITATION TO BID 1.

Bidders should have completed from Y2010 to present a contract similar to the requirement. The Eligibility Check/Screening and Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorship/partnerships/, or organizations with at least sixty (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grants similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens. All particulars and activities relative to Eligibility of Bidders, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-bid Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by Republic Act No. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. Activities Issuance of Bid Documents

Site inspection for bidders 20 August 2015 who purchased bidding BSP- Security Plant Complex, Quezon City. documents Contact Person: Engr. Samuel Pedro M. Origenes Tel. No. 988-4554 Bidders must submit the name/s of technical representative/s at least one (1) day before site inspection.

Pre-bid Conference

25 August 2015 at 9:00 A.M. Rm. 401, BAC-SPC Conference Room, 4th Floor, Bldg. A, BSP, East Avenue, Diliman, QC

Opening of Bids

08 September 2015 at 2:00 P.M. Rm. 401, BAC-SPC Conference Room, 4th Floor, Bldg. A, BSP, East Avenue, Diliman, QC

The bidding documents are posted at the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the BSP Website (www.bsp.gov.ph). Prospective bidders may download the bidding documents from any of these websites; provided that bidders shall pay a non-refundable fee PhP5,000.00 at the address above prior to, or upon submission of their bids.

The pre-bid conference shall be open to interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. Technical/administrative representatives should attend the pre-bid conference to ensure completeness and compliance of bids. Attendance of representatives will be limited to two (2) personnel only.

The BSP assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses incurred in the preparation of bid.

The BSP reserves the right to reject any bid, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract, annul the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidders. Further, the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defects or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the agency. (SGD) CYNTHIA B. CASALME Vice-Chairperson

( T S - A U G U S T 14 , 2 015 )

its Maggi noodles

Name of Project:

Supply of Various Laboratory Equipment

Supply of 1 Unit Multi Puncher

Supply of Various IT Equipment

Requesting Unit/ Location:

NIH - Institute of Human Genetics

National Telehealth Center

Approved Budget for the Contract:

Php 3,600,000.00

Php 3,100,000.00

Php 2,860,000.00

Bid Documents

Php 5,000.00

Contract Duration: Single Bid

Single Bid

PR No.:

NIH-IHG-14-450

NIH-IHG-15-066

NTHC-2015-01

Source of Fund:

LRTE 2015

Fund 142

LRTE 2015

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

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

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Schedule/Location Starting 13 August 2015 (from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P. M. only) Department of General Services, Rm. 405, 4th Floor, Bldg. A, BSP, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 926-2575 / Fax No. 927-8457

The University of the Philippines Manila through its Bids and Awards Committee III (BAC 3), invites suppliers/manufacturer/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Activities Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-bid Conference Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post-qualification Issuance of Notice of Award

Schedule Starting – August 14, 2015 August 25, 2015 – 1:30 pm Sept. 8, 2015 – 1:30 pm Within two (2) weeks after the opening Within one (1) week after the bid evaluation Seven (7) days after Post-qualification

Bid Documents will be made available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount stated above for each project to the U.P. Manila Cashier’s Office.

UP Manila assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

7. The University of the Philippines Manila reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality or defects therein, or to accept such as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila. 8.

All inquiries shall be directed to the BAC III Secretariat at tel. no. 525-4322/526-2275. This is also posted at the UP Manila Official Web: http://www.upm.edu.ph/procurement. (SGD) DR. TRISTAN NATHANIEL C. RAMOS Chair, BAC 3

(SGD) ARLENE A. SAMANIEGO, MD Vice Chancellor for Administration

TS-AUG. 14, 2015)

SHANGHAI—China weakened its currency for the third consecutive day Thursday, but the financial markets that had been shaken by the surprise devaluation took heart as authorities pledged not to let the yuan plummet. The central bank trimmed the reference rate for the yuan—also known as the renminbi—by 1.11 percent to 6.4010 yuan to $1, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System said, from the previous day’s 6.3306. The cut was less than previous two days and came after reports the People’s Bank of China intervened Wednesday to stem the yuan’s fall. China adopted a more market-oriented method of calculating the currency rate this week in a move widely seen as a devaluation, raising fresh questions about the health of the world’s second-largest economy. After global stock and currency markets staggered in response, the PBoC went on the offensive Thursday, telling reporters that the yuan was still a strong currency and that Beijing would keep the unit stable. “Currently, there is no basis for the renminbi exchange rate to continue to depreciate,” assistant governor Zhang Xiaohui told a briefing, according to a transcript. “The central bank has the ability to keep the renminbi basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level,” she said. The comments drove a relief rally Thursday in Asian shares and AsiaPacific currencies, which suffered their biggest two-day sell-off since 1998 this week, although analysts said sentiment remained fragile. “It’s likely the worst is over,” Patrick Bennett, a strategist at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News. “PBoC intervention has calmed the market. There is not a sense that the onshore yuan will weaken forever.” AFP

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 , 2 0 1 5

MOTORING

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Toyota sets a new monthly sales mark THE number one automotive brand in the country rewrites history by registering 10,678 units in a single month last July. Coming from its last sales record in May with 10,511 units, Toyota proves once again that it can go even further by beating its own monthly sales performance just after 2 months. This is the first time any local car manufacturer has achieved such sales volume. Toyota’s sales grew with the continuous high demand for all its models. More specifically, its best-selling vehicle in the country, the Vios, the Filipino favourite, Innova and its mini hatchback, Wigo registered their respective record sales performance to date. The 3rd generation Vios which was launched just 2 years ago remains a steadfast choice in the Philippine market. Last July, the bestselling car in the country recorded 3,102 units, the very first model to achieve such number in a single month. The Innova on the other hand, marked 1,653 units displaying that it remained the MPV to beat in its segment. The Wigo also

continued to prove its edge against its competitors in the segment by tallying 1,189 units – its highest figure since it was first introduced last 2014. On a year to date basis, Toyota lists a growth of 17% versus the first 7 months of last year with accumulated sales of

68,395 as of July 2015. In a statement, Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) President Michinobu Sugata expressed… “On behalf of the whole Toyota family, we would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to our customers for constantly making our brand the preferred choice. We are pleased by the unwavering support as seen in our most recent sales milestone in July. This is indeed a good way to celebrate our 27th anniversary this month in the country.” He also added, “Achieving another 10,000 unit sales level is already an accomplishment in itself. However, going the extra mile and recording our

highest tally yet at 10, 678 in a single month is a proof of how customers continue to enjoy the exceptional Toyota ownership experience. This has always been fastened by the Toyota Sure Advantage (TSA) wherein all customers can be assured that each Toyota vehicle is ingrained with traits of Great Value, Quality, Durability & Reliability and Pioneering Technologies that all make up for a Fulfilling Ownership. Truly, as we move forward -- we see each accomplishment as another motivation for our Team to constantly find ways in serving you, our customers and partners even better.”

CTEK of Sweden, a company known for its line of automotive batteries, recently staged a product launch to showcase the capabilities of their product line-up. Held at the Summer Palace of the EDSA Shangri-La EDSA, CTEK executives led by Robert Briggs, Director of Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific Consumer and Professional; and Edbert Tiu of CTEK Philippines, the exclusive local distributor for the brand threw a party to remember. Operating the CTEK battery charger is simple, as all you do is connect the clamps to your battery posts and select a mode using the push button controls. You can also just let the automated sequence decide what to do with the battery. The four modes you can choose from are “Normal,” “Snowflake”, “Supply” and “Recondition.” It also has modes to choose from such as Motorcycle, Car and Boat battery charging. Once a battery has reached its optimum

FAST FASTLANE Brembo expands aftermarket lineup BREMBO’S range of brake discs and drums is unrivalled in terms of both size and innovation. Brembo offers affordability along with the quality and performance of the world’s leading braking system manufacturer to all models of cars. Brembo also recently expanded its lineup with the launch of a dedicated range of Aftermarket integral and composite brake discs (including floating discs). Brembo is now bringing its exclusive expertise as a supplier of top-of-therange braking systems for the world’s most prestigious cars to the design and manufacture of Aftermarket components for high-end cars. The cuttingedge technology and vast experience of a company that manufactures braking systems for the world’s major automotive constructors, combined with absolute control in every stage of the production process, allow Brembo to offer the Aftermarket professional a more comprehensive and reliable range of spare brake parts that covers over 96% of all

vehicles on the road today. The new Aftermarket range features high performance technical innovations, including the use of specific materials, dedicated venting solutions, and customized machining of the braking surfaces. Brembo also stands for consistent quality in every component and a comprehensive aftersales service - a choice that is up to any challenge, for any car. AutoPerformancePh , Inc orporated is the authorized distributor of BREMBO products in the country, and also distributes high performance and safety gears such as Sabelt, Stilo, HRE and Supersprint.

For details, visit the showroom at 1159 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City or call Autoperformance PH Office. No.: (02)808-0485 and go online at E-mail: info@ autoperformance.com.ph and www.autoperformance. com.ph

Toyota’s bestseller

CTEK introduces ‘intelligent’ battery charger Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

charge levels, a trickle charger will simply send in a level of charge for a certain amount of time and then switch itself off, continually repeating the process until it is removed from the battery. This way of battery charging can potentially over charge the battery, causing it to dry out, or even start to gas, and ultimately kill the battery. However, CTEK’s smart chargers move into a pulse maintenance mode once the battery is fully charged. Rather than sending in a charge and estimating the batteries needs, a

CTEK charger will stay in constant communication with the battery, reacting and charging only when it is needed. One of the best features of the CTEK car battery charger is its ability to charge nearly every battery type available. This includes the common acid-lead batteries found in most automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, lawn mower and boats, and can also charge deep-cycle, gel-cell and automated glass mat, or AGM batteries. “Because this battery charger automatically ana-

Edbert Tiu, president of CTEK Philippines and Robert Briggs, director for sales and marketing Asia Paciﬁc Consumer and Professional show off the latest CTEK car battery chargers.

lyzes the charge and type of battery you connect it to, you can charge the batteries of your vehicle without worrying about using an incorrect setting or overcharging your battery,” adds Briggs. The CTEK’s line of car chargers include all the safety features such as insulated, spark-resistant clamp and an automated charging feature that is programmed to prevent overloading your batteries, and the charger will automatically sense when the maximum charge has been delivered, then stop supplying power. The CTEK also features a reverse polarity warning light that turns on if you have placed the clamps on the incorrect battery post. “While it is not truly equipped to be portable, the small, compact size of the CTEK car charger makes it easy to store and even install permanently in your garage or shop. CTEK’s patrons are usually showrooms, car collectors, fleet operators and car/motorbike enthusiasts who want to maximize or prolong their battery life,” says Johann Tiu of CTEK Philippines.

‘Saturdates’ with BYD SOLAR Transport and Automotive Resources, Inc. (STAR Corp.), the exclusive distributor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines, recently held its first “Saturdate” with valued customers at the BYD Showroom in Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong. According to Mark Andrew Tieng, managing director of STAR Corporation, ‘Saturdates’ is a series of get-togethers for BYD and its customers, which will take place on the last Saturday of each month at the Shaw Showroom and, very soon, at the other BYD dealerships. This event aims to give BYD owners a chance to have fun and learn from the wisdom of special guests and from each other by discussing their cars and the motoring lifestyle. “With our Saturdate gatherings, we will get a chance to share our

customers’ own milestones with their BYD cars and build our relationship with them,” explains Tieng. For the first Saturdate, the event speaker was veteran journalist/broadcaster; Olympic games commentator and road safety advocate Ron de los Reyes, who also owns a BYD L3. De los Reyes shared useful tips on how to drive in heavy rain and flooding as well as reminders on how to prepare for wet weather. The veteran journalist also discussed what to do when an earthquake occurs while driving. “Slow down until you can safely pull over and stop. If you’re on the expressway, take the first exit that’s safe and avoid parking near overpasses, big trees, power lines, bridges and buildings,” he added. BYD’s National Service Manager Noel Carandang also explained how the inherent safety features of BYD cars can help ensure the safety of their occupants as well as those of pedesFrom left: STAR Corp. managing director trians and other road users. — Mark Tieng; AAP executive assistant for Dino Ray V. Diadvocacies Cynthia G. Reyes and road recto III safety advocate Ron de los Reyes.

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RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING The Forester’s forging depth made river crossings a breeze

SUBARU explores the jungle

Trail2: The AWD system gave participants confidence to tackle the rough terrain.

of Sierra Madre Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

Forester Awning: Rhino Racks Sunseeker Awning provided protection from the noonday sun.

few weeks after the rollout of its complete lineup at the famous Windmills of Rizal, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country, held another unique driving event for select Subaru clients and the media through the off-road terrain

leading to Daraitan River in Tanay. With trail master Beeboy Bargas at the helm, this writer rode shotgun with MIPI Deputy Country Manager Bob Palanca and accepted the challenge of the rough off-road trail of Sierra Madre on board the new Subaru Forester. “This vehicle is engineered for this kind of terrain, and at Subaru, we practice what we preach,” Palanca said. The off-road event highlighted the Subaru Forester’s X-Mode System, a technology unique and standard to the current Subaru Forester models. Subaru Forester owners were able to drive their own Subarus together with media on a route that provided a good mix of highway, dirt and slippery surfaces to the Daraitan River in Tanay . Participants were able to maximize the potential s of the X-Mode System as we manouvered through the rough terrain going up Beeboy’s famed Jungle Base, a place once dubbed as the Land Rover

playground. Guiding us throughout the trek up the treacherous trail were professional off-road instructors that explained to us the system’s ability to unify the Forester’s traction control, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Symmetrical Allwheel Drive (SAWD) system, all with just a push of a button, to work seamlessly to get its passengers to where they want to go safely and with ease. The even highlight was the deep river forging which showcased the Forester’s ability to wade through knee deep water with relative ease. After almost two hours of punishing off-road driving, the participants were rewarded with a steak lunch by the river prepared by the organizers. We were kept cool from the hot sun by way of Rhino Rack’s Sunseeker Awning, an accessory which was bolted on to the Forester’s roof. Designed and engineered for ease of use, the Sunseeker Awning can be set up and packed away in minutes making it the perfect solution to protect you from the elements. Stored in its own heavy duty PVC bag, the Sunseeker Awning comes complete with all the gear you need to set it up including telescopic poles, guy ropes and pegs. The solid frame consists of anodized aluminium and corrosion resistant hardware, so it won’t rust. The Sunseeker Awning is a quick and easy solution to protect you and your family from the elements, so whether your an avid camper, Traveler or Tradesman the Sunseeker Awning is a must have accessory when braving the outdoors. After a long hiatus from media ride and drive events, Motor Image Pilipinas has renewed the process of putting their products on the spotlight and providing an activity that is both informative, highlighting the unique lifestyle and maximum confidence that Subaru owners can gain when driving a Subaru. The Subaru Forester comes in three variants – The Forester 2.0L XT, Forester 2.0i Premium and the Forester 2.0i-L. For more information about Subaru and its range of products, please visit any of the Subaru showrooms located at EDSA Greenhills, Bonifacio Global City, Manila Bay, Alabang, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan De Oro or visit www.motorimage.net/PH.

Self-driving cars: What else needs to be done LAST June, the Japanese cabinet passed a motion that created the “Declaration to become the World’s Most Advanced IT Nation.” The declaration states that, “by 2018, fatalities from traffic accidents will have been decreased to below 2,500, and by 2020, Japan will have achieved the world’s safest road transit infrastructure, with additional large-scale reductions in traffic congestion.” One step in this direction is “ the creation of autonomous systems and the sharing of data from vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to road aimed at the development of an advanced driver assistance system. Demonstrations of autonomous driving will be launched on public roads in advance of deployment of

this system; the aim is to, by the first half of the 2020s, bring to market a Level 3 (*) semi-autonomous driving system.” Will autonomous driving really become a reality in the near future in Japan? In January, Audi demonstrated autonomous driving on a 900km route from California (Silicon Valley) to Nevada (Las Vegas), where the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) was being held. At the same venue, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a autonomous driving concept car with a facing-seat arrangement that smoothly unfolds to reveal a space like a living room. In June, BMW announced the sale of a new vehicle with an automated parking system. In addition, IT companies in the US such as Google and Apple

are undertaking proof of concept trials to expand their business into the autonomous driving field. Developments overseas in autonomous driving have recently gained attention, but Japanese automobile manufacturers and suppliers are by no means falling behind. At the 21st ITS World Congress in Detroit in September 2014, Toyota and Honda demonstrated on public roads an “advanced driver assistance system” that secured a fixed distance between the car driving ahead and had other features like lane control. In July 2014, Nissan announced its release schedule for autonomous driving. The company stated that it is aiming to release a fully

autonomous driving vehicle by 2020. We are eagerly awaiting to see what companies in Japan, with its aim to become a technological superpower, will produce. Even if autonomous driving is technologically possible, there are many hurdles to clear before it becomes a reality. For instance, in the event of an accident, is the vehicle or the “driver” responsible? Does insurance apply? If a car idled at a stoplight has a person in the driver’s side intently staring at a smartphone screen or even reclining or sitting backwards, would you be able to confidently walk in front of that car? Achieving the dream of autonomous driving will require laws and social regulations, as well as trust from

people, to make it possible. However, autonomous driving cars may achieve a more safe and free form of transport, reducing traffic accidents and congestion, decreasing the environmental impact of driving, and helping the elderly and disabled travel to the hospital or market. At the Tokyo Motor Show in October, Smart Mobility City 2015 will play host to an autonomous driving demonstration and an internation al symposium on the subject. In addition to Japanese automobile manufacturers, a range of experts on social systems and city planning from within and without Japan have been invited. The event will be a chance to debate the future of autonomous driving.

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 : 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

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE

THE ARTISANAL TAKEOVER

Filipino artisanal brands to watch out for and support BY KAI MAGSANOC

ntrepreneurship is alive and well in the Philippines, and Filipinos are getting into it not just to make money but also because of passion. At a time when we often feel like there’s not enough time to do what we have to do, seeing Pinoys make time to run small businesses on the side while balancing a day job and a personal life is truly inspiring. We visited the 13th Global Pinoy Bazaar held last August 8 and 9 at the Rockwell Tent in Power Plant Mall and were amazed not only by the creativity of the products, but also by our resourcefulness as people. The exhibit convinced us that entrepreneurship should be a way of life. Here are 11 artisanal brands that caught our eye:

BEAUTY

Soak Don’t eat them because they are soap! Soak’s moisturizing soaps are made with 45 percent olive oil and tussah silk, and packaged in the most adorable ways possible that you are instantly drawn to them. As gift items, they don’t need any packaging! Soak’s soaps are made using the traditional cold-process method, which retains the natural goodness of the ingredients. Instagram: soakartisansoap Email: soakartisansoap@gmail.com Mobile: +63917-6314067 Continued on C2

Nekkid Beauty Nekkid Beauty is a Filipino home-based company launched in November 2014 by makeup artist and self-confessed beauty and skin care addict Sabs Hernandez-Dy-liacco. Sabs has a passion for enhancing beauty the natural way. She has made it her mission to make everyone look good naked, hence the name “Nekkid.” Their products are all-natural, paraben- and additive-free, and noncomedogenic (they don’t block the pores!). Instagram: nekkidmanila Facebook and Twitter: nekkidbeautyph Email: nekkidbeauty.ph@gmail.com Mobile: +63917-5868592

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

THE ARTISANAL TAKEOVER From C1

WOOD

CRAFTS

Crafts with Soul It was a tiny storage bench with a matryoshka doll design that drew me to Pia Suiza’s booth. Pia is a young artist who specializes in decoupage, a technique that uses paper cutouts and special painting methods to design a piece. Each of her items is handcrafted, unique, and functional. She also does manual transferring of photos on wood, perfect for personalized gifts or preserving memories. Instagram: craftswithsoul Email: craftswithsoul.blog@gmail.com Mobile: +63917-8356336

Ella Lama She is easily recognizable because of her curly hair and sunny smile. Ella started lettering in 2012 to cope with the stressors at work. It was her way of staying happily offline when she wasn’t at work (which was purely online). She wanted to draw figures, but drawing them was not her cup of tea. So she instead drew letters, and started placing hand-lettered inspiring quotes on stationery products.

FOOD

Nipa Nipa Foods is a specialty food and beverage business that believes in sourcing locally and helping people from the countryside. They believe in fair trade and responsible sourcing, and package their products in a sleek manner that they almost come off as fashionable (check out the photos and see why). The taste matches the packaging, and the end result is truly world-class. Instagram and Facebook: nipafoods Email: nipafoods@selula.com.ph Mobile: +63927-3936968

Instagram: ella_lama Email: ella.lama@gmail.com Mobile: +63906-4533552 Windel Woodcraft This is a freshly started (July 2015) family business from Silang, Cavite. They do wood carving and engraving, including portraits. They also produce small items like clocks, keychains, letter openers, bookmarks, coasters, ref holders, table napkins, wine boxes, gadget holders, invitations, and other souvenir items.

Proudly Promdi (Proudly From The Province) “Promdi” used to have a negative connotation, as if hailing from the province was a bad thing, their products sub-standard. Ken Alonso’s brand wants to change this perception. Best of all, Proudly Promdi encourages locals to continue making their products. This helps propagate culture and tradition.

Instagram: windelwoodcraft Email: windelwoodcraft@yahoo.com Mobile: +63927-8884455

Facebook: proudlypromdi Email: proudlypromdi@gmail.com Mobile: +63947-9641413

WoodArts MNL Colorful artwork or meaningful words painted on recycled wood — rustic, eye-catching, empowering. WoodArts MNL is a home-based business, but from their range of products you’d think they have a bigger studio. Their products can bring any space to life, whether at home or at work. They can bring out the child and geek in you (like the Pop Art Stormtrooper) or the hopeless romantic (like the Starry Night Owl).

SQooiD SQooiD is a brand that creates hand carved stamps and block prints, helmed by artist Tish Hautea. For Tish, SQooiD is an artistic expression that celebrates conscientious design. Each piece is conscientiously made, with keen attention to detail. It’s an example of Filipino craftsmanship through the hands and vision of a young lady. And why the name? SQooiD is named after the free-swimming squid, which releases dark ink as a natural mechanism.

Theo & Philo This chocolate factory prides itself in being the first in the country to produce high quality chocolate from bean to bar, creating great-tasting chocolate bars from scratch. Ingredients are sourced locally, and remain natural: no artificial flavors or preservatives. Their packaging is like artwork, too.

Instagram and Facebook: woodartsmnl Email: woodartsmanila@gmail.com Mobile: +63917-8160718

Instagram and Facebook: SQooID Email: theresehautea@yahoo.com.ph Mobile: +63927-6230009

Instagram: theoandphilo Email: hello@theoandphilo.com Mobile: +639204315650

ETCETERA Planners and Journals People are rediscovering the beauty of writing down their thoughts instead of typing them out. On paper, they can decorate with doodles and stickers instead of on-screens that feel cold to the touch. P&J answers this rediscovered preference through affordable handmade planners and journals. They collaborate with artists and other online sellers to cross promote and help build other brands. Instagram and Facebook: plannersandjournals Email: plannersandjournals@ gmail.com Mobile: +63917-8494903

Mr. & Mrs. Green Green is said to be the color that ignites creativity. Mr. & Mrs. Green’s products — cacti, succulents, and air plants — do just that, aside from giving life to any space. Best of all, they are easy to maintain, perfect for the busy student or working person. The pots and containers are so pretty; they are Instagram- and Pinterest-worthy. Instagram: mrandmrsgreen Email: mrandmrsgreenph@ gmail.com Mobile: +63917-9595464

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

Enjoy the Lipstick Festival ongoing until August 26 in the Beauty Section of all SM Stores.

@LIFEatStandard

Beauty queens Venus Raj, Sam Purvor, Ariella Arida, and Shamcey Supsup-Lee shared “lip tips” at the SM Beauty Lipstick Festival.

The Lipstick Festival is ongoing until August 26 at the Beauty Section of all SM Stores.

SM BEAUTY CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL LIPSTICK DAY

Beauty bloggers Vina Guerrero, Janeena Chan and Katt Valdez celebrate International Lipstick Day with SM Beauty.

bright red lipstick can boost a Section and a Lipstick Festival that is ongoing woman’s confidence, lift her spirits until August 26. and raise her morale. In England Hosted by Miss Philippines Water 2012, during the 1500s, people – including Samantha Purvor and graced by three other Queen Elizabeth I – actually believed that beauty queens – Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, lipstick had magical powers. During and Ariella Arida, the beauty-filled event saw World War II, all other cosmetics were the three ladies sharing different lip tips rationed in Great Britain but lipstick and personal stories to encourage ladies was kept in production because to feel more confident in exploring Winston Churchill felt that the the world of lipstick. tiny cosmetic in a tube boosted For Venus, knowing one’s morale. In the US, a study says the “undertone color” is important to average woman spends $15,000 perfectly match with the right lip on cosmetics in her lifetime – color. Shamcey on the other hand and of that amount, $1,780 goes says lip moisturizing is a must to lipstick. because “using too much lipstick In the Philippines, SM was can lead to dry lips, which is why the first to launch International it is important that you exfoliate Lipstick Day in the Philippines and moisturize.” Ariella for her and celebrated in a big, colorful part gave tips on how to pick the way with a gathering of stylish right lip color to go with one’s lippie lovers at SM “day or night looks.” Makati’s Beauty Enjoy Essence’s trendy lipsticks at P100; buy any two “We join makeMaybelline items and get a third item for free; and enjoy 50 percent off on Makeover lipsticks and lip glosses.

Rave Lagario and Katie Lowe

Skinny gets the boot

THE GIST

BY ED BIADO

up fans all over the world on International Lipstick Day,” remarked May Abarquez, Watsons & SM Beauty’s Beauty Trading Controller. “I know Filipinas are big fans of lipstick, and we’ve made the celebration more fun for them.” Ladies will certainly enjoy the lip makeup services and discounts up to 50 percent offered by Top brands like Happy Skin, Shiseido, L’Oreal, Revlon, Maxfactor, NYX, Maybelline, The Body Shop, BYS and others until August 26. SM Makati shoppers can also get the latest trends in lip color from luxury brands like Dior, MAC, Clinique and Shu Uemura. Complete your look with other lip care products and must haves like lip balm, liners, and glosses. So ladies, drop by the Beauty Section of all SM Stores and join the ongoing Lipstick Festival and show the whole world your pout-worthy lips! Or better yet, Share your Instagram-worthy photos with #SMLipfie, tag @SMBeautyPH and get a chance to win special prizes.

ow long have we been wearing skinny jeans? Six, seven years? Eight? Isn’t it about time for an update? Various outlets have been declaring the death of skinnies for a couple of seasons now, and they might actually be on to something. The hottest thing in the denim department at high-street and fastfashion brands right now are bootcut jeans. We used to love the bootcut back in the '90s but we decided at the turn of the century that it was one colossal mistake. But fashion is indeed that fickle, with the dictators of style having suddenly decided that we should all be making that mistake again. This is obviously a drastic reaction to the stranglehold of the skinny trend that lasted way longer than most other trends. It’s not that we didn’t have other choices

throughout the skinny’s reign; we just really loved it. For a time, relaxed-cut jeans were touted to be the next “it” thing. Never happened. Then, boyfriend jeans. This experienced a bit of popularity, but it wasn’t enough to unseat the skinny. But now, the bootcut revolution seems to be the real deal. For the first time, online searches for skinnies are decreasing. We, the consumers, want something new (or at least, different). And brands are giving us the exact opposite of super-tight. American Eagle, Forever 21, J.Crew, Old Navy and Banana Republic are all bout the flare at this point. Even Levi’s is in on it. So are ASOS, 7 For All Mankind, and pretty soon, every streetwear store at the mall will have it, too. As a top trend this season, the jean comes in a lot of versions and washes. Stylists recommend getting a really dark pair or a really light/faded one with a natural wash. The style is more visible at the ladies’ section but there are a few retailers that offer options for men as well.

Lucky Brand

Levi’s 517

Americn Eagle Outfitters

H&M

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

Hudson Jeans

F R I D AY : A U G U S T 14 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

FALSE EYELASHES 101 E v e r wonder how your favorite stars end up looking absolutely POP-UP BEAUTY a m a z i n g w h i l e BY JIGS MAYUGA performing on that weekly Sunday variety show? Well, aside from their God-given good looks, these celebrities have a team of stylists, makeup artists and hair people who make sure their image is always on point. But what the public doesn’t realize is that it’s actually pandemonium in the dressing rooms before these “artistas” go on-camera. The star generally has to rehearse for a very long time and the styling team usually has only about 30

minutes to finish their job and make sure the celeb is ready before the show starts. As a makeup artist, that usually means having to work double-time and one sure-fire way to play up someone’s eyes quickly is to apply false eyelashes. For women who want to define their eyes in an instant, false eyelashes can work wonders. The effect can range from a few subtle strands to a glamorous, full fan of lush lashes. I have to admit though that applying lashes on one’s self can be quite difficult compared to having a professional makeup artist do the job for you. It takes a lot of practice and technique to master the art of putting falsies on. Here’s a few tips and tricks to make lash application a breeze, as well as some tried and tested brands which you ladies should definitely check out.

TIPS AND TRICKS Most false eyelashes are too long for Asian eyes and the corners of the base can actually irritate your eyes if the lashes are untrimmed. Measure the lashes by trying them on first without the glue and then cut them to your desired length.

Use a heavy-duty eyelash adhesive to glue falsies on to your lash line. Apply glue on the base of the falsies with a cotton bud or a small spatula. Before putting them on, allow the glue to dry for about a minute so the adhesive is tacky enough for the lashes to stick easily onto the skin.

Grab a pair of sturdy, slanted tweezers and clamp on the tips around the center of the false eyelash hairs. Position a small compact mirror on a low table and angle it towards your face. While looking down into the mirror, apply the lashes using your tweezers.

Clean up any excess glue and press down on the base of the lashes with some cotton buds. You can also adjust the angle and position of the lashes using your fingers. Allow the falsies to dry completely then curl both natural lashes and false lashes at the same time with a couple of clamps of an eyelash curler. Blend together by combing through with a brow/lash comb.

TRIED AND TESTED FOR THAT NATURAL EFFECT

FOR THE EYELASH ADDICT

ARDELL Individual Lashes in Flare Short Black, Watsons

BOHKTOH Y-005 Eyelashes (Pack of 10 Pairs), www.nipponesthetic.com/bohktoh SALON PERFECT Perfectly Natural Multi Pack in 110 Black, Beauty Bar

Individual falsies are the best bet for ladies who want their lashes to look like they were actually born with them.

These lashes also look very natural but are less tedious to apply than individual falsies. Sold in multiple pairs so you don’t have to worry about running out.

FOR FIRST TIME USERS

Half lashes offer subtle density and accentuate the eyes. For women who are apprehensive about wearing a full fan of falsies.

JAPONESQUE Brow Groomer Scissors and Comb, www.ssilife.com.ph

DUO Eyelash Adhesive, Watsons

BENEFIT Starlet Lash, Bonifacio High Street Central Square

MAKE UP STORE Framing Eyelash, The Podium

FOR THAT PERFECT CAT’S EYE

You’ve mastered that flawless winged eyeliner technique. Now add drama to your look with these styles that give extra volume and length to the outer corner of the eyes.

TWEEZERMAN Tweezers, Beauty Bar

M.A.C. 36 Lash, Eastwood Mall

RED CHERRY Eyelashes #43, www.dtcmakeup.com

FOR INSTANT GLAMOUR

SHU UEMURA Eyelash Curler, Powerplant Mall

From the limited edition Courrèges Estée Lauder collection, the ‘60s-era, iconic spider lashes get a 21st century reboot with these long, full, naturallooking eye accessories that are perfectly shaped to provide a striking flutter and next-level definition. ESTÉE LAUDER Courrèges Super Lashes, Rustan’s Makati

F RIDAY : AUGUST 14, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

LOSING HAIR? TRY DHI

he persistent loss of more than a hundred hairs per day is a sign of alopecia, a pathology that lays the scalp bare and damages the sufferer’s self-esteem. But today there is a remarkable antidote: DHI technology. This non-surgical, pain-free treatment requires no downtime and gives exceptional, natural and dense results. More common in men than in women, hair loss is caused by many factors – genes, hormonal imbalances, stress. As soon as you experience abnormal and prolonged hair loss, the best thing to do is to see your doctor so that they can carry out tests to prescribe the most suitable treatment. The DHI technique – Direct Hair Implantation – carried out under local anesthetic, follows on from said treatment, achieving personalized hair restoration to suit each patient. Carried out exclusively by specially-trained doctors, today it is the most highly specialized non-invasive technique for achieving natural hair growth in hair-free areas, recreating a harmonious hairline on the forehead, and also for preventing hair loss by increasing hair density on those areas of scalp where it is starting to thin. With the aid of a special tool (0.7 to 0.9mm in diameter), the doctor harvests follicles one by one from the back and sides of the head, areas which are not affected by the genetic factors that cause hair loss. These follicles are then preserved in a HypoThermosol holding solution, which is usually reserved for organ transplants, until they are ready to be implanted. This reflects the DHI method’s insistence on excellence. Then a small stylus, equipped with an eyed needle into which the follicle is placed, enables the doctor to “inject” the graft into the area concerned – scalp, chest, chin, eyebrow, scar, etc. Thanks to the high precision of the innovative and high-performance DHI tools – which give

(Top) Sotyrios Tyrkalas and Nathaniel Aknine (above) of DHI Academy

control over the angle, direction and depth of the implant according to each patient’s capillary pattern – the follicles, which are inserted in between the existing hairs, are undetectable. Their adaptation to their new environment is helped by the lack of trauma, from their harvest to their re-implantation – no incisions, no stitches, no holes, no scarring and no damage to the surrounding tissue. And since there is no minimum time interval required in between grafts, the implantation density is maximized – up to 4,000 hairs in one eight-hour session – with more than 95 percent re-growth. Sportspeople, celebrities, businesspeople, politicians all put their trust in the DHI technique. Its reputation as a serious and efficient technique is down to the highly specialized training carried out at the DHI Academy.

Doctors from all over the globe come here in order to learn how to master the standardization protocol, which will enable them to identically reproduce all of the steps in the DHI hair implantation procedure. This highly sought-after expertise can be found in Paris, in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe neighborhood, where the DHI France clinic is based. In a private and friendly setting, a team of professionals who are experienced in the DHI technique but are also down-to-earth and personable, pay great attention to each and every patient. This warm and confidence-building reception is greatly appreciated by hair-loss sufferers, who often find it difficult to deal with their affliction. With more than 200,000 patients across the globe, 36 hair transplants carried out per day and 45 years of research and development, the DHI medical group is the world leader for hair implantation. Though nowadays 90 percent of doctors worldwide carry out the strip method (FUT, with the extraction of a strip of scalp at the back of the head, leaving a visible scar) or classic follicular unit extraction (FUE), the DHI method achieves the best, most natural-looking results with a re-growth rate of over 95% and all without pain or scarring. Convinced by the excellence of this procedure, which was developed six years ago after many years of research, the Lutétia Clinic in Paris is the only clinic to offer the DHI method and works tirelessly to ensure that alopecia is no longer a life sentence. Convinced of the excellence of this technology, DHI France President Nathanael Aknine and the entire DHI team are passionate about providing painless, scar-free and natural solutions to efficiently treat all types of hair loss. For more information about DHI, visit www.dhiglobal.com.

IPHOTO

FREE FLIGHT FOR MUTYA NG PILIPINAS 2015 (From right) Fil-Australian Nina Josie Robertson won Mutya ng Pilpinas-Overseas Communities. Leren Mae Bautista, claims the Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International title, while Fil-Qatari Janela Joy Cuaton, of Doha, Qatar, won Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International and Ms. Skyjet Airlines 2015. Here they arw with Skyjet Airlines President Dino Reyes-Chua at the Newport Theater in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. The winners received a 1 year unlimited flights to any Skyjet airlines dream destinations.

F RIDAY : AUGUST 14, 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

PEOPLE

...ARE TALKING ABOUT

ALDUB FEVER

Overnight celebrity Maine Mendoza

On Saturday, a record-breaking 600 thousand posts flooded Twitter with hash tag #AlDubWeBelongTogether. On the same day, Eat Bulaga registered a 300 percent increase in its TV viewership. Now, fans have started a campaign to put Alden Richard and overnight celebrity Maine Mendoza in a local adaptation of a Korean series. By the looks of it, the AlDub fever shows no signs of waning so as the saying goes, “Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.”

Xian Lim on the cover of Garage Magazine

XIAN LIM

The 26-year-old actor plays multiple musical instruments (17 to be exact). And many of us didn’t know that Xian could also paint until he hand painted a luxury German manufactured luggage, which will be auctioned off next month. You see, there are so many fascinating things about Xian apart from his gym sculptured physique that he flaunted in a magazine cover this month.

SUNDAY PINASAYA

...ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT

Ratings data from AGB Nielsen say that the GMA Network show was the most watched program on Aug. 9, which was also its premiere telecast. Its rival show, ASAP, which paid tribute to Sharon Cuneta, garnered 11.5 percent ratings or just half of what Sunday PINASaya registered on the same day. It seems people are patronizing a different flavor this time. Any thoughts, Kapamilya?

Jessica Sanchez in Sunday PINASaya

FASHION PULIS

Gossip Blogger Mike Lim PHOTO FROM HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

Gossip blogger Michael Sy Lim, the man behind the popular gossip website, was arrested on Tuesday over a libel case filed by Deniece Cornejo. The controversial blogger retorted that his arrest is tantamount to curtailing press freedom. But we would have to dissent since bloggers are not journalists as defined by U.S. courts (we don’t have laws governing bloggers and new media yet). And his blog cannot be used as a valid news source unless we, again, are talking about gossips.

SARAH LAHBATI

Luis Manzano

Richard Gutierrez’s real life partner is also doing the network rounds - from Kapuso, then to Kapatid, now a Kapamilya. There’s a strong speculation that Sarah will be an official Kapamilya soon after she appeared in ASAP last Sunday. The only question that lingers is: Would she be able to regain the showbiz stature she lost when she initially cut ties with GMA-7? A clear “no” is our answer for now.

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

UNCONVENTIONAL AUGUST ON EVE This month, Discovery Network’s EVE presents three series that will make you think about the wonders of life and love, however unconventional they may be. From unlikely births, odd physical appearances and seemingly strange occupations, the three new shows will spark the hearts of its viewers by showing that love for life pushes through, in whatever unusual circumstance or situation the people are in. Beauty And The Beast is back to examine the extremes of discrimination, bringing together people often defined by the way they look; whether they have facial disfigurement or an intense preoccupation with their appearance. Beauty and The Beast airs every Tuesday at 7.20 p.m., starting on Aug. 25. Psychic Matchmaker features Deborah Graham, a psychic specializing in helping people find true love that can last a lifetime. Unlike your typical matchmaker, Deborah was born with a special gift that helps her connect people psychically with their true soul mate. Each week, different clients looking for love in South Florida come to consult with Deborah. Balancing being a psychic, mother, wife and good friend can be tough, but Deborah’s family and friends know her psychic ability never turns off. Throughout the series we see Deborah go through highs and lows in her search to find her clients their true love. Psychic Matchmaker premieres 9 p.m. on Aug. 18.

LUIS MANZANO

To run, or not to run – that is the question. Vilma Santos’s son is torn between his showbiz career and his political dreams. He said he still has until October to decide. We are sure he has a valid or even a genuine reason if he chooses to be in the political arena. But please leave showbiz completely. People hardly respect celebrities who can’t identify whether they are politicos or showbiz clowns.

Sarah Lahbati

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 48 49 51 53 55 56 60 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

Festive night Bagel choice Hammered Egg portion Winter festival Framed fellas (2 wds.) Greener Jai — Loved to excess Poop out Utter a dismal cry Chopin opus Advantage Counting-rhyme start Benefactor Kind of job

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Harpo or Chico 5 Grove 10 Dateless 14 Between ports 15 Overthrows 16 Nursery word 17 Debt securer 18 Travel documents 19 “Olly, olly — free!” 20 Blazing 22 Seeking shrimp

24 26 27 30 34 35 38 39 40 42 43 46

Computer fodder Took a gander Salad garnish Moves furtively Toupee, slangily Adjusts a guitar Guzzled Mr. Vigoda Heroes’ tales “Bali —” Luges Coll. students

DOWN 1 Actress — Powers 2 Yeah, right! (2 wds.) 3 Tackle-box item 4 “Kubla Khan” locale 5 Greedy 6 Si, to Maurice 7 Discreet summons 8 Fixed gaze 9 Makes a try 10 Seethe with rage 11 Roll down the runway 12 Famous last word

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015

13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 36 37 41 44 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 66

Posse’s quarry Sheriff — Dillon Proceed Christie and Karenina Boorish Ivan’s dollar Curved moldings Sighed with delight Rogue Went downhill fast Freud topic Mawkish Place to cry? Orange flower Urban problem Crewmate of Uhura Gave the slip Like folk art dolls Temple city of Japan Dunaway of films Lotion additive Croquet site Phaser setting Keep under wraps Joule fractions Awful smell Tokyo, once

Psychic Matchmaker

F RIDAY : AUGUST 14, 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

CHIZ & HEART EXCHANGE MARITAL VOWS IN 2016, AGAIN? From C8

On Feb. 15 this year, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista exchanged wedding vows in the tres, tres exclusif island of Balesin in the Pacific Ocean. But, did you know the couple is now talking about doing the same, and this time on the mainland? And it will be on the same day marking their first wedding anniversary next year. Escudero though clarified the report, “ No, it will not be a “fullblown wedding” but a simple renewal of vows and a little banquet prepared at home in Quezon City, this time with Heart’s parents.”

As we all know, Heart’s parents skipped the wedding, as things were not all right between them and the Senator. This time, after the Escuderos and the Ongpaucos became reconciled, with the latter accepting their daughter’s chosen lifetime partner, they will be gathered as one family in that ceremony in February next year. “It will just a simple ceremony for us to have photographs with her parents, “ the senator said in a radio interview recently. The occasion will also serve the couple’s way of expressing their gratitude now that the relationship of both families are better than before the couple were married. The Senator, in fact, is very happy with what’s happening to his and wife’s life. She likens their relationship to a “fairy tale” that ends in a grand reconciliantion, something that happens only in the books. “It’s showing in her art. Heart paints, not only on canvass, but also bags, clothes. It shows in her artistic side perhaps, that she is now in a beautiful and peaceful place. Her paintings are now bright and no longer dark, “Escudero said referring to his wife’s paintings.

SUNDAY PINASAYA AND WOWOWIN BEAT COMPETING PROGRAMS

AGAINST THE CURRENT IN MANILA!

The one and only American poppunk rock band Against The Current returns to Manila. They will surely set the stage of Metrotent in Metrowalk, Ortigas on fire 8 p.m. on Sept. 5. The band consists of lead vocalist Chrissy Costanza, Dan Gow (guitarist), and Will Ferri (drummer). Performing their hits “Dreaming Alone”, “Gravity,” “Another You” and a lot more. Front act is Neo-soul pop/rock band, Midnight Meetings. New World Manila Bay Hotel, DMC Phils and Resorts World Manila are the major sponsor of the show. Tickets are priced at P5,000.00 (VIP include M&G), P3,500.00 (Gold/GA) and available at all SM Tickets (tel. 470.222) and TicketWorld (tel. 891.9999) or www. ticketworld.com.ph.

Last Sunday, Kapuso back-to-back programs Sunday PinaSaya and Wowowin dominated TV ratings nationwide. GMA’s newly launched program Sunday PinaSaya certainly made its viewers happy on its pilot episode. Aside from comedy sketches and fun banters from the hosts, the program featured international singing sensations Jessica Sanchez and Christian Bautista, Dingdong Dantes and Maricel Soriano. According to overnight data gathered by the more widely recognized TV ratings supplier, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement),

HIGH-OCTANE ACTION MOVIE OF THE YEAR

mplifying and transcending every rule in the action genre, the latest ultra-stylized action film Hitman: Agent 47 introduces the latest assassin-hero to root for with Rupert Friend in the titular character along with Hannah Ware and Zachary Quinto. Friend, known to worldwide audience in the Emmy- winning Showtime series Homeland as Peter Quinn, dons the suit of Agent 47, the titular elite assassin based on the popular video game of the same name. A complete reboot, Hitman: Agent

47 brings together an iconic anti-hero, an empowered and surprising female protagonist, and a seemingly unstoppable antagonist, in a thrilling story spanning the globe. Friend’s Agent 47 has unexpected character shadings that transcend his profession as an elite assassin who remains a fiercely independent figure that moves in the shadows and has incredible tools and weaponry at his disposal. But 47’s defining quality is not his martial skills, but his humanity. The titular character’s impact on, and importance to, the legions of fans who’ve

followed his exploits across several media, did not go unnoticed by producer Adrian Askarieh, who initially came up with the idea of bringing Agent 47 and the Hitman video game franchise to the big screen. “With this all-new film, we’ve stayed true to the character and his world, while expanding that world in a very real and grounded way,” he explains. “We employ a gritty style that brings 47 into the ‘real world,’ if you will.” Friend, Quinto, Ware and the rest of the cast and crew certainly put their trust in director Aleksander Bach, whom Quinto

Sunday PinaSaya marked an average household rating of 18.7 percent against ASAP’s 14.6percent. The undisputed variety-game show Wowowin also won in NUTAM as it scored 18.8 percent, ahead of its rival programs ASAP and Kapamilya Mega Blockbusters which posted 14.6 percent and 13.2percent household ratings, respectively. Wowowin host Willie Revillame thanked the people who never fail to support him and his program. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong patuloy na sumusuporta at nanonood sa aking programa. Nakakataba ng puso na dahil sa kanila ay nangunguna kami sa TV ratings. Asahan nila na mas marami pang kasiyahan at papremyong hatid ang aming programa.” In Urban Luzon, Sunday PinaSaya garnered 21.7 percent, ahead of its rival program’s 12.8 percent. Also, Wowowin posted 21.8 percdnt household ratings over its competing programs, which marked average household ratings of 12.8 percent and 12.1 percent. Both shows also dominated GMA’s bailiwick Mega Manila with commanding 22.7 percent and 22.3 percent household ratings much higher than ASAP’s 11.5 percent and Kapamilya Mega Blockbusters’ 11.2 percent.

says “has a real vision, and he gets the emotional component of the story, as well as the incredible action and visuals.” Adds Friend: “Ale has a real sense of the soul of the action. With him, it’s never just about flashy visuals.” Bach landed the assignment – his feature directorial debut – after submitting a sizzle reel that outlined his vision for the movie. “We were already impressed with Ale’s commercial work, and were eager to talk with him about directing the film,” remembers producer Charles Gordon. “And then this terrific reel he prepared sealed the deal. It focused not just on action, but on the characters and emotion. It was quite a selling tool. We all immediately said, “Let’s go with this guy!” Also, according to producer Alex Young, the reel was “exactly what we had hoped for, and once production began Ale proved to be a masterful storyteller as well as a great visual stylist.” Bach’s vision for the film’s visuals encompasses a merging of what he calls “the slick and the gritty.” The “slick” defines the film’s spectacular action set pieces, including helicopters flying into buildings, visceral car chases and exploding jet engines. He says the “grittiness” stems from experiencing the strength in the characters – “when the guys are fighting, they’re really fighting,” he elaborates. “Audiences will really feel it – like you’re in the middle of the battle.” From 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros, Hitman: Agent 47 hits theatres nationwide Aug. 19.

F RIDAY : AUGUST 14, 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Diamond Star and gay icon Maricel Soriano renders a torchy “I Am What I Am,” her signature song.

Vice Ganda sang “Perfect” and “True Colors” and then gave a heartfelt and powerful speech to the Sangkabekihan, saying, “Ngayon, dinig na nila ang ating ting!”

Backstage, Korina poses with superstar Vice Ganda and international online sensation Maria Sofia Love who flew in from London KeriBeks.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas watched the show and supports wife Korina in her advocacy for the LGBTQ.

Anne Curtis raised howls from the Beki crowd as she sings a fabulous medley of R&B chart-toppers.

THE NIGHT GAY PEOPLE HAD KORINA SANCHEZ AS BENEFACTRESS ISAH V. RED If it was Korina Sanchez’s way of endearing herself, and in the process her husband, to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-genders) community, she may have succeeded. I only know recently that she is “out and proud,” so to speak, about how happy she is about her advocacy for equal rights for the LGBTQ Community. “This might seem sudden to some. But for people who have long known me, alam nila ang puso ko para sa mga Beki [popular term of endearment amongst gay men], matagal ko na silang mahal at tinutulungan. All my career I’ve been surrounded by bekis,” says Korina in an interview after last week’s KeriBeks at Araneta Coliseum, which she supported. KeriBeks is a national gay congress that aims to empower Filipino gay men through livelihood programs, viable career options, education and extensive

information about their health and over-all wellness. The event also celebrates the countless contributions of gay men to their individual families and, to Philippine society and culture. “KeriBeks is the brainchild of several gay friends from the entertainment industry. They approached me with this idea and I fell in love with the concept. I’ve always wanted to help bekis in a bigger way. This event was actually just the beginning of other projects we are thinking of to help empower the LGBTQ Community against several forms of discrimination in the areas of employment, education, opportunity, and health,” says Korina. KeriBeks was conceived late last year and took almost 10 months to plan. Korina says she didn’t tell her husband Mar Roxas about what she was doing until a month prior to the event. “I wasn’t sure what he would think, so I was ecstatic when he said what we were doing ‘is good’ and that he supports it.” “I’ve been in the business for over 30 years and gays have always been there for me. They were with me through every creative process at work, through the good and bad

times of my personal life. They accept me for who I am as I accept them. Malapit talaga sila sa akin. Alam ko ang mga pinagdadaanan nila. For me they are unsung heroes because they support their families, they send their nephews and nieces to school, and they still manage to be fabulous,” says Korina. The bekis were treated to an evening of star-studded production numbers and heartwarming inspirational messages from some

I’ve been in the business for over 30 years and gays have always been there for me. They were with me through every creative process at work, through the good and bad times of my personal life. They accept me for who I am as I accept them. – Korina Sanchez, TV host

of the country’s most respected gay icons and leaders. The venue was also jam-packed with booths that offered job options for the delegates and information on how to manage their finances, and how to stay healthier and more secure for their future. Arnell Ignacio, Chokoleit, and Rufa Mae Quinto hosted the event. Highlights of the night were a surprise and rare performance by Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, an appearance by international online sensation Maria Sofia Love, a high-energy medley by Anne Curtis, Martin Nievera serenading transgender beauty queens and a moving rendition of songs of empowerment by Vice Ganda who ended the evening with a powerful speech encouraging gay men to love themselves and have their voices heard. Other artists who supported the event were stars Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, Elmo Magalona, Megan Young, JayR, and Kris Lawrence. Comedians who brought the house down were KitKat, Negi, and Lassy. Power singers Dulce, Donita Nose, KZ Tandingan, Frenchie Dy, Klarisse de Guzman, Leah Patricio, Anton Diva, Gerphil

Flores, and Mis Tres roared through the coliseum. Bradley Holmes, Jason Fernandez, Daryll Ong, and Jason Dy sang love songs. El Gamma Penumbra and Buganda opened the show with local transgender beauty queens from all over Luzon. Needless to say, performances by the group Masculados Dos, Tondo Machos, and Zeus Collins got the whole coliseum screaming and dancing. Ang Ladlad’s Bemz Bendito, Danton Remoto, and Rica Paras delivered inspirational talks on gay empowerment. Businessman Joel Cruz and fashion designer Renee Salud also spoke. Co-authors of the Anti-Discrimination Bill, Congresswoman Leni Robredo and Congresswoman Kaka Bagao along with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and other congressmen attended the event. “It all boils down to love and acceptance. Gays are an integral and important part of society and our country. And the event was really intended to honor them,” says Korina. Vice Ganda, as the show ended, left a powerful message about KeriBeks and to all who were present at the event. “This is now. This is so now. Bakit ngayon lang naganap ito? Ngayon dinig na nila ang ating tinig. Tignan natin kung kaya pa nila tayong apihin,” declared Vice before a cheering crowd of gays. KeriBeks was supported by: San Miguel Corporation, Aficionado, AMA, ATC Healthcare, McDonald’s, IMG, Capsinesis, Frontrow, Belo Medical Group, MET, Novuhair, and Lumina. Continued on C7