The Standard - 2015 September 24 - Thursday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX  NO. 224  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY : SEPTEMBER 24, 2015  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Poe cousin pressured to recant statements

PNOY’S HAND SEEN

‘Aquino authorized military to conduct anti-lumad campaign’ By Christine F. Herrera and Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III authorized the Armed Forces to close down and occupy lumad schools in Mindanao and had a direct hand in the campaign of violence and harassment against the tribal communities, a leftist lawmaker charged Wednesday. “Malacañang can no longer feign ignorance, wash its hands, or pretend to conduct an investigation. The campaign against the lumad apparently has the sanction of the President,” said ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio. Tinio said during deliberations on the 2016 national budget, Education Department officials in the Davao region admitted there was a plan to close down some 24 schools set up by the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center and replace them with schools run by soldiers. Next page

Inspection. President

Benigno Aquino III sits with Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson after inspecting the refurbished Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center in Apayao. Malacañang Photo Bureau

NYT report: Escudero defends palace By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Francisco Tuyay ONGOING investigations into alleged irregularities in the purchase of helicopters and armored personnel carriers do not mean that the government of President Benigno Aquino

III is corrupt, Senator Francis Escudero said Wednesday. “I’m not in a position to say that this, in general, is the [state of Aquino’s] government,” Escudro said. The senator, who is running next year for vice president in opposition to the

ruling Liberal Party, was reacting to a New York Times report that said the US government turned down a Philippine request for $300 million in military aid because it was worried about official corruption under the Aquino Next page administration.

Thousands of troops sent to find 3 foreigners

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Sheryl feels pressure to deny bashing Poe By John Paolo Bencito

POLITICAL pressure is being brought to bear on actress Sheryl Cruz after she voiced her opinion that her cousin Senator Grace Poe is not ready to be president, a source told The Standard Wednesday. The source said some of Poe’s financiers were behind the move to harass the actress, after she refused to retract her statements. “Sheryl was supposed to attend the press conference of her movie, Felix Manalo when a movie executive, Jun Rufino, told her that the event was moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m.,” the source said. “Seeing this as an opportunity to remind her cousin [Poe about her concerns], Sheryl called up members of the press but when the movie producers learned about [this], Rufino told Cruz that she was disinvited.” The same executive and Dolor Guevarra were among those who asked Sheryl to take back her statements last week, the source added.

The actress told reporters yesterday that her career is now in jeopardy following the recent “forced” resignation of her manager, Rams David. The source said David let go of Cruz upon the instructions of movie producer Tony Tuviera, who is also the producer of the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga, and allegedly a big financier of the Poe campaign. “I am now without a manager and I can’t understand why I’m suddenly without a representative in my career,” Cruz said of David’s resignation. Cruz also said she would rather not undergo DNA testing to help determine Poe’s parents. “People [have] all these different versions of what they think happened between my mom and [the late President Ferdinand] Marcos but I know that it is not true. I am sorry, I am not willing to undergo a DNA test. Please spare my family from this; they are so affected by it,” Cruz said. “I don’t want for my mother to be dragged into this mess. She wants to keep the peace in the family. I don’t want it to appear that my mom had an affair with another man [who was] not my dad,” Cruz added in her interview with reporters Tuesday night. Poe’s running mate in 2016, Senator

Francis Escudero, said the misunderstanding between Poe and Cruz should not be exploited by their political opponents. “Every family wants to get rid of any differences. I hope it will not be used in politics. I hope they will not meddle,” Escudero said. “Let us just let their family resolve the matter,” he added. Also on Wednesday, former senator Francisco Tatad urged Poe to resign as senator so that she can save face over issues about her citizenship. He said it would be bad for Poe if she were unseated by the Senate Electoral Tribunal, particularly since she has declared her intention to run for President in 2016. Tatad said he believed the complaint against Poe was strong and supported Supreme Court Association Justice Antonio Carpio’s assertion that she was not a naturalborn Filipino. “The SET is not about numbers, the law is very clear that Poe isn’t a natural-born Filipino,” he said. “Grace Poe’s only mistake is that she wants us to believe that she’s a natural-born Filipino when in fact, she’s not. Poe is only a naturalized Filipino citizen—she’s already stateless at birth,” he added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Plea. Members of cause-oriented groups call for an end to extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, intimidation and torture at a conference in Quezon City. EY ACASIO

NYT report... From A1

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III is investigating the P1.25-billion chopper deal signed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In her sworn statement, whistleblower Rhodora Alvarez testified that Rice Aircraft Services, in a joint venture with Eagle Copters Ltd., was awarded a

negotiated contract after having been consistently disqualified in a series of government biddings for the purchase of 21 refurbished combat helicopters for the AFP. Rice Aircraft Services eventually bagged the negotiated contract worth P1.25 billion in December 2013 for the Huey UH-1 choppers. Escudero said if the New York Times story were true, the Philippine has enough basis and history to better treatment from the United States as an ally.

“The United States is not giving us a fair and equal treatment,” he said, adding that Washington sometimes treats its new allies in other parts of the world much better. Retired and active military officers voiced their frustration Wednesday over the US rebuff. “It’s a great security concern for the Philippines particularly in the…disputed West Philippine Sea and while the US assured us of its assistance relating to the military upgrade, it has now

PNoy’s... From A1 The plan, the officials added, was hatched during an April 23 meeting called by the Regional Intelligence Committee, which was convened by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency or Nica, the government’s lead intelligence collection agency operating under the Office of the President. “Nica officials report to the President and its director general is the President’s principal adviser on intelligence,” Tinio said. STTILC schools are community-based schools voluntarily set up and maintained by the Talaingod Manobos with the support of missionary groups in the hinterlands of Davao del Norte. Tinio said Davao del Norte Schools Division Supt. Josephine Fadul had written the Education Department’s director for Region XI, Alberto Escobarte, urging him to close the STTILC schools. In her letter, Fadul said: “Should this request for the closure of said schools be granted, in its stead, this Division requests permission to implement the creation of a public high school in Butay, Talaingod utilizing military personnel as para-teachers as has been previously discussed and agreed upon during our meeting with the Regional Intelligence Committee… last 23 April 2015.” Tinio said the key role played by the Nica in the closure of the community schools established the President’s direct hand in “orchestrating and coordinating the ongoing campaign of vilification, harassment, and violence targeting the lumad schools in Mindanao.” “This explains why Malacañang has paid mere lip-service and taken no effective action to put an end to the extrajudicial killing spree against lumad leaders and the occupation of schools by the military,” Tinio added. Tinio said the closure of community schools formed part of a larger counter-insurgency campaign aimed at neutralizing lumad resistance to large-scale mining in the Davao and Caraga regions. Lumad schools have been taken over by soldiers, school houses have been burned, and teachers and students have been terrorized, he said. On Sept.1, the executive director of a lumad school in Surigao del Sur was murdered by paramilitary forces said to be under the control of the military. Under questioning by Tinio during the House committee on appropriations hearing, Fadul also confirmed that intelligence officers of the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were present during the April 23 meeting. “This is a significant disclosure by Superintendent Fadul,” Tinio said. “It belies the statements made by top officials of the AFP, led by Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri, during their own budget hearing that the military played no role in calling for the closure of the lumad schools. Clearly, they were present and actively involved in planning the school closures and in suggesting that their soldiers be assigned as para-teachers. In short, AFP officials lied to Congress. Their game plan is obviously to deny everything and claim that the violence against lumad schools is part of an alleged tribal war,” Tinio said. Tinio vowed to question Nica regarding its role in the campaign against lumad schools when their budget is scheduled for deliberation before Congress. With Rio N. Araja

rejected the government’s request,” a retired military official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. Retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, president of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers, said military officials should explain “the sudden shift of the US position.” Armed Force chief Gen. Hernando Irreberi declined to comment, however. “It’s the US that should answer or react on this matter,” Irreberi said. Adan also denied a Palace claim that

the AGFO has changed its opposition on the Bangsamoro Basic Law that President Aquino supports. The President had invited members of the association to the Palace on Monday, but the former military officers were not swayed, Adan said. “We have an exchange of views during the meeting with Aquino explaining the background and the progress that brought the BBL, saying we must trust the MILF [the Moro Islamic Liberation Front],” Adan said.

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‘SWS survey will make Binay work even harder’

Federalism. Former

Chief Justice Reynato Puno discusses federalism at a forum in Club Filipino on Wednesday. JAnSen RomeRo

Poe, Binay, Roxas keep lead in September poll By Sandy Araneta

SENATOR Grace Poe maintained her lead in the presidential race while Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II placed second and third, respectively, a new Social Weather Stations-Business World survey revealed on Wednesday. The Sept. 2 to 5 survey had a sampling error margin of ±3 percentage points for national percentages. It polled 1,200 respondents nationwide of whom 96 percent were registered voters. Of the registered voters, 26 percent said they would vote for neophyte lawmaker Poe while 24 percent picked Binay and 20 percent chose Roxas, the Liberal Party’s standard bearer. Behind the three were Davao

City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (11 percent), Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (4 percent), Senator Francis Escudero (4 percent), former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (3 percent), Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago (2 percent) and former Senator Manuel Villar Jr. (1 percent). Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Loren Legarda

had a 0.8- percent rating in the survey in which 2 percent of the respondents were undecided. The respondents were furnished with a BusinessWorldapproved list of 12 names to choose from and they answered orally. They were asked the question “Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if elections were held today?” The list was in alphabetical order and included nicknames. In the vice presidential SWS survey, Poe and Escudero led in the BusinessWorld-SWS September 2015 pre-election survey. Some 27 percent of the registered voters chose Poe and 20

percent picked Escudero. Escudero last week announced he was running as Poe’s vice-presidential candidate. The others in the list obtained single-digit scores: Duterte (9 percent), Marcos (7 percent), Estrada (7 percent), Cayetano (5 percent), Legarda (5 percent), Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto (4 percent), Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (4 percent), Lacson (3 percent), Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo (3 percent), Senator Jinggoy Estrada (2 percent), and former Manila mayor and now Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza Jr. (0.9 percent). Three percent of the respondents were undecided.

Mobile voting eyed for overseas Filipinos THE Commission on Elections on Wednesday said it will hold a mobile voting system for all Filipino absentee voters in the 2016 elections to achieve at least a 50-percent voter turnout. Comelec commissioner Arthur Lim said they will be implementing a mobile voting system for the Filipinos working and living abroad by bringing the vote counting machines to areas outside the embassies with

large population of Filipinos. “These voting machines will be deployed outside the embassies so workers aboard can vote,” Lim said. For the past elections, the Comelec has been conducting personal voting among the voters abroad, where they manually cast their votes in the Philippine embassies and consulates. Or they fill out their ballots and mail them to Philippine posts.

Lim said the Comelec also plans to conduct automated elections in 29 Philippine posts abroad by deploying Optical Mark Reader machines where ships are anchored so Filipino seafarers may cast their votes. “I hope we will be able to reach the 40 percent and maybe 50-percent voter turnout,” he said. The Comelec achieved a 65-percent voter turnout in 2004 but only 26 percent in

2010 during the presidential elections in those years. But the overseas voter turnout in the midterm elections was only 16 percent in 2007 and 2013. So far, there are 1,197,756 registered voters overseas, but the Comelec is hoping to increase that to 1.5 million. The registration of voters abroad is also synchronized with the local listing, which is set to end on Oct. 31. Sara

THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday welcomed the latest Social Weather Stations survey on the presidential race in which Binay was statistically tied with Senator Grace Poe. “This will inspire the vice president and his core supporters to work harder and not to be overconfident,” Binay spokesman Rico Quicho said. “The vice president is grateful to the people who continue to support and trust him.” But Quicho slammed President Benigno Aquino III for saying Binay did nothing as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. “With all due respect, the President may have forgotten that not long ago, he himself credited VP Binay for his achievements in the housing sector,” Quicho said. He said that, only last year, several newspapers had quoted the President as saying that Binay had done his duties as housing czar. “After doing his assignments, should I be castigating him? I don’t think that’s proper,” Aquino had said. Quicho said that, under Binay’s term as housing czar, the shelter agencies provided house and lot packages to 792,014 families worth P268.826 billion. A Sept. 2-5 survey among 1,200 respondents conducted by SWS, which was first published by BusinessWorld, revealed that Binay was picked by 24 percent of the respondents while Poe was picked by 26 percent, while former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II was chosen by 20 percent. The survey had sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages and found that 96 percent of the respondents were registered voters. The respondents were furnished with a list of 12 names approved by the newspaper to choose from. The question asked was: “Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if elections were held today?” The respondents answered orally. “The elections will be a battle for every single vote and the vice president will continue to meet with the people around the country,” Quicho said. Binay vowed to work hard to reach as many voters as possible in the campaign for the coming elections. Vito Barcelo

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Benigno S. Aquino III has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the following officials: Justice and Judicial and Bar Council Hon. Maria Milagros N. Fernan-Cayosa - Member, Representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Judicial and Bar Council, Supreme Court of the Philippines Armed Forces of the Philippines Jesus Rico D. Atencio, PA, Agustin A. Ganaden, PA (Reserve) and Edgar E. Pulohanan, PA (Reserve) – Colonel The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 551-7532, 831-0893, 831-1824, 834-2706, 831-1566 and 834-2713. 23 September 2015. ARTURO L. TIU Secretary

Susanne D. Fabunan

(TS-SEPT. 24, 2015)

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Thousands search for kidnapped tourists By Francisco Tuyay and Sandy Araneta THOUSANDS of security forces, supported by air and sea assets, scoured the hinterlands of Eastern Mindanao on Wednesday in search of three foreigners and a Filipina who were abducted from a resort in Samal Island in Davao del Norte Monday.

Budget hearing. Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, greets Justice Secretary Leila de Lima before a congressional hearing of the Department of Justice’s budget for 2016. LINO SANTOS

El Niño damages P3-b crops By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE El Niño has already damaged more than P3 billion in the agricultural sector as of August, the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday. Data from DA showed that damage to rice, corn, high value crops and livestock sector reached P3.3 billion, affecting 65,855 farmers nationwide. This involves 112,387 hectares of corn of which 36,869 hectares have no chance of recovery. Losses in corn alone has already amounted to P2.21 billiona, the department said. The prolonged dry spell likewise affected 30,665 hectares of rice nationwide valued at P1.09 billion while damage to high value crops amounted to P19 million. DA said to mitigate the impacts of El Niño on the agriculture sector, it has already conducted cloud seeding operations and distributed pump and engine sets and open source pumps. The agency also distributed high quality seeds for rice and corn, produced and distributed bags of

multi-stress tolerant rice seeds and distributed early maturing rice varieties and drought or heat tolerant crops. For the livestock sector, DA also distributed veterinary drugs and biologics and encouraged raisers to use tunnel ventilation and other cooling facilities. “DA also dispersed fingerlings to replenish projected production losses for the fishery sector,” DA said. The National Irrigation Administration also encouraged farmers to use modified cropping calendars and patterns, plant short gestating rice varieties and maximize the utilization of effective rainfall. The weather bureau earlier confirmed that based on its recent climate outlook, there was a possibility of a stronger El Niño in the last quarter of the year which will last up to the second quarter of 2016. Due to the below normal rainfall, the National Water Resources Board also encouraged the public to conserve water in order to properly manage the country’s water supply.

Military and police units searched for Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Maritess Flor even as President Benigno Aquino III claimed in Luna, Apayao on Wednesday that a new armed group may be behind the abduction which has led to the issuance of travel advisory by the Canandian Embassy in Manila. Meantime, the authorities found in Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental two motorized outriggers that are believed to have been used by the kidnappers while the police provided a cartographic sketches of some of the suspects. The military said the two boats were possibly the ones used by at least 11 armed men who snatched the four victims while they were inside a yacht berthed at the Ocean View Island Resort. Initial investigation disclosed that the kidnappers and their captives were last seen heading in the general direction of Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu area, but it could not be ascertained whether the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group was directly behind the abduction as initially believed. Initial reports tagged the group of ASG commander Muammar Askali, alias Abu Rami, as respon-

sible for the kidnapping. Capt. Alberto Caber, Public Affairs Officer in Eastern Mindanao Command, said all units were alerted to support the ongoing police operations while the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command has intensified intelligence gathering and the deployment of naval assets. “All efforts are currently being exhausted by the military and police to locate and establish the identities of the abductors,” said Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero. “We have dispatched navy units for maritime interdiction along possible routes and have intensified our intel monitoring to locate the group and the victims in coordination with the Eastern Mindanao Command,” added Guerrero. Meanwhile in Luna, Apayao, President Aquino yesterday said a new armed group may be behind the abduction of three foreigners and a Filipino woman from an island resort in Samal in Davao City. “Our security sector is not stopping to do their job to go after the suspects,” said Aquino during an ambush interview at the Bienvenido G. Verzola Jr. Memorial Sports Complex in Luna.

Reyes brothers arrive today By Rey E. Requejo A TEAM from Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has been sent to Thailand to fetch former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes who is expected to be deported back to the country to face charges for the killing of journalist Gerry Ortega. Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday the Reyes brothers are expected back in the country on Thursday upon completion of deportation proceedings. “The CIDG team will subsequently escort them [Reyes brothers] back to the Philippines. The team can be considered as the arresting team and therefore they have to make a return of the service of the warrant of arrest to the Palawan court,” De Lima said. She said the Reyes brothers will either be brought to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame or directly to the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court.

In the same interview, De Lima rejected the request of the Ortega family for her to resolve their pending petition questioning the first resolution of prosecutors dismissing the murder charges against the Reyes brothers. “While I would like to grant their plea, it will be hard for us because it would jeopardize our pending petition in the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeals ruling,” she said. She noted that the DoJ has stood by the validity of its creation of a second panel of prosecutors that indicted the Reyes brothers for murder and resolving the petition for review could be a retraction of such stance. “If we resolve the petition, we will have to withdraw our petition in the SC,” De Lima said. In March 2013, the CA granted the petition of the former governor and reinstated the first DoJ resolution clearing the two brothers of the murder charges for insufficiency of evidence.

No bio, no vote. Comelec Commisioner Arthur Lim files his application for registration

as an overseas voter at the Comelec field registration center at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City on Wednesday. LINO SANTOS

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Survivors hit with a double whammy ‘

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Schooling woes. Members

of a militant group and their children demand an increase in the Education department’s budget and at the same time protest against the K-12 program. ANDREW RABULAN

Where did Yolanda aid go? Romualdez: Declare donations as public funds By Christine F. Herrera THE House Independent Minority Bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday batted for the P17.2 billion in foreign donations to Yolanda to be declared as public funds and to make government officials account for the money. romualdez said local officials in Visayas were complaining that no foreign-donated funds were downloaded to the local government units. The national government admitted that some P73 billion in foreign aid had been pledged by the foreign governments and international community. However, it said, only P17.2 billion was actually received with government getting only P1.2 billion in cash donations and P1.26 billion in non-cash donations. The bulk of the donations or some P14.7 billion was coursed through the nongovernment organizations, the government said. But romualdez insisted it was

the job of the government to keep track of the donations considering that these were not felt and seen in the most devastated areas like his district that includes Tacloban City, where more than 6,200 people had perished when super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ or “Haiyan’’ flattened eastern Visayas almost two years ago. Saying the Yolanda issue was “personal” to him, the Tacloban solon proposed the creation of an automatic appropriation on all foreign, international and local assistance extended to the government. He explained that this would make funds as “deemed automatically appropriated for the special purpose for which the same is

donated so that whatever comes will be automatically part of the public funds.” romualdez, along with Buhay rep. lito Atienza and Abakada rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, took to task the government officials particularly Social Welfare Secretary dinky Soliman for failing to explain where the billions in foreign donations went. “Where is government in Yolanda?” said romualdez, as he demanded answers and insisted that government officials be made accountable for the billions in local and foreign funds and donations that “never came.” romualdez proposed that all donations for relief, rescue, retrieval and rehabilitation be considered as “public funds” that should make public officials accountable for their use, storage, maintenance and audit. Almost two years after Yolanda flattened eastern Visayas, romualdez said the government has yet to account for all local

and foreign donations and disclose where these funds went. “What happened? Where is justice? Where is the Malasakit of our own government to our own people in region 8? Furthermore, our line agencies in region 8 are complaining where the foreign aids that were supposed to be downloaded to region 8 as the ground zero for Yolanda went,” romualdez said. Atienza said Soliman was consistent in “mishandling and misusing” social welfare funds. When he was mayor of Manila, Atienza said, he had a problem when shanties in a community in Tondo were razed to the ground. He said while the city hall was able to build 7,000 houses, Soliman made the national government spend for 5,000 overpriced “bahay kubo” that could be easily bought along the highway for P3,000. “We provided materials for them to build their homes. Soliman provided toy houses and that’s exactly how puny her mindset is when addressing a big disaster like Yolanda,” Atienza said.

SurViVorS of Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ (Haiyan) on Wednesday appealed to President Benigno Aquino iii to provide decent shelters to 10,000 families who will be displaced by the P7.9-billion plan to build a dike as protection against storm surges. in an open letter, the urban Poor Associates said it may not be against the department of Public Works and Highways project dubbed as “Storm Surge Protection: road Heightening and Tide embankment” project, but lamented that until now the 10,000 survivor-families have not been relocated into permanent housing units that the national government has promised them. “The families currently living in the project site are at risk of losing their homes again because until now, the promised permanent housing units are not completed yet and issues regarding living standards—such as shallow septic tanks, an open dumpsite nearby and poor drainage system—remain,” the survivors said. Since Typhoon Yolanda hit the country in November 2013, families are still living in temporary shelters made of light materials which render them vulnerable to typhoons. “life is hard in these houses. They are overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and a lot of kids are getting sick,” the typhoon survivors said in the letter. The dike project of the dPWH covers the 27.3-kilometer stretch of shoreline from Tacloban City to Tanauan, leyte. So far, the National Housing Authority said there are only 534 permanent houses that have been turned over to the families while 13,801 houses are yet to be built. “in some barangays, people have to travel far to fetch water. it is extra difficult for women, children, and the elderly, and consumed so much time that could have been spent doing productive work. in some barangays, families have to wait for the government’s water ration, and it’s usually not enough,” the letter said.

Nursing mothers: AFPMC in sorry state By Florante S. Solmerin SoldierS are lamenting the sorry condition of their wives who have just given birth at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Quezon City. Hospital room ventilation is poor and beds are sorely lacking. instead of beds, the mothers are made to sit on a chair. “Namamanas na ang mga paa ng aking misis dahil maghapon at magdamag siyang nakaupo kundi man nakatayo para magpasuso sa aming anak. Wala man lamang kama o kahit folding bed man lamang sana na kanyang mahigaan para maka-relax naman at makatulog matapos siyang magpasuso sa aming anak,” one of the soldiers told The Standard. The enlisted personnel who took a leave of absence from his Mindanao posting to take care of his wife and child in the hospital has appealed to AFPMC commander Colonel Joseph Acosta to look into the plight of mothers and infants.

during a recent visit the Standard found that up to six mothers with their infants were cramped in a small room without beds and barely enough ventilation in the hospital’s 6th floor. The area has no comfort room; it has four ceiling fans but none is working. The mothers had to walk several meters away from their room to get to the nearest Cr. “Kanya-kanya kaming dala ng electric fan kasi hindi talaga gumagana ‘yang apat na electric fan diyan sa taas,” a soldier said. The soldiers said they want to transfer their wives and infants to a private hospital but they can’t afford the cost. They said their room is not the only one because there are other rooms on the same floor with the same condition. A day after the visit in the hospital, this reporter received a call with his mobile phone from one of the mothers that at least two beds were brought inside their room for her two fellow mothers.

Maritime issues. United States State Asst. Secretary William Brownfield, left,

head of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs meets with Philippine National Police Chief Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez at Camp Crame upon his arrival in Manila. The US official is in Manila to discuss maritime law enforcement efforts in the country and in the region.

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PUV drivers slam ‘Uber-pricing’ By Rio N. Araja

OVER 100,000 drivers and operators on Wednesday called for the suspension of the accreditation of mobile application-based Uber over its price surging scheme during period of high demand for transportation. The 1-Utak party-list, headed by Vigor Mendoza, filed a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, challenging the operation of Uber and other transportation network companies (TNCs) without a fare matrix. During a hearing on 1-Utak’s petition, Mendoza said Uber’s price surging is “unfair,” and is triggering public utility vehicle drivers to shift to driving the app-based private cars. “Our intention here is for the government to level the playing field,” he told The Standard. “Uber is charging a passenger four times higher than the usual taxi fare during rush hours. The price surging has a trickle-down effect. Much as operators of PUVS want to upgrade their units, they cannot do so because their fare rates are fixed and regulated by the LTFRB. They cannot set their own fare increase to enable them improve the quality of their units and services, unlike the Uber,” he told The Standard. He said Uber operating in the Philippines is 97 percent or 99 percent owned by a Dutch company, adding under the law, a public transport must be 60 percent owned and operated by a Filipino citizen. In May, the Department of Transportation and Communications issued Department Order 2015-11, directing the LTFRB to allow the accreditation of TNCs

under a new transport service category and grant the companies the authority to set their own fares. Earlier, LTFRB board member Ariel Enrile Inton Jr. said at least 5,000 to 8,000 new vehicles would apply for accreditation with the LTFRB. “There is already a migration from being PUVS drivers to Uber and GrabTaxi drivers. There are jeepney drivers who moonlight as Uber drivers during rush hours,” Mendoza noted. He called on the LTFRB to nullify Department Order 2015-11 and “to impose a regulated fare rates on the app-based transport service.” But Inton said the LTRFB does not have the power to nullify DoTC Secretary Emilio Joseph Abaya’s order, the LTFRB has just an “oversight” function to regulate Uber’s price surging. “How can we do void the order if the LTRFB is under the DoTC?” he told The Standard. He said the operators of passenger jeepneys have already expressed the intention to seek the deregulation of their fare rates during rush hours, storms, heavy downpour and other circumstances when passenger demand is higher. “It is very difficult for passengers to take a ride under such instances. Are you [Uber] not taking advantage of the commuters? So we asked the to justify their price surging. That is where the LTFRB steps in,” he added.

Graft court convicts ex-mayor, 2 others THE Sandiganbayan’s Special Second Division has convicted a former mayor of Camalig, Albay and three other town officials for graft over an anomalous contract for the repair and maintenance of the municipality’s service vehicles. In a 23-page decision, the anti-graft court found former Camalig Mayor Paz Muñoz, ex-accountant Rem Ortonio, ex-treasurer Armando Quintano and ex-engineer Rogelio Naz Jr. guilty of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The court ordered the imprisonment of the respondents for six years and one month and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Muñoz and his co-accused used their positions to illegally award a contract to Legazpi Tireworld Corp. after a rigged public bidding in 2003. According to the Sandiganbayan, the contract was for the supposed repair and maintenance of the municipality’s service vehicles, a dump truck and an ambulance. Citing the Commission on Audit findings, the court said the local officials made excessive payments to the Legazpi Tireworld Corp. In a report, CoA said the payment made to Tireworld of P447,027.53 in just a year was exorbitant considering that there were only five vehicles involved in the contract. Rio Araja

Fish holiday. Workers find their basins half empty at the Navotas Fishport on Wednesday as the fishing sector has declared a fish holiday in protest of a law that discriminates against marginal fishermen. ANDREW RABULAN

Ferrer: MILF to cooperate on Mamasapano By Sandy Araneta THE head of the government peace panel vowed cooperation on the part of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group to prevent any untoward incident when the subpoenas are served on the suspects in the Mamasapano incident affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for his part urged the Department of Justice to ensure no unnecessary delay would hinder the preliminary investigation of the murder complaint against the 90 respondents in the killing of 44 Special Action Force commandos in

Mamasapano last Jan. 25. GPH peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel Ferrer said: “Let the judicial process take its due course for the benefit of all those who were aggrieved. May they find solace as well in the various forms of assistance provided and healing initiatives initiated by both government and non-governmental groups.” “At the same time, let not the bigger project of putting in place the reformed institutions in the Bangsamoro through the passage of a good basic law and the implementation of the different normalization programs fall on the wayside,” Ferrer said.

AHJAG is the cooperative mechanism between the government and the MILF that responds to criminality and terrorism in areas with MILF presence. Last Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation and the National Prosecution Service filed criminal complaints against 90 individuals, including 26 MILF members, over the killing of 35 SAF troopers. A total of 44 troopers were killed in a police operation dubbed Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano, Maguindanao after a firefight with the MILF, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups. The complaint covered

only the killings of the 35 members of the 55th Special Action Company, and excluded the deaths of nine members of the 84th Seaborne Company who killed Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan in his hut in Barangay Pidsandawan in Mamasapano. “The government ceasefire mechanism and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group will cooperate and do their best to prevent any untoward incident when the duly authorized Department of Justice personnel serve the subpoena to identified suspects who may be affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Ferrer said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Market sale. Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (3rd from left) explains to mediamen how vendors suffers when private

firms take over public markets. The congressman has asked his colleagues to hold a congressional probe into the privatization of 17 Manila public markets. JOEL ZURBANO

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

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Pangasinan towns’ flood control plan missing, says vice mayor By Abe P. Belena THE master plan to control yearly flooding in Sta. Barbara, Calasiao and Dagupan City drawn years ago by the Japan International Cooperation Agency has been lost, eluding local officials from finding a lasting solution to the problem. This was revealed by Calasiao Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay during the Breakfast Club meeting at the President Hotel in Lingayen last Wednesday. “I tried to locate the master plan in our engineering office. It was not there. I went to the DPWH central office in Manila. They have no copy of the plan,” the vice mayor who was mayor of his town for nine years, said. He revealed that when he and Benjie Lim of Dagupan were incumbent mayors, they initiated talks on how to solve the flooding caused by the swelling of the Sinukalan River that cuts through the three central Pangasinan communities. That led to a study made by the JICA on how to come out with a common solution. But when he recently looked for the master plan, he discovered it was not in the files. The Sinukalan River, according to retired NIA engineer Rey Mencias, is separate from the Agno River system and its flood control facilities should be dealt with independently. When the local government of Sta. Barbara rebuilt its dilapidated flood control dikes, the flood waters inundated Calasiao downstream in the past few rainy seasons. To protect the booming business district of Calasiao, the local government has upgraded its own flood control dikes which are about to be completed, Macanlalay revealed. This will, in effect, transfer the flood waters to Dagupan City with many of its communities already at sea level that go under water during high tide.

Education Department to test school principals By A. Perez Rimando

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—The Department of Education, through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, has scheduled a national school principals test for Sept. 27, Sunday, in all 16 regions, a local education official said. DepEd Region 9 Director Malcolm S. Garma said Education Secretary Armin Luistro’s memorandum his office here received recently said the examination, will “serve as a mechanism for selecting competent school heads

in the public education sector.” The scheme will also eliminate the alleged malpractice of some school executives of promoting teachers largely on the basis of “whom you know and not what you know.”

Garma said the test covers eight major topics: School Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Creating Student-Centered Learning Climate, Human Resource Management and Professional Development, Parent Involvement and Community Partnership, School Management and Operations, Personal and Professional Attributes and Interpersonal Effectiveness, and 21st Century Managerial and Leadership Skills. Educators qualified to take the Principal’s exam, Luistro said, are those with at least one year experience as head teacher, two years as school teacher-in-charge, two

years as master teacher, or five years as teacher III with 40 hours of relevant trainings, with a performance rating of very satisfactory for the past two years, and with a certification of no pending administrative case. Successful examinees will later be appointed as heads of learning centers without principals or to fill up positions vacated by retired school administrators. Luistro added that the test will ultimately upgrade elementary and secondary school supervision and improve the delivery of quality basic education in the country’s public school system.

Construction boom. Workers align steel bars for a supermall along C.M. Recto in Cagayan de Oro City. LANCE BACONGUIS

Man kills sister over shelter assistance in Leyte town By Mel Caspe

Peace candles. Students light candles in Cagayan de Oro as they participate in the Walk for Peace event this week. LANCE BACONGUIS

DULAG, Leyte—Local police is looking into the case of a man who shot his own sister to death Sunday afternoon in Barangay San Rafael, supposedly over the Emergency Shelter Assistance distributed by the Social Welfare Department to victims of Typhoon “Yolanda.” The town’s Philippine National Police officer in charge P/SInsp. Miguelito N. Bocade identified the victim as Nenita Daguinot y Cayubit, 40. The suspect was identified as her elder brother Ronnie, 48. According to investigators, the siblings were talking in the

victim’s house after Ronnie arrived, drunk, from a neighbor’s house. They argued and the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim. Nenita was immediately brought to the hospital but she was declared dead on arrival. Beneficiaries from Dulag town only recently received their ESAs. Residents of totally damaged houses received P30,000 while those of partially damaged house received P10,000. The suspect immediately left the area but the Leyte Province Police Office is trying to locate him. Authorities are preparing parricide charges against Ronnie.

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

VIEW FROM MALCOM ATTY. HARRY ROQUE JR.

THE POE HEARING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

A CONVENIENT CONFUSION IT’S A given: Whoever holds power in Malacañang has the distinct advantage. But that it’s a given does not mean it should be taken without question. These final months of the Aquino administration, the focus of the President’s entire team appears to be ensuring that his anointed, the former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, gets elected as president in May 2016. Manuel Roxas II is being made out to be the only person able to continue the straight path of good governance that the President has begun. Mr. Aquino himself leads his team in blurring the lines between government, which is supposed to cover Filipinos whatever their political stripes, and the Liberal Party, of which he is chairman but which only applies to its Yellow-shirt sporting members. On cue, Palace spokespersons like Secretary Edwin Lacierda have also jumped into the murky pool that confuses their official functions with the political interests of the president they speak for. They have done so to a point that the putative vice presidential candidate of another camp has called on the spokesman to resign for serving the party in the guise of speaking for the highest official of the land. The Senate president and the vice chairman of the Liberal Party was quick to come to the spokesman’s rescue. Senator Franklin Drilon said Lacierda need not resign because he is not even a member of the Liberal Party anyway. What he is, Drilon continues, is an extension of the President. And since this is a political season, the spokesman can very well speak on behalf of the country’s political leader. This is precisely what’s wrong. Mr. Aquino should have stopped being a politician when he got elected to Malacañang. He should have ditched his yellowribbon pin for something more unifying, say a Philippine flag. That he is leader of the entire nation is so much more important than his being a leader of a single political party. Then again, must we expect this straight-path-treading, do-nothingwrong administration to even admit that it is wrong or out of bounds? In the past five years, we have had plenty of practice. We should give up expecting our Yellow leaders to own up to the fact that they are, like so many of their predecessors whom they have publicly despised, milking their incumbency advantage to the hilt. We feel strongly but cannot do anything about it. All we can do is to remember this arrogance and this hypocrisy when we’re voting.

THE BIG TRAFFIC LIE LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES IF ANY other President had blamed the daily ordeal of traffic jams in Metro Manila on increased car sales instead of on his own incompetence, he’d be laughed out—or pried out, most likely, by irate motorists and commuters—of Malacañang. But Noynoy Aquino, even when he is most candid about how worthless he has been, somehow gets a pass. From Aquino himself, I

gathered that the direct cause of the chaotic traffic situation in Metro Manila is the sheer volume of new vehicles, “which no one could have predicted.” This is as big a whopper as I’ve heard Aquino say over the years—and it speaks volumes of just how useless the current occupant of Malacañang Palace really is, when it comes to solving the problems that really matter to ordinary citizens like you and me. In an exclusive sit-down with Tina Monzon-Palma aired over the ABS-CBN News Channel Tuesday night, Aquino rattled off the sales figures of the car

companies like an industry spokesman, which, given his love of automobiles and legendary attention to detail on issues that he is passionate about, isn’t really surprising. But as good as he is with his figures on increased sales volumes for the entire car industry, he wasn’t as well-versed with what his government has done to anticipate the perfectly natural phenomenon of more people needing more cars. There is a simple reason for this: Aquino didn’t build any new roads in Metro Manila. And he simultaneously allowed the once-efficient commuter

I think we should all stop whining about traffic now, if we refuse to see the official incompetence that caused it.

rail systems that he inherited to deteriorate to their current sad state of disrepair. It was not a direct admission of failure, I understand. But if government cannot be expected to anticipate the everincreasing number of cars and take measures to mitigate the situation, then whose job is that? But there is no avoiding the inconvenient truths about the traffic situation: No new infrastructure was built by this administration in Metro Manila, and what public transport systems that were working before Aquino took over have virtually ground to a halt. Aquino cannot point to any new metropolitan road, bridge,

flyover or interchange that was built during his term using the humongous funds at his administration’s disposal. And remember, this is an administration that has not spent P500 billion in allocated funds in the previous two years and P80 billion in the first half of this year alone. And those who have not yet suffered from total memory loss will recall that when Aquino took over in 2010, the buses on Edsa were already running half-empty, just like the jeepneys on Aurora Boulevard and Taft Avenue,

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because everyone was already taking the efficient and cheap trains that ran overhead. Now, it gets reported as news when the overloaded trains don’t break down, and people walk along the major roads because they can’t even catch a bus ride. Of course, Aquino has also moved away from his earlier position that traffic is a good thing, because it supposedly means economic growth. But because of this strange policy of his, outlined early on in his administration, he seems to have concluded that

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nothing should be done by way of building new metropolitan roads or even of making sure that the commuter trains were properly maintained, let alone improved. And that seems perfectly fine with the millions of people who suffer in traffic every blessed day (including during weekends) in Metro Manila. I guess it’s true that we get the government that we deserve; and I think we should all stop whining about traffic now, if we refuse to see the official incompetence that caused it. Continued on A11

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COURTESY of live streaming, many of us were able to listen to the oral arguments in the Senate Electoral Tribunal that is hearing the quo warranto petition that seeks to expel Senator Grace Poe from the Senate. The lone ground to be addressed by the Tribunal is a legal issue: Is Grace Poe, as a foundling, a naturalborn Filipino? My views on this issue have been published in this column before. She is not a natural-born Filipino because under the 1935 and the 1987 Constitutions, only those whose fathers or mothers are Filipinos are classified as natural-born Filipinos. Unless Poe can pinpoint either of her biological parents as a Filipino, she does not meet the qualification to run for the post of senator or president. Critics of my view cite a provision in the 1961 Convention to Reduce Statelessness that allegedly gives foundlings a “presumption” to be a natural-born Filipino as a ‘general principle of law.” I have highlighted the fact the 1961 Convention is not customary international law since it only has 63 state parties out of 197 states today. To be customary, there must be virtually uniform state practice. The fact that only a minority of states today have ratified the said convention belies the existence of this element. I feel vindicated that despite the “expert views” of those who have never taught nor studied international law,” the Justices who are members of the SET appear to share my view. Is this not discriminatory against foundlings? Certainly! But so is the constitutional rule that only naturalborn Filipinos can stand for the offices of members of both Houses of Congress and for the top executive posts of the land. The rule in fact is discriminatory against those who acquired their citizenship through naturalization. Dura lex. Sed lex. The law might be harsh but that is the law. The remedy is for the sovereign people to amend the Constitution and do away with the discrimination against naturalized Filipinos. It too was not surprising that some senators who are members of the tribunal appear to view the issue along partisan lines. Poe’s supporters, such as Senators Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda (both of whom are from the Nacionalista Party) and Senator Tito Sotto asked questions that were sympathetic to Poe. On the other hand, presidential cousin and LP Senator Bam Aquino appears to favor the Justices. Surprisingly, only Senators Cynthia Villar and even Nancy Binay appear to have open minds on the issue. This is hardly surprising as precisely, the people, while it mandated the SET to be the SOLE judge of all questions involving qualifications for the post of senators, agreed that there should be at least three Justices of the Supreme Court sitting 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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T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

VIEW FROM MALCOM ATTY. HARRY ROQUE JR.

THE POE HEARING

[ EDI TORI A L ]

I think we should all stop whining about traffic now, if we refuse to see the official incompetence that caused it.

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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

A10

OPINION

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DONATIONS? TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

I CAN’T believe it—President Aquino is ignorant of the Constitution! When asked in a oneon-one ANC interview what he thought of the disqualification case pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal against Senator Grace Poe, the President replied: Let the people decide. I can’t believe that BS Aquino III is not aware of the requirement of the Constitution that a candidate for the Senate, much more for the presidency, must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. That copout (palusot) of the President now makes me believe that there must be some truth to talks that he really has two candidates for President—the anointed one, Mar Roxas, and an alternative in case Mar does not win—Senator Grace Poe. He want to make sure either one of them will make it. Santa Banana, this talk about Grace being the alternative candidate of BS Aquino III gets more credible after Grace said that she’ll never attack the President. *** Some of my friends have asked me why I am writing negative things against Grace Poe, like when I say that she is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. Truth to tell, I have nothing personal against the “senadora.” I believe she has the attributes of a good leader—integrity, independence of mind and objectivity. She has shown all that as a senator for three years. But, my gulay, I also believe that anybody who aims for the presidency must have the necessary experience in governance. The presidency is not a training session. One must hit the ground running. Granting that Grace makes it, she’ll be spending her first year learning what governance is all about. Thus, she must rely on people around her who could have their own personal agenda.

In fact, if they are both elected, it will be Senator Chiz Escudero who will running the government in place of Poe. I have nothing personal against Grace. I do not know her very well. One time, our friend Marichu Maceda brought Grace to our former condominium unit at Greenbelt. I was not around at that time, but my wife was. They became instant friends. As a lawyer, I also believe that the law and the Constitution must prevail. As I always say, “Dura lex sed lex.” (The law is hard, but it’s the law.) Since nobody can be above the law, I must say my piece on the citizenship issue against Grace. Let the chips fall where they may.

It has been nearly two years, and people are still living in tents and bunkhouses.

*** A party-list congressman said that out of decency, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, chairman of the Senate Electoral Tribunal deliberating on the disqualification case of Poe as senator, should inhibit himself from the case. Carpio is with the former law office known as The Firm, known as the CVC (Carpio, Villaraza, Cruz Law Office) and that Avelino “Nonong” Cruz Jr. is the lawyer of Mar Roxas. The premise is wrong. After Carpio was named to the Supreme Court during the Ramos administration, he disassociated himself from The Firm. The CVC partnership has since metamorphosed into the Pancho Villaraza Angangco Law Office which still carries the logo of The Firm. The partnership of Avelino Cruz, Sonny Marcelo and Jonathan Tenefrancia has also since dis-

LET THE CONTEST BEGIN DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA WHEN taxi drivers start talking passionately about politics, that is a clear sign that election fever is already upon us. This is exactly what happened to us of all places, in Guam. During a weekend trip to the island, this Filipino taxi driver, when he found out that we were visiting, started to give an impromptu discourse on Philippine presidential politics, including the bad and good points of all the leading presidential wannabes. He also told us whom he will vote for. It was both surprising and encouraging that overseas Filipinos are keenly following political developments here. With politics hogging the headlines, the contest has indeed really begun even if the certificates of candidacy have yet to be filed. Senator Grace Poe finally did what everyone had been expecting. She declared her intention to run for president with Senator Chiz Escudero as her running mate, as well as her 20-point agenda on how she intends to govern the country if elected president. She did this even if she is embroiled in a disqualification case before the Senate Electoral Tribunal. It is a case she is well advised not to take lightly. A lot of media space has already been devoted to the citizenship issue of Senator Poe. Opinion writassociated itself from The Firm. They now have their own building. I know for a fact that Carpio has nothing to do with either The Firm or the partnership of Cruz, Marcelo and Tenefrancia. At one time when I approached Villaraza about a case pending at the Supreme Court, Pancho told me to tell my friend to hire another law firm. He does not like The Firm to get involved in cases where Carpio sits as judge. If Carpio came out with an opinion that Grace Poe is a naturalized Filipino but not natural-born under international and domestic laws, it was his opinion. It is not binding on the eight other members of the SET. Anybody can always disagree with Carpio, but I believe his opinion on the citizenship of Poe has basis in law and the Constitution.

ers of this paper and others considered as opposition papers, are clearly against the senator. My view on this issue, however, is not legal. I will go to the extent of conceding that she is a natural-born citizen and could therefore run for president. But more important in my estimation is her motivation. It would seem that in running for president at this time, she is more opportunistic than the patriot that she is claiming to be. This is what is disturbing. Can we for instance trust a person who can change citizenships so easily to be our president? After finishing her college education in America, she got married to her American-born husband, and eventually became a naturalized American citizen and would have been contented living and working there. Things changed for her, however, when her father Fernando Poe Jr., the king of Philippine cinema, beloved by all, passed away in 2004 after losing the presidential election in the same year. When this happened, opportunity beckoned. She came back to the Philippines, got appointed to a government position, ran for senator and won. Now, she is a heartbeat away from the presidency. Will the Filipino electorate, knowing this story, vote for someone who has forsaken her country once to live in the land of milk and honey to be their president? This may be hard for a lot of people to swallow especially those who *** The Aquino administration must give the people the real status of the disbursement of both local and foreign donations to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. To this day, nearly two years after the tragedy, many Taclobanons are still living in tents and bunkhouses. They are still complaining of lack of aid and rehabilitation. It is for this that I support the move of the House Independent Minority bloc led by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for an immediate audit of and congressional investigation into the status of both local and foreign donations. Nobody seems to know what has become of them. Romualdez noted that Congress alone approved billions in last year’s national budget for the re-

see her as an upstart who came from out of nowhere to become the frontrunner in the race to become President. Fortunately, however, these people will not decide on who should be president. The Filipino electorate will. This drama will undoubtedly be played further but should be decided with finality as quickly as possible for the good of all. The two other declared candidates, former Secretary Mar Roxas, and Vice President Jejomar Binay, have their own serious problems to contend with. Both cannot seem to be able to convince people to run as their running mates. Mar Roxas, if the reports are true, had to bamboozle Leni Robredo to agree to be his running mate. VP Binay, on the other hand, has been saying that he has a running mate but up to this time, the persons that he has been mentioning have been denying that there is such a deal. The VP up to now is also still being hounded by allegations of corruption and there is no sign of this dying down. If at all, it will probably pick up as the campaign season gets nearer. The principal strength of VP Binay, however, in spite of all the accusations against him, is his ability to relate and identify with the masses who constitute majority of the voters. This is the reason why he is still there, fighting strong. The latest Social Weather Stations survey showed the VP sliding down to third place with Senator Poe and habilitation of Yolandastruck areas. And then the Commission on Audit reported that P382.072 million in local and foreign cash donations were kept idle on Secretary Dinky Soliman’s Department of Social Welfare and Development’s bank accounts. My gulay, Soliman can be sued for plunder and graft! It has been two years since Yolanda devastated Tacloban and many parts of the Visayas. No detailed breakdown of the donations has been made. Instead, we can only see the snail-paced rehabilitation. Things get worse for Soliman with reports that P141 million worth of relief goods has already expired or is about to expire because of the incompetence and ineptitude of Soliman. I still remember the words of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to Taclo-

Mar Roxas occupying first and second. But a lot of questions have been raised about the methodology used in this survey. Suspicions abound that the reason it was done this way was to favor a certain candidate. Experienced pollsters tend to agree with this. After all, people will be asked to vote for one president and one vice president. Voters will not be ask to list down their three preferences and whoever get the highest number of firsts become the president and vice president, respectively. It simply is not done this way and the explanation of the SWS does not wash. For Mar Roxas it has always been a question of winnability. Can he win? Many believe he cannot. This is because he cannot seem to connect with the masses; in fact, reports have it that the INC has turned against him. He has a reputation of being an outstanding macro manager and this is touted as his strength by his allies. He, however, has not been able to dodge effectively all the accusations of failures as DOTC and DILG secretary. He must therefore find ways to convince the voters to believe that he is the man best suited to be their President. In spite of all these alleged weaknesses and failures, however, that taxi driver in Guam said that he would vote for Mar Roxas. This shows that he does have his own supporters among the electorate; there are still those who believe in him. ban Mayor Alfred Romualdez. “Remember you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino. Bahala na kayo sa buhay nyo.” My gulay, that defined Mar Roxas as a public official. And he is now running for president? *** President Aquino cannot seem to accept the fact that Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines in the form of foreign direct investments and economic growth. The fact is that Vietnam has opened its doors to foreign investments. Here in the Philippines, the Aquino administration has become a protectionist regime. The President is still against amending the economic restrictions to foreigners in the Constitution. It seems he wants to protect his friends in Big Business against foreign competition. Now he needs their support for Mar Roxas.

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A11

OPINION

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MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ MALACAÑANG and the rest of the yellow administration’s bet for the 2016 Presidential elections are elated about the results of the Social Weather Stations survey which showed that Vice President Jejomar Binay’s rating had slipped into third place with their bet moving in to the second slot. The SWS survey which was conducted early this month, showed that Senator Grace Poe remained on top as “the people’s choice” with a rating of 47 percent (up by five points compared from her 42 percent during SWS June survey) while the VP slipped to third place as Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas miraculously took second place, with his ratings shooting up to 39 percent from a mediocre 18 points in the June survey. According to news reports, the survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (sampling

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE “BAYAN o sarili”—country or self? This is perhaps the most disturbing question that indie historical-action biopic Heneral Luna poses to the viewer. It forces a setting aside of the complacency of daily life to make way for soul-searching and an internal debate on the definition, and acceptance, of an individual definition of ‘bayan’ and how this influences and shapes the ‘sarili.’ Heneral Luna, directed by Jerrold Tarog, with a cast composed mostly of theater stalwarts, is being lavished with critical and public acclaim. Still in theaters after popular demand, it was recently named the country’s official entry to the 2016 Oscar Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category. Among the historical films, this one refuses to become a hagiography—the usual Filipino approach to personages enshrined as national heroes—and instead deconstructs these icons and presents them as they are, men and women of their time and place. We can relate to them and understand their motivations and actions. This is why the film rings true and appeals to a wide audience. I watched Heneral Luna twice at the cinema, and at both screen-

The big... From A9 All that noise about traffic in traditional and social media isn’t worth anything, if people can’t see beyond the gridlock in front of them. So enjoy your journey on the straight path, which may lead you to somewhere nice, if only the traffic weren’t so hellishly bad.

The Poe... From A9

OF SURVEYS AND TRENDS error margins of 3 percent for national percentages, and 6 percent each for Metro Manila, balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). With due respect to the SWS, I have repeatedly pointed out in previous articles that though these surveys might provide some basis in terms of providing a snapshot of the sentiments of a segment of our society, it does not factually represent the true outlook that will determine the choices of the voting public. The 2010 national elections is the prime example of this. During the campaign period, the VP, then Makati mayor, was a consistently laggard in all the surveys that came out. However, when election day came, the votes undoubtedly showed that the public’s choice was Binay. This belied the supposed veracity of the trending and survey results previously conducted. Moreover, exit polls data showed that support for the VP actually cut across party lines, and that

despite differences in the choice for the presidential slot, party members were close to unified in their choice for the VP. Given this reality, I echo the VP’s statement that “the true survey is on election day” and that “these surveys are just popularity surveys, name recall.” Moreover, I also would like to emphasize that the biggest factor that influences survey results is the questions provided by the pollsters. Hence, when you conduct a survey and you direct the survey participants to just choose three names, you have already drastically limited their choices and indirectly guided the outcome of the questionnaire that you present. And with a plus/minus 3-6 percent margin of error, we could also assume that the 42 percent of the administration bet is tied with the VP’s core support of about 35 percent, which has remained constant. This solid base among the Filipino masses represents the people who supported

the VP in the 2010 elections and his daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, during the 2013 polls. Also, there is the contention that the sample population taken for the survey represents the right ratio of the income classes and regional tendencies. While the image of the VP may have taken a beating among the A and B classes because of the year-long Senate hearing, his face-to-face interaction with the majority of the rest of the population can never be battered by the mudslinging PR machinery of the administration bet. It is laughable that the administration bet just zoomed up in the survey. Laughable since we know that this bet will never get a single vote from the provinces which were devastated by Yolanda. Add to this his proven incompetence in Zamboanga during the siege and their handling of the fallen SAF 44. The masses will, in the end, favor the candidate which came from their class and not from the cacique, landed, ruling elite.

‘BAYAN O SARILI?’ ings viewers applauded at the conclusion, as if a Philippine Airlines pilot were touching down in Manila after a long-haul flight from a foreign country. This is an apt analogy if one considers Tarog as pilot and the film the vehicle that brought us to a different land, one of new realizations and comprehensions. Heneral Luna’s triumph is that it bothers us, makes us squirm in our seats, as we ask ourselves: if that were myself, how would I respond, how would I react? Would I be able to put nation above family and self and sacrifice all, even my life? The “ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo” motif is so inculcated in each Filipino who grew up in this country, that dying for country in war or other ideological struggle is considered glorious and the just due of Inang Bayan, a mental construct deified as cult goddess. Yet how few are those truly willing to do so, as Luna asks Felipe Buencamino when the latter insists he loves the Philippines: Enough to die for her? For making us think and feel about these ideas, Heneral Luna succeeds. With this film, director Jerrold Tarog has succeeded in “catching the wind,” as a line in the film goes, and unleashed it as a whirlwind upon the hearts and

intellects of its viewers. Such is its appeal that interest in the history of the Philippine Revolution has spiked. The companion book, “Heneral Luna: The History Behind the Movie,” Ria Limjap’s interview of historian Vivencio Jose, whose book “The Rise and Fall of Antonio Luna” provided much of the background and detail for the film, sold out quickly in bookstores. For the most part, the people behind it cannot account for its instant popularity. On the Heneral Luna Facebook page, executive producer Fernando M. Ortigas and screenwriter-producer E. A. Rocha said in a joint statement: “[T]he beautiful irony of it all is that, now, through some magic, we’ve been rewarded with a film that is pleasing its audiences no end, with a film that’s entertaining, enlightening, and educational.” I would like to see Artikulo Uno Productions make the other films that will complete the trilogy foreshadowed in Heneral Luna: about Gregorio del Pilar and his ill-fated stand at Tirad Pass, and Manuel L. Quezon, aide-de-camp to Aguinaldo and himself later, in a spin of fate, becoming the second president of the Philippines. Let us also have films that celebrate our she-roes! As edi-

tor and award-winning poet Alma Anonas-Carpio put it, “We have Gabriela Silang, Teresa Magbanua, and so many other women who led the battles of the Philippine Revolution from the front, bolos and rifles out. Because valor, courage, and love of country are traits that do not choose genders.” Heneral Luna also reminds us that the issues of their time remain unresolved to this day —regionalism, infighting, personal agenda above the collective good, envy, lack of discipline, the ascendance of the oligarchy, colonial mentality, and a failure of the individual moral compass. These were also the concerns of Jose Rizal’s writings and those of others of that movement, and it shows us what we have failed to achieve in more than a hundred years since then. On a note of hope, it is a map that can guide our efforts, if only we learn the lessons of that past and use them to remake our present and transform our future. Most of all, Heneral Luna reminds us we still have much work to do to build our nation. Adelante, compatriotas! *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

*** I don’t know when this phenomenon of complaining but not complaining enough to get to the root of the problem started. And I wish I knew when, exactly, it became fashionable to take a President’s word for anything— even when he is obviously lying through his teeth like Aquino was during his ANC interview. All I know is that so many

people are complaining about traffic in Metro Manila, which has cost so much in time, money and productivity lost over the past five years. And we all know who was supposed to be in charge—but really wasn’t— during that time. One day, when this administration is no longer in power, perhaps someone will explain to me how so many

Filipinos allowed their President to repeatedly excuse himself for not doing his job using the flimsiest of reasons, as Aquino so often has. And maybe, when that day comes, we will all snap out of the collective spell cast upon us and see this incompetent Chief Executive for what he really is. Meanwhile, we all have to get somewhere. Best to leave as early as we can to avoid traffic.

in the tribunal who are expected to resolve disputes according to the Constitution and under existing laws. Senators should heed the warning of the Supreme Court in the case of Lerias vs. Mercado: “Politicians who are members of electoral tribunals, must think and act like judges, accordingly, they must resolve election controversies with judicial, not political, integrity.” I am pleasantly surprised at the performance of the lawyer Luna, counsel for David. While apparently no match to the great Alexander Poblador, magna cum laude graduate of the UP College of law, he seemed to have stood his ground firmly and only showed signs of buckling down after two hours of intense questioning. Bravo to him! Anent my former boss Alex, well, he is truly one of the greatest legal minds in this country. Unfortunately, the law on the matter simply was not to his favor. I make two further observations. One on the statement of Senate President Franklin Drilon that the Supreme Court would ultimately sit as judge of Poe’s eligibility; and two, the scathing remarks of Poe’s supporters against Senior Justice Antonio Carpio. On the first, Senator Drilon is wrong that the Supreme Court is the ultimate judge of a senator’s qualifications. Under our Constitution, it is the Senate Electoral Tribunal which is the “sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns and qualifications of their members”. Here, I can only think of one case where the Supreme Court disturbed the ruling of an Electoral Tribunal, which is the Lerias case. In that case, Justice Isagani Cruz in his dissent deplored the obvious partisan voting of the politicians who were members of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal: “It becomes only too obvious then that by sheer force of numbers; by overturning, at the post-appreciation stage, the rulings earlier made by the Tribunal admitting the claimed ballots for Protestant Lerias; by departing from the interpretation of the neighborhood rule heretofore consistently followed by the Tribunal; by injecting `strange jurisprudence,’ particularly on the intent rule; the majority has succeeded in altering the figures that reflect the final outcome of this election protest and, in the process, thwarting the true will of the electorate in the lone district of Southern Leyte.” It is clear that absent such obvious partisanship, the Supreme Court will honor the textual commitment of the Constitution that the Electoral Tribunals shall be the “sole Judge “ of all electoral contests in both houses of Congress. Anent the attacks on Justice Carpio who, in the 20 or so times I have argued in the Court, has proven to be most cerebral of all our justices, I can only tell Poe and her supporters that he is an upright and acknowledged individual who has never hidden his ties with ‘The Firm’. They should have moved to inhibit him at the onset, and not now, after he has issued his statement. Moreover, if pre-judgment is the ground for inhibition, then Senators Cayetano, Legarda and Sotto should also inhibit themselves because they too have shown their pre-judgments in favor of Poe. I may have doubts about the judicial system in this country. Thus far, though, the SET appears to have proven me wrong.

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cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Francis to visit White House WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis at the White House for the first time Wednesday [Thursday in Manila], warmly embracing the Catholic pontiff seen as both a moral authority and potent political ally. The packed and bedecked South Lawn will echo to strains of the Pontifical Anthem and a thundering 21-gun salute, as the 78-yearold is afforded a full ceremonial welcome on his historic maiden visit to the United States. Washington a city that ordinarily shrugs its shoulders when presidents, queens and sheikhs roll through town has been enveloped in Pope-mania and so has the White House. Obama made an exceedingly rare trip to the airport to meet the Ar-

gentine’s plane Tuesday, bringing his wife, daughters, Vice President Joe Biden and his extended family to underscore the point. The effusive greeting is part protocol, part politics―reflecting common ground between the protestant president and the Jesuit pope on a gamut of issues from climate change, to inequality, to immigration, to US engagement with Cuba. The visit is a political mirror of Pope Benedict’s 2008 visit to George W. Bush’s White House. Those two men were as conserva-

tive as their current successors are progressive. Still, the White House is desperate to avoid suggestions it is co-opting a holy man revered by America’s roughly 70 million Catholics to batter Republican foes in Congress. “The goal of this meeting is to give the two men the opportunity to talk about their shared values,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “There’ll be time for politics, frankly, the other 364 days of the year,” he said. “At least for that one meeting, it will be an opportunity for the president to put politics aside and have an opportunity to talk about the values that he and the pope have in common.” Francis has signaled he is also

unlikely to wade directly into America’s bitterly fought politics. The Vatican played a crucial role in brokering talks between Havana and Washington that led to the recent restoration of diplomatic ties after more than half a century. Before leaving Cuba on Tuesday, Francis urged Cubans “to build bridges, break down walls, sow seeds of reconciliation,” in comments that appeared to allude to the nascent reconciliation across the Florida Straits. But the pope also told reporters that he would not specifically raise Washington’s embargo of Cuba in his speech Thursday before American lawmakers who largely favor taking a tough line with Havana. “The Holy See is against this embargo, but it is against all embargoes,” he said. AFP

Rain. A person with an umbrella walks past a table and chairs of a cafe as rain falls on the lakeside of the Elbsee lake in southern Germany. AFP

N. Korea threat discussed by allies SEOUL—Senior South Korean and US defense officials met in Seoul on Wednesday for talks focused on responding to the possibility of an imminent North Korean rocket launch and later nuclear test. The two-day talks follow statements earlier this month by the respective heads of the North’s space and atomic energy agencies that fueled concerns over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. There has been widespread speculation that Pyongyang may carry out a satellite rocket launch to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10. The North insists its space program is purely scientific, but the US, South Korea and their allies deem any such rocket launch to be a disguised ballistic missile test that violates UN resolutions. Although there have been no physical signs of North Korea preparing a launch, the director of its space agency said the world would soon see “a series of satellites... soaring into the sky.” A day later, the head of the national atomic agency said the North’s main nuclear weapons complex was fully operational including a uranium enrichment plant and a five-megawatt reactor seen as the country’s main source of weapons-grade plutonium. Opening Wednesday’s talks in Seoul, Seoul’s deputy minister for policy at the defense ministry, Yoo Jeh-Seung, said the meeting would seek to “firm up the combined defense posture” of South Korea and the United States. AFP

Cairo homes beyond reach of the poor CAIRO—Ahmed and Mohamed are both married with children but still live with their mother, unable to afford one of the hundreds of thousands of homes sitting empty in Egypt’s capital. A construction boom has seen new housing developments mushroom around Cairo but they are out of reach for many, including the two brothers in their 30s. Instead, they share a three-bedroom apartment with their wives, three children, another brother and their mother, for a combined rent of around $10 a month. Away from their rubbish-strewn neighborhood with its tenements and narrow alleys, empty and unfinished buildings flank the ring road that circles the vast metropolis. Outside the city, gated compounds of villas, lush gardens and golf courses in the desert await those with fortunes. Almost half of Cairo’s population of about 20 mil-

lion lives in informal settlements with poor infrastructure and buildings often constructed with no permits. At the same time, the government says there are 1.5 million vacant homes across the country. In 2013, then-housing minister Tarek Wafik, quoted by state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, said 30 percent of the country’s housing units were left unused. According to experts, empty units are either held as an investment by their owner, bought for children for when they get married, or remain empty because they have no water or electricity. Experts blame the authorities for allowing housing prices to rise while not creating enough affordable social housing. “Those projects are not made for us,” said Ahmed, a father-of-two who earns about $160 a month working at a slaughter house. “If you have the means, you can pay and have one. If not, no,” he said. AFP

Harvest time. Harvesters pick grapes during the harvest in the Domaine Rouget on Sept. 16, 2015, in Gilly les Citeaux. Emmanuel Rouget, owner of Domaine Rouget and the nephew of late French vintner Henri Jayer, finds dangerous and ridiculous the prices reached by some of his late uncle’s bottles at wine auctions. AFP

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Filipino karter stamps class in Malaysia SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera once again made motorsports history, this time on the international stage after bagging a 3rd runnerup podium finish in the championship leg of the 2015 Asia Max Challenge Series at the City Karting International Circuit in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Established in 2007 under the helm of James Leong, the AMC is the most competitive Rotax series in Asia, attracting hundreds of top-caliber drivers not only from Asia but from other continents as well. Backed by DC, Gold’s Gym, Media Magic and R’s Design Japan, Tayao Cabrera ended the eightyear drought for the Philippines by becoming the first Filipino to ever bag a podium finish in the series in his debut year in the Senior class. At 15 years old, Tayao Cabrera is likewise the youngest driver in the series’ premier class comprising national champions from all over Asia. Known to be a superb driver especially in wet tracks, the Philippines’ current top karter kept the country’s hopes for a podium win alive by showcasing his skills at the puddle-laden track during the finals. Both Filipino and foreign spectators cheered for the class underdog who maneuvered his way up. Now that the AMC season has ended, Tayao Cabrera is currently preparing to compete in the Asian Karting Open Championships at Thailand and Macau in November and December respectively.

SEAOIL karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera makes his move in the wet course of the 2015 Asia Max Challenge Series at the City Karting International Circuit in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Inset shows Tayao Cabrera displaying the Philippine flag.

Marquez not interested in 5th fight with Pacman By Ronnie Nathanielsz ALTHOUGH eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank wants to get Juan Manuel Marquez in the ring for a fifth fight against Pacquiao to give the Filipino boxing icon a chance to avenge his stunning sixth-round knockout loss to the Mexican in 2012, it seems the Mexican is not interested. “Yes, I believe they are interested in that fight, but I am no longer (interested) and that’s a fact,” the 42-year-old Marquez told Boxing Scene. Fernando Beltran of Zanfer, who promotes Marquez, wants the fourdivision world champion

to consider a return to the ring this December, but the Mexican doesn’t want to face Pacquiao, often stating that he wishes to savor his spectacular KO win the rest of his life apparently scorning the offer of a big purse to fight Manny. Meantime, while

Pacquiao’s handlers are reportedly in talks with World Boxing Council welterweight Silver champion Amir Khan’s people for a possible Pacquiao showdown next year, his trainer Virgil Hunter believes a match between his ward and undefeated International Boxing Federation champion and pound-for-pound No. 10 Kell Brook would be good for Great Britain. “While Brook’s next assignment is an IBF world title defense against Diego Chaves, Khan himself has confirmed preliminary talks have taken place about a contest against Brook next year, with Wembley being cited as a potential venue. And his trainer, Virgil Hunter, believes such a contest will be highly

beneficial to the sport in this country,” Sky Sports in Britain reported. Hunter told boxingscene. com: “I would hope at some point that they both fight each other. I know it would be good for Great Britain, good for him and good for boxing. I’ve never pushed him (Khan) to take the fight because it’s obvious there are some things going on between them from long before I came along.” Hunter added: “There have been little bits and pieces that I get like, ‘you disrespected me’ or ‘you’re not well known enough’ or who won the sparring sessions when they were amateurs. It has all the ingredients for a big fight. I’m sure that if both continue to fight that the fight’s going to happen.”

Furyk withdraws from Tour

Cantada Sports Center hosts spikefest. The indoor sand-court of the Cantada Sports

Center In Taguig City was the venue of the now monthly PVF Beach Volleyball Invitational for men and women held last Saturday. The men’s event was won by Daniel Young and Jade Bacaldo of Cebu, while the women’s category was topped by Judy Caballejo and Camille Abanto of the Philippine Air Force. The event was supported by sportsmen Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., Atty. Gilberto M. Duavit, Atty. Reginaldo A. Oben, Gonzalo Puyat and Sons, Tanduay and Mapecon.

ATLANTA—Former US Open champion Jim Furyk withdrew from the FedEx Cup playoff’s Tour Championship on Tuesday because of a wrist injury that forced him out of the BMW Championship last week. The 45-year-old American was diagnosed with a bone contusion last week in his left wrist. He will continue rehabilitation in hopes of participating in the upcoming Presidents Cup. Furyk pulled out of the BMW Championship after playing six holes of the first round, the first time he has withdrawn from a tournament since 1995. “While I am disappointed to miss this week’s event in Atlanta, I am now placing all my efforts on being healthy and ready to play in the Presidents Cup,” Furyk said. “(Captain) Jay Haas will be made aware of my progress in the coming days as we see how the injury responds to the treatment.” Furyk, who won the 2003 US Open crown, was assured of one of the top 30 spots in the Tour Championship which begins on Thursday at the East Lake Golf Club. His playing partner Hideki Matsuyama will play as a single in the opening round. AFP

Imports brace for PSL GP WITH the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix drawing near, foreign reinforcements have started coming in trickles as competing teams start their early buildup for the opening of this prestigious women’s volleyball tournament on Oct. 10 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna. Already in town are Ariel Usher of Cignal, Liis Kullerkann and Christina Alessi of Meralco, and Rupia Inck and Erica Adachi of Petron, who powered the Blaze Spikers to an eighthplace finish in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship recently in Phu Ly, Vietnam. A 6’1” stunner from University of Portland, Usher is tipped to become a legitimate threat in the open position as she teams up with a fellow American in middle blocker Amanda Anderson for the HD Spikers, who recruited veterans April Ross Hingpit, Rizza Mandapat and Michelle Laborte during the off-season. Kullerkann and Alessi’s early arrival will also be a major boost to the preparation of Meralco, which will be handled by noted mentor Ramil de Jesus, together with Cha Cruz and Paneng Mercado as well as Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes and the entire core of De La Salle Lady Archers.

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2 EAC players, Altas’ Cabiltes suspended

National U will need more than skipper Jorelle Singh’s defensive effort to stop Ateneo and league’s top hitter and MVP Alyssa Valdez in Game Two of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference title series on Sunday.

By Peter Atencio

THREE players, who were ejected during the University of Perpetual Help-Emilio Aguinaldo College game, were suspended for one game by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. EAC’s Enjerico serve his one-game Games today (The Arena, San Juan) Diego and Raymund ban when Perpetual 10 a.m. • Lyceum vs EAC (jrs) Pascua and Perpetual 12 nn. • St. Benilde vs San Sebastian (jrs) Help faces off 2 p.m. • Lyceum vs EAC (srs) Help’s Nick Cabiltes 4 p.m. • St. Benilde vs San Sebastian (srs) with Jose Rizal were sanctioned for tomorrow. for their unsportsmanlike acts in College of St. Benilde will go their Tuesday game, won by the Altas, against San Sebastian at 4 p.m. in 89-59, in a second-round encounter another non-bearing contest. in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball Meanwhile, the NCAA tournament. Management Committee, chaired Diego and Cabiltes engaged in a by Melchor Divina of Mapua has pushing match, while Pascua was yet to act on the brawl involving the seen in a fighting stance that led to same players outside the court. their ejection with 1.28 minutes left Cabiltes, EAC player Sidney in their duel. Onwuberre and Pascua were involved This means Diego and Pascua in a scuffle that took place afterwards will not play when EAC clashes with at the parking lot, just when both Lyceum of the Philippines University teams were leaving the venue. in a non-bearing game at 2 p.m. today The brawl allegedly started when at The Arena in San Juan City. Pascua sneaked behind Cabiltes and Cabiltes, on the other hand, will struck him in the head.

Lady Eagles brace for NU fightback ATENEO vows to wrap it all up on Sunday but remains wary of a big National University comeback with ace guest player Dindin Santiago-Manabat back in the fold in Game Two of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference Finals on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City. MVP Alyssa Valdez said they have prepared long and hard for this campaign and expressed confidence of scoring a repeat over the Lady Bulldogs despite

the continued ab- Game Saturday (Sept. 26) and presented by sence of head coach 12:45 p.m. – FEU vs UST PLDT Home Ultera. (V-League/for third) Tai Bundit and the Valdez, however, return of Manabat to Game Sunday (Sept. 27) braces for a strong 12:45 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU the other side. NU comeback with (V-League/for crown) “We had a good Manabat expected preparation for this conference to provide the firepower and and we hope to continue to play poise lacking in Game One the way we did in Game One,” which Ateneo handily won, 25said Valdez after leading the 19, 25-13, 25-23. team in the opener with 20 hits, “Dindin will be a big factor including 15 attack points, on her in Game Two. Actually, NU is a way to bagging the MVP trophy strong team without her and will in the mid-season conference of only get stronger with her back in the league sponsored by Shakey’s the fold,” said Valdez.

Patrimonio sisters make quarterfinals THE powerhouse duo of Christine and Clarice Patrimonio kept their impressive run yesterday as they surged into the quarterfinals of the 34th Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA Open clay courts in Paco, Manila. Pulling away from her sister’s shadow, seventh seed Christine came out with guns blazing against Lenelyn Milo, 6-0, 6-1, while top seed Clarice routed Crizabelle Paulino, 6-0, 6-2, in the event supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, The Philippine Star, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. “Medyo sanay na rin ako sa court dahil nagtraining din kami dito bago mag-start ‘yung tournament. Madulas lang ng kaunti dahil medyo numipis ‘yung court. Pero manageable naman. So far, maganda ang results ko,” said Christine, a former Most Valuable Player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Christine will duel second-seed Marinel Rudas after shutting out Reisha Nillasca, 6-0, 6-0. Clarice will also have her hands full as she squares off with No. 8 Rafaella Villanueva, who beat Kryshana Hitosis, 6-1, 6-2. “She’s [Rudas] a tough opponent. Ilang beses na rin kaming nagkaharap kaya laban lang. Focus lang sa game,” said the 23-year-old Christine. Also breezing into the quarterfinals were third seed Edilyn Balanga, No. 4 Maia Balce, No. 5 Sjaira Hope Rivera and No. 6 Hannah Espinosa in the tournament supported by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.

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La Salle, National U shuttlers stay clean DEFENDING champion National University and De La Salle stayed unbeaten defeating separate foes in the UAAP Season 78 men’s badminton action yesterday. The Bulldogs blanked University of the Philippines, 5-0, while the Green Archers downed Ateneo, 4-1, for their third straight victories at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, defeated Far Eastern University, 4-1, to move to solo third with a 2-1 record. Rookie Keeyan Gabuelo scored a 21-19, 21-19 first singles’ win over Wilson Lopez, while Roslee Pedrosa waylaid Jon Masongsong, 21-9, 21-18, in the second singles. In the first doubles, Peter Magnaye and Alvin Morada beat Vincent Manuel and Roberto Manuel, 21-15, 21-18. Pedrosa and Paul Gonzales nipped Joaquin Beato and Carl Clemente in the first doubles, 21-19, 16-21, 21-19, before Magnaye completed NU’s first shutout win of the season with a 21-17, 21-15 decision of Miguel Leonardo in the third singles. Bucking EJ Boac’s loss in the third singles, the Green Archers banked on Gerald Sibayan, Anton Cayanan and Kenneth Monterubio to emerged victorious. In the other tie, University of the East entered the win column by edging Adamson, 3-2. The Red Warriors forced a four-way tie in fourth place at 1-2 along with their victims, the Fighting Maroons and the Falcons.

Vintage Casas sizzles with a 66 TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite—Cassius Casas took advantage of benign condition, carding a bogey-free six-under 66 to seize a one-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa at the start of the season-ending ICTSI Tournament Players Golf Championship at the rainsoftened Sherwood Hills Golf Club here yesterday. Solid with his irons and steady with his putter, Casas gunned down three birdies on each nine, capped by stirring 35-feet birdie putt on the par-3 No. 16, as the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker took charge in a crowded leaderboard to set in motion his bid to save a winless season. “My irons and putter complemented well. I just hope to sustain my form till the final round,” said Casas, who won two tournaments last year but could only place third at Luisita Championship last May

and fourth at ICTSI Open at Wack Wack two weeks ago. He used his putter just 25 times. His 66, however, was short of the 62 he made in winning a tournament here more than 10 years ago but enough to put him on top of the elite field in this P3.5 million championship serving as the final leg of the 15-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc. Tuesday night’s downpour rendered

the course soggy and the surface unreceptive, forcing the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to apply winter rules. “The greens are soft. One has to come up with accurate iron shots to set up birdie chances since the ball hardly rolls,” said Casas, who banked on superb iron game to set up birdie chances inside six feet. Ababa did expect to get into the mix early with a confidence boosted by his runner-up finish in last week’s Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open, also at Luisita. Like Casas, the former amateur hotshot started at the back and hit three birdies against a bogey then closed out his solid frontside stint with a 33 to card a 67. Zanieboy Gialon missed joining Ababa at second with a late bogey on No. 7, dropping to joint third at 68 with Rufino

Bayron, Michael Bibat and Korean Park Jun Hyeok. Jay Bayron, winner at ICTSI Summit Point last month, rallied with three birdies at the front to likewise churn out a bogey-less 69 for joint seventh with Korean Woo Seong Bin, who spiked his opening round charge with three birdies in the last five holes, also at the front.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Manila

Standard Republic of the Philippines

TODAY Department of Agriculture Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines www.philmech.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID Supply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment (PHilMech Goods 15-09-11)

Cassius Casas chips onto the green on No. 1

The world of bridge is in turmoil IN THE past last SYLVIA LOPEZ two weeks, ALEJANDRO I had written about the cheating report and the developments in thge sport of bridge. The World Bridge Federation was forced to make a statement “at this time the world of is in turmoil following accusations of cheating…” Statement from the World Bridge Federation: “The WBF is an International Sport Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and as a result adopts, respects and applies the OIC Principles, Laws and Rules. It is a Federation of National Bridge Federations and not of individuals and has jurisdiction and disciplinary power over individuals only relating to matters occurring in events organized by itself and consequently under its jurisdiction. “We fully understand that players throughout the world are naturally very concerned, which the WBF appreciates and acknowledges, but they must recognise that the rules and correct procedures must be respected and everybody protected before launching any public accusations, without concern for its Bodies. The NBOs and the Zonal Organisations are the ones to take the initial action in the facts involved are coming from national or zonal events. “The WBF may however look at any “dossier” and exercise its right through the Credentials Committee to invite or not invite individuals to participate in the

World Championships. “The WBF intends to take any suitable action on the recent cases following the rules established and involving everybody concerned, primarily the accused players, those making the accusations and competent witnesses. “It is the duty (not only the right) of every player to report anything that contravenes the ethics of the game that we all should respect. “Zero tolerance is and has to be our target, but any accused person has the right to fair trial and to a fair verdict. This is the indisputable principle should govern our lives.” A shocking development: Monaco withdrawn from 2015 Bermuda Bowl. The statement of the Monaco Bridge Federation: “Monaco has decided to withdraw from the Bermuda Bowl 2015 in order to preserve the interest of bridge and so that the event may be played with the greatest serenity. “We’ve informed WBF President Gianarrigo Rona, EBL President Yves Aubry and the Danish Federation (to which we wish the best results in Chennai) of our decision.” Germany Withdrawns from 2015 Bermuda Bowl. The statement on this withdrawal follows: “We are aware of the “whispers” and we are sorry to say there is some truth to them. We regret in the past as a partnership we committed some ethical violations. This morning we informed our Federation and our teammates and we have all agreed

that the German team should withdraw from the Bermuda Bowl. We also have voluntarily agreed never to play competitive bridge again together and also will take at least two years off from playing bridge at all except perhaps socially. We hope that until such a time has elapsed, that we might be welcomed back into the competitive bridge playing community. “Alex Smirnov and Josef Piekarek, both member as a pair of the German open bridge team, confessed today unethical play. Anticipating further measures by EBL the German open team has decided to withdraw from the Bermuda Bowl in Chennai. “Now it is up to France to decide if they will go to India, which is not likely on such a short time. Next in line is Norway, the country of whistleblower Broge Brogeland.” The German Federation Federation: “Late in the afternoon, the German Federation (DBV) has posted the following statement: “As Josef Piekarek and Alexander Smirnov have admitted to have committed some ethical violations, the German Open Team will not compete in the 2015 Bermuda Bowl.” “On September 20, 2015 the EBL has posted the following statement. “In a further development, the German pair Piekarek-Smirnov has admitted unethical behavior in the past. This matter has been passed to the Disciplinary Committee for examination and assessment. The two players have been suspended with immediate effect.” Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ yahoo.com

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) through its Regular Fund intends to apply the sum of PhP 5,021,600.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) as indicated herein to payments under the contract for the Supply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid opening.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization now invites Bids from eligible bidders for the following items:

ITEMS Supply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment 7 units Coffee Pulper (Rubber bib) 94 units Coffee Pulper (steel bib) 1 unit Rubber Huller for Coffee 9 units Steel Huller for Coffee 11 units Coffee Moisture Meter Total

ABC 54,600.00 2,350,000.00 120,000.00 1,980,000.00 517,000.00 5,021,600.000

Delivery of the GOODS is required within Forty Five (45) calendar days from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within three (3) years a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents. 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations Part A (IRR-A) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. 4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of PhP 5,000.00. The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his authorized representative. 6. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on October 2, 2015, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilMech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. 7. Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before October 16, 2015. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid security in the form and amount stated in the Bid Data Sheet or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Late Bids shall not be accepted. 8. Bid opening shall be on October 16, 2015, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilmech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. 9. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization 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. PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND MECHANIZATION (Formerly BUREAU OF POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION) Main Office:CLSU Cmpd., Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija Tel. No. (044) 4560287 / 4560213 FAX No. (044) 4560110 Liaison Office: 3F ATI Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 9274019 / 9274029 FAX No. 9268159 (SGD) RAUL R. PAZ BAC Chairman (TS-SEPT. 24 & 30, 2015)

A16

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Tamaraws repulse Warriors, 92 to 81

THE Far mes Saturday E a s t e r n G a (MOA Arena) Un iversit y 2 p.m. UP vs NU Ta m a r a w s 4 p.m. Ateneo vs UST struggled for three quarters before unleashing their might in the final canto to repulse the University of the East Warriors, 92-81, yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Warriors’ prolific shooters Edison Batiller and Chris Javier were finally almost silenced in the final period, allowing the Tamaraws to post their fourth win in five games in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament. Mark Belo sizzled with 12 of 24 points in the last period, leading a 12-4 run with two charities in the last 9:36 of the fourth. After that, Monbert Arong’s charity, followed by Belo’s two triples and putback in the final 4:55 had FEU unleashing a huge 19-0 surge. When it was finished, FEU was ahead by 13, 88-75, off Mike Tolomia’s split charity in the final 1:55. “Every game, we expected our opponents to come out strong. ‘Yun ang kinakapa namin, the right mix of players. So, in the fourth, we just stuck to our veterans,” said FEU coach Nash Racela. Batiller led UE with 18 points. But when Racela instructed veteran guard Francis Tamsi to keep an eye on him in the final period, Batiller was held scoreless in the final 10 minutes. Javier came up with 13 points and was limited to two in the last quarter asFEU forced UE to commit 14 of 21 turnovers in the second half.

UE’s Christopher Javier (14) tries to defy the doubleteam put up by FEU’s Mark Belo (12) and Raymar Jose in a UAAP game won by the Tamaraws, 92-81. ROMAN PROSPERO

Gilas PH suffers shock defeat By Jeric Lopez

IT was one shocking start for Gilas Pilipinas. Unable to hold its ground in the payoff period, Gilas Pilipinas, which led by 15 points in the first quarter, shockingly bowed down to unranked Palestine, 75-73, in its opening game in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship at the Changsa Social Work College’s Gymnasium in Changsa, China yesterday. Sani Sakakini converted on a go-ahead three-point play with 15 seconds remaining to give the Palestinians what turned out to be the final tally, which they held on to until the final horn.

PH karter stamps class in Malaysia TURN TO A13

That came after Gilas’ naturalized star Andray Blatche scored on a put-back to give Gilas the lead back, 73-72, after surrendering it several seconds earlier.

In the dying seconds, Smart Gilas had a chance to either tie or win it, but Blatche’s three-point attempt in the final second was swatted away, allowing Palestine to escape with the upset win. As a result, the Philippines (0-1) needs to win both of its remaining games in this preliminary round to ensure itself a ticket in the next phase. ‘’This tournament is far from over. This is not a statement game of who Gilas Pilipinas is. This is a big mistake by our team, by the coaching staff, by all of us,’’ said National coach Tab Baldwin. ‘’But we fortunately have a whole

Game Today (Preliminary Round) 9:30 a.m. – Philippines vs. Hong Kong

tournament to rectify that mistake, fix it and get us back to where we belong.’’ Today, Gilas needs to bounce back when it plays Hong Kong at 9:30 a.m. as it shoots for its first victory in a must-win situation. Before Blatche’s putback, which proved to be the Filipinos’ last basket, the Palestinians orchestrated a 10-0 run that was powered by back-to-back triples from Abu Shamala and turned

Casas sizzles with a 66 TURN TO A15

a 62-71 deficit into a 72-71 lead with 1:34 remaining. That was Palestine’s first lead since the opening frame. Blatche led the Philippines with his double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds while Shamala was the biggest torn on the Filipinos’ cause as he spearheaded Palestine’s attack with his own impressive stat line of 26 points and 15 rebounds and Sakakini did the same, pouring in 22 points and 14 boards. At the end of one, Gilas Pilipinas already stretched its lead to 15 points, 27-12, for a tighter grip of the contest.

THURSDAY: SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

Largest solar farm.

The completed 45-megawatt San Carlos solar energy plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental is now the largest solar farm in the country. Composed of approximately 175,000 panels, it provides electricity to over 100,000 homes and supplies daytime peak power to the Visayas grid. The Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure fund, managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, completed its acquisition of the majority stake of SaCaSol. The solar plant is one of several clean energy projects that Bronzeoak Philippines is developing in the country.

Imports surge to record $6.5b By Gabrielle H. Binaday

IMPORTS jumped 17 percent in July from a year ago to a record $6.5 billion, on the back of a 71-percent increase in electronic components, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday. Data from the PSA showed merchandise imports increased rom $5.6 billion in July 2014, following the 22.6-percent rise in June shipments to $5.9 billion, despite the sharp drop in the value of petroleum imports. This brought total imports in the first seven months to $32.2 billion, up 0.1 percent from $37.17 billion a year ago. “The steady growth in importation of key imported commodities is expected to further boost the growth of investments and household consumption in the third quarter of 2015. This will

offset weak revenues from exports, which remains affected by dampened global demand,” said Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan. Neda said for the second consecutive month, the Philippines ranked first among monitored economies in East and Southeast Asia in registering imports growth in July 2015. Except for Vietnam, most trade-oriented economies in the region recorded a decline in imports in the period. Data showed that with the

strong imports growth, the Philippines registered a trade deficit of $1.177 billion in July, up from the $138.95-million deficit registered in the same period last year. The trade deficit in the first seven months also doubled to $3 billion from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Orders for consumer goods jumped 72.8 percent in July; raw materials and intermediate goods, 41.1 percent; and capital goods, 32.5 percent. Electronic products, accounting for 30.8 percent of the total import billion, soared 71 percent to $2 billion. The strong growth of these import categories made up for the 76.4-percent decline in import bills for mineral fuels and lubricants. “Within the near term, imports growth may likely continue as consumer confidence for the third quarter slightly improved to -11.6 from an index of -16.2 during the second quarter,” said Balisacan. Spending for imported consumer

goods reached $1.4 billion in July, up from $793.9 million a year ago, on higher purchases of both durable goods (up 75.7 percent) and non-durable goods (up 69.5 percent). Payments for raw materials and intermediate goods, which accounted for 43.8 percent of the country’s total merchandise imports, increased 41.1 percent in July to $2.9 billion from $2 billion in July 2014. The value of imported capital goods marked its sixth consecutive month of double-digit growth, rising by 32.5 percent to $1.9 billion in July 2015 from $1.5 billion in the same period last year. “The current trend in the import of capital goods, consumer goods and raw materials shows a robust domestic demand and a rebound in consumer sentiment towards the end of the year. To further support this growth, the government must quickly catch up on the implementation of various pipeline public infrastructure projects,” said Balisacan.

Groupon to exit PH amid global restructuring ONLINE deals giant Groupon said Tuesday it was cutting some 1,100 jobs over the coming months in another sign of cooling in the once-hot sector. Groupon also said it would be ending operations in several markets around the world including Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Thailand and Uruguay, following recent exits from Greece and Turkey. The streamlining aims “to realize the efficiencies we’ve been working so hard to gain, to further improve the way we operate around the world and -- most importantly -- continue to channel more and more of our resources toward long-term

growth,” chief operating officer Rich Williams said in a blog post. “Practically, this means we’re taking some broad restructuring actions to better focus our resources and streamline our international operations,” he said. The company will eliminate some 1,100 positions, primarily in international operations, mostly in online deals and customer service, Williams said. The cuts, which represent about 10 percent of the workforce at Chicago-based Groupon, will result in pretax charges of as much as $35 million, including about $22 million to $24 million in the third quarter. Most charges will relate to employee severance and compensation benefits and

will be paid in cash, Groupon said Tuesday. Though Groupon makes more than 35 percent of its sales outside of North America, the company has struggled to compete with local competitors in too many countries, lacking necessary investment to drive growth and transform itself into a broader e-commerce site. The company began exploring strategic options for some of its overseas properties a year ago. This April, Groupon sold a controlling stake in South Korean e-commerce site Ticket Monster to investment firm KKR & Co. and Hong Kong-based Anchor Equity Partners, for $360 million. Though last month, venture

capital fund Sequoia India agreed to invest in Groupon India. The restructuring could mean the company was unable to sell some businesses in the countries it’s leaving, said Arvind Bhatia, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., who recommends buying the stock. Groupon will have about 9,800 employees after the cuts, Bill Roberts, a spokesman for the company, said in an e-mail. Groupon went public in 2011 amid enthusiasm over its model of offering deals on a variety of products and services. But its stock price has slumped more than 75 percent from its offering price of $20, and has been hovering around $4 in recent weeks. With AFP, Bloomberg

PSe comPoSite

index

Closing September 23, 2015

8000 7700 7400 7100 6800 6500

6,926.91 124.32

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 43.50 44.60 45.40

P46.830

46.20

47.00

HIGH P46.650 LOW P46.830 AVERAGE P46.738 VOLUME 877.200M

P435.00-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.00-P43.95 Unleaded Gasoline P25.05-P28.40 Diesel

il P PriceS today

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, September 23, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.5520

Japan

Yen

0.008325

0.3875

Pound

1.536900

71.5458

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.0068

Switzerland

Franc

1.025746

47.7505

Canada

Dollar

0.753977

Singapore

Dollar

0.705916

32.8618

Australia

Dollar

0.707514

32.9362

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655690

123.6277

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.4139

Brunei

Dollar

0.703433

32.7462

35.0991

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0032

Thailand

Baht

0.027785

1.2934

UAE

Dirham

0.272316

12.6769

Euro

1.112800

51.8031

Korea

Won

0.000843

0.0392

China

Yuan

0.156838

7.3011

India

Rupee

0.015175

0.7064

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.232883

10.8412

New Zealand

Dollar

0.628496

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030375

29.2577 1.4140 Source: PDS Bridge

THURSDAY: SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, september 23, 2015

52 Weeks

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4 17 30.45 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 47 2.36 15.3 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 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 7.34 238 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17 0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 6.55 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 390 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 0.375 41.4 5.6

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 2.75 2.6 69.35 69 103.50 101.00 83.50 82.85 42.6 42 10.1 10.1 15.92 15.3 20.05 19.8 1.78 1.49 0.750 0.640 83.6 80.05 0.96 0.93 17.10 16.60 24.05 24.00 53.00 52.45 102 95.5 150 150 298 298 31.5 31 143 138 1440.00 1435.00 54.00 51.20 INDUSTRIAL 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 43.05 43.45 42.65 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.64 1.64 1.6 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.82 11 10.76 15.32 Century Food 16.86 16.96 16.76 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 26 26.45 25.1 29.15 Concepcion 43.5 43.5 41.6 1.5 Crown Asia 2.82 2.85 2.7 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 2.34 2.35 1.8 10.72 Del Monte 10.7 10 9.99 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.700 10.640 10.38 9.04 Emperador 7.94 7.90 7.75 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.13 6.12 5.98 8.86 EEI 7.88 8.07 7.88 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.84 1.82 1.82 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 13.88 13.88 13.04 20.2 First Gen Corp. 22.95 23 22.6 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 65.95 65.95 65.55 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.00 13.02 13.00 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.72 5.85 5.7 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.810 3.200 2.650 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 190.90 190.00 185.50 2.3 LMG Chemicals 1.86 2.6 1.95 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 5.05 5.2 4.03 33 Macay Holdings 46.95 46.95 46.90 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 23 23.25 22.6 17.3 Maxs Group 21.9 21 21 5.88 Megawide 5.55 5.6 5.5 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 295.00 294.00 288.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.70 3.94 3.80 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.1 4.13 4.06 8.45 Petron Corporation 6.92 6.95 6.87 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.38 11.34 10.82 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.35 3.33 3.21 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.99 2.01 1.95 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.1 2.15 1.98 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.02 4.04 4.01 1.65 Roxas and Co. 2.8 2.8 2.7 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.2 5.48 4.64 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 135 135 133.5 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.33 2.4 2.21 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.149 0.153 0.145 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 0.93 1.12 0.86 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.80 1.93 1.78 152 Universal Robina 187.9 186.5 184.4 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.73 4.73 4.65 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.74 0.75 0.72 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.01 1.02 1.01 HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.430 0.430 0.430 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 58.0000 58.4500 56.5000 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 19.60 19.60 18.88 6.62 Anscor À’ 6.61 6.60 6.58 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.240 0.235 0.233 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 777 777 750 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.97 6.97 6.93 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.00 13.00 12.56 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.06 4.06 4.06 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.240 0.260 0.261 837 GT Capital 1256 1255 1225 5.3 House of Inv. 5.97 5.97 5.97 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 69.95 69.70 68.60 3 Keppel Holdings À’ 6.78 6.7 6.7 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 6.1 6.09 6.05 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.74 0.77 0.7 12 LT Group 11.86 12.04 11.58 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.54 0.56 0.52 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5 5.01 4.93 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 8.35 8.37 8.29 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0340 0.0360 0.0340 0.550 Prime Orion 1.710 1.750 1.700 2.26 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.78 2.8 2.8 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 44.00 44.70 43.50 1.5 Seafront À’ 3.18 3.02 2.90 751 SM Investments Inc. 890.00 888.50 860.00 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.21 1.21 1.18 170 Transgrid 170.00 210.00 185.00 80 Top Frontier 63.800 65.000 63.000 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3700 0.4100 0.3500 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2100 0.2350 0.2150 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.241 0.249 0.241 PROPERTY 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.900 7.000 6.670 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.63 0.63 0.61 0.192 Arthaland Corp. 0.221 0.250 0.220 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 34.15 34.15 33.80 3.36 Belle Corp. À’ 3.02 3.04 3.01 2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 8.7 12.02 19.6 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

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

SHARES 44,029,907 149,393,829 220,362,963 97,881,316 95,462,057 266,796,277 879,664,248

2.6 69.3 103.60 83.45 42.5 10 15.5 20 1.60 0.690 83.6 0.96 16.70 24.00 52.50 98 100 295.6 31.5 141 1450.00 51.20

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.6 69 102.00 83.00 42.6 10.1 15.7 19.8 1.70 0.680 80.05 0.96 16.66 24.00 52.50 100 150 298 31.1 139 1435.00 52.20

0.00 -0.43 -1.54 -0.54 0.24 1.00 1.29 -1.00 6.25 -1.45 -4.25 0.00 -0.24 0.00 0.00 2.04 50.00 0.81 -1.27 -1.42 -1.03 1.95

20,000 14,090 4,488,350 2,212,840 69,200 100 71,700 47,900 24,000 27,229,000 2,546,470 6,500,000 125,900 10,400 128,390 4,950 100 130 264,300 60,320 100 10,730

42.95 1.64 10.76 16.76 25.75 41.6 2.78 1.83 10 10.440 7.90 6.00 7.88 1.82 13.06 22.6 65.55 13.00 5.72 2.990 189.00 2.28 4.39 46.90 23 21.85 5.56 293.00 3.91 4.1 6.88 11.34 3.33 1.95 2.1 4.04 2.7 5.48 134.9 2.24 0.146 0.94 1.92 185.9 4.65 0.73 1.01

-0.23 0.00 -0.55 -0.59 -0.96 -4.37 -1.42 -21.79 -6.54 -2.43 -0.50 -2.12 0.00 -1.09 -5.91 -1.53 -0.61 0.00 0.00 6.41 -1.00 22.58 -13.07 -0.11 0.00 -0.23 0.18 -0.68 5.68 0.00 -0.58 -0.35 -0.60 -2.01 0.00 0.50 -3.57 5.38 -0.07 -3.86 -2.01 1.08 6.67 -1.06 -1.69 -1.35 0.00

961,600 219,000 2,700 41,600 102,100 194,400 1,538,000 13,946,000 191,100 4,795,800 746,200 23,625,300 252,700 3,000 7,400 1,374,600 200,130 36,400 125,700 60,266,000 234,880 516,000 286,000 1,800 957,400 89,400 72,300 397,310 21,000 322,000 2,649,700 700 55,000 642,000 228,000 5,015,000 58,000 20,000 55,680 2,952,000 3,640,000 820,000 15,098,000 2,020,130 18,000 2,946,000 95,000

0.430 58.2000 19.00 6.60 0.233 759.5 6.94 12.60 4.06 0.228 1225 5.97 68.95 6.7 6.05 0.72 11.7 0.56 5 8.29 0.0350 1.720 2.8 44.40 3.02 878.50 1.18 210.00 63.000 0.3600 0.2290 0.249

0.00 0.34 -3.06 -0.15 -2.92 -2.25 -0.43 -3.08 0.00 -5.00 -2.47 0.00 -1.43 -1.18 -0.82 -2.70 -1.35 3.70 0.00 -0.72 2.94 0.58 0.72 0.91 -5.03 -1.29 -2.48 23.53 -1.25 -2.70 9.05 3.32

30,000 2,412,530 6,544,800 14,000 260,000 283,700 693,600 4,844,700 16,000 1,790,000 313,180 260,000 1,833,190 1,000 581,100 769,000 5,968,500 2,016,000 33,411,500 1,356,200 81,300,000 560,000 143,000 3,449,200 56,000 289,700 789,000 430 957,020 63,350,000 2,820,000 560,000

6.800 0.62 0.250 34.00 3.01

-1.45 -1.59 13.12 -0.44 -0.33

64,700 602,000 290,000 15,422,800 687,000

470,225.00 223,779,295 -43,896,136.00 2,075,805.00 -158,710.00 -467,440.00 978,130.00 -168,721,191.00 -8,550.00 240,250.00 -2,955,942.00

-2,113,940 -4,965,159.00 -143,750.00 -259,938.00 -12,529,585.00 -48,900.00 -6,718.00 -2,810,650 -72,280.00 168,790.00 -1,783,000.00 1,123,992.00 -2,782,743.00 -23,156,134.00 -295,660.00 -28,464,860.00 -7,262,333.00 -473,784.00 -160.00 -2,618,470.00 -15,276,103.00 -43,200.00 4,396,435.00 -42,910.00 -15,410.00 50,373,636.00 853,070.00 1,346,357.00 -49,950.00 -466,490.00 1,112,610.00 2,602,744.00 -55,200.00 -185,060.00 -42,050.00 16,882,550.00 -72,488,325.00 74,000.00 51,000.00 14,861,875.50 -69,296,712.00 -40,920.00 -34,008,775.00 3,150,164.00 -4,855,964.00 4,060.00 -228,563,215.00 1,062,660.00 -41,298,596.50 -1,201,239.00 -19,375,952.00 -39,476,345.00 -16,580.00

-11,682,140.00 -13,276,605.00

52 Weeks

High Low 5.59 1.44 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

4.96 0.79 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 2.69 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 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 1 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 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 0.650 6 0.335 0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

STOCKS

-4,073,305.00 -1,246,140.00

Cebu Holdings Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Bulletin 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 1.71 Transpacific Broadcast 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 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.021 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

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 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.013 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553 525 120 8.21 12.28 1060 1047 84.8

33 490 500 101.5 5.88 6.5 997 1011 75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PCOR-Preferred A PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

6.98 15 88 12.88

0.8900 LR Warrant SME 3.5 Makati Fin. Corp. 13.5 IRipple E-Business Intl 5.95 Xurpas

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

-153,774.50 -28,550.00

-6,062.00 3,350.00

High

VALUE 928,069,829.089 1,251,674,644.55 2,025,805,346.10 1,341,025,633.95 1,854,447,380.38 93,141,031.7673 7,617,505,479.719

FINANCIAL 1,541.96 (down) 24.48 INDUSTRIAL 10,693.74 (down) 99.21 HOLDING FIRMS 6,488.17 (down) 94.78 PROPERTY 2,828.50 (down) 53.87 SERVICES 1,718.42 (down) 46.75 MINING & OIL 10,966.95 (down) 172.07 PSEI 6,926.91 (down) 124.32 All Shares Index 3,995.09 (down) 38.47 Gainers: 54 Losers: 119; Unchanged: 37; Total: 210

4.9 0.6 0.109 0.460 18.42 0.800 0.179 1.03 1.77 1.36 4.80 4.25 0.098 0.3100 7.98 28.50 1.55 3.15 20.90 0.72 0.710 5.380

4.91 4.77 0.62 0.58 0.109 0.102 0.455 0.455 20.3 17.2 0.810 0.810 0.171 0.170 1.04 1.02 1.79 1.74 1.38 1.35 4.80 4.80 4.32 4.23 0.100 0.092 0.3100 0.2800 8.5 8.02 28.00 28.10 1.55 1.52 3.15 3.14 20.50 19.88 0.72 0.71 0.720 0.690 5.360 5.110 SERVICES 7.9 8 7.8 59.95 60.5 59.45 0.520 0.600 0.510 6.27 6.24 5.90 0.0590 0.0600 0.0580 3.7 3.75 3.64 88.9 89.1 87.5 10 10 9.57 5.15 5.05 4.00 2524 2504 2432 6.29 6.39 6.22 1.23 1.25 1.23 85 84.95 78.05 0.198 0.214 0.191 1.4500 1.4600 1.3800 2.18 2.19 2.15 8.65 8.64 8.48 2.80 3.04 2.71 0.610 0.610 0.610 5.13 5.13 4.73 0.315 0.320 0.320 0.530 0.530 0.485 19 19.1 18.6 4.50 4.76 4.50 2.53 2.53 2.53 105.00 105.00 100.00 18.84 18.82 17.90 2304.00 2290.00 2240.00 0.580 0.580 0.580 1.100 1.100 1.070 31.30 31.65 30.50 73.00 73.00 72.00 6.75 6.90 6.37 6.60 6.61 6.50 0.51 0.52 0.50 1.67 1.72 1.67 3.38 3.4 3.36 0.385 0.385 0.345 2.510 2.670 2.480 MINING & OIL 0.0059 0.0058 0.0055 2.31 2.30 2.30 4.90 4.70 4.65 11.86 11.00 10.30 0.205 0.205 0.190 6.9500 6.9500 6.8000 0.75 0.75 0.71 0.64 0.65 0.65 7.10 7.50 6.85 1.02 1.01 0.99 0.305 0.305 0.295 0.180 0.181 0.179 0.190 0.194 0.190 0.010 0.010 0.010 2.05 2.06 2 6.97 6.97 6.76 2.93 2.95 2.86 0.6200 0.6200 0.6000 1.3400 1.3400 1.3200 0.0100 0.0100 0.0091 4.97 5.020 4.870 1.33 1.460 1.320 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 139.40 139.60 136.00 2.14 2.6 2.1 0.0072 0.0079 0.0072 PREFERRED 60 60.35 59.9 530.5 528 528 537 526.5 526 118.1 118.1 118.1 6.49 6.48 6.48 1.07 1.11 1.11 1050 1056 1056 1022 1025 1023 81 81.5 81.1 78 78.5 78 78 78.5 77 78.4 78.5 78 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.200 3.130 3.000

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.91 0.58 0.109 0.455 20.1 0.810 0.170 1.02 1.77 1.35 4.80 4.25 0.092 0.2850 8.5 28.50 1.55 3.14 19.90 0.72 0.720 5.120

0.20 -3.33 0.00 -1.09 9.12 1.25 -5.03 -0.97 0.00 -0.74 0.00 0.00 -6.12 -8.06 6.52 0.00 0.00 -0.32 -4.78 0.00 1.41 -4.83

4,000 5,076,000 160,000 10,000 7,596,000 11,000 730,000 1,717,000 8,847,000 179,000 3,000 17,759,000 1,070,000 200,000 1,059,700 3,143,100 39,000 37,000 20,501,500 548,000 63,000 12,055,400

7.9 59.45 0.580 6.00 0.0600 3.75 88.3 10 4.98 2454 6.28 1.25 79 0.191 1.4000 2.15 8.60 2.87 0.610 4.75 0.320 0.495 19 4.72 2.53 100.00 18.48 2264.00 0.580 1.070 30.80 72.00 6.62 6.52 0.50 1.72 3.39 0.360 2.670

0.00 -0.83 11.54 -4.31 1.69 1.35 -0.67 0.00 -3.30 -2.77 -0.16 1.63 -7.06 -3.54 -3.45 -1.38 -0.58 2.50 0.00 -7.41 1.59 -6.60 0.00 4.89 0.00 -4.76 -1.91 -1.74 0.00 -2.73 -1.60 -1.37 -1.93 -1.21 -1.96 2.99 0.30 -6.49 6.37

50,800 58,000 1,336,000 11,079,700 7,510,000 10,000 335,390 1,100 59,600 227,855 622,300 23,000 2,951,840 22,080,000 3,329,000 4,000 156,700 2,733,000 11,000 7,187,000 30,000 2,077,000 1,600 5,000 5,000 2,220 103,500 285,580 952,000 2,392,000 1,830,900 301,750 19,727,600 1,147,100 2,078,000 31,000 2,700,000 1,260,000 336,000

0.0055 2.30 4.70 10.30 0.190 6.9500 0.75 0.65 7.00 1 0.295 0.180 0.190 0.010 2.03 6.83 2.9 0.6200 1.3400 0.0099 5.00 1.39 0.0110 136.40 2.47 0.0079

-6.78 -0.43 -4.08 -13.15 -7.32 0.00 0.00 1.56 -1.41 -1.96 -3.28 0.00 0.00 -1.01 -0.98 -2.01 -1.02 0.00 0.00 -1.00 0.60 4.51 0.00 -2.15 15.42 9.72

147,000,000 20,000 77,000 17,000 390,000 5,300 355,000 1,000 35,400 5,518,000 170,000 10,210,000 3,810,000 41,000,000 252,000 2,724,600 261,000 232,000 297,000 3,100,000 313,000 639,000 44,500,000 383,150 2,845,000 2,000,000

59.9 528 526 118.1 6.48 1.11 1056 1025 81.1 78.5 77 78.45

-0.17 -0.47 -2.05 0.00 -0.15 3.74 0.57 0.29 0.12 0.64 -1.28 0.06

212,980 4,060 400 39,820 600 37,000 20,000 660 104,470 252,820 879,090 1,422,090

3.050

-4.69

173,000

3.28 3.59 3.55 3.58 74.9 82.6 75.1 80 12.88 13.2 12.5 12.6 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 115.4 115.1 113.6 113.6

9.15 6.81 -2.17

7,000 7,850 4,156,000

3,550.00

-1.56

10,020

34,140.00

T op g ainerS STOCKS

Low

-1,718,380.00 -1,793,388.00 -59,650.00 8,264,880.00 -20,890,200.00 -47,000.00 1,133,140.00 -11,753,465.00 -91,350.00 -243,976,920.00 -580.00 -22,770,069.00

-5,194,285.00 -926,014.00 -48,500.00 -255,588,760.00 -150,786,181.00 -39,150.00 -153,690.00 952,390.00 63,730.00 7,519,620.00 448,950.00

-32,940.00 -491,388.00 -304,865,130.00 -391,440.00 -765,370.00 1,579,680.00 69,547.00 -2,891,705.00 -666,310.00 -4,942,790.00

-192,700.00 19,200.00 -63,900.00 -1,432,390.00

-18,490.00 -66,911.00 -57,600.00 -2,520.00 35,620.00 5,200.00 -13,148,707.00 -621,520.00 -1,107,179.50 -210,525

-415,650.00 -4,288,150.00 5,518,600.00

-1,704,820.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Philippine trust Co.

150

50.00

Da Vinci Capital

1.83

-21.79

Transgrid

210.00

23.53

Atok-Big Wedge `A'

10.30

-13.15

LMG Chemicals

2.28

22.58

Mabuhay Vinyl

4.39

-13.07

TA Petroleum

2.47

15.42

Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2850

-8.06

Arthaland Corp.

0.250

13.12

Melco Crown

4.75

-7.41

APC Group, Inc.

0.580

11.54

Basic Energy Corp.

0.190

-7.32

United Paragon

0.0079

9.72

I.C.T.S.I.

-7.06

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.58

9.15

Abra Mining

0.0055

-6.78

Double Dragon

20.1

9.12

NOW Corp.

0.495

-6.60

Wellex Industries

0.2290

9.05

Del Monte

-6.54

THURSDAY: SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

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

Aboitiz Power gets P10-b loan By Alena Mae S. Flores

HEDCOR Bukidnon Inc., a wholly-owned unit of Aboitiz Renewables Inc. of Aboitiz Power Corp., obtained loans and credit accommodations amounting to P10 billion to finance the construction of the 68.8-megawatt Manolo Fortich hydro power plant in Bukidnon province. Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange it raised the loan from a consortium of lender-banks. BPI Capital Corp. acted as lead arranger and book runner of the syndicated loan, while Bank of the

Philippine Islands-Asset Management and Trust Group served as trustee and facility Agent. Hedcor plans to complete the hydro power plant by the end of 2017. “We actually have a very solid pipeline of hydro projects be-

tween now and 2019, 2020, there maybe 200 MW [of power capacity]. I think we can hit about 200 MW of run-of-river [hyrdo] scattered around Northern Luzon, Mindanao and we’re even looking at the Visayas,” Aboitiz Power president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza said. Aboitiz Power chief executive Erramon Aboitiz earlier said the company had budgeted P52 billion for the company’s capital expenditure budget this year to boost generation capacity to 4,000 MW by 2019 from around 2,400 MW today. “Along with the increase in non-renewable capacity, we are also vigorously pursuing and

growing our renewable energy portfolio,” he said. The company recently started commercial operations of the first 150-MW unit of the 300 MW coal-fired power plant in Davao City. Aboitiz Power’s new projects include a partnership with Sun Edison Inc. of the US on solar, several run-of-river hydro stations, a potential pump storage for SN Aboitiz Power and several geothermal fields around the country. Aboitiz Power president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza, earlier said open access was the best way to support the company’s expansion.

“The company looks forward to the continued drop in the threshold for contestable customers from the current 1 MW and above to 750 kilowatts, and eventually to 500 kW, in order to encourage more investors and assure the viability of the Philippine power industry,” he said. Moraza said the company planned to maximize the benefits of open access through a balanced portfolio of contracted and spot capacity, and contract majority of its baseload and diesel capacity under price-stable bilateral contracts. He said Aboitiz Power would offer most of its hydro power capacity for peaking and ancillary or reserves services.

Stocks sink; PLDT, Metrobank decline STOCKS tumbled Wednesday, taking its cue from the rest of the Asian markets after a heavy sell-off in New York and Europe. A plunge in a gauge of Chinese factory activity fueled fresh fears about the world’s number two economy and the global outlook Wednesday, sending Asian stocks falling. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 124.32 points, or 1.8 percent, to 6,926.91 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 119 to 54, with 37 issues unchanged. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the biggest telecommunications firm, lost 1.7 percent to P2,264, while rival Globe Telecom Inc. dropped 2.8 percent to P2,454. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the largest lender in terms of assets, declined 4.2 percent to P80.05, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy tumbled 4.8 percent to P19.90. International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, sank 7.1 percent to P79. Meanwhile, emerging market currencies—already under pressure from an expected US interest rate rise and weak growth—also took a battering as investors rushed into lower-yielding, or safer, assets such as the yen. Oil prices eased. The losses extended a downward spiral across the world as dealers fret over the state of the global economy, with a US recovery offset by China’s weakness, while Japan and the eurozone also struggle. Traders are also watching Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States, where he pledged not to push down the value of the yuan to boost exports. On Wednesday Hong Kong and Shanghai lost more than two percent after China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of manufacturing activity for September came in at a six-and-a-half-year low and showed the sector contracted further. With AFP

Ateneo awardees. The Ateneo de Manila University awards four outstanding individuals who exemplified the values of the university at the 2015 Traditional University Awards. Shown receiving the awards from Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ (right) are (from left) Rodolfo Vera, Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi; Marissa Singson Mabasa who represented Gabriel Singson, Doctor of Public Administration, honoris causa; Dr. Maria Lourdes Carandang, Doctor of Science, honoris causa; and Edmundo Garcia, Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan.

The man who successfully argued PIATCO’s ICC case GOD works in mysterious ways. Sometimes the mysterious ways are full of happiness, and sometimes they are tinged with sadness. And at other times, they are a mixture of sadness and happiness. God worked mysteriously several weeks ago when the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, voted in favor of the airport terminal services company PIATCO (Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc.), putting a definitive end to litigation that began in 2004 with PIATCO’s filing of a suit against the Philippine government. The suit was triggered by the government’s expropriation of NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3, after making an initial downpayment ordered by the Pasay City Commercial Court. Expectedly, PIATCO, which had as a strategic partner the German firm Fraport, took the government to court. The case seemed to be interminable, bedeviled martly by the charge filed by the government against Fraport for violation of the 60-40 foreign equity rule of the Constitution. An exasperated PIATCO decided to resort to the arbitration facility

of the International Chamber of Commerce, which is based in Singapore. PIATCO won the case, with ICC ruling that NAIA Terminal 3, was not the property of the government and that therefore PIATCO was entitled to ‘just compensation’ for the terminal’s expropriation. The ICC panel must have been impressed by the brief prepared by PIATCO’s lead counsel, the firm Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De los Angeles, and by the manner in which PIATCO’s arguments were presented to the panel. A Filipino friend of mine who attended the Singapore proceedings told me that, listening to the way that PIATCO’s lawyer argued the air terminals’ company’s case, he was proud to be a Filipino. The lawyer’s performance was, he said, masterful. I spoke earlier of God’s mysterious ways being at times a mixture of joy and sadness. On the one hand, the Supreme Court voted to award to PIATCO, as ‘just compensation’, $510 million (almost P24 billion) plus annual interest of $16 million (P753 million) until full payment of NAIA Terminal 3’s construction cost. On the other

hand, he took away the lawyer who so eloquently argued PIATCO’s case before the ICC arbitration panel. That lawyer was Eduardo de los Angeles. Dindo, as he was known to his colleagues and friends, passed away two weeks ago. Dindo de los Angeles left us in the same way he lived and toiled among us – quietly, without fuss and with abiding concern for who and what he would be leaving behind. I think that the name of Dindo de los Angeles was once or twice submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Just as he was a first-rate legal practitioner, so he would have been a first-rate member of the High Court. Attorney Eduardo de los Angeles, an honorable member of the Philippine Bar, knew about the decision in the ICC case. I don’t know if he was still well enough to learn about the Supreme Court ruling. Well enough or not, he undoubtedly scored a double homerun for his client. Bravo, Dindo. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

B4 Region 8 products.

Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (third from right), Trade Department Region 8 director Cynthia Nierras (left) and Leyte director Desiderio Belas Jr. (right) pose with key officers of Businesspeople, one of the 93 enterprises that joined the recent regional trade fair dubbed as Bahandi (a local term for treasures) 2015 Fair at Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. With them are Businesspeople’s distributor Mercy Mariquit, president Eutemio Cabilin, and chief finance officer Gloria Canlas. The Trade Department affirms that micro, small and medium enterprises in Region 8 are back in business two years after typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Bigger Caticlan airport on track By Jenniffer B. Austria

SAN Miguel Corp. is on track to open a world-class and bigger airport in Caticlan, the gateway to the resort island of Boracay, by December 2016, the company’s top executive said Wednesday. San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the P8-billion project included a modern airport terminal occupying an 80,000-square-meter lot that would have 12 air bridges. “The new terminal should be running by December 2016,” Ang said. He said the length of the runway was also being expanded to 1,900 meters from 950 meters while its width was being expanded to 45 meters from 20 meters in a bid to accommodate wide-body aircraft. “It will be able to handle jet Airbus 321 carrying 240 passenger or Boeing 737-900. It can also handle

international flights from Japan, Korea, Indonesia Malasyia, Singapore and China,” Ang said. Prior to the upgrade, Caticlan airport could only accommodate turbo propeller airplanes given its short runway. Aside from expansion of the runway and the construction of a new airport terminal, San Miguel also plans to build a hotel, a shopping mall and a convention center that will be connected in the new airport terminal. The Caticalan airport recorded a rapid growth in passenger volume over the past few years due to increased popularity of Boracay

among local and foreign tourists. A dominant player in the food and beverage industry, San Miguel has been diversifying into highgrowth industries, including power, mining, oil refining, telecommunications and infrastructure. Aside from the Caticalan airport, San Miguel is also interested in other airport projects in the country. Unit San Miguel Holdings Corp. tapped Incheon International Airport Corp. to create SMHC-IIAC Airport Corp. that will bid for the P108.2 billion bundled airport project of Transportation Department. The five provincial airports included in the bundle are the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay International Airport and the P30.4billion Iloilo International Airport under package 1, and the P14.62billion Laguindingan Airport, P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and P40.57-billion Davao International Airport under package 2.

Pru Life bullish on PH insurance sector By Gabrielle H. Binaday BALESIN ISLAND, Quezon— Pru Life UK Philippines said it expects insurance sales to increase by more than 20 percent this year, as it continues to widen policy holders’ distribution. Pru Life UK president and chief executive Antonio de Rosas told reporters the insurance company posted an average growth of 22 percent over the last five years. “Year-on-year from 2010 to 2014 our compounded growth rate is 22 percent... we target to maintain and even surpass that,” de Rosas said at the sidelines of the Life Insurance Seminar 101 for the Philippine media here on Wednesday. He said Pru Life UK also aimed to increase the current 12-percent share in the domestic insurance market as more Filipinos were expected to be insured.

Insurance penetration rate in the Philippines stood at 1.5 percent in 2014. De Rosas said the projected growth would be driven by recruitment forces and the quality of products focusing on the protection of distributors and value of policy holders. He said 82 percent of the total income of Pru Life UK were from agent sales while the remaining 18 percent came from broker bank partners. “We will continue the sale of regular and single premiums,” de Rosas said. Pru Life UK also asked the insurance industry regulators to adopt international standards in measuring sales of insurance companies. De Rosas said the industry should adopt the annual premium equivalent in measuring sales of the industry, which was

now being used by neighboring Southeast Asian countries. “Insurance Commission considers 100 percent of single premium business. However, this somehow distorts the premium income for a year since single premium covers the entire period of the policy,” according to a report by National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines. Under the measures being used by the IC, Pru Life UK’s premium income stood at P15.634 billion in 2014, the fourth among the industry. Under the APE system, where only 10 percent of the single premium is considered, Pru Life UK’s income stood at P8.13 billion, which ranked it third among the industry players. “There is one universal measure and why we should adopt it and the IC should adopt it,” said De Rosas.

IN BRIEF New MRT cards out on Oct. 3 AF PAYMENTS Inc., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp., said Wednesday it will roll out the new contactless automated fare collection system at Metro Rail Transit Line 3 starting Oct. 3. “We are pleased to inform the public that the beep card will soon have full acceptance in all three train lines that service Metro Manila,” AF Payments president and chief executive Peter Maher said in a statement. The beep card is the new contactless payment solution developed to make the payment process more convenient across all three rail lines as it allows seamless transfers from one rail line to another. The beep card uses a more powerful chip-based system and will serve as an electronic payment solution for day-to-day payments. “We hope that this new automated fare collection system will not only improve the train riders’ buying and paying experience, but also facilitate seamless transfer between lines with the card’s inter-operability feature,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

MPIC buys stake in Vietnam toll road METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said Wednesday it completed the acquisition of a 45-percent stake in a toll road operator in Vietnam. The tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. acquired the significant minority equity interest of CII Bridges and Roads Investment Joint Stock Company through a a combination of purchase of CII B&R secondary shares from Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company and subscription to VND-denominated bonds issued by CII. The transaction was valued at $90 million. CII B&R is a toll road company located in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam with about eight toll road and bridge projects with approximately 123 kilometers in total. Existing traffic is about 46 thousand vehicles a daily. CII B&R has a rich project portfolio comprising of five operating projects, namely New Rach Chiec Bridge Project, Phan Rang – Thap Cham Bypass (Phase 1), DT741 Road Project, Sai Gon 2 Bridge B.T. Project and Rach Mieu Bridge (Phase 1) B.O.T. Project. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business groups want traffic czar THE Makati Business Club, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and the Joint Foreign Chambers have supported the recommendations Management Association of the Philippines in solving traffic and transportation problems in Metro Manila. MAP earlier announced a set of recommendations to solve the traffic problems in Metro Manila. Among the recommendations were the designation of a traffic czar to take overall charge of all matters related to or affecting traffic and road management and deputizing a specially-trained highway patrol group within the Philippine National Police to enforce traffic rules. Another proposal is to direct traffic Czar to introduce road engineering refinements such as bus lane delineators on Edsa and other major national roads to increase their efficiency. MAP has also called on the government to fast-track the upgrade and capacity expansion of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 as well as upgrade existing major national roads into expressways. “This initiative is an outstanding example of how business managers can apply their experience and talent towards finding practical and effective solutions to issues of major concern,” said MBC chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. Othel V. Campos

SkyCable denies GMA Network’s claim SKYCABLE Corp. on Wednesday disputed GMA Network Inc.’s claim of signal disruption during Eat Bulaga’s “Kalye-Serye” segment. SkyCable, the pay television unit of ABS-CBN Corp., said there was no network problem covering July to August 2015 period that could have resulted in the loss of GMA 7’s signal. “If there were incidents of signal loss affecting certain portions of the network in the areas and period referred to, these affected other channels as well, not just GMA 7,” SkyCable said. The cable TV operator, however, said it would continue to cooperate with the National Telecommunications Commission if the regulator saw the need to further investigate the matter. “Once again, we take strong exception to GMA’s claim that the signal interruption is conﬁned only to their network since there is no basis for this insinuation,” SkyCable said. GMA Network, in a ﬁve-page letter dated Septe, 17 to NTC, claimed the signal disruptions were “irresponsible acts” on the part of SkyCable, adding they were not isolated cases. Darwin G. Amojelar

Traders buck port congestion charges THE Federation of Philippine Industries has asked the Senate to check the port congestion and shipping charges imposed on shipments despite the improved situation in Manila ports. FPI sent a letter to Senator Benigno Paolo Aquino III dated Sept. 22, 2015 to investigate shipping companies that allegedly continued to collect port congestion charges from exporters and importers. “While some shipping lines discontinued the collection of PCS, there are other types of charges that have been imposed by various shipping lines,” the group said. Port congestions fees have been packaged anew in the form of emergency cost recovery surcharge, container imbalance charge, equipment positioning services, container cleaning fees, documentation fee at destination and terminal handling charge, it said. Documents showed an increasing trend in container imbalance charge. CIC collected $100 per container in the ﬁrst half of 2014, $150 in the second half of 2014 and $250 in the ﬁrst half of 2015. Othel V. Campos

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 , 2 0 1 5

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

Lower power rates still an elusive dream HIGH power rates, the bane of local and foreign investors in the Phi lippines, remain a deterrent to a more robust economic growth. They clearly raise production cost and ultimately force potential investors to go somewhere else where rates are much cheaper. Energy regulators in the Philippines are trying to address the issue, which has long been the complaint of foreign investors. But the Energy Department and the Energy Regulatory Commission appeared to have started on the wrong foot when they issued the first draft of the implementing guidelines on the controversial competitive selection process, or CSP. The CSP is essentially a method where electric cooperatives and distribution utilities secure their power supply agreements through a bidding process among participating generation companies, or gencos. It is different from bilateral contracts where the ECs and DUs are allowed to look for and negotiate directly with gencos of their choice to get the most optimal deal they could from potential electricity suppliers. The government’s version of the CSP, however, will ironically lead to higher rates for consumers. Consumer and advocacy group CitizenWatch noted that while gencos might offer the least bid, it did not necessarily mean it was the lowest cost possible. The process actually favors gencos that will still offer relatively higher electricity rates. Such was result of the bidding for the demand/load of the Central Luzon Electric Cooperative AssociationFirst Luzon Aggregation Group. The winning bid in the CSP was apparently not the least cost. The losing bidders, informed that the contract between CLECA-FLAG and the winning party has yet to be filed before the ERC, went back to negotiate and offer lower power rates. The CSP’s design, as drawn up by the the ERC and the Energy Department, limits the ability of cooperatives and distribution utilities to choose their power supplier. They are left with just one mode of securing their power requirements as negotiated contracts will no longer be allowed. Moreover, they will not be able to further negotiate submitted or winning bids and have no influence over the rates offered by the gencos. No real competition The CSP actually kills competition that normally leads to lower electricity rates. ECs and DUs are all mandated to follow the CSP policy but gencos are not. With gencos not obliged to join the process, competition is decreased. The few participating gencos, meanwhile, can dictate the contract provisions and collectively set the floor price for bidding prices. “There is a possibility of collusion among gencos to tighten supply and raise power prices,” CitizenWatch said. The consumer watchdog has asked regulators to suspend CSP following a failure in a previous bidding process. “The DoE circular is barking at the wrong tree,” CitizenWatch secretary general Wilford Wong quoted policy expert Nonoy Oplas as saying. “By making the competitive bidding mandatory rather than voluntary, it will invite or create more problems than what it intends to solve. The DoE and other government agencies should instead address other factors that make electricity expensive, including prohibitive taxation and several layers of permits that leave room for corruption and extortion,” he said. CitizenWatch also questioned circular’s endorsement of an Energy-approved independent arbiter to administer the bidding process. “Electricity is considered a basic need of every person and passing the duty of our regulators—which have evaluated supply contracts for years now—to someone who is not competent enough to determine what is best or not for the consumers, is dangerous and will be subject to abuse,” Wong said. CitizenWatch said it would push for the suspension of the circular, which it described as “ambiguous.” “It is not indicative that a winning bidder to supply power to DUs is indeed the lowest bid as what happened in CLECA. DoE’s plan to implement CSP might be prejudicial to consumers,” the group added. ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar has promised to conduct consultations with stakeholders by the middle to the third week of October. The official said the ERC wants to have a decision by that time. “So either we go on with the CSP or set that aside. We have to consider the position of all concerned parties,” he said. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com or business@thestandard.com.ph

Hall of fame.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines and the United Pulp and Paper Company are inducted into the Sustainable Development Initiatives Hall of Fame at the Federation of Philippine Industries general membership meeting held recently in Makati. It is the first time in five years that the Hall of Fame award was given out. CeMAP represented the only sector out of 33 industry sectors to win the award, while UPPC was the lone winner out of 120 corporations. Shown are (from left) FPI chairman Jesus Arranza, CeMAP president Ernesto Ordoñez, UPPC official Eleazar Dela Cruz and FPI president George Chua.

BDO Unibank okays $200-m loan to EDC By Alena Mae S. Flores

FIRST Gen Corp. signed a $200-million term loan agreement with BDO Unibank Inc. to finance the completion of two power plants.

“First Gen intends to use the proceeds from the notes as funding for its subsidiaries’ capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. The facility will have a tenor of 10 years from issue date,” First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. BDO Capital & Investment Corp. arranged the capital raising program. First Gen said it expected to complete the expansion of the 414-megawatt San Gabriel natural gas power plant by the second quarter of 2016. The 97 MW Avion open cycle peaking power plant is expected to start delivering power by the second semester this year. “Our natural gas platform should see a firm strengthening as we complete our 97-MW Avion open cycle plant within the third quarter 2015 and the 414MW San Gabriel combined cycle plant within the second quarter 2016, to serve the mid-merit requirements of the Luzon grid,” the company said. First Gen chairman Federico Puno said the development of the new plants, aside from Santa Rita and San Lorenzo power plants would form as the basis for the development of the LNG import terminal in

Batangas, with enough demand to underpin its economic viability. First Gen currently owns the 1,000-MW Sta. Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo natural gas power plant in Batangas. The plants are fueled by the Malampaya gas to power project in northwest Palawan. The company is also pursuing construction of a $1-billion liquefied natural gas regasification terminal in Batangas in preparation for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya gas field by 2024. First Gen is set to announce its joint venture partner for the planned LNG project in 2016. Puno said the front-end engineering design was on the second stage of revision as the company was preparing for the tendering process for the construction. He said the LNG terminal would allow First Gen to import LNG and “address the depletion of the Malampaya gas 10 years from now.” First Gen tapped French firm Tractebel Engineering for the detailed design of the LNG terminal. “The FEED is still undergoing fine tuning but when you look at the FEED study, you can now build. Next thing to do is conduct the tender process. We have shortlisted potential contractors that are very capable of building a world class facility, international players. They will be able to deliver the terminal hopefully on time,” he said. Puno said they planned to award the contract by next year in time for the start of construction in the second half of 2016 or 2017.

Cash transfer keeping children in school By Julito G. Rada THE World Bank on Wednesday said Pantawid Pamilya, the country’s conditional cash transfer program, is keeping children healthy and in school. Ruslan Yemtsov, World Bank lead technical expert on social safety nets, said in a news briefing in Taguig City that 82 percent of the benefits of Pantawid Pamilya went to the bottom 40 percent of the Philippine population comprising the country’s poor households as well as those that were highly vulnerable to poverty. Yemtsov led the preparation of the report The State of Social Safety Nets 2015. Pantawid Pamilya involves distributing cash grants, ranging

from P500 to P1,400 per household per month, depending on the number of eligible children. “Poverty in the Philippines is a dynamic phenomenon and many households move in and out of poverty during the year due to factors like calamities, droughts, or the advent of the lean seasons,” Yemtsov said. “The poor and vulnerable in the Philippines benefit from what is today one of the largest and best-targeted social safety net programs in the world,” he said. Social safety net programs include cash and in-kind transfers targeted to poor and vulnerable households, with the goal of protecting families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other

crises; ensuring that children grow up healthy, well-fed, and can stay in school and learn; empowering women and girls; and creating jobs. Almost 4.5 million households in the country are enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilya from only 360,000 households in 2008. World Bank country director Motoo Konishi said the CCT grant, on average, accounted for about 11 percent of the income of the poorest recipient households. He said the grants were very important for poor and vulnerable households. He said two rounds of rigorous impact evaluation showed that recipients used the money they received to buy food, school uniforms and school supplies for their children.

Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 10175, Otherwise Known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” Pursuant to the authority of the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department of Science and Technology under Republic Act No. 10175, otherwise known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012”, the following rules and regulations are hereby promulgated to implement the provisions of said Act: RULE 1 Preliminary Provisions

Cyber refers to a computer or a computer network, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place;

Database refers to a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions which are being prepared, processed or stored, or have been prepared, processed or stored in a formalized manner, and which are intended for use in a computer system;

Digital evidence refers to digital information that may be used as evidence in a case. The gathering of the digital information may be carried out by confiscation of the storage media (data carrier), the tapping or monitoring of network traffic, or the making of digital copies (e.g., forensic images, file copies, etc.), of the data held;

Electronic evidence refers to evidence, the use of which is sanctioned by existing rules of evidence, in ascertaining in a judicial proceeding, the truth respecting a matter of fact, which evidence is received, recorded, transmitted, stored, processed, retrieved or produced electronically;

Forensics refers to the application of investigative and analytical techniques that conform to evidentiary standards, and are used in, or appropriate for, a court of law or other legal context;

Forensic image, also known as a forensic copy, refers to an exact bit-by-bit copy of a data carrier, including slack, unallocated space and unused space. There are forensic tools available for making these images. Most tools produce information, like a hash value, to ensure the integrity of the image;

Hash value refers to the mathematical algorithm produced against digital information (a file, a physical disk or a logical disk) thereby creating a “digital fingerprint” or “digital DNA” for that information. It is a one-way algorithm and thus it is not possible to change digital evidence without changing the corresponding hash values;

Section 1. Title. – These Rules shall be referred to as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10175, or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012”. Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications industries, such as content production, telecommunications, broadcasting, electronic commerce and data processing, in the State’s overall social and economic development. The State also recognizes the importance of providing an environment conducive to the development, acceleration, and rational application and exploitation of information and communications technology to attain free, easy, and intelligible access to exchange and/or delivery of information; and the need to protect and safeguard the integrity of computer, computer and communications systems, networks and databases, and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data stored therein from all forms of misuse, abuse and illegal access by making punishable under the law such conduct or conducts. The State shall adopt sufficient powers to effectively prevent and combat such offenses by facilitating their detection, investigation and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast and reliable international cooperation.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. – The following terms are defined as follows: a)

Access refers to the instruction, communication with, storing data in, retrieving data from, or otherwise making use of any resources of a computer system or communication network;

Name, date of birth, driver’s license number, passport number or tax identification number;

Unique biometric data, such as fingerprint or other unique physical representation;

Act refers to Republic Act No. 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012”;

Unique electronic identification number, address or routing code; and

Alteration refers to the modification or change, in form or substance, of an existing computer data or program;

Telecommunication identifying information or access device.

Central Authority refers to the DOJ – Office of Cybercrime;

Child Pornography refers to the unlawful or prohibited acts defined and punishable by Republic Act No. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009”, committed through a computer system: Provided, that the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775;

Collection refers to gathering and receiving information;

Communication refers to the transmission of information through information and communication technology (ICT) media, including voice, video and other forms of data;

Competent Authority refers to either the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center or the DOJ – Office of Cybercrime, as the case may be;

Computer refers to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other data processing or communications device, or grouping of such devices, capable of performing logical, arithmetic, routing or storage functions, and which includes any storage facility or equipment or communications facility or equipment directly related to or operating in conjunction with such device. It covers any type of computer device, including devices with data processing capabilities like mobile phones, smart phones, computer networks and other devices connected to the internet;

Computer data refers to any representation of facts, information, or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system, including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function, and includes electronic documents and/or electronic data messages whether stored in local computer systems or online;

Computer program refers to a set of instructions executed by the computer to achieve intended results;

Computer system refers to any device or group of interconnected or related devices, one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automated processing of data. It covers any type of device with data processing capabilities, including, but not limited to, computers and mobile phones. The device consisting of hardware and software may include input, output and storage components, which may stand alone or be connected to a network or other similar devices. It also includes computer data storage devices or media;

aa)

Cybersecurity refers to the collection of tools, policies, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance and technologies that can be used to protect the cyber environment, and organization and user’s assets; National Cybersecurity Plan refers to a comprehensive plan of actions designed to improve the security and enhance cyber resilience of infrastructures and services. It is a top-down approach to cybersecurity that contains broad policy statements and establishes a set of national objectives and priorities that should be achieved within a specific timeframe; Cybersex refers to the willful engagement, maintenance, control or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration;

Illegal Access – The access to the whole or any part of a computer system without right.

Illegal Interception – The interception made by technical means and without right, of any nonpublic transmission of computer data to, from, or within a computer system, including electromagnetic emissions from a computer system carrying such computer data: Provided, however, That it shall not be unlawful for an officer, employee, or agent of a service provider, whose facilities are used in the transmission of communications, to intercept, disclose or use that communication in the normal course of employment, while engaged in any activity that is necessary to the rendition of service or to the protection of the rights or property of the service provider, except that the latter shall not utilize service observing or random monitoring other than for purposes of mechanical or service control quality checks.

Data Interference – The intentional or reckless alteration, damaging, deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document or electronic data message, without right, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

System Interference – The intentional alteration, or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document or electronic data message, without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.

Misuse of Devices, which shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor, or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), or both, is committed through any of the following acts: a.

Information and communication technology system refers to system intended for, and capable of, generating, sending, receiving, storing or otherwise processing electronic data messages or electronic documents, and includes the computer system or other similar device by or in which data is recorded or stored, and any procedures related to the recording or storage of electronic data message or electronic document;

cc)

Interception refers to listening to, recording, monitoring or surveillance of the content of communications, including procurement of the content of data, either directly through access and use of a computer system, or indirectly through the use of electronic eavesdropping or tapping devices, at the same time that the communication is occurring;

Law enforcement authorities refers to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) under Section 10 of the Act;

ee) Preservation refers to the keeping of data that already exists in a stored form, protected from anything that would cause its current quality or condition to change or deteriorate. It is the activity that keeps that stored data secure and safe;

any public or private entity that provides users of its service with the ability to communicate by means of a computer system; and

any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of such communication service or users of such service.

gg) Subscriber’s information refers to any information contained in the form of computer data or any other form that is held by a service provider, relating to subscribers of its services, other than traffic or content data, and by which any of the following can be established: 1.

The type of communication service used, the technical provisions taken thereto and the period of service;

The subscriber’s identity, postal or geographic address, telephone and other access number, any assigned network address, billing and payment information that are available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement; or

ii)

Without Right refers to either: (i) conduct undertaken without or in excess of authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court orders, justifications or relevant principles under the law. RULE 2 Punishable Acts and Penalties

Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or

A computer password, access code, or similar data by which the whole or any part of a computer system is capable of being accessed with the intent that it be used for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this rules.

The possession of an item referred to in subparagraphs 5(a)(i) or (ii) above, with the intent to use said devices for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this section.

The input, alteration or deletion of any computer data without right, resulting in inauthentic data, with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible; or

The act of knowingly using computer data, which is the product of computer-related forgery as defined herein, for the purpose of perpetuating a fraudulent or dishonest design.

Computer-related Fraud – The unauthorized input, alteration or deletion of computer data or program, or interference in the functioning of a computer system, causing damage thereby with fraudulent intent: Provided, That if no damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

Computer-related Identity Theft – The intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right: Provided, That if no damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree lower.

Content-related Offenses: 1.

Any person found guilty of Child Pornography shall be punished in accordance with the penalties set forth in Republic Act No. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009”: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775 if committed through a computer system.

Section 5. Other Cybercrimes. – The following constitute other cybercrime offenses punishable under the Act: 1.

Cyber-squatting – The acquisition of a domain name over the internet, in bad faith, in order to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering the same, if such a domain name is: a.

Similar, identical, or confusingly similar to an existing trademark registered with the appropriate government agency at the time of the domain name registration;

Identical or in any way similar with the name of a person other than the registrant, in case of a personal name; and

Acquired without right or with intellectual property interests in it.

Cybercrimes Section 4. Cybercrime Offenses. – The following acts constitute the offense of core cybercrime punishable under the Act:

ii.

Any other available information on the site of the installation of communication equipment that is available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement.

hh) Traffic Data or Non-Content Data refers to any computer data other than the content of the communication, including, but not limited to the communication’s origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service; and

A device, including a computer program, designed or adapted primarily for the purpose of committing any of the offenses under this rules; or

Computer-related Offenses, which shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor, or a fine of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both, are as follows: 1. Computer-related Forgery –

Service provider refers to: 1.

If any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(A) is committed against critical infrastructure, the penalty of reclusion temporal, or a fine of at least Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) up to maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both shall be imposed.

dd) Original author refers to the person who created or is the origin of the assailed electronic statement or post using a computer system;

ff)

The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution or otherwise making available, intentionally and without right, of any of the following:

Provided, That no criminal liability shall attach when the use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, otherwise making available, or possession of computer devices or data referred to in this section is for the authorized testing of a computer system.

bb) Internet content host refers to a person who hosts or who proposes to host internet content in the Philippines;

Content Data refers to the communication content of the communication, the meaning or purport of the communication, or the message or information being conveyed by the communication, other than traffic data. Critical infrastructure refers to the computer systems, and/or networks, whether physical or virtual, and/or the computer programs, computer data and/or traffic data that are so vital to this country that the incapacity or destruction of or interference with such system and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national or economic security, national public health and safety, or any combination of those matters;

Identifying information refers to any name or number that may be used alone or in conjunction with any other information to identify any specific individual, including any of the following:

both, except with respect to number 5 herein:

Cyber-squatting shall be punished with imprisonment

of prision mayor, or a fine of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both: Provided, That if it is committed against critical infrastructure, the penalty of reclusion temporal, or a fine of at least Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) up to maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both shall be imposed. 2.

Cybersex – The willful engagement, maintenance, control or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration. Any person found guilty cybersex shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor, or a fine of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00), but not exceeding One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00), or both. Cybersex involving a child shall be punished in accordance with the provision on child pornography of the Act. Where the maintenance, control, or operation of cybersex likewise constitutes an offense punishable under Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, a prosecution under the Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special laws, including R.A. No. 9208, consistent with Section 8 hereof.

Libel – The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel, as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future shall be punished with prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in its minimum period or a fine ranging from Six Thousand Pesos (P6,000.00) up to the maximum amount determined by Court, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party: Provided, That this provision applies only to the original author of the post or online libel, and not to others who simply receive the post and react to it.

Other offenses – The following acts shall also constitute an offense which shall be punished with imprisonment of one (1) degree lower than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense, or a fine of at least One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), or both: A.

Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime. – Any person who willfully abets, aids, or financially benefits in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in the Act shall be held liable, except with respect to Sections 4(c)(2) on Child Pornography and 4(c)(4) on online Libel. Attempt to Commit Cybercrime. – Any person who willfully attempts to commit any of the offenses enumerated in the Act shall be held liable, except with respect to Sections 4(c)(2) on Child Pornography and 4(c)(4) on online Libel. Other Liabilities and Penalties

Section 6. Corporate Liability. – When any of the punishable acts herein defined are knowingly committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person, by a natural person acting either individually or as part of an organ of the juridical person, who has a leading position within, based on: (a) a power of representation of the juridical person; (b) an authority to take decisions on behalf of the juridical person; or (c) an authority to exercise control within the juridical person, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00). If the commission of any of the punishable acts herein defined was made possible due to the lack of supervision or control by a natural person referred to and described in the preceding paragraph, for the benefit of that juridical person by a natural person acting under its authority, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00). The liability imposed on the juridical person shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural person who has committed the offense. Section 7. Violation of the Revised Penal Code, as Amended, Through and With the Use of Information and Communication Technology. – All crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special criminal laws committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of the Act: Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be.

agency relations in addressing cybercrimes;

for any proceeding before any court or tribunal.

Maintain necessary and relevant databases for statistical and/or monitoring purposes;

The Rules of Court shall have suppletory application in implementing the Act.

Develop capacity within their organizations in order to perform such duties necessary for the enforcement of the Act;

Support the formulation and enforcement of the national cybersecurity plan; and

Perform other functions as may be required by the Act.

Section 19. Non-compliance. – Failure to comply with the provisions of Chapter IV of the Act, and Rules 7 and 8 of Chapter VII hereof, specifically the orders from law enforcement authorities, shall be punished as a violation of Presidential Order No. 1829 (entitled “Penalizing Obstruction Of Apprehension And Prosecution Of Criminal Offenders”) with imprisonment of prision correccional in its maximum period, or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), or both for each and every noncompliance with an order issued by law enforcement authorities.

Section 11. Duties of Law Enforcement Authorities. – To ensure that the technical nature of cybercrime and its prevention is given focus, and considering the procedures involved for international cooperation, law enforcement authorities, specifically the computer or technology crime divisions or units responsible for the investigation of cybercrimes, are required to submit timely and regular reports including pre-operation, post-operation and investigation results, and such other documents as may be required to the Department of Justice (DOJ) – Office of Cybercrime for review and monitoring. Law enforcement authorities shall act in accordance with the guidelines, advisories and procedures issued and promulgated by the competent authority in all matters related to cybercrime, and utilize the prescribed forms and templates, including, but not limited to, preservation orders, chain of custody, consent to search, consent to assume account/online identity and request for computer forensic examination.

Section 9. Law Enforcement Authorities. – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall be responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of the provisions of the Act. The NBI and the PNP shall organize a cybercrime division or unit to be manned by Special Investigators to exclusively handle cases involving violations of the Act. The NBI shall create a cybercrime division to be headed by at least a Head Agent. The PNP shall create an anti-cybercrime unit headed by at least a Police Director. The DOJ - Office of Cybercrime (OOC) created under the Act shall coordinate the efforts of the NBI and the PNP in enforcing the provisions of the Act. Section 10. Powers and Functions of Law Enforcement Authorities. – The NBI and PNP cybercrime unit or division shall have the following powers and functions: a.

Investigate all cybercrimes where computer systems are involved;

Conduct data recovery and forensic analysis on computer systems and other electronic evidence seized;

Formulate guidelines in investigation, forensic evidence recovery, and forensic data analysis consistent with industry standard practices;

Provide technological support to investigating units within the PNP and NBI including the search, seizure, evidence preservation and forensic recovery of data from crime scenes and systems used in crimes, and provide testimonies;

Develop public, private sector, and law enforcement

The obligations and liabilities of the parties under a computer data;

The making, publication, dissemination or distribution of such computer data or any statement made in such computer data, including possible infringement of any right subsisting in or in relation to such computer data: Provided, That:

Section 12. Preservation and Retention of Computer Data. – The integrity of traffic data and subscriber information shall be kept, retained and preserved by a service provider for a minimum period of six (6) months from the date of the transaction. Content data shall be similarly preserved for six (6) months from the date of receipt of the order from law enforcement authorities requiring its preservation. Law enforcement authorities may order a one-time extension for another six (6) months: Provided, That once computer data that is preserved, transmitted or stored by a service provider is used as evidence in a case, the mere act of furnishing such service provider with a copy of the transmittal document to the Office of the Prosecutor shall be deemed a notification to preserve the computer data until the final termination of the case and/or as ordered by the Court, as the case may be.

The service provider does not have actual knowledge, or is not aware of the facts or circumstances from which it is apparent, that the making, publication, dissemination or distribution of such material is unlawful or infringes any rights subsisting in or in relation to such material;

The service provider does not knowingly receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the unlawful or infringing activity; and

The service provider does not directly commit any infringement or other unlawful act, does not induce or cause another person or party to commit any infringement or other unlawful act, and/or does not directly benefit financially from the infringing activity or unlawful act of another person or party: Provided, further, That nothing in this Section shall affect:

The service provider ordered to preserve computer data shall keep the order and its compliance therewith confidential. Section 13. Collection of Computer Data. Law enforcement authorities, upon the issuance of a court warrant, shall be authorized to collect or record by technical or electronic means, and the service providers are required to collect or record by technical or electronic means and/or to cooperate and assist in the collection or recording of computer data that are associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system. The court warrant required under this section shall be issued or granted upon written application, after the examination under oath or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he may produce, and the showing that: (1) there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes enumerated hereinabove has been committed, is being committed or is about to be committed; (2) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the evidence that will be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution of, or to the prevention of any such crimes; and (3) there are no other means readily available for obtaining such evidence. Section 14. Disclosure of Computer Data. – Law enforcement authorities, upon securing a court warrant, shall issue an order requiring any person or service provider to disclose or submit, within seventytwo (72) hours from receipt of such order, subscriber’s information, traffic data or relevant data in his/its possession or control, in relation to a valid complaint officially docketed and assigned for investigation by law enforcement authorities, and the disclosure of which is necessary and relevant for the purpose of investigation. Law enforcement authorities shall record all sworn complaints in their official docketing system for investigation. Section 15. Search, Seizure and Examination of Computer Data. – Where a search and seizure warrant is properly issued, the law enforcement authorities shall likewise have the following powers and duties: a. Within the time period specified in the warrant, to conduct interception, as defined in this Rules, and to:

Section 8. Liability under Other Laws. – A prosecution under the Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special laws: Provided, That this provision shall not apply to the prosecution of an offender under (1) both Section 4(c)(4) of R.A. 10175 and Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code; and (2) both Section 4(c)(2) of R.A. 10175 and R.A. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009”. RULE 3 Enforcement and Implementation

Section 20. Extent of Liability of a Service Provider. – Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no person or party shall be subject to any civil or criminal liability in respect of a computer data for which the person or party acting as a service provider merely provides access if such liability is founded on:

Search and seize computer data;

Secure a computer system or a computer data storage medium;

Make and retain a copy of those computer data secured;

Maintain the integrity of the relevant stored computer data;

Conduct forensic analysis or examination of the computer data storage medium; and

Render inaccessible or remove those computer data in the accessed computer or computer and communications network.

Pursuant thereto, the law enforcement authorities may order any person, who has knowledge about the functioning of the computer system and the measures to protect and preserve the computer data therein, to provide, as is reasonable, the necessary information to enable the undertaking of the search, seizure and examination. Law enforcement authorities may request for an extension of time to complete the examination of the computer data storage medium and to make a return thereon, but in no case for a period longer than thirty (30) days from date of approval by the court.

Section 16. Custody of Computer Data. – All computer data, including content and traffic data, that are examined under a proper warrant shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after the expiration of the period fixed therein, be deposited with the court in a sealed package, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the law enforcement authority executing it, stating the dates and times covered by the examination, and the law enforcement authority who may have access to the deposit, among other relevant data. The law enforcement authority shall also certify that no duplicates or copies of the whole or any part thereof have been made or, if made, that all such duplicates or copies are included in the package deposited with the court. The package so deposited shall not be opened, or the recordings replayed, or used in evidence, or their contents revealed, except upon order of the court, which shall not be granted except upon motion, with due notice and opportunity to be heard to the person or persons whose conversation or communications have been recorded.

Any obligation arising from contract;

ii.

The obligation of a service provider as such under a licensing or other regulatory regime established under law;

iii.

Any obligation imposed under any law; or

iv.

The civil liability of any party to the extent that such liability forms the basis for injunctive relief issued by a court under any law requiring that the service provider take or refrain from actions necessary to remove, block or deny access to any computer data, or to preserve evidence of a violation of law. RULE 4 Jurisdiction

Section 21. Jurisdiction. – The Regional Trial Court shall have jurisdiction over any violation of the provisions of the Act, including any violation committed by a Filipino national regardless of the place of commission. Jurisdiction shall lie if any of the elements was committed within the Philippines, or committed with the use of any computer system that is wholly or partly situated in the country, or when by such commission any damage is caused to a natural or juridical person who, at the time the offense was committed, was in the Philippines. Section 22. Venue. – Criminal action for violation of the Act may be filed with the RTC of the province or city where the cybercrime or any of its elements is committed, or where any part of the computer system used is situated, or where any of the damage caused to a natural or juridical person took place: Provided, That the court where the criminal action is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction to the exclusion of other courts. Section 23. Designation of Cybercrime Courts. – There shall be designated special cybercrime courts manned by specially trained judges to handle cybercrime cases. Section 24. Designation of Special Prosecutors and Investigators. – The Secretary of Justice shall designate prosecutors and investigators who shall comprise the prosecution task force or division under the DOJ-Office of Cybercrime, which will handle cybercrime cases in violation of the Act. RULE 5 International Cooperation Section 25. International Cooperation. – All relevant international instruments on international cooperation on criminal matters, and arrangements agreed on the basis of uniform or reciprocal legislation and domestic laws shall be given full force and effect, to the widest extent possible for the purposes of investigations or proceedings concerning crimes related to computer systems and data, or for the collection of electronic evidence of crimes. The DOJ shall cooperate and render assistance to other contracting parties, as well as request assistance from foreign states, for purposes of detection, investigation and prosecution of offenses referred to in the Act and in the collection of evidence in electronic form in relation thereto. The principles contained in Presidential Decree No. 1069 and other pertinent laws, as well as existing extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties, shall apply. In this regard, the central authority shall: a.

Provide assistance to a requesting State in the realtime collection of traffic data associated with specified communications in the country transmitted by means of a computer system, with respect to criminal offenses defined in the Act for which real-time collection of traffic data would be available, subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof;

Provide assistance to a requesting State in the realtime collection, recording or interception of content data of specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system, subject to the provision of Section 13 hereof;

Allow another State to:

Section 17. Destruction of Computer Data. – Upon expiration of the periods as provided in Sections 12 and 15 hereof, or until the final termination of the case and/or as ordered by the Court, as the case may be, service providers and law enforcement authorities, as the case may be, shall immediately and completely destroy the computer data that are the subject of a preservation and examination order or warrant. Section 18. Exclusionary Rule. – Any evidence obtained without a valid warrant or beyond the authority of the same shall be inadmissible

Access publicly available stored computer data located in the country or elsewhere; or

Access or receive, through a computer system located in the country, stored computer data located in another country, if the other State obtains the lawful and voluntary consent of the person who has the lawful authority to disclose the data to said other State through that computer system.

Receive a request of another State for it to order or obtain

the expeditious preservation of data stored by means of a computer system located within the country, relative to which the requesting State shall submit a request for mutual assistance for the search or similar access, seizure or similar securing, or disclosure of the stored computer data: Provided, That: 1.

A request for preservation of data under this section shall specify: i.

The authority seeking the preservation;

ii.

The offense that is the subject of a criminal investigation or proceedings and a brief summary of the related facts;

iii.

The stored computer data to be preserved and its relationship to the offense;

iv.

The necessity of the preservation; and

That the requesting State shall submit a request for mutual assistance for the search or similar access, seizure or similar securing, or disclosure of the stored computer data.

Upon receiving the request from another State, the DOJ and law enforcement agencies shall take all appropriate measures to expeditiously preserve the specified data, in accordance with the Act and other pertinent laws. For the purposes of responding to a request for preservation, dual criminality shall not be required as a condition;

ii.

The request concerns an offense that the Philippine Government considers as a political offense or an offense connected with a political offense; or The Philippine Government considers the execution of the request to be prejudicial to its sovereignty, security, public order or other national interest.

Where the Philippine Government believes that preservation will not ensure the future availability of the data, or will threaten the confidentiality of, or otherwise prejudice the requesting State’s investigation, it shall promptly so inform the requesting State. The requesting State will determine whether its request should be executed; and Any preservation effected in response to the request referred to in paragraph (d) shall be for a period not less than sixty (60) days, in order to enable the requesting State to submit a request for the search or similar access, seizure or similar securing, or disclosure of the data. Following the receipt of such a request, the data shall continue to be preserved pending a decision on that request.

Accommodate request from another State to search, access, seize, secure, or disclose data stored by means of a computer system located within the country, including data that has been preserved under the previous subsection. The Philippine Government shall respond to the request through the proper application of international instruments, arrangements and laws, and in accordance with the following rules: 1.

Participation and representation in the Secretariat and/or Operations Center does not require physical presence, but may be done through electronic modes such as email, audio-visual conference calls, and the like. Section 27. Powers and Functions. following powers and functions:

The request shall be responded to on an expedited basis where:

– The CICC shall have the

Formulate a national cybersecurity plan and extend immediate assistance for the suppression of real-time commission of cybercrime offenses through a computer emergency response team (CERT);

Coordinate the preparation of appropriate and effective measures to prevent and suppress cybercrime activities as provided for in the Act;

Monitor cybercrime cases being handled by participating law enforcement and prosecution agencies;

Facilitate international cooperation on intelligence, investigations, training and capacity-building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression and prosecution through the DOJ-Office of Cybercrime;

Preserve the integrity of computer data for an extended period of six (6) months from the date of receipt of the order from law enforcement or competent authorities requiring extension on its preservation;

Preserve the integrity of computer data until the final termination of the case and/or as ordered by the Court, as the case may be, upon receipt of a copy of the transmittal document to the Office of the Prosecutor;

Ensure the confidentiality of the preservation orders and its compliance;

Collect or record by technical or electronic means, and/ or cooperate and assist law enforcement or competent authorities in the collection or recording of computer data that are associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system, in relation to Section 13 hereof;

Disclose or submit subscriber’s information, traffic data or relevant data in his/its possession or control to law enforcement or competent authorities within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of order and/or copy of the court warrant;

Establish and perform community awareness program on cybercrime prevention in coordination with law enforcement authorities and stakeholders; and

Report to the DOJ – Office of Cybercrime compliance with the provisions of Chapter IV of the Act, and Rules 7 and 8 hereof;

Perform all other matters related to cybercrime prevention and suppression, including capacity-building and such other functions and duties as may be necessary for the proper implementation of the Act.

Immediately and completely destroy the computer data subject of a preservation and examination after the expiration of the period provided in Sections 13 and 15 of the Act; and

Perform such other duties as may be necessary and proper to carry into effect the provisions of the Act.

Section 28. Department of Justice (DOJ); Functions and Duties. – The DOJ-Office of Cybercrime (OOC), designated as the central authority in all matters related to international mutual assistance and extradition, and the Cybercrime Operations Center of the CICC, shall have the following functions and duties: a.

Act as a competent authority for all requests for assistance for investigation or proceedings concerning cybercrimes, facilitate the provisions of legal or technical advice, preservation and production of data, collection of evidence, giving legal information and location of suspects;

Act on complaints/referrals, and cause the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes and other violations of the Act;

Issue preservation orders addressed to service providers;

Administer oaths, issue subpoena and summon witnesses to appear in an investigation or proceedings for cybercrime;

Require the submission of timely and regular reports including pre-operation, post-operation and investigation results, and such other documents from the PNP and NBI for monitoring and review;

The instruments, arrangements and laws referred to in paragraph (b) of this section otherwise provide for expedited cooperation.

Facilitate international cooperation with other law enforcement agencies on intelligence, investigations, training and capacity-building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression and prosecution;

Issue and promulgate guidelines, advisories, and procedures in all matters related to cybercrime investigation, forensic evidence recovery, and forensic data analysis consistent with industry standard practices;

Prescribe forms and templates, including, but not limited to, those for preservation orders, chain of custody, consent to search, consent to assume account/online identity, and request for computer forensic examination;

The criminal offenses described under Chapter II of the Act shall be deemed to be included as extraditable offenses in any extradition treaty where the Philippines is a party: Provided, That the offense is punishable under the laws of both Parties concerned by deprivation of liberty for a minimum period of at least one year or by a more severe penalty.

The Secretary of Justice shall designate appropriate State Counsels to handle all matters of international cooperation as provided in this Rule.

Undertake the specific roles and responsibilities of the DOJ related to cybercrime under the Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act No. 9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009”; and

Perform such other acts necessary for the implementation of the Act.

The CICC may enlist the assistance of any other agency of the government including government-owned and -controlled corporations, and the following:

Preserve the integrity of content data for six (6) months from the date of receipt of the order from law enforcement or competent authorities requiring its preservation;

Call upon any government agency to render assistance in the accomplishment of the CICC’s mandated tasks and functions;

ii.

The CICC members shall be constituted as an Executive Committee and shall be supported by Secretariats, specifically for Cybercrime, Administration, and Cybersecurity. The Secretariats shall be manned from existing personnel or representatives of the participating agencies of the CICC.

Monitor the compliance of the service providers with the provisions of Chapter IV of the Act, and Rules 7 and 8 hereof;

Section 26. Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center; Composition. – The inter-agency body known as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President, established for policy coordination among concerned agencies and for the formulation and enforcement of the national cyber security plan, is headed by the Executive Director of the Information and Communications Technology Office under the Department of Science and Technology (ICTO-DOST) as Chairperson; the Director of the NBI as Vice-Chairperson; and the Chief of the PNP, the Head of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, and one (1) representative each from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the academe as members.

Preserve the integrity of traffic data and subscriber information for a minimum period of six (6) months from the date of the transaction;

Recommend the enactment of appropriate laws, issuances, measures and policies;

RULE 6 Competent Authorities

There are grounds to believe that relevant data is particularly vulnerable to loss or modification; or

Make a request to any foreign state for assistance for purposes of detection, investigation and prosecution of offenses referred to in the Act;

Section 30. Duties of a Service Provider. – The following are the duties of a service provider:

Coordinate the support and participation of the business sector, local government units and NGOs in cybercrime prevention programs and other related projects;

The requesting State must maintain the confidentiality of the fact or the subject of request for assistance and cooperation. It may only use the requested information subject to the conditions specified in the grant.

RULE 7 Duties of Service Providers

A request for preservation may only be refused if: i.

necessary. The DOJ Office of Cybercrime shall serve as the Cybercrime Operations Center of the CICC and shall submit periodic reports to the CICC.

Section 29. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). – The DOST-ICT Office shall establish and operate the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) that shall serve as coordinator for cybersecurity related activities, including but not limited to the following functions and duties: a.

Extend immediate assistance to the CICC to fulfil its mandate under the Act with respect to matters related to cybersecurity and the national cybersecurity plan;

Issue and promulgate guidelines, advisories, and procedures in all matters related to cybersecurity and the national cybersecurity plan;

Facilitate international cooperation with other security agencies on intelligence, training, and capacity-building related to cybersecurity; and

Serve as the focal point for all instances of cybersecurity incidents by: 1. Providing technical analysis of computer security incidents; 2.

Assisting users in escalating abuse reports to relevant parties;

Conducting research and development on emerging threats to computer security;

Bureau of Immigration;

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency;

Issuing relevant alerts and advisories on emerging threats to computer security.

Bureau of Customs;

National Prosecution Service;

Coordinating cyber security incident responses with trusted third parties at the national and international levels; and

Anti-Money Laundering Council;

Securities and Exchange Commission;

National Telecommunications Commission; and

Such other offices, agencies and/or units, as may be

Conducting technical training on cyber security and related topics. The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation shall serve as the field operations arm of the CERT. The CERT may also enlist other government agencies to perform CERT functions.

Section 31. Duties of a Service Provider in Child Pornography Cases. – In line with RA9775 or the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009”, the following are the duties of a service provider in child pornography cases: 1.

An internet service provider (ISP)/internet content host shall install available technology, program or software, such as, but not limited to, system/ technology that produces hash value or any similar calculation, to ensure that access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography will be blocked or filtered;

Service providers shall immediately notify law enforcement authorities within seven (7) days of facts and circumstances relating to any form child pornography that passes through or are being committed in their system; and

A service provider or any person in possession of traffic data or subscriber’s information, shall, upon the request of law enforcement or competent authorities, furnish the particulars of users who gained or attempted to gain access to an internet address that contains any form of child pornography. ISPs shall also preserve customer data records, specifically the time, origin, and destination of access, for purposes of investigation and prosecution by relevant authorities under Sections 9 and 11 of R.A. 9775. RULE 8 Prescribed Forms and Procedures

SEC. 32. Prescribed Forms and Procedures. — The DOJ – Office of Cybercrime shall issue and promulgate guidelines, advisories, and procedures in all matters related to cybercrime, investigation, forensic evidence recovery, and forensic data analysis consistent with international best practices, in accordance with Section 28(h) and (i) hereof. It shall also prescribe forms and templates such as, but not limited to, preservation orders, chain of custody, consent to search, consent to assume account/online identity, request for computer forensic assistance, write-blocking device validation and first responder checklist. RULE 9 Final Provisions SEC. 33. Appropriations. — The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be appropriated annually for the implementation of the Act under the fiscal management of DOJ Office of Cybercrime. Section 34. Separability Clause. – If any provision of these Rules is held invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. Section 35. Repealing Clause. – All rules and regulations inconsistent with these Rules are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 36. Effectivity. – These rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of August 2015.

MAR ROXAS Secretary Department of Interior and Local Government

MARIO G. MONTEJO Secretary Department of Science and Technology

LEILA M. DE LIMA Secretary Department of Justice

(TS-SEPT. 24, 2015)

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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

W EL L BEING

LIFE

Kids doing yoga.

We made a balance beam out of blocks for one of our games.

WHY EVERY CHILD SHOULD DO KIDS YOGA FINE FETTLE BY BUBBLES PARAISO

he Dalai Lama once said, “If every eight-year-old in the world was taught meditation, we will omit violence within one generation.” Meditation and mindfulness is just one of the many exercises in kids yoga. For those who didn’t know, I’ve been teaching kids yoga for over a year now, having been certified by Yogi Beans NYC and Rainbow Kids Yoga in Singapore (for kids yoga and for kids and family yoga – this is different from my certification to teach ashtanga vinyasa yoga). Kids yoga, as a lot of you might’ve presumed, is actually not at all like ashtanga, vinyasa nor hatha yoga. It is its own “branch” of yoga as it is designed specifically for kids, their capabilities, their needs, and attention span. Making a child hold a pose for 30 seconds like how one does in Bikram yoga won’t be possible at all. We must remember that these children are still working on the foundations of their balance and posture, and kids yoga is exactly what we use to build that. Exercises are “hidden” within games, the kids think they’re just

Meditation, mindfulness and breath awareness is practiced in every class.

Proof that you can do yoga anywhere.

playing, not knowing that we are actually building their skills – from coordination, memory or even patience. We do only a few yoga poses per class, all named after cute animals or people, so as to make it more FUN. Even the way we do the sun salutations is turned into a nursery rhyme – it was quite a surprise for me when even one of my three-year-old students was able to recite and do the whole thing by herself last week! There are plenty of benefits in kids yoga and I feel like I should enumerate some of them. And if you’re one of those parents who have been hesitant to bring their child to class, let this change your mind. After all, I speak from personal experience as I’ve been watching these kids grow in front of me, week by week. Strength – Yoga strengthens muscles and joints, as well as helps kids develop overall strength. You’d be surprised to see a six-year-old do chaturangas or handstands like a piece of cake. It makes my heart smile whenever I see their strength develop – the first day of yoga they can hardly plank and after a while, they can even hold their side planks while playing. Flexibility – Kids are naturally flexible; it is when they turn nine that they start losing it. Doing asanas help stretch their muscles and release blocked energy and tension and thus make sure that they don’t lose it.

I taught yoga in an outreach program for kids who lived in the cemetery.

Breath Awareness – We teach the kids the concept of how our breath can affect our moods and vice versa. By controlling their breath through observance, they can begin to change their feelings and disposition. The kids’ favorite is the Lion’s Breath which is the best way to release unhappiness or frustration (and it works for adults, too!). Focus – With the help of meditation, mindfulness exercises, breath-work, and asanas, the kids learn how to concentrate and not lose focus, which aids their ability to learn in school. Patience and Discipline – I designed some games for my students that test and develop their patience and discipline. I know it works because some of my students’ preschool teachers and parents would personally tell me how much the kids have changed ever since they started going to kids yoga. Even a simple “marshmallow test” is deemed impossible for them to pass at first. But sooner or later, they finally grasp the concept of delayed gratification and parents are more than happy about it. Learning how to compete with oneself – Since yoga is a non-competitive activity, it teaches kids that though it is good to have healthy competition sometimes, it is always better to be in a non-judgmental and stress free environment and the only thing

Upward Facing Dog

The Lion’s Breath is one of the kids favorite poses. It’s fun to do and a great way to let out frustrations.

Partner Boat pose. Partner poses foster friendships and teamwork.

you would want is to be better than you were yesterday. Balance, coordination and awareness – Through balancing work (from flying warrior poses to toe balancing games), children have more body awareness as their kinesthetic senses are developed. Children are able to understand their bodies more as they cultivate a sense of body limitations and extensions. It calms the mind – With the help of meditation, mindfulness exercises, and learning how to do savasana, kids learn how to relax and calm themselves when need be. Parents are often surprised to see their kids lying down in stillness during savasana when they’ve deemed it impossible for their child to keep still most of the time. Cultivation of friendship and social skills – The kids have a chance to make friends with children outside school. It’s so cute seeing some kids

become instant BFFs in class. They’re usually a mixed age group, so it is quite heartwarming when you see older kids helping out the younger ones in games and poses, which help enhance their team skills and social interactions. I remember in the beginning, I had this three-year-old student who was extremely shy and hardly participated in class. As the weeks went on, she blossomed into this bubbly little girl, and her mom couldn’t stop gushing and telling me how happy she was with how her child has developed this new lively personality. As the famous song goes, “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” It held true then, still holds true now. Let us help shape the future by nourishing the values of the children of today. Namaste. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Still safer than cigarettes, but... Vapes, or e-cigarettes, have been getting a lot of bad press lately due to freak accidents THE GIST and studies BY ED BIADO that claim they are no better than tobacco. But the reality of it is that there isn’t enough data to support any theory because vapes haven’t been around long enough for researchers to really study their effects. This is why right now, they’re considered the lesser evil – most likely safer than cigarettes but still potentially harmful.

And it’s this belief that led some authorities to recommend them as a smoking cessation tool. Public Health England (PHE) recently came out with a white paper suggesting that e-cigarettes should be prescribed to smokers on the National Health Service to help them quit. The organization says that unlike cigarettes, vapes “do not contain tobacco, do not create smoke and do not rely on combustion.” The absence of combustion – the burning of different substances – makes them simpler and therefore, less harmful than cigarettes. E-cigarettes “should not routinely be treated in the same way as smoking. It is not appropriate to prohibit [their] use in health trusts and prisons as part of smokefree policies unless there is a strong rationale to do so,” PHE states. According to Vaping360.com, the vapor released when smoking e-cigarettes contain “only four main ingredients.” These are glycerin, “an organic

compound found in vegetables,” propylene glycol, “a substance found in asthma inhalers,” food grade flavoring, “which actually gives the juice its distinct taste,” and nicotine, which is shown to be most likely absorbed by the body through the lining of the mouth or the upper airways. The e-cigarette resource acknowledges that the effects of inhaling “flavors over a long period of time” is still unknown, “but so far there has not been any studies done showing major adverse long term side effects.” “One important thing to note is that when we are talking about e-liquid, we are only recommending that you use trusted companies that produce their liquid in sterile environments in the USA and other countries with similar regulations,” says the website.

Further, PHE reveals that the use of the devices might renormalize smoking, reduce quitting and act as a “gateway” to smoking or nicotine uptake. These concerns affect not only active smokers, but also those who have quit smoking and nonsmokers who might be encouraged to take up the habit. Still, experts across the board realize that cigarettes pose more health risks. Which is why PHE recommends that emerging evidence on e-cigarettes and how to use them safely “be communicated to users and health professionals to maximize chances of successfully quitting smoking.” Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @EdBiado

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE? Unilever drums up water safety awareness with “Sure Ka Ba?” campaign

rinking contaminated or dirty water can cause water-related diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other gastrointestinal problems. Infants, young children, the elderly and those with frail health can be susceptible, and the effects can be fatal in some cases. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, some of the deadly diseases that can be triggered by drinking contaminated water are diarrhea, cholera and typhoid fever.

Unilever Philippines recently launched an awareness campaign dubbed “Sure Ka Ba?” encouraging household consumers to question the safety of their drinking water, and in so doing, protect the health of their families. The company also launched Pureit, a state-of-the-art non-electric water purifier that converts tap water into clean and safe drinking water. Pureit has an advanced five-step purification process that eliminates 99.99 percent of bacteria,

Celebrity mom Dimples Romana, the Pure It brand ambassador, is joined by Unilever Philippines VP for Homecare and Foods Benjie Yap and Pure It Brand Manager Brian Duruin.

viruses and parasites to meet the stringent safety standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency. During the launch of the Pureit “Sure Ka Ba?” campaign, media guests were shown a video of how a typical water refilling station processed the order of a customer, revealing how refilled water can become contaminated especially during handling, storage and delivery of containers. According to the 2013 Kantar Worldpanel In-Home Packaged Water Report, roughly 60 percent of urban households buy their drinking water from water refilling stations. “Through the video, we wanted to show households, especially the moms, how refilled water can easily be contaminated due to improper handling and transport of containers and other human factors. This, in turn, can pose health risks for the family, especially the children,” said Brian Duruin, Pureit brand manager. Two product demonstrations were held to showcase the efficacy of Pureit in eliminating microscopic disease-causing germs and bacteria. The demonstrations were conducted by the Unilever Research and Development team and a microbiologist from SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. Unilever Philippines vice president for Home Care and Foods Benjie Yap talked about how Pureit’s “Sure Ka Ba?” campaign

Pureit purifier

and other efforts to bring safe drinking water closer to Filipino families are part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan which allows the company to provide health and wellness, environment, nutrition and livelihood programs on a global scale. Pureit demo units will be on display for the month of September at the Avida Showroom in Glorietta Center, Makati City where the launch was held. Avida, one of the country’s leading real estate developers for the mid-market segment of the industry, supports Unilever and Pureit in their effort to provide households with access to safe drinking water to ensure their health.

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

HEALTH BULLETIN EATING STREET FOOD INCREASES CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

OUR COUNTRY NEEDS MORE BLOOD DONATIONS

Street food plays a big role in a nation’s culture and urban life. These mostly colorful, often unusual and always tasty sidewalk fares keep the vibrancy in public spaces where people – from all walks of life – gather to pass the time, mingle and eat cheap meals. Every country has its own distinct street food. Here in the Philippines, we sure love all kinds of skewered meats and fried goods being peddled in the neighborhood. And our love affair with street food is in many ways due to their interesting taste and affordability. But before you spend your spare change for a stick of grilled meat, medical experts warn that those who frequently snack on these fares are at an increased risk of having high cholesterol levels. The major culprit? Chicken liver. While chicken liver provides nutrients beneficial for anemic individuals (this cut is rich in protein, iron, vitamin B12

As Metro Manila prepares for the dreaded 7.6-magnitude earthquake or “The Big One,” medical practitioners highlight the importance of seeking more blood donations as natural disasters increase the need for blood for injured people. “We need to be prepared,” says Healthway Medical vice president for sales and marketing Carmie de Leon. “While keeping a disaster preparedness kit will make us ready, there’s also a need to bank blood to prepare for the worst.” One donor could actually help save the lives of three people who need to receive blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross. But before you start rolling up your sleeves, it is important to understand the processes and preparations for blood donation. “Filipinos should take a personal assessment of themselves, putting into consideration their age, weight and health conditions,” reiterates De Leon.

and folate), overconsumption of this food could threaten a person’s health. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy person needs only 300 milligrams of cholesterol everyday, less than 200 for those who are already dealing with high cholesterol levels. However, a three-ounce serving or two to three skewered chicken livers contains 479 milligrams of cholesterol. High cholesterol could lead to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke, according to Pharex Health Corp. medical director Amado Nazal. “Satisfying your cravings for street food is natural; it’s part of the Filipino culture. However, it’s more important for you to prioritize taking care of yourself to enjoy life’s other flavors,” he says. With this, Pharex Health Corp. highlights the importance of taking the prescribed medication and making lifestyle modifications to lower a person’s cholesterol levels.

COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS

BREASTFEEDING AT WORK

Dealing with cancer is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. The disease does not only affect the health and wellbeing of patients, but also impacts those people around them. The stress comes from the physical and emotional pains and financial woes, among other things, the reason why support for the patient and their relatives is an important factor in cancer care and management. The Asian Hospital and Medical Center understands this need as it recently inaugurated the Asian Cancer Institute that is focused on integrative, supportive and palliative care services. The Chrys Two Center provides a wide range of services from preventive care to pain management. The center allows individuals who have a history of cancer in their family to go through individual and genetic counseling. Based on this cancer risk assessment,

The debate on breastfeeding in public remains hot until this day. Decency vis-à-vis the urgency and rights of the mother to feed her infant in public spaces are being considered and reconsidered by those affected and concerned. For the working mom, the challenge to breastfeed her child becomes even greater. As part of its commitment to help mothers breastfeed longer, Philips AVENT launched Comfortable Anywhere: Breastfeeding at Work, an advocacy that encourages offices across the country to make it easier and more comfortable for moms to breastfeed in the workplace by setting up breastfeeding rooms. RJ Buenaventura, general manager for Philips Consumer Lifestyle, shares, “At Philips AVENT we’re committed to supporting parents and their babies, giving them the best start in life to set the stage for healthy futures. We know that most new moms want to breastfeed their baby because they believe it’s healthier for them. “ For working moms, expressing milk at work is often difficult, especially if the workplace does not have good facilities where they could pump freely. “We believe that breastfeeding moms should feel comfortable wherever they choose to breastfeed, whether at home or at work,” says Pia Umayam, business development manager for Philips AVENT. “A breastfeeding room at the workplace

genetic testing may be recommended by ACI’s team of experts. Aside from medical procedures, the Chrys Two Center has an Integrative Medicine Clinic that offers complementary and integrative medicine, plus various workshops on certain topics. Cancer support groups are also present in the facility to aid the patients and their families as they go through this ordeal. The center also caters to patients with very specific and special dietary needs through its Nutrition Clinic. The Medical Social & PsychoOncology Clinic meanwhile is for individuals who need social and psychological counseling. The Rehabilitation Oncology Clinic offers massage, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other services. Under the center’s Pain and Supportive Care Unit, patients are highest quality comprehensive care for pain and palliative care.

A person’s age and weight is generally considered prior to being allowed to donate blood. Other factors include body temperature, history of hepatitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, low and high blood pressure, and other blood related conditions. The next step is to identify the donor’s blood type and the Rh factor. Healthway Medical offers laboratory blood tests for adults to help them identify if they are eligible for transfusion. If you want to donate blood, e-mail Red Cross Philippines at prc@redcross.org.ph or call (02) 790-2329. To check your blood type in preparation for your transfusion, visit any Healthway Medical clinics at the Alabang Town Center, Shangri-la Plaza, Market! Market!, Festival Mall, Healthway Manila, SM The Block and Greenbelt 5.

should offer moms not only a hygienic, private and comfortable place to breastfeed but go the extra mile to make a real difference during a very precious time in their lives. Through this advocacy, we want to help corporate offices set up these breastfeeding rooms and support breastfeeding moms.” To be part of the advocacy, email Lester Hernandez at lester.hernandez@philips.com. For more information on Philips AVENT, log on to www.philips.com.ph

T H U R S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 24 : 2 0 1 5

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Oh Crab Lah! Salad (Signature) – Has Romaine lettuce, crab sticks, egg, vermicelli, cherry tomatoes, red onions, croutons, Singapore Chili Crab dressing

Big Bird Wrap (Signature) – Has Romaine lettuce, smoked turkey, avocado, green apple, celery, red grapes, Ranch dressing

Salad Stop in Carlos Palanca

FINALLY, A SALAD STOP IN MAKATI CBD

f you work along Ayala Avenue and back of Dela Rosa in Makati, you’d often end up with fast foods and an unhealthy array of restaurants and bars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We often wonder, if there is a more accessible, healthier option, would we be skipping our next French fries or slab of pizza from around the corner of the building? Well, now there is a new green option in the OPL Building at Carlos Palanca Street. Now on its third branch in the Philippines, Singapore-born healthy food chain SaladStop! is expanding and made more accessible for onthe-go eaters. Since its inception in November 2009 by father and son team, Daniel and Adrien Desbaillets, SaladStop! continues to uphold its vision of bringing something innovative, fresh and healthy to a wider group of people. “When we started, there were not enough healthy options in Singapore. We wanted to bring something different aside from the normal char kway chow, laksa or chicken rice. Nobody was doing it the way we were doing it, sort of like a fast casual concept,” explains SaladStop! co-founder and managing director Adrien Desbaillets.

If you have not tried SaladStop!, it’s a quick service salad-bar concept that allows you to choose and customize your salad from over 60 fresh toppings along with a selection of 20 homemade dressings. If you’re not sure of the mixes, you may opt to choose from 10 quirky named signature salads to get you started. Some of the crowd favorites are – Iron ‘Wo’ Man – no, it’s not just for people who do triathlons, it’s a mixture of baby spinach, feta cheese, roasted pumpkin, yellow raisins, toasted almonds in raspberry vinaigrette dressing. A spicy pleaser is Oh Crab Lah! Made out of romaine, crab sticks, egg,

Adrien Desbaillets co-founder and managing director of Salad Stop with Executive Chef Tony Tan

vermicelli, tomatoes, red onions, croutons and Singapore Chili Crab dressing. Now if you want something with Wasabi Honey Soy dressing, opt for a Tuna San, it’s a mixture of romaine, seared tuna, avocado, edamame, cherry tomatoes, mandarin orange, and sesame seeds. For the Philippine palate, they specially created Man-go Wild (romaine, cucumber, carrots, green mango, red onions, white turnip, yellow raisins, fried garlic, mint leaf, in Mango Vinaigrette dressing) and Sunshine Manila (romaine, tuna flakes, brown rice, cherry tomatoes, crispy lumpia skin, in Tamarind Citrus Vinaigrette). Today SaladStop! currently runs a total of 15 outlets in Singapore and is still expanding. In the Philippines, it is officially franchised by Specialty Food Retailers, Inc. (SFRI) and is scheduled to open two more outlets in Greenhills and the Glorietta Mall by the latter part of 2015. For more information visit them on Facebook at SaladStop Philippines and follow @saladstopph on Instagram and Twitter.

Omega 3 Baby! Salad (Signature) – Has Rocket and Romaine lettuce, smoked salmon, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, beetroot, red onions, sunflower seeds, Balsamic Soy Vinaigrette Jai Ho! Wrap (Signature) – Has Romaine lettuce, Tandoori chicken, potato, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, Indian Spiced Yogurt dressing

Iron “Wo” Man Salad (Signature) – Has Baby Spinach, feta cheese, roasted pumpkin, yellow raisins, toasted almonds, Raspberry Vinaigrette Tuna San Wrap (Signature) – Has Romaine lettuce, seared tuna, avocado, edamame, cherry tomatoes, mandarin orange, sesame seeds, Wasabi Honey Soy dressing

Go Geisha! Salad (Signature) – Has Romaine lettuce, red & white cabbage, firm tofu, asparagus, carrots, soba noodles, snow peas, edamame, sesame seeds, cucumber, sweet corn, Japanese Miso dressing

SPA BUFFET AT DEVARANA SPA

here’s nothing more relaxing than a spa on a rainy day. This rainy September, head out to Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Manila and avail of the exclusive Pampering Rewards Spa Buffet package. Yes, you got that right, “Spa Buffet.” Devarana Spa is treating its guests to a customizable spa bundle with more than 10 treatments to choose from. Spa all you can! Guests may select the two-hour or three-hour spa buffet with choices that range from a 30-minute Thai herbal steam to the 90-minute Devarana signature massage. If you’re not too keen on the twohour or three-hour spa buffet, you may opt for their bestselling Monsoon Escape package. Also, get a chance to win special gift vouchers. “Our well-trained team at Devarana Spa is committed to

Spa Buffet

Devarana Spa

treating our guests like they are in their very own garden in heaven. We encourage everyone to take advantage of our exceptional seasonal promos and discover for themselves why Devarana Spa Manila was named as one of the world’s best spa hotels for 2014,” enthused Dusit Thani Manila general manager Bruno Cristol.

Devarana Spa is located at the 2nd floor of Dusit Thani Manila. The Monsoon Package is valid through September 2015 while the Pampering Rewards Spa Buffet is valid until December 2015. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 (2) 238 8888 ext. 8856 or email manila@ devaranaspa.com.

T HUR S DAY : S EPT EMBER 24 : 2015

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

From left (seated), First Secretary and Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Spain Mr. Guillermo Escribano, FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos, H.E. Ambassador Luis Calvo of the Embassy of Spain in Manila, and Director of the Filmoteca de Andalucía Pablo García Casado pose with participants of the ACERCA Seminar

FDCP’s ACerCA seminAr

wenty staff members of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP) took part in the first-ever Acerca seminar held in the Philippines, Sept. 9 – 11. With the topic “Towards the Creation of a National Film Archives,” the seminar focused on the organization, restoration, preservation, and conservation of the rich film heritage of the country, as well as on the international regulations on film heritage and the best ways to implement them. The seminar was co-organized by the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines together with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), in cooperation with FDCP and NFAP. Pablo García Casado, director of the Filmoteca de Andalucía, was flown in from Spain to head the seminar. The Filmoteca is the film archives and Cinematheque of the Andalusian region of Spain and is a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). He is also an acclaimed poet, with a degree in law from the University of Colombia. Casado began the seminar with a historical introduction to film archiving, followed by interactive discussions that fleshed out the issues of what, why, and for whom to preserve and restore film. On the second day, he covered the national and international regulations on film heritage, regulations formulated by FIAF, and the challenges that archives face in the digital era. Finally, he discussed the issues of accessibili-

ty, exhibition, and education on the final day of the seminar. The closing ceremony was held on Sept. 11. Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo and FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos presented certificates of completion to the participants. In his closing remarks the Ambassador noted that Spain and the Philippines share a cultural legacy and common treasury, attributing cinema to being an object of cooperation. Likewise, Santos emphasized, “Our efforts to preserve our film heritage are vital and foremost. It is not a choice, but a matter of national obligation and a lifetime commitment by the state.” Casado was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the FDCP for sharing his expertise and knowledge to his colleagues in the Philippines. The Acerca Programme was created in 2005 by AECID. Over the course of a decade, over 22,000 people have participated in more than 600 activities organized in more than 33 countries around the world. The primary goal of ACERCA is to support and promote training and build capacities of practitioners in the cultural sector as a contribution to development and collective welfare. The Acerca seminar was the culmination of plans made during a trip by FDCP Chairman Santos and FDCP Executive director Teodoro Granados in 2013 to the Filmoteca Española and Instituto de la Cinematografica y de las Artes Audiovisuales in Spain. The trip was a conducted in cooperation with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and the PICE Visitors Program. The seminar was held at the Asian Institute of Management.

Santos, Spanish Ambassador Luis, and Isabel Pérez Gálvez from the Embassy’s Cultural Department address the participants

Santos presents ACERCA Seminar instructor Pablo García Casado with a Certificate of Appreciation

Director of the Filmoteca de Andalucía Pablo García Casado

T HUR S DAY : S EPT EMBER 24 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

FiLiPinO ACtS PASS ‘thE X FACtOR UK’ BOOt CAmP Filipinos shone in the group performance during Boot Camp on The X Factor UK. 4th Power and Neneth Lyons both made it through to the next round of competitions. 4th Power, the all-Filipino girl group composed of sisters Mylene, Celina, Irene and Almira Cercado, aged 19-27, and Neneth Lyons, the 37-year old full-time mother from Chelmsford, performed in a group with four other acts singing Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Prior to the performance, a short clip of the rehearsals was shown. Neneth said she was there ”to compete” while 4th Power said that was going to be “the performance of a lifetime.” Clearly the outstanding performers of their group, 4th Power nailed the singing, dancing and hairography with their locks swinging and whipping as they did their routine. Neneth showed that she was a fantastic singer when she belted the bigger parts of the song and showed she was an equally good dancer during the group’s performance. The other performers in the group were Louisa Johnson, Jasmine Leigh Morris, Andre Batchelor and Sherlyn Hamilton Shaw. Before giving the judges’ decision, Simon Cowell asked 4TH Power, Andre Batchelor and Jasmine Leigh Morris to step forward signaling the possible divide in the results. But in the end, he said that all acts went through as all screamed in relief and excitement. The 4TH Power and Neneth Lyons move on to the next round of competitions, the Six Chair Challenge.

Neneth Lyons

4th Power

4th Power and Neneth

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 43 44 45 46 48 51 52 54 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

Ballroom number Ostrich feather — Abner, of the comics Forded Squelches Codgers’ queries Awkward Hepburn’s quartet Swell, as a river Perfume bottle Municipal Pharaoh’s god Advantage Where Valletta is Brain, maybe Crash, so to speak Win every game

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Lady fox 6 Microwaves 10 Strike ignorer 14 See eye-to-eye 15 Charles Lamb pen name 16 Lobby call 17 Charges too much 18 Midnight opposite 19 Moon goddess 20 Rendezvous 22 Relaxed, as a snake

24 26 27 31 32 33 36 39 40 41 42

Apl.de Ap. performs at PHITEX 2015

— be an honor! Popsicle holders Monkey wrench Seine moorage “Peer Gynt” composer Meaningless Mao — -tung Waterfront event In a carefree way Mariner’s hello Like a bairn

DOWN 1 Like the sky 2 Mr. Stravinsky 3 Fracture finder (hyph.) 4 Mouse alerts 5 Bird activity 6 Koan discipline 7 Slugger Moises — 8 Subatomic particles 9 Holiness 10 Alter genes 11 Seal a tub

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56 57 58 61

Ms. DeMille Droplet Sault — Marie Unctuous Improbable wish Bane of pvts. Strait-laced Slave girl of opera Bridal notice word Playing marble Recognize THUS A portion of Gazed at Swift traveler Gore and Capone Little creek Pouched critters (var.) Fable “P” for Plato Very Big name at Indy Rudely sarcastic Kind of muffin Chokes Bird’s crop Equal to the task Tempo Be grouchy Tolerate

Apl.de.Ap brings down the house

Popular Filipino member of the Black Eyed Peas, Apl.de.Ap, pumped up the delegates during the opening of the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2015 with his original song and music video entitled “It’s More Fun in The Philippines”. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) tapped Apl.de.Ap to write a song about how it is more fun in Philippines. The music video, the country’s tourist destinations as ‘paradise,’ was launched during the program, featuring Apl.de.Ap enjoying the many attractions and adventures that await visitors coming to the Philippines. The singer shared that he didn’t feel it was work when he was asked to appear in the VPA 2016 music video. Apl.de.Ap also believes that tourists all over the world should come and visit the Philippines, and see that the country has indeed many wonderful things to offer. Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2015 is the country’s biggest and most important travel trade event this month which brings together local travel investors to meet foreign buyers from all over the world. PHITEX 2015 includes the MICECON, the country’s largest assembly of local stakeholders in Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions, and Events/Exhibitions (MICE) industry, and TRAVEX, exclusive business-to-business appointment meetings between Philippine sellers and foreign buyers.

T HUR S DAY : S EPT EMBER 24 : 2015

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

‘YouR Face sounds FaMiliaR’ new season debuts

Kean as Harry, Denise as JLo, Eric as Willie Revillame, Michael as George Michael, Melai as Madonna, Sam as Eminem, Myrtle as Sandara, KZ as Vina Morales, and Kakai as Sia

Ms. Chaye Cabal-Revilla and Mr. Gary Dujali, PLDT 2G Marketing Head

From c8

iewers nationwide tuned in to the pilot episode of Your Face Sounds Familiar’s all-new season on ABS-CBN with new eight celebrity performers’ performances as popular music icons. According to data from Kantar Media, the episode on Sept 12 scored a national TV rating of 31.7 percent, or almost double that of its rival program, GMA’s Celebrity Bluff (16.2 percent). The Sunday episode on Sept 13 gained a national TV rating of 27.3 percent versus Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s” 23.2 percent. The show also generated buzz online as its official hastags #YFSFNewSeason and #AllNewYFSF became top trending topics on Twitter nationwide and worldwide. Comedian Eric Nicolas was named the first weekly top scorer for his impersonation of Willie Revillame that flawlessly replicated his looks, gestures, and singing voice. He received an overall score of 42 points from jurors Gary Valenciano, Jed Madela, and Sharon Cuneta and won P100,000, half of which will go to his chosen charity, the Child Haus Foundation. Trailing behind Eric were Sam Concepcion performing as Eminem (27 points), Kakai Bautista as Sia (18 points), Kean Cipriano as Harry Styles (15 points), Denise Laurel as Jennifer Lopez (12 points), Myrtle Sarrosa as Sandara Park (8 points), KZ as Vina Morales (5 points), and Michael Pangilinan as George Michael (5 points). Last weekend, there were more surprises for viewers as Sam gave his best impersonation and performance as Jason Derulo, Eric as Louis Armstrong, Kean as Randy Santiago, Myrtle as Jessa Zaragoza, Denise as Christina Aguilera,

‘KitChen Whiz’ premieres on DisCovery KiDs

ollow two teams of junior chefs face-off to score the most points in Kitchen Whiz, a fast and fabulous kids’ game show with a focus on the world of food, cooking, and food science. In each episode, the contestants compete in fun, messy, tactile tasks as they take on challenges posed by host Alice Zaslavsky. Along the way, they find out interesting facts about food, cooking styles, and ingredients. Kitchen Whiz is on Discovery Kids weekdays at 5.30 p.m. this month. Kitchen Whiz is a food competition show for kids aged 12-14 years old. They will be having a sizzling good time – and feeling the heat – as they try to out-do each other and take home great prizes. The host, self-confessed “food nerd” Zaslavsky, will give the two teams different tasks. In the first round, the master chef hopefuls take the Food Facts quiz, which focus-

es on the ingredients, taste, texture of a particular dish, and cooking style. They will earn a point for each question they get right. Round Two is called ‘We Show! You Do!’ where contestants have three minutes to replicate a recipe demonstrated by a celebrity chef. Points are earned for each correct step, and teams can score bonus points if they successfully recreated the entire dish. Then, the teams face the ‘Kitchen Ninja’ – a silent but hilarious master in the art of quick cooking. Will the dishes pass the Kitchen Ninja’s taste test? The scores are tallied up and the winning team is announced. The show does not stop here, as the Kitchen Ninja dishes out a bonus challenge called Alphabet Soup and contestants must draw on their spelling skills. But this isn’t a regular spelling bee… Catch the excitement and join the teams as they race around the super-stocked Kitchen Whiz Pantry! Episodes encore 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Kitchen Whiz

Kakai as AiAi delas Alas, KZ as Pink, and Michael as Janno Gibbs. Don’t miss the weekly transformations and performances in the all-new season of Your Face Sounds Familiar,”Saturdays after MMK and Sundays after Rated K on ABS-CBN. HHHHH Regine Velasquez, MaRtin nieVeRa, otheR staRs honoR teacheRs nationwide It’s that time of the year again! And it is that much-awaited occasion when thousands of teachers across the country gather at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena for PLDT Gabay Guro’s grand teacherfest. The event, an embodiment of “I Inspire” campaign, is a salute, a celebration, and a renewal of Gabay Guro’s commitment to the proud profession of teaching through trainings, scholarships, livelihood and life enhancing programs so they can continuously change lives. This teachers’ month, Gabay Guro mounts a big tribute event, the Teacherfest, at the MOA Arena, on Sept. 27, from 1p.m. onwards and is expected to generate almost 20,000 teachers representing the different schools, public and private, from everywhere in the Philippines. Admission is free. Like the Gabay Guro Facebook page to know how you can join the event. To lend glitter and fun to the occasion, hot young love team James Reid and Nadine Lustre will be there, as well as world-class talents El Gamma Penumbra, Leo Valdez, Ima Castro, among others. Sterling names in the music firmament will be taking center-stage headlined by the Songbird Regine Velasquez, concert kings Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, and Basil Valdez, con-

cert queens Kuh Ledesma and Pops Fernandez, among others. Musical direction is by Raul Mitra. Through the years, Gabay Guro’s tribute events have been known the country over for their excellent raffle prizes being given to the deserving teachers. This year, Gabay Guro is giving away two house and lot packages from Amaia and Perry’s Group of Companies, Gratour Van from Foton, three motorcycles from Honda, Suzuki and Ropali Corp., livelihood packages from KaAsenso Cyberya, Sun and Talk N Text; cash prizes from Pro Friends and PECCI, travel package from First United Corp., and a lot more from Asian Secret, Bear Brand, Clover, Enchanted Kingdom, Ever Bilena, National Bookstore, Penshoppe, phCare, Red Planet Hotels, Samsung Business, Shakey’s, Toy Kingdom, among others. Phil Life, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Red Cross will be on hand the whole day as the official event’s medics. The PLDT Gabay Guro foundation is the education arm and flagship project of the PLDT-SMART Foundation, a program run by volunteers composed of executives from the PLDT Manager’s Club Inc. (PLDT MCI). The core of the Program is defined by its Pillars namely: Scholarships, Trainings, Housing and Educational Facilities, Livelihood Programs, Broadbanding and Computerization, and Teachers’ Tribute. For more information on the PLDT Gabay Guro grand tribute event happening on Sept. 27 at the MOA Arena, please visit the Gabay Guro official website www.gabayguro.com, like the facebook page www.facebook.com/gabayguro follow them on twitter and Instagram at @PLDTGabayGuro.

T HUR S DAY : S EPT EMBER 24 : 2015

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

SteLLar heLpS MaKe brandS Shine onLine ISAH V. RED Products and services seeking to amplify their online presence and engage with their target audiences can look into leveraging on the online personas of the most popular and followed celebrities via Stellar, the newly launched social media celebrity marketing agency of ABS-CBN. Stellar, the first of its kind in the country, will empower social media campaigns for products and services through Star Magic artists and their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Star Magic, which manages some of the country’s most followed celebrities online, currently has more than 230 artists under its stable. One of them is actress Kathryn Bernardo, who remains to be one of the most followed celebrities in the country with over five million followers on Twitter and 2.6 million followers on Instagram. The most liked and followed Star Magic artists on Facebook, meanwhile, are actress Kim Chiu and singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino, in terms of personal pages and fan pages, respectively. Using different contextual social listening features, Stellar will determine the fit of the artists’ persona to the needs of brands, and help them connect with their desired target audience via social media. The pricing for each social media campaign will be determined by Navi Score – a new scheme revolutionized by Stellar – which is the combined Digital Score and Star Score of an artist. The Digital Score reflects an artist’s reach, engagement, and number of social media

mentions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, while the Star Score is calculated based on an artist’s latest TV projects, movie projects, and last and current endorsements. “As a leader in the digital space, we would like to set up the industry standard on how brands and influencers mutually benefit as they work together in engaging their audiences. We offer a standard measurement and pricing model so we give credit where credit is due, and ensure all stakeholders in the social media ecosystem are taken care of in this entire process,” said ABS-CBN chief digital officer Donald Lim. Stellar’s services also extend to other ABS-CBN digital properties as it will amplify the reach of its brand campaigns by utilizing the social media accounts of ABSCBN, Star Magic, ASAP 20, ABSCBN Sports, and entertainment website PUSH. And to effectively measure a campaign’s success, Stellar will provide clients with thorough and complete analytics to measure the overall success of a campaign, and gauge the sentiments and reactions of people online. To know more about Stellar, visit stellar.abs-cbn.com, like www. facebook.com/stellar.abscbn, or follow stellar_phils on Twitter and stellarphils on Instagram. HHHHH Meet Your Favorite K-pop StarS on-Line with ‘v’ app V app, a live-streaming video application featuring the hottest K-pop stars, is now available for all iOS and Android users worldwide. Since the beta release ion July 31, V app has become the best gateway to meet the top-notch K-pop stars everywhere. With the recent official iOS and Android launch, V app provides more stabilized service for global users to

enjoy fluid communication with their favorite stars. Currently, 55 lineups of K-pop celebrities are signed up on the on-air schedule, including Big Bang, SM Town, Wonder Girls, 2PM, and Kara. Comprised of three categories ‘Special Live,’ ‘App Live,’ and ‘Spot Live’ – V app offers exclusive videos of concerts and showcases, while revealing celebrities’ hidden personalities and talents through self-produced contents by the stars themselves. Also equipped with a real-time chatting feature, users can have engaging communication with the stars. With the ‘Star Following’ feature, users can follow the individual channels established for each celebrity group and receive alerts when their favorite stars start their live broadcasting. Other additional features such as ‘Upcoming’ and ‘Chemi-beat’, allow users to stay updated for upcoming on-air schedules and have more interactive experiences with the stars. Total of two to six new contents are released daily. After a live-broadcast, users can watch the video again through VOD service. Proving its global popularity with a record of 610,000 downloads in 170 markets on the first day of its beta release, K-pop lovers in 210 countries are now interacting with their favorite stars through V app. App downloads in non-Korean countries account for more than 60 percent of the total download numbers. V app especially enjoys popularity in the Philippines and other regions including the U.S., Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Naver is now focusing on the provision of smoother global services, while expanding the lineup to include non-Korean celebrities in the future. ➜ Continued on C7

JC De Vera and Jericho Rosales

Jolina Magdangal and Maja Salvador

Donald Lim, Richard Reynante, Melissa Ricks, Maricar Reyes, and John Sweet Lapus during the panel discussion at Stellar's grand launch

Richard Reynante, Maja Salvador, Melissa Ricks, and Maricar Reyes during the panel discussion at Stellar's grand launch